#a blind faith in someone that will lead you to your doom? that's ship of dreams type nonsense

[jonathanbyersphd]

after the russian secret base mall, I think my second biggest gripe with s3 is the way it decimated Hopper's character for the bit

[avehi-the-adamant]

Second Chances

By now, the Exodar had long served as a home for the Draenei. Having used it to flee their shattered and doomed territories on Draenor, the Exodar was a familiar comfort to many. But to Avehi, it was a stifling cradle which she had outgrown. Once she called it home, yes. But even before her ill-timed fate, the Exodar was never a place she wished to spend her days. It was a trap; the Prophet chose to remain to be among his people, and the skittish people remained to cling unto the Prophet. Why here? It was just a ship, after all; a vessel meant to translocate her people to a safer world. And it had… years ago. Her people weren’t meant to live in the wreckage of the vessel that brought them here! Now, the Exodar only served as a hive for those too scared or afraid to venture out further than the Isles. It had become a breeding ground for xenophobia and closed-mindedness. And the Death Knight found it abhorrent.

Returning was never pleasant; for that reason, and others. The irritating tinge of Light energies soaked into every stone and crystal felt irradiating to her now. It had been years now, since O’ros was destroyed here by the Legion. But his presence remained, permeated into the vessel itself. It was stifling. Avehi’s lips curled to an uncomfortable snarl as she paced through the metallic corridors. She’d come here with a purpose, but every step she took made her wonder whether or not it was worth the trouble. She had almost turned back twice, now. But both times, Raetos’ face flashed across her mind’s eye. His words echoing in her thoughts.

“He is actually sorry and apologetic for what he did…”

“He knows he did wrong. He died for it. The Grand Vindicator judged that he deserved a chance to repent and make amends… “

“Repentance means he learned and aims to do better…”

‘Damn it, Raetos…’ she thought to herself, in a huff. How could someone so dumb also be so wise? It didn’t help at all that he, himself, was living proof that a zealot could reform and better themselves. He was almost worse than Argonas was, when she first met him. Argonas at least treated her with a modicum of reverence for having perished in battle. Raetos, meanwhile, had insisted she hadn’t joined with the Light because her faith wasn’t strong enough. But he’d come so far since then; now, he was dating a Void Elf and lecturing her on not judging others by their practices and beliefs. She hated that he was right about Argonas-- he at least deserved a chance at repentance. And that’s why she was here.

Avehi stepped out into the Crystal Halls; of all the sections of the Exodar, this was her favorite. Serene and calming, without the blinding Light glaring down from every corner. No, it was a relaxing place, with reflecting pools and - as the name implied - softly-glowing purple and blue crystals. It reminded her of Shadowmoon Valley, and the time she spent there with her mother. Perhaps that was why it seemed to calm her irritations. As expected, she saw a familiar broad-shouldered figure kneeling beside one of the pools. She knew few Draenei as large in stature as Argonas; one of only a few mortals whose natural strength rivaled the unholy strength granted to her by virtue of undeath. She remembered learning that in their grapple when all of his interference first began…

--No, she pushed the thought from her mind! That train of thought was a slippery slope to changing the tone of this visit from forgiving to vindictive. That wasn’t why she was here.

“Argonas.” she called out, stopping a comfortable distance from him.

He turned, tail twitching as his name was called. Argonas stood as he looked at Avehi. He’d let himself go, it seemed-- generally he was very precise about his professional and clean appearance, trimming his hair and keeping clean-shaven. But now, he bore a thick beard, and the hair behind his crest was easily twice as long as usual, tied back into a loose ponytail. He wasn’t in his armor today; another deviation from his norm. Instead, he wore a simple sleeveless shirt and cotton-woven pants. Avehi peered at the runic scars etched into his arms. She’d heard of what happened to him in Tanaan… but had never seen the scars until now. Argonas approached, expression both hopeful and contrite. He bowed his head, stopping an arm’s length from Avehi.

“Sister… you bring news? Is it time?” he asked, a glint of determination in his tone.

Honestly, it had been some time since Argonas referred to Avehi as ‘Sister’. The honorific dealt between Draenei helped instill a sense of community and equality among one another. It wasn’t fitting to call your betters-- Argonas would never call the High Vindicator ‘Brother’, for example. But the act of not calling Avehi ‘Sister’ for so long was, admittedly, scornful. Petty, even. Just another of his wrongdoings for which he had to atone. He was still wary of Avehi, but no longer for the same reasons as before. He had seen what awaited the departed in the Maw. He bore witness to the horrors those killed and cast into it had to endure. Avehi was fighting to right those wrongs. He knew that now. What had him wary was Avehi’s demeanor in Arathi, as he was brought back. He was wary of the pain he’d caused her, knew full well that were their positions reversed… he’d be vengeful. Why wouldn’t she be?

Much to Argonas’ surprise, Avehi didn’t appear hostile. Her expression still bore the beginnings of a scowl, but somehow dulled. Softened. She didn’t seem as mad… more disappointed. Somehow it was worse.

“Not yet. Not for you.” Avehi replied, plainly. “I am not here with any news. Rather… to speak.”

“Speak?” Argonas blinked, confused.

“To… check on you.”

Avehi glanced away, tail flickering. This was harder than she had anticipated. Awkward and tense. She and Argonas had never been close, despite sharing similar experiences. Both were trained by High Vindicator Khanaros, but at separate times. They lived in separate regions on Draenor, and were assigned to different posts. Their lives had taken them down different paths, even along the same major events. When the Exodar crashed on Azeroth, Argonas mourned his fallen love while Avehi ventured out to deliver vengeance upon the elves that sabotaged their ship. And yet, for all their differences, they had similarities in their paths, too. Again, trained by Khanaros, who forged them into some of the best defenders of their people. Their parents were artisans, crafting weapons, armor, and tools from metal and crystal. And now, just as dying had opened Avehi’s eyes… it had opened Argonas’ eyes, too. Considering that helped to dissipate some of the tension.

“When I died and came back… it was shocking to me, as well.” she explained, her gaze meeting his again. “One of the short-comings of such a singular path, like how you and I were brought up, is that we never learned to deal with the reality that the sole path we’re taught doesn’t account for everything. For me, being raised as undead rather than joining with the Light, like I was promised, was more painful to me than when I actually died.”

Argonas was speechless; for the best. Listening seemed much more appropriate as Avehi opened up to him. He didn’t expect her to sympathize with him… or honestly, to even try. In all the time he’d known her, she’d never reached out to find any measure of common ground between them. Then again… neither did he. The two were so caught up in their differences, they never considered the experiences they shared. And now, of all things, dying was one of them.

“I suppose what I’m saying is… I know what you’re experiencing right now. Before I died, I was like you.” she went on. “I… looked down on anyone who did not incorporate the Light into their lives. But the Light alone can’t answer all the problems we face. History has proven that, too; the Krokul and shamanism helped us to heal the land and gain allies in the elements. The Demon Hunters, too, helped us return to Argus and join with our Lightforged kin to defeat the Legion. And now… those like me who are undead will lead us into the Shadowlands to fight for the souls of our people!”

She recoiled some at her own words-- not out of any disbelief or discomfort with them. But she hadn’t intended to lay on the point so heavily. As she well knew, Argonas was experiencing a crisis of identity. All he knew was altered. And it wasn’t an easy realization to accept. But she had hoped that, in highlighting truths she had learned, that he’d manage to cope with it better.

“You see that now, yes?” she asked, in a calmer tone. “The Light is one of many paths. And all paths have their uses.”

“I… know this.” Argonas nodded, brow furrowed slightly. “I have always known this. But… until now, I have always managed to accomplish what was needed through the Light. Even surviving on Argus was the Light’s doing. It delivered me from death. What bothers me is… I have never known why. I still do not. Why would the Light spare me, if there is nothing I can do for my people?”

“Nothing? Argonas…” Avehi frowned, shaking her head. “You are a Vindicator. A protector of our people. There is much you can do for our people. Those living, and those departed.”

She reached forward, placing her cold, plated hand on Argonas’ shoulder. Her lichfire eyes pierced his now, commanding his full attention-- and he gave it entirely to her, both wary and intrigued.

“You’ve learned much you would not have, had you died on Argus, yes? What good would you be to our people dead, trapped in the Maw?” she asked. “You want to know why the Light delivered you? To help deliver more of our people from that terrible fate. People like Sinafay.”

“--Y-Yes! Yes, I must save her!”

“We must save her. We must save all of our kin, Argonas. You would not know that, nor be equipped to, if you had died on Argus.”

She jostled him, emphasizing her point before pulling her hand back. With a nod, she stepped back from Argonas. His expression had changed to one of pure conviction. He peered back at Avehi, and returned the nod.

“You… are right. This affects not just Sinafay, but all our people. And I… I cannot make a difference myself. The Light can help, but I must get there, first. And that is what you can do, yes? That is what you and the Ebon Blade are working towards?”

“Mm. The time will come soon.” Avehi replied. “And when it does… you will come with me. We will redeem our trapped kin together.”

Standing tall and proud once more, Argonas grunted his affirmation. It seemed to be precisely what he needed-- a call to arms. A purpose. And Avehi was somehow glad to see his spirit lifted and his motivation restored. And now… toward a goal they shared. He smiled at Avehi, and bowed his head.

“Thank you, Avehi. I… know I have not treated you well in the past.” he apologized, sincerely. “I appreciate you including me in this important work, nonetheless. I am in your debt.”

Avehi shook her head, and returned the smile. She could tell Argonas was earnest in his contrition. She knew well what he was enduring. The pain he faced, and the resolve he needed to find purpose after such a traumatic shattering of his reality. It was something she needed once, too. Raetos’ words echoed once more in her mind; and she echoed them here now, to Argonas.

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

[captainswanspancakes]

A Pirate’s Life for Him (2/?)

Lieutenant Killian Jones loathes pirates. Captain Emma Swan loathes the navy. As fate would have it, they end up stranded on an island together, neither knowing that they were hunting the other. Word Count (per chapter): 1047 Chapters: 1 2 3 4 Huge thanks to @space-whales for being an incredible beta! Read it on ao3 here ~ Read my other fics here

Killian’s faith in his older brother had always remained the unwavering force in his life. However, now that he was standing on a sandy shore, weak, in once-military clothing (now tattered rags), he felt bitter about trusting him. He had known it was a bad idea to go towards the storm. Especially after the pirates had attacked them and then gone in the opposite direction. Part of him knew that being mad at Liam was one of the ways he was dealing (or rather, not dealing) with his probable death. But he would rather feel angry than the unending guilt that would ensue should he attempt to come to terms with his brother’s death.

Killian couldn’t remember how he had ended up on the shore. The last thing he did remember was she incessant shouting (or was it the wind howling?) as everyone tried giving orders, ultimately doing whatever they wanted to. Liam was trying to take back control but the crew had gone berserk, refusing to listen to the man who was leading them towards the storm. Killian understood their plight but took Liam’s side regardless, personally approaching each crew member and relaying the orders his brother had given. Some obeyed, others didn’t.

It wasn’t long before Killian realised that they were doomed. The ship was beginning to fall apart; the sail had come undone and was flapping in the wind, completely out of control. The crew were all scuttling around trying to stay alive. But what scared Killian more than anything was Liam’s reaction. He remembered a time when, even in the face of a crisis, his brother stayed calm and collected. Killian hadn’t realised, until this very moment, that Liam had been staying calm for both of them. But now that they were staring death in the face, he stood frozen in spot, jerking back to reality only when the ship groaned.

The next wave crashed, pushing Killian to the edge. He felt strong arms grab him before he actually hit the edge and, once the water had passed, realised that it was Liam.

“Careful, little brother,” he said, pulling Killian close to him. Killian nodded, Liam’s steady voice calming him a little. Liam looked around, evidently distraught by the effect of the storm and then, looking back at Killian said, “You need to jump off.”

“What?”

“It’s your only chance at surviving this storm, Killian.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Killian said, a little upset that his brother would even think that he would abandon him.

“Killian, I’m trying to give you your best shot. Remember what I said: we are survivors. But as a captain, I have to go down with my ship. You don’t have any such obligation,” Liam said with such earnest that Killian almost felt compelled to jump off. Instead, he said, “So you’d rather I die in the stormy sea than on a slippery deck?”

“You won’t die at sea, I swear it.”

“How can you be so certain?” Killian asked, his eyes narrowing at this promise.

“I can’t tell you. Please, do as I say,” Liam replied, only increasing Killian’s suspicion. He shook his head firmly and said, “I will not abandon you, brother.”

“Then take this,” Liam pulled off the giant ring he wore on his hand. Killian had never presumed to ask where came from - he figured it was a souvenir of one of Liam’s flings from the few weeks they spent on land. But him taking off the ring amplified his curiosity tenfold. He put on the ring - it was loose. For the first time in hours (and possibly for the last time), Killian saw Liam smile. He took off the chain he wore and gave that to Killian too. Putting the ring on the chain, Killian put it on, the feeling of ice cold metal against his chest sending shivers down his spine.

“Forgive me, little brother,” Liam said before Killian could ask for the ring’s significance. He frowned, confused when he felt something hit him from behind and fell, blacking out.

“Goodbye, Killian,” Liam’s voice was fuzzily registered as Killian felt himself wake up a little. He didn’t remember anything after that.

Now, standing on the shore, he stared at the sea, longing to return to the ship - to his brother; to home. His hand went up to his neck, pulling the ring out. It glinted in the strong sunlight as he turned it over between his fingers, wondering if he’d ever know what had happened to the man who had given it to him. He felt a sudden urge to rip it off and throw it into the ocean - to where his brother was. Instead he let it drop from his hand, letting it bounce off his chest once before it hung in silence. It was then that he realised his thirst and hunger. It was then that he realised how weak he felt. How close his legs were to giving way beneath him. For the first time he looked around at the beach: practically white, the sand sparkling in the harsh sun, the trees that fringed the forest swaying with the light breeze. There were rocks in the edge near him and he saw something glint at him - stuck between the rocks.

Approaching the metal, he used what felt like the last of his strength to pull it out: a sword. He stared at it in wonder - it was a little worn thanks to the rock but could still cut through flesh with ease. The scabbard was lying nearby too, half-sunken in the sand. He freed it with little difficulty and sheathed the sword, thankful for a weapon on this unknown land. He then made his way towards the forest, his stomach growling and his head spinning. He felt like a blind animal running headfirst into danger but once he started walking, he couldn’t stop. He knew if he did, he would fall - a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

He could see a clearing up ahead and approached cautiously, hand on sword in case he needed to draw it. He emerged into the clearing and saw someone. He didn’t even see their face but drew his sword regardless, holding it out at them.

[dailychapel]

Father, I ask You for a fresh vision for what breakthrough will look like in my life. Help me to pursue healing while I wait for my miracle. Show me how to rest right in the middle of the storm. Help me to enjoy the feast You prepare for me, right in the middle of the battlefield. I want my whole life to testify that there’s a God in heaven who knows my name and who will get me safely home. Fill me afresh with the wonder of Your love and power. I am determined to win this battle with anxiety. Help me to discern when to rest, when to feast, and how to actively engage my faith as I wait for You to breakthrough. May my life display Your power. Do the impossible in and through me, I pray. Amen.

[Psa 135:1-7 NLT] 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD! Praise him, you who serve the LORD, 2 you who serve in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; celebrate his lovely name with music. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. 5 I know the greatness of the LORD--that our Lord is greater than any other god. 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. 7 He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.

[Jon 1:1-17 NLT] 1 The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are." 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. 4 But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. "How can you sleep at a time like this?" he shouted. "Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives." 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 "Why has this awful storm come down on us?" they demanded. "Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?" 9 Jonah answered, "I am a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." 10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, "What should we do to you to stop this storm?" 12 "Throw me into the sea," Jonah said, "and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault." 13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn't make it. 14 Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah's God. "O LORD," they pleaded, "don't make us die for this man's sin. And don't hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons." 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the LORD's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. 17 Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

[Mat 12:22-32 NLT] 22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger--someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. 30 "Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me. 31 "So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

[glopratchet]

battle-words

Konchu collector "Ah, I have heard of your exploits many times before It is a shame that you are not here to see them though The Konchu are very strong and intelligent creatures and would easily take advantage of the situation if they could But as it stands now we have no one else in our area who can handle this problem other than yourself and me So let us work together to get rid of these pests once and for all! Bloodbath "I'm glad you agree We will be ready when the time comes The Collector leaves you alone with his words and you decide to leave him be until he gets back so you can go on about your business You don't think too much more of what he said but then again he probably was just trying to reassure himself that everything would be alright Operation: catch a gator While its no armor its light enough to not weigh you down and its tough enough to provide some protection, not to mention you've customized it a bit with some assorted straps and elastic bands for when you are holding multiple throwing knives You wake up early in the morning as you normally do and put on your favorite bush out After eating a quick meal of quality street you head out towards the sewer entrance that your clue led you to Bite your toungues these sewers will run red with all your blood After some tracking and information gathering you have found the home base of the reptile gang A rather large entryway to the sewer but certainly well watched, every time they see someone new coming into their territory they attack with intent to kill However since you arrived very early in the morning there are none along their part of the sewers Bite your toungues, Primal ponds crawling with rodents, water beset with lizards Slowly you slink along your path, ready at every turn With deftness beyond compare you avoid the gaze of serpents and evade the step of unrelenting crocodiles Activate upon entering the sewers: Snakes are awakening, hear them hiss Primal ponds crawling with rodents, Gator run and gun, bare hand beat 'em Smash and bash, don't forget T-Bone's bash You arrive at the underneath of a building connected to the reptile gang headquarters and the only way in since the nearest manhole is watched carefully Already holding your throwing knives in your hand you get ready to go in quickly Marking walls with your clues should've gotten us in J's heart Gator run and gun, Hunters heaven turns to hunters hell The sound of an alligator loudly snapped its jaw close to your ear, as you looked behind you thinking a gator had snuck up on you but there was nothing there except the darkness and shadows There was no time to investigate though as you were too busy trying to avoid the spotlight of security guards spotlight searching for intruders Rolling into a nearby alley without conflict, you decide to rethink your plan since wandering into their line of sight again would undoubtedly spell your doom Hunters heaven turns to hunters hell Posionous pair razors during night attacks, rally hordesies when light shows You could head further underground and try to find another way in that isn't as well defended meanwhile risking running out of oxygen, you could sneak back out of the sewers and try to enter through another entrance that isn't guarded as heavily or you could try talk your way in as one of the gang members Dive in deep, play a soaking wet; reptilian rep Posionous pair razors during night attacks, Cold blooded combo king of the wild Sneak or slay? Cold blooded combo, Newlywed game hunter heads deep inside young dragon's den Game on, choose your next step with care You spend the next couple of minutes carefully trying to peek out of the shadows to see if you can spot where the guards are before making your decision Well they aren't greenskins but they might as well be, sneaking in at this point seems really dicey Newlywed game hunter heads deep inside young dragon's den Dragon's tail stay still or trust? You decided since you were already this far that changing up your plans a bit was probably best You told your mentor Captain Jay about your idea and he just let out a few "yeah sounds good uh huh sure's" before ending the transradio communication which made you very worried Later in the night when the gang was winding down from partying and most had passed out you rowed your boat over to the shore just beneath the building Dragon's tail stay still or trust? Or d'oeurve with homies, Blackscales let down your hair The orange light of the nearby street lamps reflecting off the swamp water was the only natural light you had to see to row by so it's no surprise that you were significantly dismayed when you reached your desired location only to find that you had headed to a part of the shoreline that was not only still very well lit but alsohad multiple Blackscales sitting around drinking and singing raucous songs out of beat Or d'oeurve with homies, Dance with dragons bare their fangs; you can't crawl back, you must bust in Approaching the water's edge you did your best to keep out of sight slamming your oar into the soft muddy river bottom to propel yourself forward at a remarkable speed Dance with dragons, Glicaial grinder hacks dragon hide, Butch lets down Bi: Glicaial grinder hacks dragon hide, All you can eat gator and all you can drink blood; join us or be food J-Dog Muddy water splashes your face as you are about to make contact and then suddenly you hear someone close by shout "do you see that? quick as can be you hide under water waiting f or them to pass Nine hostiles, just gotta bide your time hiding in the fluid All you can eat gator and all you can drink blood; with ale and friends, wont be long now, they'll turn up the heat Take cover if you can, boat boy's got thename J-Hos You realise that it was probably Mo who woke everyone up and felt really bad about it You wait for another chance to get a free look at your surroundings before making a break for it when you hear "last call! Anyone else heading back to the dorms or doing an all nighter? Chasing tail with ale and friends, Claw clash bring unmatched force; you're hidden, but they still assess: You've been seen G-d blind 'em, like SHARKS Suddenly several of the Blackscales start making their way directly towards your location and you realise you've got 2 choices; reveal yourself and try to fight your way past them or wait there and try to explain yourself after the five minute interruption is over Only in AMERICAES! can anyone level up just by posting! Claw clash, Tiger-sharq flies high in sky, pecks black soul Fire special tonight: burn baby burn! J-dog Blackscales start going back to sleep "alright you lot make some noise if you want breakfast in the morning" Mo says and stumbles away towards the dorms leaving you with a perfect opening Option 1: Strike now, towards the dorms? More foes, but softer enemies Tiger-sharq flies high in sky, Rival clash never second rate; fight soft, land hard, mislead the dead Rival clash, bring winner's badge; hit now, types may clash Jat'hana You grab your oar again and quickly row away from the shore to avoid being seen by any late sleepers or early risers You have a clear shot at the patio AND you won't have to deal with any Blackscales on the way there! After landing and sneaking inside the Jones's residence you cross your fingers and pray that nobody saw you arrive Better play it safe than sorry Beast not quite busted, Brute force might win the day but stealth is the key for a reason so you'll need to proceed with caution Also, just found out that posting this will start replacing the numbers! Bible back, our faith grows strong; push up and in, word fist, rip out theirons WIN Brute force might win the day but stealth is the key for a reason so you'll need to proceed with caution Break head count, strikebone; powers play, swing share You're getting good at this hiding in plain sight stuff, Mo must have been a big influence on you Back when he first joined hordes of the dead he stashed his bike in a garage Perfect place for making sure no one saw you arrive Break head count, Break back outfox foe; steep overstrike, jack shall woe Wandering the halls you happen upon a staircase headed straight down and decide to follow it since chances are it might lead you to a good place to start looking (As good as anywhere really) Wyrm fights dumb- blood simplest tool; strike home quick, tongue venom fast J-Sle Slogging litres of water every day can really quench your thirst! Break back, Shiny penny warms heart without fire For-profit fun? The Lord and You agree! Door reads " Conference Room B" Not wrong, but not right either, the penny warms the gruagag's heart! Wyrmling wedge wend, weave blind web weak Taint tears tide, words ignite, shed shine scary oil slick slow sly sly snare Got it! Shiny penny warms heart without fire Capture writhecrunch, burn book splinter; all grain angels beckon, lost yell learn law Jonavor What kind of twisted language is this? Bend knee in greed, harsh brew heal hide Flog foe formed front, loot lash to stern fronted lord judge jury pledge connect prose torn Capture writhecrunch, Tail carve trust bud, moan luck trust; soften sneer gold hard sigh core sorn I give up! Sorry, trying to decipher this is giving me a splitting headache Guess you guys are better off not knowing what the shadows are up to! Tail carve trust bud, Break horns hang gold gloss; ghost glory on, tusk torque reign straightJat'hana You come to the end of a hallway and find a strange device that looks somewhat like an old phonograph This looks awfully familiar Pour open book pits vipers; play ride air ship shoe Jat'hanna Spin tails flip scroll; word ward up fierce dull goods Peering through the lens: things become much clearer! Break horns hang gold gloss; Break chest hit pots love; moot point ward, foot path ward, set thought lantern bright joy Are those jars of spiders and snakes? What kind of sick Pigpen created this mess! I'm half tempted to see what becomes of those poor mushrooms after they're agitated by all these live reptiles! Even at the expense of giving Vic a strokes, this whole thing reeks of Mo Break chest hit pots love; Mouth carve tour sway judge; dust oath law drop fix forge Might could be good to remember that last line Time to continue your search of the place Such glee creating this thing, can't believe no hoodlum dare touch! From one madman to another Jata, from one madman to another Find best pals pile heads troves; burn then bath bench boot steal crave sofa blend brew big bed hops Mouth carve tour sway judge; Top body carve wring bone; land gain belly, dumb hair glow dawn Any idea what any of this means? Join hidden flip tail bash; blood mud banks spray laugh stalk hairy cash hay sorry rash ash match grip hum friends Stay! Play! Fire burn gold bug house bricks Kids! Yep, sounds like kids enjoying themselves, and according to the next riddle, there's someplace fun to be had in here Top body carve wring bone; Lower body carve Grim quartet hook worm fence; hang land gain rail cart sparks sorry rash find shed splatter lash pits ash play, harness body taps play mash bring, flick mock toss prowl prowl gold bright, floss dance hum friend Peddle chips push grime whip hone; heel jay junk mock job coat plugs sky shine blue find lane learn downs know lanes ring rows best shoes! This is so odd Those poor kids are used as laborers Grim quartet hook worm fence; Fur fixation bust black pelt; coal fast lane star chuck spark junk tame mail Sow Fat chance mill knit brow; oil huge plug potash gold wrath pump token pink stink push shin pies raw coin Probably should get out of here before I make a mistake z shift roof bleat splat calm rash long lash mark; vow vowels wool shale blot soft coil, well well donge honk slope mound halt Stop what? Fur fixation bust black pelt; Lab parnters trump flash dash groom leash; sand fast burn flat drop ; (up) bulb loop snot vow pews fleece latch shank crown There are definitely two sets of tracks up ahead, and there's a fork just after where the tunnel splits into three paths It seems the paths continue in parallel for a short while, criss-crossing each other repeatedly before re-joining this main passageway at staggered intervals Lab parnters trump flash dash groom leash; Beyond brawn force ring rust dare dust site die; lip lock vow shadow rift bank vow hone hack cherry ridge lash cod hole flash grin fast This entire area all the way down the passageway and into the tunnels beyond has been dug through and clogged with these crustacean type creatures It's been stuffed with a very dense flesh that's toxic to humans, at least for long periods of time ---o--- THE END! Another Birthday, another little story, simple as that Beyond brawn force ring rust dare dust site die; Drops of Nausea has some pretty darn interesting sets of riddles leading to one, of four different endings, and getting there is half the fun Since there are multiple riddles ; (and their answers can potentially offer a number of outcomes) it's possible to get some insanely stupid results if you don't pay attention, mainly due to poor Jata Drops of Nausea has some pretty darn interesting sets of riddles leading to one, but which of us is perfect? waw that's different Never pegged you as a romantic but Oh! The story! Right! Anyway, this collection of riddles definitely wasn't one of the major breadwinners for the company ; (though back in earlier years it probably accounted for half of starting income regularly) It was probably the hardest one to do, conceptually There are a couple more of these adventured based riddle quests, but not many and none of the rest are in the same style I'm not following What about drops of nausea? *facepalms* Riddles? Nevermind That explains quite a bit actually Basically, he's a salesman with an over-active imagination and physical aspirations The individual releases rarely did that well, it was only when we bundled the trilogy together into one game that people seemed to really go for it Remember we did that With the othe rilogy games you worked on ; (on a much smaller scale obviously) Hell, combining all of your releases probably accounts for over half of our total income at this point OK, sure, but considering some of the stuff I've worked on lately, you'd think that they'd be able to rival these riddle games in terms of revenue if sold separately Right? I mean aren't there hentai games that are simpler than what ive been making for the past few years? (Sigh) The otaku market is a bit of a gamble at the best of times, and while some of these games are critically praised, they're not exactly titles that most people would buy given the choice ; (then again, 90% of everything is like that : Again it's tough to justify large expenditures of time and money to expand such a specific genre so you're saying that I'm going to be making these for several more years? Well we do have a steady base, and When they aren't harping on about their /guaranteed/ internal innovations or personal artistic vision ; (Though really, it's hard to argue when you have so many people who want the same thing over and over again), these guys are pretty easy to work with You get used to the foibles of the fanbase of a franchise