#Operation Sea Lion

[bookloversofbath]

Once I Had a Comrade: Karl Roth and the Combat History of the 36th Panzer Regiment, 1939-45 :: R. W. Byrd

Once I Had a Comrade: Karl Roth and the Combat History of the 36th Panzer Regiment, 1939-45 :: R. W. Byrd

[alanmalcherhistorian]

British Home Front During World War Two.

Senate House. Senate House in Malet Street, London WC1 close to the British Museum is an Arc Deco building built between 1932 and 1937 and is now the library and administration centre for the University of London. Most days of the week many thousands of people walk past this building and the general public along with students at the University of London are seldom aware of its wartime…

[themurphyzone]

I've said it before and I'll say it again but Operation Sea Lion is criminally underrated. The Pinky and Brain interactions are just so good here.

I have the HC that Brain was only half-focused on his plan for the episode because he was more worried about Pinky's crush ending in heartbreak.

And Beach Blanket Brain was him taking Pinky for a beach party to cheer him up and he just pretended he had a world domination plan to cover it up.

[beeapocalypse]

very rough guy idea

[knowledgekida84]

Hitler strategises OPERATION SEA LION to attack British. Here it is thought that how to attack Britain on the ground, so there is no connection. Soldiers cannot be sent like this between UK and Mainland Europe. If tried through ships, the BRITISH ROYAL NAVY has far more ships. It will not sit well in comparison to Germany. Then it is decided by Hitler that first the airfield should be sealed. Germany Air force LUFTWAFFE has 2600 airplanes. UK ROYAL AIR FORCE has only 700. That is why on July 10, 1940, Hitler attacks Britain through the air ...learn more

[elspethdekarios]

Places in Waterdeep

According to this reddit comment, Gale’s tower is most likely in the Dock Ward on the corner of Sea Lion and Sail Street. Assuming Gale and Tav spend most of their time in Waterdeep either at home or at Blackstaff (well, depending on what your tav does for a living! I imagine mine works nearby), here are some possible locations for all your fanfic needs. I’m using this map and the descriptions it gives for the locations. This is not an exhaustive list–just the ones I thought might be the most useful to writers.

- Near Gale’s Tower (Dock Ward) -

Taverns and Inns:

The Quaffing Quaggoth

Tavern. A favorite among sailors, merchants, and young nobles, this dwarven owned and operated establishment is known for its own specialty brew – the Quaggoth, a thick house-brewed stout mixed with a shot of a house secret liquor.

The Sailors' Own

Tavern. The place is low-beamed and crowded, with weary sailors slumped on benches playing at board games, cards, or merely getting thoroughly drunk. This place is just what its name implies. It belongs to the sailors, and they don't really want anyone else here. The proprietor is Guthlakh 'Hands' Imyiir. (so, maybe not likely for them to frequent this one, but who knows!)

The Pickled Fisherman

Tavern

The Soaring Pegasus

Tavern

Bard inn

A cozy inn owned by a family of past adventurers, it appears to have been fixed up recently. Most of its visitors are sailors, but it has been known to house meetings between gangs in order to keep the peace. In the basement is a hidden underground fighting ring.

The Angry Coxswain

The tavern contains a one-way portal connecting with a prison cell in the slave market in the Mulhorandi city of Skuld.

The Yawning Portal

Inn. Built in 1306 DR on the ruins of Halaster Blackcloak's old tower, the Yawning Portal gained most of its renown for being the primary open route to the Undermountain. The Portal's innkeeper, Durnan, is a former adventurer of great power and renown.

The Gray Griffon

Tavern

Darth's Dolphyntyde

Tavern

Selune's Smile

Tavern

Azuth's Mug

Tavern

The Rearing Hippocampus

Inn. Probably the classiest inn in Dock Ward. Favored by many caravan masters and merchants who want a good, secure place to sleep, and regular visitors to the city who have business near the harbor.

The Splintered Stair

Inn. The entry hall of this room rises up three floors, overlooked by interior balconies linked by elegantly spiraling stairs.

The Blackstar Inn

This dignified, even haughty inn is like a fortress on the outside, with barred windows, stone walls, and a slate roof. Its lobby has two armed guards, and the four hostlers in the locked stables are also armed. Fees are high, but in return, guests get almost soundproof rooms. Each room has a hip-bath, a double bed, water and wine provided for drinking and various pamphlets and chapbooks provided for light reading. Each room also has its own fireplace, albeit with a miserly supply of firewood, and the patrons tend to keep to themselves. A good place to get a long soundsleep. Asiyra Boldwinter is the proprietress of this inn. Her manner is one of uppercrust, noble dignity.

The Empty Keg

The Empty Keg is a rowdy beer-hall. Later at night, it sees visits from workers from Mother Salinka's next door to reinvigorate business there.

The Red-Eyed Owl

This is the closest thing Waterdeep has to a comfortable, unimpressive, welcoming gathering place for the neighborhood. It is the kind of place where friends will come in and hail each other across the room. The food and drink are pleasant, if unspectacular, and you'll be allowed to sit in peace. It is a rambling old wooden building that looks as if it's about to fall into the street. Balarg 'Twofists' Dathen, a man with long, red hair, owns and runs the tavern.

The Sleepy Sylph

Tavern. Locals in the neighborhood come here for a single drink, to enjoy the music and to watch the waitresses (wearing diaphanous robe), and then go to the Owl, just steps away to eat and drink at about a third the price. The owner is Callanter Rollingshoulder, a tall man dressed in dark silken robes with a magnificent mustache.

The Bloody Fist

Tavern. Bullies and angry people come here to pick fights, and a room upstairs is retained for a succession of novice priests of Tempus who dress broken bones and perform minor healing magics in return for donations to the war god. Members of the Bull Elk Tribe can usually be found drinking here. Proprietor: Uglukh Vorl, a half-orc.

The Sleeping Snake

Tavern. This rowdy place is roughly furnished in hastily mended furniture. Members of the Black Boar Tribe can usually be found drinking here.

Festhalls and Entertainment:

From the Forgotten Realms wiki: “A festhall was an establishment combining the services of brothels, casinos, and private clubs. Festhalls provided a variety of adult-themed leisure activities and entertainment, including sex work, gambling, day spas, dining, exotic dancing, companionship, role-play, and other specialized interests.”

The Mermaid's Arms

Festhall. Elegant dining lounges, in which one dines or just drinks with an attractive host or hostess (or alone). Increasingly, the Arms is being used by single gentlefolk for a night of love. In other words, patrons are going there to meet each other, not to hire a host or hostess for the night. The Arms is large, well-lit, always busy, and can be quite expensive.

The Hanging Lantern

Festhall. The Lantern, an escort service known for the stunning beauty of its workers, and for the skill of its matchmakers, is famous up and down the Sword Coast.

Blushing Nymph

Festhall. The long stair links the oubliette of the Blushing Nymph festhall with Undermountain's first level.

Mother Salinka's House of Pleasures

This is a dingy low-coin festhall owned by halflings and frequented by those who are there for a 'brief visit', or can't afford or are turned away from the Yawning Portal.

Three Pearls Nightclub

Festhall. Pearls, as it is called, is a popular evening destination for Waterdhavians, offering stand-up comics, trained animal acts, illusionists' recitals, bards, orators, and exotic dancing. It has a low ceiling and is usually hot and smoky. The manager, Xandos Waeverym, is known as 'the Dandy'.

Seven Masks Theater

The theater caters to a lower-class clientele, and ship captains and sailors are admitted for free. The owner of the theater is a burly and jovial Shou man with a braided goatee named Rongquan Mystere.

The Purple Palace

Festhall. This is the closest thing Waterdeep has to a Calishite silks-boudoir. Its lavender silk draperies and gauzy hangings are heavily perfumed. Everything is cushions, soft carpets, music, and purple-tinted, spiced wine. Companionship is expensive and very good.

The Smiling Succubus

Festhall. Not exactly the pride of Wharf Street, but one of its most popular destinations.

Businesses and Shopping:

Whistling Blades

Business. Weapons.

The Fishscale Smithy

Adventuring gear

Talnu's Ropeworks

Adventuring gear

The Old Xoblob Shop

This curiosity shop is filled with lots of battle trophies and souvenirs from Undermountain. Worth a look to see the stuffed beholder for which the shop is named. The shopkeeper is a deep gnome.

House of Pride Perfumes

Business. The House of Pride is crammed with a forest of glass bottles of all sizes, shapes, and hues. It is protected by a special enchantment that prevents glass from breaking. The shop is run by two sisters and is guarded by trained hunting dogs.

Khostal Hannass, Fine Nuts

Business. Food.

Felhaur's Fine Fish

Business. Food.

Miscellaneous:

Mirt's Mansion

Villa. Mirt is a friend of Durnan (see The Yawning Portal). Both used magic to extend their lives.

House of Two Hands

Monastery. Order of the Even-Handed.

Harborwatch Tower

City building

The Griffon

The walking statue called the Griffon is shaped like the beast for which it is named. Though it stands on all four legs, its back is fully twenty feet off the ground, making it a mount fit for a storm giant. Although it has shown itself to be capable of flight, with the granite feathers of its wings spreading like a bird's, the Griffon now merely stands in a regal pose near Peaktop Aerie atop Mount Waterdeep, looking to the southeast over the Dock Ward. Newcomers sometimes assume it to be a monument to Waterdeep's Griffon Cavalry, but Waterdavians know better.

Peaktop Aerie

City building

Castle Waterdeep

Thick-walled stronghold that broods over Castle Ward from the flanks of Mount Waterdeep. Pennants and banners are often hung and flown from its battlements to signal the arrival of diplomats or the commencement of ceremonies.

Starry Cradles orphanage

The Starry Cradles orphanage is a Dock Ward orphanage run by Matron Griselda Hoppletun, a halfling care-taker, and funded by the House of the Moon and the Selûnite clergy thereof.

- Near Blackstaff Tower (Castle Ward) -

Taverns and Inns:

Sapphire House

Expensive rooming house on Swords Street. The inn is a five-story building.

Tavern of the Flagon Dragon

Tavern. Three Stories high, stone dragons at the base of the walls are all gouting fire, two dragon helmed guards at the door. Caters more to the less-than-noble class.

The Singing Sword

Tavern. Three floors of busy diners enjoy one of the largest menus in Waterdeep. They are entertained by the high-voiced ballads of the wondrous magical blade for which the tavern is named. Gothmorgan Ilibuld, the proprietor, is a polite host.

Wyrmbones Inn

Inn

The Pampered Traveler

Inn. This inn stands like an exotic castle. There is inside a library filled with books and a reading table with a glass top, under which can be seen a map of the known Realms as far west as the Moonshaes, as far east as Thay, and as far south as the Shaar. All in all, a quietly luxurious place to stay. This is undoubtedly the wealthy scholar's choice of hostel. The inn is run by Brathan Zilmer, guildmaster of the Fellowship of Innkeepers.

Dauntlyn's Doors

Luxury Inn

The Elfstone Tavern

Tavern. This old, dimly lit tavern caters to elves. By night, dancing lights spells bathe the place in soft, floating, blue motes of light. Gentle harp, pipe, flute, and choral music is performed and service is fast and graceful. Dwarves and half-orcs will be driven away; humans and halflings are tolerated in small parties; half-elves are just accepted. Yaereene Ilbaereth is the tavern's proprietress.

The Blue Jack

Tavern. The tavern specializes in low prices and fast service, and it's a success. Immithar the Glove, the tavern's proprietor, is quick with a joke or to mimic the speech of other.

The Jade Jug

Inn. Waterdeep's plushest inn. Guests are attended by a personal servant for the duration of their stay and their every need is attended to. The charming, beautiful, one-armed hostess is Amaratha Ruendarr. She notices every detail.

The Dragon's Head Tavern

Tavern. This modest place is aimed at those who like to sit quietly and chat over their drinks. The proprietor is Vorn Laskadarr.

The Asp's Strike

Tavern

Festhalls and Entertainment:

Jhural's Dance

Festhall

Silavene's

Festhall

The Smiling Siren

Festhall. Nightclub & Theater. Home to a company of popular local actors who can perform everything from rowdy comedy to high tragedy. Nobles often hire the place for an evening for exclusive performances. The Siren is also home to traveling troupes of vaudeville jugglers, comedians, and nearly nude dancers or burlesque dancers. Before and between performances, the place is used for drinking and dancing to live music, sometimes with show dancers on the stage. The mage Perendel Wintamer runs this nightclub.

Lightsinger Theater

Business. Entertainers.

Mother Tathlorn's House of Pleasure

Festhall. Entertainers. The most famous house of pleasure in Waterdeep is a large, five-floored building with two additional levels of dungeons below ground. Mother Tathlorn's has on staff several priests of Sune. The most popular service performed at Mother Tathlorn's is massage and bathing, but all of this luxury and pleasure doesn't come cheaply.

Businesses and Shopping:

The Market

Open marketplace. Largest open space in the city surrounded by stone buildings that enclose the maze of temporary stalls and carts that appear here day and night.

Blackwell's Fine Books and Good Tomes

Blackwell's Fine Books and Good Tomes is a posh retail shop, located in the shadow of the God Catcher statue. Owned and operated by the Blackwell family, Blackwell's Fine Books and Good Tomes specializes in rare and antique manuscripts. The shop is especially known, among the noble set, for its restoration, document preservation, as well as transcription services. Mr Blackwell's son, Aldous, has been known to keep an eye on any ancient texts which spend time in the family's shoppe.

The Bookstore occupies the bottom of a three story building. The upper two stories are the Blackwell's lavish townhome apartment.

Paethier's Pipeweed

Business

Eilean's Maztican Delights

Business

Sharkroar - Harth Shalark's Broadsheets

Business

Sorynth's Silverware

Business

The Curious Past

Business is run by Bronwyn Caradoon, dealing in exotic items while also being a front for Harper Activity.

Diloontier's Apothecary

Assassins. Drugs. Poisons. Potions. Now renamed to 'Diloontier's & Sons Apothecary'.

This upscale store catered to the elite of Waterdhavian society. Those who had the right credentials and money for it could quietly purchase poisons and more nefarious potions from the proprietor.

Balthorr's Rare & Wondrous Treasures

Business. Magic items. Balthorr 'the Bold' Olaskos will fence stolen items for 40% market value.

Old Knot Shop

Adventuring gear

Rebeleigh's Elegant Headwear

Business. Clothing.

Halls of Hilmer, Master Armorer

Armor. Hilmer, a tall, strong, and soft-spoken man, with shoulders as wide as most doors, only makes plate, but he's known as the best, or among the best, in all the Sword Coast lands. He's a master craftsman.

Halambar Lutes & Harps

Business. Entertainers. This shop sells all sorts of stringed musical instruments. Kriios Halambar, guildmaster of the Council of Musicians, Instrument-Makers, and Choristers owns and runs this shop.

The Golden Key Locksmiths

Business. The proprietor, Ansilver, makes custom locks to order, and guarantees that he's never sold a key that will open the lock you buy from him to anyone else.

Phalantar's Philtres & Components

Business. Drugs. Poisons. Potions. Here you can buy medicines, herbs, and rare substances used in the making of perfumes, scented oils, poisons, and as material components in the casting of spells. Phalantar Orivan will fence stolen goods for 40% market value. He is said to be fabulously rich.

Olmhazan's Jewels

Business. All the gems one can think of, except very rare or magical sorts. Jhauntar Olmhazan, Gentleman Speaker for the Jewelers' Guild, owns and runs this shop.

Temples:

Font of Knowledge

Temple of Oghma. Largest public library in the city.

Halls of Justice

Temple of Tyr. Holy Order of the Knights of Samular.

Spires of the Morning

Temple of Lathander. Order of the Aster.

Temple of the Seldarine

Temple of all elven deities.

Miscellaneous:

Melody Mount Walk

A magically lit tunnel that runs west up to the cliffs on which the New Olamn barding college is situated. The tunnel contains a little-known portal between Waterdeep and the keep in Rassalantar. The tunnel continuously resounds with music due to an ongoing concert known as the Neverending String of Pearls that is performed by bardic students from New Olamn in a small alcove in the tunnel.

Syndra Wands' Tower

Wizard's domicile.

The Lady Dreaming

One of the eight enormous statues called the Walking Statues of Waterdeep, scattered throughout Waterdeep to defend the city in times of great peril. This statue has the appearance of a titanic sculpture of a noble lady asleep in her garden.

The Great Drunkard

One of the eight enormous statues called the Walking Statues of Waterdeep, scattered throughout Waterdeep to defend the city in times of great peril. The unconscious pose of the statue and the tavern in its lap made the name of the Great Drunkard a natural fit.

Duir's Alley

This busy, winding passage is often the scene of spell demonstrations and practice, as patrons or staff spill out of the rear of the Elfstone Tavern and unleash magic down the alley.

Cat Alley

Recently, a masked, rapier-wielding, quietly chuckling assailant has made this a dangerous place for women after dark.

The God Catcher

One of the eight enormous statues called the Walking Statues of Waterdeep, scattered throughout Waterdeep to defend the city in times of great peril. This is perhaps the most famous walking statue in the city, thanks to its dramatic pose : a well-muscled but impassive male human with a sphere of stone floating above its right hand raised skyward.

Piergeiron's Palace

White marble Palace and main office location for many city officials, the majority of which are dedicated to the administration of city services, such as the Watch, the Guard, city clerks, and the Loyal Order of Street Laborers. The ruler of the city - the Open Lord of Waterdeep - resides and works here.

Tower of the Order

Guildhall. Magic items. Scrolls. Watchful Order of Magists & Protectors.

House of the Fine Carvers

Guildhall. Guild of Fine Carvers.

The Map House

Guildhall. Surveyors', Map & Chart-makers' Guild.

[shiratamahatsumiyo]

TWST with a Blood Mage reader (Part 3)

Warnings: Blood and Gore, Slight Swearing

• When the fae entered the room, the sight made him fall out of his levitating upsidedown posture out of shock. He closed his eyes, trying to gather his bearings, and blinking his eyelids a few times before he expressed what looked like mild panic. He looked at the headmaster, expecting an explanation, but it seems like Crowley also froze in what looks more like mild fear.

?????: "BY THE SEVENS, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE, CROWLEY?! WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE?!"

Crowley: "DO I LOOK LIKE I HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED?!"

?????: "NOW'S NOT THE TIME FOR ONE OF YOUR SORRY EXCUSES, YOU BIRD BRAINED MORON! THEY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION!!"

Crowley: "I'LL CALL THE INFIRMARY --"

?????: "INFIRMARY?! WHAT ARE YOU, STUPID?! THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING YOU COULD SIMPLY PUT A BANDAID ON! CALL AN AMBULANCE!!"

• Seeing the gore in front of the fae caused him to lash out at Crowley and hollar for any medics. The seven men in robes snapped back from their shock. The man with glasses pulled out his magical pen to summon bandages and the man with red hair pulled out his to cast a healing spell.

• The floating tablet dialed an emergency hotline while stuttering and hyperventilating, the man with blonde hair quickly talked to the operator on the other side of the screen.

Operator: "Hello, this is the Sage Island Hospital, what's your emergency?"

????: "W-W-We... They.... B-blood... sob..."

Operator: "Sir? I can't hear you. Please speak clearly."

????: "Blood...sob... Everywhere.....sob... H-h-help...sob... "

Operator: "Sir, please--"

???: "OH FOR SEVEN'S SAKE! LISTEN HERE, THERE'S A PERSON HERE THAT NEEDS AN AMBULANCE! IF YOU DON'T COME HERE QUICK, I DOUBT THEIR SKIN WILL STAY TOGETHER ANY LONGER. DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Operator: "W-we hear you, sir... Please stay on the line. We sent an ambulance to your location."

• The man with glasses and the man with red hair surrounded you cautiously, careful not to touch the exposed mangled flesh and wrapped your wounds with the bandages. All you can do is just go with the flow, knowing that explaining the concept of your complicated magic would be useless now. Besides... It's very amusing.

??????: "... A-alright. Can you hear me?"

BloodMage ! Yuu: "Yes."

??????: "Calm down. Breathe. The ambulance will be here for a moment, alright?"

BloodMage! Yuu: "Okay."

????: "Stay with us, now. Don't faint. Oh Sevens!"

BloodMage! Yuu: "I won't."

??????: "Azul, please pull it together!"

??????: "Look at us. Y-You're going to be fine."

BloodMage! Yuu: "Okay."

• You're not sure if the men are comforting you or they're comforting themselves, judging by the look on their eyes. Their hands shaking and their breaths shortened. They're more unnerved by how calm you are despite your burnt skin.

• The man with lion ears ordered the students to call the infirmary ghosts in case the ambulance doesn't arrive on time. The fae guided the panicking students to the exit, including the man with the turban.

• Crowley ordered the ghosts to immediately vacate Grim from the premises. The cat did not resist and could only look at the mess he caused as the doors closed behind him.

?????: "THE GHOSTS ARE HERE!"

Crowley: "Finally!"

?????: "EVERYONE, STAND BACK!"

Random Student A: "Th-th-they're dead 😰!"

Random Student B: "There's blood everywhere 😱!"

Random Student C: "Eugh... Crap, I think I'm gonna be sick 🤢..."

Random Student A: "It's that horrid monster's fault 😨!"

Random Student B: "...sob... Why is this happening?...sob... I just got into this school!...sob.... 😥"

Random Student C: "I just wanna go home, man! 😭"

Infirmary Ghost A: "LET US GO THROUGH!"

Infirmary Ghost B: "PLEASE LET US SEE THEM!"

• The wall of students parted like the Red Sea to make way for the ghosts. The ghosts immediately operated on you and began to layer the bandages the two men wrapped. A crowd of nosy students gathered around, either fascinated by the gore or wanting to witness how the ghosts apply first aid.

?????: "Hey, hey, I wanna see- EW! I regret seeing that! #NotForWeakStomachs!"

????: "Cater, just stop taking photos! Aren't you supposed to evacuate the students?"

Cater: "Don't worry, Trey. Lilia already handled that... Ugh, I'm gonna need bleach for my eyes for the rest of the week..."

Lilia: "Alright, I guided everyone to safety and the monster was captured and removed not long ago... How are Riddle and Azul doing?"

Trey: "Lilia! Thanks for helping us."

Cater: "Yeah, seriously thanks."

Trey: "Riddle is actually calm but it's hard to think that this is his first time doing first aid."

Cater: "Azul looks pretty pale but surprisingly, he can handle it without Jade after all."

Trey: "sigh, Cater... How's Kalim?"

Lilia: "He's horrified. The poor boy cried rivers. I had to call Jamil after he vomited on the floor."

• While the three of them are chatting, the ghosts give permission to Riddle and Azul to let go and let them do the rest. The boys approached the three looking disturbed. They look at the blood stains on their clothes, unnerved by what they had seen.

Cater: "Riddle! Woah... That's a lot of b-blood..."

Trey: "How are you holding up? Are they still alive?"

Azul: "........"

Riddle: "..........."

Lilia: "Riddle? Azul?"

Azul: "...Riddle, did you see that?"

Riddle: "...Yes."

Trey: "What are you talking about?"

Cater: "They're not dead, a-are they?"

• Cater and Trey eagerly wait for an answer, clearly hoping that you would stay alive and kicking. And well... You are.

Azul: "F-forgive me if I sound delusional, Riddle. But did you see how they aren't affected at all?"

Riddle: "No, you're not delusional. I definitely saw that... They seemed to stop the bleeding by themselves without us using pressure..."

Cater: "Guys, you're scaring us. So please just spill it."

Lilia: "... Just what I suspected."

Trey: "W-what do you mean?"

Infirmary Ghost A: "WAAAH!!!"

• All of the students become more alert after hearing the ghost's shriek and another panic surged through the room. The ghosts frantically search for more bandages as the blood starts... Levitating?!

Infirmary Ghost B: "Th-they're certainly not normal!"

Crowley: "Move, move! What in Twisted Wonderland is happening?"

Infirmary Ghost B: "They are healing themself!"

BloodMage! Yuu: "Hehee~"

• Everyone heard a giggle from you and they froze. They looked in your direction and were frightened to see streams of blood coating your every limb, encasing it like additional bandages and melted itself into your bones. Finally, it solidified and healed your limbs perfectly.

Lilia: "...Could it be?"

Crowley: ...I-it's...!"

Lilia: "...Blood Magic."

• You're unfazed by the attention you're receiving. You stood up and flexed your newly healed limbs. The mirror's face then disappeared.

Crowley: "...I... I thought it was forgotten...!... I-i thought it's forbidden to...!"

Lilia: "... Crowley, please listen to me. We must guide the students to the dorms before things get even more complicated."

Crowley: "And you're leaving this unexpectedly violent event to me? With them?!"

Lilia: "Crowley, I apologize... I may be centuries old but even I cannot grasp the knowledge of Blood Magic. I hope you understand."

Crowley: "Oh... Very well. I shall take matters into my own hands then..."

[lxvvie]

the promise of compassion.

Promises were made to be kept.

You operated on that premise, made sure to honor your vow, and honor it you did. It was no surprise, then, that your resolve attracted his attention. The lion cub. The Scourge of the Stars. One of the finest warriors the Lands had to offer, recipient of more than his fair share of dedication… and desire. A desire that soon turned to you. A desire you passionately reciprocated.

You blinked at this revelation, and it was as if time moved rapidly. Before you knew it, it was you and him standing under a vast sea of stars, the golden resplendence of the Erdtree illuminating your love. It was he who first slipped the band on to your finger, the promise of loyalty and fidelity made sacrosanct, and you responded in turn.

Yours was a union blessed by the stars.

Yours was a union cursed by rays of gold.

The Lands had fallen into death and despair amidst the chaos, and you followed suit. The golden resplendence you so held dear had faded into nothingness and your life, your love, was not long for this world. You did not see the initial degradation—could not see for he would not let you—but you felt the consequences just the same. His was a slow and anguished death, your love, but the glory of a battle hard fought was all the warrior’s farewell he needed. You ran your fingers over your band, victory assured, the promise of loyalty and fidelity made sacrosanct, and mourned what was and what could have been.

 And still, you kept your promise.

You stand before him again, your love, under the glory of a golden sky. A warrior’s death made temporary; souls desecrated but beautiful just the same. He is the promise of another’s loyalty and fidelity and your blood runs cold. You run calloused fingers over your band. Your vigor is renewed. Your passion burns bright, just as it did when you two first swore under a sea of stars. Your resolve was resolute.

You had set him free once. You will see him free again.

And some promises were made to be broken.

[thisisnotthenerd]

and now the best battles of the intrepid heroes go head to head

feel free to give reasoning/propaganda as you like!

the sidequest poll

quick episode descriptions:

arcade ambush: fighting biz in the arcade. the failed perception checks. getting sucked in and out of the games. riz in the palimpsest. beating a nat 20 in the box of doom. shooting off biz's fingers on the count of three.

broadway brawl: the show must go on. misty having the performance of a lifetime. queen titania. i may be little but i am fierce. esther in the rafters. don confetti. ricky, naked, bodyrolling on misty. stephen sondheim riding a bear. subduing titania with a waist trainer.

blast from the passed: after the trial for gorthalax. completely indecipherable battle. bill seacaster kills gilear. johnny spells can't get a word in edgewise. statistically i have just a good a chance at rolling good as any of you. toxic masculinity is dead, i dance now! riz is blasted off the ship into the iron city of dis.

boys' night (Roll20Con): just the lads, going to a party, where they are supremely uncool. extorting gilear for alcohol [uncle pappy's dag nasty rocket hooch] emergency poem for ragh and corey. stealth mode down the highway. chungledown bim is back. fabian falling under the car with the liquor. warping space time and going to the lan party.

deep bleu sea: peppermint batman is invisible in the darkness. primsy is attacked. jet sends stilton to the bottom of the ocean. shenanigan time. the boats sinking and shifting. cumulous appears. throwing the cheese marauders to induce a dexterity check. can i use swirlwarden to get back into the boat. annabelle in the yogurt

treachery at gramercy: fighting around the umbral engine. ricky's bat counterspell. pete surges twice. cody is a mounted combatant who read dante's inferno. tony simos is a crazy level 20 open hand monk. pete has subtle spell. ricky says tony get fucked and does 90 damage. kingston's spirits of the city. sofia stunning everyone. cody meets lucifer and makes a new contract. sofia pulls dale out of the past and into the present.

battle of the brands: the gang buys truly so much stuff. you are required to do a certain amount of drugs. barry is the angel of mercy. the sisters of the cosmic veil having a bikini party. taking kublacaine. we are the ball. barry taking brutus to the finals on a nat 20. nat 20 death save from aurora nebbins. margaret speaks to the plinth and then is down to 1 hit point. skip crits on the plinth. free teleportation shenanigans are not allowed. gunnie casts explosion. barry rapid shots the plinth and does product placement. operation slippery puppet. am i getting ocean's'd 11'd on my own fucking show? what the fuck is happening? a real son of a bitch is no more. sundry sidney has saved the dog!

terror on toy island: a soft little touch. mer-king's insect plague. no daddy. pib getting the little guys. i'm so fucking scared! the water surges around the mer-king. the terrible dogfish is here. daddy-meter is spinning. pinocchio crits to figure it out. pinocchio screaming to wake the dead. it has asthma! and another thing, with the eyes! you were about to instantly die. gerard is wearing full chain mail in the ocean.. rosamund & ylfa are swallowed. the sea witch shows up. murph causes a nat 20. call of destiny. rosamund gets the eye with a seven. i'm a lion in the water. pib's acrobatic crit. one v. one.

[hs-transfusion]

> VRISKA SERKET

HEMO: Rust (#A10000) TROLLTAG: anarchicGogetter [AG] SIGN: Arscor, Sign of the Proud STRIFE: marblekind MODUS: Atlas LUNAR SWAY: Derse MYTH. ROLE: Seer of Rage LAND: Land of Storms and Mirages

AG: i know exaaaaaaaactly what you’re looking for… for a modest r8. ;)

Vriska is young, scrappy and hungry, constantly seeking to make an EXCITING LIFE for herself. She specialises in tracking down information about OTHER PEOPLE'S ANCESTORS and selling it for a profit. Unfortunately, she's unable to find out any sort of information about HER OWN ANCESTOR, which frustrates her to no end. She calls herself an EXPERT LOCKPICKER, but what she means is she's really good at breaking locks WITH HER PSIONIC POWERS. When it comes to mazes, she tends to just BUST DOWN THE WALLS.

She tries creative writing projects every so often, but she's not very good at it due to her LOW IMAGINATION STAT. She does has an online blog where she HARSHLY CRITIQUES MEDIA, though more often than not is subject to INTENSE PLAGIARISM from highbloods. Vriska also has an interest in TOXICOLOGY, a trait she often contemplates making use of when she finds someone ripping her style.

Vriska's ATLAS Fetch Modus requires pinning an item's captchalogue card to its PLACE OF ORIGIN on a map in order to retrieve it. In a worst case scenario, you can just keep STABBING THE MAP until you happen to hit the right spot, she supposes.

Vriska's lusus is classified as the FAN-TAILED ARACHRAWLER; a roughly lion-sized scorpion with an EIGHT-WAY TAIL. It's said that each stinger is dipped with venom MORE DEADLY THAN THE LAST. Because of its ravenous appetite, it will often disappear to hunt trolls for WEEKS AT A TIME, only returning for a few nights to rest before vanishing once more.

The Land of STORMS AND MIRAGES is a largely oceanic planet with abhorrent weather. The only thing worse than NAVIGATING THE STORMY SEAS is living on one of the few islands above the surface, as they're constantly RAVAGED BY LIGHTNING. It almost seems that the land's denizen MENOETIUS is attempting to raze the land and leave only ocean...

Vriska's ancestor is known as The INQUIRER. Working as a LIBRARBARIAN by night, she operates as a shady INFORMATION BROKER by day, leaking corporate secrets to the HIGHEST BIDDER. She is, unbeknownst to most, one of the most FAMOUS AUTHORS OF TROLLKIND, obscured by the fact that she exclusively ghostwrites under the moniker MISTRESS INKQUILL.

[bunnys-kisses]

club tropicana

operations officer alex keller

cw: smut/pwp, summer/vacation fic, drinking & smoking, unprotected sex, (slight) baby trapping, body worship & dirty talk, cowgirl position

bunny says: reblogs & comments are greatly appreciated! i love reading your comments & feedback (considering this is my first time writing mr. keller <3)

this was supposed to be the vacation of a life time. you had won it at a raffle through your school and would be your getaway before your last semester of school! you were so close to your degree that you could almost taste the ink on the diploma.

so of course the little vacation was a delightful treat!

that was when you met alex keller. he was nice, you two would sit at the bar by the pool and drink. and the drinking turned to talking.

"do people ask about the leg a lot?" you asked, a little drunk, "i'm sorry, that must be a really rude question!"

he chuckled and had another sip of his pina colada, "don't worry, beautiful. i can usually tell when people look at me like i'm a freak. when we first started talking, you didn't notice it. so i know you're just a curious little thing."

"i mean." you hiccuped, "if it's anything. the tattoos are good at distracting." you then giggled, feeling heat in your cheeks. you leaned a little closer and looked up to him, "i mean also your arms a huge so i wouldn't worry about it too much!" then gave him a big smile.

little did you know that alex was falling hard for you. but, it wasn't a puppy love or a vacation fling. no, he wanted you to be his wife. and when operations officer keller got his mind on something, he saw it through to the end.

it didn't help that you were so cute in your floral printed bikini. sometimes you wore a large sunhat and heart shaped sunglasses. you were painfully cute, innocent almost.

by the second week of your trip, you two were having sex. it wasn't hard to get you into his hotel room. the first time you two got intimate, you were on the tiled floor of the hotel room in front of alex who had both feet planted on the ground on either side of you.

in front of your eyes was him stroking his almost scary cock. it wasn't like it had devil horns or cobwebs, it was just that you had never seen a cock that big up close.

a nice peachy-pink colour, cut with heavy balls and a nice bit of hair to frame it all. it was the kind of cock you could get addicted to. and for alex, that was the plan. after you gave him the blowjob of a lifetime, he finished you off by putting you in his lap and finger-fucking the living daylights out of you.

by your second orgasm, you wanted to tap out, but he kept you trapped to him. his strong fingers bullying your sweet cunt. "nah, nah, nah. no can do." he said, "you gotta be stronger than that. i think i could get at least another three out of you before you're really done." he then got his second wind and fucked you on your hands and knees. you were drooling into the pillows.

getting a taste of you, was like a shark getting a taste for sea lion blood. the poor prey would be hunted to the ends of the oceans just so the shark could have another taste.

he knew you were a real keeper when you asked about positions that would work for him given his prosthetic. you had such a cute look in your eyes when you asked him, "i don't want it to not be fun for you! i'm very flexible so however you need to do it, we can do it!"

god, you were going to be the perfect mother to his children.

painfully caring, sugary sweet. alex was certain that he had caramels with less of a sugar content than you. but he said that cowgirl was his favourite, not only for his leg but also he liked seeing "pretty fat tits" bounce with every thrust.

it was a day of sun, you two had hung out around the ocean. you dragged one of the reclined beach chairs to be closer to alex. he laughed when you struggled to pull it across the sand, but had an arm around you when you sat in the chair when it was next to his.

now after dinner, your skin felt warmed from the hot sun and you were still in the adorable sundress you brought. alex loved a girl in a sundress.

his hands were on your shoulders after you got your sandals off. your skin felt so warm, it was like touching a familiar sun. it made alex's heart give a gentle' thud' in his chest. he kissed your neck before he hands went to the zipper of the dress.

"you looked more delicious than the buffet. i'm pretty sure they could serve you up for dessert." the zipped was pulled down and you slowly got out of it before you stepped out of the dress when it hit the floor.

you stood there, almost naked in front of your summer fling (re: future husband). you giggled and started to undo the front of his button up shirt. you ran your hands down his toned, slightly hairy chest and felt your core grow hotter.

"you look so good." you giggled.

he reached over and grabbed your ass, "not as good as you." his lips were painfully close to yours, "i wanted to throw you on the table and throw that dress up, and sink into the slick little pussy of yours."

you moaned a little at his words. he got you out of your bra and panties, leaving them with the dress as he led you to the nice hotel bed. you sat on it like you had done a dozen times already. you watched him undress. then you watched him lie onto the bed.

"mmm, c'mon now, pretty girl." he said as he tapped his thigh, as if he was a stallion to ride. he then laughed when you were eager to seat yourself down on his lap.

he grasped his cock and rubbed it up against your wet slit. when the blunt head brushed against your clit you moaned. alex knew it was time to give his pretty wife what she craved for.

close to eight inches of cock.

with a hand on your thigh, he hissed through grit teeth over the feeling of you sinking down on him. a soft noise left your mouth as you planted your hands on either side of his torso to get leverage as you started to move up and down on his impressive size.

he held onto your hips and guided you up and down on his cock. the pleasure was a live wire on your body as you bounced on it. he licked his lips at the feeling of your pussy being a vice around his cock.

you felt like a fucking dream.

well, what else did he expect? of course, the pussy of his future wife was going to be perfect for him.

you really worked his cock, the sight of your breasts moving with every thrust of your hips against him. the heat stained your cheeks as you panted heavily. you looked heavenly.

alex felt the curl of pleasure in his gut as he watched you ride him. you were such a perfect fit for him. it made his heart hammer. he was very lucky that he got to meet his wife at this stupid resort.

"you're so perfect for me." he groaned.

you nodded in response, "you feel great too, alex. you're just so good for me." of course he was, he was your (future) husband after all!

he chuckled and rubbed your hip with his thigh, "well, i guess we're two peas in a pod." before another groan left his lips as you pussy rubbed up against sensitive parts of his cock.

you continued the pace you were working with, your face felt stinging hot and your body felt good all over. a heightened sense of pleasure as you bounced on his cock.

he wanted you every way he could have you and if he got his way by the end of the trip, then he'd have all the time in the world to feel every inch of you.

"such a cute little pussy."

"ah, please, alex!" you whimpered, you were painfully close. so alex took a firmer hold of your hips and moved you up and down his cock. letting him have more control.

your cunt was an enticing thing.

"good girl, all for me." he said in a soft tone that made you feel like you had honey in your skull.

you gave a few more thrusts before your pussy clenched around his cock and you climaxed. you let out such a cute little moan that it almost made alex finish on the spot.

you were just full of so many surprises, weren't you?

he soon after finished inside of you, his cum spurting into the back of your pussy (where is all belonged). he groaned at the rush all over his body. he rubbed the softness of your hips before you got comfortable next to him on the bed.

he pulled the thin white bed sheet over your lower half. he eyed your breasts a little bit, seeing the rise and fall of your chest. it made his cock harden a little bit.

he rubbed your shoulder and gazed at your. his gaze was loving yet obsessive. why wouldn't he be? he wanted to make sure he never forgot every curve of the future mrs. keller.

you spend the rest of your vacation with your future husband between your legs like he had belonged there since the universe was created. it wasn't until you were packing that you realized that neither you or alex had condoms.

and you weren't on hormonal birth control.

-

you ended up a long way from home by the end of the summer. your flight back to your home city was changed to where alex was living.

you had a nice gold band with a pretty little diamond in it, alex picked it out for you the day after you arrived back in the sleepy french village he spent most of his time in. you were almost mad at your parents for how well they took it, alex seemed like a great guy when he invited them to come visit. he wanted to know his in-laws.

by september, when you were supposed to go back to campus, you had a hands-y husband trying to see if there was noticeable bump in your middle. as you made him dinner, he'd drape his arms around your waist and poke at your middle.

"c'mon, little guy. daddy wants to feel ya."

you let him feel for the child he made with you on that nice vacation to the bahamas. there were still a lot of secrets to alex keller, but as he invaded your space and kissed at your neck it all seemed to fade away.

after all, he believed that his child needed his father. so you better brush up on your french before the due date. <3

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

What Is and Isn't a Fish: a List

A list of the animals I discussed in my fish essay, but for those who don't want to scroll through paragraphs of text to find out if an animal is or isn't a fish. Just CTRL+F your way through here!

I'll add onto here more animals whenever I get asked about them being fish. See my fish essay here!

Some notes before you proceed:

Yes, all tetrapods are fish! We are phylogenetically fish, as we are and our ancestors were lobe-finned fish! "Fish" in the phylogenetic sense is a paraphyletic group if you try to exclude tetrapods, so it is frankly impossible.

How come tetrapods aren't listed as fish then? Long answer, read my essay. Short answer, me and other fish accounts tend to operate on the morphological definition of fish, so does most of the world. Here I use the morphological definition of "fish".

Fish:

Jawless fish

Hagfish

Lamprey

Cartilaginous fish

Sharks

Dogfish

Whale shark

Chimaeras/Chimeras/Ghost sharks

Ratfish

Ray

Stingray

Skate

Ray-finned fish

Teleosts

Catfish

Eels

Moray eel

Seahorse

Sea dragon

Lobe-finned fish

Coelacanth

Lungfish

Not Fish:

Crustaceans

Krill

Shrimp

Crab

Crayfish/Crawfish/Crawdad

Lobster

Spiny lobster

Triops

Mantis shrimp

Barnacle

Isopod

Copepod

Shellfish

Mollusks/Molluscs

Gastropods

Sea snail

Sea slug

Snails and slugs in general

Sea angel

Sea hare

Sea bunny

Cephalopods

Octopus

Squid

Cuttlefish

Nautilus

Inkfish

Bivalves

Clam

Mussel

Scallop

Oyster

Chiton

Chelicerates

Horseshoe crab

Sea spider

Water mite

Diving bell spider

Cnidarians

Jellyfish/Sea jelly/Jelly

Coral

Sea anemone/Anemone

Siphonophores

Portugese man o' war

Echinoderms

Sea cucumber

Sea pig

Feather star

Sand dollar

Sea biscuit

Sea cookie

Brittle star/Serpent star

Sea urchin

Starfish/Sea star

Comb jelly

Lancelet

Tunicates

Sea squirt

Salp

Annelids

Bristle worm

Bobbit worm

Spoon worm

Giant tube worm

Bone-eating worm

Sea mouse/Sea mice

Feather duster worm

Christmas tree worm

Leech

Flatworm

Amphibians

Salamander

Amphiuma

Mudpuppy/Mud puppy

Waterdog

Olm

Axolotl

Siren

Frog

Toad

Tadpole

Caecilian

Reptiles

Sea snake

Water snake

Snakes in general

Sea krait

Turtle

Snapping turtle

Softshell turtle

Sea turtle

Terrapin

Marine iguana

Crocodilian

Crocodile

Alligator

Caiman

Gharial

Bird

Penguin

Seagull

Loon

Swan

Mammals

Whale

Orca

Baleen whale

Toothed whale

Dolphin

River dolphin

Porpoise

Narwhal

Beluga whale

Sperm whale

Pinniped

Seal

Sea lion

Leopard seal

Elephant seal

Walrus

Sirenian

Manatee

Sea cow

Dugong

Otter

Sea otter

Beaver

Hippo

Platypus

Muskrat

Water shrew

[theworldatwar]

A British soldier from the Royal Engineers in a crudely fashioned sniper’s mask and wearing non-regulation shoulder titles takes part in a training exercise in preparation for a potential invasion by German Forces (Operation Sea lion) - England 1940

[world-of-wales]

NEWS -

ABOUT EARTHSHOT 2024 IN SOUTH AFRICA -

Africa was chosen as the fourth continent to host the star-studded event in acknowledgement of its enormous contribution to enhancing climate action and tackling the biggest environmental challenges our planet faces. Despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions, Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the impacts of a changing climate.

The number of African-based nominations has doubled between 2023 and 2024, with over 400 nominations from African-led solutions and another 350 with operations and impact in Africa.

Throughout Earthshot Week – which will run between Monday 4th and Thursday 7th November – these African innovators and all those contributing to efforts to protect our planet will be celebrated.

Some things to expect from this year's awards -

The show will open with an exclusive performance by Lebo M. of Circle of Life from The Lion King, pre-recorded at the top of Table Mountain.

For the first time, over 1000 members of the public have been invited to the Awards Ceremony in Cape Town. Attendees have been invited in recognition of their long-serving commitment to their local communities.

The Earthshot Prize will host its first ever Green Carpet Event, which will be broadcast live globally via the Earthshot Prize’s YouTube channel, with hosts Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Moozlie. Guests have been asked to ‘rewear’ their wardrobe or spotlight African designers in order to highlight the importance of sustainable fashion and local creatives.

The City of Cape Town is supplying Renewable Energy Certificates from Darling Wind Farm, meaning that for every kWh of electricity used during the event, a kWh of locally produced renewable energy is allocated.

To celebrate Earthshot Week taking place in South Africa, Table Mountain and other Cape Town landmarks will be lit green from 4th-7th November.

Those visiting Cape Town over the coming days will also see The Earthshot Prize at several of the city’s famous yellow frames which encourage visitors and locals to enjoy the beauty of Table Mountain. Visitors can explore a public exhibition at the Sea Point celebrating African climate heroes who are using their creativity, time and talent to fix the world’s problems, one ingenious solution at a time.

[matan4il]

Update post:

The fighting along Israel's northern border continues. Today, a Hezbollah attack drone was intercepted over Ein Ha'Mifratz, not too far from the famously mixed city of Akko, in northern Israel. The IDF has been targeting terrorist squads and infrastructure in southern Lebanon in response to the on going Hezbollah attacks on civilians communities here. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah senior has threatened today that Israel is "not ready" for what they have prepared for it.

An Iranian delegation is visiting Egypt, and just like everything else that legitimizes the Islamist regime in Iran, and allows it to get a step closer to its vision of being a world power, this should concern us. The Iranian-funded Houthis have been attacking ships traveling through the Red Sea, which affects global shipping, but the impact to Egyptian economy is even greater, as all of these ships are not passing through the Suez Canal, meaning they're not paying Egypt for this passage either.

A big thank you to @curieklei for sharing this NYT link with me: France is another country clearly denouncing South Africa's false lawsuit against Israel. That's on top of the US, the UK, Canada, and Germany, with the latter even saying it would join the lawsuit on Israel's side.

Yesterday, Jan 18, was the one year birthday of Kfir Bibas, the youngest Israel hostage, who was kidnapped to Gaza when he was just 9 months old. He has spent a quarter of his life in captivity, and counting. In Tel Aviv, his uncle gave a speech, in which he brought up reading what developmental stepping stones Kfir should be going through right now, based on his age. He should be seeing many colors, but he's only experiencing darkness. He should be crawling on safe, warm ground, instead he's kept underground. In Jerusalem, a mural has been dedicated to Kfir and the rest of the Bibas family, including 4 years old Ariel, all still held hostage in Gaza. Since 'kfir' in Hebrew means lion cub, and 'ariel' means God's lion, the whole family is depicated as lions:

These are Shachar and Tamar. During the war, Shahar was seriously injured, and had to have his leg amputated. He's going through rehabilitation, and before even finishing it, he and his girlfriend Tamar got engaged:

The medical first aid that the army is giving the soldiers has dramatically increased their odds of surviving even some critical injuries. During the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the percentage of soldiers wounded, who died from their injuries, was 15%. During the Protective Edge operation in 2014, the percentage dropped to 9.2%. According to IDF statistics, so far in this war, the percentage is even lower, at 6.7%, less than half of what it used to be during the Lebanon war. These advancements in emergency medicine have also helped civilians injured seriously by Hamas terrorist on Oct 7 to survive. Much like in the past, it's sure to be used around the world, and help save the lives of many, without Israel ever getting credit for its global humanitarian aid.

This is 19 years old Adir Tahar.

On Oct 7, he was stationed at the Erez checkpoint, on the border between Gaza and Israel. Just a reminder: there were no Israelis going into Gaza since Israel withdrew in 2005. There were Gazans coming into Israel daily, to work here, to get medical treatment, etc. Without soldiers at the checkpoint, it would have been closed. By serving there, Adir wasn't just protecting Israelis, he was also serving the Palestinian population in Gaza.

On the day of the massacre, Adir fought back against the Hamas terrorist and saved many others, before he was killed in battle, when they shot an RPG at him. But then, they abused the body of this kid. They cut off parts of it, including beheading it. David Tahar, Adir's father, recently recounted how he watched a Hamas vid showing his son's headless body. What was left, was so mutilated, they had to identify it based on his dog tags, personal items he carried and DNA. During an interrorgation of two terrorists who were involved in this, it turned out that one of them tried to auction Adir's head for 10,000 $. The family originally had to bury the body, knowing its main parts were missing. The interrogation produced enough intel, for the IDF to be able to retrieve the head from where it was kept in an ice cream shop's freezer, with signs of further abuse on it. The family opened the grave and re-buried their kid.

They are now trying to raise enough money, to open a center for endangered youth, dedicated to Adir's memory, in the city where he lived, Jerusalem. The last time I saw an update, they were looking to raise 500,000 shekels, and got donations of 27,000 shekels. I really hope they succeed. Either way, may Adir's memory be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[phuuca]

One thing that's super interesting but very frustrating about NRC is the lack of awareness when it comes to cultural differences.

Of course, you've got the mers in Octivinelle being literal fish out of water when it comes to land customs, but they've adapted extrememly well and know, for the most part, how to behave and act around people they do not know. Of course, this is mostly due to the fact they are a family-friendly mafia inside a college? highschool? Learning establishment.

But there are two things that REALLY hammered home for me that NRC students do not take into account other people’s cultural backgrounds when talking to each other:

Riddle’s attitude at the beginning of Book 1 and

Ruggie’s behavior towards Jack in him Dorm Uniform Vignettes.

Now, I will admit, I'm not far enough in the game to have more, concrete examples, so if y'all have more, add them.

Anyways, with both of these instances in mind: it's obvious within the series that members of dorms are not always from their countries counterparts. Jack and Cater, despite being from Pyroxene/Shaftlands are in Savanaclaw and Heartslaybul respectively. Rook ,despite being from Sunset Savana, was smoothly transferred over to Pomefiore.

To say it's unrealistic for outsider to know about the intricacies and detailed rules of each dorm, even if they're from the same geographical area. Look at Epel. Despite being from Pyroxene, he had no idea Pomefiore was going to be this strict about beauty routines. It's borderline delusional to assume an outsider, who has no fucking idea which house they're going to be sorted into mind you, is going to know every damn thing about your house and the way it operates.

And, even so the school is decently inclusive, there seems to be no wiggle room for cultural differences. Riddle, pre-character arc, fully expected all the students of Heartslaybul to know every, single, goddamn rule before even enrolling because a majority of them are from the Queendom, but this is bullshit thinking because Cater is in the dorm, despite being from Pyroxene.

Now, with Jack, he already knew Savanaclaw is a "survival of the fitness/might makes right" dorm, he knew that going in. But, he also does his best to make sure everyone can survive within the dorms because nature has weaker animals travel in groups (look at rodents and even hyenas). Hell, even fucking lions travel and hunt in groups because they're stronger together and he fucking knows this, and it's the reason he tried being so helpful to Ruggie in the first place. Does he think Ruggie is weak? No he fucking doesn't, he literally just wants to help out. But Ruggie, because he seems to forget Jack is from Pyroxene, forgets that Jack is not out to get him. Yes poverty and fighting for your life changes you as a person, so of course there's a healthy amount of skepticism and paranoia needed. However, Jack has made where he stands morally very clear. To assume he's going to try and swindle someone is insulting to him, plus Jack can't lie for shit.

The lack of understanding for regional differences, let alone entire cultural differences, with the TWST universe is one I find equal parts fascinating and aggravating. If there was more understanding and wiggle room for grace and empathy, there's a chance you'd maybe see someone from the Coral Sea be in Savanaclaw or Pomefiore. Or someone from the Scalding Sands be in Octavinelle. Maybe someone from Sunset Savana could be sorted into Heartslaybul. Maybe see someone from Briar Valley get sorted into Ignihyde or someone from the Isle of Woe get put into Scarabia.

Literally, was is going on in NRC that makes things so whack? Crowley, from the bottom of my dead, iron-deficient heart, what the actual fuck are you doing?