#medieval homemade weapon

[balkanradfem]

"Growing flax to make linen was one of the oldest human activities in Europe, particularly in the Rhineland. Archeologists have found linen textiles among the settlements of Neolithic cultivators along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in the Jura Mountains west of Bern, Switzerland. These were elaborate pieces: Stone Age clothmakers of the Swiss lakeshores sewed pierced fruit pits in a careful line into a fabric with woven stripes. The culture spread down the Rhine and into the lowland regions.

The Roman author Pliny observed in the first century AD that German women wove and wore linen sheets. By the ninth century flax had spread through Germany. By the sixteenth century, flax was produced in many parts of Europe, but the corridor from western Switzerland to the mouth of the Rhine contained the oldest region of large-scale commercial flax and linen production. In the late Middle Ages the linen of Germany was sold nearly everywhere in Europe, and Germany produced more linen than any other region in the world.

At this juncture, linen weavers became victims of an odd prejudice. “Better skinner than linen weaver,” ran one cryptic medieval German taunt. Another macabre popular saying had it that linen weavers were worse than those who “carried the ladders to the gallows.” The reason why linen weavers were slandered in this way, historians suspect, was that although linen weavers had professionalized and organized themselves into guilds, they had been unable to prevent homemade linen from getting onto the market. Guilds appeared across Europe between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries but many of the items they produced for exchange, like textiles and soap, were also produced at home right up through the nineteenth century. The intricate regulations of the guilds—determining who could join, how they would be trained, what goods they would produce, and how these could be exchanged—were mainly designed to distinguish guild work from this homely labor. That linen making continued to be carried out inside of households—a liability for guilds in general—lent a taint to the linen guild in particular.

In the seventeenth century, guilds came under pressure from a new, protocapitalist mode of production. Looking for cheaper cloth to sell on foreign markets, entrepreneurs cased the Central European countryside offering to pay cash to home producers for goods. Rural households became export manufacturing centers and a major source of competition with the guilds. These producers could undercut the prices of urban craftsmen because they could use the unregulated labor of their family members, and because their own agricultural production allowed them to sell their goods for less than their subsistence costs.

The uneasiness between guild and household production in the countryside erupted into open hostility. In the 1620s, linen guildsmen marched on villages, attacking competitors, and burning their looms. In February 1627 Zittau guild masters smashed looms and seized the yarn of home weavers in the villages of Oderwitz, Olbersdorf, and Herwigsdorf.

Guilds had long worked to keep homemade products from getting on the market. In their death throes, they hit upon a new and potent weapon: gender. Although women in medieval Europe wove at home for domestic consumption, many had also been guild artisans. Women were freely admitted as masters into

the earliest medieval guilds, and statutes from Silesia and the Oberlausitz show that women were master weavers. Thirteenth-century Paris had eighty mixed craft guilds of men and women and fifteen female-dominated guilds for such trades as gold thread, yarn, silk, and dress manufacturing. Up until the mid-seventeenth century, guilds had belittled home production because it was unregulated, nonprofessional, and competitive. In the mid-seventeenth century this work was identified as women’s work, and guildsmen unable to compete against cheaper household production tried to eject women from the market entirely. Single women were barred from independent participation in the guilds. Women were restricted to working as domestic servants, farmhands, spinners, knitters, embroiderers, hawkers, wet nurses. They lost ground even where the jobs had been traditionally their own, such as ale brewing and midwifery, by the end of the seventeenth century.

The wholesale ejection of women from the market during this period was achieved not only through guild statute, but through legal, literary, and cultural means. Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries women lost the legal right to conduct economic activity as femes soles. In France they were declared legal “imbeciles,” and lost the right to make contracts or represent themselves in court. In Italy, they began to appear in court less frequently to denounce abuses against them. In Germany, when middle-class women were widowed it became customary to appoint a tutor to manage their affairs. As the medieval historian Martha Howell writes, “Comedies and satires of this period…often portrayed market women and trades women as shrews, with characterizations that not only ridiculed or scolded them for taking on roles in market production but frequently even charged them with sexual aggression.” This was a period rich in literature about the correction of errant women: Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew (1590–94), John Ford’s ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore (1629–33), Joseph Swetnam’s “The Araignment of Lewde, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women” (1615). Meanwhile, Protestant reformers and Counter-Reformation Catholics established doctrinally that women were inherently inferior to men.

This period, called the European Age of Reason, successfully banished women from the market and transformed them into the sweet and passive beings that emerged in Victorian literature. Women accused of being scolds were paraded in the streets wearing a new device called a “branks,” an iron muzzle that depressed the tongue. Prostitutes were subjected to fake drowning, whipped, and caged. Women convicted of adultery were sentenced to capital punishment.

As a cultural project, this was not merely recreational sadism. Rather, it was an ideological achievement that would have lasting and massive economic consequences. Political philosopher Silvia Federici has argued this expulsion was an intervention so massive, it ought to be included as one of a triptych of violent seizures, along with the Enclosure Acts and imperialism, that allowed capitalism to launch itself.

Part of why women resisted enclosure so fiercely was because they had the most to lose. The end of subsistence meant that households needed to rely on money rather than the production of agricultural goods like cloth, and women had successfully been excluded from ways to earn. As labor historian Alice Kessler-Harris has argued, “In pre-industrial societies, nearly everybody worked, and almost nobody worked for wages.” During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, monetary relations began to dominate economic life in Europe. Barred from most wage work just as the wage became essential, women were shunted into a position of chronic poverty and financial dependence. This was the dominant socioeconomic reality when the first modern factory, a cotton-spinning mill, opened in 1771 in Derbyshire, England, an event destined to upend still further the pattern of daily life."

- Sofi Thanhauser, Worn: A People's History of Clothing

[dragon-chica]

Going to the Ren Faire with Jason Grace

Fandom: Heroes of Olympus

Mortal AU This does not have to be fem!Reader, there are male corsets, and they are sexy as fuck. Also if you have never worn a corset, I highly recommend. It is so much fun and not at all like movies portray.

This ended kind of weird but I'm feeling soft about Jason lately.

Dedicated to the only person who would answer my post and chose Jason! 😹

You were going to ren faires long before getting together with Jason, and other than possibly, possibly hearing the name in passing, he has no clue what it is.

You're talking with Piper about going and past faires and Jason's just sitting there completely lost, which isn't unusual with certain interests or media, but he has no clue what those words are.

After trying to explain a little he's even more confused at why a bunch of people would get together to dress up as peasants and medieval stuff, but nods along slowly.

Of course you want to take him with you.

You tell him it's fine if he doesn't dress up with you, plenty of people go 'naked'. And he is spluttering with your choice of words that he would never-!

You and Piper break down laughing before telling him it's just slang for normal clothes.

Now, Jason is a very respectful boyfriend and often doesn't get suggestive cues or attempts, but you were hoping to get a good reaction out of him seeing you in a corset for the first time.

Also because you were sure if you started changing in the parking lot he would be in conniptions trying to cover you up.

Hence getting changed at home before leaving.

Jason was ready bright and early, as requested. Sitting with his fingers threaded together in his lap just waiting for you to be ready to go, he kind of wondered if it was like an actual faire since you wanted to be there when it started.

While he did google 'ren faires' and look up the specific one you were going to, seeing the different full outfits people wore, he was still unprepared for you to come out, mostly dressed, with your loose corset.

"Alright strong boyfriend, time to use you for your muscles."

You tell him to stand behind you, and he does so apprehensively, hands hovering.

"Closer Jason, I need your help." You roll your eyes fondly and back up towards him.

You tug the centered loops enough for him to see.

"Alright my big strong man," His face heats up and you know it even without seeing. "take these, and YANK."

You take a breath and suck in preparing for a good tug only for Jason to carefully pull there's a bit of resistance.

"Is this okay?"

He's so worried he'll hurt you.

You just deadpan and shoulders sag. Sweet as he is, he has a job to do here.

"Jason baby, you're not going to hurt me. Now pull those until the center is flush and I feel sexy."

Still so worried but eventually you get him to tighten you up correctly, watching appreciatively in the mirror as his arms strain.

He keeps asking if you're okay and if you can breathe and you tell him that his period dramas are not accurate.

"It actually feels good when it's on right, and after a day of wearing one, feels even better coming off."

Confused puppy boyfriend and you're making it worse.

If you have a bag besides what you're wearing for purchases, he gladly offers to carry it for you, always a gentleman.

Looking everywhere when you arrive but stays right by your side.

A lot of boyfriends 'dragged along' will wander off and you tell him it's okay if he wants to, but he doesn't want to leave you :( or possibly lose you in the crowd to go sit somewhere and wait :(

Very curious about all the little things in the stalls, lots of homemade jewelry and clothing and trinkets he's never seen before.

You keep an eye on what he really looks at and buy him a little gift for later without him noticing.

He's just kind of glancing around one of the 'weapon's vendor' tents until he sees the swords and wishes so much he could buy one.

A couple guys walk past announcing the sword fighting is about to start and he really wants to go see that.

Enamored watching. You take a sneaky side profile of him watching starry eyed at the fight.

Hold's your hand as you go back to walking around and asks if you can go watch the show later too.

You convince him to go challenge the guy sword fighting the little kids to a duel, he's skeptical but finally goes along with it because he trusts you.

Pleasantly surprised when his wooden sword is almost knocked from his hand immediately but quickly finds his footing and puts up a good fight for a few minutes, you have a video of him laughing before eventually landing on his butt in the grass.

Comes back to you sweaty and grinning telling you how much fun that was.

"I wonder if there's anywhere to take sword fighting lessons...?"

Insists on paying for dinner when it starts getting later, and thanks you for bringing him along with you.

He had a lot of fun and secretly kind of wants to try dressing up with you next time, but doesn't say anything about it.

Falls asleep as you drive home, a little bag with a necklace he thought would be pretty on you still clutched in his hand.

[ponyosmom35]

The Fall of King Steve

Bittersweet chapter eleven

Steve Harrington x fem oc

synopsis: After buying weapons to trap the demogorgan, Nancy, Johnathon, and Indie spot graffiti with Nancy's name.

warnings: cursing, fighting, blood, steve gets his shit rocked

link to master list:

https://www.tumblr.com/ponyosmom35/733401347573088256/simon-ghost-riley?source=share

The next morning dawned grey and heavy, mirroring the weight of their mission. Indie, Jonathan, and Nancy gathered in Jonathan’s room, their faces grim and determined as they planned their next move. They had realized that the monster in Hawkins had a peculiar weakness: it tracked blood. Their plan was simple but dangerous—lure the creature into a trap and destroy it.

After a brief stop at the local hardware store, they emerged with a cache of weaponry: crowbars, axes, and a variety of homemade weapons that would make a medieval knight proud. The sight of their arms and ammunition made Indie’s stomach churn with a mix of dread and resolve.

As they walked past the movie theater, a fresh wave of outrage hit them. The marquee, once the highlight of Hawkins’ downtown, was now defaced with the cruel spray-painted message: “Nancy the Slut Wheeler.” Indie’s grip tightened on Nancy’s hand, a silent show of solidarity.

They reached the alleyway behind the theater, where Nancy spotted Steve and his gang loitering. The confrontation was inevitable. Nancy, her face set with determination, strode up to Steve. Without a word, she slapped him across the face, a sharp crack that echoed in the alley.

Steve, taken aback, rubbed his cheek and glared at Nancy. His anger flared. 

“What is wrong with you?” Nancy asks 

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?” Steve asks seemingly unaffected by her slap. “I was worried about you, can’t believe I was actually worried about you”

“What are you talking about” Nancy asks as Johnahton and Indie walk up behind her. Nancy’s eyes light up with realization and she looks up at Steve. 

“So you came by last night? Look I don’t know what you think you saw but it wasn’t like that” 

“So what you just let him in your room to.. Study?” Steve asks 

“Another pervy photo session” Tommy laughs

“Shut the fuck up asshole” Indie snaps at him stepping forward. 

“Go to hell” Steve snaps

Indie’s eyes, cold and hard, bore into Steve. The hurt she felt was raw and intense. She struggled to understand why she had ever admired him. Steve's arrogance and the recent events had shattered any idealized image she had held of him. Sure she regretted the horrid words she’d spewed at him a few days prior. He didn’t deserve to be the receiver of her pain and anger that day, but he’d been the one to make her snap. 

“You know what Byers I’m actually kind of impressed, I always took you for a queer but I guess you’re just a screw-up like your father” Steve snaps, pushing Johnthon as he tries to lead them away. 

“Get away from him asshole!” Indie snaps, pushing his chest. His nostrils flare as he stares down at her in anger. 

“Get your goddamn hands off me freak, I don’t wanna know where they’ve been” Steve snaps “Who knows maybe Byers has them both, imagine that” 

Her heart shatters at Steve’s cruel words and she looks up at him in betrayal and heartbreak. Before she could respond Steve keeps talking, clearly looking for a fight. 

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, I mean a bunch of screw-ups in your family, your mom”

“Johnathon please keep walking” Indie begs as he holds his arm, knowing he was about to snap.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this but I’m not supposed what happened to your brother-” Steve snaps as he pushes Johnathon again

“Steve shut up!” Nancy yells 

“Johnathon-” Indie tries 

“Their family is a disgrace to the entire -”

Before Steve could react, Jonathan’s fist connected with his jaw. The force of the punch sent Steve stumbling back. Steve recovered quickly, anger fueling him. He lunged at Jonathan, the two of them crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs. 

Jonathan’s rage was unrelenting. He pounded on Steve, each blow a release of the frustration and fear that had been building inside him. Steve, though taken by surprise, fought back with equal fervor, their bodies rolling across the dirty asphalt. The alleyway was filled with the sounds of grunts, impacts, and harsh breathing.

“Johnathon stop it!” Indie yells 

In the chaos, Indie and Nancy stood aside, watching in horror as their friends fought. Nancy tried to interject. “Stop it! Both of you, stop!”

Jonathan didn’t hear her. He continued to beat Steve, his fists raining down until Steve’s attempts to defend himself grew weaker. The violence only ceased when the distant wail of sirens grew louder.

The police arrived, and Jonathan was pulled off Steve, his face smeared with dirt and blood. Indie’s heart sank as she watched Jonathan being handcuffed and led away. Nancy, in a daze, could only stand by as Steve, battered and bruised, smirked triumphantly.

They made their way to the police station, Indie’s thoughts a chaotic whirl of anger and regret. At the station, Indie gave her statement with a trembling voice, her mind racing with thoughts of what could have been. Nancy stood by Jonathan, offering what comfort she could.

-

Joyce Byers, seething with frustration and concern, picked them up. Her eyes were sharp with anger as she scolded Jonathan. “You should have talked to me before going after the monster. This is a mess!”

Hopper, stern and imposing, joined them. “You can’t go home right now. The government is after you. It’s not safe.”

The group returned to the Byers’ house considering it their home base. They gathered around the walkie-talkies, trying to establish contact with anyone who could help. After several tense moments, Nancy managed to reach Mike and the rest of the kids. They agreed to meet up at the Byers’ house.

When Eleven arrived, she looked pale and exhausted. The group explained the situation, and Eleven attempted to use the walkie-talkie to contact their missing friends. The effort seemed fruitless at first, and Eleven’s frustration was evident.

“I can try to find them through a bath,” Eleven said finally. “It’s a stronger connection.”

They raced to the school to fill a large bathtub with an immense amount of salt and cranked up the static on the radio. Eleven stepped into the bathtub, her eyes closed as she concentrated. The room was filled with a tense silence as they watched her, hoping for any sign of connection.

The static on the radio crackled ominously, filling the room with a low hum. Eleven’s voice cut through the noise, trembling but resolute. “Barb?” she called softly, her tone laced with hope.

“Barb?” she repeated, her voice breaking as she tried to stay focused. “Barb?”

The static seemed to swallow her words for a moment before the faintest whisper emerged from the radio. The sound was weak and distorted, but unmistakable. Eleven’s face twisted in distress as she listened intently, her breathing growing shallow and rapid.

The words that came through were barely audible, but they were enough. Eleven’s eyes filled with tears as she struggled to keep her composure. “gone,” she said, her voice cracking and breaking into sobs.

The room fell into a suffocating silence. The air seemed to thicken as the weight of Eleven’s words settled over them. Indie’s heart plummeted into her stomach, her mind reeling from the impact of the revelation. 

Indie’s vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. She sat back on the gym floor, her body numb as her mind struggled to process the devastating news. The room seemed to spin around her, the walls closing in as she felt herself disconnect from the reality of the moment. The harsh reality of Barb’s death was too much to bear.

The sounds of the room became distant. Hopper’s voice, filled with concern and urgency, seemed to be coming from a far-off place. Indie could barely make out his words, the sound muffled and distorted as if underwater. She tried to focus, to grasp at the fragments of reality that were slipping through her fingers, but the effort was too much.

Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her chest felt tight with the weight of her grief. The room was filled with the heavy silence of their collective loss. Indie’s tears streamed down her face, unchecked and silent. Her body shook with the intensity of her emotions, but she remained eerily still, her mind desperately trying to reconcile the cruel truth with the memories of Barb.

Eleven’s hyperventilation grew more pronounced as she struggled to regain control, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her sobs were muffled by the static, and the room felt smaller, more oppressive, with each passing second. Eleven was losing control, she was feeding off of Indie’s emotions. 

In that unbearable silence, Indie sat alone with her grief, disconnected from the frantic energy of the room, unable to find solace or understanding in the midst of their shared pain. The weight of the loss hung heavily over her, an unbearable truth that seemed to swallow all hope.

Joyce is able to calm the young girl down after several minutes. 

She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus again. “Will... Will, are you there?”

A weak, distant voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. “Will... Will?” Nancy’s face lit up with a mixture of hope and fear as she heard his voice.

Joyce, tears streaming down her face, held Eleven as she broke down. “We need to find him,” Joyce said, her voice resolute.

The group, now more determined than ever, prepared to face the creature that had taken Barb and Will. They would bring the boy home. 

[birdboy-blues]

Story time?

Fhdjfjsjd it's not as cool as it sounds unfortunately ^^

There's a big group/community of people around where I live that do a lot of medieval LARPing, specifically centered around battle using homemade foam versions of various weapons (I personally had daggers, a shortsword, and a longbow back when I did it)

Fast forward a few years to when I read a Brandon Sanderson book for the first time, read on the back that not only does he apparently live very close to where I did, but also happens to be a part of the aforementioned community

tl;dr apparently I used to swordfight in a group with a famous author back when I was younger

[daydreambelievcr]

anchorage task 07: valeria danielle graves-seong

star sign: pisces ( february 20 ) mythological creature: a phoenix folktale: little red riding hood fairytale character ( classical or modern ): alice liddell from alice in wonderland 3 fictional tropes: the reluctant hero, deal at the crossroads, a fresh start romantic or platonic trope: friends to lovers, ride or die creepypasta story: candle cove greek god or goddess: apollo, god of the sun, music, and dance time of day where they draw the most energy: mid-day  their achilles heel: her love for her family ( she would do anything to keep them out of harm's way ) medieval weapon of choice: a longbow ( a weapon that requires skill and can be fired from a safe distance ) survival, starvation, or death by the undead in the apocalypse: survival, by whatever means necessary ( especially if she was going through it with family and friends ) which of the seven sins represent them ? horseman of the apocalypse ?: pride, famine what their superpower would be: healing could they pull excalibur from the stone ?: yes one aesthetic for each of the five senses ( taste, hearing, sight, smell, touch ): taste: licking homemade buttercream frosting off of a spatula, rock candy melting against your tongue hearing: the soft twinkle of windchimes in the distance, the sound of loud laughter pouring out of an open door sight: staring up at watercolor sunsets in awe, fingers stained with the remnants of colorful sidewalk chalk smell: freshly spun cotton candy, entering a room with the lingering scent of sugary sweet perfume touch: pulling a plush throw blanket all the way up to your chin and letting it lock out the evening chill, running your hands over a collection of stuffed animals a bad habit that won’t go away: her very erratic sleep schedule and inability to sleep in a recurring nightmare: being trapped in a labyrinth, desperately searching for a way out and crying out for help, but her shouts are met with silence ( although she's convinced that she can hear whispers and lowered voices just behind her ) an object they consider their lucky charm: a simple, nondescript ring that belonged to her mother, which she wears frequently

[sparrow-in-boots]

Unusual Muse Associations

taking out the trusty lads for this one, plus i should dust them off a bit. got tagged by my beloved @cerbin-aen-feainn so i suppose i'll tag mmmm @fledermavs @kaijufluffs and @bookcalanthedaily!!

Iridian Caedfel

SEASONING: toasted black pepper WEATHER: very clouded with mottled sunshine COLOUR: ashen black MAGICAL POWER: shadow manipulation PLANT: thistle WEAPON: daggers SUBJECT: eschatology SOCIAL MEDIA: mySpace MAKEUP PRODUCT: waterproof eyeliner CANDY: cinnamon hard candy FEAR: loss of individuality ICE CUBE SHAPE: skull METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL: horseback riding ART STYLE: baroque MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: hellhound PIECE OF STATIONARY: blackout pens THREE EMOJIS:🖤😶🫀 CELESTIAL BODY: starfield

Elryn of Rouhill

SEASONING: soy sauce WEATHER: warm and sunny with a pleasant breeze COLOUR: burnished gold MAGICAL POWER: ethereal weapons PLANT: dark marigold WEAPON: straight sword SUBJECT: public speaking and teaching theory SOCIAL MEDIA: mastodon MAKEUP PRODUCT: skincare routines CANDY: tictacs FEAR: failing as a role model ICE CUBE SHAPE: classic icecube tray shape METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL: hitchhiking or carpooling ART STYLE: expressionism MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: gryffin PIECE OF STATIONARY: "good job" stamps and stickers THREE EMOJIS:🤣👍🧹 CELESTIAL BODY: midday sun

Aodhán of Rouhill

SEASONING: ginger oil WEATHER: sunny but cold COLOUR: silver-blue MAGICAL POWER: immortality PLANT: jasmine WEAPON: spear SUBJECT: speculative anthropology SOCIAL MEDIA: twitter MAKEUP PRODUCT: lip stains CANDY: sour candy FEAR: being known ICE CUBE SHAPE: when you freeze a full water bottle and it slowly melts into a funky cylinder METHOD OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL: brisk walking ART STYLE: neoclassicism MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE: medieval unicorn PIECE OF STATIONARY: homemade wax seal THREE EMOJIS: 🙃🤷‍♂️🙊 CELESTIAL BODY: new moon

[hopeymchope]

Hey!

The Junko ask you did reminded me of my own concept where the THH cast use magic alongside weaponry that may be related to their talent or character. Do you have any ideas for everyone except Makoto and Junko, as I already have stable ideas for them?

More specifically,

Leon, Mondo, Sakura, Aoi, and Mukuro are more physical (warriors,)

Kyoko, Byakuya, Chihiro, and Celestia are more magical (mages,)

and Sayaka, Kiyotaka, Hifumi, Yasuhiro, and Toko plus Jack are balanced between physical and magical attacks.

I'm SO sorry for the late reply! I saved an in-progress answer to this a few weeks ago and then uh... I went through some surgery and my S.O. had surgery and basically I lost all track of the fact that this happened.

So. Uh yeah. This is probably too late to add useful suggestions to your concept, as you've likely already cemented a lot more characters in the interim. EVEN SO: Can I offer you an extremely late answer in this trying time?

Obviously Leon has to have a bat or club, right? Even though he'd probably resent it at first... ? Lol. But he'd be excellent at it all the same. Might feel cool to incorporate some loud singing/yelling in a very "punk rock" style into a couple attacks, too. Or is that anachronistic to your setting?

Mukuro can use literally anything, but I feel projectile weapons are the most logical thing for her (besides just a combat-centric knife, which feels too bland/basic). I don't have any idea how medieval OR modern you're making this reality, so: Perhaps she wields a gun, a crossbow, or just a regular bow?

Sakura needs to be the character that ONLY uses their fists and actual martial arts moves. There's always at least one of those in RPGs, y'know. The "Black Belt in Final Fantasy 1"-type character. Or the "Chie in Persona 4," if you prefer.

It's easy to picture Chihiro using some sort of visual equivalent to computing/hacking. Therefore, Chihiro could cast a spell that makes squares and/or cubes appear to float through the air (representations of screen pixels and/or algorithm geometry), which expand into a fractal image that reaches over and builds itself up THROUGH the target, for example, causing damage by impaling them with the fractal. If you don't know what I mean by a random computer-generated fractal, just imagine something like this rapidly growing out from Chihiro's spell to attack the enemy:

5. Pretty easy to figure out Genocide(r) Jack/Syo would use small blades such as scissors or, if that's not logical for your setting, then some knives. But when she's regular ol' Toko, how about she whips out a notebook and starts frantically writing with a pen, only for the words to float off of the page and then fly right into her opponent?

6. I've been thinking about how Asahina might fight, and I'm not sure what to do with her. I figure she might use her legs a lot like a Chun-Li-type because swimming has built up her kicking strength. And we see her practice a few punches in DR3, though we only see her fight using some kind of pipe/rebar/metal thing when confronting Juzo. I imagine she wouldn't use a strictly defined "style"; it'd be more of a hodgepodge of homemade attacks she concocts.

7. Mondo? Punching/boxing and would probably also wield a tire iron/axel. Simple.

8. Hagakure is similarly easy. He can conjure (y'know, do some quick prayer or swirl a hand over an artifact or something) some kind of visible magic (I'm picturing a generic swirling smoke or beam of light; pretty standard stuff) using his crystal balls and other weird possessions. .... Hopefully his attacks are better than 30% effective :P I don't have a vision of how he'd work with performing physical attacks, though... ?

9. I don't know how to handle Kyoko's "magic." Is there some way to visualize the "magic" of someone just being intelligent and using logical deduction? I can't quite grok how to do it. We do know she has some physical fighting skill, however, because of the time she fought Masked Junko off in Naegi's room in DR1. And I can picture how she'd work as a physical fighter: extremely minimalist. She'd so reserved as a person that I think her fighting style would be similarly reserved. She would stand there with her arms crossed, looking unready, and would barely move when actually attacking/fighting. You know, just casually stroll up and then swat an enemy with the back of her fist. Or just stand still and barely sidestep to dodge, then pivot before sending out a very basic forward kick to hit the opponent. It would almost look lazy, but it's actually extremely calculated. Y'know?

10. Maizono would have to have some magic involving music, naturally. Y'know... in season 1 of the Magia Record anime, we saw another Sayaka — Sayaka Miki — use music-based magic for healing. She can sing/hum/play songs that generate visible musical notes as a form of magic. I think it'd be cool if Maizono could do the same kind of thing ... plus maybe she swings a mic stand around and hits people with it like Rise does in Persona 4 Arena?

And that's... kind of all I could conjure up from my brain. There are still four people on your list there, and I don't seem to have any ideas on how to work them. But hopefully you do. Or will! :)

[vrapon-taxi-albania]

Gjirokastra: 6 things to know as a tourist

1. History of Gjirokastra

Gjirokastra has a rich history dating back to ancient times. The city was first settled by the Illyrians and later became a Roman one. In the Middle Ages, it was under the rule of the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire. Today, the city is a symbol of Albanian resistance, as it was the birthplace of the leader of the Communist Party, Enver Hoxha. According to the legend, during the siege of the city by the Turks, Princess Argjiro jumped from the walls of the castle together with her son in order not to fall alive into the hands of the enemy. This is where the name “Fortress of Argjiro” came from.

2. Things to do in Gjirokastra

Visit the Gjirokastra Castle: This medieval fortress is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city and provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Explore the Old Bazaar: This historic marketplace is the heart of Gjirokastra’s cultural and social life and is a great place to find souvenirs and local handicrafts.

Museums. You should visit the Weapons Museum, Ethnographic Museum, and the characteristic houses of Zakates, Skendulates, Babametos, Kadares, etc.

Walk through the Stone Town: The city’s unique architecture, with buildings made of stone and wood, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see for visitors.

For nature enthusiasts, the most valuable are the natural parks such as Viroit, Sotires, Ujit te Ftohte in Tepelena, etc.

3. How to get to Gjirokastra from Tirana?

The best way to get to Gjirokastra from Tirana is by bus or car. The journey takes approximately 6 hours by bus, and the route passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Albania. The ticket price is around $15. If you’re driving, the route takes approximately 4 hours and is a scenic journey through the Albanian Alps. Albania has also an Uber-like app where you can book a taxi, called VrapOn Taxi.

4. The Best Time to visit

Gjirokastra can be visited throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the summer. In this period the city is full of tourists and the atmosphere is very vivid. In this part of the year, you also can combine your visit with Saranda beaches.

5. Places to stay

Currently, in the city, HORECA is developing rapidly. There are a variety of accommodation options in Gjirokastra, ranging from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxury hotels. Some of the top-rated places to stay include Hotel Kerculla, Hotel Gjirokastra, and Hotel the First. We highly recommend booking a room in Hotel Kerculla if you are by car or can afford a taxi. The panorama over there is unique and relaxing.

6. Food and drink

Gjirokastra is known for its delicious traditional cuisine, which includes dishes such as roasted lamb, stuffed peppers, and homemade cheese. Do not forget to taste traditional meatballs called “qifqi”. Some of the top restaurants in the city include Taverna Traditional Kardhashi, Taverna Kula, Restaurant Vojsava, and Restaurant Traditional Odaja. Please do not leave the city without visiting Kalimera Patisserie.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gjirokastra is a city that offers history, culture, beautiful landscapes, and nature. Whether you’re a history lover, an adventure-seeker, or just looking for a relaxing weekend, Gjirokastra has something to offer for everyone. So pack your bags and head to this beautiful city to experience all it has to offer!

[azzurra-astra]

Mariner CH.4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

He retreated, one hand moving back, the growling subsided but his observance remained.  She wasn't sure what was running through his head, but his face morphed into a disturbingly well-read example of satisfaction, eyes no longer so harsh and critical.  She couldn't quite place where he stood on it all, but her willingness to show she respected when he told her to keep her distance must've helped somewhat.

She noted how the red stripes burst out against the olive skin of his upper-half, and how his palms were a brighter red than the rest of his hands, his claws were only a shade off.  The flat, feline-esc nostrils that held the heavy-looking bull ring on his face subtly flexed, then, he exhaled and it was a tremendous sound, like thunder in it's own right.

Her stomach flipped when he turned to briskly reenter the water, the portion of his tail not obscured by sand glinting like a million pearls and fins burning red-orange in the daylight.  It took great effort not to pursue him out of sheer curiosity, and self-admitted nosiness.  Stamping down whatever lingering hesitance, her feet guided her back to the edge of the shore, brushing her stray bangs away, ignoring the water whipping around her ankles with each incoming tide.  His form could be seen curving around rocks and bowing over barriers back to where she first spotted him.  

As difficult as it was to see what he was doing beneath the ripples, it gave the impression he was searching for something.  His head broke the surface, aimed in her direction.  His chest rose from the water soon after, hand lifted with a wooden lance in it's grasp.

She frowned.  "What the...."

Sal screamed and flinched, covering her face when he raised his arm, throwing the object at her.  It tumbled to her feet, and it took a second for her to peer at it till her hands fell away.  Exchanging glances between him and the ground, she bent down to take it.  It was a javelin of sorts, she was by no means an expert on medieval weaponry, but it held a distinction of it's own.  The tip wasn't forged, it was covered in dents and made up of two parts, like it was hammered to achieve the desired shape.  Six holes were present all the way up both sides of the cap, occupied by mushroom-top bolts of different sizes, like they were homemade.  At the base was a large collar, also lumpy with smaller, finer nails that secured it to both the wood staff and the spearhead.  The pole itself was very heavy, like it was made from hard lumber, and grooves from heavy hand-use were present towards the middle.  It wasn't long, likely for control, about four feet or so.  It held no alien or outstanding design, but she came to her own self conclusion that it wasn't made by humans.  As primal as he acted, this was a resolute fact that they understood the purpose of weapons…  which told her they were sentient if not semi-aware.  If his kind did have forgeries, it had to be a bitch to use in water.

"Is this...." She turned it over in her hands, looking up at him.  "Is this yours?"

He didn't really give much response, only rocking his head back at her question with a passive arch of the brow.  Part of his bloody mane had draped over his face, leaving little to look at.

"Can you speak?" Sal pressed, a bit louder.

He remained silent, much to her chagrin.  Experimenting, she held the spear out in offering, but he made no effort to show her he wanted it back.  In fact, the look he shot her came across as amused. He dropped both arms into the water, then turned away from her to dive back out to sea.

"Ah...." She wanted to yell for him to wait, yet what good would it do?

He wanted for her to keep the spear, that much she understood.  

"So... is this my thanks...?" She muttered, rolling the weapon in her hands once more.

〰️〰️〰️

It was the same little landman again, having made a ruckus in her hurry to close the distance between the two of them.  First hearing the noise startled Ara, making him think he'd have to kill whoever it was charging down the artificial incline, he wasn't against pulling her people into the water if they presented a threat.  That urge died at the sight of her, but he wasn't all that pleased to see she found a common hunting spot, this made him curious as to whether or not she was trying to locate him after their first meeting, or if this was by chance.  He'd have to move now, find another place along the island's many alcoves, at least until she thought he'd gone for good.  Half of him wanted to leave well before she got too close, the other half was questioning what she wanted from him this time.  He was in a better state of mind currently, not in a blind rage from the fear and tiredness that had him when she first dug him out.

Once she was about half way from him, he took the chance to study her just as much as she did him.  He internally grunted, her face didn't conjure the same ugly label he'd given it the first time, but it remained jarring only due to the similarities they possessed with some minor differences.  Her stark white eyes with those small irises, the color of wet soil, and her nose was more pronounced than his, as were the nostrils.  Her skin bothered him a little still, it was so... Perplexing.  

It was a color he couldn't really compare, until he thought of certain bird meats salted by the water and left to dry in the sun as a chewy treat, that was close enough.  Yet it looked soft, fragile like the decorative fins of certain fish.

She was asking him something, the tone recognizable, but the content of the question was not.  It was more jumbled garbage, like some ocean birds he heard before.  Was she expecting something?  Something of thanks for her efforts a morning ago?

How plucky if it was, she should've thought her reward for her good Samaritan gesture was not getting shredded by him.  How pushy would she be this time around?

He dunked himself beneath the lulling waves, discarding the fish he was devouring to scavengers, and slithered between the rocks and sand bars to find the best point of entry without gouging himself unnecessarily.  After determining a little sunken pool was fitting for his venture, he resurfaced, seeing it alarmed her.

Her eyes were hard with fear again, her stare a pitiful thing.  It irritated him a bit, approach him or do not, but never stand in his wake like a wall of coral.  Inaction bothered him more than most things, mostly because he was a hunter, constantly moving.

He growled quietly, deciding to come to her instead.

She only stepped away from him, arms up in a defensive posture.  Her retreat was interesting, it showed to him she knew when not to push her luck and that she was automatically submissive, although he didn't have any intent to hurt her at the time.  The signs he made were just a way of him saying that if she made any foul moves there'd be regret to follow.  Everything was fine all up until he really saw the look on her face.  Her eyes glossy, dark... Upset.  

Those fine dark hairs that made up her brows were crinkled together to further dramatize the message that he'd been the cause of her distress.

He sighed loudly, the sound making her physically quiver, which he spotted.  A thought crossed him, leading him to stop on his advance, grant her relief, turning back to the shallows.  She was watching him move in the water, he ignored it in his swim back whence he came, taking up the abandoned spear he found at the foot of some caverns out and below.  It wasn't his favorite type for hunting, but it served it's purpose and now he hadn't a use for it anymore.  

That would be her thanks, a shoddy weapon forgotten by a passerby.... He internally cringed when he put it like so.  It was created by his people, however, and that would hold meaning to her in the stretch of things.  In his retrieval, he opportunistically nabbed a slivery fish, known for their strong, oily flavor, and he liked the livery dark meat.  She screamed when he tossed the weapon at her, likely thinking he was going to send it through her.  When it came to stop at her feet, he studied just how fascinated she was by it, and he could tell she was simultaneously stumped.

It nearly earned a laugh from him, when she offered it back and kept asking something he couldn't decipher. Maybe a question.  What made her think that he'd go through all that effort just to show her something?  He'd left before she tried to return it.

Now, Arakos returned to the depths, moving effortlessly ever deeper till sunlight was barely visible in the silt.  Somewhere in the dark, a peaceful giant sang through the great emptiness.  He figured at some point this little scenic tour he was taking would have to end, to return to civilization far from land walker detection.  He had to admit, their water crafts were getting more complex, more terrifying.  His people had technology that gave them light, but it remained inside city limits and housing, not everywhere they went.  The legged ones had things that lit the way for them overhead, flashed when they wanted them too, where as their biology did so for his people when they were away from home after sundown.  

It made things complicated, and made him subtly jealous.  Living in water had it's pluses, a carefree life style was one of them, but all advanced societies with integrity had laws, rules to follow. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if that female had family.  He certainly did, he had siblings, some older, few younger, but it was months since he saw them last.  His eldest was his sister, the rest all males.  His sister was half his size, but her plume doubled his in volume, a stunning example of their parents combination.  She has their mother's colors, a slew of greens, yellows, black and blues.  Three of his brothers took after his father, himself included.  A set of twins, and four born separately over the course of a few years.

Arakos was a middle child, behind the first individual brother, Casul.  An intellectual with an eye for things of historical nature, science, fossils and bones, by far the most passive out of the family but he was an amazing planner for large scale disputes, and here lately there was no shortage of that.  As for himself, he was the half-way arrogant one, could be mean-- even vicious when infuriated, haughty at times, possibly impatient, simultaneously slothful, but he felt he had a good heart at the core. He was charitable, charismatic, protective of those he cared about, just like his sister.

He wasn't sure what the social or familial statuses were for those who ruled a section of shallow seabed, but independence was seen as a normal thing amongst the deep sea dwellers, with very little reunion between families.  

His kind were just natural travelers; hunting, moving, discovering, settling down only when they were satiated, or found that special one.

He rolled to face skyward, musing as to whether or not it'd be worth it to venture back to the spot where he lost his verutum, to see if he could find it.  It was special, that one, since he made it himself.  Yes, the sentiment was outwardly stupid, since he could just make another, but that meant returning home for tools, materials.  It was an outcome he actively chose to avoid, thus he rolled, propelling himself down till he found the bottom, then utilized caution along the sea floor.  There were a few possible scenarios ahead of him; one being that the beast was still alive and swimming somewhere he'd never cross paths again, with a hunter's verutum lodged in it's head.

Others were: It was dead and his weapon was still there, or someone found it dead and took the verutum for themselves.

[wizardlyweaponbuilder]

This is a Bar mace I made out of a metal Bed frame. Being what I believe is carbon steel it just wouldn’t weld, which is why the end is cracked.

[romeshifting]

Thought it would be fun to do a CYM (i think that’s what it’s called?) with random things from my room! I got tagged in one of these by @eyelash-curler, thank you for the idea! I’m not sure what actually counts for mutuals, so uh if I tag you hello I’ve heard of you @xoshifts --  Wooden rose I got from Medieval Times! I use it to be dramatic, and it was a prop in my performance of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet with my then crush! You seem like a romantic, and I love that for you @pothead-on-the-shifting -- The tiny starbucks cup for water that I now stab pins into. You’re pretty down-to-earth, I think!  @shifting-ronpa --  A chocolate milk bottle with plastic knives and sticks in it. You look cute on the outside but you’re shifting to the killing game /lh @crowshifts --  The jar and container o’ fidgets, containing (but not limited to) rocks, dice, jewelry, trash, and actual fidgets. You’re pretty chaotic >:) @stimmingandshifting -- The mystical Bucket o’ thread {tm} I have to go through to get thread. I adore you, you’re very soft /p @peachshifting --  Spoon engraved with Cereal Killer: Weapon of Choice. Chaotic but in a funky way >:] @tombshifting --  Pilot Fish Poster. You’re very neat :) @aries-shifting -- The hexagon mirror section with photos and art around it. You’re chaotic, but in an clear and organized way. You don’t really know what you want to do except be you. That’s valid, you’re super cool!  @lilith-does-shifting -- Random cryptic pages I found on a hike. I think it’s a seating chart? It says salad bar on it and has multiple names, I haven’t been able to make heads or tails of it yet.  @shifterwithabucketontheirhead --  Spare tea bag. You give me tea vibes and I love that for you :) @x-luminescent-x -- A bottle with homemade confetti inside it. You’re wholesome and vibing!  @laveisleaving -- Lamp with a computer mouse and tape measure hanging from it. You’re a pillar of calm in the storm. Keep it up, I’m proud of you :) @shifty-bandit -- The many pictures of my friend’s cat. You give me cat vibes, you’re very cool!  @poppythewitcher -- Crushed diet coke soda pop can from three years ago. You look really badass and are very positive! Okay, a crushed can might not seem that positive but your vibes are immaculate  @lil-shifting-shit -- Balloon with sharpie written on it hanging from my wall! You’re chaotic but like, in a decorative way. Drink some water today and don’t forget to take care of yourself!  @fuckingrealityshifting -- The little plastic spider dude on my desk. You’re dark n cool and I love that for you  @shifting-lark -- The Plant Corner [TM]. Plant vibes, but chaotic. You’re super cool and look great in the sunlight (I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU IRL BEFORE I PROMISE IM TALKING ABOUT LARK) 

[possums-against-cops]

possumcore alignments! tag urself!! 🌻🌱🐀

- studded leather jacket OR pins and patches denim jacket?

- rolled up jeans OR ripped jeans

- plain nails OR black nail polish?

- freckles OR mud on face?

- house plants OR veggie garden?

- 3am snacks OR 7am dessert?

- big stompy boots OR converse / vans?

- fruit trees OR climbing trees?

- gothic decrepit castle OR ancient pirate ship?

- dice hoard OR shiny collection?

- feral OR mischievous?

- baseball bat OR medieval weapon?

- homemade bread OR cake in a mug?

- civil disobedience OR straight up crimes?

- cozy warm blanket nest OR somehow managing to sleep anywhere that isn’t your bed?

- unseen cornfield cryptid OR massive forest cryptid?

- draws rats all over their notes OR hasn’t done schoolwork since third grade?

- looking for frogs in the rain OR looking for salamanders in the creek

- ladybug OR bumblebee?

[ixiraider]

One thing that really makes me lose my mind is the like... actually extremely controversial real world political/historical details added to Neopets: The Darkest Faerie.

The Ixi Raiders are the natives of the Cogham area, the lore is that they were there long before the Meridell settlers who moved in when they discovered the resources and began mining. The Ixi Raiders are bright orange goats who are treated as these violent barbarians who fight with homemade spears and bows and follow the orders of a chief, but they aren’t Native American stereotypes - Meridell is British Medieval World. They’re ostensibly representative of Scottish people/maybe general non-British Northern UK.

The Werelupes are fully sentient (not rabid animals like typical werewolf tropes) and are exiled to live in their own isolated civilization in this wild dangerous swampland. They’re also treated as this vicious wild type who act like complete thugs and constantly cause trouble for the kingdom. The Werelupe King fights with a boomerang as his weapon of choice and talks with... wait for it... an Australian accent.

[officialleehadan]

Being a writer is hard. And comes with occasionally hilarious search histories.

Things that I have needed to look up over the years, because I am a writer, that make my search history look like I’m planning a murder (or worse)

1) How much blood is in an average adult male body (and how much can they lose before you need literal magic to save them?)

2) Homemade bombs (multiple flavors)

2) How long it takes to completely incinerate a corpse (and now hot does the fire need to be?)

4) How to convert an average size male body to bald-face hornets, by weight

5) The tensile strength of human bone (in regards to both weapons and and as a building material)

6) Splash patterns and stab wounds of various ancient weapons (and videos of those weapons being used)

7) Fastest acting poisons (medieval and modern, multiple flavors [pun intended])

8) Acute radiation poisoning And You.

9) How fast hornets could strip a corpse to bone

10) How much radiation does it really take to kill a human (adjusted for magic and also for humans who just refuse to die)

Tag five writers and pass it on! What have you had to google that made you stop and wonder exactly what the search algorithm thinks you’re up to?

I tag @leximpwrites @shanastoryteller @caffeinewitchcraft @gallusrostromegalus and @aenariasbookshelf

[buckyisabigmood]

Basic Character Questions

First name? Hera

Surname? Kane (Murphy?)

Middle names? Lee

Nicknames? (Murphy?)

Date of birth? 9/24/02

Age? 18

 

Physical / Appearance

Height? 5'6"

Weight? 125lbs

Build? thin, muscular

Hair colour? dark brown, curly

Hair style? bun

Eye colour? grey

Eye Shape? almond

Glasses or contact lenses? reading glasses, night glasses

Distinguishing facial features? n/a

Which facial feature is most prominent? nose

Which bodily feature is most prominent? hair

Other distinguishing features? height

Skin? fair, tanning

Hands? average

Make up? occasional; sharp cat eye, foundation, dark lips, blush, dark eyeshadow

Scars? inner left bicep, mid back across spine, right wrist

Birthmarks? oval inside of right knee

Tattoos? various across entire body

Physical handicaps? bad right hip, fibromyalgia, migraines, chronic fatigue, overall worn joints

Type of clothes? men's button ups, men's dress clothes, vintage men's and women's attire

How do they wear their clothes? tucked in, loose fitting

What are their feet like? (type of shoes, state of shoes, socks, feet, pristine, dirty, worn, etc) callused feet, hammer toes. men's shoes, 6in heels, oxfords, good quality

Race / Ethnicity? caucasian, Irish heritage

Mannerisms? leg bouncing, lip biting, sitting with leg propped, limp on right side

Are they in good health? no

Do they have any disabilities? not legally

 

Personality

What words or phrases do they overuse? like, probably, uh, I mean

Do they have a catchphrase? indeed

Are they more optimistic or pessimistic? pessimist, though tries to encourage optimism in others

Are they introverted or extroverted? ambivert

Do they ever put on airs? no

What bad habits do they have? zoning out, talking too fast, not sleeping, not eating enough, binge eating

What makes them laugh out loud? whose line, crush flattering them

How do they display affection? compliments, affectionate touches, mock insults

Mental handicaps? depression, anxiety, overthinking, slight adhd

How do they want to be seen by others? strong, confident, capable, protector

How do they see themselves? crippled, broken, worthless, challenged

How are they seen by others? stubborn, loud, capable, caring

Strongest character trait? unforgiving

Weakest character trait? impatience

How competitive are they? very

Do they make snap judgements or take time to consider? impulsive

How do they react to praise? hide away, deny it

How do they react to criticism? shamed, crying

What is their greatest fear? secrets being discovered

What are their biggest secrets? they are polyromantic greysexual, a feminist, have long term online friends, (hopefully) will soon be dating a woman, is an independent

What is their philosophy of life? do no harm but take no shit

When was the last time they cried? a week ago, having a mental breakdown

What haunts them? inevitability to disappoint their family and be disowned

What are their political views? independent, leaning left

What will they stand up for? the treatment of others

Who do they quote? carrie fisher, hozier, brie larson

Are they indoorsy or outdoorsy? both

What is their sinful little habit? listening/watching 'none christian' things

What sense do they most rely on? hearing

How do they treat people better than them? respect, positivity, optimism

How do they treat people worse than them? assuming the worst, judging, sarcasm

What quality do they most value in a friend? loyalty

What do they consider an overrated virtue? prudence

If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be? physical strength

What is their obsession? swords, women

What are their pet peeves? incorrect animal care, being talked down to, loud chewing

What are their idiosyncrasies? doors must always be closed and locked, gets up two hours earlier than needed, will fall asleep if reading on the computer

 

Friends and Family

Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of? big; mother, father, five older brothers, two older sisters, one younger sister, three nephews, two nieces, four aunts, five uncles, many cousins, two grandmothers, one grandfather

What is their perception of family? overrated; the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb

Do they have siblings? Older or younger? 8 siblings; five older brothers, two older sisters, one younger sister

Describe their best friend. the same as them. fight more than flight, major physical problems, mentally worn out, respect is given until proven undeserved, funny, caring, heart over head

Ideal best friend? see; best friend

Describe their other friends. overall kind, caring, considerate, musically talented, loud

Describe their acquaintances. annoyances, loud, bubbly, hyperactive

Do they have any pets? one dog, two horses, six sheep, many chickens, many snakes

Who are their natural allies? minorities, protectors, those who need protecting

Who are their surprising allies? church youth, some police, nurses

 

Past and Future

What was your character like as a baby? As a child? easygoing as a baby, wanting attention and to be part of older siblings' group as child

Did they grow up rich or poor? lower-middle class, wanting some but getting few

Did they grow up nurtured or neglected? nurtured physically, neglected emotionally

What is the most offensive thing they ever said? 'it is disgusting gay people can adopt' (a lie)

What is their greatest achievement? having the courage to come out to online friends

What was their first kiss like? n/a has not kissed anyone

What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved? thoughts of abandoning family

What are their ambitions? to marry someone they love, have a self built farm, foster teenagers, be a freelance artist

What advice would they give their younger self? don't give up, you are not an abomination for being attracted to women, do not tell youth leader about suicidal thoughts

What smells remind them of their childhood? homemade pizza, pines, dogs

What was their childhood ambition? to be a veterinarian

What is their best childhood memory? being with older siblings and hanging out with their friends

What is their worst childhood memory? figuring out they were polyromantic, the fear of being found out and disowned

Did they have an imaginary childhood friend? n/a

What past act are they most proud of? talking to other kids first

Has anyone ever saved their life? doctors; had major kindey infection at age of two, had major uti at age of eight

Strongest childhood memory? disappointing parents

 

Love

Do they believe in love at first sight? infatuation at first side, that may develop in to love

Are they in a relationship? working on asking a woman out

How do they behave in a relationship? caring, prioritizing spouse, lots of gifts

When did you character last have sex?

n/a, does not desire sex

What sort of sex do they have? n/a

Has your character ever been in love? currently in love

Have they ever had their heart broken? no. has ghosted a fuckboy and thought they had broken his heart

 

Conflict

How do they respond to a threat? defensive, posturing, threatening

Are they most likely to fight with their fists or their tongue? fists

What is your character’s kryptonite? children, sob stories

If your character could only save one thing from their burning house, what would it be? electronics

How do they perceive strangers? men are possible threats, women are in danger

What do they love to hate? disney villains

What are their phobias? aquaphobia, entomophobia, atychiphobia

What is their choice of weapon? longsword

What living person do they most despise? larry nassar

Have they ever been bullied or teased? yes

Where do they go when they’re angry? bathroom, bedroom, outside

Who are their enemies and why? n/a, enemies are unknown

 

Work, Education and Hobbies

What is their current job? apprentice horse trainer and farm hand

What do they think about their current job? too physically taxing, worsens already poor physical condition

What are some of their past jobs? n/a

What are their hobbies? reading, writing, drawing, video games, research on medieval times, watching tv, movies, youtube

Educational background? homeschooled highschool graduate

Intelligence level? low, cannot do simple math, does not know history

Do they have any specialist training? n/a

Do they have a natural talent for something? art, slightly

Do they play a sport? Are they any good? equestrian sports, intermediate

What is their socioeconomic status? low social status, seen as unlikeable, n/a economic status

 

Favourites

What is their favourite animal? wolves

Which animal to they dislike the most? insects

What place would they most like to visit? mountains of utah

What is the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen? mountains

What is their favourite song? in a week by hozier

Music, art, reading preferred? alternative, metal, emo music. realistic, stylised, comic-esque art. fantasy, medieval, adventure, action books.

What is their favourite colour? black, blood red

What is their password? "I love you for who you are"

Favourite food? steak, homemade rolls, pizza, salad

What is their favourite work of art? women with umbrellas, reunited

Who is their favourite artist? mambo

What is their favourite day of the week? friday

 

Possessions

What is in their fridge? frozen pizzas, salad stuff, soda, beer, snacks

What is on their bedside table? mace, a notebook and pen, phone, cologne, empty cans

What is in their car? mask, air freshener, large knife, window breaker, charger

What is in their bin? candy wrappers, cans, bottles

What is in their purse or wallet? pepper spray, bible, book, keys, pen, pencil, mints

What is in their pockets? knife, carmex

What is their most treasured possession? their truck

 

Spirituality

Who or what is your character’s guardian angel? Gabriel

Do they believe in the afterlife? Yes

What are their religious views? non-denominational Christianity

What do they think heaven is? where there is no pain, or hurt, where you can be with your loved ones (including pets) for eternity without getting tired of their company

What do they think hell is? suffering, eternal torment, both physical and psychological pain

Are they superstitious? no

What would they like to be reincarnated as? a sandcat

How would they like to die? by sword

What is your character’s spirit animal? house cat

What is their zodiac sign? libra

 

Values

What do they think is the worst thing that can be done to a person? rape, mutilation, taking away loved ones

What is their view of ‘freedom’? being able to do as you like, as long as it does not harm others

When did they last lie? earlier in the day

What’s their view of lying? not necessarily good, but needed on some occasions for safety

When did they last make a promise? tonight, promising to get a full night's sleep

Did they keep or break their last promise? break it

 

Daily life

What are their eating habits? hectic- binge eating one day and eating nothing the next. usually eating on impulse rather than specific times

Do they have any allergies? lactose, sulfa

Describe their home. medium sized, lots of storage space, including many closets. an organized mess, knowing where everything is exactly without putting it away, unless it is clothing

Are they minimalist or a clutter hoarder? somewhere in the middle, though leaning towards clutter hoarder. loves collecting shot glasses

What do they do first thing on a weekday morning? get dressed, feed the animals, have breakfast

What do they do on a Sunday afternoon? eat pizza, hang out with friends or family, watch a movie

What do they do on a Friday night? drink with friends at home, hang out

What is the soft drink of choice? dr pepper

What is their alcoholic drink of choice? whiskey

 

Miscellaneous

What is their character archetype? The Trickster

Who is their hero? Gal Gadot, Gideon the Ninth

What or who would your character dress up as for Halloween? Gideon the Ninth

Are they comfortable with technology? somewhat

If they could save one person, who would it be? Hozier

If they could call one person for help, who would it be? best friend

What is their favourite proverb? the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb

What is their greatest extravagance? clothes

What is their greatest regret? not being who their parents wanted them to be

What is their perception of redemption? if you truly change and do your best, most everything is redeemable, but there are some things which can never be forgiven

What would they do if they won the lottery? buy a cottage, clothes, animals, and put some into savings

What is their favourite fairytale? the three bears, by robert southey

What fairytale do they hate? the little mermaid (original)

Do they believe in happy endings? yes

What is their idea of perfect happiness? being loved, loving others, and being content with what you have

What would they ask a fortune teller? will they find a spouse who loves them wholeheartedly?

If your character could travel through time, where would they go? the 1830s, dressed as a man and supporting women, whom know they are a women themselves

What sport do they excel at? n/a

What sport do they suck at? all. unable to do physical sports

If they could have a superpower, what would they choose? super strength

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Merriam-Webster’s top word of 2020 not a shocker: pandemic (AP) If you were to choose a word that rose above most in 2020, which word would it be? Ding, ding, ding: Merriam-Webster on Monday announced “pandemic” as its 2020 word of the year. “That probably isn’t a big shock,” Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster, told The Associated Press. “Often the big news story has a technical word that’s associated with it and in this case, the word pandemic is not just technical but has become general. It’s probably the word by which we’ll refer to this period in the future,” he said. Pandemic, with roots in Latin and Greek, is a combination of “pan,” for all, and “demos,” for people or population. The latter is the same root of “democracy,” Sokolowski noted. The word pandemic dates to the mid-1600s, used broadly for “universal” and more specifically to disease in a medical text in the 1660s, he said. That was after the plagues of the Middle Ages, Sokolowski said.

Biden breaks foot while playing with dog, to wear a boot (AP) President-elect Joe Biden will likely wear a walking boot for the next several weeks as he recovers from breaking his right foot while playing with one of his dogs, his doctor said. Fractures are a concern generally as people age, but Biden’s appears to be a relatively mild one based on his doctor’s statement and the planned treatment. At 78 he will become the oldest president when he’s inaugurated in January.

Borrowing and debt bonanza (WSJ) Companies and governments have issued a record $9.7 trillion of bonds and other debt this year, as extraordinary support from the Federal Reserve and other central banks has fueled a borrowing bonanza. The total covers the year to Nov. 26 and includes nearly $5.1 trillion of corporate bonds, as well as some kinds of loans, including riskier leveraged loans, according to Refinitiv. Both figures already exceed those for any prior full year. More broadly, the Institute of International Finance recently said global debt had risen $15 trillion to $272 trillion in the first nine months of this year, and is set to hit $277 trillion by year-end—a record 365% of world gross domestic product. The IIF is an industry group representing hundreds of financial institutions. Its figures are broader, and include household debt.

Newsom says stay-at-home order likely if COVID-19 surge continues (SFGate) California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Monday press conference the state is considering a new stay-at-home order in purple-tier counties if cases continue to surge. The state is experiencing the highest rate of increase in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. With 51 of the state's 58 counties in the most restrictive tier, 99% of the population could fall under a lockdown. The governor didn't outline the details of the potential new order, but when the state issued one in March it required people to stay indoors except for essential services and exercise.

The pandemic is forcing some men to realize they need deeper friendships (Washington Post) It took a global pandemic and a badly timed breakup for Manny Argueta to realize just how far he had grown apart from his guy friends. In the spring, after the 35-year-old had left the home he shared with his former girlfriend and moved into a studio in Falls Church, Va., on his own, he would go an entire week without saying a word. There were no more game days with the guys, no more Friday nights in D.C. bars, and Argueta was starved for social interaction. For more than a decade, psychologists have written about the “friendship crisis” facing many men. Male friendships are often rooted in “shoulder-to-shoulder” interactions, such as watching a football game or playing video games, while women’s interactions are more face-to-face, such as grabbing a coffee or getting together for a glass of wine. “The rules for guys pursuing other guys for friendships are not clear,” one man said. “Guys don’t want to seem too needy.” But the pandemic might be forcing this dynamic to change. In emails and interviews with The Washington Post, dozens of men shared stories about Zoom poker games, backyard cigar nights, and neighborhood-dad WhatsApp chains where casual chats about sports and politics have suddenly led to deep conversations. The moment feels heavier and so do the conversations. Some men said their friendships have begun to look more like those of their wives and girlfriends. “We are so used to finding a distraction to help us when we should be addressing what’s in front of us,” Argueta said. “The world needed to slow down … we should slow down, too.”

Another idyllic Italian village selling $1 houses (CNN) Italy’s €1 homes are back—and this time, what’s up for grabs is a collection of houses in the southern region of Molise. Castropignano—a village topped by a ruined medieval castle, 140 miles southeast of Rome—is the latest community to offer up its abandoned buildings to newcomers. It follows in the steps of Salemi in Sicily and Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo, both of which have launched initiatives to encourage newcomers in the last month. So what’s the catch? There are, of course, conditions. Buyers must renovate the property within three years from the purchase and cough up a down payment guarantee of €2,000 ($2,378), which will be returned once the works are finished. And Castropignano isn’t exactly a lively place—it has just one restaurant, a bar, a pharmacy and a few B&Bs.

Pakistani nuclear program (New Scientist) Sleuthing with satellite images on Google Earth has revealed a substantial and undocumented expansion to a suspected nuclear processing plant in Pakistan. Researchers say it is a possible sign of the country boosting the capacity of its nuclear weapons program. Pakistan has possessed nuclear weapons since 1998, but isn’t a signatory to key international treaties on nuclear proliferation and tests. The country’s secretive nuclear weapons program is closely watched due to tensions with neighboring India, which also has a nuclear arsenal.

Turkey’s military campaign beyond its borders is powered by homemade armed drones (Washington Post) As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wages a widening military campaign for influence from North Africa to the Caucasus, his forces have relied on a potent weapon to gain a battlefield edge while drumming up domestic support for foreign interventions: homemade armed drones. Their impact has been substantial. The drones played a central role in recent months in shifting Libya’s civil war in favor of the Turkish-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli, and they helped Azerbaijan, an ally of Turkey, prevail over Armenian forces in the fighting over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, according to military analysts. In northern Syria, Turkish drones played a major part this year in a series of devastating attacks on Syrian armored forces that caught some military observers by surprise and helped bring a Syrian government offensive against rebel areas to a halt. At home, the drones have become a symbol of Turkish technological innovation and self-sufficiency, boosting national confidence amid a severe economic downturn and friction with some other NATO countries. But the battlefield successes pose an urgent foreign policy challenge for the incoming Biden administration: what to do about Ankara’s expansionist policies, which have put Turkey in conflict with a range of other U.S. allies.

Thai protesters march to royal guard barracks in Bangkok (The Guardian) Thousands of protesters marched to a barracks belonging to Thailand’s royal guards in Bangkok on Sunday, demanding that King Maha Vajiralongkorn give up control of some army regiments, the latest show of defiance against the country’s powerful monarchy and the military. The protest came after days of rallies in the Thai capital, where a student-led pro-democracy movement that emerged in July has intensified pressure on the establishment. Over recent months, demonstrators have shaken the country by criticising the monarchy, an institution protected by a harsh defamation law, and demanding the king relinquish some of his vast power and wealth.

Brazen Killings Expose Iran’s Vulnerabilities as It Struggles to Respond (NYT) The raid alone was brazen enough. A team of Israeli commandos with high-powered torches blasted their way into a vault of a heavily guarded warehouse deep in Iran and made off before dawn with 5,000 pages of top secret papers on the country’s nuclear program. Then in a television broadcast a few weeks later, in April 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel singled out the scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as the captain of Iran’s covert attempts to assemble a nuclear weapon. Now Mr. Fakhrizadeh has become the latest casualty in a campaign of audacious covert attacks seemingly designed to torment Iranian leaders with reminders of their weakness. His killing was the latest in a decade-long pattern of mysterious poisonings, car bombings, shootings, thefts and sabotage that have afflicted the Islamic Republic. Most have hit largely anonymous scientists or secretive facilities believed to be linked to its nuclear program, and almost all have been attributed by both American and Iranian officials to Tehran’s great nemesis, Israel. Israeli officials—without formally acknowledging responsibility—have all but openly gloated over the repeated success of their spies. Never, however, has the Islamic Republic endured a spate of covert attacks quite like in 2020. In January, an American drone strike killed the revered general Qassim Suleimani as he was in a car leaving the Baghdad airport (an attack facilitated by Israel’s intelligence, officials say). And Iran was humiliated in August by an Israeli hit team’s fatal shooting of a senior Al Qaeda leader on the streets of Tehran (this time at the behest of the United States, its officials have said).

'Christmas will not be cancelled' says Bethlehem (Reuters) Bethlehem is shaping up for a dismal Christmas: most of the inns are closed, the shepherds are likely to be under lockdown and there are few visitors from the east, or anywhere else. Just 12 months ago, the Palestinian town was celebrating its busiest festive season for two decades, amid a sustained drop in violence and a corresponding surge in the number of pilgrims and tourists. But hotels that were adding new wings in 2019 are now shuttered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, town leaders say the traditional birthplace of Jesus will go ahead with its celebrations, aware that the world’s eyes are upon it at this time of year. “Bethlehem is going to celebrate Christmas. And Christmas will not be cancelled,” said Mayor Anton Salman, as workers behind him erected a huge Christmas tree in Manger Square. “This Christmas from Bethlehem there will be a message of hope to the whole world, that the world will recover from this pandemic.” The newly-appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on Monday said, “This Christmas will be less festive than usual as there will be restrictions, I suppose like any other part of the world, but none will stop us from expressing the true meaning of Christmas which is to make an act of love.”

At least 110 dead in Nigeria after suspected Boko Haram attack (The Guardian) At least 110 people have been killed in an attack on a village in north-east Nigeria blamed on the Boko Haram jihadist group, according to the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country. “At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack,” Edward Kallon said in a statement after initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from the massacre on Saturday by suspected Boko Haram fighters. The attack took place in the village of Koshobe near the main city of Maiduguri, with assailants targeting farmers on rice fields.

Malaria death toll to exceed COVID-19’s in sub-Saharan Africa (Reuters) Deaths from malaria due to disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic to services designed to tackle the mosquito-borne disease will far exceed those killed by COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization warned. More than 409,000 people globally—most of them babies in the poorest parts of Africa—were killed by malaria last year, the WHO said, and COVID-19 will almost certainly push that toll higher in 2020.