[Belial's in a welfare interview with 80 (it's to check Belial's mental state and how he's adjusting to Earth.), while R/n is being guarded by Neos and Ultraseven 21, R/n shifts uncomfortably under Neos and 21's scrutiny both of them are very fixated on her pregnant belly.]

R/n, nervously hugs herself: Could you stop staring? It's creeping me out.

21: Sorry, we just don't see many pregnant individuals back home...

R/n: Oh...Is it an overpopulation thing?

Neo: Uh, no. See ...A very long while back making kids wasn't much different from how humans do it, in fact there are a rare few back home who still do have kids that way. But nowadays it's much safer and way more common to use Capsules instead.

R/n: ...Capsules?

21: They're called Gestation capsules, to sum it up; it takes DNA from both the parents mixes them together; then the baby grows and incubates in the pod rather then in the mother.

R/n: That sounds great, not having little feet kicking you in bladder and spine every time you breathe. ...But, wait. Since you have those Gestation pods do you even still...*ahem* Y'know?

Neo: Of course.

21: Though it's mostly for recreational purposes rather then reproduction.

R/n: Oh.

[Belial comes out of 80's office and makes a beeline towards R/n, but notices her in deep conversation with the two ultras and glared at Neos and 21 suspiciously.]

Belial: What were you telling her?

R/n: Calm down, Bel. They weren't telling me anything bad, They were just telling me where babies come from!

[Belial stares at R/n flatly then glances down at her belly then back at her.]

Belial: ...It's a little late for that don't you think?

[Shivers] so, o-one of my facet-stories is about horny mech pilots.

a world where, generations ago, leading world governments decided to "fix" population growth and overpopulation by releasing a retrovirus agent that rewired humans to have a heat cycle. by the time anyone not in on the plan realized what was being done, it was too late.

sexual interest is dampened for most of the year - every three months, girls go into heat for a week or two and release pheromones that, a-ah, stimulate people around them.

(there are, of course, medications that can be taken to suppress heat cycles. or trigger them early, although those are something really only the upper class has regular access to.)

of course, the whole "solution" was just a self-serving bid to hold onto power in a world of ecological collapse and ongoing destructive climate change. states and major corporations colluded and consolidated their power as vast portions of the world suffered desertification and equatorial "dead zones" spread. populations were relocated into increasingly centralized and strictly controlled urban zones, which grew into vast arkocities supported by sprawling hydroponics facilities.

resource wars broke out, as well as increasingly hostile corporate takeovers. the arkocities built fortifications, expanding their existing lockdown procedures for civil unrest and extreme weather events.

the weapon of choice in the growing conflicts became mechanized walkers and automated vehicles. furthermore, the arms race to improve upon these technologies eventually led to a cutting-edge advancement in mech warfare: direct neural interlocks.

instead of a pilot relying on manual controls and the machine's automatic reflex systems, select candidates were screened for appropriate neurological and psychological profiles before being implanted with a cybernetic interface allowing them to "plug in" to a mech's combat computer. the "pilot", really more of a neural processor or "bioCPU", then synchronizes with the mech's own systems and acts as a rapid processing system capable of intuitively analyzing combat situations and "steering" the mech.

a good neural processor needs to be highly aggressive while also capable of surrendering enough control to the mech's systems that synchronization can be achieved.

s-so...

it turns out that an orphan girl named Amelia gets high marks during a round of corporate-sponsored health checkups and psychological screening.

she's shy, with little self-confidence. extremely vulnerable to peer pressure. deathly afraid of being unlikable or abandoned.

but she's driven, too, fueled by all that fear and bottled-up resentment.

she gets selected as a candidate. she scores well. she survives the cybernetic augmentation process. when they finally plug her into a mech, she gets the highest score of anyone in the program - she gives herself over completely to the machine, straining to do exactly what it wants. KILL. KILL. KILL. ELIMINATE THE TARGET.

the more she gives herself over and unbottles that deep well of pain inside her, the more she's free, the more the reward hooks work their way into her until she's a frothing, snarling, pent-up mess of a girl by the time they pull her out of the cockpit.

(and oh, how she's embarrassed by that.)

...luckily, she has someone to help her work out all that stress, someone that understands and adores her for the monstrous, violent thing she becomes in a combat situation.

after all, neural processors often can't be trusted to interpret orders during the heat of combat. you need someone a little more detached from the situation for that. so... you pair the "pilot" up with a navigator and comms operator. they feed select tactical data to the pilot, point them in the right direction, and keep one hand hovering over the emergency override and disengage switch if the pilot ever gets out of hand and needs a yank on their leash.

so it's j-just me and my RIO, strapped into a heavily armed missile with an instinct to kill called Sierra One, tearing apart less agile and responsive mechs at command's behest~

*eyes Lucifer/Charlie posts with interest* You know what a really interesting thing about their dynamic is? It technically has two songs dedicated to it, though they don't sing both of them together. More Than Anything is beautiful and full of feels... but there's also Hell's Greatest Dad, which I think could be read as rather suggestive, considering the context around it.

Lucifer and Charlie start out the series as pretty much estranged, and the original pilot posted online seemed to indicate the last time they'd spoken in person had gone very badly, with Lucifer perhaps belittling Charlie's idea of rehabilitating sinners, or at least her ability to do it... something Charlie's VERY keen on, as Hell is overpopulated and, to keep down their numbers and prevent them from rebelling, every year Heaven sends an army to exterminate as many demons as possible, and she's had to helplessly witness this massacre over and over, suffering deeply for it and eventually concluding she'd solve the overpopulation problem by redeeming as many sinners as she could and sending them to Heaven. So, yeah, not exactly a case of a child going through some silly phase and their parent being unimpressed with it. Some even started fearing Lucifer would turn out to be a crappy father, or even an abusive one, because of that.

However, the series on Prime confirmed that Lucifer actually loves Charlie a lot AND loves being around her. It's just that he, too, used to be an idealist who wanted to change things for the better, and Heaven punished him and his wife, Lilith, by confining them in Hell. Lilith apparently didn't give up and tried to empower demons, but Lucifer, who had his ability to see the good in mankind taken from him as well, fell into a deep depression, which seems to have made him unable to be the present, active parent he wanted to be for Charlie, leading to a growing distance between father and daughter. Lilith mysteriously disappearing seven years before the start of the series probably didn't help either character's mental state or their relationship, too. But if Lucifer doesn't believe in Charlie's hotel, it's really because he's terrified that something terrible will happen to her if she keeps fighting for her ideals, and wants to protect her from that, having gone through it himself. When Charlie's girlfriend, Vaggie, convinces her to try and get him onboard again because they REALLY need help, the call when she invites him over is awkward on both sides, but Lucifer accepts right away because he's just overjoyed that Charlie's speaking to him again... to the point he even overthinks something as simple as how to answer the phone!

Anyway, that's how Lucifer comes to the Hazbin Hotel and meets the rest of the gang... including Alastor. Alastor is an Overlord, a powerful demon most people know better than to cross, and actually rose through the ranks by getting rid of other Overlords, showing just how dangerous he is. But Overlords are still much lower in Hell's hierarchy than Lucifer, the literal King of Hell, so he's initially pretty dismissive of Alastor, who... does NOT take it well, to put it mildly. Cue some very fun passive-aggressive bickering, which turns into a musical duel.

Now, one fun thing about this is that the online pilot had led many people to ship Alastor and Charlie, as it had Alastor charm his way into letting Charlie help him with the hotel in a rather pushy way and despite her initial distrust, all while a certain animosity built up between him and Vaggie, who is, again, Charlie's canon gf. To me the Alastor VS Vaggie seems to have been toned down a lot in the series, and Alastor's VA sees him as asexual, with some Valentine's Day merch suggesting he might be aromantic as well, but ofc the Chalastor ship is still a thing. Except... in Hell's Greatest Dad, Alastor doesn't deliberately piss off Lucifer by hitting on his daughter, but by trying to position herself as her new dad! He uses the way HE has been supporting Charlie and her goal from the beginning to try and make Lucifer look either uncaring or weak, looks right at Lucifer while suggesting to Charlie that she could call him dad, and, when Lucifer emphasizes that he and Charlie actually ARE family, argues that sometimes your biological family is a disappointment and you should rely on the family you chose for yourself.

The duel keeps escalating, with Lucifer becoming increasingly flustered and angry, until they're forcibly interrupted by a new arrival. After that, during More Than Anything, Charlie opens her heart to Lucifer, explaining that it's the stories Lucifer told her as a child that gave her the courage to do what's right and pursue her dreams against all odds. Lucifer understands that he can't protect Charlie to the point of suffocating her goodness and bravery, and that wouldn't work anyway because she's a rebellious dreamer just like he used to be, but he must support her and defend her against those wishing to destroy her and her goal, and finally, they reconcile.

... not before Lucifer meets Vaggie and goes "Oh, you like girls?! Me, too! We have so much in common!" Which is such a fun little moment and can be interpreted in so many ways. Is he awkwardly trying to show Charlie that ofc he accepts her sexuality? Is he relieved that she is NOT with Alastor, this shady guy he really doesn't like AND who could have been trying to steal Charlie from him by being both a bf AND a new father figure for her? Is he trying to signal that he and Charlie could share their common interest by having a threesome with Vaggie? ... okay, probably NOT that last one, but it could a fun idea. XD Not one very likely to go anywhere, as Vaggie has been stated to be a lesbian, but still.

Oh, another musical thing! Before a big battle against Heaven's army in the last episode (where Lucifer appears at the last moment to help his daughter against her enemies!), Charlie and Vaggie sing a brief romantic duet together, where they reaffirm their love for each other and Vaggie reassures Charlie that, no matter how things will turn out in the end, she's already done so much for her people and changed lives... but it's actually their own reprise of More Than Anything! Which actually fits rather well, as Vaggie is another character who decided to dedicate herself to protecting Charlie and helping her make her dreams come true. (And also, she's an angel who was beaten up, mutilated, and left bleeding and in pain in Hell when she realized she felt pity for the sinners and couldn't keep killing them. Kinda like Lucifer, the angel who wanted to change things and paid for that... I may be going overboard with these parallels, but they're so much fun!)

Hi! I'm the same anon who wrote about Charlie, Lucifer, and Lucifer getting extremely jealous at the thought of someone stealing his baby girl away from him... I mean, Hell's Greatest Dad. One, I actually just remembered that Lucifer and Charlie have a third song that explains their changing dynamic very well, Finale. It's an ensemble number, but it's kicked off by Charlie feeling dejected and guilty and Lucifer, who knows a few things about feeling like that, telling her not to lose hope but keep fighting, because she's already done something incredible and now she just needs to keep believing in herself and trusting in her family and friends to help her. It's so sweet and moving and I have NO IDEA how it slipped my mind! Two, I remembered that by watching this video about Lucifer by Georgia Dow. It's mainly about how his depression is portrayed and how he deals with it, with explanations and advice for viewers who might going through or witnessing loved ones going through something similar, but it also says some things about Lucifer's relatuonship wih Charlie and how it evolves that I think really illuminate just how good and rewarding to watch their dynamic is:

I feel like I know so much more about Charlie and Lucifer's relationship now. I'm glad Lucifer turned out to be a better dad than it seemed at first as if he might be, and I love his jealousy!

Thank you so much for sharing all of these thoughts with us!

Look thru the "anti natalism" tag . WHAT DO U THINK OF IT

Mentally ill teas tbh

It wouldn't be that bad if they weren't that smug about it and thinking they were the smartest in the room, like

Look at her thinking she really did something LMAO

But anti natalist have this thing where they never have the guts to actually go on with the finality of their ideology. They'll be like "lmao we don't want to kill people we want taxes for birthing children" ...and they never actually give the practicality of applying such policies. Because if they did, it would be obvious they *do* involve the same means as said dictators used on their population. HOW can you stop people from having children? These people will never have the courage to say it out loud because they know how wicked their ideology is. So they'll act oblivious like "yalL so sTupId to acT lIke i waNteD to tHrow cHIldReN iN the mEaT gRinDEr🤪" when taxing parents for having children will most likely encourage infanticide.... They also never state how poor countries/population with higher fertility rates will be more targeted and will inevitably pave the way for social and racial eugenicism. But I guess they're not as smart as they pretend to be to realize that....

And tbh, while I will never suicide bait anyone, pointing out to the people crying over overpopulation the irony of endorsing such deology when they themselves never had to live up to the standards they're expecting future children to require to be allowed to exist isn't that far fetched. Especially when those people use their awful upbringing/parenting as a proof that not everyone should be allowed to have children. If your existence has never been questionned despite your unperfected circumstances of birth/parenting, you should hold others to the same lack of standards.

Anyway like I said, every single anti natalist is a mentally ill so it's not like anything relevant or worthy of attention could ever come from them anyway. I also note a lot of women endorsing this stance are lesbians (such as the one screenshoted) and it's fascinating how the same women who brag about how they will never have pregnancy scare bc ✂️💦😻 still have the audacity to police whether heterosexuals should have children or not. It's obvious they have a tip on their shoulder and can't live at peace without being bothered by the lame straighties lmao Deep down they wish they had what we have that's why we're always in their mouth lmao

Hi, I have a question and I don’t want you to think of it as an insult, I genuinely want to learn. You think Covid and Monkeypox are viruses invented or ‘released’ by governments around the world in order to…? Ruin the economy? Kill off people? Is this correct? And if so, why do nations want to ruin the economy/kill their populations etc? Thank you.

Hey Anon, I'm not insulted, and these are outstanding questions.

My research started about 3 years ago with my friends from around the world.

It's called the Great Reset from the WEF (World Economic Forum) The Great Reset (Klaus the Nazi Schwab), WHO (World Health Organization), and Bill Gates and others (politicians, China, billionaires) that are in Davos, Switzerland right now talking about limiting your right to free speech among other things.

These people talk about climate demise, overpopulation, and what a great time to install the Great Reset on a virus they made and released upon the citizens of earth.

Please watch my pinned video Indoctrination II with the experts. I promise you your mouth will drop. These people aren't hiding anything anymore.

Klaus Schwab and these assholes laid out what would happen to us. Limited wars, viruses, cyber-attacks, food shortages, riots, disinformation/misinformation, people being chipped under their skin for total surveillance of every human on earth. If you aren't chipped, you won't be able to travel.

"You'll own nothing and be happy."

I listened to one of their podcasts a few years ago, and an Indian billion said we have to bring down the United States first, and the rest will follow. They want total control of the useless eaters and debt slaves. No meat for you; eat bugs! Not a joke; Klaus actually said this.

Do you think they have been watching too many sci-fi movies? One jerk said that they are close to putting a port in your neck to know all your thoughts and arrest you if you think about murder. They will send you messages to make you comply.

Now, I wish I was writing fan fiction, but I posted the Dan Bongino video where the guy is saying this, and he is part of the Great Reset with millions of followers.

Do I sound like an alarmist? Yep, because humanity is at stake, our God-given rights will be trampled on. It's happening so fast that my head is spinning.

Ask yourself, who is going to gain by going all battery? China controls 90% of the Rare earth elements (REE) that go into big-screen TV, cell phones, and car batteries. He who controls energy rules the world.

We know that Joe Biden took kickbacks from eastern block countries and China. He owes them. Thanks, Hunter!

Let's talk fentanyl. I did a deep dive into Heroin from Afghanistan. I found that the Chinese have a 25-year contract to mine rare earth elements from their country. Notice people dropping like flies due to overdoses of fentanyl-laced heroin? Fentanyl is made in China. Obama told the troops not to burn all the poppy fields.

We all need to wake up and vote for the right people. Some Republicans (RINOS) don't have your interest at heart. Be careful who we send to Washington.

Aborted babies are being used at big Pharma.

Remember, the earth is in constant flux. The climate narrative is BS.

I got receipts here! I may have been deplatformed on WP, but it's still here.

I could keep going, but I think I've given a good summary of the issues.

Please add on, and I'll keep reblogging it.

Love, JD 😜💋

Ever experienced a sinking feeling in your stomach when your grades fell way below your expectations or when your dream vacation plan got cancelled at the last minute? Well people, the sinking emotions you experienced are too trivial compared to what the inhabitants of Joshimath, Uttarakhand are going through at the moment starting from December 27, 2022 till date as their homes and livelihoods are actually sinking into the soil- something that we call land subsistence. Like it's been going on for the past few decades, man has started to pay for his constant and merciless interference with nature with events like increasing temperature and melting glaciers popping up faster then bullet trains, this unfortunate tragedy is once again the result of overpopulation, over construction and what we would say the neglect of the environment who decided to teach us a thing or two, once and for all. The news is fast gripping the nation and of course a great deal of pressure is mounting upon the state of Uttarakhand, whose government and forest officials are working round the clock to rescue as many people as possible from the ever sinking Joshimath. The city, closest to the shrine of Lord Badrinath and undoubtedly a popular pilgrim destination, has sunk an unbelievably 5.4 cm in a mere 12 days. This apparently has been happening since April 2022 but has now shown its true colors. Cracks have started to show up as deep as chasms, panicking every resident as their homes do not serve as the safe abode they once were. The widening of the National Highway and innumerable hydroelectric projects though a necessity for the ever growing population have rendered a certain instability in the mountainous areas. Hotels opened up for the frequent travelers are now being demolished as they show danger of colliding with their neighbouring buildings. An inevitable flash flood and heavy rain October 2021 is being given as the reason for the sudden sinking of the holy town but people, the fact remains that our continued degradation of our own resources without a second thought as to what their consequences might be will lead to our doom- the death of innocent civilians and the end of thriving cities. The 2013 Kedarnath flood, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami are proof enough that Nature comes first because the day she decides to exploit us the way we do, that will be the finish of our 'constructed' world. What we need now is not more industries and factories to manufacture our comforts but rather a little love for this Earth which is offering us room on itself without asking for anything in return. The least we can do is keep it clean and happy the way we would do to our homes because before that four walled structure which we claim as our houses, it is this planet which has given us everything. The sinking of land in Joshimath ought to slap us awake and shove the reality of our actions in front of our faces, that if things go on like this the future for the generations to come is surely going to be a difficult one.

An Actual History Lecture on Halcandra

Well, did I mention I got really bored of reading about American corruption for one of my summer classes I decided to write a whole passage about Halcandran corruption instead? Because I kinda did that. Lol.

Fair warning this is. Long. The Halcandra of my lore was an empire that never seems to consider the long term affects of their actions, and ultimately destroys itself.

Buckle in. And please don't make any real world or political allegory here it's really not that deep-

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In its earliest iteration, Halcandra was a city-state populated mostly by magic-users from a variety of planets and upbringings. Mages, Wizards, Witches, Druids, and Students would converge in the city to share knowledge, write scrolls and teach young magicians to master their craft. 

As the city-state began to grow wealthy thanks to the traffic and trading it harbored, rival nations and countries that inhabited the planet cast a greedy eye towards Halcandra. A series of raids and attempted takeovers inspired Halcandrans to organize and fend off future attacks. Mercenaries, soldiers, and mages came together to form an army, headed by an individual who would become Halcandra’s first King.

At first, Halcandrans only wanted to protect themselves from raiders, and they did just that. However, opportunities to take the offensive arose, and the Halcandran army advanced. Fueled by retaliation for earlier raiding, Halcandra would take over enough of its home planet territory over the coming years to effectively have full rule over the entire star, renaming the planet itself to "Halcandra."

At this time, Halcandra was still governed by Magic-Users as it had been during its humble beginnings. Magic is a force that exists in all living things, but those who were able to wield incredible magic power would become social elites of Halcandra. The rules and principles of magic, old scrolls and bestiaries, and ancient tales of heroic legends were taught in Halcandran schools. Magic had been incorporated into early forms of technology, such as runes and elemental crystals providing archaic electricity and refrigeration to those who could afford it. A number of magical artifacts and tools, such as Star Rods and the Dimensional Mirror, were created at this time. 

One day, however, an interesting phenomena occurred in the Halcandran capitol. A portal would open up, and drop off a number of people from another world. They appealed to the current Halcandran King by telling him how their world came into disaster and they begged for sanctuary, which he obliged to. This faction of new civilians would come to be called the ‘Science-Users.’ Eventually, the King and the Leader of the Science-Users became great friends, and he allowed the Science-User people to permanently settle in Halcandra and eventually elevated a number of them to the royal court. With the introduction of Science-Users, the technology industry exploded (In a good way :) ) Not only did Science Users import their science based technology to Halcandra, but they would begin to marry magic and science into one. They created starships with portal technology that could travel anywhere in the galaxy, shortening year-long trips down to a matter of moments. Holograms could project images and information to anyone who had them. And Clockwork Stars with the power to grant wishes would be created and set loose in the galaxy to learn. 

Despite this boom, Halcandra was now beginning to find that they had a growing overpopulation problem. While many of her people were living in prosperity and enjoying these new technologies, many more lived in effective squalor and were left behind by the system. Halcandra as a planet was also not ideal for farming most crops, and the ones it could grow were unable to sustain its now massive population. A great number of people were starving, and the king feared a revolt. Influenced by his Science Using advisors, however, he got the idea to expand Halcandran territory to other planets and give their people more kicking room while also spreading their technology to “those without.” And so, the Halcandran military took to their starships and invaded a number of underpopulated planets. Many of these planets didn’t fight back, and those that did would be effortlessly squashed. Halcandran residents would be given a parcel of land and allowed to populate these planets as colonies, growing food and cultivating raw materials for the mother planet while out there. 

With the success of the takeovers of smaller planets, Halcandran egos were inflated. They conquered more and more land, seeking more valuable materials and resources for their rapidly growing empire. Until a coalition of planets came together to try and stop the ravenous threat of Halcandra. The Coalition is powerful, enough so that an invasion of Halcandra’s home planet takes place and the King and Queen are assassinated, though their children are saved by one Rosewood Knight and the invaders are pushed back and out of the planet. 

The Capitol Invasion is a humiliation for Halcandra, and the new Queen instead opts to try a hand at peace and scaling back her parent’s invasions of other planets. However, tensions begin to rise between Magic Using and Science Using Halcandrans. Magic Using Halcandrans blame the Science Users for causing the overpopulation crisis and their insistence on invading other planets, which led to an invasion that reminded Magic Users of a time when Halcandra had been regularly attacked by invaders. Magic Users also blamed Science Users for the destruction of Halcandra’s environments and the loss of magical values in society. Science Users, however, believed that Magic Users relied on their power too much and held back in the war against the Coalition. They felt that magic was beginning to get in the way of their progress, and that the old teachings of magical creatures and fundamentals were archaic and useless. 

It would be during this time that the puffball Galacta Knight was born to the Rosewood Knight. Fortune tellers predicted that the young boy was destined to become a hero who would save Halcandra, and that he would be the force that would either unite or divide an empire that was showing signs of division. Galacta Knight would be given a blessing by the Queen (a practiced magic user) and sent to the best schools and mentors to learn about and master his magical potential and become a knight under her. The Queen would reclaim some planets and territories lost in the Coalition war with her new Knight, but would die relatively young of an illness. 

Her brother, a man fascinated of and sweet-talked by Science Users, would become the new King of Halcandra. With a new all-powerful Knight at his disposal, he would begin a new conquest of planets in the spirit of his father. Galacta Knight, wishing to repay the royalty that provided him with his outstanding upbringing and hoping to be the force that ultimately unites Halcandra, does not disobey his king’s orders to dismantle the Coalition even though he believed, in his heart of hearts, that the action was wrong. With nothing to stop Halcandra’s second conquest, the King promotes Galacta Knight to the Commander in Chief of the Halcandran Military and given the coveted title of “Strongest Warrior in the Galaxy.” The King, meanwhile, ascended himself as the Halcandran Emperor. He commissions a new crown for himself- dubbed the Master Crown- and begins expanding Science User technology, permitting new factories, the conquering of planets for raw materials and resources, and ultimately pushing Magic Users aside. Protected lands once held sacred by Magic User populations were cleared for development, schools no longer were required to teach basic magic to students, and a number of sacred magical artifacts were being dismantled and stripped for parts. In some Halcandran territories, practicing magic would even become a criminal offense. 

Infuriated by this, a growing radical Magic User rebellion forms and calls themselves the Jambastion Cult. At first offering sanctuary to mages and wizards being pushed around by Science Users, the Cult begins to denounce the Science-loving Emperor and call for the destruction of Halcandra so that it may be reborn as a Magic Using society free from the meddling of Science. To do this, the cult’s leader, Hyness, concocts a plan to summon the powerful destruction god Void Termina to level Halcandra. To prevent others from standing up against the god, the Dark Hearts are created and scattered across Halcandra as the Cult’s first attack, causing anyone hit by them to grow mad with power. 

Protected by the Friend Heart, Galacta Knight is able to evade this attack and gets to work on freeing his friends and soldiers with the heart’s mysterious powers. Galacta Knight’s greatest friends and allies- General Marzi of the Halcandran Army, Princess Cheri of a Halcandran Ally nation, and Fecto Fennis of the Halcandran Healer Corps band together and go on the offensive against the Jambastion Cult, bringing down their top generals until they are tasked with stopping the god of destruction itself. Galacta Knight uses the power of his friend’s bonds with one another to create a new form of magic and craft the Heart Spears- artifacts that will seal the god and the Dark Hearts away. With this mission blessed by the Emperor, he names the party the “Heroes of Yore.” Granting them the titles of “Valor Hero,” “Fable Hero,” “Core Hero,” and “Aeon Hero.”

However, Void Termina grows too powerful for the heroes. And one by one they fall, leaving only Galacta Knight alone to seal the god and end the Jambastion War. He would seal Void Termina, their realm, the Dark Hearts and the Friend Heart away into an artifact henceforth known as “The Jamba Heart.” Galacta Knight returns to Halcandra a hero, but he returns alone. The fallen heroes are laid to rest with honors.

Galacta Knight isn’t given the time to grieve. Soon after the winning of the war and loss of the other three heroes, he is sent to round up the scattered cultists to be either captured and tried for treason or killed should they resist. Upon seeing Hyness again and capturing him, something seems to snap in Galacta Knight, or he is given a drastic order by the Emperor himself. Whatever occurred, Galacta Knight would then fly into a fury after the capture of Hyness. He ultimately ends up destroying the planet the remaining cultists had fled to. Those cultists who had not already been captured and transported, Halcandran soldiers, and innocent civilians alike were killed in the billions. 

The Emperor, Science Users, and the remaining Magic Users are shocked at the display, and know that Galacta Knight had grown too powerful for them to fully control. They began to fear him, and decided he should be dealt with before he could kill them all. They bargain with Hyness, and agree to give him and the remainder of the Jambastion Cult freedom if they agree defame and tarnish Galacta Knight’s reputation before putting him on trial for the destruction of a planet, alleged conspiracy to revolt, and for wielding magic for the purpose of destroying Halcandra. Jambastion Cultists testify against him in trial, and the verdict is ruled to be a guilty one.

Hyness informs the Emperor that, since the means to properly kill Galacta Knight do not exist, they should seal him away until they do. And so, Galacta Knight is sealed away in a crystal prison and banished to the outer edges of the Gamble Galaxy, to be unsealed when a sufficient means of properly dispatching him is created. Immediately after, the Emperor walks back on his deal with the Jambastion Cultists, who are also put on trial and similarly sealed away at the edge of the galaxy. 

Galacta Knight would be unsealed every couple of years or so in an effort to kill him, but each time proved unsuccessful and he is sealed away again and again. With each failure to kill the one being that threatened his rule, the Emperor begins to lose himself and turns on the Knight’s kin and the remainder of his loved ones. Galacta Knight’s elder sister, who dutifully served as the Royal Family’s soothsayer for years is ordered to be assassinated, her wife and child being forced to flee for their lives. Similarly, Galacta Knight’s own wife who was with his child fled Halcandra in fear that her and the child’s life was in danger. 

As more attempts on Galacta Knight’s life fail, the Emperor’s bloody reign of terror increases its fervor. Any of Galacta Knight’s apprentices who do not denounce their master are rounded up and killed. Tales of Galacta Knight’s heroics are forgotten and replaced with myths of a blood psychopath who killed indiscriminately. A Puffball known to be cousin of Galacta Knight speaks out against her family’s oppression and is executed for treason. History books and records detailing the exploits of the legendary knight are seized and rewritten to omit his name or replace it with tales of his tyranny. Those apprentices who denounced their master are rounded up and killed. Any who express sympathy or pity for Galacta Knight, his family, the Heroes of Yore, or his apprentices are executed. Those who express sympathy or pity for those executed are put to death. 

Halcandra is tearing itself apart as people are executed left and right while Galacta Knight continues to not be killed by the newest and most destructive of technologies. 

And then, one fateful day, the dormant Haldera Volcano blows its top and threatens the Halcandran Capitol. Though his advisors try to coax the Emperor to safety, the mad ruler can only sit in the corner of his chamber and weep as Halcandrans evacuate the city in droves. The Emperor perishes, and Halcandra falls. 

Those who escaped the destruction flee to any of the Halcandran colonies to mixed success. Some planets take in the refugees and allow them to cultivate new lives, while others find themselves free of Halcandra’s influence for the first time in a long time and rebuild or find opportunities for retaliation. A few Magic Users and scattered individuals come to the Halcandran ruins to loot and hunt for artifacts until a dragon known as Landia hoards the most dangerous ones within the Haldera Volcano to protect them from those who might do harm. In particular, it closely guards the Emperor’s Master Crown and recognizes it as a source of corruption that, when its power is tapped into, has the potential to corrupt and possess the individuals that wear it. 

Galacta Knight’s crystal prison remains undisturbed for the next million years, and nobody unseals him until Meta Knight wishes for a duel against the Greatest Warrior in the Galaxy. And though the tales that paint him as a force of evil remain in the galaxy, they become obscure with years gone by and are eventually regarded as mere myths and tall tales. After all, no Puffball could ever become this powerful…

… Right?

💭 💻 👀

(@bdafic because Tumblr won't let me ask from a side blog)

💭 What is a headcanon you have about your own work?

*squints at this question* This could be taken a couple ways. Is it asking what headcannons I have from the perspective of the reader or the writer? (Yes, I'm easily distracted by semantics. I apologize, I have a partner who likes being 'technically correct' and I'm very practiced at debating him on it.) Anyhow...

I have a headcannon from a writer's perspective that mages can control their fertility, and especially ancient Elvhen. An immortal race would take steps to not overpopulate. It's rarely mentioned (only once, actually, in TSM), but is used broadly across all my Solas romance fics to eliminate the need for stated contraception. I probably should mention it more because...

From a reader's perspective: I've been asked if there will be accidental parenthood committed by Solas and Imogen in WG. Which I honestly hadn't considered. But it means that the readers are thinking about it. Which, valid. They're insatiable idiots together, after all.

💻 Do you do research for your fics? What’s the deepest dive you’ve done?

So much research. Yes, I like to take canon and tear it apart to its molecular level, but in order to do that, I have to know what I'm doing. Plus, having only actually played DA:I, trying to write characters from the other two games can be...challenging. Canon divergence? Yes. OOC behavior? Not if I can help it. 😂

Probably the deepest dive I've done was tracing the Theirin bloodline back as far as I could in order to make two characters distantly related enough to make my OC's existence plausible within canon's framework, but still closely related enough that her children could be heirs to the royal line. Something like three hours of research ended up being a single scene in the sequel fic and two or three lines in a oneshot. Worth it though.

👀 Do you have any WIPs that you would never let see the light of day? If yes, what are they about?

I never say never, so the short answer is no.

But it's unlikely I'll ever post my one and only MCU fic, simply because I've never felt it was finished and honestly, I'm kinda over that fandom entirely. The same goes for the sequel I've started no less than four times for one of my FO4 OC's. Just no interest in revisiting that 'era', I guess. At this point, a longfic version of my first Varric/Hawke will probably not be written either, although I might take what I do have and turn them into oneshots. *eyes the planned final ME fic with a deep, lamenting sigh* Yeah...probably isn't gonna happen.

On the other hand, I do have many, many other WIP's that never progressed far enough to become fully realized. I don't throw anything away, though, and a lot of 'discard pile' gets incorporated into other works where it fits. Examples include Solas's rebel stronghold that ended up in TSM and Imogen McLean's entire story, although it was going to be with a completely different MCIT first.

Thanks for the asks! 💕 (I'm glad I have anons turned on, lol)

From this list.

Caring for Creatures Great and Small: The Veterinarian's Promise

In a world where animals are not just companions but cherished members of families, the role of veterinarians is paramount. These dedicated professionals embody a promise, a commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of creatures great and small. From household pets to exotic wildlife, veterinarians stand as guardians, advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. Their journey is one of compassion, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the noble cause of animal welfare.

A Calling to Care

Many veterinarians begin their journey with a deep-seated passion for animals. They may have felt a profound connection with creatures of all shapes and sizes from a young age. This innate love often guides them toward a career path focused on healing and nurturing the beings they hold dear. Whether it's a fascination with the complexities of animal biology or a desire to alleviate suffering, the calling to become a veterinarian is rooted in empathy and a profound sense of responsibility.

Education and Expertise

Becoming a veterinarian requires years of rigorous education and training. After completing a bachelor's degree, aspiring veterinarians must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited veterinary college. This intensive program delves into various subjects, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. Additionally, students gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations and internships, preparing them for the diverse challenges they will face in their careers.

Beyond formal education, veterinarians often pursue specialized surgery, dentistry, oncology, and emergency medicine training. This continuous quest for knowledge allows them to provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient's unique needs. Whether treating a beloved pet or a majestic wild animal, veterinarians combine scientific expertise with a deep understanding of animal behavior to deliver the highest standard of care.

Advocates for Animal Welfare

Beyond their role as healers, veterinarians advocate for animal welfare on both individual and societal levels. They work tirelessly to promote responsible pet ownership, emphasizing the importance of preventive care, proper nutrition, and regular veterinary check-ups. Through public outreach and education campaigns, they strive to raise awareness about animal cruelty, overpopulation, and zoonotic diseases.

In addition to caring for domestic animals, veterinarians play a crucial role in wildlife conservation efforts. They collaborate with wildlife biologists, conservationists, and government agencies to monitor and protect endangered species. Whether conducting health assessments, administering vaccines, or performing surgical procedures, veterinarians contribute invaluable expertise to safeguarding biodiversity and preserving fragile ecosystems.

Compassion in Action

At the heart of veterinary medicine lies a profound sense of compassion. Every day, veterinarians encounter animals in various health states, from playful puppies to aging seniors, from majestic lions to delicate songbirds. Regardless of species or circumstance, veterinarians approach each patient with empathy, kindness, and respect.

They understand that behind every set of furry or feathered wings lies a unique individual with their personality, preferences, and quirks. Whether administering vaccines, performing surgery, or providing end-of-life care, veterinarians prioritize the comfort and well-being of their patients above all else. They strive to alleviate pain and suffering, offering solace to animals and their human companions during illness or loss.

Challenges and Rewards

While the work of a veterinarian is gratifying, it is not without its challenges. Long hours, emotional strain, and difficult decisions are all part of the job. Veterinarians must navigate delicate situations with grace and empathy, balancing their patients' needs with their owners' concerns.

Furthermore, the field of veterinary medicine is constantly evolving, with new technologies and treatment modalities emerging rapidly. To stay current, veterinarians must commit to lifelong learning and professional development, attending conferences, workshops, and seminars to expand their knowledge and skills.

Despite these challenges, the rewards of being a veterinarian are immeasurable. The joy of seeing a sick animal recover, the gratitude of a relieved pet owner, and the bond formed between caregiver and patient are all moments that make the journey worthwhile. For veterinarians, the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of animals and those who love them is a privilege beyond compare.

The Veterinarian's Promise

In a world where the bond between humans and animals runs deep, veterinarians serve as beacons of hope and healing. Theirs is a promise to advocate for the voiceless and nurture the health and well-being of great and small creatures with unwavering dedication and compassion. Through their expertise, empathy, and tireless commitment, veterinarians uphold the highest standards of care, ensuring that every animal receives the love and attention they deserve.

As we celebrate the invaluable contributions of veterinarians worldwide, let us honor their legacy and reaffirm our commitment to the welfare of all living beings. Together, may we continue to cherish and protect the precious bond between humans and animals, recognizing that in caring for creatures, great and small, we enrich our own lives immeasurably.

Have You Ever Been Called a Narcissist?

I have.

I have also called someone the dreaded N word as well, unequipped at that time with the knowledge that someone can demonstrate narcissistic behaviors without being a diagnosable Narcissist.

The odds that you are dealing with a true Narcissist are slim. According to research, about .5% of the population of the United States are diagnosable Narcissists. The truth is that most likely you are dealing with someone who is self centered; someone who is capable of self reflection, and simply needs the courage to do so in order to change their perspective and their attitude. Finding that courage can be hard. Whether or not you have the patience to wait on and/or help someone find that courage is up to you, but that could be an expression of condependence as much as it is loyalty. It's entirely up to you and what your boundaries allow you to tolerate.

The selfish behaviors offered still cause damage and lack justification, but hopefully understanding that you're dealing with someone who needs to and can grow will help you find the patience needed to focus on your own healing.

Now, as someone who has been called a narcissist, I want to say that I understand how painful it feels, especially when coming from individuals you believed to be your friends.

However, if you can neatly tuck your pain to the side, I would ask for you to take in a deep breath and reflect on the why behind the accusation. Why is someone saying this about you in the first place? Is the allegation completely unfounded? Is this person, or group of people, saying so truly from a place of malice? Or is there a possibility that you have behaved in a manner that led them to draw this harsh conclusion?

To be honest, in my case, it depends entirely on to whom you talk.

Red flag #1: I currently have no close friends left; my inner circle has been razed to the ground. Red flag #2: I have family members with whom I share fractious relations. Red flag #3: My most recent job history reflects short term stays, and most likely my coworkers and managers will report that I am hot headed and temperamental. Some might even say I am "holier than thou".

I have two things to say to those remarks. The first is to believe them. I have acted out, but when I do it's predictable -- there are reasons for it. So, make sure to get all sides of a story because the picture painted by one party may blur the entire image if you do not.

Secondly, I have always viewed the world through a black and white lens, which often has gotten me into trouble with people I care about deeply. I have not always realized how powerful my words can be, and I fling them forward like spears into fish, staking my companions' hearts and roasting them over an open flame with my choice of language and tone. My tone can be quite scathing -- I could flay the skin from one's bones if I wanted. I believed quite strongly that my sense of ethics was just as I was not the only individual who promoted my sense of ethics.

For example: I believe in reputable dog breeding. I used to believe in adopt don't shop where the dogma was that all breeders were bad breeders. I became acquainted with and befriended a German Shepherd breeder, however, who taught me about reputable breeding practices -- the three pillars of which are: health testing, partnering complimentary confirmation and personalities, and titling dogs to prove their genetic worth.

When I came around to the reputable breeding side of things, I started to harshly judge anyone who did not fit the criteria of reputability, but still chose to breed their dogs. The crux of the matter for me was one of life or death -- if you're going to breed, you better be breeding healthy, stable dogs, otherwise you're contributing to the overpopulation problem. It was quite popular on Facebook, in a group called Dogbook, to bash breeders for their programs' flaws. The comments could be quite nasty, and I pulled much of my attitude from the mindset of these individuals to whom I felt connected. We shared similar ethics, and therefore these were my people, and I believed it was socially acceptable to behave as they behaved on the internet.

Read that last sentence again. You could almost say I am blaming other people for my choice of behavior. That's rather narcissistic, isn't it?

The thing is, if we are the company we keep, which is a popular expression my former friends like to throw my direction, then surrounding myself with the language of this group of people DID in fact influence my behavior. I am even aware of an ER veterinarian who dogs unreputable breeding practices in the same condescending tone I projected. This validated my thought process that this was acceptable behavior.

I would often become perplexed that the clinics I worked for supported the breeders who were clearly just breeding dogs for color in order to make a profit. I would then vocalize my opinion strongly, loudly, with an air of superiority in my tone.

What I did not know at this time in my life that I know now is that how you speak to people about the things you advocate for matters.

You can be educational without being an asshole.

This is why politics is often a subject that does not get discussed at dinner tables around the holidays. Unless you are sitting amongst like minded people, a fight could ensue. People do not know how to speak on their passions and beliefs without instigating a fight, or coming across as condescending.

I say people, by the way, but I really mean me.

I did not know how to discuss my passions without coming across condescending to anyone. To be honest, I still don't. I'm trying to learn how to speak softly and gently; without feeling like I need to use harsh words to get my point across, and, essentially, be heard.

Passion is not criminal. Passion can be painful, though, if utilized incorrectly. I do not want my passionate state of being to result in conflict. I want to express my conviction with consideration for people who are learning or who, maybe, simply did not think of things from that perspective before. Marginalizing them while opening their eyes does not do anything other than make me seem like a bully, and that is not how I desire to communicate.

Self-reflection has taught me much about myself that I never saw before. This is why I know I am not a true Narcissist; I am open to and willing to change. It just took me a long time, and multiple burned bridges, to get to that point.

And for that I am truly, sincerely apologetic.

I cannot take anything back. I can only move forward and, equipped with this knowledge, make the necessary adjustments to ensure my future engagements are healthier, kinder.

If you've ever been called a Narcissist, I hope this helps you to do the same.

Chin up. (And keep going. )

Also, if you share red flags with me, I have something quick to say about that. I have always struggled with making new friends. I remember having friends growing up, but I do not remember how I made them -- they were just there. Have you ever read the expression "an extrovert met an introvert, liked them, and claimed them" and that's how they became friends? That's me. I'm the introvert. I think anyone who has ever been my friend has had to introduce themselves to me and start a conversation with me, never the other way around.

As far as my family goes... when people tell you there's nothing wrong with you and they use toxic positivity to try and crush your mental health symptoms, you kind of have to move away from those people in order to heal. You also go see mental health professionals and have them validate that something is wrong with you by having them confirm that you are, indeed, experiencing mental health symptoms.

So, while I may not be a narcissist, I definitely am something else.

... like Schizoaffective.

Get checked out. It's worth every penny.

(Just. Keep. Going.)

bladee - DRAIN STORY

“In 2012 Australian psychologist Gina Perry investigated Milgram's data and writings and concluded that Milgram had manipulated the results, and that there was a "troubling mismatch between (published) descriptions of the experiment and evidence of what actually transpired." She wrote that "only half of the people who undertook the experiment fully believed it was real and of those, 66% disobeyed the experimenter".

 you know whats funny about this? i wasnt aware of gina perrys findings here and i not only publicly voiced that the milgrim experiments were fucking bullshit but i stated exactly how they were likely bullshit, the main variable that they could not control for was that human beings are VERY good at telling when someone is pretending to be in pain versus actually in pain, when we watch films we SUSPEND our disbelief this process is semi-voluntary, i dont believe a single fucking american back then would believe that the study they signed up for would have them shocking another person to death, that is fucking RETARDED and i dont care how good the actor is that they are pretending to shock, that is an important confounding variable that immediately renders the results of this experiment meaningless, and i only had to think about it for a few minutes, so how did this shoddy half assed (even more so than i had initially surmised) experiment become the darling of academia and the media? think about all the famous psychological experiments that you know of, of the ones you can think of off the top of your head, give yourself a day to come up with more you had forgotten, how many of those experiments could have been used to lend credence to the idea that a whole country of people say germany, suddenly could be whipped into a frenzy of mass murder by some authority, say hitler. and for the remainder of the famous pop psychology experiments you can recall, of the ones that couldnt be used to make the holocaust myth more believable, how many of the remaining pop psych experiments that were made famous could be used to explain away rapidly worsening quality of life? calhouns mouse utopia comes to mind, it wasnt a bad experiment to be honest but its results and its aims WILDLY misrepresented, calhouns rat “utopia” wasnt to see what would happen if a society became so successful as to become decadent and inevitably spiral into the sort of social conditions we see now, but it was to show what would happen to rats and people if while all their other needs were met they were crammed together without any TERRITORY and overpopulated into a small space, and the results are a brutal and unnatural (it is natural but uncommon) social hierarchy where only a very small portion have mating rights, and this makes perfect sense, if these rats found themselves on an island perhaps they floated there from a shipwreck on some flotsam and then bread themselves out of space on the tiny island, if everyone kept breeding they would quickly literally run out of space and start dying en mass, so there is an emergency protocol deep in the primal parts of the rodent brain that start this strick and decidedly miserable and cruel transformation of social behavior. when calhoun recreates these conditions and the mouse society collapses, the takeaway is not that these current jewish impositions and their effects on our quality of life are the result of some natural life cycle of a society, but rather that compulsary “education” in which we send our children to work almost full time desk jobs so that women can play at working instead of being mothers might actually be turning us all into something quite unnatural.   

The Art of Hunting: A Time-Honored Tradition and Conservation Practice

Introduction

Hunting, a practice that has been an integral part of human history for thousands of years, often evokes mixed emotions and opinions. Some view it as a barbaric and unnecessary act, while others see it as a time-honored tradition and a valuable tool for conservation. In this article, we will explore the multifaceted world of hunting, shedding light on its cultural significance, its role in conservation, and the ethical considerations that guide responsible hunters.

The Cultural Significance of Hunting

Hunting is deeply rooted in human culture and history. For countless generations, our ancestors relied on hunting for sustenance, clothing, and tools. In many societies, it played a central role in rituals and ceremonies, symbolizing the relationship between humans and nature. While hunting for survival has significantly decreased in modern times, the cultural significance of this activity remains.

Hunting as a Rite of Passage: In many cultures, hunting is considered a rite of passage. Young individuals learn essential life skills through hunting, such as patience, respect for nature, and self-reliance. It provides a unique opportunity for people to connect with their heritage and the natural world.

Trophy Hunting: Trophy hunting, which involves the pursuit and harvest of large or impressive animals, is another aspect of hunting. While it has faced criticism due to the focus on killing for personal gain, some argue that it can contribute to conservation efforts by generating funding for wildlife protection.

Hunting and Conservation

One of the most critical aspects of hunting is its role in wildlife conservation. Paradoxically, responsible hunting can aid in preserving and managing ecosystems and their inhabitants. Here's how hunting can positively impact conservation efforts:

Population Control: Hunting helps control animal populations, preventing overpopulation and associated problems like habitat destruction and disease outbreaks. Overpopulated species can lead to imbalances in ecosystems, endangering both the animals themselves and other species.

Habitat Protection: Funds generated through hunting permits and licensing fees are often reinvested in preserving and maintaining natural habitats. This helps ensure that wildlife populations have suitable places to thrive.

Anti-Poaching Efforts: Legal hunting can provide a financial incentive for communities and governments to combat poaching. Revenue generated from hunting can be used to support anti-poaching initiatives and bolster law enforcement efforts against illegal wildlife trade.

Species Management: Hunting can be a valuable tool in managing specific species. By setting regulations and quotas, wildlife agencies can control hunting practices and protect threatened or endangered species.

Ethical Considerations in Hunting

While hunting has undeniable cultural and conservation value, it is not without controversy. Many ethical questions surround this practice, and the key to responsible hunting lies in addressing these concerns:

Fair Chase: Ethical hunters emphasize the concept of "fair chase," which involves hunting animals in a manner that ensures they have a reasonable chance of escaping. This principle discourages unethical practices such as hunting animals in confined spaces.

Selective Harvest: Hunters should prioritize selective harvesting, targeting animals that are healthy and in their prime. This promotes the long-term health and genetic diversity of wildlife populations.

Respect for Wildlife: Ethical hunters have a deep respect for the animals they pursue. This respect is reflected in how they handle harvested animals, using as much of the animal as possible and minimizing waste.

Compliance with Regulations: Responsible hunters strictly adhere to local, state, and national hunting regulations and licensing requirements. These laws are designed to protect both wildlife and hunters.

Conclusion

Hunting is a complex and multifaceted practice that has evolved over millennia. While it remains a significant part of human culture and has played a crucial role in conservation efforts, it is not without its ethical challenges. The key to responsible hunting lies in recognizing its cultural significance, respecting wildlife, and abiding by ethical principles and legal regulations. By doing so, hunters can help preserve nature while upholding this time-honored tradition.

A Shallow Dive Into: Artificial Intelligence

Yep, bringing this back. Good morning Alex and oh my god is it impossible to think up a topic that you won't know all about ;-; why you gotta be such a know-it-all. Anyways, I do luckily have some computer science knowledge and I seem to have exhausted every other possible topic, so, welp, here we go.

AI has always been a subject of fascination for us human beings, and ever more so in recent months with the advent of ChatGPT and image generators like DALL-E and such. AI seems to have taken huge strides recently, but Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3) has existed for almost 3 years now, but, it was a closed beta which wasn't for consumer use, but was pretty advanced nevertheless, and if you wanna see how well it worked, you can check out the videos Tom Scott has made. GPT-3 worked by predicting the next word that could come given a prompt. It was trained on 17 billion parameters, which is basically like telling the program " Here's 17 billion texts, read all of it, and try to formulate a sentence based on that." This process is called deep learning and is also the basis for image generation tools. Here is an awesome video detailing this process by CGP Grey

Another area of AI I'm fascinated by is simulating natural selection. A very early and rudimentary version of this, as you may know, was Conway's Game Of Life. It's called a "zero-player game", laid out on a grid and each cell is represented by two states, dead or alive, and the game has 4 rules 1. If a cell is surrounded by fewer than 2 live cells, it dies. (Underpopulation) 2. If a cell is surrounded by 2 or 3 neighbours, it lives. 3. If a cell is surrounded by more than 3 live cells, it unalives (Overpopulation) 4. If a cell is surrounded by exactly 3 cells, it alives. It's simple, but it can create beautiful simulations. You can ddg for simulators and see for yourself.

Here's another fascinating video from a game dev channel, about an AI learning how to walk. The AI has no idea what walking is, but it tries, by creating a model, and if it succeeds, it build on it and when it fails, the model is discarded.

There was also a 2008 game by Maxis and EA (creators of the Sims franchise, which is you don't remember, is pretty much a life simulator but fun, contrary to real life) called Spore. I really need to play this game but it's pretty expensive :P. Anyways, this game allows you to go from microorganism (also I just realised, this ties into your last post lmao) to space faring creatures, given your ability to evolve and adapt to the environment. If you liked this post, check out this video on this very topic.

Anyways, that's it from me, and I'll see you on Thursday. RYL! - Alia