Sorry just looking back at it, I really do think G3 sacrificed having good fashion in order to have good character design. Which like, if it was just the cartoons they were rebooting, then like sure. But all I'm saying if any other doll brand in the year of our lord 2023/2022 come out with tye-die shorts with frills we would have laughed them off the market but it's Monster High so it's fine

I think it succeeds a lot at times, for example, no matter how much I don't like G3 Clawdeen, not gonna lie, they really got that 'quirky protag girl' vibe incredibly well with her. Or how the G3 Werecat Twins personalities show so strongly though their designs, but dear god WTF is Meowlody wearing.

But on the other hand it's not like good character design and fashion are antithetical to each other. Like not only was this the reason G1 Monster High got so popular (that and it's gothicism) but G3 HAS put out nice looking fashion pieces before!

5Ds Review

Wooo... another Yugioh down, just 2 more to go on this challenge... (yeah, just a reminder that V//r//ains will not be included in this challenge).

This one I was very excited to get to rewatch... at first. I’d only seen this once before all the way through, and halfway through I remembered... that I only actually really enjoyed about half this show. My last attempt at rewatching this show failed completely (yes, I admit that I abandoned ship as soon as I hit about the halfway mark... or even a little less), but this time, by some fucking stubborn as hell and definitely worn out miracle, I succeeded. Barely. But I did it. I may have... lagged it a bit here or there (even worse than when I watched GX, surprisingly), but I finished right on schedule.

And right on schedule, here’s my honest review of what, for a short period of time back in like mid-2014, used to be my favorite Yugioh spin-off: 

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds.

(Note: Before you skip through all this and just scroll to the bottom to read my final rating of this show, just know my breakdown, because I tried to be the nicest reviewer I could when reviewing this, for the sake of... idk, my sanity, or whatever. The breakdown I chose is:

1. Season 1 2. Season 2:

a. filler episodes b. Crash Town     i. Bonds Beyond Time (BBT) c. WRGP + Ark Cradle d. Finale

Why in the hell am I making this so complicated this time?! Reasons. Reasons to be discussed...

And don’t worry, as always, I’ll do my best to keep it short and just my overall thoughts.)

Season 1 - Fortune Cup + Dark Signers (Episodes 1 - 64):

We start off with something that’s very promising and fast. I don’t necessarily mean “fast-paced”, per say— the show, at least right here, doesn’t seem to struggle with pacing much at all— rather, 5Ds exudes the sort of energy that it’s set a course and it knows how to get there. Where is it going? It doesn’t know yet and it doesn’t care, and honestly in this first Season, that’s completely fine because it knows how to make each pit stop into a memorable detour worth paying attention to. It doesn’t waste your time, is what I want to say. 

The first leg of the Season, the Fortune Cup arc, does a great job establishing its main cast and their reasons for being involved in this dystopian mess of plot. Regarding said dystopian mess, rest assured that the show’s world is pretty well established within the first few episodes, so world building is not an issue either. It’s already going pretty great, and then we’re gifted with the excellent Dark Signers second leg which builds on character’s backgrounds, establishes relationships even further, and raises the stakes just enough that things actually matter. That’s right. Consequence finds its way back to Yugioh... or is it introduced into it, actually? It’s been so long since we’ve had some consequence in Yugioh and yet its existence is so fleeting, as we soon realize, right at the end of this arc. 

It’s something to get used to for the next... a while.

Regardless, Season 1 of 5Ds is without a doubt an enjoyable watch with some solid presentation (for the most part). It’s something that’s an incredible breath of fresh air for this anime franchise. Though perhaps a short one...

Overall rating for this arc: 4/5 - very good, but still lacking on that much sought after umph that we crave from a lot of shows, an element we’ll keep missing in this franchise for a good while...

Season 2 (Episodes 65 - 154):

Here comes... this. Mess. If you;re getting the impression by now that I’ve been procrastinating talking about this, you’re right. I’m going to go pretty fast on this... or ‘least I’ll try...

a. Filler Episodes (Episodes 65 - 85):

Although, yes, we are indeed introduced to a “new threat” this season, we spend the majority of the time these 20 episodes exploring the daily lives of the 5Ds cast and crew, introducing new (95% useless) side characters left and right. At first you might think, You know what this is kinda fun, but actually you are wrong. The only episode in here that anyone ever remembers is that one where Yusei and Aki go on a roller skating date. Because it’s cute. But superficial. None of these episodes carry much weight at all, perhaps baring, like, those two or three episodes that introduce Sherry and, later, Bruno. But otherwise? None of this matters. Harmless tho? Mostly.

Season 2a rating: 1.7/5

b. Crash Town (Episodes 86 - 92)

“Wait, I watched this show and these episodes were also filler, what gives?!” You’re absolutely right, my friend. But you’ve forgotten one thing:

That’s right. Yusei’s classy ass.

No, but in all seriousness though, Crash Town offers some weird, old-western-style fever dream. It’s ridiculous; It has nothing to do with 5Ds at all. It’s like the producers decided to just drop us in an AU without warning, and honestly? It’s not terrible.

Season 2b rating: 2.8/5

i. Bonds Beyond Time (BBT - movie)

So this movie was canon to 5Ds, but was it 5Ds? No. As such, I won’t rate or review it here, but I’ll admit it’s not not a fun time for a fanservice movie. Is it of good quality, though? Not really, aside from its presentation. Do I have to mention that it’s canonically a part of this show? Yes. Do you miss out on anything important later on if you skip it? Aside from a small mention of its antagonist’s existence in one line of 5Ds’ climax later on, nope.

c. WRGP + Ark Cradle (Episodes 93 - 153):

*Sighs groaningly infinitely*.

This leg of Season 2 is, easily, the worst part of this entire show.

Before I continue, I need to mention that, as you might have guessed by now, the show has resorted to talking endlessly and vaguely about “destiny” and “zetsubouuuu” in place of its original, wholesome themes relating to self-worth and the intricacies of the relationships between people called “bonds”. But I’m sure that was a given by now; hopefully I didn’t have to clarify that.

The WRGP and Ark Cradle comprise a total of sixty-one (61) episodes and a shit ton of duels, but only exactly one (1) of those duels is decent-good (and it’s still very skippable. I know. Because even though I remembered I liked it the first time I ever watched this show, I decided it wasn’t worth it and still just skimmed it, much like I did for most of this Season).

The WRGP itself is an incredible drag to watch through. The pre-duels are cluttered with unnecessary exposition, Yusei becomes the only useful character through the end of the show, we’re met with uncharismatic and unoriginal teams characters that make Doma’s goons from DM Season 4 seem interesting in comparison. Every duel goes pretty much the same: Team 5Ds is losing... until Yusei takes the reigns and wins for them... again.

Of course I won’t forget that the main group of antagonists don’t ever use a lick of logic, and their plot unveils always resort to a mix of shock and un-awe, recounting “oh woe is me” tales that not a single person could ever care for, much less remember, all for the sake of “justice, destiny, and redemption”. All of which falls flatter than if this show was called YuGiOh 1D.

Lastly, I will absolutely not end this portion of the review by not reminding everyone that, no matter what they say about that-one-spinoff, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds had, unarguably, the worst plot twist of all time *mic drop*. That’s a fact, not an opinion. This is my review, not yours.

Season 2c rating: 0.4/5 - I’d rather watch GX Season 4 than this because at least that one ended quicker.

d. Finale (Episode 154):

I won’t waste any more of your time here, I’ll just straight up say it: This episode, directed by the series’ original director (who had been absent since the end of Season 1, mind you *cough*), was, as they say, pretty damn good and had me feeling a tinge of that emotional umphness, but only just a tease. It exudes actual care for the cast of this show, something that hadn’t held its presence in this show for an unfortunate amount of time. It’s a satisfying ending and leaves us without a doubt in our minds that these characters will go on to continue meaningful and fulfilling lives. A gentle, but firm send off. Nice.

Season 2d rating: 4.6/5 - wonderful ending, irked only by the distasteful amount crap preceded by it.

Season 2 overall rating: 2.375

Final Thoughts: Right, I usually add on something after I give my final overall rating, but before I do that, I just wanna say this: people talk about wasted potential all the time, but confuse nostalgic presence with excellence. What I mean by that is, this show had all the major markings of a narrative that conveyed meaning, and yet that got terribly lost along the way. The Finale brought it back up, reminding us why these characters were so endearing and why we bothered to stick through it all with them to the end, despite distasteful ventures. It took a few creative twists at first— in approach, most notably, throwing us into the action before building up its world and characters, and it paid off early on— but the obvious shift in direction less than midway through the series did not pan out well for it overall. Instead, 5Ds left us with a satisfying ending, sure, but about 2/3rds of its journey was just crashing and burning, and we just sat there feeling the bruises of the characters we watched, urging them to just get to the finish line already so we never have to experience this sadly mediocre trip ever again.

Final Overall Rating: 3.2/5.

Mardi Gras parades got canceled by Covid-19. So New Orleanians turned their houses into floats Like so many, the mom and insurance manager had known in her gut that the weekslong fête would take 2021 off. Revelers of all ages packed at least three deep along routes that wind for miles seemed the textbook antithesis of social distancing. “So, I kinda made a comment: ‘Well, that’s fine, I’m just going to decorate my house,'” said Boudreaux, who invited her neighbors to turn their homes, too, into stationary versions of the ornately designed floats that populate the four dozen or so parades that roll in the city each year. This way, she figured, partiers could stay 6 feet apart while visiting outdoors and enjoying the artistry of the annual countdown to Lent. The idea, like a splay of bead strands hurled skyward toward an endless carousing crowd, has spread. There’s a home with a sign that beckons, “Welcome to Wakanda.” Another features a Night Tripper theme in homage to funkman Dr. John. One house honors a health care worker alongside giant ivory beads. On a balcony, a cutout of the late chef Leah Chase stands, spoon in hand, at an enormous pot. Just off the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, a giant model dinosaur in a top hat grazes. Elsewhere, a set-up pays tribute to Alex Trebek with a “Jeopardy!” board, playable using a posted QR code. Human-size Lego figures approximate a float rolling by parade-goers on a front porch. A wooden pelican the width of two men perches at another. All across town, papier-mache or cardboard and foil flowers of every hue, plus bunting of purple, green and gold and strands of beads the size of beach balls, adorn the homes where so many have been in retreat from the coronavirus since just after last Mardi Gras. That’s when 1.5 million people — including international visitors — converged on the city, almost certainly fueling viral spread that made the region an early hot spot. Indeed, the purple-and-white house icons that dot a map on the Krewe of Float Houses website cover the city’s entire main footprint like a sidewalk littered with doubloons, those collectible metallic coins tossed by riders from traditional floats. “In its essence, it’s not much different than when people drive around with the kids in the car and look at the Christmas decorations, holiday lights,” said Doug MacCash, who’s chronicled the house float movement for the local newspaper, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. “Except this year, in 2021, it has such a spirit of triumph, such a spirit of defiance. It’s like, ‘Sorry, ‘rona. We’re not just giving up.'” “Mardi Gras by no means is dead; it’s just different,” said City Councilman Jay Banks, who’s cast his own house — already painted yellow and black — with other trademark representations of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, the city’s preeminent Black Carnival organization, over which he once reigned as king. “And what we’re forced to do this Mardi Gras, with Covid as the No. 1 consideration, … is how this whole house float thing got started,” he said. “And let me tell you, I am just giggly about it.” How to turn your house into a float Do-it-yourselfers — many already armed with hot-glue guns and glitter by the gallon for crafting annual Mardi Gras costumes — have embraced the home-design effort in earnest. Two private Facebook groups with more than 14,000 participants spew inquiries at all hours, most swiftly answered by a hive mind eager to collaborate after months of stay-at-home orders. “Any recommendations on securing this? It’s top heavy,” one poster asked, referring to a photo of a homemade Lysol can prop standing several feet tall. From another: “Has anyone had luck with using cardboard to make house float decorations? I already used some and painted and sealed with mod podge acrylic sealer but am wondering how it will hold up in the elements on a French Quarter balcony! Is there a better way of waterproofing, etc.?” The exchange is not unlike in the bleak months after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when neighbors connected to trade recipes for bleach or baking soda concoctions to remove mold from items soiled by the flood. Others looking now to gild their homes have turned to a regional cottage industry built over decades for precisely this sort of venture. “Part of the consternation about canceling Carnival had to do with, well, there are people (for) who(m) Carnival is their livelihood — a lot of people: float builders, bead- and costume-makers,” MacCash said. “Some of the Carnival artists who find themselves out of work at what would have been a real scrambling sort of time, what they’ve done is they’ve found employment decorating houses.” In a normal year, René Pierre right about now would be finalizing the books on some 75 floats that his company, Crescent City Artists LLC, decorates using lightweight utility canvas, bright house paints, hard coating, wood and Styrofoam, he said. This year, Boudreaux’s house float vision, which Pierre caught on a local news report, proved to be his “ticket out” of a toned-down Carnival — and one that follows his and his young daughter’s recovery from Covid-19. “Oh, man, in about three weeks, we were booked all the way up until today,” Pierre said last week of his house-decorating customers. “My wife and I were trying to sleep one night, and we kept hearing notifications coming from the website. It was like, “Ping ping ping ping ping.’ It was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ It was like instant success. It was incredible.” The couple inked 53 house float contracts ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 apiece, a sum many riders in the city’s biggest parading groups typically would spend on bead strands and other “throws” to toss in a given year. “It has really pumped my business into full steam,” Pierre said, noting he hired his cousin, a recording artist, to help manage the crush. “We have made more money in six weeks … and talk about Mardi Gras spirit.” Of the commissions, Pierre’s favorites are a trio of painted pups fashioned after the homeowner’s own pack, a Buddha-themed display and one highlighting the Grateful Dead dancing bears. Boudreaux, known as “Admiral B” of the house float fleet, aptly did her house in a maritime motif. “I don’t know if I want to know how much I spent,” she said: “definitely more than I meant to, less than a lot of people.” How to lead (or join) a house float krewe Beyond her own decor, helming this nascent krewe (local vernacular for a festival group) has become a second full-time job for Boudreaux. There are exchanges with lawyers over decorating rules in historic districts and weekly logistics meetings with the mayor to game out how to handle homeowners who want to, say, hire a band. There are now 50 captains, 39 subkrewes, a communications team and an effort to gather and edit together dozens of dancers’ at-home videos into a performance masterpiece for the website. Yet another to-do list item got added shortly after the krewe named a New Orleans bounce star as its grand marshal, Boudreaux said. “Now Big Freedia’s house is a traffic jam. The house is so popular that even guerilla photograph-style, it still drew a crowd,” the one thing the Krewe of House Floats wants urgently to prevent. The krewe also has launched a campaign to donate $100,000 toward those facing unemployment and food and housing insecurity largely because of this year’s Carnival limits: artisans, service industry workers, musicians, Mardi Gras Indians and other culture-bearers. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, “this year plants the seed” for what’s already becoming an annual event, to endure long after the coronavirus is vanquished, MacCash said. (At last count, Pierre already had 28 house-decorating contracts set for 2022, and preregistration is open for next year’s Krewe of House Floats.) For now, Chris Volion is looking forward to safely welcoming on Fat Tuesday, February 16, revelers who pass by his New Orleans home, adorned with enormous black birds inspired by local crows and Edgar Allen Poe in his personal Krewe of Nevermore. Volion, an institutional research analyst, and his wife, Janet, are making some themed throws to hand out and plan to join neighbors for king cake-flavored Jell-O shots. “While it feels different, there’s still that excitement going on,” he said. This year, instead of swapping parade plans, “the conversation has shifted to: Have you been to such and such a block, or have you see this house? It’s so beautiful to see that the energy is still there.” For Banks, the city councilman, the house floats offer a glimmer in an especially bleak season. In his own circle, Covid-19 has taken 23 lives and killed 17 members of the Zulu organization, he said, not to mention relatives and friends of the club. It’s stripped New Orleans — and the world — of the chance to socialize in person and to observe customs in the typical way. But as is so often the case, he said, the city’s response in this dark moment offers a message far beyond its borders. “We’re showing the rest of you that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Banks said. “As screwed-up as Covid is, we will not let it defeat us. … The lesson of New Orleans for the world is: You play the cards that you’re dealt.” Source link Orbem News #Canceled #Covid19 #floats #Gras #houses #Mardi #MardiGrasparadesgotcanceledbyCovid-19.So #NewOrleaniansturnedtheirhousesintofloats-CNN #Orleanians #parades #turned #us

Writer’s Block: The RPG Method Part 1

I role play a lot. Like I’m currently a player character in 4 games, and I run my own campaign, and working on the world for my own homebrew campaign. This is also done in regularity on a weekly basis, which is completely different from back in the day we were lucky to get a few weekly sessions, and reconvene months later in the same campaign, only to never get back to the game again. 

Things like family, work, depression, etc. would end up putting those games on the back-burner, which was really a death flag for a campaign. I’ve made so many characters for so many role playing systems, just to never play as them ever again.

I honestly never thought I would become one of those guys who plays tabletop rpgs as much as I do. I mean, in the past when someone would share with me that they were in two D&D campaigns, and was part of a LARP over the weekend I would think it was ridiculous and laugh at their fervor for wanting to be in that many games. Well, the joke’s on me now.

However to my defense, this isn’t mostly about escapism. Okay, not to say that it isn’t, but I took on this many games to help out with my writer’s block. I see role playing games as a different way to explore narrative. 

You not only act out your characters, but you have to overcome challenges with a game of chance. And even though the person who is running the game and helping direct you through the story, that dice roll, whether it passes or fails the challenge (or check, if your nasty), effects the tale that is being woven, and you played an active part in it. That’s really amazing!

I’ve also read that a good number of fantasy novels that have originated from role playing campaigns. George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series, and Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard books are couple of examples. Game of Thrones was born from a Roman rpg, and Gentleman Bastard’s main character Locke Lamora was based upon a character Lynch made for D&D (which to my delight, I learned was also based on the “treasure hunter”, Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI).

This was enough to influence me to try and do the same. Universe building is hard for those who prefer to write in such a manner, because it’s hard to balance out how much detail do I want to write about said world and not get obsessed with it and never actually finish it, or at least that has been my experience. 

My goal here is to document as much as I can about things that I have made for my games in the way of world creation, and characters for other peoples games. I know some Dungeon Masters don’t want a novel for character backgrounds, so give them a short and concise one, and you can go and expand on it more on your own.

Or maybe you can just make it as you go along in the game that you are playing in currently. As an example for character background here is mine for my D&D character Rota.

                                                  ***

                                     Rota Grendelstadt

Rota, the magic academy drop-out turned sellsword, ventures forth to find knowledge in all things, and the true path of a warrior. Hailing from the cold north in the fishing town of Grendelstadt (located close to Neverwinter), she stands at 6 foot 5, with a lean muscular build, moonlight-pale skin, with silver hair in a fringe style cut and silver eyes to match. And if that doesn’t make her stand out, then perhaps the fact that she is a tiefling without a tail (Her mother and her father were the same, as well as most tieflings of Grendelstadt). Though tall, and muscular she is surprisingly bookish and introverted. She is brash, quick-tempered, prone to violence, fiery, socially challenged, but has a good heart, quick on her feet, tenacious, dependable, and has an weird natural charisma that draws people to her.

She is highly knowledgeable in magic theory and formulae, however she cannot connect to mana in order to cast spells. She has spent a lot her time honing her physical skills and researching why she in not able to use magic. She is working with a theory that she heard about when one exceeds their mental and physical limits, perhaps they can open a channel that can connect to the magical tapestry.

Growing up in a family of adventurers definitely was not the most normal of upbringings. Even with the simple life on a farm, Rota’s mother Herja wanted her to be as strong as she is and would put her through rigorous training that even the militia of Grendelstadt wouldn’t go through. And her father Beolf, a skald, would be off travelling to do research for his book of races and culture of the world. Because of this she hardly saw her father, but Beolf would make sure that when he was home he would bring her back books.

Beolf was rather awkward when he would see his daughter, and the only things that would break the silence between the two were to talk about books, and her mother’s crazy training routine. Though Beolf loved her, and tried his best (that he could muster) to be a parent to Rota, his trips back were too short and very infrequent, which caused their relationship to be a distant one.  

The dramatic change that shaped Rota into who she is now begins with the death of her father, Beolf. She spent the rest of her life being raised by her mother, uncle and various friends of the family. It wasn’t a normal childhood, being that she had to flee for her safety and train to become a warrior to be strong enough to defend herself and help others. It was a kind of splintered family unit with a bunch of troubled, dysfunctional adventurers. And though they all mean well in their way of bringing Rota up, they struggle with their own egos and misconceptions of what makes one a hero, and is there really such a thing?

Rota’s  father was killed in a fight with his cousin, over the spoils from an adventure that her father had owed to the cousin. And it was within the laws of their country for those who have been wronged by their neighbor or kinsmen, by settling things out in a physical challenge. Her father, Beolf and their cousin, Thorfinn chose to have a wrestling match as their way of settling their differences, while the Jarl, Falken was to oversee the fight and uphold the law.

Of course it was all an act to misdirect the Falken, to make him think that he and Thorfinn were on the outs. And by with Beolf creating a schism in the Grendelstadt family, the gamble was to perhaps draw the attention of the jarl to try pull Thorfinn on his side, allowing him to gain Falken’s trust and be the inside man. The jarl was pursuing Beolf and his comrades who had found the underground site for the earl’s humanoid smuggling ring that was being overseen by The Order of the Unspoken Rhyme (which Falken is a member of).

The Order of the Unspoken Rhyme is connected to the Cult of the Dragon, and handles underworld business for them making them an enemy of Beolf and his friends, who have vowed to take down the Order and their allies at any turn. Upon dismantling the slave trade, they also came upon treasure that Falken thought would be well hidden from anyone but himself. However the quick eyes of the bard Beolf found it. And within the cache of treasure was an ancient tome most dangerous, and Beolf knew he had to find a safe place for it.

He took all of the treasure and sent it to three different locations and had cut a map into 6 pieces to be found in order to find the treasure, and secretly sent the tome to his wizard friend and adventuring partner, Touchstone, who keeps it locked away hidden in the wizards’ academy, Hippocampus Scale, that the earl would focus on searching for the other treasures. Foolishly, death was the last thing that Beolf was prepared for in his plan. Thorfinn broke Beolf’s ribs which went directly into his lungs. He could have been healed, but Falken didn’t allow any outside potions, and only his healers at the fight. It was said he also might have had some responsibility in the “accident”.

At the age of 9, Rota saw her father die before her eyes, but did not shed a tear for him. Not because she was trying to make herself seem strong in front of the jarl and his men - she just didn’t know how.

Rota’s mother Herja, uncle Sigurd, and cousin Thorfinn were  devastated by these events and knew that things would become tough for them in Grendelstadt. Though being the tough battle-hardened adventurers they were, they knew that they would be alright.  However, as the years went by the concern was growing that Rota would be used as some sort of bargaining chip to find the treasure. the Grendelstadt family knew they had to send Rota off before things would get really dire.

At the age 12  it was decided that she were to be sent away from her town of Grendelstadt to attend a wizard’s academy, Hippocampus Scale and learn to become a wizard like she always wanted to be (Thorfinn pays for her tuition to account for the death of a kinsmen, as per the law of their country), while being under the watchful eye of her godfather, the human wizard Touchstone (who’s equally sassy as he is powerful).

She learns that she does have amazing aptitude for understanding magic formulas and theory. However when it comes to practice, she is terrible at actually manifesting the spell. Not because she doesn’t understand it, but because her connection to the source of mana is weak. All the spells would just fizzle right in front of her.

And although her grades were high in every other course of study except for spell casting, she became the object of ridicule among her peers (which would end in episodes of violence, mostly by her). Whenever there were spell casting exercises she would spend most of her time reading, and doing physical training that she learned from her warrior mother, who pushed her not only in farm work, but also learning how to fight with weapons.

Later on the headmaster of the Hippocampus Scale, upon Touchstone’s suggestion, wanted her help out with what they called “Battle Training”, or “Real Life Combat”, in which she would be the physical combat participant for her peers, so they would learn how to use spells effectively in combat. Normally they have hired swords stand in for this, but they thought it would be interesting to have someone who could understand spellcraft, formulas, and theory, and apply them to fighting against a mage, and see how they would react to it. Her popularity rose in both positive and negative ways after this, but she was known not to be a simple challenge to her rivals anymore.

She was going take the job of becoming a researcher in Hippocampus Scale, and then maybe some way she could find out how to connect with the source of mana. Touchstone, though proud of her accomplishments, saw that she was only making things harder on herself in her pursuit learning how to cast spells and felt that she need to find another path to become what she wanted.

And sent her off to become an apprentice to one of he and her father’s other adventuring comrades, the master swordsman, Dragnar Fafnirson. He thought perhaps that her connection to mana will come from a battle-borne soul. However before he sent her off from Hippocampus Scale, he gave her the ancient tome that her father had found to protect it (He was beginning to see the Order’s shadow reach out to his academy).

After her training with Dragnar, she was pitted against Herja, to test her strength. Her mother quickly dispatched Rota, and sent her back to continue her training, but not after scolding Dragnar first. And though she won’t tell Rota this, she did get some good hits on her mother, which excited her blood to see what potential her daughter has in the way of battle. With a few more years of learning under Dragnar, her master sent her out to get some experience, by sending her out in the world to test her mettle.

Other notes:

She would get in trouble with her mother, Herja when she was reading instead of doing farm work, or physical training. She learned how to workout and read at the same time because of this. And when she is not fighting, she is never without a book. She also likes to visit libraries of each city she comes across. Rota also cannot stand wizards who have semi-useful spells, and thinks it is a waste. She is also very arrogant when it comes to talking with spell casters.

She was estranged with her father Beolf, and spent most of her early years being raised by her mother and uncle. Beolf was thought to be a gallivanting bard, getting caught in women and wine, and was just a deadbeat father (or at least how those in Grendelstadt saw him), he really did care about his daughter and would bring her books whenever he came back to town.

She really didn’t know how to react after his death, because she felt she didn’t know him really well, except for the fact that he was the nice guy that gave her books and would share his love of them with her. It was after his death that she learned he was actually trying to save the world from evil. And it was only years later did her tears come after reading a poem that he dedicated to her in the signed copy of the book that he wrote.

No ‘Nikko’tine Please

Autumn is firmly upon us and in search of the perfect Instagram picture, or, I mean, a lovely day in fantastic autumnal setting, I ventured two hours outside of my usual haunt - Tokyo - to the picturesque town of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. Nikko was once a center of Buddhist and Shinto teachings and as a result, has many temples and shrines to visit which are surrounded by a tranquil and beautiful setting, making it the perfect place for a day or weekend trip. There are plenty of lakes, waterfalls, mountains and rivers to check out as well, if, like me, you feel a little ‘templed’ out in Japan. 

I began my journey in Kita-Senju, somewhat of a commuter town which connects Tokyo to the north and east. From, Kita-Senju it took just short of two hours and cost only ¥2390 single (about £16). There are faster, more expensive ways of getting there as well as using local trains which will only cost you about £10 but take over three hours. As it was an autumnal Saturday, due to Nikko’s popularity, my first train was actually sold out meaning I had time to kill. I spent the hour pretending I might actually want to buy one of these books below in a Japanese bookstore before confirming all Asian stereotypes of westerners by going to a Starbucks. Thankfully, I decided not to frequent the pub or McDonalds later that day to complete the holy trinity. 

I eventually boarded my wonderfully heated train to Nikko and was instantly transported back to the 80s. As I sat down in my mustard coloured velvet seat, the men around me vigorously tried to read their broadsheet newspapers. Apparently they’re still in existence. The journey was super comfortable and when you eventually leave Tokyo’s seemingly endless suburbia, the views of the plains and ever encroaching mountains are very pleasing. Even on a Saturday, I was constantly reminded of Japan’s determination to break the world record for overtime worked, as the businessman beside me worked furiously, intermittently sighing every 5-10 minutes. I was lucky to go on a day where, despite the temperature, the weather was virtually perfect and was able to enjoy the autumnal colours of the tree covered hills and mountains. When I reached Nikko after midday, I was greeted by the scene below beside the train tracks, making it, probably, the prettiest approach to a train station I’ve seen. My hopes of getting lost in reds, browns, oranges and yellows seemed positive.

My first port of call was to walk to the Kirifuri waterfall, which according to my cartoon map, was definitely within walking distance. I came out of the station and walking the opposite direction from every other tourist, prayed I hadn’t seriously misjudged the GTA style map I picked up at the station, before crossing the river and walking up into the hills you can see above. For somebody who had spent every previous weekend since the dawn of time in the pub, it felt relaxing to be presented with such views and clean, mountain air. 

After spotting a sign for ‘Kirifuri Highlands’ being over 10 kilometres away, I started to think I’d made a serious mistake but kept walking into the hills, scrunching my way through the thousands of fallen leaves - a perfect walk for any bubblewrap enthusiasts. It wasn’t until I caught up with the only other person on the road - a young guy from Singapore - that I felt a bit more comfortable. Of course, being from Singapore, I had to ask him that crucial question.

‘Is chewing gum really banned in Singapore?’ 

It is.

When I reached the falls, what I really expected to find was this (above). Instead, it turns out I was perhaps, a week or two too late and was presented with the scene below. It’s still a stunning scene but more closely resembles Cormac McCarthy’s The Road than that famous autumn scene in When Harry Met Sally.

By this point, I hadn’t eaten in roughly 6 hours so it was time to walk back down the hill and try some local food. Nikko is famous for ‘yuba’ - a type of tofu skin - and it seems to be incorporated into a number of dishes here such as with ramen, as ice cream or in cookies. I decided to take the horribly British option and ruin the goodness of it by getting it deep fried. It tasted amazing though and the saltiness of the batter combined with the sweetness of the red bean wrapped in yuba, was something I’ve never experienced before. The moral of the story here - ruin more of your healthy foods with batter.

There are a large number of temples and shrines in Nikko; many of which are contained within a large heritatge site that includes Toshogu Shrine and Rinnoji Temple. The temple is currently being renovated, however, so if you go now, you will be treated to the site of a giant warehouse which could include anything from the ruins of the Titanic to Hugh Heffner’s collection of pornography. You can venture inside, however, for a small fee. To reach them, I walked for about 15 minutes from Nikko train station along it’s spacious but homely main street. The street sells everything from crepes and mochi - a sticky rice snack smashed into a gluttonous ball - to antiques, crafts and other local delicacies. Eventually you will reach Shinkyo Bridge, which you can see below and is regarded as the gateway to Nikko’s major religious complex. Rumour has it that locals found it impossible to cross the bustling river below until two magical snakes were cast to create the beautiful bridge pictured. Due to St.Patrick banishing all of the snakes from Ireland, it must be the reason we have very few spectacular bridges back home. That pesky Welshman. You can actually cross the bridge for around 300yen but you have to return from whence you came; completely defeating it’s purpose as a bridge.

You just know somebody has pulled their pants down and learnt this the hard way...(Above)

Whilst Nikko’s temples and shrines may be one of their most popular tourist attractions, if you’re like me and don’t particularly like queuing and large crowds then maybe avoid them on the weekend. Whilst Toshogu Shrine, in particular, is one of the most lavishly decorated shrines in Japan and worth checking out, on the weekend it’s really difficult to appreciate the beauty of it with the amount of noise, people and selfie sticks floating dangerously close to your face. Temples and shrines are meant to be tranquil and peaceful places but, unfortunately, on weekends, bloody tourists like myself who have no idea what they’re taking pictures of just fill the places up. Definitely go here on a weekday though. Or if it rains...

‘Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.’ You heard it from these monkeys first...

The gate to Toshogu Shrine (above) and some of it’s intricate carvings and detail (below).

Toshogu Shrine itself is also being renovated and entry is forbidden but you can see some of it’s lavish detail (above) and the picture below was taken from the hall of the ‘Crying Dragon.’ In truth, the dragon doesn’t look so much like it’s crying but more having a really sucky day at the office but a tour guide will give you a demonstation on the acoustics of the hall which is quite impressive before plugging some religious charms they’d like you to buy. This is all included in the price of your entrance ticket to the shrine (1300yen/£7-8). Unfortunately, photography is banned in the hall but a simple Google search should show you the world’s most downbeat dragon.

As the sun began to set I wanted to explore one final location in Nikko - the Kanmangafuchi Abyss. The Abyss is a small gorge formed by a previous volcanic eruption from the nearby Mount Nantai. The gorge is lined by around 70 Bodhisattvas called ‘Jizo’ which are said to look after and care for the dead. Their size and shape vary whilst they look out peacefully, in sharp contrast to the raging gorge below. As I went around sundown, unlike the complex before, there were very few people in the area which has more of a rural, countryside feel. The dying light created a very eerie scene, fitting for those watching over the dead which you can check out in the video and photos below.

Bill and Reggie living the Jizo life. Bill hasn’t quite made the transition to horn-rimmed glasses yet and Reggie, well, he ate all the pies...

The Saturday Review is back! I know, I need to keep up better with this but my reviews keep piling up instead. What have you been reading lately bookdragons? These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling Publisher: Razorbill Release Date: May 28, 2019 Genre: Young adult, Paranormal, Witches, LGBTQ+ Blurb Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really like the tarot card style theme of the cover. It looks like you placed objects on a purple table cloth and turned it into a book cover. I really like the simplicity. Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 One of the things that drew me to this book was the LGBTQ+ rep during Pride month and I think the author executed it perfectly. The emphasis of the story isn't on the main character being a lesbian, just that she's a witch who also happens to be a lesbian. Hannah's struggles with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend and her crush on the new girl are relatable to all readers. Overall, the characters are all well developed with distinct personalities. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I felt like I had stepped onto the streets of Salem while reading this book. It's always been my dream to visit there during the fall and this book really encompassed the small, eclectic town vibe I get from looking at brochures and photos. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the theme of this story is not on the character finding out she's a lesbian, its about witches and family pressure, moving on from your exes and starting something new with someone new all while dealing with a witch hunter bent on the deaths of the local witch population. I thought the story was well balanced overall, but I did have to take a star away because I figured out who the witch hunter was about halfway through the book.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian Published by: Balzar + Bray On: June 4, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, "Historical Fiction," Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance Blurb: It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The cover is the initial thing that drew me to this book. It's gorgeous, it's colorful, and it's the kind of cover that if you saw it on a shelf at the bookstore you'd stop and take a closer look. Summary/Tagline: N/A Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Do I think each of the three main characters are well-developed, unique voices, and that their struggles were clearly displayed on the page? Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with any of them. Reza was probably the most likable of the three, but his paranoia about getting AIDS just because he had thoughts about other boys was a little melodramatic for me to read. I know that perhaps during the time period people thought they could get the disease from the smallest thing but I just found the paranoia annoying. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the worldbuilding is well conveyed. You feel as if you have stepped back into the 1980s. Unfortunately for me there were just so many references that I couldn't understand being a 90s baby that I couldn't enjoy the setting and worldbuilding more. Story: 🌟🌟 I could rate this book higher, but I just couldn't connect with any of it. I went in wanting to get a YA take on the AIDS craze of the 1980s and while it did go into the fears each character had or the connection to people that had the disease, I could have done entirely without the romance between Reza and Art. This book will give you the feels and will tear at your heart, but if you weren't a teenager+ in the 80s you'll miss a lot of the references. Overall: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! Bird Box  by Josh Malerman Published by: Ecco On: March 12, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic Blurb: Now a Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar and John Malkovich!Written with the narrative tension of The Road and the exquisite terror of classic Stephen King, Bird Box is a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat horror thriller, set in an apocalyptic near-future world—a masterpiece of suspense from the brilliantly imaginative Josh Malerman.Something is out there . . . Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman’s breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Yes, I had to have the media tie-in edition of Bird Box. I'm one of those people. Don't judge me. 🤣 Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Something is out there..."  - I like it! It definitely gives you an eerie vibe of what's inside. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 As a main character, Mallorie is definitely a survivor who has become strong because she had no other choice. But she lacks heart. She's so cold toward "Boy" and "Girl" - especially Girl - that you feel sorry for the children. The rest of the characters are a diverse cast of characters who have such differing personalities that you know they would have never crossed path if not for their need for survival.  Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Imagine a world in which sight in the outside world can drive you mad. Where survivors will hide behind covered windows and blindfolds. Where those driven crazy do terrible things to themselves and to others. It's this terrifying world that Malerman brings you in Bird Box. It's frightening, it's unexplainable, it's a living nightmare. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is as good as it is frightening. There's a scene when Tom goes looking for supplies and seeing eye dogs where he comes across a dead person who gauged their own eye out and plucked it into a bowl that is grotesquely but fantastically described that really got to me. And even though I saw the movie first, this book still took turns that gave me chills.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! Paranoid by Lisa Jackson Published by: Kensington On: June 25, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Thriller Blurb: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a new novel of nerve-jangling suspense as a woman haunted by guilt realizes that nothing can be trusted—not even her own memory …There are people in Edgewater, Oregon, who think that twenty years ago, Rachel Gaston got away with murder.Rachel still has no idea how a foolish teenaged game turned deadly—or who replaced her soft pellet air gun with a real weapon. When a figure leapt out at her from the darkness, she fired without thinking. Too late, she recognized her half-brother, Luke, and saw blood blooming around his chest.Despite counseling, Rachel’s horrifying dreams about that night continue. Her anxiety contributed to her divorce from Detective Cade Ryder, though he blames himself too. But as Rachel’s high school reunion nears, she feels her imagination playing tricks, convincing her that objects in her house have moved. That there’s a hint of unfamiliar cologne in the air. That someone is tailing her car. Watching her home.She’s right to be scared. And as connections surface between a new string of murders and Luke’s death, Rachel realizes there’s no escaping the past, and the truth may be darker than her worst fears … Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This cover is dark, and somewhat simplistic. A decaying set of stairs, faded typography of the title, and an overall creepy vibe. Summary/Tagline: n/a  Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Rachel is a character haunted by a past event that has forever changed her life, her ex-husband Cade is a detective who hates himself for giving into the affair that torpedoed his marriage to Rachel. On top of that, Cade's father is married to one of Rachel's high school friends, a girl whose son is the child of Rachel's late half-brother who died all those years ago. Oh what a tangled web we weave. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The beginning of this book reminded me of the setting of Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie's The Rules. I really enjoyed that book so I was hooked on the beginning of this book. Then we move forward twenty years and Rachel is still living in the same small Oregon town. You definitely get the small town feel and the small town mindset, gossip and grudges. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I liked this book, but after reading so many of Lisa Jackson's books you start to realize they all have similar themes; especially when it comes to dark family secrets and bombshell revelations.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! Finale by Stephanie Garber Published by: Flatiron Books On: May 7, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end… Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 All of the covers of the books in this trilogy are eye-catching. This one and Legendary are definitely tied for my favorites. Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 "A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for." - Such a perfect way to sum up this book. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 I really think Scarlet and Tella grow so much in this final book and I liked having chapters in both their perspectives. Julian was charming as always and I loved seeing more of Jacks (I only wish he would have his own spin off). The only character I wanted more of was Legend. It feels like we mostly encounter him in Tella's dreams. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 As always, this book has fantastical worldbuilding where the strange and impossible become possible realities on the page. I love the clothing, the locations, and the Fates.  Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved Legendary, liked Caraval, but Finale is my favorite of the three. It was a great way for the trilogy to end, the only thing I was missing was the fantastical Caraval games played out in the previous two books.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! Making Up by Helena Hunting Published by: St. Martin's Press On: July 16, 2019 Genre: Contemporary, Romance Blurb: A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ah yes, give me all the sexy man candy!! 😍😍😍 Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really loved Cosy and Griffin. Griffin definitely fits into the sexy, mogul, billionaire trope and Cosy is this cool, sassy girl who is used to holding everything together. Together the pages scorch with their chemistry. And I also loved Cosy's sister! Is there any chance she will get her own book or novella someday? She so deserves to find love! Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟.5 The clearest image we get in this book is of the adult store Cosy works in when she and Griffin initially meet. The rest of the book doesn't stand out too much with the fancy set-ups Griffin puts together for Cosy, the diner that Cosy loves, the Grand Canyon, and Cosy's apartment being all pretty standard. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is so funny and sexy I couldn't get enough of it! Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars!

http://taylorfenner.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-saturday-review-31-august-2019.html

Monday, February 6th, 2017 – Starset Explores Their Creative Depths During Thrilling Sold-out Dallas Demonstration

Starset wasted no time hitting the road in support of their sophomore release, Vessels (out via Razor & Tie), the band kicking off their first ever headline tour in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio on the day the record dropped. That was about two weeks before the band rolled into Dallas for their date at the famous Trees. A Monday night would be challenging for many bands, particularly the ones that are still working on carving out their place in the world, though Starset’s heavy touring as a support band coupled with their many festival appearances have apparently paid off. The festival environment is the only one I had every caught the electronic rock/alt-rock band in, and in such a setting it’s hard to actively gauge just how many people are legitimate fans or if they’re just enjoying the lesser known acts as they wait for the top tier talent to take the stages. Clearly, they have won over a great deal of supporters over the past couple of years, because a line stretched well outside the door to Trees and around the side of the building. That was about 7:30, half an hour after the doors were scheduled to have opened. The turnout was certainly impressive, the inside already being quite full at that early hour as patrons continued to file in until Trees was at capacity. Dallas’ own Awake in Theory had the privilege of kicking off the night, the rock group delivering the most solid show I’ve seen them do over the few years I’ve been a fan. They brought their A game in order to compete with the touring talent they were getting to share the stage with and it showed, the near 30-minutes they got being as excellent as possible. That meant they also needed to streamline their set and they worked in the strongest songs they had, the band constantly working to pump up the spectators, who they left cheering and singing their praises.

Gemini Syndrome kicked things up further, truly getting everyone energized as they had much of the sea of people singing along to what they played. A fairly even mix of old material and new, they owned the stage for the time they had it and left everyone anticipating what Starset had planned for them… along with what they could do with a lengthy set. That was perhaps the most intriguing thing of all, seeing Starset no longer bound by the time constraints of opening/supporting sets. Both of their albums have almost a cinematic flow on some levels, each song acting as a piece of a larger story, and everyone was excited to experience something with a broader scope in the live environment. A chant of “STARSET!” broke out amongst a small group of concertgoers as they worked to compete with the droning electronic sound that was gradually building, the bass growing louder and louder as the fuzzed out piece continued. Suddenly, the curtain opened a bit after ten, revealing a violinist as well as a cello player. Two screens were behind them, one on either side of the stage, while the drum kit was somewhat encased in one. That was how it appeared at least. Moments later bassist Ron DeChant and guitarist Brock Richards took the stage, mirroring one another as they assumed their spots and gazed out at the audience, their faces barely visible through the masks of the space like suits they sported. Dustin Bates then bounded out, quickly stepping onto one of the risers at the front of the stage. “DALLAS!” he screamed as he towered over everyone, taking a flying leap off it and back onto the stage as they set to work. Fittingly, they opened with “Into the Unknown”, the new song creating a sense of mystique while doubling as a charged opening number, one that found Starset displaying what a mighty force they were. They immediately appeared hungry and eager to prove themselves to the throng of fans that had turned out. The energy they were radiating was overwhelming, Bates constantly roaming about the stage, making sure he was paying attention to the fans on either side. They relied heavily on visual elements throughout the night, something not every band can pull off, though it was behooving of Starset, often accenting the music in a way. A third screen was in front of the drum kit; and as that song wound to a close, it became translucent, Adam Gilbert suddenly visible as he continued his assault on the drums. It was a cool aspect that would persist throughout the night, Gilbert sometimes hidden due to the footage, but ultimately he was visible more than he wasn’t. “Thank you,” said Bates as he welcomed everyone to their third demonstration in Dallas. Not bad to have only played the city twice before and already they were acting as the main attraction with a sold-out crowd there to watch them. This tour may have been to support their new album, but much to the delight of fans, it was 2014’s Transmissions that received the majority of the attention. “Halo” was one such song, the fan favorite coming early enough that it helped Starset secure their hold on everyone. It utilized the orchestral instruments exceptionally well, Bates even waving his arms around at the end as if he were a conductor, the frontman belting out a few of the lines in more of an operatic fashion, demonstrating the gorgeous tones he’s capable of. “Thank you so much for coming tonight,” he remarked afterwards, his expressions of gratitude being genuine and heartfelt. From behind his station with a state of the art looking touch screen Bates began the brief backing track for their next number, the audience cheering as they recognized it as the lead in to “Down With the Fallen”. “Can you tell me what is real? ‘Cause I've lost my way again…” much of the crowd sang, echoing along on the chorus; while the lights on DeChant, Richards, and Gilbert’s suits continued to light up, casting them in a red, green, or blue tint, alternating on a consistent basis. Another track bridged them into their next song, offering enough downtime that the musicians slipped into the shadows of the wings. When Bates was next seen he had ditched the long, heavy looking jacket he had been wearing, his other layers of clothes, such as a vest, and his bow tie becoming hard to miss. “Antigravity” ventured into the melodic side Starset is capable of, being a potent combination of electronic and rock styles, and continuing the pace was one of the tracks they released in advance of Vessels release date, “Ricochet”. It was an impassioned performance of what is one of the most emotional songs Starset has done. Bates poured everything he had into his singing, obviously connecting with it on a deeply personal level, while it came to a brilliant finish, the violin taking command as DeChant moved over to a keyboard for the outro. It wasn’t without its explosive moments, though Starset was still in the midst of the lull of their performance. “Dark on Me” felt like it was an appropriate follow up, as if it could be an extension of the previous song, delving into what happened in between the start and end. The guitar and bass may have been more restrained, though the cello and violin were given the opportunity to shine; while Gilbert’s steady drumming was thick and pronounced, the vibrations from it rattling one’s chest cavity. Without warning, they kicked things back into overdrive with “Rise and Fall”, the song being a sheer adrenaline rush right from the start. His sleeves now rolled up, Bates appeared eager to continue about pushing themselves to their limits as performers, he, Richards, DeChant, and Gilbert making “Telescope” an exceptionally charged song, even before it reached its peak, the core musicians eventually bowing out for a sensational orchestral finish. “Do you want to hear something from the new record?” the frontman asked, the slew of people cheering, giving him a resounding “yes” as Starset began a stretch of Vessels material with “Frequency”. People may have only had a couple weeks to familiarize themselves with the music, though that seemed like ample time, several die-hards singing with every word, while everyone else was actively engaged in it. They seamlessly wound it into “Satellite”, the evolution between this new batch of songs and the old being quite noticeable. You can hear the progression, the band having matured and developed a clearer idea of how they want their music to sound, the result being something bolder and more commanding than even what their debut release had to offer. Displaying that better than any song this night was “Everglow”, the final track found on Vessels finding a stunning beauty in its minimal first half, Bates’ voice being the sole driving force for that portion of it. It sounds so grand, though, the live rendition of it being even more amazing, as you were able to truly marvel at the powerhouse vocal performance it required Bates to give. The 77-minute long set was beginning to wind down; and as he fiddled with the computer, Bates took a moment to thank KEGL (97.1 FM The Eagle) for their support in spinning the bands’ music. “…Without them, you probably wouldn't know about us or this song,” he remarked, fanfare filling the room once everybody recognized “Carnivore”. Their energy hadn’t diminished in the least, even nearly an hour in, DeChant, Richards, and Bates leaping backwards off the risers each one had available to use, in perfect synch no less, and continued to give it their all. “Bringing It Down” and “Back to the Earth” were a couple more new tracks that were worked in to the set, Bates commenting on the fact that the show was sold-out during the latter of those. “…I guess it's sold-out, which is amazing…” he said, sounding a bit baffled by it as he expressed their gratitude to everyone for showing up. He went on to say they didn’t know what to expect from their first outing as a headliner, the fact that most everyone was singing along to every song meaning a great deal to them. “It’s humbling,” he said after a short pause. Just as the band continued to push themselves, so, too, did the fans, who were seen bouncing around throughout the exhilarating “Monster”; and during a break in “The Future Is Now”, Bates checked on everyone, seeing who was witnessing their first demonstration this night. Quite a few were getting their first experience with Starset on this night, though many more had caught them at least once in the past; those who might not have been familiar being given a quick overview of the mission of The Starset Society. There would be no encore, Bates stressing that, that they didn’t do the “encore thing”, as he urged the still packed Trees to make things count, soon leading a clap along as “My Demons” got underway. That was the final song people were longing to hear, the voices’ of the fans being louder than ever as they sang along to the striking song that ended the performance in a remarkable fashion. “Fun” and “a pleasure” was how Bates described the show as they waved goodbye, soon disappearing from sight, but before the curtain could completely close on the stage, the musicians returned, tossing out picks and drum sticks, grinning from ear to ear as they basked in the love they had received. During the couple of years that Starset has spent amassing a fan base and building a name for themselves, I can see how some people may have perceived them as more of a novelty act of sorts. From the back-story they’ve crafted to (outer) space, in one form or another, being a theme of every song in their catalog, or even the eye-catching attire they all wear (the instrumentalists in particular) they’ve cast themselves in a mold unlike anything else currently out there. And some who saw them in the early afternoon at those various festivals or caught them as a supporting act during other bands’ tours might have viewed Starset as a quirky band that catered to a small niche. As I said, I can understand how some may have felt that way, but after seeing this Trees show, they proved themselves to be so much more. It didn’t take long this night to see those short sets Starset has often been confined to allowed them to barely scratch the surface of what they’re truly capable of. The lighting, while often dark or backlit, worked perfectly with the music to cultivate an atmosphere that was conducive of what the group was tirelessly working to accomplish on this night. Coupled with the music it was moody, ranging from being eerie to hopeful, capturing a sense of elation or sadness and an array of other emotions, each song evoking something different. The use of the cello and violin ensured an authenticity about everything, allowing it to sound how the fans expect it to; and the performance was purely dazzling, the band having no trouble keeping the hundreds of pairs of eyes glued to the stage. It did appear to be slightly cramped up there, though they never appeared hindered, DeChant and Richards thrashing and hopping about their respective sides of the stage, while Bates constantly trekked between the two, seldom being still. They were utterly dynamic and maintained that energetic demeanor for the duration of their show, gleefully showcasing the depths of their chops as performers as they solidified themselves as a headline quality act with seemingly unlimited potential. Far more than just a demonstration (Starset’s terminology for a concert) it was a presentation, one with a brilliant ebb and flow as the songs often transitioned seamlessly, complementing one another in the process. For now, one can only wonder what lies ahead for Starset, but now more than ever they sky truly does seem to be the limit for the band. This tour runs through February 17th, the remaining dates including stops in Baton Rouge, LA (at The Varsity Theatre on the 10th); Madison, AL (at 11th Frame on the 11th); and Johnson City, TN (at Capone's on the 12th). Shows in Baltimore, MD (at Soundstage on the 14th); Lancaster, PA (at Chameleon Club on the 15th); and Pittsburgh, PA (at Rex Theatre on the 17th) will round out the tour. Through late April and into May they’ll also be making appearances at various festivals, such as 98Rock Fest, Welcome To Rockville, Fort Rock, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, and Rocklahoma. Their complete calendar with more info on all of those events can be found HERE; and check out Vessels in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY.