#Hawker Sea Hawk

[usafphantom2]

Hawker Sea Hawk jets starting up their engines

@CcibChris via X

[monarch-moon]

No harm in submitting this!

For the past few months, I've been working on and off on a new project called World Cell, which is more of an adventure story featuring a caravan of characters going on a world-wide journey! To put it lightly, at least lol. This is the height chart and a collection of refs for the major cast!

Bits of info of each of them under the cut!

We of course have Asher as our main character! This royal prince is ready to do what he's been training to do, but the only other thing he likes aside from swords and weapons is eating bugs!

Returning is our grumpy lady, Evo! Now sporting 20% more side boob, 40% scales, and 100% foul language.

Third is our gentle giant, Haoyu, who is the party's medic. It doesn't take long to get him to freak out, especially since he's in a gang full of reckless troublemakers.

Fourth up is our resident living armor, Alyster! Don't mind him, he may be the largest, but he's pretty chill.

You know her, I love her, it's none other than our resident potato, Aki! Now with more dogy love, especially to her angry lizard girlfriend~.

The party needs someone competent to cook for them, so meet Eirwen! When things get gloomy, you can trust his friendly face c:

But if you need someone who can bring a lot of sunshine in the group, meet Natsu! Our lovely transgirl here has a smile so powerful, the only other thing that can rival it is her punch.

The group needs someone sensible to lead them, so meet Haku, Natsu's older brother! This man may be short, but he is prepared for any situation. We stan a short king.

Next up, we have our lovely lady Sarya! She may not participate much in the action, but she contributes in a different way: driving everyone around in a sizeable carriage!

Following close to Asher is the first princess of Vaalum herself, Naiotah! This is her first time doing this, but she's ready to go either way!

Never without his box of artifacts and rocks, we have Hayden! Rumor has it he can tell exactly what era something is from just by licking it...except it's not a rumor, that's true.

Can't have Asher without Odix!! He may have more feathers than before, but he's still full of heart~

Last but certainly not least is our pearl from the sea, Xouya! Don't let her elegant demeanor fool you, this one's got p l a n s cooking in her brain, and you might not like em.

To be quite honest with you guys, this has been the most well put together main cast I've made in any story I've created (though credit where credit is due, I made all the refs, but @snowprismdragon , @hawker-the-gary , and @solannecontinuum contributed characters...namely Alyster and Eirwen from Snow....Aki, Hayden, Sarya, and Odix from Hawk, and Xouya from Solanne. Asher, Haoyu, Haku, Natsu, Naiotah and Evo are mine.)

Anyway, if you've read all this, thank you guys for your time c: I will probably be drawing these guys a lot when I can!

[agent-scotch]

Kingsman Aircraft Inventory: 

Helicopters:

Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey’ 

Westland Lynx UH-14A 

Piasecki H-21

AgustaWestland AW101

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin 2

Large Aircraft:

Canadair CL600-1A11 Challenger (Private jet)

Lockheed Constellation

Lockheed C-130 Hercules (Military Transport Carrier)

Hawker Siddeley Nimrod

Boeing 737

Propeller Planes: 

Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 (Training)

Hawker Sea Fury T20 (Fighter)

Military Jets:

English Electric/BAC Lightning 

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor 

[dansnaturepictures]

Nine of my favourite flora and fauna photos I took in September 2024 and month summary

The photos are of; Red Deer at Bushy Park, Common Seal on the Beaulieu River, young Coot at Bushy Park, Barn Owl in a flying display at the Hawk Conservancy Trust, Clouded Yellow at Milford on Sea, Lesser Yellow Underwing moth at home, Ruddy Darter on Brownsea Island, Common Lizard at Thursley and hawthorn berries with a ladybird on.

Some of my most magical wild moments of a mesmerising September were watching mammals; immersive views of Common Seals and Grey Seals, enchanting Red Squirrels and ravishing Red, Roe, Fallow and Sika Deers bringing glorious late summer/autumn feelings of splendour. Grey Squirrel, Rabbit and Brown Rat provided some nice moments too.

It was a marvellous month of avian movement with many of my top birds of a fine birding moth enjoyed on migration in and out including Ospreys, Hobby, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper, Brent Geese, Pintail, Wigeon, Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, a rare for Lakeside Tree Pipit seen on my patch, a Chiffchaff in the garden and unusually Sand Martin at Bushy Park and epic scenes of many House Martins and a few Swallows moving through places. Other highlights this month included incredible views of majestic White-tailed Eagles twice at Newtown and Poole Harbours, Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawks including one coming into the garden, Kestrel, Sandwich Terns, Shag, Curlews, Common Gulls, Mediterranean Gull, Egyptian Geese, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Starlings, Ring-necked Parakeet, Grey Heron, Greenshanks, Sanderlings, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Great White Egret, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets, captivating views of Spoonbills in Poole Harbour, Little Grebes, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Dartford Warbler, Cetti's Warbler heard and Kingfisher. Cormorant, Stonechat, Jay, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and lots of nice views of Great Crested Grebes including the chicks, Moorhens and Coot were other highlights at Lakeside. It was great to spend a day spellbound by birds of prey and others on an amazing day at the wonderful Hawk Conservancy during the super week off of day trips with so many phenomenal places visited and much wildlife seen.

Butterflies did quieten down this month for me but I saw some fantastic ones, headlined by adding the excellent Clouded Yellow to my year list a great final piece of the jigsaw to another memorable butterfly year for me. I also really enjoyed seeing Small Coppers at Bushy Park and Southbourne, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Speckled Wood especially seen well at Lakeside, Common Blue, female Adonis Blue at Old Winchester Hill, Green-veined White, numerous Small Whites and Large Whites especially on sunny days, beautiful Painted Ladies, Red Admirals and Peacock. I enjoyed seeing a fair few moths this month too including dashing Willow Beauty, Garden Carpet, L-album Wainscot, Light Brown Apple moth, sumptuous Lesser Yellow Underwings, pretty Lunar Underwing, Square-spot Rustic and Silver Y and Vestal in the day. Dragonflies and damselflies took a large amount of the limelight again as they dazzled at this well lit and beautiful time of year, Brown Hawker, thrilling Black Darter, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter views, Keeled Skimmer on Brownsea Island, resplendent Migrant Hawker, gigantic and eyecatching Southern Hawker and exquisite Emerald Damselfly were special to see.

It was captivating to watch Common Lizards at Thursley Common and a Common Frog on a wet New Forest walk at Puttles Bridge. Symbolising the shift to autumn I saw loads of craneflies this month which was memorable. I also enjoyed seeing Long-winged Conehead, Common Green Lacewing, hoverflies, bees, wasp, hornet, enigmatic Devil’s coach horse beetle and ground beetle at Thursley, ladybird, Forest Bug, Dock bug, and Grey Silverfish and spiders at home.

Key flower/plant sightings this month included my first ever skullcap at Bushy Park, lots of great devil’s-bit scabious one of my favourites, harebell, common toadflax, restharrow, marjoram, wild basil, water mint, great willowherb, sundew, bog asphodel, sea rocket, wild radish, seaside daisies, sand spurrey, yellow-horned poppy, sea kale, rock samphire, mercury yarrow, wild carrot, pineappleweed, mignonette, hedgerow crane’s-bill, red clover, white clover, comfrey, a strong month for yellow with ragwort, fleabane, tormentil, sowthistle, oxtongue and autumn hawkbit, montbretia, self-heal, gorse, ivy, plantain, black medick and bell and common heather painting the landscape a splendid purple. There was a lot of nice fruit to see including apples, dogwood berries, guelder rose berries, rowan berries and fine ruby hawthorn berries. Sunflower, pretty fuchsia, buddleia, roses, rose hips, firethorn berries and other colourful plants were nice to see at home this month.

[abeat]

1 - Envoy

Lavender Helltear had always been told how beautiful she was. From her beautiful face, her womanly figure, even her skin tone, had garnered comments from admirers around Eorzea. Usually male, with the odd female, she had become accustomed to receiving comments about her looks.

"Hey beautiful! I love your dress."

"Hey sexy, what would it take to get a more private dance?"

"Oh what a lovely chocolate bunny!"

"Ah, Lavender, if only I was a young man again.."

Being a dancer by trade, she had come to expect this kind of attention and had learned how to deal with it. Usually a sweet smile followed by a simple expression of gratitude had been enough to placate most of her admirers.

"Oh, thank you so much! That's so sweet." she would always quip in response. That had proved to be the fastest way to deal with admirers and they would go about their business.

The other surefire tactic would be to try establishing a long-term relationship, let them get to know her, and that too, would usually send them running. It had certainly worked on her husband of seven years, although they had both come to realize that they were simply incompatible with one another. To say she was taking it poorly was definitely an understatement.

Lavender Helltear, the viera from the rava clan with a beautiful face and a hideous soul. Given all the trouble she had ever had with love, nothing else made any sense to her. It felt like a vicious cycle. She would fall in love, she would do anything for the one she loved, she would drive him crazy with how she was, he would leave. She kept trying to improve. To change. To not do the things that drove everyone away from her. She thought she had learned her lesson when she had fallen in love with an Ishgardian man and married him, but time had slowly revealed otherwise.

This time, Lavender had resolved, she would not fall into the same trap. Fate had made it obvious to her that she was simply not mean for romance. She never did learn her lesson. She had her family. She had her friends. She was not alone. She would simply have to be content with that.

Yet every time she listened to her friend Joey Madison speak so sweetly about his wife, or even just a couple in the street, the nasty thoughts would stir in her head.

'I wonder why I can never find love like that? How come everyone else can find love and I'm the odd one out? Oh, Menphina, am I even worth loving like that? Am I so horrible for wanting romance in my life too? Maybe just once…could I get a sign that I'm worth it too?'

Not that the universe would answer her. At least she had thought so before the day she had gone shopping in Hawkers' Alley.

-

It had not been too long since she and her husband had divorced, and rather than mope around about it and risk annoying her family and friends, Lavender had decided to go shopping. Even poking her head around some stalls would probably take her mind off of everything going on. Since she had business at Maelstorm headquarters in any event, shopping in Hawkers' Alley seemed the most convenient.

The breeze from the sea felt nice in her ears and on her skin as she walked through the long corridor, glancing at the various stalls, watching the merchants trying to indeed hawk their wares. It made for a nice distraction, and even though she took a long, lingering look at some fresh fish and vegetables at one of the stalls, she ultimately decided to purchase nothing. She did not even have inspiration for her love of cooking. When a couple passed by, happily chatting about upgrading their gears for their next big adventure together, Lavender sighed and shook her head. 'Nevermind. Shopping is not the answer today. I should head back to the Drowning Wench for a nice pint of cider.'

Just as she cleared Hawkers' Alley with the intention of making her way towards the best pub in Limsa Lominsa, if not all of Eorzea, a voice called out to her.

"Heeeeeey, sexy lady!"

Lavender stopped, closed her eyes and sighed. Normally she could tolerate these comments, but today she was nowhere in the vicinity of wanting to deal with much of anything. She turned to face the voice only to find a young hyur woman had appeared in front of her. "Do you mean me?"

"Do you see any other beautiful viera around?" the young woman cooed at her as she took a step closer to the viera who towered over her.

Lavender instinctively took a step back as she glanced from side to side as quickly as she could, just to confirm that she and the hyur woman were the only ones present. "No, I guess not. Can I help you?"

"Actually, I was thinking I could help you!" the hyur chirped.

Lavender arched an eyebrow. "Mmmhmm. Is that so?"

The hyur woman nodded. "Yes! Yes it is so! Do you want to know who I am?"

"Listen, hon, I'm not really in the mood for this -"

"I'm the Envoy of Love!" the hyur woman held out her arms to her sides, with her palms turned upward in a gesture of welcome.

The viera blinked. Where had this random hyur come from? More importantly, why did she insist on talking to her on this day? A day when she was least in the mood for nonsense? Although the randomly title made her curious enough to tilt her head. "Okay?"

"And I know who you are!" the so-called Envoy of Love pointed at Lavender.

"Mmhmm." Lavender glanced around them again, checking for possible points of escape. Just in case the Envoy of Love happened to love random attacks or murder.

"A woman with a broken heart!"

Lavender narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Is that right?"

"It is! I can sense it from you!" the Envoy of Love nodded her head dramatically before she pat her own chest. "I can feel it in the depth of my core. You have a heart full of love, and no one to give it to."

Lavender felt an urge to open her mouth in protest since she had plenty of people to give her love to, but since this was beginning to look more and more like a scam, she did not want to reveal the names of anyone who truly mattered to her. She could teleport away from here, but she somehow had visions of this strange little hyur trying to knock her out of it. Until she could think of a plan, she decided to just play along. "Let's say you're right. How do you intend to help me?"

"Oh, with just a little something I came up with." the Envoy of Light reached into a pouch around her waist. She pulled out a combination of a white ribbon with a red tulip sewn into it. Lavender eyed the fashion piece, looked at the Envoy of Light, then back to the fashion piece.

"A red tulip corsage is going to help me with love?" Lavender asked.

"You'll find true love within 30 days or double your gil back, and that's a guarantee." the Envoy of Love smiled brightly at Lavender Helltear, the viera woman she clearly intended to help.

Or swindle depending on the viewpoint. Lavender looked down at the corsage in the strange hyur woman's hand, then up at the hyur. "This corsage is going to help me find true love?"

"It is!" the Envoy of Love.

"Mmmhmm." Lavender folded her arms. "All right, I'll bite. How does it work?"

"For the next 30 days, every time you meet someone, you can hold the corsage up to them. If it shines with rainbow colours, you've found true love." the Envoy of Love continued. Her own face seemed bright enough to shine a rainbow.

"Right. And if I don't find true love after 30 days?"

"You get double your gil back, but I have faith." the Envoy of Love smiled. "I've never processed a single refund!"

Lavender had a good nose for fresh ingredients, smelly people, and people trying to rip her off. "Well, you've come this far in the pitch. How much?"

"Just 5,000 gil!" the Envoy of Love smiled.

Lavender hoped that she was not too obvious when she rolled her eyes. She stopped to consider for a moment. 'It's not like we're in a back alley and I don't think she's waving to her cronies to jump me or anything. 5,000 gil is not that cheap but if it means she's going to go away…'

Perhaps against her better judgment, Lavender pulled out her gil purse and took out the requested amount. "All right, you have a deal. I'll prove you wrong and have 10,000 gil at the end of 30 days."

The Envoy of Love greedily swiped the coin and seemingly in the same motion, rather than hand the corsage to Lavender, attached it to her left wrist. The viera looked at it for the briefest moment before she went to return her gaze to the Envoy of Love. "So where will I find you at the end of 30 days-"

The Envoy of Love had vanished.

Rolling her eyes, Lavender adjusted the corsage on her left wrist to make it more comfortable before she continued on her way to the Drowning Wench. At least the strange hyur had finally decided to leave her alone, and for the modest price of 5,000 gil, she had acquired a new fashion accessory.

With more than enough money left over for a few rounds of the hardest cider she could get her hands on.

-

Later that evening, with her thirst for liquor satisfied, Lavender retired to a room at the Drowning Wench. Once she freed herself from her garments, she went to remove the red tulip corsage that the weird little hyur woman calling herself the Envoy of Love had sold her.

Only to discover a problem.

It would not come off.

-

Joey Madison and Lavender's former husband both belong to my beloved @adeat

[mmorpg-escapism]

A Realm Rewritten: Chapter 2

The daylight peeked through the inn room curtain, determined to permeate the entire space through the tiny sliver it was afforded. It was enough to cause Besany to blink herself awake as it attacked her eyelids.

That was... surprisingly restful, she thought while she chewed on the leftover bread and cheese from the evening prior. She was surprised by how stiff she felt, despite the several days of doing little but resting on the ship, so she moved the lightweight furniture to the edge of the room and began a warm-up routine with her weapon in the center.

After she had limbered up, she set about maintaining the weapon, cleaning and sharpening it. She worked quickly, a result of years of habit, and soon had it spotless again. Finally, she spent an hour pouring some of her limited aether reserves into two of the empty cartridges she carried, then gathered her things and made her way back downstairs to speak with Baderon. 

The barkeep was as chipper as he was the night before, and directed her to a lift to the lower levels; she was to start by exploring the city, attuning to the Aetheryte, and delivering a compass to the master of markets. The mid-morning city was just as busy as it was the evening prior, and the lower levels were even more crowded with merchants, adventurers, and off-duty sailors, and the noise was nearly deafening to Besany’s sensitive hearing.

The aetheryte itself, a massive floating crystal, was situated in the middle of the main walkway. It cast a faint blue glow over its proximity. They really wanted to recruit me, to go to such lengths... she mused as she used a special tomestone to attune to the anchor crystal. Y’shtola had spent no small amount of time conferring with allies by linkpearl while she was in Bozja, and had developed a method to make it actually possible for Besany to use aetherytes, despite being limited in how she could use her aether. 

The pathway continued westward into a tunnel full of stalls and merchants hawking their wares. “Hawker’s Alley,” the master of markets had called it, giving her a long list of the benefits of “investing” her gil into her gear as reward for returning that compas to her. She browsed for a while after, but nothing could match the quality of her current jacket, so she left with a heavy purse and empty hands to wander the city further, leaving the painful echo of the merchants behind.

The maze-like pathways and white stone streets led her around docks full of fishermen gathering for a deep sea voyage, past guilds for martial or arcane arts, artisans or gatherers. Everywhere was loud, buzzing with activity. There were few places to sit and rest, and those that were available had adventurers chatting, counting gil, or maintaining their gear all over them. What little rumors she overheard clearly were related to a spate of recent kidnappings. I wonder if that’s what Y’shtola is here for, she mused.

The upper floors were similarly busy, now that the sun was high in the sky. Even the Drowning Wench was full of patrons when her feet guided her back to it, mission completed. Baderon shooed away a pair of inexperienced-looking adventurers as Besany approached the bar. “Still in Limsa, are ye, Besany? 'Ow'd ye fancy a trip outside the city walls?”

She tilted her head, curious. “So there’s actually a job for me?” 

“Aye, I'd like ye to visit an orchard by the name o' Summerford Farms. The owner, Staelwyrn, is an old mate o' mine. 'E mentioned needin' another 'and or two.”

“Farms? How far outside the city am I going?” 

“Not far. Ye need directions? The place ain't 'ard to find: just take the lift down from ‘ere, head away from the ‘etheryte, to th’ Zephyr Gate, and follow the road out o’ the city northeast. Ye can’t miss it.”

Besany was impressed by how he could chat with her in one breath and then hand off drink orders to the busy waitress in the next, without missing a beat. “Are you going to give me any info on the job or will I find out when I get there?”

Baderon shook his head. “Alls I know is th’ old bastard’s got 'imself a crew o' mostly reformed pirate types, if ye can believe that, an 'as been tryin' to bring a bit o' life back to the fields after the Calamity ruined the soil. If that lot’s askin’ fer help, it ain’t a simple matter.”

She nodded, and made for the farm right away. The path outside the city veered northward over grassy hills and a river. Massive boulders provided shelter to smaller creatures as Besany walked past them. The stones looked as though they were once part of the nearby cliffside, and she realized that the Calamity Baderon had mentioned was still very felt, even years later.

Hardly 15 minutes later, the road forked, heading north to cross another river, and east through an orange orchard being tended to by half a dozen men. The hill at the top held a modest stone house and... “An aetheryte?” Besany couldn’t stop herself from asking aloud, confused. Thankfully, no one seemed to hear the question. It almost made sense, since the orchard stretched quite a distance around the hill and seemed to be a major food supply, but aetherytes could only transport people and the items they had attached to them. 

It was only as she approached the crystal itself to attune that she looked closer at the orchard’s tenders. Only a handful were dressed in “standard” garb; the others were in the fanciful, mismatched gear that marked each as a novice adventurer. 

When she found Staelwyrn outside the farmhouse, he confirmed it. “Aye, the lads tried to take on a job they weren’t ready fer. Rather ‘n send em into somethin’ they can’t handle, they’re workin’ fer gil to get sturdier armor. Baderon sends lots o’ greenhorns my way for evaluation, an’ I get good labor out of em.”

The aging Roegadyn paused, and cast an appraising glance over her much like Baderon did the day prior. “On th’ other hand... I can give you a proper job. I trust ye’ve seen a fair bit o’ fightin’, dressed as ye are.” 

Besany shrugged. “It’s been a while, but I warm up quick.” 

“I assume ye’ve heard rumors of abductions ‘round Limsa of late? Seems there’s some unsavory characters lurkin’ round the nearby Seasong Grotto that’re spookin’ my men. I’d like ye to investigate, see what ye find. It’s just off the road leadin’ southwest from ‘ere. If they ain’t there, bring back evidence or whatever ye find.”

With a nod, Besany turned to go. “Be on yer guard, lass!” Staelwyrn called as she walked away. The level leadership voice he had put on wavered just enough for her to notice it. His men were scared and it was getting to him, so he needed an adventurer to put his men at ease. She’d do her best.

The path into the grotto was marked by low stone walls and fiery braziers, descending down towards a large stone shrine with lit candles serving as wall lighting. To Besany, this was well tended, but without any evidence of habitation. 

Curious, she took a closer look at the faded text etched into the stone. “I am the waves that bear.

I am the winds that guide.”

“I am the evening stars. I am the morning sky. I am born of the sea. And there shall I die.” Y’shtola’s voice echoed from behind her, and Besany suppressed her instinct to grab her weapon at the sound. 

“‘Tis the Sailor’s Requiem, both a litany against misfortune for those out on the waves and a prayer that the souls of those who perish on land might find their way back to the sea.”

“I knew you’d turn up eventually, but I was expecting to have to ask around to find you.” Besany remarked. She turned to see the Scion stow away her fancy goggles.

“I thought myself on the trail of the kidnappers, but it would seem I have missed my mark-” Y’shtola approached the stone, and went to reach for it, but was interrupted by a roar behind them.

“...or perhaps not.”

Both women turned to the source of the roar: a hulking goobbue, all gray skin and teeth, with long flimsy limbs and moss growth atop its head. Besany grinned and drew her weapon. “And I doubt the big angry monster behind us was just passing through, either.”  

“But who stands to benefit from the keeping of this secret? Ah, such musings must wait. After you!” Y’shtola pulled out her short maple wand and cast a protective spell on Besany as she dashed into action.

She slid under the goobbue’s legs and slashed upwards with the gunblade, provoking its’ attention towards her, and away from the conjurer. Just as well, because its response was to turn and sneeze a horrible slime towards her. Thanks to Y’shtola’s spell, it bounced off onto the walls of the cavern with an acidic sizzle. The creature’s hide was stone-tough and difficult to penetrate with her sparring swings.

Parry. 

Likewise, its long limbs carried hidden strength, forcing her on the defensive as she was slammed from the side.

Dodge. 

The next strike came from above. A roll towards the undamaged wall placed it at her back, away from the hole the creature’s arms left in the floor on impact.

Block. 

For such a large and bumbling creature, it moved with surprising speed. Besany barely got her gunblade up in time to stop the sideswipe from sending her into the wall. She could see the conjurer out of the corner of her eye, casting spells at the goobbue. It shrugged them off, but looked like it was tiring even as it bore down with as much weight as it could on her weapon.

Parry.

She broke the deadlock by shifting her weight towards Y’shtola, then jumping away. This sent the goobbue smashing into the wall.

“Finally, an opening!” Besany stabbed forward with her blade and pulled the trigger, emptying an aether cartridge into the stomach wound. The explosion rocked the grotto, but when the dust settled the mossbacked creature lay face down on the ground, unmoving. 

“That was fun! Are you alright?” Besany could see no visible injuries on either of them as she reloaded her weapon, careful to save the spent cartridge for cleaning and reuse. Y’shtola was panting, with her hands on her knees. 

“I... am fine. Out of practice, perhaps,” she straightened and looked over the results of the battle. “Now, let us see what... aha!” She pulled a long knife from the back of the felled goobbue, and held it out to Besany. “It would appear our culprits are seafaring men of some persuasion... piratical being the most probable. Knives of this kind are most commonly used for the cutting of rope.”

“So it could even be one of Staelwyrn’s men, then.” “Much as he may wish it otherwise, yes. I believe our paths have converged for the time being... let us speak to Staelwyrn, show him the knife, and see how else we may help.” Besany nodded, and the two set out from the grotto as the goobbue dissipated into aether, fading away as if it were never there. “I haven’t let loose like that in a while... I should thank him,” she commented.

“Caution, Besany. I fear the days ahead will afford us little rest.”

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

Beginning

< Previous | Next >

In-game Level: 1-8

Quests: Close To Home + On To Summerford + Dressed to Call + Lurkers in the Grotto

Notes!

It's always fun to try to capture Y'shtola's personality, but more than that it was a Process to figure out what the Scions might do to get a recruit like her... As hinted at in the first chapter, by this point Besany already has crystal #1, so that whole fainting bit after the goobbue is unnecessary, and also happens to justify the extra mile they go to get her on board so far from home.

I'm very proud of the aether aid idea. The core of it is that instead of trying to handle a floating crystal, she can focus on a MUCH smaller device (tomestone, modified) that has some aether storage of its' own, so she's not burning herself out trying to get places. She does have to be the one focusing on the location but attuning becomes "get close, focus on tomestone" instead of "try to pull aether out of the crystal" because one hurts less than the other

She still prefers her own two feet for the most part but I know there are several places where it's unavoidable, so the problem became "ok how do I make it better but not ableist?" ...then I remembered that I started with the Scions' expert on aether as a companion. Snowball effect, go!

Fight scenes are also fun, but also might be where I'm weakest as a writer so the majority of the 3 day editing process was spent making it flow better than the initial draft 🙃but we got there!

A lot of the early quests after this are going to get cut almost completely. There are Plans ™ for what comes next, and I'm excited to get there. I just have to remember that it's not going to ever be perfect, so just post when I'm happy enough with it.

[bestrestrosg]

Top 10 Restaurants in Singapore You Can’t Miss

Hey foodies! If you’re planning a trip to Singapore or just on the hunt for your next amazing meal, you’re in the right place. From trendy fusion spots to local icons, I’ve curated a list of 10 must-visit restaurants that will take your taste buds on a journey. And yes, I had to include my personal favorite, Fortuna Drink & Eat, which is an absolute gem! Let’s dive in.

1. Fortuna Drink & Eat – Best Restaurant Singapore

I can’t talk about great food in Singapore without shouting out Fortuna Drink & Eat. This spot is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves bold, creative flavors. Their Laksa Risotto is a creamy, spicy masterpiece, and the Chili Crab Pizza? Let’s just say it’s the perfect mix of local and global inspiration.

Not only is the food incredible, but the cocktails are next level too. I highly recommend their Pandan Mojito, which is as refreshing as it is unique. The vibe? Trendy yet super inviting, making it ideal for casual outings or a special night out. Trust me, once you visit, you’ll want to come back again and again.

2. Odette – Fine Dining That Wows

For a touch of elegance, Odette is an unbeatable choice. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant is located in the National Gallery and is all about artfully plated French cuisine. Their seasonal tasting menus are a splurge, but every dish, from the Normandy Brown Crab to the Pigeon with Bourbon Sauce, is pure magic.

3. Burnt Ends – BBQ with a Modern Twist

Barbecue lovers, you’ll be obsessed with Burnt Ends. This place specializes in Australian-style barbecue, with an open kitchen that lets you watch the chefs in action. Try the Beef Marmalade Toast or the Pulled Pork Sanger—both are smoky, juicy, and packed with flavor.

4. Jumbo Seafood – The Chili Crab Legend

No Singapore food list is complete without chili crab, and Jumbo Seafood is where it’s at. Their signature dish is fresh, messy, and absolutely worth the effort. Pro tip: Don’t skip the fried mantou buns—they’re perfect for soaking up every drop of that spicy-sweet sauce.

5. Atlas Bar – Glamorous Dining Done Right

If you’re after a dining experience that’s as stunning as the food, Atlas Bar will blow you away. The Gatsby-era interiors are jaw-dropping, and the menu is equally impressive. Their Duck Confit is a standout, and their gin cocktails are legendary.

6. Candlenut – Peranakan Food Reimagined

For a taste of Singapore’s heritage, head to Candlenut, the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. They give a modern twist to traditional dishes like Buah Keluak Curry and Chap Chye, and everything is packed with flavor. The cozy ambiance at Dempsey Hill is just the cherry on top.

7. PS.Café – Brunch Lovers’ Paradise

If you’re a brunch fan like me, PS.Café needs to be on your radar. Their Truffle Shoestring Fries and Sticky Date Pudding are iconic, and the relaxed vibe makes it perfect for lazy weekends.

8. Lolla – Small Plates, Big Flavors

I love the casual yet chic atmosphere at Lolla, where Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates take center stage. Their Sea Urchin Pudding is a must-try, and the communal dining style makes it ideal for catching up with friends.

9. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle – Michelin-Starred Hawker Food

You don’t need to spend a fortune for Michelin-starred food in Singapore! Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle serves up a humble yet phenomenal bowl of Bak Chor Mee (minced pork noodles) that’s packed with flavor. Be ready to queue—it’s worth it.

10. Restaurant Labyrinth – Singaporean Classics Reinvented

Last but definitely not least, Labyrinth offers a truly unique dining experience. Chef Han Li Guang puts a modern twist on local dishes like Chili Crab Ice Cream and Nasi Lemak Sushi, creating playful yet delicious plates that are as fun as they are flavorful.

Final Thoughts

Singapore is a foodie’s dream, and this list showcases the incredible diversity the city has to offer. Whether you’re craving Michelin-starred elegance, hawker fare, or fusion creations like those at Fortuna Drink & Eat, there’s no shortage of amazing options.

Have you tried any of these spots? Let me know which ones are your favorites—or if there’s somewhere new I should check out! Until next time, happy eating! 🍜🍕🍤

[helicrocfmp]

list of planes

I thought I’d make a list of planes that were in services in the 60s for both air forces so researching them tomorrow will be easier. 

Germany

F-86 

CL-13

F-80

F-84

F-86K

Hawker sea hawk

USSR

MiG 17

MiG 19

[itchytesticals]

Hawker Sea Hawk FGA6

[classic-aircraft]

On deck - Hawker Sea Hawks, AEW Douglas Sky Raiders and Westland Wyverns.

HMS Eagle, Mid Fifties

[usafphantom2]

Royal Navy Red Devils aerobatic team. The team and their Hawker Sea Hawk in bright red had a short lived career. 1957-58. It was a temporary team formed solely for 1957 and 58 Farnborough air shows. They were painted Navy grey after been disbanded.

@CcibChris via X

[planeyboys]

Old planers and a medieval helicopter

[thestonecuttersguild]

Finish Stuff Friday!

Trumpeter Sea Hawk that fought me the whole way. Could not get the fuselage to close around the cockpit, so I had to trim and sand a bunch of the cockpit and nose gear bay away. Decals that came with the kit were for the Indian Navy, so I bought some aftermarket Royal Navy decals. Those shipped without an instruction sheet, and I couldn’t find one online, so hopefully the markings are good. At least they are representative. I painted the Suez stripes rather than use the decals. I also ended up using spares box roundels since I still didn’t have any Royal Navy roundels.

The kit instructions didn’t mention much as far as folding the wings, and I couldn’t figure which parts were the hinges, if there even were any, so This is where we stand. They don’t both fold at the exact same angle, but they are good enough for sitting on my shelf. Overall happy with the end results. Just the Hunter to go now.

[airmetsierra]

Normally yes, but the Hawker Sea Hawk had one on the leading edge of the tail, similar to this.

But I couldn't find any info about the spike on the Tu-134, so this is still just speculation on my part.

Miss Conenginality No. 5 - Tupolev Tu-134

So most planes I've talked about so far on this blog have been modern Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, and ATR models. These are now ubiquitous basically everywhere. Occasionally I'll bring up an old Douglas or even a Lockheed airliner. But back during the cold war Soviet airplanes were a thing, and by modern standards they're really different from what we're used to.

But as someone of Soviet extraction I have a weird amount of pseudo-nostalgic fondness for these planes, many of which were out of service before I was born. So let's take a look at one I've looked at a lot in preparation for an upcoming post - the Tupolev Tu-134.

I would not say the Tu-134 is my number one favorite of the assorted weird-looking Soviet planes out there, but I would definitely say that I enjoy it a lot and I think beyond that it's a good starting point for weird-looking Soviet planes. It was common, with the better part of a thousand produced, and you could consider it the rough counterpart to something like a BAC One-Eleven or an earlier DC-9 - a nice and reliable plane to carry a relatively small number of passengers a short-to-medium distance, with a t-tail, two rear-mounted engines, and swept wings. It's just...a lot spikier.

The Tu-134 was introduced in 1970. It was built because Nikita Khrushchev took one flight in a Sud Aviation Caravelle and was so impressed by the quiet cabins of rear-engined planes that he demanded one be designed immediately. (This becomes funny when one realizes that by modern standards the Tu-134, as is true of most planes of its era, is so loud it's banned from many airfields.) Like the other handful of planes that Soviet leaders decided needed to be designed because they saw a Western plane and went "hey, I want something like that", the Tu-134 was designed by Tupolev, who had also designed the Soviet Union's first jet airliner (the Tu-104) and the Tu-144 supersonic airliner. I find that even by the standards of Soviet planes Tupolev models, while they might not be the weirdest-looking, they might be the weirdest-functioning, in their own little ways.

A lot of Soviet planes have at least a handful of design features that are pretty off-kilter. To begin with, a lot of these planes are designed to work on unpaved airstrips, presumably because Siberia. This is extra true of a model like the Tu-134, which has engines located higher off the ground, reducing the necessary clearance from rough terrain and the chance of foreign object damage while on the ground.

The Tu-134 is a different sort of beast, though. It's the equivalent of a Soviet DC-9 or BAC 1-11, with the rear engines and t-tail, but the wing sweep is a spectacular 35 degrees. It almost looks like it's hunching into itself. That's around ten degrees more swept than comparable designs. Why? Tupolev.

(Presumably the increased efficiency in high subsonic flight regimes was considered worth the risk of uncommanded pitch-ups, which feels in keeping with Soviet design principles of the time, which favored designs which were high-performance but very unforgiving. Maybe the tail and engines were heavier than on comparable models and thus required the higher sweep. Just my guess, though, and I know very little.)

I just love the spikiness of this plane. The sweep on the wings means that no matter what angle you see it at it looks a bit silly, and the forward spike on the tailplane is just awesome. This entire plane looks like an arrow, or like a paper airplane model that nobody bothered to make less pointy when they scaled it up. Even the tapering of the fuselage up near the tail feels needlessly aggressive.

This is a plane which looks like if it struck another, much larger plane in midair, it would simply go through it like a needle. This plane looks like you should be able to shoot it out of a very large bow. The wings are slightly anhedral (another reason for the excessive sweep may be to balance this out, as anhedral wings, or wings which slope downwards, sacrifice inherent roll stability for controllability, but this stabilizing effect is also conferred by swept wings. Yes, that is an oversimplification, but this post is about the visuals of the plane.) This always kind of makes the Tu-134 look like it's midway through flapping its wings, or like it's a little bit hunched. It's almost a bit uncanny to be able to see the underside of the wing from angles that you normally definitely wouldn't. Anhedral wings are also a common feature of Soviet aircraft, but most of these are high-wing. It's sort of rare to see a low-wing anhedral aircraft in general aside from fighter jets. Those use computers to reduce the inherent instability of the configuration, but the Tu-134 was analogue. Very, very analogue. It actually ran on direct current. Why? Tupolev.

image: Vitaly Kuzmin

One thing I really like about Tupolev planes is that their cockpits were painted a delightful teal. This is not a unique Tupolev feature by any means (actually, the DC-9 had it) but they're the most consistent about it of any manufacturer I'm aware of. This apparently was meant to calm down pilots, presumably coming in useful during the uncommanded pitch-ups. (Extra nasty on a plane hypothetically able to deep-stall, though I can't find any record of a Tu-134 ever deep-stalling and its safety record was actually pretty good for its era.)

I have no idea what's up with that spike on the tail. The 707's tail spike was an antenna for high-frequency radio, so this might be something similar, but I'm not sure. (Check out the sweep on those horizontal stabilizers, though!)

There are two main models of Tu-134. How do you tell a Tu-134A from a Tu-134B? If you're a pilot, you'll probably be clued in by the lack of an APU (...the ICAO apparently thought this was fine, which worries me) but that's a bit hard to notice for a passenger. Thankfully, it should be easy to tell on landing, because the Tu-134A didn't have engines capable of producing reverse thrust. This is very uncommon (for good reason) but not unheard of. Does it solve the issue like the BAe 146, with an air brake and giant spoilers? Absolutely not, this is Tupolev.

DROGUE PARACHUTE.

These are both the earlier Tu-104. I couldn't find any pictures of the Tu-134 using its parachute. Shame they didn't seem to bother adding liveries to them. Also, they're reusable, don't worry. And by 'they' I mean the parachutes, though the planes usually also are.

This does, surprisingly, have some actual advantages, in both high-speed emergency landings and in situations where the wheels can't find adequate purchase, like excessively gravelly or rainy runways. The earlier-mentioned BAe was intended for operation on similarly rugged or short runways and, while it was generally safe, the margin for error was significantly reduced, with multiple fatal crashes related to overrunning runways in poor weather. Still, if I were the pilot of a plane which used one of these I would be perpetually terrified about the possibility of someone else running over my parachute. That would be potentially dangerous, not to mention incredibly awkward.

(That sounds like something you'd say to condescendingly ask a Tu-134 pilot why they're in a bad mood. Aww, someone run over your parachute today?)

It's almost a bit bizarre seeing a Tu-134 next to a regular Western plane.

The main way to tell them apart at a glance, though, is the nose.

That little chin they've given her is where the radar is stored. Other airlines tend to keep this in the nose, but the Tu-134A used the nose for a much more important purpose. That's right, it's the

SOVIET NAVIGATOR PIT.

Soviet designs tended to use more pilots for longer than Western ones, with planes retaining a dedicated radio operator and navigator in many cases. While this is a mostly innocuous design feature (you get severely diminishing returns for every flight crew member past the second, and risk breakdowns of communication by adding potential points of failure, but you do still have more brains on board to distribute tasks to) it has the pretty awesome result of the

SOVIET NAVIGATOR PIT.

This is to an extent a vestigial feature from the Tu-134's origin as the Tu-16 bomber (by way of the earlier Tu-124 and Tu-104 jet airliners, the latter of which was the second ever to fly). Still, this feature in Soviet planes isn't limited to Tu-16 derivations or even bombers, and can be found in planes like the Il-76.

Just think about flying on one of these. I get that it would be a nightmare for a lot of people, and I'll admit I don't love looking down at clouds from conventional cruise altitude myself, but I would love nothing more than to sit by one of these for a nice overland flight at a scenically suitably altitude.

Unfortunately, my hopes are not only dead but stillborn, as the Tu-134A is fully out of service. My hopes of flying on a Tu-134B are nearly as dire, but it's technically - very technically - possible. There remains one single operator of the Tu-134.

Air Koryo, the flag carrier of North Korea, still has two Tu-134 in its fleet. This poses a major problem, because currently my only passport is a US one, and US passports can't be used to enter North Korea. This ban is on the US's end rather than North Korea's, so if I could get a second passport from literally anywhere other than South Korea this would cease to be an obstacle, but even though I'm hypothetically eligible for a Russian passport there has never been a time I've wanted to get one less. You know, just in case I want to go to Poland or Latvia sometime. That is all to say...it's a race between Air Koryo retiring their Tu-134s, and me successfully getting another passport (and being able to afford a trip to North Korea on top of it). So unless any Irish citizens are eager to spend at least one year in a greencard marriage that dream is also quite dead. Sorry, sweet girl. It just wasn't meant to be.

Get a good look at those little raised bits on the wing, by the way. That's the old Soviet trick for keeping highly swept wings from doing that awful 'just kind of pitching up and losing control when close to stalling' thing, wing fences!

I just can't help but love this weird little pointy thing. Nobody ever designs planes that look quite this weird now, and I get that that's because the shape of an airliner has been more or less engineered to perfection by now, but it's still sort of a shame, in my opinion. This really was purely a Soviet thing - modern Russian designs like the Sukhoi Superjet and the Irkut MC-21 sort of just look broadly like 737s. The era of weird airliners seems to be largely over.

But at least when I review liveries, sometimes I'm able to gaze back through the rolled-up newspaper tube of history and see what planes looked like in a more imperfect time, when thrust reversers were an optional design choice and sometimes a plane was just very very pointy, because Tupolev.

[dansnaturepictures]

Looking back on a week in amazing Anglesey and wonderful wider North Wales

Over the past week another trip outside of England for me this year among mountains centred on a beautiful island has allowed us to have a special wild adventure. It was a week of splendour, spectacle and thrilling experiences.

Bird and mammal wise we saw some of the finest sights UK wildlife has to offer, from being ensconced in the spectacular tern and gull colony of Cemlyn, seeing our first Arctic Terns this year and marveling at the many neat Sandwich Tern, also seeing Common Tern and Black-headed Gull with views of chicks enjoyed to watching in aw in the evening sunlight a Red Squirrel feed in the magical Newborough Forest an astonishing sight to ensure I’ve seen these divine mammals in England, Scotland and Wales this year. The distinctive smell, consuming noise and fantastic sight of seabird colonies dominated the week, with charismatic and eyecatching Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Shag and more enjoyed between two visits to the fabulous RSPB South Stack and a brilliant boat trip around Puffin Island. Days full of glee. Staggeringly intimate views of Grey Seal on the boat trip and fine evening views of Manx Shearwater gliding across the sea at Cemaes where we stayed and Llanbadrig and some seen at Cemlyn on the last morning were other moments of nautical wild bliss. It was phenomenal and valuable to get such splendid views of Black Guillemots again across the week, a favourite bird of mine we don’t get at home which I am having a top year for. Anglesey is synonymous with Choughs and at South Stack, the Range and on a journey at one point we have had some sensational times seeing these red and black wonders exceptionally well. Their sharp call and breathtaking appearance has left me spellbound and filled my heart with joy. We also saw some at the Great Orme on a wider North Wales part of the trip.

A Black Guillemot at Holyhead Fish Quay on Sunday evening

Chough at South Stack on Monday

The Red Squirrel we saw at Newborough Forest 

Adding further gloss and helping my bird year list become personally historic was my first sighting this year of a Little Ringed Plover on a wider jaunt to RSPB Conwy. Other standout birds of the trip included Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Red-breasted Merganser, Gannet including on Ynys Badrig, Herring Gull, House Martins, Swallow, Whitethroat, Bullfinch, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Rooks heard and seen well from the lovely cottage we stayed in, Raven, Jay and Buzzard. Crossing Eryri on Wednesday on the way back from Conwy seeing Grey Wagtail at Betws-y-Coed, Hen Harriers and Goosander and Common Sandpiper at Llyn Ogwen added some top species to the week.

Wren at Nant-y-Pandy on Thursday which was a joy to see too. 

In spring/summer holidays geared towards birds it’s always nice to see some insects during it and it occurred to me during the week we might be able to see Silver-studded Blues here, that we did at the Range by South Stack on Tuesday. Immersive moments watching this precious gem of a butterfly. In heatwave conditions as the week went on Ringlet, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Skipper and Common Grayling at the Great Orme probably of the sub species Hipparchia semele emerging early and unique to this site were ones we saw for the first time this year as I sailed into seeing summer butterfly species, with Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and oh so many Red Admirals also seen. Hummingbird hawk-moth, Silver Y, my first Six-spot Burnets of the year seen well, Straw Dot, Brown-silver Line and Grass Veneers made it a marvellous moth week too.

One of the Red Admirals seen this week at Newborough Forest

Caterpillars played their part too with a few seen, this of the Oak Eggar moth at South Stack.

As hoped we saw Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies, with a surprise Golden-ringed Dragonfly an exquisite moment in the trip at a stream at Nant-y-Pandy aka the Dingle and Southern Hawker also firsts for the year. Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser as well as Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Azure Damselflies and Banded Demoiselle were pleasant to see too. It was also a top trip of beetles with many Swollen-thighed beetles and my first ever Chrysomela populi and Rose Chafer beetle seen.

Mating Azure Damselflies which was a strong memory of a hot and sunny time at Cors Ddyga on Thursday. 

The Chrysomela populi, one of many we saw on a Newborough dune walk on Thursday. 

It was a flower fest this week with massive species of my year seen such as my first alluring bee and pyramidal orchids of the year at RSPB Conwy and lots of sheep’s-bit. Marsh helleborine, early marsh orchid, purple sandwort, sea plantain and bright yellow-horned poppy were new flower species I was amazed to see. Thrift, sea and red campion, chamomile, wild carrot and cabbage, foxgloves, thyme, wall pennywort, bird’s-foot trefoil and rich English stonecrop seen consistently well were strong characteristic plants of the trip for me as many were when here two years ago. And on that note I could not forget the joy of seeing again at Valley Wetlands and Cors Ddyga RSPB reserves my star flower from 2021, excellent marsh cinquefoil.

One of the many RSPB Conwy bee orchids seen 

Centaury at South Stack, another key one this week.

The views were something else again; cliff, beach and dune coast, woodland, heath, meadow, lake and mountains. There were breathtaking moments observing stunning landscapes and being immersed in them on Friday riding the Great Orme cable cars at Llandudno and going three quarters of the way up Yr Wyddfa on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. I enjoyed stunning scenes of the sun going down over the water on evenings at Cemaes and Llanbadrig. It is such an aesthetically pleasing part of the world. What a week, so much covered and seen and so many glorious memories made. I love Anglesey and North Wales generally and I can’t wait to come back.

Looking across to South Stack from the Range on Tuesday 

Llyn Ogwen on Wednesday 

Llandudno on Friday

Grey Seal seen on the boat trip around Puffin Island on Tuesday.

[airmanisr]

Hawker Sea Hawk FB.5 ‘WM969 / Z-10’ by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n AW.6007 Built in 1954 by Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry Originally an FB.3 but later upgraded to FB.5 standard (well that’s what is usually reported, although some sources still report it as being an FB.3). Initially served with 898 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) on board HMS Albion in the Mediterranean. She later flew with 811 NAS on HMS Centaur and then 806 NAS on HMS Eagle. In May 1964 she joined the School of Air Handling at RNAS Culdrose and was allocated the Admiralty maintenance identity A2530. She was transferred to the Imperial War Museum in 1976 and moved to Duxford in October that year, wearing an all-black colours scheme and coded ‘SAH-5’. She has now been restored in her genuine 898 NAS markings from her time on HMS Albion. Usually on display in Hangar 3, she is seen here in Hangar 5, the conservation hangar. Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, UK 30th May 2021 The following service history for WM969 is from the IWM website:- “Entered service 28 June 1954 at R.N.A.S Stretton. 28 Aug 1954 until 4 Nov 1954 at 898 squad. R.N.A.S Brawdy. 4 Nov 1954 until 9 Nov 1954 at N.A.S. Halfar C.A.M. 9 Nov 1954 until 24 Jan 1956 at 898 Squad HMS Falcon. 24 Jan 1956 until 14 May 1956 at 811 squad. 14 May 1956 until 7 Jan 1957 at R.N.A.Y Fleetlands 7 Jan 1957 until 29 March 1958 at 806 squad at Lossiemouth 29 March 1958 until 25 June 1958 at R.N.A.Y Fleetlands 25 June 1958 until 13 Oct 1959 at Airworks Hurn 13 Oct 1959 until 28 Apr 1960 at R.N.A.Y.Fleetlands 28 Apr 1960 until 14 May 1964 Airworks Hurn 14 May 1964 went to RNAS Culdrose Cornwall until transferred to IWM in 1977”