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  • Star Wars: Knight Errant- The Arkadinate


    Political chaos, Sith hypocrisy, and Kerra Holt’s hardest test yet

    1. Quick Context

    • This is the third and last part of this novel.
    • This story takes place before the Darth Bane trilogy in the timeline.
    • The Arkadinate section starts after Kerra Holt, with Brigadier Rusher and others, were rescued by Lord Arkadia with her ominous offer of help.

    2. What Is the Arkadinate?

    • The Arkadinate is a slice of Sith space under the control of Lord Arkadia.
    • Each Sith in the story governs their piece of Sith space differently. With Lord Daiman, we saw how he wanted to be viewed as the god and creator of the universe. With the Dyarchy, the twins controlled their sector using force to manipulate the minds of their subjects. Lord Arkadia rules by keeping her subjects constantly on their toes by changing their occupations before they have time to master what they were doing, thereby ensuring their minds don’t become idle and give thought to rebelling.
    • Daiman sought to display himself as a god when he was just a man. The Dyarchy’s order seemed well structured, but each individual was under the influence of the mind of the male twin. Lord Arkadia’s government seems to be the best one in terms of a utopia instead of a dystopia; however, that’s because of not only her paranoia, but it’s also a show to gain Kerra Holt’s trust.

    3. Kerra Holt’s Role Here

    • Kerra goes from trying to find a home for these students to considering the Arkadinate for them, and then having to escape from Lord Arkadia’s wraith after refusing to assassinate Lord Arkadia’s grandmother, the real influencer to these Sith Lords.
    • She has to deal with the idea of leaving the students in the hands of the Sith for their protection, if that’s even guaranteed, and another dilemma she faces is whether to assassinate the grandmother to secure the safety of the kids in the Arkadinate or not.
    • She goes from being a wandering Jedi to merely being a destabilizing potential for Lord Arkadia to claim over her grandmother’s assets.

    4. Sith Politics & Hypocrisy (Thematic Core)

    • The grandmother controls her grandchildren, whether by blood or adoption, by instilling in them fear of not being given control over assets she has to offer.
    • It was by her order that Lord Bactra was destroyed.
    • The Arkadinate seems like a paradise, but once chaos gets started, the citizens are just as eager to leave as under any other Sith Lord.

    5. Standout Moments

    • The revelation of the conspiracy that these, not all, Sith Lords are related and public knowledge of such would align the others to destroy them as a common enemy.
    • Kerra gets imprisoned and tortured, ultimately her isolation is complete, until she is surprisingly freed by Narsk, although undoubtedly this is to his benefit more than hers.
    • The freedom that the Arkadinate offers is undermined by the reality of control Lord Arkadia holds over her sector. She offers “freedom”, but not without control.

    6. Why the Arkadinate Matters to Knight Errant

    • This section brings the whole story together and answers the questions of why the two brothers suddenly stopped fighting each other and worked together, and who Narsk is truly working for.
    • This whole situation reinforces for Kerra and the reader that the Sith can never be trusted. Of course, there are those instances when one might turn to the light, but otherwise, no matter how great or noble one looks, they are only out for themselves.
    • This part of the story gets into the inner political side of the events.

    7. Final Thoughts

    • The major draw for me in reading this story is seeing a Jedi who is on her own in enemy territory, having to evade detection at every turn, make tough decisions, and grow from the consequences.
    • The final reveal brings it all together and leaves the reader satisfied with their journey.
    • In reading this book, I thought a Sith was dead, but in actuality, they are not. There is more to Kerra Holt and the rest of her adventures in comic books.
    • By the way, Kerra does find a home for the students. Please read the book to find out how.

    This book has been a fun read. When I eventually read another Star Wars book, it will be in the Darth Bane trilogy.

    What did you think about this story? Did you feel that it was a unique Star Wars story like I did?

    Stay tuned for:

    • Battlestations: Midway
    • Books That Feel Like Video Games

    Digital Archiver signing off.

  • Medal of Honor: Airborne

    Electronic Arts (EA) — Developed by EA Los Angeles, 2007

    The engines roar. The plane shakes. Red light.
    You’re not easing into war — you’re being thrown into it.

    Medal of Honor: Airborne doesn’t begin on a beach or behind a briefing table. It starts in the belly of a C-47, with flak ripping through the sky and no guarantee you’ll even make it to the ground alive.

    Historical Context

    Set during World War II (1943–1944), Airborne follows the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division across three major operations:

    • Sicily
    • Italy
    • Normandy

    You don’t land in neat formations. You fall into history the same way real paratroopers did — scattered, disoriented, and under fire.

    The Player’s Role

    You play as Boyd Travers, a paratrooper with no grand destiny.

    Travers isn’t here to change the war single-handedly. Like the men around him, he’s focused on three things:

    1. Survive
    2. Complete the objective
    3. Get out alive

    The story unfolds through linear missions, frantic radio chatter, and a battlefield that never stops moving.

    Lore Through Gameplay

    This is where Airborne shines.

    Each mission begins with a jump. Green smoke marks your intended drop zone — but war doesn’t care about intentions. You may miss it entirely, land in enemy territory, or hit the ground alone.

    Paratroopers get separated. Plans fall apart. Regrouping under fire and pushing toward the objective creates powerful emergent moments that feel earned, not scripted.

    Weapon progression reinforces this grounded approach. As you gain experience, you unlock three upgrades per weapon — not magical perks, but field improvisations born from necessity.

    Every mission feels:

    • Uncertain
    • Chaotic
    • Isolated
    • Human

    Above all, it feels like survival.

    Themes

    • The chaos of war
    • Brotherhood found among soldiers
    • Survival over heroics
    • War as confusion at ground level

    Why It Works

    Medal of Honor: Airborne never pauses to let you catch your breath — because real warfare doesn’t pause for soldiers.

    The game demands adaptation. Fear and confusion aren’t obstacles to the story; they are the story. Victory comes in small moments, learned through action rather than exposition.

    Closing Thoughts

    This game succeeds because it presents war through the experience of the soldier, not the recollections of generals.

    I’ve started reading Hell by the Acre by Daniel A. Masters, which covers the Stones River Campaign of the Civil War. The book aims to do the same thing Airborne does so well — tell the story through the eyes of the men on the ground rather than politicians or high command.

    If you’re looking for a challenge, this is the game to play. It gets harder as it goes, and it never lets you feel comfortable.

    The opening jump scenes change with each mission. Every time, you wonder:
    Will I land safely?
    Will I get shot mid-air?
    Will the plane even make it?

    Fun fact — when I was younger, I used to dream about playing this game. That’s how intense the action felt to me.

    Have you played Medal of Honor: Airborne?
    Which Medal of Honor game was your favorite?

    Well friends, I think due to family obligations and what the future may hold, this is going to be my farewell post. I have enjoyed blogging and I hope you have enjoyed the journey too. I may keep it up sporadically but I doubt it.

    If you ever wonder whether you should try blogging or not, or anything else for that matter, my advice is just to do it. Give it a try. I gave blogging a try for two months and loved it.

    I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
    Digital Archiver, signing off.

  • War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Vol II, Part V; Vol III, Part I

    Hello friends, we are back at it. Let’s finish volume II and start volume III shall we.

    Lore Summary

    Volume II, Part V

    Natasha is hurt that Prince Andrei’s family doesn’t like her, but she also tries to convince herself that it doesn’t matter. She still loves Prince Andrei.

    Natasha, her father, and Sonya go to an opera where they encounter Count Helene, Pierre’s wife. Pierre arrives at the opera, but so does Dolokhov and Anatole.

    Dolokhov was the one who took Nikolai Rostov’s money and dueled Pierre over rumors of cheating with Pierre’s wife.

    Anatole is Helene’s brother. He takes a liking to Natasha when he sees her. He flirts with her and confuses her feelings for Prince Andrei and her newfound feelings for Anatole.

    Anatole gets his sister to arrange for Natasha to come to a party. Here ends up kissing her. After the party, they sent letters to each other.

    It should be noted that Helene is aware of what is going on. Perhaps the rumors of her and Dolokhov might have some weight to them.

    Anatole, with the help of Dolokhov, arranged to take Natasha and run off with her. However, when they arrive at Marya Dmitrievna’s house, the friend that the Rostovs are staying with, they are thwarted by Marya’s footman.

    Marya had intercepted one of Natasha’s letters to Anatole, locked Natasha in her room, and waited for the footman to bring Anatole to her. Anatole escaped, and the meeting never took place. He eventually flees Moscow to escape Prince Andrei before he arrives.

    The whole endeavor became public knowledge as a rumor. Pierre, for Natasha’s sake, tries to keep it a rumor. However, this affair is known to Prince Andrei; he is affected by it but tries to hide it. The relationship with him and Natasha is over.

    Natasha becomes ill, and her health gradually declines, especially when Pierre tells her the truth about Anatole. Anatole is already married, but has abandoned his wife.

    Natasha knows that her future with Andrei will never happen, but she asks Pierre to ask Andrei to at least forgive her.

    Volume III, Part I (Mostly)

    War! France is invading Russia. Emperor Alexander sends Balashov with a letter to Napoleon in a last attempt to avoid war. Unfortunately, war is inevitable.

    Prince Andrei joins the military again. Part of the reason for doing this is to hunt down Anatole, who is serving in Moldavia. Before he leaves, he has an argument with his father for the first time.

    When Andrei arrives in Moldavia, he learns that Anatole has left to serve elsewhere. Andrei was hoping to encounter Anatole to find an occasion unrelated to the affair, to spare Natasha’s reputation, and to duel him.

    Not an exact parallel, but this reminds me of when Joseph wanted to quietly put Mary away when she was pregnant with Jesus, to maintain her reputation.

    While Prince Andrei is serving in Kutuzov’s staff, Andrei makes the most of his time and tries to be productive. This is to the displeasure of Kutuzov since he does not want to work all the time.

    Prince Andrei moves to Drissa. He learns that there are disagreements with what the army should be doing, such as advance, retreat, hold position, etc, and that there are multiple groups of people vying for the emperor’s ear. These debates are worsened by the emperor’s presence. He encounters the emperor and asks for permission to serve in the military instead of as an aide to the emperor.

    Moving on to Nikolai Rostov. He learns of the break between Natasha and Andrei, his mother wants him to come back home, he wants to serve, and he sends a love letter to Sonya.

    Nikolai has been promoted. He now serves in the same position Denisov did years prior, and Nikolai even has an underling that serves him as he did Denisov.

    They go to a tavern and enjoy the company of the other soldiers as well as the company of the doctor’s Polish wife. The soldiers flirt with her, and the doctor gets jealous. Thankfully, this is as far as it goes.

    Nikolai’s cavalry company engages the enemy at Ostrovna. He knocks a Frenchman off his horse and has a chance to kill. He hesitates and takes him prisoner instead. This endeavor, as any battle should, unsettles Nikolai.

    Nikolai is praised by his commander and promoted. He now has his own battalion. Whenever a brave man is needed on a mission, Nikolai is now the one to be sent.

    Natasha eventually recovers from her illness. Her mother came to Moscow to be with the family. Natasha begins to take part in going by her faith in the Lord. She prepares for communion, the Peter and Paul feast, and joins in a prayer service for Russia’s salvation in the war.

    Closing Thoughts

    I was hoping to finish Part I before writing this, but that didn’t happen. Maybe that’s for the best. After all, I can’t write about everything. I do enjoy at least writing about some of it. I am about halfway through the book, and I am predicting that I will finish it either in January or most likely February.

    I must say I am upset that Natasha and Prince Andrei are no longer together. Pierre has subtle feelings for her, but he is married. We shall see how this will proceed. I am happy that Nikolai Rostov and Sonya are both in love with each other and are waiting for the day to be married.

    I am excited to see what the coming war will bring to our characters. To be sure, it is based on a real war, and I know that to be tragic. Side note, and I doubt it will be mentioned here, but this takes place in 1812. What else is happening in 1812? The War of 1812 in America. I just wanted to remind everyone of that war that seems to have almost been forgotten.

    What did you think about the direction Tolstoy took away from the Natasha/ Prince Andrei relationship?

    Stay tuned for:

    • Medal of Honor: Airborne (Sunday)
    • Star Wars: Knight Errant- The Arkadianate

    Merry Christmas! Glory to our Lord and Savior. May God be with you, the Lord strengthen you, and the Holy Spirit guide you. Digital Archiver signing off.

  • Top 5 Worlds I’d Vacation in if I Could

    Worlds beautifully designed have an amazing way of captivating us. Making us wish we could be there. Not necessarily live in them, but at least visit them. Some of these worlds are gorgeous but prove to be rather deadly in some parts of them.

    1. Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls V)

    Why go:

    • The scenery makes you want to spend hours just exploring. From mountains, auroras, to the ancient ruins.
    • Each city is unique not only in the climate it’s in but also in its culture. Whiterun’s warmth, Solitude’s elegance, Riften’s gritty feel, Dawnstar’s chill.
    • Hearing and seeing the dragons flying overhead.

    What I’d do:

    • Climb the mountains to look over the land.
    • Find the perfect and most majestic spots to see the stars along with the auroras.
    • Walk the tundra plain in the center of Skyrim.

    Why only vacation there?

    Dangerous to say the least, but totally worth a visit.

    2. Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia)

    Why go:

    • The land is literally built for adventure.
    • The talking creatures bring the imagination to life.
    • The world is full of good magic.

    What I’d do:

    • Visit Cair Paravel.
    • Ride on horseback through the fields.
    • Ride in a sleigh when it snows.

    Why only vacation there?

    It would be a wonderful place to go to, but I wouldn’t want to lose touch with where I belong. A childlike place to go to, but we must remain in the adult world.

    3. Gallowmere (MediEvil)

    Why go:

    • It has a spooky, gothic charm to it.
    • It would feel like Halloween every day.
    • The characters are quirky, and there is a humorous vibe in Gallowmere.

    What I’d do:

    • Explore the Pumpkin Gorge. (Hey, it’s just a big pumpkin patch, right?)
    • Walk through the ghostly towns. (I’ll tell you what I won’t be doing. Visiting the Asylum.)
    • Going to Sir Daniel Fortesque’s crypt. (Where it all began. Probably wouldn’t go inside, though.)

    Why vacation there?

    It’s a perfect Halloween spot. Great for laughter and fun. It’s got a creepy, weird, and fun feel to it.

    4. Hogwarts (Harry Potter)

    Why go:

    • A castle filled with secrets and a beautiful landscape.
    • Moving paintings, hidden doors, and majestic creatures.
    • A chance to experience lessons in charms, potions, flying, and magical history.

    What I’d do:

    • After visiting the castle, I would definitely be eating the different candies.
    • Take a ride on the Hogwarts Express. (There’s candy on the trolley by the way.)
    • I would go rowing on the lake.

    Why a vacation world?

    It’s a magical world. What more can be said? Oh, and it’s got butterbeer!

    5. The Mass Effect Universe

    Why go:

    • Explore the galaxy rich with beautiful planets, a multitude of civilizations, and full of discovery.
    • Who wouldn’t want to travel through space?
    • Each culture has its own lore to explore. (Turians, Quarians, Asari, Salarians, etc.)

    What I’d do:

    • Visit the Citadel.
    • Go to Palaven. (You don’t get to in the game.)
    • Take a tour through the Normandy!

    Why is it a vacation “world”?

    Adventure, discovery, and sci-fi wonder that would be hard to get anywhere else.

    Conclusion

    Thank you for taking this trip with me. I hope you can see the appeal of these worlds as I do. We may not be able to go to any of them, but we can still explore their real counterparts. Observing the stars, going to/ observing mountains, visiting pumpkin patches, and so on.

    Which is your favorite world? Do you have one I didn’t list?

    Stay tuned for:

    • War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Vol II, Part V; Vol III, Part I (Tuesday)
    • Medal of Honor: Airborne (Sunday)

    Digital Archiver signing off.