14k gold earring posts and backs

I (40F) met him (43M) on Hinge. I was 6 months post separation and he was 1 year. My separation is much more clear cut, we are divorcing, there are boundaries, it’s amicable, we share our kids 50-50. He said he wanted a long term relationship with me. We spent 8 months together. Over time it became apparent he was still enmeshed with his ex. Not in love with her but trapped in an unhealthy dynamic. Their separation is uglier than mine. She abandoned the kids, leaving him to care for them 100% , she is withholding child support and still calling him and texting him constantly. A few weeks ago he burned out and broke down, and said he needed to take a break to deal with his separation properly. I agreed with him it was in everyone’s best interest that he do so. He says he wants to sort out his life and call me when he’s in a better place to see if we can try again. I believe him when he says he loves me. I love him too. I don’t think I can wait for him, though, and I do have to let him go, because it’s so messy and it feels too stressful to wait for someone who is enmeshed in a really messy situation. I can’t help but hope we get back together one day. Not sure what I’m asking for here. Maybe encouragement? Support? I’m heartbroken and not sure what to do with myself. Certainly I’m not ready to date again. I need to heal but I feel trapped in my heartbreak these days. I feel uncertain I can do this again (be vulnerable and allow myself to fall in love).

I’ve been focusing on learning new games and hanging out with people during the event that I completely forgot to post this. I had a really neat day at Valleyfair yesterday. Such a fun park.
As I noted during the run, I am optimistic of the new Marathon title.
The two PB’s I mentioned look to have terrible encoding (I had to use OBS classic to record). I will still upload them to youtube when I get back home in a couple of hours, but I probably will not submit them to the leaderboards. I’ll try to get a run in this week that definitely has a higher graphical fidelity.

[WTS] Gold and silver
**** CHAT PLEASE. Payment by ZELLE ONLY. ***\*
* Gold: 7 items

Item	karat	weight (grams)	Listing Price
dragonfly pendant	10	2.98	$102.00
flower earrings	14	4.07	$194.00
leaf pendant	10	3.24	$110.00
"L" pendant	14	2.7	$129.00
butterfly pendant	10	1.27	$43.00
golf pendant	14	1.44	$69.00

​

• Silver: (1) 2004 ASE: $33.00, (6) Kennedy Half dollar : $12.00 EACH
• Proof: https://imgur.com/a/HX7Pwax
• Shipping & handling: Silver -> $7.00 USPS first class. Gold-> $12.00 USPS Priority. Insurance extra at cost. I spend a lot of time packing to ensure safe arrival.

​

Hi everyone,
I work as the HR manager of a charitable organization focused on providing educational and health support to underprivileged children. We receive donations from across the country from many kindhearted people and organizations. We are also blessed with a spirited volunteer community who take part in various fundraising activities organized and facilitated by our foundation.
We are looking for candidates to monitor a section of our volunteer activities. This candidate is expected to assess the performance of said section and report back to our organization on the progress. This task can be performed online and weekly monitoring would suffice. The candidate has the freedom to choose which day of the week he/she would like to perform the task, although it would be preferable if they choose weekends.
The task itself is expected to take only around 10 mins, each week. We are currently willing to pay $15 every week as a starting remuneration, with a potential of going up to $75 per week. The position will also be long-term, if the candidate wishes so, thereby serving as a reliable side income for anyone who can make use of that. Any sensible adult can do the task, however we are currently seeking candidates from the US only.
We completed our initial phase of hiring for some of these openings from reddit itself. We are quite satisfied with their performance, hence we are opening up our next phase to this community as well. The last posting was met with overwhelming number of responses from non-US candidates, despite the stated stipulation. Hence the reposting.
Kindly send me a PM for further correspondence and information. Thank you.

Hi everyone,
I work as the HR manager of a charitable organization focused on providing educational and health support to underprivileged children. We receive donations from across the country from many kindhearted people and organizations. We are also blessed with a spirited volunteer community who take part in various fundraising activities organized and facilitated by our foundation.
We are looking for candidates to monitor a section of our volunteer activities. This candidate is expected to assess the performance of said section and report back to our organization on the progress. This task can be performed online and weekly monitoring would suffice. The candidate has the freedom to choose which day of the week he/she would like to perform the task, although it would be preferable if they choose weekends.
The task itself is expected to take only around 10 mins, each week. We are currently willing to pay $15 every week as a starting remuneration, with a potential of going up to $75 per week. The position will also be long-term, if the candidate wishes so, thereby serving as a reliable side income for anyone who can make use of that. Any sensible adult can do the task, however we are currently seeking candidates from the US only.
We completed our initial phase of hiring for some of these openings from reddit itself. We are quite satisfied with their performance, hence we are opening up our next phase to this community as well. The last posting was met with overwhelming number of responses from non-US candidates, despite the stated stipulation. Hence the reposting.
Kindly send me a PM for further correspondence and information. Thank you.

I am nervous to post this because, well, it's Reddit. But I have also received tons of helpful information from these threads before. My best friend and I are traveling down to Pelham for a show. We chose to stay at hotel chain nearby, just because we will have been on the road for a long time prior to the show and want to be close by. Also, figured staying at a hotel chain was a little safer than an Air BnB.
While I know there are plenty of loving people down south, I also can't avoid the news coming out of TN. My best friend and I are both queer in some variety. She is incredibly "straight-passing" when she is on her own or with others. However, because of my personal style (lots of band t-shirts/flannels/neutral clothing) and the fact that I am very obviously AFAB but dress in this "butch" style, when we are together people always assume we are a couple. It doesn't matter how much I distance myself in public spaces, call her dude or some other neutral name, people always assume. It frustrates us both and up here in New England, we joke it off because most people are tolerant up here. She is a very short person, a fact she loves about herself. I am a good bit taller than her, if it isn't being gay that draws attention, it's the sight of us standing next to each other. This is a running joke between her and I. Also, because of my haistyle/etc, I am also lumped in with visual stereotypes of "liberals." Which, whatever, normally I wouldn't think twice of someone's opinion.
This is a little different. I am traveling, I want to keep my friend safe and myself. I have already decided to try and get some more "feminine" clothing that I can tolerate being in. After Pelham, we are heading towards Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg to head through the Smokey Mountains and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Are there places I should avoid? Is there anything I should know before heading down south? (We are stopping in Point Pleasant, WV, then heading straight down from there to Pelham, then on to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg)
I am thinking of changing my license back from X to F just to avoid any problems if I get pulled over. I am trying to think of ways to style my hair that looks less 'extreme'. I feel like I am being irrational, then I look at the news and see just how bad everything is. I am just afraid of being targeted or drawing more attention to my friend. I just don't want to be a negative beacon on her basically. Myself, I can handle, I will change myself for this trip to make sure we can focus on having fun in safety if I need to. I couldn't handle it if something happened to her or us because of me looking too queer or something.
Thank you in advance, I know this might be an anxious question, but I had hoped to find some answers or reassurances here. (She and I both have anxiety as well, so I know that's playing a factor in this.)

Hi everyone,
I work as the HR manager of a charitable organization focused on providing educational and health support to underprivileged children. We receive donations from across the country from many kindhearted people and organizations. We are also blessed with a spirited volunteer community who take part in various fundraising activities organized and facilitated by our foundation.
We are looking for candidates to monitor a section of our volunteer activities. This candidate is expected to assess the performance of said section and report back to our organization on the progress. This task can be performed online and weekly monitoring would suffice. The candidate has the freedom to choose which day of the week he/she would like to perform the task, although it would be preferable if they choose weekends.
The task itself is expected to take only around 10 mins, each week. We are currently willing to pay $15 every week as a starting remuneration, with a potential of going up to $75 per week. The position will also be long-term, if the candidate wishes so, thereby serving as a reliable side income for anyone who can make use of that. Any sensible adult can do the task, however we are currently seeking candidates from the US only.
We completed our initial phase of hiring for some of these openings from reddit itself. We are quite satisfied with their performance, hence we are opening up our next phase to this community as well. The last posting was met with overwhelming number of responses from non-US candidates, despite the stated stipulation. Hence the reposting.
Kindly send me a PM for further correspondence and information. Thank you.

Apologies for the length and lateness of this post, past few months have been quite chaotic and haven't had much access to the internet, I dunno when I'll be back on this sub again after this so until then, more posts from me will be a Dream for Spring Summer (probably)
Over the years I've read a great many theories about the character of Varys, his motivations, his scheming throughout the series and his endgame, but none of them have ever truly sat well with me for how much his character feels simplified. He is one of ASOIAF's most complex characters who I still believe we haven't entirely cracked yet, and I for one still believe even after writing this post up and reflecting on it, there's still some of his character that I haven't figured out.
However, I want to propose an alternative character analysis to the character of Varys, one that drifts away from the more common take on his character - Varys is not a eunuch or a friend of Tyrion Lannister, and has spent his entire life lying about his manhood to deter anyone from thinking that he could father any children, so that fAegon, his true son, would always be protected while hiding.
Let us begin by breaking down each of the lies that define his character.
First, the lie that he was castrated as a young slave and had his manhood thrown into a fire by 'a certain man', which resulted in the fire turning magically blue and 'a voice' speaking out to Varys.

"One day at Myr, a certain man came to our folly. After the performance, he made an offer for me that my master found too tempting to refuse. I was in terror. I feared the man meant to use me as I had heard men used small boys, but in truth the only part of me he had need of was my manhood. He gave me a potion that made me powerless to move or speak, yet did nothing to dull my senses. With a long hooked blade, he sliced me root and stem, chanting all the while. I watched him burn my manly parts on a brazier. The flames turned blue, and I heard a voice answer his call, though I did not understand the words they spoke. "The mummers had sailed by the time he was done with me. Once I had served his purpose, the man had no further interest in me, so he put me out. When I asked him what I should do now, he answered that he supposed I should die. To spite him, I resolved to live. I begged, I stole, and I sold what parts of my body still remained to me. Soon I was as good a thief as any in Myr, and when I was older I learned that often the contents of a man's letters are more valuable than the contents of his purse. "Yet I still dream of that night, my lord. Not of the sorcerer, nor his blade, nor even the way my manhood shriveled as it burned. I dream of the voice. The voice from the flames. Was it a god, a demon, some conjurer's trick? I could not tell you, and I know all the tricks. All I can say for a certainty is that he called it, and it answered, and since that day I have hated magic and all those who practice it. If Lord Stannis is one such, I mean to see him dead." - ACOK - TYRION X

Now there is much from this excerpt to raise complaints and questions about Varys' story;

• There are no known instances of individuals being mutilated and having their mutilated parts being sacrificed in the flames for the sake of blood magic or appeasing R'hllor. Individuals have often been sacrificed to the flames, but sacrificed in their whole bodies.
  
• The details of how Varys was mutilated and that he was able to survive is unbelievable, and even more unbelievable that he went on to live as an orphan on the streets after this horrific ordeal with little to no medical treatment. Varys' simple claim that he "resolved to live" is very vague.
  
• Varys can remember this mystic and mysterious voice, but not what it send or what the words sounded like. Melisandre claims to hear the voices of R'hllor in the flames and voices could be heard from Drogo's tent when Mirri Maz Duhr was performing her blood magic, but these voices are only heard by the sorcerers, and not the victims. By all accounts, Varys should not have been able to hear these voices, if part of himself was fed to the flames.
  

But the weakest part of all is that Varys says that he "hates magic and all those who practise it", yet he goes to great lengths to protect and look out for Daenerys, and try to join fAegon's forces with hers, despite knowing that she has three magical dragons by her side.

"How many days until we reach the river?" he asked Illyrio that evening. "At this pace, your queen's dragons will be larger than Aegon's three before I can lay eyes upon them." "Would it were so. A large dragon is more fearsome than a small one." The magister shrugged. "Much as it would please me to welcome Queen Daenerys to Volantis, I must rely on you and Griff for that. I can serve her best in Pentos, smoothing the way for her return. So long as I am with you, though … well, an old fat man must have his comforts, yes? Come, drink a cup of wine." - ADWD - TYRION II

Illyrio is Varys' best friend and closest confidant, who he works with to protect Daenerys for much of her life and is willing to crown her as Queen alongside fAegon even though she has magical fire-breathing dragons that Varys, a victim of magical flames, would despise.
Illyrio, the same man who praised R'hllor, a God that Varys despises;

Her brother was waiting in the cool of the entry hall, seated on the edge of the pool, his hand trailing in the water. He rose when she appeared and looked her over critically. "Stand there," he told her. "Turn around. Yes. Good. You look …" "Regal," Magister Illyrio said, stepping through an archway. He moved with surprising delicacy for such a massive man. Beneath loose garments of flame-colored silk, rolls of fat jiggled as he walked. Gemstones glittered on every finger, and his man had oiled his forked yellow beard until it shone like real gold. "May the Lord of Light shower you with blessings on this most fortunate day, Princess Daenerys," the magister said as he took her hand. He bowed his head, showing a thin glimpse of crooked yellow teeth through the gold of his beard. "She is a vision, Your Grace, a vision," he told her brother. "Drogo will be enraptured." - AGOT - DAENERYS I

Neither Viserys or Daenerys were followers of R'hllor at this point, or surrounded by any followers, meaning Illyrio didn't need to bring up this form of prayer to R'hllor unless it was genuine or near genuine on his own part.
It makes little sense that Varys would entertain the company of those who worship R'hllor or magical forms of fire, if Varys truly is traumatised by what seemingly happened to him as a slave child by fire.
As well as Illyrio, this is apparent in Aerys II, who would regularly burn people in the throne room with wildfire, in the presence of Varys;

Frustrated, Aerys turned to the Wisdoms of the ancient Guild of Alchemists, who knew the secret of producing the volatile jade green substance known as wildfire, said to be a close cousin to dragonflame. The pyromancers became a regular fixture at his court as the king's fascination with fire grew. By 280 AC, Aerys II had taken to burning traitors, murderers, and plotters, rather than hanging or beheading them. The king seemed to take great pleasure in these fiery executions, which were presided over by Wisdom Rossart, the grand master of the Guild of Alchemists...so much so that he granted Rossart the title of Lord and gave him a seat upon the small council. - TWOIAF - THE TARGARYEN KINGS - AERYS II

Not only would Varys be present to witness these burnings, but Varys even encouraged Aerys to burn other individuals suspected of treachery, and fuelled both Aerys' paranoia and bloodlust;

He floated in heat, in memory. "After dancing griffins lost the Battle of the Bells, Aerys exiled him." Why am I telling this absurd ugly child? "He had finally realized that Robert was no mere outlaw lord to be crushed at whim, but the greatest threat House Targaryen had faced since Daemon Blackfyre. The king reminded Lewyn Martell gracelessly that he held Elia and sent him to take command of the ten thousand Dornishmen coming up the kingsroad. Jon Darry and Barristan Selmy rode to Stoney Sept to rally what they could of griffins' men, and Prince Rhaegar returned from the south and persuaded his father to swallow his pride and summon my father. But no raven returned from Casterly Rock, and that made the king even more afraid. He saw traitors everywhere, and Varys was always there to point out any he might have missed. So His Grace commanded his alchemists to place caches of wildfire all over King's Landing. Beneath Baelor's Sept and the hovels of Flea Bottom, under stables and storehouses, at all seven gates, even in the cellars of the Red Keep itself. - ASOS - JAIME V

Varys developed a reputation for egging on Aerys' paranoia and encouraging him to execute apparent traitors by fire, so much so that people like Barristan lay chief blame for Aerys' downfall into madness on Varys for exploiting it;

"It is not a question of wanting. The throne is mine, as Robert's heir. That is law. After me, it must pass to my daughter, unless Selyse should finally give me a son." He ran three fingers lightly down the table, over the layers of smooth hard varnish, dark with age. "I am king. Wants do not enter into it. I have a duty to my daughter. To the realm. Even to Robert. He loved me but little, I know, yet he was my brother. The Lannister woman gave him horns and made a motley fool of him. She may have murdered him as well, as she murdered Jon Arryn and Ned Stark. For such crimes there must be justice. Starting with Cersei and her abominations. But only starting. I mean to scour that court clean. As Robert should have done, after the Trident. Ser Barristan once told me that the rot in King Aerys's reign began with Varys. The eunuch should never have been pardoned. No more than the Kingslayer. At the least, Robert should have stripped the white cloak from Jaime and sent him to the Wall, as Lord Stark urged. He listened to Jon Arryn instead. I was still at Storm's End, under siege and unconsulted." He turned abruptly, to give Davos a hard shrewd look. "The truth, now. Why did you wish to murder Lady Melisandre?" - ASOS - DAVOS IV

It makes very little sense that Varys, a eunuch who seemingly hates worshippers of R'hllor and pyromancers for burning people and sacrificing his manhood to the flames as a child, would be best friends with a man who praises R'hllor or encourage his previous King to burn several people, many of whom were likely innocent of the claims of treachery put against them.
But it makes a lot more sense that Varys actually never had a problem with R'hllor or wildfire, and instead chose to encourage Aerys' paranoia so that he would always both seem useful to Aerys and be on good relations with him, to solidify his position of power on the Small Council, given that he was just a young foreign man in Westeros and wholly dependent on Aerys' support to maintain his standing in King's Landing.
The second lie of Varys' character that I wish to tackle is his apparent concern for the wellbeing of children;

"No," Ned pleaded, his voice cracking. "Varys, gods have mercy, do as you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansa's no more than a child." "Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegar's daughter. A precious little thing, younger than your girls. She had a small black kitten she called Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick enough, the day they broke down her door." Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. "The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me … why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for your pain … or he could bring you Sansa's head. - AGOT - EDDARD XV

Varys shows apparent disgust at the murders of Rhaegar's children, Rhaenys and Aegon, at the end of Robert's Rebellion, and the way in which they were brutally murdered.
However, we later learn in the series that Aegon seemingly survived and was swapped with a tanner's child, bought by Varys and swapped with Aegon, so that this bought child could be sacrificed to the Lannisters, who Varys presumed would want to kill Rhaegar's children;

"A true friend, our Lord Connington. He must be, to remain so fiercely loyal to the grandson of the king who took his lands and titles and sent him into exile. A pity about that. Elsewise Prince Rhaegar's friend might have been on hand when my father sacked King's Landing, to save Prince Rhaegar's precious little son from getting his royal brains dashed out against a wall." The lad flushed. "That was not me. I told you. That was some tanner's son from Pisswater Bend whose mother died birthing him. His father sold him to Lord Varys for a jug of Arbor gold. He had other sons but had never tasted Arbor gold. Varys gave the Pisswater boy to my lady mother and carried me away." "Aye." Tyrion moved his elephants. "And when the pisswater prince was safely dead, the eunuch smuggled you across the narrow sea to his fat friend the cheesemonger, who hid you on a poleboat and found an exile lord willing to call himself your father. It does make for a splendid story, and the singers will make much of your escape once you take the Iron Throne … assuming that our fair Daenerys takes you for her consort." - ADWD - TYRION VI

This entire "splendid story" as Tyrion calls it, is full of inconsistencies and unbelievable acts.
The first red flag of this story is the idea that Varys, a former slave child who abhors slavery, would willingly buy another man's young child. Also pay attention to the mention of 'Arbor gold', which has been well documented on this sub for years for how its always a signal of lies, as individuals like Littlefinger mention it in passing whenever they are telling a lie.
The second red flag is the idea that Varys, someone who seemingly abhors the murder and suffering of innocent children, would willingly sacrifice an innocent young child and allow them to be murdered just to spare another, more valuable child. The idea that Varys would also take Elia's child away from her, either willingly or unwillingly on her part, is also questionable.
The third red flag is why Varys chose only to switch Aegon with another child, and not do the same for Rhaenys. Having two imposter Targaryen children raised to believe they are Targaryens could've helped to support their claims, build them up as a rival power in Westeros and also provide a backup option for Varys incase fAegon didn't survive his childhood.
The final red flag is the idea that Varys was able to foresee how the Rebellion was going to end, accurately guessed that Rhaegar's children would be murdered by the Lannisters, knew where and when to find Elia and her children, be able to remove one of her children away from her without anyone knowing, and knew that one of Tywin's men would kill the children so brutally that next to no one would be able to recognise them - the idea story is built on a series of flimsy conveniences and incredible predictive abilities on Varys' part.
If Varys truly cared so much about the protection and well-being of children, he would not have willingly bought and sacrificed an innocent child to be sacrificed in exchange for Aegon's survival, nor would he have abandoned Rhaenys to her fate if he could have prevented it. This means either Varys truly doesn't give a damn about the wellbeing of children and just lies to the likes of Ned and Tyrion about it, or that the entire story about Aegon being swapped with a tanner's child is a lie like some fans believe, or that both stories are lies muddled together to make it more difficult to discern the truth.
Perhaps the truth of Varys' lies is best exposed in this often cited excerpt from ACOK, a conversation between him and Tyrion about the infamous "Shadow on the Wall" riddle;

Varys smiled. "Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less.""So power is a mummer's trick?" "A shadow on the wall," Varys murmured, "yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow." Tyrion smiled. "Lord Varys, I am growing strangely fond of you. I may kill you yet, but I think I'd feel sad about it." - ACOK - TYRION II

The question of who Varys refers to in this conversation has been debated for years on this sub. Some believe that Varys was alluding to fAegon, that if people believe he is the real Aegon then he will have power, even if he doesn't truly have power as a common non-Targaryen child. Others have suggested Varys was alluding to Littlefinger, who was once a young small man who rose very high in King's Landing and cast a large shadow over the realm by starting the WotFk through his schemes.
I however believe that Varys is talking about himself.
Varys was once a very small man when he came to King's Landing at Aerys' calling for him to join the Small Council. He was seen as a young ex-slave, without a lordship or house of his own, weak and powerless. But overtime, through his manipulation of Aerys, encouraging his paranoia and own self-inflicted downfall, Varys cast a very large shadow over the empire of House Targaryen in Westeros, and destroyed it forever. What Varys says here to Tyrion is a very veiled threat that he can be dangerous to Tyrion if he underestimates Varys.
Tyrion however, in his arrogance, believes that Varys is referring to him, being a "very small man" and begins considering him a friend.
This is the third and final lie of Varys' character that I wish to dissect here - the lie that he is a friend or useful ally of sorts to Tyrion.
The idea of Varys betraying Tyrion's trust and working against him is first presented to us by Cersei, when she lets slip that Varys informed her of Tyrion's plan to send the Hound into battle at the Battle of the Blackwater;

"Varys says so." The swan was too rich for his taste. A line appeared on Cersei's pale white brow, between those lovely eyes. "You put too much trust in that eunuch." "He serves me well." "Or so he'd have you believe. You think you're the only one he whispers secrets to? He gives each of us just enough to convince us that we'd be helpless without him. He played the same game with me, when I first wed Robert. For years, I was convinced I had no truer friend at court, but now . . ." She studied his face for a moment. "He says you mean to take the Hound from Joffrey." - ACOK - TYRION XII

On a first read, we are quick to dismiss Cersei's claims for how much she is built up as an antagonistic and untrustworthy character, but in later understanding her motives in her own POV chapters, we realise there may be an inkling of truth in her claims. In the case of the Hound, Varys has no reason to inform her of Tyrion's plan, however innocent and insignificant in the grand game of thrones they may be, other than to maintain some level of trust with her and to invoke conflict between the Lannister siblings, which benefits Varys.
There are frequent moments throughout the series in which Varys alludes to knowing key information and deliberately withholding it from Tyrion even if it may benefit Tyrion, including who ordered Mandon Moore to kill Tyrion;

Bronn had turned up all he could on Ser Mandon, but no doubt Varys knew a deal more . . . should he choose to share it. "The man seems to have been quite friendless," Tyrion said carefully. "Sadly," said Varys, "oh, sadly. You might find some kin if you turned over enough stones back in the Vale, but here . . . Lord Arryn brought him to King's Landing and Robert gave him his white cloak, but neither loved him much, I fear. Nor was he the sort the smallfolk cheer in tourneys, despite his undoubted prowess. Why, even his brothers of the Kingsguard never warmed to him. Ser Barristan was once heard to say that the man had no friend but his sword and no life but duty . . . but you know, I do not think Selmy meant it altogether as praise. Which is queer when you consider it, is it not? Those are the very qualities we seek in our Kingsguard, it could be said—men who live not for themselves, but for their king. By those lights, our brave Ser Mandon was the perfect white knight. And he died as a knight of the Kingsguard ought, with sword in hand, defending one of the king's own blood." The eunuch gave him a slimy smile and watched him sharply. Trying to murder one of the king's own blood, you mean. Tyrion wondered if Varys knew rather more than he was saying. - ASOS - TYRION II

When Tyrion presses Varys for information about Mandon, Varys deliberately skims over Mandon's life and offers vague beliefs about the perfect Kingsguard to try and derail Tyrion's line of questioning, and when Varys pretends not to have known about Mandon trying to kill Tyrion, he watches Tyrion "sharply" to try and gather how much Tyrion himself knows, whether or not Tyrion will seek retribution for it from the anger on his face, and almost openly mocks him for the smile he gives. Tyrion briefly considers the idea that Varys is deliberately holding information back from him, but chooses instead to talk about other matters, which is what Varys wanted.
On the matter of Varys' choosing to support the Lannisters or Stannis, Varys once again tries to confuse Tyrion with riddles and not directly answer the question;

"He accuses my brother and sister of incest. I wonder how he came by that suspicion." "Perhaps he read a book and looked at the color of a bastard's hair, as Ned Stark did, and Jon Arryn before him. Or perhaps someone whispered it in his ear." The eunuch's laugh was not his usual giggle, but deeper and more throaty. "Someone like you, perchance?" "Am I suspected? It was not me." "If it had been, would you admit it?" "No. But why should I betray a secret I have kept so long? It is one thing to deceive a king, and quite another to hide from the cricket in the rushes and the little bird in the chimney. Besides, the bastards were there for all to see." - ACOK - TYRION III

We know for certain that Varys didn't want the WotFK to start so soon or for the truth of Cersei's children to come out in AGOT because he wanted more time for Viserys' forces to grow in strength and come closer to Westeros in order to invade, either to take the throne for themselves or be the ones to kill the beloved Robert Baratheon and paint themselves as villainous usurpers to make fAegon more heroic and not taint him with Robert's blood on his hands.
However, like with Cersei and Tyrion, Varys needs to tell those on the Small Council a certain amount of secretive information in order to gain their trust and support, including Stannis. That Varys even chooses to give a deeper and more unsettling laugh about the matter is another example of him openly laughing about his treachery in Tyrion's face and Tyrion not realising it.
When Tyrion almost stumbles upon this ruse and Varys realises that his laugh was too deep and questionable, Varys tries to brush it off by saying its harder to keep a secret secret if so many people are investigating it, and insists that there were so many of Robert's bastards to find for Stannis to figure out the truth on his own. But again, this last statement from Varys is littered with half-truths.
Varys insists it is hard to keep deceiving King Robert about the truth of his children's true parentage, and even harder to keep deceiving the truth from those who are deliberately looking for the truth and wanting to find it. This in itself is a reference to his believe that Stannis was always power-hungry for the Iron Throne, and was just looking for an excuse to try to claim it for himself as Robert's true heir, regardless of whether or not Cersei's children were Robert's or not.
But his own comment about "betraying a secret I have held for so long" is a direct allusion to fAegon's existence, and his determination not to reveal the truth of his existence to anyone, including Tyrion.
Even when Tyrion rides with Illyrio and Jon Connington's entourage in ADWD, Tyrion is only led to believe that they are going to support Daenerys' claim for the Iron Throne, and has to work out for himself that fAegon is actually Aegon and the one Varys and Illyrio wish to crown;

Young Griff hesitated. "Lannister? Your father—" "—is dead. At my hand. If it please Your Grace to call me Yollo or Hugor, so be it, but know that I was born Tyrion of House Lannister, trueborn son of Tywin and Joanna, both of whom I slew. Men will tell you that I am a kingslayer, a kinslayer, and a liar, and all of that is true … but then, we are a company of liars, are we not? Take your feigned father. Griff, is it?" The dwarf sniggered. "You should thank the gods that Varys the Spider is a part of this plot of yours. Griff would not have fooled the cockless wonder for an instant, no more than it did me. No lord, my lordship says, no knight. And I'm no dwarf. Just saying a thing does not make it true. Who better to raise Prince Rhaegar's infant son than Prince Rhaegar's dear friend Jon Connington, once Lord of Griffin's Roost and Hand of the King?" "Be quiet." Griff's voice was uneasy. - ADWD - TYRION V

After Tyrion works out the truth and manipulates both fAegon and Jon Connington into riding for Westeros instead of joining forces with Daenerys, he disappears and goes off to seek her out.
This likely angers Varys, and is the reason why Varys no longer affectionately calls Tyrion by his name or by '"lord" and instead refers to him as "the imp" in ADWD's epilogue, a term that Varys knows Tyrion hates;

Ser Kevan tried to rise, but the strength had left him. He could not feel his legs. "I thought the crossbow fitting. You shared so much with Lord Tywin, why not that? Your niece will think the Tyrells had you murdered, mayhaps with the connivance of the Imp. The Tyrells will suspect her. Someone somewhere will find a way to blame the Dornishmen. Doubt, division, and mistrust will eat the very ground beneath your boy king, whilst Aegon raises his banner above Storm's End and the lords of the realm gather round him." "Aegon?" For a moment he did not understand. Then he remembered. A babe swaddled in a crimson cloak, the cloth stained with his blood and brains. "Dead. He's dead." - ADWD - EPILOGUE

Varys chooses to frame Tyrion for Kevan's murder, **deliberately and intentionally further putting his life in danger by Cersei's wrath, already knowing that Tyrion has a large bounty on his head because of her, and talks lowly of Tyrion by calling him an "Imp" and referring to his "connivance" in a very scorned tone.
Varys never considered Tyrion a friend or ally in ASOIAF and was just using him, another lie that he tells throughout the series, and by the end of ADWD, he hates Tyrion for his scheming and knowing too much information than Varys wished him to know.
But there is a bigger telling point about how much Varys uses Tyrion, and a more ground-breaking twist in the narrative that reflects both how much Varys underestimates Tyrion and how much Varys never cared for him;
In ASOS, Varys didn't tell Tyrion how to reach the Tower of the Hand to go and kill Tywin. Varys told him this key information so that Tyrion could go and kill Shae instead, who Varys considered a greater threat to him.
Shae is one of the few, perhaps the only, people in ASOIAF to see through Varys' disguises;

A whiff of something rank made him turn his head. Shae stood in the door behind him, dressed in the silvery robe he'd given her. I loved a maid as white as winter, with moonglow in her hair. Behind her stood one of the begging brothers, a portly man in filthy patched robes, his bare feet crusty with dirt, a bowl hung about his neck on a leather thong where a septon would have worn a crystal. The smell of him would have gagged a rat. "Lord Varys has come to see you," Shae announced. The begging brother blinked at her, astonished. Tyrion laughed. "To be sure. How is it you knew him when I did not?" She shrugged. "It's still him. Only dressed different." - ACOK - TYRION X

This catches Varys off guard, and any chance of seeing him being angry or looking threatened is waved away from the reader when Tyrion laughs it off and turns his attention again to his paramour Shae.
Wearing disguises is a very important part of Varys' many schemes, including visiting Ned Stark in the Black Cells as the gaoler Rugen;

"Wine," a voice answered. It was not the rat-faced man; this gaoler was stouter, shorter, though he wore the same leather half cape and spiked steel cap. "Drink, Lord Eddard." He thrust a wineskin into Ned's hands. The voice was strangely familiar, yet it took Ned Stark a moment to place it. "Varys?" he said groggily when it came. He touched the man's face. "I'm not … not dreaming this. You're here." The eunuch's plump cheeks were covered with a dark stubble of beard. Ned felt the coarse hair with his fingers. Varys had transformed himself into a grizzled turnkey, reeking of sweat and sour wine. "How did you … what sort of magician are you?" - AGOT - EDDARD XV

His disguise as Rugen is very important to Varys' plans after Tyrion's disappearance from King's Landing, as Varys seeks to frame Rugen as a Tyrell puppet who broke Tyrion from imprisonment on the Tyrells' behalf, to sow division and further paranoia between Cersei and the Tyrells;

Gold, yes, but the moment Cersei took it she could tell that it was wrong. Too small, she thought, too thin. The coin was old and worn. On one side was a king's face in profile, on the other side the imprint of a hand. "This is no dragon," she said. "No," Qyburn agreed. "It dates from before the Conquest, Your Grace. The king is Garth the Twelfth, and the hand is the sigil of House Gardener." Of Highgarden. Cersei closed her hand around the coin. What treachery is this? Mace Tyrell had been one of Tyrion's judges, and had called loudly for his death. Was that some ploy? Could he have been plotting with the Imp all the while, conspiring at Father's death? With Tywin Lannister in his grave, Lord Tyrell was an obvious choice to be King's Hand, but even so . . . "You will not speak of this with anyone," she commanded. - AFFC - CERSEI II

But this ploy to incite conflict between the Lannisters and Tyrells would have failed if Shae had lived, as she had seen through Varys' disguises and could've warned Cersei of it, something which Varys could not allow, especially given that he considered her one of Cersei's pawns after Tyrion's trial.
It is also fundamentally not in Varys' interest for Tyrion to kill Tywin, as keeping Tywin alive for now would ensure the Dornish would have someone to rise up and seek vengeance against for Elia's murder. As readers are shown in AFFC and ADWD Dornish chapters, the Martells are divided and frankly confused about how to seek vengeance for Elia's murder now that Tywin, Gregor and Armory Lorch - the three men involved in her murder - are now dead. **If Tywin had lived, Varys could've played on the Dornish thirst for vengeance against him and had fAegon promise them it in exchange for their support, something which they likely would've agreed to.
So by this point in the post, we've explored some of the key lies of Varys' character to know for sure what he is not;

• He is not the victim of slavery or a sacrificial victim to magical fires, nor does he abhor those who worship R'hllor or magical flames
  
• He does not hate the killing and suffering of innocent children, and has actually sought to profit from it in the past
  
• He has never been a friend or ally to Tyrion Lannister but has instead used him, and even manipulated him into killing Shae to protect one of Varys' own future schemes
  

So who is the real Varys? Behind all of these lies and deceptions, who is he really deep down?
Well, Varys is not a eunuch, and in fact fAegon's true father by blood. Varys has deliberately spent his life lying about being a eunuch in order to discourage people from the truth that he is the father of fAegon by Illyrio’s sister, and wants to control the Iron Throne through fAegon.
Recall Varys' conversation with Tyrion in ACOK that I previously cited earlier;

"He accuses my brother and sister of incest. I wonder how he came by that suspicion." "Perhaps he read a book and looked at the color of a bastard's hair, as Ned Stark did, and Jon Arryn before him. Or perhaps someone whispered it in his ear." The eunuch's laugh was not his usual giggle, but deeper and more throaty. "Someone like you, perchance?" "Am I suspected? It was not me." "If it had been, would you admit it?" "No. But why should I betray a secret I have kept so long? It is one thing to deceive a king, and quite another to hide from the cricket in the rushes and the little bird in the chimney. Besides, the bastards were there for all to see." - ACOK - TYRION III

"Why should I betray a secret I have kept so long?" is the biggest hint towards fAegon's existence and Varys' own true motivations in the entire series. Varys makes this spur of the moment claim after being caught off guard by Tyrion and doesn't think it through before saying it and letting Tyrion realise there is more to him.
Varys was never castrated and he is not bald. He deliberately shaves his head to hide his true parentage and lies about being a eunuch to discourage people from believing that he is capable of fathering a child, a child with Blackfyre blood that he wishes to sit on the Iron Throne, a secret that Varys has cared for and kept so long.
The last time we see Varys in ADWD, he finally begins to tell the truth about fAegon's existence, and when he does, and speaks about the son he loves, he begins to speak in his real, deeper and non-emasculated voice;**

"Aegon?" For a moment he did not understand. Then he remembered. A babe swaddled in a crimson cloak, the cloth stained with his blood and brains. "Dead. He's dead." "No." The eunuch's voice seemed deeper. "He is here. Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them." - ADWD - EPILOGUE

This is who Varys truly is - not a eunuch, not a victim of slavery or castration, not a man who weeps for the suffering of children, not a friend of Tyrion Lannister, but a loving father who wishes to cast a very large shadow over the greatest empire the world of ASOIAF has ever known.
TLDR:
Varys is not a eunuch but instead the father of fAegon, a secret he has spent his life protecting, and a lie he has spent his life telling to better protect his son.
Varys does not hate R'hllor or those who worship magical flames, his entire story about his manhood being sacrificed to flames is a lie he tells to gain Tyrion's trust in their efforts to defeat Stannis in ACOK. Varys is close friends with Illyrio, a man who praises R'hllor, and spent the early parts of his life encouraging Aerys to feed innocent people to the flames of wildfire.
Varys does not hate the suffering of innocent children, he was prepared to buy an innocent child from a man and sacrifice him in order to protect the "real" Aegon, he was prepared to abandon Rhaenys to her brutal death even if he could have saved her too and prepared to send Viserys and Daenerys into a doomed invasion of Westeros that would've led to their deaths just to make fAegon appear a more heroic saviour compared to them.
Varys was never a friend or ally to Tyrion but instead was using him ever since they first met. He has repeatedly withheld important information from him such as who hired Mandon Moore to kill Tyrion and how Stannis figured out the truth about Cersei's children, and on frequent occasions has nearly openly laughed in Tyrion's face at both his misfortune and the information Varys withheld from him. Varys also manipulated Tyrion into killing Shae so that she would not expose Varys' identity as Rugen and didn't trust Tyrion with the information about fAegon's existence, something that Tyrion had to figure out himself. Varys also talks lowly of Tyrion at the end of ADWD as a "conniving Imp" which reflects Varys' true feelings about Tyrion.
Varys has spent his life shaving his hair and lying about being a eunuch to discourage anyone from believing he could father fAegon and better protect him, so that fAegon could one day take the Iron Throne, and cast a very large shadow over the Targaryen Empire forever.
Thanks for reading, if you enjoyed this theory be sure to read some of my other theories below;
All the signs that Tywin directly gave the Mountain the order to badly mistreat Elia Martell
The Father Rhaegaer, the Son Jon and the Holy Ghost Ghost, religious symbolism
Mance Rayder is a servant of the Others
Leyton Hightower is the Lord of Light and Malora Maid is Quaithe
2022 archive of ASOIAF theories available at the bottom of this post

I've tried it so many times, calling all these surgeons and not one takes my shitty aetna state insurance. I'm constantly in pain from my chest and back since I'm an adult who started binding at 14, and the pain is constant and every day. I'll never be able to afford top surgery and knowing that makes me feel even more disgust for my body. It's not fair. When do I get to be happy? When do I get to stop feeling envious towards others blessed enough to get this surgery? I feel evil because I block transmascs on tiktok who post their surgery results because it feels like the universe rubbing in my face the fact I can't have it. "Look at how you could look! Too bad you'll never get it. What a shame." There's times I wish I could remove them myself. I don't know how much longer I can take. If in the future I'm told I can't bind anymore, im going to have to do it myself. I'm desperate, I don't know where to go,or who to talk to, and nothing ever works.

Hi all, I posted a piece last week and got some good constructive feedback. (Thanks!) From that, I revised and figured I probably started in the wrong place (amongst the other issues mentioned). I've taken it all onboard and have attempted an improved opening piece.
Any time taken for feedback is hugely appreciated, please take a look below and let me know your thoughts. Either in general or on the following points: readability, style, tense, excitement, intrigue, character development, world-building, grammar, plot, etc.
(This isn't the full chapter but an excerpt. Keen to improve my writing skills/ability) - TIA
Would you read more? - Be honest.
Chapter 1: The Final
Kael had been in this position before. The large arena overflowing with spectators, a sea of people below with their eyes fixed on him, brimming with expectations of witnessing greatness once more. None more so than his father.
Everything Kael had. No. Everything, they had been training for came down to this moment. If they win this point, they win the cup. If they win the cup then he would make it. Playing with the big teams across the realms, being paid like the big teams. His family would be secure, safe. Happy.
He adjusted his position on his Lumicor at the heart of the arena. In moments like this, Kael found solace in focusing on the flying machine – a remarkable fusion of engineering and imagination. The Lumicor hovered effortlessly in the air. The craft embodying a seamless blend of a majestic bird and a small ship. Its intricate metalwork enhanced by polished wood. Emphasising the glowing crystalline elements that ran along the body to its aerodynamic wings extending gracefully from its sides.
Kael traced his fingers over the engraved words etched into the bronze-metal steering handles. To be great is to fail, to fail is to be great. His mother's words echoed in his mind. Memories of their past struggles resurfaced—the financial hardships, his mother's difficult upbringing as an abandoned child, and his father's laborious servitude to the Seers Council. Focus, Kael! He shook his head trying to ignore his father, and the Seers Council watching on from the boxed seats above.
Usually, it was just his father watching on, comforting, encouraging—even but today was different. The council members attended the big games. After all, it was they who had provided his Lumicors. Their presence, however, was intimidating. His father couldn't bare to watch, his hands covering his eyes. Kael shook his head again. Focus!
The task ahead was simple. Are these my words or my father’s? Kael looked out from the cockpit across the arena. The windshield glass was tinted ever so slightly, giving the view a golden hue. Usually, the epic atmosphere fuelled him with confidence but today it all felt so different. The enormous arena hung suspended in the sky, the outer structure a spinning cylinder with open ends revealing an endless expanse of sky. The interior walls, adorned with intricate patterns and enchanting murals, were typically grand and regal, but today they appeared overwhelming and needlessly complex. Dominating the arena stood the imposing crystalline obelisk, surrounded by twenty-seven floating crystals, thirteen blue and thirteen red.
“What’s the move, Kael?” Mayer, one of his teammates, called out from atop her own Lumicor, hovering adjacent to him. The machine identical to Kael’s, its birdlike wings a deep blue, perfectly matching the pulsating crystalline nose of the craft. Lines of the same vibrant blue ran down the side of the Lumicor, resembling veins eagerly pumping energy throughout the vessel.
“A five-one manoeuvre, Mayer. It needs to be a head-to-head. It’s the only way.” Was it the only way, he thought. The lack of self-assurance was unsettling to him.
Kael, palms sweating, gripped the controls tightly making way for the centre. From the other side of the arena, Lumicors clad in shimmering red trimmed attire, soared through the air towards the same spot. One unlit crystal remains, this is it. Shifting shape structures hanging in the air tracked menacingly across the arena, transforming from cuboid to pyramid, sphere to oblong. What made a great Skyshard player was learning the pattern of the changing shapes. If you could figure that out you had the advantage.
The final unlit crystal circled around the tip of the obelisk. The shifting shapes orbiting it in a synchronised motion. Kael positioned himself carefully for the perfect shot at the crystal, deftly evading the small, taunting shape-shifting structures. The nose of the Lumicor tapping the crystal turning it blue, the crowd cheering, the team winning, I Kael the hero. My father standing, proud. Kael ran this scenario a hundred times before in his mind. Now it was here about to happen.
“Mayer, five-one now,” he called out, his heart racing faster as his five teammates swiftly moved across the sky, engaging the opposing team and drawing away five of their players, leaving only one opponent on the opposite side of the obelisk, directly across from Kael.
Refocusing on the large, shape-shifting structure that stood between him and the crystal, Kael repeated the sequence in his mind. Oblong, cuboid, pyramid, sphere, oblong, cuboid... What if I make a mistake? His gaze involuntarily shifted toward his father, who sat in the stands with a clenched fist and a bowed head. The suffocating pressure enveloped Kael, his cloak seemed as though it just became a hundred times heavier, constricting his every movement.
As the large shape-shifting structure transformed from oblong to cuboid to pyramid to sphere and back again, time appeared to slow, granting Kael a surplus of time to think—perhaps even overthink. What if I make a mistake? What if I miss the chance? The pressure intensified with each passing second, the air in the cockpit felt as though it had been sucked out. Kael was sure the entire arena was holding its breath, the collective gaze of the spectators, players, and his father, fixated on him, waiting for his move.
Kael made his move. Surging the Lumicor forward with a burst of power. The structure between Kael and the final crystal abruptly shifted into a pyramid as expected, but to Kael's dismay, it was not as he had anticipated. Instead of a regular pyramid, it was an inverted one, one of its corners now directly in his path. The pattern, I misread, the pattern. Every third pyramid is inverted! He cursed himself.
Kael's Lumicor crashed headlong into the sharp corner of the inverted pyramid. The impact reverberated through his body, sending shockwaves of pain radiating from his shoulder. The collision disrupted his balance, causing him to lose control of his ride. He could hear the gasping of the audience as he and his Lumicor tumbled, crashing onto the floating platform below.
Pain lanced through his body as he lay sprawled on the ground, his vision swimming. The weight of his failure heavier than a hundred cloaks, as tough the arena itself bore down on him. The hushed muttering of the crowd amplifying what had just happened. Kael looked up to his father’s seat but he was nowhere to be seen.

Hey there! So, yet again, I can’t find summer sandals in narrow that aren’t $150. I searched and searched. I finally came to this place and searched narrow feet and also received abysmal results. Lots of narrow feet posts with no real answers.
I don’t want a hack, I want a shoe that fits. Adjustable shoes don’t adjust enough. Straps can be tightened to pull down on height, but that doesn’t make them narrow, just flatter.
And damnit us narrow footed people shouldn’t have to pay $150 for something everyone else can get for $15-50 bucks. I’m getting too old for poor fitting shoes. Teva is no good. Searching for reviews that complain of shoes being too narrow has consumed too much of my life and they are almost always a normal width anyway, not actually narrow.
No matter what I do, I just can’t seem to find narrow shoes at a reasonable price. Nevermind finding ones that will match anything I own or are what I actually want (like no natural fibetwine/rope looks and no genuine leather).
I want cloth or faux leather classic sandals with one toe strap and an ankle strap. Flat with no or very low heel. Nice, clean, and simple. Will I ever find them? No, probably not.
It’s beginning to feel like some kind of weird foot discrimination. It’s not like narrow feet are some unicorn oddity. Lots of people have narrow feet. Why are there soooo many more options for accommodating wide feet that I see all the time, but no accommodations for narrow feet?
I’m so done with wearing shoes that hurt my feet which in turn hurt my ankles, then my knees, hips, and back. Anyone who doesn’t know what it’s like, try walking around in shoes three sizes too big while your feet wiggle and swim with every step and then wear them for years as physical ailments develop from poor fitting shoes. Or constantly trying not to get athletes feet from wearing thick socks to try and fill out shoes better, even when it’s 100 degrees out. And don’t get me started on those stupid foam stickers you stick inside shoes. I loathe them.
Why are narrow shoes priced for your average person, so hard to find?
Does anyone know of any shoes that will actually fit? You know, where I can buy them and wear them without having to use tricks and hacks to make them fit better? Doesn’t even have to be sandals, any shoes at a reasonable price that will fit would be cause for celebration, at this point.
If not, feel free to cry with me about our narrow feet woes.
And if any shoe companies see this, MAKE A NARROW OPTION LIKE YOU DO FOR WIDE FOOTED PEOPLE!!!
Now, I will walk away and probably return to this post having fallen into the abyss like the other narrow foot posts before mine.

I thought I'd never touch facebook, but I kinda had to give in. Apperently facebook market place/buy&sell groups are good for reselling 2nd hand items, it's a good place to find/become a college roommate, and lots of companies and schools still post their updates there, so it's also good for getting updates from your college/school and employer.
So, I finally gave in, but I am clueless. I figured out how to post, but then I can't even find my own posts? Also finding back your own comments. I have so many questions I can't even formulate them.
Isn't there some sort of started guide on facebook? Because I am lost, but apperently facebook still has some usefulness, and I want to make use of that. Thanks already!

After reading "Spell Components: How They Work and How to Make Them Fun," a recent article from DNDBeyond on spell components, I thought I would finally write up my 'hack' for doling out spell components.
The first two sentences stuck out to me, since I'm sure we've all experienced this as a player or as a DM:

You pick up a component pouch and then you and your DM forget about it entirely. You need diamonds for that revivify spell, but you never roleplayed how you got them when preparing the spell for usage.

There are adventure settings where it is difficult to find certain components due to the location's economics or environment. Wild Beyond the Witchlight is a great example of this: after the characters leave the Witchlight Carnival, there isn't a merchant in Prismeer to upgrade equipment, or buy material components. What happens when the wizard runs out of incense? What happens when the sorcerer levels up, but doesn't have the resources to cast 'Chromitc Orb'?
Solution:
Here's my solution, which you may have gathered from the title: when you're given loot to your players add in a couple d10s or d100s that represents the gold piece value of an undefined, "raw", material spell component. When someone needs material components they can reach into that box and pull something out. As soon as a spell caster declares that they are taking from the box, they subtract the value of the material component from the total amount of raw spell components they own.
An example of using these in play: Two days into a dungeon the wizard runs out of incense to cast 'Find Familiar'. The party has gathered 73gp worth of undefined material components. The wizard reaches into the ornately carved box, says "I'm going to use 10gp for incense", and removes a fist full of incense from the box. The party now has 63gp of undefined material components, and the wizard has a familiar. There is still enough left in the pot for the sorcerer to grab a diamond for 'Chromatic Orb' later on.
My inspiration and rationale:
This model was inspired by the "I know a guy!" variant rule, sometimes used on it's own, sometimes attached to inspiration. Instead of "knowing a guy" and spending a resource (inspiration), the players find raw spell components, and then decide what to shape these into.
This is also to make DM prep a little easier. You don't have to scour your player's character sheets, anticipate their needs, or get annoyed when you ask for their component wish lists and then no one replies but they still try to cast spells that require components with a gp value. ^{Sorry, that was good to get off my chest.}
This option also gives players autonomy over choices that are otherwise at the power of the DM. Instead of 'mother-may-I-ing' for specific components players can decide what components they need and when, without removing spell component rules entire.
Now, personally, I don't stop including art objects and jewels in my loot tables. But if I don't have to put expensive diamonds in the table, then I can add other objects that can add to my world building and make sense for the adventure location - in my homebrew, 17th c, rural folk horror setting I can make the art objects relevant to the story, and not worry about how a bunch of rural bullies own golden horns, ruby dust or ivory strips. I also enjoy describing the container the players find the undefined spell components in - a corroded tin box with nails stabbed through it; a black velvet bag that, when you open it glows faintly purple from inside; an old box made of bone that depicts the ascension of the last tyrant king; a book on vegetable propagation with a secret hidey-hole in the centre...
So finally...
There are a lot of good reasons to enforce rules on spell casting, including material component use. It can, for example, close a little of the gap between casters and martials. It's also cool to describe casting a spell using them. I use the "Schrodingers" method as a way to make my and my player's game run a bit smoother.
Ta for reading, and hope your next D&D game goes swimmingly.

Hi everyone
Trying to get back into writing recently but I don't know where to start. I wrote this chapter a while back but was torn between a few ways to take it next. It follows the spoiled and initially unlikeable son of an emperor trying to claw his way back into the line of succession. Before I start writing more I want to see what works and what doesn't with my older stuff. Any feedback is welcome. (I posted this before in case it looks familiar but I did at like 1am and it didn't get any comments).
It's relatively grim dark so just a warning that there's a bit of gore early on.
Thanks.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1--C4vcVAR_J9U-A7fAYgZK6Xf8_YTeeU9uM7Io9V6VA/edit

Long post follows:
I have been thinking that this is a new timeline with just TOTK—> SS —> BOTW. As mentioned in BOTW, the stuff that happened in other games has become myth. When looked in the proper context, it signals Nintendo is starting a new timeline with these 3 games.
In Botw we learn about the hero coming back with the sword that seals the darkness to deal with the calamity. It is implied this happened more than once for the Sheikah to be able to predict and be ready for the next one.
In Totk, there is no hero and master sword to seal darkness, but Zelda recognizes aspects of the story, and this all follows Botw, so it is clear these stories take place in the same timeline.
The way to reconcile these two stories is for SS to take place after Totk past events. I view the timeline this way:
1) Zonai are descended from the gods. For whatever reason their time is coming to and end, with just Rauru and Mineru the ones remaining. Rauru and Sonia establish the kingdom of Hyrule.
2) G man wants power and seizes it, becomes Demon King. As a corollary, it is likely that Demise is manifest through Ganondorf who is his vessel.
3) Imprisoning war ensues and Demon King is held down by Rauru’s power for a looooong time (considering other events, likely over 40,000 years minimum)
4) With Zonai gone and Hyrule depleted, Demise seizes opportunity to take over and gain triforce. Hylia gets involved and sends land and survivors skyward. Events from Skyward Sword take place. Master Sword is created, hero, and goddess bloodlines established, etc.
5) Return to land and continuation of events as described in Botw.
Now it’s too much of a headache to fit the other games in the timeline, that’s why they’ve been relegated to “myth”. It’s cleaner to think the timeline exists in these 3 games.
IF this timeline is kept by Nintendo :rolls eyes: I can see the next games in the series exploring the triforce and sacred realm.

So a little explanation. I took a long hiatus from PTCGO and now I'm back and have been playing a bit. I'm up to Riolu league now and things are getting difficult for this Archanine deck. I need to make a new deck with some kind of concept. I have all my cards from PTCGO transferred and I have no clue where to begin. Personally I've never been good at making a deck because I either loose interest or just not good at picking combos. I would really love some help so either post here or DM idc. I just don't wanna walk away too early from the possible fun I might have.

This post might be a huge trigger. But please allow me to vent out.
Around the start of the pandemic, I got my first boyfriend. It was a pandemic relationship but what we had was "everything" I needed at that time. He was the greatest man to me. He'd always try and listen to me, be fair to me, give me the things I want.
Then a few months down the relationship certain cycles came about. When he'd leave the city for work and be unavailable due to cell service issues. I'd feel like I wasn't important enough to him. This went over and over and I got so. confused and sick of it that I went to therapy. "I'm the common denominator in these problems. Maybe I should get help"
I got diagnosed with BPD. I know it wasn't my fault to have BPD but I hated and shamed myself for my BPD.
"This causes my relationship to go rocky when everything is just perfect" "Because of this BPD I'm creating problems where it doesn't have any" " if I didn't have BPD I'd be the best girlfriend in the world"
But most of all, i hated having BPD because he becAme collateral damage. He was hurting because i have this episodes where I just split and he's the bad guy when all he really is good and trying.
I would try my hardest not to fall into episodes. But I still fell into them. The cycle goes on and on and improvements were little to none.
I asked him to break up with me. He didn't deserve to get hurt because I'm sick. Because even though he wasn't perfect. I saw him try his best to accommodate where I was. He refused. He said he'll hold out. He said he's frustrated with the situation but he'll hold out.
One month after, he broke up with me. During that 1 month, I had new techniques that worked well for me. I was trying not. making him my world, having mew hobbies, sticking with my affirmations and positive self talk... and he broke up with me. He was also going through something that time and he just wanted an answer, a clear answer on how to get out of our cycle. And the only way out of this, might only be going through every cycle over and over until I get it right. Because not all techniques will work overnight. We'll only know progress when were tested and if our responses have changed when dealing with the same triggering situation. But he gave up. So, my greatest fear came true. He did leave me.
It's been almost a year now since that breakup. I'm definitely better now mentally. I'm more gracious with my journey, more understanding of myself. I'm trying to not succumb to shame, because my reality might be different but it is my reality. My healing has been faster than ever and I'm sad it's like this and he isn't in my life anymore.
Looking back, he wasn't really as perfect as I thought he'd be. But it honestly felt so nice and hopeful to be loved in that way. That I deserved love in that level and intensity. I miss being loved that way. I miss being important. But I hope he's happy that his days are better without me. At least this way, I can't hurt him. But I also hope he was the one you know? It was good while it lasted. cue in better man by taylor swift
But I believe we all deserve someone who stays despite. I believe we're not incapable of healing, we need to just be around people patient enough to heal with us. I believe I'm worth it. It- the great love, the big love, the love worth the risk, the love worth staying, the love worth risking. Because I can give all that and more.
There is a reason behind the breaking. I wouldn't be as well equipped mentally as I am now if not for that breakup. But today, I felt the need to mourn what I lost. I hope we all get better and I believe we're already better because we're trying.

Hello, this is my very first post here, I'm a first-year college student and I'm planning on losing some of the weight I've gained over the year to try and be somewhat back in shape for the summer, problem is that I have my finals this month so I can't spend much time on workouts (an hour max ) plus I can't go into a very strong diet because I still need to have the energy to study throughout the day. I have a small gym room in my dorm with basic equipment like dumbells and a bench (and a couple of other basic things). I have no idea what my weight and height is and there's currently no way of measuring them (but I can roughly say that I'm (male) between 170 to 175 cm and about 70 to 75 kg, but I could be wrong so take like an additional 3cm and 3kg fault margin). It has been a long time since I've worked out or done any exercise and don't necessarily have much muscle mass at all, my hands and upper body seem to still be quite thin but the bulk is around my hips and belly all the way to the bottom bit of my chest).

I think its by time, you start banning people from playing ranked/sieges based on their performance and impact on the game.
I made a post a while back about siege balancing and people ended up agreeing that players don't care unless its ranked... well I guess not. cause I've tried ranked battles and its exactly the same but even worse where you'll get spammed with "Its just not your day is it" and toxic rants from 1-2 players where they ask you to go kill yourselves.
I've literally seen people in normal siege defend/attack better. I can't comprehend (genuinely feels like 70%) of players base has no clue and/or no intention of winning. Like why join a game if your not gonna do an effort to defend your point or attack the enemy?
Just played a few ranked games to see how it goes since people will have something worthy to make them actually interact. but nope, they just don't want to defend or attack. wasting 10-12 minutes on A and end up losing because they decide to gather up at 15 seconds to push or just watch the points until the enemy hoards arrive and our team retreat without putting up a fight until they reach the base and capture all flags in a matter of 2-3 minutes.... 13-14 alive players didn't even bother jumping into the base whiles its being captured the whole time it was being under attack...
geniunely don't know what to do anymore it is infuriating and the devs don't seem to care about it, only adding new useless units and more stuff to grind or pay for something that does so little for an extreme price tag.

(I'm feeling writer's block for my main story, so I'm taking some time to develop some characters that I made before this for another universe that I made up. Since this can be self contained, I'm going to find another platform to post it once it's finished and edited.)
Earl never doubted that there was a God, but he did doubt that he had anyone’s best interests at heart.
He remembered a time before this began, the relative normalcy. They had their house, television, no picket fence, but that was fine. He remembered watching Saturday morning cartoons until his younger brother would tug on his shirt to come play with him. It was idyllic, at least in his mind’s eye. Life felt good enough, not enough to complain, at least in hindsight. Play, school, grounding, time out, family meals.
The family kept one small secret, however. His parents sat him down when he was young. He was too young to remember the full extent of the conversation, but he learned that he was the descendent of angels like the rest of his family. He remembered feeling elated by his lineage. He remembered seeing a picture of an angelic hero alongside the other heroes taking down the big baddie on TV. The one thing he could remember, however, was his mother telling him.
“Remember, that’s your secret identity, okay? If you show someone else, you might lose the ability to fight evil forever. When you get older, you can be a hero.” That satisfied him, a detail that he would wonder about later in his life. He imagined wings that could extend from one wall to another, wings that could carry him anywhere he wanted.
Things began to change a little while after his father lost his job. Earl could never be sure if it was just coincidence, or people like them just smelled blood. His parents would be gone on Wednesday night for meetings with the group. They would drive out a couple towns over, where adults would meet, and the kids were shepherded into another area, where a younger adult would talk about righteousness, being a good angel, and respecting one’s heritage. Earl’s eyes widened when the head showed his own wings, tinted in browns and red’s like a bird’s. It was around this time that he was beginning to feel the pain and tingles in his back, that his wings were coming too. He couldn’t describe why, but he wanted to keep his brother close, as if his fear was that if he lost sight of him, then he would never find him again in the sea of people.
Despite purporting himself to be an extrovert, it was hard to talk to some of the other people in the youth group. They didn’t watch any of his favorite shows and read any of his favorite books. When he tried mentioning the Sea of Swords series, one of the girls made a face and replied, “Ew, that’s the one where the demon has a romance with the holy knight, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s so great because they—” He began to trail off as the other people in the group began to visibly tune him out. He allowed the conversation to fade out, his chest swelling with a weight that felt like something between guilt and anger. He looked out of the circle of people to watch Leo running around with the other kids, playing something like tag. A couple days later, his mother called Earl into the kitchen, his father sitting with her.
“I heard from another one of the moms that you were reading some kind of smut?” Earl thought back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” He said, not only trying to be as sincere as he could muster, but adding a little extra in case they thought he was playing dumb.
“Don’t play dumb with me, mister,” It looks like he miscalculated, “I am talking about the demon-angel smut you’re reading.”
“Sea of Swords?” There was that weight again, “You were the one who got me those books!”
“Mind your tone in front of your father, Earl.” His mother said, “We had no idea that kind of content was in that book we got you.” She took a short but audible breath, as if her inhalation would aid her in choosing her next words carefully.
“Books like those are trying to trick you into thinking thoughts unbecoming of an angel.” She said, “If you read those kinds of books, then you’ll turn to sin.”
“But they’re not bad books! They teach things like teamwork and loyalty, and—“
“That it’s okay to turn away from holiness to achieve your goals? That you can turn to darkness whenever it suits you?” His father’s eyes trained on him in a way that made his fingers numb and his arms cold.
“No, if you read them I swear—“
“This isn’t an argument, son. I want you to go up to your room and bring those books down right now.”
“But—“
“Don’t make me ask you again.” Earl reluctantly relinquished them to his parents. He put the books on the table. His back burned with his fledgling wings. He didn’t talk to his family for the rest of the night.
Earl was the most vehemently opposed to moving away. School has become a save haven for him. His friends let him borrow Sea of Swords volume 4 so that he could read it during homeroom and lunch, and he had felt himself growing away from his family. The sermons at the angelic gatherings began to feel like slosh in his head, and he had turned into an expert at tuning it out in favor of imagining what it would be like if they had never started coming here. He begged and cried, but his family had already sold the house and were moving to a settlement of angels. Leo, while sad that he was leaving his friends, was more excited because some of his group friends were going to be there.

I am on 134:30 hours fasted and weigh 348.4 pounds. So far I have lost 14.6 pounds. Tonight at 6pm I finish day 6. Yesterday I was really tired. I didn't do much of anything. In fact right after finish this post I am going to back to sleep. It's Sunday I'm sleeping in. Sweet dreams everyone!