#BA: lore

[burning-academia-if]

I wanted to do one of those cute questions like all the others about the ROs, but I couldn't think of anything (and while I didn't intend to do romance on a first run, I've always been a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, and I really liked the way Rook came to MC's defense against the Headmaster 😅). But one thing I am curious about is how Magicians are born, that is, is it genetics, is it random, or is it both of those (or none of them)?

For magicians, its genetics! It's also what sets them apart from other magic users (mages, witches, and warlocks). I think I've mentioned briefly before in a prior ask, but the biological structure of a magician is actually slightly different from a human! Their heart is just slightly bigger, and to a human doctor it would look like they have extra veins and blood capillaries (however these extras don't carry blood, it carries magic, so magicians literally bleed out their magic when hurt. This is also in part why Soul Magicians bleed when they push themselves to hard when using magic).

However, the gene for magic is actually recessive! So it's very possible to have two magician parents who end up having a human child. This also makes magician politics incredibly messy (especially in the region Vales Grove is in since they're uh, Significantly more strict about magic use and humans knowing magic exists).

Luck magicians are also a sort of biological mystery since by all accounts, they should be able to use magic (they have it in their veins, and their biology mimics magicians that can use magic), and there's currently a lot of theories around why they can't.

Last note because I could rant about this forever LMAO but this is also why magicians can see magical creatures and humans can't! Even their eye structure is slightly different, and if you look at the region of the brain responsible for interpreting sight, you'd see that region of the brain looks just slightly off as well. This point stands for hearing as well!

[harbingerofsoup]

there’s death of the author and then there’s whatever the fuck is up with danny phantom

[val-of-the-north]

Tibia Mariners and Those Lost in Death

While I am at it, I should talk about a detail found in Messmer's Shadow Keep. On the way to the Specimen Storehouse, you'll be faced with a peculiar sight: boats lit on fire.

This seems to be a callback to Viking funerals, except the boats are placed in a row and burnt on land. It's certainly an odd practice, but it might only be done this way because Messmer's forces are far from an accessible shore or water that's deep enough to perform it normally.

However, something else caught my eye. The boats looked quite familiar so I went back to check and...

It was the EXACT model as the boats used by the Tibia Mariners! Perhaps it is obvious seeing as the Messmer boats are used in a funerary rite, but I think it's still quite a significant connection, especially since the old Mariners have gotten quite a bit of new lore in the DLC. In Charo's Hidden Grave we can find the skulls of boatmen as a crafting material, presumably that of previous Tibia Mariners.

This is outright confirmed after finding the lone Tibia Mariner in the area, who upon defeat drops the Tibia's Cookbook, which describes them as the oldest of grave keepers.

(Btw I love the detail of the piece of lace cloth and golden ornaments, they are the same found on the Mariners themselves. They even come with the same ghostly glow)

This is quite the revelation, as prior to Shadow of the Erdtree we had no way of knowing that these guys actually predated the spread of Deathroot and Godwyn's transformation into the Prince of Death. And how could we doubt that, since they even drop Deathroot themselves? But there was something that most people have neglected to note about the Mariners, me included.

In the base game, the Tibia Mariner found in the Wyndham Ruins drops a spell called Tibia's Summons. This inconspicuous sorcery of the servants of death actually holds a perplexing description which mentions a group known as "Those Lost in Death".

There was something seemingly redundant and unexplained about these guys. What does "Lost in Death" mean? Why aren't they simply called "Those Who Live in Death"? It wouldn't blame anyone for assuming that this description just contains an outdated term for the undead before they stuck with the one used in-game. However, through the Tibia's Cookbook, we find a NEW reference to this same concept.

Roughly the same title (Those Lost in Death = one lost in death), the same underlying sentiment, and we have verifiable proof that the Tibia Mariners are outright ancient... so what's the deal with this? Well, I have a theory.

The descriptions of these things hint at the fact that the dead have been wandering for a very long time, and that they are in need of leadership. Before the DLC, it was easy to assume that the undead were simply a result of Deathroot, and the game seemed to suggest the same thing by stating multiple times that it was the origin of Those Who Live in Death...

... but that's the thing! Prior to Deathroot connecting them to Godwyn, the undead amounted only to shambling corpses. They were not LIVING in Death, but simply LOST in it, which is how the Mariners were able to control them in ancient times through the use of sounds, both their horns and the Calls of Tibia. It's only through the guidance of a lord, in this case the Prince of Death, that they found an identity and new life.

It's likely the undead waned in the era of Marika because of her elaborate Erdtree burials and general control of life and death. Heck, the figure of Rosus, who guides us to the Catacombs, must have also played a big part in their disappearance. His axe has a similar power to the Tibia's Summons and it's called Rosus's Summons. Its description also mentions that the dead easily lose their way, meaning that Rosus was meant to lend the dead a guiding hand. "Those Lost in Death" would be lost no more.

Without people Lost in Death, the Mariners kind of lost their purpose and vanished for a long time... until the Shattering and the rise of Those Who Live in Death of course. It might mean that the only reason they hold onto Deathroot is because it attracts and connects the new undead.

I guess Godwyn was meant to be a sort of "lighthouse" for all undead. He would make sure they never lost themselves but also that they would be allowed to live instead of being forced back to rest like with Rosus and Marika. Him being a "lighthouse" also fits the marine theme that all this death business is going for quite neatly I think...

But to return to what started this... maybe those boats lit on fire are Messmer's way of making sure the soldiers of his army aren't lost to death after their passing. A way to give them a proper rest the way Marika would have wanted, even though he is limited in what he can do about it. The Catacombs are now corrupted with Deathroots and Godwyn's corpse bodies, and guarded by his fervent golden Death Knights.

(P.S. - I didn't know where to put this, but "Charo" is one letter off from Charon, the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology. Seeing as the place is connected to the Tibia Mariners, who shepherded Those Lost in Death in an age long past, I find that this connection might not be mere coincidence...)

[buboloboogie]

INTRODUCING THE ALBISUCKERS!!! aka just if you put the riptide characters into Vampire The Masquerade setting -- I have thought a lot about this. BUT ANYWAY!! this is my piece for @foxhoarder13 for the @jrwi-art-exchange !!!!!!! was super fun to work on it, this is my first event so I am excited to do more !! :DD Hope you like it as much as I had fun working on it :33 posting a speed paint of this soon btw!! just gotta edit it eehehe

[theangrycomet-art]

So here's the thing about Oplita for this AU...

The way I have it, Elita had an incredibly POOR first impression of Optimus. Due to the circumstances surrounding their meeting, he thought she was just another "thinks their better than everyone else" kind of snobbish higher up he (theoretically) had to listen too and she thought he was just another Sentinel (arrogant, dismissive of his team, HAS to be right, etc). He was fully aware of this fact and it drove him a little nuts- not necessarily because he cared about this virtual strangers opinion so much as he didn't want to be known as Sentinel 2.0.

Mind you, both are under a lot of pressure and one of the few active primes who's whole teams have any actual, RECENT combat experience with Decepticons, so they were very snippy with each other about how they handle things.

This leads to shenanigans which further cements this impression until their like, 4th meeting, were they're stuck having to work together one on one and realize "Oh- they AREN'T a complete bitch." Blah blah blah, they both apologize for being jerks and agree to try and start over fresh, etc.

There's also having to address all the trauma and unaddressed issues OP has from the incredibly violent ending of his last romantic relationship with Sentinel and Blackarachnia (they were a polycule in the academy and I won't take any argumetns on this) that he has yet to properly process. Elita has her own priorities, and acquiring a romantic partner just isn't one of them right now.

SO, long story short, while I can see these two developing romantic interest in one another, it is going to take a long time before either is ready to address said interest, much less try and pursue a relationship.

Still fun to think about though ^v^

[jo-gakky]

(WIP - ATLA!Submas au) What a nice little family <3 Sure hope the fire nation doesn't do anything STUPID!

[bolinity]

(i did it. i finally finished rewatching atla.)

[bleue-flora]

idk if this is the correct place but i wanted to talk a bit about this and wanted to see you opinion bc I like you analisys on canon a lot.

A big question people have with the lore about cstagedduo it's that if cpunz actually cared for cdream or not- The same with crivals after prison break but that's for another day- and if cpunz would have helped cdream out the prison if he took too long.

I personally think it's a more grey anwser. We know cpunz cares, yeah they are small moments but he does care for cdream. He wouldnt be defensive over the fact they are friends in the ending and let cdream speak to ctommy without protesting to him and still be worried he and cdream both escape the nuke together if he didnt care for him. But it is true he left cdream make his crazy plan of making everyone hate him and insolating himself for god knows how much time they expected the imprisionment to last. And that he left cdream alone a lot in the prison after the prison break while everyone on the server wanted him death. But i think this is more of a fucked up vision cpunz has than signs of lack of care. He cares about cdream but he also trusts his plan is working and he can handle himself just fine and that he's totally not in a bad mental state. He's also on board with the plan so of course if he wants to recolect knowledge and power and trust his friend to know what he is doing, he will in favor of this even if we know as viewers this is a bad idea in all aspects.

Cpunz has flaws as a friend and characther but I do think he cares about cdream. It would have sense if he didnt for me. At the end there's lots of friendships that are pretty grey and imperfect on the dsmp, Like c!clingyduo exist

As far as the prison goes, it is hard to say. How long would have been too long? And how did he not know about Quackity’s torture when it was’t like he was trying to hide it or anything. I think it comes down to trust. Specifically, Punz’s trust and faith in Dream. I’ve talked about it before, but in the stream we get of the two by themselves, Dream is filling Punz in on his plans, but not all of it. Just enough for Punz to understand what his part to play in it is. So, I don’t think Punz really knew what Dream was subjecting himself to, not to mention that things did not go as planned. Sure, while Dream considered all the possible things that could go wrong, like losing two lives and someone coming to torture him, that doesn’t mean Punz knew that and allowed Dream to go through with it. I feel like the perception a lot of times with Punz is that he is like a viking helping an older person up a mountain only to have him jump off. I think we give Punz too much credit to say he saw the big picture just because Dream did. I more so get the impression that he’s by Dream’s side and helping him climb or go wherever he needs to go not necessarily focused on where they are going, because he believes in what Dream believes, he wants what Dream wants, and be trusts Dream as his friend, who is clever and has never given him reason to question him before. 

Because of this trust, there is also an element of betrayal. If he pulls the plug and makes plans to rescue him from prison, he is going against Dream, he is doubting him. If he makes a move to end things without Dream’s support, he is expressing that he doesn’t believe in Dream and not only does that seem like something Punz would not want to risk, but also the reason he looks so bad is because of the conditions of the prison. But see, I don’t think he got to see it before Dream’s incarceration, so he isn’t aware of how inhumane it is. Sure, he likely heard from Bad, but Punz is probably also aware that Dream could be just manipulating Bad so how trust worthy is he. 

We as an outsider perspective can see Dream breaking at the seams, but the other characters certainly aren’t aware of it, so it’s a little unfair to say Punz would either. Dream has been formidable, always prepared, planned out, 10 steps ahead, why would Punz have any reason to doubt Dream in prison? Punz is also one to follow orders, he’s a mercenary after all. You pay him $10 bucks to log off and he will, why would he defy orders, especially if he didn’t know how bad it was. Hell, maybe Dream was supposed to use Ranboo to send a message to Punz if things went wrong, but after Ranboo stopped visiting that was no longer an option, but that Punz necessarily knew about that. So maybe Punz was just sitting on his hands waiting for the go ahead to do something. 

Now after prison, when Dream is such a wreck, is when we see Punz more so go off script. We see him give a passionate, detailed proposition to Purpled (that there’s no way Dream signed off of as it makes him look bad) and we see him reveal he has the revive book to clingy duo and bring Dream back in front of them. Because after prison, when it is revealed just how “south” Dream’s plan went, Punz more takes things into his own hands, especially when it comes to Dream’s well being as Dream can clearly not be trusted to look after that. 

A lot of people seem to get the impression that they did not spend a lot of time together, but see I don’t think that’s true. For starters, there is the "we" in this [clip] where it seems to me that Punz is helping to lead them to the saw trap room almost like he helped make it. Secondly, according to the map [post], placing Vik and Lazar’s experiments after prison this leads us to figure they at least spend a lot of time working together on that. If Dream is to be believed in the finale, months even. And Punz’s protective behavior seen no clearly than this moment [post] makes me more so inclined to believe Punz doesn’t leave him alone for long, especially with everyone out to kill him. I mean he can’t stay at the prison full time, he still has a cover to maintain, but just because he’s in his house in the finale, I don’t think means he kept his distance from Dream, especially after everything with Las Nevadas.

Then as far as the plan goes, we really don’t know even what it is, nonetheless if Punz fought against it. I think Punz stayed by his side and he had the same goals as Dream and they did things together, but that doesn’t mean that he trusted Dream fully after prison or didn’t push back on Dream’s self destruction or that if they survived the nuke that he would continue the plan without Dream. Like I mean this in the nicest way possible, but Punz to me seems to be more so a follower, akin to Tubbo, loyal even if maybe they should hold their friend back from doing something stupid (except Dream is a liar and good at making his stupid seem smart lol making the situation worse). Punz isn’t like Techno, who will call out Dream’s bs, he isn’t the mastermind or thinking 10 steps ahead or seeing the big picture, he’s following Dream who does. He and Dream have been friends from the start, he and Dream want the same things, and he trusts and believes in Dream...

And yes, I think this is apart of what makes their friendship flawed, unbalanced, and tragic, but as you said, so are the other friendships on the dsmp and honestly, so are friendships in real life...

(anyways... I've talked a lot about staged duo, so if I didn't say or explain it here I may have said it somewhere else like in one these other posts: [<> <> <> <> <>] though their dynamic has been shifting in my brain a bit since noticing the map so...)

[ask-valiant-victory]

[ @ask-a-silvy ] Shauna @Valiant: [You have a sibling that calls you funny names? I do, too! Tell me about yours first? Please?]

She clung to the above note with both paws, looking at Valiant with pleading, eager eyes.

Valiant stared at the note for an uncomfortable amount of time, it had words on it... Oh no. He wasn't the best when it came to reading, especially mortal words. They always looked so odd compared to Arcerune. If he could, he would almost feel too intimidated to give it a try, but thankfully that wasn't the case and after some further silence, he attempted to read it aloud. But, very slowly.

He was clearly struggling with the note, often stopping on some words completely for minutes at a time. It was almost painful to watch the Zoroark stumbling and stuttering through the short sentence. It took far too long before he finally got through it all. Once he said the last word he happily chirped up. "Okay! I think I know what it says now..."

"Did I get that right?" he cheerfully asked, "Forgive me I'm not the best at reading things. I'm still trying to learn how to read better." "But to answer your question, I have two siblings. If you do not count the other gods Giratina, Palkia and Dialga."

"They were also the one that liked to throw things at me for fun! Voyage was very close to Arceus."

"But, sadly my god didn't want them anymore so they got rid of them! Arceus said it was because they didn't do what they wanted, so they didn't need them!"

"It was funny because Voyage would always tell me I would never replace her, which I find very silly because I wasn't trying to! They did not like that I was a 'fake copycat of her.' as they put it. They would always bring up how I wasn't the real version." "And lastly!"

"Valor didn't like to listen however. I do not know why but that never changed no matter how many times Arceus tried to remake him. Maybe it was because Valor was made with the things I was missing?" He gave a soft shrug. "I am surprised Arceus hasn't attempted to remake me yet... But, they often call me a 'failure' and a 'lost cause', so perhaps it would be too much effort to do so."

"I really wish to hear of yours now! This is very fun! I like this bonding activity." He gave her a smile, even if it was still as fake as ever. "Which one of your siblings calls you the strange words?"

[ Ask from @ask-a-silvy ]

[burning-academia-if]

Hi! What are the powers of each ro? what makes them "special" and mc?

I won't give a super detailed explanation since Rhea already went into all of it in Chapter 1 but a quick recap: You're either born with magic or you aren't.

If you are, you're a magician. There's three types; Soul magicians (magic comes from intentions/morals/beliefs, considered the most powerful, magic can have harmful effects on their body), Heart magicians (magic comes from emotions, less powerful, magic can visibly be seen in use), and Luck magicians (have magic in their veins but can't use it, since they still have magic the world seems to like them and 'lucky' things happen to them, hence the term).

BA has a pretty soft magic system, so you can theoretically do w/e you want with magic with certain limits. Soul magicians can't use magic at all if it goes against their beliefs + it can hurt their bodies. Heart magicians magic is as powerful as the emotions they're currently feeling. Heart magicians are also the only ones compatible with Death Creatures (ghosts, wraiths, poltergeists, etc), although that's pretty rare and no one knows why. With all that said:

Soul Magicians: Rook and Rhea

Heart Magicians: Beck and Lars

Luck Magician: Zoe

Not a magician: ??? and MC

Beck and Lars are both special because their magic is compatible with Death, but they're still Heart Magicians and so their magic is seen as weaker. Rook's magic...isn't strong, and Rhea's magic is average. ??? isn't a magician and can't use magic at all. What MC can do is up to you since there are a few options. You can find a magic item to use (making you a mage), you can get into necromancy, or you can pick the terrible decision to make a deal with something to use magic (making you a warlock). You can also not do any of that and remain without magic/death abilities. Each decision has their own unique consequences.

It should also be noted Death and Magic are opposites of each other, so necromancy isn't considered magic in this world. If anything, it's just blasphemy lol

[dipplinduo]

“Yeah. Right. Um…here. They’re for you.”

Guess who’s back with silly drawings of the lil guys!

So, um, this drawing is VERY different compared to what I’ve done before ^^;. I wanted to mess around with styles and coloring techniques and while messing around decided to draw Juliana and Kieran as cats because…why not, haha! I guess here their names are Catliana and Meowran though.

The scene is based on Chapter 10, when Kieran gives Juli white carnations and nerium oleanders! Between lovers, white carnations can represent the couple’s loyalty, while the oleanders can be symbolic of everlasting love due to a Greek myth, but…are also known for being quite poisonous :)

Anyways, please enjoy Catliana and Meowran! I know this isn’t my best work, but I do think they came out pretty cute!

Awww, iirc, you're one of the artists who can draw Pokemon/animals easier than humans? If not, my mistake, love it either way, but if so (and probably just in general)? That's seriously so touching that you'd think of how to depict them in a way where you could make this fanart and share it, I'm touched you wanted to make it. And I love the design choices you made!!

Was low-key selfishly hoping for a flower presentation depiction and I love love love that you made that dream come true 🥹💛

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Jaune: Good morning Claire.

Claire: Good Morning to you as well Jaune. Your friends are rather ran-bum-tious and taxing.

Jaune: it's 'Rambunctious', and you haven't even talked to them.

Claire: I've listened to them. It's rather hard not too, which is surprising given the size of out property.

Ruby: *Waking up* Wha's ... Huh? Who're ... You?

Claire: I am Claire Bleue Arc. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Rose.

Ruby: A -uh ... Pleasure to .... I'm too tired to do this. Mornin'. If you don't mind me asking, what's your trait?

Claire: I don't have one.

Ruby: ... Huh?

Jaune: Genetics. Humanity is Recessive, Faunusity is Dominant. She got human genes.

Ruby: I thought A human and a faunus only made more faunus?

Claire: Great War Propaganda. It's treated like the truth, and has destroyed more than a few relationships because of it. Which, to be fair, is the point of it. It's doing it's terrible, horrible job in muddling the truth.

This is more just world building lore for the (Sh)Arc AU than anything, because Canon Faunus stuff is lame.

[theangrycomet-art]

Primus made us Rivals because Cybertron couldn't handle us as Besties

Friendly rivals who would (and have) happily throw the other off a cliff over the tiniest of inconveniences is their dynamic.

COMMISSIONS OPEN

[xenonmoon]

I very much needed to draw Ancient Lore Accurate Khonsu holding Jake, Steven and Marc's Ba birds

[Wait, what's a Ba bird??]

Full description:

After my previous post I decided to Get Serious and draw an Ancient Lore Accurate Khonsu holding all of them as Ba birds.

Since the Ba is supposed to be the essence of what made one person unique and them being sort of three people in one body, I played with their poses and expressions to convey at least a glimpse of their respective characters and the relationship they have with each other. So we have a Very Serious Marc trying to shield Steven away from Khonsu with his wing, while Steven's giving him a disapproving look mixed with a bit of confusion while trying to slip away from him. Both of them are on Khonsu's glove, which is the same of the ceremonial armour from Khonsu's temple [cit.] (originally Marc was planned to be tied to it, but I ended up not drawing the rope. He still has a lace around his claw). Jake is just comfortably sitting on top of Khonsu's head (since in the series they appear to be in a way more complicit relationship), separated from the others but watching over them from his higher ground.

The hieroglyphs (which I'm not sure they are 100% correct, but I wanted to fill some empty space with something themed) are roughly transliterated to bꜣ(-w) n jm (or ꜣmmt) ḫnsw | mnfyt n jꜥḥ and should translate as "Ba (plural) of Khonsu's Fist, soldier of the Moon"

[pufthebirb]

so.

life series watcher bird symbolism.

the three players who the watchers hate are jimmy, grian and martyn right?

grian is a parrot. we may keep parrots as birds (the way the watchers took grian in and made him one of their own) but parrots will never be fully trained to exactly what theyre told when theyre told to do it (grian is always in some way or another going against the watchers, always getting them upset at him)

jimmy. the canary in the coal mine. the watchers hate him, he listened to the listeners instead of the watchers in evo, so now they will use him for eternity as a prophecy of death killing him first every single time. the way people didnt care about the canarys life the watchers dont care about jimmys

and martyn. the watchers favourite tool. they tried to use him to get rid of grian in last life. they used him in limited life at the last second to cause a bit more suffering in killing scott and impulse. i see martyin as a messanger pigeon. hes the watchers messanger to the real world. when they dont have direct influence theyll use him bcause, like pigeons dont have a survival insinct to this day because their entire species was domesticated at some point, martyn has never even once tried to revolt against the watchers, hes always listened to them like an obedient little bird.

[papasecondoplush]

Terzo would not be friends with Jim Defroque. Terzo would HATE HIM.