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nurknabo · 3 years

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Mia dubo el Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, parto 2 - tria deklinacio: ĉu "-ium" aŭ "-um"?

Nu, kaj jen ni estas, la parto du de la duboj.

Mi bonŝancis ĉi-foje, ĉar tuj kiam mi guglis, aperis al mi respondo. Kaj estis kurioze ĉar la respondo estis de iu kiu ankaŭ ne certas pri la klarigo, kaj ĝuste pro tio skribis ebla solvo por ĉi tio, ŝablonoj kiujn li rimarkis. Do, mi certas ke ĝi ne estas kompleta regulo. Mi ne parolas ke eble mankas pli da kazoj, sed ĉar estas esceptoj, vi scias, tiuj aferoj kiujn la lernanto bezonas parkerigi ĉar ili tute evitas la regulon.

Do, la granda help venis el ĉi retejo: https://www.textkit.com/greek-latin-forum/viewtopic.php?t=11334

Kaj jen la klarigo:

Noto: estis vortoj kiujn mi ne scias la traduko al Esperanto nek serĉis pri unu, do mi esperantigis ilin kaj, por eviti konfuzon, inter krampoj, mi enmetas la anglan vorton.

Triaj deklinaciaj substantivoj prenas -um en genitiva pluralo, krom se ili estas:

A. Unikasilaboj (imparisyllables) de la sekvaj tipoj:

1. Unusilaba nom sing subs-j kun finaĵo per kons + -s

Ars, artis

Nox, noctis

Os, ossis

Urbs, urbis

2. Esceptoj kiuj povas preni aŭ -um aŭ -ium kiel:

Civitas, civitatis

Parens, parentis

Mi ne multe komprenis ĝin. Se ili povas preni aŭ unu aŭ la alian, ĉu signifas ke mi povas elekti kiun finaĵon uzi? Samtempe, Latin Is Simple nur montras unu finaĵon al ĉiu.

3. Esceptoj kiuj nur prenas -ium, kiel ekzemple:

Lis, litis

Kaj mi ankaŭ ne komprenis ĉi tion. La tuta listo estas pri substantivoj kiuj havas la finaĵon "-ium". Kial do meti esceptoj kiuj diras ĝuste ĉi tio?

B. Duosilaboj (parisyllables) finiĝantaj per -es aŭ -is

Puppis, puppis

Sitis, sitis

Securis, securis

C. Neŭtraj subs-j kies non sing finiĝantas per -e, -al, -ar

Animal, animalis

Exemplar, exemplaris

Mare, maris

D mi tute ne komprenis. Jen kio estas skribita: "substantivoj en -er kies radikoj finiĝas per 2 aŭ pli". Sed... Du aŭ pli kio? La ekzemploj estis: imber, imbris; linter, lintris. Mi imagas ke li misskribis. Mi kredas ke li volis diri "2 aŭ pli konsonantoj", ĉar en ambaŭ ekzemploj la vortoj finiĝas per "-ium", en genitivo plurala, kaj iliaj radikoj estas respektive "imb" kaj "lint". Kiam mi ilin komparas kun "pater" (finiĝas per -er), la regulo ne kunkongruas, ĉar ĝia plurala genitivo estas "patr-um". Ĝia radiko estas "pat", sen du ol pli konsonantoj. Tiel, mi kredas ke li vere volis diri ĉi tion.

Nu, la klarigo estis tre bona, kaj tute kongruas kun tio kion mi legis ĝis nun en la libro.

Komentoj donas aliajn konsiletojn

Homoj komentis, kaj ulo skribis sian klarigon:

"-um" normale havas malsaman nombron de silaboj en nom kaj gen: miles, milites. "-ium" havas du ĉefajn grupojn:

Kun la sama nombro de silaboj en nom kaj gen. Ambaŭ kazoj kutime finiĝas per -is: hostis, hostis; navis, navis.

Kun malsama nombro de silaboj en nom kaj gen, sed kun du konsonantoj antaŭ genitiva sufikso: ars, artis; mons, montis.

Nu, oni povas rimarki ke li klarigas la samon de la teksto, sed alivorte, tamen eĉ tiam ĝi utilas.

Kurioza afero okazas, ĉar ĉi klarigo ne kongruas kun la vorto "animal", kies plurala genitivo estas "animalium", kiu ne havas du konsonantojn antaŭ genitiva sufikso. Li diras ke, se iu scias kial, respondi. Ulo, Ximo, do, respondas.

Ximo diras ke, laŭ la livro kiun li studas, estas "originale duosilabaj" substantivoj en la tria deklinacio, kiuj estas substantivoj kiuj havas pli silabojn en gen sing ol en nom sing, sed ne estas konsiderataj duosilaboj ĉar ili originale havis la saman nombron de silaboj en nominativo kaj genitivo singulara. Ekzemple: pars, partis. "Pars" originale estis "parse", sed la vokalo "e" estis preterlasita pro fonetikaj oportunoj. Kaj la gen plur de ĉi tiuj substantivoj finiĝas per -ium.

La neŭtraj "originale duosilabaj" substantivoj finiĝas per -al aŭ -ar, kiuj estas mallongigoj de "-ale" kaj "-are". "animal, animalis", do, dekliniĝas kiel "mare, maris".

Tiel, tiaj vortoj kongruas al la regulo, kie la nombro de silaboj en nom kaj gen samas, ŝanĝante nur la finaĵon. Same kiel la regulo de la teksto, la regulo B, kvankam la regulo C jam parolas pri ĝi. La sama kazo, sed malsama finaĵo. Estas kvazaŭ ni nur estus aldonantaj unu pli regulon al la listo. Mi eĉ dirus ke la vortoj de la regulo C (kaj ĉio alportas al ĉi tio) estas la "originale duosilabaj" substantivoj. "exemplar" originale estus "exemplare". Kaj ne nur ĉi tiuj, sed ĉiuj tria deklinaciaj substantivoj kun tiaj finaĵoj.

Mi multe ŝatis la klarigon de Ximo. Ĝi tute sencas. Mi sentas ke ĉi tiu logiko povas esti aplikata al aliaj aferoj.

Nu! Finiĝas do la klarigoj! Kaj ankaŭ la duboj, mi kredas, ĉar mi pensas ke mi vidis ĉion kion mi bezonis. Povas esti tiuj esceptoj, pri kiuj mi parolis komence, sed ili estas la plej malgrandaj problemoj. Do, jen la fino de la duboj (ĝis nun). Ĝis!

#Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata #Lingua Latina #Latin #Latin language #Learning language #esperanto #esperanto language #language

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writtingfiction · 4 years

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A Glow in the Dark

Pairing: Ignis x FEM!Mermaid

genre: hinted romance

words:1.8k

summary: Ignis was looking at the Royal Vessel when something more interesting takes ahold of his attention. He hopes it doesn’t doom him for the future.

The boys could hardly believe it, they were finally able to make it to Altissia. Across the sea where the city awaits them and Noctis’ lovely fiancé as they like to tease him about it. However, they would set sail in the morning. Taking the Royal vessel to the magnificent city, with the sun rising and showing just some of the true wonders that Altissia has to offer. It’ll have to wait though, for they rest scattered about Cape Caem, waiting for exhaustion to take them.

Ignis, in particular, was down by the boat, examining and admiring the beautiful boat that she was. Checking more out of curiosity than anything else, but something quickly catches his attention. A splash of water is heard on the opposite side of the boat and he fears he may have knocked something over. He quickly checks and peers overboard to see the faint shimmer of something moving swiftly through the water. He thinks it’s one of the glowing barrel fish he has seen Noctis catch on late nights.

Ignis hears another splash of water, this time towards the bow of the boat. His brows furrow as he follows the sound, once again just managing to see a glow. Ignis hums, confirming his suspicions that the cause of the noise is just a barrel fish. Nevertheless, his thoughts were quickly thrown out when there was a louder and bigger splashing coming from behind him. It sounds like thrashing and Ignis is quick to move.

Before he can call out anything, he’s taken by surprise. A young woman, a glowing young woman is trying to climb onto the boat. No, a glowing young woman with a tail is trying to climb onto the boat. Ignis blinked slowly in shock, the gears in his head were trying to turn to make sense of the situation, but he couldn’t figure anything out. All he could do is watch in awe as she managed to pull herself up about halfway up the stairs before looking up at him, eyes going wide.

She had long hair glowing from the roots which faded out along the length of her hair. Turquoise glowing markings shaped her face which trailed down to her arms and webbed hands. Her tail glowed brightly showing the true beauty of her fin, frills trailing from her waist to the edge of her fin. They gave off a dim glow as her fin was large with glowing spots along it. She was pretty, heavenly even.

“What are you…?” She spoke. Catching him off guard. She spoke in such a heavy accent he could barely understand her, never mind place where the accent was from.

“W-what am I…?” Ignis echoed, surely not with enough class as he would like to admit. She continues to look at him. Tilting her head to the side ever so slightly. Ignis admits to himself that the way she looks at him does unsettle him but it’s also a familiar gaze. He doesn’t know why and he isn’t sure if he should be comforted by that, but he answers her question, odd as it is. “I am human. What are you?”

She stays silent and tilts her head the other way, slowly. Ignis is left in the dark about her intention. He isn’t sure what to do exactly. To help her or not. Would it insult her or no? He is filled with many questions.

“Sirenă.” She says it with confidence, and he knows she speaks a language that isn’t his.

“Siren?” Ignis echoes once again and his brain goes into overload. “You’re a siren? Like those stories we tell children about, where the mermaid is a woman of the sea and that there’s an entire city of them at the bottom of the ocean.” The siren blinks once and sighs.

“Sirena de mare adăncime.” The look in her eyes changes as she tries to settle herself onto the stairs on the edge of the boat. “Deep sea… siren. Different than, other sirenă.” She fixes herself, sitting now on the stairs as she stares up at Ignis. Curious and calm, clearly not sensing any danger from the blonde. Ignis, on the other hand, isn’t quite sure how to feel.

“I see, sorry for the mistake then.” There’s another tilt with her head and this time he catches sight of the gills on her neck. It’s another thing upon another and Ignis is forced to accept his reality that he is meeting a real mermaid, or siren as she labels herself so.

“What is your name…?” She speaks slower, perhaps easier for her but he’s glad either way. He can hear her better this way.

“Ignis Scientia.” Ignis, in turn, says his name slowly. The siren gives a little smile.

“Fire… Science… your name has… funny meaning.” Her smile only grows bigger at Ignis’s dumbfounded look. “I am Y/N L/N, I wanted… to be on ship one last time before… you take for good.”

“Y/N is a beautiful name. It’s a pleasure to meet one such as yourself. What makes you think we are taking the boat for good?” Ignis replies, confused. For all his knowledge is that the boat was kept here the entire time, except for when the king had taken it out for his adventures.

“You go adventure to pretty place. Just like the young King.” Y/N said and Ignis thinks of Noctis but knows he isn’t king yet. He wonders whom she could be talking about before it realizes that Y/N was talking about the late king, Noctis’ father. “Is the young King with you?”

“No, but his son is.”

“Ah, I see.” There was a sadness that had washed over her. “I promised I would… bring gift for son… but I don’t have with me.”

“It is quite alright, I’m sure the sentiment is there. I’ll tell the prince.” Ignis says it but Y/N is quick to react.

“NO!” Y/N shout was loud, echoing through the cave. “My living… no, existence… must be secret. There are bad people…”

“I understand.” Ignis wishes for a moment that he didn’t. Sadness washes over him, he wonders for a moment, how many sirens were there that lived down at the ocean floor. He wondered if there truly was a difference between sirens and mermaids like you had said. “However, the ship will be returning.”

“Then I wait for its return…” Y/N smiles but also trails off, looking at Ignis for a long while before speaking again. “And for yours.” Ignis is surprised by the comment, flustered as his cheeks burn.

“Mine? We’ve only known each other for a few moments.”

“Which makes the next encounter, all the more fun.” There’s a glimmer in Y/N’s eyes and Ignis isn’t sure what it means. “I’ll teach you about me, and you teach me about you. Simple.” Y/N reaches her hand out, almost as if she’s sealing the deal. Ignis nods, however, stays rooted to where he is. Y/N pouts, hand falling back to her side but it doesn’t dissuade her. Deciding to change tactics.

“…Let’s play a little game,” Y/N starts to sing and Ignis is immediately taken in, but still has his wits about it. “just between you and I. Obviously physical~” Her singing is mesmerizing and Ignis can’t help but want to get closer. Nevertheless, he doesn’t want to get closer, something isn’t right. The shine behind her eyes holds much more than the curiosity she had earlier. But he can’t help but take a step closer, and another as she continues to sing. “But either way the objective is the same. To please and entertain.”

Y/N knows it’s working, raising her hand once again. A tantalizing deal awaits him, he just doesn’t fully understand it. However, the elaborate plan is cutting short, she can hear the elevator working and many voices. His companions were coming, cursing herself mentally about her shout earlier. She didn’t have to be so loud. She’s ready to start the next line, but his companions could appear quicker than she thinks but decides to push it. He’s so close.

“You can be my vixen,” His gloved fingers begin to brush against her fingers just as the elevator opens. She takes her chance, the weight of having to see him again versus being seen by his companions is heavily outweighed. His hand is firmly clasped in hers just as they call out to him. “Your demise will be your stage~.”

“Ignis!!” The three of them shout and it’s enough to pull Ignis out of his trance. His head quickly spins towards them as Y/N takes the chance to finish the rest of the spell. Pressing soft lips to his neck and whisper quick details to him, officially bounding her to him.

“Paws off, our man!” Gladiolus shouts, summoning a great sword to his hands. Y/N is quick to react from here. Letting go of Ignis and quickly diving off the boat as he throws the large sword at her, barely missing her.

They’re quick to run over to Ignis and check the water, seeing her glow fade out as she swam away, back into the deep ocean. The boys fuss over Ignis checking to make sure he’s alright but they concluded that the only thing she did was leave a mark. A trident within a circle is placed right by his collarbone and neck. It glows a bright turquoise before going completely black.

“Ok, but let’s confirm that wasn’t a daemon or was it?” Prompto says worriedly.

“If it was a daemon, why didn’t the light bother it?” Noctis makes a note.

“I don’t think it was a daemon.” Ignis sighs, fingers lingering on the mark. The others look at him concerned. “However, we can’t be sure. Let us speak with the others, they may have more knowledge on this beast than we do.” They agree and all move back up to the house.

The second they enter the house, they’re swarmed with concerns from everyone but Talcott was the only one to point out the new mark on Ignis’ neck. Eyes wide with wonder and shock as the kid goes on a whole tirade about mermaids and sirens. Eventually saying that those who bear Ignis’ mark are bound to see the mermaid again at some point in their lives before they die.

“Here I thought it was just a bedtime story…” Iris comments with a small smile. Ignis feels exhaustion take him. He was grateful it was nothing bad, but he wondered if he really could place all his faith into a child's’ bedtime story.

“What did she look like?” Cindy pips up, quickly gaining everyone’s attention. Soon everyone is sitting around the table and telling what little they saw of the siren and Ignis retelling the encounter. As he does so, he wonders if the encounter is as innocent as Talcott’s stories are.

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fxtelism-moved · 3 years

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Considering adding new faceclaims for my following muses(for Harley, Elinya, Mare and Leon), under the cut (due spoilers);

Harley Sol, current king of Impera. Future verse. (Xander from Fire Emblem):

Elinya Fynn Rosevelt, current queen of Rosevelt. Future verse. (Rayneshia El-Arte Corwen from Log Horizon):

Mare Reynn, Elemental Witch. Future verse. (Lyria from Granblue Fantasy):

Leon Reywell, former member of the Liberty Wings and wanted criminal. Alternative dimension verse. (Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy 15, post chapter 14)

#( ooc. )#;harley #;elinya #;mare #;leon

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lesbiantherian · 5 years

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wof headcanon?

alrighty so, ive been wondering about the taxonomy of all the dragons. since they're all able to reproduce and said offspring are fertile, all the dragons are very closely related. however, they are much too different biologically to be considered ecomorphs.

so, my current theory that all the dragons are subspecies, and here is what i named them

Draco lacerata glacies - Icewing

Draco lacerta noctis - Nightwing

Draco lacerta harenae - Sandwing

Draco lacerta caleum - Skywing

Draco lacerta luto - Mudwing

Draco lacerta mare - Seawing

Draco lacerta pluviam - Rainwing

Draco lacerta cimex - Beetlewing

Draco lacerta folium - Leafwing

Draco lacerta alveare - Hivewing

Draco lacerta sericum - Silkwing

And their common ancestor would be simply known as Draco lacerta.

#wof #wings of fire #wof headcanons #wings of fire headcanons #icewing #nightwing #sandwing #skywing #mudwing #seawing #rainwing #beetlewing #leafwing #hivewing #silkwing #taxonomy #subspecies

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mare-noctis-studios · 1 year

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I can't help myself

Taken from Chapter 5 of Not Alone by Сталкер on AO3

#cod #call of duty #ghost x soap #modern warfare 2 #cod: mw 2 #scene study #the fandom files #ghostsoap #soapghost #john “soap” mactavish #simon “ghost” riley #john mactavish #simon riley #soap #ghost #mare-noctis #ghoap #john soap mactavish

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kyouminaine · 5 years

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💗💗💗

Send 💗 to kiss my muse tenderly w/o explanation | @rexcrystallis

It’s a date. Nothing fancy, nothing loud or extravagant, just the two of them having a night out together. They don’t have to hurry; neither of them have work tomorrow. Maybe that’s why Noctis stops and kisses him as they take their time walking back home.

He feels the other man’s hand slip behind his head and tease the nape of his neck, and it brings a soft smile to Cloud’s lips as he returns the kiss. He’s not sure how Noctis has managed to find that sensitive spot behind his neck, but it works and Cloud leans in for another kiss.

His hands settle on Noctis’ hips, then slowly slip behind his back where he laces his fingers and lightly tugs the other man closer. Just for good measure, he kisses him again. “Frutti di mare,” he notes with a hint of humor, naming the Altissian dish Noctis had for dinner. He can taste it on Noct’s tongue. “I like it.”

#rexcrystallis #{ one missed call } | asks #{ v; endless nights of ruination }

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reptileshrine · 5 years

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Top 25 Albums of 2018

As usual, compiling my top albums of the year has been a compelling, exhausting experience, having taken me an actual month of consternation, tweaking, writing, re-tweaking, deleting, and shifting. Too. Much. Good. Music. Even though every year is pretty hard I have to say that, despite my Number 1, which cemented itself relatively quickly and didn’t move despite the competition, choosing a short-list and ranking just a few of the phenomenal albums from this year was more of an impossible task than usual. But here it is, finally. With actual words, albeit the same few adjectives cycled over enough times to amply demonstrate my dwindling vocabulary and ability to use it. Spoiler alert; There is no Mopok, no Spectral Wound, no Andeis, no Panphage, no Sargeist, no Atra Mors, no Forest of Stars, no Paara, no Angantyr, no Moenen Of Xezbeth, among many many others. They could all have been there at some point, but at the time of committing this to the web, they are not. What this list is, is a rank of the albums which I have obsessed over the most, have affected me the deepest, have been turned up loudest on my stereo, and that I feel have pushed black metal into some interesting, transcendent or subversive directions. Behold! My favourite albums of 2018. 25. Make a Change Kill Yourself – IV Cursed Records This is a true masterclass in DSBM. Inspired composition and wretched, grey pall of an atmosphere, that still harbours a sense of hope, albeit an uneasy, precarious one which could drop into a pit of darkness any moment. The wait for new material from this project was well rewarded. (also worth noting how great the Angantyr album was too, but it’s not in my list).

IV by Make a Change... Kill Yourself

24. Majestic Mass - Savage Empire of Death Self-Released / Caligari Cool raggedy stuff that sounds like it’s about to come apart at the seams. I love the cooly melodic garagey rock n roll swagger slung underneath the fuzz. GREAT organ flourishes too. One of my most played albums of the year by far.

Savage Empire of Death by Majestic Mass

23. Everything by Harpag Karnik Erancnoir – Wintermonarchie / Frostfallen / Erancnoir Etheraldine – Shapes of Emerald / Euphony of Heralds / An Eyrie for Serenity Forelunar - Wine and the Limerent Self-Released These three projects offer different rays of light from the prism of Iranian Harpag Karnik. Each is a separate vision of atmospheric post-black metal; Erancnoir the most desolate, Etheraldine the most lush, and Forelunar for conveying deep emotions. Most of these releases are eps featuring two long 10+ minute tracks, which give ample time for the music to soak into you, set a scene and extrapolate their vocative and enchanting motifs.

Frostfallen by Erancnoir

An Eyrie for Serenity by Etheraldine

Wine and the Limerent by Forelunar

22. Enscelados - The Unbeknownst Tyrant Self-Released This mysterious band consists of two un-named international members (though one may possibly be based in Iran, as Harpag Karnik mixed them). They released two pieces in 2018, both one track, with this, the second release, expanding on the intent of the first. The twenty-minute piece uncoils a mobius strip of cosmically fluctuating trance, with a hypnotic beat and swaying riff that locks in for pretty much the full length, save for a small eddy of ambience. A singular vision that is immensely effective.

The Unbeknownst Tyrant by Enscelados

21. Schrat – Alptraumgänger Folter Records Primo old-school. Blistering pace and savage aggression offset by symphonic elements. Smells like 1995, and probably another one that should lead me back to Emperor. I hear some Sons of Northern Darkness in this one too. A+ artwork on this one as well. Love a good moonlit ritual in the forest.

Alptraumgänger by SCHRAT

20. Akitsa – Credo Profound Lore One of my favourite bands that hasn’t released an album that I completely love has just managed to do so (Ash Pool split not withstanding). This has the rawness, the aggression, the wildness and chaos, and the ferocious rocking riffs that have appeared sporadically across all their previous albums, but Credo has all those best bits channelled into a whole album.

Credo by AKITSA

19. Craft – White Noise and Black Metal Season of Mist The stunning return of an old band to a new form. The raging nihilism and wild chaos of previous releases was smoothed right down to a clear sheen for an album almost ironically called White Noise. But it is a surface sheen. Below it lies the same seething violence as before, made arguably more intense by the constraints of the cleanliness. Every song is packing dangerously sharp riffs, delivered with a psychotically dead-eyed precision and coolness that makes for an intimidating experience.

White Noise and Black Metal by Craft

18. Vilkacis – Beyond the Mortal Gate Psychic Violence Feral, raw atmospheric, melodic primal black metal with a spiritual theme, from the visionary M. Rekevics. A torrent of euphoric anguish that feels like a cathartic expulsion of squalid bitterness. Comparisons can be made to related USBM bands Fell Voices and Ash Borer for their strung-out electrically charged atmospheres, while simultaneously channelling the more abrupt aggression of Vrasubatlat bands.

Beyond the Mortal Gate by VILKACIS

17. Knokkelklang - Jeg Begraver Terratur Possessions Elevated blackened trance with a liquid ambient outro. The tone and layers of sheet noise riffs verge on DSBM, but there is a buoyancy to the rhythm and a cosmically searching direction that keeps this album cerebral.

Jeg Begraver by Knokkelklang

16. Urfaust – The Constellatory Practice Ván Records Otherworldly transcendental occult music, from these masters of a form of atmospherics which has always dwelt in a liminal space between doom, BM, and the greyed industrial rock of post-70’s UK; it is highly atmospheric, but of a form well outside the more popular Burzum riff-styled post-metal inspired atmoblack. My favourite release of theirs since Drei Rituale Jenseits des Kosmos.

The Constellatory Practice by Urfaust

15. Selvans – Faunalia AvantGarde Music My expectations were high for this, given Lupercalia was one of my favourite albums of 2015. Three years later, Selvans surpass that achievement with this gothically toned, medieval opus that has outshone the similarly ambitious Forest of Stars album for me, in the grand blackened-classical-concept album stakes. Faunalia is grandiose, but never overblown, trip through a stunningly complex yet coherent tapestry, woven with acoustic folk instruments, woodwind, strings, layers of vocals plus primal pagan black metal aggression to bind it together.

Faunalia by Selvans

14. Thy Dying Light – Forgotten By Time Death Kvlt Productions My introduction to Death Kvlt and the work of Azrael and Hrafn’s many bands. Forgotten by Time is a compilation of previous releases but makes for a cohesive album in its own right, mixing several styles of raw old-school black metal, and a dungeon black ambience to arresting effect. It starts off in spitefully violent fashion, and compels to the end.

Forgotten By Time by Thy Dying Light

13. Délétère - De Horae Leprae Sepulchral Productions This Québécois band, whose line-up features Atheos from the infamous Foretresse and Monarque, tells the conceptual story of a leper destined to become a Plague prophet of Centipèdes. It does so through raw, melodic, orthodox black metal in a style which flashes glimpses of Csejthe, Horna, and of course Fortresse. The opening series of gothic organ riffs is obliterated by a thundercrack of guitar which ushers in over an hour of epic rush. The speed and density of the drums and riffing could potentially be very claustrophobic, but each track finds space to expand and develop into passages of rage, elation, hysteria, heroism, and fevered mania. So yes, the concept works, and in Atrum Lilium might just offer my favourite song of the year.

youtube

12. Acathexis - Acathexis Fallen Empire / Entropic Recordings A fitting end to a stellar run of albums this year from Fallen Empire, whose shuttering will leave a black hole that is unlikely to be filled in the same way. December’s swansong releases gave us the immense Death Fortress (somehow not in this list), Lubbert Das (waaaait for it), the dissonant Guðveiki and Serpent Column, and this; Acathexis. An album by a band curated by Fallen Empire itself, who played Déhà’s demos to Jacob Buczarski (Mare Cognitum), and then to vocalist Dany Tee (Downfall of Nur). A supergroup was born, and a stunning album of emotionally arresting, nuanced, inspired atmospheric black metal has been created. The guitar composition is sublime, drawing from every corner of the black metal spectrum, underpinned, pushed and pulled by Jacob’s excellent drum work; the instrumentals given life, death, elation and despair through the incredible range of vocal performances from Dany Tee.

Acathexis by Acathexis

11. Adaestuo - Krew Za Krew World Terror Committee The band comprises three members; Hekte Zaren providing vocals, multi-instrumentalists P.E. Packain / Vainaja (of Horna, Saturnian Mist, Neutron Hammer, Sargeist) and VJS (also Sargeist, Nightbringer, Kult ov Azazel) – their credentials are cosmic, and that is spretty much where they keep the tone of this album. The majority of it is ritual dark ambient and drone, spiked with three explosive black metal tracks. More than just a black metal album, this is alternate devotional, ritual offering and violent ordained execution.

Krew Za Krew by Adaestuo

10. Alkymist – Spellcraft Ceremony Self-Released/Vinyl-Compvlsion Ritualistic occult atmospheric black metal is the sub-sub-sub genre of bm that I am drawn to, though even then there are different versions of it. In his Alkymist guise, Noctis, aka Adrien Bloß, draws on sinuous repetition and the flickering shadows of candlelight to convey the ceremonial ambience while summoning the night terrors.

Spellcraft Ceremony by Alkymist (CAN)

9. Wayfarer – World’s Blood Profound Lore This album is deep, and seems to have been a bit of a sleeper hit. Took me several listens to fully appreciate the scope and detail of the landscape portrayed across the five tracks. An evocative, moody ride under huge thunderheads brewing over ominously desolate plains. Indeed, one track is even titled On Horseback They Carried Thunder. There is an atmosphere pregnant with danger, pressure building in the air of scratchy guitar melodies as lightning forms in the clouds of bass-lines, both instruments occasionally striking out with lightning flourishes. The whole album is underpinned and accentuated by a parched drum sound that often mimics the galloping of hooves and swirling eddies of dust. The blackened silhouette of a lone rider against muted browns sets an accurate tone for the sound of the album, which absolutely succeeds in expressing the scale and history of the wild Western US.

World's Blood by WAYFARER

8. Kriegsmaschine – Apocalypticists No Solace Everyone talks about the drumming, and yes Darkside has unparalleled visionary technique, but it is what the guitars are doing at the same time that brings out the full effect of them. They remind me of Joy Division with their combination of industrialised urban paranoia, existential dread and hostility, set to rhythmic piston percussion, droning trance guitars, and a raw vocal performance. Both strings and skins complementing each other in a minimal/maximal relationship which results in one of the most captivating and unique experiences in black metal.

Apocalypticists by Kriegsmaschine

7. Everything released by the ПРАВА Коллектив Fallen Empire Records, Amor Fati Productions, and Underground Soundscapes That’s the Prava Kollektiv, currently consisting of four projects: Arkhtinn, Mahr, Voidsphere, and HWWAUOCH with five releases between them in 2018. A group of musicians from somewhere in the world, possibly Russia judging by the Cyrillic they write their name in, and fallen Empire describing them as being “from the North”, but then again, possibly not, since Arkhtinn’s full album is titled in Japanese. Over five years after Arkhtinn’s first demo, they have done well to remain unmasked. Mysterious background aside, the music offers its own open interpretations. Arkhtinn have been putting out two-track demos with one fizzing, burning raw cosmic emission backed with a skein of dark ambient. On their album, they went for the double buzz and gave us two ferocious celestial slices of galactic trance. And where they look up, Mahr’s Antelux album tore it all down, using a similar template of pulsing starfire, grounding it in an earthier, more aggressive, primal, chaotic fashion. Voidsphere made their second offering of To Await | To Expect; two elevated tracks of disintegrating cosmic blackness, channeling all the blackened reverberating energies they could summon from the infinite void, and HWWAUOCH did their full-cap moniker justice by tearing out an Icelandic-style album of howling dissonance.

最初の災害 by Arkhtinn

Antelux by Mahr

To Await | To Expect by Voidsphere

HWWAUOCH by HWWAUOCH

6. Everything released by Haraesis Noviomagi A label that houses one of the most progressive, creative and consistent collectives of musicians operating in the black metal sphere, revolving around O, who runs the label and threads all bands together. He put out six releases this year, featuring each band from their roster plus a guest, and all releases are boundary pushing, third-eye opening mutations of the cosmic black metal order: De Ontkoppeling – De Ontkoppeling The only non-metal album from the collective, but still pitch-black in substance, delivering subterranean bass noise, squalid dark ambient feedback and disintegrating electronics.

youtube

Solar Temple – Fertile Descent M. and O. put out their second release as Solar Temple, and it was another blackened helix of coruscating trance.

Fertile Descent by SOLAR TEMPLE

Iskandr – Euprosopon O’s solo project, deals with more rural, pagan themes, influenced by early Enslaved with lyrics addressing his homelands and geopsychology of living through particular environments. Possibly the most traditional sounding black metal of all HN releases, it is also the most radical departure from the core locked-groove hypnotics the rest of the bands channel.

Euprosopon by ISKANDR

Fluisteraars / Turia Split – De Oord Fluisteraars is O, A, and B, and this release is another milestone in their catalogue. Building from a subtle post-black beginning, it soon mutates into the most sublime, elegant, and euphoric astral-black. This stratospheric track is backed with the dank fetid claustrophobia of Turia (a three piece of O., J. and T). A gnarly, gut-churning contrast.

De Oord by FLUISTERAARS & TURIA

Vilkacis / Turia Split - Untitled The one was a co-release with Psychic Violence, borrowing Mike Rekevics’ Vilkacis from their roster to lay down two tracks which manage to best everything on his full album. Throw this into the tub when Final March Into Flame peaks. And again, Turia are on point, this time with an exotic dirge, as faintly eastern melodies judder out of the overblown amps and bind the clattering drum disintegration together.

VILKACIS / TURIA SPLIT by VILKACIS

Lubbert Das – De Plagen And finally, to Lubbert Das, comprised of O. J. and R. Shimmering sheets of guitars bend with a woozy unease, eerie melodies stalk the foreground, and drums switch from pounding to sparse punky rhythms. This cataclysmically raw, primeval darkened churn may almost be the perfect distillation of all other bands from this collective.

De Plagen by Lubbert Das

5. Candelabrum – Portals https://youtu.be/NZZIUD-CSrQ Black Cilice side-project that is as lo-fi as the main band, but less caustic. Mournful melodies are buried beneath a miasma of ritualisic occult noise. Here starts a theme for my favoured sound of 2018. One which has always fermented in the dankest corners of black metal, but bloomed in the most virulent manner throughout last year.

youtube

4. Pa Vesh En – Church of Bones Iron Bonehead Productions So, the bloom spreads. Pa Vesh En put out a couple of releases this year, peaking with the sepulchral aural torture of Church of Bones. A pestilent miasma of putrid organ drone, petrified, mournful shrieks, ghastly voice and haunted melodies. It drags atmosphere out the air, grinds it through the earth to suffocate in the airless underground, mummifying this spectral black metal in a cloak of oppressive dirt.

Pa Vesh En - Church of Bones by Iron Bonehead Productions

3. VOËMMR - Sombr Moebrd Signal Rex Blood-curdling, ritualistic old-school crypt-dwelling misfit music of a macabre magick. The lugubrious, sickly swirl of organ a nightmarish carousel ride, spinning into giddiness. That sound of that thing is right up there, leading the dance of the raw drum pulse, waltzing a deliriously contorted path through the candlelight. This album is a constant shimmer of heady reverie, but twisted as fuck, and all the more sinister for the calculated way in which it spools out its gnashing chaos.

Sombr Moebrd by VOËMMR

2. Degredo - Noite dos Tempos Signal Rex The deepest, most far-reaching, umbral, otherworldly, conjuration of the year, and one which I cannot really describe any better than whoever writes the blurbs for the Signal Rex releases. They nail those descriptions every time, but I will try in my own words to describe this rawest of shamanist occult from the collective which I think is currently pushing black metal to its furthest limits; the Aldebraan Circle. Corrupting black metal’s traditional chaotic fury into a subducted trench of lightless trance, Degredo crystalise the primitive momentum of the genre into paranoid fractal patterns of static blackness, and slowly the throbbing sepulchral hypnagogia of this album falls upon the listener. Once the drum beat builds up the world stand still, and the walls move in. The riffs bear resemblance to the slow-motion dirge of SunnO))), but this album stands far out on its own, way down a disorienting hall of mirrors, and out of reach of most listeners. Paralysis. Claustrophobia. Tunnel vision. Darkness. Then clarity, elevation and revelation through staring into this black flame.

A Noite dos Tempos by Degredo

1. Över - Facing Transcendence AvantGarde Music Out of the darkness and into the light. A light of sorts. Overall, one of the less oppressive albums in my list, but certainly the most overwhelming. Mr Þórir Nyss has graced us with several albums from several projects this year, from ethereal post-black atmospherics to unruly, disturbing disharmonic noise. With Över, he and Malduchryst incorporate these elements, along with overt rock, squealing lead solos, doomy lurching, and passages of pure savage black metal to emotionally stupefying effect. The composition of this album is stunning, each track developing in a way which transcends genre limitations and defies your expectations. Take the watery introduction of Will that bleeds into a slow dirgy distorted riff. It picks up into hammering drums, juxtaposed by a twinkling keyboard motif. It slowly builds more intensity into each passage, introduces a lowing operatic clean vocal and the riffing intensifies until it peaks with (one of several) anthemic riffs. The euphoric surge of Över is Transcendence and how the astral elegance of that track is dismembered by a guttural riff and degraded into boiling noise. The liquid ambient riff of following track Owner and Slave that bursts into furious slashing riff and vicious snarl vocal, its proclamation of self-immolation and the subsequent life-loosening drift into harmonic solo and all-consuming climax. Just some of the many moments in this album that kept me coming back to it with obsessive regularity.

Facing Transcendence by Över

#albums of 2018 #albums of the year #2018

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xaracosmia · 2 years

Text

[ ꕥ — BZZT! NEW OUTLANDERS DETECTED! WELCOME TO XARA COSMIA! ]

ꕥ — IN NEFE COSMIA…

Noctis Lucis Caelum

ꕥ — IN CATA COSMIA…

Hunter

Shinobu Kocho

ꕥ — IN MARE COSMIA…

Shadow the Hedgehog

Merlin (Caster)

#xc processing

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imperium-romanum · 6 years

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Pliny the Younger | Mount Vesuvius Eruption, Part One

C. Plinius Tacito suo s.

Petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere posteris possis. Gratias ago; nam video morti eius si celebretur a te immortalem gloriam esse propositam. Quamvis enim pulcherrimarum clade terrarum, ut populi ut urbes memorabili casu, quasi semper victurus occiderit, quamvis ipse plurima opera et mansura condiderit, multum tamen perpetuitati eius scriptorum tuorum aeternitas addet. Equidem beatos puto, quibus deorum munere datum est aut facere scribenda aut scribere legenda, beatissimos vero quibus utrumque. Horum in numero avunculus meus et suis libris et tuis erit. Quo libentius suscipio, deposco etiam quod iniungis.

Erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat. Nonum Kal. Septembres hora fere septima mater mea indicat ei apparere nubem inusitata et magnitudine et specie. Usus ille sole, mox frigida, gustaverat iacens studebatque; poscit soleas, ascendit locum ex quo maxime miraculum illud conspici poterat. Nubes - incertum procul intuentibus ex quo monte; Vesuvium fuisse postea cognitum est - oriebatur, cuius similitudinem et formam non alia magis arbor quam pinus expresserit. Nam longissimo velut trunco elata in altum quibusdam ramis diffundebatur, credo quia recenti spiritu evecta, dein senescente eo destituta aut etiam pondere suo victa in latitudinem vanescebat, candida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa prout terram cineremve sustulerat. Magnum propiusque noscendum ut eruditissimo viro visum. Iubet liburnicam aptari; mihi si venire una vellem facit copiam; respondi studere me malle, et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat. Egrediebatur domo; accipit codicillos Rectinae Tasci imminenti periculo exterritae - nam villa eius subiacebat, nec ulla nisi navibus fuga -: ut se tanto discrimini eriperet orabat. Vertit ille consilium et quod studioso animo incohaverat obit maximo. Deducit quadriremes, ascendit ipse non Rectinae modo sed multis - erat enim frequens amoenitas orae - laturus auxilium. Properat illuc unde alii fugiunt, rectumque cursum recta gubernacula in periculum tenet adeo solutus metu, ut omnes illius mali motus omnes figuras ut deprenderat oculis dictaret enotaretque.

Iam navibus cinis incidebat, quo propius accederent, calidior et densior; iam pumices etiam nigrique et ambusti et fracti igne lapides; iam vadum subitum ruinaque montis litora obstantia. Cunctatus paulum an retro flecteret, mox gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti 'Fortes' inquit 'fortuna iuvat: Pomponianum pete.' Stabiis erat diremptus sinu medio - nam sensim circumactis curvatisque litoribus mare infunditur -; ibi quamquam nondum periculo appropinquante, conspicuo tamen et cum cresceret proximo, sarcinas contulerat in naves, certus fugae si contrarius ventus resedisset. Quo tunc avunculus meus secundissimo invectus, complectitur trepidantem consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate leniret, deferri in balineum iubet; lotus accubat cenat, aut hilaris aut - quod aeque magnum - similis hilari. Interim e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia relucebant, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis excitabatur. Ille agrestium trepidatione ignes relictos desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere in remedium formidinis dictitabat. Tum se quieti dedit et quievit verissimo quidem somno; nam meatus animae, qui illi propter amplitudinem corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab iis qui limini obversabantur audiebatur. Sed area ex qua diaeta adibatur ita iam cinere mixtisque pumicibus oppleta surrexerat, ut si longior in cubiculo mora, exitus negaretur. Excitatus procedit, seque Pomponiano ceterisque qui pervigilaverant reddit. In commune consultant, intra tecta subsistant an in aperto vagentur. Nam crebris vastisque tremoribus tecta nutabant, et quasi emota sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur. Sub dio rursus quamquam levium exesorumque pumicum casus metuebatur, quod tamen periculorum collatio elegit; et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios timorem timor vicit. Cervicalia capitibus imposita linteis constringunt; id munimentum adversus incidentia fuit. Iam dies alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior densiorque; quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina solvebant. Placuit egredi in litus, et ex proximo adspicere, ecquid iam mare admitteret; quod adhuc vastum et adversum permanebat. Ibi super abiectum linteum recubans semel atque iterum frigidam aquam poposcit hausitque. Deinde flammae flammarumque praenuntius odor sulpuris alios in fugam vertunt, excitant illum. Innitens servolis duobus assurrexit et statim concidit, ut ego colligo, crassiore caligine spiritu obstructo, clausoque stomacho qui illi natura invalidus et angustus et frequenter aestuans erat. Ubi dies redditus - is ab eo quem novissime viderat tertius -, corpus inventum integrum illaesum opertumque ut fuerat indutus: habitus corporis quiescenti quam defuncto similior.

Interim Miseni ego et mater - sed nihil ad historiam, nec tu aliud quam de exitu eius scire voluisti. Finem ergo faciam. Unum adiciam, omnia me quibus interfueram quaeque statim, cum maxime vera memorantur, audieram, persecutum. Tu potissima excerpes; aliud est enim epistulam aliud historiam, aliud amico aliud omnibus scribere. Vale.

From Pliny to Tacitus.

You ask me to send you an account of my uncle's death, so that you may be able to give posterity an accurate description of it. I am much obliged to you, for I can see that the immortality of his fame is well assured, if you take in hand to write of it. For although he perished in a disaster which devastated some of the fairest regions of the land, and though he is sure of eternal remembrance like the peoples and cities that fell with him in that memorable calamity, though too he had written a large number of works of lasting value, yet the undying fame of which your writings are assured will secure for his a still further lease of life. For my own part, I think that those people are highly favoured by Providence who are capable either of performing deeds worthy of the historian's pen or of writing histories worthy of being read, but that they are peculiarly favoured who can do both. Among the latter I may class my uncle, thanks to his own writings and to yours. So I am all the more ready to fulfil your injunctions, nay, I am even prepared to beg to be allowed to undertake them.

My uncle was stationed at Misenum, where he was in active command of the fleet, with full powers. On the 24th of August, about the seventh hour, my mother drew his attention to the fact that a cloud of unusual size and shape had made its appearance. He had been out in the sun, followed by a cold bath, and after a light meal he was lying down and reading. Yet he called for his sandals, and climbed up to a spot from which he could command a good view of the curious phenomenon. Those who were looking at the cloud from some distance could not make out from which mountain it was rising - it was afterwards discovered to have been Mount Vesuvius - but in likeness and form it more closely resembled a pine-tree than anything else, for what corresponded to the trunk was of great length and height, and then spread out into a number of branches, the reason being, I imagine, that while the vapour was fresh, the cloud was borne upwards, but when the vapour became wasted, it lost its motion, or even became dissipated by its own weight, and spread out laterally. At times it looked white, and at other times dirty and spotted, according to the quantity of earth and cinders that were shot up.

To a man of my uncle's learning, the phenomenon appeared one of great importance, which deserved a closer study. He ordered a Liburnian galley to be got ready, and offered to take me with him, if I desired to accompany him, but I replied that I preferred to go on with my studies, and it so happened that he had assigned me some writing to do. He was just leaving the house when he received a written message from Rectina, the wife of Tascus, who was terrified at the peril threatening her - for her villa lay just beneath the mountain, and there were no means of escape save by shipboard - begging him to save her from her perilous position. So he changed his plans, and carried out with the greatest fortitude the task, which he had started as a scholarly inquiry.

He had the galleys launched and went on board himself, in the hope of succouring, not only Rcctina, but many others, for there were a number of people living along the shore owing to its delightful situation. He hastened, therefore, towards the place whence others were fleeing, and steering a direct course, kept the helm straight for the point of danger, so utterly devoid of fear that every movement of the looming portent and every change in its appearance he described and had noted down by his secretary, as soon as his eyes detected it. Already ashes were beginning to fall upon the ships, hotter and in thicker showers as they approached more nearly, with pumice-stones and black flints, charred and cracked by the heat of the flames, while their way was barred by the sudden shoaling of the sea bottom and the litter of the mountain on the shore. He hesitated for a moment whether to turn back, and then, when the helmsman warned him to do so, he exclaimed, "Fortune favours the bold ; try to reach Pomponianus." The latter was at Stabiae, separated by the whole width of the bay, for the sea there pours in upon a gently rounded and curving shore. Although the danger was not yet close upon him, it was none the less clearly seen, and it travelled quickly as it came nearer, so Pomponianus had got his baggage together on shipboard, and had determined upon flight, and was waiting for the wind which was blowing on shore to fall. My uncle sailed in with the wind fair behind him, and embraced Pomponianus, who was in a state of fright, comforting and cheering him at the same time. Then in order to calm his friend's fears by showing how composed he was himself, he ordered the servants to carry him to the bath, and, after his ablutions, he sat down and had dinner in the best of spirits, or with that assumption of good spirits which is quite as remarkable as the reality.

In the meantime broad sheets of flame, which rose high in the air, were breaking out in a number of places on Mount Vesuvius and lighting up the sky, and the glare and brightness seemed all the more striking owing to the darkness of the night. My uncle, in order to allay the fear of his companions, kept declaring that the country people in their terror had left their fires burning, and that the conflagration they saw arose from the blazing and empty villas. Then he betook himself to rest and enjoyed a very deep sleep, for his breathing, which, owing to his bulk, was rather heavy and loud, was heard by those who were waiting at the door of his chamber. But by this time the courtyard leading to the room he occupied was so full of ashes and pumice-stones mingled together, and covered to such a depth, that if he had delayed any longer in the bedchamber there would have been no means of escape. So my uncle was aroused, and came out and joined Pomponianus and the rest who had been keeping watch. They held a consultation whether they should remain indoors or wander forth in the open; for the buildings were beginning to shake with the repeated and intensely severe shocks of earthquake, and seemed to be rocking to and fro as though they had been torn from their foundations. Outside again there was danger to be apprehended from the pumice-stones, though these were light and nearly burnt through, and thus, after weighing the two perils, the latter course was determined upon. With my uncle it was a choice of reasons which prevailed, with the rest a choice of fears.

They placed pillows on their heads and secured them with cloths, as a precaution against the falling bodies. Elsewhere the day had dawned by this time, but there it was still night, and the darkness was blacker and thicker than any ordinary night. This, however, they relieved as best they could by a number of torches and other kinds of lights. They decided to make their way to the shore, and to see from the nearest point whether the sea would enable them to put out, but it was still running high and contrary. A sheet was spread on the ground, and on this my uncle lay, and twice he called for a draught of cold water, which he drank. Then the flames, and the smell of sulphur which gave warning of them, scattered the others in flight and roused him. Leaning on two slaves, he rose to his feet and immediately fell down again, owing, as I think, to his breathing being obstructed by the thickness of the fumes and congestion of the stomach, that organ being naturally weak and narrow, and subject to inflammation. When daylight returned - two days after the last day he had seen - his body was found untouched, uninjured, and covered, dressed just as he had been in life. The corpse suggested a person asleep rather than a dead man.

Meanwhile my mother and I were at Misenum. But that is of no consequence for the purposes of history, nor indeed did you express a wish to be told of anything except of my uncle's death. So I will say no more, except to add that I have given you a full account both of the incidents which I myself witnessed and of those narrated to me immediately afterwards, when, as a rule, one gets the truest account of what has happened. You will pick out what you think will answer your purpose best, for to write a letter is a different thing from writing a history, and to write to a friend is not like writing to all and sundry. Farewell.

Pliny, Letters 6.16 (Translated by J Firth, 1900).

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auralatrocityabyss · 5 years

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My 2018 Album Of the Year List, pt. 1

This is a ridiculously long list, so its split up. Its still long. It might be overdoing it. I don't care. Believe it or not, I even left several releases off. I cannot emphasize it enough, there was a ton of superb music to be heard this year, and my goal is that maybe you'll find something new to enjoy. Read it or don't, just keep loving music.

75)IDLE HANDS - PDX- Don't Waste Your Time

- Heavy metal with a sort of goth rock bend to it that's just an enjoyable listen

74)IAMX- Alive In New Light

- electro goth rock of a sort. Still his own thing. The main single, Stardust, is fantastic.

73) Sniper 66- Annihilator

- Austin punk rock that gives no quarter. They just get better and better.

72)Lunaform- Lunaform

- absolutely beautiful debut prog/djent EP from the Dallas area.

71)Convulsing- Grievous

- Punishing, melancholic black/death metal hailing from the Land Down Under

70)YOB- Our Raw Heart

- I'm actually not generally a fan of loooong, plodding doom metal, but personal taste aside, this is probably one of the best metal albums this year. It is aptly titled, and emotionally rewarding.

69)Pious Levus- Beast of the Foulest Depths

-Grimey Death metal from some of Texas' finest, here to rip you open.

68) Marid-VVVVVVV

-Beautiful Saharan atmospheric black metal that makes me feel calm, so always a good thing.

67)Craft- White Noise and Black Metal

-Black metal to napalm your ears with. Just napalm. Burn.

66)Carn Dûm- Shadow and Fire

- Tolkien black metal that roars like a Balrog and hits like one too.

65)Whoredom Rife- NID-Hymner av Hat

- Yeah, Norway still makes excellent black metal. Enough said.

64)Cultor Noctis- Demiurg

- A great little black metal EP that jumped out at me on Bandcamp, looking forward to more.

63)Krigsgrav- Leave No Path to Follow

- These Texas fellows are back with a somber, weighty black metal outing that'll trap you like a quagmire.

62)Lifted Traces- Akira

- Seeing this performed live with the film might have resulted in bias on my part, but tackling one of my favorite film soundtracks with a superb interpretation is just amazing, so full kudos to the fellows at Switched On.

61)Morgengrau- Blood Oracle

- Roaring Texas death metal titans return to crush your ears. And ribs. And face. And soul.

60)Tamerlan Empire- Age of Ascendancy

- Symphonic black metal mixed with Middle-Eastern musical elements, without the overdone death metal aspects so many bands insist on having when doing this kind of sound. In other words- Heck yes!

59)Erebos- Peste Kommer

- While I ultimately enjoyed Faded Into the Shadows from last year more, this is still a mighty good black metal release that perfectly achieves Burzum synth worship.

58)Tvaer- Old Gods Whom Chaos Knew

- Raw melancholic black metal that I'm really hoping there will be more of.

57) Anders Manga- Perfectly Stranger

- Just stumbled on this darkwave project this year, very glad I did. Absolutely top-notch.

56)Dispirit- Enantiodromian Birth

-I really hope I spelled that right. The album is great and so was their performance at Red River Family Fest.

55)Therion- Beloved Antichrist

- Because why not just make a massive rock opera? Their skill never ceases to amaze me.

54)Elderfrost- The Beautiful Voice of Shadow

-If more dungeon synth sounded like this I'd listen to more dungeon synth. I wish more dungeon synth sounded like this.

53)Nocturnus Santurnus- Nocturnus Santurnus

- Immortal worship of the highest caliber, with so many riffs.

52)Magoth- Zeitgeist: Dystopia

- This didn't quite catch me the way last year's album did, however it's still a very solid album with more sweet riffs.

51) Immortal- Northern Chaos Gods

- A return that did not disappoint in the least, this album could freeze Hell its so frigidly raw.

50)Mare- Ebony Tower

- This is dark and beautiful and sucks you in so well.

49)Iskandr-Euprosopon

- Its mellow, odd, cold, and wonderful black metal, and should be given a listen.

48)Sargeist- Unbound

-Unbound is a good title for this, like a raging black metal beast set loose.

47)Spite- Antimoshiach

-Speaking of raging black metal beasts, yeah, this one too.

46)Cultum Interitum-Temple of Triumphant Death

-Dark, roaring black metal that I was quite pleased with, and definitely want more of.

45)Judas Priest- Firepower

- Bow to the metal gods, because they definitely still rule.

Part 2 & 3 incoming.

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alia-turin · 6 years

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That’s a long one, hope you guys enjoy!

Fic Title: Take It and Run [cowboy au] Chapter: 8. Rock Bottom Previous Chapters: Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 Rating: G (Warnings: swearing, drinking, some self hate implied) Characters: Cor, Luche, Noctis, Glado, Ignis, Nyx, Luna, Ravus, Libertus, Crowe. Tagging: @birdsandivory @jojopitcher @lazarustrashpit @yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy @themissimmortal @kairakara101 @littlestfangirl @parjiljehavey @ladychocoberry

If you want to be tagged, let me know

Noct didn’t move from Ignis’ sick bed throughout the day. The doctor came and went and came again to change his bandages. He had no idea how much time it passed, the room was dark, doctor recommended it so he couldn’t figure if it was day or night, if it was just an hour that had passed or ten.

Doctor said that when Ignis woke up he might never be able to see again or if he does, his sight would be damaged forever. Noct had shouted at the doctor and then begged him until Gladio pulled him away. That couldn’t be it. Blind? How would he shoot, ride a horse, read…

He was running what had happened through his mind over and over again and he couldn’t explain who or why would have done that. It was a robbery, a normal stage coach robbery why didn’t they need to set explosives? Cor had suggested that they didn’t want to leave traces, even traces of what might have been stolen, but Noct still couldn’t understand why somebody would do that. What could they steal? Some of the money and valuables from the passengers…Prompto had spoken with the post office and they confirmed it was just normal post on that stagecoach. It wasn’t bonds or anything else that could be turned into money.

Noct look at Ignis’ bandaged face and felt himself helpless and guilty. If he wasn’t so blinded by his hate for Ardyn, he might have been more careful. But he was blinded, he thought it was just another one of these things where the mayor was trying to annoy him. He didn’t take his own job seriously out of spite towards Ardyn and now Ignis was paying for it.

What would his father think I he could see him right now? He was a brat throwing a tantrum against a man he hated. Ardyn was insufferable, but he wasn’t the enemy at the end of the day. He wasn’t the one who robbed the bank a year ago and killed his father and Clarus. He wasn’t the one who robbed that stagecoach and blinded Ignis. All that time he had tried and hoped that Ardyn was involved in the robbery a year ago, somehow, indirectly, but was that blinding him? Was he trying to accuse the man just because he disliked him?

Ignis was paying now for Noct’s stubbornness and even childish behavior. Maybe Ardyn was right, maybe he was just a kid with a badge with no ability to live up to it.

Noct closed his eyes trying to chase these thoughts away but all he could see was the explosion and Ignis’ face covered in blood. When he opened his eyes Ignis was right there in front of him. Sleeping, bloodied bandage covering his face.

“Noct.” Prompto walked in the room and spoke quietly. “There are two guys who want to pay Nyx’s bail…”

“Take the money and let him go.” Noct didn’t care about Nyx Ulric. He wasn’t the one who hurt Ignis. Cor was right all the time, taking the guns away wasn’t going to reduce crime. He should have listened to Cor.

“Thanks guys.” Nyx stretched as soon as he walked out of the sheriff’s office, the sun blinding him as soon as he looked up.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news for you.” Luche started. The man looked like hell. His clothes were wet and muddy, he hadn’t shaven for at least two days which was highly unusual for him. Mister perfect looked nothing like himself right now. “That’s your cut of the cattle, we took out two hundred from the total and then we split what was left. Also, someone stole your horse.”

“My horse?” Nyx couldn’t believe that. His luck was not getting any better. “Which one?”

“The brown mare.” Tredd responded. Nyx still couldn’t believe how on earth Tredd looked cleaner and more presentable than Luche. What did he miss?

“I loved that horse, it was a good horse…” he counted the money Luche had given him, there certainly wasn’t enough for a good animal. It was enough in fact but he had to make a choice between eating or buying a horse. Ironically the horse was also related to him being able to make more money.

“Lucky for you, I have a friend who sells horses nearby and will probably give you one with a discount.” Luche said as they walked towards their camp.

Riding towards Luche’s friend was just made Nyx a bit more bitter about his situation. Both Luche and Tredd were on their horses, that quick dun thing Luche loved and the massive black stallion that matched Tredd’s personality. On the other hand, he was forced to ride his much smaller bay which was a good animal, but not as fast or as clever as the stolen animal. There was certain level of humiliation and annoyance he felt and somehow wanted a revenge. He wasn’t usually petty and part of him could understand the sheriff freaking out, but another part of him was angry about the horse. That horse was his livelihood, he couldn’t do his job with jus one horse and he couldn’t earn money if he couldn’t do his job.

“Let me do the talking.” Luche said as they approached a ranch, it wasn’t a big property, but certainly wasn’t small. From here he could see the horses boxed behind a fence. What caught Nyx’s attention was the house in the distance. That wasn’t a normal ranch house, it was one of these big white things with columns people built in the East. Or at least that was what the newspapers said, he had never been that far East to see these big houses.

“Your friend…” Nyx started not sure how exactly to put it.

“He is not from here. He also hates it here, and thinks he is better than everyone. Don’t take it personal.” Luche explained and Nyx gave him a long look. He could name another guy who came years ago from the East with a stick up his ass.

“You boys from the East with your fancy houses and clothes.” Tredd said and spit. “That house looks likes someone’s mausoleum. A very big one.”

Nyx couldn’t hold his laugh at Tredd’s words. He didn’t always like the man, nor he always got along with him, but Tredd possessed that street wisdom that one couldn’t learn in a school or a church. It was the type of knowledge you got on battlefields, sleeping rough and drinking till sunrise.

“I will talk with Ravus.” Luche said as led his horse towards the house. “You go pick your horse from what he has.”

“I’m coming with you.” Tredd followed Luche and Nyx was a bit disappointed. He was at the property of a man he didn’t know looking at his horses. At least Tredd had a good eye for horseflesh and could help him with the choice. One of his very few redeeming qualities.

Nyx tied his horse next to the fence and climbed up to look at the animals. Nothing caught his eye right away so he just looked. Luche’s friend was certainly from the East, lots of these animals were pretty but he didn’t need a pretty horse, he needed a working horse.

“I’d go for the chestnut if I were you.” The voice surprised him and Nyx turned to his left to see that pretty girl from town standing next to him on the fence. She was wearing riding clothes, her pale blond hair was tied up uncovering the most angelic face he had ever seem. “I heard my brother talk about a price with your friends, decided to come and help you get the best for your money.”

Nyx just stared. Not at the horses but at her. He had no idea what to say. That had never happened to him. He wasn’t a shy guy and he knew how to talk to a woman, but for some reason his brain was jumping through twenty different dialogue options and neither of them seemed suitable.

“In prison, I’m Nyx.” He finally said and regretted not having a gun right now because he wanted to shoot himself. He wanted to say his name but was worried she remembered he was the guy in the prison…now even if she didn’t remember he certainly reminded her.

“Excuse me?” she laughed at his confusion, probably that was a good sign.

“I mean to say my name is Nyx. The prison part came out because that’s where I saw you last.” He already sank his own ship, might as well do it faster.

“Oh, you are the man Noct arrested because they found a gun on you.” To her credit she didn’t move away from him or even show she was uncomfortable around him. A lady of her status and looks probably didn’t want to be anywhere near a man associated with prison.

“I was framed.” Nyx quickly defended himself. “The gun wasn’t mine. Someone put it there.”

“And if it was…would you admit to it?” she had a smile on her lips, that smile was so pretty.

“Probably not. I assume a criminal wouldn’t confess to his crimes. But I was innocent.” He was finally feeling a bit more at ease not like some fifteen years old before his first time. “Tell me what does a girl like you do in a place like that?”

“A girl like me?” there was curiosity in her voice and damn he could listen to that accent all day long.

“I mean the town is cattle station, everybody here is a cowboy or someone who deals with cattle. Most of the women are wives of cowboys or saloon girls.” He looked quickly toward Luche and Tredd, they were still talking with the girl’s brother from what Nyx could assume. They did look alike.

“So, nobody in town could talk well and dress well.” She asked him, that teasing smile still on her lips.

“Not nobody. I’m sure the mayor probably talks well, seen few other men and women dressed well around town. You just seem out of place.” He gave her his most charming smile and could swear she was blushing.

“I’d take that as compliment, Nyx.” The way she said his name almost made him lose his balance and fall from the fence. “My brother used to sell racing horses back East. He lost some money, we were forced to move here. Now he sells horses, nobody here races horses beside you drunk cowboys when you are bored. Sadly, working horses and racing horses are two different things and Ravus, never figured that out.”

“But you have?” Nyx moved just an inch closer to her, he could smell her skin, and that was most amazing aroma he had ever smelled in his whole life.

“Better than him. I know that the chestnut there is smart and you can teach her to herd cattle. I know she is not the fastest horse that was ever born, but she is fast enough for your work.” She smiled. “I also know that none of the others are good.”

Nyx wanted to ask her another hundred things but then Luche, Tredd and the brother came in.

“Whichever horse you want, it’s yours for ten dollars.”

“Eight.” Nyx said which made Luche look at him silently tell him to shut up. “And I won’t point out why because it will be embarrassing.”

“He actually has a point….” Tredd started.

“Fine eight, and get out of my property. Let’s go Luna.” He walked away without waiting for her and she followed not before giving Nyx a very warm smile.

“I will see you in town.” He told her and tipped his hat.

“I will see you in town.” Tredd repeated mockingly. “Come on lover boy let’s grab your horse because you are making me sick.��

Luche was with Tredd in the saloon, the way he saw it, he had very little money anyway, losing some on cards wasn’t going to make him any poorer, he was as poor as they came. On the other hand, he could earn some. Axis had left to see his family, Crowe, Libertus and Pelna were probably sulking somewhere wondering how they would make it through the winter and Nyx was nursing his crush.

“You believe what Ravus said?” Tredd asked him as he ordered another drink and winked at the girl who brought it to him. She just smiled politely and left, of course she had no interest in Tredd if he wasn’t giving her money and like Luche he had none.

“I don’t know. He might not know where the leak is, he might be the leak. He would do anything to pack his stuff, grab his sister and disappear.” Luche drank his water, he was probably the only man here not drinking alcohol but he didn’t have the stomach or head to even lick some. “He did act surprised about the explosion.”

“The explosion doesn’t worry me.” Tredd leaned forward making sure no one could hear them. “It makes sense to blow the stagecoach, like that they don’t know we couldn’t find anything. Now the injured deputy…someone needs to show the man some mercy and shoot him the way you do with injured horse.”

“He also said Drautos has new plan, new job.” Luche said as quietly as possible. “But I’m not jumping on that train, until I know what’s going on. The way things are going, we might see the Marshal and the sheriff waiting for us at that job. No, we will wait for Nyx to get close to the sister.”

Luche had to agree on that one, although what worried him about the injured deputy was just that, he was an injured deputy. Nothing pissed off lawmen as injured or dead lawmen. But there were too many odd things in the whole story. Odd to the level of making them suspicious. Somehow every time they got involved in a job somebody who was someone in town ended up death or injured. In the bank heist it was the mayor and the sheriff. Now it was that deputy. Luche didn’t care much about either but it was his head on the line.

“Look there.” Tredd pointed with his chin at one of the tables and Luche had to turn around. It was that redhaired girl’s brother drinking with his friends. That was another mystery. Why did she pass Ardyn today as if he wasn’t there? His own supernatural deductions provoked by alcohol fumes set aside, Luche knew the man was popular. He was elected mayor after all, surely, he wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea but she passed through him without even looking at him. It was interesting to figure out why. He looked around, there was no space on their table and a stranger sitting with them won’t make them talk. There was a free table close to them…where the Marshal was sitting.

“If I get arrested would you bail me?” Luche asked Tredd and the man chuckled. “I’m serious.”

“I will bail you.” Tredd finished his drink.

“Let’s say hi to the Marshal.”

“Bad idea…” Tredd started but Luche ignored him. Of course, it was a bad idea, but when you are at the bottom all ideas are bad.

“Marshal.” Luche took his hat off, trying to look as respectable as he could, speaking in his more natural Eastern accent. “I came to apologize. I was drunk today and said some things I didn’t really want to say.” Part of it was a lie, he didn’t dislike the Marshal for any personal reasons, it was just lawman outlaw type of relationship. “How about I buy a drink we play some cards and forget what happened?”

“If we play cards, you might have to let me win.” He was serious for a moment but then smiled just faintly. “It’s really bad to apologize to a man and then take his money in a card game.”

“I wouldn’t be too worried, Marshal.” Tredd pulled a chair ordering drinks for the three of them, Luche could feel himself getting sick by the idea of alcohol. “He is terrible card player.”

Luche had to admit, cards were never his thing. He didn’t like leaving things to luck and the way he saw it cards were mostly that. Tredd would argue that cards were skill since that was something he was good at, but it wasn’t a skill. They started playing and Luche pushed his chair back just enough to be able to listen what was going on the other table. Lucky for him, the guy was angry and spoke loud enough so Luche didn’t need to try too hard to hear.

“That old man could have lived just couple more years. But no, he had to have heart attack just now. And left all the money to that bitch. The land as well. I’m given a stipend. A stipend!” he slammed his fist on the table which actually made the Marshal look at them, Luche couldn’t see if that effected the men in any way.

“But she is your sister, surely she won’t just leave you like that.” One of the other guys suggested.

“She said I need to work for it. I need to help with the ranch. Fuck that! The mayor offered good price for it. Triple what he offered the old man last year. She said no. What a stupid child! She could have taken the money, given me third of it and still be richer than anyone in that shithole. She is just a child. Nineteen! Who leaves a fortune to nineteen years old girl?”

Luche wasn’t really playing attention to the card game he was participating in, although he probably should have since he was losing money he technically didn’t have. What bothered him however was why the mayor needed that land. The ranch was massive, he had seen it with his own eyes. You could build half a town there, but why would the mayor need a ranch? He was a mayor, was he going to retire and go into cattle or horse or farm business? Knowing the man, Luche doubted that.

Before the man could go on another rant the salon suddenly went silent. Luche had to look towards the door to figure out what was happening. There she was, that pretty redhaired thing, walking right towards her brother, with the intention to kill him from what Luche could tell. Everybody stared, women usually didn’t go to the saloon, at least not women whose dresses cost as much as Luche’s horses. It was saloon girls, or working women like Crowe who had the same gutter humor as the men. To put it politely, it wasn’t a place for a lady.

“You need to go. Now.” She was next to her brother and even if she was short little thing, she did seem perfectly capable to drag the man out of it.

“You are not my mother, you are not telling me where to go.” He wasn’t even looking at her and Luche suddenly wanted to hit the man’s face in the table. He looked at Tredd who had the most curious expression on his face.

“I own the roof over your head, and I told you I need your help tonight.” Most of the people in the saloon had returned to their usual activities, the family drama didn’t seem that exciting.

“I will come, when I’m done here, you can very well go and play with dolls or something.” The man smirked, still not looking at her.

Luche saw his chance there, he could help her do whatever needed to be done and get more information on what Ardyn exactly wanted, better to get it from the source that eardrop. He could see that Tredd had similar idea, although he doubted it involved getting information. He started formulating in his head what to say and how to say it.

“Ada, let’s go, I will help you.” The Marshal said and Luche’s mouth gaped at him. “Nice playing with you guys, you can keep the earnings.” The Marshal grabbed his black hat from the table and walked with the girl out. Luche and Tredd looked at the door, then looked at each other.

“Did he just…” Luche started.

“He cockblocked us.” Tredd finished. “Damn I was sure I was going to win that bet tonight.”

It wasn’t the stupid bet in which he wasn’t participating that worried him, however. He needed more information on Ardyn and the chance to at least figure out some of the man’s motivation just walked out of the door with the Marshal at her side. He wasn’t going to jump on that new job Ravus talking about before he knew what was going on, and he just missed one opportunity to figure that out.

#luche lazarus #nyx ulric #tredd furia #lunafreya nox fleuret #ravus nox fleuret #my writing #au

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