#tdp eight staffs

[amber-in-the-rough]

Did they reveal what the staffs represent?

No, they didn't even mention them, just showed them in the background and that's it.

Maybe some day, in s7? Or in one of the arc 3 seasons, which hopefully will come to be.

The only thing we've learned is that the stone in the staff of Ziard was actually a quasar diamond all along and that it being there was Aaravos's contingency plan. Coincidentally, the corona of the heavens turned out to have one of its diamonds fake. Sooo- At some point in the past he must've taken a real diamond from the corona and put it into the staff. Which means that the staff didn't have it before and that the stones in the other staffs are definitely not differently coloured quasar diamonds (as there are only three). Maybe they are different primal errm minerals? Like, Sky sapphires, Sun rubies, Moon opals...

Two questions, though.

Excuse me but what kind of contingency plan was that, Aaravos??? What were you even preparing for? Who in their right mind thinks "Hm, they may also imprison my soul and destroy my body. Let's steal a diamond, to be on the safe side"?? Like, I can't even say it was too much of a precaution because IT WASN'T. Damned genius. I wonder if he has any other crazy contingencies.

Are there any Dark magic alternatives for the de-coining spell? Because if there aren't, then Viren is a madman. I've always wondered why he did this freaking spell so readily. Did he EVER think about how he would get the coined people out??? If he knew about the quasar diamonds, it's still no less crazy: one, there are only three of them so Viren obviously had math problems as he did the spell FOUR times; two, how was he planning to fetch them?

True, Viren might've cracked a little but he's never been an idiot. He must have had a dark magic de-coining spell. But then, why didn't Claudia use it?.. It's the same spell, restoring bodies to separated spirits. Claudia is also not an idiot, she learned from her father and even took the coins after him. If there is a dark magic spell, she must have known it. So, why didn't she use it to free Aaravos?

I don't know the answer but I think it's down to these two options: either there's no dark magic alternative and Viren was a dummy OR there is and Claudia was just too caught up in her "avid follower" mode at that moment to remember that she could actually do it another way, no need to waste a priceless stone. She was literally: Aaravos speaks and I listen.

P.S. ah, one more thing. If these diamonds are all so rare and precious, why the Celestial elves gave them away so easily?

P.P.S. there MUST be a Dark magic alternative. Otherwise, how would the previous owners of the coins free their prisoners? I don't believe Viren was their first owner or the first one to use them. However, if we look at it from a darker side... Maybe the previous owners had no need to get anyone out. They just sealed people inside and left them there until they disappeared and freed the space inside a coin. :) Absolute pragmatists. Right, Viren?

upd: what's the matter with these asks? this is a second time I'm getting an ask from an account that gets deactivated in the course of like 15 minutes. I've heard there are some erm strange people in the fandom who make several accounts and write strange things, okay, but what's even the point of creating an account for the sake of asking 1 simple question?.. i mean, the question was easy to answer, i just got carried away as usual. alright, if I'm such a nice little account (no) that you couldn't help but write to me, that's fine, but then why delete your newly made account?.. really don't get it. ig it's either a very shy person (if so, you could use anonymous asks. it's more simple) or a strange person. or i just don't get it.

[sorinethemastermind]

Inanimate objects Important to TDP S7

The puzzle cube. It was inevitable that we were going to be seeing more of this after it's introduction, but also, after seeing what it's for in S6. So I think that we'll also be seeing the book that it hails from. The question is, will it be something that Aaravos is after, or will it be something that Callum discovers and uses against him?

2. Dragon Scale Amulet. Aaron Ehasz confirmed that this amulet is connected to Laurelion, the Startouch Elf from the poem (in which the gang discover the story of the Nova Blade). And we've seen it so many times that even before learning of this I knew it had to be for something! So now the question is... what?

3. The Nova Blade. Sure, it could have been a plot device to make them travel to the Celestial Elves. But the Quasar Diamonds already were that! Which makes me think that this will come into play again, even if it's not the thing that's used to defeat Aaravos.

It's described as "ivory draconic brought death's bite known ever forth as Novablade," and combine that with the previous item on this list, the Dragon Scale Amulet, and I can't help but think that the two are connected.

4. Staff of Ziard. According to the official wiki, the Relic Staff is an "elven crafted relic" (I believe by Aaravos). It lso sayd that "Although the staff is primarily used to amplify and strengthen dark magic spells, it can also be used as a catalyst for Aaravos's spells to be used by Viren. It is said to hold even greater secrets."

"There are seven other staffs identical to it in the Zenith of the Star Scraper. Although, while this staff has a purple stone, each of the other staffs has a gem of different colors embedded in them. Notably, there is one empty space among the eight pillars where the staffs are mounted."

Not only do I think this staff will play a role in the next season, I also think that we'll discover more about the other staffs. Especially knowing that Astrid will be playing more of a roll in the next season, she'll probably have answers for these questions!

5. The Cursed Coins. My personal theory is that Aaravos will be trapped inside the coin, as they cannot kill him. And beyond that, I also think that there's a good chance the last Quasar Diamond will be used to free Kpp'Ar from his cursed coin.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Order as Antagonist in TDP

So how about that trailer, eh? I was so excited I didn't notice this text up top on TDP's tweet for like. An hour.

We haven't heard anything about this Cosmic Order before. Is it a specific group? Is it a vibe? Is it a Startouch thing? Hard to say, yet. But there are some vibes from the Starscraper shots we've gotten in the trailer and teaser that may point us in the right direction:

This place has eight pillars, each with a recess that holds a relic staff seemingly identical to the one Viren's been toting around. It's not unique, and Aaravos didn't craft it. He stole it.

This is the Prometheus part of Aaravos' character. This is the fire that he stole for humans, from the gods. The relic staff. A relic staff, one of many.

Why did he, a godlike elf himself, feel the need to commit this act, for which he was cast down, exiled, and stripped of much of his power? Why?

Hard to say yet, but knowing all that he is capable of, I think it comes down to one thing: stealing it was the only way to get it. Nothing else he could think of would work. And he's pretty imaginative. But the system, the Cosmic Order, had him, too. He's a magic elf, bound by the same forces as everyone else up there. Breaking the rules was his only remaining option.

Aaravos chose Chaos over Order and put his money where his mouth is. He did get exiled and cast out, but humans have magic now. Somehow, that's not a thing the Order can take back from them, once it's out - rather like Pandora's Box.

But I want to look at this Order, and how pervasive it must be. How else would a powerful elf like Aaravos be reduced to petty thievery to accomplish his ends? Surely he tried other ways, other options, other persuasions. Why didn't they get him anywhere? Why did he have to take such a - for lack of a better term - human approach to the problem?

Let's back up a second and look at a seemingly random list of likes for one specific elf: Runaan. (no of course it isn't random, this is why this theory post exists. but shh, it'll make sense I promise)

Runaan likes four things in this list. Two of them are his immediate family. One is his favorite food. And the last item on the list?

Order.

I used to think this was just a bit of a wink to him being autistic-coded and liking his patterns. And I still do think that's accurate. But my third eye got pried open by the Cosmic Order text, and I think it's more than that now.

Runaan is a tiny cog in the grand engine that is the Cosmic Order. He goes where he is told, he kills who he is told to kill, he obeys without question, no matter how heinous his acts would be - he would have killed Ezran without blinking, because that's what the Dragon Queen told him to do.

Runaan is the most Moonshadow Moonshadow, according to the Deluxe Elf Interview. He's the epitome of what it means to be a Moonshadow elf. His devotion, sacrifice, and adherence to the rules are what makes him a good Moonshadow elf.

How convenient for the Order.

Runaan is still an individual, inside his own rules. He chose to become an assassin, and he did it to spare others from having to take lives and live with the weight of those acts. But that does imply that if he hadn't chosen this path, someone else would have, and people would still be dying.

And I think he's right. Maybe his love of order actually lets him perceive the great gears grinding over his head, up in the stars, turning the wheels of fate for everyone they control. Maybe he knows full well that he's part of a grand system - but there's nothing he can do about it except stay alive or die, because he is trapped inside it. He cannot change his fate because he is locked into it, just like everyone around him.

The Book 1 novelization tells us Runaan always expected to die on a mission, and that he meets that fate with a calm resignation on the balcony. He surrenders to his fate, because he cannot fight it.

What could lock Runaan into a fate that ends with him dying on a mission?

His own choices? Think bigger.

His society, then. Obligation, honor, guilt. Hmm, bigger than that.

It's been there the whole time - something that all the elves and dragons possess, but humans don't. Something which caused the imbalance in the first place.

Magic.

Magic is the Cosmic Order.

yes it has eight points and yes I'm back on my bullshit

Quick aside: The Cosmic Order is turning out to be the big magic version of King Harrow's Narrative of Strength, which he contrasted with the Narrative of Love - and we'll get back to that at the end of the post.

Alrighty, back to magic: The worst offenders seem to be the primal magics, which have locked the elves and dragons into very tight little boxes as far as what they can and cannot do, think, and imagine. An elf with a single arcanum can only think in terms of that primal source. It's as bad as an irl human who only knows one language, and so their brain literally cannot conceive of concepts that exist in other languages. (Learn more languages, guys, it's genuinely good for your brain, I am not kidding)

This helps explain why Aaravos was able to think a little bit outside his box and consider giving magic to humans when the Order said they didn't deserve any. He is an archmage, and he speaks many magical languages. He knows all six primal magics, as well as the ancient blood magic and dark magic. That's eight different ways of looking at a problem.

(is this why elves only have 8 fingers, because they literally cannot grasp anything outside of magic?)

From his multifaceted viewpoint, Aaravos can see the inherent unfairness in humans being forced to abide by the Order without getting any magic for their trouble. It's basically taxation without representation.

The Americans among us can attest to how well that went over in our own history.

Aaravos: Prometheus, Lucifer... Che Guevara... Guy Fawkes?

Aaravos really does love revolution.

Further thought: this post about Ethari's design has reminded me again about his lower-than-average magical ability and how that has manifested in his unique design and in his character. And I'm looking directly at how Ethari's lesser magic power may be the reason he's so mentally flexible. If he can challenge Runaan directly about how Rayla is not ready for that mission when everyone else is going along with it, isn't that lack of narrow-mindedness the thing that sets him apart?

What else might that freedom of thought do for him? Is this the reason he is actually able to invent at all? Because he is capable of envisioning that which does not yet exist? How rare that must be among Moonshadow elves!

tldr: Ethari is actually bad at being a Moonshadow elf, and that could very well be what saves him.

Contrast Ethari with Karim, who is a powerful Sunfire mage, and very much locked into his traditional views of elf vs human. He's willing to go to war in order to impose his views on all of the Sunfire elves if he can, because he genuinely believes he can see the Order of things better than anyone else can.

He believes in the superiority of the elven ways, while Janai has let her heart change her mind. Janai fell in love with a human, and it broke the Order's hold on her. She makes history now - it does not make her.

Side note: Is this... is this the formula, then? Is this how enduring ships work in TDP? An elf with a normal arcanum, paired with either a human or an elf with a "flawed" connection to the Order inside them? One who can anchor, and one who can imagine?

Let me make a quick list:

Claudia+Terry

Ethari+Runaan

Callum+Rayla

Amaya+Janai

Well. How bout that.

Ironically, this is a different path to what was going to be my final point in the first place: Order may be the default for elves and dragons and the way they are supposed to follow the rules of the universe, but love still exists, and they can always choose to embrace it. They can all be saved by love, in the end. It's their choice. In fact, choosing Love over Order is an act of defiance in itself.

Terry chose Claudia over fear. Janai chose Amaya over war. Rayla chose Callum over vengeance. And Runaan, my poster boy for stubbornness and suffering, chose Ethari over Order itself.

Saved by love.

[liveindiatimes]

Chandrababu Naidu Demands Probe, Wants Plant Shut

https://www.liveindiatimes.com/chandrababu-naidu-demands-probe-wants-plant-shut/

Chandrababu Naidu has written to Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal asking for a probe

Amaravati:

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded a probe into the gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam and asked the Centre to immediately shut down the chemical plant from where styrene vapour leaked.

Eight people, including a child, died and hundreds of others were hospitalised due to the gas leakage early Thursday. The plant had reopened on Thursday after COVID-19 lockdown rules were eased.

Mr Naidu urged the Centre to immediately send medical experts to the district as it may not have the required expertise to treat people affected with styrene gas.

In a letter to Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, Mr Naidu also asked the Centre to deploy veterinary experts to treat animals affected by the toxic gas.

“Further, COVID-19 infects the lungs and reduces the immunity of the person. Hence, it is essential that the medical aid should be two pronged keeping in mind Styrene Gas and COVID-19,” Mr Naidu said in the letter.

“It is also essential to immediately close down the LG Polymers Unit and initiate a thorough enquiry into the gas leakage,” he said.

The former chief minister suggested that the entire unit should be shifted to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that has no population in the vicinity.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, Naidu said as of now few people have died, while around 2000 people have fallen sick due to the leakage.

He said that the central government should provide necessary equipment for analysing the radius affected by styrene gas.

“It is important to focus on mitigating further loss of lives and in the long run to minimise the adverse health effects on the people of Visakhapatnam,” he said.  

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Live India Times

[companionsofthedoctor]

The Companions’ Guide to Doctor Who Podcasts (12th June 2017)

In our weekly roundup, Companions of the Doctor brings you a list of Doctor Who podcasts that were published the week and weekend before. This is by no means a complete or exhaustive list, but the podcasts listed are representative of those recommended and/or subscribed to by the Companions of the Doctor staff. If you don’t see your favorite Doctor Who podcast listed, just let us know via the form or email on our Contact Us page. Be sure to leave a link to the podcast, and we’ll try to add it next week.

All podcasts and content belong to their respective owners. Companions of the Doctor is not responsible for any of the podcast content you hear, and some podcasts contain content that may not be safe for work.

Latest Podcast Episodes:

The Doctor Who Show: S10E09 The Empress of Mars (Doctor Who Series 10)

TARDISblend: 107: Special Double-Feature Episode - "The Lie of the Land" and "Empress of Mars" 

Doctor Who: The BLUE BOX Podcast: Episode 261: The Cold Impress of Mark's

The Cultdom Collective Podcast: Episode 326 Doctor Who 'Empress of Mars' Review (Spoilers!)

Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro: #586 – Jackdaw Meanderings

Flight Through Entirety: Episode 114: Never Going to Win

Tin Dog Podcast: TDP 674: Main Range 225 Vortex Ice/Cortex Fire from @BigFinish 

Staggering Stories Podcast: Staggering Stories Commentary #193: Doctor Who – Smile

Theta Sigma's Doctor Who Podcast: Episode 198 The Empress of Mars  

Who Back When - A Doctor Who Podcast: B034 Introducing Marie

Who Back When - A Doctor Who Podcast: N057 Planet of the Dead

The Sonic Toolbox: Episode 238: Empress of Mars - Review  

TeeVee’s Doctor Who Flashcast: 262 Doctor Who S10E9 Review: “Empress of Mars”

WHO 37 - A Doctor Who Podcast:  #107 Yo Mama   

Tim’s Take On: Episode 387 (Doctor Who The Empress of Mars review)

The Doctor Who Show: You and Who Talking 011 

The Ood Cast: The Ood One Out – The Lie of the Land  

Arrow of Time Podcast: 136 – The Feckless Monks

The Impossible Girls Podcast: Episode #65: Fake News Headquarters

Tin Dog Podcast: TDP 680: TV DOCTOR WHO 2017 EP08 - The Lie of the Land   

The Big Blue Box Podcast:  Doctor Who - Ep145: Where’s that reset button? 

Earth Station Who: The Earth Station Who Podcast Episode 159 – The Monk Saga

The Big Finish Podcast:  Toby Hadoke's Who's Round 203

The Cultdom Collective Podcast: Commentary: Doctor Who - The Lie Of The Land 

Outpost Skaro Podcast: Episode 124 – Fake News of the World!

MarkWHO42: Episode 184 – Truth in Broadcasting

Wanderers in the 4th Dimension: Episode 272: The Lie of the Land   

Diddly Dum Podcast:  078 – Platonism Saves the Day 

Tin Dog Podcast: TDP 677: Torchwood 16 TORCHWOOD _ CASCADE _ CDRIP.TOR from @BigFinish 

Doctor Whooch: Episode 116 - This Is Not Normal

Outpost Skaro Podcast: Episode 123 – Hangovers will doom humanity! 

Gallifrey Stands Podcast: Gallifrey Stands -Ep165- Election Special: Politics in Doctor Who

Traveling the Vortex: Side Trip 25 – The Three Musketeers of BritishFest

Progtor WHO: EPISODE 86: THE LIE OF THE LAND review  

Traveling the Vortex: Episode 333 – Sweet Little Lies 

Verity! Podcast: Episode 140 – The Cake Is a Lie of the Land

BeyondKasterborous - PodKast with a K:  277: The Lie of the Land Reviewed PLUS It’s Our 10th Birthday!  

Tin Dog Podcast: TDP 676: TV Doctor Who - Pyramid at end of world

This Week in Time Travel: Mom Fixes Everything (Episode 10) 

The TARDIS Tavern: Episode 163: In the Nursery 

Gallifrey Public Radio: The Lie of the Land 

Doctor Who: 42 To Doomsday: Episode 68 - Amateur Omnirumourists

Who’s He? Podcast: #272 Every legend tells of conquest and liberty

Outpost Skaro Podcast: Episode 122 – Pope Blocked!   

Doctor Who: The BLUE BOX Podcast: Episode 260: The Lie at the End

Debating Doctor Who: Episode 61: “The Lie Of The Land”

Zeus Plug: ZEUS PLUG vs JOHN LEVENE

Discussing Who: Episode 52: Review of The Lie of the Land, Doctor Who Series 10 Episode Eight

The 20MB Doctor Who Podcast: Episode #344 The Lie of the Land

The Podcastica: Episode 94: The Lie of the Land OR Bill Poppin Caps

Mutter’s Spiral Podcast: MUTTER’S SPIRAL Podcast 132 – “The Lie of the Land” 

Previous Week(s)

The Cultdom Collective Podcast: EPISODE325 - Doctor Who 'The Lie of the Land' Review 

Who Back When - A Doctor Who Podcast: C057 The Claws of Axos  

Discussing Who: Episode 51: Review of Class, Series One

The Big Finish Podcast:  2017-06-05 The Lives of Captain Jack 

The Doctor Who Show: You and Who Talking 010

Staggering Stories Podcast: Staggering Stories Podcast #264: Stimulated Reality

The Untempered Schism Podcast: Untempered Schism Podcast #163: The Mutants

The Doctor Who Show: The audio file you didn’t ask for (The Doctor Who Show Presents: Series 10 musings from friends of the show) 

[amber-in-the-rough]

and yeah, now we know what the s6 poem meant by "eight in a line". It still could mean those stars from the opening but it's much more likely those multicoloured staffs.

maybeee like i said before, they represent 6 primal sources + dark magic + deep magic.

or, i would still take it if it turns out to be 8 types of deep magic staffs. after all, we DO know there are more than one. there's Power, there could be Love and some more. after all, Callum's spellbook mentions it also more than once - that Love Is Magic :3

.

u can definitely say that im very happy rn