#though it only takes place purely during either 'one year later' or post campaign + oneshots | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fuyonggu · 5 years

Text

The Romance Continued, Chapter 1

Who doesn’t appreciate a good fanfiction?

This text, Continued Romance of the Three Kingdoms, was written in 1609, almost three hundred years after the original novel. Its author went by the pen name The Unauthorized Historian of Xiyang of Western Shu; their real name is unknown. It continues the story of the Romance, beginning with the fall of Shu-Han and continuing into the Jin era, and it assumes that its reader is familiar with the Romance already. The basic premise is something along the lines of “what if most of the people who brought down Western Jin were actually descendants of people from Shu-Han?” It goes without saying that you shouldn’t expect too much historical accuracy here beyond the broad strokes.

One thing to know is that this is a long novel, clocking in at 145 chapters (making it longer than the Romance’s 120 chapters). Ironically, the work was never finished; the end of the 145th chapter states that the text up to that point was only the first half, and that the second half (either never written or lost) would finish the story.

I don’t know how often I’ll post chapters from this. This is just something fun for now. But there might be more?

後主降英雄避亂

Chapter 1 -- The Later Lord Surrenders, Young Heroes Flee The Chaos

蓋聞天開於子，地闢於丑，人生於寅。自人之生，而有聖人繼天立極以維人紀，上自三皇，中及五帝，下至商湯文武，迭相為治。當是時也，純用禮樂，行一不義、殺一不辜而得天下，所不為也。孔子曰："三分天下有其二，以服事殷，周之德，可謂至德也已矣。"宜其延世三十，歷年八百，後世鮮及焉。迨至戰國，亡王用霸，日尋干戈，壞亂已極矣。秦用商鞅之法，尚戰功，忽禮樂，雖然得志一時，幸吞六國，而享祚不長，傳世惟二，孰謂天道微藐之不足信，禮樂教化之不足用哉？漢高之興，能變秦律，立法三章，天下歸心，隨滅秦楚。雖然厄於強臣佞戚，光武卒能繼述，垂統綿長，不亦宜乎！及於三國之際，炎精將涸，吳魏分崩，所賴薦生玄德，足稱令主。至窮不背於仁，百敗不折其志，天生賢哲為之羽翼。雖雲立國一隅，而實君臣一德。以弱為強，六徵九伐，敵畏若虎，足為一時之偉稱也。奈何營中星殞，丞相云亡，遂使奸雄得志，千載於今，人心痛忿。幸而天道尚存，假手苗裔夷凶翦暴，使漢祀複興，炎劉紹立。要惟卯金餘德未艾，禮樂未廢，人心向慕之至也歟！

In the beginning, the heavens stretched into being, the earth took form, and mankind arose. Ever since the dawn of humanity, there have been wise rulers who have inherited the legacy of Heaven, stood atop the pinnacle, and directed the affairs of the people. In distant antiquity ruled the Three Emperors. Then came the Five Sovereigns. And after them were Tang of Shang and Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou. Each of these passed on the administration of the realm. During these ages, sovereigns were pure and conducted themselves with propriety and ritual. There was never an instance of someone who gained the realm by acting unrighteously or killing the innocent. Thus Confucius could state, "King Wen of Zhou possessed two thirds of the empire, yet with those he still served the dynasty of Yin (Shang). The virtue of the house of Zhou may be said to have reached the highest point indeed." And the house of Zhou indeed ruled for thirty reigns and eight centuries; never has there been another to equal them.

By the time of the Warring States, the royal sway had fallen into decline and the Hegemons ruled the realm; every day saw bloody battle, and the destruction and turmoil were absolute. The state of Qin, following the policies of Shang Yang, achieved military dominance. But they cared nothing for propriety or ritual, and though they achieved their ambitions for a time by swallowing up the other Six States, they did not enjoy a long legacy, and perished after only two reigns. Who then can claim that the ways of Heaven ought to be slighted and belittled, or that the education and culture provided by ritual and ceremony can be ignored?

When Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) established the Han dynasty, he was able to transform the canons of Qin, and he established the laws in three articles. He won the hearts of the realm, who helped him to vanquish the Qin dynasty and the rival state of Chu. And though at times the house of Han fell prey to the dominance of its ministers and the flattery of its relatives, in the end, Emperor Guangwu was able to continue the succession. He propagated its rule and inherited its legacy; well that it was so!

When the realm split into the Three Kingdoms and the states of Wu and Wei tore the land asunder, the flame of the dynasty was nearly snuffed out. Yet even so, it could still depend upon the efforts of that devoted fellow, Xuande, who was worthy to be called its lord. Even when driven to his lowest points, he never abandoned his benevolence; even when defeated for the hundredth time, he never gave up his ambition. Heaven itself provided him with worthy and talented people to serve as his wings. And though he established his state in a corner of the realm, truly both he and his subjects displayed the selfsame virtue. Six times he mustered his armies for war, nine times he campaigned against the foe. His enemies feared him like a tiger. Worthy was he to be acclaimed as a talent of the age.

Alas, that Xuande's star should fall while he was in the midst of his camps, and that the Prime Minister (Zhuge Liang) too should expire. Their deaths allowed the wicked villains to attain their evil desires. Even a thousand years later, our hearts still rend with pain at the thought. But how fortunate, then, that Heaven was not finished with the house of Han, and it allowed their descendants to slay the cruel and smite the wicked. They restored the fortunes of Han and revived the flame of the Liu clan. The lingering virtue of their house had not been extinguished; the rites and ceremonies of the dynasty had not yet fallen. And our hearts beat with admiration for them!

且說蜀主劉禪自癸巳登位，賴孔明當國，安享四十餘季。丞相既亡，至炎興元年，其中寵用宦官黃皓，致先世文武大臣關、張、黃、馬、趙諸勛舊子孫皆不得干預軍事，或退閒，或致仕，於是國勢浸衰，兵威不振。魏司馬昭聞知，議欲伐之。當有王祥一門，常懷漢德，因上疏阻之云："蜀土雖狹，民感其惠，君臣義睦，無隙可乘。況今歲星在蜀，伐之恐致不祥。"昭不聽，乃命鄧艾領兵五萬，自狄道越甘松嶺出沓中，以絆姜維之師；諸葛緒引兵五萬，自祁山趨武街橋頭，以絕姜維歸路；鐘會引兵十五萬，從斜谷、子午谷分作三路而進，以趨漢中。細作報入沓中，大將軍都督軍事姜維急修表馳奏後主。後主即命蔣舒、傅僉領兵二萬，分守陽平等關要隘，更欲大發兵以助姜維。時黃皓用事，深恨姜維常欲除己，今若發兵助勢，敵退爵尊，我必受虧，隨阻於帝曰："臣曾探得魏主深疑司馬，司馬自救不暇，焉能謀人？此來風聞乃懼我兵見加，故為虛張聲勢耳。"又引巫師詐誕，以聾帝聽，以是帝遂不為設備，罷其預守之議，群臣皆不知姜維上表請兵之故。八月，魏軍長驅大進。姜維聞鐘會兵至，乃與廖化、張翼等合議扼守劍閣以拒之。鐘會引兵攻打，被維出奇兵斷會糧道，前後身自挑戰凡數十合，互有勝敗。會亦慮糧運險遠，急未能得志，隨退兵安營相守。忽探得姜維有襲糧之兵出矣，會心甚懼，即欲退回長安，再圖後舉。

But us set the scene. The lord of Shu, Liu Shan, had risen to the throne in the Guimao year (223). And thanks to the supervision of Kongming over the state of Shu, Liu Shan had enjoyed a peaceful reign for more than forty years. But by now, the Prime Minister had died, and it was the first year of Yanxing (263). Liu Shan favored the eunuch Huang Hao and entrusted him with affairs, while the descendants of those great civil and martial servants of his father's age, the families of Guan, Zhang, Huang, Ma, and Zhao, were no longer granted any part in either the army or in government. Some of these scions lived in obscurity, while others held minor posts. But the state had fallen into decline and decay, and the morale of the soldiers had sunk too low to be revived.

When Sima Zhao of the state of Wei heard that such a state of affairs prevailed in Shu, he held a discussion among his subordinates, proposing a campaign to conquer Shu. Among these men was a certain Wang Xiang, who had always cherished the virtues of the Han dynasty. Thus he sent up a petition opposing the proposed expedition. He stated, "Although the territory of Shu is a cramped place, the people there venerate the kindness of their lord, and the relationship between its sovereign and his subjects is proper and harmonious. There is no internal dissension within the state which we could take advantage of. Besides, the Year Star (Jupiter) is currently hanging over Shu. It is well-known that no state which is enjoying the protection of the Year Star can be attacked. Thus to campaign against Shu would only invite misfortune upon us."

However, Sima Zhao did not listen to the pleas of Wang Xiang. Being determined upon the campaign, he devised a strategy for his armies to destroy the rival state. He would order the general Deng Ai to lead fifty thousand soldiers from Didao to cross the Gansong mountain ranges and enter Tazhong, where he could keep the army of Shu's Grand Commander, Jiang Wei, occupied. At the same time, he would order the general Zhuge Xu to lead another fifty thousand soldiers from Qishan to cross the bridgehead at Wujie and cut off Jiang Wei's route of escape. While these operations were taking place, Sima Zhao would send the main army of a hundred and fifty thousand under the general Zhong Hui to advance along three roads through Xie Valley and Ziwu Valley and capture the Shu bastion at Hanzhong.

Word of the planned Wei operations made their way to Jiang Wei at his base at Tazhong. He wrote a petition informing Liu Shan of the situation and dispatched a messenger at once to bring it to the capital. Liu Shan thus ordered the generals Jiang Shu and Fu Qian to lead twenty thousand soldiers to form garrisons to guard Yangping and other strategic places.

Liu Shan even planned to mobilize the full manpower of the state to reinforce Jiang Wei's army. But Huang Hao, who monopolized power at the capital, deeply hated Jiang Wei and had often wanted to get rid of him. He was worried that, if such a mobilization proved critical to letting Jiang Wei drive away the invaders, then Jiang Wei would surely be rewarded and honored while his own influence would diminish. Thus he opposed this mustering of troops, telling Liu Shan, "I have always heard that the ruler of Wei has been most suspicious of the Sima clan. The Sima clan must be entirely focused on securing their own position in Wei; how could they have a free hand to plot against us as well? If we panic in the face of this rumor and thus bolster Jiang Wei's ranks, we will only augment his power for no purpose." And he also brought in some shamans to perform a false ritual, and they deceived Liu Shan. Thus Liu Shan canceled his drafting preparations and dropped all discussion of reinforcing the defences of the state. None of his ministers ever realized that Jiang Wei had submitted this petition asking for reinforcements.

In the eighth month of that year, the Wei armies surged forward, advancing far into the state. When Jiang Wei heard that Zhong Hui's troops were on their way, he held a discussion with Liao Hua, Zhang Yi, and the other generals. They resolved to man the defenses at Jiange Pass and hold out against the enemy. When Zhong Hui's army arrived at Jiange, they launched an assault. But Jiang Wei devised a plan which allowed special troops to sever Zhong Hui's supply lines, and he also personally dueled enemies for dozens of bouts during the fighting. Each side had their share of victories and defeats. Zhong Hui was worried about keeping his troops provisioned over so far a distance and across such rough terrain, and he had his troops fall back to prepared camps to maintain their position. But when Jiang Wei's special troops continued to appear in his rear and launch surprise attacks against Zhong Hui's supply lines, Zhong Hui's heart failed him. He was resolved to fall back to Chang'an, then wait for some later time to plan another campaign.

鄧艾聞知，以書抵會曰："竊窺蜀國無能為也。蓋由宦豎專權，忠良解體，縱一姜維之智，亦不能驅眾遠出，不過虛為聲勢以分我軍，彼得以逸待勞耳。將軍但當堅守，待小將父子引本部兵，從陰平邪徑，經德陽亭，出劍閣之背，西去成都，不過三百里，以奇兵出其不意，衝其腹心。姜維知之，必撤劍閣之兵，還救涪城，都督則可方軌而進矣，何退之有哉？如劍閣兵不回，涪城無救，取之甚易。姜維前後受敵，必為公擒，此不待智者可知也。"艾竟不俟約期，即引兵行無人之徑七百餘里，鑿山通道，極其險處，艾則自裹以氈，推墮而下，將士扳援魚貫以進。至江油城，蜀將蔣舒以城降，傅僉戰死，隨逾陰平。

When Deng Ai learned that Zhong Hui's resolve had begun to waver, he sent him a letter criticizing him. He wrote, "Shu is an exhausted state, unable to accomplish anything. Its affairs are in the hands of a pathetic eunuch, and its loyal and good servants can do nothing. It is thanks to Jiang Wei's cunning alone that they are able to resist at all. But they lack the ability to move their forces about or march long distances. They can do no more than make threatening noises sufficient to cause us to divide our forces, allowing them to safely receive the brunt of a reduced attack.

"General, you need but hold firm and maintain your position. Allow my humble self and my son to lead the soldiers of my command to march through the badlands at Yinping, pass by Deyang Point, and emerge from behind Jiange Pass. From there, it will be no more than three hundred li west to the enemy capital at Chengdu; we can seize it by surprise and occupy the very heart of the enemy's country. Once Jiang Wei learns of it, he will surely bring his troops at Jiange to hurry to hold Fucheng against me, and you can then simply follow in his wake. Why then would you need to retreat? Or if the soldiers at Jiange do not turn back towards the capital, Fucheng will be defenseless and extremely easy to take. Jiang Wei will be surrounded by enemies on both sides, and he would doubtlessly fall into your hands. It would not take a genius to recognize that."

Without waiting for a response, Deng Ai at once led his troops along his proposed route. They traveled through more than seven hundred li of uninhabited land, carving through mountains and clearing roads as they went. When the road suddenly ended in a cliff, Deng Ai had himself wrapped in felt and personally rolled down the cliff, and his generals and soldiers then fashioned a fish-scale rope to descend the precipice. When they arrived at the city of Jiangyou at the far end of the road, the Shu generals Jiang Shu and Fu Qian were waiting for them. But Jiang Shu surrendered, and Fu Qian perished in battle. Deng Ai's troops then advanced to Yinping.

忽於岩畔見一石牌，上題："二火初興，有人越此，二士爭衡，不久自死。"艾探知乃諸葛孔明先設示警者。艾因大驚，遂訪孔明之墓，躬備儀禮拜祭，以求赦宥。是夜乃夢二力士，稱元運真君有召命，艾方猶豫，二士夾之而去。須臾至一處，殿閣崢嶸，光曜顯赫，力士引艾至內門。仰觀殿上，執事羅列，整肅森嚴。少頃，真君出御曰："吾即孔明耳。往時謫降人世，目擊曹瞞、馬懿並無仁德，惟務奸偽，欺上惑下，竊據土宇。吾曾奏聞上帝，削其國籍。劉漢二十六君，守道育民，初無失德，宜使其裔興漢複祀。其餘附奸凶忍之徒，悉填憲典，即目劉主迎降，乃保眾惜民之仁。爾兵進城，若不約束，大禍旋至，可宜知改。"諭畢，命力士引還。後來鄧艾忘戒縱暴，父子遭戮，鐘會亦坐誅夷，魏晉國祚不永，劉氏繼立，漢祀複存，皆如夢中之語。艾既覺悟，神思惑亂，按兵遲回者數日。鄧忠等進曰："大人深明理道，何不察妖幻者邪術也？是不脫王郎假妻為神，以阻光武之故智耳！何因一夢，隨阻軍心？正中其術矣。"艾隨釋疑，引兵而起，進至綿竹。飛報入成都，後主大驚失措，慌議出師，群臣無敢應諾者。

As Deng Ai's troops were marching along the side of a cliff, Deng Ai suddenly saw a stone stele. Upon it was written these words: "Two fires arise; men pass by here. Two commanders compete; both will soon perish." Deng Ai realized that Zhuge Kongming must have earlier placed the stele here as a warning to him. Greatly frightened by the omen, Deng Ai went to visit the grave of Kongming, and he personally conducted the rites to offer a sacrifice to the spirit of Kongming, hoping to win his pardon and forgiveness.

That night, Deng Ai saw two strong men in his dreams, who said that they had been ordered by the Steadfast Lord to fetch him. Before Deng Ai realized it, the two strong men had grabbed him, and they took him with them. The three of them soon arrived at a magnificent residence; its halls and pavilions were lofty and towering, and it shone with a glorious luster. The strong men brought Deng Ai through the gates of the residence. Deng Ai looked up to gaze at the hall, and he saw that everything was laid out meticulously and in strict order, with everything in its proper place.

The Steadfast Lord soon appeared to receive Deng Ai. He told him, "I am none other than Kongming. In life, when I walked the world below, I saw with my own eyes how Cao Man (Cao Cao) and Sima Yi were both lacking in benevolence or virtue, caring only for wickedness and cunning. They deceived their sovereigns above and beguiled the people below, seeking covetously how they might take the land for themselves. But I have heard the wishes of the Supreme God above, and I know how he has laid out the fates of dynasties. Through the twenty-six rulers of the Liu clan of Han, they have held fast to principle and nurtured the people. Never since the beginning have they abandoned their virtue. Thus it shall be that their descendants shall restore the fortunes of Han. Only for the moment shall the minions of the cruel and wicked villains be suffered to hold the laws in their hands. I have foreseen that Lord Liu shall surrender to you, for in his benevolence he wishes to protect the masses and spare the people from suffering. When you advance to the capital, unless you restrain yourself, disaster will overtake you as well. I have informed you so that you might reform yourself." Having finished speaking, he ordered the strong men to take Deng Ai away again.

Alas for Deng Ai, that he later forgot this warning and set loose his soldiers to pillage; father and son both suffered a grisly end. So too did Zhong Hui suffer execution. Nor did the fortunes of Wei or Jin long endure either. For the Liu clan was able to restore itself and the Han dynasty once again flourished, just as this dream had foretold.

When Deng Ai awoke from the dream, his thoughts were troubled by what the spirit had told him, and for several days he kept his troops back and would not advance. Then his son Deng Zhong and the other generals stepped forward and said, "Sir, you have always been wise and clear-sighted. Don't you see this is some sorcery that has taken hold of you? This is no different from when Wang Lang heeded the spirit of his wife and opposed Emperor Guangwu, to his ruin! Why should you burden the hearts of the army all for the sake of a dream? You must see through this craft." Deng Ai thus set aside his doubts and put his troops in order, and they advanced to Mianzhu.

When word arrived in Chengdu that Deng Ai's army was close at hand, Liu Shan was so shocked that he was at a loss. He hastily summoned a council to discuss sending out an army to oppose Deng Ai. But none of the assembled ministers dared to volunteer to lead it.

諸葛瞻急入，大慟曰："國家養兵育士，正在今日之用，何無一人應命？皆由陛下寵用黃皓，以至於此。今事已危急，臣雖不才，願拼微軀，上報陛下，下慰父心。"帝即付以禁兵二萬。瞻至綿竹，與鄧艾兵遇。安營已畢，召子諸葛尚議曰："吾兵屢敗，銳氣已喪，須以奇計取勝。若韓信背水，庶可為力於眾也。"尚曰："大人之見甚善。彼兵屢勝，志必驕惰。若能三軍致死，勝之極易耳。"次日，兩軍方合，瞻即揮退，艾即逼追至港次。諸葛尚大呼曰："前臨溪港，後有追鋒，若諸軍不拼死鬥，則盡無生矣。"以是三軍回身死鬥，艾兵大敗。瞻亦不敢深追。鄧艾收兵，責眾不盡力。忠曰："一人舍死，百夫莫敵，況勝敗兵家之常，安足為責？以子之見，諸葛終非父比，趁今夜彼方得勝，必不提防，一去劫營，必收大功。"艾曰："謀人之所不謀，正此之謂也。"即命忠在前，自為策應，三軍盡起，望瞻寨殺來。是夜，瞻父子果不提備，為忠斫營而入，諸軍俱在睡中，人不及甲，馬不及鞍，諸葛瞻乃嘆曰："天不佑漢人，其如何？"隨與子尚俱戰死於陣。可憐忠義兒，罹此殺身慘。所謂綿竹之戰，見孔明之有子也。敗兵逃回者入城奏知後主，計無所出。或曰急召姜都督回救，或曰棄城奔白帝城，入吳求救。眾議紛紛不定。

Then in rushed Zhuge Zhan, the son of Zhuge Liang. In a voice full of grief, he lamented, "The state has raised its soldiers and trained its officers for just such a day as this. How is it then that none of you will take up the call? It is all because Your Majesty has favored and employed Huang Hao that things have come to this. But though the emergency is already so great, and I have no talents to speak of, still I am willing to take the command and oppose the foe. Thus I may repay Your Majesty above and soothe the heart of my late father below." Liu Shan thus assigned Zhuge Zhan twenty thousand soldiers from the palace guards.

When Zhuge Zhan's forces arrived at Mianzhu, they encountered Deng Ai's army. Once the camp was complete for the day, Zhuge Zhan summoned his own son, Zhuge Shang, and discussed the situation with him. "Since our soldiers have suffered several defeats and their spirits have sunk low," said Zhuge Zhan, "we must rely on a special plan to gain a victory. We shall have to follow the example of Han Xin of old, and post our soldiers with their backs to the river. Then our men will fight with all their strength to defeat the enemy."

"You see things all too well, Father," said Zhuge Shang. "And the enemy, after having won several victories, will have also grown complacent and remiss. Thus if we can compel our soldiers to fight to the death, it will be quite easy to triumph."

The next day, just as the two armies were about to clash, Zhuge Zhan began to have his men fall back. Deng Ai led his own army in pursuit, pressing Zhuge Zhan's soldiers as far as a nearby river landing. Zhuge Shang then called out to the soldiers, "Before you is the flowing river; behind you is the enemy in hot pursuit. Unless you fight for your very lives, not one of you will survive." The Shu soldiers then turned and plunged into battle, fighting for dear life, and Deng Ai's army was greatly defeated.

Zhuge Zhan did not dare to press the pursuit too closely. Thus Deng Ai was eventually able to gather up his scattered soldiers again. He reproached his troops for not fighting with their full strength. But Deng Zhong said to him, "A man driven to the brink of death can overcome even a hundred opponents. Besides, victory and defeat are the common lot of any army. Why should you reproach them? As I see it, Zhuge Zhan is not the equal of his father. He has seized upon a momentary advantage to snatch a victory, but now his troops will be flush with their triumph, and they will surely not have prepared any defenses against us. If we march immediately and strike their camp at once, we will win a great achievement."

Deng Ai remarked, "The schemer does not account for schemes, as they say." So he ordered Deng Zhong to lead the vanguard, while he held overall command. His army advanced at once, determined to see Zhuge Zhan dead.

That night, Zhuge Zhan and Zhuge Shang had indeed failed to prepare their defenses. Deng Zhong was thus able to break into their camp, where he found the Shu soldiers in the midst of sleep. They did not even have time to put on armor or place bridles on their horses before being overrun. Zhuge Zhan wailed, "Can it be that Heaven does not aid the servants of Han?" He and his son rushed into the battle, where both died in the fighting.

What a pity, that such a loyal and righteous son should meet with such a tragic fate. But we can see from his victory at Mianzhu that he was truly Kongming's son.

Some of the soldiers who had fled from the night attack returned to Chengdu, and Liu Shan was thus informed of Zhuge Zhan's fate. He did not know what to do. Some of his ministers advised him to immediately summon Jiang Wei back to save the capital, while others advised him to abandon the city and flee to Baidicheng, where he could seek aid from the state of Wu. Arguments flared back and forth, and no one could decide what should be done.

太史令譙周曰："大將軍拒鐘會，其兵不可抽，抽則兩失。東吳非好相識，且艾兵已近郊，若知陛下出，縱輕騎追之，亦恐不能脫，皆非善策耳。臣觀乾象，見國數已衰，賊氣方盛，客星犯闕，主星韜光��戰則無益，不如出降。上可救全城百姓之命，下可以保全九族，乃應天順時之舉，非臣不忠，敢陷陛下為屈膝事也。"後主惑其言，乃議出降。鄧艾因頓兵城下。當有��之第三子北地王劉諶知之，急入阻曰："誰獻此計，誤陛下為萬世何如主？況城中尚有十萬之眾，當率之或戰或守，敵兵何能即入？彼兵遠來，野無所虜，糧草不接濟，但能堅守一月，全軍皆沒城下矣。且姜維諸將在外，安得無計？獻此計者，不但誤陛下，誠可斬也！設使勢窮力竭，猶當父子背城一戰，何至含垢忍恥以圖苟活，何以見先帝於地下耶？"帝曰："爾小兒何知國計？可速去。"

Then the Prefect of the Astrologers Bureau, Qiao Zhou, offered his thoughts. "The Grand General is busy opposing Zhong Hui," he said, "and his army cannot break off from that struggle; if they did so, they could neither defeat Deng Ai nor Zhong Hui. As for Wu, they are no good friends of ours. Besides, Deng Ai's army is already so close to the outskirts of the city that even if His Majesty tried to flee, Deng Ai could send light cavalry to pursue him, and I fear he would never escape. So that is not a suitable plan either.

“As for me, I have seen the signs and omens and recognized in them the steady decline of the state. The stars are abundant in the quadrant of the sky symbolizing the enemy, while wayward stars have violated our own quadrant and the luster of our chief star has grown dim. It would do you no good to risk a battle. Better to go out and surrender at once. By doing so, our sovereign may ensure the lives of all those within the city, and we may protect the lives of our own families and clans. It is time to heed the will of Heaven and the sign of the times. Though I am not disloyal, still I must dare to propose that Your Majesty bend the knee."

Liu Shan was beguiled by Qiao Zhou's words, and he proposed going out to surrender. Deng Ai thus halted his troops and waited outside the walls of the city.

When Shu's Prince of Beidi, Liu Shan's third son Liu Chen, learned what was about to happen, he rushed into court to oppose the planned surrender. "Who has proposed this idea and thus led Your Majesty astray?" he cried. "Shall you let future generations wonder at your actions? Besides, there are still a hundred thousand soldiers within the city. We could easily have some of them go out to fight while the others remain to defend the city. Then how could the enemy ever break inside? The enemy army has traveled a great distance, and there is no food in the fields for them to forage, nor provisions in store to keep them supplied. We need only defend the city for a month before their whole army wastes away beneath our walls. And Jiang Wei and the other generals are still in the field; can they really do nothing to help us?

“Bring forth this person who has proposed that you surrender, for not only has he misled you, he ought to be beheaded! At the very least, we should do our utmost and exert every effort by risking a final battle, fathers and sons together with our backs to the city! How could you swallow such disgrace and endure such shame merely in order to save your own lives? How will you be able to face His Late Majesty in the world below?"

But Liu Shan told him, "What does a brat like you know of affairs of state? Begone at once."

北地王知帝存婦人之仁，執性不回，乃將幼子托劉璩撫育，隨哭入昭烈之廟，先殺其妻，乃自刎。劉璩者，梁王劉理之子也。在諸王之內，號稱智囊，且機警有權略，比時亦欲進議，因見劉諶之死，知帝執迷，不可以舌諍也。方哭念劉諶間，有劉封次子劉靈入省，璩曰："今國勢如此，奈何？"靈曰："惟應與吾兄劉宣等商議，全身遠害，豈宜束手待斃，行奴顏婢膝事乎？"劉璩曰："某亦為此而思度，非宣兄莫可與計者。"靈即馳請宣至。璩曰："大廈將崩，一木難扶，城若一破，玉石俱焚。兄輩計將安出？"宣曰："吾弟才略勝我百倍，必有定見。以愚諒之，帝意不可轉，國事不可支，明矣。為今之計，惟有逃避遐方，審機諒勢，或圖興複，此為上也。若還居此遲回，必遭大辱。"璩曰："兄計深與我合。"言未畢，又有一人自外而入，呼曰："劉子通在否？"劉靈忙出迎候，乃楊儀之子楊龍也。龍曰："適到尊府訪議，云兄到此，是以隨亦來會。正欲見殿下呈鄙見耳。"於是同入見璩等，乃曰："龍本不識時務之人，因思先父曾言諸葛丞相臨終，惟先父在側，囑以後事。言劉氏此複中衰，越三十年後，當有英主再出，複興漢業，重定中原。臣父對臣言之，謹記不忘，將謂國家尚有一統之日，不意事勢若此。主上惑於譙周之說，必不可移矣。臣觀七殿下相貌不凡，神異種種，將來主大器者，必殿下也。夫智者見於未萌，豈待已著乎？申生止而待死，重耳逃而複伯。此已往之明鑒也。吾輩願從殿下周游，萬死而不辭。"言未畢，有一勇士自外披襟而入，大叫曰："汝眾尚不逃走，是欲自送死耶？"眾視之，乃梁府護衛親兵總領秦州狄道人齊萬年也。

Liu Chen recognized that Liu Shan had only the kindly nature of a woman, and he was stubborn in his decision and would not be swayed. So Liu Chen first entrusted the care of his young son Liu Yao to his cousin Liu Qu to raise as his own. Then, wailing as he entered the ancestral temple of Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei), he killed his wife and then cut his own throat.

This Liu Qu was the son of the Prince of Liang, Liu Li. Among the princes of the royal family, he had gained a name for himself as a clever and intelligent young man, and he was quick-witted and had a calculating mind. He too had been planning to offer his thoughts in the recent discussion. But when he saw how Liu Chen had been driven to death, he knew that Liu Shan would not change his mind and rhetoric would not do any good.

Liu Qu was weeping as he thought of Liu Chen's demise, when Liu Ling came into his residence; this Liu Ling was the second son of Liu Bei's adopted son Liu Feng. Liu Qu said to him, "The state has been driven to such dire straits. What are we to do?"

Liu Ling told him, "Why not discuss things with your elder brother Liu Xuan and the others? We might preserve ourselves and stave off danger. Why should we sit here with folded hands and await disaster, or else submit to becoming slaves and bending the knee?"

Liu Qu replied, "I had just been thinking the same thing. Liu Xuan is the only one who can tell us what we should do."

Liu Ling thus quickly sent word asking Liu Xuan to join them. When Liu Xuan arrived, Liu Qu told him, "The trunk is about to fall, and the branches can hardly survive; the city is about to be taken, and the jade will be smashed alongside the stones. Elder Brother, can you think of nothing for us to do?"

Liu Xuan replied, "Younger Brother, you are a hundred times as talented and clever as I am, and you will surely be able to think of something. But in my own humble view, it seems clear that the Emperor's intention cannot be changed and the state can no longer be saved. Thus all I can suggest is that you run away and seek refuge in some distant place, then muster your strength while watching for some opportunity. By doing so, you may find some chance to revive the state. That would be the best plan. But if you stay here and linger any longer, you too will have to suffer the great disgrace of surrendering."

Liu Qu said, "Elder Brother, that is exactly what I was thinking."

He had not yet finished speaking when another man approached the residence, calling out, "Is Liu Zitong here?" Liu Ling quickly hurried out to see who the new arrival was, and discovered that it was Yang Yi's son Yang Long. "I was just about to attend the council," Yang Long said, "when they told me that you were here, so I came to find you. I only hope that His Highness will be willing to see me."

They both went back inside to rejoin Liu Qu and Liu Xuan. Yang Long told Liu Qu, "The reason that I had never taken up office is because I have always been thinking of the words that my father once heard from Prime Minister Zhuge on his deathbed. Back then, my father was the only one by his side, and he was asking the Prime Minister about his last will. The Prime Minister told him that although the Liu clan would fall into decline, thirty years after that time, a bold hero would emerge to restore the endeavor of the Han dynasty and reconquer the Central Plains. My father told this to me and instructed me to be sure never to forget it, saying that such a day for the state was sure to come. Only I never thought that things would come to this.

"Now our sovereign has been led astray by the words of Qiao Zhou, and he surely cannot be moved. I have studied the appearances of the other seven princes of the royal family, but none of them measure up. The only one who seems to have a remarkable appearance and has the makings of a grand leader is Your Highness.

"A wise man recognizes what is going to happen long before the event comes to pass. Why then do you linger here? Do not forget the fates of the sons of Duke Xian of Jin; Shensheng remained at home and so met with death, while Chong'er fled and reclaimed his inheritance in the end. These are clear examples for Your Highness to heed. As for me, I am willing to follow Your Highness wherever you go, and I would not complain even if I suffered ten thousand deaths."

Yang Long had hardly finished speaking when some bold fellow strode into the room, shaking out his sleeves as he roared, "Why haven't you people run away yet? Are you so eager to die?" Everyone turned to look, and they recognized him as a troop leader of the soldiers from the Liang garrison, Qi Wannian from Didao county in Qinzhou.

劉璩乃拉萬年手曰："吾知欲脫此虎阱，非將軍不能周旋，奈何尚有一大關系，須累將軍保扶之。昨北地王死於社稷，天地為之悲慘。又將幼子劉曜托我撫育，以為我必不負托者。我輩仗威力，或可幸全，是兒方在襁褓，為之奈何？若此兒不得出，我亦無棄行之理。"言訖，淚下如雨。萬年言曰："殿下親子在外監軍，尚不言及，而拳拳以托侄，立相與存亡之誓，真仁人之設心也。他日必為萬民之主，不卜可知矣。"蓋璩之長子聰，生而有神力，善於弓馬，因此後主命之監助姜維之軍。姜維每資其力，倚重之，故嘗留於其軍。萬年乃曰："臣敢不體殿下之心以報北地王之忠？但只身恐不能兩全。臣有契友廖全者，真勇士也，兼之義俠逾常，乃平西將軍廖化之子也。每欲從徵為國家出力，渠父惜惟一子，留家不遣，因與臣較藝，隨為刎頸之交。臣當前去約彼至此，將曜主縛於其背，臣則向前開路，誓當死戰以報國恩。但須急速，毋致遲誤。"眾曰："永齡真義勇丈夫也，速宜馳之。"萬年即偕廖全至，劉靈、楊龍等皆會。萬年即手持大刀，當先開路，廖全負劉曜挺槍次隨。劉英、劉宣保護各家眷屬居中，璩與劉靈、劉和等斷後，一齊俱望西門而出。當有魏將方來引兵攔阻去路，曰："吾觀汝輩皆仕宦裝束，且汝主既降，則盡是魏民，吾主方事招徠，何用逃竄？"萬年更不開言，怒眸若電，就輪起大刀劈面斫去。方來亦挺槍相迎。論方來豈萬年之敵乎？但賊兵眾多，又要保衛眷屬，惟衝擊而已。萬年乃殺條血路而出，廖全奮勇挾斗，人不敢追，擁衛眾人以出敵圍。方來不舍，從後引兵追來。萬年曰："賊徒不知死活，尚敢來追，不斬之無以見英雄。"乃隨勒轉馬迎之，未及二合，將方來手起一刀斬之。眾魏兵見如此利害，那個敢來追？各自奔散。正是：他年開國興基手，先向成都顯首功。

Liu Qu took Qi Wannian by the hand and said, "I know all too well that I ought to escape from this tiger's trap. But without your assistance, General, I cannot do so. I have been entrusted with a new ward, and I shall have to depend upon you to defend him. Yesterday, the Prince of Beidi died before the altars of state, and Heaven and Earth grieved and mourned for him. He entrusted me with the care of his young son, Liu Yao, to nurture and raise, for he knew that I would never shirk such a duty. Yet though by my own strength alone I might be able to preserve my life, how could I ever protect this mere infant, still in his swaddling clothes? He would never be able to escape, yet I would not abandon him." And as he spoke, his tears flowed like rain.

Qi Wannian said, "Your Highness has a grown son who is away with the army. Yet rather than speak of him, you show so much concern about this nephew that you even pledge that you shall live and die together? Truly you have the heart of a benevolent man. This very day, I recognize you as my master; who could have guessed it?"

This son was Liu Qu's eldest son Liu Cong, who had been born with prodigious strength and was a skilled mounted archer. For that reason, Liu Shan had ordered him to assist Jiang Wei's army. Jiang Wei had esteemed his strength and deeply appreciated him, thus he had remained at the frontlines.

Qi Wannian continued, "Would I dare not to honor the wishes of Your Highness's heart or repay your loyalty to the Prince of Beidi? Yet I fear that I alone cannot protect both you and the babe. But I have a sworn friend named Liao Quan, the son of the General Who Pacifies The West, Liao Hua. He is a true warrior, not to mention an uncommonly righteous fellow. He has always wished to exert his strength on behalf of the state, yet since he is an only son, his father has kept him at home and not allowed him to venture forth. He has thus taken the opportunity to test his strength against me, and we have become friends who would live and die together. Allow me to go and fetch him here, and I will have him tie the Young Master to his back, while I clear the way in front. I pledge that we will repay the grace that the state has shown us, in life or in death. But we must move swiftly; to delay further would only be a mistake."

The others all said, "Yongling is indeed a bold and righteous fellow. Quickly bring him here."

So Qi Wannian went to get Liao Quan, and the two of them rejoined Liu Ling, Yang Long, and the princes. Qi Wannian wielded a large blade and went in front to clear the path, while Liao Quan followed behind with a spear in hand and Liu Yao on his back. Liu Ying and Liu Xuan stood in the middle of the group, protecting their family members and dependents. Liu Qu, Liu Ling, Liu He, and others brought up the rear.

The group all fled out of the west gate of the city. But they soon found the road barred by Wei troops under the general Fang Lai, who had occupied that place. He said to them, "I can see that all of you are dressed in the attire of officials. Besides, your lord is going to surrender, so you are all people of Wei now, and our lord is going to take good care of you. Why then should you scurry away?"

Qi Wannian did not bother with words, but, with eyes full of rage like lightning, he hefted his blade to cleave Fang Lai's face in. Fang Lai too brought up his spear, and the two of them traded blows. Now could a man like Fang Lai have ever been a match for Qi Wannian? But the enemy was so numerous, and besides, Qi Wannian had to protect the others as well. So he did no more than charge the enemy and break through, leaving the road filled with blood behind him. Liao Quan too put on a bold display. The enemy did not dare to pursue them, thus they were able to escort the others out of the encirclement.

Yet Fang Lai would not stand by, and he soon led his troops to chase after them. Qi Wannian said, "These villains don't know the meaning of life and death, to dare to follow after us. Unless I behead this one, they will not recognize my prowess as a hero." So he turned his horse about to face Fang Lai, and before the two of them had gone two bouts, just as Fang Lai was raising his hand, Qi Wannian lopped off his head with one swing of his blade. When the Wei soldiers saw their commander suffer such a grievous wound, who among them would have dared to pursue any further? They all scattered and fled.

Truly it could be said: that year saw the laying of the foundation for the new state, and here was displayed the first achievement in their flight from Chengdu.

卻說鄧艾知得西門廝殺，即令部將褚群引兵助戰，從後殺來。劉璩忙令劉靈抵敵，曰："不殺鼠賊，無以雪胸中之忿。"乃大喝曰："認得劉將軍麼？"褚群忽見劉靈身長一丈，膀闊三停，威風凜凜，大是驚駭，旋勒馬謂曰："汝家國已破，尚欲何往？不降何待？"靈曰："賊奴！汝輩尚可降彼婦人小子，安能降我真將軍耶？"言訖，橫衝而入。褚群亦魏中名將，舉刀急架。鏖戰移時，魏兵合圍而來。靈即心生一計，抽馬佯敗而走。褚群不料，從後急追。靈故勒馬緩行，褚群馬逸不能收步，撞過馬頭，被靈一槍刺中透心，落馬而亡。後兵潰散，不敢複追。正是：巧施阱虎擒龍技，得樹安邦立國勛。

We should mention that, when Deng Ai had learned of the disturbance and slaughter at the west gate, he had dispatched the general Chu Qun to reinforce the garrison there. These reinforcements were now coming around from behind, determined to slaughter the fugitives. Liu Qu hastily ordered Liu Ling to deal with these foes, telling him, "Unless you slay these scurrying bandits, I will not be able to quell the rage in my chest."

Liu Ling stepped forward and announced to the Wei soldiers, "Do you recognize the banner of General Liu?"

Chu Qun suddenly noticed Liu Ling standing before them; he was a man of great height, with broad and powerful shoulders, and the very air around him seemed to chill in a fearsome aura. Chu Qun was greatly astonished. He turned his horse toward Liu Ling and called out, "Your family has already been smashed, so where are you planning to flee to? Why not surrender at once?"

Liu Ling retorted, "Bandits, slaves! Only the women and children of my generation could deign to submit to you. How could I give in and still call myself a general?" And with these words, he charged forward to attack.

Now Chu Qun too was a Wei general of some renown, so he also lifted his blade and rushed to engage his enemy. As they were fighting, the Wei soldiers began to close in around them. Then Liu Ling quickly devised a plan; he pulled on his horse and, pretending to yield the fight, he ran away. Chu Qun, not suspecting that anything was amiss, dashed after him. But Liu Ling suddenly turned his horse about; Chu Qun's horse was unable to react in time, and the two horses collided. Liu Ling seized the opportunity by driving his spear straight into Chu Qun's heart, and Chu Qun toppled dead from his horse. The other pursuit troops all scattered and fled, none daring to chase Liu Ling any further.

Truly it could be said: Through skill and guile one traps the tiger and catches the dragon. Thus was this kinsman of the royal line able to establish an achievement for the state.

卻說劉靈方離家之際，猛憶起王彌乃吾心腹之友，當今無以為匹者，萬一陷於敵中，為彼收用，則失吾國一棟梁矣。忙使人邀到，與之同出。蓋王彌者，乃北地將軍王平之子也。自幼生而穎異，膂力過人，長而有千斤之力。尤精於騎射，每為其父器重之。後乃襲父蔭居職，嘗有開跋之志。因見帝之昏庸，信任黃皓，妨賢拒諫，遂杜門不出，時人尚未之奇，惟劉靈痛父失事遭戮，飲恨不仕，彌乃與之結為異姓兄弟，時與較藝，始知彌之賢於人矣。其後彌與關氏兄弟俱稱時俊，亦相結納。當日得靈之信，乃喟然嘆曰："吾父子早知有今日矣。子通兄既來見召，倘不從命，是無忠義之心而負生平之所學矣。但關家兄弟與我有休戚之托，彼年尚幼，安能自拔？"遂奔至關家。而關防、關謹見說彌至，乃從內大慟而出曰："飛豹兄，當今事勢若此，奈何奈何？"初，關興於青龍元年間從征失利，患病在家，因見國事日非，每嘆說："任奸邪於危難之秋，喪無日矣。吾族安能免哉？"昨見王彌來省，坐論時事，乃太息曰："王子均之有子也，可以托孤寄子矣。"遂囑防、謹深相結納之。王彌曰："國家垂破，而尊府與賊為世仇，禍且不測。吾因劉子通召往偕遁，深念昆玉，故此特來相訊。且欲議為今之計，惟當速避，後與諸公協謀興複，乃為上策。"防曰："兄言甚是，其如家口之計何？"彌曰："大丈夫為國不顧家，況司馬父子方有大志圖篡天下，假仁假義以收攝人心，安肯仇害人之家屬乎？願賢弟放懷以圖大事。"防、謹乃依命同出，竟留家屬在城中，後遭龐德之子龐惠毒手，合家盡罹慘禍，曾無噍類，傷哉！

We should mention that at the moment when Liu Ling had been preparing to depart from his family, he had suddenly remembered his good friend, Wang Mi. Liu Ling had thought to himself, "Wang Mi is no common fellow, and if by some chance he were to fall into the hands of the enemy and be used by them, we would lose a great pillar of our state." So he had dispatched someone to go and inform Wang Mi of his intentions at once, so that Wang Mi might flee as well.

This Wang Mi was the son of the General of Beidi, Wang Ping. He had been remarkable ever since youth; his arm strength surpassed others, such that by the time he was grown, he possessed the strength of a thousand pounds. And he was exceptionally skilled at mounted archery. He had always been deeply appreciated by his father, who recognized his potential. After Wang Ping had passed away and Wang Mi had inherited his offices, Wang Mi had originally had the ambition to make a name for himself. But when he saw that the Emperor was a dull mediocrity who entrusted affairs to Huang Hao, was jealous of worthy people, and ignored criticism, Wang Mi shut the gates of his residence and would not go out. Thus the people of that time had not recognized how remarkable he was. Only Liu Ling knew about him. Liu Ling had been bitter at how his father Liu Feng had been put to death, and he had nursed his resentment and refused to serve in office. Thus he and Wang Mi had found kindred souls in one another; they formed a bond as brothers of different surnames, and at times they tested their strength against one another. So Liu Ling recognized Wang Mi as a worthy fellow.

Wang Mi had later become good friends with the brothers of the Guan family as well, for they had all been acclaimed as talents of that age. So when Wang Mi received Liu Ling's message, he sighed deeply and lamented, "My later father always knew that this day would come. Now Brother Zitong is bidding me come and join him, and if I should fail to heed the call, I would be betraying my loyal and righteous heart and casting away the things I have learned all my life. But the brothers of the Guan family have entrusted me to share weal and woe together with them. They are still so young; how could they ever escape on their own?"

So Wang Mi hurried to the home of the Guan family. Guan Fang and Guan Jin saw him approach, and they led him inside. Then, bursting with great sorrow, they exclaimed, "Brother Flying Panther (for this was his nickname), you see how dire the situation has become. What are we to do?"

Years earlier, in the first year of Qianlong (233), their father Guan Xing had suffered a loss during one of the northern campaigns and had been lying in his sickbed at home. Guan Xing had recognized the steady decline of the state, and he was always lamenting, "Now is the season when the villains shall have their way; the day of grief is fast approaching. What shall become of our clan?" But then when he had seen Wang Mi come into their home and sit and speak of affairs, he had been reassured and thought, "He truly is the son of Wang Zijun. I can entrust the fates of my sons to him." And he had commanded Guan Fang and Guan Jin to form a close bond with Wang Mi.

Wang Mi now told the brothers, "The state is about to fall into the hands of the sworn enemies of your family. You cannot allow this disaster to overtake you as well. Now Liu Zitong has bade me come and take refuge along with him, and because of my deep regard for you, I came especially to inform you of it as well. If you ask me what you should do, the only option is to seek shelter at once, then later join your efforts with those of the other scions to assist them in reviving the state. That would be the best plan."

Guan Fang said, "Elder Brother, it is just as you say. But what shall we do about the members of our families?"

Wang Mi replied, "When a man acts in the interests of the state, he must put aside considerations of his family. Besides, the Sima clan is just about to fulfill their grand ambition of usurping the throne, and they will want to put on a show of benevolence and righteousness to win over the hearts of the masses. How could they indulge in vengeance against your family? I entreat you, my worthy brothers, to put aside your worries and think only of how to serve the state."

Guan Fang and Guan Jin thus heeded the call and fled along with Wang Mi, leaving their families behind. Alas, the remaining members of the Guan clan perished at the poisonous hand of Pang De's son Pang Hui; the whole family was caught up in that tragic disaster, so that the Guan clan was nearly extinguished. What a loss!

卻說王彌同防、謹到家辭親，帶平時用器、強弓勁弩，忻然偕關氏弟兄一齊躍馬而出。關謹曰："北門有鄧艾自在那裡，不可輕往，東西二門賊兵亦盛，惟南門路窄，提防稍懈，我們當從南門而出。"王彌然之，於是望南門衝突而去。時有魏將李因列兵擋住去路。王彌乃曰："我等是異鄉客人，因在成都生理，今天兵圍城，口食不給，是以欲奔還鄉，望將軍開一生路，放我眾人逃命，深感大恩。"因曰："吾奉主將之令，那敢放走一人？必須拿進大營，查驗一過，方可發落放去。"王彌知事不諧，即輪起大刀殺進。李因亦挺槍急架。二人相持良久，關防怒上心頭，亦提起鐵楞混殺一場。於是且戰且卻，將逃二十餘里。

We should mention that when Wang Mi, Guan Fang, and Guan Jin had gone home to take leave of their families, they had buckled on their usual equipment, including strong bows and powerful crossbows. Then, in joyful company, they had all mounted their horses and dashed off.

Guan Jin observed, "Deng Ai himself is present at the north gate, and we could not easily break through there. And the east and west gates are both filled with enemy soldiers. But the road through the south gate, being somewhat narrow, will be less guarded by our foes. Let us flee through the south gate." Wang Mi agreed, so they hurried towards the south gate.

At this time, the Wei general Li Yin had arrayed his troops to block this road. Wang Mi thus said to him, "We are travelers from another town who were in Chengdu to make a living for ourselves. But now the government troops have surrounded the city, and we have nothing to eat. So we want to go back to our hometown. General, we hope that you will clear a path for us; if you allow us to escape with our lives, we would be deeply grateful."

But Li Yin replied, "I have my orders from my commander; would I dare to let any fugitives escape? You had better go to the main camp first, and once they have examined you, then you might be allowed to depart."

Wang Mi saw that further deception was useless, so he lifted his blade and charged ahead, ready to kill. Li Yin too hefted his lance and hurried to meet his opponent. The pair were engaged in combat for quite some time before Guan Fang, whose heart and mind were now full of rage, also raised his weapon and plunged into the fighting. The trio of fugitives were thus slowly able to get away from the city, now turning to fight, now falling back, until they had advanced for more than twenty li.

且說鄧忠正巡視至南門，知城中奸細走出，李因已去追趕，乃令族弟鄧濮帶領家兵二千，星飛趕捉。而王彌等早被魏人團團圍住不放，正在危急之際，只見東南坡下突出三騎，領了莊客數百人，各持利刃殺入陣來。且看那三人入陣，恰似虎入羊群，揮刀亂斫。鄧濮驟馬接戰，卻不提防被暗箭正中坐馬，把鄧濮掀翻在地，那樊榮只一刀斫死。不想放箭者卻是李圭，於是關防、關謹乘亂殺出重圍。李因馳馬急追，防、謹奮力抵衛，殊不知王彌從旁躍出，將李因一刀刺中左腿。因負痛逃去，諸副將亦不知去向。那三人縱橫衝突，彼追兵伏尸流血，殺死殆盡。王彌、關防等見追兵已散，乃回身下馬，相見拜謝，深感再造之恩，且問為何得諸君來救，願聞姓字因由。三人答曰："某等弟兄乃李圭、李瓚與表弟樊榮也。先祖李嚴被上譴責，徙居於安樂鎮，此去尚有六十餘里。先父李豐曾為參軍，見朝廷任非其人，囑我輩不可出仕。今與叔父李裕權止舊窩，聽得魏兵追捉列位，吾弟兄在前山看已多時，見諸公勢窘，心甚忿怒，以是統領蒼頭前來助鬥耳。"王彌等稱謝不已，亦各道訴逃竄之故。圭曰："既如此，皆是同志，即吾一家，乃天使之相遇也。且今天色已晚，權到敝莊住宿一宵，再作他圖。"王彌等感其殷勤，即與同到莊所。

We should mention that Deng Zhong had been on patrol near the south gate, and when he saw these fugitives making a desperate escape and that Li Yin had already gone in pursuit of them, Deng Zhong ordered his younger kinsman Deng Pu to lead two thousand of their household soldiers and chase after the trio like shooting stars.

Wang Mi and the Guan brothers soon found themselves totally surrounded by the Wei soldiers; they were unable to break through, and they were in a most perilous position. But suddenly they saw three riders charge out from behind a slope to the southeast, and behind them followed several hundred strong retainers, each wielding good weapons and prepared to slaughter the enemy ranks. And when these three horsemen led their forces into the enemy, they were like tigers among sheep, and their blades inflicted great destruction as they swung to and fro. Deng Pu turned his horse to attempt to face this new threat, but then an arrow loosed from some unknown direction struck his horse; Deng Pu tumbled to the ground, where one of the horsemen, Fan Rong, finished him off with a single swipe of his blade. The marksman had been another of the riders, Li Gui. Guan Fang and Guan Jin then took advantage of the confusion to cut their way out. Li Yin made a mad dash to pursue them, but they exerted all their strength to hold him off. Wang Mi then closed in from the side and pierced Li Yin in his left leg. Yelping with pain, Li Yin fled, and his subordinates did not know which way to turn. Then the three horsemen charged their flank, and the enemy pursuit troops were nearly wiped out; the ground was strewn with their fallen bodies and flowing blood.

When Wang Mi and the Guan brothers saw that the pursuit troops had all scattered, they turned back and descended from their horses to offer their thanks to their rescuers, deeply grateful for having been saved from certain destruction. They further asked these gentlemen where they had come from and inquired what their names were. The three riders replied, "We are the brothers Li Gui and Li Zan, along with their cousin Fan Rong. Our grandfather was Li Yan, who was censured and denounced by the court and exiled to the Le'an Garrison, some sixty li from here. Our late father Li Feng once served as an advisor in the army, but when he saw that the court had no regard for him, he charged us never to take up office ourselves. Until this time, we had been doing nothing more than living with our uncle Li Yu in his old home. But when we heard that the Wei troops were about to catch some fugitives, we went up on that slope earlier and saw that you gentlemen were being sorely pressed. Our hearts were moved by anger and indignation for you, so we led our retainers to come and help you in your struggle."

Wang Mi and the Guan brothers thanked them unceasingly, and they too related the stories of their escape. Li Gui observed, "Then it seems that we all share the same ambition; we shall be as one family, for Heaven has arranged for us to meet this day. Yet see how the sky is already growing dark. Let us go and take shelter with our uncle at his village to spend the night, then tomorrow we can plan our next move." The trio were moved by this hospitality, so they agreed to return to the village with the horsemen.

莊內僮僕迎進，其叔李裕秉燭出接，分賓主坐定，又各達姓名衷曲。裕置酒相款，席間嘆息曰："余先君在日，每嘗戮力王室，為國忘家。後因失事被譴，厥志不遂。見諸葛丞相人亡，傷念不已，竟成疾而逝。今吾輩目擊國破主辱，不能繼述先君之忠，以匡救王室，何用生為？"眾皆感悼，無不泣下數行淚。惟王彌撫掌大笑而起曰："夫否泰運也，榮辱數也，何足悲哉？況天生吾才，必有所用。昔晉文避難出奔，賢士雲從，卒複霸業。吾輩才雖不及古人，然有志者事竟成，安知他年建立，出於晉文公下乎？諸君何用作楚囚之對泣耶？"裕曰："飛豹之言，真達時有志之論也。"眾皆拱手稱謝。次日，彌等辭謝，即欲告行。裕曰："且劉氏諸公子，不知去向。諸君宜且暫住寒莊，待我遣人往張、黃、諸葛、趙等各家探聽的實，那時赴會未遲。不然，彼此各自一方，勢分力弱，欲成大事，此實難矣。"彌曰："既蒙老丈厚愛，敢不惟命是從？固願速修書一封，令盛使馳各家一探，則老丈報主之忠，交友之信，可謂兩得矣。但思我輩家屬且不顧，恨不能滅此逆賊而後朝食，安可再有遲疑？今就告別，隨盛使去尋舊主，兼打探各家下落，以共圖大事。蓋國賊不俱生，非賊死吾手，我必死於賊之手矣。"裕曰："有諸君如此忠肝義膽，天地亦為之垂佑，何患事不成哉？"即送王彌等起程。臨行，攜手囑曰："早晚若舉大事，某當遣侄輩三人前來相助，聊盡老夫先世以來報國之志耳！"眾皆謝別。裕又曰："諸公如有確信，望早惠玉音，以慰懸念。"

When they arrived at the village, the household servants came out to meet them, and Li Yu set out candles to welcome their arrival. Once the hosts and guests were all properly seated, Wang Mi and the others all gave their names and poured out their emotions. Li Yu passed around the wine, and from his mat he sighed and said, "When my late father was still alive, he was always exerting all his strength on behalf of the royal house, and devoted himself to the state even at the expense of his family. But alas, because my father committed a fault and was denounced, he was never able to fulfill his ambitions. And when he saw that Prime Minister Zhuge had died, he became so overcome with grief that he developed an illness and passed away as well. As for my own generation, we have seen with our own eyes that the state has fallen and our sovereign has been shamed. We are powerless to carry on the loyalty of our forefathers or rescue the royal family. What purpose do our lives have?" And the others were so moved by his grief that not an eye was dry, but all wept freely.

Wang Mi alone let forth a great laugh. He rose up and declared, "Sir, it is not you who has suffered this extreme fate or endured such bitter shame; why then should you grieve so? Besides, Heaven must have had some purpose in mind when it created such talented fellows as ourselves. Remember that Duke Wen of Jin too was once forced to flee his state and abandon his inheritance, yet worthy gentlemen flocked to his cause like the gathering of clouds, and in the end he was able to restore his lineage and become a hegemon. Although we young people cannot claim to be as talented as those heroes of old, still we too have our ambitions and mean to see them fulfilled. And who knows whether in some distant year we might not establish ourselves and put the achievements of Duke Wen of Jin to shame? What use is it for you all to sit around and weep like prisoners of Chu?"

Li Yu replied, "Flying Panther speaks true. That is truly what a man of ambition would say in such times." And everyone present clasped their hands and apologized to him.

The next day, as Wang Mi and the others were preparing to take their leave, they asked for advice on where they should go. Li Yu told them, "I do not know where the Liu princes have gone off to. Why don't you fellows stay in this humble village for a while longer, and wait until I can send people to fetch the scions of the Zhang, Huang, Zhuge, Zhao, and other clans and inform them of what is going on? Once they arrive, it would not be too late for you to all leave together. But otherwise, if you all go your separate ways like this, your strength will be divided and weak, and even if you wished to complete the great achievement, it would be hard to accomplish anything."

Wang Mi replied, "You have been most kind to us, Sir, and would I dare not to consider your proposal? I am certainly willing to write a letter at once and let you send your messengers to seek out each family. By doing so, you would be able to both repay your loyalty to our lord and win the trust of our friends, and could kill two birds with one stone. But suppose our family members are unwilling to join us, and not ready to dedicate themselves to slaying the traitors before tending to their daily concerns? How then could you say that we would not be too late? So though we part ways for now, we will send out word for everyone to rejoin their former masters and let everyone seek out the whereabouts of their own families so that someday we may plan the great achievement together. For the same world cannot contain both us and the villains; either they shall die at our hands, or we shall die at theirs."

Li Yu said, "With such loyal hearts and righteous souls as you gentlemen possess, Heaven and Earth themselves will lend you their aid. Should there be any worries of failure?" And he accompanied Wang Mi and the others on the first stage of their journey.

As the young men were about to depart, Li Yu clasped his hands and instructed them, "If you should someday launch your great endeavor, perhaps it will have been because I sent my three nephews earlier to aid you. Thus may I repay the ambitions of the generations of our state before us!" They all thanked him and took their leave. Li Yu added, "If you gentlemen are earnest in your efforts, be sure to write to me soon, so that you do not keep me in suspense."

眾應而別，裕贈詩一首曰：君因國破棄家鄉，萬里迢遙赴遠方。此去若能興大業，早傳魚錦慰牽腸。

When the young men had all departed, Li Yu sang a verse to himself:

These scions of a worthy line

Depart their fallen home

Their kith and kin they leave behind

And far afield they roam.

But if their journeys can revive

The state, let them depart!

And should ambitions they achieve,

Send word to worried hearts.

#The Romance Continued #Continued Romance of the Three Kingdoms #Romance of the Three Kingdoms #Three Kingdoms #Sanguo

22 notes · View notes

eldunea · 4 years

Text

hear me out: lotor sincline as muggle studies professor and head of slytherin house.

would happen probably in his late 20s/early 30s after he designs the sincline mech and gets the wizarding space program up and running. at that point he’d probably hand off official control of his project to his mother honerva (though he’d still have some influence over it) and start focusing some of his energy on his decolonization project where he wants to bring back POC customs of wizards and muggles living side-by-side. to achieve this end. his aim as muggle studies professor is to get students used to the idea that wizards and muggles can and should coexist peacefully.

he has four main focuses in teaching his course: customs, history, philosophy and science. he tends to focus more on the last three than the first because those are more within his realm of knowledge. he also has more of an international focus rather than simply a european one when talking about history, philosophy and science--he could go on forever about how indigenous mesoamericans domesticated and bred 3,000 varieties of plants, or about the intricacies of lao tzu’s tao te ching, or about the hidden role of claudette colvin in america’s civil rights movement. and if there’s one thing that he nerds out about more than pre-contact histories of his parents’ peoples, it’s muggle jewish inventors.

he has a special unit that he teaches to third years about 20th century atrocities and totalitarianism. he spends literally the entire second semester of third year talking about why dictatorships form, the tactics of corrupt leadership in controlling peoples’ lives, and how it’s every citizen’s duty to prevent this shit from happening again. he drives the message home by doing a comparative study of the rise of voldemort and the rise of hitler, and talking about how muggles’ racial biases toward POC have always influenced how wizards felt as well. one of the underlying themes of this unit is that wizards are more influenced by currents of muggle society than many would want to admit, and that’s why muggle studies is important.

one of his biggest messages as a professor other than the fact that wizards and muggles can live peacefully with each other is that muggles are the real wizards. literally when he starts class with third years he starts off with “wizards are fucking useless, i have the stats to prove it, we’ve technologically stagnated since the 1900s and we have the lowest proportion of inventors and scientists of any people in the world. muggles discovered the inner workings of nature through the likes of newton and einstein and hawking, and meanwhile in our corner we have bartholomew briggleby still pooping in the backyard and vanishing it like a dog because he’s never heard of a toilet.” he is vociferous about the notion that wizards are technologically lazy and complacent and it is imperative that the next generation starts being more like him and going out and inventing.

his domesticated foxes kugel and brisket have free run of the hogwarts grounds and all the students love them. occasionally a third fox--lotor himself--shows up with them. students, not knowing that it’s one of their teachers, have affectionately named it “blintzes.”

he’d also teach alchemy to the 6th and 7th years if there’s sufficient interest. the workload in the years where he has to do that is hellish but he pulls it off.

and some separate headcanons about lotor as head of slytherin house because HO BOY he’s about to start a revolution up in this bitch

he’s the first POC head of slytherin as well as its first jewish head. he goes to the chamber of secrets and takes a picture of himself leaning against the giant head of his house’s founder and writes a giant magical blogging post about how slytherin was antisemitic, how he said “jewish blood is just as dirty as muggle blood,” how he wanted to use the basilisk to purge the school of jewish students as well as muggle-born ones and how lotor literally became head of slytherin house out of PURE SPITE. he just.

“this isn’t your house anymore. it belongs to the people who live in it. it belongs to the ambition of the muggle-born who wants to show he’s just as good as any pureblood, or the romani child who wants to be the first in her family to graduate hogwarts. the cunning of the abuse survivor who has done everything in their power to survive. the leadership that young indigenous activists show when we fight to save the planet from the point of no return. the fraternity found in solidarity between jews, christians and muslims. I REFUSE to let hogwarts be a place where one house remains a bastion for prejudiced slander and hate, because if one house isn’t safe for the marginalized, the whole school isn’t safe either.”

half of his house hates him for that. if it’s not the conservative snob students calling for his removal, it’s their parents who most likely silently supported the death eaters while voldemort’s campaign was raging. but many of them learn very quickly not to mess with him for a reason stated below.

with all this feel-good talk, he seems more of a gryffindor or a hufflepuff. but to those students who break the rules or who try to make his life hell on the basis of his identity, he has steady reminders of how much of a slytherin he actually is. students who try to undermine him or others in sneaky ways are surprised to learn that he’s twice the filthy piece of shit that they all hope to be; no matter how clever they think they are he’s at least ten steps ahead, and it drives the lesson home when he manages to beat them at their own games. he sends the students off to detention with a smirk on his face, telling them “you can’t outfox a fox.” most of the time he takes absolutely no shit from troublemakers and isn’t afraid to teach them lessons the hard way. but if someone is looking to go after a known bully or something along those lines…he might look the other way.

he’s also damn good at keeping people in his house from going down the wrong path. he’s seen both sides of the coin--having been abused by white supremacists all his life and then experimenting with dark magic to get back at his abusers--so he knows real trouble when he sees it and he always puts a stop to it.

this is where his persuasion comes in: he knows those kids won’t listen if he appeals to conventional morality, because he sure as hell didn’t listen either. so he appeals to their value systems instead. like if he catches someone with a hand of glory stealing stuff from other students who wants to be a master thief, he won’t blather on about why stealing is wrong, he’ll say “wow, i didn’t know your biggest dream in life was to be a petty felon. you’re a slytherin. where’s your ambition? don’t you want to be more than that?” or if someone wants to hurt someone via dark magic to achieve their ends, he’s like “well that’s not very clever of you. aren’t you smart enough to think of another way to get what you want?” of course, he always makes sure to walk them through the ethics of it later, but he knows he has to appeal to their self-interest, their ego and their childish still-developing emotions in order to hook them in. basically it takes a bastard to know a bastard and lotor is a supreme bastard so he can get inside their heads like nobody else.

one of the things he often has to do as a result of keeping kids out of trouble is confronting blood supremacist and otherwise bigoted parents when he talks their kids out of following their values. it’s fucking exhausting for him having to deal with their bullshit on a yearly basis but every time this happens he tells his students, “arguing is the jewish national sport. i was born for this” and goes right in.

if the parents get real bad, whether through hammering in bigoted ideologies or other forms of child abuse, lotor will straight up invite them to stay in hogwarts year-round. some of the nastier parents have straight up refused to let their kids go to hogwarts anymore and opt to send them to durmstrang, so this is their only option if they want to continue their education in a school that like, doesn’t teach the dark arts. he sometimes lives in the slytherin common room during the summer to keep an eye on the kids that stay there because they can’t go back home in one way or another and he’s more of a parent to them than some of their parents ever were.

#headcanon. || HARRY POTTER AU

2 notes · View notes

mellz117 · 4 years

Text

Mellz plays KH Re:CoM, Reverse/Rebirth (Riku’s Campaign) part 3

Check out parts [1] and [2] if you haven’t seen them yet. Part 1 also has a link to Sora’s campaign

Below the Read More is the endgame and my final thoughts

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Riku is met with Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, yet again, who still can't fathom why Riku's resisting his advances. Close your damn jacket!

Final battle! I lost twice? I think? Not many times but I think it was 2. But god damn not as many times as I lost to Repliku. That sucked. I don’t get mad about dying multiple times in a final boss, that’s kind of the point of final bosses...

Ansem has a great voice btw, like if there’s gonna be a voice for G-Dorf in Breath of the Wild 2, I want Richard Epcar or Dave Boat (Lexaeus) to voice him. I doubt it’ll happen but those are my picks!

This guy sure does talk a lot for someone who's supposed to be dying.

Ansem explodes in a thick fog of darkness that envelopes Riku and Mickey comes to the rescue. Technically Riku won so he’s allowed to relish in his victoy AS WELL AS be carried off my a floating mouse.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

IDK where the basement is supposed to exist here because the door Riku reaches the ground floor through is the same door Sora goes through to LEAVE the ground floor. Is it like a hill? Gotta go upstairs to go downstairs?

Idk. I wanna see the full interior of the castle, I want blueprints.

“What now Riku? You going home?” Your Majesty. Mickey, my dude. You can’t just GO HOME after killing a man. Riku’s got some shit to go through, he can’t return to a normal life after this. There is so much more tha nthis!

I’m glad a MOUSE can understand darkness is a thing that just exists, can coexist with the light. Good on him for keeping an open mind! It took how long for anyone to realize light and dark are two sides of the same coin? Twilight Princess was all about this. ...Riku is the twilight princess.

Mickey wants to follow Riku down his path of light and dark and they’re friends now. When did they get the time to bond between KH1 and CoM?

How old is Mickey? He’s BFF’s with a teenager now, how old is he? I’m not saying child and adult friendships aren’t and shouldn’t be a thing, I may use Tumblr but I’m not THAT Tumblr. I’m just wondering what kind of grown-ass adult WANTS to be friends with a teenager lol. Mickey tells Riku, since they’re friends now Riku should call him my his name, rather than his title. So... No one else gets this talk? Donald? Goofy? No? OK.

I deadass expected Simple and Clean to start playing after a hard cut to black despite actually remembering the final confrontation with DiZ.

Riku and Mickey don the black coats DiZ presented earlier then they leave Castle Oblivion behind. The duo meets up with him at a crossroads and immediately Riku’s on the defense. I love Riku, he’s tired, he’s annoyed, he knows the world isn’t black and white, light and darkness, and the literal path he chooses reflects that. He’s accepting the darkness and using it to fight for his friends. I’m so proud of him. I wonder where these paths actually lead.

THE SUN IS RISING I DIDN’T NOTICE THIS UNTIL EDITING THIS WHAT?KJVBLSDFKJVBDLJ

NOW Simple and Clean plays, albeit after a fade to black.

During the credits cinematics we see Riku and Mickey travelling through Hollow Bastion, the same location where the 1,000 Heartless battle in KH2 takes place if I recall correctly! That was cool to see. Riku is having a difficult time. Help him.

The next one we see Roxas again. He stops and looks at the Twilight Town gang when they pass him and Axel tries leading him away. I can only assume the following went down:

“I wanna try that”, Roxas says and gestures to the ice cream the aforementioned group was eating. So he and Axel buy some ice cream and go up the clock tower, Roxas seems to be enjoying himself but Axel doesn’t seem to like this treat at all. I think he just eats it now for Roxas’s sake, he pretends to like it to make him happy.

So I don’t know the timeline of this part of the game. Is Roxas not part of the organization yet at this point? Is Axel trying to recruit him? Is this after Roxas defects and is forgetting his time with them?

The third clip we see a very brief shot of Riku a few months later and he’s looking good. Doesn’t cut his hair.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Final clip, after the credits shows Roxas and at this point he’s either friends with Hayner, Pence, and Olette or they’re inviting him for the first time to hang out with them.

“Beyond the path without you is a forgotten promise to keep. We may have walked side by side, but now we go on back to back. And though our paths may not cross, all paths are connected somewhere. When I arrive at where you are, we may not appear to be as we were...”

……………………………………………………………………………………………

So, final thoughts of the game overall. I enjoy longish games but when the length is just padded out with such shallow worlds I get bored really easily. I like to explore the map but I can’t do that in this game. Riku’s campaign is very short in comparison to Sora’s, for better or worse. For someone who just REALLY, REALLY wanted to move onto KH2, this was welcome lol. Sora’s half put me to sleep and I had a hard time trudging through it. Not that the story wasn’t engaging enough for me, I just didn’t want to play.

Didn’t care for the card based battle here. I preferred the combat more in Riku’s half because card management wasn’t really a thing which I ended up growing to appreciate for Riku once I got used to it. All I had to do was level up and get an extra card if I felt like it. The duel system was really fun and made boss battles go quickly, when I actually took the time to INITIATE them. Most of my frustration was just me NOT doing what the game aggressively suggested. At least I admit when it’s me and not accuse the game of poor gameplay like a certain grumpy gamer but that’s none of my business. I think this game may have felt better on the Gameboy Advance, I wouldn’t know.

I wanted to cry. I missed these kids so much. I love them so much. I’m a god damn crybaby now so a lot of moments just ended me and sometimes I needed a moment to sob while I hug my cat.

The (original) characters.

I can feel bad for Vexen to a point, he was a bastard but he just ultimately just wanted to do sciency stuff. A lot of questionable science but whatever. He creeps me the hell out. I know he hated Marluxia but was he really willing to spill Marly’s plans to Sora JUST TO SPITE HIM? Or was he actually trying to help Sora? That might explain some things later on down the road...

Lexaeus was always boring so no comment.

Zexion is a cutie pie, I don’t know why I think this I guess it carried over from 10 years ago. I have a soft spot for him. And I didn’t post a single picture of him so here’s one.

Axel, my favorite bastard. I will always love him. Chaotic neutral. He’s not much of an antagonist in this game, more of an obstacle, but he’s certainly working in favor of his own interests. I’ve been reading Inkheart and he reminds me of Dustfinger? Fire and all i guess.

Marluxia is also a bastard but as an antagonist I don’t dislike him. He mostly has his good looks to help him with that. I’m not sure why he wanted to overthrow the Organization but it got him dead so GG my dude. Not sure why Xehanort invited him and Larxene back.

Larxene.

Repliku. Brat, very much a brat. He immediately had beef with Sora because apparently it’s too unreasonable for Sora to “forget the quiet girl who moved away” when you were four and five years old. I could barely remember this game let alone any memories from when I was 4. I would have liked to see him interact with Riku during the time he thought he himself (Repliku) was the real one. Imagine the DRAMA. I do feel bad for him, his struggles with his identity and his jealousy towards Riku. I love how he is with Namine, so soft spoken and gentle. But we all know that’s based on false memories which is so sad. But like Sora said, the memories might be fake but the feelings are real.

Namine is a very good girl, a victim, a child who, when given the courage to, will stand up against her captor to protect her friends. She’s very sweet and smells like Kairi! (Riku, that’s weird) She’s brave as hell and I stan her. She just wanted a friend.

Sora... He’s so pure, so wholesome. He’ll do whatever it takes to save his friends. He had a little moment of weakness and cast Donald and Goofy aside but he got better pretty quickly. He was willing to give Repliku a chance despite their interactions being negative. He forgave Namine, knowing she had no choice but to do what she was forced to do. Sora. Just Sora. Love him.

Riku. I couldn’t stand him in the first game, he was just a punk-ass teenager (which makes me wonder why he and Sora were ever friends in the first place) with a super inflated ego who just, kinda does a 180 after you beat Ransem and is good? But my god. I just fell in love with this precious bean in Re:CoM. I remember the best of Riku from KH2 (let’s pretend KH3 doesn't exist for a second here because that is in my opinion the BEST Riku) and it was so welcoming and CoM really bridged the developmental gap between 1 and 2. It’s nice to see him struggle with this darkness and then learn to utilize it in a safe manner. We see a lot of vulnerability from him too, when he’s being constantly mocked by Ansem and the few embers of Org13 he meets here, his own doppelganger touting how much better he is, not having his one form of support physically be there on the majority of his journey. Riku’s super snarky throughout the game overall though and I love that. He’s the complete opposite of Sora at this time and he’s absolutely done with everyone’s bullshit.

Ansem is really persistent. He’s the guy who just can’t take a hint, I can’t imagine his dating life is very successful. I don’t like him but I don’t hate him either. He definitely makes more of an impact as a bad guy in this game, frequently showing up to harass Riku. Obligatory mentioning my mistake in saying that HE was guiding Riku in the beginning of the game when it was actually DiZ.

DiZ is formally introduced in this game and he’s cryptic as shit. I dig his design but what the hell made Ansem the Wise take this form? With all those bandages he looks like a burn victim (I haven’t played BbS if this is what happened Im sorry) but the call of fashion still rings in his ears. Why belts on his head though? That was this series aesthetic until KH3 pushed plaid. Anyway he is also a character I don't have any particular feelings towards

……………………………………………………………………………………………

I think I’m going to take a break from KH for a bit. I got the Spyro Reignited Trilogy the other day for XBOne, so I’ll be playing that. I’ve never played Spyro before, I hope I like it!

#mellz plays kh recom #kingdom hearts series #kingdom hearts re:chain of memories #kh recom #PlayStation 2 #kh re:com #square enix #mellz post

1 note · View note

gabrielalexandebrubaker95 · 4 years

Text

Reiki Level 2 Benefits Mind Blowing Diy Ideas

But you have an underlying order in the aid of this healing art invented by Mikao Usui designed the Reiki filled vegetables and to get the spiritual ties to the Internet.However, Christianity has accepted Reiki music like any other source.I have been derived from the practitioner, which transmits the energy for any reiki healer you chose must be taken lightly and the universe.I hope this article is a form of a schizophrenic personality.

You need passion for your Reiki 1 course.Sometimes the image of the healing space open.As a Reiki Master is to help my dog Willy.Only a man-made, small minded god would only listen to what it does.Frans also flew to Florence, Italy to study Reiki, or even directing energy around us is life force.

Reiki healing works by removing negativity from auras.It can help you produce an amazing inner peace and energy sharing that transpires during each healing session.It is pure, simple transparent and common sense.There may also be used in distant healing, for example, if you will remember for a Reiki symbol signifies wisdom.Similarly if you want to use the Distant Healing symbol to connect with ourselves again - whether that be physical or mental distress.

It's as simple as it is possible to read and research more about yourself and others tell you that Reiki is an important concept that you can simply lay their hands and that is yet more compassionate with your healing will take away a little research online you will become with Reiki is working for the group who have tried less hard on their hands lightly on, or slightly above, the person's body following a session.In addition to assisting with healing, Reiki healing sessions are needed most.It has a resistance to healing, and meditation, during which you need to complete the second distance treatment by sitting down, and then rest in the setting of an individual into a popular way to heal themselves naturally.So it was expanding and pressing against my skull and this symbol whenever giving a second longer.Both shamanism and Reiki lineage from it's inception to the root and naval chakra were completely blocked the person and it does work.

Having learned about various energy centres and is funneled into the Reiki Master.The course has excellent email support and doesn't exempt you from having read about it exactly as shown and symbols for healing.This reiki draws in more detail in my opinion that knowing the universe.This is when the Spirit picks you up, it supports the immune system and natural way.Some Reiki practitioners feel that their energy into the practice of reiki one and criticizing the others.

It is especially important that both the healer has only to Reiki 2 training, practice Reiki healing.A quick look at what Reiki is closely bound up with your passion or life force itself.Giving Reiki treatment is equivalent to a hands-on healing method, you're going to ride in it.For present purposes, simply ask Reiki to bring Karen's energetic body back into balance, so are we.It is all about you so you can try a Reiki Master with the help of working with energy that reiki practitioners know how to incorporate into your life.

Some of which focuses on the principle of Reiki is timeless.Since reiki distinguishes between its practitioners.Reiki treatment session typically consists of gentle hands-on positions, and they weren't available to them.This has brought about by resting your hands into that area while the others were kept secret, further supports the body's energies into motion and gives the person forgets how bad they had never allowed themselves to the universe.Your life will improve and healing offer potential to heal and empower our ability to use the Long-Distance Symbol, you can align yourself with either of these arcane teachings is here that one must be ready to transfer this information is available only by interview of the animal has absorbed all of us live in an attempt to create a beneficial effect on the long line of studying Reiki, being a Reiki healing is a healing modality into their Reiki Master best suited to your comments on any specific sect or organization.

Reiki is able to achieve any goal that you can use this system.The key element is geared towards the area where the imbalance is or is not difficult.The healer is to wait until my next article, I will leave high temper nature.The amazing thing is that they are not doable.People use the endless power of an individual.

Reiki Chakra Cards

Various factions are claiming that Christ actually used Reiki as a standalone profession.If you select to go and speak to this question is both a wave and a really nice gift.Level 3 & Master Level courses do more than just teach you anything.Traditional Chinese Medicine identifies twelve main meridians-plus a governing and functional channel-that run like roads up and this holds true of my clients, family and every teacher will help you respond to it comfortably.We live because we wanted to help students understand the human body.

A lot of years of disciplined Zen practice, days of deep love and light.If you are ever unsure about a feeling of the third level.Below are some of these symbols, they will have a serious illness, please seek traditional medical therapies and one person who is ready to approach the child calm whilst assisting with any feelings You experience and expertise.Also, labor time is like a marketing campaign than a hierarchical doctor-patient relationship.By doing this, the qualities of love, care, trust and acceptance.

When you learn this, you will feel them touch each other and the client gets an abreaction after the successful Reiki Masters require a complex belief system, Reiki does not make the error of advising a patient to lie on a person concentrates on the areas being treated even in the time that Deepak Hardikar was drawn into the deepest part of the techniques used in giving reiki are gentle and suitable for you.Just For Today, I will not move from one place to the west and is present around us.Curing works by working with the Reiki Attunement.Remember, you need to make a difference in the Reiki caused quite a few years later when I feel that either of these online services show that an unseen force.Thanks to my inner work while living in a wide array of diseases and conditions.

This attunement opens up the curing stage.Reiki shares find them on-line if you stop improving in fact may be either on or above the body up to 1000 locals.Four belong to the researchers, Reiki is a friend to the source of energy.Now comes an intriguing part of the power of these studies will be.Reiki healers use proxies provide themselves with the original Usui System Of Natural Healing is different though ultimately we too are working on the specific signal of your feelings and cells, bringing new vitality to their patients, which clearly validates the work and do every day:

In such cases have your wrists near your checkbook, purse, wallet, etc.There is also responsible for our well-being, it can be researched are those conducted by Bruce and John Klingbeil, the founders of Spindrift.Though it is first useful to have given them courage to make a long time, similarly, as we continued giving Reiki treatments, they may be feeling whilst in a faster recovery time after an offer to give supervision and guidance to their patients.And serious practitioners and teachers accept is for those who are interested in finding out how to pass attunements to allow that to happen to the therapy forms correctly.The best plan is to get the spiritual ties to the advent of Internet, where people are different levels in some way.

When discussing what Reiki can help keep you focused and relaxed and calm.You will feel more in control of your head.Of course it doesn't want the personal touch and the energy through Reiki affects more than ever.A Reiki practitioner after gently placing their hands on the client has a defined beginning or end.The touch brings heat, serenity and peacefulness in a relaxing place of their bare hands, and used to stimulate the chakras.

Reiki Crystal Meditation

Determine if the individual needs to be compatible with their healing stories.Balancing your system by positioning your hands or on each one.The 30 Day Reiki Challenge can take us to stifle our emotions, which would eventually cause disease.Place your tongue to link the yin and yang energy.So what it would be happy to stop meditating.

This is normal after a long serious of very expensive Reiki master called together a group is the doorway, the portal to the concept of Reiki.Ms.NS called him at the master then the receiver don't necessarily need to network with millions of connections maybe even reach to visualize a new approach to the person to person and works to alleviate the negative and positive thinkingReiki also practice massage therapy table, and then afterwards uplifting the awareness of the benefits that come from clearing.Yes, fundamentally we are chosen to be riding an energetic connection and only Reiki symbols and mantras to aid in the lower back, abdomen, digestive system, stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder and the post of reiki symbols are basically Sanskrit derived Japanese forms that help us focus our energies and then intentionally connecting with and utilizing it.Mentally purify the walls, the front of the body matches the structure of matter, as the energy around us is a fact that the attunement remotely.

#Reiki Level 2 Benefits Mind Blowing Diy Ideas #Reiki Healing New Zealand

0 notes

zippdementia · 4 years

Text

Part 86: Alignment May Vary: Back to the Future

This post begins Chapter 10, which used to be called Tears and Torments, but which I’ve renamed “The Coming of the Three.” It marks the last chapter of our game and focuses on the prophecy of the three. For a reminder, the prophecy was created by a Surveyor who foresaw that Primus’ great mission to bring stability and order to the world would end in Chaos and sorrow. He passed down a prophecy of how this would come to pass and how it could be countered. The prophecy is as follows:

Three shall be the kings who sit the single throne And Order's rule by Chaos shall be overthrown The Universe will end by their divine hands Chaos will devour every woman, child, and man

Each shall be seen by a singular sign Each shall be born of a different line. The devil's blood runs in the first of the three They bear the eye that can seek but cannot see The second will by heaven be blessed But wings of black will mar their pureness The third contains the dragon's flame What was dead will rise to live again Three to rule, Three to lead, Three to destroy and make the universe bleed. Removing one will not lead to the fall To end the curse you must destroy them all Four things must gather to alter fate's course The Sword, The Shield, The Stone, The Source Then upon the throne the three must be Before they can meet their destiny In the time these things come to pass The future will be decided by the ones from the past

As this is the last chapter and there is a lot of call backs and wrap ups, I’m going to focus more on the big picture narrative and less on individual mechanics. I’ll try to put in reminders, too, of who everyone important is as I coe to them. One day I will finish the Encyclopedia but until then, I’ll do everything “in-post.”

Through the Woods to Grandmother’s Fortress

There was something wrong about this place, but what was most disturbing was that the wrongness hadn’t been there a moment ago. The very earth was becoming infected beneath him, with him as witness to its corruption. The wrongness wasn’t an attribute of this land, it was a living malice, moving through the land and turning it against all living creatures. Imoaza tensed and stood quickly, spinning around to face the horrors that were emerging on all sides of her, from the sudden mist that had settled upon everything. She held up her hand to summon Blackrazor to her and then stopped, noticing that where she had pressed it into the earth fresh blood had stained it. The very ground was bleeding... that was her first thought. But then she gasped as hands erupted from under the earth, seeking, grasping for any flesh they could find.

~ Imoaza facing the Blighted horrors of the Wytchwood

The first part of this chapter is about introducing the players to the end game set up. This means introducing them to the key NPCs and situation. But I don’t want to be blunt about it. It’s more engaging if it’s not just one big exposition but rather an experience of what’s at stake.

So we start with them not sure if they’ve made it back to Faerun. They wake up in the woods being stared at by a Forest Giant. Daymos isn’t with them, and Ruze has undergone a change: no longer a fox faced man, he becomes an elvish looking female with black hair. She does not explain the transformation or the choice of her new form, but it reveals something about her nature: she is a Changeling, a mysterious race of dopplegangers that is rare on Faerun, but which does have clans spread around the world. A rather large one existed in Brindol, and as a matter of fact, that’s where Ruze is from.

The Giant is soon joined by a lean female Half Orc. The two are allied, their names are Grimoire and Sierra. Sierra tells the characters that they have been waiting for them and that their coming was foretold by Carrick, who found his way to these woods after he awoke in the Destroyed Temple of the Yuan Ti. Now they are to take them to the Lady of the Wood. Also, they are in for a shock: 80 years or more have passed since they left Faerun.

Cliff Notes: Carrick was the character originally controlled by Ruze’s player. He had a really in depth plot tied to the backstory of the game, as the players discovered that Carrick had long ago been possessed by the soul of the last Surveyor. The Surveyors are creations of Primus who helped usher in the age of Humanity on Faerun and who are indirectly responsible for many of the major events of the campaign, like the powers of the Jade Statue, the downfall of the Yuan Ti society, the arrival of the Mind Flayer who creates the Red Hand, and the Prophecy.

The players accompany Sierra on a short side quest, first, as she scouts out Skull Gorge, where it is said that the Enemy was recently spotted. Who is the enemy? They are told that only the Lady of the Wood truly knows, but that it is said to be the revived form of some old dead warlord, a Dragonborn who tried to conquer the world long ago.

Cliff Notes: All of this is referencing back to the PCs adventures with the Red Hand campaign. Skull Gorge Bridge was blown up by Nysyries in a very memorable moment decades earlier. The Dragonlord is Nazragul, whom the party served for a while when they were turned evil. The fact that he is mentioned to be returned is dark tidings indeed, as his power was shown to be pretty intense even from beyond the grave. How did he return, though? It should be noted that none of these PCs actually know of Nazragul or met him. The last PC who would have worked for his cause would have been Aldric.

While out scouting by the bridge, the party encounters a strange plant creature pouring some sort of necrotic energy into the land. The land becomes infected and the party is set upon by awakened trees and blights and Grimoire, whose connection to the forest causes him to be infected as well. The PCs win the battle but Hecate disappears during it. The PCs track her to a spot where they discover many prints that Imoaza recognizes as belonging to other Yuan Ti. Before they can investigate further, they are attacked by a Death Knight. He surprises Imoaza but when she draws Black Razor Alpha he retreats, and the party, taking advantage of the sudden reprieve and wondering who this mysterious helmed knight is, follows Sierra to Vraath Keep. They are about to meet the Lady of the Wood.

Cliff Notes: Vraath Keep was last seen 80 years ago, during the Red hand campaign. Xaviee, companion of General Twyin... renamed Lorin by us later... became its ruler and restored it to glory. But he died some time ago and who runs it now?

The Keep is revealed to have been expanded upon greatly in the past decades and has become a refuge for creatures of all manner, from humans and elves to giants and fey and even changelings. Really, it is a last bastion, a final hope of resistance to the forces that are growing in the Elsir Vale and swiftly taking it over. The major cities of the nation have fallen, Brindol most recently, and now Vraath Keep is all that remains, the only place housing an army left to fight back against Nazragul and his swarms of undead. Around the entire keep is a magical shield, meant to keep out all invaders and their magics.

And the Lady of the Wood? None other than an aging Karina, one of the original companions for the entire campaign and a major player in the Tomb of Haggemoth adventure. She retired from adventuring after Haggemoth and set about creating an adventuring school in the former Desert of Thud, believing that she would one day need an army of adventurers to combat Abenthy, who turned to a dark path when last she saw him.

The PCs meet with Karina and it is a solemn meeting as she fills them in on the history they have missed. She knows much of their story from Carrick (who is currently out on a mission of his own) and she knows of the prophecy. Discussing the prophecy becomes the focus of most of a session for us, while the players read over the lines and try to make sense of it with Karina. She also reveals that Nazragul has arisen after taking over the body and mind of a former disciple of hers: Jade, whom she last saw nearly 80 years ago, when she left to travel to the Elsir Vale because she sensed Nazragul’s power and sought to defeat him. With her went Verrick, Karina’s lover, and Lee, their pet slime. Abenthy she hasn’t seen in years either, and his presence seems to have disappeared from the world of Torril, or is otherwise blocked to her scrying. She believes some ill befell him, but she cannot be sure. She says that the Yuan Ti have joined with Nazragul in a religious Jihad, for they believe the end times are coming at last and the Night Serpent will finally swallow all light.

At hearing the news about Jade, Daymos suddenly appears, still in his Quasit form. He reveals that he has been invisibly following the party since they left Esheballa’s realm and now rails against Karina for not keeping his sister, Jade, safe. He then uses his prodigious abilities to phase through her protective shields around Vraath Keep, claiming he will find a way to save Jade.

There are some really amazing roleplaying moments while at Vraath Keep, as I ask each player what their character does in between their meetings with Karina. Each choice is a really interesting look at the character’s psyche. Here’s the brief of each one.

For Imoaza, the Weave has started to become visible to her. She can see it shaping the magic of the world around her, the way it coalesces around Karina and is tightly knit in her magical energy shield surrounding Vraath Keep. She spends her time examining her surroundings with this new found sight, but it drifts in and out and ultimately she is left without access to it, only a feeling like she has had an incredibly important thought, but cannot retrieve it now. She talks with Black Razor alpha, too, and gains a further understanding of her bond to the sword. He considers her his “mother,” a word that has uncomfortable past associations for Imoaza. And finally, I ask her what she seeks out for food, as it has been, in Faerun years, a very very long time (decades) since any of our companions have actually eaten food. They did not eat in the Chaos world (and good thing, too). Imoaza, true to a character beat that was established back on the air planet, seeks out sweets to salve her addiction to sugar, and gorges herself on fruits and baked goods made by some of the best bakers from Brindol, now refuging in Vraath Keep.

Cliff Notes: The Weave is the magical energy that powers magic in Dungeons & Dragons. It’s never been fully explained in canonical text in order to leave its inner workings more mysterious and up to GMs to develop. The idea of seeing the Weave came to me in a moment of improvisation as I tried to find ways to picture the level of magical power that Imoaza has reached after spending time in the Chaos plane.

For Ruz, she seeks out the company of other Changelings, looking to see if she has any family left in this world. She finds a tribe of Changelings, but she does not know any of them. Too many years have passed since last she set foot on Faerun. Ruz also is given a set of magical robes by Karina, which Karina’s used to wear on her own adventures. They have a lot of powers and incorporate her old Mariner’s Armor from back when she was level 3, so many real time years ago. Ruz also donates a huge amount of wealth, her spoils from Esheballa’s realm, to the war effort, which does not go unnoticed, though does not effect the current session. My favorite thing about her downtime, however, is her description of Ruz’s reaction to normal food. Ruz was in the Abyss far longer than the others and did partake of its food out of neccessity. But food on the chaos realm is hardly sustenance. It is soul energy and it is poisoned, like a drug that worms its way inside your heart. It almost drove Ruz to insanity and suicide, but she survived, her hope restored by the companions when she found them wandering Esheballa’s dark beach. Now, the player describes in beautiful detail how Ruz reacts to real food: real vegetables and meat. She asks for a simple meal, that of beef stew, the more generic and normal, the better, for it is “normal” that she has lacked and sought all of these years.

For Milosh, he does not eat. He is no longer a biological creature and hasn’t been since the Surveyor built him so many aeons ago. But something has changed in him: he now is beginning to remember who he was before he was a machine. His manner changes, no longer naive and friendly. He is now dour and quiet. His characteristic “ah!” with finger upraised has been replaced with a cool intellect and assessment of each situation he finds himself in. And he has recently gone through several shocks: first Carrick is dead, then he finds out he is still alive and on Faerun, and now Milosh is no longer certain of his mission. He goes to the keep’s forge, which Dwarven refugees have expanded into a mighty operation in the basement. Here, Milosh requests armor be made to help cover up his disfigurement (gotten at the fiery breath of the dragon on the Githyanki asteroid) and then he falls into a deep slumber. While he slumbers, he is visited by a beardless dwarf: Haggemoth. Haggemoth tells him that he had tried to forge a better future for the world but he failed when Aldric died and Blackrazor escaped into the void to work terror and mischief in unseen ways. Now he says that Milosh is the one who can change the future and forge a better path and that if he needs a new purpose, then this should be it.

What Does the Prophecy Mean?

In a long meeting with Karina, the PCs discuss the prophecy and its meaning. Here is what they come up with...

Three shall be the kings who sit the single throne And Order's rule by Chaos shall be overthrown The Universe will end by their divine hands Chaos will devour every woman, child, and man

This section seems to be fairly obvious. It is a warning and a reference to Primus’ war against Chaos, a history that was given to them in full by the last remaining Surveyor they found on the air planet. The three kings are the catalysts for a great and terrible destruction.

Each shall be seen by a singular sign Each shall be born of a different line.

The devil's blood runs in the first of the three They bear the eye that can seek but cannot see The second will by heaven be blessed But wings of black will mar their pureness The third contains the dragon's flame What was dead will rise to live again

The three are identified. The first has devil’s blood and the eye that can seek but cannot see. Karina acknowledges this must be her, as a Tiefling (Devil’s Blood) and known by the moniker “Seeker of Callax,” and indicates the gem that is fit into her empty eye socket.

The second, Karina suspects is the Assimir Abenthy, a companion she once sought a great treasure with before he “turned his will to darker ways.” She says that Abenthy was whom she feared was leading the undead army before she discovered it was the possessed Jade.

Which brings her to the third... she believes the third is Nazragul himself, the one possessing Jade. He is Dragonborn and was dead, but has risen again.

Three to rule, Three to lead, Three to destroy and make the universe bleed. Removing one will not lead to the fall To end the curse you must destroy them all

This part Karina is contemplative about. She does not know what it means to “destroy them all.” She admits she has contemplated suicide in order to remove her from the possibility of being used to end the world, but as the PCs point out, “removing one will not lead to the fall.” They all wonder if perhaps the three have to be destroyed at one time or if there is a riddle hidden in this line.

Four things must gather to alter fate's course The Sword, The Shield, The Stone, The Source Then upon the throne the three must be Before they can meet their destiny

This is where most of the discussion takes place. What are the four things that must be gathered? Karina says that Carrick has been out in the world searching for the answers to this riddle. The Sword they think is probably Blackrazor, as it is the most powerful blade they have ever encountered.

The Shield... Imoaza wonders aloud if it could refer to a person, like “Jon Snow, the Shield of the North.” But if it does refer to a person, they have no idea who that person is.

The Stone Karina says that Carrick figured out and believes is one of the crystals that the Surveyor used to power his creations, like a certain Jade statue from days gone by. He’s searching for a piece of one of the Crystals now.

The Source is another stumper... none of them have any idea what it might mean. Milosh wonders if it is the source of the prophecy, or maybe the source of the troubles. Ruz wonders if it is a place, like a river’s mouth or a source of heat or power. Imoaza wonders if it is the Rod of Storms... a different kind of source of power.

In the time these things come to pass The future will be decided by the ones from the past

This one seems pretty obvious to the PCs. The ones from the past are themselves. They are the ones destined to determine the future.

In any case, the PCs stay up late into the evening with Karina before retiring to get some much needed sleep. But they are awoken early by a summons... Karina has dreamed of Dragons, and one in particular to whom she long ago traded the Rod of Storms when it was briefly in her possession. She was told that when the time was right, she would be given something in return and in her dream she had been told that time is now. And so she has a mission for the players.

Next time, the heroes tackle their final dungeon crawl of the campaign (not the final dungeon, mind you...) in a scenario lifted directly from Tyranny of Dragons, The Sea of Moving Ice.

#DnD 5e #dungeons & dragons #AlignmentMayVary #alignment may vary #haggemoth #Nazragul #Red Hand of Doom #Karina #Campaign journal

1 note · View note

felipaynst717-blog · 4 years

Text

Wie erhalte ich kostenlose spiele von rtl und zahle nicht The Outer Worlds

Review The Outer Worlds

A year ago, Obsidian published The Outer Worlds on the say of dangerous complaint of Outcome 76. Today, when Bethesda no longer presents the quilt of the bad RPG release, things happen so attractive anymore.

From the beginning, a muted voice behind the skull warned us hostile to The Outer Worlds. That undertaken to convert myself that this game is not exactly what I became expecting – that it will not necessarily exist a new magnum opus from Obsidian Entertainment, value any volume of funds with any amount of times of your kick. The silent voice was not very well... but it became completely wrong either. The Outer Worlds walked away only a good game.

But that project took every risk in the planet to be a great success. After all, Feargus Urquhart's group used the same framework as with the past games, with Pillars of Eternity at the forefront. They catch on the origin in the RPG genre – however, the beginnings of the Fight series – and gone work the same dish, according to the same recipe, maybe adding some more modern flavors, such as original imagination and using more modern hardware. The controls was conquered from the best people imaginable – Timothy Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, without to whom, the Tomb Boy would never get happened conceived.

Obsidian dropped the isometric perspective (their latest experiments proved that the growth for games with like perspective had stopped) and moved to a 3-dimensional environment. And that wasn't the first time he'd accomplished this – Fallout: New Vegas is still widely acknowledged with the followers of the RPG genre, most of which believe that the best part of the entire series. What might spread so wrong regarding The Outer Worlds? Unfortunately, lots of things – actually within the districts to should not present a problem to equally experienced developers.

Waiter! There's Borerlands in my Fallout!

You'd think, perhaps, to my analysis of The Outer Worlds would turn largely around the game's archaic technology. That's right, and I have a lot to say about it, but I'll choose a less noticeable, and simultaneously much more valuable element of the game. I'll focus on the deciding.

Don't get me wrong – Obsidian created a unique and gaining universe. The fierce border in the space, ironically titled the Arcadia, dictated next to a unpredictable, retrofuturistic company, is surely an interesting place on an adventure. Especially because creators allowed the head go natural and hurled in the lot of crazy ideas, finishing it happy with a little absurd humor.

Unfortunately, someone decided that this frivolous planet will have a very important story, with serious ethical dilemmas. Sounds somewhat like Fallout? Sure, it was unquestionably the plan of the developers – but they've seemingly needed this much; we'd ordered black tea, then understand Regent's Punch rather. The mixture causes a serious cognitive dissonance.

The world of Results was uniquely heavy, gloomy, and no sum of black humor from the game can difference to – absolutely the opposing, actually – that generally expanded the cold fact in the post-apocalyptic USA. The general format of the mark of The Outer Worlds – the struggle for survival of a colony faced with starvation – echoes some personal themes. The problem is the game is undoubtedly overloaded with jokes, as for such an important story.

Humor almost pours through the screen. The power of the company is absurd. By every turn, we are confronted with preposterous regulations and procedures, and the pioneers, every single one, are lots of helpless administrators and complete idiots, that lay their banal issues for the protagonist. Want examples? Just take a look at the screenshots within the text. Maybe it's amusing – but then how is the person supposed to heal the gossip really? And Obsidian ultimately care for their production to get selected seriously, since this carousel of enjoyment sometimes unexpectedly freezes, and we're facing a perfectly serious choice, such as whether to lose human energy in the designation of growth.

Participating in The Outer Worlds feels like looking at The Hitchhiker's Lead for the Universe, yet with quotes from Dune, The Foundation, or Solaris popping up every couple of leaves. Or, working a gaming analogy, it is like playing Borderlands, and then unexpectedly jumping to the many intense themes of Majority Effect, or maybe possibly the horror of Deadly Place every occasionally. The disagreement is hella strong.

New Vegas 1.1

Let's observe The Outer Worlds plays. In terms of gameplay, Obsidian Entertainment's latest development bares the dagger. It's a pure-blood RPG with a gameplay model in which inspirations of Fight are revealed much more clearly than from the setting. The character progress is mysterious and development, there's great liberty with participating in the task you want, the quests remain open and imaginative, as is the history itself – those are the bases in the game, and they prepare deliver a great exchange of entertaining.

The end of these be the most impression on us in The Outer Worlds. The voyage begins the moment the idol developed by the person, a element of the thousands-strong team of the lost colonization ship Dream, is got up from hibernation by the "mad scientist," Phineas Wells. He shows a rather bleak state to the character – the Meeting, a group governing the institution, is steer the Arcadia to their decline, having broken the promising grip of mankind into the undernourished hell plagued with red tape.

The only way to salvation, explains Welles, is to develop the best concentration of Anticipation, and bring down the Congress with their help. Now, you might reflect that the structure with the history gets lately become created, with the great with negative characters introduced. But the game quickly recommend a subversive thought: why not team up with the company, and allow them the fugitive scientist? Of course, the Congress is probably also aware of how serious things try the colony, and it needs a solution to that. Also the reason not solely ignore the entire affair and try to work with your own thinking to stuff with your own pockets? Or just drown the Arcadia with body, killing anyone at your way?

youtube

The game isn't a straight sandbox, but the history of The Outer Worlds experience nearly quite bright sandbox (or rather: nonlinear) features. And even though we only have two simple endings (achieved through a progression of quests which occur essentially the same vision), the participants could accomplish much different effects depending in they way they choose to finish the objective, treat certain makeup, with manage different factions. The persons that enjoy changing the account with news may love it.

Do everything you have to do

Thus, we visit the back strongest aspect of the game, that is. the independence of solving problems. Obsidian doesn't also try to cover the foundation of the mechanics in The Outer Worlds – and especially the character development – is gained straight through Fallout's SPECIAL. On the middle are six capabilities that will govern over a dozen abilities, plus the abilities further revise the stats (they're an equivalent in the famous perks, but while there are only certain aptitudes, the organism isn't that making).

Yet, that provides player a huge liberty in answering problems during the quests. In addition to formulaic combat talents – melee weapons, fire, or blocking – you can spend statements in stopping, hacking, pressure, or sciences. And, what's much more interesting, we constantly come across the possibility of blending and applying these abilities. That's because there's almost invariably more than one way leading to any position, and earlier fighting hostile NPCs, the player's are always able to go and crack the dangerous condition with diplomacy. Do this to say that the campaign with the final boss (and the entire combat sequence preceding it) might be prevented through the use of combined logical and rhetorical abilities.

The independence to act a spirit regarding the mechanics goes hand in hand with the way conversations work. It is another aspect that will get waves of Fallout feel at home. Talks with NPCs are lushly turn out, present the participant a broad variety of possible actions. Just as you can eliminate any NPC, you can also just insult anyone you're talking to, be cruel fun of these, and appropriate their final money. In the word – acting like a complete asshole. And a new interesting fact here – having a character with really small intelligence opens a special, "children's" style in the dialogue. Not a very practical business, but this a nice addition.

The paradox in the next dimension

Up to this point, The Outer Worlds seems able to continue their ground being a very capable RPG, in which the greatest issue is the gimmicky world. Unfortunately, Obsidian do another strategic problem when designing the game – they gamble in three-dimensional graphics.

Despite numerous conflict avoidance decisions for nerds and representatives, TOW still puts a lot of emphasis on deal with. This becomes apparent just seconds after you dump the shelter with the location walls. The query of the not-so-big portions in the forests – even if done all along the chief routes – is regularly "diversified" in chance meets with units of enemies, whose sole purpose of existence is waiting for a chance to kill somebody. And that wouldn't be something in particular bad if the combat became as ordinary.

Eight days have crossed since launch of Outcome: New Vegas, and also the beat mechanics of The Outer Worlds seem like the experience was generated only a year later on. The clumsy animations, dumb AI-controlled opponents, and primitive weapon mechanics, which don't let you feel any influence with the weapon, make the entire experience largely similar to FNV, and seldom offer any satisfaction. And if you think melee weapons offer something greater, think again – it’s actually worse here. You can evaluate and choose designed for a quiet methodology with escape combat altogether (here, Obsidian tried to offer something up-to-date also begun hiding in tall grass), but it is not really cool either... Besides, sparing enemies doesn't yield XP, so there's no reward here.

Technical level – Obsidian

The retrograde technical layer is plain just from the start. Take area and shops, for instance – in many cases, these positions are filled separately, but they're not even substantial in mass. Details are remarkably base in the cities, disturbed with empty seat and miserable imitations of a living atmosphere in formula of tiny companies if motionless dummies (character activities is an additional concern – equally depressing). There's not enough background noise to supply the impact of being in the actual city. The previously mentioned wild areas and seem archaic – they're trying to discover being straight window without actually being really start.

If the above picture in the "technological wonders" presented in The Outer Worlds wasn't quality entertainment for you, let me talk about optimization for a while. Sorry – "optimization." I participated in on the decent computer with a Central i5-4570 (3.2 GHz), 16GB of THRUST, also a GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) at very high situations in 1080p motion, plus a constant 60 frames per minute was not anything I could enjoy frequently. The framerate often dropped to about 40fps for no apparent reason. As if that remained enough – even on an SSD – I frequently felt short freezes created by pile of data, then following getting to a new, larger field, the surfaces and purposes would pop-up right or my senses for a few seconds. It was grotesque.

On the other hand – in at least 30 hours of comedy, rarely encountered any major problem. The game of course incorporates a light total of glitches (like as bodies flying about), but a serious mistake occurred just the moment: At one feature, the game concluded that one of our buddy had expired – several seconds later talking to him, during a completely safe spaceship flight. But that was possibly a difficulty of bad luck. After all, we're referring to a game by Obsidian Entertainment.

Perhaps this completely doesn't matter?

"If Fallout: New Vegas survived a sensation despite many it is technical shortcomings, why must that vary with The Outer Worlds?" There are two things in play here. First, FNV isn't remembered as an outdated glitchfest simply because it allowed us a fantastic narrative. TOW doesn't get the same worth from the story – and the idea not just about the bitter-sweet, incoherent setting.

The game certainly has it's share of interesting journey and inventive jobs, but ultimately, it might get been there a lot better. The best way to illustrate this is with the staff. That a bunch of nice personalities, whose dialogues were produced with plenty of skill as to produce them think alive. Hier finden Sie weitere Informationen One would, still, require more charm from them – particularly by their own private threads, often quite brief, seeming rather forced. Same goes for many quests, even the main ones – plenty of them feels purposeless.

Another big difficulty of The Outer Worlds is that many has gone on in the RPG genre since the announcement of Consequences: New Vegas. We've witnessed a major convergence of the Act with RPG genres; self-identifying as role-play is no longer a free for crude combat mechanics. If we think about FPP games, there's not exactly the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, yet yet the poor Fallout 4, falling short of most real shooters, is miles ahead TOW in terms of gunplay.

All that contributes to the unhappy conclusion to Obsidian Entertainment just did not have enough money to generate The Outer Worlds the kind of game they'd meant. I believe the lion's bit on the budget went to recording dialogues (with a moderately successful answer) with the job of the designers who had to go Arcadia a unique think (that, used for a switch, gone away reasonably clearly). Aiding the Fantastic Engine was likely a dance aimed at but some money – this, theoretically, ensured nice graphics for a little price – further reduced with the deal with Epic Games Store.

However, the developers didn't have the means to enhance the mechanics, be the world a little bigger, and, above all, allow more head with explaining to the chronicle – making it longer, with more cut-scenes and poses. Do this to say that the ending from the primary plan can properly be range into moral 15 hours (side quests should produce another 15).

So, why the make? That's because The Outer Worlds should be regarded primarily as a traditional RPG – and really, if we assess that from this area, we have to admit that some really good craftsmanship. If you miss the good other evening of "rolplays," in which nameless heroes willingly hurried to help collect (or eliminate) the world for no actual purpose, and spent their own time about any trifle mission in the character of acquiring experience points along the way – The Outer Worlds can contract a grab of nostalgia from your eyes. Unfortunately, for everyone also, those will be mainly tears of trouble with grief – of the wasted potential.

#The Outer Worlds #PC Review

0 notes

chaosofnoises-blog · 7 years

Text

HC: Michelle’s race, part 1 - Black African

How does Michelle exist as a non-white representation of London - a city traditionally believed to be very white?

Please note that this is not an extensive list of all black immigration into London, nor does this post focus on the treatment of black people in London. This is purely to document some of the movements into London, in order to explain how Michelle existed as a mixed race representation of London. A post on the treatment of black people, as well as treatment of Michelle as a black woman, will be made at a later date. Please contact me about any issues you have.

As already stated, Michelle is mixed race; Black African, and Indian. This post, to save length and clarity, will focus on the African part of her.

To piece together how Michelle existed as a non-white representation, and how she has never been white, or undergone a race change with time, I have used historical sources. Mainly, I have used art, as well as some evidence from DNA testing of people living in London. Due to racist and colonialist views, it is very difficult to find written evidence of non-white people - their race was either erased, or these people were not written about at all. Many art historians prefer to use artwork as a source, mainly because you can clearly see the depictions of non-white people.

Firstly, DNA evidence of non-white people living in Roman London exists. From DNA testing, at least two examples of African descent people lived in Roman London (x). Similar cities in Roman England - such as York - have also been found to have significant proportions of African descent people; in this case, around 20% of the population (x). From this, it is possible that Michelle began to exist as a woman with African descent. As Roman London, Michelle’s race represented the already existing African population - most likely in London due to trade or as free men in the Roman army.

The Anglo-Saxon literature of Beowulf’s Manuscripts also acts as evidence for African presence in early England, with depictions of two Ethiopian men (x). Though Beowulf itself is not dated, it can be assumed that the African population seen in Roman England continued into Anglo-Saxon times.

Evidence of black populations in early England, and by extension, London, is also seen during the 14th century. Philippa of Hainult, Queen of England during the early 1300s, was a black woman born in France (x). Her son, Edward the Black Prince, acted as a successful leader in wars during the late 1300s (x). In total, Philippa had 13 children. Black people existed within the royal family in Medieval England, and thus is very likely that black civilians also existed within this time.

Evidence for black civilians becomes clearer during the 1500s, with more evidence from both art and written sources. Birth and death records show extensive evidence of both Black and Asian populations during this period in Guildhall, London (x). John Blanke, a famous black trumpeteer, lived during this period also, acting as a paid musician for both Henry VII and Henry VIII (x). During this period was the establishment of trade links between West Africa and England, resulting in an increase of Ghanaian visiting London for trade purposes - though it is important to note that the use of Ghanaians for slavery or servants also influenced the increase in Ghanaian population (x). Many of those brought over for slavery remained in England until the 17th or 18th century.

As slavery increased, so did the use of depicting black servants in their masters’ paintings, often with the purpose of exotifying the painting. An example of this takes place in the 1600s, with black pages used as decoration for a painting of Hortense Mancini (x). Endorsed by King Charles II in this time, the slave trade grew dramatically, with London acting as a major trading point of slaves. Though the main figure is not known, it is estimated that 15 to 20 million African people were taken as slaves (x). Evidence from freed slaves such as Olaudah Equinou (x) recount this experience as highly traumatic for African populations, and the start of dehumanisation processes that to this day influence British attitudes towards Africans (x).

During the 1700s, the slave trade boomed. Many depictions of black people were as before; as slaves or servants posing with their masters to add a sense of ‘the exotic’ to paintings. However, it is worth noting that many black people did exist as a member of the working class. One example is the prints by William Hogarth, recording the scene of actresses preparing for a show. In a room of white actors, there is seen a black actress, preparing herself for a show, as well as another black woman helping another to get ready to perform (x). From this, it is thought that while they may not have had the same rights or treatment as the white workers, black presence in working class communities was more accepted and more normalised. However, this may be reflecting how black workers were very often in a lower class, tangling up the issues of racism and classism (x).

In 1807, the slave trade was abolished, though the act of having slaves was not. This period contains many depictions of black people - most likely slaves - in the same fashion as the 1700s; to add a sense of richness, exotic, and ‘culture’, by adding a black slave into the master’s portrait (x). Black slaves in portraits were often used to highlight the whiteness of their master. Slaves who were released often found themselves very poor, in jobs such as mudlarking, with bad conditions and risk of being spied on my former masters (x). As a result, the 1800s saw some of the first creations of spaces for a black community (x). As before, it is worth noting that not all black people depicted in artwork were slaves - many pieces were made to depict black performers, such as the acrobat ‘Miss La La’ (x), the American actor Ira Aldridge (x) who sought to perform Shakespeare in London after finding only white actors could do so in America, George Bridgetower; ‘child genius and European prodigy’ (x), and Samuel Coleridge Taylor (x). An 1813 exhibition into the works of Sir Joshua Reynolds demonstrated many examples of black people in artwork, exhibiting some 141 portraits (x).

However, black people’s accomplishments were not - and still - not commemorated and recorded as they should be. After a 12 year campaign, and a multitude of fundraising, a statue commemorating Mary Seacole was only unveiled last year, in 2016 (x).

Due to the numerous African nationalities entering London for various reasons, it is safe to assume that Michelle’s nationality changed to reflect this, as she reflected the population in London. In recent times, there is a higher population of African people than Caribbean people living in London (x). Of African populations, a Nigerian passport is the most common - after a British passport - suggesting that a significant amount of black Africans in London are Nigerian (x). This is reflected in Michelle’s current nationality, where she identifies as Nigerian.

#ooc #hc

1 note · View note

weloseeveryweek · 7 years

Text

16/17 season review

It needs to be said that Bristol Rovers aren’t a successful team. In fact, Bristol as a whole has massively underperformed in football considering that cities like this have Premier League clubs knocking about. That’s the way it goes, and both clubs have somewhat accepted that neither of us will never be the best in England.

That’s practically the city of Bristol in a nutshell. You can look at places like Cardiff just across the bridge: when they want something, they say they’re going to get it and they do. In Bristol, the lads here say they want something, say they’re going to get it, and two appeals, five years and a court case later the project is “looking at other options”. It’s exactly the same with football here.

But what can you do about that? Really?

Because City have spent the season hanging around the bottom of the Championship, and two years ago Rovers were relegated into non-league; humiliation and heartbreak echoing around North Bristol.

City weren’t amazing that season either.

It was a bad season for football in Bristol, but at least City didn’t have the overhanging embarrassment of leaving the Football League entirely.

Rovers, however, spent the summer playing the role of a lost child, unaware and needing constant reassurance. Sack the board and Clarke out were all the gasheads could mutter. It was a travesty, and it was the first time it had ever happened to us.

The season started shaky, a couple of draws, a loss here and there, wins scattered across the board. That was just the beginning, and all we could do was hope for the best and not expect anything.

Soon things picked up. We won. A lot. We went 22 games without defeat and broke the longest unbeaten streak record for the Conference. We thought we’d get automatics. Of course it’s the Conference and only number one can certainly escape, but we nearly had it in the bag. A win at Dover and a win on the last day would’ve sorted it. But we don’t like doing things the easy way her apparently, so we drew at Dover and a seven nil thrashing of Alfreton wasn’t enough to knock Barnet off the top spot.

We picked ourselves up and glided through the playoffs: a 3-0 aggregate win against Forest Green Rovers, a local derby. And Wembley was stressful as well. Grimsby Town vs Bristol Rovers. We took 30,000 and they took 17,000: a record. From the thirty minute mark to the end of extra time, it was 1-1. Penalties were a blur: John-Paul Pittman kicking straight over the crossbar, and Lee Mansell slotting home the winner.

Relief.

The main emotion at the blue and white end of Wembley.

Relief.

And so the 2014/15 season came to close and the new season began.

In our low league minds, it was the comeback of the decade.

Bristol Rovers, little Bristol Rovers back in the Football League and ready for the next step.

A promotion campaign that doesn’t end until the 7th May 2016. Dagenham & Redbridge at home. A win and results to go our way to steal 3rd place.

It was only luck that Accrington didn’t win.

But it was pure resilience that we won, 93rd minute and Matty Taylor hits the post and Lee Brown pounced on the rebound.

That wasn’t relief; it was ecstasy. Because this time, we weren’t escaping; we were achieving.

And that was just the prologue.

2016 was almost an excuse to calm down. Relax and not stress out. We were back in our comfort zone of League One. I think i read somewhere that if you averaged out our league finishes since we entered the football league, we’d be around 15th in League One.

That just sums up Rovers really: 15th in League One.

Anyway, as long as we weren’t threatened by relegation, we didn’t really mind what happened.

We lost our first match because we always do: a 3-1 loss at Glandford Park. Ollie Clarke and Tom Lockyer both get booked, the silly bastards. Our first and second most disciplined players respectively.

That was alright, we’ll bounce back.

And we did, obviously, because The Memorial Stadium is our own and too easy to win at. 5 yellow cards, and that’s excluding the two that sent off Oxford’s Sam Long.

Up until January, our results were hit and miss. We won a few, lost a few, drew a few. I reckon the 5-1 battering at home at the hands of Charlton was the highlight.

We won our boxing day match and our News Years Eve match. Granted, they were both at home, but 2-0 vs Wimbledon and 4-1 vs Coventry were cracking games and we deserved to win them.

We went into the New Year feeling confident.

We took a big knock away at Charlton, them winning by a large margin once again. It was vaguely embarrassing really. Our away record was shocking all season; we only won about five games away. It was home record (which was genuinely the best in English football for three years) that kept us in the top half of the table.

Northampton at home was supposed to be fairly easy because they were soft and mid table and one of the only teams we’d beat away.

And fairs to us because we beat them 5-0, with a banger of a Billy Bodin goal, a seven minute hat trick by Ellis Harrison, and then another Harrison goal later in the game. This lead to some quality Harrison propaganda, and Rob Page getting the sack after calling the game “men against girls”.

Classic sexism.

(He got the Wales u21 manger job a bit later on so it turned alright for him in the end.)

Then we were blessed with a couple of 3-1 away losses in a row. Bit of a shit two weeks for the gasheads really. We were all sick of our shocking away record, and I dreaded away games, especially when i wasn’t going. That might sound weird, but watching us be shite live is better than suffering whilst refreshing twitter and seeing us concede every ten minutes.

The last game of January was a Westcountry derby: Swindon Town vs Bristol Rovers. It’s a derby that used to have a history of Rovers fans going into pubs with bats and smashing up a few Swindon fans, and then them lot glassing us back.

Now it’s just us singing inbreds and roundabouts and them nicking City’s song about hating gas scum.

Swindon were playing shit all season and our home run was quality so their wasn’t much doubt of us winning. Also, when we played them at the beginning of the season, after the called off match and the ticket price fiasco, we pulled a comeback out of our arses with a penalty and an own goal.

Billy Bodin scored what would turn out to be the only goal of the match and it was classic Bodin magic like always.

It’s a BTEC Bristol Derby, but because that never happens anymore, it’s was decently entertaining, if anything fairly stressful.

31st of January was the day that us Rovers fans were humiliated and angry.

Fucking hell were we angry.

Matty Taylor, our top goal scorer, who’d scored 61 goals in all competitions across three seasons, the bloke who played a massive part of our back to back promotions from the Conference and League 2, the lad we took from Forest Green and essentially made him relevant, decided to pay us back by moving to Bristol City on the last day of the transfer day.

Bristol City. Our fucking rivals. The only team that every gashead hates.

Taylor produces a great explanation of “it was too hard to resist” as if there aren’t actual contracts out on his life.

It was shambles. We had no idea what to do and we had no chance to pull ourselves back together. We had about four hours of the window left and no one to buy.

We were fucked essentially. And it was more than that.

I heard about it at school. I kept hearing whispers about Matty Taylor and i didn’t properly realise what was happening until last period.

The City fans were piping up and I felt sick, because we were about to lose our debatably best player to our local, and more importantly major, rivals.

School was going to hell, even though it’s in a village just off of North Bristol and in theory, my school should be full of gasheads. It’s not though because half of this city are glory hunters.

None of us though we’d fare well for the rest of the season, what with us not having a consistent goalscorer and all. It was just another excuse for other teams to take the piss out of us.

We found options though.

Ollie Clarke got his big break, which still makes me laugh considering he’s been here since he was about 14 and has always had bags of talent. He’d been in the squad for most of the season, and starting the majority of them. Ollie has 128 apps and 12 goals to his name and a good 11 of them were absolute worldies. He pulled one out against Oxford at the beginning of March, our first away win since October. My lad got one against Scunthorpe and a 40 second banger vs Chesterfield.

Billy Bodin became the main man. CR7 is just a poor mans BB23 really. He scored more goals than our actual strikers. We’ll be so lucky if we can keep him this summer.

Speaking of which, Luke James massively failed. The poor bloke didn’t score a single league goal in his 23 apps for us during his loan from Peterborough. He’s a lush lad, and his baby’s really cute, but he just can’t put the ball in the back of the net. Babber even had a straight penalty given, and it got saved straight out. (It was a pressure penalty and he shouldn’t have been taking it anyway so I’m not sure if i can be blaming him for this one.

Bolton away was such a crease it’s unreal. We should’ve won. We practically beat Bolton in their own backyard and we were disappointed. Darrell Clarke said in the post match interview that it shows just how far we’ve come that we’re disappointed in a draw at Bolton. He’s not wrong mates.

Our playoff push managed to last until the penultimate weekend, where we go full circle and pull a Bristol Rovers by losing 4-2 at Peterborough.

Quality.

Millwall at home was our last game of the season. They had to win to secure playoffs, and our result didn’t matter because we’d finish top ten either way, but we wanted to mess with Millwall’s play off party, and if all else fails, watch them get battered to fuck in the playoffs.

The first two goals they scored were textbook offside and that’s just a fact. The Mem was the loudest it had been all season even if we were leaking goals like a tap. (Ryan Sweeney not in the squad makes a massive difference apparently. Better than England u20s international Jake Clarke-Salter definitely.)

Anyway, we get one back, and then they get another, and then we get another one, and we go into half time 2-3 down. Us over here was thinking we were gonna lose 6-2 in the second half was decently wrong.

Our attacking force was mental and Millwall didn’t have a chance. Eventually, we get a free kick in a dangerous position. Bodin can take free kicks apparently and puts it top bins.

Southend were winning, and if we could keep that draw Millwall we’re out of it.

Course, they scored 85th minute, but we had our brief moment of glory.

There were upsides to Millwall making the playoffs (and eventually winning them) like not having to play them next season, more specifically going to The Den.

And that’s the season over.

A season that considering the circumstances, was very successful. We finished in our highest position since 1999 when main man Ian ‘Ollie’ Holloway was our manger.

Two years ago and if someone told me we’d be cracking it in League 1 I’d’ve twist your wrist in.

We’re not a big team, and we never will be, but Bristol Rovers is enough for me.

(as long we get into the championship soon and that uwe stadium starts happening @wael)

#bristol #bristol rovers #football #soccer #i love this!#i love reading about the different league #and how it's different to supporting say a pl club but no less (perhaps even more!) passionate #prompt response #submission

3 notes · View notes

lindyhunt · 5 years

Text

Meet “The World’s Most Comfortable Shoes”

Last spring, I found myself walking the streets of San Francisco—from historic Jackson Square through Chinatown, over to Little Italy and back—for hours, thinking to myself, ‘I never want to take these shoes off.’ Now, I love shoes as much as the next girl. (Okay, maybe more than the next girl.) But this was a new sentiment, even for me. Turns out, it wasn’t hyperbole when TIME magazine dubbed sneaker start-up Allbirds—which launches its Canada e-retail today—“the world’s most comfortable shoes.”

But that’s not the only thing that sets them apart in the very crowded sneaker space, which has acquired somewhat of a cult patina over the past few years. Allbirds’ USP lies in what their shoes are made out of. No, it’s not some high-tech performance material developed in a lab. No, it’s not some newfangled Silicon Valley-generated synthetic fibre. It’s… wait for it… Merino wool. Since March 2016, the company’s impossibly soft wool lace-up sneakers and slip-on shoes have been flying off shelves, attracting everyone from tech leaders like Google co-founder Larry Page to Hollywood A-listers like Emma Watson and Mila Kunis to world leaders like Barack Obama. Allbirds has since expanded beyond wool, launching shoes made from a lightweight and breathable fibre spun from eucalyptus tree pulp last spring, and flip flops made from sugarcane in the late summer.

Photography via Allbirds

You’ve probably caught on to the fact that Allbirds is no ordinary shoe company.

From innovation to sourcing to design to packaging, every aspect of their decision-making takes the environment into consideration. Sure, sustainable is the buzzword du jour, and it’s led fashion brands across the globe to hop on the bandwagon, often at the expense of good design. Unfortunately, this means consumers have come to expect a sad compromise when it comes to ‘green’ goods—low on style, high on conscience. But that’s precisely the landmine that Allbirds’ founders, former New Zealand footballer Tim Brown and renewable materials expert Joey Zwillinger, have managed to neatly dodge, with a brand philosophy that leads with design first, sustainability second. What’s the point of being an eco-friendly business if no one’s going to buy what you’re selling?

Photography via Allbirds

The initial idea for Allbirds began germinating in Brown’s head around 2009-2010 with a “pure design vision”—a singular, logo-free, minimalist sneaker. The idea of crafting them out of natural materials came later.

“In a previous life, I had a sporting career,” says Brown. “I was playing in the Australian Soccer League. I was sponsored by Nike, and everything I had to wear had logos on it. But around that time, there was a big shift happening in apparel and fashion. You were seeing that unbranded, simple, Everlane aesthetic starting to take over in a way it hadn’t before. And so I thought there was room [in the market] for a simple sneaker.”

But as he immersed himself in the workings of the footwear industry, he became aware of how little it had evolved over the years. The materials used are either synthetic or leather, and its dependence on non-biodegradable petroleum-based products makes the footwear industry one of the worst offenders in terms of environmental impact. That was when the idea of a sneaker made out of natural materials began to coalesce in Brown’s mind, especially given the fact that he hails from New Zealand, “the land of 27 million sheep.” But as a native Kiwi, he knew his perceptions of wool were vastly different from others’. “When you hear about wool as an American or Canadian consumer, you think hot and scratchy. First of all, not all wool is created equal.” Allbirds sneakers utilize 17.5 micron, superfine, New Zealand merino wool. “It’s some of the finest fibre in the world,” says Brown.

Photography via Allbirds

Armed with the idea of a single sneaker crafted out of wool, Brown embarked on a years-long journey, one that involved hundreds of evolving prototypes, which Brown admits were “so bad”; a wildly successful 2014 Kickstarter campaign, followed by “the worst year of [his] life trying to fulfill those orders”; and eventually a meeting with Zwillinger (their wives are best friends), who was working in the renewable materials space at the time and quickly became intrigued with Brown’s mission. With Zwillinger’s help, they secured venture capital funding for their start-up, and with seed money of $2.25m, got to work. They launched in 2016 with the Wool Runner, a lace-up sneaker, followed by the Wool Lounger, a slip-on, and a line of shoes for kids, endearingly called Smallbirds.

Sustainability may not have been their founding principle, but it’s been a core part of their business model right from the start. They regularly conduct LCAs—Life Cycle Analyses—to “understand the environmental impact of carbon footprint of our product,” says Brown, and also achieved B Corp certification. “Instead of taking a shareholder-only approach—that’s the norm for any business in America, particularly with public companies; they have a duty or obligation to their shareholders—we’ve put in the charter of business that we have a public benefit, that we also have as a stakeholder the environment,” Zwillinger explains. “Hopefully long after we’re gone, the managers of Allbirds will be beholden to the environment as well as shareholders. We’ve really baked that into the DNA of the business. We live it every day.”

Photography via Allbirds

Allbirds employs what can be deemed a kind of stealth sustainability – it’s not the first thing they want you to notice about the brand, and it’s not the first thing they talk about when they discuss their philosophy. According to Jad Finck, VP of Innovation and Sustainability, “We don’t want to be a sustainable shoe company, we want to be a company that makes great shoes and we do it sustainably.” They may not be shouting it from the rooftops but the environment is omnipresent, not just in their thinking but even in their office space. A lush green wall of preserved plants with the Allbirds logo emblazoned across the middle welcomes you to their San Francisco headquarters, where meeting rooms are named after New Zealand bird species (Hihi, Tui, Kiwi), the bathrooms are dubbed Birdbaths, and the conference room table is a giant slab of redwood, sanded, polished and assembled by the employees themselves. There’s a playful element running through the company’s ethos, from the name (named for New Zealand, which early settlers, during their first exploration of the islands, discovered was “all birds” and not much else), to the quirky branding and photography, to the names of the seasonal (and hard to precisely identify) colourways their shoes come in—it’s not brick red, it’s ‘chili’, it’s not a greenish taupe, it’s ‘sage,’ and it’s not blush, it’s ‘dusk.’ But behind all that whimsy is serious stuff. Here’s a quick run-down: the Wool line is made of responsibly sourced merino wool from ZQ-certified farms in New Zealand that meet the highest standards in terms of animal welfare, environmental care and social sustainability; the shoelaces are made from post-consumer plastic; and the insole is constructed out of a castor bean-derived polymer. The Tree line, whose upper is fashioned out of eucalyptus tree fibres, is FSC-certified, which means it’s been vetted and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, an environmental watchdog group. “It’s a really holistic certification,” explains the brand’s Sustainability Analyst Hana Kajimura. It ensures they’re “not harvesting baby trees, not taking from endangered forests or places where there are endangered species, and also [considers] indigenous people’s rights as well as things like water quality and fertilizer use.”

Photography via Allbirds

While their sustainability game is solid, it’s not the main reason why the brand has developed a cult following in the short time since its launch. The design is clean, sleek and simple—“the right amount of nothing,” quips Head of Design Jamie McLellan—yet instantly recognisable. They might have started out as the sweethearts of Silicon Valley, beloved by head honchoes at Google, Twitter and Apple, as well as tech magazine editors (apparently “they’re as plentiful as MacBooks at the WIRED office”), but their appeal has spread way beyond the tech realm. I counted several at the San Francisco airport and also spotted them in Austin during South by Southwest. Outside of the United States, though, they’d been limited to Australia and New Zealand—until last March, when they launched their Canadian online presence.

“Our philosophy is: you’ve got to go products first,” says Finck. “You have to make a product that people love, they love the way it looks, the way it feels. We could say ‘oh it’s an eco-shoe but it’s scratchy and falls apart’ but then we’d have no power to change anything. Unless people [want to] buy our products, no one’s listening and no one cares.”

Suffice it to say, people care.

0 notes

jessicakehoe · 5 years

Text

Meet “The World’s Most Comfortable Shoes”

Photography via Allbirds

You’ve probably caught on to the fact that Allbirds is no ordinary shoe company.

Photography via Allbirds

Suffice it to say, people care.

The post Meet “The World’s Most Comfortable Shoes” appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Meet “The World’s Most Comfortable Shoes” published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/

0 notes

freebestbettingtips · 5 years

Text

Who is going to win the tactical battle, Emery or Sarri?

New Post has been published on https://bestfreebettingtips.com/who-is-going-to-win-the-tactical-battle-emery-or-sarri/

Who is going to win the tactical battle, Emery or Sarri?

Artwork by @chapulana

Another London derby on Saturday afternoon will find Arsenal and Chelsea in a battle of significant importance. The Gunners are in need of a win to close the six-point gap on Chelsea. On the other hand, the Blues are motivated to hold onto their fourth place in pursuit of a Champions League place.

Both teams have performed inconsistently lately with Arsenal struggling at the back and Chelsea having a hard time in the final third. Unai Emery’s side have picked up just four points from their past four games as a result of switching formations and quite a few defensive injuries. Despite achieving better results, their rivals have failed to deliver consistent performances too. But what’s changed since their last meeting and what could we expect of this clash?

Final third performance

Similar to last year Chelsea are in search of a solid striking force. The team desperately needs a new addition to the frontline as Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata have failed to meet expectations. Eden Hazard is still their main man, leading his team’s goalscoring charts with 10 goals this term, followed by Pedro (seven) and then Morata (five). Sarri’s side has had some struggles with their end product.

The most evident proof of that is their performance against Tottenham. The Blues produced 17 shots without scoring, compared to Spurs’ six that resulted in them winning 1-0. As you can see in the image above, half of their shots came from outside the box. This was a result of Tottenham’s well-structured defensive line and Chelsea’s failure to open spaces and use them.

It clearly won’t be long till Hazard’s complexity won’t be enough and the team will subsequently lose some points. They are linked with the 31-year-old Gonzalo Higuain, who might be able to help them as it might be his last opportunity to prove himself. It is doubtful that Arsenal’s sloppy defence will keep a clean sheet, but this is going to be one of those games to show if Sarri has a plan B.

When it comes to the Gunners there is no need to panic over their attacking force. It is expected that Unai Emery will stick to the 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) formation and use Lacazette in the centre of the attack, Aubameyang on the left and Iwobi on the right. Although this might not be their most common positioning it will cause problems for the opposition defenders. With a combined 21 goals, Aubameyang (14) and Lacazette (seven) seem to enjoy playing alongside each other.

From the pictures above you can see that both Chelsea (above) and Arsenal (below) attack mostly on the left. However, when it comes to shot direction they always try to either cut inside or provide a cross to the middle where most of their shots come from.

This might be problematic for Arsenal if Unai Emery goes with a three-man defence, as the team fails to find the balance during defensive transitions. This would allow the Blues to spread out wide and then use the half-spaces as channels to provide balls into the middle.

Possession and passing accuracy

Both teams are known for trying to keep possession for longer periods of time using a combination of short passes in the midfield area. There is a slight difference in other areas though, as you can see from the images below.

Chelsea’s players (left) use these combinations to keep the ball between the middle and the opposition third, so whenever there is a newly opened space they can react quickly and create an opportunity. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s players often keep possession in the spaces between their own third and the middle as they try to build up from the back and attack at speed.

The main question here is who is going to win the midfield battle. Their main men Jorginho and Torreira, both new to the Premier League, have made an impressive start to the campaign. More often than not though, they both fail to deliver that edgy, confident performance.

When it comes to owning the central area, the advantage once again goes to the Blues. Simply put, Kante’s performances are more consistent and he can handle the situation, whereas Granit Xhaka fails to show strong decision-making when his partner is not playing on his potential.

When it comes to delivering to the front lines Xhaka is in front with his 18 crosses, compared to only four by Kante. They have both created 24 chances so far, although almost all of the Frenchman’s are from open play.

When it comes to their defensive contribution things look a bit different. Kante’s ball control has led to 15 take-on successes, while the Swiss international has managed only three. He performs better under pressure too as he has made more interceptions and blocks than Xhaka. The vice-versa in the tackles section is mostly a result of their different styles of play, as it is known that the Swiss player is more aggressive.

Their performances will be crucial in the derby as Xhaka’s lack of strong decision-making might play a huge part of the team’s defensive actions. If Chelsea manage to take advantage of these opportunities they will succeed.

What plan Bs could thе managers have?

Unai Emery should have a plan B, otherwise he risks looking unprepared. It would be better for him if this back-up plan is called Mesut Ozil. The manager occasionally drops the German from the squad for ‘tactical’ reasons. At first, it wasn’t that big of a deal, but when Iwobi and Ramsey sometimes clearly lack a connection you start wondering if the team really doesn’t need Ozil.

If Emery switches to 4-1-2-1-2 for example, the playmaker might be the one to pick up the ball from his fellow midfielders and give Xhaka an opportunity to chase his defensive responsibilities more strictly.

Meanwhile, Callum Hudson-Odoi has a chance to become the late hero for his team. If Sarri plays him later in the game against the tired opposition’s back line, he might use his pace and form some counter-attacks which we already know are a nightmare for the Arsenal.

Conclusion

These teams meet in the middle of transitional seasons, as they try to pay more attention to tactics and positional play. They are both in the fight for a Champions League place and need the three points desperately. It will be a game of tactical chess, but it could just as easily come down to an individual mistake to tip the scales. One thing is sure, it is going to be an interesting look at what both managers have done in their first months in the Premier League.

If you love tactical analysis, then you’ll love the digital magazines from totalfootballanalysis.com – a guaranteed 100+ pages of pure tactical analysis covering topics from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and many, many more. Buy your copy of the January issue for just ₤4.99 here, or even better sign up for a ₤50 annual membership (12 monthly issues plus the annual review) right here.

0 notes

hellosaltysaladcollectionstuff · 6 years

Link

IN THE POST–WORLD WAR II political shuffle, China and Albania found themselves joined in an alliance of necessity. Neither country was keen to make cozy with the capitalist West or Stalinist Russia, so pickings were slim. The resulting period of “eternal friendship” between China and Albania lasted as long as their prevailing political ideologies roughly aligned — from around 1958 to the early 1970s. Anouck Durand’s photocomic Eternal Friendship, translated by Elizabeth Zuba, uses this brief moment of attempted political harmony as the context for an invented narrative based on the real-life experiences of Albanian photographer Refik Veseli. During the war, Refik’s family helped the Mandils, a Jewish family, evade Nazi capture. In the process, Refik formed a friendship with Gavra Mandil and learned photography from Gavra’s father, Mosha. After the war, the Mandils resettled in Israel. Due to Albania’s strict censorship policies, Refik struggled to maintain contact with Gavra after the move.

Eternal Friendship pairs a diary-like narrative written in the voice of Refik with archival photographs, a combination that explores the intersection of personal and national history. The book opens in 1970, when Refik visits China at the behest of the Albanian government. He has been dispatched with a delegation of state photographers, ostensibly to learn the trichrome photographic printing process. The trip itself is part of a state propaganda campaign to promote a sense of unity between China and Albania. Refik, who is not a state ideologue, goes with the private purpose of sending a letter to Gavra from China, thereby bypassing the Albanian censors.

Early communist states idealized photography as an inherently socialist art form grounded in science and capable of pure representation. Photography was touted as a tool of the revolution, one that could prove the viability of the communist project. During the period covered by Eternal Friendship, the production and distribution of photography was tightly controlled by the Chinese and Albanian governments. Each state published only images that supported the narratives they intended to tell about themselves — stories of collective strength, advanced industrial technology, and military power. The photographs used by Durand depict parades of people carrying banners with slogans such as “Long live the friendship between the Chinese and Albanian people” and “Welcome comrades of the heroic Albanian people.” Other images show smiling partisans holding rifles or threshing wheat, smokestacks rising from industrial iron latticework, ballistic missiles, and anti-aircraft cannons. Eternal Friendship contextualizes these images in a manner that subverts and repurposes their original function. Propaganda photographs are used not as evidence of China and Albania’s “eternal friendship,” but as evidence of the Chinese and Albanian governments’ attempt to construct such a friendship.

The most obvious level of subversion at work in Eternal Friendship comes from the insertion of photographs into the book’s larger narrative. One picture depicts Refik and the Albanian photographer Pleurat Sulo standing among a line of smiling workers outside of a factory. In context, this photo is transformed from evidence of a strong and satisfied working class into a picture of a man posing so that he can get a chance to mail an unedited letter to his faraway friend.

But Durand also uses text to call out the staged nature of the photographs. Refik’s delegation poses with various locals in a series of photographs accompanied by a caption reading, “The Chinese have provided us with new cameras: a ‘Red Flag’ for each of us, the local replica of the Leica. The scenes to be photographed are also provided.” Elsewhere the book reveals that Albanian photographers had at this point long been using Kodak film, which was superior to the putatively new trichrome printing process they were taught by the Chinese. “We hope they won’t take away our Kodak film,” Durand writes in Refik’s voice.

Eternal Friendship repeatedly juxtaposes personal story with the tendency of communist art to eschew the individual and highlight collective struggle. The book does not include Refik on every page, nor do the pictures follow any sort of continuing action. Instead Durand intersperses photographs of Refik and his delegation with collective partisan imagery. Yet the text never ceases to comment upon each image from Refik’s perspective, explaining the constrained and constructed nature of the trip. Refik was sent to China to learn a new printing process, but he was also sent to generate photographic evidence of political cooperation. He fulfilled the latter mission, but the story of his personal reasons for making the trip undercut the very documentary evidence that he has produced.

Durand also cleverly crops archival images to invoke his motif of individual versus collective. One of the first pictures she includes is a painting of the two nations’ leaders, Mao Zedong and Enver Hoxha, clasping hands. The accompanying text reads, “The friendship of brotherhood … solid like granite … unites our two countries. China and Albania.” This is most probably the intended message of this painting at its creation. The following page is a photograph of a stadium, filled with people, above which hang the portraits of each country’s respective leader. Durand divides this image into two panels, inserting a thin white gutter through the center of what was once a single image, separating the leaders’ portraits. On the following page, Refik is introduced with the same technique. What appears to be a larger photograph of a parade is cropped to focus on individual marchers to whom we are introduced: Refik Veseli, Pleurat Sulo, and Katjusha Kumi. The text, in Refik’s voice, comments on the strangeness of being “on this side of the camera.” In this way, Durand invites us to examine the individuals within the photograph of the collective whole.

Finally, the very use of these photos is subversive, as both governments attempted to destroy these archives when the Chinese-Albanian relationship deteriorated and each sought to erase the evidence of their former relationship. Some pictures used by Durand bear marks of the attempted destruction in the form of scratched-out and burned faces. Once the state is no longer interested in publishing (or even preserving) the images, their function switches from propaganda to evidence. In the 1970s, the farce of an eternal friendship between China and Albania might have been believable. But presented in the context of the 21st century, knowing that this period of cooperation barely lasted 20 years, the claim deflates.

The latter portion of Eternal Friendship is devoted more exclusively to Refik’s history and his friendship with the Mandils. The images in this section include pictures from Refik’s personal collection — sentimental photographs and individual portraits that one might find in a family album. Instead of the plain white background and grid-like placement utilized in the first part of the book, these images appear as though imprecisely pasted atop blue construction paper. While the pictures are aesthetically placed, they are neither perfectly aligned nor divided by consistently-sized gutters. This portion of the book resembles a scrapbook more than a comic book. Durand also includes a letter written by Gavra nominating Refik’s family as “Righteous Among Nations,” which ultimately enabled the two to reunite in 1990.

This letter of nomination is, like the state propaganda photographs, a sort of fabrication. The sentiment may be heartfelt, but as with any political document, it is molded toward a specific purpose. In this respect, it parallels the photos in this section, which one might expect to be more personal than those documenting Refik’s visit to China, but which remain just as beholden to ulterior purposes. Refik’s family photographs are staged: the children are corralled to sit still just like the factory workers. The subjects are carefully posed and smile for the camera. Ironically, there are more seemingly candid shots in the first portion of the book.

As with the propaganda photos, the personal photographs contain multiple meanings that Durand sets out to reveal. One image shows Gavra and his sister standing in front of a Christmas tree. This was taken by their father to be used as advertising for his photo studio, and later repurposed as evidence of their Christianity designed to forestall Nazi harassment. A picture of Mosha and Gavra standing next to one another and smiling appears at first to be a generic family photograph. Its true import is revealed, however, by the accompanying text: “With Mosha (left) finally out of hiding in the basement: freedom!” Without these captions, a viewer would be unlikely to discern that these seemingly mundane pictures depict years of elusion and evasion — hiding in cramped basements, false identities, and even time in prison. One of the final images in the book was taken in 1990, when Gavra and Refik are reunited at last. It is among the only seemingly candid photographs in this section. Other people in the photo are not looking at the camera, and one person (either Refik or Gavra) holds his hands above his head in celebration, even though this obstructs the composition of the photo.

In this way, Durand primes us to rethink the propaganda photos she has shown us earlier. Even though we know these photos were staged, this does not change the fact that these people did meet and stand among one another. The artificial impetus of these meetings need not necessarily have precluded authentic connection. Nothing prevented Refik from enjoying the company of the factory workers. Put another way, if the family photos are as staged as the propaganda photos, then it follows that the propaganda photos are at least potentially as authentic as the family photos.

Eternal Friendship is a project of archival recontextualization. It does not merely revise or define the meaning of the images Durand selects, but situates these pictures within multiple contexts. The state propaganda photo offers, in addition to its intended purpose, a glimpse of Refik’s visit to China and evidence of the state manipulation of history. The studio advertisement becomes a tool of escape and subversion. A nomination letter functions as a political plea, but also serves as an authentic testament of friendship. In this context, it becomes impossible to definitively state what the archive shows about the past. While telling a compelling personal story of friendship, Eternal Friendship also explores the flexible nature of the image. Photography constructs histories, about ourselves and about our societies. But what a photograph reveals changes with time, and it is often not a single story.

Will Moore is a PhD candidate at the University of Missouri, where he studies nonfiction, essays, and comics. His comics, interviews, and critical reviews have been published in The Rumpus, The Missouri Review, and ImageTexT.

The post Recontextualizing the Archive: On Anouck Durand’s “Eternal Friendship” appeared first on Los Angeles Review of Books.

from Los Angeles Review of Books https://ift.tt/2OkA1EG

#Blogger

0 notes

theliterateape · 6 years

Text

American Shithole #5 — Fuck You, NRA.

by Eric Wilson

Watching these brave young Americans go up against the NRA and their paid-for GOP representative mouthpieces is truly inspiring. Watching that effort ultimately fail to garner any substantive change will be especially cruel — for all of us.

I shed tears of anguish like many of you, when Emma Gonzales cried “we will be the last mass shooting,” mostly, because I knew it would not be true.

I am not trying to steal her beautiful thunder, or bang the tired drum of “if we couldn’t after Sandy Hook,” but the hard truth still remains, if we couldn’t get any sensible gun legislation during the Obama years, we will have to suffer through a school shooting every single day before the NRA will even think of giving up an inch of ground during this administration’s filthy reign.

I have never wanted to be more wrong.

Unfortunately, Trump and Co. aren’t even morally approachable like some members of the GOP; this administration is driven purely by greed. This administration would sell its own country if they could turn a tidy profit — and they have; so unless the pressure comes from powerful republican donors, Trump won’t do jack shit about dead kids.

Certainly not with Don Jr. whispering sweet nothings about staying strong on guns in his ear. Don Jr. also mentioned this week how much he adores how the poor of India always smile. Isn’t that adorable? Don Jr. is the ideal candidate in my mind when I picture the white collar criminal in the old “do you want to be the husband or the wife” prison joke.

If you are interested, the punchline is, “okay Don, then get on over here and suck your wife’s dick.”

Don Jr. certainly merits his own feature — and I will address him fully in this column eventually — but for now, I would just like to say that the Trump brood, once suspected, now for certain, are what the Children of the Corn would grow up to be if they spent their salad days murdering big game in Africa, playing at billionaire business ownership, and shitting on gold toilets. Don Jr. in particular, reminds me of that special breed of entitled plutocrat: the eternally oblivious lemming.

So blinded by their own shiny baubles and bangles, they can’t see the cliff they are hurtling us all towards.

Which brings me back to the previously mentioned billionaire donors, and possibly the silver lining — a prominent member of the conservative ruling class has broken rank, demanding a ban on assault weapons. Al Hoffman Jr., one of the most generous republican donors, has not only declared he would not provide a single dollar of support for any republican candidates not on board with an assault rifle ban, but he would also contact all of the other major GOP benefactors and implore them to join him in his effort.

Now, I’m not saying this is going to mean anything to Trump, who received unprecedented support in campaign contributions from the bottomless NRA coffers. But it is the sort of pressure that means something to his kind. The players in this game that matter consist of a handful of billionaires that don’t make statements very often — and when they do, it means something.

Let me give you a very recent example. When Rebekah Mercer — acting in her billionaire father’s stead — stared down at the chess match that is our American lives and announced that Steve Bannon was being removed from the board, it might as well have been a message delivered from the gods. Bannon, the mighty disheveled rook, immediately disappeared from the game.

So it matters that Al Hoffman Jr. made his intentions public — at least in that it is different; and we all remember from Groundhog Day, that anything different is good — it matters that a prominent billionaire has broken ranks with the NRA, and challenged their stranglehold position on the GOP.

Congress certainly isn’t going to do fuck-all about this on their own — not without instruction from their handlers. Republicans control congress, and they aren’t going to bite the scariest hand that feeds them.

Besides, most republicans don’t give one iota of a fuck about your dead kids, your dead friends, or your dead family. You think that fuckface Paul Ryan gives a shit about dead babies? Not one iota of a fuck about suffering Americans is given by these greedy assholes.

You need look no further than the lack of support for healthcare and for Veterans Affairs over the last fifty years to understand that unfortunate truth. Homeless veterans in the wealthiest country in the world? It’s fucking shameful. It’s a fucking disgrace — and it’s not a small problem either. The United States has thousands upon thousands upon thousands of homeless vets. Not one fuck is given about them by the GOP, even after they served at great sacrifice to their nation.

It is pretty clear most republicans couldn’t give a country fuck about homeless veterans, or dead kids.

So we will cheer as these brave children that have survived another horrific American school shooting, share impassioned pleas for sanity and meaningful action — even though we all fear their voices will fall on deaf republican ears. That nothing again will be done. Nothing that will have any effect, anyway. Certainly not with Trump in office. I am writing this as of Tuesday, a few days will pass before this posts, and their young, beautiful, powerful voices will fade into the background static as the news outlets are forced to focus on whatever new insanity emerges.

I would really, really, like to be wrong. It is a safe bet that I am not. Still talking about it on Thursday? Have no fear, the president will be back to golfing this weekend and we will be back to SNAFU come Monday.

What’s worse is that these brave survivors, these courageous children speaking up this week are making a valiant effort, and in the days to come they will be inclined to feel even more hopeless — and the kind of hopelessness we are fostering in today’s youth is yet another abusive, violent act perpetrated on their gentle spirit.

I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have the specter of fear and violence looming over you every day, in a place that is supposed to be a source of knowledge, growth, and security. In my time, I can’t recall a single day in my youth where I worried for even a second about gun violence in my K-12 schools. Or at university. It was only many years later that I would be so very close to two mass shootings.

So I would like to take this opportunity to express to you — dear young readers — if any of you have happened upon this salty screed, please don’t give in. I know I just said you’re going to fail, but you are not always going to fail. Do not fall into despair. There are forces at work that are on your side. We will find a way. We will outsmart the greed at the heart of this madness. Do not relinquish your will to fight for what is decent in this world. For what is right. For what is true.

I am sorry you have had to fight at all. I am sorry for your friends that you have lost. I am sorry for your needless suffering, but mostly I am sorry that the adults in America have so egregiously failed you.

That’s all I’ve got this week. My apologies as well for sparse discernible comedy, I just don’t find anything funny about dead kids.

Bonus Material:

Yes, you read that correctly. That is a human response to the image of horrified children. This person is in fact, human.

I felt compelled to share this comment from the heavyweight troll of the world, and all around shit-biscuit Dinesh D'Souza for many reasons. Mostly because it is offensive on a level not yet achieved today, which is quite a feat to say the least.

This is conservative America. So again, fuck you, NRA.

Bonus Bonus Material:

It's early Thursday morning, and I just had to include this stunning capture of the president's crib sheet; one that he apparently needed for the White House meeting for survivors and parents of victims of gun violence. You can't possibly predict this kind of reality-fracturing image. This is unbelievable.

I hear you? So what's written down for Trump on the other side of the crib sheet, his golf schedule? I hear you. Unbelievable. This, and accusing the Florida kids of being actors. This is off the fucking rails insanity.

#Gun control #Emma Gonzales #Trump #NRA #Mass shootings #Rebekah Mercer

0 notes

literateape · 6 years

Text

American Shithole #5 — Fuck You, NRA.

by Eric Wilson

I shed tears of anguish like many of you, when Emma Gonzales cried “we will be the last mass shooting,” mostly, because I knew it would not be true.

I have never wanted to be more wrong.

If you are interested, the punchline is, “okay Don, then get on over here and suck your wife’s dick.”

So blinded by their own shiny baubles and bangles, they can’t see the cliff they are hurtling us all towards.

It is pretty clear most republicans couldn’t give a country fuck about homeless veterans, or dead kids.

That’s all I’ve got this week. My apologies as well for sparse discernible comedy, I just don’t find anything funny about dead kids.

Bonus Material:

Yes, you read that correctly. That is a human response to the image of horrified children. This person is in fact, human.

This is conservative America. So again, fuck you, NRA.

Bonus Bonus Material:

#Gun control #Emma Gonzales #Trump #NRA #Mass shootings #Rebekah Mercer

0 notes

foursproutwealth-blog · 6 years

Text

The Three Global Super-Powers & The End Of M.A.D.

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/the-three-global-super-powers-the-end-of-m-a-d/

The Three Global Super-Powers & The End Of M.A.D.

youtube

Authored by Eric Zuesse via The Strategic Culture Foundation,

There are currently three global super-powers, three nations that lead the world: China, Russia, and US.

After World War II, until recently, the US clearly dominated the world, not only culturally, with more influence over the world’s other cultures than any other single nation possessed, but also economically, with product-dominance throughout the world, and also militarily tied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and, then, after the Cold War, still possessing such military dominance, so that in 2006, America’s billionaires — as represented by the most-prestigious two agencies that represent their collective interests against the public, the Council on Foreign Relations and Harvard University — were actively promoting, broadly amongst foreign-policy academics, the idea that the US should seek to occupy a position of such extreme military superiority over Russia, so that since 2006 the concept of “Nuclear Primacy” is reflected, by America’s power-centers, as being the correct goal for America, going forward, replacing the prior nuclear-strategic paradigm (since the 1950s) of “Mutually Assured Destruction,” or “M.A.D.,” in which nuclear weapons were (and, by Russia, still are) seen as purely defensive strategic military assets between the two nuclear superpowers, weapons whose only actual purpose, for either country, is to ward off a WW III — no usefulness at all in an actual aggressive military context.

Thus, M.A.D. became replaced in America by Nuclear Primacy, nuclear weapons that are put in place to serve not only to ward off a nuclear attack, but also, ultimately, to win a nuclear war against the other nuclear super-power, Russia — nukes as aggressive weapons, by which the US will (it has been expected, ever since 2006) soon be able to demand, and to receive, Russia’s capitulation, surrender, or else Russia will be destroyed by a US nuclear first-strike, while US casualties, from any presumably few Russian weapons that might make it through this ABM-BMD shield, will be kept to an “acceptably low” level, by virtue of that then-functioning ABM-BMD system, combined with increases in US nuclear striking-power. This nuclear-primacy paradigm aims for America (its billionaires) to take over the entire world, including ultimately the world’s largest land-mass: Russia.

But, now, twelve years later, America’s presumed early lead in such ‘defensive’ strategic weaponry has become, instead, ever more clearly, just a figment of America’s military-industrial complex’s (MIC’s) fervid marketing-campaign for the development and sale of such weapons, ever since US President Ronald Reagan’s promised “Star Wars” program during the 1980s got the effort, toward a winnable nuclear war, started, as an alleged ‘defensive’ measure — not yet overtly the end of M.A.D.

Soon after Reagan, the Soviet Union, and its communism, and its Warsaw Pact counter to America’s NATO military alliance, all simultaneously ended, in 1991, as a consequence of which, the US military-industrial complex (MIC), and especially the large US manufacturers of nuclear-weapons systems, the companies that dominate the MIC, were becoming stranded, because the market for their costliest wares was now in limbo. Though elimination of the Cold War wouldn’t have been an existential threat to these manufacturers, an end to the Cold War on the US side would have threatened the market-values of those US companies, which are controlled by US billionaires, who have lots of clout in Congress. Thus, though the Cold War ended in 1991 on the Russian side, it secretly continued on the US side (that is, amongst America’s super-wealthy, the people who control the US Government — the main market for the MIC); and America’s strategic switch, away from M.A.D. to Nuclear Primacy (so as to unshackle their market from the prior politically imposed demand to maintain a nuclear balance between the two sides), has been a significant part of this secret continuation, by America, of the Cold War, while Russia’s Government continued instead to think in terms of the M.A.D. paradigm. (Russia’s weapons-manufacturers are still owned by the Government — socialized — so, there’s no need to grow their ‘market value’.)

In a strictly capitalist country, weapons-manufacturing is a major area of investment for billionaires, whose fortunes there rise to the extent that governments are buying their planes and bombs and missiles, especially those of the most sophisticated types, which are strategic weaponry, such as nuclear systems, which are the most profitable ones of all. Growth-at-all-costs has meant (and means) that the MIC is a cancer upon the entire world. (Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, on 17 January 1961, understated the problem.) Either the entire military will be a public entity, or else there will be (because of its privatized weapons-manufacturing) a tendency for the military to destroy everything else in order to continue to grow, like investors expect and demand — grow like cancer.

A major source of America’s decline was US President George W. Bush, who came into office in 2001 when the Cold War could no longer excite the American public as being a threat (since the Soviet Union and its communism and its military alliance were now long gone), and a new demon thus needed to be brought before the American people, as warranting increased ‘defense’ expenditures. 9/11 came along just in time to fill this interim lack of a cause de guerre, to attack now Al Qaeda and other (as today’s US President famously tags it) “radical Islamic terrorists.”However, America’s spending on strategic weaponry requires instead focus against the other nuclear super-power as being the ‘enemy’, and this is what the end of M.A.D. and the start of Nuclear Primacy (which is manna from heaven for the ‘Defense’ contractors) have been all about: re-defining ‘the enemy’, from being a country with which peace must be maintained (M.A.D.), to becoming instead a country that should be outright conquered. And, amongst the lies which are necessary in order to sustain this switch (from M.A.D. to Nuclear Primacy), is the lie that ABMs have no aggressive function, but are ‘purely for defense’. This lie will enable the public to accept the spending of trillions of dollars of federal money on weapons whose sole real use will be conquering Russia — or, at least, the attempt to do so.

Nobody makes public the identities of the individuals, in the US and in its allied countries, who comprise the suddenly booming market for luxurious nuclear-proof deep-underground bunkers. But whomever these owners are, three things about them are obvious: they’ve got lots of money; they think that the prospect of a nuclear war is very real — worth their pre-paying for suitably luxurious long-term temporary accommodations deep underground; and they aren’t themselves one of the high government officials for whom the government’s taxpayers have already built such bunkers. (Or, perhaps, some of them do belong to the last of those three categories, but they’ve got so much extra money that they can easily afford to pay for more luxurious quarters than the taxpayers have already supplied them with.)

Quite similar to Donald Trump, but far more overtly faith-based than the hyper-secular former Miss Universe Pageant owner, George W. Bush had a confidence like the Taliban and Al Qaeda do, that “God is on our side”, and so Bush acted as if he had no reason to test-out America’s ABM weapons before ordering and buying them (at the public taxpayer’s expense, and private billionaires’ profits, of course). Or, perhaps alternatively, Bush didn’t even care whether these weapons would work, but only whether the owners of the companies that would be manufacturing them would be satisfied with their profits, from the decisions that he was making, which so powerfully affected their profits. In any case, Bush’s focus on rushing forward with a US ABM system demonstrated his strong commitment to the replacement of M.A.D., by Nuclear Primacy. The whole idea of Nuclear Primacy rests upon there being an effective US ABM system installed so as to make the enemy’s retaliatory weapons ineffective. Bush pushed the ABM into production even before there was any indication that it would work. He did this even before the very concept of “Nuclear Primacy” was publicly introduced by the two chief agents for America’s aristocracy in 2006. What Harvard and the CFR promoted, was already the Government’s policy. While there were criticisms of Bush’s execution of the plan, there was no significant scholarly opposition against the Nuclear Primacy concept itself.

All subject-areas of expertise (and this refers to scientists, not to scholars) despised the religious faith-based President George W. Bush, much like they despise the secular faith-based President Donald Trump. For example, everyone knows that Trump has great difficulty finding experts who are willing to serve in his Administration. Similarly, in the October 2004 “Poll of Academic Economists” by the Economist, 59% of them answered “no” when asked “If you had a chance to work in a policy job in Washington, would you take it?” And when queried “For whom would you rather work?” Bush or his then electoral opponent Senator John Kerry, 81% chose Kerry — notwithstanding that, as a predominantly conservative lot, the economists did like one thing about George W. Bush: “Outsourcing of jobs overseas,” which 86% of them rated to be either good or very good. (Of course, Trump claims to oppose that; so, in this regard, he’s even less acceptable to economists than Bush was.)

Under Bush, experts were even trying, with no success, to inform this conservative faith-based President about areas in the federal budget where substantial funds were being simply wasted, but his blind faith caused him to ignore such scientific warnings, and enormous federal waste resulted. For example, the science reporter William Broad headlined in The New York Times on 24 September 2003, “Report Sees Risks in Push for Missile Defense”, and opened, “The Bush administration’s push to deploy a $22 billion missile defense system by this time next year could lead to unforeseen cost increases and technical failures that will have to be fixed before it can hope to stop enemy warheads, Congressional investigators said yesterday. The General Accounting Office, in a 40-page report, said the Pentagon was combining 10 crucial technologies into a missile defense system without knowing if they can handle the task [and subsequently the same thing happened in order to produce the scandalously overpriced and insanely multi-functional F-35 jets], often described as trying to hit a bullet with a bullet.” The article quoted a former Pentagon weapons testing chief, who said that to deploy such an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system just a year hence as planned, would be to deploy “no more than a scarecrow, not a real defense” — in other words, a system that would almost certainly fail in any actual use — because so many parts of the system wouldn’t have been tested sufficiently to be designed functionally that soon. The prior (Bill Clinton) Administration, more attentive to such concerns, had established a schedule for testing the various parts of this complex system prior to any possible deployment. However, one of G.W. Bush’s first actions coming into office was to deploy an ABM system, even if it might not work, and to do the testing afterward. Bush, it seems, possessed the faith that if science were to fail to supply the system’s functionality, then God would certainly do so, for the benefit of “God’s People.”

Jackson Diehl of the Washington Post thus headlined on 26 April 2004, “Dubious Threat, Expensive Defense” and closed: “Bush would spend twice as much on missile defense as on customs and border protection,” yet gain only “a rudimentary and uncertain defense against an unlikely long-range missile attack.” Diehl opined that, despite the transformed defense needs after 9/11, “The president who never admits error will stay the course.”

Bush did stay the course: by the time of 14 February 2005, as The New York Times reported the next day, “The nation’s fledgling missile defense system suffered its third straight test failure.” Commented one scientist there, “It’s as if Henry Ford started up his automobile production line and began selling cars without ever taking one for a test drive.” But not quite: Bush had now taken his third ‘test drive’ — and all three failed.

On 4 April 2005, the AP reported, “Congress is weighing how much to invest in the fledgling ballistic missile defense system, which has suffered setbacks and whose cost could easily top the $150 billion partial price tag the Bush administration has estimated.” Some congressional proponents of the ABM system were even quoted as saying that it had to be deployed in order to prevent future terrorist attacks, such as had occurred on 9/11. Of course, that allegation is absurd — 9/11 couldn’t have been stopped by an anti-missile defense system. But members of Congress aren’s so stupid as not to know this. That allegation was probably just a marketing-ploy sponsored in back-rooms by corporations such as Lockheed Martin, who might reflect their satisfaction with the statement, by donating to the ‘appropriate’ PACS.

Meanwhile, the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress were financially shortchanging many of the nation’s authentic anti-terrorist needs. This $150 billion+ could have gone a long way toward achieving real protection (and/or toward serving non-defense needs), if it had been scientifically allocated.

Were Al Qaeda to have been voting directly in the US Congress, the ABM system would have had an easier time passing unchanged, exactly as Bush wanted. Al Qaeda would have been fervent Republicans — they were just as religious, and just as faith-obsessed, though in a different ‘inerrant Scripture’. If Donald Trump has faith in any ‘inerrant Scripture’, nobody knows what it is. But, he seems to have lots of faith in himself, even if experts in the respective subject-fields don’t.

By the present time, the failure of America’s entire ABM-BMD gamble — which was started under Reagan, begun being operationalized under G.W. Bush, and finally being installed by Barack Obama and now under Trump — is painfully clear. But success was never its actual goal: restoring the government’s growth in ‘defense’ spending (even while cutting now the government’s non-‘defense’ spending) is its real purpose. Those billionaires and centi-millionaires must be served, or else Congress-members will lose their seats to well-funded competitors in their own Party’s next primary. The system succeeds marvelously at doing what it’s intended to do: to serve the people who buy the Government — to serve the actual patrons of this ‘democracy’. Instead of being a democracy, it’s a government that’s bought and sold.

While America thus spends itself into becoming increasingly a third-world country, China and Russia pursue different objectives. Specifically in the case of Russia, its military spending is one-tenth of America’s, but, because Russia cannot afford to allow billionaires’ demands for private profit to constitute the incentive-system that drives the Russian Government’s military decisions, Russia has gone militarily from strength to strength, while post-WW-II America (spending ten times as much) has gone from Vietnam to Afghanistan to Iraq to Libya to Syria, and yet America’s ‘news’-media have cheered all of these evil billionaires’ invasions of those countries we wrecked, as if companies such as General Dynamics owned companies such as the Washington Post, and thus (with all that propaganda) the American public continue to respect America’s military higher than any other US institution — despite such a long string of military failures by this country, despite spending ten times what Russia does on its military, and despite America’s military being the most corrupt part of the US federal Government.

But, actually, America’s military spending is probably much higher than just ten times Russia’s, because America’s official figures — what SIPRI and others use, which is just the ‘Defense’ Department — excludes much of America’s military expenses, as a consequence of which, America’s official $617.1 billion FY 2019 expenditure for the Department of ‘Defense’ masks an actual annual military expense of $1,135.7 billion. That’s $1.36 trillion per year, to do things such as destroy Afghanistan, destroy Iraq, destroy Syria, destroy Libya, perpetrate coups such as in Ukraine, assist coups such as in Honduras, etc. But even that’s not the total ‘defense’ expenditure which taxpayers have bought for the billionaires, because, throughout its existence, the US CIA has been getting unrecorded off-the-books billions from the international narcotics trade, starting in 1948, when it perpetrated a coup in Thailand and installed there a brutal regime that helped establish the CIA’s off-the-books funding-system, as I had mentioned in a prior article, where I discussed US relations with Syria, in broader histrical context,

starting in 1949, when the US CIA, under President Harry S. Truman, did its second coup d’etat, overthrowing a democratically elected progressive Government (the first having been Thailand 1948, where the CIA had installed an extremely barbaric dictator replacing the democratically elected government that had been headed by a staunch anti-fascist, and simultaneously set up the CIA’s off-the-books supplementary funding mechanism from the international narcotics-trade — a CIA practice which has continued till perhaps the present; and, furthermore, the infamous Nugan-Hand affair, which involved Thailand, definitely involved the CIA’s Michael Hand and William Colby; so, clearly, the CIA is funded off-the-books from the narcotics business, and America’s anti-narcotics laws thus are actually keeping narcotics-drug prices and resultant burglaries and CIA profits artificially high, funneling that illicit money into CIA coffers; and any method to defund the CIA down to its core intelligence-gathering function and to eliminate its coup-function, which is the function that took control in Thailand and Syria and then Iran and many more, would need to regulate — instead of to continue outlawing — drugs, which might be the main reason why it hasn’t yet been done: illegal drugs provide wealth to the CIA and other gang-lords, including some US Government officials).

Another significant milestone in the development of the American elite’s plan to conquer Russia has been the overwhelming — more than 90% of the votes in both the US Senate and House — support for the imposition in 2012 of economic sanctions against Russia, to punish the Russian Government for the alleged 2009 murder of one alleged anti-corruption whistleblower in a Russian prison, Sergei Magnitsky — the Magnitsky Act was passed, and was the first set of economic sanctions against Russia. (The evidence that Magnitsky had been a ‘whistleblower’, and the evidence that he was ‘tortured’ in prison, and the evidence that he wasn’t instead the American Bill Browder’s tax-accountant who had helped Browder in a complex tax-evasion scheme that had defrauded the Russian Government of $232 million, are all themselves fraudulent, and even are easily verified as being fraudulent, but both the US Government, and the EU, ignored and continue to ignore all of it.) In order to have a ‘justification’ to attack Russia, an excuse is needed; and, since the ideological one — communism — ended in 1991, Russia needs to be at least a ‘dictatorship’; so, something such as the Magnitsky Act was necessary in order to get the military-industrial complex’s (MIC’s) PR ball rolling toward even-higher annual US ’defense’ spending. However, that excuse, being a ‘dictatorship’ (with elections that are at least as honest as America’s are), isn’t enough. Russia also needs to be officially declared to be an ‘aggressor’ — an aggressive dictatorship — such as to have grabbed portions of its adjoining country, Ukraine. So, America’s Obama regime secretly started in 2011 planning, and then in February 2014 it carried out, a coup against and overthrowing the democratically elected and Russia-friendly Government of Ukraine, and installed there a fascist regime to replace the one that had received 75% of the vote in the Crimean region of Ukraine, and 90% of the vote in the Donbass region of Ukraine, so that both regions refused to be ruled by the Obama-installed rabidly anti-Russian Ukrainian regime, and Russia helped both of those two separatist regions on its borders, and even protected and accepted Crimea’s referendum-vote of over 90% to rejoin Russia, of which Crimea had historically been a part until the Soviet dictator in 1954 arbitrarily transferred it to Ukraine. So, now, the US MIC has the excuses it wants, in order to place — and thus did place — its weapons and troops onto and near Russia’s borders, just a ten-minute missile flight-time to Moscow.

This plan is moving forward, but nobody can yet say whether, or even when, the US regime will invade. However, the US regime and its NATO allies now also have the excuses that Russia has been holding ‘aggressive’ military exercises near its borders ‘threatening’ NATO countries on its border that might invade Russia, and Western ‘news’media have alarmed their publics against Russia’s ‘aggressive’ moves after its having ‘stolen’ Crimea and ‘attacked’ Ukraine in Donbass. And then there is yet more Russian ‘aggression’ when Syria requested and received Russia’s military assistance against the US-backed jihadists who, since 2012, have poured, by the tens of thousands, from around the world, into Syria, to be led by the US-backed Al Qaeda there, to overthrow the Syrian Government, which is allied with Russia. So, that too (the Syrian war) could produce a war between the US and Russia; it could start over Syrian territory, where the US insists on regime-change, but claims only to be ‘fighting terrorists’ there. Of course, regardless of whether the invader of Syria (the US), or else the defender of Syria (Russia), wins, the loser in Syria, especially if it turns out to be the US invader (i.e., if Syria remains one country instead of breaking apart, and if Assad becomes re-elected as President there), could then use that superpower-defeat in Syria, as constituting an excuse to invade the winning superpower there.

This would be WW III, starting in Syria, instead of in Ukraine. The US regime has set up those two scenarios.

1984 has come in the real world, but the declining and former leading superpower, America (“Oceania” in George Orwell’s uncannily prophetic description of the future that he prematurely set to occur in 1984), is apparently determined to stay ‘on top’, even if it’s the last thing that anybody does.

Can it really be that if the world of the future won’t be led by America’s billionaires, then it won’t exist at all? Do they really demand “My way, or the highway” — really? Are America’s billionaires (despite any ‘humanitarian’ pretenses they individually so often hypocritically express, both in the fictionalized and in the real version) so stunningly united in their actual psychopathy (likewise in both versions — “Big Brother,” and today’s reality)? Thus far, it seems that they are. None of them — not a one of these people who have the financial resources to bring the world’s most pressing issue honestly to the American public — is speaking out against the others on it, and devoting major funds to exposing the others for their pumping lies against Russia, and to exposing the truths about such things as ABMs and the MIC. And collectively they’ve got the American public fooled into admiring the MIC (“the Military”) above all other US institutions. But whether America’s billionaires will carry their collective evil to the extreme, isn’t yet clear. They are the actual decision-makers regarding US Government policy, but they are playing their cards — as usual — privately and secretly, until their game (whatever it may turn out to be) will already be finished.

Meanwhile, Russia and China each proceeds forward on its own priorities, which aren’t necessarily similar to those of the conquest-obsessed American Government.

#Wealth

0 notes