(27 M) Hi, stormy here! How do I even begin? Well, music is my most favorite thing in the world. I sing for the goregrind band Corpse Ooze and Metalcore band Lights Over Nevada. I play a lot of games, but lately Rust, Rainbow Six Siege, and Pokémon GO have been my favorites. I love walking, Bead Fusing, crafts and bored games! I like anything that is spooky or has a horror vibe. I'm not sure what else to say, but I do hope we can talk soon! DMS ARE OPEN TO 18+

Hi! Does anyone have any advice for adding weighted beads to bears?
I just bought 3 bearliens. One for my best friend, one for myself and one for my partner. We’ve all lost people very close to us recently, and when I saw the bearliens on sale the other day, I knew we needed a set of triplets.
Anyway, I’m old, so the BABs I have are from the early 00’s and back then they had beans in their bums and feet.
I’d like to give our new bears some snuggle weight before I gift them to my people.
I’m also making little shirts out of our lost loved ones clothes for them. Shout out to BestDressedBears on Etsy for having awesome patterns.

Hi everyone! Ever since my last publication on why I didn't like BOTW (link here: https://www.reddit.com/truezelda/comments/13ej8ai/i_didnt_like_botw_and_i_hope_totk_will_solve_the/) I have since received messages asking me what I thought about the sequel and whether or not it fixed the issues I had with BOTW.
For me BOTW was a 7/10 (good game with issues). I am now 50 hours in TOTK and I feel like it is a solid 8/10 (very good game with some issues). I would like to start with reviewing the flaws I perceived in BOTW and how TOTK has changed that. But first a little disclaimer. Obviously there will be a lot of spoilers ahead so don't read this post unless you have finished the main story. Besides, I don't know what may be your sensibility towards spoilers so I won't hide anything. Read this critic at your own risks.
In my point of view, BOTW had 4 main flaws: the lack of stories, the lack of diversity, the lack of challenges and an overpraised originality.
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1) Stories in TOTK
In terms of stories this is where TOTK clearly shines above BOTW in my opinion. Personally I love the main story so far. Ganondorf has never been so epic and the master sword's obtaining may be the best iteration of the whole series. The only aspect where TOTK underperforms compared to BOTW is with the champion cut scenes after the boss fights. It was a mere copy-paste with no personality when BOTW was highlighting the relationship Link had with each champion and their own regrets.
In terms of side quests TOTK clearly blows BOTW away. The secondary characters react to their environment being destroyed or restored. They also have much more appropriate rewards. Saving Lurelin village actually gives you the eternal gratitude of its inhabitants (free salt baths, let's go!!) . When you save the Rito Village they actually put themselves back to work in order to rebuild what has been damaged. Even the Gerudos make an exception on their ancestral no-voe rule for the guy who saved them from destruction. Hell even the Hylians are now actively fighting monsters! And you unlock the great fairies with a whole quest instead of a bunch of rupees, etc.
So yes, if you are like me waiting for some interesting interactions with NPCs, I feel like TOTK fully remedied this problem.
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2) Diversity in TOTK
BOTW had the weakest catalog of enemies. Even a game like Ocarina of Time which was released in1996 had roughly 2x more enemies. In this category I feel like TOTK improved on this issue but doesn't fully solve it. Yes, the enemies can craft vehicles just like Link. Yes there are flying creatures now, cave-dwelling creatures, mobile Goblin bases and Gleoks. But it still lacks some regional specific monsters. I was actually very happy to see the Gibdos in the desert as this is the kind of interesting and localized enemy I wanted to see. But unfortunately all the other enemies, including the new ones, are declined in difficulty/elemental patterns just as before.
The quests are only slightly more diverse than BOTW. Their real strength is not in their diversity but in the contexts that motivate them. Yes, most of TOTK's quests can basically be summed up as "go there and find this". But the motivations are numerous: some traveler(s) who didn't make it to the stable, some odd local story to investigate, a person who needs medical help, etc. Addison's quest is still unnecessarily repetitive and the Koroks are back to annoy us though.
In terms of shrines diversity it's the same formula as BOTW. It neither adds nor removes anything. However, to me TOTK's shrines feel overall more interesting than BOTW's but we'll talk about this in the next section.
Finally the bosses in TOTK have much more personality than in BOTW. Better even, you can refight them in the depths!
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3) Challenges in TOTK
Overall TOTK feels harder than BOTW. Even with 20 hearts I still encounter some new declination of an enemy which destroys me in 2 or 3 hits. Also, now that they have removed the bomb runes my resources feel much more valuable and I clearly think twice before using a flower bomb or anything else on an enemy. Furthermore, the fuse power clearly incites you to build more powerful weapon to fight enemies which would have been considered as bullet sponges before.
In terms of dungeons and shrines there is a lot that I could say. I could actually write a full other post to talk about this. I will try to remain as concise and as on point as possible.
Let's start with the shrines. Overall I feel like the shrines in TOTK require more creativity and skills than in BOTW. Building contraptions help a lot in this regard, you have to be more observant of your surroundings. There are also more shrines where you are strip naked and have to find solutions to fight powerful enemies.
Some shrines however remain trivially easy but hey... It's a game meant for an incredibly broad audience. I can't even imagine for a new gamer or a kid how complex some shrines or quest hints may feel. Looking backward the riddles of TOTK require much more imagination and thoughts than most of the riddles of Zelda Ocarina of Time (yes I am criticizing my baby here). I remember being in a shrine with a spinning gear, two sliding platforms and two cylindric bars. My initial thought was to glue the cylindric bars together and stick them to the spinning gear so that it would push the sliding platforms all the way up. But instead I had jammed the whole mechanism, closed a door behind me and I was almost afraid I had soft locked myself. The solution was actually to stick one cylindric bar to the large sliding platform and the other one to the spinning gear. I remember when I was 6 years old, playing OoT and being stuck in Jabu Jabu's mouth because I didn't think about bringing a box and putting it on a button to keep it activated...
For the dungeons I also feel like there has been improvements. Accessing the dungeons are overall a much more epic journey with several quests to solve before. However, TOTK's dungeons themselves suffer the same flaws than BOTW's ones:

1. TOTK's dungeons are linear. Let's think about the way the old dungeons used to be designed. The old dungeons were usually solved by the players with a depth first search. You enter the dungeon and you have several paths you can follow. You start with one path, go as far as you can and find yourself stuck at some point. You backtrack and explore a second path where you may or may not find an object that will help you progress in the previous path. This object was usually a small key or a new tool for Link. In BOTW/TOTK there is almost no backtracking (besides the goron dungeon). There is an unordered sequence of paths that you can take with each path leading to straight to a part of the solution.
2. This point derives from the first one. Why would backtracking be even an interesting thing for a dungeon? Because it gives a feeling of solving an overall puzzle. The paths feel more intertwined, there are dependencies between the rooms. Solving the overall puzzle is what some players are looking for. It is what motivates them into solving all the intermediate puzzles. These players then feel rewarded by the boss fight.
3. Another flaw sticks the nail in the coffin of the new dungeons for me: as soon as I am starting to have fun the problem is over. This is true for almost every dungeon/shrine I encounter. Yes I had some "Eureka" moments which filled my brain with Dopamine and some narcissism (better be self-aware right?). But almost every time I had this "Eureka" moment the whole thing was over. My hypothesis is that because of the broad audience and the increase in the puzzle's creativity they don't want to take the risk frustrate the new players. But for a 25 years gamer of course it falls short.

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4) Originality in TOTK
There isn't much to say here. TOTK is basically an improved formula of BOTW. Magnesis is now Ultra-Hand, Stasis is now more or less recall with more complex vectors, the bombs have been scraped off (they made the game trivially easy anyway) and the useless cryosis has disappeared. By the way, I heard a Youtuber saying that the attachment points displayed with a dotted lines were a genius idea. I mean come on... Has he played Kerbal Space Program?
With the depths TOTK seems to get some inspiration from the dark souls series. Maybe more specifically lost Izalith from DS1? At least for the goron part of the depths.
What Nintendo is clearly good at is keeping track of what systems major games have implemented and bring them to life in a coherent way into Zelda's universe.
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To conclude, TOTK clearly shines with its new more sensible side quests and even its main quest as far as I am concerned. It improves the initial formula by bringing more creativity in the puzzles you solve and more value to the resources you gather. I am now motivated to explore the inhabited parts of the game because I know that there will be an interesting quest to do. However, it also misses some occasions to make this game a 9/10 (excellent game with minor issues). Namely, there could have been more localized enemies and there could have been more optional dungeons with more intertwined paths and longer sequences of puzzles. I feel like the Zonai tech was the occasion to bring back this mechanic of finding a new tool/blueprint of a tool that unlocks some problems of the other rooms (they more or less did it with the mirrors in the Gerudo temple). Finally, I didn't mention it in the points above but I find the fuse power to be a bit tedious to use. Despite these flaws I am enjoying TOTK much more than I did with BOTW.

Is it possible to make cane or millefiori/murrini without a murrini kiln or blowing it or lamp working it? I did some intro level glassblowing glasses before I found my real love of casting and fusing, and I make cane etc in ceramics using stained clay for colored clay work, and I feel like I really want to make it in the original medium of glass since I do it in clay (real clay, not polymer). But I work mostly out of my home studio now, and the glass studio I used to belong to and can still rent time in never has classes on this technique. I see people selling it, but would much rather make patterns myself, plus I use 90 COE glass and a lot of the cane I see for sale is 96, although not all of it. I make pattern color bars for fusing/casting, so it seems to me like it would potentially be possible to do it with fusing if I could just get some basic info. I’ve thought about doing it similarly to the big blocks I make out of clay, where I layer (in this case strips of glass) and then cut after fusing and then rearrange the pattern bars and fuse them again, until I get to a state where I could take slices of the block/bar with my tile saw and use them in fusings and castings. Does that sound doable? Would you suggest I just try and find a place that has a murrini kiln and learn from them how to do it the traditional way?

Social media and particularly large portions of Reddit promote a jaded, cynical, and pessimistic viewpoint. If you find yourself hating on yourself, others, or the world, try unplugging from Reddit and social media as an experiment and see how you feel. The same is true for the 24x7 news cycle.
Alternatively, try curating your subreddit subscriptions to only focus on healthy, funny, positive, supportive, inspiring, and positive subreddits, and trim away the cynical and politically charged subs. Run that as an experiment for a month and see how you feel. randomactsofkindness and progresspics and contagiouslaughter and randomactsofmusic and happycrowds and randomkindness and mademesmile and decidingtobebetter are some great examples to get you started.
Similarly, the people you spend the most time with will influence how you think and feel. If you're running with a doom and gloom crowd/circle/primary influence, you will see the world through ash-colored glasses.
Maybe you have cynical, angry parents and can't get out from that, or other negative people you find yourself unable to free yourself if at this moment. Many of us have been there. But there are still ways to find happiness and refuge from the negativity.
Find the kind and optimistic people at school, work, within your extended family, friends, and in extracurriculars if you have them. They're out there and should be fairly easy to identify.
Talk to a school or community counselor or a private one if you can. Talk to a good coach/mentor if you have access. Talk to a social worker and ask for resources to help you find positivity in the midst of a tough home life.
Try to connect with nature if you have access to it. Sitting and staring at the beauty and simplicity of nature and just being present with gratitude for it can do wonders for your mental health and perspective if you have access to and enjoy nature. But find whatever place that brings you peace and joy. Maybe it's nature. Maybe it's a coffee shop or the school library or public library or a music venue or a park bench in the city or on a bike or on a mountain or a favorite childhood spot. Identify the place(s) that bring(s) you the most comfort and happiness just by being there.
On the subject of gratitude, it is an amazing antidote to pessimism, worry, cynicism, and despair (not clinical depression where medication/therapy are indicated, but I'm talking about the general blues and cynicism/environmental pessimism). If you look hard enough, there is always something to be grateful for.
Gratitude is a conscious choice and one you can choose to make every day. It is impossible to hold opposing emotions in the body at one time. You can't be grateful and angry at the same time. Nor can you be anxious and grateful or resentful and grateful at one time.
You can have gratitude for simply waking up in the morning and having the opportunity to experience the rollercoaster of life another day in a very limited window of opportunity. You can have gratitude for a friend or family member or teacher or colleague that really has your back. You can have gratitude for a blue sky and a warm breeze or the taste of your morning coffee or the feeling of your warm shower or bath. You can have gratitude for the sound of a bird singing, someone laughing, a funny movie, the comfort of your bed or pillow or couch, or a personal or professional win. If you look at the world through the lens of appreciation and gratitude, I'm not suggesting you can overcome clinical depression or other severe mental health issues, but I am saying it is a step towards optimism and away from cynicism and will at a minimum make your life just a little bit better than it was. You can also try combining a mindfulness meditation practice with gratitude, just sitting there with your eyes closed in a peaceful place, thinking about all the people, events, places, and other things you're grateful for. Just 5 or 10 minutes of this do wonders for your mind and body.
Find movies, shows, online videos, and music that make you laugh, inspire you, make you feel connected to others, and make you feel hopeful. Listen to someone speak who is pathologically, passionately, authentically kind, and accepting of others.
Go watch old Mr. Rogers clips as an example of this (he, among others was my shining light through my rocky childhood and broken home, but you have to find your own version). Simon Sinek is another personal favorite of mine for inspiration and positivity (I can suggest others if you need). There are so many caring, loving, kind people that you can listen to from anywhere with an internet connection that will make you feel better about life and yourself simply by listening.
Self-love is another antidote for cynicism. If you're saying and doing self-hating and sabotaging things, you're going to compound cynicism and pessimism in a vicious cycle. Taking regular time to do something kind for yourself where you can find peace and joy, even for just a few minutes is critical. You have to take an active role in loving yourself and treating yourself in the same way you would care for someone you love very much - someone you only want the best for.
You know what you like and enjoy and need. Write down a list of those things that bring you joy and peace and gratitude and try and do one or more daily. You can write down things that are quick (5 to 10 minutes - texting a good friend, reading a few pages of a good book, listening to music, meditation, deep breathing, massaging the tension out of your jaw bones, etc.) and things that take longer (e.g. going on a hike, going for a swim, watching a comedy, listening to a positive podcast, going for coffee or an adventure with someone you care about).
Research open vs closed mindsets or growth and fixed mindsets. I love the book 'Mindset' by Carol Dweck, Ph. D. Also look into the term "neuroplasticity" and see how the brain can be changed and rewired by disrupting negative thought patterns. This is why cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is so effective at treating many mental health issues.
On that note, check into CBT. If you find yourself super cynical and you have the means, try a few CBT sessions as an experiment. If you don't have access to CBT counseling resources, then watch videos online, listen to audiobooks and podcasts about it and look into how you can challenge your beliefs and negative thought patterns using evidence from your life and externally.
Before suggesting that maybe I have led an easy, privileged life, and maybe it's easy for me to say all of this because my situation isn't as shitty as yours or others, let me first assure you that I've had a life wrought with trauma, abuse, neglect, tragedy and significant adversity. Mine might be different or less or more severe than yours, but that uniqueness is part of what it means to be human. I've gone through life without much in the way of support from my family. All of the tips above have come from a place of adaptation to my own unique situation and the belief that I deserve happiness and joy and peace, no matter how bleak things might have seemed.
Try giving a bit of your time to helping others in big or small ways and see how you feel. Pay someone a compliment, even a stranger (just be kind and authentic). Volunteer for a good cause, even once in a year, and see how you feel. Do something nice for someone who is not expecting it. Use your own experience to teach and help others where you can. Cut your neighbors' grass or shovel their driveway and don't tell them it was you. Say hello with a smile to one or two strangers when you're out for a walk. Check-in with a friend to tell them you are thinking about them and we're wondering how they were doing. Be the shining light for someone else as an experiment. Make someone in your life feel loved and appreciated.
Notice how I keep saying "experiment" and don’t tell you that anything above is your sure-fire way to find happiness and optimism? That's because you have to be proactive, try different things, observe the results (i.e. positive or negative changes in your mood and attitude and mental and physical health), and find what works best for you and your unique situation. What has worked for me, might not work for you. We are all so different (but also similar in so many ways).
Recognize that you deserve hope, connectedness, optimism, joy, love, and peace, no matter what is happening in the world or in your life. We all have limited time to experience life. It isn't about avoiding adversity, change, difficulty, tragedy and loss, conflict, trauma, abuse, neglect,etc. For me anyways, it's about finding joy and love and positivity and optimism by looking for it and trying to create positivity for others where I can and leave this world just a bit better than it was when I came into it.
Take a look at my comment history. I am not all sunshine and roses every day. You'll find plenty of posts with me pissed off or outraged about many things and that I have super strong views about certain things (which you may or may not agree with and that’s okay). I do not profess to be a 24x7 optimist, not by a long shot. I struggle to find positivity and joy at times, like everyone. I get caught up in online drama and conflict sometimes. I say unkind things in anger and have a short fuse at times and I regret that and am sorry for it. I too lose optimism and hope sometimes.
But this LPT isn't about being blameless or perfect. Those things are not possible. It’s also not possible to feel like an optimist 24x7. It's really just about recognizing that you deserve and have the power to find and create optimism and positivity in your life if you're willing to be proactive about it, create the right environment, and have the right mindset.
If you read this and you're stuck on where to start or are struggling and just want to vent, respond to this thread or shoot me a DM and I'll do my best to respond and support you if I can. I'm not selling or promoting any services or products here. I honestly hoped to reach just one person who needed to hear this today and that it might put a bit of positivity into the world. I hope it brings you some value.
EDIT: Your mindset is the sum of the people you spend time with and the information you take in as well as your own life experience. If you spend your time taking in negative information and being around negative people, you will find yourself feeling and thinking more negatively. The same is true if you take in positive content and be around positive people and places.

I've been hesitant about whether or not to post this here, because if my timeline is correct then reading this post will ruin many of major twists and reveals of the next book. I'm likely wrong on a few things, but even so; If you want to keep Stormlight's amazing "Oh shit!" moments for when the books come out, then please DO NOT read this post.
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KEY POINTS/SPOILERS:

• Formless = Queen Tsa = Ba-Ado-Mishram
• The Fall of the Silver Kingdoms is at the heart of everything, including why the radiants gave up their oaths.
• Queen Tsa Ascended to become Cultivation temporarily, and in doing so picked up the Dawnshard Change.
• Queen Tsa/Cultivation used the Dawnshard to give the Singers Forms of Power - the Regal forms - and in return they gave her the honorific Formless. (Note: On a reread, keep an ear out for every time the word "formless" is used - its very interesting!)
• Queen Tsa was Enlightened by Sja-Anat/Odium to become Ba-Ado-Mishram.
• After the shattering of the Kingdom of Natanatan (The Shattered Plains), Queen Tsa retreated with the Dawnshard to Aimia. The Bondsmith Melishi (the last person to bond the Sibling) led an emergency strike team - together with Nale, Kelek, and others - to take BAM down and to retrieve the Dawnshard. This is what led to the Scouring of Aimia & the Fall of the Aimian Silver Kingdom - which is also why there is so much secrecy around the Scouring.
• Because BAM had a) temporarily Ascended and Connected to Roshar, and b) given the Singers their voidlight powers, capturing BAM in a gemstone caused all Singers to become dullform (aside from The Last Legion, which later became the modern Parshendi).
• Shallan's mother was the Herald Chanarach. The Ghostbloods contacted Shallan as a child via Seon (in the garden), and convinced her to open her family's wall safe to retrieve the gemstone containing BAM. Shallan eventually swallows the gemstone containing Ba-Ado-Mishram. Her mother's shout ("She's one of them!" refers to Shallan being an Unmade, not a Radiant), which is why her mother tried to kill her.
• Formless was reawakened within Shallan with the arrival of the Everstorm.
• (Fun extra: Sigzil is a Ghostblood.)

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Note: Though I'm pretty confident about the key points above, the following timeline also contains a few of my less-certain theories (e.g. whether Honour was a dragon), so there are likely a few things wrong below. But even so, I'm confident on much on it, and would love to hear your critiques.
Also: I'm using BC and AD as stand-ins to denote the passing of years on Roshar, because we all know what they mean (even if there wasn't a Jesus on Roshar).
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DETAILED TIMELINE OF ROSHAR:

• ? BC: Adonalsium creates or modifies the Rosharan system. On Roshar, he raises the largest Rosharan landmass in the shape of a mathematical Julia Set (for some reason). His investiture in the planet seeds the beginning of some spren species - likely the evolution of lesser spren such as flamespren and emotionspren.
• 10k BC: The Shattering - 16 people + Hoid shatter Adonalsium
• 10k BC: Honor (Tanavast) & Cultivation (Korellium-Avast) come to Ashyn/RoshaBraize. Cultivation & Honor are dragons.
  • Cultivation a dragon confirmed. Points in favor of Honor being a dragon: similar naming styles + they were a married couple + a very particularly worded WoB about there only being one dragon on Roshar now.
• 9k BC: Intelligent spren (the kind that can form Nahel bonds) are created on Roshar, likely by Honor and Cultivation
• 9k BC: The original inhabitants of Roshar are the Shapers (early ancestors of the Singers), who bonded with Rosharan spren in a way that allows them to shape and mold stone. The original inhabitants of Ashyn are the humans.
  • Evidence: Venli’s discussion with the stone when using her powers in Urithiru, and the Shin’s reverence for uncut stone
• ? BC: Odium comes to the Rosharan system, and tricks Ishar on Ashyn into unchecked surgebinding (with a Dawnshard?), which ends up destroying the planet. The exodus from Ashyn to Roshar occurs, with Ishar + Shalash + the others. The humans settle in Shinovar.
• ? BC: At some point, the Iriali also come to the world as part of their Long Path. Roshar is their fourth planet out of the seven they will move to before Adonalsium is reformed (according to their religion).
• ? BC: At some point anywhere in the timeline: The Siah and Dysian Aimians come to Roshar.
• ? BC: At some point, the spren “betray” the Singers and switch sides to the Humans. The Singers join with Odium.
• 6080 BC: The First Desolation. Cultivation and Honor side with Humans, and Odium with the singers. Humans invade the rest of the world from Shinovar, which results in the first military conflict between humans and Singers. The Eila Stele is written.
• ~6080 BC: Odium creates the Fused. The Oathpact is created by Jezrien in response.
• ? BC: There are 15ish Desolations in total.
• ? BC: Partway through (~5000 BC, during the Heraldic Epochs, Silver Kingdoms): humans and spren begin to develop the Nahel bond – surgebinding – Knight Radiant are founded – Urithiru is built – Nohadon travels to Urithiru after being king during the Desolation that last 11-12ish years
• ~3301 BC: A portion of Singers in Odium’s army (the Last Legion) split off from the conflict and become dullform
• ~3301 BC: The Last Desolation occurs – the nine heralds abandoned the Oathpact – Fused become stuck on Braize – The Era of Solitude begins – humans and singers live together on Roshar
• ~800 BC: Queen Tsa is the queen of Natanatan. Natanatan was the Silver Kingdom that existed where the Shattered Plains are now. Queen Tsa is the character in Wit’s story that tricks Mishim into switching places.
• ~800 BC: The False Desolation occurs, a war between humans and singers, supposedly backed by the Unmade. There are no Fused on Roshar, and the Parsh do not have access to voidbinding or Forms of Power.
• Queen Tsa (or someone else) discovers that humans were the real voidbringers, and the Singers were the original inhabitats of Roshar. This revelation is what sparks events that lead to the Recreance.
• Queen Tsa, originally a leader of human forces, decides to switch sides and help the Singers. Cultivation and Queen Tsa temporarily switch places (as per Wit’s story about Tsa & Mishim, Cultivation’s moon). According to the story, this is supposedly so Cultivation can experience mortal life and Tsa can see the heavens. However, it is likely the Cultivation was the one pulling the strings here, and that this this is related be her objective of working together with Odium to break Tanavast/Honor). Tsa temporarily ascends to become a Shard, and in doing so she gains the ability to Connect to Roshar. Tsa’s Connecting to Roshar here is what causes unforeseen consequences from her imprisonment later – after she is Corrupted into an Unmade by Sja-Anat (but we’re getting ahead of ourselves; for now she is just Queen Tsa/Cultivation).
• Tsa-Cultivation picks up the Dawnshard Change on Ashyn. Tsa-Cultivation gives the Singers voidlight and Forms of Power – specifically, she gives them the ability to become Regals (according to the Listener Song of Secrets: Smokeform, Nightform, Decayform, Stormform)
  • Evidence for this: 1) Venli’s surgebinding abilities work when she combines Cultivation’s & Odium’s songs. 2) Ba-Ado-Mishram is said to have given the singers their Forms of Power at the beginning of the False Desolation, which is what caused the war to become The False Desolation. Before this they had only had normal singer forms and no fused – but now they had Forms of Power – aka what Venli has, Regal forms. 3) When Dalinar and Odium agree to Champion terms at the end of RoW, Odium states that while he can control the Fused, he has no control over the Regals. This is likely because they were created by Tsa-Cultivation, not Odium.
• While Ascended, Tsa either sleeps with – or in some way works together with – either Honor or Odium.
• Tsa and Cultivation switch back to their original places by choice, or because Tsa can’t handle Shardhood and falls (see Stormfather-Ishar’s statement into the 5th Prologue).
  • Evidence: 1) Wit’s story about Tsa & Mishim, 2) Stormfather-Ishar’s statement to Gavilar in the Stormlight 5 Prologue:
    • “Tell me,” he said, walking across the springy carpet to the map of Roshar on the table. “Why would Thaidakar be so interested in Ba-Ado-Mishram?”
    • She created your parshmen, the Stormfather said. On accident. Long ago, after the Heralds’ final visit but before the Recreance, Mishram tried to rise up and replace the God of the Voidbringers. She gave the common voidbringers forms, Voidlight, abilities. To fight for themselves.
    • “Curious,” Gavilar said. “And then?”
    • And then…she fell. She was too small a being, not strong enough, to uphold an entire people. It all came crashing down, and so some brave men and women—Radiants—did something that had to be done, trapping Mishram in a gemstone to prevent her from destroying all of Roshar. The side effect of that event created the parshmen.
    • (Note that the God of the Voidbringers here = Cultivation, which has interesting implications)
• ? BC: Tsa gains two new monikers: Ba-Ado-Mishram (by the humans) and Formless (by the Singers).
  • Formless: One who has granted the Singers new forms, but as a human cannot have forms herself.
  • Ba-Ado-Mishram: “Child/Student of the Light of Mishim” or “One who has lost the Light of Mishim”.
    • Evidence: Ba-Ado-Mishram is clearly a Shin- or Iriali-derived name.
    • Ba – Related to the the name Tsa, related to Bavadin, or related to “bah” as in the student/child indicator from Rysn’s name “Rysn Ftori bah-Vstim”
    • Ado – Light, from “Adoda”
    • Mishram – Mishi + the suffix ram (e.g. seen in “Amaram”)
• ? BC: Either now or a little later: Something occurs that causes the shattering of the Shattered Plains (and probably the Kingdom of Natanatan). It likely involved Queen Tsa/BAM using the Dawnshard Change. These events - and the unchecked power and destruction on display - were also likely very evocative of the humans destruction of Ashyn. This might have been what finally motivated the Knights Radiants to end their bonds soon after.
  • "They blame our people / For the loss of that land. / The city that once covered it / Did range the eastern strand. / The power made known in the tomes of our clan / Our gods were not who shattered these plains." – Song of Wars, 55th stanza
  • When Shallan and Kaladin are in the chasms, Shallan realizes that the Shattered Plains were shattered in a way similar to cymatics → “More than that,” she said, standing. “I know too much now to die out here. The Shattered Plains are a pattern. This isn’t a natural rock formation.” Her eyes widened further. “At the center of these Plains was a city. Something broke it apart. A weapon… Vibrations? Like sand on a plate? An earthquake that could break rock… Stone became sand, and at the blowing of the highstorms, the cracks full of sand were hollowed out.” (WoR, ch. 71)
• ? BC: Tsa escapes to Aimia, together with the Dawnshard Change. She lives there among the Siah Aimians, and potentially has a baby (?), or in some way creates a human + Aimian pairing (e.g. the intermixing of two populations who now live in close proximity over time) this leads to the blue-skinned Natan people (and also the blue-veined people in Babatharnam)
• At what point does Tsa become the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram? Is it before, during, or after she Ascends?
• ? BC: The Singers fight their way towards Feverstone Keep (gemstone archive), and the person recording this thinks that they might be trying to fight their way to Rall Elorim (which means Feverstone Keep is near the Iriali, Shinovar, and the Purelake). Were the Singers trying to get offworld through the same site that the Irali and Ashyn humans came onworld?
• ? BC: Due to Tsa’s actions in Ascending and giving the Singers forms of power, and/or the events on Natanatan, the current and only Bondsmith Melishi (bonded to the Sibling) decides, in a rush, to form a “strike team” and capture BAM. Kelek and Nale (and more, maybe Chanarach) were present at BAM’s imprisonment, so were also likely related in some way to the strike team.
• ? BC: Nale at some point ends up switching sides to join the Parshendi, and later he and Kelek considers themselves to have “betrayed” BAM.
  • Potential theory (unsure): Did BAM have an agreement with Kelek and Nale (helping the Parshendi?), which they betrayed when they became worried about something she would do? And so they told Melishi, which set off the rest of events? Melishi, in a rush (and without time to explain the plan fully to the others – as noted in the gemstone archive), forms a plan to imprison BAM. From Kelek: “I know […] Where her soul is. Ba-Ado-Mishram. Granter of Forms. Their other god. The one who could rival Him. The one…we betrayed.”
  • Second potential theory (unsure): Perhaps the turning point was shattering of the Shattered Plains. These events were too evocative of the humans destroying Ashyn, and the unchecked power and destruction on display might have been what finally motivated Nale and Kelek to betray Tsa, and what motivated the Knights Radiants to end their bonds soon after.
• ? BC: The Sibling and Melishi unbond before BAM is imprisoned, and Melishi builds the Sibling the additional shield defenses. Something happens before Melishi can finish them all, and only 4 nodes are created. (Evidence: How did the Sibling know to unbond Melishi before the Recreance?)
• The Sibling hates spren being imprisoned in gemstones, considers Melishi to have “betrayed” her, like all humans. I think this recording from the Urithiru gemstone archive is from the Sibling: “I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.” If that archive gemstone is hers, then the Sibling knows something she’s not saying about these events – what was her relationship to BAM? What does she know?
• Somewhere between 800 BC and 300 BC: Melishi’s strike team goes to Aimia to find and capture BAM. The events there are so devastating that they wipe out most of the Aimians, and are later referred to as the Scouring of Aimia. Because so much of what occurs here needs to be kept secret (e.g. BAM’s imprisonment), the reasons for the Scouring are lost to time.
• ~800 BC: BAM is imprisoned in the gemstone. Due to her Connection to Roshar as a previous Shard, BAM’s imprisonment results in the creation of deadeyes, the loss of Towerlight*, and causes a majority of the Parsh (all Regals?) to lose their Identity & Connection to Roshathe rhythms, and turn into parshmen. (Check: I believe The Sibling says that BAM’s imprisonment causes the loss of Towerlight, but maybe it’s Honor dying soon after. Need to check.)
• ~800 BC: The Recreance occurs – nine out of ten Radiant Orders abandon their shardblades and break their bonds, killing their spren (except for the Skybreakers). The Stonewards and Windrunners (and maybe others?) do this at Feverstone Keep.
  • The people alive at this point have just 1) Learned that humans were the original voidbringers & that they destroyed Ashyn with unchecked surgebinding, 2) Seen Queen Tsa switch sides and become Cultivation, 3) Seen the Singers get Regal powers and voidlight surgebinding, 4) Have a war so destructive it became named The False Desolation, 5) Witnessed the Shattering of Natanatan to become the Shattered Plains → fall of the Natan Silver Kingdom, 6) Witnessed the Scouring of Aimia → fall of the Aimian Silver Kingdom, 7) Experienced the retreat of the Sibling & abandonment of Urithiru → fall of the Urithiru Silver Kingdom. So there has been some major upheaval going on – it would be understandable then for the Knights Radiant to conclude that their powers are too dangerous to continue.
• Somewhere between 800 BC and 300 BC: Fall of the Silver Kingdoms/end of the Heraldic Epochs.
• Somewhere between 800 BC and 300 BC: Honor dies. (Honor was still alive when the KR's disbanded, which was well after the breaking of the Oathpact. – according to a WOB)
• 100 BC: The Shin Invasions: A series of invasions by the Shin threatened the rest of Roshar. According to legend, the Shin attacked with spears on horseback. Their dominance has been compared to the Heirocracy and the reign of the Sunmaker. (Unresolved questions: how/why did such a peaceful culture temporarily become warmongering? Unmade influence?)
• 0 AD: ???
  • When asked, BS couldn’t remember if anything important happened in this year, so it’s likely not important. Fall of the Silver Kingdoms maybe? (WOB - Jofwu: Is year one on the [Rosharan] calendar related to Vorinism in some way? Brandon Sanderson: I would have to go look. I can't remember. I know it's in there.)
• 480 AD: Dynastic collapse of Bayala - The ruling dynasty collapses following "great debauchery" in the court of Bayala. Hessi believes the influence of the Unmade Ashertmarn may be to blame for these events.
• 675 AD: The War of Loss – Sadees, the Sunmaker, ended the Vorin church's Heirocracy and united much of eastern Roshar.
• 950 AD: King’s Drop placed in Thaylen Gemstone Reserve
• ~1120 AD: Navani and Dalinar are born, and current events begin
• Dalinar and his hunting party meet Eshonai and the Listeners
• Gavilar begins searching for a path to immortality
• Thaidakar asks Gavilar to give him Kelek, and in return he agrees to bring about the return of the Desolations.
• Gavilar joins the Sons of Honor, but ends up leading them instead of giving Kelek to Thaidakar. Gavilar therefore has known Kelek for two years by the time of the feast.
• Thaidakar and the Ghostbloods manipulate Shallan (through the Seon, in the garden) to open her family’s wall safe and retrieve the gemstone containing BAM. On the night of the feast, Shallan does so, finding and swallowing the gemstone containing BAM/Formless.
• Ishar (?) poses as the Stormfather to trick Gavilar into (?), and sends him Tanavast’s visions. Gavilar thinks he is using the Stormfather to find a way to become an immortal Herald.
• The night of the feast: Gavilar’s assassination. Kelek brings Nale to meet Gavilar, and Gavilar reveals his plans to return the Desolations. Kelek and Nale are horrified, and Nale manipulates events so that the Parshendi find Szeth and assassinate Gavilar.
• The night of the feast: Chanarach’s death. Shallan’s mother realizes that Shallan swallowed the gemtone and is horrified (“She’s one of them!” = an Unmade). She has her Skybreaker (?) friend (is he also a Ghostblood?) get the special Raysium dagger than can kill/trap an immortal soul. Shallan/BAM kills her mother, and may or may not break her oaths with Testament, but in some way causes Testament to become a Deadeye. Chanarach returns to Braize and begins the Final Desolation.
• [Most of the events of the books occur]
• Shallan AND Sigzil are (independently of each other) recruited by the Ghostbloods
• The Final Desolation begins when Dalinar & Co. reach the centre of the Shattered Plains as the Listeners summon the Everstorm
• The Ghostbloods need Shallan to get into Last Integrity to kill/imprison Kelek, so they get Sigzil to suggest a trip to Lasting Integrity at the next world leader summit.

The end of the timeline, for now. To be continued.
Notes!
Queen Tsa is a character in one of Wit's stories (Oathbringer Ch. 67 to be exact). You can read a summary of her story here: https://stormlightarchive.fandom.com/wiki/Tsa
For her whole story straight from the book, see my comment here: https://www.reddit.com/Stormlight_Archive/comments/13temny/comment/jlvk404/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

One nice side-effect of the lifting of secrecy was that the entire team (human and alien) could now be reassigned to somewhere more palatial than a sealed-off side-entrance into a hollowed-out mountain. But where, oh where, to put them? What was needed was someplace A) which was much nicer than a tunnel (humanity must treat our alien guests properly, after all) and B) was already set up with the necessary security precautions and secure communications in and out.
In the end, there was, really, only one choice of location…at least if they wanted to stay in the United States proper.
Camp David.
Corporal McCoy spread her arms out along the back of a very nice red-leather sofa, in the middle of a room dominated by a red-brick fireplace in one corner. Along the two far walls from the fireplace stretched multiple windows which showed, at the moment, the denuded stick-like forms of leafless trees. She knew that in the spring and summer they’d be a veritable explosion of green; somehow, she didn’t mind that she wasn’t able to see leaves at the moment. Off in a far corner of the room sat a wet bar that she also eyed with quite evident lust. There was at least one nice single-malt scotch there that she wanted to get ahold of. Just for a taste, mind you.
Not everyone was there; Chao and Grakosh were off in the midst of some giant nerd mind-meld with some Lockheed Martin Skunk-Works types, trying to figure out how to lift what materials were needed into orbit so that humans could help fix the Rithro and show the Coalition that we are very good and oh so helpful little sapients, yes indeed we are, please help us out just in case we get discovered by some genocidal robots who want to do a little bit of trolling.
Moquon, the knuall-toua who was the ship’s lifesystem engineer, coiled around her shoulder as the latter looked with interest at the wood paneling which made up the rafters and roof.
“Now this is more like it!” McCoy exclaimed to all and sundry.
“Yes, indeed! It does seem much nicer than our previous lodgings,” said Mouquon.
“This is not a vacation, corporal.” Sergeant Shaw stood next to one of the nearly floor-to ceiling windows, looking out over the grounds below with a practiced eye.
“You need to relax, Sarge,” said Martinez. “We got something like a million Secret Service agents prowling around here. I went shooting with one of ‘em once, trust me when I say those people are no joke.” He chuckled. “First time I got my ass kicked in a shooting contest by a woman.”
Shaw let out a grunt. “We are the last layer of the onion.”
“Sir?” asked McCoy.
“Someone can figure out we’re here pretty easily.” Shaw pointed out into the wintry woods. “If they send a determined and well-armed force, they might just make through those million agents to here.” He turned away from the window and stared at his team, who, at the moment, sprawled or sat with evident relief on the furniture within the room. “The OPFOR might get taken down. But then again, they might not. What do we do then?”
McCoy felt Mouqon coil herself tighter around her shoulder. Almost on instinct, she reached up and patted the snake-like alien’s head. “Don’t you worry. I’m here.”
Shaw pointed at the corporal. “Exactly. We are the last, and I do mean the last, line of defense. We are gonna run some drills at a time and place of my choosing. We are going to protect our esteemed guests to the very last…and yes, I do mean the very last. Make sure your gear is ready and that you are ready, or I will give y’all an ass-chewing they’ll feel clear out to the Coalition.”
Agent Milton Vila strolled into the lounge at that particular moment with a grin on his broad face. “Sounds like we’re getting an upgrade to our security, Mack.”
“Aw hell, you know how it is. I gotta keep these assholes on their toes or everything breaks down into chaos.”
The Secret Service agent grinned. “Anyways…we now have a new member of our merry band of misfits.”
“Misfits?” Martinez looked appropriately indignant. “I’ll have you know I am a perfectly normal functioning member of society!”
The agent and soldier held each other’s gaze for a few moments before they both busted out in laughter. “Anyways,” continued Vila, “He’s the medical expert that the general requested.” He turned to one of the entrances to the lounge. “Come on in, sir.”
A dark-skinned, lean man with an uncertain air entered. “Zawahir Ibn Harith,” he said by way of greeting. His eyes widened upon viewing the various alien forms now stretched out in various relaxed postures before him.
McCoy decided to throw him a bone. “Welcome!” She gave a wave of her arm…the arm around whose shoulder Mouquon was currently coiled. “Welcome to our…merry band of misfits!”
“Thank you!” The newcomer still looked a bit at sea.
“Hey, Dhuz?” McCoy called out.
The auhn turned from her gazing out the windows. “Yes?”
“I figure you and this guy got a lot to talk about.”
Dhuz met Zawahir’s eyes and smiled. McCoy was still getting used to that; it was a gesture of happiness just as with humans, but auhn teeth were very numerous and very sharp. “I imagine so. Mutual exchange of medical data, yes?”
Now that he had a task before him, Zawahir looked a lot more focused. “Of course! I mean, from what I’ve read thus far all of your species use some method of metal-oxygen bonding to deliver the necessary oxygen to your tissues, but not everyone uses hemoglobin!”
Dhuz lit up. “Exactly!” She touched her forearm and a big old wall of text and diagrams formed above it. “Here, let me show you…”
McCoy chuckled as the pair moved off into a far corner to continue their conversation. “Another nerd mind-meld,” she said to no one in particular.
“Pardon?” asked Mouquon.
“Oh, sorry. Just…Chao and your engineer are now off doing a big old nerd mind-meld with our best and brightest. The last time we had that much talent in one place, we wound up dropping the sun on some people.” The corporal regarded the pair now in the midst of an animated conversation. “I hope this particular nerd-gasm results in something more constructive.”
“Oh!” Mouquon perked up. “I should be a part of this ‘nerd-gasm’. At least, if they start talking about what foodstuffs are viable for the various species.”
McCoy sighed. This was a very comfortable couch, after all. “You’re right, Mouquon.” She hauled herself up and off of the furniture with a bit of reluctance. “Let’s get you involved.” She walked towards the pair, who were both still gesticulating at the display over Dhuz’s forearm.
__________
Milton Vila had, much to his annoyance, been pulled off of President Correa’s detail and assigned to a new one…one to protect the alien captain. Sure, Agent Keynes had taken his place…and if he was forced to admit it, the guy was as good of a shot as he was…but Keynes wasn’t him, and that knowledge ate at him.
Still, he supposed that at least he wasn’t alone in his misery. Sergeant Shaw (who had finally admitted to Milton he was a Green Beret, which helped nail down exactly which branch of the armed forces his team worked for) was also pulled into the task of guarding Sadaf…upon Milton’s request. Not that he would tell the Green Beret that. The sergeant had also gotten the tailoring treatment from Milton’s wife, and now he wore a navy-blue suit which complimented his red hair quite nicely. But the Secret Service agent could tell that the man still wanted to be clad in full battle-rattle and toting a rifle instead of a mere hidden handgun.
“I still say I should be able to wear my normal shit,” said Shaw, not for the first time. At the moment, the three rode in a limousine, on their way to some gala luncheon event held by some upper-crust DC types who wanted to get a speech by one of the brand-new alien celebrities. Milton hoped that they’d also decide to open their damn pocketbooks to help fund the repairs needed for the alien’s ship; in the short time he’d known her, the agent had become won over by Sadaf’s no-nonsense and in-charge attitude.
“We’re trying to not scare the normies, Mack,” replied Milton.
Sadaf, who sat next to the hulking red-bearded man, looked over at him in curiosity. “You want to wear your usual fecal matter?”
“Frinxing translators,” muttered Shaw. As was usual, the various profanities of alien language were the first things to percolate into human speech. “Sorry, ma’am, I meant my normal gear. Yeah, I’m wearing body armor but this stuff is class two at best.” He plucked at his jacket. “Plus I’m not used to moving in this monkey suit.”
Milton grinned. “You’ll get used to it soon enough, Mack. Hey, my people have cleared the place beforehand. Our job is just to stand there behind the good captain and look menacing. And then when she’s doing the meet-and-greet afterwards we need to look extra menacing…and, of course, keep an eye out just in case someone makes a false move.”
“I don’t want to get used to this,” grumped Shaw. “I don’t want to get used to any of this. I want some proper goddamn body armor and a proper goddamn rifle with some goddamn extra magazines. A rifle with an M203 launcher, just in case someone gets really squirrelly.”
The agent winced. “Um, Mack, we civvies do have to worry about things like ‘collateral damage’ and such.”
Shaw’s normally cheerful demeanor fell into a somber look towards the agent, one that brought Milton up short. “Agent Milton, have you ever fallen victim to an RPG attack?”
“Um, no?”
“I have. Trust me, there is never such a thing as overkill.”
Milton sighed. He reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a city map. “Okay, I suppose that’s as good an excuse to go over everything again. This is the courtyard for the shindig.”
“Shindig!” exclaimed Sadaf in pleasure. “I don’t know why, but that word brings me joy.”
The agent smiled at her. “You’re gonna get used to it, believe me. So, we’ve got the whole area blocked off here, here, and here. Full-body scans for everyone going in, and believe me they’d better have the proper ticket to be there or they’re in for some looong questioning in a little dark room somewhere. No outside translator beads allowed, we issue ‘em after they get through the perimeter. We have snipers located here, here, here, and here. Each one has their own designated field of fire, the four of ‘em cover all angles. Anyone who pops their head up on any of the surrounding roofs will get a fifty-cal bullet right through their noggin before they can even blink.”
“What about the courtyard itself?” asked Shaw. “Before you set up the perimeter, I mean.”
Milton grinned. The sergeant had the makings of a first-class agent. “A very good question. We swept the area prior, using metal detectors and dogs. Especially for the dais and podium where Captain Sadaf is going to make her speech. If I was gonna try for a hit, that’s how I’d do it. Plant some explosives in the podium and trigger it remotely. But we didn’t find anything.”
The sergeant smoothed his beard in a nervous tic. “Drones?”
“Jammers for a thousand-yard radius around the podium. Anything remotely piloted into that space will just fall to the ground. As a bonus, just in case someone decides to try something cute using their cell phone, those won’t work either.”
Shaw grunted in grudging approval. “Sounds good.”
“This is how I earn a living, Mack. Relax.”
Sadaf rubbed a hand on her forehead. She was now clad back in her black-and-silver uniform; somehow the powers that be had determined that it was now okay for her to wear the supposed ‘militaristic’ uniform in public. “Is all this security strictly necessary? I mean, thus far most of your world’s nations seem to be behaving rationally.”
“Oh, we’re not worried about state actors, ma’am,” said Milton. “Well, except for a few. There’s always North Korea, after all.”
“Frinx, don’t get me started on those assholes,” muttered Shaw.
Milton continued, in what he hoped came across as a soothing tone. “Look at it this way. Does your kind suffer from mental disease?”
“Originally, yes. But thanks to medical intervention we can catch almost all of them. At present, we suffer from less than one in three hundred million who have an incurable derangement of the brain…” Sadaf’s eyes widened as she trailed off. “Oh. I forgot, you don’t have access to our level of medical technology.”
Shaw sighed. “No, ma’am, we don’t. Not to mention there’s almost eight billion of us on this here planet. Even assuming only one-hundredth-of-a-percent of those people wish you harm, that’s far too big of a population for us to relax.”
Sadaf seemed to shrink into the cushions of the limousine. “But we come in peace. We don’t mean you any harm.”
Milton knew that it was a breach of protocol, but he reached across and patted her knee. “I know that, ma’am, and almost everyone on the planet knows that. But there are some…well, there are some you just can’t reach.”
Shaw rubbed his jaw as he regarded the map again. “Damn. Wish I had Toke here. That guy could sniff out something hinky like nobody’s business. Plus if something did kick off, he could sort it out no problem.”
“He’s the skinny, taller guy, right?” asked Milton. “Marine Force Recon, I do believe. I know they are double-tough. Yeah, I admit he’d be good for something like this. But the powers that be want to keep him back at Camp David.”
The sergeant grunted in annoyance and looked out the window of the limousine. Then he looked up with a quirky smile. “I guess so. Look at it this way, if something does kick off, then having him at Camp David means that whoms’tsoever tries an assault there is gonna die.”
Milton replied to Shaw with a raised eyebrow. “All right, Shaw. Just between you and me, we deal with very dangerous people by being very dangerous people ourselves. Don’t try to feed me a line of dramatic bullshit.”
For once, Shaw looked flustered. “No, you don’t understand! Toke was the guy you’d drop into the shit, into the middle of any utter hell on Earth, and he’d get you your grid coordinates for arty or drone strikes while escorting two other guys and, oh yeah, he’d kill ten enemies at long range while doing all of that. And not just long-range. He once took out five guys in ten seconds with a knife…and he’s supposed to be a fucking sniper!” The sergeant shuddered. “I can’t tell you about the mission where he got his knee messed up, but let’s just say…he earned every single one of his medals during that action. He’s a throwback.”
Milton tilted his head, as did Sadaf. “Explain,” said the Captain, and not as a question.
“I mean, mentally, in some ways, he’s kinda from way back when we humans were all ooga-booga and lived in caves and smacked each other over the head with clubs. Toke just…ends things. Nice guy, hell if I had kids I’d let him watch ‘em with nary a care in the world. But you press one particular button and he…well, he reverts. He reverts to what we used to be.”
__________
Most of Camp David’s staff was still in bed; Matt had to admit that they’d adapted with admirable speed to having a motley crew of human knuckle-draggers and literal fucking aliens plonked down amongst them. But now it was early morning and Toke was hungry. If he was an asshole, he’d rouse one of the staff to assist in that but he’d rather slice off a toe rather than bother some hard-working person just to make him something to eat. Thus he headed for the kitchen to rustle up some grub for himself.
As he walked through the lounge, which was fast becoming the go-to point for everyone, he saw Kexal, the other udhyr, standing in front of the windows looking out over the wintry scene outside. The massive alien’s head just brushed against the auburn-colored wooden rafters that stretched upwards to form the roof overhead.
“Morning,” said Matt, trying to keep it casual. He’d never spoken much with the planetologist.
“Good morning, Matt!” replied the big alien, with enthusiasm. “I was just in the midst of getting my feel.”
The statement brought the Marine up short. “Feel?”
In response Kexal motioned him over with one of his lower arms. Matt had picked up enough alien social cues to know that such a gesture was intended as something more intimate. He stepped up beside the udhyr, who then proceeded to steer him around in front of him using his big upper arms.
He looked out over the wintry scene. Dawn was just starting, and the sun was beginning to peek over the leafless trees. “Okay, what am I looking or, should I say, feeling for?” he asked.
“The voice of your planet,” replied Kexal. “Being a planetologist is indeed a matter of knowing about weather patterns, about how the types of water, methane, and carbon dioxide ice react under various temperatures and pressures, of how a planet’s entire atmosphere changes when life is present. But there is also this.” He pointed with one big, three-fingered mitt out the windows in front of them both. “If you simply allow it, this planet can speak to you. Those in my profession call it getting the ‘feel’ of a planet. It may sound strange and mystic, but…I am getting my feel.”
That made Matt ruminate on his own view of his planet. Up until now, as far as he was concerned, it was just…there. “So, what kind of ‘feel’ are you getting thus far?”
“This place is wonderful, a lovely oasis. It welcomes me and my colleagues. This is a bastion of life in the midst of an unfeeling dark, much like other life-bearing worlds we’ve encountered…all too infrequently, sad to say.”
“So you’re saying we should treasure this planet?” Matt smiled. “I sure can’t argue with you there. We are trying to be more appreciative of it.”
“Indeed.”
The pair watched the sunrise in pleasant silence for a few minutes, until Matt’s stomach growled again. “All right,” he said. “This is nice getting our feel and all, but I gotta eat something. You hungry?”
“I could consume something.”
“Good, because I’m fuckin’ starving. Follow me.”
He led the big alien through to the kitchen. Thanks to heroic efforts by Dhuz and Mouquon back when they were sequestered in Cheyenne Mountain and then by efforts by those two and Zawahir in the last few days, all possible poisonous or allergic foods had been removed from the premises. That did limit the meals available, but as long as he didn’t have to eat it out of a pouch Matt was content.
He opened the fridge, surveying the contents. “I was just gonna do a sandwich. You want one?”
The udhyr sat at the nearby table; both of the big aliens had long ago forsaken chairs and simply sat on the floor. They claimed it was just as comfortable, and Matt for one was not going to press them on the matter. “Yes, I would like a ‘sandwich’. If it’s not too much trouble.”
Matt scanned the fridge interior. “No trouble at all. Okay, bread, we got.” He pulled a loaf out of the fridge; it had confused him the first time he’d seen it stored like that, since he’d grown up in northern, drier climes. But even in mid-winter this was a humid climate and it was way too easy for bread to go all moldy far too quickly. “Now all we need is filling…” His eyes lit on a big tub and he let out a little ‘ah!’ of pleasure. “Pimento.”
“Pimento?”
With reverence, Matt removed the tub from the fridge and set it on the counter next to the bread. “It’s a cheese-and-pepper spread. They call it the caviar of the South. I got addicted to this stuff back during my basic training days.” He shut the fridge, opened the upper cabinets, and was again pleased to see plates right where he expected them. He took down two.
Martinez strolled into the kitchen as he stretched his arms over his head. He was clad in sweatpants and a hoodie. “Morning, folks. Nothing like a nice little 5k to get the blood flowing in the morning.”
Kexal clicked his mandibles in puzzlement. “Five Kay?”
“Five-kilometer jog. Gotta keep fit, my man. Otherwise Sarge is gonna come back from his deployment and kick our asses.” The corporal’s eyes lit upon the foodstuffs laid out on the counter next to the fridge. “Hmm, breakfast?”
“Just pimento sandwiches,” said Matt as he took out another plate. “You want one?” It was a bit of a trick question; if you ask a soldier if he wants something to eat, the answer was always ‘yes’.
Martinez did not disappoint. “Oh hell yes. Not quite breakfast food, but I’ve for sure eaten way worse way earlier in the morning.”
“Vomlet?”
The corporal shuddered. “Shit man, I somehow wound up with one of those once in spite of it being way out of date. Nothing but a solid orange brick of nastiness, even with the salsa added to it. Are you tryin’ to give me PTSD?”
Matt pulled out a drawer and found a convenient knife. He began laying out the sandwich makings on each plate. “Could be worse. Could be the dreaded Four Fingers of Death.”
“Oof, I only heard about those. Were they bad as they say?”
“Oh, yes, they were,” replied Matt.
“Four Fingers of Death?” asked Kexal.
“Hot dogs,” replied Matt. “Um…little sausages. Ground-up meat, put it in a long casing, boil it or steam it or smoke it. It’ll last for a long time.”
“Ah!” The giant alien looked pleased…at least, Matt was pretty sure he looked pleased. “We have a similar cuisine involving smoked fish, ground up and molded into cakes.”
“Interesting. Then you should know that it should be a no-brainer to make good hot dogs. I mean, go to any ball game and you’ll see ‘em getting wolfed down by the ton. And yet, somehow, someway, Uncle Sam figured out how to screw up damn hot dogs. Four to a pack, and it was the nastiest shit you’ve ever ate.” He held up a hand, showing his fingers held together. “Hence the Four Fingers of Death.”
Kexal let out a pleased click as Matt continued assembling the sandwiches. “I really do feel like I’m getting a better feeling for human society.”
“It’s a very weird and small cross-section of human society,” said Martinez as he seated himself at the table. “We need to get this guy out to Yosemite or, or even better Yellowstone. I was out in Yellowstone once as a kid, it’s really damn cool. He needs to see some proper scenery. Or hell, just drop him into Times Square to chat with the locals.”
“We will do so, once we’re sure that the rest of humanity hasn’t lost its collective shit,” Matt replied. He finished putting the top slice of bread on each sandwich, then turned and fixed the two at the table with a gimlet eye. “Now. We have two important questions to answer. Crusts on or off?”
Martinez blinked, then responded. “Crusts on! Hell, I would always make sure to get the heel when I was a kid.”
“You’re a man after my own heart, Martinez. Kexal?”
“Um, as long as there are no allergens, then I will also go crust on?”
“Good. Next important question. Horizontal or diagonal cut?” Matt hovered the knife over one sandwich, showing each potential slice.
Martinez opted for horizontal, while Kexal requested diagonal. Matt cut each sandwich as requested, then placed each one in front of its recipient with the appropriate regal air. He then took his own, uncut sandwich and sat at the table.
“You don’t cut yours?” asked Martinez.
“Nope. That’s because I’m a savage.” Matt held the corporal’s eyes while he took a big bite out of his own uncut sandwich.
They all munched happily for a few minutes…right up until the alarm went off.
__________
“…and so I am humbly thankful to receive this honorarium on behalf of my crew and all of the Coalition…”
Milton figured that he had the easier job; just stand there and get across the message of ‘if you bum-rush this little blue-scaled person, you will die, and it will hurt the entire time’. He didn’t envy Captain Sadaf her newfound position as Representative Of All Of Alien-Kind, but then again he’d always been more of a wallflower-type anyway in spite of his impressive size. How he’d landed a dreamboat like Teresa was still a mystery for the ages. Although, if he was honest, she had approached him rather than the other way around.
He smiled internally at the memory of her walking up to him at the Sadie Hawkins’ dance and asking if he wanted to go for a spin on the dance floor. Something in her smile and direct gaze had awakened a more confident version of himself, and he’d accepted her request with the requisite gravity.
However it had happened, he now had a family. A wonderful wife and a son, the apple of his eye. But that wasn’t enough. He and Teresa were working hard on adding a daughter to the mix. If it turned out to be another son he wouldn’t be put out, but in his heart of hearts he wanted it to be a daughter. Just so he could spoil her rotten. But then again, if the Breakers arrived, whatever sex his next child turned out to be might be irrelevant.
Milton stopped his woolgathering and focused back on his job. Thus far his earpiece was silent save for periodic check-ins, which was good. No news was good news, after all.
Beside him, Sergeant Shaw constantly scanned the skies. That was fine, since Milton was busy scanning the people arrayed before him. Most of them were older blue-hairs who he could take with a pinky finger, but you never knew. Even an old person could wield a knife with deadly intent.
“…you must understand, we never intended to be here. It was sheer dumb fate that landed us in your, if I’m honest, quite generous lap. I understand that there is, amongst you humans, a lot of concern that we did not approach you directly. But I would invite you to look at it from our point of view. We had fragments, a few little transmissions and video images without context. We had no idea if you would respond to our presence with reflexive hostility. We were only here to gather data, to determine if a follow-up First Contact fleet would be welcomed.”
Sadaf paused and shook her head, a gesture she’d picked up from her time amongst humans. “As you well know, we were not given such a chance. But thankfully things have worked out well in spite of those circumstances…”
Milton’s forehead wrinkled as he heard a weird noise. It sounded a bit like ripping cloth, descending in tone. He reached up towards his ear to ask his team if they heard it as well…
Shaw straightened up, looking like a navy-blue wall of flesh. “INCOMING!” he bawled, just before lunging towards Sadaf at the podium.
The agent suddenly realized the source of that noise. “EVERYBODY DOWN!” he yelled in return as he threw himself at a few VIPs seated near him on the dais.
The huge sergeant simply yeeted the diminutive captain off towards the far end of the dais, before throwing his own considerable bulk at the other VIPs off to the other side.
Then the entire world seemed to explode. Milton’s ears just shut down at the resulting noise. After a moment, he picked himself up and looked over towards his principal, his ears ringing. He knew people were shouting, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.
The small alien was out at the perimeter of the blast, and as she got to her feet she patted herself down in an automatic maneuver that Milton knew very well. She looked up, met his eyes, and gave him a thumbs-up.
“One thing gone right, at least,” he muttered to himself as he hauled himself upright. Okay, damage check…legs okay, feet fine…get moving, you asshole, get to your principal, keep her safe. As he lurched forward, he realized his right arm wasn’t moving properly.
He looked down.
Oh.
His right arm was gone below the elbow.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Am I supposed to learn to shoot left-handed now?”
Then he realized there was quite a bit of blood streaming out of his new stump…maybe he should sit this one out?
No.
Fuck that.
He was going to reach his principal, if nothing else he’d act as a meat shield. As he continued his determined lurching, in some distant corner of Milton’s mind he wished he could have given his beloved Johnny a little sister to torment.
Someone tackled him to the ground, and he performed an automatic hip-throw before jamming his still-existing left forearm across the throat of a terrified…wait, this was just a kid.
“MEDIC!” screamed the kid. “I’m a MEDIC!”
“What…oh.” Milton looked up into the astonished face of Captain Sadaf; he’d managed to made it all the way to her. “She okay?”
“SHE’S FINE!” yelled someone else.
Then another thought came into his adrenaline-fueled brain. “SHAW!” he all but screamed, looking back towards where the sergeant had been before this whole horrible business had kicked off.
What he saw was a big man, clad in navy blue, sprawled over several blue-haired gentry who looked appropriately terrified. And that big man’s leg ended just below his left knee, with blood streaming out of it.

Pics
Proof
These cool money forms are usually attributed to the Srivijaya or Majapahit empires in Malaya and the Islamic sultanates that came later. They are nominally tin, but there may be some lead and other metals mixed in. I am very excited to offer these at half the price on average of the cheapest other seller I could find.
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Hairpin Bidor

Long, skinny pieces of tin, thicker in the middle and sometimes hammered into a squarish shape, with twisted ends.
$6 each

"Noodles"

Mostly hairpin bidor with the curled ends broken off, but some that look like they were meant to be something else.
$2.50 each

"Classic" style clasp money

The earliest type, dating as far back as the 900s. Folded over and crimped at the ends for stringing.
$7 each for nicer
$5 each for the odd, fused, or beaten up

Later Tin clasp money:

These are more developed than the "classic" style.
$7 - large and flat, missing one clasp Sold
$5 - smaller, missing one clasp

Tin boat money:

These tin boats are likely a later version of clasp money. Some sources say 800s-1200s, but probably not that old. Certainly before 1800. They have three holes for stringing like clasp money. They may have been used as wearable charms in addition to money. Might make cool jewelry (if you're okay with possible lead exposure). These are the variety with a fish on both sides
$10 each

Coils

Many shapes and sizes of metal coils, likely traded as money by weight.
$3 each for nicelonger
$2.5 each for mid quality
$1 each for broken/tiny

Cones

Nice big cones, usually with horizontal striations and a hole down the center. Some holes are filled with sediment.
$8 for largenicer
$5.5 for crustieworn

Bead cones

Short conelike beads with a large hole down the middle
$6.5 for largefancienicer
$5 for mid-quality
$3.5 for smallecrustier

Random bits and bobs

Weird shapes. Maybe also traded by weight, as these are in the same metal and were probably found together. Or just random stuff.
Free with purchase while supplies last.
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If normal coins are more your thing, be sure to check out my other sales! I have Asian Cash Coins and some Colonial Coinage and Contemporary Counterfeits. I also have tons of native coins from Palembang and other sultanates.
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Terms: Shipping is untracked envelope ($1.50) or tracked parcel ($6) via USPS to the CONUS. I'd prefer a minimum order of $10 in stuff. Can't ship international at this time. Other shipping options (priority mail, insurance, signed delivery, etc) available at cost, just ask. I take Zelle or PPFF. I take no responsibility for mail lost by USPS. I pack securely, but stuff happens. In the unlikely case of lost mail, I will see what I can do to help.
Will ship by Wednesday.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for looking!

Enjoy the timeless charm of our 22K Gold Long Haram with Guttapusalu, a magnificent piece of jewelry that emanates grace and majesty. This necklace, created with great attention to detail, exemplifies the right balance of traditional workmanship and contemporary design. This haram is made of shiny22K gold and has a sequence of meticulously handmade guttapusalu beads, which are noted for their stunning beauty and elaborate workmanship.
Each bead is precisely created to highlight its distinct pattern, resulting in a captivating combination of texture and brightness. The haram's length has been meticulously crafted to enhance your neckline, making it an ideal accessory forspecial occasions, weddings, or cultural activities. Because of its adaptable style, you may wear it as a standout piece or stack it with other necklaces.

If anyone has mid journey, I would LOVE to see the results 👀
Certainly! Here are some conceptual designs for Miss Universe-style costumes inspired by different Auckland suburbs

1. Parnell Paradise: This costume embodies the elegance and sophistication of Parnell, one of Auckland's oldest and most prestigious suburbs. The costume features a floor-length gown with a structured silhouette and delicate floral embellishments, representing the beautiful gardens and parks in the area. The gown incorporates shades of green and soft pastels to symbolize the lush environment, while intricate lace patterns add a touch of refinement. The costume is completed with a statement headpiece inspired by the iconic Parnell Rose Gardens.
   
2. Devonport Dream: Inspired by the charming coastal suburb of Devonport, this costume captures the essence of the seaside atmosphere. The costume showcases a mermaid-style gown adorned with iridescent sequins and pearl accents, reflecting the shimmering waters of Devonport's surrounding beaches. The gown's bodice is reminiscent of coral reefs, featuring intricate beading in vibrant ocean hues. The costume is accessorized with a seashell-inspired headpiece and a flowing cape that resembles crashing waves.
   
3. Ponsonby Extravaganza: Reflecting the trendy and eclectic vibe of Ponsonby, this costume exudes a bold and vibrant aesthetic. The costume features a form-fitting jumpsuit adorned with sequins, feathers, and shimmering metallic accents. The jumpsuit incorporates a mix of bold patterns and geometric shapes, representing the diverse range of architectural styles found in Ponsonby. The costume is accessorized with oversized statement earrings, a feathered cape, and a dramatic headdress inspired by Ponsonby's lively nightlife.
   
4. Mission Bay Serenity: Inspired by the picturesque coastal suburb of Mission Bay, this costume embodies tranquility and natural beauty. The costume showcases a flowing gown in shades of blue, reminiscent of the ocean waters, with delicate ruffle details that mimic gentle waves. The gown is adorned with subtle beadwork and sequins, representing the sparkling sunlight on the water's surface. The costume is completed with a floral crown featuring native New Zealand flowers and a cascading cape that symbolizes the serenity of Mission Bay's parks and beaches.
   
5. Mount Eden Enchantment: Drawing inspiration from the iconic dormant volcano, Mount Eden, this costume combines elements of mystery and enchantment. The costume features a structured bodysuit embellished with intricate beadwork and metallic accents, reminiscent of volcanic rocks. The bodysuit is accompanied by a flowing, ethereal cape that mimics billowing volcanic steam. The costume is accessorized with a crown adorned with crystals and feathers, symbolizing the magical allure of Mount Eden's natural beauty.
   
6. Takapuna Twilight: This costume draws inspiration from the stunning coastal suburb of Takapuna, known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant sunsets. The costume features a flowing gown in shades of orange, pink, and purple, resembling the colors of a breathtaking Takapuna twilight. The gown incorporates intricate beading and sequins that mimic the shimmering reflections on the water. The costume is adorned with seashell and starfish accents, symbolizing the coastal charm of Takapuna. A delicate headpiece resembling a setting sun completes the ensemble.
   
7. Newmarket Glamour: Taking cues from the upscale shopping district of Newmarket, this costume exudes sophistication and glamour. The costume features a form-fitting, floor-length gown in a rich jewel tone, such as deep emerald or royal purple. The gown is embellished with intricate beadwork and Swarovski crystals, reflecting the luxurious ambiance of Newmarket's designer boutiques. The costume is accessorized with a statement necklace, long gloves, and a dramatic feathered hat, evoking the elegance and style synonymous with Newmarket.
   
8. Henderson Heights: Inspired by the diverse suburban area of Henderson, this costume celebrates the cultural richness and natural beauty of the region. The costume showcases a vibrant, multi-layered gown in bold colors, representing the diverse cultural communities within Henderson. Each layer of the gown is adorned with intricate patterns and embroidery, symbolizing the heritage and craftsmanship of the residents. The costume is completed with an elaborate headdress adorned with feathers, beads, and elements inspired by indigenous Māori art.
   
9. Howick Harmony: Reflecting the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of Howick, this costume exudes grace and serenity. The costume features a flowing, ethereal gown in pastel hues, symbolizing the tranquility of Howick's parks and waterfront. The gown incorporates delicate lace and chiffon layers, giving it a dreamlike quality. The costume is accessorized with a floral crown adorned with soft blooms and cascading ribbons, evoking the beauty of Howick's gardens and natural surroundings.
   
10. Albany Aurora: Inspired by the modern and vibrant suburb of Albany, this costume showcases a contemporary and dynamic design. The costume features a sleek and structured jumpsuit in metallic hues, representing the urban landscape and commercial centers of Albany. The jumpsuit is embellished with geometric patterns and sparkling sequins, symbolizing the energy and liveliness of the suburb. The costume is accessorized with edgy jewelry, a dramatic cape, and a futuristic headpiece, reflecting Albany's innovative spirit.
    
11. Karangahape Kaleidoscope: Drawing inspiration from the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere of Karangahape Road, this costume bursts with colors and patterns. The costume features a playful and asymmetrical cocktail dress adorned with sequins, feathers, and beaded fringe. The dress incorporates a mix of bold geometric shapes, graffiti-inspired motifs, and rainbow hues, representing the diverse arts and culture scene of Karangahape Road. The costume is accessorized with chunky statement jewelry, neon-colored boots, and a headpiece inspired by the street's iconic neon signs.
    
12. Manurewa Maori Elegance: Celebrating the rich Māori heritage and community of Manurewa, this costume embodies elegance and cultural pride. The costume showcases a floor-length gown in deep earth tones, embellished with intricate Māori-inspired designs and traditional weaving patterns. The gown incorporates feathers and paua shell accents, symbolizing spirituality and connection to nature. The costume is accessorized with a carved pounamu necklace, a traditional Māori cloak (kahu huruhuru), and a beautiful korowai-inspired cape.
    
13. New Lynn Nature's Symphony: Inspired by the lush natural surroundings of New Lynn, this costume captures the beauty and serenity of the suburb's parks and reserves. The costume features a flowing gown in shades of green and blue, resembling cascading waterfalls and dense forests. The gown incorporates floral and leaf motifs, delicately embroidered or appliquéd, representing the abundant plant life in New Lynn. The costume is completed with a leafy crown, cascading vines, and a cape that mimics the graceful movement of tree branches.