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#basalt... guide my sword...
shukuchiisms · 1 year
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The fabled mountain (HuaHuo)
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In my many travels on these lands of magic and beauty, I saw my fair share of fantastique myths, some turned out to be real and some turned out to be an exceptional waste of time. But None intrigued me more than the myth of a living mountain capable of walking.
The fable tells of a warrior goddess that sculpted a whole mountain in the resemblance of a fox using nothing but her sword, then using her mighty magic, breathed life into her creation by summoning an ancient spirit to dwell in it. The part with the goddess and stuff sounds a bit too over the top to me, but who knows? I've seen weird stuff before…
I packed my equipment and started my trip to the southern area where locals claimed the Living Mountain has been most recently sighted, so I could investigate this so-fabled place.
Took me a week to arrive at the valley from my previous position, fortunately, I was not that distant when I received the reports. Even at this distance, I can already confirm that the majestic mountain indeed has the shape of a giant fox. I'm so excited to explore it that I will set camp here for the night just so I can sketch it!
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It took me two more days of journey to arrive at the foot of the mountain from my previous campsite, When I arrived at the dark basalt pathway that lead to the summit, it was already night. Strange fox statues dotted the whole path, each one with a lantern in its mouth. Red flames ignited by themselves each time I approached one…
I kept following up the dark basalt stone path till the next morning, and to my surprise, I had stumbled into a paradise! The giant cherry trees in full bloom had flowers and leaves made of pure crystal that looked more like handcrafted jewels. When the sun passed through them a pink-reddish glow took over the landscape with a blinding shine. [Probably what causes the characteristic color of the mountain when looked at from afar]. Approaching those magnificent trees I had yet another surprise, even their fruits are made of pure crystal. I obviously, took my time to take with me as many flowers and cherries as I could carry! Imagine if I had brought my crew with me. I would be a rich man by now!
Moving further into the mountain, with my backpack full of riches, I found a lake as red as blood, at the beginning I was afraid it was indeed blood but with further inspection, I noticed the color was coming from both the plants growing into the lake as well as from the water reflecting the diffused light coming from the crystal cherry trees.
From among those exotic plants growing in the waters, there was one that stood out more than the others, a 'blood lotus' it's natural shine, like little flames, coming from the black pattern on the petals drew me in like some kind of spell and I couldn't move my gaze from them until a soft, velvety voice called for me in the distance. and the next thing I knew I was about to fall into the lake!
And this is where I meet the beauty that would be my guide, that revealed to me the first secret of this place, those Lotus were carnivorous, and uses a pheromone to attract their prey, that's why I was completely drawn in by them. Good thing this woman was there to save my life!
With her help, my journey became much safer and smoother…
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Mythrila moon crystals:
Giant red floating crystals beaming with an energy I can only describe as magical. My guide told me they are capable of storing both energy and information and are the backbone of this place's technology. Connecting both the security system as well as all the many devices around the mountain and powering the diverse constructs.
Mythrila golems:
Yue told me the mistress of this mountain constructed those with her own hands, to serve as a security system. With their unique design, I almost confused one with a stone boulder. They're sculpted from a substance called mythrila and brought to 'life' by infusing the fragments of moon crystal on their inside with something called 'command memories'. Capable of both immensurable physical strength on melee as well as attacks at distance using a stunning magic beam, they are formidable indeed. [Although Yue told me that they are prone to a failure that causes them to explode if they overheat during their functioning].
Fox-fire moths:
At first glance, one could swear those are just part of the place's ecosystem, just regular moths. It was only after meeting my guide that I discovered that those are in fact energy constructs, that just like the golems, are powered by those giant crystals dotting the landscape. Those are used both as distraction towards possible intruders [very effective if I say so myself] as well as a form of silent alarm to awaken the golems. I never thought such refined constructs are possible, even more ones made of pure energy without any physical parts…It's INCREDIBLE!
Teburo Ikkaris:
A ghost, Jellyfish-like creatu- I mean, construct. (They are so impressive I keep forgetting they are not a product of nature but made by the hands of a woman)Programmed to perform manutention and simple day-to-day tasks, like cleaning the place, etc. But don't underestimate those, as they can and will protect themselves just like an actual Jellyfish. (My fingers still burn from trying to touch one of those earlier).
Luminescent birds:
It was still night when I first approached the fabled living mountain. My eyes were bombarded with traces of red-pinkish lights. At first, I thought I was being attacked by some kind of weapon, but after close inspection, I could notice those lights seemed to dance around before perching on nearby trees. It was only then that I could see that those lights that moved so fast were nothing but birds! My guide later told me that those birds are native to this mountain, and since they always return home no matter how far they travel, the locals tend to use them as both 'message birds' as well as guides to find their way back.
Sakura [Three-tailed spirit]:
It was not the first time I have seen those three-tailed foxes in my life. They're rather common around the northern plains of this land, even if they didn't have marble-colored fur like this one. What surprised me about this specific one is that instead of using its shape-shifting abilities to try to run or hide from me, it just stood there looking at me with a curious gaze, a very uncommon behavior for this species. Miss Yue told me then, that this particular fox was named Sakura, and that even though it was still wild, it acted like a kind of familiar for the mistress of the mountain, never straying too far from her in any situation. And that its strange behavior was the fruit of this relationship.
Quin Yue:
Not long after I set foot on the mountain, I was greeted by a beauty! Her silver and black long wavy hair and those blue cat-like eyes were mesmerizing. She had tiger-like features the most prominent ones being a tail and ears, it took me some time to snap back to reality and wave back to her. After speaking to her, she finally conceded me her name, Quin Yue. She offered to be my guide while I visited the mountain, an offer that I was more than glad to take. During our stroll around Huahuo [that's what the locals call the fabled living mountain] She not only imparted invaluable information about the place but also told me her story. Being a half-blood her life was not easy, her tribe [that's what they call their clans here] banished her while she was still a kid, and she was later captured by bandits and sold as an attraction for a circus, thanks to her shapeshifting powers. And that she was later saved by the mistress of this mountain, now she serves as a confident, and as a steward of said mistress.
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My previous notes got all messed up, all thanks to me having to rewrite some portions of them, but I will not complain. With My good looks and conversation skills, I managed to not only make Miss Yue more affectionate towards me but also to reveal secrets about this place's defenses. When my crew arrives, I might keep her around after I overthrow the so-called mistress of the mountain, then when this place becomes mine. I will explore every natural resource until I can count money no more!
Finally, I can meet this so-called "mistress of the mountain" From the way Miss Yue talks about her, one might think she is some kind of local divinity instead of a person. [Maybe she is the fount of the goddess bits of the myths?]
Anyway, I and Miss Yue followed Sakura till its mistress, then I was introduced to a woman even more beautiful than Miss Yue herself! Green eyes that could make any emerald crumble in jealousy, Her aqua-silver hair silkier than fresh snow into a lake. Those fox features compliment her stunning appearance even more, And her voice is so soft and velvet-like that she sounds like a dream! Maybe I should reconsider my first plan of selling her and Yue for the slave market, those two have some potential, after all.
She's vain and proud of her accomplishments, while we chatted away, Miss Luna [that's was the name of the so-called mistress of the mountain], told me more about the constructs and machinery I saw around the mountain with Miss Yue, talking to her feels no different than talking to a high scholar from back my hometown, a true genius [It would be no surprise whatsoever if this mountain actually could move itself thanks to one of her machines], too bad all her realizations will be mine in just some days…bad for her that is!
My curiosity got the better of me during our conversation and I asked if she was truly alright with her Stewart revealing so many of her secrets to a complete stranger like me, She just smirked and replied that it was fine, after all, I wouldn't be able to remember a thing after that night. Yeah, Like it would happen! And even if she poisoned me with alcoholic drinks all night, I have it all registered in my notes! Either way, I better keep my guard up this night.
She indeed came to visit me in my camp that same night, but the way she was dressed, I don't think she wants trouble, she motioned to me to be quiet, and th---
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The next day:
Good Morning Lady Luna, I take it that the dinner I prepared was meet your refined tastes, right?
Perfect work as always, the taste was just right, and the amount of knowledge was just impeccable! One of the best meals you ever brought. I just need one more favor, darling
Yes, Lady Luna?
When you get to throw the trash out, remember to keep the scrolls, I liked the art on them~
Of course, But what about our other guests? Should I be meeting with them too?
No need, I will take care of them myself later, thank you.
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shinyacademy · 3 years
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My Collection: Palossand
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Meet Basalt, my shiny Palossand! Basalt was the shiny I didn’t know I needed. I got her randomly in the Dynamax Cave and immediately thought, “Wow! This shiny is awesome!” I hadn’t even caught a sandyghast yet (I get pretty lazy about filling a dex with no shiny charm incentive) and hadn’t considered what the shiny looked like. I’d also never really run into these in either of my adventures in Alola, somehow.
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As it turns out, the place in Alola where you can find sandyghast, Hano, is likely named after Hana, a real life location in Hawaii. Hana also has a beach with black sand. Black sand occurs in volcanic regions and makes for a really stunning view! I’d definitely love to see it in person someday.
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If you’re looking to get a shiny Palossand on your team then you have options! Sandyghast, the preevolution of Passoland, is a Pokémon that you can SOS chain on Hano Beach in all Sun & Moon games. This makes it a very attainable shiny for people who don’t like egg hatching. Click here for my mini guide on SOS chaining. Because Sandyghast is available in all Sun & Moon games, it’s also easy to hatch eggs for either manually or passively in Pokémon Pelago.
In Sword and Shield, you can obtain Sandyghast in Loop Lagoon in the Isle of Armor (part of the expansion pass). There you can overworld hunt them (guide coming soon) or just catch one for egg hatching!
Either way you choose to hunt, Palossand is a great addition to your team and pretty awesome against those Gigantamax Pikachu everywhere! Happy hunting! ✨
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siksnow18 · 4 years
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Review
Tourism has become a growing industry in many countries' economies. As a result, an increasing proportion of the world's population depends on the sustainability of such activities (Bill &Carmen, 1997). Tourism industry provides a lot of employment opportunities for people, but also can drive the development of other industries. In 2008, all three of Iceland's largest banks failed, and the economy fell into a lot of crises. However, tourism industry soon rose strongly, which saved the Icelandic economy from the abyss.
Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic and one of the five Nordic countries. It is the least densely populated country in Europe. Its capital is Reykjavik. Although Iceland is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, influenced by the North Atlantic warm current, the temperature in winter is not very low, which is suitable for people to live in. Iceland is a country with many volcanoes and frequent geological activities. In addition, Iceland is the country with the most hot springs in the world, so it is called the country of ice and fire.
Before I went to Iceland, Iceland gave me the feeling of beautiful northern lights and snow covered mountains. The air, water and cultural environment are all really magnificent. There are many hot springs with obvious geomorphic features. They are all landscapes that cannot be seen elsewhere. But prices are a little high. I don't think this is a particular reason why tourists choose to visit Iceland. When I really arrived in Iceland, I was shocked by its natural landscape. From my experience, there are many kinds of restaurants in Reykjavik, including Southeast Asian, Japanese, Italian and so on. There is also a milk tea shop in the center of the city. When I go to the restaurant for dinner, I feel that the overall consumption level in Iceland is relatively high. In recent days in Iceland, the overall feeling is that Icelanders are warm and friendly, the guide is very understanding, and the waiter of the restaurant is very friendly.
In additions, the unique selling point is very important for destination competitiveness. For Iceland, the northern lights, black sand beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes and other natural landscapes as well as hot springs are very special, attracting many adventurous tourists. In addition, every year Iceland holds Music Festival, art festival, cultural night and other activities, which also attracts many tourists to visit.
According to DMO (destination marketing organization)’s introduce, it takes five hours to fly from New York to Reykjavik, and three hours to fly from London to Reykjavik. It's obviously convenient for Americans and British to visit Iceland
 Iceland's supporting industries are fisheries and tourism, and its economy is mainly dependent on marine fisheries. Iceland covers an area of 40000 square miles and has only 340000 residents. In recent years, the number of visitors to Iceland has grown exponentially, influenced by the game of Thrones series and Hollywood blockbusters from Star Wars to interstellar.
 Recently, the famous travel website Luxury Travel Guide (LTG) named Reykjavik, Iceland "the best European exploration destination of 2018". This is the second year in a row that Reykjavik has been on the LTG's list. Before that, Reykjavik was named "2017 winter tourism destination" by LTG.
 It is vital to noted that the development of tourism is a double-edged sword, which has brought positive development to Iceland's economic development, the establishment of nature reserves, national parks and the improvement of people's awareness of protecting nature and so on, but also brought bad influence to Iceland and some challenges about sustainable development in the future.
For example, from my personal travel experience, this time I went to Iceland and felt that the infrastructure construction still needed to be developed. It was not easy to go to a toilet on the night of seeing the aurora. Road signs and parking signs are not enough to meet the needs of a large number of tourists. At the same time, Iceland's public transport facilities are relatively simple, public transport, taxi, or car rental, and its road conditions are worrying.
From the perspective of the environmental impact, too many tourists, beyond the range of natural environment, will cause damage to the local environment. At the same time, overcrowding brings people bad travel experience.
From the perspective of local residents, the Blue Lake has been expanded. With the need of tourist’s accommodations in the future, Reykjavik's hotels will be expanded, souvenir shops will be increased. This will increase the price of living in Reykjavik and put pressure on local residents. According to Doxey's irridex, I think Iceland is currently in the Antagonism stage. When the number of tourists greatly exceeds the number of local residents, the locals become hostile to the tourists. On the other hand, although the tourist is exceeds the number of dweller, maybe the period of Annoyance is more close to the situation.
According to a new report presented to Parliament by Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation Þórdís Kolbrún Gylfadóttir, some of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland have long reached their tolerance limit for tourists and are now in grave danger. In particular, among the protected areas evaluated by the Environment Agency of Iceland, Geysir and the Skógafoss waterfall seem to be in the worst condition, having long reached their tolerance limit. Places like the promontory of Dyrhólaey, the Dverghamrar basalt columns and Gullfoss in the Golden Circle are also in grave danger (Alice, 2018).
In order to avoid or at least reduce the adverse effects and maximize the benefits, it is necessary to constantly monitor the impact of tourism on the environment, economy and society (Bill &Carmen, 1997). At the same time, it is also necessary to manage tourism capacity. Tourism capacity is the minimum value of the limit value of tourism and its related activities in scale and intensity that the natural environment, artificial environment and socio-economic environment can bear in a certain period of time under the premise of sustainable development. Because the number of tourists per year greatly exceeds the number of local residents, the Icelandic government intervened, decided to limit the number of tourists coming to Iceland every year and considered measures such as increasing tourism tax to slow down the growth of tourism.
Iceland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, but in a land full of delicate scenery and incredible natural landscape, the government is considering limiting the number of visitors to some of the most popular tourist attractions. Richard W. Butler publishes in 1980 a model of evolution of tourist destinations known as TALC - Tourism Area Life Cycle- which stipulates that a site exploited for tourism and leisure knows 6 phases in its evolution: exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, decline or rejuvenation. I think Iceland is between development to consolidation stage. Tourists’ number rapidly increase to equal or exceed local population more foreign-owned facilities, loss of local control; promotion of artificial attraction; intensive and extensive advertising; enhanced accessibility; use of migrant labour; a rapid landscape change.
 Reference
Alice, D. (2018). ‘Which Tourist Destination In Iceland Have Reached Their Tolerance Limit?’ available at:  https://grapevine.is/news/2018/04/09/which-tourist-destinations-in-iceland-have-reached-their-tolerance-limits/
 An Application of Butler’s (1980) Tourist Area Life Cycle to Saly (Senegal) available at: https://ijier.net/ijier/article/view/919
 Butler, R.W. (1980) The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution; implications for management of resources. Canadian Geographer, 24 (1): 5-12
 Dopey, G.V.(1975) A causation theory of visitor-resident irritants: Methodology and research inferences. In Proceedings of the Travel Research Association 6th Annual Conference. San Diego, CA: Travel Research Association.
 Faulkner, B. & Tideswell, C. (1997). 'A framework for monitoring community impacts of tourism', Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 3-28.
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