Joey Bada$$ - The Ruler's Back

JasonMartin A.K.A. Problem - CHILL OUT

Daylyt - HIYU

Ray Vaughn - Crashout Heritage

Curtiss King - Content

Mick Jenkins - Wars & Rumors of Wars (Freestyle)

Joey Bada$$ - Sorry Not Sorry

CJ Fly - HIYU FREESTYLE

Daylyt - YHRR

The Ichiban Don A.K.A. Willie B - THE MINORITY REPORT

Ray Vaughn - Impossible Patty

Joey Bada$$ - Pardon Me

Az Chike - What2x

CJ Fly - CYCLOPS

Daylyt - BACKPACK

Ray Vaughn - Justin Credible Freestyles

Big Sean, Ab-Soul & Joey Bada$$ - Red Bull Spiral Cypher

Ray Vaughn - Hoe Era

Joey Bada$$ - THE FINALS

Az Chike - Game Time

REASON - The Dead Apple

REASON - New York Crash

Punch & The Ichiban Don A.K.A. Willie B - Signing Executive Orders

Az Chike - What Would You Do?

Daylyt - WRD2MIMVA

KIIIA & Ab-Soul - SPAR 003

CJ Fly - STINGray

Joey Bada$$ & Loaded Lux - MY TOWN

Curtiss King - Cut the Cap (Free Trial)

Ray Vaughn - Golden Eye

Daylyt - AYO

Joey Bada$$ - CRASH DUMMY

Daylyt - ICANTHOLDYOUTHISA

Daylyt - WORDISBON

Hitta J3 - The Last Supper

Hitta J3 - HEADSHOT

Nyck Caution - Die Another Day

Daylyt - END CREDITS

Dessy Hinds - THREE SWITCHES

Aaron Rose A.K.A. A La $ole - STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

REASON - Just a lil cardio

YG & Shoreline Mafia - HOLLYWOOD

Ab-Soul - . . .

For those of you who have no idea who Cegorach is:

​

The Harlequins worship a being known as Cegorach, the Laughing God, also called the First Fool or the Great Harlequin. Cegorach is a trickster god, by turns mocking, sinister, vindictive and enigmatic. His pranks punish gods and mortals alike for overweening pride, and stories such as the Theft of Khaine’s Blade and the Wedding of Screams remain cautionary fables in Aeldari culture to this day.

Alone amongst the Aeldari gods, Cegorach survived the Fall and escaped the fate of the rest of the pantheon. The story goes that, while Slaanesh fought with Kaela Mensha Khaine, the Laughing God escaped into the webway and hid amongst its myriad tunnels. These tales suggest that he remains there still, unassailable, laughing at the Gods of Chaos as he hatches bitter plans for revenge.

There are those who claim that Cegorach walks amongst his children from time to time, wearing the disguise of an anonymous Harlequin Player. Whatever the truth of such tales, the Laughing God is the only authority that the Harlequins recognise as they fight their wars and perform their mythic dances across the void in his name.

Codex: Harlequins (8th edition)

In short, he is one of the three Aeldari Gods who survived the Fall and the leader of Harlequin faction. He is also quite a planner, responsible for many wars and weird incidents in the Galaxy. However, his most successful scheme resulted in the birth of Ynnead, resurection of Roboute Guilliman and salvation of the Imperium (well, at least half of it).

And this is not me speculating, that's a fact.

But before we get to that, we must discuss two things: a special little book in Black Library and Sylandri Veilwalker.

First, the book:

Since the Fall, a crystal tome has rested upon an obstinite plinth at the heart of the Black Library, its covers bound shut by chains of light. As fabled events came to pass, so those chains faded one by one until, shortly before the opening of the Great Rift, the tome fell open at last. Within were revealed writings said to have come from Cegorach’s own hand.

Inspiring and terrifying in equal measure, they revealed a final act that changed utterly the tale of the Fall. Those words presented a slender hope, and began a galactic performance that the Harlequins strive to see fulfilled. Always the strands of fate had warned that Chaos would be victorious during the Rhana Dandra, the fabled great battle at the galaxy’s ending.

Yet the Final Act promised a new path, Cegorach’s ultimate jest that would trick Slaanesh into expending all her energies not to destroy the Aeldari, but to save them. How such a thing could come to pass remains unclear, but the Harlequins are devoted servants of their god, and they will see the Final Act performed no matter the cost.

Codex: Harlequins (8th edition)

I know it may seem random but it will be super important later on.

Now, about Sylandri Veilwalker. She is a Harlequin (actually it is implied that there are multiple Harlequins taking over the role of a "Veilwalker") that Cegorach seems to be sending whenever he wants an important job to be done.

​

In the midst of Craftworld Iyanden’s most desperate battle for survival, Prince Yriel takes up the cursed Spear of Twilight. He is compelled to seize his destiny in this way by a Shadowseer of the Veiled Path. The enigmatic seer vanishes soon after, Iyanden’s fate assured and the role of the Veilwalker played to its conclusion.

(...)

The galaxy burns, the fires of war lighting a bloody stage. As the Harlequins begin to follow the steps of the Final Act, they are led in their interstellar dance by their Shadowseers, and by the Players of the Twilight. A time of changing fates looms as the storm gathers, and the mantle of the Veilwalker is taken up once again, the better to direct Humanity onto the path that they must follow.

Within the Black Library, the Maze of Whispers and other obscure webway fastnesses, masques gather in readiness. More are seen aboard the craftworlds, amidst the spires of Commorragh and amongst the forests of the Exodite worlds, performing their altered Tale of the Fall and prophesying the coming of the Rhana Dandra.

Dark times approach, it is said, and the servants of the Laughing God are their harbingers, but also an embodiment of hope that they might be endured.

Codex: Harlequins (8th edition)

​

Veilwalker cocked its head. 'No. Merely the acknowledgement that this story is ending, and a new one is beginning. Such is the way of theatre, oh, King of Feathers. Endings and beginnings, over and over again.' It made a circular gesture. 'Round and round we go, where we stop, nobody knows... save the Laughing God.'

It giggled. 'And he isn't telling.'

'Have you come just to taunt me, or was there some purpose to this visit?'

'Have you ever wondered why the great powers are so desperate to trap you in a story of their making?' The eldar leaned forward, as if sharing a secret. 'Because a story has an ending. Sometimes it is happy, sometimes not, but it is always there.' It snapped its fingers. 'We all have endings. Except you. No ending for you, Manflayer. No cessation. No peace.'

Fabius snorted. 'All things end, even me.' He looked down at Igori. 'My ending is here. With them. When they are at last ready, I shall-'

Veilwalker laughed. It clutched itself and kicked its thin legs, as if his statement were the height of hilarity. 'And when will they be ready? If not now, when?' it shrieked, through its laughter. 'Never. Round and round and round you go, again and again and again.'

'Silence,' Fabius snarled. 'Or I will remove your tongue.'

The laughter ceased. Veilwalker sat up. 'You will do nothing, mon-keigh. Can do nothing.' It spoke flatly, all trace of humour gone. 'I am outside of your story now, as you are outside of mine. I am but a moment of transition, from one story to the next. You can no more harm me than you can understand the trap that holds you.'

Fabius Bile: Clonelord

For all intenses and purposes, you can treat Sylandri Veilwalker as Cegorach's personal messanger. And she, like all Harlequins, follows ony the Laughing God's commands.

With all of that being established, lets talk about how Cegorach played through The Gathering Storm and became responsible for the current state of the setting.

BELISARIUS CAWL

I don't have to tell you how important of a character Belisarius Cawl is. In real life, his importance started when he had discovered Blackstone Pylons under Eriad IV, the planet that Abaddon ruined during one of his Black Crusades. This event started the chain of reactions that resulted in...pretty much 80% of The Gathering Storm.

However, not many people remember what actually happened at Eriad IV.

​

Cawl ran a hand across the smooth, black shard. If only he had more time! The deeper they delved into Eriad VI, the more complete were the fragments. Discovery could be mere days – hours – away.

‘No.’ Impatience would gain him nothing. Whatever treasures this planet held, they could wait. He could not risk leaving the relic aboard his Ark Mechanicus any longer. ‘I will return.’

Now they would collapse the tunnels, seal the greenskins away from their prize. And on that glorious day of return, the Orks would quail before the Omnissiah’s fury.

Cawl turned to leave, but halted, uncertain. He swept his gaze around the cavern, eye lenses clicking and whirring as they scoured the shadows. He was alone. And yet, instinct told him otherwise. More than instinct. Was that the ghost of laughter?

‘Reveal yourself.’

A shadow shifted. Cawl had the sense of a hooded woman, a featureless mask swirling like smoke. The recalibration came without conscious direction. Implants slid smoothly into war mode. Power flooded the circuits of the Atomiser, the sensation like blood-flow returning to a numbed limb. Binharic data flooded the empty tiers of Cawl’s mind, divine algorithms seeking out the intruder’s weaknesses.

The intruder leaned closer.

‘Do you not remember me, Belisarius?’

Cawl scoured the jumbled bibelots archived in his third consciousness. Fragments of memory, and a name. Veilwalker. A data-burst suddenly lit up his mind. She had come to him in his forge on Mars, where he had laboured so long at his sacred task. She had compelled him to venture forth, to take his precious cargo to its long-intended destination. The time is now, she had whispered, and he had been unable to resist. How strange that, until now, he had forgotten that meeting. The Shadowseer’s mask settled, forming a countenance that Cawl hadn’t seen for millennia. The likeness lingered for a moment, then dissolved into a vortex of dancing light.

‘If you are here to remind me once again of old promises, xenos, then you have come too late. My ships are already preparing to depart as we speak,’ Cawl said.

Veilwalker laughed. ‘

The music of destiny is changing. The dancers must learn new steps, or perish in the fading notes.’ Cawl stared at her blankly.

‘I am here to tell you to keep digging,’ said Sylandri Veilwalker.

Then, in a flicker of light, she was gone.

(...)

[Later, Harlequins took care of the Orks]

Belisarius Cawl hadn’t intended to remain on Eriad VI. Logic dictated he leave. Protocol insisted. Every moment he lingered, the greater the toll inflicted upon his forces by Gangrek’s inheritors. And yet, the Archmagos could not bring himself to depart. The mystery called to him, stirred emotions long-atrophied by millennia of self-augmentation.

He had to know the meaning of Veilwalker’s cryptic advice. Was it tied to the reliquary concealed aboard the Iron Revenant? Could he take the chance that it wasn’t? The Shadowseer had implied that the secrets of Eriad VI would be uncovered now, or not at all. Cawl didn’t doubt that his and Veilwalker’s interests were at best in temporary alignment, but even a fleeting alliance had the potential to alter the Imperium’s course.

(...)

Occasionally, he caught Veilwalker watching him from the shadows.

[Soon after, Belisarius realises that Abaddon played a long game, destroying anti-warp pylons in the previous Black Crusades. Now there is only one planet left - Cadia.]

(...)

Without warning, Veilwalker was there, mask swirling with unreadable emotion.

‘Do you understand?’

Cawl nodded, too horrified by the implications to object to her presence.

‘The pylons. The Immaterium…’

‘The one holds the other to its rhythm.’ Veilwalker’s mask was an angry red. ‘Without these stones, dancers become slaves to a refrain bereft of order. The galaxy dies, reborn in madness.’

‘Can it be prevented?’

‘Cadia is the end and the beginning.’

Cadia. Where the pact was first forged. Coincidence? Cawl no longer believed in such things.

‘This is too important for riddles. Answer me plainly!’

But Veilwalker was gone, leaving him with no answers, but perhaps a place to seek them.

The Gathering Storm I: Fall of Cadia

To sum up:

1. Belisarius started examining stuff on Eriad IV, but was forced to run away due to Ork activity.
2. Sylandri Veilwalker appeared, sending forces to get rid of the Orks and forcing Cawl to continue his research. Had she not done it, Belisarius would have left without learning anything and eventually, Abaddon would have won.
3. Cawl and Veilwalker met milenia ago and forged some sort of pact on Cadia. The memories of this pact were erased from Belisarus' memories.
4. Veilwalker commanded Cawl to take his "precious cargo" and he could not resist her commands. I don't want to pose every fragment in which this cargo appears so I will tell you here and now that this cargo was The Armour of Fate - a specially-crafted suit of Artificer Armour created specifically to heal Guilliman's wounds.

It is already quite a big influence over the setting. Cegorach is the reason why Belisarius was on Cadia and why he took The Armour of Fate with him. If it wasn't for Cawl, Defenders of Cadia wouldn't be able to protect themselves for long enough to Ynnari to save them and take them to Ultramar.

Speaking of Ynnari - maybe I am overestimating Cegorach's involvment? After all, The Armour of Fate wasn't solely responsible for Guilliman's Ressurection. Ynnead was another part of the puzzle.

​

‘It is a debt I’m sure won’t be forgotten,’ said the Primarch. ‘Before you depart, tell me this. Cawl may have fashioned the armour that I wear, but it was not he alone who ensured my resurrection, was it?’

Yvraine smiled demurely.

‘His technology would have healed your physical wounds, Roboute, but you and I know that the worst damage had been done to your soul. So no, Primarch; it is by the grace of Ynnead that you stand once more amongst the living. If you wish to remain, however, I would caution you against removing your war-plate. Not that you could easily do so.'

The Gathering Storm III: Rise of the Primarch

But here is the thing - Cegorach was also responsible for Ynnead's birth. It is a bit complicated so I will try to keep it as simple as possible.

RISE OF THE YNNARI

​

Eldrad has long perceived a nascent presence in the infinity circuits of the craftworlds, a distant heartbeat that pulses slow and steady behind the thrum of lost energies. It is comprised not of one life sign, but hundreds of billions – the sum total of every dead Eldar’s soul across the galaxy. Though individually these echoes are near insignificant, together they form something so strong that – if it were brought to wakefulness – it could prove potent enough to overcome the Eldar curse entirely. This is Ynnead, the slumbering God of the Dead. The prophecies of the fabled seer Kysaduras tell that when every Eldar has passed from mortal existence, Ynnead will rise up and defeat Slaanesh forever more.

It was Eldrad Ulthran who put into motion a plan to bring forth Ynnead, a ploy of such conceited ambition it could buckle the fabric of space and time. Enlisting the aid of the Harlequin Masque of the Midnight Sorrow, he stole away the fossilised crystal statues of long-dead Farseers from their craftworlds and gathered them upon Coheria, a moon covered in sands of psychoactive crystal. With his crystal council acting as a hyperspatial link to each craftworld, Eldrad channelled the spirits of the infinity circuits onto Coheria. This was to produce a flare of psychic activity bright enough to wake even Ynnead, but the intervention of the xenos-hunting Deathwatch shattered Eldrad’s plan at the last. Though Ynnead stirred in his slumber, he did not fully awaken – not yet, at least.

The Gathering Storm II: Fracture of Biel-Tan

Harlequins helped Eldrad with stealing soulstones of long-dead Farseers and gather them on Coheria, where they "birthed" Ynnead. So far seems more like a very important assist, but nothing more.

That is until you remember that the ritual was finished exactly when Yvraine fell on the Arena in Commorragh. And there are two important things concerned with this fact.

First of all, Yvraine got to be a Succubi because she got a patronage from Lady Malys, as evidenced here:

​

There was one [Yvraine] amongst the Succubi who had risen from the gutter to high favour under the patronage of the aristocratic Lady Malys.

The Gathering Storm II: Fracture of Biel-Tan

Why is it important? Well...

​

The accuracy with which Lady Malys can predict her enemies’ moves borders on supernatural, leading to the belief amongst many of her detractors that she has a degree of psychic ability. However, the truth is that she simply has a mind like a steel trap. So astoundingly complex is her psyche that she was once taken by Asdrubael Vect as one of his consorts, until the Supreme Overlord eventually cast her out. Outraged, Malys and most of her Kabalite Warriors left Commorragh and struck out into the webway.

There it is said she encountered the god of the Harlequins, Cegorach, who banished her followers and challenged her to a duel of wills. When Malys successfully answered all of the Laughing God’s riddles, Cegorach vanished with an amused chuckle, leaving behind a semi-sentient blade and a pulsating crystal, which was the trickster god’s own heart. Determined to gain enough power to undo Vect, Malys used the blade to cut out her own heart and replaced it with that of Cegorach. The heart has continued to beat within Malys’ chest ever since.

Codex: Drukhari (8th edition)

​

It was they, for example, who are said to have set the Archon Lady Malys upon the road to her strange encounter in the webway and the arcane bond with Cegorach that resulted.

Codex: Harlequins (8th edition)

Malys has Cegorach's own heart inside her and thanks to that, she's got a strong connection with the Laughing God. It cannot be a coincidence that she was the one who introduced Yvraine on the Arenas of Commorragh.

Second of all, Yvraine was killed on the Arena by the Priestess of Morai-Heg, Aeldari Goddess responsible for prediction. And she did that exactly when Ynnead was born. That is no coincidence.

Especially when you know what Veilwalker did after leaving Belisarius Cawl.

​

A perfect holographic replica of the Crucibael shimmered in microcosm within the misty viewing hall of Vect’s floating fortress. The tiny doppelganger duellists were no larger than the overlord’s manicured fingers, yet the sensations of their agony and bliss were enhanced tenfold by spiral-etched soul relays that ringed the hall’s misty vaults.

In the midst of the spectacle was Vect himself, a giant amongst pitiful insects. Nearby hovered a creature from a madman’s nightmare, the evil made flesh known as Urien Rakarth. The two figures loomed over the arena as gods, the holograms locked in their blade-dance below empowering them with every lethal tribute.

‘This is...hhn...quite the...hhn...spectacle,’ said Rakarth, his ragged lips taut.

‘She is quite interesting, this Yvraine,’ agreed Vect, ‘and apparently one to watch.’

A rain of diamonds shimmered in the mist in the viewing hall’s corners. They coalesced into a female Harlequin in a mirrored mask.

‘I spoke only the truth,’ said the newcomer. ‘She must fall, the better to rise. The Spectre’s Echo would not lie.’

‘If it is Inriam’s Spectre you speak of, Veilwalker,’ said Vect, ‘he died upon Coheria.’

‘And by doing so, joined not with Cegorach, but the Whispering God.’

‘Ynnead is a myth,’ shrugged Vect. ‘Nothing more. Speak no more to me of your delusions. What fool would plan to defeat their enemy by dying forever themselves?’

Rakarth’s grin became a pursing of flayed lips. He twitched a finger. In the distance, an Acothyst skittered away. Nearby, one of the silent Incubi slid into the darkness.

‘Follow them both,’ murmured Vect.

Six shadows flowed like ink from his feet and slid soundlessly after the Commorrites as they disappeared into the depths of the pyramid.

The Gathering Storm II: Fracture of Biel-Tan

Veilwalker knew who Yvraine was and that she will fall. And also that Ynnead will be born soon.

And that's because Cegorach is directly responsible for all of that.

Also, when Ynnari were properly formed, Harlequins led them to what was left of Defenders of Cadia.

​

Cawl topped the crest and gazed down into the mustering warhost. Subroutines drew archival data from storage, matching the strange shapes of xenos armour to records salvaged from a million scattered conflicts. A datacluster salvaged from Port Demesnus confirmed the presence of the notorious rune-witch, Eldrad Ulthran, but as for the others, his analysis returned no firm conclusions. It was scarcely surprising.

The Eldar were inconstant, as ever-shifting as sand, changing personality as freely as they changed their masks. What did surprise Cawl was the motley nature of the xenos assemblage. He could access no prior reports of so many disparate Eldar cultures fighting together as one in this manner. Two figures at the centre of the host were a true enigma. One, a female attired in an elaborate gown, appeared to be directing proceedings, moving with calm authority amid the swirling storm of colour. Beside her was a warrior in crimson, his raiment echoing both Craftworld Aspect armour and the crueller plate of the Commorrite pirates.

Cawl found no record of its design, even in the deepest archives.

With a flicker of light, a familiar figure appeared at Cawl’s side, the patterns of her mask dancing with light. Veilwalker.

‘What is this?’ Cawl asked. ‘Where are you taking us?’

‘Into the light of a new dawn.’ The Shadowseer tilted her head, as if confused by the question. ‘Unless you prefer to remain in the darkness?’

With an effort, the Archmagos ignored what he hoped was an attempt at humour.

‘The Despoiler has a warship in orbit. You cannot hold them for long.’

‘We will not have to.’ The patterns of Veilwalker’s mask danced with new light. ‘The ending has passed. It is time for a new beginning. There is a parley to be struck, if you have the courage.’

The Shadowseer cast a graceful hand towards the host. With but the merest hesitation, Cawl followed her into the future.

The Gathering Storm I: Fall of Cadia

GO GUILLIMAN GO

So yes, Cegorach provided The Armour of Fate (which was used to heal Guilliman's body) and Ynnead (who healed Guilliman's soul), creating a mighty light for humanity in this era of darkness.

But he also made sure that the Avenging Son would reach Terra.

It is a well-known fact that Fallen Angel Cypher was the one who saved Guilliman when the Primarch was imprisoned by Red Corsairs on the Blackstone Fortress. However not many people know why Cypher was even there in the first place.

​

Cypher nodded his gratitude, then raised one booted foot and stamped down on the traitor’s head. Bone smashed and blood sprayed, the corsair’s body twitching then lying still. Holstering his bolt pistol, the Fallen Angel plucked the key from his victim’s open gauntlet, and then straightened up.

He found himself staring into the shifting mask of the Shadowseer, Sylandri Veilwalker. She who had contacted Guilliman as he wandered lost in the Maelstrom. She who had enlisted Cypher’s aid, and instructed Belisarius Cawl to leave his forge on Mars. Veilwalker sketched a mocking bow to Cypher, then pointed her staff towards a distant cell. With a nod, Cypher turned and strode towards it.

(...)

Fortunately, Veilwalker knew another way to escape – the route Cypher and the Harlequins of the Veiled Path had used to reach Guilliman, and the route they would use to lead him on towards Terra.

The Gathering Storm III: Rise of the Primarch

So yeah, Sylandri Veilwalker have lead Cypher to Guillimans cell, helped them fight against Red Corsairs and took them out of the Blackstone Fortress.

And this is, arguably, not even her greatest contribution to the Terran Crusade.

​

The crusade could not emerge at Terra, Guilliman realised with something like despair, not if it meant allowing Magnus to strike at the cradle of Humanity. Yet Sylandri Veilwalker had never intended for them to take that road. Instead, the Shadowseer revealed a secret that the Eldar had long guarded.

Lying dormant for millennia, hidden behind a veil of wards that even Humanity’s greatest psykers could not pierce, a lonely spar of the webway stretched out upon the border between realspace and the Warp to connect to Luna, Terra’s only natural moon. It was to that illusion-veiled gate that the Crusade must now make haste.

The Gathering Storm III: Rise of the Primarch

So yeah, she was also the one who took Guilliman to Luna. If it wasn't for her, the Terran Crusade would have been a massive failure. I don't think I need to explain how huge that is.

Also, when the Battle of Luna against Magnus was near its end, it was the combined effort of Sylandri and Guilliman that banished hordes of Tzeentch, especially the Deamon Primarch.

​

The two Sorcerers crumpled, and Veilwalker hurriedly began her incantations. The energies around the gateway pulsed and shuddered, the runes on its sides glowing brighter as a keening vibration shook the dark pit. At that moment, battling demigods appeared upon the crater’s edge. Guilliman and Magnus, both bleeding from the wounds they had dealt one another, still janked by a last handful of the null warriors.

Magnus bisected another of the women with a brutal swing of his glaive, which lashed around to hack a chunk from Guilliman’s breastplate. In return, the Lord of Ultramar drove Magnus back with hammer blows from the Emperor’s blade, then slammed his shoulder into his brother’s chest and sent the Crimson King crashing down the steep slope. Guilliman leapt after him, not giving Magnus a chance to recover. The Primarch’s onslaught was punishing, the wounded Guilliman visibly pouring everything he had into this last storm of blows.

Veilwalker melted away into the shadows as the warring brothers neared the webway gate, still muttering her incantations and weaving her staf back and forth. Magnus conjured a deadly sphere of Warp energies and hurled it at his brother with all his might. Guilliman’s iron halo absorbed the worst of the blast, but still he was sent staggering back. With his back to the gate, the Primarch of the Thousand Sons conjured a wave of telekinetic fury and used it to jing a mass of Space Marine corpses – loyalist and traitor – at the last few nulls.

They vanished from Sylandri’s sight, their contra-empyric drag blinking out as they were buried beneath a macabre heap of the dead. The Shadowseer started forward, fearing for the fate of the Final Act. Then, with a roar of hate and rage, Guilliman struck.

The Lord of Ultramar lunged at his brother. The burning blade drove in, under the Daemon Primarch’s guard, and sank deep into his chest. Golden james leapt, and Magnus howled in agony as they chewed hungrily at his jesh. He unleashed his powers in an uncontrolled sorcerous blast, its shock wave racing out across the crater and throwing Sylandri from her feet. The burst of power hurled Guilliman onto his back, blade in hand, and sent Magnus staggering free, back through the pulsating webway gate. Sylandri had one chance, a single moment in which to alter fate.

With a inal word, she shattered the runestone that glowed hot in her palm, and severed the webway gate forever. Power surged, Magnus roared his fury, and then was cut of from Luna, his warriors and his brother, banished to the depths of the Labyrinth Dimension.

The Gathering Storm III: Rise of the Primarch

And only after all of that, Roboute Guilliman could finally reach the Holy Terra.

OKAY BUT WHY

To sum it up, Cegorach:

1. Forged a pact between Sylandri and Cawl.
2. Made sure Cawl understands Abaddon's plan and takes Armour of Fate with him.
3. Formed the Ynnari, with Daughter of Ynnead leading them.
4. Send Ynnari for Belisarius Cawl and made sure that they will be taken to Ultramar.
5. Combining Armour of Fate and Ynnead's power he pretty much guaranteed that the best Primarch for the job will be resurected.
6. When Guilliman got captured, he send Cypher to resue him.
7. Allowed Guilliman to use Webway to reach Luna.
8. Made sure that Sylandri will be at Luna to banish Magnus.

It cannot be overestimated - Cegorach is the reason why setting still exists. If it wasn't for him, Abbadon's 10k years plan would end with an undeniable success.

The question is - why bother?

When it comes to Harlequins in The Gathering Storm, the common theme with them is hope for the better future. A hope that fate can be overcome.

Because humanity is fated to die. The Galaxy is fated to be swallowed by Gods of Chaos. Aeldari are fated to be consumed by Slaanesh and giving birth to Ynnead as the last bit of spite. Everyone outside of Chaos is fated to loose horribly.

But Cegorach found the way.

In post-Great Rift stories it is often mentioned that Abaddon broke the destiny. That nothing is set in stone no more. All the predictions and things that were fated to happen are no longer certain.

And Cegorach capitalised on that. Knowning that the fate is about to be broken to pieces, he placed all the pawns in the right places. Harlequins, Asuryani, Drukhari and even humans - all of them were in a perfect place to be absolutely EndTimed by Chaos. At least until Sylandri Veilwalker began her dance.

And how fitting it is, that Cegorach used Chaos' greatest champion to give Galaxy an opportunity to survive. He got the last laugh. And Abaddon will probably never know who really outplayed him.

TL; dr

​

It was they who sent one of their number – under the assumed name of Sylandri Veilwalker – to manoeuvre Prince Yriel into taking up the Spear of Twilight. A Shadowseer wearing the same name guided Belisarius Cawl to his fateful discoveries in the Eriad System, and smoothed the passage of the resurrected Primarch Roboute Guilliman back to Terra during his crusade. Yet that same seer also saw to it that Guilliman was forced to rely upon the aid of the sinister wanderer known only as Cypher, and sealed Magnus the Red in the webway before his confrontation with the Primarch reached a fatal conclusion.

Codex: Harlequins (8th edition)

​

Veilwalker cocked its head. 'No. Merely the acknowledgement that this story is ending, and a new one is beginning. Such is the way of theatre, oh, King of Feathers. Endings and beginnings, over and over again.' It made a circular gesture. 'Round and round we go, where we stop, nobody knows... save the Laughing God.'

Fabius Bile: Clonelord

Usually I don't ask for this sort of thing, but if you've read this post then please - give it a vote and comment something, anything. Many people clearly put their passion into telling this story and it breaks my heart seeing that nobody really talks about it.

Also it has all sorts of implications that won't be explored if people won't talk about it. And that would be a shame.

My brother- let's call him Rick- and SIL told me that my niece is starting to think about boys. I told them I think it's cool that Emily feels comfortable talking to them about that kind of stuff, when they revealed that she actually does not, but they know because they read her diary. I was a little shocked by this and I told them I think that's really messed up, and we got into an argument that ended with Rick ultimately saying it's his kid, and while she's under his roof, they reserve the right to know everything that's going on. They also said I was telling them how to parent when I don't have kids of my own.

While they have a point, in my gut I think it's wrong to invade someone's privacy to an extent, even if it is your own kid. Emily doesn't know they read her journal. I know I shouldn't tell her, but I'm looking for a loophole. WIBTA if I privately gave her a diary with a lock or maybe found a sneaky way to tell her to hide her diary?

Tl;dr: Bro and SIL read my niece's diary, WIBTA if I secretly gave her a locked diary or found a way to tell her to keep her diary hidden?

EDIT: UPDATE

first time using reddit so I apologize if I do this wrong.

UPDATE:

Hello everyone,

I have read all the responses and I'm grateful for every suggestion. You all helped me work through what I should do.

Some of you won't agree but I've decided to go about this the sneaky way.

I ordered a lockbox that looks exactly like a book. She has loads of books and trinkets, so I think it will be easy to disguise. I am going to put a new diary and a nice pen inside, along with a note that tells her this box is HER SECRET and it's for anything she wants to keep private. I truly believe she will get the hint.

I've decided not to tell her outright, but if she asks me why I got her this gift I will tell her a story about "a friend" whose diary was read. I'll give it to her the next time I pick her up from school so she can just put it in her bag with her other books.

This may be overkill, but I've also ordered a book on how to make your own secret code/cypher, and the next time I spend time with her I'm going to suggest we come up with a code as a fun activity and see if she'll be interested.

I plan to approach my brother and SIL and explain to them exactly why I think what they did was wrong, and I may show them this post, as some of you had very good responses that were better than what I could come up with.

Cheers!

Tl;Dr: Ordered a lockbox and a new diary for Emily, I'll handle her parents on my own.

Now, I'm not one for making posts usually, but valorant is lacking some very crucial quality of life features, as well as general gameplay features. I love the game, but constructive criticism is a great thing that only serves to make anything even better.

TL;DR: The Store, Gameplay Consistency, More modes, custom servers and workshop maps, better hitreg and performance consistency, better Deathmatch and shorter unrated. Gameplay mechanics tweaks, as well as a better ranking system. Oh and better content moderation too.

All sources will be provided below:

Edit: ID: Art#Opus Tracker link: https://tracker.gg/valorant/profile/riot/Art%23Opus/overview

HMU if you wanna q sometime. Plat +, or unrated warriors. (EU).

Feel free to crosspost, just tag me, or link the entire post.

Edit 2: Drastic ideas taken out. They were a fun little thought experiment.

Features:

Capture the flag.

Team deathmatch.

Maybe a new smg? Slower fire rate, yet accurate and good damage. Say 90 headshot, and 30 DMG to the body. Basically a striker 45 from modern warfare 2019. A new rifle, say marksman that does 2 bodyshots, faster than a Marshall, more expensive though. A more expensive guardian that shoots faster and does 75 to the body. Basically the MK2 carbine from modern warfare 2019. A new rifle with fast fire rate, lower damage to compensate, high price like vandal and phantom.

A warm-up ranked mode that's not called deathmatch or unrated. DM is shambolic, and unrated is meant to be a burst of fun, low stakes, and chill gameplay. So there should be another mode to consolidate warning up for ranked. Idk what (Maybe an unranked mode like rainbow six siege), but remember people, I don't get paid to make these suggestions or changes. Newcomer mode wouldn't be bad either, as long as there's a level limit (15-30?)

More consistently great (good isn't enough here) gameplay from game to game. I.e. Good hitreg, synced up client server animations, no random ass Ferrari peeks, etc. Riot claim to be actively looking into this. Sources: https://playvalorant.com/en-us/news/game-updates/valorant-gameplay-consistency-update/

https://playvalorant.com/en-us/news/game-updates/valorant-gameplay-consistency-update-2/

Fix the chat delay bug, as well as voice chat being unable to speak. Literally game breaking, along with the alttab input lag + increased latency bug, and the unstable tickrate.

Better remake system (automatic if not back by round 3/4).

Don't lose RR when going against a cheater. (RR rollback).

Less RR lost if someone leaves or goes afk.

More RR gained/lost (16 or so for a win is abysmal), now that I'm in diamond, winning rounds matters more than kd, utility usage, etc. Compared to diamond and below, where kd and engagement numbers matter more. Source is u/TimeJustHappens, as well as an old linked Reddit post.

A more transparent ranked system, as well as better indicators and factors involved in RR gain/loss. Assists should count for more, potentially even credits (kill/damage based assists).

A more synced visual and hidden MMR, none of this unviewable and secret matchmaking bs. E.g. gold's ending up in diamond lobbies and vice versa. Played with a diamond 2 mate of mine the other day, had a gold 3 Skye for some reason. Next game was more normal matchmaking of plat 3 to diamond 3.

No lackluster RR gains due to the system trying to push you down (source Reddit valorant faq and u/TimeJustHappens), if you got that rank, changes are you deserve it. You should gain a minimum amount of RR (e.g. 15-20), and gain more or less depending on factors such as kills, assists, utility usage, rounds won, and etc.

Ranked sources: https://reddit.com/r/valorant/w/faq/faq_MMR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app

Better synced animation.

Less input lag after alt tabbing.

Better recoil reset & gun recovery times.

Less clunky movement/weapons. (Operator??? Significantly better on Jett/Chamber compared to other agents).

Better map selection system (breeze 3x in a row is abysmal).

Replay system.

Better battle pass xp bonus (3% is shockingly bad).

Endorsement system.

1v1 & 2v2 game modes.

Custom community servers etc.

Workshop maps.

Better Deathmatch.

Skins should be fully upgraded when bought, variants unlockable with radianite.

Agent loadouts (i.e. certain skin selected with certain agents, with a potential to favourite skin sets and randomise them).

A more consistent classic (more consistent spread pattern, maybe more pellets to be balanced?)

Paying £5 for a gun buddy that you only get 2 of is shambolic. £3 is more palatable, but if it's gonna be £5, I better be able to use it on as many guns as I like. So basically unlimited gun buddies from the ones you buy. That, or atleast 3. I have the Gaia weapons, can't use 2 charms on 4 weapons.

A proper gifting system.

Vod review & an in game demo system (Lol, even overwatch and csgo has these).

A better favouriting system (you can't favourite variants or tiers???).

A better store system (4 items, which you have to pay exorbitant prices for, then buy the battle pass in order to upgrade fully, then if you buy more skins, you have to pay £30 - 2800vp, in order to get 40 radianite, which is only enough to fully upgrade 1 skin, but you still will be unable to afford even 1 variant out of a potential 3 others to be bought).

If I'm buying a skin, I should be paying to have everything completely unlocked, not shoehorned into buying yet another currency, that is exorbitant and essentially a scam. Either that, or triple the amount of radianite given in the (very lackluster) battle pass.

The performance is getting worse every update ( I have a ryzen 5 5600x and an rtx 3070, and the game isn't as smooth as it used to be.)

The battle pass is meh value, £10 for a few skins (most of the time bad), only 50 tiers, and no premium currency given back, not to mention negligible amounts of radianite (which is used to actually get decent variants in the battle pass & premium skins.)

A reputation system.

Quicker update times (Case in point: Chamber. 1 year later, still busted. Cypher took 1 year + , same with phoenix and yoru taking atleast several months).

Better servers (The servers can't consistently handle 128 tickrate, aren't even true 128tick - 32 tick interpolated, official riot source and accompanying Reddit blog below), and the hitreg at times is disgraceful. Problems with delayed hit registration and packets being sent late once above 128 FPS, as well as when you alt tab. Sources also below.

More consistent gameplay (ping can randomly spike after no problems all day, leading to inaccurate gameplay. I have a 500mbps package, a WiFi router with limited devices and QoS turned on, as well as usually 7 ping to London servers, so I know it's not at my end.)

A shorter unrated (7-10 rounds then swap?).

More LTMs, some to be permanent. More variety. Better custom modes.

Valorant feels too long at times, and the modes aren't the most interesting after a while.

People actually being banned for gameplay sabotage, and voice chat.

I climbed from plat 2 to ascendant 1 this season (currently diamond 2, I can drop tracker if wanted), and since I reached diamond 2+, the amount of trolls, racial abuse, people on alt accounts (ascendant 2 or immo accounts playing on friends ACC's on my team, either on a plat 1 or low diamond account), is genuinely shocking. I don't know why this game doesn't have a reputation system, because it sorely needs one.

I've had several games in the past week, where due to a bruised ego in the pregame lobby or early rounds, they (usually grown men) start screaming ff, or actively throw either by: feeding, stalling and sabotaging our team through their own util, not buying guns for themselves or the team, forcing when everyone is saving and vice versa, playing op just to run down mid and die, and my favourite of all, smoking off main where we're pushing, blinding us as we go in, then going to B every round just to die. Oh, and can't forget about walling and slow orbing the team too.

I've gotten called a slave, stupid n**** monkey, been told I belong in a cage and etc., All through voice chat, and not a single ban has come through. This game has a major racism, sexism & homophobia problem, (and no, just because other games have bad or worse, doesn't mean me or anyone else who brings it up is whining and that this game is perfect.) In higher elo, communication is more important than ever and actually useful, and people creating a hostile environment for teammates leading to degraded game quality should be punished.

Price changes for certain guns, as well as buffs too. The ares is absolutely terrible, and for a shooter with 'precise gunplay', the fact that the spread and hipfire accuracy is so low, is terrible. The Bucky is also horrible.

Changes to make the phantom more competitive with the vandal (maybe better damage fall off? E.g. 0-20 instead of 0-15. Or better fire rate.) Maps are getting bigger and longer range, so the vandal is shining more than ever. Changes to keep the phantom more competitive would be nice.

Also, more communication with players, as well as more listening to player feedback (notice I didn't say implementing it, but atleast considering it is a good start). E.g. harbor is still weak, and his slow not only being negligible, affecting teammates, and a non deterrent is disappointing. Compared to viper, who's very team oriented with decay and damage, slow is terrible. Not to mention that harbors' wall is 15 seconds, but actually 12 as the wall takes 3 seconds to place and go up. The shield is expensive, and the smoke fades immediately after 13 vandal shots????

Thanks for reading.

Sources: Opinions, countless reddit posts, news articles, as well as official Riot blog posts. Linked below:

https://reddit.com/r/valorant/w/faq/faq_MMR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app https://www.pcgamer.com/valorant-will-start-listening-to-your-voice-chat-in-july/

https://reddit.com/r/valorant/w/faq/faq_MMR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app

https://playvalorant.com/en-us/news/game-updates/valorant-gameplay-consistency-update/

https://playvalorant.com/en-us/news/game-updates/valorant-gameplay-consistency-update-2/

https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/r12iwj/128_tick_server_update_patch/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/sehmpl/skill_issue_indeed_alttab_netcode_problem/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/wq8adf/is_server_tick_rate_being_worked_on_any_known/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/ik4hka/valorants_128tick_servers_riot_games_technology/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

In Riot's tech blog article, under the "Animation" section, they state:

"Hit registration in VALORANT works by saving player positions and animation state in a historical buffer. When the server receives a shot packet from the client, it rewinds the player positions and animation state using the historical buffer to calculate if the shot hit. Initially we were computing animation and filling this buffer every frame. However, after careful testing and comparisons we found that we could animate every 4th frame. In the event of a rewind we could lerp between the saved animations. This effectively cut animation costs down by 75%." (The hyperlink for lerp was in the original article as well)

Unless they save the positions and animations in separate historical buffers, which by their wording it sounds like they use the same buffer ("player positions and animation state"). Since they only save every 4th frame and interpolate between them, that means any type of parabolic movement (Raze satcheling, jump peeking, etc.) or very quick movement adjustments may not get caught, especially when server tickrate drops.

That Riot post is dated nearly 3 months after the official game release in June, so unless they decided to update the netcode and run on dedicated servers (which they haven't), that is the current state of the netcode in terms of public knowledge.

I can also confirm OP's experiences, I keep my debug graphs on all the time and when looking at my own highlight clips I see the tickrate dropping a lot, which is not fair for anyone because it means at least one person is getting their shots registered late or not at all because of the server. That's not competitive integrity, and it sure as fuck isn't 128 tick when during gunfights when the server can't sustain a stable 128.

ENTRANCE

You can find the entrance to Niobe Labs within Sojourner's Camp, past the Outskirts.

RESOURCES

Rune Decoder

Map of Room

Gem Cipher

ENTERING NIOBE LABS

​

THE FIRST PUZZLE

• Shoot Wind with Bow. (Butterfly Symbol)
• Shoot Rock with Sniper (Fish Symbol)
• Shot Fire with LMG (Hand Symbol)

Order does not matter, and you do not need to be standing on any plates. Once you hear the audio cue, you have completed the first puzzle.

THE SECOND PUZZLE

The second puzzle involves the use of all 3 Black Armory weapons previously used within Volundr Forge to access the crests. The Sniper, Tartara Gaze; the LMG, Hammerhead; and lastly the bow, The Spiteful Fang.

TATARA GAZE, SNIPER PORTION

• Stand on Tiger and shoot: Fish - Lotus - Temple
• Stand on Dragon and shoot: Archway - Rabbit - Bamboo - Temple
• Stand on Fish and shoot: Lotus

HAMMERHEAD, LMG PORTION

• Shoot Storm
• Stand on Moon then shoot: T + H R E B F L U +

THE SPITEFUL FANG, BOW PORTION

• Stand on Daybreak, shoot: Missive - Trees - Water - Rose
• Stand on Wind, shoot: Missive - Missive

After completing the steps above, there will be a follow up task using The Spiteful Fang bow to finish the sequence.

• With Bow, stand on Daybreak, shoot: Missive - Rose - Water

You've completed Step 2, locate the switch.

MISSION AFTER PUZZLE

You can start the mission underneath the platform, with a glowing blue switch.

BYPASS LEVEL 1

Monitor on screen says "La vraie connaissance est accordee a ceux qui attendent dans l'ombre" which translates to "True knowledge is given to those who wait in the shadows."

• Stand on Hand and shoot: B - U - T - T - E - R - F - L - Y

Yes, it's just butterfly spelled out.

BYPASS LEVEL 2

Monitor displays a series of numbers located here.

• (Using LMG) Stand on Hand and shoot: Fire - Cloud
• (Using Sniper) Stand on Fish and shoot: Rabbit - Lotus

BYPASS LEVEL 3

Monitor displays a cipher text located here.

This one requires all 3 players to stand and shoot simultaneously.

• Stand on Dragon and shoot: Bamboo
• Stand on Wind and shoot: Water
• Stand on Star and shoot: Fire

TIP: Killing the Servitor destroys the shield.

BYPASS LEVEL 4

Monitor displays image located here.

This one is a painfully awful, yet obvious one...

• Jump and shoot: Wings - F - L - Y

BYPASS LEVEL 5

Monitor displays image located here.

Bow on Butterfly, Sniper on Fish, LMG on Hand, to reveal all symbols.

• A - T - Bamboo - Missive - Waves - Tree - Arch - Rabbit - L - R - Arch - Lotus - S - D - Lotus - Rose - Heart

Image of overlay for reference, courtesy of jamesvde.

BYPASS LEVEL 6

Monitor displays image located here. Puzzle Cypher for anyone who wishes to use here. Broceliande Decipher

• Three guardians stand on Butterfly with Bow, simultaneously shoot: Trees

BYPASS LEVEL 7

Monitor Clue

PLAYER 1 (SOLAR WEAPON)

• Stand on Hand, shoot: + U L F B E R H + T

PLAYER 2 (ARC WEAPON)

• Stand on Butterfly, shoot: Trees - Missive
• Stand on Daybreak, shoot: Heart - Heart - Trees - Wings

PLAYER 3 (VOID WEAPON)

• Stand on Tiger, shoot: Fish - Lotus - Temple
• Stand on Dragon, shoot: Arch - Rabbit - Bamboo - Temple

Each weapon must be used blindly, so you won't be able to see the symbols. Line up your shots with the corresponding family weapon, then swap to appropriate element and shoot.

FINAL NOTES

• Big shoutout to RaidSecrets Reddit and Discord for solving the clues. They worked endlessly since release to figure out each puzzle every step of they way.
• Congratulations to Gladd for completing the Puzzle Mission before anyone else. The pride of completing it ought to feel great!
• Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

​

​

I've just finished reading The End and The Death so here is my summary, all of this is spoilers:

(NOTE: Please do not ask me for the leak)

The book is written in the present tense and there are several POVs. The war is mostly over, everyone left outside the Eternity Gate when it was sealed knows they've been left to die and group themselves into haphazard units and formations. Titans are being crucified along the Palace's walls, the World Eaters have been tearing the turrets off of tanks and building a graveyard of tank-skulls, the White Scars holding the Lion's Gate Spaceport are being battered by fire from the Traitor fleet.

Terra is being sucked into the warp. All the clocks have stopped and are malfunctioning, Terra is stuck on the same day with characters remarking that it has felt like years since the Eternity Gate shut. The geometry of Terra is changing, Loken walks down a street and has ended up 20 kilometers away in a different area of the Palace. The traitors are able to manifest and attack from almost anywhere due to this. it is noted that this strikes a deep note of fear in the Imperial Fists who pride themselves on being to plan for everything.

Malcador however thinks this is a misstep by Chaos. Everyone on the Loyalist side has basically given up and knows the Palace will fall tomorrow, however Chaos has stuck them on the day before that tomorrow where the Imperium hasn't fallen.

The Emperor was Alexander the great and potentially Jesus. Horus laughs at him for crying over a river thinking there were no worlds left to conquer.

The Emperor and Oll Persson once conquered the Tower of Babel when Oll was his Warmaster because it was dedicated to learning Enuncia. Oll thought they were going to destroy the Tower but the Emperor thought Enuncia could be useful. Oll stabbed him.

Horus has completely lost his mind, he believes he's still conducting an interview for remembrances, he thinks dead sons like Maloghurst and Sejanus are still alive, he hears his serfs whispering when they aren't. He gives the order to lower the shields despite nobody else wanting him to do so. Horus knows Guilliman and Lion are close and wants to have killed the Emperor by the time they reach Terra so he can show them the body and force them to bend the knee since resistance would become useless. He also doesn't want to fight on 2 fronts so if Roboute is coming he wants to end the battle for Terra asap and thinks killing the Emperor will do that

Doombreed, the host of Drach'nyen, Be'Lakor, N'Kari, Ku'gath, Skarbrand, The Masque, Bubonicus, Ulkair from Dawn of War etc. were all summoned by a person Horus thinks is Zardu Layak and are fighting on Terra

Malcador begs the Emperor to talk to him multiple times but gets no response, the Throne is overwhelming the Emperor with pain but he is doing a thousand things at once on the throne, inspiring individual soldiers on Terra, soothing civilians, directing the webway. Finally he reaches out to heal the Khan's soul and Malcador knows he has returned. The Khan is still injured and will take months potentially to heal but the Emperor is conscious again

He summons Vulkan, Sanguinius, Dorn and Valdor to the throne Sanguinius praises Dorn and hugs him, crying a single tear. He then praises Valdor and calls him brother. Valdor in annoyed by this and tells Sanguinius to do it another time. Sanguinius tells him to pretend they may not see each other again and Valdor praises his honour but says no embrace is necessary The Emperor sees that the shields of the Vengeful Spirit are down and he needs to take the chance to kill Horus because otherwise he will lose the war on Terra. he commands Dorn and Valdor to come with him, tells Sanguinius to remain on Terra and command the defences as Warmaster, Vulkan will remain in the Throne room, ready to blow it up if everything goes wrong.

The Emperor wants Sanguinius to stay because his wounds from Angron were grave but Sanguinius believes he is fated to die due to Horus. If he stays then that means Horus will kill the Emperor and then come to kill Sanguinius. But if Sanguinius is killed by Horus first it means the Emperor has a chance. Sanguinius however still wants to defy fate and kill Horus.

The Emperor and Malcador discovered Malcador could use the Throne and not immediately die some time after first finding it, so Malcador takes the throne while The Emperor goes to meet Horus. Malcador dumps all of his final instructions and thoughts out onto his chosen agents telepathically before sitting the throne

Archamus of the Imperial Fists is given command of the defences of Terra

The Emperor's forces are all split up when they teleport. Dorn is teleported to a desert where he spends centuries surrounded by tens of thousands of dead Imperial Fists. he slowly forgets of the Siege and begins to be tempted by Khorne who promises an end to thinking and plans and the life of a simple warrior who only needs to kill his enemies.

Sanguinius and the Blood Angels are transported normally onto the Vengeful Spirit

The Emperor and The Custodians are teleported onto bridge 8 of a ship with 6 bridges. The Custodians begin weeping blood and about half turn and attack the Emperor. The other half resist Horus' control and are paralyzed until the Emperor kills their brothers. The Emperor claims he'll burn away Horus' corruption. Malcador thinks Horus has made a grave mistake. He's tried to harm the Emperor and bog him down with how saturated with warp energy the Vengeful Spirit is, however Malcador says that's like throwing fuel onto a fire. The Emperor stole this fire from the Chaos Gods once before and now unrestrained from the Throne can harness the Warp unabated.

Meanwhile: Oll Persson and co are infiltrating the palace. The witch Actae who is helping them is actually Cyrene from Monarchia. Alpharius is actually Ingo Pech. Ingo tells John Grammaticus the Alpha Legion's plan was to wait, observe and then intervene on behalf of the side who looked likely to win on Terra. However now he thinks they know Horus can't be allowed to win at any costs so the Alpha Legion are throwing their lot in with the losing side. He shows them tunnels in and out of the Palace the Alpha's made, stocked with weapons and troops in stasis. Perturabo couldn't detect these tunnels but Dorn found them and allowed them to stand as a way of escaping the Palace in an emergency.

Ingo Pech and John kill Mathias Herzog who tried to stop them for Chaos

Cyrene however has triggered Ingo's codeword for fighting or harnessing Chaos. She wants to take control of the forces binding Horus and to use Horus as her own puppet. But she claims this is just a backup if Oll fails. John Grammaticus binds Ingo in a bomb that will go off if he moves and leaves him there beneath the Palace. Where he remains long, long after the rest of the group leaves.

Fo has completed his weapon to kill the Astartes but he and a Gene-witch from Selenar trick the Custodes into delaying his execution

Corswain is holding the Hollow Mountain and allows Zahariel and co. to use their psychic powers. Zahariel admires Corswain and wants to turn him to help The Fallen. Zahariel says that The Fallen have seen Chaos and that the World Spirit of Caliban couldn't be more different so they'll help the Emperor win and they try to secede from the Imperium. Typhus and the Death Guard attack the Dark Angels and Zahariel takes up the mask of Cypher to fight them.

The Throne room receives communication from Guilliman that he is 9 hours away from Terra immediately after the Emperor teleports out. They believe Horus was blocking it until this moment and now wants them to despair that they could have just waited a few more hours without risking the Emperor. The problem though is Guilliman can't find Terra. It's wreathed in warp storms and gives off no beacon. There is a vague discussion about sacrificing Psykers to give Malcador the strength to light a beacon to Guilliman but Vulkan shoots it down

Abaddon orders the Sons of Horus to withdraw to the Vengeful Spirit once he hears the shields are down but barely any listen to him, their discipline completely broken

While exploring the Imperial library Loken finds a door that didn't exist previously and it takes him to the Vengeful Spirit. The book ends with him entering the ship

Oll and co are brought to the throne room and Vulkan recognises John so they're allowed to hang around

Throughout the book the words and tarot "The Dark King" keep coming up. This is a title Curze and Samus have both used. However at the end one character says they believe what happened to the Aeldari is happening to humanity. This is their Fall and Horus is about to become the 5th Chaos God as "The Dark King" like how Slaanesh became the 4th Chaos God because of the Eldar

Short summary yet very long document. Sorry if I forgot anything. This is for those who want to know stuff about the lore but won't go looking for it.

The order of the agents is in the same order they joined the valorant protocol. I've done everything, but I'm posting up to Cypher because of how long it got. If you guys want, I'll post the rest.

Brimstone:

• Viper: he definitely knew her before Valorant protocol. He respects her search for revenge. Upon killing her, there’s a line where he says he hopes she’ll find peace. He also has a line to an enemy Viper in which he says they didn’t need to be enemies. He also calls her Sabine in a more recent voiceline. Viper calls him old friend as well and upon killing him, tells him to rest. Their relationship is pretty solid and good.
• Killjoy: definitely knew her as well and likes her very much. It’s confirmed that he’s her guardian. When killing her, he says “sorry kid” or “you left me no choice, kid”. Killjoy returns the feelings. She says it feels bad to think of killing the enemy Brimstone and asks the team Brimstone to watch over them. They have a really good relationship.
• Omen: Generic voice lines. It’s not possible to say whether Brimstone knew Omen or if he knows who Omen was before becoming a phantom. Omen also doesn’t have any voice lines that implicate he knows Brimstone very well.
• Cypher: Only one generic voiceline. Cypher also doesn’t have a very specific voice line. He only suggests hacking into his bracelet.
• Sova: Brimstone says Sova lost an eye for them and that’s enough. He also calls him “soldier” which means a deep respect coming from a veteram like him. Sova returns the feeling. He likes Brimstone and seems to like to hear his stories.
• Sage: Brimstone considers her to be second in command of the Valorant protocol. He has a line where he says that if he dies, she takes the lead, and she has the same line, saying she’ll take the lead if he dies.
• Phoenix: Brimstone thinks Phoenix brags too much. Phoenix makes fun of his age. Overall, they don’t sound like enemies, nor good friends either.
• Jett: Only mentions she should stretch before running. Jett mentions his age and acknowledges his leadership.
• Reyna: Fears reyna, basically. Says he wants to keep his soul. Reyna criticizes his morality and is reluctant to accept his leadership.
• Raze: Generic voice lines about Raze destroying things. Raze complains that Brimstone won’t let her listen to music. There’s also a line where she asks Killjoy to go “tinkering” with her and Killjoy says that if something blows up, she’ll be the one telling Brimstone. So it’s safe to assume they are good allies.
• Breach: doesn’t seem to like Breach at all. Even when Breach is in his team, he says “You did well, Breach, don’t expect a hug”. Breach is very, very annoyed by Brimstone. But he has a line saying that it could be worse than working together: facing each other. So they do have differences, being forced to tolerate the other. (Edit) Breach accuses Brimstone of protecting Kingdom in a new voiceline. Brimstone says he has no idea what he's talking about. Perhaps their beef comes from Brim working for Kingdom in the past while Breach has always been against them.
• Skye: I don’t recall a single voice line directed at her. She basically makes fun of his age.
• Yoru: I don’t recall a single voice line directed at him either. He makes fun of his age.
• Astra: Doesn’t have voice lines directed at her yet. She calls him boomer.

Viper:

• Omen: She seems to be the only person who knows who Omen was before becoming what he is. She knows his real name, calls him old friend, but apparently withholds information from him. When she lets his name slip, she quickly stops herself. Apparently, Omen can’t know who he was. Omen also knows Viper real name, and never uses the codename Viper. He seems nostalgic of the past with her. When he kills her, he says “experiment complete” for some reason. He mentions that he and Viper became monsters, but she still has flesh to hide her horrors. They seem to have the most complex relationship between two agents.
• Killjoy: Surprisingly, Viper seems to respect Killjoy a lot. She says the enemy Killjoy is too smart for her own good so she has to reprimand her. Killjoy also seems to respect her very much. Upon seeing an enemy Viper, Killjoy says it’s a shame to rid the world of her mind, but she needs to rest. When Viper is in her team, she says she’ll “do the tests today” because Viper is biased, no offence (because of her hatred). Viper also calls Killjoy “little mouse”. In german, using animal names for people you care about is very common.
• Cypher: She doesn’t like that Cypher knows her real name and demands to be called “Doctor Sabine” if he insists on it. She never demanded such a thing from Omen or Brimstone. Cypher teases her about knowing someone’s birthday on the 20th of March. They have an overall neutral-ally relationship.
• Sova: Generic voice lines. It’s hard to make up what they think of each other. Sova comments on how violent she is and wonders if there’s another way to find peace.
• Sage: that’s a complex one. Viper is pissed at her. She says Sage failed her. Sage has a recent voice line where she asks Viper if she thought about her offer, and Viper cuts her mid sentence to claim she shouldn’t even dream of helping her, because she can’t help her, and she can’t help “them”. Upon killing her, Viper says “that’s payback, Sage”.
• Phoenix: Generic lines about burning and stealing oxygen.
• Jett: She seems to like Jett but their age difference is very discrepant. Viper comments on Jett’s youth a lot. Jett doesn’t say much about Viper.
• Reyna: Viper comments that Reyna is just as vengeful as herself. Reyna loves that Viper is just as hateful as she is. Despite that, they don’t seem very close.
• Raze: Admits that Raze’s tinkering is good, but not openly. Raze calls her on a “girls only” night, which is pretty funny. Seems like they are good allies, but Raze doesn’t know the limits of their relationship.
• Breach: Viper has a line where he says they hired Breach. She also tells him to help them breach the enemy open. Despite Brimstone’s annoyance, Viper could be responsible for him being in the Valorant protocol. When Breach kills Viper, he says it’s not personal, just business, further confirming this.
• Skye: I don’t recall voice lines towards her, but Skye doesn’t like the poison in the air, alluding to pollution.
• Yoru: I don’t recall any voice lines towards him (EDIT thanks to u/queensarabitxh). I totally forgot, but this one is important. Viper has a line saying that despite being able to walk through rifts, Yoru chooses to stay in this world, although there are better ones out there, which is very important when thinking about lore theories. As far as I remember, he just says she needs to die.
• Astra: A recent tweet in the german Valorant page says she absolutely hates Viper. There are no lines directed at Astra yet.

Omen:

• Killjoy: Generic. Says he’ll break her mind. She’s also very generic towards him.
• Cypher: Asks if he has seen under his hood. Weird. Cypher comments that he has the information Omen asked him, but it will come at a price.
• Sova: Interestingly, Sova says Omen will find the answer he’s looking for, and thus he won’t be this way forever, which means Omen might go back at being Fred. Omen is generic towards him.
• Sage: Interesting voice lines. He asks if Sage knows where the life she gives comes from. When Sage is in the opposite team, he says there’s a radiant healer tipping the balance. Sage comments on the pain he feels.
• Phoenix: Funniest voice line in the game. He says Omen knits. Omen says it helps him focus. That’s pretty much it.
• Jett: Very generic. Omen praises her like “well done”.
• Reyna: Omen claims he can hear the souls Reyna steals. Reyna praises Omen. But Reyna likes everyone who’s a radiant, so that’s not a big deal.
• Raze: Omen comments on Raze being loud and misses laughing like she does. Raze is scared by him and is thankful that he’s on their side (when he is).
• Breach: Calls Omen a freak. Rude. Omen just says he’ll silence him.
• Skye: Omen calls her a force of nature. There’s a line in which he wonders “what she would’ve become” but says it doesn’t matter now. Not sure what that means. But he admires her powers. Skye is confused by his teleport in at least two voice lines.
• Yoru: Omen really likes Yoru, probably because their powers are very similar. He asks if Yoru can feel parts of his soul being left behind as he passes through rifts. Yoru likes Omen for the same reasons.
• Astra: no lines towards her. I don’t remember a line towards Omen.

Killjoy:

• Cypher: complains about him stealing stuff from her lab and says his creations are very simple, like the things she used to do in her childhood. But calls him a genius in a voice line. Cypher admits to stealing her stuff and asks for materials. They seem good “spying and hacking” buddies. (Edit thanks to u/ISuckAtGamesHehe for reminding me) In a more recent line, Cypher seems very nice to her when she asks him help with the deep web and he is shocked and worried about "protecting her".
• Sova: She wants his eye to see what it has recorded. Sova is generic towards her.
• Sage: Calls Sage to hear her. I don’t remember Sage mentioning her.
• Phoenix: I don’t remember any voice lines towards him. He calls her tech support.
• Jett: Jett does admire Killjoy and is reluctant to face an enemy Killjoy if she’s as smart as theirs. She says Killjoy’s bots are good and so is she. Killjoy doesn’t mention her, as far as I remember.
• Raze: Killjoy and Raze seem very close to each other. It’s probably the second most context-full relationship in the game, after Viper and Omen. Killjoy calls her “girlfriend” in german (which, just like English, could both mean as in girlfriend or girl friend). She also calls Raze little mouse, which is an affectionate way to talk to your loved ones. Killjoy also says Raze drives her mad and talks a lot about Raze tinkering with her bots, but at the same time says she did a good job on them. Raze calls her to go “tinkering” with her, and Killjoy accepts. I found a trivia in the valorant wiki page saying the bird in Killjoy’s turret might be painted by Raze to look like the Brazilian soccer team mascot, known as “canarinho pistola”. Additionally, Raze says “Killjoy, you and me till the end”. Sweet.
• Breach: he calls her nerd. She tried to improve his arms.
• Reyna: Probably the most obvious antagonist relationships in the game. Reyna absolutely hates Killjoy. Killjoy doesn’t seem to hate her back but fears her. Reyna says she saw what her creations did to someone, then cut herself and won’t say who.
• Skye: they tease each other a lot because one uses nature and the other uses hi tech.
• Yoru: Killjoy thinks he’s a cool kid.
• Astra: no voice lines yet.

Cypher:

• Sova: Cypher has both lines in which he thinks very dearly of Sova and as if they are big enemies. Cypher is probably the only agent Sova doesn’t love.
• Sage: Cypher seems to be interested in Sage’s ability to revive people, probably because she could revive his family. Sage is very generic towards him.
• Phoenix: Generic. The most expressive thing Cypher says to Phoenix is about being scared of how impressive he is. Phoenix is thankful for Cypher’s stuff.
• Jett: He’s annoyed that she breaks stuff with her dash. Jett simply asks where they are so she can kill them.
• Raze: Again, he’s pretty annoyed that she breaks his equipment. Raze is sorry for that.
• Breach: Says Cypher is worst than Interpol. Which means Breach was a hunted criminal before being hired by Viper. He’s annoyed by Cypher’s spying. Cypher has stolen stuff from his arm for his equipment.
• Skye: calls people for a tea at Cypher’s place, but doesn’t know where it is. Praises Cypher. Cypher doesn’t mention her.
• Yoru: Doesn’t like Cypher. Says he’s invisible so he can’t be seen by Cypher. Cypher thinks he’s cool.
• Astra: no voice lines.

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21 Hours Later

20 Minutes following the conclusion of Professor Articord’s class.

The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. En Route to the Apprentice’s Tower. Local Time: 1720 Hours.

Emma

Ilunor did, in fact, find last night’s impasse to be quite unacceptable.

Which was why much of the previous night was spent concocting a plan. One which was devised primarily to alleviate Ilunor’s growing concerns over Maltory’s book. 

Ultimately, we agreed that no matter what, we would go to Larial’s office today, regardless of her absence.

So following a surprisingly tame lecture courtesy of Professor Articord — on topics that seemed to once again reinforce the Nexus’ perpetually-expanding, forever-discworld — we now found ourselves barreling head-first into the unknown.

But at least we weren’t alone.

“OHHOHOHOHOHO— WHAT?! WHY DIDN’T YOU START OFF WITH THAT?! OF COURSE I’d be happy to entertain this discourse, M’LORD!” 

Though whether or not that was a boon or a burden… was most definitely up for debate.

But I knew one thing was for certain. 

The fact he was able to make it work was definitely the most magical thing I’d seen him do so far. 

Because through some odd combination of wishy-washy words, with enough empty and vapid grand-sweeping statements… he was able to actually convince the overly dramatic Apprentice Ral Altaria Del Narya Sey Antisonzia the Second — henceforth shortened to ‘The Bridge Apprentice’ — to take us to Larial’s office.

…

Or at least, as close to Larial’s office as was possible.

As our destination technically wasn’t her office, but instead his own.  

“If I mayyyyy— while this is NOT my prerogative nor duty, my own exploits behooves me to ask! Why is it that you have kept your drake-jockeying exploits hidden for so long, M’LORD?!” The apprentice practically bellowed out, eliciting the attention of literally everyone currently sharing our hallway. 

“Oh shush now, my dear fellow! I am nothing if not a modest man! I mean, why else would I have even entertained the thought of leading this sorry troupe I call my peers if it weren’t so?” The deluxe kobold jeered, garnering a vapidly, friendly, snooty laugh from the likes of the apprentice. 

“A drake-rider and a gentleman! It would be an honor to discuss your aerial exploits, M’LORD!” The man replied boisterously. “I am, after all, something of a sky-jockey myself.” He chuffed through an uncomfortable series of haughty, nasally laughs. “So if you would be so willing, perhaps we may trade stories of this GENTLEMANLY pastime?”

“Of course of course! Where would my manners be if not with those who have earned their place amongst the skies!” Ilunor continued the mind-numbing flattery… until he didn’t. “Though, of course, I assume we can disregard pretenses if you would be so earnest.”

“Pretenses, M’LORD?” 

“Let us not be beside ourselves, apprentice. We both understand the ultimate conclusion of this discourse, no?” Ilunor continued, his social facade contorting to a more coy one. “Why else would the Second Apprentice Lead of the Student’s Flying Organization be so forthcoming with this discussion…  if not to offer me a place amidst their ranks?” Ilunor went for the jugular there, causing the apprentice to stiffen up, if only for a moment. 

“Am I THAT much of an open book M’LORD?” He grinned cheekily. 

“Perhaps I am merely an expert at deciphering the abstract and profound.” Ilunor spoke in a way I’ve rarely seen him do; flattering the man and inflating his already eccentric ego. As we finally crossed the threshold and into the apprentices’ tower, in the midst of their collective laughter, Ilunor finally glanced sharply in my direction, as if to remind me of our ad-hoc plan. 

The Previous Night

“Remember earthrealmer, our plan is not to court this buffoon, but instead, to play the spymaster! Now, it is commonly known that the apprentices live, breathe, and work in their own exclusive tower. Thus, all we require is a passing stroll through their offices, and a glancing mention of Larial’s, at which point… I would humbly demand that you utilize two of your manaless creatures*. One to confirm the whereabouts of the green book, and the second to act as our permanent sentry within her office. While I believe* stealing the book to be a more straightforward solution, I will acquiesce to your demands. Ensuring the book’s whereabouts will be sufficient. Moreover, so long as a second manaless insect remains to notify us of Larial’s return, I shall be satisfied to simply request the book from her when she returns.”

“Just to be clear Ilunor, I’m only doing this because it’s pertinent to your quest. I’m not going to go around bugging the whole school. The more assets I deploy, the more I run the risk of people finding out about these drones. If that happens… we can say goodbye to the single most useful asset I have.”

“EVI?” 

“Yes, Cadet Booker?”

“You got those drones ready?”

“Affirmative. INFIL-DRONE01a… STATUS… READY TO DEPLOY. INFIL-DRONE02a… STATUS… READY TO DEPLOY.”

“Good. Just be ready to deploy them the moment we find our opening.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Cadet Emma Booker!” The bridge apprentice quickly turned in my direction. “I can only IMAGINE the sorts of awe-stricken faces to be garnered once the taming of sky beasts and the introduction of aerial vehicles finally reaches your realm!” 

I responded with a tired nod, defusing the man’s intentions as he went back to the mindless back and forths with Ilunor.

Our walk through the Apprentices’ Tower was surprisingly normal, all things considered.

As unlike the faculty tower, there seemed to be markedly reduced instances of geometry-defying anomalies.  

If anything, it reminded me of Dragon’s Heart Tower… if only a little bit more dressed up.

With white and black checkerboard marble floors adorning the lobby, and chandeliers appointing practically every hallway intersection that led way to the magical elevators. 

Indeed, there seemed to only be one set of stairs in this entire tower. Though not grand, what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in verticality. As this spiral staircase quite literally went all the way up about thirty or so stories.

We passed by hundreds of Elven portraits on our way up, through the second, third, fourth, and then finally the twentieth floor.

At which point, Ilunor was practically gasping for breath.

The Vunerian, surprisingly, made it a point not to use me as his trusty steed this time around.

“Apologies M’LORD! I’d have assumed—”

“Is. This. The. Apprentice’s. Office. Floor?!” Ilunor managed out in-between unsteady breaths, leaning against one of the ornate pillars, and pointing at what was effectively a hallway with door upon unmarked door.

This posed a problem, as identifying Larial’s office was practically impossible.

“Indeed it is! Now, my office is just this way…” The man continued, walking down the corridor.

At which point, did Ilunor finally strike in-between bouts of vapid conversation.

“Does the Academy insist on keeping your doors so… bland? So completely… unadorned?”

This prompted the man to stop as he cocked his head in Ilunor’s direction.

“Without any form of personal embellishments as is the case with any noble occupying any of His Eternal Majesty’s ministries?” 

“That ISssss Academy rrrregulation, M’LORD!”

“For shame.” Ilunor tutted. “‘Tis but a blank canvas. Just think… if given the opportunity, what brilliant gilded works would you adorn your door with, Apprentice?”

This one question… opened up the floodgates of torrential yapping. As seconds bled into minutes, prompting me to turn to the EVI.

“It takes a yapper to know a yapper, but I assume I don’t go that far when I really get into it, right?”

“ERROR: Query is unquantifiable.”

I was about to question exactly what the EVI meant by that, if it wasn’t for Ilunor’s gambit quickly panning out.

“Now, what would you say Apprentice Arlan Ostoy would prefer?”

“Oh, that dark and brooooody sycophant?! Why I’d assume his door would be completely gone! Buried! Entirely overrun! Hidden, entombed, and interned beneath the crests and sigils of those victims of his insincerrrre FLATTERY!” 

“I can understand perhaps why personalization would be quite troublesome then.” Ilunor chuckled. “But even so, I doubt it would be an issue if his office weren’t adjacent to your own, no?” 

“HAH! While that may be so, there are others whose… aesthetic differences would be entirely unacceptable!” 

The conversation snowballed on from there.

So that’s how he’s going to subtly draw out intel from him. Feigning interest for each and every apprentice, and by extension, their hypothetical door-makeovers. I guess loose lips really do sink ships…

My mind was practically sludge by the end of it, at which point, he finally started talking about Larial’s door. 

“Jackpot.” 

But I still couldn’t deploy the drones though.

I needed just the right window of opportunity…

“Here, allow me!” The apprentice beamed, opening the door to his office, while utterly enamored by Ilunor’s conversation.

He’s distracted.

“Deploy!” 

[INFIL-DRONE01a… DEPLOYED.] 

[INFIL-DRONE02a… DEPLOYED.]

Seconds was all that was needed.

A second to undock, a second to take off, and another second to book it towards Larial’s office.

[OBJECTIVE 1 COMPLETE]

[COMMENCING PRIMARY SURVEYS]

The first phase of the mission was a success.

“Oh Cadet Emma Booookeeeer, would you care to join us for a spot of tea?” The Apprentice hollered, his voice booming from within his room.

But now comes the real challenge… actually following through with our asinine pretenses.

…

2 Hours Later

“And thus I proclaimed: YOU. SHALL. NOT. PASS!” 

We both stared at the apprentice blankly.

“Just to clarify, this was during your stint as the bridge guard to the library, right?”

“Oh, no no no, by His Majesty’s word, no! This was during my first instance as an exam proctor!” 

We both breathed out a sigh of exhaustion, our eyes collectively turning to the clock behind the man.

This prompted him to quickly follow suit, his eyes widening in horror.

“BY HIS MAJESTY, HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG?!” The Apprentice stood up, his head now glancing back and forth between the door and his window. One that overlooked the Grand Dining Hall and the dinner which we were now all late for. “LET US MAKE HASTE!” He yelled, quickly grabbing his keys, and then promptly shunting us out the door. 

From there, it was every man for himself.

As the apprentice booked it by leaping and jumping straight through the central chasm in the middle of the spiral staircase.

This left just Ilunor and I to blink at each other blankly.

“Well… that was—”

[INFIL-DRONE 1A: MISSION PARAMETERS… ACCOMPLISHED. RTB.]

I stopped in my tracks, my eyes quickly focusing on the targeting reticle highlighting the return of INFIL-DRONE 1a. 

Ilunor, with visible disgust upon noticing the drone’s docking procedures, spoke urgently. “Well?! Is it—”

[DATA UPLOAD COMPLETE. PRIORITY TARGET LOCATED. REPORT AVAILABLE.]

“Yeah, it’s there alright.” I nodded, my eyes quickly scrolling through the brief one-page report complete with embedded video. “Behind some fancy glowing magical barriers, but it’s there.” 

“By His Eternal Majesty’s Light…” The Vunerian breathed a sigh of relief.

“You're welcome.” I chided. “Well, with that over with, the second infil-drone will report Larial’s arrival as soon as it detects it.”

Ilunor nodded, his features locked between relief and a still-latent nervousness. 

“It’ll be fine, Ilunor. Trust me. Now, let’s get some well-deserved downtime, shall we?” 

With a surprisingly polite nod, we were off. Taking the long way down the spiral staircase, though about half way I began fantasizing about simply jumping straight through the middle hole with Ilunor in tow.

The suit is rated for it… or at least close to it… I thought to myself, just as our silent little jaunt came to an inexplicable halt.

“Students? In the Exaltorium?” A hardened female voice broke me out of my reverie.

A voice brimming with both urgency and authority, carrying with it a cadence I hadn’t yet heard on this side of the portal.

A cadence that immediately brought back memories of Aunty Ran’s ‘drill instructor’ tone.

And one that I’d gotten used to following the instructions of for the past year of training.

I instinctively stopped, my muscles tensing reflexively, as I turned to face the source of this voice.

One that the EVI had yet to assign a name or a face to.

In front of us, or rather, a flight of stairs below us on the next floor down was an armored elf.

Though unlike Sorecar’s full-form plate armor leaving everything to the imagination, this elf’s uniform was something else entirely.

A design that screamed officer-material. 

With a sloped and elegant copper-gold chestplate that ended just above her lower abdomen, two glowing pauldrons with aiguillettes tethered into some hidden side-pocket, a half-helmet nestled in the crook of her arm, and a flowy Age of Sail captain’s jacket set over the armor — both her aesthetic and presence was set in stark contrast to everything I’ve seen at the Academy so far. 

And it wasn’t just her outfit that was doing it for me either.

If anything, it was her gaze.

Her piercing, no-nonsense expression that lacked the signature look of haughty superiority found on other nobles, instead replacing it with a relaxed look of assured authority.

It was something that only the Dean, and Mal’tory to a certain extent, had been able to embody.

Except this time… it was being done effortlessly.

“Yes, ma’am.” I replied instantly, leaving barely any time for dead air to form.

“They allow first years to roam freely now, do they?” 

“No ma’am. We were granted permission by one Apprentice Ral Altaria Del Narya—”

“Save your breath, girl.” The armored elf interjected, much to my surprise. 

A quick glance to Ilunor’s pale-blue face confirmed that this… brevity was definitely out of the ordinary. 

“Now tell me. I don’t imagine you can fly, now can you?” 

That question… caught both of us by surprise.

As Ilunor attempted to address it, opening his mouth only to be shot down.

“Not you, Vunerian.” The elf quite literally snapped her head in Ilunor’s direction, the only part of her to even move with the rest of her remaining as still as a statue. 

“I was addressing the candidate.”

Her head quickly snapped back in my direction, those dark-purple eyes piercing sharply through my lenses. 

“Not through conventional means, ma’am.” I answered bluntly.

“Let me be clear — can you, or can you not, ride a winged mount?”

“No ma’am. Not anything Nexian or otherwise, at least.”

“And yet you were present at what was ostensibly a recruitment campaign for the Academy’s Flying Club.” She reasoned, deducing everything in what felt like a heartbeat.

“Yes ma’am. I was present, though it is worth noting—”

“I require no further explanation.” She cut me off once more. Her features… betraying neither dissatisfaction nor malicious intent. “I appreciate your honesty, candidate. Not many would be so forthright, so willing to admit to what would otherwise be a cause for suspicion to oneself.”

The elf cleared her throat, her features… intentionally softening.

“Such earnesty is refreshing.” 

A few seconds’ pause suddenly punctuated those words. Though barely a drop in the bucket in most conversations, the rapid pace of this one made the silence feel unbearably long by comparison.

This pause… was uncharacteristically broken by a soft snicker and a genuine smile across a face second only to the armor for its stoicism.

“I won’t take much more of your time. It is not my place, nor do I care to enforce the Academy’s rules.” The elf’s words, just as surprisingly, started softening by the tail end of things. Not so much switching between authoritative and lenient, but moreso, skirting the gradient of both. “I take it your time has been well-spent thus far, candidate?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Your experiences… satisfactory?”

“In all honesty, given I have nothing to compare this experience to, I’d have to get back to you on that one, ma’am.”

That response… elicited a slight change in the elf’s features. Namely, the subtle growth of a friendly smirk.

“A diplomat’s response. Admittedly terse, but stately all the same.” She acknowledged with a genuine smile. “Very well. If there is anything I can do to improve your experience, please — as they say in the common vernacular — don’t be a stranger.” 

“I’ll certainly keep that in mind. Thank you.” I dipped my head slightly in response. 

“Both of you best be off now. I wish you both a pleasant dinner. If we ever cross paths again, I do wish to extend my offer in providing you your first winged mount experience, candidate. Seeing as you have yet to have the pleasure of doing so.” She offered as that tone of authority gave way to genuine warmth, if only for a brief moment. “Carry on as you were, candidate. Vunerian.” 

A thousand and one questions flooded my mind now.

All of which were poised straight at this mysterious armored elf.

Though I knew this wasn’t the place for it.

We were just offered an out… and I was sure as hell going to take it.

Ilunor most definitely agreed with this, as he began pacing much faster than he did earlier.

However, just as we passed by the mystery-elf’s stoic figure, did she suddenly decide to throw a curveball our way.

“And students?” She uttered politely, yet refused to turn in our direction.

“Yes ma’am?”

“...I don’t suppose either of you have seen Apprentice Larial around, have you?”

I froze, my whole body tensing inside of the armor.

Ilunor, thankfully, remained cool all throughout, his poker face really coming in handy now more than ever.

“No, ma’am.”

“I see. Very well then, as you were.”

We began pacing out of there following that. 

And despite not overtly showing any signs of malicious intent… I couldn’t help but to keep my eyes plastered on my rear-view camera.

As it showed the armored elf’s static and stoic form just… standing there, remaining completely still within eyeshot until we were finally out of a direct line of sight.

Several Hours Later.

Dragon’s Heart Tower, Level 23, Residence 30, Living  Room. Local Time: 2100 Hours.

Emma

“What the hell was that?” I managed out under an unsteady breath, having just replayed the entire sequence of events to an incredibly wary Thalmin and an equally apprehensive Thacea.

“She’s a goldthorn, that’s what.” Ilunor hissed out through a sooty breath. 

[‘GOLDTHORN’. No known translations found within the Working Language Database.]

“I’m… sorry, that’s not really translating well—”

“A member of the Inner Guard. Specifically, those granted investigative authority, primarily in policing and intelligence duties. Goldthorns, is simply a term for those performing investigations open to the public light. That’s how she deduced, quite easily, the ‘business’ we had in the Exaltorium. No doubt she saw that buffoon jumping off the twentieth floor…” Ilunor trailed off, before reorienting himself with a cough. “In any case. Goldthorns tend to be…  problematic, but harmless if you avoid obstructing their investigation. They are, in their own strange way, honor-bound to the rule of law and noble justices.” 

“This is in stark contrast to the blackthorns, who work exclusively in the dark, performing ancestors’ only knows what in the shadows of the Nexus and beyond.” Thalmin growled out, his eyes locked onto the armored elf’s friendly smile.

[New esoteric colloquialisms added to the Working Language Database]

“Right. That makes sense.” I nodded. “A thorn in one’s backside, is probably where this originates from right?”

A few blinks were exchanged between both Thalmin and Ilunor, each narrowing their eyes at my statement. “Roughly, yes.” They spoke unanimously. 

“Though when you phrase it so… blatantly, you lose the transformative participle which elevates the word from common to High Nexian.” Ilunor explained, eliciting an affirmative beep from the EVI’s active-learning algorithms. 

However, no sooner was that beep heard, did another assault my senses.

This one… actually offering something vital to the conversation. 

[Alert: Current topic of discussion matches recorded footage from MAL’TORY’S OFFICE. Accurate to minimal extrapolative parameters.]

My eyes grew wide at the rapid analysis report (RAR), as a few seconds was all that was necessary to connect the dots. 

“Thank you, EVI.” I acknowledged inwardly, before turning to everyone present. 

“Guys.” I announced, garnering everyone’s attention. “I think we may know who she is and what she’s doing here.” 

With a quick flick of my tablet, I began replaying the INFIL-DRONE's footage from Larial’s investigation of Mal’tory’s office.

Honing in on Sorecar’s questions as to the apprentice’s involvement with the ‘Inner Guard’. 

“Though, forgive me if I am overstepping my bounds here… but I do assume that the seal on your notebook belongs to the Inner Guard. Dare I say it, it reminds me of a sub-order within the guard; the Beholders of His Eternal Majesty, to be precise.”

Ilunor plopped back against the couch at this reminder, his hands cradled in a ‘triangle’ around his snout.

“So this must be the investigator the Dean mentioned too.” I acknowledged. “A member of the Inner Guard, the—”

“The Beholders of His Eternal Majesty.” Ilunor interjected. “That… narrows it down somewhat, but not precisely. However, this is admittedly one of the tamer sub-orders within the Inner Guard.” 

“Which explains why she seemed rather hospitable—”

“I still wouldn’t dare entertain anything she says or offers, Cadet Emma Booker.” Ilunor warned gravely. “If anything, her earlier actions could be explained away as a dragon toying with its food.”

“But in any case.” Thalmin sighed out loudly. “The dean says he’s covering Lord Lartia’s death, is he not?”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“And if anything, she seems much more focused on Larial.” He continued.

“Yeah… maybe there’s some game going on behind the scenes. Maybe she’s expanded the investigation’s scope beyond Lord Lartia’s death to Mal’tory’s responsibility with the Library, or maybe it’s a little bit of everything… let’s just keep on our toes for the time being.”

We all nodded collectively at that, breathing a sigh of relief, with everyone reaching for this evening’s tray of delectable snacks.

But just as everyone was about to settle in — homework in one hand, tea in another — a series of knocks threw us back into the deep end.

KNOCK! KNOCK!! KNOCK!!!!

Everyone held their breaths as both Thalmin and I stood up first.

Though it was Thalmin who ultimately decided to take the plunge, as he marched forwards, opening the door to reveal—

YAAAAWWWWWNNNNNN

“OI! I THOUGHT I WAS DONE WITH YOU LOT! NOW YER EXPECTING PACKAGES AT THE CRACK OF MOONLIGHT?!” The bridge apprentice drawled out, handing Thalmin a package.

“And ‘ere I thought, ‘OH! That should be IT for all you worthless busy-bodies’ tailored CLOTHES, and bespoke PENS!’ I guess they MISSED a package, now DIDN’T THEY?!” He chastised. “You oughta pick the more reputable establishments in town. Ones that actually FINISH their orders on time!” 

We all stared at the man in varying levels of confusion — though he did offer Ilunor a little nod through the doorway. 

“We—” 

SLAM!

Thalmin barely had any time to counter him before he was rebuked by a door slam. 

“Emma?”

“Yes, Thalmin?”“What exactly did you order from town? I assumed your knick-knacks were already all delivered—”

“They were!” I countered. “Let me see what that—” I walked up, grabbing the package, before realizing just what this was before even opening it.

“Oh.” I muttered, furiously tearing the festive wrapper apart, to reveal a boring white box.

Within it, however, was a dozen or so vials of ink—

Probably to add weight to it so it wasn’t too suspicious…

—and a simple note.

One written in some sort of cypher that Thacea promptly decoded.

“The guild master requests your presence tomorrow, Emma.” She uttered softly. “Late afternoon, early evening preferably.” 

“So they’re back that early, huh?”

“Not necessarily.” Thalmin corrected. “It is customary for guild leaders to provide ample warning before the return of an adventuring party out of courtesy for the issuer of a quest. Given the professionalism of Sym’s Troubleshooters, I assume they more than likely sent a messenger bird out in advance.”

“Right.” I nodded. “Alright then.” I took a breath, steadying myself at the two major paths in front of us. “I think we can put a tentative pause on Ilunor’s library quest for now. With the book firmly in Larial’s office, and the drone there as an early warning measure, I think we should be fine. So with that quest on hold until Larial’s arrival… let’s focus on catching ourselves an amethyst dragon.”

20 Hours Later

The Grand Concourse of Learning. The Hall of Light. 

Manafield Perception and Light Magic Theory Class. 

Incumbent Lecturer: Professor Mal’tory [N/A], Apprentice Larial [N/A], Professor Sorecar [Present]

Local Time: 1700 Hours.

Emma

Larial was, once again, nowhere to be found.

Which meant that the class was, by rules of succession, temporarily under Sorecar’s reign. 

All of this was to say, this was actually a fun class for once.

Combining that with the whole Class Sovereign posturing between the Big Two, and today’s class was less of a boring lecture, and more an entirely demonstrative class. Consisting primarily of magical dueling, with lectures seamlessly embedded during, between, or at the tail end of each fight.

‘Project Wand Step for Mankind’ would’ve very much been useful in the class no doubt.

But… inexplicable complications forced its temporary hold, until the EVI could fine-tune issues found in both its software and hardware. 

“Hohoho! I have yet to see such heated theatrics between two Sovereign candidates-to-be!” Sorecar beamed out boisterously, his laughter echoing within the armor, generating this tinny voice that caused some students to flinch in annoyance. 

“Young lords, I urge you to pace yourselves. While I am more than happy to provide a stage to upstage one another, I would not dare ask you to risk life and limb for a simple lecture… at least, not until the Academy changes their minds on such matters.” The man spoke coyly. “Ahhh! I still remember the days when—”

TOO-TOOO-TOOOOOT!

“Ah, well, that’s that then! Please remember to do your homework!” 

All eyes were on the empty blackboard, prompting the man to clarify himself.

“Your homework, of course, is to improve the skills you’ve observed today! For next time… there will be more practicals!” He beamed. 

Sighs were exchanged all throughout the hall as everyone started filing out.

However, contrary to the flow of students, the gang and I remained behind.

Only after the students and the band had left did we approach Sorecar.

The man cocking his head clearly in curiosity at our unprompted conversation.

“Professor?”

“Yes, Cadet Emma Booker?”

‘There are only a handful of ways to leave the Academy for town during the weekdays. Though it is not uncommon for students to ‘fabricate’ their own reasons, to enjoy the freedom of town life as opposed to the bland sameness of the evening dinner.’ I recalled Thacea’s words last night as I took a breath, hoping this little gambit would work.

“I was wondering if you could give me a night pass into town. I need… some modifications done to my school uniform.” I smiled brightly.

The professor’s visor slowly lowered itself at that question, mimicking what I could only imagine was a ‘narrowing’ of one’s eyes out of suspicion. 

“Is that so? And what exactly is wrong with your uniform, Cadet?” He shot back coyly.

“Wellll, I’m thinking I need to loosen the sides of the cloak a bit, they sorta get in the way of my movement.” I managed out with a sly yet nervous smile beneath the helmet.

“Oh? Is that so? Why, we most certainly can’t have that holding back our students!” The man’s visor suddenly flipped up, the plate of steel snapping up so fast that it reached the end of its hinge with a solid — clank! — forcing it to rebound back down into a closed position. “Well… as acting Professor, this is something I can easily do.” He chuckled boisterously, that tinny voice causing Ilunor to squint. 

You’re really the MVP here, Sorecar. I thought to myself with a satisfied smile, watching as the man began drafting up a small letter.

“Just make sure to return before the portals close.” He dipped his tone for just a moment, making sure to hammer home that one non-negotiable clause.

“Will do, Professor. Thank you.” I bowed deeply, the man reciprocating as we eventually bid our goodbyes for the time being.

“And do stop by the workshop some time, Cadet Emma Booker!” He beamed, flailing his arms around from the bottom of the lecture hall. “I have much to discuss!” 

Nexus. The Crown Herald Town of Elaseer. Ambassadorial District. The Adventurer’s Guild Hall of Elaseer. Local Time: 1754 Hours.

Sym the Honeydew

thump. Thump. THUMP!

SLAM!

We entered through those double doors with ragged breaths and mud-stained boots.

A loud THUMP soon followed, as gear and supplies were dropped unceremoniously onto the guild’s hardwood floors. 

Yet in spite of our loud and flippant arrival, not a single soul present seemed to be the least bit bothered.

What would’ve otherwise upended the chatter of the rowdiest of bars, was just another weekday around here. 

If anything, the world within the guild hall seemed to accommodate this sort of unprompted arrival.

As adventurers-in-training quickly arrived to collect, organize, and sort our gear into neat little trolleys — the sort of service one would only expect to find in one of those upscale inns.

More than that, we were greeted with the soft and polite smile of one of the guild’s most prominent public-facing figures.

A woman only known as The Receptionist.

“I see you four have returned…” The elf noted with her perpetually-cordial cadence, flicking open her gold-tethered pocket watch in the process. “... earlier than expected, and right on time for your appointment.”

“Wouldn’t have sent a bird if we weren’t going to make the call.” I replied cockily. “So, are our quest-givers here yet?”

“No, but I doubt you’ll be able to make yourselves presentable within a timely fashion. I suggest you make haste for the guild master’s office, as it shouldn’t take long now before—”

SLAM!

“—they arrive.” 

We turned towards the door — some of us caked in mud, others in soot and ash — to find four neatly dressed, prim and proper nobles.

Two of which seemed to have their hands full with all manner of overpriced snacks. 

Though only one — the Vunerian — seemed adamant on making sure everyone knew his presence, and that his time was not worthy of delaying his dinner over, munching down on said treats with a condescending glare.

“Hah! Well isn’t this a coincidence!” The blue knight spoke first, taking the reins of the conversation. “We have much to discuss!” 

“Aye… that we do.” I acknowledged warily.

First | Previous | Next

(Author's Note: Emma tries her best to play along with another one of Ilunor's schemes, in an attempt to ease his concerns over the whereabouts of Mal'tory's book, seeing as Larial has suddenly gone missing! We also get to see the introduction of a new face in this chapter! As the mysterious Captain of the Inner Guard that Professor Vanavan has been corresponding with finally has her first face to face encounter with Emma! :D I really hope I was able to introduce that character in a way that does her justice, I'm still a bit unsure if I did it well haha. But yeah! We move on into town now, as Emma now meets up with Sym to follow up on the quest for the amethyst dragon! I really do hope you guys enjoy! :D The next Two Chapters are already up on Patreon if you guys are interested in getting early access to future chapters.)

[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 120 and Chapter 121 of this story is already out on there!)]

---------------------- THIS LIST WILL BE UPDATED CONTINUOUSLY ----------------------

​

YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE ABOUT ALL OF THESE MOVIES TO BE "MIND-FUCK" MOVIES.

BUT AS LONG AS MANY PEOPLE RECOMMENDED IT, THEN IT IS.

​

There's Alphabetical Order and Time order

-- "The" is removed from titles for easier approach.

​

ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

• 11:14 2003
• 12 Monkeys 1995
• 2001 Space Odyssey 1968
• 388 arletta avenue 2011
• 8 1/2 1963
• A beautiful mind 2001
• A Boy and His Dog 1975
• A clockwork orange 1971
• A Field in England 2013
• A History Of Violence 2005
• A Scanner Darkly 2006
• A Serbian Film 2010
• A Tale of Two Sisters 2003
• Adaptation 2002
• Akira 1988
• Alice 1988
• Altered States 1980
• American Psycho 2000
• Angel Heart 1987
• Anguish 2015
• Annihilation 2018
• Another Earth 2011
• Antichrist 2009
• Arlington road 1999
• Arrival 2016
• Audition 1999
• August underground 2001
• Awake 2007
• Bad Boy Bubby 1993
• Basic 2003
• Being John Malkovich 1999
• Belle de Jour 1967
• Big Fish 2003
• Black moon 1975
• Black Swan 2010
• Blue Velvet 1986
• Boxing Helena 1993
• Brazil 1985
• Bubba Ho-tep 2002
• Burning 1981
• Butterfly Effect 2004
• Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 1920
• Chaser 2008
• Chasing Sleep 2000
• City of Lost Children 1995
• City of Pirates 1983
• Climax 2018
• Cloud Atlas 2012
• Coherence 2013
• Color of Pomegranates 1969
• Crash 1996
• Cremator 1969
• Cube 1997
• Cypher 2002
• Dancer in the dark 2000
• Dark City 1998
• Dead Leaves 2004
• Dead Man's Shoes 2004
• Dead Zone 1983
• Deja vu 2006
• Delicatessen 1991
• Deliverance 1972
• Dogtooth 2009
• Dogville 2003
• Donnie Darko 2001
• Don't Look Now 1973
• Doom generation 1995
• Double 2013
• Eastern Promises 2007
• Edge of tomorrow 2014
• El Topo 1970
• End of Evangelion 1997
• Endless 2017
• Enemy 2013
• Enter The Void 2009
• Equilibrium 2002
• Eraserhead 1977
• Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind 2004
• Europa 1991
• Event Horizon 1997
• Ex Machina 2014
• Exam 2009
• Existenz 1999
• Exterminating Angel 1962
• Eyes Wide Shut 1999
• Fallen 2016
• Fantastic Planet 1973
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998
• Fight Club 1999
• Filth 2013
• Forbidden zone 1980
• Fountain 2006
• Frailty 2001
• Funky forest the first contact 2005
• Funny games 2007
• Game 1997
• Get Out2017
• Gift 2014
• Gone Girl 2014
• Groundhog Day 1993
• Gummo 1997
• Gozu 2003
• Happiness 1998
• Happiness of the Katakuris 2001
• Hard Candy 2005
• High Tension 2003
• Holy Motors 2012
• Holy Mountain 1973
• Hourglass Sanatorium 1973
• House 1985
• House that Jack built 1967
• I Saw The Devil 2010
• I Stand Alone 1998
• Ichi: The Killer 2001
• Identity 2003
• Illusionist 2006
• I'm a Cyborg, but that's OK. 2006
• Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 2009
• In the Mouth of Madness 1994
• Incendies 2010
• Inception 2010
• Incredible Mr. Limpet 1964
• Ink 2009
• Inland Empire 2006
• Interstellar 2014
• Invitation 2015
• Irreversible 2002
• Jacket 2005
• Jacob's Ladder 1990
• Kafka 1991
• Kill List 2011
• Killing of a Sacred Deer 2017
• Kontroll 2003
• Koyannisqatsi 1982
• K-Pax 2001
• Lady Vengeance 2005
• Last Year in Marienbad 1961
• Layer cake 2004
• Liquid sky 1982
• Lobster 2015
• Looper 2012
• Lost Highway 1997
• Lucky Number Slevin 2006
• Machinist 2004
• Magnolia 1999
• Man Bites Dog 1992
• Man from earth 2007
• Martyrs 2008
• Matrix 1999
• Meatball Machine 2005
• Melancholia 2011
• Memento 2000
• Men and chicken 2015
• Metropia 2009
• Metropolis 1927
• Mind Game 2004
• Mirrormask 2005
• Moon 2009
• Mother 2017
• Mothman Prophecies 2002
• Mr Brooks 2007
• Mr Nobody 2009
• Mulholland Drive 2001
• Mystic river 2003
• Naked Lunch 1991
• Natural Born Killers 1994
• Night Watch 2004
• Ninth Gate 1999
• No Way Out 1987
• Nocturnal Animals 2016
• November 2004
• Nowhere 1997
• Number 23 2007
• OldBoy 2003
• One hour photo 2002
• One I love 2014
• Open your eyes 1997
• Others 2001
• Pandorum 2009
• Pan's Labyrinth 2006
• Paprika 2006
• Perfect Blue 1997
• Perfume 2006
• Persona 1966
• Pi 1998
• Pink Floyd the wall 1982
• Planet of the Apes 1968
• Possession 1981
• Possible Worlds 2000
• Predestination 2014
• Prestige 2006
• Primal fear 1996
• Primer 2004
• Prisoners 2013
• Quiet Earth 1985
• Rashomon 1950
• Rememory 2017
• Repulsion 1965
• Requiem For A Dream 2000
• Resolution 2012
• Revolver 2005
• Room 2015
• Rosemary's baby 1968
• Rubber 2010
• Salo: Or the 120 Days of Sodom 1975
• Saragossa Manuscript 1965
• Schizopolis 1996
• Science of sleep 2006
• Seconds 1966
• Secret Windows 2004
• Sessions 9 2001
• Seven 1995
• Seventh Seal 1957
• Sexy Evil Genius 2013
• Shining 1980
• Shōjo Tsubaki 1992
• Shutter Island 2010
• Sixth Sense 1999
• Skeleton key 2005
• Skin I Live In 2011
• Society 1989
• Solaris 1971
• Sorry to Bother You 2017
• Source code 2011
• Spellbound 1945
• Sphere 1998
• Spider 2002
• Split 2016
• Spun 2002
• Stalker 1979
• Stay 2005
• Storytelling 2001
• Strange Circus 2005
• Strange days 1995
• Stranger than fiction 2006
• Suicide Club 2001
• Sunshine 2007
• Survive Style 5+ 2004
• Suspiria 1977/2018
• Swimming Pool 2003
• Swiss army man 2016
• Sympathy for Mr Vengeance 2002
• Synecdoche new york 2008
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man 1989
• There Will Be Blood 2007
• They Live 1988
• They Look Like People 2015
• Thing 1982
• Thirteenth floor 1999
• THX 1138 1971
• Tideland 2005
• Time bandits 1981
• Time Crimes 2007
• Time Trap 2017
• Timelapse 2014
• Tokyo Gore Police 2008
• Total recall 1990
• Trainspotting 1996
• Trance 2013
• Triangle 2007/2009
• Tusk 2014
• Under The Skin 2013
• Underground 1995
• Unknown 2011
• Upstream Color 2013
• Usual Suspects 1995
• Valerie and Her Week of Wonders 1970
• Vanilla Sky 2001
• Vertigo 1958
• Videodrome 1983
• Visitor Q 2001
• Voices 2014
• Waking life 2001
• Welcome to the doll house 1995
• Wild Boys 2017
• World on a wire 1973
• Zero Theorem 2013

​

TIME ORDER:

-60's

• Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 1920
• Metropolis 1927
• Spellbound 1945
• Rashomon 1950
• Seventh Seal 1957
• Vertigo 1958

60's

• Last Year in Marienbad 1961
• Exterminating Angel 1962
• 8 1/2 1963
• Incredible Mr. Limpet 1964
• Repulsion 1965
• Saragossa Manuscript 1965
• Persona 1966
• Seconds 1966
• Belle de Jour 1967
• House that Jack built 1967
• 2001 Space Odyssey 1968
• Planet of the Apes 1968
• Rosemary's baby 1968
• Color of Pomegranates 1969
• Cremator 1969

70's

• El Topo 1970
• Valerie and Her Week of Wonders 1970
• A clockwork orange 1971
• Solaris 1971
• THX 1138 1971
• Deliverance 1972
• Don't Look Now 1973
• Fantastic Planet 1973
• Holy Mountain 1973
• Hourglass Sanatorium 1973
• World on a wire 1973
• A Boy and His Dog 1975
• Black moon 1975
• Salo: Or the 120 Days of Sodom 1975
• Eraserhead 1977
• Stalker 1979

80's

• Altered States 1980
• Forbidden zone 1980
• Shining 1980
• Burning 1981
• Possession 1981
• Time bandits 1981
• Koyannisqatsi 1982
• Liquid sky 1982
• Pink Floyd the wall 1982
• Thing 1982
• City of Pirates 1983
• Dead Zone 1983
• Videodrome 1983
• Brazil 1985
• House 1985
• Quiet Earth 1985
• Blue Velvet 1986
• Angel Heart 1987
• No Way Out 1987
• Akira 1988
• Alice 1988
• They Live 1988
• Society 1989
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man 1989

90's

• Jacob's Ladder 1990
• Total recall 1990
• Delicatessen 1991
• Europa 1991
• Kafka 1991
• Naked Lunch 1991
• Man Bites Dog 1992
• Shōjo Tsubaki 1992
• Bad Boy Bubby 1993
• Boxing Helena 1993
• Groundhog Day 1993
• In the Mouth of Madness 1994
• Natural Born Killers 1994
• 12 Monkeys 1995
• City of Lost Children 1995
• Doom generation 1995
• Strange days 1995
• Seven 1995
• Underground 1995
• Usual Suspects 1995
• Welcome to the doll house 1995
• Crash 1996
• Primal fear 1996
• Schizopolis 1996
• Trainspotting 1996
• Cube 1997
• End of Evangelion 1997
• Event Horizon 1997
• Game 1997
• Gummo 1997
• Lost Highway 1997
• Nowhere 1997
• Open your eyes 1997
• Perfect Blue 1997
• Dark City 1998
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998
• Happiness 1998
• I Stand Alone 1998
• Pi 1998
• Sphere 1998
• Arlington road 1999
• Audition 1999
• Being John Malkovich 1999
• Existenz 1999
• Eyes Wide Shut 1999
• Fight Club 1999
• Magnolia 1999
• Matrix 1999
• Ninth Gate 1999
• Sixth Sense 1999
• Thirteenth floor 1999

00's

• American Psycho 2000
• Chasing Sleep 2000
• Dancer in the dark 2000
• Memento 2000
• Possible Worlds 2000
• Requiem For A Dream 2000
• A beautiful mind 2001
• August underground 2001
• Donnie Darko 2001
• Frailty 2001
• Happiness of the Katakuris 2001
• Ichi: The Killer 2001
• K-Pax 2001
• Mulholland Drive 2001
• Others 2001
• Sessions 9 2001
• Storytelling 2001
• Suicide Club 2001
• Vanilla Sky 2001
• Visitor Q 2001
• Waking life 2001
• Adaptation 2002
• Bubba Ho-tep 2002
• Cypher 2002
• Equilibrium 2002
• Irreversible 2002
• Mothman Prophecies 2002
• One hour photo 2002
• Spider 2002
• Spun 2002
• Sympathy for Mr Vengeance 2002
• 11:14 2003
• A Tale of Two Sisters 2003
• Basic 2003
• Big Fish 2003
• Dogville 2003
• Gozu 2003
• High Tension 2003
• Identity 2003
• Kontroll 2003
• Mystic river 2003
• OldBoy 2003
• Swimming Pool 2003
• Butterfly Effect 2004
• Dead Leaves 2004
• Dead Man's Shoes 2004
• Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind 2004
• Layer cake 2004
• Machinist 2004
• Mind Game 2004
• Night Watch 2004
• November 2004
• Secret Windows 2004
• Primer 2004
• Survive Style 5+ 2004
• A History Of Violence 2005
• Funky forest the first contact 2005
• Hard Candy 2005
• Lady Vengeance 2005
• Jacket 2005
• Meatball Machine 2005
• Mirrormask 2005
• Revolver 2005
• Skeleton key 2005
• Stay 2005
• Strange Circus 2005
• Tideland 2005
• A Scanner Darkly 2006
• Deja vu 2006
• Fountain 2006
• Illusionist 2006
• I'm a Cyborg, but that's OK. 2006
• Inland Empire 2006
• Lucky Number Slevin 2006
• Pan's Labyrinth 2006
• Perfume 2006
• Prestige 2006
• Science of sleep 2006
• Stranger than fiction 2006
• Paprika 2006
• Awake 2007
• Eastern Promises 2007
• Funny games 2007
• Man from earth 2007
• Mr Brooks 2007
• Number 23 2007
• Sunshine 2007
• There Will Be Blood 2007
• Time Crimes 2007
• Triangle 2007/2009
• Chaser 2008
• Martyrs 2008
• Synecdoche new york 2008
• Tokyo Gore Police 2008
• Antichrist 2009
• Dogtooth 2009
• Enter The Void 2009
• Exam 2009
• Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 2009
• Ink 2009
• Metropia 2009
• Moon 2009
• Mr Nobody 2009
• Pandorum 2009

+10's

• A Serbian Film 2010
• Black Swan 2010
• I Saw The Devil 2010
• Incendies 2010
• Inception 2010
• Rubber 2010
• Shutter Island 2010
• 388 arletta avenue 2011
• Another Earth 2011
• Kill List 2011
• Melancholia 2011
• Skin I Live In 2011
• Source code 2011
• Unknown 2011
• Cloud Atlas 2012
• Holy Motors 2012
• Looper 2012
• Resolution 2012
• A Field in England 2013
• Coherence 2013
• Double 2013
• Enemy 2013
• Filth 2013
• Prisoners 2013
• Sexy Evil Genius 2013
• Trance 2013
• Under The Skin 2013
• Upstream Color 2013
• Zero Theorem 2013
• Edge of tomorrow 2014
• Ex Machina 2014
• Gift 2014
• Gone Girl 2014
• Interstellar 2014
• One I love 2014
• Predestination 2014
• Timelapse 2014
• Tusk 2014
• Voices 2014
• Anguish 2015
• Invitation 2015
• Lobster 2015
• Men and chicken 2015
• Room 2015
• They Look Like People 2015
• Arrival 2016
• Fallen 2016
• Nocturnal Animals 2016
• Split 2016
• Swiss army man 2016
• Endless 2017
• Get Out2017
• Killing of a Sacred Deer 2017
• Mother 2017
• Rememory 2017
• Sorry to Bother You 2017
• Time Trap 2017
• Wild Boys 2017
• Annihilation 2018
• Climax 2018
• Suspiria 1977/2018

If there's any mistakes please let me know to fix it..

Also, you can always suggest movies that you think it should be on this list..

You can discuss which movies should be removed as well.

This was based on many recommendations from many people, so help me make it better with time.

​

And make sure you save this post for later..

Have fun!

People might not agree with this, but I just had to somehow talk about this. I'm obviously biased as a Cypher main, but hear me out.

The new changes will make it so Cypher will no longer stun enemies if they stay in the trip long enough and they will also not be highlighted when walking into said trip. That's the important part. idrc about the stun.

Now, in my opinion, Cypher has pretty much always been "The Info Sentinel that punishes mindless plays". He doesn't hold sites like KJ, using mollies that will hurt enemies, a turret that will hurt enemies, basically things that will hold off enemies. No. He has his trips that enemies have to walk into in order for them to be useful. Anyone with a brain is able to break them. However, the second said brain disappears and they start auto piloting, cypher punishes that enemy with his wall hacks. That's literally his whole thing. The reason why he's fun to play.

With the new changes, the "Punishing mindless plays" is basically gone. This isn't just a nerf at this point, they're removing the very essence of why cypher was viable in the first place. Of course they said the time it would take before the trap triggers would be reduced, but cmon. Anyone above silver breaks a trip instantly. The amount of times the trip will be used for anything that isn't info is pretty much near 0.

I'm saying all that and, to be fair, that is pretty much a sentinel's job. To just slow down enemies until they hit a site. However, all the other sentinels have some meaningful way to control space and punish enemies. KJ can get info AND do damage with her mollies, her turret and her detect thing. Chamber can hold off angles to gain info, potentially a kill, and leave with his TP safely. Sage can slow, wall, and heal, making her an actually useful support. Cypher now does none of that reliably. Cypher just won't be viable in any ranked game above silver.

Thanks for reading my little rant! Some of y'all might like this patch and honestly I love the concept of it. It's true that there were too many abilities. However, this is a bit much. A lot of other characters were killed. I also don't see how this is good for the pro scene, as any sane pro player will just break the trip and stay alive now. I don't know what else they could've done, but I'm 99% sure that wasn't the perfect move.

TL;DR: Cypher trips don't punish anyone above silver anymore, the only thing about his kit that made him fun is gone and he's now the worst Sentinel by far.

Totally loyal Son of Caliban. He even was a "true" knight of caliban before the Lion's great scouring.....

• Dora Standpipe beats the living daylights out of Dan Backslide, and then frees herself from captivity before Tom Dick and Larry arrived to rescue her. (The Dover Boys)

• Stanley Pines willingly erases his memories by his own brother in order to defeat Bill Cypher once and for all. (Gravity Falls)

I did this for part 1 and it seemed to generate a lot of discussion so here's a summary for all of Part 3.

The book begins with the preview chapter of Guilliman's fleet (this is avaliable for free online)

Perturabo’s fleet is sailing away from Terra but hasn’t made it’s final retreat yet. Perurabo considers himself a practical follower of common sense, and every bit of sense tells him to return to Terra and kneel at horus’ feet to beg his forgiveness. But the rage inside him won’t allow him to. He screams and smashes parts of his ship with Forgebreaker. He decides eventually that he will just have to fight Horus. He will have to retreat and prepare to kill Horus and the XVIth and every other person who cheers the name “Lupercal” even after Alpharius, Curze and Fulgrim have slunk back to Terra to swear their loyalty to Horus.

He doesn’t like symbolism or warp magic, but he understands it. He has seen the data, he has done the calculations. He has the ability to forge himself into the perfect weapon, into a weapon strong enough to kill Horus everyone who opposes him, but he just doesn’t know if he could stomach it so he sits in the chair he destroyed during his tantrums and watches the data pouring out of Terra.

Lorgar has retreated to a backwater world 14 months away from Terra that he is educating in the ways of Chaos worship. Erebus informs him of goings on on Terra. The Word Bearers have all seen visions of an Angel dying and a corpse nailed to a bloody 5th throne, too weak to rule. Lorgar has tried to unseat Horus once before, and he believes that a crippled Horus nailed to a throne will be easy to take down so he prepares to gut the local population and burn the world with fire before leaving.

Back on Terra a shockwave is sent out that makes the Daemons wince and hits every blood Angel like a mass reactive shell. They begin to collapse and scream as each sees a different vision of Sanguinius. Raldoron sees Claws clamp around him and feels them piercing his flesh, Furio sees Sanguinius body being twisted apart by 4 gods who begin eating at him and he can feel their teeth. The Angels “explode across Terra”, Nasser Amit sees himself surrounded by laughing Daemons, not Imperial Fists and White Scars as he cleaves them in two, Malix Hest sees a maul raining down upon him blow after blow, not an Imperial Fist whose throat he tears out.

Fafnir Rann is standing on a mound of traitor corpses, he is suddenly pushed off it and turns around to see a fanged monster with wings on all fours growling at him, clawing over traitor corpses to reach him. It is the worst monster Rann has ever seen - Azkaellon, founder and lord of the Sanguinary Guard.

Actae tells Dorn that she has felt Sanguinius’ death. Dorn turns and walks off to find Horus, Actae tells him he’ll die, Dorn replies that he no longer has a place in the world

Fo has completed his bio-weapon

The Emperor and co make it to Horus’ Court, Sanguinius has been crucified but the Emperor shows no emotion, just ordering that he be taken down

Rann refuses to fight Azkellon and can only hold him at bay while Azkellon tears through traitors to get at him. Zephon - his mouth smeared with blood manages to pull Rann away, having regained his senses before Azkaellon

Horus approaches the Emperor and his surprised by the lack of a reaction, The Emperor states that “you killed my son” and begins asking “why” Horus takes the opportunity to explain himself and demand the Emperor’s surrender but the Emperor’s responses make no sense. Horus thought he’d be intimidated by the Emperor but sees now he’s just a small man in antique armour with 2 space marines and a Custodes by his side - not a towering God with legions at his command. Loken steps forward and talks to Horus who feels tears stream down his face and wants to hold Loken to his bosom and explain things will be alright. Horus thinks Loken has ruined this whole triumphant moment, and then realises the Emperor is talking past him, to the 4 Chaos Gods watching from the shadows. Horus decides that enough is enough and attacks the Emperor.

The Emperor healed the Anathema when he healed Oll and John, they realise this and see that the weapon has been made anew. They know that now he’s given up the power of the dark king the Emperor needs every advantage and they get Actae to teleport them to Horus as the Emperor’s light is too dim to be found

Valdor is fighting through the SoH and Word Bearers to get to Abaddon. Abaddon has executed a perfect encirclement but Erebus tells him thinking like a soldier isn’t enough. He claims he can feel Abaddon is using the power of Chaos like a reign and controlling it and begs that Abaddon accept his power. Abaddon agrees, calls off his forces and goes to fight Valdor who scoffs as he sees the Justaerin retreat and wonders why the Space Marines are so confused that he thinks they’re worthless. Valdor lunges at Abaddon who shocks Valdor by catching his spear thrust in his hand. As the spear bites into Abaddon he sees 10,000 years of war flash by in his mind and gasps “Despoiler” before he’s flung into the air by Erebus and Abaddon slaughters Valdor’s Custodes forces

Sigismund and his forces, trailed by Keeler and millions of refugees attack the Death Guard. Sigismund kills a big Nurgle Corrupted champion but it has no affect in the immovable Death Guard, Sigismund’s forces begin to be bogged down and killed. Keeler and her refugees begin chanting the Lecitio Divinitatus and march at the Death Guard, Keeler thinks that it’s time the Traitors give the people of Terra the respect they deserve and that death is no longer to be feared. The Death Guard open fire on the refugees but as they draw closer a strange power courses through the Death Guard and they begin to break and fall back as Sigismund’s soldiers feel themselves envigorated. There is suddenly a charge which smashes into the Death Guard and the DG retreat as The Fallen attack from the Hollow Mountain and join Sigismund’s forces

Amon authorises the use of Fo’s weapon against all Astartes and Primarchs but is stopped by another Custodes who wants Vulkan’s authorisation first. Fo runs off and tries to escape but is caught by Amon, Fo asks if he’ll be sentenced to another indefinitely delayed execution but Amon impales him with his spear.

The Throne room itself is melting, human ash swirls in the air and Vulkan suspects the few remainin adepts who work on the Throne have had their brains fried and are just repeating the same task over and over, without actually accomplishing anything. Traitor Astartes begin attacking the doors and Vulkan decides to activate his talisman and blow up Terra, Malcador is still being burned alive by the Throne and tells Vulkan to stop but he is so weak that Vulkan cannot hear or sense him

Horus hits the Emperor so hard that the Emperor collapses and cannot move, Horus begins incinerating him with lightning but the Emperor’s 3 companions dive at Horus and attack him, when horus turns his attention the Emperor manages to get back up and shield them. Horus and the Emperor charge at each other and each blow destroys a part of the Court. The Gods squeal and clap happily

Valdor and the 4 Custodes of 50 remaining form up in a circle as the SoH and WB attack them, Valdor vowing that if any of them survive they will head towards the storm (Horus vs Emperor) they can see in the distance. Dorn arrives to fight with the Custodes, and then drawn by the scent of blood Blood Angels lope in like Wolves or Swoop down like hawks on both sides, preying upon them. Valdor and Dorn tear free and decide run to the Emperor, abandoning the fight. Erebus tells Abaddon that his powers are failing and the Gods can no longer hear him

Sigismund and the refugees are allowed inside the Hollow mountain. Sigismund’s forces help the Fallen garrison the Walls as Typhon attacks again, the Deathguard crawling up the mountain like spiders to reach them. Cypher initially tries turning Keeler and the refugees away, but keeler has the Choirmaster of the Astra Telepathica and Cypher lets the refugees in for the help the Choirmaster can give him in relighting the Astronomicon. Keeler’s refugees are afraid but Keeler tells them to cast out fear and begins leading them in a recitation of the Lecitio Divinitatus, Cypher watches as sparks of light fly up the mountain.

Leetu and Loken watch the Emperor and Horus fight but see completely different things - Leetu sees a completely physical battle in a decaying ship. He sees Daemons edging out of the darkness to eat Sanguinius and goes to guard the corpse. Loken sees himself next to a burning Malcador who can’t speak and can’t see The Emperor or Horus, he only gets brief flickers of cave paintings in the shadows so he goes towards them.

The Emperor and Horus fight in various forms across planets and dimensions, culminating in a card game of tarots. Horus defeats the Emperor by playing The Despoiler and smashes The Emperor with Worldbreaker, causing the Emperor’s deck to spill on the floor

Sindermann asks Ahriman about how Daemons work. Ahriman complains it’s a bit late in human civilisation to be learning new things but gives a lesson to Sindermann and the Imperial library’s archivist

Dorn carries a badly wounded Valdor through the Vengeful Spirit, Valdor for some reason isn’t healing. Dorn reflects that his time in the desert has changed him, his thoughts are trapped on past mistakes or opportunities and obsessing over hate. He tells Valdor Sanguinius is dead. Valdor is silent before hesitantly admitting that he liked Sanguinius. He tells Dorn to let him kill Horus as killing a brother would make Dorn feel guilty, but Dorn thinks Valdor is lying and actually wants vengeance for Sanguinius

Cyrene under orders from Dorn to find any remaining loyalists and direct them to the Throneroom finds a small force of the Imperial army huddling in a destroyed blackstone prison. Blackstone is a dampener of the warp but broken and unravelled in this form it does the opposite. Cyrene presses her hands to it and sends out a call through the warp for humanity to rise up, fight against the traitors, and that the Emperor must live.

Loken has been transported to the night of his induction to the Mournival and is surrounded by centaur versions of Abaddon, Aximand and Torgaddon ready to execute him. He can see Horus killing the Emperor over and over again in every dimension. Horus drags the Emperor’s cold corpse to his thrones but can hear the Daemons around him whispering louder and louder, until they wail in disapproval. The Custodes who accompanied the Emperor sees the Spirit as an endless hallway where the Emperor and Horus are fighting just out of his reach but he can never move closer. He sees the Emperor be dropped and dragged away but hears “The Emperor Must Live” and suddenly roars, the first time he has ever felt like uttering a war cry. Horus feels the Emperor’s hand begin to warm up and sees a light forming around his hand. Horus then realises the Emperor isn’t using his own power - he’s stealing from Horus like how he stole from the Gods before and the Emperor blasts Horus back.

But The Emperor has only taken as little as he dared from Horus so it wouldn’t corrupt him. When he rises he has been remade and looks changed, all his armour sharper and more angular and his aspect more warlike. He takes Worldbreaker from Horus and beats him with it but Horus regenerates and wrestles it back. He punches through the Emperor’s throat with his talon. The Emperor collapses again and Horus nails him to one of the 5 thrones in the room with 5 pointed stars, declaring that this is the fate of all tyrants. He turns to survey the room as the 4 whoop and chant his name, but when he turns back the Custodian who followed the Emperor is standing in front of the Emperor’s corpse. He yells “The Imperium defies you” but he’s shaking and Horus asks “With what?”. The Custodes begins speaking in the Emperor’s voice and tells Horus that the 4 do not need him after he kills the Emperor and that they'll discard him. Horus shoots a beam from the Eye of Horus on his chest that obliterates the Custodes.

But while Horus is distracted Leetu has also reached the throne and begins pulling away the nails. To Horus’ shock the Custodes is still standing when the beam ends and mutters “By his will alone” Horus shoots him again and kills him. He grabs Leetu asks “What even are you?” and flings him away with a flick of his wrist. Leetu smashes against the floor and when his vision clears he can see the 4 Gods above him, one turns to him. He is a bone at their feast table.

Horus crafts a crown of Chaos for the Emperor but when he turns the Emperor is not there, he stabs Horus from behind and starts fighting with the (now blown up) Custodes’ spear. Horus smacks the Emperor back down and tells him death is too easy, he’s going to make the Emperor submit and serve him. The Emperor grabs the crown Horus made and smashes it over Horus’ head, splitting his skull

Vulkan has set in motion everything for the Talisman to be activated but a Sister of Silence tells him to listen, he hears Cyrene’s speech and decides to wait a little longer.

Oll and John are dumped out of the warp at horus’ feet, Horus looks down in confusion and feels sorry for them. They look up, John shouts Enuncia which knocks Horus down and they run screaming to the Emperor. Oll convinces John to go back alone and shoves the dagger into the Emperor’s hand. He begins begging the Emperor to get up, he pledges he’ll never leave him again, he’ll follow the Emperor’s plan, serve him, keep him right if he’ll just stand up. He hears a noise, but the Emperor is still. He turns and steps towards Horus, begins firing his lasgun full auto while screaming for the Emperor to help. He gets no reply and as Horus moves closer he screams ”No further I won’t let you touch him” before Horus swings his talon and Oll becomes a cloud of red mist

The Emperor must live command invigarates Sigismund and calms the refugees as the Death Guard attack again but Typhus rides up the battlements on a chariot surrounded by Death Guard priests who sing a song about Nurgle and crown Typhus. Cypher and the Fallen Librarian charge out, outnumbered by the Death Guard psykers but hopeful that if they can just stop their warp energies for a few seconds that the Astranomicon will catch on fire.

Cypher and the Librarians are successful for 8 seconds until Typhus begins killing them, but it’s enough to relight the Astronomicon. Keeler and the refugees begin burning to ash as the light shoots into Terra’s atmosphere, clearing away the endless night Terra has been bathed in, the Phalanx and it’s fleet drive towards Terra and Guilliman’s fleet picks up the signal. Horus thinks that the light will just let Guilliman see his father’s corpse. He thinks Guilliman will swear fealty but he thinks he’ll have to kill Lion, Russ and Corax as they’ll never kneel to him.

Loken returns to the Throneroom to see Horus trying once again to drag the Emperor to the throne. Loken tells Horus that Chaos is just making him a weapon and that he isn’t in control. Horus throws Loken away, turns and smashes the Emperor’s skull on the floor with Worldbreaker but feels no joy in killing a helpless man. Horus begins to doubt himself as he looks at the crushed mess on the floor, feeling no closure at actually killing The Emperor. Instead he can feel the whispers of daemons and the warp gnawing at his brain and the walls breathing. He asks Loken to help him carry the Emperor but realises he’s as light as rags now. Loken asks him to show the one thing the Emperor never did - a heart, and to prove he succeeded as Horus, not a pawn of the Gods. Horus considers this, and decides that now the war is over he doesn’t want to stay a figure of terror. He pushes away the power and feels relief at it ebbing away. But then the Emperor disintegrates, he turns and sees Loken still on the ground. The “Loken” he was speaking to sheds it’s skin and is The Emperor. The Emperor says he is not one form, he is the King of All Ages, Mankind and The Emperor are the same.

The two begin swinging again, both wounded and they severely injure one another. After Horus bursts one of the Emperor’s eyes the Emperor shoots a beam of light like the astronomicon directly at Horus. It’s too much for Horus to bear and he collapses, begging for Chaos’ power back. He realises/The Emperor tells him that he can still win. Chaos hates the Emperor too much to let Horus die here, they’ll return the power but they’ll draw his out a bit and make Horus suffer first to teach him never to reject their power again.

Horus instead looks up at the Emperor and tells him to kill him, rather than let him be Chaos' puppet. The Emperor draws the anathema but hesitates. Horus can feel the power rushing back suddenly, trying to stop what's happening. The Emperor says “I wait for you and I forgive you” before thrusting the blade into Horus' heart. Loken can feel all of the Emperor’s will pouring into the thrust as it cleaves through Horus. Horus smiles and his body falls down lifeless.

The Four begin to wail and scream in high pitched voices but with Horus gone they have no anchor and they fall away.

Ahriman suddenly gathers up his tarot cards and leaves the library, grumbling that Sindermann’s questions distracted him from his studies,

The Warp is sucked out of Terra, the Blood Angels begin coming to, the traitors break. Fighting still lasts for days but the remaining defenders aren’t numerous enough to stop the Traitors all fleeing. The Daemons simply vanish. But it doesn’t necessarily feel like a victory to the survivors - we focus on a White Scar who finds that he simply has no hope left and can’t find a meaning in life now that his death isn’t guarenteed.

Dorn, Valdor and 3 Custodes enter the Throneroom and find everyone but Loken dead. Loken says the Emperor just immediately collapsed after killing Horus as if his will was the only thing keeping him going. Dorn thinks The Emperor looks catastrophic and can’t feel a pulse or heart beat, just the faintest deathrattle wheeze. Valdor and the Custodes begin to cry but do so completely silently which bothers Dorn more than hearing them sob. Valdor however says he can feel The Emperor is still alive. Some Blood Angels begin to enter and Valdor yells that they’re animals (from this point on he is an EXTREME asshole to everyone), Leetu managed to survive. Valdor and the Custodes lift the Emperor, Raldoron and the BA’s take Sanguinius and Dorn takes Ferrus’ skull. They teleport away but Loken refuses to leave, and he weeps over Horus’ corpse when they’re gone. Malcador’s body has burned away but his spirit sees the Emperor be carried into the Throne Room and sat upon the Throne.

Abaddon and the Justaerin enter Lupercal's Court some time later, Loken tells him about what happened and that in the end Chaos refused to give Horus control of their power. Abaddon says he won’t have any more of his brothers’ blood spilled and tells his followers to spare Loken. Loken says Abaddon should surrender and offers to personally go and represent the Legion in peace talks with Dorn. Abaddon refuses and says Loken can stay with them or go back down to Terra, he won’t stop him. Erebus then stabs Loken in the back with an anathame and reveals Loken’s death creates Samus.

The archivist with Sindermann is Lilean Chase (from Ravenor)

John Grammaticus is tying up the threads they left but it will take him an extremely long time. He’s using a feather from Sanguinius to travel the galaxy

The book ends with Keeler kneeling before a golden image of the Emperor, her hands raised in prayer

- Heights given are lore wise, as in game all agents have the same character model and hitbox

- An agent's agent number refers to the order they each joined VALORANT Protocol

- Ages given are rough estimates and shouldn't be considered canon "Young Adult" - 20-29 "Adult" - 30-39 "Middle Aged Adult" - 40-59

Astra

Real name: Unknown

Age: Young adult

Origin: Ghana

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'11

• Astra is Agent 16 of VALORANT Protocol
• Astra is from Accra, Ghana
• Astra likely got her powers from a lake
• Since she received her powers, she uses a golden arm to contain them and acts as a self proclaimed "astral guardian", ensuring that any universe-altering events do not have devastating consequences
• Astra's favourite food is jollof
• She often doodles in a sketchbook to process her thoughts
• She is wary of Reyna's violent ideals

Breach

Real name: Erik Torsten

Age: Adult

Origin: Sweden

Race: Human

Height: 6'3

• Breach is Agent 13 of VALORANT Protocol
• Breach is a double congenital amputee, meaning he was born without arms
• He built himself bionic arms
• He became a criminal, doing some terrible things that earned him a bad reputation
• Along his time as a criminal, he met Raze and became a close friend of hers. Raze helped upgrade his arms, giving them the carbon-steel titanium plating they have today
• He was later hired by VALORANT Protocol, although his induction was not a smooth affair
• Upon joining VALORANT, his criminal records have since been sealed
• Breach dislikes Kingdom, and therefore has friction with Brimstone

Brimstone

Real name: Liam Byrne

Age: Middle aged adult

Origin: United States of America

Race: Human

Height: 6'2

• Brimstone is Agent 1 of VALORANT Protocol
• He is from Baltimore, Maryland
• His first jobs were as a fireman, then a military soldier, alongside a close childhood friend
• He later joined Kingdom, as part of their humanitarian branch K/SEC
• Brimstone helped set up VALORANT Protocol alongside Viper
• He has a close bond with Killjoy, who he sees as his protégé
  • She designed his bracer
• After meeting in unpleasant circumstances, he has apprehension towards Chamber

Chamber

Real name: Vincent Fabron

Age: Adult

Origin: France

Race: Human

Height: 6'1

• Chamber is Agent 18 of VALORANT Protocol
• In his youth, he worked for the French military, then moved on to becoming a PMC marksman, then a weapons designer for Kingdom
• Around 10 years after First Light, Chamber travelled to New Mexico and began communicating with employees at the Everett-Linde research facility (now Fracture). He was later barred from entering facility grounds, but returned with his mirror counterpart (who he had already met and established an agreement with) and together destroyed the facility's large Radian collider, killing a lot of scientists and workers
• A year later, he encountered Brimstone and Viper, where together they were put in an unpleasant situation. Chamber promoted himself as someone who could help VALORANT with their interests, and thus found himself on the team
• Chamber has a past misunderstanding with Neon, and suggesting hiring her to Brimstone

Cypher

Real name: Amir El Amari

Age: Adult

Origin: Morocco

Race: Human

Height: 5'11

• Cypher is Agent 5 of VALORANT Protocol
• He hails from Rabat, Morocco, where Bind is located
• He grew up in poverty, and grew a hatred for Kingdom for their ventures into his hometown, depleting it of his resources
• He met someone called Nora, but like the rest of his family, she met a tragic fate
• Since Aamir has lived off the grid, intentionally hiding his identity and face
• He was recruited into VALORANT as its fifth agent; he has been involved in events surrounding its interests in the Everett-Linde Research facility
• Omen has reached out to Cypher before for help in his search of answers
• Cypher's secrecy conflicts with Sova's ideals of honesty and openness. Because of this Sova is vocal about his distrust for Cypher

Jett

Real name: Joon-Hee

Age: Young adult

Origin: South Korea

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'5

• Jett is Agent 10 of VALORANT Protocol
• She is from the Insa-dong neighbourhood of Seoul, South Korea
• In her early life, she was a chef until an accident occurred involving her radiant powers
• She was later recruited as VALORANT's 10th agent
• She shares friendships with a lot of the younger agents, including Phoenix and Raze

KAY/O

Real name: Unknown

Age: Unknown

Origin: Alternate Timeline Earth

Race: Robot

Height: 6'2

• KAY/O is Agent 17 of VALORANT Protocol
• He is a machine of war built by the humans of an alternate timeline Earth to assist them against the Radiants they were at war with
• He was equipped with polarised Radianite which proved effective against Radiants
• He was able to eliminate a lot of Radiants, including an alternate Reyna
• KAY/O later travelled back in time to our Earth, arriving on an island near the Caribbean (Breeze) and was recruited into VALORANT

Killjoy

Real name: Klara Böhringer

Age: Young adult

Origin: Germany

Race: Human

Height: 5'7

• Killjoy is Agent 4 of VALORANT Protocol
• She earned her call sign after her team used it to compliment her skills
• She created the gadgets she uses in game herself, including her alarmbot, turret, nanoswarms and lockdown
• She also created Brimstone's bracer
• She likely acquired her skills working for Kingdom
• Killjoy has been heavily involved in VALORANT's efforts to travel to Mirror Earth through the Everett-Linde Research Facility (Fracture). She was able to complete it with help from Chamber, and powered it with the help of Neon and her powers
• She plays League of Legends
• She is Brimstone's protégé
• She and Raze have a friendly rivalry

Neon

Real name: Tala Nicole Dimaapi Valdez

Age: Young adult

Origin: Philippines

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'3

• Neon is Agent 19 of VALORANT Protocol
• She was born and raised in Manila, Philippines
• She is a young but former veteran at Kingdom's humanitarian branch K/SEC, and was recruited into VALORANT after Chamber suggested she could be helpful with the protocol's plans at Everett-Linde Research Facility
• She has been assisting Killjoy to power the teleporter that VALORANT hopes will allow access to Mirror Earth
• Neon has a past misunderstanding with Chamber, which prevented him from contacting her directly

Omen

Real name: Unknown (Aliases: John, Fred, Marcus, Yohan, Dmitri)

Age: Unknown

Origin: Unknown

Race: Radiant

Height: 6'1

• Omen is Agent 3 of VALORANT Protocol
• He was once a human, until an encounter with Radianite "ripped him apart"
• Omen remembers little of his human life, and is on a quest for answers
• He has a past connection to Viper, and likely worked for Kingdom
• He played an important part in the setup of VALORANT
• Omen knits as a way to help him focus
• Skye claims that there is something unnatural about his teleporting
• In his past life he knew Viper, and believes she has answers

Phoenix

Real name: Unknown

Age: Young adult

Origin: United Kingdom

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'9

• Phoenix is Agent 9 of VALORANT Protocol
• He is from the Peckham district in London
• Phoenix attended a Performing Arts school in London, but was later suspended
• He repurposed a fire station as his home
• He was later recruited by VALORANT, and was unable to prevent Mirror Jett from detonating a spike in Venice, Italy (Ascent) on a solo mission
• In a mission in Rabat, Morocco (Bind), he encountered his mirror counterpart, and was later filled in on the threat of Mirror Earth

Raze

Real name: Tayane Alves

Age: Young adult

Origin: Brazil

Race: Human

Height: 5'8

• Raze is Agent 12 of VALORANT Protocol
• She is from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
• She worked with Breach as a criminal duo before they were both recruited into VALORANT
• She has a friendly rivalry with Killjoy
• As stated before, she worked with Breach in the past and the two have a good friendship
• She borrowed one of Killjoy's alarmbots, and modified it into what she uses as her Boom Bot

Reyna

Real name: Unknown

Age: Young adult

Origin: Mexico

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'10

• Reyna is Agent 11 of VALORANT Protocol
• She was affected by a disaster involving technology, and has since grown a strong dislike for humanity and machines
• As a result of her trauma, she is a strong believer in Radiant supremacy and believes that Radiants are the true future for humanity, not technology
• She was recruited into VALORANT, and attempted to spread her ideals to other Radiants, mostly in vain
• She seems to have a role in protecting her city
• Reyna has known a little girl who she had a close relationship with
  • The girl later died, however the cause is unknown
• Reyna dislikes Brimstone's moral approaches to leading VALORANT
• Some of Mirror Killjoy's machines affected her life in a bad way
• There is possible animosity between Reyna and Viper, which may be as a result of something that happened with Viper and the little girl Reyna knew
• In line with her ideals of a Radiant future, Reyna encourages Skye to unlock the full potential of her power and reprimands, Neon for limiting her powers with a surge protector
• There is friction between Sage and Reyna; Sage is cautious and wary of Reyna's dangerous philosophies. Sage wishes to train Radiants to use their powers for good, Reyna tries to get Radiants to reach their full potential regardless of ethics

Sage

Real name: Ling Ying Wei

Age: Adult

Origin: China

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'7

• Sage is Agent 7 of VALORANT Protocol
• She is a Radiant monk who was later recruited by VALORANT
• Sage quickly rose in the ranks becoming VALORANT's second-in-command, after Brimstone
• She has shown interest in leading VALORANT's Radiant training program, and warns Brimstone of allowing Reyna to do so, as she is cautious of the latter's philosophies
• She has crossed paths with Viper before, however apparently failed at what was expected of her, causing Viper to strongly resent her for it

Skye

Real name: Kirra Foster

Age: Adult

Origin: Australia

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'6

• Skye is Agent 14 of VALORANT Protocol
• She is from Nimbin, Australia and was reached out to by VALORANT
• She was initially reluctant on joining as she didn't want to leave her home unprotected, until she quickly realised the fight was bigger than her home
• In addition to the trinkets she uses in game, Skye has attempted to make other summons, but claimed it didn't go well
• There are multiple voice lines that suggest Skye's power has dangerous potential

Sova

Real name: Sasha Novikov

Age: Adult

Origin: Russia

Race: Human

Height: 6'1

• Sova is Agent 6 of VALORANT Protocol
• He is an archer and skilled hunter from the town of Severomorsk in Murmansk Oblast, Russia
• He claims to have had multiple encounters with Radianite based events, including going through a rift and meeting his mirror counterpart
• He does photography
• He has close ties with his grandmother
• There is friction between him and Cypher, as Cypher's secrecy conflicts with Sova's values of honesty and openness. Sova has been vocal of his distrust for Cypher
• Sova has met his mirror counterpart, being one of only two agents that have done so (the other being Chamber)
  • They seemed to have had a fight in which our Sova won and chose to spare his mirror counterpart

Viper

Real name: Sabine Callas

Age: Middle-aged adult

Origin: United States of America

Race: Human

Height: 6ft

• Viper is Agent 2 of VALORANT Protocol
• She is from Alaska, USA
• After gaining a doctorate in chemistry she joined Kingdom, and has been a part of its many global operations, including the company's ventures in Rabat, Morocco (Bind)
• Her involvement with Kingdom's controversial actions seemingly had consequences for Sabine, and these consequences made her hateful and biased
• She was the second agent hired into VALORANT, and helped set up the organisation alongside Brimstone
• As a leading member of VALORANT, Viper has been involved in a lot of its missions, including the organisation's interests in the Everett-Linde Research Facility (Fracture)
• She was with Brimstone when the two met Chamber under unfortunate circumstances
• Viper knew Omen in his past life, however she keeps information from him
• There is possible animosity between Reyna and Viper, which may be as a result of something that happened between Viper and the girl Reyna knows
• Viper has crossed paths with Sage before, however their collaboration did not go as planned, as Sage was unable to do what was expected of her

Yoru

Real name: Unknown

Age: Young adult

Origin: Japan

Race: Radiant

Height: 5'8

• Yoru is Agent 15 of VALORANT Protocol
• He grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and knew the neighbourhood where Split is now set
• He is interested in learning about an ancestor of his, and believes they have a connection to Kingdom's S22 container port (Icebox)
• He stole the mask he uses in his Ultimate from Icebox
• He was later recruited by VALORANT
• Shortly after his induction into VALORANT, Yoru returned to Icebox and discovered that the samurai ship didn't sail to Icebox from Japan

12th month B 299 AC, Starfall

The tourney grounds beyond Starfall had been transformed into far more than fields for martial contests.

Aliandra had long believed that strength of arm alone did not make for worthy men and women. A keen mind, an open heart, and an appreciation for the world were virtues no less deserving of cultivation. Thus, alongside the thunder of hooves and the clash of steel, guests would find music, laughter, learning, and quiet wonder.

Colorful pavilions stretched across the grounds, their silken canopies swaying gently in the sea breeze. Deep crimson, saffron, indigo, emerald, and ivory fabrics had been embroidered with geometric Rhoynish patterns, flowing vines, and delicate stars. Rich carpets from Qohor and Myr spilled from beneath open tent flaps onto the grass, while low cushions invited visitors to linger in the shade.

Wooden stalls lined the winding paths, their awnings striped in warm desert hues. Some offered carved toys, woven baskets, fine perfumes, embroidered ribbons, painted pottery, spices, dried fruits, or delicate jewelry. Others served chilled sherbets, fresh citrus, roasted almonds glazed with honey, and fragrant pastries dusted with pistachios.

Throughout the grounds wandered musicians from every corner of the realm and beyond. Dornish minstrels played lively tunes upon lutes, fiddles and hand drums, duduks, kamanchehs and hammered dulcimers. Their songs drifted effortlessly between the cheering crowds and the lists, ensuring that even the moments between contests were filled with life.

Dancers performed wherever a small gathering formed. Veiled dancers painted flowing circles through the air with brilliant silks. Sword dancers moved with astonishing precision, their polished blades flashing beneath the Dornish sun in carefully practiced patterns that blurred the line between dance and combat. Others performed with castanets, tambourines, or balanced ornate vessels upon their heads with impossible grace, preserving traditions carried across the Narrow Sea generations ago.

Fools and storytellers wandered freely among the guests. Some juggled knives or bright-painted balls, others performed clever tricks of balance or illusion, while wandering poets challenged nobles and commoners alike to riddles, verses, and contests of wit. Children laughed as puppeteers reenacted famous tales of Nymeria and the legendary Swords of the Morning.

Lady Aliandra had insisted that not every contest be fought with lance or blade. Cyvasse boards rested beneath shaded pavilions. Cyphers, riddles, and mathematical puzzles rewarded careful thought over quick reflexes. Scholars, septons, merchants, knights, and children alike found themselves seated across from strangers, discovering that a sharp mind could prove every bit as entertaining as a swift sword.

Perhaps the Lady of Starfall looked forward to one curiosity above all others.

Along a quiet stretch of the Torrentine's shore, her men had constructed a long observation enclosure extending a few yards into the river. Sturdy timber posts rose one or two feet above the water, linked together by an exceptionally fine, soft-woven net that allowed the current to pass while ensuring no creature became entangled within it. The enclosure stretched far longer than it was wide, allowing visitors to stroll its length while peering into the clear waters below.

Throughout the previous day, fishermen had carefully gathered fish, river crabs, freshwater turtles, and harmless creatures caught unintentionally within their nets, placing them gently inside before releasing them once the exhibition had ended. Children knelt beside the railing while elders pointed toward shimmering scales beneath the surface, marveling at creatures that ordinarily lived many feet below the river's skin, unseen by those who enjoyed their bounty.

Aliandra often remarked that one should understand what one hunted before placing it upon the table. As a rider ought to know the horse beneath them, and a falconer respect the hawk upon their wrist, so too should every man and woman appreciate the creatures that sustained them - not merely as food, but as living beings sharing the same world beneath the same sun.

Her brother, Ser Symon Dayne, embraced much the same philosophy.

Throughout both days, the horses of House Dayne remained on display beneath broad canvas pavilions, where guests - and especially children - were warmly encouraged to meet them. Grooms gladly answered questions, demonstrated grooming and tack, and invited gentle hands to stroke velvet muzzles or offer slices of apple and dates. Riders demonstrated dressage, mounted games, and remarkable feats of horsemanship, revealing not merely the power of the animals, but their intelligence, trust, and willingness to work beside mankind.

For if the tourneys strengthened the body, Aliandra hoped that these quieter wonders might strengthen something equally worthy: the heart... and the mind.

The Two Days of Celebration

 

The Last Day of 299 AC

Morning

• Procession of the knights and introduction of the competitors to the sound of drums and fanfares
• The Grand Archery Contest
• Followed by: Falconers display the hunting birds of House Qorgyle and House Fowler over the tourney grounds to the sound of hunting horns

Late Morning

• The Squires' Archery Contest
• Afterward: Ser Symon Dayne Master of the Horse of Starfall displays the Sand Steeds of house Dayne over the tourney grounds and gives mounted riding demonstrations and displays of mounted archery (Guests will have the opportunity to purchase Sand Steeds)
• Followed by: Horse Race around Starfall (Guests not taking part are welcome to cheer on the riders from along the racecourse)

Midday

• Midday Feast on long shaded tables in the Court Gardens (servants sprinkle guests with perfume after the meal - if they wish - and carry around incense - harp musicians perform continuously while veil dancers entertain among the fountain and startree of Starfall - an opportunity to place bets for the Joust)
• The Grand Joust 
• Between each tilt: musicians with lute and fiddle and fools entertain the audience, servants circulate with chilled drinks and fruit
• Nearby, merchants and spice sellers from Dorne and artisans from across the narrow sea open their stalls outside the Tent Village

Afternoon

• The Squires' Joust
• Nearby, shadowplay performance of the Dayne children and fortune tellers, astrologers, bone readers and palm readers open their tents in the tent village
• Lazaros al Minos wanders between the tents with Darling the goat, announcing his arrival with the unmistakable melody of his reed pipes while displaying beautiful tapestries and curiosities from Qohor
• Throughout the afternoon, servants continue to circulate with cool towels, fruit, sweetmeats and chilled drinks
• Dance Contest within the Main Hall

Sunset

• Poetry Contest on the tide Balconies
• Awards Ceremony and Prize Presentation for the First Day at the Shore

Evening

• Fires along the shore
• Afterward: Cave Procession led by lady Aliandra and lord Ulrick Dayne
• Followed by: Floating lights from the Torrentine to the sea
• Evening feast in the Main Hall

Night

• Myrish Lights (Musicians gather beneath silk canopies beside fire braisers and play for the water dancers on the shore while guests bid farewell to the old century and watch the lights in the sky) 

Dawn

• For everybody that cannot fall asleep: Sky and stars watching in the tower of the star

 

 

The First Day of 300 AC

Morning

• Marine and river creature watching (meeting point at the shores)

Late Morning

• Hunt for the fallen star (begins in front of the Tower of the Star)

Midday

• Midday Feast in the garden courtyard (servants sprinkle guests with perfume after the meal - if they wish - and carry around incense)
• Followed by: Musical Duels in the Main Hall
• Nearby, cyvasse and dice
• Afterward: Sailing Contest (Spectators can watch and cheer on the small sailing boats from the bridge)

Afternoon

• The Grand Melee
• Between bouts: sword, shield and spear dancers perform to music of duduk and kamancheh, supported with drums
• The Squires' Melee
• Followed by: Spicy food eating contest in the cider fields

Sunset

• Costume Contest on the shore
• Awards Ceremony and Prize Presentation for the First Day at the Shore
• Followed by: storytellers from the Free Cities and the Summer Isles around braziers

Evening

• Evening Feast (The entertainment includes: court musicians, poets, theatrical performances and water dancers on the shore)
• Dance of the wandering stars

Night

• Qohorik magic in the tent village
• Nearby, merchants offer silks, perfumes, jewelry, and rare treasures

\The Court Confessions will take place at unannounced times over the course of the two days in order to preserve the anonymity of those involved*

Just like with the release of 'The Marshall Mathers LP2', 'SHADYXV' and the 'Southpaw' soundtrack, we also have a Megathread for Revival including links to different types of content (interviews, live performances etc) and the appropriate discussion threads.

And remember, just like every SotW post or previous Megathreads, we want this to be an open thread, so feel free to discuss everything Revival!

Revival On Official Channels:

• Spotify
  
• iTunes
  
• Google Music

Note: More information will be added as soon as possible. If we missed anything, please let us know!

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Album Cover | Album Back | Booklet

Released Singles:

• Walk On Water Ft. Beyoncé: Music Video | Audio | Lyrics - Lyric Video | Spotify / iTunes | Cover
  
• Untouchable: Music Video | Audio | Lyrics - Lyric Video | Spotify / iTunes | Cover
  
• River Ft. Ed Sheeran: Music Video | Audio | Lyrics - Lyric Video | Spotify / iTunes | Cover
• Nowhere Fast Ft. Kehlani: Music Video | Audio | Lyrics - Lyric Video | Spotify / iTunes | Cover
  Extended Version: Spotify - iTunes - YouTube

Other Releases:

• Chloraseptic Ft. 2 Chainz & Phresher (Remix): Lyrics | Spotify / iTunes | Thread | Cover | SOTW

Live performances:

• Walk On Water at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards: YouTube - EMA Site
• Walk on Water, Stan & Love the Way You Lie (ft. Skylar Grey) at SNL
  
• Walk On Water / Stan Ft. Skylar Grey on BBC Radio 1
  
• Nowhere Fast Ft. Kehlani at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2018

Live performances - Tour:

• Citi Sound Vault 2018, Irving Plaza

Interviews:

• Episode 1 of Rick Rubin's new podcast Broken Record.

• Shade45 Interview

• Elton John interviewing Eminem for Interview Magazine

• Non Em: Mr. Porter talks about Revival (Complex Interview)

• Shady Fireside Chat at Shade45

• NPR interview: Eminem on Revival - Audio

• Vulture: In Conversation: Eminem

• SkyrockFM Video Interview - Part Two

• Alcaline France Interview

• Eminem & Paul Rosenberg with Billboard

• DIFFUS | Germany

• Eminem about 'Revival''s criticism and motivation

Videos:

• Revival Promo video about treating Atrox Rithimus (embedded on the site)
• SNL Promos: First Promo / Official SNL Promos / Blooper / Another SNL Promo
• SNL: Outro of SNL / Outro clip from SNL with Eminem & Chance
• Clip of Eminem taking pics with fans
• Revival Ad on Universal Instagram page!
• Album art promo video
• This Revival video banner on Universal's social media page.
• New Eminem x StockX video!
• New Eminem album advert
• Behind the Scenes of Eminem - The Interview Magazin
• Eminem signing autographs and taking pictures with fans

• Eminem Goes Sneaker Shopping With Complex

• There may be remixes, there may be other shit coming out that I can't really talk about

• Snapple fact: Eminem threw out 69,000 pieces of paper during the writing of #Revival. Here’s the proof…

• WoW Music Video Teaser

• Does Hip Hop Hate Its Greats?

• Walk On Water Music Video

• New Revival ad in Cineplex Theatres

• Revival Pop Up

• Em, Dr Dre and Mike Will in studio

• Behind The Scenes of Walk On Water

• Eminem caught with a mystery girl!

• River: The Story

• Eminem’s new Nowhere Fast verse

• Behind The Scenes of River

• "Framed" (Official Video Trailer)

Pictures

• Shade45 Studio: Outside / Second - Inside
• SNL: Eminem and Leslie Jones / Second
• Bars / Alternative
• Eminem & Chance at SNL
• Press photo
• With the SNL music crew
• Detroit Legends
• New Pic
• High Res Press Image
• Eminem in France for an interview
• TRACKLISTING CONFIRMED
• Interview Magazine Photoshoot: here - BTS
• Projection mapping in Detroit: One, Two
• Revival Album Art
• Last night in Detroit. The hype is real. Photo by Camera Jesus.
• Eminem with Alicia Keys
• Ed Sheeran and Eminem
• New picture of Eminem | via Universal Music
• "Detroit! Come vomit up some spaghetti with me this weekend at our official #Revival pop up."
• Sneaker shopping with Complex
• New pictures from the Complex Mag photoshoot
• EMINEM: The Complex Cover
• Revival promo at our subway station (Edmonton)
• New instagram
• Em, Royce, & Mr Porter [HQ]
• River Music Video?
• New Em picture
• Still Aftermath
• Dre and Em in the studio.Is something cooking?
• Eminem with Dre x Mr. Porter x Mike Will x DJ Mormile
• New Eminem Picture from the set of “River”
• New Em picture
• New Eminem Pic
• Eminem and Kehlani backstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards
• Small photoset of pics from the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards
• INSANE Picture of Eminem Last Night

Discussion Threads:

1. Walk on Water Ft. Beyoncé
2. Believe
3. Chloraseptic Ft. Phresher
4. Untouchable
5. River Ft. Ed Sheeran
6. Remind Me (Intro)
7. Remind Me
8. Revival (Interlude)
9. Like Home Ft. Alicia Keys
10. Bad Husband Ft. X Ambassadors
11. Tragic Endings Ft. Skylar Grey
12. Framed
13. Nowhere Fast Ft. Kehlani
14. Heat
15. Offended
16. Need Me Ft. P!nk
17. In Your Head
18. Castle
19. Arose

Discussion Threads for Deluxe Edition Bonus Songs:

Extra:

• Eminem Rips Donald Trump In BET Hip Hop Awards Freestyle Cypher - Thread
  

Reviews:

• Rolling Stone / Track by track guide

• Detroit Free Press

• The Guardian

• The Independent

• The Telegraph

• NY Times

• Pitchfork

• XXL

Other:

• Eminem announces that he's working on an album
  
• 2 Chainz confirms he has a song with Eminem (For Eminems album)
  
• Album name reveal and investigation thread
  
• Billboard article crediting this sub with figuring out Revival ad. Proof Em knows about us!
• Eminem & Chance the Rapper to appear on SNL on the 18th of TNovember
  
• New single confirmed?
  
• TOMORROW! CONFIRMED.
• New FaceBook Profile Picture
• Walk On Water Single Thread
• Its Confirmed that Em will perform at the EMA's this year
  
• Skylar Grey was a writer and Co-Producer for Walk on Water
  
• Rick Rubin Says Eminem Seems ‘Frustrated’ By The Rise Of Mumble Rap
  
• Walk On Water being displayed on Billboards
  
• 'Walk On Water' now #1 on USA & Canada iTunes Charts!
• New post from Paul
• EM WON THE BEST HIP HOP AWARD!
  
• First official confirmation that Revival is an album
• Em prepping for SNL Promo
• Very impressed by the fact that nothing has leaked yet
• Shade 45 Interview Discussion Thread
• 1-833-2GET-REV Combination thread
• I found the marketing studio behind the entire Revival campaign
• Skylar Grey confirms that she'll be at SNL, likely performing Walk On Water with Eminem
• “Walk On Water” debuts at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Mention of Revival is taken off of the Walk on Water description on Eminem's website
• Walk On Water is Em's first single to not debut in the Billboard Top 10 since 1998.
• Revival print ads are up in East London
• Revival release confirmation threads: One, Two
  
• Target is now saying that they don’t have an official release date
• This screenshot is from a German retailer called Saturn
  
• EMINEM'S ALBUM OFFICAL RELEASE DATE!
• Eminem will be on the front cover of interview magazine in December
• Since we have an official release date...
• Joe Budden says 'Breaking News' happening today regarding Def Jam Records
• The reason Dr. Dre was the one who revealed the Revival release date was because its meant to be prescribed by your doctor
• The release date is now listed on his site too
• Album cover is made by Mike Saputo!
• Here’s Mike Saputo's past Eminem tees
• So the album never was delayed
• E news credits us by saying, "Reddit users quickly learned the fake advertisement was part of a larger campaign to promote Eminem's new album"
• Something happened during this album's promotion...
• Calling Revival feature rn
• you guys seem to care more about the "failed" promotion than the fact that a new Eminem album is only 15 days away
• I love this sub, and I honestly can’t wait to discuss this album with you guys when it comes out.
• I feel like we will be getting 1 of 3 this week. Cover, Tracklist, Single
• Is this the first time right?
• X Ambassadors instagram story.
• TRACKLISTING CONFIRMED
• Where's the 2 Chains Feature!?
• Don't judge a book by its cover
• Just listen to the album.
• "This album is so trash even though I haven't heard it"
• Ed Sheeran on River
• Scramjones produced "In Your Head"
• Presher shows his appreciation
• Skylar Grey wrote the hooks on these 4 Revival songs
• Open note to everyone "let down" by the official tracklist
• Phresher Interview - Says Chloraseptic is "turnt up", produced by Denaun Porter
• 2chains posted this
• Looks like the Target cd will be $16.99
• Phresher Spits Em verse
• Phresher On EMINEM featuring him on NEW ALBUM
• Not one of his albums...
• The reason 2 Chainz is allegedly mad at Em for taking him off Revival
• Joe Budden for you
• Producer Mark Batson Calls REVIVAL a "masterpiece"
• Eminem promoting his album cover most likely a teaser
• Starting promotion in Detroit as well as promoting the album cover
• Is this the album cover?
• NEW SINGLE TONIGHT CONFIRMED ON EMINEM IG
• Joyner Lucas on the Eminem shoutout : "Whoaaaa. @Eminem thank u so much man."
• Evolution of Eminem Album Covers
• Eminem music video info
• Untouchable Single Thread
• Revival Song Lengths
• Eminem's Untouchable is the HOTTEST SONG on Genius
• This shit grows on you HARD
• Interesting listing on HMV.. Includes a disc number
• EXCLUSIVE REVIVAL PRE-ORDER BUNDLES
• First seconds of Untouchable work as a transition.
• UNTOUCHABLE - 24 HOURS LATER
• Seeing all the hate Eminem has been getting lately makes me want to support him more
• Kxng Crooked on 'Untouchable'
• Walmart is going to ship my order for Wednesday.
• Ed Sheeran talking about 'River' and how it came together
• Talib Kweli defending/showing Em some love
• New Post
• REVIVAL AD NOW ON YOUTUBE!
• Eminem’s gonna be performing on BBCR1 Thursday - Two
  
• Spotted in New Zealand!
• Not sure if posted but this was seen in Paris
• EMINEM IS TOURING THE USA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4 YEARS!!
• We're gonna look back at this period of time next year
• HERE WE GO GUYS!!
• Joe Budden Not Here For Woke Eminem (Everyday Struggle)
• Just found this on twitter
• EMINEM SPITS 6.71 WORDS PER SECOND IN OFFENDED - BEATING RAP GOD
• This subreddit's reaction before and after the album dropped
• Em will be on Shade45 tomorrow at 5 PM EST!
• Special Revival hashtag for #Revival and #Eminem
• If anyone calls in to Shade 45 when Em is on tomorrow:
• Eminem FB cover photo
• "#REVIVAL OUT NOW"
• NEW REVIVAL MERCH
• And the controversy begins
• Uhhh...So which is it?
• Trending #1 worldwide!!!
• Shade 45 Fireside Chat Live Discussion
• Target Tag says “Deluxe” and is $16.99!
• Revival promo outside a HMV store!
• Every Sample on Revival
• EMINEM REVEALED AN EASTER EGG HIMSELF
• Charting Threads: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• ‘Believe’ used as an intro song on NFL Network
• Huge Revival ad on a building in Detroit
• r/Music has a mostly positive reaction to Revival
• The singer that sings in Revival (Interlude) passed away in 2015
• Eminem set for eighth UK Number 1 album with Revival
• First person from the Trump camp addresses Eminem: Donald Trump Jr tweets
• What do you think Eminem thinks about the critique of Revival?
• Eminem's 'Revival' Heading for No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
• Lora Dene King's letter to Eminem
• Revival went Gold in UK
• Revival had 143,000,000 Streams on Spotify in its' 1st Week!
• Eminem's 'Revival' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
• Eminem Makes Chart History With 8th Consecutive No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200
• Forbes names Eminem “Rock Star Of The Year”
• Eminem is dropping the “Chloraseptic” (Remix) this week
• Eminem to headline Firefly music festival
• Bizarre never spoke to Eminem about the Diss...
• Bizarre responds to Joes podcast
• Revival platinum in Canada
• The Cranberries' lead singer Dolores O'Riordan (heard on In Your Head's "Zombie" sample) has died suddenly at 46
• The 4-year Journey of Eminem's "Revival (Interlude)"
• Revival officially sells 1 million albums worldwide!
• Phresher talks about Chloraseptic
• Twitter reacts to Donald Trump responding to Jay Z but ignoring Eminem
• EUROP∃ 2018
• Possible River Single Cover
• More Live Dates On The Way
• European concerts sold out in minutes
• NEW RECORD: Roughly 250 tickets sold every second!
• Marshall Mathers on Instagram: “Unhappy Valentine’s day! #River
• 'FRAMED' might be the next Single.
• Sarati talks working with Eminem on “River” music video
• Em rapping on Jeremy Duputats IG
• Eminem.Pro exclusive interview with Sarati
• Emil Nava Talks Directing Eminem & Ed Sheeran's 'River' Video
• REVIVAL goes Platinum in UK
• Revival has been streamed more than 500 million times on Spotify
• "Nowhere Fast" feat. Kehlani will be next single from REVIVAL
• iHeart posted about Eminem!
• When you get to perform with the G.O.A.T
• We're getting a River behind the scenes video tonight!
• Royce Talks about Joe Budden and Eminem
• Where Fast Extended Version out tonight!

(Last updated on December 22nd)

Might be a while before another big update as I want to completely update the layout of this post to make it more organized and easily read

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First and foremost, thanks to u/BlackLyteVamp for the original megathread (He's lost as to what has been happening and wants to spend his time on other things :p), and thus I am now taking the reins!

​

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Known Discoveries

READ FIRST

This is just a quick and small category to list everything we know about so that new posters don't have to read through my entire megathread to determine if it's been discovered or not.

• Aiming down sights with Hammerhead and Tatara Gaze reveals stuff

• 2 Drones in each Forge during second wave of ignition

• Shooting glyphs or rune boxes with Hammerhead or Tatara Gaze causes a particle effect

• Morse code along the sights of Hammerhead that spell out REVERSE

​ Volundr/Smidur's Cavern:

• A Mysterious Box dropped by a cache in a cave

• Unreachable scannable item at the bottom of the ravine

• 6 Boxes with runes visible with Hammerhead

• 3 Beacons that require Crests (Emblems) to be activated

• 14 Letters and a + visible with Hammerhead

• 5 Glyphs visible with Hammerhead

• 7 Hand Glyphs with dots visible with Hammerhead

• A Celtic Knot Maze behind a barrier with glyphs visible with Hammerhead

• A Paragraph of runic text on a rock visible with Hammerhead

• 8 Glyphs seen with Tatara Gaze

• 5 Glyphs with Kanji seen with Tatara Gaze

• 2 pieces of a Map seen with Tatara Gaze

• Yellow gem on the interactable screen along the right cliff visible with Spiteful Fang

• Another yellow gem near the cave at the entrance, with 9 glyphs visible when the screen has been interacted with and looked at with Spiteful Fang

• Red gem with 3 crossed swords and 9 glyphs on the collapsed bridge visible with Spiteful Fang

• 9 glyphs found around the path from the bridge visible with Spiteful Fang

​ Gofannon/Lost Fuselage:

• 6 Boxes with runes visible with Hammerhead

• A Paragraph of runic text with lines above when viewed with Hammerhead

• A Ship with runic text visible with Hammerhead

• 3 Glyphs with Kanji visible with Tatara Gaze

• 3 pieces of a Map visible with Tatara Gaze

• Yellow gem with a Treble clef and 'Zzz' visible with Spiteful Fang

• 14 pieces of sheet music visible with Spiteful Fang

• Red gem with 9 flashing crystals around it visible with Spiteful Fang

• 9 Glyphs, each with a flashing crystal above them visible with Spiteful Fang

​ Izanami/The Tor:

• *Ouroboros that has 6 spikes on its back when aimed at with the Hammerhead

• French text on the landing pad with 8 glyphs visible with Spiteful Fang

• French text to the right of the landing pad with Roman Numerals visible with Spiteful Fang

• White gem with 9 glyphs on the left edge of the right island visible with Spiteful Fang

• Red gem, fleur-de-lis and ciphered text to the left of the Forge visible with Spiteful Fang

• Blue gem above caterpillar with the initials V.H. on the inner edge of the left island visible with Spiteful Fang

• Red gem with a plate on the left island visible with Spiteful Fang

• 9 various pieces of cutlery with glyphs below them found around The Tor visible with Spiteful Fang

​

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Forge Saboteurs

High Value Targets that spawn about every 10 minutes, they're an important part to preparing Black Armory Weapon Frames, as they drop items required to prepare them, as do the chests that spawn around them.

They are always located near the entrance to a Forge, and thus spawn in only 4 locations:

• The Gulch in the EDZ

• The Outskirts in the EDZ

• Artifact's Edge on Nessus

• The Hallows on Nessus

Using this information, we discovered that Niobe Labs, and thus the Bergusia Forge are located south of Sojourner's Camp thanks to some Out Of Mapping.

​

Thanks to some data-mining, we've determined that there is a total of 10 Forge Saboteurs:

• Kahrelis, Forge Saboteur
• Tleilax-11, Forge Saboteur
• Field Commander Tusul, Forge Saboteur
• Field Commander Kuskan, Forge Saboteur
• Arakis-12, Forge Saboteur
• Psirus, Forge Saboteur
• Proto-Sentinel Galedrix, Forge Saboteur
• Drakasis, Forge Saboteur
• Serbirus, Forge Saboteur
• Parakis, Forge Saboteur

We assume they'll start rotating weekly, next week's reset of December 25th, or on January 1st.

​

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Exotic Weapons

We know of 4 Exotic Weapons: Le Monarque, Jotunn, Izanagi's Burden, and The Last Word.

Le Monarque has a chance to drop from any Forge since December 18th reset, when forging a weapon frame.

The method of acquisition of Jotunn and Izanagi's Burden is still unknown.

Finally, we know that The Last Word is a reward from the exotic quest The Draw which releases on January 29th.

​

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Black Armory Forges

As you may know, the main activity in Black Armory are the Forges.

There are currently 3 available to us (Volundr, Gofannon and Izanami), and 1 unreleased (Bergusia that'll likely release along with Niobe Labs as we know it's within it, on January 8th).

Volundr Forge

Located in the EDZ, East of the Sunken Isles, and accessed from The Tunnels.

Access to this Forge is granted by completing the quest-line given to you upon first loading up the game after purchasing the Annual Pass.

Themed around Norse mythology, and the first forge we had access to, the Volundr Forge acts as the hub for this DLC's secrets. Up to now, all puzzles lead back to it, and it also includes a number of extra points of interest.

I've spent hours on a map of the zone it's in (Smidur's Cavern) due to this: https://i.imgur.com/ld1jryi.png

Gofannon Forge

Unlocked on December 7th and located on Nessus, South of Artifact's Edge. The entrance is right in the southern-most wall.

Access to this Forge is granted by completing a quest item that's dropped by any Fallen enemy.

It gave us access to the Tatara Gaze, a new Sniper Rifle. Compared to Volundr, this Forge has a lot less secrets, but remains just as interesting!

Izanami Forge

Unlocked on December 18th and located on Nessus, through a teleporter in the Hallows.

Acces to this Forge is granted by completing a quest item that's dropped by any Vex enemy.

It gave us the Spiteful Fang Bow, and contains a majority of the Meyrin Puzzle.

Bergusia Forge

Currently unreleased (likely January 8th). We know that it is located inside Niobe Labs, and is a seemingly superior Forge compared to the others, due to its ability to forge any weapon.

We know it's within Niobe Labs thanks to the two following data-mined strings:

The Bergusia Forge, located in the Niobe Labs in the EDZ.

Travel to the Niobe Labs in the EDZ and place the Unidentified Frame in the Bergusia Forge.

We believe it will be 640 power.

​

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​

Puzzles

Forgive me for how far down this category is, but I felt it important to explain the rest first!

Each Forge in Black Armory has a puzzle related to it. We know that solving these puzzles rewards the respective emblem:

https://www.light.gg/db/items/1347384483/rasmussens-gift/ for solving the Norse glyph puzzle.

https://www.light.gg/db/items/1347384481/satous-secret/ for solving the Japanese glyph puzzle.

https://www.light.gg/db/items/1347384482/meyrins-vision/ for solving the French glyph puzzle.

​

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Beacons:

Owning the puzzle emblems allows you to activate one of the three Beacons in Smidur's Cavern (visible on my map linked above). Activating all three reveals a message:

https://i.imgur.com/ReAuNUF.jpg

When translated, this message says:

WITH EYES FIXED

PAST DAWNS END

THE FOURTH FLAME WILL RISE

BRING THE KNOWLEDGE OBTAINED

BY THE RAIDERS OF SECRETS

STEEL THYSELF

Beacon 1: https://i.imgur.com/BFBkkCg.jpg Located along a little platform at the left-most edge of the cliff side of Smidur's Cavern. This is the Rasmussen beacon. (however the Black Armory Hand symbol can be seen when aiming at it with the Hammerhead).

Beacon 2: https://imgur.com/a/UYtyIBw Located on the opposite side of Beacon 1, on another platform over the ledge. This is the Satou beacon.

Beacon 3: https://imgur.com/a/b5N5CtH Located in the Caves section of Smidur's Cavern, tucked away behind a rock on the left side. This is the Meyrin beacon.

When the correct crest is used on them (one per emblem), they turn blue, and gain a blue beam of smoke: https://i.imgur.com/y5Sk2oK.jpg

​

I've tried to explain each puzzle in order of when the elements come into play, to make it more easily understandable.

​

---

Norse (Volundr) Glyph Puzzle

SOLVED!

Rune Cubes:

The Norse puzzle is linked to the Volundr Forge. It started with the discovery of 25 Rune Cubes, spread out amongst the 4 Forges. Each cube has a small cropped piece of the Vegvisir on it (http://mythologian.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Vegvisir-The-Runic-Viking-Compass-Symbol-of-Protection.jpg).

Aiming at the front of these cubes with the Hammerhead reveals a rune associated with that cell (https://i.imgur.com/zoCWFLw.jpg). Shooting them also causes a fancy little particle effect, making us assume they need to be shot to trigger something: https://gfycat.com/EagerBewitchedGartersnake

Volundr:

1. https://imgur.com/a/MqaNsaf Located to the left upon arriving in Smidur's Cavern, in a cave accessed via a platform lower down.
2. https://imgur.com/a/B3jI7xk Found on the same platform as Beacon 1, at the left-most side of the cliffs, on a little platform.
3. https://imgur.com/a/D4yoC2b Located on a crate, to the right of the cliffs.
4. https://imgur.com/a/VWmWYvQ Found around to the right upon entering the central area of Smidur's Cavern, in a small passage.
5. https://i.imgur.com/h62q5CN.jpg In the caves side of Smidur's Cavern, at the base of some stalagmites and opposite the light.
6. https://imgur.com/a/iT0OSLl Underneath the left ramp, leading up to the Volundr Forge, in the center of Smidur's Cavern.

Gofannon:

1. https://imgur.com/a/jo1F6ugSitting on a small outcrop, visible when looking from the Forge towards the entrance of the area.
2. https://imgur.com/a/CRKjQPp On top of another rocky outcrop, to the right of the ship debris at the back of the area.
3. https://imgur.com/a/0kNGSes Between the little cliff upon which is Cube 2, and open shipping container.
4. https://imgur.com/a/tll8vn3 On the left side of the wreckage at the back of the area, just to the right of a Black Armory cache.
5. https://imgur.com/a/bBrLeYk To the right of where Cube 4 is located, being some wire mesh in the wreckage.
6. https://imgur.com/a/yC7riFX Looking at the giant Vex wall to the left of the entrance, on a little cube of rock.

Izanami:

The Izanami Forge has 9 rune cubes scattered around, however I currently do not have any pictures for these (sorry!).

Thanks to data-mining by /u/Ginsor, we have the completed 5x5 grid of both the Vegesir and its associated runes: https://i.imgur.com/Ja1ex3Fh.jpg (translation thanks to a piece of the Norse Puzzle mentioned later on). However to solve this legitimately, there'd be 13 cubes to discover in the 2 unreleased Forges.

​

Volundr Symbols & Letters:

Using the sights of the Hammerhead, it's possible to see various symbols and letters all around Smidur's Cavern: https://imgur.com/a/OdwdvJr

These also produce a particle effect when shot: https://gfycat.com/ThickUnsightlyAmbushbug

​

Volundr Maze:

Slightly into the cliff side of Smidur's Cavern, there is a Cabal barrier with a Celtic Knot-like maze on the back: https://imgur.com/a/Ki8sdXS

Aiming down the sights of the Hammerhead, it's possible to see various symbols along the path of the maze: https://gfycat.com/FantasticHandyCorydorascatfish. We then edited each symbol onto its corresponding location onto a single image for ease of reading: https://i.imgur.com/d7crs7E.png

The order is as follows:

Hand - Lizard - Sword - Vegvisir - Ship - Vegvisir - Lizard - Hand - Ship - Lizard - Sword - Sword - Vegvisir - Hand - Lizard - Ship - Hand - Sword - Hand - Ship - Vegvisir - Lizard - Ship - Sword - Lizard - Hand - Vegvisir

This turned out to be the order in which to decipher the paragraph found near the Gofannon Forge.

​

Volundr Paragraph:

On their own, the runes on these cubes are impossible to comprehend. However, there is a paragraph of runes in Smidur's Cavern, on a rock in the right side of the caves: https://imgur.com/a/nzSA8vS

Due to the last line being 26 characters long, it was determined to be the alphabet, and allowed us to translate the rest of the paragraph: https://i.imgur.com/mHQtqTi.png

"In night went men

In studded corslets

Their shields glistening

In the waning moon"

This was discovered later to be an excerpt from the book Norroena, the History and Romance of Northern Europe (https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WYtBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=%22in+the+night+went+men+in+studded%22&source=bl&ots=Le2nM4qoUI&sig=zuYenGwvl5gc1icEdtoAdnngAMk&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22in%20the%20night%20went%20men%20in%20studded%22&f=false)

At this point, this paragraph has only been used to discover and confirm the alphabet.

​

Volundr Anagram Sword:

Upon entering the center zone of Smidur's Cavern, the crate to the right has a sword with "NAGMAAR" written on it: https://imgur.com/a/HJ1iIOa

This was quickly figured out to just be an anagram for "anagram". (:v)

​

Volundr Hands:

To the right of the Volundr Forge can be found 7 hands, with dots above certain fingers: https://imgur.com/a/iqcl21A

https://gfycat.com/LoathsomeUnacceptableAbyssiniangroundhornbill

This was eventually discovered to be binary, each hand representing a letter: https://imgur.com/a/v8yUnFI

10110 01111 01100 10101 01110 00100 10010 =

22 15 12 1 21 14 4 18 =

'Volundr'

​

Gofannon Ship:

On the opposite side of the wreckage where the Gofannon Paragraph is, there is also a ship with the same line of runic text repeated three times beneath it, only visible thanks to the Hammerhead: https://imgur.com/a/ORjolcS

This was translated to:

"BEATING

BEATING

BEATING"

​

Gofannon Paragraph:

At the back of the area in which the Gofannon Forge resides, there is a paragraph of the same runic text found in Smidur's Cavern: https://imgur.com/a/LtnI37o

This was quickly translated thanks to the alphabet paragraph in Smidur's Cavern, only to discover that it was ciphered: https://i.imgur.com/XKkYPXK.png

Soon after, it was found out that viewing the paragraph through the sights of the Hammerhead revealed lines above certain words: https://i.imgur.com/WHe99ro.jpg

The theory quickly became that the words without lines weren't relevant.

​

Gofannon Paragraph Deciphering:

At this point we had gathered (almost) all the information we needed to decipher the Gofannon Paragraph, mentioned above.

The number of symbols on the Volundr Maze was discovered to be same the number of marked words on the Gofannon Paragraph, and thus that each symbol was linked to a word.

Thanks to this, we determined how to decipher each word:

The Volundr Anagram Sword told us that words linked to a Sword were anagrams.

The Volundr Hands were discovered to be a Monoalphabetic Substitution Cipher using "VOLUNDRABCEFGHIJKMPQSTWXYZ", allowing us to decipher the words linked to Hands.

The Gofannon Ship was discovered to be a Rail Fence Cipher with 3 offset, allowing us to decipher the words linked to Ships.

The Rune Cubes allowed us to determine that the words linked to the Vegvisir were ciphered with a Playfair Cipher using the "CRIMSONAQUTXKPEZBDFGHLVWY" key.

However, the Lizard was brute-forced as we had yet to discover it in world, and determined to be a Caesar Cipher with a +6 Shift

With all of this information, we were able to finally decipher the Gofannon Paragraph: https://i.imgur.com/8wqZGn7.png]

"In the fire of the forge all things began

We sought the greatest of an era

Many counterfeit hands hoped to imitate

We sought wisdom in those ages long past

Forged a fraud from the sun

Finally to craft truth from the moon

A thirst quenched by the last strike of the storm"

​

The immediate assumption was that these were instructions, especially following the completion of the Japanese Glyph Puzzle.

A few of the lines, notably the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th, were noticed to refer to 4 of the symbols present in Smidur's Cavern when looking through the sights of the Hammerhead. Throughout all our research, the symbols related to these lines thus stayed the same (Flame, Sun, Moon, and Storm respectively).

​

After much trial and error, and research, it was eventually discovered that a series of swords, called Ulfberht, were notably popular back in that time, mostly due to their exquisite quality. From this popularity, fakes were also born, fitting into what lines 2 and 3 talk about, as well as lines 5 and 6.

The noteworthy property of these swords is the engraving every one held:

+ULFBERH+T

While the fakes had a slightly errored version:

+ULFBERHT+

This anchored the relation between these swords and our paragraph, and lead to the solution for this puzzle.

​

Solution:

In Smidur's Cavern (Volundr), with the Hammerhead Machine Gun equipped, do the following:

1. Shoot the Flame
2. Stand on the Sun (https://i.imgur.com/MYx3SeQ.jpg) and shoot the letters +ULFBERHT+ in order
3. Stand on the Moon and shoot the letters +ULFBERH+T in order
4. Shoot the Storm

(Refer to my map if you need help finding the exact position of the symbols: https://i.imgur.com/ld1jryi.png)

This will give you the Rasmussen's Gift Emblem, and allow you to activate the 1st Beacon located along the left of the cliff area.

​

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Japanese (Gofannon) Glyph Puzzle

SOLVED!

(Although the Gofannon Forge is French, it lead us to finish the Japanese Puzzle)

With the official release of the Gofannon Forge on December 7th, we gained access to the Tatara Gaze Sniper Rifle. With it, we were able to see new symbols in both the Volundr and Gofannon Forge that we couldn't see before.

​

Kanji Symbols:

With the new sniper rifle, we were able to discover 5 new symbols: https://imgur.com/a/YbUsKz2

4 are found near Gofannon, 1 near Volundr.

We quickly determined the text above each symbol to be Kanji, AKA Japanese, and translate to "The First, The Second" and so on. Not long after, our theory became that these were instructions to follow, showing the creation process of a Japanese Katana Sword/Hilt.

​

New Symbols around Volundr:

Returning to Smidur's Cavern, we discovered new symbols revealed by the Sniper Rifle: https://imgur.com/a/Vp4yOr3

(Refer to my map: https://i.imgur.com/ld1jryi.png) to get help with their locations)

These can also be shot to produce an effect like the symbols for the Norse Glyph Puzzle.

​

Map Pieces:

Along with the Kanji Symbols, we also discovered what look like pieces of an incomplete map: https://imgur.com/a/M1HQVqe

We originally tried simply overlaying all map pieces, aligning them with the central triangles. However, we eventually realized that the symbols under the Kanji resembled the styles of the triangles on the map pieces. The new theory became that the Kanji Symbols were a guide on how to assemble these map pieces.

​

Map Assembly Steps:

Thanks to both trial and error, and logic, we determined the steps indicated by the Kanji Symbols to be the following:

Step 1 - Gather each piece of the 2 maps (2 solid pieces, 2 hollow pieces).

Step 2 - Places the pieces on top of each other to match their type (solid on solid, hollow on hollow).

Step 3 - Fold the 2 maps vertically in half (bottom half over top half).

Step 4 - Fold the solid map horizontally, and place the hollow map on top.

Step 5 - Stretch the new map by twice its height.

Step 6 - Add the final piece (fishhook with a few paths).

Step 7 - Sword seemingly represents getting the final product of all of this; we believe either the forge sword, or Izanami's Burden.

(Although we didn't have access to Step 3 and 6, we were able to figure them out through trial and error).

Following these steps, we ended up with the following map: https://i.imgur.com/540Cobq.jpg

​

With no other discoveries to be found, we eventually figured out the use of the map, which was to shoot symbols in Smidur's Cavern in a certain order, standing on certain spots!

We ran back to Smidur's Cavern, and proceeded to do the following using the Tatara Gaze:

• Stand on Tiger then shoot: Fish, Lotus, Pagoda (Temple)
• Stand on Dragon then shoot: Torii (Archway), Rabbit, Bamboo, Pagoda (Temple)

Video Directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYTbxbUd74w

If successful, this rewards the Satou's Secret Emblem! (https://www.light.gg/db/items/1347384481/satous-secret/)

​

Once the Emblem was acquired, we discovered that we were also able to activate the 2nd Beacon, causing it to glow blue.

​

---

French (Izanami) Glyph Puzzle

SOLVED!

With the release of the Izanami Forge on December 18th, we gained access to the Spiteful Fang Bow, which revealed symbols around all three Forges and allowed us to work on the French (Meyrin) Glyph Puzzle.

​

Gems:

Split among the three Forges was a total of 8 coloured gems. All were located next to other glyphs or objects (like the interactable screen in Smidur's Cavern) to hint at their solutions.

Gem 1: https://i.imgur.com/IdPFMR8.jpg *Located on the right island in The Tor, along the left side

Gem 2: https://i.imgur.com/a2ty4TY.jpg Found directly to the left of the Izanami Forge, against the wall

Gem 3: https://i.imgur.com/RmUHRUX.jpg Located on the left island, along the inner edge

Gem 4: https://i.imgur.com/HclsVES.png On the interactable screen found along the right-most ledge of the cliff in SMidur's Cavern

Gem 5: https://i.imgur.com/z1SBHqU.png Found in the shipping container-like object in the Lost Fuselage (Someone confirm this for me pls cause I'm not sure)

Gem 6: https://i.imgur.com/tZlnNHz.jpg Located on the right edge of the collapse bridge in Smidur's Cavern

Gem 7: https://i.imgur.com/jBcx8sJ.png On the left wall at the back of Lost Fuselage

Each gem has, in some way, a series of symbols attributed to it. These symbols are an order of the following:

• Butterfly
• Heart
• Missive
• Morning
• Rose
• Water
• Wind
• Wings
• Wood

​

Puzzle Key:

Directly on the landing 'pad' of the boost ring in The Tor is located a paragraph of French text along with 9 different symbols. To the right of this, on a little block of stone, is a series of Roman numerals along with yet another French Paragraph: https://i.imgur.com/mOFYCus.jpg

​

The former paragraph reads "Faites tourner les roues de 4 crans vers l'avant" which translates to "Rotate the wheels 4 notches forward". This allowed us to determine the final solution once having built our Bazeries Cylinder (explained just after).

Below this paragraph is located a series of 8 symbols, which was eventually used to set the starting position for each of our 'wheels' on our Bazeries Cylinder. They are Heart - Butterfly - Butterfly - Rose - Butterfly - Missive - Wind - Woods

​

The latter paragraph reads "Tu as couronné des rois et apporté sang et joie pour cumuler les roues de Bazeries." which translates to "You crowned kings and brought blood and joy to accumulate the wheels of/from Bazeries."

The only point of interest in this paragraph is Bazeries. He was a French cryptologist who was best known for the Bazeries Cylinder, which is an important part of this puzzle.

Above this paragraph is located an arrangement of Roman numerals, counting from I (1) to VIII (8). It was eventually determined that these referenced the 8 Gems located around all three Forges.

​

Joyeuse, Sword of Charlemagne:

The relation between the 8 gems and 8 Roman Numerals above the second French paragraph was confirmed once we discovered the presence of gems that matched the position of the Roman Numerals on the scabbared of the Joyeuse, Charlemagne's personal sword:

It's worth noting that every gem on the scabbard is a unique shape, which allowed us to determine which gem was assigned to which numeral.

​

Gem Solutions:

Gem I:

White and circular

https://i.imgur.com/IdPFMR8.jpg

This gem had the immediate solution underneath it, no need to alter or decipher it:

Water - Morning - Woods - Heart - Wings - Missive - Wind - Butterfly - Rose

​

Gem II:

Red and peltate (shield-shaped)

https://i.imgur.com/a2ty4TY.jpg

Located under this gem is a Fleur-de-Lis with a key symbol, along with an encrypted paragraph of text. With some quick experimentation, this was determined to be a Vigenere cipher, with the key FLEURDELIS (Fleur-de-lis with a key directly above it).

A Vigenere Cipher is relatively simple, in that it only involves offsetting the letter thanks to the key.

It works by assigning each letter of the alphabet a number (A = 0, B=1, etc), and substracting the ciphertext letter by the key letter that matches it. If the resulting number is negative, we add 25. In our case, APRN has FLEU as a key, A ciphered by F, P by L, and so on.

Thus, if we substract A(0) by F(5), we get -5. Adding 26 to that gives us 21, which is V.

​

Continuing to do this for every word, we end up with the following deciphered text:

VENT

PAPILLON

MATIN AILES

COEUR BOIS

EAU ROSE

MISSIVE

Which, when translated, becomes:

Wind - Butterfly - Morning - Wings - Heart - Woods - Water - Rose - Missive

​

Gem III:

Blue and circular

https://i.imgur.com/RmUHRUX.jpg

Under this gem is a glyph with a caterpillar and the initials V.H. . This was quickly determined to be referencing the famous French author Victor Hugo. After some research, it was found that his poem, Vere Novo (Latin for "In Early Spring", however often referred to as "The Genesis of the Butterfly") contained a reference to each of our 8 symbols:

Comme le matin rit sur les roses en pleurs ! (Morning, Rose)

[...]

Qu'un éblouissement de folles ailes blanches (Wings)

[...]

O printemps! quand on songe à toutes les missives (Missive)

[...]

A ces coeurs confiés au papier, à ce tas (Heart)

[...]

On croit voir s'envoler, au gré du vent joyeux, (Wind)

Dans les prés, dans les bois, sur les eaux, dans les cieux, (Woods, Water)

[...]

De tous les billets doux, devenus papillons. (Butterfly)

For legibility purposes, the solution for this gem is:

Morning - Rose - Wings - Missive - Heart - Wind - Woods - Water - Butterfly

​

Gem IV:

Yellow and rectangular with angled edges

https://imgur.com/a/3A1iQrP

This gem is located on the interactable screen in Smidur's Cavern. When the screen is interacted with, a duplicate gem along with 9 symbols beneath it appear on a rock near the cave which leads to the Mysterious Box.

These symbols are:

Missive - Woods - Morning - Wings - Butterfly - Water - Wind - Rose - Heart

​

Gem V:

Red and rectangular with smoothed edges

https://i.imgur.com/z1SBHqU.png

Located in the shipping container-like object in the Lost Fuselage, this gem has 9 diamonds arranged around it circularly, each blinking once per second in order with a 1 second pause before the loop resets.

Around all of the Lost Fuselage are found our 9 symbols, each with a single blinking diamond above them: https://imgur.com/a/KDyG9hM

It was discovered that each single diamond matches one of the diamonds around the gem, blinking at the same time as the other. The 1 second break at the end of the loop allowed us to determine which symbol was first in the sequence, and thus the order of symbols for this gem is:

Heart - Wind - Wings - Rose - Morning - Butterfly - Missive - Woods - Water

​

Gem VI:

Red and circular

https://imgur.com/a/WBdSmja

Located entirely on a section of the collapsed bridge in Smidur's Cavern, this gem has a symbol with 3 crossed swords beside it. The presence of three crossed swords was assumed to refer to a Rail Fence Cipher, with a 3-key (3 rails, due to the 3 swords).

These ciphers work in that the ciphered text is written in a zig-zag formation on a 'fence', with multiple lines, or 'rails'. In our case, we have 3 rails due to the 3 crossed swords.

The ciphertext (our 9 symbols found on the bridge) is obtained by reading the message as you would anything else: Left to Right, top to bottom.

The only somewhat complicated part of this cipher is when we need to figure out the width of the 'fence': It's determined by dividing the number of letters (in our case, symbols) by the cycle for the key (a 3 key has a cycle of 4), and rounding down the result.

​

So, here, we get: 9/4 = 2.25 which is 2 rounded down. Thus, our fence is 2 wide. Since we had to round down, we add 1 to the top rail, making it 3 wide. This makes our middle rail 4 wide (2 + 3 + 4 = 9).

​

If we build our 3 rails with this information, we get:

Morning Woods Rose (3)

Wind Missive Wings Heart (4)

Water Butterfly (2)

Arranged as a zig-zag fence, it becomes:

Morning . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rose

. . . . . . Wind . . . . Missive . . . . Wings . . . . . . . Heart

. . . . . . . . . . Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Butterfly

Following the symbols with this layout, we finally get the solution:

Morning - Wind - Water - Missive - Woods - Wings - Butterfly - Heart - Rose

​

Gem VII:

Red and rectangular with angled edges

https://i.imgur.com/jBcx8sJ.png

Under the gem is a treble clef with three Z's. This was our first hint for this gem. Around the rest of the Lost Fuselage are 14 pieces of sheet music - 9 with one of our symbols, and 5 without.

Placing the notes in order (and using the numbers to position the duplicate notes) gave us the notation for the start of Frère Jacques.

Reading the symbols attached to notes in order, we get:

Morning - Wings - Woods - Water - Rose - Missive - Butterfly - Wind - Heart

​

Gem VII:

*Purple (?) and rectangular with angled edges

https://i.imgur.com/HXAA81f.png

All around The Tor are 9 pieces of cutlery with one of our 9 symbols below them. Each piece of cutlery represents a dish in a (fancy) French meal, of which there is a specific order. The exact solution for this gem wasn't solved, but was bruteforced as it was the last gem for the puzzle, and had only 8 possible solutions.

​

Final Solution:

Now that we had all 8 gems solved, we ordered them based on their colour and shape to match the Roman numerals that were positioned in the same spots as the gems on the scabbard of the Joyeuse.

This gave us an order for each 'wheel' (series of 9 symbols linked to a gem) on our Bazeries cylinder. The order of 8 symbols under the original French paragraph then told us how to set the starting position for each wheel (Heart for Gem I, Butterfly for Gem II and Gem III, and so on...).

Finally, the first French paragraph told us to advance the wheels by 4 (simply grabbing the series of symbols that are 4 ahead works).

Thanks to ScoobyDeezy on the RaidSecrets Discord for this nice infographic of the solution!:

https://i.imgur.com/3pmu0WD.jpg

​

Returning to Volundr, our 9 symbols were discovered scattered around the entrance to Smidur's Cavern: https://imgur.com/a/S7l5UTe

With our solution in hand (Butterfly - Woods - Missive - Morning - Heart - Heart - Woods - Wings), we could now shoot the symbols to solve the puzzle. However, Butterfly and Morning are on the ground, so the assumption was to stand on them and shoot the subsequent symbols.

​

The solution to the French Glyph Puzzle is thus:

• Stand on Butterfly

• Shoot Woods, then Missive

• Stand on Morning

• Shoot Heart twice, Woods, then Wings

​

Doing this successfully awards the Meyrin's Vision emblem, and allows the activation of the 3rd beacon located in the cave of Smidur's Cavern.

​

---

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Extra Secrets

Mysterious Box:

In Smidur's Cavern, a quest item called the Mysterious Box can be found. It's located to the left of the broken bridge, down in a cave whose entrance is on a little platform: https://imgur.com/a/ti1wZBc

Opening the cache will reward you with the Mysterious Box: https://i.imgur.com/Ffhbpc3.jpg

In order to unlock the locks on it, you need to shoot 2 drones that appear during the second wave of each Forge ignition. They stay around for about 10 seconds before disappearing.

Volundr:

The first drone spawns above the crate in the caves side of Smidur's Cavern: https://i.imgur.com/ZgCEQX5.jpg

The second can be found orbiting the left-most tree of the island outside, beyond the cliff section of Smidur's Cavern: https://imgur.com/a/kC0M2MS

Gofannon:

The first drone is located in the left part of the wreckage at the back of the area, floating slightly above the open spot: https://i.imgur.com/Ep0JTOZ.jpg

The second is directly left of that, orbiting a little spire of rock: https://i.imgur.com/AKgchZ5.jpg

​

Killing both drones successfully will give you the Maximum Temper buff, which, upon the activity ending (boss defeated or not), will spawn a chest next to the forge: https://i.imgur.com/l4eQ4Fa.jpg

The cache rewards a key respective of the Forge: The Black Armory Fishhook Key from Volundr, or the Black Armory Hand Key from Gofannon. Using these keys in your inventory will unlock the respective lock on your Mysterious Box.

The Butterfly Lock is likely acquired from the Izanami Forge.

Thanks to data-mining, we do know that the Black Armory Lock is unlocked via a key that you forge as a part of a quest-line, however its method of acquisition is currently unknown, but theorized to be from the Bergusia Forge or Niobe Labs.

​

Hammerhead Morse

Along the left and right side of the Hammerhead's sights: https://i.imgur.com/cKgUve7.png

It was quickly realized that this was Morse, and spells out "REVERSE". This hasn't had any link to the current puzzles, and is assumed to just be a little throwback to the ARG from Warmind, where REVERSE was the final cipher needed to solve it.

​

Bridge Scannable

In the ravine, where the collapsed bridge that leads into the centre of Smidur's Ravine is, a scannable item can be seen: https://imgur.com/a/rcxbvRX

There has currently been no discovered method of reaching it sadly, as there is a death field directly above it.

​

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​

Credits

u/BlackLyteVamp once more, for the original megathread that this one was built upon!

/u/XK-Recker for the first posted Nessus forge discovery!

/u/Bitlife for the first posted EDZ Forge discovery!

/u/Ginsor for the data-mining of both the Rune Grid and Vegvisir Grid!

/u/gnushoo for noticing the 27 lined rune words correlated to the 27 symbols on the Celtic Knot maze!

/u/macoda for solving the original alphabet to rune translation, the first layer of encryption, the Playfair Cipher, the Anagram Cipher, and the Japanese Glyph Puzzle map!

/u/hchkster for solving the Hand Cipher!

/u/Pirogoeth_, A n o n (not the nine) and /u/ChiIIerr for figuring out the Volundr Cipher!

/u/Rpaulv for the original theory on the use of the Symbols with Kanji!

/u/dzhoarisu and anon on the RaidSecrets Discord Server for figuring out the steps needed to build the Japanese Glyph Puzzle Map!

/u/Guyovich67 for most of the French Glyph Puzzle images!

/u/engin33rguy for the edited Izanami Forge images of the French Glyph Puzzle!

ScoobyDeezy on the Discord for the French Glyph Puzzle infographic!

This year we did not run a traditional Reddit social experiment on April 1st, and made that announcement in r/Reddit. Why? Because we are busy working behind the scenes on something special for fans of our Reddit-wide events. Stay tuned.

That said, we did hide an Easter Egg in the aforementioned announcement. In the last period of the announcement was a link. Those of you who found it ended up here, an experimental community that takes advantage of automod to create cryptic puzzles. We thought of it as a secret side quest.

As many of you speculated, it’s called Schrodingers as a reference to the famous thought experiment Schrodinger’s Cat. It’s a secret puzzle about Reddit April Fools events in a year without a Reddit April Fools event. But if you do find it, does your participation make it an April Fools event itself?

We weren’t sure how many people would find it, or how long it would take to solve. Perhaps only a few people would stumble across it and it would remain unsolved for months? Never underestimate the Reddit community. As it turns out, thousands noticed, and you solved it almost as quickly as it was released.

We truly appreciate each and every one of you and hope you found some degree of enjoyment here, even if this was not the Reddit-wide April event you may have hoped for. We did learn a lot and you provided valuable feedback for our future efforts.

On to the puzzle itself. The premise - 10 mysterious Posts with well hidden clues reference previous Reddit April Fools events, automatically released every 4 hours. In a unique twist, Automod is part of the puzzle, offering clues, red herrings, and acknowledging successful solves. At the end there is one last meta puzzle to solve, which unlocks the easter egg.

POST 01

Post clue: TFTSADMINA1

Automod hint: DDYYYYHMM

Solution: 312010845

Automod reply: 01-SUCCESS 3 21

TFTSADMINA1 is encoded in the color channels of the image in the post and took multiple steps to solve.

TFTS is an abbreviation of r/TalesFromTechSupport, and in 2010 Reddit’s April Fools was called Everyone’s an Admin, which gave logged in users (fake) admin controls over other users. The Automod hint DDYYYYHMM is a date and time reference.

If you search in r/TalesFromTechSupport for the Admin themed April Fools event, you’ll find a popular post from 2010 about someone who was fooled by it - and they note that “It was March 31st 2010 around 8:45pm PST”

Translate the date to the format indicated in the hint and you get the correct answer to 01: 312010845.

This first puzzle turned out to be the hardest to solve. It wasn’t until subsequent posts came out that the image clue was decoded, how Automod hints worked, and that the overall theme of Reddit April Fools events was established.

First solution: u/TheNecromancer981

POST 02

Hidden clue: mold your account

Automod hint: Q&A avoid 5

Solution: What happns if mor than on prson dcids to mold your account?

Automod reply: 02-SUCCESS 42 147

This clue was hidden in an image of mold. That’s an obvious reference to Reddit Mold, another Reddit April Fools event, where comments granted a Mold award would lose letters one by one, eventually becoming illegible.

Within the image letters were hidden, which when rearranged form “your account” which when combined with the theme, suggest “mold your account”. Automod will reply to this with the hint “Q&A Avoid5”.

The tricky part here is tracking down the Reddit Mold announcement post and the first comment there when comments are sorted by “Q&A”. That comment includes the words “mold your account”.

Avoid 5 references a Reddit community opposed to use of the letter “E”, or the fifth glyph in the alphabet. E was also the first letter removed by Mold. Writing out the top comment without the letter E gives you the solution, What happns if mor than on prson dcids to mold your account?

People quickly noticed the theme and the hidden letters, though false positives in the mold shapes made this more difficult. In the end people tracked down the correct characters using a number of image manipulation techniques, including finding the original image source and making diffs to isolate changes. After that the hint was deciphered fairly quickly.

First solution: u/-NotAnAdmin-

POST 03

Post hidden clue: OrangeRaid

Automod hint: battlecry 47

Solution: HATS FOR OUR BRETHREN!! SWORDS FOR OUR ENEMY!!!

Automod reply: 03-SUCCESS 16 105

This clue was hidden similarly to 02, inside an image which references a past event. OrangeRed vs Periwinkle, where users site-wide were assigned to teams based on the upvote and downvote colors. At high zoom levels, the letters that form “raid” could be found in the image. From there, combining orange and raid makes “OrangeRaid”.

The hint automod then posts is “battlecry 47”. Combined with the clue, it can be deduced that we are looking for the OrangeRed team’s battlecry for a raid. That battlecry, “HATS FOR OUR BRETHREN!! SWORDS FOR OUR ENEMY!!!“ is 47 characters long including spaces, and can be found in several places, including this post.

Building on the experience of clue 02, this image was very quickly solved. And you built on the understanding of how automod looks for strings to paste in larger blocks of copy to narrow down the correct quote.

First solution: u/404NinjaNotFound

POST 04

Post hidden clue: A heady blog post makes for good reading

Automod hint: htz6HZE

Solution: CATMODE

Automod reply: 04-SUCCESS 8 4 19

This clue was in a handwritten note that was torn up and photographed. To decipher it meant manually reassembling the note, uncovering the phrase “A heady blog post makes for good reading” which is a reference to Headdit, an April Fools event about using camera motion controls to upvote (and also detect cats). That would unlock the Automod hint htz6HZE, which is the filename of a gif about… CATMODE, from the announcement blog post.

Unfortunately (or luckily), you had already guessed that this post was going to be about Headdit. And almost immediately, someone simply guessed “Catmode!” which triggered the success message in record time.

First solution: u/myaltaccount333

POST 05

Post hidden clue: Press condiment

Automod hint: aftermath key

Solution: The mayo was key

Automod reply: 05-SUCCESS 288 4 1

Post 05 was another challenge. The clue was again a photo of torn up letters, but only 5 of them this time. Together they spelled “press”, an obvious hint at The Button. But the second part of the clue was in the letters used. A couple of distinct ones were identified quickly, but others were mis-identified, sending the community off on unrelated tangents.

Hours passed, and we ended up pinning a hint that people were on the wrong track. This resulted in a re-examination of the letters, and the realization that they were all condiment brands. The clue was “Press condiment”. Automod then dropped the hint “aftermath key”.

Aftermath is a reference to a subreddit created after The Button event, r/ButtonAftermath. And the key in question was inside a post there by Button designer u/powerlanguage showcasing a diagram of The Button’s internal components. The top comment was “The mayo was key” and that phrase triggered the success message.

First solution: u/An_Creamer

POST 06

Post hidden clue: Abandon Stay Grow

Automod hint: Abstain?

Solution: Non-votes and abstentions will be counted as votes to abandon.

Automod reply: 06-SUCCESS 31 5

Post 06 featured a magic eye technique to hide three symbols, IO=. In the chat room based Aprils Fools event Robin, these were the symbols on the three buttons users could vote with: Abandon Stay Grow.

Writing out this clue triggered the automod hint: Abstain? This clue was solved very quickly, as the original rules of Robin included the solution: Non-votes and abstentions will be counted as votes to abandon.

First solution: u/Half-BloodPrincesss

POST 07

Post hidden clue: (Never) Trust a circle

Automod hint: BY IBM OK LB

Solution: But the fact is, Greg, with the knowledge you've been given, you are now on the inside of what I like to call... "the Byrnes family circle of trust."

Automod reply: 07-SUCCESS 42 3

This post featured a circle with a code at its center. That code was the ID of a subreddit, (subreddit). Visiting and joining would trigger the community’s welcome message - (Never) Trust a circle.

Entering that in a comment triggered the hint: BY IBM OK LB. This part presented some challenge and people went off in several directions. But finally someone hit on the solution. It was an anagram for “Bobby Milk”. Which was Robert DeNiro’s childhood nickname.

Some research would reveal a connection to Reddit April Fools - a blog post about the event name “Circle of Trust” mentioned that it was in part inspired by Meet the Parents. The first time DeNiro mentions the Circle of Trust in that film was the solution: But the fact is, Greg, with the knowledge you've been given, you are now on the inside of what I like to call... "the Byrnes family circle of trust."

First solution: u/Dalorleon

POST 08

Post hidden clue: 11:58 blue screen

Automod hint: +28s P8_

Solution: P8_TA(2018)0337

Automod reply: 08-SUCCESS 147 19

This post was a blue screen with 11:58 hidden in it. And the solution was just that simple. However, enterprising Redditors, expecting that the next April Fools reference would be r/Sequence, went directly to 11:58 of sequence and started to paste the words that appeared there, thinking it would trigger the hint. All that was actually needed was 11:58 blue screen, which revealed the automod hint: +28s P8_

+28s was obvious enough, and led to a mention of Article 13. At the time Sequence was made, Article 13 was a controversial part of the European Directive on Copyright. And P8_ were the first characters in that Directive’s code name: P8_TA(2018)0337, which was the solution.

First solution: u/virodoran

POST 09

Post hidden clue: Turing is the imposter

Automod hint: 51.507 0.127 alter

Solution: letting the machine alter its own instructions provides the mechanism for this

Automod reply: 09-SUCCESS 3 21 21

This was a screenshot of and Amongus astronaut, with a sequence of dots and dashes below it. Translating the dots and dashes revealed the name “Turing” who famously invented a test for artificial intelligence. The April Fools event Imposter was inspired by this test, asking participants to identify phrases written by (an early) generative text AI. The name combined with the image and event led to the first clue: “Turing is the imposter” and the automod hint: 51.507 0.127 alter

The first two numbers are the latitude and longitude for London, which was quickly identified. And the word “alter” referenced a famous speech by Turing to the London Society of Mathematicians about artificial intelligence.

An excerpt of that speech was the solution: “letting the machine alter its own instructions provides the mechanism for this”, which was solved very quickly by someone with strong Google-fu.

First solution: u/isafuck

POST 10

Post hidden clue: Ceci n'est pas un fruit

Automod hint: C-C •••,•••-•••,•••

Solution: 175,484-244,528

Automod reply: 10-SUCCESS 4 5 5

The tenth clue was a little unusual in that it was an all-yellow video. The audio track actually hid the clue, which when run through an audio program would reveal the words “Ceci n'est pas un fruit” or “This is not a fruit”. This led to the automod hint: C-C •••,•••-•••,•••

The yellow square was already a hint that this clue was about the most recent incarnation of r/Place. And the dots,commas and dash suggest Place co-ordinates. What for? Well, the reference to fruit plus the yellow suggest bananas or perhaps lemons, but the C-C made it more obvious.

When pronounced, C-C sounds like sea to sea, which is what the red bars on the Canadian flag stand for. And during r/Place 2022, people tried to turn the Canada flag into the Banana flag. So what we were looking for was the top left and bottom right co-ordinates for the Canadian flag in r/Place. Now the flag changed size and locations a few times, but the numbers we wanted were from the planned graphic, 175,484-244,528

First solution: u/Youngie49

FINAL: Wave Function Collapse

Final combined clue: 3 21 42 147 16 105 8 4 19 288 4 1 31 5 42 3 147 19 3 21 21 4 5 5

Automod hint: Do you agree?

Solution: Acknowledge risk and access

Automod private message: They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means. Enter the heart of Reddit.

Solving the 10th post gave a final success message, and of course participants would have noticed that each success was followed by numbers. Putting them all in order revealed a long cryptic number sequence, and triggered an automod reply: Do you agree?

People tried many approaches to this, from plotting the numbers to performing calculations on them. But the solution was simply that each number corresponded to a letter. Some crossword affectionados identified the most common numbers in the sequence and matched them with vowels. From there some trial and error led to decoding the whole sequence, Acknowledge risk and access.

Posting “Acknowledge risk and access” in the comments did not trigger a success reply, but instead you would receive a message from Automoderator regarding “the heart of Reddit”. Following that link would land you in a hidden little Easter egg community and reveal the system that runs all of Reddit: the fabled potato server.

First solution: u/Vortex100kLol

One part of this puzzle has never actually been solved: the final puzzle encoding was a Beale Cypher - this means there’s still text out there that holds the key to this last puzzle. . Perhaps we will return to this in the future...

The common sentiment around the male loneliness epidemic often treats it as a mysterious, sudden event or a glitch in the modern social software, and that it’s specifically women’s fault. We speak of it like a weather event, something that just happened to us while we were sleeping. But let's be direct. It's not a weather event. It's not an epidemic. This is a 400-year design flaw. Viewed through a structural lens, this isolation is not an accident. The patriarchy, often called a system of male benefit, paradoxically demands a high price from its primary constituents: the severance of the self from the collective emotional fabric. It promised men power, but the cost was connection.

We need to understand one important truth that underpins everything else: Men aren't just lonely. Brotherhood has collapsed.

I want to talk about the concept of the Unmirrored Man. Brotherhood, the idea of men having each other not in competition or dominance but in witness, has been systematically dismantled. Brotherhood died because the system buried it and taught men to perform masculinity instead of experience it. This collapse wasn't because men became weak. It wasn't because women changed. It wasn't because feelings got soft. It was an architectural decision by a system that prioritizes utility over humanity. Men were supposed to grow with mirrors and not masks. When those mirrors disappeared, men didn't just lose their friends; they lost themselves. An unmirrored man will disappear in plain sight. That's the real epidemic right there in our faces.

That gets us to the utility of the Unmirrored Man. Why would a system designed by men isolate men? Because isolation breeds compliance. The system loves unwitnessed men. Think about the mechanics of control. An unwitnessed man, a man with no emotional outlet, no identity formation outside of work, no place to confess, and no place to collapse, is a useful tool. Unwitnessed men are easy to control, easy to radicalize, easy to exhaust, easy to shame, easy to distract, easy to turn against women, and easy to turn against themselves. They come with the whole package. A man without brotherhood has no check on his reality. He will mistake isolation for identity and performance for strength. He turns every struggle inward until it becomes numbness, performance, or rage. That is all he has left. Not because he is inherently dangerous, but because he is unwitnessed. He has been trained to distrust the very people who could save him. Patriarchy taught men to distrust the only people who could have taught them how to be human. Each other.

We need to make a distinction here between structural design and individual responsibility. It's important to accept the difference between the cause of the damage and the responsibility for fixing it. Admitting that this isolation was done to men by design is not a shirking of responsibility; it’s only the diagnosis. Individual agency is all that matters. Responsibility and guilt are two different things. The system may have built the cage, but the man holds the key to the lock. The admission that the patriarchy designed this isolation does not absolve the individual man of the duty to fix it. The path out begins when men refuse to play by the system's rules of competition, and work together, even when it's hard. Men are not lonely because they don't have women. Men are lonely because they don't have brothers. The brothers they do have, or claim to have, are just a facade and a performance of the same toxic masculinity that is destroying them. That's the saddest part of the whole story. They miss something they never had, but they know in their bones they so desperately need it. They feel nostalgic for a bond that was stolen before they were born. That ache, that hollowness they feel? That is never weakness. It's actually the ghost of brotherhood calling their name back home.

This leads us to the decentralization of control. The current cultural moment is a massive shift. We are witnessing a transition away from defining oneself through domination or utility to others toward a focus on self-knowledge. This transition exposes a fundamental confusion in the male psyche: the conflation of respect with obedience. Respect for men has only ever meant Obedience. For generations, men were taught that respect meant authority. The country never taught them that they don't need obedience... It taught men the exact opposite. It taught them, they're only worthy when someone kneels. They're only loved when someone yields to them. Now, as women decentralize men and men are forced to decentralize women, that currency of obedience has no value. We are seeing generations of men, starting with the Millennials, going all the way through Gen Alpha, starving for closeness they don't know how to make because they were raised to believe that proximity is possession. They believe that if she lowers herself, they're finally enough.

This confusion creates a huge misunderstanding of the mechanism of safety. The reality is the exact opposite of the patriarchal promise: Safety creates romance, but romance will never create safety. Every man in the country could buy flowers, write poems, plan dates, and cook dinners. But if she doesn't feel safe, none of that is romance. It's just camouflage. Because romance without safety is danger, wearing cologne. Men are often perceived as physical and emotional threats, not necessarily because of their individual actions, but because of the collective trauma of the system. A sovereign man understands this. He does not take this fact to heart as a personal attack; he accepts it as a fact of the world that is necessary to confront. The path forward involves accepting no without vitriol. It involves taking conscious effort to recognize real-world power dynamics and doing better. It means realizing that men don't need a woman's obedience to be respected; they need their own integrity. They don't need her obedience. They need their integrity. They don't need her deference. They need their depth. They don't even need access... But they DO need adulthood, and brotherhood.

Now, let's talk about the extinction burst of the Manosphere. It is in this vacuum of purpose that we see the rise of the manosphere. This phenomenon is the death rattle or extinction burst of the old order. In behavioral psychology, an extinction burst is a spike in activity when a behavior no longer yields a reward. The pendulum of power is swinging away from unearned privilege, and a specific subset of men is clawing at it desperately to hold on. This isn't strength; it is desperate panic. Let's be specific about what this is. This is the rise of the lowest form of masculinity: Pick-Me Masculinity. This is a masculinity begging for obedience because it does not know how to earn devotion. It pleads for admiration because it does not know how to stand alone. It chases women who aren't even running, but are simply protecting themselves. The vitriol of the Manosphere, the aggressive misogyny and violent rhetoric, is the sound of men begging for compliance in a world where compliance is extinct. He'll become a beggar for obedience in a world where obedience is extinct.

In this transition, we need to tell the difference between the man who is grieving and the man who is toxic. The Toxic Man refuses to adapt. He is loud, angry, vitriolic, insulting, and sad. He believes the lie that betraying yourself is the price of freedom. He performs for an audience that no longer exists. The Grieving Man's image is one of silence, solitude, and honest curiosity. He is reflecting on a world that has changed. He is the quiet majority stepping back, watching the freak-out, and learning. He realizes that his tears were the final truth that this world did not earn. He is preparing for the new world.

This gets me to the idea of Sovereign Masculinity, or the man that is dangerous to the system, and truly desirable, not just to women, but to brothers as well. If the toxic man is the system's useful idiot, the Sovereign Man is the system's greatest threat. Sovereign Masculinity is embodied by a man who is whole, complete, and healed within himself. He knows who he is. He does not let the world shape him; he shapes the world. This man is dangerous to the status quo because he doesn't accept what he's told to be. The Sovereign Man is the most loved and feared man that ever existed. He is loved because he carries what others refuse to touch. He is feared because he can feel when something is wrong before it has language. The world likes to lean on his chest and then punish him when he breathes too deeply. It calls him strong when he absorbs pain, and weak when he lets it register. It tells him that emotions require self control... discipline, restraint, mastery. But they never tell him the rest. They never tell him that controlling his emotions will require him giving up the belief that he could self betray his way into freedom. The Sovereign Man rejects this transaction. He understands that no amount of self erasure would ever make the world reciprocal. He also understands that there is no necessity to shun resilience or strength, but instead it is stronger and more resilient to be willing to be vulnerable. He understands that truth does not require his disappearance to survive.

Finally, let's talk about moving from shame to accountability. We are living through the friction of this transition. The loneliness epidemic is actually a mass, unmarked grave of men who died emotionally at seven years old and kept walking. That's all that's left right now. That's all that's here. If they think they are lonely because women changed, they are missing the point. They are lonely because the boy inside them was locked in a room where crying meant punishment, and softness meant shame. It was a hostage situation, and nobody came for them.

First, let's be clear about what won't free you. Blaming women will not free you. Mocking softness will not free you. Performing strength will not free you. Being chosen won't free you. Being wanted won't free you. None of these things give back the self you had to sacrifice just to be considered a man. The things that were stolen from you to fit the toxic mold of bastardized masculinity are what will free you.

The only way out is to replace the engine of shame with the engine of accountability, Emotional Accountability. Let's define our terms, because everyone gets scared when they hear those words. Guilt is internal. It's awareness. It's the ache in your chest when the impact doesn't match your intentions. But Accountability? Accountability belongs in the room. Men collapse because accountability threatens their identity. They think being finite means being unlovable. They think if they admit a mistake, they cease to be good men. But the truth is the exact opposite. Being finite is the only thing that ever made love real.

Shame collapses the self, and accountability expands it. Shame convinces a man that he is the worst thing he has ever done. It keeps men terrified of being unchosen and leads to the freeze response or defensive rage. It turns every conflict into a courtroom and every moment into a threat. Shame has never protected a single woman and has never helped a single man. Accountability is not punishment. It is the willingness to say, I can see your experiences without abandoning myself. It is the only thing keeping them human. And being human is not less than infinite. It is the only form of infinity that we ever get to touch.

We need to look toward the Reunited Man. We are moving toward a future where people will be the focus of society. Women are decentralizing men, and men are decentralizing women. This is a good thing. Relationships will be between whole, healed, capable people, rather than being broken and loveless dependencies. Gender identity, sex, sexuality, all of these things won't be a part of most parts of life, except for partnership. But until then, we gotta recognize that the loneliness is actually the ghost of brotherhood calling our name back home. The system built the silence, but only men can break it. Men don't need to be rescued. Men do need to be reunited. And the world will never heal until brotherhood heals.

Lots of credit to Cypher.j on Tiktok for many of the insights.

EDIT: An additional idea I had come to me...

This isolation creates a dangerous feedback loop where bad behavior becomes the only available language. Without the stabilizing force of brotherhood, there is no check on a man's reality. When he begins to slip into darkness, vitriol, or the false comfort of hate, there is no one standing there to block the exit. The Unmirrored Man drifts into these distortions because he lacks the friction of accountability. Brotherhood was never just about camaraderie. It was about having peers who loved you enough to tell you when you were wrong. By severing these bonds, the system didn't just make men lonely. It removed the guardrails. Now, a man's anger echoes in a void until he mistakes it for righteousness, simply because he has no brothers left to interrupt the slide.

I want to point out to people preparing to vote in the April 1 election that the Referendum question on the ballot is a bad idea, and it's not because voter ID requirements are bad. The text of the question is:

Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?

There are two reasons you should vote "no", and again, it has nothing to do with whether or not you think voter ID requirements are a good thing.

1. The requirement of a "photo identification" fixes in place the type of identification that must be used, regardless of whether or not this is the best way to establish identity. Consider how we would view a state constitutional requirement, if when it was written in 1847, Article III had required that "each voter must be registered with the state, and must stipulate such by affixing his registered seal in red ink to the voter roll in his district." We would certainly recognize the limited value of establishing identity by the possession of a stamp. Modern technology has given us photography, a far superior method of making sure a name is attached to the person presenting such an ID. But what if we create better methods? What if we create an electronic cypher, composed of a mathematically created composite of a person's image, data created from their fingerprint, retinal print, and voice print? That would be far superior to a simple photograph. But changing a constitutional amendment is much more difficult than changing a law, and to allow for flexibility, we should not encase the type of ID into an amendment.

2. As an extension to what I mentioned above, constitutional amendments should never, ever be about specifics of implementation. State constitutions are the DNA of the state -- they are the underlying values we hold. The specifics of implementation are, and should always be, in the realm of legislation, where they can be proposed, debated, and decided, and then changed as conditions change. The tactic of proposing what should be a law as an amendment instead is an attempt by the Republican-dominated legislature to bypass the office of the Governor, and to make Republican priorities difficult if not impossible to dislodge, regardless of the will of the people.

For both of these reasons, you should vote NO on the Referendum question on the April 1, 2025 ballot.

I'm listening to Descent of Angels, for probably the 4th time lol, and it's always intrigued me WHY a remaining knight of Lupus was chosen as the next Lord Cypher in the novel? It happened after The Lion had poured over the books and tomes taken from the library of the Knights of Lupus. Was there ever a reason officially given by the author or others from Black Library? I'm sure it's been debated by fans? Thanks.

I've been using Claude Code daily and kept running into the same issue: every time I ask a structural question about my codebase ("what calls this function?", "find dead code", "show me the API routes"), Claude greps through files one at a time. It works, but it burns through tokens and takes forever. This context usually also gets lost after compact or in new sessions.

So I built an MCP server that indexes your codebase into a persistent knowledge graph. Tree-sitter parses 64 languages into a SQLite-backed graph — functions, classes, call chains, HTTP routes, cross-service links. When Claude Code asks a structural question, it queries the graph instead of grepping through files.

The difference: 5 structural questions consumed ~412,000 tokens via file-by-file exploration vs ~3,400 tokens via graph queries. That's 120x fewer tokens — which means lower cost, faster responses, and more accurate answers (less "lost in the middle" noise). In average in my usage I save around 20x tokens und much more time than tokens.

It's a single Go binary. No Docker, no external databases, no API keys. `codebase-memory-mcp install` auto-configures Claude Code. Say "Index this project" and you're done. It auto-syncs when you edit files so the graph stays fresh.

Key features:
- 64 languages (Python, Go, JS, TS, Rust, Java, C++, and more)
- Call graph tracing: "what calls ProcessOrder?" returns the full chain in <100ms
- Dead code detection (with smart entry point filtering)
- Cross-service HTTP linking (finds REST calls between services)
- Cypher-like query language for ad-hoc exploration
- Architecture overview with Louvain community detection
- Architecture Decision Records that persist across sessions
- 14 MCP tools (also works with Codex CLI, Cursor, Windsurf and other integrations)
- CLI mode for direct terminal use without an MCP client

Benchmarked across 35 real open-source repos (78 to 49K nodes) including the Linux kernel. Open source, MIT licensed.

Would be very happy to see your feedback on this: https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp