It’s because the term for “army” in most (if not all) Chinese languages is synonymous with the term for “armed forces”.
It’s the same thing in a lot of languages, especially ones which developed a purely land-based military tradition and never really saw a need to have a navy or air force independent of that tradition.
October is coming fast, people. If anyone wants to have any WIP threads or articles showcased for the October support thread, please let me know as soon as possible. Even if your WIP doesn’t have a recent update to show off, that is fine, feel free to submit it anyway. 
This time around I’m going to pass on grounds that I’d be too exhausted to properly deal with any uptick on interest in my games, as far as discourse, but if you do this again, I might take you up on it sometime in the future. A very generous and kind offer and well appreciated!
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For my progress on my games this month, I will say I didn’t get as much done on Sense & Sorcery as I’d hope (uncertain of word count added this month, but I’d suspect maybe 5k or so of this from the current file I’m working on, majority from prior month and prior update) –>
, and I doubt next month will be much better. November might be the month! For two of my other WIPs though some progress indeed; for Daughter of Elves I did get it above 10k –>
For Blood & Blooms I’ve had substantial progress –>
As far as my writing and creative time went, this WIP for the halloween jam took the bulk of my work. There are currently a ton of bugs, typos, and other narry do well eldrich terrors haunting my WIP, but hopefully I can get it cleaned up and finish what I need to finish … I feel maybe around 40% confident of doing that in time.
As far as real-world stuff, got some of it all done, but always so much more to do . . . hope everyone’s September went well. On to October we go!
Why did nobody tell me September ending means we’ll move to October? I’m so not ready with my Halloween jam game! 
Same. I am stressed out lol. I’m handling multiple projects even though I said I would focus on the Halloween Jam entry. Only a month to go and I’m still at 1 chapter out of the planned 4. Maybe I should just release it as a formal WIP if I don’t make it to the deadline. 
My resolution for this month, is to finish all the edits that I said I would do, instead of forgetting to do them and procrastinating like always.
Edit: I forgot what I planned to do, I think it was important tho.
Edit: I Remember now, I was supposed to add the characters reactions to the PCs fits.
The weather is changing where I’m at and it just started raining, so I guess it really is autumn now. I’ll miss the sunshine, but now I can drink tea and listen to the geese migrating.
I did manage to settle on a concept and rough outline for the Halloween Jam, but that’s it. On the plus side, I think I’m getting better about recognizing which of my ideas will lead to scope creep. Unfortunately, they’re almost always the ones I like.
Can you feature mine? I plan to release the wip on the first of October kekeke.
Ok, sure. This WIP thread? (I presume you’re not creating a new thread.)
The changing of seasons, such a novel concept to someone like me.
Mods said I couldn’t, so there will be no new thread.
I very nearly did this, but caught covid yesterday and have been knocked flat with it - in bed all day for two days so far. I’ll try and post the September digest on the October thread once I’m feeling able to sit at my desk.
Forgot covid is still around. The new common cold 
I wanted to finish my game outline this month, and didn’t. I did work on it a bit, but not enough.
I think I need to make some time elsewhere in the day for this - almost every evening my brain is fried from my hectic software development job and sitting at a computer is the last thing I want to do. I’ve switched to pen and paper for outlining and will try and find some morning time.
I had it last year and it absolutely flattened me. I hope you feel better soon!
last day of september over here, so here comes the reckoning 
neither of these got done, but that’s ok!
the prologue had some good bits done, but i was not writing for almost two full weeks this month tbh. personal things, as it goes sometimes. still, i checked my word counts from start to end of september and i made a gooe bit more progress than i felt like i had! hopefully october is smoother sailing.
i’m still not sure what i want to do for the halloween jam, honestly. i have a few ideas bouncing around but the Deux prologue has taken up all my brain space. hopefully i can take a week or two this month just for the jam 
edit: the thread for the halloween jam is here: (Halloween jam 2025) @Fraud_Writer
What’s the Halloween game jam about?
Managed to write more than 20k words this month. My Halloween Jam 2025 entry is nowhere near where I wanted it to be (I scrapped my previous idea because the scope became too overwhelming), sitting at around 25%. I don’t think I’ll make it (being pessimistic again while crossing fingers).
On the upside, I started working on my main project again. Although I won’t be able to post it as September ends, I’m just glad that the prologue is about 80% done.
But hey, I’m not disappointed. Pessimism works, you guys.
Looking forward to October!
Edit: Just wanted to share a snippet of this battle scene I’m working on. It reads like an anime battle, and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. 
*if trial_opponent = 1
Akito sees you stand after receiving his attack. He assumes a stance, the ground trembling beneath his intense focus.
*if not(used_eyes_trial)
"You've got spirit, Tachibana," he says, voice low but surprisingly calm. "But spirit alone doesn't win battles. Show me your grit."
*if used_eyes_trial
"You think your eyes give you the upper hand?" he says, voice low but surprisingly calm. "Better shugosha have done more without them. Show me what you're made of, Tachibana!"
Snow scatters around him until he raises the ōdachi overhead with both hands and swings down. The blade crashes into the ground with such force that the circle of packed snow splits apart, planks beneath cracking and splintering into tiny pieces. A shudder runs through the ridge as chips of ice and wood spray into the air.
You are barely able to leap aside before the ground where you stand caves in from the sheer brute force of Akito's swing.
Akito straightens, muscles bulging into obscenity, the weight of his weapon held as though it were a mere stick. "If you think you can withstand this strength, then come. Otherwise, yield before I crush you."
*if trial_opponent = 2
Sayuri sees you stand after receiving her attack. She exhales slowly, sliding her back foot through the snow. Her naginata gleams faintly as she tilts it at an angle, her eyes narrowing.
*if not(used_eyes_trial)
"You fight well, Tachibana ${name}. But tell me—” she darts forward, the snow scattering where she stood, "—can you fight what you cannot see?"
*if used_eyes_trial
"I expected better from you, Tachibana ${name}. Now tell me—" she darts forward, the snow scattering where she stood. "—what are you without your cursed eyes?"
In a blink she splits into three, or so it seems. Two mirrored images blur to her left and right, their movements flawless echoes of her own. They lunge together, three naginata thrusts converging at once, collapsing back into the form of the elegant woman in the blue kimono.
Your chest tightens. There is no telling which is real until the strike is already upon you.
Sayuri's voice comes from everywhere at once, soft and gentle in spite of her actions. "The Shadow of Hakuba's @{(gender +1) child|son|daughter|child} shows great promise, but can @{(gender +1) they|he|she|they} pierce illusions? If you think you can avoid my strike until the very end, then prepare yourself."
I didn’t get as much done as I was hoping because I ran out of sleep meds about 2 weeks ago and was only able to get more today. I made some progress on the magic system, figuring out the world’s holidays, and I wrote the events for chapter 2.
So I didn’t get to cross many goals off my list this month but I think the story and the world it’s set in is coming together in a really cool way.
Now that I have sleep meds (
) I’m excited for next month!
I finally finished Chapter Three with a few minutes to spare of September. Now running tests before updating the demo. It’s passed quicktest now running randomtest.