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bellakwan · 2 months

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Into the Woods (2014)

Into the Woods (2014), directed by Rob Marshall, is a musical film based on the 1987 Broadway musical. The original musical was created by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. The film follows the journey of the Baker and his Wife as they attempt to break a curse placed upon them by a vengeful witch. The curse prevents them from having a child due to a past misdeed by the Baker's father. To lift the curse, the Witch tasks them with retrieving specific items: a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.

The storyline is inspired by various fairy tales, including those of the Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault, such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," "Jack and the Beanstalk," and "Rapunzel." Throughout the film, these fairy tale elements intertwine as the characters navigate their quests and confront the consequences of their actions.

Deconstruction of Fairy Tales

Interwoven Storylines

Rather than telling each fairy tale separately, the film intertwines multiple stories into one cohesive narrative. Characters from different tales cross paths and their individual quests become interconnected.

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Musical Number: "I Wish" This musical number highlights the interconnectedness of the characters' storylines and desires. Despite coming from different backgrounds and facing different challenges, the characters' wishes ultimately converge, driving them to join forces and embark on a shared quest into the woods.

Consequences Beyond Happy Endings

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In traditional fairy tales, the story often ends with a "happily ever after" once the main conflict is resolved. However, "Into the Woods" explores what happens after the characters achieve their goals. It delves into the complexities of life after the fairy tale ending, showing that achieving one's desires may lead to unforeseen consequences and challenges.

The film deconstructs typical fairy tale tropes by challenging the notion of black-and-white morality. Characters are faced with moral dilemmas, and their choices are not always clear-cut.

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Musical Number: "Your Fault" The characters engage in a blame game, each deflecting responsibility onto the others for the predicament they are in. The Baker blames Jack for stealing from the Giant, Jack blames Little Red Riding Hood for encouraging him to climb the beanstalk, and the Baker blames the Witch for cursing him, and so on. This exploration of blame and accountability challenges the traditional fairy tale trope of clear-cut heroes and villains, instead emphasizing the complexity of human nature and the shades of gray inherent in moral decision-making.

Representation of Feminity:

Empowerment and Agency

The film features strong and empowered female characters who defy traditional gender roles. Characters like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood assert agency and independence as they navigate their own quests and make decisions that shape their destinies.

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Musical Number: "On the Steps of the Palace" While the traditional fairy tale of Cinderella focuses primarily on external events and actions, in "Into the Woods," Cinderella faces an internal conflict and decision-making process. Cinderella wrestles with her emotions and considers the consequences of her choices. She must decide whether to return to the prince and risk facing the challenges of palace life or to leave her slipper behind and return to her ordinary life. She actively participates in shaping her own destiny, rather than passively waiting for a prince to rescue her. This shift empowers Cinderella as a proactive protagonist who takes control of her own narrative, subverting the passive damsel-in-distress trope often associated with traditional fairy tales.

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Musical Number: "I Know Things Now" In the traditional fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood is often portrayed as a naive and innocent young girl who is easily deceived by the Big Bad Wolf. However, in "Into the Woods," Little Red Riding Hood is given more agency and complexity as a character. She is depicted as a resourceful and adventurous young girl who is capable of taking care of herself. Throughout the story, Little Red Riding Hood demonstrates resilience, courage, and intelligence as she navigates the dangers of the woods.

Rapunzel asserts her agency and independence by defying the Witch's attempts to control her. She actively seeks freedom from the tower and ultimately takes control of her own destiny by leaving the Witch's care. This portrayal challenges traditional depictions of women as passive and submissive, showing Rapunzel as a proactive and assertive character.

She saves her "Prince Charming" by reversing a curse that the evil witch set upon him that blinded him. Instead of waiting to be rescued or relying on others for help, she takes proactive action to assist someone in need. This portrayal challenges the traditional notion of women as passive damsels in distress and highlights Rapunzel's autonomy and self-reliance.

Representations of Masculinity

Redefined Notions of Heroism

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Musical Number: "Agony" Unlike the confident and flawless prince often depicted in traditional fairy tales, the prince charming in "Into the Woods" exhibits vulnerability and insecurity. They struggle with feelings of dissatisfaction and emptiness in their relationship with Cinderella and Rapunzel, leading them to seek validation and fulfillment elsewhere. This portrayal challenges the traditional image of the prince as a flawless hero and instead presents a more multidimensional character. They are depicted as being extremely self-obsessed, superficial, and prone to objectifying women. They pursue Cinderella and Rapunzel primarily based on their physical appearances and statuses, rather than genuine love or connection. This portrayal critiques traditional fairy tale tropes that prioritize surface-level attributes and reinforces the idea that true love is based on mutual respect and understanding.

Overall, Into the Woods (2014) offers a more nuanced exploration of gender roles and identities, presenting characters who defy traditional expectations and stereotypes. By introducing flawed and relatable protagonists, the film challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions of femininity and masculinity, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and diverse representation of gender in fairy tale storytelling.

Discussion Questions 1. Discuss the use of humor and satire in "Little Shop of Horrors." How does the film poke fun at American consumerism and the American Dream? 2. "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is based on a series of children's books by Mary Norton. How does the film adaptation compare to the source material? What changes were made, and how do they affect the story? 3. What elements of the film remain relevant, and how does it continue to captivate new generations of viewers?

@theuncannyprofessoro

#oxyfilmmusical #Youtube

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jatcv930au · 4 months

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BLACK AND THE BEANSTALK!!!

(Part 1)

Once upon a time, in worlds, far far away, there was a cute little creature who was different from other people, hungry, homeless and poor, no one that cared for her…. Her name was Black.

You see, Black was born abandoned by her previous parents, until she was adopted by a young kind bunny named CJ, which was her owner and friend. She would spend so many good times together with him and his family until one day, Something terrible happened…. Black tried to save her only friend and her new family but they died from the house on fire and didn’t make it… because a mob attacked them for calling them demons and raising her, calling her, “a dark pet…..”

She ran away from the village and never returned home again… Black felt heartbroken and sees the world so cruel to her and wishing someone would understand that she’s not monster and just wanted a friend.

Months passed and a young baby creature was poorly looking for food to live and survive this cruel life on her own with no help and no support from anybody…. Until she met a stranger.

When the stranger saw her, Black felt the sense to growl, being aware if the person was dangerous or not, but it turns out that they weren’t. Out of curiosity, the stranger explained that they mean no harm and wanted to help them. What she wish for….

Black couldn’t talk but makes curious woomy sounds, not understanding what’s going on or what’s the stranger’s plan. Out of the blue, all the stranger did was gave her 3 small looking ordinary beans…

“Plants these beans and it will turn into a great big beanstalk,” they smiled, “I know what you wished for. Believe in my plans.”

Then, the stranger disappears like they weren’t here in the first place at all, and this brought Black so many confusion and questions about the beans given to her, but she did as the stranger told her so and found a little place to hide because it’s started raining. Oh how she hated the rain, make her wet and soaked drowned all the time. Fast asleep at full moon, little did she notice that after it rained, a beanstalk started to grow!!

The next morning that she woke up, the giant beanstalk caught her eyes on how tall it was and more curiosity to the small baby girl. She wondered what’s above the skies… she must find out, so she started climbing up the beanstalk. When she finally got to the top of the stalk, cloud was surrounding her and far from where she’s standing was a dark giant castle…

To break out of her curiosity, Black, decided to move forward but was scared to walk on the clouds, so she saw a beautiful butterfly and jumped on it as it flew across the sky and made it to firm land below her. Her next stop was the giant doors that looked like doggy doors but one smaller and the other bigger after another. After leaving the giant butterfly as it flew away peacefully, she made her way towards the doors. She tried to push as it would open but wouldn’t budge due to her size. That was when Black then had an idea and found a rock nearby, pushing it towards one of the small doors to lift them and it worked… a small gap that she could fit through.

Once inside, Black took caution upon her entry, surrounding her to be dark and quiet…. Her stomach growled and echoed the castle, while blushing with her hands clutching to her stomach. Black looked around to discover a strange place, never seen before until her nose caught a scent that smelled delicious. She found a table above her, before looking up, dozens of appetizing treats could be seen and Black ran up the table legs and had a feast of her own. She never had a feast like this in a long time after months of looking for food. The first real meal in months with no food and a true survivor of the cruel world below her.

Suddenly, during her feasting was interrupted by loud booming noises, caws, and hisses, coming their way to the table.

“!!!!!”

Black had to get out fast, running down the table legs and looking for a hiding place. The nearest hiding place she could find was the mouse hole and quickly ran inside as the noise came to a stop. Seconds later, the noise was heard again. She decided to peek and see where was the noise coming from. She peeked out and saw dark animals that looked like pets as she counted 5-6 animals all together in this giant castle alone. There were 2 black dogs, a grey demon puppy, a black witch cat, a black crow, and a black hypnosis snake.

Black was so scared of them, and hid behind the shadows once again, not wanting to be caught by the evil pets…. She then heard growling as they saw bits of her nibbles on each of their food, decided to search for the intruder of the house. One of them found a rock by the door, ink trails left behind and stains on the table.

They were this close to find black and black begged and prayed that they wouldn’t find her, hopefully…

TBC…….

@kaiju-wolfdragon @mimiocto @psychonauts-razigula @rookie-choco @ask-de-writer anyone else?

#jatcv au #oc #black #jack and the beanstalk #oc not mine #kaiju wolfdragon #the dark pets #soul #inspredrawaw #Rufus the black dog omen

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unclejackworthing · 2 months

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"I know it was you who prevented me from getting hurt, and I want to thank you." (Ingvar. How the fuck? Don't worry about it)

The people of Wellington Wells have a bit of an aversion to anyone who's different. It's been that way ever since the mass production of Joy began; a drug meant to keep everyone happy and free of their painful memories. Anything out of the ordinary carried the risk of bringing those memories back.

Jack, though, is pretty damn neutral on diversity. The Joy has long since stopped working on him- he has bigger problems than anyone wandering in from outside of town. Problems like the trash bag of dismembered body parts he just dropped into a trashcan down the very alley Ingvar had darted down to hide.

An investigation of a dead giant is guaranteed to draw unwanted attention to the area. He doesn't care if the dumped body is found eventually; they usually are. But, a big scene right now is going to have witnesses- witnesses who could very well place exactly when the body was left and who was in the area at that time.

The giant himself, while curious, is not the biggest concern to Jack. Though the bridges between towns are locked down and secured, Wellington Wells is absolutely surrounded with grassy meadows and lush foliage creeping into the more populated center of the town. Anyone or anything could be living out there amongst the trees. The angry mob, thrown off Ingvar’s path (but not for long,) is a more pressing matter.

So, he interrupts their hunt. Being the only television star in town has its benefits- particularly coupled with the townspeople's Joy induced short attention spans. It isn't hard to draw all the attention to himself.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Now- no need to be in such a panic! He's not a real giant! He's an extra on my show! We're filming a special next week, all about Jack and the Beanstalk!”

Does it make any sense if you were to think about it? Well, no. But, no one is going to think about it. The perks of being the only person in town not high out of his mind. He knows they'll never question where the special is- they'll forget all about this in a couple of days.

The mob disperses after he signs a few autographs. He intends to disperse, as well, when the giant takes his solitude as an invitation to come out of hiding.

“Oh- that? Haha, not a problem, my good fellow. Are you, er… going back wherever you came from? Because I fear the townspeople here aren't too friendly.”

#riiese #threads;

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rj-drive-in · 3 months

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E-I GMO Department:

The legalities are left as an exercise for the student.

“Does it have cancer?” asked his mother warily. It was the strangest damn cow she had ever seen.

“No, no, it’s perfectly healthy,” said Jack. “Although I did incorporate segments of DNA sequences from cancer cells to promote rapid growth.”

She leaned forward slightly; she wanted to get a better look at the beast, but hesitated to get too close. It gazed back at her placidly, chewing its cud. Jack took her by the arm and gently led her closer.

“It’s not going to bite you,” he chuckled.

Standing in the middle of the pasture, grazing peacefully, the cow was a mostly ordinary Hereford heifer, except for the rows of bulbous growths along its sides. Each growth was the approximate size and shape of an apple, and was connected to the animal by a thin tube of flesh a couple of inches long. There were two rows of six on each side.

“Here, check it out,” he said.

He plucked one of the bulbs off the side of the heifer and tossed it to his mother; she caught it reflexively.

“Ewww!” she cried, throwing it away. “That’s gross!”

Jack laughed as he recovered the fleshy lump from the tall grass. “It’s not gross,” he said. “It’s meat. Grade A-Plus, ultralean, prime American beef, to be exact.”

“It’s edible?”

“That’s the whole point. One of these bulbs, when picked, will grow back in just about eight hours. Old Bossy here will produce the same amount of beef in one week as a typical slaughtered cow. Using these animals, farms will be able to produce many times the meat at a fraction of the cost.”

“It seems kind of cruel.”

“As cruel as killing them?” asked Jack. “Here, watch this.” He plucked off another bulb with a quick tug and the cow lowed softly, turning her head to look at him. “I wired the nerve endings in the bulb to the pleasure center of the brain. Breaking the connection produces a low-level erotic surge, kind of like nipple tweaking.”

She gave him a dirty look.

He shrugged. “Well, the animal rights groups will have nothing to complain about.”

“But how long does it take to breed cows like this?”

“They don’t have to be bred. The changes were written to their existing genetic code by a virus I engineered and released into the environment. Within two years, every bovine on the planet will have the necessary chromosomal alterations.”

“You did what?!”

“It’s perfectly safe. I programmed in telomeric obsolescence. The virus will be extinct in three years.”

“But how will we profit from this if you gave it away?”

Jack waved his hand toward the North forty, where row upon row of green bean vines grew on poles. “The new gene sequences are encrypted and can only be unlocked with a proprietary enzyme that is found exclusively in those genetically engineered green beans, which I hold the patent to.”

“You mean..?”

Jack nodded. “I gave away the cow,” he said, “but the magic beans will make us billionaires.”

#micro fiction #microfiction #short fiction #short story #flash fiction #science fiction #fantasy #horror #rick hutchins #rjdiogenes #GMO

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bradsmindbrain · 1 year

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jack and ted making up increasingly ridiculous/cheesy/funny nicknames for each other bc they're bored n it's a way to pass the time

Names

Summary: It’s a lazy day, so Jack and Ted find a way to kill some time.

TW: None

Jack sat on his husband’s lap as the TV played some mindless reality show that didn’t really interest either of them. It was a slow day, he had no plans, and Ted never had plans to begin with anyway. It was nice being with his husband, sure, but he at least wanted something to do with him. Even Ted wasn’t even interested in what was unfolding onscreen for goodness sake. He turned his attention away from whatever drama was unfolding on screen to gently caress one of Ted’s large, calloused hands.

Ted grumbled, giving a puff of amusement.

His eyes lit up, “Jacky Wacky? Really?”

His husband grumbled, playfully shoving one of his shoulders.

He grinned, “Alright, Teddy Weddy, sure.”

Ted gave an unamused rumble.

He grinned, “So you can dish it out but you can’t handle it, eh?”

He audibly heard Ted roll his eyes before his husband grumbled again.

His eyes widened before he laughed, “Jacob Black? The Twilight character? I should divorce you for just saying that.”

Ted grumbled, resting his head on Jack’s.

He laughed again as tendrils filled his vision, “You’re right, Green Man, I would never do that.” He remembered the being he encountered several times in Europe, who had more than a few passing similarities to Ted.

Ted kneaded his sides with a grumble.

He smiled, “Hey, he’s a forest god, you should take that as a compliment.”

Ted grumbled in response.

He gave a look of mock offense, “Balto?”

Ted grumbled in response, moving a hand from one of his sides to pat his head.

He rolled his eyes, “I suppose you’re right Green Bean, he did save people.”

Ted gave an amused groan, pulling him in closer.

Jack smiled, petnames had been a part of their relationship since it began, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary. But the sheer strangeness of what they were calling eachother now was oddly endearing. Besides, it was something to do, which was better than nothing. He laughed, “Come on, it wasn’t that bad of a nickname.”

He felt Ted trace his fingers over his ribs as he groaned.

He giggled in response, “Pit Bull? Sure thing, Daisy Face.”

Ted gave a trill as he moved his hands back down to knead his sides once more.

He smiled as he felt his husband rub his sides, “Louey? Wow, Beanstalk, where’d you come up with that one?”

Ted grumbled out an explanation.

He smiled, he supposed making a nickname out of Loup Garou made sense given what he was and where he lived. All these petnames they were sharing were so varied, so affectionate, it made him feel so warm and fuzzy inside. Ted wasn’t really used to using petnames, he usually just called him “Puppy” on on occasion, so it was nice to hear his husband come up with more, as ridiculous as they all were. He brought a hand up to touch Ted’s, “Love you, mi amor.”

Ted grumbled affectionately.

He smiled, there was the “Puppy” petname. He laughed, “I know you do, Teddy Bear.”

#werewolf by night #wwbn #wbn #jack russell #ted sallis #man thing #marvel #mcu #russallis #my stuff #prompts

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nehasharma01 · 25 days

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Discovering the Magic Beans: How a Packaging Design Agency Transforms Brands into Enchanting Experiences

In the vast landscape of branding and marketing, there exists a secret ingredient that possesses the power to elevate a product from ordinary to extraordinary. Much like magic beans in a fairy tale, a packaging design agency holds the key to unlocking this transformative potential, turning mundane packaging into enchanting experiences that captivate consumers and leave a lasting impression. Let's delve into the realm of packaging design agencies and uncover the secrets of their magical allure.

Sowing the Seeds of Creativity

Just as Jack planted his magic beans with hope and anticipation, businesses entrust their brand's identity to a packaging design agency with a vision for innovation. These agencies serve as custodians of creativity, blending artistry with strategy to craft packaging that not only showcases a product but tells a compelling story. From the initial concept to the final execution, every aspect of the design process is infused with creativity and imagination, ensuring that the end result is nothing short of magical.

Growing Beyond Expectations: Elevating Brand Identity

As the magic beans sprout and grow into towering stalks, packaging design agencies breathe life into brands, infusing them with personality and charm. Through thoughtful design elements such as color, typography, and imagery, these agencies create packaging that resonates with consumers on an emotional level, forging a connection that goes beyond mere aesthetics. Whether it's a bold and vibrant design or a minimalist and elegant approach, the packaging becomes a tangible representation of the brand's identity, leaving a lasting impression on consumers.

Nurturing Consumer Engagement: Creating Memorable Experiences

Just as Jack tended to his beanstalk with care and attention, packaging design agencies nurture consumer engagement by creating memorable experiences through packaging. From innovative structural designs to interactive elements, such as QR codes or augmented reality features, these agencies go above and beyond to captivate consumers and immerse them in the brand's world. With every interaction, consumers are drawn deeper into the story, forging a bond of loyalty and advocacy that extends far beyond the initial purchase.

Harvesting Success: Driving Sales and Loyalty

As the magic beans reach maturity and bear fruit, businesses reap the rewards of their investment in packaging design. With eye-catching packaging that stands out on the shelves, brands attract attention and drive sales, enticing consumers to choose their product over competitors. Moreover, by delivering a memorable and delightful experience, brands foster long-term loyalty among consumers, turning them into brand ambassadors who eagerly share their love for the product with others.

The Magic Continues: Evolving with Trends and Technologies

In the ever-changing landscape of branding and marketing, the only constant is change. Just as Jack's adventures continued beyond the beanstalk, packaging design agencies must evolve with the latest trends and technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it's embracing sustainable materials, incorporating interactive features, or adapting to new consumer preferences, these agencies remain at the forefront of innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in packaging design.

In Conclusion

A packaging design agency is more than just a provider of creative services – it is the guardian of a brand's identity, entrusted with the task of transforming products into enchanting experiences that captivate and delight consumers. Through creativity, innovation, and a deep understanding of consumer psychology, these agencies harness the power of packaging to drive sales, foster loyalty, and create lasting connections with consumers. So, the next time you're looking to elevate your brand's packaging, remember the magic beans of a packaging design agency – they hold the key to unlocking a world of endless possibilities.

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lovelyweepingglitter · 9 months

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Inojin and the Beanstalk

Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom, there lived a young boy named Inojin Yamanaka. He and his mother Ino were farmers, but during these difficult times, they hardly had enough food and money for themselves. Eventually, they were in terrible debt and they couldn’t afford anything anymore. Times were so hard that the former kunoichi and her son only had two things left. A small farmhouse that was in desperate need of repairs and one old white cow that was already out of milk. On the day Ino and Inojin finished the last of their food, she turned to look at her son with a concern expression on her face.

“Inojin, can you do me a big favor?” Ino asked.

“Sure, Mother. What is it you want me to do?” Inojin said, looking up at his mother with a smile.

“I need you to go to the market with our cow and sell her for as much as you can.”

“Sell our cow?!”

“Yes, we need the money.”

“But...why?”

“Because if we don’t, we’ll have nothing. We’ll be thrown out into the streets, and we’ll be left to starve. Do you understand? I blame your father for getting us in this mess.”

Inojin thought about his mother’s request. He quickly realized the seriousness of the situation and he let out a sigh.

“Yeah, I understand. I’ll try to sell the cow,” Inojin said, nodding his head and smriking.

“That’s my boy. Believe me, it’s for the best,” Ino said, smiling and giving her son a small peck on the forehead. “Now remember, when you make it to the market, accept no less than ten million ryo for her. And don’t get distracted or stop for anything on your way there. Got it?”

“Got it. Bye, Mother.”

“Bye, Son. See you later.”

So with the cow in tow, Inojin made his way along the trodden path towards the market in town. But after a half an hour of walking, he came across a rather strange surprise.

“Oh, hi there. If I’m not mistaken, you must be...Inojin, right?” A mysterious cloaked stranger said with a friendly smile as he approached Inojin.

“Uh, yeah. I’m Inojin. How do you know my name? Who are you?” Inojin asked nervously.

“That’s not important. I was just wondering where you’re going.”

“Oh, I’m just on my way to the market to sell my cow. No less than ten million ryo.”

“You don’t say. Well, don’t worry. I’ve got something that will magically erase all of your debt. Trust me,” The stranger said.

“What are talking about?” Inojin asked, sounding intrigued.

The man rummaged through the pockets of his ragged cloak and he showed the boy three edamames. Inojin winced, confused and angry.

“Edamames? That’s it? What kind of an idiot do you think I am? I can’t accept these,” Inojin ranted, pushing the man’s hand away.

“No, no, no. You don’t understand. These edamames contain a powerful magic,” he replied.

“Magic? What kind of magic?”

“Magic at its finest. Defies all description too. These edamames hold power beyond anything you could ever imagine. And maybe, just maybe, they just might be able to help you. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?”

“Are you sure you’re telling me the truth? Because if you’re lying...”

“Of course I’m telling you the truth. Do I really look like a person who would lie to you?”

“Well...”

Inojin looked at the man’s outstretched hand, waiting to be shaken. He was very hesitant on taking the edamames in exchange for his cow, but he knew how his mother would react if he came back empty-handed. So he took the stranger’s hand and said with a smile.

“Agreed.”

So the man took the cow and Inojin took the three edamames. But another word could said, the mysterious stranger had already disappeared with the cow, leaving poor navie Inojin with three lousy and supposedly ordinary edamames. When he return home and proudly presented the beans to his mother, however, Ino was far less than pleased with her son’s decision.

“Edamames? EDAMAMES?! How could you do this, Inojin?!” she shrieked. “I sent you into town for money, not this! Who in their right mind exchanges a whole cow for three edamames?! We can’t live on these! What were you thinking?!”

“But, Mother, you don’t understand! They’re magic edamames! The man who sold them to me said so!” Inojin insisted.

“Magic?! Ugh! Worthless!!!” Ino yelled, taking the edamames out of her son’s hand and tossing them out the window and into the yard.

“Look, I know you’re really angry right now, but I didn’t know what to do. That man seems really nice and he was very persuasive. What would it take for you to believe me?” Inojin said

“I don’t know what else to tell you, Inojin,” Ino groaned, putting her hand over her face. “You’ve been tricked nothing else to it! There’s no such thing a magic edamames! End of story!”

“But Mother, please...”

“Not another word, Inojin! To bed without dinner for you! I’ll have to come up with another plan to get food around here. Oh, what are we going to do? This is all your fault, Sai. I wish you didn’t leave me for that other man and left us in such terrible debts.”

What Ino didn’t know was that the edamames she threw into the garden really were magical. That very night, when the moon shone brightly in the sky, the beans took root in the soil in the yard and they began to grown and grow into the night. When the sun rose the next morning, Inojin and his mother gazed in astonishment at what they saw. Standing in front of them was an enormous beanstalk towering over Inojin, Ino and their farmhouse.

“I told you those edamames were magic,” Inojin proudly announced at last.

Ino said nothing. She was too shocked to speak. Then, a thought popped into the young boy’s head.

“Hey. Maybe I should climb it. Just to see what’s up there,” he said as he curiously scratched his head.

“Wait, what? Are you sure you want to do that, Sweetie? It doesn’t look very safe. Who knows what might happen up there?” Ino said, shaking in her hands. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me, Mother. I’ve climbed stuff like this a million times before. I’ll be right and I’ll be careful. Promise,” Inojin said, walking closer to the stalk.

“Well...just please be safe,” Ino said, giving Inojin a hug before he began to climb.

Inojin climbed and climbed up the beanstalk, letting his imagination run wild with the possibilities of what would be waiting for him at the top.

"Wow, this thing is pretty big. I can't even tell how far up it goes from here," Inojin said to himself as he continued to climb.

After a while of climbing, Inojin's head popped out from the fluffy mass of pale clouds above his head. He looked around and discovered an entire world above the clouds that nobody could have ever dreamed of. Then he thought about climbing onto the clouds. But even though he was frightened and skeptical of the possible outcome, Inojin took a tiny step onto the cloud in front of him and found out, much to his surprise that it was as firm as solid ground. He wandered away from the beanstalk and he took note of the strange plants which seemed far larger than those back home. After wandering around for a few minutes, Inojin came upon a giant stone building and his eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Whoa! A castle...in the sky?! I gotta know what's in there," Inojin said with excitement in his voice.

He knew that castles had all manner of wonderful things to see and possibly wondrous unimaginable treasures hiding as well. And he thought that maybe this could be the answer to all of his problems.

Without a knock, Inojin slipped under the castle's main entrance doors and looked up to see that everything in the foyer was larger than anything inside a normal castle. His eyes were as large as dinner plates and his mouth fell open at the sight.

"Who could live here?" he asked himself as he tried to climb the enormous steps.

With his curiosity kicking in, Inojin made his way up to the railing, sat down, and he slid down the railing as if it was a slide at the playground and he landed on the floor with a thud.

"Yep, definitely should've thought that through," he muttered as he got back onto his feet.

Then in the corner of his eyes, Inojin saw something glowing and shimmering. He turned his head and saw that it looked like the light was coming from the kitchen. Inojin ran towards the open door, he looked and saw shelves upon shelves of wonderful shining, and sparkling things. There were gold and silver that almost reached the ceiling and there were jewels of every shape, cut, color, and size. As he gazed at his surroundings for a moment, Inojin could hear a faint strumming sound coming from somewhere on the enormous table nearby. He wandered closer, the sound becoming louder and louder as he did so. It reminded him of the sound of a harp mixed with the singing voice of a pony. He was entranced by the sound and decided to follow it.

Inojin struggled to climb the leg of the table and once he reached the top, he saw an array of even more treasures. There were golden bricks stacked up as tall as mountains, gilded jewerly boxes as wide as fields, piles of coins as deep as canyons, and all manner of other precious metals and jewels scattered about. He was so overtaken by the stunning sight that he nearly forgot the reason he climbed onto the table in the first place. It wasn't until he heard another few notes that he continued pursuing it to discover the source.

When he turned the corner, Inojin was surprised to see a large goose with yellow feathers and teal eyes sitting in a nest that was surrounded by a few eggs of solid gold sitting next to a large column of bronze coins. He gasped in surprise.

"Uh. Excuse me?" Inojin started.

"Oh! Don't scare me like that," The Goose exclaimed as she saw the small boy before her.

"Oh, sorry," Inojin stammered.

"That's okay. No harm done. Just please don't do it again," The Goose replied, nodding its head.

"Uh. Am I seeing things or are you a magical talking goose?"

"You're not seeing things. My name is Fluttergoose."

"And...are these eggs real gold?"

"Yes. I laid them myself."

"Whoa! That is so cool!"

"Ahem! I'm afraid these eggs do not belong to you!" Another voice said.

That voice was coming from a golden Harp that was strangely in the shape of a lovely unicorn mare with a light yellowish golden coat, and deep blue eyes. deep golden curled hair, three blue gems on its "flank," and a large fancily decorated golden lyre-shaped instrument sitting atop its back. He stared at it for a moment before speaking again.

"And what are you supposed to be?" Inojin asked before strumming the golden lyre, causing the creature to laugh at the sensation.

"Stop it! That tickles!" The Harp exclaimed, gently taking the boy's hand away from her lyre. "I am Lyrity and you're not supposed to be here. It isn't safe for someone like you."

"Why not?" Inojin asked.

"Because of our master. He doesn't enjoy having intruders here. If he catches you, he'll crush you with one motion," Lyrity warned. "So, I think it'd be best if you leave right this minute before he discovers you."

"Why not mind your own business?" Inojin said, plucking one of the strings on Lyrity's lyre.

"Ow! Quit playing me!" Lyrity whined, rubbing her back.

That was when they heard loud, rumbling steps coming towards the door. Inojin was very confused, but Lyrity and Fluttergoose were terrified.

"Oh no! It's him!" Fluttergoose exclaimed, covering her face with her wings.

"Who?" Inojin asked.

"Our master, of course!" Lyrity cried. "There's hardly any time for you to escape NOW! You need to..."

Without missing a beat, the giant door to the kitchen burst open scaring Inojin so much that he leapt behind Fluttergoose's nest to hide. Standing in the doorway with an enraged look on his face was none other than Lord Tirek the Giant.

"Fee Fi Fo Fum! I smell the stench of a Human!" He roared.

Tirek stomped from the door to the table, causing the room to shake and quake as if the castle was moving by itself. Lyrity screamed and quickly jumped into a large silver chalice while Fluttergoose kept her face hidden underneath her wings and Inojin struggled to stay unseen as he bounced up and down on the tabletop. The Giant carefully examined each precious item on the table, picking them up one at a time looking for little missing pieces or bits.

Inojin frantically poked his head out of Fluttergoose's nest and looked for a new place to hide from the giant. He saw Lyrity hiding in the chalice. She was giving him a disappointed glare while she slowly shook her head.

"Ah, my prized Goose," The Giant declared, pulling Fluttergoose's nest closer to his face.

"W-whoa!" Inojin exclaimed, falling from the nest with a shattering crash into a large pile of gemstones. "Ouch!!"

"WHAT?! What is the meaning of this?!" Tirek exclaimed in surprise.

Fluttergoose flew away from her nest as the Giant leaned in closer to the gems and squinted his eyes, his face was mere inches away from the spot Inojin was hiding. Inojin popped his head out of the jewels, rubbing his head before he met the gaze of the furious giant centaur. Inojin was frozen in place, with a look of pure terror on his face.

"I knew it! A THIEF!" Tirek said reaching down with his enormous hand and scooping Inojin out of the pile of jewels. Inojin tried to climb out of the Giant's hand, but sadly to no avail.

"Darn it," Inojin muttered.

"Who are you?! What are you doing in my castle?! And what do you want with my treasure?!" Tirek growled, glaring darkly at the tiny boy in his hands.

"Look, Mr. Giant, sir, I didn't know this was your castle. And I didn't know all of this was your treasure. Honestly! I was just observing it, that's all!" Inojin stammered with a terrified look in his eyes.

"A likely story. You were intending to take my prized possessions for yourself! And now, you must pay for your crimes!!"

"Pay? Wha-wha-what do you mean? What are you gonna do to me? Can't you just let me go so I won't bother you ever again? I promise I won't tell anyone about this place! Please, just let me go!!"

"Let you go? Of course not! Don't be ridiculous. I'm just going to eat you and my goose and afterward, I'm going to smash my harp to little pieces for trying to help you escape."

"Say what now?" Inojin asked.

The pit of Inojin's stomach dropped, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. Lyrity and Fluttergoose's eyes widened as they both shook in terror.

"Yes, so be prepared, little human. But first, I must fatten you up. You are much too small and scrawny for me to eat, not big, plumb, or fat enough just yet," Tirek said, opening a nearby cabinet and placing Inojin on one of the shelves as if he were a toy. "Wait in here until I come back for you."

As Tirek closed the cupboard door, Inojin quickly pushed his vest in the way of the lock. The Giant turned the key and walk away assuming he had successfully locked Inojin inside. From the table below, Fluttergoose and Lyrity caught sight of Inojin's trick. They didn't want to perish, so Lyrity intended to use her music to aid Inojin's escape. She and Fluttergoose turned their attention to Tirek and trotted towards his hand that was resting on the table.

"Excuse me, Master?" Fluttergoose quietly asked. "Lyrity and I have something we'd like to offer you."

"Yes, yes! Might Fluttergoose and I play you a tune before you...do away with us?" Lyrity added meekly.

"What kind of tune are you intending?" Tirek asked with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Perhaps...something soothing," Lyrity offered.

"Like a nice, calm lullaby," Fluttergoose added.

They looked at each other and nodded. Soon, Lyrity began to play a slow melody while she and Fluttergoose were singing a sweet lullaby along with the calm and beautiful strumming she made. Of course, Tirek was helpless of the hypnotic song and he soon rested his head on the table.

After a few minutes of silence, Inojin could finally hear Tirek's loud snores through the wood of the cabinet door. He struggled to get the spoon free from the door's lock, then he opened it as quietly as he possibly could. Being careful not to make a sound, Inojin leaped from the cupboard and onto the countertop. Fluttergoose and Lyrity smiled as Inojin made his way from the counter over to the table.

"Inojin! You're okay!" They quietly exclaimed.

"Nice job distracting the Giant, girls. Now let's get out of here," Inojin said as he led his new friends to the leg of the table as far from the sleeping Giant as possible.

But as they were tiptoeing away, Fluttergoose and Lyrity each let out a soft cough. Inojin gasped in fear and covered their mouths with his hands.

"Guys, be careful! We can't risk letting the Giant hear us and catch us!" Inojin exclaimed, watching Tirek fearfully.

"I'm sorry, Inojin," Fluttergoose said.

"Me, too," Lyrity added.

"It's okay. Come on." Inojin whispered as he and his friends continued on their way.

As the trio began to sneak away, Inojin suddenly felt a tickle in his nose. It grew stronger and stronger and he didn't know why. He looked around and saw a large dragon sneeze tree sitting nearby. He gulped.

'Oh no...' Inojin thought as he felt a sneeze coming on.

Lyrity saw the tree and tried to cover Inojin's nose with her hoof, but it was too late. Inojin had already let out a loud, deafening sneeze. Lyrity and Fluttergoose covered their eyes in fright. Soon after, Inojin quickly covered his mouth with his hands at the realization of what just happened. He closed his eyes in shame when he heard the unwelcome sound of the Giant waking up.

"Nice going." Lyrity worriedly grumbled. Fluttergoose nodded and covered her face with her wings in fear.

"Uh, excuse me..." Inojin muttered.

"What is going on here?! What was that noise?! My harp! My goose! My prisoner! Where are they?!" Tirek roared. Then he spotted the trio trying to escape.

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!" Inojin screamed, holding onto Fluttergoose as she started flapping her large wings.

"Wait for me!!" Lyrity objected, pursuing Inojin and Fluttergoose.

They safely made it down to the floor and Inojin pulled Fluttergoose towards the door with Lyrity following close behind. As Inojin and his friends ran closer toward the exit, Tirek listened for the sounds of tiny hurried footsteps until he spotted the trio making their exit. He growled and raced for the open door ahead of them, but Inojin was too fast and Tirek couldn't keep up with him.

Inojin, Lyrity, and Fluttergoose made their way outside the castle and closer to the beanstalk. The Giant was now hot on their tail.

"COME BACK HERE, THIEF!! TRAITORS!! I WILL DESTROY YOU!! ALL OF YOU!!!!" Tirek roared.

Inojin put Lyrity onto the vine wrapped around the beanstalk beside Fluttergoose and then got behind the two to push them.

"Wait! What are you doing?! Stop!" Lyrity objected.

"Oh my! Please don't!!!" Fluttergoose cried worriedly.

"Hang on, girls. It's gonna get a little bumpy!" Inojin said, pushing, his friends onto the beanstalk and then hopping onto it behind them.

With a loud and excited "YAHOO!!" the trio slid down the vine wrapped around the beanstalk, with Lyrity and Fluttergoose screaming in terror the entire ride down.

Ino waited for half of the day for her son to return. She was so worried about him that she paced the ground near the stalk and worn-out a small rut into the dirt. She looked back up at the beanstalk curiously when she heard the strange sound of the shrieking goose and the screaming harp. Much to her surprise, Inojin and his two companions jumped off of the beanstalk missing the farmhouse roof and landing in the dead fields right beside the house. Inojin ran straight to his mother with his friends close behind and hugged Ino tightly with several drops of sweat running down his face and body.

"Inojin! What's going on?! What happened?!" Ino asked worriedly.

"Mother! Get me the axe, quick! He could come down here at any minute!" Inojin shouted in distress.

"What? Who?!"

"No time to explain!! Just get me the axe!!"

Worried and confused by her son's urgent request, Ino ran into the farmhouse, came back outside with the biggest axe she could find, and reluctantly gave it to her son. When he took the axe in his hands, Inojin ran back to the beanstalk and he started to chop it with every ounce of his strength. Inojin was terrified that he failed to save his new friends and his mother, of course, but he knew he would never let that happen not while he was around. So he continued to chop. Once the axe began chipping away at the beanstalk, Tirek was climbing down as best as he could, trying to reach the ground.

"Inojin, what the heck happened up there?!" Ino asked.

"Hurry, Inojin! He's getting closer!!" Lyrity cried, keeping her focus on the sky.

"Almost done!!" Inojin said.

"Oh, I can't look!!!" Fluttergoose squeaked, hiding her face again.

Before the Giant could reach the ground, however, Inojin's axe had already cut clean into the beanstalk's thick stem and the entire plant began to topple over. Tirek was so surprised that he accidentally let go of the beanstalk. He fell to the ground with the beanstalk crashing down on top of him. He was never heard from again.

"Wow..." Inojin said as he wipe sweat from his brow. He knew he had won.

After the beanstalk and Tirek were gone, Inojin and his mother were delighted with their new pet, Fluttergoose. They would take many of the golden eggs she laid almost every day and sell them, but some they would keep for themselves. For they're not greedy. Lyrity would usually spend her free time playing beautiful songs for Inojin and Ino as they collected their new crop, which they always loved to hear.

And with the money they earned selling the eggs of gold, Inojin and Ino were finally able to pay off all of their debts. And from that time on, they all lived happily ever after.

#inojin yamanaka #ino yamanaka #my little pony

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lowtaxsa · 1 year

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My Quarantine Adventures: From Riches to Boiler Room

Greetings, fellow Ogsters! It's your old pal Rich "Lowtax" Kyanka here, broadcasting live from the boiler room of a Thai nail salon. You might be asking yourself how I, a once-proud captain of industry, wound up in such a peculiar living situation during the great quarantine. Well, buckle up, because it's been a rollercoaster of a journey, filled with twists, turns, and, of course, a healthy dose of Lowtaxian shenanigans! And let me tell you, if you thought living in a boiler room was a low point, just wait until you see what else I've been up to.

The beginning of my descent into boiler room living started when I lost the last of my money in a high-stakes online poker game. I had what I thought was an unbeatable hand—a full house, the kind of hand that would make a gambler's heart swell with pride. Unfortunately, my opponent somehow managed to pull a royal flush out of thin air. Now, I'm not saying they were cheating, but I've always been a bit suspicious of their avatar, which was a cat playing poker while wearing sunglasses. Regardless, I had to accept defeat, and with it, the departure of the last remnants of my fortune. I guess I should have known better than to trust a cat in sunglasses.

With no money to my name, I suddenly found myself in a precarious situation. Despite the nationwide renter protections in place, I was unceremoniously kicked out of my home. In retrospect, perhaps using my landlord's car as a makeshift barbecue pit wasn't the best idea, but hey, what's life without a few mistakes? I can't help but feel that the rules should have protected me, but I suppose they don't apply to guys like me who have a penchant for unintentionally wreaking havoc on other people's property. It's not like I was robbing banks or anything – just a little property damage for flavor.

Homeless and penniless, I found myself wandering the streets, my spirit unbowed despite my seemingly dire circumstances. I eventually stumbled upon a strip mall's Thai nail salon, where the kind-hearted owner, Mrs. Sukjai, took pity on me and allowed me to stay in her establishment's boiler room. In exchange for her generosity, I agreed to help out with odd jobs around the salon and promised not to scare away customers with my desperate attempts to make a quick buck. Easier said than done, as you'll soon see. I mean, a guy's gotta eat, right?

During my time at the strip mall, I tried my hand at various schemes, each more harebrained than the last, in an effort to con the local business owners. My first venture involved convincing the pet store owner that I had a rare breed of invisible dogs to sell. I was so close to sealing the deal when one of the "dogs" started "barking," revealing itself to be nothing more than a recording on my phone. The owner was far from amused, but I couldn't help but chuckle at my own ingenuity. You have to admit, invisible dogs would be pretty cool.

Refusing to be deterred by my initial failure, I moved on to my next scheme: selling "magic beans" to the owner of the organic grocery store. With a silver tongue, I promised that these beans would grow a beanstalk that would lead straight to a land filled with golden eggs. Of course, the beans were just ordinary legumes I had scavenged from a dumpster behind the store. The owner, unimpressed and clearly agitated by my ruse, threatened to call the police if I ever tried anything like that again. But I was undaunted, and my mischievous spirit remained unbroken. I mean, who wouldn't want a shot at some golden eggs? I thought it was a pretty good sales pitch, if I do say so myself.

It was then that I hatched my most ambitious plan yet: posing as a psychic and offering to read palms for the low, low price of $50 a pop. I had a small booth set up outside the nail salon, and business was booming! People lined up, eager to learn their futures from the mysterious and enigmatic "Lowtax the Mystic." I made up fortunes on the fly, weaving tales of fame, fortune, and true love. The more outlandish my predictions, the more my customers ate them up. I felt like the king of the strip mall, my financial woes a distant memory. That is, until a real psychic set up shop just a few doors down, offering free readings to anyone who would listen. Talk about a buzzkill.

As the crowds flocked to my competition, I was left to wallow in the bitter taste of defeat. But I wasn't about to go down without a fight! In a last-ditch effort to regain my clientele, I tried to sabotage the real psychic by dressing up as a ghost and "haunting" their booth. Unfortunately, my makeshift costume, which consisted of a bedsheet with crudely cut eyeholes, failed to convince anyone of my spectral status. To add insult to injury, the real psychic saw right through my ruse and publicly denounced me as a fraud. I slunk back to the boiler room, my dreams of psychic greatness dashed. Apparently, even the spirit world has standards.

Despite my many misadventures, I've learned quite a bit during my time in quarantine. While I may no longer possess the wealth and prestige I once did, I've gained something far more valuable: a newfound appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. Whether it's the warmth of a boiler room on a cold night or the camaraderie of my fellow strip mall denizens, I've discovered that sometimes it's the little things that make life worth living. Who knew a warm boiler and a cramped space could feel like home?

Well folks, the nightly seizures are starting - and I don't mean mine, I mean the entire strip mall collectively "seizing" up, by which I mean all the storefronts are closed and the mall security guards are out with their "Lowtax-whacking sticks." They're trying to get rid of me, but little do they know that I've become a master of the strip mall underworld. They'll never catch me! As I dodge their futile attempts to oust me from my boiler room haven, I can't help but reflect on the bizarre journey that has been my quarantine experience. It's like playing a real-life game of "Whack-a-Lowtax."

In the end, my quarantine journey has been one of personal growth and self-discovery, albeit with a generous helping of Lowtaxian antics along the way. I hope my tale of trials and tribulations has brought a smile to your face and perhaps even inspired you to find your own silver lining during these strange times. And who knows? With a bit of luck and a whole lot of cunning, I might just find my way back to the top once again, or at least secure a spot somewhere in the middle. After all, everyone loves a good comeback story, right?

#lowtax speaks #big blog

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moyalucom · 2 years

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MagicJack and the VoIP Beanstalk

What is MagicJack anyway? It’s an thoroughly new VoIP service. It blows away anything else I’ve seen out there in the complete VoIP arena. Here’s how it works. Now pay attention. Follow me closely. Make sure you don’t miss any of the steps. First, you take the matchbox size device and plug it into a vacant USB port on your desktop or laptop. Second, you plug any ordinary telephone into the other…

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#magicjack and #magicjack and calendar #magicjack and rb

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shuttershocky · 3 years

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Which operator do you think is conceptually the funniest?

If we're talking the original cast, the correct answer is Shaw. An ordinary firefighter that came to Rhodes Island to give fire safety seminars and accidentally gets swept up into being part of a SWAT team is comedy gold. Her profile even says Combat Experience: 0 years. Fucking amazing.

As time's gone by however, Arknights added more competition for the conceptually funniest operator.

Jaye for example is a sushi vendor that everyone believes is a triad member because he looks tough, but he's actually just literally a regular sushi chef that everyone mistakes for an assassin due to his resting bitch face and Doctor sends him out into the field as an assassin and duelist for reals, even if his combat experience also reads 0 years.

There's also Beanstalk, who's a businesswoman and professional Metal Crab breeder. Unfortunately for her, literally nobody has any use for Metal Crabs nor wants one, so it's not actually a real job. Somehow, Beanstalk convinced Doctor to invest in her Metal Crab business, which is why we now have a fucking Vanguard-Sniper-Summoner operator with a nigh-immortal summon.

The single funniest operator though, is Tomimi. I can already picture how her character came about.

"So we're making this croc girl and she's got this thick fucking tail. I mean it's huge. Massive. One helluva whampafuckalonga. You could not ask for a physically fatter ass."

"Cool. What's her deal?"

"She's gay."

#Arknights

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showrunnerihardlyknowher · 3 years

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Humans? Up MY Beanstalk? It's More Likely Than You Think!

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Danny's back on her bullshit and here to make everyone suffer with another WIP that's part of a fic trade with my beloved @hiddendreamer67 <3

Summary: I mean, Jack made it all sound so easy! Climb up the beanstalk a few times, steal enough riches to last himself ten life times, and live happily ever after as a heroic giant slayer with absolutely no repercussions.

Seriously, how hard can it be?

Aiden was no stranger to life events going from bad to worse at the drop of a hat, but more often than not he was able to go with the turbulent flow just enough to keep his head above water and out of any serious trouble. Such a feat was most evident in his adaptation to living within the labyrinth-like walls of the oversized castle he had foolishly sought refuge in weeks prior. Had it been weeks? Months, perhaps, or maybe only a handful of days. The passage of time was just as foreign to him as these massive surroundings, these massive people , and he didn’t have the gall to weasel his way towards an opening near the outside to gauge how high or low the sun was sitting in the strangely pink sky.

The irony was almost funny; where was that fool hearted bravery he had been swimming in when he first started his ascension up the winding stalk that sprouted who knows how many decades ago to reach its impressive height? He knew the stories of young boys trading cows for beans and getting far more than they bargained for. He knew it was down right suicidal to scale the plant in general given he hadn’t a lick of training when it came to climbing anything other than a ladder. The opportunity to live within a legend was too good to pass up, unfortunately. The flimsy promise of riches and adventure beyond his wildest dream outweighed the need to even consider how he was going to get back down from the towering growth when he was inevitably disappointed by the lack of golden eggs.

But he didn’t succumb to the thin air or fall to his death, and he wasn’t disappointed. If anything, he was given everything he envisioned. Almost everything. When he broke through the cloud line, he discovered the vine had tapered off in favor of clinging to a cliff side he was unaware even existed from below. Green tendrils served as almost a ladder to aid his climb up the mysterious rock formation until he was able to pull himself, huffing and panting and muscles tingling from overuse, over the edge to collapse on horizontal land. So the fabled kingdom of riches didn’t actually rest on the clouds, it seemed. A small let down, but hardly anything worth dampening the mood as Aiden took in his new world view.

He felt as if he had switched places with a weevil seeing how the small patch of grass he was in came up to his chest rather than swishing against his ankles. The euphoria of this great new discovery once again drowned out the more rational side of him, favoring exploration over potential survival. The logistics of returning home could be dealt with later, after he had slayed a giant and stolen only a penny of its wealth that would no doubt provide for him for the rest of his life. Naive. Gullible. Fool hearted.

Aiden had only trekked for a few hours before nearly getting swallowed up by a winged beast he likened to a bat, washing away over the edge of the cliff in a stream, and getting trampled by hulking soldiers doing their rounds. Each close call he survived by the skin of his teeth, luck and adrenaline driving him blindly to find a moment of safety. However, with each incident his bravery withered away into trepidation, especially the closer he came to the giants that roamed the lands. None of them had noticed him yet and part of him wondered if they would ever notice something as miniature as him scurrying around, but he wasn’t feeling bold enough to stay out in the open just for their reaction. No, once he had slipped into the fortress of metal and stone, out of sight from any predator's eyes, the will to venture back out had faded into near nothingness.

If he had it his way, he doubted he would ever again have the gung ho to leave the confines of his newfound sanctuary, not even for the bittersweet desire of returning home. He had made his bed in his haste to seek glory out of tall tales and now he must lie in it. Though his heart ached with anxiety and his hands ceased to tremble, his traitorous stomach refused to let him continue a life of solitude amongst the dusty beams. A weaker part of him couldn’t help but wonder if it would be worth it to live with the gnawing pain until it eventually overtook him. A fitting end, would it not, to starve to death like a rat in the walls? Alas, he was weak, but not weak enough to endure such aggressive cramping by the end of the second day, and so he mustered all the strength and courage he could just to snatch a few stale breadcrumbs long forgotten behind what he assumed was a cast iron stove.

Aiden truly was living up to his new rodent lifestyle, wasn’t he.

It was disgusting, but it was food, and though it made him ill the remainder of the night it had at least provided him with enough energy to go back out the next night in an effort to find something an inch more sustainable. By the end of the week, his newly discovered drive to live had him exploring every corner of the expansive kitchen during the wee hours of the night, when no giants hurried back and forth between the counters and the galley to serve platters of meals that could have fed his own village for months at a time. The rich smell of hot breads and meats made him dizzy, even more so now that he was getting accustomed to surviving off of dusty scraps he found on the floor. He needed to play it safe, he reminded himself as he watched one of the chef’s throw out an entire pan of fresh loaves because there’s too many chives in this! It’s too bitter for his tastes! , hardly resisting the urge to dive into the bins after the wasted food.

But...if they were so keen as to throw away an entire batch of fully prepared food over the fact that it was unsuitable for one person’s palette...surely there was no harm in taking what would be considered a nibble. Not when it was unwanted.

There it was again, that fool hearted bravery. If only Aiden had used it to find a way out of this unofficial prisoner rather than fuel his greed. He couldn’t be happy with the bare minimum he was given, could he? Always had to push the boundaries when he knew exactly where they lied, always run headfirst towards danger and then act surprised when it would bite him in the ass moments later. At least this time around he had the forethought to formulate some type of a plan, as flimsy as it was. Having become quite familiar with the inner structures of the fortress, he was able to determine the abode he was in was something along the lines of a castle. It was certainly sprawling enough, decorated with dark colors and glittering riches and constantly bustling with workers ranging from lowly servants to chittering socialites. Whether or not this was indeed a house for royalty he was unsure, having never been able to pinpoint which of the ambling lords or ladies might be the esteemed ruler of the lands. Assuming monarchies even existed this high, that is. Perhaps this was merely the norm of their society’s standards. It was unlikely, but it wasn’t as if he had many outside resources to compare this way of life to, not even in the way of his own village.

In theory, the heist should have been easy. In theory . All he had to do was wait until the dead of night for the bustling kitchen to fall silent as it normally did and he could slip out from the crevice closest to the scraps bin. Scaling in and out of the bin might prove trickier than he anticipated, but that remained a problem for future Aiden. The most important part of his newfound mission was being able to fill his stomach up with day-old bread and cold meats before they were discarded for good. If all went well, this could easily become a nightly routine of his, a way to feast like a king whilst living like a rat within the true royalty’s walls. He knew he was getting ahead of himself with that kind of fantasizing, perhaps that was even the beginning of his downfall, but he had so little to look forward to these days that he dared to get his hopes up for a semi-decent meal.

He hadn’t even made it halfway across the counter before he was spotted and subsequently captured.

But he had been so careful , he lamented to himself when the air was roughly knocked from his lungs after a massive hand slammed on top of him, pinning any squirms. True, he reflected as the stars cleared his vision, he never actually bothered to see if the kitchen remained vacant all night given that he was asleep...but he just assumed! Who in the world would be up during this hour!? Someone else sneaking a snack, maybe, just as he was. He could use that to his advantage, try and gain a few sympathy points by connecting with the giant on that level, convince them that all he needed was just a fraction of whatever they were probably getting for themselves and he would be on his way for good. A lie, of course, but the giant didn’t need to know that.

Once more, that short lived plan would never be put to use when Aiden felt himself being lifted in the air within a bone crushing grip, metal and leather digging into him in various places from the glove the giant wore. His eyes barely adjusted from the dizzying movements and dim kitchen before they were blown open at the sight, constricted breathing still entirely for a heartbeat. This was no ordinary giant, not like the ones he had grown accustomed to glancing at from the nooks and crannies. At first glance, however, it did fit the bill for the most part -- biped, guard’s armor, a human face -- but...did these giants typically have glowing purple eyes? He couldn’t recall for certain, yet the more he looked the more he found that appeared off. The outline of the guard’s figure seemed...fuzzy, like they were blurred rather than a solid defining line. His face, harsh and scrutinizing, was greyer than a corpse. He was otherworldly, and it was at that moment Aiden was painfully reminded he was in another world, one he didn’t belong in. One he knew he would be leaving quickly.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the guard rumbled, his voice grating more like static than a growl.

“N-no…” Aiden agreed. Anything to get on his good side. “I’ll go, I’ll l-leave!”

Though he had found his voice, he had yet to find the strength to attempt any kind of struggle, not that he thought he’d be able to budge the massive fingers in the slightest. However, if he showed just how eager he was to depart from this situation, maybe the giant would believe him and grant him that small mercy. Instead, he was given another rough squeeze that made his spine pop, the fist clenching him raising higher so that he was more at eye level with his captor.

“How did you get in here, human? ” The guard spat. Good news was that humans were a known creature, at least. Bad news was that humans, apparently, were not known for any pleasant reason.

Aiden panted, trying to suck in a much needed breath after all of his were forced out. “I-I don’t know…” He squealed in discomfort when the fingers tightened again, refusing to let up until he gave a more satisfactory answer. “Th-the walls! I came through the walls! ”

The guard snorted and slackened his grip to allow an inch of breathing room, “Of course you did. Little pest that you and your kind are.”

“Wh...what are you…?” A bold question, but since he was sure it was to be one of his last, Aiden saw no reason not to ask.

He wasn’t given an answer, the giant instead lowering him slightly to exit the kitchen and pace down the halls. The scenery whizzed by so fast that it made his head spin, catching a few looks at other giants that were loitering about. Just like the guard, they were similar to the ones he would see in the daytime but...different. The two guards they passed looked to be of the same race of whatever the one holding him was, a noblewoman in a shimmering capelet eyed him suspiciously and he could have sworn her ‘capelet’ flittered before settling back down her shoulders. How had he never seen any of these attributes in the day? Then again, he often viewed the giants in the fortress at a distance and never for very long, they could have all been magically endowed for all he knew. Or, another theory, the ones he was coming across now were merely nocturnal and their more...normal housemates were sound asleep as he typically was while these creatures did their rounds and had their fun.

The wonderment was short lived when the giant shoved his way through a heavy wooden door at the very end of a lesser used corridor. With each step down the spiraling stone staircase, Aiden felt his heart sink just a little lower. The long shadows casting against the walls from the torches mounted to them gave the dank atmosphere an even more sinister vibe, leaving too many unknown things able to hide in the darkness. Even the guard, who did not appear to be an overly friendly fellow to begin with, looked twice as menacing with how the shadows concealed the few human features he did have. Aiden swallowed thickly, unsure of where they were heading but already knowing it wasn’t good.

His hunch was confirmed when the guard entered another hall, one lined with cramped cells that were partially occupied. He tried not to look at them and their fates, not wanting to see what might be awaiting him as well. Likely not, though. He was far too small to shackle and imprison. A different punishment would have to be in store for him. Further down the hall, the dungeon changed its holding cells from ones with iron bars to ones with solid steel doors instead, obscuring whatever poor bastard was locked within. Was that considered a crueler punishment? Perhaps that was where the torturing took place, if such types of creatures indulged in those acts. He saw no reason why they wouldn’t and as a result could very easily imagine himself being thrown in there next.

Fortunately, or not, the guard instead opened another wooden door that was adjacent to several of the isolated cells, coming to stand before another giant sitting at a table. Aiden couldn’t tell what was on the desk or what this new giant was using these unknown things for, but from the jist of it he must have been busy.

“Sir,” the guard holding him said while raising him higher for the presumably important one to see better. “A human has been found within the perimeter.”

The guard, a captain if Aiden were to guess, frowned. “Any others?”

“None that I could sense in the immediate area.”

He sighed and waved his hand. “We’ll do a sweep before daybreak. Who knows the amount of damage it’s done...what it’s taken, what it’s told.” He fixed Aiden with an icy glare that made the poor human try to shrink in on himself.

He wished he could have found a way to defend himself, plead his case, but his voice was nowhere to be found now. All cowardliness and no self preservation.

“And how shall I dispose of this one, sir?” The guard asked and Aiden paled. Dispose!?

The one in charge shrugged a shoulder and resumed what he was doing previously, fiddling with tools and books and papers for one reason or another. “Put it on lunch duty. Give the lizard another rat to keep him busy.”

Aiden didn’t quite follow the logic of the order. Lunch duty didn’t sound half as bad as being disposed of. The ‘lizard’ was news to him, but regardless the guard nodded at his order and left the office back down the corridor of steel doors. He wasn’t sure if he should speak up and ask for clarification while he mulled over his rather lenient sentencing, doubtful the giant would even regard him. From the looks of disgust and distrust he had been given numerous times in the short span of time he had been discovered, he could gather that his presence was an unwelcome one, though why he was still unsure. Evidently, he was going to be put to work and he could most certainly live with that. Earn his keep, he reasoned. Give rats to lizards or something. Would these rats and lizards be the same kind as the ones back on his homeworld down below or would they be to scale with the giants? Another question he should probably speak aloud before he got in over his head.

Or, at least, he would have asked, had a wad of cloth not been jammed into mouth hard enough to make his jaw click uncomfortably. He gagged, trying to shove the offending material out with his tongue, but it was packed into his cheeks too tightly to budge. A different material, a thin rope, was quickly wound around his chest to pin his arms to his sides before wrapping further down to bind his ankles. It had happened in the flash, the guard giving him no warning or reasoning for the sudden confinement, but it wasn’t as if Aiden could offer up much protest now that it was all said and done. He was completely immobile, spun up like a fly in a spider’s web. The guard had done it with such efficiency that it must be something similar to a routine for him by now which did not bode well. In a last ditch effort to save his hide from whatever...this was, he looked up at his captor with wide, pleading eyes, begging for just a shred of sympathy or at the very least an explanation of what was about to happen.

All he was met with was the same cold, violet eyes as all the other giants he had come to pass. Equally cruel and indifferent. And it was then he understood, as he was being roughly shoved through a hand slot at the base of one of the sturdy metal cell doors, that he was not the one who was meant to be delivering the meals during “lunch duty”. He was the meal. He was the rat, which meant the lizard was…

Aiden wriggled as best he could manage in his position until he was able to roll onto his back and get a good look around the cell. It was massive to him, but compared to the size of the giants he could tell it was rather cramped. Dark and depressing, much like one would expect a lonely prison cell to be, with the scattering of tiny bones and grime along the stone walls. His breathing quickened as he tried to tell just what type of origin the gnawed remains had been, however it was too difficult to tell at this distance in such gloom lighting. Perhaps that was for the best, giving his brain a little boost of reassurance that maybe they weren’t all human bones, that this wasn’t a common fate most of his kind befell when they made the same foolish mistake of invading where they clearly did not belong.

Trying to avoid the glare of bones only worsened his situation tenfold when he turned his head and was met with what was, obviously, the lizard as previously mentioned. Well, partially a lizard? More human-looking than lizard just going off a quick glance which led Aiden to believe the nickname was meant to be a derogatory term for whatever species it was. It...he? Yeah, he was kneeling on the floor, not by choice, but rather due to the shackles that bound him at the wrist and was tethered to the floor with a pitifully short chain. The clothes he wore reminded him of something he might have caught a few nobles wear given the level of craftsmanship and hand woven designs. It was a shame they were soiled now in what he could only assume was sweat and dirt, how he hoped that was dirt. The prisoner picked his head up when he heard the food slot screech open and shut, waiting for any other sound before sighing at the responding silence.

The chain jingled as he shifted to reposition himself into something a little more comfortable, Aiden now catching sight of the black nails that blended into scales littering the back of his hand when he flexed his fingers. A tail briefly flicked into view before concealing itself behind him once again. As the human let his gaze trail further up his face, fully prepared to see another hateful glare burning a hole through his weak soul, he couldn’t help but notice another spattering of black scales along his cheekbones and down his neck, presumably up to his eyes as well, but...well, he couldn’t tell. Not when there was a tattered, red cloth tied around his head, effectively blinding the sense. He wondered if this was an ailment the giant already had or if this was another part of his punishment, curious if he even had any eyes still in their sockets beneath the shoddy wrappings. Whatever the case was, the “lizard” obviously couldn’t see him and Aiden was unable to alert him to his presence with the gag shoved down his throat, leaving them at an awkward stalemate.

A stalemate that lasted all of two seconds before the giant wrinkled his nose and frowned. “The hell kind of rodent is this…? ” he muttered to himself.

So much for not knowing he was there. With great effort, Aiden twisted his body until he was able to turn on his side, trying to push himself up into a sitting position. He froze when the giant started to move as well, pointed ears twitching in response to the light scuffling he was making against the floor to pinpoint his location. Despite one of his senses being dulled, it was evident his remaining ones were still working in perfect order, maybe even heightened to compensate for the lack of vision.

“Another live one,” he sighed, fingers flexing again, “Sorry about this little buddy. I don’t like live prey any more than you like being it, I’m sure, but, well…”

That was the only warning Aiden had before the giant lunged, teeth snapping an inch in front of his frozen body. From this close, he could see the needle-thin fangs previously hidden behind a grimace and instantly wanted to be far, far away from them. His only saving grace was the short lead the other had on his cuffs, preventing him from pushing off any closer and cutting him off just shy of his prize for the time being. He growled in annoyance at having missed the offered prey, pulling back to realign himself for a better pounce.

“Come on, just make this easy for the both of us,” the giant huffed.

Oh, absolutely not. No, no, no. No, this was not how Aiden wanted his adventure in the skies to end. Fuck the adventure, he wanted to go home and he wanted to do so alive and in one piece. Being ripped to shreds was not a fate he ever envisioned for himself. He wasn’t going to die like some...some rat!

The giant was inching closer, moving along the side as much as the chain would allow to get a better angle. It didn’t matter whether he ensnared the tiny between his claws or teeth or even batted its little corpse within reaching distance with his tail, so long as he was able to get a hold on its fresh flesh one way or another. Desperately, Aiden began to rock back and forth to shimmy his body across the floor, painstakingly putting centimeters of distance between them that the giant was able to make up in a single shuffle. When the chain pulled taunt again, the human rolled to the side and narrowly missed the clamp of teeth once more, hot breath blowing against his back and covering his body in goosebumps. Undeterred, however, the giant followed his scent that was so tantalizingly close and moved his body in unison with Aiden’s. With another bite, he was able to find purchase on the ropes that burned against his arms and sunk his fangs in what he supposed was meant to be an animal's tender flesh.

Aiden had tried to avoid the attack but simply could not scramble away quick enough, his only luck being that he was just far enough that the gnashing teeth only managed to puncture through the fibers of rope rather than his actual skin. He was lifted into the air when the giant pulled back, kicking and thrashing to the best of his ability against the hold. The humid air blowing on the back of his head made him nauseous now, only able to envision how the feeling would quickly be enveloping him entirely when he was thrown back and swallowed down the creature’s gullet. With one, final twist, Aiden prayed his limited strength would be enough to somehow dislodge himself from the giant’s maw and give him another chance at playing this unbalanced game of chase.

And then the rope snapped.

Having already been sawed and frayed in several places from the giant’s fangs, Aiden’s pull was all it needed to rip apart entirely, sending the human sprawling onto the cold ground. His vision clouded when his head smacked against the stone, ironically thankful for the wad of cloth in his mouth or he most certainly would have lost a few teeth. Without a doubt, he was going to have a nasty bruise coloring the majority of his right side in the near future, the ache still pulsing with every wheezing breath he tried to gain back. While the stars faded from his eyes, he watched distantly as the giant curiously grinded the material in his mouth before dropping it. He pursed his lips in confusion, expecting raw meat and the rush of blood rather than some scratchy coils of what almost tasted like hide.

“Gods, what even is this,” he cringed.

Me , Aiden wanted to cry out, it’s me, it’s a human!

The giant’s hang up with his unusual meal faded into resignation much sooner than Aiden would have liked. He was hardly to blame, though, if he had been given nothing but live pests to blindly hunt down without the use of his full mobility for an undetermined amount of time. They were in a similar boat, really. Creatures trapped in a home they had no business being in, trying to survive on what little scraps were thrown their way. The human sorely wished he hadn’t been relegated into the scraps category, but there was little he could do about that now. Knowing his prey had a pretty straight forward drop, he moved again with an open mouth to seal the foreign creature’s fate.

The sight of teeth rushing to greet him was exactly the adrenaline rush Aiden’s body needed to get moving again, much more successfully this time now that he had arms to push up with and legs to carry him a greater distance. As much as he would have loved to have sprinted to the other side of the cell, even find another crack to slip through if fate would feel the desire to be so kind to him today, he only managed to stumble a few feet out of the immediate danger zone before tripping over himself. His right leg screamed in agony from the second fall, a sign of something being sprained somewhere he was sure. He wanted to scream out loud as well had it not been for the gag. The gag he realized he could take out now. Unsure of how useful his last words would even be, the human ripped the wad of cloth out of his mouth in a frenzy while the giant prepped himself for another attack. If anything, at least Aiden could find catharsis in leaving some sort of statement about himself behind for someone to hear, even if it was just confirmation of his fool heartedness.

“Stop!” Aiden yelled, voice raw and itching his throat like it hadn’t been used in ages rather than half an hour. “Please, stop! G-get away! ”

He wasn’t sure what he was expecting the giant to do as a result, but one thing was clear and it was that he most certainly wasn’t expecting his meal to say anything. He reeled back like he had been physically struck by those words, if his eyes were visible he was sure they would be as wide as serving platters. It was almost comical how he stumbled back, the menacing creature suddenly so fearful of a tiny vermin it was trying to consume moments prior, mouth agape as he tried to process what was going on without being able to actually see it.

“You...did you just, oh my gods,” he gasped. While he was glad he was being spared for the time being, the giant’s nervousness did little to quell the anxiety that had been brewing in Aiden’s heart since the moment he came upon this accursed land.

“Ple-please…” Aiden whimpered, suddenly drained physically and emotionally from the whole ordeal and settling to just drag himself any extra distance he could away from his unofficial death penalty. It was a pathetic display, but on the bright side, one he wouldn’t be mocked for. “Don’t h-hurt me…”

The giant shifted again, hesitant, closer , and Aiden braced himself for the final bite to end it all.

“You can talk!? ”

#g/t #fearplay #g/t writing #giant/tiny #macro/micro #gianttiny #my writing #hiddendreamer67 #MANDY MY BELOVED #also these are officially her OCs so don't ask me for ANYTHING about them #these are HER KIDS NOW i sign over my parental rights #well #i guess they're mine until I get chapter two out

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lorienfae · 2 years

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A Thank You Note

There were five flocks of geese. Not one, or two, or even three, but five. They flew past, one streaming wing-shaped arrow after the other, a live nature documentary happening over my head. Then, the light turned green and I kept on my journey, watched over from the sides by keen cornfields. And, what a journey it has been!

I was a spoiled child who loved those little Soviet ice cream cones bearing scoops of crème brûlée and vanilla, playing early video games like Wolfenstein or, yes, Sextris (a somewhat risque version of Tetris), had a liking for imported soap operas à la Santa Barbara and Hélène Et Les Garçons, and posessed a rather silly fear of the Ukrainian funeral processions.

Yes, silly.

As it was an absolutely ordinary, somber tradition maintained over the years — a final voyage or journey of the deceased before being buried. Usually, the family and loved ones gathered at the residence of the deceased with an array of wreaths, flower arrangements, and a mini-marching band, after which the pallbearers would bring out the coffin and everyone assembled around it, carrying those florals. The band would then begin to play a funeral march as they all proceeded down the street and a few streets after, before making their way to a funeral home or a cemetery.

To my childish mind, the entire thing was, simply put, eerie. I had heard of a superstition from my grandmother that to cross in front of a funeral procession would bring you bad luck. Add that to the chilling sound of the march tearing into the innocent silence, and I was afraid.

I remember being little and waking from a nap due to that funereal ditty, abandoning my younger sister to her "doom" while I ran away to the other end of the apartment, seeking the comfort of my mother.

But, enough with all the dark talk.

All in all, those were my younger years and I knew barely a word of English back when I first got off that airplane into this strange, alien land. Everyone seemed a giant and I don't know how I managed not to get lost climbing down that very, very tall beanstalk, but I didn't.

I learned and I wrote, word after word. Yes, I might cringe when reading my early work, yet it is a link in a chain of all the years of growing, honing this craft, and while I am still far, far away from being a great writer, I am proud of the level I've managed to attain.

Which I wouldn't have been able to do without the many marvelous, inspiring people here, in this little Tumblr poetry haven.

So, I just want to take a moment and thank all the amazing and talented writers, like @definegodliness @aubriestar @cruxymox @purgatorypoetry @lunaragent @quaintobsessions @haikkun @petrow @strikezilla01 @behind-the-veil-of-sanity @purplemonkeysexgod69 and so so many others that continue to inspire me and all they do for this community. It's truly an honor to be here.

#a thank you to all the amazing poets and writers that continue to inspire me daily

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thecreaturecodex · 3 years

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Rakshasa, Arakkan

[One of the things I find amusing about Ghosts, Monsters and Demons of India is that it takes the time to explain to its (mostly native to India) audience why rakshasas on the internet are dapper men with tiger heads. The book obviously covers creatures that fit into the more mythologically accurate category of rakshasa, so I wanted to cover one of them. The Arakkan is a Tamil giant (the name is used in both Tamil translations of Jack and the Beanstalk and the Mahabharata), so I figured it would be a good match for a big, fangy rakshasa. The stuff about it having a hidden soul comes from one of the stories related in Ghosts, Monsters and Demons of India]

Rakshasa, Arakkan CR 19 LE Outsider (native) This red-skinned giant has four arms, each ending in clawed hands, and a pair of horns growing from his head. He has a tusked mouth and wears clothing decorated with skulls.

Arakkans are powerful rakshasas that have lived many lifetimes, but have missed incarnation into a majarajah by inches. Their bodies are incredibly powerful, but they have been denied any further advancement through reincarnation. When an arakkan is created, its soul is tethered to the life of an animal, and although it can be reborn quickly and with great control, it can never reincarnate into another being. If an arakkan’s hidden soul is severed by killing the animal it is tied to, the arakkan is dead forever. As such, arakkans guard such animals incredibly closely, keeping them comfortable and well protected behind layers of secrecy.

Despite their brutish appearance, arakkans are skilled magicians by human standards. They prefer to use spells that enhance their physical attributes or weaken opponents, as they do delight in physical combat. Enemies that keep their distance are pelted with a rain of magically conjured stones, and few creatures can survive multiple of these barrages. An arakkan typically fights to the death, arrogant in its power and convinced it will return to life via its hidden soul, unless it knows that said soul has been killed.

Arakkans are rather bitter towards other rakshasas, as they are still part of the cycle of reincarnation. They enjoy inflicting fates worse than death, like enslavement and petrifaction, on lesser members of their own kind. Arakkans are as indolent and desirous of luxury as most other rakshasas are, but they tend to dwell in remote fastnesses instead of in the heart of civilization. They can disguise themselves as ordinary humanoids or as giants, and some live as kings among giant civilizations. These arakkan are likely to come into competition with oni, a struggle that culminates with the death of one party or the other.

Arakkan CR 19 XP 204,800 LE Huge outsider (native, rakshasa) Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +25 Defense AC 32, touch 11, flat-footed 29 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +21 natural) hp 333 (23d10+207) Fort +18, Ref +15, Will +19 DR 15/good and piercing; SR 34 Defensive Abilities hidden soul Offense Speed 50 ft. Melee 4 claws +32 (2d6+11), bite +32 (2d8+11) Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks conjure barrage, detect thoughts (DC 25), rend (4 claws, 2d6+16) Spells CL 16th, concentration +20 (+24 casting defensively) 8th (3/day)—moment of prescience 7th (5/day)—power word blind, waves of exhaustion 6th (6/day)—flesh to stone (DC 20), stone to flesh, true seeing 5th (6/day)—hold monster (DC 19), overland flight, persistent image (DC 19), wall of force 4th (7/day)—dimension door, enervation, greater invisibility, wall of fire 3rd (7/day)—arcane sight, heroism, protection from energy, tongues 2nd (7/day)—bull’s strength, eagle’s splendor, mirror image, scorching ray, touch of idiocy 1st (7/day)—alarm, identify, mage armor, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement 0th—acid splash, detect magic, detect poison, ghost sound (DC 14), light, mage hand, mending, prestidigitation, resistance Statistics Str 33, Dex 15, Con 28, Int 14, Wis 23, Cha 18 Base Atk +23; CMB +36; CMD 49 Feats Ability Focus (conjure barrage), Acrobatic, Arcane Strike, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Stand Still Skills Acrobatics +24, Bluff +25, Climb +26, Fly +16, Intimidate +25, Knowledge (arcana, planes) +23, Knowledge (local) +18, Perception +25, Sense Motive +25, Spellcraft +23 Languages Common, Infernal, Giant SQ change shape (humanoid or giant, alter self or giant shape II) Ecology Environment any land Organization solitary or pair Treasure standard Special Abilities Conjure Barrage (Su) As a standard action three times per day, an arakkan can cause a magical barrage of stones to fall. This acts as a cylinder 40 feet high and with a 20 ft. radius, centered on a point within 300 feet. All creatures caught in the area take 19d8 points of bludgeoning damage (Reflex DC 27 half) that counts as a lawful, evil and magic weapon for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. The area where the barrage fell counts as difficult terrain for 1 day, whereupon the rocks evaporate into mist. The save DC is Charisma based. Hidden Soul (Su) An arakkan’s soul is hidden inside of a mundane animal. This counts as an ordinary animal of CR 8 or less, except that it radiates an aura of strong necromancy when subject to a detect magic or other spell. As long as this animal lives, the arakkan’s hidden soul allows it to be automatically resurrected, as per the spell, 1 day after it is slain. If the animal is killed during this period or kept in an antimagic field, the effect fails. An arakkan knows the location of its hidden soul animal at all times, as per a discern location spell, and can designate a new animal to hide its soul through a ritual that takes 1 week to complete. Spells An arakkan casts spells as a 16th level sorcerer. It does not gain access to any other sorcerer class abilities, such as a bloodline.

#arakkan #rakshasa #india #pathfinder 1e #tamil

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