#hero forge is so fun i highly recommend it!

[wolfpup026]

I got a gift card to Hero Forge so I made Loki and Mobius standees!

They're so cute 🥰🥰

Some shots of the 3d models!

[naughtygirl286]

So Yeah this week we finally went to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves now like Mario this isn't the first time we went to see a Dungeons & Dragons movie in the theater. We where actually there opening weekend to see the original Dungeons & Dragons in 2000 which at the time I thought was pretty good. Now I'm not a player of Dungeons & Dragons but I know and hang out with plenty of people who are and I have watched "guilds" play through quite a few campaigns and where it does seem fun and I do enjoy RPGs and the Fantasy elements and I'm always invited to play its just the table top stuff isn't really my thing I'm more of a Video Game Role Player and more interested in stuff like Final Fantasy/Dragon's Age/Mass Effect/ect. its noting against table top stuff Its just a preference I'm a Video Game girl lol

Now with this movie there was of course some collectable items which you can see here!

Now anyway as for the movie itself I thought it was excellent!! I'd have to say I did love it I enjoyed it alot. There was plenty of action and plenty of funny moments but also it did have a serious tone at times. it is true what the advertising says it's an "Epic Adventure" and I do feel that partly that is due to the writing I feel that the writers of this probably play the game and are familiar with how everything works being while watching this I had the feeling that this could actually be a campaign you could and would actually play.

Your basic story is pretty much this Edgin (Chris Pine) and his partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) have a band of thieves and they go out and do quests and adventures stealing treasures and what not. this came about do to a tragedy in Edgin's past which caused him to turn away form being a Hero and at this lowest point he met Holga who also suffered a from events in her past and the 2 became friends and started working together and created a group to go out and do jobs. During one of these one of the group members Forge (Hugh Grant) double crosses Edgin and Holga and they get sent to prison while Forge lives high on the treasure. Upon their Escape/release Edgin and Holga must get a team together to take down Forge and the powerful sorceress he is now working with and get everything back that they lost.

but like I said the movie is fun and exciting I did feel that it had alot of heart and at its core it is a story about family and going to pretty much the ends of the earth for them.

I did feel the acting was great and the characters are likeable and you do want them to succeed in their quest. Chris Pine and Justice Smith (who plays the somewhat bungling wizard Simon) bring alot of the humor to this movie. Also the pairing of Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez is really good too she plays this somewhat serious barbarian warrior who deep down has a soft heart. and there interactions are at times funny too and I wouldn't be surprised if she had a hard time keeping a straight face with him while filming. But also Sophia Lillis (Doric) who changes into animals through some really nice visuals and camera work and Hugh Grant (Forge) who is the double crosser and pretty much everyone else did an amazing job!!

but yes the movie is also a visual spectacle! The cinematography and locations were all amazing as well as the production design and the costumes. The visual effects were excellent including the Owlbear of course I'm all about that Owlbear! lol but yeah the creatures and animals, fights and stunts and everything was just top notch and really cool! Even the music just fit right into this and made the movie better

So with all that I would say the movie was excellent and a epic fun adventure! So give it a watch if you can being I would highly recommend it!

Also don't forget there is a funny lil mid credits scene for this also.

[deathbypixelz]

I can't reblog the original for some reason but yeah. I get wanting a picture of your OCs, I get not having money for a commission, I get not being in the right place (mentally, financially, or time-wise) to learn how to draw. But there are ways to get that exact thing without participating in/encouraging art theft. It's about having basic respect for the people that make the things that inspire you and not encouraging the people who develop these AI without any regard for others.

Also I think this will be one of my last if not my last post about AI image generators, I'm tired of thinking about them and prefer to spend time thinking about things that make me happy.

Transcript below the cut.

[Image ID: a screenshot of a tumblr post by renthony that says "I see a lot of people make posts along the lines of 'why use AI when you can pay an artist,' but nobody really provides an alternative for those who got into AI generators specifically because they're broke and don't know how to draw, but still want visual representations of their OCs.

The answer is dollmakers and avatar games. Hero Forge, Picrew, Doll Divine. Make a free account on Second Life or IMVU and use their character creators. Download the Sims 4 now that the base game is free. You have a lot of options, and they make great reference images if you save up to commission an artist later on. They may be limited, but are they any more limited than the AI generation process?

AI art is bad because it's art theft, not because it "has no soul" or whatever. People aren't trying to shit on your fun just for shits and giggles, or because they're trying to be elitist; people are upset because the AI is pulling from stolen art and stolen photos.

I am personally not interested in debating whether AI art is "real art," because that's secondary to the theft required to make the AI work in the first place." End ID]

[trondopeacekeeper]

Trondo, the Dragon Assassin

🔥

''If you think you are so cool, then look twice'' ;}

🔥

Some AU!Trondo I made with HeroForge.

Trondo is one of the deadliest Peacekeepers warriors. Wild, proud and very obsessed towards Dr. Shemp. If he sees something he likes, he just goes for it (as long as it's not part of his missions). Under that fierce looking lies a lonely and pain-filled soul. In the past, he lost a loved one in awful circumstances and probably will never forgive himself for that. Nowadays, he wanders alone through the Peacekeepers deserts and canyons, in search of his new prey...

After all, he is very friendly and likes to hang around with his brothers in arms and other creatures of the Dragon Realms.

((Almost all backgrounds are shoot by

@catbatquartet

thanks! or found them on imgur.com)).

((I have this headcanon. Trondo-Rambo style doing some missions in Twilight Harbor and getting tanned. I got this idea after all those Gnorcs with paramilitary outfits in this level)).

''Hey Anon, would you like to go with this buffy boy to the Dragon Shores? We will have fun...''

((All of these are made with HeroForge. I highly recommend it. You can find many features and items, outfits and a wide customization features! I will add more screenshots over time)).

[mysterious-prophetess]

King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword

Ok, where do I even start with this train wreck.

How about I start nice. I’ll do that.

If you just want to take a step back and want a fun “What the Fuck Were They Thinking” Ride of a movie. This movie almost achieves this status at times. There are some....creative moves the movie makes, and the special effects are actually not half bad.

I even give them kudos for diversifying the cast.

Now onto me, a quasi Medievalist by training, to buckle down and get serious. 

I actually have studied the Arthur Legends a fair amount in my studies.

So, here’s my first point of criticism: The armor and hair styles are a giant anachronistic mishmash. 

The village town buildings looked 13th century. 

The armor was a mix of early Medieval to mid-Renaissance. 

Arthur’s hair is straight up 21st century.

The vikings were wrong.

Weapons were a mix of different eras in shapes.

The clothes were a bit of a mess in eras too.

There should’t have been as much blue out and about as there was (even if she was a mage)

The fireworks in Europe. No.

Not to mention, when London was Londinium, that means the time period would have actually been around 43 BC to 300 AD (after this point it got renamed).

That means Medieval styles in and of themselves are not correct, but if we go with Monmouth (the original transcriber of the Arthurian Legend) and his year of recording n 1136, the styles still don’t match up.

George as Chinese. Fascinating, but I’m not entirely sure a Chinese Martial Arts master would be hanging around. A Chinese Silk merchant, sure, but a Martial Arts Master? I’ll give it a suspicious side-eye and move along. There are a few other things about him that I can’t put my finger on about his character’s costuming, but they just don’t seem correct.

Bedivere and Wet Stick/Tristan being black/Moorish= cool, and very likely.

Another point of fact, Arthur was Welsh (he’s the freaking RED DRAGON), and it wouldn’t have been called England. 

That’s just the historical criticisms from my own limited pool of knowledge 

Let’s move onto the mythological aspects twisted

Vortigern’s Tower, Dians Emrys, under which two dragons fought and kept knocking it down, is now his own Isengarde serving as a magic amplifier. 

Vortigern, the enemy of Uther now being his brother.....ok......

Vortigern making a deal with cthulu-maids who appear to be a corrupted version of the Morrigan. (Mother, Maiden, Crone). Yeah, that I don’t get at all. The Morrigan were already mystical. Making them Cthulu from the waist down wasn’t necessary, if that was even what the director intended to present these three as. They’re sure as hell not the Lady of the Lake (we saw her as her normal pretty self).

The fact that whoever wrote this didn’t take advantage of the ACTUAL monsters of Celtic lore and instead used

Giant Snakes

Snakes

Giant Eagles

ROUSes (Rodents of Unusual Size)<---a joke I actually cracked in the theater watching this film.

Oliphants (They stole the mounts of the Soutrons/Haradrim, Sauron is not going to be pleased)

The magic in this movie was a cross between fire-bending and Warging from GoT (seriously, I had to bite back at least three GoT jokes). There were some more mystical moments but even then I could still make a few X-men jokes here and there.

Excalibur’s effects were actually kind of awesome but I also recently read an awesome fantasy book with a legendary blade that has runes that glow WHEN THE GUY WIELDING THE BLADE MASTERS IT. It’s called Forging Divinity. I highly recommend it.

Excalibur, in myth and legend, isn’t given defined powers, just that whoever wields it is the true king.

Merlin’s absence kind of pissed me off. His unnamed female replacement was OK for an overpowered Warg (she seriously doesn’t have a name). 

Morgana doesn’t exist (though HILARIOUSLY an actress who has portrayed Morgana was in this film for five minutes)

More than HALF the knights of the round table are missing.

E.G. Gawain, Lancelot, Ywain, Bors, Geriant, Galahad, Agravaine

There was never Sir George nor was there actually a Sir William as part of the round table.

Mordred is Arthur’s bastard SON in some versions and is not an evil wizard that Uther fought (on an Oliphant stolen from the Harradrim from Middle Earth)

Mordred in this movie looked more like Tim the Enchanter (though, that is how Merlin is supposed to look)

The way this film was cut together at times was way too....90′s action movie. Cheesy 90′s Action Movie. 

The plot was a sort of ok one. The pacing was a bit off with the beginning’s two segments. I’m still hung up on the Oliphant attack, ok? 

Vortigern’s move was foolish. Why not take advantage of the battle to kill his brother or did he REALLY underestimate the power of the magic sword his brother wielded like that. 

If Arthur was such a savvy underworld kingpin, wouldn’t he have cottoned on to the whole, “pull the sword get your brand thing” to forge a brand so as not to stick out, which a good criminal tries not to do. 

Vortigern exchanging the fucking Mage for a sword he really can’t use. 

“Ah yes, let’s give my nephew a magic user to use against me, oh I am so good at evil plots” Ok, so maybe he didn’t know she was a Mage, aside from the fact, she has been witnessed doing her magic thing a few times prior to this point in the movie.

The Mage not having a name. That bugs me (is she supposed to be Guinevere or something?) 

Arthur only using the sword, at first, through (to borrow the Cinema Sins term) “Power of Boners.”

The “you had the power within all along cliche”

The “antagonistic unwilling partners” to “romantic interests” cliche. In this case, at least, she’s not powerless since she could magic his ass to the next millennium. But really, the way they’ve portrayed this Arthur, he’s no prize.

Uther became the stone. That’s both cool and batshit crazy. 

The underdog hero cliche, but I sort of like that one.

In short, the movie was formulaic, a giant mess of vague fantasy-ish things while trying to be more reality based, and not painfully bad. Still a train-wreck but one that can be watched without copious amounts of alcohol.

[inhumansforever]

Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur #17 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

It’s the penultimate installment of The World’s Smartest storyline  and a tale that sees Moon G and Devil D teaming-up with none other than the Extraordinary X-Men!  All from the creative team of Amy Reeder, Brendan Montclare, Natacha Bustos and Tamra Bonvillain.  Full recap/review following the jump.

Okay, so at some point between the various occurrences that have taken place during The Wold’s Smartest story arc, The Inhumans Versus X-Men event must have gone down.  Long story short, The Mutant race were on the edge of extinction due to the Terrigen Cloud being poisonous to them.  Lunella playing a pivotal role in helping Forge create a machine that destroyed the cloud, saving all Mutant life on earth.   Lunella and Forge have been pals for a while (they first met way back in Extraordinary X-Men Annual #1) and at some point Lunella must have reached out to him asking for assistance with her current situation with Dr. Doom.

Lunella, Devil D and The X-Men all travel upstate to an abandoned mall where Forge has hidden away one of his many workshops.  Within this workshop, Forge is able to find an old Cerebro unit he had built some time back.   For those of you unfamiliar with X-Men lore, a Cerebro unit is a machine specially devised to locate Mutants (individuals possessing the X-gene).  

Lunella plans to utilize the Cerebro device to locate Doom, modifying it by combining it with the circuitry of the Omniwave Projector.  

The Omniwave Projector is an ancient Kree device that can open portals to different dimensions and times.  Combining it with Cerebro is sure to bring about an unexpected result, but before Forge can stop her, Lunella initiates the amalgam device and suddenly the lot of them are all sent back to the mid-1980’s!

It’s an interesting turn of events.  Quite suddenly the mall is no longer abandoned but is instead teaming with shoppers all dressed in gaudy 1980’s fashions.  The X-Men have changed as well, reverting to their younger-looking selves… with Old Man Logan transformed into his younger self and his classic brown-and-orange Wolverine togs (his best look in my opinion) and Storm transformed into her punk rock outfit (her best look in my opinion).  Fortunately, Lunella isn’t transformed into an unfertilized embryonic egg…

Despite being in their younger bodies, The X-Men retain their older consciousnesses.  Before they can figure out exactly what has caused all this to occur, they are attacked by Dr. Doom… and not just one Dr. Doom, but a legion of Dooms.      

A battle ensues.  The X-Men and Devil Dinosaur fight valiantly, but even their combined might is hopelessly outmatched by the army of Dooms.  Trying to make sense of it all, Lunella makes an adjustment to the Cerebro/Omniwave device and it cause time to freeze in place.  Another adjustment and they are all sent back to the present with the singular Doom as their captive.  

Logan’s enhanced senses tells him exact who (or rather what) this Doom is and a quick slash from his claws beheads Doom, revealing it to be a robot.  A Doombot to be precise, one of the many automaton duplicates that the real Doom has employed countless times in the past.  Logan speculates that the Doombot must have gone rogue once the real Victor Von Doom decided to try his hand at being a hero (as detailed in the current Infamous Iron Man series).  

Whatever the case, the disembodied robot head informs Lunella that its threat toward her is far from over.   Its android intellect is still out there, it still possesses an army of fellow Doombots at its disposal; and it will not quit until Lunella has been vanquished hence proving that Doom is the smartest of the smart.  

Moon Girl and Devil D part company with the X-Men, the X-Men promising to be there whenever she may need their aide in the future.  Lunella takes the Doombot head back to her secret lab where it is wonderfully posed atop junked stop sign.  Though disembodied, the robotic head continues to taunt Lunella, reiterating its claim that Doom is sure to prove victorious.  

Listening to the despotic bot prattle on, Lunella comes to a conclusion quite befitting of her lofty intelligence: in order to deal with this threat, she is going to need to rely on the help of her friends.  Here the issue ends, setting up the grand finale in next month’s installment.  

This was another fun read.  It was a bit softer on the general thematic coursing thus far through the ‘World’s Smartest’ arc, but a neat romp nonetheless.  With all of the doom and gloom going down int he X-Men books of late, it was really neat to see the Extraordinary team guest star in this much more light and fun tale.  Bustos and Bonvillain’s art is terrific and it’s great getting to seem them depict the X-Men.  Would I prefer to see Lunella and Devil D finally interact with the Inhuman Royal Family?  Yes.  But the X-Men are a fine consolation prize. There a lot of fun details in Bustos’ pencil work.  I love that Forge’s secret lab is located in a deficit Sam Goody record store; and that Colossus takes advantage of it to add some new albums to his collection (Although The New Kids on The Block’s ‘Hanging Tough’ is an odd choice :3)

The most important part of the issue, however, is that Lunella has discovered what it is she truly needs to deal with Doom.  

As a child psychologist, one of the things I’ve found to quite often be the case with youngsters is the ability to be independent is actually born out of a healthy dependency… that the flower of autonomy grows from the soil of mutuality.  Our abilities to do things on our own and be self reliant is facilitated by the sense of containment that comes from knowing that we don’t always have to go it alone.  Kids who feel that their parents, or guardians, or friends will be there for them are emboldened with the strength to do things on their own.  And this is how the capacity for real self-reliance is imbued.   

This appears to be the key lesson that Lunella is learning throughout the story line of The World’s Smartest.  Lunella has always felt that she has been smarter than everyone around her, and now she has been given proof that this is indeed the case.  Being so smart, the smartest of the smart, Lunella believe that she can only rely on herself and she has resisted the urge to be dependent on others.  It seems that Lunella pushes away her need to rely on others because she sees it as a sign of weakness; she doesn’t yet possess the wisdom needed to realize that such dependency can actually be a tremendous source of strength.

It’s fitting that Dr. Doom (or at least a version of Dr. Doom) should be Moon Girl’s adversary in this adventure.  Doom is just as smart if not smarter than his nemesis, Reed Richards.  Yet he always lost in his battles with Richards because while Doom saw himself as peerless and needing no one’s aide, Richards was always able to rely on the rest of his family among The Fantastic Four to have his back.  Richards’ dependency on his family (something Doom looked at with contempt) was the x-factor that always enabled Richards to defeat Doom time and time again.  

If Lunella is to defeat Doom then she is going to have to get over her own sense of peerlessness and contempt toward depending on others.  She is going to have to call on her friends, reach out to the new allies she has made over the course of the story and utilize the containment of support they offer to give her the edge over Doom and emerge triumphant.   I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this pans out int he concluding chapter. Highly recommended; Three and a half out of four Lockjaws.  

[heartofhryule]

Heart of Wisdom - Chapter 13

WARNINGS: Contains Hyrule Warriors spoilers and story items. I highly recommend playing the game if you haven’t! It’s complete fluff, but fun fluff…. minus Lana.

______________________________________

Heart of Wisdom | Chatper 13 | Courage

Link rode as hard and fast as he had ever in his life pushed poor Epona. She rose to his challenge, and gave no signs of tiring or complaint despite her perspiration and labored breathing. He wasn’t sure, but it felt as though Epona knew, or at the very least understood the need for urgency.

Volga kept up, though at a short distance. Tactically it was sound. If something jumped them on the way, they agreed Link had to keep going. They rode all day and all night across Hyrule Field and into Faron Woods, only stopping when the horses had to. As it stood, they were making good time.

The Woods were quiet, and though there was a trail, they could not go quite as quickly as the field road allowed. Link was agitated, nervous, still very angry. He’d never been angry with Zelda, he’d parsed through those thoughts as the wind rushed by and only the sound of Epona’s hooves beating the ground filled his ears. He was angry with the situation, and murderous towards Ganon. It never got easier - not in this life or any before. The fate of Zelda to live again and again to sacrifice and put her life on the line in order to defeat Darkness chafed him beyond words.

He wanted to end it. For good.

That he could never seem to find a way fueled his anger even more. Times he recalled having the discussion that an end would mean that the cycle would be broken, and he may never get a chance at a real life with Zelda never phased him - she was the Goddess reborn. They were destined to be together. He had faith that whatever the end was when it came, they would be together.

If only it could be without Ganon. Without Darkness, or Demise, or whatever the demon wanted to call himself this time.

They reached the Sacred Grounds by mid morning the next day - having shaved half a day’s ride from the journey with their breakneck pace. However the moment he stepped foot off Epona, Link knew something was wrong.

Holding up a hand for Volga to stop, he crept forward silently, keeping a keen eye out around them. The first wave of moblins that came seemed to have only been on a kind of patrol, but during Link and Volga’s fighting with them, enough noise was made that it served to summon more.

The Sacred grounds were crawling with goblinkin of the North, and it did not take a Sage or Scholar to figure out that Ganon had anticipated this, their journey to reclaim the Master Sword. As Link fought, it was with every ounce of anger he had ever felt. They’d not slept the night before, but neither Hero nor Dragonknight seemed hampered in the least - their mission was dire, now more so than before.

Cutting a path across the ruins, Link could see the entrance to the temple, but knew it would take longer than his stamina might hold to carve a path through the sea of monsters attacking them. It seemed Ganon’s plan was either to have Link succeed and reclaim the sword, releasing the last of the Demon King’s power, or die trying.

Just as he was running out of options for a plan B, the Hero felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as a blue flash streaked through the air in front of him. “Proxi?” he managed, thinking perhaps it was merely another rare blue fairy, as Proxi had left with Lana to her Sanctum. But the question was answered when 50 or more bobkins were rather suddenly encased in what for all the world looked like a magical glass box, killing them all when it shattered.

From overhead, in the center of the now cleared path landed a familiar figure with blue hair. Lana stood, her book clutched to her side, and turned to nod at Link and Volga. Her normal chipper demeanor was missing and she wore the white robes of the Guardian of time, but she was a welcome aid to the battle.

With Lana’s help, Link and Volga’s spirits were emboldened, and soon enough the majority of the goblinkin lay dead around them, the path to the temple entrance clear. Pausing long enough to catch his breath, Link gave Lana a small smile. “You know, I’m sure there’s some cosmic problem you’re going to have to face for this, but I have never been happier to see you than I am right now.”

Lana blushed and didn’t meet his eyes. It was no secret to anyone that Lana found feelings for the Hero. But she understood his bond to Zelda, to the Goddess she technically served, and had vowed to not interfere. Link also wasn’t going to treat her any differently than his other friends, as he considered her such. Finally looking at him with a wink, she said, “Well I couldn’t leave you guys to clean up my mess now, could I?”

Link gave her a nod and bemused smile and took off, jogging for the temple. Volga however came up behind Lana and rest a hand on her shoulder. “It is good to see you, and not merely in dreams this time.”

She smiled, warmed by his affection and covered her hand in his. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to invade your dreams - I had the stray thought that maybe you could help… and then there you were.”

“Do not apologize,” he assured her kindly, “I am glad you did.”

***

Inside, Link ran full force to the back of the temple where he knew the Sword rest. It seemed none of the goblinkin could make it past the doors - that was something. The last time he’d battled here they had been able to enter under Cia’s magic and it had been a mess.

What was there brought him to a sliding halt and twisted something in his gut, however. The doors to the Sacred Grove were open, Sheikah magic that Zelda had cast to ward them broken, and even the doors themselves seemed cracked in new places.

Not only had Ganon anticipated they would come here, but he had been here.

A cold hand gripped his heart as Link considered this all might have been in Ganon’s plan, and now he was two days from Zelda where Ganon was likely less than one. Moving forward cautiously, he was surprised to find there were no traps, magical or mundane set in the doorway or the grass covered grove - but then why would there be. This was clearly what the Demon King wanted.

Reaching forward, he gripped the hilt of the Master Sword and felt a touch of relief. Like the embrace of an old friend, The Master Sword slipped easily from the stone in his grip, and he held it skyward, feeling the magic course back into it. “Hey, Fi,” he whispered reverently, knowing that somewhere at the core of the steel and divine metals from which it was forged, lay the soul of his once very dear companion. “I know it’s been shorter time than usual between seeing me,” he said, resting the flat of the blade against the other hand, “But I need your help again. Think that will be okay?”

There was of course no response, but the blade sparkled in the noonday light, and he felt it was her way of accepting. “Thanks, Fi,” he added with the last, and sheathed the sword on his back, tucking his other into his belt before turning around. Volga and Lana stood in the doorway, Lana’s hands clutched over her book at her chest, and Volga smirking.

“He knows we’re coming,” Link said striding forward. “He was here. We have to hurry - Zelda is in danger.”

“I can help with that,” Lana said with a nod. “Get the horses and meet me by the Goddess shrine on the east wall.” With that, she turned sharply and darted off.

Volga and Link fetched their horses and did as Lana had asked, coming up the shrine to find Lana’s book floating in the air above her as she cast a spell… and opened a gate. Turning to face them with a sad smile. “I can only get you to the other side of Faron Woods, so you’ll still have a part day’s ride… but I don’t have the Triforce to extend past it.”

“Are you coming with us?” Volga asked, stepping forward.

“I’ll be around,” Lana nodded, face sincere. “You may not see me, but I’ll be helping.”

Link stepped up to the portal, tall as they very wall, and mounted Epona. Looking down with a grateful smirk, he nodded. “Thank you, Lana. I hope we meet again under better circumstances.”

Lana gave him a sad smile, and something told him they probably wouldn’t, since she wasn’t supposed to intervene, but he meant it. “Go,” she said with a tearful smile. “Beat him to our Goddess, yeah?” She didn’t have to tell him twice. Link nodded and urged Epona forward through the portal. With a turn of the stomach and a brief fall later, Epona was running full speed across Hyrule field once more.

On the other side of the portal, Volga turned to look Lana over as she longing watch Link gallop away. “You know, no one blames you.” She turned and looked up to him, her damp eyes now holding the smile on her lips.

“That’s kind, but it’s my fault.”

“Ganon is tricky, powerful, seductive… and it was not you. It was the weak part of you that is gone now.”

She shook her head and looked back after Link who was disappearing over the rise of a hill. “But I… she… has caused so much heartache. I was never supposed to be a part of this.”

Volga looked up as well, knowing he needed to catch up, but feeling this was important. “You cannot regret another’s actions. Only your own.”

“I love him. I regret he ever had to know that.”

“Do you love him, or the idea of him?”

Turning to look back up at him in wonder, Lana didn’t seem to understand. “What’s the difference?”

Volga smirked. “A soul that is reborn eternally when the one who loves him needs him?” Knowing Lana was immortal he looked down to the young looking sorceress. “For someone sworn to spend eternity alone, I could see where the idea might appeal.”

Realizing he’d hit the nail on the head, Lana’s eyes were brimming with tears, and the Dragonknight felt a swell of empathy, reaching out to tug her into a gentle hug despite his armor. “You know, I happen to have the ear of the incarnation of the Goddess and her Chosen Hero. Perhaps… I could find a way to come visit you occasionally.”

Lana wiped her eyes trying not to cry anymore, and gave him a weak laugh. “That you’d even want to means the world, Volga. Thank you.” Giving him a brighter smile now, she stepped back and jerked her head to the portal. “Go. Make sure he wins. And I can’t hold this thing all day…”

With one last smirk, having made up his mind, Volga nodded and mounted his horse, charging through without another word, but vowing silently to petition Hyla, Din, Nayru and Farore all for a way to make sure Lana and her second chance were not left lonely.

Soon enough, he caught up with Link mostly, and after hours of riding, Hyrule Castle was growing larger in the distance.

Catching Link’s attention, he slowed his pace and convinced Link to do the same, despite the Hero’s irritation to do so. “What?” Link said, trying not to snap.

“We need to get closer, but are not yet expected back. Perhaps dawning our disguises will give us an element of surprise.”

“If Ganon is already there…” he said and started moving Epona on again, yet still looked at Volga.

“Then all the more reason for trying to gain surprise, would you not think?” Link blinked and watched his friend a moment trying to cool his head. Considering for a moment, he reached out to take the disguise from the Baron, his thought process being that Zelda would have probably agreed with Volga. He valued the wisdom of his ally, and accepted that perhaps he was not thinking quite as clearly as he should have been.

Dismounting and dawning the disguises that Impa had given them, Link felt a magical charm settle over him with the clothing and grunted in approval. Yes, this was the right option. Nodding to Volga, he remounted Epona and didn’t wait for Volga before taking off again. Soon enough they were riding full speed across Hyrule Field once more, the Master Sword and their identities hidden, while the Hero repeated the mantra in his mind, “Please don’t be too late…”

[a-h-arts]

Terrific book I was not familiar with the story of the Dutch forger, Han Van Meegeren who made millions before and during WWII from his forged paintings, primarily Vermeers. These were not copies of existing paintings, but creations of his own. His undoing after the war came as a result of a forgery he sold to Goering, which led to his being investigated as a collaborator. He decided it would be better to confess to his forgeries than to be tried as a collaborator. However, he had a hard time getting anyone to believe that he had produced paintings that had been hailed by important experts as real Vermeers. This is a terrific book, which is well-written and brings together many different strands. There is, of course, simply the story of Van Meegeren, which includes the very interesting technical aspects of how he was able to produce paintings that would pass scientific tests to determine if the works were in fact centuries old. The book describes at length the situation in Holland under the Nazis, as well as Goering's and Hitler's obsession with acquiring all of the great art in Europe, either purchasing it with confiscated money or confiscating the art itself. The scale of their plundering was astounding. At times, Goering's seems to have focused more on these acquisitions than on the conduct of the war, to the possible detriment of the Nazi war effort. Dolnick also goes into the psychology of the forger, as well as of the experts who were duped. Altogether, a wonderful book. Go to Amazon

I liked this intriguing story so much I ended up buying ... I liked this intriguing story so much I ended up buying multiple other copies for artist friends. Great background info on the historical context of Holland during WWII. Insightful portrait of Goring and his incredible stash of art loot. The amazing story of the U.S.. soldiers known as "the Monuments Men" was much more informative than the recent film of the same name. The perpetrator of the frauds, Hans Van Meegeren himself was well portrayed--a fascinating, complex artist arrested for treason but who ended up as a national hero in the bizarre psychological twists and turns author Edward Dolnick so lucidly depicts. I found this book a real page-turner! Highly recommend for anyone interested in the Nazi looting of art treasures during WWII, the Monuments Men or the high-stakes world of art dealing. Go to Amazon

A great read This enjoyable, discursive, informative book is a great read. Author Edward Dolnick is a journalist and like all good journalists he has a wide range of interests and is a quick study. The book's topic is nominally Han van Meegeren, a Dutch painter who worked from just after the First World War until just after the Second World War. Although he was competent and made a decent living from his work, the art critics of the day panned his work for being simpering and shallow. So, to make a long story short, he took to forgery, with his main focus being the 17th Century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. This was a bold choice, because only around three dozen Vermeers are known, and were known in the 1930s when van Meegeren started his forgeries. The book discusses van Meegeren's techniques and choices, but also discusses the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany and especially Hermann Goering, the Reichsmarschall, second in command to Hitler. In fact, both collected immense amounts of art and sometimes Hitler took what Goering had wanted. It turns out that Goering ended up with one of van Meegeren's "Vermeers," which leads the story into many interesting twists and turns. There are many other sidelights, including the Getty Museum's purchase of a famous, extremely expensive, and fake kouros, a supposedly a Greek statue, as well as stories about other fakes, forgeries, and copies. It is a terrific book and I recommend it highly. Go to Amazon

Needs more storytelling and less analysis An interesting tale when the author sticks to the chain of events but he gets into the weeds too often. Pages and pages of analysis of how hoax are perpetrated, why people fall for them, etc. Tedious! Also, for some utterly up fathomable reason, the word Decade is always capitalized. Unimportant really but ridiculous and pretentious....much some of the aforementioned parts of the book. Go to Amazon

must read It is a first rate book, well writtenn researched. Due to the unusual circumstances that the forger was caught and confessed, the facts are very authentic. Even with this knowledge, it is very difficult for me to believe that art connoseuir could hail the forgeries as vermeers. Go to Amazon

Five Stars GREAT Go to Amazon

An insight into the evil aand basically very stupid greed that is facism well researched, plenty of technical information about the painting of fakes. Extraordinary story of the Nazi theft of art throughout France, Holland etc. An insight into the evil aand basically very stupid greed that is facism, theft and the underbelly of the art world. Go to Amazon

An amazing story! If this were fiction it would make a terrific novel. The artist , Van Meegeren, who is the forger is an ingeniously talented person. His genius is not in his artistry but in the way he manipulated others into believing that they found another Vermeer. This takes place during World War II and he even fooled Hermann Goering and made a lot of money. The methods he used to create a forgery is explained by Edward Dolnick in great detail. Go to Amazon

The smarter you are, the harder you'll fall Four Stars Five Stars Enjoyed this book Good, but not quite the Real Thing Fun Read Five Stars Great read. Bilking monster men on a grand scale!

[miamibeerscene]

Beercation Destination: San Diego

February 23, 2017

In San Diego, if you were to visit 10 breweries a day for a solid month, you still wouldn’t have seen them all, as surely five new would have opened up in that short time. Simply driving around the vast county, you’re just as likely to smell beer being brewed as you are to inhale the intoxicating scents of the Pacific Ocean.

A trip to this West Coast beer city and the sprawling county surrounding it can be hard to plan because there are so many options. As someone who visits multiple times a year, here are some tips to create the perfect San Diego beercation.

(MORE: Uinta Brewing Company Launches Beer Honoring the National Parks)

Start Planning Around a Marquis Event

Since San Diego’s weather is freakishly nice year round, it’s easy to plan a trip during the offseason. With SD Beer Week happening in early November, one could easily skip this entire post and show up with bag in hand, have a crazy fun week, and somehow mysteriously end up in Tijuana jail a few days later, complete with a new hop nugget tattoo on your lower back. The week is brimming with elaborate pairing dinners, tap takeovers, and a guild festival that, just like San Diego, is difficult to try everything.

If November doesn’t jive with your turkey, some other events to plan around include The Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival (April), Modern Times Festival of Dankness (or Funk!) (August), and SD Rhythm & Brews (May). A personal favorite is the Brewbies fest which takes place in North San Diego at Bagby Brewing (February); the event that is adored by industry and reachable by train.

Chris Cramer, co-founder of Karl Strauss at their 28th anniversary. “Give me just a tiny bit of the Pappy barrel aged stout so there’s more for the guests.” (Credit: Greg Nagel)

Brewery anniversary parties are also great to plan a trip around. Stone Brewing’s anniversary, which falls in late February, is overflowing with rarities from within their cellar and guest breweries tend to bring their black tie beers to help celebrate.

(MORE: 9 Weird Brewery Names and the Stories Behind Them)

San Diego Beercation: Where to Stay

North Park is a great neighborhood all on its own, with 30th Street being the central hub of great beer bars, brunch spots and stellar breweries. The historic LaFayette Hotel is situated amongst all this, and is a great jumping off point with easy access to the downtown gaslamp district, beaches, the zoo and other brewery hotspots. The hotel was built in 1946, yet still maintains its poolside bungalow charm. Nothing is more relaxing than cracking a brewery-fresh crowler in a chaise lounge next to their Olympic-sized pool, only to have an impromptu poolside bottle share with traveling room-neighbors from abroad.

The LaFayette Hotel in San Diego. (Credit: Greg Nagel)

So, with your marquis event and a place to stay, what else are you going to do? Grab a free West Coaster Magazine (basically everywhere beer is poured and in your hotel) and get your fingers dirty with newsprint until something catches your eye. The beer map and directory is in the back, which is your guide to what is fresh and in season.

Starting your day in North Park is poised with possibility. Brunch at nearby Small Bar for $15 includes a full breakfast with a choice of beer (Pliny the Elder on draft, anyone?), a foot tall bloody mary, or even a local favorite michelada (beer bloody mary). Give your morning yawns a kick in the pants and put some money in their juke box, which is filled with all Bowie you can handle.

Bellies full, a stroll down 30th street is always filled with fun and photo ops. The juxtaposition of urban art, yoga mat-carrying locals and beer touristas makes for a sense of belonging. Stop in a store called ‘Simply Local’ to grab some seriously cool beer art by local artist Rudy aka “Craft Beerd.” and grab his $9 deck of San Diego Brewery playing cards to keep you busy while brewery hopping. While checking out, you must buy some local nuts made by North Park Nuttery. They’re created with locally-made beer, and shockingly taste like the beer they’re made of.

A couple doors down, Bottlecraft is the only bottle shop you need to stop in; be sure to stock up with treats to take home.

Whether or not you’re craving beer or coffee, Modern Times Flavordome has you covered. House-roasted coffee and 16 taps of beer, including Black House, their eye-opening coffee stout with house-roasted beans. Mike Hess Brewery and Fall Brewery make up my other must-visit breweries in the area, each with their own pint-worthy charm and incredible neighborhood vibes.

Within 3.5 miles of 30th street are four of the area’s best beer bars. For an epic trip, start at Blind Lady Alehouse, move to Tiger Tiger!, then Toronado San Diego, finishing with a quick #2 city bus ride to Hamilton’s Tavern in South Park. Lunch, and lots of water, is recommended at any of these places.

(MORE BEERCATIONS: Los Angeles | Charleston, South Carolina)

How to Get Around

In San Diego, it’s surprisingly easy to reach the best beer spots without driving yourself. I find a combination of bike rental, Uber, train and trolley are all fast, inexpensive and safe to reach most places. For all others, I reluctantly suggest a brewery tour. Although some might like the fast-paced big-bus tourist lifestyle, I prefer to mosey at my own pace and set things up in advance.

YouTuber Maxnosleeves on the HotShots Brewery Tour in San Diego. (Credit: Greg Nagel)

One service I highly recommend is the HotShots Brewery Tour group, which shuttles you around in a swank smaller-sized retired fire battalion wagon. Local beer, food and knowledge is dropped on their friendly experience, complete with phone chargers and plug-in stereo jack to jam out to your own tunes while stuck in traffic. Only drawback? No potty on board.

To Escondido, or Escondidon’t? Take the Hop Highway!

Some areas of San Diego are well out of the way, so much so that they have opened more convenient taprooms and restaurants within your travel bubble. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is a must for any first time San Diego beer traveler, even though their location near the airport at Liberty Station is also beautiful. The Escondido location is a place one can take their mom on Mother’s Day, a wedding party, or just a random day to chill at this destination brewery. Reservations for dining and tours is highly suggested. Protip: BYO ketchup.

Stone brewer Kris Ketcham is the real brite tank sample hero (Credit: Greg Nagel)

With fresh gargoyle in your belly, hop along highway 76 for some incredible pockets of beer that are destinations on their own. San Marcos is a short ways away and is home to Port Brewing/ The Lost Abbey, Rip Current Brewing, and Churchill’s Pub & Grille, three San Diego landmarks. Vista is just a little bit up the road along the 76 with a brewer’s guild of its own, including Iron Fist and Belching Beaver. Just before you hit the ocean, the hop highway drops you off in scenic Oceanside, which quickly becoming a brewery hotbed on its own. Locals love Urge Gastropub & Whiskey Bank, complete with adjoining Mason Ale Works for their incredible burgers. Nearby, Bagby Brewing, ran by Jeff Bagby, is probably one of the most decorated GABF winners in history at his tenure with Pizza Port. His attention to detail with lower-ABV beers is remarkable.

Speaking of Pizza Port, Carlsbad is home to most of their operation with a brewpub, a bottle shop, and their huge canning operation in Bressi Ranch, which is a short drive away from Legoland theme park if traveling with children.

(MORE: Coolship Fever in American Brewing)

The San Diego Beer Pioneers

For every craft beer pioneer brewery in San Diego, there are usually several must-visit places around it. Set your GPS to Stone, Alesmith, Coronado, Pizza Port, Karl Strauss, and even White Labs yeast bank. Once there, it’s easy to find a few spots you have never heard of via Yelp, Untappd, or even Google Maps’ “nearby feature” on the phone app.

Operation Beeramar

Miramar is more than just a Marine base surrounded by fast food and furniture stores; it’s home to one brewery that has its own street named after it: Alesmith Brewing Company. The big brewing operation has forged the highly regarded Speedway Stout, and the three-time GABF gold medal winningest Barleywine, Ol’ Numbskull. Adding to their big beer program is a unique barrel blending experience called Anvil and Stave, which is sort of like a beer speakeasy, allowing visitors to create unique tastes on each visit. For the baseball fan, be sure to check out their Tony Gwynn museum after a sip of the bright and hoppy .394 Pale Ale, which the ball player personally put his stamp of approval on.

Alesmith Anvil & Stave in Miramar, California. (Credit: Greg Nagel)

Alesmith’s original brewery is a short trip away, but now houses Mikkeller San Diego. Ex-Alesmith head brewer Bill Batton opted to stay with his storied brewhouse, making the transition to make the Copenhagen-based gypsy brewer’s beers. I find their freshness and vibe to be electric among San Diego’s finest, offering new takes on copycat classics.

Finishing the Beeramar trifecta, I like to visit something new while in the area. My last visit included Little Miss Brewing at only 20 days old. With a WWII bunker vibe and legit dart boards, the flight of bright and hoppy beers were the bomb, just like their logo.

Food & Nightlife During a San Diego Beercation

When beer touring, the need for food can become a necessity, but a little planning ahead can have you eating like the locals do, and hopefully squeeze in a couple fine-dining experiences into the trip. Touristy areas like Seaport Village and Old Town might be fun to shop, but the dining and beverage experience is somehow stuck in the 90’s. A couple miles from Old Town, get your burrito fix at Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop. Fish tacos are also indigenous to the region and usually a safe bet on any local menu. Type “fish tacos” into Yelp, and don’t be shocked to see a few pages of 4-5 star results.

(MORE: Why You Should Drink Beer Fresh)

Impromptu stop at Burning Beard Brewing on the way to Alpine, great jukebox and beer. (Credit: Greg Nagel)

Little Italy offers several gastropub experiences with hip noun & verb type of names, but Craft & Commerce made me feel most at home. Their modern naturalist ambiance and surprisingly accessible menu is as tasty as it is Instagram-worthy. Plus, they have my favorite San Diego brewery on tap: Societe Brewing. If by chance you can’t make it out to their taproom, be sure to try their beer around town. You can thank me later.

As San Diego continues to solidify itself as one of the nation’s best beer spots, the thing that keeps me coming back is its ability to keep morphing into something better than it once was. It’s not just the quantity of breweries and bars that makes a place great, it’s the history, the landscape, and the passionate producers and local fans that consume beer that truly make for great beercation.

The post Beercation Destination: San Diego appeared first on Miami Beer Scene.

from Beercation Destination: San Diego

[heartofhryule]

Heart of Wisdom - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Setting up for things getting real.

WARNINGS: Contains Hyrule Warriors spoilers and story items. I highly recommend playing the game if you haven’t! It’s complete fluff, but fun fluff…. minus Lana. ______________________________

Heart of Wisdom - a Tale after Hyrule Warriors | Chapter 4 - Allies and Enemies

Another week went by and preparations were being made for the envoys departures to the North and South. Zelda watched the courtyard bustling with activity as the caravans were stocked with supplies, horses reshod, and travellers conversing. They would be leaving that afternoon after she addressed them, directly after the Council meeting. The same Council meeting at which she would be informing the Council that Link was to be her betrothed.

There wasn't’ much call for her overseeing the preparations happening, Link was personally taking care of that. That, however, was precisely why she was watching. Her Hero was helping lift crates and barrels onto the carts, sleeves rolled up and his growing hair tied back in a small ponytail at the nape of his neck. The sun glistened on his face, perspiration from his exertion highlighting his cheekbones and drawing many internal and fluttered sighs from the princess as she observed.

“You’ve been sighing like a schoolgirl for days.” Zelda startled at Impa’s voice from behind her. Though Impa was well capable of sneaking up on her if the General so chose, Zelda knew it was instead her fixation on Link that had brought it about this time, rather than Impa’s effort.

Smiling guiltily, the princess nodded. “Has it been so noticeable?”

“Quite.”

Turning back to watch Link, she found him looking up to her from the courtyard. Ond hand shading his eyes from the sun, he raised his other to wave, and Zelda rewarded him with a smile and wiggle of her fingers back. “Can you blame me?”

Impa rolled her eyes good-naturedly and came to stand next to Zelda in the arch of the breezeway. “I hope the Council shares my understanding. But that will be dealt with later. I came to let you know there is a visitor here requesting an audience. I think you will want to speak with him.”

***

In the throne room, the great double doors opened to reveal a familiar shape in red armor. His helm, made of hammered steel and the same red metal as his full, heavy battle armor was forged, bore two long, steel horns that curled around his cheeks.  Zelda knew the helm mimicked the magical beast of which the man was capable of taking the form. Though once an enemy, heart twisted by Darkness, Zelda now smiled genuinely to see Volga, the Dragonknight striding towards her.

Taking a knee at the base of the dais, Volga bowed his head in respect. “Rise, noble Dragonknight,” Impa said from her spot on Zelda’s right, the three of them the only ones now present as the heralds closed the doors behind them.

As Volga stood, Zelda beamed. “Volga. It is good to see you well.”

“Highness,” he said respectfully in his deep, and gravelled voice. “I come with an offer of information and aid.”

“Oh?”

With a nod, he looked from Zelda to Impa and back. “I have heard of the Gerudan woman, Naburoo’s words and came quickly as I was able. As you know, my lands are further North than here in Castle Town. I saw them through nearly a week hence now, and have heard of the man, this Warlord Griffin of the Outlands. He is cruel and power hungry, and bitter over his exile, as I’m sure you might have guessed.”

“We had,” Zelda confirmed, her heart in her throat to have such news confirmed.

“Have you heard that many believe him to be the reincarnation of the very foe we slew not a fortnight ago?”

Both Zelda and Impa tensed, sharing a concerned glance. “What do you mean?” Impa asked, coming down the dais steps slowly, to stand on the same level with Volga. Zelda too joined them, her heart threatening to stop at this new concept.

“It is true,” The Dragonknight confirmed, removing his horned helmet to reveal his brassy blonde hair and ruby red eyes. He looked concerned. “What worries me is that I had a dream the same night the Gerudan Envoy travelled through. A dream of Lana.”

“Lana?” Impa asked in surprise, “I thought she had returned to the Sorceress’s Sanctum and her vows to not intervene.”

“I do not know for certain she was doing such on purpose,” Volga confessed. “The dream was strange. I was in the woods, much like the first time I met her other half, Cia, the first time. But instead of an approach and offer of power, Lana was weeping in a clearing. I was the only one there to approach and asked her what was wrong. She seemed, distracted, distant - saying that if Cia had never done what she did, then things would not be as they are - it seems the Triforce of Power has been reclaimed.”

“Reclaimed?” a voice echoed from the side door. Link appeared, sweaty from work tanned from the sun, but without a trace of fatigue about him as he strode forward. Reaching out, he and Volga clasped arms. “Nice to see you, Volga.”

“And you, Hero. And yes, it seems that the Triforce that Lana had taken into her protection disappeared. The only thing that can pluck such a force from the Guardian of Balance and Time is when the soul of Ganondorf has Awakened. And Lana was weeping in the dream, because it meant this life, Hyrule would face Darkness for a second time.”

Zelda wanted to move closer to Link, this news striking true fear in her heart. If the threat of normal war wasn’t frightening enough in the shambles Hyrule’s defenses found themselves currently, the idea of another battle with Darkness so soon… was unthinkable. “How can this be?” Impa asked, crossing her arms and beginning to pace.

“Cia interrupted the Cycle,” Zelda voiced softly. “Every generation, every Cycle has a Hero,” she said and reached her hand out to Link, that he took without hesitation, “A guardian of Wisdom, and the Darkness. The Ganondorf that we battled was the very soul of Darkness, not the incarnation of the Wielder of Power for our time.”

“That is what I was led to understand, yes,” the Dragonknight nodded. “Due to the Hero’s bindings there was not to be a reincarnation of the Darkness,” he sighed, “but then through Cia’s machinations, enough of the darkness was released that it seems the Warlord has Awakened. At least partially.”

“But we sealed the Darkness with the Master Sword,” Link contested, reaching to rest his arm around Zelda’s shoulders, as if he could feel her need of his strength.

Volga noticed this, and his lips quirked with a smile. “That is the question, is it not? This is why I have come to offer my services. I know of the Cycle, of the reincarnations that Cia went on about in her madness. I know who the two of you are, and who the Warlord is believed to be. If he is having memories, perhaps he will recall the most recent happenings, and see me as an ally. Either way, I wish to accompany your envoy North to the Outlands and see what information I can glean from the situation. I am a Noble of Hyrule, and have every reason to be there logically, as my land is closer to his borders. I believe my presence will not be seen as odd.”

Leaning ever so slightly against Link, Zelda nodded. “There is a Council meeting today. I will bring this up, and would request your presence. I agree that you will be a valuable addition to this envoy, for many reasons, and thank you graciously for your offer.”

Volga nodded and gave Zelda a bow. “Thank you, Highness.”

“Come,” Impa said and nodded to Volga, “Let us have a room prepared for you. I will have a squire summoned to polish your armor while you rest before the Council meeting.”

Turning on heel in his expectedly militant manner, Volga followed Impa out of the Throne room, leaving Zelda alone with Link.

“Don’t say you’re okay,” Link started, holding her closer with his arms around her shoulders. “I know-”

“I’m not,” she said honestly, fearing her knees were going to buckle. “Hyrule cannot withstand another war with the Darkness. Not so soon. If Volga and the rumors are correct, we will be nearly defenseless.”

As if he could read her mind, Link bent down and swept her feet from under her, gathering Zelda into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his neck with a squeak of surprised protest. She tried to say she could walk, despite her uncertainty, but he ignored her. Walking without a word out of the throne room and up the stairs from the corridor outside of her study, he carried her directly to her bedchamber, the one they had been sharing every night for the last week.

Laying her down on the bed, he crawled up next to her and gathered her into his arms, laying a chaste kiss in her hair. “We will figure it out,” he said finally, one hand rubbing her side affectionately. “But we don’t have to do it right this instant. What can I get you?”

There was a lump in her throat she couldn’t speak around. The fear she had now for her land and the people inhabiting coupled with the gratitude and love she felt at his empathy were overwhelming. Hot tears, tears of anger, fear and love for Link’s insight and affection stung her eyes, leaving her able to merely shake her head. “Hold me?” she managed hoarsely through her emotions.

“Always,” Link whispered and tightening his arms around her, laying there in the bed that was now theirs and letting her cry as long as she needed before the Council meeting.

***

“This is preposterous!” Lord Thrang of the Council declared, glaring at Link. Link just smirked back. He wasn’t afraid of the red faced old man. It seemed already the old codger was in the minority, and while the soft Noble attacking a trained soldier like himself would have ended poorly, Link also knew having both Impa and Volga at his back would dissuade any such actions from occurring.

Zelda was scowling at the man, hands on the table where she leaned forward. “Your objection is noted, Lord Thrang. Do any others share his sentiment?”

“How does this benefit the Kingdom?”

“What boon would come from marrying a peasant come knight?”

“What does it matter? He’s the Hero of the land…”

“Why not one of the tribal leaders of the Gerudo?”

“Yes! Settle the discourse in the South!”

The voices began to rise in a crescendo, and if the expression on her face as she stood was any indication, Link guessed Zelda was realizing slowly that perhaps she had been mistaken about the understanding and empathy of the Council. Discreetly, he reached out to take her hand where it could not be seen as they stood side by side. The hero took a breath to speak, but to his surprise it was Volga that stepped forward.

“Gentlemen!” he commanded loud enough to get their attention without shouting. The din died down as all eyes turned to the imposing knight. “If I may?”

“And you are, sir?”

“I am Volga, the Dragonknight, Baron of Snowpeak to the North, near the borders with the Outlands. And while I have been invited by her Highness to speak to you today of the warlord in the North, I find that as a knight of the realm, my interest is invested in Hyrule’s future and that perhaps I can bring perspective to this discussion as well. With her Highness’s blessing?” Volga turned his face away from the Council with his request of Zelda, but gave her a wink where the Lords could not see.

Not knowing his game, Link was interested and Zelda hesitant, but she nodded in a choice to trust their ally.

“Is it not so that Link, the Hero of Hyrule is well received and accepted by the people?” he asked turning to address the Council once more. “That his rise from obscurity to knighthood, and to save the realm is an inspiration to the common man, and to the army to achieve more than they are?” Volga’s intense red eyes swept over the assembled, a few of the Lords nodding, others swallowing in trepidation, too nervous in the presence of the tall, intimidating knight to voice arguement.

“The Baron is right,” Impa added, stepping forward. “The Hero’s accomplishments inspire the army, and have even brought us new recruits in his name, their hopes of achievement driving them to follow his footsteps. He is respected by the people.”

“And at the end of every good story, does the Hero not gain the hand of his Princess?” Volga added, turning to look at Link. “I have no doubt that the affections that ignite this desire for courtship are genuine, but also that Her Highness and the Hero of Hyrule have also considered the good it will do for the land, especially in a time there is yet threat of war. A Kingdom united will not only appear inspired and stronger, but will be so in the face of threats from the Outlands.”

The Council looked to one another, murmuring amongst themselves as Link smirked to Volga. Clapping him on the shoulder, it would have inappropriate to thank him in front of the gathered, but he hoped the Baron understood.

“Has there been a formal proposal?” another Lord asked, this one seeming far less interested or hot on the subject of Hyrule’s ruler choosing who she was going to spend her life with.

“No,” Link said but remained confident.

“We were discussing details,” Zelda started, but Link squeezed her hand in silent request to continue. She looked to him and nodded.

“I was waiting for the appropriate time. I think I’ve found it though.” With his hand now visibly in hers, Link tugged Zelda away from the Council table to a place they could both be seen by all gathered. Taking a moment to compose himself, his excitement was starting to get the better of him. She was beautiful, beautiful beyond words as she looked at him with timid excitement. She was the bearer of Wisdom, he had no doubt she’d already guessed where this was going.

Taking a knee in front of her, the rest of the Council chambered melted away from his perception. There was no one but Zelda in that moment, no one but the vision of compassion, and beauty and grace and battle prowess… despite her skirts and softer crown today for the Council, she was still his warrior goddess.

Swallowing his heart back into his throat, he brought her hand to his lips to kiss. He’d run over the words in his mind a few times, but now he did not entirely trust his voice. “The first time I laid eyes on you, there was no one more beautiful in all of Hyrule. The first time we spoke, there was no voice I would rather hear. You are the strongest, kindest, most fearsome and skilled, talented and beautiful woman I have ever had the joy of walking alongside.” His eyes were locked with hers, her tears of happiness beginning to spill as her smile grew. His words were crafted for the Council, but Link meant so much more. As she had said, eternity was different for them - so when he said “ever had the joy of walking alongside”, he hoped she understood it was not just this lifetime to which he referred.

“Zelda, you are the air I breathe, and the very heart in my chest. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

The air was thick with tension, even Impa was leaned a touch forward, as Zelda tried to find her voice to answer. Lips moving inaudible, she seemed to be searching for words to give him in return, but Link smiled when she gave up and merely nodded tearfully saying, “Yes!”

A round of cheers went up, and it seemed that while not all despondents were swayed, the majority voted in favor of the union. Link hugged his bride to be, and stole a kiss from her neck surreptitiously before they returned to her seat at the table to go over the envoy to the Northern Outlands.

After his inspiring speech, Volga had endeared himself and was given no resistance on leading the caravan to meeting with the Warlord Griffin. As Council broke session, Volga congratulated his friends, but quickly followed Impa to finish preparing to leave forthwith, and while Zelda had to prepare for her address to the travellers, Link found she stopped him before they parted.

“Yes?” He said with a warm smile, coming to give her his undivided attention as the now empty chamber gave them privacy.

Again, her lips moved, jaw working as she searched for words, but nothing came out. She snapped her jaw shut so quickly it clicked, and before he could react Link found himself being tackled. Her lips pressed to his just as many of their sweet chaste kisses had, but with her arms about his neck, her lips parted to deepen this kiss unlike any before.

Link shuddered head to toe and had no hesitation in obliging her, his arms encircling her waist to crush her sweet weight against him as he slowly moved his tongue to taste hers for the first time. Her mouth was soft and sweet and intoxicating against his, and Link lost track of how much time passed, or how long his heart fully stopped.

When eventually she broke to gasp for breath, the smile she wore branded his heart. “What was that for?” he asked coyly, very much wondering if he could shirk the rest of his day for more of those kisses.

“For being eloquent, and brave, and romantic… and because I love you, my darling Link.”

If her smile had branded him, her words sealed his fate. His expression fell from coy amusement and desire to that of the insurmountable love he felt for her both from lifetimes past, and purely his own of this life. “And I love you, my Zelda.”