Recently bought the AvatarTTRPG. I was excited to play but didn't really like the rules and the way the game played. I have been Dming D&D for over a decade, and was much more comfortable with the rules and gameplay, so I decided to homebrew some bender classes. Right off the bat, I'm concerned about balance with these, so I thought I'd post them here, to get some thoughts on what works and what should be changed.
Kind of a long post, so I don't mind if you only check out just one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Bender
A smartly dressed man with pointed sideburns, aggressively walks forward as he relentlessly flings roaring hot bursts of fire from his fists.
As she is being surrounded, a woman with long jet black hairs sends out a great pulsing ring of flames from the palms of her hands, charring her enemies to ash.
A stoic disheveled man sits upon a mountaintop, mediating on the sounds of life around him. As each breath of air fills his lungs, a brilliant energetic cyclone of flame dances around his body.
Purveyors of passion and rage. Firebenders are excellent warriors, who can create beautiful works of art with their flames, or reap havoc and destruction across the world.
As a Fire Bender, you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Bender level Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bender level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor and medium armor Weapons: Simple weapons and martial weapons. Tools: Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma Skills: Choose two from insight, intimidation, Persuasion, Acrobatics, Athletics, perception, deception, stealth.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) two short swords (b) any simple weapon
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
• A Pai Sho set

Fire Bending
BURST OF FLAME
Beginning at 1st level you can send small bursts of flame from your fingertips. This is a melee attack that does 1d6 damage + your charisma modifier and increases as you level up. It has a reach of +10 and you are proficient with it.
Chi Points
You also gain Chi points, which can be used to cast higher level fire bending techniques. You Start off with 2 points and gain more as you level up. You regain chi points when you finish a long rest.
Firebending Ability
Charisma is your Firebending ability for your firebending techniques. You use your charisma whenever you use your Chi to cast advanced firebending.
Spell save DC + 8+ Proficiency bonus + charisma Modifier
Spell Attack Bonus Proficiency bonus + Charisma Modifier
Beginner Fire Bending Techniques
You start off knowing a handful of basic firebending techniques. You can spend one chi point to cast any of the following spells.
Control flames
Faerie fire
Produce flame
Create bonfire
Reckless Attack
Starting at 2nd level, you can throw aside all concern for defense to attack with fierce desperation. When you make your first attack on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on rolls using charisma during this turn, but attack rolls against you have advantage until your next turn.
Source of Bending
At 3rd level, you decide on which emotion you get your firebending abilities from. Choose the Path of Rage or the Path of Life. This grants you features at 3rd, 5th, and 10th level.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Intermediate Fire Bending Techniques
Starting at 5th level, you have gained experience with various firebending forms. You can now cast these spells using 2 Chi Points.
Flameblade
Heatmetal
Scorching ray
Fast Armored Movement
Starting at 5th level, your speed increased by 10 feet, while wearing light or medium armor.
Concise Bending
Starting at 7th level, you have gained concise control over your bending. You now have advantage on stealth checks that involve your bending. Additionally, you can change the temperature of liquids to any number you desire, without anyone noticing.
Brutal Critical
Beginning at 9th level, you can roll one additional damage die when determining the extra damage for a critical hit with an attack. This increases to two additional dice at 13th level and three additional dice at 17th level.
Expert Firebending Techniques
Starting at 11th level, you have honed your abilities to now be able to cast expert level Fire bending techniques. These new techniques cost 3 chi points each.
Chain lightning
Flame strike
Wall of fire
Master Firebending Techniques
Starting at 15th level, you have honed your abilities to peak performance and are now able to cast master level Fire bending techniques. These new techniques cost 4 chi points each.
Firestorm
Delayed fireball
Fire Prodigy
Starting on 18th level, you can cast Meteor Storm once per long rest, it doesn't cost any chi points.
Jet Propulsion
Starting at 20th level, you can use your fire bending to fly. You gain a flying speed of 40 and your AC increases by 2 while you are moving in this way.
Fire Bending Source
Fire benders have long been fueling their bending with emotion. Passion, rage, envy, all have the capabilities of imbuing a firebenders chi with incredible power. Rage has been the dominant source of power for the last 200 years, but earlier records show that this wasn't always the case. Fire is life and energy, and the long forgotten ways of the Sun Warriors, relies on this as their own source.
Source of Rage
Rage
When you pick this Path at 3rd level, you can go into a RAGE.
In battle, you fight with primal ferocity. On your turn, you can enter a rage as a bonus action.
While raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing heavy armor:
• You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
• When you make a melee weapon attack using your FIRE BURST, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll. This bonus increases as you level.
• You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
If you are able to cast spells, this includes spells using your chi points, you can't cast them or concentrate on them while raging.
Your rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your rage on your turn as a bonus action.
Once you have raged the maximum number of times for your barbarian level, you must finish a long rest before you can rage again. You may rage 2 times at 1st level, 3 at 3rd, 4 at 6th, 5 at 12th, and 6 at 17th.
Frenzy
Starting when you choose this path at 6th level, you can go into a frenzy when you rage. If you do so, for the duration of your rage you can make an additional attack as a bonus action on each of your turns after this one. When your rage ends, you suffer one level of exhaustion (as described in Conditions).
Mindless Rage
Beginning at 10th level, you can’t be charmed or frightened while raging. If you are charmed or frightened when you enter your rage, the effect is suspended for the duration of the rage.
SOURCE OF LIFE
This source of fire bending is the original form of fire bending. The polar opposite of the bending of today, this form of bending relies on energy, life, and the power of the sun. These fire benders are passionate and mindful.
Power of the Sun
At 3rd level when you adopt this source, you can choose to deal radiant damage instead of fire damage, at will. Additionally, your fire blast has a range of 30/60 feet.
Sun Chi
Starting at 6th level, you gain additional spells to use with your Chi points, these cost 2 points.
Investiture of flame
Sunbeam
Power of the Dragons
Starting at 10th level, you can change the color of your flame. This imbues your Fire Burst with additional properties. Choose one. And instead of doing an additional attack you add the property to your single attack. You can change the color of your flame everytime you take a long rest.
Yellow- the target must pass the charisma saving throw equal to your spell save DC or become confused.
Green-. You can heal, instead of doing damage.
White- the target must pass the constitution saving throw equal to your spell save DC or become blind.
Blue- the target must pass a constitution saving throw equal to your spell save DC or every attack against the target has advantage.
Black- The target must pass the constitution saving throw equal to your spell save DC or your flame can do necrotic damage. And prevent healing for 1 hour.
​
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​
Water Bender
A wrinkled woman with braided hair dressed in thick furs creates a giant wall of ice to block an incoming barrage of arrows.
A bearded man with shaved hair at the sides, rushes towards his enemies sending shards of ice to impale their bodies.
A long haired hooded figure twists his wrists, as his arm extends towards another person. They cry out in horror as they lose control of their bodies and start following his every command.
Wise, adaptable, and determined, water benders can harness their powers to heal their allies, or perform devastating attacks against their enemies.
​
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Bender level Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bender level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor Weapons: Simple weapons Tools: Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument Saving Throws: Wisdom, Intelligence Skills: Choose two from Insight, Persuasion, Stealth, Arcana, Survival, Perception, Nature.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• any simple weapon
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

WATER BENDING
WATER WHIP
Beginning at 1st level you can snap a long whip of water at your foes.
This is a melee attack that does 1d4 damage + your wisdom modifier. It has a reach of +5
Chi Points
You also gain Chi points, which can be used to cast higher level Water bending techniques. You Start off with 2 points and gain more as you level up. You regain chi points when you finish a long rest.
Natural Healer
Starting at 2nd level, waterbenders gain the unique ability of healing. You can heal yourself or an ally you can touch 1d4+wisdom modifier healing for every chi point you use.
Waterbending Ability
Wisdom is your Waterbending ability for your waterbending techniques. You use your Wisdom whenever you use your Chi to cast advanced waterbending.
Spell save DC + 8+ Proficiency bonus + wisdom Modifier
Spell Attack Bonus Proficiency bonus + Wisdom Modifier
Beginner Waterbending Techniques
You start off knowing a handful of basic waterbending techniques. You can spend one chi point to cast any of the following spells.
Frostbite
Ray of frost
Ice knife
Lesser restoration
Water Bending Style
Starting at 3rd level, you decide which style of water bending you want to learn. You must choose either Northern Style, Southern Style, or Swamp Style.
Intermediate Waterbending Techniques
Starting at 5th level, you have gained experience with various Waterbending forms.
You are now able to cast the following spells using your chi. You must spend 2 Chi points to cast these spells.
Snowball storm
Mass healing word
Tidal wave
Water Walking
Starting at 7th level you gain the ability to walk on water. Additionally, you gain a swimming speed of 50 ft. and can breathe underwater.
Blood Bending
Starting at 9th level you gain the ability to control the blood inside people's bodies.
You can use 4 chi points to use any of these techniques, you can only use blood bending twice a long rest. You can completely control any beast with a challenge level ½ without using chi.
Geas
Dominate person
Expert Waterbending Techniques
Starting at 11th level, you have honed your abilities to now be able to cast expert level Waterbending techniques. These new techniques cost 3 chi points each.
Wall of water
Control water
Watery sphere
Octopus Form
Starting at 13th level You can spend 8 chi points to sprout 8 limbs of water from your body. While in this form attacks have disadvantage against you. Additionally, you can attack twice with your water whip.
Master Waterbending Techniques
Starting at 15th level, you have honed your abilities to now be able to cast master level Waterbending techniques. These new techniques cost 4 chi points each.
Mass cure wounds
Wall of ice
Tsunami
Advanced Blood Bending
Beginning at 17th level, You no longer can use blood bending only twice a day, additionally you can now cast power word kill using 10 chi points.
Armless Bending
Beginning at 18th level, you can now perform all bending techniques without the use of your limbs.
Cryogenic Ice Prison
Starting at 20th level, you can now use 20 chi points to incase an enemy in a sphere of cryogenic ice. The target must pass a strength saving throw against your spell save dc, on a fail they are imprisoned in the ice until released. They do not age or die while imprisoned.
BENDING STYLE
The Water tribes, while on opposite ends of the world, share similarities. However, being so far away from each other has caused their bending styles to dramatically differ. While the north focuses on defense and creative uses for buildings and art, the south must focus on the harsh nature of their environment, and offensive abilities.Then there are the swamp benders, who have found unique ways to bend the nature around them.
NORTHERN STYLE
Defensive Water
Starting at 3rd level you learn to naturally adapt to using waterbending as a defense, your ac increased by 1. Additionally you have resistance to fire damage.
Protector of the North
Starting at 6th level, You get access to additional waterbending techniques costing 3 chi points each.
Investiture of ice
Revivify
Ice Architect
Starting at 10th level, If you have access to snow or water, you can make houses out of snow. Anyone who takes a long rest in the house gains 15 temporary hit points, this increase to 20 at level 15 and 25 at level 20
SOUTHERN STYLE
Advanced Water Whip
When you choose this style at 3rd level, Your water whip becomes a ranged attack of 30/60 and now does 1d6+ wisdom modifier in damage.
Crushing Grip of Seas
When you choose this style, starting at 6th level, Your water whip becomes like an extension of your arm, you can pick up objects with it, and you can grapple enemies with it. The grapple done using the water whip uses wisdom instead of strength. When grappling in this way, you can spend a Chi point to make your enemy prone.
Aquatic Aggressor
Starting at 10th level, you gain additional Waterbending techniques, these cost 4 chi points to use. Additionally You can use Chi to perform a waterbender technique as a bonus action when you attack with your water whip.
Maelstrom
Ice storm
SWAMP STYLE
Plant Manipulator
Starting when you choose this style at 3rd level, you can manipulate the water that exists within plants. You can extend 3 Chi points to cast the following spells.
Plant growth
Grasping vine
Entangle
Tree stride
Land’s Stride
Starting at 6th level, moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs you no extra movement. You can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard.
In addition, you have advantage on saving throws against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement, such those created by the entangle spell.
Nature’s Sanctuary
When you reach 11th level, creatures of the natural world sense your connection to nature and become hesitant to attack you. When a beast or plant creature attacks you, that creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your Bender spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature must choose a different target, or the attack automatically misses. On a successful save, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
The creature is aware of this effect before it makes its attack against you.
​
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​
Air Bender
A bald monk in orange robes and glowing tattoos stands on a cliff, he sends a great spiraling tunnel of wind forward, hurtling his enemies against the hard rocks below.
A renegade mercenary with a rough beard and worn fatigues, twirls his wrist as his hand tightens into a fist. The person across from him grasps at his throat as he attempts to breathe, with no success.
A young energetic boy rides his glider across the sun. He laughs as he lets go and falls to the earth, sending out a great wave of wind as he lands.
Patient and understanding, Airbenders spend most of their lives in isolated meditation. They have strong bonds with the people they meet as they travel the world in order to understand the 4 nations. However, some break away from this lifestyle, and use their bending for evil, not good.
​
As an Air Bender, you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d6 per bender level Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per monk level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: None Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords Tools: Choose one type of artisan’s tools or one musical instrument Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Religion, and Stealth
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
• An airbending glider

Unarmored Defense
Beginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier.
Air Bending
AIR BLAST
Beginning at 1st level, you can send out a blast of air at your foes.
This is a ranged attack that does 1d4 damage + your dexterity modifier. It has a range of 30/60
Chi Points
You also gain Chi points, which can be used to cast higher level Air Bending techniques. You Start off with 2 points and gain more as you level up. You regain chi points when you finish a long rest.
BEGINNER AIR BENDING TECHNIQUES
You start off knowing a handful of basic Airbending techniques. You can spend one chi point to cast any of the following abilities.
Patient Defense
You can spend 1 Chi point to take the Dodge action as a bonus action on your turn.
Step of the Wind You can spend 1 Chi point to take the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on your turn, and your jump distance is doubled for the turn.
Gust
You can spend 1 Chi point to cast the spell Gust.
Unarmored Movement
Starting at 2nd level, your speed increases by 10 feet while you are not wearing armor or wielding a shield. This bonus increases when you reach certain bender levels, as shown in the Air Bender table.
At 9th level, you gain the ability to move along vertical surfaces and across liquids on your turn without falling during the move.
Deflect Missiles
Starting at 3rd level, you can use your reaction to bend a shield of air around you. You can deflect the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Airbender level.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Intermediate Air Bending Techniques
Starting at 5th level, you have gained experience with various Airbending forms, you can use your chi to cast the following spells. These spells cost 3 chi to cast.
Catapult Feather Fall Gust of wind
Glider Flight
Starting at 7th level, you can use your glider to fly. You have a flying speed of 60, and cost 1 chi point per hour to stay in the air.
Stillness of Mind
Starting at 9th level, you can use your action to end one effect on yourself that is
causing you to be charmed or frightened.
Expert Air Bending Techniques
You have gained the knowledge of most airbending forms. Starting at 11th level you can spend 4 chi points to cast the following spells.
Storm sphere
Control winds
Investiture of wind
Diamond Soul
Beginning at 14th level, your mastery of Chi grants you proficiency in all saving throws.
Additionally, whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can spend 1 Chi point to reroll it and take the second result.
Master Air Bending Techniques
You have become a master airbender. Starting at 15th level, you can expend 5 chi points to cast the following spells.
Whirlwind Power word stun
Air Suffocation
Starting at 18th level, you can expend 10 chi points to create a sphere of air around your enemies head. If the target has fewer than 100 hp, you suffocate them, killing them instantly. If they have higher hp, they must make a constitution saving throw against your spell dc, on a fail they take 2d20 damage. You can choose to knock them out instead of kill.
Gliderless Flight
Starting at level 20, You no longer need a glider to fly. Your flying speed is double your movement speed, and you can attack while flying without penalty.
AIRBENDING STYLES
SKY WARRIOR
Slow Fall
When you choose this style at 3rd level, you can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you would normally take, to 0.
Twinkle Toes
Starting at 6th level, when you use Step of the Wind, you can use your airbending to propel yourself around an area. When this ability is activated you have a flying speed of 30ft. This ends at the end of your turn.
Expert Flyer
Starting at 10th level, You can fly without using Chi points. You get a flying speed equal to double your movement speed, as long as you have your glider. Additionally, your ac increases by 1 while flying. You can attack from your glider at disadvantage.
PATIENT DEFENDER
Offensive Defender
Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to use another Air blast as a bonus action.
Evasion
Starting at 6th level, your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a blue dragon’s lightning breath or a fireball spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.
Wind Hand
at 10th level you can use your air bending to grab objects and move them, additionally you can use 4 chi points to use a Telekinesis spell. (The telekinesis is not true telekinesis, it is airbending. But the spell works mechanically the same.)
​
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​
​
Earth Bender
A tall wide shouldered woman, smirks as she levitates a rock, sends it downward, and crushes her opponent under its unrelenting weight.
A muscular man with a grayed beard rushes across a barren landscape, the earth below his feet molding to his movements and propelling him forward.
Earthbenders are strong, unrelenting, and stubborn. Their sheer power and tenacious will, make them fierce warriors.
​
As an Earth Bender, you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d10 per Bender level Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution modifier per bender level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: All Armor, Shields Weapons: Simple weapons and martial weapons. Tools: none
Saving Throws: Constitution,Strength Skills: Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor,
• (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
• (a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

Earth Bending
Stone Punch
Beginning at 1st level you can hurl chunks of rock at your enemies. This is a ranged 30/60 attack that does 1d8 damage + your Strength modifier and increases as you level up.
Chi Points
You also gain Chi points, which can be used to cast higher level Earth bending techniques. You Start off with 2 points and gain more as you level up. You regain chi points when you finish a long rest.
Earthbending Ability
Strength is your Earthbending ability for your earthbending techniques. You use your Strength whenever you use your Chi to cast advanced Earthbending.
Spell save DC + 8+ Proficiency bonus + Strength Modifier
Spell Attack Bonus Proficiency bonus + Strength Modifier
Beginner Earth Bending Techniques
You start off knowing a handful of basic earthbending techniques. You can spend one chi point to cast any of the following spells.
Mold Earth
Earth Tremor
Shield
Action Surge
Starting at 2nd level, you can push yourself beyond your normal limits for a moment. On your turn, you can take one additional action.
Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again. Starting at 17th level, you can use it twice before a rest, but only once on the same turn.
Earthbending Style
Starting at 3rd level, you decide which style of Earth bending you want to learn. Choose either Sightless or Aggressor.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Intermediate Earthbending Techniques
Starting at 5th level, you have gained experience with various Earthbending forms.
You are now able to cast these spells using your chi. You must spend 3 points to cast these spells.
Spider Climb
Erupting Earth
Stone Shape
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Stone Sculptor
Starting at 7th level, you gain the ability to mold stone to your liking. You can create stone weapons, furniture, and tools.
Stone weapons- You can make any simple weapon using this ability. These weapons count as magical.
Stone tools- Artisan or thieves, crowbar.
Stone Furniture- Beds, chairs, tables, and containers*
Land Boost
Starting at 9th level, you can spend 2 Chi point to mold the land beneath your feet, and surf along it as if it is water. Your speed is doubled for the duration and attacks have disadvantage against you. Additionally, you can use earth bending to boost you to points you would not normally be able to reach. If using this ability to travel, you must spend 1 chi point an hour to stay in this state.
Expert Earthbending Techniques
Starting at 11th level, you have honed your abilities to now be able to cast expert level Earthbending techniques.
Meld into stone
Investiture of stone
Move earth
Metal Bending
Starting at 13th level you gain the ability to mold metal along with earth, all of your techniques can also be applied to metal. Additionally, your Stone Punch now does double damage when used with metal instead of stone.
Master Level EarthBending
Starting at 15th level, you have become a master of earth bending. You can now spend 4 chi points to use the following spell.
Earthquake
Advanced Action Surge
Starting at 18th level you can use action surge twice.
Rock Bullet Rain
Starting at 20th level you can disintegrate a compressed rock, and shoot its shrapnel-like fragments with great speed. Roll 4d20 you can divy out that damage to any enemies you can see.
BENDING STYLE
Sightless
Keen Perception- Beginning when you choose this style at 3rd level, you can feel people approach when they are on the ground. You have advantage for any perception check dealing with the ground. You can’t be surprised.
Keen Insight- Starting at 6th level, you have a wonderful ability to tell when someone is lying. You have advantage on insight checks if the person is standing on the ground. You can always determine someone's heart rate.
Total Awareness- Starting at 10th level, your attacks ignore total cover, additionally, you do not have disadvantage when attacking invisible foes.
Aggressor
Improved Critical
Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, your Stone Punch scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
Protection
When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 10 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.
Stone Archer
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with your Stone Punch and its range increases to 60/120.

Looking for a book about an eccentric European billionaire who wanted to create a utopia. He found an island that you could maybe only get to by hot air balloon and he set up a settlement there. It was 20 families of 4, so 80 people total. Things didn’t go well. Bf says his memories are kinda vague so these details might not be totally correct.

In ancient time there are writings and drawings of what some claim are aliens or alien aircraft. And some other things like the Nazca Lines. No one really knows. But some interpret the drawings as such.
Today we have videos and tons of supposed eyewitness accounts. People are seeing UFOs on a Dailey basis.
But what happened in the 1700-1800’s? We had already started keeping good records of everything. And there was nothing in the sky then. Maybe a hot air balloon, but nothing at night with lights. You would think that if anyone saw anything during that period there would be SOME sort of record of it. Yet there is nothing that I know of. There was very little light pollution, and people would travel through the wide open west etc…
So why are there no reports of anything during that period? There would be no confusion with planes, or drones, etc.
I try to set aside what I WANT to believe, and what I actually think. I WANT to believe all of this recent stuff will lead us to discovering something out of the world. But…. I just can’t see it happening. I think there may be some other explanation. Not sure what.

This post is for anybody else out there who might be dealing with achilles tendonitis or bursitis in your ankle. I’ve had a 2.5 year journey dealing with this, and recently completed my first 50 miler (Mohican 50 in Ohio) in 11:08, after only running trails 3 days/week (more on my plan later). I thought I’d share my training adaptations and lessons-learned for anybody else struggling with these issues too. Note: I’m \not* a doctor, though I’ve spent a ton of time seeing doctors, sports chiro’s, massage therapists, physical therapists, etc over the years for this issue. Take this like a conversation with a crazy trail runner friend over of a nice cup of coffee, or better yet, a nice cold beer. I hope it’s helpful!*
Context
I started trail running in summer 2020 after about 18 years of casual road running. I was never competitive, but I did complete two marathons in college. I started running trails for fun with my ‘crazy’ ultra-running friends in fall 2020 and heard countless stories of their races, learned their training tips, and signed up for my first 50k in May, 2021.
Late fall 2020 my rapid switch to trails caught up with me, and I started experiencing a burning pain in the back of my ankle, near the heel. After a few doctor visits and an ultrasound of my achilles (this is important, please do this if you suspect achilles issues!). I found out that I had bursitis from insertional achilles tendonitis. I was assured by multiple doctors that my achilles itself was fine, but the tension in my weak-a$$ calves was pulling on everything downstream and causing the inflammation. I ran through that pain and somewhat ignored the PT exercises I was given, also half-a$$ing my training for the 50k. I did finish that 50k (it was a spicy one to boot, with over 5,000ft of gain on technical trails), but finished thoroughly broken with an average pace of 14:30. Woof.
I took 2022 ‘off’ from racing and was feeling good enough in November 2022 to sign up for my first 50M. But I still had bursitis, along with some other issues like high hamstring pain and pain in my right hip. Here’s where the changes started. I was going to do this right this time.
Changes I made First, I got a solid PT and orthopedic doctor based on the recommendation of a local trail-runner friend - a doctor that understood runners and wasn’t just going to tell me to stop running. In January 2023 I hit the PT exercises hard. Hundreds of calf eccentrics (heel lowers to ground-level only) each week, hamstring eccentrics to help with high-hamstring pain I developed, and lots of single-leg work with the leg press. I also worked on my hips using a band doing clamshells, monster walks, etc. I continued every single exercise throughout training up to the week before my race, which was June 3rd, 2023.
Second, I decided this time I wasn’t going to wing it: I was going to follow *a plan* (gasp), but adapt it so I spent less time running, more time cross training to take stress off my ankle. I got a Trail Runner Mag. subscription and gobbled up every article I could find: Training plans. Nutrition. Speed work. Hill work. Weight lifting. Nutrition. Hydration. The list went on, and I read it all. I eventually landed on a few training plans I liked (linked after this), and paid close attention to them both while allowing myself some flexibility for my bursitis. I officially started training 22 weeks out from race day, January 7th, 2023.
Key Training Adjustments for Bursitis/Achilles Tendonitis
When I started training in January the burning pain post long-runs was real. My ankle would “stiffen up” after the long runs, so any prolonged sitting or sleeping made it much worse post-run. I used the following techniques to help with this and today have nearly zero pain while running and very minimal to no pain post-run (even after 18-20 miles!). Now, mind you, my ankle was angry for about 3 days after the 50M, but I expected that. These tactics got me a good 80% better. I still have work to do, but I’m close, and I hope this helps you too!

1. Run less (but maintain time on feet): Every single 50M training plan you’ll find has you running 5-6 days/week. I knew my ankle couldn’t handle that, so I adapted my plan such that I was only on trails 3 days a week - the long run on Saturday, the back-to-back Sunday, and one mid-week run on Wednesdays, when I also did my hill workouts. I found that book-ending the long weekend runs with two days “off my feet” allowed my ankle time to recover and inflammation to go down. But I wasn’t idle Tuesdays and Thursdays! These days I’d use a combination of elliptical, stairmaster, and treadmill hiking to get in the equivalent miles and time-on-feet necessary, while also ensuring I kept my HR in the equivalent zone to what I’d see on a run. As you’ll see in my race results - THIS APPROACH WORKS! A summary of my weekly plan follows this list.
2. Calf eccentrics: I’d suggest Googling this (or better, talk to a knowledgeable sports doc), but the basic idea is you rise up onto your toes with both feet then stand on the affected leg and slowly (3-5 seconds) lower your heel down to floor-level. The floor-level part is important based on *which* part of your achilles is damaged (please see a doctor about this!). For insertional achilles issues, I learned you don’t want to lower your heel below ground-level (e.g. on a stair), which is suggested for other achilles issues. I did 2-3 sets of 15 once or twice per day the entire training cycle, except days I was running on trails. I would also leave one day (Mondays) completely off for rest and recovery.
3. High-drop shoes: I’ve always run in a higher-drop shoes (I wear the La Sportiva Jackal II, which has a 7mm drop). The higher drop takes some load off your achilles.
4. Heel lifts/shoe inserts: Towards the latter end of my training my sports doc suggested I try a ¼” heel lift in my shoes to help with the bursitis, and it made a huge difference (put one in each shoe to prevent other issues, of course 🙂 ). The idea is: the heel lift takes additional load off your achilles - I wish I had done this sooner. There’s lots of research online about how effective this can be. The only downside is that it changed the dynamics of my shoes, so I had to start heel-lock lacing to prevent my foot from sliding forwards in my shoes. I’d say this was a major contributing factor to why my ankle started feeling a lot better, even in the peak training period.
5. Apply Voltaren and Arnica Cream to affected area: Voltaren is a topical NSAID and Arnica cream is also an all-natural pain reliever. I’d apply these to my ankle at night and wrap it in Saran wrap (I know, sounds crazy), but the wrap helps both absorb into the skin. I’d wake up feeling much better
6. Vibrants Pain Relief Patches: now this is a little “out there” but these biofrequency patches also worked great for relieving pain and inflammation on my ankle. I’d put them on post-run and my pain would melt away. I’m not sure I’m 100% bought-in to the science behind them (or pseudo-science), but they worked for me, placebo effect or not.
7. Similar to the above, the KT Tape Wave also was great for pain-relief: a little more pseudoscience that I’m skeptical about, but it works. My sports chiropractor recommended this to me and it absolutely works. It’s also great for relieving muscle pain and speeding recovery overall.
8. Massages and dry needling: I also got regular massages and dry needling and have a collection of foam rollers, balls, etc to release my muscles at home too. Keeping your calves loose is key to relieving the strain on your ankle.
9. A note on ibuprofen: overall, ibuprofen never seemed to do much for me. Ibuprofen is known to be a bad idea before/during/after runs because of how it affects your kidneys, so I avoided it altogether.

My training plan
My training plan was a combination of pure trail runs (I never wasted time running on roads or treadmills), cross training on ellipticals, stairmaster, bike, yoga (almost daily) and weight lifting. I believe the lifting, specifically addressing my weak areas, was key to my race-day success, and I broke it up into pieces throughout the week so my “off” running days focused on upper body and abs. I also believe the mobility work in yoga was incredibly important.

• Saturday long run on trail

1. The longest run I did was a 50k 4 weeks out, and by then my ankle was handling that distance quite well. I did about 3 other 20 miles runs and a few 18 mile runs

• Sunday back-to-back run on trail

1. I used a time-on-feet model for Sundays, usually between 1-2.5 hours

• Monday active recovery/upper body weights and abs + yoga
• Tuesday cross training on elliptical//stairmastetreadmill hiking + leg day (focused on hips) + yoga
• Wednesday speed day on elliptical or hill work on trail + yoga
• Thursday medium length trail run (if it was a speed week) or cross training as above with a bigger leg day (working hamstring, quads, doing mountain legs, all the big ones) + yoga
• Friday active recovery/upper body weights and abs + yoga

Note: I integrated calf eccentrics whenever I could, except for the weekends. I did around 450 calf-lowers every week (done on both legs to keep things even)
Race Results
The big day was June 3rd, 2023. The race was the Mohican 50 miler in Ohio. This wasn’t what you’d call an “easy” first 50 miler. The course was nearly 100% single-track on MBT with around 6-7,000 ft of gain, depending who’s watch you’re reading. The day-of was also above-average hot (upper 80’s), so I was very happy I spent 6 week prior heat acclimating in the sauna at my gym (link to the heat acclimation plan I used follows).
The race started at 6am and I felt good in the cool morning air. I noticed around mile 10, after we had apparently completed the first big climb that I didn't feel the climb was all that bad - all that hiking and stairmaster work was paying off! As the day went on the temps rose, but dumping ice water on my head at aid stations and taking s-caps every 30 minutes like it was my job kept me from feeling nauseated and good to keep eating both solid + liquid calories (I used tailwind). I had no issues with fuel - whoo-hoo!
But there's always something... The only major issue I had in this race ended up being my shoe-lacing (classic!). I had loosened my heel-lock lacing prior to the race because that lacing was rubbing on the tops of my ankle, causing some discomfort. Well, when your shoes are too loose you cause other issues, and my feet were sliding forward in my shoes the entire race, leading to some major big-toe pain and blisters.
Nonetheless, I finished with a smile in 11:08, just about 50 minutes ahead of my goal time. I snagged 1st place woman in my age group, and 9th woman overall, 39th runner out of the pack. My ankle didn't’ bother me at all during the race - only when I stopped (of course!). It took about three days for my ankle to recover, but at this point I know how to treat it and keep the pain manageable. I’ll continue to monitor my achilles with my doctor, continue all the exercises I’ve been doing, and get back to running after a few good weeks of recovery!
In Summary
If you’re dealing with achilles tendonitis, I sure do hope this is helpful! I’ve heard from many that this is an issue that may never fully go away. I’m also convinced (again, not a doctor, but based on my experience) that rest is not the answer, because if you aren’t strengthening your calves and your legs, you will never take the strain off your achilles or get blood-flow to the area to promote healing. My ankle felt better and better the more I got into my training plan - wild! Training your body to adapt and grow stronger, while not overloading the ankle is key. Take an off-day if you have pain, and see a doctor regularly to make sure you aren’t doing further damage. I hope you have the same success!
My training plan links:
Training Plan 1: https://relentlessforwardcommotion.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Free-50-mile-ultramarathon-training-plan-outline.png
More Specific Training Plan with Hill and Speed Work: https://www.trailrunnermag.com/training/training-plans-training/an-advanced-50-mile-training-plan/
Heat Acclimation Plan: https://trainright.com/ultrarunners-heat-acclimation-cheat-sheet/
Taper Week Plan: https://www.trailrunnermag.com/training/trail-tips-training/a-day-by-day-training-guide-for-race-weeks-and-tapers/

what even happens in this show? Slow burns are all good and all but even on a plot level what happens? Nothing!
It makes me so mad when Step by Step is airing at the same time as Our Dining Table. Both of them are slow burns but ODT balances it out by having 30 min episode. SBS makes it worse by extending your typical 45 min - 1 hour episode to a full 90 min episode. Entire movies are 90 mins long. It's redundant use of time. It's a waste of time worse than Kamol's habit of wasting water. I could cut entire sections out of this and the story would remain the same.
It's supposed to be a gay Pride and Prejudice. Assuming the author didn't know (highly unlikely) but it's a book and thus excusable. The show writers certainly knew this going in. And somehow it's still so lazy. It's been 7 episodes and nothing has happened.
'Jeng is a bad boss.' He made one frustrated statement which was justified. Pat fucked up. And somehow now Pat is traumatized? Show some backbone and professionalism. To continue with the Pride and Prejudice thing - Does anyone believe Elizabeth Bennet would take Ying's bullshit? Hell no.
And Jeng has repeatedly made improvements. Just thinking about this show from his perspective brings all of Pat's flaws into sharp focus. Jeng is under pressure from his father, his employees are busy bodies, he is trying to be a better boss from the moment he found out that he's doing something wrong. Pat still doesn't believe him and gets hot and cold all the time. My opinion of Jeng drops because of Pat. Imagine if your opinion of Mr. Darcy dropped because of Liz.
And this show isn't even doing a good job of being pride and prejudice. It's a 200 year old story. How hard can it be to recreate it? You don't have to think about the plot, the character, the theme, the progression. All you have to do is adapt it to an office romance. Any fanfic writer will tell you it's challenging but not so hard that you fail so miserably.
The first two episodes gave me so much hope for this show and it's fallen and fallen since. It's unprofessional. Which is ironic in a show that talks so much about professionalism.
Even if the Pride and Prejudice thing isn't actually a thing. The show is still majorly lacking in 99/100 departments. The only good thing being Jeng's actor - Man. He is so freaking brilliant, he keeps me watching, he is leagues ahead in terms of skill to his scene partner. Someone else should have been cast as Pat. This show should have been in workshop more for everything - the script, the acting, the chemistry, the characters, everything.

Hi HR peoples of reddit
I’m not sure if this is a good place to post this so apologies in advance if this post would be more appropriate somewhere else. If you have a suggestion should that be a concern this is the goal of posting this so thanks in advance for your consideration and comments.
I hope someone has some experienced advice to aid with resolving an ongoing concern related to a very suspicious persistent challenge I’ve had for several years securing employment in Information Technology systems administration and engineering roles.
I’ve been working in IT for twenty years, many of those years as a managed services IT systems analyst and engineer, I’m a Linux specialist and peer mentor or teacher regarded as exceptionally competent world wide by many students I’ve mentored or individuals assisted with IT systems diagnostics concerns.
I’m also a self professed autodidact, have never valued attempting a bachelors degree or attended a university however I pursued Microsoft certification in 2003, skipped the bachelors degree to pursue continuing education systems integration specialist program in 2005 and have been a participating and practicing volunteer Linux distribution developer and user support specialist also for twenty years. As a result I have a publicly visible proficiency history anyone can review online beyond my professional references.
My professional roster of references includes the University of Toledo, signed on letterhead before considering attending college.
My previous employment role was a senior level IT systems engineering role with a very comfortable salary however I've been unemployed for two years and everywhere i've applied has declined, several just stating “we can’t hire you” or it’s good we have many other candidates.
Any attempts to inquire about reasons for for declining to hire in contrast to what appeared to be some desire to want to have been left unanswered or with no response to consider.
I think my previous employer's manager f*cked my reputation somehow despite the positive reference I received and I dont know how but I have some suspicions that I have no knowledge of or familiarity to validate but have considered plausible.
My previous employer operates an award winning respected family owned digital media productions business and is very competent at that task. Every day working there was a pleasant experience akin to watching Bob Ross from my office window.
The staff is very talented and I enjoyed working there but the core infrastructure computer systems they relied on were relied upon too frequently with no secondary IT infrastructure leaving very narrow opportunities for maintenance. This frequently resulted in IT staff being forced to work on sunday mornings perhaps several times a week to update and reboot servers or replace failed storage server disks or other maintenance defect elimination chores if you valued the management avoiding your sphere of influence.
Of course no overtime was considered. the cold draft beer fridge was provided to help you forget about all the other things you could be doing with your weekend.
Extended durations of IT infrastructure systems use without maintenance for example continuing to use end of life network switch equipment for 14 years always eventually creates exponentially more significant reliability problems especially if you’re a business that never reboots for updates or forgot to service your air conditioning condenser units resulting in a July heat wave causing the aircon units to fail to chill and instead blow hot air, overnight... into a sealed concrete room full of server equipment.
I’ve previously been hired in my youth to maintain a bread oven but that was working as a pizza delivery chef. This server room had it not been discovered would have started a fire at very least when the backup tapes all reached flashpoint.
In addition both of the two previous IT staff members were fired or quit leaving all of the responsibility of a business’s IT systems with many defects and reliability concerns to me to attempt to address. Some of the issues I resolved were comical.
For example a 2 cent ethernet cable end with the important role of connecting the main network router to the ISP fiber optic connection disconnected the internet when wiggled slightly for a business with 60 employees because the cable end was stretched and rotten.
To be fair I enjoy these challenges but there’s realistic and reasonable volume of end of life systems affecting reliable business operations one person should have to address when that business entirely relies on Information Technology Infrastructure systems. I used to fix these issues with two to five experienced people as a managed services engineer.
To paraphrase the problems this place needed to be shutdown and tons of important equipment replaced, “everything” reinstalled and repaired but I was trying to duct tape and wood glue the holes in the boat, with sixty passengers while it was traversing an ocean. Both of the windows server virtual machines wouldn’t install winrar.
My manager at the time while a commonly competent digital productions manager appeared to believe his competency with IT systems infrastructure was more competent than they realistically were. Director or manager of IT was among this individual’s employment titles however this fellow had no IT qualifications and very limited skillset outside computer programming, business administration and digital media talents.
This created some tension when he was forced to display being inept due to inexperience to really understand complex reliability concerns including why using a video display cable reversed such as dvi to displayport was incorrect because micro electronics specifications. While that’s a minor issue the volume of defects and misconfigured IT systems was collectively more than someone with very limited IT engineering experience could comprehend.
I’m a competent IT systems engineer and saved their computer server room from starting a fire on a weekend and the hiring manager was under pressure to meet production deadlines that never considered maintainence shutdowns.
The relationship started to sour when the company owner tried to "motivate" me to participate in insurance fraud by offering legal assurances by signing cyber security eligibility qualifications documents desired by the insurance underwriter under false pretenses that would have assured the company eligibility for cyber security insurance renewal.
The insurance underwriter ultimately refused to renew the insurance policy until the qualifications were legitimately addressed which I offered to assist with, legitimately any way I’m able to contribute. It was noted business administration concerns are outside my wheelhouse.
This is a business that had also been compromised by ransomware and held for ransom. They had every operating system software update possible entirely disabled, were compromised, paid the ransom, recovered the data and then reinstalled all of the computers again with all of the software updates disabled.
As a result of the state of this businesses IT system defects at the time this business never qualified for cyber security insurance the previous year, before I was responsible for the entire IT department.
I politely declined to illegitimately affirm and sign the documents as I value avoiding being arrested or sued however the company owner and my manager didn’t appear to share my enthusiasm for motivating legal legitimacy. The illegitimacy wasn’t considered a dilemma for the scapegoat.
All of the IT system defects and end of life equipment reliability issues brooded tension where the company owner and hiring manager decided not to renew my contract. I was perhaps even a little pleased to be relieved of the burden of management inept at responsible or reliable IT systems ownership.
I had considered why they fired my predecessor and the other junior tech quit and moved to the opposing side of the country. Evidently that wasn’t a coincidence. If you don't want to answer phone calls a few time zones can become a great avoidance strategy.
After my contract renewal HR meeting with the production studio manager and HR lady had wrapped up where it had been agreed I’m leaving with a positive reference I did receive and still have for a senior role, unemployment eligibility due to the improvements to the company I completed or endured and the insurance illegitimacy circumstances I had believed everything was fine.
Surely there’s no cause to be concerned by this overall experience where the manager for reasons may have believed I was inept, considering all the IT systems I maintained during my employment term in contrast of all of the references and experience I posses.
My hearing isn't always that great because I have tinnitus so if I'm not paying attention to what someone is discussing nearby or perhaps even on a telephone I may disregard ambient discussions if I’m not observing someone speaking.
I recall the manager muttering something behind my back and the HR lady replying with a comment firmly stating with a concerned tone “but then nobody will hire him again...!?” which followed with what appeared to be a disagreeable exchange followed by the manager appearing to threaten to fire the HR lady if she didn't comply with his instructions.
I’ve suspected the instructions may have been to add my identify to some HR employee candidate blacklist database.
i'm not completely certain of or if what i heard being discussed was in relation to me because I have tinnitus or if that is legitimately plausible but I’ve exhausted willingness to continue relying on the positive reference I received despite having completed my contract term.
There is it. It’s a tale of plausible abuse by management of a senior employee that quite realistically saved a business from creating of sixty more unemployed employees but I’m still left with concerns if it was possible the HR lady, under duress of being fired from a new position had caved and done something to ensure I would never be hired by anybody.
The HR lady was fantastic but the management certainly didn't display motives with the utmost integrity.
Does anyone know how or if this would be possible?

Cross posted from AskNYC just in case there are other New Yorkers here who might know.
These used to be in stock at my local H Mart, but sometime a while ago (several months or more) they disappeared and haven't come back. I've seen a few of the regular flavor (black package) in random convenience stores, but there are some special flavors I've really been missing, as well as some newly released ones from the last year or two that I've been wanting to try. If anyone knows where I might be able to find these, please let me know!
If it helps, the flavors I'm looking for are:
Curry
Kimchi
Carbo
Habanero Lime
Quattro Cheese
Cream Carbo (different from original carbo, has a pink and yellow gradient and hot air balloon on the package)
Yakisoba
I will love you forever if you can point me to where any of these are for sale in the city, especially the ones in the second half of the list!! They are available for sale online, but at double the price, so I would love to save some money and also find a new go-to place for my favorite ramen. Thank you!

These used to be in stock at my local H Mart, but sometime a while ago (several months or more) they disappeared and haven't come back. I've seen a few of the regular flavor (black package) in random convenience stores, but there are some special flavors I've really been missing, as well as some newly released ones from the last year or two that I've been wanting to try. If anyone knows where I might be able to find these, please let me know!
If it helps, the flavors I'm looking for are:
Curry
Kimchi
Carbo
Habanero Lime
Quattro Cheese
Cream Carbo (different from original carbo, has a pink and yellow gradient and hot air balloon on the package)
Yakisoba
I will love you forever if you can point me to where any of these are for sale in the city, especially the ones in the second half of the list!! They are available for sale online, but at double the price, so I would love to save some money and also find a new go-to place for my favorite ramen. Thank you!

Can I beat it or do I need the help of a sage? I'm still on the quest Sidon of the zora and just said screw it I'm going.

My hotel offers two hot-air balloon tours, and I was wondering what to go for? The Cat Valley one is slightly cheaper, but my concern is which ones do people prefer?

Developing on the theme set out by u/neutrinoprism, I would like to present another OCPoetry Lounge!
This time, I would like to hear about recent books you have been reading. While your comments and conversations could focus on books of poetry, you can share and discuss any recent books you have encountered, read a few pages from, or obsessed over for the past decade...
To offer a starting point, I'll share that I tend to read sporadically. Lately, I've been reading a biography of Herman Melville, John Gardner's illustrated Grendel, and varied histories of Cleveland, Ohio. The last book of poetry I touched is Stephen Mitchell's bilingual edition of Rainer Maria Rilke's selected works. While I think Mitchell's translations are often more effective than not, navigating Rilke's poetry, I think he often unnecessarily twists the English to meet the German syntax and rhyme scheme. Regardless, I have enjoyed the other books immensely -- particularly Grendel for how it subverts the narrative of Beowulf, closely following Grendel's developing relationship with men, only to cut short before he is challenged by the human hero. Nearly every page is filled with language to quarry, even as the prose breaks down into sections of song and strange poetry in the later chapters.
​
Anyhow, remember, we are just loungin' loungin', mellow out and just loungin'...
You can't tap into this unless you know the roots, so just sit back and share the air:
​
What books have you been reading?
What kind of relationship is there between your reading and writing?
Beyond poetry, what kinds of books do you find yourself drawn towards and why?
​
Cheers,
Casual

Hey wonderful souls! I ask here because I can’t really talk to my friends about these since they’re pretty shallow and they’d call me a simp lol. Which I understand since they’re not experiencing it.
We’re meeting for the third time 2 weeks from now. If out energies flow, I’m planning on asking her to go on a Hot air balloon sunset ride with me. Not a private one, but the big ones with other people on it. Keep reading if you want to know more!
So my person and I met Apr 1st at a show, I felt an instant connection with her.. If you’re experiencing this connection then I don’t really have to explain how I felt and how I believe she felt as well at least at a certain extent. We decided that night to meet up again at another show we were both going to that’s from the first one.
The second meeting was just as magical, for myself at least.. I’m not sure about her cause I felt her pulling away after that.. I know for a fact that I caused it, there’s a few things I could think of that would’ve sent the wrong message, the big one is that I was high, even though I implied that I’m planning on being sober. She don’t do stuff like that, not even alcohol.
Anyway, after that I asked her if I can visit and she pretty much said she’s busy and got a lot going on so it’s hard for her to make plans with people.. after that it just got kinda weird and I tried to keep texting but unlike the beginning where we would literally send paragraphs, we weren’t flowing as well so we texted maybe every 3-7 days for like a month cause I didn’t want to be pushy.
But 2 weeks ago the flow started coming back. I’ve worked so much on my health physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and I actually stopped doing recreational drugs despite still going to shows. I think she sensed it. Anyway, 2 weeks from now we’ll get the chance to see each other at a festival.
So from everything we’ve talked about so far I know that she’s a hopeless romantic, and she feels like she missed out on a lot as a kid and a teen because she was so focused on studying and getting where she’s at now.. and she just started being more outgoing and being open to new experiences! I love the way she sees life and the world!

My name is Oliver Stubbs. My whole life and identity are all inextricably entwined with my camera, and to say that I make a living behind the lens would be a monumental understatement. Ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the power of photography, the ability to freeze time - to immortalise a moment. At an early age, I discovered a knack for capturing more than just images but stories, emotions, and life itself, though looking back, my pictures weren't all too impressive as a child. But, as I grew older, my fascination turned into a burning passion. I studied photography at the prestigious University of Arts London and became prominent for my evocative storytelling through images. I had the unique ability to capture the unseen, the unheard, the unspoken - the soul of a scene. My distinctive style was hailed as revolutionary.
My work spans a range of genres, but my underwater photography has become particularly renowned. The unseen world beneath the waves, teeming with life, captivated me, and I devoted myself to capturing it in all its vibrancy and mystery. My photos were acclaimed for their vivid detail and uncanny ability to transport viewers beneath the surface into the heart of the underwater world. My images graced the covers of National Geographic and Time magazines, and my exhibits were frequented by photography enthusiasts worldwide. And at the age of 30, I was awaiting the dreaded 'burnout' my friends had all complained about.
​
I was a natural choice when the renowned historical and marine research organisation, the Sea Past Society, decided to take on the ambitious task of finding and documenting Ravenser Odd, Britain's own Atlantis. They needed someone who could document the submerged ruins in a way that showcased their historical significance and captured the mystique of a town long lost to the sea. A challenge that I knew was perfect for me.Dr Katherine Howard, the head of the Sea Past Society and a well-respected marine historian, contacted me personally. She believed in my unique talent for visual storytelling and thought I could bring the sunken town's story to life. She felt my photos could inspire a global audience, stir their imagination, and allow them to connect with a past submerged beneath the cold waters of the North Sea. Naturally, I was thrilled and honoured to be selected for such a significant project. The chance to dive into the mysterious depths and uncover the secrets of a lost town was a dream come true, and although I had done similar projects - something just felt... Different.
My flat in London soon became a frenzy of activity, cluttered with new high-tech underwater cameras, powerful lights for illuminating the dark ocean depths, and all manner of equipment for preserving my gear against the corrosive effects of saltwater, all funded by the Sea Past Society. But amid the chaos, there was an undercurrent of palpable excitement. Beneath the exhilaration was a thin layer of anxiety, like a dusting of frost on an otherwise warm window pane. It lingered there, never once stepping into the light but ominously hovering in the room's dark corners. The task ahead was daunting. This was not a recreational dive into a well-explored reef but an expedition into a town lost to the depths six centuries ago. Unease did not overshadow my enthusiasm; it fueled it. The chance to tell the story of Ravenser Odd, to breathe life into its submerged and silent streets, was a thrill like no other. I relished the challenge. Before long, it was time to travel to Yorkshire. I was introduced to my dive buddy, a man named Callum, a burly Scotsman with a twinkle in his eye and a jovial demeanour. But beneath his light-hearted exterior was an individual of impressive expertise and meticulous attention to detail. Dr Howard had assembled a unique team of historians, marine archaeologists, and technical experts. Most of them were to say above the sea and watch through another camera broadcasting to the boat.
Callum was the Sea Past Society's Health and Safety Coordinator, a veteran diver with an impeccable track record. His task was to ensure the safety of the divers as they explored the undersea ruins, and I was to be his primary responsibility. Callum was hired not just for his expertise in dive safety but also for his ability to remain calm in a crisis. His warm personality put me at ease, making me feel safer about the dive.
​
In the days leading up to the dive, Callum and I worked closely together. We conducted practice dives, tested our equipment, and developed a dive plan. His attention to detail and uncompromising approach to safety impressed me. He was careful and cautious - but also open to the spirit of adventure that this exploration held. The excitement and nerves within me swirled like a tempest. The idea I was soon to explore a piece of history untouched for centuries, about to uncover stories that had been silenced by the sea, kept me tossing and turning in my bed at night.The day finally arrived. Our vessel was a massive, state-of-the-art boat stocked with all the equipment necessary for the dive, including cutting-edge sonar systems, robotic submersibles, and a plethora of diving gear. There was an undercurrent of tension in the air, a static charge that prickled the skin and raised the hair on the back of your neck. I noticed hushed conversations among the crew, quick, sidelong glances that hinted at concern. Was it the enormity of the task that caused this? Or perhaps they were wary of a new face? I shook it off; I had a talent for overthinking things, especially while stressed.
Callum meticulously checked my gear, ensuring every piece was functioning correctly. His diligent inspection was comforting, a touch of solidity amid a sea of anticipation. We ran through our final checklist - emergency signals, the navigation route, and ascent and descent points. As we finished our preparations, the moment we'd been waiting for was finally upon us. With one last nod of reassurance from Callum, we plunged into the icy embrace of the North Sea. The sudden chill was a shock, biting through the thick neoprene of my diving suit, but it did nothing to dampen my spirits. If anything, it heightened my senses, focusing my mind on the world we were about to enter.
As we descended, the remnants of Ravenser Odd slowly emerged from the gloom. The water had eroded much, but what remained bore a spectral reminder of the bustling town it once was. Buildings, streets, the outlines of what might have been a town square, all blanketed in a shroud of decay and encrusted with marine life. Intricate stonework, long worn away by the constant current, was now home to vibrant corals and anemones, creating an eerie fusion of man-made and natural beauty. The coral had claimed these structures, using them as foundations for their colonies, transforming them into organic, living artworks that swayed gently with the ocean's rhythm. It was a haunting sight, a tableau of life abruptly halted and preserved beneath the waves.
Statues stood guard over their underwater realm, their features softened by centuries under the sea, their stony gaze meeting mine through a veil of tiny bubbles that streamed from my regulator. A fish darted past, a flash of iridescent colour that stood out against the grey stone and green-blue water. I was caught between two worlds, the ancient human past and the teeming marine life of the present. It was simultaneously humbling and thrilling, a testament to nature's uncanny ability to reclaim and repurpose. With my camera at the ready, I eagerly started documenting this hauntingly beautiful underwater world. Callum and I navigated through the labyrinth of sunken streets. Each building was a monument to the past, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of those who once called Ravenser Odd home. While I concentrated on capturing the visual essence of these ancient structures, other team members avoided us and engaged in their own tasks. They meticulously scraped away at the encrusted stone walls, collecting samples to further understand how the sea had affected the material over the centuries. Though this underwater world was extraordinary, it wasn't entirely alien. I'd spent years exploring and documenting similar sites. Yet, each site had its own unique character, a singular atmosphere that made every dive a new adventure.
My previous major project had been an exploration of the underwater ruins of a Second World War shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. That was a poignant journey, a testament to a grim period of human history. But despite the historical significance and the eerie beauty of the coral-clad wreckage, the experience was different, perhaps because it lacked the element of human life that Ravenser Odd held. Once a mighty symbol of naval power, the decaying hull now lay silent and broken on the ocean floor. Ravenser Odd was not merely a relic of an ancient era, but a snapshot of everyday life frozen in time and lost to the ocean depths. It had once been filled with people, their hopes and dreams, their daily routines. This tangible human element made this dive so much more thrilling. I felt like an interloper peering into a time capsule of lives lived centuries ago.
I was careful to capture every significant structure, every suggestive detail that hinted at the lives once lived here. I photographed the decay, the rich marine life, and the profound contrasts between human architecture and natural adaptations. Each click of my shutter felt like a tribute, a way to immortalise the town and its untold stories for posterity
.The underwater world has a curious way of warping one's sense of time. Minutes stretch into hours, and each moment is amplified in the silent stillness of the ocean depths. Before I knew it, our dive time was up, and the team began their gradual ascent back to the surface. As I started to swim upwards, I felt an unaccountable tug, like an unseen current pulling me back towards the sunken town. It was as if Ravenser Odd was reluctant to let us go, whispering silent pleas for us to stay and listen to its muted stories a while longer. Mistaking it for my thirst for excitement was a mistake.
​
​
A few days later, I found myself in the Sea Past Society's dedicated photography lab, surrounded by the familiar hum of high-end development equipment and the sharp, comforting scent of photographic chemicals. Developing photos was always a ritual of anticipation and discovery for me. The way an image gradually emerged on the paper felt almost like magic, a portal opening up to a frozen moment in time. As the first of the underwater images began to materialise, I was thrilled to see the haunting beauty of the sunken town coming to life once more. But as I went through the developing photos, unease started to creep in. I first noticed it in one of the shots of the town square. There was a shadow that didn't align with the underwater light refraction, a blur that felt out of place. I thought it might be a technical glitch, perhaps an equipment malfunction or an error in the development process.
But as more photos developed, the anomalies kept appearing. Patches of darkness seemed to move across sequential shots, undefined shapes lurking in the corners of the frame, and odd distortions that seemed to warp the scenery. They were subtle and could easily be dismissed as flaws or artefacts of the photographic process, but something about them made me feel uneasy. I reviewed the images over and over, trying to find a logical explanation, but the more I looked, the more the inconsistencies gnawed at me. It felt as though the images were hiding something, something that lurked just beyond the edges of perception. It was as if the quiet town of Ravenser Odd had secrets it was reluctant to reveal, secrets that I had inadvertently brought back with me to the surface.
In some sort of sicking denial, I laid out the images before me, my mind teetered between disbelief and fear. Something was wrong, but I couldn't discern whether it was a simple mistake on my part or something more profound. This was my work, and the anomalies, however bizarre, had emerged from my own camera. I wanted it to be my error. It had to be... Right?
Doubt seeped into my thoughts, creating a whirlpool of uncertainty. Had I overlooked something in the underwater conditions? Had I mishandled the equipment? Was there something wrong with my camera? I was well-respected in my field and known for my precision and attention to detail. A mistake like this felt uncharacteristic, but I couldn't ignore the possibility. And then, there was the question of whether to reveal these anomalies to my superiors. I found myself wrestling with the implications.
I was not one to be easily intimidated, but the thought of jeopardising my position unsettled me. Despite my accomplishments, the all too familiar feeling of imposter syndrome set in, and I found myself questioning my abilities and whether I really belonged here. Despite this, deep within me, a quiet resolve began to form. As much as the prospect of uncertainty unnerved me, the idea of not pursuing this anomaly felt even worse. I've always been driven by a hunger for truth and understanding. I had to find out if I had messed up; if not, what was causing the distortions? Ravenser Odd had presented me with a puzzle, and I could not resist the pull to delve deeper.
​
I approached Dr Howard with a carefully considered proposal. I had crafted an excuse, one that was rooted in genuine scientific curiosity and made to cover my arse if it turned out to be my fault the entire time. I suggested we needed a more detailed visual record of the site, a series of panoramic images that could be digitally stitched together to provide a 360-degree view of the underwater town.
"This could enhance our understanding of the spatial layout of the town, Doctor," I argued, maintaining an air of professional concern. "Imagine being able to virtually navigate through the streets of Ravenser Odd. It could reveal architectural patterns, structural relationships, aspects that we may have missed during the first dive."I had chosen my words carefully, knowing that the proposal would appeal to Dr Howard's keen interest in experimental archaeological techniques. The prospect of contributing a unique method of documentation to the field was too enticing for her to disregard. To my relief, she agreed.
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Oliver," she nodded, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Prepare for another dive. And make sure this time, we document every inch of that town."
With the go-ahead secured, a new wave of anticipation swept over me. I was going back. I found myself relieved, yet something still sat deep inside of me.
​
In the days leading up to the dive, I found myself spending more time with Callum. Our shared passion for ocean exploration had naturally drawn us together, but our contrasting personalities solidified our bond. With his infectious enthusiasm and easy-going nature, Callum was the perfect counterbalance to my more focused and often intense demeanour. Callum had a knack for putting people at ease. He was full of stories about his adventures from all around the world - from wild encounters with marine creatures to the time he got lost in a coral maze off the coast of Australia. His tales were always told with a broad grin and a glint of mischief in his eyes, leaving anyone within earshot in fits of laughter. One evening, as the sunset bathed the sea in hues of orange and red, Callum and I found ourselves sitting on the company dock, just minutes from our temporary accommodations. He had brought two hot cocoa mugs, a comforting drink perfect for the cold evening. Callum turned to me as we sipped the sweet beverage and watched the sun sink below the horizon.
"You know, Ollie, diving isn't just about the adrenaline rush or the sense of adventure," he said, his eyes reflecting the dying light of the setting sun. "It's about connection. It's about understanding our place in the grand scheme of things and how we, as humans, interact with the world around us," he spoke, his words rich with his accent.
His words resonated with me. It was comforting to know that someone else understood and shared this sentiment. It was this shared sense of connection, this shared appreciation of the ocean's magnitude and mystery, that had drawn me to this profession in the first place.
As the night deepened and the stars shone brightly above, I hesitated, weighing my words carefully before speaking.
"Callum," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "there's something about the last dive I haven't told anyone."
Callum turned to look at me, his usually cheerful expression giving way to concern.
"What is it, Ollie?"
"The photographs from the dive, there are... anomalies," I confessed, watching his face nervously for any sign of ridicule or disbelief."Anomalies?" He echoed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms."Yeah," I nodded, "Shadows that don't make sense, blurs that seem to... move. It's as if something was there with us."A silence stretched between us, filled only by the distant lapping of waves against the boat's hull. Callum's face was thoughtful; momentarily, I feared I had crossed a line.
Finally, he broke the silence.
"Ollie, we were diving into a sunken town. A place that held life, history, probably secrets too," he began, his tone measured. "And let's not forget we were deep underwater, where light behaves strangely, and visibility can play tricks on your eyes and the camera."I nodded, knowing his rationale made sense - but also knowing that my concerns weren't mere illusions.
"It's more than that. The photos, they... they feel wrong. I can't explain it, but it's like the town was trying to tell us something. Or warn us."Callum regarded me for a long moment, the lines on his face deepening as he processed what I'd just shared. Then, with a firm nod, he clapped a hand on my shoulder."Ollie, you're one of the best underwater photographers out there. If you say something was off, then it was off. We'll keep our eyes open on the next dive. Together."His reassurance brought a wave of relief, and I found myself smiling at his words. His support and willingness to believe in my concerns made me feel better about the upcoming dive.
There was a moment of silence as Callum finished speaking."Thank you, Callum," I finally said, my voice filled with gratitude. "I know it sounds...odd. I just needed someone to know. Just in case."
"In case of what?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for answers. I paused for a moment, staring out at the endless expanse of the sea.
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "But whatever it is, I have a feeling it's tied to Ravenser Odd. This is different from my other dives. It feels like something more than just a sunken town."
Callum continued to look at me, his eyes reflecting concern and curiosity. It was clear that part of him didn't believe me, but he remained silent.
"Well," he said, after a considerable pause, "we'll face it. As you said, this is about more than just the town. Whatever it is."I nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie in his words.
"Yeah." I agreed, taking a deep breath as I turned to face the sea again.
​
The following morning dawned bright and clear, the crisp blue sky starkly contrasting the enigma that awaited us beneath the surface. As we prepared for the dive, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease. There was a silent tension in the air, like the stillness before a storm. Callum, once again, meticulously checked over our equipment, his attention to detail a welcome source of comfort amidst my apprehension. Every buckle, valve, and gauge was inspected; every aspect of our gear was scrutinised to ensure maximum safety.
As we began our descent, the familiar coolness of the water enveloped us, and my senses heightened. This time, however, the thrill of the dive was tinged with an undercurrent of uncertainty. As the town of Ravenser Odd came into view, an odd sensation settled over me. It was as though the town was somehow aware of our presence. There was a whisper at the edge of my consciousness, a sense of being observed from the shadows. The closer we got, the more palpable this feeling became. It felt like we were intruders in this lost town, disturbing the peace of its long-forgotten inhabitants.
As we began our exploration, I continued to notice fleeting shadows at the edge of my vision. Faint movements caught in the corners of my eyes, seemingly disappearing as soon as I turned to look. My heart pounded in my chest as a chill ran down my spine, but I forced myself to stay composed and focused on the task. Determined to fulfil my promise to Dr Howard, I set about capturing the panoramic images of Ravenser Odd. I methodically swam from one building to the next, with Callum following close behind. I captured every detail of the sunken town. The remains of the harbour, the ancient sea wall, and the collapsed roofs of houses are all immortalised in my camera. Yet, with each shutter click, the sense of unease grew. It was as though the very act of photographing the town was disrupting something. And with each disruption, the uncanny sensation that we were not alone intensified.
It felt like the sea had a heartbeat, a thrumming rhythm that pulsed around me, seeping into my bones. The feeling of being watched became stronger as we swam through the main square, where a towering statue, ravaged by time and water, stood as a testament to the town's lost glory. As my flash illuminated the worn stone, I could swear the statue's gaze was locked onto us, the cold eyes of stone holding a cold glare. I shook my head, trying to dismiss it as a trick of the light, but Callum had noticed too.
The murkiness of the water seemed to thicken around us as we continued to the outskirts of the town, the once vibrant coral that adorned the buildings appearing pallid and ghostly under our torchlight. Occasionally, a fish would dart away, its silvery scales shimmering briefly before disappearing into the blue abyss, leaving us in solitude once more.
Examining the town more, I noticed each structure held its own tale of decay. Houses, once filled with the hum of life, now stood desolate, their skeletal remains encrusted with marine life. The town's church, with its toppled spire, lay half-buried under the sand. I captured the eerie beauty of the forsaken town etched in each frame.
As we neared the end of our exploration, the sensation of being watched peaked. The water around us seemed to ripple with an unseen presence. Suddenly, a gust of underwater current swept past us, an inexplicable chill that froze my blood. A dark form darted in the corner of my eye, but when I turned, there was nothing but the ancient ruins and the haunting darkness beyond. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Callum signal our ascent, his eyes wide with fear.
A dark shadow darted towards him from the corner of my eye. A surge of adrenaline rushed through me as I turned to look, but it was too late. An unseen force struck Callum, pushing him with a violent current into the decrepit wall of a nearby building below. His regulator was knocked free, bubbles bursting from his mouth in a panicked rush, yet his training prevented him from breathing in water."Callum!" I screamed into my regulator, my voice muffled and carried away by the water. Frantically, I swam towards him, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes were wide in shock, and his hands desperately grappled for the regulator as he struggled against the new, unusual current. I grabbed him, anchoring myself and fighting the force battering us. I swam down and, holding onto Callum with one hand, I grabbed his backup regulator and shoved it towards him. He took it, jamming it into his mouth. He purged the water out of the piece, and his panicked eyes softened slightly as the life-giving air flowed once more.
I turned to face the town, a sense of anger burning inside me. Whatever was lurking in the forgotten depths of Ravenser Odd had shown itself not just as an uncanny presence but as a threatening force. The water seemed to pulsate with sinister energy, the town's ruins casting ominous shadows in our torchlight. I could feel it watching us, pressing against us, making its displeasure known.
I signalled an ascent to Callum, who nodded, his eyes wide but resolute. We kicked upwards, each stroke taking us further from the menacing depths of Ravenser Odd. As we rose, the water grew lighter, the pressure eased, and the sense of dread began to dissipate.
Just as we thought we were clear, a sudden force pulled us back down, even stronger than before. It was as if the entire ocean had become an invisible hand dragging us back towards the malevolent town.
I screamed into my regulator again as I saw him get pulled away from me, his form disappearing into the murkiness. Desperate, I tried to swim towards him but the force was too strong. Then, suddenly, my grip on my camera slipped, and it began to sink, its attached lights flickering like a falling star into the watery void. I watched, horror-stricken, as it fell into a crack and deeper into the abyss.
I cried out, my voice lost in the aquatic emptiness. That camera was my lifeline, not just for my profession, but now it seemed, for our survival. It sank rapidly, swallowed up by the eternal darkness of the ocean
.Whatever was targetting us was weak, as if it needed us to be closer to the town to fully overpower us. As I was about to dive after it, I felt a hand grip my arm. I turned to see Callum, his eyes wide with fear and confusion, but alive. He shook his head. He was right. Going after it spelt more danger than either of us could imagine.
We ascended again with nothing else to do, hoping the loss of our evidence calmed the town.The effort was physically taxing, the cold seawater churning around us as we battled to ascend. Each kick and each push felt like we were fighting against a relentless tide. My muscles screamed in protest, but I forced myself to keep going, pushing past the pain and exhaustion. Callum was ahead of me, every sinew in his body straining as he, too, fought against the pull. Determination was etched on his face, yet he kept his eye on me.
Slowly, painstakingly, we began to gain distance, the pull of the town lessening. I could see the lighter waters above us, the sun's rays penetrating the deep blue, beckoning us towards safety.
We broke to the surface and found ourselves clinging to the side of the boat, our breaths ragged and our bodies exhausted. Our crew helped our heavy bodies aboard, their faces masks of concern and confusion. We exchanged no words. The terror of our experience had left us momentarily speechless.
​
As we docked back at the mainland, Dr Howard was there to meet us. She looked troubled, eyes scanning Callum and me, noting our bruised and battered bodies. We were a far cry from the enthusiastic team that had embarked on a journey to chronicle the sunken town.
"Oliver, Callum," she began, her voice a mixture of concern and something else, something I couldn't quite place. "What happened out there?"I
exchanged a glance with Callum before turning back to her. Taking a deep breath, I recounted the inexplicable experiences, the unseen force, the threatening shadows, and the attack.
Dr Howard listened, her face paling as we described our encounter. As I mentioned the loss of the camera, I saw a flicker of disappointment cross her face. But it was quickly replaced by a serious expression as I continued.
"I know this may sound... impossible," I concluded, bracing myself for her reaction. "But something is down there, Dr Howard. Something that doesn't want us there."
For a moment, there was silence. Dr Howard seemed to be processing what we'd told her, her gaze distant. Then, to my surprise, she nodded.
"I believe you, Oliver," she said quietly. "In fact, I owe you both an apology."She took a deep breath, and then began to explain. Teams before us had reported the same strange feelings, the same sense of being watched. But it was more than that. After their third dive, members started returning with inexplicable injuries. Those who were brave enough to attempt a fourth dive... they never returned at all. "I had hoped... foolishly perhaps... that capturing photographic evidence would help us understand what was happening," Dr Howard confessed, her voice wavering slightly. "I... I didn't want to believe that the town itself could be dangerous."While we were gone,
Dr Howard admitted she had examined the photos from our first dive. She also admitted to noticing the same strange phenomena I had. Ghostly figures, inexplicable shadows... things that didn't make sense. But she'd dismissed them, attributing them to lighting or damage to the camera. "But now, hearing your account... I understand that there's something more at play here," she admitted, her eyes reflecting a deep remorse. "I should have warned you, should have stopped the dives. But my desire for discovery overrode my caution."
Her confession left us shocked. The realisation that she had known, at least partially, of the potential danger but had not shared it... it stung. Yet, looking at her, seeing her genuine remorse, I could only feel a deep sense of sadness. I shook it all away. As Dr Howard's confession hung in the air, a deep sense of betrayal began to coil in the pit of my stomach. Anger, hot and quick, started to rise within me, searing away the icy dread that had gripped me since the dive.
I stared at Dr Howard, my mind a whirlwind of disbelief. My chest tightened, and my heart pounded in my ears. The woman who had entrusted us with an assignment of a lifetime, a woman we respected and admired, had knowingly led us into a trap. A trap that could have cost us our lives. We had trusted her, relied on her, and she had betrayed us. The pressure built inside me, a physical weight pressing against my chest, the corners of my vision growing red with rage. The sting of betrayal cut deep.
A flash of memory— the cold, unforgiving waters, the threatening shadows in the deep, Callum's terrified eyes, the invisible force that had almost claimed us— all came crashing down, feeding the fire of my anger.
"You knew?" My voice was low and harsh, carrying the weight of my brewing anger. "You knew, and you still sent us down there?"
Dr Howard tried to respond, her voice placating, but the words were lost on me. The anger was all-consuming now, blotting out any reason. "We could have died, Howard... Callum could have died!" the words tore from my throat, raw and furious.
At that moment, I felt a sudden urge to leave, to put as much distance between myself and Dr Howard as possible. To escape from the bitter taste of betrayal. But instead, I stood there, my fists clenched, my body trembling with unspent rage. My career, my love for the ocean, and the trust I had in those I worked with all felt like they were sinking. A shiver ran through me, a mix of anger and something else: a deep, echoing sadness as profound as the ocean itself.
I walked out after that. In a rush of adrenaline, I packed away my belongings, leaving behind the new equipment tainted by the darkness of the project, and left.
I hope whatever inhabits that town, stays there.

Air Thugger is just driving back from work when hot festival girl, Indica, flags him down and offers him the blowjob of a lifetime for a quick ride home. Air Thugger can’t resist the offer & ends up scoring even bigger when he gets roped into a sexy stepfamily melodrama with Indica’s hot new stepmom Lolly!"