Welcome to KDRAMA, a community where kdrama watchers gather to discuss their favorite dramas!
This KDRAMA Guide is an automated weekly post that introduces our community features, resources, rules, and answers some FAQs. Use this guide to help you navigate around our community and find resources easily!
Full Rules and Policies
We are an actively moderated community, please review our full Rules and Policies before participating in our community. Content and conduct that violates our Rules and Policies will be removed.
Note that the sidebar rules widget in New Reddit contains only a very abbreviated version of our full rules, please do not rely on them to contest any moderation actions, use our full Rules and Policies.
Browsing the Subreddit
Our subreddit is most optimized for browsing on desktop in New Reddit where we make maximize use of the sidebar to share the most updated information and resources (eg. schedule of On-Air discussions, links to most commonly used resources and featured posts), we encourage newcomers to view our subreddit on desktop to see all the information. Additionally, due to problems with official Reddit mobile apps, some of the links we have in the sidebar or posts do not work on mobile. If you are having trouble accessing links, please switch to desktop access.
We strongly recommend browsing our community feed sorted by new to see the latest discussion posts.
To view all resources in and information about our subreddit, see our wiki.
Note: /KDRAMA measures time in KST - Korean Standard Time (UTC +9) so all references to time or date relate to that time-zone.

Participating & Posting In Our Subreddit

Participating

Our community strives to be a friendly and safe space where our community members can participate and enjoy discussions about kdramas. To that end, we ask participants to be kind to each other, by remembering the human both behind and on the screen -- including the actors and actresses and staff members that makes the drama. Harassment, threats, bullying, personal attacks, racism, hate speech, and other similar negative behaviors are prohibited in this subreddit.
There are consequences for what you post. Remember that others do not have to tolerate insults, harassment, racism, sexism, or any other types of negative behavior. While we are not a support subreddit, we aim to be supportive of each other in our love for kdramas.
Before participating within our subreddit, please read our conduct Policies, Rules, and Reddiquette to understand what type of civil behavior and discourse is expected in our community. Also read our When Discussions Get Personal for explanations and tips to maintain civil discourse within our community and elsewhere in life.
Let's all live by the Korean proverb 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 -- If the outgoing words are beautiful, then the incoming words will be beautiful, too.

Posting

New to our community and daunted by our Rules and Policies for posting? The best way to start your interaction with our community is by participating in our scheduled posts or On-Air Discussions. There's at least one per day of the week so that there is always a post you can participate in. These posts are very friendly and community-oriented -- a great way to dip your toe into conversations without the pressure of making a post. This will help newcomers to our subreddit get a better feel for the style and type of discourse in our community, which may be much more actively moderated in comparison to other spaces.
Scheduled Recurring Discussions
Our scheduled posts consists of two types: themed and free-for-all. Themed discussions cover a variety of topics frequently discussed by kdrama watchers. Free-for-all (FFA) discussion posts are our general chat discussion posts where as long as you abide by our conduct rules and Reddiquette, you can share whatever you like, including content completely unrelated to kdramas. See full detailed explanations of our scheduled posts.

Weekly Scheduled Posts	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
AM	-	-	Who, What, Where Is It?	Throwback Thursday 2.0	-	Late To The Party	Eun Sang's Sleepy Sunday Soliloquy (FFA)
PM	Monday Madness (FFA)	Kim Tan's Talk Time (FFA)	What Are You Watching	Kim Tan's Talk Time (FFA)	Weekend Wrap Up (FFA)	Things I Spotted This Week	-
:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:
Monthly Scheduled Posts	Top 10 Kdramas (7th)	Kdramas Made Me Do It (10th)	Refund My Time (14th)	Yes, No, Maybe (21st)	Dramas I Have Dropped (28th)	-	-
-	For all the list makers among us. List your favourite dramas - you choose the number and the category.	Share our joy and embarrassment at all the things Kdramas “made” us do.	Lament about a drama we wish we'd never watched -- one that makes us want a refund of our time.	Present a short review and a "final verdict" on whether we would recommend the dramas we've watched this past month to others.	Discuss the dramas that didn't win you over in the past month.	-	-
:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:
Quarterly Scheduled Posts	Best OST	Streaming Services	Make A Wish	Watching Habits And Advice	-	-	-
-	4th of March, June, September & December	11th of January, April, July, & October	1st of February, May, August & November	25th of March, June, September & December	-	-	-
-	Discussion of the OSTs that we love and just can't get out of our heads.	Discussion of everything related to legal streaming services. Share your experiences and ask for help finding the best one in your region.	Share one's aspirations about dream or alternate casting, remakes, adaptations, and creative writing.	For reflecting on one's watching habits and advice for how to choose which dramas to watch.	-	-	-
:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:	:-:
Biannual Scheduled Posts	Share Your Kdrama Related Resource	-	Check Out Our KDRAMA Resources	-	SPOTLIGHT ON	-	-
-	18th of March & September	-	Posted on a 6 monthly cycle	-	Posted on a 6 monthly cycle	-	-
-	Share, promote, and discover other subreddits and resources related to kdramas.	-	Series highlighting various resources of our subreddit.	-	Series which highlights dramas of certain genres / themes.	-	-

On-Air Discussions
On-Air Discussions are dedicated weekly discussion posts for currently airing dramas. They are hosted by volunteers from the community to create a dedicated space each week to discuss what has happened in that drama for that week. On-Air drama discussions reduce clutter on the front page of the subreddit by centralizing discussion and all related content, such as news updates, previews, interviews, behind the scenes videos, etc.. For currently airing dramas with On-Air discussions, no other discussion posts are allowed, see our full Rules for details.
A schedule of current On-Airs can be seen in our sidebar. See the latest On-Air discussions and here is our On-Air Discussions Roster, which links all our previous On-Air discussions.
Want to learn more about our On-Air Discussions system? Feel passionately about an upcoming drama and want to host its weekly On-Air Discussions? See our full explanation, guidelines and policies on On-Air Discussions here.
Drama Reviews
We welcome well-written detailed drama reviews. Reviews should be for completed series only -- that is the series has finished airing all of its episodes and the reviewer has watched the entire drama. Reviews where the reviewer has not fully completed the drama will be removed. For those that just want to write a short blurb about a drama, feel free to share in any of our weekly discussion threads instead. See our tips on how to write a helpful review.
Reviews are moderated according to our moderation guidelines for reviews for content. Other rules and policies, such as On-Air or review megathread rules, still apply. Notably, reviews are subject to moderation for frequency under our Rehashed Discussions rule.
Fanart And Memes
We have a Designated Day, currently every Tuesday from 00:00-23:59 KST (UTC +9), on which we allow our members to attempt to share one (1) self posts of either qualified Fanart or Memes on KDRAMA. Fanart and meme posts are not permitted outside of Designated Days. Please review our Designated Day rules fully before submission.
News
We are not a news oriented subreddit though they are permitted as posts with restrictions on type of and source of news. Please fully review our Rules and Polices on news items before submission. If you are seeking to be kept updated with any entertainment news other than official casting news, we strongly recommend you seek out other sources beyond our subreddit such as Soompi.
OST And Promotional Material
We only allow official OSTs and promotional material (previews, teasers, posters) in our subreddit with restrictions on frequency and airing status of dramas. Please fully review our Rules on OSTs and promotional material before submission. There are post title requirements, please follow them.

FAQs

About Subreddit

Why Is My Post Not Showing Up?
Our subreddit has certain filters in place to identify submissions that potentially require moderation action.
If you have made a post and it does not immediately show up in the community feed, it is possible that the post has been filtered out. Please DO NOT make reposts or immediately contact the moderation team for review of your post. Filtered posts automatically enter our moderation queue and will be reviewed by a moderator. Please allow at least 24 hours for moderation action to be taken. If no further moderation action has been taken on your post (either approval or removal with notice) after 24 hours, please contact the moderation team via Modmail for assistance.
How Do I Seek Clarification About Or Contest A Moderation Action?
If you have received a removal comment from a human moderator (not AutoModerator) and wish to seek clarification or contest the removal, reply to the comment left by the moderator. Do not send private messages or chats to individual moderators about moderation actions, we consider such behavior moderator harassment. See our Policies for more information.
Note, do not reply to AutoModerator comments, the moderation team does not receive notifications for replies to comments left by the Automoderator.
What Are Moderators And What Do They Do?
Moderators are users that help manage a subreddit community by moderating the content that is allowed in the community, establishing and communicating relevant rules and policies, and engaging with other community members. More Detailed Explanation
How Do I Customize My User Flair?
Customizable user flairs are enabled in our community (the little banner following usernames). User flairs are subreddit-specific and can be used to show off your personality or favorite dramas. Our User Flair Guide shows you how to set your user flair on desktop in both Old and New Reddit.
How Do I Make Spoiler Tags?
Hate being spoiled? So do we, which is why we ask our community to use spoiler tags abundantly in order to prevent this. Reddit formatting allows for a few different ways to create spoilers. See our Spoiler Tag Tutorial to learn how do make them.
How Do I Format Things In Markdown?
Need help formatting? Want to know how to do italics and super^scripts and bold things? Check our Formatting and Markdown Guide.
What Are The Dramas In The Banner?
Info here.
Where Can I Find All Subreddit Resources?
On New Reddit sidebar, we have linked the most used resources. Otherwise our wiki landing page has links to and brief explanations of all the resources in our community.
Is There A Subreddit Discord?
Yes, here.

About Kdramas

Where Can I Watch Kdramas?
See our non-exhaustive list of legal streaming sources from around the world where you can watch kdramas. We also have a list of popular official Youtube channels for webdramas.
Please note that linking, mentioning, or promotion of any illegal sources (eg. non-licensed streaming sites, torrent sites, personally uploaded videos, download links, etc.) is strictly prohibited and will result in an immediate ban. Promotion includes soliciting users to PM for links to illegal sources.
What Dramas Should I Watch?
If you are looking for your next drama, check out our sister sub kdramarecommends, the single best place to ask for kdrama recommendations. You can ask for recommendations based on your preferences or you can ask if a drama you are considering is worth watching. Check their Getting Started Guide before you post to familiarize yourself with that sub, and their Recommendations 101 to help you craft the perfect recommendation request post. If you don't know where to start or want to browse past recommendations, check out the awesome What to Watch Next wiki for our complete archive of recommendations gathered over the past years.
Note, drama recommendation requests are not permitted as self-posts in KDRAMA. Posts will be removed and redirected to kdramarecommends.
Is There A Site For Tracking Dramas?
A popular site used by many kdrama watchers for tracking dramas is MyDramaList -- the site has profiles of dramas, actors/actresses, and drama reviews/ratings.
I'm New To Kdramas, What Basics Should I Know?
For new watchers of kdramas, we strongly recommend taking a read through our basic FAQ, our KDRAMAS 101, and our Glossary as a starting point to get to know and understand kdramas better.

Man, I am pumped to tell you chronically online content addicts my story. Wait is that too mean of an intro? Will this get taken down for harassment since I painted too accurate a picture of the people on this site? Sorry, everyone, I’m sure you all smell like an expensive bakery and have touched grass this morning. Anyway, I promise I have something interesting. It even involves the dark web you uncreative writers cream yourselves over! I mean, totally real people speaking about their strangely similar experiences. Okay, fine I’ll stop bullying you through the screen before you click off.
This all started when I was seven years old and my parents were killed in front of me in an anti-indigenous hate crime, but let's be real you don’t care. I’m just some annoying Cherokee kid with dead parents so I’ll skip to the good parts. I spent years in an orphanage, gradually becoming more interested in death and violence. As bad as it is, I went out of my way to expose myself to that content in the hopes of desensitizing myself. Which ended up working too well, since now I’m obsessed with causing and viewing pain, though I don’t find any joy in hurting myself.
I got adopted at twelve and after a few months of staying at my new family’s home on the reservation, I went with them to a state sweatier than the average Reddit user, California. Long story short, both of my caretakers, whom I referred to as Uncle and Auntie because they could never be my parents, died. Leaving me in the care of their older son, who I call cousin. I’m not stupid enough to give up any real names, so I’ll call him Brick, cause he’s as dumb as one. He was in his early 20s when he was tasked with taking care of me and is the world’s worst excuse for a babysitter.
I’m almost always alone at the apartment, with him only coming by to drop off supplies and stay for a few hours so the neighbors don’t get too worried. Unless I get in trouble at school, then he’d suddenly give a shit. It's useful because he doesn't about the gory stuff I look at, but some display of interest would be nice. Oh well, ninety percent of the population sucks so he’s just part of the majority. Now, with that said, you’ll be able to understand the perfect storm that led me here. During my time on the deep web, I found a particular website that caught my eye. They had new footage relatively consistently and they were the easiest for me to access since I didn't go too far into the dark web, especially with all the honey pots lying around.
I even bought a couple of files for myself to study and admire. One thing irritated me though, the cameraman. He was always sobbing, breathing, shaking, or some combination of those. It seriously killed the vibe of the killings. Something I commented on under many videos, often saying I would do a better job filming. A choice that in hindsight was me asking to end up in one of those recordings. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was mostly the only one who commented but I was sure they wouldn't care. I was embarrassingly wrong.
I was staying up like usual, but it was past one AM on a school night, and back then that was a lot so I tried to sleep. Closing my eyes, tossing and turning, the works. I had just started drifting off when I heard the front door open. I remained calm but immediately found it weird since Brick never showed up this late. The thuds of the individual's feet grew louder as they got closer to my bedroom. I tried to convince myself it wasn't a stranger, especially since they got in with ease, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
They hummed as they opened my door. My dumbass had left it unlocked. I remained on my side, trying to look like I was asleep. They turned on the flashlight of their phone, shining it in my face. It was hard but I stayed still while they traced it over my features. I could tell they were smiling as they clicked their tongue.
“Heh, I knew it was a brat,” they whispered to themselves, pulling tangles out of my hair. Something I struggled not to groan from. They pulled up the hair over my ear and got so close spit got on my ear lobe.
“I know you’re awake kid,” they murmured, putting a blade to my neck. I let them grab my shoulder and move me onto my back, I knew how to fight but I wasn't about to take that big a risk with the position they had me in.
“You think you’re so cool saying you can do better than our guy.” they snickered, kneeling, their flashlight still shining in my face.
“Do you seriously believe that?” they questioned, moving the light away.
“Yeah, I do.” I stood my ground, they might have been intimidating but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from being honest.
“I wouldn't sound like I’m gonna piss myself every time it gets gory. I’m confident I could get better footage too, getting up close is something I’ve fantasized about.”
They clicked their tongue again and ran their finger over the bridge of my nose.
”Well, I know you’re a big fan of what we do, and you’re confidence makes me think you got something to back those claims up, so how’d you like a deal?”
I was surprised by how civil they were being aside from the touching and weapon against my throat.
“What kind of deal?” I asked, for all I knew this guy wanted me to lick their feet or some weird shit like that. They placed a finger underneath my eye, tracing a half moon with their nail.
“You have till this Friday to film a video of you killing an animal and put it on a flash drive that I’ll pick up here. If it impresses me and the crew we’ll hire ya with a handsome salary.” They began, moving their hand down to my cheek.
“But if you don't show, or it doesn't meet our standards, then I’m fucking up one of the parts of your face.” They warned, pinching my skin harshly.
“And if I say no to this deal?”
They put their hand over my mouth, scratching my lips.
“That’s cute, if you say no I’ll just slit your throat.” they grinned.
“Or rip it open with my teeth if you got a preference,” they smirked, before running their tongue across their sharp teeth.
“Okay, since I have no choice I’ll go with it, but I’m telling you now I can give you something way better than what you likely expect of me.” I prefaced, looking into their sunken eyes. They scratched my scalp, including the side of my head that was shaved.
“Good choice, I’ll be back to pick it up and if you're not here I’ll assume you don’t have the video. I genuinely wish you luck, because you’ll need it.” they removed the blade from my neck and walked away. I sat still for a few minutes in the dark, processing what had happened and wondering how they got into my apartment with such ease. I was confident I could blow their sniveling excuse of a cameraman out of the water, but I was worried about the people I was getting caught up with.
Sure, I had been on a lot of gore sites over the years but I was always just watching and occasionally commenting. Compared to most in the scene I wasn't much of a threat. I could defend myself and have contemplated killing for years but I hadn't murdered anyone or worse. Plus, I am part of way too many targeted groups to not be constantly at risk. Teenage, fem-leaning, two-spirit, indigenous kid with trauma? Yeah, I might as well be walking sign screaming “Hate crime me”.
So yeah, there was a lot to worry about. Regardless, I couldn't let that fear hold me back. I had a job to do and a group of sickos to appease. The next morning was rough, I got no sleep cause I’d spent all night brainstorming. I barely mustered the energy to change and drank straight mouthwash instead of brushing my teeth. Slogging onto the bus with drool on my cheek, I went to the back like usual. No one sat there cause, the seats were extra worn down, and I scared off anyone who attempted to with my active, rabies-infected bitch face. That day was different though.
I blanked on his name and where I knew him from, but I recognized his wavy hair and prominent curved nose. He glanced at each seat on the bus, before somehow settling on my area. He tried to give me space but ultimately seated himself beside me after realizing it was the only spot that didn't look like it would give him cancer. I glared at him as I did with everyone, but it didn't phase him.
“You know you could pick anywhere else right?” I murmured. He stared at the floor, then at me.
“I’m aware, but a few months ago I started a mission to sit on every part of this bus, and this is the last place.” he smiled, his lips softly curving at the sides.
“What’s the point of that?”
His mouth moved into a more neutral position, but his eyes kept smiling.
“I just thought it would be neat to see the same place from a bunch of different perspectives.” he took out his phone and snapped a photo from the point of view where he was sitting. Maybe my sleepiness made my bitch face less effective, cause he hadn't shown a hint of fear, which kind of annoyed me.
“That’s cool I guess, but I wouldn't do that if I were you. I’ve done some back here alone that would make your skin crawl.” in hindsight my attempt at unnerving him just made me sound like a pervert, which is probably why he held back laughter. Trying to hide a chuckle by clearing his throat.
“Hey, it's not my business what you do, no matter how Haram it is. It’s your life so that’s between you and whatever you believe in. Just don’t shake hands with me.” he joked, playfully putting his hands up. Strangely, I remembered his name at that moment.
“Oh shit, you’re Abdul! We have art together.” I sat up, haphazardly slamming my hand down on my leg.
“Uh yeah, I’ve seen some of your paintings, they’re pretty cool. I like the way you texture them, I’m trying to work on that.” he complimented, seeming more weirded out by my sudden energy than my accidental insinuation. I felt a little stupid for yelling his name but decided not to dwell on it.
“Thanks, you’re stuff is nice, and you’re good at shading.”
He stretched his arms while thanking me. We talked for a few more minutes, taking jabs at each other throughout. Turns out he was better at being an asshole than his artsy charismatic appearance made me think. The thing setting our insults apart being that you could tell he was a loving person underneath. It was the nicest conversation I had with anyone in a while. Though he could tell I was tired so he quieted down, letting me sleep, waking me when we got to school. We went our separate ways until the last two periods we shared. All that time, I spent my remaining energy plotting how I was going to handle the video. What I’d kill, record with, and how to dispose of the evidence. It was a lot to consider, but through three classes I devised a plan.
I’d find a stray around my apartment complex and take it out in my room. Record it on a portable camera since I broke the ones on my phone, no, I will not be answering how that happened. Then once I had my footage I’d put the body in a trash bag, throw it in the complex’s garbage, and clean the blood off my floor. It didn't seem like Brick would come by so he wasn't a factor I thought I’d have to consider. The plan was almost too easy, but I decided to believe in Occam’s razor. I got so lost in thought that by the time I reached Art, which was my second-to-last period, I didn't process that we were moving seats.
“She called your name,” Abdul reminded me. Our teacher placed us next to each other at our four-person table. The two girls sitting with us were already friends, so I didn't bother to say anything, but I was interested in talking to him more.
“So, what do you think of this assignment?” He shrugged, taking out his sketchbook.
“I’m not that good at drawing people, but the idea of combining two people’s faces into a portrait seems interesting. Any ideas on who you’ll pick?”
“Probably the members of the music duo Brain Tumor, they’re my favorite artists and they both look weird as hell.”
“Wow way to talk about your favorites, if that’s what you say about them I can‘t imagine what you have to say about me.” he joked, pulling up reference pictures.
“First, it’s not an insult, second I don’t have anything to say about you. Brain and Tumor have features and styles that make them stand out. Sure they’re ugly, but it just adds to their visual charm. Hot people are boring, there’s nothing to pick at.” I explained, unzipping my bag.
“Oh, so you’re saying you think I’m hot.”
His comment wasn’t serious but it kind of got to me.
“Shit, that’s not what I meant, I was trying to say you’re boring. All hot people are boring, but not all boring people are hot, okay?” I explained, flipping to a clean page.
“Alright, but if I’m so bland then why talk to me?”
I hesitated, contemplating how much of a dick I was gonna be.
“Because it means you probably need some spice in your life, which I can provide.”
He began sketching a head on his paper.
“I like spices, but I feel like you’re the kind of person to dump a cabinet’s worth onto me.”
I flicked my pencil over to his side of the desk, putting on a mocking grin.
“Aww, you scared I’m gonna get you into trouble?”
He picked up the pencil and started using it, putting his on my side.
“No, ‘cause I’m good at setting boundaries. I’m more concerned that you’ll get annoyed with how unafraid of you I am.”
I stared at him for a moment, I hadn't expected to hear that.
“Jeez, man you didn't have to read me like that.”
He shrugged, observing the red paint from past projects that lay on my pencil.
“It's not hard to figure out, just this morning you were trying to push me away on the bus. Lucky, or unlucky, for you I want you to have a friend and you seem like a fun person.”
“Wait are you saying I have no friends?” I squinted at him.
“Well, do you?”
I didn't answer.
“If your response is silence I suggest you take up my offer.”
I was stunned, to be honest. No one had offered to be my friend since 6th grade, and that didn't last long. Of course, I accepted it, but for the rest of the period, there was an awkwardness in my mind. As pathetic as it sounds I wasn't used to others genuinely enjoying my company like he did. Which was partly by design cause I get joy out of scaring people away, but still. I forgot how it felt to have conversations about normal things like art. He had such a nice smile too, usually when I see a grin I want to slap it off, but I liked his. His voice was also nice, it’s hard to describe what in particular but it was easy on the ears.
Okay, I’m starting to get off-topic. I’ll skip to the important part. Toward the end of class, he started talking about how he was interested in filmmaking and got a portable video camera as a gift at last year’s Eid. He didn't have it on him, but he showed me a picture.
“Heh, that’s funny, I bought the same one a month ago.” I pointed out.
“Yeah, it's a popular model, I’m still getting the hang of it though cause I’m so used to using my phone.”
“Well, maybe I could bring you over to my place or vice versa after school and I can help you out.” I suggested.
He smiled, putting his phone back in his pocket.
“I thought you said you’ve only had it for a month? You know I can always look up tutorials from trained professionals.” he reminded me with a notable smugness that I'd used with him before.
“Well those guys are stuffy and I’m a fast learner.”
He redirected his attention back to his page, picking his pencil up.
“Alright, I suggest we go somewhere public instead. You’re not exactly the kind of person I want to bring home to my parents right away. Plus they always need to meet my friends and their guardians before I hang out at their home.”
I gave an exaggerated sigh, stretching my back.
“Aw man, looks like we can’t get high in my murder pit during our first hangout.”
He didn't respond for a solid few seconds.
“Wait, you do know I'm joking right?”
He shrugged, the smile in his eyes appearing again.
“I mean, one of those things is a little less believable than the other.” he snickered, and I laughed with him.
We set up a time and a date, which is where I screwed myself. He ended up being busy with projects from his other classes and family which just left us with Friday, the same day I had to submit the video. Now, did I tell him I wouldn't be able to make it? No, of course not, because I decided to be stupid and even more overconfident. I said that I’d one hundred percent be able to hang out with him after school like I didn't have a mutilator who was going to drop by my place at an unknown time.
The rest of the day went over fine but that bad timing led me to feel like a dick later. When I got home I was able to write out my plan, even sketching a few specifics of what I’d do. It was more exciting than when I’d been brainstorming, but this is when the gravity of the situation began to set in. When I said I’d fantasized about killings I meant it. I mean my teddy with twenty-five stab wounds should say enough. Regardless this would be the first time real blood was on my hands.
It made me feel powerful, but a little afraid. I’ve heard stories of people thinking that it would be an awesome experience and then feeling like shit. I doubted I’d be one of those people but still. Plus, I didn't exactly trust the guy who gave me this job. There was a good chance that this whole situation was rigged and they’d kill me no matter how good the video was. Or worse turn me into the feds and expose my collection. Honestly, if that happened I’d probably eat a shot to avoid going to jail. Wait, can I say that on this platform? Okay to the mods, that was a joke, I want to live a long life. Ugh, I’m doing a terrible job of staying on track. The point is there was a lot up in the air despite it being a matter of life or death.
I knew I’d go through with it but it was still a lot less straightforward than it initially seemed. I wracked my brain to remember where most of the cats stayed and tried to come up with a good way to lure one without raising suspicion. This also proved harder than first thought because I didn't think to account for the cat man, an old guy who lived alone and fed all the cats in our dingy complex while also housing a few. Knowing how obsessive he was he’d probably notice if one of them disappeared. Then again not all the cats return consistently or at all. It makes more sense that he’d think one of them was run over rather than slaughtered. It was getting late again so I rested my head for a moment, a bad move cause I ended up falling asleep at my desk. Not even changing out of the clothes I’d worn before, I woke up late and barely caught the bus the next morning.
I went to my usual spot but Abdul had already taken it. He patted the area next to it, which he’d covered in a towel, a smart move knowing how nasty it was. People gave me a few dirty looks as normal, which I smiled at. I stretched, my mind slightly less out of it than the previous morning.
“Uh, you do realize that-”
“Yeah, I know I’m wearing the same clothes.”
Abdul looked me up and down, his eyes remaining soft, but with a mix of concern and judgment. He set his backpack down and took off his sweater handing it to me.
“Dude what are you-”
“Look I don't know what led to you not being able to change but I think you should at least have a fresh top.”
I was surprised he was offering me something to wear but I took it.
“Uh, thanks, I’ll change into it later.”
He nodded as I put it in my backpack.
“You know you didn't have to do that.” I reminded him.
“Well there’s a lot of stuff I don’t have to do, but I do it because I want to, and I wanted to help you out.”
He smiled, his face still warmer than an Arizona summer. I got a strange feeling in my chest at that moment, I still can’t tell if it was good or bad.
“Well, thanks, I'll give it back to you tomorrow.”
We talked a little more and he mentioned something that caught my attention.
“Have you heard about all the animals that have been turning up dead?”
My eyes widened with surprise.
“No, I haven't, when did you hear about that?”
He pulled on his long-sleeve shirt.
“My sister said her friend who works at a shelter noticed a bunch of animals were getting adopted by people around the same time, and since then gore videos with them have been showing up. She found out through her co-worker who was emailed it by some random creep.”
I covered my mouth and looked away to hide the smile growing on my face. He had just given me the perfect cover-up without knowing. Now if I killed an animal people had an entire violent ring to connect it to instead of me! I stayed quiet for a minute because I could tell he’d likely see through any phony sad sounds I made.
“Oh wow, that’s awful, do you think they’ll ever find out the people behind it?”
He sighed, running his hand through his wavy hair.
“I hope so, for now, all we can do is pray that no more animals get hurt.”
I couldn't contain my grin as he said that so sincerely like animals and people didn't die constantly and that taking down one group would somehow stop the issue.
“Is there some joke I don’t get?” he furrowed his brow.
“Uh, no, sorry I smile when nervous.”
His gaze softened again, and he didn't press further.
His bringing up the animal killings ended up being the exact push I needed to get my hands dirty. I’d spent the entire day before planning so it was time to put that plan into action. I stole some cat treats that the cat man had laid out and spread them around my apartment which was on the bottom floor. Waiting for one of them to take the bate outside my window was pretty boring but one of them came after a few minutes. A scraggly brown and black cat with a tuft of fur missing on one side of his head. It's messed up but I felt like a little less of an asshole for taking him in since he looked like he was already struggling. I scooped him up and he didn't attempt to fight back.
“Hey there buddy” I waved, feeding him some more food. His eyes had a lot of crust on them, it was kinda gross but I don’t have the right to say with how often I wash my jeans. After a minute or two he let me pet him. I knew making any kind of attachment was bad but I thought it was the right thing to do so he’d fall into a sense of security. I was just about to take him into my room when the door opened.
“Hey, I’m back with groceries!” my shithead cousin announced with two plastic bags in his hands. He looked down to see me with the cat, his eyebrows raising.
“Aw come on, you know we can’t afford a pet.”
He groaned placing the bags on a table and unloading them.
“I know, but he doesn't look like he’s got a lot of life in him I at least want to help him feel better before he kicks the bucket!”
Brick rolled his eyes, putting the cereal box on top of the fridge
“Jeez, did you even think about what diseases he might have? His eyes look puffy what if he has something that can get you sick?”
He had valid concerns which was surprising since he’s usually stupid, but I was still annoyed with him.
“I’m sure he’s fine, I’ll even try to wash him, just please let me hold onto him for a little.”
He folded his arms looking down at us.
“Have you even named him?”
I froze for a second, before using the first thing that came to mind, which ended up being pretty awful knowing my plans.
“Cash cow.” I blurted, awkwardly patting his head.
“Honestly that’s better than what I was expecting. I was sure you’d pick ‘Hellspawn Mcgee’ or something else corny.”
He meant to make fun of me but honestly, I would have named him that if I had more time.
“Ugh, anyway I got those dumb chips you like.”
He then pulled out a bag of the wrong chips.
“Dude those are the wrong ones, this is the third time you’ve mixed up the flavors.”
He threw them at me, scaring the cat slightly.
“Well, I pay for it so you shouldn't be so picky. Anyway, while I was in line I picked up something you might be into.”
He then tossed me a trashy teen magazine. One of my least favorite sorry excuses for an influencer on the cover.
“This is a joke, right?”
I couldn't believe my own adopted brother gave such little shit in my interests.
“I don't know, you decided to start being a girl for real this time so I thought the makeup tips on page ten would help you out.”
I scrunched my face at his comment.
“Dude I’ve been this way for years, just because I started wearing more makeup and dresses doesn't mean I’m more of a girl than when I didn't. I know you won’t get the two-spirit thing but come on.”
He shrugged, seeing me done with me even though he’d just shown up.
“Yeah well hey I’m trying. Anyway, just so you know a friend of mine is coming here Friday.”
My heart stopped.
“Wait why here? You live elsewhere why can’t you assholes go there or their place!”
He slammed his fist on the table.
“Will you shut the fuck up!”
He screamed with a phrase I’d grown numb to.
“I don't know, to be honest, something about wanting to move into this complex and this being a way to scout it out. I’m just letting you know now so you don’t act like a complete freak.”
“Jokes on you I’ll piss in whatever shitty beer you bring just cause you said that!”
I yelled back raising my voice higher than his. He face-palmed before putting the plastic bags in the drawer under the sink.
“Whatever, you and your ketamine-addict-looking cat have fun,” he told me while seating himself on the couch. I picked up the cat and walked into the bathroom to clean it. I closed the door and placed him in the dry tub. Using a small disposable mouthwash cup I got a little bit of water. I hadn't had a pet before so I wasn't sure how to approach the task. I dipped my fingers in the water and carefully pet it while pouring s small bit down his back. Any other cat would fight back but he just made pissed-off noises without doing anything.
I scrapped my old shampoo bottle and kneaded it into his thin fur. His skin was bumpy and dry beneath the hair so scrubbing it was uncomfortable. I made sure to avoid getting soap in its eyes but I did pull away some of the crust on its lids. His pupils were so clouded I was surprised that he could see at all, making me feel even more sure that he would be on its way out with or without me.
After drying him I set him on a beat-up shirt I wore when modifying clothes. He sunk his claws into it a few times, playing with a loose string. I ignored him for the rest of the night, hopping into the shower and changing for bed. His meows woke me up a few times but I tuned it out after a while, reminding myself that he wouldn’t be my cat for long.
The next day was Thursday and there wasn't a second that passed by where the weight of the murder I’d have to commit didn't weigh on me. I seriously shot myself in the foot by taking care of that scruffy, pubic hair pile. I was supposed to be hyped about killing it, after all, I’d dreamed and seen way worse than what I was going to do. Yet once I got home and started setting up I felt grosser with each step. I decided to record it in my bathroom instead of my bedroom so it would be harder to connect to me. I set down a few fabric scraps and a worn-out beach towel, placing it all inside a tub for easier cleanup later.
“Okay, I guess it's time,” I mumbled to myself. I brought the cat in and placed it down, setting up my camera once it was comfortable. I also wore my most generic clothes in addition to a mask, putting my hair in a bun for sanitation. When I saw the flicker of red showing that the camera was on I felt I was dreaming. I smiled, excited that I’d get to live out my violent desires. Yet, when I looked down at its pathetic frame and confused expression those urges left me.
I rationalized what I was doing, reminding myself how many animals die all the time and that I’d been forced into this, but it didn't help much in the end. I won’t get into it but under the pressure of impressing the group Cash Cow didn't go out as fast as I would have liked for a first task. Getting rid of the evidence was especially rough, the textures were pretty nasty, to put it mildly. It was surreal watching the blood go down the tub drain and gradually drip off my hands as I rinsed them. I couldn't conjure a single thought the entire time I cleaned it up.
Whether I was wringing out the clothes or putting the remains in plastic bags, it didn't matter. All I could focus on was the task at hand, with hints of disgust along the way. I ended up finishing at three AM. My hands were wrinkled and shook once I settled. I won’t deny that during the murder I didn't hate it. Slashing into something was fun and it made me feel strong. Still, it wasn't nearly as fulfilling as I expected it to be. Part of it was guilt, but it was mostly disappointment. I’d built it up for years and it wasn't earth shatteringly good or bad.
Overall, I expected to feel more, but it just left me hollow with an uncomfortable itch. There was no way I’d ever be able to see the tub the same way, hell I don’t think I’ll ever use it again. Luckily I almost always shower anyway so it's not too big of a deal. I watched a few horror game videos, trashed everything, changed and went to bed.
My scalp hurt like a bitch the morning since I kept my hair in that stupid bun. Despite getting less sleep than the past two days I held myself together a bit better in the morning. I brushed my teeth, changed, and had some fried bread before getting on the bus. Regardless I looked like complete shit and struggled to slump into my seat.
“Rough night?” Abdul asked
“Uh, yeah.” I quietly responded looking to the floor.
He frowned, looking at me with concern.
“You can talk about it if you're comfortable,” he assured me. I contemplated giving him a thinly veiled metaphor or vague explanation so he'd comfort me but stopped myself before my mouth could run a muck. He wouldn't be able to do much of anything and I don’t like opening up.
“Uhm, thanks but it's something I have to deal with alone.”
He nodded, respecting my boundaries.
“You know, I understand if you can’t hang out today it seems like you have a lot going on.”
I avoided eye contact with him as he spoke. For once I was feeling hints of guilt toward a person. I wanted to spend time with him, but I knew that I wasn't in the state to do that.
“Yeah, I think it’ll have to wait, I’m-” I cut myself off before apologizing. A fact about me that should surprise no one is that I hate apologizing. Even when I do feel kinda bad the act fills me with embarrassment.
“You what?” he asked, his eyes telling me that he knew what I was going to say.
“I’m emotionally not great.” I spat out in an admittedly poor attempt to get out of saying sorry. As always he remained calm but I could tell he saw through me.
“Okay, like I said I understand, whatever it is I hope you feel better.”
I told him thank you and we didn't speak for the rest of the day. At home I changed into more comfortable clothes and brushed my teeth. Unfortunately, I wasn't bouncing back from killing nearly as much as I expected.
“It wasn't even that bad! That thing was on its last legs anyway.” I grumbled to myself, smacking my forehead. I was feeling worse than when I did it which is weird. I ended up spontaneously decorating a ratty tie from the bottom of an accessory drawer to distract myself. It helped me get my mind off things, for a little. I had zero plan, just wanting to make something needlessly complex. Hours that felt like minutes passed and soon it was covered in patches, frills, and beads. I just tried it on when I heard the front door open.
“Man, that shit was wild!” I heard Brick laugh groggily. I didn't have to see or smell him to know he’d gotten lit. I rolled my eyes, closing my bedroom door.
“Hey, who’s there?” his friend asked, seemingly referring to me.
“Oh, that’s my little sis, don’t mind her she’s just on her emo shit!” he joked, which pissed me off for the petty reason that I didn't even listen or dress emo.
“Hey, that’s alright with me, I went through one of those phases,” they responded, their words less slurred than my cousin’s.
I fucked up and forgot to lock it when I closed it so they were able to swing it open, almost smacking my desk.
“Hey emo girl!” they waved as Brick haphazardly pulled them back.
“Okay, man, seriously I think she wants to be left alone.”
The way his friend looked at me made me uncomfortable. Like they’d snap my neck if I pissed them off. They clicked their tongue while stepping through the door frame.
“Alright, but I gotta say calling her an emo is inaccurate, they look like they watch gore and most emos just say they do.” they flashed a sharp toothy grin. At that moment I began to connect the dots.
“Easy, she’ll get pissy with you dude, now come on.” Brick warned tugging their opened button pushed him away. They looked me dead in the eyes.
“I don’t think she minds, in truth, I feel like we’ll have a lot to discuss later.” they smiled again, finally walking back into the living room. A chill ran up my spine when I saw them. The sharp teeth, New York accent, unsettling gaze, that motherfucker was the person who recruited me! They were able to get into my place so easily cause my dumbass cousin probably gave them a spare key or the opportunity to make one, and when they were a room away from me!
I dug my hands into my pillow as I contemplated what to do, no matter what happened next, I knew it was gonna be a rough visit.

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Tl;dr disclaimer on what ended up turning into a stream of consciousnesses
I quit Best Buy a couple of months ago and wanted to share some thoughts regarding both my 2 year stint and the current state of Best Buy in general.
Quick background - I’ve worked in multiple sales roles in various capacities for the good part of a decade, and for various reasons took some time off in 2022 to re-evaluate what I wanted to do. In the meantime wanted to be on my feet, so applied for a sales advisor role at one of the largest Best Buys in the northeast, as wayyyyyyyy back in the day I was a seasonal employee in the “media department” at another Best Buy absolutely loved it. In between recommending Nintendo Wii/DS games to customers and buying Xbox 360 controllers, got some real world sales experience as a teenager. I’d tell coworkers in my professional career 10 years later it was my favorite job I’ve ever had.
Back to 2022 – started as a Sales Advisor and enjoyed it at first. Getting the most apps/memberships validated my ego as the best salesperson, and to me that’s all that mattered.
Soon I left to another store in a VPL role that was responsible for leading a team and hitting targets. Actually enjoyed this one as well, as there was a tangible goal, which again validated my own ego as we led the entire market in meeting those goals. Eventually became a Consultant at that same store.
You really get to see how the sausage is made once you’re in the C&D world. Coworkers are generally a little older and have had to endure the sales advisor grind as well, so you naturally both shit on Best Buy and various managers.
That said, there seemed to be a transition to driving revenue above all else in July 2023 or so. Before that, it was all about card/membership efficiency.
This was especially to me because, since Consultants are in store, it is just as important for them to hit (and lead!) revenue targets at the store. Our’s was $1000/hr absolute minimum.
Please explain to me how it’s possible to average $1000/hr on a Tuesday with little foot traffic in Home TheateAppliances where Consultants sell - while Advisors also have to meet their own goal and also asked to sell the appliances? Answer: It isn't. "Consultants" consult insofar of their name and name alone. Instead of consulting, you now are required to sell a computer, phone, kit-kat bar, it doesn’t matter! You are now a glorified sales advisor who makes a sweet 0.5% on Sonos products, so those rare times you nail that Arc sales gets you a whopping $4.50! Fuck development and any other facet to your role beyond immediate numbers
Revenue was more important than anything else, which epitomizes Best Buy’s tunnel vision approach to basically everything it does.
Anyone on the floor is a commodity – doesn’t matter what position. Doesn’t matter what department. Sales advisor selling an $8000 projector instead of the Consultant helping a customer figure out which Best Buy Essentials USB-C cable they should buy? No prob. $8000 is $8000 dollars to the company, full stop. They don’t give a shit about any other variable when the rev is that high. They don't care about positions, knowledge, really anything honestly I don’t even blame the advisor for selling that, as they have rev targets to hit as well.
So now we've established a culture with coworkers angry at each other for "stealing" sales. Stealing sales! When no commission is involved for anyone! Again, why should management care as long as they meet their own goals pushed by their GM, and from the district manager…all the way up the chain What a joke for everyone involve.
At a previous company, my boss quit, so I reported to a big wig just under the CFO. That new boss took me out to dinner one night, and among other interesting facets about the company said:
“Something you always need to remember John: 90% of problems at companies are caused by management.”
An executive at a top 5 private company in the US saying that. Best Buy leadership could never.
In conclusion, going to wrap up with 5 underrated things I could not stand at Best Buy and 3 closing pieces of advice.
1) Walkie talkies were absolute ass, and the expectation to be able to talk to customers at the same time, which for me was literally impossible to do. Also not conducive for small ears appparently
2) Vendors/Citi Bank bringing in fucking Little Ceasars when there’s a Dominos within walking distance. Do you need us to run customers cards twice or some shit?
3) Coworkers unable to articulate mathematically the difference between Best Buy Total (Tech) and AppleCare on a $1000 MacBook Air to a customer who very rarely shops at Best Buy. Quiz for those who sell computers:
a. How much does it cost to have the laptop under AppleCare for 2 yrs w/ Total
b. How much does it cost to have the laptop under AppleCare for 3 yrs w/AppleCare?
Answers: $358 and $279ish
The irony is from my experience some advisors truly don’t know that. And for those that do, it’s a shame management is pushing advisors to hit membership goals at any expense, which naturally leads to a moral dilemma taken on by the lowly salespeople on the floor instead of the bums at corporate Best Buy creating a membership that’s such a catastrophe, it’s a net loss for the company money LMAO. You or I would have generated greater profits playing minesweeper all day.

1. Obsessiveness with laser-lining. Never in the history of history, of history, has someone chosen not to buy something because it wasn’t perfectly aligned. And if I am wrong, it happens at such a small rate that the incremental annoyance that it causes employees supersedes that of the dollars lost from the purple squishmellow being out of place.
   
2. And the absolute kicker: the GM looking you dead in the eye and saying you’ll be getting a 57 cent raise. Not smiling, not trying to hide anything, but truly believing this is an accomplishment we should be thankful for. It doesn’t matter if you’re older and have experience or 16 years old, it's 57 fucking cents. This really just confirms how far removed management has become, and reinforces that we are line items on the Intraday Salesperson Report that must meet x requirements by EOD. If not, that commodity (you) is sold, an offer (job posting) is made, and new interviews (bid) begin. Bid and offer intersect, so now someone else is hired. Commodities trading 101.
   

Advice, and going to try to make this one quick as my blood is starting to boil:
1) THE most important factor you should consider not only in the context of Best Buy, but outside of work, is your mental health. Some of you have dealt head on with severe anxiety and depression at least once. I’m with you on that. Some of you are experiencing for the first time, and the rest are human and will always be at risk for it. $14-$17 isn't worth it, for anyone. There are other places, there are other ways to get you where you need to be. I used to be so depressed at a previous corporate job I’d pop pills during the day to get by. If you’re one of the Gen Z kids that has to vape every 10 minutes because of stress, ask yourself why you feel the need to do it.
b. Use your LOA. If anything this will force you to go to a doctor, which is good thing for many people new to the world of imperfect mental health. You get some free sessions of therapy through a benefit Best Buy offers I can't remember the name of.
2) On a lighter note If you’re in need of memberships, the easiest way to get them is to show items that have a $50 Plus discount that fit the needs of a customer. They want a solid, portable laptop? 14 inch Dell Inspiron on sale for $599 with a $50 Plus incentive it is. Big OLED TV? 77 inch LG C3 $200 off with Plus. I actually enjoyed this as it was mentally stimulating to me and it was a win-win for everyone surprisingly
3) Don’t be scared to leave. Best Buy is going downhill. They have a monopoly on brick and mortar electronic stores, and have the luxury to trim what they believe is the “fat” of the company until it begins to negatively affect the bottom number. If that requires destroying the culture, quarterly layoffs, deceit to customers, setting goals they know are unrealistic to keep all level of store employees on their toes, then so be it. Best Buy will eventually cross the line they can’t uncross. As mentioned many times, you are expendable in their eyes.
Don’t let any part of working for Best Buy define who you are. Enjoy the positives of the experience with good customers and intuitive programs like RSS/Order Manage while you’re there. Make your money and leave when it’s right.

For this level 1-10 build, I drew inspiration from Dorshe from the anime Ranking of Kings. For those who aren't familiar, he is one of the 4 strongest warriors who reside in the castle in the show. His primary fighting attributes are his great strength, deceptive speed, heavy armor and brawling-based attacks. He was the very first thing I thought of when I read through the Playtest Guardian and I think that this build is going to be a slightly unconventional take on the Guardian in its role. The goal is to make him a tough unarmed hitter who can always get where he wants to go on the battlefield and sacrifice his armor to go all out!
Ancestry: Human
Background: Warrior
Class: Guardian
Ability Modifiers: STR +4, DEX +1, CON +3, WIS +1, INT +0, CHA +0
Skill Training: Athletics, Warfare Lore, Diplomacy, Intimidation, Society, Survival
Heritage: Versatile Heritage (Toughness)
Ancestry Feat: General Training (Fleet)
Threat Technique: Ferocious Vengeance
Level 1:
Class Feat: Shoulder Check
Right out the gate, we are looking to lean on the Guardian's class features for defending our allies. We are picking up Fleet and Toughness because it's free real estate. Going Ferocious Vengeance means that the game plan is to keep movement up and Taunt in a way that the enemy would rather attack an ally at a penalty. Taunt someone that isn't close to you and then move to the least convenient location. Shoulder Check is in here because it's a good way to get off-guard for latebigger attacks (and is agile!). Being able to make enemies flat-footed without having to flank is huge for the Guardian because they would rather be standing next to their allies in melee.
Level 2:
Class Feat: Armor Break
Archetype Feat: Martial Artist Dedication
Skill Feat: Titan Wrestler (Athletics - Trained)
This will probably be one of the more controversial picks of the build, but Dorshe is just not a Hampering Sweeps kind of guy. We are going to go Armor Break because it fits his character and will pay dividends down the line. Right now, it deals some extra damage and makes you a little faster if you are in heavy armor. Get your Handwraps and get ready to brawl! Martial Artist Dedication makes Shoulder Check a d6 and has some other feats we will be interested in taking down the line.
Level 3:
General Feat: Incredible Initiative
Initiative is good. Not very many general feats after this point can say the same thing.
Level 4:
Class Feat: Flying Tackle
Archetype Feat: Crane Stance
Skill Feat: Powerful Leap (Athletics - Trained)
This is where things start getting fun. For two actions, Flying Tackle allows you to Stride then Leap and if you end up adjacent to an enemy, you can trip them and a success automatically becomes a critical success, which tacks on a bit of extra damage. With 25 ft speed and Powerful Leap, horizontal leaps are 15 feet, which gives 40 up to feet total + a trip attempt. Both your speed and your Leap for this increase by 5 feet when you use Armor Break. Crane Stance gives you a circumstance bonus to AC and buffs your leap distance. I think using Taunt and Flying Tackle together will be a rotational staple to expand your area of denial. This alters the strategy a bit of Armor Break and Shoulder Check to be a 3 action finisher that gives you a pretty significant speed boost, which I personally think is the most fun aspect of this build.
Level 5:
Ancestry Feat: Cooperative Nature
Get your boosts! Cooperative Nature makes Aid easier, which can be good to pair with Flying Tackle, especially if you are trying to break through an enemy that is hard to hit.
Level 6:
Class Feat: Intercept Foe
Archetype Feat: Follow-up Strike
Skill Feat: Rapid Mantel (Athletics - Expert)
I was conflicted between Reactive Strike and Intercept Foe here. Reactive Strike pairs well with Flying Tackle, but Intercept Foe gives yet another strong movement option that gets a little bit bigger after armor break and can have some cool synergies to make Ferocious Vengeance go further. My initial thoughts are like this: Reactive Strike will get more miles if the enemy you tackled or an enemy that you Flying Tackled away from is likely going to move (or stand) to attack you or is someone (like a caster) who relies on manipulate actions for their power. Intercept Foe on a Taunted target that uses a melee attack against your ally can open them up for a whole turn of pain. It depends on your campaign which one might be more useful. In the spirit of Dorshe, however, we're going for speed, baby. We take Rapid Mantel to take advantage of our increased jump height and immediately clear any ledge 10 feet or shorter with a single jump. Follow-Up Strike keeps the theme of "never attack with more than -2 effective MAP" rolling.
Level 7:
General Feat: Fast Recovery
Poison Sucks. Fast Recovery makes it suck less
Level 8:
Class Feat: Quick Intercept
Archetype Feat: Blessed One Dedication
Skill Feat: Wall Jump (Athletics - Master)
Quick Intercept allows you to effectively Intercept Strike any melee attack from anywhere within your Stride distance by combining it with Intercept Foe. It's not exactly that because unlike the actual Intercept Strike, you have to start the process when the enemy declares an attack target instead of waiting for the result. Wall Jump is a bit of a meme, but it looks like it has some fun potential to get you some air time. With Free Archetype, Dorshe gets the Blessed One Dedication and takes a page from another member of the Ranking of Kings cast to get Lay on Hands, which at this point is a cool 24 HP for an action for yourself or a friend.
Level 9:
Ancestry Feat: Cooperative Soul
It looks cool and I like any buffs to Aid. I can't say that I totally understand the feat, but auto-success to Aid under certain conditions works for me.
Level 10:
Class Feat: Tough Cookie
Archetype Feat: Accelerating Touch
Skill Feat: Intimidating Prowess (Intimidation - Expert)
Tough Cookie is quite the feat. I kinda think/wish it was a class feature that they could get instead of it being a feat so it could come online a *little* bit earlier, but I like it. It really rounds out the second phase below half health aesthetic I've been going for in this build. Accelerating touch is another good old speed boost that you can use on yourself or give to an ally. I was considering just taking another Focus Spell to increase the focus pool and that is an equally valid option.
Item considerations:
Armor with the laminar trait would be the most optimal because it isn't as bad when broken, so the O-Yoroi is the only one that won't give a speed penalty after the armor breaks.
Magic items, I have no idea where to start there. Bracelets of Dashing are good for extra movement (level 3). Healer's Gloves or a Lifting Belt (level 4) are nice.
For consumables, never be caught leaving the house without soothing and/or numbing tonic or a Juggernaut Mutagen. Temp HP is your friend and so is fast healing.
Summary:
Overall, I like the build. It leans into the strengths of the Guardian, but takes a slightly different spin on it, utilizing a lot of its features that are beyond just having a lot of AC. I think their ability for mobility, ability to hit without a lot of MAP, and a consistent usage of all three actions is highly underrated. Using their mobility to make themselves hard for a Taunted enemy to catch and then punishing them for attacking allies by using their mobility to, once again, close the gap and get good attacks in, fueled by Ferocious Vengeance. Then, finally, getting an extra boost at lower health at the cost of AC that you are hopefully not going to use much (the benefit of defending with Intercept Strike instead of face tanking). I think this is a very different take compared to the normal heavy armor + shield defender and feels like a lot of fun. If I get the chance to play a Guardian soon, I will give Dorshe a shot! He can definitely get some extra miles out of Free Archetype with a lot of ways to make what he does just consistently better. Honestly, this build would probably work better with a 2H weapon with Trip, for sure, but I like the idea of the unarmed Guardian and it gets some benefit from buffing Shoulder Check via Handwraps.
Tell me what you think!

I literally just finished watching the last episode and it was very entertaining and fun! But a few thoughts:
- the ghoul has trouble fighting maximus in the beginning but somehow exploits the armor's weakness in the last episode and easily dispatches 3 armored knights. Did he forget he wore that thing for a whole war and had temporary amnesia about the armor's flaw but then magically remembered it in the season finale? seems weird
- the fact that the brotherhood is so easily forgiving of maximus:
cleric: did u hurt dane's foot?
maximus: nah, lemme fight for u
cleric: ok
*later
cleric: is that the head?
maximus: yes
cleric: ur lying
maximus: ok but i can tell u where it is
cleric: die
dane: i hurt my own foot
cleric: fine he can live
*later later
cleric: how'd titus die?
maximus: running
cleric: we lost our way, ur looking for a home, let's build a new world together me and you as essentially my right hand man despite countless squires and actual knights in our roster who hasn't lied to me yet and have seniority over you because i'm moved by your sincerity whenever the camera zooms in on your face as you're telling me generic things...
- how the ghoul has no redeeming qualities and enjoys killing, but also used to be a decent guy and dog lover and father and husband, but stabs a dog 200 yeras later and kills a man's two sons for the hell of it (well he might come after me later so he's a threat, this farm boy in the middle of nowhere who's probably never gonna see me again and even if he did, i seem to be immune to most small caliber bullets) but then the series finale comes and oh he's a good guy after all because he's keeping the dog as a companion and tells Lucy to come with him. I don't understand if they're trying to make him a multidimensional villain but to me he's just a one dimensional pure villain. I can't even find a way to rationalize the things he does if i were in his shoes.
- Maximus is so unlikeable as one of the main characters. Let's a fellow brother (and knight) die because he was being too mean, steps on Thaddeus foot when he tried to get away, tried to steal a fusion core from vault 4 (just my opinion, some might say he redeemed himself towards the end)
- If Moldaver knew Rose, why would she have a dude try to murder Rose's daughter and if she's the "good guy" trying to make the world better for everyone, why attack innocent vault dwellers instead of just attacking those that came from vault 31 or even just the overseer himself? Lucy and her brother survived through sheer luck, when the raiders were about to kidnap the overseer it showed they had the ability to limit the harm (by letting lucy get locked into a room and not shooting the other vault dwellers, instead telling them to run and hide), yet it seemed like they were indiscrimately killing unsuspecting vault dwellers beforehand. Couldn't they just have kidnapped the overseer without killing anyone? They had the perfect plan and succeeded in sneaking in undetected along with weapons, but then went berserk when there was no need to.
Just a few thoughts, I wish they'd watch out for these things for season 2. Or maybe it's just me nitpicking things but either way i enjoyed the show and can't wait for next season!

New Saves, Max Difficulties, Limited Fast Travel, No Classes/Skills, No HUD, Limited Suppressors.
Soldier Mode is a realistic hardcore challenge mode for Xbox that I’m trying to organize a community foaround. This mode requires the player to start a new save file and play the main story mode without HUD elements, Pistol calibeIntegral suppressors only, Biv-to-Biv fast travel, and more importantly; without ever selecting a class and starting the skill tree. This means no NVGs, no parachute, MK.1 Weapons, and most other items and abilities that are commonplace in the base game are lost or are very hard to come by.
This mode is for the patient and methodical. Running around will result in many quick deaths. Every fight is a legitimate threat and stealth is much harder. Soldier Mode is difficult but not impossible to Solo; but more eyes, more angles, more better.
I’m hesitant to call this an RP, I’m not a fan of the hoorah yes sir tango down RP stuff, but in this mode it just so happens to be more of a communicative necessity than just playing pretend. The Biv-to-Biv fast travel and Limited suppressors are the most RPish elements but that's for realism, and like, why isn't Biv-to-Biv limited fast travel in the base game, that seems like it should be a toggleable setting, but whatever. It’s light RP I guess.
There’s no ranks or chain of command here, this is just a place for people playing in the same challenging manner to team up on equal footing.
If this kind of thing interests you, DM me for more info about joining our group; but I also encourage you to try out the game without classes/skills on your own if the extra bits aren't for you. I really do think it freshens up this old game and turns it on it's head. I have 150+hrs logged playing like this so I'm happy to answer questions and help along the way. Thanks!

[First]
CHAPTER 31
Lumiea
Year -19 (L.D.)

Despite her age, Aeryn did not often feel young. The fight to make it to Iyla and then to bond to her squad had consumed so much of her life that her world had narrowed, and with it time, so this cause she'd given so much for felt timeless and all-consuming. Her life had not been measured in years nor her years in months or days but in each battle she'd waged to make it to this point.
Petrin's eyes–brimming with the conviction of a man who knew more of the world than her–made her feel young and childish. Aeryn knew nothing.
She wanted to say she was fighting for Earth. When she'd stood in the Ceremony Hall at Iyla and looked up to see the image of Earth for the first time, Commander Vehru had told them they would liberate the planet from the plague of violence, poverty, and oppression that ruled the innocent people there. But then Vehru had also told her that fighting rebels protected her world.
Not once while hunting down rebels did Aeryn ever feel as if she protected anything.
So athough she did not know this man and had no reason to trust him, her heart recognized the truth in his words as one which had already been filling her heart day after bloody day as an Iylan soldier.
"You've seen it too." Petrin tilted his head to the side, studying her. "There's suffering in your eyes. You've seen the blood that soaks your uniform and stains your soul."
Wisdom from training tried to speak reason to her. Never trust the words of a captor during an interrogation. A basic, obvious truth. What if Vehru had been the real captor, though? And their entire world her hostage. Aeryn had devoted too much of herself to becoming a liberator of worlds for her to simply trust anyone. It was with her hands she pulled the trigger on Joon and took the last remnant of his wife, Rory, from his stiff grasp. Had Aeryn fought all this time for Vehru, herself, or liberation?
It wasn't a question she really needed to ask herself.
"You think there's hope for Earth?" Aeryn asked.
"The Ephemorian are human, no matter how advanced they are. Humans have weaknesses."
"What does the Witness do?"
Petrin lowered his gaze, seeming to think. "It's dangerous to share information and I've already given you so much. But then again, if I can't trust you, I have to kill you." Sorrow filled his eyes as he looked back up. "The knowledge will die with you in that case."
"Just tell me, please."
"You become Rory." He nodded. "Like her, I mean. Commander Vehru takes your memories from you and sends you ahead to Earth a decade before Liberation Day."
"Why? What purpose could it serve to take the memories?"
"Think about it. Why would Vehru want someone on the planet early?"
"To start working. She'd want someone to prepare the planet." Aeryn leaned back against the cold wall. "It lets them know there's life on another planet capable of reaching them."
"And?"
"And… I don't know. That it's not threatening? Because some amnesiac on an alien planet probably won't jump to world domination."
"You're halfway right. It is still threatening. How did this person get here? What happened to their memories? Did someone send them or were they running? Did they just take a wrong turn somewhere?" He leaned in. "The questions all come down to this. Who is out there? When there's no answer, something dangerous happens. Terror takes over. And terror left to fester for years desensitizes you to threat."
"Psychological warfare."
"You also can't spill her secrets if you don't remember them. Do you know what kind of person Vehru chooses as the Witness?"
Aeryn shook her head. "I imagine someone capable of helping her take over a planet."
"Vehru has plenty of soldiers to wage war and take the planet by force. The Witness does what no one else can. They earn trust."
A cold fist of dread squeezed Aeryn's stomach.
"That's why her Witnesses are kind, trusting, altruistic people. It's rare for someone like that to make it to Iyla, so the kind of person who ends up in a position like yours is also incredibly resilient. A perfect weapon. A wolf in sheep's clothing who actually believes they're a sheep."
"No." Aeryn shook her head. "I don't… I never would have wanted this program…" Her breath came in short spurts. The idea of having her memories taken, being abandoned on Earth, set up to unwittingly earn the trust of the people and soften them for Vehru's invasion–it was too much to think about. "Does it really work?"
"It does. It's not her only strategy. But it's a very effective one."
"We had a Witness on Lumiea then? How have we never heard of it?"
"Vehru decides what history records. Hell, she decides what our own minds remember."
"You're saying she wiped everyone's memory?"
"No. That's not necessary when you can control people in much simpler ways. I'm sure she resorted to that when she needed to, but when Commander Vehru forbids something from being mentioned, people dare not even think about it. You know this too well."
True. When had Aeryn realized they would not liberate Earth but conquer it? She hadn't allowed herself to think it, but she knew it was true before today.
Petrin sighed. "Vehru gives the memories back to the Witness when she's ready for them to have it. If you become the Witness, you won't be able to stop her from sending you or taking your memories. But if you plan beforehand, you'll regain your plans with your memories."
"If she can take memories, does it mean she can read them too?"
Petrin hesitated. "I don't know. We've suspected it, but from what my parents taught me and from what I've seen, it doesn't make sense. If Vehru could read minds, then she would have stopped a great many people from doing a great many things, including those whose memories she stole."
"Everything you're saying could be a lie."
"It could be. Vehru could also be lying. What's your truth? Do you even know?"
Her truth? Her heart was filled with a home long lost and a new family searching for her now. All Aeryn had wanted before was to get into the program. Now she just wanted to hold onto what she loved. Truth seemed too elusive to catch hold of.
"My truth is that you have me tied up in a basement."
"We could use Vehru's line and say we liberated you from her forces." His sly smile defied the seriousness of the situation. "I would rather tell the truth, though."
"So you want to influence the future Witness and kill those you can't sway. What makes you think Vehru will choose any of us after you've tampered with our minds?"
"Because she hasn't stopped us. You think we get away with anything without Vehru looking the other way? Maybe she really can read our minds and there's some grand purpose to all this. What I know is that my people are good. But no one is that good. She should have recaptured the Aerolux by now."
Another fucking trial. Vehru may not have planned this one but if she did know and just didn't stop it then she was testing her all over again. And if she really didn't know, then she was weaker than Aeryn thought.
"It sounds like there's as much hope for Earth as Lumiea," Aeryn said.
"Unless we can spread the message to all the Witnesses. Maybe one planet can't win against the Federation. What if we all fight? What if Earth is willing to fight for the next planet? And this is the first ring in a chain that will one day bind the Federation."
Aeryn caught herself smiling sadly. "You're an idealist."
"I–"
Screams and gunfire erupted up the stairs. Petrin ripped to his feet, turning.
A train had crashed right into the hideout. That was how loud the commotion was. Aeryn sat back against the wall and tried again to undo her bonds, wide eyes on the door as pounding footsteps grew louder and louder.
"Aeryn!" The voice exploded from the hallway just before a deafening crack erupted. "Aeryn!"
A large figure burst into the room, ripping the door clear off its hinges and throwing it against the wall in one smooth motion as if it was weightless. Jace looked like a stranger in that moment, a ferocious, feral stranger heavily modded and muscled. Aeryn had gotten so comfortable with him that she'd not really noticed what a threat he'd become.
The sight of him and his rage froze the room for a split second.
Jace jumped down the stairs and landed flat footed with his hand already curling around the neck of one of the shocked rebel soldiers. Her friend's familiar features twisted and hardened into a mask of rage.
How had he found her? Where were his guns?
The closest soldiers ran for him while the others trained their weapons. But Jace seemed unstoppable. He'd thrown the man he was holding against the splintered debris of the door and knocked away the next one with a single swing of his arm. The floor moaned and the room shook with the power of Jace's rampage, so the vibrations shot straight to Aeryn's heart. Guns fired, but Jace shot across the room with trails of his thrusters looking like smoke at his heels.
His shoulder rammed into one man. Fist rocketed into another's skull.
Red glowed from his palms as he flung himself toward two more rebels. Blasts from rebel laser guns popped like fireworks, but Jace moved so swiftly, she couldn't even tell if he'd been hit. Until one shot ripped his shoulder back in a spray of blood right as he grabbed the face of a rebel. Somehow, it didn't slow him down or seem to faze him. Jace slammed the man on the ground so hard he bounced.
He raised his hand toward the last woman, clasped his wrist to brace his arm, and blasted her with a beam of sparking electricity. His own arm jerked from the shock of the discharge.
With everyone else down, Jace twisted for Petrin, eyes as hard as when he first entered, and ready fists hazy with energy.
"No, Jace–" Aeryn shifted to block him but forgot about her bindings and nearly fell. "He has information. He helped me."
She worried that he hadn't heard her. Jace's stare remained locked on Petrin, but her friend had stopped moving. The room had stopped shaking. And Aeryn knew her words had reached him.
"Jace–"
"Weapons," he barked at Petrin.
The man slid everything across the floor, including his mods. Jace frisked him and then shoved him toward Aeryn.
"Release her." Jace's voice was as rough as sandpaper. "Now."
The fear emanated from Petrin like heat, but it hadn't made him tremble or cower. He'd gone silent with it. Silent and careful. Slowly, he lifted his thumb and pressed it against the pads on the restraints to unlock Aeryn's wrists and ankles.
Before she could even rise on her stiff legs, Jace rushed to her side and lifted her by her arms. Her feet hovered above the ground for a moment until he settled her down, the hardness on his face softening into worry. No. Not worry.
Fear.
"Are you hurt?" His eyes traveled down her body, hands gripping her arms tight.
"No. You're the one who's hurt." She reached for his shoulder but hesitated with her fingers close. "You know you got shot, right?"
Aeryn worried he'd gotten so lost in his rampage that he really had no idea.
"I can't really feel it," he said.
"You will soon. That's just your adrenaline. We need to stop the bleeding." This time, Aeryn ripped her arms away before he had the chance to move her again and plastered her palms against his wound, prying a grunt from his lips. "See? You felt that one."
Fingers–sticky with blood that had trailed from his shoulder and down his arm–lifted to her cheek and lightly grazed her skin. "I thought I'd find you dead. I thought…"
Aeryn couldn't draw in a breath. Her lungs were empty and her heart was pounding out of control from the sudden battle. Maybe from his eyes on her. Maybe from the way he'd roared her name. Maybe from how afraid she'd been, too, that he wouldn't make it out of here alive.
Jace hooked his arm around her waist and clutched her against his chest. There was nothing to separate them. What if he felt how wildly her heart beat? Aeryn bit her lip, neither drawing her arms around him nor pushing him away. Just resting against him as he embraced her.
Still holding her, Jace turned his head toward Petrin, who'd had the good sense not to move or speak.
"Tell me everything," Jace said. Pain laced his voice now. "Otherwise, you die."
Petrin's glossy eyes had a faraway look. "You killed them all."
"You took Aeryn." Jace offered no apology, but her heart was breaking now as she allowed herself to register the blood splattered across the floor.
"I had decided not to kill her if that's any consolation," Petrin said.
"Motherfucker," Jace said.
"Say what you need to say, Petrin." Aeryn cast him a look of warning.
Some of the blood on the ground belonged to Jace. She had to stop the bleeding, not get distracted by guilt. Where was his bag with the medical supplies she needed? He had nothing. No weapons or equipment. What the hell happened? She glanced at his fuel to see it was almost empty.
Aeryn pulled her long-sleeved shirt off, leaving her chilled in her tank top, and wrapped it around Jace's wound. He gasped when she tied it tightly. His shoulder slumped now, his breath more ragged. Surely someone had a patch. She'd have to hunt one down.
"Lumiea's Witness was my grandmother," Petrin said, eyes on Aeryn. This stopped her in her tracks before she could look for a patch. "When she regained her memories, she warned Lumiea not to give in. Vehru let her. Said every world deserved a Witness they could trust. But it wasn't the same for her husband. If he didn't fight for Vehru, then my grandmother would die." Petrin nodded. "They fought on opposite sides of the war. He died toward the end. My grandmother fell for another soldier who decided to hide here on Lumiea. My grandfather. They came to understand that my grandmother's rebellion had played into Vehru's hands. They'd fought a physical war, not a psychological one."
Aeryn swallowed hard. "What are you trying to say?" She could tell he danced around something.
"I invited you here," Petrin said to Jace. "Surely, you didn't think you made it here before Vehru on your own."
By the knowing look on Jace's face it was clear there was much more to this story, and perhaps an explanation as to why he had so little with him.
Petrin's voice lowered. "I'd thought we would take you down but clearly I underestimated your abilities, even though you're so fresh of a soldier." He looked to his fallen comrades again. "I wanted to know who would fight the hardest for Aeryn. Who cared about her the most. Because the Witness Program isn't just about the Witness. It's about who they leave behind." Tears brimmed in his eyes. "Just my luck that you two are so dangerous together."
Aeryn recognized the conviction shining bright in Petrin's eyes. Before she even saw his hand shift to press deeply against his eyes, or heard his roar start to form, she shoved Jace hard toward the door, her instinct screaming danger.
But with all of Jace's mods and enhancements, he was faster than she could hope to be. Instead of taking the precious split second to save himself, he wrapped his arms around Aeryn and flipped her away from Petrin.
As they lunged forward, a sledgehammer of heat slammed into them. The sound followed, a real explosion this time. A deafening roar even more angry than Jace screaming her name.
Her own scream was lost to the noise. Her body scraped against the ground and slid until it felt all of her skin had burned off her back. A crushing weight squeezed the breath from her lungs.
Then a chilling quiet.
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Chapter 3 - Seen and Unseen

Everrain, a city that earned its name for a reason. The light pitter of rain a constant companion in this town where the wind makes a curve, in the most literal sense. Aren stares out of the window of the car at the distant cliff edges that capture and redirect the wet, warm winds from the Burn and hold them just long enough to cool down into precipitation, the timeless and unchanging nature of the planet ensuring the rains are all but perennial.
The gentle sound of the rain echoes from above as they enter the city proper, the glass overhangs covering most of the streets shielding its residents from the heavenly assault and creating part of the beauty which attracted tourists to this strange little town. Ultimately, the trip to the local precinct is short as there is little to no traffic and soon enough the personal vehicle has parked across the street from the exterminator precinct.
Swallowing a deep breath of cool, misty air as they step out, Aren silently leads Marik towards the precinct and into it. Inside the environment causes him to instantly fold back his ears in worry, past the front desk and deeper into the offices there is the clear tension and whispering of a case being discussed, which means something had recently happened. He simply waits at the front desk until someone, a fellow venlil of the younger variety, finally comes up “Good paw- Oh, wait, are you the ones from Blackriver?”
Aren tilts his right ear forward “Yeah, is it a bad time?”
“Nothing that should get in your way. The chief’s office is on the second floor, take a right” he points to the stairs at the back end of the office before opening a small barrier allowing the two entrance inside.
Aren keeps his ears attentive as they walk towards the back of the office, catching some whispers of what was the current situation just in case- “Missing person report?” he comments to the man behind him
“From the sounds of it, they’re trying to push it over to the police instead” Marik comments as they reach the stairs
“Well, good to see the division of labor is finally starting to stick”
The trip to the office was quick “Ah, you’ve arrived” Tiri’s voice squeaked before they even knocked on the door. Taking the sound as permission to enter two join into the rather unusual office, in addition to the expected desk and couple of shelves containing the usual decorations of honour there are actual cages in this office. Six rectangular glass cages containing controlled environments, decorated similarly to the flora outside, and within each of them is a single gandri. Five of them are burrowed under piles of fallen leaves, one of them has their belly up towards the ceiling, limbs spread out around it “So, anything in particular you need?”
Aren takes a seat gently, Marik similarly does removing his rifle from his shoulder in the same motion “No chance of having access to the body of the last dead, right”
“No, that’s been a while ago. Recent, in the grand scheme of things, I tried to get the family to allow us to keep the body or at least give him a proper burial but- They’d rather it be cleansed, so”
Aren shrugs “Have to respect their wishes. Has there been any unusual occurrences, then? Sightings of unusual people, people with strange habits?”
Tiri tilts back in his chair “Hrm… This is a tourist town, so we do have consistent eccentrics, but…” he squirms for a moment, before bending back forward muttering something, the noise of fabric making it quite clear why “We have Rey, no idea her real name, weird iftali lady. You see her scavenging around town sometimes, tries to stay away and will talk your ear off if you let her.” he tilts his right ear horizontally and makes a dismissive wave of his right claw “Good at hiding, you can see why, yeah?”
“Harmless, though, and a local fixture so not unusual. We do have a few minority species around here, especially in the construction crews. You know, those species you see maybe one or two in the whole planet? What else…” he taps a claw gently against his chin “Right, Sutev knew the last victim. Worked together often. Silverstar Travels, ‘round here” he reaches forward and presses a few buttons on his computer before turning the screen around to show a map “Works there”
“I heard about a missing persons case on the way here” Aren adds, having already pulled out his holopad to write notes “Mind telling something about it? Just in case it’s related”
“Hrm… Mavir, venlil, grey furred with black spots. Last known location was checking in for work at the office building across from Cloud Inn. I doubt it’s anything to do with this- Or rather I hope it isn’t.”
Aren offers nothing more than an aggressive upwards swipe of his tail in a shrug “Given our luck…” with a short sigh he stands up and looks back down at his holopad “Alright, I suppose we should start off with Sutev”
Soon enough the pair were back in the car, driving under the glassy shielding until a stronger shadow passes over them. On the side of the street, a small group of four people were working around a bucket arm truck performing maintenance on a pillar holding up the glass awning over the street. Not soon after they finally reach the chosen destination, parking the car in a small garage in the front they make their way into the short building- Silverstar Travels.
Inside they’re welcomed by the melodic arpeggio of a flytser as the door opens, and the room spread before them shows itself to be distressingly colourful. Between posters, memorabilia and advertisements there were signifiers of at least fifty different planets in here, from Colia to Earth to Leirn to the gojid cradle, though the last one’s representation was only in the form of a sculpture of an ancient tree, whose base had been decorated with a red silken bow.
“Bit of a tradition in travel companies for… Locations that suffered such a fate” the voice of the man behind a desk draws Aren’s attention “Some find it distasteful, personally, I think it’s important to remember” who is presumably Sutev is sitting down, analysing the two exterminators that had just come in “From the badges I figured you’re not here to find out where to spend your vacation time?”
Marik waves the tip of his tail at Aren and walks over to the door, resting his back against the doorframe. At that, Aren sighs and walks over to Sutev, giving him a friendly wave “Sadly. We came to talk about your coworker”
“Runkar?” the silvering venlil sighs, stretching back on his chair as Aren takes a seat before him “More like boss, he owned Silverstar Travels… Speh… And he left it to me, the idiot…” tail swiping left and right in some uncertain display of emotion he continues “Sorry… We opened this travel agency together early on, when the idiot run away from home with just the credits on his account. Of course, no warm-blooded fissan would stand to have a minority share… Not like he kept the money, though, just liked to have his name up front… I can’t even figure out how it happened… He never went out in the wild…”
Aren slowly tilts the tip of his tail forward in agreement “Despite what it seems, deadly predator attacks are… Incredibly rare. They simply do not come into cities, and this is hardly a frontier town. One would have to make their way into the outskirts somehow”
Not like this was a predator attack at all from the looks of it
“Hrm… I wonder if that’s what it was…” Sutev adds in a low tone “I mean after the Intestine Eater and the Heartbreak Killer… Sometimes I think it could have been anyone, anything…”
“Do you remember anything about the last time you saw him?”
Sutev perks up “Well, it’s been months. He was really nervous for some reason, some clients he was really interested in apparently had bailed on him. Didn’t want to talk to me too much about it.” he turns his head up, eyes towards the ceiling “Maybe I should have pressed more…”
Soon, Marik and Aren were standing outside on the parking lot, standing by the car as they spoke to one of their holopads “That… Yeah, no… That’s a murder alright. You’d be hard pressed to convince a terran that isn’t one” says a voice in the human language on the other side
“Figures…” the black venlil rubs his snout “I suppose we should try to-” but he stops suddenly, his right ear twisting. For two heartbeats nothing happens, then his left ear starts tracking the same direction. Four seconds later, Aren’s focus is in the same direction. “Later” he says, quickly cutting the call.
Then the two split off, each one of them heading towards a different side of the car. Walking past it, towards the edge of the parking lot they slowly make their way to a large trash bin made of dark grey plastic. Its cover had been opened and, unlike normal, its front side was facing the wall, completely obscuring whatever was going on in the other side.
The two of them wait for a moment, listening to the light sound of rustling for a few seconds before moving in unison to have a look at the other side. There is nothing to be found, other than the nearby sound of hooves against pavement behind the wall. The two venlil look at each other and, without visual or verbal cues, Marik crosses his paws in front of him for support and Aren quickly leaps up on them and, using the boost, jumps up on the wall separating the garage from the other building. He lowers his tail behind him and once he feels the paws grasping it he drops himself down the wall, the minor pain from using his tail as an impromptu rope well within his ability to endure, and soon the two have crossed the barrier in time to see a flash of pink disappear down the small alley between buildings.
On a hunch, Aren keeps his strides short as he jogs onward in a chase, his companion offers him a questioning tail wave but gets no answer in return. Reaching the end of the alley they once again get a glimpse of pink taking another corner “Yep… She wants us to follow” he taps Marik on the shoulder and points a paw at the nearby building, a bookstore, before continuing the chase.
A third time in this leisurely chase does his quarry evade away, but this time as they step from the alley into the street proper she vanishes into the greenery across from the street. Everrain was also famous for its rivers fed by the near-perennial rain and, most specifically, the wonderful waterfalls that were present in certain parts of town such as this park. Before proceeding, Aren stops and pulls out his holopad, pressing a few buttons before storing it back away, and then from a different pocket pulls out a small semi-circular device. With a little bit of trouble he adjusts it on his right ear “Hearing me?” he mutters
“I can see her, about twenty metres, somewhat off to your left. Pink is bad camouflage” Marik answers.
With a sigh, Aren proceeds past the street and simply walks into the park. He follows roughly the directions he’d been given, and soon he finds himself nearby the waterfall, just close enough to feel the spray of mist and hear the rush of the water. Close enough for it to muffle any possible conversation “You came…” comes a weak voice from the side.
Aren tilts his ears forward in an affirmative, before slowly turning until he can see her. The iftali woman does not look perfectly healthy, her fur is missing in patches quite clearly from untreated superficial wounds, even for him it’s clear her hooves needed trimming months ago and her stance is energetic and uncertain, constantly scanning her surroundings and her ears never pointing both at the same direction at the same time. “You did make it easy to follow”
“Have… Have you seen the… The ghosts?” she mutters, walking in closer.
Aren tilts his head to the side “Ghosts? I haven’t heard about them”
“They’re here… They’re around, always!” she says, in a panic “I- I can see them. Nobody believes me, but I see them!” she approaches closer and closer as she speaks, bringing her left eye right close to Aren as she does so, eyeing him closely.
This close, he notices something unusual about her eye, like there was a translucent film over it “What… Kind of ghosts?” his body is tense, ready for something to happen but-
Remember the Black Claw… How many of those ‘strange’ people had just gone through something? Are those ghosts real? Did they do something to her?
“Three- It’s three of them!” her voice gets a little louder “Y-you can see them, sometimes, when the rain gives out just a little bit. Or when they walk by the waterfalls” then her voice becomes lower, a whisper “T-they’re… They’re watching to judge you”
“Judge?”
“Y-yes! They’ll judge your aura when you die!” she mutters, in a low tone “They always know when someone will die, they’re always there when someone dies- And- They’ll judge you-” suddenly she lunges forward. Not to harm, however, as instead she buries her snout on his chest “D-don’t let them judge me…”
Somewhat surprised, Aren just gently holds on to her “There’s no need to worry about that…”
“I don’t want- Don’t want to stay” she mutters in a low tone “I-i’m dirty…”
Aren proceeds to gently caress her side “No, you are not. Now, I don’t know what happened to you, but I can tell you did not do any harm yourself” he continues to caress her side “So you don’t need to worry about judgement, alright?”
After a couple dozen more minutes, Aren was willing to consider this interview done. He wasn’t quite certain what to do with Rey quite yet, he’d have to check with someone with actual training in those situations, but he did gain one more insight “Well, whatever she’s been seeing haven’t been around forever, but it has been around for a while”
Marik had taken a more lax position in front of the bookstore by the time he returned “Can we trust any of that?”
“No. But it doesn’t mean we can discount it just yet”
“Gather all available information before analysing, yes”
The two remain in silence for a moment, with a wave of his tail Aren starts returning to their car, Marik in tow. “Did you actually get any of that?” he comments as he pulls back out his holopad.
“Almost didn’t, the microphones on those things are very bad” Santos answers on the other side of the call “That one’s in a bad state…”
“Yeah… They don’t have a psych unit here so… Think we could send ‘em to at least give a look?”
“I’ll talk to the boss. Probably only after you’re back…” the sound of a sigh “This is really not our specialty… Any more ideas?”
“Missing persons case, generally people go missing before they’re declared dead” the clunking of the car door closing punctuates Marik’s intervention
With an objective in mind, the duo starts driving again making their way towards the Cloud Inn, their point of reference. The Inn itself was easy to find, not many buildings in Everrain were built tall enough to fight the perennial winds, but the Cloud Inn was one of the best hotels in the city, easily found by its tall silhouette. From there, their objective was the office building across from it, just three stories tall.
As they head out of the car and start heading towards the building, Marik gently taps his companion with his tail before walking towards a construction crew of five that was currently working one of the metal pillars holding the glass awnings in place.
Aren sizes up the workers as the tougher of the two goes to ask whatever questions had come to their mind. There was one of the fixtures in construction crews around the galaxy, one of the ever-scattered and powerful takkan.
One of them was a fellow venlil, untrimmed fur deeply uncomfortable under the protective clothing. Attached to the pillar and carrying a collection of metal screws on their mouth was a very red harchen, visually broadcasting his annoyance at the situation.
Preparing a selection of screws and looking at a blueprint was some species he could not put a name to, somewhat tall biped, light brown fur so light it seemed almost furless, broader shoulders, a long snout with a flat circular nose that constantly twitched, long attentive ears and a forward leaning posture.
Busy making sure three large panes of curved glass were not about to annihilate themselves was another species outside of his usual knowledge range, somewhat tall and biped, snow-white fur, thick legs with a digitigrade stance, a short and stubby snout decorated with the sharp reminders of incautious work, sharp incisors that’s show whenever he murmured something to himself, long ears with rounded ends that kept themselves high and alert and highly dextrous paws.
When Marik approaches, it’s the snow-furred man who turns an ear at him “Good waking” he starts “I hope you’re not too busy for some questions?”
“Oh! One moment!” the man says with a cheerful voice, taking a second to adjust the glass panes further before turning around “Sure! Never too busy to help an Exterminator!” as he puts Marik on the focus of his favoured side, Aren can feel his hackles raising.
“Do you generally work around this area or around the town? We’re looking into some older cases and figured, with as common as the construction crews are, you could be of assistance” Marik’s tone is clear and professional, as always.
The man puts his arms behind his back, lowering his head ever so slightly. “Of course, I tend to be with maintenance dispatch, so I work all over town!” his voice is cheerful, but seems to leave Aren in anticipation for a moment in a way he can’t quite figure out why just yet. In the back of his mind, he files away the fact the man is wearing a shirt under his jacket.
“Have you heard of anything of note happening around the parks and wild areas here? Anything particularly new that’s been attracting the tourists?” Marik continues, same even voice
The man swings his right ear back in a sweeping negative motion, the oddness of using a short-eared sign instead of the more reduced motion used by the nevok strikes Aren for a second, but this isn’t a commonly-seen species. “Hrm… Well, I know we’ve had more than a few calls over spinwards, those tourists are really careless around our work, did you know that?” he says with a mildly annoyed voice. “There has to be something over there, maybe someone found a new waterfall? They aren’t all mapped, you know?”
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Marik’s continued use of a professional tone has not altered the man’s reactions in the slightest “One more thing, have you seen a spotted venlil around here? We were supposed to meet him around here”
Aren tilts his head slightly at his companion’s lie, but the man does not seem to notice it as he answers simply “Sorry, haven’t seen someone like that, but i’ve only really been at this position the last, oh… Claw or so?” his tone is perfectly pleasant, but Aren can’t stop feeling… Something about it.
“Ah, I see” Marik adds just a bit of softness in the answer, an assurance at the final question “Thank you for your assistance, sir” when he gives a light wave of his tail, he’s answered with the man tilting his head ever so lightly from one side to the other, causing his ears to swing side to side. A motion that strikes a sense of uncanny valley on Aren, too similar to the motion of joy unique to the nevok.
Leaving the workers to their work, the two enter the office building, though before they go further Marik turns over to his companion “Something is off, what?”
“That guy…” Aren shakes himself slightly “Felt like talking to you when you’re not facing me” he adds with a sigh.
At that, Marik turns his entire body, placing Aren’s snout directly in front of his “What?”
“You know-” Aren waves all of his three limbs in an excessive expression of dismissiveness “That something is too right you know? I mean, it’s just weird”
Marik sighs, then flicks his right ear like swatting something away “Yeah, I get it. Easy to know when someone’s putting too much effort into being normal. Going to take a while before we can stop doing that, though”
“Hopefully not much longer” Aren turns back towards the entrance hall of the office. It is difficult to impossible to figure out what, exactly, is done in this place from its lack of decorations. However, a seemingly unbusy front desk sits there with a very distracted worker “Good waking” Aren starts “Are you available for some questions?”
The woman behind the desk suddenly jolts to attention “Oh, officers- Sure, what is it?” though despite the sudden surge, she does not seem to be able to focus on him.
“We wanted to know if Mavir works here, and when was the last time he was seen”
“Ah, I see. The police already came by to ask, actually…” her ears turn left and right and as she moves uncomfortably in the chair Aren gets a slight peek at how her tail is wrapped around her waist “Is… Is there something going on?” her entire body had taken a defensive posture by now, wary.
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. We’re here just in case our problems overlap, we’re looking into some… Unusual circumstances, if you tell us what you told the police?” Aren puts as much softness as he can in his words
“It was last paw… Mavir is the other building overseer…” the way she turns her head to the side slightly and suddenly her ears turn forward towards the door is caught by Aren’s senses “He… I… He… He had relieved me, so- So I went over to the lobby of the Inn out front- It… It’s a nice place… To sit and, and read and…” he takes a deep breath “And, and… And then I got back to get my things but- I didn’t see him up front, so I tried to find him. And- And he hadn’t clocked out or anything or…” her voice trails away.
Aren flicks an ear back at Marik, before focusing all of his attention on the woman “So he clocked in normally, and was not seen again since then?”
“Y-yes…” she almost seem to curl into herself at the answer.
Aren gently puts a paw on her shoulder, causing her to startle again and look up, this time putting her entire focus on him “Look, it’s alright. This has nothing to do with you, I promise.”
“I… I saw something…” she whispers in a low tone
“Something?”
“When… When I was reading… I saw something- Someone…” she mutters “They… They were armed, had this- Cloak and… And this mask” her words are a whisper “And the way they looked at me- I thought- I thought I wasn’t-”
“That’s what we’re here for” Aren says, with a bit more intensity, causing her to uncurl slightly “To keep people safe. What kind of person was this?”
“I-I don’t know… I never saw- Never saw someone like that before… They were all covered but- I know they had long ears…” her voice continues to be low “Do you think that… Do you think that Mavir saw them too? Is that why he-” he voice slowly dies out in her throat.
“That’s what we’re going to figure out” Aren adds, with finality. Then, after a moment he pulls out his holopad, presses a few buttons and offers it forward “Here, if you’re still scared, why don’t you go here after your shift is over? I’m sure you’re going to be safe over there”
With seemingly great effort, she tilts her ears forward in an affirmative motion before continuing to be in silence. Aren sighs, walking back to Marik “Well, thought it was a human for a moment, but not with the ears”
“We’d have heard something about armed individuals, though, wouldn’t we?” his companion adds.
Aren tips an ear forward “Yes, but it seems nobody noticed anything… But after the Silver Leaf situation… I’m not going to discount this”
Marik adjusts his rifle uncomfortably on his back.
Soon, however, they crossed the street towards the Cloud Inn. There was no need to discuss the most obvious plan, and within a few more moments they had approached the front desk “Good waking” Aren starts “I hope you’re willing to collaborate. Does the Inn have a security camera system?”
“Oh, uhn-” the surprised attendant stutters “Y-yes officer. D-do you want me to call a manager?”
“That would be helpful, yes”
The attendant quickly scurries away through a door, and after a few moments someone comes out with him. Garbed in a one-piece suit made of heavy fabrics, a heavyset tierkel walks up to the two exterminators. His near-black red suit is adorned with almost invisible geometrical patterns with lighter oranges that give the entire ensemble the impression of smoldering rocks, tilting his head up towards Aren she crosses her arms, letting out a puff of air that condenses as it passes past the threshold of her collar of her suit “Better have a good reason to pull me out of my room, darlings, ‘cause you don’t wanna know how much trouble it is to put on this suit”
“We want access to your security footage, if you have it available. We believe that…” Aren stops to think for a few seconds “There’s the possibility someone involved in a disappearance was here in the last paw, and we’d like to track them”
She tilts her head slightly to the right, her short little left ear flicking backwards just for a moment in a negative “Isn’t the police supposed to deal with those cases nowadays, love?”
“And they are, in fact, dealing with the disappearance” Aren continues undaunted “However, we are looking into a case of a predator attack with… Unusual circumstances, and are checking on the possibility of it being linked”
“And what would those circumstances be?” her voice is angrier by the second
“Animals don’t disable limbs with precise cuts” Marik cuts through “I can see you’ve no love for the guild, but I do not have the patience for this. We’re trying to figure if this is a sophont or an animal attack, are you going to help or not?”
The manager tilts slightly at him, before stamping the ground once with her foot “... I always had some suspicions…” then she turns around and starts heading back through the door she came in.
Taking it as the invitation it was, the two follow her into the office. It is, by all accounts, as normal an office as it gets- At least for the first few seconds. The moment they walk in the door closes and the loud noise of fans kick up, and after an entire minute the screaming fans settle into a low hum. The process has caused the office to mist slightly for a few moments as the temperature drops, and the air is now comfortably colder from usual dayside temperatures and considerably more humid.
She waves at the computer on the desk, and the two walk behind her as she presses a few buttons. Soon enough, a video recording comes up. It shows the front lobby, empty of people. The time on the bar clock at the far wall ticks away slowly. After a few second she presses a few more buttons and the clock starts ticking away faster as the recording accelerates, showing effectively no traffic the entire paw. “Well, seems like we got nothing here, darlings”
“Still, would you mind giving us a copy?” Aren pleads
The manager tilts her head from side to side in thought, pulls out a small memory stick from a drawer and puts it on the computer. A few a few more commands she hands it over to him “Better damn well find something” she threatens, before walking over to the door and waiting by it.
Taking the sign, the two exterminators step out, the door quickly closing behind them with the whir of the climate control system activating inside. As they start heading out the attendant at the front calls out “Wait, hold on! I got a message for you!”
Marik instantly twists around, facing square towards the attendant that flinches back “What?”
“U-uhn, Mister Kenim passed by and asked to hand this over to the two exterminators that he saw coming inside, and then left” he meekly holds out a paper note.
Marik picks it up “Thank you” before turning back to Aren “‘Meet me at the Edge of Nowhere, I have important information’... With an address” he hands the piece of paper over “Split?”
Aren flicks his ear forward in assertion and silently they board their car once again. The following trip is not too long, but about a block before the Edge of Nowhere they stop. Marik disembarks and walks away a small distance “Hearing me?” his voice comes muffled from Aren’s earpiece.
“Badly, but yes” he answers, starting up the car again and continuing the trip. The Edge of Nowhere is worthwhile of its name, it is at the very edge of the street, mere meters away from the treeline of the true wilderness, itself a small distance away from every other building around it.
Aren parks the car nearby and looks over the building. Purposefully designed to look old, the wood panelling on the outside looking a little bit too carefully aged to truly be old, large glass windows looking on inside and from the look of the light beams striking the few visible tables- There is also a glass roof. A light chime announces his entrance.
There are only two people present, by the bar is a nevok duly ignoring everything around him as he focuses on cleaning a single glass cup. At the far end of the room is a small booth, barely visible from this angle is the white tuft of a venlise tail just barely in sight. Aren slowly steps in closer “Found an angle from above, you’re covered” echoes in his ear as he simply sits down at the booth.
The man on the other side of the table looks, for all can be seen, nervous beyond anything else. Despite how composed he is, his ears tilt slightly left and right, he has angled his body in such a way his blind spot falls directly against the solid wall. Aren had seen many a cornered venlil at this point, but something told him that he wasn’t the threat this man was seeing “Kenim, I imagine? You said you had information?”
The man lowers his body, turning his words down to a whisper “Yes, it’s me… Good, you came…”
Aren keeps his voice calm and collected as he lowers himself a little as well, matching the low volume “What information is that?”
“Do you know who I am?” that wasn’t the tone used in an usual threat
“Chief of the immigration department of this province, yes”
“Listen… I am being hunted…” his eyes are distant, somewhere not here, observing a foe beyond visual range.
“Hunted?”
“Yes, hunted, stalked. There’s things- People- They’re after me. They want me dead” his eyes turn up towards Aren “Hunters of the thinking kind, exterminator. The most dangerous kind, you understand me, right?”
Aren’s ears tilt horizontally in a display of sympathetic worry for a moment “I know the dangers of those…”
“Listen, they’re waiting for just the right time- Those people- The others- They don’t know what being stalked really is like, but I do, it’s happening to me. I’ve- I’ve done what I can, I got more guards, I got more security for my residence, even got some of those fancy human security measures.” he moves his body up suddenly, grabbing hold of the fur on Aren’s chest, bringing him closer “It’s not enough. I need help-” he takes a deep breath “Or at least for someone to notice it alright?”
He lets go and continues to whisper “Look- I told you. Whatever happens, do something, anything about it, alright?”
Then, he raises himself up to a normal-looking stance. And yet, his breathing is deep and slow as if he is about to lose control at any moment. Before Aren can say anything he stands up slowly, pulls out a small piece of folded paper and gently puts it down on the table before he starts walking out. His body would speak of calm if not for the fact that his motions are far too stiff, composure brought to the edge.
After a few moments, Aren picks up the paper and follows back outside. Kenim is nowhere to be seen, so he walks back to his car. In a few moments he finds Marik where he had left him originally, and he enters the car. Setting up the cruise control as they start heading deeper into the city he pulls up the folded piece of paper as he starts up a call on the holopad hooked to the dashboard.
“Do you believe in curses, Santos?” he says, with a tired tone. He unfolds the paper, a piece of paper from a notebook, written in impressive venlise calligraphy were four words ‘We are not forgiving’. Compressed within the paper was a small tuft of fur, color matching that of Kenim’s.
“No, but I believe we are cursed either way” the human on the other side says “So… I got news about that recording”
[<-PREV][FIRST][NEXT->]
Surprise- This is not quite so much a standard story :D
This one is a crossover with u/Starkeeper0's Off The Beaten Path! So, if you know both stories... You can expect some action soon.

Chapter 1/Part 1
A blood curdling scream pierced the night. Solon jumped to his sleep, reaching for his hatched, looking around the wagon as another howl echoed out across the sands. Sheela too, was now awake, moving over to Solon while crouching. "What the hell is that?"
The mercenary poked his head through the curtain of the wagon, tracing the sounds back to the other cart in the caravan, one hauling the merchandise. The four guards were poking their spears through the bars of the cage, angrily using the blunt ends to push and jab at a small creature. Solon and Sheela exited the main wagon to better see what was going on.
"You two! Go back inside, there's nothing to see here." Kopak turned to them, barding out the order.
"Easy now son, don't be rude to our guests." Vur'z said, walking past the pair while talking to his son. "They must have been quite startled by the noise."
With a snap of his fingers, the old man lit a small lantern that hung by the cage wagon, illuminating what is inside. Solon leaned forward, squinting his eyes to see better what was moving under the flickering light. A pair of piercing green eyes stared back at him. He could make our a tail and some ears, nothing out of the ordinary, until what he thought to be a large cat stood up on its hind legs.
"So that's a beast person?" The mercenary concluded, looking at the creature with slight aversion. "Every basement dwellers fantasy."
"They exist on your world too?" The former genie asked.
"No, just as folk tales, legends. Fiction." The man replied, as the creature went from howling frantically to speaking.
It stuck its head through the wooden bars, waving its hands and tail around, yelling something at the man. Solon looked at it, confused, as he did not understand a word that was being said. By the sound of the voice tho, he could deduce that the creature was a young boy, and not a fully grown beast person.
"Alright little one, that's enough out of you for tonight." Vur'z said, waving his hand in front of the boys face. "Sleep now."
The beast child backed away, but the spell had already been cast, causing it to slowly stumble until it collapsed on the floor of the wagon.
"Well, now I know why an old man and four would-be guards can make a living as slavers." Solon chuckled.
"Adult beast folk are impossible to train. They follow only who they believe is stronger than them, and they are freakishly strong, so not many people outside their own tribes can command them. That's why there is very little beast folk as royal help, soldiers or guards." The old slaver explained.
"They are only good for gladiatorial combat. But if you train one before they start adolescence, they can be molded into serving just about any purpose." Sedef added, as his father proudly nodded.
"I see. So what will become of this one?" Sheela asked, folding her arms.
"No clue. We acquire them and sell them further. The thought never crosses my mind as to where they end up, I don't think my conscience could handle it." Vur'z grinned at his own, before patting Solon and Sheela on their backs.
"The sun will soon rise, and we are all already awake, so what do you two say we get this caravan back on the move?" He asked, and the pair agreed, making their way back to the main wagon.
[ ]
"Shit. They have barricaded themselves too well in there." One of the dungeon clearing squad members cussed.
"What's the situation?" Clyde, who was sitting on the floor, back against the wall, looked up at the woman as she returned from the hallway that lead to the next dungeon floor.
Clyde's squad had reached the fifth floor of the dungeon with expert proficiency. Somewhere after the third floor, they stopped taking prisoners regardless of race, which resulted in a one sided bloodbath of various monsters and adventurers alike. On the fifth floor they decided to make a small makeshift camp, to rest after driving the goblins that reemerged back to their burrows. Their progress had been halted by a party of platinum adventurers that were tasked with guarding the next floor below.
Within the ranking system of many guilds across the continent, platinum adventurers were considered the highest tier of freelancers in the adventuring business. Though there were a few higher ranks than platinum, adventurers of that tier were most often employed as guards to many various royal families or were made into private militia, again under employment by royalty or extremely wealthy businessmen. Despite being considered adventurers still, they rarely abided by regulations and code of conduct of their respected guilds and gravitated more towards following the orders of their employers. Platinum rank adventurers were the highest tier of adventurer that still functioned as freelance parties or individuals.
Clyde didn't feel like they were any issue to his unit, however they did possess magic that had proven a nuisance. A mage in the party guarding the sixth floor had the ability to manifest various defenses, and has used that power to create multiple gates at the very entrance to the chamber. Realizing that they will run out of explosives to tear down walls way before the mage runs out of mana to spam the same spell over and over, Clyde has decided to call in for backup, sending one of his men to the surface, as long range communication did not in the dungeon at the depth that they were in.
He now sat on the floor of the fifth floor, helmet resting by his side, as he smoked.
"We can't get in there." Said one of the soldiers, approaching him. "I mean, we could, but they are pretty well prepared and since that's the only entrance, we would end up in a bottle neck and that'll lead to unnecessary casualties."
"I know, relax. Have a doobie." Clyde grinned, offering the man his smoke.
"Oh shit, don't mind if I DO." The other man grinned and sat down, taking a long inhale from the joint. "How'd you even smuggle this past the outpost control?"
"Man, those bastards don't check for shit once I'm inside this armor. I have so much weed on this inside of this thing, If I get blown up, the whole dungeon will be hallucinating for weeks." The huge man tapped on his chest plate and laughed.
The two rowdy men attracted the attention of another comrade of their. The man put down his handheld monitor and walked over to them. "What the fuck are you two doing?"
"Smoking, why?" Answered Clyde.
"What are we going to do about the sixth floor?" The guy standing over them asked.
"Jeremy, baby relax. I got it all covered." His armored comrade blew him a kiss and laughed. "I called in for backup, that'll take care of everything. Now come hit this while we wait."
[ ]
"Uh... Gods." Quinn huffed, leaning on her staff while chugging a mana potion, face frowning at the bitter taste. "I think they finally stopped trying to breach"
"You alright?" Filtz patted her on the back. The paladin looked up, checking on the rest of his party. "Everybody else alright?"
The remaining members of the party all raised their hands, signaling that everyone was alive and standing.
"Damn elves, they did not tell us we would be going up against such a force. While they hide on the last floor no less!" The parties fighter, a stocky dwarf said, spitting on the ground. "Typical of those long eared wimps."
"Shut up." Quinn angrily said, not taking kindly to the dwarves insulting of her people. "We were paid well for this job. Are you not an adventurer? If you dislike this, maybe you should retire instead and get paid to sit around and mold."
"Quinn relax. I'm sure he meant nothing bad by it." Said the party's tank. The large ogre woman walked over to the exhausted elf, casting a recuperation buff on her.
"Did they really back off?" Belam'Bal asked Filtz, while still casting her spell on Quinn, who had already started to feel less shaky and exhausted.
"I don't know. Rin! Anything outside the gate?" The paladin asked.
Outside of the dark behind the party, one of the three assassins replied. "Yeah, they seem to have backed off. I sense no one near the entrance."
"Perhaps they have went to lick their wounds. Or maybe they have ran out of supplies. Their weapons aside, they did not seem too equipped to stay down here a long time. We can probably wait them out like this." The dwarf cackled.
"And have me do all the heavy lifting to keep the entrance sealed." Quinn rolled her eyes.
The party settled down, deciding to rest as much as they could before the next breach attempt by the invaders. Tension seemed to die down as a few hours passed without a single movement on the other side of the sealed off entrance.
"Told you, they must have realized we're not letting them in without a fight and gave up." Laughed the warrior.
"They are no match for Quinn's magic!" Belam'Bal patted the elf on the back.
"Wait. I sense movement." Yu, the second of the three assassins said, grabbing everyone's attention.
"The goblins in the area decreasing in number rapidly." Rin added to her brothers statement.
"Hah! They must be so angry at their loss, they are taking it out on the goblins." The dwarf said, slapping his knee.
"There is someone on the other side of the gate. A single person by the feel of it." Said Jan, the third of the party's assassins. Each of the three siblings was blessed with powerful detection magic, capable of sensing things even through objects and behind walls.
"Just one guy? Maybe they want to surrender? Think it's a trap?" Belam looked at the paladin, who shook his head and shrugged in response.
"Yes. There is other present anywhere near, it seems he is alone." Rin's answer was interrupted by a faint knock on the stone gate, coming from the other side.
Cautiously, weapons drawn, Flitz told the elf mage to lower the gate, but be ready to cast it again immediately. The elf nodded and did as she was told. To the party's surprise, a black man stood on the other side. He wore the uniform of the invaders, with slight modifications such as decorative furs and feathers that matches the green of the uniform. Filtz noticed something hanging off the mans hip and quickly identified the object to be a Kobold skull, clearly taken as some sort of trophy.
The man took a single step into the chamber, flashing the party an honest smile. His stature in no way matches his overwhelming confidence and lack of any fear or worry, considering he was no taller than the party's dwarf warrior.
"What do you want?" Filtz asked.
The man seemed to be glad that someone present spoke a language he could understand and locked eyes with Flitz. "I have come here to tell you that you are surrounded."
Everyone stood in silence, baffled at what the man had just said. "Surrounded?" Quinn whispered, looking over at the assassins.
Before she could get an answer, the man continued. "Since we just had appetizer, I want to offer you one chance to surrender. Give up and I will let you leave here alive and in one piece. No harm. No foul."
[ ]
"Sir, sir, wake up. The reinforcements are here." A soldier nudged Clyde with her foot as he laid passed out on the floor. The short black man pushed past her, stomping on Clyde's ribs, as he was laying on his side. "Wake up, ya bastard!" He shouted with a heavy Cameroonian accent.
"Auuuugghhh... yeah, yeah, I'm up." Groaned the head of the unit as he got up to his feet, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. He took a deep inhale, hoping the stale dungeon air would clear away the fog in his head. Groggily looking down, a huge smile appeared on the man's face.
"Shaka Zulu! Glad you could join us, all the way down here." Clyde laughed, patting the small man on the shoulder.
"Clyde, I see your humor is still as shit as the rest of you." The single person reinforcement replied with an equally big smile.
The other two men who were passed out on the floor woke up from the noise and slowly started getting up to their feet.
"So, this is our reinforcement? A pygmy?" Jeremy chuckled, looking down at Clyde's friend.
The black man looked at him, his confidence unimpacted by the comment. "You will find me more than enough."
The armored behemoth shot a quick glare at Jeremy, causing the latter to look down and quickly head somewhere else in the cap to help the rest of the unit with preparations. They hauled in large, heavy, metal boxes as per the short man's orders, leaving them very close to where the exit to the fifth floor met the hallway that lead to the sixth floor. Soft huffing and noise could be heard from inside the containers, as Marcel walked over in front of the containers, signaling to the rest of the unit to move a healthy distance away.
"So, what's in the cages?" Jeremy asked Clyde, observing as the other man tampered with what looked like a remote to the containers.
"Gungams." Replied Clyde, his comrade looking up at him with confusion.
"Marcel is to beasts what Cesar Millan is to dogs." The behemoth in combat armor continued his explanation as the remove beeped and all ten containers simultaneously opened.
Jeremy shone a flashlight in Marcel's direction to better see what was going on, as the darkness in the hallway made it nearly impossible to see. The soldier stood frozen in his tracks, watching massive lizard like beasts emerge from the containers, sniffing the air and crawling around Marcel. The short, dark skinned soldier did not seem worried in the slightest, actually seeming glad and happy to be around those creatures.
Each of the ten lizards seemed equal in size, 5 feet from the head to the tail at least. Their arms and backs were covered in thick scales, the ones on their backs being the size of diner plates and overlapping. Arm scales seemed equally thick but smaller to keep mobility. Their tails ended with two dorsal plates, but horizontal, giving the tails an appearance of a double sided axe swinging side to side. They moved slowly, having only one pair of limbs, that being their arms.
As the soldier stood in shock, one of the creatures turned towards the source of the light that was shone. Clyde quickly grabbed his comrade by the wrist, snatching the flashlight away from him.
"They dislike artificial light. So, don't do that." He said, letting go of Jeremy's wrist.
The soldier still stood stunned, as the creature's attention turned back to Marcel, the image of the lizards face forever etched into his memory.
It's head was torpedo shaped, bone plating covering it like a helmet, connecting to the neck and back plates. 2 pairs of eyes, one eye on each side like the snakes and lizards of Earth, the other pair sitting atop the head, facing directly forward. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Marcel whistled once, snapping Jeremy out of his trance and getting the attention of his pets. He pulled something out of his pouch and let the creatures get a good sniff. With the second whistle, the lizards moved uncharacteristically fast, lunging at the walls and ceiling of the hallway and boring into them. Silence ensued, soon followed by muffled and distant screeching of the goblins in their nearby burrows.
"Huh, I guess some goblins did survive." One of the other soldiers commented nonchalantly.
"What the fuck are those?" Jeremy muttered under his breath.
"Told you, Gungams. Cave dwelling predators from this world. Everything from their webbed claws to the shape of their head and scales is designed to have them glide through the ground like they're swimming. They use their arms to clear the way and move forward, while their long bodies use motion similar to snakes to move fast. Pretty tough to kill too, those plates are thick as shit, damn near bulletproof to standard caliber. Even lower caliber ammo piercing rounds struggle against them. Their underbellies are soft, but good luck flipping one of those nimble bastards on their backs." Clyde explained.
"I have no clue where Marcel found them, let alone how he got them doing tricks." He added.
"If they're underground, why do they need 2 sets of eyes?" Clyde's comrade asked.
"I don't really know. According to Marcel, they use the eyes on the side to see, like our reptiles. The eyes up front at to mesmerize and entrance a larger opponent or bigger prey, while the rest of the pack moved in from the side to kill. So yeah, do not look them dead in the eyes. Don't look at them directly at all, those things are always itching to beef." With his explanation finished, Clyde raised his right hand, making a circling motion with his index finger, giving the unit the order to start packing up as they're about to head out soon.
Jeremy took one more glance at the now silent hallways, but Marcel was already gone, walking on his way to the sixth floor, to deal with the party that was barricaded there.
[ ]
Everybody stared confused at the dark skinned soldier standing at the entrance to the sixth floor. He did not seem very armed nor armored. Even if he was carrying a hidden weapon, the party knew there was little to no chance he would be able to take them all out before Quinn's magic or the assassins took him out. But for some reason, his words carried the weight only irrefutable truths do, when he told them they are surrounded.
"Rin, Yu, Jan! Observe the area again, this time as far as you can, include the walls and ceiling too." Ordered Filtz, never taking his eyes off the enemy soldier.
"Surrounded? You must be mad. There is no way they would be able to dig through this much earth in such a short time. Plus, we'd hear them." Said Belam'Bal, looking from one party member to another, seeking someone to agree with her.
The paladin opened his mouth to speak when the clamor, the tale tale sound of steel hitting stone, echoed from the side. He turned to the source, only to be met with Rin, kneeling on the ground, staring up at a spot in the ceiling. She had dropped her dagger, her arms hanging limply at her side in utter surrender.
"Right there... There is a lizard, right above me." She whispered, never taking her eyes off the spot above, tears welling in her eyes.
"There are lizards, all around us. Burrowing through the soil." Jan answered, as Quinn rushed over to Rin, trying to snap her out of her daze.
"Gungams." The dwarf said, exhaling in defeat and taking a step towards the enemy soldier, axe in hand.
"What are y-?" The party's tank reached out to stop him, but the dwarf already had his mind set.
"There is no chance we can survive this, let alone fight the beasts off." The warrior continued, looking Marcel dead in the eyes.
Although the invader did not understand a single word of dwarven, he got the message loud and clear. The dwarf dropped his axe to the ground and raised his hands high, palms pointing outwards. "I surrender."
"You coward!" Quinn hissed, snapping her head to face the dwarf, glaring at him furiously. "It is so like you, to abandon something as soon as the going gets tough."
"I have been paid to defend the dungeon, not leave my bones in it." The dwarf replied, walking over to the enemy and turning around to face his comrades. He looked at the paladin, begging him without a word to listen to reason and surrender. Even though dwarves never had a habit of expressing their feelings, he did not wish to see them die.
"I agree." The ogre woman sighed, dropping her spiked club next to the dwarfs axe. "We have been paid in advance, and quite a hefty sum at that. But to defend the sixth floor of this dungeon. We failed at that. Even if we fight and die here, that outcome will not change. Please Filtz, I know you have plenty of reasons not to die here."
"Anyone else?" The paladin asked, though his mind was set on an answer the second the dwarf put his axe down.
The threes siblings threw their assassins daggers onto the pile, and went to stand next to their comrades. Filtz sighed, somewhat glad at the decision they had made. He turned and looked at the elf mage, the only one still hesitant to lay down her staff.
"What, what if he still kills us after we surrender? We can't guarantee that." She shouted, pointing her finger at Marcel, who had leaned against the edge of the hallway, already bored with the display.
"He might. But if there is even a small chance that we can walk out of here alive, I will take that gamble." The party leader answered, sheathing his blade back into its scabbard and extending his hand to Quinn. The mage looked down at her feet, before taking his hand and joining the group.
The black man looked up at them. "So? I take it you surrender?"
"Y-yeah. We surrender." Flitz answered, avoiding the man's gaze despite being significantly taller than him.
The party's hearts collectively sank as Marcel frowned at their answer bit, before shrugging. "A disappointing answer, but a very expected one. I am a man of my word. Leave."
Without another word, he turned around and walked back up the hallway, letting out another short whistle as he went. Gungams burst through the walls and ceiling of the hallway and followed their master obediently, never once glancing back at the stunned party, that up until a few minutes ago could have been their meal.
Not stopping to think or reflect on the situation, the adventurers quickly grabbed their discarded weapons and bolted up the hallway, running past Clyde and his unit who began to descent from floor five to floor six, running all the way to the exit of the dungeon.
[ ]
Solon was overjoyed when small village peeked from the behind the dunes. It was far from what he would consider a developed settlement, but at this point, he did not care at all. Soon, the caravan slowed to a halt, just in front of, what seemed like a market of sorts, and everybody stepped out.
"Thank you again Vur'z, for sharing your wagon and supplies with us." Solon said to the caravan leader, bowing his head slightly.
"Thank the two of you, for sharing stories and a good time with us." Vur'z replied, bowing back.
The caravan moved once more, leaving the pair behind and disappearing around the corner.
"Well Sheela. It has been an... experience." Solon said, extending his good hand to the former genie.
"Oh don't get ahead of yourself mortal. We are not on equal ground just because YOU believe you outsmarted me. I am the Goddess of the Sands!" She scoffed, looking down on him, partially due to her superior height, partially due to her over superior ego. Arms crossed and resting on her chest, it was evident she would not reciprocate his show of good faith. A few passerby's turned their heads at her loud statement, before moving on with their business.
Solon closed and retracted his hand, making a clicking sound with his mouth. "Oooo-kay then."
Before he could turn away, he stopped for a second, one last question on his mind. "You speak a lot of languages. Do you know what that beast thing was yelling at me before Vur'z knocked it cold?"
She raised an eyebrow, rubbing her chin. Solon wasn't use if she was trying to remember or if she was trying to decide whether to tell him or not.
"It thought you were an adventurer and mentioned something about having a big reward for its safe return or something like that. Saying its parents are adventurers too, I believe. Too late now though."
"Yeah." Solon nodded. "Well, so long Sheela, best wishes with your new life."
"Hah! I don't need wishes. I will amass a following and usher new rule of power and prosperity." She proclaimed boldly, garnering some more attention from the vendors and onlookers.
"Great. Looking forward to it. I'm sure your reign will bring even more sand to this desert." Replied Solon, before nodding and walking away, quickly blending into the crowd. He moved at a brisk pace, making sure to get out of ear shot before she could retort, relishing in the having the final word.
Sheela grinded her teeth, before swiftly turning on her bare heels and walking away in the opposite direction. Both quickly got swallowed up by the marketplace crowd, never once turning back as they parted ways.
(Notes: Let me start this off by saying: Screw new Reddit. A turd of a website, had to repost this more times than I would like, because the text would magically vanish every time I hit post.
Initially my thoughts were to have the adventurers on floor six absolutely dismantled by the lizards, but have decided against it. An enemy, in this case invading humans, are much more cool when they show thought and restraint, rather than just being a mindless meat grinding machine that kills everything. Plus if I was up against 10 bullet proof lizards that can bore through a brick wall, I would surrender too.
That aside, I hope you guys like this one. I have put in the link for the first chapter, in case any new readers find themselves here, so they don't have to start from the middle. I hope the link doesn't screw over Reddit again.)

Are coaching a bad thing? I recieved one the other day and have been left somewhat confused.
I work in a retail commission based role at an unnamed cellphone provider part time, and this past month I did the best in my store on sales by a rather generous margin across the board. The previous month I did poor just due to random chance and a lack of foot traffic in general in my store, which I also got a coaching for.
While management is assuring me that coaching are NOT meant to be bad, or a disciplinary type of thing, I find myself anxious and untrustful of my management team because I've never known coaching to be anything other than the first step to justify firing and that as being a justification for denying unemployment.
At this point, I feel alot like this is a "damned if you do and damned if you dont" situation. If I don't make my sales targets, I get in trouble. And if I do, I get in trouble if my coworkers did not meet theirs. It is hard not to feel this way, at least for me, as I'm a naturally anxious individual. And I've been told plenty of times before that something at work wasn't what I was thinking, and it actually was. Feels as if they want me to be teetering on the edge of firing, just to fill the role externally and use the BS coaching as justification.
Anyone else in or have been in this position? What is your advice for navigating this? As of right now I've starting sending out applications to other jobs and have strongly considered just putting in my 2 weeks once I get hired on and moving on to hopefully greener pastures.

The Context:

A user makes a post decrying a hypothetical to /Showerthoughts. The hypothetical centers on if one would rather run into a bear or a man alone in the woods. As this hypothetical has made the rounds on social media, many women have noted they’d rather run into a bear.
The sub has a lot of thoughts on this. The slapfights are manifold and scattered. Some highlights are below:

The Drama:

Aww your poor feefees 🥺 women don’t trust you on the internet and now you’re sad poor baby

Jokes on you, it's sh*t like this that made me never approach a girl in the 27 years that I've been here.

Praying you go another 27 🙏🏿

Thanks. I'll probably only go for 3 more at most and end it myself though.

It be like that sometimes

"I feel safer with bears because when I get mauled there won't be victim blaming." This your argument?

Well then it’s a fucking stupid way to illustrate a point because how do you not take probability into account?
I would rather risk a 50% chance of something terrible happening over a 1% chance of something terrible because at least people would believe me? The people get think that illustrates the point clearly are exactly the sort of idiots who would go fuck with bears

If you think coming across a bear means a 50% chance of an attack you've never stepped foot in the woods lol

I have spent a fair amount of time in the woods, however I am from the UK. The scariest apex predators we have are foxes or otters.

Then maybe you don't need to speak on women's experiences and call us idiots when you don't even know most bears that people encounter are pretty harmless

[Continued:]

Well this is why it’s a stupid fucking analogy because it relies upon a knowledge of the relative danger of bears to humans. Something most people don’t know, and couldn’t know because the question doesn’t even tell you what type of bear you are dealing with.
It’s deliberately opaque to cause internet arguments and doesn’t really tell us anything except that people have wildly varying views of the danger of wildlife, which was already demonstrated by the Human vs Goose differential.
The survey almost certainly never even happened and was just dreamt up by a genius who wanted to cause arguments on the internet. You are an idiot. I am an idiot. We are all idiots for engaging with it.
At least if a bear attacked me, when I told the police they wouldn’t go and tell my parents I was making it up for attention.

I mean.. congrats I guess? Totally logical reason to pick the bear.

Congrats on being assaulted? That’s the attitude that leads women straight to bear

I’m honestly not sure your grasp of the English language is tight. No where in your comment did you say you were assaulted by a man and no where in my comment did I congratulate you for that. I’m congratulating your moral victory on choosing the bear because “people will believe you.”
Yeah they’d believe you.. because you’d be torn to pieces.

Wow, a congratulations followed by insults and explaining a bear attack. Don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel.

I love how women are just talking about their unsafe feelings, coming together to talk about this shit, and a bunch of people go "oh it must be for attention, they're not being delusional, they're not arguing in good faith" it's so disgustingly disingenuous. Like fucking hell for real ? Women are allowed to exist and have their thoughts and talk about and feel about shit without you being a part of the equation. They're not "doing it for attention" they're doing it to express their opinions about something. To come out with such bollocks as "nah can't see it, they're just baiting" shows how much of a problem you are.

whiteknighting called mate.
Nobody here is saying women aren't "allowed to exist or have their thoughts". You can have all the delusional thoughts you want. Just because you're a woman however doesn't preclude your ideas from criticism. Women are also allowed to have awful opinions and people are allowed to comment on them.

Could've put money on someone bringing that up. Everything is an agenda, anyone who makes a point empathetic to women is not sincere or is otherwise false. Could set a clock to it.

Are you under the impression that people do things for zero underlying purpose whatsoever, especially when those things are pertaining to social issues?
What an asinine thing to say.

You said I was white knighting. This isn't about people who may or may not do what you're saying. You said I was white knighting, and I called you out for it, because the idea that I being sincere in my point just flabbergasts you it seems.

[Continued:]

I don't think you're insincere. You are sincere in your white-knighting.

Is empathy for what is pretty much half the fucking human race so alien to you ? Anyway no point in this. For one, you're calling me a liar and lol fuck that. But ya can't really talk to someone whose only come back isn't about their point, it's that they steadfast refuse to believe the other person's point.
You wanna grow up lad.

You can have empathy for what women go through without white knighting for them or being wrong.

And you'll just keep doing that. You're basically just saying "nuh uh" in various ways. You're a joke.

Whatever helps you sleep at night son

Well, I mean, its target audience is women…obviously it’s not meant to be logical. (Amiright?)

No your not. Men can't understand the fact that most women live with fear of men every day of their lives and most men can't understand that what women fear most is not being killed. Being killed is the lesser of evils in this situation. Men look at the situation as "which one is going to kill me?", women's perspective " what are they going to do with me before and after killing me?". It’s not death that we fear.

Stop generalizing all men.

Did you read the comment to whom i responder?

Doesn't matter. Your whole statement is men this men that men, men, men. It's clear how you view all men.

[Continued:]

• proceeds to blatantly ignore the comment generalizing women*

He was clearly being sarcastic. While you weren't.

I have only made one comment on this post, learn to read please.

I don't know how to read. I'm just a dumb man who can't read between the lines according to you.

proceeds to blatantly ignore the comment generalizing women
My first comment on the post and you respond by telling me I wasnt being sarcastic, what comment were you referring to with that statement?

[Continued:]

Okay I'll be a grown up and admit I got you mixed with the other one. Entirely my bad. Maybe I can't read hahaha

🎉 Congratulations for: admitting your own mistake, an increasingly rare trait nowadays 🎉

I can be egotistical, but there's strength in vulnerability. So thanks for the recognition.

Same argument boomers used against black peoples and Mexicans. You are no better “I’m protecting myself” is an excuse. You want protection get a gun like everyone else your safety is up to you. Bitching isn’t changing anything

You want protection get a gun like everyone else
Bitching isn't changing anything

The lack of self awareness is astounding. 'Just arm yourself so you can potentially murder an assaulter and stop, ahem, bitching'. And you guys wonder why women pick the bear.

Oh, we're well aware why you'd pick the bear. It's because you're a bigot.

No it shows how sexist most women have become that they hate men that much.

We don’t hate men. We fear them because they can be dangerous. And now men are freaking out on social media because some women had the audacity to say it. Those same men probably bitch about women being emotional but can’t handle their own feelings about a hypothetical situation they read about online.

I read a post from some dude who gets wary looks when he walks solo in a park from women afar and deemed it toxic lmao, get over yourself mate and get an actual problem.

Thanks for proving my point that you're part of the sexism problem.
EDIT: you blocked me so I can't respond to you so I'll put it here. Do you know what qualifiers mean? It's the difference between most and all. All would be sexism. Most is just reality.

There is definitely discrimination happening. The discrimination happening isn't because of sex or gender. It’s because of a history of behavior.
The behavior in question (violence, rape) is largely perpetrated by one sex in particular onto the other sex. Thats just numbers.
I hope the women I care about are discriminating against men every day because men are statistically dangerous to them and I want them to be safe. Its that simple.
Their safety is more important than your hurt feelings. Stop being a child.

That's literally discrimination based on gender. Lorena Bobbit cut off her husbands penis you don't see men posting how they feel safer around a bear than a kitchen knife.
EDIT you blocked me so I'll reply here
Plenty of men are remember for their crimes. And now days just being accused is enough to ruin a man's life. Thanks for proving that you have blinders on to real discrimination.

The Flairs:

• “If you're going to be condescending, be right first, dork.”
  
• “You have to smooth out your brain for it to make sense.”
  
• “I'm a man and I was born with balls 💀”
  
• “doesn’t like being proven wrong so he weaponized-blocked me lol”
  

Context: For this booking, we will start from post-Dynasty and go until Double or Nothing in 2025. Though, I would have personally wanted to do her current run up to this point differently, we will keep things as they are for the sake of this booking.
AEW Double or Nothing: (TBS Championship) Willow Nightingale (c) vs Mercedes Mone

• The Story: We begin our story right where we are left off in real life following the most recent episode of Dynamite (5/1) where Mercedes, Willow, Stokely, and Statlander had their segment that resulted in Willow getting slapped in the face by Mercedes after Kris Statlander grabbed her arm from the episode on the 24th of April and then Willow successfully defending her TBS Championship against Skye Blue on Rampage. The next week during an episode of Dynamite, Willow Nightingale (with Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander alongside her) is interviewed by Renee Paquette before her upcoming math against Kierra Hogan. Willow talks about how her most recent fight against Skye Blue was the perfect kind of fight that she needed after the last few weeks she had before and how annoyed she is getting by Mercedes Mone constantly week-after-week trying to steal her spotlight and she knows why she is doing it. Willow says that she is going to say this one time and one time only, she did not try to injure Mercedes Mone on purpose and is sorry if she's unable to get over that, but at Double or Nothing, when it comes time to face each other again, she is going to beat her, and this time, there will be no asterisk to go with that victory. After she says this, Mercedes will enter the room, Willow is very annoyed by this and begins to tell her off until Mercedes says "Believe it or not sweetheart, not everything is about you", she turns her head slightly to stare into the eyes of Kris Statlander and says "I came here to talk to you". Willow looks to say something else but Stokely grabs her by the arm and tells her that they need to get ready for her match as she is coming up next. Kris tells Willow that she will meet her at ringside and that she'll handle this. As both Willow and Stokely leave, Mercedes tells Kris that she looked over the footage from last week and knows it was her that grabbed her arm, not Willow. Mercedes continues on by saying "Now, while I don't regret slapping the taste out of Willow's mouth, which is what I've been wanting to do for some time now anyway, let me offer you some advice. It would be incredibly wise for you to stay out of CEO business, because if you don't, I promise you it will be an even worse career decision than showing up here pretending to be an alien". Kris smirks at this and tells Mercedes that maybe getting her nose into CEO business is exactly what she wants. She continues on by saying "I know you like calling yourself the CEO and in other places, that may just be what you are, but here in AEW, where the best wrestle, I'm the boss around here". Kris continues by saying "and you know what? I'm starting to get tired hearing you week-after-week come around here and talk about how great you are, so maybe, you and I can go one-on-one and I can see for myself if you're the real deal". Mercedes is not amused by this and just simply tells Statlander, "I'd love nothing more than to show you just that, but thanks to whoever attacked me, I haven't been cleared just yet. So let me tell you how this is going to go. First, I'm going to go to Double or Nothing and take that TBS Championship away from your new BFF, Willow Nightingale. After that, if you still don't get why I'm the CEO around here and around the world, then maybe, I'll just have to show you then". Mercedes flips her hair in Kris's face and leaves (Willow wins her match against Kierra). One week, I would have there be a video package showing Mercedes recovering and rehabbing from her injury, working in the ring with someone to get the feel of wrestling ahead of her match with Willow. At one point, you see her watch back the moment she got injured and being carried out which fires her up as she trains even harder and hits her moves crisper, and it ends with her locking someone into the Banks Statement and they tap. The rest of the build is just building up their history and what this match means to both women. For Mercedes this is about getting redemption over the woman who robbed her of going on a run in Japan that she had imagined for herself and redemption against the woman who gave her the worst injury of her career. For Willow, this is about letting go of the past, by showing the world that her win against Mercedes last time was not a fluke, that she will beat Mercedes to show the world she is as legit as they come, and that there will be no asterisk to go with it (this is mostly done through video packages and exclusive interviews). During the pre-show of DoN, we see that backstage, Kris Statlander was attacked and she is clutching at her knee. Statlander will be unable to accompany Willow later for her match. (Ideally, I would love for Mercedes to have a match before the PPV but my guess is that she isn't cleared yet in real life and that's why in real time she hasn't really done much yet. If she were to be cleared before the PPV, I'd have her wrestle one match against someone that can showcase her skills).
• The Match: The match is a back and forth affair as Mercedes Mone showcases her athletic ability and veteran intelligence while Willow showcases her power, explosiveness, and fighting spirit. At one point in the match, Mercedes looks to hit a move from the top rope but ends up having to leap above Willow as she charges at Mercedes, as Mercedes lands she grabs at her ankle before collapsing, screaming in pain. The ref gets in between Willow and Mercedes, halting the action to check on Mone. Willow looks concerned, knowing she doesn't want to win this way again and didn't want Mercedes to be hurt last time. Willow goes over to check on Mercedes to make sure she is okay and when the opportunity is right, Mercedes attacks Willow and takes control of the match (I'd imagine something like throwing her into the ring post and going for a quick roll up or something like that to get the upper hand). From this point forward, Mercedes starts to wrestle like a heel, using sneaky tricks and talking shit to Willow for the rest of the match while Willow is the clear babyface. For the final stretch of the match, Mone hits a sunset flip powerbomb from the top rope to Willow, Mercedes goes for the pin and has both of her feet on the middle rope for more leverage in the pin, 1...2... the ref stops their count before the 3 after Stokely Hathaway (who has been ringside for the whole match) shouts at the ref bringing it to their attention that Mercedes is going for an illegal pin, the ref realizes this and stops the count. Mercedes is NOT happy by this, and makes her way to the outside as she gets into a shouting match with Stokely and ends up slapping him in the face. Mercedes makes her way back in the ring to attempt hitting her finishing move "Mone Maker" to Willow but is unsuccessful as Willow counters it into a "babe breaker" (death valley driver). At this point, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson (The Young Bucks) make their way down by ringside and seemingly confront Stokely Hathaway as all three men are shouting at each other. Willow hits her finishing move, Babe with the Bomb to Mercedes as the ref counts the pin, 1...2... the ref is pulled out of the ring right before they count the 3 by Nicholas Jackson. The Young Bucks demand that the ref eject Stokely Hathaway immediately for causing distractions and getting involved in the match earlier. Willow is pissed and is yelling at both Jacksons as Matthew Jackson gets on the apron to say something to her but she shoves him as he comes crashing down on top of his brother, Nicholas and Stokely on the outside. The ref is distracted by this and during that distraction, Mercedes will grab the TBS Championship and hit Willow in the back of the head with it, slide it out of the ring, and put her in the Banks Statement (backstabber to cross-face submission combination). Willow is unconscious and the ref calls for the bell, awarding Mercedes the win by submission. Mercedes Mone is the NEW TBS Champion, thanks to plenty of shenanigans. Before Stokely can attempt to protest this and check on Willow, he is met by duel superkicks by The Young Bucks. Both of the them will hand Mercedes the championship and raise both of her arms in celebration. The final shot before we go to the next match is of The Young Bucks and Mercedes Mone, side-by-side (Mercedes in the middle and a Jackson brother on each side of her), holding their gold in the air. It will be later be confirmed, that Mercedes Mone is the newest member of the Elite.

(During the build to Double or Nothing in the middle of the Elite's segments, they tease that there is a new member that will be joining the Elite very very soon.)
​
AEW Forbidden Door: The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) & Mercedes Mone vs The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) & Willow Nightingale

• The Story: On the first Dynamite after Double or Nothing, we have a brief backstage shot of all the members of the New Elite (Mercedes Mone, The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry) in the Elite locker room, smiling and celebrating (it's advertised for later that night for Mercedes to have an in-ring interview with Tony Schivone). Fast forward to the Mone interview with Schivone, Mercedes is decked out in her fanciest outfit showing off her newly won TBS Championship, and is accompanied by both Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. Tony addresses this by saying that this was scheduled to be with Mercedes only, but then goes ahead and asks about what happened at Double or Nothing. Nicholas answers on Mercedes' behalf (to which she is completely fine with) saying that this was a move that makes the most sense, that Mercedes is the biggest women's stars in the entire world, in fact, one of the biggest stars in the entire world period. Matthew pipes in and says that Mercedes' entire body of work speaks for itself, everywhere that she goes, regardless of the region of the world or pro wrestling company, the common theme is that when Mercedes shows up, it equals big business. Matthew continues on saying that in other words, no matter what the CEO does, it is just simply "Elite" and that's the kind of standard that they expect from the women's division and what better representative of that, than Mercedes Mone. Tony looks a little annoyed but before he can ask another question, Mercedes steps up and speaks in the mic, saying that ever since she has been here in AEW, she has felt disrespected. Mercedes talks about how she has seen what some fans have said (let's play up on how there have been some fans were starting to get tired of Mercedes just show up week-after-week just talking instead of wrestling) and says that she doesn't give a damn what some trashy internet trolls think she should be doing because they could never be her. Mercedes says that "The CEO wrestles when the CEO deems it necessary and worthy of my time to wrestle because I am the biggest star, the main attraction, the CEO and face of this entire division". Mercedes continues on by talking about how even though the fans have been disrespectful and ungrateful of her presence, the Jacksons and the rest of the Elite have been the opposite. They realize her talent, they realize her star power, and have treated her as the star that she is and will continue to do so. They are what true leaders should strive to be. Mercedes then finishes it off saying that Willow should consider herself lucky that the championship was the only thing she lost, because after she (Mercedes) almost lost her career to her, she deserved more than just losing the TBS Championship. All of the sudden, you hear Kris Statlander's music play, and she storms into the ring and they begin to brawl. The Jackson's begin to hold Kris back which causes Mercedes enough time to grab her title and lay out Kris with it. A match between the two is made official for Dynamite next week and its said that the Young Bucks have fined Kris Statlander for interrupting Mercedes' segment and disrupting the show. Next week, Mercedes Mone and Kris Statlander (with Hathaway in her corner) are the main event, they go for about 15 or so minutes where the match consists of Mercedes working on Statlander's leg constantly (commentary puts over Statlander's history of ACL injuries) while Kris fights from underneath. At one point, the ref is checking on Stat, who is really selling her leg and is threatening to call the match off but Statlander screams at the ref not to. Mercedes puts her in a half-crab submission (at the time of writing this, 5/1, they did this with Serena Deeb so it can be a different leg submission lol) and wrenches on her leg. Willow rushes down to ringside and tells Stokely to throw in the towel, he refuses, telling Statlander to fight back. Willow grabs a towel and teases throwing it in but Stat shouts at her not too and after much hesitation, she obliges. Statlander starts to fight back and hit comeback offense and at one point looks to be going for her finish, but her legs gives out, leaving an opportunity for Mercedes to counter and hit her finish, Mone Maker. However, rather than going for the pin, she looks at Willow and puts Kris back into the half-crab, to attempt to injure Statlander. Willow cannot stand the sight of this anymore and throws in the towel, awarding Mercedes the victory. Willow and Stokely go to tend to and check on Kris Statlander as Mercedes holds her title up in celebration (The Young Bucks start to come down the ramp, clapping for Mercedes and celebrate with her). Mercedes will once again lay Willow out with the TBS title and stand tall over the fallen women. The next week, it is reported that Kris Statlander narrowly avoided a very serious injury but will still be out for some time to recover. Mercedes and the Bucks are out once again to have a segment and talk about how great and dominant Mercedes' TBS Championship run has been (even though she's had only one title defense) and that they think she has earned some time off to which she will smile and agree. Willow interrupts them, standing on the ramp and lays out a challenge to fight Mercedes at Forbidden Door. Mercedes laughs at this and before she can say anything else, Willow cuts her off and says that she wasn't done, she also challenges the Young Bucks since she knows that they'll be alongside Mercedes anyways and proposes a trios match. They accept and tell Willow that she can choose any two partners that would be dumb enough to fight the EVPs and CEO. Willow says that "In fact, I just so happen to have the perfect two partners who have no problem fighting you two, because 1. They don't work for you and 2. They just so happen to have a bit of history with you and 3. While they take you two out, they'll leave you all alone for me, bitch". In that moment, we hear the sound of the Motor City Machine Guns theme music play and they come charging down the ring. Before any violence can take place, The Bucks and Mercedes leave the ring and escape to the back as Willow, Chris Sabin, and Alex Shelley stand in the ring. The match is made official for Forbidden Door.
• The Match: This match is a solid 20 minutes of fast-paced, chaos. Each team and member has their moment to shine and hit their big signature moves. Anytime Willow has an opportunity to go after Mercedes, she goes all out with a fury of strikes and moves as Mercedes is doing her best to avoid Willow at all costs unless there is a moment she can do something underhanded to get ahead. During the final stretch, the Motor City Machine guns able to counter the Meltzer Driver and hit their own tag team finish on Nicholas Jackson, the ref counts the pin, 1...2... Mercedes breaks up the pin at 2 and is talking trash to both Sabin and Shelley, Willow grabs Mone by the ankles and pulls her out of the ring as the two women begin to brawl but Willow is able to get the better end of that brawl as she starts to throw Mercedes around twice on the barricade. Willow takes some steps back and then hits a cannonball onto Mercedes through the barricade. The match ends after The Motor City Machine Guns again go for a double team finish but Matthew Jackson blind tags in, superkicks Shelley, and then both Bucks will double superkick Sabin, hit the EVP Trigger and pickup the pinfall victory for the team of The Young Bucks and Mercedes Mone. Post-match, Willow (who has just now realized they have lost the match) is furious, and finally looks like she is about to snap after being disrespected week-after-week by Mercedes will continue to brawl with her. It looks like Willow is about to powerbomb Mercedes on the outside, until all of the sudden, a hooded figure will attack Willow, stopping the attack. The hooded figure will reveal themselves to be Kris Statlander (Mercedes seeing this will take off and run to the back) and hit Willow with a steel chair over and over and over again until referees need to escort her away.

(Willow and Kris Statlander will feud after this and the following Dynamite, Kris Statlander will kayfabe injure Willow's ankle. Stokely will join Kris.)
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AEW All In: (AEW Women's Championship & AEW TBS Championship, winner takes all) Toni Storm (c) vs Mercedes Mone (c)

• The Story: We are now on the road to All In and we are looking to make this event as big as ever for one of the biggest AEW events of the year. The new Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, and Mercedes Mone) are in the EVP office backstage later on in the show. The New Elite are looking dominant and abusing their power more than ever. Matt Jackson highlights all of their accomplishments from Forbidden Door as they were all victorious and the champions within the group still have their championships and talks highly of each individual. He gets to Mercedes Mone (who has security and entourage with her) and after hyping her up, tells her that what happened after their match was unacceptable and not only have they fined Willow for her actions, they will reward her to make it up to her (they're continuing to be insufferable and show Mone special treatment). Mercedes says she has a great idea to not only reward her but, make All in the biggest show ever. She whispers something into Matt's ear, who looks excited and then whispers to Nick's ear, who spits out what he was drinking and looks even more excited. They approve and will make it happen and tell Mercedes that they'll make it official soon. On an episode of Collision, after Toni Storm was successful in victory over Skye Blue, we see Mercedes Mone with an attack post-match to Toni as she lays her out with Mone Maker (Mariah May will not ringside for this as she was helping Mina Shirakawa in a tag match on a different show). Mercedes stands tall over Toni Storm and holds her title up in the air as she looks down and also has her eyes set on the AEW Women's Championship. She proceeds to grab it as well and hold both belts up in the air as she then drops the title down on Toni, making her intentions very clear. On the next episode of Dynamite, Toni Storm goes to the EVP office to talk to the Young Bucks and demands an explanation, The Bucks say that they are very sorry for what Mercedes did and that they will be sure to have a very lengthy and serious conversation with her. They continue on saying that sometimes Mercedes gets a bit excited and got a little carried away (they say this with huge grins on their face). They tell Toni Storm to go to the ring later tonight and they will have an announcement that both interest her and make sure to discipline Mercedes. Later that night they say that as punishment for Mercedes' actions, she has been fined $100 and is not wrestling tonight (to which Mercedes will be fake upset about). The Bucks then announce that at All In, they want to make the biggest event possible so they thank all of the women's roster for busting their asses to make a case for being number one contender, and that at All In, Toni Storm will defend her AEW Women's Championship against Mercedes Mone. Toni is upset about this, mainly because Mercedes hasn't earned it and is already a champion. The Bucks also announce that to make this grand, and will say that this was Mercede's genius idea, she will also put her TBS Championship on the line in a winner-takes-all match. Toni says that while they think this is a win for them, she will prove at All In that this will be their biggest mistake. Mercedes will lightly shove her and then Mariah steps up for Toni and slap Mercedes in the face. The segment ends with The Bucks stopping Toni from attacking any more only for Mercedes to lay her out and smear lipstick and makeup all over Toni's face. On the go-home show of Dynamite before All-In, we have a match for the TBS Championship made official between Mercedes Mone and Mariah May. During the match, Mercedes makes it a point to show off and send a message to Toni Storm who is sitting in on commentary as she watches this match. Mariah May has her moments, even surprising Mercedes at times and getting some very close near falls (all of the time idolizing Toni Storm and watching her up close is paying off). However, despite Mariah's best efforts, Mercedes is just too crafty as she's able to find the right opportunity to counter and hit her finish, Mone Maker (right after she poked her in the eyes) and get the pinfall victory, retaining the TBS Championship. Mercedes takes a few extra shots at Mariah before Toni runs in and double legs Mercedes as she reigns down punches. Toni goes for the running hip attack but Mercedes rolls out of the ring and goes up the ramp. Toni holds her championship up in the air with Mariah May holding her tight in a hug.
• The Match: Mariah May is at ringside in Toni's corner as she normally is for this match. These two get very special entrances for this show as Mercedes enters in a limo or something fancy like that and escorted to the ring with security by her side and Toni Storm gets a special Hollywood Starlight type of entrance with a red carpet and stuff like that. These two get plenty of time to have a back and forth match with plenty of near falls and character moments that makes each stand out. At one point in the match, Mercedes is able to get Toni in the Banks Statement submission and has it locked in tight, Toni is struggling and at times looks to be fading until Mariah pounds on the mat trying to get the fans in it. After the ref grabs Toni's arm and drops it to see if she's out, she is able to keep it up and then able to bite down on Mercedes' hand to get her to let go of the hold. The two ladies stand back up Toni goes for a move that gets countered into an attempt at Mone Maker, but that gets countered as well and Toni hits her finish, Strong Zero (Spike Piledriver) and goes for the pin, 1...2... Mercedes kicks out at 2.9. Toni is shocked and attempts to go for her running hip attack but Mercedes is able to expose the middle turnbuckle and move out of the way as Toni crashes into it and Mercedes hits Toni's own finish, Strong Zero and goes for the pin, 1...2... Toni kicks out at 2.9. Frustrated that she can't put Toni away after a close near fall, Mercedes goes out of the ring and starts to get in Mariah's face (after Mariah has been cheering Toni on and trying to motivate her). she shoves Mariah twice which causes Mariah to push her back and get in her face. Mercedes then slaps Mariah which angers Toni, who then proceeds to roll out of the ring and kick the crap out of Mercedes. Toni briefly checks on Mariah and then continues the beatdown. Toni rolls Mercedes back in the ring who attempts a move but gets countered as Toni hits her with a german suplex followed up by her wind-up elbow strike thing she does. Not missing a beat, Toni puts her against the turnbuckle and hits her with her running hip attack as she sells her back a little. Toni is fired up and is looking to hit Strong Zero one final time until there is commotion going on in the outside. It is shown that Mariah May is being beaten down brutally by newest AEW signing, Kamille. Commentary hypes this up but also asks questions as to why this is happening, this distracts Toni for a brief moment as she turns around and is hit by Mone Maker. Mercedes goes for the pin, 1...2...3. Mercedes Mone is the NEW AEW Women's Champion has achieved double champ status. Kamille hands Mercedes both championship titles and raises her on her shoulders as Mercedes raises both championships in the air in celebration. The final shot before the main event is of Mercedes Mone holding both championship belts in the air in celebration as she walks up the ramp alongside Kamille to a chorus of boos.

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AEW All Out: (AEW Women's Championship) Mercedes Mone (c) vs Hikaru Shida

• The Story: We are post-All In and All Out is quickly approaching. Mercedes Mone along with Kamille will come to the ring for a segment and Mercedes will explain this new partnership. Mercedes says that there are a lot of women that seem to be upset with her around here and that now that she is on top of the world, she has a target on her back and fears someone will take cheap shots at her just like someone did when she first arrived. Mercedes explains that she needs protection and Kamille fits the bill (she begins to highlight all her accomplishments and puts over her NWA Women's Championship reign). Mercedes says that she has officially appointed Kamille as her C.O.O. (official second in command) of the Mercedes Mone business as now, her being world champion is growing her empire. Mercedes then says that she will be the greatest women's champion of all time, better than any other woman that has held this championship before (runs down past champions, including Shida) and dares any woman to stand up to her and take it away from her. Hikaru Shida comes out and challenges her for the AEW Women's Championship. At first, Mercedes doesn't appear to be interested but Shida says that if Mone wants to be the greatest women's champ ever, she needs to beat the best women's champ ever in AEW (jury is out on that but we're running with it). Mercedes then accepts and says that she will happily start her reign, beating Shida and show the world she doesn't measure up to the CEO.
• The Match: These two will main event the show and get plenty of time to work with. Shida playing a great babyface who is very talented and gets on fun runs of offense with Mercedes playing a tricky heel using heel tactics and her COO to get ahead. The match ends with Mercedes Mone hitting Mone Maker to Shida to retain the AEW Women's Championship.

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AEW WrestleDream: (AEW Women's Championship) Mercedes Mone (c) vs Riho

• The Story: The story of this will be that post-All Out, the New Elite are continuing to be pricks and abuse their power and are starting to target friends of the old Elite or current after Kenny Omega gives a health update from home and warns the New Elite that when he comes back, there will be hell to pay. As a result of this, they start to go after friends of Omega. Mercedes starts to go after Riho, taking her out and attacking her after each of her matches and having Kamille do the dirty work. On top of this, Mercedes also targets Riho because she continues to be on a mission to be the best women's champion ever and goes after another former champion, this time, the first ever AEW Women's Champion. Riho gets an opportunity at the Championship after winning a #1 Contender's match against Anna Jay. Also, on an episode of Collision, Mercedes Mone defends the TBS Championship against Nyla Rose and is successful (Nyla and Kamille will have a mini feud too after many staredowns between the two). Post match, to get comeback after Nyla and Kamille brawl, Riho enters the ring and hits her finish, Samato, laying her out and standing tall after weeks and weeks of enduring Mercedes' bullying and constant attacks. Riho in a vignette promo says that she is going to remind the world that she is the best in AEW, she will forever be the first ever Women's champion, and that after beating Mercedes at WrestleDream, she will show the world that she is the best Champion in AEW.
• The Match: These two get a solid 15 minutes to work here and put together a solid match with Riho being the babyface underdog. Mercedes continues to taunt Riho after Riho keeps fighting back kicking out of some big moves and after being able to get to the ropes after putting her in the Banks Statment. Riho makes a big comeback after she gets fired up after Mercedes pushes her face with her boots in a mocking fashion, pissing Riho off. Riho is able to at one point, hit the double foot stomp and then follow it up with her finisher, Samato, and goes for the pin, 1...2.... Mercedes has her foot on the rope breaking the pin but it was Kamille that put it there. Riho dives to the outside onto Kamille, taking her out, and then goes back in the ring to hit Samato again on Mercedes but it's countered into an attempt at Mone Maker but Riho counters that into a roll up pin attempt, 1...2... kickout at 2 by Mercedes. Mone is able to put Riho in the Banks Statment and Mercedes retains, getting the submission victory.

(at some point in the show, Hangman Adam Page and a returning Kenny Omega will confront members of the New Elite and go against them. We are now building to a New Elite vs Elite feud).
To be continued... let me know what you think so far! What do you like? What do you not like about it? Let me know! Part 2 should be coming soon.

This happened and delaware mods have pulled my post down because this shit is too real, so.. here you go, DE haters, feast on this and put the fucking word out that Lawler and Co need NOT be in Law Enforcement...
Oh, and this is the REAL shit, not the "His, theirs and the truth" shit... so fuck your tl;dr
A year ago, a knock at my door started a short series of events that has gone, to this day, left with accountability for the actions of the officers involved met with zero effort to be achieved. So, here it is, for all to see and hopefully, shine a light on the actions of a Parole Officer a Trooper and others that were with them the day they came to my home.
The first knock was on Monday, May 8th, by a female Probation Officer who was looking for XXXRedactedXXX, who apparently lived here at some point, likely the most recent before I took ownership of the property. This conversation was actually very polite on both ends, with me explaining that while I know the name due to recent mail deliveries and the fact that he may be related to one of my neighbors friend, he does not live here, has not lived here for at least the last 19 months since I started doing renovation on the home, and that the previous owners were removed from the property roughly 6 months prior to that, making this now at least 2 years since anyone other than me and my girlfriend has lived here.
I provided proof to this fact, as well. After a short exchange and an apology from her and her partner, who stayed on the street while she and I chatted, they left. The end.
Until 2 weeks later. This time, while I am sitting in a Zoom waiting room to meet a new client and the rest of her team, my dog begins tracking something down the house. I pull a curtain back to see a complete stranger in a black vest (from the back, unmarked) walking along the back side of my house and looking in windows, and then a knock at my door. Same female Probation Officer, this time with someone else standing on my porch, and 2 cars parked on the street with other officers walking around my house. I answer and I’m immediately and obviously agitated, yet at this point I am still polite (No, not as in “Well, polite but…”, polite as there are ACTUALLY people hearing this happening…) she begins asking me once again about XXXRedactedXXX, to which I explain to them both once again that I do not know him, have no association with him and, as I was about to tell them that I MIGHT actually know where he is, she says “Well, we’re coming in to take a look.”....
Me: “Do you have a warrant to search the property?”
Her: “No, but we don’t need one…” Me: “No, you do, and since you don’t I am going to resume my work day by meeting my client who is currently sitting in wait for me on a Zoom call” and proceed to close the door.
Her: Puts her foot in my door…….
Here’s where I began to become impolite, first by kicking the corner of my front door into her foot, then pulling it open and firmly explaining to her that this would NOT be happening today, and not to me. Now her and her partner are “bargaining” with me to let them in after she pulls this stunt, and I 100% denied, then closed my door and then, not knowing what to expect next, asked my NEW client to reschedule for later or the next day. We agreed to meet about 2 hours later, giving me time to clear my unwelcome guests from my presence and calm down.
This took some time, as they not only refused to leave, but another car load arrived and made a small show of force outside my house, while the female officer produced a printout from the State website of a MUGSHOT of XXXRedactedXXX. I immediately dismissed this as useless and after some back and forth, I went inside, printed the exact same sheet off the website, then handed it to her and asked if that was a warrant. “No…” with some gibberish I interrupted by crumpling the paper up and tossing it off, then walked back inside, stood at the window, flipped them off and closed the blinds.
Should have figured that it wasn’t over, but roughly an hour later, 5 or 6 cars pulled up, each with plain clothed State Troopers, led by this Sgt. XXXRedactedXXX. (Interestingly, it was the County Police Dispatcher that gave me this information, I love him for this!).
What happened over the next roughly 45 minutes was a volley of screaming, both from me and from them, with XXXRedactedXXX doing his level best to make sure I knew he was who he thought was in charge. This also included a younger officer deriding my status as a Marine Corps Veteran several times over, with phrases like “Most veterans can be scum” and “You must have gone military because you’re too dumb for college”, along with threats that if they came back with a warrant, he would absolutely NOT knock. (This was in response to my repeated insistence that at this point the only way they would enter would be with a warrant, and an assurance that if they attempted to do so without, that I would treat them as any trespasser).
I was repeatedly threatened by XXXRedactedXXX and mostly this young officer, while the rest just stood around and tried to look intimidating. (They weren’t)
Threats of jail, threats of property damage, several lies regarding jurisdiction, civil rights and property owner rights, prevailing laws surrounding marijuana and how if they came back with a warrant, anything they find would be used to throw me in jail.. (Exact words: “Throw you in jail just for making this hard on us”)
Eventually I did pick out two officers to come in for a fast look, and with my hovering presence as I did not wish them to be there to begin with, and to which one did attempt to go beyond a “reasonable” look for a human… (Sir, why did you feel like you had to open my girlfriend's panty drawer?).
Instead of a “Thank you” and any form of an apology for the inconvenience, instead, they left by whelping their sirens and mocking my over the PA speaker as if it was a parade and they were local heroes for what they just did.
Up to this point, all I wanted was an apology and a recognition that what happened that day was not only wrong, but never should have happened again. But now it’s a year later and despite several attempts to reach out to Lawler directly, his supervisor and others within the State Police leadership, nothing has come of it, less than nothing.
The recent actions of the officers involved raise serious concerns about their fitness to serve in a role where public safety hinges on responsible decision-making. Their conduct constitutes a clear violation of not only my rights, but potentially the rights of every citizen they interact with. Therefore, I urge a full investigation and their permanent removal from law enforcement. Monetary compensation is not the answer. The safety of our community demands the strongest possible action.

20F here, there’s this guy I’m seeing who I have a good history with, lately we’ve been hanging out and going on dates here and there but I feel like I may be lacking in the reciprocal department. He always pays for everything, refuses to let me pay, is very communicative and calls me all the cute names and touches me in all the right places, not even just sexually but just in an intimate cuddle or reassurance way if that makes sense. Every little thing I do he comments on “I love that little held tilt you do when you put your hair up” “I’ve noticed everytime you get on my bed you tuck your left foot first” or “I love the way you cuddle” etc. May seem small but I’ve never met a man that has communicated their emotions with me like that in general especially when he tells me he’s feeling down or woke up a little sad. I find myself being at a loss recently as I feel like he’s doing more in the relationship? Sure when I wake up I call him handsome, and I always rub on his arms and give him little kisses on the neck and rub his chest when I’m laying with him but I feel like I don’t do as much as he does for me? I’m not sure if I’m overthinking it or not but he makes me really happy and I’m worried that I could be slacking somewhere in my department? What are some things guys like to be told? I’ve heard that men love to be told when they are appreciated but what else? Can someone give me an example? I’m just scared to ruin thus and I hope I’m not overthinking it 😅 I see him soon to just have a lazy day in bed and I want to make sure we have some good convo that also isn’t forced

It seems pretty obvious that Melina is the Gloam Eyed Queen. There is more than enough evidence to make this case, and too many people have lost the plot and can't see the forest through the trees on it. The youtuber TimDiggity made a video theorizing how Miquella is actually Melina, and Ziostorm made a video about his theory, but the whole thing grasped at straws to say the least. I intend on setting the record straight, because if you're still asking the question than you weren't listening.
Lets stick to the facts. The Gloam Eyed Queen was the wielder of Destined Death. Her purpose was to maintain the balance between life and death. That is until she was defeated by Maliketh, who took her Destined Death and sealed it away inside of him.
We can also assume that the Beast Eye is the Gloam Eyed Queen's.
Claw-marked stone eye received from Gurranq, Beast Clergyman.
It is said to tremble when near Deathroot.
The murky violet iris writhes as if alive. "I am not sated... Feed me more...Death..."
Firstly, because it's a "violet murky iris," and 'gloam' refers to sunset or dusk where the sky bleeds into a murky violet color. Quite a poetic representation of balance between life and death when you think about it: Life and Death, Dawn and Dusk. Secondly, the Beast Eye is '"claw-marked." It's not claw-marked because the claw is the mark of the beast clergyman, but because it was literally clawed out of the Gloam Eyed Queen's face by Maliketh during the fight. Thirdly, the eye can sense Deathroot. What is Deathroot if not the essence of Destined Death spreading like a disease on the roots of the Erdtree from the cursed body of Godwyn. He was assassinated with a fragment of Destined Death that was stolen off Maliketh by Ranni. More on that later. The eye senses the Destined Death essense that is part of the Deathroot. The Eye has to be the Gloam Eyed Queen's.
Now how do we know the Gloam Eyed Queen is Melina? Well. The Gloam Eyed Queen is known to be an Empyrean,
(Black Flame Ritual Item Descriptions:) The Gloam-Eyed Queen led the apostles. It is said that she was an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers.
but also one that goes unaccounted for in the mentioning of other Demigods and Empyreans. We know in order to be an Empyrean you must be an offspring of Marika in some way. Melina refers to her mother several times during her journey with the Tarnished, and it eludes to Marika being her Mother. Here's some of her dialog that makes this case:
-Me, I'm searching for my purpose given to me by my mother inside the Erdtree long ago, for the reason that I yet live, burned and bodiless.
-There is something I'd like to say. My purpose was given to me by my mother. But now, I act of my own volition. I have set my heart upon the world that I would have. Regardless of my mother's designs. I won't allow anyone to speak ill of that. Not even you.
There is only one "Mother" inside the Erdtree and it's Marika. Melina's mother cannot be anyone else. The context is too strong. (In the Game Files she is referred to as 'MaricaofDaughter.')
Now let's talk about the most important parts of her dialog. When we are at the Kiln of Giant's Flame and during the Frenzied Flame Ending.
-I have long observed the Lands Between. This world is in dire need of repair... and Death*...indiscriminate...* Are you prepared... To commit a cardinal sin?
-Very well. Let my hand rest upon you, for but a moment. (A cinematic of Melina igniting the forge) O Erdtree, you shall burn. Burn, for the sake of the new Lord. (Turns back at you) Thank you. For guiding me here. (Lifts hand and ignites more intensly) The one who walks alongside flame*,* Shall one day meet the road of Destined Death*.* Good-bye.
-(The Blade of Calling is known to be Melina's weapon. Part of it's item description reads:) The one who walks alongside flame, Shall one day meet the road of Destined Death*.*
Melina mentions the Dire Need for Death Indiscriminate, because the Lands Between has gone without it for so long. Death is Indiscriminate, it literally does not discriminate. It comes for all. This is exactly what the Gloam Eyed Queen would say, because she was The Keeper of the Balance Between Life and Death as was explained earlier.
After setting herself a blaze where does she send you? To Crumbling Farum Azula, because the last thing she needed from you was to free the Rune of Destined Death from Maliketh so that balance can be restored.
After inheriting the Frenzied Flame:
-Should you rise as the Lord of Chaos, I will kill you, as sure as night follows day. Such is my duty, for allowing you the strength of runes.
Frenzied Flame Ending Cinematic:
-Lord of Frenzied Flame... I will seek you, as far as you may travel... To deliver you what is yours. Destined Death.
"As sure as night follows day." Remember what we said about 'Gloam' representing the sunset / Dusk. Dawn and Dusk being a metaphor for Life and Death? Here is where that all come full circle when she say as sure as Night follows Day. I mean come on guys, lets give our compliments to the chef because I AM COOKING.
During the Frenzied Flame Ending she says she'd hunt the Tarnished to deliver Destined Death, and why wouldn't she? Destined Death has been freed by Maliketh for her to reclaim, and she has reclaimed her Gloam Eye. I imagine that her eye was not burned by the Frenzied Flame left in the player's wake because: 1 - It survived all this time in the possession of Gurranq without deteriorating, and 2 - It's has a hardened stone exterior which prevents it from burning. The eye was most likely dropped right there where Torrent's Whistle fell, and all of the Tarnished's other belongings burned into ash.
At this point she has fully returned to being the Gloam Eyed Queen. She is the Balance (between life and death) and you are the Chaos. She will always be at odds with the Frenzied Flame because of this duality.
That is that. There is no further debate on who Melina is. I have no clue why people are still theorizing about her. The meal is cooked and plated, sit down and eat.
SOME REAL BIG THEORIES
1 Ranni is St. Trina
2 Ranni and Melina as Spirits
3 How / Why Miquella charged Ranni and Melina with delivering Torrent + the Spirit Calling Bell to the Tarnished
4 Melina and Ranni's ulterior motives (Emphasis on Melina, the game is all about her)
5 Conclusion / Miquella is Torrent
Now that we know for a fact that Melina is the Gloam Eyed Queen, And she is NOT Miquella, I'd like to continue with some real theorizing that I've cooked up. In what follows we will discuss Ranni, Miquella, Melina, Torrent and the DLC.
Ranni is St. Trina: First of my Schizo Theories is that St. Trina may have been Ranni before she un-alived her human body. We learn a lot about Radahn before he fought Malenia. He was a great warlord, admired Godwyn at a young age. He learned gravity magic from an Onyx Lord and was able to achieve mastery over it to the point of being able to stop the movement of the stars themselves. What was Ranni up to all of this time in her youth/adolescence and into adulthood?
Perhaps during this youthful time of her life she was experimenting with the alter-ego St. Trina, because there is quiet a bit that connects her to Trina than the lilies connect Miquella to Trina.
Being born of the Carian Royal Family she must have had her own school of magic like her brother and mother, but we never see her cast a single spell in the game. EXCEPT for the Mists of Slumber that puts Kale (and his Donkey) to sleep when we meet her. This is because she wanted to meet the Tarnished in secret, and the mist that scatters the ground looks very much like the Animation for the weapon art for the Sword of St. Trina.
Lets continue with this. What other evidence do we have that Ranni specializes in sleep magic? During the encounter with Renalla the fight is interrupted from the disembodied voice of Ranni. She states:
Upon my name as Ranni the Witch. Mother's rich slumber shall not be disturbed by thee. Of the last Queen of Caria, Rennala of the Full Moon. And the majesty of the night she conjureth.
From there a blackish-purple mist (Dream Mist) is conjured up and swallows the room. The tarnished now fights an erect Renalla in what appears to a dream world. This dream-world-boss fight spell is obviously the work of Ranni. There is also precedent for dream-world-boss fights if you can recall the encounter with Fortisaxx inside Fia/Godwyn's dream.
During her questline she states that she needs to take a nap due to her puppet body's limitations. Who else takes a long ahh nap mid-game? Another association with her sleep is that when you recover the Fingerslaying Blade or when you try to have her drink the amber draught she immediately wakes up. She commands power over other's sleep and her own slumber.
Not to mention her 'Outer God' is literally a Moon (The universal symbol for bedtime,) and she begins the Age of Stars ending by saying:
o every living being, and every living soul.
Now cometh the age of the stars. A thousand year voyage under the wisdom of the Moon
Also, the Engravings on St. Trina's torch and other items looks a bit like Ranni. That doesn't mean much because Ranni looks a lot like Melina but there ya go.
Like I said. This is a Schizo Theory. Unlike Melina = Gloam Eyed Queen, I cannot say that Ranni = St. Trina with 100% certainty, but In my opinion it is unlikely that St. Trina = Miquella.
-- Revision: One more thing I forgot to mention about Ranni. Did you ever wonder how she stole a fragment of Death off of Maliketh? He was entrusted with death because no one could defeat him. Ranni didn't have to defeat him, and in fact he is NOT defeated until the Tarnished challenges him. Ranni put him to SLEEP and stole a piece. That's part of the reason why he's so ashamed of himself. He was SLEEPING ON THE JOB. Guys I'm cooking up a mean five-course meal, has anyone even put that together or is it just me?--
Ranni and Melina are Spirits that can visit Miquella in the Land of Shadow:
Ranni and Melina (And Torrent) are all spirits. Spirits are like Remembrances, except they are NOT 'hewn into the Erdtree.' Every Remembrance in the game that we receive says that the character is 'Hewn Into the Erdtree' which means their spirit is preordained to be returned to the Tree and/or the Greater Will.
When Ranni gives you the Bell she states:
Ah. As I had hoped. I was entrusted this, for thee. By Torrent's former master. 'Tis a bell for calling forth spirits.
Summon them with it, from ash unreturned to the Erdtree.
So this is what becomes of beings that are not Hewn into the Erdtree. They are "Unreturned" and therefore exist and 'Spirits.'
Ranni, Melina and Torrent all have one thing in common. That is the animation that occurs when they appear or disappear. For Torrent you see it regularly. For Melina you get to see it a dozen times at sites of grace. For Ranni you only see her disappear a few times. The most notable instances are After she gives you the Bell and After you save her life by putting the ring on her. She calls you her lord and disappears until you complete the Age of Stars Ending.
I've looked over these animations multiple times. They may have different sound effects attached to them, but the particle effects are always the same. Shimmering blue sparkles and a cloud of blue ash. It's all the same animation because they are the Same Type of Spirits.
So we know that Ranni, Melina and Torrent are all spirits, and we can assume that as spirits they have the same power to walk between the Lands Between and the Lands of Shadow from the DLC.
How can we assume this? Well the artwork for the Shadow of the Erdtree had Miquella in a wheat field of spirit headstones riding atop Torrent. The Land of Shadow is both literally and figuratively the Erdtree's Shadow, meaning that thing that exist in this land are bereft of the Erdtree's light or grace. It would make since that this would be a land of Spirits, because as we discussed, Spirits are "Unreturned" to the Erdtree. They were never hewn or received Erdtree burial.
Miquella charged Melina and Ranni with making deliveries:
Melina must have been charged with delivering the Spectral Steed Whistle to the Tarnished. Ranni must have been charged with delivering the Lone Wolf Ashes and the Spirit Calling Bell.
Both the Spirit Calling Bell and Torrent's Whistle must have been crafted by Miquella himself. We know he's an excellent craftsman because he made the Unalloyed Gold Needle:
-One of the unalloyed gold needles that Miquella crafted to ward away the meddling of outer gods.
-An intricately crafted needle of unalloyed gold. Once snapped in half, it has been repaired by Sage Gowry.
And Torrent's Spectral Steed Whistle reads:
A delicate goldwork ring*. Can be used as a finger whistle.*
Aside from assuming that he crafted these items, we Know for a Fact that they were given to the Tarnished through our Spirit Empyreans by Miquella. He was Torrent's Former Master, and Ranni was entrusted by Torrent's Former Master to give the Tarnished the Bell and the Ashes.
What this means is that Miquella cannot leave the Lands of Shadow. He is trapped there or is choosing to remain there. This is why he must make these deliveries through Ranni and Melina. Spirits which can walk both worlds.
Ranni, Miquella and Melina are NOT on the same page (I am particularly Proud of this one)
Given the dialog the in-game dialog it appears that (Firstly: Ranni and Melina both like Torrent a lot for some reason,) that doing these tasks for Miquella were one-time-deals or they were transactional. Ranni and Melina are NOT loyal to Miquella. They have their OWN agendas that are totally separate.
Ranni leaves the Tarnished after lying to them, calling themselves Renna and making their delivery:
Now it is thine. To do with as thou wishest. Forgive mine intrusion, Tarnished. I doubt we shall again meet. But all the same, learn well the Lands Between.
Whatever makes the Tarnished important to Miquella is obviously not important to Ranni at this point. Ranni straight up lies about her name to the Tarnished as an extra layer of security. Like making a drug deal and using an alias. She wants to wash her hands of this transaction. After Ranni fulfills her end of the bargain, whatever bargain that is, she returns to her own schemes in Caria Manor.
Now we talk about something super interesting. We know Torrent is Miquella's steed and we know Melina is the Gloam Eyed Queen, (WE KNOW MELINA AND MIQUELLA ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON) so what's up with this dialog when when we first meet her?
Greetings. Traveller from beyond the fog. I Am Melina. I offer you an accord.
-but you, I am afraid, are maidenless. I can play the role of maiden. Turning rune fragments into strength. To aid you in your search for the Elden Ring. You need only take me with you. To the foot of the Erdtree.
-Then its settled. Summon me by grace to turn runes into strength. Ahh, another matter. I bequeath to you this ring*. Use it to traverse great distances. It will summon a spectral steed named Torrent. Torrent has chosen you. Treat him with respect.*
In this instance Melina fulfills her end of her bargain with Miquella of giving Torrent to the player, but ONLY on the condition that the Tarnished accepts her accord. She is also lying to the player and taking advantage of Miquella's trust. In this dialog she admits that she has been lying to the player:
There is something for which I must apologize. I've acted the finger maiden yet I can offer no guidance, I am no maiden. My purpose was long ago lost...
Her goals do not align with Miquella's, because her accord and her charge to give us the Steed Whistle are two different matters entirely.
"Ahh, another matter. I bequeath to you this ring."
I know it's stringent context, but it's 100% intentional that Her Accord and Bequeathing the Ring are two different matters.
Moreover, Miquella believes in You, the Player Character, from the very start. He wanted you to have Torrent, he wanted you to have the Bell and the Ashes. You are his chosen lord through and through. The same cannot be said for Melina.
*Forgive me. I've been...*testing you. To see whether or not grace truly does guide you. And...whether you are fit to face the challenge that entails. It seems my worries were unfounded. Torrent had your measure from the very start. Whereas I merely pretended.
Like Ranni, Melina did not know what makes the player Tarnished special, and why Miquella would want such gifts delivered to them. However, Melina is smart and cunning enough to understand that if the wise Empyrean Miquella has taken interest in the Tarnished than there must be something to it.
Even though she could reveal herself in front of Ranni at the church of Elleh she does not. Even though they both know Miquella, she wont reveal any more information than is necessary. Melina is the most secretive character because she is the Gloam Eyed Queen. If any other demigod knew what she was trying to do: repair the balance between life and indiscriminate death, they might try to stop her and the Tarnished.
She watches you progress to see if Miquella is right about you, and when you defeat Margit in single combat her suspicions are confirmed. What suspicions are those?
That Miquella has located You, the next Tarnished that is capable of becoming ELDEN LORD. The only one that can see the Guidance of Grace.
Not all Tarnished are the same, and not since Vyke has there been one who has gotten close to achieving such a feat. Armed with this Knowledge, Melina uses you as her pawn. Deceiving you all the way to the kiln, withholding information. It's possible that every time she shares with you 'Marika's words that still linger here," she is trying to manipulate you. Think about the way that she says:
In Marika's own words. The Erdtree governs all. The choice is thine. Become one with the Order. Or divest thyself of it. To wallow at the fringes; a powerless upstart.
It makes Marika and her Golden Order sound Evil, and sharing this information with the Tarnished is designed to move them in the direction of fulfilling Melina's purpose. She burns the Erdtree. She sends you to Farum Azula (Against your will btw) where the only thing you can do is kill Maliketh which frees the Destined Death.
I have set my heart upon the world that I would have. Regardless of my mother's designs. I won't allow anyone to speak ill of that. Not even you.
She says this with some disdain. It's a reminder that her goals are the only ones that are important. It's a Freudian Slip. In fact, the only time that you CAN deviate from her schemes is by choosing the Frenzied Flame Ending.
In 5 out of 6 endings she doesn't care what the Tarnished chooses to do. Her mission gets accomplished regardless. Destined Death is returned to the world and the Balance between Life and Death is restored.
That is what the game is really about. Restoring balance to the Lands Between, and you don't truly do it through any of the other characters. Behind the scenes all the endings are all about Melina. Life and Death, Order and Chaos, Light and Shadow. Duality duality duality.
__________________________________________________________________________________ That's what I've got. Honestly everything seems pretty airtight. Feel free to poke holes, but I've got this one locked up. I cooked. I win the Elden Ring Theorizing awards.
And just remember: Miquella can't be Miquella and St. Trina and Melina and in the Cocoon and in the Land of Shadow all at the same time, Tim. He just can't. If Miquella is anybody he is torrent. Because Miquella compels affection, and both Ranni and Melina can't help but to mention Torrent in such high regard:
Ranni's Dialog related to Torrent:
-I must thank Torrent too, for his part.
-I believe I said my name was Renna, when last we met. It pleaseth me to see Torrent hale and hearty... But Tarnished, what business hast thou here?
Melina's Dialog related to Torrent:
-Torrent has chosen you. Treat him with respect.
-Torrent had your measure from the very start. Whereas I merely pretended.
-I'm glad it was you I traveled with. I must tender my thanks to Torrent, too. Thank you, Torrent. Please continue to lend your aid. Till the end.
-I will kill you, as sure as night follows day. Such is my duty, for allowing you the strength of runes. Goodbye, my companion. Goodbye, Torrent...
There you go Miquella can be Torrent if you want

this is a script for an upcoming video coming to my YouTube channel soon
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here it is
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Don’t click away, i promise this is an interesting question
Angry birds is a series of mobile phone games released yearly since 2009, having been downloaded over 2 billion times since then, but one thing i’d like to discuss in this video is the characters of angry bird, more specifically, what is the fastest angry bird?
Now you might be rolling your eyes at me telling me, “well duh, chuck is clearly the fastest, it’s practically his main personality trait!!” but that’s not exactly true, as chuck is only the fastest in the games, we’re discussing ALL angry birds related media, the games, the shows and anything in between, so let’s get started!
So, let’s start with the games, specifically, the original angry birds game from 2009, Chuck is the yellow bird in the game, and his main power up is shooting forward in the direction he was last moving in at incredible speeds, immediately cementing Chuck as the so called “Speedy” character.
So the question is answered then, Chuck is the fastest angry bird, and that was it? Well, no.
In 2013, S1E20 of Angry Birds Toons, Run Chuck, Run! Aired. Where the birds are hosting a foot-race with Bomb, The Blues, Chuck and Terrance being the contestants, with the prize being a big gold trophy. At the start of the short, Chuck takes off at a brisk pace, immediately taking over Bomb and The Blues within seconds, with Terrance not moving at all. Later when Chuck races to the forest, he bumps into Terrance who seemingly appears out of nowhere, this most likely means that Terrance has the ability of Teleportation, which can send you to a specific point in an instant, way more efficient than running, although this could just be a funny gag, making Chuck lose at the end of the episode, and this is further supported by the fact that this teleportation sorta thing has never been mentioned by Rovio or any other official source since this episode came out, so this is just a kinda outlandish theory that i came up with whilst rewatching a nostalgic series.
But before I go, I would like to mention one more theory I've had in my mind for a few years now, what if Red is the fastest?
In the short, “Off Duty” where Matilda sends Red on a much needed holiday from protecting the eggs, later he is seen at the beach trying to enjoy himself, but all he can think of is those DAMN EGGS! But once he reaches his breaking point, he speeds back to the nest to find that all the eggs are gone, now this is heavily depending on how far away the beach is from the nest, but we’re going to assume that the nest is pretty far from the beach, hence why red is seen with a suitcase here, you wouldn’t bring a suitcase to anything only moderately far from home. Although, unlike Terrance, Red has been seen producing incredible speeds all throughout the series, such as in other ABT shorts, and also in Angry Birds Go! Where Red’s powerup in that game is a minor speed boost, but chuck is still faster in that game, even then, we still don’t have a definitive answer for how the fastest angry bird is, i mean what were you expecting me to do, calculate the speed and distance of angry birds? This was already a stupid enough video idea from the moment i came up with it, so i might as well just end the video right here, so you could probably do the really complex calculations on your own, so yeah, thanks for watching this half-baked attempt at a video-analysis, like and comment and have a nice day.

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"...You take my life, but I'll take yours too
You fire your rifle, but I'll gut you too
So when you're waiting for the next attack, You'd better stand, there's no turning back...."
-The Warsteel Lady Age of Reasonable Concerns war chant
And Lo, beyond the Chained Gate awaits the Crusade.
For time beyond time, they wait.
Their blind seers scan the stars, following the threads of karmic debt.
When they witness a snarl in those threads, a knot of destiny,
Then unseals the Chained Gate, and followed by screams they charge
To scourge the unclean with fire; to eradicate their filthy biological heresy.
Rest well, young one.
You are guarded by warriors most fell.
Sleep in peace under their gaze, and know safety even in war
For the Crusade exists to destroy enemies more terrible than mere soldiers,
Hellfire against heresy, that we may be steel against steel. - Black Neko Hymn, as transcribed from Engrish-Emoji by historian Willdissolver, Neko Marine Tradition and History Preservation Project
Those early days were the hardest.
They were also the best.
I stood shoulder to shoulder with the finest Telkan and Terrans ever created by the malevolent universe.
They, who stood with me, I call my brother. - Meditations on the Barrier War, Lancer First Class Imna, Free Telkan Press, 25 Post-Terran Emergence
He was laying on the pavement, his face hurting. He was crying, his stomach hurting from the boot impacts. Another Telkani reached down, lifted him up. They introduced each other, put their arms over each other shoulders, and staggered home.
Naxen. I'm Naxen.
He was sitting in class, back straight, hands folded on top of his desk, watching the teacher as she taught how numbers added to other numbers became even bigger numbers, and how to take away numbers to make the numbers smaller. He was smiling, content and happy. He liked school. He liked his teacher.
He wished she was his momma.
I'm Naxen...
Lawsec was holding his arms while another one punched him in the stomach. His book bags were laying on the ground, his dataslate broken, his books torn up, his homework scattered. They were laughing as they punched him.
Naxen
He was back to back with another Telkani, fighting the older boys who hung out on level 28 and stopped the elevator to extort people. He lashed out quick, striking and pulling back before someone could grab him arm. Their jackets had the shining hologram of a bird of prey on it.
I'm Naxen...
He was in school, paying attention to science. Most of the other Telk weren't paying attention, but he was. So was his best friend. They still believed that education would pull them out of the The Hive and into success and luxury.
His name is Wrixet...
The compujudge had decided he was guilty. Incorrible, despite the fact it was his first offense. Breaking curfew, on the way home from a study group. Juve-Cubes. One month.
He wondered if his mother cried.
I'm Naxen...
He was getting jumped in. The fists pounded him as he tried to fight back, but he was outnumbered fifteen to one, but he still fought, unwilling to go down easy. Finally the command was snapped to stop. The people who had just been punching him cheered and poured narcobrew on him.
They gave him his own jacket.
Naxen
His father yelling at his mother. His mother and his two sisters crying. He stepped up and grabbed the old man, spinning him around. He pushed his father against the wall, the knife in his hand against his father's throat. He growled threats. He growled promises. He let his father go and the drunk stumbled out the door.
His mother yelled at him.
But it was fine.
I'm Naxen...
High School. Hanging with Wrixet and the others. Going home. HIs mother zonked out on Zipper. His sister crying to her to make food. Going with Wrixet to get food. The promise of education was gone, replaced with sheer survival.
I'm Naxen...
Getting out of the Juve-Cubes, coming home. His sisters trying to get his mother interested in his return. She didn't care. She was hurting for a Zip. Trashing the house, looking for some Zipper. HIs sisters crying. He got some from another ganger. She hit the Zip and collapsed on the couch.
He went with Wrixet to get food. Wrixet had made sure his sisters were fed while he was Cubed.
I'm Naxen...
'don't leave me, please, don't leave me' the sobs moved through his brain.
There was a jolt to his chest and head and the memories shattered.
He could hear singing, faint and far away, but he couldn't tell what they were singing or who they were. A child giggling nearby and raced away.
Data and information poured into his brain. Sensor arrays, weapon types, electronic counter-measures, electronic counter-counter-measures, phasic inhibitors, ammoforge consumption rates.
Most of it didn't make sense. It hurt his brain, like pieces of sharp glass.
Disconnected ideas went through his brain, ideas, concepts, information that he had no frame of reference for.
Grazing fire, suppressive fire, close air support, artillery support, fire for effect, flanking maneuvers, fighting withdraw, directed fire, point defense operation
He had no frame of reference. The data, the information, the concepts stuck in his bruised and battered mind like chunks of broken glass.
ERROR LOADING DATA: MASSIVE CEREBRAL TRAUMA PROTOCOLS INITIATED
More data. This time it built on references. How to handle a rifle, how to throw a grenade, how to march, how to run, how to climb. How to take apart and reassemble an assault cannon, how to maintain his anti-nuclear, biological, nanite, atomic, radiation, biological warfare equipment. How to use a radio, how to give commands, how to follow them.
He was different species, different people, all their memories layering down into a foundation.
He screamed inside his own mind.
I'm Naxen I'm Naxen I'm Naxen
More was built on the foundation. Fighting on battlefields under strange suns. It locked into the foundation and he suddenly understood what flanking was, what grazing fire was, what suppressive fire was, what close air support was and how to call it in with mission variables and theater logistics constraints.
Where am I?
More was layered on. How to give commands. How to follow them. How to interpret them. What was a legal command and what was an illegal order. The rules of warfare. The Orion Convention. The Hague Laws of Warfare Treaty.
What is happening? Who is doing this?
More. Armored unit training. He was a tanker, he was an APC driver, he was a dismount crew, he was a power armor pilot, he was a warmek jock. He drove a thousand armored vehicles under a thousand suns.
It all layered smoothly on top of what he had been before.
SOMEONE WAKE ME UP!
More data. Himself. His sensor arrays, his point defense, his indirect fire weapons, his directed energy and projectile weapons, his battlescreens.
He was the will of the Telkan people made manifest.
SOMEONE WAKE ME UP!
Another jolt. He screamed.
UNIT ONLINE - STANDBY TUTORIAL MODE burned through his brain and he screamed.
Everything faded, pulled back.
He could hear gurgling, hear hissing, hear clicking and the whine of high capacity capacitors.
Everything was misty, formless, he floated in the middle of gray mist.
There was a knocking sound.
He looked around. He couldn't see anyone.
The knocking repeated.
"SOMEONE WAKE ME UP!" he screamed.
A doorway appeared in the mist, burning white edging around it. There was a knocking sound on it, then the sound of a doorbell. It was the doorbell of the shabby apartment he had grown up in, and he remembered that the doorbell quit working when he was eight.
The door opened and a Terran walked through.
He was tall, but somehow seemed squat, a squarish head, the reddish-brown hair cut so close Naxen could see his scalp. His skin was a tan color, like the stripes across Naxen's spine that laddered down his back.
The Terran looked around for a moment, reaching up and shading his eyes. He dug into a pocket of his comfortable looking pants and pulled out a detector of some sort.
"SOMEONE WAKE ME UP!" Naxen screamed, flailing about but unable to do anything.
The Terran walked forward, looking around, almost bumping into Naxen before he stopped.
Naxen flailed around some more.
The Terran looked around again.
"Huh. Not even a sitting space. Give me a moment," he looked up. "Mother, generate a three by three by two living space with dev textures and snapping grid in this eVR space please. Light at the following coordinates, six point two lumens, Telkan vision optimized."
"Complying," came a woman's voice.
A box appeared, surrounding Naxen. It had orangish textures, with white writing on it. There was a grid that the textures fit in perfectly. The light appeared.
"There you are," the Terran said. He reached out and touched Naxen's arm.
Naxen felt like he was falling and rising at the same time.
The Terran caught him.
"Easy, easy," the Terran said. He knelt down. "Tell the computer you need a lounging couch and a chair, a table with a bottle of wine and two glasses."
Naxen just gulped but followed the instructions, calling out the 'coordinates' as the Terran read them off.
The Terran moved over and set Naxen on the couch, then poured a glass of wine and handed it to him.
"You're real new. Newest I've seen in a long time," the Terran said, sitting down on the couch. He looked around. "The majority of your brain, you right here, is sleeping. You had some crossloading difficulty so Mother asked me to check on you."
"Where, where am I?" Naxen asked.
The Terran waved at the walls. "Enhanced VIrtual Reality Construct built in the firmware embedded in your neural tissue and in your sentience disaster catastrophic damage protection housing," he said. "Long story short, we're in your mind."
Naxen tasted the wine.
Nothing.
Like he was tasting air.
"Hang on," the Terran said, seeing Naxen's expression. "Mother, sensory layer activation, two point five percent strength."
"Complying," the female's voice said.
"Try again," the Terran said.
Naxen tasted it, expecting air.
Instead he got lost in the taste. The bubbles, his mind figuring out just how many per square micrometer on his tongue there were, their rate of popping, the mathematical formulae to determine order of popping. The chemicals, then the coding that simulated those chemicals. The viscosity of the water, its heat dispersion ability.
"Mother, drop it to one point five," the Terran said.
He could suddenly think. The wine was just wine.
"That should be a good baseline. Your dopamine receptors aren't completely blown out from too many combat highs," the Terran said. He reached toward Naxen, pulled out a folder from midair, then leaned back and flipped it open. "Huh, Lance Corporal, Telkan Marine Corps. Three tours of duty in combat zones. Five years total. Awards for bravery. No wound stripes. Minor discipline problems."
He set the folder on the table.
"You're an iffy candidate. Surprised the Dark Neko grabbed you," the Terran said.
Naxen looked at the folder. "I wasn't a Marine," he admitted.
The Terran frowned, picked up the file, and looked it over. "Genecode match. Phasic aura match. Says you're a Telkan Marine," he tapped the folder. "You saying this isn't you?"
Naxen shook his head. "It is me, but I never did any of that."
"Explain," the Terran said.
Naxen launched into it. How he'd gone to see the Cathedral. How the Warbound had woken up. How they'd been grabbed by Lawsec. How the government had shoved them into a cryopod. How he'd awoken on a station full of shades.
How the Hellshades had pulled him apart and he'd died in his friends arms.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to get Glædwine," the Terran said. He got over, stood at the wall, then tapped on it.
The door appeared and the Terran left.
Naxen looked around.
"VR, huh?" he said. He cocked his wrists.
The holographic keyboard sparkled to life.
It took him a minute to find the library.
SimTelkan had been his favorite game when he had been around 10.
He began moving in furniture, painting the walls, putting up windows with views on them.
He discovered that he could slave a camera feed to one of the windows and look out.
He was inside a massive bay, surrounded by other Warbound.
He shivered for a moment, closing his eyes.
Momma, momma, I got another A! went through his mind, his young, optimistic, happy voice echoing in his mind.
He put pictures of his family on the walls.
His mother, before the Zip and the sniffers got her too bad. His little sisters, before Momma had then slinging pink behind the clubs. All of them together.
All taken from his memories.
The doorbell rang and he moved over to it, opening it.
"Huh, still naked," a large Terran in a set of thin silk shorts and a tank-top belly shirt said. He was large, thick of muscle and bone, with a care worn face deeply lined.
Naxen looked down.
"oh, sorry," he said. He concentrated and was suddenly in a pair of comfortable pants, work boots, a t-shirt, and his vest.
"Yeah, not a Marine," the big human said.
"Yup. Every Telkan Marine Warbound always first generates themselves in their uniform," the Terran from earlier said.
Naxen concentrated and got a comfortable chair for the newcomer along with another six-pack of narcobrew. He moved over and sat down.
The newcomer picked up the file and looked at it, paging back and forth.
"It's fake," he said, tossing it on the table. He touched his temple. "Kelvak, you here?" He nodded. "Come on over to the new guy's house. Need you." He nodded again. "OK, see you in a bit."
"How do you know it's fake?" Naxen asked, curious.
"You have top scores in everything, combat awards for bravery, but..." the Terran leaned back and took a drink off the narcobrew. "Guy like that gathers awards in garrison too. No award for superior marksmanship. No awards or certificates for going above and beyond doing something like creating and deploying a new PT program. Only combat awards," he gave a sniff of disdain. "That's a civilian writing it."
There was a knock at the door.
It was another Telkan who stood there.
"Name's Kelvak. Kappa to the living," the Telkan said. He waved at the room. "May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure," Naxen said. He moved over and sat down after bringing up another chair. He felt a slight wave of dizzyness and rubbed his forehead with the bottle of narcobrew.
"Forged military record. Not his doing. Got sent out to die," the Terran, Glædwine, said. The other one nodded.
The Telkan listened to Naxen describe everything. At one point a little bird manifested on the Telkan's knee and he sat there, petting it.
WARNING! NAMING STARTUP SEQUENCE WILL ENGAGE! ALL VISITORS MUCH WITHDRAW!
All three of his guests nodded.
"We'll see you in a little bit, kid," Kelvak said. He looked around. "It looks nice."
"Thanks," Naxen said.
"Come by, we'll watch some Charlie the Moo Moo together," the first Terran, Joebob, said.
"OK," Naxen said.
"Or you can come by and watch Gurlz Und Lankiez," Glædwine laughed.
They withdrew.
NAMING STARTING SEQUENCING ENGAGING!
Wrixet passed Imna another narcobrew, lighting a T-Bug smokestick.
Suddenly that massive armored chassis jerked.
On its chest, the flat bronze plate burned with an inner light.
The symbol for Nu appeared.
The chassis suddenly shut down, slumping, and the fire vanished.
The plate was blank again.
"We should move back a little," Imna said, starting to stand up.
"No. I'm right here. Life and death, he's my brother," Wrixet said.
Imna sat back down.
The chassis jerked again. One clawed hand spasmodically opened and shut, the claws clacking. The feed mechanism for the 30mm dual barreled autocannon clacked as the action ran a half dozen times in less than a second.
The bronze plate lit.
The sigil for Nu appeared.
The chassis slumped. THe plate went dark.
The symbol vanished.
"You can do it," Imna said, leaning and patting the foot.
"We're right here, brother," Wrixet said.
The chassis jerked.
The plate burned.
The symbol for Nu appeared.
The huge war machine raised its arms and roared.
The numbers Four and Four appeared after Nu.
"I AM ENRAGED BY THE TEARS OF THE PODLINGS!"
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Every Sunday, or whenever it is possible, I give a recap of the sermon I heard at church today. I am Orthodox but I visit Catholic and Protestant churches to learn about them when we don't do the Liturgy. Keep in mind that this is a recap of the sermon I heard; this does not necessarily mean I agree with it. This is to share what is actually being taught in Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches, which may challenge or perhaps strengthen preconceptions.
Today is Holy Thursday for us Orthodox, so I'll share what was taught at church.
Today's readings:
Exodus 19:10-19

The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.” Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.

Job 38:1-23; 42:1-5

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened?Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’ Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and the upraised arm is broken. Have you entered the springs of the sea?Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?Tell Me, if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home? Do you know it, because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?”Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”

Isaiah 50:4-11

The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord God will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—this you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment.

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Matthew 26:2-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:2

“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Today is a significant day for us: Holy Thursday, the day on which Christ instituted the Eucharist.
What is the Eucharist? What we usually answer is that it is communion with the true Body and Blood of Christ. But while this is correct, today's Gospel reading tells us it contains our entire life. As the bread is broken and the wine is shared, Judas is ready to betray Christ. Rogues come out to attack the faithful. The disciples themselves abandon Christ, as we unfortunately often do. All of this is to be found in the Eucharist.
When preparing the worship service, the priest—not individually, but on our behalf—prepares the Body of Christ as if it were a lamb. The latter is killed, it is cut into pieces, its throat is cut with a knife... But now, the bloody sacrifice which was once done at the Temple has become bloodless, and as it is cut apart, we commemorate the Mother of God, the patriarchs, the saints... and also the living and the dead, even those who have abandoned the faith. These summarize the totality of mankind.
Our preparation for Easter goes on. Tonight, we will read the twelve Gospels of the Passion. On Friday evening, we will take out the Plashchanitsa, the image of the Body of Christ. On Saturday evening, we will mourn as the Virgin Mary did her Son. And all of mankind, summarized in the Eucharist, will be celebrating this powerful, intense, incomprehensible scene of Christ Who becomes man to die like we do and give us hope through the Resurrection. Amen.