Just found out about this while I was checking out DCO. Here's a comment he left on DCO mod page:

My medical situation has declined considerably, and I expect it to worsen further with a number of surgeries scheduled for the near future. At this point this mod should be considered no longer supported by me. I will be uploading the current source code(with a fixed alduin!) if anyone would like to continue my work. I hope that I am able to return to this before the release of Starfield, but that is very much wishful thinking. In the meantime, it has been my unique pleasure to serve/berate you monsters of the internet; be excellent to each other, and
SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH

NexusMods Forum link
And this was earlier from April:

I'm recovering from ~9 hours total of multiple surgeries and five nights in the hospital last month and am homeless and sleeping in my friend's shed. That would be the most dramatic way of putting it, it isn't quite as bad as I can make it sound, but I am definitely in trouble and would love if the internet were to help a Madgod out.
That being said, I already cash out all my donation points and that in itself I feel like I'm being overpaid for a hobby I was much more into back in 2014.

DCO was one of the mods that always stayed in my load order, and hearing this is saddening. We can have different opinions about his communication style but he always seems like a fun guy. I hope he will recover.

(Please check the pinned comment for additional info, thanks!)
Humans were never at the top of the foodchain. There were things that hid in the dark and preyed on our false confidence. Predators that rarely let their victims live to tell the tale, because their strength lay in their unknowable nature. Pride, the first sin, would always be men's downfall. Our carelessness would ensure that these predators shall never run out of prey.
Almost fourty years ago, I fell victim to one of their kind. I am one of the few who made it out, and lived to tell my story.
But let me start this in the only apropriete way.
My name is Billie, and I was a passenger of the Midnight Train.
In the early eighties, on a cool day in April, I stood at the train station at midnight, a heavy backpack on my shoulders and the earphones of my walkman blasting Metallica at high volume. I was the only person at the station, which wasn't surprising, considering that it was late at night on a weekday. For a second, I stood still in front of the open door and looked at the golden interior. I had made it. Nobody could stop me now.
With a smile on my lips, I stepped over the threshold.
It was a relief to hear the doors close behind me immediately. I wasn't sure where this train was going, but my main priority was to get away from my hometown. As soon as I reached the next big city, I could get on a train towards me real destination.
The train I had boarded was beautiful though. Bathed in golden light, almost painfully bright against the black night outside, was luxurious furniture made of polished wood and gilded metal. A bordeaux red carpet covered the floor and it looked barely used, as if this train was still brand new. This was far from what I had imagined from a random train in the middle of the night.
I took my earphones off and slowly walked down the corridor in an attempt to find a seat for myself. The train was driving already and was rapidly accelerating, so much that the outside was a blur. Good, I thought, because that would get me to the next city quicker.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?"
I flinched and spun around, only to see a man in an old-fashioned uniform, with a face that was so terribly unremarkable it was impossible to describe. He smiled politely, or at least I thought he did because my brain refused to recognize any of his facial features. "Welcome aboard the Midnight Train, Ma'am", he greeted me. "Please, allow me to lead you to your compartment."
"Uhm... yeah, sure", I agreed, more confused than anything. Compartment? Sure, this place was obviously fancy, but this seemed like overkill. I'd only stay here for an hour or so, only until we reached the next bigger train station. I'd be fine with sitting on the floor, honestly.
Still, I followed the Conductor to a compartment, thanked him for leading me here and eventually sat down on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief when he disappeared without asking for my ticket. Maybe he pitied me. Did I look like a runaway? Well, of course I did, what else would a seventeen year old girl with a huge backpack do at a train station at night. I smiled tiredly. The Conductor seemed like a nice person.
I sat the backpack down, put my earphones back on and lay down on the bed. Soon I would be in a train to California and I'd never have to see my parents again.
The problem was, this train didn't stop. Hours later, when I replayed the album in my walkman for the third time, we hadn't reached a single station and the outside was ist an indistinguishable blur. The darkness was slowly getting brighter, the watch on my wrist told me that daybreak wasn't far away, and the train didn't seem to slow down any time soon.
Maybe that was when I realized something was wrong.
I jumped from the bed and grabbed my backpack again. This probably meant nothing, I thought, all I had to do was ask the friendly Conductor and that would clear everything up.
With shaking hands, I opened the compartment door and stepped outside. The Conductor was nowhere to be seen, so I just picked a direction and wandered off. This wagon solely consisted of compartments and I walked past them without paying much attention, when suddenly a bloodcurling scream made me jump.
I screamed and took a step back, while the screeching from behind one of the compartment doors continued. Two children's voices screamed bloody murder behind the door with the number eighteen as I stood with my back agaist the wall, breathing heavily and eyeing said door in horror. "What the hell?", I whispered to myself. "What the actual fucking hell?"
Shaking my head, I hurried quickly past the door, towards the next wagon. This was something I wouldn't mess with. Whatever was happening in there, I'd just inform the Conductor and he would take care of this. It sounded like someone was getting murdered in there, and I wasn't going to put myself in harms way.
Even more unsettled, I entered the next wagon and found myself in a more populated area. Just as luxurious as the rest of the train, but the mood was more casual. Several seats were placed like the would be in a normal train, a few vending machines were placed on the wall, and people were sitting around. What was weird though, was that all these people seemed to keep distance between each other. Although there should have been chatter, the wagon was weirdly quiet.
I took a few tentative steps into the wagon, but nobody paid any attention to me. My eyes wandered over the passengers I walked past. A woman with blonde curly hair was quietly crying; there were bloody bandages wrapped around her lower arm. A man with a long beard was coughing pathetically, the dark beard was covered in grey dust for some reason. A black haired, obviously pregnant woman was reading a children's book to herself.
I stood in the middle of the wagon, looking at the strange passengers and wondering what was going on here when my eyes fell on a man. There was absolutely nothing remarkable about him and that was the thing that stood out to be, between all these weird people. He was bald, wore a fancy suit and simply sat next to a window, looking down at some paper in his hands. For a moment, I stared at him like an idiot.
The silence was broken when the people suddenly started to move. I looked around in confusion as they walked past me, some rather unsteady on their feet. What was going on?
The bald man was the last to stand up, our eyes met and he raised an eyebrow curiously. He walked straight towards me, his briefcase in one hand, the paper in the other.
"Hey!" A hand touched my shoulder.
I spun around and found myself face to face with a young man with dark blonde hair. "What the fuck?!", I snapped at him. "You scared the shit out of me!"
"Really? I'm the one who scares you? In this place?" He chuckled. "You're new, aren't you?"
"Uhm... yeah, I guess? Arrived a few hours ago."
He nodded. "Okay, thought so. Come on, we have to go, I'll explain everything when we're safe." With that, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me along, back out of the wagon.
"Safe from what? Who the hell are you? What's going on?"
"Just give me a minute, will you?", he replied harshly. We passed compartment eighteen again and once more I heard the children scream behind closed doors, but the man paid no attention to that. We hurried down the hall, past my own compartment, and at the very end of the wagon, we entered the last compartment, where he threw the door shut behind us.
I did not get the chance to say anything before I was tackled to the ground by something large and black.
I screamed and tried to free myself from the heavy thing that held my body down. All I saw was pitch black and there was something wet against my face. The man yelled something and then the black thing was yanked off of me and I gasped for air, trying desperately to comprehend what had just happened.
When I sat up again, I saw what had attacked me. A giant black dog, a very fluffy one in fact, stood next to the man, looking up at him with tired eyes while he was scolding it. Okay then. Nothing bad, just a cute dog.
The man turned to me. "Sorry, she tends to get a bit... excited", he said with an apologetic smile.
"Yeah, I noticed." I got back up and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "So... why am I here?"
"First things first, yeah? I'm Derek and this cutie next to me is Kira."
"I'm Billie. Now get to the point!"
He nodded. "Short version, this train is fucked and you need to know some things or you'll be dead by tomorrow."
I felt my stomach drop. For a moment there was absolute silence and my mind was racing until I realized what was going on. "That's not funny!", I hissed. "Honestly, pull your stupid jokes on someone else. I'm gonna go to my compartment now and wait until we reach the next stop, where I will get off this train. Okay?" I turned around and went to open the door when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
"Fuck, don't go out there now! Just sit down and listen, okay? I'm not joking", he said urgently.
"You're annoying, you know that?" Still, I sat down on the bed and Kira wandered over to me immediately and rested her head in my lap. At least I got to pet a cute dog, I thought as I brushed over her dark fur.
Derek sat down next to me. "Okay... this will sound completely unbelievable, but please keep in mind that this train hasn't stopped in several hours and you agree that this is weird, right?"
I shrugged, but nodded. It was weird, he had a point there.
"Listen, the Midnight Train... it's cursed or something. There are inhuman things here and you have to be careful around them because they will kill you if you do something wrong. You have to follow certain rules to survive here."
Another moment of silence, then I shook my head. "Still not funny, asshole."
"Oh for fuck's sake..." He stood up, walked over to his cabinet and took something out. It took a second for me to understand what the black thing he showed me was. A dead raven. "A child whose mouth is sewn shut gave me this thing yesterday. This isn't a prank, Billie, I'm serious. This place is fucked."
I looked at the dead bird in his hands. He did have a point, nobody would go that far for a prank. Well, and all the people had started to leave that wagon at the same time, which was also very weird. The screaming kids in compartment eighteen, the fact that I couldn't for the life of me recall the Conductor's face, and that the train hadn't stopped once in the past seven hours...
This was bad.
"Let's say I believe all of this...", I said slowly. "How can we get off this train?"
He put the dead animal away again. "Depends... you've got a ticket?"
"Nope. Left in a bit of a hurry. I just hoped nobody would check." I shrugged.
"Fuck!", he cursed. Defeated, he dropped down on the bed again. "That means we're both stuck, girlie. No leaving without a ticket."
My blood ran cold. "You can't be serious."
"I wish I was joking. If you don't have a ticket, you don't get to leave."
I buried my face in my hands, mumbling no over and over again. This couldn't be real. I couldn't be stuck in a cursed train for the rest of my life. I was only seventeen. All I had wanted was to get away from my parents and now... no, there had to be a way out. All I had to do was survive until I found it. I could do that. I would survive and get out of here.
"Hey, are you alright?", Derek asked, sounding slightly worried. Kira made a small noise.
"Yes." I took a deep breath, wiped any tears from my eyes and looked straight at him. "Okay, tell me the rules. What are we hiding from right now?"
"The Fog. Every day at seven a.m. you have to be in your compartment for half an hour because the entire train fills with cold white fog. I saw a corpse once, of a person who didn't hide away... that shit's not harmless. Tears you apart from the inside." He shivered. "The guy was empty, Billie. I swear to god, all that was left of him was skin and bones."
Okay. Okay. That sounded absolutely horrifying, but easy enough to avoid. "Okay. Be in your compartment at seven. Got it. What else?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You're awfully calm."
I was actually freaking out, but running up and down like a headless chicken wouldn't get me anywhere. The most important thing right now was information, and I'd take everything he had to offer in this regard. "I'll cry later. Go on, what else is running around here? Who gave you the bird?"
"I call him the Distributor. Creepy kid with pitch black eyes and a mouth that's sewn shut. That little fucker is just weird. He walkes up to you, hands you some shit and runs off again. Not dangerous, as far as I can tell."
"And what's the dead raven all about?"
"No idea." He shrugged.
Well, that was moderately concerning, but alright. Better than the murder fog. "Okay. The screaming kids?"
"Compartment eighteen. Completely off limits. Just don't open the door and you're fine."
He went on to tell me that the Conductor was a neutral presence in the train, neither friend nor enemy of the passengers. The food sources were either the vending machines or the dining wagon, though the latter was apparently a bit problematic. He didn't know all the details about this, only that people tended to flee when their waiter had no face and that he had once seen a man cut his palm open when a white-haired woman had brought him a plate.
"Sounds like something I want to stay away from", I commented.
"Sure, the vending machines are safer, but trust me, you can only live off chips and candy for so long."
"Are you challenging me?" I grinned. "I'll see how long I can last. By the way, I'm hungry."
He shook his head. "You're really calm", he stated and he was right. I was calm. Right now, this sounded bad, but managable. I would be able to stick to a few rules. I would survive. I would find a way out of this mess.
On the bright side, I was as far away from my parents as humanly possible.
"We can't leave yet", he continued. "Five more minutes before the Fog's gone." He pointed at the door and I saw hints of white fog creep inside the compartment.
"Okay. I'll just cuddle with your dog." With that, I got off the bed and lay down on the floor. Kira seemed happy, because she cuddled against me immediately. That dog was almost as big as I was, with an unreasonable amout of fur. I loved her already.
When the Fog was gone, we decided to head out and get some food from the vending machines. Derek was nice enough, I thought. I was glad he had approached me, not only because he had saved my life and given me neccessary information, but also because it figured it was good to have a friend in here. Two idiots without a ticket and a dog, trying to find their way out. That was the stuff they made movies about.
Derek told me how he had stumbled into the train after finding his girlfriend with another man. He had simply taken Kira and ran off, entering the Midnight Train on accident, just like I had. I didn't tell him my reason to be here though. Like I said, I could use a friend in here and I didn't want to scare him off. He didn't need to know anyways.
"What do you want?" I turned my head to look at Derek, who only shrugged. As I looked back at the vending machine display, I blinked in confusion. The food, which had been brand new a minute ago, was now greyish and covered in dust. "What the...?", I started and turned to Derek again, who had gone pale like a ghost. Kira was growling lowly.
Everything in the wagon was turning grey. The light dimmed, a thick layer of dust covered the floor and furniture, the air was so dry it scratched my throat. "Shit", Derek whispered. "The Cinder Queen. Listen, do not run! Her minions are predators, you don't want to set off their hunting instinct."
"The fuck is going on??"
He didn't answer, just reached out and grabbed my wrist in a bruising grip. His eyes were focused on the other side of the wagon and I followed his look. What was approaching was the most beautiful and horrific thing I had ever seen.
The Cinder Queen was breathtaking. A tall woman with long black hair and ashen skin. Her dress was fitting for a queen, wide and flowing and detailed with intricate patterns, all grey in grey. She was thin, all skin and bones, sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, and she moved with the grace of a cat as she walked down the hall.
And behind her followed a crowd of monsters of ash and soot. Grey, hulking bodies that only vaguely resembled a human, walking on all fours while almost staying upright due to their grotesquely long arms. They had no eyes in their misshapen heads, only a wide mouth that almost reached around the skull, baring long, thin teeth and a snake-like tongue.
The world around us was silent as the Cinder Queen and her followers approached; all I could hear was my heartbeat echoing in my ears. I didn't dare to move an inch. She came closer and for a moment I dared to hope she would walk right past us, but of course the entity didn't have mercy. She stopped in front of us and now that I saw her up close, I realized that what I had thought to be sunken eyes were actually hollow voids.
Her hand reached out and long, boney fingers touched my face. From this proximity I could trace the cobweb of cracks in her dry skin. She opened her mouth and a thin, split tongue slithered out and flickered over my face. I shivered, frozen in place from fear. This was it, I thought. I was going to die.
And then she smiled and let go off me, only to turn her attention to Derek. I didn't relax in the slightest as I had to watch her grab his face like she had done to me before. Again, her lips twisted into a cruel smile and with that she grabbed him tighter and pressed her lips against his.
I bit down on my lip to keep myself from making a noise.
It was only a moment before she let go off him, turned away and continued to walk down the hallway, her ashen monsters always right behind her.
As she left the wagon, I got to watch the ashes fade away and the world regain its colour. My heart was racing, I could hear the blood rushing in my ears, but there was no time for me calm down. Derek had let go off my wrist and had fallen to his knees, coughing violently.
"Hey! Hey, are you okay? What did that bitch do?", I asked urgently.
He looked up to me, a pained smile on his face. "Nothing fatal. I'm okay, don't worry." His voice was hoarse.
"Are you sure?" I was not convinced at all, mostly because he looked pale as a ghost and had started to cough again.
"Yup." He got back up and brushed some dust off his clothes. "Come on, you were hungry, weren't you?"
"Are you going to explain what just happened?"
"Back in the compartment, okay?"
So we purchased some food at the nearby vending machines and walked back to the compartment. The way wasn't interrupted by anything, thankfully. We passed the pregnant woman again and I thought how terrible it must be for her to be stuck in place like this with an unborn child, and we walked past the bald man too, who held some chocolate in his hand. He looked up for just a moment, his bright blue eyes focused on my coughing companion, before he turned his attention back to the chocolate bar.
Back in the compartment, we were instantly tackled by Kira, who was overjoyed to have us back. After a very enthusiastic greeting, the giant dog settled on the floor at our feet, though her big brown eyes rested on her owner the entire time. Derek and I sat on the bed again, our food between us, but I was the only one that was eating.
"The Cinder Queen...", he began to explain. "She's the one thing the rules won't save you from. Nobody really knows how to counter her, she just shows up sometimes and turns the world around her into this dusty mess." He shrugged. "She unpredictable. Just stay still and wait... and maybe pray a bit."
"I'm not religious."
He chuckled. "Now would be a good time to reconsider."
Derek continued to cough and I asked him several more times wether he was sure he was alright, but he promised me that it was nothing and eventually I let it go. I ended up going back to my compartment after a while, because after all that had happened I wanted to rest for a bit. Earphones back on, I laid on my admittedly very comfortable bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating the events of the day.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. Although I had stayed calm when talking to my new friend, I was absolutely terrified to be in a place like this. A place that, by all accounts, should not even exist. I had lived my entire life not believing in the paranormal, only to end up in a place filled with inhuman creatures that would kill me as soon as I made a single mistake. And worst of all, with one of them it was entirely up to chance wether or not I would survive an encounter. A terrifying prospect.
I fell asleep eventually and was plagued with nightmares of ash and soot. In my dreams I hurried through monochrome corridors, the Cinder Queen's ashen monsters at my heels, and when I woke up my heart was racing and I was drenched in sweat.
"Still better than home", I muttered bitterly to myself as I changed my clothes. The cabinet was filled with clothes in my size, which was weird, but far from the weirdest thing in this place. They were a bit to girly for my taste, but they would suffice. I chose something that didn't look completely atrocious and made my way back to Derek's compartment a few doors down.
My fears from yesterday were confirmed when I walked through the door.
Derek was lying on his bad and for a moment I thought he was dead. His skin was ashen, his mouth stained with dust, his breath shallow and interrupted with coughs. Kira sat on the floor next to her owner and whined.
"For fuck's sake", I cursed. "I thought you were okay?"
"Billie! Oh thank god you're here." He sounded weak, as if speaking demanded all his strength. "Listen, there's another... entity I haven't mentioned. The Blind Beggar Woman. She... she can help me. Just make sure..." He coughed. "Make sure to ask for her price first. She makes deals, she can... save me."
"Okay. Okay, Blind Beggar Lady. Got it." I nodded quickly. "Where is she?"
"She'll be there if you look for her. She always is. Please, Billie, please hurry."
"I'll be right back!", I promised, turned around and hurried out of the compartment.
I ran down the hall, not entirely sure what I was looking for. All I knew was that I had to find that entity quickly, because my friend had looked like he was about to drop dead at any given moment. Interally I cursed the man for lying to me, for claiming he was fine when the exact opposite was the case. Now it was my job to save his life and under normal circumstances that would be okay, but now that I had to deal with one of the train's entities, I wasn't so sure.
I left the wagon with the compartments behind and entered one of the common ones, only to find the person I was looking for sitting right in front of me. A woman in her thirties maybe, with dark skin and long dark hair, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a small bowl in front of her. Her eyes were completely white and she wore wrinkled, ill-fitted clothes.
"Hi", I greeted her, my voice shaking more than I had expected. "I want to make a deal."
"Yes, I am aware", she replied calmly. "Why don't you sit down and we discuss this?"
I decided to humour her and knelt down on the floor, so that we were at eye-level now. The Blind Beggar Woman looked so nice and painfully human that I had a hard time believing I was dealing with an inhuman thing. I wanted to trust her and it was a conscious effort to keep my guard up. "A friend of mine is dying. He says you can save him."
"He is right, I am able to save him, as long as you are willing to pay the price, Sybille."
So this lady just knew my name. That was certainly among the more freaky things that had happened up until this point. "Billie", I corrected automatically. "Why am I supposed to pay? It's his life you're saving."
"You came to me. This deal is between you and I, so you will pay the price", she explained. "Are you interested?"
I didn't like this in the slightest. "Tell me the price!"
She closed her blind eyes and smiled. "Your friend is on the verge of death, Billie. What you're asking from me is no small favour. Are you willing to give up one of your arms for his life?"
"What?" My blood ran cold. "You want one of my limbs?"
"This is the price."
Confused, I looked down at my hands. An arm. An entire fucking arm. I was supposed to become an amputee for a man I'd only known for a day. My only friend in this cursed place. A stranger.
It was probably a small price to pay for a life.
"So?", the Beggar Woman asked. "Will you pay?"
There was a lump in my throat. I took a shaking breath and swallowed hard, unable to speak at first. "I can't", I finally admitted. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not the person you should be apologizing to." The Blind Woman stood up. "If you hurry, you might get the chance to say goodbye to him."
"Already? Fuck!" Now I, too, jumped to my feet and without a goodbye to her, I ran back to the compartment. I had no idea how to explain this to Derek, but maybe I wouldn't even have to.
The way back was short, but I was out of breath when I arrived. I threw the door open and stopped at the treshold, frozen in place.
He looked like he was suffering a seizure. His body was convulsing, he screamed in pain as his skin turned grey, his form was changing and growing in the strangest proportions. Kira was barking in distress. Derek's arms were growing, his skull deforming. He looked at me and choked out my name in between agonized screams and then his eyes disappeared. It was the most horrible thing I had ever seen.
Before I knew what was happening, an ash monster lay where Derek had been just a minute ago and the creature moved, clumsily but fast. It staggered around the room, bumped into the walls, hissing and baring his teeth, and I couldn't do anything but watch as it stumbled around in its confused state before turning towards me and running. I threw myself to the side, out of the way, and the creature ran straight past me, out of the door. It ran into the wall before hurrying down the hallway, out of sight.
I collapsed to the floor, trying to calm down my racing heart.
Kira walked over to me and put her head into my lap. To hear her whine was heartbreaking, but I couldn't do anything but pet her. "I'm so sorry, baby. I couldn't save him", I told the dog. "Don't worry, you just stay with me, okay? I won't leave you. You and I, we're gonna make it out of here. That stupid Cinder Queen won't get us."
Kira just looked up at me with her big eyes.
We stayed like this for quite a while. Derek, or rather the thing that had once been Derek, didn't return and I took the time to mourn his loss. Eventually though, I knew that waiting wouldn't do any good. I wanted to get out and I had to work for it. Derek was gone and since I didn't think I could do this alone, I needed a new friend.
And so I wandered into a common wagon hours later, Kira walking next to me. And there he was again, sitting next to a window and studying some piece of paper he held in his hands. My newly acquired dog in tow, I simply walked up to him and smiled. "Hi", I greeted the bald man with the bright blue eyes. "So, are you human?"
This is where I end this for now. The next part will be about new friends and deadly nightmares. But until then, don't lay your life into the hands of a stranger.
They might not value it quite enough.
- To Be Continued -

I posted a pic of my strength gains / ED recovery progress last night. I’m totally cool with people snooping through my post history, because I’ve done it too. But for every 1 person who DM’s me to say something encouraging or send me a virtual high five, there’s 9 people sending DM’s saying “So yer a v1rgin? U sell nudes?”
I don’t mind the messages that say things like “you’re beautiful” or “you look amazing” because I think we should all tell each other those things when we feel them. But it’s the gross, icky sexual innuendos and dick pics that make me want to delete the post and never show my body again.
Can I have just one day where I’m looked at as a strong, beautiful woman and not just as a sexual object?

Hello dear tourists, and welcome back to the guide to all of Pyrrhia. Today we will enter the very hot Kingdom of Sand, discovering the culture of the Sandwings. Prepare sunscreen and water bottles, the scorching sun takes no prisoners
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(Disclaimer: due to various problems with the sources received, some information may be outdated or incorrect. The Sandwings public and any other species or tribe are asked not to be offended but to report various errors to the reception - the comments. Our director will take care to send apology letters and correct. Thank you for your support.)
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Sandwings (or Dragons of the Desert) are the only desert dwellers on the "underbelly" of Pyrrhia, given the extreme environmental conditions.
To survive in the dunes, they have developed a specialized biology. Specialized enough to suffer in colder environments (like icewings, which have adverse problems)
The scales are suitable for camouflage in sand, having any shade of yellow and dark white (except bright yellow, why yes). The eyes look like two very black olives (quite disturbing actually).
The scales and crests are wider than the other species, to increase the dispersion of heat in the environment (although they are reptiles, so they appreciate the heat).
The most notable feature is the tail, which ends in a scorpion-like sting. And yes, it contains poison
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As already specified, they are relatives of Seawings, Rainwings and Nightwings.
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Their natural abilities are suited to living in the desert.
They give off heat from the scales (for the matter of dispersion) and can disguise themselves in sand, as well as have enhanced senses.
They can survive for a month without drinking if they have enough food (which is not the case in the desert, where at most you will eat a lizard or two).
They can breathe fire (which, theoretically, just raises the temperature around them and isn't a big plus). The primary weapon is the venom in the sting, capable of killing an adult dragon. If instead it stings a human being, the poison is the least of the problems, considering that the sting is as big as an arm. This venom eats into muscles and spreads slowly for a minor wound, meaning that if a dragon were hit by it, it could survive for days. The only known cure is the juice of Brightsting cactus, endemic to the area but recently exported all over the world
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-An effective cure for Sandwings poison is being developed, which is being distributed everywhere in the world for free (except in America, we all know why)
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-Sometimes a particularly careless Sandwings will sting itself. Unfortunately they are not immune to their venom. For these reasons dragonets are taught to hold their tails in a certain way to avoid accidents. Furthermore, many Sandwings opt for the option of completely emptying the poison sac every day to do no damage or to protect the sting with special blade covers
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As might be expected, Sandwings live in cities around oases, where there is more food and comfort, but obviously some prefer the secluded life. The Scorpion Den was famous, a meeting place for outlaws and various dragons (in times of war, it housed wounded soldiers and those who didn't want to go to fight)
They love to have parties, probably to make up for the monotomy of the desert, and to celebrate events such as the full moon or New Year's Eve.
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The Kingdom of Sand is a gigantic desert (about half of the Sahara) of scorching yellow sand. With temperatures ranging from 60°C at noon to -10°C at night, the temperature range is devastating for most life forms.
There's not much to eat or see. The few attractions are the Sandwings cities which are very reminiscent of the stereotypical Arab cities in the films.
The venomous animal population is frighteningly high, considering that it is also home to the only known Pyrrhian snake species capable of killing a dragon with a bite: the Dragonbite Viper, a relative of the puff adder (it has been studied that Taipan venom is also lethal for dragons)
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-Since the Sandwings' War of Succession, strict laws have been imposed for the succession to the throne (even of other tribes). If the queen dies of natural causes, her eldest daughter takes the throne.
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Now let's go north. Take off the shirt and put on the jacket, see you at the next episode: "Icicles and ice cream with Icewings"

When I met my supposed narc I was in the perfect position to be taken advantage of. I was just coming around on a year of leaving my physically abusive ex and got a job bartending. The owner took a liking to me and we ended up doing the dance. I never bartended before so I didn’t know any better and I just thought they saw a lot in me. Over the course of the last 9 months though I have seen things unfold and had so many lies told to me I don’t know my right from my left again.
I’ve tried to post here before but it’s all so confusing. He was so nice at first and charming and I met his kids and he told me of all the woman before me and his divorce, and I told him about my exes and history. Only for this to be eventually weaponized against me down the road. He grew obsessed with accusing me of being into all the guests and wanting to hookup with them and barred me from giving out my number to regulars, and is constantly trying to catch me in doing so. This has messed with my money making ultimately, all the while he claims no one can know we’re together because it’s bad for business for him.
I’ve helped and worked doubles and everyday sometimes, I do far beyond my peers and once the manager quit, I was assumed to absolve all her duties as well, seeing as that we secretly date so why shouldn’t he benefit and I suffer? We have had a revolving door of hiring and firing since I walked through the door
The whole time we have been together he will not kiss me except on very special occasions and if I absolutely beg or grovel. The most damning part of it all and I guess what should’ve been my biggest red flag is ultimately his wife divorced him for cheating with a bartender 14 or so years ago. Since then his dating history has consisted of long term relationships with other women who’ve worked for him though he claims he doesn’t do this often or people assume he dates everyone who works for him but I’m only the third. When in reality that’s just the lie he tells him self because he’s slept with a slew of random other women as well over the years.
Slowly over time I could sense him withholding things I needed and our sex started to reminded me of sex with my porn addicted ex, though this narc seems to experience very unfortunate erectile dysfunction which is ironic for how vulgar of a sense of humor and just overall vibe he has. He is very real and scary and he’s slowly made sure I am aware that and I definitely am in a way, though unlike my ex he never has touched me, only thrown things at me and screamed and yelled loudly in my face while I sit or stand trying to be as small as possible, or threatening me and my family verbally.
I stopped drinking a couple months ago because I needed to feel a sense of clear head and it’s opened my eyes to a lot. I feel like he feels he has less control of me and he resents me for it. I started to pull back because I felt him start to develop what seemed like his fifth new obsession over the time that I’ve known him which is hiring new hot bartenders. He’s hired someone before who blatantly wanted to hookup with him and I got very upset one night she called him 15 times and I read her messages begging for things to not end this way and she had never met anyone like him. I asked about her before of course when I noticed him staying late with her but he said no no no. I skipped town and quit and when I came back she miraculously was gone as well and the story changed fifteen times it seemed as well. I gave up trying to understand and naively thought he still might have liked me and wasn’t just using me.
I started to work on myself after stopping drinking and taking care of my body and spending a lot of time working out also just to clear my head from everything too. Our sex life diminished more and more though I would still sleep with him out of desire for some sort of connection or intimacy but I’m accused of not being into it or he gets frustrated for his dysfunction and blames me and we have to blow through it so we can focus on something else. It’s like he’s mad at himself for not being able to use me in that way.
He hired someone and I just knew in my gut she would be a problem like the woman before. But I continued on my journey of trying to get back into shape as I noticed he spent more time with her than others. Then last weekend we were hanging out and he got a call she was drunk behind the bar and he acted so frustrated to have to go in and assess the situation. Well and of course I don’t go as well seeing as that no one can know we’re togethwrzc and knowing my narc and his history and how he seems to lead women on, I got an awful feeling after not hearing from him for a few hours. I messaged him how things were going and I didn’t get a response and it was a good bit after closing time. I decided to get in my car and start driving to work because I had never caught him in a lie before because he’s so sneaky and maybe because he has so many years of doing this beyond me, but I wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. When I was driving he finally replied he was with a friend we both knew which I thought was odd cause he would’ve called or said something by now so I kept driving. I knew her car would be there but my heart sunk when I saw both their cars in the lot. I drove home and blocked him and I didn’t hear from him at all all weekend. It was like he knew I caught him in something and idk what but a lie finally. All this time while he has accused me of so much.
I unblock him to hear his excuse and his story changes five hundred times before I reveal none of what he’s said can even be true because I saw both their cars in the parking lot at 4 am. He says he’s sick of my shit he doesn’t care he doesn’t want me or her or anyone and if I had anyone to worry about it would be his ex. Which he’s told me before and he’s told me she’s also better in bed. I give up on trying to make sense of things and give my notice but work so I can finally move on. He’s called me over a few times over the last week which I have delicately avoided. Not to mention this all happens like a day after his ex (different one) magically showed up at the bar while I was working and he was there hours after he was angry I got into grad school.
Amongst trying to call me over he’s also seemingly trying to pretend I haven’t given my notice or quit and is trying to call me into work today. And money. This has always been a thing and I never noticed until I sobered up cause there’s a lot of cash flow but he holds my pay hostage. He pretends to forget to pay or he can’t cashapp me now cus of his accountant or can I order this or that and he’ll pay me because he doesn’t want his card online. So I told him I’d work only if he paid me and I worked twice and asked both times for my pay and didn’t receive it. So I think it’s so funny he has another employee asking me to go in for her right now and I just feel like he expects me to forget he owes me money. He’s racked up large tabs with me and I’ve had to practically beg for my money at times too which is dehumanizing and makes it harder to leave when I have money I worked for and am owed hanging in the ballads. I feel like it’s a tactic so I can’t just leave.

Having more tools to bypass the clunky parts of Minecraft is part of what has led to the VAST interconnectivity we enjoy.
I think one of those issues is determining Light Level and mob-spawnable surfaces. This is doubly the issue if I want to light up an underwater cave and I'm using nightvision or a Conduit to navigate.
What if we could brew another potion, maybe even using a Torchflower, that creates a visual overlay compatible with Night Vision that creates an unobtrusive overlay on surfaces that are dark enough to spawn hostile mobs. Spectral outline, gentle red glow, etc. Perhaps it even cuts through precipitation.
As for a suggestion on ingredients...

• At first I thought of Torch Flowers since the name kind of lends to the activity of "torching up" your base to prevent spawns (the chore I was doing when I had this idea).
  
• But maybe there's a different, much earlier-game ingredient that could match the tech level you may be at if you're already brewing potions. Might be fun to brew with Crimson Fungi or Soul Soil?
  

Thoughts?

Alternate name suggestions!

• Cold Vision (name if using soul soil, since people say ghosts feel cold, and most of the dark-spawning mobs are undead)
  
• See Fireflies (name if using Torchflowers, the fireflies/plankton could be like a full-brightness yellow version of basalt ash, spore blossoms, etc)
  
• Tremorsense
  
• Creepy Feeling
  
• Gravesense
  
• Detect Evil
  
• ???
  

Please do not repost. I don’t want my sister to see it.
Relevant background: my parents divorced when I was an infant. My Dad remarried his affair partner, had a couple kids and moved to another state all before I was five.
He died last year and my sister asked me write a eulogy. I didn’t give this to her because I have no desire to hurt her. But I feel like I need to say it.
Its been a year since my Dad died and in many ways I feel as numb as I did that day. The last year I have found that I neither miss him more or less than I did while he was alive.
I think of him often and sometimes pick up the phone to call or text. Usually its about food or music. How to cook this cut of meat or ask him the name of that mix he used for shrimp boils. Or I hear pink floyd, rush or nine inch nails. There are songs forever tied to my father that will bring back memories of my childhood.
Every year I came down my Dad made sure to spend one weekend with just me. We often went to a little oceanfront town. We would see the gator farm, ripley’s museum, and just spend time together.
One year we went to the beach and stayed in this two level motel across the street from the ocean. It was pouring rain.
Dad had this little propane cooker. I don’t know what to call it and he filled it with water, spices and shrimp and we drove across to the beach. He planted it in the sand and turned it on. He came back in the truck laughing and soaked. He turned on Rush. Tom Sawyer blasting as we watched the storm over the ocean.
One of my favorite memories.
We weren’t close after I became an adult. In many ways he was a stranger to me. When I was asked about things we remembered about Dad a few things came to mind instantly.
I remembered a bunch of things going to Sams Club, Publix, how ridiculously early he got up, how strong his coffee smelled and was. Nights in the yard as he fried, grilled and shucked. Shucking along with him and eating fresh oysters.
He had an oyster guy that we bought them straight from his trunk. There was a shrimp place where they were bought in large quantities. Poured out on a stainless steel counter covered in ice. Hooters and chicken wings.
He used to fry wings all the time. I remember once when i was probably nine where I decided i was grown and didn’t need to eat the kid wings and could do the spicy ones. They were so hot! I remember my mouth on fire and my stepmom scolding him. Not really sure what he did to them to make them that hot.
I remember boiled peanuts that took him days. Oysters Rockefeller and these other ones that were dry and I am not sure what he did to them.
I’m certain my love of food and cooking came from him.
My sense of pride and stupidity in the name of pride came from him too.
I remember when i was a teen and we were in this mall or flea market at a hot sauce stand. Dad was trying stuff but this guy kept acting like I couldn’t handle heat. Dad said I could and I tried several. This little dot of sauce on a toothpick. Until i came to one that was too much. I didn’t react and said that one was good and what was next.
Dad said that’s enough his mouth was hot and he wanted to get lunch. We walked away and were just out of sight of the guy. He told me “you can react now” and i started panting and swearing and he was laughing. We went to this bar, that had gator nuggets, i forget the name, for lunch.
I also remember now how much crown and beer he drank. How he smelled of them both often. That day was no different.
I remember how tall he seemed. How his laughter could fill a space and make you laugh too.
I saw him eight weeks out of the year. We talked weekly when we still paid for long distance. I’m not sure that he would have been more present in my life if he lived closer. Maybe.
He was never at doctors appointments even though i had a childhood illness that had me see them often. I’m not sure he fully understood that stuff.
He was never at any of my major life events. Except high school graduation. I remember that.
He was at neither of my weddings. To be fair I eloped the first and he was hospitalized the second. He walked my sister down the aisle and had the dance with her. I wish that didn’t make me jealous or sad to remember.
He barely knew my daughter and knew none of those quirks that make her amazing.
He knew his other grandchildren. Except the youngest whom he actually met for the first time a week or so before he died. She was three or four then. That makes me happy for them both. Still a little sad.
He didn’t know my second husband at all but I wish he had gotten know him. That makes me sad too because really my husband wouldn’t have known the man I remember.
But what occurred to me most as I write this was thst none of these memories are recent. I didn’t really know him.
My stepmom left him due to his addiction issues when I was in my late teens.
I didn’t really fully grasp those issues. My siblings and she dealt with them because they were there and I was not.
My sister picked him up off the floor and tried to get him sober. I didn’t.
I knew only what we talked about and back then when he was spiraling we talked a lot about things that I didn’t want to know. He was in a really dark place.
A place that landed him in hospitals and half way houses and homeless. He nearly died due to medical issues not drugs multiple times. I’m sure more times with the drugs.
There were large gaps of silence on both sides for years.
In my early twenties before it got very bad for him he decided not to talk to me because I was no longer Christian. That lasted a little over a year. After I had spent a year talking him through his divorce.
When I turned 40 he sent me a six page long hand written letter asking why we had no relationship and how he wouldn’t be around forever. He took no responsibility in it.
After that i tried to reach out monthly at least. He almost never reached out to me. I still have his texts. He never said anything about the wedding photos I sent him. Not even you look beautiful or congratulations.
When we talked it was all surface level. Long ago did we stop talking about deep things. I would tell him about work or my kid or the dumb dog.
I miss him but the him I miss has been gone for over twenty years if he ever existed at all. I’ve been mourning that man for a long time. His body has finally been put to rest for a year now.
For the last year I have struggled with my lack of grief but today i think I finally understand . My Dad had been dead to me for a long time. My father died a year ago.

First Previous Next
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SUBJECT-DESIGNATION: Admiral Marcus Miller
LOCATION: Earthen Orbit, Atlantic Citadel
DATE: EARTH-TIME [Wednesday, August 23, 2186]
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I stood above Earth, gazing down upon her bright blue brilliance from the comfort of my personal quarters.
It was odd to think that just five hundred years ago, humanity had been scared of the darkness that lingered at the forest’s edge. I couldn’t imagine that those born during that time could have ever imagined the heights which we would rise to. My only hope was that our vast distance from the ground of primitivity wouldn’t lead to a devastating fall.
Already it felt like a lifetime ago that my crew and I had braved our own dark forest—the endless expanse of space beyond our system’s heliopause. Now we knew of the devils that rested at the edge of those shadows. The fires of Sol and the shield of our Oort cloud were all that now stood between us and them. At least in the process of our journey, we had met another group of weary travelers. We now knew that we were not alone.
The reaction to our discovery of the Khimrox—or perhaps their discovery of us—had actually gone over quite well with the global population, though some fringe groups chose to remain skeptical for reasons I couldn’t fathom.
Following the acceptance of the Khimroxian people as refugees, I was rather quickly promoted to the position of admiral. Despite it being an honorary title for the time-being, it was one that I wore with pride. Besides, considering how things were currently going among the leadership of the UEN, it was my guess that we would soon need all of the fleet commanders we could get.
Being separated from my crew though, it was certainly an ordeal. For over a year, we had trained and prepared for our journey aboard the Challenger, all the while forming a strong bond—the bond of a crew. It was them who had kept my mind from plunging into the hopeless darkness that threatened to envelop my mind back aboard the ruined wreck of our exploratory vessel.
Liz and Garth had been reassigned to finally fulfill their true calling as biologists. Together, they dove head-first into in-depth studies of Khimroxian anatomy and physiology. Sid had opted to assist in the deconstruction of the Ignis, allowing its analysis by a team of scientists that included Lee. As far as I was aware, they had so far produced staggeringly impressive results in regards to potential military applications. Jake was probably the wisest among us, choosing to enter an early retirement, which I quite honestly considered the smartest move. Each member of the Challenger had essentially become an influential celebrity overnight. If any of us chose to, we wouldn’t need to work another day in our lives.
Nia had taken an extended leave of absence following our return and chose to take up temporary residence within the Khimrox colony. Darius was perhaps the only one that had stuck with me. Due to my request, he was to be the chief navigational officer of a brand new fleet that had been promised to me—an experimental UEN fleet by the name of Vengeant Dawn.
Though word hadn’t yet officially been released, some part of me could sense the storm approaching on the horizon. War was coming. The only questions that remained were when and how it would be waged, one of which we were currently working to answer.
Some remained skeptical, but me, I had been waiting since the day I first heard of that wretched name, the one which hid behind a thin and lustrous coat. They would pay in blood for what they had done to our Khimroxian friends and to all of the scion species that they considered beneath them.
Speaking of those pricks… I turned from the window to look back at the objects of interest.
We had already begun to install improvements and replacements for our own technology from what we had researched so far. The holo-table of my room was one such improvement.
Atop it, hovered three ire-inspiring figures—the bastards of the Orion Arm.
One was what looked to be a molluscoid. Twelve long and winding tentacles stretched from its body. The creature’s skin could possess a wide variety of colors, but this one took on a dark shade of blue. Atop its head—or back, I still wasn’t entirely sure—was a large circular shell that spiraled backwards. The shell itself was fairly reminiscent of an ammonite, with the notable exception of its golden sheen. A green pair of eyes with slitted black pupils could be found at either side of its face. At the end of each of its limbs were a strange bunch of contraptions that were barely recognizable as the manipulators they were. To support its spineless body—and perhaps its brazen cowardice—was an exoskeleton which covered the length of its tentacles, allowing it to rise to an ironically respectable height. The Dodektopi.
The second was a shape that made no sense according to what little we apparently knew regarding the formation of life. The figure of flames was somewhat humanoid in shape, but distinct enough to separate it from ourselves. A frenzy of dancing plasma licked across the surface of its shape, occasionally whipping out from its body in flares of solar activity. Centered within the fiery specter’s face was an unfamiliar symbol forged out of a sleek black metal that did not burn with the being’s body. Its hands and feet that connected the body were made of similar steel and seemed to hold the shape together with the help of the head. The Novari.
Last but most certainly not least was a chillingly familiar shape. It was an ancient and terrible legend made manifest. The draconic figure before me bore ebony-black scales. A wicked pair of gold curling horns rose from the tyrant’s skull, covered in rings of that black metal that wrapped around them. Cryptic runes—whose mere existence denoted their ancient nature—were etched into the bone of these very same horns. Surrounding its head were countless quills that reached back behind the skull. From its oddly placed back pair of shoulders sprouted leathery wings that curled around the body, nearly encircling it in a hug. A long tail whose spiked end was covered in yet more of those sleek black rings fell behind them. The creature wore nothing more than a red ornamented kilt, bearing the same symbols as those etched upon its body across the sashes which held it in place. Its imposing physique was proudly put on display and an amber pair of greedy eyes rested behind its black maw of terrible teeth.
At the second and frontward pair of stubby shoulders, a shimmering pair of auric arms, engraved with yet more of those runes. I could have recognized their design anywhere. They bore an uncanny similarity with those utilized by our Khimrox friends. The three primary differences between those of them and those that belong to our friends were the sheer quality of the design, the notable exception of their shimmering sheen and their lethal talons that had been sharpened to a shining point. The Aeryvyn.
The terrible triumvirate mocked me with their mere presence, but I couldn’t tear them away from my sight. It’s fortunate that something else did it for me.
A ping that rained from the speakers in my ceiling heralded the incoming message. “All UEN personnel with alpha clearance please report to the briefing room.” Two more times, the soft and purposefully inoffensive voice repeated itself.
With a sigh, I shut off the display and marched to don the new garb that matched my position. When my door slid open, I saw several others stride through the long hall of yet more doors that matched my own.
The familiar scent of ozone had been a relief following the unnaturally clean air of the Ignis. That ship was no longer the home of the Khimroxian refugees, so I had little care for its continued existence. By now, it was a skeleton of alien alloys.
Our straight, gray walls and steel-vented floors were showered in warm light. Compared to the Ignis where the too-white surface where wall and floor blended together, the scenic viewing ports and recognizable craftsmanship felt like the warm embrace of a long-lost friend.
Speaking of friends, I wonder if I’ll see Saffan. Weeks had passed now since I last saw the captain-ambassador. His new position ensured this was so.
A stream of gray-coated senior staff flowed through the doors to the briefing room. At the entrance, a full complement of soldiers outfitted with Styx suits stood guard. That generation of armor would soon be outdated in comparison to the schematics I had seen prepared.
My heart warmed involuntarily as I entered the room. Saffan’s bright eyes of perpetual wideness stared back at me. I shouldered my way through the convening crowds of admirals. Each spoke with a weight of self-importance that I couldn’t have cared less for.
When I finally reached him he called my name. “Marcus!” The captain extended a hand. Wait, what? I wasn’t sure whether to be more confused by his use of the gesture or his new set of arms. They were admittedly simple compared to the prior pair and they were coated with a blue shine that matched his eyes. The digits no longer took the shape of those reptilian claws, instead forming an approximation of human fingers.
The hands locked perfectly with my own. “Saffan, good to see you again. How are things going?”
“Wonderfully. Though I must say, you humans seem to have more countries than you know what to do with.” Saffan folded his arms. “I’ve visited thirteen nations already and I still have over a hundred that have sent me visitation invitations.”
A scoff escaped my throat. “Yeah, that’s us for you. Needlessly overcomplicated.”
I took a step forward and placed a hand on a brilliant blue arm. “And these! When did you get these?” Saffan practically beamed at my inquiry.
“Elizabeth and Garth actually helped design them! They’re exceptionally lightweight compared to my last pair and they can fold to not hinder flight.” As he said this, the two artificial limbs pressed up against his body as he fully folded his wings in a similar manner. With both arms and wings folded, he would have looked like a great horned owl if not for the obvious discrepancies of his size, his horned head and the swirling patterns that covered his wings.
“That’s enough about me though, how have you been? What have you been up to?”
“Ah, not much,” I said, rubbing the back of my head. “Paid the family a visit a week back for the first time since the Challenger. For the most part though, I've been training on the battle sims these last few weeks. If I’m to be an admiral, may as well try to play the part.” Saffan slowly nodded. I got the feeling that he too sensed the approaching storm.
“This family of yours, I’d love to meet them some time.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’d love to meet you I…”
“Attention!” The stern sound cut me off. The rippling chorus of speech died down almost immediately as the call demanded our undivided focus. I could’ve recognized that voice anywhere.
“Thank you for joining me, my friends.”
“You’re a smart bunch of people, so I’m sure you’ve gotten the sense for what’s been going on by now.” Redd took a deep sigh and looked around the room at the entirety of the UEN navy’s command structure.
“Ever since the Khimroxians arrived, we’ve been faced with a choice—a choice that must not be taken lightly.” The captain turned our way and gave Saffan a nod.
“When the brave souls aboard the Ignis saved the crew of the Challenger, they showed the true character of their people. They were faced with hard decisions—for our people and theirs—but they chose to push forward and in so doing, saved not only the lives of those aboard the Challenger, but all of Earth from falling subject to their lords. After due deliberation with the council-members of the United Earthen Nations, we have decided to follow in the footsteps of our friends and take such a risk.”
“As of right now, we are at war with the Alliance of the Aurum Arm.” The room fell into deafening silence.
“Each member-state of the UEN will alert their people in due time, but for the moment, not a single word heard within this meeting must be uttered outside of this room.”
Admiral Sturm, the very man who had been my commander not all that long ago, spoke up. “With all due respect, Director, we don’t have the means to wage such a conflict.”
“That's why we’ll create the means. For once, I’m glad to say something good came out of the Kuiper War.” This derived a few nervous laughs from the audience. “With the production facilities appropriated from the (x corporation), and with a few adjustments, we have the potential to create the most powerful fleet of human-made ships to ever enter space.”
“Unfortunately however, we do not have the means to reproduce the white hole drives utilized by the Aurum vessels, or even the dark matter used to stabilize the damned things.”
“Saffan, this is where you and your people will come in. If we are to stand a chance of waging war on such a scale, we will need intelligence and lots of it.”
“As difficult as it may be, we need information; without it, we’re dead in the vacuum of space. We will need volunteers to go behind enemy lines and retrieve plans, schematics, layouts, anything that we can get a hold of that may provide us an advantage both strategically and technologically. Would your people be willing to go to such lengths?”
All eyes in the room turned to the ambassador-captain. “I—I don’t know. I will consult with them, but do I have your permission to speak freely about what you have told me?”
The aging man rubbed his orange-brown beard. “Yes. Yes that would probably be for the best wouldn’t it. Very well, just do your best not to allow it to reach other ears.”
“Yes sir.”
“As for the rest of you, allow me to detail the plan we have so far.”
“Though most of the security council members are not tacticians, they have agreed to the plan that I and a few of my most trusted consultants have prepared. Right now, the nearest sector with a habitable planet is known as Mortamis. This was the last jump point for the Ignis before it intercepted our distress signal. The tentative plan is to begin our expansion across their territory with the capture of this world to act as the staging grounds of our forces. However, until we receive more information regarding the exact layout of their defenses, we cannot commit to such an invasion.”
“From there, we will split up the UEN fleets into separate groups across the Orion arm and take out these tyrants by bleeding them of their most precious resource. Scions. Every world we take is an addition to our numbers, our production capacity, and our ability to fight.”
“Our end-goal is to capture the planet-capital of the alliance, Petris, and demand liberation of all species under control of the Aurum Alliance.“
“We do have a few major concerns however. According to the information provided to us by the Khimrox, a majority of Aurum vessels contain some form of scionic crew complement. Under no circumstances unless express consent is given by the command admiral of the fleet are we to attack a vessel with the intent of destroying it. We must first weaken and disable the ship’s defensive systems before boarding and liberating the captives.”
“I know that this flies in the face of all conventional battle tactics, but this is no conventional enemy that we’re fighting here. If we do not adapt, we will fail and all of humanity will be forced into scionship.”
“Keep in mind, this is a very brief version of our prepared plan. Each and every aspect of it is subject to change. We will discuss this in further detail later, but for now, that is all. Any further questions?” Once again, silence. “Very well then. This council session is now adjourned.”
Other than the shuffling of feet exiting, all was silent. We had known it was coming, but to hear it confirmed…
“Marcus.” The director approached, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Go ahead and join Ambassador Aeax, why don’t you? Might help some of those Khimrox to see a human face that they’re familiar with.”
With a snappy salute, I responded with, “Yes sir.” His words were certainly a surprise, but a chance to join the Khimrox that had saved us was not one I would pass up easily. He may as well have just given me a week of leave considering the excitement that bubbled up within me.
Together, I and Saffan made our way to a nearby shuttle bay headed directly to the Khimroxian colony. Surprisingly, I hadn’t yet paid a visit to the settlement placed within the province of Hunan, but I had seen some images on several media platforms.
The trip was a quick one. Our transport plunged into the atmosphere, kicking up flames all around the outside of the cabin. Soon enough though, the flames of our descent died out and were replaced by the darkness of night.
Even with the slight turbulence, Saffan seemed deep in thought as his eyes stared at nothing in particular.
“Hey, you good?”
That seemed to snap him out of it. “Wha—oh yes, sorry.” A look of focus still remained on his face. For a moment, he continued in his silence before posing a question. “What if my people decide not to volunteer? This entire plan could fall through in an instant.”
“You don’t give your people enough credit, my feathered friend.” Saffan gave me a narrow-eyed look before letting out a cluck of a chuckle. “Redd was right in what he said. I’m sure your people will make the best choice for all of us.”
“For both our sakes, I can only hope that you’re right.”
Our Harpy gently sailed over mountains and treetops, slowly sinking to a stop within a secluded area of trees that were foreign to me.
Only I and Saffan left from the Harpy’s bay and stepped off onto the tarmac. Behind us, the cargo-door closed with a hiss. As we stepped out from underneath our cover, light droplets of water pattered against my skin.
Seconds later, the Harpy’s thrusters kicked in and the ship took flight. The heavy hum and glow of burning hydrogen accompanied the bird as it flew away. In mere moments, it was gone, though the distant boom of it breaking the sound barrier was audible enough.
Looking around, I saw a few of my fellow men and women unloading supplies from a parked Harpy onto a militarily designed transport truck. Dimly lit orange lamps shone down and around us, illuminating nearby hangar bays with their closed doors and rounded ceilings of corrugated metal.
“Let’s get going. I’m sure you don’t want to stay in the rain long.” The rain was enough to notice, but it wasn’t unpleasant. I gave a brief nod and we set off on the nearby road.
Though clouds of rain covered us, the light of the moon joined us as we walked to the village. The setup looked pretty standard from what I knew of modular UEN architecture. It was clear however that great care had been put into its construction. The rain kept most of the residents indoors for the time being, but through the windows of nearby buildings, I saw the illuminated interiors of cozy hostels where families and friends gathered together.
We passed another Khimrox while wading through the rain—one who held its head and horns high, walking with a cheery gait despite the gloomy weather. Compared to the stale and oppressive atmosphere aboard the Ignis, the settlement brimmed with life, even amidst the darkness of both night and storms.
Saffan led me forward to a quaint home with a metal awning that covered the railed porch. We walked up the steps and Saffan rapped on the door with his cobalt colored knuckles.
I hoped for Nia’s sake that her time away from the military had treated her well. Lord knows she deserved some respite. The door opened and Nia's face peeked out to greet us. “Saffan! Marcus! What are you two doing here?”
Saffan answered as I silently sat by. “Oh we were just passing through. Thought it might be a good idea to stop and pay you a visit.”
“Well don’t make yourself strangers. Come on in!” Saffan sat behind as I walked forward and gave his whole body a shake. Droplets flew from his body and slid off his slick feathers.
The home was a simple one, consisting of a main living room joined together with a kitchen. In the back of the home was a short hall leading to a middle door that stood between a pair of two others. In the living room, perched Tokieran, the same physician who had plunged into my mind to extract our language.
Immediately, he rose from where he rested and turned to face Saffan, “Captain!”
“Can’t be a captain without a ship, Toki.” The former captain waved away the words with a hand. “Saffan will do.”
“Oh. Uh, well, it's good to see you again, Saffan.”
“Likewise my friend. I’m certain you haven’t seen much of me considering your position during our time on the Ignis. It’s a shame we didn’t brush wings more often. You seem like a fine fellow.”
As the two avians got to talking, Nia gave me a light punch on the shoulder. “So, how’ve things been going for you admiral?” It was at this moment that I realized I was still in full military dress. Rather sheepishly, I pulled the hat from my head.
“Fine.” I muttered “You?”
A smile met her face. “Best I’ve felt since I enlisted.” She gave a look towards the two conversing Khimroxians. “It's still hard to believe any of this is real sometimes, ya know?”
I nodded. “Yeah. The Challenger, the Ignis, all of it. Feels like a dream now.”
Nia’s eyes stayed upon the owl-folk. “One of those dreams you don’t really want to wake up from.”
I gave a grunt of agreement. “I only wish all of the Khimroxians could share it with us.” This turned her towards me. Her smile curved down somewhat and she gave a slight nod.
What the hell. She’s going to learn it soon enough anyways. Rubbing the rim of my hat, I spoke softly. “Maybe soon, that will be possible.”
“What?”
“The council’s declared war.”
Her eyes snapped to mine, the smile fully gone. The room fell silent. I hadn’t hoped the others would hear me, but those Khimrox had an impeccable sense of hearing. I shouldn’t have expected any less from them.
All eyes turned to me. “The Aurum Alliance is a threat to humanity, the Khimrox, and all of the other scions that we haven’t even met yet. I think we both know this was inevitable”
“No, I get it, it's just… Wow.” The woman ran a hand through her black, tied-back hair as she heaved a sigh.
This facade dropped almost immediately and Nia’s mouth turned into a wonderfully devilish grin. After a few light chuckles, she said, “Better late than never I suppose. Those spineless sons-of-alien-bitches’ll never know what hit ‘em!”
The expressions on the faces of both Saffan and Tokieran showed no less resolve. Even the formerly jumpy physician proudly displayed a newfound sense of will. “The triumvirate operates under the expectation that we won’t fight back,” said Toki. “They see us as little more than animals and It's time we took full advantage of that fact.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” remarked Saffan.
If these willing warriors were in any way representative of the entire Human-Khimroxian collective, the battle against these golden tyrants would be over before we knew it.
---
First Previous Next

Hey everyone,
So I've been using Vivid Weathers on my SSE installation together with Vividian ENB for a few days. It became obvious very quick that almost my entire sky is yellow during the day. The closer to the sun the more yellow there is, but almost everything is yellow except for a few patches furthest away from the sun which are blue sky.
It seems everything else is working, so this might just be a pre-set of the enb of the vivid weather mod, but when I look at pictures, mine definetly has more yellow (even the clouds seem very yellow).
Mind you, during rain, or night, colours change into what I expect, but if it's a cloudy day, it's all yellow. I'm not sure I've seen a cloudless-day yet.
Is this intended? Is there something I can change?

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Alex Cross HD/VU or IT $2
Alfred Hitchcock 5-Film Set (Saboteur, Shadow of Doubt, Trouble with Harry, Marnie, Family Plot) 4K/MA $24
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Alien 6-Film Collection HD/MA $18
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Back to Future Trilogy 4K/MA $14 or HD/MA $9.5
Bad Boys for Life HD/MA $4
Bad Grandpa HD/VU or IT $2.5
Bad Words HD/IT $3
Bambi 2 HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Bambi HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Bangkok Dangerous HD/VU $4
Bank Job HD/VU $3.5
Barbie & Her Sisters in Great Puppy Adventure HD/VU or IT $3.5
Barbie in Princess Power HD/IT $3.5
Barbie Star Light Adventure HD/IT $3.5
Battle of Year HD/MA $3.5
Battleship HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Baywatch HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Beatriz at Dinner HD/VU $4.5
Beauty & Beast (1991) HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Beauty & Beast (2017) HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Before I Fall HD/VU or IT $3.5
Begin Again HD/VU $3.5
Beirut HD/MA $3.5
Ben-Hur (2016) HD/VU or IT $3.5
BFG HD/MA $3.5
Big Eyes HD/VU $3.5
Big Hero 6 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Big Lebowski 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Big Little Lies Season 1 HD/GP $2.5
Big Short HD/VU or IT $3.5
Birth of a Nation HD/MA $3.5
Black Panther 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $2.5
Black Widow HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Blackhat HD/IT $3.5
Blair Witch (2016) HD/IT $2.5
Blair Witch Project (1999) HD/VU $4
Blockers HD/MA $3.5
Bloodshot HD/MA $4
Boardwalk Empire Season 1 HD/VU or IT $4
Bombshell 4K/VU $5
Book Club 4K/IT $3
Book Club HD/VU $2.5
Book of Life HD/MA $3.5
Born a Champion 4K/VU $5
Boss Baby 2-Film Set HD/MA $6
Boss Baby HD/MA $2.5
Bourne Identity HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Bourne Legacy HD/VU $2
Bourne Supremacy HD/VU $3.5
Bourne Ultimatum 4K/MA or IT $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Boy 2 HD/IT $3.5
Boy Erased HD/MA $4
Boy HD/IT $3.5
Boyhood HD/VU or IT $2.5
Braveheart HD/VU $3.5
Braven HD/VU $4
Breakfast Club HD/IT $4
Breakthrough HD/MA $3
Burnt HD/VU $3.5
Butler HD/VU $3
Bye Bye Man (Unrated) HD/IT $2.5
Cabin in Woods 4K/VU or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $2.5
Call of Wild 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $2.5
Captain America Civil War HD/GP $2.5
Captain America First Avenger HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Captain America Winter Soldier HD/GP $3.5
Captain Marvel HD/GP $2
Captain Phillips HD/MA $3.5
Carol HD/VU $4
Cars 3 HD/GP $2.5
Case for Christ HD/IT $2.5
Chaos Walking 4K/VU $5
Chicago (Diamond Edition) HD/VU $4
Children (2008) HD/VU $4
Christopher Robin HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Cloverfield 4K/VU $5.5 or HD/VU $4
Coco HD/GP $2.5
Cold Pursuit 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Collection HD/VU $3.5
Columbiana (Unrated) HD/MA $4
Come & Find Me HD/VU $4
Commuter 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Company of Heroes HD/MA $4
Contraband HD/IT $3
Cooties HD/VU $4
Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of Dead, Hot Fuzz, World's End) 4K/MA $15
Counselor HD/MA $4
Courier 4K/VU $5.5 or HD/VU $4
Crank 4K/VU $5.5
Crawl HD/VU $3
Crimson Peak HD/IT $3.5
Croods HD/VU $3.5
Cruella HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
D Train 4K/IT $4
Daddy's Home 2 HD/IT $3
Daddy's Home HD/VU $3
Dark Tower HD/MA $3.5
Darkest Hour (2017) 4K/MA $5.5
Darkest Minds HD/MA $4
Darkness HD/IT $3
Dawn of Planet of Apes HD/MA $3.5
Daybreakers 4K/VU $5.5
Deadpool 2 (w/Super Duper Cut) HD/MA $4
Deadpool HD/MA $2.5
Dear White People HD/VU $3.5
Deepwater Horizon 4K/IT $3
Dementia 13 (Director's Cut) HD/VU $4
Despicable Me 2 HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Despicable Me 3 4K/MA or IT $5
Despicable Me 4K/IT $5
Detroit HD/MA $3.5
Devil's Due HD/MA $3.5
Dilemma HD/VU $3.5
Dirty Dancing 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Disney Animated Short Films Collection HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Divergent Allegiant HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Divergent HD/VU $1.5 or 4K/IT $2
Divergent Insurgent HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Django Unchained HD/VU $3
Do Right Thing 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Doctor Strange HD/GP $2.5
Dom Hemingway HD/MA $3.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot HD/VU $4
Doom (Unrated) 4K/MA $5.5
Doorman HD/VU $3.5
Doors 4K/VU $5.5 or HD/VU $4
Dora & Lost City of Gold HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Downton Abbey Movie HD/MA $3.5
Dracula Untold HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Draft Day HD/VU $3.5
Dragged Across Concrete HD/VU $3.5
Dreamkatcher HD/VU $4
Dredd 4K/VU or IT $4 or HD/VU $2.5
Duel (2016) HD/VU $3.5
Dumbo (2019) HD/GP $3
Dune 4K/MA $5.5
Dying of Light HD/VU $2.5
E.T. Extra Terrestrial 4K/VU or IT $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Edge of Seventeen HD/VU or IT $3
Edge of Tomorrow 4K/MA $5
Edward Scissorhands HD/MA $3.5
El Chicano HD/MA $4
Emoji Movie HD/MA $3
Encanto 4K/MA $4 or 4K/GP $3.5
Ender's Game HD/VU $2.5
Enemy at Gates HD/VU $4
Enough Said HD/MA $3.5
Epic HD/MA $3
Escape Plan HD/VU $2
Eternals HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Everest 4K/MA or IT $4.5
Ex Machina HD/VU $3
Exodus Gods & Kings HD/MA $3.5
Expendables 2 HD/VU or IT $1
Expendables 3 (Thea) HD/VU $2 or 4K/IT $2.5
Extreme Prejudice (1987) HD/VU $4
Fast & Furious (2009) HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Fast & Furious 6 (Ext) HD/VU $2 or 4K/IT $2.5
Fast & Furious 6-film Collection HD/VU $12.5
Fast & Furious 7-film Collection HD/VU $14
Fast & Furious 8-film Collection (9 Films) HD/MA $17.5
Fast & Furious 9-film Collection (11 Films) HD/MA $20
Fast & Furious HD/VU $3.5
Fast Color 4K/VU $5.5
Fast Five (Ext) HD/IT $2.5
Fatale (2020) 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Fate of Furious (Ext) HD/VU $2
Fate of Furious (Thea) HD/VU or IT $1.5
Fault in Our Stars HD/MA $3.5
Fences HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Ferdinand HD/MA $3.5
Fifty Shades Darker (Unrated) HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Fifty Shades Freed HD/MA $4
Fifty Shades of Grey (Unrated) HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Fighting with my Family HD/IT $4
Finding Dory HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Finding Nemo HD/GP $3.5
Finest Hours HD/GP $3
First Blood 4K/VU $5
First Man HD/MA $4
Flight HD/VU or IT $3
Florence Foster Jenkins HD/VU or IT $3
Footloose (2011) HD/IT $3
Forever My Girl HD/IT $3
Fortress HD/VU $4
Four Kids & It HD/VU $3.5
Fox & Hound 2 HD/MA $4
Frank & Lola HD/VU or IT $3
Frankenstein (1931) HD/VU $3.5
Free Guy HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
French Dispatch HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Friday 13th Pt 3 HD/VU $3.5
Frozen (Sing-Along Edition) HD/MA $2 or HD/GP $1.5
Frozen 2 4K/MA $4 or HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Frozen Ground (2013) HD/VU $3.5
Frozen HD/GP $2
Furious 7 (Ext) HD/VU $2 or 4K/IT $2.5
Fury HD/MA $3.5
G.I. Joe Retaliation HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Gambit (2012) HD/MA $4
Gambler HD/VU or IT $3
Gemini Man 4K/VU or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Gentlemen 4K/IT $4.5
Get Out HD/MA $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Ghost in Shell (2017) 4K/VU or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Ghost Team One HD/VU or IT $3.5
Ghostbusters (1984) HD/MA $3.5
Ghostbusters 2 HD/MA $3.5
Ghostbusters Afterlife HD/MA $4
Girl on Train HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Girl With All Gifts HD/VU $4
Girls Trip HD/VU or IT $2
Glass Castle 4K/VU $5.5
God's Not Dead 2 HD/MA or IT $2.5
God's Not Dead A Light in Darkness HD/MA $3
Gods of Egypt HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Gold (2016) HD/VU or IT $2.5
Gone Girl HD/MA $4
Good Dinosaur HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Good Kill HD/VU or IT $3.5
Grace Unplugged HD/VU $2
Greatest Showman HD/MA $3.5
Green Mile 4K/MA $5.5
Grey HD/VU or IT $3
Guardians of Galaxy Vol 1 HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Guardians of Galaxy Vol 2 HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Guest House (2020) 4K/VU $5
Guilt Trip HD/IT $3
Gunman HD/MA $3
Hacksaw Ridge HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Hail, Caesar! HD/IT $3
Halloween (2018) HD/MA $3
Hammer of Gods HD/VU $2
Hands of Stone HD/VU $3.5
Hannibal Season 1 HD/VU $5
Hard Target 2 HD/IT $1.5
Hardcore Henry HD/VU or IT $3.5
Hate U Give HD/MA $4
Hateful Eight HD/VU $3.5
Heat HD/MA $3
Hell Fest 4K/VU $5
Hell or High Water HD/VU $2.5
Hellboy (2019) 4K/VU $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Hercules (1997) HD/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $4
Hercules (2014) HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Here Comes Boom HD/MA $3.5
Hidden Figures HD/MA $3
Hillsong Let Hope Rise HD/IT $2
Hitman (Uncut) & Hitman 47 Bundle HD/MA $7
Hitman's Bodyguard HD/VU $3.5
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard 4K/VU $5.5 or HD/VU $4
Hocus Pocus HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Home Again HD/MA $3
Home Alone 2 HD/MA $3.5
Home Alone HD/MA $3.5
Homesman HD/VU $3
Honey 2 HD/VU $3
Hop HD/MA or IT $3
Hope Springs HD/MA $2.5
Hostiles 4K/VU $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Hot Fuzz HD/VU $4
Hotel Mumbai HD/MA $4
Hotel Transylvania HD/MA $3.5
Hours (2013) HD/VU $4
How Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) 4K/IT $4
How to Train Your Dragon 2 HD/MA $2.5
How to Train Your Dragon HD/VU $3.5
How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy HD/MA $9
Hugo HD/VU or IT $3
Hunger Games 4-Film Collection HD/VU $8
Hunger Games Catching Fire HD/VU $1.5 or 4K/IT $2
Hunger Games HD/VU $1.5 or 4K/IT $2
Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Hunter Killer 4K/VU $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Huntsman Winter's War (Ext) HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
I Can Only Imagine HD/VU $4
I Feel Pretty HD/IT $2
I Frankenstein HD/VU or IT $2.5
Ice Age Collision Course HD/MA $3
Incredibles 2 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Incredibles HD/GP $3.5
Independence Day Resurgence HD/MA $2.5
Indiana Jones & Temple of Doom 4K/VU $5.5
Indignation HD/VU $4
Initiation 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Inside Out HD/GP $2
Instant Family 4K/IT $3.5
Interstellar HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Into Woods HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Invisible Man (1933) HD/MA $3.5
Invisible Man (2020) 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Iron Man HD/GP $3.5 or HD/GP $2
Iron Mask (2019) HD/VU $4.5
It Follows HD/VU $3.5
It's a Wonderful Life 4K/VU or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Jack Reacher HD/VU $3
Jack Reacher Never Go Back HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Jacob's Ladder HD/VU $4
Jarhead 3 Siege (Unrated) HD/IT $2.5
Jason Bourne HD/VU $2.5
Jason Statham 4-Film (War, Crank 1 & 2, Transporter 3) HD/VU $10
Jaws 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Jeff Who Lives at Home HD/VU $4
Jersey Boys HD/MA $2.5
Jesus Music HD/VU $3.5
Jigsaw 4K/VU $4.5
Joe HD/VU $3.5
John Wick 1 & 2 Bundle HD/VU $4
John Wick 3 Parabellum 4K/VU $4.5
John Wick Chapter 2 HD/VU $3.5
John Wick HD/VU $2
John Wick Trilogy (Parabellum 4K) HD/VU $9
Jonah Hex HD/MA $4.5
Joy HD/MA $3
Judy 4K/VU $5
Jungle Book (2016) 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $2.5
Jungle Cruise HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Jurassic Park 3 HD/VU $3.5
Jurassic Park 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Jurassic World 5-Film Collection HD/MA $14
Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $3
Jurassic World HD/VU $2.5
Justice (2017) HD/VU or IT $3
Kevin Hart Let Me Explain HD/VU or IT $3
Kick-Ass 4K/VU $5.5 or HD/VU $4
Kid Who Would Be King 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Kidnap HD/VU or IT $2.5
Killer Elite HD/IT $3
Killerman HD/VU $4
Kin (2018) 4K/VU $4.5 or HD/VU $3
King Kong (2005) 4K/MA or IT $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Kingsman Golden Circle 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $3
Kingsman Secret Service 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Knick Season 1 HD/IT $3.5
Knick Season 2 HD/IT $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Kung Fu Panda 3 HD/MA $3
La La Land 4K/IT $3.5
Labor Day HD/VU or IT $3
Lady & Tramp HD/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $4
Lady Macbeth HD/VU $4.5
Last Christmas HD/MA $4
Last Exorcism HD/VU $4
Last Knights HD/VU $3.5
Last Man (2019) HD/VU $4
Last Stand HD/IT $2
Last Vegas HD/MA $3.5
Last Witch Hunter HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Leatherface HD/VU $4
Legend of Hercules 4K/IT $3
Leprechaun 7-Film Collection HD/VU $12
Les Miserables (2012) HD/VU or IT $2
Let Me Explain HD/IT $2.5
Let's be Cops HD/MA $3.5
Life (2017) HD/MA $3.5
Life of Crime HD/VU $3.5
Life of Pi 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA or IT $3.5
Light of My Life HD/IT $3.5
Like a Boss HD/VU $3.5
Lilo & Stitch 2 Stitch Has a Glitch HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Lilo & Stitch HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Lincoln Lawyer 4K/VU $6.5 or HD/VU $4
Lion King (1994) HD/GP $3
Lion King (2019) 4K/MA $4 or HD/GP $2
Logan HD/MA $3
Logan Lucky 4K/MA or IT $4.5
Lone Ranger HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Lone Survivor HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Long Shot HD/VU $3.5
Longest Ride HD/MA $3
Longest Week HD/VU $3.5
Looper HD/MA $3.5
Lorax (1972) HD/MA $5
Lorax HD/VU $3
Lords of Salem HD/VU $4
Lost World Jurassic Park HD/MA $3
Love & Monsters HD/VU $4
Love Coopers HD/VU or IT $4
Love, Simon HD/MA $3.5
Loving HD/VU or IT $3.5
Luca HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Lucy HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Mad Max 2 Road Warrior 4K/VU $5.5
Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted HD/VU or IT $3
Magnificent Seven (2016) HD/VU $3
Maleficent 4K/MA $4 or HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Maleficent Mistress of Evil HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Mama HD/IT $3
Man Who Shot Liberty Vance 4K/VU $5.5
Mandela Long Walk to Freedom HD/VU $4
Martian HD/MA $3.5
Mary Poppins (1964) HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Mary Poppins Returns HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Matrix Resurrections 4K/MA $5.5
Max Steel HD/IT $3
Maze Runner Death Cure HD/MA $3.5
Maze Runner HD/MA $3.5
McKenna Shoots for Stars HD/IT $2
Mechanic Resurrection HD/VU $2.5
Megan Leavey HD/IT $3
Midnight Sun HD/MA $3.5
Midway 4K/VU $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Mile 22 HD/IT $3
Million Dollar Arm HD/GP $2.5
MindGamers HD/MA or IT $3.5
Minions 4K/MA or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Misconduct HD/VU $2.5
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children HD/MA $3
Missing Link HD/MA $4
Mission Impossible 3 4K/VU $4.5
Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol HD/VU $2
Mission Impossible 5 Rogue Nation HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Mission Impossible 6 Fallout 4K/VU or IT $4.5
Mission Impossible 6-film Set 4K/VU $23 or HD/VU $17
Moana HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Moneyball HD/MA $3
Monkey Kingdom HD/MA $3
Monster High Electrified HD/VU or IT $2.5
Monsters University HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Monuments Men HD/MA $3.5
Mortal Engines 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Mortal HD/VU $4
Mortal Instruments City of Bones HD/MA $3
Mother! HD/VU $2.5
Mother's Day HD/IT $2.5
Much Ado About Nothing (2013) HD/VU $4
Mud HD/VU $2.5
Mulan (2020) 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Mummy (1999) HD/VU $4
Mummy (2017) 4K/MA or IT $4.5
Muppets Most Wanted HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Murder on Orient Express HD/MA $3.5
My All American HD/MA or IT $3.5
My Fair Lady 4K/VU $5.5
Nebraska HD/VU $3
Nerve HD/IT $3.5
New Mutants HD/GP $3
News of World 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/MA $4
Night at Museum Secret of Tomb HD/MA $3
Nightmare Alley 4K/MA $5.5 or HD/GP $3.5
Nightmare Before Christmas HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
No Escape (2015) HD/VU $3
No Strings Attached HD/VU or IT $3.5
No Time to Die 4K/IT $4.5
Noah HD/VU or IT $2.5
Nobody's Fool HD/IT $2.5
Non-Stop HD/VU or IT $3
Norm of North HD/VU $2.5
Nostalgia (2018) HD/MA $3.5
Now You See Me 2 HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Now You See Me HD/VU or IT $2.5
Nutcracker & Four Realms HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Oblivion 4K/MA or IT $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Occupation (2018) HD/VU $3.5
Occupation Rainfall HD/VU $4
Office Christmas Party HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Olaf's Frozen Adventure HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Ong Bak 2 HD/VU $3
Onward 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $2.5
Other Woman HD/MA $3
Ouija HD/IT $3.5
Ouija Origin of Evil HD/VU or IT $3.5
Outlander Season 1 Vol 1 HD/VU $5.5
Overdrive HD/IT $2.5
Overlord 4K/IT $3.5
Oz Great & Powerful HD/GP $2.5
Paddington HD/VU $3.5
Pain & Gain HD/VU or IT $3.5
Paranormal Activity 3 (Ext) HD/VU or IT $3
Paranormal Activity 4 (Unrated) HD/VU or IT $2.5
Paranormal Activity HD/VU $4
Paranormal Activity Marked Ones HD/VU or IT $3.5
Passengers HD/MA $3
Patriot Games 4K/VU $5
Patriot's Day HD/VU $3
Peanuts Movie HD/MA $3
Penguins of Madagascar HD/MA $3.5
Pet Sematary (2019) 4K/IT $3.5
Peter Pan (1953) HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Peter Rabbit HD/MA $3.5
Pete's Dragon (2016) HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Philomena HD/VU $2.5
Pinocchio (1940) HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Pirates of Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/GP $2.5
Pitch Black (Unrated) HD/MA or IT $4
Pitch Perfect 2 4K/MA $4 or HD/VU $2.5
Pitch Perfect HD/VU $2.5 or 4K/IT $3
Pixar Short Films Collection Vol. 3 HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Planes Fire & Rescue HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Planes HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Playing with Fire HD/IT $2.5
Pocahontas 2 Journey to a New World HD/GP $3.5
Pocahontas HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Point Break (2015) 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Poison Rose 4K/VU $4.5
Pompeii HD/MA $3.5
Possession HD/VU or IT $2.5
Power Rangers (2017) 4K/VU or IT $4.5
Precious HD/VU $4.5
Predator (2018) HD/MA $3
Predator 4-Film Collection HD/MA $11
Premium Rush HD/MA $3.5
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies HD/MA $3.5
Primal HD/VU $3.5
Prodigy HD/VU $4
Project Almanac HD/IT $3.5
Protege HD/VU $4
Punisher 4K/VU $5.5
Punisher War Zone 4K/VU $5.5
Purge Anarchy HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Purge Election Year 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Purge HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Quarry 4K/VU $5
Queen & Slim HD/MA $4
Queen of Katwe HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Ralph Breaks Internet HD/GP $2
Rambo (2008) 4K/VU $5.5
Rambo 3 4K/VU $5.5
Rambo 5-Film Collection 4K/VU $23 or HD/VU $17
Rambo First Blood Pt 2 4K/VU $5.5
Rambo Last Blood 4K/VU $4.5
Rango HD/VU $3.5
Raya & Last Dragon HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Rear Window HD/MA $3.5
Reclaim HD/VU $3.5
RED 2 HD/VU $2
Red Dawn (2012) HD/VU or IT $3
Red Sparrow HD/MA $3.5
Replicant (2001) HD/VU $3.5
Replicas HD/VU $3.5
Requiem for a Dream (Director's Cut) 4K/VU $5.5
Resident Evil Retribution 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Resurrection of Gavin Stone HD/VU or IT $2.5
Revenant HD/MA $3.5
Riddick (Unrated) HD/VU or IT $3
Ride Along HD/VU or IT $2.5
Ride Like a Girl HD/VU $4
Ring HD/VU $4.5
Rings HD/VU or IT $2.5
Rio 2 HD/MA $3
Riot HD/VU or IT $3
RIPD HD/IT $2.5
Risen HD/MA $3
Robin Hood (1973) HD/MA $3.5
Robin Hood (2018) HD/VU $3
Robocop (2014) HD/VU $2.5
Rocketman (2019) 4K/IT $4
Rogue One A Star Wars Story HD/GP $2
Ron's Gone Wrong HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Rough Night 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Runner Runner HD/MA $3.5
Rush HD/VU or IT $3
Safe HD/VU or IT $2.5
Saige Paints Sky HD/IT $3
Same Kind of Different As Me HD/IT or IT $3
Samson HD/MA $3.5
Santa Clause 2 HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Santa Clause 3 HD/MA $3
Santa Clause HD/MA $3.5
Santa Clause Trilogy HD/MA $9.5 or HD/GP $8
Saving Mr. Banks HD/GP $3
Saw 7-Film Collection (Unrated) HD/VU $18
Saw 8-Film Collection HD/VU $20
Saw HD/VU $3
Scarface HD/VU $4
Scary Movie 5 HD/VU $4.5
Scary Stories to Tell in Dark 4K/VU $4.5
Schindler's List 4K/MA $5.5
Scouts Guide to Zombie Apocalypse HD/IT $3
Scream (1996) HD/VU $4
Scrooged HD/IT $4
Secret Life of Pets 4K/IT $4.5
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Selma HD/VU or IT $2.5
Sex Tape HD/MA $3.5
Shack HD/IT $2.5
Shallows HD/MA $3.5
Shang-Chi Legend of Ten Rings HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Shape of Water HD/MA $3.5
Sharp Objects HD/GP $2
Shaun of Dead HD/MA $4 or 4K/IT $4.5
Shaun Sheep Movie HD/VU $3
Sherlock Gnomes HD/VU or IT $2.5
She's Having a Baby HD/VU $3.5
Shivers HD/VU $4
Show Dogs HD/MA $3.5
Siberia (2018) HD/VU $3
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Sing (2016) 4K/IT $4
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Sinister HD/IT $2.5
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Snow White & Huntsman (Ext Edition) 4K/VU or IT $4.5 or HD/VU $3
Snow White & Seven Dwarfs (1937) HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Solo A Star Wars Story HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Some Kind of Wonderful HD/VU $3.5
Songbird 4K/IT $4.5
Sonic Hedgehog 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Soul HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Southpaw HD/VU $3
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Spider-Man 4-Cut Set (Spider-Man 2 w/ Thea & Ext) HD/MA $11.5
Spider-Man Far From Home HD/MA $3.5
Spider-Man Homecoming HD/MA $3
Spider-Man Homecoming/Far From Home Bundle HD/MA $6
Spies in Disguise 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
Spiral (2021) 4K/VU or IT $4.5
Split 4K/MA or IT $5
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Spongebob Sponge out of Water HD/IT $2.5
Spy Who Dumped Me 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
St. Vincent HD/VU $3
Stand Up Guys HD/VU $3.5
Star Trek (2009) HD/VU $3.5 or 4K/IT $4
Star Trek 1-4 (Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, Voyage Home) 4K/VU $18
Star Trek Beyond HD/VU $3
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Star Wars Force Awakens HD/GP $1.5
Star Wars Last Jedi 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Star Wars Rise of Skywalker 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $3 or HD/GP $2.5
Step Up Revolution HD/IT $3
Sting 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5
Straight Outta Compton (Thea & Unrated) 4K/MA $4.5
Straight Outta Compton (Unrated) HD/MA $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Strangers Prey at Night HD/MA $3
Suburbicon HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
Sudden Death HD/IT $4
Suits Season 2 HD/IT $3.5
Sum of All Fears 4K/VU $5.5
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Super 8 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Super Buddies HD/GP $2
Sword in Stone HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Taxi Driver HD/MA $4
Ted (Unrated) HD/IT $3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) HD/VU $2.5
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Terminator 2 Judgment Day (Ext) HD/VU $4.5
Terminator 2 Judgment Day HD/VU $3.5
Terminator Dark Fate 4K/VU or IT $4 or HD/VU $2.5
Terminator Genisys HD/VU $2.5
Thanks for Sharing HD/VU $4
This is 40 HD/MA $3.5
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Thor Dark World HD/MA $4 or HD/GP $3.5
Thor HD/GP $3.5
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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri HD/MA $3.5
To Kill a Mockingbird 4K/IT $4
Top Gun (1986) 4K/VU $5 or HD/VU $3.5
Total Recall (1990) HD/VU $3.5
Toy Story 4 4K/MA $4.5 or HD/MA $2.5 or HD/GP $2
Toy Story HD/GP $3.5
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Transformers 4K/VU $5
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Trumbo HD/IT $3.5
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Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 HD/VU $1.5 or 4K/IT
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Twilight HD/VU $4
Tyler Perry's Temptation HD/GP $3
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Unbroken HD/VU or IT $3
Uncle Drew HD/VU $3.5
Underworld Awakening HD/MA $3
Untouchables 4K/VU $5
Valerian & City of a Thousand Planets HD/VU $3.5
Vampire Academy HD/VU $4
Van Helsing HD/MA $3.5
Vanishing (2018) HD/VU $4
Veep Season 6 HD/IT $3.5
Venom HD/MA $3.5
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Warcraft HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
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West Side Story 4K/MA $5 or HD/MA $3.5 or HD/GP $3
What Men Want HD/VU $3 or 4K/IT $3.5
When Game Stands Tall HD/MA $3
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Why Him? HD/MA $3
Widows HD/MA $3.5
Wild Card HD/VU $3
Wild HD/MA $3.5
Wilson HD/MA $3.5
Winchester HD/VU $3.5
Wolf of Wall Street HD/VU or IT $3.5
Wolverine (Unrated) (w/Thea) HD/MA $4
Wonder HD/VU $3
Wonder Park 4K/IT $2.5
Wonder Woman 1984 4K/MA $5.5
Woodlawn HD/MA or IT $3.5
World War Z HD/VU or IT $2.5
Wraith HD/VU $4
X-Men Apocalypse HD/MA $3
X-Men Days of Future Past HD/MA $3
X-Men First Class & Days of Future Past HD/MA $6.5
XXX Return of Xander Cage HD/VU $2 or 4K/IT $2.5
You Were Never Really Here HD/VU $4
You're Next HD/VU $3.5
Z for Zachariah HD/VU $4
Zero Dark Thirty HD/MA $3.5
Zeros & Ones HD/VU $4.5
Zootopia HD/GP $2.5

This year should see the release of the Rubber Soul: Special Edition boxset which will follow the model of every release going back to the 2017 Sgt. Pepper anniversary edition. Remix of the original album alongside demos, surround sound mix, a new mono transfer and some photos and baubles in a nice package. But after Rubber Soul, things get tricky in terms of additional material. There's just not enough from the first five albums to justify individual releases so we may see twofers or even a fivefer making the rounds as an 'Early Years' boxset containing the first four or five albums, remixed alongside their mono counterparts, whatever demo material they can scrape together and maybe a live show or two.
Moving forward from Rubber Soul, here's how I see Giles Martin and the team at Abbey Road finishing off the Beatles discography -
- Either one or two boxsets that wrap up the initial album discography of Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale and Help! with any demo material on-hand, live shows and other odds and sods like the Christmas records and cleaned-up bootlegs such as the Star Club.
- A Yellow Submarine / Magical Mystery Tour boxset themed around the movies themselves.
- A Past Masters boxset. This one could be excellent as there's a ton of sessions material still unreleased for most of the tracks.
After that, everything is pretty much remixed, released and out there in terms of albums, demos and oddities.
Anything else I've missed? I'd like to see a remastered Anthology documentary series using high definition elements where possible and some new concert films edited together like Shea Stadium.

Toxic Rats: Geoff, Scott, Leshawna, Sammy, Trent
Mutant Maggots: Anne Maria, Katie, Molly, Scarlett, Dave, DJ
Episode 04: Finders Creepers
"Last time, on Total Drama Revenge of the Island!" Chris opened over a stock shot of the camp, the recap montage starting off with a clip of the contestants racing off towards the side of Mt. Looming Tragedy. "Twelve bumbling buffoons battled it out in a brutal buffet of bombastica," Chef was shown gleefully dropping ice blocks on the climbing campers, catching Geoff and Scott but narrowly missing Molly and almost catching Anne Maria.
"Why all the 'B' words?" B was shown demonstrating his couch invention created from junk, "Because, B proved he was a brave and brilliant improviser who scored big time for his team!" B used an ice pick to poke holes onto a shard of ice and placed it on top of the castle, directing the sun beam towards the Maggots' base and melting it effectively. "Until his bitter teammate Scott allowed brainy Molly to botch it on purpose and B got the boot," Molly threw a snowball onto the shard, melting the castle and B was shown being flung into the night.
"And now," Chris said, popping up in front of a shot of the full moon in a cloudy sky with a lit candle in his hand, marking the end of the recap montage, "tonight's challenge is about fear." He made a devilish look. "And everyone knows fear is a dish best served, in the dark!" he said in an exaggeratedly spooky manner, an eerie sound playing as he laughed evilly. "Huh?" he stopped suddenly, the camera pulling back to reveal Chef standing next to him...dressed like a showgirl with lots of peacock feathers. "Chef!" the host said in annoyance.
"Wardrobe was all out of vampire costumes," Chef explained as the series's capstone then began to play.
"It's all scary!" Chris said, walking off to the left. "Other than that," he scowled and gestured back toward his off-screen assistant. "Right here! Right now!" he resumed his usual demeanor. "On Total! Drama! Revenge, of the Island!" He adopted his spooky tone as he finished the title, and ended with another evil laugh.
XXXXX
Frogs and crickets chirped and croaked, joined by an owl's hoots as the episode opened on a shot of the full moon. The camera panned down to the cabins as the sound of snoring was added to the nighttime mix, and the scene cut inside to the girls' side of the Maggots' cabin where Anne Maria and Katie were sleeping peacefully in the bunk they shared. Dave and DJ were also shown sound asleep on the boys' side, and the scene cut to the Rat boys to show Geoff also sound asleep.
The camera cut next to show Sammy waking up with a yawn. She stretched her arms out for a few good seconds and fell right back to sleep...until the sudden shrill wail of a blow horn pierced the air.
"RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" Chris hollered from off-screen as the scene cut back outside, the blowhorn continuing even over the panicked shouts of the campers.
The camera briefly cut to a close-up of the blowhorn still blowing, then over to the Maggots' cabin as they ran outside fully dressed – first Katie screaming "What's happening?!"; then DJ just screaming; then Scarlett yelling out "This is unethical!"; then Anne Maria just hollering; and then finally Dave coming out, calling out "I'm wide awake!"
The Rats were shown next, Scott grunting "Me first!" as he shoved Geoff down the stairs and slid down the railing; Leshawna quickly running after him; Sammy screaming at the top of her lungs; and Trent coming out last at around the same time while screaming.
They assembled nervously in the common area between cabins, where Chris – wearing a pair of heavy earmuffs – finally eased up on the blowhorn. "Glad you all could make it," he grinned as he took off his headgear.
Molly soon arrived later. "Is there an attack or what?" she asked her teammates.
Katie shot her a quick glare. "Of course not, but why would you care about anything but yourself?"
Confessional: Molly
"Olay, yes," Molly moaned. "I left my teammates behind, but that was because I wanted to win the challenge first. I was always taught to focus on one thing before moving on to the next, and that's what I did." She grew concerned. "I don't see any problems with that."
Confessional Ends
"I hope you're all ready," Chris continued, "'cause it's challenge time!" He stepped to the side as Chef rolled up a large widescreen television on a wheeled cart. It was currently displaying an aerial map of the island with several additional colored icons – six bright green skulls scattered around the island; three yellowish envelopes over the campfire pit, the western edge of the campgrounds, and deeper into the forest; and a large purple spider in the middle of it all.
"We're gonna do a challenge?" Anne Maria wondered. "In the middle of the woods? At night?"
Confessional: Anne Maria
"Doesn't Chris know that we need our hours of sleep?" Anne Maria criticized. "I haven't even done my hair."
Confessional Ends
"Your challenge," Chris continued as though there'd been no interruption, "a scavenger hunt for three creepy souvenirs. Your locations? A haunted forest," he walked across to the other side of the television, "a scaaary pet cemetery, and an extra spooktastic cave. First team to each location gets a special clue," he said, the camera zooming in as he pointed towards the westernmost letter icon on the screen. "But watch out for booby traps," he added jovially as he moved his finger to one of the skulls, "I really went to town with them, heheh." The campers were shown watching warily.
"So move fast," the host added, "and stick together. You'll be penalized for each player you lose!"
"Umm, what's with the giant spider?" Sammy asked.
"Oh yeah," Chris answered as the shot zoomed in on the icon in question, "there's some kinda gigantic mutated spider sorta running around loose on the island."
The cast immediately started to voice their fears and protests.
"A huge, humongous spider is on the loose?!" DJ hugged Katie out of fear.
"I guess so," Katie said frightfully, but was secretly enjoying DJ hugging her.
The shot zoomed in on Dave in particular as he looked around, moaning "Oh no..." in annoyance.
Confessional: Dave
"Ever since I was a kid, I've never been a huge fan of spiders," Dave admitted. "They leave messy webs everywhere they go, and it takes me a long time to clean them up in places like my uncle's attic or my aunt's basement." A spider soon crawled down on a string. "This is gonna be unpopular, but I'm not a huge fan of Spider-Man because of my dislike of spiders." The spider hissed after hearing the criticism, making Dave flinch.
Confessional: Leshawna
"I may seem fearless on the outside, but spiders are one of the few things I'm terrified of," Leshawna said nervously. "Anything with eight legs is frightening enough."
Confessional Ends
"And since I want to keep things fair for both teams," Chris continued, "I decided to bring back an eliminated contestant for the Rats."
"It's so good to be back here!" the familiar voice of Sierra was heard, becoming more recognizable when she ran next to Chris.
"Sierra! I haven't introduced you yet!" Chris snapped at her.
"If I waited any longer, the episode would've been past the usual 22-minute runtime," Sierra explained. "I'll just go join the Toxic Rats and save you the trouble of doing so since I've rejoined."
Chris watched the fangirl run up to the contestants in annoyance. "Long story short, Sierra is the returnee." Chris regained his smile, and the dramatic and almost heroic tune started playing again. "There's nothing to fear but mortal terror itself! Talk soon," he added impishly, sounding his blowhorn once again.
The twelve campers ran off towards the woods.
\
The footage flashed ahead to another shot of the full moon over the forested hills of Wawanakwa, an owl hooting as the scene cut down to ground level. The logo of the Toxic Rats appeared in the corner of the screen just before the team itself did, running up and stopping in front of a tree with a loudspeaker set up in its branches.
"We're in first place! Sweet!" Geoff cheered just before the loudspeaker whined into activity.
"Welcome to the Haunted Forest!" Chris announced over it, the shot panning downward to show the six Rats gathering around a small crack in the ground. "Your clue can be found at the base of this tree!" Sierra reached into the hole...and screamed in pain as something metallic snapped inside the hole.
"Inside a bear trap," Chris finished his announcement with a laugh.
Sierra withdrew her hand from the hole, the trap clamped down firmly on her arm – though she was at least clutching a note in her hand. "Here! Read the clue," she said, passing it to a mildly shocked Sammy. Just as she was about to read it, the sound of approaching footsteps distracted her and her teammates.
"Bad news guys," Anne Maria commented from the six Maggots. "They have the clue."
"Even with a team advantage they still managed to beat us," Katie reminded them.
"We can let the opposing team have their clue," Scarlett said, looking back towards her teammates. "I have another plan," she said, running ahead with her teammates in tow.
\
The shot cut to the Maggots as they stopped at a clearing further along the trail. "So what's the plan?" Katie asked the girl in front.
"Find a place to hide so we can follow the Rats and their clue to our first souvenir," Scarlett answered. "Into that bush!"
The Maggots dived and painfully tried to hide in a thorn bush.
"Be quiet," Dave hissed, "They're coming."
"Inside a knot is a nest," Sammy read as the scene cut to the Rats. "Your souvenir lives with a pest. Find Polaris to travel northwest? Polaris is the North Star."
"The North Star is right there, so this way's northwest! There's a path!" Trent declared. He ran off, the rest of his teammates following suit.
"Now we follow!" Scarlett declared as the rest of her teammates came out of the bush.
\
The Rats' logo reappeared as the footage skipped ahead again to them running along through the woods.
"Inside a knot is a nest," Geoff muttered to himself as the shot zoomed in on him. "Hey Sammy, what was the rest of that poem again?" he called back without taking his eyes off the path ahead.
When he didn't get an answer he immediately skidded to a stop. "Sammy?!" he yelled in rising panic, and looked back to see nobody behind him.
The shot cut back to show that the rest of the Rats had stopped in their tracks. "What? Did we lose the mouse?" Scott asked.
Geoff gulped. "We get a penalty for each player we lose, right?" he asked nervously.
"And there's a spider crawling around, right?!" Leshawna said in panic. The shot cut outward as he did so, showing a large purple spider crawling down through the shadows of the forest trees.
"We're looking for a knot with a nest, right?" Scott looked off to the right; the camera quick-panned over to a large tree with a noticeable hollow knot in the trunk with the hints of a nest inside; a few green and red marks had been spray-painted on the bark under it.
"There it is!" Leshawna said, immediately rushing towards it.
"But what about Sammy?" Trent asked his team.
"We'll look for her after we get the souvenir," Sierra assured him.
Leshawna started climbing up the trunk as the rest of her team ran up to join her, and soon began to root through the tree hollow with one arm.
Suddenly, a large eye opened up inside the hollow and stared directly at Leshawna. She screamed, and several squid-like tentacles reached out of the tree's other hollows. One quickly grabbed her around the neck and held her up, while another gave her a few wet slaps then poked her in the eye.
"My eye!" Leshawna yelped in pain and terror. In response the tentacle tightened its grip, and Leshawna began to choke.
"What do we do!?" Sierra yelled in panic.
Geoff looked around, then bent down and picked up a handful of small rocks. "We can throw these stones at the octo guy!"
"Good idea!" Scott said as he and his team picked up rocks of their own and began throwing them at the creature, but they seemed to be hitting Leshawna more than the mutant squid-tree monster. Eventually, the thing just raised its captive up even higher, then slammed her down onto the ground and hissed at the others.
"RUN!" Geoff shouted, turning to flee as a tentacle shot towards them, forcing them to scatter.
Unfortunately, Trent was unable to get away in time and was lifted up by the leg. Trent cried in pain as the mutant began to punch him in the stomach with a curled-up tentacle.
The sounds of pain and wet punches caused Leshawna to get frustrated. "No way am I gonna get pushed around or let a squid attack my teammates!" she declared, getting back on her feet and climbing up the tree-squid's trunk while it was distracted. "Quit buggin' us!" she cried as she punched the mutant in the eye.
The beast bellowed in pain, dropping Trent and retracting into its tree. As soon as he got back up, a strand of spider's webbing shot down from above, sticking on to his head and pulling him away from the floor.
Leshawna reached into the knot once again, quickly and triumphantly pulling out a brass key. "And that's how I roll!" she called down to her teammates.
She dropped down to the forest floor, and landed in front of Geoff, who grinned when he saw it. "We got the key, Trent." Geoff received no response as Scott rejoined.
"Trent?!" Leshawna yelled out in concern. "Where are you?!"
As she panicked, the shot changed to a perspective further away, and the footage switched to an infrared shot of the four Rats.
"Guess he's gone," Sierra sighed sadly. "On the plus side, we found the key."
"We lost two players!" Leshawna said. "Shouldn't we go and look for them?"
"Knowing Chris, he probably has them trapped someplace else, so I'm not too worried right now," Scott brushed it off.
"You've got a point there," Geoff agreed.
Just then, the six Maggots arrived on the scene.
Scott was the first to notice them. "No luck here," he quickly said with faux disappointment, "Do you want to see if Sammy and Trent saw anything better over there?" he looked back and asked Sierra, Leshawna, and Geoff.
"Absolutely. It's not just the three of us," Sierra caught on before they turned and ran off.
"I see something!" Katie pointed off to the camera's right – the direction of the squid-tree. "Team colors!" The camera briefly cut over to the knot in question, with a focus on the marks below it in the two teams' colors.
"Excellent eye, Katie," Scarlett complimented while DJ ran to the tree.
"I'm not just a phone addict, y'know," Katie laughed a bit.
"I got the key, everyone," the camera cut to DJ who was in the tree's hollow and holding out a key. He threw the key in front of Dave and Molly.
"Way to go, DJ!" Molly said.
"Now you want to support us," Dave snarked at her. "Where was that when I was frozen?"
"Are you still mad about that?" Molly groaned.
"Of course we are," Katie snorted.
"You don't just leave your teammates behind," Dave lectured.
"Whatever happened happened," Anne Maria got in between them. "Let's focus more on the challenge and less on squabbling right now."
Confessional: Anne Maria
"I'm here to start no fights," Anne Maria confessed. "What Molly did was messed up, but they can scold her after the challenge."
Confessional: Molly
"Thank you, Anne Maria," Molly let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, someone who won't ride on me for my choices!"
Confessionals End
"You're right, Anne Maria," Dave sighed. "We shouldn't waste anymore time fighting."
As Dave bent down to pick up the key, however, a line of spider silk shot down from the treetops, wrapped around Molly, and pulled her up out of sight.
DJ regrouped with his team. "They said they saw something far away, so maybe-" he paused and looked behind his teammates. "Wait, where's Molly?"
The other four looked behind them and gasped. "Oh no, Molly's got taken by the spider!" Dave cried out.
"What do we do now?" Anne Maria griped.
Scarlett sighed. "Not to sound apathetic, but I think we're gonna have to continue on without her."
"Are you sure about that?" Katie questioned.
"I'm sure we can catch up to wherever she's being taken to," Scarlett waved off her concern.
"Well, I hope so," Katie said as she and the team exchanged nervous looks.
Confessional: Dave
"I don't see Molly in the best light right now, but that doesn't mean that I want her to be taken away," Dave began to shudder. "Especially by a spider."
Confessional Ends
"Why are we running so slow when we're in a challenge?" Geoff said as the scene moved back to him, Sierra, Scott, and Leshawna running through the forest. "We won't beat the other team at this rate."
"Relax, I know what I'm doing," Scott conversed with him.
Confessional: Scott
Scott was whittling another piece of wood with his shark tooth. "I'm heading us back into last place where we belong. Another elimination ceremony for the Rats and it's bye-bye Geoff! Or Sierra. I can't decide."
Confessional Ends
"C'mon, let's rock this! With years of exercise and partying, I've got energy to burn!" Geoff said, snatching the key from Leshawna and jogging ahead. The three followed him, but the camera kept its focus on Geoff as he passed a tree stump, then a rock; then stepped on a mysterious clump of dirt… which exploded and sent him flying.
Leshawna, Sierra, and Scott stopped immediately, the shot showing Sierra and Leshawna being shocked and Scott showing delight as Geoff got launched from one land mine to the next off-screen.
During this, however, a line of spider webbing was shot onto Sierra's leg. It quickly wrapped around it and tugged Sierra away from her team.
The camera finally cut back to Geoff, singed and groaning on the ground in an awkward but still holding the Rats' key. The Maggots approached him moments later. "Sorry that had to happen, doll!" Anne Maria comforted as she ran past Geoff.
Scott and Leshawna came to Geoff's need. "You gonna be alright?" Leshawna helped him up.
"I'll walk it off," Geoff tried to remain cool headed.
"Thanks, focus boy," Scott said.
"I don't want to strain my calves," Geoff added.
"We should leave in a few minutes just to make sure we catch up to the other team," Leshawna said. "Sierra just got captured, and I don't want us sticking around here."
\
The scene cut to the lantern-lit cemetery. The camera panned left across its headstones and crosses, several of which were pet-themed, to the entrance as the five remaining Mutant Maggots arrived, huffing and puffing from their run.
"Welcome to the Wawanakwa Pet Cemetery!" Chris greeted them over the loudspeaker.
"We're first. Nice!" Dave said.
"What's the clue?" Anne Maria asked Scarlett.
The camera cut in close as she opened the lid to a small coffin in an open grave, revealing a ragged piece of paper within bearing a list of numbers: 5 in the first row; 5 in the second; 5 in the third. Notably, while most of the numbers were plain black there were three 6s and the 18 were all an eye-catching red. "Three 6's is normally not a good indication of luck," Scarlett said with a nervous look.
"Let's fan out and look for numbers!" DJ said as the perspective cut back to its usual sideview.
"By ourselves?" Anne Maria asked.
\
"I'm in a creepy cemetery in the middle of the woods looking for three 6s. It's no big deal," Anne Maria said warily as she backed through the graveyard. "Good news is, there aren't any owls hooting around. I think I'm safe," she told herself, pausing to smile. "Now, let's see if I can find any numbers..."
She turned around and started examining the nearest headstone, and the shot cut to a view from afar, the footage switching back to infrared. The monster serving as the camera's viewpoint blinked, and when it opened its eyes it had gotten much closer to the jersey girl, and had extended four sharp limbs with tiny claws on the end towards her...
Anne Maria's scream echoed through the cemetery, quickly catching the attention of Katie, DJ, Scarlett, and Dave as they looked up in shock. "Anne Maria?" Dave asked out in concern, the footage quickly skipping ahead to show all four arriving at the location the tanned young lady had been snatched from.
"I could've sworn she was just here," Dave said in confusion.
They all gasped. "Where'd she go?" Katie asked in mild terror.
"I'm just as concerned as you all are," Scarlett started, "but like what happened with Molly, we should move along and hope to catch up with them."
"I know you're trying to be reasonable," DJ said, "but you're rubbing me off the wrong way."
"Yeah, it's like you don't care about what could happen to our teammates," Dave told her.
"I'm just used to not expressing my emotions on occasion," Scarlett told her team members. "Thank you very much."
\
The scene flashed to the Rats, where Scott and Leshawna were next to grimy coffins propped upright against a couple statues.
"Find the souvenir, hide the souvenir, lose the game…" Scott went in to unlock the coffin, but was interrupted by Fang bursting out of the coffin with a menacing grin.
"AAAAHHHHH!" The devious ran away screaming when Fang moved to chase after him.
Geoff was looking at a grave that was open. "This grave smells like french fries. Weird, but I'm not complaining." He got shoved in thanks to Scott running away from Fang.
The camera followed Scott as he ran past two open graves, one of which with a mound of dirt in front of it.
The mutant shark followed his quarry, but when Scott leapt over the mound of dirt, Fang tripped over it. The shark fell into the open grave and growled.
"Why does this graveyard smell like fries?" Katie wondered aloud, following a scent as she walked through the cemetery. She soon came to the pit Geoff was in. "Maybe it's coming from there."
"Hello? Anybody? I need someone to help me down here!" Geoff called out.
Katie backed away a bit. "Did that hole just talk?"
"It's me. Geoff!" Geoff tried to denounce her belief.
"Oh right," Katie sighed in relief. "You're the guy with the cowboy hat."
"That's right," Geoff confirmed her statement. "I fell down this hole, and I'm covered in grease right now."
"So that explains the smell," Katie realized.
"Can you get me out of here?" Geoff begged her. "Grease doesn't mesh well with my shirt."
"I would, but I have to help my team right now," Katie declined. "One of your teammates could get you out. Bye," she left the scene.
"This sucks," Geoff whined, unaware of four maggots coming by the grave. As soon as they saw the grease and Geoff, they jumped in and attacked him, making him howl in agony.
\
The scene cut to Chris, who was watching feeds of both teams on a trio of monitors and laughing hysterically. "Will anyone make it to the spooky cave?" he turned and asked the camera, holding a covered cup with a straw in it. "And if so, how can they possibly make it all the way to the finish line? Less brain, more pain, when we return!" he said, finishing with a sip of his drink.
\
(Commercial Break)
\

I’ve been unwell with covid, woke up in the middle of the night, couldn’t sleep so I decided to take a shower. Today I’ve been getting pain in my tonsils, and while I was in the shower I think I accidentally swallowed a massive tonsil stone or two. After my shower, I brushed my teeth, and as I was brushing my tongue, I gagged and vomited out this pink meaty looking chunk, with two yellow things in it resembling corn (I think they were tonsil stones), but I don’t understand what the pink meaty chunk was? It came out in this single lump/chunk, the last time I ate was around 6 pm, and I didn’t eat any meat, and I vomited it up at around 2-3 am.

Last session was essentially tainted by a player who basically is no longer welcome at the table. I'll go into greater detail about it if requested, but essentially, he robbed the party of experiencing the March of the Dead by keeping it to himself.
The morning after, the party buried Kolyan, and Rahadin made an appearance to deliver condolences on behalf of Strahd. The effect of the mental screams had a great impact on one of my players in particular, but my paladin has been itching for a worthy challenge.
I mentioned in a previous post that I intended to have Rahadin show up at the Tser Pool encampment to usher the party into a pseudo-reading by Madam Eva with the intent of discerning whether or not one of them might be Tatyana's reincarnation. For context, in my setting, this is the driving force behind Strahd reaching out to adventurers beyond the realm of Barovia - he has spent centuries searching for Tatyana within Barovia to no avail and has opted to lure outsiders in, and the many adventurers he's lured in previously have all been "hazed" through Madam Eva for the same reason. When Strahd learns she is not among them, he decides to "play" with them.
So, back to Rahadin. I plan to have him waiting in Madam Eva's tent and usher them in. Madam Eva will, as usual, ask him to step outside while she reads them, and she will discover that one of my players is in fact Tatyana's reincarnation. However, she will lie to Rahadin and beg him to take the matter outside of the encampment where I plan to have Rahadin give them a sound thrashing and perhaps even kill one of them (if they have bad luck with death saves). After the bloodbath, he will leave, and Madam Eva will come to their aid and perform necessary clerical duties to restore them to health before warning them to lay low until they have what they need to take on Strahd and his forces.
Of course, there are other events within the encampment such as the actual card reading and the general joviality of the night (which I think would make a lovely stark contrast in tone leading up to the ass-whooping), but I intend to give the party a homebrewed trinket that just gives them extra "protection" in the overworld, so they're not rolling for encounters every five steps (hyperbole for those of you who want to call me out on this).
So, in terms of advice, is there anything you would consider adding to this to hype up the tension? How would your players respond to something like this happening?

Hey there Reddit! I’m just looking for a new, real, genuine friendship with someone who’d be willing to have the same. Interests don’t really matter much in this case, though we can always discuss them and we might have some stuff in common!
I’m looking for someone who’s willing to be honest and direct with me. Who’s willing to comfort and talk regularly.
Although, some of my interests do consist of Five Nights At Freddy’s Marvel, and rock music! So if you’re a fan of any of those, just let me know :>
I also prefer Discord too!

23F dx: celiac, hEDS, IBS, IST, ADHD, bipolar meds: adderall xr, Lamictal, meloxicam, nadolol, Prilosec, Valium, zofran, depo-provera birth control injection otc: women’s multivitamin every night, midol, gas-x
My spouse and I made a massive pot of chicken noodle soup on 5/31 like we have many times. And by massive, I mean close to two gallons. We changed it up a little bit and added raw collard and mustard greens at the end. They were rinsed before they were added, but apparently not enough because I found a ladybug in my bowl. It had been in the pot maybe five to ten minutes, but the soup was hot and the lid was on. No one ingested it or even had it in their mouth. I had one bowl on 5/31 and a bowl on 6/1.
On 6/2 I started having more nausea than is usual, my stomach was rumbling and gurgling, I felt bloated, and at one point I had to book it to the bathroom and had dark green diarrhea. The second time I went it was still dark green but it was basically liquid. Thankfully we keep bathroom spray in both bathrooms because it was very much necessary. My appetite was nonexistent even though I could tell my body was hungry.
On 6/3 I was still having liquid diarrhea but it was more of a light green/yellow and still smelled awful. My stomach rumbled and gurgled while I was on the toilet, especially when I strained to make sure I was actually finished. I only had one bowel movement. My stomach continued to gurgle throughout the day, my appetite was still gone, and I still had bouts of nausea. I was still feeling bloated. Spouse said they were able to make the soup less bitter and we had been picking the greens out so I had two bowls.
Today is 6/4. I had a little bit of an appetite this morning and was able to eat some mashed potatoes but my appetite is mostly gone now. I’m currently on the toilet with diarrhea, stomach pain, and gurgling/rumbling. It’s slightly more solid than it has been and was more yellow than green but still has a hint of green.
What should I do?

I have seen nicknames and abbreviations for Stands, like Star Platinum to Star Plat/SP, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap to D4C, etc. How about we do that to our own?
Examples: * Cave Ambience -> Camby, Honey -> Jobber or Honslinger or R.A.B. (Revenge Arc “Blindy”) * Deaf to All But the Song -> DTA, Tracy -> Braincell Keeper * At the Airport Terminal -> Microsoft Flight Simulator, Yoranne -> YR * Your Reality -> Ctrl+S, Pyra -> Player or Unhinged Hanako * Adabana Necromancy -> AN, May -> Franchouchou or Youmu * Lost Emotion -> LE, Kass -> Sea Cucumber (海心 and 海參 are Cantonese homophones, the former being Kass and the latter sea cucumber) * Crystallised Silver -> Elsa, Lily -> ‘Lay or MEDIC or E * Panic at the Disco -> PATD, Monica -> Mo or a09.exe * Eternal Spring Dream -> Freddy Krueger, Joanne -> Jo or Yuno * Meta Night’s Revenge -> Johnny * Junkertown Plan -> Megumin, Carrie -> White or Psychic Gremlin * Haikei Doppelgänger -> HD, Twins -> WataMote and Pillar respectively * One Winged Bird -> OH! CREATE!, Cap -> Biblically Accurate Stand User * Inkya Impulse -> APOCRINE SWEAT GLANDS! * DisImmunity as a whole -> DI or the Unholy Offspring of Katawa Shoujo and Azumanga Daioh * The Legion of Loopers -> LoL or Legion (I use this one outside of fanStands) or Higurashi Game Club

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A staredown soon ensued.
One that neither of us seemed to be willing to let up on.
But as far as staredowns went, this one was pretty evenly matched as neither of us really had the ability to ‘blink’, or at least as far as an outside observer could see.
My whole schtick was pretty obvious, the tinted lenses were more or less just doing the job for me, taking blinking out of the equation entirely and adding a solid plus ten to my intimidation base stats.
The shadowy cloaked figure’s approach was just downright bizarre though, as instead of eyes, there were just these two trapezoidal ‘lights’ that I assumed were supposed to be a placeholder for his actual eyes hidden somewhere underneath the shadowy void casted by his hood.
A void which was downright pitchblack, and completely impenetrable to the naked eye.
The figure gave off a surreal vibe as his rogue-like attire, coupled with the hood and the impenetrable shadow it casted, looked like it’d been ripped straight out of a Castles and Wyverns art book or a high-fantasy comic. The pitch-black void that obscured his face, and those two trapezoidal eyes that hovered and shifted with increasing scrutiny, just didn’t look real.
While most would leave it at that, I wasn’t one to leave a mystery hanging, I was a human with an entire visual sensor suite to work with for crying out loud. So before I even knew it, I reflexively went to activate my night-vision cameras. Only to see that the shadowy effect covering up his face was still there.
This led me to only one solid conclusion.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 140% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
A quick localized environmental scan made it clear to me that this was yet another one of the Nexus’ weird mana-fueled acts of tomfoolery.
“What say you, first years? Are you here for healing, or are you here for a visit? For as I have stated, the healing wing is not accepting visits at this point in time.” The hooded figure answered with this strange mix between a sing-song voice and an attempt at sounding gruff and gravely.
“We have an unfulfilled point of personal privilege that requires addressment.” Thacea stepped up to the plate, promptly placing herself by my side, then taking several steps forward. “Along with an unresolved conflict which requires immediate resolution by the party with which the aforementioned point of personal privilege was evoked but was halted due to unforeseen circumstances.” The princess began flexing her courtly-talk with the hooded figure, which clearly seemed to have some effect as he reached up a single gloved hand up to where his chin should be, only to have his fingers disappear as soon as they entered the dark shadowy effect currently covering up his face.
“And with whom is this unresolved matter incurred?” The figure inquired plainly, though the way he spoke shifted to something a bit more accommodating, perhaps even a little bit more hospitable than the gruffer tone he’d initially directed towards me.
“An apprentice, good sir. Apprentice Larial to be precise.” Thacea clarified politely, using what I could only describe as this flighty, chirpy, almost haughty tone of voice that was an exaggerated version of the cadence she used during our first interactions together.
“Hmm…” The hooded figure replied with a concerned grumble. “I was going to waive this particular matter, allowing the fair lady-” He paused, before making a point to stare at both me and Thalmin. “-and her two knights to pass on through, under the points of exceptional circumstances.” He continued in a less restrained, more flighty cadence. “However, you must excuse my inability to do so, my lady. My hands are currently tied via the powers that be, and I simply cannot grant your request.” The man began weaving a string of apologetics, giving Thacea a genuine and polite bow in response. “I must apologize for this discrepancy in expectant decorum.”
This didn’t make things any better for our circumstances though.
And it was clear Thacea understood this as she continued pressing forward.
“May I have your name and title, my good sir?” Thacea chirped lightly.
“Appointed-Deputy Magistrate Sir Arlan Ostoy, Senior Apprentice of the Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. May I have the honor and the privilege of requesting your name, my fair lady?”
“Princess Thacea Dilani, of the Aetheronrealm, First Year and Scholastic Peer of the Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts.” Thacea replied with a full bow, and a half-curtsy of her own.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The shadowy figure bowed yet again.
“The pleasure is all mine, Sir-Magistrate.” Followed by yet another bow by Thacea.
There was some serious song and dance going on here, and one that I was observing with bated breath.
“Might I inquire further as to the particular reasoning behind this unfortunate and unseemly inability to respect the rights of expectant decorum?” Thacea quickly shot back.
“As I have alluded to, your highness, the powers that be prevent me from furthering the natural solution to your particular grievances. If this were any other instance in time, at any other location or place, I am sure this matter would have been resolved in an expedient and timely fashion. This situation, as you have alluded to yourself, results from a very particular set of unforeseen circumstances. Circumstances which currently dictate my actions in a manner which just so happens to be in conflict with your points of personal privilege, your highness.” The man’s posture, the way he stood, even the way he talked seemed very particular when addressing Thacea.
It was at that point that something changed. I didn’t know what, and I wasn’t sure why, but Thacea seemed to be shifting towards a tactical retreat, as she clacked her beak several times before addressing the both of us. “This is absolutely preposterous, I will need a moment to clear my mind but when I do return…” Thacea turned towards the magistrate/guard/apprentice person yet again. “There will be words exchanged.”
At Thacea’s prompting, we all left the room, but not before slamming the door behind us shut in a similar manner to Ilunor’s drama-filled exits.
We continued walking away from the medical wing at a steady pace, until another privacy screen was suddenly brought up.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 275% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
“I have a plan.” Thacea began. “And this is entirely relying on you two having the physical prowess to back up your military backgrounds.” She continued ominously.
“Oh princess, you sully the Havenbrock name if you believe my mercenary heritage is in any way, shape, or form a mere decorative mantlepiece.” Thalmin responded with a sarcastic, yet excitable tone.
“I assure you, Thacea, I think my training has almost every eventuality accounted for.” I added with an affirmative nod.
“So what’s the plan?” Thalmin barked out excitedly as we stopped right in the middle of this long, wide hallway connecting the main castle with the medical wing. Thacea was quick to answer this question by wordlessly gesturing to a lone door on the right side of the hallway.
Windows lining either side of the hallway made it clear that this entire structure was just an elevated bridge connecting the main castle to an entirely separate compound.
This made the presence of a door smack-dab in the middle of its length sort of bizarre.
Upon entering it though, we were treated to an open-air rooftop terrace with a few seats and benches. The whole outcropping gave us an unparalleled view of the roaring waterfall beneath the Academy, and a direct line of sight to the medical wing and its five distinct towers.
The princess continued walking silently as we reached the edge of the terrace’s balcony, overlooking the sheer cliff face at a height that more or less put me in mind of your typical open-air rooftops on your typical Acela Corridor skyscraper.
“I’ve observed that the medical wing seems to consist of a large tower-atrium, with several more towers connected to it via additional corridors. Similar to spokes on a wheel. As you can see from this vantage point, it seems as if most rooms have private balconies. If we cannot make our way to the apprentice via conventional channels, then I plan to reach her via more unconventional means.” Thacea turned towards me with a hardened look in her gaze. “Emma, is your… insect artifice ready for use?”
My eyes widened at that, as I nodded affirmatively. “Just for the record, we call it a drone.” I quickly corrected Thacea. “But, yes, I can designate individuals and targets for it to track down or follow. However, I can’t just have it poking around in every room since there’s no guarantee that the drone will be able to get a lock on them. There’s too many variables involved that would get in the way of the drone actually being able to zero in on a person’s face. From the beds facing the right way, to bandages possibly covering up her face, to-”
“I don’t want your artifice to observe every balcony and window, Emma. That will most certainly take too much time, and as you’ve stated, there’s no guarantee of actually identifying a face considering the multitudes of factors involved.” Thacea interjected. “What I plan to do is to return to the Deputy-Magistrate, and to attempt to reach a compromise that he will abide by. I plan for him to take us, or rather, your drone straight to the apprentice.”
“And how will you accomplish this?” Thalmin whined,his head tilted in curiosity.
“I will draft a letter, addressed directly to the apprentice, and request that it be taken straight to her room. This way, the Deputy-Magistrate will in a sense be able to accomplish his obligations to the Expectant Decorum, and in doing so he will lead your insec-, drone, straight to the apprentice’s room.”
I stared at Thacea with wide eyes, as her back and forths with the deputy-magistrate began taking on a completely different meaning in this new light.
“That way, we can find out exactly which room the apprentice is in.” I replied bluntly.
“Correct. However, from there, I cannot say my plans are in any way foolproof.” Thacea replied with a sullen coo.
“Well go on, princess, it sounds pretty good so far!” Thalmin urged.
“Ascertaining the apprentice’s room is only half of the stated objective. Actually getting there is another matter entirely. Because depending on where the apprentice is located… my idea for the latter half of this quest involves you two scaling your way towards her room.” The princess spoke with an immense level of trepidation. “On the exterior aspect of the castle, if that needed to be said.”
My heart skipped a beat as the princess laid out her plans. I looked across the absurdly spindly hallway-bridge that this little terrace was somehow attached to, and towards the five towers that made up the medical wing.
Thalmin did the same, although his face seemed to indicate that he was at the very least, considering the plan at least somewhat seriously.
“Alright.” I muttered out loud, instinctively trying to place a palm on my forehead, only for the glove to bonk straight off. “I have several ideas. First, we might be able to do this remotely. I’m thinking once we find out which room she’s in, we fly in a larger drone, one carrying with it a deployable holographic projector or some other two-way communications device so that we can talk to her remotely.” As soon as I spoke that idea out loud however, things started to fall apart. “But because of how thick the walls are, and considering the distance between the tower and our dorm, I might have to deploy repeaters in order to daisy-chain the connection all the way back to the dorms. I mean, we can’t just set up shop out here in the open after all. At which point we’d have a continuous chain of signal-repeater drones flying all across the Academy… which wouldn’t be ideal. No, scratch that, that won’t work.”
The pair stared at me with varying degrees of confusion, but seemed to have collectively decided to ignore the idea after I’d scrapped it.
“I say we just climb it!” Thalmin yelped out, but not before another idea hit me. One that could work, but that required me consulting Thacea first.
“I mean, we could, but…” I turned to face Thacea. “What’s the Academy’s policy on noise? Or rather, do you think we could get away with something really really loud, buzzing outside of the towers?”
Thacea once more stared at me with a look of just utter confusion, but shrugged it off and went with it anyways. “I would highly recommend against generating too much noise for this particular quest, Emma. It would most certainly garner a lot of unwanted attention.” Thacea spoke plain and simple.
I couldn’t help but to groan internally in frustration at that.
That makes flying over there a no-go… it would’ve made things so much easier though…
“Alright, well, that more or less places us in a very awkward situation with not a lot of options available to us, huh?” I thought to myself outloud again, as I craned my head over to an excitable Thalmin.
“I guess I have to climb on over.” I stated in no uncertain terms.
“Wait, I?!” Thalmin responded with a shocked and incredulous bark. “There’s no way I’m allowing you to climb over there yourself without assistance or-”
“Thalmin, there’s no need for you to climb on over with me.” I interjected. “This whole mission is hedged on me talking to the apprentice one-on-one. Remember the gardens? The apprentice wouldn’t allow you anywhere near us when we started talking. It’d be a waste of time, energy, and more importantly… a huge risk to your safety. I don’t want to risk your life needlessly, Thalmin. Not especially for a fight that isn’t your own.”
“Well you’re part of our peer group, so it’s my fight as well.” Thalmin replied with a dejected growl, but eventually relented. “But you’re right, Emma. I hate to admit it, but you’re right.”
I nodded at Thalmin’s slowly. “Besides, there’s an important job I need you to do.” I began scrounging through one of my pouches, and began palming for my spare in-ear earpieces. “I need you on lookout, to keep me aware of anything fishy developing in case I need to pull out.”
Thalmin looked over the side of the terrace, towards the raging waters beneath this side of the Academy as he let out a sigh. “That shouldn’t be too hard. Hardly anyone will be passing by this terrace, and beyond that there’s no way anyone can spot you from below, given there’s nothing but the cascading rapids below us. There’s no one that can spot you from here, save for perhaps the foxes in the library. We’re most certainly on the right side of the Academy for this quest, that’s for certain.” Thalmin pointed at the library in the far distance.
“Oh, I’m not too worried about anyone seeing me. I’m more concerned about someone compromising my extraction point, i.e. this little terrace here.” I acknowledged.
“But, surely you must be worried about someone seeing you scaling the walls…” Thalmin scanned me up and down, as if wanting to comment about my size but- “You’re massive.”
“Okay, first off, rude.” I spoke sarcastically, and raised both hands up for added effect. “But in all seriousness, I have another device that can mask my visual presence.” I pulled out a plastic-like poncho from one of my pouches, activating it, and revealing its active-camo properties as it projected whatever was behind it, albeit with some imperfections. “It isn’t perfect, but from afar it should actually work pretty well.”
Both Thalmin and Thacea stared at each other in utter shock as they saw this.
“A mana-less-”
“I think… this is a matter worth discussing another time, Princess.” Thalmin interjected with a polite exasperated breath. “But I expect a good explanation for this one, Emma.” Thalmin pointed a finger right at me.
“In any case, I will be diverting the Deputy-Magistrate’s attention by preoccupying him with needless and vapid chatter. This should take attention away from the apprentice and your intrusion, Emma.” Thacea quickly added, and promptly tied this whole impromptu operation up nicely.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road then. We’ll head back to the dorms and get that letter drafted so-”
“Already done.” Thacea interjected, bringing up a parchment that she promptly began sealing into an envelope.
“Wait, when did you-”
“Whilst we were talking, I used a dictation spell. The letter is written and signed.” Thacea spoke nonchalantly, as she held a neatly sealed envelope in one of her talons.
“Wait, what, when did you, how did you-?”
“I carry a quill and extra parchment in my bag of holding. This is to account for any eventuality where a statement in writing, a legal affidavit, or a notarized letter may be required.” Thacea responded a-matter-of-factly.
“Alright then.” I tapped the pouch with the INFIL-DRONE, the small little thing peeking its head out much to the visible disgust of the pair. “So we’re ready for phase one of the operation. Misdirection and information gathering. We’ll go in, drop the letter, and have the drone do its thing. After that, we wait for the drone to return, and we’ll take it from there on whether or not we can continue with Phase Two: penetrating the enemy lines.”
“What would be stopping us from continuing with phase two?” Thalmin quickly asked.
“Well, simple. If the apprentice is still conked out from her injuries, there wouldn’t be any point in attempting to meet her. So hopefully, she’s going to be in a good enough state to talk to. We’ll know when we get the drone footage back.”
“Fair point.” Thalmin nodded.
“So, is everyone ready to begin?” Thacea asked.
A series of affirmative nods later, we began our quick walk back over to the atrium.

The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts, Extraction Point Alpha (Open Air Terrace Overlooking the Medical Wing). Local Time: 1420 Hours.
That took way more time than I’d initially thought.
In fact, it took so long that I was beginning to wonder how two people could have an unending conversation where nothing of value was spoken and nothing of value was gained.
It was basically elevator small talk, but written by the same writers who wrote Bridgerwesson Lane, and adapted to a theatrical release with a trilogy that ended with a movie arbitrarily cut up into a two-parter.
I honestly zoned out for a few moments during those hours, as I decided to use the spare time to review the grappling hook and mountaineering gear I’d be using on this little quest.
Eventually however, the Deputy-Magistrate relented, at which point I let loose the INFIL-DRONE to do its thing.
It’d been twenty minutes since we left and made our way back to this open-air terrace, and all of us were waiting with bated breath for the results the drone had in store.
“So, how fast can that drone of yours fly anyways Emma-”
Thalmin was immediately cut off as the drone in question buzzed right by his ears, causing them to flick this way and that, before flattening out entirely.
“Speak of him and he will come.” I chuckled, as I outstretched a gloved hand over for the little drone to perch atop of.
Once again, the pair stared at it with a look of mild disgust, and then panic as it crawled all the way back into its docking port, and began uploading the data we needed.
“Alright, let’s see what we have here.” I spoke to no one in particular before shifting my attention to the EVI. “EVI, isolate and replay relevant footage, and calculate the target’s location.”
“Acknowledged, parsing…”
“Location Parsing. Footage isolated. Play Footage?”
“Affirmative.”
I immediately pulled out my data-tab for the gang to be able to watch as well, as the footage began just as the Deputy-Magistrate, and by extension the drone, arrived at the apprentice’s room.
The door, and all details posted in the front were all captured, and so too was the state of the apprentice revealed to us in short order as I braced myself for a mangled and bandaged-up mass of broken bones.
What I instead saw, was… still a heavily bandaged up figure. However, the most important thing was that they were awake.
And what was remarkable, was the fact that they were able to move without assistance. As the apprentice reached over to receive the letter wordlessly, shifting a bit in bed as she did so.
“This is a letter addressed from a Princess Thacea Dilani of the Aetheronrealm. I have fulfilled my duties and obligations as per the Expectant Decorum. I will now take my leave, Apprentice Larial.” The deputy-magistrate spoke with the same air of overbearing properness, seriously making me consider whether or not this was how he was all the time.
Whatever the case may be, the apprentice seemed to be healed enough to move her arms at the very least, as she grabbed the letter and spoke hoarsely back in response. “Thank you Senior Apprentice.”
There wasn’t much to the footage beyond those interactions, but it was good enough for the purposes of this mission.
“Alright.” I spoke, as I pocketed the tablet. “We have our answer. The apprentice seems healed up enough to speak to, so phase two of this operation is a-go.”
The pair nodded in response, just in time for the EVI to be done with whatever calculations were needed to determine the apprentice’s precise location.
I turned to the tower, as the room and its balcony was highlighted.
It was just about five stories above from where we were.
Meaning it’d be a hell of a climb.
“The room’s about five floors up.” I announced with a sigh.
“Are you sure you can make that journey, Emma?” Thacea responded worryingly. “I… I will be honest, Emma, I am having some second doubts about this whole idea. The concept just came to me as flying between tall structures and towers is just second nature to us Aetheronrealmers. Considering the heights involved, and your inability to fly, I’m wondering if this whole quest was a folly of my own shortsighted-”
“It’s fine, Thacea.” I cut the avinor off. “I can do this, trust me.” I placed a single hand on the princess’ shoulder, and squeezed it once for effect.
Meanwhile, the EVI began doing what it did best: attempting to minimize the risk associated with my hairbrained schemes, as it deployed the suit’s primary lookout drone in order to start mapping out the best possible route forward.
This spooked the pair yet again, as they both jolted backwards.
Thankfully, the drone was deathly silent, so it shouldn’t bring too much attention to it.
It was at this point that I brought out a pair of earpieces I was scrounging my pouches for earlier, one for Thacea, and another for Thalmin.
“These will help you stay in contact with me throughout the climb.” I stated plainly, as I attempted to latch it onto my own ear for demonstrative purposes, only to realize that I could not, given the suit was in the way.
I sighed, as I turned towards Thalmin. “Do you mind if I put it on for you?” I asked sheepishly.
“Erm, what is it, Emma?”
“It’s…” I paused, as I attempted to find the best way to describe this without taking up too much time. “It’s a communication artifice, Thalmin. It’ll allow us to talk to each other remotely, relying on that drone there-” I pointed at the lookout drone still flying away from us. “-to relay our voices to each other.”
Thalmin, as expected, looked at me with an expression of partial dumbfoundedness whilst Thacea seemed completely transfixed by the earpieces I held in my hands.
“So it’s like a hearing-sense?” Thalmin responded with a questioning bark.
“Look, I’ll just demonstrate.” I managed out with a sigh as Thalmin reluctantly nodded and allowed me to begin hooking in the earpiece, looping it around his fluffy triangular ears.
This inevitably resulted in my hand brushing over the lupinor’s fluffy head a few times, which seemed to elicit some large tail-wags and a dulcet rumble.
I tried to ignore that, as I pulled back and began demonstrating. “I’ve turned off my speakers, can you still hear me, Thalmin?”
“Yes, I can.” The lupinor spoke after clearing his throat.
I turned my speakers back on immediately after. “Alright, I’ll get into the specifics of how it works later, but as for now, just know that I can hear whatever you say.”
“I’m afraid I don’t think that artifice will be compatible with my… anatomy, Emma.” Thacea spoke calmly, as she pointed at several aspects of the earpiece that required an actual ear canal to fit into, and an earlobe to loop around.
“This complicates things a bit, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. How long do you think you can keep up the distracting conversation with the deputy-magistrate for, Thacea?”
“We just went through several hours discussing nothing in particular, I can most certainly continue that trend from dusk till dawn.” The avinor spoke confidently, and frankly, rather proudly. “The issue lies not in how long I can manage to maintain the conversation, but in how long it will take you to accomplish this quest, Emma.” Thacea shot back.
“An hour.” I nodded confidently. “Twenty minutes to scoot my way over there, twenty to talk to the apprentice, and twenty to get back.”
“I’ll make that two hours then.” Thacea responded without a second thought. “We need to account for potential complications, and an extra hour of senseless dialogue will most certainly not be an issue for me.”
With an affirmative nod from me, and an approving glance from Thalmin, I now turned towards the exterior of the two hundred foot corridor leading to the concourse, and the extra five hundred feet it would take to get from the atrium to the tower in question.
It was at that last minute that the EVI brought out another suggestion, one that was formulated with the aid of the new datasets provided by the FEBNPMS lookout drone that had been busy mapping out the best route forward.
It was… an inherently riskier approach, one that my aunt would definitely not approve of, but it definitely beat scaling a wall and wedging spikes into it.
“Actually… I have a better idea than simply scaling the walls.”

The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts, En Route to Medical Wing Tower C, Room 705. Local Time: 1430 Hours.
“Grapple secure.”
I will never forget the feeling of falling.
The very wrong feeling that came with leaping off of solid ground into empty sky, of suddenly seeing and feeling the world whizzing by me.
It was a visceral feeling, a gut-churning sensation, dominated by an overbearing sense of impending doom that takes over your terrestrial brain that wasn’t designed to feel the ‘freeing’ sensation of being unbound to the ground beneath you.
Leaping over from the edge of the terrace was the worst part of it. But after that tentative jump, things started to become just a little bit easier.
The Academy’s proclivity for over-aggrandized architectural design would finally serve a purpose beyond just decorative aesthetics.
Because it was clear that the walls weren’t really designed to ward off anyone daring to scale them. As there existed several, if not hundreds of these little greebles and outcroppings that served no purpose but to act as decorative pieces on the side of the castle. Some held stone flowers, whilst others had lamps or other light pieces of varying designs.
No matter what they were, or what meaning they held, all were equal and valid targets in the eyes of my grappling hook.
As I dangled there from the first outcropping, held in place by a single high-tensile cable, I looked up to see Thalmin looming over the edge “EMMA?!” I heard him shout in a panic. It was clear that he was unable to see anything, as my light-refraction cloak was currently doing its job well.
“I’m still here, Thalmin. You can’t see me but I’m dangling from this weird outcropping that looks like an overinflated vase.”
“NEXT TIME, BE SURE TO INFORM ME AS TO THE NATURE OF YOUR IMPOSSIBLE ARTIFICES BEFORE USE, UNDERSTOOD?!”
“Of course. You’ll know if I’ve fallen if you hear a long scream followed by a large splat.”
“That’s not funny!”
I chuckled nervously in response, before turning to face the grueling, gut-churning journey ahead of me. “Humor’s my way of dealing with stress, and trust me, I have a lot of stress to work through right about now.”
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(Author’s Note: Hey guys! Time for some unconventional solutions courtesy of Emma and the gang! We're going to meet the apprentice one way or another! I hope you guys enjoy! :D The next Chapter is already up on Patreon if you guys are interested in getting early access to future chapters!)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 34 of this story is already out on there!)]

I'm a high school student and I've been struggling with procrastination for two years. On school days I'm given homework but in addition to that I also want to accomplish other tasks like exercising and studying. However, every time I think about the many things I have to get done, I feel like there isn't enough time (I usually start working at five in the evening) and I feel like I will need a lot of effort to complete each task (due to being perfectionistic or thinking that the task is too hard). Then, I feel so overwhelmed and stressed that I don't want to do any of the tasks. Instead I chose to escape from the stress by watching shows, videos or scrolling endlessly. Deep down I know that procrastinating is going to give me less time to finish the things I want to do but I convince myself that I can finish them later. In the end, I procrastinate until late at night and either stay up late or wake up earlier to rush through homework. I have no more time to spend on studying or anything else and more school work just keeps piling up.
I have high expectations for myself and my board exams start in less than a year, yet I keep falling behind on schoolwork and other commitments. I thought I would be able to break this cycle during the holidays as I could use the extra time to catch up on tasks but I ended up procrastinating from the stress again. This problem is causing a detrimental effect on my life and I've been having a hard time as I feel hopeless and scared from not knowing where to start to get things done without procrastinating. It's like doing anything productive (even cleaning my room so I have space to do homework) makes me stressed to the point where I just go back to watching videos or scroll on social media for an entire day. I know I could just force myself to start working but at the same time I believe that the stress would just drive me back into a cycle of procrastination. Thank you for reading my rant and I would be grateful if you could share any advice.