aetheriusrising

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Hi everyone!

As most of you know, we’re doing tons of work here in order to create a space in the interactive fiction and to give a voice both to newcomers and people belonging in plenty of minority groups!

However, even if there’s 5 of us, most of us are in university or got jobs, and on top of that, we’ve got projects we’re devoted to that take plenty of our time! For that reason and many more, we encourage every one of you to support us for the work we do. Even if it’s completely voluntary, the work here does become overwhelming and we have to force each other as mods to take breaks.

It’s been a delight running this blog and meeting/interacting with new creators and readers but it does get a little overwhelming sometimes. Just consider this to be a small motivation to keep us inspired to make these efforts for you! There’s no obligation, of course, but we’d be forever grateful. Thank you for supporting us this far!

If you want to buy the mods a cup of coffee, here’s the link!

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Ellie Davies, In Between the Trees

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I think this may be the start of a little series :)

[edit: art prints available on inPRNT and Redbubble]

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Inferno (Berserk) by Anato Finnstark (anto-finnstark on artstation)

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Cottage on Fire at Night, 1785-93, Joseph Wright of Derby

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Updates + Intro 2/19

Hey! Apologies for being mostly silent, I went into February and immediately got hit with a million things at once. Things are better now, thankfully. That being said, I figured I would give an update and introduce myself! I’m Bee, writing the in-development Aetherius Rising. I use they/them pronouns!

In an ask I previously said I hoped to have the first bit of the demo up by around now. Unfortunately, due to the February Woes, that is not the case. However, I do want to say I am making progress and I am very excited about where things are going! I am not going to make an official date announcement until I can assure it’s ready, but I will be making updates more frequently with snippets to read.

Of course, you’ll be the first to know when the demo is live!

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Two of Swords by Anna Christenson

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Cavalry Broadsword, 1630, Art Institute of Chicago: Arms, Armor, Medieval, and Renaissance

George F. Harding Collection Size: Overall L. 103 cm (40 ½ in.) Blade L. 87.5 cm (34 ½ in.) Wt. 1 lb. 14 oz. Medium: Steel, wood, and copper

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117167/

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Time doesn’t feel the same anymore.

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Art by Yolve Evigilatio

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You can have my heart if you have the stomach to take it. Kiss me hard enough to invert me.

Yves Olade, from When Rome Falls; Bloodsport, 2017 (via megairea)

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By artist Joon Ahn.

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Maggie Nelson, Bluets

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© Nona Limmen

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Phantom Manor by lpupi

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Wynden, capitol of Thysuus. Home.

In the center of the city sits the Gilded Halls, or the sprawling open-air market which houses the four temples to the Gods. Each temple sits at the corners of the square, connected through a beautiful carved stone roof, with a stained glass dome centering on a massive tree and courtyard. Under the dome is a large tree, which grows upwards into the dome and houses magical lights in the leaves. The base of this tree is where the ritual is held during the Festival. On the city-facing side of each temple is a massive statue depicting the God whose temple resides behind it. 

Each temple opens with no doors, only an archway which enters into the main cathedral hall. There are seats and clergy and temple guards, with staircases hidden on the left and right sides of the room which lead up to the housing for the clergy as well as where lower level government work is done (like what your mother does for a living). There are rumors of massive vaults beneath the plaza, connected to each of the temples, but it’s considered more of a myth than anything.

Cascading outwards from the Gilded Halls are the four districts. The innermost circle, the district named after the Witch school Virtua due to its housing said school, is called Virtara. It houses the city’s elite, including the twelve houses of the Archonate. Many richer merchants as well as upper-level temple clerks live in this area. The second most ring, Libertara, is the district in which you grew up and where your family home resides. While your family easily could have lived in Virtua, thanks to your mother’s status in the Temple of Rhytha, your father insisted that staying away from the higher elite would keep you, their only child, humble. A mix of wealthier and average households live in Libertara, and the various markets and eateries make for a lively neighborhood. You live near the market in a small two-story abode, all your own, a refuge which affords you just enough privacy from your family for your...less than sanctioned research.

The third and fourth rings are named Rhytara and Thomtara respectively, after the goddess Rhytha and god Thomos. Rhytara houses many clerks and clergy from all four temples, as well as doctors who see to a wide range of families. Poorer families are given homes here and in Thomtara, often humble but never allowed to dilapidate (often fixed at the cost of the various Temples, funded by tithes). Thomtara includes traveller’s inns (though those are interspersed in the city as well) and bleeds into the farmed landscape surrounding the city. These expand outwards for 3 miles before it’s back to rugged forest and field, with roads splitting in every cardinal direction to the nearest town and onwards.

While most travel to the Halls to worship, there are interspersed small statues where the general populous is encouraged to pray or offer tithes in lieu of travelling. Generally, everyone attends sermons at one Temple once a week, as prayer helps to power the Archon’s Gods-strengthened magic keeping Aetherius at bay. Tithes are to help with upkeep around the city and often tithes taken in Wynden are more than what’s needed and trickle out to other settlements around Thysuus if aid is needed.

It can take a few hours to move through each district, depending on the route and general traffic. From the Gilded Halls to the furthest edge of Thomtara, travel takes approximately 4 hours if taking a speedy route (and on a good day, really).

Gods of Thysuus:

Rhytha - also known as the Mother of All, she represents balance, law, and family. Colors are deep blue and silver. Her statue outside the temple at the Gilded Halls faces North. Your mother, Adora, is a high-level official helping to manage the tithes under Rhytha’s purview and organizing repairs around the city of Wynden. Your family name holds a fair amount of weight as a result, coupled with the parties your parents often host.

             Appearance: Rhytha is an older woman, tall and plump, long flowing dark hair and light brown skin. Her statue depicts her in partial armor, holding a silver ranseur, the rest of her visage in smooth white stone. Her gaze is soft.

Thomos - all pronouns, Sage of reverence, love, and intelligence. Colors are purple and white. Their statue outside the temple at the Gilded Halls faces West. Depictions of Thomos vary wildly, but all hold the same loving gaze she is known for.

            Appearance: They are depicted wearing thick robes in a grape purple, with long white hair that is braided and draped across their chest and over their shoulder. His statue depicts him with his right hand extended palm facing out, fingers up, the other hand pressed to their heart. They are often depicted smiling.

Horous - he/him, god of strength, honor, and wisdom, colors are copper and deep red. While his image has been used to depict war, the Canticles are more prone to focus on his forgiving nature. Some depictions give him a youthful appearance, but most popular are depictions of his older self. His statue outside his temple at the Gilded Halls faces South.

           Appearance: He is always depicted in full armor, a shining red metal that compliments his short copper hair. His statue depicts him standing proudly, helmet under arm, with a gently flowing cape in deep red. His face betrays no emotion.

Yrie (ee-ree-uh) - she/they, Sage of magic, wellness, and medicine. Colors are green and gold. Her statue outside her temple at the Gilded Halls faces East. Within their gaze is the spire that rises above the city, the heart of Virtua, the Witch academy.

          Appearance: She is a short feminine figure with deep brown skin, wearing a loose flowing dress that reveals her back and arms. Down their spine and around their arms are scrolling runes, glowing a gentle golden color. Their statue depicts them with both hands out, a glowing golden orb between them. 

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