#Our spiritual armor

[abasilence-ministries]

Exposing Opened Doors-A Spiritual Warfare Lesson

On the BattleField Spiritual Warfare Training God Almighty is the SOURCE of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.HE tells us in Jeremiah 33:3 to ask of him and he will show us great and unsearchable things.Through a study of God’s Word, and by the example set by Jesus Christ, I have been taught to address the core of issues and not the surface matter.In this training (Psalm 144:1), the Holy…

[jameslmartello]

An Italian father did terrible thing to his whole family to rid his house of 'demons'!!

[oxygenunavailable]

Marble Sky Character Color Analysis:

By me.

I don’t know if anyone has pointed any of this out yet but here I go:


I love how, in the colored ref sheets, the protagonists: Ward, Oscar, Holly and Iris, have cool tones. Blues and violets. This indicates calm, colectivness. Peace and passion.

In more detail, blues for the humans makes a lot of sense. Earth is the blue planet, not because of gas,( Neptune, Uranus) but because it’s 75% water. Water is the source of life, as far as we know. Blue also represents our sky. Our big, blue sky, versus the “marble sky” implanted by the Marmors. Blue also commonly represents freedom, imagination, sensitivity and serenity.

Holly and Iris are purple. Purple is the color of magic, royalty, creativity, wealth and pride. Teegardinians pride themselves in their spirituality, connection and peace. And their planet clearly was very peaceful, open and full. They have magic from their god(s?), wealth (food), and clearly have some sort of leadership (royalty). Their creativity is their different abilities gifted to them, individually. This entire thing especially applies to Holly and Iris, not just the teegardinians as a whole, as they are both most likely higher up or more “in charge”, whether because of their spiritual connection or lineage.

Next are the marmors. Their species has more range in color and character design.

Contrasting to the human’s blue, Eclipta, being the leader of the antagonists (for now) is super bright and warm. (Yellow, orange, red) it represents violence, energy and impulse. Her outline and outfit are sharp and angular. Dangerous. Her entire being, It stands out more. She’s the main one to listen and turn to, so she’s the first one you see.

Sculptor is different, however. They have green. It’s a cool tone, sure but not one associated with the humans. Green is the representation of nature, growth, renewal. I believe Sculptor is less focused on just the violence, unlike Eclipta, and more on the growth of their species. they obviously are okay with the violence, and enjoys it. But it’s not just for the fun, it’s so the Marmors stay on top, where they belong. (Ain also has a lot of dark green in their outfit.)

Shepard is white and grey. Neutral. No color. He looks whatever colors light is brighter, and right now, it the blazing red tHiNg is in his chest, coloring his intentions? Perhaps? Or just completely empty of emotion, he just… is.

For my grand finale, ALCOR!!

This bitty boy is also very cool toned on the skin. This could easily symbolize his connection with Oscar, and perhaps as we see him grow, he’ll join in the fight against the Marmors. His armor, however, still has that warmer brown, because as of right now, he’s still with the Marmors.

Anyways, I could be just talking about nothing. But here this is I guess.

[jozor-johai]

Ghost as Jon's "white shadow" in AGOT Tyrion III:

They walked, with Ghost pacing along beside Jon like a white shadow.

Ser Mandon Moore as Joffrey's "white shadow" in ACOK Tyrion IX:

Joffrey was galloping at his side, whey-faced, with Ser Mandon Moore a white shadow on his left.

and then, with Ser Balon Swann, two "white shadows" to Tyrion in ACOK Tyrion VIX:

His two white shadows were always with him; Balon Swann and Mandon Moore, beautiful in their pale plate.

and again, more menacingly, later in the same chapter:

The knight was a white steel shadow, his eyes shining darkly behind his helm.

Ser Barristan Selmy as Daenerys' "white shadow" in ADWD Daenerys I:

Dany glimpsed Ser Barristan sliding closer, a white shadow at her side.

Five chapters later, Ghost as Jon's "white shadow" again in ADWD Jon II:

Ghost padded after him, a white shadow at his side

and again in ADWD Jon VII:

Ghost ran with them, a white shadow at Jon's side.

That's almost every instance of the concept of the "white shadow" in ASOIAF, and I think the limited context is striking: this is only in reference to the Kingsguard, clad in their pure white-enameled armor, and Ghost, Jon's all-white guardian.

If we are assuming Jon is a lost Targaryen Prince, then perhaps we might say Ghost is spiritually the first member of his Kingsguard.

I think it's a sweet thought.

However ... that's notably omitting the third context for the phrase "white shadow"

From the AGOT Prologue:

Will saw movement from the corner of his eye. Pale shapes gliding through the wood. He turned his head, glimpsed a white shadow in the darkness.

From AGOT Jon VIII:

"We have white shadows in the woods and unquiet dead stalking our halls, and a boy sits the Iron Throne," he said in disgust.

From ACOK Jon III:

"The cold gods," she said. "The ones in the night. The white shadows."

and again:

We ride north, after Mance Rayder and these Others, these white shadows and their wights. We seek them, Gilly.

From AFFC Samwell III:

Maester Aemon's woken up and wants to hear about these dragons. He's talking about bleeding stars and white shadows and dreams and . . . if we could find out more about these dragons, it might help give him ease. Help me."

What can we make of that, then?

These are the only three contexts for this imagery, actually. I think it works if Ghost is sort of like Jon's Kingsguard but then... can there be some connection in this phrase with the Others? What could that mean?

[fsfghgee]

Warning: Long dive. Bi-Han and Sektor's relationship part 2 (+ Bi-Han's redemption)

Honestly, I think people who are expecting to see Bi-Han flirting with Sektor in the expansion will be disappointed, 'cause Bi-Han isn't like Johnny Cage or Kung Lao. He really is not that kind of guy…

And he's damn far from it. Even if Bi-Han and Sektor do have a romantic relationship, I'd bet anything that in the intros they'll just be praising each other, reaffirming vows of loyalty, talking about the clan's defectors, making more plans together, giving each other advice, and hopefully talking about their parents. And that's it.

'praising her is something he does often"

I don't know about our new Sektor, but Bi-Han is not the type who flirts and the way he doesn't like to follow traditions, does everything together with Sektor and treats his female subordinates as if they were any other subordinate (I think everyone saw how he got a face-to-face with Cyrax… And if Frost really is already part of the Lin Kuei, I doubt she's getting any special treatment either…), I'd say he takes gender equality really seriously and chivalry in Bi-Han's language is letting her shoot first.

And most importantly…

He takes his position very seriously. The fights between Bi-Han and Sektor will be just sparring, but I doubt he would treat even that lightly. If he is romantic, which I personally doubt (I wouldn't put my hand in the fire for that), we will never know because even his perception of romance is independent. I believe that his romanticism comes down to heroic acts, like probably giving his life for Sektor's…

I mean, the person who built the armor was Sektor, so the woman who is fighting alongside Bi-Han in OutWorld can only be Sektor. And to me, it looks like they were about to take her instead of Bi-Han (and remembering that their target was Geras who they also take with them).

.... Or stroking her ego (which is almost as big as his), promising heaven and earth, giving her expensive gifts, maybe calling her his queen when they're alone, being a bit too touchy-feely when he's needy…

I imagine that as a self-centered mama's boy (I love him, but that's just who he is), he must prefer people to give him attention instead of giving attention, I can even imagine him enjoying a cuddle with a gentle petting, honestly.

And the way Sektor seemed surprised by Bi-Han's reaction to Cyrax... I believe she's not used to seeing him angry around her, I doubt she hears anything from him other than compliments.

After all, Bi-Han was the one who sensed that she was his kindred spirit…

What are kindred spirits?"Kindred spirits are like-minded and like-souled people with whom an instant connection of love and understanding is mutually experienced," clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D., tells mbg. "The connection is inimitable and often defies verbal description."

People who share common interests, values, or worldviews might be described as kindred spirits. "In more spiritual words, we could say that they resonate at the same frequency, and there is matching energy between them," Katherine Bihlmeier, a relationship coach specializing in energy work, tells mbg.

And it's Sektor who rescues Bi-Han in the story mode, not Scorpion, her lines don't appear like all the dlc, but she's clearly the one rescuing him. She joins KuaiSc's mission to rescue Geras just to rescue Bi-Han.

You can hear that she's the one who recognizes him first and sounds really worried about him…

In fact, in the first trailer for the story mode expansion, you can see Sektor fighting alongside Bi-Han already turned into Noob Saibot but with his mind under his own control again.

He's fighting the khaos versions of Cyrax and Sektor...

We can see Bi-Han fighting alongside Liu Kang too, fighting SubZeroChaos, TakedaChaos like in the datamined script…

And again, although I'm still a little bit confused about their fate…

Will Sektor really sit back and accept the Lin Kuei being punished by Liu Kang and leaving Bi-Han locked up in the temple? Honestly, I highly doubt it.

I have no problem with the nature of their relationship, whatever it is. I'm a Lin Kuei fan, so Sektor getting some love kinda warms my heart since it never happened before...

And I think if it's well written it could be really interesting and make Bi-Han's character more multidimensional. Since he literally has no one else besides Sektor to lean on... Cyrax will desert them.

Hopefully, Noob Saibot ending will show us what will become of Bi-Han Sub-Zero in mk1.

...

edit: With the revealed Sektor trailer, we saw that Bi-Han ended up in Havik's hands when he jumped after him trying to strike him and accidentally ended up entering the portal that Havik had opened.

[anomaly-076]

If the tkdb ghouls were the whb devils, who do you think would be who?

If Tkdb boys were WHB demons

‎‧₊˚✿Masterlist✿˚₊‧

♦ Ooh a fun concept! ^^ *rolls up sleeves*

  ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆

Jin

Jin is an absolute Belphegor with the whole 'leave me alone I'm sleeping thing'

Plus he has his trusty servant to take care of everything

Tohma

For the same reason I'm gonna say Tohma is pretty much Beleth

A trusty servant taking on the responsibilities of leading the kingdom/house

Lucas

Okay, not a devil, but I'm gonna say Minhyeok

Our trusty childhood friend who's all prim and proper

And him and Ppyong are amazing besties just like Lucas and Kaito

Kaito

To simply put it: Kaito is an idiot

Kinda like Ppyong, who mostly says stuff that make you wonder if there's a single braincell happening (doesn't matter, he's my son either way)

They both also see themselves at a prince in a shining armor

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Alan

Rarely talks, doesn't really show much emotions...

That sounds like Zagan to me!

Another thing they have in common is their interest in working out

Leo

*sigh* this might be controversial, but I don't hate Leo

Otherwise I'd hate to assign him one of my favorites: Paimon

They're both these cheery and cutesy social media fiends

To be fair: Paimon is a bit controversial too

In a way that there was a bit of drama bc regarding people's HCs (one person was hypocritical about them not adhering to canon)

Sho

Bike boy Sho gets a bike boy Amy

They're both pretty chill despite coming off as a meanie at first

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Haku

Our ever-so-cheery Haku can be no other than babyboy Gamigin

They're both so energetic and adorable ^^

Towa

This is more based on my personal HC, but Morax strikes me as the type to be able to talk to plants/animals and to attract them

Both our boys are on the quiet side and morax is definitely the romantic type too

Ren

In the original design, Gusion was made out to be a gamer in a onesie and so I HC that it was his "teenage" phase he hasn't grown out of and only chooses to dress more mature

They both would absolutely love to have a movie/gaming marathon with MC

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Taiga

Ah, guns ablazing

Stolas has a bit of a short fuse and likes to fire two of his thompsons

I kinda wanna see these two on a shooting range now

Romeo

With Romeo's obsession with meeting deadline money goals, Bimet is the absolute perfect equivalent

We even had an event where some of his money went missing and he threw such a bad temper tantrum

Ritsu

This one is kinda hard...

I don't think there is a demon that would be similar to Ritsu..

Oh, but we do have Bael who is constantly doing paperwork instead of Beelzebub, who's always gone

And Bael is constantly sending all the other nobles out to chase him down

Just like Ritsu constantly bothers Taiga and Romeo with his lawyer roleplay

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Subaru

Subaru as the pretty boy he is gets another pretty boy, Foras

According his idiosyncrasy, Foras is the prettiest demon in Hell so much so even his king, Leviathan, gets jealous

Haku

Personality vise I don't think we have a demon to match Haku, but the spiritual vibe he has reminds me of Buer

Buer gives me the vibe of some temple priest/spiritual healer

Zenji

Zenji is another one who's kinda hard to find a demon for

There isn't really an artist/writer type of demon

So maybe... Astaroth?

Astaroth finds pleasure in corrupting people with his words, just like Zejni wants to spread his poems and songs

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Edward

Old man

Just like Lucifer

I can imagine them sitting in Lucifer's greenhouse and relaxing together

Rui

Another one I wanna say Astaroth about?

Rui is a flirt, just like Astaroth

Plus the whole bar thing matches the corruption thing really well

I once even wrote Astaroth as someone you don't want to watch over the alcohol on a party

Lyca

This one is kinda obvious: Naberius

Since he can turn into Cerberus while angry and they're both precious

  ⋆˚✿˖°

Yuri

Yuri gives strong Agares vibes withe way he thinks everything revolves around him

They're both full of themselves and have a faithful sidekick

Jiro

Gentle giant ♥

Okay, Marbas isn't as gentle (if even), but they're both precious big medic boys

I can even imagine Marbas waving a chainsaw around

If he wan't for the safety of everyone tied up

[holyspiritgirl]

Studying biblical verses to read when struggling with spiritual warfare p.2 : Psalm 91

(NLT) Psa 91 - “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Psalm 91 is a powerful and comforting passage that speaks of God's protection and deliverance . Here’s a summary and explanation of its key themes:

• Promise of safety (verses 1-2) :

It is said that those who maintain a close, trusting relationship with God will find safety and rest under His protection. Our Lord is portrayed as a refuge and a shelter, providing security and comfort to those who are close to Him.

• Protection from dangers (verses 3-8) :

It is true that God promises to rescue from hidden dangers and deadly diseases. His protection is depicted as covering with feathers and sheltering under wings, symbolizing tender care and safety. In other words, it is said that the faithful are shielded from harm and deceit.

• Freedom from fear (verses 9-13) :

In fact, those who trust in God will not be overcome by evil or disease. Angels are assigned to guard and protect, reinforcing the idea of divine oversight. Therefore it is assured that harm will not reach those who make God their refuge.

• God’s response to faithfulness (verses 14-16) :

Certainly, God will deliver and honor those who love and trust Him. God will answer prayers, be present in trouble, and grant long life and salvation ; a divine reward for steadfast faith and trust.

• In summary, Psalm 91 promises that those who trust in the Lord will find safety and protection from dangers and fears. God will deliver them from harm, shield them with care, and honor their faithfulness with long life and salvation.

Have a Blessed day 🙏

[justanotherrpmeme]

Major Arcana

[Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]

Bold those which apply to your muse:

The Fool: spontaneity, optimism, follow your bliss, explore the unknown, live in the moment, be spontaneous, trusting in the universe, fearlessness, innocence, open-mindedness, take risks, believe in possibilities, recklessness, irresponsibility

The Magician: willpower, resourcefulness, power, manipulate, master your craft, practical knowledge, charisma, dexterity, problem-solving, innovation, belief in one's abilities, trickery, superficiality, arrogance, misuse of power, overconfidence

The High Priestess: wisdom, secrets, spirituality, listen to your intuition, connect with your spirituality, embrace silence, delving into mysteries, book of secrets, crystal ball, veil, pomegranate, river, labyrinth, meditation, spiritual insight, indecision

The Empress: beauty, luxury, blossom, celebrate life's pleasures, experiencing sensual pleasures, crown, garden, fruits, flowers, jewelry, artistic talent, belief in the importance of comfort, dependence, smothering, possessiveness, extravagance

The Emperor: leadership, discipline, ambition, organization, set clear boundaries, take decisive action, armor, shield, fortress, eagle, sword, authority, strategy, belief in authority, inflexibility, controlling behavior, stubbornness, domination, impatience

The Hierophant: conformity, mentor, preach, honor tradition and ritual, uphold moral values, religious scriptures, temple, altar, incense, wisdom-sharing, faith in institutions, belief in community, resistance to change, narrow-mindedness

The Lovers: duality, love, desire, choose with your heart, celebrate intimacy, emotional knowledge, wedding rings, two trees entwined, dove, sunset, rose, empathy, belief in soul connections, codependency, over-emotionalism, fickleness

Tagged by: Tagging: @thornew @bluebellestorybrooke @ask-nautilus-titanofthedeep @sunnysmiles2 (our biggest fans), & you!

[blasphemousclaw]

I don’t know if this is me taking item descriptions too literally but the Horned, Bird, and Lion Warrior helms I think are written as/are depicted as merely masked helms with horns affixed to them as decoration (likely for spiritual purposes). The ascetic masks too imply this. This made me think that, on average, most Hornsent have very small horns, and thus wear horned stuff to bolster their spirituality. Compared to the Inquisitors or Enir’s priests wherein they have horns growing out of their bodies. I’m probably schzio-pilling something that doesn’t exist LOL

no no you’re not crazy, I had the same thought when I read the descriptions… they really do make it seem like the horns are merely adornments onto helmets/masks? for example:

“A helm of tangled horns attached to a divine beast mask, allowing the wearer to invoke divinity. Worn by divine beast warriors; the chosen of the horned warriors. Divine invocation heightens intensity of the storm alongside strength and dexterity, but reduces the restorative effect of drinking from a flask of sacred tears. Focus is also troubled by wearing this helm.” (Divine Beast Helm)

“A mask affixed with a crown of tangled horns, worn by those who would invoke divinity. Divine invocation heightens the dexterity of the wearer, but causes the blessing of the Erdtree to become nauseating, reducing the restorative effect of drinking from a flask of sacred tears. Focus is also troubled by wearing this mask.” (Curseblade Mask)

the thing is, I think there’s a point where you have to ask, is this part of the in-universe story, or is it a video game mechanic? for these items i’m leaning video game mechanic, because looking at the curseblade enemies, that hair and those horns really do look like they’re growing out of their head:

if we were to interpret the item literally, then that would have to mean the curseblades are wearing wigs and fake horns, which i think is kind of silly lol… personally I think those lines about the horns being used to invoke divinity might be for the purpose of our character using them, like how the divine beast helm says that the horns are meant for divine invocation, which gives a reason for strengthening any storm spells you use and heightening your character stats. honestly our character wearing a lot of armor sets is lowkey lore-breaking but whatever again it’s a video game haha

I’m not ruling the idea that the horns are added on for the other helms though because how the hell would you put this on over your horns. like this is absurd

but at the same time if you did have smaller horns underneath, how would you even put on the helmets??? things like this keep me up at night

[tokoyamisstuff]

Run Rabbit, Run.

3,6k. words | Alexander Anderson x f! goth! Reader | enemies to friends | open-ended | slow-burn | hurt-comfort | not proofread

Synopsis: While investigating supernatural murders in a small town, Anderson jumps into wrong conclusions.

Warnings: Blood, injury, stockholm-syndrome?

A/N: inspired by some guys in our town that would always call the cops on us goths, saying 'dark figures are doing satanic rituals' (we were literally just chilling)

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

You run as fast as you can, but he keeps pace easily, merely strolling as he wears you out.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..."

A bayonett pierces the tree next to your skull and you let out a bloodcurling scream.

"...against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

The woods are swallowed by a pitch black tonight, eventually making you trip and fall. Blood runs down your calf, the sharp pain in your leg numbed by the adrenaline rushing through your veins. You try to get up, to keep running, but it's too late...he got you.

"Amen."

The man in front of you was wearing the robe of a priest, looming over you with a manic grin stretched across his face.

When he started his chase you had thought him to be insane, a mass murderer who was merely disguising himself as a man of faith.

That theory would soon prove to be wrong - and the truth is way worse.

"What a bloody waste of time" he thinks, watching you squirm in the dirt like some cornered animal.

If he had known how pathetically weak you are beforehand, he wouldn't have bothered coming himself. Sending Yumie or Heinkel instead would've sufficed by far, and even that would be flattery for some cheap excuse of a demon like you.

Boring, but now that he's here, might as well enjoy the hunt...

"Please...I have no idea what you want from me!" Countless begs drop from your lips, clinging to the hem of his coat as you try to explain yourself, yet he wouldn't budge. Usually he'd have a violent outburst at such a vile creature touching him, but much to his own surprise, he remained frozen, staring at you with a mixture of irritation and sympathy.

"My, what a sweet voice you have." He looks down to your torn dress, a wound gaping on your leg. So you're too weak to even heal your own injuries. "That must really hurt, little one."

The assassin sees dried blood straining your clothes, skin, fingertips, tainting himself as well. He had found you like this, in an empty alleyway crouched over a fresh corpse, claiming you merely wanted to save them.

How foolish of you to run off into the woods, where he could get rid of you without causing disturbance for bystanders.

"Such a young gal" he looks at you with a stern, almost pitying expression. "Had her whole life still in front of her. What a shame."

Maybe you were turned against your will, left confused and afraid after your bloodrage got the better off you.

Anderson shakes his head, trying to become rational again. He's used to all kinds of deceit, has fallen deaf to any pleads over time. After all, the last time he hesitated, he's got a lesson that's still written clearly on his left cheek.

Ever since then he promised himself to never show mercy again.

Seeing him brace his weapons, you shuffle until your back hit the tree behind, shouting at the man. "Do-on't touch me, you freak!"

"You're one to talk" he scoffs, crouching over your trembling form. He gazes at you without any malice, considering to grant you a merciful death. "But lemme tell ya'...if you behave, I'll make it quick."

A hint of guilt flashes over his face, as he calmly draws his bayonetts, thrill dampened by the tragic circumstances. He carefully, almost tenderly holds it against your neck, whispering "Rejoice, for I'll bring you salvation from this horrid fate."

Just when he takes a swing you seize the opportunity, ramming a sharp branch into his sides, right beneath the ribs. You had hoped to temporarily paralyze him, but much to your horror he didn't even flinch...

...moreso, he easily pulled it out of his flesh, the wound healing in an instant.

"Ye lil' rat..." the man practically growls, pupils dilated and baring his sharp canines at you.

"You...you're the monster here!" you shriek, grabbing a handful of dirt and throw it into his eyes, partially blinding him. He coughs, needing a few seconds to orientate, but when he looked again, you were already gone. "Feisty lil' thing...didn't think she had it in her."

Well, now he's not only pissed that you deceived him - he's downright excited. This mission had just become significantly more fun.

Anderson will relish in tearing you apart...slowly and painfully.

"Come out, ya heathen." His voice echoes through the woods, as if coming from all sides at once. "I can feel your fear."

What an amazing feat for a man of his calibre to move without making a sound. No leaves, not even a stick breaks as he walks, nothing indicating from what direction he might strike.

You see the town's lights at the horizon, limping as fast as your legs can carry you. If only you could make it out of here and call for help, then-

"Gotcha!" The priest's voice didn't even dring to your ear before he grabbed you by the throat, slamming you so hardly onto a nearby tree that all air left your lungs. Your head is spinning and you kick and claw at his arm, but his grip is relentless. He leans close to your ear, breath hot against your cold skin, making you shiver. "Stop resisting and accept your divine punishment."

"How...often...do I need to...tell you?" you wring out, feeling as if you're close to losing consciousness. "I-I am not a vampire, damnit!"

"Silence!" he now screams, sending a violent tremor through your body. "The dead do not speak...and their soulless bodies shouldn't roam this earth."

"Prove it, then" he taunts, "But I doubt ya' could."

Your mind went a mile an hour, scanning for everything you possibly knew about vampires, myth or not. Without any other options, you clasp the cross dangling from his neck. "I-I shouldn't be able to touch this, right?"

Powerful demons are able of many feats, but then again you don't seem even close to that level. Still, he senses some kind of greater scheme behind that innocent demeanour of yours.

Even while being practically invulnerable, Anderson won't let his guard down this time. He throws you to the ground, hurt pride recovering as he enjoys you writhe in pain. "Ye can't fool me again, fiend."

For the fraction of a second he is taken aback, seeing actual tears instead of red liquid escaping your eyes. He grunts in annoyance at this soft spot in his heart he never really could erase, janking you up by the hair. "Look at me..." he orders harshly, a sadistic glint in his eyes. "I love to watch the light go out."

Weighting your options you tackle him out of sheer exasperation, despite his strenght surprising the man enough to make him lose balance. Before he can react you sink your teeth deep into his neck, but without fangs you can't even break the skin. Anderson growls, no, almost moans at the sensation, shocked with the way his body reacted to the sudden proximity.

"See? See?" you point to your dull teeth, but the man is less than impressed by your drastic measurement.

"Bloody hell, woman! Get off of me!" he yells as he throws you away, now being on top and pining you down onto the damp grass, once again rendering you helpless. "I'm a man of god, do you have no shame?"

"What else was I supposed to do?!" you snap back at the man, chest heaving in between sobs. Anderson can barely contain his bloodlust, but beneath it there lies another kind of sensation he doesn't want to acknowledge. He seems flabbergasted by your boldness, contemplating whether to abandon his purge for now.

"Fine..." he rubs his temple, a headache forming as his gaze wanders to your quivering lips. "But I'll chain you up for examination. And don't you dare trying something funny again!"

"Alri-" Your words got stuck right in your throat, seeing red irises gleam in the dark from the corner of your eye. "Watch out, behind you!"

The priest narrows his eyes. "Oi c'mon, yer not really thinking I fall for this-" Your captor's words stuck right in his throat as a sword cut deeply into his neck - not enough to decapitate him though.

"Oh, I see you even brought me desert" a grim voice appeared behind the two of you. "How considerate, Father."

This was your chance, wasn't it? You could just run and leave them to themselves, hoping they'd busy each other in a fight long enough to return to safety.

And yet you don't.

"Shit, wai-wait..." you have to keep yourself from gagging as you pull out the cold steel from his flesh, watching as the tissue repaired itself like it was nothing. You threw the weapon right back at the attacker, though he catched it with ease and scattered it with his bare hands.

Anderson was quick to react, this time not taking any chances to debate if you're trustworthy. If you're really a civilian, he won't be able to fight as long as you're close. He throws some kind of artifact your way, a batch of enhanced bible verses and a flask of holy water just in case. "Run, you fool!"

The real vampire chuckles quite amused at the scene, overconfident and boastful now. "Noble one you are, eh? And I was so careful to set her up, too..."

"Good grace...you made me go after that woman?!" God's guillotine glares at him with a feral wrath, but the demon simply shrugs. "Townsfolk loves to gossip, and it's fairly easy to accuse someone that so deliberately making themselves an outcast."

"Quiet, you wicked hellspawn!" The priest's head cracks as he moved it from left to right, testing the healed muscles. "And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst..."

"Amen!" you exclaim, and just when Anderson was about to launch an attack, something pierces the enemy from behind.

The priest gasps as he recognizes one of his own bayonetts, sticking out of the vampire's chest. You had plucked it from a nearby tree, returning instead of saving yourself.

Due to lack of both strenght and experience, you miss his heart by far. Luckily it was enough to distract the abomination, so Anderson set one swift finishing blow.

The otherworldly being instantly dissolves into ashes, and for a while you just stand there, staring at each other in awe.

Anderson is covered in blood now, his own as well as the demons. He's wheezing, breath visible as white fog and he snarls like a damn bloodhound, visibly dissatisfied with the outcome. To grant this creature such an easy demise left a foul aftertaste - he wanted to make it pay for using him to hurt an innocent bystander.

Damn it, he almost killed you!

You are still deeply in shock at the events, heart beating threateningly loud against your ears. Rooted on spot, you dread the worst when the priest approaches you. He reaches out and you wince, but he merely puts a reassuring hand on the top of your head. "That sure was reckless" he scolded, yet his lips curled into a proud grin. "I'm impressed."

In an instant his menacing aura had disappeared completely, being replaced with genuine concern. "Are you alright, lamb?"

You opened and closed your mouth a few times, instinctively moving away from your former attacker but stumbling again. Instead of falling however you were caught in the priest's strong arms, amazed at how fast he could move if he wanted to.

If he had taken you serious, you would never have survived this far. The thought sent a shiver down your spine.

"Come" he lifts you up with ease and you blink up at him between wettened lashes, far too exhausted to struggle any longer. "Let's get you somewhere safe."

Only now you realize that you were freezing, curling up against his body as he carried you bridal style to the motel room he had booked for the mission. A few minutes later you sit on a rundown mattress, knees pulled towards your chest as you tried to process the events of this night.

"Sorry for the wait" his voice shook you up as he entered the room, "Had to make a call and report back to the Vatican." You nod mutely and watch as he picks up a small first-aid-kit, kneeling down in front of you. "Show me yer' leg."

"H-He-e-ey!" you object as he tries to lift your dress out of the way, but he frowns as if you had just accused him of something horrible. "I already told you, woman: I am a man of god. So relax, would ya?" You pout but surrender, pulling the fabric aside yourself. "Just a wee lil' scratch, you're gonna be alright."

Trying to distract yourself from the pain your eyes dart around the room, but then they are stuck on the man himself, taking a proper look at him for the first time: Grey strands were shimmering through his wild blonde spikes, blueish-green eyes glistening behind round glasses. A deep scar adorned his left cheek, proof of his - at least past - humanity.

He had discarded his bloodied robe and gloves, revealing more muscle than his tall build indicated. You shiver as he absentmindedly squeezes your thigh, working with great concentration.

"I'm patching others up all day" he assures, filling the silence with small-talk. "The children at my orphanage hurt themselves quite often. Reckless folk."

"You-ah!" you hiss as he wipes the wound clean with more pressure, and you shudder. "You are working with children?"

"Yeah. What about it?" He furrowed his brows, looking downright offended and you couldn't help but snort. "Nothing, really. It's just...two vastly different professions, dont'cha think?"

"You're lucky I found my conscience today" he half-jokes, half-confesses. "Usually I don't care if a heathen get's hurt. Hell, I'd even do it myself." Wow. Very soothing, really. "But ya saved me and I guess it can't hurt to return the courtesy..."

At least he has some sense of honor.

"You got a foul mouth for a priest" you utter under your breath, but he catches it anyways. "And you got a lotta nerve running through the woods at night, dressed like a damn devil worshipper."

Momentarily, you both scowl at each other before breaking out in refreshing laughter.

"I'm not a satanist" you snort, but he won't have any of it. There's a literal pentagram embroidered on the chest piece of your dress, after all. "Then why do you dress like one?" Rolling your eyes, you cross your arms in defense. "It's a subculture, old man. A fashion style. And to my defenses, I didn't even know that any of the occult is real..."

Oh, if only you knew the true extent of evil in this world, you'd be terrified. Or maybe not? Iscariot could always use people with your guts, but he doesn't voice that thought.

If anything, you deserved a long and safe life.

"Hopeless task, making sinners see the light. That's why I prefer gutting them." He makes a dismissive wave of his hand, plummeting down on the bed right next to you. "All done." You smile as you let one hand run over the bandage, expressing your gratitude.

"...m'sorry, little one" he's not meeting your eyes anymore, forearms resting on his knees. "And thank you for helping a wrench like me despite my transgressions. Let's hope the lord will reward such actions."

"Yeah, maybe..." Actually you weren't that much of a believer - but hey, everything you just witnessed might make you pick up a bible soon.

"Do you want me to bring you somewhere?" You mentally consider an answer, but find no sufficient one. To be honest you didn't want to be alone right now. But there was no one you'd be comfortable to bother so late at night in case of friends, and no relatives lived nearby either.

But what's the alternaive? The man at your side surely has better things to do than babysitting you, even if he wasn't a stranger you just met...and almost got murdered by.

Noticing your distress, he wordlessly stood up, the mattress creaking as it was relieved from his massive weight. "Take the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Bu-but I couldn't possibly-"

"You can, and you will " he protests, "It's the least I can do to make up for what I've done."

"N-No!" you then shout, grabbing onto his sleeve. "I'd be damned if I let a holy man sleep on that small couch." He looks at you baffled, as if he cannot think of the obvious alternative. "Lay down, there's...there's enough room for both of us."

The man looks at you dumbfounded, making you chuckle. "What's the matter? You said you're a man of god, right?"

"...lil' brat."

Anderson sighed deeply, hesistant to do as you told him to. But eventually he gave in, lying on the other side of the bed so far away from you that he threatened to fall over the edge. Just the mere thought of this indecency made his heart beat uncontrollably loud in his chest. "What's your name?" he asks, so you don't notice.

"Y/N" you breathe out in a whisper, "Y/N Y/L/N." He repeats it, tasting the name on his tongue. It's as sweet as the sound of your voice. "What about you?"

"Anderson. Paladin Alexander Anderson" he corrects himself with his proper title. You smile to yourself, an oddly safe feeling encoating you with him at your side. "Well, despite everything, it was nice meeting you, Father Alexander Anderson."

"The pleasure is all mine."

Surprisingly, you had quickly drifted into a deep slumber, body desperate for rest. For a moment you thought it was all just a dream, an obscure nightmare, but then you realized where you were...and with whom.

"Alex- Father?" Your voice is husky and small against the sound of his soft snore in your ear, and instead of waking he shuffles even closer. The feeling of his broad chest against your back makes goosebumps raise on your skin, yet you refused to enjoy cuddling with a literal celibate.

Not wanting to embarrass him you try to scoot away, but the tall man has got you perfectly secure in his hold, an arm and leg wrapped around your much smaller form, tightening his embrace each time you moved. "Umm..." you turn to face him and dare to cup his cheek, gently caressing it to wake him up. His eyes snap open and he reflexively grabs your wrist, breathing heavily. "Hey, big guy, it's okay...good morning."

"What the-" Noticing the delicate situation he stumbles so far back that he lands ass-first on the floor, making you break out in boisterous laughter. "I'm so sorry" you wheeze, lending him a hand. "No idea how we ended up in that position."

Anderson lets out a low growl, stretching his back as he stood up. "I don't know about you" you teased, "But I've slept very well." He'd rather die than to admit he hasn't rested like that in years, if not decades. "...I'll make us breakfast" he announces grumpily, "Bath's on the left."

Shortly later you sit at the small kitchen table across each other, munching on stale toast. Since your clothes were torn and bloody Alex got you a spare shirt of his, long enough to cover you up to the knees. Gosh, if his superiors would see him being with a woman like that they'd probably excommunicate him.

"So..." you adress the elephant in the room, "When are you supposed to be back?"

"Already contacted the order while you were showering. Will be picked up in 30 minutes." Hearing this made you somewhat woeful. You'd wish to stay and riddle him about that amazing life of his, but were pretty sure he wasn't allowed to answer either way. You bite back the burning question if you'd ever meet again, simply answering "Oh...great."

"Promise me ya' will stay outta that devilish business, a'ight?" he grins almost mischievously, "Next time I see ya' tryna seduce innocent priests, I'll think you're a succubus."

You blow a raspberry at the man. "Me?!" You point a dramatic finger towards him, "Maybe you're the one enticing innocent maidens after saving them."

You both exchange smiles and meaningful looks, talking so carefree and enjoyable that time passed faster than you wanted.

"Here ya' go." He pushes some money into your palm, hand lingering on yours as long as he could allow himself to. "Call a taxi. The roads are dangerous for a sweet lil' thing like yerself."

"Thank you, Alex- I mean Father. For everything."

Six months later, Anderson was currently back at the orphanage from another mission, reading a novel in his room. He'd find his thoughts wandering back to you more often these days, having given up on his hopes that this feeling would ease over time.

Letting his free hand run over his neck where you bit him back then, a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. What a woman you were. He's glad to have met you, and he'll at least allow himself to keep those memories locked in his heart forever.

"Father Anderson?" One of the nuns knocks on his door, tearing him away from those silly thoughts. "I'm here, yes."

"Someone wants a word with you" the woman explains as he sticks his head outta the slightly ajar door. She points towards the window in the hallway, whispering "Apparently about joining Iscariot. She's waiting outside in the garden."

"Understood. You may leave." Anderson was left confused but not for long - because as soon as he looked outside, he saw the last person he ever expected to see again. You timidly looked around, dressed in a black robe like usual, yet adorned with a silver cross instead of pentagrams and the likes.

Coincidentally you notice him standing at the window, eyes lighting up and waving eagerly at the man. It takes everything inside of him to not rush outside and pull you right into his arms after such a long time - at least in public he wouldn't.

Oh, he always knew you were special.

[unalloyed-thoughts]

Miquella, Torrent and some DLC speculation

I said that i would address this in my last post so here we go!

So all the way back in February of last year (god where the fuck did time go) the first Elden ring dlc announcement was released, and with it this fairly well documented piece of concept art, depicting Miquella riding atop our lovable and trusty spiritual steed Torrent, gazing onto the shadow tree towering yonder.

Of course this spawned many theories, one of the most well known and popular being that Miquella is torrent's former master, the very same one mentioned by Ranni that supposedly delivered the spirit calling bell onto her. Now of course this is all very interesting, as if proven true it means that Miquella did some serious planning ahead, it would also mean that Miquella would be aware of Marika's plan involving the tarnished, at least to some degree. Yet of course i have to still temper my expectations as concept art of Miquella riding torrent isnt exactly hard proof, at least not yet, the dlc announcement showed us a new cover art for the dlc and a much more fleshed out enviroment which looks pretty different from the original announcement, so i wouldnt be surprised if torrent was there for scale rather than hinting at a possible connection. Of course only time will tell...

Even so, lets assume Miquella is indeed Torrent's former master for a second. Because one of the DLC description line in the bandai page is pretty interesting...

Now why is this important? well first off i wanna get something out of the way, this line isnt exactly accurate to the original JP's text, where it says that Miquella is "awaiting the promised lord" so there is no mention of a "return" which makes more sense, now of course the lord in question would be us, the player, who is being guided by Miquella into the lands of shadow for some purpose yet unknown, but there is a chance that Miquella's hunt for a possible lord is something that has been going on for a while...

One of Elden ring's recurring themes is that of beasts following worthy lords, we see this a lot of times, Godfrey being one of the main examples, an elden lord accompanied by his regent beast Serosh. We also have placidusax, another elden lord who ruled over the beastmen. And of course we also have the shadowbound beasts that accompany and serve empyreans.

The bloodhound knights also carry on this particular themes, being knights that choose their own masters, and serve them for life. This part is important because it expands on the themes of Beasts choosing worthy lords.

Finally there is the beast champion armor, that reads: Beasts are drawn to champions, and to lords. And this armor befits a champion worthy of becoming a lord. And that is what Bernahl was. which is again more of the same theme we have been over. So where does torrent fit into all this? well when we talk to Melina she tells us that "Torrent knew our measure from the very start".

From the very beginning Torrent trusted us, he knew we were worthy of becoming lord and decided to follow us and help us achieve our goals, way before Melina truly trusted us. Torrent was our beast and we its lord. See were im going with this? If Miquella used to be Torrent's former master then i believe he was given away to look for a fitting lord, one who would help him carry out his vision. We are Miquella's promised lord. As another theme of elden ring is Lords being subservient to their god. Godfrey was loyal to Marika and carried out her will, placidusax also remained loyal to his god. So now we will become Miquella's lord and aid him in his quest.

I feel the fact that the item that summons torrent is a delicate goldwork ring is also telling of this, The lord that serves their god is usually also their consort. Much like we give ranni our ring to form our union, miquella might have given us this ring to brand us as their coming lord. It also would Make sense if Miquella was the creator of the ring, if he was torrent's former master then he knew a thing or two about spirits (because he entrusted the spirit calling bell onto ranni) and also he is described as a master craftsman, so he could have made the item that summons our spectral steed. its interesting to think about him working with Ranni as at the end of the day they have pretty different goals, one wanting to follow in his mother's footstepts and establish a new order while Ranni wanted to Make order inconcivable, removing it far away from mortal lives. Both being scheming little bastards however doesnt make it to difficult to believe that they would work together for their own personal benefit

But anyway, those are my thoughts for now, i may expand upon it later but who knows. After all this is all WILDLY speculative and likely to be proven wrong when the dlc releases, yet i have hope that maybe some of it will be true!

[abasilence-ministries]

It's not enough to quote the names of the pieces. You must put them on and activate them. Are you Dressed for Battle?

Untitled

[multidimensionalguidance]

The Menendez Brothers: Lilith’s Dark Side

Please be mindful that I will be mentioning topics of abuse and of a darker nature, so if you’re someone who is particularly sensitive to these topics, please avoid reading further! Also, do not use this information to diagnose or label as 100% to any degree.

After watching the documentary about the tragical and gruesome story of the Menéndez Brothers, specifically the long term damage Erik received, I had one strange intuitive prompt.

It was “Asteroid Lilith”, and in the same nature of all the momentary inexplicable astrological and spiritual downloads that I receive, I went ahead and took a look at his chart.

Well, lo and behold there it was… Lilith conjunct his ASC in sidereal Leo. Now, here’s where it gets extra creepy, guess where his abusive father had Lilith? If you guessed Leo, then you were right. Done? Nope. Lyle has Lilith in Aries, which was conjunct his father’s Sun and Mercury. Both brothers shared this synastry with their abuser.

Despite how much we try to glamorize Lilith and all the negative historical nuances that she carries, there’s always a leak of darkness that goes beyond being sexy, alluring, or a seductress. Its the putridness of being the perfect victim regardless of how strong of an armor you wear. It’s the comfort that abusers and individuals whose darkness has a strong hold of them carry towards damaging Lilith influenced individuals.

The ASC (more than the Moon) represents our physical body, and having Lilith there will not by any means promise that you’ll be a victim of abuse, as there are many victims without her direct influence nor is Astrology meant to be used as tool to diagnose either, but there’s nonetheless an influence of at the very least calling unwanted attention or being forced in uncomfortable power dynamics.

I’ve seen and identified more times than I can keep a track of how Lilith influenced individuals have been slut shamed, used as a scapegoat, deemed as a home wreckers, and overall be heavily scrutinized or judged without a drop of mercy. Now, I’ve also seen them become their own monster and create chaos using this energy to their benefit.

It’s imperative to become aware of the reality behind these energies and avoid attaching a label that disguises the potential danger of certain placements. I don’t personally think that an asteroid has more influence than a planet, since for Erik’s case just having that Moon in Scorpio along with his Sun is enough to build a strong case study.

It is after all where the Moon debilitates and finds the most hardship due to the often toxic or unstable relationship with their mother, emotions, and inner world as well. The Sun carries a similar debilitation since it turns into a “Dark Sun” but not as uncomfortable as it is for the Moon. Both of these placements bring heavy themes of abuse of power and trauma.

Anyways, I don’t particularly enjoy writing about these topics, but I find them worth researching and sharing. Hope it was useful!

[leapingbadger]

Decisions - Chapter 2 - Crosshair

I wanted to post a chapter each day because each of Omega's beloved brothers deserves the spotlight. Today it's Crosshair's turn.

Will our favorite grumpy sniper agree with Omega's desire to join the rebellion?

All five Chapters are up on AO3.

Omega was reluctant to seek out her brothers after her conversation with Hunter hadn’t gone so well. She assumed like any good Sergeant he would relay the details of his conversation to his brothers, and she didn’t like the idea of already being on the defensive.

The warm sunlight was creeping towards the horizon as she made her way to the cliff. It looked the same as it had the first time she came here with Crosshair all those years ago. She smiled as she recognized the slim frame of his silhouette against the setting sun.

“Thought I’d find you here,” she said quietly as she listened to his calm, rhythmic breathing.

He didn’t answer right away, taking another deep breath and letting it out slowly. She sat down beside him, the ground warm beneath her as the waves crashed loudly against the side of the rock of the island below.

The light linen clothes he wore gave him the air of a spiritual nomad. She had thought he looked strange the first time she saw him in island garb but now she couldn’t picture what he looked like without it. The idea of him in armor was absurd.

“You’re a regular tracker,” he said with a smile as she settled in beside him, her hands upturned on her knees and eyes closed.

Crosshair took another deep breath in and out before finally turning to look at her. She could feel his eyes on her, even though hers were closed.

“Hunter told you, didn’t he?” she asked, letting a deep breath out and opening her eyes, gazing resolutely at the horizon instead of her little brother.

“He didn’t have to. Wrecker and I overheard. You’re not as stealthy as you think,” he said in his usual sarcastic tone.

Omega opened her eyes and turned to her brother. He had a wry smile on his lips.  She laughed before sighing heavily, “Do you think it’s a mistake?” she asked.

His mouth twitched, “I can’t answer that for you. You have to make your own decisions.” He said straightforwardly, his brow furrowed, giving away that something else was going on beneath the simplicity of his statement.

She turned to face him in frustration. His eyes widened in surprise, but it didn’t last for long, his face falling back into the ever-present scowl that usually occupied it. He had a few more lines on his face these days, his grey hair had grown into a short crop but was unable to cover the scar on the right side of his head. At least she knew she wasn’t the cause of his grey hair. He had a spatter of grey stubble on his chin that refused to grow into a full beard, much to Hunter’s amusement.

“It’s the right thing to do, Crosshair. You know that. How can I…” she looked out to sea, grasping for the right word, “…hide here while others are laying down their lives for this fight?”

“You’re not hiding. You’re living. Sometimes in war that’s the bravest thing you can do.”

 Omega stifled an eye roll although she was sure Crosshair could sense it. “The empire isn’t going to get smaller, Crosshair, eventually it will come here. We have to stop it before it does.”

“The empire has already been here, Omega. They realized there is nothing of value here as long as they had you. You need to remember that.”

She wasn’t sure why but her head moved as if he had slapped her. She huffed and crossed her arms, but Crosshair’s expression remained wholly unapologetic for what he had said.

The invasion of Pabu in search of her was one of the things that had stuck with her long after the ships had left the island, and long after her final escape from Tantiss too. She saw Wrecker’s unconscious body whenever she visited the docks, always paused outside the home the troopers were set to burn and lingered too long as the spot where she was taken away from her home.

She shook her head to rid herself of the unwelcome memories. This conversation wasn’t going the way she thought it would. Crosshair was usually on her side when she and Hunter disagreed.

“That was years ago. They haven’t shown any interest since. They don’t even know I exist.”

“That you know of,” Crosshair interjected.

Omega huffed again, “You sound like Hunter.”

“He was the sergeant for a reason, Omega. He could gather all the intel, listen to the experts and decide on a safe way forward that would protect the squad. Don’t mistake his reluctance as overprotectiveness alone, it’s strategic as well.”

“So, you agree with him? I should just stay here, become a teacher like Lyana, marry a local and settle down?”

Crosshair rolled his eyes, “no one is trying to tell you how to live your life. We just want you to be safe so you can have the life you want.”

Omega felt herself soften as she looked at her battle-hardened brother, his left hand absentmindedly playing with the fingers of his prosthetic right hand.  “You have kept me safe, Crosshair. All of you. You gave me a childhood I never thought I’d have. You gave me a home, peace, love, and a life where I didn’t want for anything. But don’t you think it’s my turn to pay that forward? To give that to another scared kid who doesn’t have a family and has no one to protect them?”

“And who’s going to protect you? You think I didn’t notice that carbon scoring on the ship? You barely got out of whatever skirmish you were in. You really want to do that on a daily basis? There’s a reason the rebellion needs pilots, Omega. They keep dying.”

Omega winced and nodded, of course his eagle eyes had noticed the damage when she’d arrived home. “I can take care of myself, Crosshair. I have everything I learned from you, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Phee and all the other people I have met along the way. I can do this.”

Crosshair sighed deeply as he kept his eyes on his hands, “Omega, the empire has been successful because it is insidious. I know more than anyone that the people who work within it are driven by their need for power and there are a great many people like that in the galaxy. I got caught up in it, for a while. Even if the rebellion is successful one day, and that’s a big if, the vacuum imperial destruction would create would just bring another power-hungry leader to the forefront. This isn’t a fight that is easily won.”

Omega paused thoughtfully, “Even so, we have to try.” she said determinedly.

Crosshair sighed again, “I see I’m not going to win this argument today.” He said, settling back into position, his legs crossed, palms facing upwards on his knees.

“I guess not,” Omega said sadly.

“Then can we get back to it? I’m gunna need a long session to recover from this conversation.”

Omega laughed, “Sure thing, little brother.”

She watched the corner of his mouth tick up as the sun continued to dip below the horizon. The warm sea breeze was blowing Omega’s hair as they sat in comfortable silence. With the last moments of fading warmth, Pabu’s light show began, illuminating the entire island from lower Pabu to the weeping maya tree and Archium above.  

[walkswithmyfather]

Ephesians 6:10-18 (AMP)

John 10:10 (GNT). “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.”

James 4:7 (AMP). “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.” Friend, be prepared! The devil actively seeks to destroy you! Put on your spiritual armor daily!

Ephesians 6: 10-18 (AMP). “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), [Is 11:5] and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. [Is 52:7] Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. [Is 59:17] With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.”

Friend, be prepared! The devil actively seeks to destroy you! Put on your spiritual armor daily! Amen! 🙏🙏🙏

[lowkeyed1]

great interview, definitely some info i haven't seen anywhere else... ----- ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I don't think you could end the show without losing someone, but how did you decide it would be Graydon as opposed to Airk, Boorman, or anyone else who's life was in imminent danger?

JONATHAN KASDAN: There was some conversation about that. But we all felt that there was something beautifully tragic about Graydon, and as a character, he is our Dark Prince. We always called him the Dark Prince in our construction of the show. One of the questions we always had and hoped to keep alive to some extent throughout the season was, "Is he good or is he evil?" As the show progressed, he's pretty definitively good. His devotion to Elora was so pure, and the way he played those scenes was so lovely and tender. It felt like the thing that would most impel Elora into this final stage of her development was the loss of this completely devoted person. As is often the case with these decisions, and they're sometimes unpopular, sometimes you want the most devastating possible thing. And for her, he felt like that.

Now that Airk has come back to himself, is there any chance he and Elora would reconnect? Or is her heart fully with Graydon at this point?

She's not with either of them, frankly, at the moment. She's intent on taking a little break from the dating world entirely, and we'll see how she does with that. But conversely, Airk is not at all over her. In fact, she's only more attractive to him now that she's empress of the world and the most powerful sorcerer ever and has come into her power so fully. But I definitely think the bloom is off the rose for Elora.

If Elora hadn't changed her mind during that wedding ceremony, how bad would that have been for everyone else?

It would've been bad. One of the things that the movie set up that is a helpful bit of storytelling is this idea that this baby, they couldn't just like chuck her out the window and kill her, and that would be the end of it. There was something about her spirit that needed to be either extinguished or transported or moved in some way that made killing her not a good option, which is convenient as a storytelling device for the movie. They've got to get her back to the castle. She's going to be okay a little longer. But it's really helpful for us here in the series that there's something more at stake than simply, "Will she live or die?" There's something about her that is spirit. It's in line with George Lucas' philosophical, quasi-religious stuff about the Force. There's a great speech in Empire Strikes Back that I was just thinking about last night — that I'm sure my father wrote — which is that we're more than just this crude matter. We're celestial beings. There's something of Elora that is pure light, and it would've been really bad if he'd been able to suck that light out of her mouth.

Boorman gives his own reasoning for it, but why is Kit finally able to use the armor?

Kit's journey is about embracing responsibility. It's a very personal idea to me because I myself struggle with this very question of, "How much responsibility do I want to have? And family and who do I take responsibility for?" She's running away from that responsibility all season. In the end of the season, she finds herself moved by Elora and devoted to her, and above all the other characters, she is the one most equipped to protect her, spiritually and emotionally. Metaphorically, Elora represents the natural spirit of the world, and Kit represents our human role in that. She goes from being very selfish to very generous. It's that journey that makes her worthy of the armor.

We do see Willow and Elora defeat the Crone, but I take it, if you have your druthers that their fight is far from over?

Absolutely. It was always designed to be a three-act story. These things have to have a finite end to them. Because as a fan of these stories, I don't want to think that creators are just continuing it as long as they can to make a buck. It's nice in this day and age where there's an appetite from these streaming services for stories that do continue but aren't endless. This was very much designed and intended that this would be the first part of the story about Elora coming into her power, and then she would have to contend with darker forces beyond that.

They do end this with the charred remnants of Willow's staff and Elora's wand broken. How much is that going to be an obstacle to them? Will they need to repair those things?

You really hit on something with the staff question, and it's been something we've talked about a lot in the writer's room. It was a very intentional decision for Willow to sacrifice the conduit for his power to save Airk. We wanted him to give something up that was meaningful. It felt like a fun way to enter potentially future stories where he doesn't have that way of expressing the magic in himself and to have that be a challenge that he has to overcome.

Early in the show, we see Willow say a prophecy claims Elora Danan has to die. We saw her make it through this time, but should we still be worried about that?

Absolutely. The Crone is the Wyrm's agent. She's this talent agent, she goes out, she makes the deals, she tries to recruit the people. She's the producer, but she's not the talent herself. The Wyrm is the thing. And that dark force that presses against the light is still very much out there in the world to be contended with.

When we get to those final moments of the season, Graydon seems to be waking up on this battlefield that we've seen in Willow's nightmares. Is that accurate?

It's so accurate that the moment we finished shooting Warwick standing up in that battlefield, we were like, "Okay, get Warrick out of there, throw Tony in." We were racing the clock to do it. And Tony was in position not 10 seconds after Warwick had vacated it.

The final battle really reminded me visually of the Harry Potter wand duels. How much of a visual reference point was that for you?

Huge. There's the promise of a lot of things in that final scene. But the big one for me is that in a character like Elora, much like Luke Skywalker or Harry Potter, there is the potential for incredible good and incredible darkness. We wanted to complicate the meaning of that a little bit over the course of the season and not have such hard and fast concepts of good and evil. Particularly Star Wars has a very clear bad guys-good guys thing, and we've made it much more in our series about desires versus ideals and the conflict between those two forces within ourselves. Certainly, that conflict is alive in Elora. The temptation of what the Wyrm represents is powerful. Ellie communicates it in this almost ecstatic way that she plays out the battle with the Crone. It's terrifying and hard, but it's also clearly getting her off a little bit (laughs). We really wanted to play on that and unequivocally with that final scene, stay with the fact that the potential for something really bad is in her too. Something really rather destructive is in her too.

Should we interpret that final version of Elora that Graydon sees as her potential alternate path?

Yes. And as the clear statement of intention by the bad guy.

You said before you'd like to have Val Kilmer appear in a second season.

There's nothing I would like more. The world is unpredictable, but certainly the runway has been laid for him, and we'd love it.

But you did have Christian Slater as a guest star. Is there another 1980s heartthrob you'd love to have on the show?

I'm a huge Billy Zane fan. If I could find a way to use that man in Willow, I would be very pleased. He's under-appreciated, under-loved and brilliant. I'm not the only one who feels this way. He's done some great stuff lately. So I'm hopeful that he's someone we could use someday.

Hulu and Disney+ are a package deal, and with Reservation Dogs, there are now two Elora Danans in the Disney family. Is there some crossover potential there?

(Laughs) No, but we invited them all to the premiere. They weren't able to make it, but we are still fighting for an opportunity to have a coffee between our two Elora Danans. They need to sit and do a photo shoot together or something. It's too perfect. That show is unbelievably great. I would love to have Devery Jacobs guest star on the show. That would be a really fun idea.

Is there any news you could share on a potential season 2?

Only that I'm sitting in my office and continuing to plan and scheme. It's a strange time in the business. It's a transformative time for Disney. So, I couldn't tell you anything that felt certain, except that we're continuing to work on this with every intention of doing more.

Can you tease where you envision it going from here?

The events of the finale have to be dealt with in a meaningful way at the top of wherever the story goes and the implications of the trauma those events caused to our characters and where it lands each of them. I'd love to get these characters out of that desert. Beyond that, they're all looking at very clear conflicts that were deeply positioned in season 1. Specifically, with Jade, the question of her loyalties and where her politics are going to land her is at the forefront in our minds in terms of where that character can go and, and how she's torn between love and country a little bit. There's no shortage of directions that we'd love to explore, but at its core, it is about this conflict between this otherworldly entity and our heroes. And that's far from over.