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Brave

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  1. Yo yo yiggity yo! It's your favorite reincarnating Demon Lord server mod about to commit what may possibly be the worst mistake of his career by resurrecting a long-dead community meme. This time, coming to you live from my room in Florida! The rules are simple enough but for those of you too young to remember the Reborn AMA trend or just very bad at taking directions, they are as follows:

     

    Use this thread to submit questions for me to answer during the livestream. Submissions will be closed approximately one hour before the stream begins. It's gonna be this Friday (16 October 2020) around 5PM EST so the maximum possible number of people have time to submit and tune in. I do this for you, Eurobros. Never say I'm not one for inclusivity. In the style of the old Ask Me Anything threads of eons past, you can submit multiple questions in the same post and, as the name implies, ask me more or less anything. However, I reserve the right to skip, mix up, or ignore questions posted here at my discretion. Additionally, while I will answer almost anything asked of me, I request that you adhere to the following rules since I AM still a mod and, more importantly, a person and the rules are still in effect.

     

    1. Don't troll too much; there's only so much one person can take.

    2. No explicitly sexual questions.

    3. Try not to repeat questions i.e. read (or at least try to read) the previous questions asked and try and give me some variety. This is supposed to be fun for me, too.

    4. Pertaining to the above: Please endeavour to ask funny, curious, thought-provoking, or interesting questions.

    5. Be respectful, both to myself and the other people in the stream. I CAN still ban your asses if someone steps too far out of line.

     

    I think that's it. Have at me, then, you foul miscreants (and try not to make me regret doing this)!

    • Like 1
  2. Hey, look, I'm on the forums. That's rare.

     

    Y'all know what time it is! Party Time! That means it's once again time for that beloved Reborn tradition: Reborn Royalty! Side note: I've been told that I completely misinterpreted what "Reborn Royalty" meant and that we aren't deciding who among us shall rule over the peasantry as is divinely ordained by Our Lord and Savior. But, like, why even HAVE an aristocracy in the first place? This government is ridiculous. Anyway, for those of you unaware, let me quote the Lady herself:

    On 6/23/2019 at 3:42 AM, Amethyst said:

    Reborn Royalty

    • The classic popularity contest returns! Vote in your favorite users for the categories of 2019 Ember King, Midsummer Queen, and Sunlit Sovereign! 
      • As before, we'll be accepting nominations before the party, and then voting will happen on the day of! Results will be announced then and there and we'll take a moment to appreciate our three winners! 
      • Please note that unlike previous years, nominations are not open as of the start of this topic. We'll make a new topic calling for nominations on June 22nd! From then you have one week to get your nominations in before voting on the day of the party.
      • The categories of Ember King, Midsummer Queen, and Sunlit Sovereign are intended to be for men, women, and nonbinary individuals respectively, but this has never been an enforced guideline and you are welcome to vote whoever you like for any category

    A few changes from that quote, though:

    1. NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN AT THE START OF THIS TOPIC! So go ahead at it. The floodgates are open; nominate as many people as you want until the day of the party.
    2. To keep things funky fresh and fun, y'all ain't allowed to nominate Jan, Zumi, or ZEL for any category since they won last year. Pick someone new, you filthy meme children.

     

    Okay so just two changes, I guess. I'll keep a running list of nominees ITT. Have fun, y'all ❤️

     

    NOTE: Please tag your nominations so that I can insert their links into this list easier okay thanks bye ❤️

    Ember King
    Abyss
    Alistair
    Bibs
    Brave
    Candy

    Caz
    Chxxo
    Godot
    Hellscythe

    Huggy

    Hycrox

    Kyle

    Marcello
    Pyrros

     

    Midsummer Queen

    Amethyst
    Azzie
    Broken Elegance

    Cass
    Chevalerazze
    Cicada
    Crimson

    Ice Cream Sand Witch
    Kanaya
    Lost Lore
    Mu7e

    Posty
    Ruby

    Starry Night

    Vanitas

    Vinnie

    Walpurgis

     

    Sunlit Sovereign

    Adrian (A11)
    Alex
    Candy
    Caz

    Ceratisa
    Cerise

    Inuki
    Khrona

    Posty
    Sin City

    Toothpaste Fairy
    Waynolt

    Super Sunrise Emperor (All 3)
    Ikaru
    Kyra
    Ruby
    Smooth

     

    • Like 5
    • Hmm 2
  3. That fucking feel when you reach your mental limit with this fucking stupid election cycle trying to figure out how and why people could be so fucking stupid as to vote for an idiot like Trump with no experience, no real policies, no morals, no brain!!!!! I've actually seen a comment today in which someone says they are sick of lying, fake politicians and they're voting for Trump because he's "real", the problem with that being his "realness" is just as bad as the negative traits politicians try to hide about themselves. I've seen pundits on TV bend over backwards trying to defend him and justify what he does and says day after day after motherfucking day and APPARENTLY HALF THE FUCKING COUNTRY is full of dumb cunts who will excuse literally anything about him because he's the republican nominee or because they just like him or because they actually think failure businessman can lead this country better than someone with three decades of experience. Even if you hate her guts, you still have to vote for her! This is even worse than voting Reagan into office! At least Reagan had some government experience before he ran! He has the backing of every neo-Nazi, neo-Confederate, white supremacist, and KKK member in the fucking country and leads among the uneducated white voters who pick their president not based off policy or beliefs or ideals or ability but whether or not they can see themselves having a fucking beer with them. Trump is benefiting from the same trade deals you hate so much! His shit is made in China and Mexico!

    "Oh, the politicians have no clue what they're doing we need a businessman in office to fix America"

    AMERICA DOESN'T NEED THAT KIND OF FIXING! A COUNTRY IS NOT A CORPORATION AND SHOULD NOT BE RUN LIKE ONE; PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN THE EQUATION HERE. HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT KIND OF SYSTEM TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN A BUSINESS'S MAIN AND ONLY GOAL IS TO MAKE MONEY AT ALL COSTS?! THIS IS NOT A GAME, IT'S THE FUTURE OF THE FUCKING COUNTRY, YOU IGNORANT SACKS OF HORSE SHIT!

    I am so fucking done with the human race right now, a bunch of brain dead apes running around thinking they know everything, thinking they know better than actual experts who have an education and who devote their entire lives and careers to becoming professionals at something and actually know what the fuck they're talking about; a mindless horde of idiots who will swallow or believe anything so long as you convince them that it's good for them which isn't hard to do because they don't FUCKING THINK for more than two seconds a day! This species is the worst thing to ever crawl its way out of the primordial muck and disgrace the universe with its existence and I have never felt more shame and rage at being a part of it. I just want this fucking election to be over, for Hillary to win, and for Trump and all his fucking brainless supporters to disappear back into the cesspool of society so we can be done with this crap already. I legitimately did not think it was possible to hate people this much, but then again, I didn't think an idiot of this magnitude would have gotten this close to the presidency.

  4. Name: Raiga

    Lv7

    HP - 24

    Str - 10

    Mag - 3

    Skill - 16

    Spd - 12

    Lck - 15

    Def - 8

    Res - 6

    Boon/Bane: +Skill/-Magic

    Class: Samurai

    Castle Address: 00511-67594-54997-37520

    Alright, so I used 2 Dragon Herbs and a pair of Boots on my Corrin. If I'm right, I should have just made you a crit machine that abuses Astra. My life is in your hands, Lord Pyrr.

  5. I -DO- disagree with you on "assimilation" weakening the human race conceptually, because the race is ultimately stronger when collaborating with one another as opposed to working independently.

    • I feel like "assimilation" is the wrong word to use in that instance. "Cooperation" sounds more appropriate since, as I said, the former word has some negative connotations attached to it. At least for me; when I hear it, I picture no variation across a population and that is always a bad thing. We can agree on one thing here, at least: We're much stronger together than apart.

    Personally, my biggest issue with conservatives (mostly the ones like Mikes Pence and Huckabee) is the fact that they are beholden to outdated practices. What worked or was acceptable in their time is no longer in the current era but they insist on it. I won't get into the Supreme Court ruling too much, but it does help illustrate my point pretty well. Whether intentional or not, sometimes conservatism can come across as bigoted because traditional values clash with the reality of today, and often the staunch refusal to accept said reality comes across as intolerant (see Kim Davis). It doesn't help that coded language is involved when discussing certain topics, and used as a way to sort of cheat the system by creating loopholes in state legislatures. The silent majority of conservatives who hold no ill will towards others get no ill will from me, but I think their silence might just be a part of the greater issue, y'know? IDK, I just wanted to clarify on that. It's good to know there are people like you in the world.

  6. Before I begin, let me first preface this by saying I am not a conservative, nor am I pious in any way. Still, I don't think this prevents me from commenting on religious matters.
    ["As a conservative and someone who is usually a strong advocate for assimilation over diversity in some instances I've often wondered if assimilation is what the Gospel truly pushes those who believe in Jesus to pursue."]
    • It's beyond me how anyone can argue for assimilation over diversity, seeing as how diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a species. The act of assimilating into a culture carries with in an expectation that the person assimilating abandon aspects of themselves and their culture - pieces of their identity - solely for the purpose of fitting in. Even with my cursory knowledge of the Gospel, I don't believe Jesus' message was for adherents of Christianity to cast off their identity so that they might be accepted by him and the Lord. Jesus was all about acceptance of others' differences, and it is through understanding our differences that we learn what makes us similar. Prejudice towards others was nowhere in Big J's game plan and certainly not what he wanted his followers to do; the overall message of Christianity is unconditional love and acceptance. Assimilation has too many conditions attached to it.
    ["If this is the case - is it not possible for those who love those of the same sex to honor God as those who love those of the opposite sex do? What about those who have cast out the gender boundery in favor of a spectrum or lack of image at all? Is it not possible for the xe's and xem's of the world to honor God?"]
    • That's a bit of a silly question IMO; if the vegetarian and the omnivore both equally honor God despite being fundamentally different, logically, it makes sense that gay people and nonbinary people can do the same in relation to heterosexuals. This is a constant source of confusion to me when it comes to religious conservatives, and this isn't to point fingers or cast aspersions on you. I just struggle to understand how one can say God's love is infinite and unconditional and that all one need do to accept his love is be open to it, only to turn around and claim that it is impossible for someone to love God because they don't conform to traditional gender roles or conservative social norms. The more extreme ones say God outright hates those who do not share their worldview. Such statements are incongruent with the core philosophy of Christianity and Jesus' word. God cannot be all-loving if he hates the people who willingly don't follow him.
    ["This doesn't mean that everything should be tolerated, mind you - but it would seem like - to Paul anyway - that people are not in the position to pass judgement against others."]
    • Right, and right again. Nobody is in any position to pass judgement on others, with the exception of those who willingly do wrong for wrong's sake. However, I feel I must be as clear as possible about the first half of that sentence. "Not everything should be tolerated". Yes, and no; we shouldn't tolerate persecution or evil or oppression but when it comes to the differences that make each person unique, I don't believe we have a choice in the matter. We have to tolerate peoples' differences; if we don't, then we risk succumbing to the idea of forcibly changing another so that they might fit our image of who they should be. No one has any right to do that to anyone else. If we become intolerant, we become tyrants. The world doesn't need tyrants.

    ["It also means that maybe those of us in the faith should be more considerate of what God's Word really says about things before applying basic family upbringing and conservative social norms to the world that is doomed regardless of it being traditional or progressive."]

    • This is going to come off rude no matter how I say it so I'mma just say it: How is this not obvious? The faithful most absolutely SHOULD be more considerate of the Gospel and its true intended meaning before forcing their beliefs on other people. The world and the people in it aren't going to bend to any one ideology over another just because it claims to know the truth of the universe as said by (their proposed) one true god. Or maybe that's not what you meant by that sentence; either way, the truth of it still stands. Also, I don't think it's fair to say the world is doomed. That is just one perspective out of many with its own rationality behind why the world is doomed. For all the shit that's going on right now, I think the world will be fine and it doesn't need faith to save it. This is just my opinion but it especially doesn't need to be clinging to conservative social norms that have not and show no sign of adapting in the face of an ever-evolving world, society, and species. One of the basic tenets of existence on this planet is "Adapt or Die", and those who refuse to do so are the truly doomed. Preservation of culture and tradition is fine; it's when conservatism is spread through force that it becomes a disease rather than the balm its adherents believe it to be. Heterogeneity and tradition aren't as cool as they sound. Progress is the only way forward.

    Apologies if anything I've said offended you. I just can't pass up an opportunity to debate.

  7. My earlier post might run counter to this but I do agree with the doctrine of moderation, and with the notion of preserving what makes your culture unique. You've perfectly summarized the ways in that conservatism can be a good thing that helps a culture persist throughout time; I'm just struggling with the concept of such stubborn refusal/animosity toward anything foreign or new. Logically, anyone can conclude that all that is old was once new, so an irrational hatred of new concepts can only serve to destroy someone from the inside out. They always lead to a violent revolution with the goal of overturning the current order and that, as you've also said, ironically destroys a culture more than anything else.

    And yet, conservatism is alive and strong here. I understand preserving custom and tradition but American conservatives do not have a leg to stand on here. Custom and tradition are no justification for targeted discrimination or anything else I've cited. It's like with that whole Confederate flag debacle a while back; the people who wanted to keep it flying cited their desire to keep their culture alive as well as the memory of their ancestors. Their ancestors whose entire motivation and justification for the Civil War - which was basically treason against the US - was "fuck you, don't take our slaves". At that point, you're not trying to preserve a culture; you're just being a bigot and denying truth. The bad thing is there is a balance to be found here but they refuse to see it.

  8. Okay so I'm starting a new topic because I'm impatient and it's taking me too long to read all the topics and replies here so let's a-go!

    I was scrollin' through Tumblr earlier today, as one does, and I came across a post that disgusted me to my very core. It began...innocuously enough, if not a little abrasively, with the phrase "Liberalism is the modern face of evil". I'll include the link to the post later; you really have to read this for yourself to see how ridiculous it is. Aside from ridiculous, though, there was a distinctly conservative borderline fascist tone to the post that I just could not comprehend. Which brings me to my main point:

    Conservatism.

    WHY?

    Briefly defined, "Conservatism [is] a political and social philosophy [that] promotes retaining traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization.". It's easy to understand the reasoning behind such a philosophy but I cannot for the life of me understand how anybody thinks that this is a good idea. Imagine if the Roman Empire existed in the modern day as it was in its prime, completely unchanged from that point. How long do you think it would be before it imploded in a glorious spectacle of civil unrest and revolution? I don't think it would take more than a decade because in that time, the rest of the world would have advanced ten years in terms of science, technology, society, education, etc while the Romans would have remained exactly the same. To change at all would be to change the very idea of what it meant to be Roman and it would sure as fuck screw up the status quo. Powerful people don't like it when the status quo is disrupted so it's no surprise that most powerful people are also conservative. Conservatives think that so long as they keep to the same course they've been on since time immemorial, everything will be A-OK but that's objectively not true.

    I'll use the US as an example because the state of US political discourse and activity is deplorable and it's actually a great model for this. Conservatives (at least social conservatives) in America hold in high regard, among other things, traditional family values and 'the sanctity of marriage' (whatever that is), traditional notions of sexuality and gender, and a balance of power that allows them to enforce their beliefs as the law of the land. It's when things change within a population with time that you begin to see the flaws in that stance. Conservatives are in an uproar that the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in the United States; that people are arguing for more gun control in the wake of all these terrible mass shootings; conservatives hate that a woman is now able to choose whether or not she wants to carry a child, and that trans people are being given the same rights and liberties as them. All of these advances in society that you would view as positive are antithetical to the notion of conservatism. Years ago and still today, conservatives argued against the Civil Rights Act because giving black people basic civil liberties and treating them as equals was a massive change to the status quo that said discrimination and violence against us was totally acceptable. Conservatives argue for more war in an era where warfare is becoming less and less of a viable strategy on a global scale. I could go on but then this post becomes an analytical diatribe or a research paper and I ain't got time for that.

    I submit the following: [American] Conservatism is the modern face of evil [in America!]. It stands against all forms of social progress and equality separating us from the rest of the developing would. It advocates we keep using fossil fuels and denies the definitive science behind global warming, vaccines, and evolution. It loves the idea of small government because then the government cannot make individual states fall in line with federal anti-discrimination mandates or any other policies meant to move us forward as a nation or protect the average person. Conservatism is, in effect, a desperate attempt to cling to the ways of a bygone era that have no place in a modern civilized society. It would have us backslide into the 1950s and stay there forever, because the (excuse the terminology) old white racist patriarchal mentality that fuels American conservatism had been the dominating ideology for centuries. Now that things are changing, they feel their power slipping. I feel as if conservatism in contemporary discourse is a philosophy reserved for closeted bigots and ignorant people who refuse to be educated, or to treat others with the respect they are due, or want to be able to say and do whatever they want without consequence or regard for who they hurt. Conservatism is about keeping power in the hands of the powerful majority and a refusal to adapt to a changing world.

    Conservatism, contrary to popular opinion, is not the opposite of liberalism. It's the opposite of progress. I'm not saying that liberalism is everything and perfect and without its flaws because it isn't, but it's a damn sight better than refusing to change. It's an ultimately futile endeavor that hurts more than it helps. Two of the only certainties in the universe are

    1) that change is the only constant; to resist is futile

    and

    2) those who fail to adapt to their environment are doomed to extinction.

    You can only keep a group of people down for so long before they get sick of it and revolt. You can only keep doing the same damn thing for so long before it stops working. So my question is: why? What purpose does conservatism serve besides that which is detrimental and outdated?

    EDIT: oh shit, I forgot the link. Sidenote: This is my personal tumblr; feel free to follow or not.

    http://blueskygazer.tumblr.com/post/149011128186/perks-of-being-lebanese-pragula-glimmii#notes

  9. So, what brings you back here sport?

    I missed this place and I feel like I'm missing a sense of community in my life. I know I could probably find that IRL where I live, but I'm not very fond of where I live or the people living in it. For context, I live in New York (on Long Island) and its fast-paced, "me first, everyone else can go die" mentality is really not sitting well with me. This 'bubble effect' is by no means unique to NY; the same phenomena occurs everywhere and is unique to each location but the vibe here in particular is really selfish, generally uneducated, and REALLY boring. There aren't many people I can hold a conversation with or who think about anything other than what concerns them and their puny human routines.

    Reborn's community is (mostly) made up of a variety of different people who share my interests or offer a differing viewpoint I'd never considered. I think Amethyst did a great job with this and the community members are, for the most part, pretty cool people.

    1. A drug is made publically available that prolongs life indefinitely, effectively creating immortality. Do you take it? When do you start? How long do you take it for?
    2. A trolley speeds down a rail with a person you like, and all of the people you hate most, tied to it. You have access only to a lever which shifts the trolley onto a second rail with an equivalent number of people, none of whom you know. In regards to the person you like, for what kind of person would you -not- pull the lever?
    3. The dimensions have collapsed and you are the sole human survivor. You can freely choose what kind of world you live out your days alone in. What do you want your new planet home to be like?
    4. Referring to the group of people whom you recently met up with, what about each of them betrayed your expectations the most?

    1. Once I turn, like, 30 or have a physical appearance I can see myself having for the rest of eternity, I take the drug immediately and continue to take it for the next few millennia. Immortality has its downsides like outliving everyone you've ever known or loved but at some point, they were going to die anyway and I wouldn't be too far behind. Not to say I don't care about these people but I want to witness firsthand the course of human events and see if I can influence them in any way. Maybe we live long enough and advance far enough to see an era of true peace. We're eventually gonna develop interstellar travel and that's gonna be baller as fuck but my natural lifespan will run out before that point. There's just so much to do and see on this planet alone that I think immortality will be worth it. I might find someone to spend eternity with; I might have multiple partners but either way, I get to experience love in a way no mortal being can. Immortality also allows me to come to my own conclusions to burning philosophical and existential questions that have plagued humanity for eons. What is the true nature of humanity; destructive or benevolent? Do we have souls? Is there an objective truth that all sentient life should know and adhere to, or is it all really up to interpretation?

    Once I feel that I've gotten everything that I can/want out of life, I stop taking the drug and wait for my life to end. 10,000 sounds like a good age to die at.

    2. I wouldn't pull the lever for a shitty person. By that I mean a person who is willfully ignorant or bigoted or can otherwise be described as "scum of the earth". If you go about your miserable existence bringing pain to others for the sake of it or to make others as miserable as you are, you're getting run over. Assuming that all life is sacred, I would be committing a sin either way so it comes down to who you would want to save. But then it comes down to the value of an individual life; whether or not value goes up or down in accordance to how one lives or whether it's the same no matter who you are or what you do.... I'd personally save the person I like even if it meant my most hated enemies get to live. Like I said, the weight of a number of lives is on your shoulders regardless so you might as well go with your gut.

    3. I would love it if the world was like an RPG that I could freely choose to adventure in and explore. I want rolling hills of grass and clean air and a vibrant ecosystem to observe. I want to be able to chill out in a pasture feeding sheep and then go off into the badlands and engage monsters in epic combat. Assuming I'm immortal on this world, it would be cool to watch the process of evolution in real-time. Or as close to real-time as an immortal being can get; 5 years must pass by in like, a week for someone like that.

    4. I honestly didn't expect Diana to be so smol. I knew she was smaller than me (most people are) but I never expected her to be THAT smol. Morgan is pretty much exactly as I expected her to be but I never knew she reads manga laying down with book above her face like she's the protagonist of a shoujou anime lmfao weeb trash (jk morgan ilu). I don't believe I'd actually seen Dan's face until the moment we met and he's quite a handsome lad. I guess I never expected him to be about as skinny as me. For some reason, I felt like he was built like a football player. Not an American football player, I mean like a real footballer. IDK I don't really go experiences like that expecting anything of anyone; I have a picture of them in my head based on our interactions and I've found them to be fairly accurate aside from a few physical details. Diana did say she didn't expect me to look the way I do or for my voice to sound the way it does. I guess that's a good thing???

  10. What would you say is your strongest attribute? Answer in terms of RPG stats or actual traits you as a human being possess.

    If you weren't living in Colorado, what US state would you want to live in? Alternatively, what country?

    Cats or dogs?

    Why do you always set things on fire? Are you a secret pyromaniac or is it some cruel trick of the gods?

  11. OK first of all BlackWarGreymon is AMAZING and adorable in the series so checkmark to you lol.

    I'm 23 almost 24 so it's cool you're close to my age.

    What's your ideal career and why?

    Digimon or Pokemon or both for anime and games wise?

    Triumphant or adorable moment in your life or that you witnessed?

    I hope I can get to know you better over time. You seem like a cool dude. :) Have a great day/night.

    My ideal career is something in the scientific field, preferably doing lab work, research, or teaching at a university. Maybe all 3; we'll have to see where that goes. All fields of science have interested me from a young age and I figure since I'm going to school to learn all this shit, I want a job putting that knowledge to use. If I have to work a desk job for the rest of my life to survive, I'll do it but I'mma be fuckin PISSED. I want to be making breakthroughs, not pushing paper.

    Digimon for the anime ESPECIALLY Tri, Pokemon for the games. The Pokemon anime's best seasons were probably the Advanced Generation and Diamond and Pearl; it fell apart after that point IMO. Meanwhile, all the seasons of the Digimon anime were best, my personal favorites being Season 3 (Tamers) and Season 5 (Savers). I really like the Digimon World games but not enough of them have been localized and not enough had that spirit of "raise this monster to be the best it can be glhf" that the original games had. If I were to have a digimon partner, the line would go something like

    Botamon - Pagumon - Tsukaimon - Devidramon - Black Megalo Growmon - Black War Greymon

    and he would be the most baller digital monster to ever ball though I would want another partner because 2 of anything good is always better.

    I can't think of any big triumphs that I've witnessed others achieve, or anything like that. But when I think of "adorable" I think of the first time I saw my cat. I walked into the puppy store (yes there were cats in a puppy store oh the humanity) they tell me someone dropped off a litter of 6 and that she was the only one who hadn't been adopted yet. They were keeping the cats in what could only be described as a modified birdcage with a hammock on the upper level and she was sleeping in it curled in a little kitty ball. When I approached, she put her head up, yawned, and looked me in the eye and I was like "I MUST HAVE HER" and so I did.

    Same here, dude, feel free to talk to me :D

  12. Will you marry me?

    Sorry, I'm flattered but:

    A) We don't know each other well enough and I'd rather not end up like Romeo and Juliet

    B) I don't have the means to support myself, let alone the two of us and any potential kids we might have and

    C) The booty isn't phat enough

    what's with the new weeb name, buddy?

    also, where have you been hiding this whole time? I had my men comb the countrysides and deserts but I don't think they were doing it right.

    tumblr_mi8x55aSxY1rur665o1_500.jpg

    The first answer actually has several parts to it, but you're right: one of those parts is due to my being a fucking weeb :P

    Firstly is that "Raiga" is a screen name I've been using since I first started really using the Internet and it's stuck with me ever since, though I haven't always used it as my "default" name. Those who know me know that I'm famously indecisive and have used many screen names over a period of years. I was 14 when I thought up the name and, originally, I just wanted something that sounded close to my actual name; Raiga fit the bill and I liked the sound of it. Then I got older and started to understand more of how the Japanese language functions, and that one of the readings of this kanji [雷], meaning 'thunder', is usually read as "kaminari" but can be read as "rai" when paired with another kanji which I thought was bitchin'. Then I learned that the 'ga' sound in Japanese can translate into 'is' [が] or 'fang' [牙] depending on the kanji used.

    So 'Raiga' can be written as [雷が] which means 'lightning' (somehow the 'ga' kanji makes the entire word read that way lol Japanese) or [雷牙] meaning 'thunder fang'. Because I'm a huge nerd, I thought it was cool that there were different meanings to this name in Japanese so that just made me want to keep the name even more. I absolutely LOVE the sound of thunder and the science behind it so why wouldn't I keep this name?

    DISCLAIMER: Any use of the pronoun "you" during the following explanation is meant in the general sense and only directed towards people whom I no longer associate with/have said shit like this to me.

    The other half of this name is Kurohada [黒肌] meaning 'black skin'. This is a fairly simple answer: I'm black and I'm proud of it. I and countless other black people in America (possibly over in Europe, too) have been told that we aren't 'black enough' by a bunch of skinny white kids trying to emulate a degrading stereotype that they think is what it means to be black. Because I have a wide vocabulary, because I am well-spoken and intelligent, dress like I was raised in the suburbs for most of my life (which I was), because I don't speak African American Vernacular English (but I can understand it) or sell drugs or say "nigga" every other word, I'm not black.

    "lololol ur so white rj even i'm blacker than u"

    I have heard that phrase and its derivatives ad nauseum; I cannot begin to express how fucking insulting and annoying it was to hear this shit from people who can't spend more than 8 minutes in the sun without burning and who have never experienced for ONE SECOND the life of the average black person. No, motherfucker, you aren't blacker than me because YOU'RE NOT BLACK. I am. And I don't appreciate you or anybody else trying to dictate my identity just because I don't fit your egregious and insulting stereotype of blackness. It's a point of pride for me, especially considering the history of my people and the problems that have and still affect us to this day.

    Kurohada Raiga [黒肌 雷牙] 'black skin thunder fang'. The name itself invokes the image of a black tiger whose stripes are lightning; a living thunder cloud whose roar shakes the sky and brings all to heel. I've been told my actual name is pretty badass, and maybe I watch too much anime but this one sounds pretty badass, too. It's a name I'm trying to live up to as time goes by, and one I chose for myself.

    As for where I've been: Away. That's pretty much it; I didn't go anywhere else, physically or digitally to a new forum. I just wanted to take time for myself to figure myself out. I was hanging out with some people and I recently came to the realization that they weren't good for me. It really is true that the people you surround yourself with impact who you are as a person and what you do, and I wanted to do more than I was with them. They weren't all bad people (except for Jessica; I firmly believe that she's a bad person who shows no remorse for her actions) but they weren't the best, either. Whenever we hung out, we just smoked and drank and did nothing until like 10pm, and the conversation wasn't what I'd describe as riveting. Plus, whenever I brought up any topic of substance (science, world news, interesting TV shows or concepts or books), we'd brush right past them in favor of talking shit about other people or drama or euijwon,ugmwujenfm bleeeeeh. That and they never understood why I didn't like racist jokes because "we're not making black jokes, why are you offended?". Because racism isn't cool, fuckwit. Ever. In any form. For context, I was the only black person in that circle of friends so you can imagine how alienating this felt.

    I remember once when yet another unarmed black man was gunned down by police, I was pissed about it and they asked what was wrong, so we got into it about the police and Megan, who has half her family in law enforcement took it personally. Like I was saying all cops are bad and that, specifically, her family members were bad people. She was essentially just sucking the long dick of the law without pausing to consider that the 'good cops' her family members were a part of often don't say shit when this happens. They either clam up or protect the murderers just because they're wearing a badge, too. If you don't say anything or actively defend your colleagues who commit atrocities, you are almost if not just as culpable. But, like, maybe a week to a month before this incident, she was telling gleefully us a story about how she got pulled over for speeding and the cop let her off because he recognized her as being related to his superior officer, who would've punished him for giving his niece a speeding ticket she rightly deserved. But that's as political as I'm gonna get here moving right along now.

    tl;dr, I got sick of their bullshit and decided that I'd rather have no friends than those friends. It was high time I started thinking of myself, so I embarked on a solo journey of self-reflection and restarted therapy and now here I am again. I plan to stick around this time; y'all are cool.

    Turtles or Lizards?

    Both are sick as hell, bruh. Reptiles rock. First of all, they're both fucking ANCIENT like their species existed WAY before we ever started walking upright. Second, turtles got that sick shell thing going on while lizards come in all shapes and sizes and all of them are hard as fuck, even the cute little ones. You wanna grab my tail, bitch? You can have it; that shit grows back suck my OG diiiiiick~

    as promised,

    "who tf r u"

    also, why can't I find any of the super old AMAs that Phoenix blasted people with 100 questions in, as divine punishment?

    ;-;

    Who am I? Who am I?! Motherfucker, who you is?!

    In all seriousness, I am myself; a smart kid trying to find his way through life being as nice as I can while also not taking anyone's shit. Someone who likes reading and vidya gaems and intelligent conversation and learning; someone who enjoys the company of other animals as opposed to most of my own kind; who has way too chaotic of an imagination; who meows at his cat in an attempt to get her to converse (WHY WON'T YOU RESPOND TO ME, TIGER LILLY ;^:); someone who is empathetic and kind but can switch to cold and harsh when the circumstances are right; who hates injustice, stupidity, and evil and tries in his own small way to challenge these forces and put some good out into the world. On the flip side I can be: angry, apathetic, a bit short-sighted, antisocial, lazy, pessimistic, combative, and stubborn, and unyielding in his convictions which can be both a good and a bad thing. But I'm changing and learning new things every day. I'm just a human, after all.

    You can't find any of Pheonix's 100 questions because the universe is a cruel and capricious being that cares not for the plights of men outside the context of sustaining itself through our suffering.

    Ask more questions! :D

  13. What has been your favorite video game growing up?

    That's actually sort of a tough question to answer but if I had to pick a favorite on the spot, I'd have to say Kingdom Hearts. That series has held a special place in my heart for over a decade now and my brothers and I really bonded over that game. We'd take turns passing the controller off sometimes, but we mostly had our own files where we could each play how we wanted. I was the kind of guy who rarely switched keyblades so I would do a good 80% of the game with just the Kingdom Key. The combo system was fun, too, especially when you got higher level magics.

  14. Heyooooo! So a little bit before we start: For those of you who are new or don't remember me, I used to go by the names Nirvash and Brave Soul and I'm a bit of an old one when it comes to Reborn. I'm 22 years old, I have one cat, my favorite food is quesedillas and anything Mexican in general (ladies ;) ), and I really like science and teh vidya gaems. That being said, I invite any and all questions (within reason) as an exercise in getting to know me better while also becoming more acquainted with you lovely psychopaths people of the Reborn community! Remember to have fun with it and try not to be rude (I'm looking at you, Erick jk ily).

    Now then. Ask me anything!

  15. The Heavenly Tournament : Succeeding Solomon

    Summary: The twilight of the golden age approaches as, unbeknownst to the world, its guardian, Solomon, grows weary. Since the advent of life, God King Solomon has stood sentinel over the world, guiding and defending it to the best of his ability but for all his power, such a task is incredibly draining. Now, as his own life wanes, he makes a decree to the deities of this world:

    “Should the strongest among you be found, send them to me and they shall inherit my crown.”

    The gods of the Pantheon heed Solomon’s words and organize a contest to find the strongest among them. Since direct combat between them would reduce the world to cinders, the gods see only one way to settle the score and involve the lives of those who call this world home. The gods send out a rallying cry swearing to grant the wishes of any who would enter into a contract with them in return for their aid in the contest. With the game afoot and history rounding a new turning point, the Pantheon enters pitched combat via their chosen champions, all seventy-two with their own reason to covet the title of God King.

    Chapter 0: Winds of Change, Howl

    Sat round their regular corner table at their accustomed spot in the courtyard of the cafe they would commonly visit in the afternoon were three students, two young women and a young man, all three sporting azure cloaks emblazoned with black owls. The shorter of the girls, a brown-skinned, round-faced brunette with her hair in a fishtail braid and a disinterested way about her stirred sugar into her tea, while the slim and pale blonde drummed her fingers on the table and glared pointedly at the first, totally ignoring her eclair. Sat opposite them was a rather haggard young man with short dusty blonde hair wearing a gray vest over his white dress shirt.

    “What about Leonard’s Librarie? I can’t remember the last time we went there,” he suggested.

    “Three days ago,” the girl stirring her tea said instantly. “Right after classes because Emmeryn wanted a copy of The Warlock and you, David, wanted wells with green ink in them because blue ‘wasn’t your color’ or something.” Shetook a sip and looked at David to continue.

    “Uh… Avalon Park, maybe?” the boy said feebly. “No, that’s --”

    “In the Lavender Quarter and none of us can get in there,” the blonde girl said before the other could open her mouth. “That’s what you were gonna say, right, Sadia?” The girl called Sadia nodded.

    “I was also going to say ‘boring’ but I think that much is obvious.” David sighed and put his head in his hands, defeated.

    “So since nothing we think up is going to interest our fair Lady Sadia, where would she like to go today?” he asked.

    A smile tugged at Sadia’s lips and she reached into the bag hanging on her seat. “ Now that you mention it,” she said as she placed an ornate silver rod on the table, “I do need a new focus for this.”

    “Your staff looks fine to me. What’s wrong with the one you’ve got now?” David asked. He picked up the rod and started inspecting the hunk of citrine, cut and polished and big as his fist, that topped it.

    Emmeryn cut in, suspicion lacing her tone. “And more importantly, where do you plan on obtaining one?” At this, Sadia grinned.

    “Glad you asked! The caravans are gathering outside the city again --”

    “Of course it’s outside the city,” Emmeryn said.

    “Is it already that time of year again?” David wondered aloud.

    “-- and if we show some initiative, make it to them before they’ve cleared customs, I’m betting there’s a good chance we can sneak a peek at what they’ve got before anyone else! We can do some haggling and try for a good price!”

    “Do we really need to leave the city for something we could do at five different shops in this quarter alone?” Emmeryn muttered with a roll of her hazel eyes.

    “We go to the same shops and the same places every day, Emm. I already know what’s here and none of it’s good enough. I want to see the things that come from elsewhere and, besides, it’s more fun this way!” insisted Sadia.

    “I think you mean ‘more dangerous’,” David replied as he gave a glowering Sadia her rod back. “The shops here are honest; traveling caravans will do or say anything they can to make you overpay for something you probably don’t even need.”

    “Not to mention if they see you really want something, they won’t hesitate to swindle you out of every last piece you’ve got,” Emmeryn added swiftly.

    “That’s why we haggle!” Sadia slammed her fist on the table.

    Emmeryn let out a barking laugh. “Ha! With people that’ve been doing this their whole lives? Who are backed by mercenaries who only care about how much they get paid? Right, good luck with that.”

    “I think what Emm means,” David said before Sadia could respond in kind to the other girl, “is that we’re kids to them, Sadia, and that means we’re either an easy target or not worth their time.”

    “We’re sixteen years old, David, and Emm is almost seventeen. I wouldn’t call us children.”

    “They would,” the blonde girl said. “Honestly, Dia, I’m never going to understand your obsession with the outside.”

    “It’s not an obsession,” Sadia countered hotly. “It’s a healthy interest, and I’ll never get why you’re not more interested! There’s so much more out there than Zonwu and right on the city’s doorstep are people that can show and tell us all about it.”

    “Sweetie, you live in a three hundred year old that was built on the back of a giant land tortoise!” Emmeryn said standing from her seat. “There’s so much here you haven’t even seen yet and you’re in a hurry to leave? I just don’t get it.”

    “So we’re not going?” asked Sadia. Her two friends shook their heads.

    “Unless you want to go alone. I’d really rather not deal with the merchants until after they’ve cleared their way into the city,” Emm said bluntly. She finished her eclair in two bites and clapped the crumbs off her hands. “Just not worth the trouble to me. Sorry.”

    “I kinda have to side with Emm on this one, Dia…” David said nervously scratchinghis arm. “Besides, it’s starting to get a little late and we’ve still got that paper to write on crystal engineering, so hitting the library sounds like a good idea.”

    “You still haven’t done that?”

    “Not all of us can be star students like you, Dia,” Emmeryn laughed.

    “Fine,” sighed the brunette. Sadia stood and smoothed out her black uniform skirt, adjusting the strap hanging from her belt holding a large blue grimoire to her side. “Go do your paper; I’ll find some way to keep myself occupied.” The three paid for their food and parted ways from the cafe’s cobblestone patio, Emmeryn and David headed north towards the library of the Gabora College and Sadia meandering off into the heavy foot traffic of Zonwu’s Merchant Quarter, Arlowe.

    Arlowe consisted mainly of low buildings of dark wood and yellow limestone, most no higher than two and a half stories, with burnt orange terracotta roof tiles glowing in the late sunlight. Some buildings had rooftop gardens or balconies jutting out into the alleyways; the streets were clay and the sidewalks paved with brick and lined with all manner of plant life: bright flowers and shrubs and bushes and, when afforded space to grow, spindly maple trees with magenta leaves and proud dogwood trees with their white flowers in bloom.

    The street widened as Sadia approached Genbu Circle, a wide and bustling plaza rimmed by stores and other establishments centered around a copper fountain dominated by the statue jade-eyed statue of an ancient land tortoise. Supposedly, the statue was in the image of the very creature upon which the city was built, though Sadia had her doubts about this. The city was founded three centuries ago after the tortoise settled into the valley to die, and it was said that no one really knew what it looked like. Supposedly, its kind were all extinct. Sadia chalked it up to the artistic license of the fountain’s architect and left it at that.

    Whether or not the statue was accurate mattered not because at the very western edge of the district, high on a ridge where the tortoiseshell met the countryside, lay a temple almost small enough to be called a shrine. She hadn’t visited it in a while but, on days like this, would sit in the shade and watch the sunset while she dreamed of the outside world. It was cool and shady and mostly private (nearly everyone in Arlowe knew of it yet chose not to frequent the spot unless they had need of it), but what she liked most about it was its status as the best vantage point in this part of the city. From it, Sadia could see well onto the horizon, watch the Argum River twist off into the sunset, and spy on the incoming caravans all at once. If she couldn’t leave the city to see them in person, she figured, watching them arrive would be the next best thing. Briskly, Sadia cut through the chattering crowds ignoring the shouting vendors and moving west towards her destination. Once free of the throng, she cut into an alleyway, took out her rod and conjured a gust of wind that vollied her onto the rooftops. From there, she leapt from roof to roof until the stone pavement disappeared and the houses shrank and her boots touched down on the countryside at the very edge of Arlowe.

    The path changed from stone to dirt and wound uphill, neatly lined by cypress trees and wildflowers. After a few minutes of walking and humming softly to herself, the sun hung just over the horizon and Sadia found herself at the gate of the temple perched near the edge of the tortoiseshell. The temple wasn’t very much; just a mossy stone dais and a slightly unkempt shrine at the back behind a violet wooden arch. Under the purple roof of the shrine sat a statue roughly the girl’s height depicting a three-eyed shirtless figure with wild hair and wolfish features the girl knew to be one of the old deities, nearly forgotten in this age: Marchosias, the Warrior King. Sadia lay her rod across her lap to sit at the edge of the dais facing the sunset and gazed over the rim of the shell at the steady river of caravans pulled by spiral-horned ox flowing towards the city gate.

    “Look at all of them,” she whispered, entranced and envious. “Coming from who knows where to visit here, of all places. I wonder what they’ve seen on the way?” Breathing out a sigh, the girl produced a small notebook from her bag and started jotting down what she saw.

    Wagons of all sizes and colors trundled up the road while their drivers spurred the beasts pulling them on; merchants chatted with their employers and the hired mercenaries; people or sitting on the backs and tops of the wagons ever vigilant despite their proximity to Zonwu. Sadia could see their lips moving but none of their conversations could be heard from her spot, a fact she cursed. It was almost as if they were teasing her curiosity, daring her to jump off the ledge and join them if she wanted to know what was being said. Almost too quickly passed the hour. Evening fell, the stars came out for the night and she knew the torches in the town behind her had been lit by the city watch at least a half hour ago. It was well past time to return home.

    Grumbling reluctantly, Sadia gathered her things and approached the shrine to pay her respects before leaving. She waved her staff, muttered an incantation, and the fire bowls on either side of the statue came to life. Kneeling before the idol as she had countless times before, Sadia bowed her head and touched the inscription on the pedestal: “Speak your ambition and pray”.

    “Help me see what’s outside this place,” she pleaded. “Someday soon? I’ll be nearly of age next year so maybe by then? There’s too much out there past this place and I want to see it for myself. So please…”

    Silence reigned for a while as the girl meditated on that wishing for some sign that the old god heard her. Legend contended that if he had, Marchosias would send a breeze as proof and even though legends were just legends, a part of her still hoped. The air was still and chilly as she looked expectantly at the statue. It returned her gaze with a blank one of its own.

    “Of course not,” she conceded, standing to leave. “Thanks anyway.”

    A breeze rushed through the grass and trees at that moment and, startled, Sadia faced the statue again. A grin slowly spread across her face, excitement and disbelief overtaking her features. The wind grew stronger then, whipping her hair about her face and ripping leaves from the trees to scatter about.

    “Thank you, thank you!” she cried. “Next year then? You’ll help me leave by next year?” As if to answer her, the breeze grew stronger and began circling the temple; the fire in the bowls struggled to stay lit, flickering against the howling wind. As it grew to a roaring gale, the wind carried with it a voice, deep and echoing and clear against the din.

    “Next year?”

    The fires died that instant plunging all into darkness and sending fear to grip Sadia’s chest. Bewildered, she spun about frantically trying to get a grip on what was happening. The eyes of Marchosias’ statue suddenly burned like indigo stars, frightening Sadia away from it and onto the stone dais. Her foot made contact with the structure and the same light erupted forth, moving and twisting across the surface of the dais to scrawl out a magic circle.

    “I doubt either of us can wait that long,” the voice said.

    “Who’s there?!” Sadia cried helplessly. “What do you want?!”

    “The same thing you do: freedom! You and I are kindred spirits, child. We’ve waited far too long to sit and wait another year. It’s time we leave this place! Together!”

    “Who are you?!”

    “You know who I am.” the voice declared proudly. “Thirty-fifth of the Pantheon, the Warrior King and Saint of the Ambitious, Marchosias! Was it not you who called to me, Sadia Aspiza?”

    “How do you know my name?” Sadia demanded but the god continued as if she’d never spoke.

    “Sadia, if you still wish to see this world with your own eyes, then my offer is this: accept me into your heart and carry my will as your own! Swear this and I will return it in kind. By my blessing, you will be free! Free to roam, free to explore as you’ve so longed!”

    The circle was finished now, glowing like a beacon in the night and nearly blinding Sadia. She stumbled backwards and fell looking towards the sky for any sign of the source of the god’s voice.

    “I-I…” she stuttered. “Can trust you?”

    “I am nothing if not honest and I seek not to harm you,” the bodiless voice answered. “Should you accept, then the both of us shall see our wishes made real, this I swear. You need only do the same.”

    Shielding her face from the wind, Sadia stood and forced her nerves down. In spite of this, her whole body still trembled like the leaves tossed about in the maelstrom. “A chance like this won’t come again, will it?”

    “No. Refuse and I will leave to seek another. So I ask once more: will you accept me into your heart?”

    “Then I accept!” she shouted into the gale. No sooner than she did, the statue’s burning eyes projected themselves into the circle and blinked. Three eyes sparkling like amethysts took form several feet above her and, like a ship emerging from the fog, a massive leg clad in baggy white cloth stepped forth from the wall of wind. The rest of a body followed, sturdy and muscled covered in sparse chestnut fur with a gold and silver belt inscribed with the same magic circle carved in the ground round its middle; wild black hair curtained the eyes as the god’s beastlike face took form, proud and noble and undeniably frightening. A halo rotated behind him as did two golden wheels floating just behind his canine ankles, and a chalk white snake twenty feet in length slithered out of the aether with its mouth agape, amber eyes unblinking and fixed on Sadia. The girl followed the serpent’s body upwards and saw, to her complete shock, that it grew out of Marchosias’ braided hair.

    “Then it begins tonight!” Frozen in place by fear and awe, Sadia could do nothing as Marchosias knelt down and turned his ethereal gaze on her. The two locked eyes and the beastly deity reached out with a clawed finger to gingerly touch the right side Sadia’s neck. Immediately there was a searing pain there; her hand clapped onto the source of the ache and she bit back a scream, fighting to stay conscious as her body was weighed down by the god’s aura.

    “Our wills are as one now,” the god commanded. “Be as my eyes and hands in this world. Go boldly forth and the road will rise to meet you. Guide us both to victory!”

    All at once, the winds converged around the circle and blew outwards with a thunderclap and flash of purple akin to a lightning strike. The light from the circle died and Sadia fell to her knees, vision hazy and her head swimming as she grasped at reality. Ultimately, she could not fight her body’s demand for rest. She fell asleep right there, oblivious to the gemstone bracelet that now clung to her left wrist.

    Elsewhere, a few miles from Zonwu, a knight and her charge sat on horseback at the head of a traveling party, dumbstruck. The woman, tall and stately, narrowed her eyes behind the visor of her helm and pursed her lips, her expression wrought of worry.

    “Milord, another one!” she said turning towards the hooded man beside her.

    “As if this weren't difficult enough, now every person in Zonwu and for miles around would’ve seen that,” the hooded one drawled absently rubbing the back of his left arm. “Which means if we've enemies here, they'll be on the hunt. It can’t ever be easy for us, can it, Kyrie?”

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