#Clan Culture Mini Entry

[bonefall]

Do you have anything about weapons or armor? I think i saw some posts about clothes and i assume armor would be lumped in there as well, but if the clans have bbq parties theyd probably have murder weapons too

I'll add proper weapons and armor to the list, but I took a short break to sketch this with a mouse for you

I see people modelling cat armor off normal human chestplates and pauldrons. That's a fine artistic choice, but realistically, cats don't have the same range of motion as humans.

Human armor is protects against swinging swords and stabbing motions-- the sort of thing a cat wouldn't be able to do. Armor made by cats for cats is going to protect the head, neck, and shoulders, and this big 'blanket' will prevent attacks from the side without restricting too much motion

If this was a full entry, I would have also included some sort of spiked collar and shown some linen cloth that hangs over the belly under the blanket, to give some extra protection against belly-kicks that come from an improperly pinned combatant.

As for weapons,

Aside from the obvious claw-extenders that BloodClan can make out of sharpened teeth, shattered glass, or discarded iron spikes (though i take issue with how they would logistically stay on the claw), I would design more weapons that are made to be stabbed-and-pulled. That SWING motion that a sword needs is DEVASTATING, but we humans can do that because we have sturdy, highly developed collar bones.

Cat collar bones are puny and weak. Their muscles are better suited to up-and-down movements and coming towards the center, not swings. So, one-handed blades, push-daggers, and gauntlet bludgeons like the one I imagine for Deadfoot are what I'd be looking at.

THAT SAID; I wouldn't imagine Clan cats use these very much! If claws alone are already so prone to accidental killings, just imagine that a tool made for cutting through a person would do. If real weapons are being brought into battle, the Warrior Code is being openly disrespected.

[reachfolk]

currently i'm working on three major projects, and just about everything you'll see here is in some way or another tied to 'em! naturally they all center around the reach and my reachfolk oc's because i am ✨ obsessed ✨

BLOOD OF SILVER, SOUL OF FIRE

a longfic centering on my dragonborn alexandria silver-blood as she struggles to save her home from the empire, the stormcloaks, and now the dragons all at once. still very much in the works but i will be posting microfics and such of the characters.

current microfics in the works:

- TES summer fest prep!

- collab with @.vilkas

CHILD OF THE REACH

a fully-voiced follower mod of alexandria in an au where she isn't the dragonborn but a companion of theirs. will include brand new stories of her personal life, conversations about the reach's history and culture, as well as a favor system in which she will give the dragonborn gifts in return for helping her on her own small quests.

current mini goals:

- locational dialogue in various dungeon types

- forsworn conspiracy commentary

- voice acting practice

THE MADMEN OF THE REACH

a compendium of reach lore, as canon friendly as i can be bothered to keep up with. greatly expands on all aspects of reach life, from language to arts to ecology and then some. sub-series include the reachfolk tribes series (covering 22 tribes, currently at 3) and the karthorad series (a full conlang in the works, including regional differences)

current topics in the works are:

- the flora and fauna of the reach

- reachfolk tribes: the grimseer clan

- "life among the reach tribes" i.e. a set of journal entries written by lucien flavius about several different reach tribes he encounters throughout the story

- karthorad to the common tongue: a dictionary

[officialotakudome]

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New Post has been published on https://otakudome.com/reviews/yakuza-like-a-dragon-review/

Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review

Yakuza returns with a new leading man in Ichiban Kasuga for Yakuza: Like a Dragon. A kind-hearted man who wants to help people and become a hero. Loyal to a fault, Ichiban is shocked to learn that his old Patriarch had joined an enemy Yakuza clan. Ichiban had taken the fall for a crime one of his fellow Yakuza committed on behalf his Patriarch’s request. Years later, following a reunion he searches for answers after his attempted murder by his Patriarch.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a 2020 RPG game, it is developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios and published by SEGA. It is currently available on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.

Editor’s Note: A Playstation 4/5 review code for Yakuza: Like a Dragon was provided by SEGA in support of this review. Medium spoilers for Yakuza: Like a Dragon may be present within this review. I want to point out that moving forward for titles like Yakuza: Like a Dragon I’ll be using medium spoilers. This is due to me believing that any title with a major shift in direction should be experienced first hand.

Yakuza goes from beat’em up tp turn-based RPG in ‘Like a Dragon’.

Sometime has passed since Kiryu Kazuma left the Yakuza. Opting to disappear into the shadows for the safety of his friends and family his legendary run continues to be told. New lead Ichiban, as the title suggests is a lot like Kiryu. While he may be a member of the Yakuza, his heart is more often than not in the right place. Freshly released from prison Ichiban searches for answers after several changes have taken place in his former clan.

Character leveling and stat increases are important in Yakuza 7.

THE GOOD: Ichiban Kasuga is enjoying his life as a member of the Yakuza apart of the Tojo Clan’s Arakawa Family in 2001 Japan. One day, Ichiban is shocked when he is asked to take the fall for a murder he didn’t commit by his Patriarch Masumi Arakawa. The murder is committed by Jo Sawashiro, Arakawa’s right hand whom Ichiban never really liked. Due to his loyalty and love for the family Ichiban agrees and spends 18 years in prison aspiring to be a hero for Arakawa. Upon release Ichiban is disappointed that no family member is there waiting for him. Only to be greeted by ex-cop Koichi Adachi who begins grilling him on why he took the fall.

Adachi tries to warn Ichiban that things have changed immensely since he was incarcerated, but Ichiban refuses to believe him. Adachi takes him to a funeral which Arakawa & the family are attending. There he gets into a fight with Arakawa members who don’t recognizes him and calls out to his old Patriarch who seemingly ignores him. Adachi tells Ichiban that following the death of Arakawa’s son he betrayed the Tojo Clan and joined & later became the leader of the Omni Alliance. Disheartened by the news, Ichiban again refuses to believe Adachi and he plans to reunite with Arakawa. The two work out a plan to invade an Omni Alliance meeting where Arakawa will be attending.

Ichiban meets Jo after having been separated since his time in prison. Initially Jo is as cold as ever to Ichiban, but following his defeat in a fight he too tries to warn Ichiban over Arakawa’s changes. Arakawa greets Ichiban and the two have a conversation, but Arakawa shoots Ichiban with intent to kill. Three days later Ichiban awakes from being unconscious with his bullet wound being healed in a community of homeless Japanese citizens. There he meets former nurse Yu Nanba who helps him get back on his feet. He makes contact with Adachi again and they along with Yu work together to learn the truth of Omni Alliance & Arakawa.

As Yakuza grows it’s audience it successfully evolves as a franchise.

Ok so let me get this out of the way. People are going to have a love-hate relationship with this game. Doesn’t matter if you’re a Yakuza fan or an RPG fan somethings are going to be off putting. They were for me and it took me months of on and off gameplay to really get into it properly. I’ve been enjoying the Yakuza franchise since the release of 0, so I thought I knew what to expect from the franchise. RGG Studio told me to hold their karaoke mini-game, because Yakuza still has plenty of tricks up it’s sleeve.

There’s a lot to go over in regards to the new mechanics so buckle up. Let’s start with the combat since it’s one of the main draws of the series. It’s good, really good for what it is. You cycle through a menu that has your items, support and damaged based attacks, and special moves. Each party member can have items equipped to them such as weapons which increases their stats like attack and defense attributes. There’s also an option to run, because it’s an RPG so of course there is. After winning each battle you level up which further increases your states and there’s also tag team finishers that have unique purposes.

Here comes the part where people may get lost. Beyond the combat, there’s the rest of the RPG elements that at times can be overwhelming. Keep in mind while ‘Like a Dragon’ isn’t a traditional RPG it very much so is in a sense that newcomers to the genre who are Yakuza fans will get confused (and possibly scared) by it. Like any other RPG you have to use strategy to beat certain enemies like bosses. This means learning how to use support moves to lower attack and defense for example. While it’s not necessarily impossible to get the hang of general fans of Yakuza may not enjoy the extra work needed to make progress from within the game. As I mentioned above you also have to do a run down of the right equipment for proper stat gains from weaponry & gear. Oh yeah, fun fact the combat originally started as an April Fools joke that the team ended up liking as a real concept {yes, really).

Something else to keep in mind with the new mechanics is that enemies also have levels. This is also important because there will be instances where you’ll encounter high level enemy characters with no control of your own. And they will end you very quickly. Bosses also have levels and as expected are far stronger than regular enemies. Meaning they can and will end you in a few hits if you haven’t taken to take care of your party stat wise you won’t have a good time.

Believe it or not this game also has character classes in the form of jobs. While the jobs themselves are mini-games in certain instances the real purpose is to give the party an edge in combat. Jobs in addition to equipment as well as taking time to gain XP can make or break your run early into the game. Yakuza trademarks such as sub-stories and the arcade are also back. And kart racing makes it’s debut in the franchise as well.

In regards to the story it’s more or less what you’d expect from the series. Full of camp with some seriousness in it’s tone as it progresses. I like pretty much all of the main characters. And Ichiban while a more comedic relief version of Kiryu, he differs from him in that he’s willing to get his hands dirty for his goals. Kiryu was more altruistic in contrast with his desires. I wouldn’t mind if Ichiban stuck around as lead protagonist for awhile. But with reports of the next entry being a spinoff rather than a main title it seems we won’t be having a true protagonist for quite a bit.

Like a Dragon takes it’s role as an RPG 100% seriously.

THE BAD: I can see people finding it hard to look past the RPG aesthetic of the game from it’s design and mechanics. If you don’t like RPGs, but recently found yourself loving Yakuza it’s gonna be a rough ride. Even myself who enjoys both found some stopping periods where I had to put the controller down for a bit. The changes can be a bit overwhelming coming from the more simplistic beat up era.

Despite the changes Yakuza 7 never loses it’s trademark spirit.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Yakuza: Like a Dragon took a ton of risks and I really enjoy it when storied franchises go for that. It’s a double-edged sword unfortunately though. For every fan who loves it there’s probably twice as many who think it’s a poor imitation of an RPG. Or fans who think Yakuza is quickly losing it’s way. I think the change compliments the series as it’s never been made to be taken 100% seriously no matter how dark the story gets. Gaming is in this weird place where some publishers are changing things for the worst. But then you have publishers like SEGA and Capcom who are changing franchises, but doing so with genuine interest & heart for the fans put into it.

It’s why I wanted to take my time with Yakuza 7 instead of rushing out the review (about five months of gameplay on and off). Granted you won’t always nail it your first try, but I think the devs for Yakuza 7 should be proud of what they’ve. done. There’s a lot of gimmicky stuff you can do with Yakuza. SEGA actually has done so a bit including a zombie game and a casino like game. The important thing to remember with taking a fan-favorite franchise into some refreshing territory is to not insult the original fans while giving something to newcomers. And I think that Yakuza: Like a Dragon has certainly accomplished that.

[tearasshouse]

Mostly vidya ramblings - Part 3A cont. . .

Part 1 of Ze Finalists

The final 2 of 2020.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4 -- also on XB1, Steam, GOG, Linux, macOS)

I’d put this off for way longer than I should’ve, but end of 2020 seems apropos given that its *the other* cyberpunk themed game, and at least this one isn’t fundamentally broken. Say what you will about the long standing jank in the DX series, or that Square Enix hacked bits off the game for a convoluted and entirely shitty season pass upsell, or that the augmented apartheid metaphor upon which the game’s fiction hinges is stupid, or that MD lacks a 3rd act and will likely never get a sequel, etc. What you get here is a great game, in certain respects inferior to Human Revolution (one of my favorite titles in recent memory), and in others quite different and possibly the better entry.

Look, I’m just glad immersive sims are still a thing and though they’ve always kinda reviewed well but sold like shit, they’re still in somewhat decent health. I’m not fan of the DX series as a whole, but Human Revolution felt special when it came out in 2011, as a near perfect incorporation of old yet solid design principles but reinvigorated with a new sense of purpose and polish. It’s the rare soft reboot / much delayed new entry / prequel that does its originators justice while being a supremely confident game in and of itself.

What strikes you when you try to play the older DX games (recently tried but gave up half way through, using the Give Me Deus Ex mod), is how much Eidos Montreal’s efforts feel like the old games, but with most of the niggles ironed out, making for a far more approachable experience. In fact, they could’ve perhaps gone even further in sticking with the depth and complexity of the OGs, but then I’m not sure the game would be as fun. If say, Jensen’s ability to use weapons should were determined by his character stats, I think that would make the game insufferable, but the first game was definitely more of a CRPG than anything else. 

What I mean to say is that I found MD ridiculously easy, even on the 2nd hardest difficulty, because if you play stealthily (I maintain that this is the so called “intended” approach), then none of the enemies pose a challenge. If you’re thorough about hacking, collecting things, doing side quests, conserving supplies, then you end up being a walking NPC vendor yourself; Praxis and resources overflowing from your person. This is compounded I think by the level design which is superb, but again, far too eager to make this a mainstream AAA experience, so there’s one too many ways to progress and you’re never truly locked out (unless of course you go out of your way to screw your save file over). 

As Yahtzee so succinctly put it (much of this review is cribbing from his videos), you’re not so much roleplaying a character by making tough choices as was sort of the case with the original game, but merely picking what’s most expedient to progress beyond a challenge, and then if you so choose, going out of your way to hoover up the other loot and exp when and if it strikes your fancy. There was one Witcher 2-esque decision the game forces on you in the late game, along with a few others which are less consequential, and I appreciated that kind of explicit branching. But really, the game lets you have your cake and eat it in as many ways as you so choose, is what I’m saying, which removes the necessity for repeat playthroughs (this can be a good or bad thing depending on your free time and personality) and again, weakens the roleplaying roots of the series somewhat. 

Still, well worth a play. Absolutely so if you’re a fan of the prior DX games or other immersive sims / ARPG stealth hybrids like Dishonored, Prey 2017, the Elder Scrolls / Fallout games, etc.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PS4 -- also coming to Steam & Xbox)

I’m super glad the Yakuza series is blowing up, though I suspect largely in part due to the memes with maybe a huge proportion not having actually played the games themselves. It’s one of the rare games that both lends itself to great passive consumption material (all you kids with your Twitch or those who consume traditional YouTube LPs), and are also a blast to play yourself. 

I’ve been playing these in a sort of Western release order, that is: watching the 2BFP LP of Yakuza 0, then doing Kiwami 1 and 2 for myself, and now this (and I also watched their Y4 LP ages ago). You could pretty much go into any entry point and be fine, what with the self-contained stories and generous flashback movies, and from what I can gather fans weren’t exactly super impressed with Kiryuu’s send off here (even I could sense that something was off and it seems most agree Y5 is probably the most fitting end to his arc, with 6 being a kind of meandering epilogue not unlike Toy Story 4 I guess?). But, judged on its own merits and not as a culmination to the Dragon of Dojima’s tenure as RGG’s main protagonist, this is a very solid Yakuza title.

The substories are every bit as good as the best in the series. What was lost in fighting styles, equippable weapons, explorable environs, or mini games is made up for with what has actually remained. The celebrity cameos are well acted. The big plot turn is every bit as dumb and inconsequential as you’d come to expect. Kiryuu still hasn’t aged a day despite everyone calling him an ossan and really? Dude is in his late 40s. If this is truly representative of Japan’s ageist culture then that is just... not good.

Anyway, Onomichi is great! The baseball substory wasn’t bad! The purportedly downgraded Hostesses were actually quite lovable! The Haruto babysitting section is every bit as bad as they say, but thankfully its short. Live Chat was excellent (and you can totally see the liberal ideas/asset reuse in Kiwami 2 where the photo shoot is basically just a rebrand). Clan Creator is a complete waste of time and I’m glad Y7 seemingly dropped it for good. The Dragon Engine’s first incarnation here is rough, esp. on a base PS4, but it’s fine. This game is like what, $10 now at regular price? And likely going to Game Pass for free? Do eeeeet.

[aaronheatonwords]

Yakuza 0

Sometimes a series exists on the periphery without being able to engage a certain audience. Despite being full of things that a person might like, be it intrigue or strong characters which challenge stereotypes or even just good old-fashioned dumb fun, something about it just won't grab the part of the brain that says, hey, set some time aside and enjoy this! Breaking Bad occupied this space in the part of my brain reserved for TV shows; even though the basis of the show checks every box I would want to see in a series, there's something about it that just pushes me away time and time again. At this point, it could just be the immense amount of hours that would have to be dedicated to it, and the fandom that would need to be fought off to talk candidly about it. Ultimately, though, a large part of the issue is that the zeitgeist surrounding the show has vanished. There are still plenty of people who think highly of it, but the frantic fan fervor surrounding it has come and gone.

Enter Yakuza 0. This series has existed since 2005, and as soon as it began to pick up steam in the West it has surfaced in one way or another with a very dedicated playerbase pushing for its release. Though the releases that have come to the west started out very questionably, the localization eventually found its footing and ditched English voice actors for a subtitled Japanese-only audio track. With that, the quality of the story seemed to soar and the people who loved Yakuza really loved Yakuza. A gritty crime drama full of double-crosses and intrigue, betrayal, violence and a healthy injection of Japanese culture set in a lovingly-rendered and small-scale city block; with a description like that, who could resist?

Unfortunately, me. Even though Yakuza sounds like precisely the sort of game I'd love, so much about it pushed me away. By the time it was feasible for me to acquire a copy of Yakuza in a timely manner, it had already had three prior entries. Start a series on the fourth game? No, ma'am! What about all of that rich characterization I was missing in the previous games? The hundreds of hours of ups and downs, tears, laughter, blood and sweat of our beloved cast of intrepid well-meaning criminals and their companions? Simply unthinkable.

When Yakuza 0 released in the west, it was on a wave of red-hot fans clamouring for a regular release schedule for the series. It came in hot, aided by the cheerleading of several industry figures I followed and respected very much (what's good Austin walker!), and it posed itself as a no-experience-necessary entry point to a series that had become daunting to approach in any other manner. With a few videos of breakdancing mafioso-types and some gratuitous violence, Yakuza 0 had grabbed me with its clammy hands, looked into my eyes, and ignited a fire in my loins that would make the bravest firefighter think twice about their line of work.

Starting with a loan collection spearheaded by a young Kiryu Kazama, Yakuza 0 quickly sees things go south for who would become our main man in the series. Kiryu's mark turns up dead by way of hot lead to the brain, he was the last one known to have seen the man, and on top of that the murder draws attention to a heretofore unknown piece of land that stands to dismantle a carefully-constructed real estate takeover. As a greenhorn in the yakuza, he makes an easy target for three lieutenants vying for position inside of the clan. Refusing to bend to their will begins the tale of the Dragon of Dojima's rise from lowly recruit to legend within the organisation. Parallel but in tandem with Kiryu's situation is Goro Majima, a disgraced ex-yakuza whose existence has been relegated to brown-nosing and shoe-kissing until his untold crime has been atoned for. Together, they rattle the chain of the yakuza and cement their standing.

Before you can dismantle a clan from the inside, though, you have to get used to the lifestyle. Yakuza 0 revels in its setting, filling the city of Kamurocho with bright lights and crowds and attractions galore. Despite being a PS3 game ported to the PS4, its density of crowds and detail is impressive. Trading pure scale for intimacy and detail, walking the city streets inspires a sort of awe for the times. There are restaurants of every corner, people soliciting you from doorsteps and crowds getting in your way. Even walking is a struggle as you bump and bounce off of the people strolling up and down the streets. The economic bubble of the times is played up and the revelry can be felt from the non-stop noise to the random bar hoppers you can find stumbling around and puking in alleyways. While the framerate isn't always very happy with this attention to detail, a few hours of adjustment will make it all worth it.

Yakuza 0 affords a special spotlight for the interactions between Kiryu and his friends and rivals, however. The three lieutenants who stand in Kiryu's way as he attempts to clear his name are imposing figures, despite mostly operating from the shadows. Their faces are rendered in face-punchingly beautiful detail, every crow's foot and furrow present during close-ups and fights. With such expressive and detailed faces, it makes it incredibly easy to get lost in the situations they present to Kiryu as he fights his way through his predicaments.

On that note, fight you do! At such a young age, we get to see Kiryu at his meanest and most impulsive, and Majima as he falls back into his scrappy ways. The game starts with two beatings, one of a group of hooligans and one of a couple of (presumably) innocent drunks. As you fight, your fists glow with intensity, called Heat, and you can use it to unleash brutal power moves. Combat itself is a basic brawler with simple punches, kicks and grabs at your disposal supplemented by the ability to pick up and swing a variety of environmental items. You can brandish bats, swords, trash cans and benches, motorbikes and a number of other ridiculous objects as you throw down in the streets. The Heat moves are what serves to make the combat stand out, however. Frankly, they're just rude. Slamming heads in car doors, shaking salt into eyeballs, throwing people into rivers, breaking arms and legs and smashing faces into brick walls all while yen explodes out of the poor souls caught between your knuckles and the ground makes for an empowering (and sometimes revolting) combat system.

Majima and Kiryu are capable of more than just busting skulls, though, as good as they are at it. Between story missions and fist fights are a staggering amount of side quests. Some are happened upon by accident, some are brought on by intentionally seeking things out, but all of them are worth at least a smile and many more are worth some genuine laughter. A big thumbs up goes out to the localization team, of course, but the bulk of the work must have been done by the original writers. Though this game has such a self-serious and intense story, the side quests offer a reprieve from the emotional tax that the main story levies from the player. In the span of an hour, you can go from helping break up a panty-selling ring to break-dancing with a world-famous pop star to helping a reporter infiltrate a weapons-trading ring to helping a poor soul sell some mushrooms. No, like mushrooms. Like really mushrooms. Actual cooking mushrooms. Majima and Kiryu, who are generally straightforward and ambitious characters, are given a chance to revel in silliness and break character in a way that lets both the players and the story have room to breathe and decompress between intense beats.

As fun as the world is to exist in and as well-detailed as the city is, it can sometimes lead to disappointment. There is so much to see that there's a compulsion to attempt to take part in everything, which often leads to a feeling of having hit a dead end. The mini-map and map denote which buildings have interactions built into them, but visually there are almost no differences between buildings which house a minigame or unique characters and buildings that are simply set dressing. Without a clear visual tell, it can lead to situations where an NPC asking for your business is nothing more than audiovisual noise, rather than the potential sidequest or event that they seemed to be setting themselves up as. Even towards the end of the game, I was hoping for more of the city of open itself up to me, in density rather than pure size. Unfortunately the two playable areas don't change very much, aside from the occasional story beat forcing the player down a predetermined path. The city feels more alive than most open worlds accomplish in their entire maps, but it can often lead to disappointment when trying to enjoy the area.

The biggest issue with the game is how ancillary Majima's story feels in comparison to Kiryu's. Kiryu serves as the driving force and heart of the game, being the central figure that the Yakuza are trying to track down and the de-facto lead of the series. He is driven, determined, and unafraid of the threats on his life in a way that gives his story an almost unstoppable sense of momentum. Majima, on the other hand, feels as if he's constantly being played by other forces in the story. While he is a far cry from Kiryu in the sense that he's more willing to get his hands dirty and engage in foul play, his character feels somewhat caught in the currents of the story instead of a force shaping the events. While Majima's story is well-written, I found myself dying to get back to Kiryu nearly every time Majima came into play. There is plenty of ridiculousness to be had with Majima and Osaka is a fun playground to exist in, but without a connection to him I found myself more curious about the opposing half of the story. This may come own to preference, but Kiryu's story felt the stronger of the two by a significant margin.

After years and years of holding out on the series, Yakuza 0 feels like the perfect point for newcomers to jump in. Even though it's full of nods to the later games (even as a newcomer, they feel fairly obvious), none of it feels obtuse or played up in such a way that new players will feel left out. Kiryu and Majima are introduced and set up with lots of room to grow, and indeed do change and adapt over the course of the game. While anyone with knowledge of later games will have a decent idea of where things will end, the journey of getting to that point is consistently gripping and dripping with dramatic tension that few other games even approach. The city clocks of Kamurocho and Osaka make for very beautiful and intricate locales, even if they do sometimes feel slightly restricted. For lovers of crime dramas and brawlers, for those who can sink into a well-realized space and everyone who loves Japanese culture and history, Yakuza 0 is a treat.

[lavalampelfchild]

Sex and marriage in Ferelden (and my OCs’ views on them)

Based on a conversation I had with @celeritassagittae that got me thinking about how my OCs view sex and marriage in Thedas.  The lore itself is quite sparse on what each respective nation’s societal view on marriage and extramarital sex is, and there’s only one codex entry that I’ve found that talks about the different views on sexuality and sexual identity, which doesn’t really cover the whole spectrum.  

The act of sex and the institution of marriage have highly specific connotations and roles in different societies in real life, and BioWare seems to be taking its cue from different western societies and their different views on sex and marriage.  However, marriage, interestingly enough, is not mentioned very much at all in BioWare’s lore, though different sexual identities are, in a fairly predictable example of modern projection onto historically-based fantasy.  This strikes me as interesting and somewhat weird given the very Christian-like nature (let’s face it, the religion surrounding the Maker is a carbon copy of Christianity) of the Maker’s religion, Andrastianism.

Historically, Christianity has ascribed great significance to the role of marriage in the lives of its followers (from a certain point in its history onward).  After the apocalyptic writers who discouraged marriage and sex both, like Paul, had passed on, Christian authorities began to encourage marriage, describing it as a pure and admirable connection between a man and a woman.  

In contrast to that, sex was symbolic of impurity, of lack of control, of unholy lust, and – the kicker – the physical manifestation of our human imperfections and desires. Christians viewed marriage as the only condition which allowed two people to engage in sexual intercourse without it being emblematic of these things (and even then, never for pleasure, but always for procreation).  Christianity, as it grew from the ancient to the modern times, has only become more interested in the taboo nature of sex and what it means to be engaging in it before or without marriage to mediate.

Andrastianism has none of that.  There is literally no mention of sex or marriage in any of the tenets of this religion, and the only possible significance it has to the religion is in the story of Andraste’s death, which features a traitorous husband.  So even in Andraste’s time, the institution of marriage already existed, and was viewed as sanctimonious, though, in the story of Andraste, specifically in the tradition of the Avvar.  Andrastianism somehow grew from this story and this tradition, so perhaps they simply adopted the traditions of the Avvar and melded it all into this new Andraste-focused religion. 

But that still leaves the question of why the Chantry gives no definitive philosophy or stance regarding marriage or sex.  We know that things like vows exist, and specifically vows of chastity, which we hear about from characters like Leliana, Sebastian, and Cullen, and the terminology surrounding that (affirmed, lay people, confirmed, etc.) is remarkably similar to Christian – and, specifically, Catholic – terminology. So, why take the chastity but not give a reason for that?  One of the reasons for chastity in Christianity developed when Christianity was taking Ancient Rome by storm and people started to portray Jesus as being chaste.  The Jesus-figure in Andrastianism was Andraste, and she had a husband and children when she became a divine figure.  She is not depicted, by the time we get to the start of the DA series, as being chaste.  So what’s the reason for the chastity in this religion?

And, if there is chastity, what about marriage?  Why isn’t marriage being touted as a holy thing because it’s a state into which Andraste herself entered, first with a mortal, then with the Maker?  She’s known as the Maker’s Bride; that’s incredibly specific terminology that links her holiness to an explicitly married state. Why would not the Chantry encourage the repetition of this in its followers?

My thoughts on this are that the Chantry does in fact encourage marriage and discourage extramarital sex, though I’m frustrated to say I don’t know why the latter is the case. But, with regards to marriage, the Chantry views it as a holy institution that follows in the footsteps of Andraste and prepares those involved, the women especially, to ascend to the Maker when they die and behave as sort of secondary brides in the afterlife. I just figure that “The Bride” should be a very important iteration of Andraste’s character, and the act of getting married would be monumentally important because of that.

However, that is just my view, and it’s entirely possible that I’m missing something or that there actually is an answer to this, and I just haven’t seen it.  Feel free to add if you find that, but for the time being, I want to add what my characters each respectively think of the institution of marriage, of sex, and of whether or not you need one to have the other:

Dragon Age: Origins:

 Aja Amell: Aja believes very much in the sanctity of marriage and of not having sex until after one is married.  Raised in the Circle with no way to avoid exposure to Andrastianism, she grew up with sermons and services and constant lectures about the Chant of Light, about the scriptures of the religion, and about the tenets that were meant to guide one’s behavior.  

That being said, she also believes that she personally will never get married, as those kinds of relationships between mages are discouraged and prevented by the Chantry and templars present at the Circle.  As a result, Aja is very aware of the notion of the “forbidden fruit” (though it’s not specifically a fruit in this case, as there’s no fruit-related story in Andrastian lore that deals with giving into desire and temptation), and part of the reason her will-they/won’t-they interactions with Cullen are thrilling to her is because it is absolutely classified as something that would be forbidden.  On the flip side, part of the reason she has never acted on her feelings for Cullen is because, while exciting to flutter her eyelashes at him from afar, there is no way she would have the courage to take the actual risk of engaging romantically with him when she is painfully aware of what is at stake.

This fear of hers contributes to a general feeling of shock when she finds out about what Jowan wants to do with Lily; Aja had never known Jowan to be much of a risk-taker, yet here he is sneaking around with a lover – and an initiate of the Chantry, no less! – when he could so very easily be caught by the templars or the other sisters.  Her experiences with Jowan and Lily in the basement, her subsequent initiation into the Grey Wardens, and her foray out into the world beyond the Circle all succeed in throwing Aja’s own views of herself and the world completely off-kilter, including how she feels about marriage, love, and sex.  For her, it all becomes one big question mark.

Velyn Mahariel: As a Dalish elf, Velyn has absolutely no concern for Andrastianism whatsoever, and honestly, his people’s religion is even more frustrating in this regard because we hear even less about how the institution of marriage works, or what the view of sex outside marriage is among the Dalish. My guess would be that the clan itself has to be remarkably stringent and careful about who engages in sex because children of unknown parentage present a problem of potentially being from another unknown clan, which could greatly affect that clan’s standing with the first one.  

So my guess would be that marriages are often arranged between different allied clans so as to keep inbreeding from occurring and to keep new and varied genes coming into the clan. For that reason, casual sex is discouraged.  (However, there is the issue of the Mahariel’s parents being of different clans and having to sneak out to meet one another to meet; there’s also the issue of Tamlen Mahariel and a female Mahariel potentially having feelings for one another, which are mentioned in a positive light by another member of the clan later on; and finally the mini quest in which you help a young apprentice of Zathrian’s clan woo a hunter of the same clan, sooo… Really, it’s kind of up in the air for the Dalish)

For Velyn himself, he is very much of the view of his clan: sex is not something to be had casually, and an arranged marriage is something to expect in the future.  He feels no need to “prove his masculinity” by talking about sexual conquests because that’s simply not how Dalish society views masculinity; showing off strength has little to do with sex itself, and more to do with one’s role and success within the Dalish clan from a practical standpoint. And chastity is strictly an Andrastian convention; the Dalish care about reproduction so as to have more people help with any given role, not the first time sex happens for someone.

When confronted with the idea of people having sex without being married, and strictly for pleasure, Velyn has some mixed feelings.  He associates it with humans, for one, and believes that to be another example of their own lack of control over themselves.

 Ila Tabris: Similar to the Dalish, arranged marriages are a norm for alienage elves, and dowries reign supreme.  Ila has always known that she would be set up with a husband when she was old enough, and it never really bothered her because it didn’t affect her freedom at all; being stuck in an alienage was already doing that. Honestly, Ila has no strong opinion one way or another; marriage simply is, and so is sex, and that’s how she’s going to create her family when it’s her turn.

But the knowledge of people engaging in sex solely for pleasure, and before marriage, is another example of the culture shock she experiences after leaving the alienage. Yes, she’s aware of hormones and that the body finds sex pleasurable, and she, like many others at that age, experimented a bit with her own body when she was a teenager, but other than that, she hasn’t really indulged in sex with others.  (It’s also somewhat difficult when you’re limited to a community that you’ve known since you were a child, of which you knew all the residents as either child peers or adults to look up to; once you’re past the hormonal stage, you tend to avoid looking at the people of that community as potential romantic partners.)

Though open to the practices and beliefs of non-alienage cultures, Ila is not particularly interested engaging in the (to her) odd practice of casual sex with someone she does not know all that well.  Her own culture aside, Ila is just not a very sexual person, and she doesn’t feel those urges as poignantly as some others might.  

With regards to marriage, however, she feels the loss of her fiancé keenly, and is thrown off a bit by the abrupt absence of an imminent marriage in her life.  She had been expecting to take a husband, have a child or children, and she had honestly been looking forward to that.  It would have been a happy addition to her family (especially for her father, who was still suffering the loss of his wife, Ila’s mother) and community.  It would have brought her father and cousins happiness, and it would have started a new chapter in her life; that it all fell apart so spectacularly adds to the sense of failure Ila felt striking out with the Grey Wardens.

 Gundhram Aeducan: Dwarves have a view of sex and marriage that is much more on the practical side.  Like the Dalish, they are very careful about who occupies what role in society, and the size of their own population.  Because the dwarves are currently dealing with a decline in their overall population, reproduction is a huge deal.  Because the traditions of the ancient days – like the caste system – are still in place, reproduction must occur within that structure and frame.  So marriage exists to cement alliances and make connections between people of the same caste.  Sex exists as an entirely separate act from marriage, and serves primarily for reproduction purposes.  And rank and caste preside over both marriage and sex.  

For the dwarves, social role, rank, and caste determine relationships, and if one acts within that framework, then sex can be had for pleasure or practicality.  Nobles engage with nobles – or take a casteless woman as a lover solely for the purpose of bearing a child – smiths engage with smiths, warriors with warriors, etc.  Within one’s own caste, the rules are at their most lax.  When engaging with a member of another caste, the rules become stricter, and the rules apply to all manner of engagement.  That’s simply how it is in Gundhram’s life.  

But, once he’s banished, the rules of Orzammar and dwarven society no longer apply to him, and he’s acutely aware of this.  His sense of self-discipline keeps him from engaging too much in casual sex with surfacers, though he has no qualms about engaging in extramarital sex.  He had sex with two women at once without being married and had a child with one of them.  Had he still been a noble when Mardy told him of her son, that would have been cause for cheer and celebration for his family, even though she was casteless and he unmarried. As it is when he’s exiled, Gundhram is expecting to have to relax many of his beliefs in order to survive, and he’s prepared to do that, including the beliefs surrounding sex.  And hey, he enjoys it, he’ll find a way to go about the whole thing prudently.

For his own personal sexuality, Gundhram is a man who is attracted to strength.  He doesn’t care at all for distinctions between genders or the biological sexes; if someone is strong (usually physically strong) there’s a greater chance Gundhram will be attracted to them.  As a practical man with regards to reproduction, Gundhram is certainly capable of feeling an attraction toward someone he doesn’t believe to be particularly worthy of that attraction (like noble hunters), but it will always be an attraction with a purpose, and therefore will never really extend beyond something physical.  With other, more genuine attractions, Gundhram often experiences at least feelings of respect or admiration for his partner.  Although, he has never equated any kind of sexual attraction with feelings of love.  Emotions like that have always, in his experiences, existed separately from things like marriage and sex.

 Tristan Brosca: As a casteless man, it has always been highly unlikely for Tristan to find a willing sexual partner in Orzammar.  Had he been a casteless woman, he could have taken up noble hunting like his sister, but as it is, no self-respecting dwarven woman of any caste would want her son to be born casteless (the child takes the father’s caste in dwarven society), so Tristan’s fate in Orzammar was sealed from the moment he was born.

Things changed for him in the carta, and sex as a form of pleasure, and even as a form of rebellion against dwarven traditions – the same dwarven traditions that put them into a system of dirty casteless thieves – became a little more normal, though still was not overly frequent.  As a result of this, Tristan could not care less if he has sex while unmarried.  To him, marriage is a pipe dream, something that he doesn’t even want, but that would never happen to him even if he did. Becoming a Grey Warden doesn’t change that.  

And as for sex, it’s something to be done only when there’s really no better way to handle one’s own urges because it requires him to make himself vulnerable to another person, and that’s not acceptable without a fundamental level of trust that this other person isn’t going to try to kill him.  Very rarely is the pleasure worth that risk.  And so, very rarely, does Tristan ever engage in sex.  He’s got two hands, and he can use both of them if it comes to that.

Gazza Cousland: Gazza is in an interesting position before the attack Howe makes on Highever: she is technically not of noble blood, and the people of Highever are aware of this, so there’s no real expectation for her to carry on the Cousland line because she’s not of that line.  In addition to that, her older brother has already cemented the Cousland legacy, being the firstborn son and already having a healthy son of his own by the start of the events of Origins.  So in terms of marriage, though Gazza lives in a society that places heavy emphasis on the Andrastian version of marriage, there is no pressure on Gazza.  

Sex, on the other hand, is something that many nobles of the day engaged in recreationally, that being seen as something to which nobles were entitled.  It was certainly an important means of cementing a line and ensuring that a family or dynasty could live on, but even the possibility of children born out of wedlock didn’t completely deter noble or royal families from engaging in extramarital affairs or “affairs of passion”.  So technically, if she had wanted to, Gazza could have found a partner or several with whom she could engage in recreational sex.

However, Gazza’s own inability to speak, in addition to her physical condition (technically alopecia areata, but no one knows what that is in Thedas, so all anyone knows is that Gazza isn’t capable of growing hair anywhere on her body) have given her a lower view of her physical appeal than she might have otherwise had.  While she does experience attraction to others, she’s hesitant to act on it.  She also very strictly prevents any romantic or sexual interaction between herself and someone else that might be seen as an abuse of power on her part.  Gazza is not interested in sycophants, and she’s also not interested in using her status and power in society to coerce someone into her bed.  This is precisely the reason why she does not go to bed with Iona (though Iona shows definite interest) in the origin sequence of the game; though she appreciates and would like to act on their mutual attraction, she does not want to put Iona (an elf and servant) in a position which she (Iona) feels obligates her to offer herself to Gazza more.

In terms of Gazza’s personal sexuality, she prefers women to men, and very personally believes that the best kind of sex would occur with someone one loves.  Since she is not expected to have children, Gazza is freed from the necessity of viewing sex as exclusively or primarily a means of reproduction, and – being surrounded by a vast array of literature that deals with the subject of sex and romance and the potential connection thereof – has come to hold a rather romantic ideal regarding sex, love, and marriage (Fergus’s own happy marriage to a woman he loves has also contributed to Gazza’s view on this).  She does not broadcast this view of hers, however.

[annoyingcherryblossomnight-blog1]

Escorted Tours And China Holidays

Immediately and is happy to have as our visitor Shelley Jiang, editor of LET'S GO CHINA, 6th Edition, one among fifty seven guidebooks revealed by the bestselling budget series from LET'S GO PUBLICATIONS. Books written by Stein, Hedin, and others have generated curiosity in the oriental thriller of the Silk Route, and various international travellers are keen to visit these locations. Journey companies are capitalalizing on the benefits of the country's ancient tradition. Packages like the "15-Day Ancient Silk Route Escapade" provide a distinctive experience of Beijing, Urumqi, Turpan, Dunhuan, Xi'an, and Shanghai. This includes spherical-journey transpacific air transportation from the U.S.; intra-China air and land transportation; 12 nights in deluxe and superior first-class lodges; one night time aboard an in a single day practice in a personal compartment; round-journey transfers between airport and resorts; resort taxes and repair fees in every metropolis; sightseeing excursions; and $100,000 Automatic Flight Insurance coverage for transpacific air ticketed by PDT. So you determined to go to China as a tourist and now you might be wondering concerning the food in China. Don't fret because there isn't a must panic. The reality is that there's some actually good food in China. Many American's will let you know that the meals in China is best than the food in America. We cannot stress to you just how good the meals in China actually is. When you've got never tried meals in China then you should do it as soon as you recover from there. Electrical gear, DVD's, Cameras, stuff like this isn't value shopping for in China, Hong Kong remains to be the most effective place for this. The completion of China's famous Gran Canal in 609 by the Sui Dynasty (581-618) positioned Suzhou on a significant trade route which did wonders for Suzhou's prosperity and it rise to prominence again. Created in 1140, the Grasp of Nets Backyard is the smallest of Suzhou's gardens and the most stunning, nicely proportioned and charming. The backyard achieves this impact by an unimaginable steadiness in using water, vegetation, rocks and buildings. The good use of house in this garden creates an phantasm that the garden looks a lot larger than it really is. 1. Traveler's Checks: The safest option to carry money in your trip is by traveler's checks. Be sure that you take a be aware of the denominations, serial numbers, date and the agency that has issued them. The checks should not be signed till they're used. The Taihu rocks used within the creation of this garden are from the nearby Lake Tai and are fabricated from sandstone that erodes over time. Originally the stone formations had been built to resemble lions but many misplaced their shape from continuous erosion over time. The area around Beijing has historic roots courting way back to 500,000 years. The town is one of the seven ancient capital cities of China and is located on the northwest fringe of the North China Plain, adjoining Tianjin City to its east and Hebei Province to its north, west and south. Beijing has sixteen districts and two counties beneath its jurisdiction, overlaying an area of 16,800 square kilometers. In the Warring States period (403 - 221 BC), the state of Yan established its capital here, as such, Beijing can also be commonly known as Yanjing to at the present time. Earlier than you finalize your journey plans for China, it's worthwhile to do a number of research in regards to the nation, concerning the food, culture, transportation, vaccination, visa formalities and so on, but sometimes you may not have to stress yourself with all these info. That is the rationale why tour operators were created; they provide all forms of journey related services from flights, hotels, escorts, automobiles, meals and entertainment to your stay in China from start to end; all it's essential to do is calm down and revel in your trip experiencing the distinctive Chinese language life-style. Among the many current 25 minority groups, the Yi, Bai, Dai, Naxi, Zang (Tibetan) and many others. are the bulk and most well-known. They've dependent cultures, customs, languages and histories. Most of them also have their own faith beliefs, including Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and Muslim. Prior to now thousands of yr, they had co-existed and developed in peace and harmony. At present, many live in over-lapping areas and transracial marriage occurs typically. China is now the fastest growth market for the European travel business and with the fitting approach, inns, B&Bs, outlets and attractions throughout Europe stand to win large income from this newly opened market. This reaction to Europe is just not unusual from Chinese language vacationers who are used, in their very own country, to excessive commonplace resort lodging at low costs, clean and fashionable transport methods and really low crime charges. Visas: You will want a Chinese visa with the intention to travel in China. You'll have to apply on your personal visa at the Chinese language Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). cheap flights going to manila philippines A single entry Chinese visa will value you round £60. This is made up of a £30 visa fee, and a £30 processing charge. Each single time I went to Hong Kong I visited Ocean Park. Each single time I took a tour bus to the Park. Each single time the tour bus stopped off at this jewelry store as a ploy to make the tourists purchase some jewellery. It is a type of conditions have been you might be compelled to get off and go into the shop and the whole environment forces you to take a look at jewelry while you'd relatively be looking at fish. The tacit strain is on for you to make a purchase. This is without doubt one of the finest advice I'm ever going to present: go to a spot in that store ask a few piece of jewellery, nod wisely, then depart. Take no more than 5 minutes, ignore the stares and depart. When you stay to lengthy you will maintain up the tour or cough up some money whenever you'd quite not. Simply stroll out of there and go on to Ocean Park. Oh yeah, they also "invite" you to look at a short video about their jewellery before "welcoming" you into the store.. Not one to be outdone, the Genghis clan additionally captured Suzhou and lots of other cities when they defeated the Jin Dynasty around 1215. By the time the Mongols had reached Suzhou, Khan Ogodei had apparently sated his blood lust and the city was not put to sword like so many others before it. Other than Humen, the town is also rich with historical cultural sites that date again to the Ming and the Qing dynasties. One of the most famous place that you must go to is the Keyuan Backyard. There are also plenty of temples that is of interest and these include the Jin'aozhou Pagoda and the Huangqi Ancient Temple courting again from the Track Dynasty. Both the seascape and the landscape of the city is mesmerizing, to say the least. After a lot negotiation, China has signed 'Accepted Vacation spot Standing' (ADVERTISEMENTS) agreements with over 100 companions together with some European countries. ADS simplifies the exit procedure for Chinese vacationers, allowing them to journey on strange passports and to use for vacationer visas. On the time it was hardly common for an individual to travel independently in China, let alone enter Tibet by way of Qinghai or - even more unlikely - exit China via Tibet into Nepal. However that is exactly what Vikram Seth did, and to add icing to the achievement cake, his most well-liked mode of transport was hitch-mountaineering. It's largely the mechanics and logistics of this journey that provide a lot of the content material of the ebook. So outdoors of the main cities conditions might be robust. However most of the time every little thing can be nice, particularly when you book a tour; every part will have been checked out before hand. However even the best laid plans can go unsuitable, so be prepared, the toilets within the smaller cities, towns and villages will be scary. One factor that is helping to drive down costs is competitors from inventive Chinese operators primarily based in Europe. These brokers are prepared to use informal networks of enterprise contacts that bypass lots of the regular necessities of group tourism. It's troublesome for an established tour operator to compete on price with a China Town agency supplying a mini-bus driven by an area waiter and until the Chinese tourists themselves demand more, this situation may not change. The excellent news is that we predict Chinese vacationers can be demanding way more very quickly. Shopping for garments in China could be nice enjoyable particularly from the markets where you possibly can often discover 'designer' labels at a fraction of the same old worth - but in fact these could also be of inferior quality. Additionally remember that clothes are often cut very small, and so you should think about shopping for a a lot larger measurement than you'll do at home. • Images: Taking photos is allowed in most places. Nonetheless, in some it is either prohibited (as in certain museums and archeological sites) or a payment is charged. It's at all times advisable you get permission earlier than capturing pictures of the locals. Fall in Beijing is one other attractive time within the Chinese language yr. The sunshine is abundant and the temperatures are gentle. Activities to participate in, in China, in the fall, include: choosing greens and fruit at local orchards and farms, visiting Aromatic Hills Park, which is known for gorgeous autumn surroundings, and visiting Yudu Mountain, one other spot recognized for superb fall magnificence. There are various delicious cuisines. Amongst these are dim sum, shark fin soup, char siu or pork barbeque, and plenty of more. Even when loads try, nobody can mimic the distinct style of these dishes. No one can cook dinner them the unique Chinese means. Adventures and blood dashing actions will be executed by way of hiking adventures within the Great Wall, bike excursions and golf vacation in golf golf equipment of Sanya and Kunming and much more. The country has locations for nature loving individuals. These are where they might chill out and reminisce the colourful past of China through the beautiful mountain and backyard sceneries. China is a country of epic proportions. From the broad open and empty panoramas of Tibet to the push and shove of Shanghai, from green paddy fields within the misty hills of the southwest to the scorched vistas of the Central Asian Silk Road, from the spicy dishes of Sichuan to the steaming dumplings of Manchuria - China has obtained all of it. To fulfill the demands of the travel-savvy generation, several China journey services are making an effort to entice them with experiential tailored packages. For instance, the "14-day Journey to the Home of Martial Arts" is an inexpensive journey service for martial arts aficionados. The journey service includes spherical-journey air transportation from the U.S.; intra-China air and land transportation transfers; China airport departure taxes; 12-night time resort lodging with day by day buffet breakfasts; escorted sightseeing excursions; Tang Dynasty show; Shanghai Acrobatic present; and round-trip transfers between airport and accommodations; hotel taxes and repair expenses in every city. The historical past of Suzhou started in 514BC when it was established over the past years of Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) and quickly rose to prominence. Much of this prominence was misplaced in 306BC throughout a warring kingdoms period when it was annexed the Chu Kingdom. Sure there are rumors that in Chinese eating places you're consuming dog or cat and they say it's rooster. Don't let these rumors get to you it's only rumors. If the Chinese language restaurants tell you it is hen then it really is chicken. In case you are a vacationer eating in China for the primary time then you need to contemplate making an attempt a few of the Chinese soup. Have you ever heard of Received-ton soup or egg drop soup? These are each actually good soups which can be in china. This backyard is the biggest of Suzhou's gardens and has an space of around of about fifty two, 000 sq. meters. It is usually certainly one of China's four most classical gardens. The other three gardens are Summer Palace, the Mountain Resort of Chengde and Lingering Garden which can also be in Suzhou. -It is thought of to be extraordinarily rude to take pictures of individuals with out their consent in China. In some areas where the locals are used to vacationers, it is more accepted, but it's a good rule of thumb to get permission before taking a picture with someone in it. You might gesture along with your digicam and nod, when you get a constructive response, then go ahead. Afterward, you'll be able to present them the picture if in case you have a digital digicam. Children will discover it thrilling to see themselves in your digital camera, and it might make others want to be in your photos as effectively. Of all the China Journey Ideas Nationwide Day is the biggest one. Tens of millions of Chinese travel at these vacation occasions of the year. Most are travelling back to house towns or visiting household. Accommodations, trains, planes, automobiles, buses, and roads are all crowded to the utmost. Major congestion, everywhere. The general image of the Chinese language journey trade is considered one of robust development pushed by rising income levels, the relief of journey restrictions and extra vacation durations being made available. Solely a sure variety of licensed travel agencies are eligible to operate worldwide outbound journey companies and, in 1997, there have been only sixty seven outbound journey businesses in China; by 2004, that number had risen to 528. Latest years have seen privatization and restructuring of the former state owned agencies. -Chinese individuals have an awesome sense of humor. Like most people, they love to chortle. In this stressful time of Chinese adoption, and adapting to a brand new culture, the art of laughter could serve you well. Preserve it gentle although, and do not forget that sexual and political topics are strictly averted. Chinese language International adoption could be difficult in many ways, but in all facets of life, laughter always makes things a bit of easier. Be ready to chortle at yourself. Chinese gastronomy is another attention-grabbing exercise you might wish to expertise during your journey in China. These include Chinese cooking types and traditions of the assorted ethnic tribes in China. If you want to tackle this cultural experience, Chinese gastronomy tours is your good answer to discovering the exotic wonders of positive dining and a novel tradition on your China tour. You should purchase RMB earlier than you arrive in China, from the airport on arrival, and doubtless additionally from your resort reception in addition to banks and change bureaux in all cities and cities. The alternate charge is regulated so rates are just about the identical in all places. Ask for notes in small denominations as large notes for 50 or one hundred RMB may be awkward for individuals to provide change from. The next listing is my prime seven spots I'd prefer to see in China. I included the province of Tibet in the checklist, but exclude Taiwan websites from the listing - as Taiwan isn't part of communist China despite the parties one China policy. To keep away from political controversy let's simply say this record is the highest 7 of mainland China. Language: Mandarin Chinese language is spoken in most of China. Nonetheless, countless dialects are also spoken. English is gaining reputation in China, however you still won't discover many people who speak English, particularly in rural China. Deliver along a Chinese pocket dictionary. Do not drink faucet water. Your resort might provide bottles of water in your room - whether it is within the bathroom it is free, if it is elsewhere, you may be charged for it. When shopping for water always be certain the seal across the cap is unbroken. Health. China is unquestionably a contemporary nation in many respects, but in others it is nonetheless developing. There are comparatively few facilities for disabled folks and you will probably find yourself walking, climbing stairs and battling climate and pollution issues when you're there. Consult your physician before you make plans and you should definitely carry an extra provide of your prescription medicines with you (together with the scripts displaying your identify). Also you should definitely hold an excellent supply of tissues with you at all times. These could be bought in any small convenience store or store around China. It is uncommon for toilet paper to be provided in Chinese loos, so you will have to hold your individual. The quickly-creating Pudong space is a must-visit if you happen to recognize the latest in fashionable structure. Right here, you'll be able to marvel at two of the glossy structures which have cemented their place within the city's urban landscape - the Jinmao Tower and the Oriental TV Tower. For the European international locations, ADVERTISEMENTS signifies that international locations can legally promote group leisure journey via distribution and sales channels with wholesalers and travel agents as well as advertise the destination and its products to Chinese shoppers. Forex: The official Chinese language currency is named the renminbi ('peoples cash'), RMB for brief. The financial unit is the Yuan. Hong Kong has its personal forex - the Hong Kong Dollar. The Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the American Dollar. It is accepted in Guangzhou (Canton) and Shenzhen. With a purpose to ring house from China, do not use the telephone in your hotel room but purchase a telephone card for international calls from the reception desk or the airport or station - but remember that the cardboard would possibly only be usable in the space you have got purchased it in, for instance, playing cards purchased in Beijing might not be usable in Shanghai. Badaling part is legendary for its imposing constructions, completeness, and the well-known Juyonguan Go. Many of the photos of the good wall revealed in guidebooks have been taken at the Badaling section of the Great Wall. The Mutianyu part also provides great viewing pleasure for vacationers. As English is just not broadly spoken, you're advised to hold the identify, address and telephone number of the lodge where you're staying. Most resort reception desks have small playing cards with the resort tackle and telephone quantity in English and Chinese on opposite sides. With china escorted excursions you'll be able to combine a go to to the Nice Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors in addition to the historic city of Shanghai. There are numerous excursions that absorb many extra of China's customer attraction spots and range from 9 to fifteen nights, every tour has the services of an expert tour manager that is fluent in speaking English in addition to local guides at each destination you visit. SHELLEY: Born in China, I spent the primary six years of my life in Beijing, the town that I'll always consider as my first dwelling. Though I moved to America and attended school there, I remain deeply related with China via books, news, motion pictures, family, and spending summers there each two or three years. During these summer season journeys, I typically journey across the country and have visited lots of the locations in Let's Go: China. Hangzhou: These in love with classical China can head to this swish city of the south and historic dynastic capital. Willows, gardens, pavilions, and delicately arched bridges dot the shores of the West Lake, the setting for historical China's most well-known love tales. Sip fragrant Dragon Nicely tea while dining at one in every of China's oldest eating places that once served emperors. The misty waters and city pleasures are enough to captivate anyone; if not close by Shanghai guarantees a plunge back into modernity. Vikram Seth had been a pupil in China, so his goal was to see a few of the much less visited elements of the nation and to exit, eventually, to India to be reunited, after years in college, along with his family. He did have some language with out which, given the twists and turns bureaucracy compelled, he would absolutely not have achieved his objective. 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"Sanfangyizhaobi" refers to three homes on three sides and a decorative display screen wall to reflect daylight to the home. " Sihewutianjing" is a house with a significant courtyard and tour small ones on the four corners of the main oneThe Bai people's homes are typically decorated with wood carvings, stone carvings and marble, which add luster to the normal characteristics of the homes. Most individuals come for two reasons to Yangshuo: see the limestone rock formations and do some biking, mountaineering, rockclimbing or different out of doors activities right here. Moonhill is among the most famous and most visited rocks within the space. It's located at the predominant highway some kilometers south of Yangshuo town middle. However there's a lot extra to see. The tallest mountain on the earth. Apart from the superb top - you more likely to undergo perspective illness even at base camp, visually Everest is a shocking mountain. Add to that the yaks, Sherpas and isolation within the plateau on high of the world and you have something that pulls the adventure. I've no want to climb the mighty mountain, one I'm getting too outdated and second going into any death zone is not my cup of tea. But to climb among the slopes might be fun. China is a famous historic place ever since. Though there are many historic locations throughout the globe, China is distinct for its preserved structures. Their colorful past was also carefully preserved and will be seen through a few of its artistic sceneries. Each and every place in this nation is unquestionably a good getaway for many tourists. If you're a food traveler, China is also the place to go. Get on a guided tour. You would possibly really feel overwhelmed at the idea of getting round China. Maybe the language barrier seems insurmountable or you might be nervous concerning the general safety and high quality of transportation there. The easiest way to see China is to enroll in an all-inclusive tour. These package offers are the most common way that both worldwide travellers and domestic Chinese language vacationers journey, so there are literally 1000's of packaged excursions accessible, a lot of them specialising in seniors journey teams. Signing up for a bundle deal, you will be taken care of from airport to airport with no problem. There is only one software form that can be utilized for every type of visa. It is only two pages long and is split into seven sections. The first part requests private info reminiscent of full identify, date of start, passport number and occupation. You will complete Section 2 with information about your go to to China. It's here that you select the type of visa you need, the supposed variety of entries and validity. There is something distinctive about China and that is what travelers are interested in. China is not just a country; it is a completely different world fully with a distinctive culture, long historical past and attention-grabbing individuals. Endurance is really a advantage if you journey to China; it is because you need a long time to plan out your itinerary to the different provinces and regions to see what this beautiful nation has to offer. From natural surroundings to historic architectures, great culinary arts, robust defense systems, purchasing sprees, high tech modern buildings and local minorities, China is greater than what you really expect. China receives a excessive variety of tourism yearly; this has allowed the nation to turn out to be one of the crucial fascinating locations to visit on a getaway escapade from a different way of life. Transport deals. Hong Kong is a sexy destination for the senior traveller, not only for its beauty and plethora of lovely motels and great restaurants, but for the reductions! Senior travellers (65+ with a senior ID) can ride the Star Ferry throughout Hong Kong harbour without cost. Seniors can also purchase the Octopus Elder Card, which works on all of Hong Kong's public transportation choices, and offers assorted reductions relying on whether you're taking the bus, MTR trains or ferries.

[dowsetteer-blog]

Meet The Yadavs

On the outskirts of Orchha, past the Lakshmi Narayan Temple but before the stone archway, is Ganj village. Opposite the water pump is a line of four doors, a step up from the potholed track and set into walls painted blue. These provide entry to the Yadav household, a family rich in warmth and love and eight-year members of the Orchha homestay project. They are one of six families across the town that belong to the initiative, set up almost ten years ago to create livelihoods linked to tourism and promote cultural exchange. We arrive from Jhansi railway station late one cold winter’s evening but Kiran, the mother, is still insistent on ensuring we are fully fed before we settle into possibly the most comfortable beds in India. It's just a taste of the hospitality we receive in the following days as we join the daily routines of Kiran, Siren and their two girls, Mini and Kushi. The Yadavs are a progressive family. Aside from their involvement in the homestay project which marks a significant step from ordinary rural life, Kiran is hopeful of sending her daughters to University instead of arranging early marriages. But this is clearly still India. Siren still mans his tiny shop next-door and Kiran still sets out cow dung to dry on the roof. In the evening time we huddle in the kitchen helping the girls with their homework or sharing in the village gossip while Kiran cooks up a feast. The cold is lessened by closing the kitchen doors but the room quickly becomes thick with smoke – a catch 22 that must be replicated each winter across rural India. We learn bits of Hindi, show photos from our travels, and chat about the day's activities. Orchha is a small town in Madhya Pradesh but it is also the former capital of the Bundela Rajput kings. Its forts and temples are numerous and grand but less visited than others we have explored elsewhere. There is little accompanying information and we blindly wander through the impressive network of passages and stairways that make up Jehangir Mal and Raj Mahal. Hidden chambers lie dark and empty, in varying states of upkeep and decay, paintings of war and ritual peeling from the ceilings. It's the perfect setting for an epic game of hide and seek (and a quick rendition of Roger Whitaker's ‘Mexican Whistler’) but I find it difficult to picture the complex as a hub of activity at the height of the Bundela clan in the 16th and 17th Centuries. There’s just too much empty space. With obligatory fort visits done and dusted, we hire bicycles from a local restaurant and head out of town. Halfway across the Betwa River and to the side of the main road that dissects the island is the Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary with tracks leading through a large forest and down to the riverside. At this time of year the leafless trees provide for excellent visibility but apart from a peacock and some kind of buffalo it’s the usual mix of monkeys and cows. Every now and then we join the river, its calm waters and rocky shores providing a great spot for meditation or a snooze in the sun. I opt for the latter. Suitably refreshed we head for the exit but Soph decides it's time to ride in the sand and falls of her bike at the lowest speed of all time. It's clearly time to leave. We stop in at the chhatris before returning the bikes, a series of cenotaphs which tower over the river. Here we meet Krishna, a 16-year old boy who speaks candidly about his lack of schooling, the caste system and his rejection of Hindu beliefs. It's refreshing and humbling to meet people like him, who live their young lives facing all sorts of challenging situations, yet retain limitless ambition to improve their lot and speak so openly to tourists without any reference to money. These are the encounters I like to hold onto, reminding me that however frustrated we get with all the harassment, however distrusting we become of those who too eagerly seek friendship, there are always people like Krishna, like the Yadavs, ready to make us smile once again.

[bonefall]

Hope you don't mind I re-posted your ask so that I can toss this under a cut, I don't want to spook anyone because this picture could be alarming to anyone just quick scrolling down the dash lmao

CW: Drunk birds (They look dead but they're ok!) and discussion of alcohol from fermented rowanberries

@hoofhound

"on fermentation

can they eat the berry

(the birds are alive and well it is commonplace to see them passed out after eating fermented berries and passerbys pick them up and set them on the side safely until they wake up :) )"

Yes! The cats can eat the berry; but only when they're ripe and fermented like this. Immature rowan berries have parasorbic acid, which is harmful to both people and cats.

However- cats have an extremely low tolerance for alcohol because they are obligate carnivores. They can't eat as many as even a tiny little waxwing. Remember that a single shot of vodka is fatally poisonous to a cat.

I'll make a rough estimate until I can make an official entry with REAL math and say 1 berry = 1 beer.

So as long as they're not munching an entire bushel of rowanberries, and this should be fine to get your Clan drunk.

[bonefall]

Could the clans domesticate animals like ravens as pets?

Domestication is difficult. It's important to keep in mind there's a huge difference between domestication and taming; Domestication changes the very genetic makeup of an animal to make it more friendly, Taming is more of an alliance between man and beast.

Domestication = Farm Taming = Circus

I worked out a couple of animals that the cats could DEFINITELY domesticate and keep as pets. It's mostly bugs but there's also some aquatic stuff here, and I specifically mention the practicality of mice and toads.

A species that you can domesticate needs ALL of the following traits;

Grow quickly: so a single cat can make progress breeding the animal in its lifetime. We want animals that mature and have their own kids in 1 year or less.

Breeds easily in captivity: If you're going out and catching juveniles that's just taming.

Easy to feed: No point in keeping frogs when these cats can just eat the bugs the frog would be eating.

Strict hierarchy OR otherwise easy to control: Mice don't have 'pecking orders' like chickens but you can keep them in a chew-proof bucket. The cats can't keep pigs, for example, because the pigs would just eat the warriors and not stay in the pens they're capable of constructing.

So... ravens, corvids.

"I'LL TAKE THAT AS A NO"

Even putting aside how BIG corvids are, they're ridiculously intelligent. You can't keep them in one place, they don't like to breed in captivity because they get bored, AND they don't obey hierarchy. These animals would be a NIGHTMARE for a Warrior to try to keep.

Taming? That's possible! It's very reasonable for Clans to realize that unkindnesses and murders are actually quite friendly to those who feed them.

But if your Clan does this, they would have to stop hunting them else reset the alliance to square 1. Is that worth it? These are REALLY big prey items.

Really, corvids are more like allies than pets.

[bonefall]

maybe bloodclan cats use sap to stick things to their claws? or fashion whole gloves with long claws, sort of like in owls of gahoole?

Gahoole Gloves probably wouldn’t work for the paw of a cat, because cat paws are very different from bird talons

A “retractable“ claw is one that naturally rests facing upward, it’s pulled forward by a little muscle at the very bottom of the foot. Where the talons of an owl are quite similar to a human hand, when a cat is relaxed, it’s like if the last segment of your finger folded backwards like a swiss army knife.

That alone would require a glove to be VERY carefully crafted just to respond to claw-movement, but on top of it, cats don’t have a tapered wrist for a glove to rest on. Unlike a human or owl that can just slide into one, a cat would need to ‘fasten‘ it in place with string, like if your pet’s ever had to wear booties.

Such a glove would be constantly scratching against the ground and getting the blades dull very quickly, unlike a Gahoole owl which travels and battles through flight which will naturally keep the blades off the ground.

Alll that, and the Warrior may also not be able to control the glove very well to begin with. Even the best basket-weavers of the Clans have very tiny fingers. It’s just not good for glove-wearing.

Now CLAW EXTENDERS, those could work really well. If these cats can get their claws on some good glass, obsidian, or metal, something with a real sharp edge, they could do some real damage.

Sap wouldn’t do good enough though. For BloodClan, they’re going to want to straight-up steal some glue from humans, else they don’t stick. For the Clans, they could process pitch from pine or birch.

But, because the sharpest material the clans have access to would be bone, Claw Extenders would be mostly made by BloodClan. Though it sounds like a perfect opportunity for the two cultures to want to trade blades and pitch.

[bonefall]

is there any logical way cats could harvest honey without smoke or the mallow/fenugreek/oil mixture? like the Most Barebones method...

The most barebones method for harvesting honey from beehives is CUT AND RUN

YOU BETTER BE QUICK

BREAK THE HIVE, GRAB HONEYCOMB, RUN.

You're not getting away without a couple of stings, and you'll also have to remember that this will destroy the hive or at least massively damage it. In fact, even early beekeeping involved destroying most of the hive in the extraction process.

But, it is possible for a very brave and bold warrior to see a honeybee hive just hanging there and decide, "I'm about to have a very bad idea."

[bonefall]

Cute idea for Windclan apprentices: Since the cats can use string, what if the apprentices somehow make kites (out of feathers, leaves, etc) and run around the moor with them?

I'm finally getting around to really old asks that have been sitting around as reminders; I've made an official to-do list.

Sadly though I did a little bit of digging into how exactly the cats would be able to construct their own kite, and it's looking like an Incan Wheel. The problem isn't the string; it's the paper.

Paper actually didn't hit Europe until super late, like 14th century. It was developed in China because they were writing, and from there spread to the Middle East where it spread to Europe. It's actually fascinating that the invention of kites and cheap paper (predating Cai Lun's official 'invention' of papermaking) seem to have happened around the same time-- 200 BC.

And this is the point where I shook my head and closed out the research. The Clans wouldn't come up with something like this on their own.

HOWEVER

I won't rule this out of SkyClan's culture. I write them as stealing things and being a lot closer to humans than the other Clans, so I wouldn't be against making a sort of "side story" about them finding and fixing a kite.

But it would feature a specific cat and be more of a side parable. "That time SkyClan found a kite" story.

[bonefall]

Hi! I just saw the saltlick post! While the really common use of saltlicks is for livestock, they are also placed in forest areas that hunters have access to in order to draw deer to that area. It’s possible that the farmer located near Windclan could have once owned the forest Thunderclan lives on and used it for hunting, putting up saltlicks in the area, before later selling that plot to the treecut place in TNP. I could imagine this still being a salt source even after they move to the lake territories. A small patrol could be sent out with a container of some sort to just scratch off whatever amount they would need for brine

Not sure if there are and UK hunting laws that butt heads with this idea but I’m a strong supporter of your “cats should cook” idea lol

It's not very likely. The "Deer Stalking" (they don't call it hunting for some reason? england wyd) laws that would conflict with hunting in the area is that it's a popular hiking trail; hunting there would be a massive hazard to people walking their dogs as well as the sawmill workers who work by tallpines.

That aside I went and read The Deer Act of 1991 and I couldn't get any conclusive answers on if salt baiting was banned or not, so it's probably allowed, but when I dove a little deeper into hunting culture in the UK I wasn't able to find anything on baiting at all.

I did find, though, that hunters in the UK like to hunt by moorland, and the Deer Act of 1991 doesn't apply to problem deer that are eating crops provided you can produce evidence that the species of deer you're shooting has been what's causing problems... but in that case, salt baiting might be illegal because then you'd be attracting them to the property.

The law is also a lot stricter on the native deer species, reds and roes, than the invasive Chinese Water Deer and muntjac.

So anyway the most likely deer hunting is done on the border of WindClan and ThunderClan, and salt baits are unlikely... and that's depending on whose permission the hunters need to not be arrested for poaching; it's likely the White Hart Wood is owned by the Chelford Council or the operators of the Chelford Mill. The Windover Moor is probably owned by the owners of the Windover Farm.

I have never gone "deer stalking" in England so I'm not sure what that mess looks like legally LMAO

Stealing Salt From Livestock

[ID: Two sheep licking a red salt block]

Some people suggested this too, but the problem is that the Forest Clan cats try not to steal when possible. When they do, they try to lift plants. Wheat, crops, catmint from gardens, stuff that won't be missed. ShadowClan also scavenges from the Carrionplace, where twolegs don't care if something goes missing.

WindClan actually tries to "pay farmers back" when they have to swipe wheat for tunnelbuns in hard years, by catching and leaving some rats and crows.

If SkyClan was at the Forest territories they'd be ALL over this. They'd hook a rope through that block, tie to to the biggest warrior they have, and tell Thickbutt to HAUL ASS before the farmer saw them. Then they'd smash the block into fine, fine grain.

Salt Access: BloodClan Trade Expansion

But as-is, the only salt the Forest Clans can access on their own is the natural salt in the roots of certain plants, and they could lick the Thunderpath in winter if they really wanted.

You know who does have salt though? BloodClan. LOTS of it. Road salt in Winter, discarded salt shakers, unguarded restaurants full of bags of salt... They wouldn't even understand why the Forest Clans want it so badly and be shocked when they learned that salt isn't just naturally occurring.

SO, there could be a brief period after TPB where the Clans trade with BloodClan, suddenly have easy access to salt, and find out what it's like to NOT have fleas for the first time in their lives. They'd think it must be why stars are white, they've never seen anything that could smite bugs the way salt does.

[bonefall]

Do you have any thoughts on accessories and such in the clans? It's fairly common for OCs to sport a sprig of something here and there, but to my knowledge it's not too common in canon...but with weaving and such, I feel like it would certainly be possible. I'm not sure how clan cats would feel about neck accessories (too close to kittypet collars?), but I feel like tails and ears at least would be fair game. Maybe even to reflect status?

In canon they don't wear anything, and imo they should wear a lot more.

Personally I love having OCs with all sorts of funky woven accessories, especially for the chest and hips. I love a good set of ear piercings but belts and harnesses are super underrated; it seems so much more fun to me for a warrior to be carrying around the prey they've caught so far just by strapping it right to the belt. Or even lugging around travel rations.

Personally I also like designing collars and necklaces. I think about it like a collar is frowned upon because it's human-made, and usually jingles with a bell or tag making for a poorer hunter. Clanmade necklaces are quiet.

[bonefall]

Fermentation, yay or any? If so which food would you allow the clans to ferment?

While on one hand I would someday really like to make an entry on 'recreational drugs' of some kind (and if it ever comes, there will be warning beforehand, and it'll be tagged to hell and back!), alcohol is deadly poisonous to cats. The amount in a shot glass would kill a warrior.

So if I ever got to fermentation, it would be really important for me to work out the mathematics of exactly how much a warrior would be able to drink, based on the alcoholic content of what they're fermenting. Hops/beer, apples/cider, and honey/mead are all on the table and I'd need to work it out for each one

Aaaaaand there's a major problem with that; I have dyscalculia. Counting, fractions, and visualizing amounts of things is very difficult for me. Making the entry would be agonizing unless I had someone to do all the math for me.

In any case, it wouldn't happen for a while. I've got the instruments entry coming up soon, flax processing, an entry on ham, aaaand then the herb guide for scoliosis coming up!