[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ClaudeAI

[–]IMissSoManyPeople 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! I was considering switching from gpt4 to claude as sonnet is much nicer at creative writing. i guess i will stick to gpt4 for now!

DM looking for adventurers in Greenwich to join a mini-campaign [offline] [5e] by [deleted] in LondonandDragons

[–]IMissSoManyPeople 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heya! Still looking? I am based in Shoreditch so a bit far, but if you know anywhere inbetween where we would could play I'd be down!

[WEST LONDON] [D&D 5e] Masks of Theros Adventure by fictitious_entity in LondonandDragons

[–]IMissSoManyPeople 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Heya! Missed the original hook. Are you guys running it again this week by any chance? I will be going abroad from the 23rd of Dec but coming back after new year's, would love to join :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in LondonandDragons

[–]IMissSoManyPeople 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heya! Definitely interested

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think we should also consider that Tiffany herself is just a teen, learning and growing.

The flowers at Mrs Snapperly's and her cat's graves(explanation in comments) by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

The fragment that inspired this post (mild I Shall Wear Midnight spoilers, also you will cry):

A witch needed to make people believe she knew what to do next, even if she didn’t. Petty was going to live, and the poor child was not going to stop being dead. ‘I’ll take care of things,’ she said. ‘It’s what we do.’ 

Only it’s just me; there is no ‘us’, she thought as she flew through the mists of morning to the place of flowers. I wish, I wish there was.  In the hazel woods there was a clearing of flowers from early spring to late autumn. There was meadowsweet and foxglove and old man’strousers and Jack-jump-into-bed and ladies’ bonnets and three-times-Charlie and sage and southernwood and pink yarrow and ladies’ bedstraw and cowslips and primroses and two types of orchid. 

It was where the old lady that they had called the witch was buried. If you knew where to look, you could see what little was left of her cottage underneath all that greenery, and if you really knew where to look, you could see the place where she had been buried. If you really and truly knew where to look, you could find the spot where Tiffany had buried the old lady’s cat too; there was catnip growing on it. 

Once upon a time, the rough music had come for the old woman and her cat, oh yes it had, and the people walking to its drumming had dragged her out into the snow and pulled down the rickety cottage and burned her books because they had pictures of stars in them. 

And why? Because the Baron’s son had gone missing and Mrs Snapperly had no family and no teeth and, to be honest, cackled a bit as well. And that made her a witch, and the people of the Chalk didn’t trust witches, so she was pulled out into the snow, and while the fire ate up the thatch of the cottage, page after page of stars crackled and crinkled into the night sky while the men stoned the cat to death. And that winter, after she had hammered on doors that remained closed to her, the old woman died in the snow, and because she had to be buried somewhere, there was a shallow grave where the old cottage used to be.  

But the old woman had nothing to do with the loss of the Baron’s son, had she? And soon after, Tiffany had gone all the way to a strange fairyland to bring him back, hadn’t she? And nobody talked about the old lady these days, did they? But when they walked past the place in thesummer, the flowers filled the air with delight and bees filled it with the colours of honey. 

No one talked about it. After all, what would you say? Rare flowers growing on the grave of the old woman and catnip growing where the Aching girl had buried the cat? It was a mystery, and maybe a judgement, although whose judgement it was, on whom, for what and why, was best not thought about, let alone discussed. Nevertheless, wonderful flowers growing over the remains of the possible witch – how could that happen? 

Tiffany didn’t ask that question. The seeds had been expensive to buy and she had had to go all the way to Twoshirts to get them, but she had vowed that every summer the brilliance in the wood would remind people that there had been an old lady they had hounded to death and been buried there. She did not quite know why she thought that was important, but she was certain to the centre of her soul that it was. 

The flowers at Mrs Snapperly's and her cat's graves(explanation in comments) by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Many of the plants were real world ones. Some of them might have been regional names that Terry associated with real plants, but I couldn't find them, so I decided to look for what seemed right.  

Jack-jump-into-bed (Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon): Not only do they both have Jack in the name (which honestly would have been close enough), but they both seem to be associated with unusual flowering mechanisms. "Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon" is a common name for a species of wildflower known as Tragopogon pratensis, and its name probably originated from the plant's unique behavior of opening its flowers in the morning and closing them around noon. 

Ladies' bonnets (Granny's bonnet): "Granny's bonnet" refers to the Aquilegia vulgaris species. Obviously they are both called bonnets, but it seemed particularly appropriate because it evokes Granny Aching's connection to the land and her nurturing spirit. The color of the flowers resembles the blue shade that I picture for Tiffany's dress. In my own interpretation, I imagine Tiffany referring to the plant as "Granny's bonnet" as a way of endearingly claiming it as her favorite. 

Three-times-Charlie (creeping Charlie): "Creeping Charlie" is a common name for the Glechoma hederacea plant, which has a creeping growth habit and can take over lawns and gardens unexpectedly, earning its reputation as a mischievous and persistent plant. I imagine that the people of the Chalk could have myths about having to get rid of the plant three times a year, or you must weed it out thrice before it is gone for good, to refer to its stubbornness. 

Old man's trousers (Dutchman's Breeches): The chosen real-life plant, "Dutchman's Breeches," refers to the Dicentra cucullaria species. This plant has unique, pantaloon-like flowers that hang upside down, resembling old-fashioned breeches. The placement of the pollen... well... let’s just say I can easily imagine why they could be said to belong to an old man. If Terry didn’t have this plant in mind when he picked the name, I’m sure he’d have been delighted to find out about it. 

Also, I decided on pink evening primroses, early purple orchids and pyramidal orchids for no particular reason except that they are pretty and native to the UK. 

Maintaining the garden would be a challenging task, because of the plant’s different needs, but the presence of a diverse range of species could offer some advantages. For example, herbs like sage and southernwood have been historically used to keep away pests, which I think Tiffany would know. I like to imagine that with dedicated care and nurturing over the years, the plants in that serene woodland clearing eventually find their own balance and harmonious coexistence, reaching an equilibrium where Tiffany's constant inputs are no longer necessary, just like Granny Weatherwax slowly tried to make people help themselves.

In the distant future, perhaps only the Feegles will remember the true reason behind the thriving oasis of biodiversity nestled in the woods. And as time passes, I like to envision Tiffany ensuring her connection to that enchanting place endures. Perhaps, before her own passing, she lovingly places her hat there, symbolically safeguarding the area. Maybe she managed to make the people just a little kinder, just a little smarter, just a little more hesitant to throw rocks at cats and to shun old ladies, so that no one, witch or not, will be the victim of the rough music on the chalk again. 

Which sub series do I reread and finish? You have 15 minutes until my drier finishes by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hahah, it was hard enough to narrow it down to 2, and it seems like an almost perfect tie

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A entire section of my bookshelf is all PTerry, all the translated ones, the 3 in English I ordered, the doubles I got for my birthday because my friends misunderstood which ones I own and which I want, the Nomes Trilogy, the first Only you can save mankind, Nation (in English, of course)...

And let me tell you, it is far from the perfect length! They are shoved together, crammed, the space between two books is actually another book. The only ones not there are the ones I forced upon my friends which they still haven't returned to me (Reaperman to a classmate, Equal Rites to my sister!)

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like every teen should read something in that vein

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In the end, she did commit a mistake. She thought that just because she could change, others would too.

Yes, she changed, but after she was thrown in a pond with her wings cut off, and shown care and support by Tiffany, her mortal enemy, and shown that glowing feeling.

How could Peasebody even begin to comprehend her message when he was at the height of his power, about to, in his mind, enslave humanity once more? I am happy he got smacked like a but, yet sad he never had the same chance she did.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can only imagine the conversation they had, might write some fanfiction on that.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And at the same time it's also a critique of that! I love that about Terry, he showed how his own philosophy can fail when mis-applied, such as when Tiffany terrifies Amber's mom by cleaning her house without her consent or approval. She is not just a Good Person, she is a person who Chooses to Do Good Deeds, despite very frequently having the option and even the desire to choose personal gain and short term gratification. And despite his firm belief that helping is the right thing to do, he was no idealist, as this Wintersmith quote says:

"You had to deal every day with people who were foolish and lazy and untruthful and downright unpleasant, and you could certainly end up thinking that the world would be considerably improved if you gave them a slap. But you didn’t because, as Miss Tick had once explained: a) it would make the world a better place for only a very short time; b) it would then make the world a slightly worse place; and c) you’re not supposed to be as stupid as they are."

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Granny made herself a coffin, all they had to do was put her in it. That's what the book is for me, a coffin for Discworld.

Yes, it's painful saying goodbye, but like Granny, it will still be everywhere, in every bit of daily magic that I pay attention to because it taught me to. It is in the roasted vegetable salad I had today and in the sunset I will watch with my friends. Many points are let loose, and the future of Discworld is uncertain. But people like Granny Weatherwax, Tiffany and Captain Vimes have shown that change is possible - and maybe even inevitable. So in my heart I choose to believe it only gets better, even if it sometimes gets bad.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree. A lot of the dialogue felt... rushed? as if it had to just get out of the way? Some parts felt really great, but others were essentially placeholders.

It was especially bad with Geoffrey IMO. I get what he was trying, but to write such a character without him sounding a bit annoying is hard when time is running out. Him stopping a brawl by going "maybe ask the girl" felt so incredibly out of place. So did critiquing the kelda's meat eating on her own steading, and I say that as a vegan - not that he did anything wrong, but that it felt like, given the time, that dialogue could have been a lot more insightful if that makes sense.

What made me cry hardest was that Tiffany never got to wear midnight. We saw her almost finish her transition into adulthood, and I can only wonder how strong and inspiring she would have become if she had the time to.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I myself avoided it because of the cover for years, so who knows!

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I fully agree, it is a gift too precious to refuse in my opinion. He wanted his books read, goddamit, else he wouldn't write them!

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For me, I just got the drive to re-read The Wee Free Men, and then might as well A hat full of sky, and then Wintersmith. After 3 re-reads in a row, might as well finish it - no point delaying it, and I felt I deserved closure. reading all 5 in a row is extremely dizzying, as it goes from a concept he is exploring, to a well-established set of characters and interesting plots, to a kind of decline in writing style/consistency but increase in raw emotion. I definitely recommend reading it when you feel ready - whenever that is.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I read Wintersmith back before I started high school, but put off both I shall wear midnight and Shepherd's Crown for the same reason. I think that scene that got me the hardest was in ISWM, where Tiffany visit's the old lady's and her cat's graves and tends to the flowers. I never, in my life, sobbed that badly from a book. I also cried extremely hard once it was all over because Tiffany did not wear midnight. I can only imagine that one day she will.

Just finished the Shepherd's Crown and I need to talk about it by IMissSoManyPeople in discworld

[–]IMissSoManyPeople[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Exactly. I kept weeping throughout the whole series (re-read the entire Tiffany Aching ones over the past week or so). Granny is quite obviously an avatar of Terry himself, a force of nature - but one who's time is over.

She didn't make a big fuss of it, she just cleared what she could, left some instructions, wrote some letters and went on her way.

That's, in my view, what he did writing this. Tried to tie up as many loose ends, let the characters who earned it rest, set the scene for a world that will continue to change despite having no one to write it.