#Demons & Wizards

[steveezekiel]

PRAYER

"PRAYING always with all PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all PERSEVERANCE and SUPPLICATION for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

Prayers are needed to succeed in your Christian journey. If you are lazy in prayer, your profit, or Blessings might be delayed.

That said, the knowledge of the Word of God, strengthens your prayers. To pray a result oriented prayer, and not to pray amiss (James 4:3), you had to be conversant with the Word of God.

The world we are is full of wickedness (Psalm 74:20), because the devil, the gods of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), is on the rampage—in operations.

Satan, also known as, the devil, is not omnipresent, but has humans who are his agents, strategically planted around the world.

The satanists, witches and wizards, occultists, witch doctors, and the like; are working with demons to propagate the works and the kingdom of darkness, that is, of the devil.

The devil is enraged with those who are of God, the Believers in Christ Jesus: "SO the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), THOSE WHO KEEP AND OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him]" (Revelation 12:17 Amps.).

The devil and the loyalists are after the saints of God, thus, you can not afford to live contrary to the Word of God, and be lazy in prayer.

To succeed in this world of darkness as a Believer, you have to live consistently on the Word of God, and pray in line with the Word.

Your progress is a threat to the devil. When you are progressing, the devil would want to raise oppositions; the people and the challenges of life, to hinder or limit your progress.

The humans who may be against you, because of envy or other carnal reasons, are not the enemy per SE, but the devil. Such have yielded themselves to be used of him: "AND that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, HAVING BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM [the devil] TO DO HIS WILL" (2 Timothy 2:26 NKJV).

Some of those who are against you; are being carnal, being propelled by the flesh, whilst some have sold their souls to the devil, to do his WILL and work for him—to do evil.

The devil is afraid of your success.

The devil knows If you succeed financially, your life would be a blessing to others.

You would want to give money or whatever God has blessed you with, to support the work of God, and that would have a negative impact on his work and kingdom.

You might be stirred or moved to Give to the Needy, or the poor, the widows, and others; and that would cause them to praise God and love to serve Him the more: "FOR the MINISTRY OF THIS SERVICE (offering) is NOT only supplying the NEEDS of the saints (God’s people), BUT IS ALSO OVERFLOWING THROUGH MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD" (2 Corinthians 9:12 AMP).

You might give money to the Ministers and ministries, and it would be used to liberate those who are being oppressed by him—the devil and his cohorts.

You might also be moved to set up foundations or build hospitals, or do other philanthropic works.

With a number of reasons given above, the devil would not want the prosperity and success of the Believers.

The devil does not want mankind who are the work of God, to be helped or cared for, because of the hatred he has for God. Thus, you cannot afford not to pray!

Some of the types of Prayers mentioned in the Bible I. Prayer of enquiry. This is when you want to know the mind of God on whatever you are facing or wanted to do. You inquire from God, to know whether He is in support of your move or whatever you had proposed to do: (1 Samuel 30:8). To be quoted. II. Prayer supplication. THIS prayer is used to ask for forgiveness, if you had done any wrong, or could be used to plead on behalf of someone whom God is angry with—one who had done wrong or committed a Sin (Psalm 51:1-17). ALSO, it could be used in standing before God to plead and ask for favour, mercy, and help; that people might be brought your way, to assist in getting a particular thing done or fulfilled. THIS could be used for yourself or for another person or people. III. Prayer of constant directions. THIS is about committing your thoughts, imaginations, ideas, expectations, and doings to God's hand in prayer. IV. Battling prayer or warfare prayer. THROUGH this prayer, you undo the works of the devil, which are plotted against you and those who are under your leadership; your loved ones, friends and the acquaintances. YOU discomfit the devil, demons, and the agents of dark kingdom, who may be against you or the work you do (Luke 10:19). V. Prayer of appreciation. THIS is about thanking and praising God for a steady and the trickle of results in your life, and on what you do, and the progress different stages of your life and Ministry, from one phase to another—being moved from one level of Glory to another. LEARN how to appreciate the little results that God is causing you to have. IF you did appreciate God for that little result, you would be promoted and lifted to another that is higher than that.

The types of prayers mentioned in this piece and some others found in the Scriptures should be prayed regularly by any Believer who desired to live fulfilled Christian life.

Someone says Prayer is the strongest weapon in the world. YOU can be praying wherever you are and be touching other parts of the world, effecting a change in spiritual realm with your prayers. Which the impact would be felt and seen in the physical realm. PRAYER is powerful and efficacious!

You will not fail in Jesus' name.

Whatever God has not planted in your body, which is contrary to your health, is cursed and uprooted in Jesus' name.

You are delivered from every infirmity in Jesus' name. Peace!

[biisutoarm]

Headcanon;; Elfman & Beast Soul

Headcanon inspired by this answer by @ragingbolt.

=================

Elfman clearly drew the short end of the straw in terms of Magical Ability among the Strauss siblings. It's no secret, either; between only managing Takeover on his right arm for the longest time and having a faulty attempt at Full-Body Takeover that resulted in easily the greatest tragedy of his life. It occurred to me that ever since his Full-Body Takeover, Elfman barely uses other forms of attack unless the situation demands he thinks outside the box.

Post-timeskip Elfman didn't just attain new Beasts to use for his Takeover; his 3-month training was spent mostly amping up his magic power quantity as much as he could, so long as he trained with his sisters and Cana. On his own, Elfman continued training physically, becoming the hulking mass he is today. However, all of this is because he was already plenty strong and renowned only using his right arm. Later battles proved that he needed to get stronger, beyond what he's been working on already. He needed more versatility, as The Beast may have been strong, but ultimately limited in effectiveness when things truly got dire.

This caused a shift in his battle style, starting from the Grand Magic Games onwards.

As a result, The Beast was sidelined - but kept as a trump card for whenever Elfman has a solid grasp on the task at hand, in case he needs to use it. Unlike Mirajane or Lisanna, who have a wider array of Takeovers, Elfman's is awfully limited. As such, the few Beasts he did perform Takeover on properly are all ones he mastered before using - as the last time he tried without mastery caused his sister's death. Even among all of those, The Beast reigns as the one Elfman is most efficient with, and the one he spends the least magical energy using - compared to its effectiveness.

In short, overuse of The Beast is mitigated through lesser Takeovers nowadays. His magical resources are still awfully limited for a wizard of his caliber, but should Elfman use The Beast again in combat, his mastery of it would be so great it's practically unrecognizable from his time in, say, Tenrou. Case in point -

one punch is all he needed to put Seilah, a Kyuukimon Demon, at the brink of death. And ever since, he's only grown stronger.

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

it's so interesting for me to hear that houses localization changed the script to vilify(?word?) the church bc when i played the game (i recently finished my first and so far only playthrough in lions route) for the first half of the game i was waiting for the shoe to drop to reveal the church is the big bad guys but it never came and the revealed was actually ed. idk if it should have been obvious but i was too focused on suspecting the church to see it or if it was actually subtle as i tend to be oblivious to hints(¿word again?) given in media lol.

idk where im going with this but i hope it makes at least some sense bc i am so sleep deprived rn

and the thing tou said about Henry being changed i am so curious of that too

hope you have a nice day and better sleep than me!

I'll answer the last part first since the rest is more descriptive.

Basically Henry went to Wizard School (tee em) and it was a cool and great experience. In JP, it was... iirc basically close to torture/hellish? It was a more mature situation/topic, but the loc changed it to be silly and fun sounding. For some reason Treehouse in particular seems deeply if not fatally allergic to mature topics and/or properly handling them.

Thank for about the sleep comment and I assure you, I sleep too often!! I wish I could send you some of my sleep and make it extra quality for you. :(

As for Three Houses, yeah, in AM it doesn't really happen that way. Nobody is really vilified (not even the imperialist warmonger invading neutral lands!) in AM (same with AG in Hopes).

What you saw/understood was the whole point! It was made it look at first like the Church was suspicious, but then the reveal was meant to be no, it was a fellow house leader all along. That was what the red herring part about the Church was all about. You were supposed to suspect the Church at first, hence Jeralt's warnings, and if you're playing GD, Claude's suspicions.

Unfortunately what happens in the other routes, especially in CF, is that Rhea's trauma is never explored, no characters stop to understand her motivation, etc. She's just used as the resident bad guy because she's Edelgard's enemy. Basically, you're seeing it from the point of view that Rhea is bad because you see it from Edelgard's perspective... but it fails to work because the game, in particular the localization, amps Edelgard up as a huge progressive hero. AM is the only route that really confronts her about her "views", and even then, it's a mess because all the things she argues with Dimitri about aren't her end goal (i.e. they don't ever end up actually happening in the vast capacity she claims she's going to do).

About Edelgard:

The localization avoids any particularly negative comments about her and changes or outright removes them (true of Hopes as well). In Dimitri's case it would make sense because of their connection, but when it ends up just being another route in the pile of feeling sorry for Edelgard (and... not Rhea, who had her family massacred and their bones turned into weapons), it just feels stale.

They basically tell you Edelgard is very cute and easily embarrassed, and she's just this headstrong progressive woman fighting For The People (tee em). The truth is (as per the game itself, i.e. content they can't change/localized because it's the contents of the game itself) that she's invading innocent lands, conscripting her own citizens, turning her citizens into demonic beasts to add to her military strength (lelz when u can't even rely on ur nation's own military strength without demonic beasts), and victim blaming anyone who fights back (if you have yet to see the extremely infamous "no u" line from Edegard to Dimitri in CF, you've been blessed) among other things.

They basically shove it down your throat, characters and narrative both (in the loc in particular), that Edelgard is good and just, while the story itself is looking at all that like ???. The JP script still tries to take good care of her and her image, but they're a lot more blunt about her/her goals (i.e. they don't dance around them nearly as much).

The localization showers what she does with love and attention, and even when they have to say she's the problem/aggressor, they still pretty it up as much as possible (such as Dimitri wondering if maybe her vision of society could possibly be just and righteous, instead of outright admitting what she's done is absolutely atrocious when it's way worse than anything he ever did, all of which he admits to doing and takes responsibility for).

The JP version is more clear on her being the villain. There's definitely bias toward her (as the writers were, confirmed by an interview), but it doesn't slap you in the face with it nearly as badly. Also, Dimitri has won a character popularity poll every year since the game's inception in Japan. In the west, Edelgard is much more popular than she is in the east. That, of course, is because of the way the loc pushed the writing for her/about her.

Edelgard's "progressive" stuff is supposed to be just propaganda (which is ultimately, even as per the western endings because there's only so much they can change). The way the loc frames it is that it's actually what she's aiming for. It's what she uses to inspire people to fight for her though, not what she's actually doing.

About Rhea:

This one's the real doozy because it's a victim of the above. Since they wanted to pretty up Edelgard's dialogue and make her A Hero (tee em), they needed whoever her main enemy was to be the "villain". Since Edelgard, now popular because of the tweaks in her dialogue, hated and wanted to kill Rhea, so too did her raging fans who gave no fucks whatsoever about any character who opposed her... even if it was just to save their own life!

They changed the tone of Rhea's voice in the loc to make her more angry and villainous sounding, rather than sad or kind. She was basically altered in the loc to make Edelgard look better. Like, of course, in the perspective of playing a villain in CF, she's the bad guy and the enemy. The problem comes when they have Rhea say things that are more aggressive than in the original script, and change her tone to sound demeaning and vicious (when she was otherwise not or not as much).

But like, why? The only reason any of us can think of is because they wanted to market Edelgard more. This is likely a result of the west's views and especially political views, since Edelgard's pretty words would sound good to a westerner's political beliefs... until you dig into them/the actual story content more.

Rhea also being the head of a Church probably got tweaked because of the west's recent irl views on religion. Religion in the west has been looked poorly upon in recent years. Instead of accepting this is just a fictional game though, the loc team just... pushed that they're Really Bad.

Rhea is more of a victim of them needing someone to be worse than Edelgard to make Edelgard look like less of a villain (which again, this isn't the case in the original script nearly as much), and they couldn't use Thales/the Agarthans because you were allied with them in that route.

The other characters vs Rhea as a villain choice:

The goal wasn't to make a playable lord a villain in the loc's case. It was the intention of the original script with Edelgard, but the loc tried to make her actions sound more justified because ??? like idk, I can't wrap my head around them justifying what she does.

Dimitri isn't handled too badly by the narrative itself and he's overall seen as a good person (even the loc didn't alter that or Edelgard's ablest mentality toward a mentally unwell person), so he wasn't really a good candidate for all that. Also, Dimitri's story is one of recovery, and because they ventured into mental illness, he wasn't a good candidate. He was treated well and pretty fairly (Edelgard not treating him particularly well makes sense with her character, but the narrative itself doesn't push him as being a monstrous person. Even in the time he considers that he was, there's depth, logic and complexity to the situation).

Claude being the main bipoc character would have just been an all around disaster if the loc or even original script tried to make him the top villain, yadda yadda (understandably). There was no chance that was going to go over well, especially in the west (have you seen the shitstorm GW caused? And that was with the writing not considering him a villain!!). He was basically safe from the get go as far as villainy if they writers/localizers didn't want serious backlash (there are discussions about the overall treatment of poc characters in Houses/Hopes, but I can guarantee it would've been legit backlash if he was made to be a genuinely and intentionally horrible person, so that wasn't really an option if they wanted this game to actually sell and be enjoyed).

So since Rhea isn't playable and is the head of a Church, that kind of makes her the only candidate. Players will get attached to the other lords and not like killing them, so it won't feel like a badass victory to kill them. I guess for some reason the loc team just... hated Rhea or something?

Dimitri's death in CF is either extremely sad and garners audience sympathy, or in the other version of his death in CF it's clear his mentally stability is starting to break right before he's killed, which in and of itself is another topic. Claude is either free to go by choice of the player or can be killed, and his death is sad and he's not villainized. Aside from how some characters treat Claude's death (in contrast to Dimitri's which is never outright villainized even by Edelgard), the scene meant for the player at the time it happens is supposed to leave a bad taste in your mouth.

So again, it really just leaves the loc team with the option of Rhea if they want to make the final battle seem like a big victory for the player. VW also has its big happy victory, and surprise surprise, Rhea dies in that route (offscreen no less!).

SS kills off Rhea but actually makes it sad, and it's, you know, actually the route that focuses on her/the Church most. AM doesn't kill her off and doesn't treat any character death as a badass victory, and instead gives a bittersweet ending (which again would be in line with Dimitri's connection to Edelgard, and it only feels botched down because of all routes obsessing over her).

So while, technically, the writing in the JP script wasn't trying to make Rhea as bad as the western version of the game, if the loc wanted to go for that, she was the best option. It just... came at the expense of butchering her character to make Edelgard shine, which shouldn't have been done but it was.

[customteamnames]

30 Hilarious Diablo Names That Will Make Your Friends Laugh Out Loud

https://customteamnames.com/?p=1054 30 Hilarious Diablo Names That Will Make Your Friends Laugh Out Loud If you’ve ever dived into the dark and thrilling industry of Diablo, you know that a great character name can make your gaming experience even more memorable. Why settle for the usual when you can unleash your creativity with a hilarious twist? Funny Diablo names not only showcase your sense of humor but also add a unique flair to your gameplay. Table of Contents Toggle Creative Combinations of Funny Diablo NamesUsing Puns for HumorMixing Characters and ClassesPop Culture References in Funny Diablo NamesNames from Movies and TV ShowsNames from Music and LiteratureMeme-Inspired Funny Diablo NamesTrending Internet MemesClassic Memes for InspirationPersonalizing Your Funny Diablo NamesIncorporating Inside JokesUsing Personal Traits and ExperiencesTips for Generating Your Own Funny Diablo NamesPlay with Language and SoundsExperiment with Different ThemesConclusion: Embrace the Humor in Diablo NamesFrequently Asked QuestionsWhy are funny character names important in Diablo?How can I come up with a funny Diablo name?Can memes inspire character names in Diablo?Should I use inside jokes in my character names?What are some examples of creative character names for Diablo? Creative Combinations of Funny Diablo Names Creative Combinations of Funny Diablo Names Choosing a funny name in Diablo can really amp up your gaming experience. Here are a couple of ways to spark your creativity with names that will get a chuckle. Using Puns for Humor Puns can elevate your character’s name and bring laughter to the game. Names like “Witchy Poo” for a sorceress or “Demon-ster Mash” for a barbarian instantly lighten the mood. You could also play with elements from the game, like “Diablo-nator” or “Hell’s Bell,” which add a humorous twist. Think of your character’s abilities or traits, and try mixing them with playful word combinations for maximum hilarity. Mixing Characters and Classes Combining characters and classes opens up a industry of funny names you might not have considered. For example, naming a rogue “Sneaky McFroge” brings together stealth and humor. Alternatively, you might choose “Paladin of the Puns” for a character who spreads laughter while fighting evil. Combining stereotypes of classes can also yield laughs, like a wizard called “Gandalf the Greybeard.” Creativity flows when you merge different elements, making your character stand out while putting a smile on other players’ faces. Pop Culture References in Funny Diablo Names Pop Culture References in Funny Diablo Names You can find plenty of inspiration in pop culture when it comes to funny Diablo names. Drawing from movies, TV shows, music, and literature, you can create names that not only amuse but also resonate with your character’s personality. Names from Movies and TV Shows Consider using Sho’nuff, a quirky nod to the character from the cult classic movie “The Last Dragon.” This name fits perfectly for a Dragon Talon Assassin or any character exuding confidence. You might also enjoy the name El Diablo, inspired by the DC Comics character. This playful twist is especially fun for classes that don’t typically embody that devilish vibe. Mixing humor with recognizable references enhances your gameplay experience in delightful ways. Names from Music and Literature Don’t overlook names inspired by music and literature. For example, Diablo Cody draws from the American screenwriter known for her unique storytelling. This name provides a humorous touch to any character. Also, you could consider employing characters from classic novels, like using the whimsical name Poe’s Demon, a playful take on Edgar Allan Poe’s dark themes. Such names can inject a dose of personality into your Diablo adventure while showcasing pop culture influences. Meme-Inspired Funny Diablo Names Funny Diablo names can easily draw inspiration from popular memes, creating a bold comedic twist for your characters. Here are some memorable options to consider. Trending Internet Memes Using trending internet memes can give your character a fresh and relatable vibe. Names like “Diablo Droll” showcase a clever play on words, married with Diablo’s dark themes. Adding humor, “Hellish Humorist” parodies popular comedic styles, infusing your gaming persona with personality. Don’t forget to keep an eye on current memes and pop culture references for inspiration, because they can help you create unique names that resonate with the gaming community. Classic Memes for Inspiration Classic memes always have a special charm that can inspire funny Diablo names. Think of timeless favorites such as “Doom Noodle,” which brings a whimsical element to your character. “Sir Laughs-a-Lot” evokes playful imagery that can charm your fellow players. You can also combine humor with exact character traits; for instance, “Giggling Gladiator” suits a Druid character perfectly. These examples reflect the playful essence of memes, letting your character shine with a laugh amid the chaos of battle. Personalizing Your Funny Diablo Names Personalizing Your Funny Diablo Names Personalizing your funny Diablo names lets you add character and a touch of humor that resonates with you and your gaming group. Here are some fun ways to make those names uniquely yours. Incorporating Inside Jokes Using inside jokes can turn your character name into something truly special. Think about references that only your gaming friends might get. For example, RightToBearArms amusingly plays on a bear form character while nodding to the Second Amendment. Consider other options like Sir Laughs-a-Lot or Doom Noodle, which make light of your gaming style or shared humor. These inside jokes not only create a connection among players but also heighten the fun factor during gameplay. Using Personal Traits and Experiences Your personal traits can spice up your character names in a thoroughly amusing way. Take a moment to reflect on your habits or unique experiences. For instance, naming a Barbarian SmashyMcface can humorously highlight the character’s strength in a lighthearted manner. Alternatively, you might choose names like Tiny or SmallBoi for a large and powerful Barbarian, contrasting the name with its appearance. These playful touches allow your character to reflect your personality, making the gaming journey even more enjoyable. Tips for Generating Your Own Funny Diablo Names Tips for Generating Your Own Funny Diablo Names Generating your own funny Diablo names can be a fun and creative process. Use these tips to inspire some unforgettable character names. Play with Language and Sounds Play around with puns and wordplay to create amusing names. Think of something like “SmashyMcface” for a Barbarian or “Doom Noodle” for any class. Incorporate alliterations for extra humor, as names like “Bruhbarian” or “Barbs” can bring a light-hearted touch. You might even want to use silly sounds, such as “honkhonk” or “Whirly,” to make the name stand out and elicit a chuckle. Experiment with Different Themes Embrace irony and contrast when choosing names. For instance, calling a bulky Barbarian “Tiny” is sure to get a laugh. You can also create a character named “Sir Laughs-a-Lot” in a dark game for a hilarious touch. Don’t forget about pop culture references, either; names like “BarbSimpson” cleverly nod to the beloved character from The Simpsons. These references can make character names relatable and memorable for players. Conclusion: Embrace the Humor in Diablo Names Choosing a funny name for your Diablo character can truly enhance your gaming experience. It’s not just about standing out but also about showcasing your personality and sense of humor. Whether you opt for clever puns pop culture references or inside jokes with friends you can create a memorable identity that adds to the fun. Let your creativity flow as you mix and match different elements to create a name that resonates with you. Remember that laughter is a powerful tool in gaming so don’t hesitate to embrace the humor. With a little imagination your character’s name can become a source of joy and camaraderie in the heat of battle. Frequently Asked Questions Why are funny character names important in Diablo? Funny character names add humor and personality to the gameplay experience. They help players express their creativity and make the game more enjoyable by providing light-heartedness amid serious quests and battles. How can I come up with a funny Diablo name? Combine puns, alliteration, and pop culture references for unique names. Think about character traits or mix genres, like blending a character class with a humorous twist, to spark your creativity. Can memes inspire character names in Diablo? Yes! Meme-inspired names can provide a fresh and relatable touch. Using popular or classic memes like “Doom Noodle” can add a humorous edge to your character, making it memorable and fun. Should I use inside jokes in my character names? Absolutely! Incorporating inside jokes that resonate with you and your gaming group can make your character more personal and amusing. It creates a shared experience that adds to the fun of gameplay. What are some examples of creative character names for Diablo? Examples include “Witchy Poo” for a sorceress, “Sneaky McFroge” for a rogue, and “Diablo Cody,” referencing the American screenwriter. These combinations reflect humor and creativity while fitting the game’s theme. https://customteamnames.com/?p=1054 Custom Team Names

[ultramaga]

a couple of reviews of the Fiend Folio by Ed Greenwood (who gives it a pretty negative review) ... I agree with Ed. It was a bad book with a few good entries, notably by G.R.R Martin.

I mean Charles Stross, who I hope obtained permission first. Considering the horrible havok TSR faced over licensing with Elric et al, I hope they obtained permission first.

Anyone who plays BG3 probably has no idea how alien they were back then. Now, along with the Tiefling, they have been heavily flanderised into another flavour of elf. And while that adaption is a lot easier to imagine as a love interest ...

I'd have to say something special was lost. Githyanki were freaky!

Apart from the Gith, not many of the FF monsters survive.

I'm not criticising the art btw, I used to love looking at it.

The Hook Horror was a joke. The Flumph is remembered as one of the worst monster ideas ever.

Basically a sentient whoopee cushion. And the Slaad? Cool idea, but they were obviously demons. I think later DND makers tossed the idea that they weren't demons, but I haven't been in touch.

Chaotic Neutral was a mess as an alignment back then. It wasn't properly differentiated from CE, which it really needed to be. Pure Chaos is not Pure Evil. But the Slaad never did anything benevolent, and they did plenty of horrible things. They were CN because ... who knows. I think they were trying to make something for each alignment. I mean, I used creatures like the Drow, but I already had the modules with them in it. Whereas the Monster Manual 2 was a 10/10 in my book.

Admittedly, again, they re-used monsters, quite a lot in fact, but it seemed to work quite nicely.

My god, it's still selling.

I loved the Modrons. IMO they much better represented a paragon form of their alignment than the Slaadi.

They still seem to be popular. They could be fun or ferocious. Basically a robotic mindless horde, without pity or malice.

If you kept out of their way, they were fine, but they had absolutely no problems with obliterating a child if it was in the way.

These were really alien creatures, and there really wasn't anything else like that in the monster manuals. They didn't hate you. They barely recognised your existence.

144. Various Authors - Dragon #55 (November 1981)

As we approach the end of 1981 we get the November issue of Dragon with a cool Erol Otus cover. The issue marks the return of an important part of the magazine and TSR in general, by bringing back Gygax's From the Sorcerer's Scroll column, which had been absent for over a year at this point. Gygax writes about the world of Greyhawk and again return to the issue of "race" in Greyhawk, a lot of talk about "pure" and "mixed" races which feels not only uncomfortable but unnecessary, also because he had already written this in #52 as an addendum to Lakofka's Tiny Hut. At least he promises to being new content in the next issues. But it's not all about returns, there is also someone new showing up here and that is Larry Elmore that contributes a new comic strip at the end of the magazine, but more importantly will be one of the most important (together with Clyde Caldwell) artists that will set the visual identity of AD&D for the rest of the 80s and beyond. 

However, the magazine starts off with a couple of reviews of the Fiend Folio by Ed Greenwood (who gives it a pretty negative review) and Alan Zumwalt (who gives it a middling one) as well as a reply by editor Don Turnbull. Turnbull explains, and he is right, that many of the problems pointed out are a result of a really difficult publishing history which made the book exist in a limbo for about 2 years before publication, making it outdated by the time it came out. 

We also get new stats for Dinos in AD&D, stats for Robin Hood and his Merry Men, a little adventure module and an article on how your characters can run away from danger in dungeons. We also get the usual bestiary and comic strips with the addition of Da Letter by Larry Elmore.

[altarus]

[Live Review] Uriah Heep, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht

Fifty-two years of Uriah Heep being very ‘eavy and very ‘umble means it’s time for a (magician’s) birthday party in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. We were there. (more…)

[beginagain--]

Hansi Kürsch leaves Demons & Wizards

Hansi Kürsch leaves Demons & Wizards

Vocalist Hansi Kürsch has confirmed that he has stepped down from Demons & Wizards. The news of Kürsch’s departure from the project follows the arrest of bandmate Jon Schaffer as a result of his involvement in the riots of the US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on January 6th 2021. Schafer was arrested on January 17th 2021 and is reportedly being held on six felony charges. In a short…

[metaladdicts]

HANSI KÜRSCH Quits DEMONS & WIZARDS: 'My Collaboration With JON SCHAFFER Is Over'

HANSI KÜRSCH Quits DEMONS & WIZARDS: ‘My Collaboration With JON SCHAFFER Is Over’

BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch has quit his long-running project with ICED EARTH‘s Jon Schaffer, DEMONS & WIZARDS. Hansi announced his departure from DEMONS & WIZARDS following Schaffer‘s involvement in U.S. Capitol chaos on January 6. Kürsch released the following statement: “I notified Jon and Century Media [DEMONS & WIZARDS‘ record label] on Monday that I was leaving the DEMONS &…

[theheadbangers]

DEMONS & WIZARDS LAUNCH ‘THE GUNSLINGER (LIVE AT WACKEN 2019)’

DEMONS & WIZARDS LAUNCH ‘THE GUNSLINGER (LIVE AT WACKEN 2019)’

Legendary metal band Demons & Wizards have just released exclusive live footage of their performance of “The Gunslinger” from Wacken Open Air 2019. Watch the stunning video of the band performing to a sold out crowd here:

“What an insane rollercoaster ride. This clip is a great legacy of our amazing first Wacken appearance,” state…

[dailyadventureprompts]

Villain: Oriande Lapointe, Counterfeit Resurrectionist

Adventure Hooks

A miracleworker has arrived in the kingdom, a woman capable of restoring the dead to life. At first plying her trade among the pesantry, who now revere her as a living saint, she has recently become the favorite of the local nobility, who esteem her as one of the treasures of the realm. 

The powerful and previously mournful Duke Altonbridge is throwing a grand festival to honor this marvelous woman, and to celebrate the Resurrection of his beloved daughter Klarissa, a figure loved by all but cursed with ill health all her young life. Entertainment and opportunity is likely to abound at this festival, and so the party is inspired to attend. If that wasn’t enough, it’s said that the Resurrectionist is to perform another of her miracles at the height of these festivities; surely not a show to miss!

Folk whisper of a stranger walking the road at night, garbed in shadow with a silvery mask covering their face. They appear at crossroads to question travelers, and stalk the edge of villages as if seeking something. Some have said this figure is followed by a pair of unearthly hounds that tarry at their heels, though none who speak to the figure recall seeing such creatures. 

Backgorund: Oriande was young when her family lost everything. Born a bright girl to a line of penniless country gentry, the middle sibling of the Lapointe family exhibited a talent for magic early on in her life. Her family scraped together what they could to send her to a prestigious academy of magical learning, but when their fortunes turned and they were evicted from their estate, Oriande lost the support she needed to continue her education. 

Their ill luck continued with the death of the youngest Lapointe sibling, energetic young Ernard. Overcome with longing and nostalgia, Oriande ( now an armature practitioner) spent years concocting a spell that could return her brother to her side . Having no particular talent for necromancy ( the art of controlling the gate of mortality) or connection to the divine ( who control the gate itself), she settled on giving life to the memories she still carried of her brother, creating a simulacra of her brother’s personality

The copy was flawed, possessing only the memories she had of her brother, and unable to perform any truly original action. Still, the illusion was real enough to fool the unknowing, and that’s exactly what Oriande did. Starting out with scences, she sought to provide for her family by bilking others out of their riches for the chance to speak with their departed loved ones. The scheme worked well enough, until one day she was rushed out of her home by an angry crowd, to attend to a man who’d died suddenly in an accident, and his greiving wife.  This was not the first time Oriande had provided solice to a bereived spouse, but it was the first time a body had been involved. With her reputation on the line, and an emotionally charged crowd watching her every action, she summoned her spell INSIDE the still warm body for long enough to have him wish his wife goodbye.  For added flourish she added a little animation to have the corspe reach out and squeeze his beloved’s hand one last time, and in that moment her reputation was transformed.   

Where once she was merely a spritualist, now she was famed for being a woman who could undo death itself. More and more people flocked to her with gifts, and requests for her to perform her mirracle again, and with her reputation and family’s well being hanging by a thread she did what any good practicioner of the arcane would do: she kept piling on increasingly complicated magical bullshit until the couldn’t dig her way out.    The spell had to again be modified, firstly to add false vitality and longevity to the cadavers she was now “reanimating”, and secondly to improve their power to deceive. The later was accomplished by having the spirit create a psychic “field,” which let them peer into the minds of those around them to look for details as well as expected responses. in the presence of family or friends, her creations were near indistinguishable from the original, though left to their own devices, they’d slowly come to an inanimate stop. 

Using her newfound fame, she made contact with several influential members of the nobility and used her gifts to prove to them her worth. This isutation 

Goals & Schemes:  

Above all Oriande’s plan relies on secrecy, a fact which is sure to fail now that notoriety has brought the attention of both learned scholars and holyfolk intent on investigating her “miracle”. She uses her influence with the Duke Altonbridge to keep these snoops at bay, but she’s well aware that her time in the limelight is limited. 

If the party ingratiates themselves into Oriande’s company, she will entrust them with her story, the secret of her magic, and her current desire: To find a true method of resurrection before the powers that be discover her methods to be merely a stopgap. 

Challenges & Compilations: 

The figure stalking the roads is infact a celestial warden of the dead, looking into this apparent undetected breach of the  mortal veil. The creatures they travel with are associates from another realm, a pair of hellhounds intent on tracking the scent of a charlatan and giver of false hopes. The three have decided to temporarily combine their efforts until they can get to the bottom of the current happenings. 

A skeptical arcanist performing diagnostics on one of the commoners Oriande animated accidentally disrupts her jerryrigged spellcraft.  His interference transforms “ Reading the thoughts of others for information and using magic to sustain the body” to “Using the thoughts of others to sustain the body”, turning the reanimated corpse into a sort of psychic vampire. The arcanist is killed, and the siutation is barely contained, but threatens to erupt into a scandal. 

 A warlord with an interest in unkillable soldiers has designs to capture Oriandel in order to exploit her research. When he discovers the abovementioned psychic vampire, he’s willing to settle from “ legion of undying shocktroops” to “Raving horde of mind-eating corpses let loose on the enemy’s front lines” 

[cyallowitz]

Teaser Tuesday: Enter the Lich

Teaser Tuesday: Enter the Lich

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen This one is kind of a repeat, but I realized it has been years since I showed the Lich’s debut scene.  Surprised to see him get any votes too.  Enjoy has first appearance in Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero. (more…)

[deadwooddross]

gonna go ahead and crack pandora’s wasp nest open here—how could naruto have been good/how would u have written it

*begins chewing at my restraints and rips the iron door of my containment unit off its hinges* okay so the SHORT version is that naruto should have ENDED ssssomewhere around the Pain arc, maybe throw in one more, could probably keep..tobi...if you just make it WAY less convoluted, but. like that's it that's the wrap up on the lesson of NINJAS ARE HUMAN WEAPONS IN THE ARSENAL OF ENDLESS WAR. You can get maybe ONE more amp up, but the actual story did like 40, because it's shonen. Also Naruto could have had at least a LITTLE thought put into how he was like. raised. there is so much retroactive storytelling in this manga but apparently naruto has just been living in an apartment off his government provided milk and ramen since he was an infant. Maybe make me give a shit about Sarutobi by having had him go and bottle feed the demon baby or SOMETHING. Is Jiraiya the deadbeat sending child support checks or something? It's extremely hard to have Naruto exist at all as he is the second you put any thought into his childhood- which is why GAARA EXISTS. THAT'S NARUTO WITH 6 SECONDS OF THOUGHT. GIVE THAT BOY A FRIEND TO EXPLAIN HOW HE'S SO PEPPY!! SOME SORT OF GUARDIAN FIGURE BEFORE HE'S 12, Iruka could Almost count if he didn't act like he barely knew the little guy. Teacher Watches Orphan Go To Empty Home While Sad Flute Song Plays and says: Fuck that little kid, cant stand him, oh shit wait the author realized he needs one (1) parental figure in order to not lose his mind okay here i c Anyway, besides all that. Well for one thing Sasuke is RIGHT. Fuck Konoha! And the Government! did you see what they did to his clan!!! That one dude fucking HARVESTED them!! So you have little renegade fuck the system baby, and "If I'm king president I can fix all the problems!" baby. Good end: Naruto goes damn maybe u right and we should make some steps to try and alter the cycle of war and death and genetic eyeball supremacy. Neji voice: yeah i taught you all about weird bloodline family shit, remember that?? Bad end: The Entire Rest Of Naruto and Boruto, And No One Learned Anything. Also, the retroactive addition of GODS and PROPHECY anD REINCARNATION and MORE BLOODLINE SUPER WIZARD POWERS is so. Lame, Boring, Snore. Giving naruto a special baby background DESTROYS the fact he's kind of a nobody! He's just some kid with ONE skill he worked really hard on and he uses it in order to hack his way into doing all the other stuff he wants to do!! His only boon is haaving a LOT of energy to burn and STUBBORNNESS!! Screams in ADHD child Haku, Gaara, the Akatsuki/Orochimaru, and Pain. Are all good. Those are the arcs that stay and every one of them has a PRETTY STRONG POINT point about what happens when you smash children into little nukes. Eats that with a spoon. (PS JIRAIYA WHAT THE FUCK WHY DID YOU LEAVE THOSE INFANTS IN A WAR Z) Oh also there's a lot to be said on how to rewrite uhhh literally Any of the women characters into relevancy because as they are rn they barely even count as such. But if i talk about that I would be here for the entire rest of the y- IMAGINE IF SAKURA'S FUCKING MEDICAL JUTSU MEANT ANYTHING!! WHAT IF SHE COULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL AGAINST KONAN BECAUSE SHE CAN SEE ALL HER NERVES IN HER HORRIFYING PAPER FLESH NO JUTSU, SOMETHING, ANYTHING, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA *i am dragged back into my cell*

[manofmuchmetal]

Demons & Wizards - III - Album Review

Demons & Wizards – III – Album Review

Artist: Demons & Wizards

Album Title: III

Label: Century Media Records

Date of Release: 21 February 2020

For many, the collaboration between Iced Earth’s founder/guitarist Jon Schaffer and Blind Guardian’s unique vocalist, Hansi Kursch is the stuff of fantasy and legend. On the one hand, you have the guy that is responsible for the vast majority of Iced Earth’s output and creator of some of the…

[beginagain--]

Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth) Arrested For Role In US Capitol Building Riot

Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth) Arrested For Role In US Capitol Building Riot

Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth / Demons & Wizards has reportedly been arrested for his role and involvement in the US Capitol building riots that took place on the January 6th 2021. Schaffer was pictured as a person who breached the building and was sought for by the FBI for questioning. Schaffer is said have turned himself in to authorities on the afternoon of January 17th 2021, and currently…

[metaladdicts]

ICED EARTH's JON SCHAFFER Makes First Court Appearance, To Remain In Jail At Least Until Friday

ICED EARTH’s JON SCHAFFER Makes First Court Appearance, To Remain In Jail At Least Until Friday

ICED EARTH guitarist and bad leader Jon Schaffer made his first court appearance on Monday (January 18) and will remain in jail until at least Friday (January 22) after his involvement in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer, who resides in Columbus, Indiana, turned himself in to authorities around 3 pm Sunday (January 17), Chris Bavender, public affairs specialist for…

[ghostcultmagazine]

Iced Earth's Jon Schaffer To Reunite with Matt Barlow Christmas Album 

Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer To Reunite with Matt Barlow Christmas Album 

Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer will reunite with the band’s former singer, Matt Barlow, under the name Schaffer/Barlow Project to record Christmas classics on a new record called Winter Nights. The project has a Kickstarterthat you can contribute to and has surpassed the $15k goal in a brief run with $19k funded so far in less than a day. Watch the trailer and see the tracklisting now. Barlow played…