So: In the current and exceedingly silly Little Hexinzirkel story, Team Chibi-Pocalypse is playing around with 'Introduction Magic' which gives one a floating introduction poster listing ones name, applicable nickname, motivations, affiliations and a bit of lore....just like we've had for almost EVERY pullable character and some otherwise consequential characters as soon as they reveal their true identity to the traveler.
This is revealed to be a magical invention by Alice (which is hilariously spot-on from a character standpoint).
This happens with considerable regularity and the spell itself is explicitly stated to be affiliated with only the Hexinzirkel and specifically Alice. Heretefore I'd assumed this was just a conceit of the game, but the spells introduction as canon in this unreasonably cute little side story opens up a few possibilities.
The ONLY time we see this introduction when Traveler is not present, IIRC, is with Varka when he encounters the fellow who later turns out to be Rerir.
The only times we see it used multiple times is by members of the Hexinzirkel. (They own the spell and like to make grand entrances).
My theory is this: The Hexinzirkel went around and placed a essentially harmless curse on Varka and everyone really important that Varka was likely to meet in his travels including, but not limited to, all the Archons, known Dragons, every Fatui Harbinger and anyone else that Barbeloth scryed as important to Varka's upcoming quests. When they realized that Varka could be freed up to fight the Abyss abroad, because Traveler had unexpectedly arrived and was only a few weeks/months from Mondstadt, they placed a trigger spell on Traveler like they had Varka, likely during one of their early unhinged interactions.
Now whenever the two of them encounter someone that Barbeloth has deemed potentially important, this glowing poster of motivations and affiliations shows up giving their two champions a quick rundown of who they are talking to, and providing valuable context and intel. Of course, Barbeloth is only nigh infallible, and some people far exceed expectations, so Kachina, Collei, villains the Hexinzirkel did not anticipate and a few others get their grand entrance in a later meeting, mostly because they've got Nicole running around frantically keeping tabs on Varka and Traveller.
UPDATE:
Sorry...paragraph breaks nullify the spoiler tag.
Perhaps I should hire some specialists in arcane magic, OH. LOOK!
Back From the Outer Regions
I'm back from a sudden trip to visit family.
This week's Twitch schedule is up: For those following the Discord, Yes, the Hiatus is over early. Tonight's stream is actually starting 30 minutes late (6:30 EDT/ 10:30 UTC). Friday's programming is currently in a state of flux. These 3 discrepancies are all due to REASONS. The channel is at https://twitch.tv/brickmuppet
1
When you look at one of the places where you can claim prizes for Bootopia, in stream it looks like you have a few more that were not completed. So if the timer is not ended, maybe you need to check if the big Chungus convo lets you interact with the Bootopia again.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Wed May 27 09:09:23 2026 (s6adZ)
Space-X is launching the third and reportedly definitive version of their Starship space transportation system. This will be HISTORY or this will be FUNNY! Then we'll geek out a bit
(over humanity's future in space or awesome pyrotechnics)
BUT STICK AROUND! Because, the much anticipated Genshin Impact 6.6 is here and WE'RE ON IT!
1
When I saw that you had rescheduled, (yesterday evening on the 19th), I checked spacex, and spacex is saying the 21st, not the 20th. Either way, I am also looking forward to the Genshin.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Wed May 20 10:07:25 2026 (s6adZ)
2
It happened the 22nd. It was nice. Everything else about the launch could be spoilers.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Mon May 25 07:44:59 2026 (s6adZ)
A Question for Folks Who Do Video Editing
This isn't so much a question, or even a blog post as it is a screech of rage and despair:
I was finally confident enough of having licked my audio issues that I had decided to expand and professionalize my channel, resuming multi-streaming, returning to Kick.com and dipping my toe into You Tube & X. Last nights stream (mentioned below) seemed to go reasonably well. However, watching the V.O.D. of what had appeared to be a near perfect stream, the GAME AUDIO cut off 3/4 of the way through the broadcast. As near as I can tell, this was associated with a scene change (I activated a BRB screen, and, on the V.O.D., after said scene was closed out, my game audio was taken by the Fae.)
My sound board looked right, chat said nothing ( Yes I actually had chatters and interacted with them during this time) yet the V.O.D. shows no game audio...just me commenting positively on Yo Hoyo's "gnarly sound design" which is, of course, not in the V.O.D. audio.
Looking at my OBS archival recording, the game audio after that point is audible, but only * just* barely.
Saturday had been a very long, physically demanding day and I do note that towards the end of the stream, I had begun to slightly slur my speech (a sign of exhaustion that is a lingering side effect of the stroke), so a P.E.B.K.A.C. error is certainly possible. However, I cannot imagine what that could have been. I assume, that the audio channel for the V.O.D/archival recording is ONE channel, and not split up in some bizarre way by OBS sources.
So: Those of you that do AV editing:
Has anyone had anything like this happen? This is so odd and specific that it almost HAS to have been an error on my end, but it seems to be running fine now. (At least the archival recording is). I'm sorry to bother everyone with my interminable derpitude. I'm just grasping at straws. Now I'm slurring rather spectacularly, so I don't want to do a test stream.
1
I have no idea. From what I can tell, this category of software is just not very consistent and reliable, and I cannot tell how much is simply microsoft. (I did have my first audio error (that I did not bother troubleshooting) on Linux recently.)
Posted by: PatBuckman at Mon May 18 09:59:48 2026 (s6adZ)
2
Well: I cannot get the error to replicate. OBS is haunted.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Mon May 18 19:55:23 2026 (dLZLE)
My illness cut into the number of streams this week so as compensation we will be doing a Saturday broadcast.
TOO KNIGHT! @ 9pm EDT/1am UTC Join us in chat over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet for the very first animated dinosaur film ever! Gertie (1914). This short was actually filmed by the great cartoonist Winsor McKay. While not quite the first animated film ever, (it's 3rd or 4th) he debuted in it most of the techniques that made modern cartoons / anime possible. The film is only about 6 minutes long, so after geeking out on it. we'll stick around and do a thorough discussion and play through of the thermobaric cluster-bomb of lore that is Zenless Zone Zero 2.8.
1
Dinosaurus is just the Latin style version of Dinosaur. Or Dinosaur is an English style version of Dinosaurus. McKay's generation used Bible references and classical references as markers of education. The way our cohorts (wrongly IMO) use a lot of Marxist stuff as 'I am educated'.
Posted by: PatBuckman at Tue May 19 06:42:22 2026 (s6adZ)
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!