Hello all, just built a [[Meren of Clan Nel Toth]] deck. Here is the list:
https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7785395/mehren_generic_plodding_value
I'm fairly new to brewing and I know this deck can do the thing, but it's inconsistent. The deck wants to coil over the board like an anaconda, whittle away at everybody's creatures, then finish with flyers or end-raze fore-runners, or build a massive board and sacrifice everything for drains. Which is too many "or" for a focused deck to have, especially one with only three tutors, and two of them to the graveyard at that.
I've specifically avoided infinite combos, and I'm wondering how powerful this deck is, given my limited play experience (a few games with friends and a month of casual Fridays.) The way I see it, the slowness of it allows for people to fairly wriggle their way out, but then again [[Sheoldred, Whispering One]] may be a bridge too far.
From about ten games, it seems like the cards are strong, but the deck is slow, lacking in both ramp and card advantage. I took out some token generation [[Mitotic Slime]] and added some more mill [[stitcher's supplier]] and a dredge card [[stinkweed imp]] to help find some early reanimation targets.
Specific questions:

Is this list totally bullshit to break out against the new, focused precons?

2)If Meren is still a strong commander, how can I focus the deck so that I don't lose on turn 6 before I can get churning?
3) I notice I typically run out of gas if I don't get a card draw engine going. Though, I have ten cards that say draw a card and aren't too hard to proc. How can I see more cards? Or is there enough here with the limited self mill that you think maybe I got unlucky to be topdecking more than I would be?
4) There are only like 7 ramp pieces and 36 lands, which I think is an inadequate mana base. What would you cut for ramp? And relatedly, I have 11 permanents at 1CMC and no dorks, and an average 3.14 curve without lands. If I add five or so ramp spells, do you like dorks, signets, or Nature's lore/ Three Visits/ Rampant Growth here, and why? Or do I need maybe a bit more ramp and a few more draws?
5) Big splashy sorcery: what do you think of [[Breach the Multiverse]] in Meren? Sometimes I think a good old [[Genesis Wave]] would be better, though I wouldn't be casting it for more than x=7 or so usually.
6) Do you think it's best to focus the deck on getting Meren out as early as possible, or worth waiting a bit so that the board is more developed? Essentially this is a question of, does this want to be a midrangey value, play what you get deck or a deck that sprints (or, trots really) toward a particular board state containing several non-infinite combo pieces?
Spolier:I think the deck is caught in a strange place where the creatures and value can put precons under their thumb through sheer arithmetic, but the deck gets blown out by faster decks. I've played at a lot of tables that solitaire win on turn 6 or 7 because I don't draw enchantment removal, or I make the mistake of not holding up mana to remove things, or (more importantly) don't have enough experience to know what to remove. Though, I don't think this deck wants to hold up mana, really. Basically I think this list is just as unfocused as a precon used to be but with generally stronger cards and I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say about it

Pardon me for any grammar mistakes, I'm not that good at English. I'm also not that good at telling stories through text.
This happened at my second ever Rubik's cube competition. So if you didn't know, according to Regulation 1e2 of the WCA, a competitor MUST be available for judging, or else they are disqualified unless they give a reason. Well, I like being a judge, so as soon as the delegate (basically the boss) calls for judges, I run to a table and wait for a competitor. In this event (I think it was 4x4) once the judges are all at their tables, the competitors go and take whatever spot they like. So a kid comes to the spot beside mine, and we wait for the "runner" to give us the scrambled cube. Usually while we wait for the runners, I try to do small talk with the competitor, so I asked the kid "Is this your first time competing?" The kid just looks at me with a weird face, and the competitor beside him asks "It's a joke, right?"
That's when it clicked on me that I just asked the Paraguayan Average record holder if he ever competed before
Outside, I just laughed nervously while apologizing. Inside I wanted to die. Why did I tell this story? Because it's been months since that happened It's funny now (at least to me)
So that's all! Thanks for reading

Live Music

Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wes Register, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Backyard Island Cafe at Meehan's, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Dewey Via, Guy Harvey Resort, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mike Cook, Conch House Marina Resort, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dewey Via, Marina Munch, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Trevor Compton, St. Augustine Shores Golf Club, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bob Patterson, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ZaZa Flamenca, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Hendricks Band, Borrillo's Pizzeria & Beer Garden, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jonathan Lee Dotson, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Yael Dray and ZaZa Flamenca, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cortnie Frazier, Prohibition Kitchen, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Fond Kiser, Salt Life Food Shack, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cam Wheaton, Colonial Oak Music Park, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Ivan Smith, Casa de Vino 57, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Chillula, Bar with No Name, 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Boozin' on the Boulevard

Boozin' on the Boulevard takes guests on a hop-on hop-off service to some of the local restaurants on Anastasia Island.
This bar crawl begins at Kaiser's Deli & Market and Sogno Restaurant from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guests will then be taken to Blackfly and Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The tour will end at Candlelight South at 8:00 p.m.
Each eatery will have food and drink specials — individuals must purchase a drink first from Kaiser's or Sogno Restaurant to receive a wristband. This band enables entry onto the Old Town Connect bus — a free transportation service for participants.
Admission: Food and drink prices vary at each establishment. Transportation is provided by Old Town Connect once a drink is purchased at Kaiser's Deli or Sogno Restaurant.
When: Every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Note: Dates and times could be adjusted based on the number of sign-ups.
Where: Starts at Kaiser's Deli & Market at 4 White Street East, St. Augustine, Florida 32080.

Thievery Corporation at The Amp

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre presents Thievery Corporation on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Thievery Corporation sculpts a unique fusion of downtempo, dub, electronic, and trip-hop music, interwoven with global influences. Comprised of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, the duo shares a passion for Brazilian rhythms and the rebellious sounds of the punk scene. Their lyrical canvas spans English, Spanish, Italian, Persian, Portuguese, and Hindi languages.
With a discography of more than 10 albums and 30 singles, Thievery Corporation continues to make their mark with releases like Sounds From The Thievery Hifi, The Mirror Conspiracy, The Richest Man in Babylon, The Cosmic Game, Radio Retaliation, Culture of Fear, Saudade, Symphonik, and others.
Admission: General Admission tickets for the Backyard Stage range from $50.00 - $55.00. Tickets can be purchased online or at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
When: Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre is at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine, Florida 32080.
Parking Information: The Amp St. Augustine is located on Anastasia Island next to Anastasia State Park. Free parking in the Amphitheatre lot is available during all Backyard Stage performances.

Cassidy Rose at Café Eleven

Café Eleven welcomes Cassidy Rose on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
This show benefits Single Vision Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting leopards, tigers, panthers, and other wildlife. Cassidy Rose will perform her latest music in support of Single Vision's conservation efforts. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the organization to support its programs and to raise awareness in the community.
Admission: General admission tickets cost $5.00 and $10.00 for reserved table seating. Purchase tickets in advance online or purchase them at Café Eleven on the day of the show.
When: Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, Florida 32080. On the corner of A1A and 11th Street, one block from St. Augustine Beach.

Get Creative: Blanton Twin’s Gallery Grand Opening

Artists Heather and Holly Blanton are excited to be hosting a grand opening for their new gallery in St. Augustine on May 23rd from 5:00 to 8:00 pm![St. Augustine, Florida, 04/20/2024] - Hey art lovers, we have exciting news for the St. Augustine art scene. Heather and Holly Blanton have opened a new gallery and studio space in downtown St. Augustine. This is a gallery you definitely want to add to your itinerary!
Heather Blanton’s work is primarily figures of athletes, like runners, bikers, and skiers, and shows scenes of crowds cheering for the Jacksonville Jaguars; while, Holly Blanton used thick paint to create texture on her canvases and has a beloved series of birds sitting on a wire.
Nestled in between the St. Augustine Distillery and Fish Camp restaurant, the Blanton Twin’s studio and gallery is the perfect stop to add to your itinerary. Their new studio is a creative playground with a community of several other artists. The twins will be hosting a grand opening event on May 23rd at their gallery in Historic Lincolnville.
You'll get to meet the artists, chat about their inspirations, and fall in love with their artwork! This is a great opportunity to see more of the behind-the-scenes of Heather and Holly’s work!
Be sure to explore the gallery on your next visit to St. Augustine, and get ready to dive into a world of creativity at the H & H Blanton Gallery!
5:00PM - 8:00PM
134 Riberia Street St. Augustine 32084

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

Live Music

Jim Lamb, Mill Top Tavern, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wes Register, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Joshua "Tennessee" Worthy, Backyard Island Cafe at Meehan's, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Dewey Via, Guy Harvey Resort, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mike Cook, Conch House Marina Resort, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dewey Via, Marina Munch, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Trevor Compton, St. Augustine Shores Golf Club, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bob Patterson, O.C. White's Seafood, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ZaZa Flamenca, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Hendricks Band, Borrillo's Pizzeria & Beer Garden, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jonathan Lee Dotson, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Yael Dray and ZaZa Flamenca, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cortnie Frazier, Prohibition Kitchen, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Fond Kiser, Salt Life Food Shack, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cam Wheaton, Colonial Oak Music Park, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Ivan Smith, Casa de Vino 57, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Chillula, Bar with No Name, 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Boozin' on the Boulevard

Boozin' on the Boulevard takes guests on a hop-on hop-off service to some of the local restaurants on Anastasia Island.
This bar crawl begins at Kaiser's Deli & Market and Sogno Restaurant from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guests will then be taken to Blackfly and Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The tour will end at Candlelight South at 8:00 p.m.
Each eatery will have food and drink specials — individuals must purchase a drink first from Kaiser's or Sogno Restaurant to receive a wristband. This band enables entry onto the Old Town Connect bus — a free transportation service for participants.
Admission: Food and drink prices vary at each establishment. Transportation is provided by Old Town Connect once a drink is purchased at Kaiser's Deli or Sogno Restaurant.
When: Every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Note: Dates and times could be adjusted based on the number of sign-ups.
Where: Starts at Kaiser's Deli & Market at 4 White Street East, St. Augustine, Florida 32080.

Thievery Corporation at The Amp

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre presents Thievery Corporation on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Thievery Corporation sculpts a unique fusion of downtempo, dub, electronic, and trip-hop music, interwoven with global influences. Comprised of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, the duo shares a passion for Brazilian rhythms and the rebellious sounds of the punk scene. Their lyrical canvas spans English, Spanish, Italian, Persian, Portuguese, and Hindi languages.
With a discography of more than 10 albums and 30 singles, Thievery Corporation continues to make their mark with releases like Sounds From The Thievery Hifi, The Mirror Conspiracy, The Richest Man in Babylon, The Cosmic Game, Radio Retaliation, Culture of Fear, Saudade, Symphonik, and others.
Admission: General Admission tickets for the Backyard Stage range from $50.00 - $55.00. Tickets can be purchased online or at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
When: Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre is at 1340 A1A South in St. Augustine, Florida 32080.
Parking Information: The Amp St. Augustine is located on Anastasia Island next to Anastasia State Park. Free parking in the Amphitheatre lot is available during all Backyard Stage performances.

Cassidy Rose at Café Eleven

Café Eleven welcomes Cassidy Rose on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
This show benefits Single Vision Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting leopards, tigers, panthers, and other wildlife. Cassidy Rose will perform her latest music in support of Single Vision's conservation efforts. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the organization to support its programs and to raise awareness in the community.
Admission: General admission tickets cost $5.00 and $10.00 for reserved table seating. Purchase tickets in advance online or purchase them at Café Eleven on the day of the show.
When: Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, Florida 32080. On the corner of A1A and 11th Street, one block from St. Augustine Beach.

Get Creative: Blanton Twin’s Gallery Grand Opening

Artists Heather and Holly Blanton are excited to be hosting a grand opening for their new gallery in St. Augustine on May 23rd from 5:00 to 8:00 pm![St. Augustine, Florida, 04/20/2024] - Hey art lovers, we have exciting news for the St. Augustine art scene. Heather and Holly Blanton have opened a new gallery and studio space in downtown St. Augustine. This is a gallery you definitely want to add to your itinerary!
Heather Blanton’s work is primarily figures of athletes, like runners, bikers, and skiers, and shows scenes of crowds cheering for the Jacksonville Jaguars; while, Holly Blanton used thick paint to create texture on her canvases and has a beloved series of birds sitting on a wire.
Nestled in between the St. Augustine Distillery and Fish Camp restaurant, the Blanton Twin’s studio and gallery is the perfect stop to add to your itinerary. Their new studio is a creative playground with a community of several other artists. The twins will be hosting a grand opening event on May 23rd at their gallery in Historic Lincolnville.
You'll get to meet the artists, chat about their inspirations, and fall in love with their artwork! This is a great opportunity to see more of the behind-the-scenes of Heather and Holly’s work!
Be sure to explore the gallery on your next visit to St. Augustine, and get ready to dive into a world of creativity at the H & H Blanton Gallery!
5:00PM - 8:00PM
134 Riberia Street St. Augustine 32084

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

September 2004
Southside Jamaica, Queens
Baisley Park
Ghost and Tommy are walking through the park, eyeing the runners and observing the new routes Rolla and R.S.K. are using.
Tommy: (Lighting up a cigarette) “Yo, what’s up with you picking up Kanan from the hospital? Heard Jukebox did a number on him.”
Ghost: (Nods, smirking slightly) “Yeah, had to get him out. Jukebox has always been a wild card. You know how she gets.”
Tommy: (Laughs) “Crazy bitch since day one. We were just kids when she started going all psycho. Thought she’d chill out, but nope—still nuts as ever.”
Ghost: “You know, it got me thinking. Kanan’s always been a bit too focused on Southside. Remember when we had that plan to expand downtown?”
Tommy: (Grunts) “Yeah, I remember. We set the whole thing up. Was paying good too, until Kanan shut it down. Said the cops in that area were too much trouble and he wasn’t lying, couldn’t even light a fucking blunt without getting harassed.”
Ghost: “True, he had a point. But think about the potential we missed out on. We could’ve made a killing down there. And it’s the same story with Harlem, The Bronx, all of Manhattan really. Every time we got close to making a big move, Kanan vetoed it.”
Tommy: (Shrugs) “We’re doing fine where we’re at. Yeah, it’s not the flashiest, but it’s steady.”
Ghost: (Pauses, looks around at the runners) “Imagine the fucking money we could pull in if we expanded. We’ve already got the infrastructure, the manpower. All we’re lacking is the territory.”
Tommy: (Blows out smoke, thinking) “Yeah, maybe. But Kanan’s got his reasons. You know he’s been in the game longer than anyone. Cops, other crews—it’s a lot of shit to deal with.”
Ghost: “I get that, but look at what we’re leaving on the table. More money means better lives for our families. Think about the kids, man…”
Tommy: (Visibly softens) “Alright, I hear you. The kids should have better than what we had growing up.”
Ghost: (Nods) “Exactly. And expanding means we can give them that. More money, more security.”
Tommy: “But we can’t turn our backs on Kanan, you know that. He’s family, man.”
Ghost: “I’m not saying we should. Just… consider the possibilities. We can bring Kanan around to see the bigger picture. Make him understand what’s at stake.”
Tommy: (Sighs) “Yeah, good luck with that. You know how stubborn he can be.”
Ghost: (Smirks again) “Let me worry about that. Just think about what we could achieve together.”
They continue to walk through the park, the conversation lingering in the air.
Tommy: “Alright, Ghost. I’ll think about it. But remember, no matter what, we don’t leave Kanan. Ok?”
Ghost: (Nods firmly) “Got it. We’re in this together, always.”
Unbeknownst to Tommy, Ghost’s mind is racing with plans and secrets, fueled by Tasha’s insistence. But for now, he keeps these thoughts to himself, focusing on the bigger picture they’ve discussed.
Ghost: “Let’s see how Rolla and R.S.K. handle these new routes. Maybe it’ll give us some insights for when we’re ready to make our move.”
Tommy: (Nods) “Yeah, let’s do that. One step at a time.”
They continue through the park, both men lost in thought, united in their loyalty to Kanan but dreaming of the empire they could build.

Hi everyone,
I'm encountering an issue with my lookup formula in Excel, and I could use some help. I'm trying to lookup territory information, but my formula keeps returning 0 instead of the expected result. Here’s the formula I'm using:
https://preview.redd.it/ignjaelg432d1.png?width=1779&format=png&auto=webp&s=f65bb187e8a4061a91d171ca12153849cf45fdd8

There’s a few skeletons in my closet and one of them is begging to be let out, screaming at me because I threw away the key all those years ago. I’m expecting another child in a few weeks, her name is Ophelia. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the X-Rays for the first time. However, today is the day I own up to what I did or more specifically, what I ran from in cowardice. I still question whether or not I could’ve saved those people, if having my kids was worth the price of their lives. I’ll never know whether a man like me could have everything right. After all, it was my dreams that saved me and my dreams that haunt me still.
17 years ago, in 2008, my girlfriend, Anna and I decided to take a trip across America to visit Seattle. Both of us were so busy with our jobs that we took some time off to enjoy each other’s company for a week or so. Instead of taking the plane, we took a train at Blue Creek Station. It was this historic building that savored the heat of the sun and the voices of a distant crowd. Occasionally, the brick would lose its grasp and breathe ancient dust. Its gigantic size reminded you of a time more grandiose than you could ever truly imagine.
Of course, I wasn’t the one to pick it. Anna did some research online and while it was less modern than most stations near us, there was this attractiveness to it that went unexplained. She’s also heavily into historical backgrounds so needless to say, it was a done deal. If only I could’ve said no.
When the bus dropped us off at the station, I was definitely anxious staring at the large clock that towered above me, but being with Anna calmed most of my nerves. As we blended with the groups of mysterious folk, I could tell Anna was excited and she pulled me along to an array of portraits detailing every decade of Blue Creek Station. In each photo, some kid could be seen beaming their teeth as they got to ride on a train for the first time. They went as far back as 1908. They even had a copy of a magazine from 1912, the headline reading:
TITANIC SINKS FOUR HOURS AFTER HITTING ICEBERG; 866 RESCUED BY CARPATHIA, PROBABLY 1250 PERISH; ISHMAY SAFE, MRS. ASTOR MAYBE, NOTED NAMES MISSING.
I could tell that this station had seen everything, its eyes glued to the world like paper in a journal. Even the dim lights hanging over our heads shone with a resilient force, never letting go until the last flicker. Strangely, I noticed that the conductor in the very first picture was also in another. The first in 1908 but the second, in 1959. He wasn’t old either, he looked exactly the same except his wardrobe was different and he had grown a beard. I thought that maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me and as I looked longer, the resemblance became less and less apparent. “Hey Anna, do you think they’re father and son?” I asked, pointing at both portraits. “They look like twins but yeah, I think so. Maybe. I’m not so sure anymore.” Her reaction gave me worry, adding to the anxiety I felt before I even entered the building. There was definitely something strange but I couldn’t place my finger on it yet.
The intercom blasted awake, startling Anna. “Vampyr 133, now boarding. I repeat, 133 now boarding.” The miscellaneous conversations grew more dense as the intercom fell asleep again. “Hey, that’s us. Are you ready to go?” She replied happily, “Definitely, just let me take a photo before we do.” I nodded and she reached into her handbag for a small silver camera. It was the same camera I gave her for Christmas 3 years ago. It always warmed my heart to see her use it. She stepped back so that every portrait was in frame, and a small flash followed her movements. She glanced down for a moment, slid the camera back into her handbag, and grabbed my hand signaling that she was finally ready.
As we boarded, it became clear that the train was equally as old as the station was, going through multiple paint jobs and retexturing. Even the seats were outfitted to be more modern and welcoming. “Where do you wanna sit, Tomas?” Anna asked. I pointed towards a snug corner near the bar, with a perfect view of the outside. We sat down, placed our luggage on the rack above us, and waited until the train took its first breaths, hissing and howling until the wheels deigned to roll along the tracks.
Anna reached into the luggage and pulled out a book titled ‘Everything You Need To Know About Blue Creek Station!’ “No, you didn’t.” I stated. “Yes, I did.” She replied back, confidently. “You’re gonna make me read it with you, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” Her smile was now more obvious.
A few hours later, I found myself drooling on her shoulder like a 4 year old who got rocked to sleep. Fortunately for me, she was asleep too and my jacket caught most of my shame. I took it off and stuffed it into my carry-on. The train was now more silent and the sky washed over with darkness like no dusk before it. My being awake was no good thing as I had been dealing with insomnia for most of my life. Anna helped me with some of it but for the rest, I had to take prescription medication. At this point, I could tell when I had to take it and tonight was one of those nights.
I stood up with a pill bottle in my hand, stumbling over to the bar and caught the attention of the bartender. “Could I have a glass of water, please?” “Rough sleeper?” He asked, reaching for the glass. As he poured, I let out my perspective. “Yeah, I’ve never been the best at it. Once I am asleep though, I’ve gotta worry about dreams and nightmares. Never been the best at that either.” When he handed the water over, I gave a thumbs up and took a pill as I drank. He soon spoke to me, and I noticed that he had some sort of Romanian accent. I thought it strange but paid no mind as his voice brought me comfort. “Don’t speak ill of dreams, my friend. They reveal truths unknown or seemingly trivial to the waking mind. Even the darkest nightmares have merit. Unlike many of the souls in this lounge, you are gifted with God's eyes and the Devil’s potential chaos.” “That’s incredibly profound. I’m guessing you’re not from here?” I questioned, taken aback by someone who sounded so wise. “My name is Vlad, and I come from across the sea. I moved here decades ago after seeing how lovely America is compared to my home.” “Well, to meet you, Vlad. I’m Tomas. I’m with my girlfriend Anna over there.” I nodded my head towards her, who was still knocked out cold. A grin broke out across his face, his eyes now more visible as a gust wind swayed his long, black hair back. “You’re in love?” I stupidly answered his question, somehow not finding the man suspicious as his eyes twisted with delight. “Yes, very much so. I’m hoping to get married to her in the next year or so.” He went silent for a few seconds, then whispered under his breath, “May that happen if the sun rises for you once more.” That sentence broke me out of my comfort and all I could say was “Sure, Vlad. Sure.”
I went back to my seat and rested my head upon Anna’s warm shoulder, meeting eyes with the bartender who still stared in my direction. Before I drifted off into sleep, I noticed that smile never left his face, frozen and crooked like that of a wild animal, who hadn’t eaten in days.
When I awoke, my head was pounding. I felt like I was hungover after a heavy Tuesday night of alcohol and endless partying. I struggled to balance myself, waving my hand over a beam of light. “Anna?” I called out, but she didn’t answer. In fact, she wasn’t there at all. Nobody was around. On top of that, the train gained this newborn shine, as if the years never rusted it away. I stood up slowly and the carpet stuck to my feet, looking reddish-brown instead of beige like I remembered it. I called out once more. “Anna? Honey?! Please tell me this is one big prank.” Again, nobody answered.
I peered upward and our things were gone too, replaced by a stray jacket and ripped bowler hat. If that wasn’t strange enough, the hangover wearing off made me notice that the train wasn’t moving whatsoever. It’d been stopped in the middle of a dense, blinding forest. Only the lights on the train illuminated the area surrounding me. All of the doors had been opened as well, the one closest to me torn up as if a beast wanted to get through. As I maneuvered around the emptied seats, I knew I was right. Claws marked the door, pulling away at steel skin. Just as wind crept into the train, my worry did too. Anna was a strong woman, she knew how to fight because of her father, but that wasn’t enough to dissuade my feelings. “If something happened to her, why am I still here?” I pondered.
Suddenly, a harsh wailing exploded from within the forest, violating my ears with instant panic. Before I knew it, I was taking off into the forest, using the moon’s shy glow as my torch. The wailing continued, a symphony of pain and suffering that grew by the second. “I’m coming, hold on!” I yelled, hoping I could make it in time. There was no thinking, no moment to breath, only the raw energy carrying me forward with each step. The forest seemed to go on for miles until I reached a wide clearing of grass and burnt cloth. A large fire smoked and hissed, the same way the train did on departure, except this fire danced, following your movement.
I couldn’t find the source of the screaming, even with the fire showing me more than what I was originally able to see. Then the rain started, the water dousing the dancing limbs of the fire, drenching my shirt with melancholy. Still, I walked inward, brushing my palm against the tall grass as I searched for answers.
As I grew closer to the center, a storm brewed with a disturbed passion. The rain grew louder and louder until nothing else could be heard, then the lightning started, revealing the foggy sky. I reached down towards one of the burnt pieces of cloth, reaching into a chest pocket that held a wallet. It read:
Morgan David Wallace. Birthdate: 7/13/1883.
My heart sank, made creepier by the off-putting smile of Morgan Wallace, who hadn’t known of the world I came from. I tried to make it make sense. Maybe it was a prank or I was dreaming a dream too real but the vividness of the freezing weather on my exposed skin made that void. I’d gone back in time, I was sure of it. Checking more papers in his wallet, I learned that I’d gone back to 1918, 10 years after the grand opening of Blue Creek Station, 90 years exactly before I arrived.
I thought it couldn’t get any worse but I was wrong. As I sat on my knees, fruitlessly analyzing the contents of the cloth, the wailing continued. I began to sprint again until I heard another in the opposite direction, there were two, then three, then four, and eventually, the forest was another haunting choir. It sounded like how I imagined hell would be. The screaming mixed and boiled until converging at one point, a tall ancient tree just beyond my sight.
Manic as I was, I braved the storm, trudging through taller grass, deeper mud with hands that stuck onto my ankles, and an overwhelming mountain of assorted clothes, a grim message I didn’t want to understand. I closed my eyes, letting my hands guide my body, and when I didn’t feel anything, I opened them.
The rain stopped, the field returned to its normal state, and the choir skittered away by a whimper. I stared at the silhouette of the tree, desperate for something. My heavy breathing seemed to be the only thing that filled the space. I waited for 5 minutes and as I began to turn around, lightning struck the air above, granting me my sacred answer. It looked like someone was on it, yet I couldn’t quite tell, and the lightning struck again, queuing the choir as I laid my gaze on a most horrific scene.
Impaled upon the tree, all 64 passengers hung either dead or dying, dressed in blood and their own intestines. Pale, yellow-eyed creatures crawled all over them like wolves, tearing away at their flesh with ease. I froze, disgusted and halfway prepared to vomit into the mud beneath my feet. It was sick, it was cruel, it was… impossible. How do you describe something so unbelievably fucked?
“We must’ve missed one.” A mysterious voice murmured. I freaked out, turning around right into the chest of one of the creatures, who retained an air of humanity in his physical appearance. He had me backed into the ground, legs twisted and arms weak from holding me up. He smiled softly, showcasing a set of elongated canines and mustard pupils. I kept looking at him and immediately remembered who he was; it was Vlad. He still sported long hair and a curled mustache that reached cheek to cheek. The only difference was that he was drenched in blood more than rain and wore a coat too expertly crafted for a bartender. “Vlad…?” I shakenly asked. His face lit up with joy as he bent down to face me. “You know me? One of you bootlicking sheep actually knows me? My, my, I am surprised. How did you figure out that little fact?” “You- you told me.” “I told you? Are you sure about that?” I nodded, barely able to register what was happening. “As interesting as that seems to be, my family is looking for some dessert after supper. I doubt you brought cake to our little feast.”
He stared at me, with that same look he gave before I fell asleep. A crooked smile exposing his teeth and one mindless thought of ripping my spine out of my back to use as a dining table. His entire body went still, his head bent like the arrows on a ticking clock. Breaking the silence, he said “You should run.”
I jumped up, taking off into another sprint as the thunderstorm continued, twirling above my head. The open field again spiraled into a blood ocean, my navigation solely dependent on my need to escape. Behind me, I heard as the grass and trees cracked, followed by multiple bouts of laughter. They tracked me all the way back into the forest, occasionally leaping to catch me and missing ever so slightly. I wasn’t going to make it, I couldn’t make it, and even if I did, the train wouldn’t be enough to protect me from my fate. My only regret was that I couldn’t see Anna for one last time. Then they caught me, pinning me against a rock in a significantly smaller clearing. The foot on my back felt like it could crush my bones within a second. Vlad spoke again, but he wasn’t the one who caught me. I could hear him a little further away. “I have to say, you’re quite the runner. I know that got your blood pumpin!” He pulled my head back, which caused me to let out a scream. Like the foot, his strength was far grander than he’d have you believe. A sound of sniffing lingered around my neck, and out the corner of my eye, his teeth were out once more. “Speaking of blood, I wonder how much is in you.” His face stretched out, morphing and turning paler until he looked just the rest. Then he snapped his head back, finally plunging his teeth right into my exposed neck.
But I didn’t feel anything.
He stood back, befuddled, his form returning. Even his henchman let me go. As I rotated my body to face him, I could tell he knew what happened. “You’re not from here, are you?” My eyes teared up, my words slurred but direct. “No, I’m not from here! This was supposed to be a dream, this is a dream!” Vlad didn’t answer, he just stood. Looking at me with curiosity and fear. Then he bent down, wiping a falling tear with his fingernail, and whispered. “Întoarcere.”
I woke up again. The train was still moving as the forest brushed past and Anna was alright, looking straight at me. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “You were crying in your sleep. You’ve never done that before.” “Crying? Why would I be-“ Then I saw him, leaning over the counter, that deadly look to accompany a slaughter. The fangs that bit a 1000 men, the eyes that will stare into 1000 more, and my haziness of memory became nothing but a brief respite from a night of true fear. “Let’s go, we need to go.” I warned, stumbling to stand up and fighting with our bags. “What are you talking about? We’ve barely reached North Dakota.” I didn’t answer, only stopping to look at Vlad who was now serving people at the bar. “Tomas, talk to me. What’s going on?” I stopped, grabbing her arms gently and said, “I need you to trust me just this once. If we don’t leave this train, we’ll deeply regret it. You’re the one person on this earth that I will look crazy for, if that means spending another day with you.” “Okay.” She awkwardly smiled, confused but content.
I gave her the respective bags, escorting her through each row, imagining the blood soaked carpet and the torn open doors. We waited 10 minutes and eventually, the train stopped at one of the few sub-stations where normally nobody would end their trip. The doors opened, we stepped outside and just like the dream, rain fell and a storm answered its call. Anna and I walked downstairs and across the parking lot, following directions from a sign that said:
Rochester, MN - 5 miles away.
“That’s a lot of walking, babe. Are you sure it was a good idea to leave the train?” Anna questioned. I looked back at the moving train and said “It was the best one.” Not long after I said that, still a few miles away from the nearest town, a familiar voice rang through my head clearer than my own thoughts. “Your abilities are too precious to waste. Live, so that I may never see you again.”
Anna and I ended up spending our two weeks in Rochester and a few other towns in Minnesota, nowhere close to Seattle like we planned. I never told her about my dream or the century old bartender, but a year later, we did hear about Blue Creek Station and the infamous Vampyr 133 train.
The headline read:
50 MISSING PASSENGERS ABOARD 133; NORTHERN STATES POLICE FIND NO ANSWERS; BLUE CREEK™ TO UNDERGO FURTHER QUESTIONING
It confirmed my suspicions at least, that it was real. That what I saw was a glimpse into the past, turning me into the witness of a decennial tradition. Unfortunately, the buzz dried out and everyone began to act as though it never happened. Nothing that serious ever goes unnoticed and yet, it did.
Every night, my mind races back to that day. If I hadn’t made it out and increased the missing to 52. Or if I had gone completely insane and drove everyone out of the train, possibly saving a lot of loved ones. Would that have even helped?
Many questions go unanswered when it comes to Blue Creek Station, but I’m 36 now, and too scared to ever visit that place again. Hopefully, my kids never figure out that Anna and I were there. Or worse, that they wake up one night and find out… they’re not in the time they’re supposed to be.
UPDATE: The kids found Anna’s photo.

I don't want any in-game items, TF2 keys or crypto. Only Steam keys or gifted games, please.
IGS Rep
Steam keys I have:
12 is Better Than 6
16bit Trader
3 Coins At School
Amanda the Adventurer
ANKI
Agent in Depth
Aggelos
Airport Madness: World Edition
Akka Arrh
Albert and Otto
Alex Hunter - Lord of the Mind Platinum Edition
Alien Attack in Space
Alien Rampage
Amnesia: The Dark Descent + Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
Arcade Spirits
Asteroid Bounty Hunter
Back to Bed
BalanCity
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
Beat Hazard Ultra
Beholder
Black Book
Blackhole
Blackwell Convergence
Blackwell Deception
Bloodbath Kavkaz (delisted)
Blue Fire
Bomb Defense
Bomb The Monsters!
Book of Demons
Breakout: Recharged
Breezeblox
Broken Age
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Bubble Ghost
Car Mechanic Simulator 2014
Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics
Cat on a Diet
Cataegis : The White Wind
Centipede: Recharged
Chamber of the Sci-Mutant Priestess
Chaos Control
Charlie's Adventure
Chime Sharp
Chronology
Cities in Motion 2
Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
Columns
Columns III
Comic Book Hero: The Greatest Cape
Construct: Escape the System
Coromon
Cook, Serve, Delicious!
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!!
Cosmic Express
Crashlands
Creepy Tale
Crying Suns
Cube Runner
Cubium Dreams
Cursed Sight
Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
DISTRAINT
Daemonsgate
Deadlight
Defend Your Life
Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter
Detached: Non-VR Edition
Devil Daggers
Double Dragon Trilogy
Drawful 2
DreadOut
DreadOut Soundtrack & Manga DLC
Driftland: The Magic Revival
Duke of Alpha Centauri
Dungeon Journey
Dungeon Rushers
Dungeon of Elements
Dungeons
Dungeons 2
Edge of Eternity
Embr
Endless Space - Collection
Energy Balance
Energy Cycle
Envoy
Eternam
Fall of the New Age Premium Edition
Fallout 1
Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Rise of SH1FT3R
Fault milestone one
Finding Paradise
Fly and Destroy
For the People
Forewarned
Frederic: Evil Strikes Back
Frederic: Resurrection of Music
Frick, Inc.
Funfair Ride Simulator 3
Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition
Galactic Civilizations Ultimate Edition
Galak-Z
Gauntlet
Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island
Gloria Victis
GoNNER
Gods will be watching
Goetia
Going Under
Golden Light
Good Robot
Grey Goo Definitive Edition
Greyfox RPG
Gryphon Knight Epic
Guns & Fishes
Guns of Icarus Online
HIVESWAP: Act 1
Hack 'n' Slash
Hacknet
HackyZack
Hector: Badge of Carnage
Hellpoint
HoPiKo
Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?!
Holy Potatoes! We're in Space?!
Homestead Arcana
Horizon Shift
Hostage: Rescue Mission
Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising
Hotel Transylvania 3: Monsters Overboard
How to Survive
How to Survive 2
Hungry Flame
Hyperdrive Massacre
I am not a Monster: First Contact
I'm not a Monster
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946
Iesabel
Invasion
Iron Impact (delisted)
It's Spring Again Collector's Edition
Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
King Of The Castle
King's Bounty: Platinum Edition
King's Table - The Legend of Ragnarok
Kingdom Two Crowns
Kingdom: New Lands
Knight Squad
LUXOR: Mah Jong
Lair of the Clockwork God
Layers of Fear
Lift It
Little Big Workshop
Love Letter
Lust for Darkness
Luxor Evolved
Maid of Sker
March of the Living
Marco Polo
Marooners
Marvel's Midnight Suns - Doctor Strange Defenders Skin
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Origin Key)
Mechs and Mercs Black Talons
Mediterranea Inferno
Memoria
Meow Express
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition
Millie
Monaco
Monster Slayers
Mr. Run and Jump
Mysterium: A Psychic Clue Game
Mystery Masters: Psycho Train Deluxe Edition (delisted)
Mystical
Mythic Ocean
Namariel Legends: Iron Lord Premium Edition
Neon Prism
Neon Space
Neon Space 2
Nihilumbra
Non-Stop Raiders
Normality
OZYMANDIAS: BRONZE AGE EMPIRE SIM
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty + DLC
Orbital Racer
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
POLYWAR
POSTAL 2
Pandemic: The Board Game (delisted)
Pang Adventures
Panzer Corps
Pester
Pinstripe
Pixel Puzzles 2: Anime
Pixel Puzzles 2: Birds
Pixel Puzzles 2: Space
Pixel Puzzles: UndeadZ
Plantera
Police Stories
Pony Island
Postal 2
Postal 2: Paradise Lost DLC
Postal Redux
Project Highrise
Prophecy I - The Viking Child
Psychonauts
Quadrata
RPG Maker VX
Rampage Knights
Raptor: Call of The Shadows - 2015 Edition
Red Death
Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
Red Risk
Remnants of Isolation
Revhead
Rez Plz
Rise & Shine
Risky Rescue
Robot Squad Simulator 2017
Rollers of the Realm
Rym 9000
SPACECOM
STRIDER
SYSTEM SHOCK: ENHANCED EDITION
Sam & Max Hit the Road
Samudra
Satellite Reign
Savage Lands
Say No! More
Scanner Sombre
Secret Neighbour
Selfie : Sisters of the Amniotic Lens (delisted)
Serial Cleaner
Shadow Blade: Reload
Shark Attack Deathmatch 2
ShipLord
Shivah
Shoppe Keep
Silence of the Sleep
Silver Knight
SimplePlanes
Simulacra
Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity
Slash It
Slash It 2
Slipstream 5000
Small Radios Big Televisions
Small World
Small World - Be not Afraid... DLC
Small World - Cursed!
Small World - Grand Dames DLC
Sniper Ghost Warrior 2
Solstice
Sonic Adventure 2
Soulblight
Space Legends: At the Edge of the Universe
Sparkle 2 Evo
Sparkle 3 Genesis
Sparkle ZERO
Spin Rush
Spiritual Warfare & Wisdom Tree Collection
Splasher
Splendor
State of Anarchy: Master of Mayhem
Stick Fight: The Game
Stigmat
Stories Untold
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Styx: Master of Shadows
Sunrider: Liberation Day - Captain's Edition
Super Buff HD
Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings
Super Panda Adventure
Super Toy Cars
Surfingers
Survivalist
Survive in Space
Surviving Mars
Sword of the Stars: The Pit - Juggernaut DLC / Healer DLC / Soundtrack
THE UNCERTAIN: LAST QUIET DAY
THOTH
TIMEframe
TREBUCHET
Tadpole Treble
Taimumari
Talisman - The City Expansion
Talisman - The Sacred Pool Expansion
Talisman: Digital Edition
Teddy Floppy Ear - Kayaking
Teddy Floppy Ear - Mountain Adventure
Teddy Floppy Ear - The Race
Telltale Texas Hold'em
Terraformers
Terra Lander
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure
Teslagrad
The 39 Steps
The Amazing American Circus
The Beast Inside
The Divine Paradox (delisted)
The Dwarves
The Dwellers
The Emptiness Deluxe Edition
The Final Station
The Flame in the Flood
The Inner World
The Journey Down: Chapter Three
The Last Express Gold Edition
The Next Penelope
The Purring Quest
The Sexy Brutale
The Walking Dead: Season 1
The Wild Eight
The Witness
Think of the Children
This War of Mine
Through the Darkest of Times
Through the Woods
Timberman
Tooth and Tail
Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found
Toybox Turbos
Train Simulator 2021
Trifox
True Bliss
Tumblestone
Twilight Struggle
Upside Down
Uriel's Chasm 2: את
WARSAW
Wandersong
Warfront Defenders: Westerplatte
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
Warhammer 40K: Space Wolf (delisted)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin Ultimate Edition (Asia/Oceania region lock, excluding japan)
Wasteland
West of Dead
World of Mixed Martial Arts 3
Worms Rumble
Wuppo
X Rebirth
X Rebirth: The Teladi Outpost
X-Morph: Defense + European Assault, Survival of the Fittest, and Last Bastion DLC
X2: The Threat
X: Beyond the Frontier
X: Tension
XCOM 2
XCOM 2 Resistance Warrior Pack
XCOM: Chimera Squad
Zero Reflex: Black Eye Edition
Zombie Bowl-o-Rama
Zombie Vikings
Zombillie
stikir
Examples of what I'd be interested in:
Cookie Cutter
Outcast - Second Contact
Above Snakes
Battle vs Chess
Book of Hours
Astrea
Gloomhaven
Trinity Fusion
Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist
Gord
Rise of the Third Power
Kardboard Kings
or Offers
Wishlist

Crochet table runners

EmmaHayesFC

Live Music

Boozin' on the Boulevard

Thievery Corporation at The Amp

Cassidy Rose at Café Eleven

Get Creative: Blanton Twin’s Gallery Grand Opening

For future events please visit the Discord.

Live Music

Boozin' on the Boulevard

Thievery Corporation at The Amp

Cassidy Rose at Café Eleven

Get Creative: Blanton Twin’s Gallery Grand Opening

For future events please visit the Discord.