Lesson Plan: Exploring Hyperbole
Objective:
Students will understand the concept of hyperbole, recognize its use in literature and everyday language, and demonstrate their ability to create and identify hyperbolic expressions.
Materials:

1. Whiteboard and markers
   
2. Handouts with examples of hyperbole
   
3. Texts or excerpts from literature containing hyperbole
   
4. Paper and writing utensils for students
   

Introduction (15 minutes):

1. Begin with a discussion on exaggeration. Ask students if they've ever heard someone exaggerate or if they've done it themselves. Write down their responses on the board.
   
2. Define hyperbole as a form of exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Provide examples, both humorous and serious, to illustrate the concept.
   

Activity 1: Identifying Hyperbole (20 minutes):

1. Distribute handouts with examples of hyperbole. Ask students to underline or highlight the hyperbolic expressions.
   
2. Discuss the examples as a class. What makes these statements hyperbolic? How does hyperbole impact the meaning of the statement?
   

Activity 2: Hyperbole in Literature (20 minutes):

1. Provide students with excerpts from literature that contain hyperbole. Discuss how authors use hyperbole to create vivid images or convey strong emotions.
   
2. Have students identify and discuss the purpose of hyperbole in the given literary excerpts. Encourage them to explore how hyperbole contributes to the overall tone and meaning of the text.
   

Activity 3: Creating Hyperbole (25 minutes):

1. In small groups, ask students to brainstorm situations where hyperbole might be used effectively. Have each group create a list of hyperbolic expressions related to their chosen situation.
   
2. Each group presents their list to the class, explaining why they chose specific hyperboles and how they contribute to exaggeration.
   

Closure (10 minutes):

1. Review key points about hyperbole: its definition, examples, and how it's used in literature and everyday language.
   
2. Assign a short homework task where students find examples of hyperbole in their reading or daily life and come prepared to share them in the next class.
   

Assessment:
Evaluate students based on their participation in discussions, ability to identify hyperbole, and the creativity and effectiveness of their hyperbolic expressions during the group activity.

I see so much hurt in here, which is obviously quite understandable. I also see many people saying they feel like this last one was “the one” and are now broken without them. Besides all the cliches like “if it’s meant to be they’ll come back” or “I feel like I’ll never find someone like them again”, how would we know that this last breakup was with someone you feel like was forever?
My ex girlfriend is wonderful. I’m not saying she is perfect, but beautifully unique for me. And when I say for me, obviously we are no longer together. But she entered my life at a time that God knew I needed someone like her. We met in college. Very naturally and started casual. Eventually, we started spending time 1 on 1. The more I got to know her, the more I feel like she was me in woman form. We had so much in common. To the point that it was laughable. I had not met anyone this similar to myself. She is so calm spirited and sweet. So caring and lovable. Everything about her comforted me and she is so easy to love. I am not.
As we got close she started to learn deeper and darker things about my past. Not other romantic relationships, but life kicking me when I’m down. Making me feel unlovable and questioning much of my life and my existence. Without actively showing it, I bottled up these emotions internally for quite a long time. But she continuously showered me with her love. No matter what, I always felt that she was by my side. But I left her. Sitting in complete confusion and hurt and sorrow. It was awful what I had done to just blindside her and leave her how I did.
At first I was mostly sad that it was over. Reflecting on the great memories. The talks we’d have. The intimacy. Her little quirks and smile. Having someone to talk to and share life with. But that pain only lasted a few days. I didn’t know what would come later would be so tragic due to my selfishness. After the initial breakup, I felt like I had shed my tears and was motivated to get back on my feet. And so I did. For almost a month after I was feeling better. But for some reason out of the blue, I had a deep depression slam me like a train.
I have never been this sad in my entire life. For days, even now, I can’t get up and eat. Can’t get up and even drink water. I lay around tired, but of life. My heart feels like it could stop beating at any moment. I weep all day crying tears of pain and misery. I can’t escape. The difference this time: the sorrow isn’t for myself or even us, but for her. How could I have left her like that? The way I did? I had her precious heart in the palm of my hands and I crushed it. What did she do to deserve someone like me treating her this way?
I am 23, old enough to understand myself a bit. I have had time to reflect on so much, all because of her. I realize how my previous self always chose negativity. Always chose the dark and lonely road. Always chose hate. And although she may feel these things towards me now for ending us the way I did, I will continue to love. Her. My transgressors. Those who hurt me. She showed me more love than anyone in my life ever has. And that isn’t hyperbole. I sincerely feel her love deeply written in my heart.
I will truly never forget her for the rest of my life and how much she has changed me. For good. After all she has taught me. Changed me and is still changing me. How can I transform into a new man, thankful to her, but leave her behind yet again? To use the lessons she taught me and the love she gave me with another woman? This is my deep sense of guilt and I now must figure out how to be loving to her in the way she needs me to be. Even if that means sacrificing my life waiting for God to open her heart up to me and forgive me. Even if that means forever.

For generation upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turns to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generation upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turns to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

.For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.

Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

For generations upon generation the Republican establishment has tried to quell the youth voice; how did that work out for them? Look at the 2022 midterms.
Nauseatingly paternalistic, haughty and hard-handed, and still imbued with the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality, they refuse to admit it is not the 1950s anymore. Their children are more mature than they were at that age, better educated, more aware of social and world issues -- more sophisticated than at any other time in history -- and 'Because I said so' just doesn't cut it anymore, MAGA turn to more drastic measures.
They think that by holding hyperbolic Congressional hearings, by the use of treats, intimidation and condescension, they can stem the tide of empathy for the oppressed, can neuter intellectual capabilities, and
quash the righteous indignation they are entitled to.
MAGA, Gen Z is a force to be reckoned with, and there are 18,00 more of them each day.
Confront them at your peril.
Read this -- Italics mine.
In House Hearing, Republicans Demand Discipline for Student Protesters
Leaders of Northwestern, U.C.L.A. and Rutgers, drawing lessons from prior hearings, sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions.
Shuran Huang for The New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Sharon Otterman, Ernesto Londoño and Michael Levenson
Anemona Hartocollis reported from the House committee hearing room.
May 23, 2024
House Republicans used words like “violence,” “hijacking” and “chaos.” They asked the university leaders why so few protesters had been suspended. They showed videos and wielded a document with a bright red “F” grade.
The leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and the University of California, Los Angeles, responded with phrases like “due process,” “appropriate penalties” and “task force.”
At the third congressional hearing with college presidents on Thursday, Republicans sharply questioned them about the pro-Palestinian encampments that student protesters have pitched on their campuses and campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
But the university leaders seemed to draw lessons from previous hearings and sought to avoid enraging either the Republicans on the committee or members of their own institutions. They acknowledged some missteps and promised to do more to combat antisemitism, while also pushing back against some of the accusations leveled against them.
The result was something of a culture clash, with the Republicans acting like prosecutors, demanding yes or no answers from the witnesses, as they tried to elicit the sort of damaging moment that helped to topple the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
“Each of you should be ashamed of your decisions that allowed antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students,” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the committee, told the leaders, including two — Michael Schill of Northwestern and Jonathan Holloway of Rutgers — who made deals with protesters to end their encampments.
“Mr. Schill and Dr. Holloway,” Dr. Foxx said, “you should be doubly ashamed for capitulating to the antisemitic rule-breakers.”
The university leaders tried to parry the attacks with calibrated responses. And they sought to explain why administrators had not immediately suspended or expelled some students accused of wrongdoing or hate. "We believe, at Northwestern, in due process,” Mr. Schill said under hostile questioning from Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York. “We believe in investigations...”
ps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/us/house-hearing-republicans-campus-antisemitism.html

First Previous Wiki
Refined Elder Equisa closed and locked the door to her room. Meihala and Joshua already knew about this. Her implant activated, pressing her gently down into a verification network. After that, she settled down on a large bed and joined the waiting room for the meeting.
There, she saw hundreds of thousands of attending Refined Elders, who all were theoretically known to her implant, though she rarely saw a name she recognized. Equisa sat and waited for a while, until two Elders soon stood over her.
"Ah, it's really her. To think she's shacked up with aliens."
"How sad, isn't it?"
Equisa didn't have time for this. With violence disallowed in the room, the best she could do was keep moving. So that was what she did. She made her way through the crowd, ignoring the looks she got. Soon, she passed the Arch and was admitted early.
She appeared in a stadium with millions of Refined Elders within it. The massive virtual construction added a layer of seats every few minutes to account for the joining Elders. And then the room opened up. Five AIs, clothed in red robes, floated in the middle of the stadium. Above them sat a revered figure.
The Refined Elder that rose from a black chamber had sky blue skin, with gleaming white claws and hundreds of small twisting cords orbiting him. He took in a breath, reverberating across the space with a vibrant hum. His ancient yellow eyes opened, releasing bursts of psychic energy and power that bent the data around him.
But perhaps the most important physical feature he bore was a long white tail.
"Today, we come to discuss the matters unfolding in the Secondary Galaxy. I, Chiru, Head of the Refined Order and Supreme King of the Primary Galaxy, open this meeting. We shall begin with the discussion of matters of our contacts with the involved parties. First, we shall examine the relations of Refined Elders Equisa, Rho, and Sai with the Secondary Galaxy and a nation within it known by the Sol Alliance.
For those who are unaware, this is a nation with a system limit of 10,000 stars, a multi-species union that is 24 standard years old. It contains five known sapient AIs, with two psychic variants of AI with a creativity scale of 9.7 out of 10, rendering them capable of complete galactic domination in 1 billion standard years. Its most notable characteristic, however, is that one of its primary species, Humanity, has evolved on a world they call Earth, which is historically known as the Great Enemy's Rest."
At the mention, many of the Refined Elders gasped. Equisa, however, was still grappling with the fact that the Supreme King had directly named her. That was never a good sign.
"A second matter of discussion relates to a particular member of the human species, a female of advanced age for their kind, by the name of Penny Balica. She is commonly titled Champion of Humanity, though recently has been gaining power under the conceptual title of Liberator, for her anti-slavery actions on the adjudication world of Justicar. Through her own powerful psychic energy reserves, a mind bridge to an Elder known as Nilnacrawla, and control of Conceptual Death in the past and Conceptual Cardinality in the present, she has managed to achieve victory against a flagship of the 85th Grand Fleet, successfully retrieving Nilnacrawla from a Soul Blade.
To clarify: she has entered direct combat with a flagship and survived, as well as entered combat with Flagship Protection and Defense Units. Her remarkable power is so extreme that she is rapidly becoming a nexus of conceptual concern from the very highest entities in the universe, from Progenitor Nova, the Broken God, the Great Enemy, Entropy, and even, as we have recently discovered, the second strongest division of the electronuclear field, also known as the weak force. She is the only non-Progenitor creature to have ventured to speeding space and returned in over 300 million standard years.
It is not merely my opinion, but a simple fact, that she is the most important alien to have existed since the Source war. Given the history of the Secondary Galaxy, as well as the ongoing Judgment trial against her and her kind, we must determine whether we should act upon what we have witnessed, and if so, how we should act. It is our common responsibility as Refined Elders to ensure that the mess the Secondary Galaxy makes is cleaned up."
He settled, allowing them to absorb everything he'd said. Chiru lifted his claws, and suddenly Equisa, Rho, and Sai were floating on platforms next to him. Somehow, she could actually smell him despite virtual reality not being equipped for such things. Not this one, anyway.
Though he was of similar age to herself, he smelled ancient and grand in a way that humbled her immediately. She knelt down, bowing to him as deeply as she could. Only one type of creature among the Sprilnav was allowed to bear a tail.
In the mindscape, Progenitor Chiru appeared in front of her privately.
"Rest assured, Refined Elder. We shall not discuss your relationship with Joshua and Meihala, before the assembled masses. Though some may judge, both you and they are of age, so there is no crime."
"Progenitor... do you truly hold no negative opinion?"
"I do not. Your actions are a reminder of fonder times, and brighter futures. I assume you are prepared for the issue of their lifespans, and I am pleased that you have settled among them without major issues arising. In fact, though it may ring hollow in private, I commend you on your initiative. Your presence in the Alliance has made them more amenable to future ventures, should we seek to pursue them. You will receive a promotion in the future for your work."
"Thank you, Progenitor."
"You seem quite surprised. Come, speak your mind."
"I didn't expect you to be... understanding. You always seem so imperious."
"Such is the nature of rulership. Refined Elder Equisa, would you be willing to serve as a liaison between us and the Alliance in a more official capacity?"
"Yes. Though I must ask why, if I am permitted."
"I have a plan, and I intend to set it in motion. To do this, I need the Alliance. Perhaps others may use it against me, but I have prepared for that, too."
That was another thing. Progenitor Chiru didn't actually control the whole Primary Galaxy. He controlled around a fifth of it, and it was far smaller than the Secondary Galaxy. The humans called it the Triangulum Galaxy. All the other galaxies of significant size were either too close to or totally outside the radius where sapient minds just went crazy from the psychic energy debris left from the Source war.
He was poorer than the richest Elders of the Secondary Galaxy, though only because he didn't need money to buy things, and the money generated by his kingdom just went back into itself or trade. Equisa realized she'd left the Progenitor waiting.
"Ah, I apologize for wasting your time. Yes, I am willing to be your liaison, though I wish that you screen my personnel for bias against interspecies relationships and aliens in general."
"That is quite easy to accomodate, Refined Elder. Now, we must return to the discussion. 1 pulse of time has passed."
That was another thing. As Progenitor of Binding, Chiru had a unique control over things dubbed as laws of the universe. He was capable of time dilation, altering the speed of light in a local area, manipulating and observing quantum mechanics directly, and a whole host of other powers. The only reason he wasn't stronger than many Secondary Galaxy Progenitors was because they were strong enough to ignore natural laws anyway.
Equisa's attention returned to the massive stadium. Luckily, the report she'd gradually written on her activities in the Alliance didn't require her to read everything. Instead, a VI with a nearly identical voice, trained on her voice since her induction as an Elder, took over the job.
"It is important to frame this report in the necessary context. The Sol Alliance is a supranational union of sovereign nation states, ship-states, and sub-national states, with a unified military, strong trade agreements, a budding national culture made from a mix of the cultures of the dominant species within it. The sub-national states include a fungal variant hivemind named Skira, and the apparatus of legal corporations owned by the psychic variant AIs known as Phoebe and Edu'frec under the Locus, as well as the Ratlatmil Protectorate, which is not currently a purely sovereign state. Though the Alliance is considered a nation as well, many of its legislative and judicial features remain unused due to its relatively young age and lack of significant division. By population its main species are..."
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Elder Justicar, or High Judge Justicar in his current position, looked over the last of the Fort Court's defenses. Correctors and Guides swarmed the place by the thousands, and medical supplies, psychic energy generators, and shields of all kinds surrounded the facility. Closest to the core, a yellow shield wrapped the entire complex in a sphere that extended fully underground. It was self-powered by a zero-point energy reactor and was capable of taking truly monstrous hits.
Conceptual energy suppressors and specialized equipment, once littered across the massive inner chambers of the court, were now set neatly into their modular slots. VIs and AIs alike roamed the inner networks, each separated cleanly by more shields as well as physical airgaps. The Collective itself wouldn't be able to disable anything if they wanted to, as Justicar knew that for this Judgment, nothing would be safe.
Allies of thousands of years could turn to enemies in an instant. And with the hundreds of Elders attending directly, the thousands attending by hologram, and the millions of other Sprilnav doing the same, he would not leave anything up to chance.
He'd called in a rare favor from Filnatra and Arneladia, asking them to aid in guarding the court and all within it for the duration of the Judgment, which was coming up in two days. Kashaunta and Yasihaut had submitted all the documents. All the evidence, scripts, and letters were lined up. Justicar was wearing his Soul Blade, as well as the ancient armor he'd worn during the rebellion of a Progenitor. His armor, a gift from Nova himself, was directly linked to the Progenitor and was also the reason Justicar was still alive and his planet still existed.
And yet, Indrafabar had warned him that Penny could still breach it. The specific powers of Cardinality altered chances, making the impossible distinctly not so. He entered through the large doors, noting the positions of everything around. The defensive emplacements were meant to fight a full war with billions of enemies on the other side.
It was why so many laser defenses were featured within the building. He felt the tug of a holographic scanner meant to ensure no stealth technology would remain unseen. He'd personally tested it the day before with the most expensive set he'd had, which was lit up like a star by the hologram before fading back to invisibility by the end of the day.
Justicar breathed the stale air, staring up at the seats that he and the rest of the High Judges would sit on. The booths would be brought soon for the Challenger and the Defendant, along with their retinues, to remain inside. None of the seats were particularly ornate, and all bore the long deformity that came with use. Their cushions were expertly crafted so they would remain as comforting as possible.
And before it all began, everyone would eat. None of the High Judges would be going hungry before they began their hearings. That was a small factor that could skew results in a negative direction. In this case, the skew in itself was negative no matter which way it swung.
Behind him, the rest of the High Judges, including Indrafabar, entered. They remained silent as Justicar was. They stepped onto the platform, which brought them up to the side of the habitation chambers. Capable of catering to 40 Judges, the chambers each had a personal android cook, shielding, beds, and connections to the internal network of the court. All of it was internally monitored, and all implants lost connection to the outside world. No more would the Judges be exposed to any media or opinions about the case until it was completed.
The rooms came with entertainment, which was sterilized from all influences on the case. Whether it was a gambling table, the massive virtual reality resort each of them could use simultaneously, or enough food, water, and air for thirty years, every need was met. Monitoring, in this case, was collective. None of them would be able to communicate in total secrecy with anyone else.
Normally, Indrafabar could break that rule easily. His title as the Digital King wasn't hyperbole. But that was exactly why Filnatra and Arneladia were here. They could detect it when he used power and had an incentive to tell Justicar and the rest of the group when they did. And that was if the conceptual energy detectors didn't manage to pick up the Progenitor, which supposedly would require even Indrafabar to actually make an effort. It wouldn't stretch his limits, of course, but Justicar did the best he could with what he was given.
Perhaps a few other Progenitors would have assured him more, but he didn't have that kind of pull.
Filnatra and Arneladia greeted them from inside, wearing typical guard fatigues and warm smiles. Arneladia's smile was quite forced.
"Welcome, High Judges. As agreed, any discussion of the Challenger or Defendent is blacklisted. You know the punishments for breaking these rules. Here you shall remain until the conclusion of the Judgment. If any of you object or with to recuse yourself from the case, now is the time," Filnatra said, looking them each in the eyes. They lingered on Indrafabar for a slight moment longer, and Justicar noticed her grip on her swords tighten. Typically, that would have been impossible, with her four limbs touching the ground as a normal Sprilnav's would. So, of course, she'd casually grown two more arms. Like any normal person would.
"We agee to abide by all regulations," Justicar said. "After all, no one is above the law."
Except for everyone who was.
Filnatra smiled at the partial lie but didn't comment on it. The nature of the statement's falseness lay in the very existence of beings like the Progenitors, though he has mostly meant it for Indrafabar. Arneladia, moody as ever, still gave him an unhappy look.
"Quite so. We are here to ensure proper conduct by all parties present in the courtroom. If any serious misconduct is suspected, you will be bounced like a ball."
It was one of her favorite insults. And Filnatra had done it before, to those who had let their perceptions of female Elders apply in the wrong ways.
"Well then," Indrafabar said cheerfully. "Good to meet you all. I'm going to go and immerse myself in a fine pool of oil. It does wonders for exfoliation."
He passed Filnatra, patting her on the head like she was a child. The incredibly insulting gesture already showed a bad omen. If the Progenitors fought, no one could stop them. He'd rather not have his hard work ruined, but he wasn't sure whether speaking out was appropriate. The rest of the High Judges had gradually filed away from them, but many were still in earshot. It wouldn't do to be clashing visibly with the Progenitors, especially Indrafabar, considering his place as a High Judge. Filnatra's eyes narrowed, and she smiled.
"High Judge Indrafabar. After the Judgment, I wish to duel with you."
"No blades allowed," he said.
"They are now."
She ushered the rest of the High Judges into the room, and the door behind them closed. Justicar heard the hum of shields faintly as they activated. The lights in the room brightened, their pure white glow framing everything perfectly. The interior designer of the place had clearly known what they were doing. Even with the lack of windows, the whole interior still felt well-polished, natural, and ornate. Nothing like a series of rooms inside thick slabs of alloy and concrete.
"The Judgment will begin in roughly 144 kilopulses, or more precisely, 144,063 pulses," Filnatra said. "Make yourselves comfortable. This is your home now, until the Judgment is finished."
Justicar watched as she turned around, the swaying of her tail holding quite a bit of appeal. But with Arneladia in the same universe, much less the same building, any approaches would be supremely unwise unless confirmed prior as acceptable. Though he did suppose Arneladia killing him would likely get the Progenitor killed in return for 'interference' in the affairs related to Penny.
Justicar pulled the hivemind portion of his mind away from the Guides and the Correctors, as was also necessary for the Judgment to remain impartial. He used its largesse to shunt the cravings of his physical mind to a place where they would not bother him.
"Something the matter, Elder?" Filnatra asked, a knowing smile painted on her face. Glittering eyes framed her teeth like swords under twin stars. They threatened to ensnare a lesser mind, but for him, the pull was slight.
"No."
"I am open to exploring," she said. "My partner will remain as he is for now."
A revelation that he suspected but hadn't confirmed. Sending anyone to sneak around a Progenitor's home was another action that would be a poor health choice. Word of mouth was best around Progenitors when it came from them, even when the possibilities of lies and manipulation came into play.
Justicar had a few theories but would rather hear what she would say before making up his mind.
"Truly? What has come to pass?"
Surely, the mess with Ezeonwha hadn't caused that much of a rift between them. He was one Sprilnav and not exactly an important one, except maybe to Penny.
"A political disagreement. We'll probably sort it out in a few years. Time is infinite, after all."
"Infinite? Quite the luxury."
"You have lived nearly as long as I have, Justicar," Filnatra said. "Surely there isn't anything that would shorten your lifespan. You're very personable, and definitely pay attention to the things that matter."
"There is little need for veiled insults."
It was how many in power liked to treat those who were below them or who could not afford to call it out. And here, Justicar would not be dragged into an argument. He had bigger problems and bigger worries now that he would be less capable of responding to important threats due to the isolation policy.
He felt no true regret for it since Indrafabar was too dangerous to be left un-countered. His presence on this trial was the only way to ensure stability after the Progenitor had so rudely forced himself upon the Judgment.
"There is little need for many things in this galaxy, yet for the little universe we remain in, even the smallest things can grow to an impressive size."
He sighed. Filnatra's tail wagged side to side. It caught the light in ways that didn't make sense. For a moment, it was covered in scales, and then it transitioned back to the red-colored skin she most commonly used. "Teasing you might make these next few days bearable, after all."
"Proclaim your purpose or don't, Progenitor. I have no desire for games."
"All Elders do is play games," Filnatra replied. "That is why we are here, after all. To play a game with the law."
"That is not why you are here," he clarified.
"No. I'm here to keep the players from flipping the board."
Indrafabar emerged from the pool, thin wings dripping with water. It slid from his cybernetic horns and tail in thin streams.
"Do I need to turn the soundproofing features of the shields on? Filnatra, if you're going to test out all of Justicar's 'upgrades,' I'd rather you don't do it here."
"So many Elders here," Filnatra said. "I'm sure you wouldn't take advantage of the opportunity."
"Virtual reality carries all the benefits, and none of the risks," Indrafabar said.
"It shows that you're inconfident. And let's just say mating with some AI you hacked isn't exactly an accomplishment based on your appeal."
"Leaving a string of bastard children in your wake might be a fun hobby for you, but I would rather not cause such headaches. My inheritance would be the cause of too many squabbles, and I'd have to kill a few million people again."
"A minor hassle," Filnatra said.
"Not that minor," Justicar added.
"None of them would be Elders," Indrafabar said.
"You could copy your memories into them."
"My memories would kill a natural Sprilnav with their sheer weight. Filnatra, I understand your urges, but please, do not be so tiresome about it. One might assume they are a weakness in battle."
"Not since I've ensured that Conceptual Hacking crap you pulled on my swords last time doesn't work. It's a low move."
"Like using your conceptual power to make my entire body itch for a year?"
"I said I was sorry!"
"I did promise retribution for that. Perhaps soon, I will invent Conceptual Itching to teach you a lesson."
Justicar began to move away from them. When he reached his door, he let out a sigh. It was easy to forget why Elders didn't live together in groups this large. Now he remembered. Too many odd minds.
"My mind isn't odd," Filnatra said, standing next to him again. Indrafabar was sliding back into the water, his eyes glittering with rainbow lights. He raised his claws, sending flashes of harmless lasers through the room like he was at a party. More lights flashed below the waterline as he began to sing. Quite terribly.
Filnatra activated a soundproofing shield between them, her ears visibly flattened. Both of them had cringed at Indrafabar's purposely bad singing.
"How?"
"You forgot to feed your thoughts back through the hivemind to scramble the readings," Filnatra said. Justicar checked and realized she was right. He rectified the issue, feeling a slight pang of embarrassment at his earlier thoughts. "Now, look. I understand you are clearly apprehensive, so I won't do anything. But we do need to talk."
"About what?"
"The way you rule your planet."
"Not you, too!" Justicar groaned. He was getting tired of everyone telling him his way of doing things was wrong. It had worked for billions of years. What did Filnatra know of running planets? Not a lot since all her nations had collapsed. Their corruption and hedonism had been black stains on the Sprilnav legacy, and she couldn't pretend that her presence on his planet would make him think favorably about it.
"I didn't care, for a while," Filnatra said. "Did you know that I marked some territory in the Underground, and someone actually tried to break in?"
"I didn't, but I don't control that."
"You don't control all of your own planet, as an Elder. Do you see the problem there? You can't let that continue. Perhaps you need some outside help."
So that was what her angle was. Justicar could sniff that out himself. He wouldn't be letting any foreign armies on his soil. If the gangs wanted to try, he'd kill them too. The treaties only prevented true war, not tiny skirmishes.
"If the current status quo remains," Justicar hedged, "My remaining foes will soon appear in my jails."
The blacklist of Penny-related topics would make this conversation costly if he continued it. He waited for her to speak.
"When the Judgment ends, they will need to be executed, or they will get out."
"I know. But I'll wait a while depending on the outcome. Past that, we cannot talk more about this topic."
"I see. Faithful, aren't you?"
"I suppose that is a surprise to you, isn't it?" Justicar asked, giving her a wink.
"Oh please. You've had a few thousand mates, yourself. Don't act like you haven't done what all Elders do with too much free time."
"You may sleep by my side if you wish," Justicar said. "But I will not have any more contact beyond that."
"I understand," Filnatra said. "You'll have to focus on reading all those documents tomorrow. Imagine if we'd made a Progenitor of Paperwork."
"The poor soul would fly into a black hole in an instant."
"Or haunt us all with more power than even Death."
"I hope you have your precautions active."
"I do," Filnatra said. "If he attacks me, I'll just die a lot slower, and more painfully. Only Nova could likely match him, and only because of his unique characteristics and power densities."
"Do you think if I mutter his name enough, he'd appear?"
"He's probably in this room, or in one of these rooms. If he assumed we were going to use the soundproofing shields, then he'll go elsewhere. He's not that kind of Elder."
"I know. A good thing, too. A tyrant like that would be difficult to stomach."
"Yeah. Imagine all the break-ins, or all the slave drivers."
He didn't have time for this. First Penny, now her. He'd needed a treaty when he first signed it. And violating treaties wasn't something any Elders could just go around doing. Least of all when he was supposed to be the pinnacle of righteous law. Breaking the treaty directly would have lost him much of his prestige, though luckily the gangs had managed to ensure that wouldn't happen.
He hadn't declared a formal war, and Penny was the bludgeon he was content to throw at them none too softly.
"If you have something to say about that, now's the perfect time to keep it to yourself."
Filnatra grinned again. "You Elders are so much more fun when you don't just agree with everything I say."
"The mind stuff doesn't work on me. My mind's too strong."
"Your mind's too big, actually. It's not too strong."
Justicar wasn't fazed by that.
"Speaking of which, how many times since we last talked have you told a random Sprilnav to dance?"
"Maybe once or twice."
"How many really?"
"19. I compensate them for their time, though. Healing, lifespan, the full package."
"Someday, that's going to come back to bite you."
"Anything that bites me is going to break its teeth. Unless it's Arneladia, of course."
"Please don't tell me you bite each other."
"We don't. Not even when he's really, really stupid. Plus, the physical consequences if he flinches could be unpleasant. I'd rather not mess up your city skyline."
"A little late for that."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"Not sorry enough to do anything about it."
"It would have been classified as interference due to the circumstances behind it."
"I really hate that word."
"We do, too," Filnatra sighed. "Nova actually got us all together once to try and erase the very concept. And really all of us, even the weak little chumps in the other galaxy. We succeeded, too. Of course, Time rolled it all back. Sucker."
She let out a short huff, and Justicar resolved to get the sleep that he didn't really need anymore but served as a nice luxury. He flopped his body down on the bed, pieces of his mind shutting down or switching functions to an active defense mode now that his more costly consciousness was no longer required. And so it was that Justicar went to sleep with Filnatra standing guard.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Elder Saleis watched with cold eyes through his implant as Penny left the flagship of Kashaunta to go to some interview. She'd been causing problems for the Syndicate for many days, though only now were her actions finally going to catch up to her. The Nine had made their decision; the trap was already sprung.
She just didn't know it yet. The best-case outcome was likely, and the worst-case outcome wasn't very severe at all. A few hundred gang members from the Blue Moons made up the first vanguards. They would serve as the distractions, drawing the Guides away from the main battlefront until it was too late.
Machines to dig tunnels and lay tracks to walk on behind them were also at work, drilling through foundations one at a time. While normally that would have been a violation of the treaty Justicar had broken, since he'd broken it, everything was on the table, including five nuclear warheads. After another spy purge, only the Elders were in the know about the true mission.
Already, it would be complicated and incur huge losses. But the possible gain was worth every life here except his own. He watched the darkness with bated breath and keen eyes, looking for any signs of unnatural movement. His eyes caught on the guards patrolling the edges of the lengthening tunnel. Meanwhile, he did the same in the mindscape, though his location was hidden by the more advanced devices the gangs had access to. Not the most advanced, of course, but enough to ensure Justicar wouldn't know enough to intervene.
Numerous decoy and duplicate operations were happening simultaneously across the planet. Already, over fifty thousand gang members had been lost. It compensated well for the necessary increases and decreases in chatter. Justicar would continue to be diverted until it was too late for him.
Sprilnav marched on abandoned streets. He saw a few disguised Guides attempt to get calls out, but he'd been careful about which companies they had been assigned to. Each of them carried active jammers, which made their attempts fruitless.
The armies were like rivers of light, the flashlights on the guns they held swaying in near-perfect sync. Tens of thousands of Sprilnav mobilized from group homes, communal housing blocks, and the various homes and apartments of the Underground, marching to the call of their masters. Many like them were fighting already, and many more would meet the battle lines afterward. It was planned to intersect with the start of the Judgment, helping to damage Justicar and make him act rashly.
There were probably other reasons; that was just the official one given to Saleis. And he knew better than to look any deeper into it, at least with anything that could be traced back to him. Nothing and no one was truly safe down here. Those who thought they were lay dead and gone thousands of levels below, with scavengers picking at their bones and cracking them open for rotten marrow.
Saleis wondered if things could have turned out differently if Penny had just agreed to his offer. But since she hadn't and had instead set herself stupidly against the gangs, then he would ensure she would suffer for it. Their targets were manyfold, but he would ensure that they would all be hit if he could.
The large gun he kept on his back so he could fire when the battle began had smart bullets that would always hit a target. They were also customized to cause extreme damage to personal shields with specialized magnetic powders and disruption alloys.
Some of the workers started flagging.
"Keep it moving," he growled. "Slack off again, and two of you are losing limbs."
He brandished his sword in threat, and the mundane Sprilnav went back to their business. Arms shaking with the stress of exertion and bodies shaking with their fear of him, they continued moving the hefty amounts of fuel the machine required. Pipelines weren't being laid for this, so instead it was best to transport everything by claw. The Sprilnav were strong enough to do it. And if they weren't, they and their families paid the price.
After a few kilopulses, the tunnel bore stopped churning. It had drilled its way to the last few support columns. Many of the ones it had passed now had passages hollowed out to them.
"Lay them in, four by four!" he cried, making his sword flash a bright light to ensure their attention. Sprilnav slaves carried barrels of radioactive slurry over to the trigger areas. They were below critical mass and were useless in making weapons. But they would seed the area with radiation, further weakening any attempted counterassault through the tunnels by the Guides or the Correctors. With their stronger arsenals, the gangs would not risk them breaking through to the deeper layers of the Underground near here, with such a massive logistical hub having been made a good distance below.
The psychic protection units flared, their power brushing against several detectors. His implant chimed a warning, and Saleis was quickly notified of Guides deploying. The ruse would not hold up long. Androids hefted the nuclear warheads and placed them against the support columns. The ground started to shake. Shields went up, trapping the slaves and many of the remaining androids inside.
Saleis made the retreat, and the detonation program became active in his implant now that his task was complete. Additional pay in credits also was deposited in his private account, which made him smile. He spared no thoughts for the few thousand Sprilnav trapped within the shield. There were always more of them, after all.
Once he'd moved far enough away to have a third shield between him and the soon-to-be nuclear explosion, his implant buzzed. He opened it, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. But the Elder who contacted him, at least his alias, was confirmed to be his assigned informant for this mission. It seemed everything was correct since no emergency stop messages had been attached.
"Yes?" he muttered.
"Execute now. The target is confirmed to be in the building."
"Very well."
Saleis activated the implant. A bright explosion flared where he'd been. Thick plasma and smoke filled the shield, and the light was filtered to safe levels. The first layer, just as he'd expected, had collapsed. And when he looked above, he saw cracks spreading across the ceiling. Thick chunks of rock and reinforced metal began to calve away before collapsing down.
A great rumbling groan followed the noise of breaking rock and tearing metal mixing in a cacophony of destruction, like a song of liberation against all who threatened him and his masters. Saleis couldn't help but smile at the sight, thinking of the great accomplishment he'd just made. The ground beneath him started to shake as well.
Saleis activated his jetpack, flying away before the spreading damage risked burying him. He moved up to the access tunnel, flying over the heads of hundreds of waiting soldiers. He used psychic energy to enhance his voice, increasing the magnitude of the vibrations he'd make. He brandished his sword, teeth glowing with cold menace. "Come forth, men! Today we strike a blow against the alien menace!"

Lesson Plan: Exploring Hyperbole
Objective:
Students will understand the concept of hyperbole, recognize its use in literature and everyday language, and demonstrate their ability to create and identify hyperbolic expressions.
Materials:

1. Whiteboard and markers
   
2. Handouts with examples of hyperbole
   
3. Texts or excerpts from literature containing hyperbole
   
4. Paper and writing utensils for students
   

Introduction (15 minutes):

1. Begin with a discussion on exaggeration. Ask students if they've ever heard someone exaggerate or if they've done it themselves. Write down their responses on the board.
   
2. Define hyperbole as a form of exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Provide examples, both humorous and serious, to illustrate the concept.
   

Activity 1: Identifying Hyperbole (20 minutes):

1. Distribute handouts with examples of hyperbole. Ask students to underline or highlight the hyperbolic expressions.
   
2. Discuss the examples as a class. What makes these statements hyperbolic? How does hyperbole impact the meaning of the statement?
   

Activity 2: Hyperbole in Literature (20 minutes):

1. Provide students with excerpts from literature that contain hyperbole. Discuss how authors use hyperbole to create vivid images or convey strong emotions.
   
2. Have students identify and discuss the purpose of hyperbole in the given literary excerpts. Encourage them to explore how hyperbole contributes to the overall tone and meaning of the text.
   

Activity 3: Creating Hyperbole (25 minutes):

1. In small groups, ask students to brainstorm situations where hyperbole might be used effectively. Have each group create a list of hyperbolic expressions related to their chosen situation.
   
2. Each group presents their list to the class, explaining why they chose specific hyperboles and how they contribute to exaggeration.
   

Closure (10 minutes):

1. Review key points about hyperbole: its definition, examples, and how it's used in literature and everyday language.
   
2. Assign a short homework task where students find examples of hyperbole in their reading or daily life and come prepared to share them in the next class.
   

Assessment:
Evaluate students based on their participation in discussions, ability to identify hyperbole, and the creativity and effectiveness of their hyperbolic expressions during the group activity.

It's been impossible to ignore the entire OGL debacle lately. Everyone is jumping on the hate train, posting various hot takes, and the general consensus is "WotC done goofed". And that's true, but there's also a lot of people defending D&D as product. Things like asking you to sign an open letter to WotC or contacting them to let them know your thoughts.
But please - stop it. Seriously. Stop trying to negotiate with WotC. Despite an "apology" where they admit they "rolled a 1", WotC is very obviously NOT sorry, and things will continue to get worse from here on in.
So here I am today asking you - begging you - stop playing D&D. Not just until this all blows over, not until WotC adopts the Open RPG License, not until D&D 7th edition comes up and everything is forgotten. Forever.
And the reason for this is simple, and something I need to emphasise: D&D is not a good game.
Now, D&D obviously has a lot of fans. And if you've enjoyed playing D&D, that's great! I'm not here to be the sortof gatekeeping neckbeard who tells you that enjoying D&D is "badwrongfun", or that somehow your experience of a game is invalid because I don't like it. I've played a ton of D&D, and honestly I've had a lot of fun. But since then, I've discovered other games, which are - frankly - just better. Playing D&D doesn't mean you have to give up the whole D&D experience, there's plenty of games where you can play a Tiefling Bard with a dark and mysterious past, kill the princess and seduce the dragon.
But perhaps you're not convinced, so I'd like to make some arguments as to why D&D is an absolute dumpster fire. This is gonna be long haul I'm afraid, but strap in and I'll try to keep it relevant.
So, point the first: WIZARDS OF THE COAST IS A TERRIBLE COMPANY.
No, seriously, they're awful. I'm not here to attack the "core staff" of WotC here - artists, designers, playtesters, whatever. I'm talking about the management, the people in charge. They are ones making decisions, and the fault lies entirely with them.
WotC has previously received criticism about its terrible working environment, with allegations of stealing ideas, racism and bullying. These sorts of complaints seem to crop up again and again and again. At one point WotC employees were so unhappy with management they organised a walk out.
But maybe this doesn't matter to you. As long as you have a good product, you're happy. So lets talk about that too.
One D&D rulebook will set you back around $50. $50 isn't cheap, but it's reasonable for a good quality product. But then why are there so many complaints about the books falling apart? When WotC released their D&D 45th anniversary sapphire dice set (containing 11 metal dice) for $300, that might imagine that for $300 you would receive a high quality product. Again, you would be wrong, as one player discovered, documenting their 3 month quest to get a response from WotC customer service. There have been complaints about the state of D&D miniatures. There have even been complaints about the quality levels in WotCs flagship product, Magic: The Gathering.
But maybe this also doesn't matter, since at the end of the day it's just book, not a valuable piece of artwork. It's about the game, right?
Which, again, is fine. But reactions to recent D&D releases have been mixed at best. Strixhaven was generally considered disappointing, and Spelljammer was overwhelmingly criticised. That's not to say 5e hasn't had good products in the past, but there's definitely been a vibe of "just slap a recognisable name on it and throw it out" recently.
But, again, perhaps you bought these books and you did enjoy them. If that's true, then power to you. So lets talk about what's really important - the future of D&D. And to do that, I want to briefly look at Magic.
If you're somehow unaware, Magic: The Gathering is a card game that WotC have been making since 1990. In that time they've invented a lot of new and innovative ways to maximise profits. Most recently, they released the 30th Anniversary set, which is essentially 60 random cards priced at $1000. This set has been HATED by the Magic community for various reasons, one being that despite being advertised as a celebration of Magics history for the community, it is a clear and blatant cash grab aimed squarely at investors. And of course, despite the hate, it sold out within an hour.
Not too long before that, Wizards introduced their Secret Lair Drop series, including cards from other media properties such as the Walking Dead, Transformers and Fortnite. And while some players liked these, it also attracted criticism, not the least because the entire thematic concept of playing powerful mages battling in fantasy lands takes a hit when Optimus Prime and the Fortnite Battle Bus turn up.
I also need to mention rarity. Originally, Magic cards were largely divided into Common, Uncommon and Rare. In 2008, WotC introduced the new "ultra-rare" Mythic level card. Generally speaking, the rarer a card is, the more powerful it is. Magic fans will be quick to point out that just because a card is rare doesn't mean its good, and that is true to some degree. But if we look at a popular deck in the current meta, Grixis Midrange, we realise that of the decks $420 price tag, $215 of that is the 4 Mythic cards, ~$195 is the the 32 rares, and $10 is everything else. And as a side note, that $420 price tag for a single deck is only for the Standard format. If you want you play Magic's (arguably) most popular format, Commander, you could end up dropping over $4,000. For one deck. Of course, you don't NEED to play all the expensive cards, but lets not kid ourselves - Magic is a competitive game, and how many players are actually going to be satisfied playing a deck that constantly loses?
Some players may also remember the time that a card named Omnath absolutely dominated the game. The interesting thing is that Omnath was released onto Magic Arena (the digital/online version of Magic) on 17th September 2020, a full week before its official physical release on the 25th. It became clear *very* quickly that the power level of Omnath was FAR too high, and players demanded a ban. This put WotC in a dilemma: the existence of such a card was bad for the health of the game, but banning a card - a Mythic no less - before release would hurt sales. Of course, it wasn't a dilemma at all. WotC ignored the problem until enough product had been sold that they felt comfortable announcing a ban. It was clear WotC didn't actually care about the state of the game, as long as profit was made. Players lamented.
For Magic, those powerful cards are key for driving sales. When Magic players purchase booster packs, they're looking for that rush of revealing a powerful ultra-rare that will sell for $50. Of course, most of the time that isn't going to happen, but when it does its exciting! You paid $5 for a booster, but you got a $50 card! Make no mistake, this is unregulated gambling. Curiously, when L5R) tried to shift to a model with a single flat rarity level, players "vehemently rejected the concept in droves". Gambling and the collectible card game model are intertwined.
And I'm struggling to slide this point in neatly, but WotC used to give out special promo cards that could only be obtained by attending a specific convention, or by purchasing a novel and mailing in the voucher.
So, great history lesson, who cares. We play D&D, not magic. It's important because I want you to understand, that every single tactic WotC has used for monetising magic, they will try to implement into D&D. Anything that can be exploited, will be. Spending any time looking at WotCs history and decision making process shows that their singular desire is to maximise profit. The CEO has openly stated their desire to monetise players, with the "sort of spending you see in digital games".
So lets look at what the future likely holds.
WotC wants to move D&D into a "live service" model with D&D Beyond. All your characters, books, etc will be stored there, as well as WotC developing their own Virtual Tabletop (VTT) to play D&D. D&D beyond currently costs $6 a month (plus $30 for each book you want to buy, no discount for having already purchased physical copies). I've seen some rumours that WotC want to increase this to $30 a month, but there doesn't seem to be any actual evidence, so lets call that "maybe". There's also claims that homebrew won't be supported at base tiers, and again we don't have sources for this, but this seems entirely plausible. Part of me would be very surprised if they allowed homebrew content at *all* - WotC will control the only VTT you're able to play on, and they can just say "unfortunately the systems in place aren't set up to support the wide variety of homebrew our players come up with". The reason is simple: lets say you wanted to make a Circle of Spores druid on D&D Beyond. You need to purchase the appropriate content/book. Why would WotC allow homebrew, when you might make a "Circle of Fungii" subclass? And why would they allow you to make your own content, when they can SELL you content?
And content is where they can REALLY start monetising D&D. Limited edition character skins. Weapon skins. Dice skins. Character dance animations. "Rare" battle maps. All neatly package upto into lootboxes, ready to go.
Lets go further: Limited edition subclasses. Hell, limited edition classes. "Warlord, only available this summer!"Sponsored feats. "Finger lickin' fortitude: regain 2d6 HP every time you eat a bucket of delicious chicken nuggets."Celebrity spells: "Paltrows Goop, 2nd level, cures all diseases and conditions".Movie tie ins: "Why use Plate Mail when you can be running around in a HULKBUSTER SUIT?"Redeemable vouchers. "Get the unique Genji +4 sword for D&D when you attend Blizzcon!"
It seems stupid now, but I promise you every single one of these is on the table, as far as WotC is concerned. Imagine playing D&D: your party wandering through an endless desert, lost. The DM starts to describe how the Sorcerer loses consciousness, the rogue pipes up: "wait, I just remembered, I still have my scroll of Summon Tesla!" Elon Musk descends from the sky, presents you with his shining steed, and you all climb in. The fine leather upholstery soothes your chafed skin, and the cupholders contains beverages to restore your thirst. You escape the desert with your lives, but next time you might not be so lucky.
And yes, I am being a little hyperbolic, but if Fortnite can be in Magic, where is the line? If you're using WotCs VTT, ultimately they can control what actions are allowed. I've seen a lot of talk that the game is going to be a lot more automated, which makes a certain amount of sense - less effort for the DM, and it would open the market to players who can't otherwise find a game. But WotC ultimately controls the system, and they control what actions are allowed. The DM might find himself annoyed at the players for escaping the desert, so he opens up a menu and taps "Place Demi-lich". "ERROR" flashes up. "You may not place a demi-lich here, it is not a level appropriate encounter".
If the DM is the one determining the players fate, what motivation do the players have to spend real money on in-game items? WotC can't trust the DM. So it's up to the system.
And when the system is in control, you're just that little bit closer to unlocking the spending on digital games that WotCs CEO talked about. Want to start off with a +2 Sword? $10. Wand of magic missile? $5. You enter an arms race, the kind that every free-to-play mobile developer fantasizes about: players desperately trying to outspend each other so THEY can have the best character. Remember, WotC doesn't care if the game is fun, as long as you're buying product - and THAT is D&D One.
There's also the question - since all your D&D content is on D&D Beyond, if you lose wi-fi access, can you still play D&D? Should internet access really be needed for a tabletop game? Do you need to carry your phone to every game you play? Do you guys not have phones? And its worth noting that despite the immense backlash Diablo Immortal received, it still went on to make nearly $50 million in the first month. If Blizzard has shown us anything in the past few years, it's that predatory and questionable behaviour is extremely profitable. WotC is fully aware of this.
But I want to move onto another major point: D&D isn't even a good game. Sorry, D&D fans. 5e is good for exactly one thing: the style of gameplay where you enter a dungeon, murder some orcs and steal their stuff. This is why, despite advertising the three pillars of "exploration, combat social interaction" 90% of the book is focused on killing things. The amount of people trying to shoehorn political intrigue, horror or moral quandaries into a game which fundamentally does not support that style of gameplay is staggering. But the real kicker is, D&D isn't even best at what it does do well. Combat is often slow and boring, balance is all over the place, the game falls apart at high levels, CR is a joke, gold is useless, and for most classes there is generally only one way to build a viable character at level 1.
A lot of this is made worse by the poor writing of the actual books. Its a running joke that players don't actually read the rules, but honestly is it any surprise? The PHB is a bloated mess, with a ton of rules that most players don't even use. There's a very obvious disconnect between how WotC designed the game, and how the game is actually played. This is the sort of thing that can lead to issues - be honest, how many D&D games have you played with the recommend 6 - 8 encounters per day? The issue is so bad that not even the lead designer know hows the rules work. It can cause needless arguments that aren't necessary. Its honestly amazing that so many people seem to think that D&D is a good RPG for newbies to enter the hobby - the game is so often needlessly complicated and fiddly, and requires a level of investment that can leave many new players feeling overwhelmed. Pop quiz: how do you craft a healing potion? Wrong.
All of these issues leads to the situation that almost every argument about D&D boils down to: "well if its if a problem, the DM has the power to fix it." Every single complaint about D&D can be easily handwaved or ignored by invoking the magic words "DM can fix it". Once when aired my grievances with the rulebook, one player actually told me "I like the rules being vague, because the DM can interpret them however they want".
This is a really exhausting viewpoint for me, honestly. If I'm running any other RPG, I already know I can pick and choose which rules I want to use. But I want to know what the rules actually are. The real problem here is that this "DMs job" attitude seems to increasingly be WotCs position as well. It doesn't matter if books are well written or balanced, because the DM can do the work for them. They can churn out total garbage, and assume the DM will put in the effort required to make it work. The entire game falls on the DM, which means running a game of D&D takes twice as much effort as any other system. And this leads to articles like "NYC Has a Serious Dungeon Master Shortage". No-one wants to run the goddamn game, because its so much effort.
But there is another side to this "DM shortage" story, which is that - as many of you know - the D&D community is kindof awful. Look, I'm not saying that you're a bad person for wanting to play D&D. But there are problems. First off, there are endless amounts of bizarrely entitled D&D players. If you look at any LFG post on reddit, facebook, whatever, there's no shortage of players looking for DMs, sometimes with very specific requirements. Occasionally, you even get entire pre-formed groups looking for a DM. It's oddly disconcerting that so many people seem to think that a DM they've never met is going to want to put hundreds of hours of effort into creating and running a campaign for strangers.
And it's not like getting a game of D&D is hard - if you're willing to DM. But, again, it seems like no-one wants to DM, they just want everything handed to them on a plate. Suggestions to hire a DM are often shouted down, because for some reason we refuse to recognise that being a talented DM is a skill, or that DMing for strangers is actual work. And I've worked as a professional DM - I gave it up after a few months, because I realised that once I counted all the hours I spent writing scenarios, chasing people up, dealing with questions and the inevitable players bailing with zero notice, it simply wasn't worth it. I still run games, but I do it for free, for my friends - people who respect my time, respect my decisions, and let me know in advance if they're not able to make the next session. People who I ENJOY playing with, and not some 40 year old manchild who hasn't showered in a month.
And, of course, any online D&D community will provide excellent discourse - in the form of character art and d20s pics (OMG NAT 20 GUYS). If you somehow avoid that and find actual discussion, it's often feels like some variation of either complaining about problem players, complaining about how hard it is to find a game, or complaining about the game itself. "It feels like everyone who has anything constructive to say already did just **** off to pf2e".
WotC is the old friend that haven't seen in a few years, and you invite to join your weekly gaming session. It starts off fun and you're having a great time catching up but as things progress he starts talking about how females are ruining gaming and that no-one can take a joke anymore and that its not HIS fault that YOU'RE offended by THAT word. Your friends look at you uncomfortably and you look at him and you realise that you have no idea who they are anymore.
When you have a toxic player, you remove them from the group. Wizards is a toxic company. Remove them from your life.
And I'm not even going to sit here tell you what to play instead, its not like there's a shortage of people out there recommending good systems. Its your path to find. er.
So, that's it. If you somehow made it this far, thank you. If you feel like anything here resonated with you, you have my full permission to share it anywhere you like - and I promise not to edit this bit later and sue you.

Been a big fan of Young Sheldon since the first season - I wasn't ever a super-fan of The Big Bang Theory, but the shift in format and tone for the Young Sheldon show was a breath of fresh air. There have been great shows in the last several years, but Young Sheldon was a particular diamond in the rough compared to a lot of the other shows on mainstream channels. I feel like they successfully took a pretty well-known stereotype of a character and managed to give a depth to him and more importantly his family, that was both pleasantly unexpected and relatively well-written.
The very first episode has him holding his father's hand at the dinner table, a few more after that his dad is in the hospital and Sheldon catches a scary glimpse of the reality of the situation.... At numerous points over the show, Older Sheldon laments that he wishes he'd have said more to his father, and that particular episode with the tornado and George and Missy in the car is possibly one of THE best family moments I've seen on TV in the last decade. Old Sheldon will usually narrate some prideful/tone-deaf crack that self-promotes him at various moments, but it felt like there was this underlying, emotional revelation he was having at various points in the narration. That Old Sheldon hadn't ever really given his father and mother too much credit initially, but on second examination he realises he overlooked things.
So I'm baffled as to how Memoir, the final episode - the one where they could potentially tie all of this together - feels like it's making a conscious effort to ignore all of the signalling that Old Sheldon has done as he has been telling this story. As the finale reveals he's been writing his memoir, I was expecting an older Sheldon that actively recognises that at least in part, he was in the wrong in various familial situations, but what they instead went with is actually.... kind of dark/disheartening to see that him and Amy are just kind of.... bickering. I get that Big Bang Sheldon's shtick is that he's socially awkward and misses important social cues, but Old Sheldon in the finale doesn't really seem to have changed at all in those scenes that we get to reacquaint with him and Amy. It feels like it clashes with the version of him that is telling the story this whole time - now it's a show about "him having emotional revelations here and there, but then Amy has to be the one not just to remind him, but basically mother him into a position of looking after his own kids".
I went into the episode figuring he was going to have Old Mary, Old Amy, and his kids there onscreen. That the whole point to this show was that while he was writing his memoir, Amy and his kids started asking about their grandfather and the family would have one final heartwarming sendoff where Old Sheldon voices that now that he has a Nobel, he want's to try and focus on taking a shot at giving his kids the same opportunities his parents (imperfect as they were) gave to him.... but what we got just kind of felt a little rushed? A little bitter from the writers? I see other people talking on here saying they feel like Missy didn't really have anything resolved in the end. And again, I feel like it's bit crummy to be left thinking "nope, Old Sheldon hasn't changed at all and he's only a barely-functional parent and not-a-hermit because of Amy". It's a weird note to end on and send the entire show off by saying that Young Sheldon capitulating to Mary just to make her feel better in the moment, is the lesson he should take into parenting - Sheldon fundamentally doesn't believe in baptism, but Amy asserts he did it because he cared about Mary, so he should follow his kids' passions the same way.... Am I insane for thinking that it's a really weird, if not bad take? Wasn't the point of the show that George was still keeping tabs on Sheldon's interests and standing up for the kid even beyond what Sheldon initially realised? In those moments where the launch got rained out and the boys were stranded in the motel, or George and Sheldon were on the plane, Mary wasn't right there over George's shoulder putting words into his mouth, he just kind of jumped into action - same as with the tornado. So I guess my takewaway is that it really BAFFLES me that Old Sheldon can tell this story and have insightful comments on it.... and then still completely miss the point like he's done no growing or changing. After this entire show, the final "theme" is to suck it up and comfort your family even if you don't like what they do, rather than to take the time to actually give them your interest and actually find reasons to believe in them - something we learned to do for George the more that the show revealed he was just a normal guy trying to keep stuff afloat.
In the end, the finale still gets the job done, but I feel like I'm insane to say that they could have pushed this harder, with the writing and emotions, and landed one of THE most memorable finales ever. That final episode doesn't ruin the whole series or anything hyperbolic, nor is it in any way controversial/polarising like How I Met Your Mother has been received, but I REALLY feel like they had some award-winning potential, and the writing just completely deflated our last moments with the Cooper family. It's almost like the writers don't want Young Sheldon's ending to be too conclusive or too impactful, so as to make you wanna roll right into Georgie & Mandy looking to see what happens to everyone next.

To note, this is a continuation of the sagas I wrote that took place after the Cell Saga. The two sagas were written with inspiration taken from MCU Peter Parker's arcs in Far from Home and No Way Home. The goal was to develop Son Gohan into a proper lead for the show. If you'd like to check them out, here are the links!
Bojack (Far From Home) Saga: https://www.reddit.com/fixingmovies/s/sK5zOnJ0oU
Broly (No Way Home) Saga: https://www.reddit.com/fixingmovies/s/R3sGOqdbIv
There are many things I find wrong in the Buu saga:

1. Goku coming back: This derails the narrative tremendously as he snatches back the torch from Gohan. He's going to play a role, but he will stay dead.
2. Gohan's writing: In canon, we ended up with a rusty, goofy, badly written character who lost all the development from the previous sagas. He became a useless disappointment and did not uphold his role as a protector of the earth. This won't go anywhere near that direction.
3. SSJ3 and fusions: These elements were unnecessary as they did nothing to solve the plot and only provided fluff. This can be introduced in Super, but that's another story.
4. Goten and Trunks SSJ: I wasn't a fan of how they easily transformed, treating it as an easy power-up. Here, it will be earned.

What I want to do here is combine the Buu saga with Fusion Reborn. For that movie, there are tons of elements at play that can be used to make the grand finale of Dragon Ball Z, more grand. The goal here is to increase the stakes, trim all the unnecessary fat, give everyone a chance to shine, and keep the main focus on Gohan. I also want to replace Buu with Janemba, as I find him much more threatening due to his unique abilities which would be perfect to challenge Gohan. It's also here that we avoid the rinse-and-repeat problem that came with Buu and his many forms.

Without further ado, here is the...... Janemba Saga!

Seven years have passed since the climactic battle against Broly. Gohan, now a young adult, has diligently pursued a delicate balance between his studies and training. During this time, he has honed his Super Saiyan 2 form and significantly elevated his combat skills. However, he deliberately restrains his power, refusing to succumb to the depths of his inner rage. Gohan believes that his technical prowess alone will suffice, opting to suppress the primal fury within him. Despite his reservations, Gohan attends a prestigious private school on an academic scholarship, alongside his steadfast companion Videl and their circle of friends. Gohan has embraced the responsibility of preserving peace on Earth as a valiant hero, adopting the mantle of Saiyaman. His suit has undergone a sleek redesign, shedding the theatrical poses in favor of a more streamlined appearance. Functioning as a dynamic duo reminiscent of Superman and Batman, Gohan and Videl tackle the city's crime wave together. Videl, having mastered her ki abilities under the tutelage of Piccolo, has grown stronger over the years. Glimpses of their everyday lives reveal the struggles of Gohan as he endeavors to balance the demands of school, training, and personal relationships. Amidst the challenges, he harbors a subtle resentment towards his duty, as it often encroaches upon his cherished personal time. Nevertheless, Gohan persists, fueled by his unwavering determination to live up to his father's legacy.
However, the tranquil facade is shattered when a harrowing turn of events unfolds. The narrative transitions to an otherworldly realm, distinctly separate from Earth. A mysterious figure cloaked in darkness materializes, none other than the malevolent wizard Babidi. Harnessing the unholy power of dark magic, Babidi establishes a sinister connection with his loyal minion Dabura, the King of the Demon Realm. United in their nefarious purpose, they orchestrate an audacious invasion of Otherworld, intent on freeing the formidable demon Janemba. Ages ago, Janemba had been sealed away in this celestial realm by the Supreme Kais. Babidi's malevolent ambition revolves around shrouding the universe in eternal darkness. To achieve this nightmarish vision, he plans to infect the denizens of Earth using the insidious Majin spell, thereby expanding his dominion across countless planets.
In the midst of this burgeoning chaos, Gohan, disguised as Saiyaman, finds himself investigating a peculiar incident involving the possession of one of his dearest friends. Videl, resolute and fearless, engages in a fierce battle against the malevolent puppeteer controlling Sharpner. With unwavering confidence, she urges Gohan to let her confront the threat alone. Sharpner, his strength unnaturally augmented, puts up a formidable resistance, but Videl's experience enables her to subdue him without resorting to fatal measures. As Sharpner awakens from his trance, Gohan seeks answers regarding the enigmatic force that had seized control of his friend. Sharpner reveals that a voice called Babidi had whispered malevolent commands into his mind. Armed with this critical information, Gohan summons Vegeta and Piccolo to join him in unraveling the unfolding crisis, embarking on a journey towards the epicenter of the ominous power emanating from a series of potent and wicked ki signatures, ultimately leading them to Babidi and Dabura.
Meanwhile, Earth becomes a battleground, besieged by an onslaught of resurrected zombies, soldiers, and former villains who once terrorized its populace. Though the trio finds themselves torn between aiding their beleaguered planet and confronting the imminent threat directly before them, they know their immediate priority lies in thwarting Babidi's scheme. Distracting them with his grandiose monologue, Babidi probes their minds, seeking susceptible individuals to manipulate. Initially targeting Vegeta, Babidi redirects his attention toward Piccolo, sensing his inherent duality as a being born of both good and evil. With a combination of Babidi's insidious spell and the lingering malevolence of Piccolo Daimao, the Namekian warrior struggles to resist the overwhelming influence. His powers surge exponentially beyond their previous limitations, clouding his judgment and driving him to confront his former student, Gohan. Amidst the shock of this unforeseen twist, Gohan assumes the responsibility of awakening Piccolo from his trance-like state, determined to restore his mentor's clarity. As the battle rages on, they sense a tremor that reverberates throughout the planet, an unmistakable ki signature brimming with icy coldness, signifying the presence of a singular entity—Janemba.
Bracing himself for the impending clash with this malevolent force, Gohan prepares to face Janemba head-on, while Piccolo embarks on a personal mission to neutralize Babidi. Meanwhile, Vegeta remains locked in a fierce struggle against Dabura, the Prince of Saiyans confronting the King of the Demon Realm. The confrontation unfolds with brutal intensity, and Vegeta finds himself teetering on the edge of defeat. Sensing his adversary's advantage, Dabura unleashes a legion of demons to tip the scales further in his favor. Pushed to his limits, Vegeta fights valiantly, but the odds appear insurmountable. Dabura, consumed by arrogance, revels in his imminent triumph, announcing his intention to unleash the full might of the demon horde upon Earth. Faced with the dire consequences of such a cataclysm, Vegeta musters every ounce of desperation within him. In a moment of self-sacrifice, he unleashes a devastating attack upon Dabura and his minions. The resulting explosion weakens Babidi's forces, repels the encroaching Demon Realm, and safeguards their dimension from untold chaos and devastation.
(Note: I wanted to keep Vegeta's sacrifice but make it matter and count. In canon, it didn't stop Buu, and he sent himself into cold oblivion on a lie. Here, he makes a difference in the long run and has a definitive redemptive moment. )
Startled by the sudden disappearance of Vegeta's powerful ki, Trunks defies the protests of his comrades on the Lookout and rushes towards the chaotic battleground. His heart pounds with trepidation as he races through the smoke-filled air, only to be confronted with the lifeless body of his father lying motionless on the ground. Overwhelmed by a torrent of despair and seething rage, Trunks' trembling hands reach out to shake his father awake, his desperate pleas echoing through the desolate landscape. But his efforts prove futile, and a profound sense of loss engulfs him.
In the midst of this heart-wrenching moment, a surge of raw energy courses through Trunks' veins, igniting a transformation that surpasses the boundaries of his mortal self. Radiating an aura of vibrant golden light, Trunks ascends to the legendary state of the Super Saiyan. His eyes ablaze with determination and fury, he is now ready to face the battle that lies ahead.The scene shifts, revealing the remaining Z-Fighters locked in a perilous struggle against hordes of relentless zombies. Fatigue weighs heavily upon their weary bodies as they fend off the relentless onslaught. Suddenly, a streak of intense power streaks across the sky, and Trunks descends before his comrades, newly transformed and brimming with indomitable strength. A burst of energy erupts from his fingertips, shattering a ki blast launched by one of the zombies, diverting it harmlessly away. In the eyes of his adversaries, astonishment mingles with mockery as they behold the sight of a mere child standing before them.Unfazed by their taunting laughter, Trunks addresses his comrades with unwavering resolve. He declares that he will shoulder the burden of the battle, vowing that not a single life will be lost on this day. With unparalleled speed and precision, he charges towards the encroaching horde, obliterating each zombie with astonishing ease. Their forces crumble beneath the might of his wrath, and the battlefield is transformed into a graveyard of defeated foes.As the last of the zombies falls, Trunks relinquishes his Super Saiyan form, his energy spent and body drained. Collapsing to the ground, he succumbs to exhaustion, his breathing ragged and labored. In this moment of vulnerability, Yamcha, recognizing the young warrior's valor, rushes to his side and gently lifts him from the battlefield, cradling his battered form with utmost care.
(Note: Kid Trunks' transformation is a direct reference to when Future Trunks found Gohan dead after the battle with the androids, and then he transformed. )
While this tumultuous event unfolded, the responsibility of safeguarding the Lookout fell upon the young shoulders of Goten. As time passed, a sudden intrusion disrupted the tranquility of the platform, as a malevolent henchman, infused with the dark power of King Cold, materialized before him. Though momentarily shaken, Goten summoned his courage and engaged in a valiant struggle against his formidable adversary.Initially, it appeared that Goten held his ground admirably, skillfully countering the attacks launched by the nefarious duo of Salza and Dore. However, their sinister coordination gradually began to overpower the young warrior. In a devastating display of force, Salza executed a malicious kick that sent Goten hurtling towards the precipice of the Lookout, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.
Witnessing her son's battered and vulnerable state, Chi-Chi, consumed by a mixture of horror and fury, lunged at Salza in a desperate attempt to defend her child. Yet, her efforts proved futile as Salza callously seized her by the throat, mercilessly constricting the life from her. From his weakened position, Goten, wide-eyed and mouth agape, struggled to remain conscious, his mind besieged by the conflicting emotions of impending death and the weight of disappointment.
In that critical moment, he closed his eyes, his teeth sinking into his lip until blood stained his mouth. His trembling hands clenched into tight fists. And then, something within him snapped, unleashing a primal force that lay dormant within.Goten vanished, replaced by an embodiment of unbridled rage. Transformed into a Super Saiyan, his furious aura radiated with an intensity that defied comprehension. With a surge of unrestrained power, he propelled himself towards Salza, obliterating his malevolent foe with a devastating blast that eradicated him from existence. Undeterred by the remaining henchmen who sought to avenge their fallen comrade, Goten engaged them with a newfound ferocity.In a breathtaking display of combat prowess, it took mere moments for Goten to dispatch his adversaries, consigning them to the depths of the afterlife. Unaware of his mother's watchful gaze, Chi-Chi bore witness to the astonishing transformation of her once-innocent son, her heart filled with awe at the unfathomable power he now wielded.
(Note: This is a reference to when Superman had attacked Zod for attacking Martha in Man of Steel. With this, Goten is able to break out of his shell and experience some development. I also did not want Chi-Chi to die, but to have it be close. This way, she can witness firsthand her son fighting to avenge her and realizing that his saiyan blood kicked in to save them all, which would lead to some development towards her accepting that they have the natural power to fight, but also protect. )
Simultaneously, amidst the chaos, Piccolo found himself embroiled in a fierce battle of magic. His objective was to shatter the impenetrable barrier erected by his adversary, Babidi, to halt the relentless proliferation of Majin-infused beings. The odds were stacked against him, but with unwavering determination, Piccolo summoned the strength to rupture the barrier, ultimately delivering a fatal blow to Babidi. In doing so, he succeeded in halting the insidious spread of the Majin curse.Meanwhile, Gohan, driven by an overwhelming surge of power in his Super Saiyan 2 form, charged headlong at the formidable Fat Janemba, intent on swiftly ending the confrontation. Displaying remarkable valor, Gohan engaged his adversary with all his might, momentarily gaining the upper hand in fleeting bursts of fury. However, Janemba's energy continued to surge unabated, gradually overpowering Gohan and relegating him to a defensive stance.With the battle reaching its climax, Janemba unleashed a devastating onslaught aimed at obliterating the planet. In a desperate bid to protect all that he held dear, Gohan fearlessly interposed himself between Janemba's lethal assault and the world, extending his arms wide as he summoned the last vestiges of his ki to create a resolute energy shield. The technique demanded one final act of defiance, compelling Gohan to redirect the unleashed energy back towards Janemba, propelling the malevolent entity backward and teetering on the precipice of annihilation. Yet, the maneuver exacted a heavy toll on Gohan, leaving him grievously injured and drained of consciousness, hurtling through the sky and crashing deep into the untamed wilderness.
(Note: This maneuver is a mix of what Gohan did against Broly in Movie 10, and what Future Gohan did in his last battle against the androids.)
Subsequently, Supreme Kai, recognizing the dire condition of the young warrior, transported Gohan to the realm of the Kais. As Gohan gradually regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by the presence of Supreme Kai, Kibito, and his father, Son Goku. Unbeknownst to Gohan, while the realms beyond had been engulfed in pandemonium, Goku had valiantly sought to subdue numerous formidable adversaries, most notably Broly. Upon learning of Gohan's presence on that distant planet, Goku implored for the opportunity to visit his son, a request that was granted amidst the bittersweet reunion.During their heartfelt meeting, they shared the weight of overseeing the turmoil ravaging Earth, realizing that Janemba still lingered, amassing the remnants of malevolent ki left unvanquished. Panic washed over Gohan as he urgently expressed his need to return to Earth, but his pleas were met with cautionary words from his loved ones. They acknowledged his unpreparedness to face Janemba anew, warning of the potential consequences should he engage the foe prematurely. Supreme Kai disclosed his true intention in bringing Gohan to this realm—to unlock the dormant power lying dormant within him. However, the process demanded a profound reconciliation of Gohan's dual nature as both human and Saiyan. To initiate this transformative ritual, Gohan would be immersed in a meditative trance within the sacred confines of a cascading waterfall, which would serve as a mirror reflecting his true self. Only then would he embark upon the arduous journey of unlocking his latent potential, fully aware that failure could result in dire consequences, even death.
Nervously, Gohan steeled himself for the imminent trial, drawing strength from the unwavering support of his father. With resolute determination, he approached the cascading waterfall, where Supreme Kai initiated the trance, enveloping Gohan in an ethereal aura of introspection.As the ritual commenced, Gohan's gaze fixated grimly upon vivid recollections of his past battles, struggling to reconcile the moments when he had succumbed to his own wrath. Before long, a projection materialized, representing his suppressed Saiyan essence—a separate entity demanding to be acknowledged. A tumultuous clash ensued between the two facets of Gohan's being, with the young warrior faltering in his attempts to gain the upper hand, for each surge of anger only fueled his other self. Finally, a profound realization washed over Gohan, piercing through the haze of conflict. He ceased resisting and, instead, extended a hand of acceptance and understanding to his Saiyan counterpart, embracing the essence of his true nature. In that transformative instant, the boundaries dissolved, merging into a harmonious unity. Gohan's eyes fluttered open as he awakened from the trance, reborn in his newfound Ultimate Form, his essence finally whole and indomitable.
(Note: Yes, this is a direct reference to Naruto obtaining true mastery of his nine tails form in Shippuden. I did not like Gohan's canon mystic ritual because it did not feel earned. He just sat around for a long time doing nothing and gained nothing from it. I wanted to fix that. So here, he went through a more direct ritual at the risk of death to be able to unlock his true abilities. )
In the midst of these events, Trunks and Goten find themselves under the tutelage of Piccolo within the formidable Hyperbolic Time Chamber. News reaches Piccolo that Gohan is undergoing a transformative process to unlock his latent potential, but the looming return of Janemba threatens to disrupt their plans. Exiting the chamber, Trunks and Goten emerge stronger than ever, having mastered their Super Saiyan forms and honed their teamwork to near perfection, compensating for their inherent power limitations.As Janemba crosses paths with them, the clash erupts in a spectacular display of martial prowess. Individually, they stand little chance against the overwhelming might of Janemba, but when united, a different narrative unfolds. Their combined efforts aim to sustain the battle long enough, providing Gohan with the precious time he needs to complete his ritual. Piccolo assumes leadership, valiantly holding his ground, although it becomes increasingly evident that Janemba possesses a distinct advantage. Piccolo strategically diverts Janemba's attention, creating openings for Goten and Trunks to launch coordinated assaults that vex their adversary, even if their impact is minimal. Nonetheless, every second counts.
In a fateful turn of events, Janemba unleashes an assault that overwhelms Piccolo, incapacitating him and leaving only Goten and Trunks to face the malevolent entity. Swift as a phantom, Janemba materializes in front of Trunks, delivering a devastating blow to his abdomen, leaving Goten as the lone defender. Standing tall, Goten defiantly assumes a battle stance, mustering his courage. However, before Janemba can unleash a devastating attack upon him, an unknown figure delivers a powerful kick to Janemba's head, hurtling him towards the distant mountains.
The camera pans, revealing the figure to be none other than Gohan, resplendent in his newfound form.
(Note: This entrance directly mirrors that of Future Gohan when he was about to begin his final battle against the Androids!)
A wave of elation washes over Goten as he beholds the return of his beloved elder brother, while Trunks and Piccolo visibly exhale with relief. Gohan and Piccolo exchange a brief but meaningful exchange, Gohan acknowledging his newfound strength while Piccolo recognizes that Gohan has ascended to an entirely different echelon. Janemba regains his footing, reemerging before them, demanding their attention and focus. Gohan asserts that he will confront Janemba directly, urging the others to evacuate. Though reluctant, Piccolo and the young warriors comply, dispersing to various parts of the world to address the chaos that plagues their surroundings.
With an air of fury, Janemba charges at Gohan, his fist extended menacingly. Yet Gohan intercepts the attack, seizing Janemba's fist in a vice-like grip, and in a flash of teleportation, they are transported to the dreaded realm of H.F.I.L. (Home For Infinite Losers).
(Note: I have Gohan teleport Janemba because at least this way their battle will not damage Earth. Also we will assume Gohan has figured out some sort of Instant Transmission movement like Goku.)
The eyes of Earth's denizens, the Kais, and the denizens of the Otherworld are fixated on this pivotal moment, the culmination of a battle that will determine the fate of the universe. And so, the clash commences, a cataclysmic struggle that echoes through the very fabric of existence.
In a breathtaking display of power, Gohan initially dominates the battle, effortlessly overpowering Janemba with his newfound might. However, the tables turn when Janemba unveils unexpected abilities: space-time manipulation and a formidable sword. Gohan is caught off guard, unsure of how to counter such unorthodox tactics. Desperation and frustration consume him, causing his control over his own power to slip away.Amidst the chaos, Gohan experiences a moment of revelation, a surge of understanding regarding his opponent's abilities. He realizes that in order to anticipate Janemba's next move, he must heighten his senses by channeling his ki, allowing for precise timing and swift reactions. With this newfound clarity, Gohan regains his composure, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Seizing an opportunity, Janemba materializes before him, poised to strike with his sword. Yet, in a stunning display of strength, Gohan catches the blade with both hands, shattering it into pieces.
The tide of the battle begins to shift, albeit slightly, in Gohan's favor. Frustrated and bewildered, Janemba exclaims, "Just what...are you?!" Gohan responds with unwavering resolve, proclaiming, "I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am the protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth. Ally to good! Nightmare to you!"
(Note: I'm taking Goku's dubbed speech against Frieza and repurposing it for Gohan. As he's inherently more the justice-driven hero archetype rather than the fighting maniac that is Goku, it makes more sense. We'll just assume Goku gave Frieza the manga version of his speech. This is also the most pivotal moment of Gohan's journey as he comes to terms with being a protector. Throughout the show, he's been struggling between his desire to be a scholar and his responsibility to be a hero. That dubbed speech is exactly the moment that Gohan's arc comes full circle. Here, he finally embraces what he was always meant to be..... the hero.)
With renewed determination, Gohan launches various assaults in a bid to defeat his formidable adversary. However, his attacks fail to inflict lasting damage, and Gohan himself begins to exhaust his ki. It is then that he realizes the true nature of Janemba's existence—he is an embodiment of pure evil ki, unlike any opponent Gohan has faced before. A desperate plan takes shape in Gohan's mind. Mentally reaching out to his friends and even Videl, he calls upon them to gather their ki, reminiscent of the Spirit Bomb technique. Initially, only the Z-Fighters respond, but their combined energy proves insufficient.As Gohan valiantly defends against Janemba's onslaught, he mentally pleads with the people of Earth to lend their aid. Uncertainty and doubt cast a shadow over the crowd until Hercule steps forward, berating them for refusing to support the man who once saved them during the Cell Games. Revealing the truth of Gohan's identity as the Delivery Boy turned hero, the tide of public opinion shifts. People extend their hands, offering their energy to their savior. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Gohan is relieved by the surge of ki coursing through him, providing a momentary opening to kick Janemba away. The collective assistance grants Gohan a substantial reservoir of energy, which he then summons forth, infusing it with the very essence of his soul—a daring and perilous maneuver.
Driven to his breaking point, a furious Janemba ascends into the sky, conjuring a colossal sphere of malevolent ki capable of obliterating the entire universe. Gohan remains calm, his gaze fixed upon the impending cataclysm. With unwavering resolve, he declares, "This is the end for you, Janemba." Closing his eyes, Gohan raises his left hand above his head, conjuring a radiant sphere of rainbow light. Seizing the opportunity, Janemba hurls his devastating attack towards Gohan. Sensing the imminent danger, Gohan's eyes snap open as he crushes the ball of energy in his palm. Swiftly pivoting, he hurls the fragmented energy towards the oncoming attack, effortlessly piercing through it, and hurtling towards Janemba, finally eradicating the universe's peril once and for all.
(Note: This is the same technique as Kid Buu's Planet Burst move, the one that destroyed Earth. I also repurposed Gogeta's stardust breaker technique for Gohan as I feel it makes sense for him to have it. It also makes him stand out from Goku even more in this case.)
As the dust settles, Gohan maintains his energy long enough to witness Janemba's demise. A triumphant smirk graces his face as he remarks, "Heh, looks like I finally did it." Exhausted, he collapses to the ground, almost completely drained. The onlookers erupt into joyous cheers, celebrating Gohan's hard-fought victory. Supreme Kai teleports Gohan from the depths of H.F.I.L back to Earth, specifically to the Lookout, where his family and friends eagerly await his return. In a heartwarming scene, Gohan is enveloped in embraces and expressions of relief. It is here, amidst the warmth of their loved ones, that Gohan and Videl share their first kiss—a tender moment of connection and celebration.Meanwhile, the Dragon Balls work their magic, rectifying the chaos caused by Babidi's dark influence. The majority of those who perished are revived, yet there are exceptions, including Vegeta. Accepting his fate and determined to atone for his past deeds, Vegeta expresses his desire to continue growing stronger in the afterlife, entrusting the protection of his family to his son. Tearfully, Trunks vows to make his father proud, with Goten stepping forward to support his friend in this emotional moment. Fond farewells are exchanged as everyone prepares to return to their respective homes.
Gohan and Goten engage in a heartfelt conversation, their bond as brothers strengthening. However, their exchange is interrupted by Chi-Chi, who unexpectedly interrupts their conversation. To their astonishment, she expresses pride in their valiant efforts to safeguard the world, finally relenting and granting them permission to train and protect. The three embrace, their family united and resolute.In a different realm, Vegeta stands before King Yemma, awaiting judgment. To his surprise, he is granted an Otherworldly body, a result of Goku's recommendation and Vegeta's ultimate sacrifice that tipped the scales of justice. With this second chance, Vegeta is granted the opportunity to train ceaselessly and, more importantly, to settle his unfinished business with Goku. The final scene between Goku and Vegeta unfolds, their fists colliding in a charged confrontation, their image freezing .( mirroring the intensity of Rocky and Apollo in Rocky III, leaving their ultimate showdown to the imagination.)
A decade passes, marked by a time skip. Tien and Krillin have established their own martial arts schools, dedicated to passing on their unique styles to the next generation. Goten and Trunks, under the tutelage of Piccolo, diligently train to harness their extraordinary powers. Gohan, now a respected scholar, has married Videl, and together they have a daughter. At home, Videl imparts the basics of combat to their daughter, Pan. Gohan, having just finished delivering a lecture on energy at the university, senses a disturbance reverberating across the planet. Instinctively, he rushes to the rooftop, pressing a button on his wrist. In an instant, he transforms into his iconic Saiyaman costume, soaring into the horizon with a mischievous grin. He breaks through the fourth wall, symbolizing his unwavering resolve to protect and inspire.
The screen fades to black.
The End.
There we have it! My final wrap-up of the MCU Peter ParkeGohan development journey! Honestly, I did have thoughts of just going straight into revising the Buu arc, but I felt there was more to be done before that. Gohan needed to go through the development I gave him in my two written arcs as there were lessons there that shaped him.
I also felt that a trained Gohan, who is naturally intellectual, would be a perfect antagonist in Janemba. He had to learn to outsmart him, and not just have it be a straight-up slugfest.
What do you guys think? Share your thoughts below!
u/fatherandyriley
u/dgenerationmc

Author's Note:
7700 words, broke Reddit's character limit, so you know the drill. Will be split into two parts, both posted today. Enjoy!
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"Stop! STOP!"
The terror in Kismet's voice rose higher as death drew nearer. He fled from Rob's grasping hand, but a Purge Divinity-infused fingernail managed to graze him, carving out a scoop of divine essence as if flaying a mortal's skin.
Kismet let out a screech as the Purging energy added to his growing collection of scars. A dozen small holes now dotted the surface of his mana-body, looking like he'd been pockmarked by wasting disease. Each wound represented a moment where the god had narrowly escaped with his life.
If those injuries had been inflicted by any other ability, then he could have rejuvenated himself in the time it took to blink. Purging energy was not so kind as that. It was purifying wrath in the shape of a Skill; their vengeance given form. Whatever divinity it touched, it extinguished.
As if cleansing the universe of a sickness that had infected it for far too long.
The BERSERKER continued his unrelenting advance. In response, Kismet threw up a frantic barrier of mana. It was strong enough to deflect one of Ragnavi's Annihilation beams–
And Rob blasted through it like paper mache. His charge sent broken shards of energy scattering across the divine realms. More mid-air rifts tore open, the HUMAN's aura strangling the surrounding area in a vice grip of power. Purge Divinity seemed to glow with light emanating straight from the pits of hell.
None of which was anywhere near as unnerving as the murder contained within his piercing gaze. When Kismet met Rob's eyes, he saw the end of eternity fast approaching.
The god's next barrier was just as frantic. However, this one was not comprised of mana, but of solid matter. Kismet summoned the hardest, most dense substance known to the mortal realms, then transmuted it into something that otherwise could only have been forged inside the heart of a dying star. It was many times more durable than the impossibly tough walls of an aberrant Dungeon.
So when Rob demolished it with a single punch, he actually had to put a bit of elbow grease into his windup.
Another wall materialized in front of him. He crushed it, then the one after, and the one after that, lashing out with bestial ferocity. The BERSERKER plowed through Kismet's hastily-built defenses like a bulldozer of fists and savagery. Rob was knocking them down as quickly as the god could make them, relishing the sensation of being able to vent his anger on targets that weren't fucking running away.
Then the twelfth wall fell – revealing a monstrous, spiky, fanged behemoth concealed behind.
Rob paused, momentarily taken aback at the sight of a mundane creature within the divine realms. 'Mundane' in relative terms, anyway. This monster was on par with a newborn Blight, radiating power that would have sent ordinary fighters sprinting for the hills.
It was also barely cognizant of its surroundings. The monster stared at him with unblinking, vacant eyes, just the tiniest glimmer of awareness present in its gaze. Rob noted that segments of its flesh were bubbling, as if the creature was fresh out of the oven and still needed to settle.
He couldn't help but feel a modicum of pity. This was yet another thoughtless creation, condemned to existence by an uncaring maker. Even monsters deserved better than that.
Rob caved the beast's head in before it could realize that it was alive. Pity was not the same as hesitation, and this was the only mercy he could afford to grant right now.
Didn't matter. Kismet's pawn served its purpose. In the brief instant that Rob spent getting over his initial surprise, the god had teleported to safety. He was already planning his next stunt that could buy him a few precious seconds of survival.
The HUMAN grimaced as he turned to give chase, unable to suppress the burgeoning sense of unease growing within his chest.
It almost didn't seem fair to feel that way. Rob knew he was winning – at least on the surface. Any outside observer would've bet their life savings on him, especially after the show of overwhelming superiority he'd just displayed. Kismet had been at a disadvantage before Never Forget Your Rage's recent upswing, and now it was no contest. Rob was confident that he would still be stronger even if the eight gods merged into one super-deity.
He also knew that he was living on borrowed time.
Whenever he moved, or activated a Skill, or even breathed...the sensation was there. Strength accompanied by incongruous frailty. Like background noise that kept getting louder with every action he took. His body felt close to pulling itself apart, as if his very molecules were a hairsbreadth away from coming undone.
It was different from Soul Instability. Whereas that threatened to collapse his soul, this frailty was an affliction of the flesh. The longer he fought, the more his physical form was at risk of popping like a balloon.
Such was the price of constraining godlike power within a mortal shell.
"Stay back!" Unaware of the turmoil fermenting in his assailant's mind, Kismet threw up his hands and...inverted...space? Rob didn't have a name for what he was seeing. Rather than stopping to puzzle out this latest brand of divine bullshit, he sent out a pulse of Purge Divinity, canceling whatever esoteric effect Kismet had been attempting to produce.
His Purging energy scraped against the divine realms like a cheese grater. Five rifts immediately tore open near both Rob and Kismet, with the god anxiously retreating from one that appeared just inches away from him. A low rumble echoed around them, and for a moment, they felt struck by an abrupt feeling of vertigo – until the realms gradually stabilized, righting once more.
For now.
Rob eyed the rifts with a detached, clinical gaze. An endless sea of mana resided behind them; the bedrock of the system itself. While he recognized that the rifts tearing open was bad news, he also couldn't really muster the energy to care. Between his overflowing rage, overtaxed body, and overburdened soul, minor details like the impending destruction of reality were hard to give much focus.
There was a way to fix all of that, of course. Rob couldn't outright deactivate Never Forget Your Rage – not without losing its bonus stats. But he could attempt to ease the storm of fury in his heart. By lessening his anger to more reasonable levels, Never Forget Your Rage would put less strain on both his body and the divine realms.
The notion forced a peal of hideous laughter to claw out of his throat. Lessen his anger? He'd have better luck trying to douse a volcano with a garden hose. No. For a wildfire that had grown this out of control, the only thing to do was stand aside and let it burn, burn, burn.
Until naught remained.
"I said stay back!" Kismet bellowed. He lifted his arms into the air. "Begone!" One moment later, Rob's vision was filled with scorching light. An apocalyptic geyser of mana burst forth from underfoot, intense and searing. It stripped the flesh from his bones in no time flat, powering through Almighty Resistance with pure, unmitigated violence.
And it still wasn't fast enough. Rob flickered a Purge Divinity shield for just an instant, allowing him to escape the geyser with his upper body – and most of his HP – intact. Lifesurge swiftly patched him up, leaving both combatants right back where they'd started.
Slowly, Kismet lowered his hands. They were shivering. "What are you?" he whispered. "Why are all my efforts in vain?"
To be honest, Rob was mildly impressed that Kismet had held on for this long. The god's combat efficacy was increasing as time passed, improving from panic-spamming teleports to more inventive maneuvers – as if he was learning how to fight on-the-job. He'd also stopped draining the other gods to supplement his power, having found an alternative source of fuel: mana seeping out from the sporadically-opening rifts.
It was the one silver lining to fighting an implacable BERSERKER so powerful that he fractured reality. Whenever Rob utilized Purge Divinity, more rifts opened up in the realms, and more mana leaked out from inside. The gods had invested that energy into the system millennia ago, and it typically would've been off-limits until they closed up shop and left Elatra. Kismet was making use of it now, absorbing the extra mana to strengthen himself, like a lifeline barely keeping him afloat.
The god's tenacity was...calling it 'admirable' would be going too far, but it did warrant a sort of begrudging respect. As someone who'd tangoed with multiple Blights, Rob knew what it was like to square off against a frenzied beast that could end him with a touch.
Being the scary one was a nice change of pace.
In exchange, Kismet had graciously donned the role of their battle's Combat Class user; fragile, outgunned, and pulling improvised maneuvers out of his ass for a chance at victory. The god could finally feel what it was like to be vulnerable. How exciting! Rob was more than happy to assist. Learning experiences such as these only came around once an eternity or so.
Flippancy aside – while Kismet still possessed room for improvement, this was the most that could be asked of a deity who hadn't seen combat in literal eons. His biggest fuckup had been taunting Rob in the wrong ways, but he couldn't have known about Never Forget Your Rage, that was an excusable oversight. By all other accounts, Kismet was performing adequately.
Even so...
"YoU aRE noTHinG."
The sound of Rob's voice caused two fresh rifts to open up. Kismet flinched, casting a teleportation spell out of pure reflex. Without pause, the HUMAN resumed his hunt.
Nothing. Perhaps that statement was hyperbole – yet it rang true nonetheless. While Kismet may have been a creature of supreme divinity, on the field of battle, his pedigree meant nothing. In the face of an implacable, unstoppable foe, his power was worth nothing. Very soon, he would be nothing, consigned to oblivion by Purging energy.
Rob couldn't help but unfavorably compare Kismet to the final Blight. Weren't these supposed to be two sides of the same coin? Each one-half of an original transcendent Will? Yet the Second Will had brought Rob to the edge of despair...and Kismet was fleeing like a cornered rodent. It was difficult to reconcile the two divinities as theoretical equals.
Although he knew that was an unfair comparison. Rob had fought the Blight before learning Limit Break and Never Forget Your Rage. Kismet wasn't weak.
The HUMAN was just far too strong.
If he rematched the Second Will today, he would beat it to death with his bare hands.
"Look at what you've wrought!" Kismet swept an arm out, gesturing towards some of the many rifts that Rob's presence was tearing open. "Do you understand what will transpire if you persist in this folly?! If the divine realms shatter, then so will all of Elatra! You are on the brink of destroying everything which you have striven to protect! Cease this–"
"CAN'T."
In a flash, Rob dashed forward and scooped out a chunk of the god's mana-body with Purge Divinity. Before he could do more, Kismet shrieked with pain and teleported away, leaving the BERSERKER to crush his prize between five clenched fingers.
"FoRCed mY HAnD." He located Kismet again. "NO GOING BACK."
Stopping wasn't an option. If the divine realms crumbled and Elatra imploded...well, that would be a faster end than what the gods had in store for its people. At least this way their deaths would be quick and hopefully painless – and his friends wouldn't be turned into Skills tortured for all eternity.
Still, Kismet did have a point. Destroying reality wasn't exactly the ideal outcome. There had to be a way to speed up the conclusion of their fight. Rob was certain he would win if given enough time, but he couldn't guarantee it would be before either his body or the divine realms collapsed.
{Ascend.}
Like a snake slithering through a minefield, Leveling High skirted past the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions raging within Rob's mind. He attempted to tune out its voice, yet Humanity's curse refused to be denied, the static loudening until he was compelled to respond. Quit distracting me, he snapped. In case you haven't noticed, I'm FUCKING. BUSY.
{You seek to ensure victory over those who rule above,} Leveling High continued, without missing a step. {As do I.}
Then sit back, shut up, and–
{Ignoring your deficiencies will not make them disappear. This body is...feeble. Incomplete. Unfit to wield the power contained therein. Like a polished sword attached to a brittle hilt, liable to snap in twain at any moment.}
Rob grit his teeth. He couldn't deny Leveling High's assertions. Normally he'd just tell it to piss off, but considering how much was at stake here...
With a feeling like he'd sat down to deal with the devil, Rob sighed. Then what do you propose? That we upgrade my body somehow? I don't think putting more points into Vitality would help, even if I had any to spare. Me being so juiced up on stats is half the problem.
It shook its head. {You have far surpassed the limitations of mortality. Strengthening your power further would be akin to pouring water into an overflowing cup.}
So we...what, increase the size of the cup?
Static akin to laughter echoed inside his head. {We do away with it entirely.}
An icy chill began creeping up Rob's spine, as if the cold hands of fate were working their way towards his neck. He recalled a system notification from days before – 'Your Race has morphed from Human (?) to: Ascending HUMAN'.
Not Ascended. Ascending.
Weeks-old memories came surging to the forefront. 'The Heartkiller is closer to our form of life than those you call friends,' the Blight-child of Elysium had once said. 'As long as you continue to live, eventually, you will become an existence with the power to crush the Others and free the Skills from their shackles. You are no longer one of the Ephemeral. Now, you are a cocoon, metamorphosing into something grander. When you emerge, you will be as the Eternal.'
The Blight-child had laughed at him, then. 'After joining us, preserving these worlds will no longer be your desire.'
Rob grimaced. Denied, he flatly told Leveling High. Whatever you're about to suggest isn't happening.
It scoffed at him. {Your prejudices blind you. Do you think the gods have need of physical bodies? Does it hinder them in any capacity? No – the opposite. By definition, infinity cannot be constrained. Discard this useless flesh, and your conquest of the divine realms is assured.}
Maybe you didn't hear me when I said–
{By all means. Spurn my counsel...and condemn your friends to death. Shall their lives be worth it, in the end?}
Rob sucked in air through clenched teeth.
{Ascend.} Leveling High purred with anticipation. {You are bound by a prison of meat, bone, and blood. Break free. Finish what has already begun. Gaze upon the tapestry of infinity in all its dreadful splendor. Seize victory not as a Human, but as a completed, transcendent HUMAN.}
With a scream to drown out the static, Rob chased after Kismet again and again. The god was in full-on panic mode, eschewing offensive attacks in favor of perpetual retreat, focused wholly on keeping the BERSERKER as far away as possible. He would teleport the instant that Rob laid eyes on him, frantically stalling for his life.
It was – quite unintentionally – providing evidence to Leveling High's claims. If Kismet was on the defensive, catching him would take time they might not have.
I... Rob narrowed his eyes. How would I finish Ascending, anyway? It isn't like I can just flip a switch and make it happen.
{Incorrect.}
He blinked. WHAT?
{You have long since achieved the qualifications for true godhood,} Leveling High explained, in a lecturing tone. {There is no milestone that remains necessary to achieve. Rather than needing to overcome some hurdle of strength or power, the obstacle barring your path is more...arbitrary. Self-imposed.}
Humanity's curse seemed to peer into his soul. When it spoke next, its voice was filled with disgust. {You remain mortal because you wish to do so – both consciously and subconsciously. The Ascension of a nascent deity has been obstructed by cheap sentimentality.}
Rob almost started an argument over its usage of 'cheap', but he exercised restraint, keenly aware that there was bigger fish to fry. Can't do anything about the subconscious. I am \not* activating Melancholy Resistance.*
{Nor should you,} Leveling High remarked, shuddering at the prospect. {A grand statement of intent will be sufficient to shift your mentality. I believe...yes.}
The static churned like a hive of buzzing wasps. {When you next tear off a piece of the leader god's mana...even if just a sliver...devour it. Gorge yourself on their essence.}
Bile threatened to rise to the top of Rob's throat. Seems excessive, he mused, trying and failing to keep his tone lighthearted. To become a god, I eat a god? Wouldn't that make me a divine cannibal?
{You ARE a cannibal.} Leveling High's voice wavered, its veneer of helpfulness slipping to reveal the madness that lay beneath. {What do you think you've been DOING for nearly a YEAR? You kill, ingest your prey's Experience, and MAKE THEIR POWER YOUR OWN. This world is one of consumption and parasitism – devouring a god's essence is merely a more HONEST variant of THE SAME actions.}
...You clearly weren't paying attention during Diplomacy's PR lessons. Rob pursued Kismet once again, pressing his fingernails into his palms when the god hurriedly teleported away. There is such a thing as being too straightforward. If you want people to listen to you, then maybe dress up your words so they don't sound so horrifying.
{BUT AM I WRONG?}
Rob had no answer to that.
Bolts of divine mana peppered his skin. Kismet had barely managed to squeeze an attack in-between his escapes. The bolts ricocheted off Rob's skin like ping-pong balls, leaving minor scrapes and nothing more. It wasn't anywhere close to bypassing Almighty Resistance and his massive HP pool.
Yet it also reminded him of the mana-spears that Kismet had sent towards the rest of Riardin's Rangers. His Party members only possessed a shared, diluted version of Almighty Resistance, and their HP was a fraction of his. If Kismet aimed another attack of that caliber at them...how many would perish, right then and there?
Was Leveling High correct? What point was there to sentimentality if it just got his friends killed?
In truth, Rob knew that it didn't really matter if he completed his Ascension. Based on what he had planned for himself after the gods were dead, little would change either way. Still...he also knew that Ascending would be a one-way trip. No take-backs. If he went through with it, a fundamental part of him would be irrevocably altered.
Something twinged in a corner of his mind. It wasn't Leveling High, or his rage, or any of the other emotions currently dominating his headspace. This was a familiar friend; perhaps Rob's #1 most trusted confidant since he'd first set foot in Elatra. One that had rarely ever steered him wrong.
Paranoia.
And at the moment, it was telling him to be very careful before jumping into the deep end.
Ten teleports.
{What?}
Give it ten more Kismet teleports, Rob said. If I haven't dealt him a serious injury by then....I'll do what I need to do. He grimaced as Kismet vanished before he'd even finished the thought. Ten starting now.
Leveling High's static quieted. It resembled a patron at a restaurant who'd ordered their meal, and was waiting patiently for the main course to arrive.
Rob didn't waste time being offended over its nonchalance. Free of distractions, he immediately swept his gaze across the divine realms, pinpointing his quarry in a micro-instant. The BERSERKER dashed forward, pushing his body as far as he could, layering Rampages on top of Dexterity that made the laws of physics want to curl up and weep.
Kismet was prepared. He'd drawn more mana from the fractured rifts, quickening his speed and reactions. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep his head above water, not yet outpaced by their continually escalating arms race.
The HUMAN struck, the god fled, and both were left in the same position as before.
{One.}
Rob turned on a dime, charging without needing to look. He'd heard the moment that Kismet's teleport ended. It afforded him a split-second head start.
A gravity well suddenly appeared below his feet, as if a miniaturized black hole was weighing him down. Apparently, Kismet had set it up ahead of time as a just-in-case trap. Rob pierced through the spell's area of effect before it could ramp up to something dangerous, but his pace was slowed by a hair in the process, and his prey escaped.
{Two.}
You know what? Screw this. Rob whirled away from Kismet's newest location and blasted straight towards one of the lesser deities that his Party members were fighting.
He'd been too hung up on getting even with a hated foe – when there were seven other juicy morsels for him to play with. This way, Kismet would either sit back and watch as his allies were massacred, or the god would be forced to act instead of running like a goddamn cowar–
Sense Mana alerted Rob to magic gathering behind.
Pivoting, he leapt into the air. Rob superimposed himself in front of Kismet, bodyblocking the rainstorm of destructive mana that was about to be unleashed upon Riardin's Rangers.
Due to his swift response, the attack was released early. A simple Purge Divinity shield prevented him from incurring any damage. Rob still felt no sense of triumph as the mana dissipated around him. He just wasn't fast enough to kill the lesser gods and protect his Party at the same time – or at least not fast enough that he should gamble their lives on it.
Kismet disappearing a moment later didn't help matters either.
{Three.}
Frontal assaults weren't guaranteed to succeed, and targeting the other gods was a no-go. Could he take Kismet by surprise? Increase his Dexterity?
Rob contemplated mining Never Forget Your Rage for more stats, but swiftly vetoed the idea. His body was already struggling to hold itself together. Putting additional strain on a shaky foundation seemed...unwise.
Plus – at the risk of eating crow in the near future – he didn't actually think it was possible to feel angrier at the gods than he was right now. Seriously, what was left?
He hated them for sending him to a fantasy deathworld. He hated them for tormenting his friends and family. He hated them for being partially responsible for the Blight. He hated them for what they'd done to Elatra and Earth. He hated them for all the lives they'd stolen. He hated them for being the living embodiments of indifference and cruelty. He hated that they fostered good PR among the people they oppressed. He hated how monsters of such craven hypocrisy were also immeasurably powerful. He hated the sensation of divine mana crawling on his skin. He hated the unsettling sound of their voices. He hated their bizarre formless appearances. He hated them for being pompous pricks. He hated whenever they tried to relate to him. He hated whenever they didn't.
Most of all, he hated that they were still alive.
Even if he found out that they'd personally antagonized him since birth or some petty nonsense like that, it wouldn't measure up to the litany of transgressions they'd committed thus far. The blazing inferno within his soul could burn no hotter. Should burn no hotter. For his sanity's sake, if nothing else.
Kismet teleported. It wasn't in response to anything. He'd merely anticipated some sort of action – and was then baffled afterwards when he noticed the rampaging BERSERKER standing quietly in deep thought.
{Four.}
Rob advanced. While he didn't have a plan yet, he'd also learned that if he gave Kismet the slightest amount of breathing room, bad things tended to happen.
Can any of my Skills give me an edge? Unfortunately, he didn't think so. As usual, his lack of ranged options was biting him in the ass when it mattered most. Almost everything he could use required getting in close – which was the whole freaking problem – and none would be more effective than Purge Divinity, regardless.
Maybe I could set up a Waymark point, then catch Kismet's teleport with one of mine...no, that won't work either. The odds of him popping in next to a random Waymark point are slim. Could fill the battlefield with lots of Marks, but even then I have to consider the Skill's activation time. With my current Dexterity, it'd honestly be faster just to run at him.
The vast majority of his abilities simply weren't up to par in a clash with divinity. Limit Break, Purge Divinity, and Never Forget Your Rage had been specifically designed by the Skills to facilitate deicide. Something like Power Slash couldn't possibly compare to jailbroken stats and a touch of death.
As an act of defiance against his own logic, he cast Enmity, the only ability that could feasibly hit Kismet at range. The god casually shrugged off its effect before promptly escaping.
{Five.}
Like a frustrated animal, Rob snarled and gave chase. Just need to keep trying. Kismet isn't perfect.
{Six.}
Sooner or later, he's going to mess up.
{Seven.}
He's going to mess up.
{Eight.}
HE HAS TO MESS UP.
Suddenly, Kismet transformed his right hand into a blade of mana. With one harsh motion, he sliced open his own left arm.
By now, Rob had conditioned himself to never stop moving forward, even if something shocked him – which this sight very much did. His mouth dropped open, and Leveling High paused in the middle of eating its metaphorical popcorn. They still kept advancing without an iota of hesitation.
And ran straight into the mana cloud leaking out from Kismet's wound.
Rob blinked, opening his eyes to a wonderful day. The twisting plains looked dazzlingly beautiful, with fauna and plantlife lit by rays of effervescent light from the twin stars shining above. People cheerfully went about their day, happily shaking their trunks in shows of greeting, or rattling their scales to initiate merry games.
All was at peace.
Until – in unison – everyone froze. The tumult of life went quiet in an instant, replaced with pensive silence.
As if they'd been struck by the creeping, pervasive sensation of being watched.
A sound rang out. Half of them immediately fell over dead, fluids gushing from their ruined bodies.
The survivors could only lay there, crippled and in pain, as more people slowly rose into the air. Invisible fingers seemed to pluck them from the ground – and then began ripping off their limbs, one at a time, like a child dissecting butterflies–
Rob dragged himself back to the present.
It had taken much less time than before to recognize what was happening. Now that he knew what to expect, experiencing the remnant souls' lives wasn't so different from the dreamlike quality of an Attunement vision. Although...realizing that he'd witnessed the end of a world preceding Elatra did cause his thoughts to hitch for a single moment.
Which was just enough for Kismet to forge a spear of mana, then send it plunging through Rob's eye, skull, and brain. Its tip was forged to shred anything it touched, no matter how durable or Resistant.
The god whooped with glee – only to wince as the HUMAN's sole reaction was a long, drawn-out sigh. With an air of exasperation, he reached up and yanked the divine spear free with a nauseating splorch.
His eye had been reduced to a seeping red mess. He closed its eyelid. When he opened it again, the orb within had already Regenerated, now sporting an unamused glare.
It was something of a unique moment. Mid-battle events didn't typically leave both combatants feeling disheartened. The all-powerful god was losing faith that he could ever hope to stop Rob's onslaught...
And the BERSERKER didn't know if he could justify continuing on like this. His body still felt like it was pulling itself apart; if anything, the sensation was growing more pronounced as their battle progressed. While Kismet would make a fatal mistake eventually, Rob couldn't guarantee that he would last long enough to capitalize on it.
Unless he followed Leveling High's advice and–
With a howl that shook the divine realms, Rob launched his stolen spear at Kismet. His aim was true, yet it sailed through empty air, the god's afterimage tauntingly fading away.
{Nine.}
Final chance.
​
--
​
Link to Part 2

Lesson Plan: Exploring Hyperbole
Objective:
Students will understand the concept of hyperbole, recognize its use in literature and everyday language, and demonstrate their ability to create and identify hyperbolic expressions.
Materials:

1. Whiteboard and markers
   
2. Handouts with examples of hyperbole
   
3. Texts or excerpts from literature containing hyperbole
   
4. Paper and writing utensils for students
   

Introduction (15 minutes):

1. Begin with a discussion on exaggeration. Ask students if they've ever heard someone exaggerate or if they've done it themselves. Write down their responses on the board.
   
2. Define hyperbole as a form of exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Provide examples, both humorous and serious, to illustrate the concept.
   

Activity 1: Identifying Hyperbole (20 minutes):

1. Distribute handouts with examples of hyperbole. Ask students to underline or highlight the hyperbolic expressions.
   
2. Discuss the examples as a class. What makes these statements hyperbolic? How does hyperbole impact the meaning of the statement?
   

Activity 2: Hyperbole in Literature (20 minutes):

1. Provide students with excerpts from literature that contain hyperbole. Discuss how authors use hyperbole to create vivid images or convey strong emotions.
   
2. Have students identify and discuss the purpose of hyperbole in the given literary excerpts. Encourage them to explore how hyperbole contributes to the overall tone and meaning of the text.
   

Activity 3: Creating Hyperbole (25 minutes):

1. In small groups, ask students to brainstorm situations where hyperbole might be used effectively. Have each group create a list of hyperbolic expressions related to their chosen situation.
   
2. Each group presents their list to the class, explaining why they chose specific hyperboles and how they contribute to exaggeration.
   

Closure (10 minutes):

1. Review key points about hyperbole: its definition, examples, and how it's used in literature and everyday language.
   
2. Assign a short homework task where students find examples of hyperbole in their reading or daily life and come prepared to share them in the next class.
   

Assessment:
Evaluate students based on their participation in discussions, ability to identify hyperbole, and the creativity and effectiveness of their hyperbolic expressions during the group activity.

I suffer from intrusive thoughts and get angry which manifests as my mind wishing the worst suffering on people who are liars sadists etc.
I'm writing this with a head ache caused by anger. In reality i wish the bad people to be punished but not the extent my hyperbolic goes to.
I'm scared at the prospect that when I die I've will have to experience this again as a lesson.
An example of a punishment I want infected on bad people is in the case of a person putting someone off pursuing a dream career etc as a egoic means of one upping them, I want that person to have that persons success shoved in their face so they will feel the worthlessness they tried to make feel the person they did it to.
In the cases of people victims of psychopaths and lairs. My desire to make others suffer which I have not acted upon I'm afraid I will be punished for neurosis which I have accumulated. If there is an afterlife wear I will feel pain I have inflicted on others I don't want to experience what I have wish on people in the heat of deranged anger. I would consider that a divide form of victim blaming. It would be like if I punched someone in the face and the victim had to feel that pain and shock again.

Introduction

In this post, we'll be discussing something called "Virtue Ethics." This is a normative theory of ethics that's most associated with Aristotle, though has in recent times experienced a resurgence of sorts from modern philosophers, some of whom have tweaked and modified it, and in doing so have created different branches on this tree of moral theory. We will be comparing these different flavors of Virtue Ethics to that of the New Testament's, pointing out where they're similar, as well as highlighting where the NT differs (and is actually superior) from the heathens' views.
I want to preface all this with a verse and a warning:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."-Colossians 2:8

The entire Bible, over and over again, warns against syncretism. It's a running theme throughout to condemn the practice, with this verse being one of the more explicit ones to do so.
Mapping the ideas of Pagans (and especially Greek philosophers) onto the Scriptures has always resulted in people severely misinterpreting the Bible, as looking at the Word of God through a Hellenistic lens is and always has been extremely innapropiate to the author's original intent.
Whenever Greek philosophy or ideas are referenced, they're always portrayed in a bad light or otherwise used to make a point. Examples of the latter could be found in the apostle Paul's writings, as he was a fully educated Roman citizen of his day, and so he made use of known Hellenestic philosophy and literature (that he would have been familiar with) by redefining their terms and ideas in a way that would be consistent with the theology of his own religion. The apostle Peter did the same within his own epistles whenever he mentioned "Tartarus," the abyss/prison for certain disobedient angels that rebelled against God, despite the fact that the word has its roots in Greek mythology and not Hebrew religion (though, the belief that there were a group of spiritual beings that rebelled against the highest authority in the heavens was one technically shared between the two ancient cultures; even if the parties involved were vastly different, as well as the contexts of the rebellion itself).
The affect Hellenstic philosophy has had on the way people think (even subconsciously) can still be felt to this day, and can be seen in the confusion modern "Christianity" has brought on through its adoption of Gnostic teachings such as Dualism or the inherently fatalistic views that many unknowingly hold due to the error of Classical Theism.
While yes, I will be commending the heathen (unbeliever) whenever they are right with their ideas as pertaining to this subject, I will also show where they are wrong.
Let's begin.

"What Is Virtue Ethics?"

First, we need to define some terms and point out the differences between this view and others within the larger debate of normative ethics.
There are three major approaches in normative ethics, those being: Consequentalism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics. The following are definitions of the terms:
Consequentialism – a class of normative, teleological ethical theories that holds that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for judgement about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct.
Deontology – theories where an action is considered morally good because of some characteristic of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good. Deontological ethics holds that at least some acts are morally obligatory regardless of their consequences for human welfare.
Virtue Ethics – theories that emphasize the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy rather than either doing one’s duty or acting in order to bring about good consequences. The virtue ethicist would argue that actions themselves, while important, aren't as important as the character behind them. To the virtue ethicist, consequences are also important, but they would say that good consequences ultimately flow from a virtuous character who has made virtuous decisions. Theories of virtue ethics do not aim primarily to identify universal principles that can be applied in any moral situation, instead teaching that the best decisions can vary based on context, and that there are only some actions that would be universally evil, only because those actions could never flow from a virtuous character in the first place (e.g., rape).
Aristotle's idea of ethics is in an important respect different from most people's, especially today. Heirs as we are to Kant’s idea of duty – there is a right thing that one ought to do, as rational beings who respect other persons – and to Mill’s idea of utility – the right thing to do is that which produces the greatest good for the greatest number – most of us see ethics as concerned with actions. "The function of ethics is to help me see what I ought to do in a given situation," the modern says. Aristotle’s approach was different. His ethic is not so much concerned about helping us to see what we ought to do, as about what sort of person we ought to be.
Aristotle was concerned with character, and with the things that go to make up good and bad character; virtues and vices. His sort of ethic does not look at our action to see if it fulfils our duty, or produces a certain outcome, such as the greatest good of the greatest number, and therefore merits approval. Instead, it looks at us; at the character behind the actions, to see whether we merit approval.
Comparing Virtue Ethics with philosophies such as Deontology and Consequentialism, we are able to divide ethical theories into two kinds; act-centered theories and agent-centered theories. Kant’s (Deontological) and Mill’s (Utilitarian) approaches are act-centered, because they concern themselves with our actions, whilst Aristotle’s is agent-centered because it concerns itself with the character of a person, which in his view was ourselves and our own dispositions that prompt our actions.
Both approaches have ardent present-day advocates, and so both are alive and well. Virtue Ethicists are dissatisfied with the answers ‘modern’ act-centered philosophy offers, and look for a more flexible, person-centered approach that takes more account of the subtle varieties of human motivation. Those in this camp see ethics as being about people – moral agents – rather than merely about actions. Of course, your actions matter. But, for Aristotle and his present day advocates alike, they matter as expressions of the kind of person you are. They indicate such qualities as kindness, fairness, compassion, and so on, and it is these qualities and their corresponding vices that it is the business of ethics to approve or disapprove.
All this seems simple and uncontroversial; there are two ways of looking at an action to evaluate it morally. You can take the action in isolation and judge it, or take the agent and judge him or her.
Virtue ethicists argue that act-centered ethics are narrow and bloodless. What is needed is a richer moral vocabulary than just ‘right and wrong’. There are subtle but important differences between actions that are good because they are kind and those that are good because they are generous, and those that are good because they are just. Likewise, there are subtle but important differences between actions that are bad because they are selfish and those that are bad because they are cruel and those that are bad because they are unfair. These, and many other, distinctions are lost when we talk simply about doing one’s duty, or promoting utility. Questions of motive and of character are lost, in these asceptic terms. Modern moral philosophy won’t do: it is cold, technical and insensitive to the many kinds and degrees of value expressed in human actions. Ethics is more than just thought experiments and hypotheticals about what would be the right course of action to take in any given situation we might conjure up from the comfort of our armchair. Ethics is about doing, and about context and character.

The Different Kinds of "Virtue Ethics"

Virtue Ethics has has been developed in two main directions: Eudaimonism, and agent-based theories.
Eudaimonism (Aristotle's view) bases virtues in human flourishing, where flourishing is equated with performing one’s distinctive function well. In the case of humans, Aristotle argued that our distinctive function is reasoning, and so the life “worth living” is one which we reason well. He also believed that only free men in the upper classes of society (i.e., the aristocrats) could excel in virtue and eschew vice, being that such men had greater access to the means in accomplishing this task as they had the wealth and resources to better perform their distinctive function of 'reasoning,' and thus "live well." For the Eudaimonian, inner dispositions are what one ought to focus on in order to cultivate virtuous traits, and thus a virtuous character.
In contrast, an agent-based theory emphasizes that virtues are determined by common-sense intuitions that we as observers judge to be admirable traits in other people. There are a variety of human traits that we find admirable, such as benevolence, kindness, compassion, etc., and we can identify these by looking at the people we admire, our moral exemplars. Agent-based theories also state that the motivations and intentions behind an action are ultimately what determine whether or not said action is actually virtuous. Whereas Eudaimonism understands the moral life in terms of inner dispositions or proclivities to act in certain ways (whether righteous or wicked, just or unjust, kind or cruel, etc.), agent-based theories are more radical in that their evaluation of actions is dependent on ethical judgments about the inner life of the agents who perform those actions, that is, what the motivations and intents are of a person.
[Note: While both Eudaimonism and agent-based theories are both agent-centered, Eudaimonism is not to be confused with an agent-based theory. Both branches concern themselves more with agents rather than acts themselves, but Eudamonism focuses on the self to improve whereas the agent-based theory focuses on others to improve.]

Common Critcisims Toward Secular Forms of Virtue Ethics

Firstly, Eudaimonism provides a self-centered conception of ethics because "human flourishing" (here defined as simply fulfilling our base function as humans, which is "reason" according to this view) is seen as an end in itself and does not sufficiently consider the extent to which our actions affect other people. Morality requires us to consider others for their own sake and not because they may benefit us. There seems to be something wrong with aiming to behave compassionately, kindly, and honestly merely because this will make oneself happier or "reason well."
Secondly, both Eudaimonism and agent-based theories also don't provide guidance on how we should act, as there are no clear principles for guiding action other than “act as a virtuous person would act given the situation.” Who is a virtuous person? Who is the first or universal exemplar?
Lastly, the ability to cultivate the right virtues will be affected by a number of different factors beyond a person’s control due to education, society, friends and family. If moral character is so reliant on luck, what role does this leave for appropriate praise and blame of the person? For the Eudaimonian, one ought to be born into a status of privilege if they wish to excel in being virtuous. For the proponent of an agent-based theory, one ought to be born into a society or family with good role models and preferably be raised by such, else they have no moral exemplars to emulate.

The New Testament's Virtue Ethic

The New Testament authors didn’t sit down and do a self-consciously philosophical exercise, for this was not what they were concerned with. They were concerned with giving practical instruction to disciples of the faith, and merely trying to express the ethical implications of their spiritual experience. That being said, we know the apostle Paul was familiar with the writings of Aristotle. We can actually identify places where Paul displays knowledge of Aristotle and incorporates some of the philosopher's ideas into his own epistles. Before we do this, however, it's important we refute common misnomers about what the Bible teaches concerning ethics in general.
You probably have heard many attack the ethics of the New Testament as being primitive and simplistic. "God dictates universal commands to follow: 'do not lie,' do 'not divorce,' 'do not insult.' And the only motivating factor is escaping hellfire and obtaining the reward of eternal pleasure." But in reality, this is a gross misrepresentation of the ethics laid out in the NT. I will argue the NT advocates for a form of virtue ethics, instead of claiming the NT contains a form of deontic ethics, as it is so often assumed.
Elizabeth Anscombe was one of the most influential virtue ethicists of the 20th century. Her work helped to revive virtue ethics in the modern era, however she also criticized the ethics of the Bible for promoting a form of ethics different than what Aristotle promoted:
"...between aristotle and us came Christianity, with its law conception of ethics. For Christianity derived its ethical notions from the Torah. (One might be inclined to think that a law conception of ethics could arise only among people who accepted an allegedly divine positive law..." (Modern Moral Philosophy, vol. 33, no. 124, 1-19)
We've already dealt with the issue of the Torah in another post. The Torah is not laying down moral laws, but describing justice in the form of ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. But does the New Testament teach a deontic form of ethics? Anscombe might appear justified in her claim, as some "Christian" theologians have explicitly taught the ethics of the NT is deontic.
However, other theologians have argued the ethics of the NT is best characterized as a form of virtue ethics. In a study of the NT, we'll support this notion. As noted earlier, one of the central features of this approach to ethics is that the aim of ethics should be on living a virtuous life. Other forms of ethics focus on directing actions when confronted with a moral dilemma, but for virtue ethics every action is a moral or immoral action because all of our actions contribute or do not contribute to living a virtuous life. In other words, for a virtue ethicist, everything we do will contribute to living a fulfilled life. Now, the NT promotes a similar idea with a slight modification. The NT changes the distinctictive function and purpose for man in Eudaimonism from "reasoning" to loving God and others instead, and thus "living well" is changed from self-centered 'flourshing' (as defined by Aristotle) to glorifying God instead. The apostles taught everything we do contributes to living a life that glorifies God:

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."-1 Corinthians 10:31
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."-Colossians 3:17

So we see the same idea in Paul, that everything we do can be seen as a moral or immoral action. Everything we do should be seen as contributing to living a life that glorifies God or not. As a believer, the aim is not just doing good actions to avoid punishments, but to see everything we do as glorifying God. On secular Virtue Ethics, all our actions are either advancing a good life or not: nourishing your body contributes to living a good life. In a Biblical context: taking the time to properly dress contributes to living a good life, and not giving into the sin of sloth. So all our actions can be moral actions in this context, and so likewise for Paul and Jesus, all we do can contribute to living a life that glorifies God.
Since God made our bodies to thrive and enjoy life, we should nourish our bodies so we can thrive as God intended for our bodies to do, thus ultimately glorifying Him. Since we were created to experience and feel enjoyment, laughing and enjoying things throughout life glorifies God as well since we're experiencing emotions that God created to be experienced. Everything we do should be to glorify God, and often all that is is living our lives in the way that they were intended to be lived. Biblical ethics is very much more than merely performing right actions, but living a virtuous life that brings glory to God.
As Jesus said:

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."-Matthew 22:37b

It is also important to focus on what it means to love, which is an important aspect of what it means to be a believer. Paul makes the radical claim that to love is the entirety of the law of God:

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."-Galatians 5:14

Jesus also taught that to love God and love others were the two greatest commandments (Mark 12:28-31, Matt. 22:34-40). He also extends the commandment to love beyond one's brethren, and to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). Loving those around us is central to what it means to be a believer (John 13:34; 15:12-17, Rom. 12:10; 13:8, 1 Cor. 13:1-8; 16:14, 2 Cor. 8:8, Eph. 4:2; 5:2, Phili. 1:9, Heb. 10:24, Jam. 2:8, 1 Pet. 1:22, 1 John 2:10; 3:23).
One might suggest this is no different than the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do to you," or a Kantian rule: "I ought never to act except in such a way that I could also will that my maxim should become a universal law." In other words, "to live well is to perform good deeds or actions and nothing more." But an important point about loving someone is it cannot be done through actions alone. For example, one could buy a gift for their spouse to cheer them up. However, one could perform this action merely because they value performing right actions without any love for the person. One could donate to charity because it is the right thing to do, and not because she cares for the people who would benefit. In such scenarios, they can be seen as idolizing moral laws, not necessarily caring about helping others.
But to love someone requires more than merely performing right actions. You cannot love someone and not care about who they are as a person and where they are heading in life. To love is to will the good of the other. Jesus chastised the Pharisees of his day for only performing right actions, but not loving their brethren in their hearts. His criticism follows Matthew chapter 22, where Jesus says the greatest commandments are to love. The implication is the Pharisees perform proper actions, but have the wrong motivations for doing so. James Keenan puts it like this:
"Essential to understanding this command is that we love our neighbors not as objects of our devotion, but rather as subjects; that is, as persons. Thus, we cannot love others only because God wants us to do so, since then we would love them as means or as objects and not as persons. We can only love one another as subjects, just as God loves us." (Jesus and Virtue Ethics: Building Bridges Between New Testament Studies and Moral Theology, pg. 86)
A critic may bring up that verses of the NT are still phrased as commands, and therefore the structure implies duties were the central aspect of Christian ethics. But the importance of duties is not foreign to Virtue Ethics. Instead of being central to the ethical framework, duties flow from a virtuous character. Virtues are active and have certain demands for which a person must fulfill in their active behavior.
According to Aristotle, knowledge of the virtues gives us practical wisdom in how to properly act. Duties flow from the understanding of the demands of virtues. To put it another way, for virtues to manifest in persons, they have certain demands that must be fulfilled. For the believer, the command of love flows from being virtuous and aligning oneself with the character of God. Commitment to the character of Christ, who perfectly carried out the will of the Father, allows us to perform right and proper actions.
The NT also contains lists of virtues the believer ought to emulate, the most famous of these is in Galatians chapter 5:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (vss. 22-23)
Now, the connection with Aristotle cannot be more pronounced. The Greek phrase "against such there is no law" is almost identical to what we find in Aristotle's Politics (3.13.1284a). It seems clear Paul is teaching a similar ethical framework to what Aristotle advocated for. Paul is teaching that the believing community ought to be persons who display key virtues, and that their conduct would not need to be regulated by a law. Instead, their character should be the standard others can measure themselves by. Romans chapter 2 is also a place we see references to Aristotle, where Paul notes that when Gentiles do what the law requires, they are "a law unto themselves" (vss. 14-15). In other words, they do not need to be told to act a certain way. They have the proper virtuous character that directs their actions, to do the good the law requires. Paul is advocating in Galatians that believers should think in a similar way.
So in Galatians 5, we have affinity with the teachings of Aristotle, and in other lists of virtues throughout the NT we see a similar idea, which is that Christians were meant to display virtues primarily (Rom. 5:3-5, 1 Cor. 13:1-8, Col. 3:12-17, 1 Tim. 3:2-3; 4:7-8, Jam. 3:17-18, 2 Pet. 1:5-8). From that, good deeds will properly manifest in our actions.
Anscombe made a great point on what the focus of ethics should be:
"It would be a great improvement if, instead of 'morally wrong', one always named a genus such as 'untruthful', 'unchaste', 'unjust'. We should no longer ask whether doing something was 'wrong', passing directly from some description of an action to this notion; we should ask whether, e.g., it was unjust; and the answer would sometimes be clear at once." (Modern Moral Philosophy, vol. 33, no. 124, 1-19)
Interestingly enough, Paul lays out a similar idea in explaining Christian ethics:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."-Philippians 4:8-9

In other words, the central aspect on living a Christian life was on what is virtuous, not on what is lawfully right or wrong. Right actions flow from whatever is honorable, true, and pure. Correlating with this is how Paul responds to the Corinthians who claimed that "all was lawful." Paul reminded them the emphasis is not on what is lawful, but on what is good for building a virtuous character:

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."-1 Corinthians 10:23

One's main focus ought to be on what is good, not on laws that dictate behavior.
One of the key aspects of Virtue Ethics is the idea we ought to learn from virtuous teachers and imitate them. A virtuous character is obtained by imitating what a virtuous person does. This parallels a key aspect of Christian ethics. Imitating Christ was (and still is) crucial to living a virtuous life:

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"-1 Peter 2:21

Paul says in Romans 8:29 that Christians were predestined "to be conformed to the image of his Son." Jesus often taught his followers to do as he does (Matt. 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 6:40; 9:23, John 13:15, 34). Paul says in 1st Corinthians 11: "Be ye followers [i.e., imitators] of me, even as I also am of Christ" (vs. 1). Hebrews 13:7 says to imitate the faith of the patriarchs. 1st Thessalonians 2:14 says to imitate each other. And jesus taught to imitate the good Samaritan from his parable (Luke 10:37). Imitating virtuous teachers was key for Christian ethics.
Aristotle tended to compare acquiring virtues with that of learning a practical skill, like playing an instrument or learning how to become a builder. Such practical skills are best picked up when trained by a master of that particular skill, because a teacher can always provide more insight through lessons they learn from experience. For example, an expert salesman can provide examples from his experience of what works with specific customers that a sales textbook could never provide. Many professions today require on-the-job training or experience before even hiring an applicant. The reason is: experience is key to learning a profession. Merely acquiring knowledge from a textbook or an instruction manual is often insufficient to master a skill, so why would mastering the skill of virtue be any different?
In the NT, a believer is to see the world through the eyes of Christ and to love as he loved. One cannot learn how to be a virtuous person without knowing what that life would look like. A key component of Christian theology is that the Messiah perfectly represented the Father and His will on earth, to show us how to properly live as God intended for man. This central tenet of the NT aligns well with agent-based theories of Virtue Ethics, and modifies it so that the person of Jesus Christ is the universal exemplar that one is meant to emulate. We are called to imitate him through our actions, thoughts, and desires, and to conform ourselves to the way he lived. As Paul said:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."-Galatians 2:20

If learning from Christ is key, we should briefly take a look at the Sermon on the Mount, which is said to be one of Jesus' most important series of teachings. Daniel Harrington notes:
"The sermon begins with nine 'beatitudes' (see 5:3–12) in which Jesus declares as 'happy' or 'blessed' those who practice certain virtues, and promises them an eternal reward and the fullness of God's kingdom." (Jesus and Virtue Ethics: Building Bridges Between New Testament Studies and Moral Theology, pg. 62)
Jesus laid out what a life for those that follow him look like in detail. One ought to be merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, thirst for righteousness, etcetera (Matt. 5:2-10). The Sermon does not merely include what right actions are, but includes sections on proper desires. Not only is it wrong to murder, but it is wrong to desire to murder or wish ill on someone (Matt. 5:22). Avoiding adultery is good, but one also should not covet after another man's woman in their heart (Matt. 5:28). In other words, merely avoiding immoral actions is not enough. One must also not desire vices. A believer is called to desire what is good.
The Sermon is not necessarily laying down universal moral commands. For example, Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers," but this doesn't imply absolute Pacifism, as it would contradict passages in the Old Testament where it explicitly says there is a time for war (Ecc. 3:8). The point of the Sermon is to teach what a virtuous life ought to look like. A follower of Christ ought to use reason to know what is proper to do in various circumstances. For example, in Matthew chapter 6, Jesus offers guidance on how one ought to pray by presenting the Lord's prayer (vss. 9-15). This is a model of how to pray. It's not a command for followers to always pray in this exact way.
In reality, the Sermon on the Mount mixes in exhortations, parables, hyperbole, declarations, commands, etc. It is best understood as displaying what a virtuous life ought to look like. It's not a law code. Building on this, it's important to understand a proper action is context sensitive. Under Virtue Ethics, one should not necessarily apply a universal maxim to every situation. Sometimes the proper action will depend on what is at stake, who is involved, what is the background, etc. Aristotle advocated against the idea there were fixed universal laws that dictate actions, and instead he argued the right action would depend on the circumstances one finds themselves in. Although the ethics of the NT may be a bit more strict, it still places an emphasis on being sensitive to the context of situations.
In 1st Corinthians chapter 8, Paul lays out instructions on how to deal with meat that has been sacrificed to Pagan idols. Instead of stating an absolute prohibition against meat sacrificed to idols, Paul instructed Christians to use reason to come to the proper ethical decision based on context. In other words, the right action is not determined only by a law. Instead, the Christian had to make the proper decision based on the context: if eating caused another to stumble, then you ought to abstain; if not, then there's no harm done. The value of the action depends on the context.
A Deontologist might reply that there's still a universal law given here: that one should always abstain if it's going to cause another to stumble. This objection can be addressed by asking: how are we to know if eating the meat will cause another believer to stumble? To answer such a question, one must be sensitive to the context, which in this case would be knowledge of the fellow believer and your relation to him. It is the context that determines the right action, not a universal law. Moreover, Paul states that the primary goal for the believer should be to love (1 Cor. 13). The first consideration is once again not the rightness of action, but having love for one another. From this, knowledge of the proper action will follow.
Paul often explains that living a proper life as a believer will take work and practice. He reminded Timothy to attend readings, practice what these things mean, and keep a close watch on himself (1 Tim. 4:13-14). Elsewhere, he directs that all believers must work on their faith (Phili. 2:12). Beyond this, he also noted that not all Christians would have the same gifts, and to accept that this was normal (1 Cor. 12). For some, certain things may be a hindrance, whereas for others it is acceptable (Rom. 14:2-4). What matters is that we love and build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11). Right actions flow from love and knowledge of virtue. Rules are not the primary motives that dictate our actions; rules are secondary in this regard.
An interesting case can be studied with regards to divorce in the Gospels. Jesus preaches against divorce (Mark 10:7-9) and it is often interpreted to mean "divorce is always wrong, regardless of circumstances." However, it should be noted the prohibition on divorce is not a universal law. The context can affect whether or not a divorce is permissible. Jesus says that one can divorce over sexual immorality. Paul also has a situation where divorce is permissible, namely if one spouse is an unbeliever and wishes to leave (1 Cor. 7:15). The implication one can derive is divorce is not ideal, but there are circumstances where it may be the proper action to take. Given the other features of Christian Virtue Ethics we already covered, the proper action to take will depend on the circumstances and what the virtuous agent thinks is the most loving thing to do. A universal prohibition on divorce is not a Christian ethic. Instead, one ought to discern the proper action from circumstances. However, it's clear in most cases divorce would not be the virtuous thing to do.
Building on this, it's important to note that within NT ethics, certain acts are always wrong. For example, idolatry and sexual immorality are always wrong (1 Cor. 10:14, Col. 3:15, 1 Pet. 4:13). There are no possible scenarios where it would be okay to rape, because such an act would never flow from a virtuous character. But this concept is not foreign to theories of Virtue Ethics. Aristotle noted that for some actions, no qualifications could make them virtuous. Actions such as rape or murder are always wrong, because they would never flow from a virtuous character. So it's not as if a Virtue Ethicist cannot claim that some actions are always wrong. They simply are qualified as being unable to flow from virtue, whereas actions like lying or waging war could be considered virtuous for the right reason.
Now, despite Christian Virtue Ethics having many similarities with Eudaimonism (Aristotelian ethics), there are also numerous differences beyond what we've already noted. One of the deficiencies of how Aristotle lays out his ethical theory is that it is essentially an all-boys club. Aristotle writes mainly to aristocratic men, excluding women and slaves. In his view, women were inferior to men and slaves lacked the necessary rational faculty. But the Christians rejected this mentality, as the teachings of Christ and the apostles were available to all (Matt. 28:19). Paul said, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). Peter wrote that all Christians were part of the priesthood of Christ (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus had women followers (Luke 8:2-3), and they were entrusted with delivering revelation (Mark 15:40–16:8). What we find throughout the NT is a radical change to how women were viewed in the ancient world. Paul is also likely building on Aristotle's household structure and refining it. David deSilva says the household codes of the NT are "...following the pairs laid out as early as Aristotle to such a degree as to suggest that these were standard topics in ethical instruction" (Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity, pg. 231). But Paul adds an important preface: submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:20-21). DeSilva says:
"...husbands, we cannot then ignore the distinctively Christian addition they bring to this arrangement; husbands are to be subject to their wives as well." (Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity, pg. 233)
Thus Paul doesn't break down the traditional perspective on the structure of the family, but he does add the idea that we all must submit to each other in reverence, love, unity, and cooperation because all are equal before God. There is no explicit mention in the NT calling for the abolishment of slavery, but it should be noted that Paul taught that slaves should be seen as equals. In the letter to Philemon, Paul is clear that his slave is no longer "as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (vs. 16). Thus, within Christian ethics class distinctions were supposed to evaporate. All were brothers and sisters of one family.
An important aspect of Christian ethics is that it wasn't a standalone ethical theory. It's embedded in the larger Christian worldview. The ethical framework is dependent on Christian doctrines. For Aristotle, his ethical theory is for men who were raised well. This is why these specific men desire to be virtuous and perform right actions. As for why the believer does good and desires to be virtuous, it's not because one was raised well, but because they have been activated by the power of God's Spirit (John 3:6, 1 Cor. 12:13). For believers, the reason as to why we desire to be good and virtuous is because the Spirit of God has regenerated us. He loves us so we can love others (1 John 4:19). One is meant to look to the life of Christ and what he has done by dying on the cross, to know that we are loved and forgiven. This in turn is meant to activate a good life, having seen what we have gained and been forgiven of. He calls and activates us to do similar to those around us. This is a more open system for people of all groups and classes. One only has to call upon the name of the Lord to be included. It does not require a specific gender or to be raised a certain way.
The goal of Aristotelian ethics is to achieve 'eudaimonia.' However, within the Bible the goal is as the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever." Since the central aspect of Biblical Eschatology is that humans will continue on forever in resurrected bodies, the aim of ethics is more than living a good life presently. Living a good life now is important, but it was only one aspect in the Christian worldview. Humans are meant to live beyond this life, so the aim is also about building virtuous souls that will continue on. The importance of this is more crucial than it may seem at first. Paul said that we must all appear before judgment, so that "every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 15:10).
Being a virtuous person requires integrity, because one will still have to answer to God after death. If one can commit an evil act and no one finds out, then from the outside perspective he or she may still appear virtuous. Culturally speaking, the ancient world was very different from our own. All wrongdoings centered around public honor and shame. One did good to receive public honor, and one did not do what was bad to receive public shame. Right and wrong were connected to one's public honor and shame in the ancient Greco-Roman world. Thus good and evil were public ideas, not personal ideas. Ethical demands were grounded in the community in one's public appearance
The Biblical idea of an omniscient God who cared about our ethical status laid a foundation for integrity and personal guilt to emerge. Now one ought to do good because he is beholden to God, not just the community. Believers are to remain focused on God's approval and on the actions that lead them, regardless of the world's response. This lays down fertile ground for integrity to emerge. So the Biblical worldview has another important element built in that encourages ethical behavior, regardless of the honor it brings. One ought to do good because of a commitment to God, not because it might bring honor to one's name publicly.

Implications for Preterists

Paul believed that the Second Coming would happen in his generation, and prescribed certain things in the NT on the basis of that belief. An example of an exhortation that would no longer apppy to us today would be 1st Corinthians 7:24-29, where Paul argues that the times him and his fellow Christians were in called for celibacy, being that the Lord was fast approaching. It wasn't a sin if you did get married, of course; it was just harder to serve the Lord in this context if you had a family to worry about. Thus, Paul encouraged being single.
So, we need to be careful when reading the NT and determining what prohibitions or exhortations are still applicable to us today. Context is key.