#;might and magick . skills

[theresattrpgforthat]

hi! have you seen the TTRPGS for Palestine bundle yet? and do you have any recommendations from it

https://tiltify.com/@jesthehuman/ttrpgs-for-palestine

THEME: TTRPGS for Palestine

The TTRPGs for Palestine Bundle is going from April 12 to May 7, so there's not much time left to get it, but here's some recommendations of some really awesome games that you can find in it.

Gubat Banwa, by makapatag.

GUBAT BANWA is a Martial Arts Tactics and War Drama Tabletop RPG where you play as martial artists poised to change the world: Kadungganan: the cavalry, the wandering swordsmen, the tide turners, the knights-errant, the ones to call in darkest night in a world inspired and centering Southeast Asian folklore.

Witness, grand warriors, honorable gallants that trudge and toil under kings and haloes. Witness, KADUNGGANAN, that refulgent name. That blasted name: WITNESS NOW. The end of days is upon us: and the new world MUST BE BORN. Bear your blades, incant your magicks. Cut open your tomorrow from the womb of violence. Inscribe your name upon the very akasha of this world. 

Gubat Banwa is designed for fans of 4th edition D&D, with in-depth character abilities that make you feel both unique and powerful, in a colourful and flavourful world full of vibrant cultures and clashing conflicts. The game uses an action economy with different action options carrying different weights, which also reminds me quite a bit of Lancer. If you want a game that pushes you to strategize with your friends and weigh your advancement options carefully, you want Gubat Banwa.

Gun & Slinger, by Nevyn Holmes.

GUN&SLINGER is an RPG geared for short, episodic sessions about a weapon and a wanderer. A Maestro and two players (Gun and Slinger) set out into a dead planet mutated by a god's forgotten child and hunt strange bounties, investigate the world and unlock hidden powers. During play, they seek to learn the nature of what’s hunting the Slinger, figure out why the Gun is sentient and discover how the world died.

This game is specifically for three players, using the rules of Go Fish as a resolution system. Gun & Slinger is all about using your resources to the best of their ability, and your resources might exist on your character sheet, but they also exist as cards in your hand.

What really intrigues me is the lore that’s baked into your character sheets. One of you is a wanderer in a twisted world, tempted by strange powers that guarantee to change you into a monster. One of you is a sentient magical gun, borne by that wanderer and designed to deliver death and pain.

Gun & Slinger has expansions included, allowing you to instead play as a wanderer possessed by a demon, a mech and a pilot fused as one, or someone who bears a cursed sword. I think the fact that it requires a small table and the fact that the characters’ lives are tied together makes this a high-stakes, terribly intimate game.

Apocalypse Frame, by Binary Star Games.

In a ruined and terraformed world where most of humanity is under the yoke of a brutal regime, the former workers of a once-remote factory - now known as The Collective - have risen up to create a future of freedom from oppression. You are an Ace - a highly skilled pilot referred from a Division in The Collective and assigned a humanoid combat vehicle known as a Frame. You and your Strike Team of fellow Aces must take on The Collective’s greatest threats, ensure its survival, and carve a path for its continued success.

Apocalypse Frame takes mechs and fits them into the LUMEN system, which centres competency as well as fast but effective rounds of combat. The game includes a variety of different threats, allowing you to tailor your campaign to your group’s tastes, and the tailoring doesn’t stop there. You choose both a division that your character belongs to, and then one of three mechs within that division, allowing players to share similar fighting styles but differ in weapons. You can also modify your basic frame, adding general modular systems alongside systems and armaments that can come with your mech, making character creation and progression exciting for folks who love tweaking and tailoring to their heart’s content.

If you’re a fan of Armored Core or Battletech, you’ll want to check out Apocalypse Frame.

Here, There Be Monsters!, by wendi yu.

No matter what they tell you, there’s still weirdness and wonder everywhere. You just have to know where to look. At the edges and cracks of ‘normal’ life we exist, we persist, and we resist: the monsters, the magicians, the anomalies, the freaks, and the outcasts. We gather in the shadows, trying our best to live our lives in a world that, when it doesn’t exactly fear or hate us, doesn't even believe in our existence.

here, there, be monsters! is a rules-lite response to monster-hunting media from the monsters' point of view. It's both a love letter and a middle finger to stuff like Hellboy (and the BPRD), the SCP Foundation, the Men in Black, the World of Darkness games and the Urban Fantasy genre in general. It is an explicitly queer, antifascist and anti-capitalist game about the monstrous and the weird, in any flavor you want, not as something to be feared, but to be cherished and protected.

Here, There, Be Monsters is a love-letter to anyone who has been made to feel monstrous, as well as an homage to media such as Hellboy, the SCP Foundation, and Men in Black. It’s urban fantasy meets organized power structures, and as the monsters, you’re here to burn those structures down.

This game uses descriptive tags to slap onto your characters to represent what they can do. You can choose from a number of different monster character backgrounds to give you guidance towards, and there’s plenty of monsters both in the base game and in the game jam wendi ran back in 2022. If you want a game of power, anti-capitalism, and punching up, this is the game for you.

Pale Dot, by Devin Nelson.

Pale Dot is a collaborative storytelling game for 2-5 players about a crew of non-human cosmonauts leaving their planet to explore a strange solar system, finding threads to unravel the unknown along the way. It is fantastical, surreal, and perhaps very unlike humanity’s own ventures in space exploration. Though one thing is universal: leaving home is terrifying, dangerous, humbling, and a catalyst for changing one’s perspective. 

Pale Dot is a GM-less game where players work together to create an alien setting and subsequently envelop it in cosmic mystery, embodying cosmonauts called Dustlings, as well as one of 5 different settings. During their journey they will be able to travel to 24 different locations within their solar system, each with several prompts for improvisational scenes. Each player will also have to manage the integrity of their cosmonaut and their shared ship while avoiding space's many perils.

The cover for Pale Dot gripped me the first time I saw it; a tiny creature in an astronaut suit, looking up in fear at something in the sky, as vegetation blooms inside their helmet. You play as the Dustlings, non-human but sentient species exploring the Cosmos, a strange, horrifying and wonderful universe that changes those who venture into it.

Mechanically, Pale Dot uses a GM-less structure similar to Dream Askew, but there feels to be a much bigger emphasis on the setting your cosmonauts explore, rather than the cosmonauts themselves. Your characters are assembled traits, drives and equipment, almost all of which can be expended to cause or solve problems. Each player is also responsible for at least one setting element, such as The Cosmic Wilderness, The Wondrous Endeavour, or The Omnipresent Danger. As you visit locations, different elements will be prompted to influence the scene, while your cosmonauts try to navigate the scene and try to finish the mission. If you want a game that is collaborative and evocative, I definitely recommend Pale Dot.

Fractal Romance, by Ostrichmonkey Games.

A never ending abstract landscape of rhythm and soft glamour. Wander the halls, rooms, and chambers. Encounter strange Denizens and get to know them better; befriend them, fall in love, just chill. Try and fill out your own blurred edges. Fractal Romance is a tabletop role playing hangout. You will pick up a character to play and explore the Fractal Palace, generating its infinite sprawl and the Denizens that inhabit it, as you play.

Fractal Romance is all about searching; for something you need, something you want, or even for who you are. It feels rather surreal, perhaps like a dream dimension that you are moving through. The game uses a deck of cards to generate rooms, as well as the denizens of this gigantic, dream-like palace. This game uses rather simplistic playbooks, each asking you to choose three descriptive words, and then uses cards to fuel your character’s actions: you have things you can always do, things that cost a card to do, and things that you must do in order to draw another card.

If what you want out of a game is a chill time with friends, moving from one vibe to another, and generating emotional stories for your characters, you might want to check out Fractal Romance.

Himbos of Myth and Mettle, by huge boar.

You are big. Big arms, big tits, big thighs, big brai- you're big where it matters. In addition to a heaving, throbbing body, glistening lightly with a thin sheen of pleasantly fragrant perspirant, you have one singular unifying trait  - come hell or high water, you are going to help.

Himbos of Myth & Mettle is a high fantasy, high camp role playing game of epic proportions (of body), for 2-5 players, one of whom will act as Game Guide.  The rules center around a simple roll under mechanic and prioritize narrative flair and cinematic descriptions. Himbos is inspired by many classic fantasy properties (and could be considered OSR adjacent) , but leans towards a more garish, salacious and queer (gay or odd, pick your fighter) style of play. It is designed with comedy and flamboyance in mind, but is not without it deeper and darker touches. It's definitely not grimdark, but there will probably be blood. Think classic fantasy pulp in style, but contemporary sensibilities, modern rules-lite mechanics, and a player philosophy centred in helping, kindness and being fucking hot.

I’ve heard rave reviews for Himbos, and I think the idea of leading an entire group of well-meaning but possibly over-ambitious adventurers is a great set-up for a game full of laughs. Himbos is very much designed for a light-hearted evening of fun, flirting, and fucking up (but in the best way).

Other Games from the Bundle I've Recommended:

Space Taxi, and Creation Myths, by GothHoblin.

Caltrop Core, by Titanomachy.

Souvenirs, by Rémi Töötätä.

Thunder in Our Hearts, by Marn. S.

Eldritch Courts of Some Repute, by AlanofAllTrades.

[dr-dendritic-trees]

"I'm actively suppressing the urge to just launch into my potted lecture on how much of people's reluctance to deal with natural fibre clothing is based around laundry, because its only semi-related."

please please lecture!

@drafty-castle you also indicated an interest in the Laundry Lecture so you can come join us, but your unfortunate run-in with Hobbit Pants more or less summarizes my concerns.

So basically the tl;dr is, laundry is hard and ethically made natural fibre clothes are expensive and that is a bad combination and its not fair or reasonable to expect people to do a bunch of independent research just to wash their clothes.

If I go out and buy a bunch of cheap shitty polyester clothing, it will feel bad, and be made unethically, and be environmentally destructive, and get stinky and need to be washed all the fucking time, BUT and this is crucial, I can be pretty confident that I can just toss it in the washing machine and dryer. Its very easy, it doesn't require much outside knowledge other than a basic grasp of the settings on my laundry machine, its not physically taxing and it doesn't vary very much from brand to brand or item to item. On top of that, if my shitty shein shirt does shrink or otherwise get destroyed in the wash that's frustrating, but unless I'm very poor, the shirt is replaceable.

If I'm dealing with higher end, more ethical natural fibres none of that is true. Even if we set aside the issue of cost for a minute, and just assume the clothing fairy magicked them into your wardrobe, each of those lovely, ethical, natural fibre pieces has its own washing instructions which again, are not common knowledge and which often aren't communicated by the people selling the clothes.

One of the benefits to natural fibres is actually they don't need to be washed as often, they can often be aired out between wears and only laundered relatively infrequently, but that's only helpful if you already know that. And unless you attach the information to the garment they don't!! People don't know that!!

So with your brand new exciting natural fibre wardrobe, you have to know how to wash, probably, 3 separate fibre types at minimum, probably closer to 5-10, and you have to know, or check the fibre composition of every garment and you have to do different laundry, for all of those different fibre types.

So the laundry becomes much more complex and cognitively demanding, and much more time consuming, and much more labour intensive physically, and you generally need more space to do it in. A small washer and dryer can be tucked into a closet, garments that need to be aired or dried on a rack take up a lot more room. So when we talk about how great it would be if everyone had access to these sorts of clothes there's a whole segment of the population that just will not be able to do that. It just won't be possible for them to keep their clothes clean without either paying for labour, or getting support, even if they do have the facilities, which is not guaranteed. And where is the huge pool of skilled laundry labour coming from? Historically, that was done by people how had literally no better options, usually impoverished women, but no one's talking about that funnily enough.

And on top of that, these clothes are expensive. That's not avoidable. So now, when you do mess up the (complex, labour intensive, time consuming) you've destroyed a garment that's going to be financially painful to replace for all but the absolute richest people.

And that's the best case scenario! That's not even getting into stupid problems like how some cotton and linen can be machine washed and some can't not based on any property of the the fabric but based on the fabric was preshrunk, so the garment which might or might not shrink in the wash based on decisions made up the supply chain. Or how, frankly, not every company actually uses good quality natural fibres, so sometimes your very expensive linen trousers just wear through in 18 months no matter how carefully you wash them (ask me how I know this).

This is also how I feel about mending. Another theoretical benefit to natural fibre clothes is that they're much more able to be repaired and altered but that's only helpful if you either have the time and skill to repair your clothes, or access and money to pay someone else to maintain your clothes. Again, where is this extra labour coming from?

I'm not meaning to be the clothing grinch! I really do think this could be resolved constructively. But people who just want to buy clothes that aren't an evironmental and ethical nightmare are not going to be able to spontaneously fix it. Someone needs to actually put some proactive work into fixing the logistics.

[windvexer]

Do you know if there's a chance that someone just... Can't do magic? I feel like none of my spells work despite trying different methods and advice, I've never been chosen by a deity like most practicioners seem to be, I feel like there's something I'm missing fundamentally that means I just can't make magic. How can I check, so I stop giving myself hope and then having it crushed?

Perhaps a bad faith take, but I doubt most practitioners have been chosen by deities. I am of the opinion that many people believe they are supposed to be chosen and then use very lax systems of omen reading to justify that such-and-such god is claiming them.

Over the years, many people have asked me for help getting their spells to work, or solving such-and-such magical blockage.

And unfortunately, just about every time, the end result is that the person really has not done as much work as they think they have done, and they are still more or less on square one (or square zero) of practice.

Here are the sorts of questions I would ask you if we were chatting about this:

Focus

What specific school of magic are you trying to learn? "Witchcraft" and "magic" are not schools. Are you trying to learn Traditional Witchcraft? Lodge Magic? Chaos Magick? Appalachian Folk Magic? Dianic Wicca?

Out of the school of magic you are trying to learn, how many books have you read about it?

Out of those books, how many of them focused on actual technique and theory? As in, explaining the magical theories as to why this system works the way it does.

Do you have a clear understanding of why this magical system works the way it does? Can you describe it to me?

Within the magical system you have chosen to study, is there a clearly laid groundwork for what practitioners are supposed to have to do before they are valid/initiated/adept within this system? If so, have you achieved all of those requirements?

How many months of ongoing study and practice do you think is reasonable until you are ready to move to a new school of focus?

Learning Plan

Witchcraft is a complex and variable skill that, like writing a novel, requires a working knowledge of many diverse skillsets.

What is the specific goal you are working towards at this time? "Getting a spell to work" is not specific enough. "Casting a prosperity spell that is able to generate small amounts of cash, gifts, or benefits within a 2 week period" is the type of thing I mean.

What is your lesson plan to achieve that goal? An example might be, 1) read a book on prosperity magic, 2) study and research 5 accessible plants related to prosperity, 3) learn an energy raising technique, 4) learn how to charge correspondences, 5) learn how to add correspondences to candle spell, 6) learn magical timing techniques.

Even if you do not have a lesson plan, can you name the top 3 things you have been actively practicing to try and become a better practitioner? Examples might be energy raising, visualizing techniques, talking to spirits.

Once you formulate a lesson plan, ask yourself how many hours you think is reasonable to spend on each step. If you don't think you've ever successfully raised energy before, do you think it's fair that you might require 10 hours of practice learning your first energy raising technique before you can do it?

Could you explain to me the steps you believe are required to perform magic? Include how many hours you've spent practicing techniques applicable to each step.

Practice

Think of magic as being like learning to close a restaurant by yourself. You must be experienced in all of the stations, and have in-depth knowledge about the standards required. Do you also have such experience and understanding when it comes to your own craft?

Outside of reading and study, since the start of your practice, how many hours of concerted effort have you put in trying to perform magical techniques? This includes energy work, casting spells, sensing energies, divination, talking to spirits.

Write a list of each specific magical technique you have tried to learn. Not just "energy work" but, "Earth-roots grounding visualization to raise or balance energy into the planet." "Gathering energy into the lungs and exhaling to release excess energy." "Trying to contact the spirits of tarot cards." Be very specific. Next, write down how many hours you think you have spent practicing each technique. Which techniques have you spent more than 10 hours practicing, even if that practice is across years?

Write down every spell you ever remember trying to cast. How many are there?

Of all the spells you've tried to cast, are they from a wide variety of intents (such as prosperity, protection, luck, binding, conjuring), or are they mostly one type (e.g., prosperity)? Write down how many different kinds of spells you've tried to cast, based on intent. Have you practiced at least 5-10 spells in each category?

Technique

You've asked me, so given the way I do things:

How long does it take you to cast simple spells? Do you think it might be reasonable to expect that casting even a simple spell could take 30 minutes or more?

When you work spells, how long does it take you to raise energy? This can also include hours/days spent finding objects/ingredients of natural power. Would you say that you spend at least 10-15 minutes raising magical power for every spell that you cast?

When you work spells, how do you imprint/program energy? How do you stamp it with your intent so you know it's going to do what you want it to do?

When you work spells, how do you deliver them to their target? What techniques and methods do you employ to make sure they can get to where they need to go?

Before you cast spells, how much divination or investigation do you perform to make sure the spell will be effective for your purposes? Even a perfect screwdriver will fail where a hammer is required.

Do you use traditional techniques like aligning your spells to planetary timing, gathering taglocks, casting circles, or calling quarters?

Hygiene

How often do you perform self-cleansing? Otherworldly grime can obfuscate magical power.

Have you ever cast, or had others cast for you, unblocking or unbinding spells to help open the roads of your power?

How often do you engage in managing your personal energy? For example, centering/reclaiming exercises to pull escaped energy back into yourself, or energy gathering exercises to build up personal power.

Resources

Of the people you are asking for magical help, are they all a part of the same group who carry similar worldviews and would tend to suggest the same advice?

Of the people you are asking for magical help, how many of them are able to affirm that they are mentors, teachers, spirit doctors, or consultants qualified to help people with the problem you have?

Do you have a group you can work with to practice skills, such as energy charging and energy reading?

When you cast spells, do you have someone you can send photos of the spellwork to, so they can try to perform readings or diagnosis on what's actually going on?

Reality

Have you chosen a start date for your practice (such as, "I've been a practitioner for 2 years,") but in reality you have only tried to practice magic for a very limited time (say, 1 or 2 months out of that period)? If so, is it possible that you are comparing yourself to the success of a practitioner of 2 years, instead of a practitioner of 2 months?

Does the kind of magic you believe in dictate that rigor and technique are required to achieve results? Or are you more working in the "visualize and believe" arena?

Are you comparing your successes to people who are telling the truth about their practice? Is it possible people you are comparing yourself to are not using rigorous self-assessment when they calculate their own wins?

Are you comparing your successes to people who may have been practicing for decades or more on intensive paths, or who have spent thousands of hours honing their practice within a single area?

Are you being realistic about what actual success looks like? For example, casting a protection spell, something not protected against happens, and then deciding that because something bad in general happened, the entire protection failed.

Anyway Anon, to actually answer your question: no, I don't believe some people just "can't do magic." In very rare circumstances, some people may have serious blockages or entanglements going on that must be resolved before they can do magic. Others may require less intensive spellwork like unblocking to clear the way (like idk, maybe granny prayed over you in the crib that you'd never get involved with all this evil occult stuff).

It's my experience that almost everyone who thinks they can't do magic, if they were being very honest with themselves, would have a hard time coming up with actual lists of things they have done to try to be better at magic; they have perhaps practiced for a handful of hours across several months; they are not learning core skills (like energy work, divination, or trancework); and they are not working off of tried-and-true systems, but are rather setting up camp at the intersection of every possible shortcut (clear quartz, rosemary, and roses are universal substitutes; you don't have to use any physical tools or ingredients; visualization is the same as energy raising; intent is all you need; traditional methods of targeting such as obtaining taglocks are irrelevant; casting a circle is irrelevant; magical headspace is irrelevant; building and consecrating of holy areas such as altars is irrelevant; astrological timing and places of power are irrelevant; going to great lengths to obtain or preserve power is irrelevant).

The other 3% of people pissed on a fairy tree when they were kids and need to spend a couple of months working with a mediator to rectify their relationship with the spirit world.

Do feel free to DM me, if you like.

[thesundowncrew]

The three appeared in the doorway to the dining room, interlocked in their own, adorable way, and it was an amusing sight indeed. When Maude pointed out their flower crowns, Samhain laughed along with her. "Aye, it seems we 'ave matching uniforms," he joked, not at all embarrassed.

As everyone settled into their seats at the table, Samhain took the closest available one. A pity that Arthur was not here yet; Samhain would have liked to ask his progress on the cat figurine. If the craftsman allowed it, Samhain would have asked to observe his process - fascinated by how a simple block of wood could be shaped and take form.

"Sam’s helping, too." "Helping?"

His ears perked up at the mention of his name. "Ah," the ghoul's eyes met with Maude's while reaching for a bread roll. "I, uh, I cast a spell.. Just something simple." He placed the roll on his plate before resting both his hands on his lap, his fists curling. Suddenly the ghoul was feeling a little self-conscious as he explained himself. Perhaps he should have asked Maude's permission before doing such a thing. Now he was feeling a little shy.

"Ah thought it'd be nice if everyone could eat together without 'aving to worry.. Apologies if that was too presumptuous of me."

Bran could guess how the spell worked. The tension in his frame eased slightly, but he still clutched the bowl of fruit close to his chest, and Nettie needed to tug his sleeve again before he followed them.

They reached the dining room as Maude was nearly finished preparing the table. Shepherd’s pie served as the main dish this evening, topped with golden mashed potatoes. Roasted thyme carrots and a fresh garden salad accompanied it, along with the usual water pitcher, napkins, plates, and silverware.

When Maude spotted Bran, her brows raised in surprise. “Joining us for dinner?” she asked him.

Avoiding her gaze, Bran nodded. Gruff pressed against his side as though offering support.

Maude hummed in approval. “Good. Good to see you out and about.” Her gaze flicked between him and Samhain, and a smile crept across her face. Humor lilted in her voice. “Now you’ve both got crowns.” She looked like she wanted to take a picture of them and stick it in a scrapbook to tease them about later.

Bran’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. He cleared his throat. “Where’s Arthur?”

“Gone to town,” Maude replied, placing a bowl of bread rolls speckled with rosemary by the napkins. “He’ll be back soon. Sit and eat.” She gave Nettie a stern look. “And no stealing his food, understood?”

Nettie had already bounded to the table, eager to fill her plate. At Maude’s order, she nodded, enthusiasm unwavering. “I won’t! Sam’s helping, too.”

Maude looked at Samhain, curious. “Helping?”

[astra-ravana]

The Witch With Black Hands

In witchcraft and various mystical traditions, black hands can carry a deep symbolism, often related to both personal transformation and spiritual or magickal power. The interpretation of this imagery can differ based on context, cultural background, and the specific branch of witchcraft or spiritual practice. Below are some key meanings and symbolic interpretations of black hands or fingers in witchcraft:

• Shadow Work and Transformation: Black, as a color, often symbolizes the shadow or the unconscious aspects of oneself—those parts that are hidden, repressed, or not fully understood. Black in witchcraft may represent the practitioner's engagement with shadow work—the process of exploring, integrating, and transforming these hidden parts of the self. It symbolizes working with the darker aspects of the psyche or confronting personal fears, traumas, and unresolved emotions and the transformation of inner darkness into power and understanding.

• Power, Control, and Command: In many forms of witchcraft, black is a color that signifies power, command over forces, and the wielding of magickal influence. The hands are considered tools of action and manifestation, so black hands or fingers might symbolize a witch’s ability to manipulate or direct magickal energies. It's a symbol of a powerful witch who is not afraid to work with potent and sometimes dangerous forces. Black hands represent someone who commands magick through their will, skill, and knowledge of the craft.

• Protection and Banishment: In some traditions, black hands or fingers may be linked to the practice of banishing or warding off negative energies, spirits, or harmful influences. This can be especially true in protective magick or in witchcraft traditions that embrace defensive spells. The black color could indicate that the witch is using protective magick to shield themselves from harmful entities or energies. It can also be a sign of someone who is skilled in banishing unwanted forces through magickal means, using their "black" power to shield or defend.

• The Occult and Forbidden Knowledge: Black hands are sometimes associated with those who delve into the occult, working with forbidden or hidden knowledge. It can imply that the witch has reached a level of power where they are willing to interact with the darker, more secretive aspects of magick—often things not accessible to novices or the uninitiated. It symbolizes someone who has crossed a threshold in their spiritual or magickal journey, engaging with deeper, potentially dangerous aspects of the craft. It can also signify that the witch is willing to confront taboo topics or practices that others may avoid.

• Death and Rebirth: Black is commonly linked with death in spiritual contexts, though not in a purely negative sense. In witchcraft, it can symbolize endings and beginnings, the death of an old phase in life, and the potential for rebirth or renewal. Black hands or fingers could symbolize that the witch is actively involved in cycles of death and rebirth, either through their own spiritual process or through working with death energies or spirits. It represents mastery over cycles of life and death—working with endings to bring about new growth. They can also represent the witch’s ability to invoke transformation not only for themselves but also for others.

• Unseen Work or Hidden Magick: Black hands could symbolize the hidden or secretive work that is done in the shadows, away from the eyes of others. This could involve working silently, behind the scenes, to influence events or bring about results without drawing attention to oneself. It signifies unseen magickal work, possibly in areas such as binding, protection, or manipulation—the witch’s hand in these actions remains hidden from others. It can also indicate stealth magick, where results are achieved quietly and subtly.

• Association with Dark Deities or Spirits: In some traditions, witches work with deities, spirits, or entities that are associated with the darker aspects of the spiritual realm—gods of death, destruction, or the underworld. Black hands could represent a witch who has made contact with these entities or is actively engaged in practices that involve their power. It also symbolizes a connection to the underworld or dark spirits and represents working with deities or forces that are associated with death, destruction, or the unknown.

The imagery of black hands or fingers in witchcraft represents a multifaceted symbol of power, shadow work, transformation, and mastery over hidden aspects of magick. It often points to a witch who is unafraid to work with dark forces and has gained the knowledge and experience necessary to wield such energies effectively. Whether through personal transformation, spiritual protection, or working with darker magickal forces, black hands symbolize the witch’s deep connection to unseen and powerful forces in the world of the occult.

[astroeleanor]

🔮✨🪄🕯Zodiac Placements of Witches & Occultists (Spellwork Abilities in Astrology)🕯🪄✨🔮

1H Pluto, Mercury, Neptune, Lilith, or Moon

• PLUTO: Pluto rules transformation, power, and the underworld. With 1H Pluto, you possess a natural understanding of the cycles of death & rebirth, making you naturally skilled at transformative magick & rituals that involve significant inner work.

• MERCURY: Mercury's influence is linked to the ability to communicate with spirits, receive messages from the spiritual realm, decipher omens, understand the language of the stars (astrology) & manipulate energy.

• NEPTUNE: Neptune in the 1H, can symbolize highly intuitive individuals who have a strong connection to the spiritual realm. With this placement, you are likely to be drawn to practices that involve altered states of consciousness, such as meditation, divination, mediumship, astral projection, and developing your psychic abilities.

• BLACK MOON LILITH: Black Moon Lilith in the 1H represents someone who embraces their darker, more primal instincts. If you have this placement, you may be drawn to witchcraft that involves reclaiming your personal power & working with shadow aspects of yourself.

• MOON: The Moon’s in the 1H enhances your emotional sensitivity & intuition. Having this placement means that you might be deeply connected to your inner self & the cycles of nature. You are likely to be skilled in practices that involve emotional healing, nurturing & working with lunar cycles.

SCORPIO, Cancer, Pisces in the Big 3

• SCORPIO: Scorpio is one of the most witchy Zodiac Archetypes. If you have this sign in your Big 3, you may be naturally drawn to the occult & have a deep-seated need to explore the mysteries of life & death. Plus, Scorpio’s archetype of the alchemist & sorcerer embodies the ability to transform and transmute energies, which is an important skill in witchcraft.

• CANCER: Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is deeply connected to the cycles of nature & the rhythms of life. Cancer is the Moon Child & Hearth Keeper. With this sign in your Big 3, you may have a strong connection to the Moon, which enhances your ability to work with lunar cycles and perform rituals that align with the ebb & flow of nature. The Cancerian archetype is also centered around nurturing, protection & home-based magic–add onto that Cancer's natural intuitive abilities. All of these characteristics make you skilled at rituals that involve healing & protection.

• PISCES: Pisces is another sign closely associated with witchcraft. The Piscean archetype symbolizes those who are natural empaths. have a strong connection to the spiritual realms & psychic sensitivity. These gifts come in handy with practices such as divination, dream work, and spellcasting. The Piscean archetype is also that of the mystic, marked by a fluid approach to magic, often drawing upon a deep sense of compassion to heal and guide others.

8H or 12H Placements

• 8H: The eighth house governs themes of death, rebirth, and the occult. If you have personal planets in this house, it can indicate a natural interest in and aptitude for witchcraft or other esoteric practices. Having 8H placements can symbolize a deep understanding of the cycles of life, being skilled at transformative magic, shadow work and working with the energies of the unseen realms––embodying the archetype of the occultist or alchemist.

12H: If you have twelfth house placements you may be naturally attuned to the hidden aspects of life, spirituality or the esoteric. This area of the birth chart represents the unconscious mind & hidden knowledge, so if you have any personal planets here you might be skilled in practices that involve accessing spiritual insights, such as meditation, dream work, astral projection & mediumship.

Pluto/Neptune aspects to Sun, Moon or Chart Ruler

PLUTO ASPECTS: Pluto aspects to the Sun, Moon, or Chart Ruler can indicate being drawn to practices that involve significant inner work and transformation, such as shadow work, energy manipulation, and other forms of intense, transformative magic.

NEPTUNE ASPECTS: As a planet, Neptune can enhance your psychic abilities, intuition & connection to the spiritual realm. With Neptune aspects in your chart, you may be highly sensitive to the energies around you or develop a natural talent for practices that involve altered states of consciousness.

SAGITTARIUS, Virgo, Gemini or Capricorn Placements

• SAGITTARIUS: Sagittarius can be defined as the Seeker and the Shaman. Ruled by Jupiter, the Sagittarius Archetype symbolizes the quest for higher knowledge or occult insights. The concept of traveling & mentors is also associated with both Jupiter & Sagittarius–in this case it can involve traveling to other realms (astral projection) and working with spirit guides.

• VIRGO: Virgo, ruled by Mercury, embodies the archetype of the herbalist and healer. Virgos’ detailed nature (Mercury) & connection to the earth element, can symbolize the ability to efficiently work with herbs, plants & natural remedies. Virgos thrive in earth-based practices, healing rituals or creating potions and elixirs.

• GEMINI: The symbol of Gemini, the Twins, represents duality & balance–which can symbolize Gemini's ability to balance the material & the spiritual, the light & the dark. This understanding of duality is beneficial in magic, where equilibrium is necessary to achieve desired outcomes. Plus, Mercury's rulership over Gemini contributes to their aptitude for spellwork/witchcraft.

• CAPRICORN: The Archetype of Capricorn can symbolize having a deep respect for tradition. This characteristic can translate as excelling in practices that involve ancient wisdom & rituals passed down through generations. The rulership of Saturn over Capricorn also suggests a profound understanding of the natural & supernatural laws (Saturn=structure) governing the universe, plus the patience & discipline necessary to master complex magical rituals and practices.

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Your curiosity & engagement mean the world to me. I hope you not only found it enjoyable but also enriching for your astrological knowledge. Your support & interest inspire me to continue sharing insights & information with you. I appreciate you immensely. • 🕸️ JOIN MY PATREON for exquisite & in-depth astrology content. You’ll also receive a free mini reading upon joining. :) • 🗡️ BOOK A READING with me to navigate your life with more clarity & awareness.

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

[probablygoodrpgideas]

The second playable version of Blood Tithe is now public!

Blood Tithe is a TTRPG in which you play a group of Vampires trying to survive and thrive. They will have to defend humans from other monsters but at the same time defend themselves from humans that don’t want to have their blood sucked. Of course, they are powerful beings, and might have ambitions beyond mere survival that they’re trying to achieve. But no matter how powerful a vampire becomes, in the end they are still a slave to their thirst

Check it out if you're interested and come to the playtest discord if you want to discuss the game.

If you struggle to read the white on black text, there's also a version that is black on white

Changelog under the read more

Fixed various spelling and grammar errors

added the concept of associated primary attributes and adjusted starting attributes accordingly

notably you can no longer have more than one 3

added the option to defend engagements with AWR instead of SPD

added roles as a guide to build more balanced groups

added the Mage archetype as well as a bunch of Magicks

the Magick previously called Burn is now Shock and Burn has an entirely different effect

added the Bind sorcery

clarified how Break Free works when you are grabbed with a whip

Added an On Failure effect for Targeted Accelerate/Decelerate and Daze (I think I just forgot them previously?)

Added Perks, the primary way of becoming more powerful as well as another way to diversify your character

now each skill that risks strain mentions this explicitly

Protect and Take Aim no longer risk strain

Reworked Hex’s “can use only body attacks” mode to instead inflict a heavy penalty when using a non-body attack skill

added a penalty to Aim while engaged with a hostile character

Changed Aim and Subdue to be equal to instead of higher than to succeed, which was my intention all along, idk why I screwed that up

Buffed the failure effect on Teleport

Renamed Ranged Defense to Entrenchment

Added Threats, a new category of enemy difficulty

added the Pixie as an example Threat

Added rules for Legends

added the Wyvern of Fire as an example Legend

Added the keyword Fast for skills that affect the current turn 

changed the example for a specific rule beating a general rule in Rule 0 accordingly

Reworked how skills that deal damage based on STR work

this also allowed me to get rid of the maneuver damage cap

reduced the impact of SPD on rolling engagement

reworked how running is resolved to make it much easier to run away

added the option to take a character you’re grabbing with you when breaking an engagement or joining another

added the option to escape

removed the restriction preventing you from using a shield while unarmoured. Don’t remember why that was there in the first place

renamed the engagement roll to the movement roll to better differentiate it from all the other things named engagement

made a general rule for what happens when you roll 0 dice instead of writing the same thing each time

renamed Werewolf Claws and Werewolf bite to more generic names so non-werewolf monstrous enemies can use them too

changed the base attack of Grab or pin to be based on STR so strong character have an easier time grabbing someone while weaker characters have a harder time. 

Added a fly spell and a leap maneuver to deal with the new flying enemies

Added the upkeep phase to combat, which doesn’t really change anything but should hopefully make things more clear

added stealth as one aspect of Awareness so now there’s finally a stat for stealth

[witchexia]

serpent's hand mini post !

got really interested in the serpents hand a few days ago (FINALLY) so heres stuff about my serpents hand scp au !

a few basic stuff:

the serpent's hand is actually REALLY chill lol, they mostly just meet up to talk smack about the foundation and make plans or to just celebrate stuff like the sabbats (yes, pagan theme !)

the wanderer's library is an extension of the hand ! they came up with the library to keep stuff on anomalies and also try to spread them to the public !

in the hand, they teach you magick and stealth skills ! (These are from i didnt forget pt. 10: serpents hand !) and yes they ARE patient with newbies in the hand lol

the 'serpent' is actually a theophanous/visible to the eye deity! The serpent shares a body/vessel with the current SH leader !

the wanderers library is a place where you cant just easily/normalyl go to ! you can visit the library during specific moon phases and if you manage to find the entrance to it! this doesnt apply to people just wandering around though, sometimes they can just get into the library totally on accident

some members CAN also be undercover in the foundation as long as theyre loyal to the hand !

some of the SH characters designs examples !

(i might have went a bit overboard LOL, but since i consider LS the current leader of the Hand, the Serpent is sharing half of her body !)

[the-mortuary-witch]

ATHENA

WHO IS SHE?

Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, handicraft, strategic warfare, courage, skill, and the arts. She is also the patron goddess of the city of Athens, for whom the city was named. According to Greek mythology, Athena was born from the immortal god Zeus, who felt a piercing pain in his forehead. She was conceived with the help of Metis, the Titan of wisdom and foresight, whom Zeus had swallowed. After her father’s headache, Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking, cracked open Zeus’s head and out from it came Athena.

BASIC INFO: 

Appearance: Athena is described as a beautiful and powerful goddess, with a tall stature and a regal bearing. She is often portrayed as wearing armour or a helmet, with olive leaves on her head, and carrying a shield and a spear. She is often depicted as being wise and knowledgeable, with a strong presence and a gaze that is intense and penetrating. In terms of physical appearance, Athena is usually portrayed as having long, dark hair and a calm, intelligent expression.

Personality: she was a wise and protective goddess who was known for her wisdom, guidance, and strength. She was seen as a goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, and was often depicted as a fierce and noble warrior. In working with Athena, individuals might find themselves connecting with a sense of courage, resilience, and the desire to make strategic decisions. Some may also feel a connection to aspects of creative pursuits, and the desire to be protective and wise when it comes to decision-making.

Symbols: aegis, Gorgoneion, chariot, spear, distaff, and helmet

Goddess of: wisdom, handicraft, strategic warfare, courage, skill, and the arts

Culture: Greek

Plants: olive tree, ivy, cypress, and cornel tree

Crystals: lapis lazuli, azure, turquoise, onyx, star sapphire, ruby, anglesite, brookite, afghanite, gypsum, datolite, harlequin opal, matlockite, magnesite, bohemian emerald, blue quartz, thaumasite, girasol quartz, blue tiger’s eye, banded opal, Tiffany stone, sunstone, mayanite, herderite, blue john, lapis lace onyx, purpurite, shattuckite, chevron amethyst, granite, lazulite, phenakite, marble, K2 stone, garnierite, white sapphire, barite, dolomite, sodalite, fluorite, shungite, blue apatite, and serpentine

Animals: owl (especially barn owls), serpent, rooster, horse, crow, and spider

Incense: frankincense, rose, dragon's blood, orange blossom, and cedarwood

Practices: guidance, strength, healing (especially from being in the army, witnessing wars, etc), protection, war magick, courage and confidence rituals, seeking justice, and creativity

Colours: royal blue, grey, white, yellow, and silver

Number: 7

Zodiac: Aries (not official)

Tarot: Justice, The High Priestess, and The Emperor

Planet: N/A

Days: Tuesday, Plynteria, Panathenaea, Mounichia, and Pamboeotia

Parents: Zeus and Metis

Siblings: Hermes, Dionysus, Aphrodite, Ares, Hephaestus, Persephone, Artemis and Apollo (all half siblings)

Partner: N/A

Children: Erichthonius (adopted)

MISC:

Olives: in Greek mythology, olives are associated with Athena because she is said to have been the first to introduce the olive tree to the city of Athens. According to the myth, Athena and Poseidon contested for control of Athens, and each offered a gift to the people of the city in hope of winning their favour. Poseidon offered a saltwater spring, which would ensure a constant water supply to the city. Athena's gift was the olive tree, which provided many useful products, such as oil and food. The people of Athens found the olive more useful, and declared Athena their patron goddess.

Gorgoneion: the gorgoneion, or Medusa's head, became a symbol of Athena's power and protection due to its ability to terrify and repel enemies. After Perseus decapitated Medusa and gave her head to Athena, she incorporated it into her aegis, a shield or breastplate, according to Rhéa Gallery. The Gorgoneion served as a powerful apotropaic symbol, warding off evil and protecting those under Athena's favour.

Owls: they are associated with Athena because they were considered her symbolic animal, and they were seen as creatures of great wisdom. In ancient Greek culture, owls were seen as symbols of wisdom and wisdom, and it was believed that they were wise enough to understand human speech. Owls are also known for their sharp hearing and sight, which many considered as signs of intelligence and wisdom.

War: in Greek mythology, Athena was strongly associated with war because she was seen as a goddess of wisdom, strategy and courage. She was the patron deity of the city of Athens and was known for her role as a fierce warrior and strategist. She was often referred to as the "brains of the operation," and was known for her strategic thinking and ability to see the big picture. She was also associated with the arts, particularly weaving and pottery, and was sometimes referred to as the "weaver deity," for her ability to weave the threads of fate and destiny together.

Crafts: Athena is associated with crafts because of her ability to create and produce things with great skill and precision. In the Greek myths, she was the patron goddess of the city of Athens, and her wisdom and craftsmanship was celebrated and revered. She is said to have created the first plough, and was thought to have taught people how to spin wool and weave cloth. She was also associated with the arts of sculpture and metal working, and was said to have made the first flute.

FACTS ABOUT ATHENA:

She was the patron goddess of Athens, and the city was named in her honour after the people of Attica chose her as their patron. 

According to legend, Athena sprang fully grown and armed from the head of Zeus, the king of the gods. 

Her and Poseidon vied for control of Athens. Poseidon struck the rock with his trident and produced a salt spring. Athena brought forth an olive tree from the ground by the touch of her spear and was proclaimed by the victor.

Athena competed with Hera and Aphrodite for the prize of the golden apple cast amongst the goddesses at the wedding of Thetis. She lost to Aphrodite and later supported the Greeks. 

An attempted violation of the goddess by Hephaistos, he spilled his seed upon the earth and produced Erichthonius—the first king of Athena’s. Athena then adopted Erichthonius as her son. 

She became the goddess of crafts and skilled peacetime pursuits in general. She was particularly known as the patroness of spinning and weaving. That she ultimately became allegorized to personify wisdom and righteousness was a natural development of her patronage of skill.

HOW TO INVOKE ATHENA:

Begin by washing your hands or showering beforehand, then find a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus and connect with her energy. Light a candle or oil lamp if desired, and focus your attention on a symbol or image that represents her, such as an owl or an image of the goddess herself. Make an offering to her such as a drop of oil, some honey mixed with water, or a small piece of food such as cheese or nuts. Focus your energies on calling out to her, asking the goddess to come to you and communicate with you. Then remain open and receptive to her answering, listening for any signs or messages she may give.

PRAYER FOR ATHENA:

Steel-eyed Athena, wisest of goddesses, daughter of thundering Zeus and Metis of good counsel,

Patron of great heroes and adventurers, advisor of princes and kings, your favour falls on the bold and the clever, on those who dare and those who tempt the noble Fates. 

Athena, weaver of the finest, fairest tapestries, teacher of art and craft to mortal artisans, worker of metals, your soft hands guide the flow of molten ore. 

Leader of battles, warrior maid, of tactics and of strategy you know all, of clever trickery and wiles you are the master; 

With words and wit you may win much, with strength of arm and sharpened sword, at need, you take all contests. 

Athena of wisdom, Athena of skills, goddess of the agile mind, for your works I praise you. 

SIGNS THAT ATHENA IS CALLING YOU:

A sudden and increased interest or fascination with wisdom, knowledge, and strategic thinking.

Vivid dreams or visions of owls, which are sacred to Athena.

A feeling of empowerment or a sense of inner strength and wisdom.

Increased desire to pursue artistic endeavours or creative pursuits.

Feeling of guidance or direction, particularly in moments of conflict or challenge.

A strong connection to the principles of justice, fairness, and leadership.

strong desire to pursue learning and education.

Finding feathers from an owl in unusual places.

A sudden feeling of clarity and focus.

Seeing or hearing references to Her in various forms of media.

Feeling drawn to the colours royal blue, grey, white, yellow, and/or silver. 

Having a strong intuitive sense or feeling a strong connection to the concepts of wisdom, truth, and justice.

Feeling a sudden urge to take up a new creative activity, such as writing or artistry.

A sense of courage and confidence in your own abilities.

OFFERINGS:

Owl feathers. 

Royal blue, grey, white, yellow, or silver candles. 

Food and drinks: olive oil, honey, wine, bread, olives, pears, barley, water, milk, cakes, 

Books. 

Olive tree leaves or branches. 

Your handicrafts. 

Puzzles.

Incense: frankincense, rose, dragon's blood, orange blossom, and cedarwood. 

Snake skins. 

Images/figurines of ships or owls. 

Real or fake weapons. 

Crystals: lapis lazuli, azure, turquoise, onyx, star sapphire, ruby, 

Helms and body armour. 

Trophies and medals that you’ve won. 

Golden jewelry.

Take some of your hair (gathered from your hairbrush) and wrap it around a spindle to offer it to Her. 

Roses or other sweet-smelling flowers. 

Poetry.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

Learn about self-defence. 

Defend and stand-up for others who need help. 

Exercise.

Create art dedicated to Her or of Her. 

Learn about your rights. 

Donate to educational institutions and charities that help access education to those less fortunate. 

Make or listen to music for Her. 

Study and learn new information or skills. 

Your work in general. She enjoys her devotees to work hard at their job(s), crafts, or classes. 

Learn more about the politics of your country/city, write letters to your senator or mayor, etc.

Read and write.

Learn about welding. 

Grow an olive tree. 

Wear clothing with her colours (royal blue, grey, white, yellow, silver) or with owls on it. 

Make hymns or poems dedicated to Her. 

Play strategy games. 

Decorate your room with owls. 

Self-care bath spells and rituals. 

Pray to Her for wisdom, knowledge, strength, help with studying, and help with your work or crafts. 

Knitting.

Read and learn about Her history. 

Wear jewelry with her favourite crystals. 

[egscomics]

How did you decide on who would use what type of deck in the Magickal Gatherings tournament?

Personality, history, narrative, and presence.

Sarah liked the werewolves and isn't buying a lot of cards, so she is continuing to use them.

George is supposed to be an intimidating presence, so he gets dragons (even if that might not actually reflect any actual meta).

Guy is a somewhat comical but talented player (in that he was just "some guy" in the previous tournament and wound up taking home the win), and I wanted something absurd for the first AJ form seen, so a cow deck.

AJ is all about responding to any threat and abusing knowledge of his opponent's deck, so control.

Hope has a deck with a specific narrative purpose, so easy answer there.

I confess with Sam it was as simple as "well, he seemed to like angels before", so angels again.

Tensaided is similar to George in intimidation factor, so he wound up with a demon of some sort.

Tedd likes highly technical things and transformation, so he got a deck inspired by one I made that meets both criteria.

Jay is new to the game, but I wanted her to have a decent shot at winning games (at least in terms of deck construction) without breaking the bank, and a "red deck wins" style goblins deck seemed the best option for that.

Susan is new to the game and wouldn't want to be gifted an overpowered deck, so I had her be given a deck that takes skill to play with a generally fair chance of winning (mostly by potentially turning the tables) made by Tensaided, and also based on something I'd made.

[ilikekidsshows]

"Miraculous has a brand identity as a small kids’ show by now, the more actiony cartoon you upgrade to from Paw Patrol."

Ironically, Thomas Astruc loves to shit on Paw Patrol for lacking moral complexity compared to his show.

---

See, when people point out lore inconsistencies, Miraculous is a “simple show” and we need to keep our ideas simple. But when someone tells him he's literally written abuse apologia, it's “too complex” for our simple minds to comprehend. Astruc is a liar and his editor Thibaudeau is a scam artist.

I had to say this once to a Pink Diamond stan, but, “this person has done awful things, but we forgive her with no repercussions or assurances she’ll stop doing this because we love her” is not a complex solution. It's the most simplistic and a downright insulting representation of people who stay in toxic or abusive relationships, using them as justification for why the abuser should get off scot free. Just because the person harming you is a human being who feels bad about it doesn't mean they deserve not only forgiveness but vindication of their misdeeds. Newsflash: most abusers in personal relationships care about their victims, they just also feel a need to exert power over them. Showing abusers get vindicated for the bare minimum of caring about their victims is abuse apologia.

“Moral complexity”. The only “complex” in Miraculous is whatever excuse Maripologists are gonna slap on Marinette's next misdeeds, because the moral complexity this show is teaching is excusing everything the writers' favorite characters do as long as they feel bad about it after the fact. A single “moral code“ where the comfort of the party doing harm is placed above all concerns their victims night have. "Marinette did nothing wrong because she cried a bit." I’m sorry, but that sounds more simplistic than any conflict you might find in freaking Peppa Pig. And Astruc claims it's more complex than Paw Patrol.

Paw Patrol can juggle multiple main characters, while Miraculous can only manage one.

Paw Patrol can have multiple competent girl dogs without making the boys incompetent, while Cat Noir just “tells jokes” and acts as the Akuma punching bag, sorry, I mean “distraction”.

Paw Patrol has the characters fix what they broke through their skills and make amends for mistakes, while Miraculous has degraded into Marinette running away from her mistakes by turning into Ladybug and magicking broken things okay again.

Paw Patrol has its main characters be considerate of others, while in Miraculous, the main character treats others poorly every other episode but it's supposedly okay just because she will feel bad about it later.

Paw Patrol’s primary nemesis character is a rich man abusing his position of power, while Miraculous' primary nemesis character is the neglected daughter of a rich man abusing his position of power lashing out at others. (Maybe Tommy the Clown hates Paw Patrol because they hold Mayor Humdinger accountable for his actions).

Paw Patrol is copaganda but at least it doesn't have abuse apologia, while Miraculous not only has abuse apologia, its copaganda where the primary cop character isn't even a cute puppy dog.

Once again, Astruc is just mad that Paw Patrol is so much better made and more well-known than his show. He’s been like this about Pokémon and Winx Club too. I wouldn't be surprised if he’d gone on some anti Peppa Pig tirade too. “They jump in puddles and make loud noises while doing so, is this what people consider good entertainment for children? (Unlike my hit series Abuse Apologia the Show, go watch that!)”

“Moral complexity”. Ha.

[furys-mercy]

| Introducing The Order of Saint Gabineaux |

A secretive order of Ishgardian mages that open their doors once a moon to those who seek knowledge of curses, hexes, death, and the terrifying future.

Don your mask and assume an alias before joining us for a night of occult themed RP.

The Order of Saint Gabineaux is both an RP community and a heavy RP venue focused on an ancient fraternal order of mages within Ishgard. The Order blends the use of powerful magics that the church might find heretical with the worship of the Fury. They believe that such skills are gifts sent from Halone, and said gifts are meant to be nurtured rather than stifled. After all, they are the most pious and the most devout. How could they be heretical?

The Order of Saint Gabineaux opens its door once a moon to outsiders. Invitations arrive without a return address, delivered to those who have caught the interest of the High Priest. Masks are required for entry and aliases are encouraged. Come to gawp, find answers to all of your burning questions, or to seek out the brother's esoteric skills. It matters not what brings you to The Order's door, for when you leave you will not be able to find it again. Until next moon.

What: A lounge night with Ishgard's most notorious occult society. When: | The Fourth Saturday of Every Month Starting in March | 9 PM EST - 1 AM EST | Where: | Dynamis Data Center | Golem | Empyreum | Ward 16 | Plot 48 |

The Order is a 21+ community and venue both IC and OOC.

We are currently looking to fill our ranks with alchemists, diviners, mediums, and practitioners of any and all esoteric magicks! More information can be found on our carrd and in our discord.

Carrd: https://saint-gabineaux.carrd.co/

[ungurth]

I want to make a post about the different churches for the Divine Warriors because I saw someone’s post and I was a bit shocked at how they seemed to see religion in a negative way. It’s a valid way to see it, after all it’s just headcanon stuff but I had radically different ways to see it. I based it all a lot on creature by half.alive and I kinda pity Christians who keep getting bullshitted and presented as all violent and mean. No religion is perfect but I really wanted to lean into the positive sides of it since we hear too often about the negative aspects. Especially since Emma’s beliefs in Irene are very pure.

Irene

People who follow Irene are called Lightbearers. They believe that everyone have a bit of Irene’s light in them. There’s an official hierarchy like high priest and stuff but there’s a freedom in beliefs and the church isn’t a necessary place. Lightbearers believe that Irene will listen to each individual and that no middleman is necessary. Every place is good to connect with her. Often, priests replace the healers/doctors in small villages and it is believed that those priests have a part of Irene’s healing powers. I worked harder on Irene’s religion since she’s the main one so here’s the hierarchy in short because I wrote a lot. The Archlumen is the pope of the Lightbearers. The top of the top. It is traditionally a man but women have been archlumen before. They are often located in O’khasis, the epicentre of the religion. The High Priest is just after. There’s one in each village. They organize celebrations and prayers. Priests are under their order. They help organize things and some smaller villages don’t even have one. Irene’s daughters/girls (idk how to translate it best) are like midwives. They help pregnant women and mothers taking care of the pregnancy, delivery and everything that comes after. Then you have the “laymen/women”, the regular believers that are simply called Lightbearers. They value sharing with the community, prioritizing peace over violence, helping thy neighbour, working hard and not be lazy. Most Lightbearers are humans. Their alignment is lawful good. Her divine domains are light, life, health and peace

Esmund

Esmund’s divine domains are the mountains, ice, guards, the law, order and miners. The tenets of faith are stolen from Dragonheart: "A guard is sworn to valor, His heart knows only virtue, His blade defends the helpless, His might upholds the weak, His word speaks only truth, His wrath undoes the wicked." Basically, they value justice, respecting the law, protecting the weak, humility, truth and they fight for the good. (Lawful good). Most people who follow the path of Esmund are guards and it can be worshipped alongside Irene’s. In best case scenario they focus only on the defensive but y’know, it’s not perfect.

The Guard of Light

Xavier’s religion is a branch of Esmund and Irene’s. His divine domains are guards, light, justice and peace. They old high regard to guards (or are one themselves) and the law. For them, taking the oath is a life long thing. “The guard lives my the sword, the guard loves my the sword, the guard dies by the sword.” They value virtue, honour, protecting the weak, truth and they only use anger against evil. They also believe that the good in humanity will never end. Light will always triumph. He is also a minor deity of marriage.

Enki

Enki’s domains are time, the earth, wisdom, knowledge, the moon, magick and scholars. His followers believe in perfecting their skill and always seeking new knowledge. The only thing stopping them from murdering and gutting people is the wisdom aspect of his teachings. Enki always added emotions in his calculations and had many research on the subject (often based on Irene.) Of course, there are always extremists who will completely disregard that part but they are a small minority. Enki is mostly seen as a great sage more than a god, kinda like Buddha. But some still believe he is holy and created magick as it is. They will focus on understanding the work in a more theological manner than scientific but will often end up with the same results as the other scholars. Also, obviously, the majority of Enki’s believers are scholars. In Ru’aun, mostly. In the Gal’ruk region, they see him solely as a holy guardian, the protector of their home. Like people see Esmund or Irene in Ru’aun. An important value that they have is keeping every bit of knowledge alive. Enki built a giant library that continuously gets expanded with new work, even the stupidest ones. They also value sharing that knowledge with everybody. Even if scholars can get quite competitive, they want a fair fight. This is more of an Enki thing but he wrote a lot about forgiveness in the later years, before his death. Enki also assures that the cycle of day and night happens, rising up the moon in the sky as guidance in the dark of the night until Menphia takes her turn for the day. In werewolf culture, he is called Ocshaliak, the god of the moon. Ocshaliak focuses on the moon and stars instead of knowledge and magick, and shares traits with Kul’zak. Just like Irene’s religion, no middleman is necessary for Enki’s religion but the religion sometimes gets meshed with the Academy and leaders/teachers can say that they have been chosen by Enki. Lu’pin tribes who worship Ocshaliak believe that the god will only speak to the alpha.

Shad

Shad is a weird one. He has no church and the only people worshiping him as a god are the shadowknights. It’s a particular one. They have no rules, no event and no prayers. Their only ritual is like dumping the new Shadowknights in a cell until the Nether juice gets to their brain lol. Shad’s domains are the Nether, shadows, death, destruction and vengeance. Their goal is to revive Shad, obey his orders and destroy everything. Some maniacal humans would be ready to perform suicide to become a shadowknight. In every other religion, Shad is perceived as Satan and the shadowknights as his demons.

Menphia

Goddess of the sun, war, passion and fire. She is mostly worshipped in Tu’la by humans and Meif’wa (but under another name). Her church’s alignment is chaotic good. “imbue men with constancy and tranquility.” Is a quote describing Halone from FFXIV that I think represents her teachings. Combat is necessary to protect the things you cherish and keep the peace. It’s a different approach to Esmund’s religion that focuses mostly on defence. Menphia’s focuses more on offence. But both strive for the same goal. Sadly, many wars have been justified through twisting her teachings. Menphia also assures that the cycle of day and night happens, rising up the sun in the sky until Enki takes his turn for the night. The Meif’wa call her Azeyma, the goddess of the sun. Their leader (always female) gets chosen by her. They also wear colorful war paint that is believed to give powers to them. “the everlasting flame of hope for all living beings, and the cleansing fire that incinerates all evil.” (Description of Mavuika in Genshin). Fire is often depicted as a symbol of Menphia’s holy light, hope in the dark, the sun itself (who is also a representation of Menphia) and her burning passion for Enki and combat. Knights (guards) are also valued highly in this religion. It is believed that if a knight does exceptionally good, they will ascend to divinity, just like Menphia did. (My hc is that Menphia joined the Divine Warriors last and upon seeing her battle prowess, Esmund chose her as one of their warriors.)

Kul’zak

Kul’zak has no church but small monuments are erected in his honour alongside the most used travel paths. He is the god of the wind, freedom, stars, fortune and of all travellers (merchants, mercenaries, thieves, nomads, prostitutes, bards, drifters, assassins, …), making him chaotic neutral. He keeps travellers safe and on the right path. He is also a god of mischiefs and it is said that if you hear the wind whistle in your ears, you ought to be careful because he is watching you. Piles of rocks alongside roads constitute most of the monuments dedicated to him. Each traveller would write a prayer or draw his symbol for safe keeping on a stone and put it on the pile. If the god feels generous, he will fulfill your prayers. Since Kul’zak is the god of travellers and freedom, the religion has no hierarchy.

Atheists

Atheism resembles Enki’s church. People who are atheists do no worship anybody and only consider the Divine Warriors as powerful beings and prominent historical figures. (Like Kenmur).

[cosmousee]

What Is Lunar Eclipse Bringing In For You!!🌜🌟

Hello everybody!!!

I'm back with another pick a pile🥰

I know I'm literally posting it on the DAY of the eclipse, but I got to writing it yesterday only, and with the last pile my laptop literally fell apart.

I completed writing it in class, because...who listens to lectures anyway🤪

ANYWHO! Enough chit chat!

Choose whatever pile resonates with you, whatever does not, remember to just pass it on🥰

Pile 1>>2>>3

Enjoy! (Posting it from phone, apologies if the formatting is bad���)

Pile 1

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

For you I saw more of a building your own self sort of a thing. I saw an animation of you know sort of a stick figure thingy, and it was entirely made up of small paper bits, and you were rebuilding yourself again and again by replacing those bits with other bits. I think you guys are constantly figuring out which self is your most authentic self and the one where you are happiest being yourself. Ofcourse, this doesn’t come easy, which is why you are in a constant process.

For your oracle cards, we have

St. John’s Wort and Marigold: Against your will, there will not be; no entrance, no welcoming. Be Gone.

Witch’s Rosary: Craft your skills with intentions repeated, a practice of magick powered by purpose.

I’ll add your tarot cards here only, because I think they make more sense if I read them all together.

Your tarot cards are,

4 of Cups, 3 of Wands, The Fool and The Empress

For all of you, I believe you guys are free to choose, free to welcome whatever you want this lunar eclipse. It is your own decision, whatever path you want to choose, whether it may be your love life, your career, you focusing on your own self, focusing on forming a community for yourself.

I mean the list feels endless. Lunar eclipse is a fated time for things, and for you I feel like whatever you want this time, you’ll get it. Like it is up to you to focus on whatever and receive what you are focusing on. I have also heard that you shouldn’t manifest during lunar eclipse, or eclipses in general, but honestly, if you are feeling called to do so, you should listen to that calling.

The oracle cards are also saying that it you who is going to decide, nothing will happen if you don’t want that to happen. Everything is your will. And when you want something, be really really intentional and determined about it. Affirm about the things, sit and visualize those things, journal about them. Like keep that thing in your prayers and your thoughts sort of a thing.

Sit and reflect on what you think is the thing you need and want right now. Be determined but also be open about it like The Fool, open to the possibilities of it happening, especially if it feels like its something impossible. Be really fkn assured that whatever youre choosing to want is for your greatest good and you cannot, and will not fuck it up. Its such a fun energy to be in, because I am honestly extremely scared of eclipses, and I just spend the whole season crying my eyes out. I hope y’all are feeling well, because it seems to me that lunar eclipse isn’t forcing you to focus on one thing and deal with it. It letting you take the wheel and nudging you to take the steps this time, and the eclipse will help you achieve that thing and get that thing.

You might be confused as well, you know, that usually eclipses have a greater impact, but nothing is happening right now kinda thing. If you have something in mind that you wanna focus on, you can also ask for a hint, or even take this reading as a confirmation!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

Pile 2

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

For you, I saw a very barn type place, or like a farm-y place. It was very bright, sunny (not the kind where you’re all sweaty ugh), and there was a rainbow! I saw you being very very jolly, like literally sprinting and jumping with excitement and all the people you love, your friends and family were cheering you on from a distance.

Now, for your oracle cards, we have,

Harvest Witch: What sacrifices have you made for the greater vision of what is to be?

Adding your tarot cards here itself, because they give a better picture together,

The High Priestess, 10 of Pentacles, The World, 10 of Cups, 3 of Pentacles and The King of Pentacles

Now, the oracle card is talking about the chances you have taken to get out of your comfort zone, to get out of the habits of the current you, or the old you, in order to reach new heights. How much have you consciously put in the effort to grow and reach the highest of the heights you are supposed to achieve in this lifetime.

That’s the thing I saw when you were in that barn, that is such a happy version of you, and with the excitement that I saw, it really felt like either you were dreaming about it for a long time, or you just thought that this life was never possible for you.

Even with the tarot cards, they are telling you to follow your intuition, listen to it very closely. I think with the eclipse its calls would be getting louder by the minute, especially if you are missing the signs or outright ignoring the signs.

You are on a path to great success, you are yet to see the World and everything else that it offers, everything that you didn’t think it will offer.

I’m sure many of you might be content with where you are right now as well. But with this opportunity, you will feel content like never before. You know if you’ve got rose gold glasses on right now, pursuing this new path will give you ultra 4k HD rose gold glasses. There is a fulfilment you haven’t felt before, and it’s gonna come like fresh air to you, like you’ve breathed for the first time, like your lungs have felt the cleanest of the air in a long while.

Spirit might be showing you a collaboration or a partnership which is your ticket for this new world. You might be sitting frustrated about everything, and this opportunity will just drop in. Listen to your intuition, if its telling you to go for it, you better go for it. Don’t double guess it, listen to yourself and let your intuition get a breather because I think it’s been trying to get your attention for a while now!

Also, I think you might have to travel for this, like actually go some place far, which is why I saw your friends and family at a distance. But don’t worry, they are very happy for you and they are cheering you on, and obviously, you can always come back home for them!!

So get out there and you better enjoy the heck out of life!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

Pile 3

Hey there loves! I hope lunar eclipse has treated you well!

I saw you making snow angels!! Very happy, healing your inner child sort of a thing (I’ve never made a snow angel and I really really wanna). It also makes me think of leaving an impression, or a lasting imprint. Like you say something to someone and it really sticks with them, or you’ve done something that people always remember, even years down the line, they are like “Oh you remember [Name] did this amazing thing that time?” and you are fondly remembered.

It can be a really small act of kindness also that people remember, or you’ve helped someone and that memory is you know forever in their hearts kind of a thing.

Okay, so for your oracle cards we have,

Falling Leaves: Let go of the things that weigh heavily on you; you deserve to take up space.

Crow: Pay close attention to the winds; there’s a message making its way.

The first card again tells you to take up space, which is what you do essentially when you are making snow angels! (11:11 pm make a wish~) You take up space, you do your thing, and that is where you create your mark, your identity. It shows that you were there, you existed, you took up your space, you’ve marked it as your own.

I also think, because of the snow, that the winter season might be important for you.

Also, with the crow card, you might get an idea, an epiphany sort of a thing from someone else. You know when you are walking and you hear someone else say something and it just clicks for you, that yes! That message was definitely for me. You know literally wind coming up to you with a message, because..sound…carries through air.

Oh and crows are also related to ancestors, so it might be that they are contacting you, or telling you something important. Maybe they have some ideas for you to create an impact on this world.

Now for your tarot cards,

Death, 9 of Cups, Ace of Swords, 3 of Pentacles, King of Pentacles and 8 of Pentacles

With all of this pentacle energy, I feel like whatever the eclipse is bringing you right now, its gonna be long term, or its gonna unfold over a long period of time.

There's something you have to let go of, or remove from your life in order to have greater emotional fulfillment. In reference to the snow angel as well, you're healing your inner child by taking up space in the snow, so it's sort of like you have to let go of that part of yourself which inhibits you from pursuing those things, you know that part of you which thinks “no ew its cringey” because you feel like you'll he judged, but in reality if you go and do that thing, it's gonna literally feel like you're enjoying it from deep within your soul.

The Ace of Swords also tells you that you are going to get a new idea, some sort of epiphany, which can help you in your career and generate alot of wealth for you as well.

You may come up with this idea on your own, and then partner up with someone (King of Pentacles) who already has some expertise in the area, or they have the resources to take your idea to the next level. At this time you might be getting constant downloads of ideas, or you'll be getting opportunities or signs about collaborations or partnerships.

Grab these opportunities with full force, you're gonna have a lot of fun!!!

Okay! This is all I have for you today! Thanks for reading <3

[gonedreaminggg]

Laurance Zvahl's Hair

this wasn't supposed to happen. i promise. it just appeared in my drafts.

but, as promised, here is almost 2000 words about Laurance Zvahl's hair. (with some garrance sprinkled in there for the crazies 😏)

--

Laurance and his hair go way back. When he was a kid, it was always messy. He'd get dirt and grime in it and Hayden would always just shake his head and tell him to bathe when he got home from playing all day. His light brown locks would get so long in between haircuts, and the longer it was the more likely it was to get matted. So Hayden would cut it very very short, stopping right behind his ears.

But, he'd be able to escape Hayden's scissors every once in a while. If something was amiss in the village, it would take up all of Hayden's time. So, he managed to grow it out long again.

Until one day, when Laurance was 8. Him and Cadenza were playing in the backyard, and she pushed him a bit harder than she thought. He ended up crashing into the chicken wire fence. His hair got all tangled up in it, and he was stuck. Cadenza was all panicked, apologizing profusely as she yelled for their father. Hayden grabbed his scissors and cut Laurance free from the fence. It was super super short, shorter than it had ever been. And super choppy, too.

After that, Laurance was terrified of haircuts. He never let anyone cut his hair ever again. And at this time in his life, he was getting more curious about his parents. And his heritage. There were people still in Meteli that knew his parents. They were Tu'layan immigrants, much like most of the population in Meteli. He wanted to know more about Tu'la and its culture. One of the things he learned was the superstitions they had about hair. There's an intense spiritual connection to it. It's a part of their spirit. It holds their strength and confidence. It connects them to the land around them.

After that, Laurance definitely did not want to cut his hair. In respect for his parents and his heritage. He also truly believed that it held his strength. If he wanted to be a guard, or a lord, he needed his strength. He grew it out for years. When he meets Aphmau, the last time he had cut his hair was the whole chicken wire fiasco. It was so insanely long, and damaged from the dye Cadenza had put in it. He usually held it in a messy braid, just to keep it cleaner. And yes, he finally learned how to take care of his hair in the years he'd been growing it.

When he was at the guard academy, he had no clue what to do with his hair. He had the longest hair out of the boys. The girls training there called him “wasted potential.” Which had nothing to do with his fighting skills, by the way. He was already climbing the ranks in his first two years there. Eventually, one of the girls took pity on him, and gave him a bottle of conditioner. She taught him how to do the towel wrap thingy, which he thought was literal magicks.

After that, girls literally started flocking around him and Garroth. And he earned his flirtatious attitude from that. He never had a girlfriend at the guard academy, but he did get around.

Garroth was very intrigued by his hair. He’d never seen a boy with hair so long. He asked Laurance why he kept it long. To him, it seemed more like a pain than anything. When he talked to Garroth, it was the first and really only time he explained everything about his hair. What it meant to him, why he had started growing it out in the first place, and his complete disdain for chicken wire fences. Garroth understood, but still questioned how difficult it might be when fighting. Laurance never gave him an answer.

Cadenza had also taught him how to braid his hair. Around the time they were 18, Laurance’s hair was so unruly, but he was absolutely not gonna let her cut it. So, she braided it for him whenever he had a shift at the guardpost. Eventually, she taught him how to do it. She was getting tired of taking care of his mess of a mane.

A few years later, Cadenza had the bright idea to dye Laurance’s hair. She was so adamant about it. But Laurance always remarked on how it looked like her head was on fire. But she ended up convincing him. Laurance regretted it immediately. He had been ready for some sort of change. But once he saw it, he just started laughing. He really DID look like Cadenza. Which is weird, seeing as they’re adopted siblings and from completely different racial backgrounds. But they have the same soft features, and the same sharp jawline.

And then, he met Aphmau. She was the first woman he really had to try with. In Meteli, if he gave someone the right look, they’d be fawning over him. But he was so interested in Aphmau. She was allusive, and powerful. And she did not give a shit about him. Yes, she was a very caring person, but all of his sly remarks were ignored. However, she was very interested in his hair. A lot of people were, but she didn’t know the meaning behind it. Once he told her, she was fascinated. The idea of hair holding spirit and strength enticed her, and it really resonated with her, too. She let Laurance braid her hair whenever he wanted after that.

When Laurance gets out of the nether, he feels entirely lost and disconnected from himself. Cadenza offers to clean him up, and get him in some new clothes. Even though he's blind, Cadenza can see the emptiness in his eyes. She offers to dye his hair back to its original color. And there's something unlocked within him. His hair. It feels wrong, and heavy. Not so much because of how dirty it is, his own blood and sweat in it. It's weighed down by everything that's happened. He's something new now. Something that feels less. "Cut it off," He says. Cadenza freezes. She knows why he keeps his hair long, and has witnessed his hatred of haircuts first hand. But she does it anyway. Whatever Laurance needs from her, she'll do it.

When Garroth saw him later that night at the baby shower, he was more than concerned. He really hadn’t seen much of Laurance since they’d found him, terrified of seeing him in that state. But then he did. He was blind. His hair was cut short, and it was brown again. Garroth knew more than anyone what Laur’s hair meant. He was scared of what this implied. And he knew Laurance was a Shadow Knight now. He couldn’t have survived the nether for that long without being transformed. Laurance was his friend, maybe more, but he was someone else now.

A distance formed between them. Laurance was struggling, even when his sight somewhat came back. And Garroth kept thinking about the amendment he made in the Guard’s Oath. He didn’t want Laurance dead, but he wanted Aphmau safe. And then, she wasn’t. She had left, and they hadn’t heard from her in weeks. So, with some malice between them, the two guards had to go find their Lord.

When Laurance, Garroth, and Aphmau went on that long journey, all of their hair grew out pretty fast. He saw Garroth and Aphmau cutting each other's hair one time. He didn't really mention it, not wanting anyone to get any ideas about HIS hair. But, eventually, Garroth pointed out the literal rat's nest growing on his head. Laurance let him cut his hair. It was the first haircut he ever had that he didn't hate. From then on, only Garroth could touch his hair.

Laurance realized how easy it was to take care of short hair. He hadn’t had hair this short since he was a child. But he felt lighter. He felt like he had completely changed as a person, now that he was a Shadow Knight. He held his strength elsewhere, now. He was growing a disdain for his heritage, and his past. Being something new opened a different chapter of his life. He was beginning to hate his human side, and his culture. So he let Garroth cut his hair every once in a while.

And then they went to the Irene dimension. And Garroth got left behind. Laurance was in a world without his other half, which Garroth had grown to be. He stopped thinking about his hair really, and when he did it was memories of Garroth sitting behind him, knife in hand as he trimmed his hair. So, over the months, maybe years that Garroth was gone, he began to grow his hair again. Was it in respect for Garroth this time? The memories they shared, the time they had lost?

By the time they saved Garroth, and Aaron had died, Laurance’s hair was past his shoulders. Garroth was trying to settle into this new era. He knew that so much time had passed, the decay of Phoenix Drop showing that. But when he saw Laurance, that just solidified the deep sorrow for all he’d lost. There were new scars on Laurance’s face, a tenseness in his posture. His hair was long again. Nowhere near the length it had reached before, but substantial enough to hurt Garroth in a way he’d never felt before.

Laurance kept growing out his hair after that. It just… felt right. The calling was consuming him. He needed his strength again, something to hold his true spirit. He needed a visible reminder that he was Laurance, not whatever the calling wanted him to be. And it worked, for a while. He let his anger simmer deep within him. He tried to hold on to whatever was keeping him sane. Garroth needed him, Aphmau needed him. He just needed to hold on.

And then he heard about Aphmau’s pregnancy. He had gotten over her for the most part, but there was something in him that just wouldn’t let her go. It was the calling. It wouldn’t let him let her go. And hearing that she was pregnant, with Aaron’s child, lit a flame inside of him. The simmering anger in his heart had exploded into an eternal flame.

He wasn’t in control anymore. His limbs moved against his command. He found a nether portal. He took his sword, the one Aphmau had gifted to him, and cut off his hair. And he jumped in.

[dev-mars]

More Rewrite headcanons!

• She’s 23 in the beginning

• Irene is more commonly called The Matron out of respect for her

• Aphmau is unknowingly very charismatic

• She has a gentle sweetness and extremely strong empathy

• She was found in the forest by Visher and he brought her to Phoenix Drop

• Visher became a father figure to her like he does in rebirth they just have more actual time to together

• Visher encourages her kindness and empathy because much of the world lacks this but didn’t have time to teach her that her kindness needs to have its limits

• Visher names her Aphmau after a story he heard in his youth

• Aphmau experiences déjà vu all the time

• Aphmau had hopes finding out her past based on her markings that she believed were tattoos

• She has nightmares but can never remember them when she wakes up

• This means she goes on walks around the village a lot at night

• When Garroth can’t sleep either he joins her and pretends he simply needs to patrol the village

• Aphmau’s first thought when she saw Garroth’s face was that he had kind eyes

• Visher planned to take Aphmau back to Bright Port once he felt she was well enough to travel

• He had also begun to think of her as family and he was excited to introduce her to his wife and son

• Aphmau was near the dock when it happened and the explosion was meant to kill both of them

• Gene felt that Aphmau had been causing too much progression and hope in the village but her survival seemed to be supernatural in nature and he sensed that he had magicks that might be useful to him

• Animals are naturally drawn to her and Kiki noticed this immediately she thought at first this meant she might’ve had magicks similar to her until she realized it also applied to people. Her presence/energy is very bright leading people or animals to want to be near her.

• Once they moved past their initial bad impressions of each other Emmalyn started to teach Aphmau to read when she realized Aphmau couldn’t. Emmalyn taught her the basics but not enough for her to be able to read super well. Aphmau had more serious problems to deal with in the village so didn’t have time to keep learning.

• Once Aphmau officially becomes the lord she has to read official documents. She had trouble reading the formal language of the papers and tried hiding it because she didn’t want to ask for help. Garroth figured out she was struggling and began reading them to her and slowly teaching her.

• Way later in the story Aphmau will realize that she can read an ancient form of their common language from when Irene was alive

• Visher taught her about sailing and wanted her to sail to Brightport with his supervision when they left Phoenix Drop . He planned this so Aphmau would gain another skill and eventually if she took up as merchant like him she would be able to travel.

• Aphmau ended up making the journey to Brightport alone. She volunteered to deliver his remains while still grieving his death. Once she made it Brightport she was struggling to tie up her boat and was nearly in tears over it due to being overwhelmed and grieving Visher’s death.

• Laurance noticed this and without saying anything helped her tie up her ship. Then he asks if she’s alright. He cracks a joke that’s kind of flirty that makes her laugh distracting her briefly from Visher’s death. He doesn’t immediately full on flirt with Aphmau because she was clearly distressed. He compliment her before he’s interrupted by the ladies at Brightport throwing small rock because they think shamelessly flirting with another girl.

• They finally introduce themselves and Laurance might comment on the story she’s named after before pointing her in the right direction and saying goodbye. He says something like, “goodbye my dear Aphmau.” instead of calling her “love.” (idk man i just want their first meeting to be less cringe as much as I love flirty Laurance in the series his dialogue can be awkward and cringe at times. I just want him to be more charming in a natural way in their first meeting.)

• Once Laurance meets her again in Meteli “my dear” and other forms of it becomes what he calls her. At that time Aphmau realizes he’s been flirting with her and gets embarrassed but secretly doesn’t mind the pet name. Laurance does it out of affection and to annoy her until Garroth and Laurance have their bro talk™️ where Garroth admits his feelings for Aphmau. Aphmau feels disappointed that it stops but doesn’t question it too much.

• Laurance calls her dear or love one last time before making her leave him in the nether probably saying something like “Don’t worry about me, dear. I’ll be right behind you.”

Anyway more story ideas! Hopefully one day I’ll do something with them. Also I know that the reason Aphmau first goes to Brightport is for Brendon but I felt like that event is too similar to Garroth getting injured later and Visher has just died so to me personally it fits better for Aphmau to be delivering Visher’s remains. Plus I think the werewolf plot line can still happen without the moon herb thing.