#grim apostle

[dailycharacteroption]

Grim Apostle (Spiritualist Archetype)

(art by StuHarrington on DeviantArt)

Ah, the spiritualist class, those shepherds of the dead, but very specifically not undead excepting in one case, because of reasons.

The spiritualist is very similar to the summoner, which is why the two were merged in 2E, but there are some stories that can only be told with the combination of ghostly being and the one they are bound to.

Truly, both the spiritualist and their phantom can come from all walks of life, leading to some odd couples and some interesting concepts… but one walk of life really doesn’t normally lend itself to cultivating such a bond: the nihilistic worshippers of daemons.

After all, daemons are distinguished from other fiends by their desire to devour souls, to snuff out those candles from the cosmos and leave it that much darker. A free-floating soul attached to a binder is surely too tempting a target for them.

Luckily, The Midwives of Death adventure, the final part of the Tyrant’s Grasp AP and the final First Edition product created, had a few final character options in it to round things off, including this option for such dark casters.

Rather than draw upon a wayward soul, these spiritualist bond themselves with a spiritual echo similar to those tapped into by mediums, but manifested in ectoplasmic form like a spiritualist. However, it is the nature of these vestiges that give one pause: for they are echoes of the Four Horsemen, the demigod rulers of daemonkind!

This hungry shadow that the mystic bonds with is not forced to reflect only one Horseman, but can shift each day to reflect a new one, giving them variable power sets depending on the day, again hearkening back to the similarities to mediums.

Needless to say, these mystics are every bit as monstrous as their dark patrons, and I can just imagine them feeding souls to their grim phantom as a sacrifice to their daemonic masters, believing, perhaps rightfully that those souls end up on the plates of the Horsemen themselves. They best take care though, for these phantoms prove just as cruel and hungry as the daemons they resemble, taking a bit of their “master” with them when banished.

Regardless, the result is a ghostly master/servant duo with a nasty set of powers and a sinister relationship.

As a reflection of the Four Horsemen, the phantoms of a grim apostle draw upon foci based on those entities, which they can change each day. However, their hunger and malevolence claws even at their own masters, and when the spirit is sent hurtling away from the material world by violence, they dig metaphysical claws into their master, risking taking them with them.

Which isn’t to say that they are entirely a liability. The spiritualist’s soul belongs to them, after all, and they will brook no other claimants, warding their host against death magic and magic that would displace or ensnare their soul, at least while cohabitating their body.

The four foci that these mystics and their phantoms have available are as follows. Firstly, there is Death, when they draw upon Charon. Such phantoms appear as shapeless, cowl-laden figures. They seem to embody death in general rather than Charon’s inevitability, but they gain some fancy abilities regardless. The apostle, for one, marks foes for death with their attacks, making the phantom’s attacks more potent against them. The phantom also develops an aura which impedes mundane and magical healing as well. Furthermore, they also instinctively learn techniques to quickly follow foes that try to escape their grasp. Finally, they learn a killing word to slay foes.

Second up is Famine, the purview of Trelmarixian, which gives the phantom a jackal-like visage. Their attacks are particularly dexterous, and take the form of ravenous bites. Their aura weakens foes with the pangs of starvation, they can unleash a horrific magical howl of anguish that weakens nearby foes, and they can even briefly swallow foes whole.

Apollyon’s domain is Pestilence, and the phantoms gain a ram skull cranium in this form. Their strikes weaken foes as if suffering illness, they surround themselves with phantasmal biting flies that devour foes, they can deliver disease with a touch, and finally, their strikes can make a foe suddenly very contagious, spreading their suffering to others.

Finally, we have War, the position held by Szuriel, and these phantoms resemble his form as an eyeless angel with black wings. These phantoms are strong, rather than agile, and their strikes aim for the most painful and damage-causing areas of the body. Their aura whips allies and foes alike into a frenzy of aggression, and their strikes heal themselves. Finally, Their fury becomes so great that any effect that would slow down or cause them to hesitate in their assault no longer have any effect.

With four powerful combat-focused foci to choose from, this archetype can be pretty good for tailoring your power set to the day, but you can also narrow your focus to one or two if you so choose. It really depends upon you. Just keep in mind the drawback that you can be dealt heavy damage with no way to resist it if your phantom goes down. With that in mind, perhaps building with some survivability in mind would be good.

Now, aside from villain campaigns, this archetype sits squarely in the “mostly for NPCs” category, but the fact they can vary up the powers and fighting strategy of their phantom per encounter means that this archetype works best for a recurring villain rather than a one-off foe. This can be a fun way to surprise the heroes that have prepared for the villain’s previous strategy.

Another interesting note: this archetype draws upon the current holders of the positions of the Horsemen. If you plan a game set in a different setting or time period, might those Horsemen be different? Could be worth homebrewing.

The party has been invited to the manor of a local noble for a gala, but when they arrive, they find the place curiously quiet. Once inside, they find the place overrun with monsters evoking rot and disease, including a whole colony of verduous oozes. It seems a cult of the Rotten One crashed the party before they arrived, led by their half-mad leader and their phantasmal advisor which looks suspiciously similar to depictions of the dark demigod.

After losing a beloved companion, the formerly ascetic astomoi Viius found that he could not return to his former life, taking on a more and more nihilistic worldview, until one day he was contacted by a shape in the dark, offering him the power to help end the world that lacked any such meaning.

The embodiment of War has an iron grip on the nation of Merkas, his devotees whipping the country up into a frenzy of jingoism and fascism, turning their blades upon neighbors for any reason at all, be it greed for resources, preemptive violence against imagined threats, and of course, bigotry against those unlike themselves. High in their rankings are speakers of War, who call upon translucent visions of their master, interpreting his will.

[gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan]

Our Bodies Know

Author's note: More of Nanael in Husbandry.

Summary: So- how did Nanael go from being a tragic boy to Cedric's Body dumping buddy? Part 4- Escape from the Black Legion.

Warnings: A Loyalist trapped among Chaos Marines. Threats of Noncon. LMK if I need to add anything.

Tagged: @barn-anon, @bleedingichorhearts, @c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @egrets-not-regrets, @kit-williams

Tagged: @sleepyfan-blog, @ms--lobotomy , @thevoidscreams, @i-am-a-dragon34, @gra93fruit-blog

Tagged: @felinisnoctis, @undeaddream

Nanael would like to say that he never screamed, but that would be a lie, and that was something he wouldn't do. At least not to himself. It had taken hours- many hours before the pain, excruciating and horrific as it had been, before he started to.

Hours before, when his voice gave out and he could no longer scream, or whimper. That the bastard stopped torturing him for now. Every time he thrashed and fought, hissed and swore. The bastard stopped torturing him and waited.

An amused, patient expression on his face. Like a father, with an unruly temper tantrum having child. Nanael had been trained to withstand a lot of things including torture.

So he wrapped the core of himself in a protective ball and did his best to let his mind drift, to ignore what it was they were doing to his body. To ignore the words they spoke.

It wasn't just knives in the firelight carving into his body. Words- spoken harshly meant to make him react. Mostly he did his best to ignore their words as they tried to force him to fall.

To try and break him, mind, body, soul, and spirit. But he wouldn't let them. He recalls his Father primarch's words, "I love you my son. Live."

Those words, no matter how much they burned, gave him solace, and a grim determination to survive, to not fall to chaos and turn from the Light of the God Emperor.

For he is a Primaris Marine- and they cannot fall to Chaos. To recount, to think about what those Chaos bastards did to him, would only serve to make his nightmares worse- and only please them with his frightened whimpers and flinches.

He'd learned, to his horror that the cage- and their Dark Apostle- with the aid of some dark chaos tech could twist the cage to keep him pinned and his arms and legs and wings trapped tight and bound unable to move.

"Uvrox," Toradreel says in that same horrifying mild, pleasant, soft spoken tone, "I know that you are a follower of Slannesh and have been eyeing our birdie."

"Yes, Sir." Uvrox says, licking his lips as he eyes the pretty Son of the Ninth Primarch.

"I know, that some of the ways that the followers of Slannesh indulge in worship of their Dark God is through is through the ... carnal partaking of the unwilling." Toradreel says.

"Yes Sir!" Uvrox says, almost salivating, shaking a little as he eyes Nanael.

Who starts to thrash and fight against his bonds more, the position that he's been bound in making a lot more sense- in a horrifying way.

"Oh- he doesn't like that idea," Toradreel says, "Perhaps we can have you indulge in that practice later, Uvrox."

"But-" Uvrox starts to protest, but the look from the Master of Torture has him ducking his head and scurrying off without much more fuss.

Nanael has a rollercoaster of emotion, and he feels wretched that he feels almost grateful to the bastard for not allowing that to happen to him yet. He hates himself. And Toradreel for that.

[mariacallous]

A growing Christian supremacist movement that labels its perceived enemies as “demonic” and enjoys close ties to major Republican figures is “the greatest threat to American democracy you’ve never heard of,” according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The SPLC, a civil rights organization that monitors extremist groups, released its “Year In Hate And Extremism 2023” report on Tuesday. A significant portion of the report, which tracked burgeoning anti-democratic and neo-fascist movements and actors across America, is devoted to the New Apostolic Reformation, “a new and powerful Christian supremacy movement that is attempting to transform culture and politics in the U.S. and countries across the world into a grim authoritarianism.”

Emerging out of the charismatic evangelical tradition, the NAR adheres to a form of Christian dominionism, meaning its parishioners believe it’s their divine duty to seize control of every political and cultural institution in America, transforming them according to a fundamentalist interpretation of scripture.

NAR adherents also believe in the existence of modern-day “apostles” and “prophets” — church leaders endowed by God with supernatural abilities, including the power to heal. In 2022, a handful of these “apostles,” the report notes, issued what they called the Watchman Decree, an anti-democratic document envisioning the end of a pluralistic society in America.

The apostles claimed they had been given “legal power and authority from Heaven” and are “God’s ambassadors and spokespeople over the earth,” who “are equipped and delegated by Him to destroy every attempted advance of the enemy.”

And who’s the enemy? Basically anyone who does not adhere to NAR beliefs. NAR adherents see their critics as being literally controlled by the devil.

“There are claims that whole neighborhoods, cities, even nations are under the sway of the demonic,” the report states. “Other religions, such as Islam, are also said to be demonically influenced. One cannot compromise with evil, and so if Democrats, liberals, LGBTQ+ people, and others are seen as demonic, political compromise — the heart of democratic life — becomes difficult if not impossible.”

This rhetoric has become increasingly widespread among Republican lawmakers, including former President Donald Trump, who last year referred to Marxists and atheists as “evil demonic forces that want to destroy our country.”

That Trump would use NAR-inspired rhetoric is unsurprising considering his relationship with Paula White-Cain, an NAR figure who delivered the invocation at Trump’s inauguration in 2017 and at the kickoff of his 2020 reelection campaign, as noted by Paul Rosenberg in Salon. White-Cain also delivered the invocation at Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C. — the event that eventually became the insurrection at the Capitol.

The attack on the Capitol was largely inspired, the report suggests, by NAR’s theology of dominionism. “NAR prayer groups were mobilized at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as supporting prayer teams all over the country, to exorcise the demonic influence over the Capitol that adherents said was keeping Trump from his rightful, prophesized second term,” the report states.

Major Republican figures took part in such events on or around the day of the attack. Mike Johnson, who is now the speaker of the House, joined the NAR’s “Global Prayer for Election Integrity,” which called for Trump’s reinstatement as president, in the weeks leading up to the attack on the Capitol. Johnson has also stated that Jim Garlow, an NAR leader, has had a “profound influence” on his life.

Ultimately, the SPLC report is an attempt to ring the alarm bells about the NAR, ”the greatest threat to U.S. democracy that you have never heard of.

“It is already a powerful, wealthy and influential movement and composes a highly influential block of one of the two main political parties in the country,” the report continues. “So few people have heard of NAR that it is possible that, without resistance in our local communities, dominionism might win without ever having been truly opposed.”

The SPLC’s report, according to a press release, also documents 595 hate groups and 835 antigovernment extremist groups in America, “including a growing wave of white nationalism increasingly motivated by theocratic beliefs and conspiracy theories.”

“With a historic election just months away, this year, more than any other, we must act to preserve our democracy,” Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center and SPLC Action Fund, said in a statement. “That will require us to directly address the danger of hate and extremism from our schools to our statehouses. Our report exposes these far-right extremists and serves as a tool for advocates and communities working to counter disinformation, false conspiracies and threats to voters and election workers.”

[grimsneverendingfuneral]

Grim where is that rosekiller fic you were teasing us about? 🤨

damn. yeah :/ probably never gonna be posted lmfaooooo. or maybe like. in a long time

im sorry im really inconsistent with shit like this. my writing, i mean. i knew this when i started writing the fic but i went in anyways, teasing yall and shit. im just a fuckin tease, truly

i can give you another long-ish snippet under the cut if you want something to chew on

A pair of marigolds are provided soon after, which Barty doesn’t wear, and Evan is almost inclined to offer a helping hand, shocked at how little protest Barty gives him. 

He gives him none. With the compliance of an automated coffee machine, Barty steps up on the ladder and starts scrubbing the walls above the bathroom sink with vigor, eyebrows drawn down and lips pinched together. 

Evan stands, watches him do so, observing him with clinical attentiveness – his eyes caressing over Barty’s every bump and curve; the sharp elbows, the hills of his hips, dipping into slackened black jeans, loose enough to reveal heart-patterned boxers. The slope of his back, jostling back and forth with each swipe of the sponge, accompanied by the muffled sound of shallow breathing, an occasional sniff. The skin on his fine wrist, the veins pulsating beneath with hot, slick blood, black with lack of oxygen, crimson when exposed to the light. It makes Evan’s hands tremble, iron grip beginning to slip on his resolve, trying to put together the gloppy, scattered gray matter of his mind back together in a panic. 

Barty looks down at him. “Hey blondie, you got any drugs? My Vyvanse is wearing off.” 

Evan’s mind is suddenly spun wildly out of orbit, smacking on the wall. “Uh–”

“Can I look in here?” Barty asks him, already pulling the cabinet open. 

“Stop!” Evan shouts, slamming it shut. 

Barty just laughs, nearly falls off the ladder. 

Evan huffs, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re going to fall, Barty,” he berates, strutting to the corner of the living room where he keeps his drug paraphernalia. “Barty. What kind of a Jesus apostle’s name is that?” 

Barty laughs again, throwing his head back and swaying back a little. “You’re funny. Pretty and funny,” he tells him pervertedly, pressing the sponge into the wall and scrubbing. “It’s not my name, not really. It’s my dad’s. You wouldn’t believe my full name even if I told you.” 

Evan stares at him for a few seconds, hums, then flicks the lighter to the bong’s bowl, inhales. It bubbles between them, milky smoke curling up the straight tube, between Evan’s lips. 

It’s a green glass bong, and the color of it reminds him of Barty’s.

Chromium. 

It’s the color on the wheel opposite to crimson, and Evan wonders if he’ll ever get to see that color. Maybe on his floor, like an inkspill in the form of something divine; the essence of Barty and the vibrance of his innards, twisted and warped around each other, creating a hue of dacre, shiny, marooned plum, perhaps.

Coagulated, fleshy matter and bits of weed, scattered in all the cracks in his floorboards, pouring into the bathroom, tainting the linoleum.

What happens when bleach and blood mix? Does it create something that wasn’t there before? What does it feel like to slather your hands in it, to touch the inside of someone? 

Does Barty have an inside? 

From above him, Barty’s resonant voice cuts through his aching mind. “Why did you let me in here?” He smirks. “Don’t you know about me?”

Evan blinks, remnants of smoke falling from his lips. “Well, why did you follow me? Don’t you know about me?”

“Yeah, I know about you,” Barty says around another cheeky smile, tongue between his teeth. “I told you. I see you, you know, around campus.”

Evan narrows his eyes. “You see me?”

Barty nods, wipes at his leaking nose. “Around campus. You’re always listening to that music, looking like you’re having prophetic visions. It’s pretty alluring. Damn, this bleach is–” 

“Are you feeling faint? Dizzy?” Evan asks him, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. He quickly clears his throat, pushes a strand of hair out of his eyes with his index finger. “You should– take a break. Sit down for a moment,” he adds apprehensively. 

Stalling. He’s stalling. What exactly is he stalling? Is he really going to hurt this person? Does he really want to go through with this? 

Evan’s eyes flit to the various objects in the apartment.

Bleach to scrub the blood. Bong to diffuse the tremors. The Persian carpet he bought at an auction. He would have to remove it from the living room. Is the bathtub big enough for Barty’s body? He could fold him. Does he have enough hydrofluoric acid left? What would he use? One of Pandora’s expensive Japanese stainless steel knives? 

Evan looks away from his unholiness. “Well, I don’t know about you. Never seen you before in my life. Why should I know about you, anyway?” 

Barty scoffs, a dismissal of Evan’s tone, canines showing through a smug grin. “Okay, I’ll sit.” 

When Barty perches himself on the ladder, half-sitting on the third step with his legs stretched out, there’s a moment when their eyes meet. 

Evan notes that Barty doesn’t look away, doesn’t flinch. His face twitches, eyebrow raising just slightly. 

He’s so long. Long and languid, and Evan thinks maybe Barty’s the panther now, the way he’s looking at him like he wants to push him up face-first against the wall. 

Barty tucks his bottom lip into his teeth, feet resting on either side of Evan’s as he stands stiffly in front of him, bong in hand. 

And then something absolutely earth shattering happens. 

Barty’s foot wiggles, brushing the inside of Evan’s foot arch, sock fabric rubbing on sock fabric.

The feel of it makes Evan’s throat dry up, his guts clench. He wants to lean away, get that heat emanating from Barty’s body far, far away from him. Wants to lock him up in a basement, throw away the key, leave him there to beg and cry and moan. 

Barty gently takes the bong from Evan’s tight grip. “Well, if you want a semblance of truth, blondie, I’m damaged goods.” 

Evan raises a brow, watching Barty’s adam’s apple bob with a harsh swallow. “Damaged goods?”

Barty nods, takes a hit from the bong. When he tilts his head back, he blows the smoke into the light, casting a thin veil over their heads. “Yeah,” he croaks, coughing slightly. “I’m shit. But hey, at least I’m me. I’m shit but at least I’m me.”

“Well, we are all just insects groping for something terrible or divine, either way,” Evan tries to reassure him, for some odd reason. He feels compelled to soothe the slight twinge of self-hatred behind Barty’s eyes. “That’s Philip K. Dick.”

Barty coughs into his elbow after another hit. “I think you’re divine,” he says through a cough, eyes watery, rimmed pink. 

Evan clenches his teeth. Barty smiles. 

Smiles with his sculpted, flushed cheekbones, mouth in a perpetual state of laughter, like it’s all so absurd to him.

Evan turns his eyes away. “You don’t even know me,” he grimaces. “You’re a fool if you think I’m anything close to divine. I’m a wretched person.”

“I like wretched. Wretched’s good,” Barty affirms, reaching out for Evan’s wrist. 

His own pulse against Barty’s thumb pad makes him nearly gag.

[free-for-all-fics]

Obscure Characters List - Male Edition

Obscure Characters I love for some reason. (By obscure I mean characters that have little to no fanfic written about them. Not necessarily characters nobody’s ever heard of.) Don’t ask me to explain why.

A

Abraham Alastor/Anthony Clarke (Dark Pictures Little Hope)

Adam (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)

Adam (Hallmark Frankenstein 2004)

Al Capone (Night at the Museum)

Alan McMichael (Crimson Peak)

Alec Fell (Nancy Drew, The Silent Spy)

AM (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream)

Amphibian Man/The Asset (Shape of Water)

Anthony Walsh (Blood Fest)

Anton Herzen (Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box)

Ardeth Bay (Mummy series)

Armand (Queen of the Damned 2002)

Armando Salazar (Pirates of the Caribbean 5)

B

Barnaby (Sabrina Down Under)

Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (The Cat Returns)

Baron Meinster (Brides of Dracula)

Beast/Hank McCoy (X-Men, Kelsey Grammer version)

Beast/Prince (Beauty and the Beast 2014)

Ben Willis (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Bernard the elf (Santa Clause series)

Black Phillip (The VVitch)

Blade (Puppetmaster series)

Bughuul (Sinister 1 and 2)

C

Caliban/John Clare (Penny Dreadful)

Captain Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion)

Captain James Hook (Peter Pan 2003)

Cedric Brown (Nanny McPhee)

Christian Thompson (Devil Wears Prada)

Colonel William Tavington (The Patriot)

Cornelis Sandvoort (Tulip Fever)

Crown Prince Ryand'r/Darkfire (DC comics/Teen Titans)

D

Daniel Le Domas (Ready Or Not)

Death (Final Destination series)

Dimitri Allen (Professor Layton and the Unwound Future)

Dimitri Denatos (Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire)

Dustfinger (Inkheart)

Dr. Alexander Sweet/Dracula (Penny Dreadful)

Dr. Gregory Butler (Happy Death Day 1 & 2)

Dr. Manhattan (Watchmen)

Driller Killer (Slumber Party Massacre 2)

E

Edward Gracey (Haunted Mansion 2003) 

Edward Mordrake (Urban Legend/American Horror Story Asylum)

Edward/Eddie “Tex” Sawyer (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3)

Elemer of the Briar (Elden Ring)

Erik Carriere (Phantom of the Opera 1990)

Ethan (Pilgrim 2019)

F

Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

Faustus Blackwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)

Fegan Floop (Spy Kids trilogy)

Fox Mask/Tom (You’re next)

G

George Knightley (Emma)

Ghost/Mitch (Haunt 2019)

Godskin Apostle (Elden Ring)

Godwyn the Golden (Elden Ring)

Gold Watchers (Dark Deception)

Greg (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies)

Grim Matchstick (Cuphead)

Gurranq Beast Clergyman (Elden Ring)

H

Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde (Broadway, Rob Evan version)

Henry Sturges (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)

Hugh Crain (Haunting of Hill House, the book and 1963 film. Not the Flanagan show or 1999 movie remake)

Hugo Butterly (Nancy Drew, Danger by Design)

I

Ingemar (Midsommar)

J

Jack Ferriman (Ghost Ship)

Jack Worthing/Uncle Jack (We Happy Few)

Jafar (Once Upon a Time, not the Wonderland spin-off)

Jan Valek (John Carpenter’s Vampires)

Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough/Alex (Jumanji 2 and 3)

Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter (Arkhamverse! Video Games)

Jester (Puppetmaster series)

John (He’s Out There)

Joseph “Joey” Mallone (Blackwell series)

Juan (The Forever Purge)

Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood (Elden Ring)

K

Kalabar (Halloweentown)

Kenneth Haight (Elden Ring)

Killer Moth/Drury Walker (Teen Titans)

King Paimon (Hereditary)

L

Lamb Mask/Craig (You’re next)

Lamplighter (The Boys)

Launder Man (Crypt TV)

Lawrence “Larry” Gordon (Saw series)

Loki (Apsulov: End of Gods)

Lucifer (Devil’s Carnival 1 & 2)

M

Magic Mirror (Snow White 1937/Shrek)

Man in the Mask (The Strangers)

Manon (The Craft)

Man-Thing (Marvel’s Werewolf By Night)

Marco Polo/Merman (Crypt TV)

Marcus Corvinus (Underworld series)

Markus Boehm (Nancy Drew, the Captive Curse)

Mephistopheles (Faust’s Albtraum)

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare (Bloodborne)

Miquella (Elden Ring)

Mirror Man (Snow White and the Huntsman)

Mr. Crow/Aldous Vanderboom (Rusty Lake series)

Mr. Le Bail (Ready Or Not)

Mr. Slausen (Tourist Trap)

N

Nigel Billingsley (Jumanji 2 and 3)

Night’s Cavalry (Elden Ring)

Nothing (The Night House)

P

Pazuzu (The Exorcist)

Pierre Despereaux (Psych)

Prince Anton Voytek (Vampire 1974)

Prince Escalus (Romeo and Juliet, no particular adaptation)

Prince Quartus (Stardust)

Prince Septimus (Stardust)

Professor Petrie/Phantom of the Opera (Phantom of the Opera 1962)

Peter Quint (Turn of the Screw, the book and maybe some other adaptations. Not the Bly Manor Flanagan show.)

R

Reese Kelly (Scarlet Hollow)

Rene Belloq (Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark)

Roland Voight (Hellraiser 2022)

Ronin (Star Trek)

Rorschach (Watchmen)

Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Rusty Nail (Joyride trilogy)

S

Salem Saberhagen (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

Sam Wayne (Scarlet Hollow)

Silver Surfer/Norrin Radd (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer)

Simon Jarrett (SOMA)

Sir Lancelot (Night at the Museum 3)

Sportacus (LazyTown)

Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

STEM (Upgrade)

Sutter Cane (In the Mouth of Madness)

T

Thantos DuBaer (Twitches 1 and 2)

The Auditor (Hellraiser: Judgment)

The Babadook (The Babadook)

The Black Knight Ghost (Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed)

The Curator (Dark Pictures Anthology)

The Designer (Devil’s Carnival 2)

The Djinn/Nathaniel Demerest/Professor Joel Barash/Steven Verdel (Wishmaster series)

The Faun (Pan’s Labyrinth)

The Fox (The Little Prince 1974)

The Jester (The Jester, A Short Horror Film series)

The Kinderfänger (Crypt TV)

The Knight/Tarhos Kovács (Dead by Daylight)

The Look-See (Crypt TV)

The Man (Carnival of Souls)

The Merman (Cabin In The Woods)

The Metal Killer (Stage Fright 2014)

The Mirror (Oculus)

The Narrator (Stanley Parable)

The Other (Hellfest)

The Phantom (Phantom Manor)

The Projectionist (Pearl)

The T-1000/Cop (Terminator 2, Terminator Genisys)

The Tall Man/The Entity (It Follows)

The Thing (The Thing 1982)

The Torn Prince/Royce Clayton (Thirteen Ghosts remake)

The Torso/James “Jimmy” Gambino (Thirteen Ghosts remake)

Thomas Alexander “Alex” Upton (TAU)

Tiger Mask/Dave (You’re Next)

Tommy Ross (Carrie, 1976)

V

Valak (The Conjuring)

Valdack and his real world counterpart (Black Mirror)

Van Pelt (Jumanji 2)

Venable (Wrong Turn 2021)

Viktor (Underworld series)

Viktor Frankenstein/Dr. Whale (Once Upon a Time)

Vladislaus Dracula (Van Helsing 2004)

W

Wade Thornton (Nancy Drew, Ghost of Thornton Hall)

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Westley/Dread Pirate Roberts (The Princess Bride)

Wildwind/Dark Skull, Stormy Weathers, and Lightning Strikes (Scooby Doo and the Legend of the Vampire)

“William”/The Headless Figure (Crypt TV)

William "Billy" Butcherson (Hocus Pocus 1 and 2)

X

Xenan the Centaur (Xena Warrior Princess)

[nicklloydnow]

“The years passed, and the fog lifted, and what had been accomplished could be seen clearly. What had looked like chaos, insanity, self-destruction, the concatenation of unfortunate circumstances, the events whose mysterious, tragic meaninglessness had driven people mad, became recognizable step by step as the clear, precise, obvious attributes of the new life.

The fate of the generation of the Revolution was revealed in a new light, logically, without mysticism. Only now did Ivan Grigoryevich begin to grasp that new national destiny which had risen from the bones of the annihilated generation.

That Bolshevik generation of the Civil War period had been formed in the days of the Revolution; where the concept of the "World Commune" held absolute sway; in the midst of the hungry and inspired subbotniki. It took unto itself the heritage of World War and Civil War—destruction, famine, typhus, anarchy, rampant crime. Through Lenin's lips it proclaimed the existence of a Party that could set Russia on a new path. Without hesitation it accepted as its inheritance centuries of Russian tyranny, throughout which generations had been born and had died knowing one right only—"serf right," the right of the master over the serf.

Under Lenin's leadership that Bolshevik generation had taken part in the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and the destruction of those democratic revolutionary parties which had struggled against Russian absolutism.

That Bolshevik generation of the Civil War did not believe in freedom of the individual, freedom of speech, freedom of the press - not in the context of bourgeois Russia. Like Lenin, it regarded as nonsense, as nothing, those freedoms of which many revolutionary workers and intellectuals had dreamed.

The young state crushed the democratic parties, clearing the path for Soviet construction. And by the end of the twenties, those parties were completely liquidated, and the people imprisoned under the Czar had been returned to prison and sent off to hard labor. And then, in 1930, the ax of the total collectivization of agriculture fell. And soon the ax fell again, this time on the Bolshevik generation of the Civil War. Only a small fraction of it survived—and its soul, at any rate its faith in the "World Commune," its revolutionary, romantic strength, departed with those who perished in 1937. The ones who survived made their adjustment to the new times, to the new people.

And the new people did not believe in the Revolution. They were not children of the Revolution. They were the children of the state the Revolution had created.

The new state did not require holy apostles, fanatic, inspired builders, faithful, devout disciples. The new state did not even require servants—just clerks. One of the state's concerns, in fact, was that its clerks so often turned out to be very petty indeed, and cheating, thieving types to boot.

Terror and dictatorship swallowed up those who had created them. And the state, intended as the means to an end, itself turned out to be the end. The people who created it had conceived of it as a means to the realization of their ideals. But it turned out that their dreams, their ideals, were merely a means, a tool, of the great and dread state. Instead of being a servant, as it was meant to be, the state had become a grim tyrant.

The people weren't the ones who needed the terror of 1919, who destroyed freedom of speech and of the press, who required the death of millions of peasants—for the peasants made up the largest segment of the people. It was not the people who in 1937 needed prisons and camps crammed to overflowing, who needed the ruinous resettlement in the taiga of the Crimean Tatars, the Kalmyks, the Balkars, the Russified Bulgarians and Greeks, the Chechens, and the Volga Germans. Nor were the people the ones who destroyed the freedom to plant and sow as one pleased and the workers' right to strike. Nor was it the people who heaped up all those monstrous taxes and surtaxes and levies on the production cost of consumer goods.

The state had become the master. What had been envisioned as national in form had become national in content; it had become the essence. And the socialist element, which had been envisaged as the content, had been forced out, reduced to mere phraseology, mere external form, a shell. And it was with tragic clarity that the sacred law of all life defined itself: freedom of the individual human being is higher than anything else, and there is no goal, no purpose in the world, for which it may be sacrificed.” - Vasily Grossman, ‘Forever Flowing’ (1972) [p. 191 - 194]

[omegaremix]

Omega Radio for March 9, 2019; #189.

Surfbort “Les Be In Love”

All Dogs “Buddy”

Mega Bog “Marianne”

Big Ups “Fear”

Bangzz “Your Boyfriend Is Really Bringing You Down”

Wall “Fit The Part”

The Feel “You’re Around”

Being Dead “Apostles’ Prom”

Tunic “Boss”

Bee Bee Sea “This Dog Is The King Of Losers”

Grim Streaker “Freak Child”

Annabel Lee “Hi Hi Hi”

Thick “Lyfe”

Duchess Says “Rabies (Baby’s Got The…)”

Warbly Jets “Propaganda”

My Teenage Stride “Drenched In Blood And Flesh In Tatters”

Public Practice “Foundation”

Nazca Plate “Blotter��

Doe “Team Spirit”

Slow Mass “Suburban Yellow”

Thanks For Coming “underboxesbehinddoors...”

Cattle “Caring”

Nilufer Yanya “In Your Head”

Richard Vain “Digital”

Illiterate Light “Two Cats”

The Royal They “Sludgefucker”

Rye Pines “Icebox”

Surfbort “Pretty Little Fucker”

Sharkmuffin “I Called You From The Moon” (acoustic demo)

SWMRS “Broadcast This”

Current Affairs “Breeding Feeling”

Shady Bug “Make It Up”

VV Torso “Blood”

Water From Your Eyes “You Never Admit You Could Do Better”

Deluxe post-punk, d.i.y., and city sounds

[meingesegnetesleben-blog]

Footsteps and Fellowship: Tales from the Camino de Santiago

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there existed this pilgrimage route called the Camino de Santiago. It was like Disneyland for medieval Christians, right up there with Rome and Jerusalem. Imagine millions of people from all over the world strapping on their sandals and embarking on a journey for spiritual enlightenment, personal reflection, or just to spice up their Instagram feed with some epic adventure pics.

Legend has it that this guy named James, or as his pals called him, St. James the Great, decided to take a little trip to Spain to spread the good word of Christianity. Now, whether he made it there or not is still a topic for history buffs to argue over, but what we do know is that Spain kinda took a shine to him, thanks to his relics chilling in Santiago de Compostela. And thus, the Camino de Santiago was born—a network of routes that crisscrossed Spain and even spilled over into other parts of Europe.

But who was this St. James character, you ask? Well, he was your average Galilean fisherman turned apostle, hanging out with Jesus and witnessing all His miracles, like turning water into wine and walking on water. Unfortunately for James, his story ended on a rather grim note when he became the first apostle to bite the dust, courtesy of King Herod Agrippa I. Ouch.

Now, why on earth would Gladys (@gladiatorGlasyl), one of my closest and weirdest friends, and I decide to tackle this medieval pilgrimage? Oh, let's blame it on Gladys and her wild ideas. She was all set to do the Camino in June, and I just had to chime in with, 'Why not April? I could join!' Because, you know, I just couldn't bear the thought of missing out on her adventure. So naturally, she couldn't say no to me hijacking her plans. Bernard was supposed to complete our fabulous trio, but alas, other priorities got in his way. And that's how Gladys and I found ourselves preparing for a totally "planned" journey—not because we're seasoned hikers (far from it), but because we've always had a knack for turning mundane situations into questionable adventures. Plus, trying to sync our leave schedules was a delightful nightmare, but hey, when opportunity knocks, you grab it, right?

Hence, we settled on the Camino Inglés, the glamorous trek from Ferrol to Santiago de Compostela. Here, blisters became our new best friend, and complaining about sore feet was the main event! So, we strapped on those hiking shoes and got ready for a six-day journey filled with laughter, storytelling, banter, sarcastic quips, and scaring each other—better than any reality TV show.

As we embarked on an unforgettable journey starting from Ferrol, where anticipation filled the air, we passed through rolling hills, occasional glimpses of farm animals, Gladys bullying the dogs (like dogs everywhere and the diva cats!), and the earthy scent of the countryside—nature's unique fragrance. Amidst the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves, the footsteps of fellow pilgrims set the rhythm for our adventure.

As we progressed from Pontedeume to Bruma, we braced ourselves for a challenging ascent. Yet, this climb was akin to ascending nature's staircase to paradise, offering breathtaking vistas at every turn. The route from Bruma to Sigueiro was among the most remarkable walks we had ever experienced, showcasing the grandeur of Mother Earth in all her glory.

The highlight awaited us on the final leg from Sigueiro to Santiago. We pictured ourselves meandering through an enchanted forest, where the ethereal melodies of Celtic (its actually Galician) music seemed to dance on the breeze—enticing even the most hesitant of dancers to join in the revelry.

Forget about luxurious spa treatments; on the Camino, blisters are the ultimate souvenir. You'll collect them like badges of honor, right Steffi? (at least for me, apparently Gladys has a thick skin), and proudly displaying your battle scars to anyone who dares to ask about your "vacation." And let's not forget the colorful characters we encountered along the way. From the other pilgrims, we chatted with at every rest stop to the mysterious locals who seemed to materialize out of thin air, greeting us with 'Buen Camino,' there's never a dull moment on the Camino. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. Amidst the pain and exhaustion, you'll forge bonds with your fellow sufferers that will last a lifetime. Nothing brings people together like shared misery, right? What was the saying? It's about the journey, not the destination.

Speaking of colorful characters, I'm always grateful for the belief that everything happens for a reason and that every twist and turn in our lives serves a purpose. We might not grasp it right away, but eventually, it unfolds before us. Coincidences? I'm not sure. The folks we encounter in our journey? They've got their own mission, their own motivation. The late-night chats, the stories swapped—they're like nuggets of wisdom wrapped into one.

Big shoutout to Steffi, our towering pal (we're vertically challenged, okay?). And to Veronica and Theresia, longtime pals who've been traversing this camino many times over. Thanks for the wild tales, ladies. And to Sharon, the queen of suggestions and hype, cheers for keeping us going. And to our tapas-and-tinto-de-verano companions—Kathleen, Janine, Noah, Jasmin—y'all rock for sharing your journey with us.

What made our experience even more ridiculous is the fact that Gladys and I are about as outdoorsy as a penguin in the Sahara. We're more likely to be found at a hole-in-a-wall restaurant than trudging through rugged terrain. But hey, life's all about stepping out of your comfort zone, right?

As we stumbled our way to the Cathedral of St. James, I had a revelation: I actually missed writing. Like, with a pen and paper, not just typing away on a keyboard. Who knew walking for miles could reignite my passion for writing? So here I am, not really scribbling but typing away on my phone (I was on the plane, okay?), realizing that life is full of surprises, like finding a gourmet meal in a gas station or discovering a hidden talent for playing bagpipes!

Well, well, well, looks like our Camino expedition is just getting started! Picture this: another journey awaits, but we'll need to put our persuasive hats on for BK. Resistance is futile; he's joining the fun! What do you say? Portuguese Way, perhaps? And so, with a grateful heart, I bid farewell to the Camino de Santiago (for now), carrying with me a renewed sense of purpose and a treasure trove of memories (and perhaps a few extra pounds, that's more on Gladys though, I gave all mine to her). For some time, it's the adventures that leave us weary, longing for a hot shower, that truly enrich our souls. Here's to the journey, my dear amigos, filled with somber reflection and boundless joy. Until our paths intertwine once more in our next grand adventure! May we meet again, fueled by the memories of this unforgettable journey.

[incomingalbatross]

[A] great cabinet opposite—whose front, divided into twelve panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the twelve apostles, each enclosed in its separate panel as in a frame; while above them at the top rose an ebon crucifix and a dying Christ. According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there, it was now the bearded physician, Luke, that bent his brow; now St. John’s long hair that waved; and anon the devilish face of Judas, that grew out of the panel, and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch-traitor—of Satan himself—in his subordinate’s form.

Congrats, Jane, you are one out of three on "people who would appear in a representation of the Twelve Apostles."

[helyiios]

15 questions 15 mutuals except i do Not have 15 mutuals

1. Are you named after anyone?

I have three names. First one is of a knight of the Round Table, second is of an Apostle, last one is from one of the lovers in la Commedia dell’Arte. You can try and guess if you want.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Quite literally yesterday.

3. Do you have kids?

No and no thanks I’m trying to get that DINK life

4. What sports do you play/have played?

I’ve reached competition level in skiing and horse riding, then I did some track, rugby, aikido and swimming.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Could you imagine if I did.

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their mouths.

7. What’s your eye color?

Some really boring brown, but they get kind of really light in the sun.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings. The world is grim enough, thanks.

9. Any talents?

Sure! I can sing and dance, write, draw, I used to play the guitar and I guess I’m really good at school.

10. Where were you born?

Katmandu, baby!

11. What are your hobbies?

I would say draw because it’s true, but I’m also a big fan of watching movies and napping.

12. Do you have any pets?

I’m from a family of hunters, so I grew up with dogs, but I never had one that was mine mine.

13. How tall are you?

I’m a sad 5’2”. I mean I’m South Asian. What did you expect.

14. Favorite subject in school?

I fucking hated school. But right now in uni I’m enjoying political marketing and lobbying.

15. Dream job?

I want to be a political consultant, I guess.

[huanwasagoodboy]

Do you hear the noise that is drowning us? Sometimes I'm afraid I don't. Sometimes it fades into the background of the trillion ticking clocks, gates sliding open or shut, switches clicking and light rushing, the relentless flow of bright, sharp words across stone, stone eyes, stone ears and faces and hearts. Not tongues. Those move with the flashes, spilling out lifeblood on already soaked earth, dirt inundated with lives unlived, dreams pressed into thin mirrored shapes, left there in the ground to break themselves into sharp fragments for unwary or uncaring feet, eager to further flood their new home, to make for themselves a new baptism, a hyssop-wrapped meal left for a chimerous thing, god and wretch and apostle and altar in one, mirrored inside and out, reflecting and refracting till every moment is swallowed by its ancestors who are saturnine in appetite if not mien. The face is not grim, you see. The nymph is as bright as its river in the morning, and it shines on us as our lungs drink.

[shuuenmei]

Yuu (Rei)’s “Confidant” list for Murder Siblings AU

This is more for organizing and listing so I won’t forget but yes this is what I had in mind for Murder Siblings AU and for Yuu (Rei)’s “Social links” and/or “Confidants”.

Le Marseilles deck:

Fool (Le Mat): Grim and Dire Crowley (Left to only Grim Post Pomefiore chapter)

Magician (Le Bateleur): Ace Trappola

High Priestess (La Papesse): Riddle Rosehearts

Empress (L’Imperatice): Vil Schoenheit

Emperor (L’Empereur): Malleus Draconia

Hierophant (Le Pape): Lillia Vanrouge

Lovers (L’Amoreux): Cater Diamond

Chariot (Le Chariot): Deuce Spade

Justice (La Justice): Jack Howl

Hermit (L’ Hermite): Idia Shroud

Fortune (La Roue de Fortune): Azul Ashengrotto

Strength (La Force): Epel Felmier

Hanged Man (Le Pendu): Leona Kingscholar

Death (L’Arcane sans nom (La Mort)): Ortho Shroud

Temperance: Trey Clover

Devil (Le Diable): Jade Leech and Floyd Leech

Tower (La Maison Dieu): Sebek Zigvolt

Star (L’Etoille): Jose

Moon (La Lune): Jamil Viper

Sun (Le Soleil): Ruggie Bucchi

Judgement (Le Jugement): Shiina nee Akechi Goro (Has taken his adoptive family’s surname around the time of Twisted Wonderland’s story.)

Visconti-Sforza deck:

Faith (La Foi): Rook Hunt

Hope (L’Espoir): Silver

Charity (Le Charite): Kalim Al-Asim

Thoth deck:

Counselor (Le Consultant): Mozus Trein

Apostle (L’apotre): Divus Crewel

Hunger (La Faim): Dire Crowley (Changed from Fool Post Pomefiore)

Aeon (Le Aeon): Alphonse (Yuu (Rei)’s Velvet Room attendant)

[yhwhrulz]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for November 4

Morning

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine house.”

Acts 16:25-40

The battle of Philippi was not over yet, the enemy were yet to be vanquished by those whom they had taken prisoner.

Acts 16:25

They turned, as one has well said, even a porch of death and a gate of hell into a sanctuary and a gate of heaven. With bleeding backs and in a comfortless posture they sang like angels, and made the grim walls ring again. No groans and moans were heard, but a nocturnal jubilate such as that dungeon never echoed with before.

Acts 16:26

Such an earthquake was evidently supernatural, and was a great wonder; but greater wonders were yet to come, for hearts were to be opened also.

Acts 16:27

Death, coupled with dishonour, would have been his doom. Desperate and frenzied, he was on the borders of hell; but grace plucked him as a brand from the burning.

Acts 16:28

Stricken with awe at the miracle, no prisoner left his cell. God can hold men in their places without bonds or bolts.

Acts 16:29-31

The answer was quickly given, and in a few words. Is salvation then so simple? Indeed it is! Have we believed, and have we obtained mercy for our house? If not, let us pray in faith.

Acts 16:32 , Acts 16:33

All his house believed and all were baptized. Here the apostles saw who it was that had said “Come over and help us.”

Acts 16:34

His faith brought forth fruit, which evidenced his change of heart, else this rough jailor would not so courteously have entertained his prisoners.

Acts 16:39

Paul sets us an example of claiming our civil rights when to do so will further justice and teach oppressors that they cannot violate laws as they like; yet this example must be followed cautiously, or else, like the apostle, we may appeal unto Cæsar, and lose more than we gain.

Acts 16:40

They did not leave the city at once, but called upon Lydia and relieved her mind with the recital of the work of God in the prison, and then, to prevent further tumult, they went on their way.

Just as I am without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Evening

“Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles.”

Acts 17:1-15

We shall still follow Paul in his missionary wanderings. Silas and Timothy continued with him.

Acts 17:3

The apostle’s custom was to reason from the Scriptures, and surely there is no weapon so powerful as that which is taken from the armoury of inspiration.

Acts 17:4 , Acts 17:5

On a former occasion Satan employed the honourable to disturb the apostles work, now he summons the low fellows of the markets; little does he care what tools he uses, so that he can compass his ends. The mob attacked Jason’s house, supposing the preachers to be there. The story reads like a tale of the early Methodist times.

Acts 17:6 , Acts 17:7

Earnest Christians have often been attacked with this handy weapon they are innovators, and, of course, are the enemies of “our glorious constitution,” causing infinite disturbance by their newfangled ways. Verily, church history repeats itself.

Acts 17:8 , Acts 17:9

Honoured indeed was Jason to be surety for one against whom the world was enraged, but of whom the world was not worthy.

Acts 17:10

See how they persevere, they are at their old work again.

Acts 17:11

The candour of these Bereans was their nobility, they did not condemn unheard. Knowing the Old Testament to be the word of God, they tested the gospel by it.

Acts 17:12

They proved all things, and then held fast what they had tested.

Acts 17:13

Earnest saints have earnest enemies; pleased with their success at Thessalonica, the Jews used the same tactics at Berea; yet they only gave wings to the feet of the missionaries and kept the light moving on.

Acts 17:15

What Berea lost Athens gained, for Paul arrived there all the earlier. Let Satan do what he may, he only speeds on the cause which he desires to hinder. To God be all glory, for thus vanquishing evil with good.

Oh, how restless is the foe

Jesu’s kingdom to o’erthrow!

Shall not we as zealous prove

To proclaim redeeming love?

Let us publish saving grace,

Scatter life in every place;

Dare the world’s and Satan’s frown,

Turn his kingdom upside down.

Copyright Statement This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".

[rhetoricandlogic]

A Vengeful Virgin In 'The Testament Of Mary' Colm Tóibín

November 14, 20127:00 AM ET

By 

Annalisa Quinn

In the Gospels, the Virgin Mary is the alabaster embodiment of grace and suffering, the mater dolorosa — but also largely voiceless. We know little about her except for her virginity and her grief.

In the grim and lovely Testament of Mary, Colm Toibin gives voice to the mother of Jesus. Elderly and isolated in Ephesus, menaced by the persecutors of her dead son as well as by his followers, Mary narrates her memories of the Crucifixion in cold, vivid detail.

At first, she is bored by her son's followers, "unshaven brutes and twitchers," and then she is unnerved. She watches Jesus address them, "his voice all false, and his tone all stilted," and feels uneasy. As Jesus' fame grows and he gathers more and more followers, he becomes a stranger to her. She realizes with mounting horror that her son is doomed, and she does not share his conviction that he will rise again.

Now, years after the Crucifixion, two of Jesus' followers — seemingly St. John and St. Paul, though, like so much else in this novella, their identities are left ambiguous — visit Mary. Cunning and cruel, they intimidate her, wanting her to confirm the story of Jesus' divinity. But Mary refuses, knowing that the scribe has "written of things that neither he saw nor I saw."

The work is pointedly not called a gospel — good news — but a testament — a giving witness to, an attestation. "I was there," she says. And, having seen the Crucifixion, the Mother of God tells the apostles: "I can tell you now, when you say that he redeemed the world, I will say that it was not worth it."

Toibin leaves the most important questions unanswered: Did he cure the sick? Raise the dead? Turn water into wine? Mary only hears stories.

Toibin neither confirms nor denies the revival of Lazarus, but makes it clear that if he was raised, it was not a blessing but a curse. He can barely walk and suffers excruciating pain: "If he had come back to life, it was merely to say a last farewell to it." In Mary's view, not only was it a bad idea — it was also a violation: "No one should tamper with the fullness that is death," she says. Of course, that is exactly what the Gospel writers attempt — to change the death of Jesus into a rebirth. And Mary resists all the way, though she knows that their version will triumph: "They will thrive and prevail and I will die."

Lovely, understated and powerfully sad, The Testament of Mary finally gives the mother of Jesus a chance to speak. And, given that chance, she throws aside the blue veil of the Madonna to become wholly, gloriously human.

[free-for-all-fics]

Obscure Character List - Male Edition (A-M)

Obscure Characters List - Male Edition

Obscure Characters I love for some reason (A-M). (By obscure I mean characters that have little to no fanfic written about them. Not necessarily characters nobody’s ever heard of.) Don’t ask me to explain why. UPDATED: Tumblr is being a butt about post length or something so I’m splitting up the lists.

A

Abraham Alastor/Anthony Clarke (Dark Pictures Little Hope)

Adam (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)

Adam (Hallmark Frankenstein 2004)

Al Capone (Night at the Museum)

Alan McMichael (Crimson Peak)

Alec Fell (Nancy Drew, The Silent Spy)

AM (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream)

Amphibian Man/The Asset (Shape of Water)

André Toulon (Puppetmaster series)

Anthony Walsh (Blood Fest)

Anton Herzen (Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box)

Ardeth Bay (Mummy series)

Armand (Queen of the Damned 2002)

Armando Salazar (Pirates of the Caribbean 5)

B

Barnaby (Sabrina Down Under)

Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (The Cat Returns)

Baron Meinster (Brides of Dracula)

Beast/Hank McCoy (X-Men, Kelsey Grammer version)

Beast/Prince (Beauty and the Beast 2014)

Ben Willis (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Bernard the elf (Santa Clause series)

Black Phillip (The VVitch)

Blade (Puppetmaster series)

Bughuul (Sinister 1 and 2)

C

Caliban/John Clare (Penny Dreadful)

Captain Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion)

Captain James Hook (Peter Pan 2003)

Cedric Brown (Nanny McPhee)

Christian Thompson (Devil Wears Prada)

Colonel William Tavington (The Patriot)

Cornelis Sandvoort (Tulip Fever)

Crown Prince Ryand'r/Darkfire (DC comics/Teen Titans)

D

Daniel Le Domas (Ready Or Not)

Death (Final Destination series)

Dimitri Allen (Professor Layton and the Unwound Future)

Dimitri Denatos (Mom’s Got a Date With a Vampire)

Dustfinger (Inkheart)

Dr. Alexander Sweet/Dracula (Penny Dreadful)

Dr. Gregory Butler (Happy Death Day 1 & 2)

Dr. Manhattan (Watchmen)

Driller Killer (Slumber Party Massacre 2)

E

Edward Gracey (Haunted Mansion 2003) 

Edward Mordrake (Urban Legend/American Horror Story Asylum)

Edward/Eddie “Tex” Sawyer (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3)

Elemer of the Briar (Elden Ring)

Erik Carriere (Phantom of the Opera 1990)

Ethan (Pilgrim 2019)

F

Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

Faustus Blackwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)

Fegan Floop (Spy Kids trilogy)

Fox Mask/Tom (You’re next)

G

George Knightley (Emma)

Ghost/Mitch (Haunt 2019)

Godskin Apostle (Elden Ring)

Godwyn the Golden (Elden Ring)

Gold Watchers (Dark Deception)

Greg (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies)

Grim Matchstick (Cuphead)

Gurranq Beast Clergyman (Elden Ring)

H

Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde (Broadway, Rob Evan version)

Henry Sturges (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)

Hugh Crain (Haunting of Hill House, the book and 1963 film. Not the Flanagan show or 1999 movie remake)

Hugo Butterly (Nancy Drew, Danger by Design)

I

Ingemar (Midsommar)

J

Jack Ferriman (Ghost Ship)

Jack Worthing/Uncle Jack (We Happy Few)

Jafar (Once Upon a Time, not the Wonderland spin-off)

Jan Valek (John Carpenter’s Vampires)

Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough/Alex (Jumanji 2 and 3)

Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter (Arkhamverse! Video Games)

Jester (Puppetmaster series)

John (He’s Out There)

Joseph “Joey” Mallone (Blackwell series)

Juan (The Forever Purge)

Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood (Elden Ring)

K

Kalabar (Halloweentown)

Kenneth Haight (Elden Ring)

Killer Moth/Drury Walker (Teen Titans)

King Paimon (Hereditary)

L

Lamb Mask/Craig (You’re next)

Lamplighter (The Boys)

Launder Man (Crypt TV)

Lawrence “Larry” Gordon (Saw series)

Loki (Apsulov: End of Gods)

Lucifer (Devil’s Carnival 1 & 2)

M

Magic Mirror (Snow White 1937/Shrek)

Man in the Mask (The Strangers)

Manon (The Craft)

Man-Thing (Marvel’s Werewolf By Night)

Marco Polo/Merman (Crypt TV)

Marcus Corvinus (Underworld series)

Markus Boehm (Nancy Drew, the Captive Curse)

Mephistopheles (Faust’s Albtraum)

Micolash, Host of the Nightmare (Bloodborne)

Miquella (Elden Ring)

Mirror Man (Snow White and the Huntsman)

Mr. Crow/Aldous Vanderboom (Rusty Lake series)

Mr. Le Bail (Ready Or Not)

Mr. Slausen (Tourist Trap)

[burlingtonlimoservice]

Berserk Manga

"Berserk" is a monumental work that transcends the typical boundaries of the manga genre, offering a dark and complex narrative that delves deep into themes of trauma, ambition, and the human condition. Kentaro Miura's intricate art and storytelling create a visceral experience that pulls you into its world from the very first chapter.

The character of Guts is one of the most compelling protagonists in any medium. His journey—from a lone mercenary to a figure embodying both rage and resilience—is heartbreaking and profound. Guts’ struggles against overwhelming odds, both external and internal, reflect a raw, unfiltered exploration of humanity's darker impulses and the quest for meaning in a chaotic world.

The relationships in "read berserk manga" are equally rich. The bond between Guts and Casca, for instance, is both tender and tragic, highlighting themes of love, loss, and redemption. Their experiences serve as a poignant reminder of how connections can shape our paths, even in the face of despair.

Miura's detailed artwork deserves special mention. The meticulous attention to detail in character designs, landscapes, and battle scenes enhances the story's emotional weight. The brutality of the violence is striking, yet it serves a purpose, underscoring the harsh realities the characters face. Every panel immerses the reader deeper into the grim atmosphere, making moments of beauty—like Guts’ memories with Casca—all the more impactful.

Moreover, "Berserk" doesn't shy away from existential questions, challenging readers to confront their own beliefs about fate, free will, and the nature of evil. The struggle against the Apostles and the concept of the God Hand serve as metaphors for the larger forces that shape our lives, making us reflect on how much control we truly have over our destinies.

In conclusion, "Berserk" is more than just a dark fantasy; it's a profound meditation on the human experience, filled with rich storytelling and unforgettable characters. It’s a series that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page, encouraging contemplation and discussion. Truly, it's a masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on the manga landscape.