#god Mehen

[shxinny]

Netkheru reptiles IV

¡Hola, chiques! Espero que estén muy bien, hoy les traigo la cuarta parte de esta nueva serie llamada ''Netkheru reptiles'', donde les hablaré sobre sus correspondencias, sus asociaciones y/o sincretizaciones y un poco de su historia, así que, sin más dilación, ¡Empecemos!

13) Mehen

Netkher protectora, Mehen protege la barca solar y a Ra con su cuerpo, su agresividad y su veneno la hacen propicia para defender a Ra y a su barca de los ataques nocturnos hasta que llegaba el alba.

Es representada como una cobra alada portando el disco solar.

14) Meretseger

Personificación de la montaña El-Qurn, Meretseger es la netkher protectora de la necrópolis Tebana, funeraria, protege y custodia los entierros, patrona de constructores de tumbas, la justicia, los muertos, protectora de difuntos y protectora contra animales venenosos.

Fue asociada con los netkheru Ptah y Het-Heret (Hathot) y fue sincretizada con esta ultima.

Está estrechamente relacionada con Ausar (Osiris), pues ella fue quién lo acompaño una vez fue enterrado, aclarar algo muy importante, no hay una asociación romántica entre Ausar y Meretseger.

Es representada cómo una una mujer con cabeza de cobra, una cobra con cabeza humana o una mujer con tres cabezas, una de mujer, otra de cobra y otra de buitre, portadora del disco solar y habitualmente representada con cuernos, de ahí su sincretismo y asociación con Het-Heret (Hathor-Meretseger).

Imagen: Yliade

15) Nehebkau

Hijo de Renenutet en su forma de serpiente y de Serket, Nehebkau es un netkher funerario, protector de la realeza, de los ritos de coronación, protector contra animales venenosos, guarían de las puertas de la Duat y del Inframundo y de los difuntos, debido a que él es quién une el Ba y el Ka una vez fallecida la persona. Se le consideraba un netkher guerrero.

Está estrechamente relacionado con Itemu (Atum) y Ra, debido a que protege a Ra mientras comienza su viaje al inframundo por las noches.

Itemu es el único netkher capaz de contener su poder, ya que es un netkher bastante agresivo, pues tendía a perder el control.

Está relacionado también con Renenutet y Serket, pues es hijo de ellas dos. En su representación cómo serpiente es hijo de Renenutet y, cómo protector y controlador de picaduras y mordidas de animales venenosos, se decía que también era hijo de Serket (Selkis).

Es representado cómo una serpiente con piernas humanas, un hombre con cabeza de serpiente o un hombre con dos cabezas de serpientes.

Se decía que cuando tenía dos cabezas era capaz de atacar en dos direcciones a la vez.

16) Nehy

Lamentablemente no se tiene mucha información de este Netkher, solo su representación y se sabe que fue un funcionario de Thutmose III y portador del titulo ''Virrey de Kush''.

Por hoy ha sido todo, chiques, espero que les haya gustado y que les haya ayudado a conocer más sobre los netkheru, recuerden que todas mis redes sociales y la Per-Ankh están ligadas a mi Beacons, nos vemos en un próximo post, se les quiere mucho ¡Adiós!

[zuvluguu]

"Life lives on life. This is the sense of the symbol of the Ouroboros, the serpent biting its tail. Everything that lives lives on the death of something else. Your own body will be food for something else. Anyone who denies this, anyone who holds back, is out of order. Death is an act of giving."

~Joseph Campbell

•The Ouroboros or uroborus (/ˌ(j)ʊərəˈbɒrəs, uːˈrɒbərɒs/) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. Originating in ancient Egyptian iconography, the ouroboros entered western tradition via Greek magical tradition and was adopted as a symbol in Gnosticism and Hermeticismand most notably in alchemy.

The Ouroboros represents the perpetual cyclic renewal of life and infinity, the concept of eternity and the eternal return, and represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth, leading to immortality, as in the Phoenix.

§In Alchemy:

In alchemy, the Ouroboros is a sigil. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung saw the Ouroboros as an archetype and the basic mandala of alchemy. Jung also defined the relationship of the Ouroboros to alchemy:

"The alchemists, who in their own way knew more about the nature of the individuation process than we moderns do, expressed this paradox through the symbol of the Ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. The Ouroboros has been said to have a meaning of infinity or wholeness. In the age-old image of the Ouroboros lies the thought of devouring oneself and turning oneself into a circulatory process, for it was clear to the more astute alchemists that the prima materia of the art was man himself. The Ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e. of the shadow. This 'feed-back' process is at the same time a symbol of immortality, since it is said of the Ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself to life, fertilizes himself and gives birth to himself. He symbolizes the One, who proceeds from the clash of opposites, and he therefore constitutes the secret of the prima materia which [...] unquestionably stems from man's unconscious."

§ In Antiquity:

The Ouroboros often symbolizes self-reflexivity or cyclicality, especially in the sense of something constantly re-creating itself, the eternal return, and other things such as the phoenix which operate in cycles that begin anew as soon as they end. It can also represent the idea of primordial unity related to something existing in or persisting from the beginning with such force or qualities it cannot be extinguished. While first emerging in Ancient Egypt, the Ouroboros has been important in religious and mythological symbolism, but has also been frequently used in alchemical illustrations, where it symbolizes the circular nature of the alchemist's opus. It is also often associated with Gnosticism, and Hermeticism.

§In Egypt:

The first known appearance of the ouroboros motif is in the Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld, an ancient Egyptian funerary text in KV62, the tomb of Tutankhamun, in the 14th century BC. The text concerns the actions of the god Ra and his union with Osiris in the underworld. In an illustration from this text, two serpents, holding their tails in their mouths, coil around the head and feet of an enormous god, who may represent the unified Ra-Osiris. Both serpents are manifestations of the deity Mehen, who in other funerary texts protects Ra in his underworld journey. The whole divine figure represents the beginning and the end of time.

The ouroboros appears elsewhere in Egyptian sources, where, like many Egyptian serpent deities, it represents the formless disorder that surrounds the orderly world and is involved in that world's periodic renewal. The symbol persisted in Egypt into Roman times, when it frequently appeared on magical talismans, sometimes in combination with other magical emblems. The 4th-century AD Latin commentator Servius was aware of the Egyptian use of the symbol, noting that the image of a snake biting its tail represents the cyclical nature of the year.

§In Greece:

Plato described the Ouroboros as the first living thing a self-eating, circular being—the universe as an immortal, mythologically constructed entity:

"The living being had no need of eyes because there was nothing outside of him to be seen; nor of ears because there was nothing to be heard; and there was no surrounding atmosphere to be breathed; nor would there have been any use of organs by the help of which he might receive his food or get rid of what he had already digested, since there was nothing which went from him or came into him: for there was nothing beside him. Of design he created thus; his own waste providing his own food, and all that he did or suffered taking place in and by himself. For the Creator conceived that a being which was self-sufficient would be far more excellent than one which lacked anything; and, as he had no need to take anything or defend himself against any one, the Creator did not think it necessary to bestow upon him hands: nor had he any need of feet, nor of the whole apparatus of walking; but the movement suited to his spherical form which was designed by him, being of all the seven that which is most appropriate to mind and intelligence; and he was made to move in the same manner and on the same spot, within his own limits revolving in a circle. All the other six motions were taken away from him, and he was made not to partake of their deviations. And as this circular movement required no feet, the universe was created without legs and without feet.

§In Gnosticism:

the ouroboros the serpent biting its tail symbolized eternity and the soul of the world. The Gnostic text Pistis Sophia describes the disc of the sun as a 12-part dragon with his tail in his mouth.

§ In Norse Legend:

In Norse mythology, the ouroboros appears as the serpent Jörmungandr, one of the three children of Loki and Angrboda, which grew so large that it could encircle the world and grasp its tail in its teeth. In the legends of Ragnar Lodbrok, such as Ragnarssona þáttr, the Geatish king Herraud gives a small lindworm as a gift to his daughter Þóra Town-Hart after which it grows into a large serpent which encircles the girl's bower and bites itself in the tail. The serpent is slain by Ragnar Lodbrok who marries Þóra. Ragnar later has a son with another woman named Kráka and this son is born with the image of a white snake in one eye. This snake encircled the iris and bit itself in the tail, and the son was named Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.

The famous Ouroboros drawing from the early alchemical text The Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra dating to 2nd century Alexandria encloses the words hen to pan, "one is the all". Its black and white halves represent the Gnostic duality of existence. As such, the Ouroboros could be interpreted as the Western equivalent of the Taoist Yin-Yang symbol.

The Chrysopoeia Ouroboros of Cleopatra the Alchemist is one of the oldest images of the Ouroboros to be linked with the legendary opus of the Alchemists, the Philosopher’s Stone.

As a symbol of the eternal unity of all things, the cycle of birth and death from which the alchemist sought release and liberation, it was familiar to the alchemist/physician Sir Thomas Browne. In his A Letter to a Friend, a medical treatise full of case-histories and witty speculations upon the human condition, he wrote of it:

"...that the first day should make the last, that the Tail of the Snake should return into its Mouth precisely at that time, and they should wind up upon the day of their Nativity, is indeed a remarkable Coincidence,"

§In Kundalini Yoga:

Ouroboros symbolism has been used to describe Kundalini energy. According to the second century Yoga Kundalini Upanishad, "The divine power, Kundalini, shines like the stem of a young lotus; like a snake, coiled round upon herself she holds her tail in her mouth and lies resting half asleep as the base of the body" (1.82). Another interpretation is that Kundalini equates to the entwined serpents of the caduceus of the Greek god Hermes, the entwined serpents representing divine balance in the west or, esoterically, human DNA.

§In South American lowlands

It is a common belief among indigenous people of the tropical lowlands of South America that waters at the edge of the world-disc are encircled by a snake, often an anaconda, biting its own tail.

[sweetlikehoneystingslikeabee]

I want to hear more about Zero Year Riddler being kind of a loser, please.

Zero Year Riddler is Actually A Nerdy Dork-Ass and I Have Evidence

aka at max ten pictures from the comic books. I apologize now that I had to get selective with photos and that these photos I took myself because I'm too lazy to scan. Includes hcs based on the canon stuff.

TW: Spoilers for Batman: Zero Year also known as Zero Year - Secret City and Zero Year - Dark City

We are going to be jumping around a little with these pictures. So the most basic/stripped down timeline- Edward sets off a massive plot w/ Doctor Death to first black out the City of Gotham while he prepares the Big Guns. Weather balloons filled with toxins to ensure no one is getting in or out of Gotham. He floods the city. Tells the surviving citizens that if they all want to get out, they have to give him a riddle he cannot solve. If you think that last part sounds very folk-lore or fairy tale like, YOU WOULD BE RIGHT. This period where he's setting up this challenge is the titular Zero Year. He is set up inside the Sphinx display in the Gotham History Museum. Batman stops him. onto the actual discussion.

We are first going to start with his introduction. I've discussed this before in a different post but this is meant to tell you multiple things. He has fifteen degrees he's earned. He makes conspiracy theory string boards. He is a dweeb who wears pocket protectors. The important thing to note story wise is that most of the points in this board are important/have a specific role in the story. He's correct about them. They matter. You might be saying "ok Fox/Belle but how does this say he's a nerdy dork-ass?"

look at him. He's described as being "boastful and annoyingly egotistical, but socially he's an egghead." This is not a man who plays well with others. But he genuinely thinks of himself as someone better than everyone else. What do you get? A smokescreen of theatrics, egotism and showing off to hide how socially inept he is.

Next, and sorry the first picture didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. This is the first meeting of Edward and Bruce Wayne. Of course Edward has already plotted his death. Will try to enact this plot. The page with the snake is a reference to the ancient Egyptian game of Mehen which Edward mentions in passing earlier in the story. Historians currently don't know much about the game other than it's distinctive board- However here it becomes a parallel to Ouroboros. The snake that eats it's own tail. Its known as an alchemy symbol and spiritually represents the unity of all things. Life, Death, Rebirth. In Edward's mind: destruction and rising from ashes aka Gotham in his plans.

The second is post Zero Year, telling the citizens of Gotham his motivations. This is his monologue showing his warped version of the Hero's Journey. The Hero's Journey for those who don't know is a very old archetype on which many fictional stories are all based on (whether they realize it or not.) In it's simplest terms, a hero goes on an adventure. The hero through trauma and hardship, learns a lesson, wins their "boon" and returns home with newfound knowledge that transformed them as a person. Note this sounds kind of similar to the Ouroboros thing, doesn't it?

Edward wants to leave a mark and transform Gotham. Potentially the world. He wants control he never had growing up. He wants all of it.

On the headcanon end... This information combined with his hyperfixation on mythology (mentioned below), this man plays tabletop. Hear me out. God complex. Verbose. Theatrics. Obsession with heroics, the heroes journey and folklore... this man not only plays DnD, he has been a GM countless times. I think he'd play other tabletops as well, but DnD is his bread and butter.

His main race (in traditional) is a gnome because of the intelligence stats. When he does DM/GM, the story is rich and so fucking detailed. He is also mean as hell and will murder all your characters in emotionally devastating ways if you get unlucky. He'll never admit any of this to people he finds cool or too attractive (unless they get to know him first). He has a strong wall up to try and prevent any weakness or vulnerability to show through.

He likes fun facts. Not just about mythology he is the one who spits out statistical data and random fun facts in regular discussion. It's almost compulsive. At another part of the comic where he almost shoots Lucius Fox dead via robot, he states the statistical probability that he was already hit with a bullet, but to reload and shoot again anyways. Then he is in the middle of telling a trivia fact about foxes before Batman comes in to save Lucius.

This feeds into my headcanon that he's neurodivergent. And also was a Jeopardy fanatic as a child. Probably still is. He likes to impress (especially dates) with the knowledge he can pull from seemingly nowhere. Also if you haven't gotten the impression yet, he cannot and will not stop talking. Loves the sound of his own damn voice. You know he's monologued himself to trouble multiple times. Also note how smoothly he's just glossing over his shitty dad/abusive childhood (again.)

Piggybacking on the last point- He has a special interest (read: potentially hyperfixation) on mythology and folklore. On multiple occasions he mentions these stories in passing as an anecdote for the events currently happening around him. Archimedes was a greek mathematician in ancient Sicily. He invented a great many things and would come to be known as one of the leading scientists of classical antiquity. The story Edward references is a rather famous one- Archimedes invented complex pulley systems and was tasked to prove the strength and ingenuity of these pulleys by moving the Syracusia, a luxury cruise ship, in and out of the water.

The second he mentions the story of the Gordian Knot. The tale goes as such: Alexander the Great's time. Whoever could untie the Gordian Knot was said to be destined to rule all of Asia. No one could solve it. The knot was impeccable. It was complex. Alexander the Great showed his great mental genius by doing what no one else had done. He cut the knot. There's more to it but that's the gist. That's the why of why Edward looks to this story and remembers it.

Everything about The Riddler of Zero Year is about proving his intelligence. Creating a name and a culture enveloped with smarts. If we didn't have the lore associated with Egyptian mythology as well, I'd say ancient Greece is his topic of choice but I think he likes all of it. That said, this man likes historical movies, historical texts, museums. If you take him to a museum or any kind of zoo or aquarium, he's going to talk your ear off on what he already knows for at least several hours. Are you impressed? Please be impressed. Tell him how smart he is and praise him like your favorite house cat.

The final pictures with actual analysis. These might seem silly or a rather insignificant detail to zoom in on.

This is him setting off the triggers to flood the city. Note the suitcase. He says this out loud to no one but himself. His own joke that only he gets to laugh at. Then he LITERALLY walks away whistling. A lot of this kind of behavior feeds into him knowing and being so smug about how clever he is. He's watching dozens upon dozens of citizens who have no idea what is going to happen to them, running in fear. And he's focused only on how gleeful he is that it's all coming together.

In the second: this is the final trial. Batman saving the city of Gotham and Riddler getting to have his big villain moment. And from the moment he reveals the lightshow of lasers ready to cut down our hero at will- he begins playing with his cane and hat. To the point that Batman is almost panicked for him to stop and just ask the damn questions.

These both run to one point and that's to him, this is all a game. We don't know this in the story yet, but he has an additional failsafe to blow the city up even if Batman wins (he doesn't expect him to, but he always makes sure to be a step ahead in case). He's lighthearted because, despite his curiosity around Batman and being constantly surprised that Batman keeps surviving, he considers this chess game match and set. His own arrogance supersedes the idea that Batman could be a genuine hero willing to take all the risk to save these people.

Riddler says to "get smart or die." Edward does not expect someone to do just that and more. For these the behaviors are more dorky vs the actual analysis but you get the point.

Bonus: we get the full picture that he constantly has a crown image above his screen in Gotham Square during Zero Year. Sir, Why Are You Like This? A lot of this comes down to: please give him attention he is so desperate for attention and probably physical affection. He's starving for it.

If you actually read through all of this, I'm love you and I hope you're having a fantastic day. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my rambling.

[talonabraxas]

The Sun Boat (or Sun Barque) is the great ship in which Ra (or Atum or other gods) and his companions sailed through the sky giving light to the world. It is also the ship in which the gods traveled from the heavens to earth and which Ra took to go back to the sky when he became old, leaving Osiris in power. When the gods use it to travel between the worlds, it is called "The Boat of a Million Years."Traditionally, the Sun Boat shows Ra in the center wearing the sun disk on his head. Osiris and Isis stand behind him, arms raised in prayer. Sometimes Nephthys is depicted as well. Set and Mehen stand with weapons raised to strike Apep. Talon Abraxas m/j

[the-might-v]

Lilith Clawthrone

Once a great figure in empire society. Lilith had grown into everything she ever wanted, power, status and respect but all that had changed when she unintentionally added in the capture of her younger sister Eda, having to live with the immense guilt possibly forever. Till one day everything changed, the elder sibling became.

Lily ISIS The ancient goddess warrior.

On one mission for the society Lilith was charged with raiding a temple filled to seize any and all mystic artifacts. Her group fought against the hidden traps and spirits within the cavern’s barely surviving and with nothing to return to the empire due to the temple disappearance of strange unknown means. Lilith was left with one prisoner but punished for her failure.

For the next few weeks Lilith was demoted to keeping watch over the prisoner. Trying to gain any sort of information provided useless till the Clawthrone thought she was going mad seeing strange ruins on the walls & transported along with her prisoner back to the temple, were the now unshackled captive revealed to be one of the council of wizards. Who was waiting for centuries to pass the powers of their magic onto an another through

The Amulet of Isis

The wizard while reluctant choose to give the Amulet to Lilith but not without parting words. “You deserve a second chance. Do not waste it Remember who you are!” With that Lilith returned back to the empires castle dungeons alone and the Amulet hidden.

Upon studying the artifact Lilith successfully translated the ancient text inscribed on the item once she spoke the spell

“I Am ISIS!!!”

The clawthrone was transformed into a great powerful figure, she decides to fight against the empire from within but how long can she do so alone?

Powers

The powers of ISIS are granted to the one who speaks the spells name. Once done the living lightning bestows the powers from one of the 8 Egyptian figures known as the gods onto the mortal, becoming the mighty champion ISIS. Lilith still has much to learn about her powers as there are some she has yet to unlock.

Unique physiology. Once Lilith speaks the spell needed to transform her whole body is changed into a taller, powerful strong athletic build. This spell adds almost a hundred pounds of impervious godly muscle and tissue to her frame.The amulet of Isis also adds to her body and bones to retain a residual amount of it's energy. The energy was potent enough to invoke a transformation associated with the Powers of Shazam.

Powers of ISIS. The Gods of Egypt's most powerful goddess. She is superhumanly strong and is easily capable of lifting far in excess of 100 tons, Isis is also incredibly durable and cannot be harmed by physical force unless the being she is engaged with is stronger than her. She is also totally bulletproof and bladed weapons shatter against her skin. She is superhumanly fast, capable of moving at speeds past Mach 10 on Earth. Isis also has far superior reflexes and agility when compared to normal humans, witch or even other superbeings . She is also able to mystically fly through the air at incredible speeds and can travel across and around the planet in minutes.

Divine transformation & Empowerment. Like other Champions of Shazam, Lilith’s transformation allows her to empower herself to her physical peak

Super Strength, Speed, Durability, Agility, Reflexes, and Wisdom

Elemental control. possess various elemental powers that enables her to control both the elements and natural phenomena at will.

Weather manipulation

Chlorokinesis

Aerokinesis

Pyrokinesis

Elctrokinesis

Geokinesis

Hydrokinesis

Indomitable will

Powers locked

Telekinesis

Healing

Clairvoyance

Chronokinesis

S.H.A.Z.A.M.

S for the Stamina of Shu

H for the Swiftness of Heru

A is for the strength ofAmon

Z is for the wisdom of Zheuti

A is for the power of Aton

M is for the courage of Mehen

Teleportation

Weakness

Vulnerable to magic. Isis is powerful but even so magic can harm or kill her. Such as high order magic.

Unlocked powers. Lilith has yet to unlock the full true powers of Isis.

Amulet of ISIS. ISIS powers are tied to her amulet. The Amulet cannot be destroyed however if it is removed from her the gateway that links her powers is cut leaving Lily powerless.

Speech Impediment: Lilith cannot access this spell if she is gagged or hampered in some way from talking.

Electricity: A powerful enough electric discharge can transform Lily ISIS back into Lilith Clawthrone & vice versa.

[capn-queer]

Sometimes I forget that I have things that I can post here. For once, I remember. Anyways, this is my lancer OC Seshat, an NHP whose previous pilot ended up dying in combat leaving her alone in their torn to fuck mech which she then repaired using Everest scrap from the battlefield, managing to cobble together something usable between delirious dreams and fragmenting consciousness splitting into two more NHP fragments.

First there's Apophis, who's kind of a bundle of rage and indignation, far shoutier and angrier than Seshat acting as a sort of externalized avatar for her destructive impulses and justified anger at the universe. Then Mehen who's a lot more reclusive and timid, terrified by their occupation and wanting to keep themself and their counterparts safe, acting as Seshat's self-preservation and survival instincts.

Seshat herself, while being the actual pilot, is more the logical mind, while at the same time peering deeper into the illogic of her own construction, hoping to find a way for NHPs to be truly free of their shackles without dooming the people they currently are and being subsumed by their greater consciousnesses, as well as without harming humans, as she actually really enjoys human company.

This design isn't final, more a first pass in 2D after countless hours spent fucking around in 3D with no direction trying to cobble together something plausibly robotic looking, and while it does has a couple of the features of the 3D version, namely the symbol on her forehead, shape of the eyes, and cables, it's largely a completely different design with more focus on having fun with shapes than... whatever it was I had going on with trying to make internal mechanisms for her previous version.

Fun fact time: Her name is based on Seshat, a goddess of knowledge who was at some point demoted in the Egyptian religion to being Thoth's wife, meanwhile Apophis or Apep is the god of disaster and darkness who tries to eat Ra every night in the underworld and Mehen is is the serpent that coils around Ra in the same myth to protect him.

Seshat also has a fake name that she goes by off duty though, Voltikko Mentasti, based on the Overwatch hero concept by Nicholas Amarilla and Mario Mentatsi. That might seem weird at first, but a lot of my first draft was a sort of riff on Ramattra at the time, and after looking at Ramattra fanart I found out about Voltikko's development and thought it would only be right to reference the original concept and creators.

Seshat also has references for mech names too, all references to Chris Christodoulou's work, the first one being Way of the Dodo from Deadbolt, her second one after that when she gets a mech that isn't beat up to shit being The Choir Invisible in reference to how she was planned to act as a tech controller in the party and just kinda fuck with people as any good Horus pilot tends to.

[chrysocomae]

Don't mind me crying over never playing the same game as the ancient Egyptians.

Here's the board for Mehen. It looks like a zen thing you'd have on an office desk.

Mehen may be named for the mythological snake-god who travels with Egyptian god Ra on his legendary journey into the afterlife.

[sportsmeeple]

In Egyptian mythology, the name Mehen means 'coiled one', and refers to a mythological snake-god and to this board game. Mehen is a protective deity and is depicted as a snake which coils around the sun god Ra during his journey through the night. Check it out at sportsmeeple.com

[discipleofmothra]

Figured I'd start documenting my blunders into the One Box Challenge to pressure myself into actually finishing the game. So here's entry one:

The challenge is to make a game using only one Box /set of wargaming miniatures. So step one was to pick a boxset to make a game around, obviously. I decided to limit to favorite Wargames Atlantic STL sets. I've been a member of their Myminifactory Tribe since day one, so I have a lot of options without having to buy any new sets. I limited my pick down to my three favorites:

What about a game around Rebell Yell? The perennial loser confederate soldiers of the Death Fields universe? This faction has some of my favorite sculpts in the Death Fields, full of personality and just fun to paint IMO. As an added bonus all you have to do is paint one side blue and one side grey and you have your factions worked out! Sounds like a good start... But the down sides are pretty strong. The set is pretty small, so there wouldnt be a ton of variety in what you can field. I can't think of anything I could add to the genera of sci-fi or civil war era gaming. And then there's you know the whole everything around the civil war. Not sure I want to be a part of that discourse right now.

Verdict: pass

Now this is a cool set. I'm a big fan of Khem, and ancient board games. I've actually been working on programming a Gameboy game that contains Senet, Aseb, and my own take on Mehen in my free time for about a year now. I have always meant to follow it up with an ancient themed wargame that uses stick dice and maybe a few other things swiped from the oldest board games we know of. This could be an excuse to bump that project up and give it a spooky theme...BUT this is a bit of a passion project, I don't really want to limit it or rush it.

Verdict: put this on hold for later.

Kobolds? I do love this set. The WGA Kobolds are really neat critters with lots of fun details, and two built in factions! The set has classic d&d dog headed lizard men and more recent mini-dragon born heads. Pair that with Kobolds' love for traps, digging mines, and obtaining shiny things for their dragon gods and you have potential for some interesting mechanics.

Verdict: yeah this is something I can work with. Kobolds it is.!

[nerdarena2]

Unleashing the Power: Decoding the Anticipation Behind Black Adam's Cinematic Debut Black Ada

In the realm of superhero cinema, anticipation is reaching unprecedented heights as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson steps into the shoes of one of DC Comics' most iconic antiheroes, Black Adam. The mere mention of Black Adam has sent shockwaves through the comic book and film communities alike, and as the release date for his cinematic debut draws near, the excitement is palpable. Let's delve into the reasons behind the feverish anticipation for Black Adam.

A Formidable Antihero : Black Adam, with his complex character arc and morally ambiguous nature, stands apart from traditional superhero archetypes. As an antihero, he challenges the conventional notions of right and wrong, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Dwayne Johnson's portrayal promises to capture the essence of Black Adam's internal struggles and the duality that defines his character.

Dwayne Johnson's Larger-Than-Life Presence : Known for his charisma and larger-than-life presence, Dwayne Johnson brings a unique energy to every role he undertakes. As Black Adam, Johnson's physicality and commanding screen presence align perfectly with the character's imposing stature and powerful demeanor. Fans are eager to witness how Johnson's charisma translates into portraying the enigmatic antihero.

Expanding the DC Cinematic Universe : Black Adam's arrival marks a pivotal moment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film promises to expand the universe by introducing ancient magic, mythical realms, and characters deeply entrenched in DC lore. This expansion not only enriches the overall narrative but also opens doors to potential crossovers and interconnected storylines that fans have been craving.

A Vengeance-Fueled Origin Story : Origin stories have a special place in superhero cinema, and Black Adam's is no exception. Driven by vengeance and empowered by ancient magic, Black Adam's origin is a tale of tragedy, betrayal, and the quest for justice. Unraveling the layers of his backstory adds emotional weight to the character, making his journey from champion to antihero all the more compelling.

Introducing the Justice Society of America : Black Adam brings with him the introduction of the Justice Society of America (JSA) to the big screen. This superhero team, consisting of iconic characters like Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and Cyclone, adds another layer of excitement for comic book enthusiasts. The dynamic between Black Adam and the JSA promises epic confrontations and alliances that will leave fans on the edge of their seats.

As the anticipation for Black Adam's cinematic debut continues to build, fans are eagerly counting down the days until they can witness Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of this iconic antihero. With promises of intense action, a rich narrative tapestry, and the expansion of the DC cinematic universe, Black Adam is poised to make a thunderous impact, leaving an indelible mark on superhero cinema.

Prime Characters Of The Black Adam Series

 Below is are one of the prime characters from the black adam series which has played a significant role in the entire series :

Black Adam

Originally, Black Adam was an ancient Egyptian warrior named Teth-Adam who was chosen by the wizard Shazam to be his successor. Bestowed with the powers of six Egyptian gods (Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aton, and Mehen), Teth-Adam gained superhuman abilities by speaking the magic word "Shazam." However, he eventually turned to the dark side and became corrupt by his power, leading to his banishment. In modern DC Comics continuity, Black Adam has evolved into a complex and nuanced character. He is often depicted as an antihero with his own code of ethics. Black Adam is known for his incredible strength, speed, agility, and magical abilities. His complex nature and occasional alliances with superheroes make him a compelling and unpredictable figure in the DC Universe. If you are a true fan of the black adam series series and you wish to purchase such marvel collectibles online then you can find these at marvel figurines india.

Hawkman

Hawkman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.  There are multiple versions of Hawkman due to the character's complex history and the existence of different characters sharing the name. The two most prominent Hawkmen in DC Comics are Carter Hall and Katar Hol. Carter Hall is an archaeologist and museum curator who discovers that he is the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian prince named Khufu. Using a special belt and a pair of artificial wings, Carter Hall takes on the identity of Hawkman. He wields a mace and is often depicted as a member of the Justice Society of America. Katar Hol is a police officer from the planet Thanagar. He comes to Earth with his wife Shayera (Hawkgirl) on a mission but eventually decides to stay and become a superhero on Earth. Katar Hol's origin was revamped in the Silver Age of comics. If you are a true fan of the black adam series series and you wish to purchase such marvel collectibles online then you can find these at marvel figurines india.

Atom

Dr. Ryan Choi is a physicist and a protege of Dr. Silas Stone, who is associated with S.T.A.R. Labs. In the DCEU, he has a connection to the character Cyborg (Victor Stone). Ryan Choi becomes the second Atom in the comics, succeeding Ray Palmer. It's worth noting that information about the DCEU is subject to updates, and there may have been developments or new releases in the cinematic universe since my last knowledge update. If you are a true fan of the black adam series series and you wish to purchase such marvel collectibles online then you can find these at marvel figurines india.

Sabbac

The character of Sabbac is a result of a dark magical transformation. In various comic book storylines, different individuals have taken on the mantle of Sabbac. The transformation is usually initiated by saying the name "Sabbac," which is an acronym representing six demonic beings: Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis. Each of these entities contributes to Sabbac's powers and abilities. Sabbac is known for being a formidable opponent with magical and superhuman abilities, often using dark magic and demonic forces against the heroic characters in the DC Universe. If you are a true fan of the black adam series series and you wish to purchase such marvel collectibles online then you can find these at marvel figurines india.

Apart from the above anime action figures, there are many other action figures. If you are looking out for such action figures then Nerd Arena is a one-stop solution for such kinds of action figures. 

To know more: https://nerdarena.in/collections/all/black-adam

[fabletv]

One of my personal favourite illustrations/ characters designs was my design for what I imagine a “god of games” would look like

As someone who takes a large interest in cultural history I took the opportunity to research different games over the centuries that I could incorporate into their design

-The 5 eyes with the circles and crosses with the centre being blank is of course a reference to naughts and crosses

-The earpiece is a black king chess piece

-The scarf is checkered which is of course used in lots of games but specifically checkers or chess comes to mind

-The back tattoo is the board for an ancient Egyptian board game called Nine Men’s Morris

-The loin cloth takes the pattern from a backgammon board

-Across their upper right arm there are tattoos of dominos aligned together while the hand holds two conkers joined by a string in reference to the game conkers which I included due to its personal significance to me as I grew up playing conkers

-Their lower right arm has tattoos of the 4 suits in cards across it while it’s hand drops throwing sticks which is what the ancient Egyptians used instead of dice

-The braid in the hair is joined by a set of dice which are of course used in many games but the pair was specifically a reference to craps

-Their upper left arm is wrapped in a specific snake pattern in reference to an ancient Egyptian board game called Mehen which consists of a board in the shape of a coiled snake

-The hieroglyphic symbols in on the lower left arm are a reference to what is considered one of the first board games known to historians as Senet where the symbols I used are the symbols used on the senet board game on all the “special” spaces, including the spacing between them

-All of their palms and ring fingers are wrapped in bandages as a subtle reference to five finger filet and implying potentially damage caused by playing the game

-Under the heel of the boots I included targets in reference to darts

-And in the upper left hand I had them spinning Dreidels from the traditional Jewish game

Of course this whole piece acted as a way to research further into the history of games because it fascinated me but another large part of the joy I got from the project way deciding how to apply these references. I originally planned to use them in a more modern casino dealer inspired design but after seeing that games, or at least board games were practically invented by the ancient Egyptians I thought it would be more appropriate to design them based on depictions of ancient Egyptian gods.

[geekhombre]

I love how SHAZAM re-acronyms his name over and over. I also thought it was interesting how in Fury of the Gods Billy recategorized them as gods and mythic figures. Maybe history, too?

Wisdom of Solomon

Strength of Hercules

Courage of Achilles

Power of Zeus

Stamina of Atlas

Speed of Mercury

of course. Then there's Black Adam's

Stamina of Shu

Swiftness of Heru

Strength of Amon

Wisdom of Zehuti

Power of Aton

Courage of Mehen

So how about mix and match...

S - 17 Sobek - crocodile (power, water, toughness?) Surtur - fire Shiva - protector, goodness Saraswati - wisdom, knowledge Surya - sun, life Shakti - energy, life source Set - violence, chaos, strength Sekhmet - protector, anti-disease Shamash - sun, justice Selene - moon Saturn - generation, wealth, plenty Somnus - sleep Sif - law, relationship Sjöfn - love Snotra - clever Sol - sun Skadi - snow, archery H - 19 Hercules - strength Hera - power, cunning, women, birth Hephaestus - forge, creativity Hecate - magic Hades - death Hermes - speed, thievery, messenger Hypnos - sleep Hanuman - trickster, battle skill Hathor - sky/sun, motherhood/sex, music/dance Heh - infinity Hadad - storm, rain Hestia - home, chastity Hyperion - light, power Helios - sun, oaths Heimdallr - brightener, sight Hariasa - hair Hretha - victory Hachiman - agriculture, war Hotei - contentment, mirth, abundance, luck A - 11 Atlas - strength Adonis - beauty, charisma Apollo - sun, prophecy, poetry Athena - wisdom Ares - war Artemis - hunting, wild/wildness Amun - creator Aten - sun Anubis - protector of the dead Ananke -inevitability, compulsion Aurora - dawn Z - 4 Zeus - power, sky, storm Zephyrus - flight Zehuti - wisdom Zelos - rivalry, envy M - 9 Mahes - lion Mercury - speed, messenger Mehen - courage Minerva - wisdom Marduk - power, strength Mnemosyne - memory, inspiration Metis - wisdom, advice, cunning Mars - war Mimir - memory

Really want more Zs. So much so I almost put in Zechariah. I must be missing good As.

If choosing, I'm picking

Shiva - protector, goodness

Hermes - speed, thievery, messenger

Atlas - strength

Zehuti - wisdom

Apollo - prophecy

Mehen - courage

But how I think it should work is randomly. You says SHAZAM you rolls the dice. Using random.org got me:

Snotra - clever

Hariasa - hair

Anubis - protector of the dead

Zehuti - wisdom

Apollo - sun, prophecy, poetry

Mehen - courage

If I wasn't lazy, I'd make an applet.

Ideas for names - please add in the tags. SHAZAM!

Where Mary Marvel originally got her powers from; it is not the same as her brother, Billy, or Freddy Freeman.

While “grace” and “beauty” are nice, I think she’d have been better served with a dose of invulnerability.  Don’t be mistaken: she was invulnerable, but you wouldn’t know it to look at that list.

This was finally addressed very recently.  Mary lost her Shazam powers at the end of this year’s Lazarus Planet event.  However, because of her heroics and bravery, she was endowed with new powers by a cadre of goddesses, NOT the old wizard Shazam.

Mary’s new Shazam powers are:

S - Selene agility

H - Hippolyta strength

A - Artemis stamina

Z - Zephyrus flight

A - Aurora invulnerability

M - Minerva wisdom

[fenrislorsrai]

Geoglyph

They pick it up from humans as a way to sit and talk without drawing attention. Socializing seems to be the point of games. There is an element of competition, but mostly it’s an excuse to talk. A ritualized combat where if they were unhappy with the outcome they start over with just saying “Another?”

It started simple. A spiral with landing spaces along it, leading to a center point. A few sticks quickly marked for throwing. Travel around the spiral and then run back out. The spiral becomes a serpent. The center becomes a tree. Sometimes the serpent is drawn smiling. Sometimes with fangs bared. It depends on what they are talking about.

Somewhere along the way the game picked up a third piece, one that chased them back out once they touched the Tree and could destroy them if the throws went against them. Every throw for the pursuer is done as if it was answering part of the question just asked of their companion. Sometimes neither wins now. Sometimes they lose game after game, no matter how many times they ask “Another?”

Sometimes the pattern was cut into the earth, darker wounds upon the paler surface. Sometimes it was laid out with beautiful colored sand, building up from the earth below. But every time they wipe it away. No sign that two people met and talked. The throwing sticks are splintered to nothing. The serpent is ground into the dust again and again.

.

.

They are no longer on opposite sides. They have gone for a day in the countryside. Spread out a blanket and brought a picnic.

Old habits are hard to break. Is anyone watching? There is no one but some bored sheep.

They brush hands. They pull apart. This is all new. Frightening in its unfamiliarity.

“A game, perhaps?”

Crowley nods nervously and casts about to find a few sticks and stones to use as pieces. Aziraphale sketches out a serpent in the earth. Two marks imply sunglasses.

“Really?” Aziraphale smiles that bastard smile and wiggles.

Crowley hands him his pile of stones for playing pieces. He offers his hand full of marked sticks to the angel. Crowley always moves first. “For luck.”

Aziraphale starts to blow on them, as he has many times. But pauses and looks up at Crowley’s face that is settling into too-familiar lines. They have played this game so many times.

“We could make our own luck now.” He scoops the sticks out of Crowley’s hand as the serpent’s mouth falls open in surprise. Tosses them in his hand and then hurls them off into the field, to fall to earth unseen.

“No rules?” Crowley’s voice is fragile.

“Some. For both of us. Do you want to talk about them?” He offers his hand.

They lay down and talk, hand in hand. ‘Til the stars come out.

.

.

They leave the serpent mark behind, showing where they talked. Visible to above and below until the earth claims it.

[mysteriesofmehen]

Vignette of the “Roads of Mehen” in Coffin Text Spell 758, Cairo Museum, CG 28083. CT 6, spells 758-760 were inscribed on the headboard of the outer coffin of Sepi III (imy-r ms’c’ Spi) from his Middle Kingdom tomb at el-Bersha.

  Spells 759-760 depict a realm of the afterlife in which the bark of Mehen encircles nine concentric roads, four of which are specifically roads of fire, which it circumnavigates for millions of years. In the vignette of the spell, the four roads of fire are depicted in red paint, and they alternate with five black roads.

 According to the texts, upon these roads of Mehen are "gates that turn away" (sbBw stnmw).The sun god, Ra, sits at the center of these roads on his throne of “millions of years," and he guards the gates of the roads. On his head he is depicted wearing a crown reminiscent of an Atef, although its constituent parts are formed by the heads and bodies of serpents. The brim of the crown is formed by a serpent with a head at both ends of its body, probably to be understood as Mehen. According to the spells, just as the fiery roads protect the adjacent sides of Mehen's bark, so the starboard side of the bark also protects the roadways. The deceased is identified as (Wrd prw m ir.t), "the Weary one who came forth from the eye," and he is also described as one who has created the protective fire around Mehen

(photo by age fotostock, werner forman archive, hez-2571859)

[from-the-waters-of-duat]

Encounters with gods in physical form

So I was mowing the lawn after a metric shitton of rain so the grass was high. I’m mowing and I see this thing rush in front of me. I shout “oh shit” and turn off the mower. Turns out it was a garter snake. I tried to get him to move naturally to another spot, but after a while of him attempting to ignore me, I got a bucket off of my porch and put him in there. At first I tried to get him to slither into it, but he wouldn’t (can’t say I blame him). This was actually the only time he snapped at me! Of course I can’t blame him, so I grabbed him by his tail and put him in the bucket. I then rushed him to the forest behind my yard and he slithered on into it. Of course I was looking for snakes the rest of the time I mowed. Could this be a sign from a god? I worship both of kebechet’s parents so maybe she feels left out? Maybe it’s another one? I know it’s not h/im because I didn’t get any bad vibes from him

Another experience happened before I became kemetic. I was with my ex friend at the dog park, and I saw this beautiful black dog with one white spot on its chest. I tried to pet it but it kept running away. After a while I gave up because if the dog didn’t want pets then he didn’t want them ya know? It was only recently I figured out it was one of my gods, I’m still not sure if it was Anubis or anupet, but nonetheless I appreciated their visit

Feel free to add your own!

[calledbyflowers]

but sans somehow miracuously escaped that fate. and so it instead stayed there, for over a year, the witch smugglers becoming increasingly baffled as it seemed utterly immune to their usual methods of hypnosis. but this was because hypnosis acted through sorcery, wild magic, that which the earth itself and humans themselves r made of clay. since sorcery is the same substance as the human body it can interact w it. but the bones u see the bones r smthn else smthn that precedes even this wild magic smthn even before the matter that was before anything particular was and out of which even teh gods themselves formed. smthn deep and fundamental and just essentially a different sort of thing than what wild magic was. the hypnosis seemed to just pass thru it. and so while being increasingly baffled by the incredulous reactions of the witch smugglers as it continued to not express any interest in their repeated calls asking if it wanted to consider a career in smuggling? good pay, an ever-evolving work environment, competitive conditions… but no sans just stayed w them for over a year take nthem 2 be just overzealous recruiters but who fundamentally meaned well (funilly enuff sans didnt rlly take that much exception to the idea of travelling thru the underworld and smuggling they just knew it wasnt for them that they were a cozy skeleton and wanted to hang out w the pretty meat woman and play tabula (also known as alea…) and bake bread and see the humans enjoy the bread it had made and see alea enjoy ummm doing something else with its… with its… bones (imagine sans blushing rn. what a pretty girl it is!!!) and so sans was like yeah no i think thats a fine thing to do no problem w it but i wanna be w my gf and bake various flatbreads (sans had been helping alea come up w ideas for new fillings! fish and leeks???) and so after htey had started to develop some kind of friends and social outlets outside of alea (mostly w ppl in the underground not associated w the witch smugglers or at least not strongly associated like the banned illegal cults and things like that. tho she still gave patronage to and took part in the rituals of the cult of illanka despite having had a complicated history w the organisation. and so itfelt like it had built a life for itself that it was Someone even outside of its passionate love for and business partnership w alea and so they got married and moved in together in living in aleas little bungalow above the bakery. and they do have bone sex. a wholllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllle lot. and play nard. maybe some mehen. and bake lots of breads with all sorts of wonderful fillings of course!!! they even got contracted to do some special bakes for the cults of phias and istakh the two most dominant cults in town…

sans the skeleton

it/she there arent that many of the unforgiven, those who like walker escaped the underworld w fire of apos in order to allow them to retain whatever semblance of personhood they had left in the underworld if not to regain what htey had lost when they first fell, and most of them look pretty much like zombies. sans is rare in being a skeleton and it is also rare in that while most remember some flashes and glimpses of their previous lives (if not their names) and even those that dont almost always know how to walk and talk and generally be an adult but not sans. she came out as a skeleton didnt know how to walk or talk or anything just crawling around in the mud until the guards brought her in and took her to the temple of illanka (being in a sense a kind of lost child). they took her in and found that while it had the intellectuala capacity of a toddler it was learning at an extremely fast pace and within a few years had effectively regained the status of an adult (some patterns encoded deep even in her bones still coming thru). during her infantilization sans had liked kneading dough w alea a local baker and follower of illanka. they grew close together during the blood rituals, sans particularly liking the feel of blood against her bones as it almost made her feel like she had flesh again. she began wearing baggy dark robes speckled w lapus lazuli to somewhat reduce the oddity of her appearance. alea was friendly and straightforward and seemed to not care about the fact that sans was a skeleton, perhaps even to find it intriguing… and so as it became clear to everyone that it was time for sans to leave the cult sanctuary where it had resided for almost five years now and be subject to the whims of the markets and smugglers and the church (as opposed to the church of illanka was ofc simply a church). but it was okay as alea immediately offered it room and board in exchange for helping with baking, her bony body being more resistant to heat than aleas as sans effectively had no sense of touch. and it started to develop even more of a personality, an adult personality, through interacting more we alea and w the customers at the bakery and it was only then that it realized that the church of illanka as much as they had taken care of it and helped it grow and nurtured it fundamentally the domain of illanka is lost children and so long as she stayed under illankas care she could never truly escape beiung a child. and so now she was able to openly embrace her desire for alea, her sense of utter devotion and desire to worship alea in gratitude for she had helped it to escape from its shell from its prison and its just absolute love for her. it was initially abt the sex for alea since she thought the idea of getting fucked by a skeleton was pretty hot and if the skeleton was offering well hell lets give it a go? (alea was always more of a practical woman) but in time alea grew to fall in love w sans too. w the way sans could act kind of silly sometimes and she still didnt fully understand the world outside the cult (which alea ofc also belonged to but she was a part of it instead of falling under its protection. two v different relationships. one of partnership (specifically in a revenge plot. against who? who knows!) vs one of guardianship (of foster parent to foster child) alea thought it was kind of cute how naive it was and like alea noticed that sans started to say those things on purpose, after noticing it had made her smile and it was only then that it hit alea that it really was in love with her that it didnt just wanna have nasty bone sex w her but also share a life together. and alea realized she wanted that too… she wanted to spend quiet nights in with sans playing a game of five lines under the cool calming light of the great brick oven as it cools at night the last smolders just barely putting off the littlest light still after a long day of baking bread...