#wot casting leak

[ofthebrownajah]

[markantonys]

WOT 2x05 aired 1 year ago today, so you know what that means: happy birthday gawyn

[moghedien]

deeply confused by opening Instagram and seeing the actors for Alanna and Chiad pretending like they just got gay married but ok I guess they’re probably filming together next season so Two Rivers arc?

[thewholedamnboulangerie]

I’ve finally finally hit a scene with Significant Graendal Screentime and! well! [placing her gently on the Blorbo Shelf] what is UP with this series it’s literally Evil Women Blorbos Georg over here

(Sammael is finally here properly too but like damn he is Just Some Guy)

[amemoryofwot]

Second in so looks like Sulin to me, and the guy on the end is definitely Aiel as well

[butterflydm]

more WoT s3 spec - what we know vs what we're guessing at

I've been poking at what we know about s3 vs what we can reasonably guess, so I wanted to break that down a bit.

So there are a few things we know just about the structure of how the show has worked so far: we know they shoot in blocks of two episodes each and that each of those blocks is going to have the same director for both episodes. Because of this info, we can make some guesses at where specific episodes may land. We also have some casting info (wotseries.com being a great resource here).

They tend to have a major reveal in the fourth episode - Nynaeve being incredibly powerful in the One Power in 1x04; Selene being Lanfear in 2x04.

What we know for certain:

Rhuidean & the Waste will appear (Rand & Egwene's storyline).

Tanchico will appear (Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline).

The Two Rivers will appear (Perrin's storyline).

Rand and Perrin will each get focus episodes akin to Nynaeve having "What Might Be" and Egwene having "Eyes Without Pity" in s2.

We have four episode titles: "To Race The Shadow"; "A Glimpse of Crimson"; "Goldeneyes"; and "He Who Comes With The Dawn".

Sea Folk are confirmed for S3.

Potential leaks include:

Mat, Min, and Thom all being part of Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline in Tanchico. Big change for Mat & Min, but matches canon for Thom. And since show-onlys have only seen Thom with Mat and Rand, it would make sense to use Mat to re-introduce us to him.

Reports of the actresses reported to be playing Morgase and Elaida seen at a castle which is almost certainly in Caemlyn (Andoran banners spotted), most likely for the first or second episode due to the timing.

An actress playing Maigran (one of the Aiel from the Rhuidean glass columns sequence) is listed under the director who is being used for eps 3 and 4.

An actress has been cast to play an older version of Latra and I really like @wheeloftimeofficial's idea that we'll see her as the ancient Aes Sedai who establishes Rhuidean in the glass column memories, especially since the younger actress also has s3 listed on her CV.

We have (unofficially) confirmed castings for Faile & Galad.

Hints we've gotten from interviews & bts info:

In an interview filmed before the actors' strike, Daniel mentions Lan having some really good relationship scenes with Nynaeve, so we know that there's interaction between those characters before their plotlines separate, implying that we will not begin with everyone already all off on their separate journeys, like they were in 2x01.

Also from Daniel, it's implied that there are training scenes between Lan and Rand (could happen at any point, since Lan is likely to be in Rand's storyline the entire season).

From what Josha has said, the show will be pivoting to a more familial relationship between Egwene and Rand next season (which matches the book timing).

Rafe made a point of mentioning that Elayne healing Rand was to flag to the audience that this was a relationship to pay attention to (which implies we'll get at least some movement on that relationship in s3).

Josha also says that there is "way more togetherness" for Two Rivers' characters in s3 than in s2.

In an unrelated interview on screenrant, Rima Te Waita (Sheriam) mentioned that she will not be in s3 but, if s4 is greenlit, she will be in s4.

Josha and Ayoola posted some cute instas of each other after finishing up the South Africa shooting stint near Cape Town, which might be a hint towards our potential AviRand interactions (could also just be the actors being cute!).

Guesses based on book & show knowledge:

It seems likely to me that Gawyn & Galad will be introduced in the same episode as Morgase and Elaida, which I am tentatively going to guess will be episode 2.

I think that Verin, Alanna & their Warders are going to be getting out of Cairhien as quickly as possible. And that they are pretty conveniently set up to head to their TSR storyline.

I am pretty torn about when the coup will happen! I feel like it happening this season feels pretty much a lock because there really isn't any more "White Tower storyline" until the coup happens, and they do already have the set made. But it could either happen pretty early on or fairly late in the season. Maybe episode five? That lets us meet Elaida in episode 2, gives her and possibly Gawyn & Galad time to get to the White Tower, maybe we get some scenes of her politicking in the WT in episode 4, with the trigger being pulled in episode 5 or 6. But another possibility is that the coup happens right away, while all those Sisters are still in Cairhien and we see Liandrin take the lead on something like stilling Siuan and Leane, which would put the White Tower in chaos before Elaida even arrives. There are at least two Black Ajah Sisters in Cairhien, after all, and Liandrin likes to act extra-judicially, and she might want to try to make sure that Siuan is taken care of before anyone has a chance to out her (Liandrin) as Black Ajah. But there is also a chance that it might happen in the finale, so that we can parallel Moiraine & Siuan's 'downfalls'. So really this one is a wildcard for me. It isn't really directly tied to any other specific events in TSR, so it can happen whenever.

We will get the glass columns in episode 3 or 4. In the books, it happened as soon as Rand landed in the Waste, basically, but the show could potentially do Cold Rocks Hold first, depending on how Rand is getting to the Waste. I used to lean towards it happening in ep3, but after learning the leak about Mat being in Tanchico, it made me wonder about ep4, maybe, as that could potentially lead to Mat going through the doorways (just speculation with zero leaks or spoilers to back it up but I like it a lot lol) from Tanchico to Rhuidean either at the end of ep4 or the start of ep5, leaving Nynaeve & Elayne's storyline and going to Rand & Egwene's.

I do keep thinking about Josha saying that the Two Rivers' kids would have "way more togetherness" than in s3, which seems difficult if they all separate by or after ep2 and then don't reunite the entire season. I guess technically it would be true because they don't reunite in s2 until the final moments of 2x08 but feels somewhat underwhelming to mention, lol.

I do still suspect that we're getting Lanfear & Moiraine with the doorway at the end of the season.

So, a tentative outline. Now we leave behind the more solid leaks and knowledge and enter into the wild speculations. Please check out @markantonys' recent post too, she's got some fun speculations!

3x01: To Race the Shadow

"Way more togetherness" between the Two Rivers group than in s2, so says Josha. This is also where we have to be getting the Lan & Nynaeve romantic scenes that Daniel keeps hyping up, lol.

Moiraine and Rand are going to be arguing about his next plans.

Something will happen that makes them realize that Something Is Up in Tanchico -- this might be a first Dream from Egwene that leads them in the direction of the museum? Which also leads to her talking to Amys, which is why she decides to go with Rand instead of going with Nynaeve & Elayne. The big question for me is if they are going to Tanchico because of Liandrin or if they go for other reasons and then run into Liandrin also being there to get the same thing that they're getting.

Now Mat may go into a doorway here as speculated by @markantonys (the room of curiosities) but for this specific outline, I'm going to say that he doesn't, and instead he chooses to go with Elayne & Nynaeve because he's running away from Rand (after the Stabbening). This pulls in something that Mat tries to do a lot in the books but gives him a new motivation that fits his show character.

I think Lanfear is going to warn Rand about the rest of the Forsaken being free but potentially also send Liandrin to Tanchico to try to get the, uh, plot token for her potential use in the future (a girl needs a back-up plan).

Lanfear talking to Rand might be another thing that Rand and Moiraine argue about.

Rand and Egwene are going to have their official 'break-up' and then we'll see their more platonic relationship develop over the course of the season. I also feel like we have to have at least a scene or two with Rand and Elayne to establish them feeling Some Kind of Way about each other, to build on that moment from 2x08.

3x02: A Glimpse of Crimson

Good episode title for a Red Ajah & Andor episode!

I'm going to guess that Rand & co are going to be stopping in Caemlyn (my feelings are similar to @markantonys about us potentially getting a garden introduction between Egwene & Gawyn here, and then having Rand & Egwene meet Elaida & Morgase (and Galad?). Elaida will have her Foretelling about Rand and freak herself out.

Our group hears the rumors about the Two Rivers, and Perrin decides to go investigate. The question is how is Rand going to get to the Waste from Caemlyn? I don't feel like they would introduce Portal Stones as a one-off if they haven't done it before, so I think there's a chance that Loial might go with Rand instead of Perrin, as Perrin doesn't need to go through the Ways to get to the Two Rivers (of course, then they would need to change how the battle resolves in 3x07).

(alternatively: there's always the Lanfear express, I guess, lol)

This could also be when Elayne, Nynaeve, & Mat arrive in Tanchico, and their introduction to the city is our B plot. I don't think they would throw all the plots at them at once and I feel like just introducing Thom first would be a good start for the first episodes in Tanchico.

3x03: Unknown

Rand & co arrive in the Waste, but I'm going to send them to Cold Rocks Hold for now, instead of straight to Rhuidean. This gives Rand and Aviendha time to bond, Rand and Moiraine time to fight, Rand and Lan time to train together, and gives the audience a chance to get to know the Aiel culture in a bit more of a relaxed setting. Then we get an attack by Shadowspawn and Rand gets the reminder that the other Forsaken have been let free and don't share Ishamael and Lanfear's feelings about him.

Another plot will be in Tanchico, involving Nynaeve, Elayne, and Mat investigating, running into Min and/or Egeanin or Tuon taking Egeanin's role. This may be where we get our early encounters with Moghedien (she Compels one or more of our characters to spill the beans to her about their plans) and potentially where she reveals herself to Liandrin & co as one of the Chosen and takes control of their group after playing servant for part of the episode.

We also have Perrin & co arriving in the Two Rivers and getting the lay of the land. This could be a fairly emotional episode for Perrin, due to memories of Laila's death. Maybe when Perrin says goodbye to Laila (putting his ring on her grave/memorial?) and potentially our first sighting of Faile.

3x04: Unknown

Rand goes to Rhuidean and into the glass columns. This is the main plot of the episode and Rand's focus episode of the season.

We get the history of the Aiel here, and learn about Rand's ancestors.

Subplot: Aviendha is told that she is destined to be a Wise One (maybe she accidentally channeled during the fight at Cold Rocks Hold?) and deals with idea that she has to leave behind being a Maiden.

Our Tanchico B-plot leads to Mat entering through the twisted doorway in the museum, For Reasons, and getting his prophecies. Maybe this same plotline leads to Elayne and Nynaeve finding dream ter'angreal, and to Tuon/Egeanin realizing that Elayne and Nynaeve are channelers, and potentially learns that all sul'dam are, and then leaves our main plotline at this time.

3x05: Unknown

When Rand leaves the glass columns, he finds Mat hanging on the tree outside, and saves his life (we've gotten a few different pieces of foreshadowing about Mat being hanged, so I feel like it will happen at some point). Mat says he was just in Tanchico.

We catch up with Perrin in the Two Rivers, with him learning to move past his grief as he gets to know Faile.

Because we've already done Cold Rocks Hold, this means that Rand & co can go straight to Alcair Dal at this point.

Aviendha and Rand bond over their lives being dictated by being able to use the One Power and not having any choices about their future.

On the way to Alcair Dal, we meet the traders, who are hiding Lanfear and Asmodean in their ranks, and Lanfear sees that Rand is getting closer to Aviendha and Does Not Approve.

Nynaeve and Elayne worry about where Mat has disappeared to and experiment with the dream ter'angreal that they recently discovered in the museum (might only be one: the twisted stone ring, so that channeling isn't needed for it), and run into Birgitte in the dream. She gives them a warning but they realize that this is the same place that Egwene was talking about in 3x01 and are excited that they might be able to communicate with her.

3x06: Unknown

Another journey into TAR for Nynaeve (maybe a successful contact with Egwene?), and she encounters Birgitte again, but Moghedien too, and this leads to Birgitte getting ripped out of TAR and bonded by Elayne to save her life.

Moiraine tells Rand that he needs to go to Tear, to fulfill more of the prophecies, but Rand is resistant.

The Two Rivers ramps up for the battle.

This would also be a good spot for the coup, imo.

3x07: Goldeneyes

The Battle of the Two Rivers. Potentially Perrin's focus episode as well, as he comes into his own as a leader. I think that it would be good to push any confirmed Perrin/Faile romance forward into the future, so they will still just have some vibes for now.

We get some pieces moving into place for the other storylines: Rand arrives at Alcair Dal; Nynaeve and Elayne make plans to return to the museum.

3x08: He Who Comes With The Dawn

Desperate to get through to Rand and worrying that he is focusing on the Aiel instead of being the Dragon Reborn, Moiraine went back to Rhuidean to try to use the doorway, as when Mat talked about his experiences there, she recognized what he was talking about and wants answers of her own.

Rand announces himself at Alcair Dal, drawing the attention of Lanfear, who makes her pitch to him that We Could Rule Together, worrying that she's losing her hold over him after seeing him getting closer to Aviendha. She tells him about Asmodean and about him potentially teaching Rand so that he can reach his potential.

Inside the doorway, Moiraine gets answers that she doesn't like about Rand and Lanfear (sort of merging her going into the doorway in Tear with her going into the silver rings).

On the Tanchico side of things, we have our big Tanchico encounter between Nynaeve and Moghedien, which results in Nynaeve breaking her block. Nynaeve and Elayne escape Tanchico on a Sea Folk ship, heading towards Tear, potentially bringing Min & Thom along with them.

After talking with Lanfear, Rand is let out of his 'bubble' at Alcair Dal as Couladin declares that HE is the Car'a'carn and he will prove it by leading the Aiel to conquer the wetlands (setting up s4 to be a combo of TFoH/LoC, with a hint of TDR with the destination being Tear instead of Cairhien). Rand realizes that the fake dragons on Couladin's arms were put there by Asmodean and goes after him -- Asmodean Skims back to Rhuidean and he and Rand battle, and Lanfear arrives, puts the block on Asmodean and offers him up as a teacher to Rand. Moiraine takes advantage of Lanfear's focus on Rand to yeet both of them into the doorway while channeling, based on the knowledge that she learned inside, melting the doorway. We see in the Tanchico storyline that the other doorway melts at the same time, leaving them no exit.

And I agree with @markantonys that possibly the most effective stinger would be the reveal that Tuon is the DotNM, but if there is no Tuon in this season, we could have it be a Forsaken (Sammael) setting up shop in Tear, to set the scene for the upcoming season.

It is a lot more cliffhanger-y than our previous season finales and I'm sure that my thoughts on it will change as we get closer and learn more spoilers, but that is my wild speculation for this specific week!

[asha-mage]

With WoT s3 officially wrapped and in editing, I feel it's a good time to reiterate my policy on spoilers, as well as establish my position on leaks/pre release information-

I deliberately avoid things like casting leaks, shooting locations, episode titles, etc, as much as is feasible. I am not really interested in speculating based on this information as I consider it largely not relevant, especially without context.

I think people can get worked up and develop strong pre-conceptions about this information that can hinder the ability to enjoy the work, create misleading expectations, or act as confirmation bias. So I generally avoid even engaging with discourse about pre-release information short of a trailer or stills.

My book spoiler tag is 'WoT Book Spoilers' followed by the abbreviated version of the book title the spoiler hails from, i.e 'LoC Spoilers' 'ACOS spoilers' etc. I tag for the 'furthest out' book just to be safe- even if it's just a mention of a character who doesn't appear until later.

Conversely I do not tag spoilers for material the series has already reached or covered. So at present I am not tagging book spoilers for Eye of the World or the Great Hunt. This is mostly relevant to meta- as I consider talking about the already covered material and how it compares or contrasts to not really be a spoiler.

My show spoiler tag for when it starts airing is going to be tied to the episode and the season. So spoilers in the premiere will be tagged 'wot s3 e1', the finale 'wot s3 e8' and so on. I will keep this up more or less for a month after the finale airs, then revert to just using 'WoT s3' as my tag.

[far-dareis-me]

okay leaked spoiler for presumably WoT season2 below- don’t look if you don’t want leaks OR book spoilers

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.

.

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So this still leaked,

and it’s definitely Natasha O’Keeffe-

Which means she’s probably not Elaida, as most had assumed. I think the general consensus from this shot is likely Lanfear and I think that’s right (though i’ve seen other theories). I certainly can’t imagine why Elaida would be decked out with black eyes and a bloody neck, and there’s no way they brought this actress in to play a small role.

The heavy blue filter implies a dream sequence or something- which makes sense for Lanfear. Maybe she’ll take over Ishy’s role of sending Rand visions this season? There’s also the possibility of a LTT flashback, which could help establish their relationship prior to her showing up in the current timeline..

But given the bloody neck and dark eyes, and the similarity of the posing to Dana’s death, I’m betting she’ll be playing on Rand’s trauma around watching people die around him- specifically women. I’ve been worried to see how they’ll deal with that on screen, but having Lanfear haunting his dreams to prey on that insecurity seems an excellent way to go!

[jackoshadows]

Wheel of Time/WOT spoilers and WOT book spoilers for the finale.

BOOK SPOILERS - LOOK AWAY IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS

------------------------------

So, I liked that episode. I was a bit nervous hearing a lot of folks hated it based on leaked spoilers, but surprisingly I did end up liking it.

First, the WTF moments in the episode....

- Moiraine got Stilled? WTF!!

- Egwene healed death? And that too unknowingly? WTF!!

- What the hell was happening with the hints about Mat’s darkness? Where are they going with Mat’s character!!

I liked LTT and Latra Posae’s prologue in the nursery lol. I love the casting for LTT. I absolutely loved that glimpse at the futuristic Age of Legends. I wouldn’t mind a sci fi/fantasy spin off of the Age of Legends. But Latra is now the Tamyrlin? Why was that change needed?

I do get where a lot of fans are coming from with regards to Rand and Tarwin’s gap. Yes, after downplaying Rand all season, this was the moment they should have decisively demonstrated the power of the Dragon Reborn and why Rand is the Dragon Reborn - and Rand taking out the Trollocs at Tarwin’s Gap like he does in the books would have done that.

But, I also liked the way they did this here.

Rand Vs Forsaken (Ishamael?) and the Aes Sedai/Fal Dara soldiers taking on the Trollocs at Tarwin’s Gap was well done IMO. We will get another chance of Rand Vs Forsaken plus Rand aiding in battle at Falme - more or less a repeat of the Eye of the World battle, so we can see Rand’s power there. Plus Eye of the World Rand is just a beginner - he doesn’t understand his own power. So what we got makes sense IMO.

I also loved that Rand’s ‘Battle’ with Ishamael is tied to Eastern philosophy/Buddhist philosophy. The Buddha having said that - ‘Desire is the root cause of all evil’ and it’s fitting that the Dark One tempts Rand with desire. And Rand’s choice is rooted in giving importance to what Egwene wants. Feminist Rand is awesome. I liked that his battle is not just a lot of CGI weaves and lightning but is about being human and our needs and wants. Plus, I thought that Josha Stradowski did an amazing job and I am excited to see what he can do moving forward.

I am not really worried about Loial when they have Nynaeve to do the healing. I am guessing that since Mat is healed, and Padan Fain stole the horn and the dagger, they will be chasing after him to help Loial instead of Mat.

That said, how did Fain get the dagger? Last we saw Moiraine had it.

I hope the show/Rafe Judkins know what they are doing with Mat’s character. That’s a fan favorite/very popular character and the masses will be coming for Rafe Judkin’s head if he messes Mat up.

Also a bit disappointed with Perrin. He got to do nothing in the finale. Why did Padan Fain let him live if he’s so important?

Death can be healed by channeling? Which means we are not going to get that poignant scene of Rand trying to bring to life that little dead girl and Moiraine telling him that not even the DR can heal death... Apparently on the show he should now be able to.

Nynaeve sends Lan to bring back Rand ❤️❤️❤️

We got the Lan/Nynaeve dialogue from the books ❤️❤️❤️

Loved Agelmar and Amalisa’s last stand against the Trollocs. I loved the Aes Sedai linking and using the power against the Trollocs. And that even with Nynaeve’s massive power source, they all got burnt out - meaning there is a cost to their use of the power taking out that massive horde of Trollocs.

Loved Amalisa’s armor. And I noticed a Malkieri/Borderlands Aes Sedai with a Bindi on her forehead and got all excited. The Battle at Tarwin’s Gap was short but not too bad.

I am guessing they are going to advance/bring forward Nynaeve’s arc in the  books with respect to being able to heal stilling next season.

All in all, a decent finale. I enjoyed it - Especially the Rand/Moiraine scenes and the fight at Tarwin’s gap.

[wot-tidbits]

WOT Fandom in 2020

Hello, UAF!

It is again this time of the year when to draw the line and summarize what stuff has happened in the past 12 months. Reference for previous 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

1. TV Series

There couldn’t be anything other on first place. We followed all the rumors, all the leaks and all the new casting announcements. Unfortunately the production was postponed twice because of that virus but at the same time it gives us hope that the team will have more time to be perfect on the special effects and to give us even better entertainment. We all cross fingers to watch the finished product in 2021. We cannot wait to scream our lungs on that first trailer and later on the opening credits of the first episode.

2. Secret Santa

The tradition was saved! Congratulations for the initiative of @sun-dari to get the matter in her hands and organize the project. Thank you all for participating and creating new WoT material.

3. Art

I hope you will agree as for this year the hottest artist in the fandom is Maria Lia Malandrino @mlm-illustrations. She has taken the Twitter community over her WoT chibis of various WoT characters or personalized commissions. She also participated in couple of episodes of The Dusty Wheel Youtube podcast. She was everywhere and people were mad in love with her work.

Honorable mention for the long anticipated comeback of @queen-serena. <3

5. Here is the place to shoutout and congratulate @highladyluck for being my fave WoT blog this year. I know, I am biased and always a slut for respectful Tuon content. (not a villain tho!)

Honorable mentions for @incorrectwot who keeps this journey for so long and gives us good laugh,  @ofthebrownajah, @bi-aviendha, @gladysplummer and @amemoryofwot. Keep going!

So correct me if I missed some WOT event worth mentioning and you can join nominations with your suggestions.

Let the Light keep you safe.

LightOne

[ofthebrownajah]

In case anyone is confused, Lindsay Duncan was cast as Moiraine's sister Anvaere Damodred

With the addition of Moiraine's sister to the show I just have this idea in my head of Moiraine getting into situations where she has to introduce Rand to all her relatives she's trying to avoid

[markantonys]

IF amazon takes adar away from me this week, then they will have to make up for it by giving me gawyn. if i am to lose one fucked up idiot boy, i must be gifted another as recompense.

[scoundrelstars]

League of Traitors

We fight the Long War, not through vain notions of duty and honour, but through a far purer purpose: hatred. --Ferrous Ironclaw, Warsmith of the Iron Warriors

[118.M42]

The tortured thrum of the void engines echoed throughout the Hangman’s Shadow like a heartbeat. Pict-screens shone sullen red, casting the cluttered Workshop in a bloody hue. The vaulted compartment echoed with the sounds of forging metal and agonizing screams blending together in a discordant symphony.

The Workshop was a nightmare combination of fabricator’s shop, surgical suite, and sorcerous library. Mortal men and women were strung up on steel trusses, skin and muscle flayed from their bodies to reveal bones upon which articulated mechanical arms carved blasphemous runes with lascutters. Maulerfiends, unholy amalgams of flesh, fire, and steel were chained to the decking in rows, their balefire hearts banked low. Occasionally, the screams that echoed through the Workshop would flare the daemon-engines to lash out at the mortal slaves who tended them, but they were in no short supply.

The ship lurched suddenly and Halaphus Stein, Warsmith of the Iron Warriors, grimaced as he mangled the exposed brain of the man he had on his table. He was a lord of the IV Legion, but centuries of mechanical adaptation and transplantation had elevated him to something that was so much more. He was clad in armor of gunmetal that shifted and moved with a mind of its own. Cabling and articulated tentacles coiled about him like living things, draping him in an unsettling mechanical cloak.

He’d been in the middle of hard-wiring the unfortunate’s synapses to a delicate, eight-pointed cogitator star that would have fed the brain with an unending stream of crushing dreams so vivid as to be real. Hours of work ruined.. Instead of a powerful testament to the Ruinous Powers’ revelations, he was left with a drooling vegetable. He remained calm; he had left emotion behind in another age. His prostheses, however, had their own reactions. His cloak of mechadentrites lashed out with a rage all their own and hurled the failed experiment across the Workshop, leaving trails of blood and spinal fluid where it streaked across the deck.

Mechanician slaves scattered out of his path as the metahuman warrior retrieved his cruel-looking war axe and stalked out of his lab.

The bridge of the Hangman’s Shadow was a thing of precision horror. Legion serfs, mutated beyond recognition, had become one with the machineries and consoles of the great ship. Distorted faces pressed against the fabric of the bridge’s walls to whisper dark secrets or maddening truths in languages long dead. Dataslate screens, holo-tanks, and auspex displays flickered with leering daemons who were drawn to the ship’s fell presence. Only the chosen of the Dark Gods--or those who had left their humanity behind--could command a glorious amalgam of machinery and warpcraft like the Shadow.

The ship rocked again as Stein came through the bridge doors. Something was hitting the void shields, the Warsmith could feel it.

“Report,” ordered Stein. His voice was a deep, digitized rumble.

Baltarius, Stein’s second, was hunched over the railing of the command pulpit, issuing orders to scurrying slaves, ship’s officers, and stoic Iron Warriors. He was clad in his battleplate, his helm mag-locked to his belt. Stein’s mechatendrils writhed with displeasure at the breach of protocol.

Baltarius saluted with one fist. “Warsmith. The sensorium has picked up a group of unknown ships in-system from the translation point. Initial scans reported they were scrap, but as soon as we began our acceleration burn, they opened fire with long-range ballistics.”

The Warsmith strode to the ship’s command throne and sat, his thrashing cable cloak snaking to interface with the Shadow’s systems. Sensory data flooded his mind and he began to take in the tactical situation. The ship was burning steadily towards Vraesis, the misbegotten star at the center of the system. Stein had expected more Imperial activity, even here in the far reaches of the heliosphere, but sensors picked up nothing. Only the strange foe-signs milling just off the ecliptic of Vraesis V. Auguries and scrying put a heavy Imperial presence in this sector, but so far, there was no sign.

The Iron Warrior continued. “The Tyrant of Enmity and the Bilious Prize, along with their tenders, have powered to full yield and are proceeding at full burn sunward in pursuit.”

“Enemy strength?”

“Unknown, lord. Auspex findings for all active threats read as system debris until they engaged. All active foes have changed course away from pursuing ships.”

Another missile on a ballistic course reached them and exploded in a blaze of nuclear fire. Hangman’s Shadow’s void shields flickered, but held. The plates of Stein’s armor trembled in annoyance as the squirming fleshmetal shifted. The enemy was so far away that the incoming missiles were unpowered by the time they got in close. This made them easy targets for point defense and maneuver, but even so. They were proving to be an exasperating navigational hazard.

He was a master of mechanology and yet he recognized nothing of the readings coming in from the sensorium. The enemy ships were of unknown design, built in ways that defied all logic. A more in-depth study was needed. Preferably when his fleet wasn’t taking fire.

But for now, he needed to reign in the fools racing in-system.

Stein stood, cabling unspooling  from his harness, letting him walk about the bridge while still being plugged into the bridge systems, and took his place on the hololith communion pad at the center of the bridge’s great gallery. He banged the butt of his warcog axe on the deck.

“I want Antaryon and Mortekai. Now.”

The fused vox-slave let out a gurgling acknowledgement and the hololith pad ignited with ghostlight. After a short moment he felt the data handshake through his neural uplink verify the connection to the Tyrant of Enmity and the Bilious Prize. At least those two were still coherent enough to answer their vox.

Ghostly figures appeared as if through mist. Motes of light coalesced in the hololith to form the hulking figures of two massive Astartes.

Antaryon, lord of the Sons of the Butcher, was a towering pillar of fury. The hololith light seemed to dance and burn around him. His battleplate smouldered like black iron out of the forge and he wore a cloak of ragged skin taken from his defeated enemies. He paced, dragging the tip of a savage daemon blade across the deck of his bridge, leaving furrows of tortured metal. Stein’s tendrils recoiled in disgust, but the Warsmith himself showed no reaction to the wanton destruction of his ancient voidship.

In contrast to the Khornate lord’s impatience, Mortekai of the Mouldering Claw, was a languid presence, wholly unperturbed by the sudden summons of the nominal master of the the entire raiding force. The hololith motes danced around his projection like flies. His green Terminator plate was distended and cracked, Bilious fluid leaked from the joints and rotten flesh spilled from rents in the once-proud armor. His enormous bulk was carried by a horde of gibbering daemons that shouted and gamboled around him. The lord of contagion picked at the rusted surface of a cruel axe that rested across his swollen gut.

“Stein,” Antaryon spat, “what could you possibly want now?”

The insubordination would have rankled ordinary men, but Stein let it pass him by.

“Return to formation,” he said, “Sensorium readings do not support this course of action. Caution is required. Enemy strength is unknown.”

“Caution is cowardice and I do not follow cowards,” growled Antaryon, “This foe is mine. I’ll offer their skulls to the throne and yours too if you get in my way.”

“So impatient!” chortled Mortekai. He spoke like he had fluid in the lungs and the nurglings that held him jeered and echoed his words, “I must say that I am eager as well. We don’t want to let the enemy die without the seven blessings.”

“There is an asteroid belt between the fourth and fifth planet. Enemy ships appear as dormant debris. Calculations point to an ambush there.”

“I do not need a lecture on how to wage war from a glorified servitor. Nor will I be taken by surprise by Imperium dogs. There’s nothing in this system that could pose a threat to the Tyrant.”

Stein contemplated letting both of his “subordinate” warbands rush to their death. Would the Despoiler praise his foresight or punish his wastefulness? Losing two complements of Astartes warriors could be a black mark against him.

His contemplations were cut short by his vox-slave’s pained announcement of an incoming message.

“It is from the fourth planet, my lord. Enemy transmission!”

“Main viewer,” said Stein, “We shall see the face of our enemy, my lords.”

On the bridge’s massive pict-plate, the image of an Ork of truly massive size fuzzed into view. It sat upon a throne of scrap, weapons, and crude effigies atop a plateau of alien green stone. Crackling emerald energy danced in crystaplas bottles that were tended by smaller orks in white coats and set into carved alcoves within the stone. The sky was clouded by the exhaust of a legion of orkish vehicles idling below the throne dais.

“Well, well, well,” grumbles the Ork, “wot ‘ave we ‘ere? Puny ‘umies makin’ their way inta Warrakka’s system? S’been a long while since we fought any ‘umies!”

The image resolved even further and Stein was able to make out the truly incomprehensible armor in which the Ork was clad. Stacks belched black smoke and crude hydraulics powered a savage pincer claw that looked like it could cut an Astartes in half with ease. Muscles bulged beneath leathery green skin and red eyes flashed with brutal cunning.

“You’m be in my sights now!” it bellowed, stomping on one of the grots that was scampering around the scrap throne, “You’m be eager for a fight! But don’t go tryin’ ta be sneaky! Only Orkses can be sneaky! SHOW ‘EM BOYS!”

Threat warnings lit up the sensorium as the Ork Warboss’s order burned like fire through the system. The entire asteroid belt seemed to light with red foe-sign as dorman ships came online at the huge Ork’s word. Antaryon’s ship was barreling straight into what looked like an asteroid fortress bristling with ship-killer weapons.

A savage smile split Antaryon’s face. “This is more like it! Weapons to power! Bring reactor up to maximum yield!”

Stein dismissed the holo-ghost of the Khornate lord and went back to studying the Ork’s ferocious countenance. All along his body, strange electrodes were burrowed into his flesh. Arcs of emerald power crackled from the strange electro-bottles that surrounded the dais. The white-coated orks that scuttled around the ramshackle machinery started gibbering excitedly. Their boss’s ire was up.

“We’ll kill ya just like da other ‘umies! We gots da Horderock! FIGHT DA WAAAGH AND DIE LIKE DA REST! I’M DA BIGGEST, BADDEST WARBOSS AND YOU BOYS ARE GONNA FIND OUT!”

All around Warakka, his minions were dramatically throwing switches on their machines with great showers of sparks. More green lightning streaked and cracked, rending deep furrows into the dais. Most was drawn to the electrodes in Warrakka’s flesh and he bellowed as the power coursed through him. Muscles bulged and grew as the energy danced into him. The chords in his neck strained as the Warboss hunched over in pain.

The machines sputtered and started to explode, causing the Orks to start jabbering excitedly. Warrakka howled as he grabbed his vox-caster and started laughing. It seemed to Stein that the Orks eyes were looking through the vox and right at him. His tendrils thrashed with excitement.

“You think you gots what it takes, ‘umies?” he growled and crushed the caster in one massive hand. The vox went dead.

Stein turned to Mortekai, who was watching bemused through the hololith. “Make sure Antaryon doesn’t get himself killed. It seems the Orks have our warpstone.”

[lintskukka]

bnha leaks, wot casting and dcfandome hasnt even started?? i am being well fed today bois

[amemoryofwot]

I love when we get new WoT casting leaks cause I can’t tell you who these people are gonna be but I see some suggestions online where I’m like absolutely not

[itsworn]

Engine Dyno Technique, Gen III Gasket Help, Weird AMC Engine Trivia

Chicken or Egg: Dyno Style

Peter Stanwicks; Haddam, CT: I don’t have any muscle cars or hot rods, but really admire the technology and craftsmanship. I mostly do old sports cars and boats. My most recent project was building a Bristol 100D cross-pushrod engine. What is the procedure for an engine dyno test? Is a load put on the engine gradually as the throttle is opened to wide-open throttle (WOT)? Is the load then reduced to allow the engine to gain rpm? Another way to ask the question: Is the entire dyno test done at WOT and the load varied to produce the rpm?

Steve Magnante: Interesting question, and one with a couple of answers. In the old days, dynos were manually operated and had two control levers: one connected to the carburetor and the other to the dyno to manipulate load. The results could be influenced by the operator and the technique used. Dyno operators had to be well trained or damage could result.

But today’s dynos are mostly automated and have one handle (or dial) that controls the throttle. Outfits like Superflow, Dynamic Test Systems (DTS), and Land & Sea manufacture a range of affordable dyno units, helping the practice of dyno testing and tuning spread throughout the land. Before this, dynos were the sole province of Detroit automakers and only the most well-funded professional race teams and engine shops.

During a test on a modern commercial unit, the operator generally pushes the handle from idle to full open (WOT) in a steady move that takes just a couple of seconds. From there, the handle is maxed and the computer controller takes over as long as the operator keeps the handle buried (pulling the handle back aborts the run in an emergency). To answer your question, the carburetor/EFI throttle blades are wide open throughout the test, which usually takes place over 15 to 20 seconds. Of course, without a load, revs would shoot to the moon and parts would scatter. But because the crank is attached to a power-absorption unit, it’s safely harnessed and protected from destruction. And it is the power-absorption unit that is discussed next.

Most affordable dynos found in small shops are of the water-brake variety. Here, a rotational element (affixed to the crankshaft) churns inside a stationary housing (stator). It’s quite similar to a torque converter, but with the converter held still and using water instead of ATF. The amount of drag on the crank/engine is controlled automatically by the dyno computer.

A strain gauge connected between the non-moving stator and its rigid mount determines how much torque the crankshaft is spitting out. Then, since horsepower is a mathematical equation derived from torque, the horsepower curve/chart is calculated by the dyno’s computer—as well as torque. Other sensors monitor, record, and print out information pertaining to A/F ratio, brake-specific fuel consumption, fluid temperatures, and more.

More expensive eddy-current dynos rely on an electrical current instead of water. Here, a steel rotating element (affixed to the crank) spins through an electromagnetic field. Increasing the magnetism adds load against the crank, which is then measured as torque. The eddy-current dynos are far more costly, but offer greater load-control precision. They can hold an engine within 1 or 2 rpm versus the less precise water-brake’s 5 to 10 rpm capability.

The cream of the crop is alternating-current dynos, which use (essentially) a huge AC electric motor. These dynos can measure engine output (by absorbing power), but also have the ability to reverse the situation, bully the engine, and power the crankshaft. This is useful in replicating real-world, on-track conditions where downshifting, upshifting, and coasting are part of the horsepower-delivery picture. In these modes, the rear tires of a moving car can actually “motor” the engine due to vehicle momentum. While water-brake and eddy-current dynos are passive, AC dynos can be active and copy this sort of condition.

To further answer your question about the relationship between the engine and dyno during testing, every dyno is calibrated to keep a firm grip on the crankshaft as they arm-wrestle each other. If this grip was iron-tight, the engine wouldn’t be able to accelerate and no data would be gathered. So dyno power-absorption units must be set to allow the engine to creep up to the preset redline. This is called the acceleration rate and is generally measured in rpm per second. Most commercial dynos let the engine rpm rise at the rate of 300 to 600 rpm per second, but this can be manipulated. Hopefully, this sheds some light on the dyno situation for you. As for your Bristol, there’s no law that says every car has to have a V8 to be quick and fun.

Hardly bigger than a 5-pound coffee can, the power-absorption unit—aka water-brake—is exactly that. Fairly inexpensive, water-brake test stands brought dyno testing to the common man.

Reader Peter Stanwick’s Bristol mill has hemispherical chambers, but every other pushrod is horizontal! You gotta Google “1938 BMW 328 engine” to see how it works!

In-Car, LS Cam-Swap Advice

Dave Conant; via CarCraft.com: I have an LS3 in a 1969 Nova, and I’m thinking about swapping cams. I really don’t want to go through the hassle of pulling the engine and want to do the swap in the car. I’m worried about the harmonic damper and front cover. I know Gen III engines don’t use alignment pins or dowels anywhere but the heads and transmission. How do I install the front cover so the seal is centered before the damper goes back on?

Steve Magnante: Being a total, clean-sheet design, the Gen III small-block gave Chevrolet engineers a rare opportunity to eliminate some to the previous small- and big-block’s more frustrating traits. Back in 1955 when Harry Barr, Ed Cole, and the guys whipped up the original 265ci mouse V8, many competing American V8 engine-block designs featured bulk-adding, deep-skirt crankcase extensions. By slashing the block down to the crankcase centerline, more than 50 pounds of dead weight was eliminated from the block alone. Then by making the intake manifold do double duty as the tappet valley cover, even more weight was saved.

But the resulting oil pan rail/timing cover was a sealing nightmare. With its dual cork side gaskets and semicircle end seals (one-piece by 1986), achieving a leak-free assembly was rare. By contrast, the Gen III takes sealing to a whole new level. All mating surfaces are flat and uninterrupted, and a new wave of gaskets—with integral silicone beads and foolproof, anti-crush shims—are the norm. They’re easy to seal up and rarely leak a drop of fluid.

That said, your observation regarding the Gen III’s lack of front cover-alignment pins is correct. The goal is to position the timing cover so there is equal distance all around the crank snout and seal before tightening it down. It’s not a big deal—if the engine is on a stand and out of the car. There, you can eyeball things and get by. But with the engine in the car, unless you’re a giraffe, it’s about impossible.

Predicting this hassle, GM service departments were issued special tools and fixtures to aid in-car servicing. Tool subcontractor Kent Moore Tools offers what you need. Get the front and rear cover-alignment tool set (PN J41476) and harmonic-damper installation kit (PN J41665). These tools and fixtures are easy to use and yield a leak-free job.

Speaking of yield, don’t forget that the factory damper bolt; like all fasteners on the Gen III V8, it’s a one-time-use, torque-to-yield item. The factory guide says to use the Kent Moore damper-installation tool to seat the damper after your cam swap. Then it says to take the old bolt and use it to crank down the damper to 240 ft-lb. Then you’re supposed to remove the old bolt and replace it with a fresh one. This bolt gets tightened to 37 ft-lb and a second pass with a rotational-angle-type torque wrench spins it another 140 degrees past the 37–ft-lb mark. Doing all of this in the car is a hassle. You can skip it by switching to an old-fashioned bolt from ARP (PN 234-2503). It’s even reusable!

More Info ARP Fasteners; 800/826-3045; ARP-bolts.com Kent Moore Tools; 888/220-8350; ToolSource.com

Some AMC Weirdness

Steve Magnante: Nobody asked for this one, but the aluminum-block construction seen in this month’s Bristol and LS3 engine discussions reminded me of some cool AMC engine history. Did you know AMC offered an optional aluminum-block, six-cylinder engine in 1961–1964? Manufactured for AMC by the Doehler-Jarvis division of the National Lead Company, it was essentially an aluminum-block version of Rambler’s iron 195.6ci OHV six. The alloy mill saved 50 pounds and was only offered in the midsize Rambler Classic—never the compact American (bummer).

AMC also toyed with an all-aluminum V8 that never saw mass production. Based on Rambler’s first 250, 287, 327 V8 family (1956–1967), only prototypes were made. Alcoa (the Aluminum Company of America) was in charge of casting the T356 sandcast blocks and heads. I discovered a 327ci version (in parts) in the hands of hardcore Rambler historian and collector Larry Daum.

One final bit of AMC engine trivia concerns the 1983 2.5L Jeep inline-four-cylinder engine. A replacement for the Pontiac-sourced 2.5 four used previously, the new 2.5 was expanded into the 4.0L inline-six in 1988. At AMC’s Kenosha, Wisconsin, engine plant, the four- and six-cylinder heads were machined on the same line for efficiency. But since the four-banger head was shorter than the six, it was cast with a dummy extension that allowed it to fit onto the same drilling, decking, tapping, and so on stations as the longer 4.0 head. After the final machining operation was completed, the stub was simply sawed off. The circular shaved area that accepts the thermostat housing on the 2.5 is where the stub used to exist. If only engines could talk—the stories they’d tell!

More than 100,000 aluminum-block sixes were installed in early 1960s Rambler Classics. I found this one in a Massachusetts boneyard.

Rambler’s version of an LS1, this lightweight 327 was produced in 1957 by Alcoa as a feasibility study.

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