Okay, it's official. Due to new (?) rules, John has to share this blog's posts via Twitter instead of Facebook. This talking/typing otter won't go into the specifics, but let's just say that so far so good, Twitter Jack is generous enough to turn a blind eye to what John posted. After all, it won't be surprising if Miura Doragonkoroshitaro is truly a persona non grata to the moral crusaders both local and abroad. Not to mention both the left and right as well.
At the same time, John may need to review his decision to use Tristan Aias as an insult to the rape culture in India. The reason why being the question of whether such an approach is truly feasible plotwise. While it's nice sending a moral message stopping short of "Castrate the m*********er", John is not about to force it in the worst way possible. Of course, the key word is "may". However, only time will tell because John is more of a solver compared to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's planner style. It's a bit like comparing Zhou Yu with Zhang Zhao, Cheng Yu with Xun Yu, or Fa Zheng with Zhuge Liang. But definitely never even 1/10 as impressive.
They said three aspects of the world are what sustains it in three different ways. The Nine Circles sustain the aspect of reality. The Four Deums sustain the aspect of seasons. As for the Twenty-Six Runes, they sustain the aspect of climate. Reality is the cause of seasons, seasons are defined by climate. This is the natural order of things through which the supernatural is conceived. Without the Nine Circles, the Four Deums cannot exist. Without the Four Deums, the Twenty-Six Runes can never come into being. Without the three, magic cannot be created. As for lacking one or two out of the three, such a thing will never happen. For the Map cannot unmake what made it in the first place, what created it has no reason to commit an act defying the need to survive.
The Twenty-Six Runes as listed below:
Ark: Rune of beginning Bos: Rune of life Cre: Rune of melting Dri: Rune of surging Eld: Rune of Wood Flo: Rune of Water Gon: Rune of Earth Hil: Rune of destruction Irr: Rune of surging Jov: Rune of passion Kan: Rune of Wood Lit: Rune of Air Mar: Rune of Fire Nid: Rune of harvesting Oin: Rune of adversity Per: Rune of death Que: Rune of Metal Rav: Rune of Air Sor: Rune of Earth Twi: Rune of nothing Und: Rune of death Val: Rune of hope Wod: Rune of Metal Xar: Rune of Air Yir: Rune of Water Zif: Rune of oblivion The relevance of deums:
Because the relationship between the Three Aspects can never be undone or altered, magic is also governed by the same relationship. Because climate defines seasons, the respective sets of runes also indicate the relevant deum in the form of various aspects of that very season. Below is the list of which set of runes fall under which deum: Runes under the deum of Earrach-Bos, Cre, Dri, Eld, Flo, Gon Runes under the deum of Samhradh-Hil, Irr, Jov, Kan, Lit, Mar Runes under the deum of Fómhar-Nid, Oin, Per, Que, Rav, Sor Runes under the deum of Geimhreadh-Twi, Und, Val, Wod, Xar, Yir Runes under the axis of Nihilo-Ark, Zif The usage of runes:
Rather than a fixed form of supernatural phenomenon (for this is the true form of magic rather than just a show of unnatural power), runes are effectively words bringing such phenomena to life. Because what is supernatural cannot be conceived by natural means, either there has to be a substitute to what is natural or something else to aid a natural mind which otherwise would be unable to do so.
This is where runes come in. No rune can be used singularly. There must be two runes used at the same time. There are two types of runes under any deum: Effect and Element. To create magic, one effect rune and one element rune must be used. No other combination is allowed, for magic is, in fact, an unpredictable force if conceived in the wrong manner.
The usage of runes from two different deums concerning thaumaturgy:
It is, in fact, doable despite scholars arguing over whether it can be done. However, only effect runes can be used in this manner.
The importance of element runes:
Element runes not only are the other half when it comes to magic. It is also the mark of the user. Every individual is tied to one specific deum, a decision made since birth by some random force at work. Therefore, which deum an individual is tied to is shown via which element runes can be used by that person.
List of effect runes under each deum: Earrach-Bos, Cre, Dri Samhradh-Hil, Irr, Jov Fómhar-Nid, Oin, Per Geimhreadh-Twi, Und, Val List of element runes under each deum: Earrach-Eld, Flo, Gon Samhradh-Kan, Lit, Mar Fómhar-Que, Rav, Sor Geimhreadh-Wod, Xar, Yir Representation of effect runes:
Instead of a specific effect, an effect rune represents a certain aspect of the deum it is tied under. Because runes symbolise the climate, hence effect runes represent the relevant aspect of the seasonal climate. Below is the list of effect runes and what each of them represents: Bos: Life represents what sustains all living creatures, it is the blooming of flowers and sprouting of leaves. The rune of Bos is used in healing thaumaturgy. Cre: Melting represents what happens after winter has passed, it is the conversion of ice and frost to water. The rune of Cre is used in any thaumaturgy involving the removal of harmful effects. Dri: Surging represents the overabundance of good things, it is a reminder to all that too much of what is good is never good. The rune of Dri is used in overloading thaumaturgy in the same way how too much power can impede progress. Hil: Destruction represents the possible worst in summer, for it is also a season of storms. The rune of Hil is used for thaumaturgic powers causing direct damage. Irr: Surging during the summer may look the same as surging during spring. However, summer is a season of unbridled energy. Hence, surging in the case of Irr actually involves the kind of overloading thaumaturgy that results in damage. An effect resembling a fire gone out of control rather than a fire meant to destroy. Jov: Passion is what summer is all about, for energy and emotions are intrinsically tied to each other. The rune of Jov is used in thaumaturgy dealing with mental and physical strengthening in every possible aspect. Nid: Harvest is where little or plenty is gathered into the barn house. As harvesting is all about taking in order to survive, the rune of Nid involves taking something from the outside to sustain what is inside. Oin: Adversity points to where autumn is leading the world. It is about forbearance in days of difficulty. The rune of Oin is used in thaumaturgy adding strength to weakness instead of strengthening what is already strong. Per: Death in autumn is the process itself. It is a reminder of what all life must go through and enter with no chance of return. The rune of Per is used in taking the life out of another bit by bit, drop by drop. Not for the sake of sustaining, but for the sake of ending. Twi: Nothing is what winter is telling everyone. Compared to other seasons, there is nothing to be seen during winter. The rune of Twi is used to reduce the existent to the non-existent and maintain what is non-existent in its current state. Not life itself, but rather magic. Und: Death in winter is never a process but the absolute end. This is what separates winter from autumn in this area. The rune of Und is never about the attempt to take a life. Rather, it is akin to the death sentence being announced and carried out. Val: Hope is what remains during winter. A hope for spring, that like all things shall fade, all things shall come back again. The rune of Val is the only power standing between woe and a reverse in fortune. It is a force capable of impeding the strength of enemies, a power lending fortitude to allies and self alike. The usage of actual elements:
Elements, in this case, refer to the actual ones dictated by nature. They are fire, earth, water, air, lightning, and ice. These elements have nothing to do with the runes or deums. Rather, they are always at the disposal of the user when it comes to thaumaturgy. The usage is classified into two types: Litera and Figura. Litera refers to using and shaping elements in their original form. Figura is all about using the essence of elements instead of form. An example of the former would be conjuring a massive conflagration while the latter example would be speeding up the user's physical movement speed.
P.S: Brain is empty at the moment. Will be doing more soon. Hopefully. At the same time, there's a need to sleep earlier due to something on every Tuesday starting from tomorrow. Therefore, John has to do his routine stuff for Neverwinter Online. To end this post, John decides to up two videos. The latter is Rin summoning her Archer, the former is the kind of song John would imagine for that very scene.
It was a fire invading her right eye socket, a pain countless times worse than the hell her tormentors subjected her to. Yet, Weisslynn chose to persist. Someone must pay for his crimes. He slaughtered those she called sisters, he destroyed her hope for a new life. Even though that kind and brave boy nearly pulled her away from the pit of despair and vengeance, his innocent chivalry wasn’t enough. Perhaps she did harbour feelings for him, but all were for naught. That smile of his… Gael deserves someone much better than her now that she made her choice. Lolyx’s fire would surely rein him in. Adine’s kindness would make him more considerate of his actions. As for Seelia, it seemed that she would always be amused by his misdeeds in a way no other man could.
)0(
“This is retarded. Why must I sit here with you just because you did something dumb again?”
Catterm Leen is clearly unamused by yet another act of stupidity committed by Gael Kodr. Hamm Berker wasn’t the most pleasant person alive in the world. In fact, the redhead is convinced that imbecile of an intellectual’s son is still a living jackass, the key word being living. Always boasting about his sexual conquests, he ended up playing with fire and got himself burnt. It was one thing talking about willing parties, an absolute disaster when it came to penetration forced. The punishment was extremely violent, no one could have imagined the day where Gael would play the judge.
The wrathful fury was beyond control, no one dared to hold him back. Even Catterm felt a chill travelling along the spine and into his heart. A single punch across the skull was to be the beginning of Gael’s verdict. Despite being half a head shorter, the sandy blond choked his quarry while a knee pinned the victim onto the ground. With nary a shred of pity, Gael balled his right hand into a vicious fist. The resultant assault wasn’t a fast barrage of hits. Every punch was like a stroke of an executioner’s axe, deliberate and forceful was every blow. It took the timely intervention of Garev Southgate and another officer to restrain the avatar of raging righteousness. Even then, Gael’s chilling roar forced Garev to knock him out. Hamm Berker was lucky. Any other lad of a smaller build could have been killed. As for Gael’s expression, it was nothing less than the twisted visage of a monstrous beast. This was what truly seized Catterm’s nerves, not the assailant’s deed itself.
“Gael, she’s back.”
“Huh?”
The sandy blond’s stupefied expression amuses Seelia to no end. When was the last time she felt like a normal girl living a normal life? Who was the last person making it possible? A brief moment and the only answer she can come up with is none. Someone like him deserves a good life. After all, she still believes in one good turn deserving another, that a good person will, in the end, live a good life. Even though it is more about chances gifted in a world where reality is nothing more than a cruel man’s game. As for Weisslynn… her haunted look reminded the redhead of someone close to her yet remaining so distant. Ever since Lolyx’s father took her in, Arondight was nowhere to be seen. It now seems that a past defined by rape and a saviour guarding her hence after is no more than a page in her story. And to think her dream was to be a teller of stories where children would crowd around eager to hear the latest work. Perhaps it’s not yet over, that there’s still a story waiting to be told. Not a story of a defiled maiden reclaiming her life in the end, but rather the tale of how a boy one day becomes a lion amongst men. Less than a month passed since she arrived to this place, but it’s as if she managed to see more than a year’s worth of Gael Kodr. Such is the extent of one man’s honesty compared to the rest, mayhap even the world itself. And to think it started from a farcical episode which nearly got her accidentally groped.
“Weisslynn is back. And she wants to see you.”
Before Seelia’s reply, Gael and Catterm can only look at each other like two kids hauled up for something they never did. Then Gael’s forehead receives a rap.
“Hey, what’s that for, Catts?”
“Whack me, Gael. Prove to me that I’m not smoking something weird.”
“Okay, Catts. If you said so.”
)0(
A place for carousing and whoring, such is the venue chosen by a sellsword. While most brothels are found in the nether regions of the Empire, exceptions do exist. The White Spilling Mead is not one of them. The daily scenario is nothing short of chaotic, one woman shared by three men a common sight here and there. Morals are fine not so long people are not offended, but so long people never care. This is the kind of world Aeravor lives in, the very world he is meant to be an enemy of. The irony is never more evident, like a gleaming sword under the sun it has always revealed the truth. He is never the judge but the accuser, not the sword but the mirror. And no monster would ever want to look at its own reflection, a reflection cast by Contra Mundum.
“There you are, arsehole.”
Such a greeting would have been answered with a stab in the gut from the Vánagandr. But not for Brynhilda’s case. The leader of the famed Valkyries knows this lone wolf. Far better than the judgmental fakes she’s used to seeing, regardless of man or woman. The mockery put forth by reality isn’t lost to her. Why should it be a man with whom she’s comfortable? Every member of the Valkyries used to be nothing more than a woman mercilessly used as a toy. Hence all choose to be merciless mercenaries in a reality justifying their lot in life, be it the past, present, or the future. Not to prove they’re more righteous or even more powerful, but to be free in a world no different from an ever-burning crucible. There’s nothing more liberating than earning their keep with might and steel, nothing more worthwhile than a reputation both men and women fear and hold in awe. This is why she’s so comfortable with Aeravor. His mannerism reflects both her subordinates and herself despite being a whoremonger, his blatant mockery reserved for every person’s facade is nothing less than a trait she appreciates. Not in a lover, for tales of love are to be damned in the Seven Hells. That is if such a thing exist. But an ideal comrade in times of war and peace Brynhilda sees in this deplorable scoundrel. A pity that Aeravor is a man, not a woman. Indeed the world is never fair.
“All hail the mad bitch of mad bitches,” smirks the ranger, his back slightly reclined despite sitting on a stool instead of a chair.
“Stop showing off your great sense of balance,” scoffs the raven-haired woman dressed in a simple garb of tunic, pants, and boots, “I won’t be surprised if those elves can do equally good, if not better.”
“You didn’t remove your eyepatch.”
“Bandage.”
“Eyepatch, bandage, or dishcloth… makes no difference,” shrugs Aeravor dismissively, “That’s why every mad bitch looks the same.”
“You’re madder than me, Aeravor. So stop acting like a judge,” snaps Brynhilda.
“I never say I’m less mad than you. Because that’d be like saying I’m more righteous than some man of the gods,” grins the shameless sellsword, “Let alone a judge.”
Brynhilda can only give a throaty laugh, the loudness of her mirth nonetheless drowned out by moans from those dishing it out and screams from those taking it. Never once has this wolf of a man failed to humour her, this was why she faked her displeasure.
“Anyway, sorry for asking you out here. Should have been somewhere else.”
“Sorry? You being a gentleman? The nobility got shafted,” snorts the athletic warrior in derision. Then a pair of wandering hands grabbed her breasts. Much to Aeravor’s amusement.
Rising from her seat, Brynhilda already dislocated the fool’s right elbow. Not allowing him to hit the floor, a rough hand held him by the shoulder and a violent grip latched onto his crotch. The ruffian’s gaping look of wide-eyed shock and pain is too much for Aeravor to handle, his booming laughter silencing everybody else in the whorehouse.
“Look at every fellow whoremonger and his whore, cretin. Look at them and tell me their faces.”
The offensive man can only shake his head violently, his pants visibly wet. Brynhilda is able to differentiate between the warmth of blood and that of urine. He’s definitely oozing piss.
“Let go. We are not here to castrate men.”
Brynhilda promptly releases her vice-like grip as Aeravor’s humour warps into a frown. A hooded man saunters into the brothel, every step resulting in people backing off. His cloak and cowl are of cobalt blue, a chainmail shirt visible underneath. The rest of his clothing is green and olive, his knee-high boots leather and grey. With fluid grace, he grabs a nearby stool with nary a heed paid to a patron’s glowering stare. A hand grabs him by the edge of his cloak, an angry look demanding either an apology, compensation, or most likely both. A bandaged hand takes down the hood, it belongs to him and not the aggressor. A fair elven visage stares back, his emerald eyes devoid of emotions. Anger soon melted into quaking fear, for a deathly chill invades a wrathful man’s innermost being. ‘Tis like staring at a dead person who happened to be death itself, its cold invisible fingers wrapped around the neck. In the end, the patron has no other options. Like a dog running off with its tail tucked between the legs, he hurries away.
“A good thing I don’t have to stain my blade,” sighs the flaxen-haired elf, his elven sabre sheathed placed on the table.
“This is the one who told me to meet him here,” pointing an accusing finger at the elf, Aeravor’s gaze never strayed beyond the emotionless Homm’Nua, “So blame him for this embarrassing moment, Yvian Lews.”
Annoyance sinks its teeth into Brynhilda, for every leader of the Valkyries is named as such for a reason. Like every Brynhilda, she is not to even whisper her own name once she assumed this very mantle. Then again, Yvian Lews is an unwanted reminder of the life she’s had. But Aeravor isn’t one to test her temper when it comes to this. Why he’s never insane enough to do so despite capable of unpredictable deeds, she will never know. But whatever knowledge she has is good enough. After all, sellswords are meant to be pragmatic for a reason. And besides, this may well be just another way of expressing unpredictability.
“Can you tell me why, Roin?”
Choosing not to answer Brynhilda, Roin de Bladefort opts to ask a question of his own towards Aeravor.
“You stabbed a beggar three days ago. Why?”
“Because I felt like it? I think I really did it, though.”
“Think? You think?”
The atmosphere becomes a state of tension. Even though patrons and harlots alike have already gone back to their activities, Brynhilda’s instinct as a hardened warrior told her the actual situation is never that simple. And now, this. She is no stranger to Aeravor’s savagery in battle. As for the leader of Elfstein, she saw him in combat only once when negotiations went poorly between them and some Teutonian baron. She was there as the Valkyries preferred these elves and half-elves to those lecherous drunks known as the Men of Redmarch. A single stroke was all he needed to sever the life from his opponent, a champion decked in full plate armour chosen by his liege. The fluidity wasn’t something a living being should be capable of, the slicing motion not just a case of keenness of an elven sword. Roin de Bladefort is a monster. End of argument.
“I assume you were hidden under the Shroud of Hati,” says Roin, his arms folded, “Otherwise, the locals would be talking about your looks.”
“Did it matter? No?”
“If a Vanir was around, then yes.”
Turning to face Brynhilda, Aeravor sends a wry smile in her direction as his reply to Roin’s statement. He knows what a Vanir can do under circumstances like this. The Shroud of Hati is able to fool many with its illusion, but that is due to many are those normal. A Vanir is anything but that, for a normal person is unable to do what is beyond natural. The Vanir are the closest people to the Age of Renown when magic used to be a common sight, individuals capable of thaumaturgy and metallurgy like elves and dwarves. And Brynhilda happens to be one. As for whether another can be found nearby, the Vánagandr cares not.
“There’s an entrance leading to the cult’s headquarters,” abruptly changing the subject, Roin sees no need to engage in a pointless war of words, “A temple, in their words.”
Eyes of azure blue narrowed, Aeravor decides not to pick a fight. At least not right here and now. Unlike Edeaux de Serpentwine, there’s no reason for any deal to be done between Elfstein and Utnapishtim. Apart from his reasoning, that one thing honed by years of living out his inner world is the cause of why something doesn’t feel right. Intuition may not be the best choice for others, but it has served Aeravor well in circumstances involving people. Perhaps Erik was right after all, that his greatest gift is the kind of sixth sense only a lone beast untamed can truly have.
You better not be behind this, Ineis.
)0(
Left speechless before Weisslynn, the sandy blond’s inner self wages war against a blank state of mind. He tried finding something to say, alas not a single word turned up. In terms of appearance, the only notable change is a bandage covering her right eye and the surrounding area. Her left eye visible is the reason why Gael detects something terribly amiss. It’s like seeing a person robbed of her soul, yet still wanting to live on with dignity. Even though he never came across anyone in this situation before, something in him asserts that Weisslynn has become this kind of person. For a brief moment, her emptiness feels like a mirror before him. Then that feeling of beholding a reflection is gone.
Must be Catts using too much force on me. Good thing I paid him back good.
“So anything to say?”
The moment those words came off his tongue, Gael realises he deserves to be slapped. Here is a girl whose circumstances are obviously bad, if not likelier worse than somebody dead due to self-idiocy. How could he say such a thing?
“No,” shaking her head, Weisslynn gives a wistful smile, “I just want to make sure you’re still alive.”
“Of course, I’m still alive!” exclaims Gael, “Did you see a bear chewing me up? No?”
“That moron!” hisses Catterm as he together with some others remain hidden at a corner, “If he’s not my bud, I’d have flayed him like a dead cat.”
“You’ve been saying that for years,” retorts Lolyx, her chagrin reflecting that of Catterm, “Let me help you. That idiot is your bud, but Weisslynn’s my sister.”
“No need for that,” Seelia’s reply throws everyone else off guard, Adine included, “Weisslynn would have screamed at him if she’s offended.”
Adine knows the accuracy of Seelia’s observation, for predicting a person’s reaction can be easy at times. A surge of jealousy flows inside her despite rationality denying its legitimacy, for how can one, man or woman, so easily resist an emotional onslaught?
“Apologies, Weisslynn. I’m late.”
A stranger’s voice alerts those present, Weisslynn giving a nod in reply. The woman is tall and athletic, her features neither unsightly nor comely. Her raven black hair is tied in a short ponytail, the bandage covering part of her face is the exact same as Weisslynn’s. Her throaty voice is a tone of authority, a short sword belted at the waist. Beside her, a girl around Weislynn’s age carries a long pole wrapped in grey cloth. As one accustomed to wielding weapons, Gael recognises the form of a spear. Yet, the cloth isn’t affected by the fact that it is covering the blade.
“I have to go now. Thanks for meeting me. We won’t face each other again,” smiles Weisslynn, her visage one of regret, “At least I hope not.”
“What’s going on here?” demanding answers from a woman never bothering to introduce herself, Gael finds himself restrained by Catterm.
“Let it go, Gael!” snaps the redhead as the rest look on with the same worry, “Just let her go, will ya?”
For a moment, Catterm believed his words worked against a friend infamous for his foolhardiness. Then a grip of iron closes around his neck, a violent force tossing him onto a table. The resultant force knocked the breath from his lungs, its impact breaking the furniture of wood.
The chains are now shattered, a beast unleashed against the target of his wrath. Making strides towards the one-eyed woman, Gael lashes out with a vicious punch. Only to have his attack intercepted in the most brutal manner.
The boy has a good look, for his eyes are simmering with an impressive rage. Brynhilda takes an instant liking to that sandy blond, she knows at least a bit why Weisslynn insisted on saying her final farewell to an ordinary lad. Never before has she seen a man willing to commit murder for a woman he barely knew, never mind the fact this brash youth has yet to do so. As one who has taken countless lives to survive and thrive in a world bereft of mercy and grace, she’s able to differentiate on the merit of instinct alone whether someone is a person of the sword. That’s where all good things end. The boy behaved like a man, but he’s nothing more than a cub acting like a lion baring its fangs.
A sickening crunch enters the ears of every listener, even Catterm is reduced to a person overtaken by horror. One hand grabbed the fist, the other shattered Gael’s attacking arm. Blinding pain sears his senses, like white-hot iron branding his mind it empties his soul.
An eternity… an eternity of nothingness. Something within Gael tells him this is what death feels like. Yet, the very same feeling also tells him this is what life feels like. Life and death… death and life… which one comes first and which one comes last? He sees a scene, a damning scene. The girl looks like Seelia, but with longer hair. Wicked men are raping her. Then one of them brandishes a sword. Gael screams out, but the loud voice so oft-ridiculed by Catterm and Lolyx fails him. Off goes her head, down goes her naked body, and out from their lips twisted praises of perverse zeal. Then an animal roars inside him. He can hear it clearly. Gael Kodr can hear it perfectly clear. ‘Tis a raging lion tearing against its bonds, incessant fury demanding to be uncaged.
If one arm is broken, then use the other. If both arms are broken, then kick out like a raging steed. Even if one leg is left, even if he is to be killed, Gael Kodr will die with his dignity unbroken. Because it is not right, it is not right for him to die like a dog. To the Seven Hells with logic! To the Seven Hells with danger! To the Seven Hells with death!
)0(
Aeravor feels a tight grip around his heart, the force threatening to wring out every last drop of blood from it. Incessant swearing erupts from his mouth. This is not good. And to think he managed to bed the best whore for a long time. Swatting away the comely harlot’s pawing hand as he put back on his clothes, the Vánagandr can only cuss aloud at his luck. After all, he did pay her for three days’ worth of pleasure, not less than one.
Redcart and that kid… I shouldn’t have saved that little pain in the arse.
)0(
“Hey, pervert! Tanee and I are getting married soon. Hey, pervert! You hear me?”
Before Flaive’s hollering voice, Lars Alterfate pays no attention. Something is tingling inside him. And he knows the source. Years have passed since the tragedy at Redcart and no one involved would ever want to be haunted by its spectre again. Alas, fate decided to deal a card from its hand, its name called mockery. Aeravor did save the child, but Lars still holds himself accountable for a reason.
This doesn’t feel good. And to think I told that cowardly bloke to get the boy a new home.
“Hey, perv…”
Lars Alterfate disappears abruptly, the demon hunter disintegrating himself into a murder of crows. Flaive is left dumbfounded, his expression gaping at empty air. Tanee is just behind him, her eyes exposing nothing bar shock. As for Hannya, he can only place a palm on his face in frustration. Once again, he has to hypnotise people again.
)0(
“That traitor! He finally arrives,” growls Arondight as he gets up from his seat of mossy rock. The glee he never felt for so long is back, at last Seelia will be avenged and protected. That thrice damned turncoat must pay for his sin, a crime no different from the highest treason.
“Sorry, you’re getting nowhere.”
Only Tristan Aias stands between a mad knight and something happening within the city walls of Tenseas. He has been keeping an eye on this raging force of nature for a reason. Events from the past surrounding Redcart intrigued the Sudhlit to no end, his sharp ears always picking up random information sending him on errands for no reason beyond boredom. Assumptions were made, mayhap accuracy favours one conjecture or the other. But no conclusion can ever be done without enough evidence. Hence, the military genius known as the Southern Fox remains interested in whatever fateful events transpired on that day.
“Get lost, black man,” growls the hulking force of physical rage.
“No blacker than your armour and wrath wedded, good Ser,” bows Tristan, his smile taunting Arondight’s words. If insults are common to those without rights, then Tristan has heard the worst and mocked the speakers.
Well, this is getting more fun than just trying to save the nobility.
)0(
The crudely made figurine abruptly reveals a crack, overwhelming unease erupting inside Alestrial Eliaden. While an absurd attempt at art has resulted in a poorly done caricature, the Cinha nevertheless treasures it. Gael is never a man of arts and craft, his drawings can only be described as doodling. Yet, this was his final gift to her, a present expressing his sincere desire for the best in an arranged marriage not of her own prayer.
Then a commotion is heard outside. Looking out from the window, Alestrial recognises the source as the tavern run by Adine’s father, the clearest proof of Gael’s future.
Dear Father above, let no ill fortune befall Gael. For a good and righteous man is he.
)0(
Brynhilda’s eyes widen, not in shock but with surprise. The boy’s eyes retain their sapphire blue, but the fire of berserk wrath burns unmistakably true. The right arm was broken, his left fist nearly crashes against her temple. With one hand hindering a broken limb, the leader of the Valkyries released her grip and dodged. A poor decision, for she should have thrown him onto the ground instead. That would have won the fight. However, victories are never secured by errors forced or unforced, but through the number of those rectified on time.
Then the same fist closes in again, this time aiming for her nose. A deft flick brings forth shiny steel, a short sword embeds itself into the assailant’s wrist. Buried to the hilt, Brynhilda declares the fight won. Then a foot is firmly planted onto her leather boot. Eyes narrowed against a raging beast, Brynhilda cannot allow the surprise element to supplant her calm. If she must be struck, let no weakness be shown. Then again, which part of the body can he use? If it’s the leg, her free hand can restrain him and stage a counter-throw.
Gael Kodr snaps his head forward, the collision sending reverberations into the skull. His focus never dulled by the invasion, the sandy blond attempts another vicious head-butt. Then a sharp pain enters his gut. Gritting his teeth, the sandy blond tears himself away from the battle. Blood is now flowing freely from a gaping wound, a crimson flood rather than a trickle of red.
Incensed beyond measure, Brynhilda gnashes her teeth. While she appreciated the lad’s show of unbridled fury, that respect is now usurped by humiliation. While she still has more than enough to take down the boy in mere moments, taking a hit from some lowly brawler is always a blasphemy rather than an insult. Laying hold on a weapon masked by linen, she decides the end is nigh.
As her hand grips the shaft, a rippling force pulsates inside her. From flesh to bones and from the heart to the mind, this feeling is not an illusion. Brynhilda is struck by a stroke of bewilderment. The message is clear: That lad is the desired wielder of a Grail known as the Golden Thorn of Mortality and Crimson Barb of Fatality, a spear which is like a coin with two different sides.
Damn it… damn that boy’s shitty dumb luck!
Then a flash of silver streaks forth, a chain piercing Gael through the shoulder. A spike is attached at the end, the cause of injury pinned onto the ground. Crows flock past a flabbergasted Brynhilda, the cawing birds converging to form a handsome man blessed with the complexion of ivory. The sight is a familiar one to Lolyx. It’s that perverted man whose choice of clothing reflected his loose morals.
“Rapist!” screams Lolyx, her outburst leaving everyone save Brynhilda, Gael, and Lars Alterfate with a perplexed face.
“No, I’m not,” answers the demon hunter, his visage akin to a grim warrior than the light-hearted scoundrel Lolyx is used to, “Let the boy live or I’ll kill you.”
“I have a Grail,” sneers Brynhilda, “One of gold and red.”
“So do I. It’s called the Chains of Judgement.”
“Prove to me you’re not lying. How can a mortal, Vanir or otherwise, afford to wield this monstrous tool?”
Before Brynhilda’s retort, Lars Alterfate can only give a sigh. Why must his hand be forced against a woman instead of a man? Extending his right arm with index and middle fingers extended, his eyes warp into those of a cat or reptile.
“LARS!”
“Ah, Ji’s hero arrives,” smiles Lars as he breaks off the duel. Eyes of gold revert to normal, a sorrowful man revealing himself, “Acceleration thaumaturgy, I see.”
Weisslynn’s eyes widened in a union of anger and terror, her teeth gritted in the name of vengeance. Here he is, the bastard who is the cause of her misfortune and tragedy. That unforgivable monster finally shows up. At last, her moment of justice!
Before Aeravor can answer Lars, a maniacal scream pierces the sky. Brynhilda is able to restrain her subordinate whose hand is gripping tightly a gleaming dagger. That girl is young. Young enough to be an apprentice whore, but definitely not young enough to fight a battle. Then she breaks down sobbing in her commander’s arms. As Brynhilda gives Aeravor a dirty glare, the ranger gives a nonchalant shrug.
Don’t give me that look because I don’t know what’s going on. But that little pain in the arse… I guess he’s the pissed off one chained by Lars.
)0(
Glossary:
The nobility got shafted: A slang which is the equivalent of the expression "blow me down". Inspiration wise, nothing to do with Crazy Rich Asians.
Tenseas: One of the three main cities of Teslaide, the other two being Saltsea and Cleftland. It is also where the seat of the governor is situated. Inspired by the state of Tennessee naming wise.
Additional notes:
1. Hamm Berker was the result of my dark humour acting up. The reason why being some distressing stuff I've come across recently. It's never fun to be reminded why Emiya Kiritsugu was so obsessed with justice unto the extreme and most bitter end.
2. Originally, I intended Brynhilda to be a mere sideshow character. Somehow or another, I accidentally pulled off a Sacchin/Illya. Type-Moon fans should understand what I'm saying. For the rest, let's just say I gave her so much more than just a show of force.
3. The self-critical part in me can't help but wonder if the feminists will cry foul over how the female gender is "portrayed" in this chapter. The politically incorrect foreigner in me ended up giving the correct answer. In other words, why should I care? This is one of those moments where I'm thankful for being a Singaporean. 4. Arondight calling Tristan Aias "black man" was indeed racist. As for the source of inspiration, it's called taking the Americaporean subway. 5. Initially, Yvian Lews was named Dany Lews. Then I realised that sounds way too patronising. So I decided to do a Total Recall. Took me quite a while. 6. The traumatic part on Gael's vision wasn't inspired by any religion. Rather, it's inspired by ISIS. End of story, zero conspiracy theories.
Originally, John wondered whether he should just break out from his character by putting this under Breaking Character. Then he realised it's much better to put it under Drifting. Because by doing so, more topics can be placed under this label. And besides, history is meant to be more serious. After all, there's a reason why many an American (note that John said many, not all) has never progressed beyond the American Civil War. Offensive as it sounds, it could have been worse. Try asking an Asian, John dares you.
Please note that Emiya Kiritsugu was the only Asian in this scene. Also, John needs to start watching Fate/Zero asap. The DVDs are waiting for John like the Holy Grail waiting for Kiritsugu.
In other news, we got The Return of the King (and Queen). Okay, it's not. The only reason behind this statement isn't about the King of the North and his beloved Queen of the South. Rather, no one expected this vid to do an Aragorn.
Seriously... are you really Sirius?
Let John give the verdict here: Sirius the Jaeger is an enjoyable watch (at least for the first episode). IMDb (not to be confused with 1MDB) gave a modest 6.7 out of 10. However, it must also be stated that it's a movie rating site instead of an anime rating one. In fact, it seemed that Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works was one of the very few to buck the trend so far with a score of 8.1 out of 10. That's like 0.6 higher than Wonder Woman despite the plaudits. Maybe it's due to Archer's humanity instead of how GAR he is. Or maybe it's the theme of contradiction expressed in the form of the protagonist Emiya Shirou, something which Hollywood has never tried before (then again, Hollywood is never known to do philosophy). After all, it's safe to say that Magic Kinoko does do philosophical themes like a boss (e.g. Tsukihimeand Notes). Maybe that's a major factor behind his friendship with Urobutcher Gen, hence the great and awesome work known as Fate/Zero.
As a vampire-themed anime, there's nothing much in terms of originality. You have vampires attempting a global takeover (something which read like #MAGA plus Darwinism). That's not original. You have the cliched eternal struggle between vampires and werewolves. Might as well watch the Underworld movies and read Twilight. Pedigree wise, Sirius the Jaeger is no Hellsing Ultimate where Alucard was truly more than just a soulless OP protagonist.
Just discovered Hellsing Ultimate is yet another anime scoring more than Wonder Woman. 8.3 out of 10 to be exact. This is proof that we Asians can be just as creative as our counterparts in the West.
But Sirius the Jaeger can be quite enjoyable if you decide to lower your standard. If it makes people feel better, human creativity is never a case of six-day creation. We're not God.
Badass fighting scenes
Sirius the Jaeger's main draw lies in the awesome fighting scene. Despite being more than just a few steps too late to save the (non-white) damsels in distress, Yuliy made sure vengeance was still exacted on Broc... erm, John means the vampires. Of course, there's no moral logic behind the bestial retribution involved. Just pure carnage. Plenty of blood, but no guts were spilt in the process. This makes Sirius the Jaeger more of the shonen fare. Yet. it must be stated that in a certain way, the first fight felt like more like the seinen fare. It's a compliment. As it turned out, Sirius the Jaeger managed to maintain this very high standard of shonen warfare.
Interesting BGM
The music is totally cool. In an era where the likes of Taylor "hopefully not Swiftly gone in 60 secs" Swift and Justin "yet another Canadian Justin" Bieber are the famous names, no one gives a damn to the likes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Let alone Shalynn "not Jolin" Tsai playing the violin. While the correct Tsai wasn't in charge of doing the OST, StJ truly gave us listeners a very big surprise. Violin is the theme of the BGM game. No matter which music entered your ears, the violin would be there. It's very rare to have an anime OST running on a violin theme. In fact, StJ has to be the first in John's (non-existent) life featuring the correct Tsai's musical instrument. Not that she's a fan of stuff like Love Hina, Naruto, and (the baddest of them all) Berserk anyway. At least John's pretty sure she's NOT a fan of Miura Doragonkoroshitaro or Urobutcher Gen. And you think anime and manga are only for kids while Hollywood movies are for adults?
One interesting aspect of the anime lies in the Jaegers' choice of cover. Unlike America, carrying weapons in plain sight was nothing short of dodgy during the Shōwa period. You couldn't carry them in plain sight. That's why as weapon-bearing gaijins, the Jaegers needed some semblance of cover. Their preferred choice? The correct Tsai's preferred musical instrument case (seriously, John is enjoying himself here). In fact, Philip actually played the violin during the opening scene at Shanghai. Much to the delight of a random Chinese little girl for some reason. And did John mention Philip's great command of Mandarin despite being white and British? Even though it's only two words: 给你. And you think SPG is some unique national culture of Singapore?
A foreshadowing of things to come?
Episode 1 was full of three things: Badass fighting, Yuliy's inner world, and foreshadowing. In fact, the foreshadowing was effectively the tool where Yuliy's character was concerned. John will come to that later. For this part, three things will be touched upon: Dude Wonder Kershner's Darwinistic speech, opium dens, and Willard's actual identity.
First, Dude Wonder Kershner. America has Boy Wonder Kushner, the vampires got Dude Wonder Kershner. The latter was clearly a sophisticated gentleman capable of political speech and beyond. In fact, his speech about saving the vampires and the world via Darwin's logic of the jungle did sound political. It's like somebody saying "Let's build bridges!" or another somebody saying "Let's make America great again!" It's the same thing, Dude Wonder or no Dude Wonder. One could see Dude Wonder Kershner as a master manipulator albeit his right-hand woman (?) Agatha Christie pointing out his tendency to lose control once he got too damn high like the rents in New York.
So what was his Darwinistic speech all about? Was it just empty talk like what cynics always said about politicians? Or was it something more insidious? Like Hitler talking or Stalin speaking?
This comes to the opium den scene. Why opium den? It's not as if we're watching an anime based on the life of the great Asian evangelist John Sung Shang Chieh. In fact, using opium den as the background felt counter-intuitive. Was it supposed to be a pointless Easter Egg or something so much more than a mere Easter bunny conjured out from a hat? You'd be surprised at what John has to say later.
And lastly, Willard's actual identity. He's human, right? Surely he's no werewolf because he's not Asian in the first place! After all, werewolves in the world of StJ were... well, Asians. In fact, Yuliy could be seen as part-Asian due to the geographic relationship between Central Asia and Eastern Europe (note that Yuliy was, in fact, an East European name). However, it was implied that Willard might have visited Japan much earlier. It's not just his understanding of the Japanese way of nationalism. More importantly, his conversation with whoever the who's who in Japanese politics seemed to expose so much more than a mere foreigner around Bill Haslam's age. More specifically, there's this implying that Willard might have actually visited Japan as early as the Tokugawa era where protectionism began much earlier than Donald Trump's day of birth and isolation being far earlier than the Korean War. This is NOT fake news out to slander Japan. You can ask any Japanese, Aragaki "not Gaki no Tsukai" Yui or no Aragaki "not Gaki no Tsukai" Yui, whether that's the case in actual history after the Battle of Sekigahara.
Edit: It's either something's not right with Willard's existence or it's due to whatever post-World War 1 fallout. Come to think of it, it's very likely the latter. Ignore whatever John said above here unless something else happens in the plot.
The Latin word for Art is...
Ars. No, this is not some sick joke made at the expense of girls. Because there's no letter e in the first place. Ars in Latin is art. Or technique. For Yuliy, ars is not about how badass his fighting technique was. Ars, in Yuliy's case, is actually ARS. A for Aloof, R for Reckless, and S for Smart.
Let's talk about the A first. Aloof. This was clearly shown in the scene where the Jaegers earned a luxurious cruise to Japan. The conversation between Yuliy and Willard was brief. But his look was effectively one of a person who never belonged to the world around him. It's like a Singaporean who has always been emotionally detached from his nation despite the fanfare of National Day and the ongoing debate about politicians' pay. It's also like a Christian whose inner world was always a great distance between himself and whoever sitting beside him every Sunday. In an organisation stressing teamwork (and most likely bonding as well), Yuliy was that anomaly. He's exactly the StJ equivalent of a wolf living in a nation known as the Lion City. It's not that he's someone spoiling for a fight. Rather, he never cared. Why? Because he implied clearly that he has never belonged to his surroundings in the first place. Which wasn't entirely inaccurate, to be fair.
Next, Reckless. If the Jaegers could be compared to a pack of wolves (an analogy implied by Willard), then Yuliy was that lone wolf. A maverick who never failed to make people wonder how fast his death would arrive when it came to the vampires. In fact, he hated them so much, one could liken his hatred to that of an outraged gentleman in the face of racist vampiresand those impeding the #MeToo movement. The beginning scene of kicking vampiric ass and cutting them apart (i.e. the vampires, not the ass) wasn't there to tell you how badass Yuliy was meant to be. He's reckless. And if you think he's the reason why the dead Chinese girls were successfully avenged, think again. You have Philip, a Mexican (?) Dorothea, and a Fallon who looked like Jimmy "not Kimmel" Fallon opening fire like les pros. So no, Yuliy wasn't the reason why an army of bloodsuckers was downed. He merely sped things up under a situation Willard never wanted in the first place. In fact, his recklessness nearly got him killed at the end. Thankfully, there's Naoe Ryoko around to make sure this guy wouldn't die. Because more than the likes of Dude Wonder Kershner, racists, and sexual predators, Yuliy has the true potential to be an actual gentleman. He just needed to get out more and socialise. When we talk about being reckless, we have reckless by nature and reckless by circumstances. The former points to someone prone to do stupid things in real life and say equally stupid things on the internet. The latter, however, refers to someone NOT prone to do these things by default. He can be mild-mannered during work, even a capable coworker in your department. He can be someone able to tolerate the most intolerable person in the workplace even! But set the trigger off and he will risk turning green instead of remaining like Bruce Banner. If Yuliy was a real person, he would belong to the reckless by circumstances type.
Lastly, Smart. Despite being half a man and half a wolf dude, Yuliy was more intelligent than your average high SES'er for a reason. On one hand, he's not the strongest guy on the proven basis. In fact, his reckless rage against the vampires nearly cost him his life! But the scene at Ryoko's backyard served as an interesting look at a circumstantially reckless guy. His analysis of the flowers revealed a surprisingly sharp mind. Ask any high SES'er out to impress a girl like Ryoko and he would comment how beautiful the flowers were. But not Yuliy. In fact, he's so used to living out an inner world countless leagues apart from the actual one, John truly doubted he felt a thing for Ryoko. At least not initially, no matter how rich, pretty, and intelligent she was. His answer to what the average high SES'er would say otherwise was about how rotten the roots have gotten instead of the superficial. It's like looking at the U.S and noticing the red-blue divide instead of asking which side is correct. It's like looking at Singapore and noticing that the society is never moralistic beyond being merely more moralistic than other nations in comparison. In fact, the opium den scene could have served as a foreshadowing to what Yuliy saw compared to what the average high SES'er would see. An opium den was a place for vice and money to thrive. It robbed people of their dignity and the families of their homes. It's definitely even more destructive than any Pink Dot related event. Was this a reflection of the reality Yuliy knew? The kind of reality hoodwinking the masses all the while? If so, then Yuliy was one hell of a smart guy. Never mind the fact that he's half a man, half a wolf dude, and part Asian. Ironically, such a knowledge would have placed him on an equal ground with Dude Wonder Kershner as in the whole "what's wrong with the world" logic. The key difference? Dude Wonder Kershner talked and behaved like a politician while Yuliy was quite obviously not the type interested in Oxleygate.
And lastly, Naoe Ryoko
You know this is going to happen. A guy living in poverty attracting a girl who happened to be rich, beautiful, and intelligent. It was at their workplace where the girl fixated her gaze on the guy bending over to carry his manual load. As it turned out, one does not simply build Rome on a single day.
John knows this sounds like something K-drama fans would like to see next. The point, however, is this: Above scenario is only used as a comparison. It's not literally the situation between Yuliy and Ryoko. Figuratively? You can bet your SGD the answer is a yes. No one knew why Ryoko was so obsessed with Yuliy. Firstly and foremost, he's not a high SES'er. Secondly, he's no crazy rich Asian. Thirdly, his only source of education hailed from experience and the wilderness of Russia/Central Asia. You know this guy never studied in RI, NUS, or Harvard. Period. Given that this is a shonen anime, what it means (apart from Ryoko's apparent Narita Airport) is what you see from Miyazaki "anime was a mistake" Hayao below.
Simply put, John doubts we'd be seeing much info on why someone rich, beautiful, and intelligent like her would be attracted to a person no different from a wolf living in a civilised world. That is apart from the dumb romantic attraction logic called Sasukenomics.
P.S: Despite the historical significance surrounding the Shōwa period (i.e. the Emperor back then was Hirohito, the very same Emperor of Japan during the Second World War), John doubts the mina-san at P.A. Works would want to do the next series of The Legend of Koizumi. After all, history has always been a proven global bummer in Japan.
Add P.S: Events outside Sirius the Jaeger anime portrayed here should be seen as an intended case of coincidence. It's either that or you're just being paranoid.
Currently, John is planning to write the next chapter for A Requiem From Winter Past. In fact, he's already started on it. But there's a problem: A monkey on this otter's back. Therefore, the only way for the great (?) bastard (?!?) John L'Otter is to get this part done asap. Because this post is also known as the digital monkey jumping up and down on this otter's back.
Oh, and two more things:
1. John has just finished watching the first episode of Sirius the anti-Darwinistic Jaeger. Therefore, he may want to do an analysis post first.
2. Ditto for the next Neverwinter post on Yishun Barovia. At least until John finishes off the Ruins of Berez. Also, the thorny debuff icon caused by the Korean strawmen actually gave you a healing reduction debuff and not the 10 stack stun job done by the German ghouls. Apologies for #fakenews done in the name of visuals. [Source of (mis)information here]
Before John starts this post...
There's something wrong today when John checked his hits. Was it supposed to be some joke from Google? Or was this something coming from North Korea for whatever absurd reason possible?
There's something about Unknown Region. Yes, John did experience moments where one or a few hits were unaccounted for in terms of where. But Unknown Region has to be the King of Crazies instead of King of Heroes, King of Knights, or King of Conquerors listed in this video below.
And no, despite the GAR craze, Archer is never a king. Terms like King of Swords and King of Steel should be seen as fan logic. Interestingly enough, any plot listed in this vid with the 正義の味方 trope involved the number seven instead of six. Seriously, we have Emiya Shirou, Emiya Kiritsugu, and Sieg. Do a simple count and you'll notice a 777.
Allow John to make some crazy speculations on why something like Unknown Region and hits unaccounted for location wise is possible.
1. Unknown Region, in this case, refers to North Korea. More specifically Pyongyang and the one and only somebody there.
2. Unknown Region may also refer to China. After all, China did/does have some major beef with the big brands like Facebook and Twitter. Let alone Google. That's why names like Weibo and WeChat are needed as alternatives. After all, it was all Deng Xiaoping's credit/fault, not Mao Zedong.
2. Unknown Region is fake news. And Google should be held culpable for this. After all, even Facebook had to be grilled by the likes of K.Shanmugam and the U.S Congress.
3. The hits unaccounted for came from countries where usage of the internet is both legal and allowed. If so, then such nations are most likely monocultural countries with superior infrastructure. Quite likely nations where the regional equivalent of Athena and Idun can be found.
Note: Believing things minus proof is never recommended even if you're an American supporting either the Republicans or Democrats. What you read hereis what you get.
Add note: Finally discovered a simple hack to overcome the seemingly eternal loading time. At last, John can watch Sirius the anti-Darwinistic Jaeger. Also, Unknown Region now got 2 hits. Which means it's (most) likely not North Korea. This is getting scary...
Apparently, Google seems to have some problem identifying the ISP instead of something more straightforward like this. By John's own guess, that is. Either way, there's no way the likes of Athena, Idun, and Euterpe will take notice of a talking/typing otter. Also, everything from here and above was written @11/8/18.
Weapon attack and item usage
For Weapon attack, there are two variations. Standard attack is faster but less damaging. Heavy attack is slower but more damaging. At the same time, heavy attacks can only be done if the Triangle button is held for at least a few seconds. The longer the button is being held, the more damage it deals and the faster it comes out. Standard attacks can be chained up to five times in a row depending on the weapon type used. Heavy attack, however, cannot be chained. Depending on the weapon type, a heavy attack may involve shorter maximum charge time and come out faster at the cost of damage.
As for item usage, only one type can be used during combat. To choose which item to use during combat, press any D-pad button outside combat. To browse, use the directional buttons. To select the item for usage, press Cross. If that item can be used outside combat, a dialogue box will pop up asking you whether you want to use it now. Press Square for Yes or Circle for No. Items usable during combat includes potions, bombs, and throwing knives. Once the selected item is used up, another item will take its place. To set the order which the correct item is able to replace the one used up, hold down Cross and move the directional button accordingly. Once you reach the item of your choice, release Cross. A dialogue box will pop up asking you whether to go ahead. Press Square for Yes or Circle for No.
Magic usage
There are two types of magic available. The first is thaumaturgy, the other is metallurgy. Both require Adrenaline to trigger, but metallurgy requires a weapon as well to activate. Thaumaturgy powers can be crafted via the Yggdrasil. Which happened to be the first non-combat zone in-game. Please understand that there's NO way John will include this part in the actual story. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he's unable to. Yes, there's a difference between game and story. It's called the outcome of a headshot.
To enter Yggdrasil, the player must spend the night at any other non-combat zone. By this, John means any town/city in the game. After all, inns always exist in fantasy fiction in the same way hotels exist in the real world.
Crafting thaumaturgy powers involve elemental residue. The higher level the power is, the more amount of elemental residue is needed to craft it. The good news? You don't need any crafting recipe. The catch? Character level serves as the limit cap. Elemental residue can only be dropped via one source: Killing demons. Yes, John knows this sounds terribly Berserk.
Thaumaturgy powers come in different forms, but a nigh accurate statement description wise would be imagining what a force of raw power would look like. John won't call this something pretty. Unlike J.K "not J/K" Rowling's Harry Potter, magic in the form of thaumaturgy is never the Beauty. Rather, it's the Beast without the Beauty. De-romanticising magic can be fun. Very fun. Just ask the blokes and ladies doing the Warhammer world, 40K or the original one which officially ended. Literally.
Metallurgy, on the other hand, increases weapon damage by 40% against non-demonic enemies. Against demons, the bonus also includes a 15% bonus in critical impact chance. Unlike thaumaturgy, metallurgy lasts for the duration of combat.
Thaumaturgy powers can be used up to five times in total during a single day (more on how this work in a later post) while metallurgy can only be activated once per day. At the same time, no same thaumaturgy power can be used in a single day.
Note: Magic requires 10% Adrenaline to use. After every usage, Adrenaline buildup will be disabled for 10 seconds if no other magic power is used in the next 3 seconds. If metallurgy is used in this way instead, the 3-second rule will be ignored.
Signature move, Overdrive, and Grail trigger
Signature move is a power specific to the individual character that requires 5% Stamina usage. Each character can only have one such move. However, Signature moves are more powerful than any Weapon attack but less so than magic. Such power can be used in the same way Weapon attacks can be done so long enough Stamina is available.
Overdrives are not upgraded version of Signature moves, but rather a separate type that is more powerful. To trigger an Overdrive, all five thaumaturgy powers must be used in succession. Once this happens, the character will be able to perform an Overdrive. However, this ability/move requires at least 30% Adrenaline and 50% Stamina to use. Like the Signature move, every character can only have one Overdrive. An Overdrive can only be done once every three days.
Grail trigger is what one would call the most powerful attack available. To activate a Grail trigger, certain condition(s) must be met. Like Signature move and Overdrive, only one Grail trigger is available for the given player character. Unlike Overdrive, Grail trigger doesn't require all five thaumaturgy powers to used successively. However, condition(s) for executing a Grail trigger can be stringent. At the same time, Grail trigger requires holding down the Square button once the player character's portrait started flashing blue. Unlike Signature move and Overdrive, only specific characters can use a Grail trigger. A Grail trigger can only be used once every seven days.
Next up: Sellswords, mercs with a mouth, or whatever you wanna call a Serbian gun for hire.
P.S: Seriously, Rift is testing John's mental focus and physical endurance for days. More than ever, John L'Otter felt like that Servant of Steel officially known as Archer. Either that or Emiya Shirou of the Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel story paths.
It's official: John needs to rework whatever he's done on the gaming design for Winter's Requiem. The reason being that creativity is ever moving forward. It is a force justified by momentum, its life one of moving forward. And speaking of moving forward...
"He never ceased moving forward. 'Tis the only life he knew, the very life I could not give him. I could only let him go. His name was Jinn el-Gilgam. His name was Gandr de Morte. It is my wish you won't have to meet that 'him', Ineis. But should that day arrive, let go like what I did before. Choose pain over regret." ~Claudea von Stormhearth
So what is John going to do?
John needs to reorganise everything to see which aspects need to be tweaked and which aspects can stay untouched. At the same time, John needs to do some minor tweaking for A Requiem From Winter Past. Nothing much, just some little details here and there.
Retweak of parameters and stats
The whole primary-secondary system remains the same (i.e. primary=parameters; secondary=stats). However, certain things will change.
Levelling up and how the parameters affect the stats
Whenever levelling up, the character won't experience an increase in the parameters or stats. However, the character would be able to gain access to better gear. At the same time, every level up gives one technique point and one power point. More on that later on (or in a later post). As for parameters, they affect the relevant stats as listed below:
Strength (+1% Hit points per parameter point; +1% Attack damage and 0.5% Stamina regeneration per parameter point above Strength score of 10; +0.5% Attack speed and 1% Critical damage per parameter point above Strength score of 12)
Mobility (+1% Critical damage chance per parameter point; +1% Movement speed and Attack speed per parameter point above Mobility score of 10; -1% Stamina usage per parameter point above Mobility score of 12)
Awareness (+1% Critical damage per parameter point; +0.5% Defence per parameter point above Awareness score of 10; -1% Adrenaline usage per parameter point above Awareness score of 12)
Determination (+1% Adrenaline buildup and +0.5% Critical impact chance per parameter point; +0.5% Critical impact per parameter point above Determination score of 10; +1% Potency and Magic resistance per parameter point above Determination score of 12)
Controlled by a controller
This part is about the controller interface.
Left analogue stick: Character movement
Right analogue stick: Camera angle adjust
D-pad: Open and browse inventory (outside combat); sellsword command (during combat, more on this in a later post)
Triangle: Weapon attack (tap to execute standard attack; hold and release to execute heavy attack)
Circle: Magic (tap to execute thaumaturgy; hold and release to execute metallurgy); confirming Yes for dialogue box involving inventory items.
Cross: Inventory item usage (only during combat); selecting an inventory item for direct use or to place it into the usage slot (only outside combat)
Square: Signature move/Overdrive/Grail trigger (hold and release for Grail trigger); confirming No for dialogue box involving inventory items.
L1: Parry/Block
R1: Dodge/Sidestep
L2: Guard stance
R2: Dashing
Usage: Adrenaline and Stamina
Adrenaline builds up over time during combat while Stamina by default always starts with a full gauge. After combat, Adrenaline will gradually decrease to zero while Stamina will gradually replenish. If Adrenaline remains above 70% after combat, it will reduce at a slower rate while Stamina will replenish at a slower rate when below 30%. This is very important both during combat and after combat where another mob/enemy may attack anytime.
Usage of Stamina involves R1, and R2 while Adrenaline is used for L1 and L2. At the same time, certain Signature moves and Overdrives require either Adrenaline, Stamina, or both.
L1 and R1
Depending on the character used, either Parry or Block will be used when pressing L1 while the same goes for R1. Characters using Parry as L1 will use Dodge as R1 while those using Block as L1 will use Sidestep as R1.
Parry comes out faster than Block but lasts only for a brief moment while Block is slower to come out but can be sustained by holding down L1 at the cost of 5% Adrenaline used per second.
As for Dodge, it covers a certain distance during which the character cannot be hit. However, 10% Stamina will be used as the result. Sidestep, on the other hand, costs only 3% Stamina but lasts only for a brief moment. However, Sidestep can be executed 3 times in a row before entering a 10-second cooldown with each execution costing 1% more Stamina on an accumulative basis (i.e. 3%+4%+5%=12% Stamina used in total this way).
After a successful Dodge, the character will move 5% faster for the next 3 seconds while every successful Sidestep will give a fixed 1% bonus in Defence for the next 2 seconds.
L2 and R2
Guard stance can be maintained so long L2 is being held down. During Guard stance, Parry/Block cannot be done. However, the character will gain a 30% chance to do so automatically. Once released, the character is able to automatically launch a single counterattack with his/her weapon if any target is within striking range. Using Guard stance will cost Adrenaline on a 2% usage per second. Once Adrenaline reaches below 40%, Guard stance cannot be used.
As for Dashing, it can be used so long Stamina has yet to reach zero. Dashing involves moving around with increased movement speed. Dashing costs 5% Stamina per second.
Next up: Buttons control. At the same time, John discovered that more than 53 social influencers, this video actually gives him a much better feel.
P.S: Come to think of it, if the last name Majere is the Dragonlance equivalent of Singapore, then everyone else is Caramon while there can be only one Raistlin. Anyway, here's a happy 53rd birthday to House Majere. From your Raistlin Majere, no less.
