How a volcano errupts volcanic cycle

PDX Fitness

2016.01.02 18:53 BeautyNBoots PDX Fitness

The goal of this subreddit is to have a place to look for and find gym buddies, running buddies, advice, share your goals, progress and create group meet-ups in the greater Portland Oregon and surrounding area.
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2024.05.19 12:21 LastWeekInCollapse Last Week in Collapse: May 12-18, 2024

Record temperatures, record migration, record emissions, record displacement, record PFAS……start building an ark.
Last Week in Collapse: May 12-18, 2024
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter compiling some of the most important, timely, useful, soul-crushing, ironic, stunning, exhausting, or otherwise must-see/can’t-look-away moments in Collapse.
This is the 125th newsletter! You can find the May 5-11 edition here if you missed it last week. You can also receive these posts (with images) every Sunday in your email inbox with Substack.
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Flash flooding in northern Afghanistan killed 300+ people and destroyed 1,000+ homes. Hundreds of thousands of others have been affected. Last month, similar floods in the region killed 70+. Four died in Texas storms last week as well.
Venezuela is suffering from record wildfires, which so far this year have burned about 5M acres—almost the size of Sardinia. Some experts think indigenous people started the blaze as an attempt at forest clearance, which quickly got out of hand. “Institutional failures” compounded the disaster when the ailing government responded with an inadequate number of poorly equipped firefighters. Another study from last week examined the impact of wildfires on soil health.
Flooding and “cold lava” killed 50+ in Indonesia, injuring dozens and displacing several thousand. Cold lava is a mixture of water and rocks tumbling down the side of a volcano. Meanwhile, an actual volcano erupted in Indonesia, sending smoke & ash 5000m high; further eruptions are possible soon.
The Swiss Re Institute published a 37-page report last week about natural disasters in 2023—and how much damage, in USD, they caused. The largest catastrophe was the February 7.8 earthquake in Türkiye & Syria, which killed 59,000+ people and caused $163B+ in damage. The report is full of interesting graphics & data about natural disasters.
“Last year, economic losses from natural catastrophes reached USD 280 billion, meaning that 62% of the global losses were uninsured….the insured losses surpassed USD 100 billion for the fourth consecutive year….annual insured losses will grow by 5–7% over the long term…today’s insured losses could double in 10 years….There were 142 insured-loss inducing catastrophes in 2023, a new record. Most were of medium severity, which we define as events resulting in losses of USD 1–5 billion….Over the last 30 years, we estimate that natural catastrophe insured losses have grown by 3 percentage points more annually than the global economy (in inflation adjusted terms)...”
Flooding and heat waves are impacting Brazil’s oranges, responsible for about 70% of the world’s supply. One food analysts declared that the “era of cheap food is over”—in the UK, at least. That may be one reason why UK residents took record food bank packages last year. Madagascar is struggling to adapt to a future with far less rainfall.
France is growing more concerned about a dam on Lake Geneva, controlled exclusively by Switzerland. The Rhône River, which begins in Switzerland and flows south through France, is shrinking in summers as climate change melts Switzerland’s remaining glaciers.
The Tonlé San River has been dammed in Vietnam, lowering the level in Cambodia and sometimes drying the river downstream entirely. Meanwhile, China’s lychee harvest is getting blasted by rain, impacting the world’s largest source of lychee. And, once again, Saudi Arabia is suffering flooding in its inland regions. 7 dead in historic flooding in Iran.
The eminent climate scientist James Hansen posted that, since “human-made aerosols and their cooling effect are in decline,” the cooling effect of La Niña will be counterbalanced by these rising temperatures. He also identifies a “large anomaly of increased absorbed solar radiation at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere” responsible for rising temperatures there. CO2 levels are rising faster today than they have at any point in the previous 50,000 years…and a study of millennia-old trees determined last summer was the hottest worldwide in 2,000+ years…
Record nighttime May temperatures were tied in the Philippines and Vietnam. A couple Indonesian cities broke records for May temperatures. And a number of southern African states saw more records drop. And Toronto saw a record tied for the number of days reaching 14 °C (57 °F). A heat wave has returned to Bangladesh. Flooding in Cali (pop: 2.9M), Colombia.
The University of Washington was ordered to stop a geoengineering project that scientists sere conducting from the deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier. The experiment ejected aerosolized saltwater in an attempt to reflect solar radiation. A comparative study in Nature Communications of a number of carbon pricing found that, yes, carbon pricing does work to reduce the total CO2 emitted.
It’s that time of the year again. Wildfires in Canada grow, some of which are moving towards the tar sands—forcing thousands to evacuate. 39 of the total nation’s blazes are “out of control,” resulting in air quality alerts in the United States. Meanwhile, across the Caribbean, water shortages have become the new normal, and residents (and tourists) are finding their old consumption habits hard to change. St. Lucia has declared a water emergency. In Myanmar, water shortages worsen, particularly as related to the spiraling conflict.
At least ⅛ of Europeans live in a place at risk of extreme flooding—so says a 175-page report from the European Environment Agency posted on Wednesday. The number of people living in flood-risk coastal areas in the EU & UK is expected to jump 24% by 2050. The graphics-packed report also considers how flooding will impact healthcare facilities, mental health, wastewater treatment plants, the spread of disease, cyanobacteria, permafrost thaw, and much else.
“Europe has seen devastating floods following record rainfall, droughts of magnitudes not experienced in hundreds of years, continuing sea level rise, and increasing lake and sea temperatures….permanent water stress already affects 30% of people in southern Europe….since 2018, more than half of Europe has been impacted by extreme drought conditions….Climate change is expected to increase mercury bioaccumulation in the marine food chain due to rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and permafrost thawing….Depression, anxiety and PTSD may persist for years after a flooding event….Under the changing climate, northern Europe is becoming wetter in general, but drier in summer. Southern Europe is becoming drier, especially in winter. For central-eastern and western Europe, the trend is less clear…” -selections from the report
Milan suffered flooding last week, the worst May flooding in 170 years. Early spring in the UK has disrupted migratory bird species and their usual patterns.
A 74-page working paper which is not yet peer-reviewed claims that earlier estimates for how much GDP would be impacted by another 1 °C temperature rise is way less than it would be in actuality. The paper claims the real cost (in USD) is about 6x greater. They claim “global temperature has much more pronounced impacts on economic activity than local temperature” and that extreme weather is mostly behind the projected decline in productivity.
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Epidemiologists are worried about how climate change in Africa may extend the life of disease-bearers like ticks and mosquitoes. Other epidemiologists are worried about how cattle may become a permanent reservoir for H5N1. Growing traced of bird flu have been found in wastewater testing in the U.S., but investigators think it may be runoff from infected dairy farms.
Obesity, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure rates today globally are 50% higher than in 2000—though researchers claim that air pollution still poses a larger threat. Of a study participants in Hawai’i, 75% had respiratory issues, probably from the Maui wildfires last year.
The 2024 World Migration Report is out, and its 384 pages are not as apocalyptic as one might think. However, internally displaced people are at their all-time highest. India, Mexico, Russia, China, and Syria lead the world in emigrants; another document contains the definitions for who exactly constitutes a migrant. Unfortunately much of the data relied upon ends in 2022. Data from this year, not included in the above report, indicates a 40% jump in traffic through the Darien Gap compared to the same time period in 2023.
“The last two years saw major migration and displacement events that have caused great hardship and trauma, as well as loss of life….There have also been large-scale displacements triggered by climate- and weather-related disasters in many parts of the world in 2022 and 2023, including in Pakistan, the Philippines, China, India, Bangladesh, Brazil and Colombia….disinformation tactics are increasingly being used by nefarious actors with negative impacts on public, political and social media discourse on migration….Forced displacement is the highest on record in the modern era…overconsumption and overproduction linked to unsustainable economic growth, resource depletion and biodiversity collapse, as well as ongoing climate change (including global heating) are continuing to grip the world….the risk of further conflict has not been higher in decades, as military spending reached a new record high of USD 2,240 billion in 2022…” -excerpts from the introduction
Another report, focusing on internal displacement, came out last week; its 69 pages show a cross-section of about 47M people displaced by natural disasters (56%) or armed conflict (44%). Most of the disasters were storms & flooding, and most of the conflicts were civil wars of some form. This report also provides detailed region-by-region analyses—with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 46% of global IDPs.
“Conflict and violence triggered 13.5 million movements, the highest figure for the past 15 years….Disasters and conflict are presented as different triggers, but their impacts can overlap, often leading to repeated and/ or protracted displacement….Drought triggered 331,000 displacements in Somalia….Floods triggered 550,000 displacements in Ethiopia….Conflict and violence triggered 3.8 million displacements in DRC in 2023, a slight fall from the record four million in 2022, but still the second-highest figure globally after Sudan….nearly two-thirds of the internal displacements recorded in 2023 originated from Khartoum state. More than 39 per cent of the state's inhabitants were forced to flee, leaving entire neighbourhoods empty….Criminal and communal violence triggered nearly three-quarters of Nigeria's 291,000 conflict displacements….” -selections from the spotlight on sub-Saharan Africa
Experts are concerned about the mental health impacts that climate change has on our minds. Hotter temperatures reportedly increase depression & aggression. Wildfires and storms can cause PTSD. Workers feel stress and desperation as their usual industries are impacted. And air pollution influences ordinary brain processes in many ways.
Some analysts believe “Peak China” may be over, signaling a period of economic tapering-off, as well as a growing militancy. Increasing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are continuing to separate the two economies. The Netherlands finally formed a provisional government, though its proposed immigration & farming policies have set it at odds with the EU.
The Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, released a 46-page report on potential climate risks to the banking system’s resilience. As far as I understood, most of the risk lies in extreme weather events and the risk to insurance agencies.
Part of southeast England experienced an outbreak of Cryptosporidium, a diarrhea & vomiting illness, highly contagious, which can last weeks. At least 22 cases have been reported. Meanwhile, the CDC is issuing warnings about the more dangerous strain of monkeypox circulating in the DRC, although cases are currently limited to Africa.
North Carolina’s Senate voted to ban mask-wearing last week, under the reasoning that it would make police identification of protestors difficult. An fMRI study found lasting neurological changes in COVID survivors; they “had significantly higher cognitive complaints of mental fatigue and cognitive failure….even two years after recovering.” Experts say a summer rise in COVID cases is coming to the United States.
A study on The Canadian/American Great Lakes found that PFAS levels are increasing in the 3 largest lakes (Superior, Huron, and Michigan), while decreasing in the other two (Erie, Ontario). The study also found that precipitation is the primary means by which the Lakes are accumulating PFAS, since the chemicals are small & stable enough to move through the water cycle. Meanwhile, in England’s Lake District, a telecom failure resulted in raw sewage being pumped into England’s largest and most famous lake, Windermere, on-and-off for 10 hours; and a major British water CEO took a $4M USD pay package last year. And a look into the Chicago River’s health found that microplastics & trash are endangering health & biodiversity.
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An assassination attempt by a lone wolf on Slovakia’s PM left him in critical condition, but likely to survive. 11 civilians were slain by cartel fighters in a few battles in Mexico. Violence continues to spiral out of control in Goma, DRC.
In Haiti, everything worsens indefinitely. Guns have reportedly entered from Florida, a phenomenon which officials call an “iron river.” Police have been put on the defensive against the growing might of the gang warlords.
A brawl broke out in Taiwan’s parliament. An Iranian plot was allegedly foiled to smuggle weapons into Jordan to destabilize the pro-U.S. regime.
Dozens more died in Sudan from escalating violence around Darfur. People are warning about “a disaster on top of a disaster” and the possibility of Sudan splitting apart. Others have called it “hell on earth” as 1,000+ refugees cross the Chad border every day. Disease and malnutrition are growing, while famine encroaches upon 9M helpless victims of the conflict—but the world’s attention is elsewhere.
The U.S. Army Engineers completed constructing the pier in Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid. Some 600,000 Gazans have been displaced from Rafah already, and fighting has escalated against Hamas militants in northern Gaza.
Taliban forces skirmished with Pakistani soldiers for about 90 minutes last week. Taliban attacks in Pakistan, and counterattacks have resulted in a kind of ambient disruption for the rocky border zone.
Violent protests—and counteroperations—are continuing in New Caledonia (pop: 270,000), a Pacific island part of overseas France. The riots, which have killed 6 people so far, began after metropolitan France proposed a plan to expand voting rights beyond indigenous residents. A state of emergency has been declared amid worries about a spiral of violence taking hold.
As the Sahel dries out, experts are concerned about the links to rising terrorism in the region. The Sahel accounts for over 40% of global terrorism deaths—according to the analysts’ understanding of “terrorism.” Mali in particular has reportedly become home to 41 new, different non-state armed groups (NSAGs) since 2007. A contested election in Chad resulted in the consolidation of the interim leader’s power.
“If governments are continually unable to solve regional issues, the people will be at the whim of any terror group that has a basic organization. It serves these groups’ interests to promote insecurity where they can and create security where they want. A “hearts and minds” campaign in the Sahel could lead to long-term and locally supported insurgencies in a land that is currently rife with civil strife.” -from the article
Some wargamers concluded that a Trump victory in 2020 would spell the end of NATO, or at least the end of its utility. Vladimir Putin replaced his minister of defense with a top economic advisor, just before going to Beijing to reaffirm their friendship with “no limits.” Some say Putin is planning on a forever war. Some say NATO is gearing up for one, too.
Russia made several gains in the suburbs of Kharkiv, seizing several settlements which some analysts doubt they will hold. Putin claims they aren’t really trying to take Kharkiv anyway… Russia also made small progress in the Donbas—although they suffered their largest one-day casualties since the start of the war. The U.S. allocated another $2B to hasten the delivery of weapons to the front lines. The next weeks will be crucial on the front. Switzerland has invited 160+ nations to send delegates to a peace summit intended to design a path to making peace in this War.
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Select comments/threads from the subreddit last week suggest:
-Brazil’s flooding was really, really bad, judging from this post and its accompanying images. Across just one of Brazil’s 26 states, 600,000+ people have been made homeless, 100+ have died, and the storm season isn’t over yet. Some of the flooding isn’t expected to subside for another month.
-How specifically might climate change make humanity extinct? This thread crowdsources a number of plausible ways, from ordinary famines to nuclear war and even a massive deoxygenation process. I tend to think it will be a consequence of an eventual nuclear exchange, followed by extended famine and disease.
Got any feedback, questions, comments, complaints, upvotes, doom prophets to follow, hugelkultur guides, directions to off-grid bunkers, ark schematics, etc.? Check out the Last Week in Collapse SubStack if you don’t want to check collapse every Sunday, you can receive this newsletter sent to your (or someone else’s) email inbox every weekend. What did I forget this week?
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2024.05.19 04:02 Awesome_Bronana War of the Monsters Advanced Techniques

I remember the first time I played War of the Monsters on the PS2 was when my dad brought home a copy of the game and played with me and my siblings. I grew up watching monster movies and instantly loved this game. It has been 20 years since I have first played this, I decided to write this guide in advanced tricks and techniques that I have developed from my experiences playing this game. I hope you enjoy this read and that It increases your appreciation of this hidden gem.
There are many guides online that cover combos, tactics, item placements, boss guides, level guides, cheats, etc. This is not one of those. This will cover more niche and advanced techniques that you can use to enhance your capability in your gameplay.
This guide will be written with the assumption that the control scheme is set at control 'B' which you can set in the pause screen during a game. (I think most people have it set at 'A') It shouldn't effect how these techniques function but something to keep in mind.
This is a work in progress and I will edit this thread as I come across new info and insights into the game.
Glossary: Movement Special Attacks Rage Utility Map Awareness Advanced Combat
\\\\MOVEMENT////////
The monsters in the game have varying movement speeds (running, climbing), jump heights, and flying speeds. However even with the slowest monster you can work around the lack of speed with enough practice utilizing the following methods and the environment to your advantage. Little is more scary than a slow monster like Agamo zooming around your foes mwahaha!
The Dashing Mechanic<<<
As listed in the instruction manual, this allows your monster to sprint at the cost of energy by double-tapping and holding the foward button until expended or pressing the ram button.
Launching<<< You can use the ram button to launch yourself off buildings, ramps, and rock formations to get extra height quickly (a mechanic that the mini game 'Big Shot' is soley based around).
This is particularly useful in maps like baytown where theres a lot of verticality in the environment.
Super Fast Flying<<< This ram mechanic is especially useful for flying monsters like Preytor and Raptros. Executing the dash-ram in conjunction with holding 'x' right after ramming while on the edge of a building or flat surface will result in a blisteringly fast flight speed that gives you better movement and height. Preytor is super fast with this method while Raptros has better airtime and control, though the speed difference is minor. Raptros is my prefrence due to the better airtime, control, and Projectile damage.
Firing projectiles while flying<<< Raptros and Preytor both have the ability to capitalize on their aerial advantage by firing projectiles mid glide. You can accomplish this by performing the glide holding X and while holding glide tap the □ button to fire. This takes energy though so maintaining altitude is key. the most effecient way to do this is to execute the dash>ram>fly combo to get extra speed, glide up over your opponent and lock-on to them to spin like a vulture firing down on your target.
Lock-On Steering<<< You may notice that while dashing, your ability to steer your monster is stiff. This technique will allow you to navigate around all those tight corners on a dime while dashing! This is more tricky to execute because it is depenent on where your opponents are located around you. This is indicated on the HUD as these numbered circles that show the health status of your opponents.
While sprinting using the dash, hold the lock-on button to force your monster to take a tight turn in the direction of the closest target. This is great for adjusting after missing your target.
For simply turning tight corners, simply tap the lock-on button instead while the opponents icons are on the side you want to turn.
There is a brief charge up before a dash, if you time your lock on just before the dash activates, you can pull up to a sharp 180 degree turn on your opponent if you missed the first dash-ram.
There is some wiggle room in the timing to play around with and practice your navigation using this technique.
Building Hopping<<< Every monster has different climbing speeds, some are fast like Kineniclops and Preytor, some are slow such as Agamo and Togera.
Building Hopping is the simple action of jumping while climbing a building. Repeating this cycle of (jump+grab+jump+grab+jump) will do two things:
  1. It will add more speed to slower monsters climbing
  2. It will reduce your contact to the building by about 80% and greatly reduce the chance of getting knocked down when an opponent is throwing projectiles.
\\\\SPECIAL ATTACKS////////
Every monster has two special attacks at their disposal under two categories; Close range and Long range. This chapter will cover the expansive utility of both types.
Short Range Special<<< Despite the differences in the vibrant animations, all monsters share the short range special attack in common. The only difference between them as far as I can ascertain Is the the time it takes to start up the blast (Ultra V being almost instant and zorgulon Taking 1.5 seconds). The purposes most common is to give yourself space when surrounded or cornered, and to have a quick and strong offense to your opponent knocking them down. However there is more utility in this attack when you think of this as a defensive move.
Invincibility Frames<<< The short range special attack gives you about 2-3 seconds of invincibility frames meaning almost nothing can damage you aside from falling buildings. This is excellent as a defense against thrown objects, explosives, lightning, short and long range special attacks, and environmental hazards.
Long Range Special<<< Every monster has a unique long range special attack that has different effects and ranges. There is more nuance in how you can utilize these attacks, so I will cover each monsters long range special individually so you can make the most out of these attacks:
  1. Raptros' Fire Breath Raptros has a unique advantage in regards to how he uses this attack. He can activate it on the ground AND while mid-flight. Additionally, he can fire his projectiles while using his fire breath to squeeze in extra damage (There is a weird glitch where doing this turns the flame invisible, but the effect is still active). This also hinders opponents and catches them on fire.
  2. Togera's Atomic Breath Similar to 'Raptros's Fire Breath' Togera's Breath has similar range and hinders opponents. The difference is that it deals more damage. You can also fire his projectiles while using his breath for pretty nasty damage.
  3. Preytor's Flying Leeches Leechs not very damaging by itself, it is a decent threat if you can manage to chain up multiple specials around the map. (Ex. In Metro City there are multiple red orbs, 50% energy, around the buildings and streets where you can chain at least 3 leeches). There are two minor benefits from the leeches: A. It gives the opponent something else to target or focus on A.I. or human B. Can't be blocked unless intercepted by thrown object or shot projectile, or using a special attack, thus resulting in multiplying damage stacks if chained. You can also spread the leeches out by locking on different targets while sending them.
*This Special attack is really best used in situations where the opponent won't have time to stop all of the leaches (preferabally up close) followed up with your own projectiles or thrown objects or follow up advances.
  1. Congar's Sonic Roar Similar range to Raptros and Togera's Breaths, and Considerable damage and launches opponents far. It can reach through some buildings for full effect. You can also tilt congars head around to spread the roar around to get a wider spread. Opponent can block this attack or counter with a short range special.
  2. Robo-47's Atomic Missile The most immediately damaging special in the game by far. It also launches opponents far like congars roar. It is very versatile at close range and long range. You can choose to fire quickly or wait to lock on the target for a more likely hit. You can tilt his head down to shoot the ground for a damaging 'short range' blast. You can also cancel the missile by pressing the block button for later use. It cannot be blocked unless opponent uses short range special or dodges.
  3. Agamo's Head This special is unique in it can be used to farm for more energy considerably fast while weilding it, which in turn stocks you with an additional special when you are ready for the next head or short range attack. Creating an efficient cycle of banking more special attacks. It is damaging and knocks opponents down upon a confirmed hit. It also can be used as a bomb by pressing the long range special button a second time. This isnt great for throwing at enemies from a distance as an explosive, launching opponents. The head when thrown is also super bouncy and ricochets damaging buildings and knocking down opponents all the while gaining you energy.
  4. Magmo's Eruption This special launches a barrage of fireballs at an opponent and juggles them into the air with good damage followed up with some decent fall damage. This can be paired with a second erruption when chaining with a second special pickup on the map. You can tilt magmo's head up first before locking on an opponent to send the fireballs over obstacles and tyen lock on to your opponent have a better chance to reach them.
  5. Kineticlops's Lightning storm This is great for crowd control and anti-air with good range. The storm electricutes all nearby monsters in range and launches them upward. This is nice for discouraging flying enemies. You can also flick the lighting up and down for flavor just to show off but it won't do much damage.
*Its also nice using this special following a one-two combo of shocking an opponent with a power generator and throwing for a double shock.
  1. Zorgulon's UFO Swarm Arguably the weakest of the long range specials, but it is still is fun to use and can be used in creative ways. If you lock-on a target while executing this special (provided they are not behind cover) you will fire this device that hover above the target that calls in ufos to harrass the opponent. The damage is varied based on how many shots are managed by the ufos and when the device is destroyed. There is a charge on the device that when run out releases the ufos and ends the special. This can be shortened if you damage them in any way. Another use is to place them in an area of interest, such as locations with resources like health, energy, or powerups. It is more defensive and punishes opponents for going where you don't want them to go. You can also grab these ufos for a weapon to attack with, gaining more energy or even fire their lasers at the opponent. while not practical is fun.
  2. Ultra V's Grapple Cable This special does minor damage but can grab and pull an opponent across the map to you and stuns the enemy for a few seconds. This can be really nasty since it allows you options to set up a combo, launch them with a 360 kick, pull them into environmental hazards (bottomless pits, radioactive waste, powerlines, steam, tsunamis, falling buildings). It can be use up close for an easy stun or to take opponents away from reaching resources such as Health, Energy, or powerups. At long ranges it is best used at highground where line of sight is less blocked by obstacles. You can also send the grapple while holding any object for extra damage. The fan favorite method is to use explosives (gasoline truck, airplanes, fuel tanks) for an explosive combo! even if you miss with the grapple the impact of the explosive will hit the opponent if close enough. You can also use the grapple to damage buildings to knock opponents off the walls.
\\\\Rage Utility//////// Rage is an interesting mechanic that I think some people overlook as not that useful. It Is available once you collect enough energy that you energy bar flashes, and makes it so your following actions are more effiecient than standard usage. Instead of your energy being used up quickly it is unlimited until the rage runs out. I have not tested if Rage increases your damage output. I have focused this as more a tool for various tactics I came up with.
sprinting with rage<<< using the dash usually expends energy really fast. however with Rage, you can extend the time you can continue you sprint significantly. you can Also dash-ram infinitely until expended, which is scary when used in conjunction with the lock-on steering technique.
Firing projectiles with rage<<< Every monster has projectiles that have unique behaviors, have varying damage and cost. Every monster in general benefits from using rage to shoot more projectiles, the difference is in how you position yourself to shoot them effectively.
Flying monsters can use this to fire even more projectiles while in mid-flight without worrying about losing stamina, the unlimited energy also gives room to reposition the monster if more altitude is needed the damage is also decent from both of them.
Robots like Robo-47 and Ultra V have similar projectiles that pepper small damage but are very rapid. The faster you mash the □ button, the faster the firing rate. when using rage you can catch opponents with little cover and barrage them with a volley of lasers/bullets.
Kineniclops's projectile is unique that it is the slowest but has the most heat seeking property. You can shoot a lot with little cost and it deals decent damage especially if you can land multiple hits with them. with rage you can create an army of these lightning balls at some highground or running and jumping approaching them from different angles makes it hard for them to avoid the stacks in damage.
\\\\Map Awareness//////// This section will cover Map awareness and how to take advantage of the abundant resources in your game. knowing the layout of the map as well as intimately knowing the placement and respawn time of your resources will aid you so much in how you decide to approach the following setups we are about to cover here.
Resources<<< Resources are defined as anything on the map you can pick up that aids you (Health, Energy, Powerups, Items). The location of Health, Energy, and powerups on each map is static, though consistent and respawn after a period of time. Items However can both be static (pieces of a building, rocks, water towers) and dynamic (moving items like cars, helicopters, trains).
chaining resources<<< This is a series of actions that utilizes multiple resources for a desired outcome. (ex. gaining health/energy/damage).
For example, chaining a power transformer lightning bolt+throwing the transformer+radio tower spear impale+gasoline truck = a chain resulting in big damage to your opponent there are many combinations you can chain together with items its devistating when you know exactly when and where an item will be so you can in rapid succession throw items to juggle them from a distance.
chaining specials<<< For example, it is possible to set oneself up to use at least three specials in succesion easily in a map such as atomic island where the reactor in the center can recharge your special rapidly. Think of the possibilities with this alone, thats 3 to 4 flying leechs from preytor at once, 3-4 nuke missiles from robo- 47 and so on. Other maps have instances where if you have a special in stock you can position yourself next to another red orb or 50-100% energy and use a special of your choice and follow it up with an additional special that you subsequentally grab.
\\\\Advanced Combat//////// There are guides out there that cover the specific combos you can pull in sequence and I have a few quick tips to increase your combos, and increase your lethality.
Combo canceling<<< Each monster has varying speeds in execution and amount of hits they cam perform before they end with a launching strike. What I suggest when pursuing higher combos is to simply tap the block button before the launch. Speed is key here so results may vary. such as congar who is more combo focused with fast punches. You can unleash a lot of hits and tap the block button, the follow up with more hits. there is a chance that the opponent will have time to block so it takes practice.
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2024.05.18 21:06 Iwastedallmymoney Tyrant Pathway Sequence 4-3[Demigod and Saint](Extrapolation/Speculation)

Sequence 4: Cataclysmic Interrer
New Abilities
Strengthened Abilities
Mythical Creature Form
Sequence 3: Sea King
New Abilities
Strengthened Abilities
Mythical Creature Form
submitted by Iwastedallmymoney to LordofTheMysteries [link] [comments]

2024.05.16 18:57 WaQuakePrepare We are Volcano Experts remembering the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Ask us Anything!

Edit: We’re mostly done for the day, but if you ask more questions, some of our folks might reply when they get some free time. Thanks to everyone!
Hi everyone! We’re staff with the Washington Emergency Management Division on Camp Murray, WA and the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, WA and we’re here to answer your volcano questions!
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Each May these past few years, we like to pay tribute and remember what happened and part of that is answering your questions.
Besides being here online, we’ll also be IN PERSON from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 18, 2024 at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater on Mount St. Helens to commemorate the volcano’s eruption. The address is 19000 Spirit Lake Hwy, Toutle, WA. This facility is located at milepost 43 on State Highway 504. If you are within driving distance, come say hi and experience the volcano in person!
Our folks are prepared to answer questions about how volcanoes were formed, what it’s like during an eruption and specific questions about volcanoes in our region. (We may not be able to answer volcano questions about other regions – sorry Iceland fans).
Cascades Volcano Observatory has also released a new poster honoring the heritage of Lawetlat’la, the name given to Mount St. Helens by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
We are all using one account and will sign our names after our responses.
Brian Terbush, Volcano Program Manager at Washington Emergency Management Division for Washington Emergency Management Division Proof of Brian
Wes Thelen (Earthquakes, Kilauea)
Alex Iezzi (Infrasound, earthquakes)
Tyler Paladino (Deformation, Volcanic Ash Modeling, AI)
Liz Westby (Volcano communications, Mount St. Helens)
Larry Mastin (Volcanic ash modeling, explosions)
Chris Hight (Data, computers)
Hannah Rabinowitz - Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano Program Manager at FEMA Region 10
Proof from our .gov website which also has more information on our event on Saturday as well as other things going on this month.


submitted by WaQuakePrepare to IAmA [link] [comments]

2024.05.16 16:47 Meta_Gamer_42 My Thoughts On The Future Of Sandbox Gaming

I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of gaming, especially for sandbox and simulation games like Minecraft, Unturned, Skyrim, Terraria, Baldur's Gate 3, Ark Survival Evolved, and The Sims 4, Fall Out 4 ECT. I think in the near future, we could see these games evolve in a way that makes them more immersive and dynamic.
using something like ChatGPT-4, and having it acting as a "Dungeon Master" or "God" within our favorite game worlds. kind of like how Helldivers II has been confirmed to has a Game Master This AI wouldn’t just be a passive element though; it would actively control and enhance the game environment, creating a living, breathing world around us.
he pint is to have an AI integrated into the game, dynamically controlling various aspects to simulate a more realistic and interactive environment.
  1. Core Functions:
  1. Enhanced Gameplay:
I believe particularly in a game like Minecraft it is if you limit the world size and run this of a kind of beefy server you could almost simulate the whole world via keeping chunks loaded and stuff adding mods on top of that would be awesome too
submitted by Meta_Gamer_42 to Futurology [link] [comments]

2024.05.16 13:15 Dimetro_Sparks I've decided to put my take on the Internet popular "Mothra: Queen of the Monsters"

I've decided to put my take on the Internet popular
Hope you all enjoy the show! (Fair warning, it's very long)
We start off as a flashback during early Ancient Egypt times, where Mothra was flying over the deserts, peacefully scattering her godly lights over man and animal alike, bowing down to her in reverence and becoming docile respectively, before she senses a disturbance somewhere. She rushes over to it, and sees Abaddon (using my idea for him, a huge-ass Dragonfly with a functional mouth, a stinger tail, and the forelimbs of a Praying Mantis) using his swarm to hunt for food.
Mothra dispels the swarm and attacks Abaddon with her God Rays, with Abaddon territorially attacking the Queen, and Mothra, in a show of stubbornness, engaging his challenge, and both insectoid Titans engaged in a brutal aerial battle as the Ancient Egyptians watched. It looked as it was going well for the more nimble Mothra, until Abaddon trapped Mothra in his raptorial forelimbs, brutally slamming and dragging her across the sands, before he lifted her and raised his stinger. It cuts to the Ancient Egyptians, who gasp and look on in horror as the sound of a sharp object and crunching sounds fill the air. Abaddon drops Mothra's lifeless corpse as he flies away, having satiated his hunger, while the screen zooms in on Mothra's eye. Whatever epic opening your mind makes happens, before the title lights up.
We follow Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) and her surrogate daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle) again, this time joined with the Chen Twins, Dr. Ilene and Dr. Ling (both played by Zhang Ziyi) as Jia dreams about Mothra…'s hatching, that is. That's right, sometime after the battle in Rio de Janeiro, Mothra has flown to the Borneo Jungle and laid an egg there, and the main cast arrive to witness it in person, and naturally, when the larva hatches, it was a magnificent sight for all involved. When the night falls and Jia goes to sleep in the Borneo Outpost, she once again shares a dream with Mothra, joined by the Chen Twins, due to their history with the Queen… until the dream started going out of control, wildly flashing and prophesying, among other things, a high-pitched whining sound, unblinking red eyes, the earth collapsing, and darkness enveloping the skies.
Everyone in the dream, from where they are, wake up in a cold sweat, until they get an urgent call that the Mothra Larva was displaying an unnatural and out of character level of agitation, proven correct when they see the slightly nervous Mothra pulsating yellow and orange, before breaking free of her containment and vanishing into the forest. It was pretty easily seen that something big was about to go down if Mothra of all Titans was getting upset. And soon enough, it looked like it came true when a devastating earthquake shook a large part of Asia, splitting the ground asunder and causing ruin, all while energy signatures shows Mothra venturing into Hollow Earth. At this point, the humans knew something was up. So it was decided, one team, with Dr. Ilene Chen, would stay up on the Surface World and monitor any more earthquakes or disturbances, and another, with Dr. Ling, and newcomers to the series Lance Gibson (Donny Lucas) and Scarlet Wilde (Emilia Clarke) would venture into Hollow Earth to keep track of Mothra.
As Team Hollow Earth follows Mothra, understanding that she is sensing something they don't, they keep a close eye on her. Mothra continues making a beeline, hauling ass towards wherever, until she enters a foggy quarry and sees a flashing light that comes closer to her, causing Mothra to tense up, until the fog dispels and she sees… Battra. The flashing light was his horn, and Mothra, seeing this larva that shares the same similarities to her, softens up. Team Hollow Earth were stunned at seeing another Moth Titan, especially with scans showing they share the same genetic material. Mothra appears to be slightly taller than Battra, with Lance suggesting the possibility of them being siblings, and Mothra having hatched first, something that everybody agrees on. Battra has sensed Mothra's presence and vice-versa, with the Queen of the Monsters being visibly overjoyed to be an older sister. Until Battra's horn glows red, and he glows in agitation, before beckoning Mothra to follow him, and the humans trail after them.
Mothra and Battra's venture in the rest of Hollow Earth lead to the Moth Siblings getting ambushed by a large and aggressive Praying Mantis Sub-Titan called a Scymantis. Battra, who has never been in a serious battle before, was scared and hid behind Mothra, who fortunately, did know how to fight. Mothra does battle with the Scymantis, and Mothra, filled with a huge protective big sister instinct, had actually led to her killing the Scymantis, a move that stuns everyone watching, even Mothra herself, though she quickly collects herself and continues on to follow Battra's signal. Both Moth Siblings take a breather in a large beautiful grassy plain, where they see large glowing aphid-like creatures called Flight Lights, one of whom Mothra grabs and directs it's abdomen to her mouth, before eating in a delicious (to her) substance like an ant eating honeydew from an aphid. Battra tries to do the same as his sister, but he doesn't know how to, which visibly saddens him. Mothra, seeing the trouble her younger brother is facing, teaches him how to properly eat from a Flight Light, and does so properly, causing him to light up in happiness.
Meanwhile, with Team Surface World, Monarch is helping the areas of Asia that has been led to ruin by the earthquake, when they see the skies slightly darkening, something they identify to be a sign that Abaddon is arriving. Sure enough, he does indeed show up, his swarm following him. Abaddon was highly aggressive, something that confuses the Monarch team up above, until Abaddon reaches in and pulls out a huge insectoid Titan. The humans back away as Abaddon engages in a battle with the creature, before killing it, and feasting on it. Abaddon leaves, but the humans are left to ponder at what came out. Back in Hollow Earth, the Moth Siblings a large chasm in the ground, going several kilometers down, called the Gaping Maw. The Moth Siblings leap down the chasm, falling underneath and dispelling a veil of natural steam, with the humans following them, until they reach the bottom.
Mothra bravely treads ahead, while Battra cautiously trails behind her, his horn staying red. Until the humans manage to direct the two of them to a veil of what looked like webbing, with Scarlet confirming it not belonging to the Moth Titans. Both Moths rip it open, and see a huge hive, all filled to the brim with Meganulons, almost all of whom stop and stare at them. Battra was nervous, but Mothra crawled forward. Up until she sees a Meganulon about to fall to its death, at which point she rushes forward with no hesitation and saves it. As the Meganulon stared at her in what looked like awe and wonder, a loud screeching is heard, and all the Meganulons back away as both Moth Siblings. Battra looked terrified, while Mothra was defiant, as the Queen of the Meganulons, Megaguirus, emerged and hovered down to greet the newcomers.
Megaguirus sniffed Mothra out with her antennae, and understood that she came from the Surface World, which is good news for her, seeing as she wants to expand her hive. Until she sensed something else on the Surface. One of her own was dead, murdered. The same one that Abaddon killed. Furious at one of her brood's death, Megaguirus engaged the Moth Siblings in battle (yes, she treats her subjects with remarkably more respect and kindness that Skar King). Mothra valiantly fought her, even as a larva, while protecting the terrified Battra. While it looked like Mothra was doing well, Megaguirus, due to being mature, being incredibly speedy, having razor-sharp wings, and able to fly, managed to overpower her, grappling her in a deadly lock with her pincers and stinger tail, and even absorbing Mothra's energy with her stinger. Battra was scared, but upon seeing Mothra struggling, he decided to charge in and his horn lights up with yellow electrical (what looks like it, anyway) energy, and using it to force Megaguirus off of Mothra, who tag teams the Meganulon Queen and slams her to the ground.
They would have continued, if not for Megaguirus' wings glowing and letting out a roar. Suddenly, the ground erupted, and out came Megalon, whom Megaguirus treated almost like a brother, with Megalon in turn, being unfailingly loyal to her. And so, used his abilities over the earth to severely injure Mothra and Battra, forcing them to retreat. As the humans escape the Gaping Maw and bring the two Moth Titans to a secluded but humongous cavern to rest, the humans found ancient tunnels with writings of an ancient tribe, explaining that their God, Megalon, created the Vile Vortexes to Hollow Earth, but after getting touched by a "Golden Ray of Light", he had become destructive after meeting Megaguirus, a "kindred spirit", and have a solution should they ever attack the world. Unbeknownst to them, the Moth Siblings found that solution: a huge influx of Hollow Earth radiation, not only healing their wounds, but supercharging them, and accelerating their growth. When the humans finally notice the blinding lights behind them, they saw the double cocoons, and the literal blinding beauty of both Moth Siblings gracefully emerge in their Imago Forms.
Battra was amazed at his new form, while Mothra makes a dash and flies out, zooming out. Meanwhile, Battra flies back into the Gaping Maw to keep an eye on the Meganulons, he sees that Megaguirus is on the move, with Megalon and a crap-ton of Meganulon Warrior drones to assist her in her invasion of the Surface World. Battra flies back to the humans and warns this to Jia, who relays it to the humans, until Lance asks where the hell Mothra went to, with Scarlet bringing up scans revealing she went to the Surface. Back up in the Surface World, the team there reads Mothra's signatures erupting as she flies out, but she is making a straight beeline for a specific Titan. To Abaddon. Mothra is directly provoking him to get him to follow her to combat this threat, which worries Dr. Ling, seeing as she was aware of what Abaddon was capable of. Sure enough, the two Insect Titans collide in Bangladesh, where a furious Abaddon engages the challenging Mothra in combat once again. It seems as if history is going to repeat, until Battra steps in between the downed Mothra and Abaddon, and explains the situation. Abaddon was motionless for a few moments, before he backs off and follows Mothra and Battra to Hollow Earth.
With Team Hollow Earth, they were now tasked with holding the line between Megaguirus' forces, and the Vile Vortexes to the Surface World until Mothra comes back, knowing that they're in big trouble if they manage to get there. While this happens, Battra and Abaddon get into some skirmishes about one-upping the other due to Battra's newfound confidence with his powers and Abaddon's dislike of anything moth, but manage to hold it in enough to get to their destination. Soon enough, the three insectoid Titans arrive at the battlefield, where they charge in as Megaguirus and her forces do to. Mothra engages in a dogfight with Megaguirus, Battra attacks Megalon on the ground, and Abaddon makes some snacks out of the Meganulons, as the humans attempt to both escape and join in on the fight. During the brawl, Megalon manages to make the ground unstable enough for him to fall into a Vile Vortex, causing the other Titans (and humans) to follow suit.
In the Surface World, all the combatants find themselves in Barcelona, Spain. Megaguirus commands her hive with a high-pitched whining to arrive, with Megaguirus' absorption of Mothra's ability darkening the sky in a huge electrical superstorm, one Meganulon almost grabbing the humans, until Abaddon swoops in to save them, and the Moth Siblings follow suit. Their battles takes them to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone. During the clash of insects, Battra realized brute force wasn't going to work on Megalon, so he continued beating down the huge beetle, until he grabbed the fatigued Megalon, and aerial suplexed him, making the ground give way and having him plummet to the depths of the earth. Now without her biggest ally, Megaguirus attacks more furiously, but fails when both Moth Siblings tag-team her with slashes and stabs, as Battra amplifies Mothra's own abilities, when Mothra grabs her and stares her down. Megaguirus roars defiantly, which is when Mothra flies up to the superstorm and throws Megaguirus in there, electrocuting her, before Mothra slams Megaguirus down on one of the volcanoes, immolating her to death. Both Moth Siblings and Abaddon roar triumphantly as Mothra uses her God Rays to dispel the superstorm. Mothra looks at Abaddon, who seems to give her and Battra a look of respect, before he flies off.
Mothra is seen patrolling over the skies of the Amazon Rainforest, until she is greeted by Battra, as both the Moth Siblings exchange a cute little bioluminescent show of affection towards each other. Both teams of humans watch as Mothra and Battra fly off, casting a bigger light than the sun, and fade to white as the ending scene before credits roll.
submitted by Dimetro_Sparks to Monsterverse [link] [comments]

2024.05.16 10:52 Adeptus_Gedeon Few Lovecraftian inspirations from the real life and beliefs

The article is intended primarily for Game Masters who play games in settings inspired by Lovecraft’s works. However, I hope that other fans of cosmic horror will also find something for themselves here. The interesting facts presented here may also be entertaining for people who do not know the work of The Loner of Providence, but some of the references may be unclear to them. The article contains several anecdotes – either from real history or from beliefs that exist in the real world, and suggestions on how they can be related to the Cthulhu mythology. So read about:
Invasion of the Sea Peoples
Ancient, super-advanced, fallen civilizations are one of the favorite motifs of fantasy. And truth be told, something similar happened in real history. Of course, in reality, the fallen civilizations did not have sci-fi supertechnology at their disposal, but their collapse still led to great destabilization. We are talking about the invasion of the so-called Sea Peoples, which took place at the turn of the 13th and 12th centuries BC. The Sea Peoples are mobile and warlike groups of people of unknown origin. They caused the collapse of several advanced cultures, including: Mycenaean and Hittite. Only the Egyptians managed to defeat them in a great battle. Well, the material for Lovecraftian inspiration is obvious. A mysterious army, coming out of nowhere, called the „Sea Peoples”, leading to the fall of the most powerful human civilizations at that time? Let us add that, according to some historians, the descendants of the Sea Peoples destroyed by the Egyptians were the Philistines. Yes, the same Philistines, one of whose main deities was the well-known Dagon to Lovecraftomaniacs… Deep Ones say hello. Let us also add that, according to Egyptian records, the tribes of the Sea Peoples had names such as Ekvesh, Teresh, Lucki, Sherden, Shekelesh, Tekel and Peleset. Sounds suitably dark, blasphemous and filthy? If we want to dig deeper, one of the pharaohs who ruled Egypt was Akhenaten – yes, that heretic who tried to replace the worship of traditional Egyptian gods with the religion of the Aten and who is very much liked by conspiracy theorists. Let’s add to the mix that Middle Eastern cultures had quite a negative attitude towards the sea as such. Babylonian Marduk had to defeat the giant monsters of Chaos – Apsu and Tiamat, personifications of fresh and salt waters, respectively. The Bible also contains traces of the myth about the fight between Yahweh and Leviathan, and the Book of Revelation, describing the new, ideal world, emphasizes that „I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Let’s assume that the players are researchers of an antiquity – historians, archaeologists, etc. They conduct research on the Sea Peoples. Of course, as common sense dictates, they assume that these were human warriors. However, as time goes on, more and more evidence appears that they were not completely human again, and the evidence of their monstrosity becomes increasingly difficult to put down to the demonization that Egyptian chroniclers used against their enemies… It becomes clear that an onslaught of inhuman and semi-human monsters came from the sea. , trying to conquer the world of that time. Moreover, after their defeat at the hands of the Egyptians, this species did not become extinct, but instead of open conquest it switched to cautious infiltration. Perhaps the Deep Ones have spies in academia who are tasked with eliminating historians who find the trail of truth…
Oh, one more interesting fact connecting the history of the Sea Peoples with Lovecraft. Well, as we know, HPL liked to use the term „Cyclopean” for huge, monumental buildings. At least he didn’t come up with it himself. Well, when the later (and at first more primitive) inhabitants, the Dorians, saw the ruins of destroyed castles left by the Mycenaean culture, they came to the conclusion that such huge buildings could not have been built by human hands, so they were probably the work of mythical giants – cyclopes.
Typhon – a classic but forgotten abomination
Modern works drawing on Greek mythology usually make Hades (completely senseless) or Kronos (a little more) the Big Bad, but they forget about Zeus’s greatest enemy – Typhon. After defeating the titans and then the gigants, the Olympian gods had to face the main boss on the way to dominating the world – Typhon. Here is an example of its description: It was larger than the largest mountains, its head touched the stars. When he stretched out his hands, one reached the eastern ends of the world and the other reached the western ends. Instead of fingers, he had a hundred dragon heads. From the waist down he had a tangle of vipers (yay, tentacles!) and wings at his shoulders. His eyes were shooting out flames. In other versions of the myth, Typhon was a flying, hundred-headed dragon. In any case – appearance and stature worthy of the Great Old One. Typhon attacked Olympus, and all the gods except Zeus fled in panic. The supreme god took up the fight… and lost it. Only in the second duel did he manage to defeat Typhon, but not kill him – he only imprisoned him, hitting him with Etna. In the sense of a mountain. A volcano – and volcanic activity is the result of Typhon’s anger, trying to break free. Typhon equaled the lord of heaven not only in strength, but in fertility. His wife was Echidna, about whom Hesiod wrote: „She also gave birth to another creature, invincible, huge, unlike neither men nor immortal gods, in a hollow cave – the divine violent Echidna, half a sharp-eyed young girl, with beautiful cheeks, half a huge snake, a great and powerful, spotted, cruel – in the depths of the holy land. This pair spawned many, if not most, of the monsters found in Greek mythology. Their offspring were very diverse and strange, as befits the spawn of enemies of the divine order, including: – Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon who never slept and guarded the apples that gave immortality, – Cerberus – we all know the dog guarding the gates of hell… but not all of us know that, according to some accounts, it had not three heads, but as many as 50, it was also covered with scales, and it had a snake by its tail… so what does this have to do with a dog? – Scylla – this lady inherited the most from the human, beautiful part of Echidna… at least initially, but eventually, as a result of various perturbations, she turned from a beautiful nymph to her siblings, becoming a six-headed sea beast, so hideous, according to Homer, that even the gods could not stand sight of her – she dwelt in a cave, from where she opened her mouth to devour the crews of ships, – Gorgons – I mean, those ladies with snake hair, not monstrous bulls. Medusa was one of them – the story that Athena turned her priestess into a monster as punishment for being raped by Poseidon is an invention of later poets, – Lernaean Hydra – a multi-headed monster with many reptilian or human heads. In place of each severed head, two others grew, and in addition, the main head was completely immortal – therefore, after chopping off the mortal heads, Heracles had to burn the stumps and bury the immortal, still hissing head underground. Hydra’s breath was poisonous. – various other creatures, such as the Sphinx, the dog Ortus, the Nemean Lion or the Chimera. Each of these descendants has the potential to be portrayed as an Eldritch abomination in its own right. To be precise – according to some accounts, the father of these creatures (and Echidna herself) was Typhon, but a monstrous, ancient (older than Poseidon) sea god, Phorcys. How to use Typhon? Well, Typhon clearly has the potential to be a Great Old One, imprisoned by… Nodens? Some other Elder God? Weak gods of humanity? Maybe his cult is trying to free him from Etna? What if he succeeds? What might distinguish Typhon from many other Great Old Ones? I would recommend focusing on his monster progenitor aspect – if he manages to reunite with Echidna, they will immediately start spawning various blasphemous beasts in series.
Jan Twardowski – the first man on the Moon
Jan (John) Twardowski, the hero of the legend, a Polish nobleman who allegedly sold his soul to the devil and became a sorcerer. Probably a historical figure, according to legend he lived in the 16th century and became famous for summoning the spirit of the deceased queen for King Sigismund Augustus. The ghost allegedly appeared in the mirror. This mirror is still kept in the church in Węgrów. According to legend, when the terms of the pact were fulfilled, devils came to kidnap Twardowski to hell. Interestingly, instead of taking the sorcerer’s soul after death, the most material demons appeared and grabbed Twardowski in order to kidnap him bodily, alive… and instead of heading towards the underground, which in legends is considered the traditional place of residence of demons and damned souls, they began to carry away up with him. At some point, Twardowski started singing religious songs, which caused the demons to escape, leaving him on the Moon, where he is said to have stayed ever since. Could the “demons” actually be extraterrestrials? Maybe mi-go? Maybe Twardowski was their agent and obtained secret knowledge and technology from them that gave him the fame of a sorcerer? As part of his studies, did he acquire knowledge of a system of sounds („religious songs”) that was able to drive away his masters when they decided that his usefulness on Earth had ended and it was time to transport him to a space base where he would be transformed into a brain in jar? Or was transportation to the Moon part of the deal from the beginning? Oh, one more interesting fact – according to legends, Twardowski used to use a rooster as a horse, which he enlarged with his magic. It’s easy to imagine an abomination that, in the eyes of laymen, might have resembled a large rooster… Examples of scenario hooks: – Twardowski’s secret mirror is still in the church in Węgrów. The local priest thinks it is just other „pagan” superstitions, but in fact it is a tool enabling contact with cosmic beings and higher realities. It may prove useful to players if they convince the priest to give it back or simply steal it. – Players are looking for Twardowski’s notes to gain knowledge about the „song” thanks to which he drove away mi-go (or other creatures that became the prototype of the „devils” from the legend). The so-called Twardowski’s „School” or „Cathedral” was located in a quarry near Kraków. In fact, at the end of the 19th century, during the construction of the church of St. Józef, a cave showing traces of alchemical experiments was discovered… And it was destroyed. But perhaps there is a second, secret laboratory under the cave that escaped destruction? And there lie Twardowski’s secrets… And again, potential obstacles may be placed by the local parish priest. But not only him. Maybe Twardowski’s legendary „rooster” lies dormant in the laboratory and was left by the sorcerer as a guard? – players are astronauts on the Moon. However, it turns out that someone lives here, someone who was not detected by previous expeditions and probes. Will Twardowski prove to be an ally in the fight against cosmic horrors? Or maybe their agent, or an independent villain? If he survived this long on the Moon thanks to blasphemous secrets, it’s possible that he had little humanity left…
The rest of the text is avalaible (of course, for free) here: https://adeptusrpg.wordpress.com/2024/05/13/some-lovecraftian-inspiration-form-real-life-and-beliefs/
submitted by Adeptus_Gedeon to gurps [link] [comments]

2024.05.16 04:04 Affectionate-Mars196 [Elden Ring] Is the French translation good or bad? I mean, do you like the official translation of the game? How much of it is mistranslated or changed from the source material?

[I play Elden Ring in Japanese, as From Soft is a Japanese developer, so is Miyazaki.]
The most striking difference is within how they address the main protagonist (you as the player), as in Japanese he or she is referred to as 褪せ人 (lit: "personne effacée") from the NPC dialog and cutscenes, however in the official French localization, they call it: "Sans-éclat". In regards to the Japanese original, the kanji used is 褪 + 人 but 褪せ is from the ichidan verb:

褪せる

lit. trad: se décolorer / s'effacer
Example sentence: 日光で看板の文字が褪せた。
(Les lettres de l'enseigne ont été effacées par le soleil.)

人 (Person)

Combine from 褪せる which is now merged as 褪せ人 [あせびと]
How would you really translate it into French from Japanese?
I have a rough list of the stuff that is named in Elden Ring, between the Japanese (original) and official French localizations of the game (Though I won't list everything, as it'll be too much).
Bosses:
日本語 Traduction du japonais Localisation française officielle
ゴドリックの軍兵 \1) Les soldats de l'Armée de Godrick Soldat de Godrick
還樹の番犬 \2) Chien de garde de l'arbre retourné Veilleur de l'Arbre-Monde
神肌のふたり - Duo Sanctechair
接ぎ木のゴドリック - Godrick le greffé
爛れた樹霊 Esprit de l'arbre douloureux Esprit d'Arbre ulcéreux
写し身の雫 \3) Ombre d'une personne Larme imitatrice
忌み鬼、マルギット \4) Une abomination malé, Margit Margit le déchu
忌み王、モーゴッド \4) Roi des abominations, Morgott Morgott, roi des réprouvés
満月の女王レナラ - Rennala, reine de la pleine lune
暗黒の落とし子、アステール Astel, bâtard des ténèbres Astel le rejeton du vide
最初の王、ゴッドフレイ \5) Le premier roi, Godfrey Godfrey, premier seigneur d'Elden
火の巨人 - Géant de feu
百智卿ギデオン \6) Seigneur Gideon le sage Gideon Ofnir l'Omniscient
竜王プラキドサクス Roi dragon Placidusax Placidusax, seigneur draconique
星砕きのラダーン \7) Radahn l'écraseur d'étoiles Radahn, le fléau des astres
獣の司祭 （黒き剣のマリケス） Prêtre de la Bête (Maliketh de l'épée noire) Clerc Bestial (Maliketh la Lame d'ébène)
ミケラの刃マレニア （腐敗の女神、マレニア） Lame de Miquella, Malenia (Malenia, déesse de la corruption) Malenia épée de Miquella (Malenia, Desse de la putrefaction)
黄金律、ラダゴン - Radagon de l'Ordre d'or
神喰らいの大蛇（冒涜の君主、ライカード）\8) Le serpent dévoreur de Dieu (Rykard, monarque du blasphème) Serpent dévoreur de dieux (Rykard, seigneur du blasphème)
ラダゴンの赤狼 Loup rouge de Radagon Loup cramoisi de Radagon
死竜フォルサクス \9) Fortissax le dragon mort Fortissax la liche draconique
鉄茨のエレメール \10) Elemer des épines de fer Elemer du roncier
*1. The word 軍兵 comprising of 2 kanji just put together from ゴドリックの軍兵 implies that he was a soldier serving under Godrick at one point, as 軍 ("armée") including 兵 ("soldat") forms 軍兵 (lit: "troupes de combat") but this nuance from Japanese gets lost in translation or rewritten.
*2. The word 番犬 - literally means "Chien de garde" while a portemanteau of 還 ('retour') + 樹 ('arbre') are 2 kanji used together coining the term 還樹 - literally means amongst the lines of "le retour d'un arbre sur son site d'origine" and の is just a word particle present in Japanese.
*3. The word 写し means "dupliquer" followed by the kanji 身 ("le corps (un personne)") + 雫 ("goutte (d'eau)") - in a metaphorical sense as the animation for it spawning is similar to a teardrop, and の is just a word particle present in Japanese, forming the word 写し身の雫.
*4. The meaning of 忌み isn't conveyed correctly (in both Margit & Morgott) as it literally means "deuil" alone, but in the context of the game, it is connotated as "abomination" (from Japanese), which in no way it means "déchu" So it is obvious that French just copied it from English. Also, the presence of both Kanji 鬼 ("ogre / esprit") and 王 ("roi") indicates their differences in hierarchical status too. Morgott bares the kanji 王 while Margit has 鬼 within his title, but in French (& English) the one with Margit is lost in translation.
*5. The Japanese title for Godfrey uses the kanji 王 ("roi") since he is the elden lord, as opposed to French: they replaced that with "seigneur" but the overall expression from the original Japanese is not connotated in French.
*6. The word 百智卿 beside Gideon's name is comprised of 3 kanji: 百 ("cent") + 智 ("sagesse") & 卿 ("seigneur") - but 卿 is keigo as it is very formal, the word 百智 literally means: "tout savoir" when combined, as the kanji 百 is used in a personified manner in conjunction with 智.
*7. 星砕き means "écraseur d'étoiles" comprising from the godan verb: 砕く (lit: "écraser") and the kanji 星 ("étoile") - coining the word from 2 kanji: 星砕き. From French, why did they change it to "le fléau des astres"?
*8. The Japanese version of Rykard's title bares the kanji 君主 ("monarque / souverain") while in French it has been adapted to "seigneur" instead, but the intended meaning is lost from Japanese.
*9. Fortissax's title in Japanese comprises of 2 kanji of seperate meanings: 死 ("mort") + 竜 ("dragon") forming the word 死竜 as he has the ability to inflict death blight towards the player, hence the presence of the kanji 死.
*10. Elemer's Japanese title has 2 kanji: 鉄 ("fer") + 茨 ("épines") forming the word 鉄茨 (lit: "Épines de fer") saying that Elemer has thorns encompassing his iron armor. (Which is not conveyed directly in French.)
Locations:
日本語 Traduction du japonais Localisation française officielle
リムグレイブ \1) Limgrave Nécrolimbe
啜り泣きの半島 \2) Péninsule de la salissure Péninsule Larmoyante
湖のリエーニエ - Liurnia des Lacs
忌み捨ての地下 \3) L'horreur souterraine Prison Souterraine des Parias
深き根の底 \4) Des racines profondes Profondeurs de Fonderacine
ケイリッド - Caelid
アルター高原 - Plateau d'Altus
ストームヴィル城 \5) Château de Stormveil Château de Voilorage
ゲルミア火山 \6) Volcan Gelmir Mont Gelmir
崩れゆくファルムアズラ \7) Le Farum Azula qui s'écroule Ruines de Farum Azula
禁域 Zone interdite Terres Interdites
永遠の都ノクローン - Nokron, la Ville éternelle
王都ローデイル - Leyndell, Capitale Royale
シーフラ河 - Rivière de la siofra
巨人たちの山嶺 Crête des géants Cimes des Géants
ミケラの聖樹 - Arbre-Sacré de Miquella
聖樹の支えエブレフェール - Ephael, corset de l'arbre sacré
モーグウィン王朝 \8) La dynastie des Morgwyn Palais de Mohgwyn
腐れ湖 - Lac Putréfié
聖別雪原 - Champs Enneigés Consacrés
魔術学院レアルカリア Académie de magie et de sorcellerie Raya Lucaria Académie de Raya Lucaria
月光の祭壇 \9) Autel du clair de lune Autel Lunaire
漂着墓地 \10) Cimetière dégradé Grotte de saviour
赤獅子城 - Château du Lion Rouge
*1. Limgrave in Japanese is written only in Katakana while in French it has been renamed as Nécrolimbe.
*2. The word 啜り泣き is derivatve of the godan verb 啜り泣く ("pour sangloter"), followed by the word 半島 ("péninsule")
*3. 忌み捨て literally translates to ("pénitence (contre le deuil)") implying that Mohg is down there, perhaps he was condmened to be underground (you can find him as a boss, as hinted by the word in Japanese: 地下 ("souterraine").
*4. 深き根の底 literally translates to "des racines profondes" but in French, they renamed it as " Profondeurs de Fonderacine" which is very different. From Japanese: 深き > 深く ("profond") + 根 ("racines (d'une plante / arbre") due to the presence of large tree branches and roots within the area you tread on, followed by 底 ("fond (d'une fosse / d'un puits)") as you're underground.)
*5. The Japanese name is closer to the English release as indicated by katakana, but in French they renamed it as "voilorage".
*6. The Japanese 火山 ("vulcan") clearly states that you're not far from the volcano, the manor is even close to it.)
*7. The noun 崩れる ("s'écrouler") already insinuates that the Farum Azula is collapsing. (You can clearly see it when you're there.)
*8. The word 王朝 ("dynastie") is present as it is passed down from family, the Japanese name refers to the fact that the area where you fight Mohg contains Miquella's egg, saying that Mohg is Miquella's half brother.
*9. The Japanese word 月光 means "clair de lune" since the moon illuminates the area, followed by 祭壇 ("autel"), as the area where you fight off Adula is not far from the church where you see Ranni beneath it.
*10. From Japanese: 漂着 (lit: "à la dérive sur le rivage") as you can enter via the beach through the back, followed by 基地 ("base / cimetière") implies that you are in a graveyard (metaphorically as Limgrave is not far from it, baring a dark undertone.)
Legendary Armaments:
日本語 Traduction du japonais Localisation française officielle
剣接ぎの大剣 \1) Épée de guerre articulée Espadon Fusionné
遺跡の大剣 - Espadon de Ruines
暗月の大剣 \2) Grande épée de la lune noire Espadon de la Lune Obscure
世界喰らいの王笏 \3) Sceptre royal du mangeur de monde Sceptre du Dévoreur
蝕のショーテル - Shotel de l’Eclipse
黄金律の大剣 - Espadon de l’Ordre d’Or
グランサクスの雷 - Eclair de Gransax
マレー家の執行剣 \4) L'épée exécutive de la famille Marais Epée d’Exécution des Tourbier
夜と炎の剣 \5) L'épée de feu et de nuit Epée de la Nuit Ardente
*1 From Japanese: 大剣 literally means "épée longue" followed by the noun 接ぎ (lit: "greffe") with the word 剣 ("épée"), as you can see the literal translation from the Japanese name insinuates that the boss used it during battle, as you were fighting him.
*2. From Japanese: 暗月 means "lune noire" as Ranni's spell icon even has a dark moon depicted, paying homage to it with the naming of this armament.
*3. The presence of Japanese 世界 ("monde") + 喰らう ("manger") then with a portemanteau of the Kanji 王 ("roi / royal") + 笏 ("sceptre") forming the word 王笏 [おうしゃく].
*4 In Japanese: マレー家 ("maison / famille Marais") already states that it comes from a family of executioners who resided in the shaded castle.
*5. The kanji 炎 ("feu") is present in Japanese within its naming, but in French they use the word "ardente"
Note: Most of the literal translations are my own interpretations, it's difficult as f*ck to convey while keeping the nuance in-tact, due to how different Japanese is to Indo-European languages.
The annotations within the original Japanese names are marked with * [numbered] there for further explaination, based on my own understanding to convey it from Japanese.
Since most translations into European languages are obviously from the English release of the game, therefore already loosing the intended meaning.
In hindsight:
submitted by Affectionate-Mars196 to AskFrance [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 23:25 ShmlarrieShmladshaw Intense stomach pain during periods

Hi everyone,
Every time I get my period, I get the worst stomach issues for days. The cramps I experience are quite different from the 'usual' cramps. It feels like a volcano is erupting inside of me. The cramps are unbearable, especially at night. I have about one meal a day (that's as much as I can master), and no matter how mindful I am of what I ingest, the pain prevails. This then results in major headaches, and it's just a vicious cycle every month.
I wondered if anyone has similar issues and found something that has helped.
PS: I already cut out alcohol, coffee, dairy, gluten, processed foods, white rice, red meat (and everything else they tell you is bad on your period).
submitted by ShmlarrieShmladshaw to endometriosis [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 15:15 nobodysgeese A Bond Decision

Originally for SEUS: Mad Libs XIII
Argent Silvertoe cycled through the monitors, making sure that the cameras had a view of every inch on his volcanic lair. It wouldn't do to miss the big moment, whichever trap it was that finally got her.
Behind him, his butler said, "Sir, I really must protest this plan. I could fetch your rifle from the safe and you could shoot her the moment she disembarked onto the island. It would be effective, and swift enough that you would be done in time for dinner, to enjoy your victorious whiskey in peace."
"I could, Aiden," Silvertoe agreed, turning in his chair to face him. "But what good would that do?"
"Sir?"
"Do you remember the plane?"
The butler leveled a glare at Silvertoe, which he ignored. "Yes, I do. I clearly remember Miss Tie defenestrating you mid-flight."
"Exactly!" Silvertoe exclaimed. "And of course there was that time in Berlin. Bad enough to drop a building on someone, but did she have to use my own building to add insult to injury?"
Aiden sighed. "Sir, I still fail to see why any of this means you can't simply shoot her. Indeed, it seems killing her quickly, and more importantly at range, ought to be the goal."
"It's the disrespect!" Silvertoe gestured vaguely. "I can shoot anyone. But when someone has burned down your arsonist robots, or axed your deforestation operation, their death requires a more... personal touch. One with as much irony as Agent Tie has inflicted on me."
A look of defeated enlightenment crossed Aiden's face, as if he'd figured out some mystery and been deeply disappointed by what he found. "Ah. That is why so many of these... contraptions have ropes."
"Yes! I'm going to-"
"Tie up Miss Tie. Yes sir, I understood."
"It's brilliant! It's ironic! It's a worthy end to my most persistent foe. And the pit of serpents is close enough to ropes to count! The piranhas aren't thematically appropriate, I'll admit, but they were on discount."
The butler cleared his throat. "Alternatively, you could tie her up after you shoot her."
"Aiden, where's your sense of artistry?"
"Sir, your connivances never succeed. I know this is your preferred pastime, but I fear that you indulge in sweet temptation for a cost."
Silvertoe spun back to his monitors. "Never mind, she's here!"
A figure came into view of the entrance's camera, and Silvertoe leaned forward. His voice boomed from the speakers scattered throughout the volcanic tunnels. "Tie. Bo Tie." The figure leapt and looked around, and Silvertoe cackled. "I congratulate you on finding my lair, but I won't be so easy to capture. I'm hidden deep inside, and you'll never get past my traps!"
His butler was polite enough to wait for him to turn off the sound before speaking. "Sir, please, at least let me bring your guns here, so you can shoot her when- if she gets past the traps."
"My traps never fail!"
Aiden lifted an incredulous eyebrow, and Silvertoe suddenly found the monitors fascinating again. "Now, let's see which trap she's heading toward first. She's nearing the crossroads, and she's going to pick the- What?"
Silvertoe almost climbed out of his chair to peer more closely at the screen. "Is that... cake?"
"Yes sir, with a selection of hors d'ourves."
Slowly, Silvertoe nodded. "Respectable. I'm glad to see you taking an interest in the villainous side of things. I wouldn't have personally picked poison, but-."
"No sir, they are not poisoned." For the first time in the twenty years Silvertoe had known Aiden, he dropped his formal mask to massage his temples. "I just felt a certain comradeship with Miss Tie. Dealing with the traps from the other side, as it were."
Silvertoe paused. "...Fair, I suppose. I guess this has been more stressful for you than I thought. Tell you what, after I've done away with Bo Tie, I promise I'll shoot the next victim."
"Thank you, sir. Much appreciated."
Silvertoe raised a finger to silence him and turned up the volume. Agent Tie was still looking at the table of assorted snacks, and the microphone could just barely pick up her whisper. "Why am I afraid to eat this slice of cake? Better safe than sorry."
She tipped the table over. The cake splattered. The deviled eggs rolled away. The bruschetta bites wobbled to a stop like coins carelessly cast to the floor. Agent Tie's boot heel ground the cake further to mush as she moved into the lair, and Silvertoe winced, chancing a glance to see how his butler would take this culinary heresy.
Aiden stood straight and blank-faced as his work was defiled, but his eye was twitching. After a long pause, he said, "Please do shoot the next foe, sir. But drop this one into the volcano."
submitted by nobodysgeese to NobodysGaggle [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 14:12 Adeptus_Gedeon Few Lovecraftian inspirations from real life and beliefs (mainly for RPG)

The article is intended primarily for Game Masters who play games in systems inspired by Lovecraft’s works, such as Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green. However, I hope that other fans of cosmic horror will also find something for themselves here. The interesting facts presented here may also be entertaining for people who do not know the work of The Loner of Providence, but some of the references may be unclear to them. The article contains several anecdotes – either from real history or from beliefs that exist in the real world, and suggestions on how they can be related to the Cthulhu mythology. So read about:
Invasion of the Sea Peoples
Ancient, super-advanced, fallen civilizations are one of the favorite motifs of fantasy. And truth be told, something similar happened in real history. Of course, in reality, the fallen civilizations did not have sci-fi supertechnology at their disposal, but their collapse still led to great destabilization. We are talking about the invasion of the so-called Sea Peoples, which took place at the turn of the 13th and 12th centuries BC. The Sea Peoples are mobile and warlike groups of people of unknown origin. They caused the collapse of several advanced cultures, including: Mycenaean and Hittite. Only the Egyptians managed to defeat them in a great battle. Well, the material for Lovecraftian inspiration is obvious. A mysterious army, coming out of nowhere, called the „Sea Peoples”, leading to the fall of the most powerful human civilizations at that time? Let us add that, according to some historians, the descendants of the Sea Peoples destroyed by the Egyptians were the Philistines. Yes, the same Philistines, one of whose main deities was the well-known Dagon to Lovecraftomaniacs… Deep Ones say hello. Let us also add that, according to Egyptian records, the tribes of the Sea Peoples had names such as Ekvesh, Teresh, Lucki, Sherden, Shekelesh, Tekel and Peleset. Sounds suitably dark, blasphemous and filthy? If we want to dig deeper, one of the pharaohs who ruled Egypt was Akhenaten – yes, that heretic who tried to replace the worship of traditional Egyptian gods with the religion of the Aten and who is very much liked by conspiracy theorists. Let’s add to the mix that Middle Eastern cultures had quite a negative attitude towards the sea as such. Babylonian Marduk had to defeat the giant monsters of Chaos – Apsu and Tiamat, personifications of fresh and salt waters, respectively. The Bible also contains traces of the myth about the fight between Yahweh and Leviathan, and the Book of Revelation, describing the new, ideal world, emphasizes that „I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Let’s assume that the players are researchers of an antiquity – historians, archaeologists, etc. They conduct research on the Sea Peoples. Of course, as common sense dictates, they assume that these were human warriors. However, as time goes on, more and more evidence appears that they were not completely human again, and the evidence of their monstrosity becomes increasingly difficult to put down to the demonization that Egyptian chroniclers used against their enemies… It becomes clear that an onslaught of inhuman and semi-human monsters came from the sea. , trying to conquer the world of that time. Moreover, after their defeat at the hands of the Egyptians, this species did not become extinct, but instead of open conquest it switched to cautious infiltration. Perhaps the Deep Ones have spies in academia who are tasked with eliminating historians who find the trail of truth…
Oh, one more interesting fact connecting the history of the Sea Peoples with Lovecraft. Well, as we know, HPL liked to use the term „Cyclopean” for huge, monumental buildings. At least he didn’t come up with it himself. Well, when the later (and at first more primitive) inhabitants, the Dorians, saw the ruins of destroyed castles left by the Mycenaean culture, they came to the conclusion that such huge buildings could not have been built by human hands, so they were probably the work of mythical giants – cyclopes.
Typhon – a classic but forgotten abomination
Modern works drawing on Greek mythology usually make Hades (completely senseless) or Kronos (a little more) the Big Bad, but they forget about Zeus’s greatest enemy – Typhon. After defeating the titans and then the gigants, the Olympian gods had to face the main boss on the way to dominating the world – Typhon. Here is an example of its description: It was larger than the largest mountains, its head touched the stars. When he stretched out his hands, one reached the eastern ends of the world and the other reached the western ends. Instead of fingers, he had a hundred dragon heads. From the waist down he had a tangle of vipers (yay, tentacles!) and wings at his shoulders. His eyes were shooting out flames. In other versions of the myth, Typhon was a flying, hundred-headed dragon. In any case – appearance and stature worthy of the Great Old One. Typhon attacked Olympus, and all the gods except Zeus fled in panic. The supreme god took up the fight… and lost it. Only in the second duel did he manage to defeat Typhon, but not kill him – he only imprisoned him, hitting him with Etna. In the sense of a mountain. A volcano – and volcanic activity is the result of Typhon’s anger, trying to break free. Typhon equaled the lord of heaven not only in strength, but in fertility. His wife was Echidna, about whom Hesiod wrote: „She also gave birth to another creature, invincible, huge, unlike neither men nor immortal gods, in a hollow cave – the divine violent Echidna, half a sharp-eyed young girl, with beautiful cheeks, half a huge snake, a great and powerful, spotted, cruel – in the depths of the holy land. This pair spawned many, if not most, of the monsters found in Greek mythology. Their offspring were very diverse and strange, as befits the spawn of enemies of the divine order, including: – Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon who never slept and guarded the apples that gave immortality, – Cerberus – we all know the dog guarding the gates of hell… but not all of us know that, according to some accounts, it had not three heads, but as many as 50, it was also covered with scales, and it had a snake by its tail… so what does this have to do with a dog? – Scylla – this lady inherited the most from the human, beautiful part of Echidna… at least initially, but eventually, as a result of various perturbations, she turned from a beautiful nymph to her siblings, becoming a six-headed sea beast, so hideous, according to Homer, that even the gods could not stand sight of her – she dwelt in a cave, from where she opened her mouth to devour the crews of ships, – Gorgons – I mean, those ladies with snake hair, not monstrous bulls. Medusa was one of them – the story that Athena turned her priestess into a monster as punishment for being raped by Poseidon is an invention of later poets, – Lernaean Hydra – a multi-headed monster with many reptilian or human heads. In place of each severed head, two others grew, and in addition, the main head was completely immortal – therefore, after chopping off the mortal heads, Heracles had to burn the stumps and bury the immortal, still hissing head underground. Hydra’s breath was poisonous. – various other creatures, such as the Sphinx, the dog Ortus, the Nemean Lion or the Chimera. Each of these descendants has the potential to be portrayed as an Eldritch abomination in its own right. To be precise – according to some accounts, the father of these creatures (and Echidna herself) was Typhon, but a monstrous, ancient (older than Poseidon) sea god, Phorcys. How to use Typhon? Well, Typhon clearly has the potential to be a Great Old One, imprisoned by… Nodens? Some other Elder God? Weak gods of humanity? Maybe his cult is trying to free him from Etna? What if he succeeds? What might distinguish Typhon from many other Great Old Ones? I would recommend focusing on his monster progenitor aspect – if he manages to reunite with Echidna, they will immediately start spawning various blasphemous beasts in series.
Jan Twardowski – the first man on the Moon
Jan (John) Twardowski, the hero of the legend, a Polish nobleman who allegedly sold his soul to the devil and became a sorcerer. Probably a historical figure, according to legend he lived in the 16th century and became famous for summoning the spirit of the deceased queen for King Sigismund Augustus. The ghost allegedly appeared in the mirror. This mirror is still kept in the church in Węgrów. According to legend, when the terms of the pact were fulfilled, devils came to kidnap Twardowski to hell. Interestingly, instead of taking the sorcerer’s soul after death, the most material demons appeared and grabbed Twardowski in order to kidnap him bodily, alive… and instead of heading towards the underground, which in legends is considered the traditional place of residence of demons and damned souls, they began to carry away up with him. At some point, Twardowski started singing religious songs, which caused the demons to escape, leaving him on the Moon, where he is said to have stayed ever since. Could the “demons” actually be extraterrestrials? Maybe mi-go? Maybe Twardowski was their agent and obtained secret knowledge and technology from them that gave him the fame of a sorcerer? As part of his studies, did he acquire knowledge of a system of sounds („religious songs”) that was able to drive away his masters when they decided that his usefulness on Earth had ended and it was time to transport him to a space base where he would be transformed into a brain in jar? Or was transportation to the Moon part of the deal from the beginning? Oh, one more interesting fact – according to legends, Twardowski used to use a rooster as a horse, which he enlarged with his magic. It’s easy to imagine an abomination that, in the eyes of laymen, might have resembled a large rooster… Examples of scenario hooks: – Twardowski’s secret mirror is still in the church in Węgrów. The local priest thinks it is just other „pagan” superstitions, but in fact it is a tool enabling contact with cosmic beings and higher realities. It may prove useful to players if they convince the priest to give it back or simply steal it. – Players are looking for Twardowski’s notes to gain knowledge about the „song” thanks to which he drove away mi-go (or other creatures that became the prototype of the „devils” from the legend). The so-called Twardowski’s „School” or „Cathedral” was located in a quarry near Kraków. In fact, at the end of the 19th century, during the construction of the church of St. Józef, a cave showing traces of alchemical experiments was discovered… And it was destroyed. But perhaps there is a second, secret laboratory under the cave that escaped destruction? And there lie Twardowski’s secrets… And again, potential obstacles may be placed by the local parish priest. But not only him. Maybe Twardowski’s legendary „rooster” lies dormant in the laboratory and was left by the sorcerer as a guard? – players are astronauts on the Moon. However, it turns out that someone lives here, someone who was not detected by previous expeditions and probes. Will Twardowski prove to be an ally in the fight against cosmic horrors? Or maybe their agent, or an independent villain? If he survived this long on the Moon thanks to blasphemous secrets, it’s possible that he had little humanity left…
The rest of the text is avalaible (of course, for free) here: https://adeptusrpg.wordpress.com/2024/05/13/some-lovecraftian-inspiration-form-real-life-and-beliefs/
submitted by Adeptus_Gedeon to Lovecraft [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 11:02 Adeptus_Gedeon Few Lovecraftian inspirations from real life and beliefs

The article is intended primarily for Game Masters who play games in systems inspired by Lovecraft’s works, such as Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green. However, I hope that other fans of cosmic horror will also find something for themselves here. The interesting facts presented here may also be entertaining for people who do not know the work of The Loner of Providence, but some of the references may be unclear to them. The article contains several anecdotes – either from real history or from beliefs that exist in the real world, and suggestions on how they can be related to the Cthulhu mythology. So read about:
Invasion of the Sea Peoples
Ancient, super-advanced, fallen civilizations are one of the favorite motifs of fantasy. And truth be told, something similar happened in real history. Of course, in reality, the fallen civilizations did not have sci-fi supertechnology at their disposal, but their collapse still led to great destabilization. We are talking about the invasion of the so-called Sea Peoples, which took place at the turn of the 13th and 12th centuries BC. The Sea Peoples are mobile and warlike groups of people of unknown origin. They caused the collapse of several advanced cultures, including: Mycenaean and Hittite. Only the Egyptians managed to defeat them in a great battle. Well, the material for Lovecraftian inspiration is obvious. A mysterious army, coming out of nowhere, called the „Sea Peoples”, leading to the fall of the most powerful human civilizations at that time? Let us add that, according to some historians, the descendants of the Sea Peoples destroyed by the Egyptians were the Philistines. Yes, the same Philistines, one of whose main deities was the well-known Dagon to Lovecraftomaniacs… Deep Ones say hello. Let us also add that, according to Egyptian records, the tribes of the Sea Peoples had names such as Ekvesh, Teresh, Lucki, Sherden, Shekelesh, Tekel and Peleset. Sounds suitably dark, blasphemous and filthy? If we want to dig deeper, one of the pharaohs who ruled Egypt was Akhenaten – yes, that heretic who tried to replace the worship of traditional Egyptian gods with the religion of the Aten and who is very much liked by conspiracy theorists. Let’s add to the mix that Middle Eastern cultures had quite a negative attitude towards the sea as such. Babylonian Marduk had to defeat the giant monsters of Chaos – Apsu and Tiamat, personifications of fresh and salt waters, respectively. The Bible also contains traces of the myth about the fight between Yahweh and Leviathan, and the Book of Revelation, describing the new, ideal world, emphasizes that „I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Let’s assume that the players are researchers of an antiquity – historians, archaeologists, etc. They conduct research on the Sea Peoples. Of course, as common sense dictates, they assume that these were human warriors. However, as time goes on, more and more evidence appears that they were not completely human again, and the evidence of their monstrosity becomes increasingly difficult to put down to the demonization that Egyptian chroniclers used against their enemies… It becomes clear that an onslaught of inhuman and semi-human monsters came from the sea. , trying to conquer the world of that time. Moreover, after their defeat at the hands of the Egyptians, this species did not become extinct, but instead of open conquest it switched to cautious infiltration. Perhaps the Deep Ones have spies in academia who are tasked with eliminating historians who find the trail of truth…
Oh, one more interesting fact connecting the history of the Sea Peoples with Lovecraft. Well, as we know, HPL liked to use the term „Cyclopean” for huge, monumental buildings. At least he didn’t come up with it himself. Well, when the later (and at first more primitive) inhabitants, the Dorians, saw the ruins of destroyed castles left by the Mycenaean culture, they came to the conclusion that such huge buildings could not have been built by human hands, so they were probably the work of mythical giants – cyclopes.
Typhon – a classic but forgotten abomination
Modern works drawing on Greek mythology usually make Hades (completely senseless) or Kronos (a little more) the Big Bad, but they forget about Zeus’s greatest enemy – Typhon. After defeating the titans and then the gigants, the Olympian gods had to face the main boss on the way to dominating the world – Typhon. Here is an example of its description: It was larger than the largest mountains, its head touched the stars. When he stretched out his hands, one reached the eastern ends of the world and the other reached the western ends. Instead of fingers, he had a hundred dragon heads. From the waist down he had a tangle of vipers (yay, tentacles!) and wings at his shoulders. His eyes were shooting out flames. In other versions of the myth, Typhon was a flying, hundred-headed dragon. In any case – appearance and stature worthy of the Great Old One. Typhon attacked Olympus, and all the gods except Zeus fled in panic. The supreme god took up the fight… and lost it. Only in the second duel did he manage to defeat Typhon, but not kill him – he only imprisoned him, hitting him with Etna. In the sense of a mountain. A volcano – and volcanic activity is the result of Typhon’s anger, trying to break free. Typhon equaled the lord of heaven not only in strength, but in fertility. His wife was Echidna, about whom Hesiod wrote: „She also gave birth to another creature, invincible, huge, unlike neither men nor immortal gods, in a hollow cave – the divine violent Echidna, half a sharp-eyed young girl, with beautiful cheeks, half a huge snake, a great and powerful, spotted, cruel – in the depths of the holy land. This pair spawned many, if not most, of the monsters found in Greek mythology. Their offspring were very diverse and strange, as befits the spawn of enemies of the divine order, including: – Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon who never slept and guarded the apples that gave immortality, – Cerberus – we all know the dog guarding the gates of hell… but not all of us know that, according to some accounts, it had not three heads, but as many as 50, it was also covered with scales, and it had a snake by its tail… so what does this have to do with a dog? – Scylla – this lady inherited the most from the human, beautiful part of Echidna… at least initially, but eventually, as a result of various perturbations, she turned from a beautiful nymph to her siblings, becoming a six-headed sea beast, so hideous, according to Homer, that even the gods could not stand sight of her – she dwelt in a cave, from where she opened her mouth to devour the crews of ships, – Gorgons – I mean, those ladies with snake hair, not monstrous bulls. Medusa was one of them – the story that Athena turned her priestess into a monster as punishment for being raped by Poseidon is an invention of later poets, – Lernaean Hydra – a multi-headed monster with many reptilian or human heads. In place of each severed head, two others grew, and in addition, the main head was completely immortal – therefore, after chopping off the mortal heads, Heracles had to burn the stumps and bury the immortal, still hissing head underground. Hydra’s breath was poisonous. – various other creatures, such as the Sphinx, the dog Ortus, the Nemean Lion or the Chimera. Each of these descendants has the potential to be portrayed as an Eldritch abomination in its own right. To be precise – according to some accounts, the father of these creatures (and Echidna herself) was Typhon, but a monstrous, ancient (older than Poseidon) sea god, Phorcys. How to use Typhon? Well, Typhon clearly has the potential to be a Great Old One, imprisoned by… Nodens? Some other Elder God? Weak gods of humanity? Maybe his cult is trying to free him from Etna? What if he succeeds? What might distinguish Typhon from many other Great Old Ones? I would recommend focusing on his monster progenitor aspect – if he manages to reunite with Echidna, they will immediately start spawning various blasphemous beasts in series.
Jan Twardowski – the first man on the Moon
Jan (John) Twardowski, the hero of the legend, a Polish nobleman who allegedly sold his soul to the devil and became a sorcerer. Probably a historical figure, according to legend he lived in the 16th century and became famous for summoning the spirit of the deceased queen for King Sigismund Augustus. The ghost allegedly appeared in the mirror. This mirror is still kept in the church in Węgrów. According to legend, when the terms of the pact were fulfilled, devils came to kidnap Twardowski to hell. Interestingly, instead of taking the sorcerer’s soul after death, the most material demons appeared and grabbed Twardowski in order to kidnap him bodily, alive… and instead of heading towards the underground, which in legends is considered the traditional place of residence of demons and damned souls, they began to carry away up with him. At some point, Twardowski started singing religious songs, which caused the demons to escape, leaving him on the Moon, where he is said to have stayed ever since. Could the “demons” actually be extraterrestrials? Maybe mi-go? Maybe Twardowski was their agent and obtained secret knowledge and technology from them that gave him the fame of a sorcerer? As part of his studies, did he acquire knowledge of a system of sounds („religious songs”) that was able to drive away his masters when they decided that his usefulness on Earth had ended and it was time to transport him to a space base where he would be transformed into a brain in jar? Or was transportation to the Moon part of the deal from the beginning? Oh, one more interesting fact – according to legends, Twardowski used to use a rooster as a horse, which he enlarged with his magic. It’s easy to imagine an abomination that, in the eyes of laymen, might have resembled a large rooster… Examples of scenario hooks: – Twardowski’s secret mirror is still in the church in Węgrów. The local priest thinks it is just other „pagan” superstitions, but in fact it is a tool enabling contact with cosmic beings and higher realities. It may prove useful to players if they convince the priest to give it back or simply steal it. – Players are looking for Twardowski’s notes to gain knowledge about the „song” thanks to which he drove away mi-go (or other creatures that became the prototype of the „devils” from the legend). The so-called Twardowski’s „School” or „Cathedral” was located in a quarry near Kraków. In fact, at the end of the 19th century, during the construction of the church of St. Józef, a cave showing traces of alchemical experiments was discovered… And it was destroyed. But perhaps there is a second, secret laboratory under the cave that escaped destruction? And there lie Twardowski’s secrets… And again, potential obstacles may be placed by the local parish priest. But not only him. Maybe Twardowski’s legendary „rooster” lies dormant in the laboratory and was left by the sorcerer as a guard? – players are astronauts on the Moon. However, it turns out that someone lives here, someone who was not detected by previous expeditions and probes. Will Twardowski prove to be an ally in the fight against cosmic horrors? Or maybe their agent, or an independent villain? If he survived this long on the Moon thanks to blasphemous secrets, it’s possible that he had little humanity left…
The rest of the text is avalaible (of course, for free) here: https://adeptusrpg.wordpress.com/2024/05/13/some-lovecraftian-inspiration-form-real-life-and-beliefs/
submitted by Adeptus_Gedeon to DeltaGreenRPG [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 09:35 FragrantUnit9541 I'm looking for my childhood serie / je cherche ma serie denfance

Hi, so I recently remeber snipets of my childhood serie. Please help me find it!!! (its not adventure time or teen titans) Its a cartoon, the main character is probably a zombie. The princess of the town wants to kidnap him. In one episode they found themselves locked in their appartment and ate burritos and farted a lot. (it sounds so weird sorry) In anoter episode the main characters helped their enemie (a police unicorn) to pee in the special volcano toilet because unicorn pee could stop the volcanos erruption. the title was something like "barf town" or "gross town"
thank you so much if you remember it
Bonjour, je me souviens récemment de petite parties de la série de mon enfance. Je vous demande de m'aider à la retrouver ! !! (ce nest pas teen titans, ou adventure time) le perso principal est probablment un zombie. La princesse de la ville veut le kidnapper. Dans un épisode, ils se retrouvent enfermés dans leur appartement et mangent des burritos et pètent beaucoup (ça fait bizarre de le dire comme ca haha). Dans un autre épisode, les personnages principaux aident leur ennemi (une licorne policière) à faire pipi dans les toilettes spéciales du volcan parce que le pipi de la licorne peut arrêter l'éruption du volcan. le tite etait quelquechose comme barf town" ou "gross town"
merciiiii
submitted by FragrantUnit9541 to u/FragrantUnit9541 [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 07:44 PumpkinsVenue Parallels between Dark Souls 2 and Elden Ring - the lands

Parallels between Dark Souls 2 and Elden Ring - the lands
I've compiled lists (there was supposed just one, but reddit limits blocked me) of parallels that fans have drawn between Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2, along with brief commentaries and illustrations on the patterns they may have observed.
https://preview.redd.it/u50do8mjsi0d1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=00d9b786a6f5b1e0dba7781354efa6d679ea0f5d
As the IGN interview said, Dark Souls II is more open world, much like Elden Ring, than the other games in the Dark Ring series.
https://preview.redd.it/um8csw38si0d1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=09992bb7e7baf960646b5e1bd5bdd940b85b00c2
The Lands Between in Elden Ring has an ethereal & transitional nature and Things Betwixt in Dark Souls 2 is an inter-spacial cave.
https://preview.redd.it/ood1pze6si0d1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=e70746dfc129c8e38ddf3ac84ee14a524cf56db3
The image on the left is the Erdtree, which may have been the Ethereal oak or spirit tree (霊樹) mentioned in DS3. The image on the right is from Drangleic Castle just before you enter the Looking Glass knight area.
https://preview.redd.it/x9y0afeuti0d1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=eeb638ce06efdaed452ab190b00ca2ad1970211e
The snowy, storm-swept Consecrated Snowfield of Elden Ring evokes the treacherous Frigid Outskirts of Dark Souls 2, with both areas challenging players to navigate blinding blizzards while facing off against powerful enemies.
https://preview.redd.it/k31f4tcrti0d1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=64e1ca16cb71034b7ca815b0c99d4e7652b8774f
Crumbling Farum Azula and the Dragon Aerie in Dark Souls 2 (Aldia, who researched the past, may have had a hand in creating the site) are both mazelike areas filled with dragons and aerial, draconic imagery.
https://preview.redd.it/pl5ta14dti0d1.png?width=1240&format=png&auto=webp&s=6065b765680380a8579ac8e098c5ed3df08e80e6
Both Leyndell and Lindelt from DS2 are grand capitals steeped in faith, draconic imagery, and connections to lightning and sacred trees, with their strikingly similar names hinting at a shared reverence for nature's divine forces. “The Erdtree was once as warm as the gentle sun, and would gradually heal all who bathed in its rays.” Soothing Sunlight miracle that passed down through the ages by the Lindelt Monastery “Greatly heals HP of self and nearby allies“.
https://preview.redd.it/hyhjgrfhui0d1.png?width=1100&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5feda7afd35a2b600835524f6bf8ce5d1ad4d47
Both Golden Order and the great House Osteria represent prestigious ruling orders or noble houses wielding immense power and influence within their respective sacred capitals of Lindelt and Leyndell.
https://preview.redd.it/tht7u0nxti0d1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c4d3002ebfd8a8994b900b8d1b4942a48c1ba1e0
Both the Heart of the Storm from Elden Ring and the Ashen Mist Heart from Dark Souls 2 are key triggers that grant the ability to access dragons’ memories and alternate realities.
https://preview.redd.it/fqjdchabsi0d1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd0c5debdca687ba7f1d9c75c4982effbe0a31df
Both Raya Lucaria Academy in Elden Ring and the School of Melfia in Dark Souls 2 were renowned institutions dedicated to the study of sorcery with astrology, delving into the mysteries of the stars and cosmic forces.
https://preview.redd.it/sgogyfiwwi0d1.jpg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80dbe3b5a721fdb37faf91475c9dcaebb29c9139
Akin to how purist astrologers in Dark Souls 2 despised swordfighting, the Lazuli sorcerers were considered heretical by the Raya Lucaria academy and are the only branch that practice of wielding swords as catalysts instead of traditional staves.
https://preview.redd.it/w632sq0iti0d1.png?width=1068&format=png&auto=webp&s=ed3da08c8d7813258e0f764f152d43a4ea23db35
The Mask of Confidence worn by Seluvis and the Manikin Mask from Dark Souls 2 share a distinctive feature of having the wearer's mouth wide open. Hinting at a connection between the peculiar art of puppetry from of the two lost lands mentioned in the Manikin armor description and Seluvis' quest in Elden Ring.
https://preview.redd.it/ap3yt980xi0d1.png?width=1025&format=png&auto=webp&s=e6715baf61acc124fc57c7c67d20746ee4005c77
The Shaded Castle (on a plateau that has windmills) which is next to Volcano Manor and the Earthen Peak Ruins which is next to the Iron Keep in Dark Souls 2 are both small, poisonous dungeons that lead to a larger, more imposing, volcanic area, hinting at a parallel between the two locations.
https://preview.redd.it/byhleg2esi0d1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=512f5ee94b54d9727e2fb9c291f84981b383f16f
Volcano Manor with its winged snake statues, and Lanafir from Dark Souls 2, where the eagle symbolizes wealth rather than strength and the land follows a strict edict of isolationism, share a connection hinting at foreign, wealthy lands ruled in separation from everyone else.
https://preview.redd.it/s7kzt7w3ui0d1.png?width=652&format=png&auto=webp&s=3451252e2d08dd27203764f424cc220d2d35d57a
Both Sellia, Town of Sorcery and the eastern land of Jugo employ invisibility magic, with Sellia's night sorceries like Unseen Form and Unseen Blade allowing casters to become semi-invisible or render weapons invisible, while Jugo's Desert Sorceresses and the legendary armor of Aurous utilize deceptive illusionsto lure in victims.
https://preview.redd.it/2h79vhd5ui0d1.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=8c355438118bd35aafed442d9e0b090fd9133327
Both the formic rock formed from solidified giant ant venom (most abundantly found under the desert land of Caelid) and the Corrosive Urn from Dark Souls 2, filled with secretions from giant corrosive ants native to the desert land of Jugo, contain potent acidic properties that can rapidly degrade equipment and armor.
https://preview.redd.it/tvgek6ohsi0d1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=cc629ebb59af22693947e751321a0daddee23d86
Both Caelid under Radahn's Redmane army, and the eastern land of Forossa from Dark Souls 2 were home to fearsome warrior knights renowned for their ferocious combat prowess, with the Lion Knights of Forossa and the Redmane Knights serving as elite forces until their respective kingdoms fell to ruin.
https://preview.redd.it/w7q3fwlcui0d1.jpg?width=1047&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=699cd72b8a1f187c74d5db8adc27c6613c9ffbc1
The Ring of Giants suggests the lands of Forossa may have been inhibited by giants, just as the Dragonslayer's Crescent Axe's ability to slay dragons implies Forossa also had to contend with these beasts inhabiting its territory.
https://preview.redd.it/vjvw5uglti0d1.png?width=1350&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cadeb7a9f856702326314e2705d4c631c41c0a7
Both the Black Firebomb from Dark Souls 2, a powerful explosive developed in the fallen kingdom of Forossa, and the Redmane Fire Pot from Elden Ring, used by Radahn's soldiers to combat the scarlet rot, are potent incendiary weapons that inflict devastating fire damage upon impact.
https://preview.redd.it/7iah3t97ti0d1.png?width=1524&format=png&auto=webp&s=89b54c7e963c8d7cd1db8e5d207982533dc8e578
Both the Holy Water Pot, crafted with incantations of the Golden Order and highly effective against "Those Who Live in Death", and the Holy Water Urn from Dark Souls 2, originally intended as a soothing potion but scalding the skin of Undead and Hollows, are potent holy water weapons derived from ancient, well-protected springs that have become inaccessible due to war ravaging the lands of Mirrah and the Lands Between.
https://preview.redd.it/kw0dghv4ti0d1.png?width=1250&format=png&auto=webp&s=5af5e4e10491b2a4a4036056ac10721d74ce3762
The name Elden Ring and the primary title for Dark souls.
Initially, the latter was going to be named ‘Dark Ring,’ but after learning about its crass British slang connotation, FromSoftware opted for the title “Dark Souls” instead. Within the overworld setting of Elden Ring, a blend of North-western European, Nordic, and early to middle English influences, the term ‘eld’ or ‘ēlden’ can signify ‘fire’ or ‘ǣlden’ can signify ‘to kindle’ tracing its origins back to the Proto-Germanic term ‘ailidaz’ and ‘ailijan’ respectively. Interestingly in Swedish “elden” reportedly associated with alchemy.
Perhaps the intended or additional meaning of “Elden Ring” is “Fire Ring”.
submitted by PumpkinsVenue to DarkSouls2 [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 06:22 MarilynMonheaux Your Narc Thinks About You Often

One of the most common questions I see floating around in the community is “has the narc forgotten me?”
(S)he’s got a new gf/bf. I’m no longer thought about, right?
I saw a picture of them on IG looking so happy. They were at a private dinner on the shores or Bora Bora. Everything is perfect in their home then, right?
Wrong.
Do you remember how you gave your all to the narc, and once you started being devalued, you heard about their ex until you were ready to explode?
Triangulation isn’t only to coerce you and to demean you, although it’s for that as well. The narcissist is lazy. If they have a multi pronged weapon that’s like catnip for them.
The narcissist has an obsessive nature. No matter the subtype, they have a constant battle within. Am I good enough? Am I failing? How do people see me? Do I have friends? What do they think of me? What do people think of my gf/bf?
That is why you saw the post of the toe ring the narc bought the new supply from volcano divers in Hawaii.
It’s to maintain their image, so they don’t look nuts given the fact that they had a messy discard, and to hurt you.
For a narcissist, each of their exes they’ve completed their full cycle on goes on a shelf. Kind of like an Emmy for an actor.
Each Emmy is very meaningful. The narcissist loves the clout they get from talking about how they won the Emmy. They love to puff their chest out and name drop when it suits them, or zoom out and trivialize them to self aggrandize when it suits them.
When you cut the narc off, when you go no contact, when it’s clear you no longer GAF, the narc feels like a burglar has crept into their glass trophy case and stolen one of their Emmy’s.
They do think about it. They do want that Emmy back on their shelf,
But if they can’t get it back up on the shelf,
It’s okay. They have more on the shelf.
They act so damn well,
They are sure to win more next awards season.
At the next Emmy Awards, they’ll brag about how many they won. How fun it was.
So when I say they think about you, it may not be in the way you want. You are objectified, and stripped down to your qualities. You’re reduced to what you can do for the narcissist.
If they don’t win at their narc-ing, they will go back to their trophy case and hoover the one that has what they want at that time.
I’d honestly rather just be forgotten.
submitted by MarilynMonheaux to LifeAfterNarcissism [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 06:17 MarilynMonheaux Your Narc Thinks About You Often

One of the most common questions I see floating around in the community is “has the narc forgotten me?”
(S)he’s got a new gf/bf. I’m no longer thought about, right?
I saw a picture of them on IG looking so happy. They were at a private dinner on the shores or Bora Bora. Everything is perfect in their home then, right?
Wrong.
Do you remember how you gave your all to the narc, and once you started being devalued, you heard about their ex until you were ready to explode?
Triangulation isn’t only to coerce you and to demean you, although it’s for that as well. The narcissist is lazy. If they have a multi pronged weapon that’s like catnip for them.
The narcissist has an obsessive nature. No matter the subtype, they have a constant battle within. Am I good enough? Am I failing? How do people see me? Do I have friends? What do they think of me? What do people think of my gf/bf?
That is why you saw the post of the toe ring the narc bought the new supply from volcano divers in Hawaii.
It’s to maintain their image, so they don’t look nuts given the fact that they had a messy discard, and to hurt you.
For a narcissist, each of their exes they’ve completed their full cycle on goes on a shelf. Kind of like an Emmy for an actor.
Each Emmy is very meaningful. The narcissist loves the clout they get from talking about how they won the Emmy. They love to puff their chest out and name drop when it suits them, or zoom out and trivialize them to self aggrandize when it suits them.
When you cut the narc off, when you go no contact, when it’s clear you no longer GAF, the narc feels like a burglar has crept into their glass trophy case and stolen one of their Emmy’s.
They do think about it. They do want that Emmy back on their shelf,
But if they can’t get it back up on the shelf,
It’s okay. They have more on the shelf.
They act so damn well,
They are sure to win more next awards season.
At the next Emmy Awards, they’ll brag about how many they won. How fun it was.
So when I say they think about you, it may not be in the way you want. You are objectified, and stripped down to your qualities. You’re reduced to what you can do for the narcissist.
If they don’t win at their narc-ing, they will go back to their trophy case and hoover the one that has what they want at that time.
I’d honestly rather just be forgotten.
submitted by MarilynMonheaux to TrueNarcissisticAbuse [link] [comments]

2024.05.15 04:57 miirshroom Examining Tolkein: Gelmir, Faroth and Beyond

Examining Tolkein: Gelmir, Faroth and Beyond
It has been said that the Lord of the Rings is the origin of the high fantasy genre. I would consider Elden Ring to be something of a deconstruction of high fantasy tropes. A very instructive step of a deconstruction (or of duplicating results) is to look at a thing and examine the elements it is made of. The more general the better - the goal is to find the things that inspired the thing:
  • The setting is inspired by research into many real world mythologies and folk tales. And Tolkein's religious beliefs as a Catholic.
  • Tolkein invented full language systems that were used to add extra significance to the names of people and places
  • The personal history and psychology of the author had an undeniable influence on the themes of the story (when Tolkein writes about the devastation of war it is from a place of sincerity - because he lived it)
So, these are the ingredients of a successful fantasy story that also apply to Elden Ring - draws parallels to previous fantasy stories including mythology, use of bespoke words and naming schemes that are internally consistent as parallel to the real world, and incorporates psychologically-driven themes (in the case of Elden Ring I believe that it is less of the psychology of a person and more about drawing on the psychology of the gaming company FromSoftware...but that is beyond the point of this post).
And regarding the influence of Tolkein there are a few more explicit parallels to be drawn. Which for legal reasons regarding the rights to adapt Tolkein's Legendarium will likely never ever be confirmed by FromSoft. But as I see it getting references under the radar of the copyright lawyers is a time honoured tradition of deconstructive fantasy stories and parodies, so I will attempt to explain these connections as I see them, regardless. Also note that I am writing from the perspective of someone who has been familiar with the Lord of the Rings but never before looked at the extended mythology.
A linguistic connection is formed in the space between two main points that I am aware of: Gelmir of Nargothrond as the possible naming inspiration for Mt. Gelmir, and geographical region "Taur-en-faroth" containing part of the name used for Fort Faroth.

Gelmir

"J.R.R. Tolkien has become a sort of mountain, appearing in all subsequent fantasy in the way that Mt. Fuji appears so often in Japanese prints. Sometimes it's big and up close. Sometimes it's a shape on the horizon. Sometimes it's not there at all, which means that the artist either has made a deliberate decision against the mountain, which is interesting in itself, or is in fact standing on Mt. Fuji." - Terry Pratchett
First addressing Gelmir - literally the volcanic mountain is a reference to Tolkein. As clear of a declaration as possible that Elden Ring intends to stand on Mt. Fiji.
Gelmir in the "canon" version of the Legendarium was an elf of Nargothrond who was captured by the forces of Morgoth at the "Battle of Sudden Flame" which was the fourth great conflict in the War of the Jewels (the war over the 3 silmarils for which "the Silmarillion" is named). He was subsequently blinded and tortured for 17 years until his death - after having his limbs cut off to taunt his brother Gwindor into attacking recklessly - at the start of the fifth great conflict known as "The Battle of Unnumbered Tears". Gwindor himself was captured and held prisoner for an additional 17 years after this battle, before escaping at the expense of having a hand cut off and eventually dying in another battle of the war. He was in love with a golden-haired elf maiden named Finduilas (name meaning "hair of spring leaf") who he also called "Faelivrin" meaning "Gleam of the Sun on the Pools of Ivrin" ("Pools of Ivrin" being a location in the land called Beleriand). She was killed before the end of the war by being nailed to a tree with a spear.
For context, the sixth great conflict was called "The War of Wrath" and was the final one. Morgoth brought dragons to the battle to blast the battlefield with fire and lightning - which had never been done in any previous battle - and the outcomes were that Morgoth was beheaded and kicked through a portal into the void and the northwest corner of the map including almost all of Beleriand (an area equal to the size of the entire Middle Earth map at the time of the Lord of the Rings story!) sunk into the ocean.
There is a lot to work with here already - first being Gelmir's associations with flame and imprisonment and torture that are shared by both Tolkein's and Elden Ring's purposes. Blindness is noteworthy, considering how often this is a theme with Elden Ring characters and even partial blindness is enough to cause madness as indicated by the Prisoner Helmet. Taking a few lateral steps arrives at a golden haired maiden who shares the method of execution used for Marika. And her name meaning "gleam of the sun on the surface of the water" exactly describes the imagery seen in the Elden Ring item "Memory of Grace".
But there's still more to spin from this line! Because Finduilas had another lover named "Turin Turambar" who was a friend of Gwindor and whose family had been cursed by Morgoth. Turin owned a magic helm upon which was perched an image of the Golden Dragon Glaurung - similar to the style of helmet worn by Elden Ring's Banished Knights) - and which allowed him to survive dragon fire. Turin found on the grave of Finduilas a naked woman who he called "Na­niel" or "Maiden of Tears" - because she had lost her memory and was crying - and wed her with neither knowing that they were estranged brother and sister (this is based on the Finnish story of Kullervo, with which Tolkein was especially fascinated). This was revealed to them later to be a machination of Glaurung when Turin was in the midst of slaying the dragon, and subsequently both Turin and Naniel killed themselves. Before meeting his end, Turin also described himself in (probably) poetic terms as having blindness being the curse placed upon him by Morgoth, which is assumed by readers to be more a matter of tunnel vision or short sightedness rather than literal blinding. He is also apparently prophesied to return to life someday in the supplementary materials.
What this means exactly for Elden Ring is up to interpretation. A story could be spun by combining Gelmir, Gwindor, and maybe even Turin into a single character who are motivated by unrequited and/or incestuous love for Finduilas/Naniel also made into a single character - to fill in the empty spaces around the characters of Marika, Radagon, and Godfrey. Or there could be some other purpose for naming the mountain "Gelmir". There is room for more nuance here because there are the alternate Gelmir's to consider.
In one version, Gelmir was king of the gnomes, by which Tolkein was inspired by the Greek "gnome“" meaning "thought" or "intelligence". But this was dropped due to the cultural confusion with gnomes being wrinkly little creatures.
In another version Gelmir was the same character as Finwe, an elf who was born during the "Years of the Trees" that preceded the era called the "Years of the Sun". At this time, the light of the world was confined to the Lands of the Valinor (a pantheon of Creator types) in the west provided by the female golden tree named Laurelin in the south and the male silver tree Telperion in the north. Finwe's wife was a weaver named Mi­riel Therinde and his son Feanor was responsible for forging the Silmarils and jealously guarding them (And also he invented the 7 palanti­ri scrying stones + 1 master stone, and the Tengwar writing system). The grandson of Feanor and last of his line was Celebrimbor, meaning "silver fist". Celebrimbor forged the three rings for the elves (named for air, fire, and water) that were subject to the One Ring but never corrupted by it. So, it's possible that "Gelmir" is selected for being a deceptively niche character who was actually in another lifetime very closely connected to these core events of the history. The appearance of a character named "Miriel" is also interesting in the context of Elden Ring's Miriel, Pastor of Vows.
As a side note, something else of interest from this Tolkein deep dive was regarding the relationship between the silmarils and the world trees of the Valinor. The 3 Silmarils contained the remaining light of the two trees that were destroyed and had the sun and moon forged of their fruits by blacksmith Aule. When the trees were first made they were sung into existence by Yavanna and watered by the tears of Nienna (who was a teacher of the wizard Gandalf and in earlier versions of the Legendarium called "Queen of Shadow"). Nienna again wept healing tears upon the trees to grow the fruits when they were dying. Morgoth stole the Silmarils and set them into his Iron Crown, and upon his defeat the stones were pried out and the crown beaten into a collar for his neck (in the brief period of time before he was kicked into the void anyways). One Silmaril was thrown into the sky where it became the Evening Star. Another was cast into the sea. And the third was cast into a firey pit in the earth along with its possessor.
And as an addition, it is not farfetched that Morgott = Morgoth is an intended spiritual parallel. Considering that Morgoth was indirectly responsible for the blinding and killing of Gelmir (brother of Gwindor) in Tolkein's mythic history. And in Elden Ring this seems expressed in the Shattering War though Morgott pursuing Mt. Gelmir most fiercely. In a more broad sense, Morgoth was the identity taken by Melkor after he was released from the chains made to bind him by Aule, which is somewhat similar to Morgott/Margit using alternate names depending on the circumstance (and Margit's Shackle paralleling Melkor's binding chains).

Faroth

"Faroth" is a Sindarin word meaning "hunters". The "Hills of the Hunters" (Taur-en-faroth) was a location in West Beleriand, the aforementioned western part of the continent that sunk into the ocean at the end of the War of the Jewels. In these hills was hidden the secret elven city of Nargothrond on the Narog River. The same from which Gelmir of Nargothrond is associated. The city began as a Dwarven Hall for the petty dwarfs (exiled and unsociable dwarfs smaller than typical dwarfs), was conquered and ruled by the House of Finarfin (a son of Finwe), and was sacked and turned to the lair of the dragon Glaurung some time after The Battle of Unnumbered Tears. And then fell into the ocean.
At this point there are too many names, which is why I sketched a family tree of all of all these elves that is attached to this post.
Some general trends:
  1. Of the 3 family lines the middle one has significance for being the one to produce the Numenor Kings of Men
  2. The family lines at the two sides have plot significance as discussed in the Gelmir section, but then their lineages die off.
  3. Typically continuity is maintained through the male lines, with sole exception of Idril in the 3rd generation removed from Finwe. The origins of the women spouses are typically left vague (with 3 exceptions near the root of the lineage: Indis has a famous uncle, Nerdanel has a significant blacksmith father, and Earwen's extended family has some substance to it)
If a writer wanted to do a legally distinct take on this mythology while borrowing from it for whatever reason, it would be easy to condense the feats and characterization of these 3 lineages into one truncated one. Maybe fuse Finduilas with Idril - two blonde ladies with minimal character - and also fuse together their lovers and you have a Marika + Godfrey. The narratively satisfying thing about Finduilas being associated to Gwindor (who may as well be made the same character as Gelmir) is that it creates a closed loop for the whole lineage when GwindoGelmir is substituted for Finwe, which is a very attractive proposition for a story like Elden Ring where time is a wheel and return to the origin point is a principle of the Golden Order.
Also this region calls attention to the significance of the river Ringil. That word comes up as: 1) a mountain river through Taur-en-Faroth that is tributary to the Narog river, 2) a sword held by Fingolfin (another son of Finwe), and 3) as the primordial tower - sometimes made of ice - upon which sat the south lamp Ormal (an orb containing the gold light of the world in the First Age that would later pass to the gold tree Laurelin in the Second Age). In an earlier version of the writings. The blacksmith Aule created the lamps at the request of Yavanna, who was herself responsible for the growth of fruits and trees. The end of the "Days before Days" (which preceeded the "Years of the Trees") occurred with the breaking of the lamps by Melkor, after a period of time where he had poisoned the land and caused the things made by Yavanna to rot.
I will note that the early timeline was a bit difficult to follow. I gather that there are spans of time lit only by the stars between the destructions of these various sun/moon light sources, a period of time with Yavanna singing all living life to sleep due to the lack of light. The First Age is also called "The Awakening" but it appears that much of the war between Morgoth and the elves began prior to the beginning of the First Age. There is an aside in which Aule was also responsible for creating the "Seven Fathers of the Dwarves", but he made them too early and they had to go to sleep so that the elves of Iluvatar could be the first sentient mortal life. I found interesting this additional context for the lamps:
"In the middle of Arda, where the light of the lamps mingled, amid the Great Lake lay the Isle of Almaren, where the Valar dwelt." - The One Wiki to Rule them All
"In J.R.R. Tolkien's older writings (not used in the published version of The Silmarillion), the Valar sought peace with Melkor, asking his assistance with fixing the lamps upon Arda. Melkor, still envious and hateful of the rest of the Valar, agreed to give them a strong, sturdy substance. He gave Aule ice. Melkor permitted the Valar to do as they wished until the fateful day when the Lamps' light and heat finally melted the ice. The pillars crashed upon Arda, flooding it with water and darkness." - The One Wiki to Rule them All
I suppose that if I have a point here it is that Radagon's Sore Seal talisman is found at Fort Faroth, which through the winding etymology of words is tied to Mt. Gelmir. Perhaps the blind Radagon was a hunter on a fruitless quest seeking the lost light of the Golden Sun that stood on the ice pillar of Ringil from the days before days - guided by the distant memory of the reflection of it's light on the water. Perhaps there is other meaning to be found. I acknowledge that after a certain point any interpretation found through these linguistics should be cross-referenced with everything that can be learned from all other sources of information in the game.

The Rings of Power

The big brazen choice - in my opinion - was to name the big metaphysical artefact "the Elden Ring"...and then draw actual direct parallel to the Rings of Power. Not the 3 rings granted to the Elf Kings under the sky - I've yet to identify how or if those are expressed in game. Not the 9 rings granted to Kings of Men either - those are seemingly represented in the 9 Night's Cavalry (and possibly the 9 weapon talismans that each feature a ring at the top of the head) . What I find most relevant here are the 7 Great Runes matching "seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone".
The first critical part of that phrase is the reference to "stone", for I find that the shattering of Marika's Hammer equates to the shattering of the wisdom of stone. But the second point of note is that the dwarf lords of Tolkein received their own curse from holding their rings of power - obsession with gold. A similar obsession is seen in Elden Ring where all of the demigods are corrupted by their great runes and covet the grace of gold.
The arrangement of the Elden Ring also has some synergy with the arrangement of its runes - 6 of the 7 dwarf lords pair nicely through the even numbers. The Seventh Dwarf Lord was the chief among them "Durin the Deathless", who was reincarnated 7 times by being reborn as one of his own descendants. His clan also was generally known to absorb members from all other clans due to his central importance. The first Durin (one of the 7 original fathers of dwarves) built the underground city of Khazad-dum that would later be called Moria after a creature of shadow and flame that may-or-may-not have wings (a Balrog of Morgoth) was uncovered in its depths by Durin VI. Durin III was the one to receive the Ring of Power from Celebrimbor, and Durin IV was contemporary to the first rise and defeat of Sauron. Durin VII is appears to be from the timeframe of the Lord of the Rings and second defeat of Sauron, though he did not participate and seems to be known instead for reclaiming Khazad-dum from the orcs.

Why Examine Tolkein?

So what's the point of the elaborate Tolkein parallel? There may be 7 ring-shaped great runes, but there is also clearly one ring that rules them all - the Elden Ring. Examining Tolkein is one of several avenues of analysis reaching the conclusion that the ring is a dangerous object that corrupts everyone who touches it and must be destroyed. Of the six endings the only one that understands this is Ranni's Age of Stars. And in the Lord of Frenzy Flame ending the Tarnished succumbs to the power of the ring with head becoming a ring of flame matching the firey beacon on top of the Frenzy Flaming Tower - itself visually recalling a depiction of the Eye of Sauron atop the tower of Barad-dur as seen in the 2000's Lord of the Rings trilogy adaptation.
And even more, there's one ring bearer in particular who provides another piece to the puzzle of Radagon and Marika's dual identities. The dissociative identity of Gollum and Smeagol can completely describe the relationship between Marika and Radagon. Two thoughts in one body. With this lens I think that Radagon/Marika were likely not separate entities at the time of their Shattering and may have never had a separate existence. They can appear to hold conversations with each other through reflective surfaces, such as a very shatter-able mirror.
It is quite possible that another Great Rune (or more) will make an appearance in the DLC. If this does happen, I'll re-evaluate Ring of Power theory based on the nature of the added rune.
One last note which, again, is oblique enough for plausible deniability. The end of Patches questline would have the Tarnished deliver the Dancer's Castanets to Tanith, inside the volcano. If you know anything about castanets, they are typically made of hard materials such as wood or ivory (or plastic) and carved into a pear shape. Not so for the Dancer's Castanets. From a visual examination these are made of metal cast in a circular shape and with a ring shaped engraving filled with filigree. A metal ring-shaped object delivered to a volcano, echoing the One Ring delivered to Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings.
submitted by miirshroom to EldenRingLoreTalk [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 14:56 Sweet-Count2557 Costa Rica With Kids

Costa Rica With Kids
Costa Rica With Kids Hey there! Ready to embark on an unforgettable family adventure? Look no further than Costa Rica with kids!We've got you covered with all the best activities and attractions that will make your trip truly magical. From exploring breathtaking waterfalls and national parks to thrilling outdoor adventures and relaxing hot springs, Costa Rica has it all.And don't forget about the educational and cultural experiences along the way. Get ready to create lasting memories and experience the freedom of exploration in beautiful Costa Rica!Key TakeawaysCosta Rica offers a wide range of nature escapes and national parks for families to connect with nature and create lasting memories.The country provides endless opportunities for adventure and outdoor activities, such as surfing, zip-lining, and wildlife tours.Hot springs in Costa Rica, like Tabacon and Baldi, offer a tranquil oasis for relaxation and rejuvenation, with various health benefits.Educational and cultural experiences, such as the Chocolate Tour and wildlife rescue centers, allow families to learn about Costa Rican culture and environmental issues in a fun and engaging way.Waterfall and Nature EscapesWhen it comes to exploring Costa Rica with kids, one of the most exciting subtopics is Waterfall and Nature Escapes. Costa Rica is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, and there are plenty of opportunities for families to immerse themselves in the wonders of waterfalls and nature.Two must-visit attractions in this category are the La Fortuna Waterfall and the Arenal Volcano Hike.The La Fortuna Waterfall is a true hidden gem. Located near the Arenal Volcano, this stunning waterfall cascades down a 75-meter cliff into a crystal-clear pool below. The hike to the waterfall is relatively easy and suitable for families with children of all ages. Once you reach the base, you can take a refreshing swim in the pool or simply relax and take in the magnificent surroundings. It's a truly magical experience that will leave your kids in awe.Another must-do activity is the Arenal Volcano Hike. This exciting adventure takes you through the lush rainforest, where you'll have the chance to spot exotic wildlife and learn about the area's geological history. As you make your way up the volcano, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. It's a great opportunity for your kids to learn about volcanoes and the importance of preserving our natural resources.Both the La Fortuna Waterfall and the Arenal Volcano Hike offer unique experiences that combine adventure and natural beauty. They provide the perfect opportunity for families to connect with nature and create lasting memories. So, if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica with your kids, make sure to include these incredible attractions in your itinerary.National Parks and WildlifeExploring the National Parks and Wildlife in Costa Rica is an incredible experience for families. The country is known for its abundant biodiversity and commitment to conservation efforts. Here are some highlights of what you can expect when visiting the national parks and encountering wildlife in Costa Rica:Wildlife encounters: Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of animal species, including monkeys, sloths, toucans, and colorful frogs. As you explore the national parks, keep your eyes peeled for these fascinating creatures. You might even have the opportunity to spot sea turtles nesting on the beaches or witness the majestic humpback whales during their migration.Conservation efforts: Costa Rica takes great pride in its conservation initiatives. The national parks are carefully managed to protect the fragile ecosystems and ensure the long-term survival of the wildlife. By visiting these parks, you not only get to enjoy the beauty of nature but also contribute to the conservation efforts that help preserve these habitats for future generations.Educational experiences: Many of the national parks offer guided tours led by knowledgeable naturalists. These experts can provide valuable insights about the wildlife and the conservation efforts in place. They'll help you and your kids learn about the importance of protecting the environment and the role each of us can play in preserving it.Exploring the national parks and encountering wildlife in Costa Rica is an adventure that will leave lasting memories for your family. It's an opportunity to witness nature's wonders up close and personal while also supporting the conservation efforts that ensure the preservation of these incredible ecosystems. So pack your binoculars and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the wild!Adventure and Outdoor ActivitiesWe can enjoy a variety of adventure and outdoor activities in Costa Rica with our kids. Costa Rica is known for its stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems, making it the perfect destination for outdoor sports and family-friendly adventures.One popular activity is surfing, and Tamarindo is the place to be for beginners. We can take surf lessons together as a family and ride the waves of the Pacific Ocean. It's an exhilarating experience that will create lasting memories.For a thrilling aerial adventure, we can visit the Arenal Ecoglide Park. Here, we can zip line through the rainforest canopy, getting a unique perspective of Costa Rica's natural beauty. The park offers various zip line courses suitable for all ages, ensuring that everyone can participate.If we want to explore the waterways of Costa Rica, we can take a Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour. This guided tour will take us through mangroves and provide opportunities to spot wildlife such as monkeys and crocodiles. It's a fantastic way to connect with nature and learn about the local ecosystem.For animal encounters, we can visit the Club Rio Outdoor Center. Here, we can interact with friendly animals like sloths, toucans, and monkeys. We can also enjoy activities such as horseback riding and tubing down the river. It's a great place for the whole family to have fun and discover Costa Rica's wildlife.Costa Rica offers endless opportunities for adventure and outdoor activities. From surfing to zip-lining, there's something for everyone in the family to enjoy. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with excitement and exploration in the beautiful landscapes of Costa Rica.Hot Springs and RelaxationWhen it comes to hot springs and relaxation in Costa Rica, two popular options are Tabacon Hot Springs and Baldi Hot Springs.Tabacon offers a more natural and serene setting, while Baldi is known for its larger pools and family-friendly atmosphere.Both options provide a range of activities for kids to enjoy, such as water slides and swim-up bars.Tabacon Vs. BaldiOne option for hot springs and relaxation in Costa Rica is Tabacon. Nestled at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano, Tabacon boasts natural thermal springs surrounded by lush rainforest. The warm waters cascade into picturesque pools, creating a tranquil oasis for the whole family to enjoy.Another option is Baldi, located in La Fortuna. Baldi features a series of pools with varying temperatures, providing a range of options for relaxation. The highlight of Baldi is its exciting water slides, perfect for kids and thrill-seekers alike.Both hot springs offer unique experiences for families seeking rejuvenation and fun. Whether you prefer the serene ambiance of Tabacon or the thrilling water slides at Baldi, both hot springs offer a memorable experience. So, take your pick and soak in the natural beauty of Costa Rica's hot springs!Hot Springs BenefitsOur family's favorite way to relax and unwind in Costa Rica is by enjoying the benefits of hot springs. Not only are they incredibly soothing and rejuvenating, but they also offer numerous health benefits. Hot springs are known to improve blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and promote a sense of calm and relaxation. They can also help with stress reduction and improve sleep quality.When it comes to the best hot springs in Costa Rica, two options stand out: Tabacon Hot Springs and Baldi Hot Springs. Tabacon is famous for its natural thermal mineral springs, surrounded by lush rainforest. It offers a variety of pools with different temperatures, waterfalls, and even a swim-up bar.On the other hand, Baldi Hot Springs features a whopping 25 thermal water pools, slides, and a kid-friendly area with shallow pools and water games. Both options provide an unforgettable experience for the whole family to enjoy.Ideal Relaxation ActivitiesFor our family, the hot springs in Costa Rica offer the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind, as well as enjoy quality time together. The benefits of relaxation are undeniable, and what better way to experience it than in the soothing waters of these natural hot springs?Here are some of the best relaxation spots in Costa Rica:Tabacon Hot Springs: Nestled at the base of the Arenal Volcano, Tabacon offers a luxurious and tranquil setting with a variety of pools and cascading waterfalls.Baldi Hot Springs: Located near La Fortuna, Baldi boasts a network of thermal pools of varying temperatures, providing a rejuvenating experience for the whole family.Ecotermales Hot Springs: This hidden gem in Arenal offers a more intimate and peaceful setting, perfect for those seeking a quieter relaxation experience.After indulging in the hot springs, it's time to explore the educational and cultural experiences that Costa Rica has to offer.Educational and Cultural ExperiencesWe thoroughly enjoyed the immersive cultural experience of the Chocolate Tour in Costa Rica. This educational tour allowed us to learn about the history and production of chocolate in the country. We got to see the entire process, from the cacao bean to the delicious chocolate bar. The tour guide was knowledgeable and engaging, making the experience fun for both kids and adults. We even had the opportunity to make our own chocolate treats, which was a highlight for the whole family.Another cultural immersion experience that we highly recommend is a visit to the Museo de los Niños, or Children's Museum. This interactive museum is designed specifically for kids, with exhibits that encourage learning through play. From science experiments to art workshops, there's something for everyone. We spent hours exploring the various exhibits, and the kids were fascinated by the hands-on activities. It was a great way to learn about Costa Rican culture while having fun.In addition to the educational tours, we also enjoyed the opportunity to observe and interact with wildlife at the Wildlife Rescue Center and Curi Cancha Reserve. These experiences allowed us to learn about the importance of conservation and the efforts being made to protect the country's diverse flora and fauna. The kids were thrilled to see sloths, monkeys, and colorful birds up close, and it sparked their interest in environmental issues.As we move on to explore the beaches and coastal attractions of Costa Rica, we look forward to the opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.Beaches and Coastal AttractionsExploring the beaches and coastal attractions in Costa Rica offers a chance to relax and immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of the country. Costa Rica is known for its stunning beaches and diverse marine life, making it a perfect destination for families seeking a beach getaway.Here are a few highlights of the best family-friendly beaches and the opportunity to explore marine life in Tortuguero National Park:Tamarindo Beach: With its golden sands and gentle waves, Tamarindo Beach is a popular choice for families. Kids can enjoy building sandcastles, playing beach volleyball, or learning to surf. The beach is lined with restaurants and shops, offering a variety of dining options and souvenirs.Manuel Antonio Park: This nature reserve not only features beautiful beaches but also offers guided tours where families can spot monkeys, sloths, and a variety of colorful birds. Kids will be fascinated by the diverse wildlife and the opportunity to explore the tropical rainforest.Tortuguero National Park: This park is famous for its sea turtle nesting grounds, providing a unique opportunity for families to witness these incredible creatures up close. Take a guided tour to learn about the conservation efforts and the life cycle of sea turtles. Exploring the marine life in Tortuguero National Park is a truly unforgettable experience.Costa Rica's beaches and coastal attractions offer something for everyone in the family. Whether you prefer lounging on the beach, exploring the rich marine life, or embarking on guided nature tours, there's no shortage of activities to keep everyone entertained.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre There Any Age Restrictions or Requirements for the Ziplining Activity at Arenal Ecoglide Park?Yes, there are age restrictions and safety requirements for the ziplining activity at Arenal Ecoglide Park.To ensure the safety of all participants, there's a minimum age requirement of 8 years old. Additionally, participants must weigh between 45 and 264 pounds.The park provides all necessary safety equipment, including harnesses and helmets, and trained guides are there to assist and guide you throughout the experience.Can You Swim in the Natural Pools at Rio Celeste Waterfall?Yes, you can swim in the natural pools at Rio Celeste Waterfall. However, it's important to note that there may be swimming restrictions in place at certain times due to safety reasons or water quality concerns. It's always a good idea to check with park officials before swimming.The water at Rio Celeste is known for its beautiful blue color, which is caused by a chemical reaction between volcanic minerals and the river's water. It's a unique and memorable experience for the whole family!Are There Any Guided Tours Available for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?Yes, there are guided tours available for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. These tours allow you to explore the stunning beauty of the cloud forest while being accompanied by knowledgeable guides who'll provide you with interesting information about the flora and fauna.It's a great way to learn and appreciate the unique ecosystem of the reserve. So if you're looking for an educational and memorable experience, a guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is definitely worth considering.How Long Does It Take to Hike to the Top of Arenal Volcano?Hiking to the top of Arenal Volcano can take around 3-4 hours, depending on your pace and fitness level. The difficulty level can vary, but it's generally considered moderate.It's best to start early in the morning to avoid the heat and have clear views of the stunning landscape.This hike offers an exciting adventure for the whole family, with opportunities to learn about the volcano's history and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.Are There Any Nearby Accommodations or Restaurants Near Cahuita National Park?Yes, there are nearby accommodations and restaurants near Cahuita National Park. There are several options for lodging, ranging from cozy bed and breakfasts to family-friendly hotels.You can also find a variety of restaurants serving delicious local cuisine, as well as international dishes. Whether you're looking for a relaxing place to stay or a tasty meal after exploring the park, you'll find plenty of options to suit your needs near Cahuita National Park.ConclusionIn conclusion, exploring Costa Rica with kids is an adventure that will create lasting memories for the whole family.Did you know that Costa Rica is home to over 5% of the world's biodiversity? This means that your children will have the opportunity to witness incredible wildlife up close and personal, fostering a love and appreciation for the natural world.So pack your bags, grab your little ones, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the vibrant landscapes and diverse ecosystems of Costa Rica!
submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 01:35 ArmChairAnalyst86 Space Weather Update 5/13/2024 - The Party is NOT Over - All Eyes On New Active Regions WOW!

Space Weather Update 5/13/2024 - The Party is NOT Over - All Eyes On New Active Regions WOW!
Good Afternoon everyone. I am happy to report that I got mostly caught up at work today and have a little free time to get this update out. You won't believe this but I met an solarmax member in the wild. I ran into an old friend at the cookout yesterday and we were talking about the auroras and I started talking about the sub and her husband said he was here getting info this weekend! Cool stuff. Data is still pouring in from last weekends storm and I am combing through it and simultaneously deep into research mode for the next article that must be written with precision and poise. Furthermore, with some data coming in and comparisons between the 2003 and 2023 event, I can already see significant relevancy. In fact, I just hit delete on about 3 paragraphs because I realized that talking about it had hijacked the whole update, and that it is better to incorporate those findings in the coming article mentioned yesterday.
That is not the reason of THIS update though. The reason for this update is in the title. You know what they say. After the party its the afterparty. Sometimes the after party is more exciting than the actual. With that being said, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the active regions on the earth facing side this morning. Yesterday I had remarked about AR3676 and how it literally exploded onto the scene with a Beta-Gamma config. At the time, it and AR3664 were the only AR's with Beta-Gamma-Delta or Beta-Gamma. Well when I checked on things this morning after getting caught up, alot has changed, and if you are ready to chase some more aurora, it has changed in a good way!
Here is a side by side of yesterday and today and while there are no AR's resembling the legendary AR3663...yet. AR3663 was just a pup once too, and they just grow up so fast you know? It's like one minute they are growing their first tiny delta and the next they are firing off X-Class flares and sending aurora to the Caribbean. We should be encouraged that the sunspot number is rising and whatever is going on right now is favorable for the rapid formation of sunspot configurations that are more likely to produce big flares. Does this automatically mean are are hitting the repeat button? Nope and hopefully by now it is clear that you have to take this as it comes, but nonetheless, I am encouraged by what I see today as concerns aurora chances in the lower lats but we will have to wait and see. I encourage you all to keep an eye on these active regions. Also, do you notice that they are roughly appearing in similar latitudes? Interesting pattern to note.
https://preview.redd.it/1eto08qps90d1.png?width=804&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a5cf81a9b63113a724eac6044167281804b6136
In terms of flaring today, we had a back to back M4.8 and M6.6 and an M3.6 a few hours after. I have never in my life been so "meh, dissapointment" after three respectable M-Class flares at any point I have been watching, but I guess that is to be expected when the 9 day stretch from Friday May 3rd to Saturday May 11th saw 12!!! X-Class flares and an unbelieveable 74 M-Class flares. For reference solar cycle 24 saw a total of 49 X-Class flares which means in just over a week we saw around 1/4 of the total X-Class flare count from the entire solar cycle 24 which spanned from 2008 to 2019! Granted, some of those flares were quite a bit higher magnitude than the flares we have seen in this cycle, but as the intensitygrams above are showing you, this cycle is far from over. With that said, I would not be surprised if we continue to see the cycle within the cycle where the suns activity goes up and down in a rough pattern. Obviously right now is a busy stretch, but immediately before it activity was quiet and in fact near the eclipse the sun almost went spotless, IIRC we went almost a week with a single M-Class flare at one point. And then just like that, we are back. This needs more study, but I have been watching this pattern and anecdotally I do believe there is something to it. While SC24 was pretty muted relatively speaking, SC23 was a doozy. It was even termed to have a double peak solar maximum according to some. There was some controversy about how strong or active SC25 would be. NOAA predicted a down year, but not everyone was buying. Physicist Scott McIntosh predicted the opposite, an active cycle based on a theory he had been working identifying markers that would better predict the next cycle based on the time elapsed between termination events in cycles. Obviously he was correct.
The bottom line is, if you were disappointed on saturday or sunday because you missed your chance to see the aurora, do not lose hope, and think positively, because we still have some good opportunites. You also might not realize this, but the aurora has taken numerous trips to lower latitudes, but has done so discreetly with little fanfare, but it has done so all the same. While this used to be reserved only for major storms, this is not the case so much anymore. I am very excited to see those active regions showing the growth they are. The size is not there yet, but the config is and the precdent for explosive growth recently, and not just for AR3663, but 3664 as well before it. When AR3664 was nearing the meridian, naturewalksunset predicted it would blow up after crossing and he nailed that call. Let's see if it happens again.
What is a Termination Event and What Does it Mean?
You may be wondering what a termination event is. A termination event is when the previous cycle ends absolutely with no outliers. During the solar cycle, the suns magnetic poles reverse and when this happens, the polarity of sunspots reverses with it. A termination event is when there are no longer any sunspots adhering to the previous polarity. Even after polarity reverses, there are still occaisionally sunspots which match the previous cycle polarity. This overlap has long been known, but Mr McIntosh realized that this was more than an overlap, that it was an interaction. A termination event is when there are no more opposite groups forming from the old cycle and the longer the time between termination events, the weaker the next cycle. SC23 did not want to end, and as a result there was a long stretch between the termination event of SC22 and SC23 which he theorized partially influenced SC24 to be a weaker than average cycle. The problem is it takes 11 years to test the theory, so what better time than the next solar cycle to go against the grain and put out a completely opposite forecast to NOAA? Well he won that bet because despite the NOAA prediction of a quiet cycle, it has been exactly what Mr McIntosh predicted. He did not predict a super overactive cycle like SC23, but he did predict an above average cycle, and appears to be vindicated in that theory, but surely SC26 will have a say.
Well folks, I have to run. This is really all I could get done today, I am still digging out of a hole from last week, but I am still watching and I still have so much to share with you. I am noting the small uptick in seismic activity today as well as a new Indonesian explosive volcanic eruptionand am watching for further developments. I my heart is absolutely breaking for Brazil who are experiencing a flooding event that is unprecedented. They are not alone, there is a rash of extremes affecting our planet right now. Here is an article in AXIOS sort of taking inventory of some of the more recent examples. You will note its attributed to climate change, as is increasing seismic activity. Next they will say that climate change is increasing volcanic activity as well and responsible for changing the length of day. I am not saying they are wrong, but I am skeptical. As I stated, I do believe that humans have adversely impacted the planet and the climate and what I am saying does not get off the hook at all, but I am quite convinced there is more at work here and we must investigate it.
May you have clear eyes and clear skies,
AcA
PS: I also have two cool photos from you. I took the first last night and what I like about it so much is you can see the suns rays in good detail adding a nice effect and the second was of the moon in the late hours of Saturday 5/11. It looked very strange is all I can say. Just an optical illusion but it looked sort of like a moon eclipse lol! The third is one of my favorite Aurora photos from Friday.
Sun Rays on a Sun Day
Weird Looking Moon
Spooky Sky Taken at 3 AM EST 5/11 - Note how it looks like daylight towards the north horizon.
submitted by ArmChairAnalyst86 to SolarMax [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 22:07 Betty-Adams Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Humans are Weird – Storm Watching
https://preview.redd.it/iz9fs2j8390d1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2d65cef0923a5976fbb19bc61a9fda3a5548b47

Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Original Post: http://www.authorbettyadams.com/bettys-blog/humans-are-weird-storm-watching
“Why did we even bother building a base on the land anyway?” Rollsaround asked as he absorbed the dim light filtering through the wide windows of the base.
The windows gave an impressive view of what the humans in their generosity called a “coastline”. Instead of gently undulating coral beds easing down into the water the glittering volcanic rock dropped abruptly from the graminoid covered highlands and dove down dozens of meters to where it usually met the heaving surface of the water below. Today however the water had seemingly decided to express its objections to the separation and was attempting to scale the cliffs in massive waves. The base vibrated from the force of a gust of wind and Rollsaround hunkered deeper into his mineral bath.
“Do you require another introduction of thermal-loaded water?” Tenth Cousin asked from where she perched on a Shatar couch, reading something that was supposed to be very masculine poetry from her homeworld.
“I do not,” Rollsaround reassured her. “I was just reacting negatively to the storm.”
She tilted her head to examine the weather conditions with a thoughtful set to her antenna.
“I think it is a pleasant change,” she said. “The harsh, unfiltered lights of the suns here means that we have no real night. The clouds at lest allow the illusions of dusk, and the wind overhead is not entirely unlike breezes in Father’s canopy if you can focus your attention on some pleasant task.”
“Well if we can’t go outside during clear weather without protection due to the radiation,” Rollsaround grumbled, “and we can’t go outside in stormy weather due to the, well, the storm, I say we should have just built a floating base that we could submerge during storm weather.”
“There is perhaps logic in that,” Tenth cousin agreed, and very deliberately tilted her head back to the poetry.
Rollsaround drooped his leading appendages over the edge of the bowl and absorbed the storm light in a slightly sulky mood. The airlock cycled open and Third Sister stepped in with the brisk stride that Rollsaround had noticed that high ranking sisters only used when they were looking for someone who had committed some infraction. Tenth Cousin brought the poem up closer to her face and started moving her mandibles as if she was completely focused on sounding out the words. Third Sister tilted her head the examine the cousin and then abruptly swiveled her body to focus on Rollsaround.
“First Ecologist,” she began, “do you know First Mechanic’s current location? The exterior vents in my lab require percussive maintenance.”
“He is off shift by now,” Rollsaround said. “You should check the washrooms and his quarters.”
However even as he offered this sound advice Rollsaround felt a ripple of unease. Human Friend Conner almost never went to his quarters after his shift. He was highly social, even by human standards and usually came to the main room to chat first thing.
“I have already checked both of those locations,” Third Sister stated. “He is not there and he is not answering his comm.”
Rollsaround mulled over that. Clearly Third Sister needed to find the human. An improperly vented laboratory in such a base as theirs was a serious health risk.
“Have you checked the storage areas?” he asked.
“I did a ping for his comm,” she replied, “but it is not reading as in the base at all so I could not locate the room he was in. I was surprised as I didn’t think we had any shielding strong enough to block the comm signal in the base-”
She cut off as Rollsaround suddenly surged up out of his mineral bath and crawled out of it.
“What is the matter First Ecologist?” Third Sister asked in confusion.
“He has gone out for a walk,” Rollsaround said, forgetting in his rush to add emotional undertones to his words.
“Out?” Third Sister demanded, her antenna going lax with confusion.
“Out to watch the storm from withing the wind currents,” Rollsaround explained.
“How do you gather that?” Third Sister demanded.
“He has described storm watching on his homeworld to me,” Rollsaround explained as he opened the hatch to the sub floor currents. “He also mentioned what he thought the perfect storm watching spot would be on these cliffs. That spot is behind enough rocks to block the signal. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go fetch him.”
“He has broken regulations!” Third Sister clicked, her frill flashing red with alarm.
“That on a secondary vine,” Tenth Cousin interjected as she came up to them. “The same regulations apply to you First Ecologist! The wind-”
“I am rated as fully wind resistant under these conditions,” Rollsaround said with a dismissive wave, “one of the perks of not being built like a windmill.”
“Your thermal mass-” Tenth Cousin tried again.
“I am fully warmed at the moment and I will turn back if my core temperature drops too low,” he interjected again. “Now if there are no further objections?”
Without waiting for their objections he dropped down into the sub-floor current and tapped the control panel to direct the current to the main outlet. He bundled his appendages and let himself be swept into the cold, but fresh exterior water. He bumped up against the smooth rise of the outlet and edged up out of the water. The wind was powerful. He could feel it tug at him if he raised a gripping appendage high, but at least over the main path there were eddies along the ground that were so comparatively we that he couldn’t even feel them. He began shuffling at top speed along the path. A the crest of the first high spot the winds did hit him, shoving his body sideways. However, as he had expected it required barely a fraction of his strength to grip the path firmly with his set appendages as he moved the free appendages forward. It barely even slowed him down, the roar of it was rather disconcerting when it wasn’t muted by the base walls however. He did wonder how the human had made it this far. After a long steady shuffle he rounded the corner that was blocking the signal and spotted a tall figure down at the cliff’s edge that wasn’t normally there.
Rollsaround activated the comm he was holding pressed against the ground. There was a significant delay before the human responded.
“Human Friend Conner,” Rollsaround said, trying to put firmness in his tones. “Come now and carry me back to the base. I am at the crest of the hill looking down at you.”
There was an odd sound from the comm that suggested the human was trying to say something back, but human speaking organs were not optimized for shielding the microphone of a comm while speaking so the human simply gave two short radio bursts and the tall figure on the cliff’s edge began swaying back and forth as it moved towards the path. Rollsaround anchored himself more fully against the blasts and watched in grim interest as the gusts blew the tall human form to one side and then the other as the human struggled up the path.
When Human Friend Conner finally did reach him the human didn’t bother speaking. He just reached down with a grin and tried to lift the Undulate off of the path. For one long moment Rollsaround hung on to the ground in a show of strength. He wasn’t sure if it would impress the human but a little dominance display did seem called for. He let go when the look of perplexity fully formed on the humans face but before he could give a more powerful tug and they headed back to the base.
Being carried over a meter above the ground in this wind was another experience altogether. The swaying of the human in the wind felt far wilder than it had looked, and Rollsaround found himself clutching tightly to the human’s coat as the wind tried to rip him away. They finally made the base airlock and stepped through to the blessedly still air. Rollsaround dropped to the floor and shook the cold water off of himself.
“I think Third Sister would like a word with you,” he said.
Granted she would probably want a word with him too, but Human Friend Conner didn’t need to know that.
https://i.redd.it/fm1fy76e390d1.gif

Science Fiction Books By Betty Adams

Amazon (Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook)

Barnes & Nobel (Nook, Paperback, Audiobook)

Powell's Books (Paperback)

Kobo by Rakuten (ebook and Audiobook)

Google Play Books (ebook and Audiobook)

Check out my books at any of these sites and leave a review! "Flying Sparks" - a novel set in the "Dying Embers" universe is now avaliable on all sites!
Please go leave a review on Amazon! It really helps and keeps me writing becase tea and taxes don't pay themselves sadly!
submitted by Betty-Adams to humansarespaceorcs [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 22:07 Betty-Adams Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Humans are Weird – Storm Watching
https://preview.redd.it/430dn0fa390d1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a749df9d2520424786bee70f0fbaab5006c5913

Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Original Post: http://www.authorbettyadams.com/bettys-blog/humans-are-weird-storm-watching
“Why did we even bother building a base on the land anyway?” Rollsaround asked as he absorbed the dim light filtering through the wide windows of the base.
The windows gave an impressive view of what the humans in their generosity called a “coastline”. Instead of gently undulating coral beds easing down into the water the glittering volcanic rock dropped abruptly from the graminoid covered highlands and dove down dozens of meters to where it usually met the heaving surface of the water below. Today however the water had seemingly decided to express its objections to the separation and was attempting to scale the cliffs in massive waves. The base vibrated from the force of a gust of wind and Rollsaround hunkered deeper into his mineral bath.
“Do you require another introduction of thermal-loaded water?” Tenth Cousin asked from where she perched on a Shatar couch, reading something that was supposed to be very masculine poetry from her homeworld.
“I do not,” Rollsaround reassured her. “I was just reacting negatively to the storm.”
She tilted her head to examine the weather conditions with a thoughtful set to her antenna.
“I think it is a pleasant change,” she said. “The harsh, unfiltered lights of the suns here means that we have no real night. The clouds at lest allow the illusions of dusk, and the wind overhead is not entirely unlike breezes in Father’s canopy if you can focus your attention on some pleasant task.”
“Well if we can’t go outside during clear weather without protection due to the radiation,” Rollsaround grumbled, “and we can’t go outside in stormy weather due to the, well, the storm, I say we should have just built a floating base that we could submerge during storm weather.”
“There is perhaps logic in that,” Tenth cousin agreed, and very deliberately tilted her head back to the poetry.
Rollsaround drooped his leading appendages over the edge of the bowl and absorbed the storm light in a slightly sulky mood. The airlock cycled open and Third Sister stepped in with the brisk stride that Rollsaround had noticed that high ranking sisters only used when they were looking for someone who had committed some infraction. Tenth Cousin brought the poem up closer to her face and started moving her mandibles as if she was completely focused on sounding out the words. Third Sister tilted her head the examine the cousin and then abruptly swiveled her body to focus on Rollsaround.
“First Ecologist,” she began, “do you know First Mechanic’s current location? The exterior vents in my lab require percussive maintenance.”
“He is off shift by now,” Rollsaround said. “You should check the washrooms and his quarters.”
However even as he offered this sound advice Rollsaround felt a ripple of unease. Human Friend Conner almost never went to his quarters after his shift. He was highly social, even by human standards and usually came to the main room to chat first thing.
“I have already checked both of those locations,” Third Sister stated. “He is not there and he is not answering his comm.”
Rollsaround mulled over that. Clearly Third Sister needed to find the human. An improperly vented laboratory in such a base as theirs was a serious health risk.
“Have you checked the storage areas?” he asked.
“I did a ping for his comm,” she replied, “but it is not reading as in the base at all so I could not locate the room he was in. I was surprised as I didn’t think we had any shielding strong enough to block the comm signal in the base-”
She cut off as Rollsaround suddenly surged up out of his mineral bath and crawled out of it.
“What is the matter First Ecologist?” Third Sister asked in confusion.
“He has gone out for a walk,” Rollsaround said, forgetting in his rush to add emotional undertones to his words.
“Out?” Third Sister demanded, her antenna going lax with confusion.
“Out to watch the storm from withing the wind currents,” Rollsaround explained.
“How do you gather that?” Third Sister demanded.
“He has described storm watching on his homeworld to me,” Rollsaround explained as he opened the hatch to the sub floor currents. “He also mentioned what he thought the perfect storm watching spot would be on these cliffs. That spot is behind enough rocks to block the signal. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go fetch him.”
“He has broken regulations!” Third Sister clicked, her frill flashing red with alarm.
“That on a secondary vine,” Tenth Cousin interjected as she came up to them. “The same regulations apply to you First Ecologist! The wind-”
“I am rated as fully wind resistant under these conditions,” Rollsaround said with a dismissive wave, “one of the perks of not being built like a windmill.”
“Your thermal mass-” Tenth Cousin tried again.
“I am fully warmed at the moment and I will turn back if my core temperature drops too low,” he interjected again. “Now if there are no further objections?”
Without waiting for their objections he dropped down into the sub-floor current and tapped the control panel to direct the current to the main outlet. He bundled his appendages and let himself be swept into the cold, but fresh exterior water. He bumped up against the smooth rise of the outlet and edged up out of the water. The wind was powerful. He could feel it tug at him if he raised a gripping appendage high, but at least over the main path there were eddies along the ground that were so comparatively we that he couldn’t even feel them. He began shuffling at top speed along the path. A the crest of the first high spot the winds did hit him, shoving his body sideways. However, as he had expected it required barely a fraction of his strength to grip the path firmly with his set appendages as he moved the free appendages forward. It barely even slowed him down, the roar of it was rather disconcerting when it wasn’t muted by the base walls however. He did wonder how the human had made it this far. After a long steady shuffle he rounded the corner that was blocking the signal and spotted a tall figure down at the cliff’s edge that wasn’t normally there.
Rollsaround activated the comm he was holding pressed against the ground. There was a significant delay before the human responded.
“Human Friend Conner,” Rollsaround said, trying to put firmness in his tones. “Come now and carry me back to the base. I am at the crest of the hill looking down at you.”
There was an odd sound from the comm that suggested the human was trying to say something back, but human speaking organs were not optimized for shielding the microphone of a comm while speaking so the human simply gave two short radio bursts and the tall figure on the cliff’s edge began swaying back and forth as it moved towards the path. Rollsaround anchored himself more fully against the blasts and watched in grim interest as the gusts blew the tall human form to one side and then the other as the human struggled up the path.
When Human Friend Conner finally did reach him the human didn’t bother speaking. He just reached down with a grin and tried to lift the Undulate off of the path. For one long moment Rollsaround hung on to the ground in a show of strength. He wasn’t sure if it would impress the human but a little dominance display did seem called for. He let go when the look of perplexity fully formed on the humans face but before he could give a more powerful tug and they headed back to the base.
Being carried over a meter above the ground in this wind was another experience altogether. The swaying of the human in the wind felt far wilder than it had looked, and Rollsaround found himself clutching tightly to the human’s coat as the wind tried to rip him away. They finally made the base airlock and stepped through to the blessedly still air. Rollsaround dropped to the floor and shook the cold water off of himself.
“I think Third Sister would like a word with you,” he said.
Granted she would probably want a word with him too, but Human Friend Conner didn’t need to know that.
https://i.redd.it/a6z7gwsc390d1.gif

Science Fiction Books By Betty Adams

Amazon (Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook)

Barnes & Nobel (Nook, Paperback, Audiobook)

Powell's Books (Paperback)

Kobo by Rakuten (ebook and Audiobook)

Google Play Books (ebook and Audiobook)

Check out my books at any of these sites and leave a review! "Flying Sparks" - a novel set in the "Dying Embers" universe is now avaliable on all sites!
Please go leave a review on Amazon! It really helps and keeps me writing becase tea and taxes don't pay themselves sadly!
submitted by Betty-Adams to u/Betty-Adams [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 22:06 Betty-Adams Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Humans are Weird – Storm Watching

Original Post: http://www.authorbettyadams.com/bettys-blog/humans-are-weird-storm-watching
“Why did we even bother building a base on the land anyway?” Rollsaround asked as he absorbed the dim light filtering through the wide windows of the base.
The windows gave an impressive view of what the humans in their generosity called a “coastline”. Instead of gently undulating coral beds easing down into the water the glittering volcanic rock dropped abruptly from the graminoid covered highlands and dove down dozens of meters to where it usually met the heaving surface of the water below. Today however the water had seemingly decided to express its objections to the separation and was attempting to scale the cliffs in massive waves. The base vibrated from the force of a gust of wind and Rollsaround hunkered deeper into his mineral bath.
“Do you require another introduction of thermal-loaded water?” Tenth Cousin asked from where she perched on a Shatar couch, reading something that was supposed to be very masculine poetry from her homeworld.
“I do not,” Rollsaround reassured her. “I was just reacting negatively to the storm.”
She tilted her head to examine the weather conditions with a thoughtful set to her antenna.
“I think it is a pleasant change,” she said. “The harsh, unfiltered lights of the suns here means that we have no real night. The clouds at lest allow the illusions of dusk, and the wind overhead is not entirely unlike breezes in Father’s canopy if you can focus your attention on some pleasant task.”
“Well if we can’t go outside during clear weather without protection due to the radiation,” Rollsaround grumbled, “and we can’t go outside in stormy weather due to the, well, the storm, I say we should have just built a floating base that we could submerge during storm weather.”
“There is perhaps logic in that,” Tenth cousin agreed, and very deliberately tilted her head back to the poetry.
Rollsaround drooped his leading appendages over the edge of the bowl and absorbed the storm light in a slightly sulky mood. The airlock cycled open and Third Sister stepped in with the brisk stride that Rollsaround had noticed that high ranking sisters only used when they were looking for someone who had committed some infraction. Tenth Cousin brought the poem up closer to her face and started moving her mandibles as if she was completely focused on sounding out the words. Third Sister tilted her head the examine the cousin and then abruptly swiveled her body to focus on Rollsaround.
“First Ecologist,” she began, “do you know First Mechanic’s current location? The exterior vents in my lab require percussive maintenance.”
“He is off shift by now,” Rollsaround said. “You should check the washrooms and his quarters.”
However even as he offered this sound advice Rollsaround felt a ripple of unease. Human Friend Conner almost never went to his quarters after his shift. He was highly social, even by human standards and usually came to the main room to chat first thing.
“I have already checked both of those locations,” Third Sister stated. “He is not there and he is not answering his comm.”
Rollsaround mulled over that. Clearly Third Sister needed to find the human. An improperly vented laboratory in such a base as theirs was a serious health risk.
“Have you checked the storage areas?” he asked.
“I did a ping for his comm,” she replied, “but it is not reading as in the base at all so I could not locate the room he was in. I was surprised as I didn’t think we had any shielding strong enough to block the comm signal in the base-”
She cut off as Rollsaround suddenly surged up out of his mineral bath and crawled out of it.
“What is the matter First Ecologist?” Third Sister asked in confusion.
“He has gone out for a walk,” Rollsaround said, forgetting in his rush to add emotional undertones to his words.
“Out?” Third Sister demanded, her antenna going lax with confusion.
“Out to watch the storm from withing the wind currents,” Rollsaround explained.
“How do you gather that?” Third Sister demanded.
“He has described storm watching on his homeworld to me,” Rollsaround explained as he opened the hatch to the sub floor currents. “He also mentioned what he thought the perfect storm watching spot would be on these cliffs. That spot is behind enough rocks to block the signal. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go fetch him.”
“He has broken regulations!” Third Sister clicked, her frill flashing red with alarm.
“That on a secondary vine,” Tenth Cousin interjected as she came up to them. “The same regulations apply to you First Ecologist! The wind-”
“I am rated as fully wind resistant under these conditions,” Rollsaround said with a dismissive wave, “one of the perks of not being built like a windmill.”
“Your thermal mass-” Tenth Cousin tried again.
“I am fully warmed at the moment and I will turn back if my core temperature drops too low,” he interjected again. “Now if there are no further objections?”
Without waiting for their objections he dropped down into the sub-floor current and tapped the control panel to direct the current to the main outlet. He bundled his appendages and let himself be swept into the cold, but fresh exterior water. He bumped up against the smooth rise of the outlet and edged up out of the water. The wind was powerful. He could feel it tug at him if he raised a gripping appendage high, but at least over the main path there were eddies along the ground that were so comparatively we that he couldn’t even feel them. He began shuffling at top speed along the path. A the crest of the first high spot the winds did hit him, shoving his body sideways. However, as he had expected it required barely a fraction of his strength to grip the path firmly with his set appendages as he moved the free appendages forward. It barely even slowed him down, the roar of it was rather disconcerting when it wasn’t muted by the base walls however. He did wonder how the human had made it this far. After a long steady shuffle he rounded the corner that was blocking the signal and spotted a tall figure down at the cliff’s edge that wasn’t normally there.
Rollsaround activated the comm he was holding pressed against the ground. There was a significant delay before the human responded.
“Human Friend Conner,” Rollsaround said, trying to put firmness in his tones. “Come now and carry me back to the base. I am at the crest of the hill looking down at you.”
There was an odd sound from the comm that suggested the human was trying to say something back, but human speaking organs were not optimized for shielding the microphone of a comm while speaking so the human simply gave two short radio bursts and the tall figure on the cliff’s edge began swaying back and forth as it moved towards the path. Rollsaround anchored himself more fully against the blasts and watched in grim interest as the gusts blew the tall human form to one side and then the other as the human struggled up the path.
When Human Friend Conner finally did reach him the human didn’t bother speaking. He just reached down with a grin and tried to lift the Undulate off of the path. For one long moment Rollsaround hung on to the ground in a show of strength. He wasn’t sure if it would impress the human but a little dominance display did seem called for. He let go when the look of perplexity fully formed on the humans face but before he could give a more powerful tug and they headed back to the base.
Being carried over a meter above the ground in this wind was another experience altogether. The swaying of the human in the wind felt far wilder than it had looked, and Rollsaround found himself clutching tightly to the human’s coat as the wind tried to rip him away. They finally made the base airlock and stepped through to the blessedly still air. Rollsaround dropped to the floor and shook the cold water off of himself.
“I think Third Sister would like a word with you,” he said.
Granted she would probably want a word with him too, but Human Friend Conner didn’t need to know that.

Science Fiction Books By Betty Adams

Amazon (Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook)

Barnes & Nobel (Nook, Paperback, Audiobook)

Powell's Books (Paperback)

Kobo by Rakuten (ebook and Audiobook)

Google Play Books (ebook and Audiobook)

Check out my books at any of these sites and leave a review! "Flying Sparks" - a novel set in the "Dying Embers" universe is now avaliable on all sites!
Please go leave a review on Amazon! It really helps and keeps me writing becase tea and taxes don't pay themselves sadly!
submitted by Betty-Adams to stories [link] [comments]

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