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I really need to learn how to insert gifs, and understand the HTML code when I copy and paste things. Also, I was pleasantly surprised how good the Assassin's Creed movie was; having expected a flop. It may have inspired me to take back up my hidden blade and regroup here. Having spent a month recovering from, and reflecting on 2016 - I'm back to take on 2017! My missions for 2017 are: Read books. Complete a Second “agent-ready” Novel. Write 100,000 words. Build Wellbeing - This is where the 4-week-challenges come in. Take Photographs. Now, I already measure these 5 goals with experience points on my writing blog, so here, I'm splitting up my 300XP-per-month for that building goal. Each item earns me 25XP a week: * 3 workouts a week of at least 3 exercise sets: yoga, SN or dance included. [Focusing on balance and agility] * Avoid store-bought 'snack foods' 1 day a week * Practise 'kata' once in the month. Instead of having new items each time, and falling behind, I'm focusing on the 5 goals I make for the whole year, three of which are part of my Academy 16-week challenge: so really I'm only adding one sub-set item each 4 week challenge. Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

****Warning: This thread will most likely contain images of videogame violence, including CGI blood**** Grayspeed's December Challenge So, I was originally going to do a Star Wars theme this month because Rogue One is coming out. But I've also been replaying Assassin's Creed 2 this past week and AC just seems more "fitnessy" and relates to my goals a bit more. Also, this is the Assassins Guild. My goals right now are to grind away at NF Rings, get more sleep (I've let my sleep pattern get really messed up lately), and increase the amount of cardio I get. Let's go! Quest 1: Agility Agility and speed are essential skills for any assassin. You can't wipe out De' Pazzi if you can't catch them. Increase agility and speed by performing three HIIT focussed cardio sessions per week. Quest 2: Climbing Strength Climbing all over buildings and looking like a badass is what makes Assassins so great. To build up the strength to do this I will need to do a Nerd Fitness Rings workout at least three times per week. Quest 3: Alertness Having an alert state of mind is vital when you're heading into Templar territory. Especially when you're outnumbered 20 to 1, as Assassins often are. To achieve Master Assassin-like awareness I will get plenty of rest by being in bed by 10:30, five nights per week.

This challenge I'll be starting a new job! Which means I'm putting adulting and life stuff on the backburner to focus on settling in at work. It also means I can focus my entire challenge on fitness! As a celebration of new jobs and a (very welcome) return to a fitness focus, I thought it was time to have a theme again. What better than to pick up where my first ever challenge in this awesome guild left off, and do an Assassin's Creed themed challenge! To truly earn my place in the Brotherhood I'll need to work on the key aspects on Assassin-ing. Quest 1: Climbing A Thing. I will improve my climbing strength by reaching Level 4 on the NF Rings muscle up progression. I aim to get to this point by the midpoint of the challenge to be honest. UPDATE: I will improve my climbing strength by holding all four sets (of 5 seconds) of Rings Support Holds with perfect form. Perfect form = Palms facing outwards. I'm pretty strong with my hands in a neutral position, but when I turn out my palms the move gets much harder. Quest 2: Fighting Bad Guys. I will increase my fighting strength by practicing one element of the NF Rings mobility tutorial every day. There are 4 videos to choose from so I'll probably cycle through them day to day. Quest 3: Running Away From Bad Guys. Improve my cardio/sprinting capabilities by cutting 30 seconds off my 2km row time. Thats going from 9:31 down to 9:01. My eventual goal is 6 minutes, but that's some Master Assassin level stuff.. Quest 4/Bonus Quest: Assist The Brotherhood. Help strengthen the order by contributing to the Mini Challenge every week.

I wish to be reborn. Not a restart for sure, but I need to rediscover myself and my world. So in that sense: "Haven't forgotten the brotherhood, I hope?" + 3 STR, +2 STA I never truly forgot my brotherhood, the Assassins. That said, this time no Parkour goals. I've started Darebee's Strength Protocol in LVL II and I intend to finish it. So, since this whole Assassin's Guild is about bodyweight and Callisthenics, I thought It was appropriate. I'm currently on day 7 (tomorrow it's the 8th day) "It doesn't matter how hard you hit, what matters is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward" +3 CON Keep tracking my intake of food, and have 2 eggs and a piece of meat a day. This will hopefully improve my protein intake. This goal is suitable to changes throughout the challenge, according to my calorie intake and overall well being. "The gods are not here to serve me or you. They have their own agendas and plots. But one can ask for empowerment to conclude his own agenda and plots." +2 WIS This time I'm going to change a bit this meditation thing. Instead of the traditional Asian meditation, I will simply take 15 minutes (or more) to be completely by myself, no phone, book or computer near me. I will find myself and renew my beliefs alone... "Information is key. Those who know have power. Ask Odin himself..." + 3 INT STUDYYYYYY. Everyday I have to take at least 20 minutes to study. There's always something to study. If no exams are near, I am to search for information for my Master's Thesis, and if I can't do that for some reason, I will search for a technical book of my craft (Chemistry) and Study it.

NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITTED. I have always fought alone. But one man cannot defeat the templar order, so I have joined with my fellow assassins. Together, we will cleanse the corruption from the holy city of Rome. Together, we will forge the Brotherhood. If the title and opening lines didn't give it away, and since this will be my first Assassin Challenge (did my first with the Rangers), this challenge is going to be Assassins Creed themed. Based off of the pure Epicness that is Ezio Auditore. A little backstory, this will be my 2nd official challenge, and since I ended up unwillingly quitting my first one (went to teach at a summer camp without internet) I am going to dominate this one. So far my workout are primarily strength based, trying to loose fat while building up muscle slowly. Mainly weighted pullups, shoulder presses/ handstand pushups, deadlifts, & squats. I've also begun training for the NC Rugged Maniac which is May 16th so I've been trying to get my 5k time down and jog a little bit more. Anyway here are my goals: An Assassin must be able to move fluidly though his surrounding, & let no objects stand in his way: To do this he cannot be caring around any extra weight. Therefore my first goal is to drop 6lbs and/or 2% body fat. (+ 3 CON) An Assassin must be agile with excellent balance and strong stability. Be able to climb and hold his position for long periods of time. So my second goal is to practice handstand training at least 3 times per week, and I will know I've succeeded in this goal if I am able to hold a free standing handstand for at least 30sec at the end of the challenge. (+4 DEX, +1 END) An Assassin must be strong, determined that his way is the truth and motivated to carry out his plan. Thus my third goal is to maintain my strength training workouts 3x per week, while also maintaining an average weekly step total of 10,000 per day. [as measured by my Fitbit] (+3 STR, +2 STA) An Assassin's resources are sometimes his best allies. Money weights us all to the ground so to be truly free he must build up his resources and lessen his burdened of debt. Consequently my final life goal is to pay off extra $500 towards my student loans or $300 per month. (+ 3 WIS) I will begin posting my workouts and some other stuff later today. I am also participating and an awesome new RPG/ accountabuddys group: The Assault on Brightwater, which should be some extra motivation and help towards achieving my goals and I'll let you guys know how its going once we start! So who's ready to join the Brotherhood?

Cobaltsword's Journey: The Battle Log I need a break from the challenges for a while, maybe i'll just sit this one out. I need some rest. But i'll continue on my quest to becoming a true assassin. My training regimen so far after two years with Nerd Fitness (woot!) Monday: Spartacus workout + mace training + bo staff trianing Tuesday: Parkour + running Wednesday: Spartacus Workout + mace training + bo staf training Thursday: rest Friday: Parkour + running Saturday: Spartacus Workout + mace Training + bo staff training Sunday: Parkour + running So just a small head's up: yesterday i finally achieved a speed vault and what i dubbed a side kong vault. The true kong vault is within reach but not just yet. I need the mental strength to attempt it. But i also improved my stride jumps, my cat walk, and climbed a new building a few days ago (abandonned train station) i did not go al the way up for my grip strength is not quite there yet. But it's encouraging to see how far i've come anyway, a big woot to me for now

A bit of back story; during the last challenge life seriously went bonkers and I found that during my high pressure challenge I faltered near the end. That being said going back to a more structured plan this time around. Recently I have started playing Assassin’s creed and training for Parkour. I should note I wanted to do Parkour before learning about Assassin’s Creed, during my off time at work I have been using the work court yard as a training area (weird looks from co-workers included.) Main Quest: Lower BF%, continue to work on getting into shape and eatting better. Side Quest 1; Workouts Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Monday: Upper Body – 3 5 Sets of the Altair workout, Build to 7 sets. Wednesday: Full Body – 3 5 Sets of the Assassin workout Built to 7 sets. Friday: Lower Body – 3 5Sets of the Highlander workout, Build to 7 sets. Side Quest 2; Saturday or Sunday – Parkour and Cardio, Run around and do parkour for a few hours if possible on the weekend. Play hard. - Continue working on landings - Start working on shoulder rolls (once shoulder is healed) - Start working on wall runs Side Quest 3; Tuesdays: 3 5 Sets of the Superman workout, work on building up back strength. Quest Items to find; Calipers to find body fat percentage. New running shoes. Quest Locations; Find a place to do Parkour (other than your works court yard…)

“Why do you persist? You put us down. We rise again. You end one plot - we forge another. You try so hard. But it always ends the same. Those who know you think you're mad and this is why... Even those men you sought to save have turned their backs on you. Yet you fight. You resist. Why?†―Charles Lee, member of the Templar Order, ACIII. “We're Assassins and we follow a creed, aye. But it does not command us to act or submit - only to be wise.†―James Kidd, on the ways of the Assassins, ACIV my QUEST to fully accept and embrace The Creed of my new life. *My Creed being the pursuit of a life where I live actively, eat nutritiously, indulge in moderation and without guilt and strive to keep pushing forward. Task #1 – A weapon is only as good as its care allows. Care well for yours. “You must fuel your body with that which will strengthen it. Eat of things whole and fresh, that it may not cloud your mind nor tempt you to a path of gluttony. Our training is not easy- you will need all the help you can get.†Cook Clean 2X/WeekEat Clean 80/20Task #2 – Your enemies are clever, train with purpose and in a variety of ways. “Be fleet of foot and nimble. Have strength. Build endurance and push yourself to the edge of your comfort zone. You will fail, yes, but it is in the standing again where true progress is made… (and where enemies find pause for their confidence.) Strength Training – 3x/weekCardio Workout (hockey permitted to count) 2x/weekRun 5k – 1x/week (1 cardio session must come from running) Task #3 – Use your resources wisely, they do not always come easy. “We have the means for a good life, but we must not squander it carelessly. Take note of your costs, mind the budgets and put coin away for emergencies.†Track all purchases with GoodBudget app.Pay off credit card balance.Once CC is paid off, put $325/month into savings. Side Quest - Keep Climbing “Though you have come far in your training, you must continue to push forward. The rooftops are our playground, so you must be able to easily master them over and over again.†Continue work on pull ups – aiming for a max rep of 7 in 1 set. (This is in progression to a final destination of 10 in a row.) Side Quest - Do not become overly hardened of spirit, take time to nurture the arts and indulge in studies of a gentler nature. Play the piano for a total of 2 hours per week. Progress was made in a previous challenge to relearn the piano and regain my musical background. Do not put this aside! Motivation: To strengthen my body and my resolve, so that I can continue to uphold a lifestyle full of activity, mobility and adventure. In short - I often get to a point where I struggle with the amount of effort and dedication it takes to work toward my goals of a healthy lifestyle. As Steve would put it, I was not graced with an easy mode option on my game. It may not be chaos level, but it's challenging most of the time and capable of nearing the nerdrage/quit on some occasions. I MUST get to a point where I stop looking at these things as temporary fixes or short term goals, and adopt them simply as 'this is who I am, what I do, and how I function'. I'm continuing with the Assassins Creed theme because I've just finished Black Flag - and can relate quite a bit to Edwards desire for the sweet life - the "easy life". But as James Kidd says in the above photo ... No one honest has an easy life. And it's aching for one that causes the most pain. I need to accept this as my creed- to embrace this lifestyle wholeheartedly and without complaint of the effort it will take to maintain it. This is my task for 2014. Edit for Stats: Starting weight: 146.8

Hello fellow Rebels, I've been working on a project for myself for a while now and i'm nearing completion. But then I thought, maybe other Assassin's Creed nerds would like something like this. Maybe not, nevertheless I'd like your opinion I've been working on a book (more of a booklet) which holds the Creed of Assassin's Creed and the Charter, Bylaws and functional guide-lines for a modern Assassin Order in Northern-Europe. It is thus a political/legal document encompassing the principles of the AC Brotherhood. Next to that the guide-lines include a Code of Conduct for life inside the Brotherhood, Ranking, Hiearchy and Assassin Training. My question would be, what would you fellow rebels, like to see in that kind of book? Thanks for your help Cobaltsword

"I realize now that it will take time. That the road ahead is long and shrouded in darkness. It is a road that will not always take me where I wish to go, but I will travel down it; nonetheless. For at my side walks hope in the face of all that insists I turn back, I carry on and this...this is my compromise" – Connor Kenway, AC3 [slightly edited] Challenge #6 – Seek the Assassins for Training (placeholder until new challenges go up) The streets have become my maze and the voices of the crowds my lullaby. To these I am nothing; unseen, unheard, unimportant. But I watch. I listen. And today I saw them- the Assassins. Perhaps they saw me; perhaps their intent was to let me see them. I followed them cautiously so as to study them, though careful to try and avoid their notice as best I could. I felt a draw to this brotherhood. I had lived on the streets, indulging in every whim and compulsion that struck me. I stole without bias from any purse that passed my hands, then spent it on drink, rich food and trinket. I had no discipline, no goals, nothing to strive for… nothing greater than myself to serve. It was as these thoughts raced through my mind that their leader, Dietrich Aussen, leveled his gaze at me. Our eyes locked and after what seemed an eternity, he nodded to me. “Come girl. You have some potential.†A slight tilt of his head followed as he gauged me. “Though, you need quite a bit of refinement. This offer comes only once; if you wish to follow then do not hesitate, and do not look back.†I glanced only briefly at the alley shadows that blanketed me, then drew up a sharp breath and approached the man. He nodded to me. “Good. Come then, we have only a few more supplies to gather and then we return to the manor. What is your name?†I answered with the only name I had ever gone by, the one I gave myself when I first took to the streets, “Star.†Dietrich chuckled, “How serendipitous. Altair, one of the most revered in our history, shared his name with the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. That, we will discuss once training begins. You are certain you wish this path? It is not an easy one.†“Yes. I am sure. It may not be easy, but it is necessary.†GOAL PROVE MY DEDICATION TO THE ASSASSINS AND BE ACCEPTED AS AN INITIATE OF THE ORDER Motivation: To strengthen my body and my resolve, so that I can continue to uphold a lifestyle full of activity, mobility and adventure. Task #1 – Your body is your most vital tool, treat it as such. “Would you just as soon throw your blades to rest in foul water? Letting rust overcome them until they grow pitted and weak? Would you forgo their care; oiling the steel, working the harnesses, sharpening their edges? No. Nor shall you give your body such second hand care.†Track Food (Fitbit)Cook Clean 1X/WeekEat Clean 80/20 Task #2 – You must train not just for survival, but for success. “Your enemies will often be larger and stronger than you. You must be able to meet these challenges with confidence. Your strength and endurance must catch them off guard – so these things you must train relentlessly. Treat it not simply as something you MUST do, but something you wish to do. Perception can change many things, including one’s own motivations.†Strength Training – 3x/weekCardio Workout (hockey permitted to count) 2x/week Training Side Mission – The Eagle’s View “You have courted the shadows of the alleys and they dance with you as if you were one. But your eyes, from this vantage point, are as narrow sighted as a horse with blinders. You must learn to achieve far greater heights where you can see as the eagle does. I have set markers upon the tops of several buildings in town. Find them, ascend them and return the markers back to me at the manor.†Pull Ups (themed goal to scale buildings) *Arm length =24†-- 1 pull up = 2’ vertical movement. A building averages 20’ in height equating to 10 pull ups per building as an estimate. Total buildings needing to be scaled: 18.3 (Injuries caused me to miss the final 10 days of the last challenge where I was racing to beat James Vega’s pullup record from Mass Effect 3. I had been, up to that point, on target to meet that goal. So this is the same goal of 183 pull ups, re-themed to fit this challenge.) Task #3 – Our resources are not unlimited; mind the ledger. “You have come from a life on the streets; of easy come, easy go – where your actions affected only you. Our resources can provide more than enough for both a comfortable life and the expenses of our goals, but we must not be frivolous in our spending. Every week you must account for your coin. Spend too little on feed and your horse will not carry you when you need it. Spend too much on game and drink, and you will have none left for ammunition. Like all things, this must come to a balance.†Rewrite the budget, again!Track budget weeklyCreate an envelope for unallocated funds (IE impulse purchases)Track EVERY purchase Training Side Mission – The Pistol “In time, and only should you prove yourself worthy of joining our order, you will be awarded both the hidden blade and the pistol. Only a fool wields a weapon that she has no proficiency in. Find a mentor to teach you proper handling, care and technique with the flintlock pistol. Gain familiarity with the weapon so that the respect you give it is also tempered with the confidence to handle it.†Research local ranges and instructors.Check reviews on both.Get a quote on class fees, etc.Begin setting a budget aside for this project. Official starting weight: 142.6 (bugger!) Will add grading scale and points shortly.

hay guys looking for a good but on the cheaper side cosplay for ezio from assassins creed 2 any links/ surgestions? thanks kingwes