#the very nature of a cult is that the people are conditioned to not trust anyone from The Outside

[autistichalsin]

Okay I know I've made like three posts about this one specific thing but I gotta say, anyone who calls Halsin a typical boring Druid either doesn't understand Halsin or doesn't understand Druids, because Halsin is very much an atypical Druid.

Just a few ways Halsin is different than other Druids:

He can't control his wildshape. He transforms involuntarily when under stress, which is not a thing other Druids experience, and he can't control himself fully in wildshape either. He retains traits, such as an enhanced sense of smell, out of his wildshape form, and has the ability to remain as a bear borderline indefinitely, instead of Druids usually only being able to maintain the same form for a couple hours at most.

He doesn't hate undead; he views them the same as living creatures, worthy of life. He cares for Astarion deeply, and is furious if the player allows the 7,000 spawn to die. (He's a little nicer if they do it for a mercy kill instead of the ritual, but is clearly only happy when they are released into the Underdark, the exact thing a Druid is supposed to want to avoid.)

He dislikes the city because it displaces nature, yes, but he VERY rarely says that. Instead, almost every time he laments the conditions of Baldur's Gate, what distresses him is how capitalistic systems harm sentient beings- especially children. He is more upset at the human(oid) suffering he encounters in the city than he is at how it displaces nature.

Halsin is on an obviously morally good alignment. While Druids are no longer required to be neutral, most still are anyway, especially those from the Emerald Enclave, which the Emerald Grove is part of.

Emerald Enclave Druids are encouraged to sabotage society; they breed aggressive animals and place them near settlements to deter development, secretly sponsor brigands to attack new settlements, and simultaneously interact with local populations by providing sweet drinks and teas to boost their public image, so that new developments are curtailed while nearby people think the Druids are kind and harmless. Halsin very notably never even thinks about doing such things, even though it would be trivial for him to do so.

While Halsin's explanation for wanting to stop the Absolute is initially far more in line with Druidic thinking (they're unnatural, obviously), he later grows to want it finished because he wants you, the player, and your friends to be safe.

Halsin has zero desire to ladder-climb in the ranks of the Druids, nor to grow more powerful; he was perfectly happy as he was before the Shadow Curse, and is quite upset he had to waste 100 years of his life "dealing with others' problems and personalities." BUT the fact that he was happy to just that as alderman of his commune suggests the problem was with being forced into the position and being relied on as the sole authority, instead of one trusted elder of many.

Halsin wants children desperately, but was kept from having them by his leadership role. This is yet another example of how, despite his deeply held beliefs, being a Druid ultimately made him less happy.

Halsin isn't very good at leading the Druids, to the point that many of his Druids resent him, many are swayed to a cult the instant he leaves, and he himself decides the best thing he could possibly do for the Grove is leave it and have a better leader come in and take over.

Nearly every struggle Halsin has in the game arises from a conflict with his Druidic beliefs- whether it's his need to cleanse the Shadow Curse causing him to be an ineffective leader of the Grove, his desire for a family being held back by his leadership role, or his love of humanity battling against his hatred for cities as unnatural blots on nature.

Basically, nearly every character beat Halsin has comes from him not being a typical Druid at all, and in some cases, from him being rather bad at being the things Druids are supposed to be.

[langernameohnebedeutung]

there's a lot of valid takes on why Gen Z is becoming radicalised at the rate they are - all that misinformation, tiktok, red pill, the pandemic - all have good points. But I think another factor is that even politically, their sense of normalcy is entirely different to the one of prior generations. The spiral of the last 15 years, the way the Overton window has moved, the change of style and tone in political discourse, the normalisation of anti-democratic ideas, the obsession with people's private lives, the topics that are front and centre during elections these days, the changing concept of the respect and dignity expected in a public office (god I sound like a boomer) - all of that was shocking to us.

the three generations of my family, all born and raised in VERY different time periods from one another, we've all just been equally shocked and horrified again and again these last 15 years - not just by what is happening but how it is happening and by what is possible and how easy it is to make a total mockery of the democracy and the rule of law. For all of us, that was a feeling of realising that something we implicitly trusted in to the point that it didn't need talking about ... just falling away. Or proving to always have been an illusion to begin with. To someone who grows up right now, this safety and security has NEVER existed.

But for these kids - the window of their life where they start becoming politically and culturally aware basically coincides with this downward spiral and I think that makes many of them blind or numb to it. I think for many of them, that's just their understanding of how things naturally progress and politics works. That the way previous generations evaluate the current situation - this framework of intentional manipulation and misinformation and radicalisation - is just fair and acceptable behaviour and that of course politicians manipulate the discourse to get what they want and of course it is normal to tell brazen lies and spread panic if that gets you what you want and if you're loyal to the party, you parrot those lines whether you really believe in them or not. (And let's be honest with ourselves - the seed to that has always been there)

And others, who I imagine intellectually know that things are going downhill, are really stuck in this extremely mind-numbing fatalist mindset (climate change is gonna kill us all anyway, haha) which makes you hopeless and desperate. And being hopeless and desperate also makes you vulnerable to all kinds of manipulation and radicalisation - because the offer you a perspective. Or meaning.

If you think about the trad-wife and redpill stuff or generally christian nationalism but also any movement that instrumentalises history with ideological narratives, you notice that their narratives place periods of stability way back in time in periods that match aspects of their idelogy e.g. their fetishisation of the 1950s. Then they come up with some horrible bad evil enemy that destroyed that paradise and created the 'degenerate' misery we live in now. Authoritarians and ideologues and cults have always done this. It's part of constructing the mutual enemy.

Beause this way, they can create their illusion of this kind of mythical, unreachable utopia (the past) that fascists love and attach all kinds of conditions to reaching that - with no pressure for them to ever actually deliver: women staying at home, racial segregation, christian hegemony, eugenics, absolute exclusion of gay and trans identities etc. This doesn't just have the benefit of pushing their politics on a confused youth (though that's a big benefit) - it also helps them hide from young people that these last 15 years, they literally created the chaos that these kids are living in. They sowed this situation and right now, with the radicalisation of the youth, they are reaping the rewards.

And the thing is, we can blame the Tiktok or whatever but I also think it is important that we let younger people know and feel that what's happening right now - is just not normal and not sustainable.

And yes, we need to let go of the naive illusion that "the kid are going to save the world". We should never have had that. But I also don't think a radical heel-turn vilifying all of Gen Z is going to help anyone or do justice to the situation.

[cloverapple]

hello!! just wanna say I've discovered your blog and it's been incredibly helpful. thank you so much for all the effort you put into your posts they're very insightful :)

my 'problem' so to speak is simply belief. any ways to get around that?

no matter how much I try to change perspective/mindset, reinforce positive beliefs and/or assume, I feel like I'm gaslighting myself :') and i simply find it hard to get rid of that/not let it consume me.

some eg of my thinking:

'shifting is real' -> no you're being delusional.

'it's possible for me' -> girl it'll never happen stop lying to urself.

'i trust myself' -> ok but not with extreme things like shifting!! you're being hopeful for nothing!

'i can shift, it's natural and inherent' -> stfu assumptions never do anything. it's not. you can't. you never will.

'i believe in and accept loa/shifting as real' -> right!! you are crazy. none of your assumptions came to fruition both good nor bad.

'im going to shift' -> liarrr you would've done so by now.

'not everyone would be lying, its real' -> you've fallen for cult tactics don't believe anyone.

'let go, don't put pressure on it's -> you've done this for years, nothing will change. you'll never shift.

...I don't need to go on. it's so exhausting. constant loops of it.

I hope you understand how exhausting it is and how strongly I want to overcome this 😭 I tell myself it's ok, this can't stop me but alas they continue and become overbearing so I end up ultimately succumbing into believing them. and every time I sit down and shift, I basically don't believe I will.

any advice? I'd be so so grateful for any help and thank you for your time <3

Stop ❌ crossing the bridge of despair and hop onto the carousel of reason 🎠

'shifting is real' -> no you're being delusional. -> "My doubts don’t erase reality. If I can question it, I can also prove it to myself. And I will."

'it's possible for me' -> girl it'll never happen stop lying to urself. -> "Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. The possibility exists, and I am aligning with it."

'i trust myself' -> ok but not with extreme things like shifting!! you're being hopeful for nothing! -> "I’ve trusted myself in things I once thought were impossible before. Shifting is no different. I am capable, even if my doubts try to convince me otherwise."

'i can shift, it's natural and inherent' -> stfu assumptions never do anything. it's not. you can't. you never will. -> "Doubts are just old conditioning. My body and mind already know how to shift. I don’t have to force what’s already natural."

'i believe in and accept loa/shifting as real' -> right!! you are crazy. none of your assumptions came to fruition both good nor bad. -> "Skepticism is normal, but so is change. Just because I haven’t seen every result yet doesn’t mean my assumptions hold no power."

'im going to shift' -> liarrr you would've done so by now. -> "Progress isn’t measured by how fast it happens. I am shifting at my own pace."

'not everyone would be lying, its real' -> you've fallen for cult tactics don't believe anyone. -> "Reality shifting has existed for thousands of years across different cultures. If generations of people have explored states of consciousness, why would I be the exception? It’s real, and I am capable of experiencing it just like they did."

'let go, don't put pressure on it's -> you've done this for years, nothing will change. you'll never shift. -> "My past doesn’t dictate my future."

I know it’s repetitive to hear, but persist, persist, persist. Any time these thoughts pop up, say “not today satan” and immediately combat it with different affirmations. Do this until the natural occurence to these unavory assumptions you have about yourself are the positive ones.

★ They don’t even have to be the ones I came up with here. Find ones that your mind immediately absorbs and accepts easily.

[fourgods-nobrakes]

Summer Fest is here! I'm nominating a bunch of things from relatively rare bits of canon, but perhaps one of you would like to read one of these things and get to know some of these characters. I'm not discussing the Black Legion or Fabius Bile books, because you already know about those (read them read them read them they have great ensemble casts, please ship some of the less common pairs with me), but here are some of the less-discussed ones:

Harrowmaster, by Mike Brooks: Solomon Akurra is an Alpha Legionnaire who wants to see his Legion become a force to be reckoned with again. He has some plans to give them a reason to rally around him, and he has a very cool ex-imperial psyker on his side, which is good because he also has a number of enemies both within the Legion and otherwise. Fun twisty plot and an excellent read for people who enjoy when an Astartes has a solid working partnership with a mortal ally; she's capable, dangerous, and very willing to give him shit when he needs it. There's also a secret bonus ship option that I don't want to talk about too much because of important plot turning points, but it hit me hard in the brotherhood and trust places.

Shroud of Night, by Andy Clark: the Unsung are a small Alpha Legion warband who've been in a warzone for long enough to develop a wide variety of I Can't Believe It's Not PTSD. Now they have a mission to perform a high-stakes reverse heist, delivering a mortal to a key location on an embattled planet while trying not to get killed by either the imperial defenders or the Khornate berserkers besieging the place—and, of course, trying not to fall apart from the growing tensions among the team. I'm here for the poor mortal, who has clearly never gotten the hugs he needs, but there are a variety of cool dynamics among the group. ...Followers of either Celestine's or Khârn's careers should know they both turn up here, though they're both mostly here to be terrifying forces of nature that our lads try not to get killed by.

"Sacred Hate," short story by David Annandale: Mr. Annandale wrote this story for me specifically, I'm pretty sure. It centers on Cerastes, a teenager who's in training to be a missionary for the Ecclesiarchy, but who's been privately having a crisis of faith. Then the ship he's traveling on gets attacked by Word Bearers, and he discovers what he was looking for. (Spoilers: it's not the God-Emperor's light.)

The Red Tithe, by Robbie MacNiven: A Carcharodons company and a Night Lords warband walk into a bar prison planet... They're both looking to replenish their numbers from the teenage boys in the prison. And a psyker on each side has divined that one of the boys is an unsanctioned psyker whose power could be very useful if they can secure him. The boy in question just hopes he can get out alive. This one's definitely dark; the Carcharodons might be on the imperial side but they're brutal in ways that are usually glossed over for their compatriots. Most of the story takes place in the prison complex and the attached mines, so the whole thing feels claustrophobic at times. MacNiven also cares more about tactics than a lot of BL authors, so the battles are more interesting than "we charge into a hail of gunfire, fearless and unstoppable." Grim but very cool.

Day of Ascension, by Adrian Tchaikovsky: If you've read his other work you know he's interested in, and sympathetic toward, non-human POVs, and thus you know why I'm so fond of this book. It takes place on a forge world where the miserable living conditions of the non-Mechanicus work force have provided fertile ground for the growth of a genestealer cult. The cover blurb suggests that the power plays among the tech priests are the central plot, but actually the emotional core of the book is Davien, a young woman in the cult who is coming into her strength as the arrival of the cult's "angels" draws near, and whose passion for her people will wind up being key to their future. My big ship for this one doesn't sail until late in the book, but man, when it happens, it's so good.

[inspector-finebeak]

Good morning, gamers. This post is about the post-purgatory Forsaken AU that involves The Robloxia: Until Dawn. I’ll link that post once I’m back at my computer. Since my last post, I have decided to make the AU a crossover with something other than TR:UD (not sure what). TR:UD might still be involved, but I haven’t decided yet. In this post, I’ll be going over some more of the characters. Hopefully, my next post will talk more about overarching plot for the AU.

Mason

-Unknown age, but acts like he’s in his late 20s

-He/him

-Was originally Jason

-Was accidentally brought out of purgatory by the survivors as they were escaping

-Due to the unintentional nature of the teleport, he got extreme amnesia, forgetting almost everything about himself and even misremembering his name

-After waking up in Robloxia with no memories, he asked the first people he saw (the survivors) for help

-Naturally, they didn’t trust him, but once he convinced them he had amnesia they were far more helpful

-Currently living with Noob (sleeping on their couch)

-Mute, but learning ASL from Taph

-Relies more on gestures and writing than signing

-Can still make the “ch ch ah ah” sounds, typically uses them to get someone’s attention or to greet people

-Still a good fighter with excellent muscle memory, but not as good at strategy due to forgetting his experience

-Can still use Raging Pace, but generally doesn’t because it scares the Forsaken survivors (and also because he doesn’t get into combat very often in Robloxia, if ever)

Two Time

-Late 20s? I’m not sure

-They/them

-Honestly I got nothing for them

-Maybe the cult failed/collapsed while they were in purgatory? That could be interesting

007n7

-Mid 40s

-Still has the c00lgui but does not use it

-

Bluudud

-12

-He/him

-Was brought to purgatory several months after c00lkidd

-Was manipulated by the Specter just like c00lkidd was

-Also dealing with guilt and self-hate

-Living with his mother

-Getting homeschooled by 226w6 alongside c00lkidd and Princess

-Still has his abilities post-purgatory, but refuses to use them (same with c00lkidd)

118o8

-Mid 40s

-She/her

-Bluudud’s mother

-Twitch streamer

-Never brought into purgatory

-Stopped streaming after Bluudud disappeared (in denial and/or grieving)

-Lived on 226w6’s money for a while (streaming was her job)

-Resumed streaming some time after Bluudud returned

Princess

-11

-She/her

-Just goes by Princess because I felt like it

-Her, c00lkidd, and Bluudud hung out a lot pre-purgatory (they all had similar skin conditions and were ostracized at school because of it, so their parents basically formed a support group)

-The three of them hang out even more post-purgatory, especially now that the Specter fucked up their appearances

-Same goes for their parents, minus the part where the Specter fucked up their appearances

-Was brought to purgatory at the same time as Bluudud

-Also manipulated

-You will never guess what she’s also dealing with

-Still has her abilities post-purgatory, but refuses to use them

226w6

-Mid 40s

-They/them

-Princess’ parent

-Probably unemployed with a lot of generational wealth (because I don’t think Robloxia has nobility or royalty but I like the idea of parallels between the parents and their kids)

-Also never brought into purgatory

Francisco

-Somewhere in his 30s

-He/him

-Mafioso

-Used to be high ranking in a mafia, but it fell apart due to internal conflicts

-Became a bank robber alongside four other people from that mafia (the mafialings we see in game)

-Uses a lot of unorthodox tactics to rob banks, making his robberies quicker, safer for his gang, and way less likely to hurt any civilians

-The Specter tried to make him a new killer, but it screwed up, causing him to be another c00lkidd reskin

-Turns out he was born with some kind of magic resistance, which also caused him to return to Robloxia between rounds and be impossible for the Specter to magically manipulate

-This might also mean Dusekkar can’t buff him or that he gets weaker buffs from Dusekkar

-He and his four mafialings became very important to the escape, mostly because they could carry messages between the survivors and the rest of the world

-Still has his abilities post-purgatory

Jack

-Mid to late 20s

-He/him

-Contractee

-Did occasional grunt work for the mafia Francisco was in

-Absolutely hated it, but needed the money for college

-Tolerated Francisco a lot more than his other bosses in the mob

-After the collapse of that mafia, Francisco has occasionally paid him to help with robberies (not the actual robbery part, but he would do recon or help set up robberies by dead dropping supplies)

-He still kind of dislikes it, but he does it a lot more willingly (i.e. not out of desperation) than what he did for the mafia

1x1x1x1

-Unknown age

-Any pronouns

-I have no idea what to do with them

-Maybe they just died during the escape or something

The Specter

-Unknown age

-Any pronouns

-Was directly killed as part of the survivor’s escape (no idea how, but I can work that out later)

[lilafunger]

Overly Specific Headcanons about the Religious Sect Olivia and Reila grew up with!

I am Terminally autistic about both cults and generally just Intense and Not So Good For People sects of Christianity and I enjoy thinking about my blorbos' upbringings, so I thought I'd do some Research on real life religious stuff and come up with some headcanons based on all that. I might do the same thing with some of the other characters, because thinking about this is super fun to me, but tbh, doing it with the (ex) Alll-merian guys is probably going to be easiest, because I can lean moreso onto Christianity as an inspiration for practices. anyway yapping under cut V Discussion of some real life religious stuff and also of ableism down there.

FIRSTLY I had to figure out which subdenoms I wanted to take inspiration from, so naturally I started by looking up which ones were most Popular in Germany during the 1930s, around the equivalent of where Olivia and Reila were growing up. It was pretty split between Catholicism and Protestantism, in this particular timeframe of WWII and a short while during the buildup toward it, there seems to have been a sect called The German Evangelical Church, which was much too intertwined with the state and injected much too much Nazi propaganda into its preaching. I'm not gonna go into that too much! Mostly because that's a wildly upsetting topic for a LOT of people and not really necessary, as Funger's own Kaiser has his own slew of horrors he's been getting up to. The German Evangelical Church was sort of a mix of denominations, one of the key figures of which was Lutheranism!

SO. Basically, the Church I'm imagining the Haas family as having grown up with would be a fairly extreme sect of Lutheranist-inspired Alll-merianism with a REAL healthy dose of Kaiser Propaganda in there. I ended up researching a mixture of the German Evangelical Church, hyperconservative and apparently quite cultlike Lutheran sects like WELS.

I think I'll call it the Bremen Evangelical Alll-merian Synod or BEAS...

I don't think the sect is very uh... Pro Science at all. Reject Fallible Human Reason and Embrace Only the Most Literal Interpretation Of Our Alll-merian Texts! Don't look for information from outsiders, you have to be careful of getting caught up in False Doctrine! (In fact, just don't trust other people.) But yea, I think the rejection of human reason and of science fits well with the twins' parents utter reluctance to get her actual help for her condition. and ALSO imagining it having been that way makes the fact both of them grew up to be so academic very satisfying to me.

Very very literal about their Interpretations of The Texts. Very Very Very Literal.

At WELS schools at least, it sounds like there's quite a major culture of No Privacy!!! We just come into your room! Which reminded me of how Ever-watching Olivia and Reilas' parents are described as having been. So I think I can mentally expand on that and make a Thing of it.

I wonder what the Alll-merian equivalent of Luther's Poop Covered In Snow analogy for his ideas on Original Sin is... I'm not actually sure, I'd have to figure out more about the in-universe ideas about sin and stuff. But humans are nasty poop covered in the righteousness of the ascended one. Don't become too self loathing about that.

NOW. Keeping in mind Le'garde's goal of "Uniting" the world, I think one way his nonsense leaks into BEAS is through Mission work!! Good Deeds won't save people, proselytising will! Kinda like the Mormon approach to mission work perhaps? Veeeeeery heavy on the importance of getting people ALL OVER THE PLACE baptised in Alll-mer's name. Just Alll-mer's, definitely not the Yellow King's.

Man this is less about Religion headcanons and more about the twins' upbringing in general but I am Quickly beginning to imagine the parents favouring Reila faaaaaaaar too much. On top of how people can be about disabled people in general, which I could talk about so so much but I won't right now. But I think between her having spent so much of her youth bedbound (she wont be able to grow up and EVANGELISE :( ) and the lack of respect for her particular interests and talents, I think it would be very easy for her to be reduced to being sort of a burden in their eyes. Radiating and Shadowed,,,,

On that note, I did some looking into the real life beliefs about disabled people. What I found was that there's a lot of referring to it as A Way For The Works Of God To Be Displayed In Them and as A Manifestation Of Original Sin. I am... Less sure of how this would be translated to this universe through an Alll-merian lens. Also Martin Luther Himself I believe was a little too pro Murdering Disabled People, identifying at least one kid as a changeling, so the vibes around disabled people in a religious sect partially inspired by WELS can only be... Just. Great. I've heard at least that it's not great to be disabled in that group, but it's hard to find any specific info.

Because of the intensity about the scripture being the only infallible thing, I imagine the Bremen Evangelicals reject Enki's writings of Alll-mer as a creation of Vitruvia, much preferring the original Virgin Mother story.

Leaning into the WELS inspiration and what little I know of that, I think the community can be sort of a popularity contest so to speak...

Maybe Le'garde's goal of uniting the land to bring about a new era is twisted into something wholly unrelated for BEAS, like We All Have To Bring About The New Era for The Second Coming! or something along those lines.

Lutherans in general are in favour of secular healthcare, but Olivia and Reilas' parents notably and canonically are Not... Maybe it's because it's a much more intense group. Don't trust the fallible knowledge of random outsiders, no matter how many degrees they have! We Trust In Alll-mer!

SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME

I think the Lutherans are fairly unique in that they do a Last Supper type sacrament that other denoms don't?? idk. But maybe BEAS has some fucked up rituals they do based on that... Considering the nature of Fear and Hunger's setting, maybe in the most most most closed off scary places (Probably not on the kinda scale where Olivia would have seen or been involved in it) some shit like Crucifying your local Sin Eater and then eating THEM! This not wine blood actually is a symbol of Alll-mer's divine blood and this not bread flesh actually is a symbol of Alll-mer's divine flesh! :) yummy

I might think More on this another time but I'm getting tired so this is what you get for now. Feel free to add onto this if you have any ideas :0

i might well be onto NOTHING here but it is fun to think about

[bestworstcase]

How likely is it do you think that there are/have been Grimm-based cults? I can't imagine there's Never been Grimm cults, and I'm particularly interested in the idea of there being Grimm cults or even just organizations who Actually Understand the Grimm and safely live alongside them. I think it's such a fascinating idea, I'm very tempted to come up with a mysterious faction that respects/admires the Grimm (like how people did/do respect forces of nature in religion) and (mostly) safely lives alongside them. Any thoughts?

two obvious paths. whether the second is viable depends on how well you trust my basic reading of the grimm as sapient beings who reflect back what they’re given—dark mirrors—but the first is textually sound without any extrapolation required.

#1: the grimm as gods of war

these are the salient facts:

the grimm follow groups of bandits around to scavenge in the wake of their raids

criminals in mistral sometimes use captive grimm to execute members of rival gangs

grimm are more strongly drawn by violent anger and hatred than by sadness, fear, or other negative emotions.

it’s possible (per ‘before the dawn’) for one side of a conflict to "ally" with the grimm in battle if the other side is, er, tastier

ok. imagine you have a region where most of the people live in small nomadic groups—perhaps a steppe or a desert, their subsistence base is herding—with smatterings of fortified towns and villages around the edges of the region where there’s arable land enough to support a larger sedentary population. the nomadic groups can’t produce their own weapons/armor (mines, smelters, and forges aren’t portable), so they’ll need to either raid or trade with the towns for that. and conflicts between these nomadic groups over territory and other resources are inevitable.

how do the grimm figure in this region?

well a) the grimm are going to be following the nomadic groups around, with more warlike groups attracting more grimm, and b) grimm will fight alongside people against a common enemy if their "allies" are calmer or otherwise less appealing.

this is like… a perfect storm for the nomadic groups to start venerating "their" grimm as war-gods, in tandem with fostering warrior-cultures that prize tranquility or joy and mercy in battle; there is no honor in hatred or rage or taking pleasure in killing (our grimm turn against those warriors who lose themselves to bloodlust), so a good warrior must be calm, decisive, and swift, and never prolong a fight unnecessarily. but it’s also beneficial to make one’s enemies fearful and angry, or provoke them into hatred.

all it takes is one or two warriors who kept a cool head in battle noticing that the grimm ignored them to go after another warrior who went berserk and then interpreting this as a moral judgment. historically, we know grimm were thought to be the vengeful or corrupted spirits of animals, or animals possessed by demons; both are understandings that encourage this sort of thinking. these are animal spirits that cannot rest because someone killed them without giving due respect, and now they seek to punish those who commit such wrongs… so we’d better take care to treat our adversaries in battle and the animals we hunt with honor and mercy.

and oh, we should pay our respects to the grimm, too. perhaps make some offerings. they eat the corpses of the slain after a battle, so… a) we mustn’t be wasteful when we hunt, it isn’t respectful, and b) we should consider the grimm in our funeral customs.

this is a very basic. BASIC human impulse. humans will try to propitiate the fucking sky because we’re so good at pattern recognition and also anthropomorphizing things that we’ll find patterns and read meaning into the most random coincidences. take that and add it to the fact that it legitimately is possible to form alliances with grimm… fgrhjsv

under these conditions grimm-worship probably tends to look something like:

warrior cultures that prize moderation, calmness, efficiency, and clever mockery or intimidation of the enemy in battle,

funeral customs that ritualize feeding the dead to grimm, and/or ritual sacrifice of captured enemies,

grimm viewed as battlefield psychopomps and/or patron spirits of warriors, whether as a class or as individuals or both, and

incorporation of grimm-like designs or motifs into armor and clothing of warriors, to intimidate enemies.

with wide variation in the details and elaborations. the reason for this common set of foundational practices is that religion is practical. it’s not arbitrary. it isn’t pretend. prayer and ritual are things people do because it works, or it’s believed to work, and the right methods are figured out through trial and error long before they coagulate into tradition. so with something like grimm, whose behavior really can be meaningfully influenced, similar patterns will emerge across different cultures because whether a given practice does or doesn’t work is a) more than random chance or coincidence, and b) extremely easy to identify because if it doesn’t work the grimm will attack you.

& #2, the grimm as nature gods

these are my presuppositions, based on extrapolation from the text:

the grimm have a physiological need for aura, which they can get by siphoning; they eat their prey in order to extract aura from the remains.

grimm attraction to emotions is akin to our attraction to the aroma and taste of food; strong emotions herald deep auras or excite aura so it’s more "nutritious" for the grimm, so they hunt by following emotion.

because aura/soul separates from the body at death, siphoning aura from a living person is much more efficient than killing and eating; grimm will prefer to be fed aura by someone alive over hunting if possible.

because aura can be channeled outward through tools, clothing, etc, it can also be channeled into a repository and stored for a while; this seems to be how the grimm lures in arrowfell work.

grimm are intelligent, emotional, social creatures who can learn to recognize certain groups of people as 'safe' or as friends/allies, without salem.

grimm reflect back the emotional energy they’re given; they’re not "attracted" to anger or pain per se, they just mirror it. bristle and draw your weapon at a grimm, and the grimm will charge at you. remain calm and retreat slowly, and the grimm will keep its distance too.

if all of these presuppositions are true, you can propitiate grimm by saturating an object with aura and leaving that out for the grimm on the regular. i imagine that organic/living things that naturally have aura would work best for this purpose; sacrificing an animal or a portion of your harvest is intuitive, and if fervent religious belief alone isn’t enough to infuse something with aura, then priests or religious officials whose auras have been unlocked and trained will do the trick.

if aura-saturated offerings aren’t possible, then you’d need someone with aura training to channel aura to the grimm through, like, a stick, or bare-handed if they were brave enough or confident enough. this is a more uncomfortable option (like physically) but we have a canonical example of a character doing it: she found it disconcerting, but not painful, and it’s implied that the grimm didn’t attack her at any point during. so a) it probably doesn’t do any more harm than having one’s defensive aura break, and b) stopping the flow of aura to the grimm by moving away won’t provoke the grimm to attack.

as unpleasant the prospect might seem, if it clearly worked to reduce or eliminate grimm attacks on the community, people would do this. people would absolutely do this. the big hurdle lies in discovering that this is possible—like you’d need someone to willingly approach a grimm, lay a hand on it, and channel aura into it without knowing what will happen, and the kind of person who would even think to TRY that is very rare—but once it was known? religious belief motivates people do all sorts of unpleasant, uncomfortable, or even outright painful and harmful things to themselves. fasting. self-flagellation. hermitage.

like… waves hands. if it’s a known thing in a community that grimm won’t attack anyone if a few people go into the wilderness every morning to stand there and pour aura into grimm who pass by until they’re tapped out for the day, lots of people will be fully willing and able to do that. far more than are willing and able to become huntsmen: it’s not dangerous or difficult, it’s just going to tire you out on your assigned days. and if you have say, a village of a hundred people of whom ten are able to do it, you can rotate so no individual has to do it more often than thrice a month. NBD.

and if nothing else except the emotional mirroring thing is true, then you can… more or less propitiate grimm by doing whatever, because in this case what makes propitiation effective is community belief that it works: if you and everyone else around you believes that wearing pendants carved in the likeness of grimm and pouring a libation of wine outside the village gates to entreat the grimm for safe passage through the wilds is effective in making the grimm leave you alone, then no one’s going to panic or raise the alarm upon seeing a grimm wandering around in the barley field, and the grimm won’t freak out either.

if you believe that a grimm is a being that can be appeased and you cross paths with one in the woods, you’re going to do what you believe will keep you safe; for a huntsman, that’s "draw a weapon and attack," but for you that might be "hold up your grimm pendant and recite a prayer to politely wish it well and ask for its blessing in return," which—if the grimm just reflect your emotional energy back at you—will probably make the grimm pause and look at you for a moment before continuing on, which confirms and reinforces your belief that this is the correct way to deal with grimm. This Is How Religion Works.

so all that to say, as long as i’m correct about at least one of these presuppositions—the one with the strongest textual evidence, no less—then propitiating the grimm will reduce their aggression dramatically if not stop it altogether. and if that’s the case then i’d imagine grimm-worship is quite common and also varied in more remote regions where human-grimm encounters are frequent.

the shape of that worship will evolve out of how people in a given community figured out that you can do this with grimm. if one person tries a certain thing and it works, and then more people try the same thing and it works for them to, then that is going to become known as the Thing That Works and it will be gradually refined and elaborated on from generation to generation. and on the other side of the mountains they might be doing the same process but with a completely different thing that also worked the first time.

so you might have a village making huge ritual productions of preparing a feast for the grimm with a portion of the harvest, orchestrated by a coterie of priests who fill the offerings with aura… and in the hinterlands a few hundred miles away you might have a group of nomadic herders who leave the bones of every sheep they eat for the grimm and also have elaborate coming-of-age rituals where you go into the wilderness to prove yourself to the grimm by baring your soul… and up north on the coast you might have a whaling town where sailors pray to something like the leviathan or the feilong as a sea-god because their ancestors happened to stumble into a symbiotic relationship with a giant grimm that preys on whales and realized these little guys in boats make better hunting partners than they do snacks. etc.

basically if you accept a presupposition that the grimm aren’t "soulless evil monsters whose sole purpose is to kill humans" and consider them as beings that have some rhyme or reason as to when they’re aggressive and when they’re not, and the rhyme or reason is something humans/faunus could plausibly figure out how to accommodate and/or influence, there are a lot of ways to build a grimm cult. ’cause religion is at its core humans trying to understand the world so we can keep ourselves safe, healthy, and comfortable; worshipping grimm is just a cultural framework for a threat management program.

think about it in those terms, and take however you think grimm work and ask "what could people Do to lower the risk of grimm attacking them?" and "what might people Do that doesn’t really have an effect but seems like it maybe does?" and then start to elaborate from there with "okay, what stories do people tell to explain why they do these things and how they learned to do these things? how do they conceive of the grimm and their relationship to grimm? how does this shape the social and moral values of this religion?" etc.

praxis comes first, belief second. and the praxis develops through trial and error with the basic goal of "how can we make the grimm leave us alone?" so things that clearly don’t work will be discarded. (with ‘clearly don’t work’ meaning "we did this and grimm immediately attacked us"; people will tend to take "we did this and grimm didn’t attack us for two months" to mean "it worked! we should do it every other month!")

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Logan Lancing

Published: Feb 28, 2024

People who have escaped cults all tell a similar story. That story starts with a desire to belong, coupled with a desire for purpose. Strong familial and social bonds are generally preferable to shaky relationships, isolation, and the feeling of being an outcast. Likewise, feeling like one’s life lacks any meaning or purpose is a recipe for anxiety, depression, or even madness. If you talk to people who have escaped cults, they all tell you that they didn’t set out to join a cult—the cult set out to prey on them, offering to fill the voids that we must all grapple with, to varying degrees, throughout our lives. The cult offers inclusion, affirmation, and a secret cult knowledge of life’s purpose. All one must do is take the leap of faith.

Cults are incredibly effective for a variety of reasons, most of which is their ability to lead initiates deeper into the cult, even when those initiates start to sense that the “inclusion,” “affirmation,” and “purpose” offered to them comes with some very nasty conditions and ultimatums. Cult survivors describe how difficult it is to stop placing one foot in front of the other when the cult has total control of one’s physical, social, and emotional environments. Cults work tirelessly to control all information entering an initiate’s eyes and ears. Cults control the books you can read, the news you can watch, the organizations you can trust, the experts you must listen to, and the people you confide in. The cult environment is one of endless propaganda designed to be so effective that one loses control of their own thoughts; loses control over the voice in their head.

Once an initiate finds themselves in the cult’s totalizing environment (see Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism by Robert Jay Lifton) the cult lifts the veil of love, affirmation, and inclusion and reveals a cycle of psychological abuse designed to drag the initiate deeper into the cult’s doctrine. This abuse is justified through a language of purity—initiates must let go of all the bad influences and contamination of their former lives, revealing their deepest secrets through ritual confessions. The point is to strip the initiate down, leaving them totally vulnerable and exposed. Only then can the cult rebuild the initiate in the cult’s image.

Cult survivors will tell you that they often didn’t know they were in a cult until someone pierced the cult’s totalizing environment with a message from the outside; a tether to a long-lost reality; an invitation to step back into the real world. The Queering of the American Child is one such tether, and I hope parents nationwide will receive the message loud and clear: Education is in the grip of a religious cult—the Queer Cult.

Now, I don’t mean “queer” as in “gay” or “lesbian” or “bisexual.” I mean “queer” as it is defined in the academic literature of the Queer Cult’s doctrine: Queer Theory.

Unlike gay identity, which, though deliberately proclaimed in an act of affirmation, is nonetheless rooted in the positive fact of object-choice, queer identity need not be grounded in any positive truth or in any stable reality. As the very word implies, “queer” does not name some natural kind or refer to some determinate object; it acquires its meaning from its oppositional relation to the norm. Queer is by definition whatever is at odds with the normal, the legitimate, the dominant. There is nothing in particular to which it necessarily refers. It is an identity without an essence.[1] (Halperin, 1995, p. 62, italics in original)

Our children are “experiencing the queer,” as Queer Educational Activist Kevin Kumashiro explains in his 2009 book, Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice (2nd edition). Specifically, our children are experiencing the “queer” because they have been purposefully placed in a state of psychological crisis. “Crisis,” Kumashiro says, “should be expected in the process of learning, by both the student and the teacher. Like queer activism, queer teaching always works through crisis…the goal is to continue teaching and learning through crisis—to continue experiencing the queer.”[2] (Kumashiro, 2009, p. 55)

The Queer Cult has total control of our national discourse as it relates to sex, “gender,” and sexuality. Our children are fed a steady diet of cult doctrine through mainstream media, social media, popular culture, the psychiatrists they consult, and the doctors their parents trust. Not least of which, our children attend schools that universally push the idea that children can be “born in the wrong body.” America’s children learn that they have “gender identities” that might not match their “sex assigned at birth.” A Medical Industrial Complex waits in the wings with irreversible puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and “gender affirming” surgeries.

The social and emotional pressures to conform to the Queer Cult’s corrupted understanding of reality are hard to bear. Most people know that “radical gender ideology” is insane, but they go along with it because they don’t want to be considered a “bad person,” “on the wrong side of history,” or worst of all, a “conservative.” The cult’s moral extortion racket is designed to drag us deeper into their agenda; deeper into what Queer Activist Michael Warner calls a “queer planet.”[3] However strong the pressure may be, we must remain tethered to reality—not only for ourselves, but especially for our children. As we say in the book,

[Queer Activists] believe they can arrest the steering wheel of History and drive us all off the ledge. Under normal circumstances, all of this nonsense would be cause for endless mockery and laughter. Unfortunately, Queer Activists have proved to be remarkably effective. Today, they already have one hand on the wheel, and our kids are in the car.[4]

In The Queering of the American Child you will learn what Queer Theory is, where it comes from, how it got into schools, and what it’s attempting to do with your children. You will learn that Queer Theory has nothing to do with helping gay kids, and nothing to do with helping troubled children feel “included” in a healthy set of societal norms. Letting the cultists speak for themselves, Dr. James Lindsay and I bring in hundreds of citations to lay bare the Queer Cult’s agenda. Our schools are initiating children into the Queer Cult through psychological manipulation and child abuse. What you read will shock you, and that’s a good thing. Welcome back to reality.

--

References

[1] Halperin, D. M. (1995). Saint Foucault: Towards a gay hagiography. Oxford University Press. (p. 61) [2] Kumashiro, K. K. (2009). Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice (2nd ed.). Routledge. (p. 55) [3] Warner, M. (1991). Introduction: Fear of a queer planet. Social Text, (29), 3–17. [4] Lancing, L. and Lindsay, J (2024) The Queering of the American Child: How A New School Religious Cult Poisons the Minds and Bodies of Normal Kids. New Discourses. (p. 65)

[agapewizard]

➝ Order Followers – The Servants of Evil❗.

Those of us who have less conditioning — who don’t obey the chain of authority; who have less attachment to falsity — recognize that the so-called “authorities” in our way of life are stupid and idiotic in their actions. We have truer, higher and realer conscious awareness and self-development making us more authentic and capable of recognizing the authority of truth — of what is right, good, true and moral. The “authorities” and their supporters are falser, lower, and unrealer selves; unaware and unconsciously living, doing wrongs as though they were right; or transforming what’s right into a wrong.

ORDER-FOLLOWING IS NOT A VIRTUE!

Conscience is the internal guiding system humanity is blessed with having. It is literally your compass to living in the Right. Police and Military side swipe their consciences by following orders from their masters. Police make all kinds of justifications and excuses as to why they follow through with immoral orders but there is no legitimate excuse. Justifications for burying the conscience are null and void. As it is the conscience itself that will direct us toward what is moral, right, justified, and true. The Ancient Mystery traditions considered the conscience the home dwelling of the Higher self. To sell your soul means to disobey your conscience.

The immorality of government is obvious once we start being honest with ourselves. It’s very clear to see that not only politcians are not to be trusted but also the foundation of government itsself even if the politicians were to be trusted is wrong. The foundation namely consists of violence, incarceration and theft. Theft is theft, also when government does it. When someone or some entity claims you MUST pay them money or you will be incarceted and means you are a slave. Back in the days they took 100% of slaves labour now it’s about 30%. Even if it’s used for collective purposes doesn’t make it any less of an act of theft.

The Dark Occultists aren't the ones creating the chaos and suffering, they're just giving the orders, manipulating minds. Every evil perpetrated in the world is done by those who are obeying the orders. And it all comes down to Moral Relativism. When you believe that morality is just a mental construct and that we get to make up what is or isn't moral based on personal beliefs, whims, preferences, likes and dislikes, then you have no Conscience. A lack of conscience also comes with a lack of self-respect. If a police officer or solider has no conscience or self-respect, they will have no problem doing as they're told and engaging in the daily imposition upon the Rights of others.

Conscience is the definitive knowledge of the difference between Morally Right Behavior and Morally Wrong Behavior. The exercise of Conscience is choosing to do what is Right regardless of what someone tells you to do, regardless of consequence. When you are following someone else's dictates, regardless of what is Right, you CANNOT exercise Conscience. It's impossible. When you have no Conscience, your actions are inevitably going to cause harm to others. Therefore, ALL order-followers are bad people. All police are bad people, all military are bad people. I'm not saying that some of them don't mean well or don't have good intentions, but intentions mean nothing if your world view is damaged, you conscience is broken, and your actions are wrong.

The only good cops and soldiers are the ones who have truly begun to respect themselves and brought their conscience online, who refuse to obey the commands that they know are wrong and refuse to enforce "laws" that infringe upon the Rights of others. In other words, they've become moral beings, they've quit their cult, and begun speaking out in courage, unapologetically.

"It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or of any number of men... to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights. If men, through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up an essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right of freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave." – Samuel Adams, 'Chief Conspirator' of the American Revolution

It doesn't matter how good you think you are, how nice you are to others, or what seemingly noble cause you believe you are serving. Good intentions are meaningless if your actions are not in line with Morality. If you're obeying someone else's order – even if that order is to feed the homeless – you are not exercising conscience. If you're not exercising conscience then you ARE a bad person. Period. I'm not saying you have to be perfect, because no one can be perfect, but you have to get out of the "me me me, I only care about me and mine, and I won't do anything that brings consequences down on me no matter how Right it is" mentality. That's Satanism.

Stop being an order-follower and stop supporting their behavior. Stop glorifying them as heroes. Instead, start understanding Objective Morality and Natural Law, and teach it to the order-followers you know and meet. Their ignorance IS your responsibility. Their ignorance, their wrong behavior in the world, and our support of it is what keeps all of us enslaved.

Government has a monopoly on violence. If you would act like the government you would be arrested. What grands government the right to be above the people and to rule other people. It’s an illusion of self proclaimed control. Just a group of thugs with their minions in blue who are the modern day houseslaves that rather inslave their own brothers and sisters for a paycheck than actually become conscious and start thinking for themselves. It’s really pathetic and pittyfull. The level of unconsciousness is so severe that they think what they actually are doing is a virtue and they see themselves as brave people. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Following orders is not a virtue at all. It means you’re deeply asleep to a world of immorality and chaos.

Man-made "laws" will always be disobeyed by criminals, and good people will always do what is Right regardless of what a "law" says, because they understand that there is no such thing as "authority." Therefore, the entire point of "laws" is not to maintain peace and order but to control those who do believe in it. In other words, "laws" are for obedient slaves, for order-followers. For someone to want a "law" made about something, that means there's no real knowledge present within them. They have confusion regarding right and wrong, and want to make it up and have it imposed on society.

You could say that most man-made "laws" are just a form of sorcery. They may call it "legislation" and "law books," but without euphemising, it's really sorcery and spell grimoires. It's Lesser Magick, or Black Magick, because it's using words, intent and energy to create change in conformity with the selfish will of the ruling class and its lawmakers. Teaching Natural Law, on the other hand, would be a form of High Magick, because it's using words, intent and energy to create change in conformity with the Will of Creation.

Apart from the immoral actions they commit everyday by stealing from their brothers and sisters for their big boss government and incarcerating their own brothers and sisters for victimless crimes because some words of a piece of paper says so that has been written by their slavemasters they are actually very much being mocked by the people behind the government who have set up this system of control. Many of the pole ice off eye seers are being covered in dark occult symbols.

Terrorists dressed in fancy clothes with pseudo weaponry forcing the man made law down people’s throats and stealing and harming people with unrightful violence all over the world where in many countries. oke its understandable that they try to calm the peace of rioteers but you dont do that with violence. Police shouldnt be with protests because they make rioteers out of peaceful protestors when they start to taunt them and intimidate them with their costumes and often very authoritarian behaviour, wich they get training in and theyre expected of to behave in this way.

Ofcourse also them can be themselves but they have to abide by the man made law wich is immoral and relative in many ways and is different everywhere on the earth and everywhere there comes more violence from the police and also the people rioting in many countries is often because of government interference or against the government. Government does nothing but trying to control violence for the betterment of their agenda’s of control and control because thats where they are steering towards for totalitarian control and that is definitely not something you want i can assure you because I am out of the mind control programs (or at least many of them but still having to deal with the programs themselves all around you and yes it’s designed that way.

The police has also a big say on the centralisation of protection because in the end that’s what a non psychopathic cop wants to do for joining the cops but that’s also a powerful reason why people still believe in the pole ice. Because they might think that’s all the police does. This concerns naive and ignorant people that ignore all the negativ and unrightful and immoral actions the order followers pursue. They have to because those are the pillars of the entity that is controlling them and telling them what to do with the hyrarchical pyramid shaped organisation and protocols and information accessability. They’re out of alignment with Natural Law and/or the Universal one’s whatever you would like to call it everyone who is inner knowing and understands the logics of the universe and what it’s made of and what life itsself’s building blocks are of reason. Because then you get the understanding that the universe and this planet’s purpose is to live free truthful and with Love as foundation. They know not what inheritent rights are. Your natural right is basically everthing as long it doesnt bring harm to other sovereign beings.

That’s it you know and if you are breaking those you’re fooling yourself and become addicted eventually to the Ego that consists of the wanting for suffering so people can have attention from others and self pitty. They have given up on their true dreams and Passions and talents and basically are too passive or too active in things that dont really matter and are distracted by mindless sports games and videogames and going out and get wasted kind of dissuations of Truth by the Ego of pleasure. Not many truly want to understand the matter of the fact, the objectivity of Truth that this universe and planet and dimensions consist of because not everything is relative and unknowable and that’s beauty of it you have to find these powers in yourself and connect with the higher mind wich is the Neo-Cortex and have the left and right brain hemispheres in balance. Intellectually merged with creativity is true intelligence but many do not know this and tend to be in unbalance by one of the halves of the brains and this also shapes their worldview and way of being in a deep way.

Statism is a religion. The believe in a corporate organisation that has taken over the control of the people to do what they plan. And believe me they got plans. If you can connect the dots of what is going on in the long run in the past and in the future its all very obvious and people still making fun of people talking and discussing and recognizing the Truth in these games they play and how they manipulate the minds of the masses into ways of thinking and choose between options they both have given you as if you may not think outside of the box unless its for financial ways and they can make money off of your taxmoney then suddenly you can work with them.

Theyre taking so much of our money. With that money still intact in our wallets we can do alot of things we would normally give the government for doing what we dont know they pay and you just get thrown in the collecetive money box and they decide where they use it for it doesnt really have a worth. Everyone should make up for themselves wich organisations they support with their money or they start their own business without government interference but in the times we live in that is still a hard thing to do because we’re still under all these legislations and rules and buracrocy it’s unbelievable how deep they have spun their webs to back their fundamentals of control over the people

Every single one. Taking care of their family doesn't mean they're a good person. At what cost to the Rights and lives of others are they taking care of them? The Nazi soldiers took care of their families all while following orders to terrorize and murder innocent people. Finding and caging "criminals" because that's your job doesn't make you a good person because that's just order-following. Just because you yourself may not directly harm other people or steal from them doesn't make you a good person, either. You can be kind, loving, thoughtful, and considerate all day, but if you don't exercise conscience (and put conscience above man's "laws") then you're only continuing to support the control system. By doing that you are ensuring that other people's lives remain in duress.

No spiritually awake and moral person can be an order-follower. No spiritually awake and moral person believes in the legitimacy of "authority" or continues to support and condone its "laws" and violence. A truly awake and moral person understands their sovereignty under Natural Law and lives by principle, truth and right action.

We need to stop instilling into our children this mentality of order-following, teaching them that it's a virtue. What you're teaching them is that being a SLAVE is virtuous. How many times have you or someone you know told a child "do as you're told?" Is that teaching them to critically think and make moral choices? Or is it teaching them to obey unquestioningly?

Children are not our property. We do not own them. We are their stewards. Our job is to RAISE their consciousness to be Sovereign, Moral Beings. Instead, we instill in them our own broken worldview which perpetuates the conditions we're in. Then many of them grow up to be like those thugs in the image above, violently harassing and infringing on the Rights of others because someone they perceive as "authority" told them to, never exercising Conscience.

Again, this is what brings tyranny and evil into our world far more than the one's giving the orders. No one can legitimately abdicate their responsibility for their actions. Every single one of these psychological children have the most moral culpability because they are the one's doing the wrong behavior, violently enforcing arbitrary and immoral "laws" and assaulting and killing innocent people. Stop supporting dominator culture. Inform order-followers and get them to engage their conscience. We need the numbers to overcome these conditions. Freedom can only manifest when aggregate society aligns itself with Natural Law.

[hissto]

A paladin on a path to redemption

…or a road to damnation?

It was a terrible act of defiance – swearing the oath and attempting to sabotage her own design. She basically sealed her fate to be destroyed. But her sister hated her way too much to just kill – she wanted to unmake the fallen father’s favorite, and in a way she succeeded.

When Maeve awoke, she had nothing but her basic urges and the words of the Oath ringing hollow with anxiety in her mind. And not all of those urges were murderous. Putting bits and pieces together, she managed to paint herself a coherent, but absolutely wrong picture of her fate: she must be a Good Person, a Protector of Life stricken by a terrible curse of unnatural want for blood, fainting and amnesia, which tries to overtake and break her. But she won’t go down easily!

The real circumstances of her condition soon became surfacing to the light, but at this point she already had something she never had before – equal allies, almost even friends, and a clear enemy found in cult of the Absolute, who obviously wanted to control them. And she didn’t want to be controlled.

So she held on to her Oath, followed it as a guiding light, even though everybody around her agreed that she had way too strange and cruel sense of humor for a paladin, and it was very unusual for a “protector of life” to whistle a tune and laugh in battle. Also… you know, that one murder in camp?

She didn’t act of her own accord then, so her Oath stood. But way later in their journey letting out almost a seven thousand vampire spawn broke it. She couldn’t bring herself to order them killed though. Because if she got a second chance, and if she gave her trust to Astarion, with all his hunger for power and blood and his (loveable, but far from kind) personality, what right did she had to deny those innocent people the same simply because of some ‘vampire nature’ that was forced on them?

And so, when the whole ordeal with the Absolute was over, she ventured with Astarion into the Underdark to create at least some semblance of a community for this people. This had… many hurdles – scuttled, distrustful people with hunger for blood and a lot of trauma don’t easily come together.

But that’s a whole another story.

[magimark1]

CeraVe: The Skincare Brand Trusted by Dermatologists

CeraVe has become one of the most popular skincare brands globally, known for its dermatologist-developed formulas that target a variety of skin concerns. Whether you're dealing with dryness, acne, sensitive skin, or aging concerns, CeraVe offers effective solutions that are affordable and accessible. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes CeraVe stand out, its key ingredients, and the benefits of incorporating it into your skincare routine.

1. The Origins of CeraVe

CeraVe was created in 2005 by dermatologists who sought to develop products that would not only treat common skin issues but also restore the skin’s natural barrier. The brand focuses on ceramides, which are fatty molecules found naturally in the skin that help keep it hydrated and protected. CeraVe’s unique formulations are designed to replenish these ceramides, which are often depleted due to environmental factors, aging, or certain skin conditions.

The brand’s mission is simple: to deliver skincare that’s backed by science and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and eczema-prone skin. CeraVe has grown significantly over the years and is now available in over 40 countries, making high-quality skincare accessible to a broad audience.

2. Why CeraVe Stands Out: The Importance of Ceramides

One of the main reasons CeraVe has gained so much popularity is its use of ceramides—specifically, three essential ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II)—that work together to restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier. Ceramides make up about 50% of the skin’s composition, and when the skin loses ceramides, it can become dry, irritated, and more prone to external damage.

CeraVe’s formulas are packed with these essential ceramides, which help lock in moisture, protect against environmental aggressors, and keep the skin looking healthy and hydrated. This makes the brand particularly effective for people with eczema, psoriasis, and other dry skin conditions, as well as those seeking anti-aging solutions.

3. Key Ingredients in CeraVe Products

Beyond ceramides, CeraVe incorporates a variety of powerful ingredients known for their skin-enhancing benefits. Some of the key ingredients you’ll find in CeraVe products include:

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MVE Delivery Technology: CeraVe’s unique MultiVesicular Emulsion (MVE) technology ensures that the key ingredients are slowly released over time, providing long-lasting hydration and making the products more effective throughout the day.

4. Top CeraVe Products for Every Skin Type

Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, or combination skin, CeraVe has products tailored to meet your skincare needs. Here are some of the brand’s top products that have become cult favorites:

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: This gentle, non-foaming cleanser is ideal for dry and sensitive skin. It effectively removes dirt and makeup without stripping the skin’s natural moisture, leaving it soft and hydrated.

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: Perfect for normal to oily skin, this foaming cleanser contains niacinamide and ceramides to clean the skin without disrupting its protective barrier.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: One of the brand’s bestsellers, this rich cream provides deep hydration and is ideal for dry to very dry skin. It’s particularly effective for eczema-prone skin, thanks to its high ceramide content.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30: This daytime moisturizer contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 to protect the skin from sun damage while providing hydration. It’s non-comedogenic, making it suitable for acne-prone skin.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser: Designed for rough and bumpy skin, this cleanser contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and smooth the skin’s texture, while still being hydrating enough to avoid irritation.

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream: Formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this eye cream helps to reduce puffiness and dark circles while keeping the delicate under-eye area moisturized.

5. CeraVe and Sensitive Skin: Why It’s So Popular Among Dermatologists

One of the reasons dermatologists frequently recommend CeraVe is because it’s designed with sensitive skin in mind. The brand avoids harsh ingredients, such as fragrances and parabens, that can irritate the skin. This makes CeraVe suitable for a wide range of skin types, including those with conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne.

CeraVe’s products are also non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog pores, making them safe for people with acne-prone skin. The gentle formulas ensure that even those with highly reactive skin can use the products without experiencing irritation or breakouts.

6. Building a Skincare Routine with CeraVe

Incorporating CeraVe into your skincare routine is simple, and the brand offers products for every step, from cleansing to moisturizing to sun protection. Here’s an example of a basic skincare routine using CeraVe products:

Morning Routine:

Cleanser: Start with the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser or Hydrating Cleanser, depending on your skin type.

Moisturizer: Apply the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun.

Evening Routine:

Cleanser: Use the same cleanser from your morning routine.

Moisturizer: After cleansing, apply the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion to lock in hydration overnight.

Special Treatment: If you’re dealing with acne or textured skin, incorporate the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser or SA Lotion to gently exfoliate and improve skin texture.

7. CeraVe’s Global Popularity and Affordability

One of CeraVe’s most significant advantages is its affordability. Unlike many other dermatologist-recommended brands, CeraVe is reasonably priced, making it accessible to a broad audience. This affordability doesn’t compromise quality, as CeraVe is often considered on par with more expensive skincare brands in terms of effectiveness.

The brand’s global availability has also contributed to its popularity, with CeraVe products found in pharmacies, supermarkets, and online retailers in numerous countries. This widespread accessibility has made it a go-to option for individuals seeking high-quality skincare without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

cerave has earned its place as a skincare staple thanks to its scientifically-backed formulas, dermatologist approval, and ability to cater to all skin types. Whether you’re dealing with dryness, sensitivity, or acne, CeraVe offers gentle yet effective solutions that help restore the skin’s natural barrier and maintain overall skin health.

[sundayeleith]

My honest opinion on all Touchstarved LIs

I just realized all I did here is rumble about Leander so it's time for the others to shine too cause why not (maybe talk about Leander still at the end lol)

Ais

This dude. This dude right here. Not only is he boyfriend material let's be real (Vere is a man of culture), he is big brother coded to me. Like look at him ! He's a rowdy Oni but like let's remember that he demolished the dude who tried to bother MC at the Wick. No commentary, no nothing he just naturally grabbed the dude and dragged him outside to beat his ass. 10/10, love that man. He has a way to care about others even if he knows he is kind of doomed with the seaspring and stuff. I want to befriend him so bad and prank people and commit arson with him while cackling like gremlins and just overall be threats to society.

Mhin

Honestly, they give me gender envy. And they're the "little meow meow" of the cast. Literally they're a cat trapped in human form. They're a cat, and cats are friends. Mhin is friend. I don't make the rules. And I love how the fandom collectively agreed on this. Little tsundere, cold and distant, but you know they have their reasons being their curse. They are considerate while doing this. If anything bad happens to Mhin (which is very likely to happen in the game) I'll burn everything I swear to GOD, NO ONE HURTS MHIN ON MY WATCH. *Eyes Leander and Vere*

Vere

Vere, Vere, Vere... With his sassy (evil) twink energy, all I can think of is how it makes him the Bestie of the cast. I don't care if he is evil, Vere is MC's bestie and I'll die on that hill. He is full of shit but at least he is upfront with it not like a certain someone (Leander). He cares. He cares way too much and he is so tired of it, and honestly ? Mood. I feel this in my soul. He and MC would have little meetings around coffee/hot cocoa and gossip, and Vere would constantly judge MC's taste in men/masculine presenting people (Leander). Does it hurt ? A bit. Is he wrong ? Absolutely not. Also he gives me gender envy too.

Kuras

As kind as he appears, I wouldn't trust him in a thousand years on Leander's route. He sent us directly to this mf, possibly knowing how twisted he is. But else I mean he seems pretty much reliable especially if we have any physical condition or injury. He would be the mom friend. Yes, definitely. Also he canonically gives MC their clothes, so if all our MCs have so much flow and slay it's thanks to him. I'd actually like to befriend him and doing neurodivergent activities together (parallel play, info dumping on our interests etc).

Leander my wife

The man himself. It's no secret that I love him, and "love" is an understatement. Ever since the silhouette reveals on Twitter I simp for this man. It's been 11 months, I'm frothing at the mouth barking at the thought of him. I know, he might be a psychopath with a god complex, cult leader, who poisons people for shits and giggles. A whole killing machine on his own. The biggest red flag of the whole damn cast. But you know what ? Red is my favorite color (fr tho). He is super scary tho with all his muscles and his green eyes void of any emotion most of the time (but I love it). He is hiding something, his true goal and weaknesses and the fact we know so little about him compared to the other LI's regarding his monstrous side, it makes me obsessed. I'm over analyzing everything, making HCs in my head. That's why I'm so drawn to him, so hooked (Well this and his chest larger than the entire universe).

[loudmouthbrowngirl]

#TriggerWarning Trauma Conversations of Deep and Personal Natures

I come from a place of deep trauma. Deep sexual violence, cult and gang conditioning as well as religious abuse. I've experienced and survived all of it.

I have over 30 years of knowledge about my body and what I like and don't like. I know who I can trust and who I cannot trust with my body and I know that there's no one on the planet that is going to give you the kind of consideration I am when it comes to having these conversations because people understand consent but they don't understand sexual ethics.

When I say people, I mostly mean men who jump at the word yes but don't themselves, often consider the implications of sexual activity or the consequences of their actions.

Men are not trained to be spiritually connected to their bodies - unless they go out of their way to learn - the way that women are. For all that women have lost, our spiritual connection to our vessels is the one thing that we've managed to hold onto.

Not all of us are born women by the same definition as other women, and I've learned to understand how beautiful a transition that can be for some, while the same or similar journies are a living Hell for others.

I understand that I am a new person in the circle of non-binary folks, but I also understand how to communicate because other non-binary folks who came before me paved the way. I'm keenly aware of my effect on people. I know I fucking terrify them because I just shit my shit outright and I'm not afraid of their reaction, but this also means sometimes my truth bombs cause hurt feelings. I never mean to, but often it's because I don't communicate the words "I don't want to be around you," very well.

I know this about myself and as I'm learning I'm teaching other folks who are on similar journeys to me.

So if you'd like to continue with me, talking about sexual violence and domestic abuse then please continue following and feel free to ask me anything about anything you read here or elsewhere about moi.

Sending all my love,

Devon J Hall

[tired-fandom-ndn]

Sorry to keep going on about this but I have anti-vaxx parents so it's important to me, but homeopathic groups are so fucking predatory. They specifically target people who are justifiably wary of the medical system (mainly women of color, especially black women) and people who are either chronically or terminally ill and desperate for something that makes them feel in control of their illness.

They push bullshit "traditional medicines" and use all the right buzzwords to make people scared of both medical professionals and standard Western medicine and then they push themselves as the "safe" and "natural" alternative. They employ cult tactics to make people scared of the world so that they don't feel like there's anyone they can trust except [insert "wellness" company].

They leap at any bit of fear, any tiny medical complication or bad experience, and they use that as their opening to dig into people's heads. The best case scenario for a lot of the victims of these groups is going fucking bankrupt because they spent thousands on what is essentially water that had a leaf in it for a very brief moment, but a lot of people end up dying because they put their trust in these scams. People try to use crystals and colloidal silver to treat their cancer, get "chakra" massages for their heart conditions, drink pennyroyal tea to induce "natural" abortions.

A lot of these groups also end up turning into actual cults, which is a whole other can of worms. The founders of these companies become controlling, violent, turn themselves into religious figures. Then suddenly people in the group find themselves transferring their "ascended" leader's mummified corpse across state lines in the car trunk.

And then the victims get blamed for it, mocked and harassed. And I get it but I'm also the child of someone who is neck deep in that mindset and I've seen much how fear is the driving force. And the more and more misinformation and disinformation becomes common not just online but also on the news and on tv, the more people end up falling into these groups.

You can argue that people who fall for those things are just idiots who don't know how to do research, but the simple fact is that search engines? News sites? Youtube? Social media entirely? Those are becoming increasingly dominated by "wellness" cults and anti-science nonsense and it's getting harder and harder to pull people out of that spiral. Especially right now, with how fucking terribly the US government at least has handled covid; people know they can't fully trust government agencies to take care of their health, and these predatory groups are just giving them explanations for that distrust, even if those explanations are wrong.

[domesticatedpigeonsoup]

over analysing the fuck out of sally face characters hair colours

this is going to be long one

Sally - his hair is blue, which is very fitting for him because it represents many aspects of him. such as freedom and confidence that sal shows proving that he does not care about others opinion on him, he is free of worry about judgement of people around him and is confidently himself. sensitivity, loyalty and trust is shown in his care of other, always helping with out payback, and giving emotional support with out being asked, also his ability to befriend and charm almost everyone he comes in contact with. he genuinely cares about everyone around him and doesn't judge people and believes that there is good in everyone, which also gives him quality of faith. he shows wisdom, imagination, resilience in how he has dealt with hardships happening around him. Also the quote "They care and want to contribute to everything they are a part of. Relationships are important to blues." can be attributed to sal's character. there is more to say but I'm going to move on

Travis - i believe that his natural hair colour in not blonde, it seems to be popular hc that he bleaches his hair. my personal hc is that he does it to look less like his father, whom he resents. but i also don't think his natural hair is just brown, i want to believe it's something more interesting. i hc that his natural hair is green due to some interpretations of the colour, such as jealousy and envy which he, in my opinion, feels towards sal and his friends for having a "normal" life, at least as normal it could be in Nockfell. green also could mean rot and decay, which travis might feel in his unloving household, as if his dreams and joy are rotting away and he himself is slowly decaying, especially combined with that green could also mean lack of joy, which would be hard to expierince in travis' conditions. green could also be tied in how he feels about his homosexuality, because it can mean disgust which comes from his long lasting beliefs that being gay is wrong and disgusting, installed in him by his religious father. resentment can also be shown through green, which travis definitely feels for his father after all he's went through, and travis killing kenneth with a green dagger, a knife of resentment, is very poetic to me. on a more positive note, green means growth and rebirth, which travis showed through betraying the church and his father, by being an informant for ash and in the end killing his father and sacrificing himself, and through his death, his character was redeemed and reborn. I also want to give some analysis of his bleached, yellow hair, because yellows means betrayal, and travis did betray the church and his father, cowardice, travis definitely being afraid of his father and what he could do to him, mental illness, travis' traumas and what they probably caused. (i think it is obvious that travis is my favourite)

larry/lisa - their hair is brown, which is a natural colour and might seem like much can’t be said about it (being honest i think none of these colours had intentional meaning) but it still represents the Johnsons well. Both of them are simple and down to earth, people around them can always depend on both (for help with maintenance task around Addinson Apartments or sal needing larry’s help with taking down the cult) people with brown personality can be described as sensual, warm and supportive, qualities that both lisa and larry show from out first introduction to them, also the colour can represent humor, that both have plenty of. Brown can mean relating to the protection and support of the family unit, larry protecting sal when they thought they were caught in their teachers appatment. Also lisa’s qualities of being hard working can be seen in brown. 

henry fisher - not going to say a lot about him but, his blue hair can mean melancholy/sadness and grief over death of his wife. Sometimes blue in a person can be seen as unreliability, which henry seems to be due to his alcoholism. light blue means healing, that henry went through during the game, especially after marrying lisa. 

diane fisher - everything we know about her is vague, due to all information being from memories of her son and husband, and we don’t know how reliable, so this is going to be super short. sal remembers diane as a warm and happy person. In some places yellow can mean courage, like diane’s self sacrifice to save sally.

[findingjoynweirdstuff]

Dream SMP Recap (June 9/2021) -        New Citizens

Ponk has a chat with Sam, Fundy and Purpled officially join Las Nevadas, and Ranboo receives an update message from the Council.

---

VOD LINKS:

Ponk

Fundy

Purpled

Ranboo

---

- Ponk continues building the bridge in his new valley

- He returns to Foolish’s summer home and finds the countersuit Puffy left. He reads it. Many of the claims he doesn’t think are actually against the law of the land. He insists he wasn’t quoting Roadtrip during his Banquet speech, but rather an old man

- Ponk will have the best lawyers (he also may pay the jury off but don’t tell anyone). He’s amused that Puffy would work with BadBoyHalo and call Ponk the ‘dirty Eggpire supporter’

- He finishes reading the lore suit and greets Purpled in chat, telling him that he’s getting sued by Puffy

- Sam logs on and Ponk takes him over to the valley. They’ve had their differences, but Ponk is in need of a good lawyer. Sam suggests Tubbo, but Tubbo is expensive and intimidating

- Ponk points out that Sam will be the only one in the jury with an elevated IQ like his own. Sam hasn’t been officially selected for the jury yet, and they might think he’s biased, having cut off Ponk’s arm (Sam says he did it for good reason)

- They reach the valley and Sam approves of Ponk’s bridge

Sam: “You can see Kinoko Kingdom from here.”

Ponk: “(gagging sound) No, you can see Niki’s place! Niki’s communist cult! It’s great! We’re gonna set up a nice trade agreement, and (mumbling) then we’ll burn Kinoko Kingdom down to the groun-- I mean, then we’ll have nice trade deals with everyone, you know?”

- Ponk is bitter about losing his arm and Sam blames it on him for stealing the keycards

Ponk: “Sam...just so you know, just so you know...You can come to me after...after everything. I will still support you, Sam, okay? You’ll have a place to stay, because, all the wrong you’ve done is gonna catch up behind you, you know? All the wrong that you’ve done--”

Sam: “I haven’t really done anything wrong.”

Ponk: “Haven’t you? Haven’t you?!”

Sam: “No, I think I’m a good guy.”

Ponk: “You think you’re a good person?”

Sam: “I don’t know, you don’t think I’m a good person?”

Ponk: “I mean -- my opinions are biased.”

- Ponk asks Sam to walk and talk with him on the way back to Spawn. Sam’s spoken with Purpled recently

- They visit the animal sanctuary and Sam suggests they steal the strider. Ponk tells him stealing is bad. Sam wants to let it out. They play with the strider a bit

- Ponk explains his conflict with Puffy in general terms

Sam: “Look, I have a random crossbow from one of those guys that we killed.”

Ponk: “You said that so casually...life is precious, you know.”

- Ponk asks about the bank. He’s free to work. Sam says it’s up to Hannah. The two discuss the bank system

- Ponk hasn’t seen Technoblade in a while. Sam thinks he must be overthrowing governments in a far off land or something

- Ponk offers to trade with Sam for two stacks of redstone blocks. He asks how much for his arm back. Sam says he destroyed it. Ponk is upset that Sam didn’t keep it, but Sam says it was too mangled

- Sam trades some gold for the redstone

- They fight a raid together and capture a Ravager

- The two continue to chat for a while

- Fundy stands by his bed. He had a great sleep! He dreamt about a Windows update and he’s looking...a little sleepy?

- He checks the to-do list. Today’s the day. He grabs some things for the road. Fundy decides he’ll go alone. He doesn’t want to risk losing his snow fox friend

- He says hi to his Aunt Panisha (a salmon in the river) as he sets off, asking her to wish him luck

- Fundy reaches Las Nevadas wonders where Quackity’s office is. After some deduction, he heads to the Needle and spots Quackity going up the elevator

- After some hesitation, Fundy goes up the elevator too and comes face-to-face with Quackity, who sees him and asks if he’s okay. Fundy says he’s doing fine, he had a weird sleep and may have woke up outside the window

- Fundy tells him that he took his advice and bettered himself. They sit at the table and Fundy shows him his new diet. Quackity says he’s proud of him

- Fundy mentions that last time they spoke, he suggested they play cards and back at home, he didn’t sleep because he was waiting for Quackity to come over...and then he didn’t

- Quackity explains he just had a bunch of paperwork to do

- Fundy spots some slime blocks bunched at the side of the room and asks what that’s about. Quackity says it’s “a friend” of his, that he’s probably asleep

- Quackity gets Charlie to emerge from the slime

Charlie: “Hey, Fundy from L’manburg!”

- He was in the middle of his gloop-morphosis. Fundy is confused at how he knows who he is. Charlie digs into the floor and gets Fundy to greet him, slurping up some slime

- Quackity tells Charlie he needs to speak with Fundy. Charlie says he can “sell it” and starts telling Fundy he looks like he wants to gamble. Fundy asks Quackity why he’s talking like this, and Quackity says he must have learned it from TV

- Fundy finds out that Charlie is incredibly old and asks Charlie about how he knew he was from L’manburg. Charlie declares them best friends

- Fundy tells Quackity that he’s changed, that he’s a better man. Quackity thinks it’s great, but he doesn’t want Fundy to portray a false version of himself

- Charlie looks at Fundy close-up and says he hasn’t changed

- Quackity doesn’t want Fundy to join under these conditions. Fundy insists he’s fine, he isn’t portraying a false version of himself

- Fundy’s lived in that cottage for way too long. All these nightmares are because of him interacting with people and he’s ruining it for them -- but ever since he’s improved himself and become more healthy, he hasn’t had those nightmares

- Quackity has thought about it a lot, and Fundy’s work in L’manburg was exceptional. He thinks Las Nevadas will be a stepping stone to Fundy’s success

- Charlie gets Fundy to smell him and asks him what it’s like to dream. Fundy sniffs and maybe swallows a piece of Charlie. Charlie tells him one day he’ll be whole again

- Quackity passes Charlie a bone of one of their “mutual friends” in L’manburg and asks Charlie to analyze it

- Quackity and Fundy leave Charlie in the Needle and go back down. Quackity brings him downstairs, where he tells Fundy there’s no going back. He wants to make sure Fundy can trust him and hands Fundy a book to sign:

---

All persons naturalized in Las Nevadas, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of Las Nevadas and the land wherein they reside.

The signing of this document subjects you to the rights and duties of the nation:

TAXES. Residents are required to pay a jurisdictional and financial charge to the nation to fund future projects and development of the nation. Failure to pay could result in the extinction of your permanent residence and possibly death.

MILITARY PARTICIPATION.  One of your duties as a resident of Las Nevadas is the complete protection of the nation. You’re required to participate in any wars, conflicts, or disputes of the nation, in favor of Las Nevadas.

LAND. One of your rights as a resident of Las Nevadas is a self assigned plot of land, approved by the proper authorities, to develop productive businesses, homes, entertainment centers, etc.

GAMBLING. Gambling is defined as staking of something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the outcome of a game. Gambling is completely legal in Las Nevadas, but subject to constantly changing regulations.

THE LV LEGAL SYSTEM ---------------------------- Las Nevadas and any disputes within the nation will be settled in the Las Nevadas court (TBA), with the presence of the conflicted parties, and the proper authorities.

FALURE TO RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE DUTIES WHICH ARE ASSIGNED TO THIS RESIDENCE WILL RESULT IN THE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP,  AND, IF GUILTY OF A CRIME AGAINST THE NATION, YOU ARE SUBJECT TO

DEATH.

SIGNED .  .  .

QUACKITY

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF LAS NEVADAS

---

- Fundy is nervous and hesitates

Quackity: “Fundy, I -- You’re like a brother to me. We’ve gone through so much. But I still have to protect my nation...surely you can understand that.”

Fundy: “No, I -- I can. Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah, um...it’s strong...You really believe in this nation, right? It’s like your child--”

Quackity: “Fundy...this is all I have left...if this nation dies, I die along with it.”

- Fundy signs the document with his full legal name:

Fun Jonatahan Micahel Vincent Georgina James Sus Dy

- He signs the book, gives it to Quackity and asks that if he ever reads it, to not call Fundy by his legal name

- Quackity welcomes Fundy to Las Nevadas as an official citizen!

- Charlie has control over the piece of slime inside Fundy. He tells Charlie not to do that

- Quackity asks Charlie if he has a name. They decide to call him “Meat” for now, but Charlie tells Quackity in “secret” (very loudly) that he isn’t actually meat...he is slime from the ground

- Quackity suggests they call him Slime From the Ground. He then says he is bones

- He leads the other two to the edge of Las Nevadas’ road and points out that they have a big issue: Tubbo’s outpost nearby. Quackity suspects that Tubbo may be planning some dangerous strategy against the country

- Quackity gives Slime some armor to put on

Slime: “Ready for war...don’t take my music discs!”

Fundy and Quackity: “Wh -- what did you just say?”

- Quackity has an informational video he can show Fundy later. They investigate the outpost. He reminds Fundy about the military protection portion of the document

- Quackity remembers the Butcher Army and asks how much experience Fundy has with the military. Fundy was part of every single one that’s existed

- Quackity suggests they build their own version of the outpost

- Slime starts breaking Tubbo’s windows. Quackity encourages it and tells Slime it’s called “griefing,” handing him dirt to spread around the place

- Quackity finds the two Totems of Undying they have at the outpost and asks if they should take them. He then says they should test them. He doesn’t know what they do

- Fundy isn’t sure they should, or what Tubbo’s intentions are. Quackity decides to leave them unless Tubbo retaliates for the griefing

- They notice the bridge and Quackity suggests a tollbooth

- Quackity explains the concept of taxes to Slime, who’s been watching Purpled recently. Purpled hasn’t done much, just farmed 

- They start building the tollbooth and Fundy brings up how medieval castles used to have boiling oil above the gates that they could use if there were people they didn’t like, and they could do something similar

- Slime starts throwing slime and Fundy can feel it (and it doesn’t feel good)

- Quackity asks for the bone he gave back, but Slime can’t tell the difference between all the bones

- Quackity remembers how when L’manburg exploded, Fundy and Niki came up to him and said it was a good day...what was that about?

Fundy: “The way I saw it was, during that time, everyone was trying to divide each other, right. Everyone was trying to divide each other...every one was either left or right and there was no in between. There was no...People always wanted to separate themselves and make war and destroy everything that was loved. When L’manburg was a thing, I cared about L’manburg, and then it got destroyed, right, and eventually, my hope at that moment was...that people just like, accepted that they shouldn’t--”

Quackity: “But you betrayed the nation...Fundy, the thing I’m getting at is, I don’t know your excuse or your thinking behind that...that will not happen again at this nation. No betrayals, no backstabbing. Not here. Understand?”

Slime: “What’s backstabbing?”

- Quackity and Fundy try to teach Slime how to backstab, then how to work the tollbooth against Tubbo

- Slime starts putting buttons on the walls. Quackity tells him not to, as it gives him bad memories

- Slime asks Fundy again what it’s like to dream. Fundy doesn’t want to talk about it, but Quackity notes that he’s been vague about it

- Fundy explains that every time something big happens in this place, he has dreams where he can sort of see what happens before it does. It’s like gazing into the future, except he loses details before it happens

- Quackity presses him on it. Let’s say they have a big war coming up, he takes Tubbo’s totems and Fundy sleeps and tells him what happens next so that they can prepare?

- Fundy doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Quackity doesn’t understand how real these things are

- What if they build an entire building for Fundy so that he can have these dreams comfortably? It’s just a possibility...

- Slime’s gloop-morphosis isn’t “complete” yet

- Quackity asks if Fundy knows Foolish. Fundy remembers one time he blew up a little bit of Foolish’s house and he finds out Foolish lives in Las Nevadas

- Quackity asks how long ago this was. Fundy says it happened a long time ago, but Slime corrects him

Quackity: “Just know, Fundy...he doesn’t know how to lie.”

- Quackity leaves to get diamonds and Fundy confronts Slime alone, asking him how he knows things. He tells Slime that in certain situations, it’s helpful to keep quiet on certain things for the benefit of other people

- They move on and Fundy teaches Slime a bit about fun and hobbies

- Quackity returns and they notice many squid in the nearby river. Quackity goes down and starts killing “cod” (salmon). Fundy corrects him that they aren’t cod, but to Quackity fish is fish. Fundy looks away while Quackity kills them

- They suggest Fundy be the food-gatherer. Fundy suggests a diet of fruit and plants

Slime: “What’s wrong with salmon? Your father loved them!”

- Quackity asks Fundy to elaborate on his father, if he came from a fishing family. Fundy asks Slime again about how he knows. Slime continually refers back to people “turning to dust.” 

- They ask about what Slime knows about them, then about Slime’s favorite memory. He digs a whole in the ground and waits for a bit

- They teach Slime about humor

Slime: “Two people walk into a bar. One is green, one is red. The green one is shaped -- is a bigger guy, and the red one is a smaller guy. To get to the bar, both got off a train. The train the red guy was on was going west at 40 miles an hour for 60 miles. The train the other guy was on did not serve lunch. They both walked into a bar, and 500 years later they were still just dust in the ground. At the end of it all, they were just still dust, and none of it mattered.”

- Slime tells another joke about a chicken turning into dust.

Quackity: “How long do you think it’ll take for me to turn to dust?

Slime: “I...I’ll make sure you never turn to dust, Quackity from Las Nevadas!”

- Quackity asks about Fundy’s father

Slime: “The sooty guy?”

- Quackity and Slime ask Fundy -- shouldn’t he know? Slime says Fundy can ask Wilbur about his history himself

Quackity: “Your dad’s alive, Fundy?”

- Fundy tells Quackity about how Phil came to him with some interesting news, that Wilbur is actually alive. Quackity ask when was the last time Fundy’s seen Wilbur. Fundy hasn’t seen him alive again yet

Quackity: “What’s your relationship with Wilbur?”

Fundy: “It’s...it’s complicated, man. It’s very complicated.”

Quackity: “Because...there’s an issue.”

- Fundy wants to talk to Wilbur about a lot of things. Quackity brings Fundy over to the headquarters and breaks the news that Wilbur came to see Quackity

Fundy: “...He saw you? He went on his way to see you, and -- and he’s not shown up to me to, you know -- why, why?”

- Quackity shows Fundy the “mark” Wilbur made. Wilbur asked to join Las Nevadas, and Quackity said no. He shows Fundy the name: Fort Big. Tommy and Wilbur are working together

- Quackity is just warning Fundy. He hopes this won’t get in the way of Fundy supporting the nation. Fundy just doesn’t know why Wilbur didn’t come to him, but he went to Quackity. 

Fundy: “Did he talk about me?”

- Quackity thinks he did, but he doesn’t remember what

- Fundy says goodbye to Slime and Quackity, heading off to settle down on his own. He stands at his plot of land, wondering if he’ll have to fight Wilbur

- Purpled is at his old base by the ruins of L’manburg. Life is good. He has DogChamp, he’s been fishing, no human contact

- He has something to attend to and goes to the cliffside nearby, finding Slime. He asks why Slime’s been watching him, who told Slime to spy. Slime avoids answering

- Purpled figures it’s Quackity and asks Slime more about how long he’s been above the ground, what he knows. Slime refers to him as “Purpled From a UFO” and Purpled shows Slime that his UFO has been destroyed by Quackity

- Purpled leaves Slime and visits the ruins. He notices Slime following him and tells him to leave again

- Slime traps himself in Dream’s honeymoon suite and Purpled continues down the path, looking at all the builds. He visits the Socializing Club and checks beneath the floor -- the trap he made all those months ago is still there. He wonders if anyone remembers these things

- Slime slimes his way out of the trap and Purpled visits L’manburg. He was just a pawn, there was no “Purpled in L’manburg” or “Purpled in Pogtopia” or “Purpled on Dream SMP’s side.” There was just no Purpled

- He returns to his house, gets DogChamp, puts him into a hidden chamber elsewhere. He stores his valuables...and rigs the entire place with TNT

He sets it off and it goes

- Slime talks to Purpled again. Purpled asks if Quackity is still interested in a new resident

- Purpled asks Slime to trust him as he retrieves DogChamp, and he gets Slime to lead him to Las Nevadas

- He makes it there and goes into the casino. Quackity doesn’t know what he has planned. He comes out to find Quackity there. Quackity takes him up to the top of the Needle

- Purpled makes it clear he only cares about the opportunity for himself, not for Quackity. He doesn’t stand for what Quackity does, doesn’t think there will ever be a time that he’ll respect Quackity as a person

- Quackity tells him they all change in some way or another. When he first became Vice President, he saw the best in everyone

Quackity: “I don’t really see the good in people anymore...but I do see opportunity.”

- Quackity tells Purpled that if they succeed with the nation, the two of them will be going down in history. Purpled starts to come around to thinking that maybe they are on the same page 

- Quackity had a citizenship document he meant for Purpled to sign, but he’s willing to gamble on it without

Quackity: “Welcome to Las Nevadas, Purpled.”

- He gives Purpled the document either way and tells him he has a right to a plot of land. Quackity will have a business meeting with all the residents soon

- Purpled asks for land behind the casino. He has an idea for something. Quackity agrees to give it to him

- Purpled leaves and speaks to himself with DogChamp at the stage. Things will be looking different around here real soon

- Ranboo goes to the mailbox he set up with the Council and checks it, finding a new update in the book along with a Netherite Axe labelled “axe of the end” in Enderman.

The update reads:

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Hello. We have been observing the happenings around the server and we come bearing not news but rather a warning for you. We know that you like to stand idle and not engage in any kind of acts of violence and we respect you for that.

However, we also know that there are people that you care about and you need to understand that in order to take care of those people you are no longer able to just stand idle. You need to take a more active role again. We have given you something that can help with that. Use it carefully.

We respect your wishes. - The Council

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- Ranboo takes the axe. He planned to work on Tubbo’s outpost, make it seem like more of a shop than an outpost

- He goes to the outpost and finds the griefing, cleaning it up

- As some protective measures, he leaves signs:

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Hello! Whoever put a bunch of dirt everywhere, Dont!

This is going to be a new cookie shop! We dont have cookies yet

Please leave it alone! Or violence will be used.

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- He continues working on the outpost and Techno logs on. Ranboo goes over to the new tollbooth and pays the toll of one bone

Techno: ranboo have you unlocked teleportation yet

Ranboo: not yet i dont think

Ranboo: let me try

Ranboo: yeah no

Techno: can you hurry up

Techno: asking for a friend

- Ranboo explores around Las Nevadas and makes a to-do list

- He makes a hidey hole in the strip club and strips some logs. He gets tempted to steal a Netherite block

His to-do list reads:

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TO DO LIST FOR LAS NEVADAS: 1. Figure out what to get inside of. 2. Figure out what the hollow buildings are 3. Figure out why there are so many horses 4. Figure out who runs this place 5. Figure out what the black pillars are for

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- He returns home and speaks with Tubbo in VC

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Upcoming events remain the same.