#based on those medieval illuminations where hands are creatures you know the ones

[astralwhat]

they want you to read their zine

#thought you all might like to see this little guy; drawn for the last zinebash #based on those medieval illuminations where hands are creatures you know the ones #id in alt

[monkeyandelf]

The Qliphoth: powers of darkness

Even if the dark and infinite ocean of non-physical reality escapes any attempt at mapping, the Qliphoth offer esoteric landmarks to those who venture beyond the far side of the Moon. This system of progressive self-initiation of the senestral way helps to structure an unknown territory by introducing a form of rationality understandable by ordinary consciousness in an occult domain. Each Qliphoth represents a state of consciousness involving the development of certain faculties through trial, study and contemplation of symbols. Mastering the energies present in each sphere opens access to the next qliphah.

If we refer to Kabbalah to position the Qliphoth on the nocturnal face of the tree of life, domain of the Sephiroth, the tree of death is accessible by Daath, the hidden Sephira making the link between the two aspects of the same reality. Although the night / day, good / bad, life / death duality is not ultimately relevant, it is advisable to start by exploring the tree of life before venturing into the shadow of this knowledge. Indeed, choosing this perilous and lonely path is not a decision to be taken lightly. Motivated by the desire for dazzling advances and the acquisition of supranormal powers, the follower cannot ignore the dangers that await him. He consciously enters the centers of power, taking the risk of losing what he has, what he is, what he knows. It is a sacrifice where madness, depression, hopelessness and perdition are potentially present.

Silence and darkness reign inviting to the sobriety of emotions and thoughts. Only the one whose inner strength has become unshakable by a preliminary asceticism is able to face the monsters lurking in the shadows who will try to devour him. The terror of annihilation is its guardian, the test that warns and discourages those who are not ready. Being ready to lose everything is the sine qua non for overcoming obstacles as a master, capable of transforming them into powerful levers towards forbidden knowledge. Equanimity, discrimination, unshakable self-confidence and fortitude are the weapons that will allow the initiate to continue, to go ever further without being destroyed but recreated for the birth of the living demonic god.

The promises of the Qliphoth attract those who desire full realization by integrating light and shadow beyond the primary dualities. Wisdom advises to follow a prudent progression without skipping the stages under the excess effect of an immature pride. The keen senses and intuition detect and analyze anomalies, hallucinatory aberrations of a twilight consciousness in order to realize a potential beyond imagination.

The 11 levels of the Qliphoth way:

By way of information and in order to give a more “concrete” idea of ​​what the initiation of the Qliphoth may involve, you will find below the translation of a text describing the different spheres. These descriptions are not absolute but rather fall under the subjectivity of the author (Asenath Mason) and in no way constitute a dogmatic truth. What everyone finds on their journey is personal and can take different cultural and symbolic forms. Maybe these descriptions of Qliphoth will speak to you, maybe not. Make your own way, find out for yourself what is hidden in each sphere of power. Only the interior transformation process is universal, but remains in the elusive, eluding definitions and classifications. LILITH (Queen of the Night): The door to the Unknown. Here, the initiate comes into contact with his first guides and allies on the way, and consciousness opens up to the realm of Night. Lucifer’s ascending flame is lit and Lilith approaches to guide the initiate through the paths of the dark path. The divinity of the first Qliphah is Naamah, dominating the material world. She can grant the magician the desired material goods but she is endowed with a despotic character which is difficult to manage. Naamah is Lilith’s demonic sister, both of whom often introduce themselves as the first guide to entering the dark worlds. GAMALIEL (The obscene): The astral sphere of dreams. Here the initiate explores the mysteries of witchcraft and sexual alchemy. The goddess of the Moon reigns there, she introduces the follower to the secrets of moon magic. In the sphere of Gamaliel, all forbidden fantasies, suppressed lust and shameful dreams are brought to light. The Goddess of Gamaliel is Lilith, appearing as a sensual woman with a snake body. It seduces the magician and guides him in the dark aspects of our instincts. She is the Queen of Demons, and reigns with Lucifer over the entire Qliphothic Tree. SAMAËL (The poison of God): The Alchemical poison is ingested by the magician who succumbs to its toxic effects. His conscience must overcome trials in which madness, doubt and disbelief assail him. It is about contact with the personal, deadly Shadow, it teaches the initiate the mysteries of Death and the flight of the soul. Here in the Adramelech Desert, the faith and devotion of the follower are tested. Adramelech is the sovereign entity of this Qliphah under the appearance of a half-peacock, half-human creature. It gives the magician pride and magnificence, which, however, are only illusory and contribute to the initiatory test. A’ARAB ZARAG (The Crow of Dispersion): The Mysteries of Venus and Luciferian Magic. The initiate takes the path of mystical eroticism and war trials. Aab Zaraq breeds destruction, often through war, conflict and death. The God reigning over this Qliphah is Baal, the god of war. He has the appearance of a warrior with a horned mask and armed with a spear. He instructs the magician in the art of invisibility and teaches him about Luciferian freedom. His wife and reigning Goddess of this sphere is the Dark Venus, initiator of new mysteries of sexual magic. THAGIRION (The Opponent): The illumination of the dark side by the light of the Black Sun. The initiate experiences the union of god and the beast in him, and realizes the idea of ​​embodied divinity. Thagirion is the sphere of the Daemon, the image of the personal god, and of the beast 666, continually striving to dominate human instincts. The reigning God of this Qliphah is Belphégor, The God of Death. Belphégor was originally a Moabite deity named Baal-Peor, half male-solar and female-lunar. During magic works, it manifests itself in its bestial form but also in the appearance of a young woman. It gives the magician imagination and wealth. GOLACHAB (The Burning One): The Apocalypse. The initiate becomes the Fire of Destruction. Through SM sexual practices, the initiate is tested in suffering and lust. It is the Qliphah of fire – comprising both the creative flame and the destructive breath. The Qliphah is the domain of Asmodeus, who appears as a winged and flaming god. It represents both the power of fire and the power of sexuality. The incubi and succubi of this sphere are the strongest and most violent of the whole Qliphotic Tree. GHA’AGSHEBLAH (The executioner): The other side of mystical eroticism. The initiate goes through trials of war and love and becomes the executioner. The energies of this Qliphah bring life or destruction. They destroy the substance of Creation at the base of the foundation of the Universe. The reigning deity of this sphere is Astaroth, the foul-smelling spirit, riding the Dragon and holding a snake in his hand. He sees beyond the past, the present and the future. He is also the patron of the Liberal Arts. DAATH: The Vision of the Abyss and the encounter with Chorozon, the gatekeeper. SATARIEL (The illusionist): The opening of the Eye of Lucifer. The initiate faces trials where surrealism and absurdity dominate, and learns to detect the Truth in what is hidden. Appearances are deceptive. Lucifuge presides over this Qliphah, the one who avoids the light. Its description appears in many medieval and Renaissance grimoires on hierarchies of demons. It reveals hidden treasures but can also make the magician lose his mind. GHAGIEL (The destroyer): The lightning of the Luciferian star. The initiate breaks Divine Law and prepares to enter Lucifer’s Throne Room. It is the Qliphah of rebellion and the shaking of the foundations of the world. The dominant entity in this sphere is Belzebuth, the Lord of the Flies. THAUMIEL (The Twins of God): Fulfillment of the Serpent’s Promise. The initiate becomes God incarnate. This Qliphah is double with two reigning entities: Satan and Moloch. Thaumiel is the antithesis of Kether. The original meaning of Satan is the Opponent. In the Old Testament he was the accuser and he tried and tested the faith of humans by misleading them. Moloch was a cannaanite deity whose worship involved the sacrifice of children by fire. Source link Read the full article

#Lilith #Sephiroth

[icefir-windbreaker]

All-Stars -Story Mode- [CHAPTER 9]

A bit too soon as well with 50th Day of Countdown to April 13 just in case that something needs to have on the computer that is still had internet online just for temporarily til the internet on my computer is back to normal. Also another one is also based off what happened to me last year but kindness might have decided to cut me a break this time.

So, as the old saying goes: “Expect the Unexpecting”

Enjoy.

P.S Hint of what going to be in this chapter: “BWAAH” and “Tattletail love you, hehehe!”

                                                      -Chapter 9-

*You two had been wandering through the caves for what seemed like a while now. *Even that you didn’t know that this cave is connected to police station, who knew!

Mugman looked around in the darkness with the tip of his finger to illuminate the way in the caverns, with Frisk behind him, they had to stay together as they are gone ever deeper into dark caves after they escaped.

‘’This reminds me that day when me and Cups had gone into the cave that lead to a casino.’’ he muttered under his breath then turns over to Frisk as he asked ‘’Does this remind of-?’’

*You quickly told him yes when you remembered the first you went to the Underground. *But best not to mention that’s also where you met _ _ _ _ _ there for the first time too.

‘’Oh, heheh… I forgot.’’ Mugman apologized as he rubbed his head as he steadied the light on his fingertip, Frisk giggled for a moment then patting on his shoulder. Making Mugman feel better as he looked at Frisk.

*You told Mugman that it’s alright that he forgot, *Even though in a time like this and so on. *but for now, you need to find a way out of the caves and find their friends.

Mugman nodded in agreement with a gentle smile then heard strange noises coming from the cave beside them just one minute away as they both looked at it. They both walked towards it as they get a bit more clearer noise but it sounded like someone that is talking funny.

‘’BwahbwahbwahbwahwawawawaBwahBwah!’’ ‘’Hehehehe!’’

They go closer and closer to the cave and enters it, they noticed the signs like ‘’BWAH BWAH’’ and ‘’Beware Mama Tattletail’’ as they get closer to the night the light at the other end of the cave then finds themselves in a strange underground town filled with odd rabbit-like creatures and egg-shaped armless toys are walking around, making much mischief as they can together.

Frisk and Mugman looked at the sign on top of the cave saying; ‘’Welcome to Rabbid-Tail Town, enjoy your stay but still; Beware of Mama!’’ and obviously, it was poorly written, written like a 7 year old child had written it for them.

‘’Frisk, we should leave.’’ Mugman suggested to them, Frisk looked at him then at the store had a sign that read ‘’Tattletail’s and Rabbid’s Store’’ that is also like the welcome sign.

*You said to Mugman that they should get some supplies for *The journey ahead if they had found Cuphead.

Mugman looked at the store then looked at Frisk again and said ‘’Well alright, let’s see what’s useful in there.’’

They walked in the store and see a Rabbid zipped by and then jumped onto a box with a Tattletail on its head as it spoke ‘’bwahbwahbwahbwahbwahbwabwabwa!’’

Frisk and Mugman looked at the Rabbid confused because they didn’t understood what it said as Tattletail looked at them before giggling ‘’Rabbid is saying if you two want anything from here.’’

                        (Rabbid and Tattletail meeting Frisk and Mugman)

‘’Oh right. D-do you two had anything that might be useful?’’ Mugman asked at least one of them who can speak english, Tattletail hopped from the Rabbid’s head then pulled the red certains back to reveal a cabinet filled with simple things like canned food, a banana, weapons from both Medieval Ages to WWI & II eras and one WWII Marine bandolier that is strangely glowing reddish-yellow just barely visible to the two lanterns.

Rabbid now stands behind the box as it spoke ‘’Bwahbwahbwah?’’ and then the TattileTail explained ‘’He said ‘’What will you like?’’.’’

Canned Bacon Soups (Heals 20 HP)

An Banana (Heals 13 HP)

Sword (Damage 15)

Crossbow (Damage 12)

WWI Trench Knife (Damage 17)

Colt "New Service" Revolver (Damage 12, if at the heart, it’ll be 20)

WWII Marine Bandolier (DF 24)

Mugman looked around for a moment with Frisk while they are looking at the WWII Marine bandolier with curiosity, why is it glowing like that?

Mugman had finally decided as he said ‘’I will take three cans of Bacon Soup and a trench knife for my friend.’’ to them as Frisk looked over to Mugman with surprise. Rabbid nodded then grabbed three cans and the WWI trench knife that had been stealthed then putting them in a rucksack then giving it to Mugs as Frisk paid with the remaining golden coins.

‘’We even had another rucksack for free!’’ Tattletail stated the fact, Frisk looked at the bandolier with still curious thoughts.

Mugman then asked ‘’What are you looking at Frisk?’’ after he noticed them are looking at something.

*You said that you are looking at a bandolier they had in the cablet. *Then you asked what it is doing here.

‘’Bwah?’’

‘’The old thing? We had found it when we first came here.’’ Tattletail translated for his friend, looking at the bandolier as well then looked at Frisk.

‘’BwahbwahbwahbwahbwahBwaah!’’

‘’He said ‘’since you’re interested in it, we will let you have it!’’ How lucky!’’ Tattletail translated once again.

‘’W-we will? B-but-’’

‘’BwahBwah!’’

‘’”We insist!” he said, once again translated the statement for his friend as he grabbed the bandolier and a rucksack for Frisk as Mugman was amazed for their generosity and kindness.

‘’Well thank you! Thank you very much!’’ Mugman gleely gushed as they both walked out of the store and back into the town

Frisk looked over to Mugman with the bandolier in hand as Mugman looked over to them, he tilted his head a little bit for what Frisk is thinking then they hand over to Mugman.

*You asked Mugman if he could try it on.

‘’I-I thought you were going to wear it Frisk.’’ Mugman murmured as he scratched his head, Frisk took a step closer to him.

*You insisted if he should try it first, you said that you thought he might feel like a soldier if he put it on.

‘’Well…’’ he sighed in defeat, ‘’Alright.’’

Frisk handed the bandolier to Mugman then stands back for him to try it on, he puts it on and it goes across his chest, it’s too big for his size but it hands on his right shoulder.

*Mugman put on bandolier as it didn’t felt him well but it hangs onto his right shoulder. *For a reason, he feels tough, tough as his brother, tough as the bosses he had fought. *Fear that resided in him had faded away, he felt like he could laugh danger in its face. *He even can’t remember what fear was, only urge to shout ‘’Oorah!’’ *He had no idea what it means but; it sounded cool.

*He is now filled with… COURAGE

*You asked Mugman what does he think of the bandolier he’s wearing.

‘’It’d feels great!’’ Mugman exclaimed, revealing that he had sky-blue eyes as a bandolier is glowing a bit more now as Frisk giggled. Mugman blushed as he scratched the back of his head once more.

‘’Hehe. Frisk, you are too sweet for your own good you know?’’ Mugman said, Frisk nodded as they helped putting the rucksack on Mugman and in return, he helped Frisk with theirs on their back. He looked at Frisk and ask ‘’Ready to go?’’

*You said yes and let Mugman lead the way out of Rabbid-Tail Town.

They continued their journey through the caves, the water is dripping down from the ceiling above them, echoing the calming sounds as they landed on the glowing water flowing below as they walked beside it.

Mugman looked around as he hold hands with Frisk, his eyes had spotted something on a rock as he stopped to a halt with Frisk who then looked to what he is looking at: a lantern. ‘’It’s a lantern!’’ he said as he had fast walked towards it then examined it, ‘’It still got some oil left in it, I think it will help shine our way out of here!’’ he tapped on the glass a little as he smells the smell of oil inside it. Frisk walked over to him before they tapped on his shoulder, getting his attention.

*You said that none of them had a match on one of them. *One thing you is: How are they going to get it to lit?

‘’Well, I had the magic power on the tip of my fingers.’’ Mugs shyly said with a pun, Frisk giggled as Mugman did the finger gun again, seeing the familiar small ball of magic on his fingertips while he opened the lantern before putting his finger in, thus creating a small fire like lighting a candle. He then closes it then picks it up. Shining the area around them as he smiled.

*Lantern is lit a small flame thanks to Mugman. *I guess it helps to lighten up the mood a little. *Hehe.

‘’Now we can see better! Come on!’’ Mugman said, he felt confident now like Cuphead. Frisk nodded then headed to the direction Mugman had chosen, they walked fast through the echoing caves without fear then they noticed a kid just about Mugman’s age down the wet path.

It a 9-year-old girl with a with #3 pool ball for a head, she wore a orange-and-yellow-striped dress and boots that seemed to big for her since it had reached to her knees. She was looking around when she noticed them heading her way.

Meeting Trace

‘’Hi!’’ the girl said as they approached her while Mugman puts down the lantern, ‘’Hello? What are you doing in the cave?’’ Mugman asked as they stopped near the glowing water. ‘’I dunno, I had woke up here after a blackout in Inkwell.’’

‘’You were brought here from Inkwell Isle too? Oh my… Are you alright?’’ Mugman asked concerned for her safety, she nodded and said ‘’I am alright, I know those yucky undead things can’t get me and my family in these caves. Anyway, you must be Cuphead’s brother; Mugman, right?’’

‘’Yeah. I guess we are famous after beating the Devil after all.’’ Mugman answered, the pool ball head girl looked over to Frisk and said ‘’Is this human a friend of yours?’’

‘’’Yeah, to me, my bro and our friends. What is your name?’’ he questioned to the girl, she gushed ‘’Well, my name is Trace! I am a number 3 pool ball and unrelated to Mangosteen.’’ as she twirled her leg around and giving him a wink.

Frisk tapped on her shoulder, making Trace to look at them.

*You asked Trace if she had know a way out of The Caves.

‘’Yeah! My dad had lead me to where it was yesterday, so it wouldn’t be that hard to go through these caverns.’’ Trace said as she pointed out a way as Mugman picks up the lantern while he said ‘’You do?’’ with hope.

‘’Yeah, follow me!’’ She said as she walked forward with them following her into the tunnel of The Caves, along the way, she sang

‘’Through the darkern caves~ where the water flows while it glows it’s cyan-blue light to lead the three friends a way and out the caverns of the night~’’

As her voice had echoed through the walls of The Caves while they enjoyed her singing throughout the journey then they stopped along with Trace as they noticed music had began playing throughout the caves then voices claimed into the music by singing:

The light through the window streams in and

Breaks on your brow

(Breaks on through to you)

And she floats on by

‘’Oh!’’ she had whispered to Mugman and Frisk, ‘’This song had begun playing again! This had happened over two days ago, on my first day in The Caves, this song had played while we’re trying to settle in, my older brother and dad had gone out to see who was singing but no one’s there but on the second, the song had extended with more lyrics to it. Be quiet and pay attention.’’ She hushed to them then hushering them to continue on walking as the woman’s voice had began singing with the music.

Beautiful sad, lost child

Cruelty reconciled

I stand with you, forever

Can you feel me here?

They walked as they noticed the ribbles in the glowing water had started to go along with the music like someone had been throwing pebbles of rocks into it as the woman and voices sing the next verse together in perfect harmony.

Remember

(Her love will find you)

(Her love will reach you)

(Held in her arms, remember)

They then look up and saw tiny blue lights are flying around them and then away from them, they all looked around as the voices had continued to sing their souls out.

Forever

(Her love will find you)

(Her love will heal you)

(Shield you from harm, forever)

Forever

They then noticed a shadow of a woman coming from the next tunnel due to a light-blue light, the figure was dancing gracefully like a ballerina, they tiptoed to the tunnel as they kept the eye on the shadow as the woman sung once more.

I’ll shield you

Remember

Then the figure stopped dancing as if whoever she is seemed to know they are there before the three kids ran into whoever is singing and dancing.

Heal you, forever

As quickly as she sung the last verse of the lullaby, she disappeared in a quick flash and smoke as fast as lightning before they get a chance to look at her.

She’s… gone? But how? As the music is approaching to it’s fated end, they looked around for the woman but they didn’t find her… yet they did find one thing on the floor; a dark green scarf just laying down on the floor.

Frisk walked over to it and picks it up.

*You had picked scarf. *...Yet, it smells of vodka for a strange reason.

Frisk then puts it on their rucksack as Mugman looked around the area as he spoke ‘’She was singing and dancing in here but she had vanished!’’ then looked over to Frisk and Trace with concerned. ‘’Do you think that this cave is haunted?’’

‘’I am not sure yet Mugs but it would be awesome if it is by some ghost lady.’’ Trace replied to Mugman who is now looking at the other tunnel as Trace looked at it with Frisk as she said ‘’It should lead us out of here!’’

‘’Right, we better get going before-’’ Mugman said as the same woman’s voice that had sing suddenly said ‘’Behind you…’’

They all turned around and sees a man they had dreaded and hoped they will never see him again; Colonel Mael Radec. Who is holding a gun and one of those jetbacks on his back, he took a step closer to them with anger and cold toned his voice ‘’You thought you could escape us? Your friend’s kind knows no hope in that.’’

‘’Y-you mean making a deal with the Devil?’’ Mugman asked confused but right now at this moment, he felt brave, brave enough to punch him to the ground for kidnapping and taken him and his friend hostage in a cell.

‘’No, ISA… Now surrender now and return with me back to camp.’’ Radec had demanded to them, gripping his rifle tight than before as he sensed something is up with Mugman who felt anger for first time.

‘’Or you will what?’’ Trace asked in a fright, hiding behind Frisk as if her life and existence depends on them. Radec then aims the weapon at them in one hand and said ‘’Don’t. Toy with me creature. I will not ask you two again; Surrender now and return with me back to camp…’’

*....... *You looked over to Mugman and…

*He refused.

‘’NEVER Freakbag! Never in your life!’’ Mugs barked at him before covering his mouth, what is wrong with him? He had never said that to anyone before other than Cuphead! Something in him is taking over like a remote-controlled toy.

That made Radec aim his rifle at Mugman with his voice more colder than ever, ‘’You should’ve give up on escaping when you had the chance. If you’re going to come with me or do you know how defend yourself?’’ he had said before cocking his olympic shotgun back and ready to use it if necessary.

‘’I… I uh…’’ he said before looking at his hand before making the finger gun once again with magic on his pointer finger then looking at Radec. ‘’Good,’’ he announced ‘’Now there’s any plan you have left, I am afraid that it will not work well for you Mug.’’ then he gotten himself ready to fight Mugman who stood his ground as he had his arms out, shielding Frisk and Trace from him as he yelled to them ‘’Run!!’’

Frisk and Trace looked at each other before running away, leaving him in the room alone with Radec.

*Radec had caught up to you in time.

Mael Radec vs Mugman

A battle is sure is blowing, you’re up!

Radec opened fire first but Mguman had ran out of the way, then he fire back at him multiple times before he flew over him with the help of a StA-X6 Jetpack he had equipped, before landing and getting out an electric hand grenade and throwing at Mugman, it explodes and stock Mugman as he groaned in pain, stuned.

Radec didn’t hesitate and ran up to him, grabbing and throwing him at a wall, he loses one of his HP now at 2%

Mugman got up with his legs shaking, then looked over to the colonel with anger, he then rolls up his sleeves and readies the finger guns once more while Radec had thrown down the rifle and getting out a combat knife as he vanished into thin air.

Mugman looked around cautiously for any sign of movement till he sensed him from behind and opened fire immediately at him as he uncloaks. He yelled in pain before slashing out at him with the combat knife, he dodged it quickly as they quickly backed into the light coming from the ceiling, shedding more light to the fight as Mugman kept firing at him with no hesitation.

Get him in the hand where’s he’s holding that knife kid!

A familiar voice came to Mugman in his head, he looked around as he whispered ‘’What…?’’ as Colonel Radec had slashed again, Mugs barely misses it and got crack on the arm from the attack, making him hold it to prevent it from bleeding.

‘’Will you please leave us alone and let us go?!’’ Mugman yelled at the Helghan who studied his ground, ‘’I will not, unless it would help your allies with their situation if you had come with me to Helghast.’’

‘’I will never join you!!’’ Mugman spat out towards him as his voice had mixed with someone else’s as he hold his mouth again while Radec looked at him like he was possessed by a spirit.

‘’What had gotten into you…?’’ he questioned as he turned his attention towards a ghost of a… man. He then swears it was Dempsey but different, far more different than what he was or who he was either.

That man is Caucasian like Dempsey but his hair is a little blond and buzz-cut, is wearing WWII Marine uniform with sleeves rolled up and is wearing the same bandolier that Mugman is wearing.

Radec had never seen this happened before but he knew he had to act fast to get it off of him, he looked at Mugman as he slowly became invisible once again.

“W-where did he go??” he gasped as he looked around for any signs of him, Dempsey’s voice came to him again “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine kiddo. Just leave it-” but was interrupted by Radec grabbing Mugman by his head’s handle.

“AH! Let me go!” Mugman begged as he struggled to break free as Radec grabbed the bandolier before taking it off of him before dropping the mug on the ground, Mugman felt courage began to leave him and fear once more taken its place. “Sh- Don’t be scared! It will be okay kiddo…”

Mugman had heard the voice in his head fade away as his eyes slowly went back to normal, Radec then threw the bandolier to the opposite side of the room as Mugman helplessly watched. Radec looked down at the mug and said “Nothing with to fight me now.” as Mugman is looking at him.

“L-Listen! You really don’t have t-to do this! This is not your kind would race would want!” Mugman pleaded as he crawled backwards towards the wall as Radec took a few steps towards him. “You will stand and fight with us like soldiers or you’re against us.”

“Never! I-In this universe, you’re a pest! A rat!” He yelled as Radec had took a glare on him, he shook his head slowly and said “Then this is what you wanted, in otherwise…” then pulled out a pistol. Unaware that someone is in the background, picking up and putting the bandolier on then turned their attention towards the unexpecting two.

Mugman was shaking as Radec pointed that weapon at him, “What are you going to do now?” he said, Mugs was so scared that he had began to thought about his options: Scream for help or run away, fight or flight mode?

Mugman was choosing til he screamed “SOMEONE HELP ME!!” as Radec stood still, gun still trained on the fear-filled mugs.

*You called out for help….

…….

*But nobody came.

“Don’t,” Radec scowled, “You dare scream like that again. It’s weakness.” as he got ready to fire a bullet-

*But… All but Cuphead did!

“You stay away from him!” He screamed as he throws a blast attack on Radec, knocking him off of his feet and dropping the pistol in the process. Mugman’s eyes went wide as he sees his brother and he’s wearing the bandolier he had lost when that Helgen took it off and like before, his eyes are sky blue as well.

*Cuphead is now filled with… COURAGE

“C-Cuphead! Y-You’re okay!” Mugman gasped as he looked at his brother, Cuphead smiled as he too is glad that Mugman is alright then turned back to the Colonel with the finger gun ready, eager to fight him now. “You should be taught a lesson!” he bellowed out towards him as he got up and back on his feet.

“Clever of you, I admire that but that is suicide.” Radec as he got out a rifle, Cuphead hushered Mugms back a little as his brother looked at him while he said “Ready to fight Mugs?” Mugman nodded as he got back on his feet, he looked over to his brother and said “I thought I lost you Cups.”

“I thought I lost you too, I’m glad I came here just in time.” Cuphead smiled as he looked at him then they turned their attention towards Radec with the finger guns ready.

In a flash, they dashed towards him as Mael stood ready to fight them.

Ready? Now go!

Meanwhile… [Long before Frisk and Mugman escaped… A little bit before.]

Your Rain (Made on 10/2/2018)

Nikolai had unknowingly found himself in a place at nighttime with clouds covering up the sky, he didn’t know this place this time, he remembered after Mugman, Frisk and Boris had been captured then they had to retreat thanks to the walking dead and hide in some place.

Then the next thing he know: Everything around him gone dark and then he found himself at an unfamiliar place but he can read the sign on it’s wall.

Windsor Elementary School

He wondered in disbelief, then when he looked at himself; he’s not in his usual attire, only a dress shirt, pants and boots. He rubbed his head and that is when he realized he is not wearing the aviator hat as well. It concerns him more; that made him completely vulnerable to any armed forces and not armed with a gun or a melee weapon.

Was this a dream? Or an illusion? “Hmm…”

He looked around for a little bit more, there lampposts lighting the streets, some of the houses are lights and vehicles he didn’t recognized. He is alone in that place, no doubt about that. He looked up at the flag post and sees the American flag, that confirmed he’s in USA but what state?

Nikolai was still concerned though, then he said his thought out loud “This can’t get more worse, can it?” but he realized he had said it too soon. Thunder roared from the sky, catching Nikolai in surprise, then the wind begins to blow hard and to top it off, it began to rain as well as lightning strikes once more.

Defeated, Nikolai looked down and muttered “Obviously, it can.” then he heard the sound of footsteps coming towards him, that made him realized that he’s not alone like he thought. He turned around and see a young lady, with a light brown aviator hat with goggles, army green t-shirt, blackish tie-up pants and black rubber flip flops, she came from around the corner of the school, almost of nowhere as if. She stopped for a moment to take her flip flops and then used them as a shield against the storm but it still got onto her nonetheless.

“Excuse me! Please miss, can you…” Nikolai spoke up but she, for an odd reason, didn’t seemed to hear him. That made Nikolai realized as he watched her go by, so helpless in the rain while she walked in bare feet. He then decided to walk with her, maybe if he could get to her then he will know what’s going on, seems like a plan, right?

He then walked fast to catch up with her, “Do you hear me? Mind telling-” Nikolai was too shock to finish his sentence when he tried to place his hand on her shoulder only for it to go through it like he was a ghost. He stopped in place after it had happened as thoughts raced through his mind. Has he died!? He grabbed his arm to see if it’s true but he is able to grab it and feel his blood pumping, he was a little relieved to know this but it doesn’t explained why his hand had gone through her. Maybe he really just dreaming of this.

Then he realized she had gone over to a small one story white house with a flag pole, she rang the doorbell as Nikolai walked up on the porch to be safe and dry from the storm. The porch light came on as they both stood, then a door opened and there was an elderly old woman is standing there in robe.

“Well hello there.” The old lady spoke with concern, “What are you doing out here in the rain?”

“I-I was swinging on the s-swings when I didn’t noticed the storm coming in, as much a-as you can see.” Young lady explained in between her voice stuttering, playing on the swings? Nikolai found that odd the she is an older than a child, she should about that by now right?

“I see, does your parents know you’re here dear?” the old lady questioned as an old man, her husband came from behind the wall to see who it was. “Of course they do, I-I come to the park from home often. It’s not far from here b-but it is a couple of blocks away from here.” Young lady answered with her voice had tone to a soft cry for help. Nikolai can hear it as the old woman nodded “Alright then, do you need a ride home?”

“O-Of course! Of course I do.” She accepted the offer, “Well alright then, can you come inside and wait so I can get you a towel to dry yourself off?” she kindly asked, with a nodding from the young lady while she stood aside and lets her into her house, Nikolai quickly ran inside before the door could close on him. He was surprised that no one didn’t notice him come in, almost as if he didn’t exist… like he was invisible.

The old lady heard her husband saying something to her, he needed to talk to her for a minute. The old woman turned to the young lady and said “Wait here for me, will you? It will only be for a minute.”

“Okay.”

Then they went to another room while she stood where she stand, Nikolai looked at her, all wet and alone as he wandered in his mind; what is going on? Was she the connection to all of this… is this a flashback of her memories?

That last question is too strange for Nikolai’s mental state of mind as he continued to watch her, she was like a lost, cold and confused child.

She looked around the house but she didn’t move, she was scared that she will get the furniture wet if she sat down one of them. Young lady looked around as she took off her aviator hat that revealed her short brown hair as she feels it through her fingers.

Then finally, she began to walk towards the hall where the old couple had entered with Nikolai following her as she scanned each room she went passed then she looked to the room that he assumed that it’s the couple’s bedroom. She looked into the room and see the couple talking then they noticed her in the hallway. The kind old woman walked out of the room and went into the room that the young lady was next to and comes out with a pinkish white towel for her to dry off. “Well, since it’s raining bady outside,” she began as she gently put her hand on her shoulder, “Would you like a ride home?”

Young lady looked at her with surprise of the old woman’s kindness and selfless, “Yes…!” she agreed without hesitation, old woman walked with the young lady and Nikolai followed behind her to the backward with roof over the patio, she accidentally knock over an empty pot.

“Oops! S-Sorry…” She awkwardly apologized to the old woman, she simply smiled and replied “It’s alright, it’d happens so don’t worry about it.” Nikolai followed them to a garage and see a car that again he didn’t recognize, the old woman walked over to the driver’s seat while the young lady walked to the passenger seat, they do exchange peasantry as the old woman opened the garage and gotten into the car and turned on the engine.

They then leaved the garage and back out in the rain, the young lady seemed to leading the old woman the way back to her home and Nikolai ran out to try to keep up with them but the car drove away. Leaving him alone in the rain as lightning strikes once more and the woman sung softly in the air as drops of water fell down from the clouds.

On the sidewalk of the city

Are my screams just a whisper?

Busy people going nowhere

See me soak in the rain

No compassion, nothing matters

My resistance is waning

Like a flower in the basement waiting for a lonely death

“Time to go back.” a voice called out behind him, making him turned around to see a woman, wearing a cloak and a blindfold, on her neck is a collar with a pendant that looked familiar to him due to its marking.

(Background used is from WallpaperUP)

“She has come back with a pack of hatred to sack us with. An neverending rack of sorrows and her rain…” She spoke in rhyme, Nikolai had no idea what she means by that when her hand glows in a white aura and then had unleashed it onto Nikolai as everything around him had gone white….

Please, save her…

#All-Stars Battle Royale #All-Stars -Story Mode- #Kill Zone #Cuphead: Don't Deal With The Devil #Call of Duty Zombies #Ultimis Tank Dempsey (Ghost version that Possessed the object once belonged to him) #Primis Nikolai Belinski #Mugman #Cuphead #Frisk #Rabbids #Tattletale #Colonel Mael Radec #Trace (OC) #Knight the Servent (OC) #OCs #??? #Your Rain #Akira Yamaoko & Mary Elizabeth McGkynn #Remember Forever #Tori Letzler

[emmybluefire]

Technology in WoW

Alright. So for some of you: the title might set off a few red flags. But please bare with me. I promise I’m not angry this time XD

For those of you who don’t know: A few months back I made a post on my main Tumblr @fuzzywuzzms regarding my opinions on the subject. In it though, I was too swept up with the irritation brought on by my pet peeves, that I did not leave the topic open for discussion. That was very immature of me and I apologize sincerely to everyone who had the displeasure of reading it. Today though: I wish to rectify that mistake. WoW technology, how does it work? Where is it seen? How advanced is it? Lets have a discussion shall we? >:D

Overview

Technology in WoW is... weird. To say the least. Much of what we see in the game is sloppily done, and likely put in by Blizzard simply because: “It’s cool!” or “It’s fun!” , regardless of their lore. This has left many players confused on, well... what all is possible? What are it’s limits? Timewise, where does WoW stand as an advanced civilization? Are we stuck in the smoke and soot ridden times of the late Victorian era? Where industry, mass production, and machines were a very recent and brand new reality? Or are we more based in the late 1800′s to the early 1900′s? Where advances in medicine and science made HUGE strides towards a better life; and Electricity had only just been discovered.

Are we an early civilization? Where the sword, axe, and mace was prevalent on the battlefield; And wealthy families lorded over massive swaths of land. Or are we a hyper advanced SiFi civilization, where space, time, and interdimentional travel are commonplace?

Blizzard has Never been clear on where we stand as a society. When they introduce new bits of technology, they explain it away as being “Gnomish” or “Goblin” ... or something from a highly advanced culture thousands upon thousands of years ago, the Titans. Sloppy, undeniable, scapegoats. It’s rare that they ever explain anything like, why this technology was invented. How it works. What purpose does it serve... other than just- being cool?

If machine guns and flying machines exist: Then why does everyone still rely so heavily on avian creatures and mele weapons? What is even the point of the armor we wear? Because it’s definitely not going to protect you against ballistics. You know, other than just- being cool?

If electricity exists, then why isn’t it being utilized? Why is every household depicted in game still lit up by torches, candles, and fireplaces? Other than jus- fitting the fantasy vibe?

How is World of Warcraft even still a fantasy game? Well. The simple answer is, that’s just how it’s creators want it to be. They want it to be a fantasy game with steampunk and magitech elements just because, it’s cool. And in my opinion they succeed. It’s fiction. Suspend your disbelief.

But where has this left us? The Roleplayers? The Creators? Those who delve deeply into the game’s lore and fictional history, to create something based in this medium we all enjoy. Something that gives other WoW players FAR more content to enjoy. Content that -feels- like WoW. But most importantly. How far can we go before we start... killing the fantasy vibe with elements that are far too real? Things like refrigerators, hot showers, computers, televisions, phones?

Well, my friends. It seems like it’s time for a ramble.

Transportation

Most of WoW’s technology, at least to me, reminds me of the Industrial revolution. A point in time where machines were just starting to be developed. A time where Steam engines were prevalent, and the internal combustion engine was a very plausible and testable theory. Horses and other labor beasts were still used commonly at this time, but were beginning to fall in relevancy, as steam powered trains, boats, and outlandish carriages were taking over the scene. But, as of this time period... Electricity had not been discovered yet. And hence, people still widely used candles, lanterns, and other fire-containing objects to illuminate their homes.

Established: In WoW we see examples of this technology all over the place. Alliance gunships, Zeppelins, trams, the Northrend steamboats. All falling under one term: “Steampunk.” , a technological and musical theme centered all around steam powered engines and clockwork. For long distance transportation, these seem to be the go-to. But... this all comes with a conflicting caveat. 

Conflicting: If WoW is indeed supposed to be within a steampunk era, then why does the more advanced gas-powered technology exist? Why hasn’t it replaced everything? Remember, gas powered engines were still in development during the industrial revolution. Planes, helicopters, motorcycles... everything. And what do we as Roleplayers consider when looking at all of this?

This is the confusing part.

Medicine

Established: Wow’s medical practices are also widely unexplained. For the most part, what I see NPC’s doing as far as medicine goes is well... alchemy. Healing potions, herbal remidies, magic, and the like. Something VERY medieval, VERY supernatural, and VERY fictional. And yet, for our characters, it works! Its real! It’s efficient! And if this is the case: why then, are modern IV bags, needles, and pills a thing?

Conflicting: If this stuff works, and is common... why then did us Azerothians find the need to develop modern medical technology? Obviously what we’ve known all along works better. So what was the point of spending resources on something less... well, efficient? It doesn’t make much sense.

Where should we lean more towards as Roleplayers? Clearly the modern medical technology in WoW doesn’t have much lore behind it. Unlike the supernatural cures we have.

Warfare

Established:There’s no denying gnomes are clever little fuckers. They’ve invented MANY of the “modern” weapons and machinery we see in the game. High caliber machine guns. Mechanized exosuits. Tanks, explosives, and flying machines. They are also the very first race to have discovered electricity lore wise. AND! They are part of the alliance. Humanity has SO much power at their fingertips now! They can improve their lives, decimate horde armies, power their cities... and just overall improve their quality of liveing! The alliance has the power to take over the world! And yet... do they?

Conflicting: No. For whatever reason, the Alliance seems content to outfit themselves in inferior attire, and leave their cities wrought with filth. Which... well. Doesn’t make, ANY sense! Are they jus- too stupid reverse engineer gnomish tech and mass produce it for themselves? Clearly they have the resources to do so! So why the heck don’t they? Do the gnomes hoard it all for themselves? If so, why hasn’t that sparked a civil war?

Where do we, as roleplayers, draw the line when it comes to Gnomish tech? It seems as though Blizzard purposefully keeps it gnomish to avoid dismantling the overall fantasy feel of the world, and prevent deus’ex machina filled writing. Making themselves out to be “Good” writers when in reality there’s some HUGE continuity errors. If you wanted a western fantasy themed game... why did you include such advanced technology? What should we, as roleplayers, and aspiring writers, respect? Fairness? Or consistency?

Conclusion

Blizzard’s biggest issue with it’s lore has ALWAYS been consistency. They’re more concerned with WoW as a game, then as a story. Which, at the end of the day... isn’t exactly a bad thing overall. Blizzard is a company who’s focus is on making fun -GAMES- not writing great stories. That’s their primary aim as a company. And while I -do- wish we could have both a great game AND a consistent story, I can’t exactly blame them for prioritizing one thing over the other. It just put’s roleplayers like us in very tight, and fickle positions when trying to determine what the best aim is for our character. At least if we want to try and abide by lore. Much is up to interpretation, and personal preference. What we want to be possible, and what we don’t want to be possible.

Every person is different, and interprets the game’s lore differently. So conflicts of rationals are bound to happen. At the end of the day... all I can say is respect each others opinions, and go with the flow. If someone doesn’t like the fact that you have a high caliber machine gun jus- on hand, then respect that. If someone would rather believe their fireplace keeps their hearth warm rather than some electric heating system, then respect that too. Agree to disagree, and walk away. Enough said.

After all, that’s what roleplay is all about... right?

Thank you everyone SO much for reading if you got this far :D , truly, gestures like this mean a lot to me. So please, have a good day or night, wherever you may be, and have fun :D

#wow #world of warcraft #discussion #lore #rp #roleplay #wrymrest accord #technology #wra

[vrozling]

Vrozling Chapter 1

The day was coming to an end, Lucifer being joined in the sky by Nap as it came closer to a new day. It was almost always freezing this time of night, causing Cyril to complain more than usual. 

“Jack do you even know where we are going? It’s cold and I’m exhausted, we’ve been walking for ages.” His English accent was very apparent, as he was a true cockney and proud of it. Though he grew less and less proud as Reign started taking away the last three letters of the word and calling him that instead. 

“Shut up princess, course he knows where he’s goin. There’s a reason we all follow him and not you. And suck it up we haven’t even been walking for more than two moons.” Reign grumbled, shooting Cyril an annoyed glare. 

The city soon came into view, many of the buildings with pointed spiral tops, as though missing sections of a medieval castle. Illuminated in the glow of the two moons present the citizens could be seen wandering about, two of which were fighting in the street as others passed by. One had a gaping mouth full of jagged teeth and a body coated in scales, it pinned the other down and began tearing into its neck, making certain it was dead before standing up and continuing on its way as normal. Cyril would not show it but he was horrified by the scene and stood closer to Reign. 

Jack continued walking, ignoring the comments of his group as well as the fight that just happened between the two residents of this town. He was thinking instead. The truth was, Jack didn’t really know where they where going. To him it didn’t matter where, as long as they found somewhere safe to stay everything would be fine.

Soon there was an annoying sigh from Sam before he began to complain aswell. “I can’t believe we’re running away from our old base. We lived there for years! Common Jack, we could have taken that army down easily with my explosives. They wouldn’t have stood a ch-“ 

“Enough.” Jack interrupted the pyromaniac sternly. “There were many of those soldiers and we don’t know what power they possess. Someone could have got hurt if we decided to jump into battle and that is not a risk I am willing to take.” He explained. Sam just mumbled under his breath crossing his arms, though all that Jack could pick up was an annoyed ‘whatever’.

A commotion started up down the street, a tall rat-like creature screeched as its eye was gouged out and the figure that stood over it panted. A hood pulled over their head they stood at 5'8 and looked human, though the face was concealed so it was difficult to tell.

“It’s a human!! A human!!!” It screamed before its throat was sliced open. The figure over it turned their head sharply, seeing the group wearing pumping masks they stumbled back, a scarf over the lower half of their face. 

“Stay back!! Demons or monsters whatever you be I will kill you too if you come any closer!!” Their voice was of an indiscernable gender and their legs shook from fatigue. Holding up a machete that dripped a thick orange liquid pouring from the rat creature the human watched them carefully. 

Reign glanced around, not seeing any other civilians around he looked to Jack. “Boss? You really think that’s another human?” He asked in a hushed tone, scanning the area to be sure it was empty. The hooded figure took another unsteady step back before their knees buckled and they fell backwards, eyes rolling back in their head as they started to slip out of consciousness. 

Jack sighed as he walked over to the fallen figure. When he was close enough he cautiously reached his hand out to pull down their hood.

“It’s human alright.” Sam’s voice spoke from behind Jack. He turned to see that both Sam and Timothy had followed him, looking at the person from over his shoulders.

Timothy look at Jack, his mask’s glow had turned from a calm yellow to a worried magenta. “Are we going to help them Jack?” The boy asked, to which Jack patted his head.

“Yeah Tim, we’ll help them.“ Jack replied. The human in the dirt groaned, hardly awake they tried to shrink away but couldn’t seem to move more than a few inches. 

“Get… get away from me…” They sputtered, still not knowing the group comprised of humans. Reign and Cyril had also followed to come closer, Cyril scoffed at their efforts to get away and crossed his arms. Reign came over and crouched beside them, pulling the hood back up to conceal their human appearance.

“We’d better get him somewhere safe, he’s in pretty bad condition boss.” Reign said, looking around to notice a few civilians walking about nearby. 

“Hmph, whatever let’s just get out of here and find a place to sleep, if they’re coming along one of you is going to have to carry them.” Cyril huffed, tapping his foot nervously as more citizens exited buildings and passed the group nearby. Jack sat there and stared at Reign in what seems like confusion for a few seconds before lightly shaking his head. He picked up the person carefully and started walking, though he was heading in the opposite direction they  had originally been going.

The hardly conscious figure groaned in Jack’s arms, rolling their head over and resting it against Jack’s chest they gave up on trying to get away. Reign followed Jack quickly, resembling the actions of an obedient dog. 

“Where are you going Jack??” Cyril whined, hesitating a moment he glanced around the city that was getting busy. His heart jumping at the sight he ran after Jack and Reign, shouting for them not to leave him behind. Sam and Timothy look at each other before shrugging and following after their friend. They were used to this happening, Jack just randomly changing direction 

After a few minutes Jack spoke. “I saw an abandoned building back when we first entered this town. It shouldn’t take us long to get there.” He explained, then fell silent once more.

“So we’ll be sleeping in rubbish, how quaint…” Cyril muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Reign shot him another annoyed look, toying with the baseball bat in his hands Cyril quickly shut up. 

The person in Jack’s arms had slipped unconscious now and was unknowingly holding the fabric of his jacket, breathing slow and uneven breaths. The scarf was still covering the lower half of their face but it was apparent by the scuff marks all over their clothes and the bags under their eyes that they were at their limit. 

#vrozling #writing #chapter 1 #the beginning #collaborative writing #harper #hineko

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (59/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous chapters conveniently available here.

[4 August, 238 Before Age.  Planet Wist.]

He had stumbled, and the results had been disastrous, but very soon he would have another chance.  He would make things right, and everything would be as it should have been.

Since the destruction of Goldwall Fortress, the Shockmaster had established a new command center in an abandoned castle a thousand miles away.  Wistian technology had transformed the old stone manor into a gleaming administration building, and it was quickly staffed by the highest ranking survivors of the Wistian military.    These personnel reported to his new chief of staff, Tigon, formerly a lieutenant colonel in charge of public works projects.

"Rewistification has come to a standstill in the southwestern districts," she said as he stood on the roof and contemplated the view of the valley below.  "The devices we used to irrigate the farmland were destroyed in the battle, and so were the supply houses where the backups were stored."

"WE’LL REPLACE THEM," he said, his voice seemingly booming from everywhere at once.  "ONCE THE CAMPAIGN IS COMPLETE.  WE’LL REPLACE EVERYTHING."

"My Partner," Tigon began, for that was how he wished to be addressed, "That timetable simply won’t work.  It’ll take weeks to finish assembling the fleet, and weeks to deploy them to Extraliga, to say nothing of the return trip.  The farmers need irrigation now, during the growing season.  By the time we return, winter will have set in."

"THE CAMPAIGN IS ALL THAT MATTERS," the Shockmaster said.  "EVERYTHING DEPENDS UPON IT.  ALL RESOURCES MUST BE PUT TOWARDS THAT GOAL, UNTIL EXTRALIGA IS WON."

"Is this how you make our planet great?" Tigon asked.  "By starving its people?  By selling them into slavery to pay mercenaries to fight in your war?"

The Shockmaster crossed his arms over his massive chest.  "YES," he said.

Tigon was stunned by his bluntness.  She opened her mouth to speak, but then he twitched his fingers, and she was suddenly engulfed in bolts of violet lightning.

"DON’T CONFUSE ME WITH THE DEGENERATES WHO ONCE RULED THIS WORLD, TIGON," he said as she convulsed violently.  She dropped to her knees and only then did he cease his attack.  

"MY AUTHORITY IS ABSOLUTE.  I WON’T CHANGE MY PLANS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNPOPULAR.  I SEEK TO TRANSFORM THIS PLANET INTO A PARADISE, AND NOTHING LESS.  IF THE PEOPLE MUST SUFFER HARDSHIP FOR THE GREATER GOOD, THEN SO BE IT.  NOTHING WILL DISTRACT ME FROM MY OBJECTIVE.  NOT LUFFA, NOT THE REBELS, NOT THE PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY NOT YOU."

She recovered from the assault and nodded as she caught her breath.  "Yes, sir," she said.  Under the circumstances there was really nothing else she could say.  She finished her report and left him to stare at the valley.

He didn’t expect them to understand.  He had renamed the planet and its people, but none of them were true citizens of Wist.    Wist was an ancient civilization to them, barely a footnote in their history.    Despite all of its grand and glorious achievements, Wist had fallen, and the planet eventually gave rise to a new civilization: Goldwall.    The Goldwallish were fools, possessing reasonably modern technology but preferring to live like a medieval people.  They lived in stone castles and wooden houses, and they fought pointless battles over which noble family would rule which parcel of land.  Their leaders had all been cruel, treacherous and venal, and they had ruled by fear and intrigue rather than any real power.

It embarrassed the Shockmaster that he had unwittingly played such a pivotal role in Goldwall’s history.  For centuries, its rulers had used his legend as a sort of boogeyman to frighten their subjects into obedience.  He could understand the value of intimidation, but they had no vision beyond their own appetites.  Then the day finally came when he was summoned in earnest.  The boogeyman proved to be real after all, and unlike the pitiful regimes who had used him as a crutch, he had a worthy vision for the future, and the strength to realize it.

At first, the people welcomed him, for he brought peace and stability simply by his very existence.  None could defy the power of the Shockmaster, so the old disputes and conflicts swiftly became irrelevant.  His deputies would jockey for position in the new order, but they knew better than to defy him personally.  Alien interlopers had sought to oppose his rule, but they could only chip away at the edges, and he saw them as no serious threat.  The Goldwallish were eager to accept anything he told them to do, but only because they believed he would deliver easy, guaranteed victories.

No one had questioned the invasion of Extraliga until it began to unravel.  He had gambled much, and paid in manpower and materiel, but he had waited millennia for the chance to take that world.  To him, the wormhole’s capture and Luffa’s counterattack were minor setbacks.  The resentment of his subjects was little more than a minor annoyance.    He had stumbled, but he had stumbled before, and as always, he would rise again and seize the final victory.

Tigon and her kind quibbled over useless details.  The wormhole had been a convenience and nothing more.  If he had to send a fleet across the galaxy to conquer Extraliga, he would do so.  If the fleet needed six weeks to make the journey, so be it.    If he had to make his subjects suffer to rebuild his military, then they would suffer.  If he had to supplement that fleet with mercenaries, he would.  If those mercenaries demanded Wistian slaves in lieu of payment, then it would be done.  All that mattered was his goal, and he had already sacrificed far more important things in its pursuit...

*******

A thousand miles to the east of the Shockmaster, night had fallen over the ruins of Fortress Goldwall.  Once, the fort would have been a bustling center of activity, lit by hundreds of lamps as officials and merchants went about their business.  After the Super Saiyan's rampage, the only signs of life in this place were scavengers hoping to find something useful or valuable in the rubble, and they only came around during the day.  Now, the only light was the meager starlight of the moonless sky, and a single flashlight.  

The young woman who carried the flashlight moved purposely across the broken fortress.  Unlike the usual scavengers, she didn't pause to search the area randomly.  Instead, she went to a specific spot and began digging.  

An hour passed.  Then two.  When a Wistian patrol vehicle flew over her position, she shut off her lamp and ducked under a leather cloak to hide, but this was the only real opposition she encountered.  Finally, when she had found what she was looking for, she emerged from the hole she had dug, and leaped away from the ruins.  She landed hundreds yards away, and broke into a run as soon as her boots touched the ground.  Picking up speed, she continued along a road, altering her course and speed only to avoid Wistian convoys and checkpoints.  Finally, she vaulted over a fence at the edge of a village and entered a bog on the other side.  Wading up to her knees, she spoke a single word in a long-dead language, and vanished.  

She reappeared in a room lined with peat and vegetation.  There were candles, but most of the illumination was provided by what looked like bubbles that hung in the air and gave off a pale yellow glow.   There, in the center, a creature sat upon a moss-covered cushion, engrossed in deep meditation.  His muscular body was mostly humanoid, but his bulging yellow eyes and scaly green skin gave him a fish-like appearance.  His only clothing was a vest covered in coral, and breeches made of seaweed.  He glanced in her direction almost a soon as she arrived, and nodded courteously.  

"Trrouuuble?" he asked in a slurred, gargling voice.

"No, I just found it a lot sooner than we expected," she said, removing her cloak to reveal her costume.  In spite of the hours spent digging through debris, her blue gloves and boots were spotless, as well as the tricolor leotard she always wore, and the tricorne hat on her head.  Her face and legs, however, were covered in dust and grime, a silent testament to her long night's work.  "The locator spell you used managed to pinpoint it almost perfectly."

"Wellll dooooone," he said.  

"I don't like all this sneaking around, Tobiko.  I came to Planet Wist to fight for its freedom, not to dig up old relics from ruined fortresses."

He began to respond, then paused and made a series of esoteric gestures toward his throat.  When he completed this spell, he began to speak normally, in a voice she found quite charming.

"Forgive me, Ensign Liberty.  I would have searched the ruins myself, but my unsightly form would have been too conspicuous.  And though it may not be to your liking, you have a talent for slipping into places unnoticed."  

"I'm a revolutionary, mister," she said.  "I know the importance of stealth, but I prefer to use it to make strategic gains.  Intelligence gathering, sabotage, assassination, that sort of thing."  She reached into a satchel hanging from her arm and withdrew a oblong, iridescent gemstone.  "But this bauble you sent me to retrieve hardly seems worth the trouble."

He reached out his webbed hand to take the gem from her and examined it carefully with his bulbous eyes.  "We shall soon see, M'ranga," he said.   "The Crystal Chronicle contains historical records from as far back as the Golden Age of this world.  Over the millennia, the knowledge of how to access those records was lost, until the Lords of Goldwall saw it as nothing more than an opulent treasure.  But if I can decode its data-lattice with a Spell of Decryption, we may discover a number of gains, strategic or otherwise."

"That's all it is?  A history book?" Ensign Liberty asked.  When Tobiko nodded, she shook her head and threw out her hands.  "What good can that possibly do us?  We need to be worried about this planet's future, not its past.  The Lords of Goldwall have been oppressing the people here for thousands of years, and for all the Shockmaster's promises, he's on track to finish grinding this world into dust.  All he cares about is conquering a planet on the other side of the galaxy, and he's willing to use every resource on this planet to raise his army.  We need to be fighting, resisting, not poring over musty old tomes."

"Be mindful, M'ranga.  For all your righteous passion, I fear you are making the same mistake the Shockmaster has made."

"What do you mean?" she asked.  

"Our enemy was sealed away thousands of years ago, and now he has awoken in a world he no longer recognizes.  He seeks to restore it to the way it once was, or rather the way he wishes it had been."

"He wishes ancient Wist had never fallen," she said.  "You already told me all about that.  Wist was a paradise once, and he claims he can bring it all back, if only his subjects obey his every command."

"But Ancient Wist never fell," Tobiko replied.  "Over the centuries, it changed and evolved into something completely different, but there was no fall, my good Ensign.   That would require some singular, catastrophic event to mark the end of one era, and the beginning of the next.  History is rarely so convenient, as any historian will attest."

She considered this for a moment.  "You're saying the Shockmaster's strategy is flawed because it's built on a false premise.  He's pinning all his hopes on this one great battle he's planning, because he thinks that's how the universe works."

"Months ago, you tried to shoot the Shockmaster in his own fortress," Tobiko said.  "Your attempt failed, but even if it hadn't, did you truly believe you could liberate Planet Wist in a single stroke?"

"Of course not," she said.  "Killing him would have been a big step forward, but only a step.  It would have left a power vacuum, and there would have been usurpers, but each of them would be far weaker than the previous regime.  The revolution would have an easier path to victory, but not a guaranteed one."

"Then you understand.  The Shockmaster, I suspect, does not.  If we study the past that he has overlooked, we may find the way to exploit this weakness."

She rubbed the tip of her chin, then took a seat on one of the mossy cushions in Tobiko's sanctum.  "Where do we begin?" she asked earnestly.  

*******

[6 April, 7491 Before Age.  Wist.]

"Remarkable texture, wouldn’t you agree, Lord Beerus?"

"Mmm?  Oh, yes.  And the flavor is simply amazing.  I think a second helping is in order."

"You’ve already had a second helping, my lord.  And a third for that matter."

"No one asked you to keep count, Whis!  For your information, I’m trying to make as fair an evaluation of this meal as possible."

"Oh, I see."

"It’s one thing to prepare a good meal, but a truly great chef must be able to produce consistent quality.  If the second helping is as good as the third, then it demonstrates unparalleled skill."

In the great hall of the Mystic Council, the little boy watched from the doorway while his father served the meal.  He was proud of his father.  The Wist Hegemony was the greatest power in the universe, and the Mystic Council was wise beyond wisdom itself.  That they had selected his father to run their kitchen was a tremendous honor.  On days like these, his father had brought him along to watch him work, and the boy had been proud to see the Mystics lavish praise upon the food he prepared.  

But this time was different.  Tonight, it was not the Council he served, but a pair of visitors.  He didn't know who they were or why they had come, or why the Mystics had not used their invincible magic to make them leave.  Surely the power of the Ur-Ember was enough to destroy them!  Instead, the Mystics spoke in hushed whispers, and they had approached his father and pleaded for him to save them all.  They were afraid.  Until now, the little boy did not think such a thing was possible.  He didn't understand everything that was happening, but he had gathered that something very terrible would happen unless his father could please the two visitors with his cooking.  

"Then have you made your determination, Lord Beerus?  Or will you need another slice?"

"Don’t rush me.   I’ll have to think about this...  Hmm, maybe after a nap."

"It wouldn’t be fair to keep them in suspense, now would it?  You did say you would spare this world if the meal appeased your anger."

"Yes, well, if they don’t like the suspense, then this planet’s rulers should have been more polite when I arrived.  Why, just thinking about it makes me positively..."

He paused to make a long, loud yawn, and then he rubbed his large eyes with his paw-like hands.  Then he smacked his lips and continued speaking.

"...errr, positively furious."

"So furious that you want to take a nap, Lord Beerus?"  Whis asked with a wry smile.

As they bickered, the little boy watched his father, who stood nearby with a bottle of wine.  His father was a consummate professional.  As terrified as the Mystics had been, he had accepted his role in the crisis with dignified grace.  The boy thought he could make out a bead of sweat rolling down his father's face, but there was no other outward sign of anxiety.  He would discharge his duty to the very end.  

"Oh, fine, I suppose it was a good enough meal, after all.  Hey, you over there."

It took the boy a moment to realize that the visitors had noticed him watching from the doorway.  

"Yes, you, little boy.  Go and tell those 'mystics' or whatever you call them to get back in here.  I’ve made up my mind."

The boy looked to his father, and when he nodded, the boy ran to the great foyer, where the Elders of the Mystic Council waited anxiously.  Minutes later, they convened before Beerus, like accused prisoners in their own Great Hall of Judgement.

"You should thank your chef," Beerus said idly.  "In spite of your rudeness earlier, his exquisite cooking has convinced me to spare your planet."

The Mystics looked at each other and murmured with excited relief.  One of them cleared his throat to speak.  "Lord Beerus," he said,  "On behalf of the Wist Hegemony, I wish to thank you for your merciful--"

"Oh, enough of that," Beerus said with a wave of his hand.    "I’ve had enough of your speeches for one day.  Just remember that your little 'hegemony' may have a great deal of power by mortal standards, but it’s no excuse for arrogance.  Whis!  We’re leaving."

"Right away, my lord."

They rose from their seats, and the one called Whis held out his hand.  A long staff appeared from nowhere, and he took it in his hand.   Beerus placed one hand on Whis’ shoulder. 

"Oh, one last thing," Beerus said before they departed.  He began to pick his teeth with one of his clawed fingers.  "Although I’ve decided to spare your planet from destruction, I’m afraid my generosity will not be extended to your moon.    Well, so long."

Before any of them could register what he had just said, Whis tapped his staff on the floor and the pair of them were engulfed in a column of light.  When it faded, there was no trace of either of them.  Dumbfounded, they looked out the large window on the south wall, which offered a picturesque view of the city.  The full moon, hung in the sky as it always had.  The Wistians called it Nostal, and its surface features resembled the face of a smiling woman.

A few seconds later, Nostal's cheery face turned an ashen grey color, and then it exploded in a burst of purple light.

*******

[4 August, 238 Before Age.  Planet Wist.]

"The Ur-Ember was the source of power that sustained Wist as a galactic power during its Golden Age.  It radiated mystical energy like a star, but it was small enough that you could hold it in your hand.  Of course, that would be impossible.  Most beings would be utterly destroyed before they could even approach it, much less touch it.    That was why it was kept on Wist’s uninhabited moon."

"But Wist has no moon, Tobiko," Ensign Liberty said.

"Indeed.  According to legend, the Ancients grew too arrogant, too satisfied with their own supremacy.  One day, the gods took notice of them, and paid a visit.  They became offended, and destroyed the moon to teach them humility."

"But you said there was no single catastrophe that caused Wist to fall," she said.  "Losing the Ur-Ember would have been bad enough, but the moon’s destruction must have wreaked havoc on this planet’s environment."

"It wasn’t as bad as you might expect," Tobiko said.    "During the Golden Age, Wist had many advanced technologies and magical devices.  The loss of the Ur-Ember was tragic, but not a disaster.  Working together, the Ancients eventually stabilized the planet’s orbit and shielded it from whatever debris might have remained from the moon’s destruction.  It was a watershed moment, to be sure, but Ancient Wist continued on for many more thousands of years.   There was no single event that marked the END of Wist and the BEGINNING of Goldwall.    It was a gradual transformation.  

"As I was taught, Wist was dealt a serious blow by the gods, but we were determined to recover and learn from the experience.  As I said, there were other resources besides the Ur-Ember, and so the Council set to work reallocating those resources to compensate.  In the Golden Age there were weather control systems that kept the entire planet in an eternal summer.  There were machines that ran on magic to produce food from thin air.  Buildings could be transformed completely.    With the Ur-Ember, all of these things and more could be used simultaneously.  Without it, some of them had to be shut down.    The weather system was one of the first to be deactivated.  Traditional farming techniques slowly resurfaced.  Much of the magic power on Wist was committed to military defense and law enforcement.  Too much, I always believed..."

*******

[29 September, 7480 Before Age.  Wist.]

"Your father saved us, and it seems only fitting that his son should carry on that tradition."

The ancient sorceress looked as young as himself, and when he considered this, he could only marvel at the glories of Wist.    His father had been granted the honor of serving their meals, and now they were prepared to bestow an even greater honor upon him.

"Please, my lady," the young man said as he genuflected before her.  "My father only did what he could.  I am unworthy of this boon."

"Such humility is the provenance of your worthiness, my young champion," she said.  Her voice was as gentle as it was powerful.  When her slender hand touched his face, it felt softer and smoother than anything he could imagine, and yet he could somehow sense the mighty energies that surged beneath her radiant skin.  It saddened him that such a wonderful person had been reduced to seeking his lowly aid.

"Wist is secure, but with the loss of our moon, we shall surely face an age of turmoil," the sorceress said.  "It will take time for our weaknesses to show, and time again for our enemies to exploit these flaws, but these events shall come to pass, as surely as autumn follows summer."

"My lady, Wist has no autumn," he said.    "Our climate is regulated by the Temperator, is it not?"

She made a small, sad laugh and gently tilted his head until he was looking up at her.   "You are correct, my champion-to-be, but only for now.  Wist has indeed known continual summer for many centuries, but the end shall come.  The Temperator will go on as it has for some time, but without the Ur-Ember to sustain it, it shall eventually run down until it fails."

"But your powers, my lady!" he said anxiously.  "Surely you and the other Mystics possess the means to... to..."  He didn’t even know how to finish the thought.  It was unthinkable that she and her peers lacked the power to solve any problem, and yet it was unpardonable folly for him to suggest that she had overlooked a possible solution.

"Powers we have," she said.  "But many of the wonders that have sustained our Hegemony depended upon the augmented power of the Ur-Ember, which was destroyed with our moon.  With its raw power augmenting our abilities, we could sustain a great many things.  Now, we Ancients must shepherd our remaining power carefully, and use it only where it is most vital.  Do you understand?"

"I... suppose," he said.  "It’s difficult to imagine you having any limitations, my lady."

"You will understand better in time," she said.  With a wave of her hand, a tiny spark of light floated into the atrium of the Great Hall.  It moved directly above her waiting hands and then exploded with a burst of light.    He shielded his eyes, and when he dared to look again, he saw her holding a massive silver helmet.

"Behold," she said.  "This Helm of Power contains a portion of mystical energies from every member of the Mystic Council.  Whosoever wears it shall be given strength and wisdom fitting a true champion of Wist.    Indeed, the wearer shall become the living embodiment of all that is ever just and good in our culture.  And we have chosen you to become that embodiment of Wist."

"Me?  But... surely there are better..."

"We have searched and found none more worthy," she said.  "The Council has ruled.  This power, this burden, shall be yours alone."

"Burden, my lady?"

"The autumn of Wist is inevitable, my champion.    And beyond that, a long winter.   Without the Ur-Ember, our enemies shall gather and multiply in the shadows.  It will be your task to defend Wist during that long winter, and to uphold what our society stands for.  The task will be difficult, sometimes thankless, but always vital.  Will you accept the power?"

He was confused.  "You said the Council has already decided, my lady.  What choice is there?  If Wist needs my help, then I must answer the call."

She smiled proudly.  "Then take your helm, champion.  Become the first of a new age of heroes."

He reached out and took the helmet from her and placed it upon his head.  It was completely dark inside, for even the lenses on the helmet were made of opaque silver-colored material.    And yet, once the helmet was in place, he found he could see perfectly, as if there was nothing on his head at all.

Then he felt the power, like a bolt of lightning surging from his skull down to the tips of his toes.  He stood up, and felt his muscles swelling, his body expanding.  Electricity swirled around him, and he made an astonished cry.

The storm inside him did not subside, and he realized that it never truly would, but soon he found that his mind and body had adjusted to the power within him, and he looked down to find the ancient sorceress looking up at him with satisfaction.

"THE ENTIRE ROOM..." he said.  He no longer recognized his own voice.  It rumbled like distant thunder, and seemed to come from everywhere at once.  "EVERYTHING IS SMALLER... NO... I’VE JUST GOTTEN BIGGER, HAVEN’T I?"

"Correct," she said.  "You have been transformed into a being of power incarnate.  As the Temperator  allowed us to be masters of the weather, so you have become a master of the mystic energies bestowed upon the helm."

"HAVE I BECOME AN ANCIENT LIKE YOU?"

"In a sense," she admitted.  "Your lifespan will be many times more than that of a normal man, and you now possess the same innate powers as I, but instead of mystic insight, your power is confined to physical might."

"YES.  I CAN FEEL IT."

"Our Hegemony has suffered a tremendous blow, and there will be other shocks to our society to come.  You will protect us from those disturbances, absorbing their impact and allowing our culture the chance to adapt to the coming changes.  Henceforth, you will be known as the Shockmaster."

There was more for him to understand, of course, and she promised to explain it to him over the next several days.  For now, he could only be amazed as he slowly realized what he had become, and the possibilities that now lay before him.  As the sorceress spoke, he made many personal resolutions to himself.

The first was that he would defend Wist with all his heart and soul.  The second was that he would never forget the supreme confidence she had in him, and do everything in his power to never let her down. 

The third was that he would find some way to bring back Wist’s endless summer, and banish the hated autumn to the dustbin of history.

NEXT: The Tarnished Age

#dragon ball #fanfiction #lssjluffafic #tobiko #m'ranga: ensign liberty #wist #tigon #the shockmaster #i was sorely tempted to name his civilian identity 'jacques masters' #but i didn't #on the other hand i did decline to give him any other name #that's called 'compromise' #beerus #whis #wait what? #dragon ball characters? #in *my* dragon ball fanfic? #it's more likely than you think #on the flip side luffa ain't in this part so that's a thing #sorry to disappoint all those luffa x beerus shippers out there

[caveartfair]

7 Artists Reinventing the Ancient Art of Mosaics

From the floors of ancient Pompeii to the walls of the New York subway, mosaics have been a feature of urban life for thousands of years. Beloved by hobbyists and DIYers, these assemblages, typically created by arranging pieces of glass or stone, are often categorized merely as craft, reducing their appeal to artists who would prefer to avoid those associations.

Yet there are others, not so easily dissuaded by the medium’s workaday reputation, who have approached it with an inventive spirit. The famously experimental painter Jack Whitten explored the form by creating tesserae, or mosaic pieces, from slices of dried paint that he shaped into sculptural forms resembling stone or tile. While many of the artists that follow don’t exclusively make mosaics, each is determined to push this often intransigent medium in a fresh direction.

Jim Bachor

B. 1964. Lives and works in Chicago

Jim Bachor, LIAR, 420 North Wabash, Chicago, May 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Jim Bachor, Push Up, 835-849 North Hudson Avenue, Chicago, May 2015. Courtesy of the artist.

Jim Bachor, Hot Sauce Packets, 3650 North Hermitage, Chicago, May 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Jim Bachor, Bomb Pop, 443-449 North Armour Street, Chicago, April 2015.

If you’ve spent any time traversing the city of Chicago on foot, you may have stumbled across one of Bachor’s pieces. They’re installed in potholes across the city, brightening the pavement with images of everything from rocket pops to tulips to Burberry plaid.

Bachor is impressed by the long history of mosaics, but he also resists it. “Mosaics carry a lot of baggage. There are entrenched, preconceived ideas as to what they are,” he continues. “My approach is to try and drag mosaics into the 21st century by exploring contemporary subject matter, modifying techniques, and rethinking the process when I can.” Bachor’s interest in advancing the medium has led him to create mosaics that are meant to be viewed with 3D glasses and others that incorporate the actual material of the object they depict—Starbucks coffee or carbonized Twinkies mixed into the mortar in which the piece is set.

But it was the longevity of mosaics that first caught Bachor’s attention during a visit to Pompeii in the 1990s. “I can still remember the guide saying that marble and glass don’t fade, so the artwork looked essentially like the artist intended almost 2,000 years ago,” he says. “It’s the thought that drives my work to this day—the idea of making an enduring mark in this world, however slight.”

Isidora Paz López

B. 1975. Lives and works in Hinterweidenthal, Germany

Mosaic by Isidora Paz López. Courtesy of the artist.

López is known for her ambitious public art projects that have covered thousands of feet of her native Chile in mosaic tile. She loves the form because it makes an impact on the community and gives her a chance to go big. “With mosaics you can make meticulous work with tiny pieces and precious little details, but you can also use big pieces and make huge things, like murals, interventions in architecture, and urban art projects,” López says.

In 2012, she assembled a team to create mosaics depicting native flora and fauna on over 80 pillars along a metro train line in Puente Alto, a suburb of Santiago, Chile. Then, in 2014, López went even bigger: She organized the 1st International Urban Mosaic Intervention, a two-week-long event that brought together some 80 artists from 22 countries to create a massive mosaic on the facade of a municipal building in Puente Alto. López sketched out a basic design on the wall in chalk, but each artist was free to choose whether to follow her lead, to modify the design, or to deviate from it completely. The biggest challenge of the project was making the seams where one artists’ work met the next feel harmonious, but in the end, López was pleasantly surprised. “The result was much better than expected,” she says. “Friendly collaboration, compromise, and the talent of the artists made it possible to create something cohesive and beautiful. It was really magical.”

The generous notion of a mosaic as a catalyst for communal bonds, and a site where disparate components can meet, is at the heart of López’s practice. “You can use a wide variety of materials, from the most luxurious ones to recycled objects or materials collected from nature,” she says. “I mainly use ceramic tile, but I love to experiment and mix it with other things.”

Benjamin Lowder

B. 1974. Lives and works in Otter Lake, Illinois

Benjamin Lowder, Eve (from his “Myth, Math & Magic” series), 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Benjamin Lowder, El (from his “Myth, Math & Magic” series), 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Benjamin Lowder, Formation, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Benjamin Lowder, Kether, Chokmah & Binah (from his “Myth, Math & Magic” series), 2013. Courtesy of the artist.

Rather than the traditional glass or stone, Lowder’s mosaics are composed of reclaimed wood, often sourced from barns, and metal signage—materials that reflect his Midwestern milieu. In some, bits of hand-lettered typography appear in a reorganized jumble. It’s like looking at an old country store through a kaleidoscope. And yet, references to religious icons and celestial phenomena suggest a sort of spiritual geometry, taking Lowder’s compositions beyond remixed Americana. They’re more reminiscent of the diagrams in illuminated medieval manuscripts.

Lowder’s current body of work uses triangles of reclaimed wood and vintage metal signs as the base unit for his mosaics. “Many of my aesthetic choices about how the triangles fit together in my works are based on the proportions and patterns of natural growth structures,” the artist explains. He’s interested in “self-similarity,” a mathematical phenomenon sometimes found in the natural world, in which each individual part is a nested reflection of the whole—as is the case with ferns, snowflakes, and cauliflower. It’s easy to see why mosaics would offer the ideal medium to explore these relationships.

Jason Middlebrook

B. 1966. Lives and works in Hudson, New York

Jason Middlebrook, Underlife, 2010-13. Courtesy of the artist.

Work by Jason Middlebrook. Courtesy of the artist,

Middlebrook’s mosaics can take on mythic proportions, as in the case of his giant tentacle-like root forms covered in glass or stone. “I started working with mosaics because I wanted a material that was painterly yet could also act as a skin for sculpture,” Middlebrook explains. His monumental outdoor work Underlife (2010–13) glitters with glass tile, making the work seem almost animate, a hungry creature on the hunt.

Middlebrook cites Louis Comfort Tiffany and Antoni Gaudí as inspirations for his work, particularly in terms of their committed attention to detail and meticulous techniques. Yet the enduring association of mosaics with craft irks him. “I don’t like that mosaics are labeled ‘craft,’ so the challenge is to make them into a contemporary medium,” he says.

Middlebrook’s work has changed dramatically from when he first arrived in New York in the mid-1990s to participate in the Whitney Independent Study Program. “I was making air freshener sculptures and drawings of muscle cars—think Richard Prince meets Robert Smithson,” he says. Those works were a far cry from the mosaic of delicate flowers that Middlebrook created in 2011 for the Avenue U subway stop in Brooklyn. “I guess I got seduced by the material and its generous possibilities,” he concludes.

Takako Hirai

B. 1975. Lives and works in Ravenna, Italy

Takako Hirai, Giardino segreto (secret garden), 2017. Photo by Giampaolo Solitro. Courtesy of the artist.

Takako Hirai, La mia tana (my hideout), 2017. Photo by Giampaolo Solitro. Courtesy of the artist.

Takako Hirai, La mia tana (my hideout), 2017. Photo by Giampaolo Solitro. Courtesy of the artist.

Takako Hirai, Vene (veins), 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Hirai first fell for mosaics while on a university trip to Rome as a painting student in 1997. Originally from Kumamoto, Japan, Hirai returned to Italy in 2003 to study mosaic art, then moved to Ravenna permanently in 2005. At first, Hirai worked in a mosaic studio and saw the practice as more of a day job, albeit one that could inform her painting. “I did not know anything about mosaics, or even any mosaic artists,” she says. “I discovered the possibilities for artistic expression while training.”

Hirai’s work, with its natural shades, gentle gradations of color, and irregular stones, feels earthy. She often captures natural moments of growth or change—a sprout breaking the surface of the soil, or wind blowing in the leaves of a tree. Other, more abstract compositions mimic the sparkle of light on water or the impression of a crater in stone. Hirai emphasizes that the cracks between the tesserae are an important avenue for communicating meaning. “I utilize the space between fragments and hide feelings there that I want to keep secret,” the artist says. “But I also want that feeling to appear in the landscape when you look at my work.”

Enzo Valentinuz

B. 1946. Lives and works in Romans d’Isonzo, Italy

Enzo Valentinuz, Hawthorn, 2013. Courtesy of the artist.

Enzo Valentinuz, Building, 2012. Courtesy of the artist.  

Valentinuz’s art is inseparable from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy. His fascination with this part of Italy stems from the area’s striking beauty as well as its dark history; the Italian border where he was born and still lives was the site of bloody battles during World War I.

Originally trained as a fresco painter at the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, Valentinuz would have an encounter with nature that ultimately turned his attention toward mosaics. Fifteen years ago, during a walk on the Karst plateau—a rocky plain that extends from northeastern Italy to western Slovenia—he noticed the way that the beauty of rocks contrasted with the landscape’s painful history.

“I felt the violence of cannons and mortars as the origin of the splinters falling all around. It occurred to me to use those broken stones, which had seen or felt the fighting, as a pictorial element in my artworks,” he explains. Rough-hewn, often painted, and arranged in orderly grids, circles, or towers, Valentinuz’s stones suggest modern-day menhirs or collections of raw pigments sorted according to color.

Cassandra Emswiler Burd

B. 1983. Lives and works in Dallas, Texas

Cassandra Emswiler Burd, My dreams will pull you through this garden gate, 2014. Photo by Kevin Todora. Courtesy of the artist and Dallas Contemporary.  

You might argue that Burd doesn’t make mosaics at all. The Texas-based artist uses whole tiles, rather than broken or cut ones, to make her work. Yet she employs them to the same end: creating patterns and images via a process of assemblage. Burd’s compositions look like one thing at a glance, and quite another upon closer inspection. Her tiles are printed with photographs of her family, home, and environment, but at a distance they appear to be the quotidian patterns you might find on a kitchen floor.

Burd is interested in how tile can create architectural space as well as how it can hold memories. “The history or conditions of the site in which the tile is installed are always a primary concern,” she says. “I’ll often incorporate photos of the site into the design, or the graphic motif might derive from its architectural features or commemorate a person connected to the place.”

Among her interests and influences, Burd lists French philosopher Gaston Bachelard and the history of landscape, gardens, and vernacular architecture, and her work reflects this mix of theoretical concerns and functionality. Since buying a home, she’s been installing her own tile in the bathrooms and kitchen. “This leap into domestic space has been exhilarating,” Burd reports. “The tiles are inspired by the pattern on the kitchen floor of my childhood home. So being able to bring them into the space of my first home as an adult is like the completion of some sort of sacred loop—it’s very special to me.”

from Artsy News

#Artsy News

[monkeyandelf]

Enigmatic old paintings with images of UFOs

The study of UFOs has given amazing revelations to humanity. Without doubt, one of the most important findings is the presence of flying objects in old paintings, demonstrating that, possibly, they have visited us from the origin of everything ... One of the greatest concerns of society is know if there is life outside our planet and today, that curiosity is increased thanks to the large number of sightings of unidentified flying objects worldwide. However, everything seems to indicate that these sightings are not unique to pop culture and could go back to centuries in the past. There are very old paintings where you can see UFOs, however, the question we all ask ourselves is why did they paint them? Were they so common that adding them to art was normal? However, these curious flying ships do not go back only at the birth of contemporary art, since they are in paintings, in caves, where our aboriginal ancestors captured humanoid figures. And it is worth remembering that all these paintings are nothing more than a testimony what life was like during that time. But without a doubt, the one who has given us the most to think about is the Renaissance art, the one who was greatly influenced by religion, which has puzzled scholars even more ...

Wandjina's paintings

Australian aboriginal paintings showing humanoids. Credit: Public Domain

Wandjina wall art The Australian aborigines painted in caves what they believed were the creators of everything what exists on Earth. These figures have a humanoid appearance, big black eyes, no mouth and seem to wear a kind of helmet. There is a great debate about what they wanted to capture in this representation, but they certainly seem to tell us about a extraterrestrial contact.

Svetishoveil Cathedral Fresco

The Svetishoveil Cathedral Fresco painting features two rather out of place UFOs, which resemble jelly fish, either side of JesusCredit: Steffen Schulein ( Georgian Tourism Association) This wall mural, or fresco, from 1350 by an unknown artist can be found in the Visoki Decani Monestary in Kosovo, Serbia. Two odd-looking objects with 'pilots' can be seen in the sky on both sides of Jesus. “As odd as the details in the upper left and right sections of the Kosovo fresco may seem to modern eyes, they, in fact, refer to something readily familiar: the sun and the moon,” Dennis Geronimus, associate professor of Italian Renaissance at New York University, told the Huffington Post. “None of these painted details amount to early modern UFO sightings, which isn’t to say that the Kosovo muralist’s or Carlo Crivelli’s contemporary audiences did not believe in otherworldly beings or supernatural events.”

Saint Wolfgang and the Devil 

This painting based on the legend that Saint Wolfgang tricked the devil into building a church sparked a wave of conspiracy theoriesCredit: Getty Images The work of a famous German Renaissance painter Michael Pacher in the 15th century. It is based around a legend that Saint Wolfgang, the Bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria during the 10th century, tricked the devil into building a church. Internet sleuths believe the odd green shaped figure supposedly representing the devil appears more alien.

The Madonna with Saint Giovannino

In the right corner you can see a man and his dog watching a strange flying object. Credit: Domenico Ghirlandail / Wikimedia Commons Work of the fifteenth century, belonging to Domenico Ghirlandail. Another religious image of the Renaissance, where a UFO can be observed in detail. Ghirlandail "hid" this object, since it can only be seen very vaguely to a corner of the painting and, in addition, a man and his dog are seen on a hill staring To the strange ship.

The miracle of the snow

In this work, Jesus and Mary are inside what appears to be a ship, and behind them are others following them. Credit: Masolino Da Panicale / Public Domain Painting made by Masolino Da Panicale in 1428 where he shows us Jesus and Mary on a strange machine and apparently, followed by similar ones. These strange artifacts are found flying over the sky, so they can easily be seen as flying ships.

The Crucifixion of 1350

Two flying ships can be seen at each end of the painting. Credit: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons Visoki Decanís, one of the most representative works he has painted, where he portrays the crucifixion of Jesus. But what most attracts attention are the two flying ships which can be seen on the right and on the left of the painting, including passengers. This painting is from the fourteenth century and many people have interpreted what he "meant" with these figures. However, it is difficult to add another interpretation to something that is so literal.

The Annunciation of Saint Emidius

A UFO shoots a kind of lightning at a person praying. Credit: Carlo Crivelli / Wikimedia Commons Carlo Crivelli painted this work in 1486 and in it you can see a mysterious circle in the sky attacking with a lightning bolt to the head a young woman who is praying. There is also a white dove flying, being pierced by lightning, as if it were descending from a spaceship.

The glorification of the Eucharist

God and Jesus taking a metallic object through their antennae. Credit: Bonaventura Salimbeni / Wkimedia Commons Bonaventura Salimbeni made this work in 1600, being one of the most important of his career, so it is protected in the church of San Lorenzo, in San Pedro, Florence. This painting also shows a mysterious metallic sphere, with antennas, which are seized by Jesus and God. This UFO is very similar to satellites that were made hundreds of years later, so it has generated much controversy between believers and ufologists.

Triumph of Summer Tapestry

Photo credit: World 5 List via YouTube Not precisely a painting but a Renaissance tapestry, this Belgian work of art is one of the few that doesn’t actually depict a religious scene. This tapestry is a celebratory artwork depicting the ascension of a ruler to power in Belgium. Although it’s not clear who he is, it could be referring to Emperor Charles V, who also governed West Flanders. Anyway, what caught the attention in this intricate tapestry is the fact that in the upper-left part of the image you can see many creatures and objects that match our modern perception of extraterrestrial imagery, to which there’s no religious association at all. However, it’s believed it was the artisan’s way of showing this monarchs' divine right to rule, which doesn’t sound that far-fetched at all.

La Tebaide

Photo credit: Scheggia Painted in the mid-15th century, La Tebaide (aka Scene di vita eremitica) is a montage of scenes showing various aspects and beliefs of monastic life. Part of this picture shows Jesus on the cross, and many eagle-eyed enthusiasts have picked out a small, red, disc-shaped UFO at the bottom of that scene. Debunkers claim that the red, saucer-shaped object is nothing more than a traditional cardinal’s hat that belongs to St. Jerome, the person kneeling in front of the cross. On the other hand, UFOlogists believe that the red trails projecting from the “UFO” show its erratic movements. However, the trails are probably just the tassels of the traditional headpiece. Besides, this hat appears in many other paintings of St. Jerome. As in this picture, the hat is usually found close to him. La Tebaide is currently on display at the Academy of Florence, Italy.

‘Israel, Put Your Hope In The Lord’

The UFO-like object depicted in a wall painting in a medieval Romanian church (Image: Credit: Catalina Borta) This mysterious painting depicts a giant disc-shaped object above a burning church. The painting currently sits in the Church of the Dominican Monastery in Sighisoara, Romania. This location is in the legendary region of Transylvania, which was the birthplace of Vlad III, prince of Wallachia. You may know him better as “Vlad the Impaler” or “Vlad III Dracula”—the same Dracula that inspired Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel. It is not known if there is a connection between Dracula and the painting. Although mainstream historians argue that the disc-shaped object is nothing more than a shield, its size as well as the smoke that appears to be trailing out of it suggests otherwise. Although it is not known exactly when the painting was created or by whom, the German caption below it reads: Israel, hoffe auf den Herrn (“Israel, put your hope in the Lord”). As the Bible was not translated into German until 1523 and a fire destroyed the original monastery in the 17th century, the painting was probably created after those two events.

The baptism of Christ

A strange luminous disk illuminates the baptism of Jesus. Credit: Aert De Gelder / Wikimedia Commons Aert De Gelder painted in 1710 one of the most representative works of the Renaissance and is currently on display in the Museum of Fitzwilliam, Cambrindge. It shows a UFO illuminating the baptism of Jesus, in such a literal way that there is no way to interpret it any other way. Read the full article

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