#antipodes island

[edinzphoto]

Ten ways to photograph an Albatross

Albatross, ten ways. There are more! How do we keep things fresh and creative when we're photographing the same subjects day after day?

Classic portrait Are we surprised that I took lots of albatross photographs during three months living and working on Antipodes island? Not really. But how do you keep things fresh and interesting from a photographic point of view? There are only so many ways to make images of big glorious birds causing around the landscape. Birdscape My most-used lens for the trip was the Nikon 28-200mm.…

[violetsandshrikes]

SO

Reischek's parakeet!

we think there is about 4,000-6,000 of them spread out throughout the subantarctic islands (including all the little satellite islands) where you’ll mainly find them on the plains, coastal fringes or occupying currently empty penguin colonies

we don’t know too much about their ecology, but we do know they make burrows in big tussock plants (mainly during the breeding season), that they bask and preen together in sheltered areas, and they’re strong fliers (strong enough to fly between island)

the majority of their diet is plant matter, but they’re also known to eat invertebrates, and occasionally scavenge dead petrels and albatrosses

Antipodes parakeet!

these guys are really notable for their diet and food ecology. they mainly eat leaves, however they are well-known for scavenging bird carcasses and broken eggs, and more surprisingly - they go into burrows and kill and eat grey-backed storm petrels (this makes them the second occasionally predatory parrot in aotearoa alongside the kea)

you’ll find these guys also in the subantarctic antipodes islands, in sedges and tussocks, and mainly along slopes and streams. we currently believe there is anywhere between 1,000-2,000 of them across islands

these guys also tunnel and utilise seabird labyrinths throughout tussocks and grasses. so they’re also really well-known for disappearing and popping up a surprising distance away when startled. they are capable of strong flight but they don’t seem to like to use it, so they tend to only fly very short bursts, and are seen hopping around a lot

other lesser known parrot species i would love to see hyped up: Reischek's parakeet and Antipodes parakeet!! they’re hanging out down on the subantarctic islands and they are very cool

[herpsandbirds]

Antipodes Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor), family Psittaculidae, endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand

photograph by Kimberley Collins

[ilikeabba]

why are all these fucking european ships crashing on an island in the south pacific, but no pacific islanders ever crash there. how did jacob and the smoke monsters bio-mom even get there in the year 0 (?? THE YEAR 0 WASNT EVEN REAL, it goes 1 bc, 1 ad) from the roman empire. what were they doing literally half way across the world when they did all their conquering locally (if we didnt see it was a shipwreck i wouldve assumed it was the antipode in tunisia or something) is the island a white people magnet? im serious. i can only think of one non-european/anglo vessel that crashed on the island, eko's brother's plane.

[tanadrin]

According to Wikipedia, the small volcanic island of Rapa Iti is the nearest island to the antipode of Jerusalem.

I don't know what to do with this fact, but it feels like it should somehow be significant.

[gortashs-skidmark]

Antipode | (LOZ: SS X READER)

Chapter 1 teaser.

There will be more chapters coming on my wattpad and quotev accounts!!

✪✪✪

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬. The academy was out for the day. They used to wait at the stairs for their associate but not-so-recent developments sheltered them from doing so. Fledge ran down the stairs. The heel of his boot didn't grip the very edge of the step sending him sliding down the staircase on his rear. The redness in his cheeks spread to the tips of his pointed ears. He had tutoring today at the docks.

His first flight. 

Loftwings were scarcely bred and he was determined to get his certification so he could be a rider. He could ride far, far away from the bullies. He knew he lacked in every corner of knightly attributes. That's why (y/n) was assigned to help him.

They were head of the nightshift guard, a tedious position to hold. Most riders only went out during the daylight hour. It took immense trust between rider and loftwing to ride together into dark nothingness. (y/n)'s loftwing was born blind, they 'gave a dud to a dud' as their tutor would say, riding into the night was no different to daylight. Some may call it a feat and an upper-hand, but only because (y/n) thought of the feat first. And everyone didn't like (y/n). It was a matter of maturity versus brilliance. 

No one had seen Fledge run this fast. Today, he'd prove where he landed on the rung of the ladder. He saw (y/n) in the distance, they stood with their chest puffed out and their eyes searching the skies ahead. Their loftwing was on one foot with its head twisted tucked into it's wing, fast asleep. He wondered if he was late, but it wasn't possible. 

They heard the shuffling on the grass behind them and loosened the security on themselves. They knew it was Fledge. It almost impressed them how fast he was running. His stamina couldn't withstand much.

"𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗒." they quietly acknowledged. 

He gulped trying to coat his throat with any saliva he had and ducked his head down for more air. He held up a numb finger telling them to wait. 

"𝖲𝗉𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍." They shifted onto their hip and looked out on Skyloft. They could see the other students mingling across the island. Each one was unmistakably identifiable.

✪✪✪

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐭 '𝐌𝐢𝐚'. He'd asked you to come by sometime to talk about your future. He was the school advisor but you'd graduated about a year and a half ago. Last time you were called into an office at the academy was after graduation. Gaepora presented you with a rapier, that now decorated your hip at all times. It was your mother's, like you cared. 

'I did all of this work for a lousy sword from a dead broad? I knew her in fewer moments than vast and long hours I think about her. Wonderful reminder. Anyway I have no more obligations here, so long gae-ass.' 

Gaepora did not appreciate your kitschy attitude. But it was the first time he'd felt like he'd seen your true colors. You were quiet and accommodating. Nothing with connotative emotion. The teachers had nothing notable to say about you. You were cold and stern 'underneath it all'.

You didn't act that way underneath a mask like Gaepora pointed out to you, it just never needed to manifest. Your resentment for him grew everyday you were at that academy. You would preach to your journal about his flawed character and his daughter. It was not hard to admit the jealously of it all. No one stepped up and took you in. You were alone. His one sentiment of that sword didn't fix the years of haunting you felt. 

Fledge caught his breath long ago, and now stared intensely at you. There was an emotion on your face that he couldn't quite pin. He noticed your often hidden rounded ears, your towering height, and your features. You were different, you knew that. But no one could tell you why. Fledge never treated you differently, he was a star pupil out of all the kids you tutored.  

"𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵." his brows furrowed "𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖺𝗆 𝖨 𝗀𝗈𝗇𝗇𝖺 𝗋𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗂𝗋𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝖿𝗍𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖻𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗐𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍?"

You gave Fledge a hundred yard stare. You were taller than most. It almost kept you from joining the academy. Groose came close to you in height and his bird barely kept up some days. Your height affected your weight by a lot. Hylians were, of course, much shorter than humans. 

"𝖨𝖿 𝖫𝗂𝗇𝗄'𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗋𝗂𝖽𝖾, 𝗌𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖨."

Link was stocky and short and he was quite the glutton. It was one of his 'adorable' traits, as Zelda yapped in your ear at your tutoring sessions with her. She was your least favorite and it was partly her father's fault. The rest was all her. 

"𝖨-𝗂 𝗀𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗌𝗈." Fledge stuttered. He didn't hear you curse much. You probably weren't supposed to but you could be unruly at times. 

"𝖦𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗂𝗋𝖽. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝖽𝖾." you gently patted your loftwing's head and woke it up. Its large yellow eye opened first, then its head untucked, then it stretched and purred. 

"𝘏-𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐...?"

You got on, hopping over its back easily with your longer legs. Fledge looked nervously and approached slowly. 

"𝖭𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝖻𝗂𝗋𝖽𝗒-" your bird shook out its feather which startled him "𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽- 𝖺𝗇𝖽-"

"𝖣𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗍𝖺𝗆𝖾𝖽. 𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗋 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗆𝖾𝖽." you sighed. You hopped off and picked him up by the waist and placed him on the loftwings back.

"𝖶𝗈𝖠𝖧."

"𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖾. 𝖱𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀?"

"𝖸𝖾𝗌. 𝖨 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌-" 

You clapped twice and your loftwing lifted its wings and took off upwards. You heard him screaming. You shielded the sun from your eyes and watched him go. Your loftwing took off around the island and would screech every now and then when Fledge pulled too hard. He couldn't help the tears forming in his waterline and screamed, 

"𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘗! 𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘗! 𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘗! 𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘗! 𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘗!"

"𝖨𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾?" Link approached behind you, looking at the (color) bird soar as well. Some of the other school kids gathered around you two and murmured. 

"𝖸𝖾𝗉."

"𝖣𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗌? 𝖧𝖾'𝗌 𝗈𝖻𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾." 

"𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗁𝗈𝗈. 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝖾 𝗁𝖾'𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝖽𝖽𝖺𝗆𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽."

"𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇𝐇"

"𝖧𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗎𝗆𝖺, 𝗒𝖺' 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐." Zelda pointed out in worry. She took off to get her loftwing. You let Fledge, of all people, ride alone on his first flight with no regard for his safety. She knew you were tough but was not happy you didn't care if other people weren't. Like your students. 

You whistled and your bird circled back from the rocky ropes course. It was graceful in the air. You watched as it slowed above you with its wings flapping backwards. The talons landed and gripped the grass. Fledge was clutching the bird and squeezing it with his knees. Your loftwing complained and tried bucking him off but Fledge's grip was too strong. 

"𝖶𝗈𝖺𝗁 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗒-" you got in front of the bird and stroked its neck. It still complained but stopped thrashing. Groose pushed you out of the way to see Fledge. 

"𝖶𝗈𝖺𝗁. 𝖭𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝖽𝖾, 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝗐𝖾𝗍 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗌, 𝖽𝗎𝖽𝖾?" his lackeys laughed. You elbowed Groose in the stomach and he keeled over as well. Groose wheezed and his friends came to help him up. Your hands touched Fledge's in an attempt to get him to stop gripping the feathers. Fledge's eyes were wide with shock. 

"𝖳𝗒𝗉𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍" 

Fledge's weakly tossed his legs over to one side and flopped to the ground. He gripped the dust instead. 

"𝖲𝗁𝗈𝗐'𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋. 𝖦𝗈 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾." you turned to the flock of students and shoo'ed them away. Not before swatting Groose on the back of his shoulder. 

Fledge was very still as he was kneeled over. He burst into tears and wailed loudly. 

"𝘐-𝘪-𝘪'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺-𝘩𝘦-𝘩𝘦-𝘩𝘦𝘦!" he gasped in between cries. He cried so hard he started coughing violently. You patted him on the back and rubbed in circles to soothe him. Perhaps, you were too harsh, you think. He was already bullied enough, you were supposed to help him. Make him feel confident. Hard lessons didn't help him in particular. 

"𝘕𝘰- 𝘯𝘰, 𝘍𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳-" he vomited all over the dirt patch. You sighed and jogged over to the Bazaar. His parents would need to be contacted regardless. You lifted the curtains and twisted around to the Potions and Infusions stall. Luv and Bertie were hustling away, as usual. Luv clasped her hands when she saw you and her mauve lips stretched wide. 

"𝖮𝗁-! (𝗒/𝗇)! 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾'𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍? 𝖶𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽." Yet they didn't care to come and watch him soar. Luv rubbed her hands nervously and with expectation that you'd taken care of him. You were ashamed to have to get his parents, because no one was to blame but you. There wasn't a way you could calm him down without cold water or taking him to the academy nurse. You didn't want to make him feel worse so grabbing his parents was the latter. 

"𝖧𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝖺𝖿𝖾, 𝖻𝗎𝗍, 𝗎𝗁, 𝖨 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆." you avoided eye contact with the couple. Even the baby's crying hushed a bit over the numb feeling they both got.

"𝖨𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗄𝖺𝗒?"

"𝖧𝖾'𝗌 𝗎𝗎𝗎𝗁𝗁𝗁, 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾. 𝖡𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖺𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾, 𝗐𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾. 𝖫𝗂𝗄𝖾, 𝖠𝖲𝖠𝖯." you gestured to hurry up. They gave each other a look and dropped their duties promptly. 

They rushed out to the dock where he was hunched over dry heaving. You followed after quickly and kept your head down. 

“𝗈𝗁! 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾!” Just seeing her older son on the ground knocked the air out of her. Her husband crouched on the ground and started rubbing his back to get him to calm down. Luv whipped around to you and started stomping in your direction a few feet away.

"𝖣𝗂𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌??" 

"𝖶𝖾𝗅𝗅. 𝖨 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇. 𝖲𝗈, 𝗒𝖾𝗌. 𝖨 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒, 𝖬𝗋𝗌. 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾." you briefly made eye contact. 

”𝘠𝘰𝘶!” She slammed her fist into your sternum “𝘉𝘪𝘨!” Thud! “𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺!” Thud! “𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗒 𝗌𝗈𝗇?!” Thudthudthudthudthudthud. Her fists rapped into you like a punching bag. You stood firmly with your arms crossed. It was like getting hit by twig. Her arms were much frailer, that’s why she had her husband stir the big potion pots. You wouldn’t want to take a hit from Bertie.

”𝘔-𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢!” Fledge gasped for air and his mom ran to him. Zelda watched from a distant with her own bird. Seems you'd taken care of your own problem. 

“𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗒-𝖻𝗈𝗈-𝖻𝗈𝗈?!”

The academy would be hearing about this. Your bird stocked over to you and nipped your neck. You stroked its beak and sighed. 

You stood by for a while to help. Bertie had to get back to the stall so nothing was stolen or over boiled. You stayed with Luv to help him walk home. His legs kept giving out and you scooped him up and carried him the whole way. He was light and perhaps your bird got too happy about a light rider. It could maneuver tighter turns and fly faster. 

Luv opened the round door to her home and you ducked into it. She was two steps ahead of you, opening doors, pulling the sheets back on his old bed from home. You laid him out gently. 

Usually he stayed in the academy bunks but today was undeniably different. Fledge was quiet and looked tired, unlike an hour ago when he was excited for his first ever flight. If he chose to continue tutoring with you, if you weren’t fired, getting him to be a confident flier would be triple the work. 

Luv sighed. She looked like she wanted to say something but just shook her head. You nodded curtly and ducked back out into the wide open. 

-

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭. You reported it, his parents did, Zelda and a few of the other kids who witnessed it, but Fledge himself never fessed up to the tragedy. Owlan and Horwell waited in Gaepora’s office with you until he arrived. It was quiet. Horribly so. When Gaepora entered he had an unreadable look on his face. He stood by his desk and sighed, trying to find the words.

"(𝗒/𝗇). 𝖣𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝗒 𝗐𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇'𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇?"

"𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗌." the obvious answer. 

"𝖸𝖾𝗌, 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗌. 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾 𝗂𝗌... 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅. 𝖫𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖺 𝖿𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌. 𝖲𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽, 𝗐𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖺𝗀𝖾. 𝖶𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗎𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇. 𝖶𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾."

"𝘈𝘩. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦."

"-𝖭𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗆𝖺𝗀𝖾" Owlan circled you "𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗂𝗆𝖺𝗀𝖾. 𝖠𝗌 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖺 𝗅𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗌. 𝖳𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒, 𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝖽 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝗈"

Howell sighed. Owlan was not particularly fond of you. He'd never been. You needed more accommodations than the other students. Tailored armor, a bigger bird, a bigger bed in the dorms. You were quiet and obedient at that time, but he thought you were more trouble than you were worth. Horwell didn't believe the same, the small accommodations would make you a great knight. If you couldn't fit in, then how they had failed as teachers and sages. Owlan scowled at you and Horwell couldn’t look you in the eye. You sniffed. 

“𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗎𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖻𝖺𝖽? 𝖡𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋, 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 (𝖺𝗀𝖾) 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝗅𝖺𝗆𝖾."

”𝖶𝖾’𝗋𝖾 𝖺 𝗅𝗂𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒, (𝗒/𝗇).” Horwell tried to speak up, though he was very gentle.

”𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝗅𝗂𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖨 𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅? 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖨 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝖻𝖺𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖻�� 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌? 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗀𝗎𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖨 𝗇𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗎𝖽𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗒𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗎𝗇𝖻𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗅𝖾 𝗆𝗒 𝗌𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀?" you talked with your hands and Horwell sucked on his cheek, you made a bit of a point "𝖣𝗂𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗀𝗎𝗒𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖻𝖺𝖽? 𝖥𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾 𝖽𝗈��𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗎𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗅𝖺𝗆𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝖿𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗂𝖼 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖻𝖾𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝗅𝖾𝗆.”

You sounded preachy to the choir. 

”-𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋! 𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇'𝗍 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍! 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾, 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗎? 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗀𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗄𝗂𝖽𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌. 𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝗅𝖾𝗆?” Owlan spit at you with a resentment. 

"𝖭𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 '𝖨'𝗆 𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗒'! 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒!" you stood up from your chair and it clattered to the ground. Owlan and Horwell stood from their seats. Owlan looked ready to deck you, Horwell put his hands out to try and reason. 

”𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝖺𝗆 𝖨 𝗌𝗎𝗉𝗉𝗈𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋?” Gaepora quietly mentioned. You whipped you head around. Zelda, she had personally got into a crying fit and ran to her father. That's why Gaepora had been so late to the meeting. She admitted you were good at tutoring but she felt you have a vendetta against her. Zelda only tried to be nice and reasonable. She wasn't built to fight mentally and you knew it. There wasn't anything you could say to her to change that. 

You only saw her kindness as playing sides that benefitted her. 

”𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖽𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒-𝖿𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀-𝖼𝖺𝗉𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎’𝗋𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝗇 𝖲𝗄𝗒𝗅𝗈𝖿𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗁𝖾’𝗌 𝖺 𝖿𝗎𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖭𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗌𝗆. 𝖨 𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝖥𝖴𝖢𝖪 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖽𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋, 𝖦𝖺𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝖺.” She was a woman who could handle her own. She attended a knight academy. Defense was the name of the game. 

The teachers looked shocked. Gaepora's aging lines deepened. 

"𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖾𝗂𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇, 𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗈𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍."

What was the stupid-er decision? Possibly making a statement by walking out silently, but losing your job and having everyone dislike you more than they did. Or apologizing for speaking your truth about his selfish behavior and wasting your time when you had a life to be living, not involving his pity tutor position he gave you. 

He pinched the crinkled bridge of his nose at the face of your face. You didn't budge. 

"𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝖮𝗇𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗅𝗂𝗉-𝗎𝗉 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗍."

You curtly nodded and stomped out. 

✪✪✪

𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. The loftwing purred and squinted as it flew. It was happy. You don’t think birds can tell time, but every weekend it knew where you were heading. It picked up on the cold feeling you left the academy with and auto piloted to your favorite spot. Your blind bestfriend never judged you. If you lost them, you don't know what you'd do. 

You parked it outside of the Lumpy Pumpkin and dragged yourself in. It was warm and the chatter was light. You sat at the bar and the old man wordlessly gave you your usual drink made of fermented stamina fruits from Skyloft itself. Casuals at the bar keep stealing glances at you. Word had already gotten to everyone, huh?

Eagus claps a big warm hand on your shoulder and you jumped but let it be. He heard. He worked at the school of course. There was a quiet understanding between you and him. Eagus was a few years ahead of you but he was your best friend on the island. At least on the weekends when you went drinking. 

On occasion you’d spar with him and practice with swords. When he was upset or feeling off you’d offer your services and let him swing as hard as possible in a duel. It was his strength against your agility. 

He was quite stocky and took care of himself. At the end of the day he smelled like chipped wood, sweat, and lemongrass scented soap from the bazaar. His clothes were dusty, there was dirt under his fingernails, and his boots dragged mud around. Eagus was a great source of comfort after a night shift. Morning drinking wasn’t advised but he wasn’t doing anything for the weekend otherwise. He loved to indulge you and see you smile. 

He wordlessly sat next to you and sipped on his own drink. 

"𝖳𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖽𝖺𝗒?" he inquired. Earlier that day he saw you trudging up to the academy with a solemn look on your face. He only saw that look when you were really, really drunk. 

"𝖸𝖾𝖺𝗁"

"𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌, '𝗀𝗎𝗌."

"𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶." His deep voice vibrated around him. You flopped your head on his shoulder and relaxed.

[ketrinadrawsalot]

Little is known about the erect-crested penguin, because research is hampered by the remoteness of the two islands (Bounty and Antipodes Islands) they breed on and the difficulty of getting permits to visit said islands.

[scotianostra]

On March 23rd 1848, the Free Church of Scotland settlement at New Edinburgh, New Zealand was founded, it is known today as Dunedin.

It was the poet’s uncle, Rev Thomas Burns, who was among the first settlers to arrive in Dunedin, the Gaelic for Edinburgh, having been appointed by the Free Church to lead a new Presbyterian settlement in the South Pacific

One passenger on the John Wickliffe, the fist ship to carry Scottish settlers to the South Island of New Zealand, wrote in his diary: “All seemed pleased and called it a goodly land – Port Chalmers and around is truly beautiful – rich in scenery – its slopes and shores are fertile, and wooded to the water’s edge.”

Every year in Dunedin, the arrival of these first settlers from Scotland is marked by Otago Anniversary Day, the public holiday falling this year on Monday just gone.

A second boat sent by the Otago Association, founded by the Free Church to broker land sales in South Island for its followers, arrived on April 15 with more than 200 people on board. They had spent 114 days at sea since leaving Greenock.

On board were people such as Adam James, 25, a boatbuilder; James Blackie, 21, a school teacher, James Brown, 23, a calico printer and Mary Pollok, 19, a servant.

By the end of the 1850s, around 12,000 Scots had joined them in this new flourishing city, many from the industrial lowlands.

Artisans, small traders and industrial workers were to make up a third of all Scottish migrants to New Zealand with almost 70 per cent of this group coming from the Edinburgh and Glasgow area.

A number left Paisley in the early 1840s when its weaving industry was in trouble with the south part of the city to become known as “Little Paisley”.

It was George Rennie MP, born in East Lothian, who first proposed a Scottish settlement in 1842 when he declared “We shall found a New Edinburgh at the Antipodes that shall one day rival the old.”

Chief operators of the church-led plan included William Cargill, a former British Army captain who commanded the John Wickliffe and became the first superintendent of Otago.

Edinburgh solicitor John McGlashan, became the Otago scheme’s chief organiser and promoter who commandeered residents for the new colony and organised ships.

His office at 27 South Hanover Street was open 10 hours a day as people turned up at his door to organise their passage.

Conditions were tough on arrival with relentless hard graft required to transform mud and bush into even the most primitive settlement. A number of wattle and daub cottages were constructed with the place dubbed “Mud-edin” given the coarse conditions.

Still, the Free Church, in an 1853 publication, had the highest praise of the new Scots residents who were “mostly of the labouring classes who had the aim of becoming landowners.”

The author noted the “very high character” of the residents and the “very serious regard to their religious duties.”

The extreme piousness of the settlement is made startling clear.

��The silent religious aspect of our Sabbath, the solemn seriousness, the death-like stillness, and the reverential attention in the house of God strike every stranger and are unequalled by anything of my experience,” the account added.

Despite the growth of Dunedin, the Otago Association folded in 1852 after repeatedly failing to meet is sales targets with its assets and liabilities taken over by the British Government.

McGlashan took a ship to join the settlers in Otago. He and Captain Cargill were to become major players in the governance of the region with the moral authority delivered by Rev Burns, a foundation chancellor of the University of Otago who some disliked for his heavy handed puritanical ways. Anglicans were referred to as “Little Enemy” by the Ayrshire-born minister.

As Tom Devine noted in To the Ends of the Earth, one anonymous correspondent to the New Zealand Otago Times, writing under the pseudonym a Staunch Englishman, described the Scots settlers as a “mean, close, bigoted, porridge-eating” lot who were prone to “minding the sixpences.”

The legacy of those first settlers is, however, ample. Otago Boys’ High School was set up in 1864, the University of Otago in 1869 and Otago Girls’ High School, one of the first state-run schools of its type in the world, opened in 1871.

John McGlashan College, Dunedin’s Presbyterian boys’ school, was founded in 1918 from a bequest to the Church by McGlashan’s daughters.

The stiff presbyterian tone of Dunedin is also said to have spurred a “creative rebellion” with works by Dunedin poet James K Baxter considered among the country’s finest.

Today, whisky, pipe band sand the city’s own Haggis Ceremony continue to mark the impact of those first Scottish settlers who arrived.

Shops on the main street stock Dunedin tartan, tweeds and Scottie dog trinkets and sign posts point to places such as Leith Valley, Corstorphine, Musselburgh and Calton Hill.

Bars pride themselves on their selections of fine malts, churches have an air of architectural familiarity and the municipal chambers looks as if it could have been transported from any Scottish town. A statue of Robbie Burns stands in the main square.

Mark Twain, after visiting Dunedin in 1895, wrote of them: “The people are Scotch. They stopped here on their way from home to heaven thinking they had arrived.”

For millions of Scots scattered worldwide, Scotland remains the homeland. It's the place they look towards for inspiration, with affection, or with an air ticket to renew that sense of Scottish identity. The internet has made the world a lot smaller for us all, which is why many enjoy the posts here, it gives them a wee sense of belonging, even if it less than a dram of Scottish blood you have flowing through you.

[drhoz]

#2457 - Hypolepis millefolium - Thousand Leaved Fern

A NZ endemic, found on the North Island (albeit mostly around the Central Volcanic Plateau, Mt Egmont and the main axial ranges), South Island, Stewart Island, the Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. As you head south it grows closer and closer to sealevel.

A common fern of grassland and rock strewn slopes, but also into scrub and forest. On the Chatham Islands it's found in restiad peat bogs, and on the subantarctic islands amongst tussock grass and Dracophyllum. It forms extensive colonies via underground rhizomes, and loses its leaves in winter.

Mount Taranaki, New Zealand.

[may-the-best-penguin-win]

Round 1 Match 1

The Erect-Crested penguin is one of many crested penguins. These guys live in the New Zealand region and are on the endangered species list. They only breed on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands near New Zealand. Erect-Crested penguins are around 20-28 inches (50-70 cm) tall.

The Little Blue penguin, also called the Fairy penguin, Blue penguin, or Little penguin, is the smallest penguin, standing at a height of about 12-14 inches (30-40cm). They also live in the New Zealand region. Little Blues earned their name with their bluish feathers. These penguins burrow for their nests, and lay two eggs, like most other penguins. The first part of their scientific name "Eudyptula minor" means "good little diver".

[edinzphoto]

The Light Fantastic

Enjoying a rare sunset with Grey petrels on Antipodes island.

The end of a long day of census blocks, walking in lines over lumpy, orifice-infested vegetation. Wind riffling up the slopes of the southern end of Antipodes island, tossing golden tussocks with a chill sou-wester. Add to that a few thousand Kuia / Grey petrels returning from the sea, and low golden light in a rare patch of clarity, and you have something that is still fizzing in my blood…

[rjalker]

I understand why Don Quixote was written now

Now I will tell you, and listen well, who were these counts and kings. With a rich escort and one hundred extra mounts Count Brandes of Gloucester came. After him came Menagormon, who was Count of Clivelon. And he of the Haute Montagne came with a very rich following. The Count of Treverain came, too, with a hundred of his knights, and Count Godegrain with as many more. Along with those whom I have just mentioned came Maheloas, a great baron, lord of the Isle of Voirre. In this island no thunder is heard, no lightning strikes, nor tempests rage, nor do toads or serpents exist there, nor is it ever too hot or too cold. 121 Graislemier of Fine Posterne brought twenty companions, and had with him his brother Guigomar, lord of the Isle of Avalon. Of the latter we have heard it said that he was a friend of Morgan the Fay, and such he was in very truth. Davit of Tintagel came, who never suffered woe or grief. Guergesin, the Duke of Haut Bois, came with a very rich equipment. There was no lack of counts and dukes, but of kings there were still more. Garras of Cork, a doughty king, was there with five hundred knights clad in mantles, hose, and tunics of brocade and silk. Upon a Cappadocian steed came Aguisel, the Scottish king, and brought with him his two sons, Cadret and Coi—two much respected knights. Along with those whom I have named came King Ban of Gomeret, and he had in his company only young men, beardless as yet on chin and lip. A numerous and gay band he brought two hundred of them in his suite; and there was none, whoever he be, but had a falcon or tercel, a merlin or a sparrow-hawk, or some precious pigeon-hawk, golden or mewed. Kerrin, the old King of Riel, brought no youth, but rather three hundred companions of whom the youngest was seven score years old. Because of their great age, their heads were all as white as snow, and their beards reached down to their girdles. Arthur held them in great respect. The lord of the dwarfs came next, Bilis, the king of Antipodes. This king of whom I speak was a dwarf himself and own brother of Brien. Bilis, on the one hand, was the smallest of all the dwarfs, while his brother Brien was a half-foot or full palm taller than any other knight in the kingdom. To display his wealth and power, Bilis brought with him two kings who were also dwarfs and who were vassals of his, Grigoras and Glecidalan. Every one looked at them as marvels. When they had arrived at court, they were treated with great esteem. All three were honoured and served at the court like kings, for they were very perfect gentlemen. In brief, when King Arthur saw all his lords assembled, his heart was glad. Then, to heighten the joy, he ordered a hundred squires to be bathed whom he wished to dub knights. There was none of them but had a parti-coloured robe of rich brocade of Alexandria, each one choosing such as pleased his fancy. All had arms of a uniform pattern, and horses swift and full of mettle, of which the worst was worth a hundred livres.

[penguinies4]

The crested penguins of New Zealand. In Maori they are called “Tawaki”. Belonging to the genus Eudyptes, they are the Fiordland penguin (E. Pachyrhynchus), the Snares (E. Robustus) and the Erect-crested (E. sclateri).

Due to how closely related they are, it is debated whether they are a single species with three subspecies, or three distinct species. It’s difficult to tell them apart since they are so similar.

above: the fiordland penguin

Unlike the other two species, the fiordland penguin has small white stripes underneath its eyes, and has no bare skin around its beak. Like the snares penguin, its crest (the yellow eyebrows) does not stand up. This penguin is known for swimming very far for food. These chaps nest in forests.

above: snares penguin

the snares penguin looks almost exactly like the fiordland penguin, but it lacks the white stripes below its eyes, and has a bare area of skin around the beak. The fellows breed on the Snares Islands.

this is the erect-crested penguin. Like the snares penguin, it has a bare area of skin around its beak. Unlike the other two species, it has a crest that stands up, hence the name. These guys only breed on the Bounty and Antipode islands.

[sandgame]

Faking a spherical Age for the sake of KI coordinates

Heyo Tumblr, been a while!

Although I haven't used this blog lately, I have still been screwing around with this thing in the background of my life, because at this point I've basically accepted that semi-theorizing about how to make Better Uru is just my pastime.

Anyway. As a result of something else I was contemplating for this bizarre project of mine, I realized that because of how KI coordinates work, game worlds which allowed players to wander sufficiently far from the Age's Maintainer's Mark would need to implement some form of fakery in order to properly simulate the effect of walking around on a sphere while using a cylindrical coordinate system.

The "obvious" solution of just making the game world a sphere is… not really smart, though, so what's a game dev who is overcommitted to the concept of realism in this game to do?

Well, first let's finish defining the problem.

As you walk away from the Zero point of an Age, your elevation coordinate will decrease (generally; local surface geometry like mountains notwithstanding) until you reach the Zero’s exact antipode, because walking across the surface of the sphere will always send you "down" relative to the placement of the Maintainer's Mark. It should then increase back to 0 as you proceed back toward the Zero point across the other half of the planet.

But because game worlds are flat, this effect would have to be simulated for sufficiently large maps.

To do this, we have to know the following values:

The average radius of the planet

The distance traveled from the Zero point

The Zero point’s elevation relative to the planet’s average radius

The player’s local elevation relative to the planet’s radius

Using the equation for the length of a circular arc, we can reverse engineer the angular distance traveled:

L = θ * r

Or

θ = L / r

Where L is the length of the arc travelled (how far from the zero point the player is in a straight line), and r is the planet’s radius. 

NOTE: The math in the next part assumes you never travel more than 90 degrees around the planet, which I think is generally acceptable for the purposes of this hypothetical, but just be aware that what's presented here is not a completely comprehensive solution.

Solving for θ lets us construct a right triangle whose hypotenuse is the planet’s radius plus the player’s current elevation above that radius, and whose long leg is the planet’s radius minus the vertical distance the player has travelled away from the Zero point. We find the length of the leg with this function:

a = c × sin(θ)

Once we have a, we subtract it from the planet’s radius to get the elevation KI coordinate.

It may be necessary to make adjustments to certain values going into the equation solving for a in cases where the player has moved more than 90 degrees around the planet from the Zero point. 

The distance coordinate is calculated using the following formula to get the horizontal “opposite” leg of the right triangle formed by the radius of the planet and the angle the player is away from the Zero axis—which extends straight through the center of the planet, or:

b = c × cos(θ)

The value of b is our horizontal distance from the axis of the Zero point. (I should point out that we can't just use the XZ vector distance between the player and the Zero point for this measurement, as the player's travel is being treated as an arc for the purposes of simulating a sphere, and the arc's length would be greater than the actual absolute linear distance traveled if the map were actually spherical.)

The angle coordinate is the simplest to calculate, as it’s simply the player position’s angle from the vector of the Zero point (the “line” of the Zero), converted to torantee. 

In addition to faking the KI coordinates, a shader may also be used to post-process the geometry of the scene such that it falls over a false “horizon”, much like Animal Crossing New Horizons’ island terrain does (though the effect would be far less dramatic in this case). 

[afactaday]

#aFactADay2024

#1308: Formosa is a former name for Taiwan, as well as an island in the Thames in Berkshire. as well as an island of Guinea-Bissau. as well as the capital island of Equatorial Guinea. it just comes from Portuguese "beautiful". it's also the name of a city and a province in Argentina, which is almost exactly the antipode of Taiwan - the Spanish and Portuguese each went halfway across the world and, by coincidence (ish), named what they found the same thing. Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, is very nearby. i saw a claim that this and Taipei are the closest capitals to being antipodes (about 90km) but i can't be bothered to check lol.

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

For his voyage in “Totorore” Gerry Clark was awarded  the MBE, the Northland Harbour Board’s Blue Water Trophy 1986, the Tilman medal for  Cruising in High Latitudes[by the Royal Cruising Club of Great Britain],the Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s Tequila Propeller Award,the Fred Norris Medal of the Devonport Yacht Club,the Stolberger Memorial Award of the New Zealand Yacht Club Navigators Society,the Blue Water Medal of the Cruising Club of America, and he was elected a elected a Fellow of  the Royal Geographical Society.

But it is the 12th of June 1999 – 19:00 hours. Martin Renner, German born researcher at the University of Otago sits patiently in the old Castaway Hut at Hutt Cove, Antipodes Islands by the single side band radio waiting for his skipper and fellow birdwatcher, Gerry Clark to call in on their regular radio schedule from the 10m yacht “Totorore”.  No word. Renner knows there is a strong northerly forecast, a very unusual occurrence at the Antipodes in the middle of winter.

Gerry Clark has told him that he intends to seek shelter in South Bay on the southern end of the Antipodes Islands, a tiny bay with an entrance not much more than 400 feet wide and very exposed to the prevailing southwesterly swell which even on a calm day can be 4 metres. Although unusual, Renner knows that Gerry Clark has had difficulties with an earth leak on the boat and therefore sometimes the batteries aren’t fully charged.  Having sailed from Lyttleton to the Antipodes, a voyage of 430 nautical miles, Renner and his partner, Anya Schultz know the peculiarities of the “Totorore”.