#Stewards Department

[seilon]

guess who’s Overqualified

[directactionforhope]

"Starting this month [June 2024], thousands of young people will begin doing climate-related work around the West as part of a new service-based federal jobs program, the American Climate Corps, or ACC. The jobs they do will vary, from wildland firefighters and “lawn busters” to urban farm fellows and traditional ecological knowledge stewards. Some will work on food security or energy conservation in cities, while others will tackle invasive species and stream restoration on public land. 

The Climate Corps was modeled on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, with the goal of eventually creating tens of thousands of jobs while simultaneously addressing the impacts of climate change. 

Applications were released on Earth Day, and Maggie Thomas, President Joe Biden’s special assistant on climate, told High Country News that the program’s website has already had hundreds of thousands of views. Since its launch, nearly 250 jobs across the West have been posted, accounting for more than half of all the listed ACC positions. 

“Obviously, the West is facing tremendous impacts of climate change,” Thomas said. “It’s changing faster than many other parts of the country. If you look at wildfire, if you look at extreme heat, there are so many impacts. I think that there’s a huge role for the American Climate Corps to be tackling those crises.”  

Most of the current positions are staffed through state or nonprofit entities, such as the Montana Conservation Corps or Great Basin Institute, many of which work in partnership with federal agencies that manage public lands across the West. In New Mexico, for example, members of Conservation Legacy’s Ecological Monitoring Crew will help the Bureau of Land Management collect soil and vegetation data. In Oregon, young people will join the U.S. Department of Agriculture, working in firefighting, fuel reduction and timber management in national forests. 

New jobs are being added regularly. Deadlines for summer positions have largely passed, but new postings for hundreds more positions are due later this year or on a rolling basis, such as the Working Lands Program, which is focused on “climate-smart agriculture.”  ...

On the ACC website, applicants can sort jobs by state, work environment and focus area, such as “Indigenous knowledge reclamation” or “food waste reduction.” Job descriptions include an hourly pay equivalent — some corps jobs pay weekly or term-based stipends instead of an hourly wage — and benefits. The site is fairly user-friendly, in part owing to suggestions made by the young people who participated in the ACC listening sessions earlier this year...

The sessions helped determine other priorities as well, Thomas said, including creating good-paying jobs that could lead to long-term careers, as well as alignment with the president’s Justice40 initiative, which mandates that at least 40% of federal climate funds must go to marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution. 

High Country News found that 30% of jobs listed across the West have explicit justice and equity language, from affordable housing in low-income communities to Indigenous knowledge and cultural reclamation for Native youth...

While the administration aims for all positions to pay at least $15 an hour, the lowest-paid position in the West is currently listed at $11 an hour. Benefits also vary widely, though most include an education benefit, and, in some cases, health care, child care and housing. 

All corps members will have access to pre-apprenticeship curriculum through the North America’s Building Trades Union. Matthew Mayers, director of the Green Workers Alliance, called this an important step for young people who want to pursue union jobs in renewable energy. Some members will also be eligible for the federal pathways program, which was recently expanded to increase opportunities for permanent positions in the federal government...

 “To think that there will be young people in every community across the country working on climate solutions and really being equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce of the future,” Thomas said, “to me, that is going to be an incredible thing to see.”"

-via High Country News, June 6, 2024

--

Note: You can browse Climate Corps job postings here, on the Climate Corps website. There are currently 314 jobs posted at time of writing!

Also, it says the goal is to pay at least $15 an hour for all jobs (not 100% meeting that goal rn), but lots of postings pay higher than that, including some over $20/hour!!

[tolkiengif]

I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, and behold! the Shadow has departed! I will be a shieldmaden no longer, nor vie with the great riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren. - Book VI chapter V, The Steward and the King

[master-gatherer]

.

[fairy-lights-and-blobs]

I have someone at like a story idea where Danny is like Princess Yue from Avatar last Airbender

Danny is the physical body for the ancient of space sometimes they just form in the infinite realms and get a physical body along with it and sometimes I just get an essence and have to wait till a body comes along to actually gain consciousness

Danny is that body but the idea is the Justice League is trying to make peace with the infinite realms and the council of ancients have decided let's do a deal we give you a the high Prince of the infinite rounds he stays with you for a month and if he comes back with good news of you humans we will not go to war with you

And the Justice League trying to keep peace agree they were not expecting to see a white hair teenager wearing a heavy layer traditional Komodo with a crown that has mini planets circling around his head to go along with the crown

And Frozen bits of Lazarus water floating around him to add to the exquisite that the boy carries himself with

Danny besides to base his personality off of Dora and princess Yue so no one can connect normal human Danny Fenton to High Prince Phantom Of The Infinite Realms Young Ancient Of Space

Also I just have to crack site of Danny looking at the Lazarus pits that the bats have in the cave because he's staying with them first and going it's a bit Rusty but I can work with it

Proceeding to use the Lazarus pits to make him a pair of pajamas or Danny acting like he doesn't know anything that much about the human world and it's just going along with most things

Danny Phantom acting like a Proper Prince from ancient times it doesn't understand modern teenage things just a mess with Justice League

The Justice League trying their best to appease to a teenager well also trying to stop the US government from starting a war that they will definitely not win

Oh boy, you had a real big brain time with this one :)

The Justice League had been tasked with temporary guardianship over Prince Phantom, Heir to the Throne of All, Steward of Stars.

Adored by the consciousness of the very Realm he will eventually rule over, it would fall upon Earth's best heroes to keep him safe for one entire month, and not a second less.

In exchange, loyal Halloween, also know as Fright Knight, and the King's armies wouldn't take action against Earth as a whole for the actions of one group falsely calling themselves government agents. "Let the Justice League actually deliver said Justice" had been the Prince's comment during a meeting of the Ancients. Before the Ancient Space had been through the cycle of rebirth this last time, there had been no heroes to protect the Living. Only their many divided leaders.

As Danny Fenton, they had caught whispers of the Bat on the rise, of a little Bird to follow after. Of a human, blessed by Hermes who always arrived on time. Of many, many more to follow, taking up arms to fight for Earth and her people, in defense of Justice. As Phantom, newborn half-ghost, and rising Ancient of Space, they heard of many departed souls that sang praises of the heroes, who forgave them for not making it in time, who were happy to have met their favorite before the embrace of Thanatos took them.

If this "Justice League" truly stood for Justice as they claimed, then Phantom would take a chance and trust them.

A week after the accord had been signed by the three leading members of the Justice League, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, gathered in a meeting room to welcome the arriving Prince and his Council.

The first sign was the way the temperature dropped, followed by the sygils painted on the wall by Constantine and Zatanna lighting up toxic green. Bleeding inwards in a lazy spiral, the glowing light swirled into a spinning rift between dimensions, out of which walked Firght Knight himself, settling to the side of the portal, and standing at attention, ready for the rest of the Council to appear.

As the light from the portal became a pale, icy blue, a hand in a white, claw-tipped glove appeared from the portal, the hand's owner following after it, while the loyal Knight moved to bring his elbow up, so Prince Phantom could grab it and let himself be led out of the portal. The fact that the Prince's Fright Knight rested his free hand against his side, instead of the pommel of his sword, was a good indicator that they expected Phantom to be welcomed and safe here. They would do their best to ensure their trust was not unfounded.

Upon first glance, as the ghost of the hour floated out of the portal, the most attention would be paid to the Crown that sat on the teenage-looking ghost's head, all iridescent metal with little miniature planets orbiting each spike.

The Prince looked around the room, evaluating each of the three League members present, almost silent, if not for the way his long,almost elfin ears twitched, making the chains attached to them jingle pleasantly, little galaxies hanging from the metal and swirling lazily. A quietly howling star filled the silence, until Phantom turned to chirp at the portal, calling in the rest of the Council to step forth.

Not all of the Ancients gathered, this time. For the handoff, only those that Phantom named as family would be present. Frostbite, Pandora, Lady Dorathea and Clockwork.

Frostbite, the Yeti and Pandora, Guardian of Hope, the main caretakers, as his parents. Clockwork, one Brother of Space, now Mentor and Grandfather. Dorathea, Cousin and confidante, who insisted that Danny arrive in the best fashion to be found in his Lair. And through all his past turns of the cycle of rebirth, Danny had accumulated fashions uncountable, for his Fraid to enjoy.

Today, Dora had insisted to dress him up in a black kimono, specifically the one that faded from black, to dark blue into pale icy blue. Snowflakes slowly fell all across the length of the cloth, turning a formal piece of attire into a moving art show, as snow fell in lazy patterns with each step Danny took.

"Batman. Superman. Wonder Woman. Thank you for your kind offer of hospitality while I remain in this Realm." A furry hand on his shoulder led Phantom to sit in the closest chair, thumb nudging gently against a freckled cheek in silent support as the Yeti almost glowed with pride for his boy.

"It is nice to see you well, Prince Phantom." Wonder Woman took the lead, as was the usual when discussions between the three main Justice League heroes involved the more divine or supernatural aspects of the world. "We have some ideas for who will host you for the duration of your time here, and were hoping you might give your opinion."

The plan was for, at least initially, to have Batman host their guest. Both Clark and Diana knew the Dark Knight of Gotham would be a better fit for a Prince's stay.

Clark, with his irregular schedule as a reporter and his sons, and Diana with her work as a museum curator, were both too busy to host him. Bruce, on the other hand, would have the space needed, the free schedule needed to care for a teenage royal, and, most importantly, other teenagers already in his care, to help the current youngest of the Ancients acclimate to the modern Era, and specifically the Gotham lifestyle.

One signed contract later, and Danny floated in front of the Zeta tubes, feeling the rumble of working machinery, the humming of electricity which Danny knew deep in his bones and Core, would always recognize what killed him in this life while keeping his face as neutral as possible.

Right now, Danny was just Prince Phantom, Heir to the Throne and Rising Ancient of Space. Fenton could take a break from his crazy parents and their fixation on ghosts, and Jazz didnt need to spend her entire day worrying about him and smothering him in affection.

Highly advanced machinery was an interest because it was new, not because he wants to take it apart and see what makes it tick.

Thus, misdirection in place, Danny's Core studied the signals coming from the portal frame, and the rift just beyond, waiting to open.

"Your Highness, are you ready to go?" Ah, that would be Batman, standing at his side and watching him. He sounded...soft. The ghosts of Gotham always spoke of how soft Batman was towards children and, Ancient or not, right now Danny was, for all intents and purposes, a teenager.

A dead teenager, and that was bound to tug at the Bat's heart.

So, with a big smile, and big, curious eyes, Danny turned to face the Dark Knight and curtsied just as Dora had taught him to.

"I am indeed ready. I wonder what kind of home Gotham's favorite Knight lives in!"

"Before we leave, I should tell you, there will be others there. My children are a chaotic bunch, but they will be curious about you."

"Of course, no Bat is truly complete without his colony. You speak of them with pride. I will trust your judgement. So long as no one asks me how I died, or anything too personal, I won't take offense to being questioned by your children."

Stepping through the now active Zeta Tube set all of Danny's ectoplasmic nerves on end for a second, a slight feeling of too much settling in his bones at the difference between this and the portal that had brought him to the Watchtower.

Stepping out of the Zeta, Danny shook the pins and needles from his hands, blinked at the lighting change, and stepped into...a dark cave, full of very advanced tech that his inner Fenton pitched to get their hands on, and several small fluffy bats chittering above, watching the newcomer with judgemental eyes for a few seconds. Chirping a greeting at the gathering of eyes settled their agitation.

Clearly, good manners worked with Bats of all kinds.

"This way, Prince Phantom." Distracted by the Bats above, Danny had missed Batman ducking into a changing room and walking out as Bruce Wayne, Beloved Prince of Gotham, and all around Himbo Dad.

Mimicking Fright Knight previously, Bruce held his own arm up so Danny could hold onto it as he was guided to an elevator out of the Cave. He even pretended to stumble just slightly over the step out of the platform, looking around at the actually quite cozy but also really big office the elevator doors opened into.

"I thought people didn't live in castles anymore? Is the Knight of Gotham the exception?"

The eye roll and fond sigh had Danny cheering internally. The man DOES have a sense of humor! Not a fruit loop, after all!

Maybe this will be a fun little vacation.

Maybe, just maybe, Danny can hope that the GIW problem will be resolved, and he won't have to go to war against the Living...

Perched in the rafters above and spying on her dad and the pretty boy they'll be hosting, Cassandra Wayne almost stumbles at the sheer force of the sudden Hope-Glad-please don't be a dream that blankets the entire Wayne manor.

[emyn-arnens]

FARAMIR & ÉOWYN in THE LORD OF THE RINGS

And to the Warden of the Houses Faramir said: 'Here is the Lady Éowyn of Rohan, and now she is healed.' And the Warden said: 'Then I release her from my charge and bid her farewell, and may she suffer never hurt nor sickness again. I commend her to the care of the Steward of the City, until her brother returns.' But Éowyn said: 'Yet now that I have leave to depart, I would remain. For this House has become to me of all dwellings the most blessed.'

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - November 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. Climate Initiatives Fare Well Across the Country Despite National Political Climate

“[California voters approved] a $10 billion bond measure to boost climate resilience across [the] state[…. Hawai’i] voters cast their ballots in favor of establishing the [climate] resiliency fund, with money for the project coming from existing property tax revenue.“

2. ‘You have to disguise your human form’: how sea eagles are being returned to Severn estuary after 150 years

“[… To avoid imprinting,] the handlers will wear long robes and feed the young eagles chopped rabbit and other meat with bird hand-puppets. […] Williams hopes that restoring eagles to the top of the food chain in the estuary will create a more balanced, thriving ecosystem.”

3. 10 states voted on pro-abortion referendums. 7 of them passed

“New York voters overwhelmingly approved the Equal Rights Amendment, adding [… among other characteristics] gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes to anti-discrimination laws. […] In deep-red Missouri and Montana, voters also enshrined abortions protections in their state constitutions.”

4. Giant rats could soon fight illegal wildlife trade by sniffing out elephant tusk and rhino horn

“”Our study shows that we can train African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife, even when it has been concealed among other substances[.…] They can easily access tight spaces like cargo in packed shipping containers or be lifted up high to screen the ventilation systems of sealed containers,” Szott explained.”

5. Sarah McBride wins Delaware U.S. House seat, becoming the first out trans member of Congress

“McBride spearheaded Delaware’s legislation to ban the “gay and trans panic” defense as a state senator [… and] helped to pass paid family and medical leave, gun safety measures, and protections for reproductive rights.”

6. Critically endangered Sumatran elephant calf born in Indonesia

“Indonesian officials hailed the births and said they showed conservation efforts were essential to prevent the protected species from extinction. […] Sumatran elephants are on the brink of extinction with only about 2,400-2,800 left in the world, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.”

7. Sin City is Going Green

“[Hotels there] have conserved 16 billion gallons of water since 2007, thanks to […] replacing grass with desert-friendly landscaping, installing water-efficient taps across all properties, and reusing water at aquariums and in the Bellagio Fountain.”

8. Gray squirrel control: Study shows promise for effective contraceptive delivery system

“[… T]he feeders have a very high level of species-specificity. […] The bait and monitoring system developed and tested in the study demonstrated that […] “spring was the only season tested where female squirrels were more likely to visit bait feeders than males. Spring coincides with a peak in squirrel breeding and is therefore a good time to deliver a contraceptive."”

9. Returning Grazing Land to Native Forests Would Yield Big Climate Benefits

“[… S]trategically regrowing forests on land where cattle currently graze […] while intensifying production elsewhere could drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, with little hit to global protein production, a new study shows.”

10. Interior Department Strengthens Conservation of American Bison Through New Agreement with Canada and Mexico

“Approximately 31,000 bison are currently being stewarded by the United States, Canada and Mexico with the goal of conserving the species and their role in the function of native grassland systems, as well as their place in Indigenous culture.”

October 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[what-even-is-thiss]

I think in Skyrim people do know when you’re a killer. The law just works in such a way that it’s hard to convict people of a crime without a direct witness. Forensic investigation basically doesn’t exist. The guard clearly isn’t properly trained in detective work.

I say this for two reasons. One, when you secretly kill a friendly npc their family members know. They often have special lines the next time you talk to them, indicating that they hate you. Some npcs will also tell you that you have the look of a killer.

The other reason is that infamous quest blood on the ice. The second you do a teeny bit of investigating, the steward and town guard just believe you on flimsy evidence and the real serial killer doesn’t get caught until you directly witness him committing a murder red handed.

It’s clear that town guards mostly function as private armies and an attempt to intimidate people away from crime rather than an effective police force. So they’ve got something in common with real world police I guess but at least real world police have forensic departments.

It’s also established that various criminal groups have plants in the local militias/town guards. They’re easily bribed if you’re in the thieves guild, the skooma dealers in riften have plants, and if you finish the dark brotherhood questline some of the guards will start telling you “hail sithis”. They aren’t overly discrete about it either.

So basically Skyrim town guards are somehow even worse than real world police and everyone knows it. They’re basically just local armies shoehorned into also being law enforcement and that’s why everyone knows that you killed that random guy in Solitude but you still get to walk around as a free Dragonborn. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

[a-world-of-whimsy-5]

Pairing: Elrond x Fem. Reader (second person POV)

Themes: Soft | Smut

Warnings: Kissing | Penetrative sex | Public sex | Sex in an unusual location | Cream pie

Word count: 1.7k words

Summary: Elrond goes in search of his companion, and is greeted with a ball of snow instead.

Rating: 🔥🔥| Minors DNI | 18+ | You are responsible for the media you consume.

Divider by @estrelinha-s

Snow lay thick on the ground by the time Elrond and his warriors returned from the borders of Rivendell.

“Lindir!” He called out to his steward after he dismounted and gave over the reins of his horse to another elf. “Where has y/n gone off to this morning?”

Lindir, after having seen his lord and his men some distance away, left for the courtyard to wait for them. He bowed and offered Elrond a traditional welcome and said, “Lady y/n left for the woods just beyond the guest lodgings not long ago. You may find her by the pond, I think.”

“My thanks.” Elrond turned over his sword and gloves to Lindir and walked down the same paths you did. It was cold, but not unpleasantly so. His boots left little to no imprint on the snow, and the brazing winter air itself was invigorating. It carried with it the faint redolence of spruce and fir and pine. He sighed in contentment and turned to take a glimpse of his home. All of Rivendell looked different, like an enchanted keep in a wintery land.

“Melleth?” He cried and looked around. Of snow-covered trees and bushes, there were aplenty, but you were nowhere to be seen. “Where are you?”

Nothing but the wind answered him. “Melleth?” He shouted again. “What mischief are you up to now?”

A white ball flying in a perfect arc and exploding in a spray of snow and ice after hitting him on the back was all the answer he needed. Elrond smiled, and dusted the snow off of his cloak. Then another ball flew in from the same direction and hit him on the head with a soft thud. He turned to face the direction it came from, and crouched just as a third projectile came hurtling toward him.

Orcs are not the only things determined to test my patience. Elrond sighed, then smiled to himself and made his way down another path, resolute to catch you in the act.

There was nothing to be heard after that. No calls for you, no shouts, and no commands for you to show yourself. Elrond made no sound as he moved, and that put you on edge. He could be anywhere, and you would not know of his presence until he was right before you.

A hushed silence fell over the little copse you concealed yourself in. There were no animals moving about in the brush; they were sleeping in their little dens and caves for the whole of the winter. A bird sang, but there was no other sound beyond its sweet singing. Minutes passed, and still there was no sign of Elrond.

Where is he? You thought to yourself. Had Elrond returned to the main house and the Hall of Fire? Had he ridden out with his warriors again? Or was he out there, somewhere, biding his time until you revealed yourself?

Time drifted by as if in a dream. It grew colder and a little darker. And Elrond was nowhere to be seen. Thinking that he had returned to the halls, you left your hiding place behind an old oak tree and departed for home.

“And where do you think you are going?”

“Elrond!” You squealed, startled. Elrond had been right beside your little hiding place the entire time, waiting for you to appear. The smile that flashed across his face was smug and self-satisfied. “How did you know I was here?”

He tapped the side of his nose with his finger and said, “It was your fragrance that gave you away, meleth.”

You sniffed at your wrists and your hair. There was no scent to be found on your skin or your dress. “But I am wearing no perfume,” you said in protest.

“Twas not a perfume I smelled,” he smiled again. “It was the scent of you that gave you away.”

You flushed and looked away. Elrond laughed softly. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. Truly. I quite like the way you smell. Although,” he went on to add, “I do think it is highly unbecoming for the Lady of Imladris to throw balls of snow at unsuspecting elves.”

“Perhaps,” you muttered. Then you turned to face him, your eyes bright with curiosity. “You said you liked the way I smell. What else do you like about me?”

It was Elrond’s turn to flush, and not from embarrassment. “I see,” he commented. “You wish to know more about what I find desirable in you. Let me think. I quite enjoy your ability to find pleasure even in the simplest of things.”

“Such as throwing balls of snow at you?”

“Do not test me on that, melleth.”

“My pardons.”

He grinned, and walked toward you. “I also love seeing you like this: your cheeks all flushed from the cold, your hair all in a beautiful tangle, and this cloak is quite fetching on you. A pity it conceals so much. Or have I simply been away for too long, and anything appears alluring to me now?”

“Elrond!” You gasped in disbelief. Pale blue eyes lit up in amusement.

“I jest, melleth,” he said, coming even closer. “You are ravishing as always. Now, where was I?”

“You were speaking of my cloak,” you told him. Heat slowly bloomed in your cheeks when he reached out and undid the clasps of your cloak. “And how it concealed too much.”

“Indeed.” Skillful fingers unfastened each clasp one by one. The shock of cold air dancing over exposed skin left you tingling. Elrond delighted in this, for he had been away for far too long. He had missed watching such sensations flow through your body, and he found himself yearning to savor all of it again, here and now, even though the two of you were in the woods, and not within the privacy of your shared chambers.

“I relish watching you tremble beneath me,” he began, and drew your cloak away. “How you shiver when I run the flat of my hand over your belly. And your hair… I love how it flows around my fingers when I loosen your braids.”

He reached back and slowly loosened one braid, and another, and another. Your hair soon fell around your shoulders. Elrond was not done. His hand did indeed glide up your waist and onto your belly. It made you feel warm and feverish. You shuddered beneath him when that same hand pushed you back—back until he had you caged between him and the bark of a tree.

“We are out in the open,” you pointed out to him. “Someone could come upon us.”

“They will not,” Elrond assured you. “And we need not tarry needlessly. I have missed you, melleth. Let me have a taste of you, at least.”

He dipped his head and kissed the shell of your ear and the expanse of your throat. His arms slipped around your waist when yours twined around his neck.

“Just a taste?” Your blood was already roaring in your ears. Elrond lifted his gaze. His eyes were clouded with lust. “Or more than that?”

“More than that,” he echoed, “if possible. And like I said, we need not tarry needlessly.”

“I never took you for one who loves quickly,” you remarked. “But I do not mind this being the first instance you do so.”

His eyes gleamed wickedly. “Wonderful. Close your eyes, melleth. I will see to the rest.”

Elrond did indeed tend to it all, and so much more besides. His kisses drowned out your sighs and the soft moans that followed in their wake. He slipped an arm beneath your thighs and lifted you up, growling in your ear when he felt your legs wrap tight around his hips. He nearly crushed you to his armor when he kissed and kissed and kissed, and yet you barely felt the steel press against silk and bone and flesh. All your thoughts were consumed by him, by the strength in his arms and his back, and by the hot and sinful mouth that hammered away at any sense of restraint you had. 

“Elrond,” you sighed. Your hand slipped over his chest and down his belly, and beneath the silks underneath his armor. It was a trial, loosening the thin strips of cloth around his breeches, but you managed all the same. When you reached in and took him to hand, he nipped your throat.

“I see you are more than keen on me loving you quickly.” There was a sharp rip. Elrond removed his hand just long enough to move it between your thighs and tear at your small clothes. He touched you briefly, groaning against your neck when he found you already wet.

Elrond’s touch was as electrifying as his kisses. However, he did not continue with his ministrations for long. Another hunger rose to claim him, one that demanded to be satisfied. Elrond pressed his lips against yours, moaning in triumph when you guided his erection into the soft and welcomed grip of your body.

“I love this as well,” he gasped. “How you make me feel when you take me inside of you. Am I going too fast?”

“Given that we are exposed,” you countered and tightened your grip against his waist, his broad shoulders. “I would say you are not going fast enough.”

Elrond did not need to be told anything else. He set a tortuous pace, his armor now nearly cutting into your dress, while you clung to him like a burr. The discomfort of it all soon gave way to a bliss that slowly grew in your belly and spread until you saw nothing but a brilliant golden light flashing behind your eyes. Elrond shook when you sobbed against his shoulder and cried out his name. It was enough to unravel him, and with one last grunt, he spilled his seed inside of you.

Neither of you moved, even when an icy wind swept around the trees. Elrond continued to kiss you, this time with soft, quick kisses around your brow.

“We best return,” he said slowly, and more than a little reluctantly. He was shaking. His body was still caught in the aftermath of his release. “Lest Lindir or someone else comes in search of me. And the next time you wish to start a snowball fight, warn me first. I will be ready for you then.”

tags: @victoria-styles

[glitteringaglarond]

Hope is a theme that runs throughout the story of The Lord of the Rings. You can no more remove Tolkien's themes and ideas about Hope than you could remove the Ring itself. It is always there, echoing silently at the edge of words, shimmering faintly in the darkness; and when it is absent a point is made to emphasize that very fact.

In the two "sections" of the book - one that focuses on Frodo and Sam and one that focuses on everybody else - we see the different ways that Hope is addressed. The story of Frodo and Sam shows what happens when Hope slowly ebbs away, leaving nothing but sheer, raw, heartbreaking determination behind - or in the case of Frodo, a person so broken that nothing can heal him.

But in the other section - the one that focuses on the rest of the Company and on Rohan and Gondor - Hope takes a slightly different form. Instead of being a story of the loss of Hope, it is the story of the restoration of Hope. Or more specifically, the Hope that certain characters can and do bring to the story, and to the people around them. And tragically, what will happen when certain characters cannot and will not Hope, and instead give way to Despair. And that's the Hope that I want to talk about.

In Sindarin there are two words for Hope: Estel, which is Hope based on Faith, and Amdir, which is Hope based on Proof. Aragorn, the heir of Kings, is undoubtedly the personification of Estel in the story. That is literally one of his many, many, many names. And I argue that Faramir, the heir of Stewards, is the personification of Amdir. Yes there are other characters that also embody Estel and Amdir - Gandalf and Imrahil spring to mind, but I mainly want to focus on Aragorn and Faramir. And I want to focus on how Estel vs Amdir has a profound impact on Despair.

Almost from the moment that Gandalf falls, Aragorn steps into his role as Estel. It is explicitly stated time and time again in the text that Aragorn brings hope with him wherever he goes. But the Hope of Aragorn is the one that you must have faith in, which means that it is a Hope that cannot always be physically there. To all appearances, Hope must abandon the people who need it most in order to shine out bright and triumphantly when most needed. And so Estel departs, and the people must have faith that Hope will return or give in to Despair.

Faramir, on the other hand, is a different kind of Hope. Gondor has been at war with Sauron for centuries. There is no single man, woman, or child in Gondor who has ever known peace without the threat of war and violence looming within sight of their very city. They are a people who can no longer afford to have faith in Hope. Their Hope must be based on Proof, and that is exactly what they have in Faramir, and is likely a role shared by Boromir before he departed and fell. So Faramir proves himself, day in and day out. He proves himself a man of wisdom, a man of courage, a man who all his people can depend on. He proves himself to be willing to ride against a flying Nazgul on the off chance he can help his men - and the Hope he inspires is so great that even his horse will not turn aside when that is his purpose. And yet, when the situation is at its most dire, Amdir falls. And now the People have nothing.

And Despair, as the antithesis of Hope, is an important element in a discussion about Hope. So first let's talk about the antithesis of Estel: Denethor.

Denethor, who in a sense is the personification of his people, has been leading a steadily weakening people for years, fighting a war that has been going on for centuries. He does not have the luxury to Hope, and he certainly doesn't have the luxury for a Hope that you have to have faith in. Faith died long ago, and all that is left is what meager Hope can be pulled from the daily grind, from the blood and sweat and tears of the men who fight in this war. All that is left is Amdir - and Denethor's relationship with Amdir is famously strained.

But Denethor struggles on. He continues on when Boromir falls, despair beginning to cloud his judgement as he is overwhelmed by grief. But it is only when Faramir falls in battle - when Amdir is seemingly lost, that he has no Hope left. And so in Despair he turns to the Palantir and is literally given a glimpse of Estel. But Faith died long ago, so he doesn't see the Hope that he must have Faith to see. And thus his Despair gives way to madness.

And in his madness, he nearly destroys what remains of Amdir.

But Estel has come, even if Denethor did not have the necessary Faith to see it. And what it is that can restore Hope when there is no longer any proof for it? What can restore Amdir? Who can restore Faramir? Estel can - the healing hands of the King.

Estel and Amdir, the King and his Steward - the two go hand in hand. The people of Gondor want to believe in their King, but they do believe in the Stewards that have ruled them for centuries. So is it a wonder that the people's ability to have faith in Hope is only restored when Estel restores Amdir?

But there is one other character, intrinsically linked with Faramir and Aragorn, to whom the themes Hope and Despair are poignantly evident: Eowyn.

Like Denethor, Estel is what pushes her over the edge and into a desire for death. When Estel cannot manage to give her any hope for a future and leaves her behind to a bleak present, she loses all hope. But unlike Denethor, Estel was the only hope she had. So when she lost her faith in Hope she had nothing to fall back on to. When she lost her faith in Hope, she did not have years and years of Hope based on proof to depend on. Instead she is pushed to the same level of desperation that led to Denethor's despair and madness.

Like Denethor, Eowyn sought to die - possibly with those she loved beside her, although that is not made explicit. Like Denethor, the intervention of Hobbits saved her life. Unlike Denethor, she did not get the chance to try again. And now, after failing even at her own death, with Estel saying that he cannot restore her from her Despair, (literally saying that he can recall her from the dark valley, but if she awakes to despair she will die unless some other healing comes that he cannot bring), Eowyn finally meets Amdir. She finally meets the kind of Hope that her bitter, depressed, desperate soul can depend on. And Faramir, with the Hope of Amdir, is able to heal her the way Estel could not.

And once Estel restores Amdir, Amdir can bring about the kind of healing that Estel cannot. After all, Hope that you must have faith in is only powerful when people have Faith. And sometimes that is not possible. Sometimes Hope needs to prove itself to a person before they can accept the nebulousness of Faith.

When Estel restores Amdir and Amdir, in turn, restores Faith - the people now have the faith needed for Estel's true return.

[urabrask-the-hidden]

Xalior

Xalior is my own little custom plane in the multiverse of Magic: the Gathering, my beautiful baby worldbuilding project ready to be shared to the wonderful world of tumblr dot com. It is a three-color faction plane, where all ten shards and wedges are present. As well, the primary color of each faction is the last color in WUBRG order, much like how in Khans of Tarkir, the wedges were centered in the first color. 

The factions, called “Domains”, are regions shaped by the magic of one of Xalior’s dead gods, with which they share a name. The Domains of Xalior are as follows:

Khelos, Domain of Domination

Morax, Domain of Destruction

Rystan, Domain of Survival

Adient, Domain of Radiance

Ebrius, Domain of Enlightenment

Zalsu, Domain of Eternity

Igovic, Domain of Invention

Nyduul, Domain of Mystery

Orathir, Domain of Conquest

Venhi, Domain of Imagination

The Domains are led, in one way or another, by ancient, powerful beings known as the Chosen, favored by their god in life. 

There is no peace on Xalior. While some Domains are friendlier than others, and alliances are often a necessity, such relations are tenuous. The Domains are, as a rule, enemies.

A HISTORY OF XALIOR

Countless ages ago, a mighty planeswalker named Qol of Five Spirits breathed life into the Blind Eternities, and Xalior was born. Ten stewards they created, tasked with overseeing this infant plane and building upon it as they saw fit. But Qol did not depart into the Multiverse; for reasons yet unknown, they remained, binding themselves to Xalior as its Worldsoul. 

For millennia, Xalior was a simple, unremarkable plane, humbly occupying its small corner of the Multiverse. There was peace then; conflict, too, but it did not hold sway. The gods lived, and mortals were free. 

THE DIVINE WAR

This peace did not last. Could not last, some say. Centuries before the Mending, war broke out between the gods of Xalior. How or why it began was unknown even then, yet that did not stop the war from spilling into the mortal realm. None could escape this most dreadful of conflicts. 

Most modern myths and legends are set in this time, recounting the acts of the gods and their champions. Few tales from the Domains agree with one another, and each has their own story of how their god met their fate. Perhaps they died steadily over the course of the war. Perhaps it was all at once. All that is known is that they started the war, and paid the price. 

THE GREAT RESHAPING

Gods are not meant to die. They were an integral part of the world, and so when they fell, they essentially became the Domains, changing leylines and geography, forming these physical regions of the mortal realm which embodied some version of what each god stood for. The Chosen came to take power in their respective Domains, guiding its people in accordance to their god’s- or their own- will. 

And so Xalior has been rendered nigh unrecognizable, its lands shattered and people divided. It sits now at what many see to be a tipping point; time shall tell if hope remains, or if it shall succumb to the doom of its pantheon.

Xalior/Khelos/Morax/Rystan/Adient/Ebrius/Zalsu/Igovic/Nyduul/Orathir/Venhi/Hinterlands

[boltlightning]

James Norrington + (character of your choice) + 81. pen and paper? please and thank you!

81. pen and paper send me a prompt, get a drabble! ✨

Sirs,

It is with regret that I write to inform you that the Execution of condemned pirate Jack Sparrow, on this morning of May the Twenty-Eighth, has been thwarted, and the Fugitive escaped. The circumstances of the escape

Those involved in rescuing the pirate from his Ultimate Fate have been absolved

Governor Swann has granted Clemency to the naïve Soul that sought to

If an Investigation is necessary to

My personal estate will cover the damages to the fort and its equipment as wrought by the morning’s events. Enclosed is the Invoice of Damages and Receipt of Payment for your Edification.

Further business on this account shall be directed by my steward Mr Colebrooke as I depart at dawn with Dauntless to pursue the escapees. The King’s Justice shall be brought to the remainders of the pirates apprehended at Isla de Muerta in my stead.

I express my further Regrets regarding

The Fault lies not with the men who failed to apprehend the criminals, but with

I remain

Your obedient servant, Capt Cmdre J Norrington

Norrington sighs and sets the draft aside to dry, rinses and sharpens the nib of his quill, and pulls aside a clean sheet to copy the letter once more, omissions omitted.

(and, as is only fitting, here is my handwritten draft:)

[nevaroonie]

Dria { Denebola (De - Neb - o - la) }

Everyone meet Dria the Department Inchoate Daemon!

If you know anything about me you know I like to color-code stuff! and Dria's chosen color is purple!

F4A

*DISCLAIMER* The lore and other things implied here are not cannon!

Backstory ~

Denebola never really liked humans empowered or not and she didn't understand how other daemons could grow to live with them.

however, at a more mature age, she was given a charge. it was uncommon however she was unaware it was requested by her steward.

The charge was a little girl named Drianne, she was gravely sick and wasn't expected to live past the age of 10.

Denebola would feed on her feelings of misery and sadness. while providing her with feeling of joy and serenity.

little did Denebola know the girl could see her. She found this out at the girl's 7th birthday. Drianne ran over and gave her a hug thanking her for the happy emotions and making her feel better in her sad situation.

and as she watched Drianne grow her distaste for humans changed.

By Driannes 14th she could no longer see Denebola; and because of that Denebola decided she was no longer needed. however, Drianne had one more gift for Denebola.

the nickname Dria.

Denebola was surprised by the act, and well that act changed her view of humans. and with that, she went to work at the department. she wanted to help kids like Drianne.

of course, when she went to work there she used the name Dria instead of her name given to her. She was proud to be a Starchild yes.. But Dria meant more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

BONUS INFORMATION

Coalesced 153 years ago

5'12''

has worked for the department for 88 of those years

Fully Certified (At 45 )

when not at work she spends most of her time in Aria, though she has grown a distaste for the people at the department minus Cam, Crux, and " Sweetheart ''

Was a part of the regulus situation, siding with Cam that he is still a threat. though she thought redeeming him was impossible.

During the inversion she almost unraveled, she offered to work security, and when the ward closed. it was too many emotions and learning of the later death of her charge did not help. However, she pulled herself together and helped guide others underground and heal what was needed.

'' Mother of the department ''

Had her first charge at 30

Drianne lived to the age of 85 years old before passing away. when she passed she was surrounded by family and friends. Dria was there as well. and that is what kickstarted her attempt to work at the department.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Visuals

Picrews

(Young Denebola )

( young drianna and Denebola )

(Current)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nevys Sketches Of Her

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The lore and other things implied here are not canons!

My amazingly talented friend luc drew her and did an amazing job @dawnofiight

*DISCLAIMER*

Storyline!

Follow Dria and her listener '' Hun '' as they figure out what happened to their Gravitron roommate Novae.

In a story of lies and betrayal following Nevy's mini-redacted story! this is one of 3 storylines I have planned and want to intersect 😊

Dria will have an accent of some type- but I can't decide if It will be soft or very notable. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[portraitoftheoddity]

Beginner Hiking Guide Part One: Find Where You Want to Hike

Access to wilderness and trail systems varies a lot depending on where you live. And while there are trails and places to walk all across the country, knowing where to go and look for them when you’re new to hiking can be tricky. So here’s some tips for getting started! (Note: this guide will be US-centric, since that’s where I live and hike)

Places to Hike:

National Parks If you already live near a national park, you live near Hiking Nirvana and we’re all jealous of you. Congrats! If you’re traveling to a National Park, check out the park’s website with the National Park Service and research the trails to find one whose length and challenge level is a good fit for your ability and comfort. 

State Parks There are a lot of State Parks throughout the US with well-maintained trail systems. Check out your state’s Parks Department and see if there are parks, preserves, or trails near you!

Conservation Trusts These are nonprofit organizations that acquire and steward land for the purposes of conservation. That aren't state-run, but a lot of them have wonderful volunteer-maintained trail systems. See if there are any conservation trusts in your area, and if they have maps of trail systems online!

National Forests Oddly enough, National Forests aren’t actually parks, as the Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture and not the National Parks Service. So while there’s big swathes of National Forest out there with a lot of great trails, maintaining them for visitors isn’t the Forest Service’s priority, so you might need to use other trail finding tools rather than their websites. That said, there are a lot of awesome Forest Service volunteers out there doing great work! 

Town Forests There may be areas of state-owned or town-owned forest near you! Look online, check out your town’s (or neighboring town’s) website, or ask around -- there may be some nice woodland walking trails if you live in an area that isn’t highly urbanized. Your local library is a great resource for information on the local area. 

Where to Find Trail Information:

It can be tempting, if there’s a park with hiking trails nearby, to give in to the temptation of impulsive wanderlust by just driving out, picking a trail, and setting out to explore.

Please do not do this.

I get it, I have lousy impulse control and love the romance of simply walking off into the woods too! But the romance wears off quickly once you realize you’re lost and it’s getting dark, or that you’re in way over your head on a trail that seems to have something against you personally and is determined to break your ankles. Take some time to look up info on a trail ahead of your hike so you know what to expect in terms of length and difficulty (and can pack appropriately), and get a map so you know where you’re going and how to get back. There’s a lot of resources for finding trail information out there!

Parks / Conservation Trust / Town Forest Websites As mentioned above, most of these national, state, municipal or nonprofit orgs will have their own websites, and will often have detailed trail maps you can view or download!

Guidebooks & Published Maps You’d be surprised how many published hiking trail guides (many with included maps) there are out there! Look up hiking guides for your state or region, and see what books come up. Ask around at your local library, or locally-owned book stores! You’ll want to check to see what the most recent edition is to make sure any copy you find isn’t a few decades out of date (trails change), but printed trail guides tend to be reviewed more rigorously than a lot of online resources, and contain more detailed information on terrain, difficulty, etc. 

AllTrails AllTrails is a useful starting point for finding hikes and popular trails near you! That said, I emphatically do not recommend relying exclusively on AllTrails for trail info. It can be a great tool to look up hikes in your area and their general length and elevation gain (the difficulty ranking system on AllTrails is nonsensical though -- ‘Moderate’ can mean anything from ‘it isn’t paved’ to ‘not a sheer vertical rock face’). The comments section can also be useful for recent reports of trail conditions. But it crowd-sources information and some people are dinguses and will upload their crazy bushwhacking or simply provide inaccurate data, and the app isn’t great about indicating what blazes to follow when you’re on interconnecting trail systems, so you can get a lot of inaccurate or incomplete information on there that can get you lost. I highly recommend that you always verify trail maps and data you get from AllTrails with other sources, especially as you get further into backcountry! 

Other Hiking Apps to check out:

FarOut (formerly Guthooks)

GaiaGPS

Hiking Project

(Safety Tip: If you’re going to be anywhere remote and you’re using virtual sources, Print Your Maps. Many apps only work in their free version if you have internet service, and may not function once out in the wilderness. Even if you screenshot things and have them saved offline, your phone battery may die or your phone might get wet and decide not to work. Have an analog backup in a ziploc bag to keep it dry!)

Next Part: Knowledge is Power >>

[freehawaii]

HAWAIIAN ANCESTRAL BONES AT RISK ON MAUI

Hawaii News Now - April 5, 2023

Tensions surrounding the planned expansion of a luxury hotel on Maui are rising. The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, has been wanting to expand for years. But protectors of ancestral bones, or iwi kupuna, say enough already. “I feel I was really called to do this. Like I was tapped on the shoulder and said, ‘come and help,’” said Clare Apana, head of Malama Kakanilua. Apana, along with Hooponopono o Makena president Ashford Kaleolani DeLima, are committed to protecting iwi kupuna on Maui. DeLima’s ancestors are from South Maui, where the Grand Wailea is located. “You feel this wind? This wind is gentle. That’s because my kupuna knows that I’m here speaking about them and trying to tell the truth,” DeLima said. DeLima, Apana and others say the Grand Wailea was built on sacred burial grounds. They are against the resort’s plan for expansion and renovations. “This is one of the areas where you find concentrations of burials. You don’t find this on any other property. You may find burials … but you don’t find burials in the concentrations that are on this property,” Apana said. The Grand Wailea wants to add 137 guest rooms, enhance its landscaping, pool amenities and restaurant facilities and improve its infrastructure. Maui Planning Department recommended approving the project with conditions in 2019. But last month, a Maui Planning Commission’s appointed hearing officer recommended that the Grand Wailea’s permits be denied until they can make “adjustments in the areas of traditional and customary native Hawaiian practices, traffic and water.” The permits are needed to complete the expansion. The resort says the project scope was reduced by nearly 40% to reflect community feedback and avoid ground disturbance in areas of archaeological or cultural sensitivity. “The hearing officer’s report was a welcome confirmation of Grand Wailea’s enhancement plans and commitment to being a good steward,” said William Meheula, counsel for the resort. “We agree with almost all of the recommendations, including that the project’s archaeological inventory surveys and monitoring plans that were approved by the state met the legal requirements, and have submitted a response largely supporting the report and demonstrating the project has satisfied the necessary conditions to proceed if approved by the Maui Planning Commission.” The hotel says its commitment to giving back is reflected in the more than $5 million donated to nonprofits over the last seven years. The resort’s managing director added that the hotel employs more than 1,200 people, and that the expansion will create hundreds more jobs. Apana and DeLima said all they want is respect. “The right thing to do is malama the iwi,” DeLima said. “Show respect and not only make money....”

[docgold13]

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Sam Young

In the future era of Batman Beyond, Samuel ‘Sam’ Young acted as the district attorney of Gotham City.  He was a tireless steward of law and order who managed to navigate the frequently corrupt justice system in the city without compromise.  

Sam met Barbara Gordon when she was a detective with the police department.  Their mutual respect for one another eventually blossomed into a romance and the two eventually married.  It remains unknown whether or not Barbara ever told Sam about her past life as Batgirl.  Gordon would go on to become police commissioner while Sam was elected to district attorney and the two enjoyed a happy marriage.   

Young’s dogged pursuit of ridding Gotham of organized crime frequently put his life in danger.  While pursuing charges against the foreign arms dealer, Fyodor Davic, Young found himself targeted by the Society of Assassins who dispatched their deadliest agent, Curaré, to do him in.  Young was saved by Batman and Davic was successfully prosecuted and charged.  

Some time later, Young’s office drew up legislation to outlaw cosmetic splicing.  This put him in the crosshairs of the villainous Abel Cuvier who sent his agents to kill the attorney.  Once again Sam was saved by the Batman, the legislation passed and Cuvier was taken down.  

Despite the constant threats to his safety, Sam Young never wavered in his pursuit for justice.  He never donned tights or had a catchy codename yet was nonetheless an equal among the greatest heroes of Gotham City.

The legendary Paul Winfield provided the voice for Sam Young with the intrepid DA first appearing in the twelfth episode of the first season of Batman Beyond, ‘A Touch of Curaré.’