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#folk keeper gallery
aquagirl1978 · 3 months
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The Yule Ball - Blanc Lapin x Reader (Ikemen Revolution)
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A/N; Part of the Series of Firsts event I am hosting.
Pairing: Blanc Lapin x Reader
Prompt: First Look
Word Count: 417
Tags: fluff perhaps ooc as this boy never got his route, i'm just winging it here folks, but if anyone deserved a fic for my event, it's this guy @vivislosingitagain - tagging you because blanc
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“Alice!”
You knew that voice, bright and light, like a greeting from an old friend. And you knew that smile, warm and welcoming from the moment you met that fateful day.
But you almost didn’t recognize the man walking towards you. 
Straightening your back, you smoothed your skirt as the White Rabbit approached. The  friendly recordkeeper who you had met with frequently over a casual cup of tea was now replaced with an elegantly dressed stranger in a winter white suit.
He looked good. He looked more than good. Dashing and handsome, you wondered where this Blanc was hiding the whole time you’ve been in Cradle?
You schooled your expression by the time he reached you; the last thing you wanted was to appear like a lovestruck school girl.
With a smile so dazzling, he took your hand in his, bringing your joined hands to his lips and brushing a chaste kiss across your knuckles. His gaze met yours; why hadn’t you noticed before how truly beautiful his eyes were? Golden flecks shone under the lights of the ball like stars in his eyes, capturing your full attention as you stood there dazed.
He withdrew his lips from the back of your hand, his cheeks tinted pink like he had just come in from being outside. Your gaze was still fixed on his as he let go of you; already, you missed the warmth of his hand as a strange feeling stirred inside, leaving you longing for more of his touch.
He flicked his eyes away from yours; following his gaze, you watched as couples gathered on the dance floor as soft music filled the ballroom.
“Would you grant me the honor of a dance?” His words were polite, but his whisper was soft, yet sultry; words that were meant only for your ears. His hand was extended to you, in eager invitation.
Until tonight, you had only viewed Blanc as a platonic friend. As record keeper of Cradle and the first person you met in Cradle, Blanc had been a guiding force when navigating your way through Cradle, someone you trusted and was always there for you, be it with a helping hand or a listening ear. 
Slipping your hand into his, his warmth radiated through your body, lighting a smile on your face.
“Yes, Blanc, I would love to dance with you,” you replied as he guided you onto the dance floor, your heart fluttering at the thoughts of where this dance might lead you.
Insert Line Break
Tagging: @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @chaosangel767 @alixennial @redheadkittys @queen-dahlia @ikehoe @kisara-16 @kpop-and-otome @lordsisterxotome @lucyw260 @yarnnerdally @crypticbibliophile @judejazza @maries-gallery @randonauticrap @xbalayage @xenokiryu
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orchidscript · 3 months
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Thank you to @rmd-writes, @alrightbuckaroo, and @reyestrandd for the tags!
Rules: Share what you wrote this year! It can be works you posted to Ao3, Wattpad, Tumblr, or anywhere else! You can share everything you wrote or just the ones you're most excited about.
**A quick note, because I've been asked: all my RWRB fics are based on the book. It's been... 5 months, and I still haven't seen the movie. Just so we're clear on these fronts.**
January
Singularity | RWRB | E | 8,925 words | Alex and Henry find inspiration in a hotel room armchair. Toe the Line | RWRB | G | 5,681 words | Henry plays piano while Alex studies. Alex gets caught live-streaming. Henry has a response handy. In the Stars | RWRB | E | 48,817 words | the Monuments Men WWII AU that will remain unfinished. Back-dated to Jan, 2023 for safety.
February
Moonlighting | RWRB | E | 11, 388 words | Edwardian AU stripper Henry and a very flustered Alex. Inspired by @clottedcreamfudge. A Deeper Blue | RWRB | M | 13, 367 | the Selkie + Lighthouse Keeper AU that, quite literally, no one asked for.
March
Supplicant | RWRB | E | 1352 words | He asked. The club delivered. A private room. A blind fold. A bed. Permission given to anyone pre-approved. Other Animals | RWRB | E | 1645 words | "Stretching his arms above his head, Henry’s skin sang with the need to put on a show." Sequel to Supplicant.
April
A Delicate Balance | RWRB | E | 87, 284 words | the actors AU that a lot of people like... for some reason incomprehensible to me. Bake It Til You Make It | RWRB | T | 8, 428 words | Totally self-indulgent bullshit where Henry is basically a foil for B. Dylan Hollis and Alex is hopelessly in love with him.
May
Arts & Minds | RWRB | T | 11, 678 words | Art history professors go viral, then go to a conference... and there was only one bed.
June
Walkin' After Midnight | RWRB | M | 33, 924 words | A country western musicians/songwriters AU. Alex is an up-and-coming musician. Henry is a poet who happens to play piano. Rogue's Gallery | RWRB | T | 21, 860 words | Episode 1 of the "White Collar" AU. Henry Fox is a famous art forger, and Alex is the FBI agent who caught him three years ago. All Things Keep Getting Better | RWRB | M | 17, 009 words | 2023 Pride Month collection of shorts from a list of given prompts.
July
Trick Rider | RWRB | E | 2526 words | Henry a hang of "rodeo season." A gift for @14carrotghoul, written for @thebrownstone summer fic exchange. Almost You | RWRB | M | 12, 496 words | In which Henry indulges his sister, downloads an app, puts himself out there, and finds out the person he needed was waiting right next to him all along.
August
Before This, After That | RWRB | M | 37, 661 words | the "PT AU"; Henry is a badly injured polo player and Alex is his physical therapist. My most kudos'd fic of 2023.
September
Under a Star Spell | 911 LS | T | 12, 592 words | In which Carlos practices folk magic and TK, needing to rekindle something, finds himself on his doorstep. Steal Like an Artist | RWRB | M | 19, 292 words | Episode 2 of the "White Collar" AU. Forged Ming vases, trust issues, characters from Henry's past, and inside jobs, oh my. The Calling | 911 LS | M | 10, 148 words | A TK character study inspired by an episode of This American Life. My favorite of the year, hands down. Bind & Break | 911 LS | E | 2, 259 words | There was a subtle power in cords. An art inherent of beautiful knots in capable, strong hands. Apótoma | RWRB | E | 32, 500 words | Απότομα (Greek; Apótoma): Abruptly, suddenly. After seven years with an island home to himself, Henry was used to hiding.
October
Spellwork | 911 LS | E | 10, 300 words | Sequel to Under a Star Spell. Carlos and TK explore their newfound relationship and magic's place in it.
November
Night Class | RWRB | E | 12, 617 words | Henry Fox — his smarmy, entitled, wealthy, bland, irritating neighbor — was a vampire. Alex knew it. He could prove it. My fic for @halloweenhuh fandom event. A Wash of Color | 911 LS | E | 43, 951 words | 1700 miles out of his comfort zone, TK Strand is willing to do anything to get his journalism career back on track. The journalist TK/artist Carlos AU. Something Blue | 911 LS | T | 10, 118 words | My birthday present to myself. Carlos needs a suit for his sister's wedding. TK Strand, owner of Strand & Co tailoring shop, is only too happy to help - provided Carlos indulge him a little bit first. Prompted by @bonheur-cafe. Soft to the Touch | 911 LS | E | 7, 749 words | Does what it says on the tin. Carlos and TK try some new things together, and then Carlos does something special just for TK. Soft boys sex-capades by Orchid.
December
The Snow Prince | RWRB | M | 22, 938 words | A winter fairy tale AU.  Alex and Henry meet twice, then fall in love in spite of a decades-old curse. Alex endeavors to break it. My last fic of the year, written as a gift for @cha-melodius and @tintagel-or-cockleshells who both sent me the "snow prince" prompt :)
tagging on a few people because this whole long thing is kind of making me uncomfortable to look at and I won't subject anyone else to it. Gonna hide and watch old episodes of Parts Unknown lol.
No pressure tagging: @indomitable-love @three-drink-amy @inexplicablymine @strandnreyes @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses and @cha-melodius if y'all haven't done it yet or want to. I'm behind the 8-ball this week.
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idoodlestuffsometimes · 6 months
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Do you have any more fic recs?
You know, I actually haven't been reading a lot of fic lately, I'm afraid. But if you're interested in more Brother's Keeper stuff I will of course always suggest looking through all the lovely fics that folks have sent me, which are here in my #BK Fridge Gallery tag. I love them very much; it's nice to know I'm spreading my brain worms, and there are some real gems ;)
I will also plug With Clay and Star Scraps and Several Witches are Typing by my friends @liathgray and @astriiformes! And I also really like the writing style of the few TOH fics I've read by theprincessofdenial, but the only one I've finished so far is The Matter at Hand There are a number of others too though that I'm interested in but haven't read, so I'll let this be a reminder to me to get on that!
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thiswaitingheart · 6 months
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AC/DC, The Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd und Bob Dylan für das Musik-Ask, falls du grad Zeit hast?
Oooh, banger artist choices! Thank you!
(I started this post almost a week ago and then had to put it in the drafts to brave Deutsche Bahn. Apologies for taking this long to finish it!)
AC/DC - What are your favorite bands?
Ok, so, I'm consciously excluding duos/trios and musicians with background instrumentalists here because otherwise we'd never stop. XD I'm also limiting this to bands where I genuinely enjoy whole studio albums; my playlists contain a lot of one-hit wonders (and live albums). That said:
Jethro Tull (thank you, dad) - Possibly the band with the highest 'will listen to whole albums, no questions asked' rate. Heavy Horses, Broadsword and the Beast, Minstrel in the Gallery and Songs from the Wood are all favourites.
The Tannahill Weavers - One of the earliest folk bands I remember liking, and one I've actually seen live in concert (where friends & I lowered the average age of the audience by about a decade). I love their instrumentalizations and harmonies. My favourites are definitely the early LPs, especially Are You Sleeping Maggie? and The Tannahill Weavers.
Runrig - forever sad I'll never see them live again. Idk what it is exactly, but I just took to them immediately. Fave albums are Heartland, The Cutter and the Clan, and Mara.
Blind Guardian - my introduction to metal; I've never looked back. Nightfall in Middle-Earth and Imaginations from the Other Side have a special place in my heart.
Sonata Arctica - very predictably my thing. The early 2000s albums were a staple at the rock/metal club I used to go to with my friends in high school. Ecliptica & Reckoning Night my beloved. <3
Nightwish - another one from the Metal I Loved As A Teen list. I'm partial to Century Child, Once, and Dark Passion Play, but also like their newer stuff and Marko Hietala's solo projects.
Helloween - A much later discovery than the previous three, but man I do love Keeper of the Seven Keys (both albums and the song) a whole lot.
Steeley Span - another formative folk influence from my dad's repertoire. Please to See the King, Tempted and Tried and Parcel of Rogues cover a lot of favourites.
Honourable mentions go to the Scorpions, Silly Wizard, and Show of Hands (who aren't fully there based on the 'several albums' criterion), Tarot, HammerFall, Iron Maiden, and Le Vent du Nord, all of which are working their way up there, and The Dubliners & The Clancy Brothers (see the 'live albums' criterion above). Also, shoutout to Mark Knopfler, whom I actually prefer as a solo artist although I do also like Dire Straits.
The Doors - What is your favorite lyric?
Of course I can't think of a single one now that I actually have to answer this question. Right. All of these are extremely personal and I'm not sure how much sense they make to anyone but me, but here we are:
Through the corridors of sleep Past shadows dark and deep My mind dances and leaps in confusion I don't know what is real I can't touch what I feel And I hide behind the shield of my illusion
So I'll continue to continue to pretend My life will never end And flowers never bend with the rainfall
(Simon & Garfunkel, Flowers Never Bend With the Rainfall)
Masquerading as a man with a reason My charade is the event of the season And if I claim to be a wise man, well It surely means that I don't know On a stormy sea of moving emotion Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean I set a course for winds of fortune But I hear the voices say
Carry on my wayward son There'll be peace when you are done Lay your weary head to rest Don't you cry no more
(Kansas, Carry On, Wayward Son, but we all know that XD)
And the heart is hard to translate It has a language of it's own It talks in tongues and quiet sighs In prayers and proclamations, in the grand deeds Of great men and the smallest of gestures In short shallow gasps
But with all my education I can't seem to command it And the words are all escaping And coming back all damaged And I would put them back in poetry If I only knew how, I can't seem to understand it
And I would give all this and heaven too I would give it all if only for a moment That I could just understand The meaning of the word you see 'Cause I've been scrawling it forever But it never makes sense to me at all
(Florence + The Machine, All This and Heaven Too)
O, comrades, come and travel on with me We'll go to our new year of liberty Come, walk upright, along the people's way From darkness, unto the people's day From dark, to sunlit day. Tomorrow is a highway broad and fair And hate and greed shall never travel there But only they who've learned the peaceful way Of brotherhood, to greet the coming day We hail the coming day
(Pete Seeger, Tomorrow is a Highway)
And one from the 19th century democratic/republican repertoire:
Wenn ich einmal der Herrgott wär Ich will's nunmal nicht sein Ich will nicht Knecht, ich will nicht Herr Nur Gleicher will ich sein Ich will, dass hier auf Erden gelt Die Wahrheit und das Recht Dass gutes man als gut auch hält Und was da schlecht als schlecht
(Anonymous, Wenn ich einmal der Herrgott wär, x)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Do you like instrumental songs?
Yes! Not counting a whole lot of classical music, I was raised on enough folk (and did enough ceilidh dancing) to enjoy purely instrumental pieces.
Some favourites:
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(I'm aware this is a traditional tune; you can also count the whole Tubular Bells album)
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(This has been my phone ringtone for the last ten years. I blame a Les Mis fanvid from ca. 2013)
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Bob Dylan - Do you know how to play any musical instrument?
I wish, but sadly no. I had about a year of instruction on the recorder in primary school (apologies to anyone who had to listen to me practice) and tried to teach myself to play both tin whistle and guitar for a bit as a teen, but alas, I never made it beyond the two chords you need for Lady in Black. XD (Not helped by the fact that I have super small hands.) I never could afford to take classes as a teen and during uni, and still can't, but I hope that one of these days I actually have enough of an income to splurge on music lessons. (Instruments of choice? Piano, guitar, cello).
Music Asks
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skydinzeal · 2 months
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📯 This Yoga has come under attack lately by possessed folk. There is certain evidence for Norse "Asanas". BTW when you say you like winter people subtly psychically attack. If you are going out have loving family members you won't feel it. I will tell you why next time. I held this Rune back, we need the winter, so I don't want to skip it. 🌟Isa is the result of the wrong response to Hagalaz. It is caused by the state of Nauthiz. This is the Rune for the fortnight of 12/1 - 12/14. I've inscribed the entire Magical Rhyme 4 Isa in 2mm tall Runes in Eld Icelandic & Eld Norse (@ Left). My works are record keepers 4 the torch-bearers of Art & Meaningfulness! Is that you? 🌷🔭🌠💜✨ I hand-make talismans, paintings/sculptures for you or your loved ones!🌷All of my creations are made of 100s of ancient, powerful symbols! I've tested and taught Spiritual practices via my classes at NYCs Edgar Cayce Center for 10 years. I am likely LIVE right now http://www.skydin.com 💜🔥⚡👽 🌟🦋👑🌷3 Have a store? OR do you know a Quality Gallery or Store you'd like to bless?🐉Jül continues. ☀️✨ I have been trying to rebuild all my jewelry & art that was stolen when I was assaulted & robbed (10 times past few years) I am looking for a quality SPIRITUAL STORE or ART GALLERY to TRULY help with sales/marketing their work & mine! I am a rare, tireless entertainer, salesperson and psychic. I have huge internet reach and can work day and night continuously! I don't even need to eat. I have got by on hard work & skill alone, not cheating & it shows! If you would like to make a connection happen contact me. If it works out I will pay you! 🌟 A very modest GoFundMe here! Please spread the word! https://gofund.me/82ac1c5b Thank you!🌟💜🗽💜🎿💜❄️💜🦌 . . . . . . . #divination #runestones #runic #runereader #ascension #newageart #witchcraftandwizardry #psychicreading #sacredgeometry #spiritualart #runes #paganism #magick #spells #pagan #wicca #psychicability #sorcery #celtic #pagansymbols #occultsymbols #spiritualartist #metalart #knowthefuture #sorcerer #metaphysical #occult #norse #readthefuture #isa http://dlvr.it/T1fwNr
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ilopisara · 4 months
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26.11. 20:24 | Ilo Pisara vs MIESKISSAT 5 - 8
Well, well, well... if it isn't the Ilo Pisara squad looking like they've just discovered that hockey sticks aren't for stirring giant cups of hot cocoa. Let's break down this travesty masquerading as a hockey game. First off, Mieskissat treated us like yarn and they were one grumpy cat – 8 goals to our 5? That scoreboard is more lopsided than a pirate with two wooden legs! And shots on goal? Nineteen?! VETOJA HYVÄT HERRAT! It's not an art gallery; you're allowed to shoot more than once per inspiration! Teppo Winnipeg, my dear defenseman: A puck-moving defenseman who moves pucks about as fast as molasses in January. Three shots on net and only one blocked shot? You’re supposed to be the Great Wall of Defense out there – instead you looked like someone left the gate wide open! Sami Noddy – five assists are impressive but eleven giveaways?! Were you hosting a charity drive out there or what? And Jani Saari - four goals might make him seem like our saving grace until we realize he’s hogging all the rubber with fifteen shot attempts. Sharing is caring buddy; maybe pass it around next time so your teammates can also play 'finders keepers' with that elusive back of the net. Remember folks: past victories are history books collecting dust unless we write new chapters worth reading. So let’s sharpen those skates and egos because next game we either hit hard or get hit harder by reality checks bouncing faster than pucks off bad ice! Dismissed before I trade y'all for Zamboni parts!
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puutterings · 5 months
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his charcoal pot ’at come right out of the world
        His deprecating, pleased laugh came; his buoyant spirit was already slipping past his trouble, finding courage in the day’s work and his home’s solace. With his wife he watched his mother go on her eternal puttering about the rooms, while Demetra stood by in her clean indifference. She had quite recovered, it seemed, and before her husband was her usual tolerant, disengaged self, a burden he would carry gladly, life long, so strange is love, so eager to scourage itself, to wear chains, to go hungry, to go fetch for the scantiest meed.   ₁
      That last night we talked late on the gallerie. And long after midnight, when we had turned in, I was aroused by voices outside, to discover that some swamper had come in from his lonely camp to consult Len about a sick wife. And Len was up “puttering” about in the left-over stock of drugs and patent medicines of his defunct general store. They measured and tasted and discussed and Len was all eagerness to help. He sent the man away with advice called out long after the swamper was out on the dark river. “Give her a hull spoonful every hour and soak her feet in the mustard, and if she don’t come ’round hard a-port and answer the helm, we’ll mix up a little something else tomorry!”       Good old Len!       He was visibly perturbed when we told him that we would go on down Grand River that day.       “Hate to see you go. Folks most generally stay round a month when they strike my place, so’s we can have a little talk. I do like to meet folks ’at come right out of the world.”   ₂
      I went on up the gallerie stairs and heard Papa Prosper within puttering about his charcoal pot. Then a siren whistle afar on the lakes, Virgil’s second supply steamer coming to the main canal. Then steps behind me; and I discovered that the two from the white boat were following.       “Well,” I said : “Since you are here, you may as well tell them.”   ₃
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all by Charles Tenney Jackson —
1 My Brother’s Keeper (1910, 1913 this edition, with illustrations by Arthur William Brown) : 171 via google : link
2 The Fountain of Youth. Illustrated with Photographs. (New York: Outing Publishing Company, 1914) : 220-221 LoC copy/scan (among several via hathitrust) : link LoC description thus : “Narrative of vacation experiences in the Gulf region of Louisiana southwest of New Orleans.”
3 John the Fool : An American Romance, Illustrated by Hazel Roberts (1915) : 323 (U California copy/scan, via hathitrust) : link
John the Fool Bayou, in Louisiana : link
Charles Tenney Jackson (1874-1955) annotated list of his writings, and something about his life, at 358a  
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blackstockart · 8 months
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Artball the Art of Winning The Unfair Artgame
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I have been reading about Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game: the democratization of information causing a flattening of hierarchies, and “the ruthless drive for efficiency that capitalism demands.
Albert Ellis in The Myth of Self Esteem says, “Self-esteem results in each of us praising ourselves when what we do is approved by others.” So self esteem is a system of slavery. “I must do well and win the approval of others or else I am no good.”
Evidence based analysis asks, is the any evidence that I am no good? These are global conditional ratings. We are rating ourselves on one condition, like, for example, how much we are financially worth, the ruthless drive for efficiency that capitalism demands.
Ellis says to throw this all in the garbage and rate our strategies for satisfaction instead. I highly prefer to have money in the bank but I don’t have to. As an artist I was conditioned in art school to make large heroic works to win critical approval and achieve success financially. Then I found out after graduation that I must win the approval of the approved art gallery in order to have three solo shows, of these expensive to produce works, in order to meet the Canada Council conditions for funding to be able to afford paint and time to research and have a career.
Its Artball the Art of Winning The Unfair Artgame brought to you by me and my friends on the internet. So I dumped the art gallery system of evaluation based on sales metrics by ‘art-stars’ usually uber-rich family and friends playing the investment game, and opted for personal satisfaction instead.
The purpose of life is satisfaction. I started there.
So what are my art-satisfactions? Like any other satisfaction they are fluid, not written in stone. I find it satisfying for example to have folks view my art, I’m inherently an exhibitionist by temperament and training. Religious narcissistic family and friends call this showing off, and because I’m good at it (practice practice practice) they lose in the attention competition. So if I must have others approval or else I’m no good, according to them I am roundly fucked.
If I am dependent on esteem, self or otherwise, I can and will lose it on occasion, and then I’m fucked. Anxiety and depression set in. If I have a strategy for satisfaction, it can, and is, fluid. Today I find x satisfying. It doesn’t have to be anything even if I highly prefer it, like having a sex goddess wife and a million dollars. Or after a stroke, walking and talking. I do everything I can to deal with the loss of a wife, a bank account, mobility and speech, then ignore all those musts and shoulds conditions for happiness, and explore other choices for satisfaction available to me. Such as a million people saw my work on the internet, on just one platform. I find this very satisfying for I was an orphaned introvert with bullied social anxiety struggles. It’s as thrilling as climbing Everest to a mountaineer.
Compared to a wealthy capitalist buying my painting to stick over his couch, never to be seen again…Well, the metrics of dollars pale in comparison in the quality of my satisfactions. The fact that the art gallerist paid for his Lexus with his commission on my art-slave work pales even further. Gate keepers are too self-interested to be interested in anything else or interesting.
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dota-2-trainer-x0 · 2 years
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Dota 2 Trainer Easy Download PC Game - GameTplay
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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥 Training missions are tutorials that offer a single player experience in the form of a campaign. So far, its purpose is mainly for teaching the player about the basics of the game in a scripted scenario. Completing the training missions will grant players a free Gunslinger Set for Sniper , as well as access to the Archronicus lore book. This first quest features Dragon Knight as the playable hero. The goal is to defeat an enemy hero, Razor , with the help of Keeper of the Light. This quest acts as a basic tutorial on controlling a hero. This tutorial teaches:. This second quest features Sniper as the playable hero. The goal is to defeat an enemy hero, Tidehunter. This mission places the player as the hero Sniper once again. The objective is to destroy the enemy's middle lane tower, while also defending your own tower from Axe. The player is restricted to playing in the Mid-lane only, a wall appears when attempting to leave the combat area. This tutorial explains:. This quest gives the player the freedom to choose their own hero from a selection of 20 heroes, and pits them against an AI controlled bot from the same limited pool. The mission is the first and second mid lane towers. Players are free to move around the map, benefiting from Runes and Jungling. The shop is also unrestricted, allowing the player to purchase any items they choose. Players must complete this mission 10 times with different heroes in order to receive credit. This mission introduces:. This quest sends the player into a full 5v5 game with AI controlled Allies and Enemies, with a hero selection of the same limited 20 hero pool as previous missions. The objective is to destroy the opposing team's Ancient. Winning a single game will unlock the next mission, however, 5 matches with different heroes is required in order to complete the mission. This final mission pits the player along with 4 other human players, against 5 human players Limited Heroes match. The goal is to destroy the enemy Ancient, while defending your own. This is a bonus mission in which the player can choose any hero and select any lane. The goal is to get as many last hits in the space of 10 minutes, while an AI hero attempts to deny you. This mission also shows you the number of last hits you have gained, the number of creeps that have died, and your percentage of successful creep kills. Higher scores will earn trophies in the Gallery of Triumphs. In this tutorial you're gonna be focused on attacking your enemies at short attack range, and doing damage to them from both Physical and Magical Damage with your spells, and you will also have to build your Agility increase items for more Attack Speed and Physical Damage. In this tutorial you're gonna be focused on holding your durability during the fights, and using your Storm Hammer for stunning the enemy heroes to get the advantage point of the fight, and your Warcry to keep you and your allies more steady, and build a durable items such Black King Bar and Assault Cuirass for holding you at the fights for much longer. Dota 2 Wiki Explore. Useful pages. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? History Talk 3. This article or section contains content that has been removed from the game or store, or has never been released. It exists solely for archival purposes. This article is about the old deprecated Dota 2 Tutorial. For the new version, see New Player Objectives. Categories : Archived contents System Add category. Cancel Save. Fan Feed 1 Heroes 2 Items 3 Pudge. Universal Conquest Wiki. In a lonely wood lies the camp of Dragon Knight, slayer of the great winged Slyrak, and possessor of skills beyond mortal knowledge. Yet his true potential still lies before him. The time has come for him to take up arms and train for the final battle. A small form moves quietly along the trail, weapon in hand. Among the Keen Folk, he is a legend, the greatest shootist there's ever been. But it will take more than a sharp eye to survive the coming battle, and this Sniper from the highlands has much to learn if he's to fulfill his destiny. Long is the road to victory, and harsh its travels. Sniper will need to develop a keen understanding of the towers, and those who defend them, if he is to survive the great battle that is to come. Archronicus pages, Gunslinger's Cape. Once per generation, the great forged wheel-books turn slowly in the wind and moan out tales of an age long forgotten. But now a strange wind blows, and the forged books sing like nothing heard before—a song of conflict and a looming conflagration, the prophesy of a war that will sweep down from hidden planes and engulf the world in its fire. Archronicus pages, Gunslinger's Bracers. As the moon stones glow and wheel-books wail, the barrier between the planes wears thin. Out of this tattered fabric of reality, strange forces are revealed. Myths and legends, flesh and blood; all yearn for the chance to train for the coming battle. Gunslinger's Hat. It is a contest of wills and wits, strength and courage, reflexes and strategy. Shards of the Mad Moon glow bright in a shattered sky, while below battle lines are drawn. Somewhere in the distance, the great horn sounds. The steel clangs. And so it begins. Gunslinger's Rifle. The Hero who can acquire the most gold will almost certainly triumph. It is important to understand how to acquire gold, and how to keep it from the pockets of your opponents. Only through extensive practice can a Hero master the art of last hitting. Join and battle against AI-controlled heroes as you learn to play Dota. We'll guide you step by step through every stage of a full match as you build your hero into an unstoppable force. User Interface.
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driedseahorses · 2 years
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Dried Sea Horse High Resolution Stock Photography And Images
He poured over a thick Chinese medical encyclopedia, hunting for “hai ma,” or seahorse. Seahorses are believed in Chinese medicine to have Viagra-like powers. It is also believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and is often taken to increase sexual potency.
The tail of the dried seahorses have a prehensile tail. This allows them to grip onto eel grass and other weeds and prevents them from being washed away by strong currents and waves. The baby dried seahorses are known as fry, when they are born they are on their own. They spend the first two to three weeks of their lives drifting along in the plankton layer of the ocean. Less than one in a thousand will survive long enough to become an adult due to predators.
“Even if seahorses were not being consumed by traditional medicine, they’d still be getting caught in massive numbers by non-selective fishing gear. That’s the problem that needs to be solved,” she said. Researchers estimate that 37 million seahorses are taken from shallow, lush coastal waters every year, mostly ensnared by indiscriminate fishing gear. Southeast Asia and West Africa are the main regions exporting them. More than half of captured seahorses end up dead, dried and sold internationally for use in traditional medicines thought to boost virility and even cure impotence.
You can also buy dried fish maw online, Buy fish maw online, Buy ox cattle gallstones at our store. Buy dry seahorse, our seahorse are sunlight dried in strict sanitary conditions. All products are also without any mold and mildews or worms as well as additionally no scent.
Others are dried, painted and made into key chains and other trinkets. Seahorses are frequently used in traditional medicine. Photo by Tyler Stiem/ Project Seahorse.Foster said she believes it’s unlikely dried seahorses for sale that the bans halted all trade and that it’s probably occurring at similar levels, only now out of sight. Some of this incidental seahorse catch enters the international trade; some does not.
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Seahorse fishing has been banned in Peru since 2004 and is punishable by two to five years in prison. Historical x-ray of seahorses (Hippocampus sp.). The ones that look hollow have been dead for while and are dried out. The others are newly dead, and some internal organs can be seen.
By signing up you agree to receive recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. cart reminders) from Art.com at the cell number used when signing up. Keep your furry and feathery friends close, whether they are a galloping stallion or a dog taking a selfie. Our gallery is here to turn empty walls into a cute and quirky display of animal art. We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people. When a keeper approached the tank, the youngsters rushed to the glass, then swam up to the surface, expecting a meal. Seahorse taste similarly to dry scallops, but saltier and less complex.
Project Seahorse played a pivotal role in the landmark 2002 CITES decision to begin regulating international trade in some marine fishes. Hong Kong, Dried sea horse and other marine products in Sheung Wan just west of Central Hong Kong.Hong Kong, Dried sea horse and other marine products in Sheung Wan just west of Central Hong Kong. Nowadays, questions about seahorses are met with hesitation or silence. Seahorses are gone — or at least, less visible — in Bay Area markets. Because, it turns out, most seahorses aren’t caught on purpose. And folk remedies, while sometimes suspect, remain popular because health care is especially unpleasant in China.
Facilities like the Academy are growing other live food options, to mimic the dietary diversity seahorses get in the wild. Boxes of loose tea, bags of roots and other natural products line the shelves of herbal shops in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Bins of animal and plant-based products are filed neatly beneath glass counters. Despite the seahorse’s folk status, traditional medicine still fuels the majority of global demand. To understand why, consider the size of China’s population, and its health care system, Cheng said.
Competitive dried seahorse products from various dried seahorse manufacturers and dried seahorse suppliers are listed above, please select quality and cheap items for you. She and other experts consulted for this story agreed that a sustainable trade in seahorses is possible. Positive steps are being made in the aquarium trade, for instance, where the availability of captive-bred animals has reduced the pressure on wild seahorses.
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yaushie · 4 years
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Hi!! I was wondering if I could ask how you’re liking ACNH so far? I’m thinking about getting a Nintendo Switch soon and I love Animal Crossing (unfortunately the only games I’ve been able to ever play are City Folk and Pocket Camp), so I was wondering how it’s going for you. And I hope you’re doing okay during this pandemic ❤️
Thank you, I hope you’re doing well as well! 
I like the game so far! Visually it’s lovely and it improved a lot of things from previous AC games (such as getting to choose where villagers put their houses, the huge level of customization of the player character and the island, expanded inventory and storage ect). I will say though as of right now, the game feels a bit empty. It’s missing a lot of the previous furniture sets, there is currently only 2 holidays I think in the game, and some of the quality of life stuff could use some major improvements. I think a lot of that is subject to change, because Nintendo plans to release the rest of the holidays in updates and they added bushes/Lief and the entire art gallery/Redd in the last one, so as long as you’re okay with waiting for them to add content, it shouldn’t be a problem.
The QoL stuff though we don’t know for sure if they’ll improve. I think they were trying to stay with how previous AC games functioned but it comes across dated compared to other games of this era (for example only being able to buy/craft things one at a time, too many sub-menus, long strings of repeated dialogue for NPCs/shop keepers, dated model of online play). Since you play Pocket Camp, you probably know that when it first dropped and for a long while after it had also had some major QoL problems but they did thankfully overhaul some things (like being able to eat more than one fortune cookie at a time). I know it’s a different team that runs each game but I am hoping this will also be the case for NH and they’ll make improvements based on player feedback.
Overall.. I’d say it’s still worth it. I’m having fun. But it’ll probably more worth it once it gets more content/improvements to gameplay functions. If you can excuse that in the meantime.. then I’d say give it a shot! :)
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nellygwyn · 4 years
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At Twelfth Night, Doll took her to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, 'to teach you how to cheek the fellows in the grand style,' as she put it. They paid a shilling each to squeeze into the gallery - the price of a fuck, Mary thought, trying out the new word in her head. Doll gazed round critically and guessed there were no more than a thousand and a half in the house this afternoon. The hum of talk rose like bee song.
Mary felt sick with anticipation. The play was said to be a new one, adapted from the French: 'The Game of Love.' Her mother had always kept her away from the theatres, told her that no good would come of folk pretending to be what they weren't. The air was so hot, she felt her shoulders released as if by the touch of the sun. The curtain didn't go up till ten past six, and at first, Mary was so dazzled by the set that she could see nothing else. There were great trees that slid on and off the stage, and gilt sofas, and a full moon shining without any visible means of support. The lights stank like burning hair.
But then, Mrs. Abington came on in a white flowered gown with scalloped flounces and a ladder of increasingly tiny bows on her stomacher. Mary forgot everything else. 'Does the manager let her pick out what she wants to wear?' she asked Doll.
'Pick it? She owns it,' said Doll. 'The actresses all have to furnish their own clothes.'
Mary watched Mrs. Abington with a sort of tender envy. Imagine owning such dresses and walking out on stage for thousands of people to stare at you.
'No wonder they need rich keepers!' said Doll with a dirty laugh.
Mary looked at her hard, to see if this was a joke. Then she stared even more closely at the woman who was floating across the stage as if she'd never seen a male member in her life. It puzzled Mary, how a girl could wear such a face after entering into the trade. Maybe it was different for an actress. Maybe she could reach into a pair of breeches while all the time pretending to be someone else.
The speeches were hard to follow, above the shrill commentary of the audience, and the swish of fans, and the swell of gossip whenever some viscount or duchess showed themselves in a box. But soon Mary had got the gist of the play. Mrs. Abington was a lady who had switched clothes with her maid, as a sort of joke. It was astonishing, the difference a hat made, or an apron, or a gilt buckle. If you looked like a lady, it seemed, men bowed to you a lot, and if you dressed like a maid, they tried to kiss you behind doors. But what the maid and mistress didn't know was that the gentleman coming to court the lady had done the same swap with his man servant. So they were all liars, and none of them knew who they were flirting with, which made it all very funny.
Doll nudged Mary in the ribs whenever a riposte got a laugh. 'There's the old repartee for you, Mary!'
'If you shut your mouth for a minute, I might be able to hear it!' said Mary, elbowing her back.
~ Slammerkin // Emma Donoghue
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skydinzeal · 3 months
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📯 This Yoga has come under attack lately by possessed folk. There is certain evidence for Norse "Asanas". BTW when you say you like winter people subtly psychically attack. I will tell you why next time. I keep silent about my love because people curse me when I express. I held this Rune, now you can read, why we need the winter. 🌟Isa is the result of the wrong response to Hagalaz. It is caused by the state of Nauthiz. This is the Rune for the fortnight of 12/1 - 12/14. I've inscribed the entire Magical Rhyme 4 Isa in 2mm tall Runes in Eld Icelandic & Eld Norse (@ right). My works are record keepers 4 the torch-bearers of Art & Meaningfulness! Is that you? 🌷🔭🌠💜✨ I hand-make talismans, paintings/sculptures for you or your loved ones!🌷All of my creations are made of 100s of ancient, powerful symbols! I've tested and taught Spiritual practices via my classes at NYCs Edgar Cayce Center for 10 years. I am likely LIVE right now http://www.skydin.com 💜🔥⚡👽 🌟🦋👑🌷3 Have a store? OR do you know a Quality Gallery or Store you'd like to bless?🐉Jül continues. ☀️✨ I have been trying to rebuild all my jewelry & art that was stolen when I was assaulted & robbed (10 times past few years) I am looking for a quality SPIRITUAL STORE or ART GALLERY to TRULY help with sales/marketing their work & mine! I am a rare, tireless entertainer, salesperson and psychic. I have huge internet reach and can work day and night continuously! I don't even need to eat. I have got by on hard work & skill alone, not cheating & it shows! If you would like to make a connection happen contact me. If it works out I will pay you! 🌟 A very modest GoFundMe here! Please spread the word! https://gofund.me/82ac1c5b Thank you!🌟💜🗽💜🎿💜❄️💜🦌 . . . . . . . #divination #runestones #runic #runereader #ascension #newageart #witchcraftandwizardry #psychicreading #sacredgeometry #spiritualart #runes #paganism #magick #spells #pagan #wicca #psychicability #sorcery #celtic #pagansymbols #occultsymbols #spiritualartist #metalart #knowthefuture #sorcerer #metaphysical #occult #norse #readthefuture #isa http://dlvr.it/T11wlJ
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trinuviel · 6 years
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Subverting Galadriel - the Norn Queen in “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn”
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I’ve been reading Tad Williams’ epic fantasy series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn recently. It is this series of books that directly inspired George R.R. Martin to write A Song of Ice and Fire and I’ve been listing the similarities between the two elsewhere (x). 
One thing that struck me whilst reading Williams’ series was how he engages with the legacy of Tolkien. This becomes especially clear in the way Williams portrays the Sithi and the Norns, two clans of an immortal race that bears many similarities to the Elves of Tolkien as well as the fairy folk of myth - especially the Daoine Sidhe (or Aos Sí) of Irish folklore. The naming of William’s “elvish” race as the Sithi may very well be a nod to this particular piece of folklore.
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(The Riders of the Sidhe (1911). Art by John Duncan, McManus Galleries, Dundee)
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The Sithi and the Norns, who call themselves the Zid’aya (the Dawn Children) and the Hikeda’ya (the Cloud Children) respectively, are extremely long-lived and their looks are foreign enough to be considered both beautiful and terrifying by the mortals in the story. While they belong to the same race, their looks are very different. The Sithi are described as golden-eyed and golden-skinned, with hair that varies from white to black and red. Several dye their white hair blue or lavender as well.
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(Jiriki and Aditu of the Zida’ya. Art by Michael Whelan)
The Norns, on the other hand, are white-skinned as well as white-haired and their eyes are described as black or a very dark violet bordering on black. They are generally considered much more terrifying in appearance than beautiful, unlike the Sithi, though that could be because they are hostile to humankind.
There’s a third “elvish” race called the Tinukeda’ya (the Ocean’s Children) who are referred to as Dwarrows and Niskies because the former live underground and the latter by the sea. They are not considered beautiful but rather bordering on the grotesque in appearance. They were once the servants of the two other clans but broke away. 
Tolkien and Williams - Similarities in Lore
When it comes to the history of the Sithi, Norns and Tinukeda’ya, it becomes clear that Williams draws a lot of inspiration from Tolkien, specifically the Silmarillion and the history of the Elves.
The story of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn takes place on a continent called Osten Ard.
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The three “elvish” tribes of Osten Ard didn’t originiate in this land. They came across the sea from Venyha Do’sae, a place they call the Lost Garden and they refer to their race as the Gardenborn. They fled their home because it was threatened by Unbeing though it is unclear what exactly this threat really was. This idea of the Lost Garden brings to mind the realm of Valinor where the elves of Tolkien resided before their exile to Middle-Earth. 
The Gardenborn were the first thinking creatures to live in Osten Ard and they built 9 great and beautiful cities that were eventually lost due to environmental circumstances or invasion by mortals. The Sithi Nine Cities cities are described as places of incredibly beauty in a way that brings to mind the elven city of Gondolin in the Silmarillion.
When humankind first came to Osten Ard, they lived in relative harmony with the Sithi. However, disagreements about whether to live peacefully with humankind or make war on them led to a parting of the ways between the two largest tribes: the Sithi and the Norns. The Norns, led by Utuk’ku were hostile to humankind but they made a pact with their Sithi cousins to retire to the icy north and live in isolation in the mountain called Stormspike. 
Much later on the Rimmersmen, a Viking-like people with iron weapons, arrived and made war on the Sithi and eventually drove them into the wilderness of Osten Ard. After the fall of Asu’a, the Sithi retreated to the heart of the Aldheorte Forest where they founded the city of Jao e-Tinukai’i. Henceforth, the Sithi rarely left their forest home or interacted with humans.
As said, there are many similarities between the elves of Tolkien and the Sithi/Norns (the Gardenborn) of Williams. However, unlike Tolkien Williams delves into the fact that such a long-lived race will inevitably be vastly different from and incredibly foreign to humankind. The Sithi simply experience Time  differently and that has an effect on how the two races approach things as well as a deeper effect on how they think and relate to the world. This also means that humans and Sithi have difficulties understanding each other, even when the relationship is a benevolent one.
The Noble Faerie Queen - and her Dark Mirror
GALADRIEL
One of the more interesting yet enigmatic elvish characters in The Lord of the Rings is Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. At that point in the history of Middle-Earth, Galadriel is one of the oldest thinking creatures in the world. She was born in the First Age and is one of the few living elves that once dwelt in Valinor. According to fan lore she is more than 8.000 years old! That kind of age is almost unimaginable to comprehend in terms of the life-span of a single creature but to put her age into perspective, Galadriel is almost 4.000 years older than the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt!
However, Tolkien doesn’t really explore what it would mean for a thinking being to have a life that spans eons. Instead, Galadriel seems to embody the trope of the regal, wise and powerful High Queen:
A woman of wealth, power and near-impossible beauty. She always has a calm demeanor and regal bearing. Her very voice, even if it doesn't ring with power (and it often does), still lets you know that, in some way, she's probably better than you, even if the lady herself doesn't look down on you at all. (TVTropes)
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Galadriel was not always as wise as she is in The Lord of the Rings. In the First Age she is described as prideful and refuses an opportunity to return to Valinor because she wants a realm of her own to rule. However, with age comes wisdom to which pride gives way. Galadriel is incredibly powerful - not just because of her age but also because she wields one of the three Rings of Power given to the elves. She is the keeper of Nenya, the Ring of Adamant.
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Yet despite her great age and wisdom, Galadriel is tempted by power when Frodo freely offers her the One Ring.
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“I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come within my grasp. The evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself stands or falls. Would not that have been a noble deed to set to the credit of the Ring, if I had taken it by force or fear from my guest?
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‘And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of a Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!’
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She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.
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‘I pass the test.’ she said. ‘I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.’ (The Fellowship of the Ring)
Galadriel IS tempted by power but she resists the temptation, knowing that you cannot fight Evil with Evil. The One Ring is powerful beyond compare but it would eventually corrupt her and change her into something terrible.
THE NORN QUEEN
As said earlier, Tad Williams’ has taken quite a bit of inspiration from Tolkien’s elves but he engages with Tolkien’s legacy in a very interesting manner. Not only does he illustrate how vast the differences are between the Sithi and humankind but he also addresses the issue of how the Sithi deal with age when they live for thousands of years.
“What happens to you fairy-folk when they get old?” Isgrimnur asked suddenly. “Do they just get wiser? or do they turn silly and mawkish, as some of ours do?
“‘Old’ means something different to us, as you know,” Aditu replied. “But the answer is: there are as many different answers as there are Zida’ya, as is no doubt true with mortals. Some grow increasingly remote; they do not speak to anyone, but live entirely in their own thoughts. Others develop fondness for things others find unimportant. And some begin to brood on the past, on wrongs and hurts and missed chances.
“The oldest one of all, the one you call the Norn Queen, has grown old in that way. She was known once for her wisdom and beauty, for grace beyond measurement. But something in her balked and grew bent, and so she curled inward into malice. And as the years almost beyond counting rolled past, all that was once admirable became twisted.” Aditu had suddenly become serious in a way that Isgrimnur had not seen before. (To Green Angel Tower: Storm)
Utuk’ku Seyt-Hamakha - the Norn Queen is the oldest of the Gardenborn - 10.000 years old according to Tad Williams (x). Like Galadriel, she was born in the lost homeland. Like Galadriel, she was known for her beauty and her wisdom - but unlike Galadriel, age did not conquer her pride, her vanity or her bigotry towards humankind. She didn’t grow wiser with age. 
Instead, she grew bitter and hateful, which lead to her plan a war of annihilation on humankind in concert with the disembodied Ineluki, the Storm King, who was an Sithi prince that died during the fall of Asu’a but whose spirit refused to die. She sits like a spider at the centre of a vast web that she has been spinning for centuries, planning the unmaking of humankind:
Utuk’ku considered. Odd and unsettling shifts had begun to take place in the intricate pattern of events that she had undertaken so long ago, events she had studied and delicately modified over the course of more than a thousand thousand sunless days. One of the first of those shifts had caused a small tear in her design. it was not irreparable, of course - Utuk’ku’s weavings were strong, and more than a few strands would have to snap completely before her long-planned triumph would be threatened - but patching it would require care, and the diamond-sharp concentration that only the Eldest could bring to bear. (To Green Angel tower: Siege)
The Norn Queen is, in a sense, the dark mirror to Galadriel, Tolkien’s benevolent elven queen. 
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Like Galadriel, Utuk’ku is incredibly powerful as she is the keeper of an object of immense power: The Breathing Harp, which is a Master Witness that resides in Nakkiga, the underground city of the Norns located under the mountain Stormspike. 
Unlike Galadriel who was tempted by great power, Utuk’ku’s corruption has sprung from her own flaws, more specifically her vanity. While the Sithi and Norns are described as seemingly ageless to the human eye, they do age (very slowly) - and Utuk’ku is unimaginably old, even by the standards of her own people. However she could not accept the fading of her beauty and thus hid her face behind a silver mask.
“Horror of her own antiquity made her hide her features long ago - but to you, Seaoman Snowlock, she would seem nothing but an old woman. Her features are lined and sagging, her skin mottled. Utuk’ku Seyt-Hamaka is the Eldest, but her wisdom was corrupted by selfishness and vanity ages ago. She was ashamed that the years had caught up with her.” (To Green Angel Tower: Storm)
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Utuk’ku’s darkness is rooted in her immense antiquity. She is, as said, unimaginably old. She is more than twice as old as the second-oldest of the Sithi - so old that she has become a creature that is foreign even to her own people. 
It had perhaps been a thousand years since the Norn Queen had smiled, but if she had remembered how, she might have smiled at that moment. Even the oldest of the Hikeda’ya had known no other mistress but Utuk’ku. Some of them could be pardoned, perhaps, for thinking that she was no longer a living thing, but like the Storm King a creature made entirely of ice and sorcery and endless, vigilant malignity. Utuk’ku knew better. Although even the millenial lives of some of her descendants spanned but a small portion of her own, beneath the corpse-pale robes and shimmering mask was still a living woman. Inside her ancient flesh a heart still beat - slow and strong, like a blind thing crawling at the bottom of a deep, silent sea.
She was weary, but she was still fierce, still powerful. She had planned so long these coming days that the very face of the land above had shifted and altered beneath Time’s hand as she waited. She would live to see her revenge.
The lights of the Well flickered on the empty metal face she showed the world. Perhaps in that triumphant hour, Utuk’ku thought, she would once more remember what it was to smile. (To Green Angel Tower: Siege)
While the Sithi and the Norns are so very different from humankind because of their long life-spans, they do feel things in a way that is comparable to humankind. They love, they laugh and they sorrow just like mortals. However, Utuk’ku has divorced herself from her emotions in a way that makes her “inhuman” even to her own kind. 
Utuk’ku was the last of the Gardenborn: she had not survived all of her peers by many centuries through wasting time on useless emotions.” (To Green Angel Tower: Siege)
Because of her antiquity and her emotional remoteness, she is more of a god to her people than a member of their race - and her problem is perhaps that she has lived too long.
“What does Utuk’ku want, you asked?” 
Simon, confused by what had happened, did not respond.
“That I could not tell you - not with certainty. She is the oldest thinking creature in all of Osten Ard, Seoman, and she is far more than twice as old as the next most ancient. Be assured, her ways are strange and subtle beyond even the understanding of anyone except perhaps First Grandmother. But if I had to guess, I would say this: she longs for Unbeing.”
“What does that mean?” Simon was beginning to wonder if he was truly sober after all, for the world was slowly spinning and he wanted to lie down and sleep.
“If she wished for death,” Aditu said, “then that would be oblivion just for herself. She is tired of living, Seoman, but she is eldest. Never forget that. As long as songs have been sung in Osten Ard, and longer, Utuk’ku has lived. She alone of any living thing saw the lost home that birthed out kind. I do not think she can bear to think of others living when she is gone. She cannot destroy everything, much as she might desire to, but perhaps she hopes to create the greatest cataclysm possible - that is, to assure that as many living folk accompany her into oblivion as she can drag with her.”
Simon stopped, horrified. “That is terrible!” he said with feeling.
Aditu shrugged, a sinuous gesture. She had a lovely neck. “Utuk’ku is terrible. She is mad, Seoman, although it is a madness as tightly woven and intricate as the finest juya’ha ever spun. She was perhaps the cleverest of the Gardenborn.” (To Green Angel Tower: Siege)
She is so old, so remote from any kind of living being that she herself must feel like a kind of god. Yet she is, on some level, weary of life - but a god cannot just die alone, she must take the world with her into death. Thus, Aditu’s statement has the ring of a terrible truth:
“I do not think she can bear to think of others living when she is gone.“
That is terrible indeed.
Tolkien wrote Galadriel as an ancient being with an immense wisdom, grace and compassion - but he never really addressed what it would mean for a thinking being to live for eons. This is the question that Tad Williams explores with the character of the Norn Queen - and his answer is much more terrifying.
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livefuntravelposts · 3 years
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Top Places to Visit in Finland
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The last time Kati and I were in Finland, we were standing in 5 feet of snow looking for the Northern Lights.  It was a cold, bitter winter night and the only thing that got us through was eating reindeer stew along the road.  It warmed us up and kept us going.  But Finland is a lot more than just the Northern Lights.  Finland is a land of incredible lush green sights, long lakes, and vast seas. The country is home to a record 179,584 Islands and 188,000 lakes. The four main archipelagos in Finland are; Helsinki, Kotka, the Archipelago Sea, and the Kvarken archipelago - a UNESCO Heritage site. Finland is also famed for its robust health care system and highly efficient education system. But that's not all that this beautiful Nordic country has to offer. The country is a favourite destination with most folks living in Europe . Fondly  known as "The home of a thousand lakes" Finland is a magical treasure box filled with stunning and fascinating attractions! From the Northern lights to the magical winter and irresistible summers, it is undoubtedly a hidden gem waiting to be explored by both the young and old alike.     Why Visit Finland? Snuggled perfectly between Sweden to the west and Russia to the east, Finland shares certain traits with its Scandinavian neighbors. The breathtaking scenery, magnificent rugged coastline, snow-packed ski fields, and the winter Northern Lights. You can enjoy exhilarating activities such as dog sledding, chasing the Northern Lights, and swimming  across the Arctic when you visit Lapland during winter. In addition to the outdoor adventures, this Nordic country also has other enjoyable experiences in store for you! Think steamy and relaxing saunas, delicious cuisines, and trendy, stylish Nordic cafes. We have compiled a list of some of the most irresistible places you must see on your Finland tour.   
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Finland is incredible during the winter, but this country has so much to offer year round.  
11 Must-See Attractions In Finland
  1. Meet the Real Santa Claus in Rovaniemi
  Do you have any idea where Santa Claus lives? Don't let anybody fool you that Santa Claus doesn't exist – yes, he does, in  Rovaniemi, Finland!  Doubling as Lapland's official capital and the secret entry point to the Arctic, Rovaniemi is undoubtedly one of the  most iconic tourist destinations. It's without a doubt the best place to launch and end your Christmas visit to Lapland. A must-visit attraction site is Santa Claus Village. This charming theme park encased in the snowy mountains of Lapland is Finland's alternative to Disneyland. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and most importantly, you will have the opportunity to meet the jolly man himself – Santa Claus! After chatting with Father Christmas, you can stop by Santa's post office and post a postcard to your loved ones back home. Then visit Santa Park, a magical place where kids can discover Father Christmas's Cave.  Experience the Ice Gallery, admire a series of incredible ice sculptures, and even take a tour inside Santa's toy factory. Other outdoor adventures include enjoying a reindeer sleigh ride, ice fishing, making snow sculptures, and exploring the surrounding nature riding a snowmobile. As evening approaches, spend your night at the Arctic Snow Hotel. While there, don't forget to sample out the Lap cuisines, and conclude your night relaxing in one of the incredible ice spas!  
2. Visit the Polar Bears at the Ranua Wildlife Park
Nestled between the magical mires and wild but quaint forest lies Rauna Wildlife Park, an enclave of unruffled experiences mixed with the Arctic wilderness. The Ranua Wildlife Park offers enchanting experiences with Arctic wildlife, and the surrounding nature will take you to the fairytale world Of Snow-White And The Seven Dwarfs. From Rovaniemi, you can start your day driving down to Ranua Wildlife Park, about an hour's drive away. While here, check out the Ranua Zoo; this northernmost zoo pays homage to nearly 50 endangered Arctic animal species. However, the real draw is its polar bears. Be sure to say hi and take photos with Venus and Manse, the two beautiful polar bears living as a couple. Once done with polar bears, experience  a magical excursion in a coach drawn by horses through the whistling forest or a giggly reindeer sleigh ride. While enjoying the tour,  stop by the ecological wolfdog rescue center for a campfire lunch. Other notable activities include a snowmobile ride through the deep crystalline woodlands, or hike through a frozen and barren bog wearing your snowshoes.  
3. Chase down the Northern Lights
Regarded as one of the world's natural wonders, visitors from all over the world flock to Finland every year in the hopes of snapping a photo of these awe-inspiring Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The best area to witness the Northern Lights is near Kilpisjarvi. When the sky is bright at that latitude, the chances of seeing an Aurora are 80% percent. So three nights out of four! Those odds must be encouraging. During the winter seasons, the sun appears for a few hours, and the nights are usually very long. The Finns typically call this season "Kaamos." With these conditions, particularly in places like Kilpisjarvi, you can enjoy yourself joining the cross-country skying. Picture yourself skiing during the night while chasing after the Northern lights. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a fantastic way to witness this magnificent phenomenon. If you are not a fan of skiing, don't worry, you can enjoy watching this magnificent wonder at the comfort of your bed inside a glass igloo. Nothing is thrilling, like relaxing under the stars and staying up all night watching as the Northern Lights dance in the sky above you!  
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Seeing the Northern Lights is always a highlight. There are many websites which will tell you the best places and nights to go out chasing them.  
4. Lighthouse Island
Finland's coastline has the largest archipelago globally. Naturally, you expect to see lighthouses by the hundreds all over the country's shoreline. The lighthouses have become a magnet for tourists, some with unique features to accommodate visitors willing to spend nights in them. The Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest in the entire Nord region. It is a pretty magnificent sight to behold. Located on a spectacular Island, you can get to the island by boat, with the best possible season to visit between June - August. Make your bookings early in advance to secure your night stay. Bengtskär lighthouse has six rooms to stay in.  Söderskär lighthouse in Helsinki is a must-see. The journey to Söderskär is more accessible by boat, and it takes an hour to get there and about two hours touring the lighthouse. Activities include; climbing the lighthouse; you get to see the entire landscape from an aerial view. It's quite spectacular. While there, you can have a cup of coffee at the keeper's cottage adjacent to it.  
5. Finnish Saunas and Lakes 
  Kati and I love to take a sauna.  We actually have two saunas.  One at home and we built one in the woods in western North Carolina.  There is nothing better and we actually give the sauna credit for keeping us healthy.  If you think thousands of Finland Islands are enough for one tiny country, there are over 3 million saunas and nearly 190 000 lakes in Finland. Locals enjoy saunas and have made it a favorite pastime. Finns go to enjoy saunas at least once a week. So when you visit, indulge as excessively as time allows you to have a relaxing dip in one of the great saunas.  Finnish Lakeland has the most summer cottages and saunas too. Experience swimming in winter and rolling in the snow around your holiday cottage.  
6. Suomenlinna UNESCO Site
Finland has a record six cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites and one natural UNESCO World Heritage site. The Suomenlinna Fortress Island in Helsinki is a favorite tour destination in Finland. Added to the UNESCO Heritage List in 1991, Suomenlinna is an exceptional military architecture monument. The seven islands of Suomenlinna are comprised of old dungeons and fortresses in an inhabited district in Helsinki. To get to Suomenlinna, take a fifteen minutes ferry ride from the Kauppatori central market square.  
7. Archipelago National Park
Archipelago National Park - a seascape filled with hundreds of islands! It is only 59kilometers away from Turku city. A convenient route to get to the park is through Kimito and Pargas. Positioned directly south of the city, The Archipelago National Park has a lot to give, from Viking settlements to fortified islands. Using Turku as your launching base, you can explore the park by either canoeing or cycling between the quaint towns, with breathtaking landscapes around every corner. You can cycle along the Archipelago trail to Pargas and Nagu islands, which offer an authentic archipelago life experience and a wide range of accommodation. While in Pargas, don't forget to pass by Art Bank for some fine art, then hop onto a boat and head out to Berghain, a fantastic comping site. If you don’t enjoy cycling, go for the Riverine route. You can opt for a kayaking adventure, or if you feel it's too much work, hop into one of the ferries available for a peaceful sightseeing day around the Archipelago Park. Notable areas not to miss include the Rosala Viking Village, the Military island of Oro, The isle of Bengtskar, and finally, the peaceful island community of Uto.  
8. Bear Watching in Suomussalmi
For those who love bears, the best place to watch them is in Suomussalmi, a small region in Finland near the Russian border. There are approximately 1000 brown bears in Finland, but you are unlikely to meet with one while leisurely strolling through the forest. These brown beasts can smell you from afar, and they usually flee before your paths cross. For the best bear-watching experience, hire a local guide. The guides are familiar with the forest and know where to find these beasts.   
9. Try Out Finnish Cuisine
Whether it's in the summer or winter, it doesn't matter which season; sampling out the authentic Finnish delicacy is a must-do activity for anybody visiting Finland. Finnish delicacies combine traditional and chic cuisine, with beef, pork, seafood, and reindeer as the primary ingredients. While strolling through Helsinki Old Market Area, you can start with quick bites, like Finnish Squeaky Cheese, Karelian Pie, and Rye Bread. Try lip-licking typical Finnish sauces with pancakes, Lapland bread cheese, or Riispurro (Rice Porridge) for a more severe breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you are full of choices. You can try out authentic Finnish meals like Pastry Macaroni With Beef Meatballs Smeared with Jam mixed with Mash Potatoes, Roasted Herring, and many other dishes. Lastly, beer lovers can try out local favorites such as Glogg Akvavit, Finnish beers, Finnish Vodka and Sima.
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Helsinki is worth exploring and checking out some world class restaurants.
  10. Oulanaka National Park
Oulanka National Park is widely regarded as one of the best national parks in Finland, and with good reason. There are a series of spectacular creeks that run through the Kiutakongas Falls canyon. It's a quick one kilometer  stroll from the parking lot, so you can have a swell  time hiking with your spouse or your loved ones.  Just below the waterfalls, several beautiful rope swing bridges spanning over the canyon. Outdoor adventures are the thing here, and even if you are not athletic, you will have a good time.  
11. Finnish Glass Igloo
Finland is a land of extremes in terms of season contrasts. During summer, the sun stays up all day, and all night, in Northern Finland . This phenomenon  is known as  "The Land of the Midnight Sun." During winter, the opposite happens:  darkness fills the land, giving way to beautiful moonlighting, bright stars  and a romantic setting for a cozy night under warm fires. This time is known as  "kaamos."  During kaamos, it is not entirely dark,  the skies glow from the brisk  the moon, and the stars, reflecting an amazing view from the backdrop of the bright snow across the landscapes. The Northern Lights project  enchanting backdrops from the seashores. An exciting approach to  experience the Midnight sun and Kaamos is to sleep in a a glass igloo, out in the open skies. It’s a magical experience!   Our Final Word Finland is more than just a stunning European destination; it is mystical heaven on Earth that brings the human imagination to life. From the breathtaking sightseeing sites to the enchanted wonderland of snow and fascinating natural phenomena. Finland appeals to a wide range of tourists, including history lovers, nature-buffs, food lovers, and thrill-seekers. There really isn't a best time to see Finland.  Both summer and winter offers travelers an incredible amount of activities. Head to Finland and discover why it is rated as the happiest country on earth.
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