#her entire build is based around vital striking

[hexingart]

One of these days I'll play Haala again in a longform campaign and give her the amount of brutal carnage a build like hers deserves. Until then, enjoy her most recent redesign and FurryMode(tm)

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #139: Cleopatra

Today on Fate and Phantasms, we’re making the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra! She’s a Divine Soul Sorcerer for some Pharaoh flavoring, and a Battle Smith Artificer for a giant metal snake and vast material wealth from your empire.

Check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet over here!

Next up: Is it bad if the mad Vlad’s MAD or is a MAD mad Vlad just sad?

Race and Background

With the blood of the gods in your veins and the lack of restraint for your snake’s attacks, you make a good Scourge Aasimar. This gives you +1 Intelligence (thanks, Tasha) and +2 Charisma. You also get some Darkvision, Celestial Resistance to necrotic and radiant damage, the Light cantrip, and Healing Hands. Once per long rest, you can touch a creature as an action, healing it a number of hit points equal to your level.

Like a lot of pharaohs, you’re a Noble at the very least, giving you proficiency with Persuasion, and we’re swapping history for Religion here.

Ability Scores

As a cunning negotiator and shrewd businesswoman, your Intelligence has to be pretty high. Your manifestation has also been affected by rumors of your effect on men, so Charisma is next. Your Wisdom is also pretty good, can’t be a businesswoman without a good insight check. Your Dexterity isn’t amazing, but knowing how to not die is useful. Your Constitution’s pretty bad, but we’re dumping Strength instead. You’ve got armies for that.

Class Levels

1. Artificer 1: I know artificers usually make their stuff, but hey, nobody said you couldn’t have a trade-based artificer. Your empire’s pretty big, finding a bag of holding won’t be that hard.

First level artificers get Magical Tinkering, letting you add minor magical effects to small objects, basically your version of prestidigitation. You also learn Spells that you can cast and prepare using your Intelligence.

When you start as an Artificer, you also get proficiency with Constitution and Intelligence saves, as well as History and Perception. 

You get some cantrips, like Message to sneak notes to your advisors, and Create Bonfire, because you’re the goddess of magic, you do what you want.

For first level spells, I’d suggest Cure Wounds to deal with your snake issues, Detect Magic to find the best deals on magic nonsense, and Feather Fall. Later on, that last one will be your giant flying snake breaking your fall, but feel free to use it earlier if necessary.

2. Sorcerer 1: First level divine sorcerers can learn Spells that use Charisma to cast. Thanks to your magical origin, you also know Divine Magic, giving you access to the cleric spell list and a freebie in Cure Wound. Hey, it frees up a prep slot. You’re also Favored by the Gods, letting you add 2d4 to a save or attack roll once per short rest. You’re a god, you do what you want.

For spells, Friends,  Thaumaturgy, Minor Illusion and Charm Person will be useful for navigating court, while Frostbite and Mage Armor will be much more helpful once things get busy.

3. Sorcerer 2: Second level sorcerers are Fonts of Magic, giving you a number of sorcery points per long rest equal to your sorcerer level. Your Radiant Consumption also kicks in this level, letting you spend an action to transform your self for a minute. While transformed, you shine with bright light for 10 feet and dim light for another 10, and at the end of each turn you deal half your level in radiant damage to everything around you. You also deal extra radiant damage once per turn to something you hit with an attack or spell equal to your entire level. You can do this once per long rest. Your snake ain’t too picky with what it hits, but it hits nonetheless. 

You also learn Comprehend Languages, because people tend to be more honest when they don’t know you understand them.

4. Sorcerer 3: Third level sorcerers get Metamagic, ways to customize their magic using sorcery points. Subtle Spell lets you cast magic without making it obvious, and Twinned Spell lets you make the most of your spell slots by basically casting a single-target spell twice over.

You also learn the spell Detect Thoughts. Strategy’s well and good, but nothing beats knowing your opponents’ next moves before they do.

5. Sorcerer 4: Use your first Ability Score Increase to grab the Tough feat. Sorcerer hp dice are not your friend, but this spell will give you an extra +2 HP each level, retroactively too.

You also learn Dancing Lights for more holy nonsense, and Enhance Ability to do what you want, giving you (or target creature) advantage on one kind of ability check.

6. Sorcerer 5: Fifth level sorcerers can use their sorcery points on some Magical Guidance to re-roll a failed ability check.  Once again, you do what you want.

For your last sorcerer spell, grab Bestow Curse for a little pre-mummification mummy magic. This is one of those “have fun with it” spells, so feel free to make it wild.

7. Artificer 2: With who you are out of the way, let’s get back to what you do. As a second level artificer you know how to trade for Infused Items, magic items you can make at the end of a long rest. You learn four now, but you can only use two at the same time. Enhanced Weapon will work well with next level’s features, but Enhanced Arcane Focus will make your magic stronger now. Mind Sharpener lets you keep your concentration when you get hit, and Bag of Holding is just really useful.

8. Artificer 3: As a Battle Smith, you are Battle Ready, giving you proficiency with martial weapons, and you can use your intelligence instead of strength when using a magical weapon. You also learn how to build your Steel Defender, a medium sized construct that uses your bonus action to command. It can attack creatures, or defend party members. Rules as written it has to have two or four legs, but snakes are cool, so I’d allow it. 

You also learn your first specialty spells, Heroism and Shield, for more survivability. 

9. Artificer 4: Use this ASI to become a Martial Adept, giving you one superiority die (1d6) per short rest. You can use it in one of two ways- Commander’s Strike lets you ignore one of your attacks and your bonus action to let another creature attack as a reaction instead, adding the die to their damage. Alternatively, your Tactical Assessment adds the d6 to an Investigation, History, or Insight check you make instead.

10. Artificer 5: Fifth level battle smiths get an Extra Attack per attack action, and they can now cast second level spells. Your specialty spells are Branding Smite and Warding Bond, neither of which are particularly useful for Cleopatra. Instead I’d suggest Levitate to get the full Giant Metal Snake Coiling Around You effect, and Protection from Poison. As a noble, that’ll probably come in handy a lot.

11. Artificer 6: Sixth level artificers gain Expertise with all tool checks, doubling their proficiency. You’re royalty, you had a lot of free time. You also learn the Mending cantrip to heal your snake in a vain attempt to make it stop biting you, and you get two more infusions. Spell-Refueling Ring will help you recharge those spell slots/sorcery points, and the Eyes of Charming help you save on slots by using an item instead.

12. Artificer 7: By seventh level, your Flashes of Genius let you use your reaction to add your intelligence modifier to a check or save happening within 30 feet of you. You can use this a number of times per long rest equal to your intelligence modifier.

13. Artificer 8: Speaking of your intelligence, use this ASI to bump that up a bit for stronger spells, attacks, and more flashes of genius.

14. Artificer 9: At ninth level your Steel Defender grows even stronger, thanks to its Arcane Jolt. When you hit a creature, either with a magical weapon or your Uraeus Astrape, you can either a, deal extra force damage to it, or b, heal a nearby creature. You can do this once per turn, a number of times per long rest equal to your intelligence modifier.

You also get third level spell now! Your specialty spells are Aura of Vitality, leaning into your Isis-ness to heal people as a bonus action, and Conjure Barrage for when you’re fighting something that won’t stay put. You could also use Fly on your snake to give it some extra mobility, or Intellect Fortress to give long lasting resistance to psychic damage and advantage on intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saves. You’re the queen, you do what you want.

15. Artificer 10: Tenth level artificers are Magic Item Adepts, letting you attune an additional magic item and crafting a common/uncommon item takes 1/4 the time and 1/2 the gold. 

You can also trade for two more infusions now. The Ring of Mind Shielding will protect your brain even more, making you immune to having your thoughts read, any sort of lie detection, or knowing your alignment/creature type. it also lets you possess the ring if you die while wearing it! You could also get the Cloak of Protection, giving you +1 AC and +1 to all your saves.

16. Artificer 11: At eleventh level you can make Spell-Storing Items, weapons or other hand-held items that can hold spells for other people to use. They store a 1st or second level spell to put in it at the end of a long rest, and then other creatures can cast that spell using the item a number of times equal to twice your intelligence modifier. It uses your intelligence, but the caster’s concentration. You can also only have one object used like this at a time.

17. Artificer 12: Use your last ASI to bring up your Charisma for stronger sorcery spells.

18. Artificer 13: At long last, you can use fourth level spells! Your specialties are Aura of Purity, protecting creatures around you from disease, poison, and status effects for the duration. You also learn Fire Shield, which gives you resistance to cold or fire damage, and deals damage to attackers of the opposite type. Again it’s not super in character, but you’re the god of magic, what do you care.

For additional spells, Fabricate and Stone Shape will let you construct great works over time, and Summon Construct will bring in another giant metal snake to make sure the first one doesn’t get too uppity.

19. Artificer 14: Fourteenth level artificers are Magic Item Savants, giving you yet another attunement slot and you can ignore all restrictions when using magic items.

You also learn Guidance as your last cantrip, and get your last infusions. The Bracers of Defense give you +2 AC, or the Ring of Protection can give you +1 AC and +1 to all your saves. Trying to get a Golden Rule going is tough when all your ability points got put into your soft stats.

20. Artificer 15: Our capstone level gives you Improved Defender, increasing the severity of your Arcane Jolt, making your snake just a bit tougher, and giving it a way of dealing damage while also protecting your party.

Pros:

Thanks to your divine favors, magical guidance, and flashes of insight, you’re awfully good at cheating the odds with your saves and checks. Basically, if you really need to get something done, you can do it.

With multiple people on the battlefield and a variety of goodies to hand out to your party, you are great at supporting your party. 

With your high intelligence and charisma, you can control social situations easily, especially when you mix in your mind-reading abilities.

Cons:

If you ever fall into an anti-magic zone/exist at low levels you’ll find your AC very lacking, especially given your HP. Basically, hope your snake helps out.

Speaking of your snake, using it and your radiant consumption at the same time makes things complicated. I know the flavor is your snake is hitting you, but really you’re hitting your snake, and it doesn’t get resistance like you do.

Our tiny multiclass into sorcerer gives you a lot of flexibility and stealth options, but it means you have limited sorcery points. Thankfully, your sorcerer features don’t bother with your points, so it’s not game breaking for you.

[fanfalc-616]

Okay I have a new AU!! It’s called...

The Rights Of A Nindroid

This is chapter one!

Thanks to @occasionalincorrectquotes ,@321bluegalaxy , @ablackswansweet , and @akwardalienbean for giving me ideas (:<

When Zane wakes up that morning, the Bounty is quiet- likely because he gets up about an hour before the others usually do.

After checking the refrigerator, he decides to pick up some groceries for the team, despite it being Cole’s turn- the black ninja typically comes back with a surplus of junk food and relatively little amounts of healthy ingredients, no matter what Zane puts on the actual shopping list.

Messaging the others in order to inform them that he’ll be back shortly after their normal breakfast time, he heads out to the store, enjoying the quietness of the early morning.

He only makes it a few blocks away before a cop car pulls up beside him. Frowning, he pauses. Is there some kind of criminal roaming around here? Perhaps he could help apprehend them.

Two cops get out of the car, and Zane decides to voice the idea. “Is there a problem, officers?” He prompts. “Do you need assistance with it?”

The first cop- a brunet only just shorter than Zane- starts to speak. “I’m sorry about this, but we’re going to need-“

The second cop- a short blond- glares at the first as he interupts. “Actually, yeah, we could use your help. You’re the white ninja, right? Zane? It would be great if we could have your help with a government… “ He pauses a moment. “...project.”

The pause is somewhat concerning, but likely not a real issue. “I would be happy to assist.” He smiles. “If you tell we the location, I could have my teammates join us and also-“

“It would be better if it was just you.” The brunet interrupts.

The other cop nods. “It’s a low profile thing.” He agrees. “And no offense to your teammates, but they usually grab a lot of attention.”

With a small chuckle, Zane nods. “That they do. If it is low profile, would it be better for me to ride with you? Or should I get a vehicle of my own?”

The brunet starts heading back to the car. “It would be better if you rode with us.” He decides.

So Zane gets in the back of the car, letting the two cops take charge of directions. Unsure of what level of volume would be appropriate, he elects to remain silent to avoid a possibly uncomfortable situation.

Soon enough, they reach an odd-looking facility that appears to belong to the government- and strangely enough, a quick GPS check shows that the site is non-existent, implying that it is a top-secret base of some sort.

Getting out of the car, Zane lets himself be led into the facility, warily eyeing the large number of security guards swarming the area.

“May I have more information on what this ‘project’ is?” He prompts, hand coming down to brush against one of his shurikens.

“We can talk more inside.” The taller cop tells him as they go up the doors. In order to get inside, he uses three complex key patterns, a vocal recognition pattern sensor, and a form of facial recognition scanner.

“That is quite elaborate.” Zane notes. “I take it this project is important.”

But he doesn’t say anything more on the matter when he’s taken back, nor when they insist on confiscating his weapons. The shurikens don’t matter all that much anyway, he is well versed in multiple martial arts.

As he’s led through the halls, he could almost swear that he can hear distant muffled screaming. But no one else seems to be affected, so he brushes it off as some distorted echo. After all, this is a government facility. It would be highly unlikely for something illegal enough to cause that much pain to be happening in a place like this.

Once taken into a medium-sized room- a room that has a mirror that is likely actually of one way glass- he is instructed to sit at a table, directly across from a government official.

“Hello, Zane.” The woman smiles. “I’m going to ask you a few questions. It’s going to be important for you to answer truthfully.”

Zane nods his confirmation, accompanying it with a verbal one. “I will answer them to the best of my ability.” After a moment of thought, he decides that it would be best to wait on asking his own queries until after they have asked theirs.

“Thank you. What was your creator’s full name?”

“Doctor Julien.” Zane answers the question without pause.

The woman shakes her head. “His full, legal name.” She corrects, glancing over at the mirror. The minor action confirms that it is, in fact, one way glass.

With a blink of surprise, Zane answers the question. He’s asked several more, all about his father and any possible relatives he may have. The second piece is negatory; his father was an only child and far too old for any immediate family members to be alive.

After six minutes and nine seconds, the woman smiles again. “Thank you, Zane. Someone will be back with you shortly.”

With that, she gets up and heads out, leaving Zane behind.

Puzzled by the questions and events, Zane attempts to send a message to his boyfriends in order to inform them that he will be later than he had expected- but strangely enough, it doesn’t go through. Frowning, he tries a second time, but he once again fails.

That’s mildly concerning, but likely has a logical explanation. Perhaps no one here can send messages as a way to increase the difficulty of hacking. Given the secrecy he has already seen, that would be reasonable.

So he waits patiently at the table, occasionally sneaking stealthy glances at the one way glass. Something about this situation seems suspicious, but there’s likely no real cause to it. Perhaps he has adopted part of Jay’s paranoid nature.

A smile finds him at the humorous thought, but before he has the chance to think on it further, the door to the room opens, and a new official walks in.

“Zane, it’s… nice to meet you. I’m going to need you to fill out some papers.” The man tells him in a rather rude tone.

Zane chooses not to comment on his unpleasant mannerisms. “I would be happy to.” He gives a friendly smile, hoping that staying composed and being affable may help with what is bothering the official.

He begins to fill out the papers he was given, but as he goes on, the questions seem to grow more and more invasive, until he finds himself pausing.

Zane looks up from the paper, setting his pencil down. “My apologies, but I am not comfortable answering these questions. The way my systems work is rather a personal matter.”

“Yes, well, I need you to answer them anyway.” The man’s smile is tight and forced, not expressing happiness in the slightest.

“I’m not comfortable with that.” Zane repeats, a note of annoyance creeping into his voice. He stares the official down, making sure he knows that he will not be backing down on this matter.

“I didn’t ask if you were comfortable.” The man’s eyes express sharp malice as his false smile drops. “I told you to fill out the papers.”

“And I told you no.” Zane stands up abruptly, still holding cold eye contact. “I’ll be leaving now.”

A spark of anger lights in the man’s eyes. “No, you won’t.” He stands up as well, annoyance and hatred on his face. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“I don’t believe that’s your call to make.” Zane doesn’t blink and doesn’t back down- but he does refrain from allowing the temperature to drop from his powers.

“It is, actually.” The official insists. Does he genuinely believe that?

This is not a debate that he’s willing to be having, so it is time to end the discussion. “Is that so?”

“Sit down, nindroid.” He says the final word as though it’s an insult rather than a descriptor. “This isn’t up to your programming.”

“My progr- just what, exactly, are you trying to imply?” Zane knows he should simply walk out the door, but at the moment, he is completely floored by the implications of his words.

Is he truly under the impression that-

His attention is grabbed by the door being opened, and his eyes widen in surprise when he sees a large group of security guards entering, all wielding laser guns not unlike the ones Cyrus Borg had designed.

Zane quick backs away, narrowing his eyes. So they plan to hold him hostage? “I must warn you that even unarmed, I am still a trained ninja. I recommend that you stand down.”

The guns are aimed at him, all centered on non-vital parts of his body- though any shots that hit would likely give them enough time to restrain him.

Then he must not get hit. And for that, he should make the first move.

Zane takes a step forward, attempting to blast a shield of ice to block off any possible shots. But much to his dismay, he discovers that his elemental powers are not working, and a quick scan confirms that the entire building is lined with vengestone in the walls.

This is… quite the situation.

A few shots are fired at him, and he quickly ducks, flipping backwards to avoid getting injured. Unfortunately, he discovers only a moment too late that they were expecting that, and a shot was fired to where he had dodged, leading to a laser blast grazing his right calf, making him stumble.

They must have analyzed his fighting style before he arrived in order to predict his movements!

This brief lapse in balance is all it takes for them to completely surround him. With narrowed eyes, he begins to start making the moves of spinjitzu, but his damaged leg causes him to fall. His failure to combat them with the tactic gives them the opportunity to handcuff him, as well as manhandle him onto his knees.

Zane glares up at the official. “I do not know what you have planned, but I must warn you that such an illegal action will have consequences, even for an official such as yourself. I-“

The man shakes his head. “Take it away.” He orders.

Zane finds himself being dragged along, unable to effectively resist the guards. Eventually, he’s taken to a new room with a set of rectangular locker-like cubbies.

With wide eyes, a sudden realization strikes him as he looks at the lockers, and he resumes his struggling.

These lockers are just large enough to fit a person inside. Or more accurately for this circumstance, a nindroid.

“I want my phone call.” He demands as he’s forcibly dragged closer.

One of the guards scoffs. “You don’t get one.” He sounds almost insulted by the idea.

Zane manages to resist some, buying himself some time to continue speaking. “Legally you are required to-“

A different guard incredulously asks, “Do you- do you actually think you have the rights of a human?”

Zane pauses a few moments, confused by the words. “Yes? I thought that-“

He’s unable to continue due to the way he’s roughly manhandled into the cubby, and as he's about to argue, the door is slammed in his face.

Despite the way he struggles against it, the exit is firmly blocked off, leaving him quite effectively contained.

After a few minutes of struggling, he concludes that he will have to wait until they reopen it to make his escape.

With a sigh, he leans back against the wall, shifting uncomfortably in the small space. There is less than an inch of space surrounding him on all sides, leading to a rather cramped arrangement.

“What just happened?” He murmurs softly to himself, listening as the booted footsteps of the guards fade away. These events had occurred so suddenly that his processor is stuck playing catch up.

Closing his eyes, he decides to go into sleep-mode for a while, though he keeps his senses dialed high enough that any nearby noise will wake him.

He can make his escape when they return.

[theheartsmistakes]

The Last Night Part XXXI

It was worse than anything James could have imagined.

His shoulder was torn to shreds and reeked of blood from a Behemoth demon that snuck upon him while he was trying to behead a Raum demon, and there seemed to be no end to the snapping of teeth; leathery wings; the screeching, and screaming. The sun bled into a vibrant sunrise, the sky matching the gore in the streets.

Not only were they facing demons, but an army of undead soldiers flooded the streets. An army that Belial called forth with Lucie's power.

And for being dead for centuries, they were surprisingly difficult to kill.

James sprinted, his breath sharp as a knife in his chest.

He’d run out of throwing knives, wasting no time to retrieve them after they’d found their mark in a demon’s skull or vital organ, dropping to the ground after they’d returned to the realm of which they came. It seemed when one died, two returned in their stead. No, there was no wasting time. He drew a pair of curved blades, glowing with angelic power, from his belt and sliced through the belly of a demon that swooped for him, knocking it off-kilter, and brought the twin to the blade down in another arch over the neck of the beast.

Another was on him before the first could disappear. Ichor sprayed his face as he buried his blade to the hilt into the jaw of a demon, its blackened teeth scrapped against his hand as he drew the blade back out. Its lifeless eyes widened and then closed as it slumped to the ground.

Still, he ran, working his way towards the bridge where Cordelia ran to save Lucie. Creating a path for her and buying her time to figure out a way to separate her from Belial.

Another demon launched from a rooftop, curved claws reaching for him—

James swiped his sword, splitting the demon’s molding green skin from gut to neck. It crashed into the stones behind him, legs outstretched beneath it, twitching slightly. He climbed atop of it, gaining the clearance he needed to see Cordelia embracing Lucie on the bridge.

She’d made it. A little longer— that was all she needed. Just a little longer. He could give her that— he would give her that. It wouldn’t be long now.

The demon flinched beneath him. He stuck the point of his blade into the base of its neck, not taking his eyes off of Cordelia and Lucie, as he slid the blade all the way in. The beast spasmed beneath him until he jerked the sword backward and severed the head from the spine. He landed deftly on his feet as the demon disappeared out from underneath him.

Behind him, his friends fought as a team. Christopher and Anna paired up against a humanoid demon with the body of a man, except for the obsidian skin and the talons that grew from each finger and the leathery wings that sprung from its back. They had it cornered, one distracting it while the other attacked.

Thomas stood back to back with Alastair, fighting three lion sized demons.

Across the bridge, he knew his parents were fighting their way towards the bridge or attempting to keep Charles from executing Lucie before they had the chance to save her.

But Matthew, he could see Matthew. His parabatai rune blazed in his skin, the only indication that he was alive and not in peril, but it made him nervous not to be able to see him.

A demon surged at him from around a corner, taloned fingers gouging lines into the cobblestones, jaws open aiming for his throat. With its talons, it managed to cut through James’s forearm slashing through armor and skin. A groan tore from James as the pain seared through his arm, he released his blade on instinct and listened in horror as it clattered to the ground.

James managed to hurl himself backward from under the demon as it seemed to lick its mouth in anticipation of its kill. It leaked saliva on the ichor soaked streets as it advanced upon him. Seeming to savor every step.

Its last steps.

With his other blade pinned beneath him, James reached for a seraph blade at his thigh.

The demon sank onto its haunches, reading for the kill.

The ground shook behind him as James tightened his grip on the hilt, whispered its name, and aimed the blade upward—

Before he could strike, a sword plunged through the demon’s great gray head.

A vibrant glowing blade, that seemed to sing as it met the demonic blood. The demon evaporated with an audible hiss and disappeared as if on a breeze. A blond head appeared above James, streaked with black that also dripped down his face.

With a bloodied hand, Matthew offered it to James.

“Thought you could use some help.” His parabatai grinned.

“I had it under control,” said James, shaking the burn from the slashes on his arm.

Matthew’s eyebrows bounced. “Oh, my mistake. It looked like you were about to be the poor chaps breakfast.”

“Your mistake indeed,” said James and patted Matthew on the shoulder. “Where the hell are they all coming from?”

“The answer seems to lie within the question,” said Matthew with a wink. “Whatever Belial has done it seems that they’re able to regenerate at a faster rate. If we keep going on like this then we don’t stand a chance.”

“Always the optimist,” said James and threw the words over his shoulder. “Cover me!”

He barely heard Matthew’s reply of, “always,” before he ripped into an undead, with a quick scissor swipe of his blades that sent the beast’s head rolling. Gore splattered his gear, his face, but he made no hesitation as he ran towards the bridge.

Matthew kept to his word, ripping apart demon and undead with precision and vengeance that might have stunned James if his focus was not otherwise detained.

Another undead dragged its crooked ankle towards James, just as he flipped the blade in his right hand and split the creature’s skull in half. He whirled on another, but before he could dismember it, a flash of brilliant light and deafening thunder clapped overhead. The earth shuddered underneath his feet. He spun around and looked towards the bridge as a building on the other side of the Thames split in half.

His eyes found Lucie standing with her hands squeezing her head. Cordelia lay on the ground not far away, struggling to stand. He called her name— screamed it— begging her to get away.

An arm wrapped around his neck and he felt the sharp needle points of teeth dig into his trapezius muscle. He raised his elbow against a flash of searing pain and drove the end of his blade into the centre of the undead’s brain.

His shoulder spilled blood, but he hardly noticed as he started to run towards the bridge, to where Cordelia now stood running towards Lucie.

He yelled her name again as Lucie turned to face Cordelia at the same moment they impacted.

Cordelia’s name lodged in his throat once more as he watched them twist over the bridge railing and hurtle towards the black water beneath.

Lucie awoke in a field that reminded her very much of the one behind her family's estate in Alicante. The soft, lush green grass of spring tickled her bare arms as a docile wind blew through the hills carrying with it the smell of rain, crystal clear lake water, and earth. Lucie’s hand moved against the solid earth beneath her and looked up at the entire world above her, full of distant, burning lights.

Where the normal blue of the sky had gone, she wasn’t entirely sure, but it didn’t matter. None of it mattered now, she felt. For she was free.

The terrible, clawing darkness that had consumed her as soon as Belial dragged her into the centre of the star exploded the moment her body had given up underneath the water, Cordelia holding her against the savage need to take a breath. She’d saved them— in ending Lucie, she saved them all.

“Not quite, little huntress,” said a familiar, female voice.

Lucie peeled far enough away from the ground to look at the beautiful, angular, human face of the ghost that had visited her in the Shadowrealm. The dark hair spilled down from her head, no longer white and ghost-like, but full and glistening.

Some intrinsic part of her recognized this woman. An ancient song in her blood sang out to the woman before her.

Lucie’s eyes narrowed, “You— I know you.”

The ghost’s smile was soft. “Do you remember now?”

“You're Abigail,” said Lucie as a shudder went through her entire body. “You’re Abigail Shadowhunter. Part of the first three. You’re— this is— Oh, James is never going to believe—“ A realization dawned on her at the thought of her elder brother. “Am I dead then? Is it really over?”

“Not dead,” said Abigail as she crossed her arms across her chest. She was dressed oddly mundane for what she always imagined Abigail Shadowhunter to be dressed as. In Lucie’s mind, she would have looked more like a Viking princess rather than the old leather trousers, thick deerskin jacket, and white cotton blouse. She was beautiful: ancient angelic power radiated from her like the confidence in her kind expression. “Not dead yet. You’re somewhere we like to call, the in-between. Your brother has been here before, briefly. So has your mother and your uncle James, but they wouldn’t remember it, and neither will you.”

“But it’s you. This is really you?”

Abigail chuckled and peered at the churning darkness above them. “Yes. There isn’t much time, Lucie Herondale. Your mortal body is dead, but this does not have to be your end. You can choose to return to your family, your friends.”

Lucie’s expression deadened. “I can’t go back. He’ll find me. He’ll use me again. He’ll kill everyone that I love. Not to mention what the clave will do to me now that they’ve learned what I can do, what I am. No, it’s much better that I stay here and go with you.”

Abigail crossed her arms. “Better? Better for whom?”

“For everyone!” Lucie blinked rapidly. “Better for my family, better for my friends—“

“You truly believe the loss of their daughter is better for your parents,” said Abigail. “You believe the loss of a sister, a friend, a companion is better for their lives going forward. Lucie, the loss of you will shatter their entire world. They will carry that loss in their souls for the rest of their lives. Your memory will stop at a single moment for them and never change. Do you wish to leave them to the wonder what you might have looked like in your twenties, thirties, and beyond? The things you could have accomplished?”

Lucie bowed her head afraid that she might break clean apart. “No. No, I don’t want those things. I’m scared.”

“It’s all right to be frightened, Lucie,” said Abigail. “Everyone is afraid of something. Your parents are living their worst fear right now. Can you feel it? Their tether to you— like a string around your heart.”

Lucie placed a hand on her chest and felt the cold ache there like a massive hole. She nodded wordlessly and began crying.

“They’re begging every diety they know of to return the life to your body.” Abigail knelt in front of Lucie. “If only they knew it was your choice.” She gave her a knowing smile. “And what of the boy? The Blackthorn boy?”

Lucie wiped at her face. “What of him?”

Abigail’s smile turned gentle. “He was trapped in this space for many years without the ability to move beyond. We’ve all heard him speak about you— about getting back to you. Are you going to abandon the possibility of that future by staying here when he’s only just gotten his life back?”

Lucie’s breath shuddered from her chest. She’d thought it was a dream, some ploy created by Belial to get her to follow him, but it was true. Jesse was alive. Jesse was waiting for her.

She inhaled, staring at the grass that was not real. None of it was real. She’d contemplated staying in a place with things that looked and felt real but were not. Like living in the pages of a book, an image of real things. She’d give up life for this?

Lucie sniffed. “What do I need to do? How do I stop him once I’ve returned? How do I stop any of it?”

Abigail rose again. “Leave that to us.” Lucie’s gaze shifted from Abigail’s regal face to those behind her where a crowd began to form behind her, a legion of hundreds of faces, some Lucie recognized and many she did not. The man on Abigail’s right smiled at her, a kind mischievous smile that did not correlate with the serious renderings of him standing atop a pile of demons in a blaze of glory hanging up in the Institute. Jonathon Shadowhunter had his arms crossed much like his older sister, though he was much taller and more solidly built, and he looked—well, humored. An ancient blade sheathed his back.

To his right stood another man. Lucie recognized him as David, the parabatai to the warrior standing beside him. His gaze could old the power of thunder in it.

Behind the three, Shadowhunters of generations past marched up the hill to gather. A face stood out amongst the front line.

“Barbara!” Lucie yelled.

Her friend beamed, whole and vengeful.

Amongst the other fallen warriors, she could recognize her grandfather Edmond with eyes that mirrored her father’s, and though she’d never met her, from photographs her father had shared, she recognized her Aunt Ella who looked a bit like herself.

“So you see, Lucie Herondale,” said Abigail. “You will not be going alone.”

Lucie’s lips trembled. “How— how is this possible?”

“You make it possible,” said Abigail. “You and only you can control the dead. A gift that if bestowed upon some other hand might be catastrophic, but your heart is light and your motives pure and selfless. Therefore, with your command, we will listen.”

Lucie’s gaze snapped back. “You mean I’m to command them? You?”

“That is what I mean,” nodded Abigail. “And you must do it quickly. Time is running out. If you do not return soon then this is where you will remain.”

Lucie didn’t give herself a chance to reconsider, to rethink what would be waiting for her on the other side. She looked beyond Abigail’s shoulder at her fallen family and committed every one of their faces to memory. Perhaps she wouldn’t remember this moment when she awoke, but she’d honor them now.

“Okay,” said Lucie and returned to her feet. “I’m ready. Tell me what to do.”

Cordelia knelt over Lucie after having dragged her limp body to the shore through water that felt more like sand.

The fight blazed on around her. Demons swarmed the sky and the earth amongst the army of undead that Belial called to his aid; both of which were being kept back by warriors that were beginning to tire. It seemed it would never end. Never, never end.

But none of that mattered now. None of it.

Cordelia pressed her fingers to Lucie’s throat, knowing what she wouldn’t find.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed at her friend’s lifeless face. “I’m so so sorry.”

With shaking hands, she pressed into Lucie’s chest: one, two, three. She swallowed a deep breath of air and blew into Lucie’s mouth.

Again, she pressed against Lucie’s chest cavity and could feel the liquid slosh around in her belly, her lungs.

One. Two. Three.

“Please,” she begged and gave Lucie another burst of air. “You can’t die. You can’t die. You. Cannot. Die.”

One. Two. Three.

Air.

A demon screeched above her as if careened through the sky, several arrows bursting from its chest as it drifted towards the Thames and landed into the water with an eruptive wave.

One. Two. Three.

Lucie’s lips were turning a startling shade of blue. Her skin was so cold as Cordelia pressed her fingers to her throat again.

Nothing. Not even a flutter.

“Come on!” Cordelia pleaded. One. Two. Three. Air. “Please! Please, this has to work. It has to." Her voice went to a whisper. "It has to.”

Tears streamed down Cordelia’s face and dripped onto Lucie’s as she gave her another breath. And began pumping her torso again, refusing to accept that her friend was gone. That her soul had left this world to a place that Cordelia could not pull her back from.

“You’re not finished,” said Cordelia, with a chest breaking sob. “You’re not finished yet. Do you hear me? We’re going to grow old together, you and I. We’re going to have that ceremony and we’re going become parabatai and then neither one of us will feel alone again. I promise, Lucie, but you have to breathe.”

A crack of lightning shimmered the sky above her. She felt the electricity through her bones, but she did not stop.

She was cold. Cold and wet and stiff.

A burning sensation in her chest climbed up her throat until she burst forward, expelling the waste from her lungs. It tasted like mud on her tongue. She felt as if she’d swallowed the whole Thames.

But she was breathing. Her heart was pounding in her chest— and she was breathing.

Arms, shaking cold arms were wrapped around her. A hand slammed into her back as she tried to breathe through the water and bile still trapped in her lungs.

She dimly registered that she was lying on the bank of the river. Cordelia crying into her ear and held her up to get the water out.

“Was that your idea of a rescue?” said Lucie, her voice sounded like she’d swallowed gravel.

Cordelia laughed and pulled away enough to look Lucie in the face. Blood covered Cordelia’s own, her blood or something else’s, Lucie could not tell. “It worked, didn’t it?”

Lucie coughed. “Barely. I may never get the taste out of my mouth.”

“It takes some time,” said Cordelia, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks, even as she laughed, “but it does go away. Believe me.”

She smiled at Cordelia and her friend smiled back. “Did you mean what you said? Will you really be my parabatai?”

Cordelia drew Lucie into another hug. Her clothes were wet and reeked of ichor and muddy river water, but Lucie didn’t mind. She hugged her dear friend back as if she were the tether keeping her stationed in this world.

“A promise is a promise.”

“Oh, but you already make such a wonderful team,” said a voice behind them. Lucie’s eyes shot open as she slowly peeled herself away from Cordelia to look at the archdemon standing on the muddy banks. “Why ruin it with semantics?”

Cordelia started to stand but Lucie gripped her arm.

His physical form flickered as if he were there, but not fully. Lucie suspected that was exactly the case. He’d started the transition from his own realm to this one, but it was not complete yet; therefore he could not fully take form, not without his host.

Lucie stood, her foot slipping on the muddy bank, but she held her ground.

“It’s over, Belial.” Lucie was about to say, but someone had already said it for her.

She turned and relief and pride and hope, filled her chest at Abigail standing on the banks. She’d returned to her ghostly form, but the centuries of rage still burned behind her eyes.  

“Abigail,” said Belial as his lips curled over his teeth. “So wonderful to see you again. It’s been too long.”

Demons and undead started to fall around them, taken down by the army of shimmering white figures that burst through their bodies with angelic light and sent them back to where they’d come from in bursts of mist.

An army— her army, flooded the streets and fought beside the living Shadowhunters, filling them with a renewed sense of hope.

“It has been too long,” said Abigail. In a flicker of light, the ghost moved forward and grabbed Belial by the throat. His form solidified for just a moment, long enough for Abigail to yell, “Now!” And for Lucie to pick up Cortana from the ground beside Cordelia and drive it into Belial’s chest, up through his sternum, and out his back.

His eyes and mouth widened as centuries of pain and torture flashed within them and Lucie saw all of it. Everything he’d done as the light began to burst from the cracks rippling through his skin, the blade at the centre of it.

Only a kin can kill an archdemon, Abigail had told her as she descended back to earth. Only a kin can have enough power. It must be you, Lucie.

The blade burned in her palm until she released it and fell backward onto the marsh and watched in horror as Belial screamed into an unknown void and then burst apart in a wave that took every demon and undead with him.

In the blast, Lucie was thrown back, her head hit the ground in a deafening crack. With no runes to help her, she succumbed to the blinding pain and fell once more into darkness.

Lucie was faintly aware of being hoisted into the air and the ground leaving her. Warmth pressed against her cheek where she laid it on something soft.

Whispering, hushed words were spoken into her ear and she was being rocked.

“Lucie, my Lucie,” said a voice. “You’re safe, my darling. I’ve got you. Papa’s got you.”

With what strength she had left, she wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and let him carry her home.

A/N: I don’t have any more words in me. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you thought! Final chapter comes out in one week: Mon, 2/22

[dailycharacteroption]

Class Feature Friday: Vestige Bloodline (Bloodrager Bloodline)

 For better or worse, we all inherit the legacies of our ancestors, even if we choose to ultimately reject or embrace them.

Most often, these legacies are the lasting impact of their deeds, heirlooms of such, and perhaps the expectations of those who are familiar with those legacies. This can be both good and bad, depending on what exactly the ancestors did, and how it impacts the lives of their decendants.

Few could argue, however, the nature of the legacy left behind for those of the vestige magical bloodline, which comes in both sorcerous and bloodraging flavors.

The bloodrager version of this bloodline draws upon a heritage of great warriors specifically, rather than just great people in general. As such, these bloodragers can tap into the knowledge and skill of their ancestors in combat, as well as manifest spectral visions and phantoms of warfare to aid them in battle.

A bloodline in the truest sense of the word, these bloodragers are almost universally descended from the greatest warriors, generals, and conquerers of history, though they may not actually know who their ancestor is without researching it, depending on how prolific said warrior was in life. The supposed widespread genetic legacy of Genghis Khan comes to mind.

Due to the mostly subtle way this bloodline manifests, it can often be hard to tell that a person is of this mystical bloodline at first glance, though I imagine that the historically-versed might note an uncanny family resemblance to the great ancestor, or shifts in demeanor, glowing eyes, and the like when the collective knowledge of their legacy manifests in battle. Perhaps others might even see visions of them in phantasmal armor or regalia of their ancestor as well.

 Calling upon the wisdom of their ancestors, these bloodragers tend to learn how to fight with rare and exotic weapons, as well as specialize in a weapon of their choice.

This bloodline also grants access to spells, namely those that guide their strikes, bolster their vitality, conjure forth a phantom mount, and even enlarge entire groups of allies into a devastating fighting force.

Though these warriors rage like any other of their kind, they also call upon the warrior’s discipline, regaining enough focus to think clearly for a moment, their fury simmering for a few seconds.

Countless military drills run through the minds of these warriors as they rage, and this extends to their allies, their ancestors telling them how to make the most of every tactical advantage to both defense and offense. They can even burn magical power to enhance the guidance provided as well.

The battlefield doctrine of the past informs the combat styles of the present, and when bloodraging, these warriors gain instinctive understanding of one style. (Most likely a weapon-based style, though unarmed bloodragers do exist) However, if they are not fully capable of using such a style on their own, they must burn magic to tap into the knowledge. If they take the time to truly master the style, however, they can even enter the stance even as they fly into their rage.

Drawing upon their ancestor’s memories, they can fill the area around them with visions of the bloodiest and traumatic battles the forbearers ever witnessed when they enter their rage, alarming foes, and making them susceptible to more potent fear effects.

Letting the knowledge of their ancestors flow through them, these bloodragers can eventually share the knowledge of their favored combat style with allies, allowing them to briefly use it.

The most powerful among them, however, can draw upon the armies of the past, summoning forth spiritual phantom soldiers to fight alongside them in great droves that they can command.

Honestly, as far as bloodrager bloodlines go, this one seems a bit… underpowered isn’t the right word… specialized, perhaps? It’s definitely meant to be used while fighting with a group of melee-oriented allies. The fact that multiple abilities are meant to be used by burning up your own spell slots, rather than having their own reserve of power also kinda irks me as well, since the abilities they grant aren’t even so good as to warrant that. However, if you really are interested in this archetype, definitely build it with a combat style and specific weapon in mind. I don’t normally bring up mixing archetypes and the like, but also consider taking this bloodline with the ancestral harbinger archetype to maximize the number of bodies and forms that are benefitting from your tactical advantages.

 It is entirely possible that you can make an entire character out of the ancestral spirits of a bloodrager with this bloodline, someone for the character to consult or even argue with about various things, though naturally, regardless about how the bloodrager feels about the legacy they’ve been saddled with, they will likely be held to that standard by others and the spirit itself.

  Kazog has received great power, but also a secret shame, for while he has been blessed with ancestral power thanks to his heritage, he also has learned that the bloodline is dwarven… specifically dwarven from before his line turned away from the sun and became duergar. If the rest of his clan were to find out, he would be exiled to save them from the shame of that reminder of their “soft” past.

 Carved to honor the likeness of King Roland Megras, the graven guardian of the temple of the Crowner of Kings remains one of the few connections that his descendant, Olivia Megras has to her legacy… that is until she hears her ancestor speaking in her head.

 They say the survivors of the Orphan’s War never returned home due to the curse their own ability to recall their own memories. So instead they settled down nearby, forming new cities around the battlefields they once fought upon. Now, their descendants blend the blood of multiple ancestries and legacies, some manifesting it in phantom armies flying many banners and styles of armor in their dreams.

[back-and-totheleft]

Intelligent, uncomfortable and straining for truth

What Stone struggles within this first section of the book is finding the through-line, in effect, of his life. He grew up with substantial advantages as a result of his birth and his parents, and it is quite possible to imagine another Oliver Stone in some other universe who does not become a film director and instead becomes a Wall Street broker or, worse, a lawyer. He threw away a Yale education, instead enrolling as a private in Vietnam. He was attuned to the times, failing to fit in, and mentions wanting to go into “the muck” as it had been described in the John Dos Passos novels. (p. 36) I find that reasoning entirely plausible and relatable; at the age of twenty, were I ever to join a war, it would not be for patriotic reasons but for experiential reasons. And although Stone does not cite him directly, the kind of crisis he describes is perfectly paralleled in John Barth’s classic 1967 short story “Lost in the Funhouse,” in which a young author first realizes that in some sense being an artist means looking at your own life from a certain distance, so that each decision has an overarching intent beyond the immediate. Barth describes it like this:

He wishes he had never entered the funhouse. But he has. Then he wishes he were dead. But he’s not. Therefore, he will construct funhouses for others and be their secret operator—though he would rather be among the lovers for whom funhouses are designed.[1]

Stone eventually gets over his malaise, growing to have contempt for the New York society people whose experience of Vietnam is at a vast remove from his own. Stone describes, with some detail, the astonishing bloodshed involved in his experiences, and contrasts it with his mother’s friends who ask him inane questions and then move on to more palatable topics.[...]

It is in the creation and eventual success of Platoon, that Stone builds his book’s climax; a validation that the Yale dropout made good. Even here, however, the author does not hold back a critical eye from himself. In addition to the varying drug use, Stone describes how his zeal in the making of Platoon caused him to make nearly disastrous decisions. Besides literally kicking people around during the shooting, he also pushed them beyond their limits, which nearly caused a horrendous helicopter accident that would have killed himself and several people aboard. This causes him some reflection, although he admits that he “would have done the exact same thing over again, and gone up into those canyon walls.” (p. 284) He would have done this because he needed the shot—chasing the light—and contrasts his risk taking with the risk taking that went on in the Chuck Norris actioner Missing in Action 3. Does the aesthetic result justify the risk? Perhaps for oneself. But for others?

It is easy to recall and contrast another helicopter accident, one that claimed actor Vic Morrow’s life along with two children. The director was John Landis, and the film was Twilight Zone: the Movie, and in that case Landis could be heard shouting “Get lower!” to the helicopter pilot before the incident occurred. Was that worth it? When I was at the Dallas International Film Festival in 2015, John Landis was in town doing Q&A for a celebration of The Blues Brothers in conjunction with a firing up of a new 35mm striking of that film which was shown at The Texas Theater. (At the same time, a film I co-wrote and co-produced which featured Oliver Stone among others, was closing the festival.) I went to Landis’s Q&A, which was in a small room with perhaps fifty people present, and it was hard not to think about Vic Morrow and those two child actors whose lives were ended. (For a good book on that horrible incident, read Outrageous Conduct by Marc Green and Stephen Farber.)

Based on Stone’s reportage, something like this could have happened on his set. Stone admits he was reckless in his hellbent pursuit of the picture. Almost as though his filmmaking career has been an extension of that youthful decision to go Vietnam rather than go to Yale. Was it all macho posturing? Stone notes that Pauline Kael thought so, dismissing Platoon in her typically reactionary way. Others have thought so, and indeed this memoir will provide some fuel for that particular fire. On the other hand, it was precisely that warrior mentality and specificity of purpose that makes Oliver Stone’s films as vital as they are.

Chasing the Light provides an insight into the creative process of one of the brilliant, if polarizing, minds at work in cinema. It is a hard book to categorize in some ways. Many showbiz memoirs tend to be a succession of, as Frank Langella titled his own such book, Dropped Names. Others are built on a formula built from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; that is, they print the legend. Instead, this memoir reflects his films: intelligent, uncomfortable at times, substantive, rough around the edges and straining for truth. And it is, in a very classical sense, a literary memoir. In that it contains references to Celine and scores of other authors which have clearly made an impression on Stone. Most of all, it reveals a man who is passionately engaged with the world; while one could argue about one decision or another, it is rare that an artist of this caliber allows such a detailed look into his process.

And this is just part one. We haven’t even gotten to JFK and Nixon yet.

-Joseph E. Green’s review of Oliver Stone’s Chasing the Light, Kennedys and King, Aug 9 2020 [x]

[the-gayest-dump]

A half-orc and his ax. Chapter 2: Unlikely allies and enemies.

   Ox counted the supplies he had gained from his trip to Warwick while following the road. Bandages, various medicines, and a whetstone in case his ax needed sharpening after the battle was done. He didn’t have any currency the town used so he had to barter with pelts and meats from previous hunts.  

  Soon enough he found the fort the townspeople described to him. From the outside, almost the entire fort seems to be made of stone with a wall slightly higher than the towns but only a few wooden archer towers were at the front to protect the main entrance. A large stone tower rose from the center of the fort that seemed to be the main building. The only way Ox could see to get in would be through the door as even if he could make a ladder he would be shot down from it in an instant. 

   He grabbed his ax off of his back and mentally prepared himself for the coming fight before walking to the main gate. He could hear the archers nock their bows as he approached and heard a man's voice yell “Unless you’re here to pay tribute to the next ruler of Rosela you’d best fuck off before you become more holes than person!”

   Ox analyzed his soon to be opponent. Poorly made and loose leather armor covered his vital areas and a simple wooden bow was aimed at Ox’s chest. Clearly, the leader hoarded the best weaponry. This would be a nice stress reliever for Ox but not a very challenging battle. He stared into the eyes of the archer that spoke to him and simply replied “Ox is here to kill all bastards and send skulls to nice town.” Instead of continuing their pleasant conversation the archers started letting loose their arrows. Ox was able to dodge into the archway and take advantage of a weakness he had noticed from afar. With the towers only protecting the front they had no way to shoot into the archway that held the gate and with no bandits on the ground, all they could do is wait for Ox to cut down an entrance or open the gate and meet him head-on. The brute started to make himself angry as he attacked the door. He thought of the death of the battleborn tribe, the casualties these bandits must have caused Warwick, and most of all how scared the little one must be without her mothers and surrounded by bastards. 

   After a few strikes, the bandits chose to meet him head-on. Several cowbells had been rung as a makeshift alarm. They grouped up at the gate before opening it but Ox was ready. He charged through the wall of fighters and went straight for the archers that had gone to the back to pelt him down while he fought the swordmen. The archers fired the arrows they had prepared and tried to get their daggers ready while the swordsmen got back up but they were not quick enough. Arrows pierced the berserker's sides but he could barely feel them as his rage took over. Running into the line of archers a quick spin of his ax took off two archers heads. As their corpses fell three daggers tried to get to his heart but were too low. A kick to the chest sent the one in front of him back and knocked down a swordsman who had just gotten up and two slices finished off all but the one archer who was now running towards the tower to alert their leader.

   With the archers dealt with the swordsmen surrounded Ox. This area was too open and not good for what Ox had planned. He charged forward and swung as hard as he could at a smaller bandit causing them to fall over and make an opening for him. The swordsmen probably missing their archers ran after the brute as he went up the stairway to the wall the archers had threatened him from. With the staircase acting as a funnel it was much easier to cut the ones in front down as others tried to take their place. Some were smart and tried to go to another staircase to flank him but it was on the other side of the gate and with their forces divided it was simple work to slaughter the rest of them. 

   A primal roar forced Ox’s attention to the base of the tower as his target glared daggers at him. He had a chance to get a closer look at him from here. Scales covered six feet of this humanoid that were white as fresh snow. Sharp talons covered the leader's hands and feet but only three fingers and a thumb held onto his weapon of choice which was a greatsword with a red gemstone in the hilt. Unlike his underlings, he wore steel armor across his chest and lower body but did not cover his face, hands, or feet presumably to make use of his talons and sharp jaw. 

“You’ve got talent Orc I’ll give you that. No wonder all my other camps fell to you and your damned tribe. But your killing spree ends here! I’m the descendant of a white dragon! I’m gonna make you a nice ice statue for my bedroom! You’ve got no tribe to back you up, no help coming to save you, and I’ve got no mercy!” he gave another roar as he charged up the stairs to meet Ox head-on but he was ready. An overhead slice was blocked by the long handle of Ox’s ax as he kicked him back to make space. He didn’t go as far as the archer had and instead of predictably charging again the chief instead opened his jaw as a blizzard came from it freezing the stone under him as it threatened to swallow Ox whole.

   He was not prepared to dodge and instead threw himself off the wall where he painfully fell on his side. As he tried to get up the chief jumped off with his sword held high hoping to bury the sword in his heart. A roll saved him as the landing forced some of the ground to give way to the energy of his impact. As the chief got his weapon free Ox was able to stand and slice his side. A startled cry came from the bandit leader as he got his sword free and retaliated with a swing at the berserker's arms. He thought he could safely dodge the attack but his legs felt strangely heavy and could not move them well. A quick look down showed he had not completely dodged the breath attack as the torn parts of his boots and pants showed bright red skin and his legs felt unusually cold and slower than the rest of his body 

   “You’re fucked now orc! That cold is gonna spread through you like a wildfire! Even if you kill me you won’t have enough time to get back to Warwick for a cleric! You’re dead meat! So do us both a favor and just die already!” A quick swing aimed to take Ox’s head off but he was able to crouch down and used the force of coming back up to swing his ax up into the bandits face cutting it in half through the center. As his blood sprayed across Ox’s body they both fell to the ground. He took off his boots and searched through his bag. Quickly now what could be used to stop the cold? Herbs used to stop bleeding? No, Pills to stop the pain? No. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing! He could feel the cold going up his legs and to his heart as he searched. Ox couldn’t die now. He wouldn’t die now! He got angrier and angrier thinking of the little one still trapped in the tower. Who would know to come here and save her? Who would know the bastards are dead and travel is safer now? He screamed his anger to the skies as his body quickly went through hypothermia and passed out. 

   Cold...Everything is so cold. Where is fire? Ox wants fire like at home camp.....Warm? What is warm? Is there a fire? It felt like the sun had started shining brighter, hotter. Ox opened his eyes but quickly closed them again as blinding light assaulted his eyes. He could hear faint chanting from a soft voice. 

“Marisol bless this stranger with your healing light. Let the dragons cold evil breath be filled with the warm love from your heart. Grant him life upon this day so he may keep safe those who praise your name”

   The light grew stronger as warmth returned to Ox’s body. He could feel his legs again and opened his eyes once the light had faded to see a woman with long blond hair in steel armor with a strange symbol on it standing next to him with her eyes close holding her hands together. She opened her eyes to reveal light blue eyes with a kind soul behind them. Almost as if her happiness radiated out of them. 

“Yay! You’re safe! I worried I had come too late and would have to bury you on your final battlefield. Oh. Apologies. My name is Hana. I’m a cleric or Marisol and I came to help you in your fight but it seems the fighting has already stopped. Do you need a hand?”

   She lowered her hand and Ox gently grasped it and let her help him up. “Ox is Ox. What was light? How did happy one know of Ox?” 

   “Oh. My wife is the head of the guards in town. When she said there was a newcomer to town I wanted to meet you but you had already left. I asked her what you were in a hurry for and when she told me of the bounties you took I knew no one could handle Alasar alone. It seems you almost proved me wrong if only you had not been touched by his magic breath” She said looking at the pool of blood that surrounded the leader's corpse. “As for the light that was Marisol’s healing light. As I said I’m a cleric and spread her love around the world...Or at least I used to before I settled down in Warwick. Now help heal the town of Warwick and lead prayers.”

   “Why light goddess help Ox? Gods hate Ox. Gods let Battleborns die after killing bastards.”

   “Battleborns?” She said looking along Ox’s body and seeing his clans burnt banner along his belt. She gave a shocked gasp and looked up at him “You’re with the group that was killing bandits and returning stolen property a year ago!? Everyone at Warwick has been wondering what happened to them.” Remembering the burns on the banner and Ox’s words she lost her excitement “Oh. I’m sorry to hear about your camp. Were there any survivors?”

   “Only Ox. Ox try to keep battleborn war against bastards going but is hard without tribe.”

   “Well how about we get Sylis and your trophy to town so you can be rewarded and we’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded for your work. I’ll let you do the...uh....’ honors’” she said pointing to the leader. 

   He took the hint and quickly cut off the dragonborns head as Hana looked away and he cut a hole for it to hang on his belt. They both entered the tower which was showed clear signs of being left in a hurry. The first floor was a dining hall with now cold food all around. Going up a floor was the bandits training area where recently used arrows still stuck out of training dummies made of hay. Finally, the third floor was what they were searching for. The chief's room. Trophies of humanoid heads littered the room with what must have been a luxury bed for them but was just a regular inn bed at the far wall of the room.  Near the bed, chains were bolted into the wall and a half-elf girl with dark brown hair was staring helplessly at the ground. Hana began walking forward but the brute's arm stopped her in her tracks. 

   “Shh. Ones captured by bastards afraid of loud noises. Let Ox help.” His entire personality seemed to change before Hana as he carefully stepped towards the girl. Sylis flinched as she heard his footsteps and looked up at him with fearful eyes “Are...Are you here to hurt me? I promise I won’t talk back again I just want to know if my parents are ok!” Ox gave a gentle “shhh” as he came closer. She looked away from him in fear. 

   “Be still.” He warned her. Ox held his ax high and cut the chains binding her. The little girl looked at her freed hand in shock and looked at the brute who was now sitting next to her. All she could do is hug him and cry. She cried to her what seemed like days and went on about how the bandits had abused her for fun and she just wanted to go home. She cried herself into exhaustion and fell asleep him Ox’s arms. He gently picked her up and walked out of the tower with Hana. Hana was shocked at how well this giant of a man could handle the little girl. How someone who had cut a Dragonborn's face in half and took on a bandit camp by himself could also be so gentle and caring for someone in need was beyond her. 

   With the girl safely in his arms and the leader's head not so safely dangling off his belt Ox and Hana returned to Warwick for some well-deserved rest.

[bananonymity]

Based on this au

-

“So,” said Ludwig, “you’d like to drop Music Theory.”

Student Advisor Ludwig Beilschmidt’s office was orderly, clean, and devoid of distraction. It was a wonder how it hadn’t driven anyone mad yet. Emil found it calming to a point; it made him somewhat nostalgic for his comfort zone of Icelandic minimalism, except for the lack of spacious windows.

Emil nodded.

“Not your liking?” said Ludwig.

“It wasn’t bad,” Emil said. He had no real complaint against the course. The first day of class, Professor Edelstein spent the entire hour and fifteen minutes teaching the students how to find the cheapest textbooks on Amazon. “But I already know music theory.”

“So you’d like to challenge yourself,” Ludwig said.

“I guess,” Emil said.

Ludwig nodded with approval, missing or ignoring the glum note to Emil’s tone. The real reason that he wanted to drop out was in fact the very opposite; the moment he stepped into the music building, he felt such oppressive intimidation that he actually texted his older brother for comfort, which went something like this:

LUKAS: How are you liking your classes?

EMIL: [thumbs down emoji]

It was a risky move, because goodness knew if this amount of unprecedented emotional vulnerability would worry Lukas. Emil regretted the raw honesty immediately afterward, but by then it was too late.

“That’s one of the great things about university,” said Ludwig. “It gives you avenues to study subjects you wouldn’t have thought of before. Now, dropping this course would mean you need to take up another course to fulfill the minimum amount of credits to be a full time student in this semester. Have you thought of what you would like to add?”

“Not exactly,” Emil said, staring at the corner of Ludwig’s screen where about seven new email notifications from frantic students at the edge of add-drop period scrambled to change their majors.

“Well, I can tell you that you still have some gen eds that you would have to fulfill,” said Ludwig. “One social studies and one art course. That would be good to take care of while you are still a first year.”

“Mm,” Emil said.

“And if you’re up for a challenge, or have interest in specific topics, there are certainly some classes in the one thousand level that have extra space.”

“Mm.”

“Or since you’re already quite ahead in your credits, you can explore a topic for your own enrichment.”

“Mm.”

Ludwig gave Emil a look of pleading exasperation. Emil fixed his gaze stubbornly on the window.

“What is your preference?” Ludwig said.

Emil pursed his lips. He knew that it was harder on Ludwig than on him to deal with his unhelpful indecision, but it did not give him any clearer opinion on what he ought to do. Maybe he should have bitten the bullet and stayed in Professor Roderich’s class. Maybe he should have thought of this before the semester started. Maybe he should have never applied to a university so far from home. Maybe he should have never graduated high school, in general.

“I guess finish my gen ed courses,” Emil said.

Ludwig nodded with enthusiasm for the both of them.

“So, an art course and a social studies course,” said Ludwig. “We have several art courses that are available for you here. Let’s see…”

Ludwig pulled up all the available courses for the semester that would fulfill an art credit. The array of choices made Emil’s eyes blur.

“How about Intro to Film?” said Ludwig. “That would cover your art credit, and also give you an extra English credit if you’re looking into pursuing a certificate.”

“A certificate?” Emil said. “What for?”

“Certification for Digital Media, if that interests you,” Ludwig said.

Emil sputtered.

“I don’t even know what my major is!” he said. “What’s a certificate going to do for me?”

“You don’t have to take it for a certificate,” Ludwig said quickly as Emil buried his face in his hands. “I just meant that it was a nice way to kill two birds with one stone if--”

“But I don’t want to kill birds,” Emil said. “I don’t even know what birds to kill. What kind of person am I if I went around killing random birds just because society tells me that’s how to get a job?”

He slumped back into his seat, letting out a huff of distress. He supposed that he needn’t yell about it, but he had to affirm himself that he made a solid point. Ludwig, in the meantime, only rubbed his brow wearily.

“No certification then,” said Ludwig. “But if we just look at art credits, would that interest you?”

“What is the class like?” Emil said.

“Well...”

“Class, I want you to write this down. Soviet cinema banks on violently killing off every character that has a face on screen. You can quote me on that, I have a doctorate.”

Leon Wang, Emil’s roommate, scribbled this down on his notebook, if only because he knew it would make a solid tweet later on. Professor Alfred F. Jones paced about the front of the room, whizzing through his PowerPoint presentation faster than any of the students could actually take notes.

“Battleship Potemkin? Dead,” said Alfred. “Strike? Dead. A five-second example of the Kuleshov effect? Dead baby. Basically, if you want to make a Soviet montage, kill a bunch of farmers from different camera angles.”

“Professor Jones?” One student raised their hand in the back.

“Call me Alfred,” Alfred said, flashing a dazzling grin. “What’s up?”

“Can you go back to the last slide with all the notes?” they said.

“Fine, but you all gotta catch up faster than that,” Alfred said.

He backspaced on the PowerPoint, skipping through the past fifteen or so slides that he had flew through in half a minute until he reached the slide of haphazard bullet points.

“So, to recap,” said Alfred. “Soviet montage wasn’t necessarily trying to break the rules of cinema. Leave that to the French in the sixties, God help them. But Eisenstein and Kuleshov in particular wanted to use editing differently, to create a synergetic meaning through editing shots together that, by itself, wouldn’t communicate that. Sort of like how on Instagram, you can either build a collage or just have multiple photos in a post, and the effect of it is different depending on how you arrange it, right?”

“What?” said Leon.

“So there you go,” Alfred said. Leon sighed and wrote Instagram = Soviet montage (?) in his notebooks, and hoped that Alfred upload the slides onto Blackboard later today.

“But here’s the wild thing,” said Alfred. “Soviet montage outlived the USSR. Stalin is dead! But even in the play-it-safe boon of Hollywood, we still use those seemingly weird and non-linear montage editing for our movies. Take Arrival. Has anyone here not seen Arrival?”

Several hands went up in the air. Alfred threw a dry erase board marker on the floor.

“Too bad! Spoilers alert,” he said. “The reason why you go into the movie thinking that it is being told in a linear manner, and that Amy Adams’ daughter dies in the beginning of the story, is through the Kuleshov effect. You see her in the beginning of the movie watching her daughter die, and then the scene cuts to her going to work. And you--the audience, you think she looks so sad and distant and uninterested in the news about these octopus aliens because of the recent death of her daughter. But actually you only think that because the two scenes are put back to back. Her face was really just neutral, but because of editing you think they are related, when it is actually a flash forward--or flashback. Dead baby!”

Leon nodded fervently, writing with a little more vigor in his notebook. Maybe Alfred actually did know what he was talking about. He made sense, which was more than he could ask for in a college course. This course made him feel excitable, to relish the honor and merit of his favorite medium, handing back to it the dignity it deserved.

“Or like in this one episode of Lizzie McGuire,” said Alfred.

Leon blanked immediately.

“There is this one scene I remember,” Alfred said, his eyes widening with nostalgia. “I don’t remember the characters’ names at all, or the plot, or if this was even an episode of Lizzie McGuire, but I’m kind of certain that it was on the TV when I was about ten years old. Anyway, there was a scene where this boy, no idea who he was, maybe he was like, Hilary Duff’s little brother or something? Anyway, he had a dirty nose and his mom was like, you got a dirty nose and when and licked a napkin or something to clean it off, and then it would suddenly cut to an unrelated, non-narrative shot of a lion licking her cub’s face, and then cut back to the mom wiping the dirt off her kid’s face. The lion has nothing to do with the story, but it was edited in there to make a more symbolic comparison, to emphasize the overbearing nature of the mother. Disney Channel was flexing its Soviet montage, baby!”

Alfred sped through several tens other PowerPoint slides that looked like they held vital information. Leon leaned over to the student sitting next to him.

“What the hell is Lizzie McGuire?” he whispered.

“All right, fifteen minute break commences now,” Alfred said, closing his laptop while students desperately scribbled the last of the bullet points with their aching hands. “Second half of class, we’ll get right into the film. Unfortunately, if you graduate from this school with a film degree and not know what the Odessa steps are, you aren’t going to make it out alive in Hollywood or wherever the hell you guys want to go. So we’re going to have to watch some Eisenstein. I’m so sorry, everyone.”

While other students went to use the restroom, or checked their text messages on their phones, Leon flipped through the syllabus for this course once more. He was hopeful that they would watch a John Woo film in this course, which did not seem like a far cry from what Alfred would assign. Apparently, one of their midterms would include writing a paper applying an advanced film theory to Die Hard.

“Come on, kids!” Alfred said. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to stretch your legs. This is a four-hour course, you’ve got all the time to sit around. Don’t you know that sitting is the new smoking?”

He promptly took a bite from a box of Chick-Fil-A strips waiting for him on the podium.

(tbc?)

[dustydreamsanddirtyscars]

1x12 “Faith” // 3x10 “Dream A Little Dream of Me” // 8x01 “We Need to Talk about Kevin”

“If the Tin Man Misses His Heart, So Does an Entire Show“ - On 14x01 “Stranger in a Strange Land” and the Thing about Hearts, Love and Faith

“That's one deep, dark nothing you got there, Dean. Can't fill it, can you? Not with food or drink. Not even with sex. [...] Oh, you can smirk and joke and lie to your brother, lie to yourself, but not to me! I can see inside you, Dean. I can see how broken you are, how defeated. You can't win, and you know it. But you just keep fighting. Just... keep going through the motions. You're not hungry, Dean, because inside, you're already...dead.”

- Famine to Dean in 5x14 “My Bloody Valentine”

---

I admit, it is rather weird to write a piece of meta on an episode underneath a gifset that doesn’t feature a single scene from said episode. It doesn’t for good reason though and that being the fact that iTunes doesn’t have the episode available here in Germany yet, so I couldn’t download it to make gifs, therefore this will have to do. I think though that these scenes above will illustrate well enough why I chose to use them in context to the S14 premiere. It’s plain and simple: To me they capture the essence of what this episode was about and to a huge extent in my personal opinion this episode was about one thing: Faith. Whether it was from Maggie mentioning a rawhead (the monster Dean killed in 1x12 “Faith” and almost killing himself in the process as well) the first man we saw Michael visit who started his day with praying to Mary trying to “keep the faith” that they’ll find Dean to Castiel expressing faith in Jack, who has lost it and the believe in himself to Sister Jo who seems to continue to work as a “faith healer” and saving people.

Faith, the very concept of it has always been something Dean as a character was shown to struggle with on Supernatural. Early on, from the very first season onward and especially set up with the episode 1x12 “Faith” that sees Dean close to dying with a damaged heart after having been electrocuted his’s faith or lack thereof has been an integral part of his journey as a character. In fact it has become a red line running throughout the seasons shining a light on Dean’s state of mind as well as perception of self.

Given all that the opening episode of S14 felt very interesting, because imo it called back to its roots and the episode 1x12 “Faith” as that episode not only truly established the heart symbolism surrounding Dean that has been focal point time and again over the course of 13 years, but also marked Dean’s special place within the grand scheme of things which has always lead all the way to Michael, who of course at present is calling the shots.

And here is where these aspects intertwine rather well, because imo the heavy focus on the heart in 14x01 with Kip for example talking about “eating Sam’s heart out” feels especially striking because Dean is absent. Dean, the tin man, lost his heart, his agency, has become a mere puppet to Michael’s will. And along with Dean essentially losing himself to me the show has lost it’s core, his heart too and that was strikingly showcased this episode.

Now, I know many people are going to hate me for saying this, but to me this set up makes one thing perfectly clear: Supernatural cannot work without Dean (which is why Dean is never allowed to not be around for longer periods at a time), because it lacks its heart, the PoV character, the narrator, the one who is holding everything together - and with that also has become the one who has steadily fallen apart due to the weight he carries on his shoulders, because he never once has put himself first or believed he mattered (and frankly ever since that god awful scene at the end of S12 with Dean trying to save Mary by going inside her mind also was plain shown that he indeed doesn’t seem to matter as a person in his own right, but only in extension to someone else) and with that thought he deserved to be saved.

To me this first episode spelt out perfectly the only way Dean should be able to “beat” Michael in the long run (I assume that even though Dean may appear “saved” but really won’t be - I guess they will play up some parallels between Nick and his possession and the aftermath for him with Dean, though frankly this whole thing was the most stupid move, because the vessel Lucifer inhabited was artificially made by Crowley and had nothing to do with Nick anymore, so... duuuhhh + if they needed this for dramataic purposes, Dean sharing with Sam those experiences would have made more sense and would be much more meaningful, but anyway...) lies in the small but important fact of Dean finding self worth and love for himself. The episode has shown one thing clearly and that is that Michael is completely unable to grasp the concept of what love means, it escapes him or at the very least annoys and bewilders him. Just like Lucifer never knew what Baby could trigger for Sam in 5x2 “Swan Song” neither understands Michael the meaning of love. And especially so if it is love for someone else. The only thing he knows about that is how he can use it to manipulate people and that’s how he was able to get Dean too after all.

And here is where I found Michael’s question to his counterparts interesting (though I quite frankly had to roll my eyes at Dabb here too, because really? Now even so obviously reference/steal from Lucifer from “Lucifer” and his “what do you desire?”-style), because every single time, every single answer featured love for someone else and belonging in some fashion, things Michael obviously seems to despise and count as a weakness (he is very Voldemort in that regard actually...) unless it is directed at oneself.

What do I mean with that? Obviously, Michael had asked Kip the question of “what he wants” as well and after some thinking he had come to the conclusion, a very selfish one: Everything. Well, as one says that’s how the mighty fall, but what I felt important in this context is how Kip managed to “survive” Michael and how Michael befriends a vampire at the end of the episode (for its “pure” reasons - lots of callbacks and parallels to purgatory with Dean and Dean and famine here, which I can’t possible work into this text right now, but there are a few fitting things in these storylines relevant to the current set up). They both think of themselves, put themselves first, “love” themselves if you will and THAT is something very strikingly different to Dean, because Dean doesn’t care about himself, doesn’t put himself first and truly has no love for himself. That is exactly why imo Michael has such a strong hold over him, why Michael could overpower Dean. It’s based in Dean’s lack of self worth and that aspect to is directly connected to faith - faith as such as well as the episode from S1.

More than once on the show it was addressed that Dean doesn’t think he deserves to be saved. Be it due to what he did in Hell or plain and simple due to the fact he thinks no one could or should ever love him. I truly think that is why Dean is so vulnerable to be overpowered by Michael, because in opposition to Dean Michael has all the love for himself but none for anybody else. He is self confident to the point of arrogance and being a complete megalomaniac, but point is, he feels worthy. That’s where he draws strength from. Dean on the other hand feels the opposite, has never learnt to form a healthy image of self. That is where to me the aspects of purity and hunger come into play here and especially so Famine’s words to Dean, because even though it is 9 years later, Dean doesn’t feel any different really, he never healed but only accumulated more scars, more trauma, more reasons to hate himself. He has been deeply depressed for a long time and shown to be tired and at the end of his rope, ready to lay his head to rest. Amara to echoed these sentiments previously said by Famine, that Dean feels empty. And well, doesn’t someone who feels empty and despises himself allow all the more room as a literal vessel for someone to inhabit?

So what does it all come down to? My personal takeaway from this episode was that there is only one way to “save” Dean and that is by Dean saving himself. And that may be the hardest part, because as all of the gifs capture above Dean struggles to see himself as worthy to be saved, as important and lovable, because he simply doesn’t feel any of those things for himself. But if I was part of the writing team, this aspect would be the vital aspect for Sam, Jack and Co. to get Dean back, getting Dean to build up his own self worth, loving himself and with that becoming strong enough to fight Michael off who really doesn’t know humanity at all. Dean’s love for his loved ones has proven to “move mountains”, who knows what he could move if he had found just a shred of that immens capacity to love for himself...

[mygym123stuff]

How To Strike A Balance Between Structured Vs Unstructured Play

In earlier times, play-based learning was often a child-initiated, open-ended activity. But for many young children of today, play has become an adult-directed and highly structured activity. This shift could well inhibit and risk the growth of a child’s abilities to cope with the ground reality of the digital age.

Research clearly indicates that unstructured play activities during the early growing years impacts and shapes the neural network of the child’s brain. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that unstructured playtime is one of the healthiest activities for young children: “The challenge for society, schools, and parents is to strike the balance that allows all children to reach their potential, without pushing them beyond their personal comfort limits and while allowing them personal free time.”

It is mostly through unstructured play activities that young children learn how to work together, adapt to different situations, experiment, explore, construct meaning, and begin to learn what they like, discover what they are good at and how to express their individuality.

On the other hand, structured play activities for preschoolers expose children to situations where some of these skills may be nurtured, but the nature of these programmed activities limits the opportunity for individual expression and the experience of unexpected outcomes necessary for creative discovery.

Peter Gray, the author of the book “Free to learn” insists that unleashing the instinct to play freely will make our children happier, more self-reliant, and better students for life. As well as overcome boredom, have the time to daydream and immerse themselves in hobbies, and the time to read comics.

In fact, he went on to even suggest “What I learned through my play has been far more valuable to my adult life than what I learnt in school. Children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured play experiences.”

What exactly is unstructured play?

These are activities that children dream up on their own without adult intervention. These types of unstructured play activities rarely have predetermined goals or objectives but instead, allow children to create their own rules and establish their own limits.

Unstructured play is how children develop creative thinking and behaviour skills and realize the importance of these for their future well-being. Creativity is vital for improving the economy and quality of life under the accelerating rapid change we continue to experience.

A perception still lingers that the ability to think creatively is a gift that is difficult to teach and define and is relevant only to the arts. However, facts indicate something entirely different. Imaginative and creative thought, as well as the skills needed to access and use this ability, exist in everyone and their development is teachable.

If such wrongly held perceptions continue to persist, you will not be wrong to conclude that if children are not provided with the opportunity for participating in unstructured play activities they may not only lose the opportunity to learn vital skills linked to social interaction and individuality but also limit their creative development!

Benefits of unstructured play

Unstructured play activities are an ideal vehicle for supporting a child’s creativity and imagination as it offers an environment for risk-free exploration. It also ensures ‘whole child development:

Create opportunities for your child to master elements of the world on her own terms.

Develop self-determination, self-esteem, and the ability to self-regulate — all vital elements necessary for all-around emotional development.

Foster social competence, respect for rules, self-discipline, aggression control, problem-solving skills, leadership development, conflict resolution, and playing by the rules.

Stimulate the senses and enhance cognitive understanding.

Builds strength, coordination and cardiovascular fitness and moderate childhood obesity and eliminates other associated health complications.

Enable your child to create her own happiness, promote inventiveness, and develop self-reliance.

What is structured play?

Every day, parents make important decisions that impact their child’s health, growth and development. Some of these decisions are big while others may be small ones. But doubts always arise when it comes to structured play activities and recreation.

The choices available in structured play activities are wide and sometimes seem overwhelming — especially when so many of us have no help and are unable to reach out to our extended family to clear our doubts. Don’t worry, here are a few tips that will clarify many of your doubts and will help you take the right decision.

In a nutshell, structured play activities support children in learning and developing fundamental movement skills through adult instruction. These are usually called the ABCs of movement skills. Where ‘A’ stands for (moving quickly & easily). The letter ‘B’ refers to balance (staying steady while moving). ‘C’ denotes coordination (being able to use different parts of the body together). And finally ‘S’ symbolises speed (the ability to move quickly).

A range of structured play activities is designed to help children develop these movement skills. For example, gymnastics promotes agility, while basketball builds speed. Both also develop balance and coordination. By acquiring these movement skills, your child will gain confidence, and competence, and will feel comfortable when trying out new activities in different settings, such as participating in sports she may not have been exposed to before.

Striking a balance is vital

For well-being and proper growth, your child would need to be involved in both types of play — structured as well as unstructured. Here are a few ways by which you can strike a good balance between the two:

Set aside some time for your child to spend in unstructured play.  If she doesn’t have the time to play or doesn’t seem interested in it, find a creative solution for it.

Ask your child what she wants to do. Ask her to imagine and tell what she is thinking and respond accordingly.

Look out for opportunities for your child to play outdoors.

Let your child engage in structured activities. Your child must have a few choices as her basic movement skills need to be transferable from activity to activity.

As the seasons change, bring out the relevant sports equipment so that she plays in all seasons, without complaining about the rain or heat. 

Strike a balance between unstructured and structured play. On the one hand, set aside some time for your child to just play and be actively engaged with her, then leave her alone to play by herself. All the while ensuring that your child is having a great time. It’s only through fun play activities that your child will learn as she grows.  

As a parent, you know the challenges your child may face if she reacts to structured or unstructured play activities not so enthusiastically. Motivating her can be a difficult task, but as you understand the mindset of your child best, you can meet her halfway, so that she develops a fully rounded personality.  

Most importantly, have fun spending your time constructively playing! Avoid focusing on the learning first and trying to sugarcoat it with playfulness — start with prioritizing play-based learning and watch it evolve, inevitably and naturally. Good luck and happy parenting!

About My Gym

My Gym involves children in dynamic games, physical activity and movement that help in building neural networks in the brain. Making it easier for children to acquire intellectual skills, navigate complex social situations, and nurture emotional development.

To find out more about how My Gym plays a key role in supporting “whole-child development,” please visit any of our centres. Choose a day when you will be relatively free and come over with your child in tow. Your child could be an infant (as young as 6 months), a toddler or a preschooler, age is not a bar for enrolling.

My Gym has specially designed whole-child development programs that lay a firm foundation for personal, academic and future growth by involving your child in age-appropriate structured and unstructured physical activities, as well as developing thinking and problem-solving skills.

Please note: My Gym classrooms are thoroughly sanitized every day — the tables, the chairs, the children’s activity stations and everything else the child might touch is made safe and clean. Please wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing.

This post originally published at My Gym Blog.

[ovgallery]

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

OV Gallery ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

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ProfessionalFreeAndSingle fosters several safe market community to build successful, career-driven singles.

Bernard and Paula Taylor, ones own Founders involving ProfessionalFreeAndSingle, honestly met one other on a relationship site, to verify they understand what their users are going through in conjunction with what they’ re serious about. The a lot of launched your own first online dating site, FreeAndSingle. com, to allow online daters a more very and user-friendly alternative to best-selling dating sites. Right now they have increased to unveiling over a dozens of niche web dating that employ a same know-how to capture the luxury of select various singles.

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“ The saying is available that opposites attract, however , it’ lens the things that we have now in common this keep us together, ” Tim proclaimed. “ That’ s how come these market brands materialized, and their own individual success is frequently testament to the next philosophy. ”

Browse at no cost & Enchancment for Connectors

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle provides members demand the UK, europe, Ireland, Queensland, New Zealand, and Lower area Africa, in addition to it’ ersus always escalating its reach. Its software programs appeal to the entire family of all grow old, backgrounds, together with locations. Ones own dating product started out as being a thought homework in the UK, and now it has developed into a around the world community concerned with high well-informed and career-driven singles.

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A FreeAndSingle business verifies each of its owners by location and mail.

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ProfessionalFreeAndSingle gives you a mature, given the assurance, and flourishing audience, along with team will take care to help screen searchers and marijuana out synthetic profiles along with unsavory heroes. One of the ways the positioning ensures a heightened level of a pleasant manner and interconnection is as a result of its advanced subscription ideas. Members have to upgrade their own personal accounts and additionally invest in that dating face if they wish to have a real dialogue with most people online. Your pay-to-chat process ensures that anyone sending e-mail to one another one specific are serious about meeting most people.

Full affiliates can also change for the better an indefinite number of injections and see their particular profile feedback. Free website subscribers can surf for games and give a free commencing message to help gauge destination, but they just can’t respond to a person’s crushes before they better.

Over the years, ProfessionalFreeAndSingle has mastered its elements to offer the perfect to customers and giving them an enjoyable in addition to safe relationship experience.

“ It’ lenses actually a tricky concern to offer which you dating internet site that is befitting you, which can be not spammy or even intrusive, ” Tim claimed, “ in addition to I believe people strike which balance elegantly. ”

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[aion-rsa]

10 Best Star Wars Planets in the Galaxy

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Like any good space opera, part of the appeal of Star Wars are the beautiful alien vistas. From the wonder of AT-AT’s marching over a snowfield to a massive city floating among the clouds of a gas giant, Star Wars has long transported fans to strange new worlds.

Over the last few decades, the movies and the Expanded Universe have introduced hundreds of planets, moons, and stars to form one of the most complete and complex tapestries of locations in sci-fi. But which are the essential planets of Star Wars? Which planets truly capture the spirit of the franchise?

Here are our picks of the 10 best planets in the Star Wars galaxy:

10. Kamino

The water world of Kamino exemplifies the maximalist approach of the Prequel aesthetic. Giant manta ray-like animals fly up out of the sea, a passing marvel with no explanation or relation to the plot. The Kaminoans aren’t a natively aquatic species, with their long, thin limbs, but they live on platforms like oil rigs, elegant fortresses against the endless ocean.

As the birthplace of the clones, Kamino’s largely desolate surface stands in stark contrast to the work being done inside its labs: giving life to the Clone Army of the Republic. Kamino wasn’t always an aquatic planet, though. At some point in the planet’s history, ecological disaster caused the water levels to rise, forcing the land-based Kaminoan civilization to adapt to their new conditions.

Stream your Star Wars favorites right here!

9. Bespin

When Lando Calrissian flirts with Princess Leia Organa in The Empire Strikes Back, he does so by comparing her to the planet: “You look absolutely beautiful. You truly belong here with us among the clouds.”

Bespin is a gas giant with no accessible land surface, which means, like Kamino, the dwellings aren’t actually on the ground. Instead, Lando and other enterprising people created floating mining facilities to harvest the planet’s Tibanna gas, a vital fuel source for starships and their hyperdrives.

The planet’s function is eclipsed by its scenery, though. The colorful atmosphere makes Bespin look like a planet always basking in all the colors of a sunset, while Cloud City floats like a jewel in its sky.

8. Cato Neimoidia

While it barely pops up in the movies, Cato Neimoidia is nevertheless one of the most exotic locations in the galaxy, in large part due to the design of its alien architecture. City-sized bridges bristle with upside-down skyscrapers, while the dramatic arcs of towns and cities suggest an industrial jungle at surprising angles.

Why does life on Cato Neimoidia look this way? The answer is simple: this planet is covered in acidic seas, meanings the colonists had to build on rock spires and string bridges between them in order to have enough surface area for their cities.

Seen in Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars, Cato Neimoidia isn’t actually the homewolrd of the Neimoidians who settled it. Instead, it’s a “purse-world” colony built to store some of the species’ immense wealth. While this isn’t confirmed, it’s easy to imagine the name means “new Neimoidia” or something similar.

7. Zonama Sekot

A living, sentient world with its own psychic manifestation of its environment, Zonama Sekot is one of the strangest planets in the galaxy. Originally created as a prime location in the now non-canon New Jedi Order series of novels, the planet scraped its way back into official continuity on a technicality when an article on StarWars.com mentioned Zonama Sekot was a neighbor to Jakku.

This planet was a surprising place to the Jedi who first visited it, as no one had ever seen anything like a planet-wide consciousness or the living starships built there before. The name refers to two different entities: Zonama the planet and Sekot the consciousness. A peaceful being, Sekot can communicate through the Force and is fiercely protective of the creatures and people who live on Zonama. Those people use the magic of this world to create custom starships of animal-like intelligence that develop a bond with their owners. While a large portion of the planet is covered by jungle, it contains varied vistas like canyons and oceans as well.

6. Crait

Some of the most visually stunning images of the Sequel Trilogy come from the scenes set on Crait’s salt flats. A white crust of salt scrapes away to reveal the bloody-looking dirt underneath.

Created for The Last Jedi, Crait was the site of a First Order attack on the remnants of Leia’s Resistance. It’s also notable for the wildlife, gorgeous crystal foxes called “Vulptex” that sound like wind chimes when they move. At its best, Star Wars often finds a way to connect its characters to their environment, such with the Ewoks who use their forest to their advantage against a technologically advanced Imperial force. Since they’re covered in crystals, the Vulptex look like they could naturally blend into their salty environment. And they’re just so cute.

5. Kashyyyk

Speaking of nature, the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk (that’s three ‘y’s) is covered in forest and jungle. Wookiees use their claws to climb the skyscraper-sized trees. Because the forest floor is patrolled by predators (such as giant spiders) and carnivorous plants dangerous enough to take down even a full-grown Wookiee, civilization takes place mostly on platforms among the trees. These treetop cities (a staple of fantasy classics like The Lord of the Rings) are impressive for both their architectural wonder and how well they blend into nature.

Although it was seen in canon for the first time in Revenge of the Sith, Kashyyyk was technically first detailed in live action in the infamous 1978 The Star Wars Holiday Special.

4. Coruscant

The city-planet of Coruscant captures the intrigue and glamour of the galaxy’s capital. Originally created in the books for the original Thrawn trilogy, Coruscant eventually featured heavily in the Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars.

Its mile-high cities mark a planet that has been effectively mechanized, no patch of ground remaining except for the top of a single mountain, now displayed like a boulder in a public park. Coruscant is a jungle gym for high-flying action scenes as well as a hub for political assassinations and the headquarters of the Jedi. When Luke talks about “the bright center of the universe,” that’s Coruscant during the era of the Old Republic.

3. Korriban/Moraband

Few places remain as mysterious as Korriban, the ancient homeworld of the Sith species who spent millennia practicing magic before a faction of renegade dark side Force users escaping a war with the Jedi discovered the planet. Korriban’s native species and these Dark Jedi eventually formed the Sith Order, the greatest enemy of the Jedi. Together, they built a great Sith Empire that waged war against the Republic, with Korriban as its center.

The ancient Sith Empire eventually fell, but Korriban remained as a sacred monument to the order of dark side worshippers. The Valley of the Dark Lords, for example, contained the tombs and relics of the greatest Dark Lords of the Sith, and in some cases, even the Force ghosts of those ancient figures.

While the planet is best known as one of the settings of the Knights of the Old Republic games and the Tales of the Jedi comics, Korriban eventually made its way to the current canon on The Clone Wars, renamed as Moraband.

2. Hoth

While Hoth gets some flak for being a prime example of every science fiction planet having one biome and one only, the Hoth battle plays with scale in a great way. The Rebels build their base underground in the snow and ice, so you never forget they’re on an inhospitable planet where they’ve been forced to hide from the Empire. Here too we have animals as an important part of the plot, with the wampa attack taking Luke Skywalker out of commission. And the Empire deploys one of the most vivid examples of their commitment to shock and awe: the AT-AT walkers, which stride across the plains like monster. At first they’re dwarfed by the landscape, but then they loom over the Rebels, giving their world dimension and scope. The snow-covered landscape creates a stark and uninterrupted landscape for the battle to play out on.

1. Tatooine

The Tunisian desert has become iconic to the galaxy far, far away. Although Tatooine in the fiction is supposedly the middle of nowhere, remarkable for being unremarkable, it’s actual the heart of the entire saga: Anakin Skywalker was born there and Luke Skywalker was raised there. Most characters in the movies have gone there at one time or another, leading to The Rise of Skywalker‘s epilogue where Rey visits Luke’s old home.

The desert has a universal appeal: while it stands in for a far away place for many viewers, many others live in or around a landscape that looks like that. The two suns are distinctly alien, but Tatooine’s towns and people are rural Anywhere. This mix of mundane and magical set the tone for Star Wars that propelled it for the next 40 years and beyond.

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[kalvincent]

Character Build: Aloy (Horizon: Zero Dawn)

Rather than working on another Justice League or Teen Titans character build (which I’m well behind on), I decided to take a crack at an entirely different character. Horizon: Zero Dawn follows Aloy, an outcast huntress, and her exploits in fighting giant robot dinosaurs and bandits.

Race and Class

The first race that springs to mind is human, since Aloy’s just a person (albeit a talented one). In the world of Horizon, there are only humans (and the machines). But each human society is different, in ways great or small, like the fantasy races of Pathfinder. With that view, we might look at the Nora (Aloy’s people) as being closer to elves, with their connection to (and reverence of) nature. Aloy, an outcast among the Nora, might be more closely represented by a half-elf: not quite Nora, but not quite an outlander. Half-elf also gives her Skill Focus as a bonus feat, probably going into Stealth or Survival, depending on what aspect you prefer to focus on.

It's hard to say exactly what class Aloy is, especially since her tactics vary from player to player, and her abilities vary slightly by build. But some abilities are held constant: ability to sneak, deadly strikes when targets are unaware, and prowess in melee combat. I waffled a lot on a class selection, but ultimately settled on the slayer. Combining the ranger’s mastery of the land with the rogue's deadly stealth, slayers have a lot of versatility. I think the regular, out-of-the-box slayer is best, but I'll discuss decent archetypes in Overall Thoughts, below.

Ability Scores

Again, this can vary a bit, but a few things are pretty constant. Aloy is strong and nimble  (watch her climb if you have any doubts) but extremely perceptive, and clever. That said, she is not exactly personable, and is rather blunt, so her Charisma is probably her lowest ability score. Her Constitution and Intelligence are both adequate (at least a +1 modifier), with a higher Wisdom and Strength. In all likelihood, her Dexterity is probably her highest ability score.

Skills

Slayers give six skill ranks per level, or more if Aloy’s Intelligence modifier is decent, which is good. We’ll need all of them. Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim all come in handy when she’s traversing the dangerous terrain of her homeland, and Craft (Bows) lets her make custom arrows at will. Her Heal, Knowledge (Geography), and Knowledge (Nature) are probably passably high, and her Perception, Stealth and Survival are all strong. Other skills like Ride, Profession (Herbalism), and Sense Motive come into play some amount, and might be worth a rank each.

In short, like most video game protagonists, Aloy is good at almost everything. The big thing is choosing which aspect to focus on. Exploration? Stealth and Infiltration?

Levels 1-6

Feats: Quick Draw, Precise Shot, Point-Blank Shot, Master Craftsman (Bows), Rapid Shot

Slayer Talents: Ranger Combat Style (Precise Shot), Rogue Talent (Terrain Mastery), Ranger Combat Style (Rapid Shot)

Progress: At early levels, Aloy works as a pretty basic switch-hitter. Quick Draw allows her to quickly switch between her longbow and spear (which is probably a guisarme or halberd rather than a longspear). She quickly becomes quite good with a bow, thanks to Rapid Shot, but lags behind with her spear. Her 5th-level feat (Master Craftsman) seems pretty useless at this point: a measly +2 to Craft (Bows) is barely worth a feat, but just wait for next level.

To capture Aloy’s dizzying array of weapon’s and tactics, we should stock up on special arrows. Barbed, tanglefoot, and trip arrows work like her ropecaster to bind or hamper an enemy. Bleed and thistle arrows add a bit more damage, incendiary and slow burn arrows mimic her fiery arrows, and other arrows like lodestone, raining, smoke, and splintercloud can give an advantage in the right situation. Most of these are mediocre at higher levels, but can be pretty useful early on.

Levels 7-12

Feats: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Power Attack, Manyshot,

Slayer Talents: Deadly Range, Assassinate, Slayer Camouflage

Progress: At 7th level, Aloy finally gets Craft Magic Arms and Armor, which lets her use her Craft (Bows) skill to create and upgrade magic bows. More importantly, she can create magical arrows. Arrow of charming, hushing arrow, searing arrow, phase arrow, sizzling arrow, slaying arrow, sleep arrow… the options are dizzying, and you can create all of them for half price, if you succeed in the skill check (DC 5 + the item’s caster level, plus 5 for each spell that it requires if you can’t cast them). A sizzling arrow, for example, has a caster level of 9, which means it has a base craft DC of 14. But since Aloy can’t cast acid arrow, one of the prerequisites of the item, the DC increases to 19. Just remember that if you fail your Craft check, “the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted”.

Now that she has Power Attack, her spear should be capable of doing adequate damage, so she’s not helpless when something closes in on her. One of her biggest offensive abilities is Assassinate, which means she has a chance to automatically kill any target that she has time to study, from up to 40 feet away (with Deadly Range).

Levels 13 and Onwards

Feats: Four or five open feat choices. Clustered Shots, Improved Called Shot (requires Combat Expertise), Learn Ranger Trap, Merciless Butchery, Robot’s Bane, Snap Shot (requires Weapon Focus), Technologist, and Vital Strike are good things to consider, as well as Improved and Greater versions of Snap Shot or Vital Strike.

Slayer Talents: Rogue Advanced Talent (Stealthy Sniper), Deadly Range, Rogue Advanced Talent (Evasion or Feat), Woodland Stride.

Progress: I left this area a bit vague, because it’s hard to say for sure what she can do at higher levels. Learn Ranger Trap (and maybe Extra Ranger Trap) are good for reproducing the various traps she learns to use, while Improved (and Greater) Called Shot are similar to her ability to break components off of enemies to debilitate them. Robot’s Bane and Technologist are good, but circumstantial (i.e. useless if a campaign doesn’t have robots), and Merciless Butchery is only good if you can find a way to stun or frighten foes. It all depends on your specific build in mind, and the campaign.

With that said, I would choose Clustered Shots, Combat Expertise, Improved Called Shot, and either Learn Ranger Trap or Vital Strike, to reflect the way I played Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Overall Thoughts

I went with the standard slayer, but one could easily choose the Sniper archetype, for a more bow-focused build, or even the Woodland Sniper (Ultimate Wilderness) if you prefer. The Bounty Hunter archetype nets her some extra weapon proficiencies (pun intended), including the bola and net. The problem is that all three of these replace the tracking ability, which I felt was pretty crucial to staying true to the character.

I like the way the build turned out, for the most part, but some things were missing. I would have liked room for the Fast Stealth rogue talent, and earlier access to Power Attack and Vital Strike, to keep her melee abilities relevant. Unfortunately, there are only so many feats and talents available, so we make do. There was also no easy way I could find to incorporate the ability to hack/tame machines into the build, which is also fairly crucial for a proper representation of Aloy.

I think this build peaks around levels eight to ten: she is able to craft magic arrows during downtime, snipe foes from afar, and smack down anyone who closes in on her by switching to her spear.

[shcreative]

Exhibition show plan

Sophie Harvey

Degree Show Plan

 A Professional Documentation - as a virtual project that presents my ideas for an exhibition, curatorial consideration, plans for exhibition and selected work

Objectives of Exhibition: Intermix and Dematerialise

 The main purpose of the exhibition would be to communicate and create a safe place for audiences to have freedom of speech and thought. I would like to strive as an artist to appeal to all audience in mind that would like to interact with my artworks through tangibility using text, imagery and scale of artwork. REAL PURPOSE my art is a way of expressing emotion using traditional art forms. A message, similarity, or strike a chord, this is my objective. Describing artwork through words, the need to ex-HIBIT is extremely important to me and for the artwork and its viability. My work is OF raw emotion; it contains visual descriptors and messages. BEING SEEN / BEING NOTICED can be incredibly hard as artist; I believe my exhibition would be one that would adapt with all audience characteristics. Having large pieces and smaller pieces to entice the audience in and to observe with fine detail.

They’re more than meets the eye. My first impression of the show—before looking at the imagery—was one of a controlled, formal richness. An artist in love with the hot and messy splash of inspiration, of course, but also one who’s knotty, thoughtful, and considered. Rauschenberg mostly worked with what Rosenthal calls a “syncopated grid,” a formal structure within which he weighted and composed lights, colors, and shapes. In an image like Canyon, for example, he calculated how the weight of the hanging bag sets off the strength of the eagle’s wings as it pulls upward into the image-laden sky. Reproductions don’t convey the tactile feeling of Rauschenberg’s color. His surfaces are rich, steeped, time-marinated. http://www.kenneymencher.com/2018/10/why-is-robert-rauschenbergs-art.html

                                                         https://www.thefineartsociety.com/exhibitions/ - relaying on a physical space for exhibition BUT there are some good examples of how you can have an online show too https://www.vexed2020.co.uk/ an exhibition that I have put together for my Fine Art students (please see example

https://www.curatorspace.com/    

https://www.thelightbox.org.uk/Blog/what-is-it-like-to-curate-an-exhibition

   INTERMIX - DEMATERIALISE

  EXHIBTION SPACE – RUS 103 – SEE DIRECTIONE – INSTALLATION -

 One of my favourite parts of putting together the INTERMIX show will be selecting the work. I have an entire portfolio of works in progress, completed pieces to collective outcomes at my disposal. I will be exhibiting in room RUS 103 this is where I based myself in year one, I found the room rather grounding personally as an artist BUT it seemed to have the best floor space and interior structure. This would be a great space for me to exhibit due the nature of my work and the varieties of pieces. A natural light flows to the top of the room. I will use this to enhance certain pieces that are linear and sensitive. Selection of work will be:

1 x 1000 intermixes small A6 sized collages

2 x large paintings along

3 x large pieces of work concealed in plastic bags

         I need to work to represent the strengths of the mark and subject content that have been chosen in the outcomes thus also showing the diversity of the subject. One of the largest challenges of the show will be physically getting all the work together and transported to the room – I need to make sure that as the curator it is COVID and socially distanced safely

(Please see my risk assessment)

Subject of assessment (May be an activity, hazard or relate to an individual)

MA Show Exhibition

25th September – 2nd October

Ruskin Gallery - Room 103 (small studio)

RA conducted by - Sophie Harvey    

20/09/2020     RA ref. no.

 List the risk/s involved or describe the hazard

 Installation contained in one large area – with viewing point to the three walls.

 •    Risk of knocking into artwork

•    Low Risk in case of fire

•    Low Risk of tripping hazards

•    COVID MEASURES IN PLACE –LOW RISK audience controlled one at a time in room 103 with one viewing point (nothing will be touched)

Solution and measures put in place

•    Electrical cables taped to eradicate trip hazards

•    A white border at base of the wall with notices with warnings

·         SAFTEY INSTRUCTION will be sigh posted for entry and exit

•    COVID MEASURES IN PLACE – masks warn at all times, hand sanitiser outside the room and monitoring with a one in and one in system in place for viewers

“For Beijing-based independent curator Kwanyi Pan, who has curated exhibitions around the world, recommends researching the country's artists and audience. It will help you understand the environment you are working in and what subsequent issues may arise. She says working as a curator in Asia is different from working in the west in that the social context” https://www.thebalancecareers.com/curating-an-art-show-1295610

There are many benefits to using a floor plan:

FACTORS to consider

1. I need to Estimating the amount of art work to space ratio / I know the room is rather narrow so I will need to work out the best way to install the canvas in the middle of the floor (I will have them back to back). You will be able to see around the space whilst someone is viewing the artwork (one viewer at a time due to safe distancing and no touching of the artwork). I would like to have a gallery floor plan handy for the audience to navigate around the building, with names of artwork and CLEAR direction for the one-way system put in place. I have planned my work accordingly by using the RUS floor plan (please see examples above)I am preparing for the show by using measurements and safe distances so my floor plan has been a crucial element, this is part of the preparation for my art exhibition INTERMIX

2. Estimating the scale of the work is a important aspect – I naturally have produced rather large installation and canvas pieces. I need to make sure that the work is transportable as well as fitting into the door of the room, nothing bigger than 2m x 2m can be displayed in the art gallery space RUS 103.

Having safe plans for my installation of work is vital; it needs to safe for audiences to view the work at the best angle by facing the light and the windows. The door way will have to be completely free and left open, this is take away some of the wall space.

3. Estimating the space between art pieces is also critical – each pieces represents something very different so I need to make the viewer feel like they are viewing separate collections – for example the 1000 collages on the wall space.  

PROMOTING AND ADVERTISNG

  https://www.carleton.edu/arts-director/exhibitions/exhibition-planning/texts/ Useful link on how to orchestrate an exhibition

SYNOPSIS

Like a growth it manifests and gets lost within the subversive world, we live in, to be that marker pen highlighting the growth this is where my artwork matters. Feeding that growth and being transparent is imperative.

A clear direction and path as an artist unveiling itself is an area of contextualisation and conceptualism I have explored. The imperfections within society wrapped up in all its tranquillity. A mixture of collaged expressions from the artist Sophie Harvey highlighting the Western world and a working professional female, mother and artist. You will see an elective mix of traditional art form to digitalised double exposed imagery capturing the raw emotion and state of her expressive world.

CAPTIVATING AUIDENCE EXAMPLES

Cornelia Parker

and her work invites you to witness the transformation of ordinary objects into something compelling and extraordinary.

https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/pastexhibitions/corneliaparker/

Robert Rauschenberg

Included in the exhibition is Untitled, a combine of a pocket watch, chain, and tin can created circa 1959, whose components are retranslated in other works throughout the show. Solvent transfers and collages on cloth and paper from the 1970s, including work from the Hoarfrost Series, offer a wider glimpse into the artist’s personal relationship to his materials and his interest in the temporality of combined images

https://www.castelligallery.com/exhibitions/robert-rauschenberg?view=slider#4

 STRIKE A CHORD  Being able to see the work from a different perspective, smaller, larger, in frames, hung, placed on the floor from the ceiling would create and spark conversation or curiosity to want to see more (perhaps in a publication TO takeaway) as to the notion and context behind the work. My pieces of artwork, especially the 1000 small collages would feel like a time line to someone’s life and it would have a real aesthetic exposing me (the artist) memory and reference to the western world. The importance of the viewer is imperative, the viewer is the one who carries the work forward and takes away the consideration of a personal interactive with someone(me……the intermix)  

[sayantandodo]

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SkillPal provides mentors who are expert at their profiles. Students and interested candidates can ask for ideas to set goals for their career and life. The SkillPal mentoring message or expertise video can be regarding anything. It may be regarding how to speak or how to talk. Many women watch the process of cooking video and need some tips on how to entertain their family members with new delicious dishes. They may ask for a video message from an expert cook via SkillPal. Young women who love to be a fashion icon in their college or universities can ask for an optional learning video from social media fashion bloggers or influencers. The mother of a little child who starts his or her first education can get a personalized video from primary school teachers. This is not the last but the least. Skillpal will take anyone to the next level. The celebrities will provide you with personalized video messages directly regarding edutainment. Everyone knows that school education or college education will not enough to make someone’s life so meaningful. Young stars need to learn from the experts who struggle to achieve something in their life or people who have talents to stay as an alive star. Spreading education is not that simple.

Increased penetration of internet and smartphones in India is another major factor which is driving growth in the online education market in India. High penetration has created a huge consumer base for eLearning companies in India to acquire and monetize the opportunity. The country offers significant opportunities to the educational content development companies in India by offering products or services based on digital platforms. For instance, Bangalore-based BYJU’s, an EdTech company, launched its mobile app in 2015, which has been downloaded by approximately more than 6 million users across the country. Thus, it can be concluded that the future of eLearning in India is impressive and promising for eLearning companies in India. The first thing that strikes me about education is knowledge gain. Education gives us a knowledge of the world around us and changes it into something better. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view on things in life. It is important that you must start the process of finding a mentor by assessing your vision for your career. Don’t narrow yourself just to the skills you are yet to learn, or the feedback you were given during your last performance appraisal. Think bigger picture. Do you have a tricky relationship with a colleague or client, and is this hindering your progress? Is fear or a lack of confidence holding you back? Remember, your chosen career mentor will be someone you trust, therefore they will keep everything you say confidential, so don’t limit your thinking at this stage. Welcome to SkillPal. Here you can get any kind of mentoring from industry experts.

In today's advanced technology and digitalization era, e-learning is a boon and plays a vital role in the development of an individual as well as the future of the nation. The impact of advanced technology has witnessed the shift from conventional learning methods to e-learning methods. E-learning is considered as a revolution which is breaking various educational barriers, is highly beneficial for the intellectual growth of an individual and helps in generating an intellectual society. The change in the education system and learning methods is necessary because time has evolved, what was relevant earlier might not be equivalent today. Various challenges in conventional learning methods which are repetitive, costly, limited to the classrooms, fixed timing and fixed concept for learning, can be overcome through the latest e-learning trends. In the country, where traditional higher education may not be possible for all due to financial, personal or any other constraints, the e-learning method/platform can act as a support system to the education industry. Today, India has the latest e-learning trends in the education industry that are being used by developed countries from a very long period. Some of them are Distance education (Postal, Radio, TV), E-Learning, Gamification,  Open Educational Resources (OER), Cloud-based e-Learning, Big Data in e-Learning, Massive Open Online Courses, Microlearning, Mobile Learning etc.

The society is also evolving with developing technology. Unconventional fields of learning/education are too observing changes however, these changes are not covered in traditional learning methods. Hence, students do not get updated information through traditional education. Therefore e-learning methods for unconventional courses have become more effective in providing quality education. E-learning platforms assist students to get personalized advice from educators or experts, bringing quality education to students. This makes the entire learning experience fun-filled by including quizzes, challenges, practical-oriented, and interactive.  In fact, e-learning facilities are more engaging than classroom learning. Quality education comes at a huge cost but with the advent of e-learning trend/facilities, students can easily access education at a much lower cost. Through e-learning methods, students can focus on building a career or become job-ready, discovering interests most effectively and efficiently. It is just the beginning of the unprecedented concept of e-learning which has the potential to bring the coveted change in the entire education system in India and provide a better learning environment for the aspiring millennials.

People debate over the subject of whether education is the only thing that gives knowledge. Some say education is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is something very different. They are right. But then again, information cannot be converted into knowledge without education. Education makes us capable of interpreting things, among other things. It is not just about lessons in textbooks. It is about the lessons of life. One thing I wish I can do is, to provide education for all: no child left behind and change the world for good!! SkillPal is one of the best platforms for providing education. In SkillPal there are so many mentors from different fields. They will come to the students via the internet or web to provide knowledge and help them to grow up. Interested candidates will ask the mentor for a video session and the expert will send a suitable message to the candidate in 7 days.

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A match which blends thirdperson actions with MOBA and also hero-shooter mechanics to build an appealing but flawed activity esport.

After you get eight situationally mindful players, even nevertheless, there's a lot to adore. The characters-- both their design and balance--are the optimal/optimally aspect of become alpha sex game. From the conventionally cool graffiti-artist street samurai Daemon to Maeve, the cyberpunk witch, to Cass, an E Mo assassin with robotic bird bottoms, each of those 11 characters in the initial roster has an exceptional and interesting appearance.

become alpha porn is really a self-evident aggressive multi player"brawler," but exactly what does this actually mean? Depending upon your own purpose of reference, you might call it a"boots onto your ground-style MOBA" or some"third-person hero shot ." It truly is an activity game where two teams of four fight within the narrative framework of competing at another of 2 team sport --a King of those Hill-style"Objective get a grip on" situation and"energy Collection," a more resource-hoarding style where people want to violate vitality canisters and reunite their own contents into specified factors at specific occasions. Though the two versions possess their own quirks, both boil down to lively point control. Whether you are delivering protecting or energy your"hills, then" you want to shield a position. If you're attempting to dam the enemy from scoring in mode, you ought to have a situation. There is a little room for customization: in between games, you could equip a set of mods--which you can generate by playing with with specific personalities or acquire in-game forex --to Enhance your stats and techniques in various manners. In the event you believe one strike or special ability much more significant than the others, you can min-max those boons to adapt your playstyle. Each character begins having a set of default option mods, therefore there is an inherent sense of dealing emphases, in place of construction power as time passes. Movements in aggressive multiplayer matches is frequently a fool's gambit--most matches damage their stability with overpowerful gear--but become alpha porn games's mods thread the needle. They truly are successful to punctuate certain skills, without creating them unstoppable. What's more they also have a set of abilities that causes them specially well-suited to their precise sort of playwith. In modern day competitive manner, each and every character have a special collection of rechargeable and stats special moves that make sure they are useful in a particular context, which only presents itself when coordinating with your teammates. The characters have been divided into three classes--harm, Support, Tank--but each personality's approach into this job is exceptional. As an instance, Buttercup--a human-motorcycle hybridvehicle -- is a Tank designed for crowd controller: She forces enemies to engage with her from yanking enemies for her having a grappling hook and also use an"oil slick" capacity to slow them down. In comparison, fellow Tank El Bastardo is marginally less durable but deals more damage thanks to a exact powerful standard attack and also a crowd-clearing spin strike which may push enemies apart from him. It will take just a little exercise to fully understand these distinctions well-enough to take advantage of these but it is easy to learn how every fighter functions. In some ways, building on the base created with additional E-Sports works to become alpha sex game's advantage. Inspite of the fact that it has a brand new game using lots of of guidelines and idiosyncrasies to find out it can quickly feel comfortable and at ease to enthusiasts of competitive games because so many of its gameplay elements, from match types into character talents, are modeled off ideas from other video games. No character normally takes very long to learn, which means you are definitely going to locate your groove and begin having pleasure quickly. And, eventually, become alpha porn games's third-person perspective and a roster with tons of melee and ranged fighters distinguishes itself from the remaining portion of the package. As soon as you begin playing, it's simple to check past the things you comprehend and appreciate the advantages with the new configuration. Still, for all that become alpha sex games gets appropriate, it actually seems like the game's"early days." It's overlooking fundamental principles of competitive games, such as ranked play, that enables you to invest the experience and keeps individuals taking part in, long lasting. I want to believe Microsoft and Ninja principle will keep tweaking and enlarging the match so that it can compete together with additional competitive multiplayer matches, but it feels as a temporary multiplayer fix for gamers looking to divide the monotony, as opposed to the next E-Sports obsession. While each and every personality is well-balanced separately, the roster as an entire feels unbalanced on occasion. Considering the fact that you just have 4 players on every team, it's simple to receive forced to a specific role and sometimes perhaps a specific character. With 11 characters (and one more announced fighter in the way)there are a limited number of alternatives at every placement. On top of this, the certain personalities satisfy out the job a lot better compared to many others. Zerocool, the user, may be the only pure healer, for example. Unless teammates use the other support personalities in tandem, it truly is tricky to justify not selecting him when playing this role. The absence of choice can be bothersome: Actually in match making it could make you feel obligated to engage in since a personality which you really don't like and could result in you actively playing from personality, which isn't very fun. The caveat, though, is that everyone else needs to"play their class" as soon. With only four people to some workforce, having one man who isn't focusing to the purpose or with their skills that will help the staff could drain the fun out of this match very quickly. This ends match making in to a tiny crap shoot. You will never know if you will get teammates that understand the score, or certainly will drop what to start fights, or play the objective too much and ignore the team. Even though a warning after you turn the match for the first time that communication is critical, only a small number of players employed headphones in my adventure. While there's an Apex Legends-style ping method that works reasonably well for quiet players, so most players do not listen into it. Despite solid communication options, the rigid demands of this gameplay help it become easy for a single stubborn human being to spoil the exact game for the others. A game that combines third person action with MOBA and also hero-shooter mechanisms to produce an appealing but flawed action esport..xxx. There's no easing in to producing a competitive match in 2020. Already bombarded with matches like Overwatch, Rainbow 6 Siege, the battle royales, the MOBAs, and also the vehicle chesses, people have plenty of selections, Thus in the event you want to present another, it'd been ready for prime moment. become alpha porn games, the new third-person competitive brawler from DmC developer Ninja Theory, does not feel as if it is there yet. There's a good deal of possibility : Its four-on-four scrums combine the mashy feeling of the old school beat-em-up using the strategic criteria of MOBAs and hero shooters, setting it apart from anything you are going to find in common scenes that are competitive. However, it is affected with"ancient days" increasing pains which can push away players, rather than simply draw them . Both things need all four gamers to work as a group. While a few fighters are far best suited to one-on-one combat than others, moving and fighting since a squad is compulsory as the team with larger numbers more often than not wins, irrespective of ability. Inevitably, every single match gets to be a collection of staff struggles for control of an area. In the present time, these battles can feel a bit mashy and sloppy since you rapidly hit the strike button, but there's a lot of technique involved around creating favorable matchups, mixing abilities to optimize damage coped and reduce harm obtained, and positioning to avoid wide-reaching audience control strikes. On top of the, each of the amounts pose some type of environmental danger around one or more of those crucial points onto the map, that can throw a wrench in the gears of their most pivotal moments in a suit. We ought to also deal with hyper-intelligent 800-pound gorilla within the space. become alpha sex games cribs far from Overwatch. Though unique and clever, the character designs collectively exude the exact same faux-Pixar veneer because the Overwatch throw. Then again, they cut it pretty close some times. Mekko, the 12th become alpha sex game character, is just a marathon commanding a huge robot,'' that sounds much such as Wrecking Ball, Overwatch's Hamster at a huge robot. But on the technical degree, each of become alpha sex game's modes feel very like Overwatch's"get a grip on " Don't get me wrong: King of the Hill is not particular to Overwatch by almost any means--multiplayer matches have been riffing online for years--however, the MOBA esque skillsets of all become alpha sex games's personalities guide one to technique people scenarios using hero shooter approaches.