#power and propulsion element

[champmorado]

so im scrolling through the wiki list of elements for a hc thing and HOLY SHIT. WHEN DID SO MANY ELEMENTS GET ADDED

i already knew about tech and heat and brute force (💀) but like. what the hell is REFLEX???? what is DR even about 😭 /ref

also i think its funny how they gave the mixed character (geo) the element of fusion lol

[bogleech]

There's a couple video games where you play an octopus but none that take advantage of everything you could actually do. This is an animal group that practically evolved to be platformer mascots with way too many moves to remember.

Cling to and climb any surface

Grab and reel in things from a distance

Hold and use multiple objects simultaneously

Swing stuff around and throw it

Grapple attack

Jet propulsion when you're in water

The same move is a water gun on land

Ink cloud in water

Long range concentrated ink gun when you're on land

Sharp powerful beak to cut things open/damage enemies

Squeeze through small openings

Blend perfectly against any solid surface

Without a surface to camouflage against, just mimic an object

Venom (almost all octopuses have venom not just blue rings!)

Take shells/pots/other hollow objects as temporary armor

Rapidly change color to mesmerize other creatures

Intimidate different enemies with special shape and color combos

This is all just what any typical octopus species can actually do in real life before you add video game exaggeration, at which point you can have the slingshot physics of Octodad or treat the camouflage as just going totally invisible (though that wouldn't be as fun as having to factor the environment into different disguises). Add fantasy/science fiction elements like Splatoon and you can just go nuts. "Spellcasting" through various sequences of color change? Elemental ink types? Mesmerizing expanded to remote mind control or taming/recruiting different wildlife?? I know you're gonna suggest games or media but listen, I know each and every time an octopus has been a game protagonist and not a single one of them portrays even half of these traits. Venom alone has just never been acknowledged as a typical normal octopus thing at all!

[late-draft]

I want to know all of the details of the scifi au like right now, I'm so hooked instantly

Okay let me set the stage!

This is a sci-fi AU, leaning onto (what I've read) the first idea of ATLA; however unlike how it had Aang be from an ancient technologically advanced civilization waking up in a technologically regressed world(?), here the tech that Air Nomads had was forgotten and new one was created and it proliferated.

An important thing to keep in mind is that I intended this AU to be literally made up of iconic, primeval tropes of young audience's shows. I'm currently in a phase where I test how well I'm able to incorporate tropes and make the best use of them, so for this AU, expect it to feel EXACTLY like the thrill of running at 10 PM up to your grandma's CRT TV to watch that amazing series on Jetix you can't get enough of!!!!

~~~

First thing to notice here, the world has a Key Holder for every bending type. Keys are your magical symbols. It's the standard trope in these types of shows, think of them as kids who represent the absolute core traits of their element. Because Aang has to find specific individuals now rather than arbitrarily choosing a teacher, we have a tighter narrative although more trope-y. Aang is the Key holder for Air - every Avatar is always a Key holder for their native element, but can be taught other bending types only by respective elements' Key holders.

As expected, the world is ruled by the Fire Nation's strongest corporation, led by Emperor Ozai. Most of the setting is skyscrapers, huge power cables and mazes of pipeworks. Hakoda is the leader of resistance but he had disappeared two years ago, leaving his two children with a warning to stay hidden and safe below ground. Their secret hideout is pretty safe and cozy. Of course Sokka and Katara would not sit idly forever! Wandering through the underground they discover an ancient cryo pod, the only active one left. When he comes to himself, Aang realizes that he's the last airbender in the world for the past 1000 years.

The Avatar is able to operate ancient spiritual machines that the Air Nomads tended to. Once he learns all bending types, he'll be able to return airbending to the world through a Harmonic Convergence event by activating a huge lionturtle machine. The problem is - nobody knows where this machine is, but the Avatar is able to "listen" for signs of keyholders and machines through an ancient leftover network. Katara and Sokka swear to aid Aang in achieving this goal and restoring balance to the world. Ever since airbenders disappeared, there had been heavy dissonance in the spirit world, creating terrible natural disasters that altered the face of the planet. They're having difficulty finding the Key holder for Water.... the first one they find is Toph for Earth! She joins the gaang in late season 1 :)

In this AU, there's a tradeoff where the element of kungfu fights is reduced in favour of high-speed chases through the metropolis. Aang (14) moves quickly through the city using only his airbending, by running or speeding on his air sphere. The only piece of new equipment he wears are clear plastic goggles that Sokka (18) gave him. And while you might expect Zuko (19) to be chasing them on a red motorbike, no! It's in fact Katara (17) who's a super-skilled bike driver while Zuko and his entourage are on ROLLERBLADES SKATING ACROSS WALLS AND PIPES. Propulsion via firebending! (same thing Azula does in canon, just elevated to skating). Iroh waits for his nephiew to fail each chase and offer him tea, he's just wearing black dress pants. XD Sokka is Katara's genius engineer brother who constantly grumbles and throws sarcastic remarks because he has to fix her bike after every. single. chase! In this setting, Ozai is specifically looking for the Avatar because he could, using unethical means and technology on a trapped Avatar, be able to grant all bending types to whoever he chooses. This would spell disasteeeer. However, it's also implied that in a similar way, he could "fix" anyone...

Some notes:

You can probably feel the conclusions of many things I left blank. This is on purpose.

Zuko absolutely must have to be motivated by a desire to win his father's approval and love, this must not change. I'll introduce Azula in a later post.

The lionturtle as a concept and its effects are made clear and setup from the get-go. The spiritual machines are just a background element that doesn't affect the plot, it's just a goal.

Aang still has a crush on Katara! And it would be brought up a bit more frequently, in order to serve the plot.

Ozai is doing something concrete that's directly related to Avatar's bending, tying him closer to the Avatar as his antagonist.

This AU's setting is as you may have sensed, more mellow at first. It doesn't have a currently active war.

The characters are older because that feels more fitting to me. (I was investigating W.I.T.C.H. show and saw they were basically all 13 and dating and I was like. "Yikes. No")

Help me dig out any VISUAL references you might remember, from shows of the similar vibe. The goal is not to mimic but to add to the characteristic genre.

These screenshots are from OBAN: STAR RACERS and are what I'd associate with the old Air Nomad technology!

Shape Da Future from Jet Set Radio is precisely what aligned perfectly with this AU.

I'll be sharing more details about this AU in future posts, and everyone is welcome to add their ideas and thoughts on it! I wonder what I forgot to mention here…

[bortalis]

“The Ocean Marcher”

A concept for a mobile iterator and their placing within the world.

(ideas below)

-Purpose

Once it was determined that the first generation of Iterators were unlikely to come upon the solution to the great problem solely on their own, the second Iterator generation was announced. These plans not only consisted of improvements and optimizations of the previous generation, but goals to construct Iterators around their world on a large scale .

Iterator construction is no small feat. With the projects being on mountainous scales, the current logistical systems were stressed and overworked. With the goal of widespread placement of Iterators, accomplishing this without system upgrades would be nigh impossible. Creating a rail system to span the vast oceans was not feasible, nor did the current shipping logistics have the capacity nor specialization necessary for the planned constructions.

This Ship is to take the role of a mass cargo vessel. To construct an iterator requires complex components, and being biomechanical in nature means any transport requires external support for the microorganisms to not die off in masses. Considering the remote placement of future Iterators means the creation of these components cannot be done on site. These ships will not only transport but maintain Iterator parts to keep them in pristine condition for installation.

-Operation

Integrated within the upper decks of the vessel, lies the local Iterator. Unlike others, this model is specialized solely for operation of the ship. Having the Iterator at the top of the vessel reduces its exposure to the elements without reducing carrying capacity.  Much of the bulk of a typical Iterator model has been cut down to make more for cargo and storage. Any cargo is sealed away from the environment and weathering within the hull. Since these vessels have not been tasked with the great problem, there is no need for the extensive processing and computing power to run innumerable simulations. The puppet chamber and minimal peripherals have been kept to maintain course and cargo on the voyage. 

Over the journey the interior is kept at a much lower temperature than other iterators. This is to assist keeping cargo “fresh” and well. Biomachinery’s functions slow down when cooled, reducing the energy and maintenance required for long trips. Keeping the vessel at an optimal temperature is done through extensive heat pumps and exchangers. The ocean provides a near limitless coolant pool, and the Iterator onboard generates far less heat (due to doing less computational operations), making cooling a much simpler task here than on a traditional Iterator.

The majority of loading and unloading is done through either the Bow doors, or the Upper deck’s lifting crane. The Bow doors generally require pre-built infrastructure to fully utilize, but allow for the quickest and most open access to the storage levels. Manufacturing facilities normally have well developed dock access for this purpose, to decrease the loading time for the components. At less developed docks the ship relies on the crane and other peripheral doors/bays to unload.

-Movement

A Mobile iterator would be nigh impossible in any other environment. The only factor that allows for such a construction is the buoyancy taking weight of the can. The large economy of scale result in a surprising amount of efficiency for moving such a large structure

Prominently shown on the side are the main source of propulsion for the vessel. Two on each side, these four limbs hold the important task of getting this monolith of a ship moving and to keep it moving. They have two modes of function, maneuvering and cruise.

When within shallower waters or near destinations, maneuvering procedures are used. The limbs extend to the ocean floor to act as legs. This anchors the vessel and provides a higher degree of control than the water base methods of movement. With a solid connection to the rock below the vessel can avoid hazards and precisely line up for unloading despite the unyielding inertial of the ship. To a limited degree the legs can even lift up the Iterator from the water line to gain closer access to the shore, however it is advised to use this function fugally as it stresses the structure, reactor, and computing to perform such an movement. Subsequent immediate maintenance and inspection is required to keep safety standards.

In the deeper seas using the limbs to via contact is less efficient, leverage is reduced and in some cases the legs will not be able to reach the floor at all. Here the ship switches to cruising procedures. The legs are lifted, without the support from the limbs the water line of the ship raises. Water based manuving sections now submerged will be used as the main propulsion. These sections help reduce the drag the bulk of the hull creates during transit.

The mass and inertia of the vessel act as the primary stability method. It takes much more to shift the mountain of the ship than any other craft. However, as more iterators have been introducing heat and energy into the environment, these high level storms and dangerous ocean conditions have only increased in frequency and volatility. If needed during extremely violent ocean conditions, the limbs can extend as stabilizers to keep the ship level. This was a later addition to the ship’s procedures.

[cocajimmycola]

propulegement

an identity which is in some way connected to the element/elemental power "Propulsion" from LEGO: Ninjago. this could affect ones gender, orientation, alterhumanity, etc.

taglist: @radiomogai @smilepilled @ballerinoloverboy @cheruvic @jiiamp

@harpoonsnotspoons

[as-i-watch]

Do you know what the biggest lie ever told in one piece is?

"There are only 5 devil fruits that can fly"

I mean Pell sounded cool when he said it but it has gotten worse over time with every devil fruit that appears.

Let's go down the list from least to most ridiculous DF users who can fly.

ACTUAL BIRDS:

-Pell [Bird Bird fruit: Model Falcon]

-Marco [Bird Bird fruit: Model Phoenix]

-Morgans [Bird Bird fruit: Model Albatross ]*

*Morgans is flightless in his hybrid form, but Albatrosses can naturally fly for long distances*

-Buzz [Bird Bird fruit Model eagle]**

**Buzz is a noncanon character from the movie One piece strawhat chase. He is a dog**

OTHER FLYING ANIMALS:

-Cub [bug bug fruit: Model rhinoceros beetle]

-Bian [bug bug fruit: Model hornet]

While bugs are known for crawling, these two tontatas have DFs who's species can naturally fly.

-King [Dragon Dragon fruit: Model Pteranodon]

Flying is the only natural thing that King does with his fruit. All the fire stuff is unique to King

-Kaido/Momonosuke [DF NAME UNKNOWN]

Momo can fly by summoning clouds and walking on them but dragons appear to have the innate ability to fly as shown with Kaido

BIRD BY TECHNICALITY:

-Toragatsu [Bird Bird fruit Model: Nue]

Torgatsu is a noncanon character from the One Piece x Kyoto art show. The nue is a chimera like creature from Japanese folklore that has the body of a tiger, head of a monkey and a snake for a tail. Alternatively it can be described as having the back of a tiger, the limbs of a tanuki, the tail of a fox, the head of a cat, and the torso of a chicken. It is a bird fruit because the name Nue also refers to the scaly thrush bird that the chimera mimics. Torgatsu can fly by summoning rainbow colored flames.

LOGIAS:

All known logia users [with the exceptions of Aokiji, Akainu*, Blackbeard &Caribou ] can fly via elemental propulsion. [*Akainu is in a different category]

-Ace/Sabo [flame flame fruit]

-Smoker [plume plume fruit](smoke)

-Crocodile [Sand sand fruit]*

*the presence of these 3 fruits alone in alabasta immediately invalidated Pell's statement*

-Kizaru [glint glint fruit] (light)

-Enel [Rumble Rumble fruit] (Lightning)

-Caesar Clown [Gas Gas fruit]

-Monet [Snow snow fruit]

PARAMECIA SHENANIGANS

-Shiki [Float Float fruit]

man can just straight up fly

-Trafalgar Law [Op Op fruit]

-Fujitora [Press Press fruit]

-Eustass Kid [Magnet Magnet Fruit]

The above manipulate their environment to create platforms that they ride on.

-Big Mom [Soul soul fruit]

Can use her soul to create constructs that she rides on

-Perona [Hollow Hollow fruit]

Can fly by turning herself into a ghost.

-buffalo [Spin Spinf Fruit]

Can fly by helicoptering his body parts.

IS IT FLYING IF I DON'T TOUCH THE GROUND?

-Akainu [Mag mag fruit]

Has been shown to use his magma to propel himself short distances but hasn't shown the ability to fly

-Magellan [Venom Venom fruit]

Can create pathways of poison that allow him to fast travel around impel down

FLIGHT BY TECHNICALITY

-Buggy [Chop chopper fruit]

his body parts can Float around within a certain radius of him, excluding his feet.

DOESNT COUNT AS FLYING

-Ms. Valentine [Kilo Kilo fruit]

Reducing her weight to 1Kg allows her to jump really high into the air and slowly fall down

??????

Karasu [DF UNKNOWN]

Can turn himself into a murder of crows and fly.

SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FLY AT ALL

-Doflamingo[string string fruit]

He flies by spidermaning his way through the air, sticking his strings to clouds

-Robin [flower flower fruit]

Grows several dozen arms that she fuses into a pair of wings

-Luffy [Gum Gum fruit]

Gear 4. Contracts and expands his legs with so much speed and force that it generates thrust.

There are probably some others that I missed but these are the major ones for where you are.

This a really cool categorization and also

Perhaps it was meant that only 5 DF like actually come with wings and the other ones just elevate their powers to do all that crazy shit

Or perhaps is further evidence Oda makes it all up as he goes along (most likely lol)

[scotianostra]

John Elder, marine engineer and shipbuilder, died on the 17th of September, 1869.

John Elder was a marine engineer and shipbuilder, who developed practical compounding marine engines and conceived the modern integrated shipbuilding yard, basically without his work the shipbuilding yards of the Clyde would not be the same. Elder gave the world major contributions to engineering and shipbuilding:

The practical development of compounding in marine engines. This made long-distance steam shipping both possible and economic, and also improved the economics of shorter-haul steam navigation. It allowed the extension of steam power to cargo liners and tramp ships, and greatly accelerated the substitution of steam for sail in the world's shipping. To this should be added his patent for triple and quadruple expansion marine engines, foreshadowing later 19th century developments.

He initiated the conception of the modern heavy engineering workshop, with overhead gantry cranes developed, as seen in the still-existing Fairfield Engine Works in Govan.

The conception of the modern integrated shipbuilding yard. With only minor alterations the plan of the present Govan Shipyard survives largely as John Elder conceived it. It was the foremost yard on the Clyde until the great liners were built at John Brown's, and has outlasted most, including the builder of the "Queens". As one of BAe Systems' yards, it is still a highly effective production unit, notable for building the largest elements of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

At its peak production in 1868-69, the final eighteen months of Elder's life, the Fairfield Yard employed 4,000 people and produced 18 engine sets of 6100 aggregate horsepower and 14 ships of 27,000 aggregate tonnage. Elder had created one of the greatest enterprises of its kind in the world.

Elder was also a model employer of his 4,000 workforce, with a real concern for the well-being of his men and their families. At his funeral, as reported by the Rev. Norman MacLeod "a very army of workmen, dressed like gentlemen, followed his body - column after column. Respectful crowds lined the streets, as if gazing on the burial of a prince; and every one of us .. felt that we had left a friend behind us."

His statue in Elder Park, Govan, erected by public subscription in 1888, carries the inscription: "By his many inventions, particularly in connection with the compound engine, he effected a revolution in engineering second only to that accomplished by James Watt, and in great measure, originated the developments in steam propulsion which have created modern commerce" and: "His unwearied efforts to promote the welfare of the working classes, his integrity of character, firmness of purpose, and kindness of heart, claim, equally with his genius, enduring remembrance".

If you have ever been in The Lord of the Isles Wetherspoon bar in Renfrew, you may have notice some prints and memorabilia of Elder in the pub. Elder Park, Govan is also named in his honour, you will also see the statue there.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Gateway: Wired for deep space

A maze of cables and sensors snakes through a major piece of Gateway, humanity's first space station around the moon, during a key testing phase earlier this year to ensure the lunar-orbiting science lab can withstand the harsh conditions of deep space.

HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) is one of four Gateway modules where international teams of astronauts will live, conduct science, and prepare for missions to the lunar South Pole region. Other elements will be provided by the European Space Agency, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center of the United Arab Emirates. The Canadian Space Agency is providing Gateway's Canadarm3 advanced robotics system.

HALO is provided by Northrop Grumman and their subcontractor, Thales Alenia Space. The module completed testing in Turin, Italy, before its expected arrival to the United States in 2025. Northrop Grumman will complete final outfitting of HALO and integrate it with Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element for launch ahead of the Artemis IV mission on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

[f1mike28]

The all new Mercedes-AMG G63 „Nuthin but a G thang“.

Mercedes-AMG G63 (combined energy consumption: 15.7–14.7 l/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 358–335 g/km | CO₂ class: G)[1] underpins its unique position among performance off-road vehicles with its powerful drive system, new AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension and unique design elements. It also offers an even greater spread between dynamic on-road performance and excellent off-road expertise.

The G-Class is an automotive icon and the Mercedes-AMG G63 has been the most popular model for many years. This is both an obligation and an incentive for us. Our aim was therefore to make the enhanced performance even more tangible both on and off-road.

The Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by the tried-and-tested AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine. It delivers 430kW (585hp) and provides a maximum torque of 850Nm. A new feature is the combination with 48-volt technology and an integrated starter-generator (ISG).

This electrification provides an additional 15 kW (20hp) of boost and 200Nm of torque for a short time. From a standstill, the all-new Mercedes-AMG G63 takes just 4.4 seconds to accelerate to 100km/h. This dynamic propulsion continues to a top speed of 220km/h.

The optionally available AMG Performance Package enables a top speed of 240km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds.

Mercedes-AMG One man, one engine Handcrafted by Michael Kübler @f1mike28 in Germany Affalterbach. Driving Performance is our Passion! Mercedes-AMG the Performance and Sports Car Brand from Mercedes-Benz and Exclusive Partner for Pagani Automobili. Mercedes-AMG Handcrafted by Racers.

[kicksaddictny]

Nike Pegasus Premium

Nike continues to push the boundaries of performance technology with the Nike Pegasus Premium, featuring the brand’s first sculpted, visible Air Zoom unit. As the company’s most versatile cushioning technology, Nike Air has always aimed to enhance athletes’ performance, and with this new release, Nike raises the bar even higher.

Designed with the same ambition behind Nike’s most innovative Air creations, the Pegasus Premium redefines Air Zoom cushioning. The sculpted Air Zoom unit spans from the forefoot to the heel, creating a seamless transition from heel strike to toe-off. This cutting-edge design allows for a smooth, efficient run by providing responsive cushioning that propels runners forward.

For decades, Nike has built on flat Air Zoom units to offer full energy return. But with advances in computational design, AI, and rapid prototyping, Nike designers can now shape Air units to mirror the contours of the foot. This results in greater energy efficiency and performance, offering an entirely new running experience.

The Pegasus Premium also features Nike’s proprietary ZoomX foam in the midsole and ReactX foam in the heel. This combination creates a dynamic cushioning system that delivers a smooth, propulsive ride, optimizing energy return over long distances. In fact, the unique Air Zoom unit and foam placement in the Pegasus Premium provide more energy return than any previous model in the Pegasus line.

For Kathy Gomez, Nike’s VP of NXT Footwear, the Pegasus Premium represents more than just a technological breakthrough—it’s a way to make world-class cushioning accessible to all runners, unlocking the full potential of Air Zoom.

“Air is Nike’s differentiator in the footwear industry—no one else can create cushioning innovations like we do,” says Gomez. “By combining Air with midfoot plates and proprietary foams, we’ve created a performance system that’s second to none. With the Pegasus Premium, we want runners to maximize energy return from the sculpted Air Zoom unit, which not only functions as a spring-like mechanism but engages the entire foot, regardless of gait or stride.”

Nike’s design, engineering, and science teams, including those at Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation, the Nike Running team, and the Nike Sport Research Lab, collaborated to develop this new underfoot sensation. Tools like finite element analysis helped predict the sculpted Air unit’s response to the repeated impact of running, ensuring it would perform at the highest level.

The upper of the Pegasus Premium is engineered with a circular knit for a secure fit, with additional reinforcements in the forefoot to provide targeted support during runs. The same dynamic midfoot system from the Pegasus line ensures stability and comfort throughout.

A true reflection of Nike’s ongoing innovation, the Pegasus Premium showcases the power of its Air technology and its ability to serve athletes at all levels.

The Nike Pegasus Premium is now available globally at nike.com and select retail partners.

[deletarius-draws]

The Aelvaren & The Aximand Axia/ Also an update

So sorry for the absence, I've been getting some writing done and wanted to finish enough before posting again. I wanted to flesh out some lineage lore for "Solus Aximand", one of my favorite Tav's from one of my many BG3 playthroughs. It's quite long and I'm not sure if it'll all fit here. If not, then the lore will be released in pieces. Its also original D&D Forgotten Realms stuff I'll expand upon once the foundation is set. Hopefully enough to pique interest for collaboration, for now its just something for fun and maintain the flow of creativity.

With all that said, we're gonna jump right in now... (p.s ~ "You have my humblest thanks.)

Forgotten Realms ~ Rubellyn – Aelvaren High Elves & The Aximand Axia

The Aelvaren are High-Elves who are of a different origin to other High Elves or the Eladrin, whom they have become close and intermingled with after their transition into the Feywild. To other Elves, Aelvaren or those with half Aelvaren blood, exude a familiar yet unfamiliar aura about them, other Elves feeling kinship, feel yet an otherworldly aura when conversing with an Aelvaren.

Aelvaren are rumored to have originated in the far reaches of the Astral Sea, the Aelvaren were formerly a proud, noble race of high elves. This ethereal expanse was their home, but they were driven by a desperate need to escape an eternal damnation that threatened their existence.

In whispered legends, more-so among the Lymenos town populace, is that the Aelvaren were once a part of an ancient and powerful elven civilization that spanned multiple planes. However, due to a cataclysmic event forced them to flee, leading to their journey through the Astral Sea in search of refuge. Some say they angered a powerful deity, while others believe they were cursed by an ancient entity they themselves unconsciously created.

Traversing the Tapestry of Stars

The Aelvaren traveled aboard their spelljammers, vessels of arcane propulsion capable of traversing the Astral Seas’ treacherous expanse. These ships were not just means of transport but sanctuaries crafted from rare astral materials and imbued with powerful enchantments. They provide protection, sustenance and a sense of unity for the Aelvaren.

Arrival In the Feywild

Their journey eventually brought them to the enigmatic and mystical plane of the Feywild. Initially confused and scattered, they gradually adapted by forming alliances with Fey beings and learning to navigate this new world.

Rubellyn Gate

The small Archfey council of the Feywild granted the Aelvaren a passage dimension as a haven, on the condition that they defend it. This passage, Rubellyn Gate, became both a fortress and home kingdom. The Aelvaren architecture reflected their high elven heritage combined with Feywild’s organic, magical elements, living trees, luminescent crystals and floating gardens.

The Eladrin, the high elves of the Feywild, are known for their grace, beauty and connection to nature. When the Aelvaren high elves venture from the Astral Sea to the Feywild of Rubellyn, the Eladrin give them a cautious and curious welcome. The Eladrin are intrigued by the Aelaren, high elves from a distant realm, and are curious to learn about their journey and experiences in the Astral Sea. While welcoming, the Eladrin maintain a heedful approach, ensuring the newcomers have honorable intentions and respect for the Feywild’s natural beauty and balance.

Two Aelvaren along with other elder and veteran Aelvaren served as the ambassadors and leaders of the remaining Aelvaren who survived their ventures from the Astral Sea. Two notable individuals being, Illaikus Aximand and Priallia Axia. The Two would begin their service in protecting the Feywild’s veil upon the material plane as well as dealing with malignant forces across the realms of Abeir-Toril.

The Aelvaren share their knowledge of navigating the Astral Sea, recounting tales of their voyages and the wonders they’ve encountered. They demonstrate their mastery of arcane magic, teaching the Eladrin new spells and techniques developed in the Astral Sea. The Eladrin would introduce the Aelvaren to their unique connection to the seasons and how their emotions influence their appearance and abilities. Sharing their deep knowledge of the Feywild’s flora and fauna, teaching the Aelvaren about the magical plants and creatures that inhabit their realm.

Social Dynamics and Banter

Eladrin: “Welcome to Rubellyn, travelers from the stars. May the light of Rubeylln guide your path.”

Aelvaren: “We are honored to be welcomed in a realm with such eternal beauty, you have our humblest thanks.”

Romantic Dynamics

An Aelvaren and Eladrin couple would blend the mysticism of the Astral Sea with the enchantment of the Feywild. Their union symbolizes the harmony between different realms. They would share stories of their respective worlds, exploring the mysteries of both the stars and the seasons together. These intimate exchanges would also reveal subtle history of what caused the Aelvaren to retreat into the stars, leaving their world behind.

Eladrin Partner: “Come, let us dance under the moonlight. Show me the constellations you’ve traveled.”

Aelvaren Partner: “And I shall teach you the songs of the stars, as you teach me the dance of seasons.”

The Archfey council tasks the Aelvaren with protecting the Rubellyn Gate, a crucial responsibility that ensures the safety and balance of the Feywild. The Aelvaren accept this duty with honor, dedicating themselves to the protecting of the Rubellyn gate and the realm. The Aelvaren and Eladrin train together, combining their strengths and learning from each other’s combat techniques and magical abilities. Through collaboration and shared experiences, they build trust and mutual respect, solidifying their alliance.

The Eladrin respect the Aelvaren for their dedication and skill. They form bonds of camaraderie, sharing in the responsibility of protecting their realm.

Eladrin Elder: “Your dedication to our home is commendable. Together, we shall ensure that Rubellyn remains a haven of beauty and balance.”

Illaikus: “It is our honor to stand with you. The stars and seasons shall guide us in our duty.”

The Eladrin are proud to have the Aelvaren as the guardians of the Rubellyn Gate. They support their efforts and provide assistance when needed.

Axenjammers

Their Spelljammers were repurposed into Axenjammers, newly enhanced vessels designed for defense, swift response, deployment and offensive purposes. These ships were engineered to harness the Feywild’s unique magic, making them faster, more resilient and capable of navigating both the Astral Sea and the Feywild. Axenjammers became vital in their defense strategies, patrolling the thin veil between the material plane and the Feywild, ensuring that the Rubellyn Gate remained secure.

[jbfly46]

The Sonora Aeroclub: A Lost Legacy of Anti-Gravity, Secret Societies, and Suppressed Technology?

Could it be that the secrets of anti-gravity were discovered long before the age of rockets and jets? Hidden deep in the California hills in the mid-1800s, a group called the Sonora Aeroclub emerged, gathering under a cloak of secrecy and experimentation. Fuelled by dreams of harnessing unconventional energy sources, these aeronautic pioneers reportedly designed and even tested aircraft that seemed far ahead of their time.

But why haven’t you heard about them?

A Secret Society with a Visionary Mission:

The Sonora Aeroclub wasn’t just a ragtag group of tinkerers—they were part of a larger movement, allegedly linked to a German secret society known as the Nyctameron. Driven by a mysterious figure named Karl Honig, the Aeroclub met in secret workshops where they sketched and assembled highly advanced airships.

Their designs featured strange propulsion systems they called “NB gas,” a form of anti-gravitational energy that, by their account, could defy Earth’s pull without the need for massive engines or fossil fuels.

These weren’t just ideas on paper. Sketches and manuscripts uncovered years later by researcher Charles A. Dellschau reveal elaborate blueprints for these crafts, some resembling modern stealth designs and drones, drawn nearly 150 years ago. Why would a hidden society in a remote gold-mining town design advanced flying machines? And more importantly, how could they know about propulsion concepts that our mainstream science has only recently begun to entertain?

The Curious Case of “NB Gas” and Anti-Gravity:

One of the most intriguing elements of the Aeroclub’s designs was their purported use of “NB gas.” This mysterious substance, claimed by the Sonora Aeroclub members to have anti-gravity properties, was key to their aviation experiments. Today’s alternative energy community will recognise this as one of the earliest recorded theories of “buoyancy control” and anti-gravitational force—concepts the mainstream still struggles to explain.

Could “NB gas” have been an early understanding of zero-point energy? Or perhaps even a rudimentary form of electromagnetic lift technology? These are questions that modern physicists and researchers ask as they reexamine the Sonora Aeroclub’s work. Some believe that if such a breakthrough were indeed discovered, it would have posed a direct threat to fossil fuel industries and conventional aircraft manufacturers—a threat that powerful interests might have wanted to bury.

Dellschau’s Hidden Messages: Proof of Suppressed Technology?

One of the few remaining clues to the Aeroclub’s existence and innovations lies in the cryptic, annotated artwork of Charles Dellschau. Decades after the Sonora Aeroclub allegedly disbanded, Dellschau created a collection of heavily illustrated, code-filled journals that documented their experimental airships in exquisite detail. Filled with esoteric symbols, encrypted notations, and bizarre engineering notes, Dellschau’s work has led many to believe he was hiding something monumental in plain sight.

Researchers who have studied Dellschau’s journals suggest that the Nyctameron and the Sonora Aeroclub may have been part of a broader network seeking to develop technology that could one day free humanity from conventional energy constraints. If true, it’s no wonder that these journals remained obscure for decades—who stands to gain from the suppression of anti-gravity and alternative propulsion technologies?

Why Haven’t We Heard About This?

It’s a question that leaves room for intrigue. Some believe the Sonora Aeroclub’s anti-gravity experiments were intentionally buried by powerful industrial and government interests. The sudden disappearance of the Aeroclub, the lack of public record on their achievements, and the coded nature of Dellschau’s journals suggest that whatever knowledge they possessed was either hidden—or taken.

Did the Sonora Aeroclub Discover Anti-Gravity?

Today, the legend of the Sonora Aeroclub fascinates the alternative propulsion and energy community. Could they have stumbled upon anti-gravity principles that remain elusive even now? Or were they silenced before they could transform the world?

As breakthroughs in aerospace technology inch closer to the concepts the Aeroclub imagined, people are asking: Did we lose a key to a cleaner, faster future somewhere in California’s backwoods? Dellschau’s cryptic journals, filled with strange symbols and forgotten blueprints, may still hold answers. And perhaps, if we look closely, we’ll find a glimpse of the secrets they tried to leave behind.

[lovejustforaday]

2023 Year End List - #1

夢之駭客 Dream Hacker - Otay:onii

Main Genres: Post-Industrial, Experimental

A decent sampling of: Neoclassical Darkwave, Electroacoustic, Glitch, Industrial Techno, Drone

Brace yourself, cause from here on out this is mostly just gonna be me fanboying and gushing uncontrollably.

Back in 2021, I had championed the Chinese American singer/songwriter/composer/producer/performance artist Lane Shi Otayonii a.k.a. Otay:onii for her experimental record Ming Ming on that year's roundup, describing her potential to become "one of the greatest producers of the decade". But who is this enigmatic artist?

Lane Shi divides her time and energy between creating and touring with her hardcore noise rock band Elizabeth Colour Wheel, and performing studio black magic with her solo project under the Otay:onii name.

She is also an artist who regularly alternates her base of operations between two worlds, residing at different times in New York City and Shanghai. The duality of her identity as a Chinese American is a narrative thread that appears many times throughout the artist's work, informing some of the thematic elements of her records.

According to a really great interview she did with the YouTuber Heinos, the moniker 'Otayonii' itself is actually a name that was given to the artist when she met a Seneca First Nations man, who asked if he could call her by the name for 'wolf' in his ancestral language. She liked the sound and what it represented, and so decided to own her new given title.

Musically, Otay:onii is primarily a post-industrial project, but Lane Shi regularly incorporates aspects of darkwave, glitch, drone, traditional Chinese music, and electroacoustic music into her work. Her signature sound is equal parts atmospheric, lovecraftian, primordial, playful, and frenetic. She's kinda like if an ancient vengeful demi-god reemerged from the bowels of the Earth, and learned how to download and play around with studio software on a laptop.

As a vocalist, Lane Shi possesses a contralto range, and falls under one of my favourite niche categories of woman singers I like to call "force-of-nature belters", along with the likes of Tanya Tagaq and Björk. She has a trademark lower register that I would describe as a witch's snarl, a gentler middle register, as well as a higher register that she usually reserves for piercing battle cries and wailing like a banshee.

Her 2018 debut Nag was a comparatively more minimalist, grayscale undertaking, heavy on the more ambient and gothic tones of her sound. A genuinely solid first effort, if a bit less memorable than later records, barring the deliciously dreary eponymous song which is still among her very best.

2021's Ming Ming was an upgrade in all respects. Pulling major influences from Chinese folk music and folklore, I described the record in my previous Otay:onii review as a "true Pandora's Box . . . like the story of a mortal who attempts to enter the realm of the gods". Lots of ominous industrial cyber-magic, with a rare few moments that could have perhaps been edited down or omitted altogether to increase the force of its impact.

So, what to make of her latest then?

Dream Hacker is an exorcism. An inferno of ancient eternal flames envelops this absolutely bonkers and surreal listening experience. Each song carries powerful buildups in intensity combined with impossibly elegant structural competence. Far and away one of the most visceral and transcendent records I have ever beheld. This gets into your bloodstream, like an innate, raw instinct towards entropy.

Otay:onii's work has never sounded quite this immediate, energetic, and dynamic, thanks to the incorporation of avant-garde industrial techno beats that gives the whole project a mighty propulsion. Even during its quieter moments, you as the listener are never far from being engulfed in its unruly fire and brimstone. So many little leftfield moments that made me audibly go "what the fuck?" upon my first listen, too.

To me, this is album of the year not just because it poses the best collection of songs from an artist in 2023 (which, to be clear, it does), but also because it forms the most cohesive and fully realized project of the year. Every moment of this record feels intentional, meticulously crafted, and designed to fit accordingly into a larger entity. This is almost a living, breathing organism unto itself.

Lane Shi described how much of the inspiration for Dream Hacker came to her in a dream, or as she sees it, an "astral projection". Within this dream, she says she witnessed stones being thrown by a child until two of them overlapped, followed by a great light which emerged from the center of the overlap. The imagery was profound enough that she ended up naming most of the tracks after different aspects of what she saw in the dream.

The album starts with humble beginnings. "You Do/Rub" is a two-parter, opening with the haunting, softly swirling piano ballad melancholy of "You Do". The lyrics are deeply cutting and vulnerable, as the artist ponders her shaky relationship with her father as a daughter of the generation where China had implemented the one child policy, breeding stigma against female offspring in the more conservative rural communities. Lane Shi wields her voice like a delicate blade, gracefully and artfully interrogating her father's worldview. The progression of the piano's melody suggests a kind of resolution in ambiguity, resisting rigid, narrow-minded answers to multidimensional questions.

Then quite abruptly, "Rub" completely overtakes and drowns out the serenity of the softer piano song, like a sudden onset computer virus infection. What becomes of this part two is honestly one of the most immaculate timbral frequencies I've ever heard. A glitchy, droning wall of madness forms in dark, ominous, tempestuous clouds all across the sky. Warm colours are sucked out of existence by a black hole, leaving only greyish pale blues. The soul is washed with abrasion until all that's left is the ability to observe. Sound design on this is fucking unreal, as though Lane Shi Otayonii is wiping clean of our universe, leaving only a empty slate to form the basis for her own new sonic domain, wherein she is god of all things.

"Light Burst" is the combustion spark of a rebirth of all things that comes immediately after. Lane Shi let's out a shrill cry of tremendous power and agony amidst the grinding dust and debris of an incredibly dense and intricate industrial techno concoction, built upon her long standing love affair with minor second chord progressions. This track does not relent, adding more and more layers to its already colossal tower of babel proportions until, just as suddenly as it came into existence, it vanishes without a trace of detection.

"Two Rocks A Bird" oscillates like an electron creating new electromagnetic waves. Sound particles split into atoms that dance in a mindless frenzy. Even as a regular Arca fan, I don't think I was ready to comprehend something like this the first time I heard it. Subverted all of my expectations. I think the artist may have invented a few completely new sound textures on this track. A highly reactive new form of industrial music.

After deliberating with all of the sheer fucking brilliance to be found on this project, I eventually concluded that "Overlap" was my favourite off of the record. Like the best song on her last LP "Blackheart Breakables", this is an epic midpoint that just continues to build and build, feeding endlessly like a malignant being that cannot be stopped. Hand drum beat patterns are mutated, modulated, and mutilated by industrial electroacoustic mechanisms, while a synthesized flute echos a most forlorn and sinister melody.

Lane Shi takes on the shape of a skillful pyromancer, testing her newfound powers by conjuring a sea of flames that I visualize with my mind's eye as something similar to the Darvaza Gas Crater. Alternatively, I imagine thousand year old stains of bloodshed on the tombs of a ransacked temple, or the ancient terracotta soldiers of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum brought to life for the purpose of ushering a new war. "Overlap" is just something else, man. My other pick for song of the year.

"Ritualware" opens with a rare calm, dreams swirling on the outskirts of a newborn world that has not reached its zenith. The spacious void bursts to life with a single, literal drop (another brilliant production choice), creating ripples in space-time that give way to a trumpeting sawtooth synths' cacophonous symphony.

"Good Fool" brings things to a stirringly harmonious denouement. The light of the last candle is blown out, and a creeping dusk sets in. Petals of sound float along the wind and promptly dissipate, as everything reaches an uncanny stillness. A hushed, rapid-fire breakdown of bass drums, hand drums, and gongs occurs as the final closing act of the record.

I know I've already said this like a dozen times before about a dozen different artists, but it really needs to be said here - more people should know about Otay:onii. No one I've discovered has been doing anything as consistently exciting, challenging, and infectious as this project in the last few years. As it stands right now, the artist is criminally unknown and criminally underappreciated.

Dream Hacker is the rare ambitious record that dares to be so challenging and not only lives up to all of its potential, but manages to make the old formula of doing things look incredibly obsolete by comparison. Not many avant-garde music albums are this ridiculously fun to listen to, let alone manage to capture sonic worlds that are this truly sublime.

I've probably listened to this at least 40 times in the last year, and I plan on at least doubling that number in the following year. This is not just my album of the year; it is my top album of the 2020s as a decade so far, and already one of my favourites of all time. This record sets my soul ablaze and I simply can't get enough of it. Otay:onii is my new religion, and Dream Hacker is the scripture.

10/10

Highlights: "Overlap", "You Do/Rub", "Light Burst", "Two Rocks A Bird", "Ritualware", "Good Fool"

[cookiesandthedead]

It's been over twenty years and I want to re-visit this old line that some people joke is bullshit or didn't hold up. So let's see if they're right.

First things first, what counts as flying? When Pell is introduced, we had already met Buggy who can "fly" but his feet need to stay on the ground and Miss Valentine who can float. We've also seen Logia users turn into their element and seem to fly, which also doesn't count (perhaps cause they seem to be leaping slightly helped by becoming their element). So true flying must mean you have your whole body in the air and be self-propelled for a significant distance and period of time. To make it easier, I'm going to use "could they probably fly between two islands" as a measure for time and distance.

Second the line specifically says "ever discovered" so there is some room for the number to maybe be slightly higher then five if someone ate a fruit not publicly listed. For example, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika shows some possible flying but it was purposefully hidden by the World Government, so there is no way it's included in the five.

With what true flying defined lets look at some devil fruit users and their abilities to fly. We're gonna stick to canon characters and devil fruits only, no smiles since they are artificial.

Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon (user Pell) established flying power

Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix (user Marco) shown flying

Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Albatross (user Morgans) cannot fly as stated by Morgans himself.

Mushi Mushi no Mi, Model: Hornet (user Bian) shown flying

Mushi Mushi no Mi, Model: Rhinoceros Beetle (user Kabu) shown flying

Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon (user Kaido) climbs clouds to move through the air as stated by Momo

Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon (user King) shown flying

Uma Uma no Mi, Model: Pegasus (user Stronger) shown flying

Horo Horo no Mi (user Perona) Astral projection which looks like flight but doesn't move the user's actually body

Guru Guru no Mi (user Buffalo) shown flying

Ton Ton no Mi (user Machvise) similar to Miss Valentine, can float but not fly without using another form of propulsion

Hana Hana no Mi (user Robin) can make wings out of hands but cannot sustain flight more then a few seconds

Susu Susu no Mi (user Karasu) can turn into soot birds that fly

Ito Ito no Mi (user Doflamingo) attaches strings to clouds or other objects to mimic flying

Alright, based off this we have seven fruits which gives users the ability to fly which are likely to be "known fruits". Personally I would say that seven is not that different from five, especially if it can be argued some of the fruits not being known or Karasu and Buffalo using their fruits in such a unique way that other's wouldn't realize someone with their fruit could fly.

I think the line about there being "five known fruits to grant flying ability" line has held up in the past twenty years. You go Pell, with your unique ability!

[sinceileftyoublog]

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Live Show Review: 9/6, Cahn Auditorium, Evanston

David Rawlings & Gillian Welch

BY JORDAN MAINZER

In 2020, right before COVID shut down the country, a tornado outbreak tore through Nashville, killing 25, injuring hundreds, and leaving tens of thousands without electricity. Among the destruction was Woodland Sound Studios, the home studio of contemporary folk legends Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, which they spent the next years rebuilding, all while excavating treasure troves of unreleased tunes. But the first true phoenix to rise from the flames is Woodland (Acony), their latest studio album, which pays tribute not so much to a place that was and stands again, but the very act of creating in the face of loss. And the duo's performance of many of the album's songs last Friday at Cahn Auditorium, a pre-show for the inaugural Evanston Folk Festival, cemented the extent to which their creative power conquers all.

Welch

Welch and Rawlings dare you to focus away from absence. Though Woodland as an album benefits from various studio flourishes and guest players, its songs are strong in any capacity. During "Empty Trainload of Sky", the duo's tight vocal harmonies and Rawlings' bluesy picking didn't make you miss the studio version's propulsive percussion; instead, you were focused primarily on the way in which Welch turns a visual hallucination into a treatise on knowledge and doubt. "Was it spirit? Was it solid? Did I ditch that class in college?" she sings, simultaneously winking and full of wonder. Similarly, the poetry of "Hashtag" proved the studio version's French horns and strings to be borderline superfluous, the duo's Guy Clark-inspired musings garnering equal amounts laughs and existential crises. Even some songs themselves juxtapose elements that seem to be lacking, in a vacuum, with others that are more whole, the overall sum becoming something rather beautiful. On the wonderful "What We Had", Rawlings' cracking Neil Young falsetto contrasted the might of his guitars, as he and Welch harmonized and traded verses about impermanence: "What we had is broken, though we thought we'd never lose it." The rolling "The Day The Mississippi Died", which imagines this country's preeminent river drying up, sees a mix of tragedy and jubilation in the apocalypse, the best song of its kind since Joan Shelley's "The Fading".

Paul Kowert, Rawlings, & Welch

Of course, when listening to a Welch and Rawlings album, or witnessing one of their life-affirming live shows, you can't help but be wowed by the interplay of the two singers and players. If I hadn't written it down, I wouldn't have been able to tell you on which songs they were joined by upright bassist Paul Kowert; even though his playing was terrific, Welch and Rawlings draw your attention. Rawlings' prickly leads played off of Welch's high-register, rhythmic wincing on "The Bells and the Birds". In terms of stage presence, Welch is the silent and still warrior, Rawlings jerky, his expressions embedding within her strums on "Lawnman" and her mournful declarations on classic "Revelator". Perhaps the song that best encapsulated both their creative partnership and their strengthened appreciation for music-making was "Howdy Howdy". "Dry your eyes, don't you cry, ain't gonna rain no more," Welch sings to Rawlings', as if she's comforting him in the face of tragedy; the chorus of "You and me are always gonna be howdy howdy / You and me, always walk that lonesome valley" acts as a statement of purpose. Before playing the song on Friday, Welch was having trouble tuning her banjo, so Rawlings nursed it back to health so they could move on. On both Woodland and forever, Welch and Rawlings have each other's back.

Rawlings & Welch

[michaelgabrill]

Gateways Propulsion System Testing Throttles Up

The powerhouse of Gateway, NASA’s orbiting outpost around the Moon and a critical piece of infrastructure for Artemis, is in the midst of several electric propulsion system tests. The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), being manufactured by Maxar Technologies, provides Gateway with power, high-rate communications, and propulsion for maneuvers around the Moon and to transit […] from NASA https://ift.tt/CeVKl0G