Luna Terminus

S-rank Void element Annihilator

Weapon: Moon Ring

TN: Luna is back with a whole new element and class! Teddy's 'unknown' element is now known to be void element. Luna's class allows her to convert other element buffs and shred to void element, but the conversion only applies when she is on field which means she can borrow supports from other teams. The weapon is similar to HI3 Chakrams, but neither function remotely like irl chakrams. so. Do with that info what you will.

My personal TL for her frame name was 'Apocalypse'

MegOP in Seeds of the Past

I already talked to about it a bit on Discord, but I will be doing some prequel stories for worldbuilding help for Seeds of the Past. And the recent decision to have Cybertron be missing does change that. I am absolutely very excited about the hot mess of Megatron and Optimus in this. Though the details are still a bit in flux. Tagging the people I've been talking about this with. @transingthoseformers @autiedonnie @sinspark4 @mychlapci

Optimus and Megatron are figures who have united their people in this timeline and are deeply loved as a result by their respective factions. They've also been through some really traumatic stuff that resulted in them being what they were. The Decepticons and Autobots split apart generations ago in the First Cybertronian Civil War following the loss of Cybertron and the death of the "last of the Thirteen".

By the time they were born, the Decepticon Empire was seemingly going strong and staying firmly in their own holdings and the Autobots were split and fractious. Megatron was raised in a rather high ranking military family by Terminus, who was retired due to injuries, but had major influence and had big plans. The Decepticons were very might makes right and had strict class system.

Megatron was very young and Terminus's had a lot of political enemies. Terminus was murdered in front of him and Megatron was stripped of his titles and thrown onto the battlefield with no support in dangerous areas in the hopes he would die. He befriended Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream and beat his way to the top with the promise of reform and tossing aside the "gluttons" who'd "grown fat" on the backs of other Decepticons. He enforced a strict meritocracy and rules system that was painfully equal and filled with expectations. Decepticons would not fight each other but outsiders were up for grabs and they would become great.

He fulfilled his promises to people like Soundwave and Shockwave and enforced strict laws to protect Decepticon youth from being taken advantage of or be forced into being soldiers young. He restarted the war with Sentinel Prime as his opponent. Any Autobots who surrender or defect or considered full members of the Empire which is also strictly enforced.

The Autobots were weak and split and not working together with a lot of conflicting interests and different ships and colonies having real varying economic levels. Orion was born on a very poor colony that was "unimportant" from one of the Titan Hot Spots. It was an agricultural and mining area that was part of the Energon production area. It was also one of the areas that was attacked by the Decepticons.

Orion watched everything happen and evacuated as a refugee jumping from colony to ship heading to the center of Autobot space. He helped where he could as the fragile peace shattered. He met quite a few of what would become his central command at this point and eventually got a pass to travel to New Iacon, which was the current capital of the Autobots and contained their most prominent and active Hot Spot. Allegedly.

Orion became very key in helping the community of refugees organize together and take care of each other and eventually one of their voices as a representative as tensions were rapidly rising with the war and the increase of population and prejudices popping up. It's a bit more blurry here, but a draft is called and Orion and his people are the first ones thrown on the battlefield as those that could pay, paid to have themselves and their families overlooked.

More stuff happens and Orion is one of the survivors of a suicide mission he and the other "disposables" like him were sent on when Sentinel Prime tries to take Luna-1, the Wandering Moon, from Decepticon possession, revealing in doing so that he started the war not the Decepticons. Sentinel goes full if he can't have it no one can and Orion betrays him, because he doesn't want a bunch of newborns to be murdered, and a young Megatron who shoots Sentinel through the chest. They've somewhat bonded over the whole incident and extended time together.

Megatron is prepared to let Orion live. He offers him a place in the Decepticons or at least the chance to "flee" but then Orion touches the Matrix and it lights up in a way that startles them both and Orion starts to change. Megatron recognizes what is happening and stabs Orion in an attempt to stop the Matrix bonding to him. The rest of Orion/Optimus's people arrive and get him out.

This leaves Optimus the new leader of the Autobots and Megatron is not prepared to back down or let "Autobot Aggression" go especially given how many of "Sentinel's snakes" still control Autobot territory. Optimus becomes a hero and unites the Autobots, with a lot of political drama and opposition from the different factions within them, in a way they haven't in generations as does Megatron both focused on improving their people's lives but having different views on the suffering of others.

They are both more than a little obsessed with each other on some level due to having developed a certain understanding of each other during this time and throughout the years. Megatron would accept Optimus's surrender in a moment if they could come to an agreement on terms, but Optimus can't trust Megatron to not cause harm.

Fucking-

Volume 7??? Kicked me in the balls???

Young Megs is a sweetheart, a poor pure soul that was corrupted by his experiences.

He cares about Terminus so much, and then he gets fucking electrocuted and nearly Shadowplayed. That one red tear broke me during that scene, not sorry.

Then he goes to find Terminus and he’s gone so he has to leave without him and the loop of “I’m sorry” over and over again was so sad. Baby needs a proper hug.

Dominus being turned into a flathead??? Rewind being shut off??? Poor Minimus finding out the Funtionists were using his eyes to see them??? That shit made me cry, no joke.

Brainstorm not being able to hurt Megs??? He just couldn’t bring himself to do it, to actually kill someone himself. He ultimately failed, but he’s happy he got to see the one he loved one last time. That’s so sad and bittersweet I can’t-

Finding out that the spark Brainstorm found on Luna-1 was the spark of Megatron, the one that made him a point-one-percenter, that was cool. It’s weird to think that Rewind trying to kill Megs and Whirl bringing him back actually made the Megatron of today.

Also, Percy praising Brainstorm’s genius for creating the timecase? Love them so much.

And last but never least, Rung being anti-Funtionist god figure slaps hard go off king.

This volume was a road trip of emotions. Can’t wait for more pain and suffering next volume. <3

Hehehehehehe.

Well, don't mind if I do then.

First off, the tma/hp crossover "Terminus"?

I am SO curious about that one, cause since terminus is the fear of the end and death and everything, I'm guessing it'll have to do with the hallows? And the idea of death as the concept it is in tma being brought into the hp world give me brainworms.

(Tma in general give me brainworms, if you didn't notice the several liveblogs I wrote in, like, a week and how much I was losing my mind writing them. I did NOT sleep a lot at that time, ngl.)

Mate, I understand COMPLETELY and that's why you've hit the nail on the head: it IS about the idea of death as it exists in TMA being brought to the HP world. As well as all the other lovely entites in TMA!

The annoying thing about HP crossovers is that, more often than not, you'll see characters from other works being re-imagined in the context of the Wizarding World. But I don't want that! I want to think about Harry Potter in the framework of TMA! I want to reimagine Hogwarts and how terrifying it is and how sweetly it would feed all the entities! I want to think about which characters would be marked, or would become Avatars and about what that might mean for our story!

Some are easy, of course. Bellatrix is an Avatar of the Desolation if I've ever seen one. Dumbledore is an agent of the Web, as natural as breathing. Luna is clearly of the Spiral or the Stranger.

And Harry, well.

The boy is, at first glance, a wisp of a thing. Narrow shoulders and knobby knees, bird-boned beneath the large jumper that sits oddly and misshapen on his thin frame. The shock of unruly black hair on his head and his bright green eyes only lend credit to the almost fae quality of his movements, stilted yet graceful, like a newborn foal. To her left, a tape recorder switches on of its own accord, and Gertrude frowns. When she looks back, those bright green eyes are looking straight at her. Gertrude is no stranger to piercing gazes, to the sensation of being Seen and Known beyond reasonable doubt. She’s grown accustomed to them -- as much as anyone can grow accustomed to endless voyeuristic terror and paranoia. This is not a Knowing gaze. But there’s certainly something more to it; something that has her biting her tongue, staving off the urge to compel a statement. The boy walks towards her, motions unhurried, head tilted to the side in curiosity. His fringe moves as he does, and she spies the lightning bolt scar cutting through his forehead and brow, just shy of touching his eyelid. Ah, she thinks drily. Of course. The End, then.

FIENDSHIP IS MAGIC  (Part 41 of ?)  18+ readers only  (sex scenes)

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FIENDSHIP IS MAGIC

or

Making Fiends and Influencing Ponies

An Anthro *Tail* of the Mane Six

Part 41 of ? (Work in Progress)

by

De Writer

40704 words (story in progress)

© 2022 by Glen Ten-Eyck

All rights reserved.  This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

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This story is age restricted to 18

years or older!

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may   reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical   compositions.

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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New to the story?  Read from the start HERE

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Turning carefully, Princess Luna beheld a pegasus in the uniform of a brigadier general frozen in a fading green web of Kin's deep magic. He was in the act of making a grab at Princess Luna's right wing!  In his left hand was a paper.

Luna's magic separated the paper from the general's still frozen hand. Unfolding it, she snorted in disbelief!  At that moment, the general unfroze, as if he had not been stopped a few seconds ago!

Attempting to complete his aborted grab, he flailed somewhat before demanding, “Princess Luna!  By the Order of the Ducal Council you are required by this Warrant to appear before them to answer to and carry out the requirements of the Council!”

Wrinkling his snout and curling his lip in disdain, he added, “This trivial publicity stunt is over!  Let any remaining patients be dealt with by the Ponyville Medical Society.  I have taken it upon myself to halt the next train at Circle Lake to return these foul catbirds to the Empire!”

Princess Luna spoke so mildly that the import of what she said took a moment to penetrate.  “My good Guardsponies, I see that you are among the contingent that I left in Canterlot.  Have you a prisoner transport net?”

The four armored pegassi replied, “We do, your Highness.  We brought that and irons at the order of General Downs.”

“Good. Use them now to bind the wings of General Downs and put him in irons.  Transport him back to Canterlot Castle and remand him to my Sister, Princess Celestia.  Take with you the false Warrant that She may investigate the Ducal Council, who appear to have far overstepped their bounds.”

The General tried to struggle, but far too late!  Luna's gentle looking midnight magic, shot through with stars, had him in a grip far stronger than mere iron!  He was efficiently wing strapped and placed into manacles.

A Sargent of the Guards diffidently reported, “Your pardon, your Highness, but when he took us, he told us and signed us out for a training mission to Fort Everfree.  Instead of going there, he led us here.”

“Very clear, Sargent Thorn.  I have calls to make to undo what this ex general has done.  Give me a moment, I will give you a specification of charges to give to my Sister Ruler.”

The Princess was writing with her magic on a sheet of imaging paper while her hands were tapping codes into her Magic Net mirror.  Holding the mirror she spoke, without bothering with a privacy spell, “Circle Lake Royal Railroad terminus?   This is Princess Luna, High Commissioner of the Royal Roads and Railroads.  Recently you received orders from Brigadier General Downs.  Those orders are canceled.  The Special Train from the Gryphon Empire is to be given Express Engine number 207 and clear the mainlines between your terminus and Ponyville!  Those earthquake victims need treatment as soon as possible.  Thank you, Circle Lake.”

A different set of codes got, “Hi, Celestia!  We have a situation.  I am sending you a specification of charges against Brigadier General Downs, along with the General, in irons.  There is also a Warrant that you will want to investigate.  The Ducal Council has tried to Summon ME to appear before them and requiring Me to carry out Council Orders.

“I suspect the grimy horn of Duke Edgecliff in this.  He has tried to annex the Barony of Sweetlawn before.  He is after the “mineral rights” which we have already granted to the Diamond Dog Enclave of Blue Stone.

“I recommend letting Supreme Matriarch Amber of the Diamond Dog Council of Enclaves know, if that is the case.  To handle it so that no other high mucka muck gets any ideas, give her explicit permission in writing to strike at Edgecliff Manor the diamond dog way!  It should be fun to watch that happen!”

Smiling serenely, except for the minor nightmare touch of saber tooth fangs, she told the guards, “There, it is all set up.  I have also authorized you four a twenty four hour rest leave with free access to Snack Kitchen Four when you return.”

Those Guards were gone so fast!

They were just finishing up the patient when Fluttershy interrupted, “I, um, we seem to have a gryphon here in respiratory distress.”

She was carrying the gasping gryphon in her arms.  She added, “His chart shows that besides some major injuries, he complained of a sore throat.  He might have a ruptured blood vessel leaking into his lungs.”

Luna just pointed to the table, “This is what a trauma hospital is all about!  Let's get to it, team!”

As they were arraigning the patient on the table, Kin was explaining, “Lungs are very spongy, which makes them difficult to clear of matter like this.  The best way that I know of is to move it out of the lung into the cavity by the shortest route.  Once it is in the cavity around the lungs, we can remove it by our usual means for clearing bruises.”

Fluttershy, with no squeamishness at all, was placing catch basins and cloths to mop up blood as it came out through the skin and feathers.

Back in the Carousel, Rarity was now humming quietly to herself as she stored away dry goods in nice boxes of light, straw colored wood and put them onto shelves and into cupboards in her lovely new kitchen.

The magic of her horn was neatly feeding straw from a pile on the counter into the next growing box, where the straw was forming a light but strong woodlike substance.  As soon as the snugly fitted lid was made, the straw fed into the box, becoming several kilos of finely powdered sugar.

As she was fitting the lid on and using her hands to put the confectioner's sugar on the shelf, a wide eyed Pinkie asked, “How can you do that?  I mean, I know that Kin could and that Luna seems to have learned it from her, but you?”

Rarity smiled, eyes gone misty, as she gathered Pinkie into a hug.  Pinkie returned the hug, luxuriating in the feel of Rarity's hands playing at the back of her neck and stroking down her spine.  Rarity answered her, “I am still deeply upset, Pinkie.  That does not mean unobservant.  Kin and I are, as you know, quite close.  Today was the first time that I got to see her doing that sort of thing, up close. Like the Princess, I learned.  It is really quite soothing to do.”

Nuzzling Rarity's breast, Pinkie agreed, “So is this!  Glad that you are feeling better some, Rare.  How soon can we get started on costumes again?”

“As soon as the carpenter and plumber have the new tub installed.  They are raising quite a bit of dust in their work.”

They were interrupted by the necessity to inspect and sign for the new glass door pane.  Rarity stared at it in wonder, “That is amazing! A pair of phoenix rising from flames?  What wonderful details in the scroll work of the clouds!  This is worth every bit!  Thank you!”

TO BE CONTINUED

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MEGOR-MARDUK (CIM): Missa et densitas et pondus. Materia neutronum stellarum. He trahit et in se trahit. Gravitatem abyssi significat, deorsum trahentem

Animae plus quam pluma. Ultimus actus eius entropy aequat. Custos probareVoluntas, quia sola voluntas potest suam potestatem transire, eum raro invoca, exquisita cura MUSARUS (SM). Abominatio. Terminus applicatus ad Berosum nuntiis a Sirius, seu Vetus, in amphibio forma

NAGRIKSHAMISH (CIM). Indomita vis pura, Berserker. Se transcendit, transcendit rationem, Shiva et Mars. Fulmen. Ne invocatione indiget, in te habitat

NANNA (SAB) Naugerius Sin. Sphaera lunae. Vetustissimus Wanderers. pater Zonarum. Kalendis (septem) portis

NAR MATTARU (SAB) Oceanus magnus infernus. Naugerius Abu , vel Abyssus .

NATH-HORTHATH (HPL): Magnus Vetus in Celephaide colitur.

NATTIG (SAB): Una quattuor Spirituum Spatia. Ab Occidente et Mare. Aquilae figuram habet cum corpore humano, et facies et ungues aquilae. (Vide etiam Lamas, Sed. Ustar).

NEBO (SAB) Sphaera Mercurii custos deorum. Secunda porta Zonae NECRONOMICON (HPL): Liber Legis Nominum Mortuorum. Primum quae t *

NEG (NEC): Alter e geminis proles Yog Sothoth et Shubs-Niggurath. NEPHILIM (HEB Grants. Nomen significat magni Veteris

NERGAL (SAB): Sphaera Martis. Deus belli et sanguinis effusio. Antiquos agens, nam ad tempus habitavit in Catha. Quinta porta Zonae

NEXHAGUS (CIM): Ignis, solis accensus. Immoderata mutatio. Phasellus et malesuada sapien. Scurra, crudelitas risus et resina. Choroszon mentes Hominis et frater designabat canere. Prima et ultima larva choreae. Saepe eum invocate, ne serio nimis incitetis. Ne invoces eum, ne ad perniciem tuam et risus advolet te

NINAXAKADDU (nec) Carminum domina.

NINIB(NEC) Saturnini Dominum. Naugerius Adar. Eius essentia invenitur et in plumbo, in

The Vanishing Intro I

a/n: I got the inspo for such a incident from the “Dark Curse” of abc’s Once Upon a Time and the “Blip” from the Marvel cinematic universe. I do not own Harry Potter and the characters, all rights go to JKR and Warner Bros. Pictures. Only the non-canonical plot was my idea. I also do not agree with any and all prejudiced remarks formulated by JKR in concern of their transphobia. Remember folks, copying other people’s works is plagiarism and that’s illegal. Don’t be that kind of person. Anyways, hope you all enjoy it :)

©little-lazuli. Do not copy, repost, or translate without permission

Summary: Under the threat of defeat, the supporters of the dark lord cast a curse that banishes half of the Wizarding population of the British Isles. No knows where they had gone or how they vanished. But twenty-one years later, the vanished make their return, and the Wizarding world they once knew is no longer the same.

Listed institutions are referenced with information as of 2019

The Stranded: The Stranded were thirty-five of the most recognized witches and wizards in the British isles to not be Vanished. It was this collection of witches and wizards that oversaw the reconstruction of the Magical community of the British Isles. They include:

Bathsheda Babbling, Susan Bones, Lavender Brown, Flora Carrow, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, Roger Davies, Tracey Davis, Astoria Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass, Hestia Jones, Lee Jordan, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ernest Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Cormac McLaggen, Graham Montague, Theodore Nott, Garrick Olivander, Pansy Parkinson, Padma Patil, Sturgis Podmore, Poppy Pomfrey, Muriel Prewett, Adrian Pucey, Aurora Sinistra, Alicia Spinnet, Dean Thomas, Edward Tonks, Nyphadora Tonks, Romilda Vane, Ronald Weasley, Oliver Wood

•••

The Impurities: The last bastion of the Dark Lord’s reign, the Impurities were the remaining death eaters following the Vanishing, and were blamed for causing the British Magical Purge of the 2000s. They include:

Bellatrix Lestrange, Thorfinn Rowle, Corban Yaxley, Amycus Carrow, Aurelius Nott, Terminus Travers, Walden Macnair

•••

The British Conclave of Magic: The Conclave is the successor of the British Ministry of Magic, and serves as the formal government for the magical species of the British Isles. Closer in resemblance to the Wizard’s Council of old Britain and MACUSA, the Conclave still holds many roots in the British Ministry of Magic. The reformation of the Ministry into the Conclave was a direct result of the British Magical Purge that took place from the years 2000 to 2004.

The current regime of the Conclave is as follows:

British Premier of Magic: Susan Bones (2009-Present)

House of Nobles: Members of this house aid in the advisement of the Premier. Acting as a vice power should the Premier become incapacitated. These members are elected tri-annually by the those in the House of Inquest. They also serve as judges and vote in any high profile criminal trials.

Incumbent House Nobles: Flora Carrow, Fergus Finnigan, Roger Davies, Nymphadora Lupin, Ernest Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Cormac McLaggen, Graham Montague, Theodore Nott, Mafalda Prewett, Adrian Pucey, Rolf Scammander, Ronald Weasley & Romilda Vane

House of Inquest: The successor of the Wizengamot, all fifty-three members of this house are voted on by the wizarding populace of the isles. The higher the concentration of magical folk in an area, the more seats in the house the area maintains. E.g. Hogsmeade and Cokesworth, being the two largest Wizarding settlements in the isles with sixteen and eleven seats respectively. The house is headed by the Orator, who represents, leads and dictates the decorum of the house in all meetings.

Incumbent Orator of the House: Lord Dennis Prewett, née Creevey.

Department of Magical Law Enforcement: (DMLE) Responsible for upholding the laws set forth by the Conclave. The largest of the departments and all other departments were answerable to this one; the Department of Mysteries were the only exception in certain cases.

Incumbent High Enchantress: Lady Daphne Greengrass

Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes: (DMAC) Tasked with the prevention, containment and/or reversal of magical mishaps. It’s main goals currently are protecting the Statute of Secrecy and preventing all muggle interference in the magical community.

Incumbent High Warlock: Roger Davies

Department of International Magical Relations: (DIMR) Serving as the communication between the British Conclave and other magical governments around the world, this department currently focuses on repairing the relationship between Magical Britain and their neighbors in France, Germany and the Nordic Ministries.

Incumbent High Warlock: Lord Theodore Nott

Department for Regulation of Magical Creatures: (DRMC) Dedicated to the restoration, protection and maintaining cooperation amongst the many different magical beings, beasts and spirits of Magical Britain. They work alongside magizoologists and the DMLE to better protect and incorporate the magical species in the British Isles.

Incumbent High Warlock: Rolf Scammander

Department of Magical Transportation: (DMT) In charge of the regulation of transportation services of wizarding Britain. The department became highly regarded following the brief establishment of Rappaport’s Law, because safe transport in and out of the isles became almost impossible during the Purge. Now however, the mass production and regulation of advanced Vanishing Cabinets, and enchanted automobiles have become the new tools of transport.

Incumbent High Enchantress: Romilda Vane

Department of Magical Entertainment: (DME) In control of the proper operation, funding and safe establishment of entertainment sources and events—such as national and international Magical Sports (Quidditch, Wizarding Hockey, Quadpot etc etc.), Magical Cinemas/Theatres and the Magical Music scene. The department rose in popularity following the recognized end of the Purge in the year of 2005, when the Weasley family opened the very first Magical Cinema in Ottery St. Catchpole.

Incumbent High Warlock: Cormac McLaggen

Department of Mysteries: (DMY) The most secretive department, they are dedicated to the gathering of confidential research in the name of furthering the understanding magic. They are the only department not subjected to complete obeisance to the DMLE.

Incumbent Head Unspeakable: Lady Tracey Nott, née Davis

Hogwarts Board of Governors: A group of thirteen wizards and witches that oversaw the maintenance and running of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They held the power to dictate the curriculum and every day operation of the school.

Incumbent Chairman: Lord Draco Malfoy

•••

British Magical Purge of the 2000s: Commonly referred to as the Great Purge or simply the Purge, the British Magical Purge was a mass witch hunt for witches, wizards and other magical species within Britain by covert sects of the British Muggle Government between 2000-2004.

The hunts were believed to be a retaliatory act by the muggles following the final battle between the Order of the Phoenix and the Impurities; Known by magic-kind as the Battle for London, the battle took place within the old Ministry of Magic, upon the streets of Muggle London as well as in the skies above the city. As her final act of terrorism, Bellatrix Lestrange flooded the Thames river. The sudden flood had already drowned at least two-thousand muggles by the time the order had managed to undo the flood.

The muggle reaction to the flood saw associates of the incumbent Muggle Prime Minister, who secretly knew of Magic, hire mercenaries to begin the Purge: this led to a large scale series of witch hunts and magical massacres, unseen since the time of Salem.

The Purge saw numerous witches, wizards and other beings such as werewolves, vampires, squibs, muggles who married into the magical community, hags, centaurs, merlings, goblins and house elves persecuted, captured and murdered.

In response, the British Conclave was formed out of the ruins of the Ministry. Efforts to maintain the Statute of Secrecy as well as sustaining the already diminished, magical population, the Conclave temporarily adopted the American made “Rappaport’s Law” (an era colloquially called “Rappaport’s Reign). The swift segregation of magical folk from the muggles, and harsh operations of oblivation to those within muggle governments, resulted in a slow, but eventual return of peace within the British magical community.

•••

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: The primary source of education for British wizarding youth, Hogwarts serves as a strong bastion of peace and protection for the future wizarding generations.

Current staff is as follows:

Bathsheda Babbling: Ancient Runes

Cuthburt Binns: History of Magic

Colin Lovegood: Head of Gryffindor House, Charms & Enchanted Items

Dean Thomas: Matron

Gabrielle Delacour: Foreign Magical Studies

Kreacher the House Elf: Caretaker & Head Elf

Firenze: Astronomy & Divination

Neville Longbottom: Headmaster

Pansy Longbottom: Head of Slytherin House, Defensive Magic Studies

Ernest Macmillan: Potions & Alchemy

Padma Patil: Head of Ravenclaw House, Transfiguration & Dueling Club Head

Sturgis Podmore: Magizoology

Alicia Spinnet: Herbology & Quidditch Pitch Moderator

Edward Tonks: Head of Hufflepuff House, Muggle Studies

•••

The Seven Swords of Britain: A term coined by Witch Weekly’s Editor in chief, Lavender Brown, the Seven Swords of Britain are—in accordance to numerous public polls and interviews—the current, seven most influential and prominent wizarding families within the isles.

The recognized families are:

The Esteemed House of Carrow: Headed by Flora Carrow, Flora Carrow is the largest trader of magical foreign goods and a philanthropist, who aided in the refugee crisis following the Calamity of Diagon Alley in 2001. She became the head of her family following the death of her uncle, Amycus Carrow—known Death Eater and Impurity.

Commonly associates with Houses Malfoy and Nott. Though keeps a precarious relationship with other families such as the Montagues and McLaggens.

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom: A revered member of Dumbledore’s Army and the Order of the Phoenix, Lord Neville Longbottom serves as the current Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Through his inheritance as the sole Longbottom heir and his scandalous marriage to Pansy Parkinson, the Longbottoms holds one of the largest wealths in Great Britain. Wealth, that they have been known to spend readily on Hogwarts and numerous charities.

Commonly associates with Houses Lovegood, Macmillan, Parkinson, Patil, Tonks and Weasley. Also viewed as the peacemakers between the feuding Notts & Weasleys.

The Honourable House of Lovegood: Presumed the youngest of the revered families, Luna Lovegood is a well known household name. Current proprietor of the Quibbler—the largest source of news in all of magical Britain and the Lovegood Magical Sanctuary, located on the once disdained isle of Drear. Luna Lovegood married Colin Creevey in 2003. Whereas Luna continues to serve as a magizoologist and newspaper owner, her husband currently works as a professor at Hogwarts.

Commonly associates with the Houses Longbottom and Weasley; as well as the Bones, Creevey, Goldstein and Scammander families. Currently bonded in marriege to House Prewett through her husband’s brother.

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Malfoy: Initially pushed to the outskirts of society following their known patronage of Voldemort, Draco Malfoy returned the honour of his family following his efforts in the defense of Diagon Alley during its Calamity. The Malfoy’s are also recognized as a large benefactor to Sinestra’s Sanatorium for Magical Maladies.

Commonly associates with Houses Carrow, Greengrass and Weasley. Bonded in marriage to the Weasleys through the Greengrass sisters, their relationship is cordial at best.

The Honourable House of McLaggen: Cormac McLaggen is fatefully remembered for his efforts in maintaining the Statute of Secrecy through numerous Obliviation Operations in 2002-2006. Though not as wealthy as the Malfoys, Notts or Weasleys, the McLaggen’s wealth is enough to shoulder the funding for his current office as head of the Department of Magical Entertainments: Sports, Cinemas and Music.

Commonly associates with the Davies, Brown and Wood families. Also, highly supports the Notts when in opposition to the Weasley-Greengrass-Malfoy political block.

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott: Lord Theodore Nott and Lady Tracey Nott née Davis are respected as two of the most prominent members of the Conclave—Lord Theodore serving as High Warlock of the Conclave’s Department of International Magical Relations and Lady Tracey as the head Unspeakable for the British Department of Mysteries. The Nott family are also referred to by the epithet “The Lords of Trent” due to their ownership of a large fraction of land near Nottingham.

Commonly associates with the House of Carrow and freely indulges with other families such as Davies, Brown, Macmillan, Montague, Pucey, and Vane.

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Weasley: Perhaps the most desirable of families, Lord Ronald Weasley is most fantastically recognized for bringing a formal end of the Second Wizarding War after he successfully dueled and defeated Bellatrix Lestrange and the Impurities in the Battle for London. Through his marriage to Daphne Greengrass, his acquisition of the Black and Prewett family fortunes, and his successful production of a philosopher’s stone, Lord Ronald had become a large benefactor for the reconstruction of Magical Britain as a whole.

Commonly associates with Houses Longbottom and Lovegood. Hold close ties to families such the Bones, Delacours, Jordans, Spinnets, Thomas, Tonks and Woods. Tied by blood to the Houses of Black and Prewett and bonded in marriage to Houses Greengrass, Malfoy and the Creevey Family—an by extension, the Lovegoods as well.

•••

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Weasley:

— Lord Ronald “Ron” Weasley; sixth son of the vanished Arthur Weasley & Molly Weasley née Prewett. Born March 1st, 1980. Current head of the House of Weasley, resides at his home of the Warren, on Stoadshead Hill, Ottery St. Catchpole, England. Recognized for his efforts in the Second Wizarding War against Lord Voldemort, defeating Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle for London and his continued relief and philanthropic efforts throughout the British Magical Purge 2000-2004. Careers includes being a fellow member of the House of Nobles, former Hit-Wizard for the British Conclave of Magic, former steward for the Noble and Most Ancient Houses of Black & Prewett, renowned Alchemist & possessor of a philosopher’s stone, proprietor of the following: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes (WWW) & the Chudley Cannons Quidditch Team, co-proprietor for Dame’s Wizarding Bank and known benefactor to the Lovegood Magical Sanctuary and Sinestra’s Sanatorium for Magical Maladies.

—— Lady Daphne Greengrass; wife to Ronald Weasley. Eldest daughter of the late Lord Cassius Greengrass and Lady Bianca Greengrass née Este. Born May 19, 1980. Current head of the House of Greengrass, and consort of the House of Weasley. A revered and cherished witch of her generation, and known for relief efforts throughout the British Magical Purge, she once served as a Hit-Wizard and was part of the Muggle Obliviation Squad (2003-2007). Proprietor of Greengrass Solutions—largest domestic farmer/supplier for British apothecaries since 1514. Current member of the House of Inquest and serves as High Enchantress of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE).

——— Celia Greengrass; first child of Lord Ronald Weasley and Lady Daphne Greengrass. Born June 21st, 2003. The eldest of Ronald’s and Daphne’s triplets, she was named the heiress to the House of Greengrass. She was sorted into Slytherin House and is a proficient potionneer.

——— Serena Weasley; second child of Lord Ronald Weasley and Lady Daphne Greengrass. Born June 21st, 2003. The middle child of the triplets, she was sorted into Ravenclaw House and has deep love for music and aspires to become a musician.

——— Septimus Weasley; third child of Lord Ronald Weasley and Lady Daphne Greengrass. Born June 21st, 2003. The youngest of the triplets as well as Ronald’s and Daphne’s only son, he is set to inherit the Weasley family fortune. He was sorted into Hufflepuff House and is excellent with enchanting items.

——— Clarissa Weasley; the fourth and youngest child of Lord Ronald Weasley and Lady Daphne Greengrass. Born March 1st, 2015. Has deep desires to be a professional dueler.

Relatives:

Lady Muriel Prewett {Deceased}; the former head of the House of Prewett, maternal Great-Great Grand aunt to Lord Ronald. She informally adopted him as her own following the Vanishing, which took his parents, siblings and closest friends.

Alexander Prewett {Deceased}; the secret love child of a young Lady Muriel and Corban Yaxley Sr., he was born a squib and left for America following his disownment. He would later return with his muggle wife and witch daughter Mafalda during the British Magical Purge.

Lady Mafalda Prewett; current Head of the House of Prewett, she was mentored and tutored by Lord Ronald, and became a pseudo sibling for him. She currently serves in the House of Nobles for the British Conclave of Magic, and is the founder and co-proprietor of Dame’s Wizarding Bank—the only bank for Wizarding Britain following Gringotts destruction in the Calamity of Diagon Alley.

Lord Dennis Prewett née Creevey; Lord consort to the House of Prewett, one of the highest stationed muggleborn wizards in the Conclave. Currently serves as Orator for the House of Inquest in the Conclave. He is the younger brother to Colin Lovegood née Creevey.

Alexandra Prewett; current heir and only child of Lady Mafalda and Lord Dennis. Close in age and confidante of her cousin Clarissa Weasley.

Lady Andromeda Tonks née Black {Deceased}; Related through Lord Ronald’s paternal grandmother—Cedrella Weasley née Black—Andromeda was a close friend and supporter. As one of the last potential heirs to the Black Family Fortune, she naturally held influence over much of the older generations of stranded wizardkind. She initially survived the Vanishing but was later murdered by her sister Bellatrix Lestrange during the Impurity’s Rampage of 1999.

Edward Tonks; Widower of the late Lady Andromeda, he was saved from his imprisonment at Malfoy Manor by Draco Malfoy, who defected to the Order of the Phoenix. He would later work with the Conclave and the Order to protect the persecuted Muggleborns during the purge on magic. He currently serves as the Head of Hufflepuff House, as well as the Muggle Studies Professor

Nymphadora Lupin née Tonks; Widowed due to her husband’s—Remus Lupin—vanishing, Nymphadora eventually halted her auror career in favor of a relaxed term as a member of the House of Nobles. Following Lord Ronald’s acquisition of the Black Family Fortune, he intended to grant the entirety to the Tonks-Lupin family, but Nymphadora refused, instead gifting half to her son and the other to Lord Ronald. She, along with her father and son reside as the owners and keepers of 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral seat of the former House of Black.

Edward Lupin; son to Nymphadora Lupin née Tonks and the vanished Remus Lupin. A known metamorphmagus like his mother, he is currently slated to inherit the remaining half of the Black family fortune.

Lord Draco Malfoy; also a member of the House of Black maternally, Lord Draco and Lord Ronald’s relationship is mostly held up by their wives being loving sisters—and all wizards know not to anger their spouse. He currently serves in the Conclave as a member of the House of Nobles, as well as the Chairman of the Reformed Board of Governors for Hogwarts.

Lady Astoria Malfoy née Greengrass; the younger sister to Daphne Greengrass, Lady Astoria holds a great relationship with her sister and can typically handle the bickering her husband and brother in law indulge in. She works as the General Manager of Greengrass Solutions, the factory and farm owned by the Greengrass family for more than five centuries.

Scorpius Malfoy; current heir and only son of Lord Draco and Lady Astoria. He looks up to his Greengrass-Weasley cousins.

Lyra Malfoy; youngest child and only daughter of Lord Draco and Lady Astoria, she is close in age to Clarissa Weasley and one of her closest confidantes.

on one hand, i like the way u draw hair! love it even! but on the other hand... prowl joining the male pattern baldness gang.. mmmm

It was exciting to follow this train of thought to its terminus with you, thanks for the ride!

To answer your question, I'm not sure Prowl is even aware that his hair is thinning until the day he realizes Starscream isn't staring at him so much as surreptitiously using his forehead as a mirror. This is long after he could have gotten any emotional support from the cueballs on Luna One.

I can't seem to find you list of "voice actors" for the characters. Could you maybe re-post those here. And did you have any new ones since the last post? :o thank you a bunch!

I had to go digging around for it myself (this is a pretty popular ask!) but yes! I found the list and have a few additions ouob.

Autobots

Optimus Prime: Jay Ali (as Rahul ‘Ray’ Nadeem in Daredevil) (young)/Oded Fehr (old)

Ultra Magnus: Amitabh Bachan

Ratchet: Pierce Brosnan (as Liam Hennessy in The Foreigner)

Jazz: Anthony Mackie

Ironhide: Sam Elliott

Prowl: Donnie Yen

Perceptor: Dev Patel

Hot Rod: Taron Egerton

WindBlade: Lucy Liu (as O-Ren Ishii from Kill Bill)

Chromia: Danai Gurira (as Okoye from Black Panther)

Kup: Aysha Selim (as Ana Amari from Overwatch)

Drift: Takeshi Kaneshiro

Blaster: Ludi Lin (as Zack Taylor from 2017′s Power Rangers)

Hound: James MacAvoy (Peter Hollens singing voice)

Bumblebee: Tom Holland

Mirage: Tom Hiddleston

Nautica: Ana De Armas

Nightbeat: Idris Elba

Springer: Charlie Hunnam (as Raleigh Becket from Pacific Rim)

Swerve: Jack Black

Arcee: Yuen Qiu (as Landlady from Kung Fu Hustle)

Alpha Trion: Ian McKellen

Lightbright: Siti Nurhaliza

Decepticons

Megatron: Sean Bean (as Richard Sharpe) (young), Charles Dance (as Tywin Lannister from GOT) (old)

Shockwave: Ghassan Massoud

Starscream: Luca Marinelli

Thundercracker: Raul Esparza (As Che from Evita)

Ravage: Diego Luna

Laserbeak: Rebecca Ferguson

Barricade: William Zabka

Tarn: Tim Curry

Kaon: Cillian Murphy

Non-aligned

Senator Proteus: Antony Starr (as Homelander from The Boys)

Dai Atlas: Keith David

Rung: Brent Spiner (as Owen Burnet from Gargoyles)

Terminus: Morgan Freeman

Elita One: Brigitte Nielsen

Trepan: David Tenant (as Kilgrave from Jessica Jones)

I have a question; when your either writing or drawing each character, what does their voices sound like?

Is it's just the normal voices that are used throughout the TF series?

Or do you have other people in mind for each character?

Because I'm over trying to be serious but each time I do, I can't help but laugh at how hilarious Starscream sounds when he is being either Serious or Emotional! (Not that I hate him, I ADORE THE HELL out of him)

I gotta know!

So!

Breaking the character asks to answer as the Mun here.

I don’t use voices from the TF series at all except for the humans (in which case Charlie Watson is still Charlie Watson and Memo Gutierrez is still Memo Gutierrez) mainly since: A. The human!versions have slightly differing characterizations in my mind. That I don’t see them as robots any longer for this universe also adds to that. B. The human!versions have diverse ethnicities and I usually try to voice-cast as close as possible to that (though there is some leeway ie. going Middle Eastern for Kurdish Optimus, going for Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii for Windblade, Tim Curry for Tarn which is a complete departure from their background)

Beyond their ethnicity, I look at their background as well ie. Megatron is British, but not in the way that TFA might sound (higher class, BBC pronunciation), more in the way that a Yorkshire miner might sound (going with his IDW incarnation) so someone like Sean Bean fits the bill.

The current full cast is as below.

Autobots

Optimus Prime: Jay Ali (as Rahul ‘Ray’ Nadeem in Daredevil) (young)/Oded Fehr (old)

Ultra Magnus: Amitabh Bachan

Ratchet: Pierce Brosnan (as Liam Hennessy in The Foreigner)

Jazz: Anthony Mackie

Prowl: Donnie Yen

Perceptor: Dev Patel

Hot Rod: Taron Egerton

WindBlade: Lucy Liu (as O-Ren Ishii from Kill Bill)

Chromia: Danai Gurira (as Okoye from Black Panther)

Kup: Aysha Selim (as Ana Amari from Overwatch)

Drift: Takeshi Kaneshiro

Blaster: Ludi Lin (as Zack Taylor from 2017′s Power Rangers reboot)

Hound: James MacAvoy

Bumblebee: Tom Holland

Mirage: Tom Hiddleston

Nautica: Ana De Armas

Nightbeat: Idris Elba

Decepticons

Megatron: Sean Bean (as Richard Sharpe) (young), Charles Dance (as Tywin Lannister from GOT) (old)

Shockwave: Ghassan Massoud

Starscream: Luca Marinelli

Ravage: Diego Luna

Laserbeak: Rebecca Ferguson

Barricade: William Zabka

Tarn: Tim Curry

Non-aligned

Senator Proteus: Antony Starr (as Homelander from The Boys)

Dai Atlas: Keith David

Rung: Brent Spiner (as Owen Burnet from Gargoyles)

Terminus: Morgan Freeman

Elita One: Brigitte Nielsen

(For whatever reason the first portion of this post isn’t showing up on dash mode so head to the blog for a full read)

Cybertronix and accents

So, Cybertronix does have different dialects, most notably those of the colonies, the “founder’s tongue” of the old city-states where insular cultures have created their own version of the planet wide language, and the half code/half dialect junker talk, incredibly mutable and diverse, sometimes practically a foreign language to a junker from just the other side of the same city. Different dialects are still all Cybertronix, and mostly mutually intelligible, but they contribute a lot to perception and personality.

This means, of course, I’m gonna assign human accents to represent the vibes of a character’s speech.

(by the way, if you’re worried that I’m just taking a grab bag of random foreign accents and throwing them around, I’m not. Most of these accents I’ve heard from real people before, usually other uni students or roommates. I’m not just relying on stereotypical media portrayals and bad voice acting, I’m drawing on personal experience and associations with fond memories of my international friends.)

-40′s/50′s American Television Actors Accent: bog-standard “proper” Cybertronix, which of course is mostly just Iacon, Praxus, Polyhex, and Altihex. Upper class society in Rodion also sound like this.

people who sound like this: Orion Pax, Minimus Ambus, Arcee, Blackarachnia and Deadlock but very rough around the edges. Shockwave affects an accent like this to be more acceptable to his audience in the Senate. The Grand Architect technically has this accent, but the most striking thing about his voice is how impassive and intimidating he sounds, rather than his pronunciation.

-Posh Snobbish British Schoolboys Accent: much of Vos, where the higher you go, the more upper class you are, and thus the more posh and snobbish you are.

people who sound like this: Starscream, but he affects a heavier accent than he had as a middle class child. Skywarp and Thundercracker have mostly dropped theirs. Brainstorm, Perceptor. Slipstream has a very posh accent.

-German, But Like Specifically A Bavarian Accent: Tesarus, Helex, and parts of rural Tyrest. A strong, “noble” accent left over from a huge united empire prior to a united Cybertron, still considered a mark of a member of the backbone of society.

people who sound like this: Predaking, Tarantulas, Fort Max, Tailgate, Dion.

-German, But Like Specifically A Westphalian Accent: Tesarus mostly, with some communities in Stanix and groundside Vos. Considered rougher than the more “cultured” version above.

people who sound like this: Blitzwing, Makeshift, Jhiaxus, Shockwave when he gets too emotional or tired and forgets to stay upper class. Forestock also tries to drop this accent, but a lil less successfully.

(I’m also imagining some mix of Standard American German and Pennsylvania Dutch accents to be an in-between blend of standard Cybertronix and thicker Tesaran-style dialects.)

-Swiss French Because I’ll Be Damned Before I Willingly Give Anything Of France To Any Character Of Mine, Even An Accent: Tyrest and some of Praxus, also Crystal City. Lovely and charming, supposedly a mark of someone graceful and benign.

people who sound like this: Councilmember Tyrest, Skyfire, Terminus although he’s lost much of his accent. Prowl, Bluestreak, Smokescreen in his natural voice but he often obfuscates his accent.

-That Brooklyn Or Jersey Accent Where You Pronounce It Like Joizee: lower class Iacon, Polyhex, and most of Rodion. Sometimes called the junker’s accent (which is terribly inaccurate), folks with this accent aren’t going to be lauded by the upper class anytime soon. Full of slang and euphemisms.

people who sound like this: Rumble and Frenzy, Ravage, Powerglide, Swindle. Nightracer, Bludgeon, Wheelie, and Red Alert all have a specific version of this that marks them as junkers. Springer used to, but he’s started copying Prowl’s accent now. Hot Rod to a small degree.

-An Absolute Ace Aussie Accent: Carcer! Which, much like Australia, started as a penal colony that then turned into a regular colony and then a nation proper. It’s younger than the other colonies, and far from Cybertron, so they’re considered kind of backward and stupid, which means anyone with their accent is often automatically dismissed.

people who sound like this: listen I need you to imagine Ariel speaking like Steve Irwin but about to punch a croc instead of wrestle it. Also Obsidian.

-Brazilian, But Like Specifically Recife Accent: Tyger Pax, thickest in the city itself. Very animated and vibrant, super expressive, sometimes criticized for being loud, but it’s also very fun to listen to.

people who sound like this: Jazz, Alpha Trion but he sounds like he’s faking it, First Aid. Rosanna has been touring Cybertron as a pop star for long enough that she needs to deliberately practice her accent to keep it.

-Brazilian, But Like Specifically Southern Accent: Velocitron! Not only is the accent notable, but the speed at which they speak is very distinctive. They gotta say Everything Right Now Immediately.

people who sound like this: Moonracer, Swerve, Blurr (but he’s got a stutter too), Override, Knock Out.

-Portuguese, As In The Country, Which Is Different Than A Brazilian Accent: Eukaris! They speak very casually, unhurried, like a nice warm evening around the dinner table with family.

people who sound like this: Lickety-Split. I haven’t decided who else is from Eukaris yet.

-Sort Of Yiddish, Sort Of Polish, Sort Of Greek, I’m Thinking Specifically Of One Tricultural Friend’s Accent: Much of Tarn, a few parts of Kaon, and bits of Helex. Not wildly different from standard Cybertronix, but strong and heated and very opinionated, a good accent to be angry in.

people who sound like this: Cogman, Wheeljack, Lugnut, Megatron though he’s lost some of it.

-Russian, Not Evil Movie Villain Russian, Just A Real Russian Accent: Kaon and a good half of Tarn. They are very precise with what they mean, but not so much with the grammar and order of their words, which means their precision communication is often lost on outsiders.

people who sound like this: Strika, Damus, Wasp.

-Very Sweet, Folksy Ukrainian Accent: Devisiun! On a colony where everyone is born with siblings, most folks also adopt a pattern of speaking with or over people, especially with family and people they know best. A Cybertronian will consider a Devisian rude for talking in the middle of their sentence, but that’s a normal conversation for a Devisian! They’d consider it rude if the Cybertronian didn’t start responding to them in the middle of their sentence.

people who sound like this: Jetfire and Jetstorm, complete with finishing each other’s sentences.

-Korean Accent, Which Is Actually Closest To The Original Primal Vernacular: Caminus! They held on very tightly to their roots as a colony founded directly by one of the first Primes, so they’ve preserved a version of the first language that, while mutated by usage over the megavorns, is still closely connected to the tongue of the ancients.

people who sound like this: Windblade, Chromia, Firestar, Flareup, Nautica, some people swear Maccadam has a hint of this accent.

-Deep Southern Redneck Bumpkin Drawl From Down On The Range Accent: the moons! Luna 1 and 2 have very similar dialects, and very thick country drawls.

people who sound like this: Ironhide, Cosmos, Bulkhead, Kup uses this one because he picked it up on an early visit to Luna 1 and liked it so he keeps it.

MCOC Wishlist Poll Snapshot: Entire Rankings

001 Mystique 002 Quicksilver 003 Beta Ray Bill 004 Sandman 005 Adam Warlock 006 Kitty Pryde 007 Lizard 008 Morbius the Living Vampire 009 Kraven the Hunter 010 Cloak & Dagger 011 Spider-Man 2099 012 Black Cat 013 Bullseye 014 Jessica Jones 015 Ares 016 Shang-Chi 017 Gladiator (Kallark) 018 Baron Zemo 019 Lady Deathstrike 020 Enchantress 021 Valkyrie MCU 022 Knull 023 Morgan le Fay 024 Scorpion 025 Captain Britain 026 Galactus 027 Dazzler 028 Silver Samurai 029 Black Knight 030 Dracula 031 Hobgoblin 032 Pyro 033 Fantomex 034 Spider-Woman 035 Jean Grey 90s 036 Silk 037 Polaris 038 Silver Sable 039 Sif 040 Anti-Venom 041 Mister Negative 042 Crystal 043 Legion 044 Shocker 045 Malekith the Accursed 046 Destroyer Armor 047 M'baku the Man-Ape 048 The Mandarin 049 Emplate 050 Multiple-Man 051 Shuri 052 Banshee 053 Onslaught 054 Warpath 055 Sunfire 056 Cannonball 057 Dark Phoenix 058 Blue Marvel 059 Prowler (Aaron Davis) 060 Okoye 061 Mockingbird 062 Spiral 063 Madame Hydra / Viper 064 Hydro-Man 065 Red She-Hulk 066 Agent Anti-Venom 067 Blackheart 068 Gorr the God-Butcher 069 Songbird 070 Quasar 071 Absorbing Man 072 Whiplash 073 Armor 074 Daimon Hellstrom 075 Wendigo 076 Nimrod 077 Graviton 078 Gwenom 079 Deathlok 080 Firestar 081 Vulcan 082 Wonder Man 083 Selene 084 Blob 085 Klaw 086 Rachel Summers 087 Thor (MCU Stormbreaker) 088 Shadow King 089 White Tiger 090 Tombstone 091 Jack O'Lantern 092 Valkyrie Classic 093 Toad 094 Moonstone 095 Weapon H 096 Jocasta 097 Dani Moonstar 098 Monica Rambeau 099 Wolfsbane 100 Franklin Richards 101 Ancient One 102 Arnim Zola 103 Exodus 104 Forge 105 Supergiant 106 Madelyne Pryor 107 Hank Pym 108 Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) 109 Negasonic Teenage Warhead 110 Spider-Man Noir 111 Phantom Rider 112 Blink 113 Sebastian Shaw 114 Clea 115 Black Tom Cassidy 116 Kurse 117 Danger 118 Daken 119 Omega Sentinel 120 Grim Reaper 121 Radioactive Man 122 Shatterstar 123 Darkstar 124 Werewolf by Night 125 Hope Summers 126 The Magus 127 Union Jack 128 Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) 129 Crimson Dynamo 130 Pixie 131 Conan 132 Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly) 133 Azazel 134 Jigsaw 135 Boom-Boom 136 Swarm 137 Xorn 138 Machine Man 139 Black Widow (Yelena Belova) 140 Madame Masque 141 Misty Knight 142 Chamber 143 Mistress Death 144 Skaar 145 Morlun 146 Thanos (Endgame) 147 Leader 148 Sleepwalker 149 Deacon Frost 150 Black Swan 151 Agent 13 (Sharon Carter) 152 Fin Fang Foom 153 Ka-Zar 154 Arcade 155 Iron Spider 156 Dust 157 Gorgon 158 Lash 159 Namora 160 A-Bomb (Rick Jones) 161 Ikaris 162 Nick Fury (Classic) 163 Rescue 164 Nico Minoru 165 Volstagg 166 Weapon Hex 167 Stingray 168 Maximus the Mad 169 Cyttorak 170 Skurge the Executioner 171 Doc Samson 172 Maverick / Agent Zero 173 Sauron 174 Baron Blood 175 Captain America Falcon 176 Wong 177 Mantis 178 Whirlwind 179 Firelord 180 Magma 181 Molecule Man 182 White Fox 183 Nova (Sam Alexander) 184 Satana 185 Dum Dum Dugan (LMD) 186 Holocaust 187 Shiklah 188 Valkyrie Moonstar 189 High Evolutionary 190 Bloodaxe 191 Magus (Technarch) 192 Nighthawk 193 Punisher: War Machine 194 Goliath (Bill Foster) 195 Nova (Frankie Raye) 196 Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) 197 Dr. Cecilia Reyes 198 Sentinel X (Shogo Lee) 199 Thena 200 Hellcat 201 Cosmic Spider-Man 202 Attuma 203 Shroud 204 Doctor Nemesis 205 Siryn 206 Nate Grey 207 Iron Monger 208 Black Mamba 209 Agent Carter 210 Kluh 211 Tiger Shark 212 Purple Man 213 Snowbird 214 Ice-Thing 215 Lilandra 216 Superior Spider-Man 217 Thane 218 Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur 219 Jackal 220 Jean Grey (X-Men Red) 221 Punisher: Frankencastle 222 Puck 223 Rockslide 224 Red Ghost and his Super-Apes 225 Deathbird 226 Hydra Supreme 227 Strong Guy 228 Zarda the Power Princess 229 Sage 230 Quentin Quire (aka Kid Omega) 231 Prowler (Hobie Brown) 232 Slapstick 233 Stardust (Lambda Zero) 234 Titanium Man 235 D'spayre 236 Colleen Wing 237 Thunderbird (John Proudstar) 238 Iron Maiden 239 Gorilla-Man (Kenneth Hale) 240 Jack of Hearts 241 Titania 242 Avalanche 243 Toxic Doxie 244 Death’s Head 245 Impossible Man 246 Worthy Captain America (Mjölnir/Endgame) 247 Outlaw (Higgins) 248 Scarlet Spider II (Kaine Parker) 249 Beetle 250 Typhoid Mary 251 Bloodscream 252 Serpent (Cul Borson) 253 Ms. America Chavez 254 Ghost Rider (Reyes) 255 Hummingbird 256 Mercury 257 M (Monet St. Croix) 258 Black Tarantula 259 Spitfire 260 Wizard 261 Superior Octopus 262 Maria Hill 263 Minotaur (Dario Agger) 264 Echo 265 Morph 266 Karolina Dean 267 Zarathos 268 Thundra 269 Smasher (Kane) 270 Hyperstorm 271 Boomerang 272 Stature (Cassie Lang, AKA Stinger) 273 Meggan 274 Caliban 275 Hollow 276 Abyss (Styger) 277 Silverclaw 278 Red King 279 Doctor Druid 280 U.S. Agent 281 Sersi 282 Molten Man 283 Zzzax 284 Singularity 285 Agatha Harkness 286 Blastaar 287 Korvac 288 Citizen V 289 Carter Slade the Satan-Stomper 290 Post 291 Shuma-Gorath 292 Sin 293 Triton 294 Quasar (Kincaid) 295 Martinex 296 Iron Man (Mark I) 297 Wiccan 298 Speedball 299 Paladin 300 Amanda Sefton 301 Overmind 302 Diamondback (Rachel Leighton) 303 Feral 304 Charlie-27 305 Rom: Spaceknight 306 Juggerduck 307 The Uranian 308 Blazing Skull 309 Starfox 310 Living Laser 311 Hiro-Kala 312 Namorita 313 Jack Flag 314 Stormborn 315 Doctor Bong 316 Crescent & Io 317 Gamora mcu 318 Wave 319 Ironheart 320 Venom Rocket 321 Doctor Spectrum 322 Davos the Steel Serpent 323 Lady Hellbender 324 Falcon classic 325 Bloodstorm 326 Tempus (Eva Bell) 327 Voyager 328 No-Name the Brood 329 Demon Bear 330 Moondragon 331 Arachne 332 Aero 333 Andromeda 334 Speed Demon 335 Phyla-Vell 336 Xemnu the Living Hulk 337 Aleta 338 Araña 339 Human Torch (Jim Hammond) 340 Constrictor 341 Iso 342 Arkon 343 Genis-Vell 344 Shanna the She-Devil 345 Volcana 346 Batroc the Leaper 347 Arclight 348 Scientist Supreme 349 Yukio 350 N'kantu the Living Mummy 351 Gentle 352 Caiera the Oldstrong 353 Beetle (Janice Lincoln) 354 Penance (Baldwin) 355 Super-Adaptoid 356 Ajak 357 Future Colossus 358 Moses Magnum 359 Vampire by Night 360 Superia 361 Puppet Master 362 Chimera 363 Count Nefaria 364 Stick 365 Hellion 366 Agent May 367 Mister Hyde 368 Spot 369 Cobra 370 Doop 371 Lyja 372 Wrecker 373 Stargod/Man-Wolf 374 Stilt-Man 375 Machinesmith 376 Spider-Bitch 377 Madame Web 378 Corsair & Sikorsky 379 Thor (Groot) 380 Balder 381 Random 382 Power Man (Alvarez) 383 Starhawk 384 Sun-Girl (Selah Burke) 385 Arcanna 386 Scream 387 Kree Sentry 388 Agent Phil Coulson 389 Thunderstrike (Kevin) 390 Talos 391 Carmilla Black 392 Uatu 393 Jennifer Kale 394 Warwolf 395 Enigma (Aikku Jokinen, AKA Pod) 396 Belasco 397 Swordsman 398 Trevor Fitzroy 399 Dazzler Thor 400 Hepzibah 401 Atlas 402 Ogun 403 Yellowjacket (DeMara) 404 Hala the Accuser 405 Entropy 406 War Machine (Infinity War) 407 Animax 408 Captain Universe 409 Whizzer 410 Hogun the Grim 411 Cottonmouth (Clemens) 412 Blizzard 413 Storm (Queen of Wakanda) 414 Silhouette 415 Immortus 416 Beast (Hex-Men) 417 Solo 418 White Rabbit 419 Aurora 420 Equinox 421 Hellcow 422 Owl 423 Arsenic & Old Lace 424 Beetle mk iii 425 Valeria (Age of Conan) 426 Trapster 427 Throg 428 Mimic 429 Hulkling 430 Iron Lad 431 Angel (Black Vortex) 432 Marionette 433 Phastos 434 Hobgoblin 2099 435 Razor Fist 436 Asp 437 Baymax 438 Captain America (Peggy Carter) 439 Sp//dr 440 Tarantula (Kaine) 441 Silver Scorpion (Barstow) 442 Midnight Angels of Wakanda 443 Demolition Man 444 White Wolf (Hunter) 445 Synapse 446 Kingo 447 Grey Gargoyle 448 Gilgamesh the Forgotten One 449 Justice 450 Atlas Bear 451 Iron Fist (Orson Randall) 452 Victorious 453 Lincoln Campbell 454 Luna Snow 455 Zadkiel 456 Crystar 457 Husk 458 Gravity 459 Kaecilius 460 Marrina 461 Ghost Rider (Circle of Four) 462 Nighthawk Supremeverse 463 Fixer 464 Cardiac 465 Capwolf 466 Kull the Conqueror of Atlantis 467 Noh-Varr 468 Korath the Pursuer 469 Miss America (Joyce) 470 Blackjack O'Hare 471 Bi-Beast 472 Vance Astro 473 Bushmaster (Quincy) 474 Krugarr 475 Poundcakes 476 Yo-Yo 477 American Son 478 Mister M 479 Cottonmouth (Stokes) 480 Manphibian 481 Infamous Iron Man 482 Paibok the Power-Skrull 483 Shatter 484 Daredevil Shadowland 485 Nakia 486 Garrison Kane 487 Makkari 488 Elloe 489 Northstar 490 Spiderling 491 She-Hulk (Lyra) 492 Proteus 493 Grey Hulk 494 Doorman 495 Toro 496 Nuke 497 Acroyear 498 Blonde Phantom 499 Drax MCU 500 Orrgo 501 Marvel Girl NPC 502 Fandral the Dashing 503 Spider-Girl 504 Ms. Thing 505 Captain America 2099 506 Veranke 507 Haechi 508 Mulholland Black 509 Mighty Destroyer 510 Eclipse 511 Powell McTeague 512 Druig 513 Copycat 514 Terror 515 Ahab 516 God-Emperor Doom 517 Doombot (V Series) 518 Sword Master 519 Cyclone 520 Black Mariah 521 Zenzi 522 Thor: Herald of Thunder 523 3-D Man 524 Hulk Endgame 525 Tetu 526 Doctor Octopus (Liv Octavius) 527 Margali 528 Molly Hayes 529 Sinara 530 Aldrich Killian 531 Goldballs 532 Mindless Ones 533 Nikki Gold 534 Foolkiller 535 Darkwing Duck 536 Thunderstrike (Eric) 537 She-Thing (Ventura) 538 Killmonger (Emperor Symbiote) 539 Iron Duck 540 Ms. Marvel II (Ventura) 541 Spymaster 542 Scalphunter 543 Spider-Man (Miles Morales Movie) 544 Karn 545 Gun-R 546 Terminus 547 Achebe 548 Llyra 549 Bushmaster (John) 550 Sugar Man 551 Great Lakes Avengers 552 Xarggu 553 Human Fly (Deacon) 554 Shogun 555 Plantman 556 Brawn 557 Elixir 558 Litterbug 559 Smasher (Rokk) 560 Bug 561 Mammomax 562 Synch 563 Anaconda 564 Wolvie 565 Dirk Anger 566 Captain [****] 567 Ezekiel 568 Diamondback (Stryker) 569 Unworthy Thor 570 Master Mold 571 Masked Marauder 572 M.O.D.A.M. 573 Hellsgaard 574 Hulkbuster 2.0 575 Forgetmenot 576 Ghaur 577 Arcturus Rann 578 Ultimate Green Goblin (Movie) 579 Dragoness 580 Porcupine 581 M-11 582 Taskmaster MCU 583 Dansen Macabre 584 Lady Bullseye 585 Harpoon 586 Unicorn 587 Bushwacker 588 Loki variant 589 Night Nurse 590 Psyklop 591 Mack 592 Eel 593 Water Snake 594 Chaos King 595 Red Hulk (Maverick) 596 Kaluu 597 The Russian 598 Geena Drake 599 Jimmy Hudson 600 Slayback 601 Mentallo 602 Skull the Slayer 603 Karkas 604 Dominic Fortune 605 The Buzz 606 Doctor Crocodile 607 Ox 608 Dorrek VII 609 Needle 610 Krang 611 Dino-Thor 612 Stegron 613 Zeitgeist 614 [VACANT] 615 [VACANT] 616 [VACANT]

世界最遅tulaladd2020best DL list

年間ベストを始めて以来、初の事態。

なんと9か月遅れのポスト。あと3か月で次の年ベスの発表時期じゃないですか…唯一にして最大の理由が、もちろんあるにはある。

暗夜行路のような唄声が車内から眺める某庁舎前の雪景色と甘酸っぱい感情を喚起させるRY Xや、このリストには登場しない自分用に作ったプレイリスト（日本語ラップ編、シティーポップ編）をひとりで何度も諳んじては胸を焦がした。それらの音楽が本来持つ資質にプラスして思い出補正でランクインした作品がいくつかある（最たるものがサントラ部門かな）。そんな変化があった2020年でした。

それを除けば、音楽ライフは基本的に前年を踏襲。つまり引き続きapple music依存型で、DIG活動もほほ休止（荷物の山に埋もれたタンテをセッティングし直せるまともな精神状態じゃなかった…）。落第生の体たらくをここ何年も続けてるわけです。とはいえ昨年と比べれば、リスト入り作品の数が格段に増えた＝それなりに楽しい音楽生活が営めていたのも事実。その充実を支えたものがアルゴリズムって点がものすごく納得はいかないけれど。（毎年書いてるけど、手当たり次第サブスクを横断する中で「もう一度聴きたい」と思えたものが以下のDLリスト。感覚的には昨年より緩い5枚に1枚。それでも昨年比3倍の約250枚！）

いつまで延命できるか分からないローカルラジオを継続できたのもラッキーだった。相変わらずみんなとあーだこーだ言いながらいろんな曲を聴く時間が音楽ライフを豊かにしてくれました。感謝。過去最高に音楽への熱が薄いテキストになっちゃうけど、9か月遅れだと致し方なしか。

三ツ星評価のうち、エル・ミシェルズ・アフェアのシングルはラジオの一戸くんレコメン、今年も熱量が持続しているサウスロンドン・ジャズ・シーンのマンスール・ブラウンEPはおなじみWOZNIAK星くんのオススメ、ほかにも人から教わってお気に入りになった作品が少なくないのは、サブスクじゃ届かないリアルの強みが感じられて、そこだけは希望があるのかな。

特筆するとすれば、Bartosz KruczynskiのEARTH TRAX以来追い続けてきたリズムセクション・インターナショナルが、旬のサウスロンドン・シーンと地下ハウス/テクノ・シーンのメルティング・ポットだったことが分かって興味が再燃させられた個人的な事件。そのセンセーションのグラウンド・ゼロにあたるTHE COLOURS THAT RISEの発見が今年No.1の成果かな。

唯一職場で音楽談義ができるために相互レコメンに特化したLINEを展開中のT氏に教えられたエディ・チャコンのアルバム、そのエディの復活劇を手掛け、若林恵さん経由でずっぽりハマったソランジュ『A Seat At The Table』の禅的ミニマリズのデザイナーでもあることが事後に発覚したジョン・キャロル・カービーの2人は、今年ならではの幸福な時間の中で何度も繰り返し聴いた一生の思い出確定盤。ジョンなんか3カテゴリーに分かれてのランクインだもんな。　

さて2021年。あと3か月しかない。今年はやる？やらない？いろいろ越えるべきものが多くすぎてそれ以前の問題かもしれないなけど。

【TECHNO / HOUSE / (NU)DISCO / ELECTRONICS】 ★★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / Grey Doubt ★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / 2020 EP（2017） ★★THEO PARRISH / Wuddaji ★★Machinedrum / A View of U ★Kuniyuki Takahashi / Flying Music EP ★Oneohtrix Point Never / Magic Oneohtrix Point Never ★VLADISLAV DELAY / Rakka ★LUKE SLATER / berghain fünfzehn ★Jayda G / Both of Us / Are U Down EP ★TSHA / Flowers EP ★DISCLOSURE / Energy ★DARKSTAR / Civic Jams ★Chari Chari / We Hear the Last Decades Dreaming ★HUNEE / Boiler Room : an hour with HUNEE（DJ Mix） ★Autechre / SIGN Arca / @@@@@ BURIAL / Chemz FOUR TET / Sixteen Oceans JAMES BLAKE / Before EP GLOBAL COMMUNICATION / Transmissions Sampler JOHN FRUSCIANTE / Maya TRICKFINGER / She Smiles Because She Presses the Button EP TRICKFINGER / Look Down, See Us EP 60 Miles / Swamp 2 Sea EP EARTH TRAX / LP1 EARTH TRAX / LP2 BIG YAWN / No! HIATT dB / Palimpsest EP GL / You Read My Mind DJ SOFA / Elsewhere Junior I - a Collection of Cosmic Children’s Song Mr President / One Night feat.Celia Kameni & Cindy Pooch J.A.K.A.M. / ASTRAL DUB WORX Inner Science / Made パソコン音楽クラブ / Ambience EP LOCUSSOLUS / Locussolus（Expanded） Various Artists / South DAN KYE / Small Moments OFF THE MEDS / Off The Meds BASSO / Proper Sunburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied By Basso（2019） Copenema / Dexia a Musica Tocar（2019） Seahawks / Eyes of the Moon（2019） Jayda G / Significant Changes（2019） MMM / Que Barbaro（2013）

【HIPHOP / R&B / BEATS / FUNK】 ★★★EDDIE CHACON / Outside（Laraaji Remix） ★★EDDIE CHACON / Pleasure, Joy and Happiness ★★Lil Narnia / Pain Extract ★★VHOOR / Baile & Sauce ★AG CLUB / Halfway Off the Porch ★MAC MILLER / Circles ★THUNDRCAT / It Is What It Is ★WILMA ARCHER / A Western Circular ★OXP, ONRA & POMRAD / Swing Convention ★DJ KRUSH / TRICKSTER ★BENEDEK / Bene’s World（2017） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / High feat.Eddie Chacon & Nailah Hunter THE WEEKND / After Hours DRAKE / Dark Lane Demo Tapes POP SMOKE / Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon IVAN AVE / DOUBLE GOODBYES MOSES SUMNEY / græ PETER COTTON TALE / CATCH NNAMDI / BRAT Yves Tumor / Heaven Ta a Toutured Mind Teebs / Ardour（10th Anniversary Edition） Wajatta / Don’t Let Get You Down Lapalux / Esrevoinma EP Kutmah / New Appliance THE HELIOCENTRICS / Telemetric Sounds VULFPECK / The Joy of Music, The Job of   Real Estate JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Lazzara（2019） Various Artists / Kutmah presents : Sketchbook Radio Archives, Vol.1（2018） Invisibl Skratch Piklz / The 13th Foor（2016） D-STYLES / Phantazagorea（2002）

【JAZZ（the New Chapter） / WORLD】 ★★★MANSUR BROWN / Tesuto ★★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / My Garden ★★KAMASI WASHINGTON / Harmony of Difference EP（2017） ★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Love Theme ★MANSUR BROWN / Shiroi ★JEFF PARKER / Suite for Max Brown ★CHICAGO UNDERGROUND QUARTET / Good Days ★TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYES / What Kinda Music ★KAMAAL WILLIAMS / Wu Hen ★ROB MAZUREK & EXPLODING STAR ORCHESTRA / Dimentional Stardust: ★ORLANDO LE FLEMING / Romantic Funk : The Unfamiliar ★SAM WILKES / WILKES（2019） ★YUSSEF KAMAAL / Black Focus（2016） ★ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） JYOTI & GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW / Mama, You Can Bet! BUTCHER BROWN / #KingButch BRAXTON COOK / Fire Sign PAT METHENY / From This Place Fabiano do Nascimento / Preludio SAM GENDEL / Satin Doll SAM GENDEL / Pass If Music（2018） SAM WILKES / Live on the Green（2019） BRANDON COLEMAN / Resistance（2018） KIEFER / Superbloom（2019） 鈴木良雄 / モーニング・ピクチャー（1984） 鈴木良雄 / ウイングス（1987） JOHN EBERSON, BJ0RNAR ANDRESEN, PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE / Mind the Gap（2001）

【（INDIE）ROCK / （INDIE） POP / SSW】 ★★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Reasons feat.Bobby Oroza ★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Adult Themes ★★THE FLAMING LIPS / American Head ★★SUFJAN STEVENS / The Ascension ★★FLEET FOXES / Shore ★★COLDPLAY / Everyday Life（2019） ★★RY X / Unfurl（2019） ★★THE WAR ON DRUGS / Lost in the Dream（2014） ★PHOEBE BRIDGERS / Copycat Killer feat. ROB MOOSE - EP ★Mk.gee / A Museum of Contradiction ★PEEL DREAM MAGAZINE / Agitprop Alterna ★BLAKE MILLS / Mutable Set ★THE STROKES / The New Abnormal ★CHS / Jungle Sauna（2019） ★KINDNESS / Something Like A War（2019） ★〝Blue〟Gene Tyranny & Peter Gordon / Trust In Rock（2019） ★STATE RIVER WIDENING / Early Music（2003） BIBIO / Sleep On The Wing Jonsi / Shiver JEFF TWEEDY / Love Is The King REAL ESTATE / The Main Thing ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / Bridge to Quite LITTLE DRAGON / New Me . Same us JAGA JAZZIST / Pyramid TAME IMPAlA  / The Slow Rush TRAVIS / 10 Songs SORRY / 925 JOSEPH OF MERCURY / WAVE Ⅱ Khruangbin / Mordechai Various Artists / Hiding From the Landlord HOWLING / Colure DEVENDRA BANHART / Ma（2019） LANA DEL REY / Norman Fucking Rockwell（2019） DAVE GROHL / Play（2018） CRITERIA / En Garde（2003）

【PUNK / HEAVEY / EXTREAM】 ★★envy / The Fallen Crimson ★★lang / There is no reply, but sweet wind blew（2018） ★envy / LAST WISH（Live at Liquidroom Tokyo） ★SLIFT / UMMON ★HORSE LORDS / The Common Task ★coriky / coriky ★Sans Visage, Look at moment / Split Single ★Sans Visage / moments（2017） ★LIGHTNING BOIL / Sonic Citadel（2019） ★Harvey Milk / Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men（2006） DEFTONES / Ohms Converge / Endless Arrow JESU / Terminus JESU / Never JESU / Ascension（Delux） KRUELTY / A Dying Truth XIBALBA / Anos En Infierno Various Artists / Speedy Wunderground Year 4（2019） RUSSIAN CIRCLE / Russian Circle Audiotree Far Out（2019） EARTH / Live at Third Man Records（2017） THE ARMED / Only Love（2018） THE ARMED / Untitled（2015）

【AMBIENT / NEW AGE / DRONE / MINIMAL MUSIC / EXPERIMENTAL】 ★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Conflict ★★Dukes of Chutney / Hazel  ★HEATHERED PEARLS / Cast ★SAM PREKOP / Comma BING & RUTH / Species FRANKIE REYES / Originalitos IAN WILLIAM CRAIG / Red Sun Through Smoke WINDY & CARL / Allegiance and Conviction JONNY NASH & SUZANNE KRAFT / A Heart So White JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Tuscany（2019） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Meditation In Music（2018） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Travel（2017） ALEXANDER RISHAUG / Shadow of Events（2011） 【CLASSIC / OST】 ★LUDWIG GORANSSON / Tenet OST ★JOHN WILLIAMS / Double Trouble ※from OST of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban（2004） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Ammonite OST KAMASI WASHINGTON / Becoming（Music from the Netflix Original Documentary） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Lumiere（2011） BETH GIBBONS, The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Krzysztof Penderecki / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.3（2019） ANTONI WIT, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra(Katowice) & Polish Choir of Krakow / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.2（2001） ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） 【DOMESTIC（without HIPHOP）】 ★★★METAFIVE / 環境と心理 ★★GEZAN / 狂（KLUE） ★★downy / 第七作品集「無題」 ★★岡村靖幸 / 操 ★★崎山蒼志 / ソフト　※FEVER LIVE ver. on YouTube ★★SILENT POETS / dawn（2018） ★WOZNIAK / Vegetable Home Run ★Ai Aso / The Faintest Hint ★jan and naomi / YES ★mei ehara / Ampersands ★ディーン・フジオカ / Neo Dimension ★LUNA SEA / Make a vow ★坂本慎太郎 / 好きっていう気持ち / おぼろげナイトクラブ ★Cuushe / Waken ★sassya- / 脊髄（2019） ★小袋成彬 / Piercing（2019） ★She Her Her Hers / stereochrome（2014） WOZNIAK / Lost WOZNIAK / Double Face mouse on the keys / Arche 5kai / Untitled #2 KAN SANO / Susanna Ovall / Ovall（2019） mabanua / Blurred（2018） D.A.N. / Aechma ふさえ / そのまま 相馬智行 & 鳴海徹朗 / 春の闇 jan and naomi / Neutrino 王舟 / Pulchra Ondo 春ねむり / LOVETHEISM 井出健介と母船 / Contact From Exne Kedy And The Poltergeists（エクスネ・ケディと騒がしい幽霊からのコンタクト） 吉田一郎不可触世界 / えぴせし 岡田拓郎 / Morning Sun blgtz / Feature EP Coff / Tiny Music（2019） 【DOMESTIC（HIPHOP）】 ★★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / GOLDEN ROUTE ★★Weny Dacillo / Hapitable Hotel ★Hideyoshi / Dead End Adventure ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） ★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / Time feat.Yo-Sea & KEIJU（2019） ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） KOHH / worst KEIJU / T.A.T.O. Sauce81 / S8100 MARTER / Weltraumasthetik 2020 Normcore Boyz / MEDIAGE なみちえ / 毎日来日 徳利 / REVOLUTION starscream & Page Hiiragi / Ghost(s) DJ CHARI / GAME（2019） YOUNG HASTLE & GG UJIHARA / YOUNG UJIHARA EP（2019） Weny Dacillo / AMPM EP（2017）

Roman Gods: Before they were Greek

Part one: Gods of the Countryside

From earliest times the Romans were farmers, living close to the land and dependent upon it for their survival and prosperity. These farming people were strongly aware of the supernatural in the world about them.The changes in the weather and in the seasons, the mysteries of pregnancy,birth and growth, all were beyond both understanding and control. They were both puzzling and awe-inspiring.It is easy,then, to understand how people came to believe that a magical power or force (something they called 'numen') was everywhere and in everything,showing itself in all the processes of life.It's influence was seen in all the the activities of the farm, in the daily work within the family home and in the growth and development of children.

To understand this rather vague power better and also to ensure that its energy was directed in helpful ways,each of its actions was given a name. There was Vesta of the hearth-fire, Neptunus (Neptune) of the life giving rain and spring water, Terminus of the boundary-stone, Consus the Storer and many,many more. For the most part these spirits or powers were kindly in their influence.They lived in the same house as the human family and on the same plot of land.If peace was made with them by means of prayer and sacrifice they would work for the benefit of all and would give protection against the unknown and dangerous powers that inhabited the wild places beyond the cultivated land.They would also ensure that the many and laborious tasks of the farmer would eventually be blessed with success.

To begin with all these powers which showed themselves in the activities of nature and of human life were rather vague beings without personalities.They simply made things happen or, more accurately,they were the happenings themselves. Gradually, however, ideas changed,especially under the influence of Greek culture with its rich mythology of colorful stories of gods and goddesses.In time the Romans,too, came to think of the powers in terms of deities with human-like forms. Two of these were Pomona and Vertumnus. Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees,especially apple trees,while Vertumnus was the god of the changing seasons.There were others, like Flora the goddess of flowers,who were given personalities,but few of them had stories told about them.In most cases the Greek gods,together with the stories the Greeks told about them, came to be identified with the native Italian or Roman ones.The Roman sky-god Jupiter was identified with Zeus, father of the Greek Olympian gods while the Roman harvest-goddess Ceres became associated in most peoples minds with the Greek goddess Demeter. Saturnus (Saturn), the sower, who was probably a very ancient agricultural god,was identified with Cronos, leader of the Greek's most ancient group of gods, the Titans.Mother Earth, too was a goddess common to both peoples. The Greeks called her Gaea while to the Romans she was known as Terra or Tellus Mater.

The Roman writer Varro began his book on agriculture by calling on the twelve deities who have a special interest in the process of farming.These Varro arranges in pairs.First he calls on Jupiter the Sky Father and Tellus the Earth Mother, who together rule over everything.Second he calls on Sol (sun) and Luna (moon), who regulate matters concerned with planting and harvesting.Third come Liber (Drink,especially wine) and Ceres (food), the two things that sustain human life.Fourth there is Robigus,who keeps plants free from disease, and Flora,who ensures that plants flower.Then he calls on Minerva,the protectress of olive groves and Venus, the protectress of gardens.Lastly come Nympha,who produces water for crops, and Bonus Eventus,the goddess who blesses the farmers efforts with good fortune. Varro also mentions two of the festivals held in honor of these country gods, the Robigalia for Robigus and the Floralia for Flora.There were many other festivals,held at different times of the year.Among them was the Ambarvalia. During this festival,a magic circle was drawn around the farm.On the appointed day, the farmer and all his people,wearing white clothes and wreathes of olive branches, led a male lamb three times around the boundary of the land. Then the lamb was sacrificed and the correct prayers recited.The deities Liber and Ceres were called upon to give plenty of food and drink in the coming year and to keep evil away.After certain parts of the animal had been burned on the altar,everyone relaxed and enjoyed a feast.All this very serious activity was intended to encourage the good influences at work on the farm and shut out the bad ones.

The fields were not the only places to be under the protection of the gods and goddesses.The wilder parts of the country, the hilly pastures and forests beyond the cultivated land,were also the haunt of deities.For example there was Faunus who,like Greek Pan, was the god associated with shepherds,herdsmen and their animals.His fauns, spirits with the bodies of men and the legs of goats,lived with him in the woods.Another god of wild places was Silvanus, 'he of the forest', thought to be a particularly dangerous spirit. Another deity of the open countryside with its mountains and forests was Diana, an ancient Italian goddess who became identified with the Greek goddesses Artemis and Hecate.Her places of worship were usually in woods or groves of trees near springs or streams and her worshipers were usually women.Diana was also worshiped as the goddess of hunting and of the moonlit night.

Even after the growth of Rome as a city,the true Roman was always a farmer at heart,an idea which Varro is eager to support in his book.He discusses the long history of farming,saying that there were farmers on the earth long before there were city-dwellers.While it was the skill of men that made the building of cities possible,the countryside was the gift of the gods and was the true mother of all.The tillers of the land,he says,are the descendants of Saturn the Sower, and their task is a good and useful one,for they work with the life-giving forces that once shaped the earth.

Many festivals like the Ambarvalia,which were originally connected with life in the countryside,found their way into the official worship of the great city of Rome. One annual festival with ancient beginnings was that celebrated in Rome during February and called the Lupercalia.Originally it seems to have been concerned with the driving away of wolves which attacked flocks and herds,but in later times its purpose was to increase fertility and drive out evil spirits from the city.

Part Two: Gods of City and State

Part Three: Spirits of the Underworld

Text by Kerry Usher from ‘Heroes,Gods & Emperors from Roman Mythology

Why the PCT’s Most Iconic Trail Angels Are Retiring

A number of the PCT’s most devoted trail angels have retired or are retiring.  This excerpt from Mary Beth Skylis’ recent piece in Outside magazine reports on Barney and Sandy Mann’s decision to ‘retire’ . . . they join the Saufleys and Carmen (in Julian) and the Andersons who all have discontinued their generous support for hikers.  One of the reasons is that the thru-hiker traffic on the PCT is outstripping the capacity of the volunteer community . . .

In our upcoming anthology, Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader, we also explore this development and consider the future of trail support.  Perhaps, like the AT, hostels (that charge) will replace refuges like Hiker Heaven or Casa de Luna, Uber and Lyft will replace hitchhiking, etc.

Mary Beth Skylis

Thru-hikers on the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail have long relied on the kindness of strangers to get them through difficult stretches. Trail angels fill water caches, open their doors to smelly hikers, and run shuttles to and from towns. But after nearly a decade of explosive foot traffic on the PCT, some of the most well-known volunteers are closing their doors.

It’s not difficult to see why trail angels and local communities are shifting how they interact with the PCT. While COVID-19 put a damper on the 2020 hiking season, over the past two decades, interest in hiking it has skyrocketed. There were just 131 recorded completions in 2000. There were 1,177 reported completions in 2018, the highest number ever. And of the 7,888 permits issued last year, 919 hikers made it all the way. The growing interest hints at a looming problem: PCT thru-hiker traffic is growing faster than the community’s ability to handle it.

Barney “Scout” Mann and Sandy “Frodo” Mann are two of the PCT’s most well-known trail angels. They began hosting thru-hikers at their San Diego home in 2006. The couple offered an iconic pit stop for those starting a northbound thru-hike or finishing their southbound journey. But after years of hosting hikers, they decided 2020 would be their final season.

During their first year as hosts, Scout and Frodo welcomed 17 hikers into their home over the course of the season. In 2019, the couple hosted 1,200 people. “In 2007, you started when you wanted to. There was a very different network of trail angels that could handle those kinds of numbers,” says Scout.

Now Scout and Frodo are preparing for retirement. “We’ve been chipping away at Frodo’s bucket list,” Scout says. “We have a grandson and another one on the way. It’s not cheap to do this.” Shuttling hikers to the terminus and arranging airport pickups takes time and effort. The hiker season commands complete immersion, and they’re ready to close down.

They’ve also noticed how the the repercussions of increased traffic has taken a toll on other volunteers. “At any given time, we usually have one to three volunteers living with us,” says Scout. “It’s a lot. I’ve seen a couple trail angels go on probably a couple years longer than they should. And as hiking season wore on, these people were tired and annoyed.”

As Scout and Frodo began hosting more hikers, they started noticing changes. It used to be that those tackling the PCT were lone-wolf characters—people who were comfortable spending five months alone in the wilderness. But the growing interest in the trail is creating a different environment. “I think there has been an increase in the party atmosphere,” says Scout.

Despite the large number of guests Scout and Frodo have seen wander into their living room, Scout notes: “We’ve had over 6,000 people stay with us, and we’ve never had anything stolen, ever.”

The two have become close friends with many of the hikers they��ve hosted. And the cultural experience of getting to interact with the majority of PCT hikers passing through—many of whom come from abroad—yields benefits of its own. But it’s clear that change is coming. Scout suggests that we’re witnessing an evolution of the PCT: “Some of the big, iconic places to go were always these trail angel’s houses. That model has been outstripped.”