Hello, Community!
A little over a month ago we released a poll asking whether you’d be interested in having post flairs on the subreddit. The results were very clear: You supported post flairs, but they had to be optional.
Having optional flairs means that it’s up to you to decide whether you want to use them. We encourage everyone to do so but rest assured that you will not be reprimanded for not using them. The flairs are simply to make it easier for people to filter through the content they want to see.

Post flairs on Skyrim

We have introduced the following post flairs:

• Discussion: For general discussions about the game. This could be discussions about your favorite questline, character, item, etc.
• Question: Similar to the above but used with the intention of asking for help related to gameplay. Maybe you’re wondering how to level a skill most efficiently, how to make lots of money, how to defeat a certain boss, etc.
• Bug Help: A flair to show that you need assistance with a game bug.
  • Note: The UESP Wiki contains many lists of bug fixes. Every quest has its own dedicated page. If you need help solving a bug, consider checking the relevant page too. For example, if you run into one of the many bugs in the Blood on the Ice quest, go here.
• Lore: For discussions about the amazing lore found in the Elder Scrolls universe! How did the Dwemer disappear? What really happened to the ancient Snow Elves? Who was Talos really?
• Arts/Crafts: For you to show off your crafts! Arts, tattoos, woodworking, etc. Everything goes as long as it's directly related to Skyrim. Do keep rule 10 (Limit Your Self Promotion) in mind, though.
• Screenshots/Clips: A flair for posts featuring game screenshots and clips. Show off your character, your cool items, or how you’ve killed Nazeem for the 10th time (today).
• Modding: For posts that deal with modding. This could be asking for recommendations, posting reviews, or general discussions about modding.
  • Be aware that if you seek modding support (e.g. solving conflicts or incompatibilities), skyrimmods is a better place to post. It’s totally fine to ask for support here, but the modding subreddit is generally more knowledgeable about modding. You’re more likely to get professional help there from people that have the necessary experience and know-how. Posts with the “Modding” flair will be met by an AutoMod message echoing this.

Feedback

If you have any feedback on post flairs, feel free to comment below or write us through Modmail! We’re open to ideas (or criticism, should you have any). We'll make sure to do our part in monitoring the use of flairs and conversations about them.
Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Unlocking the Secrets of Love Marriage: Expert Guidance from the Best Astrologer in the UK

Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK Love is in the air, and for many, it’s the most magical and transformative experience of life. But what happens when the spark of romance fades, and the reality of everyday life sets in? The journey to a successful and fulfilling marriage is not always easy, and the road to happiness can be fraught with challenges.
As the saying goes, “opposites attract,” but what happens when the differences in personalities, values, and lifestyles become a source of tension rather than excitement? Astrology has long been revered as a tool for understanding the intricacies of human relationships, and with the guidance of the best astrologer in the UK, we can unlock the secrets of love and marriage. In this post, we’ll delve into the mysteries of the universe and explore the expert insights that can help you navigate the twists and turns of your relationship, and find the path to a lifelong bond of love and commitment.

Understanding the role of astrology in love and marriage

As the ancient art of astrology continues to fascinate and captivate us, it’s no surprise that many of us turn to the stars for guidance on matters of the heart. In the realm of love and marriage, astrology can be a powerful tool for understanding the intricate dynamics of relationships and uncovering the secrets to a harmonious and fulfilling union. From the moment we meet our soulmate to the moment we exchange our vows, astrology can provide us with valuable insights into the energies that shape our love lives.
As the best astrologer in the UK, I have spent years honing my expertise in the complexities of astrology and its applications in the realm of love and marriage. Through my work, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that astrology can have on our relationships, from the subtle nuances of planetary alignments to the profound shifts that can occur when we align our energies with the cosmos. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
In this blog post, we will delve into the role of astrology in love and marriage, exploring the ways in which the stars can guide us towards a more fulfilling and loving relationship. From the astrological signs that are most compatible with one another to the powerful energies that can shape our emotional responses, we will uncover the secrets of astrology and its role in unlocking the mysteries of love and marriage. Whether you’re seeking guidance on finding your soulmate or navigating the complexities of your current relationship, this post will provide you with the expert insights you need to unlock the secrets of love and marriage.

Expert guidance on the dos and don’ts of a successful marriage

As the best astrologer in the UK, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless couples who are seeking to strengthen their bond and navigate the challenges that come with building a lifelong partnership. And, trust me, the journey to a successful marriage is not without its obstacles. In fact, it’s often the little things that can make or break a relationship. This is why I’ve dedicated this section to sharing my expert guidance on the dos and don’ts of a successful marriage.
From the importance of effective communication and conflict resolution, to the subtle yet powerful ways that astrological influences can shape our relationships, I’ll be sharing my insider knowledge to help you build a stronger, more loving bond with your partner. Whether you’re still in the early stages of your romance or you’ve been married for many years, these tips and insights will provide you with the tools you need to navigate the ups and downs of married life with confidence and wisdom. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
One of the most critical aspects of a successful marriage is learning to communicate effectively with your partner. This doesn’t just mean talking about the big things, but also being mindful of the little things that can make a big difference. As an astrologer, I’ve seen how the positions of the planets can influence our communication styles, and how understanding these influences can help us to better navigate our relationships. In this section, I’ll be sharing my expert guidance on how to use astrological insights to improve your communication and build a stronger, more loving bond with your partner.

Top 5 astrology signs that make perfect partners

As one of the most renowned astrologers in the UK, I’ve had the privilege of delving into the intricacies of the zodiac and uncovering the secrets of love and relationships. When it comes to determining the perfect partner, astrology can be a powerful tool in predicting compatibility and harmonious matches. In this section, we’ll be exploring the top 5 astrology signs that make perfect partners, and what qualities they bring to the table.
First up, we have the patient and gentle Taurus, who is known for their unwavering commitment and loyalty. Their practical nature and love of stability make them a perfect match for those who value security and long-term relationships. Next, we have the charismatic and adventurous Leo, who brings a spark of excitement and passion to their partnerships. Their natural leadership qualities and confident demeanor make them a magnet for those who crave attention and admiration. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
The empathetic and sensitive Cancer, with their nurturing nature and strong emotional intelligence, are often drawn to partners who share their compassionate and caring qualities. Their strong family ties and desire for a sense of belonging make them an ideal match for those who value close relationships and a sense of community. The intelligent and analytical Virgo, with their attention to detail and love of problem-solving, are often attracted to partners who share their analytical mind and love of learning.
Last but not least, we have the free-spirited and creative Pisces, who bring a touch of magic and imagination to their relationships. Their compassion and understanding nature make them a perfect match for those who value empathy and emotional support. Whether it’s their romantic nature, their adventurous spirit, or their ability to connect on a deep emotional level, these five signs have the potential to make for unforgettable and fulfilling partners.
In this section, we’ll delve deeper into the characteristics of each sign and explore the unique qualities that make them perfect partners. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or simply looking for a deeper understanding of the zodiac, you’ll find valuable insights and expert guidance in this section. So, let’s dive in and discover the secrets of love and marriage, from the best astrologer in the UK.

The importance of compatibility in a marriage

As the best astrologer in the UK, I’ve had the privilege of helping countless couples navigate the complexities of love and marriage. One of the most crucial factors that can make or break a relationship is compatibility. When two individuals are compatible, they share a deep understanding of each other’s needs, desires, and values, which creates a strong foundation for a lifelong bond. On the other hand, when couples are not compatible, they may struggle to communicate effectively, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings.
In astrology, compatibility is measured by the planetary positions of the couple, particularly the Sun, Moon, and Venus. When these planets are in harmony, it’s a sign that the couple is destined for a happy and fulfilling marriage. For instance, when the Sun is in a harmonious aspect with the partner’s Venus, it indicates a strong sense of love and affection, which is essential for building a strong and lasting relationship. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
Moreover, an astrologer can also analyze the couple’s birth charts to identify potential areas of conflict and suggest ways to overcome them. By understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses, couples can work together to build a stronger and more resilient relationship. As the best astrologer in the UK, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of compatibility in marriage. By embracing the unique energies and vibrations that each partner brings to the table, couples can create a love marriage that is not only fulfilling but also long-lasting.

How to identify your soulmate using astrological signs

As the ancient art of astrology reveals the mysteries of the universe, the quest to find one’s soulmate has become a profound and intriguing topic. The stars have a way of whispering secrets about our destiny, and in this realm, the identification of our soulmate is a crucial piece of the puzzle. But, how do we decipher the celestial language to uncover the identity of our eternal companion?
In this section, we will delve into the world of astrological signs, where the zodiac wheel holds the key to unlocking the secrets of love and marriage. As we explore the intricacies of each sign, we will discover how the positions of the planets and the position of the sun at the time of our birth have a profound impact on our compatibility with others. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
From the fiery passion of the Leo to the intuitive nature of the Scorpio, each sign brings its unique set of characteristics and traits to the table. By understanding the astrological signs of our potential soulmates, we can gain valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and ultimate compatibility with us.
As the best astrologer in the UK, I will guide you through the process of identifying your soulmate using astrological signs, providing you with a deeper understanding of the cosmic connections that can bring us together. Whether you’re seeking love, seeking guidance, or simply seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe, this section will reveal the secrets of love and marriage that will change your life forever.

The impact of planetary positions on love and marriage

As the planets continue to dance across the celestial sky, their intricate positions can have a profound impact on our most intimate and meaningful relationships. The ancient art of astrology has long recognized the subtle yet powerful influence of planetary alignments on the human experience, particularly when it comes to love and marriage. From the passionate allure of Venus to the fiery intensity of Mars, each planet plays a unique role in shaping our romantic journeys.
In this critical phase of our lives, the positions of the planets can either amplify our love and commitment or create challenges that test our relationships. For instance, a Jupiter-Moon conjunction can bring an influx of emotional support and nourishment, while a Saturn-Neptune opposition can lead to feelings of uncertainty and frustration. The intricate web of planetary relationships can also reveal hidden patterns and tendencies that may be driving our choices and behaviors in the pursuit of love and marriage. Love Marriage Problem Solution in UK
By understanding the astrological map that governs our lives, we can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of our relationships, allowing us to make more informed decisions and navigate the complexities of love and marriage with greater ease and confidence. As the best astrologer in the UK, I have spent years studying the ancient art of astrology and have developed a deep understanding of its profound impact on our personal and romantic lives. In this blog post, I will share my expert guidance on how to unlock the secrets of love and marriage, and provide you with the tools and knowledge to create a fulfilling and lasting relationship.
https://astropoojasharma.com/love-marriage-problem-solution-in-uk/

Platform: Web browser
Genre: Puzzle(?)
Estimated year of release: I played it in the 2000's, but it could have been made eariler.
Graphics/art style: 2D art style with simple shapes
Notable characters: N/A
Notable gameplay mechanics: You're given an area that you want to fill with circles spawned by holding the left mouse button. Holding the button longer makes the circle grown larger. Another circle bounces around the screen, and if it hits the circle you're making it gets rid of it.
Other details: It was a flash game, and I think it was on Addicting Games,

This will be difficult to present but it's honestly the best I've got. I never finished the game because at some point in the very first level I just got stuck with no idea what to do and it's nagging away at me not knowing what the game even was. I'm pretty sure I even returned it to exchange it with another game at some point because the level was just unbeatable. The NES cartridges I had access to in my country were most of the time hacks with the image on it having nothing to do with the game itself (like Doki Doki Amusement Park having an image of Snow White on the cartridge). This game had an image of Barbie on it so I always referred to the game as "Barbie", and I played it probably when I was around 8-9 or so, so maybe 2001-2002 (yes I was playing NES at that time, PS1 didn't become accessible for me until later). Game would've been out long before that.
Platform(s): NES
Genre: Platformer
Estimated year of release: No later than the 90s, probably early 90s, but didn't look old enough to be from the 80s
Graphics/art style: Bright and colorful, had a sort of Disney-like feel to it and all I really remember is a static image of a castle being visible in the background and there were 2 "segments" of the screen to walk on - an upper and lower that you couldn't jump between, you had to find a door or something to switch between them. At some point in the level there was an "indoor" change to the appearance with the castle background replaced with a basic color pattern, I think it was a more yellowish look, still with 2 walkways above and below. You could exit the indoor area and come back to the castle background.
Notable characters: From what I can recall, the playable character was a little girl, and the design wasn't very pixely or difficult to differentiate as is typical with old NES titles, it looked more detailed and I actually believe this was the sole character in the game with no enemies encountered at any point. I think the character was wearing pink clothes and resembled a sort of princess (not quite like Peach though) but I'm not sure.
Notable gameplay mechanics: I actually believe there were no enemies to fight or avoid in the entire game, just walking across the screen and possibly opening chests and picking up items that unlocked access to more of the level? But I don't recall an inventory of any kind. I don't recall being able to do anything with the character either, like shooting or anything like that, just running/walking. If you COULD do anything, maybe you were able to press switches with a button? I also believe you could run faster, but not sure if with a powerup or you held down a button for it. If there were any puzzles which I don't even believe there were, it was likely limited to being walled off on your progress and having to find alternate routes. As far as the platforming, I'm torn between believing it was a side-scroller or just walking off the screen to a new one, but I'm leaning more towards the latter.
Other details: I don't know if the game has anything to do with Barbie because the character is a girl or if it's a ROM hack at all, but it's possible. All I remember is the one single level because I could never get past it and got stuck at the exact same spot so the game could've even just been a prototype of sort and not even a finished one. My family also tried to play it with the same result, and again we all just called it "Barbie" because of the cartridge image.
If this isn't even remotely enough info to go on let me know, maybe I can even ask my family if they remember anything about the game (but that's unlikely). I also looked up Barbie NES games and castle-related games and I haven't found anything worthwhile so far. Another thing I know is some titles, like Altered Beast, were released for the SNES but downgraded to be able to play on the NES, and this game could've been something like that? But I looked for some SNES titles as well and still found nothing. Thanks in advance.

The evidence that this exists is well documented, but completely lost to the eyes of the internet for a very inexplicable reason.
In the early 2000's PC game 'Fur Fighters' there was a multiplayer mode called "fluffmatch" where you could fight with other players.
In this mode, there was a special map called "Fluff Resurrection' which was based off of the popular movie "Alien Resurrection" due the game publisher's fondness for the movie series.
The content of the this map was found very disturbing by many people that played it, with a very eerie and haunting soundtrack that played in the background, disturbing images and art on the walls, a giant statue of the main villain in the art style of the Alien Movie Franchise, etc. A brief, text only overview of what the level contained can be found on the Fur Fighters Wiki. They even try to link the strange, twisted audio, but their link does not work. The text overview on the wiki, of the map is linked here: https://furfighters.fandom.com/wiki/Fluff_Resurrection
Now comes the interesting part, because of the disturbing imagery and content of this particular level, the makers of Fur Fighters rereleased the game on different consoles, but completely changed the level "Fluff Resurrection"; removing the haunting sound clip, and disturbing imagery.
I know for a fact that it does exist, as I have a very vivid memory playing the map myself as a very young child, and being absolutely terrified of it.
After dedicating many hours to my search of trying to find a clip of the original level so I can put this behind me, some kind of evidence other that hearsay of this original level, I could only find this video of a youtuber looking at the "new and remodeled' version of the Fluff Resurrection map. It can be found on this youtube link here: https://youtu.be/csLwjat_y30?si=3njoL3SlPLCS9cn9 (The part of the video he looks at the Level is called "Fluffed in Space 2" and starts at approximately 17 Minutes in, you can see what the level has become after the changes)
Further information: I know for a fact that the unaltered level is on the early PC releases of the game. I'm not sure if this unaltered version of the level can be played on the also early released Gamecube version.
In short, any video clips of the original, unaltered level, as well as the eerie background music from this level seem to have been completely wiped from the visible internet. Although, I feel like finding this is definitely within the realm of possibility.
Thank you with utmost sincerety for reading until the end, I hope this search will be successful.

Bzcoins.org has emerged as a captivating and enigmatic platform in the quickly advancing realm of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. This website, with its enigmatic name and mysterious online presence, has attracted the interest of both cryptocurrency enthusiasts and inquisitive persons. This essay aims to provide a detailed analysis of Bzcoins.org, exploring its distinctive characteristics, possible consequences, and the overall user satisfaction it provides.
The Appeal of Anonymity: Upon reaching the homepage of Bzcoins, it is immediately evident that this cryptocurrency platform deviates from the norm. The website's cryptic layout and absence of distinct branding immediately establish an atmosphere of mystery and ambiguity. The lack of a conventional navigation menu, comprehensive explanations, or any indication of the platform's intended purpose contributes to the enigmatic atmosphere surrounding Bzcoins.
Curious visitors who try to examine the site encounter a complex network of mysterious pages and puzzling material. The content is sparsely written, with fragmented words or vague ideas, perhaps designed to intentionally avoid clear interpretation. The use of nontraditional symbols, codes, and visuals intensifies the feeling of uncertainty, causing visitors to struggle with a greater number of inquiries rather than solutions.
The Mystifying User Experience: Using Bzcoins is like setting out on a confusing trip into the unknown. The user experience is deliberately obscure, presenting a challenge for visitors to unravel the purpose and significance of each click and interaction.
By clicking on apparently arbitrary links, users are sent to webpages that are populated with obscure messaging, perplexing images, and mysterious prompts pertaining to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The lack of explicit instructions or explanations contributes to the feeling of confusion, as users are left to their own devices to decipher the platform's obscure information.
Bzcoins utilizes a navigation system that is non-linear and unorthodox. Conventional website structures and logical page sequences are discarded in favor of a dynamic and surprising user experience. This method intensifies the feeling of enigma, as visitors become disoriented in a virtual maze, uncertain of their intended location or the importance of their engagements.
The enigmatic and purposeless character of Bzcoins has successfully drawn a devoted community of cryptocurrency aficionados who derive pleasure from the intrigue and conjecture around the platform. These users, commonly known as "Bzcoins seekers," actively participate on the platform by discussing theories, decoding clues, and working to solve the mystery of Bzcoins.
Online forums and discussion boards have become central places where those seeking Bzcoins gather to exchange thoughts, share their discoveries, and put forward theories concerning the actual essence of the platform. The collaborative endeavor to decipher the enigmatic material of Bzcoins has fostered a feeling of camaraderie and mutual objective among its users.
The Bzcoins community has also created its own vocabulary and inside jokes, contributing to the feeling of being part of a select group and having a sense of belonging. The collective endeavor of exploring the intricacies of the platform has given rise to a distinct subculture inside the realm of cryptocurrencies, where the quest for comprehension and the excitement of speculation are prioritized over traditional talks about digital currency.
Possible Implications and hypotheses: Just as Bzcoins remains a mystery, so too do hypotheses and conjectures regarding its possible ramifications for the cryptocurrency industry. There are suggestions that the platform could be an advanced experiment in cryptography and blockchain technology, aiming to explore innovative ways of conducting secure transactions and developing decentralized networks. The enigmatic characteristics of the platform may serve as evidence of the potential of state-of-the-art encryption methods and the influence of decentralized networks.
Some suggest that Bzcoins could serve as an entrance to an undisclosed digital currency or an innovative method of reaching consensus. The platform's perplexing hints and cryptic instructions may form a complex scavenger hunt, guiding users to discover a revolutionary advancement in the realm of digital assets.
Additionally, there are hypotheses proposing that Bzcoins could be associated with a more extensive alternate reality game (ARG) or a puzzle centered around cryptocurrency. The enigmatic messages and ciphers dispersed around the platform may be fragments of a broader storyline, awaiting assembly by committed users.
Irrespective of its actual intention, Bzcoing has unquestionably captivated the interest of the cryptocurrency community, igniting debates about the limits of blockchain technology and the possibility of unorthodox methods for embracing cryptocurrencies. The platform's capacity to effectively involve and capture people, even in the absence of explicit functionality, prompts inquiries regarding the prospects of crypto platforms and the significance of enigma in stimulating user involvement.
The Risks and Uncertainties: Although the mysterious nature of Bzcoins may be appealing, it is essential to exercise caution and skepticism when engaging with the platform. The absence of openness and explicit information regarding the platform's objectives, ownership, and security procedures gives rise to substantial apprehensions regarding the potential hazards involved.
Interacting with an unfamiliar and unauthenticated platform in the cryptocurrency industry might subject consumers to a range of risks, such as phishing attempts, malicious software, and potential fraudulent schemes. Users who fail to conduct thorough research and lack a comprehensive understanding of the platform's objectives may unintentionally jeopardize their digital assets or personal information.
Furthermore, the lack of governmental supervision and the ability to remain anonymous within the cryptocurrency ecosystem may entice malevolent individuals who aim to take advantage of the interest and speculation surrounding sites such as Bzcoins.org. Prior to participating with any enigmatic or obscure cryptocurrency site, it is imperative for users to exercise utmost caution and undertake comprehensive research.
Bzcoins.org is an enigmatic and unorthodox presence in the expansive realm of the cryptocurrency industry. The cryptic and intriguing user experience, along with its dedicated community of seekers, have generated an aura of mystery that continues to captivate and perplex.
As we explore the complexities of Bzcoins, we are reminded of the boundless opportunities and undiscovered areas that exist in the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The site's presence disrupts our preconceived notions of the ideal characteristics and operational mechanisms of a cryptocurrency platform, prompting us to scrutinize the limitations of digital encounters and the significance of enigma in a more open world.
Although the exact aim and consequences of Bzcoins are unclear, it is undeniable that it has managed to captivate people's imagination and pique their curiosity in a manner that is rarely seen in other cryptocurrency platforms. As the Bzcoins community expands and the speculation increases, we can only anticipate the undisclosed information and discoveries that may arise in the future.
Nevertheless, it is imperative to use prudence and doubt when dealing with Bzcoins.org and other comparable enigmatic sites. The cryptocurrency industry is filled with various dangers and uncertainties, and interacting with unfamiliar organizations might potentially expose users to harm. Prioritizing security, conducting comprehensive research, and seeking assistance from reliable sources are crucial steps to take before engaging with Bzcoins.org or any other obscure cryptocurrency network.
In a time characterized by the appreciation for openness and responsibility, Bzcoins.org stands as a testament to the lasting influence of enigma and the attraction of the unfamiliar. Bzcoins.org has made a significant impact on the world of cryptocurrency, whether through innovative experiments, complex puzzles, or other mysterious endeavors. It encourages us to embrace the enigmatic and unexplained, while emphasizing the importance of being cautious and thorough in our approach.
Uncovering fraudulent activity might be daunting, but it is crucial to respond promptly. Send your report to BrokerComplaintAlert.com, where knowledgeable professionals are prepared to aid you and undertake measures to uncover and counteract deceptive actions. By remaining vigilant, you not only benefit yourself but also contribute to fostering a more secure online community for all individuals. Do not delay—report today and become part of the effort to combat fraud.

1. The Wise Gardener: A gardener tended to his plants, teaching patience and care as they grew.
2. The Lost Key: A key lost in darkness was found when its owner lit a candle.
3. The Talking Mirror: A mirror reflected not just appearances but revealed the truth within one's heart.
4. The Persistent Ant: Despite challenges, an ant persisted and built its colony through determination.
5. The Wandering Cloud: A cloud drifted, embracing change, teaching the value of adaptability.
6. The Broken Vase: Repaired with gold, a broken vase became more beautiful, symbolizing resilience.
7. The Wise Owl's Advice: An owl shared wisdom: "Silence speaks louder than words; listen, and learn."
8. The Dancing Flames: Flames flickered in harmony, reminding that unity brings strength.
9. The River's Journey: A river flowed steadily, symbolizing life's journey, overcoming obstacles.
10. The Echoing Mountain: Words spoken echoed back, emphasizing the impact of one's actions.
11. The Patient Spider: A spider patiently spun its web, illustrating the rewards of perseverance.
12. The Butterfly's Metamorphosis: A caterpillar transformed into a butterfly, teaching the beauty of change.
13. The Swaying Willow: The flexible willow bent in storms, teaching resilience in adversity.
14. The Singing Pebble: A pebble sang as it moved, reminding that even small actions have resonance.
15. The Caged Bird: Freed from its cage, a bird soared, symbolizing liberation and personal growth.
16. The Footprints in Sand: Footprints washed away, teaching the impermanence of life's challenges.
17. The Harvest Moon: A moon lit the night, symbolizing reaping the rewards of hard work.
18. The Compassionate Lotus: Despite muddy waters, a lotus bloomed, representing compassion amid difficulties.
19. The Humble Oak: The mighty oak started as an acorn, embodying the power of humble beginnings.
20. The Whispering Wind: Wind carried whispers of wisdom, emphasizing the importance of mindful listening.
21. The Tangled Threads: A weaver untangled threads, showing the value of patience in solving problems.
22. The Reflecting Pond: A pond mirrored the sky, teaching that what you give reflects back to you.
23. The Sturdy Bridge: A bridge connected lands, symbolizing the strength of unity and cooperation.
24. The Generous Sun: The sun shared warmth and light, teaching the joy found in giving.
25. The Migrating Geese: Geese flew in formation, embodying teamwork and shared leadership.
26. The Embracing Shadows: Shadows embraced objects, illustrating the inseparable nature of light and darkness.
27. The Enduring Stone: A stone weathered storms, reminding that resilience strengthens over time.
28. The Reflective Lake: A calm lake reflected clarity, emphasizing the importance of inner peace.
29. The Patient Fisherman: Patiently waiting, a fisherman reeled in a big catch, teaching the rewards of perseverance.
30. The Enchanted Forest: Trees whispered ancient tales, emphasizing the wisdom found in nature.

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🙈🙉🙊🙊🙉🙈😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 1. The Parallel Paths: Two paths diverged, yet both led to unique destinations, illustrating the diversity of life journeys. 2. The Echoing Choices: Choices echoed across parallel realities, emphasizing the impact of decisions on different paths. 3. The Parallel Mirrors: Mirrors reflected alternate selves, revealing the complexity of individual identities. 4. The Parallel Rivers: Rivers flowed side by side, representing the interconnectedness of parallel experiences. 5. The Parallel Seasons: Different seasons coexisted, symbolizing the simultaneous cycles of growth and change. 6. The Parallel Flames: Flames burned in parallel, illustrating the shared passions that connect diverse individuals. 7. The Parallel Echo: Echoes resonated in tandem, signifying the interconnected nature of parallel existences. 8. The Parallel Puzzles: Puzzles solved in parallel, showcasing the diversity of solutions to life's challenges. 9. The Parallel Footprints: Footprints imprinted on parallel sands, symbolizing the impact of actions in different realms. 10. The Parallel Orbits: Planets orbited in parallel, highlighting the harmony within cosmic parallels. 11. The Parallel Visions: Different eyes saw parallel worlds, illustrating the subjectivity of perception. 12. The Parallel Harmony: Musical notes played in parallel, representing the symphony of coexisting realities. 13. The Parallel Threads: Threads woven in parallel, portraying the intricate tapestry of interconnected fates. 14. The Parallel Shadows: Shadows cast in parallel, illustrating the simultaneous dance of light and darkness. 15. The Parallel Echoing Mountains: Mountains stood tall in parallel, symbolizing the strength found in unity. 16. The Parallel Whispers: Whispers carried across parallel winds, sharing timeless wisdom. 17. The Parallel Seeds: Seeds planted in parallel soil, growing into diverse and unique expressions of life. 18. The Parallel Ripples: Ripples spread in parallel waters, showcasing the far-reaching effects of actions. 19. The Parallel Sparks: Sparks ignited in parallel fires, representing the shared inspiration within different passions. 20. The Parallel Canvases: Artists painted on parallel canvases, expressing the multitude of perspectives in art. 21. The Parallel Paths of Learning: Parallel learners walked diverse educational paths, embracing varied forms of knowledge. 22. The Parallel Fragrances: Scents mingled in parallel air, portraying the richness of shared experiences. 23. The Parallel Rhythms: Heartbeats echoed in parallel, illustrating the shared essence of life. 24. The Parallel Sands of Time: Hourglasses measured time in parallel, signifying the synchronicity of moments. 25. The Parallel Whirlwinds: Whirlwinds danced in parallel, embodying the dynamic forces shaping parallel destinies. 26. The Parallel Stars: Stars shone in parallel skies, symbolizing the vastness of possibilities in parallel universes. 27. The Parallel Voices: Voices spoke in parallel conversations, revealing the diversity of perspectives. 28. The Parallel Constellations: Constellations adorned parallel night skies, telling different stories in each realm. 29. The Parallel Bridges: Bridges connected parallel lands, fostering understanding and unity. 30. The Parallel Reflections: Reflections mirrored in parallel waters, embodying the interconnected nature of self-awareness.

The hazmat suits were white, I think, and the scientists were very small. I don't remember what site you could play it on, maybe something like Kongregate.

For anyone who wants to see how things began.
https://www.reddit.com/HFY/s/S97b2fqIjx
“In what universe would I ever do you a favor? “ I say, sweeping the floor of the reinforced barn.
“It’s not a favor, it’s a trade, bud.
What do you want in return? “ Trenchcoat asks from within the coffin-like cage.
“To be back home, 8 months ago. “ I reply.
Over the past few weeks I’ve managed to integrate myself into the day to day life on the farm. Things are still a grim, horrifying slog, but with every day it gets a bit easier to deal with.
“Give me something I can do. “ The creature pleads.
“Why, so I can wind up on the end of another ‘ Gotcha’ moment? I’m good. “ is my answer.
A few minutes of silence go by, Augustus breaks it.
“I don’t know many secrets of the universe. Facts, not really my bag. But I know a couple.
How about I share one with you?
No one, not the pope, not my brother, not the shit-bird perched on the highest branch of my twisted family tree, knows what happens when you die.
Some of us never will, of course. Others have ways of avoiding it, but at the end of the day, when the lights truly go out, we know next to nothing.
We do know one thing though. There is judgement, by who? Who knows? Why? Not important.
But at the end of the day, if your battery can’t be recharged, you really want to be thinking about how many marks are on each side of the ledger. “
I don’t reply, and for the next hour or so I ignore the pleading and hinting Trenchcoat does.
But that night, as I sip acidic tea, and try to get a handle on how in the fuck old televisions function, his offer is at the forefront of my mind.
He wants to kill, specifically 6 teenagers who, according to him, have been murdering classmates yearly in a twisted ritual.
He wants me to think this is some kind of noble act, he frames it as almost superheroic. The evil prick knows how I feel, knows that I see the blood on my hands every day, and would kill ( possibly literally) for some way to atone.
Is it a play? I honestly don’t think so, something about how eager the twisted thing is, about how he’s treating the situation as a buyer’s market makes me think something about this makes it important to him.
He offers me everything besides safety and protection. I’m desperate for help, but I have no way to hold him to any agreement.
So the thought rolls around in my mind, staving off the few hours of sleep I get.
“Okay, so, I have it on good authority that tea is supposed to taste better over here. What the hell is wrong with this? “ I say, sitting around an outside table with Sylvia, Dafydd and Colin.
Sylvia smiles, “ Barium, calcium, and a touch of castor oil. “
I look at the brew, then at her.
“If I had told you when you got here you need to drink that to mitigate the effects of working with void touched objects and creatures, you’d have assumed the worst, and found a way to avoid drinking it.
Good to see you becoming more perceptive though. “ Sylvia explains.
“That’s called paranoia, Syl. “ I reply.
She laughs, lighting a cigarette.
“Do you know why I’ve let you figure things out on your own? “ The ancient woman asks.
“Accepted? Yes. Understood, not in the slightest. “ I answer, wondering what sadist invented the scone.
“It’s because I need a leader. Someone who can understand, not a boy who puts his head down and listens to orders.
Someone who can make their own decisions when the time comes.
And I think that time is coming soon. “ Her statement feels like a question.
“If I chose to be here I’d be honored.” I counter.
“That attitude on the other hand… needs work.
Nikolas, today, we talk about what’s really going on.
We play a role in a much larger organization, us, and other families like us, are the ‘boots on the ground’ so to speak.
Our job is not to capture creatures, or horde esoteric goods. We do not foil the schemes of demons, nor blind those who look too deeply into the abyss.
We’re given information about events that could steer the path of humanity into a brick wall. And our job is to make sure they don’t happen. “ Sylvia reveals.
“Something is happening with these fights? “ I ask.
“As I said, perceptive.
Yes, it could be next week, it could be in a decade or two. Right now, we know very little about it, other than when it happens, it would be in our best interests to be of a high standing in the pits. “ She replies.
I absorb the information, and t drug laced tea in equal measure. As I do, I feel something, I feel I’m a part of what’s going on.
This is going to sound dumb as hell, but up until this point I hadn’t been taking things seriously. Don’t get me wrong, death is on the table, and I was trying to avoid that. But I was just treading water, hoping something or someone came by and to get me out of this situation.
But as Syl lays things out, I start to think of my place here, what I can be doing to better my state.
“Here is the part where you avoid telling me why you couldn’t have used anyone around here. “ I prod.
I keep her gaze, Colin and Dafydd shift uncomfortably.
“Augustus, he’s a tricky one. But a very lucky find for us.
I’ve tried 2 others. A boy and a girl, both I practically raised.
Marco, he was a warrior. But the demon got in his head. There was nothing that could be done beyond end his suffering.
Zelma, I won’t talk about.
That thing, it has a way of turning someone’s best traits against them. You, are a blank slate, but you’re family. You’re my best guess as to how we can use him to our advantage.
And this is why I need you, not to listen, but to understand. To see what’s happening, and make your own decisions. If I were to give you my knowledge, if I were to arm you with the best weapons, and the most powerful esoteric objects I know. He’d just have more to turn against you. “ Sylvia’s revelation scares me and puts a massive weight on my shoulders all at the same time.
Confidence and fear are both dangerous emotions. The two of them are almost like drugs in a way.
After eight months of mainlining fear, the tiny line of confidence Sylvia gave me, went straight to my head.
Trenchcoat told me where to find a video file. And after a couple of weeks of running it through every possible test I could, to check for any kind of manipulation, supernatural or otherwise, I watched it.
I was confident that the world would be much better off without the people committing the vicious acts contained in those twenty minutes of footage.
A teenage view of morality, I admit. But what do you want, I’m a teenager.
We watch the abandoned house from across the street. It’s a dingy, urban blight affected suburb, that being said, how no one seems to notice the seven foot freak with me, I have no idea.
The kid inside smoking stolen cigarettes and illegally supplied booze is a husky young guy of about 14. The half dozen kids that show up a couple hours later look closer to my age, last couple of years of high school I’m guessing.
The way they get into the house tells me they’ve done this before. The backpacks they all carry tell me they’re there for a purpose.
“How fucking funny would it be if I just killed you here and took off? “ Trenchcoat says, looming behind me.
I tense.
“It’s a joke. Out of my whole rotten family, Art and I, are close. I’m not going anywhere.
Unfortunately for you. “ Trenchcoat shoves me to the ground as he walks toward the house.
We get in through a basement window, I fit easily, Trenchcoat contorts his body to fit through the thin opening, somehow doing so silently.
I keep hearing Sylvia in my head. Telling me how she needs someone that can make his own decisions.
As I stand in the litter strewn basement, beside a creature with child murder on it’s mind I question the decision that I made.
At first the illumination is dim, nothing more than scraps of moonlight filtered through splintered wood. But with an industrial click, suddenly a half dozen lightbulbs bathe the basement in harsh, yellowish light.
Harsh, but not harsh enough to cause the reaction I see from Trenchcoat.
He squints and tries, unsuccessfully to turn away from the lights. Something about them is causing him discomfort. I get my hopes up for a moment he’s going to burst into flame or turn into dust or something, but no dice.
The sight of the walking nightmare looking pained and confused makes me panic. But before I can think of how I fucked up, I hear a voice.
The room, by the sounds of it, the entire house, has been rigged with speakers. Cleverly recessed in sconces and corners.
“Augi, long time no see. And I see you brought a little Renfield fella with you. “ The voice is modulated, Trenchcoat looks curious for a moment.
“Who, is this? You that clown that’s been fucking with Art?” He guesses.
The voice laughs, “Nope.
Who I am, is a guy who managed to find a few boxes of lightbulbs from ’93.
Then again, with eBay, that could make me just about anyone. “
Trenchcoat turns and looks toward the window we came in. He reaches a hand toward it, stopping a few inches away.
“That’s fucking interesting. “ He says, eyes darting around the room.
“Isn’t it though? “ The voice replies, clearly hearing the creature’s whisper, “ Tonight you get the pay for centuries of the worst shit committed by man or beast. I’ve made sure of that. No one in this house is going anywhere for the next 8 hours.
I’m sure the rest of the houseguests are pretty confused as to what’s going on. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, so let me give you the Cliff’s notes.
You kids have been killing a monster a year for half a decade. You were the perfect bait, and I have faith you’ll be able to outwit Augi long enough to make it out of here.
If not, you’ll still have helped kill one of the worst things to walk the face of the earth. “
“What the hell is he talking about? “ I ask, a sinking feeling in my gut.
“That’s what you’re worried about right now?
Yeah, these kids are more Scooby gang than Manson family. Don’t blame me for the fact it only took an out of context exorcism video and some promises of making things right with the universe to get you on board with killing them. “ Trenchcoat spits.
I feel afraid, stupid and small. Which is to say, lately, business as usual.
I begin to break lightbulbs, I notice no runes, or anything else that would indicate they have any kind of supernatural origin.
As the basement dims, Trenchcoat starts to breathe easier.
“What’s going on, what stopped you from leaving? “ I ask.
“This little shit is playing The Game. “ Trenchcoat says to himself as much as to me. He looks deep in thought, inspecting the glass from the bulbs.
“What are you talking about? “ I say, my voice cracking slightly.
I hear noises upstairs, frantic foot falls. Indecipherable shouting.
Trenchcoat turns to me, exasperated and filled with anger.
“You’ve heard of ‘Rules’ right? All that ‘Don’t turn left on East street at 3:24 am kind of shit? “ The creature starts, “More and more of them popping up lately. Can’t miss the things.
Well, your kind seems great at finding them, but fucking awful at figuring out what they are. It’s not someone’s new job, or creepy school. The answer is so damned simple, but all of you’ve missed it.
It's a game. It’s, The Game.
It’s ran by the thickest branches of my family tree, and the stakes are high enough even I don’t really understand.
And whoever has us here, he’s weaponized it. The crazy fuck. “
“Call on your family for help then. “ I say, starting to deal with the fear and confusion.
“You first. “ Is Trenchcoat’s reply.
I get his point, and for a twisted, shitty moment, I find myself relating to the murderous thing I’ve been saddled with.
“So what’s the plan? “ I ask.
“Get my hands on whoever’s been stalking me. Between A and B, probably kill those little do-gooders upstairs out of spite.
I need you to circumvent rules we come across. Humans need to agree to follow the rules, it’s why people encounter them in jobs and schools so much. I’m not human, if you haven’t noticed. I don’t get a choice. “ I’m shaking my head as Augustus relates his plan.
“We’re not hurting those kids. “ I say defiantly.
“I’m sure you’ll have no problem with that.
But I’m a God damned child killing monster, bud! How long is that going to take to sink the fuck in?
Me not doing what I do, isn’t like giving up smokes. Think of it like not having a slash for months on end. Sooner or later, like it or not, I’m either finding a bathroom or pissing my pants. “ the rant scares me, but it makes me think.
Something about Augustus, it seems very, 90’s. Whoever was on the speakers was talking about the lightbulbs being from ’93. I’m picking up on a very distinct pattern.
I file that information with the rest of the disconnected lore I’ve managed to find on Trenchcoat as I follow him up the steep, narrow set of stairs.
He whips the thin wood door open, taking an aggressive, lurching step into the livingroom beyond. Surely ready to dispense too far quips and limitless violence, as per usual.
But that doesn’t happen, his rage filled scowl turns into a look of resignation, “Fuck”, is the monster’s last word before he disappears.
I cautiously walk up the loose splinter ridden stairs, expecting Augustus to be waiting around the corner, or engaged in combat with some other horror.
But once I get to the top, there’s nothing more sinister than a livingroom covered in dust and graffiti strewn with old bottles and new stains.
I know my chance when I see it. The particle board sealing the bay window is rotten, the glass long since broken.
No monster, no crazy family, I’ll take my chances with the streets of the U. K.
I tap the crumbling wood with a foot, it rattles, it won’t take much to make a hole.
I line up a kick, freedom no more than a quarter inch of rotten wood away.
“I wouldn’t do that. “ Says a voice behind me, male, around my age I’d guess, but with a confidence that makes me listen, “ Rigged with a load of C4 in the window frame.
Don’t take my word for it, guy wasn’t very subtle. ”
Sure enough, I see small wires running along the edges of the frame and embedded in the particle board.
I turn around, the six people standing in front of me have a vibe I can only describe as severe.
“Are we going to have issues? “ a slight, dark skinned guy asks.
“You making threats? “ I reply.
“No, he isn’t. “ it’s the same voice that warned me about the explosives. It belongs to a squared jawed kid with short black hair, he’s wearing a grey hoodie, and separates himself from the group. “ Call me Kent, and I’m in charge of making threats.
Sid, he’s our people person, he’s just trying to see if you’re someone we need to worry about. “
“We don’t have time to figure this kid out, leave him. “ a short, ginger girl says.
“Ami, why don’t I stay out of equipment, and you and Kent let me figure this kid out?” Sid says.
“I’m Nik. “ I volunteer.
“Good to meet you Nik. “ Sid says, walking around Kent, “Didn’t mean to start things off on the wrong foot.
We’ve just gotten used to doing these kinds of things in our own way over the past bit. We get a little… weird around this time of year if I’m being honest. “
I nod, apprehensive at giving any kind of detailed response.
“Derik” says a tall, pale guy, “ Research. “
“Liam. “ a tanned boy in a flannel shirt and deep blue jeans tells me, “ Oxford doesn’t talk, accident a couple of years back. I’m logistics, he figures spooky shit out. “
Oxford is thin and bald, his face looks much older than it should. Like he’s the victim of some kind of wasting disease.
Telling these kids the truth would be, complicated. And something about their war vet demeanor, makes me want to keep things simple.
So I give them a version of the truth. One where I was plucked from my room by Trenchcoat, and brought here for a slow death.
They buy it. I think.
“Well, I don’t know what this Jigsaw wannabe has planned, but trust me when I say, it can’t be much worse than the things we’ve went through. “ Kent says, trying to be reassuring.
“Just, one more thing. “ Sid begins, “ Why all the scars? “
I know I’ve won most of the group over, but I don’t like the look Sid is giving me.
“Work on a farm, on top of that, the family owns an auction. Lots of bent steel and splinters, what can I say? “ I say, trying to sound casual.
“Fair enough, that accent though. “ Sid’s look becomes almost predatory as he talks.
“Immigration my guy. What’s with the third degree? “ I reply.
“We’ve just met and I’ve only asked three questions.
Humor me here though.
You get taken in the night by that thing that winked out of existence.
Seems pretty nice of him to let you put on shoes. “ Sid lets his statement hang.
Kent turns, I don’t like where this is going. Panic and fear start to well up.
“What’re you thinking Sid? “ Kent asks.
“Kid’s lying. But he’s good at it. “ Sid answers.
“You saying this has turned into a, me, situation? “ Kent’s question starts a deep pit in my stomach.
“I don’t know if we need to go that far. But I don’t like the idea of him having seen our faces. I think this is a Liam situation. “ As Sid says this I look to Liam, who already seems deep in thought.
“Local cops will back our story, but he could go beyond them.
We tie him up until all of this is done, and we get some video of him putting a blade into the body upstairs. He goes telling any stories, it’s us and the locals versus some Yank on video stabbing the kid. “ Liam suggests.
I tried to fight, it went, embarrassingly. Kent had me on the ground in some kind of arm lock in about a second.
I’m bound to an old wooden chair with electrical cords, dragged into a room on the second floor where the chubby kid from before lays face down in a coagulated pool of his own blood. Surrounded by the trappings of misspent youth.
The door locks, and I stare at the corpse, wondering what in the hell went on up here, and in what universe are these psychopaths anything other than what they seemed on screen.
Time becomes almost malleable. I’m terrified to the point where every moment seems to stretch out forever.
Then, I hear it. A wet, organic noise. It starts below the body, and slowly starts to spread.
After a minute or two, the body starts to jerk and twitch. The room is dim as hell, but some kind of ropey, flesh-like substance, is sealing off the door.
I watch as the corpse clumsily gets to it’s feet. It’s skin pale, it’s throat slit to the point of near decapitation.
The head falls backward, obscenely with a small spurt of thick blood.
I scream, I thought I’d been getting used to being face to face with monsters. But fully bound, inches away from a kid that seems to be filled with a twisting mass of barbed, writhing, intestine like tentacles, I realize I’m not used to shit.
The ropey mass forms the barest suggestion of features, a shifting, lumpen mass of ever moving tendrils coming from what used to be the kid’s neck.
The sound spreads more, cracks in the floorboards and walls begin to show hints of the tendrils filling them in like spray foam.
No one is hearing my screams, or if they are, they have no interest in helping.
Ever wonder how you’d handle torture? I think if you’re the kind of person to be reading this, it’s likely you have.
I started by pissing myself.
The second the thin tendril touches my hand, I feel a blinding, flensing pain. I can do nothing but watch, as thousands of nearly hair thin spines tear and consume my flesh. As it slowly, almost, curiously makes it’s way up my arm, it leaves a bloodless, scarred furrow about an eighth of an inch deep.
My second reaction was to lose any pretense at defiance or dignity. I thrash and scream, beg and offer. All of this turning into choked sobs as the thing starts to do much of the same with another tendril.
It felt like I was in hell, every inch of me nothing more than a canvas for this artist of misery.
But pain, it can only go so far. Whether we’re talking about my tolerance, or this thing’s interest.
Mutilation, the brutal wedding of pain and loss. That was it’s next step.
A thick, almost centipede like tendril sits on my pinky like a hot iron. I can only watch in horror as I see fat, then muscle, then bone, then, nothing.
My voice shreds, I tear my wrists and ankles trying desperately to break the expertly tied wires.
My mind is at the breaking point, the creature in front of my makes a terrible, high pitched keening I assume is laughter.
My body is a roadmap of scarred pits and lines. My hand sports a cleanly severed finger. Fuck me, I wish things ended there.
Of all the important parts of the human body, the eye, tends to feel the least pain. Which isn’t to say, as I watched the greedy, grasping claws slowly take pieces of one of mine, it didn’t hurt, but the worst part, was knowing what was happening.
The vision in my left eye begins to distort at first, the edges getting blurry, then going dark. Bit by bit, chunk by irreplaceable chunk, the creature takes half my vision.
I can feel the shifting air on the bare socket, to call what I’m doing screaming, would be understating things to the point of absurdity.
My brain reels at what has just happened. I can feel my grip on reality begin to loosen, pain, worse than can bare, loss of half my sight, it’s too much.
My brain feels filled with static, for a few brief moments I swear, I can hear someone, a voice, trying to tell me something.
But then, a smell hits me. Something so foul, so alien, it yanks me back from the brink of disassociation. I gag and choke, as the air becomes thick with the rotten, chemical reek.
Then, I see it, I see, him.
As randomly as he disappeared, in an instant Trenchcoat is in the room.
He’s torn apart, wounds so deep and ragged, I can see the door on the other side of the room through the worst of them.
One arm is a twisted, broken mess, the flesh jacket torn to shreds of necrotic tissue.
The look on his face is panic, paranoia. A rictus grin of someone that has been kept on his toes for entirely too long.
He trembles and heaves, looking like he could fall over at any second.
He points his good arm at the tendril creature, who I notice has a too familiar eye suspended in it’s shifting features.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the motherfucker who just made me kill my favorite cousin, would you? “ Trenchcoat asks, his voice cracked, and strained.
He gets a confused keening in response.
“Bad day for you then. “ Augustus says.
There is no style to his violence, Trenchcoat grabs the shifting mass, his wicked, claw tipped fingers angling themselves in tendrils. As he lifts the thing, floorboards break, and it’s torn free from the root-like system it was creating in the room.
Three brutal slams cover me in ichor and pieces of creature. Trenchcoat tosses the mewling, twitching pile in a corner and looks at me with disgust.
“You let that thing do this to you? Fuckin’ pathetic, bud.
And who tied you up? “ The nightmare I’ve been cursed with chides me.
“The kids downstairs. “ I say only now realizing I’ve still been sobbing.
One handed, Trenchcoat snaps the wires, then stumbles backward, slowly sliding down the wall.
He coughs, grey, bloody phlegm hitting the ground.
“So, what’s the play here? If this shit broke you, I could use the spare parts, if not, well, you know what the Bible says.
An eye for an eye. “ Trenchcoat grins as he talks, nearly on the brink of death.
And that’s where I think I’m going to leave things. Because, honestly I don’t know what I’m choosing.
I’m mutilated, half blind, using too much of my energy typing to strangers online about things because, I’m so fucking alone here.
If you hear from me again, I hope I made the right move. If not, take this as a lesson on what happens when you screw around with the occult.

For anyone who wants to see how I got into this situation.
https://www.reddit.com/nosleep/s/R0DAycoVIm
“In what universe would I ever do you a favor? “ I say, sweeping the floor of the reinforced barn.
“It’s not a favor, it’s a trade, bud.
What do you want in return? “ Trenchcoat asks from within the coffin-like cage.
“To be back home, 8 months ago. “ I reply.
Over the past few weeks I’ve managed to integrate myself into the day to day life on the farm. Things are still a grim, horrifying slog, but with every day it gets a bit easier to deal with.
“Give me something I can do. “ The creature pleads.
“Why, so I can wind up on the end of another ‘ Gotcha’ moment? I’m good. “ is my answer.
A few minutes of silence go by, Augustus breaks it.
“I don’t know many secrets of the universe. Facts, not really my bag. But I know a couple.
How about I share one with you?
No one, not the pope, not my brother, not the shit-bird perched on the highest branch of my twisted family tree, knows what happens when you die.
Some of us never will, of course. Others have ways of avoiding it, but at the end of the day, when the lights truly go out, we know next to nothing.
We do know one thing though. There is judgement, by who? Who knows? Why? Not important.
But at the end of the day, if your battery can’t be recharged, you really want to be thinking about how many marks are on each side of the ledger. “
I don’t reply, and for the next hour or so I ignore the pleading and hinting Trenchcoat does.
But that night, as I sip acidic tea, and try to get a handle on how in the fuck old televisions function, his offer is at the forefront of my mind.
He wants to kill, specifically 6 teenagers who, according to him, have been murdering classmates yearly in a twisted ritual.
He wants me to think this is some kind of noble act, he frames it as almost superheroic. The evil prick knows how I feel, knows that I see the blood on my hands every day, and would kill ( possibly literally) for some way to atone.
Is it a play? I honestly don’t think so, something about how eager the twisted thing is, about how he’s treating the situation as a buyer’s market makes me think something about this makes it important to him.
He offers me everything besides safety and protection. I’m desperate for help, but I have no way to hold him to any agreement.
So the thought rolls around in my mind, staving off the few hours of sleep I get.
“Okay, so, I have it on good authority that tea is supposed to taste better over here. What the hell is wrong with this? “ I say, sitting around an outside table with Sylvia, Dafydd and Colin.
Sylvia smiles, “ Barium, calcium, and a touch of castor oil. “
I look at the brew, then at her.
“If I had told you when you got here you need to drink that to mitigate the effects of working with void touched objects and creatures, you’d have assumed the worst, and found a way to avoid drinking it.
Good to see you becoming more perceptive though. “ Sylvia explains.
“That’s called paranoia, Syl. “ I reply.
She laughs, lighting a cigarette.
“Do you know why I’ve let you figure things out on your own? “ The ancient woman asks.
“Accepted? Yes. Understood, not in the slightest. “ I answer, wondering what sadist invented the scone.
“It’s because I need a leader. Someone who can understand, not a boy who puts his head down and listens to orders.
Someone who can make their own decisions when the time comes.
And I think that time is coming soon. “ Her statement feels like a question.
“If I chose to be here I’d be honored.” I counter.
“That attitude on the other hand… needs work.
Nikolas, today, we talk about what’s really going on.
We play a role in a much larger organization, us, and other families like us, are the ‘boots on the ground’ so to speak.
Our job is not to capture creatures, or horde esoteric goods. We do not foil the schemes of demons, nor blind those who look too deeply into the abyss.
We’re given information about events that could steer the path of humanity into a brick wall. And our job is to make sure they don’t happen. “ Sylvia reveals.
“Something is happening with these fights? “ I ask.
“As I said, perceptive.
Yes, it could be next week, it could be in a decade or two. Right now, we know very little about it, other than when it happens, it would be in our best interests to be of a high standing in the pits. “ She replies.
I absorb the information, and t drug laced tea in equal measure. As I do, I feel something, I feel I’m a part of what’s going on.
This is going to sound dumb as hell, but up until this point I hadn’t been taking things seriously. Don’t get me wrong, death is on the table, and I was trying to avoid that. But I was just treading water, hoping something or someone came by and to get me out of this situation.
But as Syl lays things out, I start to think of my place here, what I can be doing to better my state.
“Here is the part where you avoid telling me why you couldn’t have used anyone around here. “ I prod.
I keep her gaze, Colin and Dafydd shift uncomfortably.
“Augustus, he’s a tricky one. But a very lucky find for us.
I’ve tried 2 others. A boy and a girl, both I practically raised.
Marco, he was a warrior. But the demon got in his head. There was nothing that could be done beyond end his suffering.
Zelma, I won’t talk about.
That thing, it has a way of turning someone’s best traits against them. You, are a blank slate, but you’re family. You’re my best guess as to how we can use him to our advantage.
And this is why I need you, not to listen, but to understand. To see what’s happening, and make your own decisions. If I were to give you my knowledge, if I were to arm you with the best weapons, and the most powerful esoteric objects I know. He’d just have more to turn against you. “ Sylvia’s revelation scares me and puts a massive weight on my shoulders all at the same time.
Confidence and fear are both dangerous emotions. The two of them are almost like drugs in a way.
After eight months of mainlining fear, the tiny line of confidence Sylvia gave me, went straight to my head.
Trenchcoat told me where to find a video file. And after a couple of weeks of running it through every possible test I could, to check for any kind of manipulation, supernatural or otherwise, I watched it.
I was confident that the world would be much better off without the people committing the vicious acts contained in those twenty minutes of footage.
A teenage view of morality, I admit. But what do you want, I’m a teenager.
We watch the abandoned house from across the street. It’s a dingy, urban blight affected suburb, that being said, how no one seems to notice the seven foot freak with me, I have no idea.
The kid inside smoking stolen cigarettes and illegally supplied booze is a husky young guy of about 14. The half dozen kids that show up a couple hours later look closer to my age, last couple of years of high school I’m guessing.
The way they get into the house tells me they’ve done this before. The backpacks they all carry tell me they’re there for a purpose.
“How fucking funny would it be if I just killed you here and took off? “ Trenchcoat says, looming behind me.
I tense.
“It’s a joke. Out of my whole rotten family, Art and I, are close. I’m not going anywhere.
Unfortunately for you. “ Trenchcoat shoves me to the ground as he walks toward the house.
We get in through a basement window, I fit easily, Trenchcoat contorts his body to fit through the thin opening, somehow doing so silently.
I keep hearing Sylvia in my head. Telling me how she needs someone that can make his own decisions.
As I stand in the litter strewn basement, beside a creature with child murder on it’s mind I question the decision that I made.
At first the illumination is dim, nothing more than scraps of moonlight filtered through splintered wood. But with an industrial click, suddenly a half dozen lightbulbs bathe the basement in harsh, yellowish light.
Harsh, but not harsh enough to cause the reaction I see from Trenchcoat.
He squints and tries, unsuccessfully to turn away from the lights. Something about them is causing him discomfort. I get my hopes up for a moment he’s going to burst into flame or turn into dust or something, but no dice.
The sight of the walking nightmare looking pained and confused makes me panic. But before I can think of how I fucked up, I hear a voice.
The room, by the sounds of it, the entire house, has been rigged with speakers. Cleverly recessed in sconces and corners.
“Augi, long time no see. And I see you brought a little Renfield fella with you. “ The voice is modulated, Trenchcoat looks curious for a moment.
“Who, is this? You that clown that’s been fucking with Art?” He guesses.
The voice laughs, “Nope.
Who I am, is a guy who managed to find a few boxes of lightbulbs from ’93.
Then again, with eBay, that could make me just about anyone. “
Trenchcoat turns and looks toward the window we came in. He reaches a hand toward it, stopping a few inches away.
“That’s fucking interesting. “ He says, eyes darting around the room.
“Isn’t it though? “ The voice replies, clearly hearing the creature’s whisper, “ Tonight you get the pay for centuries of the worst shit committed by man or beast. I’ve made sure of that. No one in this house is going anywhere for the next 8 hours.
I’m sure the rest of the houseguests are pretty confused as to what’s going on. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, so let me give you the Cliff’s notes.
You kids have been killing a monster a year for half a decade. You were the perfect bait, and I have faith you’ll be able to outwit Augi long enough to make it out of here.
If not, you’ll still have helped kill one of the worst things to walk the face of the earth. “
“What the hell is he talking about? “ I ask, a sinking feeling in my gut.
“That’s what you’re worried about right now?
Yeah, these kids are more Scooby gang than Manson family. Don’t blame me for the fact it only took an out of context exorcism video and some promises of making things right with the universe to get you on board with killing them. “ Trenchcoat spits.
I feel afraid, stupid and small. Which is to say, lately, business as usual.
I begin to break lightbulbs, I notice no runes, or anything else that would indicate they have any kind of supernatural origin.
As the basement dims, Trenchcoat starts to breathe easier.
“What’s going on, what stopped you from leaving? “ I ask.
“This little shit is playing The Game. “ Trenchcoat says to himself as much as to me. He looks deep in thought, inspecting the glass from the bulbs.
“What are you talking about? “ I say, my voice cracking slightly.
I hear noises upstairs, frantic foot falls. Indecipherable shouting.
Trenchcoat turns to me, exasperated and filled with anger.
“You’ve heard of ‘Rules’ right? All that ‘Don’t turn left on East street at 3:24 am kind of shit? “ The creature starts, “More and more of them popping up lately. Can’t miss the things.
Well, your kind seems great at finding them, but fucking awful at figuring out what they are. It’s not someone’s new job, or creepy school. The answer is so damned simple, but all of you’ve missed it.
It's a game. It’s, The Game.
It’s ran by the thickest branches of my family tree, and the stakes are high enough even I don’t really understand.
And whoever has us here, he’s weaponized it. The crazy fuck. “
“Call on your family for help then. “ I say, starting to deal with the fear and confusion.
“You first. “ Is Trenchcoat’s reply.
I get his point, and for a twisted, shitty moment, I find myself relating to the murderous thing I’ve been saddled with.
“So what’s the plan? “ I ask.
“Get my hands on whoever’s been stalking me. Between A and B, probably kill those little do-gooders upstairs out of spite.
I need you to circumvent rules we come across. Humans need to agree to follow the rules, it’s why people encounter them in jobs and schools so much. I’m not human, if you haven’t noticed. I don’t get a choice. “ I’m shaking my head as Augustus relates his plan.
“We’re not hurting those kids. “ I say defiantly.
“I’m sure you’ll have no problem with that.
But I’m a God damned child killing monster, bud! How long is that going to take to sink the fuck in?
Me not doing what I do, isn’t like giving up smokes. Think of it like not having a slash for months on end. Sooner or later, like it or not, I’m either finding a bathroom or pissing my pants. “ the rant scares me, but it makes me think.
Something about Augustus, it seems very, 90’s. Whoever was on the speakers was talking about the lightbulbs being from ’93. I’m picking up on a very distinct pattern.
I file that information with the rest of the disconnected lore I’ve managed to find on Trenchcoat as I follow him up the steep, narrow set of stairs.
He whips the thin wood door open, taking an aggressive, lurching step into the livingroom beyond. Surely ready to dispense too far quips and limitless violence, as per usual.
But that doesn’t happen, his rage filled scowl turns into a look of resignation, “Fuck”, is the monster’s last word before he disappears.
I cautiously walk up the loose splinter ridden stairs, expecting Augustus to be waiting around the corner, or engaged in combat with some other horror.
But once I get to the top, there’s nothing more sinister than a livingroom covered in dust and graffiti strewn with old bottles and new stains.
I know my chance when I see it. The particle board sealing the bay window is rotten, the glass long since broken.
No monster, no crazy family, I’ll take my chances with the streets of the U. K.
I tap the crumbling wood with a foot, it rattles, it won’t take much to make a hole.
I line up a kick, freedom no more than a quarter inch of rotten wood away.
“I wouldn’t do that. “ Says a voice behind me, male, around my age I’d guess, but with a confidence that makes me listen, “ Rigged with a load of C4 in the window frame.
Don’t take my word for it, guy wasn’t very subtle. ”
Sure enough, I see small wires running along the edges of the frame and embedded in the particle board.
I turn around, the six people standing in front of me have a vibe I can only describe as severe.
“Are we going to have issues? “ a slight, dark skinned guy asks.
“You making threats? “ I reply.
“No, he isn’t. “ it’s the same voice that warned me about the explosives. It belongs to a squared jawed kid with short black hair, he’s wearing a grey hoodie, and separates himself from the group. “ Call me Kent, and I’m in charge of making threats.
Sid, he’s our people person, he’s just trying to see if you’re someone we need to worry about. “
“We don’t have time to figure this kid out, leave him. “ a short, ginger girl says.
“Ami, why don’t I stay out of equipment, and you and Kent let me figure this kid out?” Sid says.
“I’m Nik. “ I volunteer.
“Good to meet you Nik. “ Sid says, walking around Kent, “Didn’t mean to start things off on the wrong foot.
We’ve just gotten used to doing these kinds of things in our own way over the past bit. We get a little… weird around this time of year if I’m being honest. “
I nod, apprehensive at giving any kind of detailed response.
“Derik” says a tall, pale guy, “ Research. “
“Liam. “ a tanned boy in a flannel shirt and deep blue jeans tells me, “ Oxford doesn’t talk, accident a couple of years back. I’m logistics, he figures spooky shit out. “
Oxford is thin and bald, his face looks much older than it should. Like he’s the victim of some kind of wasting disease.
Telling these kids the truth would be, complicated. And something about their war vet demeanor, makes me want to keep things simple.
So I give them a version of the truth. One where I was plucked from my room by Trenchcoat, and brought here for a slow death.
They buy it. I think.
“Well, I don’t know what this Jigsaw wannabe has planned, but trust me when I say, it can’t be much worse than the things we’ve went through. “ Kent says, trying to be reassuring.
“Just, one more thing. “ Sid begins, “ Why all the scars? “
I know I’ve won most of the group over, but I don’t like the look Sid is giving me.
“Work on a farm, on top of that, the family owns an auction. Lots of bent steel and splinters, what can I say? “ I say, trying to sound casual.
“Fair enough, that accent though. “ Sid’s look becomes almost predatory as he talks.
“Immigration my guy. What’s with the third degree? “ I reply.
“We’ve just met and I’ve only asked three questions.
Humor me here though.
You get taken in the night by that thing that winked out of existence.
Seems pretty nice of him to let you put on shoes. “ Sid lets his statement hang.
Kent turns, I don’t like where this is going. Panic and fear start to well up.
“What’re you thinking Sid? “ Kent asks.
“Kid’s lying. But he’s good at it. “ Sid answers.
“You saying this has turned into a, me, situation? “ Kent’s question starts a deep pit in my stomach.
“I don’t know if we need to go that far. But I don’t like the idea of him having seen our faces. I think this is a Liam situation. “ As Sid says this I look to Liam, who already seems deep in thought.
“Local cops will back our story, but he could go beyond them.
We tie him up until all of this is done, and we get some video of him putting a blade into the body upstairs. He goes telling any stories, it’s us and the locals versus some Yank on video stabbing the kid. “ Liam suggests.
I tried to fight, it went, embarrassingly. Kent had me on the ground in some kind of arm lock in about a second.
I’m bound to an old wooden chair with electrical cords, dragged into a room on the second floor where the chubby kid from before lays face down in a coagulated pool of his own blood. Surrounded by the trappings of misspent youth.
The door locks, and I stare at the corpse, wondering what in the hell went on up here, and in what universe are these psychopaths anything other than what they seemed on screen.
Time becomes almost malleable. I’m terrified to the point where every moment seems to stretch out forever.
Then, I hear it. A wet, organic noise. It starts below the body, and slowly starts to spread.
After a minute or two, the body starts to jerk and twitch. The room is dim as hell, but some kind of ropey, flesh-like substance, is sealing off the door.
I watch as the corpse clumsily gets to it’s feet. It’s skin pale, it’s throat slit to the point of near decapitation.
The head falls backward, obscenely with a small spurt of thick blood.
I scream, I thought I’d been getting used to being face to face with monsters. But fully bound, inches away from a kid that seems to be filled with a twisting mass of barbed, writhing, intestine like tentacles, I realize I’m not used to shit.
The ropey mass forms the barest suggestion of features, a shifting, lumpen mass of ever moving tendrils coming from what used to be the kid’s neck.
The sound spreads more, cracks in the floorboards and walls begin to show hints of the tendrils filling them in like spray foam.
No one is hearing my screams, or if they are, they have no interest in helping.
Ever wonder how you’d handle torture? I think if you’re the kind of person to be reading this, it’s likely you have.
I started by pissing myself.
The second the thin tendril touches my hand, I feel a blinding, flensing pain. I can do nothing but watch, as thousands of nearly hair thin spines tear and consume my flesh. As it slowly, almost, curiously makes it’s way up my arm, it leaves a bloodless, scarred furrow about an eighth of an inch deep.
My second reaction was to lose any pretense at defiance or dignity. I thrash and scream, beg and offer. All of this turning into choked sobs as the thing starts to do much of the same with another tendril.
It felt like I was in hell, every inch of me nothing more than a canvas for this artist of misery.
But pain, it can only go so far. Whether we’re talking about my tolerance, or this thing’s interest.
Mutilation, the brutal wedding of pain and loss. That was it’s next step.
A thick, almost centipede like tendril sits on my pinky like a hot iron. I can only watch in horror as I see fat, then muscle, then bone, then, nothing.
My voice shreds, I tear my wrists and ankles trying desperately to break the expertly tied wires.
My mind is at the breaking point, the creature in front of my makes a terrible, high pitched keening I assume is laughter.
My body is a roadmap of scarred pits and lines. My hand sports a cleanly severed finger. Fuck me, I wish things ended there.
Of all the important parts of the human body, the eye, tends to feel the least pain. Which isn’t to say, as I watched the greedy, grasping claws slowly take pieces of one of mine, it didn’t hurt, but the worst part, was knowing what was happening.
The vision in my left eye begins to distort at first, the edges getting blurry, then going dark. Bit by bit, chunk by irreplaceable chunk, the creature takes half my vision.
I can feel the shifting air on the bare socket, to call what I’m doing screaming, would be understating things to the point of absurdity.
My brain reels at what has just happened. I can feel my grip on reality begin to loosen, pain, worse than can bare, loss of half my sight, it’s too much.
My brain feels filled with static, for a few brief moments I swear, I can hear someone, a voice, trying to tell me something.
But then, a smell hits me. Something so foul, so alien, it yanks me back from the brink of disassociation. I gag and choke, as the air becomes thick with the rotten, chemical reek.
Then, I see it, I see, him.
As randomly as he disappeared, in an instant Trenchcoat is in the room.
He’s torn apart, wounds so deep and ragged, I can see the door on the other side of the room through the worst of them.
One arm is a twisted, broken mess, the flesh jacket torn to shreds of necrotic tissue.
The look on his face is panic, paranoia. A rictus grin of someone that has been kept on his toes for entirely too long.
He trembles and heaves, looking like he could fall over at any second.
He points his good arm at the tendril creature, who I notice has a too familiar eye suspended in it’s shifting features.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the motherfucker who just made me kill my favorite cousin, would you? “ Trenchcoat asks, his voice cracked, and strained.
He gets a confused keening in response.
“Bad day for you then. “ Augustus says.
There is no style to his violence, Trenchcoat grabs the shifting mass, his wicked, claw tipped fingers angling themselves in tendrils. As he lifts the thing, floorboards break, and it’s torn free from the root-like system it was creating in the room.
Three brutal slams cover me in ichor and pieces of creature. Trenchcoat tosses the mewling, twitching pile in a corner and looks at me with disgust.
“You let that thing do this to you? Fuckin’ pathetic, bud.
And who tied you up? “ The nightmare I’ve been cursed with chides me.
“The kids downstairs. “ I say only now realizing I’ve still been sobbing.
One handed, Trenchcoat snaps the wires, then stumbles backward, slowly sliding down the wall.
He coughs, grey, bloody phlegm hitting the ground.
“So, what’s the play here? If this shit broke you, I could use the spare parts, if not, well, you know what the Bible says.
An eye for an eye. “ Trenchcoat grins as he talks, nearly on the brink of death.
And that’s where I think I’m going to leave things. Because, honestly I don’t know what I’m choosing.
I’m mutilated, half blind, using too much of my energy typing to strangers online about things because, I’m so fucking alone here.
If you hear from me again, I hope I made the right move. If not, take this as a lesson on what happens when you screw around with the occult.

Hi! So, first of all, I'm from Italy, so sorry in advance for my bad english. And secondly, sorry for the reaaaally long post.
Anyway, I've finally found the courage to try to approach game developing, something I've been wanting to do for years. It will be in my spare time since I've gotta work, but hey I gotta try it now before it's too late for my small brain to learn something new. I don't have the money or time to enter a school, so I'll try to learn as much as possible on my own, following online courses ecc. For the kind of game I have in mind I think I'll go with game maker. I used rpg maker and other "light" softwares many many years ago, completely forgot how to use them, but they wouldn't be flexible enough for my project anyway. So, as far as the game developing software goes, either I learn how to use it or I don't and the project dies right at the start. Fortunately, the gameplay ideas ar not too complicated to realize, but the real obstacle on my path, about which I'm asking for help in this post, is the creation of assets. I'm learning to draw (actually re-learning, I could produce something not too horryfing to look at when I was much younger, then I stopped drawing and now I've got to start over) so that I can create my own assets, since everything will be in 2d and in a kind of hand-drawn style. But still, I'll be real, I know for a fact that I won't be able to make great art, it would be a miracle to make something passable. That's why I'm researching some tools to help me achieve a better look for my future assets and to compensate my lack of skill (and yes, patience too). I know you can buy pre-made assets, but I want to at least try to make my own if I can. We're living in a time where each day there's a massive technological leap that makes a lot easier to achieve things that once were extremely difficult to do, especially with AIs. I studied cinema, so I know some softwares in the video editing field, but I know very little in the game development one, so I'd like to know which softwares could help me in this task. Example: I need to draw the face of a character to show during a dialogue. Even if stylized, I have (and fear I'll always have) difficulties drawing a face from scratch, like actually imagining it in my head. With ai tools I can generate some faces based on facial features and decorations given by me in the prompt, pick some pieces here and there from different results, toy with them in photoshop (I'm pretty skilled with ph) and drawing over the final result, adding my own ideas to it. It would also be useful to find a software that, starting from a "plain" expression makes other expressions (you can somewhat do that in photoshop too). Obviously I'd redraw every change, but it would be a starting point. Other example: I found this software that offers a massive help in creating a sprite sheet starting from a single drawing. Yes, you still have do make some corrections, that I can do, while animating it from scratch it's a different story https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iUks4wuYkUU
I've been ranting for too much, let's wrap this up by describing briefly what kind of game I'm designing, so that you know what kind of tools could be useful. But generally speaking I'm open to any tool that you might find useful, you never know what I could need for future projects. Anyway, the best way to put it would be an extremely story-driven game like To the moon (with a hand-drawn style, not in pixel art), but with a lot of dialogue options and some "actual" (not in an offensive way, I love Too the moon lol) gameplay, not only puzzles. It would be visualized from a semi top-down view, so I'll need to think about everything from that perspective, other than cut-scenes and dialogues. As for the cut-scenes I think I'll just have to draw the single moments and cross-fade them; as for the dialogues there will always be a small portrait of the face of the character who's speaking.
I hope it's clear what I'm looking for. Aaaaand now let's see what you come up with :)
P.S. I know that AIs are a sticky subject and I couldn't summarize in this post what I think of them. Let's just say that I think that for a small, self-published project their use is justified as long as the raw asset produced by them is reworked so much by the artist to the point that he/she made it their own. Artists have always used collages and references to help create original artwork, so I see them as a starting point, especially for unskilled individuals like me, not as a final product, at least if you're profiting out of your project. If your project is completely free, eh, you could get a pass depending on the circumstances. If you're a big company and you're using AIs to avoid paying an actual artist, well you can go f yourself :) But this is not the point of my post

I just finished binge watching both seasons of the show because i never had Prime in my home and now that i‘m overseas staying at a friend‘s house, i thought i would finally gove it a try. I only watched clips on YouTube beforehand. And oh boy do i regret watched it. And i only watched it because i‘m a DnD guy myself and wanted to see what all the hype was about.

• Almost nobody of Vox Machina is likable. They’re all immature assholes constantly swearing like they’re teenagers who just found out what swearing is. They constantly bicker and find something to complain about. Pike, Percy and Keyleth are the exceptions but even they have moments where they’re just insufferable. Other thannthat, you have a group of selfish amd egotistical assholes who go try to save the world because „why not?“. A group that pops into my head who also bicker and act immature at times but were still pulled out successfully and had a lot of moments to shine bright are MCU‘s Guardians of the Galaxy. A ragtag group of people who can be immature, but are the best when push coles to shove with them not just being constantly selfish assholes.
  
• battles are horribly choreographed. You have a Party with 7 people in it and 9/10 a hard battle isn’t resolved in good Teamwork, but because someone pulls a Plot Armor out of nowhere and oneshots the unbeatable obstacle. Pike when VM was being overwhelmed by the Undead, Keyleth using sunlight against the Wraiths, Keyleth using sunlight against the Briarwoods, Keyleth becomes the avatar of fire (a lot of Keyleth just being the plot armor user), Percy just trickshotting Anders‘ silver tongue when he previously dodged bullets, Scanlan himself solving the Sphinx‘ puzzle, Scanlan needing that 1 good hit against the dragon and etc. The only time i remember them working as a team successfully was in episode 2 against the first dragon.
  
• a lot of moments just seem written horrendously and can be seen a mile away. Anna Ripley was a monster, just a monster and when the time came to kill her, Percy refused to not alarm the Briarwoods, only to then walk up and reveal their position anyway. Only for Ripley to pop up afterwards because of course she would. The show wanted her as a villain and did the dumbest excuse to keep her. Scanlan dodged and weaved and plot armored himself out of Goran‘s attack nonstop, but Archibald died immediately when fighting him (in fact, you see the group just survive something that killed 100 people before just because i guess they did a dodge roll better. Literally reminds me of the RE scene where soldiers miss Leon in an open field) Not to mention that it was shown that the male Sphinx is described as being old as time itself and has mastery over Chronomancy, but dies from basically fall damage and barely used any time magic against the Dragon. Also, the over abundance of the show killing countless civilians for shock value reeks like someone read Berserk and thaught: „omg, typical people dying? That’s so emotional and raises the stakes!“. Absolutely a lot of moments happening because the plot demands it to happen. Also, the Briarwoods are the worst people on earth simply because of shallow love reasons. Dio from Jojo‘s Bizarre Adventure had more understandable reasons to be the scum of the earth over the Briarwoods.
  
• an absolute over abundance of swearing. Reminds me of Velma and the Harley Quinn show where they curse because they think it’s peak humor. Drawn Together and South Park used less swearing and when they did, they used it in fitting moments and not just constantly.
  
• the romances are god awful. Vex and Percy got something going on, but only from thm being nice to each other and Vex calling him darling all the time even thou i see absolutely no chemistry between them. Vax and Keyleth love each other since basically episode 1 because…? They just do and we never saw why. They just do with Vax even confessing it in Season 1, Keyleth rejects him, then she gets flustered when Kash flirts with her, then she tries to flirt back and gets insecure when Vax gives in a raincheck. I have seen children’s cartoons with better developed love stories. Then you have the blonde court magician just be together with the dwarven paladin woman for a few seconds of confirmation because they want to seemingly just add some more brownie points. The only romances i liked in the show that felt natural are Vax with Gilmore since it’s very visible they have history with each other, understand each other perfectly, flirt with no problem and care for each other. And Scanlan and Pike because you have Pike liking Scanlan but not his playboy lifestyle while Scanlan wants true love but is too afraid of it and he sees Pike as someone he can get that love from and is ready to change for it.
  

And so much more. I started to slug myself trough after episode 4 because it became so predictable, generic and childish that i only pushed trough to see if it would get better with time and it never did. People are praising this show and i do not understand why. Honor among Thieves is an amazing D&D movie where the jokes are actually funny, the characters lovable and the story actually truly connected to the characters with moments where it’s believable that the party escaped/ won trough skill rather than just luck and plot armor. Dungeon Meshi/ Delicious in Dungeon is the same thing with a party of different people going on an adventure together and despite having disputes and arguments, they’re a lovable group that truly sticks with one another and their fights are surprisingly better choreographed than Vox Machina‘s.

Despite being pretty monochromatic, which sets the tone for the game, the world already set for Wuthering Waves is phenomenal, people often compare it to Genshin's map design which is way more colorful and easy to the eye, but the truth is that people 100% ignore the fact that WW's world should NOT be compared to Genshin at all, you know which game should it compare to?
Elden Ring, it has literally way more similarities to Elden Ring's map design than any other game, the way the terrain is built and the art style of the whole landscape is way too similar to Elden Ring, but with a tone similar to Death Stranding (color palette and certain designs more specific to the Tacet Fields and its surroundings)
Tbf i was way more invested in the whole discovering and interacting with the map than anything else, after going through different paths and finding certain places that are REALLY amazing to just look at, i realized that Wuthering Waves had a map design way more deserving of a AAA game than a simple gacha.
Sadly, certain puzzles don't really fit within the amazing world it has, if it had more puzzles inside buildings and used more of its enviroment to play with, the experience would be 10000 times better

So i was scrolling through tiktoks to watch clips from the orlando show that I went to and came across this post. I totally respect everyones opinions but it’s just so shocking to me that anyone could walk out of the show feeling disappointed. I absolutely loved the show. Maybe it’s because i’ve been a Crybaby since I was in 7th grade (I’m 21 years old now) and I finally got to see Mel perform these songs live that I’ve loved since childhood. And the fact it felt so special because like a lot of older Crybabies, I feel like I grew up with Crybaby’s story as she put out each album/part of the trilogy so seeing it all play out live had me emotional. But anyway, in regard to the post, Melanie is getting a lot more recognition now and that means packed venues, thus the need for the screen so everyone can get a chance to see her. But even with that everything was so well thought out and put together with such cool ideas; like the costumes, the props, the intermissions like the transition into pity party when we sang happy birthday to Crybaby, or the sudden cut off from wheels on the bus to class fight, or crybabys death after hssh, how we got to see a closeup angle of Mel while she performed Nurses Office.”, the choreography from the dancers (they were all amazing btw). Mel is a bigger artist now and no offense, but since the venues are more and more packed as time goes on, if it was just her up there singing her songs with non of the extra stuff, it wouldn’t have been as entertaining to her audience. Yes it was a giant performance but performing is also a form of art and I really appreciate how much thought Mel put into how she wanted the show to play out to her audience, telling Crybaby’s trilogy from beginning to end.