“This book is on voyages to the North, where Lord Debling intends to travel.”
“Miss Featherington, are you reading about the fabled Northwest Passage?”
(S3 E4 11:16)
Hi everyone! I posted a comment about it right after season 3 dropped, and I have seen a bit of interest in the Northwest Passage on here recently. I thought that for those of you who didn’t learn about it extensively in school in the small corner of Canada that I did, I’d put together a little informative post on the extremely brief (and perhaps even inconsequential!) reference to the Northwest Passage in Episode 4. I’ll provide an overview of the Passage and its history, touch on some characteristics of travel to this region, and conclude with some completely speculative comments on the literary purpose of evoking the passage in this scene in Season 4.
Also, full credit to the other NWP enthusiasts who have been making posts about this and discussing it in other threads.
A quick note on the colonial nature of this post: Throughout this short post, I refer to several colonial expeditions to the land many of us call Canada. Although I attempt to be cognizant of my language, it is important to note that the Inuit people who live in the arctic regions that I reference have navigated the sea ice for thousands of years (Panikkar et al., 2018) and that the written history of this region are often hegemonic and euro-centric narratives that were formed within colonial frameworks.
More information on the Inuit and their culture, language, and traditions can be found here: https://www.itk.ca/about-canadian-inuit/
References are at the end. If you like this post, you might also like the speculative post I made about the influences of the Eros/Psyche quote in the which is also endless academic yapping.
Exploring the Northwest Passage- a bit of context
In August of 1820, Lieutenant Edward Parry, a member of the British Royal Navy observed the dense ice and snow of arctic land and sea that was thought to be the location of the mysterious Northwest Passage. From a simple look, he knew that no ship in existence would be able to pass through ice sheets of such a great thickness and that extended for such a long distance (Brandt, 2011). Despite his pessimism, by Parry’s time, British sailors and explorers had been explicitly seeking the passage for hundreds of years (Williams & Costley, 2010; Day, 2006, p. xxiv), dreaming of exploiting the desirable economic prospect of a Western route from Europe to burgeoning Asian markets.
First encounters: When European sailors first encountered North America, it was in pursuit of a route west to Asia. They were, of course, incorrect about the location of Asia. And although a great deal of interest shifted to mapping the new continent, there was also an acknowledgement that there would be great economic benefits to finding a way around this newly encountered landmass (Day, 2006). Over time, the reasons and methods of locating the Northwest Passage changed and evolved, but interest never truly went away.
Renewed British interest: Notably, at the end of the 15^th century, when the Ottoman Turk’s empire extended into the Mediterranean and eastward, European merchants were no longer allowed to move and trade freely (Day, 2006). Seeking new routes for the Pacific, European (and especially British) explorers turned West. The Northwest Passage was a concept, a theoretical possibility, for European explorers. It was seen as a potential commercial sea route to the trading markets that were already established and burgeoning in Asia. The Passage was a route with phenomenal economic potential, especially as European consumers sought spices, materials, salts, and woods from foreign markets (Williams & Costley, 2010).
Based on their knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere and the potential geography of the world, many believed that a similar passage would be reflected in the earth’s northern pole (Day, 2006). As a result, there was a massive potential for financial gain for colonial governments and individuals, should such a passage ever be found.
Public fascination: The passage became a point of national fascination for many members of the public. In pursuit of this fascination, many enthusiastic researchers “persuaded persons of influence and wealth to send out discovery expeditions” (Williams & Costley, 2010, p. xv). With governments in Europe stabilizing, the emergence of an economy of cheap labour (lower class men who were willing to take on the dangerous work at sea), and the rapid development of ship technology, the 1600s was a prime time to set out on expeditions.
The fascination with the Passage continued for 300 years until a passage was finally navigated by sea in full in the 1900s. Over the course of history, Anthony Brandt describes the fascination with the Passage’s discovery as a tragedy (2011). He writes: “hubris, an all-too-human arrogance and pride that triggered a particular calamity” (p. 5) as being the tragedy of the exploration for the Passage. Despite the fascination of the public with it, the ice “remained intractable, impenetrable, and, for those who challenged it, a kind of fate” (p. 5) George Malcom Thomson reported that the Passage did not exist where popular imagination speculated it must be (Day, 2006). He noted: “the whole enterprise was founded on a misapprehension, a geographical fiction, a fairy-tale … and downright inventions that scholar manufacture to amaze themselves” (p. xxv).
The danger of the passage: Voyages to and in search of the passage were fraught. Many never returned, and those who did survive faced immense physical and mental challenges. There were, of course, significant difficulties with massive ice drifts and shelves. However, the relative location of the expeditions to the north pole led to issues with magnetic variation for compasses. Fog further complicated travel (Williams & Costley, 2010).
There were also extreme mental dangers to pursuing the NWP. MooSmith’s expedition in the mid-1700s reported “potentially murderous quarrels between officers” (Williams & Costley, 2010, p. xvi); John Franklin noted that the things that occurred on his ship “must not be known” (p. xvi); and it was noted that on the McClure, Beckler, and Collinson expeditions, “tensions” erupted “as captains and subordinate officers exchanged threats of court martial, and some officers spend years under close arrest on their ships” (p. xvi).
In the time of Bridgerton: The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 allowed for greater expeditions by the British Royal Navy (Day, 2006). This would have included surveys of a large portion of the global north and the Arctic. There were a large number of “successful” (depending on how you define it) land expeditions that had made progress in producing surveys and maps of the region. Despite significant ongoing interest in discovering the Passage, in particular, little progress had been made. Later still, despite more advanced mapping by the Hudson Bay Company and expeditions by many notable sailors, there was still no route by the 1820s (Day, 2006).
What does it signify? If a character in Bridgerton was voyaging to the Arctic, it could take them less than a year to reach areas of the Hudson Bay that would be suitable for a scientific voyage. That in itself is not overly dangerous. However, the reference to the Northwest Passage is an interesting literary point. Of all of the places to voyage in the Arctic, even at the time, it would have been an immensely dangerous trip to set out on. The persistent lack of success for a solid 30 years after this season takes place may reference the fact that this is a voyage that Debling is unlikely to ever return from.
It doesn’t help that Debling’s odds are really stacked against him. He does not eat meat, one of the only renewable sources of food for arctic expeditions. There is little to no fresh naturally occurring produce (during the Coppermine expedition, the surviving crew members famously ate lichen to survive once they lost the favour of local indigenous groups and fur traders) and did not do well.
Certainly, it lends a very tragic potential element to the story. The Arctic, if mentioned alone, is not necessarily an overly dangerous location to travel to. Yes, marine travel in the 1800s was still a dangerous endeavour in its own right, let alone in an area as unnavigable by sea as the Arctic. However, the North, in many regions, had active whaling expeditions, Indigenous populations that were willing to trade and work with sailors, and (in some areas) active fur trades. If the purpose of Debling’s travel was only to highlight his unique interests and sense of purpose, the show had many methods of doing so. The choice to reference a notorious and dangerous Northwest Passage, there is an extremely interesting element of danger that is introduced.
What would this potential marriage mean for Penelope? Of course, Penelope’s name is a reference to the wife of Odysseus, who unwillingly takes ten years to return home after the Trojan war. In contrast to Colin, who returns with a steadfast conviction, Debling may represent a kind of eternal limbo for Penelope, should she marry him. Although Debling’s trip is set to take 3 years, it would be hard to prove his death. Likely, she would be a widow for years, if not her entire life, before they were able to locate his ship. The HMS Terror was famously lost in 1845 and not located until 2016(!). As a result, Penelope would likely be stuck at home, awaiting his return, in the same tragic fashion of her namesake in Greek mythology.
As such, not only is there a potential tragic reference to Debling’s future, but there is also a dark illusion to what Penelope’s life may look like as his wife. Of course, this is all based entirely on implication, but it is an interesting act of speculative foreshadowing.
Thanks for reading!
References
Brandt, A. (2011). The man who ate his boots: the tragic history of the search for the northwest passage. Anchor.
Day, A. (2006). Historical dictionary of the discovery and exploration of the Northwest Passage (Vol. 3). Scarecrow Press.
Panikkar, B., Lemmond, B., Else, B., & Murray, M. (2018). Ice over troubled waters: Navigating the Northwest Passage using Inuit knowledge and scientific information. Climate Research, 75(1), 81-94.
Williams, G., & Costley, S. (2010). Arctic labyrinth: The quest for the Northwest Passage. University of California Press.

“This book is on voyages to the North, where Lord Debling intends to travel.”
“Miss Featherington, are you reading about the fabled Northwest Passage?”
(S3 E4 11:16)
Hi everyone! I posted a comment about it right after season 3 dropped, and I have seen a bit of interest in the Northwest Passage on here recently. I thought that for those of you who didn’t learn about it extensively in school in the small corner of Canada that I did, I’d put together a little informative post on the extremely brief (and perhaps even inconsequential!) reference to the Northwest Passage in Episode 4. I’ll provide an overview of the Passage and its history, touch on some characteristics of travel to this region, and conclude with some completely speculative comments on the literary purpose of evoking the passage in this scene in Season 4.
A quick note on the colonial nature of this post: Throughout this short post, I refer to several colonial expeditions to the land many of us call Canada. Although I attempt to be cognizant of my language, it is important to note that the Inuit people who live in the arctic regions that I reference have navigated the sea ice for thousands of years (Panikkar et al., 2018) and that the written history of this region are often hegemonic and euro-centric narratives that were formed within colonial frameworks.
More information on the Inuit and their culture, language, and traditions can be found here: https://www.itk.ca/about-canadian-inuit/
References are at the end. If you like this post, you might also like the speculative post I made about the influences of the Eros/Psyche quote in the Polin sub which is also endless academic yapping.
Exploring the Northwest Passage- a bit of context
In August of 1820, Lieutenant Edward Parry, a member of the British Royal Navy observed the dense ice and snow of arctic land and sea that was thought to be the location of the mysterious Northwest Passage. From a simple look, he knew that no ship in existence would be able to pass through ice sheets of such a great thickness and that extended for such a long distance (Brandt, 2011). Despite his pessimism, by Parry’s time, British sailors and explorers had been explicitly seeking the passage for hundreds of years (Williams & Costley, 2010; Day, 2006, p. xxiv), dreaming of exploiting the desirable economic prospect of a Western route from Europe to burgeoning Asian markets.
First encounters: When European sailors first encountered North America, it was in pursuit of a route west to Asia. They were, of course, incorrect about the location of Asia. And although a great deal of interest shifted to mapping the new continent, there was also an acknowledgement that there would be great economic benefits to finding a way around this newly encountered landmass (Day, 2006). Over time, the reasons and methods of locating the Northwest Passage changed and evolved, but interest never truly went away.
Renewed British interest: Notably, at the end of the 15^th century, when the Ottoman Turk’s empire extended into the Mediterranean and eastward, European merchants were no longer allowed to move and trade freely (Day, 2006). Seeking new routes for the Pacific, European (and especially British) explorers turned West. The Northwest Passage was a concept, a theoretical possibility, for European explorers. It was seen as a potential commercial sea route to the trading markets that were already established and burgeoning in Asia. The Passage was a route with phenomenal economic potential, especially as European consumers sought spices, materials, salts, and woods from foreign markets (Williams & Costley, 2010).
Based on their knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere and the potential geography of the world, many believed that a similar passage would be reflected in the earth’s northern pole (Day, 2006). As a result, there was a massive potential for financial gain for colonial governments and individuals, should such a passage ever be found.
Public fascination: The passage became a point of national fascination for many members of the public. In pursuit of this fascination, many enthusiastic researchers “persuaded persons of influence and wealth to send out discovery expeditions” (Williams & Costley, 2010, p. xv). With governments in Europe stabilizing, the emergence of an economy of cheap labour (lower class men who were willing to take on the dangerous work at sea), and the rapid development of ship technology, the 1600s was a prime time to set out on expeditions.
The fascination with the Passage continued for 300 years until a passage was finally navigated by sea in full in the 1900s. Over the course of history, Anthony Brandt describes the fascination with the Passage’s discovery as a tragedy (2011). He writes: “hubris, an all-too-human arrogance and pride that triggered a particular calamity” (p. 5) as being the tragedy of the exploration for the Passage. Despite the fascination of the public with it, the ice “remained intractable, impenetrable, and, for those who challenged it, a kind of fate” (p. 5) George Malcom Thomson reported that the Passage did not exist where popular imagination speculated it must be (Day, 2006). He noted: “the whole enterprise was founded on a misapprehension, a geographical fiction, a fairy-tale … and downright inventions that scholar manufacture to amaze themselves” (p. xxv).
The danger of the passage: Voyages to and in search of the passage were fraught. Many never returned, and those who did survive faced immense physical and mental challenges. There were, of course, significant difficulties with massive ice drifts and shelves. However, the relative location of the expeditions to the north pole led to issues with magnetic variation for compasses. Fog further complicated travel (Williams & Costley, 2010).
There were also extreme mental dangers to pursuing the NWP. MooSmith’s expedition in the mid-1700s reported “potentially murderous quarrels between officers” (Williams & Costley, 2010, p. xvi); John Franklin noted that the things that occurred on his ship “must not be known” (p. xvi); and it was noted that on the McClure, Beckler, and Collinson expeditions, “tensions” erupted “as captains and subordinate officers exchanged threats of court martial, and some officers spend years under close arrest on their ships” (p. xvi).
In the time of Bridgerton: The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 allowed for greater expeditions by the British Royal Navy (Day, 2006). This would have included surveys of a large portion of the global north and the Arctic. There were a large number of “successful” (depending on how you define it) land expeditions that had made progress in producing surveys and maps of the region. Despite significant ongoing interest in discovering the Passage, in particular, little progress had been made. Later still, despite more advanced mapping by the Hudson Bay Company and expeditions by many notable sailors, there was still no route by the 1820s (Day, 2006).
What does it signify? If a character in Bridgerton was voyaging to the Arctic, it could take them less than a year to reach areas of the Hudson Bay that would be suitable for a scientific voyage. That in itself is not overly dangerous. However, the reference to the Northwest Passage is an interesting literary point. Of all of the places to voyage in the Arctic, even at the time, it would have been an immensely dangerous trip to set out on. The persistent lack of success for a solid 30 years after this season takes place may reference the fact that this is a voyage that Debling is unlikely to ever return from.
It doesn’t help that Debling’s odds are really stacked against him. He does not eat meat, one of the only renewable sources of food for arctic expeditions. There is little to no fresh naturally occurring produce (during the Coppermine expedition, the surviving crew members famously ate lichen to survive once they lost the favour of local indigenous groups and fur traders) and did not do well.
Certainly, it lends a very tragic potential element to the story. The Arctic, if mentioned alone, is not necessarily an overly dangerous location to travel to. Yes, marine travel in the 1800s was still a dangerous endeavour in its own right, let alone in an area as unnavigable by sea as the Arctic. However, the North, in many regions, had active whaling expeditions, Indigenous populations that were willing to trade and work with sailors, and (in some areas) active fur trades. If the purpose of Debling’s travel was only to highlight his unique interests and sense of purpose, the show had many methods of doing so. The choice to reference a notorious and dangerous Northwest Passage, there is an extremely interesting element of danger that is introduced.
What would this potential marriage mean for Penelope? Of course, Penelope’s name may be a reference to the wife of Odysseus, who unwillingly takes ten years to return home after the Trojan war. In contrast to Colin, who returns with a steadfast conviction, Debling, as a traveler, may represent a kind of eternal limbo for Penelope, should she marry him. Although Debling’s trip is set to take 3 years, it would be hard to prove his death. Likely, she would be a widow for years, if not her entire life, before they were able to locate his ship. The HMS Terror was famously lost in 1845 and not located until 2016(!). As a result, Penelope would likely be stuck at home, awaiting his return, in the same tragic fashion of her namesake in Greek mythology.
As such, not only is there a potential tragic reference to Debling’s future, but there is also a dark illusion to what Penelope’s life may look like as his wife. Of course, this is all based entirely on implication, but it is an interesting act of speculative foreshadowing.
Thanks for reading!
References
Brandt, A. (2011). The man who ate his boots: the tragic history of the search for the northwest passage. Anchor.
Day, A. (2006). Historical dictionary of the discovery and exploration of the Northwest Passage (Vol. 3). Scarecrow Press.
Panikkar, B., Lemmond, B., Else, B., & Murray, M. (2018). Ice over troubled waters: Navigating the Northwest Passage using Inuit knowledge and scientific information. Climate Research, 75(1), 81-94.
Williams, G., & Costley, S. (2010). Arctic labyrinth: The quest for the Northwest Passage. University of California Press.

I am not at total war, I only have 83 MC used and have completed first reduction stat so I figure this is leaving this at under 30 as a floor.
Meter is all the way to 5, but not solid red. I got myself up to 5 by being the only one willing to kill assault carriers, or even attack the AA in the ground.
For the past 12-24 months (year is 2039) I have let their fleets kill all my platforms and orbitals in Earth, Mars, Mercury and Luna space. I built outpost mines in Mercury in-between their purges. Some of them come online for a bit, before the fleet comes back, destroys my orbitals and then takes out the mines.
For whatever reason they seem to mostly leave my few mines on Mars, and Luna alone. I build stuff out in the Asteroids from time to time. Sometimes they find them and blow them up, some they seem to ignore
The problem is I cannot even get a single decent Shipyard going, let alone a decent orbital with 3-4 of them. So there is absolutely nothing I can do right now to get any credible fleet going.
Yadda yadda blah blah suicide missile boats yea, I get it. I can build a decent monitor with 3-4 Athena Torps (these things are frikkin amazing btw). Problem is, they still take time, and you need a group to pose a real threat to a real fleet. No Shipyard I build lasts long enough to build any defense fleet.
The real issue is that the hate meter is not moving down at all. Despite doing my best to give them stuff to blow up, it never ever satisfied them. After 1-2 years of this I just don't know what to do? I cannot build up enough space research to get really far ahead (see the part where they blow everything up in Mercury/Venus space). Do I just plug along until I eventually research a drive that I can build real interplanetary ships so I can try and build something out at a Legrange or Trojan point and use that fleet to go defend earth? Currently I have Orion as best drive. Working towards Neutron Flux, but it is a LOT of research. I do have Grid, but that has so little Thrust it is barely usable for a defense fleet even though it can travel. It makes a decent Asteroid invader, which is how I am keeping my mineral economy going.
Will they ever get happy enough blowing up my shit to leave me alone?

​
​
SIEM T - Enigmatic (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 135, 6:12, MP3 15.23 Mb
SIEM T - Enigmatic concept (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 136, 6:11, MP3 15.15 Mb
SIEM T - Enigmatic dream (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 133, 6:19, MP3 15.49 Mb
SNOOKO - Funny Beet (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 130, 5:57, MP3 14.69 Mb
SNOOKO - Paco Di Bongo (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 128, 5:02, MP3 12.50 Mb
STRØBE - Dreamscape (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 80, 2:41, MP3 6.58 Mb
S_Zer0, SAKKO - Man of the Year (Club Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 125, 3:45, MP3 9.60 Mb
Santiago Krenz - Computer System (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 142, 5:25, MP3 13.05 Mb
Santiago Krenz - Oxigeno (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 150, 6:50, MP3 16.45 Mb
Sarah Berg - Sunset Dance (Original Mix) / Key C, BPM 118, 2:15, MP3 5.84 Mb
Sascha Dive - Time for a change (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 123, 6:15, MP3 15.32 Mb
Schiela - ALL NIGHT, BABY! (Benjamin Fröhlich Remix) / Key Am, BPM 122, 5:15, MP3 12.83 Mb
Schillist, Kxne, Daniel Best - Life Be Like (feat. KXNE) (Extended Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 124, 3:52, MP3 9.64 Mb
Schindergrimm - After the Silent (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 132, 7:16, MP3 17.59 Mb
Schindergrimm - Lost in Time (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 138, 6:46, MP3 16.36 Mb
Schindergrimm - Missing Link (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 133, 8:16, MP3 19.95 Mb
Sean Harris (UK) - Matter (Extended Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 128, 5:39, MP3 13.91 Mb
Sean Harris (UK) - Matter (Radio Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 128, 3:01, MP3 7.61 Mb
Sean Tyas - Lift (Chris Voro & Ode ReChill) / Key Dm, BPM 115, 6:18, MP3 15.40 Mb
Sebastiaan Hooft - Magazine (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 135, 6:42, MP3 16.44 Mb
Sebastiaan Hooft - Void (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 140, 2:45, MP3 6.72 Mb
Sebastian Darez - M87 (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 124, 6:50, MP3 16.75 Mb
Sebastian Darez - The Winter Is Coming (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 125, 6:55, MP3 16.94 Mb
Sebastian Davidson - Safe and Sound (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 100, 3:34, MP3 8.72 Mb
Segler - Kesäyöt (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 140, 6:26, MP3 15.81 Mb
Self Deception - Cat's Dreams (Original mix) / Key Fm, BPM 113, 4:02, MP3 10.14 Mb
Self Deception - Purple Fields (Original mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 110, 4:27, MP3 11.03 Mb
Selomi - Igwe (Tomahawk Bang Remix) / Key Fm, BPM 122, 6:37, MP3 16.38 Mb
Senbei, MGHN - Saji (feat. MGHN) (Gavrosh Remix) / Key Em, BPM 127, 3:18, MP3 8.39 Mb
Sentin, Wout Vantieghem - A Wall Of Glass (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 124, 6:17, MP3 15.43 Mb
Sergii Petrenko - Tropical Breeze (Format Groove Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 128, 6:30, MP3 15.72 Mb
Sergii Petrenko - Tropical Breeze (Techno Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 135, 6:10, MP3 14.91 Mb
Sevdavision - For Now (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 129, 5:24, MP3 13.09 Mb
Sevdavision - OK (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 106, 3:17, MP3 8.02 Mb
Sevdavision - Osoti (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 106, 2:54, MP3 7.08 Mb
Sevdavision - Pazar (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 91, 5:07, MP3 12.41 Mb
Sevdavision - The Old Goes (Original Mix) / Key B, BPM 100, 2:39, MP3 6.51 Mb
Sevdavision - Will We Meet Again (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 96, 5:40, MP3 13.75 Mb
Sharapov - Pictures (Instrumental Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 118, 5:17, MP3 12.91 Mb
Sharapov - Pictures (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 118, 5:17, MP3 12.92 Mb
Shelby Zyxx - Love Love (Original Mix) / Key B, BPM 145, 2:29, MP3 6.14 Mb
Shokh - FPM (Edit) / Key B, BPM 130, 5:22, MP3 13.17 Mb
Shokh - Pepper (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 130, 5:16, MP3 12.91 Mb
Shokh - Pur (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 138, 7:16, MP3 17.70 Mb
Shokh - Tonka (Original Mix) / Key Bb, BPM 125, 5:31, MP3 13.53 Mb
Shunus - Where's the Party At? (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 130, 5:18, MP3 12.95 Mb
Sillaz - The Pill (Extended) / Key Cm, BPM 131, 1:32, MP3 4.05 Mb
Silvertone (US) - Life's a B!tch (Extended Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 128, 5:34, MP3 13.92 Mb
Silvertone (US) - Out My Mind (Extended Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 128, 4:38, MP3 11.67 Mb
Simon Pagliari - Kiss Like This (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 130, 5:43, MP3 13.87 Mb
Simon Pagliari - Kiss Like This (Radio Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 130, 3:43, MP3 9.06 Mb
Singular Anomalies - I'll Tell You Tomorrow (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 137, 5:43, MP3 14.06 Mb
Singular Anomalies - Implant (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 137, 5:43, MP3 14.06 Mb
Singular Anomalies - Latent Heat (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 136, 5:46, MP3 14.16 Mb
Sinkix - Mermaids Of Osiris (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 121, 7:41, MP3 18.62 Mb
Sinkix - Mount Shipton (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 122, 7:09, MP3 17.34 Mb
Sir Soundbender - 1 4 Da Money (Miggedy's Full Count Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 8:10, MP3 19.84 Mb
Siskin - Fly Away (Hel:sløwed Extended Remix) / Key Em, BPM 124, 5:47, MP3 14.15 Mb
Skatman - Unchained (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 125, 5:56, MP3 14.37 Mb
Skurilla - Roll (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 140, 6:42, MP3 16.44 Mb
Slash Eleven - Sun God (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 130, 4:09, MP3 10.33 Mb
SleepCycle - Reflection (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 120, 3:28, MP3 8.59 Mb
Slygui - Devin (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 130, 7:58, MP3 19.68 Mb
Smilla - Bad Lost (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 139, 6:55, MP3 16.98 Mb
Soalex - Music Never Done (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 122, 3:17, MP3 8.75 Mb
Social Assassins - Restrain this (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 144, 5:47, MP3 14.21 Mb
Sofus Wiene - After The Beep (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 125, 2:58, MP3 7.32 Mb
Sofus Wiene - Xtasy (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 125, 3:23, MP3 8.30 Mb
Solc - Where Am I (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 128, 6:04, MP3 15.25 Mb
Solma - Stomatal Conductance (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 136, 6:12, MP3 15.16 Mb
Solma - Sugar Snake (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 138, 6:20, MP3 15.50 Mb
Solntsev - Watch Me Dancing All the Time (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 127, 6:26, MP3 15.69 Mb
Something Else DR - Abusadora (Extended) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 4:08, MP3 10.28 Mb
Something Else DR - Abusadora (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 2:40, MP3 6.78 Mb
Sonic Flash - Fly Away (Remix) / Key Dm, BPM 140, 4:56, MP3 12.14 Mb
Sonny Fodera, Blythe - Mind Still (feat. blythe) (Tita Lau Extended Remix) / Key Bm, BPM 130, 4:59, MP3 12.01 Mb
Sophie Nixdorf - Kiko (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 130, 6:35, MP3 15.88 Mb
Soul& - Ain't No Beauty (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 116, 4:27, MP3 11.03 Mb
Soul& - All The Doors Are Open (Original Mix) / Key A, BPM 95, 6:08, MP3 15.10 Mb
Soul& - Someday We Will Win (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 102, 5:31, MP3 13.62 Mb
Soul& - The Sailor (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 129, 3:23, MP3 8.47 Mb
Soul& - Those Blue Eyes (Mata Biru) (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 112, 3:39, MP3 9.14 Mb
Soul& - War (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 95, 4:36, MP3 11.42 Mb
Spaces Between - LaVey (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 120, 5:12, MP3 12.58 Mb
Spaces Between - Lineside (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 141, 4:09, MP3 10.08 Mb
Spaces Between - Summer 94 (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 165, 3:07, MP3 7.59 Mb
Spaces Between - Wilgefortis (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 122, 3:04, MP3 7.46 Mb
Speedman, Techno Cats, Hyper Hamster - Dirty Talk (Extended Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 148, 3:47, MP3 9.37 Mb
Speedman, Techno Cats, Hyper Hamster - Dirty Talk (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 148, 2:25, MP3 6.10 Mb
Spektrx - Chaoswave (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 133, 6:32, MP3 15.90 Mb
Spektrx - Confusion (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 131, 6:53, MP3 16.72 Mb
Spektrx - Particulas (Original Mix) / Key C, BPM 133, 7:16, MP3 17.63 Mb
Spring Rolls - Architecture Conceptuelle (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 130, 5:55, MP3 14.58 Mb
Spring Rolls - Etude Preliminaire (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 121, 2:59, MP3 7.53 Mb
Spring Rolls - L'Invitation (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 135, 5:21, MP3 13.21 Mb
Spring Rolls - La Porte Derobee (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 131, 7:05, MP3 17.38 Mb
Spring Rolls - Mixture Melodique (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 134, 6:13, MP3 15.28 Mb
Spring Rolls - Une Balade Sournoise (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 128, 6:45, MP3 16.58 Mb
Spring Rolls - Vibration Harcelante (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 134, 6:27, MP3 15.85 Mb
Spring Rolls - Violence Percussive (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 134, 5:44, MP3 14.14 Mb
Squeeze DJ, Vito Raisi - Analog Aura Adventure (Explorer Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 126, 6:38, MP3 16.16 Mb
Squeeze DJ, Vito Raisi - Analog Aura Adventure (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 126, 6:51, MP3 16.70 Mb
Stagz Jazz, Da Vynalist - Soft Landing (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 116, 6:54, MP3 16.91 Mb
Stefre Roland - Close Your Eyes (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 120, 3:18, MP3 8.13 Mb
Step2Sun - Dance With Me (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 130, 7:13, MP3 17.51 Mb
Step2Sun - Nice, Very Nice (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 128, 7:07, MP3 17.24 Mb
Steven Liquid - Sunset Coast (Sunny Island Freaks Remix) / Key Abm, BPM 124, 6:01, MP3 14.74 Mb
Stoked - It's the Groove (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 132, 6:02, MP3 14.60 Mb
Stoned Chicken - Mood Developer (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 126, 6:10, MP3 14.84 Mb
Store P - Det Kunne Begynt Å Brenne (Boge Remix) / Key Abm, BPM 127, 4:13, MP3 10.37 Mb
Subcisco - Reset (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 124, 3:25, MP3 8.40 Mb
Sunlounger, Betafish - Beachwalk (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 160, 3:22, MP3 8.37 Mb
Supaderb - The Days (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 126, 5:36, MP3 13.59 Mb
Super-Secret - Cappuccino (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 126, 5:36, MP3 13.60 Mb
Super-Secret - FrenchDarkProg (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 126, 6:06, MP3 14.81 Mb
Super-Secret - Mister Techno Cox (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 126, 6:06, MP3 14.81 Mb
Svarog - Psalm (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 131, 6:07, MP3 14.80 Mb
Sven Neawolf - In meinen Gedanken (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 160, 3:57, MP3 9.66 Mb
Sven Nielsen - You (Andy Lizard Pres. LZD Melodia Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 124, 6:43, MP3 16.50 Mb
Sven Nielsen - You (Andy Lizard Pres. LZD Melodia Vocal Intro Edit) / Key Gm, BPM 124, 6:46, MP3 16.61 Mb
Sven Vath, Gregor Tresher - Flashback (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 135, 7:14, MP3 17.85 Mb
Sven Wegner - Rollercoast (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 120, 5:17, MP3 12.82 Mb
Swomp - Balance (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 145, 2:59, MP3 7.43 Mb
Sym Bioz - Celestial (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 132, 6:36, MP3 16.18 Mb
Sym Bioz - Cerebral (Original Mix) / Key A, BPM 132, 6:42, MP3 16.40 Mb
Sym Bioz - Disinhibition (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 132, 6:40, MP3 16.32 Mb
Sym Bioz - Latency (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 132, 6:38, MP3 16.25 Mb
Sym Bioz - Megahertz (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 132, 6:40, MP3 16.32 Mb
Sym Bioz - Ultra (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 132, 6:38, MP3 16.25 Mb
T.Markakis - 1979 (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 123, 5:20, MP3 13.06 Mb
T.Markakis - Deeper Thoughts (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 123, 7:09, MP3 17.44 Mb
THE.PROVIDER - Resonate (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 135, 6:12, MP3 15.13 Mb
TRFN - Plain Jane (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 145, 2:16, MP3 5.98 Mb
TURN X - Nine Is God (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 123, 6:06, MP3 14.92 Mb
Takairo Oishi - Beyond the Odd Grid (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 138, 6:44, MP3 16.37 Mb
That Kid Chris - Tonight (Apache Tribal Mix (Remastered)) / Key A, BPM 134, 9:03, MP3 21.87 Mb
That Kid Chris, DJ Mada - That's It! (Hyperdrive Mix (Remastered)) / Key Am, BPM 134, 8:22, MP3 20.23 Mb
The Bestseller - Moments (Extended Mix) / Key Am, BPM 114, 3:52, MP3 9.53 Mb
The Bossline - Take It (Ibiza Chill Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 114, 2:36, MP3 6.52 Mb
The Dudes [COL] - Colera (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 130, 6:39, MP3 16.12 Mb
The Dudes [COL] - La Libertad (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 126, 6:13, MP3 15.08 Mb
The Notwist, What Are People For? - illusions (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 159, 4:47, MP3 11.77 Mb
The Phantom (CR) - Do You Remember Love (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 132, 7:26, MP3 17.94 Mb
The Phantom (CR) - Tribu (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 128, 5:53, MP3 14.23 Mb
The Populists - Step Inside (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 127, 6:53, MP3 16.84 Mb
The Regular Guy - Everlasting Love (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 124, 6:47, MP3 16.51 Mb
The Sleeper, Lju Je - Pod Room (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 120, 8:23, MP3 20.29 Mb
Theodor Nabuurs - Feels Like High (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 125, 4:58, MP3 12.26 Mb
Thomas Baumhauer - Juno (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 125, 5:22, MP3 13.10 Mb
Thorkell Máni, 2 HANDS - Yellow Jacket Boys (Addi Stefansson Remix) / Key Em, BPM 128, 5:44, MP3 14.11 Mb
Thorkell Máni, 2 HANDS - Yellow Jacket Boys (G.Roy Remix) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 6:10, MP3 15.15 Mb
Thorkell Máni, 2 HANDS - Yellow Jacket Boys (SKYN Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 94, 6:02, MP3 14.83 Mb
Tier Ra Nichi - Beats & Rhythm (Original Version) / Key Fm, BPM 120, 7:28, MP3 18.15 Mb
Tier Ra Nichi - Deeper, Let's Go (Let's Go Deeper Voxstrumental) / Key Gm, BPM 125, 5:38, MP3 13.75 Mb
Tier Ra Nichi - Lab In The Am (The Late Night Operation Imprint) / Key F, BPM 123, 6:46, MP3 16.48 Mb
Tier Ra Nichi - Mars On Tap (New Direction Instrumental Imprint) / Key Fm, BPM 125, 6:16, MP3 15.28 Mb
Tijn Driessen - In Bloei (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 118, 5:48, MP3 14.33 Mb
Tim Baresko, RAYZIR, Daniel Orpi - Takin' Over (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 132, 5:25, MP3 13.19 Mb
Tim Olsson - Is It Really Love (Original Mix) / Key G, BPM 114, 2:01, MP3 5.40 Mb
Timothy Allen - Rapture (Extended Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 135, 5:40, MP3 13.75 Mb
Tokyo Cartel - Theme From Tokyo (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 122, 4:45, MP3 11.70 Mb
Tokyo T, Jay Cara - Do It Like Me (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 128, 6:30, MP3 15.77 Mb
Tokyo T, Jay Cara - Tranquilao (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 128, 6:38, MP3 16.07 Mb
Tomas Bisquierra - Beatz Up (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 128, 6:04, MP3 14.93 Mb
Tommy Crash - Don't Sleep (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 125, 4:40, MP3 11.34 Mb
Tommy Crash - Don't Tell Me Your Name (Original Mix) / Key C, BPM 126, 5:28, MP3 13.23 Mb
Tommy Crash - She Bad (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 127, 5:45, MP3 13.94 Mb
Tony Deledda - Everybody (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 120, 5:46, MP3 13.94 Mb
Tony Deledda - Something Intense (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 125, 6:43, MP3 16.23 Mb
Tony Ess - Just a Packet of Crisps (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 140, 5:29, MP3 13.32 Mb
Tony Postigo - Take It Over (Extended Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 124, 6:29, MP3 15.89 Mb
Tooloud - I Still Think About You (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 125, 2:51, MP3 6.91 Mb
Toru S., Benign Polypupu - A Day Before My Birthday (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 124, 5:56, MP3 14.54 Mb
Tough Art - Caribean Swag (Extended Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 129, 6:18, MP3 15.42 Mb
Tough Art - Ghetto (Extended Mix) / Key Em, BPM 128, 5:06, MP3 12.54 Mb
Traumer - Lemerci (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 128, 6:25, MP3 15.64 Mb
Traumer - Rodage (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 127, 6:50, MP3 16.64 Mb
Tree Threes - Change with Me (Original Mix) / Key E, BPM 121, 5:56, MP3 14.32 Mb
Tree Threes - Stone Turned (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 124, 6:07, MP3 14.79 Mb
Treibsand - Muchacho (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 128, 5:46, MP3 14.20 Mb
Tren - Closing Loop (Original Mix) / Key F#, BPM 118, 4:45, MP3 11.66 Mb
Tren - Essays in Idleness (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 124, 4:43, MP3 11.57 Mb
Tren - Tensor (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 124, 5:45, MP3 14.05 Mb
Trentemøller - A Different Light (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 130, 5:50, MP3 14.22 Mb
Tripolism - Good Times (Extended Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 122, 6:21, MP3 15.38 Mb
Truncate - Remember (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 138, 5:08, MP3 12.64 Mb
Truncate - Remember (V2) / Key Gm, BPM 142, 4:46, MP3 11.78 Mb
Truncate - That Chord Again (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 142, 4:35, MP3 11.32 Mb
Tueba - Last Forever (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 128, 2:23, MP3 5.90 Mb
Tumbian - Kulya (HUGEhands Remix) / Key Abm, BPM 125, 6:20, MP3 15.41 Mb
Tumbian - Kulya (Leeman Brothers Remix) / Key Cm, BPM 124, 5:54, MP3 14.37 Mb
Tumbian - Kulya (Original Mix) / Key Ab, BPM 126, 5:08, MP3 12.53 Mb
Twin Scream - Que Soy (Extended Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 126, 3:57, MP3 9.74 Mb
Twin Scream - Que Soy (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 126, 2:58, MP3 7.40 Mb
Tydra - Touchdown (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 130, 4:28, MP3 11.06 Mb
UMIIN - Fraction (Das Ton Remix) / Key Cm, BPM 115, 5:17, MP3 12.92 Mb
UMIIN - Fraction (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 108, 5:29, MP3 13.40 Mb
Uncertain - Close (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 143, 4:29, MP3 10.83 Mb
Uncertain - Different (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 140, 5:07, MP3 12.36 Mb
Uncertain - Donna (Mark Broom Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 143, 4:02, MP3 9.74 Mb
Uncertain - Donna (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 143, 4:32, MP3 10.96 Mb
Uncertain - Extreme (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 141, 4:06, MP3 9.89 Mb
Uncertain - Physical (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 141, 4:20, MP3 10.46 Mb
VDMV, Then Ruloks - Trust (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 140, 6:23, MP3 15.58 Mb
VE/RA - All Night (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 93, 5:14, MP3 12.84 Mb
VNDM - Flash (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 135, 6:03, MP3 14.76 Mb
VNDM - Look at Me (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 131, 4:48, MP3 11.76 Mb
Valentino Favetta - Shake That (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 125, 3:35, MP3 8.81 Mb
Valjus - Luxury Vacation (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 120, 5:36, MP3 13.70 Mb
Vallilo - Get Money (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 129, 5:17, MP3 13.10 Mb
Vandermann - Lifeline (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 132, 4:33, MP3 11.18 Mb
Vanillaz - Lets Get Lost (Freudenthal Remix) (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 124, 7:05, MP3 17.30 Mb
Vanstone - Close to Me (Club Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 125, 5:19, MP3 13.36 Mb
Victor Moreno - Paradise (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 124, 7:14, MP3 17.54 Mb
Vier Equis - Mentor (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 120, 8:40, MP3 21.14 Mb
Villano - Back to the Oldschool (Extended Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 128, 5:03, MP3 12.17 Mb
Villano - Back to the Oldschool (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 128, 4:16, MP3 10.31 Mb
Vinback, JUNAR, Madaë - Everything (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 150, 3:00, MP3 7.69 Mb
Vincentsnap - N'oublie Pas (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 124, 8:48, MP3 21.38 Mb
Vinsent D. Vanitas - Splatter Spread (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 145, 5:23, MP3 13.36 Mb
Visage Music, Ragie Ban - Time After Time (Extended Mix) / Key Em, BPM 124, 5:29, MP3 13.43 Mb
Vitorino - Alchemy (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 141, 5:02, MP3 12.70 Mb
Vitorino - Dark Tape (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 146, 4:56, MP3 12.45 Mb
Vitorino - Isolate (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 147, 4:51, MP3 12.24 Mb
Vitorino - Red (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 144, 4:56, MP3 12.45 Mb
Vitorino - Survive (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 140, 5:02, MP3 12.68 Mb
Vitorino - Time Machine (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 146, 5:22, MP3 13.50 Mb
Vittorio Brena - Rimini By Night (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 126, 5:41, MP3 13.73 Mb
Vittorio Brena - Start (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 126, 6:20, MP3 15.29 Mb
Vivaro, BLOTE - Penthouse (Extended) / Key Cm, BPM 126, 3:49, MP3 9.54 Mb
Vivienne WU - Rave All Night (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 138, 6:02, MP3 14.67 Mb
Vivienne WU - You Forgot Who I Am (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 140, 5:36, MP3 13.64 Mb
Volodia Rizak - Shaker (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 130, 6:02, MP3 15.04 Mb
Voost - Drums (Extended Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 128, 5:38, MP3 13.99 Mb
Vortex - Auto Erotica (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 127, 7:27, MP3 18.05 Mb
Vortex - Garuda (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 128, 7:38, MP3 18.51 Mb
Vortex - Pressed (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 122, 7:28, MP3 18.09 Mb
Vortex - Salt (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 5:27, MP3 13.25 Mb
Vortex - Shard (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 128, 7:16, MP3 17.61 Mb
Vortex - The Fly (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 127, 6:34, MP3 15.94 Mb
WONGA, Sohowt - Enter The Rave (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 138, 5:28, MP3 13.40 Mb
Wally Lopez, German Brigante, Sarah Carter - Touch (German Brigante Extended Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 123, 5:38, MP3 13.60 Mb
Wally Lopez, German Brigante, Sarah Carter - Touch (German Brigante Instrumental) / Key Ebm, BPM 123, 5:38, MP3 13.60 Mb
Wally Lopez, German Brigante, Sarah Carter - Touch (German Brigante Remix) / Key Ebm, BPM 123, 2:57, MP3 7.16 Mb
What Are People For? - criminals r snoozing (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 115, 4:48, MP3 11.82 Mb
Whirl, Engelbert - Petrichor (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 120, 5:28, MP3 13.22 Mb
Whirl, Pentia, Engelbert - ADSR (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 124, 6:20, MP3 15.29 Mb
Whirl, Pentia, Engelbert - ADSR (Those Shadows Remix) / Key Dbm, BPM 123, 5:58, MP3 14.42 Mb
Whitesquare - Ephemeral Eyes (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 127, 6:54, MP3 16.67 Mb
Whitesquare - XPR (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 124, 6:33, MP3 15.83 Mb
Will Møller - Unaffected (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 126, 3:05, MP3 7.60 Mb
Wlack - Claps (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 137, 5:40, MP3 13.87 Mb
Wlack - Loverdose (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 136, 5:36, MP3 13.73 Mb
Wlack - Perc Beep (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 137, 5:12, MP3 12.75 Mb
Wlack - Time (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 137, 5:43, MP3 14.01 Mb
WolmeR - Chrono Synthesis (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 132, 4:38, MP3 11.39 Mb
WolmeR - Nebula (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 133, 5:12, MP3 12.74 Mb
Womp-Life - Pegasus (Club Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 125, 5:38, MP3 14.02 Mb
Womp-Life - Pegasus (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 125, 7:01, MP3 17.32 Mb
X-Statik - Rapture (Edit) / Key Em, BPM 134, 4:06, MP3 10.16 Mb
XAAV - Mind Connection (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 124, 5:14, MP3 12.98 Mb
XAAV - Take It Back (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 127, 5:02, MP3 12.45 Mb
XENEZE - I Can't Let You Go (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 105, 3:12, MP3 7.79 Mb
Xerxes-k, Isse Maraà - Bound to Break feat. Xerxes-K (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 125, 7:08, MP3 17.35 Mb
Ximena, Ali X, Pvlomo - Pastillitas (Ali X Remix) / Key Gm, BPM 125, 6:59, MP3 17.08 Mb
Ximena, Ali X, Pvlomo - Pastillitas (BadWolf Remix) / Key Em, BPM 120, 5:59, MP3 14.70 Mb
Ximena, Ali X, Pvlomo - Pastillitas (Phunkadelica Mitsubishi Mix) / Key Em, BPM 125, 5:36, MP3 13.79 Mb
Ximena, Ali X, Pvlomo - Pastillitas (Shorter Version) / Key Em, BPM 120, 6:43, MP3 16.44 Mb
Ximena, Ali X, Pvlomo - Pastillitas (TH3OS Remix) / Key Fm, BPM 132, 4:40, MP3 11.54 Mb
Xrolac - Inhuman (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 128, 10:02, MP3 24.27 Mb
Xrolac - Xrolac (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 136, 7:11, MP3 17.43 Mb
YAAS - Where Have You Been (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 125, 3:15, MP3 7.96 Mb
Yan Cook - Freak Show (Original Mix) / Key F#, BPM 128, 5:42, MP3 13.71 Mb
Yan Cook - Loophole (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 129, 6:20, MP3 15.26 Mb
Yan Cook - Quatro (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 129, 6:09, MP3 14.80 Mb
Yan Cook - Rose (Original Mix) / Key Ebm, BPM 130, 6:35, MP3 15.83 Mb
Yanamaste - 8 Tone (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 145, 4:53, MP3 11.78 Mb
Yanamaste - All night (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 145, 5:20, MP3 12.84 Mb
Yanamaste - Dance (Original Mix) / Key Em, BPM 140, 5:03, MP3 12.16 Mb
Yanamaste - Trojan (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 145, 5:00, MP3 12.05 Mb
Yannick Weineck - Mandelbrot (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 141, 5:00, MP3 12.14 Mb
YolcuBeats - Et si tu n'existais pas (Original Mix) / Key Dm, BPM 95, 3:27, MP3 8.67 Mb
Yooniq - Come & Get It (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 126, 3:58, MP3 9.71 Mb
You Man - Birdcage (Original Mix) / Key E, BPM 109, 5:39, MP3 14.06 Mb
You Man - Birdcage (Theus Mago Version) / Key Bm, BPM 124, 4:39, MP3 11.64 Mb
ZARROUKI.YFGD - Simple Mind (FREE DOWNLOAD) (Original Mix) / Key Am, BPM 125, 7:37, MP3 18.70 Mb
ZUCC (BR) - I Like That (Original Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 126, 6:06, MP3 15.03 Mb
Zakari&Blange - Control Data (Original Mix) / Key Bbm, BPM 135, 6:38, MP3 16.30 Mb
Zappa, Henry Sour - Alien (Original Mix) / Key Fm, BPM 126, 3:18, MP3 8.04 Mb
Zerevo, AMRND - Hey Bitch (Extended Mix) / Key Em, BPM 125, 3:04, MP3 7.59 Mb
Zerevo, AMRND - Hey Bitch (Radio Edit) / Key Em, BPM 125, 2:18, MP3 5.75 Mb
Zoogy Bless - Que Ma (Extended) / Key Cm, BPM 126, 4:36, MP3 11.19 Mb
Zoogy Bless - Que Ma (Original Mix) / Key Cm, BPM 126, 3:14, MP3 7.91 Mb
shotobi - Impostor (Original Mix) / Key Abm, BPM 126, 4:22, MP3 10.60 Mb
sloli - Trainer (Original Mix) / Key Dbm, BPM 143, 5:33, MP3 13.54 Mb
Émilie Rachel - Get Low (Extended Mix) / Key Gm, BPM 124, 5:02, MP3 12.13 Mb
İsmail Uluçay - Blind (Original Mix) / Key F#m, BPM 140, 2:51, MP3 7.01 Mb
Забавка і Дмитрик - Винокурня (Original Mix) / Key Eb, BPM 113, 1:32, MP3 4.01 Mb
Забавка і Дмитрик - Музика і матюки (Original Mix) / Key D, BPM 132, 1:12, MP3 3.19 Mb
Забавка і Дмитрик - Шимпанзе (Original Mix) / Key Bm, BPM 86, 1:24, MP3 3.69 Mb
​
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Based on the song titles and limited information we have on them, it looks like Odysseus is going to go from Calypso's island straight to Ithaca. Assuming this is the case, I feel like that the entire section with Phaeacia could have been a saga of it's own. Odysseus recounting his whole journey could make for a good song. There's even a part where a minstrel sings about Achilles and Odysseus during the Trojan war which causes Odysseus to start crying. Seems like it could be a really emotional song and maybe allow for some way to incorporate Achilles into it.

The Truth by Hermione Jean Granger
Summary:
Dear Reader,
This is not a love story. This is the story of how I killed them - my best friend and my worst enemy. If you read this, I am dead. I may be forgotten, but this story shan’t.
—————————
Knowing her days are numbered, Hermione Granger - Golden Girl and Brightest witch of her age - decides to write down the truth. The truth about the war and the events that everyone will interpret wrongly. Since the Order wasn't making any headway in defeating Voldemort, the outlook had been grim for far too long. After Hermione gets kipnapped, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
TWs: Torture (implied and explicit), Referenced abuse, major and minor character death, violence, explicit content

Hi, guys! I'm back. I've just finished reading Starset's new novel, A Brief History of the Future, and i really needed to share it.
Some of you may know me from my previous posts on the Starset lore:

• In "The Starset lore Part I: Transmissions", I covered the events told in The Prox Transmissions (Starset's first novel) and linked them to the album Transmissions.
• In "The Starset lore Part II: DivisionsThe Starset lore Part II: Divisions", I tried to gather the information we had on the new storyline, mainly based on Divisions content (Horizons hadn't released yet by then) and I shared my speculations about its meaning.

Now that I've read this book, I want to sum up what we have now. Keep in mind that, for obvious reasons, this post is all spoiler content. If you plan to read the book(s) I encourage you to do so, because I'm unveiling some of the main "plot-twists" in the second book. I won't be writing a literal summary of the book's plot (I will focus on the content more than in the "drama"), but key elements of it will appear. Also, I'm taking for granted you are already familiar with the contents in The Prox Transmissions -if not, I recommend you reading my post or just dropping this post altogether and go read the book!
If you have already read the books, don't plan to read them or don't care about the spoilers, stay with me along this long post because you will discover much about Divisions, Horizons... and what's coming next!!
Let's go then!
In a unknown year the novel starts in a world dominated by a state called the New East. it's not explicit in the book, but we have reasons to identify the New East with China: it is a current superpower and the powerful people in control have Chinese names. This state is governed by a Governing Committee, composed by Ministers that stay in charge for 5 years, with an exception: the Minister of Security, also known as MinSec. He is the head of the New East's secret police and he is to remain in charge for life.
Prior to 2024, Aston Wise (remember he was one of the protagonists of the previous novel!) is locked up by the US Government. They force him to create the BMI and its Architecture. In 2024, as I have said, the New East manages to obtain it and the big war starts. This part of the story is also explained deeper in a video (called "Initial Debriefing", available in Starset's YouTube channel since September 9th, 2021), with some minor incongruencies:

In the year 2010, the US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency -or DARPA- began work on a neural link system known as the "Brain Machine Interface" developed under the highest levels of secrecy. This technology was to be used in covert espionage campaigns with the goal of giving the US a major advantage in the ever-growing cyber warfare battlefield. The intention was to use the "BMI" on unsuspecting foreign agents, giving US Intelligence a remote line into their minds. Launched in 2020 to great success, the BMI provided a window into the intentions and secrets of numerous potential adversaries. Then, in 2021, a botched operation allowed this technology to fall into the hands of an undisclosed state who would then use it agains the US itself for over a decade. This state -which came to be known as the New East- used this technology to syphon intellectual property and assert control over the US, allowing it to rise swiftly as a global superpower. In the early 2030s, the crippled US launched an attack to the New East. This was quickly thwarted. However, as the New East was fully aware and prepared, in the end, the US and its allies capitulated and became known simply as the New West. Citizens of the New West, now mostly impoverished laborers, were offered BMI implantation -sold on the wonders of its amazing benefits. Eventually though, all were made to comply. Only then did the true goals of the New East become apparent.

The New West is a de facto and de iure protectorate. The New West has its own local police -that dealt with murder and robbery-, but the military and, most important, the Civil Authorities (CA), are controlled by MinSec -focused on thought crime.
Soon after the end of the war, some people were drafted for the reclamation in Virginia by the New East army. This was a forced-labor suicide mission because it was a fallout zone. The goal was the recovery of documents from the US, such as blueprints for advanced weapons and intel. Those who survived, developed NeuroTIDS (neural tissue interface degeneration syndrome) because of the radiation.
Once in control of the US (now New West), the New East implanted into all citizens the BMI. Now, people deal with three layers of reality: unaltered reality (UR), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Considering the BMI, there are three states:

• BMI glowing white (normal state: people are in UR with elements of AR).
• BMI glowing blue (also called frosting: people are in VR having some pleasant experience, while looking absent and apathetic in the outside). See an example of person frosting in the Diving Bell music video.
• BMI glowing red (also called supplication).

(There also exists the Everything Machine in this storyline. Indeed, people ate only printed food, as real food as reserved for the New East).
On top of this, there’s an intelligent algorythm or artificial intelligence in the Architecture, called the Overseer. It is capable of detecting thought crimes by accessing a person's sensory input and also altering their perceptions (for example, blurring texts from banned books). When a thought crime is detected, CAs intervene and turn the perpetrator into a supplicant. Supplicants are stuck in VR prisons while their bodies wander in the streets or are collected and put into "corrals". See an example of a supplication facility in Where the Skies Ends music video.
The protectorate of the New East upon the New West is mantained thanks to the Quantum Comunicator, which keeps both connected and also connected to the Architecture
On the other hand, there's a rebel network still in function. They manage to meet and develop their plans by modding their BMIs, so that they become undetectable under the eyes of the Overseer. Their plan is to trap the MinSec and use their credentials to get access to the Architecture and destroy it from the inside.
(In Manifest music video you can see examples of people frosting, people supplicated, the modding minor surgery, the rebels, the CAs using their "freezing" weapons and supplicating civilians and a bigwig from the New East, maybe the MinSec himself).
Also, it is said that the New East didn't manage to conquer all the Old West (US) territories. There's rumours about the socalled Western Territories, free land where some former rebels already live, though its real existence it's in never confirmed in book. In The Breach music video we can see how a family leaving in the New West takes the opportunity of escaping into the Western Territories during some sort of shutdown.
The New West capital is established in Philadelphia, where the events in A Brief History of the Future are set. Here's the Quantum Communication Center and the New West Center for Advanced Innovation (CAI), where the most brilliant programming students are sent to develop their skills and work for the New West/East. One of this students is one of the protagonists of this book, Thomas Bell (again, someone whose name we are already familiar...), who quickly proves to be the best one and gets to be chosen as the Director's assistant. Eventually we get to discover the Director is Aston Wise and later on we find out he is the Architect himself.
A feature or app of the BMI that will reveal crucial to the plot is the Shadowcast: one can frost but, instead of being conscious in a VR, "enters" inside a celebrity's mind for an hour and experiences all they are experiencing live (the user is passive and can only perceive, but not intervene or influence the shadowcast celebrity into doing anything). You can see an example of this in Symbiotic music video, where the user is finally able to successfully Occupy the body of the celebrity. In the book, when this happens, the person occupied has their BMI turned purple.
In the book, Occupation will be a tool used by Bell and Wise, but also by the government, in an attempt of using the supplicated bodies to their own purposes. The original project launched by the New East and commissioned to the Director of the CAI (Aston Wise), was called by Wise himself 'Project X'. New East wanted to present it to the citizens as a way of emancipating from work: while working, you can let yourself be occupied by the Overseer, who wil perform your job while you can be having fun in VR. In Icarus music video you can see an ad made by the New East to promote the "benefits" of this technology (called Werk here); the other ads are based on previous BMI technology (AR, VR and Shadowcast). (Fun fact: have you noticed that the actor in 3:12 is the same from the Ricochet music video?).
As I said in the beginning, it is not my goal to sum up the book's plot and even though I have already spoiled you much info and some plot-twists, I'm not telling you here how the story of the protagonists develops and how it ends. However, I can't refrain from telling you this: the last page of the book has a QR that redirects to a video that has me really excited.
In the video, we see a man. He tells us it is 2048. In spring 2026, the New East took over the US. But... guess who's back! Oh, yes, the Order! Or rather they were there all along. In fact, the man who's talking to us is Stephen Browning! On July 4th of 2026, after the New East invasion, the Order tried to launch a spacerocket to get to "a lonely planet" (Prox!), but it was intercepted by the New East and then the army destroyed their base, so they lost all hope in a future on another planet. However, they managed to hide a "time mechanism" (I guess the same they had in The Prox Transmissions) and, finally, sent a message to 2024, warning us about this future that awaits us. Then he sais:

Dear Order friends, the time has finally arrived. We're headed to space. We're going go Prox.

This announcement matches Starset's video from six months ago ("It begins. And it ends. Now."), where we see images of astronauts and spacerockets, evoking space travel. Wow! Did you miss that "space-y" aesthetic, plots and sound from Transmissions and Vessels? Because it sounds like we're getting them back! Note that at the end of this video, the three dots of the BMI are occupied by three symbols:

• The bottom one is the symbol of the Order, appears at the beginning of each chapter in The Prox Transmissions.
• The middle one is the symbol of Divisions album, I'd say it's a symbol of the rebels.
• The top one is... unknown? It is quite similar to me to the symbol in Faultline, but I guess it represents the "following chapter"? Who knows.

It also matches the music video for Starset's last single, Brave New Word! And there's more news: the end of the video linked in A Brief History Of the Future ends with a "to be continued in Spring 2025".
So... Again, there are some questions left unanswered (and I love that!): How are both books linked? Are they the same Aston Wise and Thomas Bell, but in an alternative timeline? From where will the story continue? (The Order in 2048 colonising Prox?). I'm soooo excited to learn what's coming next and to listen Starset's next album (I love Brave New World).
Let me know about your impressions, opinions, theories... feel free to add any info I could have missed, to correct any piece I could be mistaken about, etc. Thank you so much for your attention (I literally created this account only to write these Starset lore posts I feel very invested to and English isn't even my first or second language), I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful!!

As you may know, the "The mysterious cities of gold" (or "Esteban, the child of the sun") was a French/Japanese series which aired when Oda was little and has many uncanny similarities with One Piece:

• Many adventurers set sail to find the lost city of gold (El Dorado) in the New World
• Ancient highly advanced lost civilization which mastered solar power / nuclear fusion (Ancient Kingdom & nuclear fusion / solar energy)
• An ancient language that only the last girl of an exterminated tribe can read (Robin)
• The protagonist (Esteban) being the prophesied child of the sun (Luffy / sun god Nika)
• Etc etc

Check out for example this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBrKuS_-XiY for more information.
I'm interested in the ending, since it might give some clues on the ending of One Piece. As such, I watched the last three episodes ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjDdSWF3fIs , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e11P3j_uwWQ , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUPVJZpTHAo ). In these episodes, the heroes arrive at the lost city of gold (i.e. Raftel), discover the history of the ancient war (void century), and fight over the great treasure, which is an immense source of energy (similar to the Mother Flame, nuclear fusion, solar energy). Here's a summary of all episodes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Mysterious_Cities_of_Gold_episodes , if you want a bit of context.
Obviously, Oda has taken inspiration from many series / legends / historical facts, and so most definitely won't copy this specific series to the letter. However, this series is a special case, so I wanted to try guessing parts of the ending of One Piece based on it.
Inspired by the last 3 episodes of "The mysterious cities of gold", here are some theories on the ending of One Piece:

• The weapon that shot the mother flame isn't Uranus, but instead something similar to this ugly-looking flying machine, belonging to the Olmecs (evil space aliens, or Tenryuubito / Imu):

https://preview.redd.it/2b2xnazg2e1d1.jpg?width=1370&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4dcee062859a9cbf42f0bd54a4b58e7c96326165

• Raftel is hidden under Reverse Mountain. At one point, this rocky dome above Raftel will open in 4 quadrants. In the series, it's 6 quadrants, but Reverse Mountain being divided in 4 makes more sense.

https://preview.redd.it/vjem9dv83e1d1.png?width=1270&format=png&auto=webp&s=9ec93b67988131a0a5e630c0a58e0f302e5b9baa
https://preview.redd.it/igzu401a3e1d1.png?width=1281&format=png&auto=webp&s=cead920ecebae8177d81543c8b6114d87995ee7c
https://preview.redd.it/wiikncdl3e1d1.png?width=1273&format=png&auto=webp&s=42deeda1198fa609e2b4d43c7e46b7ffbbc7e5c1
https://preview.redd.it/l4zzebl67e1d1.png?width=1275&format=png&auto=webp&s=49e077890354e161b1f3d6bfb7bffa6f7feef93b

• 2 individuals (the 2 sovereigns) are needed to open Raftel: Robin (left; maybe to read the poneglyphs?) and Luffy (right).

https://preview.redd.it/s5p5jetv3e1d1.png?width=830&format=png&auto=webp&s=9fe57e85e968b9f5df3486ff6e578b79627efd81

• Luffy has the power of the sun, i.e. limitless power granting limitless freedom. The sun / Luffy's power is needed to turn on the ancient technology, as Esteban's power to summon the sun turns on the ancient city's defenses.

https://preview.redd.it/okthkk7n4e1d1.png?width=1270&format=png&auto=webp&s=132dd26ede54dbf0443e3fe2e3c5a8dfb96ebad6

• Raftel will be where the final battle happens, not Mariejois. It will be a free-for-all between the factions of Luffy, Shanks, Dragon, Blackbeard, and Imu (at minimum, I guess Cross Guild should also be there). The energy source in Raftel will be unleashed, leading to cataclysmic earth-shattering events, which will probably destroy the Red Line and thus Mariejois / Fishman Island with it.
• The great kingdom (Mu, with the Hevans) and a rival kingdom (Atlanta) both mastered nuclear fusion / solar power. They were extremely advanced, yet the cities and citizens are drawn in the aesthetics of old Aztec (Mu) and Greek (Atlanta) cities. They fought for a century until they essentially nuked each other, and both were submerged under the ocean.

https://preview.redd.it/lmxaev2s6e1d1.png?width=1271&format=png&auto=webp&s=71c83c09c2856a7a1adc75370b6cff441e0706ac
https://preview.redd.it/njop76kt6e1d1.png?width=1275&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5e474d68f35f56539da84a504d55523cf9ab704
https://preview.redd.it/tlqwffbu6e1d1.png?width=1267&format=png&auto=webp&s=28b159edf2213714ddd7a8044148fc6079f94be5
https://preview.redd.it/7mexgbpv6e1d1.png?width=1267&format=png&auto=webp&s=6aaeda10bad1d4b542f695fc6dda141b25278404
https://preview.redd.it/9cg4383v6e1d1.png?width=1269&format=png&auto=webp&s=6c491ad0810346e8d2efa08420b8a8035dcfb3dd

• The great kingdom had 7 allied countries, and they all had cities made entirely of gold, most of which are submerged. Examples: Shandora, Wano (the land of gold). When the water will recede, the sun will hit all of these cities, and they will all "turn on". This will lead to a new era of peace and prosperity, where citizens everywhere will be able to use the advanced technology for better lives.
• Imu is akin to the Olmecs, i.e. a space alien which seeks to greedily use the eternal flame for the longevity of their species, and consider all others to be trash. The Tenryuubito could also be from the same space alien race as Imu (astronaut suits), or they could instead be remnants of the Atlanteans (underwater, scuba bubble helmet), I can't decide.

https://preview.redd.it/nmqo0o5d5e1d1.png?width=1007&format=png&auto=webp&s=b93e8b675785688ea25b592eff7659add35b73a2
Even if all of these theories are false because Oda won't copy, I recommend watching the last 3 episodes. It was a big hit in Japan and France at the time, and really captures the adventurous feeling of One Piece. Each episode ends with a small segment on the real history which inspired the series, which is maybe the origin of Oda's love for real history and legends, and maybe even of his blending of fictional pirate-era sci-fi fantasy with real history and legends.
TL;DR: Raftel is hidden under Reverse Mountain and will be "opened up". Robin and Luffy are needed to open Raftel, Robin for reading poneglyphs, and Luffy's solar power to turn on the ancient technology. Raftel will be where the final battle happens, a free-for-all between Luffy / Shanks / Dragon / BlackBeard / Imu / everyone. There were two rival kingdoms, the Ancient Kingdom and another (Atlanta) which mastered nuclear fusion / solar power, fought for a century and nuked each other, both being submerged under water. The Ancient Kingdom had 7 allied countries, all made of gold, and are all also submerged. When the water will recede, the sun will hit all of these cities, and they will all "turn on", and a new era of peace and prosperity will start.

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Since Helen of Troy and Menelaus are characters in VtM whose stories are basically a retelling of the Trojan war and the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, I thought about creating characters based on mythological figures as well.
I've come up with a concept of a character based on Vashti from the Hebrew bible. She's a nosferatu methuselah and goes by the name "Vashti" and claims to be the queen from the book of Esther story, which might or might not be true. In either case, what is certain is that Vashti is very, very old and of Persian origin.
I think pre-embrace, Vashti was a lesser wife of an Achaemenid monarch who was never happy with life at court, and after falling out of favor created a new life for herself as a merchant on a caravan. She met her sire while traveling along a trade route.
Would my character concept be feasible in the VtM universe, and can I have some advice on incorporating the Book of Esther story into my character's background if she is Vashti the same way the toreador Helen of Troy is the mythical Helen?

I recently found what I think may just be the single worst Harry Potter essay possible. It has all the classic marks of a shitty Shaun-style Harry Potter video, from fake "magic school maps" to missing the point of every single piece of worldbuilding to just sheer pretentiousness of it all. It doesn't even wait a literal second to be wrong, instantly slapping you in the face with "Harry's half-blood status has Nazi parallels" written in huge letters.
As I watched this... thing with morbid curiosity, I wondered how can anyone possibly be that dumb. Like, Harry Potter is one of the most popular franchises out there, and Harry's parents both being wizards forms the basis of everything that happens in it. Calling Harry a "half-blood" is so obviously wrong anyone can instantly call bullshit on this essay from the very first frame, provided they read even a semi-accurate summary of the first book. How can stuff like this possibly be any popular?
But then I remembered Odyssey exists.

What is Homer's "Odyssey"?

Odyssey is a poem detailing Odysseus return to his home island of Ithaca. Odysseus starts the story as a captive of Calypso, and the story of how he got there is described midway through the poem as a sort of extended flashback. He tells the story, gets kinda sentimental for a while, and then returns to the actual plot. Trojan War, Cyclopses, Circe, all of that is tangential and gets pretty much forgotten for the second half of the story.
But when you watch an explanation, or a "modern retelling" of the Odyssey, chances are it will go something like;

Odysseus swims away from Troy but gets lost in the sea. He has wacky amazing adventures where he tricks Polyphemus and gets horny for the Sirens and has sex with so many women (kinda unfair to his wife tbh) until he finally returns home. He then kills a bunch of people or something.

The "cool adventure" parts, or rather their misrepresented versions, get all the focus. The actual plot, the main conflict, the entire point of the story doesn't just get overshadowed but completely forgotten. And it's been going on since forever—that's how we ended up with the term "odyssey" that's synanymous with an epic journey, rather than anything Odysseus actually does in the damn Odyssey. The story itself gets fairly little discussion, because few people read even a brief summary of it. They just heard of the "cool parts" and so they form their own understanding of the story based on them, effectively writing a fanfic and mistaking it for the actual thing.
Now, I'm not really upset that people misrepresent Odyssey like that. It's inevitable, and honestly, I don't care about the original poem that much. But there's a point to be made there, and that is

If you're discussing a popular story, just assume everyone will misrepresent it

The more popular a story gets, the more people will have read it. But the number of people who just heard about the story without having actually read it will rise even faster, as will the confidence of these people. That's how you get rants about how "Rose from Titanic is a terrible person" and all these youtube essays that barely touch on the actual stories they ineptly attempt to criticize. It's far easier to find a quality take on something less popular; There may not be that many people talking about Cruelty Squad, but the ones that do have usually played the game, or at least have an accurate idea of what the actual product is like.
So yeah. If you wanna talk about something popular, just assume the person on the other side only knows a distorted meme version of the story, and be prepared to either explain the obvious, or argue about that meme version instead. Or just give up and don't mention that popular story at all, if you value your nerves.
If you instead want an honest discussion with no lies or misunderstandings, just talk about that one Dark Eldar BDSM fanfic I found on AO3. It's pretty good too.

Hi everyone,
Welcome to this month's edition of How is your current campaign going?
Well, the big news just keeps coming in the world of Total War.
No sooner had Warhammer's Thrones of Decay arrived on the scene in all it's weird and wonderful glory, CA was following that up with an announcement of a massive update coming to Pharaoh later this year , followed by a look at the expanded map and a Q&A with some of the devs at CA Sofia on what to expect.
I think it's fair to say there's a lot to take in, but the headlines include a much larger map covering Mesopotamia and the Aegean, playable Mycenian Greeks, Trojans, Assyrians, and Babylonians, a dynasty system with mortality and succession, and for Irsu players like me, new lands to loot and plunder, and new civilisations to benefit from his "unique" brand of teaching. I really cannot wait! :-)
But more about that over the coming months.
For anyone new or who needs a reminder, this is what's become a semi-regular thread where you can share your stories of Total War triumph and defeat. Though the title is “current campaign” I'm not too strict, so if you have other campaigns you want to share they're always welcome.
Whatever game you're playing, whether it be vanilla or modded, and whether you're a battle hardened veteran or a new player just discovering Total War (or somewhere in between) come along and share your tales. All are welcome.
And as always, credit to Imoraswut who came up with the idea and originally ran them, and Very_Very_Witty_Name who carried it onwards. Thank you both.
All the Best,
Welsh Dragon.

Record temperatures, record migration, record emissions, record displacement, record PFAS……start building an ark.
Last Week in Collapse: May 12-18, 2024
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter compiling some of the most important, timely, useful, soul-crushing, ironic, stunning, exhausting, or otherwise must-see/can’t-look-away moments in Collapse.
This is the 125th newsletter! You can find the May 5-11 edition here if you missed it last week. You can also receive these posts (with images) every Sunday in your email inbox with Substack.
——————————
Flash flooding in northern Afghanistan killed 300+ people and destroyed 1,000+ homes. Hundreds of thousands of others have been affected. Last month, similar floods in the region killed 70+. Four died in Texas storms last week as well.
Venezuela is suffering from record wildfires, which so far this year have burned about 5M acres—almost the size of Sardinia. Some experts think indigenous people started the blaze as an attempt at forest clearance, which quickly got out of hand. “Institutional failures” compounded the disaster when the ailing government responded with an inadequate number of poorly equipped firefighters. Another study from last week examined the impact of wildfires on soil health.
Flooding and “cold lava” killed 50+ in Indonesia, injuring dozens and displacing several thousand. Cold lava is a mixture of water and rocks tumbling down the side of a volcano. Meanwhile, an actual volcano erupted in Indonesia, sending smoke & ash 5000m high; further eruptions are possible soon.
The Swiss Re Institute published a 37-page report last week about natural disasters in 2023—and how much damage, in USD, they caused. The largest catastrophe was the February 7.8 earthquake in Türkiye & Syria, which killed 59,000+ people and caused $163B+ in damage. The report is full of interesting graphics & data about natural disasters.

“Last year, economic losses from natural catastrophes reached USD 280 billion, meaning that 62% of the global losses were uninsured….the insured losses surpassed USD 100 billion for the fourth consecutive year….annual insured losses will grow by 5–7% over the long term…today’s insured losses could double in 10 years….There were 142 insured-loss inducing catastrophes in 2023, a new record. Most were of medium severity, which we define as events resulting in losses of USD 1–5 billion….Over the last 30 years, we estimate that natural catastrophe insured losses have grown by 3 percentage points more annually than the global economy (in inflation adjusted terms)...”

Flooding and heat waves are impacting Brazil’s oranges, responsible for about 70% of the world’s supply. One food analysts declared that the “era of cheap food is over”—in the UK, at least. That may be one reason why UK residents took record food bank packages last year. Madagascar is struggling to adapt to a future with far less rainfall.
France is growing more concerned about a dam on Lake Geneva, controlled exclusively by Switzerland. The Rhône River, which begins in Switzerland and flows south through France, is shrinking in summers as climate change melts Switzerland’s remaining glaciers.
The Tonlé San River has been dammed in Vietnam, lowering the level in Cambodia and sometimes drying the river downstream entirely. Meanwhile, China’s lychee harvest is getting blasted by rain, impacting the world’s largest source of lychee. And, once again, Saudi Arabia is suffering flooding in its inland regions. 7 dead in historic flooding in Iran.
The eminent climate scientist James Hansen posted that, since “human-made aerosols and their cooling effect are in decline,” the cooling effect of La Niña will be counterbalanced by these rising temperatures. He also identifies a “large anomaly of increased absorbed solar radiation at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere” responsible for rising temperatures there. CO2 levels are rising faster today than they have at any point in the previous 50,000 years…and a study of millennia-old trees determined last summer was the hottest worldwide in 2,000+ years…
Record nighttime May temperatures were tied in the Philippines and Vietnam. A couple Indonesian cities broke records for May temperatures. And a number of southern African states saw more records drop. And Toronto saw a record tied for the number of days reaching 14 °C (57 °F). A heat wave has returned to Bangladesh. Flooding in Cali (pop: 2.9M), Colombia.
The University of Washington was ordered to stop a geoengineering project that scientists sere conducting from the deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier. The experiment ejected aerosolized saltwater in an attempt to reflect solar radiation. A comparative study in Nature Communications of a number of carbon pricing found that, yes, carbon pricing does work to reduce the total CO2 emitted.
It’s that time of the year again. Wildfires in Canada grow, some of which are moving towards the tar sands—forcing thousands to evacuate. 39 of the total nation’s blazes are “out of control,” resulting in air quality alerts in the United States. Meanwhile, across the Caribbean, water shortages have become the new normal, and residents (and tourists) are finding their old consumption habits hard to change. St. Lucia has declared a water emergency. In Myanmar, water shortages worsen, particularly as related to the spiraling conflict.
At least ⅛ of Europeans live in a place at risk of extreme flooding—so says a 175-page report from the European Environment Agency posted on Wednesday. The number of people living in flood-risk coastal areas in the EU & UK is expected to jump 24% by 2050. The graphics-packed report also considers how flooding will impact healthcare facilities, mental health, wastewater treatment plants, the spread of disease, cyanobacteria, permafrost thaw, and much else.

“Europe has seen devastating floods following record rainfall, droughts of magnitudes not experienced in hundreds of years, continuing sea level rise, and increasing lake and sea temperatures….permanent water stress already affects 30% of people in southern Europe….since 2018, more than half of Europe has been impacted by extreme drought conditions….Climate change is expected to increase mercury bioaccumulation in the marine food chain due to rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and permafrost thawing….Depression, anxiety and PTSD may persist for years after a flooding event….Under the changing climate, northern Europe is becoming wetter in general, but drier in summer. Southern Europe is becoming drier, especially in winter. For central-eastern and western Europe, the trend is less clear…” -selections from the report

Milan suffered flooding last week, the worst May flooding in 170 years. Early spring in the UK has disrupted migratory bird species and their usual patterns.
A 74-page working paper which is not yet peer-reviewed claims that earlier estimates for how much GDP would be impacted by another 1 °C temperature rise is way less than it would be in actuality. The paper claims the real cost (in USD) is about 6x greater. They claim “global temperature has much more pronounced impacts on economic activity than local temperature” and that extreme weather is mostly behind the projected decline in productivity.
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Epidemiologists are worried about how climate change in Africa may extend the life of disease-bearers like ticks and mosquitoes. Other epidemiologists are worried about how cattle may become a permanent reservoir for H5N1. Growing traced of bird flu have been found in wastewater testing in the U.S., but investigators think it may be runoff from infected dairy farms.
Obesity, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure rates today globally are 50% higher than in 2000—though researchers claim that air pollution still poses a larger threat. Of a study participants in Hawai’i, 75% had respiratory issues, probably from the Maui wildfires last year.
The 2024 World Migration Report is out, and its 384 pages are not as apocalyptic as one might think. However, internally displaced people are at their all-time highest. India, Mexico, Russia, China, and Syria lead the world in emigrants; another document contains the definitions for who exactly constitutes a migrant. Unfortunately much of the data relied upon ends in 2022. Data from this year, not included in the above report, indicates a 40% jump in traffic through the Darien Gap compared to the same time period in 2023.

“The last two years saw major migration and displacement events that have caused great hardship and trauma, as well as loss of life….There have also been large-scale displacements triggered by climate- and weather-related disasters in many parts of the world in 2022 and 2023, including in Pakistan, the Philippines, China, India, Bangladesh, Brazil and Colombia….disinformation tactics are increasingly being used by nefarious actors with negative impacts on public, political and social media discourse on migration….Forced displacement is the highest on record in the modern era…overconsumption and overproduction linked to unsustainable economic growth, resource depletion and biodiversity collapse, as well as ongoing climate change (including global heating) are continuing to grip the world….the risk of further conflict has not been higher in decades, as military spending reached a new record high of USD 2,240 billion in 2022…” -excerpts from the introduction

Another report, focusing on internal displacement, came out last week; its 69 pages show a cross-section of about 47M people displaced by natural disasters (56%) or armed conflict (44%). Most of the disasters were storms & flooding, and most of the conflicts were civil wars of some form. This report also provides detailed region-by-region analyses—with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 46% of global IDPs.

“Conflict and violence triggered 13.5 million movements, the highest figure for the past 15 years….Disasters and conflict are presented as different triggers, but their impacts can overlap, often leading to repeated and/ or protracted displacement….Drought triggered 331,000 displacements in Somalia….Floods triggered 550,000 displacements in Ethiopia….Conflict and violence triggered 3.8 million displacements in DRC in 2023, a slight fall from the record four million in 2022, but still the second-highest figure globally after Sudan….nearly two-thirds of the internal displacements recorded in 2023 originated from Khartoum state. More than 39 per cent of the state's inhabitants were forced to flee, leaving entire neighbourhoods empty….Criminal and communal violence triggered nearly three-quarters of Nigeria's 291,000 conflict displacements….” -selections from the spotlight on sub-Saharan Africa

Experts are concerned about the mental health impacts that climate change has on our minds. Hotter temperatures reportedly increase depression & aggression. Wildfires and storms can cause PTSD. Workers feel stress and desperation as their usual industries are impacted. And air pollution influences ordinary brain processes in many ways.
Some analysts believe “Peak China” may be over, signaling a period of economic tapering-off, as well as a growing militancy. Increasing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are continuing to separate the two economies. The Netherlands finally formed a provisional government, though its proposed immigration & farming policies have set it at odds with the EU.
The Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, released a 46-page report on potential climate risks to the banking system’s resilience. As far as I understood, most of the risk lies in extreme weather events and the risk to insurance agencies.
Part of southeast England experienced an outbreak of Cryptosporidium, a diarrhea & vomiting illness, highly contagious, which can last weeks. At least 22 cases have been reported. Meanwhile, the CDC is issuing warnings about the more dangerous strain of monkeypox circulating in the DRC, although cases are currently limited to Africa.
North Carolina’s Senate voted to ban mask-wearing last week, under the reasoning that it would make police identification of protestors difficult. An fMRI study found lasting neurological changes in COVID survivors; they “had significantly higher cognitive complaints of mental fatigue and cognitive failure….even two years after recovering.” Experts say a summer rise in COVID cases is coming to the United States.
A study on The Canadian/American Great Lakes found that PFAS levels are increasing in the 3 largest lakes (Superior, Huron, and Michigan), while decreasing in the other two (Erie, Ontario). The study also found that precipitation is the primary means by which the Lakes are accumulating PFAS, since the chemicals are small & stable enough to move through the water cycle. Meanwhile, in England’s Lake District, a telecom failure resulted in raw sewage being pumped into England’s largest and most famous lake, Windermere, on-and-off for 10 hours; and a major British water CEO took a $4M USD pay package last year. And a look into the Chicago River’s health found that microplastics & trash are endangering health & biodiversity.
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An assassination attempt by a lone wolf on Slovakia’s PM left him in critical condition, but likely to survive. 11 civilians were slain by cartel fighters in a few battles in Mexico. Violence continues to spiral out of control in Goma, DRC.
In Haiti, everything worsens indefinitely. Guns have reportedly entered from Florida, a phenomenon which officials call an “iron river.” Police have been put on the defensive against the growing might of the gang warlords.
A brawl broke out in Taiwan’s parliament. An Iranian plot was allegedly foiled to smuggle weapons into Jordan to destabilize the pro-U.S. regime.
Dozens more died in Sudan from escalating violence around Darfur. People are warning about “a disaster on top of a disaster” and the possibility of Sudan splitting apart. Others have called it “hell on earth” as 1,000+ refugees cross the Chad border every day. Disease and malnutrition are growing, while famine encroaches upon 9M helpless victims of the conflict—but the world’s attention is elsewhere.
The U.S. Army Engineers completed constructing the pier in Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid. Some 600,000 Gazans have been displaced from Rafah already, and fighting has escalated against Hamas militants in northern Gaza.
Taliban forces skirmished with Pakistani soldiers for about 90 minutes last week. Taliban attacks in Pakistan, and counterattacks have resulted in a kind of ambient disruption for the rocky border zone.
Violent protests—and counteroperations—are continuing in New Caledonia (pop: 270,000), a Pacific island part of overseas France. The riots, which have killed 6 people so far, began after metropolitan France proposed a plan to expand voting rights beyond indigenous residents. A state of emergency has been declared amid worries about a spiral of violence taking hold.
As the Sahel dries out, experts are concerned about the links to rising terrorism in the region. The Sahel accounts for over 40% of global terrorism deaths—according to the analysts’ understanding of “terrorism.” Mali in particular has reportedly become home to 41 new, different non-state armed groups (NSAGs) since 2007. A contested election in Chad resulted in the consolidation of the interim leader’s power.

“If governments are continually unable to solve regional issues, the people will be at the whim of any terror group that has a basic organization. It serves these groups’ interests to promote insecurity where they can and create security where they want. A “hearts and minds” campaign in the Sahel could lead to long-term and locally supported insurgencies in a land that is currently rife with civil strife.” -from the article

Some wargamers concluded that a Trump victory in 2020 would spell the end of NATO, or at least the end of its utility. Vladimir Putin replaced his minister of defense with a top economic advisor, just before going to Beijing to reaffirm their friendship with “no limits.” Some say Putin is planning on a forever war. Some say NATO is gearing up for one, too.
Russia made several gains in the suburbs of Kharkiv, seizing several settlements which some analysts doubt they will hold. Putin claims they aren’t really trying to take Kharkiv anyway… Russia also made small progress in the Donbas—although they suffered their largest one-day casualties since the start of the war. The U.S. allocated another $2B to hasten the delivery of weapons to the front lines. The next weeks will be crucial on the front. Switzerland has invited 160+ nations to send delegates to a peace summit intended to design a path to making peace in this War.
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Select comments/threads from the subreddit last week suggest:
-Brazil’s flooding was really, really bad, judging from this post and its accompanying images. Across just one of Brazil’s 26 states, 600,000+ people have been made homeless, 100+ have died, and the storm season isn’t over yet. Some of the flooding isn’t expected to subside for another month.
-How specifically might climate change make humanity extinct? This thread crowdsources a number of plausible ways, from ordinary famines to nuclear war and even a massive deoxygenation process. I tend to think it will be a consequence of an eventual nuclear exchange, followed by extended famine and disease.
Got any feedback, questions, comments, complaints, upvotes, doom prophets to follow, hugelkultur guides, directions to off-grid bunkers, ark schematics, etc.? Check out the Last Week in Collapse SubStack if you don’t want to check collapse every Sunday, you can receive this newsletter sent to your (or someone else’s) email inbox every weekend. What did I forget this week?

My first reaction after finishing the game - DAMN WAS THIS GAME FUCKING GOOD
Now comes the essay :
First of all , I have just finished the main storyline and have not completed the dlcs (About to start on that right after the post ) and this is my first game in the series and the witcher universe as a whole .
I have never made a reddit post about my thoughts on a game I played , let alone this long .
The story : The story was one of , if not the best of any game that I have played and I loved the little jokes here and there as well as the overall seriousness and grit of the game . I made choices which led to geralt being with yennefer and radovid dead and cerys becoming the new queen and ciri being a witcher . I personally loved this path and will probably be my "offical playthrough" if that's a thing . One thing i hated tho was the baron's death but I also wanted to save the children so I guess there's that but I will definetly try alternative methods but I guess if the only way for the children to be alive is the baron dying than so be it . Crach's death also felt a bit unecessary but I guess it was there to incite the " I want to kill that son of a bitch Eredin" feelling .
Now for the ending , for a moment my post about the story being good was going to become a rant because I actually thought that ciri died trying to stop the white frost . But all went good .
The gameplay : I (a person who never played rpgs and rather preferred not to) found this game to be a good balance between rpg elements and story . Which I guess what kept me going . The gameplay was good but could have improvements in the next title , especially the horse autopath system and the waypoint system . Something else which also annoyed me was the walking/running speed especially in places where you have to follow someone or stay withing a certain radius .
Characters : Loved almost all characters and their overall development especially for geralt , again I never played any other games so I might be wrong but I felt that Geralt was all too serious at the start of the game but at the end he started showing more emotions . I guess this depends on player choices but it is what happened in my playthrough .
Now for another part which might incite a war but here it goes .
Triss or Yennefer : In my playthrough I chose Yennefer and I think that is kinda what geralt would have gone for as well as Geralt and Yen being Ciri's "parents" . Yennefer seems to be a bit mature than Triss and for Yennefer it actually felt like Geralt was truly in love with while Triss felt more like a "Friend with benefits" . From the googling I have done I also found out that Triss is much younger than Geralt (50 years ?) which made it feel even more weird . Also as Philipa described it Triss was like an older sister to Ciri looking to jump in bed with Geralt as soon as she gets an opportunity . Now I will have a replay of the game with Triss being Geralt's romantic partner so my judgement might change but it probably won't.
Summary : The game is good and gives what a person might expect , it could definetely improve with some of it's mechancins and I don't think it is overrated . It has sold about 50 million units which is what you expect from a good rpg game . I am eager to play the next entries and might even play witcher 1 and 2 .
Thanks for taking your time to read my post and I hope your day goes well !

“What defines virtue and how are we to gauge it? An inquiry that reverberates through epochs, its answer as fickle and capricious as the fates of those who deem to ask it. Duty, honor, justice - many over the ages would name these virtues, the conduits through which noble intentions find expression. Yet, as the battlefield of beliefs unfolds, a legion emerges, each as sworn to these principles as to obliterating all who would dare stake alike claim. Thus, battles rage and wars are waged and, in the end, those who are left are no more right than those fell by the blade. Alas, it is the victors whose ideals are etched into monuments for posterity. Except even words chiseled in unyielding stone are fated to fade in time. So is the wicked cycle destined to repeat in all its futility, its ephemeral prize seized again, only to be lost and sought anew. Try and picture, if for but a moment, a world where our rulers paused to reflect on the lessons of yore. They, too, would discern the elixir that enables one to escape the confines of memory—the very burden our fleeting nature forbids us to carry. Progress and evolution. Adaptability and transcendence. Everlasting and yet not stagnant, irrefutable, and yet fluid, these are the only true virtues. Thus, must we ever venture into the uncharted and unfamiliar for only from these unexplored domains may the truly virtuous arise.”
Where: Discord (Video and Voice) + FoundryVTT
When: every Saturday 5 - 9/10 pm GMT+1 (CET), 11 am - 3/4 pm EST
Who: party of 4 players and a DM seeking one extra player
Updates: Recruitment updates will be posted here.
Hello there and well met! If you’ve made it past the flavor text (or skipped it) and through the basic info (hopefully didnt skip past that one) you might very well be at the right address! Without further ado onto the post.

🐲The campaign🐲

Having only just recovered from the Second Sundering and the War of the Silver Marches, the North had been ravaged by a whole new set of tumultuous events - the rise of the Cult of the Dragon and that of the Absolute, the Fall of Eltruel and the short reign of the beholder crime lord Xanathar just some among them. After a brief respite from the twisted and the unnatural the clouds once more begin to gather. Along the Long Road, whole hosts of wild beasts and monsters have been accosting travelers seemingly at random and in the grand metropolis of Waterdeep a sudden rise in crime seems to coincide with strange events passing unnoticed beneath the surface. Amidst all this, in spring of 1493 DR, a party of adventurers delves into a mystery of enchanted gemstones being utilized to nefarious ends by unknown perpetrators all the while navigating the labyrinthine twists of city faction politics.
As implied by the post title, this is an ongoing campaign (we are 12 sessions in at the time of this post). Due to some irl commitments weve recently dropped a player and are looking to replace them.
As the title suggests, this is a roleplay focused mystery/lore driven campaign. Expect an overreaching plot with ample secrets to uncover, conspiracies to unravel and eldritch truths to unearth. The first word of the password is "Doth". On the same level of importance or more important even be that the players preference, there is a variety of subplots to engage with, from small and goofy and random to ones rivaling the main story arc in complexity and variance. Among these, individual character story arcs play a leading role, at times seamlessly intertwined with the current focus of the party, at times separate and independent.
As was already mentioned and is further described below, this is a roleplay focused campaign and a roleplay heavy game. This means that roleplay exists as a unifying concept for all other aspects of the game including exploration, combat, and puzzles. That said DnD is only DnD with all three of its main pillars intact and this campaign is no exception in that regard. I very much enjoy the mechanical side of the game as well besides roleplay and so things like multiphase boss fights and custom magic items are definitely on the table.

🧙‍♂️The DM🧙‍♂️

Hello there, Jay here, 25 yo law student from Central Europe currently working on finishing his master’s degree, trying to stay afloat in the current lease market. I study and work in a law firm by day and DM or play DnD by night (more like evening but night sounded cooler). I have been a big fan of TTRPGs since my early teens and of online DnD for the past five years. I’ve DMed multiple campaigns, finished CoS not least among them and I currently play in a long-term campaign. Before you ask, yes, my schedule is strained but not to the point I am unable to engage with my hobbies.
I would describe my DMing style as driven, realistic, and involved but also very conscious about player agency and collaborative storytelling as core values that make TTRPGs so popular and unique. I spend a lot of time ensuring the worlds I create and the stories I want to tell feel alive. From hand-picked music, to fully voiced NPCs and scenic descriptions designed to breathe life into the campaign setting I daresay my games rival in quality those of the professional DMs that charge for each session.
There is a drawback to this all however. Second word of the password is "thy". I expect a lot from my players as well. Writing a story in DnD is not a one person job. It takes a collective effort of the entire group to create something truly unique, something that one can be proud while looking forward to each session. Unwinding and letting off steam means something else for everyone. For me it means losing myself in the creative process of roleplaying an NPC or describing a scene, watching my players masterfully portray their own characters or having the party derail my plans in an awesome unforeseen and unexpectedly enriching way. If you find yourself in any of what I just described than this may be a game for you. If you don’t, that’s fine. This is definitely not a game for everyone.

🏰The setting🏰

Forgotten Realms is a default setting of Dungeons and Dragons but it is anything but boring and mundane. With now decades worth of lore behind it, it offers an unparalleled opportunity for anyone wanting to build on solid foundations to bring their ideas to life. While it has garnered a lot of attention lately with the release of a certain videogame (more people now know Astarion than a good amount of Hollywood celebrities I’d say) it has had its loyal following even before then, being constantly expanded and living its own life in a host of both online and home games. It’s been a natural choice of mine for a while now and not once have I had any regrets. The third word of the password is "mirror". I feel with how great of a variety of content the Forgotten Realms offer everybody is able to pick something that suits their creative vision. In summary the Forgotten Realms almost feel like a real place with how much worldbuilding has been done with them and offer a diversity of content few other TTRPG settings can boast.
When it comes to setting of the campaign in the world of Faerun I have once again made a somewhat traditional pick and decided to place the onset of the game onto the Sword Coast, more precisely into the city of Waterdeep. If one of the key upsides of Forgotten Realms is diversity of content, Waterdeep is one of the best representations of this. Being the largest settlement on the known Faerun, Waterdeep offers nigh limitless options in terms of main story arc genre, character creation and character backstory implementation. It has everything every large TTRPG settlement ought to have (fickle upper class, enigmatic factions, quaint taverns and extravagant nightclubs, always in bad mood city watch, a castle and a harbor) as well as few pretty original ideas such as colossal definitely not alive statues, a city council where even its members don’t know each other’s identity and a massive dungeon right underneath the city where you can literally fall right from a tavern taproom.
In case you are wondering, while this campagn takes place primarily in the city of Waterdeep itself, there is nothing stopping the players from exploring past the city if they so choose. The final word of the password is "crack?". Different parts of the main plot and various subplots can and will encourage the party to explore Waterdeep environs and sometimes even further.

📃The requirements📃

No exceptions here. Unless otherwise stated, the requirements must be met at the time of application.

• to apply you need to be 20+ yo
• you need a functioning webcam (at the time of application) and a stable internet connection - we will be using both video and voice on discord and as a general rule Wifi doesn’t handle long video calls well (believe me when I say I speak from experience) so cable or other similar form of stable connection is strongly encouraged
• you need a Discord account and you will need a Forge account - Forge is a hosting service for Foundry, don’t worry, you won’t need to input any personal info (besides maybe an email) to register and I will be footing the bill
• you need a PC that can and will run Foundry Virtual Tabletop - check the minimum requirements on the Foundry website, a fair warning, Foundry won’t run on tablets and phones (not that you should consider those in the first place)
• you need at least an elementary knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition - when it comes to the awareness of the rules, I won’t be too harsh, but definitely don’t apply if the first time you’ve seen the PHB was a week ago
• you need TTRPG/roleplay experience and/or a very strong roleplay inclination - this is a heavy roleplay game where most if not all ingame talk will be done in character and where you will be expected to voice your character in a way that is distinct from your standard voice
• you will need to be very punctual when it comes to session attendance - I expect my players to attend most if not all sessions, online or not, this campaign is a designed as a longterm commitment and by applying you are acknowledging this, having other hobbies and time-consuming real-life obligations is understandable (I got those too) but those 4-5 hours you will be expected to set aside for the session

🙋‍♂️How to sign up🙋‍♀️

Youve made it all the way to the end of this long post. Congratulations. Or maybe you’ve skipped all the way to the end. In that case I strongly recommended you go back. If not to learn what you are applying for than to make sure you haven’t missed something very important. Now if you are confident that you have what it takes and that this is a game that you could have a lot of fun with, please fill the below attached google questionnaire (if for any strange reason the link doesn’t end up working, please let me know in the comments under this post) and if fortune favors you, I shall get back to you promptly. Best of luck to you and I hope to speak to you soon!
https://forms.gle/5kc4RbwavJPfT8PD9
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PS: As a part of the questionnaire, you will be asked to submit a short piece of your narrative writing in a form of a google doc link (not a custom piece of writing, any relevant past one you have will do). Maybe best have that ready beforehand? On that note, dont apply for the game with a detailed backstory of a character you want to play that you arent willing to adapt to the conditions of the setting/campaign.
PSS: Not to discourage you but if you do make it through the questionnaire and into the second group of applicants you will be asked to do a discord interview with your webcam turned on. I am asking you to go through a lot for a game you might not even end up liking I know, but if you do end up liking it, all this effort will be well worth it as I am sure my other players would agree.

[Eöl] shunned the Noldor, holding them to blame for the return to Morgoth, to trouble the quiet of Beleriand; but for the Dwarves he had more liking than any other of the Elvenfolk of old.
Welcome one and all again to the 2024 Read-Along and Discussion of The Silmarillion here on tolkienfans. For Week 20 (May 12-May 18), we will be exploring The Quenta Silmarillion (The History of the Silmarils) chapter 16, "Of Maeglin."
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Aredhel, the daughter of Fingolfin, resided awhile in Nevrast with her brother Turgon, but later went with her people to dwell in the hidden city of Gondolin. However, she soon wearied of her hidden life in Gondolin and was permitted to set out purportedly to visit with Fingon in Hithlum with three lords of the household of Turgon. Upon reaching the Ford of Brithiach, she commanded her companions to instead turn south in the hope of passing through Doriath to eventually find the Sons of Fëanor, "her friends of old".
Upon arriving at the borders of Doriath, they were refused entry by King Thingol. And so Aredhel and her companions instead sought the dangerous route between the haunted valley of Ered Gorgoroth and the northern edge of Doriath. This passed through the land of Nan Dungortheb, where Aredhel was separated from her companions. They searched but could not find her, and barely escaping death themselves returned to Gondolin to share their tale, and there was great sorrow at the assumed fate of Aredhel.
But Aredhel, having lost her companions, continued on and eventually arrived in Himlad, where she was welcomed by the people of Celegorm and waited for his return. There for a while she was satisfied, but as the year lengthened, she took to riding further afield, seeking new and unknown paths and fields. By chance, she crossed into the forest of Nan Elmoth, where dwelt Eöl, who was named the Dark Elf. In earlier days, he was of the kin of Thingol, but he had left Doriath and fled to the shadows of Nan Elmoth. He loved not the Noldor, but learned from the Dwarves much skill of metalwork, and was often a guest to the halls of Nogrod and Belegost. He espied Aredhel from afar and desired her, and ensnared her in enchantments so she could not find the way out, but instead came deeper into Nan Elmoth. Being weary, she finally came to the halls of Eöl, and he welcomed her, and took her for his wife, and it was a long time before any of her kin heard rumour of her again.
Though at Eöl's command she was required to shun sunlight, it is not said that she was completely unwilling to their union, and in the darkness of Nan Elmoth was born their son, who, in her heart, she named Lómion, which means "Child of the Twilight" in Quenya. But Eöl gave him no name until he was twelve years old, at which time he named him Maeglin, that is "Sharp Glance".
As Maeglin grew to full maturity, he resembled, in face and form, one of the Noldor. But speaking few words, except in matters important to him, he resembled his father in mood and spirit. Often he went with Eöl to the cities of the Dwarves, and learned much from them, especially the craft of finding ores and metals in the mountains. Yet he loved his mother more and would often listen to her tales regarding the Noldor, and the valour of the House of Fingolfin, while Eöl was abroad.
In speaking of her kin to Maeglin, Aredhel desired to see them again, and these tales stirred also in Maeglin the desire to see the Noldor. But upon revealing his inner wishes to Eöl, his father became infuriated, and threatened to bind his son if he would associate with the Noldor. Maeglin became cold and silent, and no longer went abroad with Eöl, and Eöl mistrusted him. One midsummer, Eöl went away to a feast in Nogrod. During this time, the desire grew hot in the heart of Maeglin to leave Nan Elmoth and look upon his mother's people and to seek the city of Gondolin. Seeing this, Aredhel was glad and they departed, telling Eöl's servants they sought the sons of Fëanor.
However, Eöl returned earlier than anticipated and found his wife and son two days gone. He set out immediately in wrathful pursuit. On entering Himlad, Eöl was ambushed by the riders of Curufin, and was taken to their lord. Curufin mockingly asked Eöl what urgent matter brought him to his land, and Eöl told him that he wanted to join his wife and son on their visit to him. Upon learning from Curufin that they turned westward, travelling along the northern fence of Doriath, Eöl asked leave to discover their purpose. Curufin instead coldly bid him go back to Nan Elmoth.
Thus Eöl rode off in haste, full of shame and anger. He perceived that Aredhel and Maeglin were heading towards Gondolin and rode after them. As the two arrived at the Outer Gate of Gondolin, they were received joyfully and passed inside the Hidden Kingdom, where Turgon listened with wonder to the story of his sister, and gave Maeglin the highest honour in his realm. Eöl watched them from afar and followed them to the city, but was taken in by the Guard, and was brought before Turgon after claiming to be husband and father to Aredhel and Maeglin. Aredhel confirmed this and Turgon welcomed Eöl as his kinsman, giving him leave to stay in Gondolin. But Eöl insulted the King, and bid Maeglin to "leave the House of the slayers of his kin, or be accursed". Maeglin did not answer.
Turgon then set a choice before Eöl and Maeglin of either abiding in Gondolin, or dying in Gondolin. Eöl stood a long time in silence, before he abruptly took a spear from under his cloak and threw it at Maeglin, crying "the second choice I take, and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!" But Aredhel came between the spear and Maeglin, and was struck. Eöl was restrained, set in bonds and led away. However the tip of the spear was poisoned, and Aredhel died in the night. Eöl was brought before Turgon and no mercy was shown to him; he was led to the Caragdûr, a precipice upon the northern side of the city, to be cast down. Maeglin stood by in silence, and Eöl cried out "so you forsake your father and his kin, ill-gotten son! Here shall you fail of all your hopes and here may you yet die the same death as I". And he was cast over the cliff-edge. Thus ended Eöl, Dark Elf, of the shadows of Nan Elmoth.
Maeglin grew great in stature in Gondolin, and was high in the favour of Turgon. He rose to be mighty amongst the Princes of the Noldor, and was the greatest other than Turgon in the realm of Gondolin. And yet not all things went as he would have liked, though he did not reveal his heart. For from his first days in Gondolin, he loved Idril Celebrindal, his first cousin, and desired her, but without hope. For the Eldar did not wed with kin so close, and further, Idril loved him not at all. Maeglin's love turned to darkness, and he sought more to have his will in all matters, no matter the cost to him, if it might grant him more power.
And so it came to be that in Gondolin, at the height of all its bliss, majesty, and beauty, a dark seed of evil was sown in the heart of Maeglin.[1]
Of Maeglin at The Lord of the Rings Wiki: This chapter introduces Maeglin, and his father Eöl, and tells the history of Maeglin's life from his birth to his becoming a citizen of Gondolin. Also in this chapter is the death of Eöl.
Chapter discussion at Entmoot TolkienTrail.
Chapter discussion at The Barrow-Downs.
Questions for the week:

1. Eöl is described as grim -- "his eyes could see deep into shadows and dark places." Does this just mean his eyes have adjusted to life in the dark, or is there also a hint of his being able to see beyond what is there, in a "foresight" or "farsighted" kind of way?
2. Maeglin and Eöl argue because Eöl won't let him see his mother's kin which causes a major rift between the two. Why did Eöl object?
3. What is significant of Maeglin's given name of Lomion, i.e. "Child of the Twilight" by his mother, Aredhel, but at age 12, Eöl named him Maeglin, i.e. "Sharp Glance".
4. Why did Eöl have more liking for the Dwarves "than any other of the Elvenfolk of old."?

For drafts and history of this chapter see The War of the Jewels, "Part Three: The Wanderings of Húrin and other Writings not forming part of The Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter III, "Maeglin)", pp. 316-339.
For further history and analysis of this chapter, see Arda Reconstructed (by Douglas Charles Kane), p. 155.
Be sure to have your copy of The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad on hand as you go through this chapter.
Some Tolkien-related hangouts on YouTube (relevant to this week):

• Nerd of the Rings This episode: Maps of Middle-earth: The First Age The Silmarillion Explained
• Nerd of the Rings This episode: The Origins of Melkor Tolkien Explained
• Nerd of the Rings This episode: The History of Morgoth [COMPILATION] Tolkien Explained
• Nerd of the Rings This episode: Eöl the Dark Elf Tolkien Explained
• Tolkien Untangled This episode: The Return of the Noldor Of the Lords of Beleriand : Silmarillion Explained - Part 2 of 10
• Ælfwine's Road This episode: Silmarillion Summary: Ch. 16 - Of Maeglin [19/31]
• Voice of Geekdom This episode: Chapter 16.1 - Eöl the Dark Elf, and Aredhel, White Lady of the Noldor Silmarillion Explained
• Voice of Geekdom This episode: Chapter 16.2 - The Rise of Maeglin Silmarillion Explained
• The Tolkien Road Podcast This episode: Silmarillion 2022 Ch 16 » Of Maeglin
• The Tolkien Road Podcast This episode: 0047 - The Silmarillion - Chapter 16 - Of Maeglin
• The One Ring This episode: Tolkien’s Disney Princess!? – Of Maeglin – The Silmarillion – 18

The Silmarillion Reader's Guide at Tea With Tolkien.
The Silmarillion Reader's Guide by askmiddlearth on Tumblr.
Quettaparma Quenyallo (QQ) - The most extensive list of Quenya words available on the internet, by Helge Fauskanger, 1999-2013.
Tolkien Collector's Guide - Guide to Tolkien's Letters
A (Hopefully) Light Guide to the Silmarillion — Or What I Wish I’d Known Before Reading It by u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491/
The Definitive Family Tree of the Tolkien Legendarium by u/PotterGandalf117
Wikipedia - The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Announcement and Index: (Take 2) 2024 The Silmarillion and The Fall of Gondolin Read-Along

"The only interview I saw of him was a complete BS interview, which was over the phone!" Jimmy continues, after following the Kremlin line by implying the recent assassination attempt on the Slovak PM happened because of his position on the war in Ukraine (and covid!).
It's unclear what Jimmy means when saying he doesn't know "what happened with the attacker" (or why he thought the interview could be carried out in any other way than over a phone since he has been jailed since the attack) as the incident was caught on camera, with the perpetrator confessing and sharing his plan/motive, but here's a brief summary for Jimmy and his followers:
The attacker David DePape was a leftist and member of the Green Party, but after Gamergate, he shifted to right-wing politics and started to spread far-right conspiracy theories about Pizzagate, the Holocaust, covid vaccines, election fraud, Hunter Biden, the war in Ukraine, etc.. According to DePape himself, he was radicalized online after spending hours everyday playing video games and listening to right-wing voices like James Lindsay, Glenn Beck, Tim Pool and Jimmy Dore.
On October 28, 2022, he broke into the house of Nancy Pelosi to kidnap and interrogate her on camera, but she wasn't at home, so he attacked her husband instead and fractured his scull with a hammer (caught on police bodycam).
On May 17, 2024, DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He's also facing state charges related to the attack.