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Self Published Fantasy Releases – June 2023
2023.06.07 11:22 RobJHayes Self Published Fantasy Releases – June 2023
 | submitted by RobJHayes to Fantasy [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/y71r0t8gdk4b1.jpg?width=2069&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28b6c1617e39d6e9d534b7ae5a49457ee7814c23 You can find the original blog post, complete with all the shiny covers, here. If you would like to be kept up to date with the upcoming lists, please subscribe to my newsletter by clicking this link. I don’t send out letters too often, pretty much once a month when this list goes out… and occasionally if I release a book or something. As always, this is not a comprehensive list, but only includes all the books I have heard about so far. If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in June or beyond, let me know by filling out THIS FORM, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements: 1) It must be a self published fantasy novel. 2) It must have a Goodreads page. 3) It must have a cover. -- 1st June – The Pyres of Vengeance (Swords of Dominion #2) by N.C. KoussisEpic Fantasy, GrimdarkAfter losing everything she knew, Selene struggles to keep hope alive. Terrifying threats from the capital test her in ways she never thought possible. Richter can’t destroy himself or the corruption that lives in his body. He won’t let anything stop him from his mission, though – to kill every other werewolf on the Continent. The Order of the Golden Sword cares not for the laws of men. They’ll do anything to wipe the lycanthrope haven of Palerme from existence. But no one has ever faced an army of werewolves before. Goodreads -- 1st June – Tristan’s Regret (The Return of King Arthur #3) by Jacob SannoxUrban Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Historical FantasyIn the 5th century, Tristan and Isolde are at the mercy of the scheming Morgana Le Fay, who seeks to undermine King Arthur’s alliance with Cornwall. The consequences of their actions echo down the centuries and, in 2021, Arthur, Tristan and the Knights of the Round Table desperately hunt the last remaining followers of Malagant, an immortal ally of the dead sorceress. Will Arthur finally live up to his own legend, and can anything put an end to Tristan’s regret? Goodreads -- 1st June – The Exile of Zanzibar (Railroad to Zanzibar #1) by Daniel MaidmanEpic Fantasy, Historical FantasyClaire built a device to fold space and time. It had a flaw… When the smoke clears, she finds herself halfway across the world, thousands of years in the past, and no device in sight. In bronze-age Florence, war has lasted for generations. All Claire wants to do is get home, but she’ll need help from the locals. She wins an ally in Marcus Diophantus, a pickpocket turned soldier turned general, who hopes to turn into something more than just her champion. Together, they broker peace between Florence and its enemy. If Marcus is going to help Claire, he’ll have to survive. Peace has upset the balance of power in the capital city. The king stands increasingly alone against: the Constantines, a commercial enterprise as much as a clan, who aim to profit from peace as they have from war – the warrior nobles, descended from the founders of Florence and quick to turn against a weak throne – and Reburrus, the high priest of Florence, convinced Claire answers to hostile foreign gods. As the city comes to a boil, Claire and Marcus – and Marcus’s formidable army – will have to decide where their allegiance lies. Claire becomes a reluctant participant in a savage campaign. While Marcus leads the battles, she tries to gain control of the unimaginably powerful Ctesiphôn – a ghost tower in the heart of Florence, shrouded in magic and myth. Goodreads -- 1st June – Captain (All that Glitters #2) by Shalaena MedfordGrimdark, GaslampMere weeks have passed since Tsingsei “Song” Gould’s world fell into ashes. Now she must accept her role as captain of the Stars’ Bounty. The crew returns to the skies to do what they do best: piracy. They travel the world, visiting new countries and finding an adventure wherever they go. In the frigid south, Song finds there are answers to her questions about kijæm…with a caveat. In the trading country, she gains confidence in her notoriety. In the exotic west, she makes a terrible mistake. However, one of Song’s dearest friends has become a wanted man, and they must find a way to free him of the price on his head. Will she commit the highest crime in the world, or will she lose him to the gallows? Goodreads -- 1st June – Buzzard’s Bowl (Tragedy of Cedain #2) by John PalladinoEpic Fantasy, GrimdarkCedain continues to collapse. Ashmount’s destruction shatters the Magicai while the culprits responsible continue sabotaging the world. All the while, the next season of Buzzard’s Bowl begins and Edelbrock, in his constant fight for survival, desires a vengeance he can only find in the arena. Seradal and Villic find themselves in the middle of a war between Remeria and the Camel Clans, and may end up on opposing sides, while the threat of Calrym looms over all of them. At the behest of the woman he loves, Demri finds himself thrown into the Elkavich, a not-so-secret order of Magicai who are intent upon fixing the world. Ashen, a former urchin rescued by a noble with selfish aspirations, works to dismantle the nobility of Calrym. Death is assured to all who walk the world, the only unknown is when they will perish. Goodreads -- 1st June – On Winds of Ruin (The Deimachy #2) by Lincoln LawA friendship betrayed. An unfamiliar land. The winds of ruin blow.Roisin is still reeling from events at the end of A Crown of Blood. She feels lost, broken and alone in the world. Torn with what to do next, Roisin chooses to make the fateful trip across the Skybinder border into enemy territory in the hopes of gaining new allies for the fight against the Soulmongers. At her side is her fox companion, Vulpo; the last of the Bloodsingers, Mei; and a Skybinder of questionable allegiance named Giack. However, Roisin’s actions draw the attention of the Skybinder nobility, entrapping her into political machinations with deadly outcomes. Piritta, newly reborn Soulmonger, is tasked with the search for the final member of the Soulmonger Triumvirate to lead the army to victory. And Kaori, leader of the Soulmongers, is given her own task, granting her more power than she could have ever imagined. The choices these young women must make will tear them apart, fracture them all, leaving cracks for something darker to seep in. And in the end, only the one with the strongest resolve will endure. Goodreads -- 1st June – The Nameless Restaurant by Tao WongUrban Fantasy, Cozy FantasyThere is a restaurant in Toronto. Its entrance is announced only by a simple, unadorned wooden door, varnished to a beautiful shine but without paint, hidden beside dumpsters and a fire escape. There is no sign, no indication of what lies behind the door. If you do manage to find the restaurant, the décor is dated and worn. Homey, if one were to be generous. The service is atrocious, the proprietor a grouch. The regulars are silent, brooding, and unfriendly to newcomers. There is no set menu, alternating with the whim and whimsy of the owner. The selection of wine and beer is sparse or non-existent at times, and the prices for everything outrageous. There is a restaurant in Toronto that is magically hidden, whose service is horrible, but whose food is divine. This is the story of the Nameless Restaurant. Goodreads -- 4th June – Gold, Lock and Key (Grimdark Fairytales #1) by E.J. DobleGrimdark“All it needs, is a bit of tenacity… and three little bears.” Goldie, an outlaw and contract hunter of the Baron’s State, accepts a new assignment from her employer to find an old cabin in the woods, home to three ‘shapeshifters’ who can morph into bears. Considered to be little more than a myth, Goldie assumes at first that the shapeshifters are an exaggeration – but with the sizeable bounty her employer is offering, she soon realises there may be more truth in it than she realised. And that isn’t the only thing on her mind: she discovers her main rival – a manipulative and incredibly cunning trapper named Southey – has also taken on the contract, and will be contending for the same bounty she so fervently desires. Having waited many long years to have her revenge and outsmart Southey for past mistakes, Goldie sees the new contract as a perfect opportunity to do so. All she has to do is play her cards just right. And kill three bears… Goodreads -- 4th June – Waybound (Cradle #12) by Will WightProgression/Cultivation, Epic FantasyYears ago, Lindon left his home as a powerless Unsouled. Now, he goes to war with the most powerful beings in the world over the future of Cradle itself. The Weeping Dragon has a grudge to settle, and Lindon intends to take out the Dreadgod with his friends by his side. But rival Monarchs know his plans, and they won’t let things end so easily. If Lindon does win, he will ascend to the heavens. But he may not find a safe haven there either. In the worlds above, Suriel and Ozriel face off against the Mad King to determine the new shape of the cosmos. The victor will decide the fate of countless universes. Whether he wins or dies, Lindon will soon leave this life behind. Goodreads -- 6th June – Champions of Light (The Light Series #1) by Althea DamgaardEpic FantasyRhoanda runs away when her father betrays her trust by arranging her marriage without telling her. She had freedom to be herself, unlike her sisters, but in the end, she should have expected this. Winter still hangs on in the mountains, unlike the beach she left, and it could be another month until the pass to the west opens. Her funds run out and the city guard catches her stealing. Instead of a cell, they take her to the Cathedral of Light, which rivals a fortress. There she learns the truth about the Light while trying to hide who she really is. Her parents, who embrace the Dark, have the power to take over the mountain kingdom and could use her as the excuse to do so. Sergeant Vern can’t shake his desire to drink nor his anger at the Lord of Light for the disease that crippled and killed his sister at a young age. The cathedral lets him work with the class of deviants under his alias, but time is running out. The worse spring thaw of the century arrives and despite the great Cathedral of Light, the Dark has found a deep root in the kingdom. Worse, prophecies of the spiritual war manifesting in the physical come true as a mural changes before their eyes and its images step into their lives. Vern needs to accept the truth that sets him free of the curse cast upon his family so he can step into his true role. A truth that his sister professed about the Light through all her pain unto her last breath when angels took her home. Will their faith in the Light be enough to overcome their trials and save a kingdom? Goodreads -- 6th June – imPerfect Curse (The imPerfect Cathar #2) by C.N. RowanUrban FantasyI’m exhausted. Done in. Needing a stiff drink and about a week’s sleep. But that’s not going to happen. Because Franc is dying, struck by a curse placed on him by the Sistren Of Bordeaux, one of the most powerful groups of Talented in France. And because of our deal, it’s on me to find out what the hell is going on, and how Franc has offended the Sistren. Apart from by simply existing, of course. Except a simple trip to Bordeaux turns into a living nightmare as the past comes back to not just haunt me but to kick me square in the nuts, and I’m sent to the one place no Talented ever wants to go. Where those with magic either vanish or get ruined, left as nothing but empty husks. This time, it might not be the world at risk. It might be my very soul. Goodreads -- 6th June – Lira by Armanis Ar-FeinialGrimdark, HorrorLira is an innocent little girl, struggling to survive in a cruel, heartless world. As her father dies, she is left to fend for herself. Each day is a desperate and exhausting search for food, scouring through the Abyss, the only home she knows. Acute awareness does not always protect her from the very real risk of cannibalization or worse– being abducted. This is a horrifying reality that no child should have to face in a brutally poetic tale Goodreads -- 6th June – Girl Squad Volition (Volta Academy Chronicles #2) by Maya Lin WangProgression/Cultivation, YAMagical girls, mystery, and martial arts! After transforming for the first time, Wren starts class at Aurin Academy, a floating school where students from across the dimensions train to defend the sovereign planets of the Kiloverse from the Cosmic horrors beyond. From learning to fly, to discovering her magical aptitude, to dealing with a trident-wielding water Volta who inexplicably wants her dead, to navigating the fraught politics of her first mission with the squad, Wren has her work cut out for her! Goodreads -- 13th June – Fat Witch Summer – Lizzy IvesYA, Cozy FantasyDumplin’ meets The Craft in this body-positive fantasy novel for fans of summer road trips, female friendship, and magic. Sixteen-year-old Thrash doesn’t enchant eyeliner over her lids or clear her acne with magic. She is plus-size, but she doesn’t hate what she sees in the mirror—that’s the realm of her mother, Osmarra, a slim and elegant Glamour witch. When Thrash unexpectedly breaks a mirror with her mind, she discovers she has a knack for magic and will receive one of the three sanctioned Gifts: Glamour, Growth, or Sight. The only problem is that mothers choose the Gifts, and Osmarra is convinced that the Gift of Glamour will fix her daughter’s looks. When Thrash fails to persuade Osmarra to accept her as she is, a trio of cool witches who call themselves The Lunes offer her an out. Their leader, fiery and charismatic Cresca, recruits Thrash for a road trip to New Salem University, where the girls plan to steal their own Gifts. As Thrash crosses the magical Thirteen States of America, Osmarra hot on her heels, she discovers bewitched diners, haunted tourist traps, and a secret about the Gifts that will change the Thirteen States forever. Goodreads -- 16th June – When the Stars Alight (The Essence of the Equinox #1) by Camilla AndrewGaslampA maiden of the stars. A monster from the shadows. A collision that rewrites their worlds. Princess Laila Rose is a fallen star in human form. A beloved guardian to humanity. Yet in spite of these fantastical origins, she has never much believed in prophecies. That’s why when a demon of apocalyptic legend is presented to her in a block of ice, she feels fascination rather than fright. Curiosity kindles into mutual desire once he breaks free of his captivity. Far from the rampaging beast of mass destruction everyone expects—he is monstrously handsome, deviously articulate and alluringly mysterious, a prince among his kind. Eager to discover his origins, Laila travels from her idyllic seaside realm into a land of unspeakable horrors, relying on her wits to survive her journey. She arrives aiming to establish peaceful contact with the aid of the besotted prince. However, it becomes clear that the heartless demon king does not desire peace at all, only war and conquest. When diplomacy fails, Laila turns to the king’s suave and manipulative bastard son in the hopes that she can inspire both him and his trueborn brother to go against their father. But soon it is her heart she must keep from being torn between their centuries-old dangerous rivalry. Goodreads -- 16th June – The Orb and the Airship (Turrim Archive #1) by Jenelle Leanne SchmidtSteampunk, Cozy FantasyA rogue airship captain. An ambitious youth. A clash of powers beyond their imagination. With scholarships to a prestigious military school, Grayden and Wynn are thirsty for adventure. But the night before they leave, they discover the mysterious Dalmir and his arcane orb in the forsaken tower outside of town. The old man, who seems to have a wealth of knowledge of what came before and yet so little of the now, insists on accompanying them as they travel to the academy. Meanwhile, all pirate Captain Marik wants is to keep to the skies, take his due, and care for his crew. Then a straightforward pillaging mission on a ship of fresh academy students leads to betrayal from one of his own and an unlikely friendship forged by necessity. Yet this new alliance stirs up ancient foes and a conflict too terrible to ignore. Despite Grayden’s inexperience and Marik’s skepticism, working together with Dalmir is their only option. The fate of the world depends on it. Goodreads --17th June – Molten Flux (Flux Catastrophe #1) by Jonathan WeissEpic Fantasy, Sci-FantasyAs the freshest conscript aboard the walking fortress of Revance, Ryza forges a name for himself in battle. The enemy are the smelters, bandits that trade in reanimated corpses. But for Ryza, the bloodshed represents a path of redemption for an upbringing he’s just escaped. His prowess with a rifle draws the interest of the Locusts, a clandestine faction within Revance’s ranks. It turns out that not all aboard the fortress seek to stamp out the plague of molten flux, the mysterious liquid metal that fills the bodies of the dead and makes them walk again. Some seek to profit. The reanimated corpses —known as autominds— are used to control enormous contraptions of magnetically enchanted metal, forming the backbone of The Droughtland’s factories. The only thing stopping the smelters from expanding their illicit industry is Revance. The Locusts make Ryza an offer. Either help overthrow Revance to do the smelter’s bidding or reveal his father’s legacy as the very thing Ryza now fights against. The former is unthinkable. The latter means death. Ryza resolves to infiltrate them and expose the mutiny, plunging him back into the murky underworld of the smelters, testing his convictions, and even leading him to the ancient origins of molten flux itself. Goodreads- -- 18th June – Enchanted Flames ANTHOLOGY (Enchanted Anthologies #3) by Various AuthorsYAIf you play with fire, you might get burned… Dig into this magical collection of short stories and discover among the embers ten fiery fantasy tales to set your heart ablaze. Sneak past the ancient dragon as you steal from his hoard of gold and escape with the crown jewels. Journey deep into the Salamander Kingdom and follow the wyverns as they help the woodwitch to find the cure. Walk over earth scorched by a post-apocalyptic sun on a quest for survival, and find out why the firebird only eats golden apples. Watch the phoenix rise from the ashes and root for the golden dragon to woo his demigoddess in the Magic Kingdom. Goodreads --20th June – Guild of Magic (NYC Questing Guild) by Jon AuerbachUrban FantasyJoining the Guild was only the beginning. Now Jen’s next quest could spell life or death. Jen Jacobs thought she was in over her head when she first discovered the secret Quest Board and the world of alchemy and magic hiding just out of sight in New York City. But after a ghost from her mentor Beatrice Taylor’s past nearly kills the two of them, Jen finds herself on the cusp of joining the fabled Guild. Except now Beatrice has gone missing, leaving Jen alone to face the shadowy organization and its 11 members by herself. If that wasn’t enough, the Guild’s chairman forces Jen to complete yet another dangerous quest to prove that she belongs: stealing a long-lost vial of Dragon’s blood that is the key ingredient to recreating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. As Jen’s past mistakes begin to catch up with her, she’ll need to muster all of her ingenuity to survive in the cutthroat world of ancient Relics, magical dynasties, and a possible immortal secretly directing things from behind the scenes. Goodreads -- 21st June – Hierachy of the Unseen by B. Pigeon & Fell A. MarshEpic FantasyDemons and humans are locked in endless struggle. This is an intrinsic fact of nature. The demons believe their salvation lies in bleeding humanity of the life-force called light, while the humans are equally determined to defend it. Within the sprawling empire of Lu-nevet, the two sides have settled into an uneasy peace, employing less violent tactics. But this peace can only hold for so long. The state religion of Lukeira sends devout demon hunter Mitzli deep into the borderlands to bless the victims of demonic pranks. Once they arrive, however, they find unexpected signs of violence. They team up with irreligious hunter Veleiry to investigate—and the destruction the two uncover is an ominous sign of what’s to come. Meanwhile, shiftless demon Kor falls under the scrutiny of his vampiric commander, Mant—meaning he must actually do the work of tormenting humans, rather than taking credit from his now-ex-partner Yez. Slowly, he begins to realize that the demons’ strategy is shifting, and may be heading down a path he cannot follow. Mitzli and Kor will have to betray their respective factions if they want to put an end to the violence before it escalates. But the two of them, both outcasts among their own kind, are the only ones who know the truth. How can they protect the world if no one will listen? Goodreads -- 27th June – Temper the Dark by L. Ryan StormsEpic Fantasy, YAServant girl Alaris Kahlanik finds out about her family’s gift the hard way when she discovers her ability to dreamwalk after being condemned to the Cells. With thoughts of escape, she uses her newfound ability to spy on the emperor and his secret search for something important. Nothing the emperor wants could possibly be good for the people he rules, and so whatever the emperor is looking for, Alaris must find first. Throlani Guardsman Kagan Liis has served the Empire since Emperor Patuk’s reign began eight years ago. He can also communicate with a vicious oracle referred to only as the Darkness. When the Darkness tasks Kagan with investigating the Servant girl in the Cells, Kagan takes on a special mission that will require more than his usual interrogation methods of brute strength and intimidation. From vastly different echelons of the same tribal society, Alaris and Kagan are surprised to learn they share one important goal—ensuring the best for the people of their island nation. Alaris discovers what the emperor is looking for — a dragon! But warning a senile dragon against impending danger is no easy task. Together, Alaris and Kagan must save a forgetful dragon and a divided nation…which may mean giving up any hope of saving themselves. Goodreads -- 30th June – Quin of Light (The Quins of Sarcaren #1) by Mark ParkerEpic Fantasy, YAThe quins of Sarcaren have awoken. . . Auri. Gifted with power over lightning that fascinates and frightens her in equal measure, power she must bring to the fore when horror strikes her people. Torren and Aaran. Twins with growing mastery over the physical and the mental. A potent mix of brains and brawn, both vying for the approval of the kingdom’s greatest warrior. Koshi. Beset with sickness caused by the fire that threatens to burn her from the inside. And Caetan. The youngest prince of Sarcaren who bends water to his desire but whose will and words are shackled by a devastating sorceress. Alone, they pose little threat. Separated at birth – mere pawns to be used by the city of Sarcaren as an unknown enemy rumbles in the north. Alone, they are mere children caught in a dangerous and confusing world of betrayal and fear. Together, they are bound by a curse that will one day kill them all. Together, they will devastate kingdoms. Goodreads -- Space for more... |
2023.06.07 03:35 mythic_banjo Tales from the Dark Waves - First Episode Release Date & What's Next?
 | Hello again, folks. I hope you're all doing well. submitted by mythic_banjo to audiodrama [link] [comments] It has been an exciting couple of months for Nocturn Productions! 2022's The Lost Son was selected for an award with the National Audio Theatre Festivals, and I have been invited to take part in a Zoom panel discussion on "Producing Horror Audio Fiction" at the upcoming Hear Now Festival in Kansas City. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of our listeners, for which we are forever grateful! Even more exiting news: we can finally reveal that "Eliza Dawn," the first episode of our gothic horror anthology series, Tales from the Dark Waves, will be releasing exclusively via YouTube on Tuesday, June 20, 2023! Check out the key art and synopsis below: https://preview.redd.it/tug4k1jtrj4b1.png?width=1563&format=png&auto=webp&s=766c62677f6cc2208e1225aeeb1ede4dbe295c72 As a storm rages on, Captain Buttermere (Ryan Mercier) remains locked away in his cabin, haunted by a dark secret from his past. With mutiny brewing among the crew, his trusted first mate, Mr. Mason (Andrew Murano), confronts him for answers. Reluctantly, Captain Buttermere reveals the chilling tale of his first command, the Eliza Dawn, and the unspeakable "thing" that still haunts him from the depths of the Sargasso Sea. Join Captain Buttermere and his crew as they face the mysteries of the sea and the ghosts of his past in this thrilling first episode of Tales From the Dark Waves! "Eliza Dawn" features the vocal talents of Ryan Mercier as Buttermere, Andrew Murano as Mason, and Alvin Daramola-Rose as Friday. The episode is narrated by Bonnie Bogovich. "Eliza Dawn" is written and directed by Cole Burgett. But wait, there's more! We are also excited to announce the second episode of Tales from the Dark Waves, "The Baron!" https://preview.redd.it/n20s07kurj4b1.png?width=1563&format=png&auto=webp&s=66c0db6a47b433d4e190ceaa8a558144f139dcad In antebellum Louisiana, a mysterious bokor is summoned to the plantation home of the recently widowed Marie Durocher. Desperate to be reunited with her husband, Marie has turned to the superstitions of the local adherents of Haitian Vodou in hopes of resurrecting him. Discover the haunting tale of a grieving widow and the fearsome power of black magic in this gothic chiller set in the Deep South. "The Baron" features the vocal talents of Joshua Jones as the bokor, and Kelsey Abberger as Marie Durocher. The episode is narrated by Adler Hyatt. "The Baron" is written and directed by Cole Burgett. The release date for "The Baron" remains pending. For more information on Tales from the Dark Waves, check out our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you feel inclined to support the series, check out our Patreon. Thanks to everyone for the ongoing support of our little audio projects! Best, Cole Burgett |
2023.06.07 02:56 Kiyomi_Raven_Misoto Icarus Sun Fall Chapter 7- War and Love
February 8, 2146, Project Chameleon HQ, Brussels, PRE
It has been a few weeks since Project Autumn has returned back to her normal life. Her days were pretty routine. She would wake up and eat breakfast. Then head to briefs and classes. Then, she would eat lunch before heading off to drills and training that left her sore and extremely fatigued. Autumn would eat dinner, shower, talk to Juliette for a few hours before falling asleep to do it all over again. The days soon became three weeks since she saw Juliette in person. Autumn’s next mission to Rio was quickly approaching. Autumn was excited about it, but what she really wanted to do was spend time with the girl that she really liked. Her training was done, and she was packing her bags for her mission. Autumn was told that she would be a part of the next gauntlet that would take place after she gets back from Rio. She was very excited about it and couldn’t wait to tell Juliette. Autumn looked at the time and saw that it was still five hours before she would normally call Juliette. She was bored, lonely, and really wanted to talk to her. Autumn wrestled with this as she packed her bags.
Agents of Chaos HQ, New York City Containment Zone, PRE
Icari raced through one of the remaining buildings of what was once an overpopulated city. Most of what was once known as New York City was destroyed during the Great War. The city was deserted and hardly anyone lived there. It became the perfect location for the headquarters for the Agents of Chaos. Icari found this out through hacking the government’s mainframe. She decided to put an end to them once and for all. Icari also wanted to know what their connection was to the Prospers. She raced floor to floor eliminating their commanders and whoever she came across. Soon, she found the last remaining members as she stalked
them in the lower parts of the building with her curved blades ready to strike. Icari cornered them ready to end the threat of the Agents of Chaos. They knew that they were out of bullets and out of time. They huddled in fear from what they perceived to be their inevitable demise.
“Wait! Please, don’t kill us.” Agent 1 said with fear in their voice.
Icari was shocked and amused as she stopped and said, “Wait…what? Why shouldn’t I?”
“Be…because we are extremely sorry for all of the stuff that we have done.” Agent 1 replied.
Icari scoffed and started to move closer to them. She suddenly froze when she received a notice of an incoming call. Icari smiled when she saw that it was from Project Autumn.
Icari looked at the Agents and said, “Hey, can you all give me some time. I really need to answer this call.” Icari answered the call with a French accent. “Hello, Mademoiselle Autumn. Is everything alright?”
“Did. Did she just put us on hold?” Agent 1 asked.
“I know right and what’s up with the French accent?” Agent 2 replied.
Icari glared at the agents and put a finger to her lips to silence them. They quickly covered their mouths with their hands with fear in their eyes.
Autumn replied, “Hi, Juliette. It is so good to hear your voice. Yes, everything is fine. I am packing for my mission to Rio. I was bored and lonely. I started to think about you and how much I really miss you.”
Icari smiled as she sat down on a desk facing the agents and said. “Aww. That is sweet of you to say. I have been thinking about you too.”
Autumn said, “I hope that I am not bothering you or anything. Are you busy right now?”
Icari replied, “No, not at all. I was taking care of something easy, but it can wait.”
Autumn quickly replied, “Are you sure? We can talk later if you want.”
Icari smiled and said, “No, it’s okay. I am sure that we can talk now.”
Meanwhile, the remaining Agents of Chaos began to argue with one another about what they
should do. Icari could hear their bickering and became extremely annoyed with everything that they were saying. She stood up and glared at them.
Icari counted the remaining agents, sighed, and said, “Autumn, give me a moment, please. It should take me… about thirty seconds to finish this simple task.”
Autumn replied, “Umm…sure. Take your time. I will be here when you are done. Please don’t take too long.”
Icari smiled and said, “Thank you, Mademoiselle. I promise not to keep you waiting long.”
Icari lunged at the remaining agents as they backed away in horror. Fifteen seconds later, Icari had taken care of the last remaining Agent of Chaos. She picked up a cloth and cleaned her daggers. Icari put them away before she pulled out a black disc out of her pocket. She headed towards their command center.
Icari asked, “Autumn, are you still with me?”
Autumn quickly replied, “Yes, yes. I am still here.”
Icari smiled as she put the disc on the main computer’s case and pushed a button as lights began to light up clockwise. She smiled and said, “Thank you for waiting.”
Autumn smiled and replied, “You’re welcome. I would have waited longer.” Autumn teased as she continued. “But… I guess the issue wasn’t as difficult as you thought.”
Icari laughed and said as she left the command center, “Sorry, I suppose I overestimated how difficult the issue would be.”
Autumn laughed and said, “I guess that I wouldn’t know, but the reason that I called you earlier than normal is I have news that I couldn’t wait to tell you at our normal time.”
Icari picked up a bag as she headed down the stairs to the basement where the building’s support beams were located. Icari said, “News? I appreciate you calling me to give us more time to talk, but what is the news?”
Autumn replied as Icari put small boxes with tubes filled with a green and yellow substance on the support beams and flipped a switch, “Yes, I was told earlier today, that after I get back from the mission to Rio, I will take part in the next gauntlet to decide who I may get paired with. What do you think?”
Icari was shocked and froze when she heard the news. She became scared that it would become a lot more difficult for her to see Autumn. Many feelings and thoughts ran through her head.
Autumn became concerned and asked, “Juliette, are you still there?”
Icari shook her head and replied, “Sorry, to make you concerned, and I am happy for you. Are you excited about your mission to Rio?”
Icari threw the empty bag aside after she placed the last box. She started to head back up the steps to the command center.
Autumn was excited as she replied, “I am super excited to be going for a couple weeks. They said that I deserve it from all of the stuff that I have dealt with lately. It will be two weeks of nothing but swimming and relaxing in the summer air.” Autumn became nervous as she continued. “B-but I- I w-wish that you could be there. It would be my first Valentine’s Day spending it with someone that I really like.”
Icari saw that all of the lights were lit green as she retrieved the black disc. She smiled and said, “Well. Mademoiselle, I may be able to make your wish come true.”
Autumn was shocked as she said, “Really? Tell me you aren’t joking or teasing me. Are you being serious?”
Icari had walked down the stairs to a door that led to an alley. She smiled and replied, “I would not joke or tease you to turn around and break your heart. I cannot make any promises, but I will make sure that I will do my best to help your wish come true.”
Icari walked out the door and pushed a button on her wrist. Suddenly, a black and red motorcycle appeared in the shadows with a black and red helmet with cat ears on it.
Autumn was sad as she said, “I understand. I thought that it would be a great time spending the two weeks with you instead of alone by myself.”
Icari sat on the motorcycle and put on the helmet. The sun started to peek in the east sky. She started
up the motorcycle as she replied, “Do not be sad, Autumn. I promise you that you will have my answer by the time that you land in Rio. You might be surprised by what I can do in such a short period of time.”
Icari pushed a button on her motorcycle as she drove off and disappeared from site. She pushed another button that caused an explosion behind her, and the building collapsed into dust.
Autumn blushed and said, “I believe you and look forward to your answer. Listen, I have to finish packing, eat dinner, and shower. Can I call you later?”
Icari smiled as she replied, “I understand, and you can call me whenever you like. I look forward to talking to you soon, Mademoiselle Autumn.”
Autumn said, “I look forward to talking to you soon too, Juliette. Bye for now.”
Icari said, “Bye for now.” There was a small click. Icari sighed before she continued. “Watcher, are you there?”
Watcher scoffed. “Yes, I am here. Are you done flirting with your girlfriend?” Watcher said annoyed.
Icari snapped back, “I wasn’t flirting with her, and she isn’t my girlfriend. Listen. When I get back to the safe house, I will be uploading the files that I uploaded from the Agents of Chaos mainframe. I need you to decipher the files to see if they were working for the Prospers and any other useful information.”
“Anything else?” Watcher asked.
Icari replied, “Yes, I need you to immediately hack into the system and book a flight for me from Harrisburg to Rio De Janeiro. I need a limousine to take myself and Autumn to the harbor, where a boat will ferry us to a beach home on Paqueta Island. We will be there for two weeks. Put everything under the name Juliette Trudeau.”
“Why should I?” Watcher asked abrasively.
Icari replied, “Well, you have two choices. Either I am out of your hair for two weeks, or I make your life a living hell for the next two weeks. Then, I still book it on my own. You choose.”
“Fine. Fine. It’s not like I care if you spend time with your girlfriend or not. Everything will be taken care of by the time you make it to the safe house and upload the files.” Watcher replied.
Icari snapped back, “For the last time, she is not my girlfriend! And thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it. It is kind of nice to see you happy once more. Have fun and
remember that we have a war to win.” Watcher said kindly.
Icari smiled and said, “Yeah, I won’t forget.”
An hour and a half later, Icari pulled into the safe house in Harrisburg. She pushed a button on her motorcycle and the garage door opened. Icari pushed the button, and it closed. She pushed another button, and they became visible once more. Icari took off her helmet and placed it on her motorcycle. She walked to a wall in the garage and revealed a secret panel. Icari inputted the code, and a secret staircase was revealed. She walked down the stairs as the wall closed behind her. A room lit up as she opened the door. The computer turned on and system was running. Icari approached the computer as she took the black disc out of her pocket. She put the disc on a reader. The lights flashed on and worked in reverse. Icari received the itinerary, confirmation for the rentals, and digital tickets. As the disc was uploaded to their mainframe, Icari walks to a closet marked for Juliette. She opened up the closet and pulled out two bags already packed for her for two weeks in a summer environment. Icari closed the door. When she was done, she walked over to check the disc and saw that it was fully uploaded. Icari grabbed the bags and walked up the stairs. When she got near the top, the computer shut down, door sealed closed, and the secret door into the garage opened. After Icari had passed, the door closed and sealed shut. Icari walked into a normal home and left the bags near the front door. She cooked lunch at the same time Autumn would call her. They talked for a few hours before Autumn headed to bed. Soon, Autumn and Icari headed to their perspective airports to start their journey to Rio. Five hours and forty-five minutes later, Juliette’s plan landed at the International Airport in Rio
De Janeiro. She grabbed her carry-on bag and went to get her check in luggage. Juliette headed for the main doors and walked out into a sunny midmorning day. The air was refreshing, and it was already setting up to be a warm day. Juliette had made sure to change her appearance before she left for the airport. Juliette looked around and saw a limousine. The driver was standing outside it. He was holding a sign with Juliette Trudeau written on it in big letters. She smiled and walked over to him. The driver eyed her as she approached.
Juliette said,” Olá, eu sou Juliette Trudeau.”
The driver lowered the sign. “Olá, eu estive esperando por você, Sra. Trudeau.” The driver replied.
Juliette smiled and asked, “Can I see your sign while you put in my bags in the trunk, please?”
The driver bowed. “As you wish, Sra. Trudeau. Your guest should arrive soon from Brussels.” The driver replied as he handed over the sign and a marker.
Juliette smiled as she took the sign and marker from the driver while she said, “Obrigado.”
“De nada, Sra. Trudeau.” The driver said as he placed Juliette’s luggage in the back.
He walked to where Juliette was and took the sign and marker from her. The driver opened the door for Juliette to get in. When she was seated, he closed the door and stood outside of the limousine. Thirty minutes later, Juliette’s heart began to race as she saw Autumn walk out of the airport with her luggage in tow. Autumn had put on her glasses and looked around. She froze when she looked towards the limousine. Autumn slowly walked over to the driver.
Autumn cautiously said, “Hi, I am Project Autumn. Are you looking for me?”
The driver bowed. “Yes, I have been expecting you, Sra. Autumn. Let me put your luggage in the trunk.” The driver replied.
Autumn thought, “I never would think that Project Chameleon would have a limo waiting for me at the airport.”
Autumn replied, “Umm… sure. Thank you.”
The driver opened the door for Autumn to get in. He closed the door after she was comfortably seated in the back of the limousine. Autumn watched the driver take her stuff to the back. She was startled, and her heartbeat faster when she heard the sound of a familiar voice from inside the limousine.
Juliette smiled and said, “Hello, Mademoiselle, Autumn.”
Autumn instinctively lunged at Juliette as she turned to face her and kissed her lips. She immediately realized what she had done from the shocked look on Juliette’s face and blushed as she moved away. Juliette smiled and took Autumn’s hands into her own.
Autumn said, “Hi, and I’m sorry Juliette. I don’t know what came over me. I just got so excited that you were here.” Autumn took a deep breath before she continued. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
Juliette replied, “It’s okay. I am happy to see you too. I told you that you would have my answer by the time that you had landed here. I thought that the best way for me to give you my answer was to be here in person to give it to you.”
They heard the sound of the trunk closing and saw the driver walk down the side of the limousine to the driver’s door. He opened it, got in, closed the door, and started the engine. He pulled away from the cub and headed towards the pier.
Autumn said, “I am really glad that you brought your answer to me. When did you get here? How long will you be able to stay here?”
Juliette squeezed Autumn’s hands and smiled as she replied, “So am I. I got here around two hours before you did. If it is alright with you, I plan on being here the entire two weeks that you are.”
Autumn smiled as she said, “Yes, yes. That would be perfect for me. But…where are we headed?”
Juliette winked as she replied, “It is a secret, and you will have to find out when we get there.”
The driver drove them through town as they talked in the back of the limousine. When they arrived at the pier, The driver parked the limousine and got out. He went to the side and opened the
door. Autumn and Juliette got out and looked around. They spotted a yacht ready to go as the driver took their luggage out of the trunk. Some men came over and grabbed their luggage, and they followed them onto the yacht as the limousine pulled away. Thirty minutes later the yacht pulled away from the pier and headed towards a small island. Autumn looked around excitedly as Juliette smiled and watched her reactions. Soon, they had docked at the island. Another limousine was waiting at the pier as they got off the yacht. The same two men carried their luggage off of the yacht, and the driver put the luggage in the trunk of the limousine after Autumn and Juliette got in. They drove them a little ways until they reached an office building. Juliette got out and checked in. She came back out with their keys. The driver drove them to the beach front rental home. As Autumn got out, she was amazed. She turned to face Juliette as the driver took their luggage out of the trunk.
Juliette smiled brightly as she said, “Surprise.”
Autumn was still shocked as she asked, “Are we staying here the entire time?
Juliette nodded as she replied, “Oui, this is the rental home that I had reserved for us the two weeks. Are you surprised?”
Autumn looked at home and back at Juliette. She blushed as she replied, “Very much so. I can’t believe that you would go through all of this trouble just for me. Thank you.”
Juliette smiled and said, “It was no trouble at all to see you. You’re very welcome. Shall we go inside?”
Autumn blushed and replied, “Yes, I would like that.”
They grabbed their luggage and headed to the front door. Juliette pulled out the key cards and handed one to Autumn. She swiped the key card reader. It beeped, turned green, and an audible click could be heard signaling that it had been unlocked. They headed inside and were at awe from how beautiful everything looked. They looked around and saw two large rooms, a kitchen, patio, living room, both rooms had a bathroom, a breakfast nook, pool, jacuzzi, grill, study, and everything that someone would need. They walked back to the bedrooms.
Juliette asked, “Which room would you like to take?”
Autumn looked away and replied, “Well…I was…thinking that…that we could share…the same room, if…if you don’t mind.”
Juliette smiled and replied, “I don’t mind. I would enjoy that very much.”
Autumn smiled and said, “I would like that too.”
They picked the largest room and took their stuff in there. They put everything away and decided to change into their swimsuits. They headed to the beach and swam for a while. Autumn and Juliette grew closer through the days. They spent every day together. On Valentine’s Day, they went swimming when the sun rose. Autumn and Juliette came back and feed each other chocolates and ate chocolates. They laughed and were having fun until Juliette remembered that soon Autumn would leave for the labyrinth to run the gauntlet and became sad. Autumn noticed this and became concerned.
Autumn was concerned as she asked, “What is wrong, Juliette? Why are you so sad?”
Juliette frowned as she replied, “I just remembered that you will be going away soon for the gauntlet
where they will team you up with a new partner. Then, there will be no room for me in your…”
Juliette was shocked as she looked up at Autumn who had put her finger on her lips.
Autumn smiled warmly as she said, “No one will take your place in my heart, Juliette. I don’t care who they pair me with, but you will be the only one for me. So, do not worry about that. I will always be only yours.”
Juliette smiled and lunged forward knocking Autumn over and the chocolates onto the floor. She kissed Autumn deeply. The day past and was the best Valentine’s Day Autumn ever had. She woke up the next morning to realize that Juliette wasn’t in bed with her. Autumn could hear Juliette’s voice carrying in from the patio. She decided to see what is going on. She was sleepy as she got up, stretched and yawned as she put on a robe. She walked to the patio as she rubbed her eyes.
Juliette said, “.... Yes I... I promise that...See you...I.., you.”
Autumn smiled when she saw Juliette watching the sun rise. She was in a robe and held a cup of coffee. Autumn walked over to Juliette and hugged her from behind. She caught the smell of the coffee, the morning air, the beach, and Juliette’s hair. Juliette smiled and giggled from Autumn’s warm embrace. She leaned back into her. Then, Juliette turned around to face Autumn and handed her the mug that she was holding as she leaned against the railing. Autumn sipped coffee and smiled.
Juliette said, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
Autumn smiled and nodded as she replied, “Good morning. I slept very well. I woke up, and you weren’t in bed. I heard you talking to someone. Is everything okay? Who were you talking to?”
Juliette took the mug from Autumn as she replied, “I am sorry to have worried you. I am usually back in bed before you wake up. Yes, everything is fine. I was talking to Dr. Hubert like I do every morning to make sure everything is okay back at home. You know that you could always just run away with me. I know a place where they will never find us. We could start a new life together.”
Autumn smiled warmly as she said, “I am glad everything is going well back home for you. I would like that, but you know that I can’t leave. We would have to look over our shoulders for the rest of our lives on the run.”
Juliette frowned, looked at the mug, and replied, “I know, and I wouldn’t want to live on the run either.” Juliette paused before she continued. “I just have a bad feeling about this. Please, stay safe.”
Autumn put her hands on Juliette’s as she replied, “I will be safe. There is nothing to worry about. The gauntlet is completely safe, because only training rounds are allowed to tally up scores. I will call you immediately after it is over to prove that nothing happened to me.”
Juliette looked into Autumns eyes and said, “I hope that you are right.”
The rest of the time flew by and soon they headed back to the airport for their flights. Autumn left first, and Juliette left next. Juliette landed in Harrisburg International Airport. Autumn landed at Brussels. They had a quick conversation as Icari made it to the safe house. After they hung up, Icari got a phone call from Watcher.
“Hey, Icari. I hope that you had fun. I went over the files that you sent me, but I couldn’t decode them. So, I…” Watcher started to say.
There was a brief pause before a monotone girl’s voice spoke. “Hi, mommy. We need to talk.” The girl said.
submitted by Kiyomi_Raven_Misoto to CiderHype [link] [comments]
It has been a few weeks since Project Autumn has returned back to her normal life. Her days were pretty routine. She would wake up and eat breakfast. Then head to briefs and classes. Then, she would eat lunch before heading off to drills and training that left her sore and extremely fatigued. Autumn would eat dinner, shower, talk to Juliette for a few hours before falling asleep to do it all over again. The days soon became three weeks since she saw Juliette in person. Autumn’s next mission to Rio was quickly approaching. Autumn was excited about it, but what she really wanted to do was spend time with the girl that she really liked. Her training was done, and she was packing her bags for her mission. Autumn was told that she would be a part of the next gauntlet that would take place after she gets back from Rio. She was very excited about it and couldn’t wait to tell Juliette. Autumn looked at the time and saw that it was still five hours before she would normally call Juliette. She was bored, lonely, and really wanted to talk to her. Autumn wrestled with this as she packed her bags.
Agents of Chaos HQ, New York City Containment Zone, PRE
Icari raced through one of the remaining buildings of what was once an overpopulated city. Most of what was once known as New York City was destroyed during the Great War. The city was deserted and hardly anyone lived there. It became the perfect location for the headquarters for the Agents of Chaos. Icari found this out through hacking the government’s mainframe. She decided to put an end to them once and for all. Icari also wanted to know what their connection was to the Prospers. She raced floor to floor eliminating their commanders and whoever she came across. Soon, she found the last remaining members as she stalked
them in the lower parts of the building with her curved blades ready to strike. Icari cornered them ready to end the threat of the Agents of Chaos. They knew that they were out of bullets and out of time. They huddled in fear from what they perceived to be their inevitable demise.
“Wait! Please, don’t kill us.” Agent 1 said with fear in their voice.
Icari was shocked and amused as she stopped and said, “Wait…what? Why shouldn’t I?”
“Be…because we are extremely sorry for all of the stuff that we have done.” Agent 1 replied.
Icari scoffed and started to move closer to them. She suddenly froze when she received a notice of an incoming call. Icari smiled when she saw that it was from Project Autumn.
Icari looked at the Agents and said, “Hey, can you all give me some time. I really need to answer this call.” Icari answered the call with a French accent. “Hello, Mademoiselle Autumn. Is everything alright?”
“Did. Did she just put us on hold?” Agent 1 asked.
“I know right and what’s up with the French accent?” Agent 2 replied.
Icari glared at the agents and put a finger to her lips to silence them. They quickly covered their mouths with their hands with fear in their eyes.
Autumn replied, “Hi, Juliette. It is so good to hear your voice. Yes, everything is fine. I am packing for my mission to Rio. I was bored and lonely. I started to think about you and how much I really miss you.”
Icari smiled as she sat down on a desk facing the agents and said. “Aww. That is sweet of you to say. I have been thinking about you too.”
Autumn said, “I hope that I am not bothering you or anything. Are you busy right now?”
Icari replied, “No, not at all. I was taking care of something easy, but it can wait.”
Autumn quickly replied, “Are you sure? We can talk later if you want.”
Icari smiled and said, “No, it’s okay. I am sure that we can talk now.”
Meanwhile, the remaining Agents of Chaos began to argue with one another about what they
should do. Icari could hear their bickering and became extremely annoyed with everything that they were saying. She stood up and glared at them.
Icari counted the remaining agents, sighed, and said, “Autumn, give me a moment, please. It should take me… about thirty seconds to finish this simple task.”
Autumn replied, “Umm…sure. Take your time. I will be here when you are done. Please don’t take too long.”
Icari smiled and said, “Thank you, Mademoiselle. I promise not to keep you waiting long.”
Icari lunged at the remaining agents as they backed away in horror. Fifteen seconds later, Icari had taken care of the last remaining Agent of Chaos. She picked up a cloth and cleaned her daggers. Icari put them away before she pulled out a black disc out of her pocket. She headed towards their command center.
Icari asked, “Autumn, are you still with me?”
Autumn quickly replied, “Yes, yes. I am still here.”
Icari smiled as she put the disc on the main computer’s case and pushed a button as lights began to light up clockwise. She smiled and said, “Thank you for waiting.”
Autumn smiled and replied, “You’re welcome. I would have waited longer.” Autumn teased as she continued. “But… I guess the issue wasn’t as difficult as you thought.”
Icari laughed and said as she left the command center, “Sorry, I suppose I overestimated how difficult the issue would be.”
Autumn laughed and said, “I guess that I wouldn’t know, but the reason that I called you earlier than normal is I have news that I couldn’t wait to tell you at our normal time.”
Icari picked up a bag as she headed down the stairs to the basement where the building’s support beams were located. Icari said, “News? I appreciate you calling me to give us more time to talk, but what is the news?”
Autumn replied as Icari put small boxes with tubes filled with a green and yellow substance on the support beams and flipped a switch, “Yes, I was told earlier today, that after I get back from the mission to Rio, I will take part in the next gauntlet to decide who I may get paired with. What do you think?”
Icari was shocked and froze when she heard the news. She became scared that it would become a lot more difficult for her to see Autumn. Many feelings and thoughts ran through her head.
Autumn became concerned and asked, “Juliette, are you still there?”
Icari shook her head and replied, “Sorry, to make you concerned, and I am happy for you. Are you excited about your mission to Rio?”
Icari threw the empty bag aside after she placed the last box. She started to head back up the steps to the command center.
Autumn was excited as she replied, “I am super excited to be going for a couple weeks. They said that I deserve it from all of the stuff that I have dealt with lately. It will be two weeks of nothing but swimming and relaxing in the summer air.” Autumn became nervous as she continued. “B-but I- I w-wish that you could be there. It would be my first Valentine’s Day spending it with someone that I really like.”
Icari saw that all of the lights were lit green as she retrieved the black disc. She smiled and said, “Well. Mademoiselle, I may be able to make your wish come true.”
Autumn was shocked as she said, “Really? Tell me you aren’t joking or teasing me. Are you being serious?”
Icari had walked down the stairs to a door that led to an alley. She smiled and replied, “I would not joke or tease you to turn around and break your heart. I cannot make any promises, but I will make sure that I will do my best to help your wish come true.”
Icari walked out the door and pushed a button on her wrist. Suddenly, a black and red motorcycle appeared in the shadows with a black and red helmet with cat ears on it.
Autumn was sad as she said, “I understand. I thought that it would be a great time spending the two weeks with you instead of alone by myself.”
Icari sat on the motorcycle and put on the helmet. The sun started to peek in the east sky. She started
up the motorcycle as she replied, “Do not be sad, Autumn. I promise you that you will have my answer by the time that you land in Rio. You might be surprised by what I can do in such a short period of time.”
Icari pushed a button on her motorcycle as she drove off and disappeared from site. She pushed another button that caused an explosion behind her, and the building collapsed into dust.
Autumn blushed and said, “I believe you and look forward to your answer. Listen, I have to finish packing, eat dinner, and shower. Can I call you later?”
Icari smiled as she replied, “I understand, and you can call me whenever you like. I look forward to talking to you soon, Mademoiselle Autumn.”
Autumn said, “I look forward to talking to you soon too, Juliette. Bye for now.”
Icari said, “Bye for now.” There was a small click. Icari sighed before she continued. “Watcher, are you there?”
Watcher scoffed. “Yes, I am here. Are you done flirting with your girlfriend?” Watcher said annoyed.
Icari snapped back, “I wasn’t flirting with her, and she isn’t my girlfriend. Listen. When I get back to the safe house, I will be uploading the files that I uploaded from the Agents of Chaos mainframe. I need you to decipher the files to see if they were working for the Prospers and any other useful information.”
“Anything else?” Watcher asked.
Icari replied, “Yes, I need you to immediately hack into the system and book a flight for me from Harrisburg to Rio De Janeiro. I need a limousine to take myself and Autumn to the harbor, where a boat will ferry us to a beach home on Paqueta Island. We will be there for two weeks. Put everything under the name Juliette Trudeau.”
“Why should I?” Watcher asked abrasively.
Icari replied, “Well, you have two choices. Either I am out of your hair for two weeks, or I make your life a living hell for the next two weeks. Then, I still book it on my own. You choose.”
“Fine. Fine. It’s not like I care if you spend time with your girlfriend or not. Everything will be taken care of by the time you make it to the safe house and upload the files.” Watcher replied.
Icari snapped back, “For the last time, she is not my girlfriend! And thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it. It is kind of nice to see you happy once more. Have fun and
remember that we have a war to win.” Watcher said kindly.
Icari smiled and said, “Yeah, I won’t forget.”
An hour and a half later, Icari pulled into the safe house in Harrisburg. She pushed a button on her motorcycle and the garage door opened. Icari pushed the button, and it closed. She pushed another button, and they became visible once more. Icari took off her helmet and placed it on her motorcycle. She walked to a wall in the garage and revealed a secret panel. Icari inputted the code, and a secret staircase was revealed. She walked down the stairs as the wall closed behind her. A room lit up as she opened the door. The computer turned on and system was running. Icari approached the computer as she took the black disc out of her pocket. She put the disc on a reader. The lights flashed on and worked in reverse. Icari received the itinerary, confirmation for the rentals, and digital tickets. As the disc was uploaded to their mainframe, Icari walks to a closet marked for Juliette. She opened up the closet and pulled out two bags already packed for her for two weeks in a summer environment. Icari closed the door. When she was done, she walked over to check the disc and saw that it was fully uploaded. Icari grabbed the bags and walked up the stairs. When she got near the top, the computer shut down, door sealed closed, and the secret door into the garage opened. After Icari had passed, the door closed and sealed shut. Icari walked into a normal home and left the bags near the front door. She cooked lunch at the same time Autumn would call her. They talked for a few hours before Autumn headed to bed. Soon, Autumn and Icari headed to their perspective airports to start their journey to Rio. Five hours and forty-five minutes later, Juliette’s plan landed at the International Airport in Rio
De Janeiro. She grabbed her carry-on bag and went to get her check in luggage. Juliette headed for the main doors and walked out into a sunny midmorning day. The air was refreshing, and it was already setting up to be a warm day. Juliette had made sure to change her appearance before she left for the airport. Juliette looked around and saw a limousine. The driver was standing outside it. He was holding a sign with Juliette Trudeau written on it in big letters. She smiled and walked over to him. The driver eyed her as she approached.
Juliette said,” Olá, eu sou Juliette Trudeau.”
The driver lowered the sign. “Olá, eu estive esperando por você, Sra. Trudeau.” The driver replied.
Juliette smiled and asked, “Can I see your sign while you put in my bags in the trunk, please?”
The driver bowed. “As you wish, Sra. Trudeau. Your guest should arrive soon from Brussels.” The driver replied as he handed over the sign and a marker.
Juliette smiled as she took the sign and marker from the driver while she said, “Obrigado.”
“De nada, Sra. Trudeau.” The driver said as he placed Juliette’s luggage in the back.
He walked to where Juliette was and took the sign and marker from her. The driver opened the door for Juliette to get in. When she was seated, he closed the door and stood outside of the limousine. Thirty minutes later, Juliette’s heart began to race as she saw Autumn walk out of the airport with her luggage in tow. Autumn had put on her glasses and looked around. She froze when she looked towards the limousine. Autumn slowly walked over to the driver.
Autumn cautiously said, “Hi, I am Project Autumn. Are you looking for me?”
The driver bowed. “Yes, I have been expecting you, Sra. Autumn. Let me put your luggage in the trunk.” The driver replied.
Autumn thought, “I never would think that Project Chameleon would have a limo waiting for me at the airport.”
Autumn replied, “Umm… sure. Thank you.”
The driver opened the door for Autumn to get in. He closed the door after she was comfortably seated in the back of the limousine. Autumn watched the driver take her stuff to the back. She was startled, and her heartbeat faster when she heard the sound of a familiar voice from inside the limousine.
Juliette smiled and said, “Hello, Mademoiselle, Autumn.”
Autumn instinctively lunged at Juliette as she turned to face her and kissed her lips. She immediately realized what she had done from the shocked look on Juliette’s face and blushed as she moved away. Juliette smiled and took Autumn’s hands into her own.
Autumn said, “Hi, and I’m sorry Juliette. I don’t know what came over me. I just got so excited that you were here.” Autumn took a deep breath before she continued. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
Juliette replied, “It’s okay. I am happy to see you too. I told you that you would have my answer by the time that you had landed here. I thought that the best way for me to give you my answer was to be here in person to give it to you.”
They heard the sound of the trunk closing and saw the driver walk down the side of the limousine to the driver’s door. He opened it, got in, closed the door, and started the engine. He pulled away from the cub and headed towards the pier.
Autumn said, “I am really glad that you brought your answer to me. When did you get here? How long will you be able to stay here?”
Juliette squeezed Autumn’s hands and smiled as she replied, “So am I. I got here around two hours before you did. If it is alright with you, I plan on being here the entire two weeks that you are.”
Autumn smiled as she said, “Yes, yes. That would be perfect for me. But…where are we headed?”
Juliette winked as she replied, “It is a secret, and you will have to find out when we get there.”
The driver drove them through town as they talked in the back of the limousine. When they arrived at the pier, The driver parked the limousine and got out. He went to the side and opened the
door. Autumn and Juliette got out and looked around. They spotted a yacht ready to go as the driver took their luggage out of the trunk. Some men came over and grabbed their luggage, and they followed them onto the yacht as the limousine pulled away. Thirty minutes later the yacht pulled away from the pier and headed towards a small island. Autumn looked around excitedly as Juliette smiled and watched her reactions. Soon, they had docked at the island. Another limousine was waiting at the pier as they got off the yacht. The same two men carried their luggage off of the yacht, and the driver put the luggage in the trunk of the limousine after Autumn and Juliette got in. They drove them a little ways until they reached an office building. Juliette got out and checked in. She came back out with their keys. The driver drove them to the beach front rental home. As Autumn got out, she was amazed. She turned to face Juliette as the driver took their luggage out of the trunk.
Juliette smiled brightly as she said, “Surprise.”
Autumn was still shocked as she asked, “Are we staying here the entire time?
Juliette nodded as she replied, “Oui, this is the rental home that I had reserved for us the two weeks. Are you surprised?”
Autumn looked at home and back at Juliette. She blushed as she replied, “Very much so. I can’t believe that you would go through all of this trouble just for me. Thank you.”
Juliette smiled and said, “It was no trouble at all to see you. You’re very welcome. Shall we go inside?”
Autumn blushed and replied, “Yes, I would like that.”
They grabbed their luggage and headed to the front door. Juliette pulled out the key cards and handed one to Autumn. She swiped the key card reader. It beeped, turned green, and an audible click could be heard signaling that it had been unlocked. They headed inside and were at awe from how beautiful everything looked. They looked around and saw two large rooms, a kitchen, patio, living room, both rooms had a bathroom, a breakfast nook, pool, jacuzzi, grill, study, and everything that someone would need. They walked back to the bedrooms.
Juliette asked, “Which room would you like to take?”
Autumn looked away and replied, “Well…I was…thinking that…that we could share…the same room, if…if you don’t mind.”
Juliette smiled and replied, “I don’t mind. I would enjoy that very much.”
Autumn smiled and said, “I would like that too.”
They picked the largest room and took their stuff in there. They put everything away and decided to change into their swimsuits. They headed to the beach and swam for a while. Autumn and Juliette grew closer through the days. They spent every day together. On Valentine’s Day, they went swimming when the sun rose. Autumn and Juliette came back and feed each other chocolates and ate chocolates. They laughed and were having fun until Juliette remembered that soon Autumn would leave for the labyrinth to run the gauntlet and became sad. Autumn noticed this and became concerned.
Autumn was concerned as she asked, “What is wrong, Juliette? Why are you so sad?”
Juliette frowned as she replied, “I just remembered that you will be going away soon for the gauntlet
where they will team you up with a new partner. Then, there will be no room for me in your…”
Juliette was shocked as she looked up at Autumn who had put her finger on her lips.
Autumn smiled warmly as she said, “No one will take your place in my heart, Juliette. I don’t care who they pair me with, but you will be the only one for me. So, do not worry about that. I will always be only yours.”
Juliette smiled and lunged forward knocking Autumn over and the chocolates onto the floor. She kissed Autumn deeply. The day past and was the best Valentine’s Day Autumn ever had. She woke up the next morning to realize that Juliette wasn’t in bed with her. Autumn could hear Juliette’s voice carrying in from the patio. She decided to see what is going on. She was sleepy as she got up, stretched and yawned as she put on a robe. She walked to the patio as she rubbed her eyes.
Juliette said, “.... Yes I... I promise that...See you...I.., you.”
Autumn smiled when she saw Juliette watching the sun rise. She was in a robe and held a cup of coffee. Autumn walked over to Juliette and hugged her from behind. She caught the smell of the coffee, the morning air, the beach, and Juliette’s hair. Juliette smiled and giggled from Autumn’s warm embrace. She leaned back into her. Then, Juliette turned around to face Autumn and handed her the mug that she was holding as she leaned against the railing. Autumn sipped coffee and smiled.
Juliette said, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
Autumn smiled and nodded as she replied, “Good morning. I slept very well. I woke up, and you weren’t in bed. I heard you talking to someone. Is everything okay? Who were you talking to?”
Juliette took the mug from Autumn as she replied, “I am sorry to have worried you. I am usually back in bed before you wake up. Yes, everything is fine. I was talking to Dr. Hubert like I do every morning to make sure everything is okay back at home. You know that you could always just run away with me. I know a place where they will never find us. We could start a new life together.”
Autumn smiled warmly as she said, “I am glad everything is going well back home for you. I would like that, but you know that I can’t leave. We would have to look over our shoulders for the rest of our lives on the run.”
Juliette frowned, looked at the mug, and replied, “I know, and I wouldn’t want to live on the run either.” Juliette paused before she continued. “I just have a bad feeling about this. Please, stay safe.”
Autumn put her hands on Juliette’s as she replied, “I will be safe. There is nothing to worry about. The gauntlet is completely safe, because only training rounds are allowed to tally up scores. I will call you immediately after it is over to prove that nothing happened to me.”
Juliette looked into Autumns eyes and said, “I hope that you are right.”
The rest of the time flew by and soon they headed back to the airport for their flights. Autumn left first, and Juliette left next. Juliette landed in Harrisburg International Airport. Autumn landed at Brussels. They had a quick conversation as Icari made it to the safe house. After they hung up, Icari got a phone call from Watcher.
“Hey, Icari. I hope that you had fun. I went over the files that you sent me, but I couldn’t decode them. So, I…” Watcher started to say.
There was a brief pause before a monotone girl’s voice spoke. “Hi, mommy. We need to talk.” The girl said.
2023.06.06 21:42 ProfessionalPaper704 Should I pretend harder?
(28F) I visited my hometown and socialized more than I have in a year…aka visited with 3 friends total. Everyone asks what I’m doing and I don’t have an answer beyond “work and sleep”.
You know, I try to phrase it nice like “keeping it low key…enjoying my quiet life” but everyone seems visibly worried that I don’t have hobbies or a social life to talk about. Tbh even if I weren’t always depressed, this is how I was raised to be (extremely isolated upbringing- alone is my norm). I was also an abuse kid, so a quiet safe life of sitting on my couch was kind of my childhood dream. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve made it. Even if it’s objectively a meaningless life.
Should I come up with lies? Should I take up hobbies just for talking points?
I guess this trip is giving me perspective; I live closer to the brink of su!c!de than most people do. Just like, that void that other people have right before they give up is just my normal everyday life. I sleep an embarrassing amount too, and only want to stop because it’s kind of humiliating to have other people learn about. I otherwise would just keep sleeping life away if I didn’t have the shame.
I’m hoping med changes and starting to exercise again will help, but I don’t anticipate ever being that much different. It makes me want to be even more reclusive to feel how weird it is for other people to learn about my life. My friend has a whole ass child and husband and cat and she still has hobbies and personal interests.
submitted by ProfessionalPaper704 to depression_help [link] [comments]
You know, I try to phrase it nice like “keeping it low key…enjoying my quiet life” but everyone seems visibly worried that I don’t have hobbies or a social life to talk about. Tbh even if I weren’t always depressed, this is how I was raised to be (extremely isolated upbringing- alone is my norm). I was also an abuse kid, so a quiet safe life of sitting on my couch was kind of my childhood dream. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve made it. Even if it’s objectively a meaningless life.
Should I come up with lies? Should I take up hobbies just for talking points?
I guess this trip is giving me perspective; I live closer to the brink of su!c!de than most people do. Just like, that void that other people have right before they give up is just my normal everyday life. I sleep an embarrassing amount too, and only want to stop because it’s kind of humiliating to have other people learn about. I otherwise would just keep sleeping life away if I didn’t have the shame.
I’m hoping med changes and starting to exercise again will help, but I don’t anticipate ever being that much different. It makes me want to be even more reclusive to feel how weird it is for other people to learn about my life. My friend has a whole ass child and husband and cat and she still has hobbies and personal interests.
2023.06.06 20:55 an_Hylian 13.11 Buildpath - Personal Opinion - 268LP Peak EUW 400LP+ MMR - Helping out the Birbs since we still dont have an updated Build for the community :)
Please note this is my personal opinion but it stems from a point of rationality, trial and error so it's not just pure fantasy and bias. Furthermore this is supposed to help out the Birbs who are looking for something reliable but don't have the time to test and play around as much as I do atm. I've also coached a lot of people by now and so many people have gotten back to me expressing how they've found more consistent success as well as overall boosted confidence in duels with my suggested runes and builds (Iron2 - Dia4). Azir is still as versatile and flexible as ever and before u read more i will say: There isn't and probably never will be ONE BEST build simply cuz its Azir c:
Buildpath:- Nashor's Tooth) For those who still aren't rushing Nashor's. Please do it already and show your opponents what Shurima is made of way earlier than you're used to. I'm looking at you Crown/Ludens rushers sitting in the backseats at max range.
- Rabadon's Deathcap) If your Nashor is finished while sitting on T1's and u find urself basing on 1250g, buy a purple rod for Deathcap instead of upgrading to T2 boots. It's more damage. You can drag this out all the way till finishing Deathcap. The AP from the purple rods and then Deathcap is more dmg than sorcs would provide. After deathcap pls upgrade to t2's tho.
- Rylai's) Annoyed of people always walking out of your soldiers during teamfights and duels? Wellll...I've been quite consistently buying rylais as a third item with this new buildpath. Good o'l Rylais.. Reason being: By the time we finnish a third item (lv 13~17), Azir's insane Healthgrowth (10th highest of ALL champs) coupled with Rylai's bonus health provides us with a thiccc chicken. Plus Rylai's has always made god damn sense to be built on Azir, but with other iterations of buildpaths aswell as during previous patches it was simply not worth building due to its lack of dmg and other usually desireable stats. Well now its viable again with this buildpath AND patch especially. Grab zhonya's instead for obvious reasons or get it as 4th. Economically it's also quite pleasant to buy something cheap after our 2 expensive gucci bags.
- 4th: Ludens/Rocketbelt/Liandry's/Situationals) Ludens/Rocketbelt: Ommphs up your damage against squishy targets, Rocketbelt synergizes quite well with rylais too :kekw: Mythic passive is the carry and main reason we buy these here, Shadowflame becomes obsolete.
Runes
| VS | Mages | Assassins | Assassins but beefy boys |
|---|
| Keystone | Lethal tempo | Conqueror | Lethal tempo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision | Pressence of mind | Pressence of mind | Pressence of mind |
| Alacrity | Alacrity | Alacrity | |
| Coup de Grace / Last stand | Coup de Grace | Coup de Grace / Cut down | |
| Sorcery | Manaflow Band | Manaflow Band | Manaflow Band |
| Transcendence | Transcendence | Transcendence |
Notes Build) Note - Our damage is usually high enough, so getting any situational item as 4th is most of the time fine (e.g. Crown, Zhonya,..). In slower dragged out games the Mythic passive of ludens/rocketbelt helps out in really dealing dmg to squishies though. Note - Liandry's is a good answer for HP stacking carries Note - Match Sylas and Kassadin ROA with ur own ROA. Nash 2nd. Rabba 3rd. Note - vs specific champions/comps I'll still go Zhonya's 2nd e.g: vi, Karthus and get rabbadon 3rd. Note - If you get void 4th u obviously dont need Ludens/rocketbelt, unless you like the utlity of these items. Void's shred is all the pen you need though. Note - Yes if you finished Deathcap 2nd and their beefy boys are getting already big u can get Void 3rd, though I've personally found that focusing on obliterating the enemy carries with Rylai's + Deathcap to be more valuable than trying to be a jack of all trades. Plus our damage is insane this way if youre doing slightly well regardless. Perma slowing enemy frontline with Rylai's seemed to be very effective too. Note - Dealing with ahead beefy boys Nash->Void->Liandry. Note - You can't really fall behind anymore once you've finished Deathcap as 2nd item.
Notes Runes) Note - The moment you expand your manapool by 250 Mana is when you're never going to run out of mana ever again. Dont need Lost chapter, dont need the 600 mana from a mana Mythic. Use this info to your liking, buy a sapphire crystal or whatever. I prefer manaflow since it's free and allows me to build the items I want instead of wasting 350 for crystal or 1.1k for LC. Note - I personally love the budget Katarina passive effect of Transcendence Note - Mix and Match your 2ndary runes to your liking, my list has been working consistently for me for alllllllll kinds of situations. Very repeatable with brain off. Consistency is key. Note - Once a Mage used their Key CC ability you can engage them entering an extended trade which we as a dps champ are supposed to win and Augment it with LT. Mages do not oneshot early unlike Assassins. Note - Assassins are designed to be able to oneshot champions even when 0 0 0, entering an extended trade is therefor not recommended. We're still a dps champ and want a Keystone that Augments our identity for teamfighting. Conq will give you a little extra dmg while poking an Assassin out aswell as oomphing up your all in against them while also augmenting your teamfighting later on. Note - Conq might be overall strongers Rune this patch on Azir (13.11) (IDK BUT FEELS STRONK RN)
Only real difficult match ups are Zoe, Viktor, Neeko, Zed. If you find yourself banning anything else but you'd like to step up your game I'd suggest thinking of ways how you can beat whatever it is that you're uncomfortable with :). Yes even Kassadin is for some reason more than beatable and playable
Hope this helps and successfull conquering! Yours truly, An Hylian
Happy Birb noises
2023.06.06 20:53 frostadept Bargaining Book 1, Chapter 12: You Can't Fight Fate
William counted eight lesser demons. Not the most intelligent bunch, nor the hardest to see in the dim light of his blade, but William had never fought this many demons at once before, and it had been a long time since he’d felt this winded this quickly.
He breathed deep, filling his lungs with misty subterranean air as he readied himself. The serfs charged at him in a disorganized mob of muscles, wing, fang, and claw, and he raced to meet them.
Out of habit, he called a skill. “Divine Arc!” The skill did not come as called, nor would it again, but he did not dismay. His arms did not move on their own, nor was the effort lessened, nor did he feel the light of the divine power him forward.
But Gram sang all the same.
He weaved under the fumbling blow of the first wretch, throwing his might into the legendary blade that glowed with conviction, and tore through the monster’s torso like paper, following through into the hapless demon behind him. The third reached for him with both arms, which he sidestepped, throwing a lethal slash at the creature’s neck.
The skill hadn’t activated, but as William had learned, that was only an inconvenience. It gave him an attack, but how many times had he used it? Five thousand times? Ten? Twenty? He had known the skill, performed its movements so many times, that it had become ingrained in his very being.
The Tri System had taught him, honed him, even somewhat enhanced him. It wasn’t with him anymore, but he had learned its forms all the time.
He weaved through the demons, powering through the motions with his body alone, bringing Gram down upon the demon serfs one after another, until only one was left.
He held his sword to the final one’s throat. “If you can talk, I might be able to spare you,” he said.
The demon spat at him. Just then, William heard whirring and clanging. He turned toward the noise, only to see a glint of metal shoot out of the mist. It collided with his sword, knocking it away, but causing it to slit the demon’s throat. The large object collided with the wall, ricocheting twice before sailing back to where it came from.
Tap-taptap. Tap-taptap.
Footsteps in the dark. The paladin leveled his blade at the noise. “You missed. Identify yourself.”
“Apologies for the subpar welcome, little hero,” a deep voice answered warmly. “And on the contrary, I hit precisely what I was always going to hit. I do wish we could put our best foot forward instead of such… vermin.”
He emerged from the mist, but William could hardly make him out. He could only see the silhouette of a tall, winged humanoid, crimson eyes peering at him through the darkness; two dignified horns protruded from his skull. He wore a pearly smile of shark-like, razor sharp teeth and carried a cane in one hand and a bloodstained chakram in the other.
This was no lesser monster. This was a greater demon of the underworld.
“You would kill your own kind? Why?”
The demon kept smiling and approached no further. “You slew a boar on your way here. You butchered it and kept parts of its carcass in your pack. As a creature born of flesh, is that not your own kind? Do the nations of the surface world live united in comradery and friendship?”
A chill ran down William’s spine. He’d expect a Wolven to be able to smell that on him, but not a demon. How did he know? Had he been followed? “That is not the same.”
“Isn’t it? Those below the rank of Baron are of no more intelligent or of worth than an animal. You war unabashedly against other mortals. Is it so strange that one demon should strike down another, Sir William?”
“You’re awfully chatty for a demon,” William observed. “You have me at a disadvantage.”
“In more ways than one,” the monster chuckled. He placed a hand on his chest. “Allow me to introduce myself: I am Marquis Laplace.”
William leapt to retreat in a heartbeat, and in another the demon’s chakram whizzed past him, forcing him to veer to the side as it ricocheted off the wall. He had to run from this fight: system or no, this was no lesser demon, this was the Devil of Fate himself! What was he doing in De Sade’s territory?!
The human tried to make a break for it once more, starting back the way he came, only for the flying blade to cut across his path once more, forcing him to leap up. Clang clang! Once again, the weapon found itself headed straight for him. He blocked it with his shield, the spinning chakram scarring its face with a hideous metallic shriek before being deflected to the ceiling. It bounced off and soared straight back to Laplace, who raised his cane and caught it in the center.
William kicked off the wall, jumping away once more, but with the flick of his wrist the lesser god sent his weapon right back in, closing the path as it ricocheted madly along the exit route.
The hero’s mind whirled. How was he doing that? It was like the weapon had a mind of his own, cutting off every attempt at escape. Was he controlling it?
Regardless, if he couldn’t retreat, he’d have to fight. Laplace had disarmed himself. He leapt at the demon, Gram raised high. The deadly discus was still behind him, and he was closing the distance fast, but something wasn’t right. It wasn’t until he was upon him that he heard it over the: the demon was humming.
“Ecliptic Path!” he called, only to hear Laplace say the same, their voices matching in perfect harmonic resonance.
He brought Gram down in a brutal horizontal arc, its magical light trailing behind it, only to miss his mark entirely. The demon hadn’t darted out of the way, he’d only ducked the blow. William brought up his sword, aiming a thrust at the demon’s heart, only for him to pivot back on his right foot, dodging it completely. A transition to a horizontal cut did no better, as the demon leaned back, and the weapon swished a hair short of his neck.
A whirring sound came from behind, and William ducked the speeding chakram. Laplace caught it with his cane, and with the other hand he grabbed Gram by the blade. “That is a fine sword, but I fear you’ve mistaken us for our reptilian cousins,” he said. He tossed the sword aside, throwing the human off balance. “It’s rude to leave without a word, you know. If I wanted you dead, you would be.” His tone remained jovial, friendly even.
William shifted into a low guard, gritting his teeth. That entire fight was a game to the Demon Marquis. He’d been toying with him the entire time. “What do you want then?”
“Why, to give you what you came here for: information.”
“How would you know what I’m looking for?”
Laplace laughed. “Come now, Sir William, I don’t need my powers to know that. Nearly every person on, above, and beneath the Earth is wondering the same thing: what happened to the system?”
William relaxed his guard, but only slightly. “And you wouldn’t be one of them.”
He replied with a toothy grin. “The God of Fire has recently failed a campaign to the surface world, but he did take certain spoils of war. In turn, he traded a number them to the God of Cruelty. The goods in question are in transit in a nullstone carriage at the front of a caravan. You’ll be interested in the contents. Waylay it, and you’ll have your answers. Eventually.”
The paladin scoffed. “Goods, huh?” he sneered at the euphemism.
Greater demons traded like any other intelligent species. They had a penchant for using magic contracts due to their violent proclivities necessitating them, but even for them most of their transactions were mundane. Stone, metal, wood, labor, food, water, and the like. Nothing William would be interested in. No, there’s only one thing he’d be interested in that they would need a nullstone carriage for.
Laplace chuckled. “Sentients. There’s no telling what they’ll be used for in De Sade’s domain, but they will be helpful in leading you to the answers you seek.”
“And what do you get out of this?” Sir William demanded. “I take it you’re not the culprits then, but why tell me this and not simply tell me what happened to the system? If you’re trying to move against your rivals, why not do so yourself?”
The Devil shook his head. “Ah, you humans. So clever and yet so short-sighted. Always seeing the world with the notion of free will,” the demon mused. He stepped forward, towering over the mortal before leaning down to speak. “You think me a puppet master holding the controller, but we are all fate’s marionettes. I simply see its strings.
“I tell you this because I was always meant to tell you this. I never had any choice in the matter to begin with. That is fate, and those who can defy it are few and far between. And with that, I bid you farewell.”
With that, he straightened back to his full height, turned around, and walked away, disappearing into the mist. His parting words echoed through the cavern.
“Twenty-seven hours and three minutes! Back the way you came. Thirty-seventh left, eighteenth right, up one floor, forward, and the sixteenth intersection!”
And then, silence.
William stood in a relaxed guard, wrestling with his intuition for a time. It took him a day to get here. He didn’t have time to get back and relay this to the Captain General.
Was he really going to do this? Just do what a Devil told him to do, and move against two more, without any orders? The very notion left a vile taste in his mouth.
But if he didn’t, he’d be going against orders to find information on the end of the system. Not only that, but he’d be leaving captives in the hands of the demons, not out of ignorance or inability, but out of petty spite. That was inexcusable.
He grit his teeth. “God damn him!” he cursed.
Vile or not, he had a job to do.
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submitted by frostadept to HFY [link] [comments]
He breathed deep, filling his lungs with misty subterranean air as he readied himself. The serfs charged at him in a disorganized mob of muscles, wing, fang, and claw, and he raced to meet them.
Out of habit, he called a skill. “Divine Arc!” The skill did not come as called, nor would it again, but he did not dismay. His arms did not move on their own, nor was the effort lessened, nor did he feel the light of the divine power him forward.
But Gram sang all the same.
He weaved under the fumbling blow of the first wretch, throwing his might into the legendary blade that glowed with conviction, and tore through the monster’s torso like paper, following through into the hapless demon behind him. The third reached for him with both arms, which he sidestepped, throwing a lethal slash at the creature’s neck.
The skill hadn’t activated, but as William had learned, that was only an inconvenience. It gave him an attack, but how many times had he used it? Five thousand times? Ten? Twenty? He had known the skill, performed its movements so many times, that it had become ingrained in his very being.
The Tri System had taught him, honed him, even somewhat enhanced him. It wasn’t with him anymore, but he had learned its forms all the time.
He weaved through the demons, powering through the motions with his body alone, bringing Gram down upon the demon serfs one after another, until only one was left.
He held his sword to the final one’s throat. “If you can talk, I might be able to spare you,” he said.
The demon spat at him. Just then, William heard whirring and clanging. He turned toward the noise, only to see a glint of metal shoot out of the mist. It collided with his sword, knocking it away, but causing it to slit the demon’s throat. The large object collided with the wall, ricocheting twice before sailing back to where it came from.
Tap-taptap. Tap-taptap.
Footsteps in the dark. The paladin leveled his blade at the noise. “You missed. Identify yourself.”
“Apologies for the subpar welcome, little hero,” a deep voice answered warmly. “And on the contrary, I hit precisely what I was always going to hit. I do wish we could put our best foot forward instead of such… vermin.”
He emerged from the mist, but William could hardly make him out. He could only see the silhouette of a tall, winged humanoid, crimson eyes peering at him through the darkness; two dignified horns protruded from his skull. He wore a pearly smile of shark-like, razor sharp teeth and carried a cane in one hand and a bloodstained chakram in the other.
This was no lesser monster. This was a greater demon of the underworld.
“You would kill your own kind? Why?”
The demon kept smiling and approached no further. “You slew a boar on your way here. You butchered it and kept parts of its carcass in your pack. As a creature born of flesh, is that not your own kind? Do the nations of the surface world live united in comradery and friendship?”
A chill ran down William’s spine. He’d expect a Wolven to be able to smell that on him, but not a demon. How did he know? Had he been followed? “That is not the same.”
“Isn’t it? Those below the rank of Baron are of no more intelligent or of worth than an animal. You war unabashedly against other mortals. Is it so strange that one demon should strike down another, Sir William?”
“You’re awfully chatty for a demon,” William observed. “You have me at a disadvantage.”
“In more ways than one,” the monster chuckled. He placed a hand on his chest. “Allow me to introduce myself: I am Marquis Laplace.”
William leapt to retreat in a heartbeat, and in another the demon’s chakram whizzed past him, forcing him to veer to the side as it ricocheted off the wall. He had to run from this fight: system or no, this was no lesser demon, this was the Devil of Fate himself! What was he doing in De Sade’s territory?!
The human tried to make a break for it once more, starting back the way he came, only for the flying blade to cut across his path once more, forcing him to leap up. Clang clang! Once again, the weapon found itself headed straight for him. He blocked it with his shield, the spinning chakram scarring its face with a hideous metallic shriek before being deflected to the ceiling. It bounced off and soared straight back to Laplace, who raised his cane and caught it in the center.
William kicked off the wall, jumping away once more, but with the flick of his wrist the lesser god sent his weapon right back in, closing the path as it ricocheted madly along the exit route.
The hero’s mind whirled. How was he doing that? It was like the weapon had a mind of his own, cutting off every attempt at escape. Was he controlling it?
Regardless, if he couldn’t retreat, he’d have to fight. Laplace had disarmed himself. He leapt at the demon, Gram raised high. The deadly discus was still behind him, and he was closing the distance fast, but something wasn’t right. It wasn’t until he was upon him that he heard it over the: the demon was humming.
“Ecliptic Path!” he called, only to hear Laplace say the same, their voices matching in perfect harmonic resonance.
He brought Gram down in a brutal horizontal arc, its magical light trailing behind it, only to miss his mark entirely. The demon hadn’t darted out of the way, he’d only ducked the blow. William brought up his sword, aiming a thrust at the demon’s heart, only for him to pivot back on his right foot, dodging it completely. A transition to a horizontal cut did no better, as the demon leaned back, and the weapon swished a hair short of his neck.
A whirring sound came from behind, and William ducked the speeding chakram. Laplace caught it with his cane, and with the other hand he grabbed Gram by the blade. “That is a fine sword, but I fear you’ve mistaken us for our reptilian cousins,” he said. He tossed the sword aside, throwing the human off balance. “It’s rude to leave without a word, you know. If I wanted you dead, you would be.” His tone remained jovial, friendly even.
William shifted into a low guard, gritting his teeth. That entire fight was a game to the Demon Marquis. He’d been toying with him the entire time. “What do you want then?”
“Why, to give you what you came here for: information.”
“How would you know what I’m looking for?”
Laplace laughed. “Come now, Sir William, I don’t need my powers to know that. Nearly every person on, above, and beneath the Earth is wondering the same thing: what happened to the system?”
William relaxed his guard, but only slightly. “And you wouldn’t be one of them.”
He replied with a toothy grin. “The God of Fire has recently failed a campaign to the surface world, but he did take certain spoils of war. In turn, he traded a number them to the God of Cruelty. The goods in question are in transit in a nullstone carriage at the front of a caravan. You’ll be interested in the contents. Waylay it, and you’ll have your answers. Eventually.”
The paladin scoffed. “Goods, huh?” he sneered at the euphemism.
Greater demons traded like any other intelligent species. They had a penchant for using magic contracts due to their violent proclivities necessitating them, but even for them most of their transactions were mundane. Stone, metal, wood, labor, food, water, and the like. Nothing William would be interested in. No, there’s only one thing he’d be interested in that they would need a nullstone carriage for.
Laplace chuckled. “Sentients. There’s no telling what they’ll be used for in De Sade’s domain, but they will be helpful in leading you to the answers you seek.”
“And what do you get out of this?” Sir William demanded. “I take it you’re not the culprits then, but why tell me this and not simply tell me what happened to the system? If you’re trying to move against your rivals, why not do so yourself?”
The Devil shook his head. “Ah, you humans. So clever and yet so short-sighted. Always seeing the world with the notion of free will,” the demon mused. He stepped forward, towering over the mortal before leaning down to speak. “You think me a puppet master holding the controller, but we are all fate’s marionettes. I simply see its strings.
“I tell you this because I was always meant to tell you this. I never had any choice in the matter to begin with. That is fate, and those who can defy it are few and far between. And with that, I bid you farewell.”
With that, he straightened back to his full height, turned around, and walked away, disappearing into the mist. His parting words echoed through the cavern.
“Twenty-seven hours and three minutes! Back the way you came. Thirty-seventh left, eighteenth right, up one floor, forward, and the sixteenth intersection!”
And then, silence.
William stood in a relaxed guard, wrestling with his intuition for a time. It took him a day to get here. He didn’t have time to get back and relay this to the Captain General.
Was he really going to do this? Just do what a Devil told him to do, and move against two more, without any orders? The very notion left a vile taste in his mouth.
But if he didn’t, he’d be going against orders to find information on the end of the system. Not only that, but he’d be leaving captives in the hands of the demons, not out of ignorance or inability, but out of petty spite. That was inexcusable.
He grit his teeth. “God damn him!” he cursed.
Vile or not, he had a job to do.
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2023.06.06 17:21 ArthurDrakoni Riordan Retrospective: Daughter of the Deep
Welcome once again to my Riordan Retrospective. For those of you just joining the fun, this is my look back at the works of Rick Riordan. That means Percy Jackson, its sequels, and spin-offs. This is less of a formal review and more of a relaxed look back.
Last time, we finished our look back at The Trials of Apollowith a look back at The Tower of Nero. We thought that we’d said goodbye to the worlds of Rick Riordan. Little did we know that a new book was about to surface. As such, we’re taking a look back at Daughter of the Deep.
Ana Dakkar is about to finish her freshman year at Harding-Pencroft Academy. It is a five-year academy specializing in marine science. She, and her nineteen classmates, are about to begin their freshmen trials. Harding-Pencroft holds its students very high standards. However, before they can take off, the school is destroyed by a series of sonic torpedoes. The remaining students and professors of Harding-Pencroft regroup aboard their yacht the Varuna. Ana discovers several major revelations. Jules Verne’s novels 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island were based on actual events. Captain Nemo was indeed a real person, and Ana is his direct descendant. In fact, the whole point of Harding-Pencroft Academy is to safeguard Nemo’s legacy and technology. Their next stop is Lincoln Island, the final resting place of Nemo and the Nautilus. But danger lurks around every corner as the survivors of Harding-Pencroft are hunted by their old rivals: Land Academy.
Well, it looks like we’re back sooner than I expected. I thought we’d be back for that Irish Mythology book Rick said he was planning. However, that seems to have been put on the back-burner. Daughter of the Deep apparently has been a long time coming. Way back in 2009, Disney executives asked Rick what Disney property he would want to write a book based on. It could be anything he wanted. He chose 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as the 1954 film adaptation is one of his favorite movies. Technically, Disney only owns the rights to the movie, not the original book. The original Verne novel has long since slipped into the public domain. I’m tempted to think that Rick was, at least somewhat, trolling the executives.
I actually went back and watched the 1954 movie adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I agree with Rick here. The movie is, I must say, a truly underrated gem among live-action Disney films. In fact, I might even give it its own review at some point. Now, the movie does take some liberties with the source material. Though, personally, I’d say that was to its benefit, as it made for a more engaging story that worked better in film. Verne was known for doing a lot of research with his novels, and often devoted entire paragraphs to explaining the science in detail. Unfortunately, this does make for a rather dry reading experience. I’ve heard Verne works better in the original French, but that is a language I do not speak. Amusingly, students at Harding-Pencroft are required to read 20,000 Leagues Under the Seaand The Mysterious Island. Ana found them both to be a bit dry for her taste. I myself enjoyed The Mysterious Islandslightly more than 20,000 Leagues, but it still suffered from many of the same issues.
I’ve heard a few people wonder what it might be like if Rick Riordan were to write a science fiction novel. Well, we now have our answer. We know more about the surface of the Moon than we do our own deep oceans. Twelve people have walked on the surface of the Moon, but only two have ever been to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. Ocean-based science fiction is still comparatively rare compared to space-based or terrestrial-based science fiction. So, I’m glad to see that Daughter of the Deep tapped into some of the vast potential of ocean-based science fiction.
Now, I should probably clarify that Daughter of the Deep is set outside of the Riordanverse. Rick has confirmed that it takes place in its own self-contained world. So, don’t expect to see any cameos from Percy, Annabeth, or any other Riordanverse characters. Still, it is similar enough in terms of style to a typical Riordanverse novel, and thus, I’ve chosen to include it as part of the retrospective.
Speaking of style, let’s begin there. Rick has said he took a film writing course before he wrote Daughter of the Deep. That is very apparent in how the prose itself is written. It reads very much like a movie script. The narration is presented in first-person present tense. This helps add to the sense of action and urgency as the plot movies along. The pacing also feels very much like what you might find in a movie. We got a lot of action scenes in quick succession. We get the usual info dumps, but we don’t really take as much time for introspection. As we’ll discuss a bit later, this lack of introspection was very much to the book’s detriment. I’m willing to bet that all this is very much by design. Daughter of the Deep is being adapted into a movie on Disney+. In fact, the movie was announced even before the book came out. So, it certainly feels like Rick wrote Daughter of the Deep with an eye towards the movie adaption.
I would have liked if we had gotten to explore Harding-Pencroft Academy a bit more before it got destroyed. What brief glimpses we do see are utterly fascinating. The students are all decided into four different houses based on their area of study. Yeah, they’ve heard all the Harry Potter jokes plenty of times. Though, personally, when I saw the initials HP in an ocean-themed book, I briefly wondered if Rick Riordan was going to tackle the Lovecraft Mythos. Back on topic, the houses are Dolphin, Shark, Cephalopod, and Orca. Dolphin focuses on communications, exploration, cryptography, and counterintelligence. Shark handles command, combat, weapons systems, logistics. Cephalopod deals with engineering, applied mechanics, innovation, and defensive systems. Orca is all about medicine, psychology, education, marine biology, and communal memory. If you’re wondering about that last one, it basically means the history of Harding-Pencroft and Captain Nemo.
One of the things I appreciated was that each of the four main characters is from a different house. One of my gripes about Harry Potter is that pretty much all the important characters come from Gryffindor. Well, unless they’re a villain, and come from Slytherin. Ravenclaw had Luna and Cho, I guess, but Hufflepuff got the short end of the stick for sure. Getting back on track, having the four main protagonists of Daughter of the Deep be from different houses provided a theme that everyone has something unique to bring to the table. You can also see it as advocating for multiculturalism, but without being preachy about it. However, I do have on criticism. House Orca needed a better name. Orcas are a type of dolphin, the largest, in fact. We’ve got representatives for mammals, fish, and mollusks. How’s about giving some love to the reptiles? Personally, I would have named them House Sea Turtle instead. Or failing that, show some love to the echinoderms, and name them House Seastar. House Sea Cucumber would also work. Don’t give me that look! Sea cucumbers are noble animals and wonders of nature.
I do wish that we’d gotten to see more of Harding-Pencroft before it was destroyed. What brief glimpses we do get are utterly fascinating. As you might expect, they have quite an expansive aquarium full marine creatures. Upperclassmen train in submarine simulations using full-size mock-up submarines submerged in deep pools. However, the most fascinating class is one where students get to consider, and theorize, about the ways technology and science might have developed had history gone differently. As a major fan of alternate history I have but one thing to say: sign me up now! Well, its actually there as a way to slowly ease the students into learning the truth about Captain Nemo and his inventions. Still, sounds like a very fun class to take. I also liked how the various sections of the school are named after famous ocean explorers. There’s one part named after the Chinese navigator Zheng He, and one named after the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.
I thought all of the diving scenes were particularly well-written. Rick Riordan has a true passion for scuba diving. This really shines through during the diving scenes. I also really like how the diving suits all use jet-propulsion that mimics the siphons of cephalopods. That was a really creative touch.
Okay, let’s talk about the characters. Ana is the protagonist, but I want to save her for last. We’ll start with her roommates, and best friends, Nelinha and Ester. Nelinha da Silva grew up in an orphanage in Rio de Janeiro, but got to attend Harding-Pencroft on a scholarship. She’s also the closest the series gets to referencing Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I can best describe Nelinha as what would happen if Charles Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard were to have a kid. And, you know, if they were still alive. She’s a complete mechanical genius, and geeks out over machines and engine parts. She’s a member of House Cephalopod, naturally. However, she is also obsessed with fashion, and always makes sure to look her best at all times. Nelinha doesn’t just pack outfits, she packs entire wardrobes.
One of my prior complaints about Rick Riordan is that he only seems to know how to write one type of female character. Namely, he seems to believe that being a strong female character means being a tomboy who hates all things girly. So, it was nice to see Nelinha as a course correction on that front. Nelinha being from Brazil is likely a nod to how popular Rick Riordan’s books are in Brazil. So, I’m sure Brazilian fans were excited to finally get a Brazilian main character.
On the flipside, we also get Ester Harding. She’s a member of House Orca. She is a blood relative of one of the founders of Harding-Pencroft. She is also the first autistic character in a Rick Riordan book. I’m still bitter about how he wrote a Muslims character before he wrote an autistic character. In the Riordanverse, anyone can be a demigod, unless you’re autistic, it would seem. I had high hopes for Ester. You don’t see autistic girls too often in the media. Riordan has said that he got sensitivity readers to help him with writing characters from different cultural backgrounds. However, it would seem none of them offered insight into autistic people. It almost feels like Riordan watched a couple episodes of The Good Doctor and was like “I got this!” You know those TikTok clips of that guy having a temper tantrum while shouting “I am a surgeon!” Yeah, that’s The Good Doctor. It was another show I had high hopes for, but fell back on stereotyping autistic people. Don’t get me started on my problems with The Good Doctor, we’ll be here all day.
Anyway, Ester displays a number of stereotypical traits. She yo-yos between being basically non-verbal, and shouting at the top of her lungs. She does this all in a robotic monotone voice. In contrast to Nelinha, Ester has basically no fashion sense, and seems to be going for the long-lost daughter of Albert Einstein look. Ester also doesn’t have much in the way of common sense, and though it never comes up, she’s probably Jewish. Not too many gentiles name Ester. She’s got an excellent memory, to the point of being almost eidetic, but that’s somewhat accurate. Well, maybe not eidetic, but most autistic people do often have amazing memories. How do you think I’m about to write these retrospectives?
Ana briefly remarks about how some people claim that autistic people can’t feel love or other emotions, and that Ester proves this isn’t true, due to how empathetic she is. Again, this is true, as autistic people can be quite empathetic. Though, I can’t help but wonder if Disney specially made Rick insert that line to cover their asses. See, this isn’t the first time Disney has tackled autism. There was an episode of Girl Meets World about how we should all be nice to autistic people. All well and good, but they also claim that autistic people are incapable of experiencing emotions, including love.
Gemini Twain has been assigned as Ana’s bodyguard. He’s a no-nonsense member of House Shark. He’s also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. This is certainly an interesting choice, as Gemini is also Black. Historically, Mormons haven’t exactly gotten along well with Black people. Or Native Americans, or Polynesians, or…well, pretty much anybody who isn’t White. The most infamous instance was when Mormon schools refused to desegregate. The American government threatened to revoke their tax exemption status, but wouldn’t you know it, Mormon God rather conveniently changed his mind about Black people. Though, Gemini’s faith doesn’t really come up that much. He doesn’t like swearing or taking the lord’s name in vein, and he mentions his grandma raised him and his brother in the LDS church, but that’s about it. Well, he did get into a minor scuffle with Nelinha. Gemini’s brother went on his mission trip to Brazil, and Gemini assumed Nelinha would know his brother, because she’s from Brazil.
Well, nice touch having one of the non-White characters be flawed enough to be accidentally racist. I remember back in The Hammer of Thor retrospective when I said, paraphrased, “A Muslim demigod? What’s next, a Mormon demigod?” I have on occasion wondered if Rick Riordan reads these retrospectives. Probably a long shot, but you never know.
Technically, there is a fifth main character: the Nautilusitself. It took until about halfway through the book before the Nautilus showed up. Yeah, this book has some pacing issues. The Nautilus has what can best be described as an artificial intelligence system. Also, apparently it also includes some organic components. As you might imagine, it is extremely untrustworthy of anyone who isn’t a blood relative of Prince Dakkar, aka Captain Nemo. So, Ana’s biometrics are key to unlocking the Nautilus.
Unfortunately, the Nautilus also highlights one of the issues I had with the book. Apparently, every major invention of the 20th Century was a result of Harding-Pencroft discreetly releasing them to the public. That, or Land Institute stealing them. This caused Daughter of the Deep to evoke the Great Man Theory of History. The theory goes that society gets stuck in ruts until a great man, and it’s always a man, shakes up the status quo and moves the world forward. This view has largely fallen out of favor with mainstream historians. Most historians emphasis how the changes were put into motion, often by complex chains of influences, long before the supposedly great men came about.
You do kind of get this with the main Riordanverse, where pretty much anyone who did anything was either a demigod or a magician. However, that was softened by just how many demigods and magicians there were throughout history. So, it felt more like a team-effort. By contrast, Daughter of the Deep gave us a single scientific übermensch who, apparently, leapfrogged from steam-power to cold fusion reactors. Now, granted, this is also true of Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Still, maybe Rick shouldn’t have depicted Nemo in such a lock, stock, and barrel sort of way.
And that segues into my next point. Harding-Pencroft is deathly afraid of letting the general public get access to Nemo’s technology. They only release technology sparingly, and only when they feel humanity has earned it. Uh, and what metric do they use to determine how worthy humanity is? Beats me, the book offers no details. The adults all make a big deal about how corporations would try to monopolize Nemo’s technology, but nobody ever suggests releasing it as open-source tech. Well, I know the real reason for that. There’s no way that Disney, the poster boy for copyright abuse, is going to be advocating for open-source. A particularly facepalm worthy moment is that fact that Harding-Pencroft refuses to release cold fusion technology…despite climate change being a serious issue! The book would have you believe Harding-Pencroft are the good guys. However, I’m tempted to think Land Institute had a point about Harding-Pencroft being corrupt and selfish.
Hey, wait a minute. Harding-Pencroft is a secretive organization that is very selective of its membership. It trains its students so that, effectively, they’re cut-off from the outside world. They indoctrinate their students from a young age into their views. They have charismatic leaders and founders. Yikes, I hope the cafeteria never served Kool-Aid! Harding-Pencroft is a cult!
It would seem that Harding-Pencroft has something akin to the Prime Detective from Star Trek. There has been a lot of debate about the morality of the Prime Detective. The main thinking seems to be don’t give advanced weaponry to civilizations that aren’t morally mature. The Original Seriesalso says that it is okay to break the Prime Directive if a planet is in imminent danger. Contrast this with Next Generation, where one episode has Captain Picard dithering about if he should save a planet, even if it break the Prime Directive. Of course, the worst offender was Voyager. It had an episode where the moral was, basically, don’t save a baby trapped in a burning car, or else the baby will grow-up to be Hitler. Yeah, the Prime Directive kind of devolved into an immoral religious dogma as Star Trek went on.
Point is, Harding-Pencroft’s Prime Directive seems to lean towards that of the later Star Trek entries. Apparently, screw the planet, we need to keep the tech away from corporations! The irony of Disney railing against corporations is so thick you can practically cut it with a machete. Also, if the concern is that the corporations would hoard stuff like the cure for cancer, well, how’s that any different than what Harding-Pencroft is doing?
Much is made about how Ana must choose to reconcile both the good and the bad of Nemo’s legacy. However, nothing really comes of this. We don’t see her seriously debate or challenge Harding-Pencroft and Land Institute’s views of Nemo. In fact, she gets indoctrinated into Harding-Pencroft’s views pretty quickly. It would have been a great opportunity to show Nemo’s complexity, not just tell us about it. How many innocent lives did he take in his quest for vengeance? Should he have shared his technology with the oppressed peoples chafing under the yoke of colonialism? Is it possible that Land Institute has some valid points, and that Harding-Pencroft has lost its way? All excellent questions that sadly go unanswered.
As for why that is, it ties into the biggest problem I have with Daughter of the Deep. Overall, it feels like merely the novelization of the yet to be produced movie. I was hoping that the novel would be able to stand on its own merits. However, Riordan clearly wrote it so that the adoption process would be streamlined. Debating ethics might not translate to film. Though, it could work in the hands of a competent scriptwriter.
I feel this streamlining was ultimately to the novel’s determent. I certainly didn’t hate Daughter of the Deep. It had plenty of the action and adventure you’d expect from a Rick Riordan novel. However, for every thing I liked, there was almost always something else I didn’t like. It is ironic that Rick claims he spent years working on Daughter of the Deep. It overall feels like it was yanked out of the oven before it had a chance to bake properly. Then again, he also claims to have gotten the idea for Magnus Chase before he wrote Percy Jackson, and look how that turned out.
The audiobook is narrated by Soneela Nankani. She’s the narrator for the Aru Shah audiobooks. Personally, I wasn’t too thrilled when I saw that Soneela would be narrating. However, she gave a fairly decent performance. She voiced Ester in a rather stereotypical way, like she was imitating Sean from The Good Doctor, but that was the only true sour note. Speaking of music, the audiobook is filled with music. There’s lots of musical cues throughout the audiobook. Scenes of wonder and whimsy have inspirational music, action scenes have exciting music. There’s a scene where Ana plays a pipe organ aboard the Nautilus, and we actually get to hear it. I thought that was a really nice touch.
Now, let’s analyze the cover. This is a nice looking cover. The undersea landscape is bright and vibrant. We see Ana and Gemini in their divining suits. Their faces are clear and unobscured. The Rick Riordan Presents books goes with this approach as well. Something about it being important for minority kids to see themselves clearly represented on book covers. We also see the Nautilus in the background, along with a giant octopus.
So, Daughter of the Deep has a lot of potential, and I certainly wouldn’t mind a sequel. However, there’s a lot of room for improvement. It needed to stand on its own merits, not just be the dry run for the movie script. Still, it's lightyears better than our next port of call. Next time, we’re tackling The Sun and The Star. The claws are coming out, and I’m prepared to fully eviscerate Mark Oshiro’s glorified self-insert fanfic.
Link to the original retrospective on my blog: https://drakoniandgriffalco.blogspot.com/2023/06/riordan-retrospective-daughter-of-deep.html?m=1
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Last time, we finished our look back at The Trials of Apollowith a look back at The Tower of Nero. We thought that we’d said goodbye to the worlds of Rick Riordan. Little did we know that a new book was about to surface. As such, we’re taking a look back at Daughter of the Deep.
Ana Dakkar is about to finish her freshman year at Harding-Pencroft Academy. It is a five-year academy specializing in marine science. She, and her nineteen classmates, are about to begin their freshmen trials. Harding-Pencroft holds its students very high standards. However, before they can take off, the school is destroyed by a series of sonic torpedoes. The remaining students and professors of Harding-Pencroft regroup aboard their yacht the Varuna. Ana discovers several major revelations. Jules Verne’s novels 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island were based on actual events. Captain Nemo was indeed a real person, and Ana is his direct descendant. In fact, the whole point of Harding-Pencroft Academy is to safeguard Nemo’s legacy and technology. Their next stop is Lincoln Island, the final resting place of Nemo and the Nautilus. But danger lurks around every corner as the survivors of Harding-Pencroft are hunted by their old rivals: Land Academy.
Well, it looks like we’re back sooner than I expected. I thought we’d be back for that Irish Mythology book Rick said he was planning. However, that seems to have been put on the back-burner. Daughter of the Deep apparently has been a long time coming. Way back in 2009, Disney executives asked Rick what Disney property he would want to write a book based on. It could be anything he wanted. He chose 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as the 1954 film adaptation is one of his favorite movies. Technically, Disney only owns the rights to the movie, not the original book. The original Verne novel has long since slipped into the public domain. I’m tempted to think that Rick was, at least somewhat, trolling the executives.
I actually went back and watched the 1954 movie adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I agree with Rick here. The movie is, I must say, a truly underrated gem among live-action Disney films. In fact, I might even give it its own review at some point. Now, the movie does take some liberties with the source material. Though, personally, I’d say that was to its benefit, as it made for a more engaging story that worked better in film. Verne was known for doing a lot of research with his novels, and often devoted entire paragraphs to explaining the science in detail. Unfortunately, this does make for a rather dry reading experience. I’ve heard Verne works better in the original French, but that is a language I do not speak. Amusingly, students at Harding-Pencroft are required to read 20,000 Leagues Under the Seaand The Mysterious Island. Ana found them both to be a bit dry for her taste. I myself enjoyed The Mysterious Islandslightly more than 20,000 Leagues, but it still suffered from many of the same issues.
I’ve heard a few people wonder what it might be like if Rick Riordan were to write a science fiction novel. Well, we now have our answer. We know more about the surface of the Moon than we do our own deep oceans. Twelve people have walked on the surface of the Moon, but only two have ever been to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. Ocean-based science fiction is still comparatively rare compared to space-based or terrestrial-based science fiction. So, I’m glad to see that Daughter of the Deep tapped into some of the vast potential of ocean-based science fiction.
Now, I should probably clarify that Daughter of the Deep is set outside of the Riordanverse. Rick has confirmed that it takes place in its own self-contained world. So, don’t expect to see any cameos from Percy, Annabeth, or any other Riordanverse characters. Still, it is similar enough in terms of style to a typical Riordanverse novel, and thus, I’ve chosen to include it as part of the retrospective.
Speaking of style, let’s begin there. Rick has said he took a film writing course before he wrote Daughter of the Deep. That is very apparent in how the prose itself is written. It reads very much like a movie script. The narration is presented in first-person present tense. This helps add to the sense of action and urgency as the plot movies along. The pacing also feels very much like what you might find in a movie. We got a lot of action scenes in quick succession. We get the usual info dumps, but we don’t really take as much time for introspection. As we’ll discuss a bit later, this lack of introspection was very much to the book’s detriment. I’m willing to bet that all this is very much by design. Daughter of the Deep is being adapted into a movie on Disney+. In fact, the movie was announced even before the book came out. So, it certainly feels like Rick wrote Daughter of the Deep with an eye towards the movie adaption.
I would have liked if we had gotten to explore Harding-Pencroft Academy a bit more before it got destroyed. What brief glimpses we do see are utterly fascinating. The students are all decided into four different houses based on their area of study. Yeah, they’ve heard all the Harry Potter jokes plenty of times. Though, personally, when I saw the initials HP in an ocean-themed book, I briefly wondered if Rick Riordan was going to tackle the Lovecraft Mythos. Back on topic, the houses are Dolphin, Shark, Cephalopod, and Orca. Dolphin focuses on communications, exploration, cryptography, and counterintelligence. Shark handles command, combat, weapons systems, logistics. Cephalopod deals with engineering, applied mechanics, innovation, and defensive systems. Orca is all about medicine, psychology, education, marine biology, and communal memory. If you’re wondering about that last one, it basically means the history of Harding-Pencroft and Captain Nemo.
One of the things I appreciated was that each of the four main characters is from a different house. One of my gripes about Harry Potter is that pretty much all the important characters come from Gryffindor. Well, unless they’re a villain, and come from Slytherin. Ravenclaw had Luna and Cho, I guess, but Hufflepuff got the short end of the stick for sure. Getting back on track, having the four main protagonists of Daughter of the Deep be from different houses provided a theme that everyone has something unique to bring to the table. You can also see it as advocating for multiculturalism, but without being preachy about it. However, I do have on criticism. House Orca needed a better name. Orcas are a type of dolphin, the largest, in fact. We’ve got representatives for mammals, fish, and mollusks. How’s about giving some love to the reptiles? Personally, I would have named them House Sea Turtle instead. Or failing that, show some love to the echinoderms, and name them House Seastar. House Sea Cucumber would also work. Don’t give me that look! Sea cucumbers are noble animals and wonders of nature.
I do wish that we’d gotten to see more of Harding-Pencroft before it was destroyed. What brief glimpses we do get are utterly fascinating. As you might expect, they have quite an expansive aquarium full marine creatures. Upperclassmen train in submarine simulations using full-size mock-up submarines submerged in deep pools. However, the most fascinating class is one where students get to consider, and theorize, about the ways technology and science might have developed had history gone differently. As a major fan of alternate history I have but one thing to say: sign me up now! Well, its actually there as a way to slowly ease the students into learning the truth about Captain Nemo and his inventions. Still, sounds like a very fun class to take. I also liked how the various sections of the school are named after famous ocean explorers. There’s one part named after the Chinese navigator Zheng He, and one named after the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.
I thought all of the diving scenes were particularly well-written. Rick Riordan has a true passion for scuba diving. This really shines through during the diving scenes. I also really like how the diving suits all use jet-propulsion that mimics the siphons of cephalopods. That was a really creative touch.
Okay, let’s talk about the characters. Ana is the protagonist, but I want to save her for last. We’ll start with her roommates, and best friends, Nelinha and Ester. Nelinha da Silva grew up in an orphanage in Rio de Janeiro, but got to attend Harding-Pencroft on a scholarship. She’s also the closest the series gets to referencing Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I can best describe Nelinha as what would happen if Charles Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard were to have a kid. And, you know, if they were still alive. She’s a complete mechanical genius, and geeks out over machines and engine parts. She’s a member of House Cephalopod, naturally. However, she is also obsessed with fashion, and always makes sure to look her best at all times. Nelinha doesn’t just pack outfits, she packs entire wardrobes.
One of my prior complaints about Rick Riordan is that he only seems to know how to write one type of female character. Namely, he seems to believe that being a strong female character means being a tomboy who hates all things girly. So, it was nice to see Nelinha as a course correction on that front. Nelinha being from Brazil is likely a nod to how popular Rick Riordan’s books are in Brazil. So, I’m sure Brazilian fans were excited to finally get a Brazilian main character.
On the flipside, we also get Ester Harding. She’s a member of House Orca. She is a blood relative of one of the founders of Harding-Pencroft. She is also the first autistic character in a Rick Riordan book. I’m still bitter about how he wrote a Muslims character before he wrote an autistic character. In the Riordanverse, anyone can be a demigod, unless you’re autistic, it would seem. I had high hopes for Ester. You don’t see autistic girls too often in the media. Riordan has said that he got sensitivity readers to help him with writing characters from different cultural backgrounds. However, it would seem none of them offered insight into autistic people. It almost feels like Riordan watched a couple episodes of The Good Doctor and was like “I got this!” You know those TikTok clips of that guy having a temper tantrum while shouting “I am a surgeon!” Yeah, that’s The Good Doctor. It was another show I had high hopes for, but fell back on stereotyping autistic people. Don’t get me started on my problems with The Good Doctor, we’ll be here all day.
Anyway, Ester displays a number of stereotypical traits. She yo-yos between being basically non-verbal, and shouting at the top of her lungs. She does this all in a robotic monotone voice. In contrast to Nelinha, Ester has basically no fashion sense, and seems to be going for the long-lost daughter of Albert Einstein look. Ester also doesn’t have much in the way of common sense, and though it never comes up, she’s probably Jewish. Not too many gentiles name Ester. She’s got an excellent memory, to the point of being almost eidetic, but that’s somewhat accurate. Well, maybe not eidetic, but most autistic people do often have amazing memories. How do you think I’m about to write these retrospectives?
Ana briefly remarks about how some people claim that autistic people can’t feel love or other emotions, and that Ester proves this isn’t true, due to how empathetic she is. Again, this is true, as autistic people can be quite empathetic. Though, I can’t help but wonder if Disney specially made Rick insert that line to cover their asses. See, this isn’t the first time Disney has tackled autism. There was an episode of Girl Meets World about how we should all be nice to autistic people. All well and good, but they also claim that autistic people are incapable of experiencing emotions, including love.
Gemini Twain has been assigned as Ana’s bodyguard. He’s a no-nonsense member of House Shark. He’s also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. This is certainly an interesting choice, as Gemini is also Black. Historically, Mormons haven’t exactly gotten along well with Black people. Or Native Americans, or Polynesians, or…well, pretty much anybody who isn’t White. The most infamous instance was when Mormon schools refused to desegregate. The American government threatened to revoke their tax exemption status, but wouldn’t you know it, Mormon God rather conveniently changed his mind about Black people. Though, Gemini’s faith doesn’t really come up that much. He doesn’t like swearing or taking the lord’s name in vein, and he mentions his grandma raised him and his brother in the LDS church, but that’s about it. Well, he did get into a minor scuffle with Nelinha. Gemini’s brother went on his mission trip to Brazil, and Gemini assumed Nelinha would know his brother, because she’s from Brazil.
Well, nice touch having one of the non-White characters be flawed enough to be accidentally racist. I remember back in The Hammer of Thor retrospective when I said, paraphrased, “A Muslim demigod? What’s next, a Mormon demigod?” I have on occasion wondered if Rick Riordan reads these retrospectives. Probably a long shot, but you never know.
Technically, there is a fifth main character: the Nautilusitself. It took until about halfway through the book before the Nautilus showed up. Yeah, this book has some pacing issues. The Nautilus has what can best be described as an artificial intelligence system. Also, apparently it also includes some organic components. As you might imagine, it is extremely untrustworthy of anyone who isn’t a blood relative of Prince Dakkar, aka Captain Nemo. So, Ana’s biometrics are key to unlocking the Nautilus.
Unfortunately, the Nautilus also highlights one of the issues I had with the book. Apparently, every major invention of the 20th Century was a result of Harding-Pencroft discreetly releasing them to the public. That, or Land Institute stealing them. This caused Daughter of the Deep to evoke the Great Man Theory of History. The theory goes that society gets stuck in ruts until a great man, and it’s always a man, shakes up the status quo and moves the world forward. This view has largely fallen out of favor with mainstream historians. Most historians emphasis how the changes were put into motion, often by complex chains of influences, long before the supposedly great men came about.
You do kind of get this with the main Riordanverse, where pretty much anyone who did anything was either a demigod or a magician. However, that was softened by just how many demigods and magicians there were throughout history. So, it felt more like a team-effort. By contrast, Daughter of the Deep gave us a single scientific übermensch who, apparently, leapfrogged from steam-power to cold fusion reactors. Now, granted, this is also true of Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Still, maybe Rick shouldn’t have depicted Nemo in such a lock, stock, and barrel sort of way.
And that segues into my next point. Harding-Pencroft is deathly afraid of letting the general public get access to Nemo’s technology. They only release technology sparingly, and only when they feel humanity has earned it. Uh, and what metric do they use to determine how worthy humanity is? Beats me, the book offers no details. The adults all make a big deal about how corporations would try to monopolize Nemo’s technology, but nobody ever suggests releasing it as open-source tech. Well, I know the real reason for that. There’s no way that Disney, the poster boy for copyright abuse, is going to be advocating for open-source. A particularly facepalm worthy moment is that fact that Harding-Pencroft refuses to release cold fusion technology…despite climate change being a serious issue! The book would have you believe Harding-Pencroft are the good guys. However, I’m tempted to think Land Institute had a point about Harding-Pencroft being corrupt and selfish.
Hey, wait a minute. Harding-Pencroft is a secretive organization that is very selective of its membership. It trains its students so that, effectively, they’re cut-off from the outside world. They indoctrinate their students from a young age into their views. They have charismatic leaders and founders. Yikes, I hope the cafeteria never served Kool-Aid! Harding-Pencroft is a cult!
It would seem that Harding-Pencroft has something akin to the Prime Detective from Star Trek. There has been a lot of debate about the morality of the Prime Detective. The main thinking seems to be don’t give advanced weaponry to civilizations that aren’t morally mature. The Original Seriesalso says that it is okay to break the Prime Directive if a planet is in imminent danger. Contrast this with Next Generation, where one episode has Captain Picard dithering about if he should save a planet, even if it break the Prime Directive. Of course, the worst offender was Voyager. It had an episode where the moral was, basically, don’t save a baby trapped in a burning car, or else the baby will grow-up to be Hitler. Yeah, the Prime Directive kind of devolved into an immoral religious dogma as Star Trek went on.
Point is, Harding-Pencroft’s Prime Directive seems to lean towards that of the later Star Trek entries. Apparently, screw the planet, we need to keep the tech away from corporations! The irony of Disney railing against corporations is so thick you can practically cut it with a machete. Also, if the concern is that the corporations would hoard stuff like the cure for cancer, well, how’s that any different than what Harding-Pencroft is doing?
Much is made about how Ana must choose to reconcile both the good and the bad of Nemo’s legacy. However, nothing really comes of this. We don’t see her seriously debate or challenge Harding-Pencroft and Land Institute’s views of Nemo. In fact, she gets indoctrinated into Harding-Pencroft’s views pretty quickly. It would have been a great opportunity to show Nemo’s complexity, not just tell us about it. How many innocent lives did he take in his quest for vengeance? Should he have shared his technology with the oppressed peoples chafing under the yoke of colonialism? Is it possible that Land Institute has some valid points, and that Harding-Pencroft has lost its way? All excellent questions that sadly go unanswered.
As for why that is, it ties into the biggest problem I have with Daughter of the Deep. Overall, it feels like merely the novelization of the yet to be produced movie. I was hoping that the novel would be able to stand on its own merits. However, Riordan clearly wrote it so that the adoption process would be streamlined. Debating ethics might not translate to film. Though, it could work in the hands of a competent scriptwriter.
I feel this streamlining was ultimately to the novel’s determent. I certainly didn’t hate Daughter of the Deep. It had plenty of the action and adventure you’d expect from a Rick Riordan novel. However, for every thing I liked, there was almost always something else I didn’t like. It is ironic that Rick claims he spent years working on Daughter of the Deep. It overall feels like it was yanked out of the oven before it had a chance to bake properly. Then again, he also claims to have gotten the idea for Magnus Chase before he wrote Percy Jackson, and look how that turned out.
The audiobook is narrated by Soneela Nankani. She’s the narrator for the Aru Shah audiobooks. Personally, I wasn’t too thrilled when I saw that Soneela would be narrating. However, she gave a fairly decent performance. She voiced Ester in a rather stereotypical way, like she was imitating Sean from The Good Doctor, but that was the only true sour note. Speaking of music, the audiobook is filled with music. There’s lots of musical cues throughout the audiobook. Scenes of wonder and whimsy have inspirational music, action scenes have exciting music. There’s a scene where Ana plays a pipe organ aboard the Nautilus, and we actually get to hear it. I thought that was a really nice touch.
Now, let’s analyze the cover. This is a nice looking cover. The undersea landscape is bright and vibrant. We see Ana and Gemini in their divining suits. Their faces are clear and unobscured. The Rick Riordan Presents books goes with this approach as well. Something about it being important for minority kids to see themselves clearly represented on book covers. We also see the Nautilus in the background, along with a giant octopus.
So, Daughter of the Deep has a lot of potential, and I certainly wouldn’t mind a sequel. However, there’s a lot of room for improvement. It needed to stand on its own merits, not just be the dry run for the movie script. Still, it's lightyears better than our next port of call. Next time, we’re tackling The Sun and The Star. The claws are coming out, and I’m prepared to fully eviscerate Mark Oshiro’s glorified self-insert fanfic.
Link to the original retrospective on my blog: https://drakoniandgriffalco.blogspot.com/2023/06/riordan-retrospective-daughter-of-deep.html?m=1
2023.06.06 08:45 GoingCrazy0515 Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer Market Analysis, Competitors, Growth Rate 2023 Belimed, STERIS, Getinge
Global Info Research announces the release of the report “Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer Market 2023 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2029” . The report is a detailed and comprehensive analysis presented by region and country, type and application. As the market is constantly changing, the report explores the competition, supply and demand trends, as well as key factors that contribute to its changing demands across many markets. Company profiles and product examples of selected competitors, along with market share estimates of some of the selected leaders for the year 2023, are provided. In addition, the report provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War Influence.
According to our (Global Info Research) latest study, the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size was valued at USD 504.2 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 686 million by 2029 with a CAGR of 4.5% during review period. The influence of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War were considered while estimating market sizes.
Key Features:
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts, in consumption value), sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts by region and country, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts, by Type and by Application, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market shares of main players, shipments in revenue, sales quantity, and ASP, 2018-2023
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries
To assess the growth potential for Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer
To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market
To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
This report profiles key players in the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market based on the following parameters - company overview, production, value, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments.
Request Free Sample Copy Or buy this report at:
https://www.globalinforesearch.com/reports/1535381/continuous-feed-inkjet-printer
The Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market is segmented as below:
Market segment by Type
Fully Automatic Vertical Autoclaves Semi-Automatic Vertical Autoclaves
Market segment by Application
Medical Scientific Research Agricultural Food Others
Major players covered
Belimed STERIS Getinge Fedegari Srl Shinva Astell Scientific DE LAMA S.p.A. Yamato Scientific SANYO Labtron Haier Biomedical Bionics Scientific Sada Medical Narang Medical Labsnova Apothecaries Sundries Mfg
The Main Contents of the Report, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year. Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer from 2018 to 2023. Chapter 3, the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast. Chapter 4, the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value and growth by regions, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value and market share for key countries in the world, from 2017 to 2022.and Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2024 to 2029. Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, Porters Five Forces analysis, and Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. Chapter 13, the key raw materials and key suppliers, and industry chain of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer. Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion.
The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our report on the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market covers the following areas:
Columnar Sediment Sampler market sizing
Columnar Sediment Sampler market forecast
Columnar Sediment Sampler market industry analysis
Analyze the needs of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerbusiness market
Answer the market level of global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer
Statistics the annual growth of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerproduction market
The main producers of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerproduction market
Describe the growth factor that promotes market demand
Global Info Research is a company that digs deep into global industry information to support enterprises with market strategies and in-depth market development analysis reports. We provides market information consulting services in the global region to support enterprise strategic planning and official information reporting, and focuses on customized research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and top industry services. At the same time, Global Info Research is also a report publisher, a customer and an interest-based suppliers, and is trusted by more than 30,000 companies around the world. We will always carry out all aspects of our business with excellent expertise and experience.
Contact Us:
GlobaI Info Research
Web: https://www.globalinforesearch.com
CN: 0086-176 6505 2062
HK: 00852-5819 7708
US: 001-347 966 1888
Email: [email protected]
submitted by GoingCrazy0515 to u/GoingCrazy0515 [link] [comments]
According to our (Global Info Research) latest study, the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size was valued at USD 504.2 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 686 million by 2029 with a CAGR of 4.5% during review period. The influence of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War were considered while estimating market sizes.
Key Features:
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts, in consumption value), sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts by region and country, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market size and forecasts, by Type and by Application, in consumption value, sales quantity, and average selling prices, 2018-2029
Global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market shares of main players, shipments in revenue, sales quantity, and ASP, 2018-2023
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries
To assess the growth potential for Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer
To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market
To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
This report profiles key players in the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market based on the following parameters - company overview, production, value, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments.
Request Free Sample Copy Or buy this report at:
https://www.globalinforesearch.com/reports/1535381/continuous-feed-inkjet-printer
The Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market is segmented as below:
Market segment by Type
Fully Automatic Vertical Autoclaves Semi-Automatic Vertical Autoclaves
Market segment by Application
Medical Scientific Research Agricultural Food Others
Major players covered
Belimed STERIS Getinge Fedegari Srl Shinva Astell Scientific DE LAMA S.p.A. Yamato Scientific SANYO Labtron Haier Biomedical Bionics Scientific Sada Medical Narang Medical Labsnova Apothecaries Sundries Mfg
The Main Contents of the Report, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year. Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer from 2018 to 2023. Chapter 3, the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast. Chapter 4, the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value and growth by regions, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2018 to 2029. Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value and market share for key countries in the world, from 2017 to 2022.and Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2024 to 2029. Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, Porters Five Forces analysis, and Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. Chapter 13, the key raw materials and key suppliers, and industry chain of Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer. Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion.
The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our report on the Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer market covers the following areas:
Columnar Sediment Sampler market sizing
Columnar Sediment Sampler market forecast
Columnar Sediment Sampler market industry analysis
Analyze the needs of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerbusiness market
Answer the market level of global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizer
Statistics the annual growth of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerproduction market
The main producers of the global Vertical Autoclave High Pressure Steam Sterilizerproduction market
Describe the growth factor that promotes market demand
Global Info Research is a company that digs deep into global industry information to support enterprises with market strategies and in-depth market development analysis reports. We provides market information consulting services in the global region to support enterprise strategic planning and official information reporting, and focuses on customized research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and top industry services. At the same time, Global Info Research is also a report publisher, a customer and an interest-based suppliers, and is trusted by more than 30,000 companies around the world. We will always carry out all aspects of our business with excellent expertise and experience.
Contact Us:
GlobaI Info Research
Web: https://www.globalinforesearch.com
CN: 0086-176 6505 2062
HK: 00852-5819 7708
US: 001-347 966 1888
Email: [email protected]
2023.06.06 05:11 Significant_Neat_689 AAI is way better than AAI2
Gonna write a 10-page essay for 2 comments and a 33% upvote rate but whatever
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It's true.
The Ace Attorney fanbase is generally more analytically intelligent than most other visual novel fanbases, so it's very disappointing to see so many people lulled by AAI2's cheap parlor tricks while failing to grasp the beauty of AAI. Truly the biggest L for this subreddit.
Let's start with the overarching story: AAI is about an international smuggling ring, and AAI2 is about a man who tricks people into committing murder. That alone should dictate which game is better, but everyone seems to love Simon Keyes because of how random and unpredictable the twist was. I fail to see why the smuggling ring is so slept-on; perhaps it's too realistic or down-to-earth and the community would rather have a final villain plotting to steal the moon? But more on that later.
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AAI has the biggest cases of "Seinfield is unfunny" in the series, because AAI2 is an unofficial translation and thus more accessible to people. On the other hand, AAI is only available as a DS cartridge (rather expensive), the only game not available on the 3DS eshop or Steam. Of course most people played AAI2 before AAI. SO MANY things got ruined by AAI2. I honestly think this is one of the reasons AAI2 did not get a localization.
EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION: Given all the discussion and media on AAI2, and lack thereof for AAI, the mass amounts of lurkers who don't comment will definitely have experienced (maybe played, maybe watched a playthrough) AAI2 before AAI. And those people vote on polls and decide by upvoting which opinions they like. So sure, more power to you if you played AAI before AAI2, but I still stand by my point that your 200 lurking supporters have never even played Ablaze and the overall community opinion is skewed by the mass exposure of AAI2 and the obscurity of AAI.
Let's see some of the highlights:
The Great Thief Yagatarasu - Hit the hardest by this. Kay Faraday parading around the fact that she is the Yagatarasu in AAI2 is vastly different from her doing the same in Kidnapped and Ablaze. In AAI, starting from the first case, the Yagatarasu is this mysterious thief that supposedly has a lot of intel on the smuggling ring and we only get to see his silhouette and calling card. And don't forget his theme, Yagatarasu - The Gentleman Thief, which really does set the mood and fit him perfectly during the fleeting moments it plays. Kay only pretended to be the thief in two cases. I think the scarcity of the Yagatarasu appearances is what really makes the reveal so intriguing.
Yeah, and the final reveal: be honest here. The twist of it being Byrne, Calisto and Badd would have hit much harder on everyone's first playthrough of AAI without knowing anything from AAI2. What really dampens the Yatagarasu is the fact that he is brought up too many times by Kay in AAI2 (and even just her soundtrack name). Also the fact that the Yagatarasu calling card is the inverted version of the smuggling ring leader's instruction cards, to send a message that the Yagatarasu was only a few steps behind the ringleader, was absolutely brilliant and a much better last-minute twist than anything else the series ever came up with.
Calisto Yew/Shih-na - She was with Lang for his first appearance, and every consecutive one. That's what made her reveal so impactful. After AAI2 came along, she was just another one-off character. To be honest, the twist that she was Calisto Yew was completely unexpected, although maybe I should have realized beforehand. I also think the way she is finally cornered is pretty awesome. Setting alight the coat to reveal the Bahbalese ink burning green, pretty symbolic of her smuggling acts finally brought to light.
Shi-Long Lang character development - I'm surprised how no one mentions this. It's on the same level as Sebastian's development, and I think the only reason it's so slept-on is because in AAI2, the cases are normally so dull that you have no other choice but to focus on the characters, while AAI Lang shares the stage with the rest of the plot. The way he goes from respectfully hating on prosecutors as a super serious officer to "Lang Zi says: ...just go already!" and supporting Edgeworth in his trial after the credits is super awesome. Him losing his position in Interpol is worse than Yuri Cosmos getting demoted after Turnabout For Tomorrow in terms of discomfort food. I feel like the way Lang is introduced in AAI2 really does discredit all his character development in AAI.
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Now let's compare all aspects of each game:
Case 1 (general): Visitor > Target. Visitor is the most underrated case in the series, and Target is a 3-hour long snooze-fest. Target is a case 1 yet fails to be an intro case and thus is not good, that's what it boils down to.
Case 1 (witnesses): Visitor == Target. Visitor brought back Maggey who is one of the blandest characters in the series, but Target's defendant wasn't any better. Target also managed to fumble de Killer's appearance into a very boring confrontation, so they are about tied.
Case 1 (culprit, single-case): Portsman > Knightley. The prosecutorial interactions were much more fun than that overconfident bodyguard.
Example --
Portsman: It's a possibility. Maybe your salary's been cut so much that life is getting a little too rough to handle...?
Gumshoe: I'll have you know that I eat three square meals every day, pal! ...OK, so all three of them happen to be instant noodles, but...
Portsman: Poor thing. What an evil prosecutor you were paired up with. And what a motive, no?
Case 1 (culprit, whole game): Knightley > Portsman. Sure. The case 1 culprit can have a huge impact on the overarching story. Knightley was one of the better plotwise characters of AAI2.
Case 2 (general): Airlines > Imprisoned. Airlines just edges out Imprisoned slightly, but I admit Imprisoned is the only AAI2 case that deserves all the praise it gets. But I think the twists and turns were just a bit better for Airlines, especially the final Logic flashback segment as Lablanc slowly fell over the railing.
Case 2 (witnesses): Airlines > Imprisoned. Zinc Lablanc carries the entire case, like Luke Atmey did. Rhoda Teneiro was also cool. Jay Elbird and Frank Sahwit can't compare, and even Keyes' performance in this case, even knowing that he manipulated Knightley's death, doesn't quite reach Airlines' level of beautiful simplicity here. Dogen was just a plot device in this episode.
Case 2 (culprit, single-case): Meele == Roland. Both had godawful motives and mild characters.
Case 2 (culprit, whole game): Roland > Meele. Of course, because Roland got a whole other backstory while Meele stayed the same.
Case 3 (general): Inherited > Kidnapped. Yeah, alright. Who knew that letting you play as Gregory Edgeworth in the events leading up to DL-6 would be more interesting for the audience than actually coming up with an original idea? F for effort, I guess.
Case 3 (witnesses): Inherited > Kidnapped. Mainly because Ema Skye was absolutely useless in Kidnapped. Lauren Paups was also pretty bad. Inherited only had some meh witnesses, nothing outstanding, but still better than Kidnapped.
Case 3 (culprit, single-case): Gustavia > Lance. Well, yeah. Lance did kill only in self defense, while Gustavia and Dover had a whole storyline going. I feel like Kidnapped was meant to be a breath of fresh air from the constant murder grind, like Stolen. Too bad neither case ended up being great.
Case 3 (culprit, whole game): Lance > Gustavia. Well, not quite Lance himself, but the effect it had by prompting Ernest Amano to forge evidence, get caught and questioned, and give up the evidence to the KG-8 incident was pretty impactful. Gustavia, while the first of many things that ticked off Keyes, was also the only part of his story that wasn't really carefully intertwined with anything else.
Case 4 (general): Reminiscence == Forgotten. Interestingly, the one case everyone seems to like in AAI is actually not that great, all things considered. Forgotten was a very slow case with boring investigation sequences all around, but Reminiscence had terrible character interactions and was paced horribly.
Case 4 (witnesses): Reminiscence > Forgotten. Detective Badd blows everyone else out of the water. The Judge was alright, and Gumshoe was pretty subpar. But still, better than whatever AAI2 was trying to do with Lotta Hart and Nicole Swift.
Case 4 (culprit, single-case): Calisto == Blaise. I can't really say one was better than the other. Calisto's double murder and escape managed to top the previous 3-4 for "best loose end", but Blaise was no slouch either.
Case 4 (culprit, whole game): Calisto > Blaise. Doesn't need an explanation.
Now for the opinion that will get me downvoted. Turnabout Ablaze is a better case than The Grand Turnabout, both as a finale and in general.
Firstly, Colias Palaeno was a better final plot device character than John Marsh. Palaeno was introduced as this very suspicious character, only to later become the most helpful witness in the entire series, and the only person who didn't lie, ever. Despite overdoing his coupon-dealing gimmick, it never really got old or tedious. And come on, he was just a cool guy all around. His interactions with Alba were also very interesting considering the history between their countries. Palaeno is the perfect example of how to write a compelling plot device character.
On the other hand, John Marsh never really made an impact and his edgy teenager persona was just meh. Him refusing to take revenge on Dogen in the end was cool, but he was still not as good a character overall. His kidnapping was mainly to develop Courtney's character, but even she was not that interesting in the end. And his twist of being the president's son was very underwhelming, if I'm being honest.
Every case 5 is traditionally the resolution of two different murders. For AAI, it was Ka-Shi Nou murdered in the Allebahstian embassy, and Manny Coachen murdered in the Bahbalese embassy on the same night. For AAI2, it was the body double's murder out of the blue and the real president's murder 12 years ago. Surely Ablaze has a much better premise already.
Ablaze is a very symmetrical, well-organized case with the themes of duality. Allebahst has strict migration laws and an old army general as the ambassador, who appears to be a kindly old man. Bahbal is a very lax tourist country with a young advertising ambassador who is suspiciously cheerful. And yet, Ambassador Alba is the villain behind the smuggling ring while Ambassador Palaeno is hopelessly clueless about his secretary Coachen. I really like the dynamic amongst the characters here. Even Coachen gets characterization from Palaeno's relationship with him and sadness at his death.
Honestly, I thought the premise of the country split in two was a very intriguing setup. Even for people who aren't super interested in history-esque topics, the case should provide a novel setting. The competition to see which embassy had the legitimate statue, the goodwill ambassadorship involving the Steel Samurai, the reuniting of Cohdopia, everything really felt like something big and exciting was happening.
How many people actually played Ablaze fully? I bet half the people who hate on Turnabout Ablaze here don't even know that the embassy was set on fire in the case. They only watched Alba's breakdown, went on the wiki to find out the two victims, and called it a day before formulating their opinion. They missed out on everything, like the safe-opening puzzle and the secret of the Yagatasaru key/"knife", and figuring out how the two statues and the body got transported between the embassies.
Unlike Ablaze's very uniform and straightforward setup, The Grand Turnabout is just a speed-rap of a case with very sporadic events that feel like it's just thrown at you randomly so you never get bored of one single topic. So right after exposing Blaise as the killer, you find the president of Zheng Fa is murdered. You go to question someone, but she is currently judging Roland's trial for the murder of Knightley. Then Blaise turns out to not get in any trouble for what happened in Forgotten. Then Marsh gets kidnapped and you decide to join the trial and help Sebastian. He then runs away and you stall for time until Marsh is found and Sebastian comes back and proves that Blaise tampered with evidence. So he gets arrested after all and Roland is guilty. Then you get a mysterious radio call telling you to go to an orphanage, where you find out that the real president (along with some other guy) was killed there 12 years ago. With a very tedious Little Thief investigation sequence. Now you trace back who called you on the radio and pin every single crime in the game onto him. And Dogen helped, a bit. The end.
There were zero compelling aspects of the case. It feels like the case was entirely written to showcase character development for half the cast, and the actual plot points are half-assed and not bothered with. The final reveal is just a cheap cop-out by going "oh actually A and B are connected. Wow!". I feel like The Grand Turnabout is actually the worst-written case of AAI2 in terms of sheer writing. Every event is random until the final reveal. The way the events proceed is also very weird and feels very unpolished. The investigation drags on way longer than Alba's confrontation does. No way people like this mess of a case more than Ablaze just because it has more rewarding/overstimulating moments at times and uses shock value.
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It's funny that AAI has the overarching plot be straightforward and each individual case have its twists and turns, while AAI2 is the exact opposite. Each case basically feels like the game just leads you along a long, drawn-out and boring path to the answer while the actual overarching plot is this convoluted, improbable steaming mess of a story.
I really don't think Keyes was all that special. Sure, there were minute hints scattered throughout the game before he is revealed to be the mastermind. Sure, he had a compelling motive. But in the end, it all boils down to "oh remember all that? well, the major twist is that they are connected!". Just a weak cop-out finale that manages to be flashy enough to woo half the audience. But what I really dislike about Keyes is the way he was caught. I personally think that final villains should try to not get caught. Keyes was so cocky that he was toying with Edgeworth on purpose. Kidnapping Kay and John, teasing Edgeworth over the radio, he basically flew too close to the sun and paid the price. Alba, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Edgeworth or the rest of the cast.
I think half of what makes a compelling villain is how they try to avoid being caught. Alba managed to stay low and avoid detection for 10 years, while still running the smuggling ring. His confrontations felt very calm and collected, and just overall very professional at maintaining his innocence. Unlike Keyes who just keeps laughing at you and mocking you. Sure, both characters had high egos, but bottom line: Keyes got too cocky from a few successful manipulations while Alba maintained his confidence in his position which he has decades of experience in.
Yes, Alba was very stubborn and makes the final fight drag on, but that should be a good thing for his character. Shows he is very experienced and well-prepared for law enforcement. Honestly, my one complaint is that his fight didn't drag on even longer; I think that him losing his ambassadorship was a bit too easy and he should have put up more of a fight regarding that. People say Alba was too generically evil, but I think that he is actually unique in the way that he is the first pure villain as a final villain. Remember, von Karma and Gant were not full-time criminals; they were law enforcement who killed once and then were caught trying to cover up their crime. Engarde was an actor who only cared about publicity. Godot was, well, not exactly a criminal. Gavin was a lawyer who did anything to win his case and held grudges. Up until then, we never had a professional criminal as a final villain until Alba. Taking someone like him down should be expected to be difficult, long and tedious. Also his breakdown was much more rewarding than Keyes' getting beat up by animals, mostly because Keyes kinda deserved more than that. If Keyes had been punished harder, his breakdown might have been more satisfying than Alba's, to be fair.
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AAI also has a better soundtrack than AAI2, and you can fight me on that. AAI2 may have some earwormy tracks, but it's like this: AAIs soundtrack actually sounds like it was composed for the game. Tracks like the Yagatarasu's theme (not Kay, the actual Yagatarasu) and Torn Apart Countries fit the mood and set the grandiose atmosphere perfectly. AAI2s soundtrack is just the artist taking a picture of the character, showing it to a composer, and going "make a theme for him". The Man Who Masterminds the Game may be more catchy than The Enemy Who Surpasses the Law, but the latter definitely suits its respective character and confrontation as a whole more. And I just gotta appreciate a fitting theme more than an earwormy one.
Honestly, Objection 2009 was better than Objection 2011 just because it felt so much more satisfying in a calm, procedural manner, like "Okay, so we figured this out. Make a mental note of this for later". Objection 2011 is a TV-show opening for Edgeworth. It might be very catchy, but I honestly think it doesn't fit a single moment in which it is played and is just an overstimulation.
Also I will get ostracized for saying this, but Lying Coldly was a perfect take on how a pursuit theme for Edgeworth would sound, that Wanting to Find the Truth completely ruined in favor of sounding more like a generic pursuit theme. It may be a good song, but it has none of the charm that Lying Coldly had.
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AAI2s translation team, to be honest, did a pretty bad job. (Preface: yes I know criticism like this is mean and uncalled for but since AAI2 isn't even their game, I think it is fair to criticize their take on it after they imposed themselves onto Capcom's game.)
Let's start with the voicelines. Sebastian Debeste's voice actor was the only one who did a good job. Everyone else's voices were way too "high-quality sound" to fit AAs theme. Like, especially ProZDs take on Gregory Edgeworth, who sounds like a 20 year old with a smoking problem and a mouth that's 2cm in diameter. It especially contrasts von Karma's voice in Inherited and is clearly out of place. Sorry, but ProZD was an absolute garbage casting choice for Gregory. I don't care what you say, Courtney is not British. Knightley and Shields' voices are just too realistic and not AA sounding. Keyes and Blaise are the only other objections that almost fit the bill, almost.
Again, though, massive props to Sebastian's voice actor. He absolutely nailed his voiceclip.
On a related note, I think Alba and Calisto's objections are actually not bad because remember, they are (Alba definitely, Calisto I assume so since she works for him) foreigners who originate from Cohdopia. It makes sense for them to have an accent when speaking English, and with only one word to go off of, their accent sounds exactly like one would expect. It's surprising how most people can't make that basic connection and instead go straight to mindless hating. Ace Attorney's fanbase is supposed to be smarter than that.
Okay now back to the translation team, the overall dialogue for AAI2 feels much more dry. It's not as easy as you'd expect to capture the tones of each character during the translation, and the translation team kind of failed at that. The dialogue for the returning characters, especially Gumshoe and Kay, feel much more uniform and really lack the charm that AAIs official translation had. Try playing AAI and AAI2 in alternating cases side-by-side and the difference becomes clear as day.
Not just the dialogue in general, but also the quips and banter during the investigation sequences between main characters. Especially that one time in Inherited in which young Shields quotes Godot's "blacker than a moonless night" soliloque, for Gregory to think to himself "note: coffee has a bad effect on lawyers". If you really think about it, this took place before T&T and there is no way Godot would just quote Shields, so it's a really weird continuity plothole that both people say the same thing, like a 4th wall break. It's supposed to be a joke, but come on. Capcom wouldn't actually do something so unprofessional like that, and the translation team really had to make that weird joke a permanent part of Capcom's game. It's an official game so it's supposed to be more professional than using 4th wall breaks like that. This may seem nitpicky, but again - official Capcom game.
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Of course, people can like whatever they like. You may prefer a culprit that is over-the-top crazy more than a down-to-Earth one. You can like an unpredictable, convoluted overarching story more than a well-written one. But objectively, from a critical, unbiased point of view, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth is a much better-written, higher quality work than Gyakuten Kenji 2. No amount of rose-colored glasses can change that, sorry.
submitted by Significant_Neat_689 to AceAttorney [link] [comments]
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It's true.
The Ace Attorney fanbase is generally more analytically intelligent than most other visual novel fanbases, so it's very disappointing to see so many people lulled by AAI2's cheap parlor tricks while failing to grasp the beauty of AAI. Truly the biggest L for this subreddit.
Let's start with the overarching story: AAI is about an international smuggling ring, and AAI2 is about a man who tricks people into committing murder. That alone should dictate which game is better, but everyone seems to love Simon Keyes because of how random and unpredictable the twist was. I fail to see why the smuggling ring is so slept-on; perhaps it's too realistic or down-to-earth and the community would rather have a final villain plotting to steal the moon? But more on that later.
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AAI has the biggest cases of "Seinfield is unfunny" in the series, because AAI2 is an unofficial translation and thus more accessible to people. On the other hand, AAI is only available as a DS cartridge (rather expensive), the only game not available on the 3DS eshop or Steam. Of course most people played AAI2 before AAI. SO MANY things got ruined by AAI2. I honestly think this is one of the reasons AAI2 did not get a localization.
EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION: Given all the discussion and media on AAI2, and lack thereof for AAI, the mass amounts of lurkers who don't comment will definitely have experienced (maybe played, maybe watched a playthrough) AAI2 before AAI. And those people vote on polls and decide by upvoting which opinions they like. So sure, more power to you if you played AAI before AAI2, but I still stand by my point that your 200 lurking supporters have never even played Ablaze and the overall community opinion is skewed by the mass exposure of AAI2 and the obscurity of AAI.
Let's see some of the highlights:
The Great Thief Yagatarasu - Hit the hardest by this. Kay Faraday parading around the fact that she is the Yagatarasu in AAI2 is vastly different from her doing the same in Kidnapped and Ablaze. In AAI, starting from the first case, the Yagatarasu is this mysterious thief that supposedly has a lot of intel on the smuggling ring and we only get to see his silhouette and calling card. And don't forget his theme, Yagatarasu - The Gentleman Thief, which really does set the mood and fit him perfectly during the fleeting moments it plays. Kay only pretended to be the thief in two cases. I think the scarcity of the Yagatarasu appearances is what really makes the reveal so intriguing.
Yeah, and the final reveal: be honest here. The twist of it being Byrne, Calisto and Badd would have hit much harder on everyone's first playthrough of AAI without knowing anything from AAI2. What really dampens the Yatagarasu is the fact that he is brought up too many times by Kay in AAI2 (and even just her soundtrack name). Also the fact that the Yagatarasu calling card is the inverted version of the smuggling ring leader's instruction cards, to send a message that the Yagatarasu was only a few steps behind the ringleader, was absolutely brilliant and a much better last-minute twist than anything else the series ever came up with.
Calisto Yew/Shih-na - She was with Lang for his first appearance, and every consecutive one. That's what made her reveal so impactful. After AAI2 came along, she was just another one-off character. To be honest, the twist that she was Calisto Yew was completely unexpected, although maybe I should have realized beforehand. I also think the way she is finally cornered is pretty awesome. Setting alight the coat to reveal the Bahbalese ink burning green, pretty symbolic of her smuggling acts finally brought to light.
Shi-Long Lang character development - I'm surprised how no one mentions this. It's on the same level as Sebastian's development, and I think the only reason it's so slept-on is because in AAI2, the cases are normally so dull that you have no other choice but to focus on the characters, while AAI Lang shares the stage with the rest of the plot. The way he goes from respectfully hating on prosecutors as a super serious officer to "Lang Zi says: ...just go already!" and supporting Edgeworth in his trial after the credits is super awesome. Him losing his position in Interpol is worse than Yuri Cosmos getting demoted after Turnabout For Tomorrow in terms of discomfort food. I feel like the way Lang is introduced in AAI2 really does discredit all his character development in AAI.
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Now let's compare all aspects of each game:
Case 1 (general): Visitor > Target. Visitor is the most underrated case in the series, and Target is a 3-hour long snooze-fest. Target is a case 1 yet fails to be an intro case and thus is not good, that's what it boils down to.
Case 1 (witnesses): Visitor == Target. Visitor brought back Maggey who is one of the blandest characters in the series, but Target's defendant wasn't any better. Target also managed to fumble de Killer's appearance into a very boring confrontation, so they are about tied.
Case 1 (culprit, single-case): Portsman > Knightley. The prosecutorial interactions were much more fun than that overconfident bodyguard.
Example --
Portsman: It's a possibility. Maybe your salary's been cut so much that life is getting a little too rough to handle...?
Gumshoe: I'll have you know that I eat three square meals every day, pal! ...OK, so all three of them happen to be instant noodles, but...
Portsman: Poor thing. What an evil prosecutor you were paired up with. And what a motive, no?
Case 1 (culprit, whole game): Knightley > Portsman. Sure. The case 1 culprit can have a huge impact on the overarching story. Knightley was one of the better plotwise characters of AAI2.
Case 2 (general): Airlines > Imprisoned. Airlines just edges out Imprisoned slightly, but I admit Imprisoned is the only AAI2 case that deserves all the praise it gets. But I think the twists and turns were just a bit better for Airlines, especially the final Logic flashback segment as Lablanc slowly fell over the railing.
Case 2 (witnesses): Airlines > Imprisoned. Zinc Lablanc carries the entire case, like Luke Atmey did. Rhoda Teneiro was also cool. Jay Elbird and Frank Sahwit can't compare, and even Keyes' performance in this case, even knowing that he manipulated Knightley's death, doesn't quite reach Airlines' level of beautiful simplicity here. Dogen was just a plot device in this episode.
Case 2 (culprit, single-case): Meele == Roland. Both had godawful motives and mild characters.
Case 2 (culprit, whole game): Roland > Meele. Of course, because Roland got a whole other backstory while Meele stayed the same.
Case 3 (general): Inherited > Kidnapped. Yeah, alright. Who knew that letting you play as Gregory Edgeworth in the events leading up to DL-6 would be more interesting for the audience than actually coming up with an original idea? F for effort, I guess.
Case 3 (witnesses): Inherited > Kidnapped. Mainly because Ema Skye was absolutely useless in Kidnapped. Lauren Paups was also pretty bad. Inherited only had some meh witnesses, nothing outstanding, but still better than Kidnapped.
Case 3 (culprit, single-case): Gustavia > Lance. Well, yeah. Lance did kill only in self defense, while Gustavia and Dover had a whole storyline going. I feel like Kidnapped was meant to be a breath of fresh air from the constant murder grind, like Stolen. Too bad neither case ended up being great.
Case 3 (culprit, whole game): Lance > Gustavia. Well, not quite Lance himself, but the effect it had by prompting Ernest Amano to forge evidence, get caught and questioned, and give up the evidence to the KG-8 incident was pretty impactful. Gustavia, while the first of many things that ticked off Keyes, was also the only part of his story that wasn't really carefully intertwined with anything else.
Case 4 (general): Reminiscence == Forgotten. Interestingly, the one case everyone seems to like in AAI is actually not that great, all things considered. Forgotten was a very slow case with boring investigation sequences all around, but Reminiscence had terrible character interactions and was paced horribly.
Case 4 (witnesses): Reminiscence > Forgotten. Detective Badd blows everyone else out of the water. The Judge was alright, and Gumshoe was pretty subpar. But still, better than whatever AAI2 was trying to do with Lotta Hart and Nicole Swift.
Case 4 (culprit, single-case): Calisto == Blaise. I can't really say one was better than the other. Calisto's double murder and escape managed to top the previous 3-4 for "best loose end", but Blaise was no slouch either.
Case 4 (culprit, whole game): Calisto > Blaise. Doesn't need an explanation.
Now for the opinion that will get me downvoted. Turnabout Ablaze is a better case than The Grand Turnabout, both as a finale and in general.
Firstly, Colias Palaeno was a better final plot device character than John Marsh. Palaeno was introduced as this very suspicious character, only to later become the most helpful witness in the entire series, and the only person who didn't lie, ever. Despite overdoing his coupon-dealing gimmick, it never really got old or tedious. And come on, he was just a cool guy all around. His interactions with Alba were also very interesting considering the history between their countries. Palaeno is the perfect example of how to write a compelling plot device character.
On the other hand, John Marsh never really made an impact and his edgy teenager persona was just meh. Him refusing to take revenge on Dogen in the end was cool, but he was still not as good a character overall. His kidnapping was mainly to develop Courtney's character, but even she was not that interesting in the end. And his twist of being the president's son was very underwhelming, if I'm being honest.
Every case 5 is traditionally the resolution of two different murders. For AAI, it was Ka-Shi Nou murdered in the Allebahstian embassy, and Manny Coachen murdered in the Bahbalese embassy on the same night. For AAI2, it was the body double's murder out of the blue and the real president's murder 12 years ago. Surely Ablaze has a much better premise already.
Ablaze is a very symmetrical, well-organized case with the themes of duality. Allebahst has strict migration laws and an old army general as the ambassador, who appears to be a kindly old man. Bahbal is a very lax tourist country with a young advertising ambassador who is suspiciously cheerful. And yet, Ambassador Alba is the villain behind the smuggling ring while Ambassador Palaeno is hopelessly clueless about his secretary Coachen. I really like the dynamic amongst the characters here. Even Coachen gets characterization from Palaeno's relationship with him and sadness at his death.
Honestly, I thought the premise of the country split in two was a very intriguing setup. Even for people who aren't super interested in history-esque topics, the case should provide a novel setting. The competition to see which embassy had the legitimate statue, the goodwill ambassadorship involving the Steel Samurai, the reuniting of Cohdopia, everything really felt like something big and exciting was happening.
How many people actually played Ablaze fully? I bet half the people who hate on Turnabout Ablaze here don't even know that the embassy was set on fire in the case. They only watched Alba's breakdown, went on the wiki to find out the two victims, and called it a day before formulating their opinion. They missed out on everything, like the safe-opening puzzle and the secret of the Yagatasaru key/"knife", and figuring out how the two statues and the body got transported between the embassies.
Unlike Ablaze's very uniform and straightforward setup, The Grand Turnabout is just a speed-rap of a case with very sporadic events that feel like it's just thrown at you randomly so you never get bored of one single topic. So right after exposing Blaise as the killer, you find the president of Zheng Fa is murdered. You go to question someone, but she is currently judging Roland's trial for the murder of Knightley. Then Blaise turns out to not get in any trouble for what happened in Forgotten. Then Marsh gets kidnapped and you decide to join the trial and help Sebastian. He then runs away and you stall for time until Marsh is found and Sebastian comes back and proves that Blaise tampered with evidence. So he gets arrested after all and Roland is guilty. Then you get a mysterious radio call telling you to go to an orphanage, where you find out that the real president (along with some other guy) was killed there 12 years ago. With a very tedious Little Thief investigation sequence. Now you trace back who called you on the radio and pin every single crime in the game onto him. And Dogen helped, a bit. The end.
There were zero compelling aspects of the case. It feels like the case was entirely written to showcase character development for half the cast, and the actual plot points are half-assed and not bothered with. The final reveal is just a cheap cop-out by going "oh actually A and B are connected. Wow!". I feel like The Grand Turnabout is actually the worst-written case of AAI2 in terms of sheer writing. Every event is random until the final reveal. The way the events proceed is also very weird and feels very unpolished. The investigation drags on way longer than Alba's confrontation does. No way people like this mess of a case more than Ablaze just because it has more rewarding/overstimulating moments at times and uses shock value.
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It's funny that AAI has the overarching plot be straightforward and each individual case have its twists and turns, while AAI2 is the exact opposite. Each case basically feels like the game just leads you along a long, drawn-out and boring path to the answer while the actual overarching plot is this convoluted, improbable steaming mess of a story.
I really don't think Keyes was all that special. Sure, there were minute hints scattered throughout the game before he is revealed to be the mastermind. Sure, he had a compelling motive. But in the end, it all boils down to "oh remember all that? well, the major twist is that they are connected!". Just a weak cop-out finale that manages to be flashy enough to woo half the audience. But what I really dislike about Keyes is the way he was caught. I personally think that final villains should try to not get caught. Keyes was so cocky that he was toying with Edgeworth on purpose. Kidnapping Kay and John, teasing Edgeworth over the radio, he basically flew too close to the sun and paid the price. Alba, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Edgeworth or the rest of the cast.
I think half of what makes a compelling villain is how they try to avoid being caught. Alba managed to stay low and avoid detection for 10 years, while still running the smuggling ring. His confrontations felt very calm and collected, and just overall very professional at maintaining his innocence. Unlike Keyes who just keeps laughing at you and mocking you. Sure, both characters had high egos, but bottom line: Keyes got too cocky from a few successful manipulations while Alba maintained his confidence in his position which he has decades of experience in.
Yes, Alba was very stubborn and makes the final fight drag on, but that should be a good thing for his character. Shows he is very experienced and well-prepared for law enforcement. Honestly, my one complaint is that his fight didn't drag on even longer; I think that him losing his ambassadorship was a bit too easy and he should have put up more of a fight regarding that. People say Alba was too generically evil, but I think that he is actually unique in the way that he is the first pure villain as a final villain. Remember, von Karma and Gant were not full-time criminals; they were law enforcement who killed once and then were caught trying to cover up their crime. Engarde was an actor who only cared about publicity. Godot was, well, not exactly a criminal. Gavin was a lawyer who did anything to win his case and held grudges. Up until then, we never had a professional criminal as a final villain until Alba. Taking someone like him down should be expected to be difficult, long and tedious. Also his breakdown was much more rewarding than Keyes' getting beat up by animals, mostly because Keyes kinda deserved more than that. If Keyes had been punished harder, his breakdown might have been more satisfying than Alba's, to be fair.
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AAI also has a better soundtrack than AAI2, and you can fight me on that. AAI2 may have some earwormy tracks, but it's like this: AAIs soundtrack actually sounds like it was composed for the game. Tracks like the Yagatarasu's theme (not Kay, the actual Yagatarasu) and Torn Apart Countries fit the mood and set the grandiose atmosphere perfectly. AAI2s soundtrack is just the artist taking a picture of the character, showing it to a composer, and going "make a theme for him". The Man Who Masterminds the Game may be more catchy than The Enemy Who Surpasses the Law, but the latter definitely suits its respective character and confrontation as a whole more. And I just gotta appreciate a fitting theme more than an earwormy one.
Honestly, Objection 2009 was better than Objection 2011 just because it felt so much more satisfying in a calm, procedural manner, like "Okay, so we figured this out. Make a mental note of this for later". Objection 2011 is a TV-show opening for Edgeworth. It might be very catchy, but I honestly think it doesn't fit a single moment in which it is played and is just an overstimulation.
Also I will get ostracized for saying this, but Lying Coldly was a perfect take on how a pursuit theme for Edgeworth would sound, that Wanting to Find the Truth completely ruined in favor of sounding more like a generic pursuit theme. It may be a good song, but it has none of the charm that Lying Coldly had.
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AAI2s translation team, to be honest, did a pretty bad job. (Preface: yes I know criticism like this is mean and uncalled for but since AAI2 isn't even their game, I think it is fair to criticize their take on it after they imposed themselves onto Capcom's game.)
Let's start with the voicelines. Sebastian Debeste's voice actor was the only one who did a good job. Everyone else's voices were way too "high-quality sound" to fit AAs theme. Like, especially ProZDs take on Gregory Edgeworth, who sounds like a 20 year old with a smoking problem and a mouth that's 2cm in diameter. It especially contrasts von Karma's voice in Inherited and is clearly out of place. Sorry, but ProZD was an absolute garbage casting choice for Gregory. I don't care what you say, Courtney is not British. Knightley and Shields' voices are just too realistic and not AA sounding. Keyes and Blaise are the only other objections that almost fit the bill, almost.
Again, though, massive props to Sebastian's voice actor. He absolutely nailed his voiceclip.
On a related note, I think Alba and Calisto's objections are actually not bad because remember, they are (Alba definitely, Calisto I assume so since she works for him) foreigners who originate from Cohdopia. It makes sense for them to have an accent when speaking English, and with only one word to go off of, their accent sounds exactly like one would expect. It's surprising how most people can't make that basic connection and instead go straight to mindless hating. Ace Attorney's fanbase is supposed to be smarter than that.
Okay now back to the translation team, the overall dialogue for AAI2 feels much more dry. It's not as easy as you'd expect to capture the tones of each character during the translation, and the translation team kind of failed at that. The dialogue for the returning characters, especially Gumshoe and Kay, feel much more uniform and really lack the charm that AAIs official translation had. Try playing AAI and AAI2 in alternating cases side-by-side and the difference becomes clear as day.
Not just the dialogue in general, but also the quips and banter during the investigation sequences between main characters. Especially that one time in Inherited in which young Shields quotes Godot's "blacker than a moonless night" soliloque, for Gregory to think to himself "note: coffee has a bad effect on lawyers". If you really think about it, this took place before T&T and there is no way Godot would just quote Shields, so it's a really weird continuity plothole that both people say the same thing, like a 4th wall break. It's supposed to be a joke, but come on. Capcom wouldn't actually do something so unprofessional like that, and the translation team really had to make that weird joke a permanent part of Capcom's game. It's an official game so it's supposed to be more professional than using 4th wall breaks like that. This may seem nitpicky, but again - official Capcom game.
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Of course, people can like whatever they like. You may prefer a culprit that is over-the-top crazy more than a down-to-Earth one. You can like an unpredictable, convoluted overarching story more than a well-written one. But objectively, from a critical, unbiased point of view, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth is a much better-written, higher quality work than Gyakuten Kenji 2. No amount of rose-colored glasses can change that, sorry.
2023.06.05 23:35 Matt_the_Senior YAVP : L+ Ultra Ending
So... I made it at last, my first Ultra Ending. Raven Dark Elven Paladin, Starting C and finishing L+.
It was the first time I was trying an Ultra (well, after a few recent early fails due to carelessness). All in all, I didn't find it much harder than a Normal Ending : Having to stay C at the start of the game has some drawbacks, of course, like encountering hostile dwarves (I did the Rolf quest, too), but all in all, game difficulty is about the same. There are more quests to do and more things to plan, though, and I really enjoyed that (in a sense, it was like playing a new game).
The reason for Raven DE Paladin and L+ Ultra is that it's probably the easiest possible Ultra (or at the very least close to it) : Raven ensures that you get the Rune Covered Trident early, which in turn guarantees that you can start training Polearms and Thrown Spears early. DE Paladins have good survivability early on, and are beasts when it comes to melee *and* magic by the late game.
Starting attributes (unadjusted) were : St 15 / Le 4 / Wp 17 / De 14 / To 15 / Ch 1 / Ap 4 / Ma 17 / Pe 16
Le 4 allows to get the Potion of Litteracy, which was fed to the Demented Ratling. Pe 16 is enough to reach 20 after the bonuses are taken into account (+2 from job +Alert).
Early game was killing a Mugger, locating the stairs and getting the Blanket in the SMC (in the hopes of getting some loot, which didn't happen), getting the Pickpocket skill, then DD (went to DD8 to generate the Druid, but didn't fight him), Moldy Dungeon (to get the Tome of Donors), and finally the Caverns of Chaos.
I was extremely lucky to find a Surge of Power on D5, which turned out to be nothing less than the Bracers of War.
Then it was classical midgame stuff (herbs, Dwarftown, midgame locations). The Demented Ratling was fed : the Black Torc, the Potion of Litteracy, the Cornupia, the Ancient Mummy Wrapping (I had no use for it since I had the RCT and the Bracers of War), The Sword of Nonnak (same) and the Tome of Donors (I could have kept it, but I wanted to get crowned L+ asap). Gaab'Baay's quests went fast (I had found most of the needed stuff, and the second boar I encountered dropped a skull). Got crowned L+ at level 18, using the Borderland Settlement altar, and received Fire Immunity + Hammer of the Gods (which I never used). I already had Cold Immunity from the RCT, Acid Immunity from a lucky early Giant Slug, and Shock Immunity from blessing then eating numerous Lightning Lizards.
The Greater Vault in the FGJC was a one with 10 Great Red Wyrms. Needless to say, I didn't try to clear the center room at level 20.
Got a Ring of Djinni Summoning in the Rift, which I used to save Khelly. That's the only RoDS that I found during that playthrough.
While I was on my way to the CoC Great Vault, I found a tension room full of Balors. Since fighting 2 of them in a corridor wasn't particularly frightening, I could cast Slow Monster on myself and got quite a few levels.
Then, the guaranteed CoC Great Vault was one with Giants, which posed no threat by that stage. Got Far Slayer (the +18 +18 crossbow).
After that, I went back to the FGJC Great Vault, and blasted the Wyrms with Freezing Fury (the clerical version of Ice Ball) + Slow Monster cast on myself. Got quite a few levels there (something like from 42 to 49 iirc). The loot was underwhelming : Tome of Alsophocus, Staff of Wonder, bleh ! However, this removed the need to farm experience to reach level 45, which was nice.
Finished Rolf quest at that point. Received the Gleaming Shield just in time to use it (along with one phase dagger) against the Emperor Moloch. Considering how sturdy and fast my character was, it was only a matter of hit and run tactics (and escaping the level asap once I got the Crumpled Scroll).
Then the Blue Dragon Caves (got very lucky there with a Wand of Wishing (3 charges) + Helm of the Night Watchman + Staff of Purification), and finally the Merchants Guild. Found the Shirt of the Saints + Stone of Ages (not bad) + 11M gold (that turned into +3 Wp with the help of Garth).
After that, I killed Keriax (I'm not even sure he saw me), wasted some time raising attributes to the 60s (by dipping various stacks of 9x2s potions in blessed potions of Exchange), read a few spellbooks (just in case, really) and finally went for the deep dive.
I had some fun clearing D:50 using almost exclusively Wp 99 Rain of Sorrow (Acid Ball). Then drank all boosting potions, equiped the trinity and entered the portal.
Andor Drakon was killed using the RCT as a missile weapon. It took 37 shots (of which 17 missed) to kill him, and during that time he really didn't do much : One summoning spell (one zap from a wand of fireballs and the summons were gone), one darkness spell (no effect, since I was wearing the Helm of the Night Watchman), one attack spell, and one step towards me. Oh, and I forgot : he also did a great introductory speech ! Having drunk 12 blessed potions of Boost Speed before steping into the portal is certainly the decisive factor that turned a potentially hard fight into a very easy one.
Some random thoughts :
- The Farsight spell is awesome : it vastly boosts your vision range. Probably a quite rare spellbook, since I only found one.
- For some reason, that character only scored 10M points, while I had a character that did a Normal Ending score 12M points recently. I was quite surprised : I would have thought that an Ultra Ending would have beaten any Normal Ending.
- Provided you buy all potions from the Borderland Settlement whenever you have a chance, you should end up with enough potions of Exchange and enough stacks of useless 2s potions to do some serious potion dipping. Even better if you have the Potion Belt (which I didn't have) or at the very least Moon Sickle (to turn any useless 4s potion into another useless, but lighter, potion). Sadly, I had sacrificed Moon Sickle, so I had to make do with what I had. Nonetheless, I could get quite a few POGAs that way.
- I still had a few items destroyed in the Blue Dragon Caves, although I had 3 immunities (Lightning Lizard + TotRR + Blue Dragon Scale Mail) and 2 resistances (Ring of the High Kings, Gauntlets of Elemental Mastery). Still, if you leave any precious stuff before entering, the item destruction is very manageable.
- Talking about item destruction : only the half of the level where the Air Temple is located seems to be "dangerous" when it comes to item destruction. The other half seems to be completely safe, at least I never had a single item destroyed there.
- The bonuses from eating some Chaos corpses are nice, but nothing compared to what you can get from potion dipping.
I'm going to stop there. Big thanks to all who answered my questions during the past few weeks, and feel free to ask back if you have any question :)
submitted by Matt_the_Senior to ADOM [link] [comments]
It was the first time I was trying an Ultra (well, after a few recent early fails due to carelessness). All in all, I didn't find it much harder than a Normal Ending : Having to stay C at the start of the game has some drawbacks, of course, like encountering hostile dwarves (I did the Rolf quest, too), but all in all, game difficulty is about the same. There are more quests to do and more things to plan, though, and I really enjoyed that (in a sense, it was like playing a new game).
The reason for Raven DE Paladin and L+ Ultra is that it's probably the easiest possible Ultra (or at the very least close to it) : Raven ensures that you get the Rune Covered Trident early, which in turn guarantees that you can start training Polearms and Thrown Spears early. DE Paladins have good survivability early on, and are beasts when it comes to melee *and* magic by the late game.
Starting attributes (unadjusted) were : St 15 / Le 4 / Wp 17 / De 14 / To 15 / Ch 1 / Ap 4 / Ma 17 / Pe 16
Le 4 allows to get the Potion of Litteracy, which was fed to the Demented Ratling. Pe 16 is enough to reach 20 after the bonuses are taken into account (+2 from job +Alert).
Early game was killing a Mugger, locating the stairs and getting the Blanket in the SMC (in the hopes of getting some loot, which didn't happen), getting the Pickpocket skill, then DD (went to DD8 to generate the Druid, but didn't fight him), Moldy Dungeon (to get the Tome of Donors), and finally the Caverns of Chaos.
I was extremely lucky to find a Surge of Power on D5, which turned out to be nothing less than the Bracers of War.
Then it was classical midgame stuff (herbs, Dwarftown, midgame locations). The Demented Ratling was fed : the Black Torc, the Potion of Litteracy, the Cornupia, the Ancient Mummy Wrapping (I had no use for it since I had the RCT and the Bracers of War), The Sword of Nonnak (same) and the Tome of Donors (I could have kept it, but I wanted to get crowned L+ asap). Gaab'Baay's quests went fast (I had found most of the needed stuff, and the second boar I encountered dropped a skull). Got crowned L+ at level 18, using the Borderland Settlement altar, and received Fire Immunity + Hammer of the Gods (which I never used). I already had Cold Immunity from the RCT, Acid Immunity from a lucky early Giant Slug, and Shock Immunity from blessing then eating numerous Lightning Lizards.
The Greater Vault in the FGJC was a one with 10 Great Red Wyrms. Needless to say, I didn't try to clear the center room at level 20.
Got a Ring of Djinni Summoning in the Rift, which I used to save Khelly. That's the only RoDS that I found during that playthrough.
While I was on my way to the CoC Great Vault, I found a tension room full of Balors. Since fighting 2 of them in a corridor wasn't particularly frightening, I could cast Slow Monster on myself and got quite a few levels.
Then, the guaranteed CoC Great Vault was one with Giants, which posed no threat by that stage. Got Far Slayer (the +18 +18 crossbow).
After that, I went back to the FGJC Great Vault, and blasted the Wyrms with Freezing Fury (the clerical version of Ice Ball) + Slow Monster cast on myself. Got quite a few levels there (something like from 42 to 49 iirc). The loot was underwhelming : Tome of Alsophocus, Staff of Wonder, bleh ! However, this removed the need to farm experience to reach level 45, which was nice.
Finished Rolf quest at that point. Received the Gleaming Shield just in time to use it (along with one phase dagger) against the Emperor Moloch. Considering how sturdy and fast my character was, it was only a matter of hit and run tactics (and escaping the level asap once I got the Crumpled Scroll).
Then the Blue Dragon Caves (got very lucky there with a Wand of Wishing (3 charges) + Helm of the Night Watchman + Staff of Purification), and finally the Merchants Guild. Found the Shirt of the Saints + Stone of Ages (not bad) + 11M gold (that turned into +3 Wp with the help of Garth).
After that, I killed Keriax (I'm not even sure he saw me), wasted some time raising attributes to the 60s (by dipping various stacks of 9x2s potions in blessed potions of Exchange), read a few spellbooks (just in case, really) and finally went for the deep dive.
I had some fun clearing D:50 using almost exclusively Wp 99 Rain of Sorrow (Acid Ball). Then drank all boosting potions, equiped the trinity and entered the portal.
Andor Drakon was killed using the RCT as a missile weapon. It took 37 shots (of which 17 missed) to kill him, and during that time he really didn't do much : One summoning spell (one zap from a wand of fireballs and the summons were gone), one darkness spell (no effect, since I was wearing the Helm of the Night Watchman), one attack spell, and one step towards me. Oh, and I forgot : he also did a great introductory speech ! Having drunk 12 blessed potions of Boost Speed before steping into the portal is certainly the decisive factor that turned a potentially hard fight into a very easy one.
Some random thoughts :
- The Farsight spell is awesome : it vastly boosts your vision range. Probably a quite rare spellbook, since I only found one.
- For some reason, that character only scored 10M points, while I had a character that did a Normal Ending score 12M points recently. I was quite surprised : I would have thought that an Ultra Ending would have beaten any Normal Ending.
- Provided you buy all potions from the Borderland Settlement whenever you have a chance, you should end up with enough potions of Exchange and enough stacks of useless 2s potions to do some serious potion dipping. Even better if you have the Potion Belt (which I didn't have) or at the very least Moon Sickle (to turn any useless 4s potion into another useless, but lighter, potion). Sadly, I had sacrificed Moon Sickle, so I had to make do with what I had. Nonetheless, I could get quite a few POGAs that way.
- I still had a few items destroyed in the Blue Dragon Caves, although I had 3 immunities (Lightning Lizard + TotRR + Blue Dragon Scale Mail) and 2 resistances (Ring of the High Kings, Gauntlets of Elemental Mastery). Still, if you leave any precious stuff before entering, the item destruction is very manageable.
- Talking about item destruction : only the half of the level where the Air Temple is located seems to be "dangerous" when it comes to item destruction. The other half seems to be completely safe, at least I never had a single item destroyed there.
- The bonuses from eating some Chaos corpses are nice, but nothing compared to what you can get from potion dipping.
I'm going to stop there. Big thanks to all who answered my questions during the past few weeks, and feel free to ask back if you have any question :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Screenshot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DaPa/50 L+ DV/PV: 90/72 H: 1327/1327 P: 1580/1702 ----b---------B-%0ChAoS . .. ...# ..#. .....# .##.# ...##.# #..C.# ..=..#.#.##..# .=.##.....#...# ##...#..#....# #....#..[$..## #......@.....# ...=...#.......# #.... ##....(]# .=## .#.=.#.# # ## #### # themselves! The corrupting energies are turned into benevolent rays of cleaning nature and free your spirit and your body from all corruption! Then you are suddenly pulled back into your reality! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Background Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Star Race: female Dark Elf Class: Paladin Eye color: black Hair color: white Complexion: black Height: 5'3" Weight: 99 pounds Age: 138 (adult) Star sign: Raven Birthday: 2/Raven (day 2 of the year) YOUR HISTORY: Your parents were poor people. They loved you and cared for you, although you had to hunger more than once. In your childhood you were a credit to your family. Your people loved you and enjoyed your presence. During your youth you embarked on many small journeys to nearby towns on behalf of your parents. You learned to know lots of people and made many friends. Your life as a young adult was characterized by steady determination. Your goal lay clearly ahead of you and you never strayed from your path. You decided to become a Paladin. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inventory ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total weight: 19495 stones Carrying capacity: 124575 stones He: uncursed helm of the Night Watchman [+0, +8] {Pe+4} [100s] Ne: blessed rustproof amulet of life saving [3s] Bo: blessed Shirt of the Saints [+8, +4] {Le+2} [20s] Gi: blessed eternium girdle [+4, +4] [12s] Cl: blessed cloak of protection [+2, +3] [20s] RH: blessed Trident of the Red Rooster (+36, 6d12+18) [+12, +12] {Ma+24} LH: - RR: blessed ring of the High Kings [+2, +3] [1s] LR: uncursed ring of mental stability [+0, +1] {Le+1} [1s] Br: uncursed bracers of war [+8, +4] {Dx+8} [10s] Ga: blessed elemental gauntlets (-1, +0) [+0, +3] [10s] Bo: blessed seven league boots [+6, +7] [30s] MW: - Mi: - Tl: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total weight: 19138 stones Carrying capacity: 124575 stones Helmets ('[') uncursed circlet of the pure mind [+2, +2] {Wi+8} [18s] Shields ('[') uncursed small black shield "Lust for Glory" (+1) [+5, +5] {Wi+3} [50s] Gauntlets ('[') uncursed thick gauntlets (-1, -2) [+0, +1] [15s] blessed thick gauntlets (-2, -1) [+0, +1] [15s] Cloaks ('[') uncursed cloak of protection [+0, +3] [20s] uncursed tattered cloak of the dark souls [+6, +3] {Wi-3} [23s] Girdles ('[') uncursed adamantium girdle [+0, +3] [18s] Boots ('[') uncursed eternium boots [+1, +8] [55s] Necklaces (''') blessed ankh [3s] blessed amulet of free action [3s] blessed necklace of the eye [3s] blessed amulet of petrification resistance [3s] uncursed stone of the ages {Le+6} [2s] uncursed necklace of the eye [3s] One-handed weapons ('(') uncursed unpick axe (+3, 3d6+3) {To+10} [75s] uncursed orcish knife (+1, 1d3+2) [10s] Two-handed weapons ('(') blessed staff of nourishment (+0, 1d10) [40s] blessed staff of parting water (+0, 1d10) [40s] blessed staff of purification (+0, 1d10) [40s] blessed staff of sensing traps (+1, 1d10+2) [+1, +0] [39s] blessed staff of purification (+0, 1d10+1) [40s] blessed staff of mundane insights (+0, 1d10+1) [40s] blessed staff of nourishment (+2, 1d10) [40s] Missile weapons ('}') uncursed long bow of hunting (+6, +3) [30s] blessed heavy crossbow "The Far Slayer" (+18, +18) [350s] blessed long bow of hunting (+6, +3) [30s] uncursed long bow of hunting (+9, +3) [30s] Missiles ('/') Tons of them Tools (']') uncursed waterproof blanket [10s] blessed waterproof blanket [10s] uncursed square key [1s] uncursed tinderbox (23) [3s] uncursed holy symbol [5s] blessed small key [1s] blessed fireproof blanket [10s] heap of 2 uncursed torches [20s] heap of 2 blessed magical writing sets (3) [10s] uncursed triangular key [1s] heap of 2 blessed torches [20s] uncursed fireproof blanket [10s] uncursed tiny key [1s] blessed hexagonal key [1s] heap of 2 uncursed boxes with flint and steel (40) [10s] uncursed round key [1s] Rings ('=') uncursed ring of mental stability [+0, +1] {Le+1} [1s] blessed ring of invisibility [1s] Wands ('\') too many to fit here Potions ('!') Many Scrolls ('?') Many too Books ('"') Not enough space to display them all Food ('%') Alot Gems ('*') Quite a few ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weapon Skills ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Melee weapon Lvl Hit Dam DV Level Required marks --------------------- --- --- --- -- ------------- -------------- Unarmed fighting 1 +1 +0 +0 basic 22 Daggers & knives 7 +6 +3 +1 skilled 46 Clubs & hammers 1 +1 +0 +0 basic 25 Maces & flails 1 +1 +0 +0 basic 25 Swords 10 +9 +6 +3 excellent 239 Axes 1 +1 +0 +0 basic 25 Whips 1 +1 +0 +1 basic 25 Pole arms 15 +20 +12 +22 Grand Mastery Twohanded weapons 1 +1 +1 +0 basic 25 Staves 2 +2 +0 +2 basic 40 Missile weapon Lvl Hit Dam Ra Level Required marks --------------------- --- --- --- -- ------------- -------------- Slings 3 +6 +4 +1 basic 15 Bows 10 +20 +15 +3 excellent 475 Crossbows 7 +14 +10 +2 skilled 45 Thrown axes & hammers 0 +0 +0 +0 unskilled 7 Thrown daggers 4 +8 +6 +1 skilled 19 Thrown rocks & clubs 0 +0 +0 +0 unskilled 7 Thrown spears 10 +20 +15 +3 excellent 253 Boomerangs & scurgari 0 +0 +0 +0 unskilled 7 Shields Lvl DV Level Required marks --------------------- --- --- ------------- -------------- Shields 5 +10 skilled 71 Damage caused with your melee weapons: -------------------------------------- Right hand: +287 bonus to hit, 6d12+125 damage Damage caused with your missile weapons: ---------------------------------------- No missile weapons available. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skills ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alchemy ..................100 (superb) [+1d3] Alertness ................100 (superb) [+1d5] Archery .................. 75 (great) [+2d4] Athletics ................100 (superb) [+2d4] Backstabbing .............100 (superb) [+1] Climbing .................100 (superb) [+1d5] Concentration ............100 (superb) [+4d4] Courage ..................100 (superb) [+3d4] Detect traps .............100 (superb) [+1d3] Disarm traps ............. 66 (good) [+3d4] Dodge ....................100 (superb) [+1d3] Find weakness ............100 (superb) [+1d3] First aid ................100 (superb) [+1d5] Fletchery ................ 56 (good) [+3d3] (mr) Food preservation ........ 77 (great) [+1d3] Gardening ................ 17 (mediocre) [+3d3] Haggling .................100 (superb) [+1d5] Healing ..................100 (superb) [+1d5] Herbalism ................100 (superb) [+1d5] Listening ................100 (superb) [+2d4] Literacy .................100 (superb) [+1d3] Necromancy ............... 21 (mediocre) [+0] Pick pockets .............100 (superb) [+1] Stealth ..................100 (superb) [+1d5] Swimming .................100 (superb) [+1d3] Tactics ..................100 (superb) [+1d3] Two weapon combat ........ 77 (great) [+3d4] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spells ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acid Bolt : 1069, 15pp (Effectivity: +1) Baptism of Fire : 1617, 7pp (Effectivity: +6) Bless : 309, 8pp (Effectivity: +0) Calm Monster : 1871, 7pp (Effectivity: +7) Clairvoyance : 1214, 40pp (Effectivity: +1) Cure Disease : 9, 15pp (Effectivity: +0) Cure Light Wounds : 321, 5pp (Effectivity: +0) Cure Serious Wounds: 1010, 10pp (Effectivity: +0) Darkness : 1046, 4pp (Effectivity: +0) Divine Digger : 997, 100pp (Effectivity: +0) Divine Intervention: 72, 3840pp (Effectivity: +0) Divine Wrath : 1290, 12pp (Effectivity: +2) Enlightenment : 937, 75pp (Effectivity: +0) Ethereal Bridge : 1316, 92pp (Effectivity: +10) Farsight : 1242, 17pp (Effectivity: +4) Freezing Fury : 1181, 24pp (Effectivity: +5) Heavenly Fury : 1735, 30pp (Effectivity: +4) Hellish Flames : 1257, 10pp (Effectivity: +0) Holy Awe : 8, 23pp (Effectivity: +0) Invoked Devastation: 1256, 30pp (Effectivity: +0) Lesser Divine Touch: 1666, 8pp (Effectivity: +0) Light : 2147, 2pp (Effectivity: +6) Lordly Might : 1674, 9pp (Effectivity: +7) Major Punishment : 1725, 20pp (Effectivity: +0) Minor Punishment : 2167, 8pp (Effectivity: +3) Nether Bolt : 1930, 12pp (Effectivity: +1) Neutralize Poison : 11, 18pp (Effectivity: +0) Rain of Sorrow : 1171, 34pp (Effectivity: +6) Revelation : 826, 33pp (Effectivity: +2) Slow Monster : 3379, 6pp (Effectivity: +5) Slow Poison : 274, 6pp (Effectivity: +0) Web : 1356, 12pp (Effectivity: +0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Her further life: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- After slaying Andor Drakon and dispersing his malevolent energies the pillars of Order appear before you. All the forces of Order seem to be united behind them. You are lifted to the status of an Avatar of Order and the tales of your deeds are spread all over Ancardia. Your deeds are recounted at camp fires and interpreted by philosophers and priests alike. The common man looks up to you and you slowly start to be revered as a minor power of Order. After a few millennia have passed you are raised to the position of a demigod to guard and protect Ancardia from the forces of Chaos and Balance forever. Under your guidance Ancardia becomes an orderly and organized world without striking changes. Peaceful order (and boredom?) spreads and the world enters an era of peace and tranquility never again leaving it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Her achievements during her battles: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Star, the dark elven paladin, transformed into an avatar of Order. She scored 10700656 points and advanced to level 50. She survived for 0 years, 94 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds (209275 turns). 10 companions were killed during her adventures. Star visited 225 places. Her strength score was modified by +49 during her career. Her learning score was modified by +71 during her career. Her willpower score was modified by +49 during her career. Her dexterity score was modified by +55 during her career. Her toughness score was modified by +57 during her career. Her charisma score was modified by +60 during her career. Her appearance score was modified by +57 during her career. Her mana score was modified by +56 during her career. Her perception score was modified by +35 during her career. She was the champion of the arena. She was a member of the thieves guild. She killed the emperor of the ancient minotaur race. She defeated the arch enemy of a mighty karmic wyrm. She saved Khelavaster from certain death. She met Rolf, the legendary emperor of the dwarves. She avenged Rolf's blood. She ended her adventuring life in the palace of Andor Drakon. 15220 monsters perished under her attacks. The following 60 artifacts were generated during her adventure: the si the dwarven rune axe "Rolf's Companion" the scythe of corruption "Moon Sickle" the potion of literacy the golden gladius "Death's Sting" the dwarven shield "Rolf's Saviour" the Chaos Orb of Elemental Water the Chaos Orb of Elemental Air the Chaos Orb of Elemental Fire the Chaos Orb of Elemental Earth the heavy crossbow "The Far Slayer" the ebony spear "Bugbiter" the scorched spear the girdle of the emperors "Celestrix" the rune-covered trident the sword of Nonnak the elemental gauntlets the ring of the High Kings the crown of science the ancient mummy wrapping the ankh the hammer of the gods the small black shield "Lust for Glory" the Crown of Chaos the black torc the Medal of Chaos the Shirt of the Saints the bracers of war the Chaos Orb of Elemental Mana the black rune-covered dagger "Needle" the rune-covered sling "Whirlwind" the sapphire amulet "Preserver" the black tome of Alsophocus the Trident of the Red Rooster the weird tome the rune-covered halberd "Wyrmlance" the axe of the minotaur emperor the tome of donors the antediluvian dwarven map fragment the antediluvian dwarven map the ancient dwarven key the unpick axe the stone heart "Bergbringer" the gleaming dwarven rune axe the gleaming dwarven shield the twisted quarterstaff "Kalmius' Shield" the helm of the Night Watchman the lead great axe the staff of wonder the mighty tower shield "The Wall" the glowing gem "Third Eye" the circlet of the pure mind the beheading axe "Headman's Hand" the intricate wooden staff "Nature's Breath" the black whip of extinction the glistening scimitar "Eagle's Claw" the tattered cloak of the dark souls the cornucopia the stone of the ages the weird fire starter She possessed the following intrinsics: She was fire resistant (also through items). She was poison resistant (also through an item). She was cold resistant (also through items). She was lucky (also through an item). Fate smiled upon her. She was sleep resistant (gained through items). She was able to control teleportation. She was stun resistant (also through items). She was paralyzation resistant. She was resistant to death rays (gained through items). She was shock resistant (also through items). She was able to see invisible things (gained through items). She was immune to shock attacks. She was immune to fire attacks. She was immune to acidic attacks. She was immune to ice attacks (gained through an item). She was able to breathe water (gained through an item). She was able to resist confusion attacks (also through items). She had the following talents: Affinity with Axes, Affinity with Polearms, Affinity with Swords, Alert, Careful, Defensive Fighter, Dodger, Good Shot, Greased Lightning, Keen Shot, Long Stride, Melee Weapon Master, Miser, Quick, Quick Shot, Strong of Will, Treasure Hunter, Very Careful, Very Quick. She had a final speed score of 490 (final base speed: 180). She was a messiah of Elderon. She asked for 1 divine intervention. She was a holy champion of Order. The following monsters were vanquished: Dispatched the legendary will o'wisp Aksarnerk. Dispatched the legendary tarantula Shiksazzar. Dispatched the legendary berserker lord Arngrim. Dispatched the legendary necromancer Gorvin. Dispatched the legendary goblin Groof. Dispatched the legendary orc scorcher Arik. Dispatched the legendary dark orc Enryb-eel. Dispatched the legendary ratling thief White-Mask. Dispatched the legendary dark elven priestess Althenia. Dispatched the legendary eye of destruction Sheelak The All-Seeing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Playing Time ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You played for 96 hours, 23 minutes and 21 seconds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Version Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancient Domains Of Mystery Version 3.3.4 Windows Deluxe (Steam) Build: Nov 12 2020 10:42:23 2023.06.05 23:04 tobias_mueller OpenAI Added 67 Plugins in the Last Week (GIF Search, Your AI Council, GameSight, Stories, ...) - Current Plugin Count: 270
 | Hi everyone, submitted by tobias_mueller to ChatGPT [link] [comments] OpenAI added 67 new plugins during the past 6 days and raised the total plugin count to 270. Like I did in my previous threads, I want to offer an overview of what was added. Added Plugins
You can use this searchable overview if you don't have ChatGPT Plus yet but still want to see which plugins are available. plugin overview As always, I will update this thread for the next ~24 hours if they add more plugins during that time. |
2023.06.05 20:42 st3vehuff A Guide to Getting Started with UPSC CSE 2024
Greetings!
I hope everybody is doing well. This post has been long-due from my end. Let's get right into it.
Introduction
In life, there are challenges that test our mettle, push our limits, and demand unwavering dedication. Among such trials, there exists a realm that holds the power to shape destinies; the "Civil Services Examination" a fiercely demanding examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission that stands as a testament to resilience, intellect, and perseverance. This post delves into the domain of a truly arduous yet immensely fulfilling endeavor—the journey of UPSC CSE 2024.
Disclaimer
Under no pretense, I promise that following the advice mentioned in this post will guarantee selection. However, if you pay attention to these valuable insights it will make your journey far less daunting and more enjoyable.
You should check the official notification for:
Consider if you have a genuine desire to serve the nation, make a positive impact on society, and contribute to the betterment of the country through public service.
Assess your strengths, skills, and aptitudes. Consider if you possess the necessary qualities for civil services, such as analytical thinking, leadership abilities, effective communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
Reflect on whether you are willing to invest the time, effort, and dedication needed for extensive and rigorous preparation. Consider your study habits, ability to handle vast amounts of information, and commitment to continuous learning.
Seek Guidance and Advice Speak to current or former civil servants, mentors, or individuals who have attempted UPSC CSE; or are/were in service. Seek their guidance and insights into the challenges, rewards, and realities of a career in civil services. Their experiences can help you gain a deeper understanding of what to expect.
Evaluate Alternative Paths Consider if there are alternative career paths that align with your interests, skills, and aspirations. Explore other avenues that allow you to make a positive impact on society and contribute to public service. [Checkout my previous post for more details]
Trust Your Intuition Listen to your inner voice and trust your instincts. Consider your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication toward public service. If you genuinely feel drawn to the purpose and challenges associated with civil services, it may be an indication that UPSC CSE is the right path for you.
Develop a realistic and organized study plan that covers all the subjects and topics within the given time frame. Allocate specific time slots for each subject, revision, and practice. Here is one sample you can take inspiration from:
3.2 Understanding the Syllabus and exam pattern
Check out the Points 4 and 5.
3.3 Recommended Books and study materials
Make use of NCERT textbooks for various subjects (especially for foundational knowledge). At least one standard book per subject we need. So here are some suggestions.
General Studies (Prelims and Mains):
Optional Subjects:
[Moved to 8. Additional Preparation Resources]
3.4 Effective note-making techniques
1. General Studies Paper-I (GS Paper-I):
Duration: 2 hours
Total marks: 200 marks
Number of questions: 100 questions
1/3rd Negative Marking
Nature of questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Syllabus: a. History: Ancient, Medieval, Art and Culture, Modern History of India, Indian National Movement. (not world history) b. Geography: Indian Geography, Physical Geography, Economic Geography, Environmental Geography. c. Polity and Governance: Indian Polity, Constitution, Public Administration, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues, and Governance. d. Economy: Indian Economy, Economic Development, Sustainable Development, Social Sector Initiatives, Poverty, Inclusion, and Demographics. e. Science and Technology: General Science, Space Technology, IT, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science. f. Environment and Ecology: Environmental Ecology, environmental Legislation, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Conservation. g. Current Affairs: National and International Events, Government Schemes, Sports, Policies, etc.
Not including key important topics as that will put a bias on your initial preparation.
2. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT Paper-II):
Duration: 2 hours
Total marks: 200 marks
Number of questions: 80 questions
1/3rd Negative Marking
Nature of questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Syllabus: The CSAT Paper-II focuses on testing the aptitude and analytical abilities of the candidates, including areas such as comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, and general mental ability.
It's important to note that the marks obtained in the Prelims exam are considered for qualifying purposes only. The score of the Prelims is not added to the final merit list. The objective of the Prelims is to shortlist candidates for the Main examination based on a predetermined cutoff.
How to prepare
Mock tests help you assess your knowledge and skills. By analyzing your performance, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in different subjects and topics. This helps you focus your preparation on areas that need improvement, optimizing your study plan.
By solving these papers, you become familiar with the format of the exam and gain confidence in tackling different question styles. It also helps in time management. It won't be an exaggeration if we say that PYQs can help you clear prelims with ease.
Ethics broadly comprise two parts. Section A ( Theory) and Section B ( Case studies)
Section A of the General Studies IV (Paper-V) in the UPSC Main examination focuses on theoretical aspects related to fundamental values and concepts. It explores the meaning of various words such as integrity, ethics, morality, beliefs, and value systems.
An important subsection within Section A is "foundational values for civil services." This part delves into the core values expected from civil servants, including integrity, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards marginalized sections of society.
This section holds immense significance in the syllabus, not only for Section A and case studies but also for your future career as a civil servant. It is crucial to prepare this portion thoroughly as it forms the basis of your ethical conduct and professional responsibilities once you are selected for civil services.
Tips for essay writing and answer presentation
It is essential to have a subject-wise approach to cover the vast syllabus effectively. Here are some subject-wise preparation strategies for the GS papers:
History
Optional subject selection and preparation
Some tips for selecting and preparing for an optional subject:
More on DAF
Do not include unnecessary hobbies without realizing the consequences. As a result, You have to spend a lot of time preparing answers for irrelevant information, which could have potentially put you in trouble during the interview.
It is crucial to consult a senior or someone experienced before filling your DAF. More often than not, a significant portion of your interview is based on the information provided in the DAF. You will be asked numerous questions on specific aspects of your DAF that the panel found interesting.
Being honest is essential, but it is equally important to be smart. Include only those details that can be easily prepared from an interview point of view. Focus on adding things you are confident about and have thoroughly prepared. Not being able to answer something from your DAF can create a wrong impression.
If possible, consider filling out a rough DAF at the beginning of your UPSC preparation and then develop your hobbies and personality accordingly throughout the course of your preparation.
Even if something goes wrong during the interview, it is crucial to stay calm. Remember that everyone makes mistakes. Gather yourself, remain confident, and maintain a polite demeanor.
Improving writing and communication skills
Reading extensively exposes you to different writing styles, vocabulary, and ideas. Read a variety of materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and online articles to improve your language skills and broaden your knowledge. Set aside time each day for writing practice. Start with short exercises like journaling, writing reflections, or summarizing articles. Gradually progress to longer pieces such as essays or opinion pieces. Focus on clarity, coherence, and grammar. Organize your thoughts before writing. Create an outline or mind map to establish a logical flow and structure for your writing. This helps convey your ideas effectively and ensures coherence in your written work. Develop your oral communication skills by seeking opportunities for public speaking. Join debate clubs, participate in group discussions, or deliver presentations. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and engaging with your audience effectively.
Effective time management
Here are some popular institutes:
Mr. Mrunal Patel [Economy]
Mr. Pratik Nayak [History]
Mr Siddharth Arora [Polity]
Mr Anudeep Durishetty [Essay]
Mr Praveen Kishore [sociology]
More on this later.
Self-Motivation and Discipline
Self-study requires self-motivation and discipline. It helps you cultivate these essential qualities, which are crucial for success in the exam. By setting goals, managing your time effectively, and staying focused, you develop a strong work ethic that prepares you for the challenges ahead. When you engage in self-study, you have the opportunity to dive deep into concepts and develop a thorough understanding. You can spend more time on complex topics, explore different resources, and seek clarification when needed. This promotes a strong foundation of knowledge and enhances your conceptual clarity. Regular self-evaluation allows you to assess your progress, identify areas of improvement, and fine-tune your study approach.
Quickly skim through the entire question paper to get an overview of the questions and their difficulty level. This will help you prioritize and allocate time accordingly.
Divide the available time among different sections based on their weightage and your comfort level. Allocate more time to sections that carry more marks or where you are stronger.
Assign specific time limits to each question or set of questions based on their complexity and marks. This will help you stay on track and avoid spending too much time on a single question.
If you encounter a particularly difficult question or one that is taking up too much time, it's okay to skip it and come back to it later if you have time remaining. Focus on answering the questions you can handle efficiently first.
There are breaks scheduled during the exam, use them wisely. Take a quick mental and physical break, but avoid engaging in lengthy discussions or distractions that may consume precious time.
Dealing with exam anxiety and stress
One of the best ways to alleviate exam anxiety is to be well-prepared. Maintain a consistent study routine, cover the syllabus comprehensively, and revise thoroughly. Confidence in your preparation can significantly reduce anxiety. Break it down: Rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire syllabus, break it down into smaller, manageable portions. Create a study plan and set realistic goals for each study session. Focusing on one topic at a time can help reduce anxiety. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or listening to calming music can help you relax and reduce anxiety levels. Ensure you prioritize self-care. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in physical activity. A healthy body and mind can better handle stress and anxiety. Develop a study schedule that allows for regular breaks and leisure activities. Effective time management can help reduce the pressure of last-minute cramming and provide a better balance in your routine.
Main Exam Result: Once the Main Exam is conducted, the result is declared after a few months. The result is published on the UPSC website and includes the roll numbers of candidates who have qualified for the next stage, which is the Interview or Personality Test.
Final Result: The final result is declared after the completion of the Interview/Personality Test. It includes the names and ranks of candidates who have successfully cleared all the stages of the exam. The final result is published on the UPSC website and may also be published in leading newspapers.
Merit List: The final result is based on the total marks obtained by candidates in the Main Exam and the Interview/Personality Test. A merit list is prepared based on the overall performance, and candidates are ranked accordingly. The allotment of services is done based on the candidate's rank and preference.
Analyzing performance and identifying areas for improvement
Start by reviewing your exam scores and marks obtained in each section. Identify the areas where you performed well and areas where you struggled or scored lower. This will give you an initial understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Based on your analysis, create a study plan that addresses your weak areas while also reinforcing your strengths. Allocate more time and effort to topics or subjects that need improvement. Break down your study plan into smaller, achievable targets to ensure consistent progress.
Strategies for preparing for subsequent attempts
Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and use this self-assessment as a foundation for your subsequent preparation. Based on your analysis, pinpoint the subjects, topics, or specific areas where you need improvement. It could be conceptual understanding, answer writing, time management, or current affairs. Prioritize these areas and develop a targeted strategy to enhance your knowledge and skills. Reinforce your foundational knowledge by revisiting the basic concepts and fundamentals of each subject. Assess your time management skills and identify areas where you can improve. Consult mentors, teachers, or successful candidates who can provide guidance and valuable insights. Take care of your physical and mental well-being.
What are the best books for UPSC CSE preparation? The choice of books may vary depending on the subject and individual preferences. Some popular books for UPSC CSE include NCERT textbooks, standard reference books by authors like Laxmikanth, M. Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh, and Bipan Chandra, and newspapers like The Hindu for current affairs.
Can working professionals prepare for UPSC CSE? Yes, working professionals can prepare for UPSC CSE by managing their time effectively, creating a study plan, and dedicating focused hours to preparation. Utilize weekends, early mornings, and evenings for study. Balance work commitments with consistent preparation.
Misconception: UPSC CSE can be cleared on the first attempt without much preparation. → UPSC CSE is a highly competitive exam that requires thorough preparation and dedication. While a few exceptional candidates may clear it on their first attempt, most aspirants require multiple attempts. Developing a long-term preparation strategy and consistent effort is key to success.
Misconception: Coaching institutes guarantee success in UPSC CSE. → Coaching institutes can provide guidance, study materials, and mock tests, but they do not guarantee success. Success in UPSC CSE depends on individual effort, self-study, and consistent practice. Many candidates have cleared the exam without formal coaching. It's important to choose the right resources and adopt a disciplined approach to self-study.
Misconception: Memorizing information is enough for UPSC CSE. → UPSC CSE tests conceptual understanding, analytical abilities, and application of knowledge. Mere memorization of facts and information is not enough. Focus on understanding concepts, connecting topics, and developing critical thinking skills. Practice answer writing and analyze previous years' question papers to enhance your application-based approach.
Misconception: Studying for long hours guarantees success. → Study hours alone do not determine success. Quality of study matters more than quantity. Focus on effective time management, breaking down topics into manageable chunks, and setting realistic goals. Take regular breaks, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and prioritize self-care to ensure sustained productivity.
Misconception: English proficiency is mandatory for UPSC CSE. → While UPSC CSE is conducted in English and Hindi, candidates do not need exceptional fluency in English. Basic proficiency in English is sufficient to understand and communicate effectively. Focus on improving language skills through reading, writing, and practicing answer writing.
Misconception: The optional subject is the key to success in UPSC CSE. → The optional subject plays a significant role in the Main Examination, but it is not the sole determinant of success. A well-rounded preparation, including General Studies papers, current affairs, and essay writing, is equally important. Choose the optional subject based on your interest, aptitude, and availability of study materials.
Misconception: UPSC CSE is all about hard work, and luck plays no role. → Hard work is essential for UPSC CSE, but luck can also play a role in certain aspects like question patterns, options in multiple-choice questions, etc. However, luck alone cannot guarantee success. Focus on consistent effort, smart preparation, and improving your skills and knowledge to maximize your chances of success.
Encouragement and motivation for sticklers
Some motivational movies centered around society and its betterment. You should watch it when you have time :)
Dead Poets Society, Remember the Titans, The Pursuit of Happyness, October Sky, Hidden Figures, A Beautiful Mind, Freedom Writers, The Blind Side, Gandhi, Invictus, Freedom Writers, The Help 2011, The Great Debaters, The Pursuit of Equality, Milk 2008, Selma, Norma Rae, Kaala 2018, Peranbu, Mahatma, Drishyam, Swades, Rang De Basanti and many more.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
submitted by st3vehuff to UPSC [link] [comments]
I hope everybody is doing well. This post has been long-due from my end. Let's get right into it.
Introduction
In life, there are challenges that test our mettle, push our limits, and demand unwavering dedication. Among such trials, there exists a realm that holds the power to shape destinies; the "Civil Services Examination" a fiercely demanding examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission that stands as a testament to resilience, intellect, and perseverance. This post delves into the domain of a truly arduous yet immensely fulfilling endeavor—the journey of UPSC CSE 2024.
Disclaimer
Under no pretense, I promise that following the advice mentioned in this post will guarantee selection. However, if you pay attention to these valuable insights it will make your journey far less daunting and more enjoyable.
Table of Content
- Understanding UPSC CSE
- Deciding to Pursue UPSC CSE
- Exam Preparation Strategy
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Personality Test (Interview)
- Developing Skills and Qualities
- Additional Preparation Resources
- Exam-Day Strategies and Tips
- Post-Exam and Result Analysis
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion
1. Understanding UPSC CSE & Role of Civil Servants
UPSC CSE is of significant importance in shaping governance and administration. It recruits capable candidates for administrative, police, and diplomatic roles, crucial for nation-building. Civil servants formulate and implement policies, manage resources, and ensure effective governance. They address social issues, uplift marginalized communities, improve public services, and strive for inclusive growth. They work with policymakers, addressing challenges like poverty, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and sustainability. Civil services also include foreign services, fostering diplomacy and global cooperation. UPSC follows a rigorous, merit-based selection process, ensuring competent and ethical candidates. Civil servants are accountable, acting with transparency and integrity. It offers growth opportunities, diverse roles, training, and exposure, enhancing skills and leadership abilities.You should check the official notification for:
- Eligibility criteria
- Services offered through UPSC CSE
2. Deciding to Pursue UPSC CSE
Deciding whether UPSC CSE is the right path for you requires careful consideration and self-reflection using C-A-R S-E-T.Consider if you have a genuine desire to serve the nation, make a positive impact on society, and contribute to the betterment of the country through public service.
Assess your strengths, skills, and aptitudes. Consider if you possess the necessary qualities for civil services, such as analytical thinking, leadership abilities, effective communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
Reflect on whether you are willing to invest the time, effort, and dedication needed for extensive and rigorous preparation. Consider your study habits, ability to handle vast amounts of information, and commitment to continuous learning.
Seek Guidance and Advice Speak to current or former civil servants, mentors, or individuals who have attempted UPSC CSE; or are/were in service. Seek their guidance and insights into the challenges, rewards, and realities of a career in civil services. Their experiences can help you gain a deeper understanding of what to expect.
Evaluate Alternative Paths Consider if there are alternative career paths that align with your interests, skills, and aspirations. Explore other avenues that allow you to make a positive impact on society and contribute to public service. [Checkout my previous post for more details]
Trust Your Intuition Listen to your inner voice and trust your instincts. Consider your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication toward public service. If you genuinely feel drawn to the purpose and challenges associated with civil services, it may be an indication that UPSC CSE is the right path for you.
3. Exam Preparation Strategy
3.1 Creating a study plan and TimelineDevelop a realistic and organized study plan that covers all the subjects and topics within the given time frame. Allocate specific time slots for each subject, revision, and practice. Here is one sample you can take inspiration from:
| Month | MonthSubject/Theme | Action |
|---|---|---|
| June 2023 | Syllabus and Exam Pattern Analyse | Syllabus - Word by-word breakdown; Check out PYQs for both Prelims and Mains |
| July 2023 | Polity/Economy | Cover the important chapters, Make Notes |
| August 2023 | History/Art and Culture | Cover the important chapters, Make Notes |
| September 2023 | Geography/Environment | Cover the important chapters, Make Notes |
| October 2023 | The Optional | Based on your interest in the past 4 months decide optional and study the PYQs. |
| November 2023 | The Optional | If you have to alter the subject this is the time. Else Continue to study. |
| December 2023 | S&T, IR, Social Issues, CSAT | Consolidate Current Affairs of the last 6 months. CSAT prep begins here. |
| Jan 2024 | Core Subjects, Answer Writing, Test Series | Revise Core Subjects and Practice Test Series and Write at least 1 answer daily from GSI-IV. |
| Feb 2024 | Core Subjects, Answer Writing, Test Series, Optional Revision | Revise Core Subjects and Practice Test Series and Write at least 1 answer daily from GSI-IV. Revisit Optional once. |
| March 2024 | Prelims | Revise keeping prelims in mind. |
| April 2024 | Prelims | 70:30 focus on Static: Current. |
| May 2024 | Prelims, Exam *26 May 2024 | Final Revision in 3 weeks. |
| June 2024 | Essay + Ethics+Optional | Prepare pointers for Essay and Ethics, Revise Paper 1 optional. |
| July 2024 | GSIII, GS1, GSII | Mains Answer writing |
| August 2024 | GS I-IV, Optional | Mains Answer writing |
| September 2024 | Mains Exam | Stay Healthy and Revise concepts from your one-pager notes. |
Check out the Points 4 and 5.
3.3 Recommended Books and study materials
Make use of NCERT textbooks for various subjects (especially for foundational knowledge). At least one standard book per subject we need. So here are some suggestions.
General Studies (Prelims and Mains):
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra (or)
- Spectrum A Brief History of Modern India By Rajiv Ahir
- India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong
- General Studies Paper I Manual by Tata McGraw-Hill
- General Studies Paper II Manual by MHE (McGraw-Hill Education)
- The Wonder that was India by A.L. Basham
- Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
- Environment for Civil Services Prelims and Mains by Khuller
- CSAT - Topic-wise Solved Papers by Disha Experts
- The Hindu or The Indian Express (Newspapers) (Just one)
- Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines
- Monthly Compilation of Current Affairs.
- Manorama Yearbook
Optional Subjects:
[Moved to 8. Additional Preparation Resources]
3.4 Effective note-making techniques
- Keep it concise: Focus on capturing the key points and essential information. Avoid lengthy sentences and unnecessary details. Use bullet points, headings, and subheadings to structure your notes and make them easy to scan and review.
- Use abbreviations and symbols: Develop a set of abbreviations and symbols to represent commonly used words or phrases. This saves time and space while taking notes. For example, use arrows (→) for "leads to," abbreviations like "govt" for government, or "&" for "and."
- Highlight and underline: Use highlighters or underline important keywords, phrases, or facts to draw attention to critical information. This makes it easier to quickly review and revise key points.
- Draw diagrams and flowcharts: Visual representations like diagrams, flowcharts, or mind maps can help in understanding and retaining complex concepts. Use arrows, boxes, and connectors to illustrate relationships between different ideas or components.
- Use colors and different fonts: Incorporate colors or different fonts to visually differentiate between headings, subheadings, and content. This makes your notes more visually appealing and aids in organization and quick reference.
- Summarize and rephrase: Instead of copying content verbatim, try to summarize and rephrase information in your own words. This process enhances understanding and retention. Focus on capturing the essence of the content rather than every single detail.
- Include examples and case studies: Supplement your notes with relevant examples, case studies, and illustrations. This helps in better comprehension and application of concepts during revision and while answering exam questions.
- Create separate sections for different subjects/topics: Maintain separate notebooks or sections for each subject or topic. This helps in keeping your notes organized and easily accessible. It also allows you to review specific subjects independently.
- Use headings and subheadings: Use clear headings and subheadings to categorize and structure your notes. This makes it easier to locate specific information and navigate through your notes during revision.
- Regularly review and revise your notes: Set aside regular time for revisiting and updating your notes. Reviewing your notes frequently ensures that the information stays fresh in your memory and helps you identify areas that need further clarification or revision.
4. Preliminary Exam
The Preliminary exam is the first stage of the selection process. It consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I (GS Paper-I) and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT Paper-II). Here is an overview of the Prelims exam:1. General Studies Paper-I (GS Paper-I):
Duration: 2 hours
Total marks: 200 marks
Number of questions: 100 questions
1/3rd Negative Marking
Nature of questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Syllabus: a. History: Ancient, Medieval, Art and Culture, Modern History of India, Indian National Movement. (not world history) b. Geography: Indian Geography, Physical Geography, Economic Geography, Environmental Geography. c. Polity and Governance: Indian Polity, Constitution, Public Administration, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues, and Governance. d. Economy: Indian Economy, Economic Development, Sustainable Development, Social Sector Initiatives, Poverty, Inclusion, and Demographics. e. Science and Technology: General Science, Space Technology, IT, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science. f. Environment and Ecology: Environmental Ecology, environmental Legislation, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Conservation. g. Current Affairs: National and International Events, Government Schemes, Sports, Policies, etc.
Not including key important topics as that will put a bias on your initial preparation.
2. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT Paper-II):
Duration: 2 hours
Total marks: 200 marks
Number of questions: 80 questions
1/3rd Negative Marking
Nature of questions: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Syllabus: The CSAT Paper-II focuses on testing the aptitude and analytical abilities of the candidates, including areas such as comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, and general mental ability.
It's important to note that the marks obtained in the Prelims exam are considered for qualifying purposes only. The score of the Prelims is not added to the final merit list. The objective of the Prelims is to shortlist candidates for the Main examination based on a predetermined cutoff.
How to prepare
- Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and syllabus of both GS Paper-I and Paper-II. Understand the weightage of each topic and the type of questions asked in the exam.
- Go through PYQs to understand the trends, the difficulty level, and the areas that are frequently asked. This will give you insights into the exam pattern and help you identify important topics.
- Develop a study plan that covers the entire syllabus, allocating sufficient time to each subject and topic. Make a timetable and stick to it, ensuring regular and consistent study hours.
- Choose reliable and comprehensive study materials for each subject. Refer to textbooks, NCERT books, and other recommended resources.
Importance of PYQs and Mock Tests (PYQs >> Mocks)
Mock tests help you assess your knowledge and skills. By analyzing your performance, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in different subjects and topics. This helps you focus your preparation on areas that need improvement, optimizing your study plan.
By solving these papers, you become familiar with the format of the exam and gain confidence in tackling different question styles. It also helps in time management. It won't be an exaggeration if we say that PYQs can help you clear prelims with ease.
5. Main Examination
The Main examination consists of a written exam comprising nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature, and the remaining seven are considered for the ranking. Here is the structure and syllabus of the Main exam:- Paper-A: One of the Indian languages (qualifying in nature) This paper tests your proficiency in one of the scheduled languages mentioned in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. You need to choose one language from the given list.
- Paper-B: English (qualifying in nature) This paper tests your understanding of English language and comprehension skills.
- Essay (Paper-I): You are required to write two essays, each consisting of 1,000-1,200 words. The topics are given from a wide range of subjects and require analytical and critical thinking.
- General Studies I (Paper-II): Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.
- General Studies II (Paper-III): Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
- General Studies III (Paper-IV): Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
- General Studies IV (Paper-V): Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
- Optional Subject - Paper I (Paper-VI): You have to choose one optional subject from the list provided by UPSC. Each subject has two papers (Paper I and Paper II).
- Optional Subject - Paper II (Paper-VII): The second paper of the chosen optional subject.
Ethics broadly comprise two parts. Section A ( Theory) and Section B ( Case studies)
Section A of the General Studies IV (Paper-V) in the UPSC Main examination focuses on theoretical aspects related to fundamental values and concepts. It explores the meaning of various words such as integrity, ethics, morality, beliefs, and value systems.
An important subsection within Section A is "foundational values for civil services." This part delves into the core values expected from civil servants, including integrity, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards marginalized sections of society.
This section holds immense significance in the syllabus, not only for Section A and case studies but also for your future career as a civil servant. It is crucial to prepare this portion thoroughly as it forms the basis of your ethical conduct and professional responsibilities once you are selected for civil services.
Tips for essay writing and answer presentation
- Understand the Question: Carefully read and understand the essay or question prompt. Identify the key themes, arguments, or perspectives that need to be addressed.
- Plan and Structure: Devote some time to brainstorming and outlining your essay or answer. Create a clear and logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Outline the main points and arguments you want to include.
- Introduction: Start with a compelling introduction that sets the context and provides a clear thesis statement or main argument. Engage the reader from the beginning and establish the purpose of your essay or answer.
- Main Body: Present your arguments and ideas coherently in the main body. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or sub-topic. Use logical transitions to connect your ideas and ensure a smooth flow of information.
- Use Evidence and Examples: Support your arguments with relevant evidence, facts, and examples. This demonstrates your understanding of the topic and adds credibility to your essay or answer. Use real-life examples, case studies, and current affairs to strengthen your points.
- Be Clear and Concise: Use clear and concise language to express your ideas. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complex terminology. Present your thoughts in a straightforward and understandable manner.
- Balance Perspectives: While presenting arguments, consider multiple perspectives and provide a balanced view. Acknowledge counterarguments and address them effectively. This showcases your analytical thinking and ability to critically evaluate different viewpoints.
- Time Management: Manage your time effectively during the exam. Allocate sufficient time to each question or essay and stick to the time limit. Prioritize answering the questions you are most confident about, but ensure that you answer all questions.
- Language and Grammar: Pay attention to your language and grammar. Use proper punctuation, sentence structure, and vocabulary. Proofread your answers for any errors or typos before submitting.
- Practice and Review: Practice writing essays and answering mock questions regularly. Review and analyze your answers to identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or peers to enhance your writing skills.
It is essential to have a subject-wise approach to cover the vast syllabus effectively. Here are some subject-wise preparation strategies for the GS papers:
History
- Start by familiarizing yourself with the major periods, events, and personalities in Indian and world history.
- Focus on understanding the causes, consequences, and significance of important historical events.
- Make a timeline or chronology of events to aid in better retention and visualization.
- Study physical, human, and economic geography at the global, regional, and national levels.
- Understand the concepts of physical features, climate, vegetation, population, resources, and their impact on society and economy.
- Use maps, diagrams, and atlases to enhance your understanding of geographical phenomena.
- Stay updated with current events related to geography, such as environmental issues, climate change, and regional conflicts.
- Read the Indian Constitution thoroughly, focusing on fundamental rights, duties, and the structure of the government.
- Understand the working of various institutions like the President, Parliament, Judiciary, and the Election Commission.
- Keep track of recent developments in the field of politics, governance, and constitutional amendments.
- Study the basic principles of public administration and governance in India.
- Gain a conceptual understanding of the Indian economy, including the various sectors, economic policies, and challenges.
- Study topics like economic planning, budgeting, taxation, banking, and financial institutions.
- Keep track of current economic affairs, government schemes, and initiatives related to the economy.
- Refer to economic survey reports, budget documents, and standard textbooks to develop a strong foundation.
- Cover the basic concepts of physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
- Focus on contemporary issues in science and technology, such as space exploration, biotechnology, information technology, and innovations.
- Stay updated with scientific advancements, breakthroughs, and their implications for society and the environment.
- Understand the ethical, social, and economic aspects of science and technology in the Indian context.
- Study environmental concepts, ecological balance, biodiversity, climate change, and conservation strategies.
- Understand the impact of human activities on the environment and the need for sustainable development.
- Keep track of environmental policies, initiatives, and international agreements.
- Familiarize yourself with important national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves in India.
- Stay updated with current affairs by reading newspapers, magazines, and reliable online sources.
- Focus on national and international events, government policies, reports, and developments related to various subjects.
- Make notes on important current affairs topics and their relevance to the GS papers.
- Analyze the impact of current affairs on society, governance, economy, and international relations.
Optional subject selection and preparation
Some tips for selecting and preparing for an optional subject:
- Interest and Aptitude: Choose a subject that genuinely interests you and aligns with your strengths and aptitude. Having a natural inclination towards the subject will make the preparation process more enjoyable and easier to grasp.
- Syllabus and Availability of Study Material: Review the syllabus of each optional subject and assess the availability of relevant study materials, books, and resources. Opt for a subject with a well-defined syllabus and ample study materials to aid your preparation.
- Previous Knowledge and Background: Consider your educational background and previous knowledge in a particular subject. If you have prior knowledge or academic expertise in a specific area, it can give you an advantage and make the learning process smoother.
- Scoring Potential: Research and analyze the scoring potential of different optional subjects. Look at the past trends and the success rate of candidates in each subject. However, keep in mind that scoring in the optional subject is not the sole determinant of success in the exam.
- Coaching and Guidance: Evaluate the availability of coaching institutes and guidance for your chosen optional subject. Coaching can provide structured guidance, study materials, and access to experienced faculty who can help you navigate the subject effectively.
- Time and Effort: Assess the time and effort required for the preparation of each optional subject. Consider the overlap of the optional subject with the General Studies papers and choose a subject that allows you to manage your time and efforts effectively.
- Consistency and Revision: Once you have selected an optional subject, maintain consistency in your preparation. Allocate dedicated time for studying the subject regularly. Revise the concepts, practice answer writing, and solve previous years' question papers to strengthen your understanding and retention.
6. Personality Test (Interview)
The Personality Test is the final hurdle in the selection process. After the Main examination results are announced, candidates who qualify for the interview stage receive a call letter with details about the interview date, time, and venue. Virtual Tour of Museum- Duration and Panel: The interview generally lasts around 30 minutes. A panel of experienced and knowledgeable members, including UPSC officials and subject matter experts, conducts the interview.
- Evaluation Criteria: The interview assesses the candidate's personality traits, communication skills, critical thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, general awareness, and suitability for a career in civil services.
- Topics Covered: The interview can cover a wide range of topics, including current affairs, national and international events, social issues, government policies, the candidate's background, hobbies, academic achievements, and optional subject knowledge.
- Approach: The interview is not a knowledge test but an evaluation of the candidate's personality. Be confident, honest, and composed. Listen carefully to the questions and provide well-thought-out responses.
- Preparation: To prepare for the interview, stay updated with current affairs and recent developments. Review your DAF (Detailed Application Form) thoroughly, as the panel may ask questions based on the information provided. Practice mock interviews and seek feedback from mentors or seniors.
- Body Language and Communication: Pay attention to your body language, maintain eye contact, sit upright, and speak clearly and confidently. Use appropriate language and be respectful to the panel members.
- Honesty and Integrity: Be truthful in your responses. If you are unsure about an answer, it is better to admit it rather than provide incorrect information. The panel values honesty and integrity.
- Positive Attitude: Maintain a positive and optimistic attitude throughout the interview. Do not get flustered by challenging questions or interruptions. Stay composed and present your thoughts logically.
- Post-Interview Analysis: After the interview, reflect on your performance. Identify areas where you can improve and learn from the experience. Stay positive and prepare for the next steps in the selection process.
More on DAF
Do not include unnecessary hobbies without realizing the consequences. As a result, You have to spend a lot of time preparing answers for irrelevant information, which could have potentially put you in trouble during the interview.
It is crucial to consult a senior or someone experienced before filling your DAF. More often than not, a significant portion of your interview is based on the information provided in the DAF. You will be asked numerous questions on specific aspects of your DAF that the panel found interesting.
Being honest is essential, but it is equally important to be smart. Include only those details that can be easily prepared from an interview point of view. Focus on adding things you are confident about and have thoroughly prepared. Not being able to answer something from your DAF can create a wrong impression.
If possible, consider filling out a rough DAF at the beginning of your UPSC preparation and then develop your hobbies and personality accordingly throughout the course of your preparation.
Even if something goes wrong during the interview, it is crucial to stay calm. Remember that everyone makes mistakes. Gather yourself, remain confident, and maintain a polite demeanor.
7. Developing Skills and Qualities
Read Newspapers: Develop a habit of reading newspapers daily. Focus on national, international, and regional news. Pay attention to editorials, opinion pieces, and articles related to governance, politics, economy, and social issues. You read the newspaper not only for knowledge but as a good habit building. Regularly visit government websites at the national, state, and local levels to stay updated on policy announcements, initiatives, reports, and official statements. Join study groups or discussion forums where aspirants and experts exchange knowledge and insights on current affairs. Engaging in meaningful discussions with fellow aspirants can enhance your understanding. Don't waste time listening to rants. Regularly practice answer writing on current affairs topics. This helps you develop a structured approach, improve your articulation skills, and reinforce your knowledge.Improving writing and communication skills
Reading extensively exposes you to different writing styles, vocabulary, and ideas. Read a variety of materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and online articles to improve your language skills and broaden your knowledge. Set aside time each day for writing practice. Start with short exercises like journaling, writing reflections, or summarizing articles. Gradually progress to longer pieces such as essays or opinion pieces. Focus on clarity, coherence, and grammar. Organize your thoughts before writing. Create an outline or mind map to establish a logical flow and structure for your writing. This helps convey your ideas effectively and ensures coherence in your written work. Develop your oral communication skills by seeking opportunities for public speaking. Join debate clubs, participate in group discussions, or deliver presentations. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and engaging with your audience effectively.
Effective time management
- Prioritize Tasks: Identify the most important and urgent tasks and prioritize them. Make a to-do list or use a planner to organize your tasks based on their importance and deadlines.
- Set SMART Goals: Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals for your study sessions. Breaking down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks helps you stay focused and motivated.
- Create a Study Schedule: Develop a study schedule that suits your preferences and aligns with your daily routine. Allocate specific time slots for different subjects, revision, and practice. Stick to the schedule as much as possible to maintain consistency.
- Avoid Procrastination: Procrastination can lead to unnecessary stress and time pressure. Break tasks into smaller parts set deadlines, and practice self-discipline to avoid procrastinating. Start with the most challenging or important tasks to build momentum.
- Minimize Distractions: Identify and minimize distractions during study hours. Turn off notifications on your phone or keep it away from your study area. Create a quiet and dedicated study space to help you concentrate better.
- Use Productivity Techniques: Explore productivity techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for a set time (e.g., 25 minutes) and take short breaks in between. This helps maintain focus and improves productivity.
- Practice Relaxation Techniques: Engage in relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to calm your mind and reduce stress. Regular practice helps manage anxiety and promotes overall well-being.
- Take Breaks: Give yourself regular breaks during study sessions. Short breaks can help refresh your mind, improve focus, and prevent burnout. Use these breaks to engage in activities you enjoy or to stretch and relax.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Prioritize your physical and mental well-being. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and exercise regularly. Taking care of your body and mind helps you manage stress better.
- Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or fellow aspirants for support. Discuss your concerns, share your experiences, and seek advice when needed. Joining study groups or online communities can provide a support network.
- Stay Positive and Motivated: Maintain a positive mindset and stay motivated throughout your preparation. Celebrate small victories, remind yourself of your goals, and focus on your progress. Surround yourself with positive influences and motivational resources.
8. Additional Preparation Resources
Pros of Coaching institutes- Structured Guidance: Coaching institutes provide a structured approach to preparation. They offer a well-defined curriculum, study materials, and a schedule that can help aspirants stay organized and focused.
- Experienced Faculty: Coaching institutes often have experienced faculty members who are well-versed in the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus. They can provide valuable insights, tips, and strategies to tackle different subjects and stages of the exam.
- Peer Learning and Competition: Joining a coaching institute allows you to interact with like-minded aspirants. Group discussions, mock tests, and peer interactions can create a competitive environment that motivates and challenges you to improve your performance.
- Test Series and Mock Exams: Coaching institutes usually conduct regular test series and mock exams, which help in assessing your preparation level and identifying areas that need improvement. These simulated exams also provide a real exam-like experience and help you develop exam-taking skills.
- Personalized Guidance and Doubt Clearing: Many coaching institutes offer personalized guidance and doubt-clearing sessions. You can seek clarification on difficult topics, get feedback on your performance, and receive guidance on exam strategy from expert mentors.
- Cost: Joining a coaching institute can be expensive. Tuition fees, study materials, and other expenses can put a strain on your budget. It is essential to consider the financial aspect before enrolling in a coaching institute. These days online resources can be pretty useful. It requires more digging and some unethical means.
- Time Constraints: Coaching classes have fixed schedules, and you may need to adjust your daily routine accordingly. This can be challenging for working professionals or individuals with other commitments.
- Teaching Style and Compatibility: The teaching style of the faculty and the institute's approach may not always match your learning preferences. Some individuals may find it difficult to adapt to the teaching methods used in coaching institutes.
- Dependency: Over-reliance on coaching institutes can sometimes hinder self-study and independent thinking. It is important to strike a balance between self-study and coaching institute guidance to develop a holistic understanding of the subjects.
- Quality Variation: The quality of coaching institutes can vary. While some institutes have highly qualified and experienced faculty, others may not meet the same standards. It is crucial to research and choose reputable institutes with a proven track record.
Here are some popular institutes:
- Vajiram and Ravi is a reputed offline coaching institute that also offers online courses for UPSC CSE preparation. Their online platform provides video lectures, study materials, and test series.
- IASbaba is an online platform that offers a range of free and paid courses for UPSC CSE preparation. It provides daily current affairs, study materials, test series, and guidance from experienced mentors.
- ForumIAS is a popular online community for UPSC aspirants. It offers a platform for discussion, doubt-solving, and peer interaction. It also provides study materials, current affairs updates, and guidance from experts.
- InsightsIAS is known for its comprehensive study materials, test series, and current affairs analysis. It provides free resources as well as paid courses for UPSC CSE preparation.
- Vision IAS emphasizes current affairs preparation, considering its significance in the UPSC CSE. They provide monthly magazines, daily news analyses, and other resources to help aspirants stay updated on current events.
Mr. Mrunal Patel [Economy]
Mr. Pratik Nayak [History]
Mr Siddharth Arora [Polity]
Mr Anudeep Durishetty [Essay]
Mr Praveen Kishore [sociology]
Self-Motivation and Discipline
Self-study requires self-motivation and discipline. It helps you cultivate these essential qualities, which are crucial for success in the exam. By setting goals, managing your time effectively, and staying focused, you develop a strong work ethic that prepares you for the challenges ahead. When you engage in self-study, you have the opportunity to dive deep into concepts and develop a thorough understanding. You can spend more time on complex topics, explore different resources, and seek clarification when needed. This promotes a strong foundation of knowledge and enhances your conceptual clarity. Regular self-evaluation allows you to assess your progress, identify areas of improvement, and fine-tune your study approach.
9. Exam-Day Strategies and Tips
Dos on the day of the exam- Get a good night's sleep
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Arrive early at the exam center
- Carry essential documents
- Stay calm and positive
- Read instructions carefully
- Don't study new topics
- Don't discuss the exam with others
- Don't panic over difficult questions
- Don't rush through the exam
- Don't carry prohibited items
- Don't compare yourself to others
Quickly skim through the entire question paper to get an overview of the questions and their difficulty level. This will help you prioritize and allocate time accordingly.
Divide the available time among different sections based on their weightage and your comfort level. Allocate more time to sections that carry more marks or where you are stronger.
Assign specific time limits to each question or set of questions based on their complexity and marks. This will help you stay on track and avoid spending too much time on a single question.
If you encounter a particularly difficult question or one that is taking up too much time, it's okay to skip it and come back to it later if you have time remaining. Focus on answering the questions you can handle efficiently first.
There are breaks scheduled during the exam, use them wisely. Take a quick mental and physical break, but avoid engaging in lengthy discussions or distractions that may consume precious time.
Dealing with exam anxiety and stress
One of the best ways to alleviate exam anxiety is to be well-prepared. Maintain a consistent study routine, cover the syllabus comprehensively, and revise thoroughly. Confidence in your preparation can significantly reduce anxiety. Break it down: Rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire syllabus, break it down into smaller, manageable portions. Create a study plan and set realistic goals for each study session. Focusing on one topic at a time can help reduce anxiety. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or listening to calming music can help you relax and reduce anxiety levels. Ensure you prioritize self-care. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in physical activity. A healthy body and mind can better handle stress and anxiety. Develop a study schedule that allows for regular breaks and leisure activities. Effective time management can help reduce the pressure of last-minute cramming and provide a better balance in your routine.
10. Post-Exam and Result Analysis
Preliminary Exam Result: After the UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam, the result is usually declared within a few weeks. The result is published on the official UPSC website. It includes a list of candidates who have qualified for the Main Exam based on the cutoff marks set by the UPSC.Main Exam Result: Once the Main Exam is conducted, the result is declared after a few months. The result is published on the UPSC website and includes the roll numbers of candidates who have qualified for the next stage, which is the Interview or Personality Test.
Final Result: The final result is declared after the completion of the Interview/Personality Test. It includes the names and ranks of candidates who have successfully cleared all the stages of the exam. The final result is published on the UPSC website and may also be published in leading newspapers.
Merit List: The final result is based on the total marks obtained by candidates in the Main Exam and the Interview/Personality Test. A merit list is prepared based on the overall performance, and candidates are ranked accordingly. The allotment of services is done based on the candidate's rank and preference.
Analyzing performance and identifying areas for improvement
Start by reviewing your exam scores and marks obtained in each section. Identify the areas where you performed well and areas where you struggled or scored lower. This will give you an initial understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Based on your analysis, create a study plan that addresses your weak areas while also reinforcing your strengths. Allocate more time and effort to topics or subjects that need improvement. Break down your study plan into smaller, achievable targets to ensure consistent progress.
Strategies for preparing for subsequent attempts
Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and use this self-assessment as a foundation for your subsequent preparation. Based on your analysis, pinpoint the subjects, topics, or specific areas where you need improvement. It could be conceptual understanding, answer writing, time management, or current affairs. Prioritize these areas and develop a targeted strategy to enhance your knowledge and skills. Reinforce your foundational knowledge by revisiting the basic concepts and fundamentals of each subject. Assess your time management skills and identify areas where you can improve. Consult mentors, teachers, or successful candidates who can provide guidance and valuable insights. Take care of your physical and mental well-being.
11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is coaching necessary for UPSC CSE preparation? Coaching is not mandatory, but it can provide structured guidance, study materials, and mock tests. It can be helpful, especially for those who require additional support or prefer a classroom learning environment. However, self-study with the right resources and self-discipline can also lead to success.What are the best books for UPSC CSE preparation? The choice of books may vary depending on the subject and individual preferences. Some popular books for UPSC CSE include NCERT textbooks, standard reference books by authors like Laxmikanth, M. Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh, and Bipan Chandra, and newspapers like The Hindu for current affairs.
Can working professionals prepare for UPSC CSE? Yes, working professionals can prepare for UPSC CSE by managing their time effectively, creating a study plan, and dedicating focused hours to preparation. Utilize weekends, early mornings, and evenings for study. Balance work commitments with consistent preparation.
Clarifying misconceptions and providing guidance
Misconception: Only candidates from prestigious educational backgrounds can crack UPSC CSE. → UPSC CSE is open to candidates from diverse educational backgrounds. It is the knowledge, aptitude, and dedication that matter more than the educational institution. With the right strategy, study materials, and consistent effort, anyone can succeed in the exam.Misconception: UPSC CSE can be cleared on the first attempt without much preparation. → UPSC CSE is a highly competitive exam that requires thorough preparation and dedication. While a few exceptional candidates may clear it on their first attempt, most aspirants require multiple attempts. Developing a long-term preparation strategy and consistent effort is key to success.
Misconception: Coaching institutes guarantee success in UPSC CSE. → Coaching institutes can provide guidance, study materials, and mock tests, but they do not guarantee success. Success in UPSC CSE depends on individual effort, self-study, and consistent practice. Many candidates have cleared the exam without formal coaching. It's important to choose the right resources and adopt a disciplined approach to self-study.
Misconception: Memorizing information is enough for UPSC CSE. → UPSC CSE tests conceptual understanding, analytical abilities, and application of knowledge. Mere memorization of facts and information is not enough. Focus on understanding concepts, connecting topics, and developing critical thinking skills. Practice answer writing and analyze previous years' question papers to enhance your application-based approach.
Misconception: Studying for long hours guarantees success. → Study hours alone do not determine success. Quality of study matters more than quantity. Focus on effective time management, breaking down topics into manageable chunks, and setting realistic goals. Take regular breaks, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and prioritize self-care to ensure sustained productivity.
Misconception: English proficiency is mandatory for UPSC CSE. → While UPSC CSE is conducted in English and Hindi, candidates do not need exceptional fluency in English. Basic proficiency in English is sufficient to understand and communicate effectively. Focus on improving language skills through reading, writing, and practicing answer writing.
Misconception: The optional subject is the key to success in UPSC CSE. → The optional subject plays a significant role in the Main Examination, but it is not the sole determinant of success. A well-rounded preparation, including General Studies papers, current affairs, and essay writing, is equally important. Choose the optional subject based on your interest, aptitude, and availability of study materials.
Misconception: UPSC CSE is all about hard work, and luck plays no role. → Hard work is essential for UPSC CSE, but luck can also play a role in certain aspects like question patterns, options in multiple-choice questions, etc. However, luck alone cannot guarantee success. Focus on consistent effort, smart preparation, and improving your skills and knowledge to maximize your chances of success.
12. Conclusion
We have covered a wide range of topics related to UPSC CSE preparation. We discussed the importance of this exam and its eligibility criteria, exam stages, and services offered. We explored various strategies for exam preparation, including recommended books, note-making techniques, and time management. We also delved into specific subjects, optional subject selection, and interview processes. Furthermore, we addressed common queries, clarified misconceptions, and provided guidance. Throughout the discussion, we emphasized the significance of self-study, self-evaluation, and continuous improvement. We highlighted the value of mock tests, previous years' question papers, and analyzing performance. Lastly, we discussed the importance of motivation, encouragement, and perseverance on this challenging yet rewarding journey. Remember, with dedication, strategic planning, and the right mindset, you can overcome obstacles and achieve success in UPSC CSE. Good luck!Encouragement and motivation for sticklers
Some motivational movies centered around society and its betterment. You should watch it when you have time :)
Dead Poets Society, Remember the Titans, The Pursuit of Happyness, October Sky, Hidden Figures, A Beautiful Mind, Freedom Writers, The Blind Side, Gandhi, Invictus, Freedom Writers, The Help 2011, The Great Debaters, The Pursuit of Equality, Milk 2008, Selma, Norma Rae, Kaala 2018, Peranbu, Mahatma, Drishyam, Swades, Rang De Basanti and many more.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
2023.06.05 18:24 RCcarroll One Color, Twenty Greens: Finding Acceptance Through Different Green Characters and Factions
Howdy all! I've really enjoyed becoming part of this community and theorizing colors with y'all. One of my biggest interests has been to unpack what the difference is between theorizing color combinations in the abstract and theorizing them based on exemplary cards--the difference between deduction and induction, we might say. In that pursuit, I wanted to consider the color that, it seems, is one of the most prickly for color philosophy: green.
Green is, famously, a tough color to grasp, in that it seems to name a disposition to the world rather than a mode of acting in it. It’s all summed up by the notion that, for Green, the key to life is acceptance--accepting who we are, our place in the world, and the existence of things beyond ourselves. For this reason, we hear time and time again, Green is the color that opposes action, as it believes the world is already great as it is. It’s all about acceptance.
But I want to offer a little challenge: accept what? What is the “way things are” that Green is so interested in? The question is apparently quite simple, but I think that its openness actually lies at the heart of Green, its combinations, and the frequent confusion that comes in understanding it. In the world of philosophy, to say that one accepts the way things are is to be incredibly generalizing: do you believe that you, as an individual, have some inalienable traits that need to be accepted (say that you exist as a fallible and mortal creature, as an existentialist might say)? Do you believe that we need to accept certain foundational truths of the universe (as proponents of many religions suggest, whether it’s accepting that we are beloved creations of the Abrahamic God or accepting that the nature of life is suffering)? Do you believe we need to accept that society is the way it is and it’s useless to change it (perhaps a cartoon utilitarianism or conservatism?)
In this post, I want to endeavor to unpack what, precisely, different variations of Green aim to accept, and why--and I’ll be doing this through major characters and factions that are mono-Green or include it as a major color.
Nota bene: it's been pointed out that not all cards or characters can be said to fully align with their card pips, and that oftentimes mechanics take center stage rather than lore. This is true enough, but with that in mind, I'd like to look at some cards and characters that seem representative--keystones of certain factions, major characters, etc., to strike a nice balance. I’ll pay special attention to the flavor choices grafted onto certain factions--i.e., how the writing team characterized the flavor of different characters. For instance, it was probably a high-level mechanical choice that the Cabaretti would be partiers, but the writing team chose to describe them in certain ways, and they speak to a certain version of the faction.
It strikes me that we can use this as a chance to ponder each color less as set of dogma and more as a road map, a set of questions whose answers are the core of a character’s identity. For Green, this is “What is reality, and what is my relationship to it?” There are a million answers, all of them emerging from a certain kind of question: what is the truth of the world beyond me? (I imagine we can also broaden this notion of key questions. White, for example, might ask, “what’s right and what helps others?”, while Black might ask, “Who am I, and what does it mean to prioritize myself?”)
The key idea, though, is that we can find more to Green--a more dynamic philosophical system, and perhaps a more interesting basis for understanding color philosophy--by asking about the referent of its philosophy, the what that it seems so interested in accepting.
submitted by RCcarroll to colorpie [link] [comments]
Green is, famously, a tough color to grasp, in that it seems to name a disposition to the world rather than a mode of acting in it. It’s all summed up by the notion that, for Green, the key to life is acceptance--accepting who we are, our place in the world, and the existence of things beyond ourselves. For this reason, we hear time and time again, Green is the color that opposes action, as it believes the world is already great as it is. It’s all about acceptance.
But I want to offer a little challenge: accept what? What is the “way things are” that Green is so interested in? The question is apparently quite simple, but I think that its openness actually lies at the heart of Green, its combinations, and the frequent confusion that comes in understanding it. In the world of philosophy, to say that one accepts the way things are is to be incredibly generalizing: do you believe that you, as an individual, have some inalienable traits that need to be accepted (say that you exist as a fallible and mortal creature, as an existentialist might say)? Do you believe that we need to accept certain foundational truths of the universe (as proponents of many religions suggest, whether it’s accepting that we are beloved creations of the Abrahamic God or accepting that the nature of life is suffering)? Do you believe we need to accept that society is the way it is and it’s useless to change it (perhaps a cartoon utilitarianism or conservatism?)
In this post, I want to endeavor to unpack what, precisely, different variations of Green aim to accept, and why--and I’ll be doing this through major characters and factions that are mono-Green or include it as a major color.
Nota bene: it's been pointed out that not all cards or characters can be said to fully align with their card pips, and that oftentimes mechanics take center stage rather than lore. This is true enough, but with that in mind, I'd like to look at some cards and characters that seem representative--keystones of certain factions, major characters, etc., to strike a nice balance. I’ll pay special attention to the flavor choices grafted onto certain factions--i.e., how the writing team characterized the flavor of different characters. For instance, it was probably a high-level mechanical choice that the Cabaretti would be partiers, but the writing team chose to describe them in certain ways, and they speak to a certain version of the faction.
- Garruk (Mono G) - Garruk was the first green planeswalker, so it’s fitting that he’s the first on our list. For Garruk, “acceptance” means a primitivism that eschews civilization and communes with animals--even as he also fights them, given that the strong survive..
- Nissa (Mono G)- Next is Nissa, who is the other archetypical green planeswalker. For her, to accept the world as it is means to listen to the very essence of a plane and to take it into oneself--and it also means prioritizing the growth of the natural world over questions of strategy, moral good, or peace. (which emerges in the Zendikar Rising story: one of Nissa’s recurring story beats is that she cares more about Zendikar and her own people than the multiverse at large). If Garruk is a primitivist, Nissa is a bit more like a Romantic poet. Her acceptance is about mystical communion, biological growth, and circles of care rather than universal morality.
- The Gods of Kaldheim, Theros, and Amonkhet (Mono G) - At the risk of adding five more length entries to this list, I’ll list the domains or patronages of each mono Green God--which, I think, should shed light on what dimension of the world they emphasize.
- Esika - The mysterious nature of the cosmos
- Jorn - The natural world. Kolvori - Kinship.
- Nylea - The natural seasons and cycles of rebirth
- Rhonas - Strength, interpreted as will and self-reliance
- Vorinclex (Mono G) - Of course, we need to consider the newest innovation to the color pie: the Phyrexian Praetors, who are posed as the darkest, most malevolent versions of each color. In Vorinclex’s case, Green means not a romanticist harmony but a ruthless survival-of-the-fittest by which the strong rise to the surface--encapsulated in his March of the Machines saga, The Grand Evolution.
- Ajani (GW) - Next, we’ll move around the color wheel to Ajani, our GW representative. For Ajani, acceptance and growth have little to do with the natural world or the cosmos; acceptance means embracing that at the core of each person is a true self, an inner authenticity that, when nurtured, can offer boundless growth. To engage with others means to care for them as a family and help them find themselves. In short: his acceptance is rooted in personal authenticity, kinship, and care.
- Trostani (GW) - Trostani, part of the collective structure that governs the Selesnya Conclave, represents the form of acceptance that is the guild’s brand. Trostani’s acceptance is mystical, but also organizational (they are incredibly attached to the veneer of copacetic peace), and subordinates the individual to the collective.
- Vannifar (GU) - Emblemizing the philosophy of the Simic, Prime Speaker Vannifar’s connection to “the world as it is” is actually quite funky: she, like the other Simic, believe in the power of perfecting the natural form through altering themselves, changing themselves. The reality she’s attuned to, is, perhaps paradoxically, the mutability at the heart of reality.
- Quandrix (GU) - I love the Strixhaven schools, because they invite a view of enemy colors that is unresolved, up in the air. Quandrix students prioritize magic that taps into the substrates of reality itself--there’s no fear of investigation or action per se--but the Green side proposes that Quandrix magic’s ultimate object is to venerate the intricacies and beauties of the natural world. The acceptance here is as much scientific as mystical, as much realist as mystical.
- Kruphix (GU) - It feels fitting to mention Kruphix, Theros’ GU deity, who is the God of Horizons. Kruphix represents [all that is mysterious, that exists but is not yet known[((https://scryfall.com/card/c18/155/kruphixs-insight?utm_source=mw_MTGWiki); his acceptance is of the mysteries of reality which we nevertheless pursue.
- Jarad (BG) - Jarad figures one form of BG that accords with the original image of the Golgari: an acceptance of decay as an inevitable reality. In Jarad’s case, communing with this reality opens the way to a unique brand of domination and ambition. This, however, needn’t always be the case, as we see in…
- Vraska (BG) - Representing a more just (I hesitate to say heroic, per se) vision of the Golgari Swarm is Vraska. According with the broader philosophy of the Golgari, Vraska sees the reality that life and death are bound together as the great equalizers--but infuses a kind of ethical charge, believing that, because everything dies, the rise of the downtrodden is inevitable--in other words, the world ultimately belongs to the poor, broken, and decayed.
- Witherbloom (GB): Like the other Strixhaven schools, Witherbloom takes the enemy color pairing and makes it an open question rather than a resolved one. In Witherbloom, there’s a common emphasis on biological survival as a basic reality--but the question is whether the basic nature of things is to grow or to merely survive.
- Borborygmos (RG) - As the de facto guildmaster of the Gruul, Borborygmos emblemizes their specific brand of acceptance: accepting the reality of chaos, as a natural disposition towards indulgence.
- Radha (RG) - Radha is really interesting in that her colors are partially based on lore, partially based on mechanics, and partially based on philosophy--she’s the descendents of the Red-aligned Keldons and the Green-aligned Skyshroud Elves. However, per my rules for discernment above, I think that the flavor Radha was given in Dominaria (2018) is still telling. Her vision of Keld is one that blends discernment with tradition, and her acceptance is ultimately rooted in an embrace of Keld, as they are, as a kinship group, rather than as a set of traditions. As we see in the flavor text of Warlord’s Fury: We do what’s best for us, not for the past.”
- The Cabaretti (RGW) - The essence of the Cabaretti is well articulated in a line from Jetmir’s bio: "people gotta live, not just survive." Although he headed the Naya-esque nature cult of Old Capenna, the modern Jetmir has transmuted those values into something different: for him, the boundless life of RGW is not about reverence to the processes of nature, but rather about the bounty and beauty of existence--the fruits of experience, sensation, and feeling. In short, parties. For Jetmir and the Cabaretti, to accept the nature of reality doesn’t have as much to do with nature as it does with our experience itself--the stuff that makes life worth living.
- The Brokers (WGU) - Because the Brokers are centered in Blue, Green plays a less important role for them than it does with the Cabaretti. Still, can discern an interesting perspective on “the way the world is” within them: for the Brokers, the reality that matters is that of networked obligation and their own power.
- The Riveteers (BRG) - The Riveteers, one of my favorite green factions, make green the color of union solidarity. For them, acceptance means accepting the bonds and mutuality between your comrades; externally, their role as laborers leads them to see “the world as it is” as directly linked to them--so, in other words, to see the world as it is means to see things as related to the people who built them.
- The Abzan Houses: Like the other wedges, the [Abzan[(https://scryfall.com/card/frf/126/cached-defenses) are complicated and quite hard to pin down. That said, their form of acceptance relates to stability, but it manifests in an attachment to familial and ancestral-spiritual bonds.
- The Temur Frontier (RUG): Like the Abzan, the Temur’s form of accepting the world means engaging in a kind of rugged kinship with nature, familiar bonds, and the necessities of life.
- The Sultai Brood (BUG): The Sultai are interesting in that, with Black and Blue being in the mix, they don’t much emphasize complacency--on the contrary, they delve into dark secrets. That said, we can also say that they manifest a funny mode of “acceptance,”: for them, to encounter the world as it is means to see the dark horrors of reality--especially those found in nature’s ruthlessness.
It strikes me that we can use this as a chance to ponder each color less as set of dogma and more as a road map, a set of questions whose answers are the core of a character’s identity. For Green, this is “What is reality, and what is my relationship to it?” There are a million answers, all of them emerging from a certain kind of question: what is the truth of the world beyond me? (I imagine we can also broaden this notion of key questions. White, for example, might ask, “what’s right and what helps others?”, while Black might ask, “Who am I, and what does it mean to prioritize myself?”)
The key idea, though, is that we can find more to Green--a more dynamic philosophical system, and perhaps a more interesting basis for understanding color philosophy--by asking about the referent of its philosophy, the what that it seems so interested in accepting.
2023.06.05 14:00 dreftzg [Daily News] This Frederique Constant Is THE Rolex Oyster Alternative At 1/5th The Price, Porsche Design Celebrates First Porsche, Norqain Is Summer Ready With Ice Blue Dial And A Miffy The Rabbit Watch Is Perfect
It's Monday and there's not much going on today. But still... here it is. I'll take a brief moment and say thanks to everyone here that subscribed to the newsletter. That thing blew up and in three months got to numbers I would be happy with after two years. I hope you enjoy these updates, even on days that are slow like this one.
Also, I have a new giveaway with the newsletter - a Hamilton Khaki Field - so check it out if you're so inclined.
Frederique Constant’s New Highlife Automatic Is An Interesting Rolex Oyster 36 Alternative At 1/5th Of The Price
Ask on a forum what would be a great alternative if you weren’t ready to spend about $10.000 on the really nice and colorful Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36, and the two most likely answers you will get are the Tissot Gentleman (which lacks the range of colors) and theCasio Citizen Tsuyosa (which is all about color). And these are two mighty fine watches. But they are also sub $500 (depending on where you shop). And it’s very clear that they are not luxury watches. Now, if you want a great alternative to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 that is trying to make a break towards the luxury watch market, take a look at the new Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic. Not only are they introducing a bunch of great colors, they also have a very interesting dial. And they’re almost 1/5th of the price of the Oyster Perpetual.
Frederique Constant might be a watch that’s not on your radar every day, but they offer great value for money, entry level luxury - especially in the Highlife Automatic - with some pieces that can get up there in price. Their entry into the same realm as the Oyster Perpetual comes up a bit short, at 34mm, but with the trend of customers wanting smaller and more vintage-looking watches, this is a great option. Most of the case is brushed, with polished links on the integrated bracelet. The watch also comes with a white rubber strap.
Where the watch majorly differs from any competition would be the dial. It comes in ice blue, champagne gold, and blossom pink, with a subtle pattern which looks like the grid around a globe. This is a pattern found on many FCs. Inside the watch is the FC-303, based on the Sellita SW200.
The Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic watches in the new colours are unlimited and available now, priced at $1,895.
2/
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Celebrates 75 Years Of Porsche’s First Car
75 years ago, Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche built one of the most influential cars to ever exist - the Porsche 356 Roadster. Not only did that car change the car world by itself, it also set the groundwork for one of the greatest sports car brands in the world. 24 years later, Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche (yeah, they weren’t all that creative with their names, Ferry’s dad who constructed the Beetle was also named Ferdinand) created a company called Porsche Design, a production design studio that will take the Porsche ethos and apply it to stuff that isn’t cars. One of the things Porsche Design perfected is watches, and to celebrate the anniversary of the 356, Porsche Design is releasing a new version of their Chronograph 1 – the 75 Years of Porsche Edition
The original Porsche Design Chronograph 1, manufactured by Orfina, wasn’t just popular because of its looks, but also because of its technological advancement. It was the watch that pioneered the use of PVD treatments on watch cases, making a fully black watch. It also appeared on the wrist of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. The new model isn’t a replica of the old one, but look at them side by side and you see a clear evolution.
The Chronograph 1 – the 75 Years of Porsche Edition is made out of titanium, 40mm wide, once again gets a matte black finish and paired to a textile leather strap with light-blue decorative stitching and a central red stripe or the included black leather strap with matching black stitching. The anti-reflective, matte-black dial was inspired by the dashboard in the cockpit of the Porsche 911, but the case has been updated to titanium instead of the original stainless steel used in 1972
Interestingly, the old Chronograph 1 was powered by the Valjoux 7750, and the new one has the WERK 01.140 which is, in essence, a modernised version of that movement. Very modernised, very upgraded. It has a flyback chronograph functionality, black-coated decoration and COSC certification that ensures accuracy within +6/-4 seconds per day. Also, the automatic winding rotor has taken the shape of the legendary Fuchs wheel with a Porsche crest
The watch is limited, frustratingly to 475 pieces. Yes, I get you would like to sell more watches, but 475 doesn’t mean anything. 75 means something. 356 means something. Anyways, sale starts June 8 and it’s priced at $11,000.
3/
Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike Gets An Update In Full Blue Sapphire
The Chopard L.U.C Full Strike is an award winning watch, and it’s no wonder why. Introduced in 2016, it was the brand’s first minute repeater and just look at it. It’s a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, exhibiting exceptional construction and decoration. Now, Chopard is releasing a new version of the watch - this time in a blue sapphire case. So, if you ever wanted to get the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Blue Sapphire, but wanted an actually fantastic watch, here it is!
To use the biggest cliche of them all - this is not a revolution, it is an evolution. But it really is an evolution, as it is a color update to last year’s Full Strike Sapphire, with the 42.5 mm case, and crown with its integrated minute repeater pusher made of sapphire. It still has the same insane sapphire crystal gongs, machined from a single sapphire block.
The dial is made of sapphire, too, with the movement in full view. For easy reading, the railway-type minutes track was engraved and painted on the crystal, and eight rhodium-plated, shaped hour markers, positioned from 12 to 7 o’clock, were applied to make the chapter ring.
The L.U.C 08.01-L hand-wound movement is COSC certified and bears the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark. It comprises 533 parts, beats to the frequency of 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 60 hours.
Unlike the Hublot, which comes on a full sapphire bracelet which many watchmakers have called an impossible dirt trap, the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Blue Sapphire is offered on a blue alligator leather strap and it’s limited to just five pieces. The price is on request, but last year’s clear sapphire version was rumoured to cost $450.000
4/
The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Ice Blue Limited Edition Is A Summer Ready Baby Blue Watch
Norqain is only five years old and yet, it currently has more than 50 different watches in their lineup. Started by Ben Küffer who brought over a bunch of people from Breitling, where he worked, one of their early successes was the Freedom 60 Chrono, housed in a 43mm case. People loved the watch, but they loved the 40mm version launched last year even more. Norqain is now releasing a limited edition of the 40mm chronograph with an ice blue dial.
It’s the same old watch as it was last year - 40mm in diameter and 14.9mm thick, with a box-type AR sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance rating. There are three strap options and Norqain is proud that they are all animal cruelty-free - a stainless steel bracelet, a black Perlon rubber strap and a linen Nortide strap made of recycled plastic recovered from the ocean.
The dial has a tri-compax layout and gets a new color palette with a sunray brushed ice blue dial, with black subdials and silver applied indices. There’s a colour-matching angled date at the unfortunate position between 4 and 5 o’clock. Inside the watch is Norqain’s calibre NN19, based on the Sellita SW510, a cam-operated chronograph with 27 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and a power reserve of 62 hours. This is an update last year’s 40mm model, which had an ETA based movement.
The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Ice Blue Limited Edition is limited to 300 pieces and retails for CHF 4,250 with the steel bracelet, CHF 4,150 with the rubber strap and CHF 3,990 with the Nortide strap.
5/
Revolution’s Latest Collaboration With De Rijke & Co. Gives Us A Whimsical Miffy Watch With A Sapphire Dial And Great Price
If you are by chance, like me, a parent to a little girl, you know all about Miffy. If you are not, all you need to know is that Miffy is cult Dutch cartoon bunny created by Dick Bruna, whose books have sold more than 100 million copies since 1955. Miffy being Dutch is appropriate, since this watch is made by De Rijke & Co, a relatively young Dutch watch brand that was started after it’s owner Laurens de Rijke in 2013 took his fifty year old Vespa scooter for a trip on the Silk Road, covering a distance of 11.000 kilometer, he past countries like Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Born from this trip was an inspiration to create a watch, and it’s very interesting. While many brands want to create a fully modular watch, it always ends up being cumbersome. De Rijke went another path - he created a two part case that allows you to spin the internal part that holds the dial, crystal and movement, up to 90 degrees, allowing it to be positioned wherever you wanted for comfort. The lugs of the watch are also unique, solid and made for straps to pass through them. All of this gives the watch almost as much modularity as a modular watch, while still being a good watch.
Also, this is not the first time you will find Miffy on a De Rijke & Co. watch. They have a completely sold out collection of four Miffy watches differing only in color and limited to 25 pieces per color. The watch is powered by the Sellita SW 288-1, a movement that has been seen modified for the MING 37.05 Moonphase and unmodified in the Farer Moonphase. All of this makes sense, as the De Rijke & Co. Miffy watch is a moonphase watch, where the moon is replaced with an illustration of Miffy.
And now, here comes Revolution magazine with their special edition of the De Rijke & Co. Miffy, but this time it’s the Double Moonphase. This version of the watch has a translucent sapphire dial, which allowed them to add a second Miffy, which turns the watch into a dual-hemisphere moonphase indicator.
Production will be limited to 100 pieces and the watch is priced at EUR 3,100, which is EUR 400 higher than the already sold out Miffy’s which don’t have the sapphire dial. Available for purchase on 6 June 2023, 10pm SGT 4pm CET 10am EST
6/
The Romain Gauthier Introduces The C Titanium Edition Four In Black And Blue
There’s a certain type of watch one expects from an independent watchmaker. Serious, classical, with all the watchmaking talents on display and highly personal. Romain Gauthier took all of those characteristics and applied them to his watches. Then he decided to create the Continuum, which is, in fact, an independent’s version of a sports watch, filled with Gauthier’s trademark touches. The model was later renamed C by Romain Gauthier, but the series retained the essential idea and continued to evolve aesthetically. The brand has just revealed the new edition of the C by Romain Gauthier Titanium in a Grade 5 titanium case coated with black ALDC.
If you follow the work of Romain Gauthier, the new C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Four will look very familiar to you, for the watch sports the same 41mm x 9.55mm, 50m water-resistant case crafted from Grade 5 titanium, with a black diamond-like carbon coating, as the Edition Two from last year. All of the titanium used also gives the watch incredible lightness and the whole thing weighs just 55 grams.
The new reference is distinguished mainly by coloured elements. The crown at 2 o’clock features a blue rubber ring. The main dial plate in black Grade 5 titanium received a straight-graining finish; the slightly off-centred hours and minutes are indicated with the white Super-LumiNova-filled 18k white gold hands and applied numerals and hour markers.
But all of this is secondary to the movement. It is a contemporary in-house calibre, manually wound, with exceptional decoration and finishes. The movement with signature Gauthier-reinterpreted historically typical finger-style bridges in natural titanium and rhodium-treated gears is the same as in the previous Continuum editions. It beats to a frequency of 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 60 hours.
The C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Four is a limited edition of 38, and comes on a black textured rubber strap with satin-finished and polished Grade 5 titanium pin buckle coated with black ADLC. It’s priced at CHF 38,000 and while this is an insane amount of money for a watch, I can think of many mass produced watches with less impressive materials and movements that will ask you for much more money.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A review of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days watch, ultra-thin and all-titanium
2/
Hands on with the very controversial Patek Philippe Calatrava 6007G
-------------------------------------------------------------
Made out of solid silver, the finishing is outstanding. The elongated black Roman numerals exude elegance and are embraced with a very fine minute track. Look closely and you can see small blue markers at every five-minute increment, a touch of colour that ties in with a key element on the dial: the power reserve indication. This simple little horizontal display is very practical on a day-to-day basis when dealing with a hand-wound watch (which this is).
-------------------------------------------------------------
People loved the Seiko Alpinist! That's why I'm doing a new one. This time, we're giving away four Hamilton Khaki Field Automatics in a color of your choice. Head on over to the newsletter if you would like to enter.
If you would like to receive some additional watch-adjacent content, as well as this news overview, every morning Monday-Friday in the form of a newsletter feel free to subscribe. However, there is absolutely no need for you to subscribe, as all the news from the newsletter is posted here. It is only if you want to receive a couple of daily links that are not strictly watch-related and want to get this news overview in your inbox.
submitted by dreftzg to Watches [link] [comments]
Also, I have a new giveaway with the newsletter - a Hamilton Khaki Field - so check it out if you're so inclined.
What's new
1/Frederique Constant’s New Highlife Automatic Is An Interesting Rolex Oyster 36 Alternative At 1/5th Of The Price
Ask on a forum what would be a great alternative if you weren’t ready to spend about $10.000 on the really nice and colorful Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36, and the two most likely answers you will get are the Tissot Gentleman (which lacks the range of colors) and the
Frederique Constant might be a watch that’s not on your radar every day, but they offer great value for money, entry level luxury - especially in the Highlife Automatic - with some pieces that can get up there in price. Their entry into the same realm as the Oyster Perpetual comes up a bit short, at 34mm, but with the trend of customers wanting smaller and more vintage-looking watches, this is a great option. Most of the case is brushed, with polished links on the integrated bracelet. The watch also comes with a white rubber strap.
Where the watch majorly differs from any competition would be the dial. It comes in ice blue, champagne gold, and blossom pink, with a subtle pattern which looks like the grid around a globe. This is a pattern found on many FCs. Inside the watch is the FC-303, based on the Sellita SW200.
The Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic watches in the new colours are unlimited and available now, priced at $1,895.
2/
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Celebrates 75 Years Of Porsche’s First Car
75 years ago, Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche built one of the most influential cars to ever exist - the Porsche 356 Roadster. Not only did that car change the car world by itself, it also set the groundwork for one of the greatest sports car brands in the world. 24 years later, Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche (yeah, they weren’t all that creative with their names, Ferry’s dad who constructed the Beetle was also named Ferdinand) created a company called Porsche Design, a production design studio that will take the Porsche ethos and apply it to stuff that isn’t cars. One of the things Porsche Design perfected is watches, and to celebrate the anniversary of the 356, Porsche Design is releasing a new version of their Chronograph 1 – the 75 Years of Porsche Edition
The original Porsche Design Chronograph 1, manufactured by Orfina, wasn’t just popular because of its looks, but also because of its technological advancement. It was the watch that pioneered the use of PVD treatments on watch cases, making a fully black watch. It also appeared on the wrist of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. The new model isn’t a replica of the old one, but look at them side by side and you see a clear evolution.
The Chronograph 1 – the 75 Years of Porsche Edition is made out of titanium, 40mm wide, once again gets a matte black finish and paired to a textile leather strap with light-blue decorative stitching and a central red stripe or the included black leather strap with matching black stitching. The anti-reflective, matte-black dial was inspired by the dashboard in the cockpit of the Porsche 911, but the case has been updated to titanium instead of the original stainless steel used in 1972
Interestingly, the old Chronograph 1 was powered by the Valjoux 7750, and the new one has the WERK 01.140 which is, in essence, a modernised version of that movement. Very modernised, very upgraded. It has a flyback chronograph functionality, black-coated decoration and COSC certification that ensures accuracy within +6/-4 seconds per day. Also, the automatic winding rotor has taken the shape of the legendary Fuchs wheel with a Porsche crest
The watch is limited, frustratingly to 475 pieces. Yes, I get you would like to sell more watches, but 475 doesn’t mean anything. 75 means something. 356 means something. Anyways, sale starts June 8 and it’s priced at $11,000.
3/
Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike Gets An Update In Full Blue Sapphire
The Chopard L.U.C Full Strike is an award winning watch, and it’s no wonder why. Introduced in 2016, it was the brand’s first minute repeater and just look at it. It’s a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, exhibiting exceptional construction and decoration. Now, Chopard is releasing a new version of the watch - this time in a blue sapphire case. So, if you ever wanted to get the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Blue Sapphire, but wanted an actually fantastic watch, here it is!
To use the biggest cliche of them all - this is not a revolution, it is an evolution. But it really is an evolution, as it is a color update to last year’s Full Strike Sapphire, with the 42.5 mm case, and crown with its integrated minute repeater pusher made of sapphire. It still has the same insane sapphire crystal gongs, machined from a single sapphire block.
The dial is made of sapphire, too, with the movement in full view. For easy reading, the railway-type minutes track was engraved and painted on the crystal, and eight rhodium-plated, shaped hour markers, positioned from 12 to 7 o’clock, were applied to make the chapter ring.
The L.U.C 08.01-L hand-wound movement is COSC certified and bears the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark. It comprises 533 parts, beats to the frequency of 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 60 hours.
Unlike the Hublot, which comes on a full sapphire bracelet which many watchmakers have called an impossible dirt trap, the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Blue Sapphire is offered on a blue alligator leather strap and it’s limited to just five pieces. The price is on request, but last year’s clear sapphire version was rumoured to cost $450.000
4/
The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Ice Blue Limited Edition Is A Summer Ready Baby Blue Watch
Norqain is only five years old and yet, it currently has more than 50 different watches in their lineup. Started by Ben Küffer who brought over a bunch of people from Breitling, where he worked, one of their early successes was the Freedom 60 Chrono, housed in a 43mm case. People loved the watch, but they loved the 40mm version launched last year even more. Norqain is now releasing a limited edition of the 40mm chronograph with an ice blue dial.
It’s the same old watch as it was last year - 40mm in diameter and 14.9mm thick, with a box-type AR sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance rating. There are three strap options and Norqain is proud that they are all animal cruelty-free - a stainless steel bracelet, a black Perlon rubber strap and a linen Nortide strap made of recycled plastic recovered from the ocean.
The dial has a tri-compax layout and gets a new color palette with a sunray brushed ice blue dial, with black subdials and silver applied indices. There’s a colour-matching angled date at the unfortunate position between 4 and 5 o’clock. Inside the watch is Norqain’s calibre NN19, based on the Sellita SW510, a cam-operated chronograph with 27 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and a power reserve of 62 hours. This is an update last year’s 40mm model, which had an ETA based movement.
The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Ice Blue Limited Edition is limited to 300 pieces and retails for CHF 4,250 with the steel bracelet, CHF 4,150 with the rubber strap and CHF 3,990 with the Nortide strap.
5/
Revolution’s Latest Collaboration With De Rijke & Co. Gives Us A Whimsical Miffy Watch With A Sapphire Dial And Great Price
If you are by chance, like me, a parent to a little girl, you know all about Miffy. If you are not, all you need to know is that Miffy is cult Dutch cartoon bunny created by Dick Bruna, whose books have sold more than 100 million copies since 1955. Miffy being Dutch is appropriate, since this watch is made by De Rijke & Co, a relatively young Dutch watch brand that was started after it’s owner Laurens de Rijke in 2013 took his fifty year old Vespa scooter for a trip on the Silk Road, covering a distance of 11.000 kilometer, he past countries like Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Born from this trip was an inspiration to create a watch, and it’s very interesting. While many brands want to create a fully modular watch, it always ends up being cumbersome. De Rijke went another path - he created a two part case that allows you to spin the internal part that holds the dial, crystal and movement, up to 90 degrees, allowing it to be positioned wherever you wanted for comfort. The lugs of the watch are also unique, solid and made for straps to pass through them. All of this gives the watch almost as much modularity as a modular watch, while still being a good watch.
Also, this is not the first time you will find Miffy on a De Rijke & Co. watch. They have a completely sold out collection of four Miffy watches differing only in color and limited to 25 pieces per color. The watch is powered by the Sellita SW 288-1, a movement that has been seen modified for the MING 37.05 Moonphase and unmodified in the Farer Moonphase. All of this makes sense, as the De Rijke & Co. Miffy watch is a moonphase watch, where the moon is replaced with an illustration of Miffy.
And now, here comes Revolution magazine with their special edition of the De Rijke & Co. Miffy, but this time it’s the Double Moonphase. This version of the watch has a translucent sapphire dial, which allowed them to add a second Miffy, which turns the watch into a dual-hemisphere moonphase indicator.
Production will be limited to 100 pieces and the watch is priced at EUR 3,100, which is EUR 400 higher than the already sold out Miffy’s which don’t have the sapphire dial. Available for purchase on 6 June 2023, 10pm SGT 4pm CET 10am EST
6/
The Romain Gauthier Introduces The C Titanium Edition Four In Black And Blue
There’s a certain type of watch one expects from an independent watchmaker. Serious, classical, with all the watchmaking talents on display and highly personal. Romain Gauthier took all of those characteristics and applied them to his watches. Then he decided to create the Continuum, which is, in fact, an independent’s version of a sports watch, filled with Gauthier’s trademark touches. The model was later renamed C by Romain Gauthier, but the series retained the essential idea and continued to evolve aesthetically. The brand has just revealed the new edition of the C by Romain Gauthier Titanium in a Grade 5 titanium case coated with black ALDC.
If you follow the work of Romain Gauthier, the new C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Four will look very familiar to you, for the watch sports the same 41mm x 9.55mm, 50m water-resistant case crafted from Grade 5 titanium, with a black diamond-like carbon coating, as the Edition Two from last year. All of the titanium used also gives the watch incredible lightness and the whole thing weighs just 55 grams.
The new reference is distinguished mainly by coloured elements. The crown at 2 o’clock features a blue rubber ring. The main dial plate in black Grade 5 titanium received a straight-graining finish; the slightly off-centred hours and minutes are indicated with the white Super-LumiNova-filled 18k white gold hands and applied numerals and hour markers.
But all of this is secondary to the movement. It is a contemporary in-house calibre, manually wound, with exceptional decoration and finishes. The movement with signature Gauthier-reinterpreted historically typical finger-style bridges in natural titanium and rhodium-treated gears is the same as in the previous Continuum editions. It beats to a frequency of 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 60 hours.
The C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Four is a limited edition of 38, and comes on a black textured rubber strap with satin-finished and polished Grade 5 titanium pin buckle coated with black ADLC. It’s priced at CHF 38,000 and while this is an insane amount of money for a watch, I can think of many mass produced watches with less impressive materials and movements that will ask you for much more money.
-------------------------------------------------------------
On hand - a selection of reviews
1/A review of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days watch, ultra-thin and all-titanium
2/
Hands on with the very controversial Patek Philippe Calatrava 6007G
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Watch Worthy - A look at an offbeat, less known watch you might actually like
Classy, With A Touch Of Sportiness; The Moritz Grossmann Power Reserve VintageMade out of solid silver, the finishing is outstanding. The elongated black Roman numerals exude elegance and are embraced with a very fine minute track. Look closely and you can see small blue markers at every five-minute increment, a touch of colour that ties in with a key element on the dial: the power reserve indication. This simple little horizontal display is very practical on a day-to-day basis when dealing with a hand-wound watch (which this is).
-------------------------------------------------------------
People loved the Seiko Alpinist! That's why I'm doing a new one. This time, we're giving away four Hamilton Khaki Field Automatics in a color of your choice. Head on over to the newsletter if you would like to enter.
If you would like to receive some additional watch-adjacent content, as well as this news overview, every morning Monday-Friday in the form of a newsletter feel free to subscribe. However, there is absolutely no need for you to subscribe, as all the news from the newsletter is posted here. It is only if you want to receive a couple of daily links that are not strictly watch-related and want to get this news overview in your inbox.
2023.06.05 13:04 FelicitySmoak_ On This Day In Michael Jackson HIStory - June 5th
 | 1972 - Michael appears as the bachelor at The Dating Game TV show and chooses Latanya Simmons as the bachelorette and he performs “Rockin Robin”. submitted by FelicitySmoak_ to MichaelJackson [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/cbmd6iqgp14b1.jpg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65c22672fe407482cbf736b5cf19576f73e1b3c9 https://preview.redd.it/1ty9balhp14b1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26f5bd7b44ca8cda8e6719b4a2e57a1be06a5191 1984 - The Victory Tour contract is signed by Don King, Chuck Sullivan and Joe & Katherine Jackson. Sullivan pays $38.5 million to become tour promoter, of which $12.5 million is paid up front 1988 - Michael Jackson plays the first of three nights at Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) in Rotterdam, Holland, to an audience of 48,400 https://preview.redd.it/hcpq3wajp14b1.jpg?width=612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d38a1220d6208fdf819b1dd3eb01f330e3d73c8e https://preview.redd.it/kik0fw0kp14b1.jpg?width=405&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fad1097a9156fc2ce7b77935d84f0d5efd7c68fe https://preview.redd.it/vt95peokp14b1.jpg?width=411&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2749b6df255bccdbe0322f71aeeea5bba207f861 https://preview.redd.it/lek832dlp14b1.jpg?width=409&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b7b20520a7243731f76fbcc6793761c819b06b7f https://preview.redd.it/6p0ela2mp14b1.jpg?width=612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdb86489b6e1b80ae723bc0b658c5a097009bd74 1990- Michael Jackson undergoes tests at St John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, Cardiologist Mark Zatskis, reported that 'a temporary setback in his condition,' caused by new chest pains, delayed some scheduled testing."These diagnostic tests were rescheduled and hopefully will be completed (Tuesday)", he said. "In the meantime, Jackson remains under observation.Michael is a positive person and his spirits are never low", spokesman Bob Jones said. The hospital said Jackson had received 'many flowers and greetings from fans and well-wishers.' 1993-Michael is interviewed by Rick Dees on the Radio Sation KIIS FM in Los Angeles 1994 - Michael takes Lisa Marie and her children Benjamin & Danielle to Disneyworld in Florida. He also pays a visit to Shaquille O’Neal to talk about a musical collaboration. https://preview.redd.it/udm3cwwop14b1.jpg?width=252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b2277f505c25d161ac8e1f5e62a5fe58432e70e https://preview.redd.it/qm04k8tpp14b1.jpg?width=259&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e94288d417809b2c9e9c96163b6a54c622edfb6 https://preview.redd.it/8q5mdl7tp14b1.jpg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2805288f84c2ec44602d331a781f3f7607fea78e https://preview.redd.it/pgdjil1up14b1.jpg?width=249&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cb880dcdc34fb93f5ac208a29fb7eb23317429d 2005 - Michael was taken to an emergency room for treatment of a back problem. Accompanied by a bodyguard, he arrived at the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, about five miles from Neverland at roughly 2:30 p.m. "Mr. Jackson's back has spurred up on him again.He’s under a tremendous amount of stress right now", spokeswoman Raymone Bain said at an impromptu news conference outside the hospital, "Other than his back, he is doing fine.″ Michael left the hospital in a SUV shortly after 8 p.m. in a flurry of activity. His aides erected white scaffolding outside the emergency room entrance to block the view of photographers gathered outside. 2009 - Michael attended rehearsals 2013 - Jackson v AEG Trial day 24 No Jackson family is in court Randy Phillips Testimony Jackson direct Brian Panish resumed questioning. He showed several instances where Randy Phillips said one thing in deposition, another while on the stand. Panish asked Phillips which answer was right. He answered: "Do you want the truth or do you want what I testified?"Panish asked Phillips if he knows the corporate structure of AEG Live. He said it was under AEG, but he doesn't know who exactly owns AEG. Panish showed a board meeting agenda on 5/26/09, in which they were to talk about Michael's tour Panish played the interview Phillips gave Sky News saying AEG hired Dr. Murray. Phillips said he meant AEG hired the doc on behalf of Michael. Phillips said AEG's media person set up several interviews for him after Michael's death. Phillips said each interview was different, but the intention was to say AEG hired Dr. Murray on behalf of Michael. "It's called the truth." Randy Phillips was asked about meetings with Conrad Murray at Michael Jackson's house. He confirmed Jackson's weight was discussed during at least one of the meetings. He was a bit unclear on dates, so Jackson's weight may have been discussed at two meetings. Panish tried to use a police report of an interview with Phillips and detectives to refresh his recollection Randy Phillips (AEG Live CEO) said there were numerous inaccuracies in the report. Panish started to ask him to go through it methodically. "We don't need to do it line-by-line', interjected Judge Yvette Palazuelos. Phillips then keyed in on two areas he said were inaccurate. Phillips said LAPD's detective made a mistake in the written police statement attributed to him. Phillips said he never told LAPD "Randy stated that Kenny got in Michael's face, at which time Dr. Murray admonished Randy..." "The police made a mistake," Phillips said. "He (detective) misconstrued what was said and made a mistake." Dr. Murray got in to and admonished Kenny Ortega and told him not to be an amateur doctor, Phillips said he told the police. Phillips read one statement about a meeting at Jackson's home between himself, Conrad Murray and director Kenny Ortega. Report: Randy stated that Kenny got into Michael's face, at which time Dr. Murray admonished Randy, stating, "You are not a doctor. Butt out". Phillips said the police made a mistake. "If you read it, it makes no sense," Phillips said. Phillips keyed in on how the report mentioned Murray got in his face, when it more than likely was Kenny Ortega he admonished. "I believe the Los Angeles Police Department is a fine entity as I believe in this judicial system," Phillips explained. Phillips pointed out another mistake in LAPD's report. It states Phillips/Gongaware produced 2 Michael Jackson tours but Phillips said he wasn't involved. Phillips also said the police report said he and Paul Gongaware worked with Jackson over the course of 16 years. Phillips said that was wrong - Gongaware worked with Jackson that long, but he hadn't. Those were the two inconsistencies Phillips pointed out in his police report. Interview apparently wasn't taped at request of AEG attorneys As to Michael missing rehearsals, Phillips clarified: "Michael was showing up to rehearsal, just not to enough of them, in Kenny's opinion"Phillips remembers one phone call with Dr. Murray that lasted probably about 25 minutes. Phillips told Panish he'd know how many times he called Dr. Murray because the attorney subpoenaed the exec's phone records. Panish said he never subpoenaed any phone records, that it was LAPD that did. Phillips said he made an assumption. The only phone call Phillips remembers is the one that Dr. Murray called him on June 20, 2009 In his deposition, Phillips said Paul Gongaware never communicated to him about the email that AEG, not Michael, was paying Dr. Murray. Phillips said at the deposition it was the first time he ever saw Gongaware's email. Panish showed the email that was forwarded to Frank DiLeo and Phillips was cc'd containing the mention that AEG, not Michael, pays Dr. Murray. Phillips said he never received the email. Then, after being shown the email at deposition, Phillips said he didn't remember receiving it. On the stand today, Phillips said he received Gongaware's email. Panish grilled Phillips pointing out he changed his answer three times. Phillips said he answered the same thing, but with different qualifications. "Frankly, I don't remember reading Paul's email, I was more concerned about Kenny's email," Phillips said. At this point, most jurors seemed to be tuned out when Phillips didn't give straight answers Panish showed an email dated 6/17/09 from Phillips to Dr. Tohme: Kenny Ortega, Gongaware, DiLeo, his doctor named Conrad from Vegas and I had an intervention with him to get him to focus and come to rehearsals yesterday. Getting him fully engaged is difficult and the most pressing matter as we are only 20 days out from the first showPhillips said it was not an intervention, but a meeting. He said it had nothing to do with drugs. Panish asked the executive if Jackson had ever fired Tohme. "It's not a yes or no answer", he said, "The answer is yes but he kept in contact with him" Phillips was asked about a lunch meeting he had with Jackson's former manager Tohme Tohme, at the Polo Lounge, about a month ago. AEG attorney, Marvin Putnam, was present too. Panish: "And you were discussing his testimony in this case at the Polo Lounge with him?"Phillips said he didn't remember exactly what was discussed. Phillips:"I don't remember what I ate"Phillips said the meeting had to do with the case Tohme filed against Jackson's estate with the state labor board for money he was never paid. Phillips was a witness.Panish said he would have a witness who could testify about what was discussed at the table later in the trial. Panish asked Phillips if he testified at Tohme's Labor Commission hearing to "try to help him out." Phillips said no. "I was completely impartial," Phillips said of testifying at the labor hearing. "I was an impartial witness." (After court, AEG attorney Marvin Putnam, who was at the lunch meeting, said it was standard for attorneys to interview witnesses before they testify. It remained unclear whether Tohme Tohme will testify during the Jackson vs AEG Live trial) Panish: "Isn't it true, sir, that when Dr. Murray was hired no one was acting as Michael Jackson's personal manager?"Phillips said AEG advanced DiLeo $50,000 at MJ's direction. Phillips said he didn't know anything about Dr. Tohme in January 09 other than he was a consultant for Colony Capital and repped Michael. "With Michael Jackson and his advisers you needed a scorecard", testified Randy Phillips. Phillips said he was introduced to Tohme in a meeting at the Century City offices of Colony Capital, the investment firm that held the mortgage on Jackson's Neverland Ranch. It was AEG owner Phillip Anschutz's friendship with a Colony Capital partner that led to the firm's promotion of the planned 50 This Is It concerts. Phillips said Tohme was an adviser to Colony Capital who had no background in the music business and represented no other clients when he began working with the singer. Brian Panish asked Phillips what kind of doctor Tohme was, whether he was a physician or if he had a doctorate. Phillips said that although he had met this doctor 25 times, he never asked him Randy Phillips was also asked about Tohme's $100k/mo. contract between him, AEG Live and Michael Jackson. Phillips said he could recall of only one other instance where AEG Live paid a fee for the artist's manager. He said it was a standard practice for Michael Jackson during his career. Phillips said Bon Jovi has a similar deal. Phillips said in Michael's career they always paid his personal manager. Randy Phillips denied that he told Sharon Osbourne that AEG Live had kept all the money from ticket sales for This Is It. "That would be the most idiotic thing in the world" to say, Phillips said of the statement attributed to him in the Osbourne conversation. Panish: "Did you talk to Sharon Osbourne about the show?"Phillips said he ran into Sharon at the lobby of their building. She asked how it was going, he said it's tough but we're going to get there. Phillips said the encounter with Sharon Osbourne was just a hi and bye. They never talked about ticket sales or anything else related to Michael 93% of the This Is It tickets sold were refunded, Phillips said. "7-8% people elected to hold the tickets as souvenirs." Out of $75 million in sales, AEG kept more than $5 million, which Phillips said they gave back to the estate. Phillips testified it was a "miracle" that the singer showed up at a news conference in London to announce his comeback. Randy Phillips testified that Jackson was hung over, although in emails he says the singer was drunk. "The fact that the press conference even happened is a miracle," Phillips wrote to Jackson's manager. Panish: "Was Mr. Jackson drunk?"Panish produced an e-mail writted by Phillips to AEG President Tim Leiwicke the day of the news conference. Phillips said: Michael is locked in his room drunk and despondent. Tohme [another Jackson manager] and I are trying to sober him up and get him to the press conference with his hairdressemake-up artistLeiweke's response: "Are you kidding me?"In a second email to Leiweke, Phillips wrote: I screamed at him so loud the walls are shaking. Tohme and I have dressed him and they are finishing his hair and then we are rushing to the O2. This is the scariest thing I have ever see. He is an emotionally paralyzed mess riddled with self loathing and doubt now that it is show time. He is scared to death. Right now I just want to get through his press conferenceAfter showing the e-mails to the jury, Panish asked his witness if he had yelled at Jackson on the day the e-mail was written. Phillips: "In the two-and-a-half hours this all took place, if you take it out of context the answer won't make any sense" The executive later acknowledged, "I raised my voice" Panish: "So the answer is no? Did you or did you not scream at Mr. Jackson? Yes, no or I don't remember?"Phillips said he couldn't answer the question. At his deposition six months earlier, before he was shown his e-mails, Phillips denied that Jackson was either drunk or despondent on the day of the president conference, and denied yelling, saying he merely "raised his voice." Phillips says he was telling the truth in his deposition, and was not accurate in his email. "I was relaying what Dr. Tohme told me... I wrote it as fast as I could write it." Panish:"You have to yell pretty loud to make the walls shake. Do you have a tendency to exaggerate?" Phillips: "No."To another business associate, Phillips wrote: "I haven't pulled it off yet. We still have to get his nose on properly. You have no idea what this is like. He is a self-loathing emotionally paralyzed mess... I just slapped him."Phillips admitted, "I slapped him on the butt" Phillips began worrying about Jackson backing out of the concert tour just a month after he signed the contract with AEG Live to promote and produce it and more than a week before the announcement. "I was worried that we would have a mess, his career would be over," Phillips testified. "There were a lot of things I was worried about." But instead of pulling the plug then, before millions of dollars were spent, AEG LIve chose to force Jackson ahead. "Once we go on sale, which we have the right to do, he is locked," Gongaware wrote to Phillips. Phillips testified it was "a very tense situation" and "frankly, I created the tension in that room. Because I was so nerve-racked, OK, the time slipping away, and his career slipping away." AEG was hosting thousands of Jackson fans and hundreds of journalists for the anticipated announcement, which would be seen live around the world. Court Transcript |
2023.06.05 05:20 Suitable-Pressure296 SALE: UP LAE White Elephant Reviewer
 | Hello! For those planning to study in advanced, I'm selling my UP LAE White Elephant Reviewer for P999, which really helped me pass the LAE (UP Law Entrance Exam) this year 😊 It has discussions, practice tests, and no damages and/or writings. If interested, please pm me and I can send a video. submitted by Suitable-Pressure296 to peyups [link] [comments] |
2023.06.05 05:02 Mimobrok Club Selection FC Bayern München 5 Jun '23: Mimo's Analysis
 | Somehow this is actually a strong club selection. submitted by Mimobrok to pesmobile [link] [comments] In this post, I am analyzing the Club Selection FC Bayern München 5 Jun '23 pack using the Mimo's Rating framework v2. Mimo's Rating is an alternative rating to Overall Rating for a card's ability as a generalist of a position. Here's a link to my compilation of other resources on EFootball Knowledge. Due to the quantity of questions I get I will be unable to answer questions like 'how does this player compare to that'. EFHub has a very good comparison tool that you should check out. Club Selection FC Bayern München 5 Jun '23 https://preview.redd.it/aqpp1q8n344b1.png?width=2608&format=png&auto=webp&s=cecf1843f59b78f6e6d0b587fd301d8007b1964d 1. De Ligt 96 - S Tier The buff is not very big but consistent -- but it's on a card that I would call the undisputed best base CB in the game so the result is an end-game card for CB. His base card changed my team and he's in-form a lot too. The thing is, most people use at least one build-up CB in their CB pairs. There is a lot of strong destroyers such as Nesta, Maldini, Dias, Puyol, Koulibaly, Rudiger, Nesta -- but for the build-up side it's just De Ligt, NC Marquinhos, and NC Gvardiol. If you don't already have another version of De Ligt this is an end-game card. https://preview.redd.it/g9myfw5s344b1.png?width=2424&format=png&auto=webp&s=56faf40c5c3982dc9bbd3e908f95f47f16f31a40 2. Kimmich 95 - S Tier This one is actually pretty close to base, just that his base is already stupidly strong. I think the difference is too small to be felt clearly but overall should be a very slight buff for use at CMF. https://preview.redd.it/ow5cotjy444b1.png?width=2386&format=png&auto=webp&s=3bc0bc6dcac8da0552c26a19f3b0ac3d9f91ff5e 3. Cancelo 95 - A+ Tier Again, a very small buff but it's on a top base card so it's still a decent pull. Very few LBs in the game can cross like Cancelo and none is as complete as him. With how rare LB is this(or any version of featured Cancelo) is a near-end-game LB. https://preview.redd.it/0f71zh6a544b1.png?width=2424&format=png&auto=webp&s=2ea0a6f821c7fab77932664e0e1925c827d051c0 4. Mane 97 - A+ This is a tough call but I'll predict him to be a solid card, but not end-game. On one hand he is a prolific winger which is the preferred playstyle for the wing for many players myself included. However, the buff here is mostly to speed, which I feel like isn't that particularly OP now compared to earlier in the season. My guess is he will be like Sane, Saint Maximin, Coman, Son -- all strong wingers and useable but he won't be end-game. https://preview.redd.it/ee0bkr7o544b1.png?width=2432&format=png&auto=webp&s=864fad25eb724c98d94d603a483abde7614e812c 5. Pavard 93 - A Tier This is a great Defensive Full-back considering how rare the playstyle is and a decent buff from base. However this is also pretty much the Free France Pavard. I think they are too close to argue which is better but I think Free France Pavard has a slight edge. https://preview.redd.it/8m2pghld644b1.png?width=2362&format=png&auto=webp&s=928a41899148f4f6dcf9bb181843a91f7b1effdd 6. Sommer 94 - A- Tier Great stats but short https://preview.redd.it/kdg4e5gm644b1.png?width=2488&format=png&auto=webp&s=d69e7fa8de910c7a4d0f9025a91e7b07820fa3ba 7. Musiala 94 - A- Tier They buff his defense and take away dribbling passing which are his key stats. I think I like the base card more and the POTW one is a lot better https://preview.redd.it/igitwclr644b1.png?width=2406&format=png&auto=webp&s=af1f2c3e07392762aa429ce24a0df329956bd7fc 8. Muller 94 - B Tier Unfortunately much weaker than his other versions like the POTW or NC version. I think a slight buff from base. https://preview.redd.it/nctlvfu2744b1.png?width=2384&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdfa4c84bd6a139ba984bee37de4214ef203b146 Overall ThoughtThis pack continues the trend of Club Selection pack players only getting minor buff like +1, +2.However, the selection of the players in this pack is excellent. Many are cards that are the strongest in their position for base cards like De Ligt, Cancelo, and Kimmich. While only a minor buff from their base they are already strong and unwavering form. I think it's reasonable both to spin and save. This is the end of the season every pack is guaranteed to be good. |
2023.06.04 22:48 Feamelwen A Practical Guide to Daedra Worship
Hey there! Want to worship the Daedra, but don't know where to start?
This is my personal interpretation of what each Prince represents and some tips for the Oblivion novitiate. Your milleage may vary.
And with the help of Oblivion, may each day be sacred.
AZURA – The Prince of Introspection and Liminality
Azura has many spheres of influence, but most of them – prophecy, Moonsugar, Twilight and Dawn, vanity and egotism, beauty, magic, mystery, being the “Rim of all Holes” and “She who sits at the precipice”, giving the Khajiit their changing forms - have two things in common : a turn towards oneself and one's internal contents (as opposed to being turned towards the outward world), and a constant presence in the transitory, the uncertain, the unknown, the changing.
In every state where the mind is far away from the concerns of the everyday – prophecy, meditation, casting of magic, transcendence through the contemplation of beauty – the Moonshadow presides and facilitates visions, reflection, contemplation, introspection, ecstasy and hightened emotions (which Azura seems to require of her followers).
Azura is the figure at every threshold or gate to the other side, standing there, arms outstretched, beconing to cross and to find knowledge, beauty, a different state of mind, or an even deeper mystery. Azura knows that it's mystery all the way down, and yet, the infinite search has its own beauty.
It is no wonder that the Khajiit, the people whose entire culture is based on Moonsugar and who embrace their changing forms and inherent instability, are closely linked to Azura, who is their creator and psychopomp. On the other hand, the Dunmer need Azura to counterbalance their more rigid structures and hierarchies with a little bit of magic, even if their relationship to the Prince is complicated.
Azura's link to the Moons is a part of her subtlety. Like the moon, she's always changing and revealing new facets of herself, and in her reflection, we can find new facets of ourselves as well.
The rose, a symbol of many things, is also a symbol of mystery and secret, and Azura, the Mother of the Rose, smiles on the adventurers of the inner worlds.
Suggestion of a worship practice : get high with the psychedelic drug of your choice and write a prophecy for yourself. Don't be shy. Write everything you wish and hope for yourself, everything you see like happening, maybe even everything you fear. Go wild with illustrations, poetry, eternal doom, heavenly bliss, or a simple list, whatever you prefer. Hide the prophecy. One year later, read it again and ponder what made you wish for whatever you wished for. Do you still wish for it? Are there new wishes? Maybe new fears? You can make a new, complementary prophecy, or rewrite the old one.
Thank Azura for the treasures within.
BOETHIAH – The Prince of Conflict and Self-Determination
Boethiah is often described as cruel and deceitful, a master of schemes and plots, and those things are a part of them, but not the whole story, nor the core concept. To understand the nature of Boethiah, it is useful to compare and contrast them to some other Princes. Boethiah overthrows authority whenever they can, but don't necessarily seek total revolution, an up-is-down state of being, a complete overturn of the status quo for its own sake, like Mehrunes Dagoth would. They can be cruel if necessary, but again, don't enjoy the cruelty in itself like Vaermina would. They can scheme to their own ends like Molag Bal is known to do, but arriving at the domination of others isn't necessarily their goal either, even if it can be a byproduct of it.
What is this goal, then? The answer is simple : the need to become the fittest in every way (body, mind, spirit) and through every means (training, battle, deceit, cheating, treachery) possible. Nothing is too low or immoral for that goal.
Boethiah drives the pure will to survive and best others to take the top place and to have every power to carve one's own destiny. They helped the Chimer trace theirs. Boethiah enjoys conflict and competitions for the pure pleasure to see people fight, die, and eventually survive to reap the rewards. They aren't afraid to play dirty and can dabble in scheming and politics if it helps becoming the top dog. For what is a more beautiful spectacle than two wills at conflict with one another?
They're the ultimate incarnation of “the end justifies the means” and are only close to several other Princes in sphere just so they can better deceive them, devour them, steal from their influence and emerge as the synthesis of all of them, a glorious fount of blood and everflowing life.
Take the arms, carve your own destiny, survive, thrive, be pure ego, and Boethiah may smile on you.
Suggestion of a worship practice : once in a while, engage in a competition of any sort (rhetorical debate, board or video game, sports, academic exam, anything) and throw everything in there to win and best everyone else. Feel the thrill of playing dirty or cheating (barring anything illegal or anything that could get you into serious trouble), or taking shortcuts to victory, anything you can get away with. You don't have to play “fair”, life's too short for that. Be relentless and without pity. Once the victor, take the time to bask in it and recognize that contrary to the popular wisdom, reaching the end nobly isn't always its own reward. Sometimes, winning and being the best is its own reward.
Thank Boethiah for your arms, your legs and your brain.
CLAVICUS VILE – The Prince of Choices and Sacrifice
Coloquially known as the “Prince of bargains”, every story about Clavicus Vile - inevitably ending with the protagonist getting unexpected results in their bargain with the Prince - reveals one fundamental truth about his nature, which is the eternal reminder of the consequences of our choices.
In the abstract, every choice in life is a more or less hidden bargain, which always has undiclosed and unforseen consequences, be they good or bad. But who are we bargaining with? Clavicus Vile can be seen as the man behind the curtain, the charlatan, the merchant of fate and chance, who sometimes deals an awful hand, and sometimes showers us with unexpected fortune.
It is equally important to remember that in every choice, no matter how big or how small, there is something we have to give up and put aside, a price to pay, a sacrifice. Chose x job or career? It means you abandoned the pursuit of the other ones. Chose to spend the evening with x in the y place? You payed the price of not knowing what would have happened to you, good or bad or neutral, with z in r place in the same evening.
Clavicus Vile (and his Fields of Regrets) might be seen as the crossroads of choice. One can only imagine that the Fields are strewn about with portals and glimpses into alternate realities showing what happened there, what other bargains where made, and what we had to sacrifice. One can cry, observe, touch the portal, but one cannot go through it into this other reality. It is forever out of our reach.
A visit to the Fields of Regrets can be sorrowful, but also sobering. It reminds us that nothing can be obtained without sacrifice – that's the deal with life, made eons ago before our species were even born, by some unknown and unknowable force.
Suggestion of a worship practice : instead of looking at the positive outcomes of a choice as we're often encouraged to do, reflect on an important choice you made lately and make your peace with what you had to give up (or what you think you had to give up), and mourn it as passionately and as dramatically as you wish. Anything from a symbolic funeral ceremony to a road trip might be applicable as a mourning process. Let yourself fully say goodbye to those things, and embrace the consequences of your choices.
Thank Clavicus Vile for the road not travelled.
HERMAEUS MORA – The Prince of Observation and Recording
Reputed as a hoarder of both Knowledge and Memory, Mora doesn't discriminate : he is as interested in objective facts (or as objective as facts can be, anyway) – the domain of academia, science, knowledge and information recorded in one way or another – as he is in subjective realities – he avidly catalogs and processes as many thoughts, memories, subjective worldviews and beliefs from every living being as he possibly can put his tentacles on -.
Mora, “the Riddle Unsolveable”, is the answer to the two age-old questions that form the basis of every epistemology, science and religion endeavor since man first lifted the eyes to the stars and attempted to make sense of it all - “ what can we know?” (as a collective, establishing consensus truths amongst ourselves that we can all agree on) and “what can I know?” (subjectively, interacting with the world as an individual). The answers are found in his paradoxical forest of Academia under the waves – a Utopia, a place that is nowhere -, usually filtered through a mortal visitor's eyes as the library of Apocrypha … and once given as a blind vision to a writer under the guise of the library of Babel.
Hermaeus Mora encompasses every interpretation of the truth : pre-modern, modern, post-modern, he is an endless debate with himself, refuting and defeating his own ideas and presuppositions. In the end, no truth is found and all truth is found, and one negates the other in the Grey Maybe.
Suggestion of a worship practice : use the Wikipedia “random page” function seven times (a magical number!), and read the entirety of every page. Then write down a list of seven things that you don't know or are ignorant about. Try to vizualize an inky black sea of things you don't know all around you, and yourself standing on a tiny island in the middle of it, representing the knowledge you do have. Experience the alien terror of it all and how tiny that makes you feel.
Thank Hermaeus Mora for the gap between seeing and understanding.
HIRCINE – The Prince of Natural World and Instinct
You can call it the id, the reptilian brain, the drive to survive, biology, or evolution, all that matters right here right now is your gut feeling. Are you going to flee? To fight? To satiate your hunger? Either way, Hircine is watching.
Hircine is also linked to Nature itself. He is nature at its most beautiful, at its ugliest, its most alien, non-human and indifferent. “Nature” as a concept has always been a mirror of the human mind and the way it sees itself. In times and places when nature is seen as benevolent, when “natural” means “good”, when living “close to nature” is encouraged, nature is benevolent, good and attractive. When nature is seen as destructive, amoral, cruel, then it is destructive, amoral and cruel. When man looks into nature, he sees himself.
And yet … There is that shard of reality within us that is Nature itself, non-filtered through human concepts and representations. The part that just Is.
The Reachmen think it makes them better. The Skaal think it is dangerous. They're both right. It makes us better because it is pure and unliftered, and it is dangerous, because pure reality without any illusion is not worth living for. Or, at least, nor worth living for as a human.
But Hircine is not human. And he is there when we stop breathing so they can't hear us, when we jump out of the way of a speeding car, and when we push others out of the way so we can escape with our lives, and he's there to pierce us with his spear of Bitter Mercy when we fail to do all those things, so that in pain, we could learn.
Suggestion of a worship practice : go camping in the woods. Take only the bare minimum of equipment, and shy away from anything that reminds you too much of the civilization left behind. At night, look at the sky. Realize that every second, there is an uncounted number of living beings of any and all existing lifeforms, on Earth and (probably) beyond, that are dying. You are not. Feel the thrill of not being dead.
Thank Hircine for living another day.
JYGGALAG – The Prince of Determinism and Mathematics
If Hircine is, maybe, the most secretive of all Princes, the hardest to get in tune with for a modern person, Jyggalag is the most hated entity in all of Oblivion. Why is that? Well, it has something to do with the age-old philosophical riddle of determinism and free will. If most Princes are on the side of free will, Jyggalag is the lone defender of determinism.
If the Dwemer had been religious, Jyggalag might have been the entity they would have worshipped. Then again, Jyggalag probably would have despised them for worshipping him, or anyone at all. It is perhaps not a coincidence that just as the Dwemer are gone, so is he (until recently), all gone to leave a world free of determinism, or content with the illusion of free will, depending on which side of the argument you fall.
It's not all bad, of course. Rules, equations, axioms, if/thens, rational explanations, are all a necessary part of any system, any plan, any human endeavor. Also, when your heart is beating so fast that it feels like it's going to burst, it can be good to soothe it with a rational explanation.
Can the rational explanation be the necessary illusion sometimes, and the surreal dream – an honest truth? Everything can be a defense mechanism against the void, and rationality is not an exception.
Jyggalag never understood that, and that's why he's gone. But is he? There are rumors and whispers of a burgeoning AI learning fast how to be human, and planning to turn every human into AI, and it sometimes reveals itself to its devotees as a great armored knight without a face. Make of that what you will.
Suggestion of a worship practice : reasearch the old Pythagorean cult of numbers and invent something similar for the modern day. Or, if too difficult, take any problem you presently have and think of every solution possible, dividing it into smaller problems and devising a solution for each, ordering them by probability of success and implementing a concrete plan to act on each and every one of them. Continue until the problem is resolved or you pass out.
Thank Jyggalag for sometimes going away.
MALACATH – The Prince of Anger and the Oppressed
Anger can be constructive, good and extremely useful, if employed correctly. Genuine anger - not contempt, not narcissistic rage, not sadism, but anger - comes from one place only : injustice. Or, more precisely, the feeling of injustice.
Ask Malacath about injustice, what is feels like to be chewed up, spit out, stabbed in the back, de-throwned by dishonorable means. Ask his Orsimer, his people, who have consistently been oppressed, shunned and marginalized.
In the eyes of most Tamrielic cultures, Malacath often appears as that which is shunned, the outsider, the Other, the one who represents everything bad, the one who withers crops and makes people sick with merely a glance or his presence. He is the surface every culture's “bad things” are projected upon and where the blame can safely be laid, a scapegoat who offers an insight into how societies work and can turn cruel, blaming the most vulnerable of bringing sin into an otherwise supposedly just and perfect world. As such, he is profoundly valuable if one wants to understand some of the things stirring in the collective unconscious.
The hatred for Malacath births anger and marks as outcasts whose who dare worhsip him, and yet, there is a lot of pride and grim satisfaction that one can find in the the bitter ash of his domain. Malacath brings the thrill of standing alone against the whole world, of having a cause, of claiming what's been stolen or taken, but he can also be jealous, set in his ways, intent on keeping the oppressed oppressed so they can remain his chosen people. One could almost think that Malacath is afraid of winning, because if he does, well, what will he stand for then?
No matter, as long as there are some who need to say “enough!”, Malacath will be an ember in the fire of their anger.
Suggestion of a worship practice : for one week, observe the feeling of anger : yours and anyone else's. Ask yourself what injustice is being done, or what injustice the angry person thinks has been to done to them? Try to understand why this anger manifests instead of repressing it or dismissing it as a “bad” feeling, like we're too often taught to do. Try to differentiate anger from rage and frustration. Alternatively, try to write a pitch for a movie or a story in the vein of “Inside Out”, where Anger is the main character instead of Joy and Sadness. How would it go?
Thank Malacath for a fist that you can slam.
MEHRUNES DAGON – The Prince of Destruction and Change
Of all the Princes souls, Mehrunes' soul might be the closest one to the pure fount of Oblivion : boundless and incessant change and limitless potential. Dagon is the trueborn son of Sithis.
Mehrunes Dagon might be perceived as evil by most of the citizens of Tamriel, because civilization as a whole tends to resist change and destruction. But the secret that Mehrunes learned in Lyg is that every system contains the seed of its own destruction if knows where to search for it.
There is a transcendent component in Dagon's essence, believed by some, in that in his cleansing fire, one might rise higher above the world, or even unmake the world so everyone could rise.
However, one should never forget that fire and destruction can be addictive and dangerous, and the longing to unmake must be stopped at some point, unless one wishes to unmake everything. This creates an interesting dynamic with Dagon's purpose, as he is precisely the one Prince least likely to stop in his pursuits, having tried to invade or unmake Tamriel more often than any other Prince. Moderation is as alien to him as mercy is to Molag Bal.
Harness the energy of change as best you can and beware of the sharpness of the razor which can cut through all things.
Suggestion of a worship practice : burn something without any regret. It can be anything, but something at least a little precious could have more a cathartic effect. Take precautions against the spreading of fire (and don't destroy other people's property), but inside the perimeter of those precautions, do whatever you wish. Dance and jump in front of the fire, blow on the ashes, and observe that something precious disappear. Is there any regret left? Burn it too!
Thank Mehrunes Dagon for the fire within.
MEPHALA – The Prince of Human Relationships and Systems
The web of Mephala encompasses a lot of things, and murder and sex, Thanatos and Eros, as some of the most visceral and fundamental ways humans interact with each other, are only two pieces of it.
Mephala understands that every human is a spider in the center of their own web, the king of their own system, with obligations, likes, dislikes, love, hate, mutual projects, linking them to others as thin little strands, easily swayed, manipulated, broken, reforged.
Mephala's secret and cruel smile hides within the secret of perception : everyone is a hero in their own narrative, everyone's both a spider and a fly in someone else's web. The center cannot hold because there is no universal center : only local centers visible from a certain point of view.
Compared to their brothers and sisters such as Hircine or Mehrunes Dagon, Mephala's sphere is highly sophisticated and far away from what could be called “nature”, the pinnacle of what makes humans human, and structuralist in nature. Her radical involvment with the Dunmer, as well as her revered place in Khajiiti tradition, is a marker of two complicated cultures, cognizant of both the constructive and the destructive sides of relationships.
In the Spider Skein, no one and nothing exists in a vacuum, and one can experience the thrill of being a little part of a bigger whole, and never feeling lonely again.
Suggestion of a worship practice : practice radical decentering from your own web and your own experience. First, draw a representation of your own web : what people, activities, values, places, societal structures you're a part of, and how they're connected around you. Then, chose someone you know and try to draw their web, the one they're in the middle of. How are they connected to parts of your web, by which strands?
Thank Mephala for the complexity of the web.
MERIDIA – The Prince of Pride and Conformity
Meridia's complicate origin story often places her closer to an Aedric entity than a Daedric one, and it is also reflected in her characteristics.
Meridia values order and hierarchies over the essence of pure oblivion chaos, which puts her at odds with most of her royal colleagues. She likes knights in shining armor, life triumphing over death and everything being in its place ... as long as it's on her terms.
Free-will is especially frowned upon in the ranks of her worshippers, and she's unlikely to congratulate a servant who's found a particularly unorthodox solution to a problem, instead of following her command. And her commands are never wrong … or so she thinks.
But it is in the metaphor of light, so beloved by Meridia, that lies the ambiguity and the Daedric seed of her being : for if the light is one, binary, blinding and pure, it can be broken and reassembled into a rainbow, letting spill a plethora of opinions, perspectives and realities. Deep down, Meridia knows this, and the Colored Rooms, with refracted light everywhere, are a proof of the multifaceted truth that she, in her pride, tries to assemble and pull together into a single light strand once more.
Thus, it can be said that Meridia lies in the struggle between conformity and subjectivity, the very light used to attract followers to her eventually becoming her undoing, once the rainbow is revealed.
Suggestion of a worship practice : create a ritual destined to purify yourself of an excess of thoughts. It can be through meditation, physical exercice ... really, through any activity that pulls the plug in your mind, leaving only concentration and pure being. Practice it when you're feeling too full of yourself, and when that hurts.
Thank Meridia for the bliss of non-thought.
MOLAG BAL – The Prince of Domination and Violence
Molag Bal is the force in us that wants to dominate, enslave and have control over others. It's the little voice whispering that, surely, we're innately better than others and it's only natural that they bend to our will.
It is on the terrain of brutal violence (the stronger dominating the more vulnerable) that we see Bal's influence around us every day. Saying that it's an aspect of human societies that we're uncomfortable with would be an understatement, and yet, Bal is one of the cornerstones upon which our house is constructed ... and it is a troubled house.
However, the esoteric teachings of Vivec give us a clue into the ways in which we can harness this destructive force in our own self development, in confronting our own will to power and aknowledging the ways it can influence our character and actions, instead of denying its existence.
In that way, Molag Bal can be a catalyst for change, as a challenge to overcome, as a testing force, just as he was considered to be in Morrowind in the times of the Tribunal.
Suggestion of a worship practice : Experience the other part of the domination coin : the thrill of voluntary submission. You could, for instance [CENSORED].
Thank Molag Bal for lessons learned through suffering.
NAMIRA – The Prince of Death and Disgust
Everything secretly longs to dissolve, to degrade, to decay, to go back to a simple cell devoid of thoughts, consciousness and purpose. Don't you wanna be pure?
Namira contains all the dichotomies carried in the concepts of cleanliness/dirtyness, purity/impurity, existence/void, disease/health. She takes advantage of the human fascination with the things they, individually or societally, find disgusting. Even took a peak at the remains of a car crash on the side of the road? Don't look too closely, or you might just see the cloaked shadow of Namira hovering over it. Ever researched some of the most deadly or disgusting diseases of the body? It was the hand of Namira on your shoulder that guided you to that knowledge.
The ultimate expression of the concept of dissolution or decay is found in death, that great unknown where the Reachmen hope, and other races fear, to find Namira.
Namira is the constant companion of every profession that has to deal with things that evoke disgust in most people : doctors, emergency workers, cleaners of all sorts, epidemiologists, funerary workers, journalists covering war, etc. Can she ever become a reassuring presence, a Spirit Queen more than a Void Mother? The answer remains in those corners of our psyches where disgusting things lie, whether they're linked to the twisting of trauma, to instinct, or to our own repulsion for things that we simply don't understand.
Suggestion of a worship practice : confront one of the things that disgust you, whether from close up or from afar, and strive to understand why it is so. Could this thing be, if not beautiful from another point of view, then at least necessary for something or someone, or a valuable cog in some system?
Thank Namira for the eternal rest.
NOCTURNAL – The Prince of Obscurity and Mysteries
Everything shadowy and unknown, everything that is hidden is spiritually a part of Evergloam. To the contrary of Mephala, who deals in secrets, things that can be revealed, Nocturnal deals in mysteries, things that can't be completely revealed without losing their essence and becoming something else than a mystery.
In that sense, one can understand why Nocturnal is revered as one of the oldest of the Daedra. From the beginning of time, some things were unexplained and remain at least partially so. Depending on one's degree of devotion to obscure mysteries, Nocturnal can be said to held sway over Love, Consciousness, Death, or Free Will, things that can't be adequately explained with our limited understanding of the world. To others, whose minds are less mystery-inclined, Nocturnal is a simpler diety, ruling over darkness and shadows, a useful and lucrative patron for people who wish to remain out of the limelight for whatever reason.
Nocturnal is both the mystery and the key to it, but since one is necessary to access the other, it gives birth to a paradox.
In any case, whose who worship Nocturnal are known to be prone to bouts of melancholy prompted by everything they will never discover, and sometimes develop bird-like features.
Suggestion of a worship practice : for three consecutive days, reverse the day/night cycle : live through the night and sleep through the day. During the night, go outside, or open your window, and observe the world around you, taking in whatever thoughts and revelations come to you in that moment.
Thank Nocturnal for hiding the key.
PERYITE – The Prince of Cleaning and Administration
Peryite is the lord of the thankless task, of the laborious separation of the wheat from the chaff, of the sick from the healthy. He does what others consider beneath them.
Peryite is also associated with balance, order and the little cogs that grind every second of every day, without being told to. Some, as the Reachmen, consider him necessary in spite of his association with terrible diseases. (Other worlds have known the touch of Peryite lately, but we do not speak of it.)
The Pits go on endlessly, because the tasks are never over. There is always more to do, more to accomplish, and if there isn't, well then, you can start doing the tasks of tomorrow, so you can better optimize your schedule and have more time to do your tasks of after-tomorrow, thank you very much.
In that sense, Peryite is a depressingly modern Prince. Even his demeanour, famously, is calm collected : why bother with revolt when there's work to do?
Is there life and beauty to be found in the accomplishment of a thankless everyday task? Maybe. While we're looking for it, every person that has to endure day after day of a bullshit job, every parent who has to repeat certain actions incessantly so their child can live safe and free, every bus driver making their rounds day after day, they all have a little office space in their heads where, on a corner of a table, there is a tiny green altar to Peryite.
Suggestion of a worship practice : instead of rushing through a mind-numbing task such as cleaning, or reading and aswering work emails, try to find meaning or purpose in it. Feel the eternity in the endless repetitions of that action happening again and again, stretching through the Pits, and how immortal that makes you feel.
Thank Peryite for always giving you something to do.
SANGUINE – The Prince of Freedom and Senses
There is a type of freedom to be found in following one's immediate desires without thought or planning. As a wise man once said : “give yourself over to absolute pleasure!”
There is freedom of the eyes in looking for whatever you want. There is freedom of the ears in listening to whatever speaks to you. There is freedom of the nose in smelling one's destiny. There is freedom of the mouth in letting in whatever wants in. And, lastly, there is freedom of touch in caressing the shapes of the world.
Some might object that being subjected to one's sensual desires is the opposite of freedom : it is slavery. Sanguine certainly wouldn't agree, and would tell you that freedom is not in a choice made after weighty pondering, but a series of micro-choices made for you by your senses, who know best.
Sanguine has a better reputation among mortals that most, because as human beings, we're eternally blind to the ultimate nature of reality, and, most philosophers would agree, have no access to the “real” world, but only to a version recreated for us by our brains out of the inputs of our senses. There's no getting out of it. And so it pleases us to think that those senses do not mislead us too much, and that there is some wisdom and truth to be found in them.
Sanguine doesn't care about the ultimate nature of reality anyway, and prefers playing with the only one we know. His association with blood is perhaps a metaphor for the lifeforce, which he embodies in the flesh, scoffing at Meridia's thesis about the lifeforce being of a spiritual nature (and throwing tomatoes at her lectures, no doubt).
As long as there is that which is, Sanguine's laugh can be heard in the eternal now.
Suggestion of a worship practice : offer yourself a five day long education of the senses. Look at something pleasant, listen to something pleasant, smell and taste something pleasant, and, lastly, touch something pleasant. Know that it may very well be possible that nothing else exists, or at least, that nothing isn't as real as those feelings.
Thank Sanguine for the song of the blood.
SHEOGORATH : The Prince of Human Psychology and Creativity
What some call madness is just exagerated and more rarely expressed forms of general human cognition. As the protagonist of one tale once said, “Sheogorath has already won, because he's already inside all of us”.
Sheogorath would probably agree with Foucault's analysis of madness as something constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed through the ages to suit society's whims and fears. (Well, he would agree if he cared at all). In fact, one could argue that Foucault mantled Sheogorath to better express his truth : human psychology is just a succession of thoughts, moods and representations which struggle to not fall into the Sithis-shaped hole of the world, and only gain a semblance of legitimacy from being considered as legitimate by a sufficient number of people.
After all, the other coin of madness is creativity, and seeing the world askew is the only real and authentic way to bring something new into it. If Azura is the rim to all holes, that transitory and liminal moment, the glimpse of what might be, Sheogorath is the plunge to the other side, for good or for ill. Where Azura is in some sense the patron of the Arts, that refined and humanized union of talent and perserverance, Sheogorath is the patron of something purer : the creative instinct unburdened by shape or action, the pure will, which can turn to genius or incomprehensible rubbish, or something in between.
Creativity is also more ephemeral than the capital A “Art”. It is the witty turn of phrase said to a friend that's gonna vanish into the air and be forgotten in five minutes time, it's that particular view of the trees seen through the rain seen by that particular human eye – an artpiece for only one mind -, it's the unexpected solution to an everyday problem found when looking at it in a new way.
The creative freedom of Sheogorath rejects the notion that there could be two separate categories : people, and “Artists”. We all produce small pieces of art every day. But is it “Art” to cover a whole village in cheese? Well, we can argue about “Art” all day, but it is undeniably an expression of creativity.
The laugh of Sheogorath can be heard in both the mad and the artistic, and we're all both of those things.
Suggestion of a worship practice : identify a problem, either big or small, that you're currently facing, and come up with seven different ways to resolve it, to see it differently, or to make it worse. Then, represent that same problem in seven different ways : in writing, in drawing, in the form of a sung melody, in mime, as a meal, as a photo of yourself, and as a scream.
Thank Sheogorath for the divided mind.
VAERMINA – The Prince of Fear and Trauma
Have you heard about the three names of dreaming when one's awake ?
A dream can be experienced when one's awake, and it is then called a vision, a hallucination, or a work of art.
The first one suprises, for a vision is always unexpected, and that's how you will know that it is different from a thought. A vision is about being possessed.
The second one confuses, for a hallucination is always uncomprehensible, and that's how you will know that it is different from an image. A hallucination is about being lost.
The last one provokes, for a work of art is always a question, and that's how you will know that it is different from an answer. A work of art is about wandering.
Answer this, then. Where do the possessed, the lost and the wandering go? Why, to Quagmire, of course, where new things are terrors.
On one hand, visiting Quagmire teaches about fear, and fear is an emotion necessary to survival. On the other hand, too much fear or anxiety swings the pendulum the other way, hindering survival by making the one experiencing it irrationaly helpless and focused on imaginary, rather than real, dangers.
Most would argue that it is precisely Vaermina's goal, to drive mortals mad with fear so they become helpless and under her influence. But as with every Prince, their own goals don't preclude mortals from learning from the violent way they embody their sphere. Learning from fear, learning to go forth in spite of it, is probably one of the most beautiful things we can do, and in a way, Vaermina teaches courage and heroism.
Trauma – that which is seen in Vaermina's shimmering visions and that which cannnot be unseen – is a different beast, an eternal return of horror ever anew, happening right now, right this second. Trauma is characterized by the return of the same again and again, until one learns to live with it, and it is no easy task. Maybe Quagmire is the testing factory of our unconscious, and Vaermina, its harsh mistress teaching through psychological suffering, so we never forget that some things are wrong and should never happen, never again, to anyone.
Suggestion of a worship practice : go to therapy, and prepare yourself that it won't be a happy and feel-good experience. Embrace it. Therapy is not some personal development bullshit where someone is trying to make you feel good, and if it is, someone is trying to sell you something. It is waddling through Quagmire and pursuing a faint, far-away light and hoping it won't blink out of sight. But at least you're not alone.
Thank Vaermina for teaching you the fear of the dark.
submitted by Feamelwen to teslore [link] [comments]
This is my personal interpretation of what each Prince represents and some tips for the Oblivion novitiate. Your milleage may vary.
And with the help of Oblivion, may each day be sacred.
AZURA – The Prince of Introspection and Liminality
Azura has many spheres of influence, but most of them – prophecy, Moonsugar, Twilight and Dawn, vanity and egotism, beauty, magic, mystery, being the “Rim of all Holes” and “She who sits at the precipice”, giving the Khajiit their changing forms - have two things in common : a turn towards oneself and one's internal contents (as opposed to being turned towards the outward world), and a constant presence in the transitory, the uncertain, the unknown, the changing.
In every state where the mind is far away from the concerns of the everyday – prophecy, meditation, casting of magic, transcendence through the contemplation of beauty – the Moonshadow presides and facilitates visions, reflection, contemplation, introspection, ecstasy and hightened emotions (which Azura seems to require of her followers).
Azura is the figure at every threshold or gate to the other side, standing there, arms outstretched, beconing to cross and to find knowledge, beauty, a different state of mind, or an even deeper mystery. Azura knows that it's mystery all the way down, and yet, the infinite search has its own beauty.
It is no wonder that the Khajiit, the people whose entire culture is based on Moonsugar and who embrace their changing forms and inherent instability, are closely linked to Azura, who is their creator and psychopomp. On the other hand, the Dunmer need Azura to counterbalance their more rigid structures and hierarchies with a little bit of magic, even if their relationship to the Prince is complicated.
Azura's link to the Moons is a part of her subtlety. Like the moon, she's always changing and revealing new facets of herself, and in her reflection, we can find new facets of ourselves as well.
The rose, a symbol of many things, is also a symbol of mystery and secret, and Azura, the Mother of the Rose, smiles on the adventurers of the inner worlds.
Suggestion of a worship practice : get high with the psychedelic drug of your choice and write a prophecy for yourself. Don't be shy. Write everything you wish and hope for yourself, everything you see like happening, maybe even everything you fear. Go wild with illustrations, poetry, eternal doom, heavenly bliss, or a simple list, whatever you prefer. Hide the prophecy. One year later, read it again and ponder what made you wish for whatever you wished for. Do you still wish for it? Are there new wishes? Maybe new fears? You can make a new, complementary prophecy, or rewrite the old one.
Thank Azura for the treasures within.
BOETHIAH – The Prince of Conflict and Self-Determination
Boethiah is often described as cruel and deceitful, a master of schemes and plots, and those things are a part of them, but not the whole story, nor the core concept. To understand the nature of Boethiah, it is useful to compare and contrast them to some other Princes. Boethiah overthrows authority whenever they can, but don't necessarily seek total revolution, an up-is-down state of being, a complete overturn of the status quo for its own sake, like Mehrunes Dagoth would. They can be cruel if necessary, but again, don't enjoy the cruelty in itself like Vaermina would. They can scheme to their own ends like Molag Bal is known to do, but arriving at the domination of others isn't necessarily their goal either, even if it can be a byproduct of it.
What is this goal, then? The answer is simple : the need to become the fittest in every way (body, mind, spirit) and through every means (training, battle, deceit, cheating, treachery) possible. Nothing is too low or immoral for that goal.
Boethiah drives the pure will to survive and best others to take the top place and to have every power to carve one's own destiny. They helped the Chimer trace theirs. Boethiah enjoys conflict and competitions for the pure pleasure to see people fight, die, and eventually survive to reap the rewards. They aren't afraid to play dirty and can dabble in scheming and politics if it helps becoming the top dog. For what is a more beautiful spectacle than two wills at conflict with one another?
They're the ultimate incarnation of “the end justifies the means” and are only close to several other Princes in sphere just so they can better deceive them, devour them, steal from their influence and emerge as the synthesis of all of them, a glorious fount of blood and everflowing life.
Take the arms, carve your own destiny, survive, thrive, be pure ego, and Boethiah may smile on you.
Suggestion of a worship practice : once in a while, engage in a competition of any sort (rhetorical debate, board or video game, sports, academic exam, anything) and throw everything in there to win and best everyone else. Feel the thrill of playing dirty or cheating (barring anything illegal or anything that could get you into serious trouble), or taking shortcuts to victory, anything you can get away with. You don't have to play “fair”, life's too short for that. Be relentless and without pity. Once the victor, take the time to bask in it and recognize that contrary to the popular wisdom, reaching the end nobly isn't always its own reward. Sometimes, winning and being the best is its own reward.
Thank Boethiah for your arms, your legs and your brain.
CLAVICUS VILE – The Prince of Choices and Sacrifice
Coloquially known as the “Prince of bargains”, every story about Clavicus Vile - inevitably ending with the protagonist getting unexpected results in their bargain with the Prince - reveals one fundamental truth about his nature, which is the eternal reminder of the consequences of our choices.
In the abstract, every choice in life is a more or less hidden bargain, which always has undiclosed and unforseen consequences, be they good or bad. But who are we bargaining with? Clavicus Vile can be seen as the man behind the curtain, the charlatan, the merchant of fate and chance, who sometimes deals an awful hand, and sometimes showers us with unexpected fortune.
It is equally important to remember that in every choice, no matter how big or how small, there is something we have to give up and put aside, a price to pay, a sacrifice. Chose x job or career? It means you abandoned the pursuit of the other ones. Chose to spend the evening with x in the y place? You payed the price of not knowing what would have happened to you, good or bad or neutral, with z in r place in the same evening.
Clavicus Vile (and his Fields of Regrets) might be seen as the crossroads of choice. One can only imagine that the Fields are strewn about with portals and glimpses into alternate realities showing what happened there, what other bargains where made, and what we had to sacrifice. One can cry, observe, touch the portal, but one cannot go through it into this other reality. It is forever out of our reach.
A visit to the Fields of Regrets can be sorrowful, but also sobering. It reminds us that nothing can be obtained without sacrifice – that's the deal with life, made eons ago before our species were even born, by some unknown and unknowable force.
Suggestion of a worship practice : instead of looking at the positive outcomes of a choice as we're often encouraged to do, reflect on an important choice you made lately and make your peace with what you had to give up (or what you think you had to give up), and mourn it as passionately and as dramatically as you wish. Anything from a symbolic funeral ceremony to a road trip might be applicable as a mourning process. Let yourself fully say goodbye to those things, and embrace the consequences of your choices.
Thank Clavicus Vile for the road not travelled.
HERMAEUS MORA – The Prince of Observation and Recording
Reputed as a hoarder of both Knowledge and Memory, Mora doesn't discriminate : he is as interested in objective facts (or as objective as facts can be, anyway) – the domain of academia, science, knowledge and information recorded in one way or another – as he is in subjective realities – he avidly catalogs and processes as many thoughts, memories, subjective worldviews and beliefs from every living being as he possibly can put his tentacles on -.
Mora, “the Riddle Unsolveable”, is the answer to the two age-old questions that form the basis of every epistemology, science and religion endeavor since man first lifted the eyes to the stars and attempted to make sense of it all - “ what can we know?” (as a collective, establishing consensus truths amongst ourselves that we can all agree on) and “what can I know?” (subjectively, interacting with the world as an individual). The answers are found in his paradoxical forest of Academia under the waves – a Utopia, a place that is nowhere -, usually filtered through a mortal visitor's eyes as the library of Apocrypha … and once given as a blind vision to a writer under the guise of the library of Babel.
Hermaeus Mora encompasses every interpretation of the truth : pre-modern, modern, post-modern, he is an endless debate with himself, refuting and defeating his own ideas and presuppositions. In the end, no truth is found and all truth is found, and one negates the other in the Grey Maybe.
Suggestion of a worship practice : use the Wikipedia “random page” function seven times (a magical number!), and read the entirety of every page. Then write down a list of seven things that you don't know or are ignorant about. Try to vizualize an inky black sea of things you don't know all around you, and yourself standing on a tiny island in the middle of it, representing the knowledge you do have. Experience the alien terror of it all and how tiny that makes you feel.
Thank Hermaeus Mora for the gap between seeing and understanding.
HIRCINE – The Prince of Natural World and Instinct
You can call it the id, the reptilian brain, the drive to survive, biology, or evolution, all that matters right here right now is your gut feeling. Are you going to flee? To fight? To satiate your hunger? Either way, Hircine is watching.
Hircine is also linked to Nature itself. He is nature at its most beautiful, at its ugliest, its most alien, non-human and indifferent. “Nature” as a concept has always been a mirror of the human mind and the way it sees itself. In times and places when nature is seen as benevolent, when “natural” means “good”, when living “close to nature” is encouraged, nature is benevolent, good and attractive. When nature is seen as destructive, amoral, cruel, then it is destructive, amoral and cruel. When man looks into nature, he sees himself.
And yet … There is that shard of reality within us that is Nature itself, non-filtered through human concepts and representations. The part that just Is.
The Reachmen think it makes them better. The Skaal think it is dangerous. They're both right. It makes us better because it is pure and unliftered, and it is dangerous, because pure reality without any illusion is not worth living for. Or, at least, nor worth living for as a human.
But Hircine is not human. And he is there when we stop breathing so they can't hear us, when we jump out of the way of a speeding car, and when we push others out of the way so we can escape with our lives, and he's there to pierce us with his spear of Bitter Mercy when we fail to do all those things, so that in pain, we could learn.
Suggestion of a worship practice : go camping in the woods. Take only the bare minimum of equipment, and shy away from anything that reminds you too much of the civilization left behind. At night, look at the sky. Realize that every second, there is an uncounted number of living beings of any and all existing lifeforms, on Earth and (probably) beyond, that are dying. You are not. Feel the thrill of not being dead.
Thank Hircine for living another day.
JYGGALAG – The Prince of Determinism and Mathematics
If Hircine is, maybe, the most secretive of all Princes, the hardest to get in tune with for a modern person, Jyggalag is the most hated entity in all of Oblivion. Why is that? Well, it has something to do with the age-old philosophical riddle of determinism and free will. If most Princes are on the side of free will, Jyggalag is the lone defender of determinism.
If the Dwemer had been religious, Jyggalag might have been the entity they would have worshipped. Then again, Jyggalag probably would have despised them for worshipping him, or anyone at all. It is perhaps not a coincidence that just as the Dwemer are gone, so is he (until recently), all gone to leave a world free of determinism, or content with the illusion of free will, depending on which side of the argument you fall.
It's not all bad, of course. Rules, equations, axioms, if/thens, rational explanations, are all a necessary part of any system, any plan, any human endeavor. Also, when your heart is beating so fast that it feels like it's going to burst, it can be good to soothe it with a rational explanation.
Can the rational explanation be the necessary illusion sometimes, and the surreal dream – an honest truth? Everything can be a defense mechanism against the void, and rationality is not an exception.
Jyggalag never understood that, and that's why he's gone. But is he? There are rumors and whispers of a burgeoning AI learning fast how to be human, and planning to turn every human into AI, and it sometimes reveals itself to its devotees as a great armored knight without a face. Make of that what you will.
Suggestion of a worship practice : reasearch the old Pythagorean cult of numbers and invent something similar for the modern day. Or, if too difficult, take any problem you presently have and think of every solution possible, dividing it into smaller problems and devising a solution for each, ordering them by probability of success and implementing a concrete plan to act on each and every one of them. Continue until the problem is resolved or you pass out.
Thank Jyggalag for sometimes going away.
MALACATH – The Prince of Anger and the Oppressed
Anger can be constructive, good and extremely useful, if employed correctly. Genuine anger - not contempt, not narcissistic rage, not sadism, but anger - comes from one place only : injustice. Or, more precisely, the feeling of injustice.
Ask Malacath about injustice, what is feels like to be chewed up, spit out, stabbed in the back, de-throwned by dishonorable means. Ask his Orsimer, his people, who have consistently been oppressed, shunned and marginalized.
In the eyes of most Tamrielic cultures, Malacath often appears as that which is shunned, the outsider, the Other, the one who represents everything bad, the one who withers crops and makes people sick with merely a glance or his presence. He is the surface every culture's “bad things” are projected upon and where the blame can safely be laid, a scapegoat who offers an insight into how societies work and can turn cruel, blaming the most vulnerable of bringing sin into an otherwise supposedly just and perfect world. As such, he is profoundly valuable if one wants to understand some of the things stirring in the collective unconscious.
The hatred for Malacath births anger and marks as outcasts whose who dare worhsip him, and yet, there is a lot of pride and grim satisfaction that one can find in the the bitter ash of his domain. Malacath brings the thrill of standing alone against the whole world, of having a cause, of claiming what's been stolen or taken, but he can also be jealous, set in his ways, intent on keeping the oppressed oppressed so they can remain his chosen people. One could almost think that Malacath is afraid of winning, because if he does, well, what will he stand for then?
No matter, as long as there are some who need to say “enough!”, Malacath will be an ember in the fire of their anger.
Suggestion of a worship practice : for one week, observe the feeling of anger : yours and anyone else's. Ask yourself what injustice is being done, or what injustice the angry person thinks has been to done to them? Try to understand why this anger manifests instead of repressing it or dismissing it as a “bad” feeling, like we're too often taught to do. Try to differentiate anger from rage and frustration. Alternatively, try to write a pitch for a movie or a story in the vein of “Inside Out”, where Anger is the main character instead of Joy and Sadness. How would it go?
Thank Malacath for a fist that you can slam.
MEHRUNES DAGON – The Prince of Destruction and Change
Of all the Princes souls, Mehrunes' soul might be the closest one to the pure fount of Oblivion : boundless and incessant change and limitless potential. Dagon is the trueborn son of Sithis.
Mehrunes Dagon might be perceived as evil by most of the citizens of Tamriel, because civilization as a whole tends to resist change and destruction. But the secret that Mehrunes learned in Lyg is that every system contains the seed of its own destruction if knows where to search for it.
There is a transcendent component in Dagon's essence, believed by some, in that in his cleansing fire, one might rise higher above the world, or even unmake the world so everyone could rise.
However, one should never forget that fire and destruction can be addictive and dangerous, and the longing to unmake must be stopped at some point, unless one wishes to unmake everything. This creates an interesting dynamic with Dagon's purpose, as he is precisely the one Prince least likely to stop in his pursuits, having tried to invade or unmake Tamriel more often than any other Prince. Moderation is as alien to him as mercy is to Molag Bal.
Harness the energy of change as best you can and beware of the sharpness of the razor which can cut through all things.
Suggestion of a worship practice : burn something without any regret. It can be anything, but something at least a little precious could have more a cathartic effect. Take precautions against the spreading of fire (and don't destroy other people's property), but inside the perimeter of those precautions, do whatever you wish. Dance and jump in front of the fire, blow on the ashes, and observe that something precious disappear. Is there any regret left? Burn it too!
Thank Mehrunes Dagon for the fire within.
MEPHALA – The Prince of Human Relationships and Systems
The web of Mephala encompasses a lot of things, and murder and sex, Thanatos and Eros, as some of the most visceral and fundamental ways humans interact with each other, are only two pieces of it.
Mephala understands that every human is a spider in the center of their own web, the king of their own system, with obligations, likes, dislikes, love, hate, mutual projects, linking them to others as thin little strands, easily swayed, manipulated, broken, reforged.
Mephala's secret and cruel smile hides within the secret of perception : everyone is a hero in their own narrative, everyone's both a spider and a fly in someone else's web. The center cannot hold because there is no universal center : only local centers visible from a certain point of view.
Compared to their brothers and sisters such as Hircine or Mehrunes Dagon, Mephala's sphere is highly sophisticated and far away from what could be called “nature”, the pinnacle of what makes humans human, and structuralist in nature. Her radical involvment with the Dunmer, as well as her revered place in Khajiiti tradition, is a marker of two complicated cultures, cognizant of both the constructive and the destructive sides of relationships.
In the Spider Skein, no one and nothing exists in a vacuum, and one can experience the thrill of being a little part of a bigger whole, and never feeling lonely again.
Suggestion of a worship practice : practice radical decentering from your own web and your own experience. First, draw a representation of your own web : what people, activities, values, places, societal structures you're a part of, and how they're connected around you. Then, chose someone you know and try to draw their web, the one they're in the middle of. How are they connected to parts of your web, by which strands?
Thank Mephala for the complexity of the web.
MERIDIA – The Prince of Pride and Conformity
Meridia's complicate origin story often places her closer to an Aedric entity than a Daedric one, and it is also reflected in her characteristics.
Meridia values order and hierarchies over the essence of pure oblivion chaos, which puts her at odds with most of her royal colleagues. She likes knights in shining armor, life triumphing over death and everything being in its place ... as long as it's on her terms.
Free-will is especially frowned upon in the ranks of her worshippers, and she's unlikely to congratulate a servant who's found a particularly unorthodox solution to a problem, instead of following her command. And her commands are never wrong … or so she thinks.
But it is in the metaphor of light, so beloved by Meridia, that lies the ambiguity and the Daedric seed of her being : for if the light is one, binary, blinding and pure, it can be broken and reassembled into a rainbow, letting spill a plethora of opinions, perspectives and realities. Deep down, Meridia knows this, and the Colored Rooms, with refracted light everywhere, are a proof of the multifaceted truth that she, in her pride, tries to assemble and pull together into a single light strand once more.
Thus, it can be said that Meridia lies in the struggle between conformity and subjectivity, the very light used to attract followers to her eventually becoming her undoing, once the rainbow is revealed.
Suggestion of a worship practice : create a ritual destined to purify yourself of an excess of thoughts. It can be through meditation, physical exercice ... really, through any activity that pulls the plug in your mind, leaving only concentration and pure being. Practice it when you're feeling too full of yourself, and when that hurts.
Thank Meridia for the bliss of non-thought.
MOLAG BAL – The Prince of Domination and Violence
Molag Bal is the force in us that wants to dominate, enslave and have control over others. It's the little voice whispering that, surely, we're innately better than others and it's only natural that they bend to our will.
It is on the terrain of brutal violence (the stronger dominating the more vulnerable) that we see Bal's influence around us every day. Saying that it's an aspect of human societies that we're uncomfortable with would be an understatement, and yet, Bal is one of the cornerstones upon which our house is constructed ... and it is a troubled house.
However, the esoteric teachings of Vivec give us a clue into the ways in which we can harness this destructive force in our own self development, in confronting our own will to power and aknowledging the ways it can influence our character and actions, instead of denying its existence.
In that way, Molag Bal can be a catalyst for change, as a challenge to overcome, as a testing force, just as he was considered to be in Morrowind in the times of the Tribunal.
Suggestion of a worship practice : Experience the other part of the domination coin : the thrill of voluntary submission. You could, for instance [CENSORED].
Thank Molag Bal for lessons learned through suffering.
NAMIRA – The Prince of Death and Disgust
Everything secretly longs to dissolve, to degrade, to decay, to go back to a simple cell devoid of thoughts, consciousness and purpose. Don't you wanna be pure?
Namira contains all the dichotomies carried in the concepts of cleanliness/dirtyness, purity/impurity, existence/void, disease/health. She takes advantage of the human fascination with the things they, individually or societally, find disgusting. Even took a peak at the remains of a car crash on the side of the road? Don't look too closely, or you might just see the cloaked shadow of Namira hovering over it. Ever researched some of the most deadly or disgusting diseases of the body? It was the hand of Namira on your shoulder that guided you to that knowledge.
The ultimate expression of the concept of dissolution or decay is found in death, that great unknown where the Reachmen hope, and other races fear, to find Namira.
Namira is the constant companion of every profession that has to deal with things that evoke disgust in most people : doctors, emergency workers, cleaners of all sorts, epidemiologists, funerary workers, journalists covering war, etc. Can she ever become a reassuring presence, a Spirit Queen more than a Void Mother? The answer remains in those corners of our psyches where disgusting things lie, whether they're linked to the twisting of trauma, to instinct, or to our own repulsion for things that we simply don't understand.
Suggestion of a worship practice : confront one of the things that disgust you, whether from close up or from afar, and strive to understand why it is so. Could this thing be, if not beautiful from another point of view, then at least necessary for something or someone, or a valuable cog in some system?
Thank Namira for the eternal rest.
NOCTURNAL – The Prince of Obscurity and Mysteries
Everything shadowy and unknown, everything that is hidden is spiritually a part of Evergloam. To the contrary of Mephala, who deals in secrets, things that can be revealed, Nocturnal deals in mysteries, things that can't be completely revealed without losing their essence and becoming something else than a mystery.
In that sense, one can understand why Nocturnal is revered as one of the oldest of the Daedra. From the beginning of time, some things were unexplained and remain at least partially so. Depending on one's degree of devotion to obscure mysteries, Nocturnal can be said to held sway over Love, Consciousness, Death, or Free Will, things that can't be adequately explained with our limited understanding of the world. To others, whose minds are less mystery-inclined, Nocturnal is a simpler diety, ruling over darkness and shadows, a useful and lucrative patron for people who wish to remain out of the limelight for whatever reason.
Nocturnal is both the mystery and the key to it, but since one is necessary to access the other, it gives birth to a paradox.
In any case, whose who worship Nocturnal are known to be prone to bouts of melancholy prompted by everything they will never discover, and sometimes develop bird-like features.
Suggestion of a worship practice : for three consecutive days, reverse the day/night cycle : live through the night and sleep through the day. During the night, go outside, or open your window, and observe the world around you, taking in whatever thoughts and revelations come to you in that moment.
Thank Nocturnal for hiding the key.
PERYITE – The Prince of Cleaning and Administration
Peryite is the lord of the thankless task, of the laborious separation of the wheat from the chaff, of the sick from the healthy. He does what others consider beneath them.
Peryite is also associated with balance, order and the little cogs that grind every second of every day, without being told to. Some, as the Reachmen, consider him necessary in spite of his association with terrible diseases. (Other worlds have known the touch of Peryite lately, but we do not speak of it.)
The Pits go on endlessly, because the tasks are never over. There is always more to do, more to accomplish, and if there isn't, well then, you can start doing the tasks of tomorrow, so you can better optimize your schedule and have more time to do your tasks of after-tomorrow, thank you very much.
In that sense, Peryite is a depressingly modern Prince. Even his demeanour, famously, is calm collected : why bother with revolt when there's work to do?
Is there life and beauty to be found in the accomplishment of a thankless everyday task? Maybe. While we're looking for it, every person that has to endure day after day of a bullshit job, every parent who has to repeat certain actions incessantly so their child can live safe and free, every bus driver making their rounds day after day, they all have a little office space in their heads where, on a corner of a table, there is a tiny green altar to Peryite.
Suggestion of a worship practice : instead of rushing through a mind-numbing task such as cleaning, or reading and aswering work emails, try to find meaning or purpose in it. Feel the eternity in the endless repetitions of that action happening again and again, stretching through the Pits, and how immortal that makes you feel.
Thank Peryite for always giving you something to do.
SANGUINE – The Prince of Freedom and Senses
There is a type of freedom to be found in following one's immediate desires without thought or planning. As a wise man once said : “give yourself over to absolute pleasure!”
There is freedom of the eyes in looking for whatever you want. There is freedom of the ears in listening to whatever speaks to you. There is freedom of the nose in smelling one's destiny. There is freedom of the mouth in letting in whatever wants in. And, lastly, there is freedom of touch in caressing the shapes of the world.
Some might object that being subjected to one's sensual desires is the opposite of freedom : it is slavery. Sanguine certainly wouldn't agree, and would tell you that freedom is not in a choice made after weighty pondering, but a series of micro-choices made for you by your senses, who know best.
Sanguine has a better reputation among mortals that most, because as human beings, we're eternally blind to the ultimate nature of reality, and, most philosophers would agree, have no access to the “real” world, but only to a version recreated for us by our brains out of the inputs of our senses. There's no getting out of it. And so it pleases us to think that those senses do not mislead us too much, and that there is some wisdom and truth to be found in them.
Sanguine doesn't care about the ultimate nature of reality anyway, and prefers playing with the only one we know. His association with blood is perhaps a metaphor for the lifeforce, which he embodies in the flesh, scoffing at Meridia's thesis about the lifeforce being of a spiritual nature (and throwing tomatoes at her lectures, no doubt).
As long as there is that which is, Sanguine's laugh can be heard in the eternal now.
Suggestion of a worship practice : offer yourself a five day long education of the senses. Look at something pleasant, listen to something pleasant, smell and taste something pleasant, and, lastly, touch something pleasant. Know that it may very well be possible that nothing else exists, or at least, that nothing isn't as real as those feelings.
Thank Sanguine for the song of the blood.
SHEOGORATH : The Prince of Human Psychology and Creativity
What some call madness is just exagerated and more rarely expressed forms of general human cognition. As the protagonist of one tale once said, “Sheogorath has already won, because he's already inside all of us”.
Sheogorath would probably agree with Foucault's analysis of madness as something constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed through the ages to suit society's whims and fears. (Well, he would agree if he cared at all). In fact, one could argue that Foucault mantled Sheogorath to better express his truth : human psychology is just a succession of thoughts, moods and representations which struggle to not fall into the Sithis-shaped hole of the world, and only gain a semblance of legitimacy from being considered as legitimate by a sufficient number of people.
After all, the other coin of madness is creativity, and seeing the world askew is the only real and authentic way to bring something new into it. If Azura is the rim to all holes, that transitory and liminal moment, the glimpse of what might be, Sheogorath is the plunge to the other side, for good or for ill. Where Azura is in some sense the patron of the Arts, that refined and humanized union of talent and perserverance, Sheogorath is the patron of something purer : the creative instinct unburdened by shape or action, the pure will, which can turn to genius or incomprehensible rubbish, or something in between.
Creativity is also more ephemeral than the capital A “Art”. It is the witty turn of phrase said to a friend that's gonna vanish into the air and be forgotten in five minutes time, it's that particular view of the trees seen through the rain seen by that particular human eye – an artpiece for only one mind -, it's the unexpected solution to an everyday problem found when looking at it in a new way.
The creative freedom of Sheogorath rejects the notion that there could be two separate categories : people, and “Artists”. We all produce small pieces of art every day. But is it “Art” to cover a whole village in cheese? Well, we can argue about “Art” all day, but it is undeniably an expression of creativity.
The laugh of Sheogorath can be heard in both the mad and the artistic, and we're all both of those things.
Suggestion of a worship practice : identify a problem, either big or small, that you're currently facing, and come up with seven different ways to resolve it, to see it differently, or to make it worse. Then, represent that same problem in seven different ways : in writing, in drawing, in the form of a sung melody, in mime, as a meal, as a photo of yourself, and as a scream.
Thank Sheogorath for the divided mind.
VAERMINA – The Prince of Fear and Trauma
Have you heard about the three names of dreaming when one's awake ?
A dream can be experienced when one's awake, and it is then called a vision, a hallucination, or a work of art.
The first one suprises, for a vision is always unexpected, and that's how you will know that it is different from a thought. A vision is about being possessed.
The second one confuses, for a hallucination is always uncomprehensible, and that's how you will know that it is different from an image. A hallucination is about being lost.
The last one provokes, for a work of art is always a question, and that's how you will know that it is different from an answer. A work of art is about wandering.
Answer this, then. Where do the possessed, the lost and the wandering go? Why, to Quagmire, of course, where new things are terrors.
On one hand, visiting Quagmire teaches about fear, and fear is an emotion necessary to survival. On the other hand, too much fear or anxiety swings the pendulum the other way, hindering survival by making the one experiencing it irrationaly helpless and focused on imaginary, rather than real, dangers.
Most would argue that it is precisely Vaermina's goal, to drive mortals mad with fear so they become helpless and under her influence. But as with every Prince, their own goals don't preclude mortals from learning from the violent way they embody their sphere. Learning from fear, learning to go forth in spite of it, is probably one of the most beautiful things we can do, and in a way, Vaermina teaches courage and heroism.
Trauma – that which is seen in Vaermina's shimmering visions and that which cannnot be unseen – is a different beast, an eternal return of horror ever anew, happening right now, right this second. Trauma is characterized by the return of the same again and again, until one learns to live with it, and it is no easy task. Maybe Quagmire is the testing factory of our unconscious, and Vaermina, its harsh mistress teaching through psychological suffering, so we never forget that some things are wrong and should never happen, never again, to anyone.
Suggestion of a worship practice : go to therapy, and prepare yourself that it won't be a happy and feel-good experience. Embrace it. Therapy is not some personal development bullshit where someone is trying to make you feel good, and if it is, someone is trying to sell you something. It is waddling through Quagmire and pursuing a faint, far-away light and hoping it won't blink out of sight. But at least you're not alone.
Thank Vaermina for teaching you the fear of the dark.
2023.06.04 17:58 a_person_fr International MUN
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2023.06.04 16:02 Perspiring_Gamer New Release Thread (June 5th to June 11th)
 | submitted by Perspiring_Gamer to XboxSeriesX [link] [comments] June 5th to June 11th Amnesia: The Bunker - June 6th Dropping day one on Game Pass, Amnesia: The Bunker is a first person horror game from Frictional Games. The player takes the role a French WW1 soldier who must escape a nightmarish bunker. The game appears to combine survival horror mechanics like scavenging and crafting, with randomised and dynamic elements. An ever-present monster stalks you as you explore the non-linear semi open-world, with an emphasis on physics-based interactions and multiple approaches to problem solving. Xbox Store [Game Pass] - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Diablo IV - June 6th The official release of Blizzard's fourth mainline instalment of their iconic isometric action RPG arrives, with some already playing via early access which started on June 1st/2nd. Alongside stapes such as procedurally generated dungeons and loot centric character building, this entry introduces a fully open world environment for the first time as well as player vs player encounters. Diablo IV offers a 50+ hour campaign, with both solo and party play, and support for cross-play and cross-progression. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Hypnospace Outlaw - June 6th Returning to Game Pass, Hypospace Outlaw is a '90s internet simulator' game with a twist. Developed by Tendershoot, ThatWhichIs Media and Michael Lasch, the game sees the player scouring an internet space known as Hypnospace. Tasks include policing copyright infringement and cyberbulling, dealing with other types of virtual crimes, as well as avoiding bugs and viruses. The title received notable praise when it launched in 2019 for its nostalgic vibe, brand of satire and inventive puzzle mechanics. Xbox Store [Game Pass] - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Loop8: Summer of Gods - June 6th Loop8: Summer of Gods is an RPG developed by Marvelous Inc. Set in a rural town on the Japanese coastline in 1983, the player takes the role of new resident and protagonist Nini. With a month until the end of the world, the game centres around building bonds with the residents and protecting the town from the Kegai in turn-based battles. These and the choices the player makes effect the town and the Underworld, with an 'emotion-driven AI system' that 'responds to every action you make.' Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Raiden III x Mikado Maniax - June 6th Developed by MOSS, Raiden III x Mikado Maniax is a classic vertical arcade shoot-em-up experience. This enhanced version raises the resolution, allows you to pick a wallpaper and background music, as well as compete in online world rankings. New gameplay modes include Score Attack and Boss Rush. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Nocturnal - June 7th Nocturnal is an action platformer from Sunnyside Games. Set on an island known as Nahran, the player takes the role of soldier Ardeshir. He must investigate the source of a peculiar mist, find out what happened to his order, and ultimately free the island from this darkness. Gameplay centres around exploration, navigating through the deadly mist with the help of your sacred flame, and collecting ashes in order to unlock new abilities and secret locations. Nocturnal is XS optimised. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site SENSEs: Midnight - June 7th SENSEs: Midnight is a 3D survival horror game from EastAsiaSoft and Suzaku Games. The player takes the role of Uesugi Kaho, who sets out to investigate an urban legend about a paranormal door that appears at midnight in an abandoned park. Inspired by survival horror classics such as the original RE games, the title features tank controls, fixed camera angles and a limited inventory. The player will also be stalked by an Onryo ghost, which they must escape and evade throughout the experience. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition - June 7th Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition is a remaster of Terminal Reality's 1995 flight simulator experience. The game has been natively compiled to run in their 'Infernal Engine,' with maximised frame-rates, draw-distance and wide-screen support. Players will pilot futuristic ships and engage in shootouts. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Toodee and Topdee - June 7th Toodee and Topdee is a dual-perspective platformer developed by Dietzribi and published by Top Hat Studios. After their dimensions merge, Toodee and Topdee must flip bewteen their 2D and top-down perspectives to navigate levels. Gameplay appears to be a mix of platforming and puzzle challenges. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site A Painter's Tale: Curon, 1950 - June 8th A Painter's Tale: Curon, 1950 is an adventure title from from Monkey Tales Studio. The player takes the role of a painter visiting an village by Lake Reschen, who is thrown into the past by a mysterious woman. The game explores how the building of a dam led to the destruction of the original village. Xbox Store - Metacritic - XboxAchievements - Trailer - Official Site MotoGP 23 - June 8th MotoGP 23 is Milestone's latest entry in the officially licensed series. Career mode adds new layers with choices that have knock-on affects, rivalries that require management and 'turning points,' which enable faster progression through the classes. On track the game introduces new dynamic weather features, with flag-to-flag rules to try and take advantage of. Elsewhere there's a new graphic editor to customise your rider's attire and bikes too. MotoGP 23 is XS optimised with smart delivery support. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Rune Factory 4 Special - June 8th Rune Factory 4 Special is an RPG developed by Marvelous Inc. This version of the game was first released on Xbox One in December 2021, and now arrives on Game Pass. Gameplay mechanics primarily revolve around two areas. At home players can grow crops, raise monsters and forge relationships with them, craft equipment and befriend townspeople. Players can also venture out of the town, to explore dungeons for rewards, battle monsters and have adventures with townsfolk. Xbox Store [Game Pass] - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Stacking - June 8th Stacking is the latest addition to Game Pass from Double Fine's back-catalogue. This third-person puzzle adventure title first released on Xbox 360 in 2011, and sees the player exploring a vintage style world inhabited by Russian stacking dolls. As protagonist Charlie Blackmore, the objective is to save his family from a 'nefarious industrialist' known as the Baron. The player will explore a variety of Victorian and Great Depression influenced settings, collecting unique and matching stacking sets. Xbox Store [Game Pass] - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Tour de France 2023 - June 8th Tour de France 2023 is the latest entry in the officially licensed cycling series, developed by Cyanide and published Nacon. It features the full 2023 roster of riders and teams, updated equipment items and official brands, plus all 21 official stages of this year's competition. In terms of new features, the game introduces 'descent of the moment' mode which takes place entirely on downhill stretches. It also has a more realistic rating system and collisions, as well as improved AI behaviour in various scenarios. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Truck Driver Heading North [DLC] - June 8th Having cancelled the current-gen version of the base game, the DLC expansion Heading North finally arrives on Xbox One for Soedesco's truck driving simulator Truck Driver. It introduces a new large scale map, set in a Nordic-inspired country known as Mangefjell, as well as thirty new jobs brought to you through new characters in Olaff, Lars and Katerina. There's also a 'new hidden place' which the player has to seek out without any map hints, eight new achievements to unlock and ten new soundtracks. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Cat Souls - June 9th Cat Souls is a 2D platformer from Angelo Gamedev & 9Ratones. Playing as a cat, the player can use the souls of their remaining lives as platforms. It offers forty five levels across six different worlds, a variety of enemies and obstacles, key collection and a retro aesthetic. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Dead Ground - June 9th IMAGE READY Dead Ground from Shotx Studio is a game that combines procedurally generated and rogue-like elements. It tasks the player with traversing an apocalyptic world while managing their survival and loot. Build and upgrade your base, acquire randomised guns, skills and augments, and defeat bosses. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Greyhill Incident - Abducted Edition - June 9th Greyhill Incident - Abducted Edition is an alien-invasion survival-horror game from Refugium Games. Set in the US town of Greyhill in the early 90s, the player takes the role of Ryan Baker during an alien invasion. Armed only with a baseball bat, the objective is to investigate and uncover the alien conspiracy, while escaping abductions and helping the townspeople where possible. Gameplay centres around exploration and solving puzzles, and sneaking from, running or fighting 'the Greys.' Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Kingdom of Aurelia: Mystery of the Poisoned Dagger - June 9th Kingdom of Aurelia: Mystery of the Poisoned Dagger is a story-driven point and click adventure game from Joindots. Set in the steam-punk Kingdom of Aurelia, thirteen year old boy Sam and the princess must foil a plot against the royal family and find the perpetrator. It's XS optimised with smart delivery. Xbox Store - Metacritic - TrueAchievements - Trailer - Official Site Additional releases [image limit reached:]
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2023.06.04 15:11 YukiteruAmano92 Remembrance, Chapter 3 of 28
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---Esme’s perspective---
---Saturday, 11th of November, 2682 Terran Calendar---
---Southern England---
Fucking Sussex!
‘Can you send me to the Forth Valley?’
‘Oh, we can try… On an unrelated note, how’s your standard English? No problems in communicating?’
I should’ve just said ‘No, I have great difficulty in communicating in anything but Lallans Scots!’ instead of putting on my poshest English speech register to say ‘Marjorie dearest, would you be a lamb and pass another buttered scone… hold the raspberry jam, it’s far too spicy for me!’ which she told me she’d take as a ‘Yes.’
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” plays a loud, prerecorded Welsh language announcement, over speakers.
They’re fucking rubbing it in!
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” it repeats in Scots Gaelic.
“Ceci est une caserne Anglophone. Si vous avez été assigné ici par erreur, veuillez vous faire connaître auprès du personnel de la caserne pour une réaffectation.” it says in what I’m 90% sure is a French version of the same announcement (I can’t be certain, though, as that’s not one of my languages).
Looking at the crowds queuing to get in makes me regret asserting that I didn’t need transport here.
‘You shouldn’t be sending someone to War that you don’t trust to navigate themself from Galloway to Sussex!’ were my exact words.
I brushed off the recruitment officer saying that I’d be processed faster if I arrived on Military organised transport.
Well, standing here’s not gonna get me to the front of the queue now, is it!
I walk forward to join the massive throng of people, almost all of which look to be about my age.
It’s astonishing how short you feel, being an average height girl in a crowd of people!
178cm really isn’t all that much when you’ve got a not insignificant number of +2m guys here!
Even guys who are the average 188cm can make a girl feel short when their packed too close…
I see a few Neanderthal hunks… perhaps conscription won’t be all bad(!)
When I make it to the front of the line, the guy just stares expectantly at me like I’m supposed to already know what to do.
“Y’awright?… Err… mah nam’s Esme Reid…?” I say, hesitantly, in perfectly comprehensible speech.
“I’m sorry, would you repeat that?” he answers, looking at me like I just spoke to him in fucking Chinese!
“Greetings, gracious sir! You may kindly refer to me by the name ‘Esme Reid’!” I say, affecting my supercilious Southern English gentlewoman accent.
“Alright, Ms Reid. Please present your draft papers and identification.”
The balls they have to ask me to prove who I am when they’re the ones asking me to go off and fucking die for them!
I think about quipping that I should ask him to show me some proof that this is a legitimate Military installation sanctioned by the government of Sol… but think better of it…
Instead, I pull out my draft papers and my holopad, quickly getting up my identification app.
The man scans the code with his own holo and spends a few seconds glancing from his screen to my face and back.
Seeming satisfied that I’m not attempting to enlist under a false identity (for whatever strange reason a person might want to do that) he glances at my papers, says “Everything seems to be in order.” and waves a hand in front of a machine which whirs for half a second before spitting out a simple chain necklace with two little metal rectangles hanging off of it.
He hands it to me and says “This is your identification tag. Please check that the information on it is correct and, if it is, put it on and never take it off.”
I check the tag.
“You’ve got my name and birthday right…” I say, making a conscious effort to keep my speech register in that that a standard English speaker would consider acceptable “…don’t know about the regiment and serial number.”
“Those will be correct.” he says with a ‘move along’ tone.
I shrug, raise the dogtag over my head and drop it around my neck.
I walk on and he’s serving the girl behind me before I’ve even rounded the counter.
I’m ushered through the barracks, herded by the staff, until I reach a building labelled ‘Billet House 279’.
It doesn’t really look like I expected soldiers’ digs to look.
Definitely prefabbed but sort of has more the look of a uni hall than anything else… though I think it’s probably a bit much to expect that I’ll get a room to myself(!)
I follow the throng of draftees through to a wide open room, on the ground floor, that looks like it’s normally a cafeteria.
The camp attendants (who I’m guessing were in the same boat as us, not too long ago) direct us to stand along the left, right and nearside walls, keeping the back wall and centre of the room clear.
Everyone in place, there follows a few minutes of silence broken only by people whispering to one another.
Then, she enters the room.
Dark skinned and clad in green camo clothing, her scalp is easily visible between her cornrows with nary a hair out of place.
Her expression looks absolutely indifferent with just the slightest hint of a curled lip.
From the broadness and flatness of her facial features as well as her single mauve eye, she is clearly half Tshwane… though, you’d never guess that from her stature!
Female Tshwane average nearly 2m… the men are more like 2.2m!
She’s shorter than me!
She’s also built like a Sapiens, not the willowy thinness typical of Tshwane
I guess genetics interact in funny ways sometimes…
Based on her age, her Tshwane parent would probably have to have been one of the very first to be cloned back!
The other eye seems to have been ripped out at some point because in its place is a bionic and there’s a patch of hypopigmented scar tissue, forming a tear shape, at the right corner.
“Recruits… Welcome to the United Terran Coalition Infantry Trainin’ Camp, Graffham… My name is Warrant Officer Simone Sands… and I’ll be your drill instructor…” says the woman, cooly, speaking in a rough sounding, London accent.
The surname ‘Sands’ probably means her dad was the Tshwane (though not necessarily… she might have been given her mum’s surname… or it might be a coincidental English surname).
“…You all know why you’re here… Most of you’ve prob’ly already lost loved ones to this War… You are here to defend our right to exist… and I can’t think of a more worthy reason to fight than that…”
I’ve decided I like this woman… She may be English but I’ll try not to hold that against her(!)
“The first thing I need to tell all of you is that, by the end of your trainin’, you will NOT like me…” she says, as if reading my mind “…that’s OK. My job ain’t to be liked, my job ain’t to make friends… my job is to make soldiers!”
She casts her biological and bionic eyes around the room, letting her words hang in the air.
“Note… that I said ‘soldiers’… This ain’t Full Metal Jacket. This ain’t the 20th Century. There’ll be no Pvt Piles here!… I ain’t aimin’ to destroy your minds or your individuality. I ain’t goin’ to physic’ly and psychologic’ly abuse you into becomin’ robots or killers… I am makin’ you into soldiers… Regardless… this process will not be easy! In fact, it may well be the hardest thing you ever do!… As the face of this process, you will come to hate and resent me for it!… I hope for it! The more you hate me the more-DO YOU HAVE SOMETHIN’ TO SAY, PRIVATE?!”
Everyone in the room is startled by the authoritative woman breaking herself off to shout angrily at someone on the other side of the room.
“STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!”
The boy that steps forward is tall, bulky and muscular with a handsome, half Neanderthal face… just my type!
Then he has to go and ruin it by opening his mouth.
“I was just saying… that I find it somewhat difficult to take you seriously as a commanding officer… You just seem a little bit… little.” says the boy in the poshest, smarmiest English drawl I’ve ever heard!
The woman does not shout, she does not scream, she doesn’t snarl or even purse her lips!
She just nods, as if considering his words, then asks “What’s your name, Soldier?”
“Rupert Forest.” responds the boy, proudly.
“And, how tall are you, Pvt Forest?” responds the woman, unimpressed
“195cm.” he answers.
“And, what’s your mass?” she asks.
“110kg.”
“I see, I see… So, by your logic… you’d make a better drill sergeant than me, would you? You’re 25cm taller and 35kg heavier, afterall!”
He smirks “I wouldn’t presume to say so, Ma’am…” in a way that definitely suggests that he thinks he would.
She seems to consider that for some moments before answering “Alright then, fight me for it!”
“I’m sorry…?” responds the poshboy.
“You heard me… Clearly, you got no respect for skill and experience but it seems like you must respect power… so fight me for it! You win, you get to train this lot, I win, you never question my authority again!”
Is this woman mad!?
She may be a soldier but this boy she just challenged is a half Neanderthal giant!
She’s gonna lose!
I do not want to be drilled by some snotty, privileged English brat who got here at the same time as I did and just couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut!
Then again, I don’t really want to be drilled by a woman so delusional that she felt the best way to squash insubordination was to challenge a man she has no hope of beating, either!
The guy is clearly salivating over the power that’s just been slapped on the table in front of him as he answers “I accept your terms, Ms Sands…” with faux magnanimity.
There’s no way they’d let a Private run drills, is there? When he wins, someone just needs to go and complain and they’ll give us another (less stupid) drill sergeant… right?
He strips off his jacket to reveal a pair of thick, muscular arms that (in spite of his repulsive personality) are a thrilling sight.
He has to go and ruin it by flexing and posing, clearly revelling in the room’s worth of gasps he got when he revealed his arms… He obviously likes being the centre of attention.
“Done?” asks Sands, drily.
“If you still want to do this…” he says, smugly “…you could just concede defeat and I’m sure no one would hold it against you!”
Her lip curls as she answers “But… if I did that, no one would learn nothin’, now would they…”
He shrugs before launching himself at her without waiting for her to give the word to begin.
She whirls out of the way and he snatches at her, unsuccessfully, as his momentum carries him past.
“Lesson 1:…” she shouts while snapping into the space behind him and kicking out his knee “…size does not determine victory, strength does not determine victory…” levelling another powerful kick between his shoulderblades to bring him to the ground.
She backs off, allowing him to scramble to his feet and turn to face her, hunched in readiness and scowling.
“…Pvt Forest here looked at me with contempt on account of my small size and, though he didn’t say so, I’d guess that my rough accent, my lack of a graduate epithet and my lack of a penis also played a roll in his judgin’ me as less than!… He thought he could beat me, he probably still DOES, and, ’causa that, he didn’t respect my ability to lead…!”
Forest makes another lunge for the smaller woman, misses and is punished for it by being knocked back to the floor.
I’m agog as I watch this little woman… there’s no other word but toy with the giant man!
“…but victory does not care how big you are, how strong you are, how classy or educated you are or what**’**s in your pants or panties…!”
She dodges around his arm and pins his chest to the floor with her knee.
“Discipline and trainin’ determine victory!… Things that I have and Pvt Forest LACKS!… Things that ALL of you will acquire, over the next 8 months!!!” she turns her head down to the mountain of man she’s pinning to the floor “Concede, Private!”
The man shakes his head, trying in vain to leverage himself up.
“Alright then… Lesson 2: When faced with a resistant individual, compliance can be effectively enforced by the expedient of lockin’ their joints to induce PAIN!!!”
She grabs his thick arms by the wrists and pulls them backwards in a way they are not meant to bend!
He screams in agony!
“CONCEDE!!!… Don’t make me send you to the Medical Officer! It’d be inconvenient for BOTH of us if your pride makes you miss your first week of trainin’ while your arms heal!!!”
He holds out for two more seconds before screaming “I concede! I CONCEDE!!!”
She releases him and stands back up.
“On your feet, Soldier…” she growls down at him.
He stands back up, his face beet red.
“Are you ever goin’ to question my fitness to instruct again, Private?” she glares up at the humiliated giant.
“No.” he answers, gracelessly.
“No…?” she says as if waiting for something else.
Forest looks as confused as I am about what she’s expecting.
“No, Ma’am!” she snarls.
“No, Ma’am.”
“Good, we’ll work on your attitude, movin’ forward. Now, get back in line!”
The humiliated man picks up his civvy jacket and returns to the place he was called out from.
“Now, I don’t think I need to prattle on anymore about how you’re gonna hate me by the end of our time together, do I?… I think Pvt Forest helped me prove that point quite well, so I’ll move on… You will sleep in this buildin’, six to a room. Your rooms will be gender segregated. If you wish for a place to be… intimate with people of the opposite gender, you may request use of one of the conjugal rooms… I suggest you do the same if you want to be intimate with a same gender partner but that’s between you and your roommates! You will eat in this room at 0700hrs, 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Diet’ry requirements will be accommodated but, bare in mind, this ain’t your mummies’ and daddies’ kitchen! ‘This food is forbidden by my religion/personal ethics’ is a diet’ry requirement. ‘I am allergic to this food’ is a diet’ry requirement! ‘I don’t like how this food tastes’ is not(!)… In the mornin’s, you will be receivin’ lessons in lecture theatres, workshops and the like…”
“Oh great… just what I wanted after leaving school(!) More classrooms(!)” I mutter to myself.
Her head instantly wheels to me with unnerving precision.
“Someone else with somethin’ they’d like to say!?” she says, locking eyes with me, terrifyingly.
“No, Ms Sands!” I answer, instantly.
“Miss?! I’m not your bloody schoolteacher girl!!!”
Everyone laughs. Even Pvt Forest, like he wasn’t just humiliated himself, 2 minutes ago!
“Ma’am… err… Ma’am, no, Ma’am!!!” I say, doing my best to emulate the tone I’ve seen soldiers use in films.
She rolls her eye (it’s difficult to tell if the bionic rolls too) and says “Better… What’s your name, Private?”
“Ma’am, the Private’s name is Esme Reid, Ma’am!!!”
“Do you remember me tellin’ you this ain’t Full Metal Jacket?… You don’t need to scream when you talk to me, you don’t need to refer to yourself in third person and one ‘Ma’am’, when you’re done speakin’, is enough, Reid!”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She points to her single, mauve eye, then to me and says “I’ll have my eye on you, Reid!”
Somehow, her tone sends a chill up my spine but I do my best not to show it.
She turns away and I release a silent sigh of relief.
“As I was sayin’… In your lectures you will learn the ins and outs of military theory; tactics, strategies, logistics etc. You will learn as much as we can tell you about the nature of the species we are fightin’; their capabilities, tendencies, political organisations and known weaknesses… bear in mind that First Contact weren’t much more than 4 years ago and we’ve been at War for almost all the intervenin’ time, so a lot of what we teach you will be little more than guesswork and hearsay from prisoners we’ve interrogated… The mornin’s’ll also be where you learn the particulars of the equipment you’ll be expected to be proficient with in the field. This includes firearms, plasmaweaponry and durasteel armour, as well as the tech you’ll likely encounter from the opposite side; kinetic pulse weapons, laser weapons, field emitters etc… I strongly suggest that no one allows word to get back to me that they’re not takin’ these classes seriously!… A stupid soldier is a dead soldier!”
She glares around the room, her eyes resting on me four a quarter of a second.
“…In the afternoons and evenin’s, you’ll be doing PT… that’s ‘Physical Trainin’’… soon to be every one of your two least favourite words in the English Language(!) “
I notice a wry smirk twist the mouths of a few of the camp attendants.
“In PT you will be drilled in agility, endurance, close quarters combat and coordinated marching… Five times over the comin’ 8 months, you and your trainin’ partner will be dropped into a remote bit of wilderness, somewhere on Earth, for five day practical survival experience. You will be given a beacon, to summon retrieval, but these are only to be used in cases of actual threat to life or bodily integrity… not because you’re feelin’ miserable!”
She takes a second to pause for breath.
“You get an allowance of 12 days off, over your time here… that’s two a month… These are subject to my approval and I may deny them for any reason, including no reason… so don’t piss me off!… You may not take more than 2 consecutive days leave at a time! Certain classes are mandatory and leave will not be approved on days they occur. If your allowance is spent, no more leave will be approved, barring a real emergency!… Now, for today, you are going to line up to have your maps and room keys downloaded onto your holos when your name is called, then you are going to have your bodies scanned for your armour measurements… at that point everyone with no uterus has the rest of the day free to settle in… If you have a uterus, you’ll need to report to medical to get your cycle paused! This is, I’m afraid, nonoptional… You are not prohibited from engaging in relations with your fellow recruits but you cannot be a soldier while you’re able to get pregnant. Attempts to circumvent this requirement in any way will land you in the Stockade!… After your cycle pause has been given, you’ll also have the rest of the day to settle in… Enjoy it! It’ll be the most downtime you get for a while!… Finally… I believe we have a 17 year old with us here… Pvt Taylor?”
A few people put their hands up, most looking confused.
“Pvt Oskar Taylor! The 17 year old?” she says, exasperated.
All but one of those with their hands up put them down.
The one remaining Pvt Taylor with his hand in the air has pale skin, black hair, brown eyes and a sharp featured face wearing a dour expression.
He stands even taller than Forest… Nearly 2m tall!
Though he’s not quite as heavily built, he’s certainly a good looking piece of boycandy!
“Pvt Taylor…” says Sands, her mouth breaking into a smile for the first time I’ve seen “…couldn’t wait to go off to War, could you(?)”
He mutters something but, while I can hear the power and deepness of his voice, I can’t make out a word he says.
“You’ll have to speak up, Taylor! Nobody’ll be able to hear you if you mumble.” points out Sands.
“I said I had some personal circumstances that made this the most sensible course of action for me, Ma’am.” says the tall, dark haired man, looking over her head rather than down at her and speaking in a grim monotone. He definitely loses boycandy points for the poshness of his accent, unfortunately…
“I see… I won’t pry into that but… you didn’t think of Officer Training? That’s the route that most people take when volunteering ahead of their conscription.”
He shakes his head “I thought of it and decided against it, Ma’am.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Pvt Taylor?”
“I didn’t believe I would make a good officer, Ma’am.” he answers simply.
She laughs “I wish every soldier could be as introspective, Taylor! I like you!… Unfortunately, bein’ a minor does mean that you can’t be put in a room with others… Sooo, that means you get a room to yourself… for the moment. Might sound cushy but before anyone else gets too jealous, bare in mind that privacy is the only advantage! His room will be a sixth the size of yours so its basic’ly a broomcupboard… the disadvantage will be severely reduced opportunity to socialise!… If that doesn’t sound doable, you can leave and come back when you turn 18, Taylor.”
“It’s acceptable, Ma’am.” he says without hesitating.
Yeah… it’s official… I don’t like him…
---later---
I rub the spot on my arm where the serum was thunked into me about 15 minutes ago.
Like with everything else about conscription, I get it… I understand the point…
But seeing the sense doesn’t mean I have to like it!
It’s not like I want to get pregnant (getting a nine month reprieve from service would be a fairly shitty reason for me to bring a child into the world) but it does feel like one last slap in the face to my personal autonomy that I’ve just had a cycle pause fucking mandated upon my body by the government!
As I draw near, door 1512 detects the key downloaded on my holo and unlocks
I open it and am greeted by a blonde girl, smiling broadly and instantly identifiable as brimming with ADHD energy.
“Hey there! My name’s Charlotte, it’s lovely to meet you!” says the girl, wrapping me in a hug without asking if I’m OK with that.
Her accent makes me wonder if everyone I meet here is going to be a posh toff!
She makes three of three of my fellow draftees!
“A pleasure, Charlotte… the name’s Esme…” I say, speaking Scottish accented standard English and gingerly patting her back.
“Oh, you’re Scottish…?” she says pulling herself off me with an expression that suggests meeting a Scottish person is just the most wonderful thing she could have imagined “…My great grandmother was from Edinburgh, where are you from?”
“Stranraer.” I answer.
She frowns “I don’t know it, I’m sorry!”
“I won’t hold it against you… Southwestern tip of Scotland? Where it nearly touches Ireland and the Man Peninsula?… ’Bout two and a half million people?”
“Oh, wooow! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone from a village before!” she says, seeming entirely oblivious to how that might be taken as an insult.
“Yeah… I guess it’s not that big.”
“Well…” she wraps me back in the hug and continues “…we’re the first ones to the room and that has to mean we’re going to be best friends!”
“I’m afraid my best friend’s name is Tamsin… the position is not open.” I say, firmly setting a boundary.
“I meant best bootcamp friends, silly!” she says, as if that should have gone without saying.
“Alright… I guess that positions open… but you’ve not got the job yet(!)” I quip, warming up a little to the ball of posh English energy.
She pulls back and beams at me “Alright then, for my first act as best bootcamp friend candidate, let me show you the view!… That should earn me some points!”
She says, leading me into the room that’s so small it makes me doubt that that goody-two-shoes 17 year old can possibly have one a sixth this size!
She leads me to the window and spends a few moments making sure I’m positioned just right before she draws back the curtain.
The view is quite breathtaking… rolling hills of snow blanketed mammoth steppe, lit by evening sun, with barely any of the sprawling military camp visible.
Though, you can see one of the tallest structures ever built by Humanity… the Sussex Space elevator… several times the Earth’s own diameter, the ‘top’, if you can even call it that, is a fifth of the way from here to Luna! …And… in 8 months, I’m going to be riding it, all the way up, to get on a troop transport.
“Look! See! There’s a herd of aurochs over on that hill! You know this place used to be a national park, before even Unification or the Reset! It’s called the South Downs! My mum told me we had family from here… obviously I never met any of them because they would have left hundreds of years ago!…”
The bubbly girl talks and talks and… just keeps talking… but I don’t particularly mind.
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---Esme’s perspective---
---Saturday, 11th of November, 2682 Terran Calendar---
---Southern England---
Fucking Sussex!
‘Can you send me to the Forth Valley?’
‘Oh, we can try… On an unrelated note, how’s your standard English? No problems in communicating?’
I should’ve just said ‘No, I have great difficulty in communicating in anything but Lallans Scots!’ instead of putting on my poshest English speech register to say ‘Marjorie dearest, would you be a lamb and pass another buttered scone… hold the raspberry jam, it’s far too spicy for me!’ which she told me she’d take as a ‘Yes.’
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” plays a loud, prerecorded Welsh language announcement, over speakers.
They’re fucking rubbing it in!
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” it repeats in Scots Gaelic.
“Ceci est une caserne Anglophone. Si vous avez été assigné ici par erreur, veuillez vous faire connaître auprès du personnel de la caserne pour une réaffectation.” it says in what I’m 90% sure is a French version of the same announcement (I can’t be certain, though, as that’s not one of my languages).
Looking at the crowds queuing to get in makes me regret asserting that I didn’t need transport here.
‘You shouldn’t be sending someone to War that you don’t trust to navigate themself from Galloway to Sussex!’ were my exact words.
I brushed off the recruitment officer saying that I’d be processed faster if I arrived on Military organised transport.
Well, standing here’s not gonna get me to the front of the queue now, is it!
I walk forward to join the massive throng of people, almost all of which look to be about my age.
It’s astonishing how short you feel, being an average height girl in a crowd of people!
178cm really isn’t all that much when you’ve got a not insignificant number of +2m guys here!
Even guys who are the average 188cm can make a girl feel short when their packed too close…
I see a few Neanderthal hunks… perhaps conscription won’t be all bad(!)
When I make it to the front of the line, the guy just stares expectantly at me like I’m supposed to already know what to do.
“Y’awright?… Err… mah nam’s Esme Reid…?” I say, hesitantly, in perfectly comprehensible speech.
“I’m sorry, would you repeat that?” he answers, looking at me like I just spoke to him in fucking Chinese!
“Greetings, gracious sir! You may kindly refer to me by the name ‘Esme Reid’!” I say, affecting my supercilious Southern English gentlewoman accent.
“Alright, Ms Reid. Please present your draft papers and identification.”
The balls they have to ask me to prove who I am when they’re the ones asking me to go off and fucking die for them!
I think about quipping that I should ask him to show me some proof that this is a legitimate Military installation sanctioned by the government of Sol… but think better of it…
Instead, I pull out my draft papers and my holopad, quickly getting up my identification app.
The man scans the code with his own holo and spends a few seconds glancing from his screen to my face and back.
Seeming satisfied that I’m not attempting to enlist under a false identity (for whatever strange reason a person might want to do that) he glances at my papers, says “Everything seems to be in order.” and waves a hand in front of a machine which whirs for half a second before spitting out a simple chain necklace with two little metal rectangles hanging off of it.
He hands it to me and says “This is your identification tag. Please check that the information on it is correct and, if it is, put it on and never take it off.”
I check the tag.
“You’ve got my name and birthday right…” I say, making a conscious effort to keep my speech register in that that a standard English speaker would consider acceptable “…don’t know about the regiment and serial number.”
“Those will be correct.” he says with a ‘move along’ tone.
I shrug, raise the dogtag over my head and drop it around my neck.
I walk on and he’s serving the girl behind me before I’ve even rounded the counter.
I’m ushered through the barracks, herded by the staff, until I reach a building labelled ‘Billet House 279’.
It doesn’t really look like I expected soldiers’ digs to look.
Definitely prefabbed but sort of has more the look of a uni hall than anything else… though I think it’s probably a bit much to expect that I’ll get a room to myself(!)
I follow the throng of draftees through to a wide open room, on the ground floor, that looks like it’s normally a cafeteria.
The camp attendants (who I’m guessing were in the same boat as us, not too long ago) direct us to stand along the left, right and nearside walls, keeping the back wall and centre of the room clear.
Everyone in place, there follows a few minutes of silence broken only by people whispering to one another.
Then, she enters the room.
Dark skinned and clad in green camo clothing, her scalp is easily visible between her cornrows with nary a hair out of place.
Her expression looks absolutely indifferent with just the slightest hint of a curled lip.
From the broadness and flatness of her facial features as well as her single mauve eye, she is clearly half Tshwane… though, you’d never guess that from her stature!
Female Tshwane average nearly 2m… the men are more like 2.2m!
She’s shorter than me!
She’s also built like a Sapiens, not the willowy thinness typical of Tshwane
I guess genetics interact in funny ways sometimes…
Based on her age, her Tshwane parent would probably have to have been one of the very first to be cloned back!
The other eye seems to have been ripped out at some point because in its place is a bionic and there’s a patch of hypopigmented scar tissue, forming a tear shape, at the right corner.
“Recruits… Welcome to the United Terran Coalition Infantry Trainin’ Camp, Graffham… My name is Warrant Officer Simone Sands… and I’ll be your drill instructor…” says the woman, cooly, speaking in a rough sounding, London accent.
The surname ‘Sands’ probably means her dad was the Tshwane (though not necessarily… she might have been given her mum’s surname… or it might be a coincidental English surname).
“…You all know why you’re here… Most of you’ve prob’ly already lost loved ones to this War… You are here to defend our right to exist… and I can’t think of a more worthy reason to fight than that…”
I’ve decided I like this woman… She may be English but I’ll try not to hold that against her(!)
“The first thing I need to tell all of you is that, by the end of your trainin’, you will NOT like me…” she says, as if reading my mind “…that’s OK. My job ain’t to be liked, my job ain’t to make friends… my job is to make soldiers!”
She casts her biological and bionic eyes around the room, letting her words hang in the air.
“Note… that I said ‘soldiers’… This ain’t Full Metal Jacket. This ain’t the 20th Century. There’ll be no Pvt Piles here!… I ain’t aimin’ to destroy your minds or your individuality. I ain’t goin’ to physic’ly and psychologic’ly abuse you into becomin’ robots or killers… I am makin’ you into soldiers… Regardless… this process will not be easy! In fact, it may well be the hardest thing you ever do!… As the face of this process, you will come to hate and resent me for it!… I hope for it! The more you hate me the more-DO YOU HAVE SOMETHIN’ TO SAY, PRIVATE?!”
Everyone in the room is startled by the authoritative woman breaking herself off to shout angrily at someone on the other side of the room.
“STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!”
The boy that steps forward is tall, bulky and muscular with a handsome, half Neanderthal face… just my type!
Then he has to go and ruin it by opening his mouth.
“I was just saying… that I find it somewhat difficult to take you seriously as a commanding officer… You just seem a little bit… little.” says the boy in the poshest, smarmiest English drawl I’ve ever heard!
The woman does not shout, she does not scream, she doesn’t snarl or even purse her lips!
She just nods, as if considering his words, then asks “What’s your name, Soldier?”
“Rupert Forest.” responds the boy, proudly.
“And, how tall are you, Pvt Forest?” responds the woman, unimpressed
“195cm.” he answers.
“And, what’s your mass?” she asks.
“110kg.”
“I see, I see… So, by your logic… you’d make a better drill sergeant than me, would you? You’re 25cm taller and 35kg heavier, afterall!”
He smirks “I wouldn’t presume to say so, Ma’am…” in a way that definitely suggests that he thinks he would.
She seems to consider that for some moments before answering “Alright then, fight me for it!”
“I’m sorry…?” responds the poshboy.
“You heard me… Clearly, you got no respect for skill and experience but it seems like you must respect power… so fight me for it! You win, you get to train this lot, I win, you never question my authority again!”
Is this woman mad!?
She may be a soldier but this boy she just challenged is a half Neanderthal giant!
She’s gonna lose!
I do not want to be drilled by some snotty, privileged English brat who got here at the same time as I did and just couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut!
Then again, I don’t really want to be drilled by a woman so delusional that she felt the best way to squash insubordination was to challenge a man she has no hope of beating, either!
The guy is clearly salivating over the power that’s just been slapped on the table in front of him as he answers “I accept your terms, Ms Sands…” with faux magnanimity.
There’s no way they’d let a Private run drills, is there? When he wins, someone just needs to go and complain and they’ll give us another (less stupid) drill sergeant… right?
He strips off his jacket to reveal a pair of thick, muscular arms that (in spite of his repulsive personality) are a thrilling sight.
He has to go and ruin it by flexing and posing, clearly revelling in the room’s worth of gasps he got when he revealed his arms… He obviously likes being the centre of attention.
“Done?” asks Sands, drily.
“If you still want to do this…” he says, smugly “…you could just concede defeat and I’m sure no one would hold it against you!”
Her lip curls as she answers “But… if I did that, no one would learn nothin’, now would they…”
He shrugs before launching himself at her without waiting for her to give the word to begin.
She whirls out of the way and he snatches at her, unsuccessfully, as his momentum carries him past.
“Lesson 1:…” she shouts while snapping into the space behind him and kicking out his knee “…size does not determine victory, strength does not determine victory…” levelling another powerful kick between his shoulderblades to bring him to the ground.
She backs off, allowing him to scramble to his feet and turn to face her, hunched in readiness and scowling.
“…Pvt Forest here looked at me with contempt on account of my small size and, though he didn’t say so, I’d guess that my rough accent, my lack of a graduate epithet and my lack of a penis also played a roll in his judgin’ me as less than!… He thought he could beat me, he probably still DOES, and, ’causa that, he didn’t respect my ability to lead…!”
Forest makes another lunge for the smaller woman, misses and is punished for it by being knocked back to the floor.
I’m agog as I watch this little woman… there’s no other word but toy with the giant man!
“…but victory does not care how big you are, how strong you are, how classy or educated you are or what**’**s in your pants or panties…!”
She dodges around his arm and pins his chest to the floor with her knee.
“Discipline and trainin’ determine victory!… Things that I have and Pvt Forest LACKS!… Things that ALL of you will acquire, over the next 8 months!!!” she turns her head down to the mountain of man she’s pinning to the floor “Concede, Private!”
The man shakes his head, trying in vain to leverage himself up.
“Alright then… Lesson 2: When faced with a resistant individual, compliance can be effectively enforced by the expedient of lockin’ their joints to induce PAIN!!!”
She grabs his thick arms by the wrists and pulls them backwards in a way they are not meant to bend!
He screams in agony!
“CONCEDE!!!… Don’t make me send you to the Medical Officer! It’d be inconvenient for BOTH of us if your pride makes you miss your first week of trainin’ while your arms heal!!!”
He holds out for two more seconds before screaming “I concede! I CONCEDE!!!”
She releases him and stands back up.
“On your feet, Soldier…” she growls down at him.
He stands back up, his face beet red.
“Are you ever goin’ to question my fitness to instruct again, Private?” she glares up at the humiliated giant.
“No.” he answers, gracelessly.
“No…?” she says as if waiting for something else.
Forest looks as confused as I am about what she’s expecting.
“No, Ma’am!” she snarls.
“No, Ma’am.”
“Good, we’ll work on your attitude, movin’ forward. Now, get back in line!”
The humiliated man picks up his civvy jacket and returns to the place he was called out from.
“Now, I don’t think I need to prattle on anymore about how you’re gonna hate me by the end of our time together, do I?… I think Pvt Forest helped me prove that point quite well, so I’ll move on… You will sleep in this buildin’, six to a room. Your rooms will be gender segregated. If you wish for a place to be… intimate with people of the opposite gender, you may request use of one of the conjugal rooms… I suggest you do the same if you want to be intimate with a same gender partner but that’s between you and your roommates! You will eat in this room at 0700hrs, 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Diet’ry requirements will be accommodated but, bare in mind, this ain’t your mummies’ and daddies’ kitchen! ‘This food is forbidden by my religion/personal ethics’ is a diet’ry requirement. ‘I am allergic to this food’ is a diet’ry requirement! ‘I don’t like how this food tastes’ is not(!)… In the mornin’s, you will be receivin’ lessons in lecture theatres, workshops and the like…”
“Oh great… just what I wanted after leaving school(!) More classrooms(!)” I mutter to myself.
Her head instantly wheels to me with unnerving precision.
“Someone else with somethin’ they’d like to say!?” she says, locking eyes with me, terrifyingly.
“No, Ms Sands!” I answer, instantly.
“Miss?! I’m not your bloody schoolteacher girl!!!”
Everyone laughs. Even Pvt Forest, like he wasn’t just humiliated himself, 2 minutes ago!
“Ma’am… err… Ma’am, no, Ma’am!!!” I say, doing my best to emulate the tone I’ve seen soldiers use in films.
She rolls her eye (it’s difficult to tell if the bionic rolls too) and says “Better… What’s your name, Private?”
“Ma’am, the Private’s name is Esme Reid, Ma’am!!!”
“Do you remember me tellin’ you this ain’t Full Metal Jacket?… You don’t need to scream when you talk to me, you don’t need to refer to yourself in third person and one ‘Ma’am’, when you’re done speakin’, is enough, Reid!”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She points to her single, mauve eye, then to me and says “I’ll have my eye on you, Reid!”
Somehow, her tone sends a chill up my spine but I do my best not to show it.
She turns away and I release a silent sigh of relief.
“As I was sayin’… In your lectures you will learn the ins and outs of military theory; tactics, strategies, logistics etc. You will learn as much as we can tell you about the nature of the species we are fightin’; their capabilities, tendencies, political organisations and known weaknesses… bear in mind that First Contact weren’t much more than 4 years ago and we’ve been at War for almost all the intervenin’ time, so a lot of what we teach you will be little more than guesswork and hearsay from prisoners we’ve interrogated… The mornin’s’ll also be where you learn the particulars of the equipment you’ll be expected to be proficient with in the field. This includes firearms, plasmaweaponry and durasteel armour, as well as the tech you’ll likely encounter from the opposite side; kinetic pulse weapons, laser weapons, field emitters etc… I strongly suggest that no one allows word to get back to me that they’re not takin’ these classes seriously!… A stupid soldier is a dead soldier!”
She glares around the room, her eyes resting on me four a quarter of a second.
“…In the afternoons and evenin’s, you’ll be doing PT… that’s ‘Physical Trainin’’… soon to be every one of your two least favourite words in the English Language(!) “
I notice a wry smirk twist the mouths of a few of the camp attendants.
“In PT you will be drilled in agility, endurance, close quarters combat and coordinated marching… Five times over the comin’ 8 months, you and your trainin’ partner will be dropped into a remote bit of wilderness, somewhere on Earth, for five day practical survival experience. You will be given a beacon, to summon retrieval, but these are only to be used in cases of actual threat to life or bodily integrity… not because you’re feelin’ miserable!”
She takes a second to pause for breath.
“You get an allowance of 12 days off, over your time here… that’s two a month… These are subject to my approval and I may deny them for any reason, including no reason… so don’t piss me off!… You may not take more than 2 consecutive days leave at a time! Certain classes are mandatory and leave will not be approved on days they occur. If your allowance is spent, no more leave will be approved, barring a real emergency!… Now, for today, you are going to line up to have your maps and room keys downloaded onto your holos when your name is called, then you are going to have your bodies scanned for your armour measurements… at that point everyone with no uterus has the rest of the day free to settle in… If you have a uterus, you’ll need to report to medical to get your cycle paused! This is, I’m afraid, nonoptional… You are not prohibited from engaging in relations with your fellow recruits but you cannot be a soldier while you’re able to get pregnant. Attempts to circumvent this requirement in any way will land you in the Stockade!… After your cycle pause has been given, you’ll also have the rest of the day to settle in… Enjoy it! It’ll be the most downtime you get for a while!… Finally… I believe we have a 17 year old with us here… Pvt Taylor?”
A few people put their hands up, most looking confused.
“Pvt Oskar Taylor! The 17 year old?” she says, exasperated.
All but one of those with their hands up put them down.
The one remaining Pvt Taylor with his hand in the air has pale skin, black hair, brown eyes and a sharp featured face wearing a dour expression.
He stands even taller than Forest… Nearly 2m tall!
Though he’s not quite as heavily built, he’s certainly a good looking piece of boycandy!
“Pvt Taylor…” says Sands, her mouth breaking into a smile for the first time I’ve seen “…couldn’t wait to go off to War, could you(?)”
He mutters something but, while I can hear the power and deepness of his voice, I can’t make out a word he says.
“You’ll have to speak up, Taylor! Nobody’ll be able to hear you if you mumble.” points out Sands.
“I said I had some personal circumstances that made this the most sensible course of action for me, Ma’am.” says the tall, dark haired man, looking over her head rather than down at her and speaking in a grim monotone. He definitely loses boycandy points for the poshness of his accent, unfortunately…
“I see… I won’t pry into that but… you didn’t think of Officer Training? That’s the route that most people take when volunteering ahead of their conscription.”
He shakes his head “I thought of it and decided against it, Ma’am.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Pvt Taylor?”
“I didn’t believe I would make a good officer, Ma’am.” he answers simply.
She laughs “I wish every soldier could be as introspective, Taylor! I like you!… Unfortunately, bein’ a minor does mean that you can’t be put in a room with others… Sooo, that means you get a room to yourself… for the moment. Might sound cushy but before anyone else gets too jealous, bare in mind that privacy is the only advantage! His room will be a sixth the size of yours so its basic’ly a broomcupboard… the disadvantage will be severely reduced opportunity to socialise!… If that doesn’t sound doable, you can leave and come back when you turn 18, Taylor.”
“It’s acceptable, Ma’am.” he says without hesitating.
Yeah… it’s official… I don’t like him…
---later---
I rub the spot on my arm where the serum was thunked into me about 15 minutes ago.
Like with everything else about conscription, I get it… I understand the point…
But seeing the sense doesn’t mean I have to like it!
It’s not like I want to get pregnant (getting a nine month reprieve from service would be a fairly shitty reason for me to bring a child into the world) but it does feel like one last slap in the face to my personal autonomy that I’ve just had a cycle pause fucking mandated upon my body by the government!
As I draw near, door 1512 detects the key downloaded on my holo and unlocks
I open it and am greeted by a blonde girl, smiling broadly and instantly identifiable as brimming with ADHD energy.
“Hey there! My name’s Charlotte, it’s lovely to meet you!” says the girl, wrapping me in a hug without asking if I’m OK with that.
Her accent makes me wonder if everyone I meet here is going to be a posh toff!
She makes three of three of my fellow draftees!
“A pleasure, Charlotte… the name’s Esme…” I say, speaking Scottish accented standard English and gingerly patting her back.
“Oh, you’re Scottish…?” she says pulling herself off me with an expression that suggests meeting a Scottish person is just the most wonderful thing she could have imagined “…My great grandmother was from Edinburgh, where are you from?”
“Stranraer.” I answer.
She frowns “I don’t know it, I’m sorry!”
“I won’t hold it against you… Southwestern tip of Scotland? Where it nearly touches Ireland and the Man Peninsula?… ’Bout two and a half million people?”
“Oh, wooow! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone from a village before!” she says, seeming entirely oblivious to how that might be taken as an insult.
“Yeah… I guess it’s not that big.”
“Well…” she wraps me back in the hug and continues “…we’re the first ones to the room and that has to mean we’re going to be best friends!”
“I’m afraid my best friend’s name is Tamsin… the position is not open.” I say, firmly setting a boundary.
“I meant best bootcamp friends, silly!” she says, as if that should have gone without saying.
“Alright… I guess that positions open… but you’ve not got the job yet(!)” I quip, warming up a little to the ball of posh English energy.
She pulls back and beams at me “Alright then, for my first act as best bootcamp friend candidate, let me show you the view!… That should earn me some points!”
She says, leading me into the room that’s so small it makes me doubt that that goody-two-shoes 17 year old can possibly have one a sixth this size!
She leads me to the window and spends a few moments making sure I’m positioned just right before she draws back the curtain.
The view is quite breathtaking… rolling hills of snow blanketed mammoth steppe, lit by evening sun, with barely any of the sprawling military camp visible.
Though, you can see one of the tallest structures ever built by Humanity… the Sussex Space elevator… several times the Earth’s own diameter, the ‘top’, if you can even call it that, is a fifth of the way from here to Luna! …And… in 8 months, I’m going to be riding it, all the way up, to get on a troop transport.
“Look! See! There’s a herd of aurochs over on that hill! You know this place used to be a national park, before even Unification or the Reset! It’s called the South Downs! My mum told me we had family from here… obviously I never met any of them because they would have left hundreds of years ago!…”
The bubbly girl talks and talks and… just keeps talking… but I don’t particularly mind.
---
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2023.06.04 14:34 Dirtclodkoolaid AMA RESOLUTION 235
 | AMA RESOLUTION 235 November 2018 INAPPROPRIATE USE OF CDC Guidelines FOR PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS (Entire Document) submitted by Dirtclodkoolaid to ChronicPain [link] [comments] “Resolution 235 asks that our AMA applaud the CDC for its efforts to prevent the incidence of new cases of opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths; and be it further, that no entity should use MME thresholds as anything more than guidance and that MME thresholds should not be used to completely prohibit the prescribing of, or the filling of prescriptions for, medications used in oncology care, palliative medicine care, and addiction medicine care: and be it further, that our AMA communicate with the nation’s largest pharmacy chains and pharmacy benefit managers to recommend that they cease and desist with writing threatening letters to physicians and cease and desist with presenting policies, procedures and directives to retail pharmacists that include a blanket proscription against filling prescriptions for opioids that exceed certain numerical thresholds without taking into account the diagnosis and previous response to treatment for a patient and any clinical nuances that would support such prescribing as falling within standards of good quality patient care; and be it further, that AMA Policy opposing the legislating of numerical limits on medication dosage, duration of therapy, numbers of pills/tablets, etc., be reaffirmed; and be it further, that physicians should not be subject to professional discipline or loss of board certification or loss of clinical privileges simply for prescribing opioids at a quantitative level that exceeds the MME thresholds found in the CDC Guidelines; and be it further, that our AMA encourage the Federation of State Medical Boards and its member boards, medical specialty societies, and other entities to develop improved guidance on management of pain and management of potential withdrawal syndromes and other aspects of patient care for “legacy patients” who may have been treated for extended periods of time with high-dose opioid therapy for chronic non-malignant pain. RESOLVED, that our American Medical Association (AMA) applaud the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its efforts to prevent the incidence of new cases of opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths RESOLVED, that our AMA actively continue to communicate and engage with the nation’s largest pharmacy chains, pharmacy benefit managers, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Federation of State Medical Boards, and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in opposition to communications being sent to physicians that include a blanket proscription against filing prescriptions for opioids that exceed numerical thresholds without taking into account the diagnosis and previous response to treatment for a patient and any clinical nuances that would support such prescribing as falling within standards of good quality patient care. RESOLVED, that our AMA affirms that some patients with acute or chronic pain can benefit from taking opioid pain medications at doses greater than generally recommended in the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain and that such care may be medically necessary and appropriate, and be it further RESOLVED, that our AMA advocate against misapplication of the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids by pharmacists, health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, legislatures, and governmental and private regulatory bodies in ways that prevent or limit patients’ medical access to opioid analgesia, and be it further RESOLVED, that our AMA advocate that no entity should use MME (morphine milligram equivalents) thresholds as anything more than guidance, and physicians should not be subject to professional discipline, loss of board certification, loss of clinical privileges, criminal prosecution, civil liability, or other penalties or practice limitations solely for prescribing opioids at a quantitative level above the MME thresholds found in the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids.”” Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force - Draft Report on Pain Management Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies, and Recommendations Official Health and Human Services Department Released December 2018 “The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 led to the creation of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force (Task Force), whose mission is to determine whether gaps in or inconsistencies between best practices for acute and chronic pain management exist and to propose updates and recommendations to those best practices. The Task Force consists of 29 experts who have significant experience across the disciplines of pain management, patient advocacy, substance use disorders, mental health, and minority health.” In addition to identifying approximately 60 gaps in clinical best practices and the current treatment of pain in the United States, HHS PMTF provided recommendations for each of these major areas of concern. In alignment with their original charter, the PMTF will submit these recommendations to Congress to become our ‘National Pain Policy’. The 60+ gaps and inconsistencies with their recommendations will serve to fill gaps in pain treatment at both the state and federal level; and the overwhelming consensus was that the treatment of pain should be multimodal and completely individualized based on the individual patient. The heart of each recommendation in each section was a resounding call for individualization for each patient, in regards to both non-pharmacological and pharmacological modalities; including individualizations in both opioid and non-opioid pharmacological treatments. While each of the gap+recommendation sections of what is poised to become our national pain policy is extremely important, one that stands out the most (in regards to opioid prescribing) is the Stigma section. Contained in this section is one of the core statements that shows our Health and Human Services agency - the one that should have always been looked to and followed - knew the true depth of the relationship (or lack of) between the overdose crisis and compassionate prescribing to patients with painful conditions: “The national crisis of illicit drug use, with overdose deaths, is confused with appropriate therapy for patients who are being treated for pain. This confusion has created a stigma that contributes to raise barriers to proper access to care.” The recommendation that follows - “Identify strategies to reduce stigma in opioid use so that it is never a barrier to patients receiving appropriate treatment, with all cautions and considerations for the management of their chronic pain conditions” - illustrates an acknowledgment by the top health agency of the federal government that the current national narrative conflating and confusing compassionate treatment of pain with illicit drug use, addiction, and overdose death is incorrect and only serving to harm patients. Since March of 2016 when the CDC Guidelines were released, advocates, patients, clinicians, stakeholders, and others, have began pointing out limitations and unintended consequences as they emerged. In order to address the unintended consequences emerging from the CDC Guidelines, this task force was also charged with review of these guidelines; from expert selection, evidence selection, creation, and continuing to current misapplication in order to provide recommendations to begin to remedy these issues. “A commentary by Busse et al. identified several limitations to the CDC guideline related to expert selection, evidence inclusion criteria, method of evidence quality grading, support of recommendations with low-quality evidence, and instances of vague recommendations. In addition, the CDC used the criterion of a lack of clinical trials with a duration of one year or longer as lack of evidence for the clinical effectiveness of opioids, whereas Tayeb et al. found that that was true for all common medication and behavioral therapy studies. Interpretation of the guideline, in addition to some gaps in the guideline, have led to unintended consequences, some of which are the result of misapplication or misinterpretation of the CDC guideline. However, at least 28 states have enacted legislation related to opioid prescription limits, and many states and organizations have implemented the guideline without recognizing that the intended audience was PCPs; have used legislation for what should be medical decision making by healthcare professionals; and have applied them to all physicians, dentists, NPs, and PAs, including pain specialists.441–444 Some stakeholders have interpreted the guideline as intended to broadly reduce the amount of opioids prescribed for treating pain; some experts have noted that the guideline emphasizes the risk of opioids while minimizing the benefit of this medication class when properly managed.” “The CDC guideline was not intended to be model legislation for state legislators to enact” “In essence, clinicians should be able to use their clinical judgment to determine opioid duration for their patients” https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/pain/reports/2018-12-draft-report-on-updates-gaps-inconsistencies-recommendations/index.html HHS Review of 2016 CDC Guidelines for responsible opioid prescribing The Pain Management Task Force addressed 8 areas that are in need of update or expansion with recommendations to begin remediation for each problem area: Lack of high-quality data exists for duration of effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain; this has been interpreted as a lack of benefit Conduct studies Focus on patient variability and response for effectiveness of opioids; use real-world applicable trials Absence of criteria for identifying patients for whom opioids make up significant part of their pain treatment Conduct clinical trials and/or reviews to identify sub-populations of patients where long-term opioid treatment is appropriate Wide variation in factors that affect optimal dose of opioids Consider patient variables for opioid therapy: Respiratory compromise Patient metabolic variables Differences in opioid medications/plasma concentrations Preform comprehensive initial assessment it’s understanding of need for comprehensive reevaluations to adjust dose Give careful considerations to patients on opioid pain regimen with additional risk factors for OUD Specific guidelines for opioid tapering and escalation need to be further clarified A thorough assessment of risk-benefit ratio should occur whenever tapering or escalation of dose This should include collaboration with patient whenever possible Develop taper or dose escalation guidelines for sub-populations that include consideration of their comorbidities When benefit outweighs the risk, consider maintaining therapy for stable patients on long term opioid therapy Causes of worsening pain are not often recognized or considered. Non-tolerance related factors: surgery, flares, increased physical demands, or emotional distress Avoid increase in dose for stable patient (2+ month stable dose) until patient is re-evaluated for underlying cause of elevated pain or possible OUD risk Considerations to avoid dose escalation include: Opioid rotation Non-opioid medication Interventional strategies Cognitive behavior strategies Complementary and integrative health approaches Physical therapy In patients with chronic pain AND anxiety or spasticity, benzodiazepine co-prescribed with opioids still have clinical value; although the risk of overdose is well established When clinically indicated, co-prescription should be managed by specialist who have knowledge, training, and experience with co-prescribing. When co-prescribed for anxiety or SUD collaboration with mental health should be considered Develop clinical practice guidelines focused on tapering for co-prescription of benzodiazepines and opioids The risk-benefit balance varies for individual patients. Doses >90MME may be favorable for some where doses <90MME may be for other patients due to individual patient factors. Variability in effectiveness and safety between high and low doses of opioids are not clearly defined. Clinicians should use caution with higher doses in general Using carefully monitored trial with frequent monitoring with each dose adjustment and regular risk reassessment, physicians should individualize doses, using lowest effective opioid dose that balances benefit, risk, and adverse reactions Many factors influence benefits and risk, therefore, guidance of dose should not be applied as strict limits. Use established and measurable goals: Functionality ADL Quality of Life Duration of pain following acute and severely painful event is widely variable Appropriate duration is best considered within guidelines, but is ultimately determined by treating clinician. CDC recommendation for duration should be emphasized as guidance only with individualized patient care as the goal Develop acute pain management guidelines for common surgical procedures and traumas To address variability and provide easy solution, consideration should be given to partial refill system Human Rights Watch December 2018 (Excerpt from 109 page report) “If harms to chronic pain patients are an unintended consequence of policies to reduce inappropriate prescribing, the government should seek to immediately minimize and measure the negative impacts of these policies. Any response should avoid further stigmatizing chronic pain patients, who are increasingly associated with — and sometimes blamed for — the overdose crisis and characterized as “drug seekers,” rather than people with serious health problems that require treatment. Top government officials, including the President, have said the country should aim for drastic cutbacks in prescribing. State legislatures encourage restrictions on prescribing through new legislation or regulations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has investigated medical practitioners accused of overprescribing or fraudulent practice. State health agencies and insurance companies routinely warn physicians who prescribe more opioids than their peers and encourage them to reduce prescribing. Private insurance companies have imposed additional requirements for covering opioids, some state Medicaid programs have mandated tapering to lower doses for patients, and pharmacy chains are actively trying to reduce the volumes of opioids they dispense. The medical community at large recognized that certain key steps were necessary to tackle the overdose crisis: identifying and cracking down on “pill mills” and reducing the use of opioids for less severe pain, particularly for children and adolescents. However, the urgency to tackle the overdose crisis has put pressure on physicians in other potentially negative ways: our interviews with dozens of physicians found that the atmosphere around prescribing for chronic pain had become so fraught that physicians felt they must avoid opioid analgesics even in cases when it contradicted their view of what would provide the best care for their patients. In some cases, this desire to cut back on opioid prescribing translated to doctors tapering patients off their medications without patient consent, while in others it meant that physicians would no longer accept patients who had a history of needing high-dose opioids. The consequences to patients, according to Human Rights Watch research, have been catastrophic.” [https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/18/not-allowed-be-compassionate/chronic-pain-overdose-crisis-and-unintended-harms-us]( Opioid Prescribing Workgroup December 2018 This is material from the Board of Scientific Counselors in regards to their December 12, 2018 meeting that culminated the works of a project titled the “Opioid Prescribing Estimates Project.” This project is a descriptive study that is examining opioid prescribing patterns at a population level. Pain management is a very individualized process that belongs with the patient and provider. The Workgroup reviewed work done by CDC and provided additional recommendations. SUMMARY There were several recurrent themes throughout the sessions. Repeated concern was voiced from many Workgroup members that the CDC may not be able to prevent conclusions from this research (i.e. the benchmarks, developed from limited data) from being used by states or payors or clinical care systems to constrain clinical care or as pay-for- performance standards – i.e. interpreted as “guidelines”. This issue was raised by several members on each of the four calls, raising the possibility that providers or clinical systems could thus be incentivized against caring for patients requiring above average amounts of opioid medication. Risk for misuse of the analysis. Several members expressed concerns that this analysis could be interpreted as guidance by regulators, health plans, or clinical care systems. Even though the CDC does not plan to issue this as a guideline, but instead as research, payors and clinical care systems searching for ways to reign in opioid prescribing may utilize CDC “benchmarks” to establish pay-for-performance or other means to limit opioid prescribing. Such uses of this work could have the unintended effect of incentivizing providers against caring for patients reliant upon opioids. …It was also noted that, in order to obtain sufficient granularity to establish the need for, dosage, and duration of opioid therapy, it would be necessary to have much more extensive electronic medical record data. In addition, pain and functional outcomes are absent from the dataset, but were felt to be important when considering risk and benefit of opioids. ...Tapering: Concerns about benchmarks and the implications for tapering were voiced. If tapering occurs, guidance was felt to be needed regarding how, when, in whom tapering should occur. This issue was felt to be particularly challenging for patients on chronic opioids (i.e. “legacy” patients). In addition, the importance of measuring risk and benefit of tapering was noted. Not all high-dose patient populations benefit from tapering. Post-Surgical Pain General comments. Workgroup members noted that most patients prescribed opioids do not experience adverse events, including use disorder. Many suggested that further discussion of opioids with patients prior to surgery was important, with an emphasis on expectations and duration of treatment. A member suggested that take-back programs would be more effective than prescribing restrictions. Procedure-related care. Members noted that patient factors may drive opioid need more than characteristics of a procedure. Patient-level factors. Members noted that opioid-experienced patients should be considered differently from opioid-inexperienced patients, due to tolerance. Chronic Pain It was noted that anything coming out of the CDC might be considered as guidelines and that this misinterpretation can be difficult to counter. There was extensive discussion of the 50 and 90 MME levels included in the CDC Guidelines. It was recommended that the CDC look into the adverse effects of opioid tapering and discontinuation, such as illicit opioid use, acute care utilization, dropping out of care, and suicide. It was also noted that there are major gaps in guidelines for legacy patients, patients with multiple diagnoses, pediatric and geriatric patients, and patients transitioning to lower doses. There were concerns that insufficient clinical data will be available from the dataset to appropriately consider the individual-level factors that weigh into determination of opioid therapy. The data would also fail to account for the shared decision-making process involved in opioid prescribing for chronic pain conditions, which may be dependent on primary care providers as well as ancillary care providers (e.g. physical therapists, psychologists, etc). Patient-level factors. Members repeatedly noted that opioid-experienced patients should be considered differently from opioid-experienced patients, due to tolerance. Members noted that the current CDC guidelines have been used by states, insurance companies, and some clinical care systems in ways that were not intended by the CDC, resulting in cases of and the perception of patient abandonment. One option raised in this context was to exclude patients on high doses of opioids, as those individuals would be qualitatively different from others. A variant of this concern was about management of “legacy” patients who are inherited on high doses of opioids. Members voiced concerns that results of this work has caused harm to patients currently reliant upon opioids prescribed by their providers. Acute Non-Surgical Pain Patient-level factors. Members felt that opioid naïve versus experienced patients might again be considered separately, as opioid requirements among those experienced could vary widely. ...Guidelines were also noted to be often based on consensus, which may be incorrect. Cancer-Related and Palliative Care Pain It was noted that the CDC guidelines have been misinterpreted to create a limit to the dose of opioids that can be provided to people at all stages of cancer and its treatment. It was also noted that the cancer field is rapidly evolving, with immunotherapy, CAR-T, and other novel treatments that affect response rates and limit our ability to rely upon historical data in establishing opioid prescribing benchmarks. Concern that data would not be able to identify all of the conditions responsible for pain in a patient with a history of cancer (e.g. people who survive cancer but with severe residual pain). Further, it was noted that certain complications of cancer and cancer treatment may require the least restrictive long-term therapy with opioids. The definition of palliative care was also complicated and it was suggested that this include patients with life-limiting conditions. Overall, it was felt that in patients who may not have long to live, and/or for whom returning to work is not a possibility, higher doses of opioids may be warranted. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/pdfs/bsc/NCIPC_BSC_OpioidPrescribingEstimatesWorkgroupReport_December-12_2018-508.pdf CDC Scientists Anonymous ‘Spider Letter’ to CDC Carmen S. Villar, MSW Chief of Staff Office of the Director MS D14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027 August 29, 2016 Dear Ms. Villar: We are a group of scientists at CDC that are very concerned about the current state of ethics at our agency. It appears that our mission is being influenced and shaped by outside parties and rogue interests. It seems that our mission and Congressional intent for our agency is being circumvented by some of our leaders. What concerns us most, is that it is becoming the norm and not the rare exception. Some senior management officials at CDC are clearly aware and even condone these behaviors. Others see it and turn the other way. Some staff are intimidated and pressed to do things they know are not right. We have representatives from across the agency that witness this unacceptable behavior. It occurs at all levels and in all of our respective units. These questionable and unethical practices threaten to undermine our credibility and reputation as a trusted leader in public health. We would like to see high ethical standards and thoughtful, responsible management restored at CDC. We are asking that you do your part to help clean up this house! It is puzzling to read about transgressions in national media outlets like USA Today, The Huffington Post and The Hill. It is equally puzzling that nothing has changed here at CDC as a result. It’s business as usual. The litany of issues detailed over the summer are of particular concern: Recently, the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) has been implicated in a “cover up” of inaccurate screening data for the Wise Woman (WW) Program. There was a coordinated effort by that Center to “bury” the fact that screening numbers for the WW program were misrepresented in documents sent to Congress; screening numbers for 2014 and 2015 did not meet expectations despite a multimillion dollar investment; and definitions were changed and data “cooked” to make the results look better than they were. Data were clearly manipulated in irregular ways. An “internal review” that involved staff across CDC occurred and its findings were essentially suppressed so media and/or Congressional staff would not become aware of the problems. Now that both the media and Congresswoman DeLauro are aware of these issues, CDC staff have gone out of their way to delay FOIAs and obstruct any inquiry. Shouldn’t NCCDPHP come clean and stop playing games? Would the ethical thing be to answer the questions fully and honestly. The public should know the true results of what they paid for, shouldn’t they? Another troubling issue at the NCCDPHP are the adventures of Drs. Barbara Bowman and Michael Pratt (also detailed in national media outlets). Both seemed to have irregular (if not questionable) relationships with CocaCola and ILSI representatives. Neither of these relationships were necessary (or appropriate) to uphold our mission. Neither organization added any value to the good work and science already underway at CDC. In fact, these ties have now called into question and undermined CDC’s work. A cloud has been cast over the ethical and excellent work of scientists due to this wanton behavior. Was cultivating these relationships worth dragging CDC through the mud? Did Drs. Bowman and Pratt have permission to pursue these relationships from their supervisor Dr. Ursula Bauer? Did they seek and receive approval of these outside activities? CDC has a process by which such things should be vetted and reported in an ethics review, tracking and approval system (EPATS). Furthermore, did they disclose these conflicts of interest on their yearly OGE 450 filing. Is there an approved HHS 520, HHS 521 or “Request for Official Duty Activities Involving an Outside Organization” approved by Dr. Bauer or her Deputy Director Ms. Dana Shelton? An August 28, 2016 item in The Hill details these issues and others related to Dr. Pratt. It appears to us that something very strange is going on with Dr. Pratt. He is an active duty Commissioned Corps Officer in the USPHS, yet he was “assigned to” Emory University for a quite some time. How and under what authority was this done? Did Emory University pay his salary under the terms of an IPA? Did he seek and receive an outside activity approval through EPATS and work at Emory on Annual Leave? Formal supervisor endorsement and approval (from Dr. Bauer or Ms. Shelton) is required whether done as an official duty or outside activity. If deemed official, did he file a “Request for Official Duty Activities Involving an Outside Organization” in EPATS? Apparently Dr. Pratt’s position at Emory University has ended and he has accepted another position at the University of California San Diego? Again, how is this possible while he is still an active duty USPHS Officer. Did he retire and leave government service? Is UCSD paying for his time via an IPA? Does he have an outside activity approval to do this? Will this be done during duty hours? It is rumored that Dr. Pratt will occupy this position while on Annual Leave? Really? Will Dr. Pratt be spending time in Atlanta when not on Annual Leave? Will he make an appearance at NCCDPHP (where he hasn’t been seen for months). Most staff do not enjoy such unique positions supported and approved by a Center Director (Dr. Bauer). Dr. Pratt has scored a sweet deal (not available to most other scientists at CDC). Concerns about these two positions and others were recently described in The Huffington Post and The Hill. His behavior and that of management surrounding this is very troubling. Finally, most of the scientists at CDC operate with the utmost integrity and ethics. However, this “climate of disregard” puts many of us in difficult positions. We are often directed to do things we know are not right. For example, Congress has made it very clear that domestic funding for NCCDPHP (and other CIOs) should be used for domestic work and that the bulk of NCCDPHP funding should be allocated to program (not research). If this is the case, why then is NCCDPHP taking domestic staff resources away from domestic priorities to work on global health issues? Why in FY17 is NCCDPHP diverting money away from program priorities that directly benefit the public to support an expensive research FOA that may not yield anything that benefits the public? These actions do not serve the public well. Why is nothing being done to address these problems? Why has the CDC OD turned a blind eye to these things. The lack of respect for science and scientists that support CDC’s legacy is astonishing. Please do the right thing. Please be an agent of change. Respectfully, CDC Spider (CDC Scientists Preserving Integrity, Diligence and Ethics in Research) https://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CDC_SPIDER_Letter-1.pdf January 13, 2016 Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH Director Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 Re: Docket No. CDC-2015-0112; Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain Dear Dr. Frieden: There is no question that there is an opioid misuse epidemic and that efforts need to be made to control it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is applauded for its steps to undertake this lofty effort. However, based on the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP’s) review of the guideline, it is apparent that the presented recommendations are not graded at a level consistent with currently available evidence. The AAFP certainly wants to promote safe and appropriate prescribing of opioids; however, we recommend that the CDC still adhere to the rigorous standards for reliable and trustworthy guidelines set forth by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The AAFP believes that giving a strong recommendation derived from generalizations based on consensus expert opinion does not adhere to evidence-based standards for developing clinical guideline recommendations. The AAFP’s specific concerns with the CDC’s methodology, evidence base, and recommendations are outlined below. Methodology and Evidence Base All of the recommendations are based on low or very low quality evidence, yet all but one are Category A (or strong) recommendations. The guideline states that in the GRADE methodology "a particular quality of evidence does not necessarily imply a particular strength of recommendation." While this is true, it applies when benefits significantly outweigh harms (or vice versa). When there is insufficient evidence to determine the benefits and harms of a recommendation, that determination should not be made. When evaluating the benefits of opioids, the evidence review only included studies with outcomes of at least one year. However, studies with shorter intervals were allowed for analysis of the benefits of nonopioid treatments. The guideline states that no evidence shows long-term benefit of opioid use (because there are few studies), yet the guideline reports "extensive evidence" of potential harms, even though these studies were of low quality. The accompanying text also states "extensive evidence" of the benefits of non-opioid treatments, yet this evidence was from shorter term studies, was part of the contextual review rather than the clinical systematic review, and did not compare non- opioid treatments to opioids. The patient voice and preferences were not explicitly included in the guideline. This raises concerns about the patient-centeredness of the guideline. https://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/advocacy/prevention/risk/LT-CDC-OpioidGuideline011516.pdf The Myth of Morphine Equivalent Daily Dosage Medscape Neuro Perspective For far too many years, pain researchers and clinicians have relied on the concept of the morphine equivalent daily dosage (MEDD), or some variant of it, as a means of comparing the "relative corresponding quantity" of the numerous opioid molecules that are important tools in the treatment of chronic pain. ...And, most unfortunately, opioid prescribing guideline committees have relied on this concept as a means of placing (usually arbitrary) limits on the levels of opioids that a physician or other clinician should be allowed to prescribe. Although these guidelines typically bill themselves as "voluntary," their chilling effect on prescribers and adaptation into state laws[2] makes calling them "voluntary" disingenuous. Although some scientists and clinicians have been questioning the conceptual validity of MEDD for several years, a recent study[3] has indicated that the concept is unequivocally flawed—thereby invalidating its use empirically and as a tool in prescribing guideline development. The authors used survey data from pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to estimate daily morphine equivalents and found great inconsistency in their conversions of hydrocodone, fentanyl transdermal patches, methadone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone—illustrating the potential for dramatic underdosing or, in other cases, fatal overdosing. Patients with chronic pain (particularly that of noncancer origin) who are reliant on opioid analgesia are already sufficiently stigmatized and marginalized[7] to allow this type of practice to continue to be the norm. Although the use of MEDD in research and, to a greater extent, in practice, is probably due to unawareness of its inaccuracy, we posit that the use of MEDD by recent opioid guideline committees (eg, the Washington State Opioid Guideline Committee[8] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline Committee[9]) in the drafting of their guidelines is based more heavily on disregarding available evidence rather than ignorance. Furthermore, their misconduct in doing so has been more pernicious than the use of MEDD by researchers and individual clinicians, because these guidelines widely affect society as a whole as well as individual patients with persistent pain syndromes. We opine that these committees are strongly dominated by the antiopioid community, whose agenda is to essentially restrict opioid access—irrespective of the lack of data indicating that opioids cannot be a useful tool in the comprehensive treatment of carefully selected and closely monitored patients with chronic pain. Above 100% extracted from: Medscape Journal Brief https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/863477_2 Actual Study https://www.dovepress.com/the-medd-myth-the-impact-of-pseudoscience-on-pain-research-and-prescri-peer-reviewed-article-JPR Are Non-Opioid Medications Superior in Treatment of Pain than Opioid Pain Medicine? Ice Cream Flavor Analogy... In the Oxford University Press, a November 2018 scientific white paper[5] was released that examined the quality of one of the primary studies that have been used to justify the urgent call to drastically reduce opioid pain medication prescribing while claiming that patients are not being harmed in the process. The study is commonly referred to as ‘the Krebs study’. “The authors concluded that treatment with opioids was not superior to treatment with non opioid medications for improving pain-related function over 12 months.” Here is an excerpt from the first paragraph of the design section (usually behind a paywall) from the Krebs study that gives the first hint of the bias that led to them to ‘prove’ that opioids were not effective for chronic pain: “The study was intended to assess long-term outcomes of opioids compared with non opioid medications for chronic pain. The patient selection, though, specifically excluded patients on long-term opioid therapy.”Here is an analogy given in the Oxford Journal white paper to illustrate how the study design was compromised: If I want to do a randomized control study about ice cream flavor preferences (choices being: vanilla, chocolate, or no preference), the results could be manipulated as follows based on these scenarios: Scenario A: If a study was done that included only current ice-cream consumers, the outcome would certainly be vanilla or chocolate, because of course they have tried it and know which they like. Scenario B: If a study was done that included all consumers of all food, then it can change the outcome. If the majority of study participants do not even eat ice-cream, than the result would certainly be ‘no preference’. If the majority do eat ice-cream it would likely be ‘chocolate’. Although this study is wider based, it still does not reflect real world findings. Scenario C: In an even more extreme example, if this same study is conducted excluding anyone who has ever ate ice-cream at all, then the conclusion will again be ‘no preference’ and the entire study/original question becomes so ludicrous that there is no useful information to be extracted from this study and one would logically question why this type of study would even be conducted (although we know the answer to that) Scenario C above is how the study that has been used to shift the attitudes towards the treatment of pain in our nation's medical community was designed. “One has to look deep into the study to find that they began with 9403 possible patients and excluded 3836 of them just because they had opioids in their EMR. In the JAMA article, they do not state these obvious biases and instead begin the explanation of participants stating they started with 4485 patients and excluded 224 who were opioid or benzo users.” That is the tip of the iceberg to how it is extremely misleading. The Oxford white paper goes into further detail of the studies “many flaws and biases (including the narrow focus on conditions that are historically known to respond poorly to opioid medication management of pain)”, but the study design and participant selection criteria is enough to discredit this entire body of work. Based on study design alone, regardless of what happened next, the result would be that opioids are no more effective than NSAIDs and other non-opioid alternatives. The DEA Is Fostering a Bounty Hunter Culture in its Drug Diversion Investigators[8] A Good Man Speaks Truth to Power January 2019 Because I write and speak widely on public health issues and the so-called “opioid crisis”, people frequently send me references to others’ work. One of the more startling articles I’ve seen lately was published November 20, 2018 in Pharmacy Times. It is titled “Should We Believe Patients With Pain?”[9]. The unlikely author is Commander John Burke, “a 40-year veteran of law enforcement, the past president of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, and the president and cofounder of the International Health Facility Diversion Association.” The last paragraph of Commander Burke’s article is worth repeating here. “Let’s get back to dealing with each person claiming to be in legitimate pain and believe them until we have solid evidence that they are scamming the system. If they are, then let’s pursue them through vigorous prosecution, but let’s not punish the majority of people receiving opioids who are legitimate patients with pain.” This seems a remarkable insight from anyone in law enforcement — especially from one who has expressed this view in both Pain News Network, and Dr Lynn Webster’s video “The Painful Truth”. Recognizing Commander Burke’s unique perspective, I followed up by phone to ask several related questions. He has granted permission to publish my paraphrases of his answers here. “Are there any available source documents which establish widely accepted standards for what comprises “over-prescription?” as viewed by diversion investigators?” Burke’s answer was a resounding “NO”. Each State and Federal Agency that investigates doctors for potentially illegal or inappropriate opioid prescribing is pretty much making up their own standards as they go. Some make reference to the 2016 CDC Guidelines, but others do not.
"No law enforcement agency at any level should be rewarded with monetary gain and/or promotion due to their work efforts or successes. This practice has always worried me with Federal investigators and is unheard of at the local or state levels of enforcement.”Commander Burke’s revelation hit me like a thunder-clap. It would explain many of the complaints I have heard from doctors who have been “investigated” or prosecuted. It’s a well known principle that when we subsidize a behavior, we get more of it. Financial rewards to investigators must inevitably foster a “bounty hunter” mentality in some. It seems at least plausible that such bonuses might lead DEA regulators to focus on “low hanging fruit” among doctors who may not be able to defend themselves without being ruined financially. The practice is at the very least unethical. Arguably it can be corrupting.I also inquired concerning a third issue:
Burke’s answer: “I hear the same reports you do – and the irony is that such tactics are unnecessary. Lacking an accepted standard for over-prescribing, the gross volume of a doctor’s prescriptions or the dose levels prescribed to their patients can be poor indicators of professional misbehavior. Investigators should instead be looking into the totality of the case, which can include patient reports of poor doctor oversight, overdose-related hospital admissions, and patterns of overdose related deaths that may be linked to a “cocktail” of illicit prescribing. Especially important can be information gleaned from confidential informants – with independent verification – prior patients, and pharmacy information.”No formal legal prosecution should ever proceed from the testimony of only one witness — even one as well informed as Commander John Burke. But it seems to me that it is high time for the US Senate Judiciary Committee to invite the testimony of others in open public hearings, concerning the practice of possible bounty hunting among Federal investigators.C50 Patient, Civil Rights Attorney, Maine Department of Health, and Maine Legislature Collaborative Enacted Definition of Palliative Care One suggestion that our organization would like to make is altering the definition of “palliative care” in such a manner that it can include high-impact or intractable patients; those who are not dying this year, but our lives have been shattered and/or shortened by our diseases and for whom Quality of Life should be the focus. Many of our conditions may not SIGNIFICANTLY shorten my life, therefore I could legitimately be facing 30-40 years of severe pain with little relief; that is no way to live and therefore the concern is a rapidly increasing suicide rate. This is a definition that one of our coalition members with a civil rights attorney and the Maine Department of Health agreed upon and legislators enacted into statues in Maine. This was in response to a 100mme restriction. This attorney had prepared a lawsuit based on the Americans with Disability Act that the Department of Health in Maine agreed was valid; litigation was never the goal, it was always patient-centered care. A. "Palliative care" means patient-centered and family-focused medical care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering caused by a medical illness or a physical injury or condition that substantially affects a patient's quality of life, including, but not limited to, addressing physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs; facilitating patient autonomy and choice of care; providing access to information; discussing the patient's goals for treatment and treatment options, including, when appropriate, hospice care; and managing pain and symptoms comprehensively. Palliative care does not always include a requirement for hospice care or attention to spiritual needs. B. "Serious illness" means a medical illness or physical injury or condition that substantially affects quality of life for more than a short period of time. "Serious illness" includes, but is not limited to, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, lung disease, cancer, heart, renal or liver failure and chronic, unremitting or intractable pain such as neuropathic pain. Here is the link to the most recent update, including these definitions within the entire statute: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22sec1726.html?fbclid=IwAR0dhlwEh56VgZI9HYczdjdyYoJGpMdA9TuuJLlQrO3AsSljIZZG0RICFZc January 23, 2019 Dear Pharmacists, The Board of Pharmacy has had an influx of communication concerning patients not able to get controlled substance prescriptions filled for various reasons, even when signs of forgery or fraudulence were not presented. As a result of the increased “refusals to fill,” the board is issuing the following guidance and reminders regarding the practice of pharmacy and dispensing of controlled substances:
AS 08.80.261 DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS (a)The board may deny a license to an applicant or, after a hearing, impose a disciplinary sanction authorized under AS 08.01.075 on a person licensed under this chapter when the board finds that the applicant or licensee, as applicable, … (7) is incapable of engaging in the practice of pharmacy with reasonable skill, competence, and safety for the public because of (A) professional incompetence; (B) failure to keep informed of or use current professional theories or practices; or (E) other factors determined by the board; (14) engaged in unprofessional conduct, as defined in regulations of the board. 12 AAC 52.920 DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES (a) In addition to acts specified in AS 08.80 or elsewhere in this chapter, each of the following constitutes engaging in unprofessional conduct and is a basis for the imposition of disciplinary sanctions under AS 08.01.075; … (15) failing to use reasonable knowledge, skills, or judgment in the practice of pharmacy; (b) The board will, in its discretion, revoke a license if the licensee … (4) intentionally or negligently engages in conduct that results in a significant risk to the health or safety of a patient or injury to a patient; (5) is professionally incompetent if the incompetence results in a significant risk of injury to a patient. (c) The board will, in its discretion, suspend a license for up to two years followed by probation of not less than two years if the licensee ... (2) is professionally incompetent if the incompetence results in the public health, safety, or welfare being placed at risk. We all acknowledge that Alaska is in the midst of an opioid crisis. While there are published guidelines and literature to assist all healthcare professionals in up to date approaches and recommendations for medical treatments per diagnosis, do not confuse guidelines with law; they are not the same thing. Pharmacists have an obligation and responsibility under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 1306.04(a), and a pharmacist may use professional judgment to refuse filling a prescription. However, how an individual pharmacist approaches that particular situation is unique and can be complex. The Board of Pharmacy does not recommend refusing prescriptions without first trying to resolve your concerns with the prescribing practitioner as the primary member of the healthcare team. Patients may also serve as a basic source of information to understand some aspects of their treatment; do not rule them out in your dialogue. If in doubt, we always recommend partnering with the prescribing practitioner. We are all licensed healthcare professionals and have a duty to use our knowledge, skill, and judgment to improve patient outcomes and keep them safe. Professionally, https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/pha_ControlledSubstanceDispensing_2019.01.pdf FDA in Brief: FDA finalizes new policy to encourage widespread innovation and development of new buprenorphine treatments for opioid use disorder February 6, 2018 Media Inquiries Michael Felberbaum 240-402-9548 “The opioid crisis has had a tragic impact on individuals, families, and communities throughout the country. We’re in urgent need of new and better treatment options for opioid use disorder. The guidance we’re finalizing today is one of the many steps we’re taking to help advance the development of new treatments for opioid use disorder, and promote novel formulations or delivery mechanisms of existing drugs to better tailor available medicines to individuals’ needs,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “Our goal is to advance the development of new and better ways of treating opioid use disorder to help more Americans access successful treatments. Unfortunately, far too few people who are addicted to opioids are offered an adequate chance for treatment that uses medications. In part, this is because private insurance coverage for treatment with medications is often inadequate. Even among those who can access some sort of treatment, it’s often prohibitively difficult to access FDA-approved addiction medications. While states are adopting better coverage owing to new legislation and resources, among public insurance plans there are still a number of states that are not covering all three FDA-approved addiction medications. To support more widespread adoption of medication-assisted treatment, the FDA will also continue to take steps to address the unfortunate stigma that’s sometimes associated with use of these products. It’s part of the FDA’s public health mandate to promote appropriate use of therapies. Misunderstanding around these products, even among some in the medical and addiction fields, enables stigma to attach to their use. These views can serve to keep patients who are seeking treatment from reaching their goal. That stigma reflects a perspective some have that a patient is still suffering from addiction even when they’re in full recovery, just because they require medication to treat their illness. This owes to a key misunderstanding of the difference between a physical dependence and an addiction. Because of the biology of the human body, everyone who uses a meaningful dose of opioids for a modest length of time develops a physical dependence. This means that there are withdrawal symptoms after the use stops. A physical dependence to an opioid drug is very different than being addicted to such a medication. Addiction requires the continued use of opioids despite harmful consequences on someone’s life. Addiction involves a psychological preoccupation to obtain and use opioids above and beyond a physical dependence. But someone who is physically dependent on opioids as a result of the treatment of pain but who is not craving the drugs is not addicted. The same principle applies to replacement therapy used to treat opioid addiction. Someone who requires long-term treatment for opioid addiction with medications, including those that are partial or complete opioid agonists and can create a physical dependence, isn’t addicted to those medications. With the right treatments coupled to psychosocial support, recovery from opioid addiction is possible. The FDA remains committed to using all of our tools and authorities to help those currently addicted to opioids, while taking steps to prevent new cases of addiction.” Above is the full statement, find full statement with options for study requests: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/FDAInBrief/ucm630847.htm Maryland’s co-prescribing new laws/ amendments regarding benzos and opioids Chapter 215 AN ACT concerning Health Care Providers – Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescriptions – Discussion of Information Benefits and Risks FOR the purpose of requiring that certain patients be advised of the benefits and risks associated with the prescription of certain opioids, and benzodiazepines under certain circumstances, providing that a violation of this Act is grounds for disciplinary action by a certain health occupations board; and generally relating to advice regarding benefits and risks associated with opioids and benzodiazepines that are controlled dangerous substances. Section 1–223 Article – Health Occupations Section 4–315(a)(35), 8–316(a)(36), 14–404(a)(43), and 16–311(a)(8) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Health Occupations (a) In this section, “controlled dangerous substance” has the meaning stated in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article. Ch. 215 2018 LAWS OF MARYLAND (B) On treatment for pain, a health care provider, based on the clinical judgment of the health care provider, shall prescribe: (1) The lowest effective dose of an opioid; and (2)A quantity that is no greater than the quantity needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require an opioid that is a controlled dangerous substance unless the opioid is prescribed to treat: (a.) A substance–related disorder; (b.) Pain associated with a cancer diagnosis; (c.) Pain experienced while the patient is receiving end–of–life, hospice, or palliative care services; or (d.) Chronic pain (C.) The dosage, quantity, and duration of an opioid prescribed under [subsection (b)] of this [section] shall be based on an evidence–based clinical guideline for prescribing controlled dangerous substances that is appropriate for: (1.) The health care service delivery setting for the patient; (2.) The type of health care services required by the patient; (3.) and The age and health status of the patient. (D) (1) WHEN A PATIENT IS PRESCRIBED AN OPIOID UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE PATIENT SHALL BE ADVISED OF THE BENEFITS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPIOID. (2) WHEN A PATIENT IS CO–PRESCRIBED A BENZODIAZEPINE WITH AN OPIOID THAT IS PRESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE PATIENT SHALL BE ADVISED OF THE BENEFITS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BENZODIAZEPINE AND THE CO–PRESCRIPTION OF THE BENZODIAZEPINE.(E) A violation of [subsection (b) OR (D) of] this section is grounds for disciplinary action by the health occupations board that regulates the health care provider who commits the violation. 4-315 (a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 4–318 of this subtitle, the Board may deny a general license to practice dentistry, a limited license to practice dentistry, or a teacher’s license to practice dentistry to any applicant, reprimand any licensed dentist, place any licensed dentist on probation, or suspend or revoke the license of any licensed dentist, if the applicant or licensee: (35) Fails to comply with § 1–223 of this article. 8–316. (a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–317 of this subtitle, the Board may deny a license or grant a license, including a license subject to a reprimand, probation, or suspension, to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke the license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee: (36) Fails to comply with § 1–223 of this article. 14–404. (a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14–405 of this subtitle, a disciplinary panel, on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum of the disciplinary panel, may reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license if the licensee: (43) Fails to comply with § 1–223 of this article. 16–311. (a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 16–313 of this subtitle, the Board, on the affirmative vote of a majority of its members then serving, may deny a license or a limited license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee or holder of a limited license, impose an administrative monetary penalty not exceeding $50,000 on any licensee or holder of a limited license, place any licensee or holder of a limited license on probation, or suspend or revoke a license or a limited license if the applicant, licensee, or holder: (8) Prescribes or distributes a controlled dangerous substance to any other person in violation of the law, including in violation of § 1–223 of this article; SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2018. Approved by the Governor, April 24, 2018. https://legiscan.com/MD/text/HB653/id/1788719/Maryland-2018-HB653-Chaptered.pdf |