#Adaptation and resilience from forests

[intlforestday]

Forests do more for the climate than store and sequester carbon.

For example, they:

regulate rainfall

provide cooling benefits

protect coastal areas

provide forest products for local communities facing climatic threats

[reasonsforhope]

"A century of gradual reforestation across the American East and Southeast has kept the region cooler than it otherwise would have become, a new study shows.

The pioneering study of progress shows how the last 25 years of accelerated reforestation around the world might significantly pay off in the second half of the 21st century.

Using a variety of calculative methods and estimations based on satellite and temperature data from weather stations, the authors determined that forests in the eastern United States cool the land surface by 1.8 – 3.6°F annually compared to nearby grasslands and croplands, with the strongest effect seen in summer, when cooling amounts to 3.6 – 9°F.

The younger the forest, the more this cooling effect was detected, with forest trees between 20 and 40 years old offering the coolest temperatures underneath.

“The reforestation has been remarkable and we have shown this has translated into the surrounding air temperature,” Mallory Barnes, an environmental scientist at Indiana University who led the research, told The Guardian.

“Moving forward, we need to think about tree planting not just as a way to absorb carbon dioxide but also the cooling effects in adapting for climate change, to help cities be resilient against these very hot temperatures.”

The cooling of the land surface affected the air near ground level as well, with a stepwise reduction in heat linked to reductions in near-surface air temps.

“Analyses of historical land cover and air temperature trends showed that the cooling benefits of reforestation extend across the landscape,” the authors write. “Locations surrounded by reforestation were up to 1.8°F cooler than neighboring locations that did not undergo land cover change, and areas dominated by regrowing forests were associated with cooling temperature trends in much of the Eastern United States.”

By the 1930s, forest cover loss in the eastern states like the Carolinas and Mississippi had stopped, as the descendants of European settlers moved in greater and greater numbers into cities and marginal agricultural land was abandoned.

The Civilian Conservation Corps undertook large replanting efforts of forests that had been cleared, and this is believed to be what is causing the lower average temperatures observed in the study data.

However, the authors note that other causes, like more sophisticated crop irrigation and increases in airborne pollutants that block incoming sunlight, may have also contributed to the lowering of temperatures over time. They also note that tree planting might not always produce this effect, such as in the boreal zone where increases in trees are linked with increases in humidity that way raise average temperatures."

-via Good News Network, February 20, 2024

[celestemona]

⋆˙⟡ — CONSTANT AS A RIVER, PERPETUAL AS MOUNTAINS

cw: no pronouns mentioned. just pure cuteness.

High above the forest floor, Kinich perched silently in the upper branches of a towering tree, his body still and balanced like a natural extension of the canopy. Below him, the landscape unfolded into a maze of thick trees, jagged rock faces, and the distant, thunderous roar of the waterfall cascading down the mountain. The air was thick with the scent of damp leaves and fresh water, the humidity clinging onto everything.

From this height, Kinich had a clear view of the world below—a vantage point that made him feel at home, with the winds sweeping through the treetops and the sway of the branches beneath him. His tribe had long since adapted to this unforgiving landscape, where cliffs loomed, trees stretched endlessly into the sky, and the terrain was as treacherous as it was beautiful. To outsiders, this place was inhospitable. To Kinich, it was perfect.

His sharp eyes followed you, who was on the floor far below, walking with a carefree grace that stood in stark contrast to the harshness of the environment around you. You moved with ease, your steps light as if you danced along the path, humming softly to yourself. Your hair fluttered in the breeze, and every so often, you’d pause to marvel at the way the light filtered through the trees' forms above, casting intricate patterns of shadow and light across your skin.

A small smile tugged at Kinich’s lips as he watched you, hidden from view. There was something magnetic about your presence—how you could bring warmth and life to even the most untamed of places. He admired your resilience and fearlessness, your ability to thrive in a land most would shy away from. Even now, you didn’t seem at all fazed by the singular nature that surrounded you.

From above, he could see how your eyes lit up every time you discovered something new—a strange flower, the movement of a saurian group nearby, or the iridescent glitter of sunlight against the waterfall in the distance. There was a joy to the way you moved, an uninhibited energy that drew him in and made him want to stay and watch you forever.

You suddenly stopped and tilted your head upward, squinting at the towering branches as if you could feel his gaze. “Kinich?” you called out, your voice slightly playful. “I know you’re up there somewhere.”

Kinich smirked, though he didn’t move or answer right away. He stayed hidden, knowing you’d keep searching, your instincts sharp enough to sense when he was near.

Your eyes scanned the treetops, and then your smile grew wider. “Come on. Don’t make me climb all the way up there just to find you,” you complained, putting a hand on your hip. “You know I will.”

That was enough to stir Kinich into action. With the quiet grace of a true Scion of the Canopy, he leaped from the branch he was perched on, landing silently on a lower one before dropping to the ground with barely a sound. Your face lit up when you saw him, eyes sparkling with delight.

“Took you long enough,” you said, closing the distance. Your hands immediately reached for him, fingers curling around his arm as you pulled him close. “Were you watching me the whole time?”

Kinich nodded, his expression calm but the warmth in his eyes gave him away. “You’re hard to miss,” he replied, his voice low. “Especially when you’re singing all the way.”

You giggled, your hand slipping down to entwine with his. “Well, I had a feeling you’d be up there, hiding away like some elusive yumkasaurus. But you know I’ll always find you.”

Kinich tilted his head slightly, his thumb brushing across the back of your hand. “I wasn’t hiding,” he said, though there was a subtle playfulness in his tone. “I was... observing.”

You raised an eyebrow, stepping closer until you were right in front of him, bodies almost touching. “Observing, huh?” you murmured, your voice dropping to a whisper. “And did you like what you saw?”

Kinich’s eyes met yours, and for a moment, the world around him seemed to fade away—the trees, the running river, the steep cliffs. All that mattered was the warmth of your hand in his and how you looked at him, so full of life and love.

He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing softly against yours in a slow and steady kiss, much like him. You responded immediately, your arms wrapping around his neck as you deepened it, your fingers gently tangling in his hair.

When you finally pulled apart, you rested your forehead against his, your breath coming in soft, warm puffs against his skin. “You don’t always have to watch from afar, you know,” you whispered, your voice laced with affection. “You can come closer.”

Kinich smiled, his hand coming up to cup the side of your face. “I’m here now,” he said softly, his voice steady as always, but with a tenderness that only you ever got to see. “I’ll always come closer when it’s you.”

.

.

a/n: oh well. i didn't intend to write to him soon but i wanted to gift myself since my birthday is coming and i've been checking his tag for updates more times i should to. come on, my fella writers, where are you?

[anubiisuma]

Snails and slugs have always intrigued me.

There’s something oddly mesmerizing about the way they move, gliding slowly across leaves or stones, leaving a shimmering trail in their wake. Snails, with their beautifully coiled shells, seem to carry their homes on their backs, while slugs, shell-less and free, move with a kind of quiet determination. They’re like nature’s slow explorers, taking their time, unnoticed but full of life.

What I find fascinating is how different snails and slugs really are, despite often being lumped together. The shell of a snail is a marvel of design, a tiny fortress made of calcium, protecting it from the outside world. Each one is unique, with spirals and colors that seem as intricate as any work of art. Slugs, on the other hand, have to rely on their camouflage and slimy coating for protection, slipping into the shadows to avoid danger. They’re adaptable, resilient creatures, surviving in places from gardens to forests, even though they seem fragile.

For me, these humble creatures are a reminder that beauty and complexity exist in even the smallest, slowest things. Watching a snail wind its way up a plant or a slug disappear into the undergrowth is like seeing nature in slow motion, a moment of quiet in a fast-moving world. There’s something peaceful about their pace, a kind of simplicity that makes me pause and appreciate the little things around me. Snails and slugs may not be the stars of the animal kingdom, but they’re proof that there’s wonder to be found if you look closely enough.⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

[girlwithadragonheart]

WIP Thursday

Halsin x Fem!Reader

“You remind me of a willow tree,” Halsin said, his deep voice cutting through the noise in your mind. “Strong, but flexible. A willow bends in the fiercest storms to withstand it but never breaks. It sways with the wind, rooted deeply in the earth, steady and enduring. You are like that---resilient. Even when the world presses against you, you bend, you adapt. But your roots remain strong.”

His thumb brushed over your cheeks, wiping your tears gently. His voice was quiet, but filled with warmth. You found yourself unable to tear your gaze away from him as he speaks, your mind stilling to his gentle tone.

“And yet, like the willow, there is a softness to you, a grace. The way you move, the way you face life’s challenges with quiet strength… it reminds me of the branches that gently sweep the ground, giving shelter and peace to those who need it.”

He paused, his eyes meeting yours as he gathered you against his chest, cradling you like a mere babe.

“But you are also like the forest,” he continued, his tone shifting as though he were speaking of something sacred. Perhaps it was sacred to him. Perhaps you were sacred. “Vast, full of life, ever-changing.” He said, standing with you as though you weighed nothing. “There is a wildness to you. Something untamed and beautiful. The forest does not seek to control or be controlled; it simply exists in harmony with itself, with all its seasons and cycles. Like the forest, you have a depth that cannot be easily understood---mysteries, strength, and a wild spirit that draws others in. You are captivating.”

He pressed his forehead to yours, green eyes filled with sincerity. “In the forest, there is peace, but there is also power. You hold both within you. Like the trees that grow tall and proud, and the earth that nourishes all, you are a source of strength for others, even when you don’t see it.” His voice was barely over a whisper. This was meant for your ears only, to soothe your mind alone. “And like the forest, you are ever-growing. You change with the seasons of your life, becoming something new, something more, while still holding the essence of who you are.”

Halsin’s gaze lingered on you, as if he saw not just your present self, but the many versions of you that had come before and those still to come. “You are the willow---graceful, strong. And you are the forest---wild, deep, and full of life. Both are beautiful, in their own ways, just as you are,” he said softly. “You are far more complex than the drunks of this city like to think, and more beautiful than the sun filtering through autumn leaves.”

You heard everything he told you and everything he didn’t. You heard him say that you were worth more than just your beauty and your body. You were worth more than what they made you out to be. And you knew now. You knew he could see you for what you truly were. For what you always had been.

[starberry-cupcake]

hot take nobody wanted to hear but: snow white is one of the bravest disney characters because she has one of the most beautifully rendered and visually eloquent panic attacks in the history of animation (the trees suddenly have faces, the logs are crocodiles, the branches are skeletal hands) and grounds herself in the middle of a clearing by connecting with nature and singing that "everything is in tune" around her, she finds peace and clarity and picks herself back up to continue journeying through the forest regardless of her doomed situation

the creative decision of having snow white sing "remember you're the one who can fill the world with sunshine" and get herself back up was a pivotal change in the adaptation from fairy tale to screen and of snow white's characterization, and the fact that people dunk on an 87 year old movie's narrative decisions as if it had been made yesterday only proves the resilience of old school animation and good storytelling

[biophonies]

dropped a new t-shirt w rawpaw for their "dreams" challenge & the dream is LANDBACK WORLDWIDE 🖤

I present to you this sigil against capitalist realism (AKA the worst idea in human history: that an earth under capitalism is the only way for humanity to function.)

a different world is not only possible - it’s hundreds of years overdue. shirt can be found HERE. 100% cotton, screenprinted in texas <3 grateful for any shares w folks you think may fw it.

decolonial symbolism breakdown & image description is below the cut~

a multipanel white illustration against a black background.

TOP L: a night flying moth with the words "LANDBACK" - reps change, fluidity, & adaptation (read up on the evolution of the peppered moth - so cool!)

TOP R: a shining blade with the words "WORLDWIDE" - a tool of farmers everywhere (the machete, Indian aruval, Filipino bolo, Afro-Caribbean panga) & global symbol of decolonialism

CENTER: a huge baobab tree with people dancing & gathering fruit underneath. its roots crush military weapons long buried underground - a tree of great spiritual significance across continental Africa & Australia, long used as gathering places, sites of shelter, abundance, and resilience in difficult climates.

BOTTOM L: flowers grow from tear gas grenades - based on Subhiyah Abu Rahma's garden, in memory of her son Bassem, unalived in 2009 when an IOF soldier launched one into his chest. bc “less than lethal” weap0ns will always be lethal in the hands of fasc1sts

BOTTOM RIGHT: a panther pushes out from a lush forest, gazing at the viewer - represents the human rights past generations have fought for, a reminder to not let down one’s guard, to never forget past struggles even if we live in relative comfort, and to never settle for anything less than total liberation. & lastly

BOTTOM CENTER: an orca sinking a yacht - because... well, I trust you get it by now.

[mahouowo]

Trading Card Game Divination

One of my main ways of divination, next to the Clow cards, is Magic the Gathering. After years of trying methods like tarot, lenormand & other cartomancies I saw someone on twitch giving readings with pokemon cards. I was interested and I've been doing it ever since!

Building your deck

First you have to decide what system you will be using. Magic the Gathering? Pokémon? Lorcana? Altered? (etc) When just starting out I suggest using cards you already have. It may not be the best of the best, but you can get an idea of what you want and if you like it. My own decks have between 50 and 75 cards.

What's also a neat thing is that you can tailor TCG divination decks to your liking! You could make a theme or have 'em be nicer or meaner (I like a blunt deck, personally). You can also keep upgrading them as new sets come out. For example, my Magic the Gathering deck is a mix of Theros, Strixhaven & Wilds of Eldraine.

The Basis

Regardless of what route you take, your deck should have a base of one card of each mana type, if your tcg of choice has those. It will be the element in it's purest form like the aces in tarot. You can always take type meanings with you as cards will have one or more anyways.

A few examples:

Magic the Gathering

Plains (Positive, beginnings, good luck, life, etc)

Swamp (Negative, endings, rebirth, death, etc)

Mountain (Fire, passion, struggles, aggressive, speed, etc)

Island (Water, emotions, isolation, magic, etc)

Forest (Earth, roots, strength, growth, etc)

Pokémon

Normal (Basic, nothing, potential, mundane, etc)

Water (Emotions, fluidity, adaptable, etc)

Fire (Passion, drive, aggression, excitable, assertive, etc)

Grass (Earth, roots, growth, slow, passive, etc)

Electric (Energy, sudden, fast, shocking, irritable, etc)

Fighting (Endurance, fighting, tradition, studying, etc)

Psychic (Intuition, magic, manifestation, etc)

Dark (Unknown, unseen, struggles, shadow, negativity, etc)

Steel (Perseverance, support, willpower, etc)

Fairy (Wishes, hope, positivity, etc)

Dragon (Strength, magnanimous, divine, magnificence, etc)

Lorcana

Amber (Resilience, persistence, patience, dedication, etc)

Amethyst (Sorcery, mysticism, power, limited options, etc)

Emerald (Flexibility, adaptability, change, analytic, witty, etc)

Ruby (Courage, challenges, speed, confrontations, etc)

Sapphire (Knowledge, creativity, inventive, strategy, etc)

Steel (Strength, imposition, perseverance, mundane, etc)

There is a lot from the card itself you can take with you in your reading. Let's look at Spectacle Mage to see what.

You can use:

The cost, their attack & defense or all together (numerology)

The name of the card

The subtext of the card

The abilities of the card

The (creature)type of the card

The element(s)

The image

The setting

Pokémon cards will have attacks and stages you can take with you in your readings, next to how they act (try sites like bulbapedia). With Lorcana you can look at the stories of the disney characters, as well as the lyrics of their songs and whether they can turn into ink or not.

Now to add other cards! You want a mix & match of different themes. If you build a deck of around 50 cards I advice you have little theme overlap between the cards unless you like the nuance. My Pokémon deck has Deino & Diglett which both can mean overwhelm with the versions I have. But whereas Deino is pure overwhelm because it can't find its way nor its family, Diglett's overwhelm is because it dug out next to the sea. You dug too deep, poked your nose where you shouldn't have, said yes one too many times, etc.

Once you have a good amount of cards you can give 'em cute sleeves, practice with your deck and build up from there!

[talonabraxas]

ANCIENT SCANDINAVIAN MAGICAL WORDS

alu ᚨᛚᚢ

The most common - and most, as is commonly believed, powerful - incantatory rune word. Perhaps it goes back to the most ancient northern European basis al, meaning magic power, magic in general. The magical use of the word was probably very varied. The most general interpretation is as follows - “Dedication; magical power and power; wisdom".

Several modifications of this spell are known; here are some of them: slalu - a variant supplemented by the rune of power and victory; folslalu is a complex variant known from the bracteate from Fakse; halg alu is another complicated variant, the meaning of which is restored with great difficulty.

sar ᛊᚨᚱ

Also a very common sacred word. A possible reconstruction of the meaning is “wandering in search of Power”, which should be understood not only literally, but also figuratively.

auja ᚨᚢᛃᚨ

This word itself means “luck”. The use of this word as an incantation has, accordingly, the purpose of bringing good luck.

gibulauja ᚷᛁᛒᚢᛚᚨᚢᛃᚨ

Complicated version of the previous word. This is a combination of two words meaning “to give good luck” or “to give good luck." It is important that in this version the Gebo rune appears, corresponding to the meaning of the spell as a whole.

laþu ᛚᚨᛒᚢ

A very common incantatory word; the connection of the word with an ancient stem with the meaning of “invitation”, “invocation.” This is one of the sacred words that were part of invoking spells.

laukaz ᛚᚨᚢᚲᚨᛊ

Many researchers associate this sacred word with the ancient scandal laukaz “wild onion”, which was a sacred plant and was revered as having great magical power, mainly of a protective, protective nature. Therefore, the word has a similar direction of action. However, it should be borne in mind that LaukaR is perhaps one of the oldest variants of the name of the rune Laguz, which should also be borne in mind when using this sacred word.

The names of those who practiced the Nordic Tradition also served as words of power: Erilaz - the lord of the runes; Gothi clergyman, priest; Vitki - magician, sorcerer, lord of the runes. Inscriptions - good wishes also have magical properties. The main traditional concepts are the following: Alag, "presence, influence”, Auja- “luck”, Gina- “endowed with divine power” attacks ”.

Ancient Icelandic magic words

keþa (Keþa’s) - “help of the graves” - meaning patrimonial protection

Ale - “beer, full cup” - prosperity

þaliR - “falcon, man” - courage, courage.

hararar - “agile, fast” - speed and strength

baijar - “magic” - magical power

laiþigar- “hatred, trouble” - disgusting

Halar- “stone” - resilience

viðr- “forest” -connection with nature

wiðugastir - “master” - another designation of eril

hús - “house”

ladawarija - “protected by the earth” - protection from the earth (meaning that the spirits of the earth will protect).

lönnruner- “cache of runes” - knowing the secret contained in the runes.

faikinar ist - “visited by witchcraft” - empowered

raunijar - “one who tries” - trying his hand

siklisnahli- “helping fire” - protection of the spirits of fire

teitr- “happy” -happiness, happy

elska - “love, beloved” - understanding, love.

(Adapted from L. Peschel. A Practical Guide to the Runes. St. Paul, 1996) Valknut There are numerous variations of the Valknut, although two specific configurations are by far the most common styles found. The first is the tricursal variant. This features three triangles interlocking with each other, each with their own separate shape. The second variant is unicursal, using a singular line to create the three interconnected triangles.

[reasonsforhope]

"In response to last year’s record-breaking heat due to El Niño and impacts from climate change, Indigenous Zenù farmers in Colombia are trying to revive the cultivation of traditional climate-resilient seeds and agroecology systems.

One traditional farming system combines farming with fishing: locals fish during the rainy season when water levels are high, and farm during the dry season on the fertile soils left by the receding water.

Locals and ecologists say conflicts over land with surrounding plantation owners, cattle ranchers and mines are also worsening the impacts of the climate crisis.

To protect their land, the Zenù reserve, which is today surrounded by monoculture plantations, was in 2005 declared the first Colombian territory free from GMOs.

...

In the Zenù reserve, issues with the weather, climate or soil are spread by word of mouth between farmers, or on La Positiva 103.0, a community agroecology radio station. And what’s been on every farmer’s mind is last year’s record-breaking heat and droughts. Both of these were charged by the twin impacts of climate change and a newly developing El Niño, a naturally occurring warmer period that last occurred here in 2016, say climate scientists.

Experts from Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies say the impacts of El Niño will be felt in Colombia until April 2024, adding to farmers’ concerns. Other scientists forecast June to August may be even hotter than 2023, and the next five years could be the hottest on record. On Jan. 24, President Gustavo Petro said he will declare wildfires a natural disaster, following an increase in forest fires that scientists attribute to the effects of El Niño.

In the face of these changes, Zenù farmers are trying to revive traditional agricultural practices like ancestral seed conservation and a unique agroecology system.

Pictured: Remberto Gil’s house is surrounded by an agroforestry system where turkeys and other animals graze under fruit trees such as maracuyá (Passiflora edulis), papaya (Carica papaya) and banana (Musa acuminata colla). Medicinal herbs like toronjil (Melissa officinalis) and tres bolas (Leonotis nepetifolia), and bushes like ají (Capsicum baccatum), yam and frijol diablito (beans) are part of the undergrowth. Image by Monica Pelliccia for Mongabay.

“Climate change is scary due to the possibility of food scarcity,” says Rodrigo Hernandez, a local authority with the Santa Isabel community. “Our ancestral seeds offer a solution as more resistant to climate change.”

Based on their experience, farmers say their ancestral seed varieties are more resistant to high temperatures compared to the imported varieties and cultivars they currently use. These ancestral varieties have adapted to the region’s ecosystem and require less water, they tell Mongabay. According to a report by local organization Grupo Semillas and development foundation SWISSAID, indigenous corn varieties like blaquito are more resistant to the heat, cariaco tolerates drought easily, and negrito is very resistant to high temperatures.

The Zenù diet still incorporates the traditional diversity of seeds, plant varieties and animals they consume, though they too are threatened by climate change: from fish recipes made from bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae), and reptiles like the babilla or spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), to different corn varieties to prepare arepas (cornmeal cakes), liquor, cheeses and soups.

“The most important challenge we have now is to save ancient species and involve new generations in ancestral practice,” says Sonia Rocha Marquez, a professor of social sciences at Sinù University in the city of Montería.

...[Despite] land scarcity, Negrete says communities are developing important projects to protect their traditional food systems. Farmers and seed custodians, like Gil, are working with the Association of Organic Agriculture and Livestock Producers (ASPROAL) and their Communitarian Seed House (Casa Comunitaria de Semillas Criollas y Nativas)...

Pictured: Remberto Gil is a seed guardian and farmer who works at the Communitarian Seed House, where the ASPROL association stores 32 seeds of rare or almost extinct species. Image by Monica Pelliccia for Mongabay.

Located near Gil’s house, the seed bank hosts a rainbow of 12 corn varieties, from glistening black to blue to light pink to purple and even white. There are also jars of seeds for local varieties of beans, eggplants, pumpkins and aromatic herbs, some stored in refrigerators. All are ancient varieties shared between local families.

Outside the seed bank is a terrace where chickens and turkeys graze under an agroforestry system for farmers to emulate: local varieties of passion fruit, papaya and banana trees grow above bushes of ají peppers and beans. Traditional medicinal herbs like toronjil or lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) form part of the undergrowth.

Today, 25 families are involved in sharing, storing and commercializing the seeds of 32 rare or almost-extinct varieties.

“When I was a kid, my father brought me to the farm to participate in recovering the land,” says Nilvadys Arrieta, 56, a farmer member of ASPROAL. “Now, I still act with the same collective thinking that moves what we are doing.”

“Working together helps us to save, share more seeds, and sell at fair price [while] avoiding intermediaries and increasing families’ incomes,” Gil says. “Last year, we sold 8 million seeds to organic restaurants in Bogotà and Medellín.”

So far, the 80% of the farmers families living in the Zenù reserve participate in both the agroecology and seed revival projects, he adds."

-via Mongabay, February 6, 2024

[jones-friend]

Lets talk about The Sky

D&D is known for its exotic locales and fantastic spaces. It is fully ready to get its hands dirty digging down to the underground, the Underdark, but what about the sky above?

After a playthrough of Elden Ring I was inspired to create a “sky biome” similar to the “underground biome” of the underdark. An alien place with its own rules and logic that are different from us grounded folk. Nothing in this post needs to be canon by any means, all this is, is a theorycraft on what you could put into a sky biome in your world and how elements could work, feel free to take what you like!

To start it off here’s some things to keep in mind about living in the sky:

The Sky is Sparse. Like the open ocean there are few landmarks and guides to tell you where you are. There’s also vast, open spaces. Our sky is usually clear, your player characters aren’t often sighting floating islands or airships. This means maps of the sky biome will have broad open spaces between major points.

Difficult to Chart, Conquer. The sky biome is changing, moving, making it hard to chart and hard to conquer. Many pieces may be moving on their own over time. Maps may not always be accurate and you might need to source information to travel. You can always descend to the ground, but it takes considerable energy to land and take off.

A Resilient People. There are people dedicated to surviving some of the harshest conditions on earth. Likely anyone living in the sky is good at it, has been doing so culturally for eons, and wouldn’t want to stop just because of a few bits from land folks.

Exotic Resources. Creatures living in the sky may resort to different ways of sustenance. Sky leviathans may have forests growing on their back that give energy from the sun, cloud fortresses may harvest special plants that can only grow in their nutrient light soil. Each region may need its own way of feeding its people.

With that in mind lets check out some ways to put people in the skies!

Floating Islands are a staple in fantasy stories, from Sonic the Hedgehog to Avatar. Floating chunks of land with their own adapted flora/fauna, floating by natural or magical means. They make great places to build more traditional ground civilizations with farms, castles, towns, etc. A familiar start in an unfamiliar land. Sky islands could be subject to the moon’s pull or other celestial actions, moved as the moon moves.

Sky leviathans! Like blue whales of the deep the sky regions may have great creatures swimming through the clouds. They may prey on flocks of birds like krill, receive energy from the sun through forests and plants growing on their backs, or be more predatory like sky sharks. You could create forest cities on their backs worshipping the sky leviathan like a diskworld turtle, or structures could be artificially constructed around the sky leviathan like some D&D cruise ship. Aboard a leviathan you’re more at the mercy of wherever it travels, along for the ride as it were.

Airships! Another classic staple of fantasy adventure. Airships as a locale in the sky could be a variety of things. They could be a singular zeppelin, some great cruiser floating through the air. They could also be a fleet or formation of airships with wire ziplines serving as transportation airship to airship. These nomadic homes can easily travel wherever they please and stock up on resources from trading posts or internal farms.

D&D is a fantastic land with dwarves and giants, so why not make a castle made of clouds? Made by cloud giants, goliaths, wizards, gods, these wispy bastions rise high as indomitable fortresses of the sky. They could be major points of control in an attempted sky war, they could be subject to weather like snow or rain.

I’m making sky ruins its own category on this list, somewhere between floating islands and airships. Mysterious in origin and purpose, possibly moving on its own volition, possibly affecting the world around it with constant tornadoes or storms. Inhabitants could be ancients displaced from time, undead, constructs, or new inhabitants who don’t understand what they perch upon. This could also loop into Bioshock Infinite style constructed cities in the sky that are very much not (yet) ruined.

If we can have cave systems so deep they lead to the Underdark as a bridge from overworld to underworld why not have a bridge to the sky? Big Mountain. This is a mountain so large it moves from the overworld to the sky, a Mt Everest sized feature in the world. It should be difficult to ascend by foot but if you do you’re rewarded with a piece of the sky biome. It could be a roost for aarakocra on their migratory routes, monastery of those devoted to the winged, or even a great lair to a benevolent dragon more interested in trade than tyranny.

The last region I have for you is open sky! A no-man’s land region of the sky biome best traversed by endurance runners of fliers. Like the open ocean these are vast open spaces that could contain any number of uncharted bits of other regions or have flocks of flying creatures interacting. The open sky is defined by what it lacks and enticing for its boundless adventure. The answer is we don’t know, and by playing we discover.

And thats the sky! A region of untapped creative potential. I would love to hear other thoughts you might have for what could work as a region or landmark in the sky, or any thoughts you had reading through this! Happy exploring out there, friends!

[songsandsagas]

Frostmark Campaign - Session 0 (Part 1 of 2)

System: Ironsworn, by Shawn Tomkin

When I play Ironsworn, I like to create a gazeteer of a region to explore before I jump right into play. Today, I generated information about Frostmark, where my character Aevar's adventures will take place. You are welcome to use this gazeteer for your own games.

Gazeteer: Frostmark

Location: Northern Reaches of the Ironlands, nestled between jagged mountains and frozen seas.

Area: Approximately 200 square miles of harsh terrain, spanning mountains, forests, and icy plains.

Population: About 1,500 people, scattered across isolated villages and small outposts.

Languages: Primarily Ironlander dialects, with some Old Tongue spoken by elders in rituals.

Coinage: Barter-based economy, where goods such as pelts, iron, and food are exchanged. Rarely, silver, or gold coins are used by wealthier traders.

Government Type: Decentralized clan leadership, where elders of each village hold authority. Disputes are settled through council meetings or, in some cases, trial by combat.

Industries: Hunting, mining (iron and precious metals), blacksmithing, and fishing. Due to the harsh environment, survival skills and resource gathering are central to life.

Description: Frostmark is a cold, unforgiving land where the wind howls and snow blankets the ground for most of the year. The people are hardy and resilient, used to biting cold and harsh conditions. Villages are small and sparsely connected, with trade caravans making dangerous journeys across the frozen plains to deliver goods. Massive iron-rich mountains loom over the landscape, providing the region's primary resource.

History: Frostmark's people have always been survivors, living on the fringes of the Ironlands. Originally settled by exiled clans from the warmer southern lands, they adapted to the cold and thrived, establishing strongholds in the mountains. Over time, however, raiders and wild beasts became a constant threat. Aevar's ancestors fought to protect these lands, and he carries that legacy forward.

Important Figures: Thrain, village elder of Frostmark; Ylva the Ironclad, trader; Bjorn the Ironblooded, raider chieftain.

Flora and Fauna:

Flora: Hardy conifers dominate the forests, along with shrubs and lichens. In summer, the alpine wildflowers bloom briefly. Medicinal herbs like frostwort grow in secluded glades.

Fauna: Wolves, snow elk, and frost bears roam the wilderness, while sea life like whales and seals are hunted along the coast.

[anarchywoofwoof]

hi i was thinking that why anarchist people use raccoons as a symbol?

i'm an animal nerd so you've kinda activated my trap card on this one. i've put a decent amount of thought into why raccoons seem to come up so frequently in anarchist imagery.

there's a few things:

first, raccoons have a reputation for being adaptable and resourceful. they thrive in very different environments, from forests to cities and urban areas, figuring out how to survive and sustain themselves. in a metaphorical sense, this mirrors the anarchist ideal of self-sufficiency, autonomy, and resilience against various forms of authority and control.

raccoons are also well-known for "stealing" food or scavenging from human-made sources. you can loosely interpret this as a subtle form of rebellion against private property and consumerism. it symbolizes a rejection of the idea that resources should be hoarded or controlled by those with privilege or locked behind inaccessible socially-defined barriers.

then there's the whole wearing an adorable mask thing. the masked face can be interpreted as a symbol of resistance, subversion, and the principal of challenging norms and power structures. it can also represent the anonymity that accompanies direct actions and solidarity from an anarchist perspective.

lastly, raccoons are highly social animals that often work together. they exhibit cooperative behaviors, share food, and communicate in complex ways. this can be seen as an embodiment of mutual aid and community-oriented values which are obviously prevalent in an anarchist society.

subscribe now for more anarchist raccoon facts

[ghostflowerdreams]

Witch Films

It’s October! The month in which I watch even more horror movies than usual. Each year I tend to have a theme to help narrow down what to watch. So far I’ve done Zombie Films, Werewolf Films, Vampire Films, Slasher Films, Ghost Films and Lovecraftian Horror. This year's theme will focus on witches, though I'm surprised I haven't already done this.

I think this is my shortest list yet. I expected to find more films featuring a witch or witches, but it seems there aren’t as many as I thought. With fewer actual horror titles available, I had to include some lighter options to add a bit of length to the list.

Hocus Pocus (1993) – an American fantasy comedy film directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, and a story by David Kirschner and Garris. The film stars Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Sean Murray.

After moving to Salem, Massachusetts, teenager Max Dennison explores an abandoned house with his sister, Dani, and their new friend, Allison. Skeptical of a spooky legend Allison shares, Max unwittingly brings back a trio of wicked witches on Halloween night. Now, with the help of a mysterious cat, the kids must seize the witches' spellbook to prevent them from achieving immortality and unleashing chaos on the town.

Halloweentown (1998) – an American fantasy comedy film directed by Duwayne Dunham. The first installment in Halloweentown series, it stars Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, and Judith Hoag.

The story follows 13-year-old Marnie Piper, who uncovers her family's magical heritage after following her grandmother to a hidden world where it’s Halloween every day. In this magical place, Marnie encounters witches, vampires and monsters who live peacefully, separate from the mortal world. But as she learns more about her own powers, Marnie faces a choice: embrace her destiny and protect Halloweentown from a looming threat, or risk losing her connection to this magical world forever.

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) – a Japanese animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Eiko Kadono.

At thirteen, young witch Kiki sets off, as tradition dictates, to find her place in the world and hone her skills. With her loyal cat, Jiji, she settles in a seaside town and starts a delivery service to help the townsfolk. But as Kiki navigates her new life, she encounters challenges that test her independence, resilience, and the magic within herself.

The Craft (1996) – an American teen supernatural horror film directed by Andrew Fleming from a screenplay by Peter Filardi and Fleming and a story by Filardi. The film stars Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True.

When new girl Sarah transfers to a Los Angeles high school, she’s drawn to a group of outcast girls rumored to practice witchcraft. Together, they form a powerful coven, casting spells to transform their lives. But as their magic intensifies, so does its darker side, and Sarah soon learns that power always comes at a price.

The Witch (2015) – An period horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers in his feature directorial debut. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy in her feature film debut, alongside Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, and Lucas Dawson.

Set in 1630s New England, a devout Puritan family finds themselves exiled from their community, struggling to survive in isolation near a foreboding forest. As their crops fail and livestock perish, unsettling events begin to plague them, fostering paranoia and mistrust. When their youngest child goes missing, the family’s faith is put to the ultimate test, and dark secrets come to light, suggesting that something sinister may be lurking in the woods.

Sleepy Hollow (1999) – a gothic supernatural horror film directed by Tim Burton. It is a film adaptation loosely based on Washington Irving's 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", and stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, with Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Christopher Lee, and Jeffrey Jones in supporting roles.

New York detective Ichabod Crane is sent to the small, eerie village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of brutal decapitations. He’s a skeptic of the supernatural, but the villagers believe the killer is the Headless Horseman, a vengeful spirit from local legend. As Crane delves deeper, he uncovers dark secrets, mysterious rituals, and a sinister plot that threatens both his life and his beliefs. With each discovery, he’s forced to question what’s real—and what might be lurking beyond reason.

The Witches (1990) – a dark fantasy film directed by Nicolas Roeg from a screenplay by Allan Scott, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film stars Anjelica Huston and Mai Zetterling.

There's also another adaptation of the novel, The Witches (also known as Roald Dahl's The Witches), a 2020 dark fantasy comedy horror film co-produced and directed by Robert Zemeckis, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kenya Barris and Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Kristin Chenoweth, and Jahzir Bruno.

The story follows a young boy who encounters a group of witches led by the Grand High Witch, who despise children and plot to eliminate them using a magical potion that transforms them into mice. When the boy and his grandmother stumble upon their nefarious plan, they must outsmart the witches and find a way to stop them before it's too late.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) – an American found footage supernatural psychological horror film written, directed, and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez.

Three student filmmakers venture into the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, to create a documentary, about the terrifying legend of the Blair Witch. What begins as a simple project quickly turns harrowing as strange, unsettling events draw them deeper into the forest—and into a nightmare from which they can’t escape.

You Won't Be Alone (2022) – a Macedonian dark fantasy horror drama film written and directed by Goran Stolevski. It is an international co-production of Australia, the United Kingdom, Macedonia and Serbia in the Macedonian language, and marks Stolevski's feature film directorial debut. It stars Sara Klimoska, Alice Englert, Carloto Cotta, and Noomi Rapace as some of Nevena's forms, alongside Anamaria Marinca as Maria.

Set in 19th-century Macedonia, the story revolves around a young mute girl named Nevena, who is raised in isolation by her mother, Maria, a witch. After being transformed into a shapeshifting creature, Nevena embarks on a journey to explore the world through the experiences of others, discovering the joys and sorrows of humanity.

I Married a Witch (1942) – an American romantic comedy fantasy film, directed by René Clair. The screenplay is by Robert Pirosh and Marc Connelly and uncredited other writers, including Dalton Trumbo, is based on the 1941 novel The Passionate Witch by Thorne Smith, who died before he could finish it; it was completed by Norman H. Matson. The film stars Veronica Lake, Fredric March, Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward and Cecil Kellaway.

A mischievous witch named Jennifer and her grumpy warlock father, Daniel, are accidentally freed from centuries of captivity and set out to take revenge on the descendants of the Puritan who condemned them. Together, they set their sights on Wallace Wooley, the unwitting descendant. Jennifer plots to enchant him and ruin his upcoming marriage, with Daniel adding his own brand of chaos. But things go hilariously awry when Jennifer finds herself falling for him instead.

Suspiria (1977) – an Italian epic supernatural horror film directed by Dario Argento, who co-wrote the screenplay with Daria Nicolodi, partially based on Thomas De Quincey's 1845 essay Suspiria de Profundis. It stars Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, Alida Valli, Udo Kier, and Joan Bennett, in her final film role.

There's also Suspiria (2018) film, directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by David Kajganich, draws inspiration from Dario Argento’s iconic 1977 Italian film of the same name. It was described by Guadagnino as an "homage" to the 1977 film rather than a direct remake, reimagining the story in Berlin in 1977. It stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, and Chloë Grace Moretz, the film also includes a cameo by Jessica Harper, the lead actress from the original Suspiria.

The story follows a young American dancer named Suzy Bannion who arrives at a prestigious ballet academy in Freiburg, Germany, only to discover that the school harbors dark secrets. As unsettling events and strange occurrences disturb her surroundings, Suzy becomes entangled in a sinister mystery lurking within the academy’s walls.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this press release from the Department of the Interior:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $6.4 million to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native Tribes to benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. This year’s funding will support 35 Tribes for conservation projects across 15 states, benefiting a wide range of wildlife and habitat, including species of cultural or traditional importance to Indigenous communities. 

Examples of projects approved this year include:

Sitka Tribe of Alaska (Artificial Intelligence for Subsistence Salmon Monitoring and Management) - $200,000 to install artificial intelligence enabled video that will produce automated real-time counts of Redoubt Lake sockeye salmon, reducing real-time monitoring costs.

Navajo Nation (within Arizona, New Mexico and Utah)(Estimating Abundance, Preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Resolving Human-Bear Conflict of Black Bears on the Navajo Nation) - $100,000 to assess black bear population on Navajo Nation lands, preserve Traditional Ecological Knowledge in effective habitat management and minimize human-bear conflicts. 

Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (Tribal Wildlife and Postfire Restoration for Habitat Connectivity, Pollinator Species and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Plants around Feather Falls) - $197,300 to restore and manage ancestral lands which were devasted by the 2020 North Complex fire, including hiring staff, expanding the Tribal youth program and developing a restoration plan that incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge to prioritize culturally significant and endangered species such as the California spotted owl, bald eagle, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and California red-legged frog.

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (within Minnesota) (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians White-tailed Deer and Golden-winged Warbler Critical Habitat Restoration Project: Setting Back Forest Succession to Promote Early Successional Wildlife Species) - $199,872 to create 350 acres of early successional forest habitat, supporting deer population recovery and increasing habitat for golden-winged warblers during breeding season.

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska (Tallgrass Prairie Resource Management) - $199,965 to hire staff to restore, maintain, and enhance habitat for ecologically and culturally significant wildlife species within the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska reservation, including invasive species removal and buffalo management.

Seneca Nation of Indians (within New York) (Seneca Nation Wood Turtle Survey) - $42,713 to tag wood turtles, a culturally important species, with GPS transmitters to track and map home areas and nesting grounds. 

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (within North Carolina)(Leveraging DNA Sampling to Understand and Manage Resources) - $200,000 to continue cutting-edge non-invasive resource management techniques and use environmental DNA (eDNA) and a variety of non-invasive methods (camera, trapping, acoustics, etc.) to evaluate and manage bear populations, sicklefin redhorse, native brook trout, bats, otters, fish, aquatic communities, birds, and amphibians.

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe (within Washington) (ESA Species Critical Coastal Habitat and Traditional Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring) - $198,928 to continue improving the conservation status of the western snowy plover and streaked horned lark and implement essential fish habitat assessments, eDNA and visual monitoring and restoration actions to support climate resilience and adaptive capacity of these species on Tribal lands.

[biaaaaaaaa1]

I've been thinking about some stuff for a while.(It's not an org idea. Sorry if there are spelling mistakes)

While the Na'vi as depicted in the movie Avatar primarily inhabit the lush forests of Pandora (The Omaticaya) or at the reef (The Metkayina), it's entirely plausible that other ecological variations of the Na'vi could exist, such as desert or artic Na'vi. Here's a brief description of how these variations might be:

Desert Na'vi

- Physiology: The Desert Na'vi would likely have adaptations suited for arid environments, such as lighter skin to reflect sunlight and conserve water, possibly smaller stature slightly shorter and more slender bodies to reduce heat retention, and perhaps more elongated limbs to dissipate heat efficiently.

-Adaptations: Their respiratory and circulatory systems might be optimized for conserving moisture, and they could have specialized glands to extract water from desert plants.

- Cultural Traits: They might have developed nomadic lifestyles, following seasonal water sources and migrating with herds of desert creatures. Their settlements could be mobile, constructed from lightweight materials and easily assembled and disassembled.

Artic Na'vi

The Arctic Na'vi are a distinct subgroup of the Na'vi species adapted to the harsh and frigid environments of Pandora's polar regions. Unlike their jungle-dwelling counterparts, the Arctic Na'vi have evolved unique physiological and cultural characteristics to thrive in their icy habitat.

Physiologically, Arctic Na'vi possess thicker fur covering their bodies, providing insulation against the biting cold. Their skin may also be darker to absorb more sunlight and retain heat. Their eyes are adapted to low light conditions, enabling them to navigate the dim polar landscape effectively. Additionally, Arctic Na'vi have broader feet equipped with thick pads to traverse the snow and ice with ease.

Culturally, Arctic Na'vi communities are often smaller and more closely-knit due to the challenges of survival in their harsh environment. They have developed specialized hunting techniques to capture elusive Arctic prey such as ice seals and tusked glacier boars. The Arctic Na'vi are skilled craftsmen, utilizing materials such as ice and bone to create tools, weapons, and structures suited to their environment.

Spiritually, the Arctic Na'vi have a deep connection to the ice and snow, viewing them as essential elements of their existence. They hold ceremonies to honor the spirits of the frozen landscape and seek guidance from them in times of need. The Northern Lights, known to the Arctic Na'vi as "Eywa's Veil," hold particular significance, believed to be a manifestation of Eywa's presence watching over them. Despite the challenges posed by their environment, the Arctic Na'vi have thrived through their resilience, resourcefulness, and deep bond with Pandora's natural world.