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chanoyu-to-wa · 4 years

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Nampō Roku, Book 5 (25.1), Appendix: Pictorial Representations of the Utensils Mentioned in the Previous Post [Nampō Roku, Book 5 (25)].

◎ This appendix presents the collection of photographic images that should be associated with the post entitled Nampō Roku, Book 5 (25): the Display of the Sorori [ソロリ], Gōsu [合子], and Shishi [獅子].

Due to the length of the previous post, it was impossible to include images of all of the different utensils mentioned in the text. As a result, rather than show pictures of only some of the objects, it seemed best to create an appendix, wherein I can include photos of all of the utensils that were used in ancient times as the kaigu on the ji-ita of the daisu. It is important for the reader to understand that the matched sets of kaigu that are commonly sold today did not begin to appear until the second half of the sixteenth century¹, and even then, the preference seems to have been for pieces selected independently, so that they would complement each other both in terms of shape and decoration, and color.

While most of these things were made of bronze, this metal was available in a range of different colors during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. And while some of the colors were the result of natural oxidation, the Chinese and Koreans were expert at producing specific colors. Newly cast bronze is yellowish: this is called ō-dō [黄銅] -- and this name is used even when slight natural oxidation occurs. The most common rich brown color is called karakane [カラカネ]². Continuing to treat the metal³ results in a purplish shade, which is known as shi-dō [紫銅].

As bronze ages, it naturally turns black (this is called ko-dō [胡銅]⁴), and then green (sei-dō [青銅]). While the color can indicate a piece’s age, both of these colors, too, have been created artificially since antiquity.

I. Kama [釜].

◦ Sha-jiku kama [車軸釜].

◦ Kiri-gama [桐釜]⁵.

II. Furo [風爐]⁶.

◦ Dai Chōsen-buro [大朝鮮風爐].

III. Mizusashi [水指].

◦ Mumon mizusashi [無紋水指];

◦ Minna-guchi mizusashi [皆口水指]⁷.

IV. Hishaku-tate [柄杓立].

◦ Sorori [ソロリ, 曽呂利];

◦ Kōji-guchi [柑子口];

◦ Momo-jiri [桃尻]⁸.

V. Futaoki [蓋置].

◦ Ya-gaku shishi [夜學獅子];

◦ Mikotonori-no-shirushi [勅印]⁹.

VI. Mizu-koboshi [水飜].

◦ Gōsu [合子, 盒子];

◦ Sori-guchi [ソリ口, 反り口]¹⁰;

◦ Mimi-guchi [耳口]¹¹.

_________________________

¹The Hosokawa family owns one of the earliest sets known, procured (perhaps ordered) while Hosokawa Tadaoki [細川忠興; 1563 ~ 1646] (better known in chanoyu as Hosokawa Sansai [細川三齋]) was in Korea as part of the first invasion of the continent (in 1592). The kama, furo, and mizusashi all feature matsu-gasa kan-tsuki [松笠鐶付], imitating the kan-tsuki on Rikyū’s second small unryū-gama.

²The word is usually written karakane [唐銅] (“Tang” bronze”) -- though, since many of these pieces were actually cast in Korea, the homophone karakane [韓銅] (Korean bronze) would probably be the better name. Unfortunately, preferred Japanese usage seems to be based largely on a deliberate attempt to disassociate chanoyu (and everything else) from any association with Korea, in so far as that is humanly possible. In large part, this was because the Japanese government (in concert with the tea schools) deliberately associated chanoyu with ultra-nationalism during the early 20th century (which was at the same time that the occupation forces were perpetrating innumerable atrocities on the Korean peninsula, while the host of Western-trained Japanese anthropologists -- who were sent there because their investigations into the Japanese Imperial Tombs showed that virtually all of them were misattributed, resulting in the scholars being exiled to Korea as a group, since permission to do further work in Japan was refused -- were arguing that virtually every cultural element in Japan, from the Manyō Shu onward, and including chanoyu, came from Korea).

³The actual percentage of copper in the alloy, as well as other natural contaminants, also affects how the metal responds to oxidation, and the color that results. This is what often makes reproducing ancient bronzes difficult: even using the original techniques, it is frequently difficult to match the composition of the metal that was actually used.

⁴Ko-dō [胡銅] means “barbarian bronze” -- though the nomadic peoples to whom this designation was usually applied would not have the technological skills to produce bronze. Perhaps the name was coined because the nomadic tribes were found to be using bronze pieces (made by other cultures, often centuries before) that had oxidized black -- continued use prevents the bronze from developing the green patina.

⁵Note that at the time when the majority of the daisu-temae were originally created (which was during Yoshimasa’s lifetime), this kama was intact. It was a kiri-kake kama [切掛釜], made to rest on a bronze kimen-buro. The kama was subsequently damaged (the rusting out of the bottom suggests that it was stored improperly), and repaired (to its present state), presumably by Jōō -- who treasured it and used it as a tsuri-gama (contemporaneous accounts suggest that this was, in fact, the first tsuri-gama, appearing at the time when Jōō first began to use the ro) -- since the irregularity of its sides precluded it from being rested on a furo.

⁶In the second kaki-ire it says, with regard to the furo: furo ha, dai-chōsen mata ha shishi-no-dai nado tote arishi nari [風爐ハ、大朝鮮　又ハ獅子ノ臺ナトヽテアリシ也]. Apparently the shishi-no-dai [獅子ノ臺] was a type of furo, but it has not been identified (indeed, both Shibayama Fugen and Tanaka Sensho pass over this sentence without even acknowledging its existence).

There is some speculation that this means a furo shaped like (or perhaps even made out of) a large bronze censer (of the sort, sometimes seen in temples, that have a shishi crouching on its lid, two examples of which are shown below) -- perhaps with vertical handles rising upward from the sides of the neck.

Others imagine that it was similar to a Ryūkyū-buro [琉球風爐] -- with (or, perhaps, without) the upright ears (this would also resemble certain Chinese kōro that are decorated with a crouching shishi on the lid).

Given the needs of the temae, the ears (if there were ears) would not project outwards on the sides (so that the diameter of the furo alone defined the space it would occupy on the daisu -- meaning that it would be placed so that the left edge of the body would align with the inner corners of the left legs).

However, since none of this is certain, I felt it would be better to leave this name out of the list entirely, rather than give the readers a misconception.

⁷Minna-guchi mizusashi [皆口水指].

In the commentaries, this entry is described as referring a ceramic piece* -- probably because their authors believed that the contents of Book Five were made by Rikyū (even though the first entry clears renders that understanding false -- even if we choose to accept the fiction that the collection was reviewed by Rikyū at Nambō Sōkei’s request). And, while ceramic mizusashi were indeed being used on the daisu during the last decade or so of Rikyū’s life, there is no evidence to suggest that these kinds of pieces -- apart from the ō-meibutsu seiji unryū-mizusashi -- were being used by the mainstream tea world† during Jōō’s middle period (which seems to be the period when this collection of sketches were created). ___________ *Shibayama Fugen specifically mentions a Chinese seiji mizusashi with straight sides (probably the same mizusashi that is featured in the daisu-kazari arranged by Tanaka Senshō, below).

However, if it was to this mizusashi that this entry was intended to refer, then it would have had to be singled out for the same kind of special treatment as was accorded the seiji unryū-mizusashi (since, during Yoshimasa’s period, it was forbidden to display a ceramic mizusashi on the daisu as an ordinary part of the kaigu: the rule was that it had to be brought out after the guests took their seats) -- and there is no evidence either for that special treatment, or for another seiji mizusashi being used before the early fifteenth century (the above mizusashi seems to have been first used by the machi-shū -- as, indeed, were all of the other pieces). The list given here is specifically of the objects used by Ashikaga Yoshimasa.

As for the above arrangement -- which might be called a machi-shū version of the bon-dai kazari [盆臺飾] -- while the utensils are certainly beautiful, this set of utensils does not conform with the kinds of things that were being used in the early period; and, importantly, the height of the furosaki byōbu is much too low (according to the old writings, the byōbu was supposed to be equal in height to the top of the chasen, if it were stood upright, on top of the chakin, in the temmoku, and so should be several sun higher than the top of the temmoku in this photo). Also, the hibashi were never present when it was time to serve tea; and, while they were put into the shaku-tate at the beginning of the shoza (so they could be used for the sumi-temae), they were placed together, leaning to the right and slightly toward the front (so that they could be easily extracted in a single motion with the host’s right hand), rather than on opposite sides of the handle of the hishaku (the hishaku, too, was oriented on an angle, so that it faced slightly toward the furo).

†Wabi-chajin were, of course, doing things of this sort as early as the fifteenth century (and very possibly even earlier); but this collection of sketches was intended to show the formal arrangements, not the extreme examples of deviation from that standard.

⁸The momo-jiri [桃尻] came in two forms: the yū-mon momo-jiri [有紋桃尻] (this is the kind that is shown in the photo), and the mu-mon momo-jiri [無紋桃尻], which lacked the bas relief decoration, and, like the mu-mon mizusashi, was encircled by two raised bands.

The yū-mon momo-jiri was of Ming Chinese origin (these objects were being mass produced for use as flower vases that were kept on the family altars that were set up in the main room of most residential buildings). The mu-mon momo-jiri, like the mu-mon mizusashi, seems to have been made in Korea.

Pieces were chosen for use as shaku-tate based on their height: since the handle of the hishaku should be touched no higher than one finger’s-width above the node, vessels used as shaku-tate were supposed to be of a height that, when the hishaku was resting in it, the node would be just at the top of the rim. A shaku-tate that presents the hishaku in this way was called a meibutsu shaku-tate. (Unfortunately, some of the modern schools have drifted away from this kind of understanding, with the result that some people put sand or gravel into their shaku-tate, to raise the handle so that the node is one finger’s-width above the rim.)

⁹Because the name of the King or Emperor with whom the “mikotonori-no-shirushi” was associated, it is impossible to say what it may have looked like. For this reason, I have included photos of two examples of the most common types of bronze seals that were used on the continent.

Both seals are, of course, imitations. The left one bears the Chinese character shòu [壽] (meaning long life), while the simpler seal on the right has the phrase wa-kei-sei-jaku [和敬静寂] (this example was made in Japan specifically to be used as a futaoki; nevertheless this style of bronze seal was also found in both China and Korea).

It is said that the Rinzai-in [臨劑印], which was one of Nōami’s greatest treasures, resembled the seal on the right.

¹⁰Sori-guchi [反り口] means the rim is folded outward. Many of these pieces seem to have come from Mogul India.

¹¹Mimi-guchi [耳口] means the ears are attached to, or project from, the rim.

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joerohdegeo333 · 4 years

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Colorado Avalanche Mitigation Efforts reliance of Quality Geological Data

Avalanche planning & mitigation is an annual issue in Colorado, with an average around 2,500 avalanches a year. Most of the time these disasters occur as a result of the heavy snowfall that this state receives[i]. Weather patterns mixed with high elevation in the Rockies leave certain areas in Colorado with dangerous levels of precipitation. As a result of heavy snowfall, these areas are a current issue for Colorado’s Department of Transportation, ski resorts located in Colorado, and the citizens of Colorado. Aside from weather patterns, it is my goal to educate the reader on the tactics used by Colorado Department of Transportation & ski resorts to mitigate the devastating effects of avalanches with respect to the geological data that is resourceful in mitigating damages as a result of avalanches. An example of how safety is a priority throughout the dispersion of avalanche risk in Colorado can be seen by the quality and consistency of precipitation data and forecasting related to average snowfall rates.

What is an avalanche? An avalanche is the hazard composed of masses of snow, ice, and debris that flow rapidly down a steep slope. Avalanches are defined in Colorado state statues as a geologic hazard. They are also the deadliest natural hazard that occurs in Colorado. When snowpack becomes unstable, it begins to rapidly descend downslope that can reach maximum speeds upward of 200mph, but they usually travel around 60-80mph. At 30- 40-degree slopes avalanches occur most frequently.[ii] There are three parts to an avalanche path. The starting zone, the track, and the runout zone. Relating to the frequency of these hazards, avalanche prone lands may pass a few winters before having a serious avalanche. In these avalanche prone areas there is an abundance of low shrubs and quick growing aspen pines throughout the avalanche track and the runout zone. Along their paths, it’s probabilistic to say that structures, trees, and buildings will be damaged.

There are typically three basic types of avalanches. Slab avalanches, wet avalanches, and powder avalanches. Powder avalanches are common avalanches and they typically occur with fresh snow. These avalanches can reach speeds exceeding 190mph and are usually very destructive.[iii] Slab avalanches are defined by windy areas where the chill from the wind is able to produce soft or hard slabs depending on numerous variables. There’s also a polarity to where soft slabs are made up of fresh snow and hard slabs form over time due to the action of wind. Wet avalanches occur as temperatures are increasing and snow is melting and retaining vast quantities of water. They are usually slow moving because of the weight, and very destructive because they destroy most of the vegetation in its wake. For a better reference of how much snow an avalanche can carry, a large avalanche in North America might release 230,000 cubic meters of snow which is the equivalent of 20 football fields.[iv]

Some things that trigger avalanches are specific sounds like sonic booms and people trekking through ski runs while participating in winter sports like skiing & snowboarding. Although most avalanches are triggered naturally, avalanches that are triggered by winter sports usually are caused by disturbing an area that is prone to sliding. These types of avalanches are often fatal and catch the person by surprise. Telluride, a ski resort in Colorado, has WWII cannons, 3D mapping, and a disciplined ski patrol to help combat the avalanches that happen on their premises[v]. Ski resort mitigation in these areas relies on having a staff on hand that stays up to date on protocols in order to ensure the safety of the customers.

I highly recommend following this link and watching this informative video that highlights the efforts of Baldface Lodge in Canada to realize the importance of knowing the risks of an avalanche and some of the extremities that professional snowboarders, such as Pat Moore, go through, in order to be prepared for the adverse conditions. (https://www.instagram.com/p/B5n-pV4nRID/?igshid=jfykues9kga1) If you watch this video, you will notice a few connections that can be made. Compared to Colorado, Canada has more prominent mountain ranges & geological features that cause an increased magnitude and frequency of this hazard type. It would make sense that Baldface Lodge has to have little room for error when trying to educate its customers about the natural hazards associate with the Selkirk mountains. A majority of their customers probably arrive through a consistent stream of Canadian locals, where as they probably have to invest a large percentage of their efforts in areas of their business, such as tourism, in order to clearly eliminate any misconceptions that any customer might have about the dangers of certain backcountry terrain. Baldface and Telluride have a lot to tailor to in respect to and for their global customer base. Each ski hill has a different level of danger, and when avalanches are more apparent, to mitigate the downside risk there needs to be more information that is targeted to the customers (repeat or new) about avalanche safety. Weather patterns can help guide some of the media that these ski resorts put out in order to maintain a safe environment catered to the level of riskiness involved with the experience that you want to experience at their ski hills. It’s also key to note that the Canadian Government has to be able to emphasize the dangers of backcountry activities, especially in a place that takes pride and places preservation efforts as a first priority for it’s citizens, and anyone who wants to go and experience Canada’s beauty.

Colorado has a program that is within the Colorado geological Survey that addresses the safety and science behind avalanches. This program is called the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, or CAIC. CAIC works to reduce the effect of avalanches on Colorado’s citizens and on Colorado’s economy through a program that mixes forecasting, safety education, and applied research. CAIC works closely with the Department of Transportation to reduce the impact of these hazards along Colorado’s highways, as well as issuing public weather and avalanche forecasts. People who are found trapped in an avalanche often die from suffocation, trauma, and hypothermia[vi]. Hopefully after reading my blog, you are more educated on the importance that geological data has on avalanche risk mitigation in Colorado. It’s also very important to sign up for alerts from the U.S. Forest Service Avalanche Center and to be cautious of the signs that an avalanche might occur if you are ever in Colorado.

GIS for avalanche studies and snow science has been happening all over the world. Specifically, in Colorado there’s an avalanche-path mapping of the San Juan Mountains along US Highway 550 that helps Colorado Department of transportation road maintenance workers.[vii] There are labeled slide paths mapped that help CODOT track avalanche activity and this helps facilitate cost analysis on the amount of explosives used, man hours, and equipment wear. GIS is proving to be one of the most important geological revolutionaries that is helping avalanche mitigation in Colorado. Resources like this are why Colorado continues to maintain their status as a leader in avalanche risk mitigation.

[i] Monroe, M. (2019, March 11). Colorado Avalanche Danger Continues. How to Stay Safe. Retrieved from https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/colorado-avalanche-danger-continues-how-to-stay-safe

[ii] Avalanches (Snow). (2017, July 11). Retrieved from http://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/geologic-hazards/avalanches-snow/

[iii] Kiprop, Joseph. (2018, September 21). How Many Types of Avalanches Are There? Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-types-of-avalanches-are-there.html

[iv] National Snow and Ice Data Center. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2019, from https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/science/avalanches.html.

[v] Blevins, J. (2019, March 8). Telluride's avalanche-battling arsenal: WWII cannons, 3D mapping and discipline. Retrieved from https://coloradosun.com/2019/03/08/how-telluride-battles-avalanches/.

[vi] Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). Avalanche. Retrieved from https://www.ready.gov/avalanche.

[vii] Scott, D. (2009). Avalanche Mapping: GIS for Avalanche Mapping and Snow Science. The Avalanche Review, 27(3). Retrieved from http://www.avalanchemapping.org/IMAGES/AvalancheMappingArticle_TAR27.pdf

Video Source:

Person, and ProfilePage. “Pat Moore on Instagram: ‘Day One on Snow for Risk Maturity at @Baldfacelodge ".” Instagram, 3 Dec. 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/B5n-pV4nRID/?igshid=jfykues9kga1.

#telluride #colorado #codot

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ve1vetyoongi · 6 years

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remember me | kth

chapters: I, II, III, IV, V

pairing: taehyung x reader

rated: T

genre: idol!au, baker!tae, french!reader, angst, romance, fluff, eventual smut.

summary: Taehyung wants to be forgotten. Overwhelmed by his life as idol persona V, he longs to just be Kim Taehyung for once. Even if that means forgetting everything he ever knew.

word count: 6.1k

warnings: mentions of blood, strong language, memory loss, eventual smut (chapters will be marked accordingly).

a/n: so this is the first installment of Remember Me! I have been working rlly hard to perfect this fic for a couple of weeks and I’m really glad I can finally share some of it! I should also note that my French is atrocious and if there are any errors I would be grateful for corrections! all the love <3

Moonlight illuminated the diamond ring in Taehyung's palm.

The Parisian alleys looked different at night time. Usually bustling with locals selling fresh fruit and flowers, dragging carts from the harbor or opening their businesses for the day, the cold silence was stark and frightening in comparison. Vintage book stores and home owned cafes lined the passages, dark and vacant due to the late hour. Taehyung had noticed his reflection in the windows as he stumbled past - in his best coat, no less - the blackness behind obscuring any transparency and providing a chilling reminder of his current predicament as he watched his own form heave against the vibrant orange but peeling paint of the small two bedroom apartment complex on the corner.

Taehyung's legs felt weak and he let them buckle, his weight sliding down until his backside rested against the freezing cobblestone. It was cold enough for a jacket in the evening, the summer sun's glorious warmth dissipating like clockwork as night time swept the small French village he found himself in. Even so, beads of sweat laced his hairline, testament to the hatred that scolded every fiber of his being. It felt like he was burning alive.

A plane trip somewhere remote seemed like a good idea to begin with. An opportunity to think things through without the burden of his status following him - or rather people. Here, nobody knew him. Taehyung was confident his idol status was unknown - after all, the phone signal was horrible and stable internet connections were few and far between. He highly doubted any of the few hundred inhabitants would recognize his face from a magazine or a music video. The only music Taehyung had heard during his time here was soft spoken French symphonies, classical opera sometimes, but definitely none of the energetic pop tracks his band was known for.

His band was part of the reason he had packed a bag and jumped on the next plane out of the country. Not his band members per se but rather the responsibility his status required of him. If young Taehyung had known of the great success he would achieve after debut, no doubt he would have been thrilled. Singing, dancing, performing - they were all a part of him, his greatest love and his greatest passion. He had worked diligently, training on no sleep and practicing until his vocal chords were raw with overuse. But now he was here, he wished he was anywhere else.

It is a misconception, he decided, that we could ever be satisfied. He had fame, he had a decent fortune and adoring fans. He had what some would describe as everything, what young Taehyung considered necessary to a life filled with happiness. Most would assume he must want for nothing; that was true to an extent, as he was fortunate enough to not want for anything materialistic, owning a room filled with clothes, two cars and an apartment with enough rooms to house at least two large families comfortably. That didn't stop him wanting, though.

Taehyung stared at the small, velvet box that he twisted nervously between his freezing fingers. He had a girlfriend, too. Soon to be fiance, once he inevitably had to return home for promotions or an obligation listed in his schedule. It was as if his whole life had been mapped out years in advance. Apparently, his company decided marriage was next on the agenda, probably to boost the album sales that had begun to dip as of late.

He loved Joy, he did. Taehyung had been ecstatic when she started returning his shy smiles and longing glances at award shows and music events. He was overjoyed when she agreed to let him take her out for coffee - a small gesture uncommon in an idol's busy schedule but appreciated none the less, an opportunity to spend time listening to her sweet voice and inhaling her vanilla perfume he was desperate for among their hectic conflicting obligations.

Things seemed to move quickly after that, him moving out of the dorm he shared with his band members to buy a place for them to share. A few months after that they adopted a dog and by then it seemed as though the relationship was serious, enough for his company to encourage him to ask for her preferences and size when it came to wedding rings.

He loved Joy. He loved how she dressed, the shampoo she used. He loved how she was soft spoken but stern when need be though never overbearing. He loved her family and how her mom always sent them home made meals to heat up on cold winters nights. Taehyung loved Joy, but not in the way he wanted to. How everyone wanted him to. How he was supposed to.

She was good for him and he knew that. It would be difficult - no, impossible - to find anyone more perfect. Joy was everything most guys wanted in a girlfriend, in a wife, as confirmed by the slaps on the back and contented hums from his friends when he introduced her for the first time. She was good for his image too, his company had made that clear, practically picking the wedding venue before he had even popped the question.

But here he was, running away from his problems, quite literally, sick to his stomach with fear and worry and an indescribable feeling of wanting. Taehyung was the man who had everything yet he still found himself wanting. Wanting for Joy to be happy, just not with him. Wanting to perform, but without the burden of fame. Wanting for people to forget V and to live as Kim Taehyung for a little longer. For he knew that once he boarded that plane home, his face would be headline news.

A dog barked uncontrollably somewhere in the distance, alerting Taehyung of the boots that cracked against the cobblestone, crunching the glass from a broken beer bottle that had rolled from the hands of a drunk slumped in the doorway of one of the only bars the village possessed. Even that was closing for the night, though the cheap neon light, barely fixed to the wall, still glowed and sent the alley into a rich hue of red. It was ominous and out of place amidst the natural beauty of the village and Taehyung picked up on the menacing presence leering over his pathetic form when it was already too late.

The sound of feet became louder, followed by the dog, it's noises turning shrill and whiny as it was kicked to the curb. Black boots came to a halt in front of his crossed knees, one nudging his arm a tad too harshly to be friendly. Taehyung glanced up slowly from beneath the brim of his hat, thankful the shadow cast by the visor concealed the shock evident on his face as he took in his company.

Two broad men ogled down at him, a sickly smile plastered to the mouth of the second, the gold caps on his teeth glinting in the low light. He blinked at them once and then twice, considering their reasons for stopping. Did they think he was drunk?

"What have you got there, young man?" The first one sneered, arms looped around his back but the sheer weight of his boot enough to keep Taehyung in place, unable to stand let alone run. It was then that he followed their gaze, straight to the space where his thighs met, cradling the small black box containing the biggest diamond he was sure they had ever seen in a place like this.

"What do you want?" Taehyung replied gruffly, squaring his shoulders in an attempt at appearing as intimidating as their hot stares. Easier said than done when wearing yellow tinted designer glasses and a pair of fluffy sandals.

"I want to know what a nice boy like you is doing in a place like this," The man's accent was as thick as the prickly stubble lining his jaw as he gestured to the empty blackness around them. "And how you have a ring like that."

Taehyung shoved the box roughly into his coat pocket, shaking himself free from the hold of the tall stranger as he attempted to get to his feet. "It's for my girlfriend." It wasn't a lie, yet he still had to swallow the lump in his throat in order to choke the words out, even to a pair of thugs.

"Where are you going?" The second man spoke for the first time, hand jerking out to push Taehyung's shoulder downwards violently until he returned to his former position on the ground, susceptible to their every whim due to their heightened stance over him.

"I have to be getting home."

"We know you aren't from around here, kid." He bent to his knees, foul breath tainted with beer fanning Taehyung's forehead as he spoke. His voice was louder, raised from the whisper he spoke in before. He wrapped his thick fingers around Taehyung's throat, drawing his words out slowly as if to be extra clear. "Give us the ring and we won't make any trouble."

"No." Taehyung said through gritted teeth, mouth widening as the hand around his windpipe tightened, cutting off his air supply and drawing tears to burn his eyes as he fought for another breath.

"This is your last chance." Taehyung was gasping now, grasping desperately at the sharp elbow of the man until his grip faltered, allowing him to take in the sweet cold oxygen.

He fell to his hands and knees, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth as he heaved shakily. Taehyung kept his eyes trained to the concrete as he slipped off the silver bracelets littering his wrists and the big rings on his fingers, throwing them haphazardly in the direction of the men. He didn't know how much they were worth - the cost of items was not an issue anymore and sometimes he didn't even bother to look when he paid for them - though he was sure it was not as much as the ring pressing against his thigh through the fabric of his jacket. "You can take anything you want. Just not the ring."

"You think I'm stupid boy? This shit ain't worth a dime." Black boots spat vulgarly at the measly pile of silver. "I want the fuckin' good stuff."

"He ain't gonna listen, big guy. Just rough him up a bit for Christ's sake."

At his words, the other nodded his head, cracking his knuckles at what felt like an obscenely loud volume. The words dawned on Taehyung quickly and he brought his knees to his chest, cradling his head in his arms as he prepared for incoming blows from their fists or their steel toes. Isn't the body supposed to go into fight or flight mode when faced with imminent danger?

Not that there would be any point in trying to take flight as the grip of the bigger mans hands beneath his underarms was vice like, so tight he was sure it would bruise. His stubby fingernails pierces Taehyung's sensitive skin, causing him to yelp in surprise as he felt them press purple half moons into his flesh. And he pretty much gave up fighting as soon as he felt the cool serrated metal of a knife pressing against his throat.

He stifled a scream, instantly going slack in the man's grip, abandoning any attempt at escaping. "Please. You can take anything but the ring!"

"Please what, baby boy? You scared or somethin'?" The man with gold teeth came to a halt inches from his face, eyes glinting with amusement at Taehyung's begging.

Something sounded from above, catching the attention of both Taehyung and Gold Teeth. They locked eyes before glancing upwards. A small girl balanced precariously over the railing of the tiny balcony extending from a decorative screen door, the glass propped open by a plant pot overflowing with green ivy, allowing the drapes to blow in the night breeze. She carefully unhooked the silk sheets pinned to a makeshift washing line, folding them neatly over her arm. Her bare feet kick a clothes pin under the guard rail, seemingly unaware when it clattered to the ground below, just missing Taehyung's arm. If she were to just look down...

Gold Teeth apparently comes to the same conclusion, raising a single finger to his lips in warning. Don't move. He mouths. Taehyung swallows thickly, the blade sharp against his adams apple.

Before he could think better of it, he was taking a deep breath and bellowing as loud as he could for help. He didn't have time to form the word more than once, a second help dying on his tongue as he was spun around to face his captor. It was then that he felt a searing pain in his thigh. It was hot to begin with, burning as his skin was pierced by the knife but then it was cold, horribly icy as blood began to trickle from the wound down the sides of his leg.

"What the fuck man! I said rough him up not stab the kid!"

"We need to get out of here," An arm was still tight around Taehyung's chest, the man stumbling backwards when Taehyung's head fell into the crook of his neck as he cried out in agony. He took the opportunity to reach into his pocket, retrieving the black box from a powerless Taehyung. "Lets go! Fucking run!"

They sped off, each thud of their boots sending a sharp pain through Taehyung's head as he desperately gripped the wall for support. He felt numb as he noticed the knife that was still wedged into his leg. The pain unbearable as he ripped it out, discarding the bloodied weapon somewhere behind him. He pressed his hands to the opening in a bid to ease the pain, shock rocking his body as he watched blood spill from between his fingers.

His focus began to blur, the alley spinning in large figure eights as he tried to get a grip on his surroundings to no avail. Taehyung tried to soften his bodies descent to the ground but his palms could not grip the wall in time, leaving bloody smears where they touched the paint. The crack of his skull against the paving was audible, his eyes popping when he felt a giant pressure begin to build in the back of his head, like a balloon filling with helium, ready to burst at any moment.

The pain was so unbearable now that he could barely feel it. It's strange - when the pain was at it's worst it is as if his body went into shut down, protecting him from the agony by making him feel nothing at all.

It was not long before his sight went completely black, leading him on a descent into nothingness. It was like sleep but without the promise of a good dream.

Hands shook his shoulders and Taehyung was sure he caught a glimpse of a face before his lids were too heavy to stay open any longer.

"Monsieur?"

He was too far gone to hear you.

Pain. The searing burn of disinfectant in his wound. A wet cloth cold against his forehead.

"Can you hear me, sir?"

A sweet voice, ringing out in his ears. Another bout of pain as something tight is fastened around his leg.

"I'm so sorry. The pain will be over soon."

The voice again, but tinny with remorse this time. A face, paled with worry but soft and comforting. Welcome among the confusing blur that tinted his vision, dulled his hearing and weighted his body.

You.

And then there was blackness, again.

When Taehyung finally came to, you were curled up in a wicker chair beneath the windowsill, sun illuminating the battered copy of Romeo and Juliet your nose was tucked into. The aged, dog eared pages covered your features but he could tell it was you by the elegantly messy up-do sat on top of your head, wavy pieces of hair escaping the elastic to frame your chin nicely. Come to think of it, the entire room is covered in novels - some classics, some he was yet to hear of - littering every surface. They were not intentionally decorative but something about them was endearing. They were well loved, used, like a perfect bookshop of your own and the sweetness of a dust filled library settled into his senses.

Taehyung pulled his body into a sitting position against the wooden headboard, wincing slightly when his leg resisted the small movement. You noticed his sharp intake of breath, raising your head from the crook of your elbow to check on his state. Upon realizing he was awake, you lower your knees from where they were tucked tightly against your chest, rushing forward to push him back against the mountain of pillows you carefully placed behind his head the day before, book cradled beneath your underarm.

"Lay down, sir." You are unsure why you whisper it, perhaps afraid a louder volume will aggravate the wound located at the back of his head. "You must rest."

"I feel fine - better, at least," Taehyung assures, allowing you to help him under the elbow so he sat comfortably upright. "Thanks to you."

You smile meekly, busying your hands by plumping up the comforter that draped across his bare torso, lifting the corner to inspect his leg. He gazed down at you through lidded eyes, taking in the shredded silken sheet you had fashioned into a tourniquet around the gaping gash in his thigh. The pink fabric was stained in the middle with a messy red splotch, a clear indication of where the knife had entered his leg. You grip his ankle, attempting to lift and bend his knee but abandoning your ministrations all together when he let out a hiss, scrunching his eyes in response to the intense pain that shot up his side.

You tutted sympathetically. "I thought it would be feeling at least a little better by today."

"How long have I been here?"

"Nearly four days, now."

Four days? How had he been out for that long? The last few nights were a blur, flashing through his mind in nightmarish snippets, none of them connecting to form a clear memory. Taehyung figured it was some sort of coping mechanism his body employed in an attempt to stop him reliving whatever excruciating events he had suffered through.

"You had an infection in your leg," You continued, eyeing him carefully as he appeared to lose himself in thought. "But I think you managed to sleep it off. You don't feel feverish now, right?" You jerk forward to place the back of your palm against his damp forehead, relieved when it feels cool to the touch.

"No..I uh - what is your name?" He questions abruptly, suddenly curious about your identity. He had been here for half a week yet this somehow felt like a first introduction, his only prior recollections of you being that night on the balcony and several flashes of you tending to his needs while he was out cold.

"Y/n." You respond simply, smirking when he nods eagerly, bashful after his sudden outburst. "And yours?"

"O-oh yeah, I'm - " Taehyung opens his mouth to form the words, though nothing comes out. The name he was so familiar with felt as though it was at the tip of his tongue yet he couldn't quite let it spill from his lips. He watches you wait patiently for his answer, narrowing your eyes in question when his sentence dies almost as soon as it began. "I don't know."

You nod slowly, index finger tapping against your thumb as you took in his revelation. "You don't have to tell me -"

"No!" He lurches forward quickly, ignoring how his leg groaned in favor of reassuring you. "I want to tell you I just...don't remember."

He watches as your mouth forms a small 'o', realization hitting you all at once. "I guess you hit your head harder than I thought."

Taehyung reaches a shaky hand to graze the nape of his neck, taking in the way his hair matted to his skin with blood, the sticky substance coating the pads of his fingers. The skin was still sensitive and the area still throbbed dully where his skull had connected with the cobblestone. If he closed his eyes and focused he was sure he could still hear the sound of it.

That would explain why he couldn't remember his name - or come to think of it, anything prior to being attacked by a knife and barely anything after that. Was it amnesia? He wasn't sure how this sort of thing worked, never being one to listen in health class. Would this be...permanent?

"If it helps," Your soft words bring him back to the small apartment, allowing him to watch as you flit across the room to his opposite side. He noticed how you practically danced, effortlessly floating on bare feet to the wooden side table pressed against the wall. "You were wearing this when I found you."

You move to sit apprehensively at the foot of the bed frame, hand extending towards him to reveal a small gold ring. Taehyung took it between his fingers, nodding in thanks. You wrapped your arms around your torso and watched curiously as his eyes glazed the scripture engraved on the inner side of the metal band.

Kim Taehyung.

"Kim Taehyung." He repeated out loud this time, slipping the piece of jewelry over his thumb. It felt natural, as though it belonged there. "That must be my name?"

You nod. "Taehyung." Even if it wasn't his name he was sure in that moment he would adopt it, the way your lips curved around the word sending shivers down his spine. "It suits you."

He was suddenly aware of how bare he was, shifting uncomfortably when he noticed his own naked chest. His pants had been discarded to allow you to get a closer look at his stab wound, leaving him only covered by the thin summer lace that swaddled his legs. You noticed his discomfort, grabbing a striped top and a pair of loose fitting white pants from the laundry room behind you and throwing the garments in his direction. He catches them reflexively.

"They were my fathers. Too small now." Taehyung smiles at you properly for the first time at this, eliciting another bout of dull throbs to shoot through his head. "Your things got a little dirty in the scuffle. I washed them for you." A small mirror sat on a tiny dresser, its reflection angled so Taehyung could see the laundry blowing in the summer breeze on the balcony, his shirt and jeans included.

"Thanks." He pulls the shirt over his head, grateful for the modesty it provided him. He looked up at you when it came to his pants, allowing you to assist him when pulling them over his injured thigh, the pain unbearable enough to distract him from the humiliation of needing help to carry out such a simple task.

"Oh - I almost forgot!" You run back into the laundry room, retrieving a black carry bag and the designer coat Taehyung had donned the night you found him on the street. Kicking the door shut with your heel, you fumble in the front pocket of the bag to retrieve a phone. "I hope you don't mind I looked through your stuff, I thought you might have an ID." You shrugged.

"It's fine, really. It's not as if I was around to stop you." He chuckled dryly at his own joke, enjoying the small roll of your eyes. The phone was cold in his palm and he turned it around a couple times as if to search for clues.

"It might help if you look at what is on the phone." You nudge him with your foot and it was his turn to roll his eyes now.

"I knew that." Taehyung huffed, sliding a thumb across the screen and watching as it came to life under his touch, lighting his face with its blue tinted glow. The screen presented a set of numbers, prompting him to input a passcode. He tapped a couple random numbers, hoping he might unlock it by chance or a miracle presented by his fingers muscle memory but apparently even that was having trouble remembering anything. After several failed attempts, a notice displayed on the screen: Iphone locked. Try again in 10 minutes. Taehyung dropped the device in his lap with frustration, pressing his palms to his eyes as he desperately wracked his brain for any set of numbers that might be relevant or familiar but nothing came, leaving him utterly sour with his own brains lack of cooperation.

He flinched when you reached out to rub his forearm, pulling away quickly out of embarrassment when you gauged his reaction to the contact. "I'm sure you will start to remember soon."

"What if I don't?" He pulled his lip between his teeth, nibbling anxiously as he considered the negative outcome. Taehyung knew that although he couldn't remember them he must have a family or friends at least who were worried somewhere, confused as to where he had disappeared to for four days. If he never remembered they would just be left in the unknown forever. Did he have a job? A home?

"You will, I'm sure of it." You say softly, desperate for a way to appease his worries. He was a stranger to you but you couldn't help but feel you knew him somewhat. After all, you had seen him at his very worst across the past few days, at his bed side day and night while he suffered through his fever. Something wrenched in your heart when you realized this was something you couldn't fix for him.

Taehyung felt himself relax with your reassurance. He reached forward to place your hand where it had touched his shoulder before, covering it with his own. His palm was wrapped in a silken scarf that acted as a bandage to cover the scrape attained when removing the knife from his leg. You unwrap it carefully, nodding in satisfaction at the way the skin had begun to heal, a contrast from the red and angry appearance it had possessed to begin with. Threading the scarf around his neck, you tie it in a knot at the base of his throat. Taehyung watches you inquisitively, cocking his head when you were done as if to ask for approval. You nod at your work. "Very à la française." He is surprised by your perfect pronunciation, gauging the accent that taints your English thickly to be local.

"What makes you think I'm not français?" He catches a glimpse of his appearance in the mirror, making you giggle when he sees that the accessory does indeed make him look like a French stereotype when paired with the blue and white striped shirt he currently donned.

"Your French is awful for one." Taehyung can't deny your statement, simply raising his hands in defeat. "And I've never seen you around here before. Everybody knows everybody here."

It was true. With only a couple hundred inhabitants, everybody seemed to be connected in some way in your town. Each and every individual local shared an uncle or a colleague or a neighbour so visitors stuck out like a sore thumb, drawing attention and becoming a source of gossip among the people. It was summer though so tourists were more frequent these days meaning you had not noticed Taehyung's arrival, that was until he got stabbed outside your apartment and almost died of an infection in your very own bed.

"You got me." He slumped back in surrender. "I assume you know this town better than anyone?"

"I have lived here all my life so I would hope so."

Taehyung scratched his chin. "How about you give me a tour? Might re-jog my memory if I see something familiar?"

You were cautious, not wanting to make a bad situation worse by taking him out before he was ready. He only just seemed to be getting over his fever and you were fearful that his immune system was susceptible to any sort of illness he could pick up out in the open. Then again, the fresh air might do his lungs some good. After all, he had been cooped up in your small one bedroom for half a week now - and so had you as a result, for that matter - so it was unsurprising that he was desperate to get out and find some sense of normality again. "What about your leg?"

Taehyung pulled himself to the edge of the bed, a little weak as he shakily tried to bare weight on his leg. The pain was subsiding a little now though it was still difficult to take more than a few steps before he had to relieve his leg a little by leaning against your wooden clothes cabinet.

"Hold on a second." You noticed his struggle, bending to your knees and fishing under the bed until your hand found the smooth wooden handle of a cane, once belonging to a great uncle - or perhaps it was an aunt, you couldn't remember - before pressing it into his palms. Taehyung admired the decorative lions head that was carved into the base, covered with flaking gold leaf and scratches from years of use and misuse. He pushed away from the wall, leaning into the stick and finding his balance, letting out a breathy laugh when he managed to take a series of steps - albeit slowly - with it's assistance.

"Are you sure? It looks special." You purse your lips in agreement, unable to list the various ancestors who once relied on the cane as Taehyung was now and unable to remember how it came into your possession in the first place. You were thankful it did, though as it was finally being put to use.

"Of course." You slip a light scarf around your shoulders, expecting the afternoon breeze to be chilly as it gradually turned into night. "Until your leg heals."

The apartment was situated on the second storey, exited by a small winding staircase that led to an open piazza, inhabited only by an outdoor chair you favored for reading on summer mornings. It took a while to get down, Taehyung still struggling to find his footing with the cane and needing your support under his elbow to manage the last few steps.

The hustle and bustle hit deliciously when you finally stepped out into the open. The town was alive, children playing on the corner with chalk as colorful as the buildings around them, mothers watching from balconies and open screen windows as they danced in the shadows cast by ornamental street lights. You led him down through the winding alley, under a stone arch and out into the outdoor street market. Taehyung's senses were immediately filled with the smell of cooking crêpes and burgers sizzling on a grill along with the sounds of traders and marketeers shouting praises of their homemade la crème glacée. Men unloaded fresh fruit and vegetables into crates, transported by truck from nearby produce farms and Taehyung swore he had never seen colors so vibrant, so ripe.

"Where are we going?" He asks, struggling to keep up with you as you effortlessly weaved through the throngs of people. The town square opened up into a harbor which stretched for a couple of miles along the front where the town merged with the sea. The water sparkled beneath the bows of holiday yachts and fishing boats and he could not help but gawk at the beauty of it.

"Here." You say, stopping abruptly and almost causing him to walk into your heels as a result. You pat the stone wall before you. The entire harbor was lined with it but this particular spot was at a lower height than the rest allowing you to swing your body over so that your legs dangled over the drop. Taehyung's eyes widened nervously as you did just that, jerking forward to grip your forearm as he envisioned you catapulting down to the small patch of sandy beach below. You simply giggle, gesturing for him to sit next to you. His leg protests when he tries to copy your earlier actions despite his hesitance towards its safety, opting to perch on the edge with his back facing the boats instead.

"This is where we are going." You let out a breath, taking in the view you were all too familiar with yet somehow not tired of. "I come here to think a lot. It's my place."

Taehyung hummed in response, eyes glazing across the tops of houses and chapels that rose from behind one another, towering above you. "I can see why. The view is beautiful - how do you say that in French again?"

"C'est une vue à couper le souffle."

"Yeah, that." He mumbles, scratching the nape of his neck and avoiding your gaze by pretending to be engrossed in the fishermen unloading their days catch.

"That's not the reason I like it, though." You continue. "I like how it is quiet here." It was true. Compared to the hectic town square it was serene, only a few people in sight including yourselves along with some particularly noisy seagulls. "Sometimes I feel smothered in town."

"I understand, I think." Taehyung nibbles his lip. Something twisted inside of him at your words, the feeling you described to him familiar somehow though he couldn't put his finger on why exactly. "Sometimes you have to find peace inside the commotion."

"Right." You agree curtly, eager to change the subject before it became too raw. "Has your memory come back yet?"

He sat in silence for a while, enjoying the cool salty breeze on his skin before he spoke up quietly. "I wish I could remember."

Another bout of silence. A boat bobbed into the calm waters of the harbor, filling the quiet just enough for your words to almost slip past Taehyung had he not been watching you intently. "Perhaps you should just embrace it."

"Embrace my amnesia?"

"I mean, embrace the chance at a fresh start," You explain, finally drawing your attention from a blank point in the distance to stare him straight in the eye. "I don't know anyone in this town who wouldn't give their left leg for a chance to re-invent themselves. Think about it - you could literally be anyone you want to be."

"Anyone?" Taehyung still wasn't convinced, the idea of leaving behind his past still tender, even if he couldn't remember it.

"Anyone!" Your face glowed with a sudden bout of excitement, irises glinting in the evening sun as you pull his hand into your lap. "You could go away from here, become a traveler? Or an artist...you look like an artist."

Taehyung looked out over the charmingly beautiful town, lingering for a second on the rough edges that blended out into the pink and yellow sky. Something felt right about being here - something instinctive.

Your enthusiastic babbling brought him back down. "A florist! I bet you know a thing or two about flowers - unless you forgot about that too.."

"Y/n?" His sudden interruption brought you to an abrupt silence, an indication that you were listening. "Who are you? Like, what do you want to do with your life."

"I mean - I work in a bakery. My fathers bakery."

"A baker, huh?"

"Yeah. Though if I hit my head I would like to become a writer." Taehyung nods, remembering the vast amount of books you hoarded in your apartment. " You know, like a real one. With a library and a writing room."

"You don't need to lose your memory to do that, y/n."

"People around here...we don't get to be writers. Or florists. Or artists."

"Why not?" Taehyung couldn't understand your resentment for a town so gloriously pleasant, so perfectly simplistic.

"Because we are insignificant. We are traders and housewives and bakers." You spat the last word with a bitterness you had become accustomed to.

"I could be a fisherman." Taehyung puffed out his chest to mimic the muscular man unloading crates of seafood below.

"Nuh uh," You wrinkle your nose. "The smell is unbearable."

"Then, I want to stay here." He concluded, crossing his arms with a determination that said his decision was final. "At your bakery."

"You are stubborn," You announce, shaking your head in disbelief. "You could go anywhere and you choose to stay here?"

The sun was dipping into the waves now, almost obscured by the ripples and sea foam. "I feel at home already."

#thebtstown #kwordsmiths #bts fanficition #taehyung fanfiction #taehyung imagine #taehyung smut #taehyung fluff #bts scenario #taehyung scenario #writing this fic has been so fun bc it is so easy to get lost in dreamy ideas of french taehyung #the problem is i have developed the story in my head too much to put on paper lmao #hope u enjoy angels!#my writing

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jasperlion · 5 years

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Valentia and it’s famines

I’ve seen a few misconceptions here of what a famine entails, and so I’d rather clear it up and, at the very least, define it officially over here so what I am referring to is completely understood.

Note: this will contain a lot of reference to extended material found in the Valentian Accordion.

First things first: we need to discuss Mila and Duma’s constant terraforming of their respective territories.

Mila constantly kept the weather pleasant and the rains consistent on her side of the continent. Her divine protection even kept the cold from the north out of the country, and ensured there was never a crop failure due to lack of rain or un-cycled sediment. This made it so the people had little work to do (like crop rotation, ensuring there’s enough water storage in case of a long stretch without rain) aside from plowing and sowing the seed, and they did not depend on the mercy of the weather remaining consistent for healthy crops.

This ended a few years before the start of the game, when Rudolf invaded Zofia after a great famine hit Rigel and they were denied supplies by Lima IV. This is the point in time where Rigel occupies the northwest of Zofia as well as the Mila temple, and they take Mila prisoner, sealed with Falchion. Without Mila to oversee the lands and ensure everything was completely regulated, nature took its usual course to re-stabilize after centuries of manipulation.

Duma, in turn, kept the weather challenging and harsh, ensuring that his people always dealt with struggle to make them ‘tougher’. While it didn’t mean they were under constant famine, they were under constant threat of famine. Three years was the worst the country had as of yet when Rudolf had to ask for help, and it was likely manipulation on Duma’s behalf to push for reason for Rudolf to invade Zofia (as what he wanted in his maddened state was to conquer both).

The people of Rigel were, as such, used to dealing with farming and inhospitable sediment, having to learn to upkeep the soil by swapping crops and other such techniques to keep water for longer for irrigation and as such not depend so much on the weather for their yield.

And now, for what a famine consists of and why it was so devastating to Zofia, land of the bountiful crops.

A famine can occur for different reasons, and Zofia’s was caused and driven by several at once.

- Crop failure was the most notorious, as based on the dialogue of the villagers in Ram, rains had started to fail and the well was running dangerously low, lower than Alm had ever seen it in a while. One of his dialogues to it is, actually, ‘the village lives or dies by this well’: it is essential that it rains, and it really hasn’t been while the weather restabilizes from being constantly controlled and regulated. Crop failure means “an absent or greatly diminished crop yield relative to expectation, caused by the plants being damaged, killed, or destroyed, or affected in some way that they fail to form edible fruit, seeds, or leaves in their expected abundance”, and these failures can have several causes, leading among them being droughts and soil degradation.

- Government policies, however, also had a hand in how severe it was. With how the country had never dealt with a famine in its... history, really, it was entirely unprepared to handle how to deal with half or more of the country suddenly falling in dire straits. It was so bad, the whole area near Mila’s temple degenerated to outright desertification in the short timeperiod she had been absent thus far. With no planned distributions and, basically, expecting every district to fend for itself well enough, there was simply no failsafes if there was not enough to go around, making the famine much worse than it could have been otherwise.

A country undergoing a famine doesn’t mean a land with dead wild plants and wild animals, it means a country with less crop yields, less animals surviving through the weather, and lack of food in general. While Zofia’s was dramatic, with even loss of farm-ready habitat (the hecking desert), greenery or lack thereof around isn’t an accurate indicator of famine, it’s the crop failures, farm animal deaths, and such.

A famine isn’t just a lack of food on the table and lack of rains, meaning less water for everyone, it is defined when more than 20% of households face extreme food shortages, and child malnutrition rises over 30% of the entire population. It also means that, yearly, the death toll from it climbs pretty high. In modern day standards, it’s around 10k people per day, but for a population in Zofia, I feel the numbers are likely less. Basically, it’s an extremely dire situation, and one that is not marked by greenery in the wildlife, to reiterate.

In short, from the constant terraforming by Mila and Duma, both lands have suffered and are out of balance naturally, as with the people having habits to live in this artificial environment, the Zofians simply had no tools or experience to deal with a famine that has lasted well over three years.

#[ wulf speaks ]#[ meta ]#this isnt really worldbuilding so it wont have the header but i should add it to the tag just in case #our legacy to valm | worldbuilding #anyway this is why i insist alm is shorter than he should be since... hahahahah hes in a small backwater village during a FAMINE #eh.. worldbuilding here a little abt the terraforming of mila and duma to valentia but thats technically canon so its not at the same time h

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wecannotgoback · 3 years

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Video Games Might be a Little Satanic

Susan Brinkmann of Philadelphia’s The Bulletin would like you to know that video games are, more and more, skewing towards the satanic and are waging a war against God… or… something. According to Brinkmann, even the “hardcore” crowd is starting to become concerned by the increasing levels of anti-religious sentiment in modern video games.

Even the most hard-core gamers are sounding the alarm about the rise in the number of satanically-themed video games that target God and Christianity, invite players to make pacts with the devil, and elevate Satan to hero status.

“This has been going on for the last 10 years, but especially in the most recent games,” said Lance Christian, 32, of Alton, Illinois who has been an avid gamer for most of his life.

Basically Mr. Christian and, by extension, Mrs. Brinkmann are arguing that the video game industry has become increasingly friendly towards Mr. Beelz.

Brinkmann cites several games to support her argument (and provided by Mr. Christian), including Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, Darksiders, Devil Summoner and Tecmo’s Deception: Invitation to Darkness. But the brunt of Brinkmann’s article is aimed squarely at EA’s Dante’s Inferno and it’s apparent outward showing of anti-religious sentiment. Sadly this argument falls apart when you actually look at the game and not just some questionable advertisements. Best Twitch streaming equipment.

Without getting into too much detail, Dante’s Inferno puts you in the shoes of Dante, a soldier from the Third Crusade who has embarked on a journey into the afterlife to rescue his wife from Lucifer before he can use her soul to break free from Hell and try to overthrow God and Heaven. In the process of doing this Dante must fight his way through demons of all shapes and sizes while using a big ass scythe… so in reality, it’s almost 100% faithful to the Divine Comedy if scribe Dante Alighieri had watched “What Dreams May Come”.

And dropped blotter acid.

Let’s look at Dante’s Inferno objectively for a moment. Yes, the game is very brutal and definitely deals heavily in the macabre. But once you look beyond what’s on the surface what you find is a rather righteous tale of redemption as this man travels to the furthest corners of hell in order to save the woman he loves from the devil himself and in the process protecting Heaven and possibly saving God’s ass. I don’t know about you guys, but that’s pretty damn angelic to me, regardless of the methods used.

Cultural Differences The fair majority of games listed in Brinkmann’s article are Japanese in origin. In Japan, religion is not a particularly taboo issue and many forms of Japanese media, from manga to films and games, include some form of religious or spiritual content that is used as a mechanism to further the plot. That’s it and, more often than not, that’s all. No condemnation. No outrage. Best gaming chair models for 2021.

This issue doesn’t spark until news of the ‘evil anti-Christian Satan sim’ reaches the American Bible Belt or, God forbid, the mainstream news.

You see, the United States has something of a hard on for Jesus and whenever something that dares to paint Christianity as anything but a bright white beacon of hope for all humanity, a small but loud sect of the American population cries foul. This is due in large part to two things: 1.) Ignorance of the culture the game was created in and for, and B.) Arrogance. Pure, simple arrogance. Specifically the arrogance that any mention of “God” automatically means that it’s referring to your god.

As a matter of fact, most video games are very careful to avoid mentioning any religions outright. Sometimes, as is the case with games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, elements of existing religions are used to enhance the mythos. In Oblivion, the Knights of the Nine are strikingly similar to the Knights Templar. Anyone who takes the time to read the countless books in Oblivion will find many more nods to real-world religions and beliefs worked in.

Games like Oblivion, which feature religion outright, are a rare breed. The majority of games that use religious symbolism do so in a more subtle or restrained way. Bayonetta (one of the games listed by Mrs. Brinkmann), for instance, is basically about a witch who is out to kill angels. While this works to set the story up, it doesn’t actually come up very often as you play and when it does, it’s not pushed on you very strongly. Of course, Bayonetta isn’t exactly what you would consider a serious game – most gamers were quick to realize that Bayonetta is little more than breastakaboobical, chestakamammical, pendular globular fun. Unless you actively pay attention, you won’t even notice it’s there.

The Dragon Age Effect Dragon Age: Origins is a shining example of how religion and religious belief can be conveyed in games. For those of you who have yet to play it, Dragon Age: Origins includes an religious group known as the Chantry of Andraste, which is heavily based on Christianity. Unlike games like Oblivion, which treat spirituality and religious faith as absolute fact, Dragon Age: Origins keeps the entire discussion rather. At no point during the game are you led by the narrative to believe that the story of Andraste is either right or wrong. To further gray the area of religious belief, there are several points in the game you can overhear NPCs and members of your party debating the merits of religious belief and faith.

The true beauty of how religion is portrayed within Dragon Age: Origins is that at no point during the game are you given the answers. It treats religion as a characteristic of a larger world and the overall narrative is such that depending on how one looks at it one can decide whether they were taking part in a holy war or simply defending their homeland from an invading army. The Gamer Collective’s list of best corner gaming desks.

But of course, Blankmann and Mr. Christian (who provided the list) have taken Dragon Age: Origins and boiled it down to its most base elements — and somehow still managed to get those wrong:

Game revolves around the story of God going mad and cursing the world. A witch attacks believers and players can “have sex” with her in a pagan act called “blood magic” so she can “give birth to a god.” Another scenario allows player to have sex with a demon in exchange for a boy’s soul.

I have to admit that I’ve yet to finish Dragon Age: Origins so I turned to resident Dragon Age expert, friend of Binge Gamer and all around connoisseur of awesomesauce Raychul Moore to see just how accurate the above statement was.

Suffice to say, not very NOTE: SPOILERS AHEAD:

HA! That is all wrong. You have sex with a Mage so that the demon will not kill and take the soul of one of the Grey Wardens (they are the only ones that can kill the Archdemon). You never can have sex with someone to save a demon.

[Before that] a boy is possessed, but you can’t sleep with someone to save him, you have to decide whether to kill the boy or have someone go into the “Fade” to fight the demon and save the boy. “God going mad”? Yeah, they never played the game, obviously. There is no reference at all to such a thing.

…I have nothing to add, I simply wanted to clarify that Mrs. Brinkmann’s article was wrong.

The Other Extreme If games like Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne are the extreme of demonic imagery in games, the other extreme is best seen in Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a real-time strategy based on the series of books that have also spawned a series of movies starring Kirk Cameron as Himself*. The basic premise of Eternal Forces is that the world has ended and you’re on a mission to convert as many people to Christianity as possible.

And if they don’t convert, you kill them.

Apart from that Left Behind: Eternal Forces is the single most intentionally racist game I’ve ever played. Those fighting for the “Antichrist” have African and Arabic names whilst the majority of those fighting for the Lord are whiter than Ward Cleaver. Furthermore the game carries a 1950s-esque sense of gender role as many unit classes are “men only” while women must carry around arbitrary titles like “Medic Woman”.

For what its worth many Christian organizations decried the game as being the misogynistic, bigoted tripe that it was. What few of these groups realized was that the game itself also sucked, for which there is no forgiveness.

No More Backpedaling But you know what? For as much as I find Left Behind: Eternal Forces to be a vile disgrace on the video game industry, I would not call for it to be censored. I wouldn’t call for it to be pulled from store shelves, and in fact I would like to see Left Behind: Eternal Forces and other games like it sitting on store shelves right next to Devil May Cry and Shadow Hearts. As gaming grows, the industry needs more games to address these supposedly taboo topics. And when the blowback comes (and it will come), the gaming industry must stand its ground.

No more backpedaling.

Every time a group of people cry foul over the content of a particular title, the games industry goes absolutely insane. Developers and publishers have PR firms draft ultra-professional retorts to these wild-eyed complaints while game bloggers (schmucks like me) circle the wagon and say anything they can to try and discredit the source while rarely, if ever, addressing the core issue.

This needs to stop.

The video game industry, as a whole, needs to stand up and say two simple words:

So what? Until the gaming industry stops trying to apologize every time a title offends someone, that aura of “legitimacy” that so many gamers want in order for this medium to be taken seriously as an art form will continue to elude them. If you want this thirty year-old misconception that video games are strictly a children’s toy to finally be done away with, we’re going to have to own up to and defend all the content in these games instead of apologizing for it.

So as the title says: Yes, some games are satanic. Some games are sexist. Some games are racially or culturally insensitive, though rarely is it out of maliciousness. Some games have content that you or I will not agree with. But if gaming is to truly become accepted in the public consciousness as an art form and a true entertainment medium, people are simply going to have to accept that there is some content that they simply will not like. Just like they do with film and music and television.

Gaming is not just for children anymore, and to break that mindset you may have to drag a few people to that realization kicking and screaming. But before the gaming industry can do that, it has to stop being afraid of stepping on a few toes.

*Correction: Kirk Cameron’s character of Buck Williams may actually be slightly less insane than Kirk Cameron himself.

Oh, One More Thing…a lifelong gamer with intricate knowledge of several “anti-Christian,” “anti-religious” games who lives in Alton, Illinois (home to one of the oldest Catholic Churches in the United States) who just happens to be named “Lance Christian”? … something smells about that. I think Mrs. Brinkmann has been had.

#gaming #video games #satan #devil #games

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