#arak

[dardasht]

Persian Carpet/ Lilian pattern/ Iran

[parsabad]

Hamame charfasl/ Arak/ Iran

(A traditional public bathroom)

Photography: amir hossein mirmoini

[darklordazalin]

Azalin Reviews: Darklord Gwydion

Domain: Arak/the Shadow Rift Domain Formation: 575 BC; became the Shadow Rift in 740 BC Power Level:💀💀💀💀💀 Sources: The Shadow Rift (2e) , Gazetteer V (3e)

Though the Shadow Fey twins Loht and Maeve are the rulers of the Shadow Rift, it is the unseen Gwydion (aka The Sorcerer Fiend aka The Twilight) that earns the title of Darklord of this Domain. Gwydion’s true form is unfathomable, cloaked in shadows, squirming tentacles, cloven hooves, eyestalks and pretty much anything you can throw into one eldritch monster.

Gwydion’s past is as obscured in shadows as Gwydion himself. Legends say he was the spawn of the Plane of Shadow, forming out of it like pus from an overgrown boil. Others say he was once a lord of the Abyss, but so great was his power that the other Abyssal lords united in order to banish him into the Plane of Shadow. It is always wise to remember that legends are told and maintained by those that hold power and though there may be some truth in these tales, the whole truth has yet to be uncovered. There is no denying the immense, near god-like power Gwydion holds. A pity he cannot lift a single tentacle to use it these days. Gwyidion drew the ellefolk into the Plane of Shadows for he required subjects to obey, adore, and respect him. For what is it to rule without adoration? To subjugate them to him, Gwydion infused the ellefolk with darkness from his realm and transformed them into the Shadow Fey. The first born of the Shadow Fey were the Erlking’s children, Loht and Maeve.

Gwydion named the Erlking, Arak, as his seneschal and commanded the Shadow Fey to create a massive Obsidian Gate so he could travel to other worlds and conquer new people and lands. Gwydion’s reasoning for doing so amount to a massive ego and extreme boredom. Fear drove the Shadow Fey to abide by their Master’s commands. Secretly, however, with Arak leading them, they plotted against Gwydion. After centuries of work, the Obsidian Gate was complete and Gwydion directed his armies to pass through it to begin his subjugation of whatever world lay beyond. Foolish, really, to plan to lay siege against the unknown, but for a near god, Gwydion does not possess much in the way of foresight.

As they passed through the gate, Gwydion began to realize it was not his armies, but the Shadow Fey under the illusionary magic of their mages and they were escaping him in mass. Descending upon his wayward people, Gwydion found his path blocked by Arak who had donned his Regalia. This Regalia is made up of nine different magical items and granted Arak enough power to stand against Gwydion until the last of his people fled through the gate, but not nearly enough to defeat him. It also grants the one wearing the Regalia the power to open the Obsidian Gate. For a brief moment, Arak found an opening and pushing Gwydion backwards, Arak ran to the gate. But just as Arak was inches away from his own freedom, Gwydion disintegrated the Erlking with a blast of energy. Though Arak did not survive to make it through the gate, his Regalia did.

The Regalia landed at the feet of Maeve and Loht. Loht was overcome with fear at his father’s demise, but Maeve held her ground and sealed the Gate before Gwydion could escape.

Despite all his power, Gwydion is mostly impotent; stuck in a vast nothingness between worlds. Though he has shown himself capable of influencing the Shadow Fey from his prison within a prison.

He influenced the events that led to Tristessa’s death and the Scourging of the Arak. He influenced Prince Loht of the Unseelie Court to believe his father was still trapped within the Obsidian Gate. When Loht opened the gate, Gwydion nearly escaped before Arak’s Crown was thrown within sealing Gwydion away once more. He almost escaped again during the Grand Conjunction, which resulted in his Domain pushing G'henna and Markovia out of The Core and the Arak becoming the Shadow Rift

If Gwydion was ever to escape it may make the ramblings of Bastion Teodorus Raines of the Church of Ezra in Nevuchar Springs, whom I’ve mostly ignored, make some sort of sense. Could Gwydion’s coming be the start of the Time of Unparalleled Darkness? Perhaps but I am far more interested in this Gate of his that sits on the footsteps of my Domain.

[arak-the-other-kara]

*a bullet wizzes past clover*

I thought I already killed that last sick bastard, but your even worse than the clover from the other timeline

*clutches his gun*

Get ready to go to hell, physco

(Player) "You didn't ask me to kill that other... oh who cares anymore. Kill whoever is threatening you unless I tell you otherwise."

(Clover) "Finally. Now YOU seem like you're a worthy foe who won't just run away. I do have to warn you... *Shoots in his direction and dodges* I am the best dodger ever. *Shoots you* If you can get a hit on me, I'll be surprised. *Blew a kiss*"

[infinityinc4ever]

Carcharo takes a bite out of Mr. Bones!

[dailyjsa]

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10

[gray-morality]

Finished the custom modifications of chibi Seda yesterday, who can now join chibi Fakhri and very tiny Arak on my display shelf. (With smol piano and very smol bottle/glass of whisky hehehe)

[aswiya]

Arak is a clear, anise-flavored spirit that is predominately distilled from fermented grapes and is mainly enjoyed throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, primarily Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt.

Regional varieties may slightly differ in the amount of aniseed or the distillation process, which may affect the alcohol level and the final flavor of arak, but it is considered that the best styles are aged in the clay amphoras. Arak is traditionally enjoyed with a variety of appetizers and is best served diluted with ice-cold water, which makes it turn milky white, though it can also be mixed with fruit juice or tea.

It is typically served in tall glasses that are replaced with each serving. The drink should not be mistaken with arrak, occasionally also known as arak, which is distilled from rice, molasses, or palm syrup and is typically associated with Southeast Asia

[dc-tournaments]

Why do they deserve to win?

Blue Beetle

Telos

[bl00dyarak]

@yaelokre oc! Name: Arak

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"...THE SIX GENOMORPHS DESIGNED COSTUMES TO GO WITH THE NAMES DOCTOR LOVE HAD GIVEN THEM..."

PIC INFO: Resolution at 942x1426 -- Spotlight on the super-team HELIX, artwork by Todd McFarlane & Greg Theakston (inks), from "Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe" Vol. 1 #10. December, 1985. DC Comics. Colors by Anthony Tollin.

MEMBERS & POWERS/ABILITIES:

Mr. Bones (leader) -- Super-strength & cyanide touch

Baby Boom (Babe) -- Makes things explode

Arak -- Controls wind (deceased)

Penny Dreadful -- Human conductor (deceased)

Kritter -- Canine master programmer

Tao Jones - Levitate and deflect energy

Source: www.zipcomic.com/whos-who-the-definitive-directory-of-the-dc-universe-issue-10.

[darklordazalin]

Raveloft Lore Tuesdays

Domain of May: Barovia – The First Domain of not quite the First Vampire Domain Formation: 351 BC

Lore: Historical Event – The Arrival of the Necromancer

According to a tarokka card reading done by the famed Seer Vistana Madam Eva and later repeated by her predecessor, Madam Ilka, a Necromancer would arrive in Barovia and would be one of Strahd’s greatest foes and would bring war to the land of Barovia. That Necromancer was me 💀 

The war itself amounted to a few skirmished before we both called it a day, but the events that occurred while conducting experimentations to escape back to my home world of Oerth changed the lands in the Mists forever. Though each failure brought me new data and new irritation to von Zarovich, they also, perhaps more importantly led to the creation of Forlorn, Arak, and Mordent. I myself explored Forlorn, but found nothing more than a sad creature locked away in their castle and far too many goblyns. Arak…would not permit me within and any surveyors I sent on my behalf went missing. Mordent…well, I have nothing more than vague recollections of the place but I know, for a brief moment, I had succeeded in allowing both Strahd and I to escape Barovia for far too short a time.

After the Mordent event, I knew I had been fooling myself and foolishly stepped into the Mists, following the sounds of the Vistani within in hopes of escaping back to Oerth. My efforts awarded me with my very own prison designed to torment me for eternity…

How to use Azalin’s Time in Barovia in Your Games

If you wish to use the formation of the Domains resulting from Azalin and Strahd’s experiments, then I suggest speeding up the timeline if you wish to use all three or just focus on one of them.

Forlorn’s appearance could easily result in a surge of goblyns pouring into Barovia. This is easily something for a group of adventurers to learn of and deal with. Goblyns, not to be confused with goblins, are humanoids twisted by magic into bug-eyes, sharp jaws, sickly looking creatures with long claws and no will but that of the one who created them and no pleasure but to eat anything they can get their hands on. Such creatures could quickly devastate a small town in Barovia.

Arak is a desolate land with Shadow Fey living far beneath its surface. Perhaps Barovia opens a mining expedition in the new land and…’dig too deep’, as is the classic fantasy tale, and uncover some ancient evil the dwelled below. The Shadow Fey are very much like the Unseelie Court and if a mine ended up unburying a few of them…well, that could result in odd Fey bargains such an individual who suddenly becomes incredibly wealthy and/or the Burgomaster of a town in Barovia, but…they must always walk backwards or only talk in riddles. An unknown horror could recreate a mind-controlled populace or possessed miners. There is a lot you could do with this.

As for Mordent, well the events of Azalin and Strahd’s time in Mordent are depicted in Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill. It is a…strange adventure at best where Strahd using the Apparatus and slips himself into his ‘good’ and ‘evil’ halves…players are pitted against his evil half throughout…Azalin just kind of watches? There’s a lot of oddities within, but if you want to do something similar and want to have Azalin in your game, well the events in Mordent could have split Azalin in two, but they aren’t put back together. His lich half could easily replace the lich in the Amber Temple in Curse of Strahd and his human half could be the ‘mad mage’ the resides on Mount Baratok.

[arak-the-other-kara]

(wouldn't it be absolutely funny if everytime that poor imsommalot came into contact with Lyric's head Lyric just emits a squeak sound. Y'know, like squeaky toys do.)

"oh."

Jacklyn chuckled at the sight

"You good, Lyr?"

"Yeah. I'm good. Why did she do that though?—"

"Um, hello!? Another enemy!"

(Liliana was approached by a Know Cone.)

[Know Cone]: YOU STRANGER BRING KNOW CONE FIRE? KNOW CONE VERY MUCH WANT FIRE!

"Urg... No, you damn beast. I don't have fire."

(Clover) "*Reaction to the first part* Dearest Lyric, I didn't hurt you because you were doing anything wrong! You were just the only person I thought would make the joke funny. If you got hurt laugh it off! It's funny. *Reaction to the Know Cone* Jesus, this thing makes me want to puke more than my Mom! *If you want to know more ask* I can't tell how to defeat such a despicable enemy. *Shot him with 3 bullets and spat on him* You know, killing someone evil can make you want to torture them slowly but this guy was so worthless he should die like nothing anyway. Lucky him. *Found Undyne running towards them* Oh fuck. I'm allergic to fish."

*Undyne just simply threw the spear at Clover and Clover caught it*

(Clover) "Guys, show your strength. Time to beat our first boss!"

(Undyne) "NYEH!!!"

[infinityinc4ever]

My dislike for Helix is well-known but this is a fairly cool image of them.

[nando161mando]

The people again march against the burning of diesel fuel in the Shazand Thermal Power Plant built for burning gas, resulting in pollution of their homes in Arak, central Iran.

Also, it's right next to a National Park, and to agriculture, so that's... not great either.

[i17iskillingmylife]

woman doing laundry next to me right now wearing a tie tye shirt with the pink panther boning a fat woman eating pizza on it