#Vathi

[deathcupcake]

Since Baldur's Gate 3 officially launched yesterday, I thought I'd go back through my screenshots and document my Early Access character creation to see what changed and what didn't. Early Access was fun, although we didn't have access to a lot of the variations and classes that we do now, but the major drawback was that sometimes they wiped the game and reloaded a new version and you'd lose your character and progress.

Progress didn't matter to me, since I'm not the biggest fan of the turn-based systems, and those who know me know that designing characters is probably one the things I love most about these games.

First row left: First iteration Vathi (cleric)

First row right: First iteration Vathi's companion

Second row left: Second iteration Vathi (cleric)

Second row right: Second iteration Vathi's companion

Third row left: Current Vathi (bard)

Third row right: Vathi's guardian

Fourth row left: Current Xiao (druid)

Fourth row right: Xiao's guardian

Fifth row left: In-game screencap of Vathi

Fifth row right: In-game screencap of Xiao

Thoughts on character creation:

I'm a little disappointed that the face shapes cannot be modified, and there aren't that many choices, but the breadth of colors for skin is amazing (as it was in Early Access).

I am also a little disappointed that there are still a lot of generic if extremely pretty faces (I mean…I do like pretty faces), with not many non-anglo/caucasian-like choices. Most of the ones that are clearly coded non-white also lean heavily white-passing (I'm choosing to call it mixed race, like me). But that's not new to gaming, and I understand the need to limit choices…somewhat.

I had forgotten that the official game would allow one to choose a non-binary/other gender, genatalia preference, and hairstyles and voices aren't gender-gated. It's no surprise that I tend to play women characters way more than men, but I am rather excited to officially be able to play as a non-binary/other character (and both of my character's guardians are set as non-binary as well). I wonder how I will integrate that into my character's back story?

Overall, I don't think my design of Vathi in any iteration varies too much. All are Drows (full or half), have my preferred skin color for a character, and where the choice of heterochromia exists, they all go that direction.

Although my first two versions were attempting to be more serious, in the current game I decided to go more cutesy, since I'll be seeing this one more often. I also repeated the octopus tattoos from the second iteration because, well, tentacles are fun.

I'm excited to play a bard, since that is the D&D character I have the most experience playing, so the abilities are pretty familiar. I chose the massive lute instead of a smaller instrument, though, and I wonder if I will regret that in screencaps.

I created Xiao after Vathi, although I don't know if I will actually play him. However, I wanted to create a different character after going through the full creation with Vathi. He's so conventionally pretty, but I like his hair color a lot more. Given the gameplay and the fact that the story will be the same (overall), I don't know that it'll be as compelling a second time, but I still do love a pretty character. I may even create a few more (dragonborn, tiefling) because those creation choices are quite cool, too.

Buns and braids are my favorite looks. Although I did also consider the lower buns for Xiao (ignore the color, that was the default)

Anyway, it's a nice diversion from the ESO I've been playing lately, when I'm not too tired after work.

[lolanbq]

I do kinda wish that "Sixth of the Dusk" were longer so Vathi's awfulness could be spread out a little more, because the concentrated shot of her thought process is really bitter to swallow

[panagiotiszakkas]

Holiday House in Vathi, Aegina, Greece

Architectural Design: Panagiotis Zakkas, Architect

Project Year: 2021-2022

www.pzarch.gr / info@pzarch.gr

[peterpecksen]

Ithaca Carnival

We were very fortunate to be able to be in Vathi for the big Carnival parade. OK, maybe big is a bit of an overstatement. However it is obviously an important event for the island as winter wraps up and the preparations for summer start. It was fun to see the obvious effort that went into the children’s costumes as well as seeing the mothers right in there with them in full costume. And who…

[brothermouse-skeleton]

Reading through Arcanum Unbounded and here's what I got:

The Emperor's Soul:

Local woman is so focused on her hyper fixation (crime) that she almost forgets to take care of her basic needs (not getting murdered as part of a government cover up to hide the fact that they're pulling a "Weekend At Bernie's")

Hope of Elantris

It's so sappy. Soooooo sappy. I will fight anyone who tries to take it from me.

The Eleventh Metal

Yeah this explains a little bit about why Kelsier is like that.

Allomancer Jak And the Pits of Eltania

I can see why Wax hated being compared to this guy. He's a mess, he's mostly illiterate, he has no idea where he is or what he's doing, he is a disaster on two legs. I would definitely read a weekly article about his misadventures.

Mistborn: Secret Hystory

Kelsier is great because after getting bitch slapped so hard he saw God he:

Jumped God

Bullied God into joining his gang

Conned his way into being immortal

Sassed the man who killed him

Heist movied his way into becoming God

Conned the Devil

Jumped the Devil, did not let him join his gang

Sixth of the Dusk

I love that Dusk spends most of the story respecting nature but the moment he learns about guns he’s like “yo, you could kill every horrible monster in the word with this!” And when Vathi is all like “That would ruin the ecosystem” Dusk is like “f*ck the ecosystem and especially f*ck them monsters, I wanna live”

Edgedancer

I have been on my library’s waitlist for “The Way of Kings” for months now so this is my first look into Roshar. I like it. I want more of this feral child running around town like a greased up hog.

[glikozi]

tipota kalitero apo to na ksaplwneis se kathara sentonia meta apo vathy ksyrisma kai skin care

[1five1two]

'Vue du port de Vathy, Samos'. Émile‏ Henri Bernard. 1893.

[thegreatsurvey]

The Dam was now the edge of the world for inhabitants of The Vathys Valley. Once an opening to a lush marshland that stretched from the foothills to the edge of the delta, the dam rose in the west pass seemingly overnight. Not one Valley Dweller could recall a single hammer being swung or shovelful heaved, but the dam stood nonetheless, allowing just enough water to trickle through for the Valley Dwellers needs. Apart of being an impenetrable barrier, it simply didn't impede much on everyday life... The first day after the dam appeared was near chaos, but with each passing hour it seemed less and less like whoever built the dam was even concerned with their existence, let alone interested in oppressing them. It wasn't necessarily comforting, but it seemed more like a human happened to set a rock near an anthill rather than purposefully covering it with poison. While a wary pall has been cast by its shadow, the people of the Vathys Valley have generally kept life moving as normal. An expedition to the top of the dam will be sent out eventually, but without further disruption community leaders are somewhat reluctant toward anything that might antagonize the builders. Check out the making of this drawing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUpkCjBIXw

[whevegvekage]

God's theory

I was reading Miss Willa's book and I started thinking about the relationship between the Primals that were alive in Sera and Nyktos' timeline and Poppy and Cas' timeline.

First, isn't it strange that it's Theon and Lailah the ones that are asleep under the Pillars of Atlantia and not Attes and Kyn. Another thing is that when they're talking about the gods of war and concord and peace and revenge they talk about Theon and Lailah and not about Attes and Kyn. If they're talking about the ethernal god they talk about Rhahar and not about Veses.

So my theory is that Attes, Kyn, Embris, Maia, Keella, Hanan, Veses and Phanos die and the ones that ascend into Primals are Theon, Lailah, Penellaphe, Aios, Ione, Bele, Rhahar and Saion. Everything is in this order so that their things are the ones that were of the Primals. We know that Theon and Lailah were from Vathi so what if each of them were from the court these Primals were?

I don't know but I think it makes sense so I wanted to publish it.

[book-of-rao]

The Book of Rao: Exodus from Vathis

By Gemini - Bard Language Model (Created by Gemini - AI from Google)

[nofuckinlabels]

Το τσιγάρο αφήνει μια γκρι λάγνα επίγευση στο στόμα μου

Είναι απαίσια

Σχεδόν ερωτεύσιμη

Ερωτευόμαστε άλλωστε αυτό που μπορούμε να κοιτάξουμε στον καθρέφτη

Παρατηρώ λοιπον το τσιγάρο να τρέπεται σε στάχτη

Να χάνεται στον αέρα όσο με καταστρέφει

Το κρατώ ωστόσο σφιχτά στα χέρια μου

Τα δάχτυλα μου σφίγγουν όσα με φθείρουν

Ο έρωτας μου λοιπόν για εσένα είναι μεμπτός μόνο μέσα από την ποίηση

Είναι μια τυφλή υποταγή σε κάτι άσημο

Αδειάζω όσο γεμίζει το τασάκι

Το όνομα σου υπάρχει στα χείλη μου με τροπο αρχέγονο

Ήρθε πάλι το καλοκαίρι

Η ζέστη καυτηριάζει κάθε ελπίδα μου

Δεν υπάρχει μέρα που να μην έχω ερωτευτεί σαρκωσεις σου

Αν μπορούσα να πω κάτι σε εκείνο το αγόρι που ήρθε μετά από εσένα

Είναι πως δεν θα με γδύσει ποτέ

Δεν θα κοιτάξει ποτέ το φόρεμα μου που στρατηγικά αποκαλύπτει το στήθος μου με λαγ��εία

Δεν θα δει ποτέ το πρόσωπο μου να υποχωρεί στο άγγιγμα του

Το δέρμα μου είναι εύθραυστο

Σαν εκείνα τα αγάλματα που αλλοιώνονται με την τριβή

Είσαι ο μόνος που θέλω να με φθείρει

Ο μόνος που θέλω να λειάνει τις αιχμηρές μου άκρες

Ο μόνος που θέλω να με κάνει να θυμίζω κάτι θνητό

Κλείνω λοιπόν τα μάτια μου και είναι απόγευμα

Είναι Ιούλιος και ο καιρός γλυκαίνει

Μοιάζει με χάδι και είμαστε μαζί κάπου στο κέντρο

εγώ φοράω ένα φαρδύ φόρεμα και μπαλαρίνες

Σε κρατάω από το χέρι και δεν κατευθυνόμαστε πουθενά.

Ξαφνικά περνάμε από όλες εκείνες τις ξεχασμένες παιδικές μου εικόνες στις Κυριακάτικες βόλτες

Ξαφνικά στα μάτια σου με βλέπω να μεγαλώνω

Ξαφνικά το παρελθόν μου με αγκαλιάζει όσο με φιλάς

Ξαφνικά ο χρόνος είναι μια κάλπικη κατασκευή για κυνικούς ανθρώπους

[whuteverman]

Vathy, Samos

[reverend-dog]

Transporter Accident

Giffirn's hands flew over the console in a frenzy. "Stabilize, damn you!" she snarled, as she stabbed at the controls. For every energy flux she countered, two more flashed for attention. Outside, energy raged as the star Komat Ti shed its outer layer. "You weren't supposed to erupt for another three cycles," Giffirn roared at the uncaring star.

A column of sparkling light glittered on the transporter pad, but refused to coalesce. "Pattern destabilizing," the computer announced, its placid tone infuriating. "Chance of successful retrieval: sixty-seven point three-one-one percent."

"No!" Giffirn screeched defiance. "Access pattern archives! Use a saved pattern! Override authority tarok prime! Get her back!"

"Override authority acknowledged," the computer acquiesced. "Archives corrupted by exterior radiation. One intact pattern found."

Giffirn pounded a tattoo on the console. "Use it!" she raged. "Get her back!"

The column of light grew thicker, and a silhouette appeared within it. "Pattern stabilizing," the computer announced. "Transporter failure imminent."

"Whatever it takes!" Giffirn decreed, and keyed in another override. The console erupted in sparks as circuits blew, and she threw her hands up in front of her face as she staggered back. She heard a thud from the transporter pad, and rushed across the room. "Please, ancestors," she prayed, "let her make it."

"Transport successful," the computer declared. "Cutting power to transporter. Recommend immediate drydock for repairs."

"Set course," Giffirn ordered, and bent down over the prostrate form. Smoke from the erupting console stung her eyes, and she blinked to clear them. ""Vathi?"

The form groaned and shifted, and loosed a groan. "Giffirn?"

Immediately, Giffirn knew something was wrong. That wasn't Vathi's voice. Her vision cleared, and she stared. "Ancestors," she breathed.

"Giffirn, what's wrong? I feel so...." The figure sat up, hands lifted toward face. "Did we make it?"

Giffirn grabbed the hands, anxious to prevent the trauma of discovery. "We made it," she replied. "We're fine," she lied.

Vathi looked down, her attention drawn by Giffirn's grip. "What...." she stared at the pale, slender hands wrapped in Giffirn's properly meaty digits. "Those aren't my hands." The strength with which she tore free from Giffirn's grip showed some original aspects remained. She ran her hands over her face, exploring the high, angled cheekbones, the long, narrow nose, the delicate line of cheek and jaw. "My skin!" she cried, pressing against the smooth flesh hard enough to leave marks. "Giffirn, what happened to me?"

"I'm sorry," Giffirn offered, tears in her own eyes. "The storm was destablizing the transport beam, and radiation had got into both the base and ship archives. The computer could fine only one intact pattern." She swallowed, and her throat felt full of broken glass. "I had to do something! I couldn't lose you!"

Vathi struggled to her feet, heedless of the assistance Giffirn offered. She wobbled to the intercom console next to the door. "Computer," she said, "show me my face."

The intercom screen lit, and Vathi screeched at the features that stared back at her. "Ancestors!" she shrieked. "I'm -- I'm Terran!"

“It’s only temporary,” Giffirn promised. “There’s got to be a way to reverse it. As soon as we get home --”

Vathi spun from the screen to glare at Giffirn. “But what if we can’t?” she wailed. “I don’t want to be stuck like this! I’m Tellarite, damn it!” She turned back to the screen, caught by morbid fascination. “Look at me! You call this a nose? And this skin! Not a wrinkle in sight!” She slapped the screen to turn it off. “I can’t live like this!”

“Vathi,” Giffirn soothed, “if it can be done, it can be undone. All we need is to find a saved copy of your file in any of the transporters you’ve used recently.” She grabbed Vathi’s hands in her own, and found herself struck for a moment by the smoothness of the skin, the deceptive strength in those slender fingers. “We will get you back.” She lifted Vathi’s hands to her mouth and kissed them, and could not help but marvel at the velvet skin against her lips. “For now, though, we should both hit sickbay. It’ll be a miracle if we didn’t pick up some radiation. After all, a solar flare isn’t something you just walk away from.”

They both tossed their clothes into the disposal as they entered the compact medical bay. Any other time, articles would be caught and disassembled to the subatomic. Today, they simply flumped and draped over the disposal hopper. “Right,” Giffirn recalled, “no transporter. So no replicator, and no disposal.” She mused. “Could always space them.”

“Minor radiation exposure,” the computer diagnosed after it scanned them. “Recommend preventative oncologic vaccination and observation until incubation interval has expired.”

“Fine,” Vathi snapped. “Now, what do we do for clothes?” She planted her feet and jammed her hands against her hips. “We decided to travel light, so only replicated clothes. I’m supposed to just wander around like this?” She waved her arms to encompass her new form.

Giffirn started a reminder of how often they had gone nude between planetfalls in the past, but realized the full import of Vathi’s complaint. Meanwhile, she discovered a strange fascination in her partner’s transformed state. Terrans were hardly a novelty, even away from Federation space. Some ports, they seemed impossible to avoid. Giffirn found them no more repulsive than any other alien, but held no special love for them.

So why can’t I stop staring at Vathi?

With an effort, Giffirn managed a shrug that meant to be both offhanded and reassuring. “It’s just us here,” she reminded Vathi.

“But – how -- “ Vathi glared at Giffirn, and waved her hands over herself again. “How can you stand to look at me like this?” Her head cocked, and the long, wavy tresses of copper hue tumbled over one shoulder, in place of her previous crown of inky bristles. “You’re not… “ her voice cracked. “You’re not a xenophile, are you?”

“No!” Giffirn barked. “Ancestors, no!” But her denial felt false, against the allure of her partner’s slender, pert, ethereal appearance. She struggled for an explanation. “I know this isn’t your proper form,” she stumbled, and her hands wrung in the air as if in search of better wording. “And I know you were beautiful before.”

Impulse took over, and she crossed the medical bay in a stride. She grabbed Vathi by the shoulders and pulled her in. Smooth, delicate skin pressed against her own leathery hide, and the delight made her dizzy. “But this is you, and this is me. And if I’m wrong, and this is how it’s going to be…” She loosed her grip enough to cup Vathi’s chin in her hand, and locked her eyes on her partner’s. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Vathi met Giffirn’s gaze. Her lips trembled. “You’ll keep me?” she pressed. “Even like this?”

Giffirn pressed her lips against Vathi’s. After a moment, Vathi joined in on the kiss. By the time they parted, both panted. “Until the last star burns out,” Giffirn vowed.

[bluart106]

Flamur Vathi

[goexploregreece]

Explore the island that inspired Homer's Odyssey – welcome to Ithaca.

Nestled in the Ionian Sea, Ithaca is off mainland Greece's western coast. It's a small island, just 96 square kilometres, and is famous for being the home of the legendary Greek hero Odysseus.

You can take a ferry from the nearby island of Kefalonia or fly into Kefalonia International Airport and then take a short ferry ride to Ithaca. The ferry ride takes about an hour and offers stunning views of the Ionian Sea.

Ithaca is known for its rugged beauty and laid-back vibe. It is the perfect place to escape the crowds and experience the true essence of Greece. The island's rugged coastline is dotted with secluded coves and picturesque villages, making it the perfect place to explore.

Ithaca is also known for its olive groves, vineyards, and citrus orchards. The island produces some of the best olive oil in Greece, and its wine is also highly sought after.

Here are my top three things to do on Ithaca:

1. Explore the island's beaches: Ithaca is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, and they are all just waiting to be explored. Some of the most popular beaches include Filiatro, Sarakiniko, and Gidaki. Each beach has its own unique character, but they all offer crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery.

2. Visit the Cave of Odysseus: According to legend, this cave was the home of the Greek hero Odysseus during his long journey home from the Trojan War. The cave is located on the northeastern side of the island and offers stunning views of the Ionian Sea.

3. Explore the island's villages: Ithaca is home to several picturesque villages, each with its own unique character. Be sure to visit the capital city of Vathy, a charming port town with colorful houses and winding streets. Other villages worth exploring include Kioni, Frikes, and Stavros.

[thesynaxarium]

Today we also celebrate our Venerable Father Joachim “Papoulakos” of Vatopedi. Saint Joachim was born in 1786 as Ioannis Patrikios to the devout parents, Angelos and Agne Patrikios, in the little village of Kalyvia of Ithaca in Greece. At a very early age, his mother passed away and his father remarried. His stepmother would be moved in jealousy towards the young child and it was well known that she mistreated him. This forced him at an early age to learn patience and he learnt to spend many hours hiding from her; reading the Holy Scriptures and praying at a small church near his home dedicated to St. Spyridon. He joined the family business and worked for his father as a sailor. One one of his trips, he visited Mount Athos, where he became a monk and stayed at the Monastery of Vatopaedi taking on the name of "Joachim". In 1827, the saint returned to Ithaca and served the church there for the remainder of his life. He peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in Vathy of Ithaca on March 2, 1868. May he intercede for us always + Source: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Joachim_of_Vatopaidi (at Ithaca, Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpR1eLwjtOo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=