#why are the 4 gifts from the gods represented only through the relics and not reflected in every aspect of the world?

[constantvariations]

Went scavenging for rabid screenshots and drained my soul along the way so here's my silly nitpick of their nitpick

The academies (almost) align with colleges age-wise (I am once again asking why they chose 17 as the majority cast's age), but the Beacon era is littered with tropes exclusive to high school settings, like shoving people into lockers, school uniforms, insta-crushes, food fights, and getting ready for prom

It's little wonder why people confuse Beacon Academy for a high school. All the high school hallmarks are there yet not a single student is pulling an all nighter with the help of redbull, cigarettes, and anxiety-induced insomnia

Side note: are the Academies confirmed 4-year programs or is that an assumption?

[mcousland]

2, 4, 5, 10, 14, 15 and 19 for leva'lyn and lara!

2. What is your character’s relationship with their family? Family is a word which here refers to biological relatives, close companions, and/or the individual(s) who raised them.

Leva’lyn at this point only has 5 minutes worth of memories of her mother, and nothing of her father. From what she’s gather she was close with her mother and was taught the ways of being a wizard by her, but beyond that she cannot begin to imagine her relationship with either of them those years ago. (And she’s terrified to think of what her father would think of her if she does find him now.)Her adoptive father though, Karl Vornludwig, she has fifty-five~ years of memories with and has a relationship just as complicated. She’s only just recently read a letter from him describing that the only reason he saved her from wandering the Rut'Theran shore alone was because of the future described to him by a shapeshifting mage. A mage who told Karl that he would need to raise her, teach her all he knew but accept he could not help her forever—which, Leva’lyn gathers, is why he refused to get as close as a true father would, why he denied affection and treated her like any other criminal in the Guild. Since the moment I saw you enveloped by what looked like moonlight, he writes, I’ve loved you as much as though you were my own flesh and blood—but she was never taught how to forgive and accept, so the words only lead to further frustration and numerous scrapped letters written out of anger that she’ll never send. Leva’lyn struggles each day with trying to understand, move on, forgive- but she’s just not at that point yet, and she wonders if she’ll be able to talk to Karl again about these thoughts or if he’ll meet his death while away like his final letter to her implies.

Lara is close with her father, at a very young age she grabbed at the weapons he smithed and pleaded for lessons. After her mother passed and with her brother often gone they only got closer, being the only two left in the house they refused to let it drive them apart. The duo share a sense of humor, empathy and the same beaming smile. Lara writes him letters about her adventures while she’s away so he knows she’s okay, and so he can brag about his daughter being a dragon slayer. Her mother was a jeweler, and from sitting beside her when she worked, Lara learned the worth of gems and what they represented to various cultures and people. Being a Pelorian, her mother would often share the myth of The Shards of the Sun, famed relics of Pelor that she firmly believed were gem shards hidden throughout the world. After her passing, those conversations are what Lara remembers most clearly. The gleam in her mother’s eyes, the small smile on her lips and the conspiratorial whisper she would sometimes drop to so that no one could steal their idea of hunting for these Shards. Lara’s brother left for the first time when she was two years old, he was seventeen and running off to join an army. He returns home on occasion, and they spend that time together trading stories or training in combat. When she was old enough to understand it, Lara was awed by her brother’s being a paladin of Pelor and this became one of the driving forces to her becoming fully devoted to the Dawnfather when she took comfort in his Temple over the years. Lara from time to time entertains her sadness over him leaving, wishing that she’d been able to grow up with a brother at her side every day—but she does not live in the past, and she can be thankful for the time that they do spend together.

4. What were the conditions surrounding their formative years?

Leva’lyn was living inside an underground Thieves Guild run by Karl, mingling and learning from thieves, assassins and other petty criminals that ran through. She would spend countless hours training, pushing herself to exhaustion in attempts to earn compliments and praise from Karl that came rarely. She was brought along to few missions that formed her “eh, it’s just a job” outlook on contracts, both assassinations and robberies. She spent a fair amount of her free time spying on the “fancy parties” and people, allowed on some occasions to sneak into those events or be given funds to buy herself clothes to match their aesthetic. (Leva’lyn has one good memory of Karl sneaking into her room to gift her with a ball gown, knowing she was enraptured by them but unable to present it to her in the public eye.)Lara’s formative years would’ve been around the time of her mother’s death, when she spent hours every day trying to get more information out of neighbors and people who survived the bandit attack about what happened, when it happened, why did no one help. The answers were never satisfactory, they only deepened the ache, all she saw were people who got to live except for her mother. But she found Pelor’s temple more comforting during those days, and the Prophetess Sylvaris took to sitting with Lara for long conversations. Those people she was angry with? They lost family too, friends and loved ones—she should not be persecuting them, she should be mourning with them. Weeks spent with Slyvaris heightened Lara’s empathy beyond its original level, she spent more time talking with her father and brother about how it all felt, she cast her first Light spell while helping a man repair his broken wagon. These years formed her empathy, selfishness, nurturing and healing ways.

5. What creature would they like to have as a pet?

This is actually a funny one, because of the Baby Bestiary I’ve been talking about this very thing with another player, so for the fun of it I’m going to answer from the list in the book.

Leva’lyn would sell her step-father for a dragon wyrmling. She’d adore the creature and have an absolute blast helping it build its first hoard. And just the thought alone that I have as her player of Leva’lyn lounging across the back of a chest filled with gold, twirling her hair while conversing with her brass dragon because those fools love to talk and she needs someone to talk to.Lara would just explode after seeing a blink puppy. They’re cute AND they can poof around everywhere?? She wouldn’t be able to handle the adorable.

10. How old is this character?

Answered for Leva’lyn here!Lara is in her early 20s at the beginning of her adventures.

14. What is their favorite holiday?

Leva’lyn enjoys any holiday that calls for an event or party where she can ignore her problems and spend the night drinking, dancing and listening to strangers gossip about each other.Lara celebrates each of Pelor’s holidays among the others, but her favorite is a tie between Breadgiving Day and The Feast of Edoira. Almost every time without fail she will suddenly shout mid-day, realizing one of the days is a week away and she’ll take off to prepare. Breadgiving Day is where clerics of Pelor and Rao distribute food to the poor, while The Feast is when Pelorians and Raoans come together to celebrate their faith. She favors Breadgiving Day for the charity that spreads around, and the smiles on people’s faces, and then The Feast for time spent with people who usually share her ideals.

15. What is the best gift they could receive?

Leva’lyn enjoys anything expensive, doesn’t really matter what it is. Lara will be excited just by the mention of a gift that she didn’t expect, and spend the next week thanking the person no matter what it was. (Anything to do with Pelor or the color yellow is a god tier gift.)

19. What are their guilty pleasures?

Answered for Leva’lyn here!Lara: one too many sweet rolls, jewelry (people call her greedy, but it reminds her of her mother), spending time with Anna when she should be studying, staying in her pajamas for far too long, taking breakfast in bed so she can read by the window.

[one-of-us-blog]

The Pope’s Ring (TGG, Season 7, Episode 13)

Today Eli is forced to watch and recap The Pope’s Ring, Episode 13 of the final season of The Golden Girls.  Blanche sets Rose up with a super sleuth to do some snooping on her significant other who may be hiding a sultry secret, while Sophia engages in some good, old-fashioned papal extortion.  What will be the end result of all these strange schemes?  Keep reading to find out…

Drew is still on a bit of a break before sharing his thoughts on Live and Let Die, so I will keep my comments brief.  But I’m certainly excited to read his take on the first film in a brand new era for the Bond franchise!  Until we are given that honor, you will have to settle for my own humble recap, so here it is.  Let’s head to Miami!

Buttocks tight!

Episode written by Kevin Abbott, directed by Lex Passaris

We open to find Dorothy wrapping up a birthday gift for Rose, excited to give a thoughtful present to a dear friend.  Unfortunately, Blanche enters the scene to criticize the paper, bow, and card, and to make it clear that a fierce gift-based rivalry exists in the household.  Sophia has other concerns at the moment, as she has dressed herself up for a bus ride to see the Pope (yes, THE Pope), who is passing through town.  She has two tickets for her and Dorothy to see His Holiness from a distance, or at least she did until she traded in Dorothy’s ticket for a closer view for herself.  She defends her actions by claiming that she needs the Supreme Pontiff to see her and agree to come bless her friend Agnes in the hospital.

Rose arrives home, and Blanche and Dorothy immediately give her competitive birthday hugs, followed by their gifts.  Dorothy presents her with the original Mickey Mouse Club sweatshirt worn by Roy the Mousketeer, but Blanche has a different approach.  She has an inkling that Miles might be going through a crisis, and somehow knows that he recently started wearing bikinis (just the bottoms).  Concerned that he may be unfaithful, Blanche has hired a private detective to trail Miles for two weeks as a birthday present to Rose.  Her friend is hesitant to accept such a gift, but Blanche can’t get a refund since she paid in advance with “nature’s credit card.”  Besides, Blanche correctly points out that Miles has previously been deceptive about his actions and his past, and Rose accepts the offer.

We soon find Rose and Miles on the lanai, and he’s feeling frisky.  He tries to convince Rose to make love out of doors, and he puts the moves on her while the private detective snaps pics from the bushes.  Rose confesses the truth about the detective (that didn’t last long), and though he gets excited by the potential roleplaying opportunities at first, his mood changes when he realizes the truth of the situation.  Miles gets pissed at Rose for not trusting him and storms off.  In other developments, Sophia arrives home with some big news…as well as the Pope’s ring!  Picture It: The Papal Mass, with Sophia delivering a kiss to the hand of the Bishop of Rome, and “accidentally” walking off with a priceless holy relic.  Hey, this might be her shot at getting into the Bible!  Dorothy tells her mother that she must return the ring, and while Sophia agrees to an extent, she takes a shot at a water-to-wine miracle first.

Miles finally forgives Rose after she promises to trust him, but Blanche still has the detective’s final report.  She reveals that Miles has confirmed an upcoming surgery that he never told Rose about, and this has Rose worried about his health.  Oh, and Sophia mentions that she has lost the Pope’s ring, so there’s that.

Sophia, who has no clue (trust her) about the whereabouts of the ring, declares that she is surely damned, but Dorothy begins to get suspicious for some reason that it’s all an act.  Sophia finally fesses up and admits that she wanted to hold onto the ring as leverage to get the Pope to bless Agnes.  Blanche tells Rose that she should go to the hospital to see Miles despite the manner in which she learned of his appointment, and Rose eventually agrees.

We soon learn via Sophia that the Pope is supposedly coming to the house to pick up the ring, which seems pretty unbelievable to this viewer.  I mean, surely there’s a representative/errand boy to handle such matters, right?  Blanche doesn’t know what she should wear, and Dorothy shares my skepticism that he will show up in person, but Sophia is insistent that her request/demand was very specific.  The doorbell rings, and sure enough, a random priest shows up in lieu of His Holiness.  Dorothy hands over the ring despite her mother’s protest, and Sophia is angry that the big man won’t visit Agnes, and she has to settle for lousy #ThoughtsAndPrayers.  But mostly, she is angry at Dorothy for the betrayal.

Rose goes to the hospital, and initially mistakes someone else for Miles.  Haven’t I seen this gag on the show before?  Anyway, she finds her boyfriend, and it turns out that Miles is only having cosmetic surgery for bags under his eyes.  Wait, is this why he has been so cheap as of late?  Because this seems like a pretty large, unnecessary expenditure, right?  Sophia also shows up at the hospital, and takes his medical chart to the bathroom for some reading material.  Of course, at just this moment, the honest-to-God Pope walks through the hospital, blessing patients left and right while Sophia sits on a non-papal throne of porcelain.

Thankfully, everything works out, because back at home Sophia tells Dorothy that the Pope blessed Agnes at the hospital after all.  She is very happy about the way things unfolded.  Providence wins the day again!  Rose mentions that the holy dude had beautiful blue eyes, and Blanche confirms that all the cutest guys are either married or popes.

Oh, and during the closing credits, we see Sophia gambling with a fully decked-out Pope in the kitchen.  I’m just gonna assume this scene is apocryphal.

The End.

Bless us all, this was a really fun episode!  While I would have liked to see the private detective scenario unfold a bit more, it still made for a satisfactory B-plot.  I really don’t know how to feel about Miles, to be honest.  I like the actor a lot and so I tend to have positive feelings about the guy, but if I actually think about his actions I have some major reservations.  He is still using his fake name in every day life, and despite his lengthy deception and questionable behavior afterward, he gets upset with Rose for almost immediately telling him about the weird gift her friend gave her?  I wouldn’t like being followed either, but I might consider what I had done to warrant such concern.  I could let that rest, but after he was a total cheapskate to Rose, he’s apparently willing to spring for costly plastic surgery so he can fit in with the youngsters at his workplace?  Get it together, Miles.  But I really liked the papal plotline, and Sophia’s willingness to capitalize on a golden opportunity.  Hey, it was for someone else’s sake at least, right?  This is another area that I think had some untapped comedic potential, but I’m happy for the scenes that we got.  I would give The Pope’s Ring a rating of 4 poofy hairdos out of 5.

Check back in soon for Drew’s hot take on Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s first outing as Agent 007, and I’ll be back before you know it with my recap of Old Boyfriends, the next episode of The Golden Girls.  Until then, as always, thank you for being a friend, and for being One of Us!

[helios7media-blog]

Top 10 Must Visit Places in Korea

Many times I've asked myself if I travel to Korea where will I go that I will see where it gives because I'm going to go? 10 tourist places that deserve to be visited during your stay in the country. The elegant mountains, the beauty of the sea and the historical monuments that are found in every part of the country, are places of attraction for all those tourists who visit Korea. If you want to live and enjoy a complete trip, do not miss the top 10 tourist spots in Korea. So let's start

1: Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market is one of the oldest and you can find an infinite variety of products, street food, merchants selling loudly, etc., ie different types of traditional images. The Dongdaemun Market is exclusive for clothes, and also works at night. From 10 o'clock until 5 o'clock the next morning, the market is lit up and full of people who walk and buy. The Myeong-dong district is one of the most famous places among foreign tourists. In all the seasons of the year it is frequented by the people, and visited, in particular, by many young elegant and beautiful. The streets of Insa-dong are also one of Korea's traditional places, as you will find a variety of antique paintings, pottery, crafts, etc. And in every corner of the way are the traditional tea houses, the rice cakes, the Korean liquors, etc.

2: Bulguksa Temple

Gyeongju is named as the "homeless museum", since every corner of the city preserves historical monuments from the thousand years of the Silla Dynasty (57 BC ~ 935 AD). Among them are the Seokguram Cave and the Bulguksa Temple, as they were designated as Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Especially, the pagoda of the temple, decorated on granite with engravings of figures of lotus flowers and bamboo, is one of the places where tourists do not forget to take the photos. Seokguram Cave has a domed roof, consisting of 360 square stones. The cave, built with previously unknown techniques, and the gemstone located on the front of the Buddha, shine even more at dawn.

3: DMZ

The DMZ is the area where you can observe the Alto el Fuego line between South Korea and North Korea, the only divided country in the world. It is a demilitarized zone that restricts the access of people, which is why a great variety of species of rare plants and animals can be observed. You will also be able to see the security agents of both countries, and through the viewpoints it is possible to see the citizens of North Korea

4: Jagalchi Festival of Busan, Haeundae Beach

The port city of Busan is one of the most beautiful cities surrounded by the sea, which, along the coastline and the white sand of the beach, presents a spectacular harmony. Especially the Haeundae Beach is visited by many foreign tourists during the summer season. In addition, Jagalchi Market, which is nearby, is one of the largest fishing markets in the country. It has a great variety of seafood and fresh fish, which can be sliced ​​and tasted at the moment.

5: The Island of Jeju-do

Jeju-do Island is located south of the Korean Peninsula and was formed by the volcanic eruption. In June 2007 was designated as a Natural Heritage by UNESCO, and the beauty of this island was recognized internationally. Beginning with Baengnokdam Lake of Hallasan Mountain, which retains a legend about the gods who relished it to rest in the water, the Yongam caves with their stone columns, which despite their antiquity, their structures remain impeccable, The peak of the Seongsan Mountain, from which you can observe the sunrise next to the cliff of the coastline, etc., among other tourist places of the island, where you can feel and live the beauty of nature.

6: Andong Hahoe Village, Traditional Korean Village

If you are intrigued by the everyday life of the ancient Koreans, visit the Traditional Korean Village and the Hahoemaeul Village. In one place you can see the daily culture, from the traditional games, to the housing articles and the old houses of our ancestors. Especially the Hahoemaeul Village, it presents the old houses in the traditional style "Hanok", which, today, are still inhabited by the villagers and in which tourists are offered shelter. In addition, from March to November, every Saturday and Sunday, at 15:00 a free demonstration of the Hahoebyeolsin Mask Dance is performed.

7: Haeinsa Temple, Tongdosa Temple, Songgwangsa Temple

The temples of Korea are located high in the mountains, so they have a beautiful harmony with nature. The Haeinsa Temple, located on Gayasan Mountain, is one of the three main temples of the country, which retains the Korean Tripitaka, which is the most comprehensive collection of Buddhist texts. This collection is one of the national treasures and was designed to protect the country from foreign invasions. The Tongdosa Temple is famous for not possessing the Buddha statue, but instead has the relics (the bones of Buddha), therefore it is recommended to visit it without fail. Songgwangsa Temple, also called as the "Prison of Heaven", means that it is a place where clouds and winds settle to rest. It is an ideal place to rest, both body and soul. And, finally, the Haedongyonggungsa Temple is one of the most famous places for tourists visiting Busan. Being located near the sea has a spectacular view, it also has the largest Buddha statue in the country, with sculptures with dragon shapes and rock that fulfills desires, among other attractions

8: Seoraksan National Park, Jirisan Mountain, Geumgangsan Mountain

As one mountaineer rightly responded to the question he was asked about the reasons why he climbed the mountains, and the answer was: Because they were present there, Korea is a country made up of mountains and this is reason enough To be the ideal place for mountaineering. And among them, Seoraksan, Jirisan and Geumgangsan are mountains that, in addition to the fun of climbing, also offer the beauty of sharing Nature. The Seoraksan Mountain has the third highest peak in the country and a large number of valleys. It was designated by UNESCO as a conservation area of ​​living organisms, in which you can observe a great diversity of plants and animals. Jirisan Mountain is Korea's first National Park and its name is derived from the belief that any kind of person accessing it will become an intelligent person ("Jihye" in Korean means intelligence). It is famous for being tall and steep, but, as it has several trails, it is ideal to enjoy as a family. The Geumgangsan Mountain, which is located in North Korea, receives several names, because it presents different aspects according to the seasons, the names are: Geumgangsan, Bongnaesan, Pungaksan and Gaegolsan; Can be visited through travel packages of tourist agencies. In every season of the year is "disguised" differently and, especially, what should not be missed, is the Guryongyeon Waterfall.

9: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace

The Gyeongbokgung Palace, built during the Joseon Dynasty, is one of the 5 main palaces of the country. It was where the royal family lived and great official events were held. One of the most visited tourist places by foreign tourists. Changdeokgung Palace is the one that follows Gyeongbokgung. One of the best preserved, and the garden, which presents a harmony between the natural and the artificial, is the most outstanding beauty of this palace. The elegance of the pavilion and of the place reflects the importance of the king. And finally, the Deoksugung Palace was where King Gojong, the 26th king of Joseon, resided until his last days. The stone building where it received the foreign delegates and the road next to the stone wall, are the most famous installations of this palace.

10: N Seoul Tower, Coex, Hangang River Public Park

Seoul is the city that represents Korea and the first place tourists travel. In particular, Tower N of Seoul, located at the top of the mountain, is where you can see, at a glance, the center of the city. The circular and revolving restaurant, next to the bathroom located at the top, which convey a feeling of being in the clouds, are other great shows. The Coex Shopping Center is an underground shopping establishment that you can visit at any time of the year. Famous among 20-30 year olds, it has more than 260 shops of all categories, from clothing, to household goods, stationery, accessories, books, gifts, etc. Also located in the interior are the Aquarium, the Kimchi Museum, etc., so it offers great entertainment. The Hangang River, which represents the city of Seoul, has recreational boats from which to enjoy the scenery of the place, and in summer can practice a variety of water sports. In particular there are many people who visit it, especially at night, as it presents a spectacular night panorama.   Click to Post