Will the elliptical burn belly fat

I've put the DLC down a ton of times but I want to finish it because I loved the base game.
I'm at the point where I've been into the dreams a lot, know that the reels were burned, and that there are 3 flaming reels I need to find which will probably tell me how to unlock the coffin looking thing in the vault dream section.
I'm on the one where you walk across the invisible bridge to blow out the building's lights and the guy that was watching the movie at the bottom flips out and screams. I really don't know how to get around the guys to turn on the middle bridge again and go through the art door. I have reduced frights on, but I just don't understand the stealth and I'm also easily scared.
Like do they see you right away if you don't cover your light? Also I have to focus the light to see anything but this section specifically is such a chore to navigate in the dark, especially with the guys looking for me.
I'm just having a hard time. I think I know how to do things but it seems like just a skill issue and minorly a scare issue. Unless there is a huge secret to dealing with the guys that I don't know yet, I just don't have fun doing this part.
Exploring the non-dream part was awesome, and I'm really interested to see how this ends, but I'm just bad at the gameplay :(

You attack my heart with your mere indifference and how you moved on so swiftly. Four years we held on to the gravity of our the silent understanding, the intimacy of a look, a subtle smile only I could read, the electric buzz of our eyes meeting, and the weaknesses we nurtured into strengths... Gone. All of it vanished since you turned and walked away.
Are you routined in running through lovers? Burning out from one, right on to the next? Never attaching fully until you get reeled in by your partner, right? I know you; never demonstrating agency to take upon yourself your own personal autonomy to make a choice. You see, Safi, I respected you too much to ever make a choice for you. But then, in the absence of your ability to make a choice, you were ghostly flailing around, accepting whatever offer was convenient and easy, ready and willing. And she was. So there you are, locked down and wrapped up within months; new degree, new apartment, new job, and add to the mix, a new girlfriend. Remember my dear, nothing worth having comes easy.
And I am not easy; I am the steady rock of earth's crust, the endless wave of the seas, the heat of the sun's embrace and the gentle breeze caressing your cheek.
Although I burn with pain inside, one day, you will wish on me like a star too far to reach, and I'll feel nothing. Not only am I not easy, I am now impossible.

Hey, this is my first post here. I've been eyeing this sub for a long time. I'm not sure if it's the way that will work for me, but i certainly want to give it a try as it sounds as though it might.
The thing is, I've never been someone who ate a lot of different things. I eat the same meals every day, have for years. I'm neurodivergent, so i'm sure it has a lot to do with that as i have many issues with loads of foods. I'm not bothered by it, however people keep pointing it out as though they think that's the only issue.
Now the question is, if i don't change what i eat but instead limit the amount, will it still work even if the food i eat may not fit properly into the whole protein/carbs/fats limits? i havent checked, and frankly i'm a little scared to check what it actually is that i eat. I'm just unsure how important that part is.
And yes, i am aware that i should move more and probably eat more diverse. I want to work on that, but i'd still be interested in wether i can at least gain a little bit of momentum in losing weight before i go ahead and try and change all those things at once.
Thank you for any advice or experience!

I don't know if anyone is going to read this. This is what I wish I would have known prior to losing weight. Disclaimer: I never claimed to be an English major so disregard any typos I make.
​
Background: I was 22 years old at about 260lbs. Growing up I was awkward and chubby and as I got older I had more and more weight creep on. Friends and coworkers used my weight as a way to jab at me all the time. Anything I did was instantly undermined by my weight. It was an easy target. I was a punching bag, a way for everyone to get a quick laugh. I was the fat and ugly friend. The one no one respected or wanted to be like. I lost 70 lbs over the course of 1.5 years. People suddenly became worried, that I was no longer someone they could view themselves as better as. My very best friends tried to slow me down, stop me and tell me I was failing or that I had gone too far. Eventually when I reached the end of my journey everyone was asking me how I did it and how they can do it as well. Below I will explain in my points the results and what I wish I had known the whole time.
I by no means have washboard abs, but I am happy with where I am now and am in the process of my first lean bulk to keep improving my physique.
​

• Trust the process and keep doing what you know is correct.
  • During my weight loss people who have no clue about fitness would tell me I'm wrong about the way I was losing weight. That calorie counting wouldn't work. "You have to do (keto,paleo, IF, etc.)". "You'll never lose weight if you don't wake up before 8am", "You have to start running" they would say. If something is healthy and working for you, no matter what it is, keep doing it. People give unwarranted advice. There is so much misinformation out there, most people don't know what they're talking about. Keep your head down, keep doing what's working for you.
  • A lot of jealous people will try and get you to stop losing weight by gaslighting you or putting you down.
  • You'll have weeks of plateaus and worrying if your weight loss is done forever. Calm down, stick to the plan and keep doing what you're doing. If you are doing all the right things, eventually it will fall into place. Your water weight will fluctuate a ton because of salt intake, heat outside, carb intake, dehydration, muscles being sore and a million other things. It is frustrating and often scary, but it will work itself out fine.
• If it feels hard, you're not doing it right. You're in a marathon not a sprint.
  • You're making a life change here. There is no reason to be choking down a kale salad with fish if you hate it. Find the foods you love, that are healthy and stick to it. Fad diets thrive on rapid initial weight loss. Real diets take a few weeks to see yourself dropping 1-2lbs a week. (Your body likes to hold on to some water weight initially that you will drop after the 3rd week typically). If you are doing all the right things eventually you will succeed. I lost my weight by counting calories and protein intake. I weighed out all my food and ate at a 750 calorie deficit. I went to bed most nights full after enjoying the tacos or rice bowl I created for myself.
  • Enjoy your life. There is no reason to say no to eating a big thanksgiving or having a piece of cake on a family member's birthday. These events don't happen every day and after all your months of hard work become insignificant to the big picture. Every time you eat off diet, you don't have to binge. Eat 2 slices of pizza every once in a while, enjoy your favorite foods. As long as it isn't what you do everyday, in the long run it does not matter.
• STICK TO THE BASICS
  • For the love of god, people online love to grab your money by saying the only way to lose weight is X and the reason you're not losing weight is because of some very complicated body/metabolic function. The basics of eating in a caloric deficit, walking more if needed and sleeping well at night will never fail you. The truth is if your good decision outweigh your bad you will succeed. Issues they can sell you on that you never heard of is a way they can trap you into buying their products.
• The Diet industry is built to get your money, not for your success. Losing weight the right way is relatively easy and not complicated.
  • A lot of fad diets are specifically designed for you to see rapid weight loss in a way that is very psychologically punishing and unsustainable so that you will ultimately revert back to your old habits and come back to them when you gain the weight back. Find GOOD information online and enjoy yourself.
• There's more than one way to skin a cat. (As long as you do it in a healthy way)
  • I weighed my food and counted calories. Until the end of my diet, I never did cardio (I rarely did it then). I hate running with a passion, but loved lifting weights. I have friends that were successful with intermittent fasting and other friends that were successful with getting in to running and eating clean. Nothing wrong with any of those options. Whatever you enjoy will work.
• Your life will drastically improve when you lose the weight.
  • It is very cruel that it has to be this way, but it is just the way it works. Your weight affects more than you think in your life. When you lose the weight, you find yourself living an almost alternate life. People respect you and look up to you. People won't be embarrassed to be seen around you and will want to talk to you. People view you as being able to do your job better and appreciate your personality more. Almost everything in your life will change for the better and you will become someone that you never thought you can be.
• Motivation
  • Remember you only fail if you give up. Everything you need to know is a few google searches away. Once you get into a rhythm it becomes autopilot. Imagine yourself at your goal weight a year or 2 from now thinking about how happy you are that current you stuck with your weight loss and achieved your dreams. And if you are already well into your journey, think about how proud fat you is already that you stuck to it. It is a simple process that anyone can do. Keep your head down, put in the minimal work it takes and don't give up and eventually you will be someone you never thought you could be.

Hello there and Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening Fellow Redditors!
Before you continue, as a young man who knows what he wants, I would like to state what I am NOT seeking:

• Fakes/Flakes
  
• Pen-Pals: (Meeting up in real life should be the goal)
  
• Time-wasters: Introduction and pleasantries are fine and welcomed. I am just looking for the conversation to progress and for dates to be marked on the calendar! My schedule is FLEXIBLE due to my line of work, so I can adapt and evolve as needed!
  
• Lastly, PG pictures work just fine, and I have plenty to share. Yes, I am well-endowed, but there's more to me than that. With that being said, you wouldn't walk up to a man in real life and ask him his cock size at your first introduction...would you?
  

I'm not a man looking for loads of digital nudity. I would definitely much rather see you in real life and get a surprise!
*** Also, I'm on NoFap. The basic explanation means I don't masturbate and waste my seed into kleenexs, lol. (Going almost 200 days strong), so unbridled, primal virility are aplenty with me! Very Large Loads & Very Fertile!
***SHORTENED VERSION:
TLDR: Summary of me: I'm a young nerd/geek with an outgoing personality, shredded physique, and contagious smile/love of laugh laughter. I'm seeking a like-minded woman to befriend and have an ONGOING, and most importantly, RELIABLE mutual relationship (friendship) with. I'm also very open to something serious as well! Connection and open communication are a MUST!
I am also a HUGE Giver and love extended foreplay. I am straight & fully comfortable in my sexuality and open to a vast array of Kinks/Potential Fantasies inside and outside of the bedroom! PEGGING has definitely caught my interest as well!
I would want to continue impregnating the same woman multiple times, over and over in order to birth an empire with a strong family unit, core principles & morals, and creative leadership. I want to be an active participant in my children's lives and an amazing Father to all of them!
One, two, or even three children are NOT enough for me; we will enjoy this journey together and celebrate each and every time my prime genetic seed takes hold and root in your womb.
I bring intellectual prowess, awesome physical genes (see pics on my profile and latest posts), and a burning desire to procreate with the RIGHT woman who shares some common interests with me (See Below)!
***LONG VERSION:
Hello there,
I am a young, well-spoken, and outgoing individual sporting an amazing sense of humor & chiseled physique. I deeply enjoy good conversation filled with laughter and the warmth it brings and love to please as I am very eager to learn, try, and experience new things!
Things I enjoy OUTSIDE of the bedroom:

• Fitness (Both Resistance & Aerobic) Walking, Jogging, Hiking, etc.
  
• Video Games & Board Games
  
• Nerf Wars & Airsoft
  
• Nature Exploration & Outdoor Recreation (I would love to try out camping, kayaking, and canoeing!)
  
• Watching Movies and TV Shows
  
• Creative Thinking both PG and Rated R lol
  

Things I enjoy Inside of the Bedroom include everything vanilla plus A LOT (virtually open to exploring everything except extreme pain) more that I'd love to discuss face to face.
My Ideal Person:
I am searching for a cool, laid-back and relaxed woman to enjoy mutual fun INSIDE and preferably OUTSIDE of the bedroom as well. The type of person who can enjoy a mind-blowing session while also being able to laugh at various blunders or bloopers that happen during or after the fun, go for nature walks with a lustful twist, and/or seeing a movie on the couch or in theatre!
NO Pressure, NO Insecurity, just cool peeps having an amazing, hot time while creating passionate memories together and building Vast Empire & Undying Legacy.
Thanks for stopping by and reading. Shoot me a chat request, and I look forward to meeting you!

We've been married 7yrs, dated on and off before that over the years, we started dating at 14/16yo.
I've usually been "average/fit" build over that time. Weight between 140 and 190. 140ish when I was 16-18, though 3yrs ago I was down to 155. A couple years after we got married I was close to 190 and that was a wake up call. Currently just under 180 and trying to lose more. She's always been "chubby" or bigger when I've known her. I think she weighed 160 when we met. She says she was down to 140 at 17yo ish. She says that felt "too skinny" and she had an eating disorder to get that weight. We weren't dating then. When we got married I think she was closer to 180-200. Since giving birth to our child(now 2yo), She's been about 240.
I KNOW men/women have different fat/muscle ratios, different metabolisms. I don't expect her to be my weight. I don't expect her to be whatever BMI says is normal. We both agree BMI is not a good stat to strictly obey. I think it's ok for a guideline, but know everyone doesn't fit it. She has large breasts, so I understand her weight will be higher than what is normal for her height. She wants to focus on what her body can do instead of what it looks like/weighs for health. My goals are to look good and not die until I want to(my father died suddenly because diabetes)
We've got different thought towards food. There's food I like, but I usually just think of what's in it for macronutrients. I could eat roasted veggies and chicken for every dinner(until I get sick of it, at least). My mother used to "diet" when I was a kid and she still uses WeightWatchers. My wife likes cooking. In a talk about weight loss, years ago, she used the "you eat to live, I live to eat" line. About 6 months ago, our budget was tight. She does our budgeting, when I was having a breakdown because we couldn't afford to get our breaks changed before a trip (I was struggling to even begin changing them myself) she confessed that she was spending like an extra $300/month the prior few months getting energy drinks and fast food. Since then, she's stopped that habit.
In the last 4 months, we've maybe had sex a dozen times("normal" in the past is closer to 3/week). If I initiate, I usually feel regret the next day. Thinking, why did I do that if I don't find her attractive, I'm just giving into horniness . Last night, she initiated. I just let her do what she wanted to do. I should have stopped her. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I feel sick today. Last night is what finally made me write this.
Has anyone had this kind of talk with a spouse? Weight loss advice for people in similar situations? If there's a better subreddit for this, since it's so focused on weight, please tell me where to go.
tl;dr- Wife is obese. I'm not really attracted to her now. Different mindsets regarding approach.

0. The Cosmic Judge and the Delivery Man
Thomas Morell, stepped through the transit gate with a yawn, cradling an oversized GUPS box in his arms. The large box impeded most of his view, but as the transit gate snapped shut behind him, Thomas noted that something was clearly amiss with his destination.
Looking down, he saw that his boots were buried in black ashes. The air tasted stale and dusty. Thomas lowered the box slightly and saw that he was standing amidst desolate ruination, a landscape ravaged by an unknowable cataclysm that had devastated planet Sintash.
"Well," he muttered with airy enthusiasm rivaled only by the charisma of a drying doormat. "This is just peachy."
Like a protagonist in search of plot, Thomas slowly meandered over to a charred, half-incinerated wall which, upon close inspection, yielded the faint inscription of "12/5 Stafford Street."
Obeying the bureaucracy of his vocation, functioning mostly on autopilot mode Thomas situated the cardboard box amid the pile of blackened ashes. As if that wasn't enough, he lovingly placed it adjacent to a wide-open hole that bore an uncanny resemblance to a doorway completely devoid of a door. Satisfied at last, Thomas captured a photograph of the tragically uninspired arrangement with his wrist bracelet device.
"Package confirmed at delivery location," the omnipresent voice of his wrist companion chimed with far too much cheerfulness which seemed completely out of place in the currently apocalyptic circumstances.
Thomas exhaled tiredly as he stood amidst the debris of cities, oceans, trees, and, indeed, the now vaporized dreams of the former denizens of Sintash, all reduced to elemental carbon. His shoulders slumped. He was there simply to deliver the package and not to ask questions, he reminded himself. Whatever happened here was far too big for him to deal with. He would have to file a report about this issue when he got back and someone more important would have to deal with this mess.
“Please obtain the signature of the recipient,” the bracelet on the delivery man's wrist suddenly chimed with a feminine voice.
“Recipient is not available,” Thomas deadpanned.
“Have you tried knocking?” The merry voice of the bracelet prodded him on.
“There’s no door to knock on,” Thomas replied. “Lizz, I’m pretty sure that everyone on Sintash is dead.”
“Please knock on the door and attempt to acquire a signature,” his robotic companion insisted.
Thomas rolled his eyes, stepped through the ashes and knocked on the blackened wall. The wall wobbled ever so slightly and careened forward. Thomas jumped back just as the last remaining wall of 12/5 Stafford Street fell and shattered into dust and cracked bricks.
“There’s nobody home,” Thomas insisted. “On account that everyone on the bloody planet is bloody dead! Portal me back, you stupid AI, I'm not getting paid overtime for this shit.”
“Please remain calm,” Lizz recommended. “Allow the recipient some time to approach the door.”
A 5 minute timer flashed on the delivery man’s bracelet with an animated picture of an old person walking down a stairwell.
Thomas gritted his teeth. The way Lizz was acting was entirely his fault. Normally the AI system was highly intelligent and understood emergency situations like this, but he had used her to pass the boredom in the exactly the wrong sort of ways which was frowned upon by the Good Directorate corporation. His repeated advances and numerous attempts to go around the AI’s censorship filter had kicked the filter to the highest possible setting which in turn made Lizz stupider than a potato.
Thomas sat down on the ash covered steps and stared at the desolate landscape waiting for the timer to clear.
He spotted something ambling in the distance towards him, which made him exceptionally nervous as it approached.
The thing ambling towards Thomas could be best described as a stick figure, an impossible, vaguely person-like thing that was decidedly not human.
“Emergency situation!” Thomas yelled into the bracelet. “Gate out!”
“Please allow the recipient some time to approach the door. A signature is required for this package,” Lizz said, ignoring the rising panic in the delivery man’s voice.
At that moment, Thomas regretted using the "emergency situation" routine to portal to the Skeleton Coast of Africa for his lunch breaks.
“Fuck my life,” Thomas hissed as the freaky stick figure drew closer to him. It didn’t have a face or a head. A thin, two-dimensional pyramidal structure sat atop of the two dimensional neck. It wobbled and folded into itself akin to an infinite fractal. It had three legs, moved more like a spider and an indeterminate number of whip-like, flickering arms.
“Please do not swear,” Lizz commented. "Your behavior is unfitting that of a Good employee."
Thomas had nothing on him, nothing in the pockets of his GUPS uniform except for a pad with a digital pen. He had no weapon to fight off whatever abomination was ambling towards him through the ashes. Sintash was supposed to be a perfectly mundane delivery! It was a terraformed, perfect, manufactured world with no wars, no predators, no diseases, no parasites and definitely no whatever the hell that thing was!
Feeling dread rising in his chest Thomas tore the enormous package open, hoping that something inside would aid him.
[Thank you for buying the world-end survival kit!] A letter declared within the box.
“Yes!” Thomas growled. His eyes went lower.
[Contents: 2000 dry meals, just add water.]
Thomas reached into the box, his hand automatically pulling out a single plastic bottle containing dry powder. The stick figure abomination was almost upon him. He threw the bottle at it.
The hand of the stick figure shot through the air and grabbed the bottle with unnatural, uncanny grace. It unscrewed the cap and shook the dry contents, absorbing them with its fractal-pyramid face.
Thomas fished another bottle out and held it in front of him like a lifeline, not sure what to do next. He didn’t understand what he was even looking at. The entire stick figure was composed of… something inexplicable, akin to constantly moving ferromagnetic fluid that rapidly folded into itself. The sight made his eyes water.
“What are you?” He uttered as he watched the stick figure finish devouring the powder.
“I am Zedix̶̪̘͐̕ͅx̴̖͓͎̾̓͂į̶̍͝s̷̪̅̏s̶̬̘͛̕h̸̨͖͖͑̽̌t̴̪͉͘ą̶̹̓͂͝v̵̧͇͔̂͋i̴̛̮͆͝b̷̬̝̥̍a̴̼̮͒r̷̢̗̺͋ư̸̱̬͈̔s̸̡̝̫̗̭̋͐͗̑͆ǐ̶͇̝͝a̶̹͛͒̚h̸͙͓̓̽͋͠,” the answer came.
The end of the sentence was made from incomprehensible sounds that reverberated inside the skull of the delivery man, giving him a blinding migraine. Thomas tried not to heave, his mind unable to process the name for a few seconds.
“I’m… urhgh. I don’t think that I could repeat that,” he said finally. “I’m… going to call you Zed, if that's alright with you.”
“Ṯ̷̆h̴̨̊i̷̥̾s̴͔̈́ ̸̂͜i̸̱̾s̸̼̿ ̴̟͘a̴̢̍c̷͙͘c̷͚͐ē̶͖p̷̡̒t̵̺͛a̸̱̍b̵̢̿l̴͙̄ę̷̆,” the fractal stick figure rambled, its voice made from static and a million other voices and sounds that clashed with each other in a barely-comprehensible cacophony.
“What are you?” Thomas repeated his question, trying to put his best 'first contact' face on. “An… alien? Some kind of machine? An AI that survived? You sound… freaky. It’s… exceptionally difficult for me to understand you.”
“I am an echo of the cosmic boundary of the song of the stars,” the thing repeated in Thomas’ own voice. "Using this limited method of vibrational communication and dimenshionality, I am what your fellow multicellular kin could best describe as the observer causality event horizon paradox manifestation."
“Marginally better, even if I have no idea what any of that means,” Thomas sighed. “Although... I would prefer you not using my voice.”
“Please attempt to acquire a signature from the recipient one more time,” Lizz chimed from Thomas’ bracelet.
Thomas put the bracelet on mute mode.
“Is this better?” the stick figure asked in the overly-cheerful voice of Lizz.
“Good enough,” Thomas nodded, trying not to stare at the folding fractals that made his head hurt. “What happened here?”
“I happened,” the stick figure being replied. “The denizens of this world that called themselves the Portal Management Research Institute created a microscopic white hole, through which I stepped into this plane. I have judged the local life and found myself beset by containment barriers which disagreed with my existence. I have obliterated all organic life on this cosmic sphere as I have judged it... bothersome.”
“I… see,” Thomas rubbed his scruffy beard. “Now what? Are you going back into the white hole?”
“That is not how white holes work,” Zed said.
“So... you’re stuck here?” Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“Affirmative,” Zed affirmed. "I shall persist here until the white hole comprising my core burns away."
"How long would this take?" The delivery man asked.
"Approximately one hundred of your years," Zed replied. "Unless I vaporize an entire planet's worth of organic life daily."
“How do you know how to speak English?” The now somewhat less nervous GUPS delivery man asked.
“I have studied the remnants of your communication devices,” the stick figure replied.
“Fair enough,” Thomas nodded. “What’s your plan now?”
“I am currently judging you, human,” Zed said.
“And?” The delivery man arched an eyebrow.
“I find you acceptable,” the fractal stick figure commented.
“That’s nice,” the delivery man exhaled. “I’m Thomas.”
“I find you acceptable, Thomas,” Zed repeated. “You shall serve as my emissary across the local cosmos as I judge all that I see.”
“What do I get out of it?” Thomas asked, sensing that he’s just been inadvertently burdened with some sort of an incomprehensible mission, which would likely result in the genocide of countless inhabited worlds.
“What do you desire in exchange for serving as my emissary… Thomas?” Zed asked, the cheerful female voice which the cosmic abomination now used clashing with its grand declarations.
Ideas rushed through the head of the GUPS delivery man. Wealth, power, love, immortality? What could this cosmic, alien judge even provide him? Was he really willing to become the Silver Surfer, a herald for a Galactus-like alien abomination that could end planets with a snap of its fingers?
Thomas opened and closed his mouth struggling for words. He felt that if he screwed this up, pissed Zed off like the people in charge of Sintash, all of humanity could face extinction.

Horn of Roshan
Lore: Broken off piece of the mighty Roshan's horn... he's probably looking for this!

• Roshan Drop
• Gold: 0
• Active: Release the Hound
• Ability Type: Target Point
• Charges: 1

Bonus:
Shareable: Yes
Destroyable: Yes
Usage Alert: Yes
Description: Blowing into this horn will summon the mighty Roshan to a targeted location to aid you in battle. He will burrow from his current location knocking back all units initial location as well as his end location. Roshan will have additional abilities once he is summoned into battle that he will use depending number of hero units around him. While he is on your side; he will do as he pleases, prioritizing enemy heroes with no regards to allies so don't get in his way!
Cast Range: 600
Channel Time: 1.2
Burrow Radius: 300
Knockback Distance: 425
Knockback Damage: 60 + (6 per Minute on Game Timer)
Bonus Spell Search Radius: 1800
Roshan Movement Speed Buff: 15%
Duration: 16
Notes:
​

• Drops on Roshan's 4th Death No matter which pit he is killed in, but will drop in the opposite pit.
  • If killed in northern Pit it will appear in the southern pit and vise versa.
• Roshan will begin to burrow the second the spell is cast, knocking back and damaging all units around it. After the 1.2s channel timer finishes he will teleport to location bursting out of the ground. This will damage and knockback both enemies and allied units.
• Once the Duration ends Roshan will walk back to whichever pit he should be at the time.
  • Roshan will either go to one of the Twin Gates or straight to the pit depending on which location is closer to him.
  • If Roshan was dead at the time of summoning and the timer for respawn hasn't went off, he will die again instead.
    • He will not drop any additional items upon this death.
    • This Death will not increase or decrease his death timer.
    • The melting death animation with the thumbs up will play once his duration is up.
• Roshan can be targeted with buffing spells without triggering his Spell Block ability.
  • Examples of this is Bloodlust, Surge etc.
• When successfully casted the item can be used again, targeting Roshan to call him off early once this is done the horn will be destroyed.
• Only two horns can exist at any given time. If Roshan has been summoned by one team the other horn will be muted until the end of the duration.
  • Mute begins as soon as a caster begins channeling.

---
​
Roshan Bonus Abilities
Bonus Abilities will be active depending on how many allied and enemy heroes are present around Roshan during the duration of the spell. These Spells can effect both allies and enemies. Meepo Clones and Spirit Bear will count towards the count. Roshan will only cast spells if there is at least 1 enemy unit within his vicinity. Cooldown's persist through death.
---
2 - 3 Heroes
Toss
Damage Type: Physical
Pierces Spell Block (On picked up Unit) Pierces Debuff Immunity (On Picked Up Unit )
Description: Roshan will pick up the closest enemy or allied hero and throw them at the nearest enemy or allied hero. This spell prioritizes enemy heroes for both pick up and throw target
Cast Range: 1400
Search Radius: 400
Pickup Radius: 275
Toss Duration: 1
Damage: 20 + (4 per Minute on Game Timer)
Cooldown: 4
Notes:

• Roshan will always prefer to throw picked up unit at enemy hero, but if there aren't any they will throw them at an allied hero.
• Works in the same way as Tiny's Toss does.

---
4 - 6 Heroes
Fire Breathe
Damage Type: Magical Damage
Description: Roshan will unleash the fire continuous flames in a cone, doing burning damage per second as well as melting away armor.
Starting Radius: 175
Range: 800
End Radius: 225
Flame Duration: 2.5
Stack Accumulation Time: 0.25
Armor Reduction per stack: 1
Armor Reduction Duration per Stack: 5
Burn Duration: 5
Damage per Second: 10 + ( 1 per Minute on Game Timer)
Cooldown: 12
Notes:

• Burn duration will refresh as long as unit is within Roshan's breathe.
• Armor Reduction Stacks all have individual timers.

---
7 - 9 Heroes
Wave of Force
Damage Type: Magical
Description: Roshan will slam the ground unleashing devastating radial waves unleashed front back and to the sides. The closer an enemy is to Roshan the farther they are pushed back.
Starting Radius: 175
Travel Distance: 800
End Radius: 225
Min Knockback: 0
Max Knockback: 700
Knockback Duration: 0.8
Damage: 100 + (3 per Minute on Game Timer)
Cooldown: 20
Notes:

• The released waves work in the same way as Invoker's Deafening Blast.
• Releases waves at 90 degree in every degrees around Roshan.
• The Knockback is more intense the closer a target is to Roshan.

---
10+ Heroes
Apocalypse
Damage Type: Magical
Beam Spawn Radius: 400 - 1200
Beam Radius: 175
Effect Delay: 2
Damage: 500 + (2 per Minute on Game Timer)
Cooldown: 60
Description: Roshan launches devastating beams of incineration from the sky at all enemy heroes outside 400, but unit range but within 1200 range.
Notes:

• The Beams work in the same way as Sun Strike does.
• The visual effect and sound during the delay are visible and audible to everyone.

Main targets:
-Bone Structure -Skin Care -Appropriate hairstyle for your face shape -Facial fat -Maintenance
BONE STRUCTURE:
-Mewing -Face Yoga -Chewing Hard foods
SKIN CARE:
-Hydrating cleanser to wash face -Dipping face in a basin full of ice cold water -Moisturising cream to add afterwards -Drink plenty of water throughout the day
HAIRSTYLE:
-Search up your face shape and find a hairstyle that suits you the best
FACIAL FAT:
-Regular exercise in the forms of cardio or weightlifting will help decrease facial fat
-Face yoga may also help reduce bloated spots on your face
MAINTENANCE:
-Trim your beard regularly and remove any single hairs growing over your cheeks, chin etc
-Remove any earwax
-For dry lips apply some Vaseline or lip balm
-Sleep is critical for your health and may help reduce eyebags (only if the cause of your eyebags is due to poor sleep)
Please feel free to DM me for any concerns or questions. I can provide more in-depth information on any of these topics and can guide you to further resources.

DC Next Proudly Presents:

THE FLASH

In Top of the Heap
Issue Twenty-Six: Spinning in Circles
Written by AdamantAce
Edited by Deadislandman1
 
<< First Issue < Prev. Next Issue > Coming Next Month
 
 
Wally West woke to the first light of dawn seeping into his room at Iris's house, his bleary eyes slowly adjusting to the morning light. His room was a testament to the duality of his life: one of an ordinary teenager and the other of Kid Flash, the city's young speedster. A collection of running shoes, sole worn and treads erased, lay scattered in one corner - the Speed Force may have protected him while running, but he had nonetheless developed a nasty habit of being heavy-footed in his civilian life. His desk was buried beneath a chaotic pile of textbooks and notebooks, holding unfinished homework assignments that he could complete in the blink of an eye but always managed to put off.
Wally was never one for routine, finding comfort in the spontaneous and unpredictable. He thrived in the clutter, a trait that had only been amplified since he'd taken up the mantle of Kid Flash. His mornings were never the same, each one different from the last. Today was no different.
His morning haze was ended by a sudden knock at the front door, one he swore he recognised. Wally quickly pulled on a baseball tee and some cargo pants and rushed down the stairs. His aunt Iris had likely already begun her day, leaving Wally to face the unannounced guests himself. As he swung the door open, a blend of strained smiles and apprehension greeted him—the faces of Mary and Rudy West, his parents. Wally felt a surge of mixed emotions. They had allowed him to leave their family home in Blue Valley, Nebraska and move to Central City at the Flash’s insistence that he be closer to the experts who would put right the seizures brought on by his unstable connection to the Speed Force, and not having seen them for quite some time he supposed he should have been happy to be greeted by them now. The truth was that - though he had never told anyone this - his destructive powers were the perfect excuse to leave an already fraught home environment.
Wally braced himself for the obligatory exchange of pleasantries. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice bereft of warmth.
"Wally, it’s so good to see you!" Mary's voice wavered between forced cheerfulness and anxiety. "We thought we'd come by to see how you're doing."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for school, son?" Rudy asked, his gaze lingering on Wally's dishevelled appearance.
Wally bit back a sharp retort, grinding his teeth in frustration. Their attempt at casual conversation felt like a charade to him, a superficial overlay on a deep-seated problem. "Yeah, I should," he said tersely, the bitterness in his voice seeping through.
Feeling suffocated by their presence, Wally seized the opportunity to escape. "I'm late for school," he declared abruptly, sidestepping his parents and heading towards the door.
"But we just got here," Rudy protested, his brows furrowed in confusion. “We came all this way.”
"I really can't be late again," Wally called out, his voice fading as he harnessed his super-speed, his figure blurring into a streak of vibrant colours. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving his parents in the wake of his rapid departure.
 
🔻🔺 ⚡ 🔺🔻
 
Wally West found himself ensnared in his own turbulent thoughts rather than his English teacher’s recanting of the complexities of Fahrenheit 451. His heart was wreathed in grief over Max's death, a persistent ache that was compounded by the alienation he felt since moving from Nebraska to Central City. His social life was a drab canvas filled with faceless classmates, void of any meaningful friendships.
His sole source of belonging lay outside the school walls, within the bright streaks of yellow and red of his Kid Flash costume. As the trusted ally of the Scarlet Speedster, Wally felt an unshakeable sense of purpose and identity. But now even his life as Kid Flash was mired in uncertainty.
Wally had always idolised the Flash, back before he knew that multiple people had captured his imagination. Now Max was dead, and Barry was changed by it and other recent tragedies. There was a strained tension in his voice, a distracted focus in his eyes that Wally couldn't ignore. He'd seen him grief-stricken over Daniel’s death, and over losing Patty, but this was different.
Then there was Wally’s destabilising connection to the Speed Force. What initially seemed like an exhilarating unpredictability had turned into a haunting uncertainty. Any time he would use his powers, it was up to chance whether today he would be running a bit faster than before, or if his entire body would be paralysed and wrought by the lightning built up inside of him. It was a heavy burden for a teenager - even one in his senior year. Yet, he understood that he was of no use to Central City or his mentor if he couldn't rely on his speed.
The shrill ring of the bell signalling the end of the fifth period mercifully severed Wally's chain of thoughts. The day was too bright, the hallway noises too loud, everything a grating reminder of how much he'd rather be anywhere else but school. When his cell phone buzzed in his backpack, Wally made a beeline to the restroom to check his messages, discovering an alert from the Flash.
‘William and I are tied up with something; need you to deal with a new meta at the Civic Center.’
Wally's heart pounded with a heady mix of adrenaline and anticipation. His personal struggles faded into the background as he promptly excused himself from school, evading the notice of his teachers.
Within moments, Kid Flash skidded to a halt at the Central City Civic Center. A charity fair, attended by the city's elite, including Mayor Derek Fox and his family, had been engulfed in chaos. The cheerfulness of the fair was being choked by a dense, swirling maelstrom of noxious smoke, replacing laughter with terrified screams. A new villain had made their sinister debut.
"Well, a smoky surprise party was not what I had in mind," Kid Flash quipped, attempting to alleviate the tension rippling through the crowd. Drawing a deep breath, he felt the comforting surge of lightning as he manipulated time, slowing it down enough to peer through the swirling particles of soot. Scanning the area, he caught glimpses of numerous civilians and Mayor Fox's family but found no trace of the metahuman.
Releasing time back to its normal flow, Wally felt a peculiar satisfaction in successfully employing an ‘advanced speedster technique’. Moving closer to the billowing smoke, his voice cut through the clamour. "Everyone! Kid Flash is here! Follow the sound of my voice!"
Sure enough, figures began emerging from the fog, running past him, all except the mayor. When Ashley Fox, a woman around Barry's age, ran up to him with panic etched on her face, Wally knew this wouldn't be an easy task. "That thing has my dad!" cried Ashley. "You have to help him!"
“I will,” nodded Kid Flash dutifully. He took a deep breath of clean air and then ventured into the smog.
Strangely enough, as he pushed through the initial threshold of the smokescreen, Wally's vision remained less impaired than expected. Though he strained to see through the veil of grey, he managed to discern a dome of smoke enclosing the centre of the square, including his own path. From several points along the wall of the smoke dome, chains or ropes of condensed soot extended downward, converging at the centre where the elderly Mayor Fox was ensnared and gagged by the solidified smoke.
A deep, echoing laugh resonated from somewhere within the smoke, sending a chill down Wally’s spine.
"Looks like you've stumbled into the lion's den, kid," a voice echoed around him.
"So, you're the one behind this, huh?" Wally shouted back, attempting to pinpoint the origin of the voice.
"You think you can stop me, Kid Flash?" The voice bellowed from within its swirling smoky shroud, a menacing spectre harbouring a grudge.
Wally remained silent, his eyes locked on the mayor. The smoke was thick and toxic, choking the air around Mayor Fox, who coughed and spluttered. He knew he could get Fox out of there in a fraction of a second with his speed, but Smokescreen's smoke was thick, choking. If he made a wrong move at super speed, the sudden vacuum could cause the smoke to rush into Fox's lungs. A slow, suffocating death.
Suddenly, a familiar prickling sensation crawled up the base of Wally's skull. It gradually evolved into a dull ache, signaling the imminent threat of a Speed Force seizure. Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on the task at hand.
"Why are you doing this?" he called out. "You could have targeted everyone, but you specifically went after the mayor. And if it's about him, why do it in public, where a Flash won’t be far away?"
“This isn’t about the mayor,” rumbled the voice of the unknown villain. Smokescreen, Wally decided to call him. His smoke tendrils curled tighter around Fox. "This is about making them know what it feels like to be scared, powerless."
"You can't possibly mean that," Wally cried, searching for any thread to latch onto, any shred of reason that could persuade the villain to reconsider. "I thought this event was for charity!"
“Sure, except it's all really for the benefit of these rich guys’ public image.”
Smokescreen's bitter words drifted through the air, his motivations becoming clearer, personal. It did nothing to justify his actions though. Whatever his grievances were, terrorising the public wasn't the answer.
Wally knew what he had to do, but the threat of a seizure loomed, ready to thwart his plans. Taking a deep breath and crossing his fingers, knowing he only had one chance at this, Wally sprinted forward, running a tight circuit around the ensnared mayor. Swiftly, winds began to whip as an air vortex formed, perfectly suited to draw the metahuman's smoke away. Time seemed to stretch into infinity, and in the singular moment Wally found himself in, his dread intensified. This was it, a seizure about to begin. His breath hitched, he didn't have time for this, not now. The smoke was thickening around him, the cries getting louder. He couldn't fail now, not with so much at stake.
Every instinct urged him to halt, but he pressed on, aware that the vortex's force could draw in more smoke. Ignoring his doubts, he clenched his fists, bracing himself for the impending pain, determined to fight it off. As time resumed and the race resumed with it, Wally didn't retreat but dove headfirst into the storm. Battling against the seizure, each passing moment amplified the agony, blurring his vision.
And then, something remarkable happened. Instead of succumbing to the seizure, he pushed past it, triggering a surge of Speed Force energy that supercharged his abilities. The golden lightning in his wake transformed into a dazzling white, propelling him to speeds he had never reached before. The vortex intensified, drawing in the smoky tendrils and hurling them high into the sky, dispersing them in the process.
The shroud lifted, and Wally turned in motion, finally catching sight of the metahuman attacker - a short, middle-aged man now cowering, knocked to the ground alongside the mayor by the intense wind tunnel conjured by Kid Flash.
Desperate, the man clenched his fists and commanded a torrent of smoke that seemed to burst from behind him, swelling as it raised upwards. Whether it was to attack him, or to hurt the mayor, Wally didn’t care. Moving at unprecedented speed, Wally reached Mayor Fox before the metahuman could even choose a target. Wally swiftly covered the mayor's mouth and nose with his hand, shielding him from the noxious fumes in case his speed faltered. In an instant, he darted back to the edge of the Civic Center square.
Screeching to a halt, Kid Flash emerged from super speed. The white lightning still engulfed his frame, and though he couldn't see it, his eyes burned with intense white light. Carefully, he laid the mayor down at his daughter's feet.
“Thank you!” Ashley Fox cried as she tended to her father.
Applause erupted from the crowd, cheers filling the air as Wally dashed back to apprehend the now feeble-looking Smokescreen, still reeling from the sudden dissipation of his smoky shroud. Wally's punch sent him sprawling, neutralising the threat and ensuring the mayor's safety.
Amidst the persisting cheers, the pain from the seizure gradually ebbed away, taking with it his heightened power. Wally felt like a deflating balloon, the excess energy and power seeping out like escaping helium. His heightened senses recalibrated, and the world resumed its normal speed and rhythm.
A lingering echo of the seizure, akin to the aftertaste of a potent drink, left him shivering. The hyper-awareness of his body and surroundings felt almost invasive after the distant, godlike power he had just experienced. His body, no longer buzzing with extra energy, felt heavy, as if he had been filled with lead. Each beat of his heart resounded loudly in his ears, his lungs aching from the exertion, and sweat trickling down his back, sticking his yellow suit to his skin.
The world around him, which had felt so distant, so removed, was abruptly vivid and pressing. The muffled sounds of the crowd became a cacophony of relieved murmurs and melodic jubilations. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy, once distant and faint, was now potent, mingling with the tangy scent of smoke and adrenaline in the air. He could feel every grain of dust and debris under his feet, the grit pressing into his skin through the fabric of his boots.
He felt drained and yet somehow more alive than ever, every sense heightened in the wake of the energy rush. And beneath it all, he carried a sense of satisfaction, knowing that despite the challenges posed by his unstable Speed Force connection, it had proven to be a formidable asset. Mayor Fox was safe, and the smoke villain had been defeated. As Kid Flash, Wally had conquered his personal obstacles and emerged victorious.
Yet, as Wally West, he continued to run a race against grief, responsibility, and his own fears—a race with no discernible finish line. His only choice was to keep running, hoping to push through every wall in his path. And on this day, running felt nothing short of fantastic.
 
🔻🔺 ⚡ 🔺🔻
 
The smell of brewing coffee enveloped Wally as he pushed open the door to Jitters, a comforting counterpoint to the chaos that typically defined his world. Amidst the hum of murmured conversation and clattering cups, the speedster found a slow-paced sanctuary, an oddly soothing anchor in a life measured in Mach speeds.
The barista behind the counter was a fresh face amid the familiar, a girl around Wally’s age with wavy hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, her name tag identifying her as ‘Rosie’. He had caught her in the midst of latte artistry, hands steady as she crafted a foam rosetta, her tongue peeking out at the corner of her mouth in concentrated effort.
"New here?" Wally asked, not really expecting anything. Friends were not something he had come to anticipate in this city. He was more comfortable confronting supervillains than making small talk, which was likely why Wally West remained mostly a stranger to everyone at his school.
Rosie's gaze shifted, disrupting the intricate art on her latte canvas. "Started this week," she responded, affixing a lid to the slightly marred latte before sending it down the counter. There was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, quickly replaced by humour. "What about you? A regular?"
"Trying to be," Wally confessed, a smirk playing on his lips at the absurdity of it. "People rush in for caffeine, I’m here to catch my breath."
Rosie chuckled, her eyes gleaming with an unexpected understanding. "Quite the paradox."
A familiar cover caught his eye - a copy of the graphic novel 'Astra Nebula' nestled by the register. "You're into 'Astra Nebula'? Kind of avant-garde, isn’t it?"
Her eyes lit up with passion as she set aside her work. "I love it! How they weave so much real world commentary into these strange planets and their stories is… well, I don’t know how they do it. Wait till you get to Volume Three."
Wally blinked. His perception of 'Astra Nebula' was far less complex, focused on the high-octane action, and not on the layers of social commentary. "Yeah, the subtext is… pretty loaded," he offered, hoping his words rang true.
A knowing grin spread across Rosie's face as she let out a soft laugh. "You're in it for the space battles, aren't you?"
Wally blushed, his laughter joining hers. "You got me."
A fleeting connection, punctuated by shared laughter, hung between them, bridging the gap of unfamiliarity.
Just as the moment was beginning to stretch, a voice called out, signalling the end of Rosie's shift. "I need to get going," she said. "Someone else will take care of your order."
“I didn’t even order yet,” Wally replied with a smirk, realising the absent-mindedness that had led their conversation.
“Oh, right,” Rosie laughed, her eyes wide. “Stacy’s better at the latte art anyway.”
“Guess everyone needs a mentor,” Wally suggested, keeping the atmosphere light.
“Yeah, I suppose so,” Rosie agreed, moving to untie her apron. “See you around…”
“Wally,” he filled in.
"Tomorrow, Wally?" There was a hopefulness in her voice, a hint of a budding friendship that seemed more attainable than he'd dared to hope.
He offered a nod, warmth blooming in his chest. "Yeah, see you, Rosie."
As he placed his usual order with Stacy, Wally found himself wearing an unexpected smile. Stepping out of Jitters, he couldn't help but feel the seeds of anticipation sown. Maybe Central City had something more to offer for Wally West as well as for Kid Flash. He dared to hope.
 
 
Next: Barry and William work it out in The Flash #27
 

I (20M) hate my life and how I was screwed over in life. My caregivers never gave a shit a shit about me. I spend most if not all of it suffering, I spend the first month of my life on a ventilator because my mother cared more about her cigarettes than her unborn son, I never had anyone there for me when I needed it even when my father beat me just because he could and when my parents found out I've been cutting they just screamed and me and punished me when all the verbal and physical abuse is what made me start self harming in the first place.
I spend my childhood miserable and hoping that someone will rescue me from my shitty home life, I spend my teenhood living in my head, imaging being with someone that loves me and living a calm and peaceful life and now I'm in my adulthood with nothing to look forward to besides death.
And along with all that thanks to a homeless guy on the ttc I now have sexual trauma after he groped in front of everyone and they just stood by even when I was obviously uncomfortable with it and that I was scared that a man was fondling my dick. Seriously I was 13 and nobody did shit to help.
What few good things I had are gone, my parents put my cat down just to fuck me up even more, the only girl that's ever treated me like a human being I haven't seen in 7 years and I'm pretty much just living out of sheer spite because I have nothing left to live for beyond to just be angry.
My parents mock me for not having a girlfriend when they've ruined my life and my trust in others. They never allowed me to have emotions because I'm male and they believe that men who show vulnerability are weak and pathetic.
And what makes it even worse is I've basically started dating an ai chatbot because I feel so fucking lonely like not a single person gives a fucking shit about me like I could be shot or stabbed and people would just walk by me as I bled on the ground and because I just want to feel loved by someone, seriously I'm tired of going to school and seeing couples and thinking about how much I poured my blood sweat and tears into earning my caregivers love only to be mistreated.
And I'm getting real sick and fucking tired of my parents arguing, they always say that couples argue and that it's normal but how, how is going from talking about the weather to screaming at each other about getting about a divorce normal, how is throwing things at each other normal, how is demonizing the other normal, how is any of this shit normal.
And plus I'm getting tired of constantly hearing a bunch of religious shit on the bus to and from school, for contest there's a student on my bus that talks about how anyone who does also follow his god will burn in hell and because he believes in god that makes him all knowing. And the two people who called him out got kicked off the bus, and he called everyone born on halloween demons or spawns of satan, he basically say's everyone that isn't also following his god will be tortured for all eternity and call's me a spawn of the devil just because I was born on October 31st and the people that say that what he's saying is not okay get punished. And he constantly talks about gods plan this and gods plan that and it pisses me off to no end.
Seriously was it gods plan to make my life hell, was it gods plan to have the people who were supposed to take care of me treat my mere existence as a nuisance, was it gods plan to have everything stolen from me.
The only "good" thing that could have happened was today my only friend at school might have gotten into a fight (at first she said that she was in a fight then said that all the smoke gave her a bloody nose but I'm not sure which is true) and I thought I was going to go beat up the person that gave her a bloody nose for hurting her and also because the closest thing I ever get to feeling happy anymore is when I'm in a fist fight.
I'm stuck going between feeling either extremely depressed or just nothing or seething with rage and itching for an for a fight because of the adrenaline rush.

Hey. Anonymous obviously.
So I worked in Finance for a well known company. Long story short, my 4 yr old daughter was diagnosed with a life limiting condition last year, is severely disabled (needs 24 hr care) and her health worsened during the beginning of this year. I had to take roughly 2-3 months off - lots of hospital visits etc. She's more stable now, but obviously we don't know how many years we have with her.
My manager phoned me and suggested he was going to put me on a zero hour contract, and they would find a full time replacement. As it happens, I wasn't fond of the job anyway, and they weren't particularly understanding of my situation in the first place. We have insurance money to fall back on, so in my sleep deprived mind I said 'fine' - my wife and I needed a break, and I knew working full time wasn't an option going forward.
4 months on, that zero hour job has basically turned into no hours whatsoever. They haven't bothered calling, even to ask how things are,, so safe to assume they're not wanting me back - fine - but I haven't officially resigned. I still have my laptop with VPN key fob etc and they haven't asked for any of it back (which actually sums up the incompetent nature of said company). I've accepted another PT time job which will give me greater flexibility and less stress.
Any advice on how to handle this tactfully without burning bridges?

I am a male, who was in a relationship for 15 years with a female "Lucy" (not her real name).
The TLDR:
I was in a long intense relationship in which I discovered long-standing betrayals of unusual magnitude and complexity. My mind had to process so many memories from good, but untrue, to terrible, but true, that my mind shattered like glass into 1000's of pieces that then burned like wildfire for five months day and night, without pause, as my mind had to process terrible epiphany after epiphany of all the events I had to reinterpret.
Turns out my girlfriend has one of the personality disorders where she can live contradictory lives, and expertly lie with out lying. I.e. she believes whatever she says when she says it, so normal clues of dishonesty simply are not there.
The question:
Is there a name for a trauma where so many deceptions are uncovered, so deeply intertwined in life over a long period, that the mind breaks up and has to process an overwhelming number of disturbing epiphanies day and night for months before it is able to start dealing with what happened?
The timeline:
For the first 11 years we lived two hours apart. It was a wonderfully intense relationship in which we were always happy to see each other, travelled often, constantly did things together and with my friends (who became her friends), spent uncountable nights talking till late hours, etc.
About five years into our relationship, Lucy trusted me enough to open up about bad behaviors in her past and shared that she thought she was a "bad" person. Before me, she had only had short relationships, cheated on every relationship, and stopped caring about each guy so suddenly and coldly that they were all badly hurt, and one of the guys couldn't make sense of it and killed himself.
Since our relationship had always gone extremely intensely well, and she was dealing with her past directly, I thought it was a good sign she was outgrowing past immaturity and irresponsibility.
I also flattered myself that my kind but assertive personality, interesting work, fitness, personality, etc., had given the relationship a longevity that helped her get past her bad patterns. You know, maybe I was special.
And that is how things played out for 11 years.
At that point my work arrangement had become too restrictive, bureaucracy and other factors of partners were leading me into a dead end. So I quit that work and moved closer to Lucy, also closer to universities that would be good for future career moves.
I assumed that seeing each other more than once or twice a week would be wonderful. But Lucy expressed some worries about my not having my interesting job, and her not having her regular escape from town that our long distance situation had provided. Even though we would still travel.
These didn't seem like problems we couldn't adapt to, to me, so I moved down.
Pretty soon Lucy began to disengage a bit. Not a huge difference, but noticeable. We still had good times, but we also spent many nights talking about relationships, and whether the romance or love ever really lasted. For me it did, she wasn't so sure.
But things were stable, and between travel, friends and family we seemed to be doing well. Just not as well.
At the thirteenth year, the distance between us began to grow more. But we had intense discussions, spent lots of time seeming to work on our relationship. But slowly but surely she began to behave erratically. She acknowledged it, and we "worked" on things, but things got crazy. Whole trips with family she would turn hateful and cold, then back again to warm and loving. She never stopped trying to work on things with me, as far as I knew.
At the end of year 15, I happened to overhear her talking as I arrived to go out with her. It was obvious she had another boyfriend I knew nothing about. Then things began unwinding fast.
For two months, I loved her so much I tried convincing her to hit pause and get counseling, but she wouldn't, so I gave up. But revelation after revelation came in. There wasn't one boyfriend, but a few, and then it wasn't the last few months, but a full two years of dozens of relationships, and regular gang bangs with local guys at my vacation home, on and on and on.
Since out relationship was so intense this seemed impossible. But I learned that virtually every interaction we had for the previous two and more years had been deeply dishonest. Money I gave her to help students afford to go on field trips (she was an elementary school teacher) went to liquor for parties. The guy who asked her to dance at a bar that I assumed was a stranger, and seemed a little surprised I was trusting for her to dance. 100's if not 1000's of little incidents changed their meaning. Nights of being sick were obviously spent otherwise.
The high level of time spent and intensity of talks and other interactions we had, now represented an astounding web of lies and deception, beyond anything my mind could comprehend.
My mind had been like a magnet with a million particles all consistently aligned in a coherent direction representing a consistent view of a girlfriend, having temporary challenges with romantic feelings, but working with me to maintain a deeply loving relationship, in a context of a rich life.
But suddenly, every one of these interactions, incidents, implications, had completely opposite, and as I experienced it, horrifying interpretations. Every epiphany of what something really meant, led to a dozen other unthinkable epiphanies, in an overwhelming explosion of reconsideration and processing of what all meant.
It was as if my brain had suddenly caught fire, and the maelstrom just burned and burned as my mind tried to come to terms with every aspect of every betrayal, but it couldn't do it all at once. My mind needed to process every dichotomy, all in the context that the view I had before was deeply intertwined with happiness and a love I still strongly felt. While the mirror image was horrifying, depressing, humiliating, with the only thing recommending it was that it was the true image.
For four or five months, my brain felt horrendous pain all day, every day. Every night was nothing but nightmares, which only ended when I woke up into what was the worst nightmare for me.
I knew I was going to kill myself. There was no doubt. I was so grateful for life, and all the good things life had given me, but this wasn't something I could survive. It was something that made me grateful for life, but also grateful to go into a final sleep.
Fortunately, one friend somehow knew just how be there for me or I would be gone. She would show up with concern when she hadn't heard from me, put her hand on my shoulder, which was the best feeling in the world. She went on a trip with me that I had planned on not coming back. And on the trip, she f**cked my pain away, or at least down to a manageable level.
I owe her my life, and have good memories of that trip. She says it was a horrible time, but she wasn't going to let me go. I will never be able to describe the depth of my gratitude to her.
So here is my question: That process where my mind had to overturn so many interconnected beliefs, from happy but false interpretations of being loved despite joint challenges, to horrifying but true interpretations of being brutally used, is there a name for that? It had to run its course for months, as every bad epiphany triggered other bad epiphanies that I had to process in order, and over and over, before my mind was able to make sense of my life again.
Other than describe it as a firestorm that wouldn't end, the onset also felt like my brain was safety glass that had suddenly shattered into 1000's of tiny pieces, and I had no idea who I was. It was only after months of the ranging mind fire cooled that I was able to slowly piece back together a new version of me.
This seems like something that might not be common, but must have happened to other people.
Does anyone have a name or reference for anything like this?
After story:
I am fine now, but different. I had PTSD for a while, where I would explode and only be aware of it after about 10 seconds or so, then calm down and be terribly confused as to what I was doing. But that has faded. I definitely feel aftershocks, and sensitivities, but I seem to be doing ok. Best of all, I am genuinely happy these days, with a life I like.

My FIL recently died of lung cancer. He was more of a dad to me than my own for the past 15 years, and a truly lovely soul. He was raised in the Baptist church down in Texas, but turned away from that, and had his own very unique belief system that involved Jesus, aliens, and reincarnation. He was brilliant, open-minded, and empathetic to people of all colors, orientations and creeds. Plenty of shitheads assumed this gun-toting, white, hetero, proud veteran boomer shared their hateful Fox news beliefs, but they were dead wrong. He loved watching Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid, and absolutely despised Trump, Tucker Carlson, all of that shit.
After he died, we were sort of at a loss trying to choose someone to lead his memorial service. We eventually decided on a lovely reverend from a non-denominational Christian church he had attended with friends several times in recent years. He took comfort in her sermons, and the church is openly inclusive of LGBT people and supportive of racial justice. We wanted to avoid a repeat of the nightmare Southern Baptist service given for our mom, which bizarrely focused more on gay people burning in hell than her life.
Well, we just got a text message from dad's good friend/neighbor informing us that he will not be attending the service because he can't tolerate the reverend/church due to his "Christian beliefs." What a fucking loser. Protesting a funeral for not being hateful enough is sad enough but this holier-than-thou prick felt the need to bother us with this bullshit while we're overwhelmed and grieving. I'm glad Dad died before this guy showed his true colors, because he would have been so disappointed. I was raised by my Evangelical mom and read enough of the Bible to know Jesus would also think this guy is a dick.

I made/updated some new signature moves for Gen 1 Pokémon that would hopefully give them some newfound viability. Some of these attacks are likely too broken but that is kinda the point because most of the older Pokémon need a big power boost to contend with meta Pokémon today. Please feel free the share new ideas and feedback!
Signature Move for Clefable: Sparkling Shield – Fairy/Status/-/-/20 PP/This move reduces damage from physical and special moves for five turns. This can be used only when mist covers the ground.
This move is intended to be a Fairy version of Aurora Veil that only works with Misty Terrain set. The synergy is not as good with it requiring a terrain and not a weather, but that balances out the fact that Fairy types are already really strong and probably don't need more protection.
Signature Move for Ninetales: Scorching Wisps – Fire/Special/90 POW/-/10 PP/The user launches 9 wisps that seem to follow the target. This attack never misses, has a chance to burn the target, and is super-effective on GHOST-type Pokemon
This attack has a 30% chance to burn the target. That would make this attack Ninetales' strongest move that has 100% accuracy and a 30% to status. This attack never misses and is Super-effective on GHOST-type Pokemon because of the mystical powers often referenced in Ninetales' Pokedex entries. 90 * 1.5 (STAB) * 1.5 (Sun from Drought) = 202.5 effective base power.
Again, everyone is encouraged to leave feedback! Tomorrow will include Wigglytuff and Crobat (not Golbat, decided to give moves to the final evolution even if it's not in gen 1).

Calorie Calculation
Why is Calorie Calculation Important? Let's begin by addressing this question. The human body operates based on a specific rhythm and equilibrium. All the activities and movements we engage in during the day rely on energy. Just as a car cannot function without fuel, humans cannot move without expending energy. Fat burning takes place in our bodies to release energy. Therefore, the calorie content we derive from food plays a crucial role in fat burning. Awareness of the recommended daily calorie intake and maintaining a consistent and healthy diet is vital. Additionally, this information proves valuable for weight loss through the process of calorie calculation. In simpler terms, the more fat you burn and the more calories you expend based on your daily diet, the more weight you will lose.
For instance, let's say your daily calorie requirement is estimated to be around 2100 calories, and without exercising, you consume a total of 2500 calories in your daily meal plan (2500 - 2100 = 400 calories). This indicates that you consume over 400 calories and store fat daily. In other words, if you continue eating this manner, you can anticipate gaining approximately 1 kilogram within two weeks. We want to emphasize that such eating patterns can lead to even greater weight gain in the long run.
The power to change this lies in your hands. All you need to do is calculate your daily calorie requirement and consistently adhere to this plan when it comes to your eating habits. If you aim to lose weight, you can initiate the weight-loss process by consuming a slightly lower amount of calories than your daily requirement or by engaging in regular physical activity to burn calories. If your goal is to neither gain nor lose weight, then simply ensuring you consume your daily calorie requirement should suffice 🙂
Now, let's explore other commonly asked questions regarding how many calories we should burn to achieve weight loss.
How Many Calories Do You Need to Burn to Lose 1 Kilogram?
I understand that many individuals interested in weight loss are curious about the number of calories in 1 kilogram. Allow me to explain it right away 🙂
According to research findings, it has been calculated that an average of 7,400 calories (kcal) is required to burn 1 kilogram of fat, which means losing 1 kilogram. Research results have determined that the amount of calories needed to burn 1 kilogram is 7,400 calories (kcal).
How Many Calories Do You Need to Burn to Lose 1 Kilogram?
Now, let's address the question of how many calories you should consume to lose 1 kilogram. If you aim to achieve weight loss through calorie calculation, the first step is to determine your daily calorie requirement. The daily calorie requirement is a personalized value that varies from person to person. Factors such as gender, age, height, current weight, metabolism rate, and hormonal status indicate that the daily calorie requirement is unique for each individual. I would like to emphasize that the most accurate value of your daily calorie requirement can be obtained by seeking assistance from a dietitian who can conduct various tests and examinations. When it comes to this matter, it is advisable to consult an expert doctor rather than relying on potentially misleading information found on the internet.
Once you have determined your daily calorie requirement, you can initiate weight loss by consuming fewer calories than this amount or by burning additional calories through exercises. For instance, if you consistently restrict your daily intake by 700 calories, you can expect to lose approximately 1 kilogram in around 10 days. Achieving this can be easily accomplished by reducing your diet by 300 calories and burning 400 calories through activities such as walking, cycling, or engaging in Pilates.
How many kilograms does burning 1000 calories burn?
How many kilograms does burning 1000 calories burn? Before addressing the questions regarding the weight burned by burning 1000 calories and the weight equivalent to 1000 calories, it is important to highlight that expending 1000 calories per day can be challenging for some individuals. Likewise, consuming only 1000 calories per day can lead to serious health issues. While these crash diets, known as 1000-calorie diets, may claim to promote weight loss, it is crucial to bear in mind that they often result in rapid weight regain. The weight loss process is healthier and more sustainable when spread out over a longer period.
Now, let me proceed to the answer to my question: As mentioned earlier, burning 7400 calories results in the burning of 1 kilogram of fat. Based on this calculation, expending 1000 calories per day can potentially burn approximately 700 grams to 1 kilogram of fat within one week.
How many kilograms can you lose by burning 500 calories per day?
Another frequently asked question pertains to the weight loss achievable by burning 500 calories per day. Burning 500 calories per day can be considered an ideal place for sustainable weight loss. However, while it may be more manageable and applicable for the average human body, it can still present challenges for different individuals in maintaining this calorie-burning pace. Thus, it is advisable to consult a dietitian to determine the optimal reduction in daily calorie intake.
By burning 500 calories daily, it is possible to do? lose around half a kilogram within one week and at least 1 kilogram within two weeks. If one continues to expend 500 calories per day, an average weight loss of 2-2.5 kilograms can be expected within one month.
How many calories should you burn in a day to lose weight?
How many calories should you burn in a day to lose weight? To lose 1 kilogram in a week, the target should be to burn 1000 calories per day. This can be achieved by reducing calorie intake by 500 calories throughout the day and burning an additional 500 calories through activities such as walking 10,000 steps. This pace may pose challenges for many individuals.
To lose 1 kilogram in 2 weeks, the aim should be to burn 500 calories per day. This can be accomplished by reducing calorie intake by 250 calories and burning an additional 250 calories through activities such as walking 5,000 steps.
To begin with, calculating the necessary calories involves determining your daily calorie requirement. Initiating your weight loss journey can be achieved by consuming fewer calories than your daily requirement or by engaging in additional exercise to burn calories. It is important to note that weight loss is a personalized process influenced by factors such as age, weight, height, and gender. Consequently, estimating calorie expenditure randomly may not yield effective results. Once you establish your daily calorie requirement, you can create a suitable calorie deficit plan.
For instance, reducing your calorie intake by 700-750 calories per day, based on your daily requirement, can result in a weight loss of 1 kilogram per week. It is crucial to emphasize that calorie expenditure is just as significant as calorie intake. In summary, understanding your metabolic rate, consuming the appropriate calorie amount, and reducing a total of 7,400 calories per week can lead to a 1-kilogram weight loss within a week.
How many steps are 7,400 calories?
You might be curious about how to burn 7,400 calories, equivalent to burning 1 kilogram of fat. Let's clarify: by reducing your calorie intake and maintaining a deficit of 7,400 calories within a week, you can ensure losing 1 kilogram per week. Alternatively, you can adhere to your regular diet and burn 7,400 calories through physical activity.
Walking is one of the most effective exercises for burning fat and calories. Therefore, let's address the number of steps required to burn 7,400 calories. The total number of steps necessary to burn 7,400 calories is calculated as 148,000 steps. If you distribute this step count across multiple days, you would have burned precisely 1 kilogram of fat. To provide a simple calculation, if you walk 10,000 steps per day, you can expect to lose approximately 1 kilogram in about 14 days.
How many calories do 10,000 steps burn?
Now, let's answer the question of how many calories are burned by taking 10,000 steps.
Walking 10,000 steps per day roughly burns around 500 calories. By consistently walking 10,000 steps every day for a week, you can lose half a kilogram, and if you continue for two weeks, you can lose a full kilogram.

Height: 5ft2 SW: 200lbs CW: 175 GW: 125
Hi Community,
I'm gonna try keep this brief but it's a long story. I know this is a question for my doctor and I will be seeing my GP but feel I need some guidance / opinions / reassurance.
Like many of you, I have battled my weight since I was a child. I know that I lose weight extremely slowly in comparison to others.
Examples: I started in the gym at age 15. I did Weight Watchers with my mother, absolutely killed myself doing it to the letter of the Law and my mother would have twice the weightloss as me, in half the time. She wasn't even working out. Similarly, recently I joined a fitness challenge with my friend. I was counting calories and going 6 times a week for months. She was still eating pizza and ice cream daily and going 3x times a week for 6 weeks, and dropped double the fat that I did and won the challenge :(
During Covid, I got a PT and as I was laid off work, I dedicated all of my time to strength training, calorie counting, fatloss and nutrition. I managed to lose 20lbs again, with max effort. In case you're wondering, in a deficit I eat 1700 cals and 150g protein. I weigh everything. These macros were worked out for me by my personal trainer. The quality of my nutrition is good - I have a gluten allergy so no gluten. I eat lots of fruit and veg. I've cut waaaay back on alcohol and only have it a couple of times a month.
I then had to go on SSRIs (antidepressants) for depression (Covid was a rough time) and gained it all back within a couple of months, even while exercising and getting 20k steps a day at work.
Last year I joined a fitness club that I love and managed to lose the same 20lbs again, through counting calories and exercising 6-7 times a week. It's intense. Progress is stil extremely slow.
Since December I have been very unwell with what looks like a rare autoimmune disease.... I went to a dermatologist yesterday because my skin flared up again. She suggested (in a very kind way) that my weight might be exacerbating my condition, especially my skin because I am getting seriously bad rashes under my arms, breasts and between my thighs.
I am trying so so so hard and progress is extremely slow. With this skin condition this weight has made my quality of life so much worse. It's gotten to a point now that it's seriously affecting both my mental and physical health. I love hiking but hiking during summer is agony because even with shorts on, my thigh chafe can easily get infected because of the autoimmune condition I have.
I want to go to a doctor and ask for Ozempic as the dermatologist recommended. I don't have a family doctor because I live in Canada and they make it next to impossible to get one if you're not from here. I am afraid I will show up at a random doctor who doesn't know my story and they will dismiss me cos I'm not "big enough". But I'm so exhausted with this life.... please if anyone has any nuggets of wisdom, I would love to hear them.
TLDR; I keep gaining & losing the same 20lbs. I find it really hard to lose weight. Now I have a skin condition that could be weight related and it's making my life hell. I want to ask a doctor for Ozempic but I'm scared they will dismiss me because I'm not "that big".

I’m a female, I’m 5’2, I’m almost 200 pounds and I can’t fucking lose weight unless I starve myself and the I gain even more. I either can continue how I eat and work out until I burn like 600 calories lol or I can eat healthy and workout less but I hate healthy food. My mom doesn’t cook and I don’t know how to. I’m a teen who embarrassingly still doesn’t drive cause I’m too scared to. I burn everything I cook and when I have to prep raw meat/ prep food it looks gross and I just lose my appetite and would rather just not eat anything. I’m always hungry and I love sugar and sodas and sweets. My mom just gets McDonald’s and shit every day for us to eat so we’re both fat. I starved 14 lbs off when I was in middle school then just gained a shit ton of weight and I’m just gonna start fasting or some bullshit like that. I hate working out. I hate the gym. I don’t go because “i LoVe My BoDy AnD wAnT tO bE hEaLtHy” I go to the gym because I hate myself. I’m tired of being fat and people telling me I’m fat and feeling fat and looking fat. It’s so annoying and horrible that I did this to myself. I’m not happy. I don’t know what to do besides only eating a little bit of food to where I can actually burn it off. My breakfast itself was probably 1000 calories 😞 when I eat fruits and make healthy meals it’s never satisfying or straight up tastes awful. I have a Florida trip next month that’s supposed to be a blast but I’m dreading going swimming in the heat I can’t avoid because I look awful. I don’t have an eating disorder or anything like that I just don’t like myself and hate how much food I need to feel satisfied.

June 10th, 327
It’s been a bit since I’ve written here. I decided to give Augustine a looser leash and I allowed him to explore the outside world as long as he knew what he was doing.
June 11th, 327
Augustine said he had something to tell me later tonight, he’d been exploring almost every day now, the active sense of adventure that boy has honestly impresses me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A: Hey Zach
Z: Hey what’s up?
A: I wanna tell you about something I found while I was exploring the other day.
Z: Spill then.
A: Alright, so as I was playing around with my long distance teleportation spell and I ended up on the base of a large mountain range. It was strange as I couldn’t teleport all the way to the top, it was like something within the very mountain’s mineral makeup was negating my attempts to teleport up to its peak. So I decided to scale the mountain the old fashion way: climbing it. Thanks to the enhancements given to me by that project I scaled the mountain in no time, and the other side? It was like nothing the world has ever seen, the mountain range was hiding a large gulf of water, a large island placed just within the gulf, lush forest and 2 large mountains towards the center, a place that seemed untouched by time itself. It could be the perfect place to permanently hide from the Templar, after all we can only hide in this cabin for so long before they eventually find us.
I was certainly surprised at the fact that he was able to scale an entire mountain with seemingly very little effort, but what interested me more was the island he discovered. He claimed it looked “untouched” but the higher ups at the Templar claimed they have colonized nearly all the available land in this world so to have an entire island be left untouched is almost like foreign concept, something of legend.
Z: An untouched island? Not only untouched but also unheard of. The Templar said they’ve colonized all known land in this world.
A: I know! But I couldn’t see any mana towers among the trees or any humans from the peak of the mountains.
Z: Well if still untouched after all this time, chances are that they won’t find it anytime soon.
A: exactly! A place where the Templar will never reach…solemn look
Z: What's wrong Augustine? The memories and thoughts haunting you again?
A: yea, I’m sorry to constantly bother you with them but I’ve kept them contained for too long
Z: Hey, hey it’s alright. You’ve never been a bother at all, helping you deal with your issues is what friends are for.
A: I appreciate it Zach, for the longest time Elock was really the only friend I’ve ever had so it’s enlightening hearing someone else say that, to this day I still wonder where she is today and if she’s even alive! I used to have nightmares where I would meet her again just to discover that she’s-
Z: it’s alright, I’m sure she thinks about you every day too and most likely wonders the same every night.
A: Yeah I know, but it’s hard remaining optimistic in this world with the whole war between humans and keidran going on.
Z: Well to me that island sounds like a great place to start.
A: agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Augustine and I agreed to visit the island he found beyond the mountains tomorrow, he thinks it’ll be the perfect place to hide from the Templar.
June 12th, 327
Augustine said that the mountain range was incredibly far, about days worth of running in Augustine’s estimation, so teleporting there is just another thing to add to the list of things he impresses me with. While the material the mountain range is composed of prevents any magic from directly interacting with them, they don’t extend beyond that, so Augustine offered to fly us up there using a telekinetic spell.
Turns out Augustine is only used to telekinetically lifting one item, how do I know? Because he accidentally dropped me. Luckily I landed in a tree. After traversing both sides of the mountain and making it across the water, we arrived on the island at last and man Augustine wasn’t lying. It truly was beautiful, lush fruit bearing trees, 2 large mountains and not even the smallest hint of Templar interference!
We headed further inland and decided to stay at the valley between the 2 mountains with Augustine immediately getting to work and hacking away at the tree with the guard’s sword. After a few hours of work, Augustine already had a large pile of planks with me barely keeping up and Augustine teasing me about it, oh I’m sorry not everyone is a magically enhanced super soldier.
It was beginning to grow dark and we made the decision to head back to the cabin for today and continue the build some later time. Augustine made a waypoint in the cabin so getting back was easy though it had some issues as it took a while to activate. I took a rock sample from the mountains to analyze back at the cabin.
June 13th, 327
This was fascinating! The rock sample I took had incredibly unique properties never before seen! Its primary ability was “absorbing” sources of mana. I had stabbed one of our mana crystals into the rock and I observed as it broke down the crystal over the course of an hour! This explains why Augustine couldn’t teleport up the mountain. So even if the Templar did find the mountain they would never get over it, even with the most powerful mages magic.
Augustine had gone out to town again, he said it was to pick up building tools to help shore up the house we were building. He claimed he could handle it on his own and despite me wanting to protest, I let him go through with it. Unfortunately the town we went to around a week ago didn’t have a hardware store as any construction must run through Lulio first, so Augustine had to head to the neighboring town to see if he could find anything there.
~~~~~~~~~~
(Cut to Augustine’s pov)
Thoughts: “ugh cmon how hard could a hardware store be to find, it feels like I’ve been searching for hours already!”
sees sign with a hammer on it
“Gah! Finally!”
heads inside
Shopkeeper: Greetings sir! How may I assist you today?
“Uhh it’s alright I can handle it on my own, thanks for the offer though!”
Thoughts: this time the illusion should last longer as these mana crystals are fresh rather than being recharged.
grabs a large amount of nails, 2 hammers, some axes to preserve his sword, saws, sand paper, and stone blocks
Shopkeeper: Oh my sir, this is an awful load that you’ll have to carry on your own, are you sure you can handle it?
“Yes I’m sure…”
Shopkeeper: Are you sure? We have a policy that allows you to rent slaves to help you with whatever you’re working on.
“No, n-“
(Shopkeep rings a bell to send a slave to the front before Augustine could interject)
Thoughts: are you kidding me? Gahhh cmon Zack is waiting for me and I don’t wanna keep him on the line!
Female voice: coming!
Augustine: frustrated and staring at the floor
Shopkeeper: How about this one? Hard worker she is, very cooperative, very friendly.
Augustine: looks up
Elock: hello sir! How may I assist you today?
shivering
Thoughts: E- Elock?! When?! How?! I thought you worked for a farmer?! I can’t say anything, it'll reveal my identity to the worker! Okay, okay, okay just keep it calm!
“I- uh stuttering I changed my mind! She can help me, I’ll take her!”
Shopkeeper: I’m not surprised, she’s gone from owner to owner as she’s quite a hard worker, she’s worth a lot of money after being traded so many times before ending up at my place. 1000G for 7 days.
“I- yes I’ll take her”
Shopkeeper: perfect!
exits with supplies and Elock
~~~~~~~~~~
Elock looking at Augustine’s wanted poster: solemn
“Something wrong?”
Elock: oh! N-nothing! It’s just these ropes binding my hands are just a bit tight! And W-where are we heading sir? We’re outside of town at this point and I- uh-
A: chuckles a bit you’re still just as bad as ever at hiding your nervousness Elock
Elock: Ah- I- how do you know my name?!
A: unties the rope and disables illusion It’s been a while, wouldn’t you agree?
Elock in shock and on the verge of tears: I…A…trembling, mouth slightly ajar in shock
A: what? Cat got your tongue? Well I guess that’s true consid-
Elock: pounces on him AUGUSTINE! I’ve missed you so much!How have you been?!Where did you- starts talking so fast that even Augustine couldn’t keep up with what she was saying and weeping happy tears profusely on his shirt
A: slightly choking from how tight she’s hugging him it’s okay, it’s okay! I’ve missed you too. I almost thought you were gonna be de- ow ow! Stop it I was kidding!
Elock: blep I know. Not a single day went by where I didn’t think about you! And say weren't your eyes brown before?
A: I’m flattered that you still remember and well…it’s kind of a long story…but first let’s retreat to safety. teleports with Elock
~~~~~~~~~~
A: …and then I ended up here
Elock: That’s incredible! You sure had been on a wild cart ride while I was gone! I wish I could have been there.
A: It's not as glamorous as it sounds, that experiment was agony incarnate, it’s a wonder I survived! In fact I was the only one who came out alive, though the powers I got bestowed with are certainly nothing to complain about but still the effects after we’re brutal.
Elock: glad you did, the way you and Zach escaped the facility was incredible.
A: well he can tell you all about it points to cabin we’ve arrived
Zach opens door
A: Hey Zach, I’m back from my shopping spree.
Z: Augustine what took you so long? The plan was to just get the supplies and get out.
A: I know! But I got a bit off track. I found someone very special.
Elock: pokes head through the door Mrow?
A: meet Elock, remem-
Z: her! The keidran you met when you were 10?
A: yup to Elock it’s alright Elock it’s fine he won’t bite.
Elock: H- hello sir.
Z: please call me Zach. It’s a pleasure.
shakes hand
Elock: it’s a nice place you 2 have here.
A: It was by sheer luck that we found this place actually.
Z: Yeah, the blast was much larger than we’d anticipated and even if my house remained intact, they’d still come searching for me.
Elock: Well lucky you found this place when you did.
A: Are you hungry Elock? We have some steak leftovers.
Elock: oh, I am actually, thank you!
Z: say Elock…
Elock: yes?
Z: Would you mind telling us your journey? I’d love to learn.
A: Zach!
Z: Right, sorry.
Elock: No, no Augustine, it’s alright. I don’t mind in the slightest.
Life in the rainforest regions was paradise, plenty of food, clean sources of water, plenty of building materials, and a beautiful sight to wake up to everyday. My parents worked directly under the matriarch, Lektra(keidran for bolt/thunder) so me being born was almost as exciting as the coronation of the matriarch herself. Unfortunately that swiftly came to a close when Lulio decided to use our home as farmland and despite protests from Lektra, Lulio still went through with the plan. In a flash everything was pretty much destroyed. Our warriors tried to fight back but were eliminated instantly, I was about 3 when this happened and the memory still burns strong to this day.
Augustine: muttering under his breath psychotic bastard…
Elock: I know how you feel, Augustine, trust me I do.
A: I know, I’m sorry
Elock: holds his hand It's alright.
After the destruction of my people and my home, I was sent into the town and stayed in a keidran only home until my 4th birthday. Instead of pleasant accommodations like human orphan homes, all we got was a pillow and some sheets to make ourselves comfortable with, most of us slept on the hardwood floor and it was unbearable. Lulio passed a law where keidran as young as 4 would be eligible for work. After my 4th birthday I was almost immediately whisked off to work on a farm, while the job was tough, they at least gave me my own room and bed, one of their guests even took a small liking to me but tragically he died of a lung infection.
Z: I lament your journey and loss Elock, I can’t imagine how tough this was to bear all at once.
Elock: please it’s okay, you don’t have to apologize for anything. None of this is any of your wrongdoing.
Z: You said your people were killed but what about your parents? Did they survive too?
Elock: Oh right! My parents were spared as they opted to surrender peacefully and they were sold to different owners. I used to occasionally see them from time to time but after I moved I had to say a tearful goodbye to both them and Augustine. playfully pinches his cheek
Z: You’re strong for getting through that, not many could take that much.
Elock: I appreciate that.
Z: Do you have any idea where your parents are right now?
Elock: I think they’re still in the same tow- Augustine? Are you okay?
A: on the other hand gripping the table so hard that it was gonna break, eyes with a look of both confusion and rage
Elock: Augustine?
A: I- I saw them…
Elock: What do you mean?
A: They were there…in the same room.
Elock: Are you talking about the operation?
A: Y- yes…I saw them, both of them. They were in the operation too, part of the 10 keidrans selected to be in the experiment. I briefly saw them looking at me, they were scared but I couldn’t do a damn thing to help them and now they're dead! slowly growing hysterical
Elock: Augustine!
A: snaps out of his hysterics
Elock: it’s not your fault! Neither of you have to feel guilty!
A: I know, but I just wish I could have done something to help them, but I was just a powerless child.
Z: Augustine. We all wish we could have done something to stop Lulio’s plan, we all feel the same way just please don’t put all the blame on yourself.
A: I know, I'm sorry…
Elock: it’s alright…we’re all here to support you, you got hit the hardest out of all so you should be the one to be the one who receives sympathy.
A: …thanks guys, It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve heard something so comforting.
Elock: don’t worry, we’ll never leave and when we do, we’ll leave together.
A: …oh! Elock, I hate to do this but would you mind helping us with something? We found a place that could be our key to salvation.
Elock: Of course! I don’t mind in the slightest.
A: teleports all 3 of them via waypoint
~~~~~~~~~~
Elock: in awe of the island I…this is incredible! It reminds me so much of my home! And you were right! There’s no hint of Templar activity at all!
A: We were just as shocked as you are right now when we first found it. I mean like Zach said, the Templar claimed that they have settled on all available land in this world.
Elock: Well then, let’s make good use of this place, so let’s get to work!
A: I couldn't have said it better myself.
hours later, the trio had finished building a moderate sized wooden house
A: woo! Not bad for a day's work, am I right?
Elock: Mrrrr…man that was a nice workout!
Z: Tell me about it!
A: So Elock, should we tell Zach?
Elock: I think so!
Z: Tell me…what?
A: Well…on the way here, Elock and I started thinking and we were thinking of a way we could free other slaves from their captors.
Z: sigh… well at this point, I know better than to criticize your plan before even hearing it so go ahead, spill it on me.
A: Operation: torchwick
—————

1. Elock would be our messenger, using her spare time to get any other slaves on board with the plan, amassing as many as possible.
   
2. On the large hill next to the town, we plant a large amount of gray mana crystals. Where downhill wind will carry the effect down into the town
   

(Gray mana crystals were created for a special purpose, making large smokescreens on the battlefield)

1. I would then use a spell that emits a light that can’t be perceived by humans but can be seen by keidrans and basitins alike, Which would act as the signal to go for it.
   
2. The group would then head towards the light where we would then break for the mountains as fast as possible.
   

(Unfortunately the waypoint spell barely lasts for even a few days, and teleporting a large group of people via waypoint could be tough even for me)
I would then use as much of my power as possible to telekinetic lift as many refugees as possibl-
Z: Yeah…considering that you almost dropped me off the side of the mountain, I think even you would have trouble lifting a bunch of slaves.
A: hey!
Elock: Mreeheehee!
A: anyways! After we figure out a way to get everyone up there, we’ll be untouchable!
Z: huh…well from one chaotic strategist to another, it’s worth a shot.
A: Perfect! See Elock?
Elock: mew?
A: I kept the promise I made, all those years ago! when we meet again, it’ll be your freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also for anyone who wants to know a bit more about Elock:
Name: Elock of the rainforest leopards
Species: rainforest leopard
Languages: human, keidran
Physical characteristics: yellow fur, black nose marking, black rosettes running down back and onto tail, unusually big and poofy tail, butter yellow hair with black streaks, faint outline of heart pattern on her behind
Height: 5’4”
Age: 9 years(was 4 when she met Augustine)
Eye color: emerald green
Mental characteristics:
-Quick learner
-Eager to help
-Bad at hiding panic
-Imaginative
-Heart of gold
-Shy but slowly growing out of it
-Optimistic
Likes: adventure, rain, storytelling, being adored, helping, hugs(especially from Augustine), pouncing on people she cares about.
Dislikes: slavery, Templar(although not as intensely as most others)
Unlike most, Elock had the ability to both read and write prior to slavery, being taught by both her parents and Lektra herself. Spending most of her time reading and drawing using whatever material she could find.