#brennan straight up dipping

[slayerchick303]

And once again, I say, "AND NEVERAFTER WAS THE HORROR SEASON?!"

[itsjustevil]

I think what I really what the whole "Character who's body we're in communicating with and guiding us" thing is that each of the players has a very different take on that dynamic and how that works.

-Ify coming up with the idea and implementing it in a way to really develop and evolve his character, personally crafting his own arc for Wendell without too much influence from Brennan and expertly utilizing Vic to see it through.

-Jack "The thing about divorce is that you'll always get back together" Manhattan not actually having much to offer Paula, but still giving her validation that hypes her up in the short term.

-Liv and Kingskin's big moment together being the scene where they just slowly crush a man's head in, showing Kingskin to be kind of just as out of his element as Liv is, and Liv later stating that her biggest takeaway about Kingskin is that "He's hot." These two probably aren't on the same page, but I think they have more in common then they think.

-Rekha's a fucking genius for what she's doing with Usha and G13. Instantly creating a compelling situation by subverting the other dynamics, having G13 working to take control over Usha for his own personal goals.

-Dang not really having dipped into Mr. Stocks at all because he's been immersed in living the action movie makes a lot of sense, and helps to really set his arc part.

-Like Dang, Russell hasn't really communicated with Jennifer yet, but I that's because Ally hasn't gotten a chance to do that yet because Russel/Jennifer has been either busy playing the straight man, looking after Dang, or getting their head kicked in for basically an entire episode. I think these two have a lot in common and it would be neat seeing them learn from each other.

[fourthwingfan]

Madness - Chapter 15

Hello there. I'm here with the new chapter. Enjoy :)

Just because you survive Threshing doesn’t mean you’ll survive the ride to the flight field. Being chosen isn’t the only test, and if you can’t hold your seat, then you’ll fly straight into the ground.

—Page fifty, the Book of Brennan

Air rushes past us and I sit higher in the seat and look out over the landscape, wind ripping tears from the corners of my eyes. No wonder most riders choose to wear goggles. There are at least a dozen dragons in the air, each putting their rider through a trial of dips and turns. Reds, oranges, greens, browns, the sky is speckled with color.

My heart lurches as I see a rider fall from the back of a Red Swordtail and the dragon doesn’t dip to catch the first-year. I look away before the body hits the ground.

It’s not anyone you know. That’s what I tell myself. Violet, Liam, Ethan… They’re all probably safely bonded and already waiting at the field.

“We’re going to have to put on a show.”

“Awesome.” The idea is exciting, but I don’t know if I can hold on correctly.

“You will not fall. And you will trust me.”

Not a question. An order.

“I trust you with my life, Aon!” I shout and grip tighter the pommels and I tighten my legs.

“There’s no need to shout. I can hear you just fine. The entire mountain can probably hear you.”

Oh, yes. He can hear my thoughts.

His wings give a mighty beat, and we lurch upward in what feels like a ninety-degree climb, leaving my stomach back at the lower altitude. He crests the top of the snow-dusted peaks, and we hang there for a breath of a second before he twists, diving back down at the same terrifying angle.

It’s the most exhilarating moment of my life.

Then he twists again, sending us into a spiral.

My body is wrenched this way and that as I hold on as hard as I can when he completes turn after turn, pulling us out of the dive only to bank so hard, I swear the land becomes the sky, then repeats it all until my face splits into a grin, and I laugh out loud in joy.

There is nothing like this.

It’s pure freedom.

In the sky there’s no fear, no hatred, no duty.

It’s just Aon and I.

I have never felt so free in my life.

„I think we made our point.” He pulls us level, then banks right, starting up the valley that leads to the box canyon of the training fields. The sun is close to setting behind the peaks, but there’s still enough to see Tairn and the little golden dragon with him. They stand in the middle of the field. I’m really happy Tairn chose Violet.

„Why did you choose me?” I have to know, because as soon as we land, there are going to be questions. “Professor Kaori showed us the dragons who was willing to bond this year and you weren’t among them.”

“As I said I won’t choose someone who is not worth my time. I watched, then decided. You’re smart. And you’re willing to protect the weaker. Let this be enough for now. You have to gain knowledge about what is beyond the walls of this school.”

Beyond this school? Are they witholding information from us?

Memories flash before my eyes.

The General wants me to observe the marked-ones, as if he can’t ‘see’ them with his signet. This is already suspicious.

Then he shows me a strange dagger and wants me to report him if I see even one. When I asked about it, he became irritated.

“Don’t think about it now, golden one. You have to learn how to shield your mind from others.” He says as we pass over the Gauntlet and crest the narrow entrance to the training fields.

I suck in a sharp breath at the sight of so many dragons. There are hundreds gathered along the rocky edges of the mountain slopes behind the bleachers that were erected overnight. Spectators. And at the bottom of the valley, in the same field I’d walked only a couple of days before, are two lines of dragons facing each other.

“They are divided between those still in the quadrant who chose in years past and those who chose today.” Aon tells me.

The General will be here, on the dais in front of the bleachers. I hope I can avoid him tonight.

A ferocious roar of celebration goes up among the dragons as we fly in, every head swinging our way, and I know it’s in deference to Aon. So is the parting of the dragons at the very center of the field, making room for him to land beside Tairn.

And then we land in the dead center of the field. The impact jars me slightly, but I sit up tall in the seat and even let go of the pommel ridges.

Aon tucks his wings up and looks over his shoulder at me. “You need to dismount, then tell the roll-keeper—”

“I know what to do.” I pull in a shaky breath. I can do it. I just need to go there and avoid eyecontact with the General.

I step over the scales of Aon’s shoulder and, before I can lament the distance I’m about to have to jump I just do it.

I land safely on my feet, bending my knees a little to lessen the impact.

“Don’t foget that you’re mine now, little one. And nobody can harm what it’s mine!” Aon lowers his head and blows at me warm air through his nose.

I walk across the wide field, heading for the small formation directly ahead of me. Behind me, wind sporadically gusts as more dragons land and their riders dismount to have their names recorded, but it’s softer and softer as the line spreads farther down the field. Look like we weren’t that late.

Dusk falls, and a series of mage lights illuminates the crowd in the bleachers and on the dais. In the very center, right above where the redhead from Parapet is recording roll, is General Sorrengail, dressed in all her military finery, medals and all. Though there is an assortment of generals on the dais, each representing their wing, there’s only one more highly decorated than Lilith Sorrengail.

General Melgren, the commanding general of all Navarrian forces.

They stand in a tight circle and they’re shouting. What the hell happened?

I approach the roll-keeper at the base of the dais, who’s recording bonded pairs.

“Aelin Melgren.” She looks up, then writes my name in the Book of Riders. “For the record please tell me the name of the dragon who chose you.”

I lift my chin. “Aonniasach.”

“Pronunciation could use some work.” Aon’s voice rumbles through my head.

“Hey, at least I remembered,” I think back in his general direction, wondering if he’ll hear me across the field. “You said that I will forget it.”

“What is this commotion?” I lean closer and whisper to the roll-keeper.

She quickly looks at the shouting crowd then back at me. “It’s about Violet. She bonded with two dragons.”

What? How is that possible?

I walk toward Aon while I search for Violet.

There she is, between Tairn’s legs.

Should I go and talk to her?

“It’s not a good idea right now, little one.” Aon says in my head. “Come back, for now.”

I sigh and do as he say.

I’m so tiny compared to him. He’s smaller than Tairn, but bigger than anyone else on this field.

I stand in front of his left leg and look around. I hope to spot my friends. I need to know they’re all right.

“Look left.”

I turn in that direction and I see a grinning Liam. He’s in front of a rather big red daggertail.

I step closer to him but still maintain a safe distance. Dragons only allows their rider to approach them.

He too walks closer and hugs me tightly.

“Aelin, I’m so glad you’re here!” He whispers. “I was worried that something happened to you.”

“Well, I ran into a little trouble, but nothing I can’t handle.” I say and pull back to look into his eyes. “And you? Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He looks me over. “Is that your blood?” He asks in a concerned voice.

“No. It’s the ‘troubles’ blood.” I shake my head grinning.

“You have to tell me later.” He sighs then looks up at Aon. “And your dragon is…”

“He’s Aon, a blue morningstartail.” I grin proudly at Aon. “He’s a little bit grumpy but deep down he’s a cutie.”

He looks at me with an expression that’s probably the dragon’s version of an eye roll.

„I’m not a ’cutie’, little one. I am a dragon.” Aon says in my head.

„Grumpy.” reply in my mind.

“See? I told you.” I laugh at Liam.

“Is it just me or he looks a bit like Sgaeyl?” He leans closer and whispers. “I mean it’s not just because he’s a blue dragon. His horns and… I don’t know, maybe I’m mistaken.”

“Hm. I don’t know, I haven’t seen another blue.” I shrug. “What about your dragon?”

“He’s Deigh, a red daggertail.” He stands straighter and looks so proud, I can’t help and smile at him.

“He looks pretty badass.” I say.

“Yes, he…” Liam turns around and looks at Deigh with wide eyes. Then he laughs.

“What did he say?” I ask curiously.

“He saw you.” He says still laughing. “He…saw you in the woods.”

“What? When?” I raise my eybrows.

“You were near to a clearing, and he said you were frozen like a sheep when you saw him, only you didn’t look so edible.”

“A sheep?” I look at Deigh and start laughing. “Yeah, maybe I was intimidated by an unbonded dragon. But thank him for me that he didn’t eat me.” So he was the red I saw. Good to know.

“Stay here, little one. The Empyrean will decide your friend’s fate.”

[auraisereigh]

"A darkness in ash"

Chapter three

Brennan Sorrengail x Riorson reader Blurb: Now that Star is back at Riorson house, she faces all the ashes that have been left behind. wc: 3.4k ☆ SPOILERS FOR THE EMPYREAN SERIES. Grief and loss, All the emotional hearbreaking stuff. Let me know if i missed something. Uses pronouns: she/her. i use Star as a nickname as y/n sounds weird, and i'm awful with names. A/N: This is pretty much one scene, but its a heartbreaking one. i'm sorry. It's short but the next chapters are longer. <3

Star's masterlist main masterlist

The walk to Riorson house is uncomfortably quiet.

Felix helps Brennan with walking back while I carry the stuff. Brennan's dragon, Marbh, is flying over us. Felix gave the green light that it was safe for him to fly.

But I can tell Felix is keeping things from me. I've come to know him too well in a few months to know that.

We quietly make our way to Riorson house. It's quiet, too quiet, everything is too quiet. Not even some noise from the city.

We use the front gates seeing as I apparently blocked the back door on my way out two weeks ago. Once we turn the corner to the gates my heart hollows.

Ash. It's all ash.

I stop in my tracks dropping my pack. Aretia has been burned to ash. There are no people in sight, not a single person.

I sink through my legs, looking out over what used to be my home. Felix crouches beside me, a hand on my shoulder as the first tear fall.

"Wha- what happened?" I managed to get out through the lump in my throat. My hands tremble against the ground.

"When the battle ended a few dragons stayed close, Nevarrians riders. Not even a day later they burned it all down. Everything that could catch fire did." Felix explains, his soothing voice reminding me to breathe. "Some people got away..... But most..." He doesn't need to finish his sentence, I know what he means.

Me and Felix stay there for what feels like hours. Just looking over at the remains of what used to be the capital of Tyrrendor. I cry, sob and recover before he pulls me to my feet.

He shoulders my pack and helps me inside the fortress. "Brennan has been brought to the infirmary. We still have some people here, he's in good hands." He reassures me but all I hear is the quietness in the fortress, almost the same as outside. Just in here you hear people talking but not like how it used to be.

Felix leads me to what used to be the meeting room that also holds my father's throne. He leads me to it and sits me down on the throne, the soft velvety cushion dipping beneath my weight.

He walks to the long table, dropping my pack on it. Then he turns to me and leans against said table.

My body relaxes against the cushion, my body has been worn out from the last two weeks. The throne still has a faint scent that I recognize as my dad's. I wonder where he is, maybe in his own office but wouldn't he have come then if he heard I'm back? Wouldn't he have brought Xaden back here. I open my mouth to ask when Felix holds his finger up, silencing me. I raise a brow at him, I'm not used to people silencing me, and especially if I have not even said a word.

"We need to talk." He starts, his voice sounding like he doesn't want to have this conversation.

"Go on." I say avoiding eye contact. He sighs, his hands holding onto the table.

"Like I said earlier, Nevarrian riders burned Aretia down, some people got away, those are hiding in cave networks and we're slowly working to get them out of there." Good, if anything I'll offer sanctuary here, this place is big enough anyway. I look at Felix knowing there is more he isn't telling me. His hand goes to his beard. "Listen there is some news I have to tell you won't like, it's why I brought you here, where no one can see you." He stands up straight walking closer to me.

"We lost the battle of Aretia, all the Rebellion leaders were... Captured." My heart flies in my throat. "Your father was interrogated, I'm assuming all of them were." Is it possible that my heart beats even faster? interrogated. Tortured. I immediately get an image in my head but I quickly get it away from my mind. "They were all executed three days ago, I'm sorry. Your father is gone." His voice is soft and my heart stops. No, he can't be gone.

"You're lying." My voice wobbles, my hands tremble and tears build up in my eyes. His eyes soften even more. "I'm sorry." He responds walking closer and crouching Infront of the chair. I sit back in the chair, pulling my knees up to my chest.

"They were all executed by dragon fire." A sob breaks through my throat. The tears I had been holding up finally breaking loose, streaming down my cheeks. "You're lying...You're lying." I repeat over and over, he can't be gone. He promised me every night he would never leave. I cry like I never have before, a deep hollow pain consuming me. A darkness filling the light he left.

Felix walks closer as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into him and I hold onto him like he's my last string to life.

I cry until there is not one year left to fall, when I have a headache and my heart feels hollow, empty.

I'm still in the chair, my father's throne. The headache intensifies at the thought.

"Where?" My voice is rough as I ask the question. "Calldyr." Felix responds immediatly, giving me the answers that I crave. "And my brother? Where's he? Or Bodhi, Garrick?" It's a simple question. "All the rebellion children are also in Calldyr." I look up at him so fast that the room spins. He holds me steady on the chair. "They're not on the execution list. Xaden made a deal, all the children would live but at the age of Twenty they have to go into the Riders quadrant to prove their loyalty to the kingdom. All children are to be put in different Houses all over Navarre. All loyalists." He looks me right in the eye while explaining it. Like he wants to ensure I hear him.

"We've been trying to contact a few who almost sided with your father in the hopes we can bring a few back here or make a deal. Your brother is at Lewellen." Lewellen stayed loyal to us during the rebellion, but they never said it out to the public. "If we can contact them...?" I say starting a train thought. "We might be able to bring him back here, alongside Liam Mairi who has also been brought to House Lewellen." He finishes, his voice holding a hint of hope.

I nod standing up from the chair. That chair, that throne and this room hold too many painful memories at the moment.

"Take it easy." Felix voice warns. "Eat something, get some sleep. We're still waiting for Lewellen to respond. Until then we can't do much. You'll be the first to know once a letter arrives." I nod again, not finding it in me to use my voice as I walk out the massive door to the infirmary they said Brennan would be at.

☆

Taglist: @honethatty12 @smashee0789 @awkardnerd

[clarionglass]

for those of you keeping up with the sam reich!master/game master cinematic universe currently being masterminded by the delightful @northernfireart and my good self: oh BOY there's a part 3 coming, and she's a doozy, currently clocking in at 9600+ words with a decent chunk still to go. the end is in sight, though, and while i might split the final post into two or maybe three parts, depending on how i'm feeling, hopefully i'll be able to get the first of those parts out on sunday/monday (time zones...) to fill the hole left by the game changer episode that should be released at that time...

however! delayed gratification is for chumps! so to whet your collective appetite, i've put together a "trailer" of scene fragments >:3 feel free to read on its own, or while listening to this particular track for added ambience!

trailer starts under the cut for those who want to launch into part 3 when it comes out without spoilers :)

The Doctor ran his hands over the TARDIS console, marvelling at her clean lines and metallic flourishes, the way that even now she felt brand new but familiar, and paused. He’d just pop off for a quick adventure, nothing too dangerous, but—where to go?

He could scan for a distress call nearby, and pitch in to help. He could drop in on Donna and Shaun and Rose, beautiful Rose, and see how they were all doing. Or he could just hit the randomiser button, and jump in feet first wherever he ended up.

\\\

This was a game show. And with the Toymaker banished, and Satellite Five not coming into existence for another 198000 years, give or take, the Doctor found himself smiling. Maybe third time would be the charm.

///

“Get ready for a Game Changer!” came the host’s voice from onstage. “Tonight’s guests: he can shoot off a monologue with laser accuracy; it’s Brennan Lee Mulligan!”

Brennan, his back to the camera as the curtains opened, spun on his heel and, with a stone-cold expression, pointed finger guns straight down the barrel, before letting the facade crack open. “Hi!” he exclaimed, and walked over to the leftmost podium.

“It’s his first appearance, but he’s already on fire; it’s the Doctor!”

The Doctor leant against the archway to the stage and flashed a broad smile towards the camera, then in a few skipping steps, had bounded over to the next free podium. 

“And even in the toughest of mazes, you’ll always be able to find him; it’s Grant O’Brien!”

Grant dipped his lanky frame into an approximation of a curtsey, spreading his arms wide, then sauntered over to the closest podium with a grin.

“And your host, me!” Sam Reich announced, a ring of manic white showing around his irises as he beamed down the barrel of the camera. “I’ve been here the whole time!”

\\\

—and then came the crash, the explosive noise of heavy machinery moving relentlessly through a drywall set.

The Doctor was already moving. “Everyone down!”

“Duck!” Brennan yelled at the same time.

The two of them hit the ground within milliseconds of each other, but Grant was still paralysed in the face of the giant, science-fiction type laser cannon that had just ploughed through the wall. 

///

“I’m going to hate this so much,” Brennan muttered.

“So’s he,” Grant smirked, then raised his voice. “Oh, Daddy,” he started in a breathy singsong. “Daddy, do you want to make us play for you, huh? Do you want to degrade us, Daddy? Hurt us?”

\\\

“You’ll never get to them all in time,” came the voice through the speaker, dangerously soft. “You can try, of course, but if you die up here, well. That just leaves your new human friends alone with me while you regenerate, and goodness knows what I can do in that time.”

“You don’t get to do that,” the Doctor growled, even as another detonator deactivated. “You don’t get to hurt them because of me.”

For a moment, only laughter echoed into the room. “Better make your decision now, Doctor. Two detonators down, eleven to go, and they’ll reach spark point in ten… nine…”

///

“But you won't, don't you see? Nobody can win a rigged game—the best you can do is run it through to the end. You're standing at that podium, and we're over here, and that's why you can't win. Because no matter how many points you take away from me, you never had points at all. You want to beat me? Then play.” 

\\\

“Run?” Brennan suggested.

“Run!”

///

“And lastly, Doctor.” Sam’s smile broadened. “Sam says: say my name.”

“You can’t be,” the Doctor breathed. 

Sam smirked, leaning in across his podium. “Oh, but Doctor… I’ve been here the whole time,” he stage-whispered with a wink.

“He said you lost,” the Doctor said, shaking his head, looking wrong-footed for the first time that Brennan and Grant could recall. “You lost, and he trapped you.”

Sam just smiled, drumming his fingers against the podium with an audible beat, fast but distinct. Four taps, four taps, four taps. “I’m waiting.”

The Doctor took a slow, deep breath. Set his jaw. 

“Master.”

[creativefiend19]

Pynch Soulmate AU Fic Rec List

I was asked to list some Soulmate Pynch fics that I liked. So here they are, in no particular order below the cut.

💞 awake and unreal by dykemedusa (Rated T)

The first time Ronan found a soul mark, he was eight years old. When he lifted off his shirt to climb into the bath one afternoon, there was a blotchy, purple bruise on his stomach.

or: the soulmate AU where whatever marking your soulmate gets, it appears on your own skin for 24 hours

💞 Welcome to Starbucks by A_Fantasist / @blankinsidecards​​ (Rated T)

Most people would’ve gone searching. Most people would’ve visited every coffee shop in the nation. But Ronan thought that was stupid. The whole thing was stupid. Soulmates were stupid. His ink was stupid.

Welcome to Starbucks. Can I take your order, Ma’am?

What the fuck, right? Ronan didn’t even like coffee. And in what situation is Ronan going to be mistaken for a ma’am?

Stupid.

That’s why he avoided cafe’s, as a rule.

💞 (I'm quite all right) hiding tonight by hollyanneg / @magicienetreveur​ (Not Rated but it’s G/T)

Pynch Prompt Week 2019, Day 1: Soulmate AU - Based on the quote, "Eventually soulmates meet, for they have the same hiding place."

(You can check out more Pynch Week 2019 Day 1: Soulmate prompts here)

💞 we tell no one by @bestillmyslashyheart​​ (Rated T)

It was a knowledge that remained unsaid upon unspoken mutual agreement. They didn’t talk about it and they didn’t talk about why they didn’t talk about it but they both knew it. It was something that was only ever acknowledged in the moment and then promptly ignored thereafter, shadowed until the moment was upon them again.

Blue and Ronan have the same taste in guys. They refuse to admit it.

Also, soulmates.

💞 I Had A Rule by @etoilegarden​ (Rated T) 

“Aren’t you ever curious?” Gansey asked, voice hushed as he stood beside Adam in the bathroom at Monmouth.

Adam had come straight from work to Monmouth because Gansey wanted to go trekking around a new hiking track he’d discovered, and he’d gone to change in the bathroom. Gansey had come in to get a juice because apparently in this house there is no privacy. Ronan and Noah were out joyriding somewhere - if they had been here, Adam would have been more careful. As it was, Gansey had come in and gotten an eye full of the ink of Adam’s arms. Ronan had gone all out. He had tugged his shirt on quickly, but not quick enough.

EtoileGarden has written other Pynch Soulmate AUs, though I haven’t read them all.

💞 Trying It Again by @swimmingwolf59​​  ( Rated T)

Pynch Week 2018!! Day 1/Chapter 1 - Soulmate marks AU 

“When Ronan was ten, he ran into his soulmate. Literally ...  But before he could say anything, his soulmate hurriedly stood and fled in the opposite direction.”

(You can check out more Pynch Week 2018 Day 1: Soulmate prompts here)

💞 the conquest of stars by roselatte / @circegf​​  (Rated T)

Adam knows Ronan is his soulmate. He also knows Ronan doesn't have a soulmate.

“That’s nice, Gansey,” Adam says, though for all he knows it could look like Microsoft Word clipart. He’s not Gansey’s soulmate, so he can’t see Gansey’s soulmark.

💞 Just To Be Quiet by sksai / @babzgordon​​ (Rated M) 

an AU loosely based off the concept of the book Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. or, an excuse for Ronan and Adam to have a heart-wrenching psychic bond.

"How, " the boy went on, "are you talking to me all the way from your room?"

"I don't know," Ronan, a child, wasn't all that concerned with such trivial logistics. "I just am."

(This isn’t labelled a Soulmate AU, but it checks all the boxes. It’s complete now but, full disclosure, I haven’t yet read the last two chapters)

💞 My Backwards Walk by @omgbeersforqueers​​ (Rated E)

Ronan is a Grammy award-winning rock star with a shady reputation, Adam is a mechanic with a maybe-girlfriend. When Blue drags him to the Second Sleeper concert, he gets wrapped up in a scandal with himself and Ronan at the center.

Just for the record, Adam didn’t want to be there in the first place. He was already half deaf, and the last thing he needed was to lose the other half in the mosh pit of a rock concert. He didn’t even like rock concerts. Unfortunately for him, he did like Blue.

💞 Meant For You by ohdarlingg (Not Rated but it’s G/T)

Ronan finds out the hard way what a complicated thing it is to be Adam Parrish.

Soulmate AU where you wake up in the body of your soulmate the day after the younger one's seventeenth birthday

💞 you're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece by Klavier / @lynchly​​ (Rated M)

It wasn't that Adam listened to the comments from other Aglionby boys about "the brain and the brawn" or took any of their gold-plated opinions into account.

It was the fearless, almost insubordinate, nature of Ronan's rolled up sleeves. Two handprints encircled his wrists, a deep violet, darker than any mark Adam had ever seen. Gansey sported a matching color on both palms, as if he'd dipped them completely in paint.

*

Feel free to add your recs, so it can be a more complete list for the Anon who requested this  💞

[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High Sophomore Year Ep 10

System Reboot

What is up? Happy Year of the Double Crit to everyone and welcome back to our jailbreak already in progress! To remind you of what’s happening, Fig along with Kristen and Ayda went to Calethriel Tower to bust out Adaine. While all the hirelings (except for Gilear who is with the Van he is not allowed to drive) went to destroy one pylon and the boys went to the closer pylon with a plume of smoke coming out of it. 

Ayda casts invisibility on her group and flies them to the tower (guess we have us a buff wizard here).Meanwhile, in the tower, things are still going crazy. As Anguin and Kier are confused, time goes wonky and Adaine sees a rift open to a live feed of Aguefort back at his desk. When Adaine confirms that she is kidnapped and her kidnappers have decided on the  way of pain, Aguefort crawls through the rift, enlarges himself to 300 feet, declares war on Falinel, grabs the SUN out of the SKY, breathes fire, raises 1000s of Terra Cotta Aguefort warriors, and starts marching with them away from the tower. 

All EXTREMELY wild things but, as you’ll notice, not things that directly get Adaine out of jail. 

Adaine’s rescue party sees all of this and can generally tell this is Aguefort doing a thing that’s probably supposed to be helpful but trying to read him is always a total crapshoot. Ayda freaks a little at being in the vicinity of her dad but Fig helps to reassure her. 

Back with the boys, they’re all Naruto running towards their pylon which is an elven smithy. It’s a stone building, covered in moss and, inside there are 3 braziers holding coal and 3 statues holding pitchers of water. In the center of the hexagonal room is a firepit with a helix of magic that is clearly the source of magic powering the permanent magical effects on the tower. There are channels going from the pitches to the pit in the center, not to the braziers. 

On a 27, Riz sees that the braziers are super trapped with a Conjure Elemental spell. After aggressively emotionally supporting each other (“I believe in you.”), Gorgug and Fabian prepare attacks while Riz triggers the trap by shooting the mechanism since it is supposed to be triggered by a cantrip and they didn’t bring a single spellcaster. (Which was actually for strategic reasons but it sounds crazy when you actually think about it). 

A fire elemental pops out but, with them getting the jump on it, they’re able to womp it with very minimal problems. Then, they break the corresponding pitcher of water so it flows into the center of the room. One down, two to go. The magic fire thing changes colors and they figure some alarm has been triggered but with all the Aguefort nonsense going on they hope it will draw the attention away from them.

They trigger the second elemental and things get a little hairier. People are on fire. It becomes very clear that not bringing a healer might have been a questionable decision. But then, lo and behold, Fabian springs into action, dancing around and putting out Riz and Gorgug when they ignite with an elven blanket which everyone knows puts out fire. He even asks to make an extra roll to do it all fancy which is something we haven’t seen from him in a while. And he rolls well!    

They finish off the second elemental/statue pitcher and the indicator in the firepit is blinking. Plus, there was a flash from the other pylon earlier so they know the hirelings are doing well. That just leaves the last elemental. 

Riz has the idea to put out the fire in the brazier before triggering the final trap and Fabian, citing the common knowledge that Brennan made up twenty minutes ago, says that everyone knows elven blankets put out fires. Brennan tucks himself into the bed he made for himself and has Fabian do an acrobatics check (DC 20 to not have something bad happen, DC 25 to have something good happen) and with +8 and advantage he hits a 24. 

Fabian runs up to the brazier and triggers a trap that makes it erupt. The elemental bursts out and Fabian pulls it into his blanket and does one of those ballroom dancing dips. Brennan asks if he truly believes in the power of dance enough to take the damage from tangoing with this elemental. It’s Lous Wilson. What do you think he says? Fabian takes 22 points of fire damage, but holds on. It’s so beautiful that the elemental is stunned out of combat and Riz doesn’t attack it, breaking the last pitcher instead. 

The elemental gains a more humanoid form and face, thanks Fabian, and kisses him for 8 points of fire damage, which he is SUPER into. As they kiss, the elemental extinguishes except for a spark that finds its way into Fabian’s chest. Wild. But that’s Spring Break bay-bee!

Now, back to the girls. 

When they get to the tower, Kristen sees Kier, Anguin, and four green men-like magical constructs. Fig disguises herself to look like Aguefort (which is majorly distressing to Ayda), hoping she can do some intimidation. With the permanent magical effects on the tower down, they have no problem getting in and they clock where Adaine is being held immediately so they fly up and Fig casts Shatter. Time for Combat, part 2!

Fig Hexblades curses Anguin 100% out of solidarity/spite rather than strategy, which I respect. Anguin charms Fig to attack Ayda while still disguised as her dad which is distressing for both of them. Adaine messages Aelwyn and tells her to get ready for a rescue. 

Anguin Dominate Persons Fig but Ayda dispels it so she’s back in it. 

Kristen calls her grad student Spirit Guardians and Adaine, who is still super locked up and in the process of being rescued, takes the time to snark at them. Kristen and Ayda make their wisdom saves to not be forced to flee by Kier but Fig fails. Ayda dispels it with a, “Dad, don’t leave!” Yikes.

Fig hits all the green men with Burning Hands and they super don’t like that. Adaine uses her turn to send Boggy out to help Fig. Anguin tries Dominate Person on Kristen but she just makes her save.

She fires back with Blindness which Kier saves from but Anguin doesn’t. Kier tries to Banish Kristen but fails and then Ayda dispels Adaine’s orb and runs out to get Aelwyn out too. Adaine firebolts the most injured green man to death and then, in a very on brand move, almost immediately slaps her dad. Amidst all the damage, Fig asks Adaine whether she wants her dad killed or just maimed. Adaine, keeping the same energy she’s had all season, wants him dead. Fig is happy to help with the request. Kristen Banishes Kier who fails her save with a big ‘ol Nat 1. Then Ayda runs in holding a practically comatose Aelwyn. 

Adaine tries to get a bead on her fleeing dad who’s gotten rid of his blindness and gone invisible (in a bitch move according to her) but she just singes the edges of his clothes. She can tell he’s probably going for the Vault downstairs. Which is why Kristen, the former chosen of Helio and current main party healer, in her infinite wisdom and with her -3 to Dex, decides to ribbon dance/rappel (????) down a ten story tower to catch him before he escapes. Brennan, decides to let the dice handle this one and she rolls a 17 minus 3 which is 14. Believe it or not, that is not enough to “use a dance ribbon to fly.” Brennan asks for another acrobatics roll (presumably to see how bad this is gonna go) and Ally, after totally Beyblading the die out of the Box of Doom, rolls a 2 minus three for a total of *Negative 1*. 

Amazing. 

Kristen slams into the ground, takes 36 points of damage (down to 3 hp), and snaps her ankle. She then casts Zone of Truth in case Anguin runs past her I guess. And, because she took so much damage, she loses concentration on Banishment which makes Kier reappears with the green men to attack some more. Ayda comes in clutch and, following Kristen’s lead (just not about the ribbon dancing insanity) Banishes Kier again. On her turn, Fig Dimension Doors herself and Adaine down to the Vault where all her and Aelwyn’s magic stuff is (while Ayda stays in the room, attacking green men).

Adaine finds a magical talking sword called Fandrangool which she uses as a glowstick to look around the dark vault (much to its annoyance). There’s a bit of minor retconning that happens here due to a redo roll that had to happen but I’ll spare you the backtracking and just give it to you straight. On the way out of the room, Anguin had to run past Kristen’s Spirit Guardians which made him visible. Which means he’s visible to Fig when she tries to trip him on his way to the vault (meaning no disadvantage on her roll, which succeeds) and he goes unconscious when he hits the ground.  

Ayda comes into the vault to tell them they have less than a minute before Kier un-Banishes and they need to leave ASAP. Everyone makes rolls to find cool/important stuff. With a Nat 20 Arcana roll, Adaine finds her and Aelwyn’s spellbooks and the items taken from them as well as a bunch of top secret scrolls containing her mom’s research. On a 17 religion check, Kristen finds Adaine’s mom’s notes on the location of a temple in Sylvere (presumably to the Nightmare King) and, combined with what she already knows from the book in the pirate library, she knows where the temple is. On a 14 persuasion check to “make the gems dance” (idk y’all, I just record the things Emily says, I can’t explain them) she finds something about gem lore in the research and accidentally makes the tower self destruct. Oops. Ayda Invisibilizes everyone and they get OUT of there. And by “they” I mean everyone but Anguin because Adaine was serious about wanting him dead. Fig kinda wanted to keep him around to see if he could cast Planeshift but, Adaine gets the final word and the words she chooses are, “He sucks and I want him to die.”

Everyone meets back up at the Van and then they Teleport back to Fabian’s folks’ place. The elves there are very psyched to see Adaine, as a fellow elf, and her party members are even happier to see her. While talking to Telemien, they group finds out that he made the sword Adaine found and that it’s the sword of the North Star. When Gorgug suggests he should make Fabian a sword too, Adaine offers Fandrangool to him and he takes it.

Kristen pays Ayda to cast Sending to Jawbone for relationship advice. Jawbone is happy to help and agrees to find a way for them to have a longer conversation. I want to note that Kristen paid for two messages and the second just consisted of this exchange:

Kristen: Fuck yes!

Jawbone: Hell yeah.

Anyway, Fabian dances all night (sure) and Riz, Keeper of the Braincells, finds Adaine and asks what the deal with Aelwyn is since the last time the group saw her, she was super trying to kill them. Adaine gives him the short version of what happened and then Ayda comes in, carrying Aelwyn. Upon being given permission, Ayda lays Aelwyn down in Adaine’s bed and Adaine holds her. Riz reads the room and peaces out. As they trance, Aelwyn starts to regain some of her spell slots and unconsciously shields Adaine with an abjurer’s ward which is so cute and bittersweet that it nails me with 1d4 psychic damage. 

From one sweet moment to another, Ayda finds Fig and they proceed to extremely frankly compliment each other. Ayda tells Fig that she’s loud, brave, funny, charming, and exciting. Fig says Ayda is direct, analytical, and has a very unique perspective. Also, she cries fire which is dope as hell. When Ayda says that she really doesn’t have any female friends her age on Crazy Pirate Island, Fig suggests she just join up with the Bad Kids and Ayda is very down. They do the slumber party thing and it’s all very cute. 

After everyone else has turned in, Kristen gets a magic video-message from Aguefort who is looking messed up. Apparently, he OD’d on a bunch of experimental magic doing all the BS he did at the top of the ep, he seriously pissed off the government, and now he has to figure out how to move the sun back to where it’s supposed to be. Oh, and also Jawbone wants to speak with her. 

Jawbone and Kristen have a conversation where Kristen skirts the issue of what she hid from Tracker that made her upset (because, as you remember, it’s the fact that he was cheated on). Jawbone basically says that people can usually sense when they’re being manipulated and if Kristen got Tracker flowers just to make her not be mad rather than to make her happy, then of course she’s still be pissed. He also says that full transparency is important to Tracker and if Kristen genuinely didn’t realize that because it isn’t to her then she should explain that. Kristen seems to get it and also asks Jawbone to call back the next day at the same time (probably so he can talk to Sandra-Lynn).

In the morning, Fabian has a nice chat with his granddad. He would like Fabian to get to be a chill forest elf with him but Fabian knows he has a heroic duty. He does submit to eating a flower though. Elf stuff. 

Everyone meets up except for Adaine who is still with Aelwyn who is doing poorly. She brings Aelwyn to the resident healers but refuses to leave her alone. Telemein offers to take charge of Aelwyn but Adaine says it’s up to her if she wants to stay. When Aelwyn comes to, she’s not sure if they made it out of the Tower via escaping or dying. Adaine lets her know that they survived and promises to protect her while she recovers. When she sees that Aelwyn is having trouble thinking straight, she gives her Boggy to hold and ritual casts Detect Magic which pings some kind of Enchantment deep within her mind. In response, Adaine casts Detect Thoughts and finds herself in Aelwyn’s mindscape which basically looks bombed to hell like the Blitz. Her metaphorical emotional walls are represented by literal walls and battlements which have been torn up and, though they are jumbled up, Adaine can see shared childhood memories from Aelwyn’s POV. She can see that Aelwyn has spent basically their entire childhood suppressing her natural protective instincts towards Adaine out of fear of their parents and hating herself for it.

In the middle of everything, Adaine finds a really powerful magical charm made of Aelwyn's protective energy and whatever Enchantment she sensed before. Adaine can tell that this is what they were trying to torture out of Aelwyn but weren't able to. On the charm, there's writing. It says, "Despite all of the torment and tribulation, let this be proof I always knew there was only one person clever enough to find this." Adaine senses that she can dispel it and it will trigger whatever effect Aelwyn intended. Adaine does so. 

“I’m going to describe something very heartbreaking now,” says Brennan, causing me to add an item to my list of “Things You Seriously Don’t Want To Hear Your DM Say.”   

 Adaine is snapped out of Aelwyn’s thoughts and Aelwyn is briefly overcome with pain as her mind is forcibly rewritten back to its default state by the backup copy that Adaine just triggered. That’s right. No more soft-Aelwyn. The bitch is back. Eat your Goddamn dice, Brennan.

Detention

Kristen for Whatever the Hell She Thought She Was Doing With That Ribbon

You are the PARTY HEALER and you have NEGATIVE THREE DEX. Leave the parkour shenanigans to Fabian!

This was so funny though. I think I compared the Womping of Fabian to the Keyfish thing from CritRole* but this was the actual Keyfish moment because it was super dumb, unnecessary, involved a huge fall and sketchy grasp of physics, but crucially, was hilarious and not heartbreaking. 

Never change, Ally.

*lol, Now Kristen can join the club with Keyleth and Bev from Naddpod. 

Honor Roll

Fabian for Getting His Groove Back 

Look, I don’t think this episode is the most competent Fabian has ever been or the most heroic he’s ever been or the coolest he’s even been. But...didn’t he seem happy? And open? And a little daring? This is the most Fabian that Fabian has been since The Wicklaw Incident. He did so much support playing in this episode and it felt so right. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his subclass back soon or picked up some battle dancer or fire stuff (or maybe something totally different), at least for flavor.

He still probably has some ways to go (“I’m not sure about myself but the two of you have got this.”) but I think he was doing so much better this ep than when this little arc of personal growth started that I have to give him props. Welcome back Fabian Aramais Seacaster!

Random Thoughts

Note: Because of this ep’s title, we now 100% know that the canon spelling of Adaine’s sister’s name is Aelwen (not -wyn) but I’ll deal with that starting with next ep because this has already taken too long to finish. 

Note #2: @jamiebluewind just put up this post with various character and location descriptions you might find helpful.

OK, so are we sure the alarms triggered at the end of last episode were triggered by Aguefort? Because they went off before he actually did anything. His recording played, they pressed a button, alarms went off, and THEN he video-called Adaine. It could just be that Brennan got the order a little off after the hiatus (or that making the video-call is what caused the alarms) but I wanted to bring it up. 

Why the hell was whatever the hell THAT was Arthur’s play and not Chronomancy? Like, stop time, grab Adaine, and go. Simple. I understand the reason is that he is insane and beyond human comprehension but geez (and he has to be or else he would be the ultimate deus ex machina with no reason to not solve literally every problem above a certain level of severity).

“Why would I carry my dad in this battle he never carried me.” Aydaaaaaa.

With all the fun Fabian had playing support this episode, I wouldn’t be shocked if be picked up a level of Cleric or Bard. Or even if he just got the Magic Initiate feat which could easily be explained in story as him taking an elective or working with Fig/Adaine/Kristen to learn some basics. 

Ayda and Fig’s little, “Did he see me?”/“No, because your Invisibility spell was that good,” back and forth was so cute. They were super cute all episode really. People were shipping Adaine and Ayda which I personally didn’t get at all from their interactions which I found just friendly but I would be a lot less surprised if Fig and Ayda happened based on that whole pre-sleepover scene. (Based on their convo it also seems like they’re close in age but even if Ayda is like in her mid-20s or something, she’d still be Fig’s most age appropriate relationship which is, como se dice, slightly troubling). Anyway, y’all know I’m not a shipper but I’m very invested in their relationship however it ends up.  

Similar topic, Fig insisting Ayda be mad at her and not her dad for attacking her while Disguised? Gah, that was so much. 

Emily’s line of the episode was casually summing up her entire character by going, “I usually look like someone else but I mean what I say.”

Also, LOL at her just rocking into the fight as Aguefort playing the bass. What a visual. 

Murph’s Tomb Raiding 101 bit was extremely funny. 

“I would like to toss The Ball.”

Did you catch when the group realized that they left the boys with no healers and Emily was like, “Oh no, I forgot you weren't a paladin,” to Murph? I figured that was a reference to the fact that Murph’s favored archetype (in his own words) is a grizzled old knight who has to do the right thing but now I’m also lowkey wondering if he’s playing a Paladin in S5 (or maybe in their homegame).

Ayda was also very endearing towards the other girls this ep. Asking permission to grab Kristen (“Enthusiastic consent!”) and running up and grabbing Adaine’s hands after dispelling her orb. I am so glad Adaine decided to make friends with her.

Valid choice for Adaine to give the sword to Fabian but Give Adaine A Sword 2020. She should have proficiency as an elf and she needs a way to physically attack people that will do actual damage. Alternatively, Adaine should take one level in fighter or monk so the next time she slaps someone, it does actual damage. 

I know Jawbone is both extremely chill and a consummate professional, but wild to talk to your girlfriend’s uncle about falling out due to him being cheated on. I for sure would have found someone else to talk to 

Emily’s face when the Ribbon Dancing sequence was happening was so bugged out in disbelief which says A Lot coming from Ms. Hilda-Hilda herself. 

So they fully destroyed Calethriel Tower which seems problematic seeing as there were for sure other prisoners in there. Like, even assuming all of them were peak evil and deserved to die (which seems extremely unlikely considering the people we do know who were locked up here) that still seems like a political disaster.

“Where is she on the earth? Can we teleport there?”/”She’s actually in the next room.”/ “Extremely convenient.”

Curious about when exactly Mom Abernant’s (I promise I’ll learn her name as soon as we have an official spelling I can commit to) research was taken from, her. Was she working for the government and forced to abandon it or was it taken from her while she was researching privately?  

“Your modifier is bigger than their total.”

“Describe the room to me.”/”It’s a vault and it’s on the first floor.”

Adaine shows up to Telemien’s BS high elven pronunciation of Gorgug and is immediately like “There are hard G’s in high elvish.” I love her. Zero chill. 

“I have it too if I sleep goodbye”

I lost my favorite sweater recently so I was vibing with Adaine’s temporary devastation at having forgotten to get her jacket (no worries, Brennan said it would have been with the rest of her stuff).

I just wanna say, wild of the elves to basically put Adaine and Aelwyn in adjacent cells. 

Imagine you’re just a normal ass resident of the world of Spyre and, one day, you wake up and the sun is a huge YES! Which is super weird, even for a fantasy world but you take it in stride and, eventually, it gets sorted out. And then, six months later, it’s the middle of the day and the sun suddenly lurches across the sky and just stays there. And then you find out that the dude who did it is the same dude who kicked Sol out of the sky the last time!

I thought Fig was gonna offer Ayda access to her dads when they were talking about how Aguefort is a subpar dad because she has two. At the very least she needs to see Jawbone. 

As a lawyer (#2 demographic for FH after CEO’s) I was very into the Similar to But Legally Distinct From Blitzkrieg Bop track. 

“I have much more money than you.”

One of my favorite D&D tropes is the group splitting up boys/girls and then the two groups having wildly different experiences. 

I think it’s interesting that everyone in Adaine’s family talks Like That except for her. Like, Aelwyn does it, even when she’s brain-fried and not being a bitch so we know it’s not just that but Adaine talks like a normal teenager like 80% of the time.  

I just realized, Adaine called her shot last episode when she cursed her dad and then let him die this episode. It’s easy to be an Oracle if you follow through on all your threats.  

(Also, absolutely not convinced he’s dead until we see a body. Kristen fell 10 stories this episode and she’s fine.)

I find the grudging respect that Aelwyn had for Adaine, even at her most messed up extremely interesting.

I mentioned this already in another post but, as womped as I was by Aelwyn’s personality getting reset to normal, it really was the right thing to do, storywise. Like, I’ve really been enjoying vulnerable Aelwyn but that wasn't really earned. Even she said it herself. She can’t give a full apology if she’s not in her right mind. And, in this episode, we got confirmation for what I think we all pretty much assumed. Aelwyn wasn’t just “born bad”. In fact, if anything, it’s the opposite. She was born with such strong protective instincts that the entire way she is able to use magic is based around protection. In a better world with better parents, she would have been the best most Ride or Die older sister anyone could ask for. But, instead, she was ruined in the opposite direction of Adaine and built walls to protect herself instead of others. It’s so poetic I wanna eat my dice. But, I digress. Resetting Aelwyn back to her last save file is an extremely clutch story move because it feels like back to step one but it’s not because now, Adaine fully understands what her deal is and Adaine knows she has the capacity to be good and kind and just decent. Aelwyn might have reset but Adaine didn’t. And, like, after your sister who is barely strong enough to sit upright or think straight tries to magically shield you from nothing in particular because she feels like she should, are you gonna give up on her just because she’s retreated back to the safe waters of name calling? Doubt it. I really can’t wait to see what their initial interactions are like. Is Adaine gonna treat her with kid gloves knowing what she now knows or fall back into sparring with her? Is Aelwyn gonna be totally back to her old self or will she have enough self-awareness to know that if Adaine reset her (will she know that happened?) then she must have seen inside her head and know what’s going on in there? Will she understand that but still stubbornly refuse any attempts to reach out by Adaine and try to go fully walls up again? Don’t know but I can’t wait to see how it shakes out. 

But seriously. How cute was Aelwyn trying to do shields on Adaine this ep? The first time she non-grudgingly steps up to the plate to protect her for real you are gonna hate me so much because I am not going to be able to shut up about it.  

One last thing: We haven’t heard from the Shadowcat in a while and that Concerns me.

This episode, Fig, Adaine, Gorgug, and Riz each rolled one Nat 20. Fig rolled one Nat 1 and Brennan rolled two.

[dixie78]

Here's what financial experts are saying about Australia's jobs report

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Australia's January tasks report was released today, revealing a 16th consecutive increase in work, the longest stretch on record.While a headline-grabber, the remainder of the report was more OKAY than great.Part time employment leapt, balancing out a large decline completely time workers. Hours worked likewise dipped for a second straight month, a frustrating result hinting that labour market slack stays in abundance.And while the joblessness rate did fall to 5.5%from an upwardly revised 5.6% level in December, it still stays well above exactly what lots of regard to be Australia's complete work level of around 5 %or lower.Combined, all 3 recommend there's little danger of a sharp velocity in wage pressures any time quickly, or undoubtedly a near-term rate trek from the Reserve Bank of Australia(RBA ). Monetary markets certainly believed so, barely reacting to the release of the report.

It was largely in line with expectations and didn't alter the outlook

for wages or inflation, meaning there was no genuine need to do anything else but relax.While markets made up their mind fairly rapidly, let's see what Australia's economic neighborhood has actually made of the January report.Has the status quo been preserved, or was there something in the report that markets missed?Gareth Aird, Commonwealth Bank The very first employment report of 2018 was broadly in line with agreement. Employment lifted by 16,000 which set a record for the longest run of successive monthly job gains. The

underlying detail was a bit softer than the headline results suggested. However in the context of the big boosts in employment over November and December we think that today's outcome is a pretty good one.Labour market results in 2018 will be paramount to the timing of any potential relocation in the cash rate. In particular, the labour market will have to continue to tighten and earnings development will have to be on a continual upward pattern before the policy rate relocations higher. On the latter, next week the ABS releases updates on the Wage Price Index(WPI)and Average Weekly Incomes(AWEs). The Q3 WPI increased by just 0.5%. It was an especially frustrating result given a solid lift in the nationwide base pay of 3.3%, up from 2.4 %the previous year, was supposedly in the figures. Some of the service surveys are pointing to a lift

in unit labour costs and we anticipate to see a modest 0.6%increase in the Q4 WPI. Such a result would see the annual rate of wages growth step up to 2.1%. And it would be constant with an anticipated progressive lift in wages development over 2018 which is central to our RBA require a rate increase on Melbourne Cup day. Anything weaker would raise the probability that the RBA spends all of 2018 on the sidelines. Paul Brennan and Josh Williamson, Citibank For the RBA, what matters is how labour demand and supply impact incomes and inflation and there is little proof of even nascent wage pressures. We anticipate another 0.5%quarterly increase in next week's Wage Cost Index.

Assistant RBA governor Ellis earlier this week

alerted that we should not draw implications for inflation from any indications of decreasing extra capability without framing the conversation around how structural and other factors can make a difference to economic behaviour. And her remarks suggested that the RBA is keenly conscious that structural aspects such as increasing competitive pressures from globalisation and technology are weighing on the rates power of organisations and their hunger to pay greater wage rises. The earliest we can see the RBA tightening remains in Q4, with the threat inclined to later on rather than soon.George Tharenou, UBS Despite the softer details of the tasks report, the labour market plainly remains strong, with yearly work development staying at a post-GFC high of 3.3 %. This is supporting real estate activity, and if sustained, suggests upside run the risk of to

our development outlook, which might see the RBA hike rates earlier than our projection very first relocation in 2019.

As we highlighted previously, the labour market survey information has clearly 'broken down 'from ecord low salaries, and current EBA data suggest the underlying momentum of earnings is still weakening, despite the minimum wage hike. Looking ahead, while we still anticipate solid tasks, today's report might be the very first sign that employment growth will moderate to the leading indicators. Next week's WPI data is essential and will be closely watched by the market, especially provided the RBA is likely to remain on the side-lines till there is more evidence of sustained wages growth. Felicity Emmett, ANZ Bank Another increase in work brings it to a record 16 consecutive regular monthly gains. The drop in full-time tasks and the current stabilisation of the unemployment rate took some of the gloss off the report,

nevertheless. Current stability in the joblessness rate is consistent with the RBA's desire to be patient on policy normalisation. That said, leading signs suggest that employment is likely to grow solidly and the joblessness rate decline over coming months. Ben Jarman, JP Morgan Maybe the most fascinating information of the report is what didn't happen, which is that involvement stopped increasing, and this immediately put a pause to the very strong trend of full-time task gains, of labour

force and employment development, and of the increase in the employment/population ratio. Most of the variation in work development-- both weak and strong-- has actually been driven by participation modifications because late 2015. We expect this will continue to be the case offered the existing industry composition of employment gains.The hours worked numbers likewise show that while breadth procedures of work have gotten through participation effects, labour utilisation is not tightening up. Average hours worked are down 2.7 %year-on-year, the weakest reading since mid-2009, at the depths of the last slowdown. A few of this might be due to base impacts from some irregular moves

early last year, however nonetheless it stays clear that hours worked have actually slowed over the last six months too.We anticipate joblessness to hold in a 5.5-5.75 %range, due to sub-trend GDP development and an absence of further work development ahead in bellwether sectors.

This will weigh on wages/unit labour costs and keep inflation well contained.Diana Mousina, AMP Capital The labour market has been running red hot for over 6 months which does stand at chances with an economy that is running below its possible general. Looking ahead, our tasks leading indication( a mix of different task vacancies and business hiring intents )is indicating a slowdown in work growth. Employment development appears to have reached a peak for now.Slower work growth suggests that the joblessness rate is not likely to decrease considerably over the next couple of months, which shows that we will have to wait longer for significant earnings growth to emerge. The Reserve Bank is still relying on salaries development to lift by some extent, however just gradually

and this has actually been plainly detailed in current speeches and publications from the main bank.We still see the Reserve Bank keeping rates of interest on hold for now. There are pockets of strength in the Australian growth story-- business self-confidence and conditions are extremely strong, non-mining investment development is raising and iron ore rate rises ready news for commodity exporters. The low inflation environment, threats in the housing market and a high currency will restrict growth in the economy this year and keep the Reserve Bank mindful. A rate rise is likely from the Reserve Bank, however its only most likely to come at the end of this year.Ivan Colhoun, National Australia Bank Sample rotation effects have been extremely significant in each of the previous 2 months-- this month considerably limiting work growth and lowering full-time employment while improving joblessness. Even still, there have been 16 successive months of work increases, the longest successive run ever. The RBA will need to see the joblessness rate be up to see some acceleration in earnings, which will make it more confident in its inflation and intake forecasts. That isn't taking place at present, though numerous partial indicators recommend it will over the course of the year. Salaries next week is now the focus-- will we get some of the missing out on minimum wage development from last quarter?Paul Dales, Capital Economics Work growth will probably slow this year from the current yearly development rate of 3.3%to the 2.0 %or so touted by

a lot of other indicators. There is little

reason to expect a much more severe slowdown.We are not particularly worried by the increase in employment in January being driven by a 65,900 leap in part-time work while full-time work fell by 49,800. Over the past year, full-time tasks explain over 70 %of the total 400,000 boost in employment.We are, however, more fretted by the

falls in hours worked. Employees are on average working 2.7 %less hours than a year ago. That will limit the increase to household incomes from increasing work and it is constant with other signs that there is still plenty of capacity in the labour market.While the continued strength of the labour market will offer a minimum of some support to income and intake growth this year, without far more wage inflation the

RBA isn't really going to raise rate of interest.

We anticipate the RBA will keep rates of interest at 1.5% up until the 2nd half of 2019. Callam Pickering, Indeed We shouldn't harp on the negatives, particularly given the month-to-month volatility that is constantly present in our

labour force figures. Outside of the ongoing weak point in earnings, the labour market story remains intense. Great deals of jobs are being created, across a series of markets, and numerous Australians are re-entering the labor force after a period in the wilderness.Nevertheless, there is still much progress to

be made. Labour market slack stays raised, which assists to discuss the ongoing weakness in wage growth and the cautiousness of Australian homes. We believe that there is factor to be positive on earnings, particularly now that services are cashed up with some reporting a greater problem in finding brand-new staff, but improvement might be slow. The Reserve Bank would naturally be pleased with today's result. It's certainly a step in the best instructions even though full-time employment fell. Nonetheless, with wage growth and inflation so low, tighter financial policy will not enter into the RBA's near-term computations. Wish to check out a more

extensive view on the trends

affecting Australian service and the international economy? BI/ Research study is developed to help executives and market leaders understand the significant difficulties and opportunities for market, technology, strategy and the economy in the future. Sign up for totally free at research.businessinsider.com.au.

[nancypalmer]

Check the Car and GO!

There is nothing like the freedom of packing the car and hitting the road - and now is that time of year when families start to plan summer road trips. Packing a suitcase and snack bag is pretty easy and straight forward. Preparing for pets to go along for the ride usually boils down to food, water, and bedding.

But what about your car? Assuming you are up-to-date with all maintenance, here are some recommended inspections you can do before you turn the key and go, courtesy of AAA.

* Check the oil while the engine is cold. Most cars have a simple dipstick under the hood - pull it out, wipe it off, and dip it again to check the level. Newer cars might check the oil level electronically - make sure you know how to monitor that level. While the hood is up, check the coolant and windshield wiper reserves too.

* Visually check the battery terminals for corrosion - they can be cleaned off with baking soda and water and an old toothbrush.

* Inspect the garage/driveway floor for signs of fluids leaking - if you find any, note the color and call your mechanic.

* Turn on your car’s lights and walk around the car to confirm they all work. Ask a helper to confirm break lights illuminate when you hit the brake.

* Visually inspect tires for cracks, low tread, or other signs of too much wear. Fill the tires before your trip and keep an eye on their level as the driving progresses. Make sure you know the location of your spare tire and tools.

Sandwiches, water, music, and sunglasses - now it’s time to make some memories in any or all of our fabulous 50 states!

Nancy Palmer, CRS Broker Associate Presidents Roundtable REALTOR® LICENSE # 00525350 Alain Pinel Realtors® Woodside D 650.492.0200  |  O 650.529.1111 www.NancyPalmer.com

Image courtesy of Paul Brennan / PublicDomainPictures.net  

[jq37]

oh WOW that new bloodkeep ep

**spoilers for family in freefall bloodlines and lifelines**

Man this episode was a lot. Probably my fave of the season so far.

Brennan seems to have an M.O. in terms of plotting things. They way we got a focus on each character in a stressful situation reminded me a lot of Family in Flames from the FH season which came at about the same point in the story.

Anyway, we start with Brennan giving the most unnecessarily verbose description of falling ever.

I am actually not sure how big Lilith is supposed to be in relation to everyone else at this point. Or how big her kids are supposed to be. I thought the really young ones were like straight spiders but like Jessa and the boy who’s name I’m forgetting were centaur style like her. But like, idk. 

Efink insisting that she’s still holding the wheel (even though it truly means nothing) was so funny.

Both Matt and Brennan do very good re-entry sound effects.

Brennan: Feel free to do nothing.

Rekha: *SLAMS that induce labor button with no hesitation*

Truly amazing

“You feel your fire break.”

Leiland falling to his doom while bossa nova music plays in the background and rolling his eyes at Maggie is iconic.

Everyone is dying and Sohkbar is just like, fine.

Lilith polymorphs into a full ass spider.

Even though it ended up going sideways (literally) not a bad plan from Markus.

Brennan is so good at scene setting exposition.

Erika acted the hell out of that moment when she and Sohkbar share a look before she tells Russel everything is gonna be OK. She didn’t have to but she did that for us.

The wheel that steers nothing metaphor was such a good turn of phrase from Bren.

Efink’s DOUBLE NAT ONES.

WOOOOOW.

Rekha goes, “THIS is the bad day,” with Kristen Bell’s inflection and I am reminded that it has not even been a full 24 hours in game since ep 1. Wild.

Anyway, Efink’s norn spirit things disappear which is what happens when you roll snake eyes I guess. Amy is legit tearing up.

Brennan’s throwaway joke of explaining story structure low key killed me.

Leiland gets advantage on perception and rolls a nat 20!

Are all of the Vingury just gay for the next person in their chain of command? Because that’s what it seems like.

Matt’s flustered Leiland as Miles implies ~things~ is adorable.

Animal handling 2, electric boogaloo. I love that joke.

Maggie is so OP. Maggie hits the ground and isn’t even at half HP. Leiland is knocked into negatives though.

His first death save is a nat 1. WHICH IS 2 FAILURES. I was so stressed.

Then J'er'em'ih rolls a nat 20 to go save him!

I love the phrase, “J'er'em'ih’s normal form” as if he has a normal anything.

“J'er'em'ihdeserves the credit.”

Anyway J'er'em'ih(w/ an assist from Sohkbar) saves Leiland!

Rekha was so concerned for John. Like, not even Maggie. Rekha.

“It’s gonna be an egg!?”

Samantha Eagles. (Of the Philadelphia Eagles?) I died at that line.

Maggie levels up and gets healing magic. (“Fuck yeah!” says Maggie.) John stabilizes.

The fact that Maggie thought it might be an egg makes me concerned that she maybe isn’t ready to be a mom.

I love that Maggie just wordlessly presents her baby to Lilith (the alpha mom of the group) like a kid showing their mom and art project.

OK, this is such a tiny moment but I love, love, love that Maggie has a good enough relationship with Lilith that when she heard what she thought was a threat to her baby, she just asked, “Is that a threat to the baby?” instead of attacking her or going *Maggie will remember that* and harboring mistrust. The way she asked was so adorable. Also, Lilith would never.

Markus floats basically the exact same plan as Lilith (defect to good, get pardons) but at least he uses it as a plan of true last resort.

Lilith being the keeper of basically all of Efink’s self esteem is great. Also, everyone has to keep reminding her that she is queen.

“As the resident magnificent failure.”

“Allow me to be the basis for your self comparison. That’s the best I can offer you.” LEILAAAAAAAND.

Anyway, Leiland gives a great pep talk to Efink who throws her spell cards over her shoulder irl (”it’s an RP episode. it’s fine”).

Amy to Brennan who is about to start roasting Efink’s entire life: Don’t do this.

So when Brennan said, “Efink gets to decide right now if she’s good at magic.” I was thinking, that’s a big thing to put in a PC’s hands unless you want the answer to be yes. Because, in another story, “No,” might be the better answer narratively, but who’s gonna voluntarily nerf themselves like that?

So Efink dips into an episode of Friendship is Magic which Brennan beautifully picks up the narration for and gets the info they need without rolling for it. She also has some major self actualization and is now dry, less vain, and less dramatic.

It kinda seems like this was leading towards Lilith being the new leader what with her thoughts while she was falling and her being passed up for the promotion but, come on. She would have to make a crazy soul rending deal to just take the crown normally and she has kids and common sense. Otherwise, I think Erika would have made that play.

“Is my son a different player than me?” I love Rekha.

Like Leiland, I fully thought she was gonna name the kids John at first. (Are you ‘allowed’ to jr. a kid who isn’t named after you or your spouse? I’ve never seen someone do that. As in, add the jr., not name a kid after a friend).

I love that Matt roleplays Leiland into so many awkward moments. A good RP-er doesn’t care about their character being cool all the time.

“I’m naming him after the name of yours that I prefer.” That was so sweet.

“First of all, J'er'em'ih’s an excellent judge of character.”

Everyone coming together to make Leiland feel better was so so sweet. These guys are like the exact opposite of murder hobos in a game where they 100% have the right to be.

The baby tells Leiland to kneel and he just does it because of course he does. (Leiland later: I HAVE A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS)

Maggie after Leiland swears total fealty to Leiland Jr: Can’t you keep anything at like 80%?

Efink rolls a nat 20 on her check to navigate the Bloodkeep, basically completing her self actualization arc.

Leiland resists the urge to chase Hamhead, completing a portion of his arc.

The running thing of people giving Maggie biologically incorrect info on kids because of their drastically different biology.

Aww all of Lilith’s kids.

Lilith dispel magicking the book golem, implying she could have done that at any time and just chose not to.

Leiland apologizes to Maggie for being bitchy to her out of jealously, which I thought was sweet but was just the warm up act for what was about to happen.

But, before that, Maggie’s dad calls and Efink hangs up on him for her. For a second I thought that cutting off the call meant we wouldn’t get to see what was behind the doors but, luckily, that wasn’t the case.

(Also Sohkbar and Lilith eating popcorn as Maggie and her dad fight).

Did Efink appoint herself high adviser?

“Please don’t bite him,” *Leiland Jr. bites a spider*

So, anyway, Leiland and Maggie go into the portal and see visions of (1) weird sex between Zaul and Lilith and (more importantly), (2) Zaul bagging on Maggie when she’s not around/thirsting after Leiland when he’s not around.

The simile about winning the lottery after you find out money can’t buy you happiness was so good.

“What a fucking pig!”/“I agree.”/“Oh, do you?”/“Actually I do.”

I’M SO PROUD OF THEM.

Instead of being mad at Leiland (or Lilith for that matter) she just doubled down on being mad at her dickhead ex. And Leiland, instead of being all winner winner chicken dinner just felt bad for Maggie and Decklan.

“Was this something the baby should have seen?”/“No.”

“This is one of the lesser times it’s bad to say your father’s name.” Yikes Leiland.

Anyway, the whole hang makes plans to take Sohkbar shopping and it really fits in with the theme of this ep of everyone boosting everyone’s self esteem. This ep has a lot of genuinely heartwarming moments.

“Sohkbar yes. Sohkbar yes. Sohkbar yes.”

“What did you roll? [28] You see everything.”

Leiland Jr. as new king seems like a questionable decision imo but I’m not gonna backseat RP.

“You guys start engaging in a fun conversation about statecraft.”

“Lilith, I’d like a hug.” Lilith hugs her and kicks her legs up like she’s in the climax of a romcom.

The whole group hugs and Brennan calls them out and has a NPC call them out, even though he’s the person who led them to this path!

Man, the promo for this ep really made it sound more dire and less heartwarming that it actually was.

YOU’RE DEFINING GOOD

“Imagine there’s 9 squares in a grid.” TRAPP

That like 20 seconds had so many good lines. “We’re cutting out the middle man and taking evil straight to you.”/“We’re evolving evil.”/“We’re disrupting evil.”

Now that I think about it, they really haven’t escaped the bloodkeep so far, have they? They’ve been going back and forth between it but not really trying to escape it per se. 

Olag is back because, again, of course he is.

Final battle y'all!

Sounds like we’re getting actual Gollum next week so that should be fun. Also, very curious to see what that last, “No,” is in response to. These guys are good at cutting trailers so it could be nothing serious, but who knows?