#2. wildness and freedom and running free with birds flying over you

[soni-dragon]

these movies have the same vibes in my heart

[tigerkirby215]

5e Rakan, the Charmer build (League of Legends)

(Artwork by Riot Games)

Happy day after Valentine's Day friends. I wrote this build in August, and a lot has happened to my little bird twink during that time. Along with a damn good new skin (and you know: new season) he’s become one of the more sought out supports in pro play. Also I got him to Mastery 5 at time of writing (December 13th, 2020.) Who knows: I might update this little blurb to say I got him to a higher mastery.

Sadly I don’t have a Xayah to duo queue with. But I’m always ready to be the support that you need~ 💓

GOALS

Am I not magnificent? - Rakan’s title is literally “the charmer.” Of course we’re gonna need some charms.

War is in the dance - With an ability called “Battle Dance” we’ll need to be quick on our feat, dashing around our foes and popping them up with a Grand Entrance.

Nothing's fun without risk - While he may not be the best enchanter Rakan has a ton of heals and shields for both himself and his allies.

RACE

Rakan is half bird, but he doesn’t do a lot of flying which leaves Aarakocra out of the picture. He’s also incredibly chatty (holy shit have you seen how many voice lines Xayah and Rakan have?) so Kenku is definitely not an option. So when in Rome as a furry look no further than a Shifter.

All Shifters have Darkvision and their Shifting ability to gain temporary hitpoints, but everything else is determined by their subrace: to be ever quick and ever charming go for a Swiftstride. As a Swiftstride Shifter your Dexterity increases by 2 and your Charisma increases by 1. You are Graceful and have proficiency with the Acrobatics skill, and your Shifting feature lets you get down with The Quickness, moving 10 feet faster and being able to move 10 feet as a reaction if an enemy ends their turn within 5 feet of you, all while not provoking oppertunity attacks!

ABILITY SCORES

15; WISDOM - Rakan is all about the spirit of the wild and the subtle magic of nature. Wait Nature and Arcana are Intelligence skills? Uhhhhh... 

14; INTELLIGENCE - Rakan certainly doesn’t show that he’s smart but Nature and Arcana are Intelligence skills. That, and this is a requirement for a very particular class.

13; CHARISMA - A charmer of course needs to be charming. (Feel free to swap this with CON if you want more health but worse RP.)

12; DEXTERITY - Even if Rakan is normally shirtless this is enough for good ol’ Medium Armor thanks to our Racial stat increases.

10; CONSTITUTION - Even though Rakan plays up close and personal he’s certainly not a tank.

8; STRENGTH - You wouldn’t risk ruffling your feathers by doing heavy lifting.

BACKGROUND

While Rakan didn’t start out a rebel like Xayah he gladly joined her cause, and while a background like Entertainer might make more sense for him he’s without a doubt a Freedom Fighter now... unfortunately there’s no Freedom Fighter background so Faction Agent is the next best thing.

You get proficiency with any Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma ability and naturally we’ll be going for Performance. You also get proficiency in Insight but we’re actually going to be replacing it with Arcana for knowledge of the magic of the wild. Additionally you can learn two languages of your choice: unfortunately Aarakocra isn’t an option but Auran (or rather Primordial) is. And to learn the ancient language of Ionia I’d recommend Sylvan.

As a vastayan rebel you can gain access to a Safe Haven for you and your allies. By using secret signs and passwords you can identify other rebels who can bring you to a safe house, give you a free place to stay, or assist you in finding information. They won’t risk their lives for you but as long as you remember the password they’ll be willing to help. You... did remember the password, right?

(Artwork by Riot Games)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - CLERIC 1

Starting off as a Cleric, the king of supports. As a Cleric you get proficiency in two skills from the Cleric list: this is actually where we’ll be grabbing Insight proficiency from along with Medicine to keep Xayah safe.

Clerics get to choose their subclass at level 1 and there are obviously a lot of options to go for: Peace to bond with Xayah, War to better your battle dance, Nature or Arcana to further your connection to natural magic... Bet you wouldn’t expect the choice to be the Order Domain from Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica! (Also reprinted in Tasha’s Cauldron.) (I’ll go over why Order whenever we get abilities important to the build.)

For a start Order Clerics get proficiency in Heavy Armor as well as either Intimidation or Persuasion; Xayah’s got the scary part down so go for Persuasion, since someone’s gotta be the smooth talker! You also get Voice of Authority, letting you set up for an ally with a Grand Entrance. If you cast a spell with a spell slot and target an ally they can use their reaction to make one weapon attack against a creature of your choice. You have to be able to see the enemy you want them to target, and if you target multiple allies with a spell only one of them can use their reaction to attack. But setting up for friends to cut through foes is what you do best!

Speaking of spells and set-up Clerics get access to Spellcasting! You can learn three cantrips at level 1: for a Gleaming Quill grab Sacred Flame which does Radiant damage (not Fire damage!) to a foe. If you’re getting surrounded however Word of Radiance will let you shine on your foes for more Radiant damage! And to be a good support and help your allies out of combat Guidance lets you add a d4 to ability checks.

You can also prepare a number of spells equal to your Wisdom modifier plus your Cleric level. As an Order Domain Cleric you have Heroism and Command as part of your Domain Spells, meaning that you don’t have to prepare to be the hero and force your enemies in line. For a close range heal look no further than Cure Wounds. For a shield grab Shield of Faith to make it harder for enemies to kill your allies. And to set up for your friends grab Bless, making it easier for them to hit and survive.

LEVEL 2 - CLERIC 2

Second level Clerics can Channel Divinity once per short or long rest, invoking the power of the gods to help them. All Clerics can Turn Undead, forcing undead within 30 feet to make a Wisdom save or run away from you. However Order Clerics can charm their foes with Order’s Demand. You can charm (yes charm!) anyone of your choice within 30 feet until the end of your next turn, or until they take damage. Additionally you can force them to drop whatever they’re holding so they don’t shoot Xayah!

This is one of the many abilities I wanted out of Order Domain. A big AoE charm that also stops enemies from hitting you and your friends is right up Rakan’s alley.

You can also prepare another spell and while Rakan doesn’t have a ranged heal in-game Healing Word is just too good to pass up on as an Order Cleric. Bonus action let your friend whack an enemy!

LEVEL 3 - WIZARD 1

Didn’t take Rakan as the bookish type, did you? Well, he isn’t, but we need some abilities from Wizard that we can’t get elsewhere except Clockwork Sorcerer which makes even less sense for Rakan. Regardless Wizards also get Spellcasting. You learn 3 cantrips from the Wizard list: for a more direct autoattack grab Firebolt because I like having a variety of damaging cantrips, to add some pizzazz to your dance Prestidigitation will let you add a bunch of funky visual effects as you please, and for some coordination in Team Chat grab Message! "Did you notice the sky?" "It's lovely." "Not as beautiful as you."

You can prepare a number of spells equal to your Wizard level plus your Intelligence modifier, but when you multiclass into Wizard you can learn 4 spells to put in your spellbook. You can only prepare spells in your spellbook is the long-and-short of the class. Anyways: to bedazzle your foes grab Color Spray and blind them with your beauty. For a little owl companion take Find Familiar. To run when you need to Expeditious Retreat will help. And finally to detect the magic of the world take... Detect Magic...

Wizards also have Arcane Recovery, letting them recover a spell slots of a combined level equal to half their Wizard level rounded down. In short every spell slot counts the same number of “points” as the spell’s level, and you can recover a number of spell points equal to half your Wizard level. So a third level Wizard can either recover a 2nd level spell or two 1st level spells. Oh and you can’t recover spell slots past 5th level.

LEVEL 4 - WIZARD 2

Second level Wizards can choose their Arcane Tradition, and to protect yourself with Fey Feathers the School of Abjuration is here for you. Along with being an Abjuration Savant (letting you learn Abjuration spells in half the time for half the cost) you have an Arcane Ward to shield you: when you cast a leveled Abjuration spell you can also create a magical ward on yourself that lasts until you finish a long rest. The ward has a hit point maximum equal to twice your Wizard level plus your Intelligence modifier. (So currently 6 HP.)

Whenever you take damage, the ward takes the damage instead. If the damage reduces the ward to 0 hit points, you take any remaining damage. Whenever you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, the ward regains a number of hit points equal to twice the level of the spell.

You also learn 2 more spells so how about some Abjuration spells? Shield is a reaction Abjuration spell to protect you from melee attacks, while Absorb Elements is a reaction Abjuration spell to protect you from magic. AR and MR!

(Artist unknown. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 5 - WIZARD 3

3rd level Wizards can learn second level spells but I’d actually suggest learning Alarm back at 1st level. Why Alarm? It’s an Abjuration spell you can cast as a Ritual, so you can just cast it continuously to refresh your Arcane Ward even without preparing the spell. For your other spell Mirror Image is a quick and easy way to keep the baddies from whacking you.

LEVEL 6 - WIZARD 4

4th level Wizards get an Ability Score Improvement but I’m actually going to suggest the Observant feat to increase your uneven Wisdom score. Every Support’s gotta pay attention to their wards!

You can also learn another two spells along with a cantrip: take Dancing Lights to set up a stage! As for spells you’re the loud and proud sort so to make a Grand Entrance grab Knock to make way for your party! Meanwhile if you want to keep yourself and your allies safe from ranged harm Warding Wind will do just that and more, but it will also make it harder for Xayah to hit. "What the hell were you thinking?" "Back there?" "Yes." "I wasn't. I never think. Ugh... thinking."

LEVEL 7 - WIZARD 5

5th level Wizards can learn third level spells so it’s time to grab our first mass charm: Hypnotic Pattern, which isn’t an Enchantment spell but in fact an Illusion spell (which will be important later.) If you want to get down with The Quickness however there’s nothing better than some good old-fashioned Haste.

LEVEL 8 - WIZARD 6

6th level Abjuration Wizards can finally protect their party and their girlfriend thanks to Projected Ward, letting you use your reaction to reduce the damage an ally takes with your Arcane Ward. “Thank you honey!”

You can also learn two more spells from the Wizard spell list. Xayah need to call someone? Help her with Sending. Want to go full AP for the traditional D&D Grand Entrance? Fireball.

(Artwork by Riot Games)

LEVEL 9 - CLERIC 3

We’ve spent enough time down in Nerdsville so how about some more Cleric levels? Third level Clerics can prepare second level spells like Aid to boost up your teammates with a Knight’s Vow. Speaking of Knight’s Vow Warding Bond will let you bond with Xayah so you take some damage for her.

Additionally as an Order Domain Cleric you have Hold Person and Zone of Truth innately prepared. Keep enemies at bay and let them know the truth!

LEVEL 10 - CLERIC 4

4th level Clerics get an Ability Score Improvement and I’m going to suggest further increasing your Wisdom, as it’ll help us more with our Cleric abilities which will be important later.

You also learn another cantrip such as Mending to keep your outfit in check. Additionally you can prepare two new spells with your increased Wisdom: Lesser Restoration can give you or Xayah some Tenacity when needed, but I’d suggest holding off on the other slot.

LEVEL 11 - CLERIC 5

5th level Clerics who use Turn Undead now Destroy Undead of CR 1/2 or lower. It’s unlikely that you’ll be fighting CR 1/2 enemies at level 11 but hey: it’s still useful!

What’s more useful however is that you can now prepare third level spells! As an Order Cleric you have Mass Healing Word for Redemption, or Slow to... slow the enemy. Maybe you grabbed Righteous Glory? Who knows.

Regardless the important thing is your charms so grab Fast Friends to charm single targets and Incite Greed to get a whole crowd to follow your Fey Feathers!

You may be asking why we’re grabbing Enchantment Spells of all the spells that Clerics get a third level. Well for one it’s because you’re The Charmer, but more importantly...

LEVEL 12 - CLERIC 6

At 6th level you become an Embodiment of the Law as an Order Domain Cleric. The law of dance that is! If you cast an Enchantment spell of first level or higher you can choose to make that spell a bonus action instead, and can do it a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier. You regain these fast charms after a long rest.

This was the main reason I went into Order Domain. Being able to quickly charm foes is textbook for Rakan, which made this subclass ideal for this build.

You can also prepare another spell at this level: Dispel Magic with Mikael's Crucible in case of any strong debuffs. Also more Abjuration spells for your shield!

(Artwork by Yusuh on DeviantArt. You have no idea how hard it is to find solo artwork for these two.)

LEVEL 13 - WIZARD 7

7th level Wizards can learn 4th level spells like Confusion; something that fills my allies whenever I take Rakan into the jungle. For your other spell I’d actually suggest hopping back to third level for Counterspell to keep your allies safe with more Abjuration. Trust me it’ll be important later.

LEVEL 14 - WIZARD 8

At 8th level you get an Ability Score Improvement and despite being a Wizard we’ve kinda been ignoring Intelligence: let’s fix that with a +2 so our Ward can be stronger as can our Wizard spells.

You can also learn two new spells: more Charms? Charm Monster, so even the mighty Volibear can’t resist you. Other than that there are tons of great Wizard spells but I’m never going to say no to Dimension Door.

LEVEL 15 - WIZARD 9

9th level Wizards can cast 5th level spells like Dominate Person for charms on-par with mind control! (Because it is Mind Control.) For more combative 5th level spells Synaptic Status will let you bedazzle everyone in a 20 foot radius sphere, making it harder to hit as they’re stunned by your beauty. Rakan can have some AP; as a treat.

LEVEL 16 - WIZARD 10

10th level Abjuration Wizards get Improved Abjuration, letting them add their proficiency bonus to any ability check to Dispel Magic (such as with Dispel Magic or Counterspell.) If you wish you can also have Bless active on yourself for a d4 + 5 to any counterspell check. When you consider that the DC is equal to 10 plus the spell’s level and you have up to a +9 to the check it’s more than likely that you can be a Guardian against any dangerous spells!

You also get another cantrip at this level: do you already have too many cantrips? Yeah probably, but to get more props for your dance take Minor Illusion.

As for your two new Wizard spells Hold Monster is like Hold Person, but it works on Baron! And how about something to keep Zoe in her dimension? Banishment is a 4th level spell that works like a super CC that knocks an enemy out of the fight completely. You can’t attack them while they’re on another plane, but if they’re not native to the plane and spend a full minute Banished they go back to their original plane.

(Artwork by Riot Games)

LEVEL 17 - WIZARD 11

11th Wizards can prepare 6th level spells. Want to keep Xayah safe from a falling temple and shadow ninjas? Globe of Invulnerability blocks all spells of one level lower than you used to cast the spell. In general. The globe surrounds you but you can dive in to protect Xayah. But what if you just want to dance? Look no further than Otto's Irresistible Dance! It’s a spell that forces everyone to dance; that’s all you need to know! But seriously read the description of your spells.

LEVEL 18 - WIZARD 12

12th level Wizards get another Ability Score Improvement: seeing as we are going deep down the Wizard path it only makes sense to get a bit more Intelligence.

You can also learn 2 more spells: Contingency will let you cast a spell in case of emergency. Choose a spell of 5th level or lower that can target yourself and a trigger for the spell: when the trigger happens the spell activates. Backup plans are more of Xayah’s thing, but something like “Banish myself if I’m about to die because Xayah would kill herself if I died” is a good plan.

There are tons of other good Wizard spells; so many that I can’t choose any that would particularly fit Rakan or the build as a whole. You have a limited number of prepared spells anyways so take something you think will be useful.

LEVEL 19 - WIZARD 13

13th level Wizards can prepare 7th level spells: want to do a conjoined recall? Teleport will let you and up to 8 willing creates teleport to a location, such as your fountain. There’s a table of places you can end up which I suggest looking at for the full details of the spell, because it’s a rather overwhelming spell to explain without copy-pasting the description. But because I further suffer with what spells to give you in a high leveled Wizard build how about a fancy light show? Crown of Stars lets seven stars orbit your head which you can shoot out at enemies or light up the night!

LEVEL 20 - WIZARD 14

Our capstone is the 14th level of Abjuration Wizard for some much needed MR. Spell Resistance lets you resist all damage coming from spells and have advantage on all saving throws against spells!

Speaking of spells you can learn your final two but... pick for yourself this time! Xayah will love you despite all your faults, and I’m sure that you can make a choice for yourself. This is my way of saying I’m sick of picking Wizard spells.

FINAL BUILD

PROS

You will see my dance - You are the master of keeping your friends safe with charms to keep fights from happening and both shields and heals to keep your allies from being hurt.

Look at me now! - You are incredibly elusive: 18 AC (Scale Mail + Shield) you can bump up with the Shield spell, a 32 HP ward to protect you and your allies, and even Shifting for Temp HP and more dodging.

You put us in a cage? I put you in the ground - And of course as a caster with full caster levels you are more than capable of putting down the hurt, especially due to the added efficiency of being able to cast two spells in a turn (well a leveled spell and a cantrip) thanks to Embodiment of the Law.

CONS

I don't have to remember the plan if you do - You are essentially mixing two spellcasters who want you to use extremely dedicated spell lists. Abjuration spells to make Abjuration Wizard work and Enchantment Spells to make Order Cleric work. Sure you don’t only need to cast Enchantment and Abjuration spells but there also aren’t that many Abjuration spells to power up your ward.

I can't die looking this good! - The vast majority of your levels being in Wizard combined with a 0 Constitution score results in a health bar that’s easily under 100. You may have advantage on all saving throws but Power Word Kill has no save.

Woo! You animals are dumb! - The other problem with mixing two full casters together is that you can’t get the best of both worlds. You aren’t getting 9th level spells in general (even if you get the slots for ‘em) and both your Wisdom and your Intelligence aren’t maxed out. Sure if you aren’t using Standard Array that isn’t an issue but you’re bound to drop something.

But if you were perfect why would you need Xayah? She completes you, and you complete her. Fight along side her and together you’ll be unstoppable. There’s nothing you can’t defeat with the power of love... But a plan would also probably be good. "I think Xayah told me to improvise. At least, that's the only part of the plan I remember."

(Artwork by Riot Games)

[mattprivettwrites]

The best songs of the 1970s

“What started out as a joke has turned into a disaster!” - Stu Nahan, Rocky IV

So my employment has me in my car a lot, which means I’m listening to the radio a lot. If I’m not listening to a podcast or baseball game through my phone I also have SiriusXM, which of course has a plethora of musical options. I gravitate to the 70s and 80s channels because, well, of course I do.

Something else about me you may or may not know is that I love ranking things. I have a Note on my phone I’m regularly accessing that is nothing but different types of rankings. 

Thus, you can imagine my excitement when the 70s on 7 station announced a listener-voted Top 700 Songs of the 70s countdown over Labor Day weekend. It was a fun listen. They went through it twice over the four day weekend, and I was laboring much so I heard much.

It prompted me to think: What are my top seventy songs of the 70s? Surely I wasn’t going to come up with a top 700. After all, some in that list were real stinkers. But seventy? No problem. And indeed, it wasn’t hard to come up with that many songs. The hard part was narrowing it down. And once I did, there were still so many songs on my list I had enough for more lists, so I expanded it to 140, then 210, and... well...

I’m about to give you the authoritative list of the 350 best songs of the 1970s. I originally put out a Top 70 list on Facebook a few weeks ago. Much that of that list remains the same, with a few changes. But now there is much more. I’ve divided these into five “volumes” of seventy songs. They are my picks, but I welcome your feedback, because what’s a good set of rankings without debate and discussion.

Vol. 1 (1–70)

Chicago - “25 or 6 to 4”

Billy Joel - “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”

The Doobie Brothers - “What a Fool Believes”

Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Boston - “More Than a Feeling”

Elton John & Kiki Dee - “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”

Gerry Rafferty - “Baker Street”

ABBA - “Waterloo”

Don McLean - “American Pie”

The Eagles - “Take It to the Limit”

Fleetwood Mac - “The Chain”

Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Free Bird”

Billy Joel - “Until the Night”

Looking Glass - “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”

Stevie Wonder - “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”

Elton John - “Philadelphia Freedom”

The Bee Gees - “Stayin’ Alive”

The Knack - “My Sharona”

Derek & The Dominos - “Layla”

Chicago - “Just You ’N’ Me”

The Emotions - “Best of My Love”

Jefferson Starship - “Miracles”

Aerosmith - “Dream On”

Joe Cocker - “You Are So Beautiful”

The Who - “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

Carly Simon - “You’re So Vain”

Electric Light Orchestra - “Livin’ Thing”

The Rolling Stones - “Beast of Burden”

Queen - “We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions”

Billy Joel - “My Life”

Journey - “Lights”

Toto - “Hold the Line”

Michael Jackson - “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough”

Pilot - “Magic”

Bruce Springsteen - “Born to Run”

Led Zeppelin - “Stairway to Heaven”

Styx - “Babe”

Stevie Wonder - “Sir Duke”

Orleans - “Still the One”

Samantha Sang - “Emotion”

Foreigner - “Feels Like the First Time”

ABBA - “Dancing Queen”

The Four Seasons - “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)”

Marvin Gaye - “Trouble Man”

The Spinners - “Rubberband Man”

Kansas - “Carry On Wayward Son”

The Jackson 5 - “I Want You Back”

Chicago - “If You Leave Me Now”

Bill Withers - “Ain’t No Sunshine”

Earth, Wind, & Fire - “Shining Star”

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta - “You’re the One That I Want”

Yvonne Ellman - “If I Can’t Have You”

Fleetwood Mac - “Don’t Stop”

Billy Joel - “Just the Way You Are”

The Eagles - “I Can’t Tell You Why”

Free - “All Right Now”

Kenny Rogers - “The Gambler”

The Bee Gees - “Night Fever”

Player - “Baby Come Back”

The Ides of March - “Vehicle”

David Bowie - “Starman”

The Five Stairsteps - “O-O-H Child”

Carole King - “I Feel the Earth Move”

Elton John - “My Father’s Gun”

Jefferson Starship - “Jane”

Stevie Wonder - “Higher Ground”

Electric Light Orchestra - “Mr. Blue Sky”

Seals & Croft - “Summer Breeze”

The Temptations - “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”

Chicago - “Old Days”

——

Vol. 2 (71–140)

The Who - “Baba O’Riley”

The Eagles - “Hotel California”

Billy Joel - “Prelude/Angry Young Man”

Aerosmith - “Walk This Way”

The Four Seasons - “Who Loves You”

Gerry Rafferty - “Right Down the Line”

Chicago - “Make Me Smile”

The Bee Gees - “Too Much Heaven”

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - “Old Time Rock and Roll”

Elton John - “Your Song”

Earth, Wind, & Fire - “September”

Queen - “Somebody to Love”

Paul McCartney & Wings - “Live and Let Die”

The Village People - “Y.M.C.A.”

James Taylor - “Fire and Rain”

Led Zeppelin - “Whole Lotta Love”

The Spinners - “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love”

Three Dog Night - “Joy to the World”

Jim Croce - “I Got a Name”

Billy Joel - “Stiletto”

The Jackson 5 - “ABC”

Styx - “Come Sail Away”

Dobie Gray - “Drift Away”

Ozark Mountain Daredevils - “Jackie Blue”

Stevie Wonder - “I Wish”

Credence Clearwater Revival - “Up Around the Bend”

The Hollies - “Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)”

Daryl Hall & John Oates - “Rich Girl”

Elton John - “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”

KISS - “Rock and Roll All Nite”

Fleetwood Mac - “Go Your Own Way”

Carl Douglas - “Kung Fu Fighting”

Steve Miller Band - “Jet Airliner”

Chicago - “Saturday in the Park”

Led Zeppelin - “Immigrant Song”

The Beatles - “Let It Be”

Three Dog Night - “An Old Fashioned Love Song”

Bad Company - “Can’t Get Enough”

Grand Funk Railroad - “We’re an American Band”

The Bee Gees - “More Than a Woman”

The Charlie Daniels Band - “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

The Doobie Brothers - “Listen to the Music” 

Black Sabbath - “Iron Man”

Chic - “Good Times”

Billy Joel - “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”

Harry Chapin - “Cat’s in the Cradle”

The Bay City Rollers - “Saturday Night”

Elton John - Bennie and the Jets”

K.C. & The Sunshine Band - “That’s the Way (I Like It)”

Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Sweet Home Alabama”

Carole King - “It’s Too Late”

The O’Jays - “Love Train”

Billy Joel - “Piano Man”

Foreigner - “Double Vision”

Chicago - “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day”

Peaches & Herb - “Reunited”

Deep Purple - “Smoke on the Water”

Wild Cherry - “Play That Funky Music”

Marvin Gaye - “I Want You”

Orleans - “Dance With Me”

Earth, Wind, & Fire - “After the Love Has Gone”

Van Halen - “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love”

Paul McCartney & Wings - “My Love”

Little River Band - “Lonesome Loser”

Stevie Wonder - “Isn’t She Lovely?”

Steely Dan - “Reelin’ in the Years”

Cheap Trick - “Surrender”

The Sugarhill Gang - “Rapper’s Delight”

Maxine Nightingale - “Right Back Where We Started From”

The Who - “Who Are You”

——

Vol. 3 (141–210)

Gloria Gaynor - “I Will Survive”

Led Zeppelin - “Kashmir”

Chicago - “Baby, What a Big Surprise”

Sister Sledge - “We Are Family”

Jackson Browne - “Running on Empty”

Olivia Newton John - “Hopelessly Devoted to You”

Vicki Sue Robinson - “Turn the Beat Around”

Billy Joel - “Big Shot”

Starland Vocal Band - “Afternoon Delight”

Rupert Holmes - “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”

Queen - “Don’t Stop Me Now”

Andrea True Connection - “More More More”

The Guess Who - “American Woman”

The Doobie Brothers - “Black Water”

Paul McCartney & Wings - “Band on the Run”

Stevie Wonder - “Superstition”

Elton John - “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”

James Taylor - “Your Smiling Face”

The Rolling Stones - “Miss You”

Chicago - “Beginnings”

Bachman-Turner Overdrive - “Let It Ride”

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - “We’ve Got Tonight”

Styx - “Lady”

Three Dog Night - “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)”

Journey - “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’”

Foreigner - “Cold As Ice”

10cc - “I’m Not in Love”

Credence Clearwater Revival - “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”

K.C. & The Sunshine Band - “Get Down Tonight”

Billy Joel - “Summer Highland Falls”

The Delfonics - “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”

Electric Light Orchestra - “Don’t Bring Me Down”

The Bee Gees - “How Deep Is Your Love”

Ike & Tina Turner - “Proud Mary”

Elton John - “Levon”

The Doobie Brothers - “Long Train Runnin’”

Seals & Croft - “Diamond Girl”

Redbone - “Come and Get Your Love”

Kenny Loggins - “This Is It”

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - “Blinded By the Light”

Roberta Flack - “Killing Me Softly With His Song”

Paul McCartney & Wings - “With a Little Luck”

The Bellamy Brothers - “Let Your Love Flow”

The Carpenters - “Superstar”

Blue Oyster Cult - “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

Stevie Wonder - “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”

Eddie Money - “Baby Hold On”

Ted Nugent - “Cat Scratch Fever”

The Eagles - “Best of My Love”

The Four Tops - “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”

Chicago - “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

Chairmen of the Board - “Give Me Just a Little More Time”

The Cars - “Just What I Needed”

Queen - “You’re My Best Friend”

Thelma Houston - “Don’t Leave Me This Way”

Heart - “Barracuda”

Isaac Hayes - “Theme from Shaft”

Daryl Hall & John Oates - “She’s Gone”

Rod Stewart - “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)”

Billy Joel - “She’s Got a Way”

The Hues Corporation - “Rock the Boat”

Steve Miller Band - “Fly Like an Eagle”

Thin Lizzy - “Jailbreak”

Supertramp - “Give a Little Bit”

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”

America - “Sister Golden Hair”

Pure Prairie League - “Amie”

The Temptations - “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)”

Prince - “I Wanna Be Your Lover”

Van Halen - “Eruption / You Really Got Me”

——

Vol. 4 (211–280)

Led Zeppelin - “When the Levee Breaks”

The Clash - “London Calling”

Chicago - “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long”

KISS - “Detroit Rock City”

Bobby Womack - “Across 110th Street”

Bad Company - “Feel Like Makin’ Love”

Billy Joel - “I’ve Loved These Days”

Jim Croce - “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”

Aerosmith - “Sweet Emotion”

Ace - “How Long”

James Taylor - “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”

The Chi-Lites - “Oh Girl”

Frank Mills - “Music Box Dancer”

Amii Stewart - “Knock on Wood”

ABBA - “Take a Chance on Me”

Grand Funk Railroad - “Some Kind of Wonderful”

Elton John - “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”

Fleetwood Mac - “Dreams”

The Sweet - “Fox on the Run”

Herb Alpert - “Rise”

The Eagles - “The Long Run”

K.C. & The Sunshine Band - “Boogie Shoes”

Marvin Gaye - “What’s Going On”

Todd Rundgren - “Hello, It’s Me”

Black Sabbath - “Paranoid”

Paul McCartney - “Maybe I’m Amazed”

The Rolling Stones - “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)”

Boston - “Don’t Look Back”

Billy Joel - “Streetlife Serenader”

Journey - “Wheel in the Sky”

Poco - “Crazy Love”

Blondie - “Heart of Glass”

James Gang - “Funk #49”

Kansas - “Dust in the Wind”

Kenny Loggins & Stevie Nicks - “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’”

Steely Dan - “Do It Again”

Natalie Cole “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”

Billy Preston - “Outa-Space”

Boz Skaggs - “Lido Shuffle”

Leo Sayer - “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”

Alicia Bridges - “I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)”

10cc - “The Things We Do For Love”

America - “Ventura Highway”

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - “Tears of a Clown”

Donna Summer - “Hot Stuff”

Edgar Winter Group - “Free Ride”

Chicago - “Wishing You Were Here”

The Jackson 5 - “The Love You Save”

Carly Simon - “Nobody Does It Better”

Parliament - “Flashlight”

T. Rex - “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”

Ohio Players - “Love Rollercoaster”

Chuck Mangione - “Feels So Good”

Jackson Browne - “Doctor My Eyes”

The Eagles - “Take It Easy”

The Ramones - “Blitzkrieg Bop”

Seals & Croft - “Get Closer”

Queen - “Killer Queen”

Carol Douglas - “Doctor’s Orders”

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - “Her Strut”

Billy Joel - “Vienna”

Average White Band - “Pick Up the Pieces”

James Taylor - “Handy Man”

Thin Lizzy - “The Boys Are Back in Town”

Walter Murphy - “A Fifth of Beethoven”

Three Dog Night - “Shambala”

The Three Degrees - “When Will I See You Again”

Jim Croce - “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”

The Commodores - “Machine Gun”

Led Zeppelin - “The Song Remains the Same”

——

Vol. 5 (281–350)

Bachman-Turner Overdrive - “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”

Billy Joel - “Miami 2017 (I’ve Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)”

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - “Still the Same”

Al Green - “Let’s Stay Together”

ABBA - “S.O.S.”

The Cars - “Let’s Go”

Ted Nugent - “Stranglehold”

Elton John - “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time)”

Styx - “Renegade”

Eddie Rabbitt - “Every Which Way But Loose”

Alice Cooper - “No More Mr. Nice Guy”

Daryl Hall & John Oates - “Sara Smile”

Chicago - “Lowdown”

Love Unlimited Orchestra - “Love’s Theme”

Rod Stewart - “Maggie May”

Paul Simon - “Slip, Slidin’ Away”

Robert Palmer - “Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)”

MFSB - “The Sound of Philadelphia”

Ambrosia - “How Much I Feel”

Electric Light Orchestra - “Evil Woman”

Bruce Springsteen - “Thunder Road”

ZZ Top - “La Grange”

Gino Vannelli - “I Just Wanna Stop”

Gilbert O’Sullivan - “Alone Again (Naturally)”

Fleetwood Mac - “Say You Love Me”

The Doobie Brothers - “Rockin’ Down the Highway”

Golden Earring - “Radar Love”

Ram Jam - “Black Betty”

The Eagles - “One of These Nights”

Meco - “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band”

Billy Joel - “Honesty”

The Bee Gees - “Tragedy”

Queen - “Stone Cold Crazy”

Chic - “Everybody Dance”

Bread - “Everything I Own”

Olivia Newton John - “A Little More Love”

The Trammps - “Disco Inferno”

Neil Sedaka - “Laughter in the Rain”

Marvin Gaye - “Got to Give It Up”

B.J. Thomas - “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”

The Village People - “In the Navy”

King Harvest - “Dancing in the Moonlight”

Ohio Players - “Fire”

Nicolette Larson - “Lotta Love”

Main Ingredient - “Everybody Plays the Fool”

Barry White - “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”

The Kinks - “Everybody’s A Star”

Michael Jackson - “Ben”

Elton John - “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”

Dionne Warwick & The Spinners - “Then Came You”

Nazareth - “Love Hurts”

Eric Carmen - “All By Myself”

Foreigner - “Hot Blooded”

Bobby Caldwell - “What You Won’t Do For Love”

Foghat - “Slow Ride”

Andy Kim - “Rock Me Gently”

Cheryl Lynn - “Got to Be Real”

Captain & Tennille - “Love Will Keep Us Together”

The Miracles - “Love Machine”

Blondie - “One Way or Another”

Elvin Bishop - “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”

Leo Sayer - “When I Need You”

Little River Band - “Reminiscing”

Hudson Brothers - “So You Are A Star”

Exile - “Kiss You All Over”

Mountain - “Mississippi Queen”

Heat Wave - “Groove Line”

Sugarloaf - “Don’t Call Us (We’ll Call You)”

Hot Butter - “Popcorn”

ABBA - “Mamma Mia”

[theramseyloft]

Hello! I was wondering what sort of requirements pigeons would have and the whole breeds thing. (Sorry long ask) How much room would a pidge need? Like cage size and also, how would one go about excersizing them? Do you reccomend letting them fly free for the day and come back at night? Would they possibly get hurt or catch a disease/parasites out there? Are they expensive to keep? And what breeds are the most friendly/affectionate? Thank you :) 1/2

You know how some dogs have been bred to look nice but have a multitude of health problems (ie pug, chihuahua, great dane ,dachshund ect) does that happen in pigeons too? And if so, how does one know which might be genetically predisposed to getting problems later on or just generally wont have the best quality of life? 2/2

Whuf!

These are really broad questions. I’ll have to break them down and answer ne at a time, so I apologize in advance for the length of time it will take me to get this ask out.

“How much room would a pidge need? Like cage size...”

Pigeon breeds range in size from the tiny Valencian Figurita and Portuguese tumblers (vying constantly to be the worlds smallest breed) to the literally chicken sized Giant Runt.

So the amount of space required depends on the breed’s size and energy level.

Homers are about the average.

Here is an old picture from before the loft’s redesign of two of my breeding pair in their pens.

These are labrador sized dog crates, outfitted with a rabbit’s corner litter pan as a nest box and a garden stake cut to length as a perch.

Pigeons need flat perches because they are cliff nesters. Round ones like branches or dowels hurt their feet.

If yours is going to be a house pet, the cage should be what a crate is for dogs: A safe place to sleep or wait for you to get home until it learns the house rules.

Pigeons are intensely social birds that are happiest with the freedom of motion to come see you when they want, and go occupy themselves when they don’t want company.

The nice thing about pigeons is that they don;t need to be all over you all the time. They are independent enough to go do their own thing, but want to be able to come check on or spend time with you.

Which dovetails nicely into your next question: “how would one go about exercising them?”

A pigeon allowed to free range indoors will exercise themself plenty.

If you cannot let them free range the entire house, letting them out in your bedroom while you are home will be fine for most breeds.

“Do you reccomend letting them fly free for the day and come back at night?”

Absolutely not!

“Would they possibly get hurt or catch a disease/parasites out there?”

That possibly could be turned all the way up to a guarantee.

Performance breeds like racers, rollers, and tumblers are over bred to make up for the losses during training flights from inclement weather getting a bird lost, hawks snatching them out of the air, and diseases picked up from wild birds and brought back.

“Are they expensive to keep?”

After the initial cost for set up and the vet check to make sure they don’t have parasites and aren’t ill, the upkeep for a few is shockingly cheap.

You can get a lab sized kennel for $50-70. If you want an even bigger space, Great Dane kennels are about $80.

You can buy a wooden garden stake from pretty much any hardware store for about $5.

The bunny corner box is not required if you aren’t breeding. Pigeons will just as happily use a dollar store dog bowl to nest in.

My vet bill for a new bird is $70: $35 for the exotics wellness exam, $20 for a throat swab, and $15 for a fecal test.

I expected feral and lost birds to have lice, worms, parasites, and infections, but was floored when every single show bird I ever purchased from breeders did too!

You’re better off in the long run assuming something needs to be healed, cleaned out, or cleared up and just finding out from the vet as soon as they get there what needs treating.

Clear it out then, and an inside bird is pretty well set.

You can buy 50lbs of feed for $20 at Tractor supply.

And 50lbs of calcium supplements for $11.

I have 36 pigeons and 2 ringneck doves right now, so 50lbs lasts me a little over a week.

But a single bird will eat off of that for over half a year.

“And what breeds are the most friendly/affectionate?”

Most of the Exhibition breeds are pretty friendly, but from most to least kennel space, here are the ones I have enjoyed the most hands on:

Utility kings

These are the size of chickens and will need a LOT of flight time. 

They are a meat breed, so they are genetically predisposed to docility, but also obesity.

They do best free roaming the house full time. It’s really hard to find a cage big enough to comfortably accommodate them.

Giant Homers

Utility kings are a squabbing breed, designed for constant production of big squabs, so they are more bird-shaped than the Giant Homer, which was bred to be eaten as an adult, and then for the aesthetic of a fat round bird.

Like the Utility King, Giant Homers are known for their mellow, gentle temperaments. But after having worked with them for a few years, it seems mostly to be that they are simply too big and heavy to evade effectively, and they know it.

Along with being prone to obesity, their sheer weight puts tremendous pressure on their feet and they can develop huge, painful calluses.

I like my mixes better than their purebred parents, because they inherited the temperament with out the bulk that causes painful or dangerous health issues.

Lahore

Named for the city in Pakistan where they were developed, the Lahore is a huge, gorgeous bird. 

Their wing span more then the size of their actual body makes them difficult to cage, so it’s best they have the run of at least a bedroom.

these are laid back and mellow, but not exactly touch me birds. If one gets on your shoulder or in your lap, feel honored.

Frillbacks

For the same reason as the Lahore, Frillbacks can be difficult to pen indoors. 

An individual can be happy in a Great Dane sized kennel, but frankly won’t fit comfortably into anything smaller.

These are very laid back, not especially flighty, and quite friendly. Young birds are very much cuddle bugs, and the individual pictured still comes up to me to nurse between my fingers.

No known associated health issues, but individuals with especially long muffs can stay especially still because the shaft of the feather under the skin of their feet is bigger around than the bones of their toes, making walking painful.

Show standards require large muffs, so it can be hard to find them with muffs like Bean’s here.

There is one breeder that raises hers with short muffs and entirely clean legged. I’ll be happy to link you.

Voorburg Shield Cropper

These leggy, slender birds are a pain to house because of their height, but the only breed I know of with points taken off in the show standard if they are not friendly enough to try to court the judges.

This sweet flamboyant temperament makes them an absolute delight to work with!

These are the first on the list with no known health issues associated with the breed.

Show Type Racing homer

This is an elegant exhibition breed, easy to house in the example set up we discussed at the beginning of the ask.

They are bulkier than racing homers or flying type show homers, VERY tightly feathered.

This is a wonderfully sweet tempered breed that tends not to be especially flighty. 

Some of that is due to the sheer bulk of its musculature, but most of it does genuinely seem to be temperament.

Old Dutch Capuchine 

These have a reputation for being docile, but I have found them to be quite flighty.

Mixes incorporating this breed, though, tend to be quite bold and out going.

Racing Homer

This is the most commonly available pigeon breed.

Bred for endurance racing, this is a very high energy bird that needs a LOT of time out of the pen to fly. 

They have the strongest immune system and highest intelligence of any of the pure breeds.

though some individuals can be hair-trigger flighty, this breed is keenly intelligent and highly curious, and those individuals can learn to overcome their flightiness if their handler can learn to be aware enough of their comfort levels not to startle them with too-quick motion.

Lucerne Peak Crest

Named, like the Lahore, after the city in Switzerland where the breed was developed.

The Lucerne is an extremely temperature hardy breed. 

It’s among what are called the Owl Breeds; small, compact breeds with short to mid length beaks, round faces, and large, round eyes.

Most of the owl breeds are mellow and sweet tempered, boldly curious, and not generally prone to be flighty.

Their beaks being a little short makes their nasal slit narrow and the opening to their sinuses wide, so small seeds like Millet can get stuck in the nasal cavity of some individuals.

Classic Old Frill

Oh, this is my favorite purebred.

The total pidge package: Small, friendly, shockingly beautiful, devoted parents. 

There is absolutely everything to love about this wonderful cuddle bug breed.

Nun

These are a gorgeous breed, often described as being friendly because they are not smart enough to be wary.

They are unspeakably awful parents, prone to literally treating their eggs like an especially large, uncomfortable poop.

Old German Owl

Another absolute delight of a charming little Owl breed.

These are as stubborn as they are sweet tempered, which can make them a really fun challenge to train.

These are cuddle bugs, for the most part. 

Chinese Owl

These are tiny little clouds that range from intensely curious and strongly treat motivated to absolute refusal to have anything to do with anything even remotely human shaped with very little in between. 

Small and easy to house.

Portuguese Tumbler

This is a tiny bird, not much taller than a conure.

They are bred purely for aerial performance, so this is a SUPER high energy breed that, like the racing homer, needs a LOT of out time.

They are very bold in their friendliness, eager to check up on you and steal a cheek-smooch before zooming off to resume doing their own thing.

Unfortunately, their breed standard requires their back toe not to touch the ground. They go on tippy toes when they are happy, excited, or relaxed, which makes something like a human hand or shoulder physically difficult to balance on, and there for uncomfortable to stand on.

So trying to pet one throws their balance and stresses them severely.

Mixes with stronger feet are thrilled to have the affectionate attention of human flock mates.

Valencian Figurita

The tiniest owl breed, currently just barely winning out over the Portuguese tumbler.

It’s known for its trapezoidal head shape and upright stance.

This is a bold, plucky little bird that in my experience loves shoulders. ^v^

They are bred a little too small, though, tending to only lay one egg to a clutch, with many dying in the shell with out space for the peep to develop.

Their hatchlings are often given to ringneck doves to foster.

“You know how some dogs have been bred to look nice but have a multitude of health problems (ie pug, chihuahua, great dane ,dachshund ect) does that happen in pigeons too?”

Oh, god, you would not believe the number of pigeon breeds that aren’t even bird shaped!

There are nearly twice as many severely distorted breeds as fit, bird shaped ones.

Check the Modern art Pigeons tag.

“And if so, how does one know which might be genetically predisposed to getting problems later on or just generally wont have the best quality of life?”

Pippin is a feral pigeon.

This is about the closest you can get to the base line natural shape of the species Columba livia.

The more pigeon-shaped the breed, the better.

Ferals are, genetically, a blend of the homers, rollers, and tumblers that survived getting lost on training tosses or during performances.

Here is Wilson, another purebred Racing homer.

Because this breed is designed to fly marathons literally hundreds of miles, it’s a lot more compact and muscular than Ferals and genuinely wild Rock Doves, who only need to fly as far as it takes to find enough to eat in a day.

The farther off this base line you go, the less physically fit the breed.

The American Fantail is an especially heinous train wreck.

Its chest is out thrust over its head, its neck curves parallel to its spine, and its head is propped up by its own tail feathers.

This pitiful creature is not just displaying.

Their skeleton is permanently stuck in that shape.

Parlor rollers are bred with a combination of neuromuscular defects that throw their balance when ever they flap their wings, sending them into a panic as they flail to right themselves.

Parlor Tumblers have a less severe version of the same group of deformities:

We talked about the Old dutch Capuchine above.

Jacobins are the extreme “modern” version of the ODC.

You could trim their feathers to clear their field of vision

But their very long necks tend to collapse into their shoulders with age.

The male Barb’s huge, wrinkled wattle and ceres block off their nasal passages and deform the eyelids so that they may not be able to fully close.

Cocks usually go blind with in three years, but that doesn’t matter to their breeders because their peak show and reproductive performance is between their first and second year of age.

The Short Faced Budapest’s show standard requires its eyes to telescope as much as possible.

Its eyes are literally bigger than its skull, and don;t fit in their sockets.

The eye lid is all that holds them in.

And some can’t fully close their eyes.

This is the Oriental Frill, also called the Modern Frill.

they have literally no beak.

Turbits have a longer head, but a nearly inverted beak.

These birds can;t feed their own young, and struggle to preen themselves.

Aaaand here is the Egyptian Moraslat 

This is a very typical attitude among breeders of these birds with extreme body shapes.

I also have a series on weird, but physically sound breeds, and would be happy to go more into those in another ask.

[mercurytail]

Knocked down a peck chapter two!

Chapter two is out! Please enjoy!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15591645/chapters/36199722

Chapter 2: Over the river and through the woods to the witch of the wilds we go!

As they make their way into the forest around Eichenwald, Hanzo resettles onto Jessie's hat after he is satisfied with the inflicted punishment. It is already very late and nearly impossible to see in the darkening woods. The moonlight is no longer enough to light their way.

“Think’ it’s best we huddle up and sleep til sunrise. We can head out in the morning.” Hanzo gives him a affirmative mental Hm’ and Jesse continues his blind trek through the forest til they find a haunting old german oak. Its gnarled branches sketched wide and jagged. Its trunk hollowed out through years of hibernating fauna slumbering within its safe confines. With his eye, Jesse can see the tree has a spirit of its own. It is ancient and wise, deeply rooted and a protector of this land. It had drawn them there, pulling them in subconsciously.

“A nemeton,” Hanzo widens his black eyes and bows his head nervously. Giving the temple its rightful respect.

Jesse swallows around the lump in his throat and walks forward through the veil of shadows under the tree. He kneels before its trunk; feeling the waves of magic it emanates. He opens his eyes and see the Spirits form in front of him; he does not raise his head.

Jesse feels emotion roll over him; of acceptance, love, and kindness. The spirit has granted them permission. Jesse droops with relief, then stands. Hanzo wills himself to calm.

The spirit is gone. Jesse walks around the trunk till he reaches a low branch and hoists himself up. Not wanting to fall off, Hanzo pumps himself up with a bit of confidence and flies on ahead; circling the trunk.

Jesse scales the tree just high enough to be out of reach from anything on the ground, but not enough to kill or injure him if the need to jump arises. He spreads his tarp blanket over a nook created by two twisting branches, making a hammock. He takes his tumpline and secures the tarp to the branches. He positions himself into the makeshift bedding and uses the remaining line to tie is waist tightly to the branches. With a sigh he relaxes and closes his eyes, feeling every join, muscle and bone moan with sweet relief.

Hanzo flies to him levitates briefly, hesitantly above him and then lands on his chest. The small feather lump looks around hoping to face his feet and back, Jesse, confused for a second raises an eyebrow, “Not gonna’ sleep?”

Hanzo stares at him a blank stare on his beady face. Even if he wanted to sleep, which he does, he is unsure of even how or where to, his new form is all unknown to him. He is only thankful flying has come easily enough. He bows his head at Jesse, “I am…,” scared (Hanzo Shimada does not fear easily, He has faced down many creatures and not even blinked an eye), scared of the height. Horrified that if he falls he may not respond in his confusion and die a swift death upon the ground. “I must not sleep alone in this unfamiliar form. I need somewhere secure so as not to fall while we are unconscious.” He turns his little head away, ashamed of his cowardice.

Jesse looks at his lover balled up on his chest, the sight of his lover with no remonance of his pride or self-assurance that is so synonymous with the man, makes his heart sink burning with fury and sorrow. He brings his hand up to cup the puff of feather, gently he brings him up and to his hair. He pulls his hair tie down just a bit and over his shoulder. “How about you nest in there? The strands will keep you bound and safe, you won’t fall and I already know you like the smell.” He grins in an effort to raise the mood.

Hanzo merely nods and walks forward clumsily. He pokes his head into the hair and loops under it, nestling in between Jesse’s neck and the tie. He’s tightly swaddled into place before Jesse sense him finally relax. Jesse looks up to the stars above, twinkling in the black sky.

It's all quiet except for the sounds of the night echoing around them. A buffeted roar of a distant waterfall blankets the night. The wind chases invisible spirits through the trees rustling the leaves. The night birds coo soft limericks off in the darkness as if to lull them to sleep.

“You okay?” Jesse breaks the silence.

Hanzo opens his eyes, contemplating the question. Truthfully; no he isn’t. He’s terrified, angry, Ashamed. For a man such as himself with all his pride and skill, to be so easily defeated. It leaves him hollow. “I am fine.” Hanzo says though not without pause.

Jesse frowns and turns his head just enough to nuzzle the bird. “We’ll fix this.” Hanzo turns his head in on himself hiding. “We’ll get you back, I’ll make sure of it.” Jesse reaches up and runs his finger along Hanzo’s head in an effort to comfort him. “I love you.”

He then turns back and closes his eyes for good.

Hanzo waits til his breathe has evened and slowed, “I love you too, Jesse.” Only then does a sorrowful squee escape into the night and a tear drips onto the strands below.

***

The next morning as the sun rays just peak from the horizon, Jesse frees himself from the tree and climbs down.Hanzo perches on his hat as he meets the ground. Both bow to the Nemeton; thankful for its protection and walk on, headed north toward their destination.

About an hour into their journey they meet a river. The waters are so clear the land looks to be cut by a winding sheet of glass.

Jesse crouches and places his hand in the rushing waters, “The undertow is too strong here, It’d pull me under as I got deeper. Might wanna’ walk on down stream a bit, find somewhere safer we can cross. well….I can cross. Hm.” He snickers.

Hanzo nips his ear and rolls his eyes, as best he can with his lid-less black beads. Jesse is correct however, he could very well fly across, he isn’t burdened with the need to traverse the waters in his current state.

Hanzo hovers up intending on crossing when he is hit with a rush of overwhelming exhaustion. He falters in his flight and drops a bit, Jesse reaches out to catch him, but he recovers before they touch. Tired, he returns to Jesse’s shoulder.

“You alright there?” Jesse askes worry clear in his voice.

“I am fine, just tired.” Hanzo admits

“Hmm,” Jesse hums thoughtfully and kneels down taking his satchel off and placing it on the ground. “well you haven't eaten yet and from what I know about hummingbirds; they eat a lot to keep themselves goin. I’m feeling peckish myself, so let's stop and eat.” Jesse goes about un-doing the flap of his bad and rummaging through it. He pulls out their spare deer jerky and a jar of Honey. He chomps down on a piece of jerky as he pulls out a thin empty medicine vile from the side pocket. He then half fills it with clear water and uses his lighter to heat it. Once it’s steaming he fills the remainder of the vile with honey and corks it, shaking to mix. Chewing on another strip of jerky he uncorks it and holds it up to Hanzo.

Hanzo eyes the vile of golden nectar, (He is hesitant, embarrassed at being so reliant and at having to be fed like a child) the smell is intoxicating. He wants it so badly. He turns his nose up and away stubbornly.

“Come on now, even like that you gotta’ eat.” Jesse positions the vile a bit closer. When Hanzo remains obstinate, he digs a hole into the soil and props the vile in it. “There, eat it if you want it.”

Appreciating the gesture; Hanzo gives in, he lands next to the vile and  leans in steeping his beak into the liquid and begins to lap it up. It’s sweet, but so satisfying. He feels relief at the first swallow, its everything his body needs.

They finish eating in silence. Jesse downs three more strips and stows away the vile for later. Hanzo feeling much better decides to hover rather than ride Jesse’s shoulder. They make their way down stream a bit til they meet a rough rocky area where Jesse crosses. Hanzo flies on ahead in the trees as they continue on their trek, gently tasting some of his new found freedom.

As the sun begins to crest in the sky it begins to darken and become clouded with thick grey balls of cotton; ready to burst. As the rain begins to fall they come to a clearing.

The rain pelts hanzo’s wings making it difficult to stay aloft without tree cover. Jesse, through their link, senses his distress, “come here han, you can hid in my coat til the rain stops.”

Bittered, Hanzo, unwilling to surrender the little independence he has, refuses and continues flying. The rain soon becomes heavy and blankets them in waves of water. Hanzo is forced to the ground. There, Jesse comes and picks him up, placing him into his left breast pocket. To keep warm.

Hanzo feels the warmth around him and lowers his head, he feels safe with Jesse; a fact that held true even when in his human form. Soon he closes his eyes and sleeps.

***

After a time, Jesse hears a soft kadence of squees drift up from his pocket. He lifts up the flap to peer at the source. In his slumber, Hanzo has begun to snore. Jesse covers his mouth attempting to hold back his bubbling awww ‘He’s so cute!’ He turns the flap down once more and continues to walk.

After an hour more, the rain slows and stops altogether, the sky clears as fast as it clouded. The sun now past its peak shines down on the them as they travel. Hanzo wakes and shakes off the water from his feathers, then attempts to groom. Even when human, he regularly brushed and braided his long hair.

The rain having made the ground more mud than dirt, they decide to take it slower, ‘Best to watch my ste-,” Jesse slips

The ground below him sinks, taking him down down into the earth. He falls hard, landing in a mass of mud and debris.

“Shit, fuck, god damn,” Jesse holds his side, he is bruised but uninjured. Looking around he is unable to see hide nor feather of his bird companion, he scuffles about, “Han, Hanzo you alright?” fearing the worst, that he might have crushed him.

“Up here”, up above hanzo floats, slowly lowering himself down to land on Jesse’s outstretched hand.

“Glad I didn’t fall on you.” Jesse pets his silking feathered head.

“As am I,” Hanzo looks up and then back to his man. Jesse takes in his surroundings, the sink hole is deep, the walls are concave and slick making it impossible to climb out.

“How do you suppose get out of here?” Hanzo pauses, he could fly ou alonet to find help, but what if he got lost, or ...eaten. He quickly shakes the thought from his mind. With determination freshly bloomed in his chest he hovers upward a bit.

“I will fly up and hopefully find help. If not, I will return and we will find another way out.” Jesse frowns but nods waving him on his way.

Hanzo emerges from the damp hole. He quickly picks a direction and starts flying, as he flies he begins to worry. His thoughts begin to speed faster than his heart, ‘get help, need help, where, who even would be out in the forest?” he makes a sharp turn, “Help, help, need help where?”

Suddenly, a large shadow coasts over him. He freezes and yelps, ducking behind a nearby leaf.

A large mass of a creature lands proudly on a branch near him, it creaks with the weight, “My friend! What troubles you? I will help.” Its voice booms with vigor in his head.

Hanzo peeks out from behind the green leaf shielding him. On the branch posed proudly is a griffin. Huge and imposing, Its expansive silver wings frame its white feathered eagle head and torso. Its lower half (that of a lion) sits clumsily on the bark. Its right eye is scarred and white. *Eeeee* it calls, “There you are! Come, do not be afraid, I will not bite.”

It bends down to his level. Hanzo stutters, confused at the creature. How was this possible? A link and partial hypnotism, even if by accident, has never worked for anything but humans. The beast stares at him now, nothing but cheer and pride streaming to him through the link. Hanzo huffs, no time to think on it now, “Hello,” he bows, “I am Hanzo, My companion has fallen into a sinkhole and I have been in search of rescue.  As I am now, I am unable to help him.”

“AH! Reinhardt Winghelm at your service,” the great beast bows, “lead the way my diminutive friend! I shall assist you!”

Hanzo ruffles at the adjective, but lifts up and begins flying back in Jesse’s direction the beast flies gracefully after him.

At the hole they land near the edge and peer over it.

“Hanzo, that you…” Jesse looks up at the noise, his eyes pull open at the sight of a griffin double his size perches at the holes entrance. He puts his hands up in mock surrender, ready to dodge, “Now hey big fella’.....why don’t you.”

“It’s alright Jesse,” Hanzo flies down to him. “I brought him. He will help you out.”

The griffin flies down and lands next to Jesse. Hanzo connect Jesse’s mind to the griffins link, “This one is your companion?”

Hanzo nods.

The Reinhardt turns to Jesse and calls, “Smashing! Climb on, we will be off!” he turns around and waits.

Jesse walks forward and saddles himself up on Reinhardts back just behind the wing joints.

Reinhardt stretches his wings and rears back, “Hold on tight!” He calls triumphantly. Briskly he charges into the air.

“Aaahh!” Jesse clings on tightly to the mane on the griffins back. They sore up, up higher and higher in the vast blue of the sky. Time slots and Jesse slowly opens his eyes, while Hanzo does much the same from his tight perch on Jesse’s pocket.

Their eyes blow wide with wonder, the vast pine forest stretching in all directions before them. As they soar, the three bask in the warm rays of the vermillion afternoon sun.

Another call echoes from behind them, Hanzo tenses. After a pause, Reinhardt steers back toward the earth, coming to a confident landing upon the ground. Another beast lands nearby shortly after.

“What trouble have you gotten yourself into now?” Jesse dismounts and turns to the new creature. Hanzo peeks out from his pocket.

Another griffin stands just a few yards away, younger and shorter than her counterpart and decidedly female; she is heavy muscled and stands with pride just as Reinhardt does.

Her scarlet feathers shine in the sunlight, while her golden mane flows beautifully down her back.

“You tell me to 'stay close to me!’ but how am I to keep you out of trouble if you charge off at the first sign of excitement,” she playfully scolds him, as if it's been said a thousand times.

“Brigitte! Come! Meet my new comrades. The little one needed help to free his human.” Reinhardt laughs heartily.

Brigitte nods her head in greeting to the both of them. Hanzo frees himself from his confines and perches on Jesse's hat for a proper bow. Jesse tips his hat in salutations. “Reinhardt, you promised papa we would be at the rally by sundown. You are not one to disappoint.”

“Ahhh! Yes! We must head off then!” He turns to the two, “it is farewell my friends, I wish you luck on your travels,” and with that both grand beast lift into the sky soon out of view.

Jesse holds out his finger for Hanzo, whistling to gain his attention. Hanzo perks and then lands on the offered finger.

“How did you ever convince a GRIFFIN to help you?” Jesse inquires half in disbelief.

Hanzo grows haughty, puffing up and laughing, amused by Jesse's bewilderment. “You are not the only one smooth with their words.” He lightly nibbles at the meat of Jesse's hand and flies ahead; leading the way through the pines.

Jesse stands there for a brief moment to gather himself then rushes after his avian companion.

***

As the sun begins to set, Hanzo hurriedly zips from tree to tree quite a bit ahead of his companion. Jesse pauses at a tree, his exhaustion plain on his face, placing his hand on it to steady himself, he bends over, kneeling on a gnarled root to re-tie his boots. They had become loose from their twelve hours of travel.

Hanzo lands on the branch just above him, as he wait, Hanzo takes notice of the ring of white dust around the tree’s trunk.

Just past the misty grove they were in now was a field, and beyond that The Witch of the Wilds’ cottage; their destination.

Hanzo grows impatient and hovers over him, “Jesse, this can wait, we are nearly out of daylight and we must reach the mustard fields before nightfall or... I can feel her magic,” Hanzo turns in circles jutting up and down erratically.

“Aye now, Han,” he finishes tying one boot and switches to the other. “I know you're anxious, but it can wait till I get my boots on right, you hadn’t been the one stompin’ through mud for the past twenty miles!” his voice is laden with a tired edge. His eyes return to his laces ignoring Hanzo.

Stunned, Hanzo pulls back slightly. He feels a weight pull at his chest. Jesse has never snapped at him….ever. They were always light hearted and at their worst harshly sarcastic.

Hanzo spins in the air and bolts into the trees, leaving Jesse to himself.

Jesse pulls the lace tight and stands, Hanzo is nowhere in sight. “Hanzo?” he pauses looking around him. The mist continued to build as the the night grows closer. “Hanzo!?”

Jesse walks forward into the brush. As he traverses, the mist grows thicker; shadows grow up around him. He walk on and on; it seems as if an hour passes but the sun has yet to fall below the horizon.

“Hanzo! Come on Darlin’ you’re scarin’ me!” he beckons, just on the edge of desperation.

He quickens his pace and with another two steps, he’s met with the same tree he used for support earlier. As he rakes his eyes across it, he notices the fine white dust. Fae dust. “Shit!” He pulls his hand up to look at it. On his palm is a light layer of dust identical to that of the tree.

Fae trees are tricky, if you meet one, it is best not to touch it, less you invite mischief. Jesse walks up to the tree and wipes the dust off his hand, renouncing his acceptance of their game. Instantly the mist drops. A soft displeased chitter meets his ear. “I will play later, for now I have to find Hanzo.”

***

After his anger stemmed away, Hanzo had found himself alone. He perched on a branch he thought not far from where Jesse would walk and waited…..and waited. Thick mist built up around him. Time passed and his anxiety rose with it, the sun never setting.

“Master, something is amiss; time is not flowing here.” his spirit calls from within him.

Plagued by this new revelation, he flies up high above the treetops. He knows what he is looking for. There naught but a few meters away was the tree. Hanzo sore down toward it. Once he reaches it he lands on its branches and scuffs his claws along the bark, cleaning them.

The mist drops, and below him on the ground stands Jesse, a thin layer of sweat on his brow.

“Jesse!” Hanzo with love burning bright in his chest, guides himself down and into the man's space. He lands on his collar and nuzzles into the scruff of his neck.

Jesse jumps, “Hanzo! By geeve’ I thought I’d lost you.” Jesse cups him, gently combing his neck feathers. Hanzo happily chitters, enjoying their reunion and the caress.

“I was foolish, If only I had stopped to look, I might have seen the Fae’s mark. Forgive me.”

“Stop that, ain’t nothin’ to apologize for, come on, it’s time we move on, let’s get you back to bein’ yourself,” Jesse looks back at the tree one last time then turns and walks out of the grove.

The sun finally sets. The moon returns to the sky shining over the rolling golden fields with silver light. The two walk into the waist high grass finally free of the trees.

As they look onward, smoke billows up from the foothills, a cottage lay in their sights.

+ Just some links to help with visualization!

https://www.bucketlist127.com/uploads/images/ae89d723e44a793ca1ec711c20274952.jpg http://footage.framepool.com/shotimg/757265690-berchtesgadener-land-alpine-foreland-bavarian-alps-coniferous-forest.jpg https://cdn6.bigcommerce.com/s-4p7dj/product_images/uploaded_images/black-forest-landscape.jpg

:D and here is a big tree http://tourism.karelia.ru/resources/doc-16469-ph-gallery-16473-original.jpg

Here is a image of a cottage nestled in mustard fields! http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_bIUGar15ww/TorQqKOBMkI/AAAAAAAAF7c/QIcUYXNXqSI/s400/5.JPG

[autowrite]

Ardennes Trip Journal - 28.07.19 - 10.08.19

Day 1

23:15 The adventure continues. So much to say and only 14 minutes to do it in. The accommodation is pretty crappy. An old youth hostel converted into something..maybe not even converted. I arrived with 2 woman who couldn’t find their way here with a GPS. Right now I feel like I’ve let myself down a bit. I promised myself I would be authentic, I feel like Im hiding, crawling back into my shell. I promise myself that I will do what it takes to be authentic here, even if I don’t totally know what it means. I think it has to do with flow, carefree ness. There are a few girls here that I’m attracted to, one of them is the lady in charge of the volunteers. She doesn’t have a pretty face but she wears tight clothing and she has a nice body. I like tight clothing on a nice body. I feel like I underestimated the amount of work I’ll have to do here. It seems like mostly work with a bit of free time over. I would like to see more of the surroundings but I’m not sure what, I’m not even sure how curious I am to be honest. The meals are vegetarian and don’t seem to be enough, I have a feeling I won’t be able to fall asleep quickly because I’m kinda hungry. My mind has been hijacked by Mara. I keep thinking about having a little fling with Hanna. I gave her a hug earlier when we were alone in the bathroom. Damn, how did I manage that? The truth is I’m just using her. Lust is toxic, it’s toxic. But the pull toward her is strong. If I go down this road it will lead to another and then another and then another. It doesn’t stop until I put an end to it. Until I make the decision to not engage. The people that work here are rather nice. Bert and Wim and Carlos. There are very cute and friendly young little cats here. This evening I saw the mommy cat run into the garden, frantically lookin*for one of her young ones, and then she gave her a little mice she caught to  play with. It was so adorable. I would like to use my time here to also be able to relax and read and go for walks and bloom socially.

14:00 I’m on a train. It takes almost 4 hours to get there and the time is flying. I’ve read some google reviews of the place and a lot of people say the inside looks kind of shitty and that the food is too vegan. Mixed responses. But then they also say it’s isurroinded by beautiful nature in the middle of nowhere, I’m curious about that! I think it’s going to be pretty cool. I’m tried right now, I need some sleep. I hope I get along with my colleagues, I hope that I can flip the switch and be open, spontaneous and helpful. Wild, adventurous, authentic. Funny af.  I guess all I’m looking for is a nice place to wake up in, with fresh air, some structure, a place to read and relax, a place to push myself a little in terms of social interactions! I’m glad I thought of journaling, I’ll write in this thing every day. They say that phones and WiFi doesn’t park very well there, not sire of this is a good or bad thing but I’m leaning more to it being a good thing. I’m a little worried that I’ll be my usual, rather serious, seldom-able-to-genuinely-smile self, that I’ll close up and all my (perfectly acceptable and even good) ideas will remain ideas in my head, that I might not have the courage to act on ‘em? Maybe? Perhaps? We’ll see. I got a lot of books with me, I’m happy about that. They have a piano there, playing piano is a very meditative practice (even kinda spiritual). I’m also a tad concerned that everyone will be ‘nice’ in an annoying way, like super-friendly, heart-on-their-sleeves millennials there to confront me with how old and uptight I am :-) I’m actually just a big kid inside, but showing that side takes a lot of guts, requires a lot of freedom (giving myself permission to be free), requires a certain amount of trust ofcourse. But I want just that. Carefreeism. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Ain’t no one, NO one going to give you permission to put on that hat, that’s a decision you make on your own..Writing this I feel a bit like the main character from a Michael hollebeqs ‘Whatever’. A guy who’s very aware of everything, has a fair amount of emotional intelligence, but is a little dead inside. Desperately in need of using his imagination, spontaneity. Fuck it i don’t want that! I reckon the people there will be hippy types with loose, comfortable clothing. Some dreadlock types that I will kind of look down on but they’ll be too busy living there lives (like I should be doing) to care. Fuck, when did this become a novel? I’m writing this as though someone is going to read it, someone like Lisa and I’m trying my best to be all insightful and clevah. Fuck that, this is my journal and I’ll be as daft and incoherent as I want. Meanwhile small Wallonian towns zip past me under overcast weather from this train. This little spot here is my comfort zone but also a creative abs therapeutic space. Fuck this train announce speak is loud and just above me. I’m hungry. I’m concerned abou this strict vegan policy they have there, that I’ll be hungry all the time, and won’t be able to sleep. I’m enthusiastic about apply Radical Acceptance techniques to this experience. To take the time to recognise how I feel, to ‘paise’ and offer myself some compassion perhaps. It’s okay, whatever happens: it’s okay. Showing up as you is ok. Feeling afraid and unsafe is okay. Being jouuous and free is okay. Doing you is ok. Not doing you is ok. Not having a good time is ok. You’re ok. I DON’T want to use this journal as a place to hide. A place to observe the world on the other side of some glass. Day 2

9:50 I slept ok, not great. The beds were ok. I have 10 minutes to write this and it all feels a bit rushed. I got laundry to do coz my shit is filthy. The weather is really nice and there is a really pretty courtyard with flowers and birds and little cats. Breakfast was pretty good, lots of oatmeal and things to choose from. I’m really bummed abiut the fact that our shifts here are split up in 2, through out the day, making it hard to leave the premise. I’m sitting here in the kitchen and there’s a world out there that I’d like to discover. The water for the shower is warm as opposed to hot. I’m tired but I’m so used to it that I hardly notice it anymore. I don’t feel much like talking, and others seem to want to talk. I don’t mind that much I guess, but I also want to not feel obligated to chat. But when I’m on my own i also feel a bit restless. I’m bothered by the stains on my shorts which look a bit gross. Worried that ill be limited to only the kitchen and the immediate surroundings while I’m here. The ‘sugar’ I put in my coffee is unrefined and tastes kind of gross. I have a feeling I’m going to get annoyed by the work here. I came here to work but also enjoy the surroundings. Damn. 22:30 I’m super tired right now, o feel o should have gotten more rest. They make us work a lot over here, it’s testing my laziness. I went for a walk and it was quite nice. I’m giving this experience a 6 out of 10 so far. I feel like a kid at times. I saw a horse that was blind in one eye, I stroked his face and his hit vs,r off on my finger. He seemed very ol and quite sad. I would have done more for him if I knew what he wanted. I have this feeling that I’m missing something. This afternoon I sat in front of the piano and I could lose myself in the notes. It was meditativive and restorative. It felt like something spiritual, I enjoyed it. I, tore, did I mention I was tired. I also feel a bit floppy and like...not a whole person. I’m worried that I’ll be stuck in arrested development forever, I feel so immature at times. I know that reliving the pain would fix it all but you can’t force these kind of things. Anyway, the weather is good, the people are nice and I’m happy to call it a night. I feel like I can do a lot more though.

Day 3 

22:50 I woke up today in a really bad mood. Not enough sleep, bad sleep. We eat vegan food here all day long, maybe that’s effecting it. I have quite a lot of wind, but that’s ok. I worked today, it’s 5 or 6 hours but it feels like all day. I’m happy to be here. I socialise all day too, and it’s fine. Sometimes not fine, sometimes I’m gripped with self-consciousness every time I open my damn mouth. Sometimes it feels like every single interaction is awkward, I know what is required is to let go but I probably put too much  pressure into it. Letting go is actaully effortless really, want an idea.  Anyway, I ended things with Katya today and i think this is for the best. I’m smoking too much and I think it’s for the best. I think about Carlos quite a bit, he’s quite a special dude. And Wim is leaving tomorrow and I’m sorry about that, I’m gonna miss him a little. His brother Bert is a nice guy, such an open and friendly person, with a big heart. I find it hard to make eye contact with himi, in a way. The ladies love him. Speaking of ladies I went with a walk with Hanne and I made tons of moves to the point she felt uncomfortable. When I returned I felt guilty and empty. I’d like to relax more here. I’m looking into doing something similar to this in a place with an ocean. This whole experience has been good. The work grounds me, puts things into perspective, but I have to admit I was expecting something a little better than this. I now know that my idea of farming or working in this way was merely a romantic one. Actually I want to be around creative people. People like me who want to make things, get lost in things, I’m just not yet sure what that ‘thing’ is.

Day 4 

22:40 Sitting here in the back of my corvette. Sitting here in the mountains of Spain, not claiming to know anything anymore. And so the journey begins.. Day 4. I keep asking Hanne for hugs. I worked in the garden today, I wasnt feeling it very much at  all. But I should be greatful, my teenage years were really tough, said the talk show host. I’m greatly out of touch with my center today, I could meditate on this though, embrace it, use it, it feels good to be alone. 12 minutes every single day. I’m waiting for the American cook. Hanna is leaving tomorrow for holiday in Schotland, I feel sad abiut that. And Wim left today. It was really nice getting to know him. He told me a lot about his travelling through South America. He’s got this crazy look in his eyes, he looks a bit like he took some bad acid, he also looks like someone who might be an alcoholic. I feel like I’m not capable of getting close to anyone at times, and they can sense it. I want to though, maybe they don’t notice it. Hanne is a work horse, but obviously has her own issues. She is cute though. Jeff is also cool of course. I feel like I scare people. I got a nice compliment from Carlos who said I should do stand up comedy. Where the heck is Lorenzo at? He said that to me 2 once. I get my energy by losing myself in creativity, making jokes. I get my creativity from a lot of things. Right now I’m in bed, nothing to be said. Right now I live like there’s a tomorrow, a red car racing. Like MJ and codependency. I called Lisa, she sounded enthusiastic and happy to hear from me. Latisha is doing well and is her cute self, miss her. I saw someone take one of the little cats away today and I cried just a little. I’m sure she  will be loved in her new home.

Day 5

21:50 Day 5 in Orval. I like it here, it’s peaceful. The grass is green, the birds sing and there’s cats around. I worked in the kitchen today and then then the garden. Enough to fill the day and I’m tired and ready for bed. Hanna left for Schotland today, I fooled around with her in her bedroom, but she held me at bay and I wasn’t interested in treating her like a sex object. She’s sweet and deserves a lot better. Carols was up to his usual tricks, conspiracy theories and what not. We found out today that I weigh twice as much as him. I’m actually gaining weight here, crazy. I’m saving money while being here, and doing the right thing. One of my goals being here is to show up authentically every single day. I’m kind of doing that, but sometimes I’m not sure what that means. I think it involves using my body. My work ethic has become a bit of a joke, I’m the guy that breaks away from the kitchen to play piano, it has crossed my mind that I like it when people are talking about me, even f it’s negative, even if it’s laughing. I think i night want constant reassurance, but deep down I want something more real than that, you know? Meditate on that. I’m not meditating, but enough about me. Wim is returning tomorrow, that’s cool. Not sure if I have a half day off tomorrow or not. The good is great. I haven’t eaten a single animal product in 5 days. I feel fine, I don’t feel amazing though, like the early days of changing my diet. Worked with Jeff in the garden, the sun was shining real pretty like, I posed as a Mexican drug cartel worker, it was silly. I thought I lost my kindle, but I didn’t.  I want to make plans to go on more walks, do some excercise, get up early. I would like to make kale smoothies too. I had an amazing insigh today, often when people talk to me, I feel a lot of tightening up around the heart. Construction of the heart. It’s clear in a way. That’s when I decide to relax and look the person right in the eye, and I feel the wall, the constricting melt a little. Other times I feel the opposite way, other times I feel my heart opening up, and I feel love and I honestly feel like giving the people around me a big big. There are people here that have stayed for 5 months. You can save money by being here. Don’t got back to Hurtsville. Your time here is good.

Day 6 

23:10 Day 6 in bold. They make us work too much over here. I did some weeding today, fuck, never doing that again. I lasted an entire hour. I think I’d lose my mind if I were a farmer, I need people too much. Need em to reassure me, tell me I’m alive. It’s been a long day, we work about 32 hours/week here. That’s almost a full time job, what a crappy candle. The highlight of my day might have been my meditation. Sitting under a tree with a horsefly that I killed,  it very Buddha like. The meditation helped me become more grounded. Later I went on Facebook. What the help are we doing with our lives? My her is Conan, what a silly name. How does this guy come up with so many jokes, he’s so damn funny. ‘My riff-gun was jammed’ Patton Oswald. I need a plan or a goal while I’m here. I’m stuck on this island and I’m not alone. More walks please, more excercise. Wim returned and that’s cool.

Day 7

22:40 Carlos the little monkey with the conspiracy theories. I’m getting back into using my phone again, and a little bit of porn too. It was very tiring day today. Wim and I went for a walk, we went to the abdij where Orval beer is made but we didn’t go in. We got personal, talked about heavy, personal stuff. I can’t say that it did much for me. I still feel like a sense of self, or bottom or ground is missing, and that’s ok, that’s just the kind of guy I am. We worked a lot and I felt so lazy, so tired. We are working something like 35 hours a week. I haven’t worked this much in a long time, it’s more work than I expected obviously. The weather was good, new groups have arrived and I find myself eyeing the ladies. I make a lot of jokes and everyone laughs at them it’s almost too easy. Acceptance. Nature. Hide away, dancing. 5 rhythm dancing. Dance to Maastricht. I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know. Bert used to live in Costa Rica. He’s so at ease with himself it’s crazy. He says it’s all about being in the body, and dancing and yoga and some meditation. Wim must feel overshadowed a little, I still really enjoy playing the piano, I still feel the need to be an entertainer or performer of some kind. Do your best forget the rest, thanks for coming.

Day 8

00:15 Im beat, what a day. I feel tired and immature. The asshole social worker. We cleaned today, the entire kitchen. It was a time of laziness, and work and seriousness. I, getting fatter over here. The American cook showed up. And a very young couple. And the bosss and his hens. The American cook is called Mark or Marc and he comes acrosss like a healthy and capable man with an eye for the ladies. His wife or girlfriend also seems nice. I met a very nice girl today called Sophie, me and Wim had a drink with her. It’s good to be here, good to be in the real world. On Tuesday I get my day off, I guess the only thing I’m planning to do is rest. Wim and I are getting closer, lots of laughs and stuff. I feel small and inadequate right now and it’s uncomfortable, but I’ll breathe into it, accept it,  have it down the whole. I think you can do a lot with it but maybe never fully get used to it. Or something? I coughed a lot, I have a slight hangover now. I’m still impressed with this Sophie girl I just met. She seems so nice. I feel fat. Stick to your principals.

Day 9 

00:05 Camp fire singing. I should count my blessings. I feel a bit like a coward but I guess I should be proud that I sang. I lost my center, but that’s ok, everything is ok. Lots of laughs with Wim, I’m going to miss that dude. Staring at Melissa’s legs a lot. Cooking in the kitchen, with Mark and his pleasant wife. Mark is not a Buddhist, but he respects them. I felt intense shame while trying my best to play guitar. I want to frame it differently though, I want to quantify it coz I want to pass through it. Pass through the eye of the storm, it’s so nice on the other side, I’m sure of it. Sophie is so nice, I haven’t met a girl that nice in a while. Feels like I keep holding back, but beating myself up over it doesn’t make it better, doesn’t change anything. I woke up late and missed most of breakfast. I was in a lousy mood. Wim offered to do my dishes. There are so many people here, it’s non-stop interaction, at times it gets a bit much. I took a nap today and passed out almost immediately. I feel embarrassed by my weight. A new volunteer arrived in heels. Katy the 19 year old girl stood very close to me when i did something on my phone. Marks music is a bit boring in the kitchen. Wim and I shared many laughs, he’s a good guy. He cracks me up, I’m lucky to have him here. It’s good to be random, it’s good to not make sense, it’s a way to shake it all off. Inside of me is a child that wants to be let out. It wants light and air and to be seen, but he doesn’t feel safe. He’s embarrassed and ashamed and doesn’t feel good enough, but it’s the closest to something real I’ll ever feel. Jeff is a really nice, sincere, honest dude. I like him. But I gotto be real, if I don’t care I don’t care. Life I can be tough, so confusing at times. But I’m here, I’m doing this, I’m a alive, I laugh a lot, I accept.

Day 10

23:15 The skies were gray today. Wim left for the second time and he took Thomas with him. I was having a bad day until I took a nap and did some journaling. I walked down the road by myself and sat some of the crappy but charming neighbourhood housing. I’m eating less and less and I feel great right now. All this vegan food, no meat for almost 2 weeks. I feel looser today, happy to be around Wim and Jeff, happy to talk bullshit, more in a flow. Out there the air is thick with rain air, and tents are scattered across the grass bellow me. Mark is a nice guy but I notice we all get a bit more serious when he’s around us. It’s interesting to note that. I’ve been travelling with my dick in my pocket, I made a move on one of the girls here and I plan on subtly making moves on Katy, or whatever her name is, which is kind of gross of me. I should be ashamed of myself.. but enough about me, I was just following my dick. It feels good to be here though, I’m going to miss it. I’m glad I met Wim and plan to see him when I get back to Antwerp to talk more bullshit, etc etc. ALl these interactions can get a bit much. Melissa is so serious. The energy is good here.

Day 11

00:50 Nothings wrong I don’t get it. Hootchie girl, tease, this is. It going as planned. I strummed my guitar like a beast, leaflets on the floor. Better tomorrow. This is silly. This is silly, I care and I don’t care because I do t know what the heck I’m doing. I just want to stand for something in life. That’s all she said, the importance of being strong and saying something. I’m welcome back anytime. The bird is here, on the roof, performing for god knows who. Unable to break through, because no one ever gave him permission to. That’s sad but dead, gotto get the scream out of my system. I’m glad for you but not excited, we want the same things only different. Artists inside,  but vague in what we want. You’re tall, I’m tall, let’s make babies, let’s quit smoking. I lied to you actually. I’m not hurt, not going in some direction. Taking the piles a day at a time. William Prine, bathroom break. Big butt girl called Anoek, soft eyes, another girl under my belt, I feel gross about it , leaning into the fear is like leaning into the sun. we sat around a fire today, we played songs. Sophie leaned against me until our backs became uncomfortable. The smoke in my hair, the smoke in all of ours. I tried to be brave, I was brave, I sang the best I could. Now is not the time, my defence mechanism is cunning and baffling, I relate to it. I would rather have nothing that be a shaky leaf trying to ‘score’, I feel embarrassed and ashamed and I seek re-assurance. It’s ok toadman, see you at the breakfast table. DAY 13

4:00 I don’t understand what happened. Caily contacted me and told me she was raped by Mark. The American cook I liked. I don’t understand. I don’t feel much, just inklings of some confusion. I’m unable to let this idea sink in property. Raped?? Mark the guy I spent 5 days with raped a 19 year old girl?? Threatened her with a knife?? I don’t understand, this doesn’t compute with me. Caily is a wonderful person, sweet, real, authentic. She contacted me, we chatted for hours. I hope she’s ok, even though I don’t know what to feel. I tired to just keep her company, be there for her. I’m trying to think what I would do if I saw him. He might have ruined a 19 year old girls life.. she’s numb right now and traumatised. This is the world we live in. People who are innocent and real get preyed on by predators it seems. They have their innocence taken away. Caily is one of the most innocent and authentic girls I’ve ever met. So incredibly naive in a way. This man preyed on that if this really happened. I hope she’s ok. I hope she’s able to live fully again. I hope she’s able to process all this, to trust again.

Day 14 conclusions and shit

T’was a perfectly imperfect trip. The conclusion rests in the balance of: I had a really enjoyable time, I’m glad that I went there. As I sit in black shorts and shoes with holes in them on a bench in Antwerp, Orval seems pretty far away already. But it’s cool. I’m not yet sure what to  make about the ending though. A girl might have been raped. I think she was raped because she’s at the police right now. On the last day we did a big clean of the kitchen, the 2nd one during my stay. Sofie was with is helping in the kitchen, chopping onions and doing a splendid job. I was tired from the night before, the third night of building a camp fire and playing sharades and some songs. We gathered the fire wood ourselves, firewood that spat and crackled and carried a few ticks. Caily was with us. We had so much fun. And Jef. Oh how I remeber that night, it was like it was yesterday, or the day before yesterday, which it was. A little sprinkler water to cool us off, we dragged Melissa through the snow, coughing and spitting and giggling like a happy school child. We did good and we did her good

[sapphicseer]

Here is an example of a custom race I made and a short racial history I wrote, What you submit doesn’t have to be nearly as fleshed out, this is just an example of a custom race I have done before. In addition, in pathfinder race rules there are standard races and advanced races, Standard races are about as powerful as humans while advanced races have more options and more points to spend on racial traits in the Pathfinder racemaker system, but conversely the DM is supposed to throw them and the party up against harder opponents. (Pathfinder’s solution to avoiding the easy out of LA)

Free Bun (Standard)

Type: Fey 2RP, Bun 0RP

Size: Tiny 4RP (+2 AC, +2 Attack, -2 Combat Manuver Checks and CMD, +8 Stealth, -2 STR, +2 Dex)

Base Speed: Standard (30ft)

Ability Score Modifiers: Mixed Weakness -2RP (-4 STR, +2 Dex, -2WIS, +2CHA)

Languages: Common, Kenku. Bonus: Auran, Terran, Sylvan, Elven, Draconic. 0RP

Racial Traits 

Magical Racial Traits

Fascination: Free Buns have been Genetically bred for Cuteness, and they can leverage that for practical use. A Bun may, once per day, do a display of cuteness that causes all humanoid creatures within 20 feet to become fascinated with the Bun, as the Bard’s Bardic Performance. The saving throw is DC10+1/2 Character level + CHA modifier. 3 RP

Skill and Feat Racial Traits

Skill Training: Buns always have Bluff and Diplomacy as Class Skills 1RP

Movement Racial Traits

Jumper: Buns are always considered to have a running start for acrobatics checks, and they move around quickly by doing small hops 2RP

Fast: Buns Hop quickly, and have a +10 to their movement speed 1RP

Defense Racial Traits

Reflexive (+2 Reflex) 2RP

Weaknesses

Weak Willed (-1 Will) -1RP

Elemental Vulnerability-Fire: Bun Fur is naturally flammable -2 RP

Senses Racial Traits 

Low-light vision 0RP

Total: 10 RP

Free Bun (Advanced)

Type: Fey 2RP, Bun 0RP

Size: Tiny 4RP (+2 AC, +2 Attack, -2 Combat Manuver Checks and CMD, +8 Stealth, -2 STR, +2 Dex)

Base Speed: Standard (30ft)

Ability Score Modifiers: Mixed Weakness -2RP (-4 STR, +2 Dex, -2WIS, +2CHA)

Languages: Common, Kenku. Bonus: Auran, Terran, Sylvan, Elven, Draconic. 0RP

Racial Traits 

Ability Score Racial Traits

Advanced Charisma (+2 CHA, and Buns always have Bluff and Diplomacy as Class Skills) 4RP

Magical Racial Traits

Fascination: Free Buns have been Genetically bred for Cuteness, and they can leverage that for practical use. A Bun may, once per day, do a display of cutess that causes all humanoid creatures within 20 feet to become fascinated with the Bun, as the Bard’s Bardic Performance. The saving throw is DC10+1/2 Character level + CHA modifier. 3 RP

Movement Racial Traits

Jumper: Buns are always considered to have a running start for acrobatics checks, and they move around quickly by doing small hops 2RP

Fast: Buns Hop quickly, and have a +10 to their movement speed 1RP

Offensive Racial Traits

Bunslinger: All Free Buns are capable with Firearms, and gain the Exotic Weapon Proficency (Firearms) feat. In addition, they may use Firearms designed for Small creatures with no penalty. 3RP

Ferocity: Racial Memories of desperate last stands against oppressors continue to hold firm. If the hit points of a Bun fall below 0 but it is not yet dead, it can continue to fight. If it does, it is staggered, and loses 1 hit point each round. It still dies when its hit points reach a negative amount equal to its Constitution score. 4RP

Defense Racial Traits

Reflexive (+2 Reflex) 2RP

Weaknesses

Weak Willed (-1 Will) -1RP

Elemental Vulnerability-Fire: Bun Fur is naturally flammable -2 RP

Senses Racial Traits 

Low-light vision 0RP 

Total: 20 RP

Alternate Class Features

Warbun

Some Bun are descended from Free Bun Soldiers from the days of conquest, or interbreeding from Homeland Jackalopes have reintroduced these traits. No Matter how you have gained these genetics, you are more naturally suited to Melee warfare than the standard Bun.

Lose: Tiny Size, Reflexive, Bunslinger, Advanced Charisma -14RP

Gain:

Small Size You are now small size. +1 size bonus to AC, +1 Size bonus to Attack Rolls, -1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to CMD, and +4 Stealth. You have a reach of 5 feet. 0RP

Natural Attack-Gore: You have two small but prominent Antlers, and you can shove them into your enemies for not insignificant amounts of damage (1d6 Piercing) RP1

Swarming: Buns are used to fighting communally. If you are in the same square as an ally and attack the same foe, you and your ally are both considered to be flanking that enemy. 1RP

Pouncing Hop: If you charge an enemy and make a successful long jump of at least your character level, you can make a full attack at the end of your charge. This relies on the Bun hopping, so unless your mount has pounce it does not apply when riding something. 2RP

Advanced Dexterity (+2 Dex) 4RP

Weapon Finesse: Warbuns can better take advantage of their natural dexterity than other races 2RP

Manipulating Ears: Warbun train early to better take advantage of their natural ability to control their ears, and they have mastered it to a point where their ears together act like a single hand that can wield weapons. They can also be used for anything that requires free hands. 4RP

Free Bun Feats

Fear the Skies (Racial)

Prequesites: Free Bun Race

Due to Racial training, Free Bun gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls, a +2 dodge bonus to AC, and a +2 bonus on Perception checks against flying creatures. In addition, enemies on higher ground gain no attack roll bonus against members of this race and Free Bun have the effects of Favored Enemy Humanoid (Avian) (+2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against Humanoid Avians. Likewise, they get a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against them. They may make Knowledge skill checks untrained when attempting to identify these creatures.)

Backstory

There are two major populations of bun so far in the universe. One is on this small planet tidally locked to a brown dwarf star in a micronebulae, And the other is on a much larger planet they share with bird people called the Kenku. The Kenku are by far the most populous species on the planet, and when the two populations meet the Kenku mistake them for animals and take them as pets. Over time, no more wild Buns on the planet remain.but eventually after an incident only referred to as the "New Squakington Rebellion"occurs, where A large number of Bun Buns broke into open rebellion at a "Pet" show, taking up arms and holding out against a siege by the Kenku for 6 months, causing almost 2000 Kenku casualties. The siege was eventually broken, but the survivors of that incident were sent to researchers to see what made them able to do it, and they discovered that the Bun Buns were sentient, so they were trained as servants and how to speak. The Buns were gradually re-classified as servants but the pet practice was still incredibly common, and over time they were bred to be smaller and less dangerous, as well as more obedient. However, a small number of them did gain their freedom, and although they faced heavy discrimination and population control, they did take up work in colleges as scribes or perform service jobs.

Skip forward a few hundred years until you get to bird people have their version of world war 1. A lot of states are exterminated, and almost all of the population is committed to the war effort, to a point where many nations train their Buns for menial labor or spy service, and then eventually the war is over and because of Bun support a lot of soldiers resist having the buns be re-subjugated to a point where they are technically given freedom but it is only in name.

However, one country (known in the bird people tongue as "Flapping Underwing Clinking coin" due to their language being repeating sounds they associate with concepts, [It is only a coincidence the abbreviation is FUCC]) never freed its buns during the war, but it did take over several countries that did. Thus, those buns did what was reasonable: They assassinated the Emperor of the FUCC state, and organized a mass uprising with their new logistical and spy support.They won because almost everyone important died on the first night, and eventually someone I will refer to as Bunpoleon was crowned. He would then go on to wage several wars against neighboring states (Both for territory and because they were mass executing buns to prevent more assassinations), and then, after expanded by about a factor of 2, Bunpoleon just stopped for about 15 years. The Buns reach combat-capable ages at 15, and they have great population growth potential, and because they redirected all the rich people's money into schooling a lot of the newer buns were trained and highly intelligent. The buns also developed a new non-monarchy style of government to mimic their communal lifestyle, and after 15 years they attacked and took over about a dozen nations, before suddenly calling armistice and using this to force The Universal Declaration of Bird and Bun rights. Then he split his territory into about 30 states fitting the communal governing model, and retired and founded a paladin order dedicated to defending Bun and Bird rights. And then later on they made spaceships and met aliens like the Githyanki, Dromites, and humans; and it was cool.

[robinhoodrevisited]

Villains To The Rescue (pt.6)

Nottingham Castle. Courtyard. (A drum rolls as the gang, each with his instrument and Will also with Robin’s harp, step up between curtains onto a stage set up in the archway to the stables. Much, the first one out, stares at Robin and Allan, who are standing in their undershirts on a plank which has been stretched across an enormous vat of black oil in the middle of the courtyard with a fire crackling underneath it. Two guards with halberds stand, one at either end of the plank. Robin sees the gang as Little John, bells jingling, steps out next to Much, sees Robin, then glares at the castle doors. Robin scowls with narrowed eyes at Allan, who warily stares back.) Just Inside the Main Doors. (The Sheriff and Gisborne are just about to make their grand entrance when Isabella calls out to the Sheriff.) Isabella: “Vaisey!” (The Sheriff stops in his tracks and winces, somehow knowing he’s in trouble.) Sheriff: (Turning towards her:) “Isabella! How wonderful to see you, you’re just in time for the entertainment.” Isabella: “What the hell is this I hear about you handing Marian over to Lord Winchester as a bargaining chip?” Sheriff: (Looking to Gisborne, then back to Isabella:) “My dear…I was under the impression that you and Lady Marian were no longer on speaking terms. (Isabella frowns, as The Sheriff continues:) So when Lord Winchester said he wanted Marian as part of his signing the Great Pact of Nottingham…well naturally I thought it would kill two birds with one stone. (Gisborne scoffs at the Sheriff’s utter brazenness.) It would get the Pact signed and it would allow you to return to the castle, Marian free.” Isabella: “I don’t believe that for a second. And even if it were the case I would never want Marian to be subjected to a life I once had." (Isabella shares a meaningful look with Gisborne.) Sheriff: "Oh dear, my mistake. (Turning around quickly and resuming his walk to the courtyard.) Never mind, deals done, can’t back out now!” Isabella: (Calling after him:) “Vaisey!” Gisborne: (Putting a hand on her shoulder:) “There’s nothing we can do. (Taking a deep breath:) Besides, you’re really not going to like what happens next." (Gisborne walks on to follow the Sheriff as Isabella stands for a moment, wondering what Guy means. A fanfare plays. The young buglers step aside as the Sheriff and Gisborne come out from the main doors. The Black Knights are sitting on either side of the door and a chair is waiting for the Sheriff in the middle.)  

Sheriff: (Holding his arms out:) “Behold the outlaw, eh? The, er… invincible [chuckles as he weighs his hands] and legendary Robin Hood. (Marian, the cuffs still on her wrists, is standing next to Winchester in the corner of the cloister, watching. Winchester has a generous plate of cake on the ledge in front of him, a large piece in one hand and a goblet in the other.) And his friend, Allan A Dale. (Robin glares at Allan, who looks warily back at him. Isabella steps out into the courtyard and gasps as she takes in the scene.) How fitting then, that these two renegades, these enemies of the law, which make them enemies (Winchester leans into Marian, who turns her head aside with a grimace.) of good King Richard himself, should provide us with entertainment on this, the day of the King’s birthday, huh? (Chuckles, claps his hands and rubs them together. Robin glares contemptuously at the Sheriff as he speaks his last line.) Thank you, legendary Robin Hood. (Laughs.) Now the game is very simple. (Holds his arms up.) Fight, [points down] or fry! Hm? (Sits down.) And of course the winner gets his freedom. (Quickly puts his hand to his mouth and says quietly:) Not. (Clears his throat, then raises a hand to a servant.) Cake! (The servant cuts into the cake, holding a large plate beneath it. Robin and Allan each pick up a padded club from his end of the plank.) Enjoy. (Laughs. The Sheriff picks off a piece of cake from the plate the servant just brought over and puts it in his mouth.) Mm. (A guard pokes Robin in the buttocks with his halberd. Isabella slumps into her chair next to the Sheriff in disbelief.) Poke him! Poke him!” (Robin is forced to shuffle towards Allan as Allan is also poked by a halberd.) Robin: (Quietly:) “You don’t have to do this, Allan. Don’t give them the satisfaction. Even if you do kill me, they won’t let you go.” Sheriff: “Come on, poke him!” Allan: “You know, if you had listened, you might have understood. You should have given me a second chance, Robin.”

(Allan is poked by the halberd. The Sheriff grunts and Robin takes a quick glance, knowing Allan will take the chance. Allan does so and swings his club at Robin’s head. Robin steps back to avoid it. Allan advances and brings down his club, but Robin blocks it with his, one hand on each end of his club. Marian watches anxiously. Robin adjusts his grip to put both hands on the handle and Allan pushes aside Robin’s club, forcing him to catch his balance. Allan comes back, jabbing his handle into Robin’s chest, and Robin takes several steps back along the plank to avoid falling in.) Robin: “How did you get to be so low?” Allan: “That was always your problem, Robin, so high and mighty, eh? So much better than everyone else.” Robin: “No, just better than you.” (Robin swings at Allan’s shoulder, but Allan steps back. Robin swings again and Allan blocks. Then Robin pushes the club aside and kicks a foot out from under him. Allan catches his balance as he ducks a swing from Robin. The gang watch anxiously. Robin looks as if he will swing at Allan’s feet, but Allan swings first at Robin, who takes a step back. Allan comes back for another swing, stepping towards Robin. Robin blocks it and butts Allan with his club. Allan jumps back, almost falling.) Sheriff: “Careful!” (Allan swings, Robin blocks it low, then twists his club up and around to the other side, pushing Allan’s club with it. Robin swings for Allan’s head and Allan steps back, losing his balance. Robin catches his own balance, sets his feet, ready to go on, then happens to see Marian watching with her shackled wrists, standing next to Winchester, who is leaning into her, enjoying his cake and his power over her. Robin’s stunned gaze lingers too long and Allan, seeing him distracted, stands up and swings hard. Robin sees Marian’s eyebrows go up in a silent warning and turns his attention back to Allan, pulling his club behind his head to block, but at that odd angle Allan easily knocks it out of his grip and it falls into the oil below as Robin fights to keep his balance. Seeing that Allan has the advantage, Isabella turns her attention to Marian.) Winchester: "You know, Kate - your mother - used to go wild when I touched her behind the knee…. I wonder if the same is true for you?” (Winchester does something best left to the imagination as Marian’s eyes briefly flutter closed.) Ah-ha like Mother like Daughter. (Slapping Marian on her bottom.) Oh we’re going to have so much fun.“   (Isabella stands, infuriated by Winchester’s actions.) Sheriff: "Ah! Well, it looks like our little Robin Redbreast is just about to become fried chicken! (Laughs maniacally. Robin gets set to fight Allan barehanded. Allan feigns a jab and Robin flinches, then is poked forward again by the halberd.) Ooh, I like this. Yes, very good.” (Much watches his master, helpless to intervene. Marian looks on, worried. Allan feigns another jab. The gang look on in concern. Isabella looks around, desperate for any ideas, then she notices the gang dressed as musicians.) Isabella: (Motioning to the band.) “Music!” Sheriff: (Turns to Isabella, pleased she’s seemingly getting into the spirit of things:) “Yes, music, marvellous idea.” (Much looks up at Isabella, who mouths the words “Do something!” he then determinedly turns to Little John.) Much: (Pulling out the small flute:) “I’ll give him music.” (Little John nods. Much puts the flute to his lips as if to play, then turns and blows a dart at the neck of Robin’s guard, who goes down. Much blows a second dart at Allan’s guard, who also goes down as panic starts.)

Sheriff: “Outlaws! Get them!” (Throws his cake at the guards. The soldiers gather. Much and Djaq pull their swords from their instruments.) Much: “Charge!” (Robin takes a quick glance back and sees his guard on the ground. Much, Djaq and Little John jump off the stage and engage the soldiers. Little John butts one with his staff. Robin jumps down from the plank.) Robin: “Will!” (Much fights off a guard, swinging his shield at him.) Will: “Robin!” (Will pulls the harp from a stool on the side of the stage and tosses it at Robin. The unnecessary pieces fly off when Robin catches it.) Sheriff: (Pointing at Robin:) “Stop him!” (Djaq ducks a sword and strikes back. Allan jumps off his end of the plank. Will pulls some arrows out and tosses them to Robin. Robin catches them as Little John battles a soldier and Allan gets to his feet. Little John swings his staff, knocking out a guard, and spins round on the follow-through, coming face to face with Allan.) Allan: (Apologetically:) “John, friends.” (Little John punches Allan.) Little John: “Traitor!” (Gisborne comes down the steps towards Little John.) Gisborne: “Oi!” (Little John blocks Gisborne’s sword with his staff. Robin runs up on the stage and Will intercepts Guard 2 coming from the gate.) Guard 2: “I let you in, but I’m not letting you out.” (Gisborne ducks Little John’s staff, jabs at him with his sword, but Little John knocks it away with the end of his staff. Will holds up his fiddle like a club, giving warning to Guard 2, who laughs and jabs at him with his sword, but Will dodges it and smashes the fiddle over Guard 2’s head.)   Will: “I told you I was good with wood.” (On the stage, Robin aims an arrow at the vat while holding another along the curve of the bow.) Robin: (Whispers:) “Time to disappear.” (Robin shoots and the arrow pierces the vat. Hot oil pours out the hole onto the floor.) Sheriff: “What’s he doing? (Guard 2 jabs his sword at Will, who deflects it away with the bow from his fiddle, turning it up and around, then comes back with it, slapping Guard 2 in the face. Meanwhile, Robin lights another arrow from a sconce on the wall, then nocks it in his bow. The Sheriff now realises Robin’s plan.) Oh, no.” (Robin draws. Little John waves his bells in Gisborne’s face, distracting him, then butts him in the groin. Robin lets the arrow loose at the spilled oil at the base of the vat and it ignites.) Robin: (Motioning to the gang:) “This way!” (Little John, Much and Djaq run past the stage to the other side of the burning oil as the flames spread along the black path between the vat and the stage. They wait safely on the other side of the wall of fire as Gisborne struggles to his feet.) Gisborne: “Guards!” (Gisborne and two guards charge, but the fire is too intense for them to get through.) Guards: “Fire! Fire!” Robin: “Let’s go! Let’s go!” (The gang run out into the town, but Robin waits a moment, glaring through the flames at Winchester, who is casually sipping from his goblet. Marian smiles brightly at Robin. Robin finally turns and runs.)   Gisborne: “Guards!” (Gisborne watches the gang disappear into town, then goes to the wall and leans against it in pain. Winchester approaches the Sheriff, who is sitting slumped in his chair with his head on his arm.) Winchester: “Well, you said it’d be entertaining, but that was really something. (Turns to Gisborne.) And once again, gentlemen, it’s a pleasure doing business with you. (Turns to Marian and his men.) Bring the girl.”  

Gisborne: (Looking up at Marian in the cloister:) “Marian! (Marian struggles with her chains as she is pulled away into the east exterior corridor.) Marian! (Looks at the Sheriff.) I’m surprised you gave in to his demands.” Sheriff: (Stands. Through his teeth:) “I had to get his signature! We made a deal. (Gisborne glares at him, then miserably hangs his head. Isabella makes a ‘Tsk’ sound from her chair. The Sheriff turns to face her.) You have something to add?”   Isabella: “Since you ask. (Rising from her chair:) Surely it’s not wise for the Leader of the Black Knights to give in to one of his allies so easily. It might make others think he’s a soft touch.” Sheriff: “A soft touch? (Chuckles. Turns back to Gisborne: Quietly, catching Gisborne’s eye again:) But now… I have his signature.” Gisborne: (Catching his meaning:) “I’ll send a squad of men.” Sheriff: “No. No, we do this one quietly. (The Sheriff points to Allan, who is rubbing his cheek.) Bring your boy.” (The Sheriff looks to Isabella who smiles broadly at him. Vaisey shakes his head then walks down the east corridor. Gisborne jerks his head to Allan to follow. Allan does so slowly. Winchester goes down the steps to his coach, putting on his gloves. A man in a black cloak with Winchester’s coat of arms waits by the coach door. Winchester gets in and sits by Marian, who is already waiting in the coach. The cloaked man folds up the steps.) Winchester: “Home!” (The man mounts a horse next to a second black-cloaked man.)   Inside the coach. (Winchester grips Marian’s chin to force her to look at him.) Marian: “Get your hands off me.” Winchester: “Spirit… just like your mother. Do you know, I may keep you in your bondage for awhile after we arrive. It does suit you wonderfully.” (Marian jerks her head away.)

Sherwood Forest. (A road through a clearing.The gang are waiting off the road to intercept the coach and rescue Marian. All have gotten rid of their costumes, except that Much is still wearing a string of colourful ribbons. The coach enters the clearing.) Will: “Here they come. The road.” Robin: “Will, you take out the two outriders. Much, John, Djaq, you cover me while I rescue Marian.” (The coach stops just inside the clearing.) Much: “What are they doing? They’re stopping.” (Robin frowns in confusion. Marian looks out, coolly wondering if Robin is at work.) The road. (Winchester kicks down the steps and stands on the top one.) Winchester: “Why have we stopped? (The outriders turn their horses around, one to either side of the coach. The Sheriff pulls back his hood and faces Winchester. Surprised:) It’s you!” Sheriff: “Yes, me. (Gisborne, hooded, comes up behind Winchester.) Did you really think I would just smile and let you have Sussex? (Chuckles. Gisborne removes his hood.) A clue… (Shakes his head. Almost inaudibly:) No.” (Allan stands by the coach horse as Gisborne taps Winchester’s shoulder, his curved dagger in his hand. Winchester turns around.) Winchester: “Hm?” (Gisborne stabs Winchester as the Sheriff “ooh"s silently. Marian watches in horror from the coach. His plan gone awry, Robin is in shock and still watching from the trees with the gang. He regains his composure and remembers his objective. ) Robin: “Marian!” (Robin runs off through the trees around the clearing. Gisborne jabs his dagger in further as Allan miserably comforts the horse. Robin runs, bow and arrows in hand. Gisborne lets go of Winchester, who grabs his belly and coughs.)   Sheriff: "A little sweetener for you. (Winchester falls to his knees as Gisborne pokes his head into the coach.) A little bonus.” (Winchester lies dead on the ground. Gisborne helps Marian out and unlocks her shackles. Marian is staring at Winchester.) Gisborne: “You’re safe now, Marian.” Marian: “Thank you.” (Marian looks at the Sheriff, who chuckles, satisfied with his deed. Meanwhile, Robin has run around to the far side of the clearing only to find Marian sitting behind Gisborne on his horse and the Sheriff coming up beside them. The Sheriff looks at Gisborne and Marian as he passes them to take the lead.) Sheriff: “Sweet. Very sweet.” (They ride off, Robin watching wide-eyed in disbelief. Marian looks back at him plaintively. Robin’s anger flares as he is helpless to intervene.)  

Sherwood Forest. Outlaws’ camp. (A mud-like, unappealing stew bubbles in a pot over the fire. Much sighs and bangs his spoon in frustration on the lip of the pot. A bit of the ribbon decoration is still hanging from his temple. The rest of the gang sit forlornly round the camp, poking at the food on their plates. Robin kicks the compacted dirt under his seat with his heel.) Little John: (Irritably:) “What?” Much: “I’m trying to think of the good bit. (Little John sighs. Beside him, Djaq almost imperceptibly shakes her head at Much.) Even on a bad day there’s always something good. (Pauses.) What my mother used to say. (Little John starts to take a bite, but Much continues and Little John stops, annoyed as Much steps around him with bread for Robin and Will.) But today, Winchester’s betrayed us… (hands the bread to Robin and Will, then turns back for his kitchen)… the pact’s been signed, Allan is “Gisborne’s man,” Marian’s galloped off…(Much stops to look at Djaq vigorously shaking her head at him, but he ignores her warning, continuing to his kitchen. Turning around to face the gang:) I mean, help me out here ’cause I’m struggling!” Djaq: “Much, shut up.” (Much spoons himself a bowl and goes to sit on a large root near Robin’s feet.) Much: “Robin’s alive. That’s a good thing. That’s a very good thing. Because for a minute there that was looking—” Robin: (Interrupting:) “Shut up, Much!” Much: (Takes a spoonful.) “And if I may say so—” Little John: (Interrupting:) “Much, shut up!” Much: (Looks around at at them all.) “We can’t just eat in silence!” (Robin throws his crust of bread at Much.) Robin: “Shut up, Much!” (Will, Djaq and Little John all throw their bread at Much.)   Nottingham Castle. Isabella’s Chamber. (Isabella sits at her desk, fussing with some papers as she hears a knock at her door.) Isabella: “Come in. (Marian slowly enters the room.) You’re back.” Marian: (Nods.) “Guy told me it was you who convinced the Sheriff to come rescue me.” Isabella: “I just gave him a little nudge in the right direction.” Marian: “Well, I just wanted to thank you.” Isabella: (Coolly:) “Think nothing of it.” (The two look at one another for a moment then look away. There is an awkward silence between them due to their argument over Allan being the spy. Marian purses her lips, nods to herself and heads towards the door. Isabella looks as if she wants to say something, but can’t find the words.) Marian: (Opening the door, she stops and leans on it then turns back:) “Why didn’t you just tell me?” Isabella: (After a moment, honestly:) “I couldn’t. It had gone on too long. I thought if I could just take some of the blame off of Allan then Robin would forgive him.” Marian: “But Allan couldn’t give up the money.” Isabella: (Shakes her head:) “No. He’s made his choice, but we have an understanding.” Marian: (Turning back into the room:) “And what’s that exactly? (Grinning, despite herself:) Are you still sleeping with him?” Isabella: (Marian smiles wider, shaking her head as Isabella gives her a guilty look:) “Maybe a little. (Marian laughs.) Are you still flirting with my brother?” Marian: (Closes the door behind her, defensively:) “I do not flirt with him!” Isabella: (Snorts:) “Oh, who are you kidding? You’re shameless.” Marian: (Conceding:) “I may try and charm him for information occasionally but-” Isabella: “Semantics. (Isabella walks to the drinks table and pours out something strong for both of them.) Just be careful. My brother is not to be trusted.” Marian: “What about the Commander? (Isabella looks at her:) You’ve met her, can she be trusted?” Isabella: “Ah. (Picks up the drinks and hands one to Marian:) We’re going to be completely honest and open with each other from now on, correct? (Marian nods, Isabella sighs:) Then take a seat, there’s something I have to tell you.”

[marcusssanderson]

50 Letting Go Quotes For Finally Moving On

Looking for inspirational letting go quotes to help you make the tough walk forward?

One of the most difficult tasks any individual can master is the ability to let go of the past, and move forward towards their future.

There is a saying that depression is living in the past, anxiety is worrying about the future, and true contentment is living in the present. I know this to be true for my patients and in my work.

However, if an individual can learn to master the skills of letting go of past hurts and grievances they are holding on to, and to stop worrying about every possible case scenario in the future that can go wrong – then they can truly feel a sense of peace, and have a more successful and meaningful present, in all areas of their lives.

Below are some quotes on the ideas of letting go and moving on, that I hope will plant kernels of inspiration and grounding for your life. With this new found peace and lightness, great things can be accomplished, and your life can be more fully enjoyed.

Letting Go Quotes about Relationship

1.) “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

2.) “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

3.) “Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake & help us see we are worth so much more than we’re settling for.” ― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

4.) “Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.” ― Shannon L. Alder

5.) “If letting go, if letting people and things work themselves out in the way that they needed to without your help was the most important thing, then it was also the hardest.” ― Deb Caletti, The Six Rules of Maybe

6.) “When someone you love says goodbye you can stare long and hard at the door they closed and forget to see all the doors God has open in front of you.” ― Shannon L. Alder

8.) “When we think we have been hurt by someone in the past, we build up defenses to protect ourselves from being hurt in the future. So the fearful past causes a fearful future and the past and future become one. We cannot love when we feel fear…. When we release the fearful past and forgive everyone, we will experience total love and oneness with all.” ― Gerald G. Jampolsky

9.) “If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you’re allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.” ― Shannon L. Alder

10.) “If you want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her. Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart; if you want to let go of something, if you want to forget, you cannot hate.” ― C. JoyBell C.

11.) “There is no such thing as a “broken family.” Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart. The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you.” ― C. JoyBell C.

12.) “If you didn’t love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” ― Sarah Dessen, Dreamland

13.) “I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” ― Jeffrey McDaniel

14.) “Let go of certainty. The opposite isn’t uncertainty. It’s openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.” ― Tony Schwartz

15.) “Being different is a revolving door in your life where secure people enter and insecure exit.” ― Shannon L. Alder

17.) “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

18.) “Love is never supposed to hurt. Love is supposed to heal, to be your haven from misery, to make living fucking worthwhile.” ― Mia Asher, Arsen: A Broken Love Story

19.) “The most difficult aspect of moving on is accepting that the other person already did.” ― FaraazKazi

Inspirational Letting Go quotes about Life

20.) “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

21.) “We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better.” ― C. JoyBell C.

22.) “There are times in life when people must know when not to let go. Balloons are designed to teach small children this.” ― Terry Pratchett

23.) “Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.” ― Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons

24.) “Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ― Ann Landers

25.) “Even on my weakest days I get a little bit stronger” ― Sara Evans

26.) “Most things are forgotten over time. Even the war itself, the life-and-death struggle people went through is now like something from the distant past. We’re so caught up in our everyday lives that events of the past are no longer in orbit around our minds. There are just too many things we have to think about everyday, too many new things we have to learn. But still, no matter how much time passes, no matter what takes place in the interim, there are some things we can never assign to oblivion, memories we can never rub away. They remain with us forever, like a touchstone.” ― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

28.) “I’m guilty of giving people more chances than they deserve but when I’m done, I’m done.” ― Turcois Ominek

29.) “I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to move forward” ― Fridtjof Nansen

30.) “I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It’s okay if you have to leave us. It’s okay if you want to stop fighting.” ― Gayle Forman, If I Stay

31.) “Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” ― Deborah Reber, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

32.) “A star falls from the sky and into your hands. Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside your blood and becomes every part of you. And then you have to put it back into the sky. And it’s the most painful thing you’ll ever have to do and that you’ve ever done. But what’s yours is yours. Whether it’s up in the sky or here in your hands. And one day, it’ll fall from the sky and hit you in the head real hard and that time, you won’t have to put it back in the sky again.” ― C. JoyBell C.

34.) “One of the best times for figuring out who you are and what you really want out of life? Right after a break-up.” ― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

35.) “If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you’ve made, if they don’t realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go.” ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Letting Go Quotes about Forgiveness

36.) “Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.” ― Gerald G. Jampolsky, Love Is Letting Go of Fear

37.) “Letting go. Everyone talks about it like it’s the easiest thing. Unfurl your fingers one by one until your hand is open. But my hand has been clenched into a fist for three years now; it’s frozen shut.” ― Gayle Forman, Where She Went

38.) “The truth was, he now belonged only to my past, and it was time I begin to accept it, as much as it hurt to do so.” ― Tammara Webber, Easy

39.) “And I told him, I said: “One day you’re going to miss the subway because it’s not going to come. One of these days, it’s going to break down and it’s not going to come around and everyone else will just wait for the next one or will take the bus, or walk, or run to the next station: they will go on with their lives. And you’re not going to be able to go on with your life! You’ll be standing there, in the subway station, staring at the tube. Why? Because you think that everything has to happen perfectly and on time and when you think it’s going to happen! Well guess what! That’s not how things happen! And you’ll be the only one who’s not going to be able to go on with life, just because your subway broke down. So you know what, you’ve got to let go, you’ve got to know that things don’t happen the way you think they’re going to happen, but that’s okay, because there’s always the bus, there’s always the next station…you can always take a cab.” ― C. JoyBell C.

40.) “There ain’t no way you can hold onto something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it.” ― Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie

42.) “Last night I lost the world, and gained the universe.” ― C. JoyBell C.

43.) “The day I understood everything, was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go.” ― C. JoyBell C.

44.) “Your time is way too valuable to be wasting on people that can’t accept who you are.” ― TurcoisOminek

45.) “No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.” ― Haruki Murakami

46.) “When you leave, weary of me, without a word I shall gently let you go.” ― Kim Sowol

47.) “Nothing ever happens like you imagine it will… but then again, if you don’t imagine, nothing ever happens at all. Imagining isn’t perfect. You can’t get all the way inside someone else… But imagining being someone else, or the world being something else, is the only way in. It is the machine that kills the fascists” ― John Green, Paper Towns

48.) “Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Realize the past no longer holds you captive. It can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. A simply abundant world awaits. (January 11)” ― Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

50.) “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” ― Nicole Sobon, Program 13

Which letting go quotes stood out to you most and why?

Letting go and moving on of love, anger, expectations or burdens is never an easy thing to do. But it’s something we all need to learn if we want to discover better things in life. Hopefully, these wise words have given you strength and inspiration to do what you believe is right.

The post 50 Letting Go Quotes For Finally Moving On appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

[wayneooverton]

10 epic things to do in New Zealand that aren’t hiking

It’s no secret that New Zealand is a world-renowned hiking mecca.

Open any magazine feature or Instagram page and you’re likely to see an impossibly small human perched precariously in front of towering mountains. Who wouldn’t want to go walking in that scenery? But for many people, hiking just isn’t for them. So what’s a person to do when traveling to a country famous for its nature?

Fear not, anti-hikers! New Zealand has something for everyone and despite what you see on Instagram, there’s heaps to do that doesn’t involve lacing up a pair of bulky, smelly boots and trudging up a mountain. 

Whether you aren’t in the mood or it’s winter and the peaks are cut off, here are 10 epic things to doand our favorite  alternatives to hiking in New Zealand.

9 ways hiking in New Zealand will change your life

1. Drink all the wine (and the beer too!)

New Zealand has been in the wine game for a loooong time but the wine scene has really taken off the past 50 years with the industry growing 17% per year.

Some would say the Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough Sound region is among the best in the world! Further down the South Island, the Central Otago region makes some impressive Pinot Noir. The North Island is holding its own with the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

New Zealanders are proud of their wine and are eager to share their love with those who are curious. Most large vineyards offer tours and (often free!) wine tastings throughout the year.

If you’re more of a beer drinker, you’ll be happy to know the craft beer scene is growing in New Zealand too.

It’s becoming more and more common to find local breweries getting creative with beer. Brewpubs are becoming increasingly popular as well so it’s easier than ever to enjoy a local beer straight from the source!

Many of them are also paired with delicious restaurants and there are more and more beer festivals popping up around the country.

2. Go hang out on the farm

Just because you don’t want to hike doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the best of New Zealand’s scenery.

Visitors to NZ looking to escape the well-worn tourist tracks will find that a lot of the land is privately owned but what seems impassable and closed off is often available to visitors in the form of a homestay or farm tour.

When I came to New Zealand, I was inexplicably fascinated by sheep. There are so many of them! And they are everywhere! And they’re so fluffy! If you’re anything like I was, you might enjoy a farm stay where you can get up close and personal with the farm animals and learn all about sheep farming. You might even get to see an actual muster which is in the running for my top favorite things to witness in New Zealand.

Sunset at Shortland Shed

Lake Heron Station in Canterbury (2.5 hours from Christchurch) is an classic high country merino sheep station that has a delightful historic and cozy cottage you can stay in. Farming is a way of life in New Zealand, and staying on a farm is a great way to experience this.

Canopy Camping looks after a lot of glamping sites in New Zealand, many of them are also on farms. Shortlands Shed in Central Otago is a stunning off-the-grid cabin on a sheep farm while you can even glamp on a farm up on the Kauri Coast in Northland in the forest.

Overlooking the homestead at Lake Heron Station

3. Go on a road trip

Another great way to be immersed in the New Zealand magic is to see it by car.

Many people going to New Zealand opt out of renting a car and I get it: The roads are narrow and winding, and many aren’t for the faint of heart. Most visitors are accustomed to driving on the left side of the road either. There’s a whole new set of road rules to know (hello backward roundabouts!).

But if you ask me, indulging in a good old-fashioned road trip is one of the best ways to experience the country.

Sure, you can take buses but having the freedom to explore an unknown road or stop for a picnic with a sweeping vista is non-negotiable. New Zealand is a small country and with a car, you can really pack in a lot of different landscapes into a few short days. Beaches, mountains, rainforests, flatlands, rolling hills, towering fiords. You’ll be treated to some of the coolest roads in the country and have the freedom to spend more time in the places you love.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, rent a luxury car, like an Aston Martin convertible from Queenstown with Ignition Self Drive and road trip to Milford Sound!

Fast cars aren’t just for boys

4. Get up in the air and soar over the amazing landscapes

There’s something so humbling about being at the base of a mountain and looking up but perhaps even more stunning than the views from the bottom is the view from the top. Taking a helicopter or plane ride will put you at eye level with the mountain giants and will give you a new perspective of the country you’re visiting.

There’s truly nothing like seeing a braided river from high above. It looks like a contemporary art piece!

Helicopter and plane rides are offered pretty much everywhere in New Zealand but my preference is in the Southern Alps. Being nose to nose with Mt. Cook or Mt. Aspiring is truly an unforgettable experience, and nothing beats flying to Milford Sound in a helicopter. Many operators will do a glacier landing so you can get out and walk on a glacier without having to get there on your own two feet.

Over the Top Helicopters in Queenstown also have some incredible places they fly to, and I always recommend a scenic flight for anyone in New Zealand looking to take their trip to the next level.

5. Get out on the water

New Zealand’s mountain landscapes are undeniably impressive but perhaps equally if not more impressive is the plethora of bodies of water found in every corner of the country. And when I say water, I’m not talking about a murky river or a polluted lake. This water here is unbelievable: crystal clear and turquoise blue and largely uncontaminated in the mountains. 

Take a jet boat and do donuts in a shallow river, explore the sea water of Milford Sound by kayak, book a boat cruise and float between icebergs in a glacial lake at Mt. Cook. Get out on the water and experience New Zealand’s raw nature for yourself. 

Whether you want a high energy experience or a low-key cruise, there’s an option for every traveler all year round!

Kayaking Milford Sound in the pouring rain

6. Soak your tired bones in some of the natural hot springs

New Zealand is a country with lots of geothermal activity. If you wanted to, you could hike to the top of an active volcano, the ever popular Mount Ngauruhoe. But this isn’t a blog post about hiking so let’s talk about the other excellent benefit of having heaps of geothermal activity going on all over the country: hot springs!

These little pools of soothing hot water are a popular all-season activity.

Everyone loves soaking in a piping hot bath and it’s even better when it’s all natural and found in the wild. Of course, for those who want to be luxurious, you can easily find spas that pump in spring water to a human-made pool. If that’s your jam, check out Hamner Springs or Tekapo.

If you want the real deal, head towards Rotorua or the West Coast of the South Island. There are so many hot springs, you could form your entire trip itinerary around hitting the hot spring spots.

7. Eat like a Kiwi

New Zealand’s cafe culture is unlike anywhere else in the world except for maybe Australia. I’ve already raved about the coffee scene but there’s something to be said about New Zealand food too.

7 reasons why New Zealand’s coffee culture rules

Where I come from, pie is a sweet dessert, often with baked fruit in a buttery flakey pastry crust. Thanks to the British influence, in New Zealand, a pie is a savory filling in a buttery pastry. It took me a while to wrap my head around savory meat pies but I’m a total convert now. You could easily spend a few weeks sampling all the different pie flavors!

Every New Zealand cafe is filled with the same delicious sweet treats. Ginger crunch, caramel slice, tan square, oat and date slice, afghan bikkies, anzacs, carrot cake, decadent brownies.

If you’re someone who likes to experience the local food, allow yourself some time to cafe hop so you can really enjoy the best New Zealand has to offer. If you’re trying to be healthy, you can still eat your way through the towns. Pick up some local produce from the supermarket when you pass through.

My favorites are feijoas, greengages, kumara, and blackcurrants! Hot tip: stay far far away from avocados when you’re on the South Island. They are delicious but at $7 per avocado, you’ll quickly break the bank.

Where to wine, dine and caffeinate in Wellington, New Zealand

8. Find the all of the wildlife – it’s birds

It might seem surprising that wildlife is so huge in New Zealand seeing that the islands have no native mammal life but New Zealand has so much to offer to those wanting to get up close and personal with the animals.

An all-time favorite is a trip to Stewart Island which gives you the best chance of seeing the endangered Kiwi bird in the wild. Head to Dunedin if to see the Albatross Centre. If you road trip through the Catlins, stop at Curio Bay where you have a good chance of seeing endangered yellow-eyed penguins and larger than life sea lions.

A drive through Milford is sure to show you a few cheeky keas and if you’re really strapped for time, just go outside wherever you are and surround yourself with the beautiful birdsong. Seriously, you might want to record it on your phone because it’s so loud and amazing you’ll never want to forget it!

If you get the chance, head to one of the many eco-sanctuaries and predator-free reserves in New Zealand where you have a better chance of seeing some of the really endangered birds, like takahe and kiwi.

9. Embrace the seasonal activities, especially winter

New Zealand has very distinct seasons and while none of them are particularly that harsh, each season is definitely unique with its own special flair. Down in the South Island, you really have four distinct seasons, just the opposite time of year than the north. 

With ski fields dotted all over the country, it’s no surprise that winter in New Zealand can be just as popular as summer.

In the Queenstown-Wanaka area, you have access to four major ski fields all within an hours drive. If you want to try something different, you can try the club ski fields where you’re towed up the mountain on a nutcracker device. Quirky!

You can even try out cross country skiing if you want to get some winter sun but not hyped on the ski field crowds. And of course heli-skiing is at the top of many bucketlists, but it isn’t cheap. 

Stargazing is one of the activities offered at Cardrona Resort

If none of those are your jam, try ice skating in Queenstown or dogsledding near Cardrona or snowshoeing in the Pisa Range. At the very least, drive to the top of the Crown Range and build yourself a snowman or make a snow angel. It will be fun, I promise.

One of my favorite activities has to be flying up to the Tasman Glacier in a ski plane and doing a guided snowshoeing activity on New Zealand’s longest glacier.

8 reasons to visit the South Island in winter

10. Stay in a hut

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Those stunning huts perched on the edge of a mountain you’re always seeing photos of? Yeah, they’re amazing. BUT, did you know you can also get the full hut experience without actually having to do any hiking whatsoever? 

No big bag to lug around for hours. No compromising on how many layers to bring. And definitely not leaving behind the wine. There are some huts that are accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles and you can literally drive to the doorstep, like New Hut at Lake Heron Station. Many are private but some are monitored by DOC.

And if you’re really feeling fancy, you could also hire a helicopter to drop you into those alpine huts. You don’t have to be a mountain goat to enjoy these little beauties in the wild.

Do you love nature but aren’t a big hiker? Do any of these appeal to you? What’s your fave? Share!

The post 10 epic things to do in New Zealand that aren’t hiking appeared first on Young Adventuress.

from Young Adventuress https://ift.tt/2KFbrsB

[welimos-blog]

10 best places to explore in and around Monmouth County using a Limousine

Monmouth County located in center of New Jersey, an interesting town worth visiting for its festival features, ocean grove, live entertainment, outdoor activities, food, games and music. Monmouth County offers a plenty of activities to do with its unspoiled ocean beaches, array of historic sites, parks, best racetracks, deep sea for freshwater fishing, shopping and restaurants to serve delicious food. Monmouth is a natural area of boating and fishing as Manasquan River serves as the starting point of the Intracoastal Waterway which attracts record breaking tourists each weekend during the peak season. It is a land that hosts many parks, Museums and old mansions. Along with the public airports, Monmouth Executive Airport and Monmouth jet center are two beautiful and longest private runways in the county offer the opportunity to learn flying with its safest and stress free training module.

1) iPlay America – A place to indulge in fun

There’s always something fun and exciting happen at iPlay America as it offer fun for all age. Kids, teens and adults will find something special to do at iPlay America. iPlay America offers many thrilling activities to enjoy which starts with Freedom rider roller coaster, playing with laser tag, free flight experience from kite flyers, 4D theaters, happy swings, and more. People and children will come for their children party, VIP party, cosmic battle party, Ultra party and more in iPlay America. Many company functions, corporate events and various types of foods, drinks are also offered by iPlay America to its customers. Status, comfort and luxury are factors which always influence People around the world and one might find a reason to hire luxurious ground transport from airport or hotels to iPlay America to mark their occasion memorable.

2)Adventurous Parasailing over sea

Fly like a bird to challenge the gravity, touch the clouds in sky and fly 500 feet above the Atlantic Ocean over pods of dolphins under the sunshine can be a great opportunity to visitors if they choose their adventure tour destination in summer for Parasailing in Monmouth County. Parasailing offers opportunity of parachuting, ballooning, sailing and gliding a grand option for adventure, experience and a ride of your life. One can ride solo or with friends to enjoy the shore and ocean water by parachuting, sailing, gliding and ballooning in one ride. Staffs of Limousine service providers strives to plan and organize all events of Parasailing and other needs of clients with their top transportation facility from arrival and departure in luxury vehicles which cannot be served by traditional vehicles.

3)Monmouth Park Race track

Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. The Park is accessible by car as it is connected to highways and roads. Parking is available in several side of the park site and the racing season for Monmouth Park runs from mid-May through to the beginning of September. The race track also offer its Dawn Patrol a popular tour that occurs on Thursday and Friday mornings from June to August and offer opportunity of tram ride, horse-training, meeting with jockeys and a discussion about the track’s history.

4)Belmar the best beach town in Monmouth

Belmar’s mile-long stretch of beach is one of the cleanest and most beautiful of all the beaches in Monmouth. Belmar is a beautiful community blessed with small town, rural beauty and a reach community life with recreational activities enjoyed by visitors. People are offered to swim, sun bath, fishing, surfing, boogie board on its clean and safe sea water. It also offers sandy white beaches to leisurely walk on its beautiful landscape walkway. A mile long walkway offer an incredible panoramic views of Atlantic Ocean along with its well-established attractions, restaurants, amazing pub, dinner paired with great drinks and entertainment. The luxury car tour operators from the time of booking are concerned with all aspect and schedules regarding journey of their client which cannot be worked out by traditional vehicle owners.

5)Morey’s Piers a beachfront Water Park

Located in the center of the Wildwood walkway, a compact amusement park over the beach which has every little thing for everyone is Morey’s Piers. Morey’s Piers, the largest amusement place in the world offers Surfside pier, mariner’s pier, Adventure pier, Raging Waters water park which includes more than 100 exciting amusement park rides and attractions. Kids enjoy all great rides on roller coasters; parents can relax with wonderful family friendly atmosphere that features beverage service, private shelter rentals, and outdoor pools. You should make your family travel in style using a high end luxury vehicle to this destination.

6) Overall Historic sites to explore

As a visitor you should educate yourself about the great historic inheritance and pride of Monmouth County. Monmouth County is a home to many ancient estates, Castles and old mansions like Fort Hancock Life saving station, Fort Monmouth historic district, T. Thomas fortune house, Church of the president, Christ Church, The Carlton Theater, Major John Burrows to get a glimpse into New Jersey’s Victorian past. Many Historic places like Monmouth battlefield state park, Monmouth battle monuments and ancient structures in Monmouth County can be seen through its distinctive architecture, decorative arts and ancient pictures. Visitors can be carefully navigated in luxury vehicles around the city allowing them to have a look over the ancient monuments very closely as compared to traditional vehicle. During journey in a luxury vehicle with a professional guide one must be able to know and feel about the past history of pride structures in Monmouth County. Limousine service providers are keen towards their client’s interest and make these things possible and worry free for clients as comparable to traditional vehicle.

7) World class vineyard culture

People travel Monmouth County to spend their valuable time and need not to go Napa or Sonoma to discover the finest wine yard scene as Monmouth County is also a home to many vineyards. World class Quality Sparkling Wine are made at White Castle Vineyard, Ancre Hill Estates Vineyard, Sugarloaf Vineyards, Parva farm vineyard the four major vineyard in the county. The farms are open year-round for visiting and enjoying the vineyard tour. The vineyards not only sell wide variety of wine, but also offer local made honey, preserved cheese, to its visitors. People who work there are friendly people and wine tasting houses are great and worth a tour from anywhere in the state. People around the world warmly invited to visit Vineyards for experiencing the beauty & tranquility served through its best quality wine. Monmouth County Limousine operators offer luxurious ground transport services to its visitor through fleets adorned with luxurious leather seating, well fitted sound system, comprehensive beverage selection and qualified chauffeurs to serve the true filling of a celebrity during vineyard journey.

8) Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure is an amusement park located in Jackson, New Jersey. The park complex is a concept plan for great adventure entertainment which include an amusement park, a Wild Safari animal park, a show park, a floral park, a sports complex, a shopping district, a campground, Hurricane Harbor water park, movie town, restaurants. Combination of more amusement option makes Six Flags Great Adventure as the second-largest theme park in the world. A big balloon that loomed over the park’s entrance was the biggest of its kind in the world. The plan of park is done in such a manner as it flows naturally through the forest and lakes, capitalizing on the back-to-nature movement. Fantasy Forest was originally a part of its entrance and designed to make its visitors like a child and give a magical feel. Movie town is used to be the Fun Fair and Action Town sections of the park. Six Flags Great Adventure is patch up with spider webs, smoke machines, and thrilling decorations. Actors dress up in scary costumes and walk around to frighten guests is one of the most popular attractions at Fright Fest every year. People of all age can be well amused himself with lots of entertaining opportunity that Six Flags Great Adventure offers. Visitors can hire luxurious vehicle to spend their time over Six Flags Great Adventure park and come back home with good memories.

9)Monmouth County park Systems

As a plan of perfect wedding it can be considered Monmouth County park Systems a great outdoor location to exchange the wedding. One can be pleased by beautiful garden, environment, Park systems wedding location, recreational opportunities, upgrade facilities and infrastructure of Monmouth County Park Systems. Clients always need to spare the most important day of a lifetime by a luxurious vehicle. The County park systems also offer the best golf course which attract golfers from various places and share some experience over the green field. The County Park system invites various events like Environmental education programme,Urban Recreation, summer camps, Scout troop group activities, Sea festival and many more are the attraction points of travelers memory.

10)Extraordinary fishing Experiencing

The super fishing action attracts visitors most of the day in Monmouth County.It can be a great fishing action if families and friends come together and join the exciting day in The Golden eagle which is a premier charter fishing boat in Belmar, New Jersey. Captain and the crew member offer best possible customer service for fishing and cruising experience .The Golden Eagle have full gallery space to relax and serve breakfast with spacious indoor cabin and clean sanitation facility. The Sea Hunter is also have a good reputation as one of the most popular party boatand offers clean and comfortable accommodation with a family atmosphere. It is equipped with latest electronic gadget to get position of fish and provide visitors a safe and comfortable day for fishing. For an excellent fishing action one can be joined with the Golden Eagle or the Sea Hunter in search of blue fish and relaxing over the sea.

Conclusion

Monmouth County Limousine service providers are the specialists to meet all requirement related to plan a business, meeting, exhibition, conference, seminars and lots of events. A luxury vehicle can reach you in few minutes with competent drivers to assist you for your corporate transfers, business appointments.We Limos – through our Monmouth County Limousine service bother about client’s precious time and purpose of journey and cautious about our duty and professionalism and a most sought after company among various ground transport service providers. We Limos are a ground transport service provider in Monmouth county offering the best online reservation system of booking where we offer our services 24 hours a day seven days a week. Our team of qualified and professional chauffeurs takes care of clients from arrival at airports or stations by assigned driver waiting client with a registered panel handle luggage and track them towards their destination in Monmouth County. We are having our own fleets of vehicles adapted to client’s budget and needs with professionally trained chauffeurs to ensure a safe and reliable ground transportation service. Contact us anytime and enjoy a safe and luxury journey with our Limousine Service to anywhere in Monmouth County. For any inquiry or advance booking feel free to call us at (732) 8294429

[comiconverse]

Game Review: Gravity Rush 2

Gravity Rush 2 is a gravity-defying adventure game out now for PlayStation 4. Alan Stock slips into his sexy nurse outfit and takes a break from the skies to bring you this review for ComiConverse.

Game Review: Gravity Rush 2

It’s been a while since I played a game with so many contrasts. In Gravity Rush 2, one minute you feel like a complete bad-ass in some wild anime movie, soaring through the sky, unleashing devastating attacks on your enemies and it all looks so damned good. And the next minute you’re flailing around in the air, smacking off things like a clumsy oaf, disorientated and confused, battling the camera and controls. It’s a game where one mission could see you fighting Gravity Shifters around floating islands in a swirling sky full of explosions, but in the next mission you could be waiting in a pancake stall line chatting to the customers, or taking a photo of an old lady and her son outside his new shop. These are the strange range of experiences that the world of Gravity Rush offers.

I didn’t play the first Gravity Rush, or really know anything about it, so I came into the sequel with no preconceptions. The first thing that struck me was the incredible graphics. Normally this is low on my list of priorities – but this game is simply gorgeous. In fact I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of the most beautiful games of all time – and that’s saying something. It’s not just the high fidelity visuals, with its subtly cel-shaded characters against detailed, lavish environments. It’s the overall quality of graphical design that seeps through every part of Gravity Rush 2.

Incredible environment design, lovely palettes from vibrant colours to muted pastels, amazing lighting, visual filters and impressive special effects combine to create a truly mind-blowing visual feast. Artistic polish extends to the most minor details, from the in-game menus to the attractive animated comic dialogue scenes. It looks great in screenshots but you have to see this game in motion to really appreciate it – the world comes alive with shifting clouds, twinkling motes of dust, swirling gravity storms, changing hues, the bustle of flying life and amazing character animation as you leap, bound and fly through the environment, arms flailing, hair billowing in the wind. It really looks at times as though you are watching an insanely expensive Japanese movie – and is set to some sweet jazz and orchestral tunes.

But enough gushing over the graphics. What do you do in Gravity Rush 2?  You play as Kat, a feisty girl with the power to control gravity itself – called Gravity Shifting. This lets you fly around the sky at will – simply point in a direction and hit a button and you will ‘fall’ in that direction. You can stop your movement and hover in midair by pressing the same button. Although initially, this control method seems restrictive compared to standard flight games, you soon get used to it, constantly readjusting your direction as you surge through the air – with an excellent sense of speed. You can adjust your aim once flying by tilting the joypad, but this never feels that intuitive and there’s so much going on it’s easy to forget- instead it’s easier to simply move the camera with the joystick. You explore and get around environments by taking to the skies, unless a mission restricts your use of Gravity Shifting. You have aerial charge attacks, a crappy dodge, and you can use a stasis bubble to pick up nearby objects – they’ll float around you until you fling them at a target. A gravity meter limits the amount of time that you can Gravity Shift for, but it drains slowly and refills after just a few seconds of falling or landing, meaning staying airborne is easy. Checkpoints are also numerous and generous throughout the game, death isn’t too punishing.

Back on ground, Kat’s abilities are your standard adventure game affair – run, jump, kick, dodge. But, if she lands on a wall or ceiling whilst Gravity Shifting she can also run along them – although you don’t need to use this much (thankfully – it’s really confusing). She can also use a Gravity Slide to surf along surfaces at speed. Although at the start of the game you are a land-lubber, you soon get access to Gravity Shifting and the freedom and speed of movement it provides is exhilarating. As you progress through the game you eventually unlock two other types of Gravity Style which provide variations on the gravity gameplay and combat, and they are fun too, although they don’t change flying much – which is what you spend most of your time doing. Switching Gravity Style is done instantly through a flick of the touchpad allowing you a bit of strategy in how to approach encounters.

There’s also lots of combat, usually against the boring amorphous black blobs baddies called the Navi, thugs, or military factions. Combat runs into problems and goes hand in hand with problems with flying. Although when they both work fine, it’s a joy to play, at other times you will be shouting abuse at your screen. The main culprits are the camera and the imprecise control you feel when moving around at speed. Most attacks rely on a loose targeting system, without any lock-on option. As you’re usually flying around at speed, overshooting or missing your target is very easy to do and you find yourself wheeling around for missed attacks. Judging distances and stopping at the correct spots is difficult too. Add to this a disorientation of moving fast around a 3D space where attacks and enemies move and attack from all directions and things can turn sour. It often feels like you’re not in control enough of what you’re doing, and it gets frustrating. The game also occasionally forces you into tight indoor spaces, where the camera and your speed of movement just can’t cope, making for some miserable sections that are annoying and disorienting.

But when it works, it works well – combo attacks are satisfying, as are landing mid-air charge kicks and various special attacks. Some boss battles feel and look like Manga duels that you’re taking part in. Chasing speeding opponents through the air as the world rushes past is brilliant when everything just clicks. The pure freedom. Like I said at the start, it’s a game of contrasts – where you can go from feeling empowered to frustrated in a heartbeat.

The price of power in Gravity Rush 2 is that at times it feels a bit too much. The game relies heavily on nav-points to get you from A to B, and the fact you can fly at will means you don’t often need to do much more than aim in the right direction and hold a button. Some missions and sidequests encourage exploration, and others limit your powers somewhat making you use the other movement abilities at Kat’s disposal, but these are the exceptions. The playgrounds it gives you in the amazing environments are wonderful, but ther’s little incentive to play around with the tools available because flying is so strong. But on the flipside, you won’t get much closer to a game where you feel like Superman all the time.

The world of Gravity Rush 2 is one of fantastical floating islands, providing a lovely landscape and a perfect playground for you to use your gravity-defying abilities. The environments are vast and mostly seamless with a great sense of scale – you can fly for many minutes before you’ll hit any kind of barrier. Free-fall can induce vertigo in the faint-hearted, as you plummet through clouds. Fortunately, Kat can soak up a ground smashing fall impact without a scratch, although of course, the pros like me will try to Gravity Switch at the last instant for a cool save.

Much of the game takes place in huge cities made up of separate floating districts or houseboats, often layered vertically, making full use of the sky. Flying cars and craft putter the airways although strangely, there’s a lack of birds in the sky, a bit of a shame given the subject matter. A colourful populace of all ages and races fill the streets and markets. Exploring and navigating these spaces is a joy – they’re very detailed and look fantastic, each area with its own distinct theme and look. There’s also other worlds and fantastical dimensions to experience which are gorgeous in their own right, natural or mystical – a welcome break from the tenements, towers and domes of the cities.

But although flying around these busy skies is a large part of the experience, Gravity Rush 2 has a big focus on people. Kat begins her adventure in a floating mining village made up of conjoined houseboats, and her interactions with her friends and its crew play a big part in the story. Quests are usually to help other characters with tasks both big and small, Kat being rather prone to be taken advantage of by some pretty unscrupulous characters. Major story events are told through lovely animated comics, as the village reaches the big city and events of more magnitude start to take course. The city teems with people all going about their daily life. This is no RPG though, chat is limited to key characters, or when a mission dictates you can interrogate the public for information (an often-annoying rigmarole). The populace of this world are a very forgiving bunch, and long-suffering – as you happily play around with gravity in their vicinity, destroying stalls, ruining houses, knocking people over, accidentally levitating them, usually followed by a fall into the great void below.

This isn’t really a serious game though – the lack of consequence for tomfoolery like this, and the general fun and charming attitude of the game overall is refreshing. Kat is a cheery and playful girl, and there’s plenty of wit and humour sprinkled throughout the story and missions. Gravity Rush 2 excels in the silly, especially through amusing side missions and has a likeable, colourful cast of characters. When the stakes are raised, it’s never for too long, and there’s always some pleasant distraction to break things up. Case in point: in one mission you infiltrate a military base to help a deadly revolution, but along the way you get mistaken for a performing troup’s singer and then end up warbling over a smooth jazz band for the base’s crew, changing of course into a little sexy red number!

When you aren’t flying around during missions, you’ll be doing all manner of random tasks, whether that’s in the main story or the many side-quests. There” a lot of filler here, fly from A to B, fetch quests, follow the slow-moving dude, escort missions, collect all the things, and so on. A number of ill-conceived stealth missions are present – which become infuriating thanks to poor visual communication and instant fails when spotted. Other tasks are better and provide interesting uses for your powers. Kat has a nasty habit of doing random errands for citizens and friends, ranging from the mundane and tedious to the brilliant.

One funny mission has you taking photos of pretty young ladies for a pervy old man who claims ill health – Kat falls for it hook line and sinker, so you have to go around asking girls in the street for photos. As you can imagine, the chap is pretty pleased when he gets them…. Credit: Sony

Kat gets given a camera when she arrives in the city, and some missions have her taking photos of places and people, or doing treasure hunts based on finding a location in a photo she’s been given. It’s a lot of fun. Although some missions are simply boring like the aforementioned filler, others have a lot of imagination and make you use a range of your abilities. Memorable encounters include a police training excercise, doing stunts for a movie shoot, and taking a boy on a treasure hunt around his hometown following photographic clues from his deceased grandfather. So, there’s plenty of diversion from simply flying around. Sadly, despite the imagination in some of the scenarios, the gameplay reality doesn’t always match – some tasks can be laborious, tedious, frustrating or unfair. Some story missions feature unimaginative linear environments featuring stone tablets which force your through uninspiring challenges which strip your powers or make you fight waves of spawning enemies. Although sometimes it’s fun to have your all-powerful abilities restricted just so you have to try some other skills like the fun Lunar jumps, it gets a bit old – one of gaming’s oldest and most annoying tricks of taking all your toys away.

Gravity Rush 2’s story is a mixed bag, there’s plenty of heart to it and side-missions flesh out Kat’s relationships with the many side-characters in the game. However especially as the main story goes on, it throws more and more big plot events and characters seemingly randomly at you – keeping the action going strong. But many of these events feel like they’ve come from nowhere, having little to no set-up, and consequential moments for the characters and the game world as a whole are skimmed over and not really explored in any depth. It’s not a huge deal as story isn’t the main driving factor behind the game – overall it makes a better effort than many games in this kind of genre, and the setting is great. Playing the first Gravity Rush game isn’ required to understand or enjoy what’s going on, but a lot of the cast re-appears eventually, and the story continues where the first left off. Be sure to play beyond the final credits, as there are a number of extra story chapters to play through to reach the true ending, which has lots of story tie-in to the first game and the world’s events.

I have to give special mention to the extra challenges and photo tools available. Time trials and combat challenges allow you to aim for high scores and challenge other players. The game has a really nice integration online – a news feed trickles in challenges available from other players and you encounter them on your explorations within the game world. The treasure hunt feature is the best though – similar to the single player versions, you get a photo from another player showing you a photo giving you a clue to a nearby treasure location. If you find the treasure, they also get a reward when they next log in. If you’re successful you then take a new photo clue for that treasure, continuing the chain for a future player. It’s a wonderful idea and there’s plenty of these to find. Continuing the photo fun, you can also share your in-game photos online, in the game world you’ll find spots where other players have taken photos – which you can view and rate to give them rewards. Your photos might also be found and rated by others. As you complete side missions and other content, you unlock more filters, costumes, poses and props which you can use in your photos.

Despite some rough edges in gameplay, tedium and inconsistency throughout Gravity Rush 2, you can always forgive it. Its so full of charm, a sense of joy and character – and nothing beats the pure fun of flying or falling around these amazing environments with such tear-inducingly gorgeous visuals. Its a real spectacle that I encourage everyone to experience, it might not be perfect; but in environment design, art style and freedom of movement it soars above many of its peers.

  The post Game Review: Gravity Rush 2 appeared first on ComiConverse.

[swordarkeereon]

Author Interview: Josh Matthews #hellgate #horror

What genre(s) do you write and why?  I’ve written mostly in horror because it gives me the freedom to do what I want. When you write in other genres, such as crime or mysteries, you have to adhere to certain rules and conventions. With horror there are no limitations. My favorite part is creating unique monsters and settings, allowing me to let my imagination run wild. However, I’m trying something new with my latest manuscript, which is a dark political thriller about the Pentagon using scientifically-augmented assassins to go after North Korean leader Kim Chong-un.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? I’m a plotter. I spend weeks developing the storyline in my mind and jotting down scenes/dialogue/character quirks on 3×5 cards and ordering them. Most of the book is written out in my head before I sit down to draft it. Sometimes the book develops a life of its own and takes me places I had not originally planned, which is fine with me. Often those scenes are better than the ones I had outlined.

What do you feel your books offer readers? Entertainment. I don’t include social or political commentary, or life-changing themes, in my books. I write about good versus evil, average people being thrown into unusual and horrifying situations, and how they cope. The only constants in my books are action and suspense.

How long have you been a writer?  I’ve been writing since I was in elementary school, although I wouldn’t have called myself a professional back then. My work consisted of several monster magazines typed on folded-in-half construction paper with photos cut out of other magazines and really bad short stories jotted down in notebooks. I had a fan base of one – my mother.

What was the first book you ever had published? How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published? The first book I published was about modern vampire hunters, which I wrote under my real name. It took six years to finally find a publisher, and I was told by many established authors that six years was shorter than the industry average at that time. However, once I got my name out there, it only took a few tries to get my other books placed with publishers. With some of my latest books I’ve tried self-publishing, which opens up a whole new world of pros and cons.

What other careers have you had? I worked for the CIA for twenty-three years before retiring in 2013, mostly working against North Korea or involved with weapons of mass destruction or cyber security issues. Before that, I was a jack of all trades – realtor, high school teacher, exterminator, and a dozen other odd jobs.

Do you write under more than one pen name? Why?  Yes, Josh Matthews is my young adult pen name. I also write under my real name, Scott M. Baker. What I publish under my real name is mostly dark, hardcore horror laced with violence and gore. I opted to write my young adult books under a pen name because I didn’t want a twelve year old enjoying Hell Gate, picking up one of my other books, and being shocked.

When you create characters, do you base them on real people? Only one character was based on a real life person. Drake Matthews from The Vampire Hunters trilogy was an iced-coffee drinking, whiskey swilling, cigar smoking adventurer who owned a pet rabbit named Van Helsing. Except for the adventurer part, Drake was based on me, so I got to live vicariously through Drake.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general? Most of my family and friends get a kick out of the fact that I’m a writer, but they have never read my books. The only close family member who is really excited about my career is my wife, Alison Beightol, the author of The Primigenio Tales trilogy. We met because we both wrote vampire novels and eventually fell in love. Who says horror can’t be romantic?

Where are you from? I was born and raised in Boston, spent over two decades living in the Washington D.C. area and overseas, and retired for four years in northern Florida. As I write this, my family is packing to move to New England.

How do you come up with the titles? I think up several possible titles for my books and then run them through Amazon to make sure they have not been used. Those that survive I run past my beat readers for their input. My daughter Maddy is my best source of titles; she came up with Nazi Ghouls from Space and Mutant Assassin Group (the title of my soon-to-be-published dark political thriller).

What do you do for fun? For fun I spend time with my family, play with the pets, read (usually horror and post-apocalyptic fiction and histories of World War II and the Cold War).

 Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task? I thrive on multi-tasking. I write a book and send it off to my beta readers and, as they review it, I begin the first draft of another book. Then I switch off, sending the newest book to the beta readers while I incorporate their suggestions and do the final edits on the first book. In between, I’m outlining upcoming books and/or writing short stories.

What kind of kid were you? Which social path did you take?  I was a total geek as a kid. Farah Fawcett posters on my wall. Aurora monster models on my book shelves. A stack of Famous Monsters of Filmland under my bed. I became more serious in college, studied history with the intent of teaching, and eventually wound up working for the CIA. But I still enjoy my roots and love going to horror conventions because I feel right at home with the other people there.

Do you have any pets? At the moment I have four pets – two cats, Archer and Michonne, who think they run the house and two boxers, Bella and Walther. The cats are jealous of the dogs’ fame because Walther and Bella are the inspiration for Lucifer and Lilith, the werehounds in Hell Gate.

 If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you travel?  I’ve already traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. I’m one of those eccentrics who enjoy locations off the beaten path that are not frequented by a lot of tourists, especially locations related to World War II. The two spots I really want to see are Pyongyang, North Korea, as well as Chernobyl and the abandoned town of Pripyat in Ukraine.

 Do you have a favorite beverage that you drink when you write? Iced water or iced coffee. If I’m writing late at night, I enjoy whiskey.

 Please tell us 5 miscellaneous facts about yourself. 1) I used to smoke a cigar a day, but I kicked the habit nearly four years ago (although I do indulge on special occasions).  2) I’m a huge World War II aficionado and have taken numerous trips to see battlefields and locations associated with the war.  3) I am not a Star Wars fan but am a huge Trekkie.  4) My hobby is collecting militaria; my collection includes artifacts from Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Communist China, the Soviet Union, North Korea, and the regime of Saddam Husayn.  5) When I was fourteen I got to fly a small plane over southern New Hampshire.

 Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases. The sequel to Hell Gate is scheduled for release this October. The first draft of the third book in the series is almost complete, and I’ve begun plotting out the fourth book. Also, my dark political thriller is currently with an agent who is reviewing it, and hopefully will be released in 2018. I’ve already begun research on the sequel, which involves a biological warfare attack on a major city.

  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013874139869

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/HellGateSaga

Blog: http://hellgatesaga.blogspot.com/

  BRIEF AUTHOR BIO:

Josh Matthews is a former New Englander who has returned to his roots along with his wife, teenage daughter, and four lovable but exasperating pets. Josh used to work for the U.S. Government where he had the opportunity to travel around the world and be exposed to numerous cultures, many of which will appear in the Hell Gate saga. He has always been a fan of horror novels and monster movies, and sees the Hell Gate saga as his way to share that love with a new generation of fans.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Sixteen-year-old Jason McCreary is living a nightmare within a nightmare. Not only is he trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by demons from Hell, he also shoulders the burden for humanity’s fate as it was his mother who opened the gates in a scientific experiment gone wrong.

In a last ditch effort to redeem his family name and erase his guilt, Jason joins a squad whose mission is to travel to Paris and close the Hell Gate. Once there, they discover an environment more frightening than anything they could imagine and demons more terrifying than they had ever encountered before.

Time is now against them.

Can Jason gain his redemption along with the respect of his peers, or will a new web of lies threaten to rip apart his world and jeopardize his team’s only chance for success?

BOOK EXCERPT:

The stillness belied the danger that lurked in the shadows of every alley and doorway of St. Mere Eglise. Jason McCreary found it unsettling. Most of the towns along the Normandy coast had been abandoned long ago. Animals now flourished amongst the desolation, with livestock and wildlife replacing humans. That wasn’t the case today. Even the birds had left, plunging the town into an eerie silence that forewarned of an approaching evil. Experience had taught Jason that when the animals fled it was to escape from Hell Spawn. He made his way along the center of Rue Eisenhower, clutching his crossbow, ready to shoot if necessary. Despite walking lightly, his footsteps echoed through town, sounding like a dinner bell for the dead. His eyes scanned the buildings. Nothing moved except overgrown grass and weeds that swayed in the wind. The same wind tousled several blond strands across his face. Jason used his free hand to push them back behind his ears.

Jason took a deep breath to calm his nerves, holding it for several seconds before exhaling. It did little good. His heart still raced, and his hands trembled, knowing that something demonic could lunge out of the shadows at him at any moment. He glanced down to the werehounds that stayed close by his side. Lilith brought up Jason’s right flank. She looked like a large wolf with shiny black fur. Her head darted from side to side, seeking out anything that could be a threat. Occasionally, she glanced behind them to make certain nothing approached from their rear. Lucifer walked along on his left. He resembled an American bulldog. His ears stood straight up, listening for any noise that signified danger. When Lucifer saw his master staring at him, his tail wagged. After the brief display of affection, he went back to prowling for Hell Spawn.

Jason sniffed the air to see if he could smell the demons. A tickle formed in the back of his throat, causing him to hack against the rear of his hand. Ever since the opening of the Hell Gate, the air had taken on an unpleasant odor. Father Chirac referred to it as the brimstone stench of Hell. Jason had no idea what the priest meant. To him, the air smelled like the living room of his old house after his mother built a fire in the fireplace, only mixed with the stench of rot and shit.

As he glanced from building to building, Jason chastised himself. He didn’t like being separated from the group, yet he only had himself to blame for being the point man in a potential battle royale. Yesterday, a scouting party on horseback had reported Hell Spawn moving across the countryside toward St. Mere Eglise; they had been unable to conduct a proper reconnaissance because of the approaching dusk. A search and destroy team had been sent out that morning to assess the threat and deal with it. Jason was part of that team. A mile outside of town, the team had dismounted and left their horses with a rear guard unit so they could proceed on foot. Andre had ordered Jason to go ahead and scout the area. When Sasha had protested sending him in alone, Jason had interrupted and said he wanted to take point. He didn’t know if he had been trying to impress Andre or had been embarrassed by having Sasha fight his battles for him, not that it mattered. His stupid sixteen-year-old vanity had gotten the better of him. Now he was heading into a town probably overrun by Hell Spawn.

“And I wonder why they keep calling me Bait.”

Lucifer looked up with his soulful brown eyes and whined, sensing his discomfort.

“I’m fine, boy. I need a bit more common sense than pride.” He reached down and scratched Lucifer behind the ears, who wagged his tail once more.

Jason closed his eyes and concentrated. He could sense the others following half a mile to the rear. Most of the team registered as one signature, giving off an aura of concern over not knowing what to expect. Three stood out. Andre and Slava, both of whom who were excited about the possibility of combat, and Sasha, who was afraid. Not for herself, though. She feared for Jason’s safety. He grinned at the remote display of affection.

At the corner, the street opened up. To the right sat a parking lot empty except for a few dust-covered vehicles. In the far corner sat St. Mere Eglise church, the one made famous when an American paratrooper got stuck on the belfry during the D-Day landings. He remembered seeing that in an old black-and-white war movie he watched with his dad. Red Skelton, or Buttons, or someone with a weird name like that had played the paratrooper. To the left was the Airborne Museum that commemorated the Normandy invasion. Jason veered off the street and into the outer edge of the parking lot. The werehounds stayed close.

He had approached to within twenty feet of the intersection of Rue Eisenhower and Rue de Gaulle when a single figure shambled out into the middle of the street. A Nachzehrer. A flesh eater that fed off of humans. These demons were slow and uncoordinated, so dealing with one or two was easy. However, a horde of Nachzehrer could strip a man to the bones in minutes. Jason had seen hundreds like it during the past few months. Naked, emaciated, and with leathery gray skin dried out from the fires of Hell. It stumbled along, its gaze fixed on the road. The demon hadn’t noticed him yet. He raised the crossbow and aimed at the skull above the right ear. Lucifer growled. The noise caught the Nachzehrer’s attention. Its head shot up and its lifeless, cloudy eyes fixed on Jason. When its mouth dropped open, a mournful wail emanated from cracked, desiccated lips. Jason readjusted his aim and pulled the trigger. The arrow sliced through the Nachzehrer’s left eye. The demon dropped to the ground, a final moan escaping from its lungs as its life force drained from its body, creating a small eddy of blue light that twisted in the air for a moment before dissipating.

Jason reached around to pull another arrow from its quiver when the stench of decayed flesh filtered into his nose, a smell so overpowering his stomach heaved. As he swallowed back his vomit, a chorus of wails shattered the calm. A swarm of Nachzehrer flowed out of Rue de Gaulle and filled the square. A bloated female noticed Jason and screeched. The others turned and, spotting food, shambled towards him. At least a hundred Nachzehrer emerged from the side street, all of them bearing down on Jason. Even worse, he saw four gray shapes darting among the horde. Though he couldn’t get a good view because of the Nachzehrer, he recognized the bat-like bodies and bulbous, eyeless heads with gaping mouths.

Shit! Soul vampires!

“Come on, guys!” Jason said to Lilith and Lucifer. He ran for the church. Lilith stayed close to protect her master. Lucifer defiantly barked at the approaching horde before spinning around and sprinting away.

Reaching the door to St. Mere Eglise church, Jason tried the knob. It was locked. He rammed his shoulder into the door several times. It wouldn’t budge. Placing his back against the wall, Jason scanned the area and weighed his options. Nachzehrer stretched out across the parking lot. They were still over fifty feet away, and he could easily outrun them. Three of the soul vampires spread out behind the first line of Nachzehrer, preparing to attack, and they would cut him down if he moved out in the open. If he stayed with his back against the church so he couldn’t be surrounded and fight, he might have a chance. With luck, the rest of the team would reach him before the Nachzehrer did.

[weblistposting-blog]

New Post has been published on Weblistposting

New Post has been published on https://weblistposting.com/meals-doesnt-get-extra-adventurous-than-this/

Meals doesn’t get extra adventurous than this

Even adventurous eaters like me — over time I’ve tried delicacies like fried grasshoppers, Sichuan-fashion hen ft, the pungent fruit Durian, raw sea urchin and sea slug — balk at chomping up a venomous arachnid.

The truth about Meals although, is that one guy’s tarantula is every other man’s Wagyu beef. Travel writer and Photographer Dean Starnes prides himself on setting all types of so-referred to as extreme Meals in his gob.

“Journey is about attempting new things, experiencing new cultures and taking part in new sports. With that fundamental ethos in thoughts … it becomes most effective a depend on time before I commenced attempting a number of the more excessive foods I was supplied,” he says.

Even though Dean has been sampling unfamiliar ingredients for greater than a long time, a few flavors and textures continue to be “especially unsightly.”

“I recollect the first time I ate an eye fixed — a fish eye I accept as true with — become as a trade scholar in Japan,” Dean recalls.

“Fish eyes are considered the tastiest a part of the fish and that they had given the eyes to me in the spirit of generosity.

“It was awful enough having it roll around in my mouth, however, when it burst I used to be unprepared for the sudden exchange in texture. I squealed like a schoolgirl at a Justin Bieber concert and involuntarily sneezed it out all over my host family, their visitors and the faculty major.

“As you may recognize, Japan is a selected well-mannered tradition, and the Japanese are a totally decent bunch. I can in no way forget about their startled seems of horror on their faces as they picked little bits of the eye off themselves,” he says. but a fisheye isn’t the worst issue he’s tried. Right here are Dean’s 5 maximum edgy dining stories:

1. Bugs I hate to sound picky but it’s honest to mention that I’ve by no means eaten an insect that I’ve simply loved. My advice — if you are a primary-time insect eater — pass for the deep-fried, crunchy ones.

As an instance, Mexicans do a tasty, deep-fried grasshopper drizzled in lime juice (chaplains). Flavor-sensible, they’ve got a salty, bitter zing to them, which, as some distance as Bugs move, I discovered quite clean.

After that, it’s all down hill. The worst are the pulpy, squishy kind that explodes in your mouth (in lots the equal manner a grape may). Huhu grubs from New Zealand are quite foul whilst eaten raw, however, the globular, grass inexperienced grubs I ate in northern Laos had been even worse.

Want to Do Something a bit greater Adventurous in Russia? Nowadays Russia is open to all and sundry, it has so much to offer whether or not you’re inquisitive about taking a historical trip around its imperial beyond or in case you Want to do Something a bit greater adventurous. So what type of Russia adventure Travel can someone count on if you want to do while traveling this us of a? We are able to have a look at a just multiple more adventurous styles of traveling you can think about doing in Russia.

For the reason that disintegrates of the Soviet Union greater than a decade in the past now more and more foreigners are traveling via it, but it could still be a tough vicinity if you are unable to talk the language. But, anywhere you move in Russia you will find that the people are tremendously warm and inviting hosts. In reality, if you are seeking out a few wherein that takes you far from the normal holiday routes then you definitely must take into account a number of the subsequent whilst seeking out a more adventurous journeying experience in Russia.

1. Trans-Siberian Railway

At some point of this journey which takes you from Vladivostok-Moscow to the wilds of Khabarovsk in the heart of Mongolia and on to Lake Baikal and the snowcapped mountains of the Urals. This journey is a complete of 6, a hundred thirty-five miles in distance and During it, you will skip via 8 extraordinary time zones. The trains are very cozy, however, it’s far the splendor of u . S . A . as you pass through the various regions that genuinely gets an adventurers juices flowing.

However, n case you assume this a bit staid for a adventurous journey in Russia you could try the subsequent instead.

2. journey to the North Pole

With this type of Russia adventure Travel you are given a threat to add your call to the very small listing of people who’ve already made this epic journey in the beyond. That is Actually the extra tough of any types of adventure Tour that you could find, but it will be well worth it whilst you reach the pinnacle of the arena. while visiting through the Arctic you may notice that the whole lot seems bigger, the icebergs are large and the horizon simply appears to move on all the time. Definitely many human beings have determined this specific Russia journey Tour to be a totally humbling experience and has positioned life in to perspective for them.

Grief Transformation: Embracing life After the Dying of a Loved You’ll Lead You to greater adventure My husband Hurley became a born explorer and adventurer. He was a skydiving bounce grasp, a falconer and a lover of roller coasters. while he changed into recognized with most cancers, he was inside the system of building an extremely-light plane. He planned on getting to know to fly it whilst it become finished. He died 10 months later with a few more adventures within the works.

My concept of journey is lengthy distance avenue journeys, museums, nature walks, the ferris wheel, the merry-cross-round and walks at the seaside.

A 12 months after my husband’s Loss of life, a chum invited me to go on a Shaklee cruise to Jamaica and Cancun and the Bahamas. Betsy and that i both Loved to Journey and this become an exquisite gift. whilst we arrived at the ship, Betsy and that i had been searching on the off shore excursion selections. We each jumped on the concept of going to the Mayan ruins and temples, shopping and lunch inside the Bahamas and a ramification of spa remedies on the days at sea. Then, Betsy found Some thing she had usually desired to do, ziplining above the cover of trees in Jamaica. Despite the fact that no longer as extreme as skydiving, I could experience the fingers of my fingers start to sweat and my belly doing a flip flop. I wasn’t positive if I could try this due to the heights, but with Betsy’s eagerness and the notion of my husband, I decided to move.

when my husband died, I failed to experience survivor’s guilt for being the person that endured to stay. but, I did sense a responsibility to live existence completely, to add adventures to my existence that he might never have the risk to do. To realize waking up and dwelling every day.

In Jamaica, we were transported with the aid of bus to a place with zipline guides, and system. As I perfect up within the harness and helmet, I felt my husband’s spirit strapped in with me. Status on the brink of the cliff, with the guide giving me words of encouragement and explaining how safe I was at the same time as connecting me to the zipline, I took a minute to shut my eyes and experience the connection with my husband. “Ok, Hurley, allow’s move. This one’s for you!”

I jumped off the cliff to fly over the first riverbed freeing a scream of pleasure and pleasure. For the following forty-five minutes, we moved along the zipline landing on one platform after some other. at the ultimate zipline run, the longest one inside the series of leaps, the whole line was above the tops of the bushes. Certainly one of my passions changed into looking birds fly and soar. For the primary time in my lifestyles, I felt like I was a chicken flying over the tree tops. I desired it to move on for all time. My hear soared as i felt gratitude to have had the experience. Between the eagerness of Betsy and the duty I felt to stay life completely, I had experienced one of the maximum effective, fun moments of freedom on this lifetime.

Someday I will do it once more for the natural pleasure of the adventure and the gratitude for being alive. I’m able to no longer waste one second of the treasured time I’ve Right here. I will include all of it and live a lifestyle really worth celebrating.