assault

I think that eliminating figureds increases the number of moving parts in a system that already has too many moving parts.

I'm not at all bothered by superheroes having enough Dex, Spd and Con to be able to function as superheroes, nor, in say, Fantasy Hero, having "heavy fighters" that have the reflexes of Conan.

Not the trilogy, no, but the world-building that later became The Silmarillion. And the work done up to the point of the Hobbit's publication was a rather different beast from what got published some forty years later.

Hot enough to:
 
- Literally fry eggs on the sidewalk
- Melt cars
- Kill cacti
 
It's expected to get hotter in August.

3 years at 2.5 million a year?
 
Make sure your money is in a safe place.
 
Depending on the prison system,  it might be worth it.

Three years in prison.  Do they have to give the $7.6 million back?  Asking for a friend.

By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.
 
This seeker of wisdom, like so many before her, had been brought to the Place Between Places quite to her surprise. She took a moment to try to orient herself--utterly futile, since there was nothing here that corresponded to anything she knew from the outer World. So she decided to try to understand the Place for what it was. That helped, but not much. 
 
After some time--how long, she couldn't guess--she called out to the ... whatever around her. "Why have you brought me here?"
 
You have brought yourself here.
 
That didn't sound right. "How did I do that?"
 
You chose the path that led here.
 
"I don't remember choosing to come here. When did I do that?"
 
When you chose to save the old man from the charging river horse three days ago.
When you were six years old and stole the candy that was meant for your brother.
When you picked up a book for the first time.
When you bade farewell to your oldest friend as he went into the World to find his fortune.
When you picked the yellow wildflowers on the right side of the gladed road instead of the purple wildflowers on the left.
 
"What ... what does any of that have to do with my being here?"
 
Those decisions, and a thousand others, have made you who you are. That is why you are here. Were you anyone else, you could not have come.
 
"So .. what do I do now?"
 
Be.
 
"Be ... what? Be who?"
 
Be who and what you are to become.
 
She stood in silence for an indeterminate moment. "How will I know who and what I am to become?"
 
Decide. 
 
"And how am I to decide?"
 
Ask, and I will guide. Listen, and I will teach. Do, and you will become.
 
"You will guide me?"
 
I have always guided you. When you would listen.
 
"Why me?"
 
Not only you. I guide all who will listen. Go now. Be.
 
And she did.
 
Mythic Guardian: Conscience, Guide and Guardian of Choice.

They're pretty much just different shaped orcs, really

Nyooom, (as the sound you make when you go fast...)

Missed,rhis the first time through.
 
I appreciate the invite, Sir, but if I didn't board the ship when it was,in ita Prime, I am certainly not going aboard when it is sinking.
 

 
 

I'm going to have to bow out of this one. Sorry, all. I came down sick a couple weeks ago, passed to the wife the week after that, and now she's passed it back to me again, apparently. Too much brain fog to give a good effort here.

I bought three miniatures yesterday, and two of them are wraiths. I guess I need more Nazgul in my life.

Second and last bonus pick.
---
The people had gathered in a circle. The sacred bowl had been passed. The singing had begun. It began discordantly, with each singing their own tune, often out of tune, but presently it began to take on a unified character.
 
From many voices came a single tune - a Harmony. From many, one.

Secondary Domain: Harmony.
---
Making one out of many could arguably be taken as an interference in Etterskell's domain, but it's reasonable that there should be an opposing pole, and it fits in nicely with Oeneus' existing domains.

And that's it for me.

Parts and wholes are one of Etterskell's secondary domains, and their gifts of alchemy and transplantation are about combining parts into new wholes. I'd call harmony a refinement or guiding principle. Not all combinations "work" -- as the Shoggoth demonstrated. Etterskell is grateful for Oeneous' efforts to repair the damage from the Big Oops.
 
Dean Shomshak

Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96

Yes;and you are welcome.  That was my own collection that was sacrificed for the initial scans.
 
Favorite article?
 
Swarms.
 
 

My plan is to try to catch up tomorrow. Your ongoing patience is appreciated.

I admit I hit a wall. I just reread the thread. I looked at my list. I thought about some picks. I need two animal/vegetables, Interference, and a mythic monster/guardian. The interference was actually the easiest one to come up with at the moment. 
 
The murdered continent spontaneously generates Gandians. Created from atoms being destroyed and wrapping themselves in lead to protect the lesser races, these flying humanoids began using the continent as a birthing zone to create a Legion of Heroes.
 
The first animal pick is the Mons. These creatures are very much like the chimeras since they are mixtures of animals that have built themselves from other animal parts. And they love to fight any challenger. Some heroes domesticate them to use as force multipliers.
 
The second animal/flora pick is the fireflower. This dangerous plant is know to throw lances of flame at anyone coming close to it, and can be planted anywhere.
 
The Mythic Guardian is the Walker, a hero armed with a book of dooms, a mons made of lightning squirrel, and a map of the world, travels using the cracks to go where he is needed and to stop anything he can.
     
Player 3,Csyphrett God of Heroes, Clarkent Kal
Geography. Watch Tower
Sentient Life. Gandians
Gift to Civilization: Book of Dooms
Fauna/Flora/Ore. 
Fauna/Flora/Ore (bonus):
Interference: 
Mythic Monster or Guardian. 
Secondary Domain. Justice
Secondary Domain Righteousness
Secondary Domain. Exploration

Ceass's gift to Civilization, a form of art so combative, so rooted in struggle that it is often callously and crassly aped by those in power to seem more authentic. But the true artist can spot the difference. And fakers aren't tolerated. The goddess of strife listened to the world and thought it sounded a little too "well-crafted."
Her gift: Punk Rock.  A music, a scene, a style, and a revolution of soem form or another. 
 

 

Nadiya's heart broke just a little as some ( a small percentage, but it still stung) of those born to elven lands were lured into faux holy crusades by Rancor's lies. Nor was she pleased that politics was created and twisted those who sought to guide into those that sought to rule. Still, the Elves, Ylves, Aelves, and Elbs were predominately good folk. She would hold faith with them as they had held faith with her.

Crax's evil had much power in reserve. She had done what she could to hinder his subtler plan. She had saved the few she could from his greater destruction. One tribe of elves followed their dreams to over generations restore it. That was not nothing. Simacada flew glittering and joyous and uplifting. That made her smile.

She'd woven the silver lining into the fabric of the nature of existence for all. Some would say it was not enough, but it was SOMETHING. She could be proud.
 Her sister Ceass had stirred and brought forth the Folk.  They seemed a feisty but good-hearted people.  Clarkent Kal's Gandians were powerful and dedicated to the god of heroes and his causes. They had reserves. As did others who if not benevolent, were at least not particularly dark.

Nadiya felt tired, not despairing. Oh worry could be a companion to any goddess that cared, but she did not despair. She was Hope personified. She just felt a bit sad that her time of helping, her ability to involve herself personally with great miracles was coming to an end. She was resilence itself, but she was not all powerful, nor had she claimed to be. And her intuition told her that her part endeavors of divinity was  coming near it's in while others, still with much to do, might take advantage of her departure to harm the world. THAT made her a bit sad.

"I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have tasted the donut" she muttered to herself, unaware some of her more insightful priests were likely writing this down.
The smart thing to do would be to hoard her last reserves like a miser, to cling to it so she could counter some small part of the dam breaking flood of other gods last moves to come.
"Masque is the god of intellect not I," She considered, "And Nagus the lord of opportunity." The Brightbringer shrugged. Still, maybe she should resist the urge to help out the desperate and lost for just a bit...

"Nadiya save me!" A woman whimpered a prayer that carried to the Brightbringer's ears.
"And here we go" Nadiya would have looked heaven ward but that was a bit tricky to do in a chimney tube shaped world.  Lots of swirling involved. Gave you eyestrain. Instead her eyes locked through the space of existence to hear the voice.

A human woman whimpered as she was dragged by her fellows. Pulled back. They were going to have their way with her, wheter she liked it or not. There was no time to send Nadiya's champion. No other gods had any other faithful nearby. It was just one human woman. In the grand scheme, she might not matter, right?

Nadiya felt sick at the very thought of that.

"If we are to be damned," Brightbringer said, "Let us be damned for who we are." And drawing on some of her fading reserves, she made her will so! But she would not expend this boon lightly, no. She would assist not one, but many!

The woman felt her attackers start to tear at her, trying to pin her... and then? Then she realized they seemed... shorter? No, she was growing! Bigger, Stronger! She threw them off of her with ease, then kicked and stomped them breaking legs and ribs. She stood thirty feet tall!  She'd kill them all while they laid helpless. They deserved no less!

"It's not about what they deserve," Nadiya whispered in the giantess' ears, "It's about who you want to be. If you must kill them, do it so they hurt no others, not because they hurt you. If you spare them, spare them in hopes they have learned what it is to be helpless, and think twice. The choice is yours, but deserve? No. I am no goddess of Justice. I am a goddess of hope. Be the change you want to see in the world. You won't be alone."

Unfortunately, exactly what choice the first giantess made is lost in a myriad of tales and stories.  Only the gods know the exact history in all it's detail.
What is known is that through out the world, at that moment, those who were at their greatest times of despair were greatly embiggened. And changed. They became giants!

Whatever their original race, they came out mostly looking like thirty foot tall (On average) humans! They were strong, enduring, and incredibly resistent to pain! There were some unusal skin tones that arose or hair colors but other than that, yes, they looked human.  They seemed more resistant to alteration, though this was not meant as insult to Etterskell. Indeed, it can work against the giants in some areas where transformation would be advantageous. And rumor has it some organ trees of late have been growing unsually high so in a century or two arms and so on their size might be available.

They would breed true though they were not as fecund as some races. It is rumored that to this day, an innocent at their most desperate and helpless  moment might turn into a giant still, but the odds of that are speculated to be one in a thousand (or worse).

There are three paths that giants walk, not geographic paths, but  rather religious ones!

The Path of Glory- A giant on this path wishes for fame for his or her great deeds! While it may seem vanity, this does fit in with hope as it can be inspiring to others! It fits with resilience as one endures many challenges to achieve glory!  There is little glory in bullying the meek or weak, meaning though they can be braggarts, Glory Path Giants are not tyrants.

They worship an aspect of Nadiya they call "The Radiant Guide!" who appears as a giantess leading them forward wielding not a candle, but a burning banner!

The Path of Solace- A giant on this path helps in quiet gentle ways. They put their great strength to helping repair broken homes of others, or in tending the wounded and getting them to safety. They might hunt and kill game for starving families of any species. They are quite humble.

They worship an aspect of Nadiya they call "Gentle Balm" who is seen as an almost matronly figure for all her giant size.

The Path of Fellowship- These Giants know their fore mothers came from non giant stock. They spend time wandering around, seeing what goodly person might need some help, and eventually adopt a "little buddy" to assist and befriend. For them it is not about solace or glory, but rather the joys found in friendship! They are loyal to the end to a worthy friend, and can be deeply hurt if betrayed by one they've trusted.
They Worship an aspect of Nadiya they call "She who walks by your side" , a giantess with a great walking staff, ever ready to escort you through life.

There are rumors of wicked giants who not only decline these three paths, but actively spurn the lessons of the original giantess' salvation. They DO bully and and tyrannize. Fortunately, they are few in an already not too populous species. If discovered, any giant of the other paths do all they can to stop them. They don't worship Nadiya in ANY way.

Unless Killed, Giants live for three Hundred years. No more, no less. At the end of their life span they say their last prayer, turn to stone, and die. Should giants finally vanish from the world entirely, perhaps these statues will be what remains of their legacy.
 
Sentient Life (Bonus) : Giants of the Three Paths!
 

 

Hmm. One catch-up pick, and two bonuses to go for Oeneus.

A grudge against Crax, for the Flora Intoxicana.

A general thought about Oeneus: while he is clearly on the more Chaotic end of things, his gifts bring joy and culture as well as more destructive things. I should probably stress that a little.
 
So: one pick to shaft Crax, another two to do the second bit.

That was the worst part of the film, a very silly song

Two screams of horror. Not bad for a God who isn't evil. Just accident-prone.
 
But hey. Maybe I can change your feelings about the Shoggoth with a nice, cheery earworm:
 
Dean Shomshak

The chanting crowds were drawing nearer. "He-don-ia! He-don-ia!" came from one direction. "Mar-ket! Mar-ket!" came from the other.
 
Soon they would meet, and the mayhem would begin.
---
Where there is competition, there are fans. And when you mix rival fans and the gifts of Oeneus, there is trouble.
 
Whether it is chariot racing or Foote-the-Ball, there are hooligans.
 
Secondary Domain: Hooliganism.