#BEST Agricultural Heroes

[wolfspaw]

[groverapologist]

New Athens, a Percy Jackson HeadCanon:

Percy discussed with Annabeth how he wished New Rome was closer to Manhattan, or that Camp Halfblood had its own similar city so that he could be closer to his family and hometown. this sparked an idea for Annabeth.

after finishing her olympus project, she began to work on her pitch for New Athens, a safehaven for Greek and Roman demigods to grow old and live their lives in right next to Camp Halfblood. Though it was Percy who sparked the idea, the idea became so much larger and more significant than an offhand wish.

with the help of chiron and dionysus, annabeth gets her pitch approved, and work begins.

demigods of all godly parenthood have their chances to shine in the process;

Athena kids are mainly city planners, civil engineers, and architects.

Hephaestus kids are mechanics, constructors, and advisers for the civil engineers.

Demeter kids are mainly agricultural engineers, and alongside Persephone kids, also environmental engineers.

Hermes and Iris kids are transportation engineers, and Hermes kids also focus on hospitality of Roman demigods and hunters.

Apollo kids are healthcare executives and administrators, and together with Dionysus kids, they focus on entertainment.

Aphrodite kids focus on the sociological aspects of urban planning.

Ares kids focus on safety and protection.

There are much more jobs as well, some predominantly run by other demigods (Hypnos, Hecate, etc), and some run by a mixture.

While the jobs are predominantly separated by lineage, any demigod is allowed to work any job they desire.

Frank and Hazel also send in Roman volunteers to provide assistance in the development process. In their words, "You need as many hands as possible to build a city from scratch".

Leo worked considerably on this as this was his chance to be in a place where he felt he belonged. It also felt like a way to honour Jason's legacy as Jason lived in New Rome but chose Camp Halfblood. Leo wholeheartedly believes that had Jason been alive, he would want nothing more than for Camp Halfblood to be a liveable and lively place.

Leo builds a monument in Jason's memory. It is engraved with the words "Lover, Brother, Friend, Praetor, Hero. Symbol of Roman and Greek Unity. Lightning Boy." When it was first revealed, he and Piper sat there all day, holding each other.

while piper offers all the help she can, she never once seriously considers living in New Athens. while her demigod lineage is something so integral to who she is, she would rather live in the outside world. Leo and Annabeth understand.

clarisse works on a monument for all heroes lost in the battle of manhattan. even though it was her idea, it still hurts to see Silena's name engraved on the marble.

dionysus pretends to hate it, despite having played a huge role in convincing the gods (especially Zeus) that this was a great idea. he never takes credit for that. annabeth only ever finds out through chiron, months after they started work.

the project takes years to complete, but it makes annabeth's world. she considers it one of her greatest achievements, if not the greatest; she has helped her people and the future generations to come. this work cannot be forgotten. her love for demigods is written all over the city, and so many generations will see it.

percy opens a small candy shop the first moment he can. it mostly sells blue candy.

leo finally opens a garage, becoming the best mechanic of New Athens.

annabeth continues working on architecture, helping build any new buildings and working on any expansions.

grover and juniper build a family together there, their home near the woods. percy, annabeth, and grover stay close the entire time.

piper visits often. she and leo always visit Jason's monument when she does, and they leave flowers every time.

will and nico own an apartment. will's still a doctor. nico becomes a teacher. it's a surreal feeling to be able to help kids feel safe and happy, something he did not often get at their age. they've adopted two cats together.

when hazel and frank have the opportunity, they visit as well. they visit nico and will whenever they can, and percy and annabeth and leo and piper as much as possible too. despite being tied down to new rome, they still love New Athens.

reyna and thalia only visit with the hunters, but both go to jason's monument together. they don't have to talk to understand each other.

chiron is happy. in his thousands of years of working at camp, he had never had the ability to see his pupils live long lives. even if they'd lived to their 80s+, they never did so at camp. it's a new experience for him, and to all greek halfbloods who could now feel safe as they grew older in a place that accepted them with open arms.

[templeof-demeter]

Demeters family

As is with all mythology, there are different versions of myths and family trees. I will be listing the popular possibilities I have found for familial relationships to Demeter.

Her family is very important to her, to honor them is to honor her. Many have forgotten that she mothered more than one child, an easy thing to forget given modern popularities. Learning more of her family is a great devotional act!

🌾 Daughter of Kronos and Rhea

🌾 Sister of Hestia, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus

🌾 Had children with Zeus, Poseidon, Iasion, and Karmanor

🌾 Her children are Persephone, Plutous, Philomelos, Korybas, Areion, Despoine, Eubouleus, and Khrysothemis

Who were her lovers?

Zeus, father of Persephone; is best explained and known from Hesiods Theogony;

"Also he [Zeus] came to the bed of all-nourishing Demeter, and she bare white-armed Persephone whom Aidoneus carried off from her mother; but wise Zeus gave her to him."

Poseidon, father of Areion and Despoine; when Demeter was searching for her daughter, Persephone, that she was followed be Poseidon and disguised herself as a mare- only for him to disguise himself as a stallion and take her.

Iasion, father of Plutous and Philomelos; Iasion fell in love with Demeter, and they met three times. In many versions of the myth, Zeus reacts with anger and smites Iasion for this act; often blinded by this act. In myths after, Iasion is often referred to as “beloved to Demeter” or similar phrases

Karmanor father of Eubouleus and Khrysothemis; A demi-god of harvest himself, their union resulted in more agricultural deities.

Who were her children?

Persephone is known to many of us, as she is Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring. She is most known for her myth of kidnapping and union by Hades.

Plutous is the God of Wealth. He is often depicted as a young boy holding grain, in reference to his mother Demeter or as an infant.

Philomelos, also called Bootes, was the inventor of the wagon and ploughing, and is now a constellation, called Bootes, in the night sky.

Areion is in immortal horse, and was owned by various hero’s in mythology, including Heracles.

Despoine is a fertility goddess who was only truly revealed to initiates of the Mysteries cult.

Eubouleus was a hero of the Eleusinian Mysteries, associated with the pigs sacrificed and possibly associated with ploughing.

Khrysothemis was a demi-goddess associated with agriculture.

[bakawitch]

Miraculous Twinflame

A war between ancient rivals, two strange trees filled with primordial beings, and two innocent bystanders coerced to return balance to the world.

Lore drop below cut:

Characters:

Kisu Yoko: The protagonist of Miraculous Twinflame, Yoko is an upbeat guy who always has the right attitude! He is the chosen champion of King Oberon and the bearer of Seel, the Painted Cat of Formation, a Kwami from the Seelie Tree. In his daily life he attends Yosei High and works part time at Cafe Fair, but whenever there's a Fae attack in Sen City, he transforms into the magical hero Kintsugi to defend the town! He partnered up with another hero known as Jam who he considers his best friend.

Jiki Juju: The deutragonist of Miraculous Twinflame, Juju is a withdrawn cynical girl who would much rather be anywhere else than where she is at all times. She is the bearer of Uuse, the Achromic Cat of Absolution, a Kwami from the Unseelie Tree. She attends Yosei High during the day and works as an intern at Opal Inc. during afternoons. Whenever a new Fae surfaces in Sen City, Juju somewhat reluctantly becomes a hero in roller skates who goes by Jam. She works in a partnership with Kintsugi under false pretenses, ready to betray him at every turn if it gets her closer to snatching his Kwami away.

King Oberon: Once a powerful Fairy King, Oberon has been reduced to a human form after losing his wife Titania in war. Trapped in the mortal world, he now guards the Seelie Tree and operates Cafe Fair under the alias of Yoshi Orio. He mentors Yoko, but keeps his distance from Jam since she is an Unseelie Kwami user.

Queen Mab: Mab is a powerful Fairy Queen and the known killer of Titania, wife of Oberon and her own sister. After conquering the entire Fairy Realm, she set her sights on locating Oberon and the Seelie Tree and followed him to the Mortal Realm. She took on the identity Mariya Opal and became the head of Opal Inc., using her resources to open gateways to the Fairy Realm and bring through Fae creatures to draw out Oberon and his Seelie Kwamis.

Seelie and Unseelie Kwamis: Magical creatures born inside unique fairy trees. They hold power over a concept unique to them and they are each tied to a piece of Miraculous Jewellery.

Locations:

The Mortal Realm: Earth, the plane of humans.

Sen City: A semi rural city in Japan where Miraculous Twinflame takes place. It's located between dense forests and hills, which makes it somewhat difficult to access and a very unlikely travel destination. The people populating it are very loyal to the city and tend to dislike the idea of outsiders. They're never outright hostile, but they will most likely avoid people with no ties to Sen City. Younger people are usually more open minded, but it's more often than not just an act of rebellion against the older generation than genuine acceptance.

Yosei High: One of the two high schools in Sen City. Yosei High's curriculum focuses more on humanities so it tends to be less popular with ambitious students interested in furthering their education in science.

Chairo High: The other high school in Sen City with more focus on science and getting students into big league universities.

Cafe Fair: A cozy hole in the wall cafe owned and run by Yoshi Orio. The amazing drinks are rumored to lift the soul itself. Despite everyone who wants to stop by for a drink knowing where it is, the cafe sometimes is really hard to find.

Opal Inc.: A company famous for their ready made meals. Despite primarily dealing with food, they also branch out into agriculture and scientific research. The CEO, Mariya Opal, decided to oversee a smaller location tucked away inside Sen City for some reason.

Moya Forest: A foggy, thick forest with mystical qualities.

The Fairy Realm: The realm of fairies, where all the fairies, fae and Kwamis originate from.

Misc.:

The Seelie Tree: A fairy tree that houses the 12 Seelie Kwamis. Presently only four remain inside the tree. Seven are unaccounted for and one has been given out to Kisu Yoko. Located inside the hidden glasshouse in Cafe Fair.

The Unseelie Tree: A fairy tree that houses the 12 Unseelie Kwamis. Presently only six remain inside the tree. Five are unaccounted for and one has been given out to Jiki Juju. Located inside the basement of Opal Inc.

Gateways: Gates between realms.

Fairies: Intellectual fairy creatures. Some really powerful ones can ascend to Kinghood/Queenhood.

Fae: Fairy beasts, animals, can be intelligent but usually listen more to instinct.

Pixie: The distant cousins of Kwamis, much easier and common to come by, but less powerful.

Changeling: A creature ment to replicate humans grown by fairies.

[misc-obeyme]

your post about the human au with beel as a farmer has me giggling and kicking my feet!! and now i can't stop imagining the brothers on their own little farm (writing this even though i know nothing about farming)

lucifer and satan mainly handle the finances, making sure they have the best equipment and techniques to produce good crops. the goats and sheep seem to take a liking to lucifer, especially the baby ones, who love chewing on his clothes. satan stays away from them bc they keep thinking his blond hair is food, choosing instead to coo over the farm cats

mammon and levi are the unofficial handlers and bully victims of the birds. mammon gets pecked by the chickens as he goes to collect their eggs, and he says one day, he'll cook them all up as revenge!! (everyone knows he's lying). levi spends more time with the ducks, where they quack at him on the farm and when he's fishing at the local ponds. (one time, a group of baby ducks imprinted on him and followed him home. it took forever for him to get them back to their mama)

asmo does a lot of advertising for the farm, with both his social media and charming personality at the farmers' market. he designs the cutest packaging and sews any holes that end up in his brothers' clothes with lovely little patches. his favorite animals on the farm (a couple piglets and bunnies) are marked with pink bows, but you could tell by how he squeals whenever he sees them

you already went over beel, but i imagine him still having his super strength and can easily carry adult sheep with ease. he also has gained a lot of (kissable) freckles from being in the sun all the time

belphie is a straight up cow whisperer, which may be caused by his habit of cuddling with the cows on their pasture to skip out on chores. but he's great at milking and can instantly tell if something's wrong with the cows, to the point that other farmers go to him in need of help. he's a lazybones hero!

aaaaaa the sillies - 🎠

Honestly, I'm surprised that little post of mine got so much attention lol! I was definitely thinking about it more in terms of what I think the boys would do if they were humans, rather than how it would be if they all worked on the same farm. But I saw a couple tags suggesting a Stardew Valley crossover, which could be all of them on the same farm or all of them with separate farms. I haven't played Stardew in a long time, but I am so obsessed with farming sims it's ridiculous. My favorite is Story of Seasons Trio of Towns, I've played it so many times and I still replay it from time to time because I loved it so much lol.

ANYWAY that's all to say that my farming experience comes almost entirely from video games. I took a class about plants and agriculture in high school, but otherwise it's all vibes and cozy gaming!

But I think you've nailed it with these. I keep seeing Satan falling asleep in a pile of hay, just completely covered in barn cats. Cute lil Asmo all decked out like a farmer but only for the aesthetic 'cause he's running that farmer's market booth like nobody's business. Cow whisperer Belphie, please I love it so much.

Also freckled, sun-kissed Beel... human!Beel would have so many freckles if he spent any time outside at all. I love this because I'm extremely freckled myself and it'd be really cute if MC had freckles to match his.

Though I actually hadn't even thought about MC's role in a human au. Since they're already human. Would it be reversed? MC is the demon in this scenario? Or just MC is their same human self but they meet the others in a different way? I think both options could be interesting. I was initially going with the idea of there being no magic and no realms though.

I was trying to think of what the characters would do with their lives based on their interests and Beel just screamed farmer to me. Like yeah he probably still works out a bunch, but he really loves food. So I thought it would be interesting to consider that as his primary motivation for wanting to become a farmer. He just wants to feed everybody.

Anyway, I love this, I'm thoroughly enjoying imagining the boys on their farm. Though Mammon threatening to cook the chickens is hilarious. Like I can just hear him saying that to a bunch of indifferent hens, too. It reminds me of a story my mom used to tell me about my great-grandmother getting so annoyed at my uncle's pet rooster for getting his beak tangled in her yarn that she straight up made soup out of him. I dunno how true that story is, but it's one my mom & her siblings have told me numerous times lol.

[creative-classpect]

Land of Trees and Chains

A garden world, lush with life, where trees of all shapes and sorts grow wild and strong. The world itself is less a forest and more an orchard, where consorts tend to the great trees in harmony with nature, cultivating everything they need to sustain themselves from the trees and protecting and preserving them in kind. The world is a relative paradise of peace and prosperity.

And yet, as the great trees reach up to the light of Skaia, something dark and chthonic, as unshakeable as death itself, stirs within the depths of the planet, entwined within the roots of the very world. Great chains of permafrost lurk in the deep, encircling around entire swaths of the world and ripping everything down into the darkness.

This is the Land of Trees and Chains. Welcome to LOTAC.

LOTAC is a relatively peaceful world when compared to the struggle and strife common across sessions of Sburb. What underlings lurk here are much like the great chains, mysterious and lurking in the sprawling caverns and root networks beneath the planet’s surface.

Underlings do not behave as they typically do on other lands as roving hordes of danger. Instead, they bloom, acting more as a rot or mold, organized in their aims and moving with alien purpose. The evergreen land of LOTAC has no method of decomposition. In ages past the underlings worked at night, unseen by the consorts, to break down and destroy fallen trees. With the coming of the great chains, this hidden work has progressed into coordinated attacks, raiding and plundering any tree unlucky enough to be bound by chains.

Operating as a strange sort of subterranean mycelial inspired pirates, the underlings have begun to terrorize villages and maim any consort attempting to stop their work. Daring explorer consorts have left their homes in hopes of reclaiming what was lost beneath the forest floor and, consorts not being the smartest, have begun to disappear, never to return.

Trees are felled by the score by the binding chains and the consorts are slowly being corralled into a dangerous, inhospitable part of the great forest. It will only be a matter of time until they are driven to the brink and can no longer survive. Without heroes, they will surely go extinct, crushed by the cruelty of nature.

But there is a hero. The Heir of Life.

The Heir of Life must venture across the grand orchards and forests, descend into the roots of the world, and uncover the source of the all consuming chains and the underling rot that follows their wake. Down into the deepest reaches of earth, long since left to fester. 

But perhaps with a little luck, new life may bloom.

Denizen: Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture and the harvest, who's grieving brings forward cold and bitter winter.

Features

Arbolis Mundus, the World Tree

The largest tree on LOTAC, Arbolis Mundus is a massive tree whose roots encircle all of LOTAC and whose branches reach so high into the sky it slows and distorts the rotation of the planet. The World Tree is a magnificent mega tree made of thick, rich, dark wood and beautiful leaves that reach to every color in the spectrum like great panes of stained glass.

The elusive fruit of the World Tree is the subject of incredible legend. Ruby encrusted apples the size of a car, literally golden bananas, berries made of pure amethyst, and more. While the legends of their benefits are spurious at best, there is a truth to them. One gift, nestled among the highest boughs of Arbolis Mundus, is said to grant unimaginable power and authority over the planet.

Frost chains

Massive, heavy chains as dark as the void and as cold as the deepest winter. These chains, seemingly made out of some sort of petrified bark, crisscross under the soil of the land, only rising to the service when their snaking paths have wrapped around the deep roots of the trees in the world above.

Denizen lair

Deep towards the core of the planet the world grows increasingly cold, reaching well below freezing. Pockets of the cold earth are home to permafrost biomes, underground arctic climates with almost entirely frozen over life. Blades of grass become literal, becoming razor sharp with ice. Wind sends snow and icicles from trees as a rushing storm of deadly debris.

Hidden within the boreal parks and glades lies a structure made from frozen timbers, plain and sparsely adorned. Whispered in rumors and told about in storied legends, it is known as the Seed Vault. The Seed Vault is the home of the denizen Demeter, the source of the great cold and the chains that have wrapped around the land.

Within the Seed Vault is a host of seeds, seedlings, and saplings for every tree across LOTAC, up to and including, Arbolis Mundus itself. A massive, glowing seed pod, potent with pure potential. If one was to crack it open and peer inside they would find the quest bed of the Heir of Life.

- - -

This post was a commission for @balencia ! Again, really sorry for the delay 0 3 0

I hope you like it!

[stephofromcabin12]

For tomorrow <3

(🗣️) How the hell to write a child of Demeter/Ceres or Persephone/Proserpina? Would the Greek and Roman kids be similar or not?

(Also I just realized you can change the text color in asks!)

Oh fun!

Ok so I don’t have a ton of advice on this but:

Persephone:

- I like to think Hades’ children are old souls. Hades is one of the older Olympians. Persephone is known as a maiden; literally the embodiment of fresh, new, youthful spring, and so I like to think her demigod children (whether its chosen like Hera’s heroes or more literally) are youthful souls. They have a close connection to death but I think they view it the same way as their mother (see her appearance in TSATS for reference)

- Hades’ kids are likely more doom and gloom realists on the subject of death — they’re intimately familiar with it so they have no fear for it but they’re kind of…downers, when discussing it (sorry, Nico)

- Persephone’s children see death as the end of a cycle, and the beginning of another. Before being claimed they’re probably fans of the belief in reincarnation. They see the beauty in darkness. They’re a bright spot in a dark garden. Weeds growing through cement. They see the best in bad situations.

- A giggle at a funeral, that’s what they are.

Demeter:

- Cereal freaks. Lol no but seriously, if you’re into grain, you’re probably into health foods. (Or rice-krispies)

- they probably like making things from scratch. Im not talking baking your own bread, I’m talking growing your own wheat, and raising chickens and cows so you can make your own bread and butter.

- Pinterest is just: homestead. How to live off your crops 101.

- I tend to model my Demeter kids after agricultural hot-spots. Since I think its more likely to find people interested in grain where there are farms. But I could see a city-dwelling Demeter kid who yearns for the fields lol.

- I have one demeter oc who’s got a million dietary restrictions due to allergies and their mortal parent being a dietitian. That’s a route you can go.

- The duality of a demeter kid with a passion for baking and pastries and a health nut who only wants to eat organic quinoa and brown rice.

Their roman aspects would probably fall in line with the culture of the romans, not so much in terms of powers and personalities?

The romans are strict, they love a schedule. They’re a militant people, and the “modern” romans in HOO reflect that in everything they do. So their children would be influenced by that, I would think🤔

Hope this helps!

[rayssion]

Guys, guys!!

Imagine like 4000 years later where human civilization developed or retreated I don't care it's not necessary.

Imagine if all sources of greek mythology vanished or died with the years, and as much as we depend on Homer's Iliad and Odyssey now people on the future find PERCY JACKSON and the other Rick Riordan serieses as the only source of mythological knowledge!!

They'd read the books and imagine that those are the gods we believe in now and they'd think that Percy and the other demigods are real,

And couple of millennia later, Rick Riordan's books were destroyed or lost so people only told the stories verbally for centuries,

And as stories go they got deformed!! Imagine people after so so many years thinking Percy and the other demigods are like super super heroes whom are like much stronger than your local demigods yet still below gods, and then further deformation happens!!

And people start to think that the demigods are the gods!!

Now please, imagine.... imagine!

Percy, god of the sea, water, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes and horses. (I can see him becoming the new king of the gods btw)

Jason, god of the sky, lightning and thunder, law and order.

Nico, god of death, shadows, ghosts and spirits. King of the underworld.

Annabeth, goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and warfare.

Piper, goddess of love, pleasure, passion, procreation, fertility, beauty and desire.

Frank, god of war, violence, bloodshed and manly virtues.

Leo, god of fire, master blacksmith and craftsman of the gods; god of the forge, craftsmanship, invention and volcanoes.

Will, god of the sun, of light, prophecy, philosophy, archery, truth, inspiration, poetry, music, arts, manly beauty, medicine, healing, and plague.

Thalia, goddess of the hunt. the wilderness, virginity, the Moon, archery, childbirth, protection and plague.

And I'd like to add!!

Dakota, god of wine, the grapevine, fertility, festivity, ecstasy, madness and resurrection

Rachel, goddess of family and marriage, women and childbirth.

Hazel, goddess of earth and riches. Princess of the underworld and younger sister of Nico, King of the underworld.

Conner, god of traps, diplomacy, thieves, games and the guide of dead souls.

Travis, messenger of the gods; god of travel, commerce, communication, borders and eloquence.

Meg, Goddess of the harvest, fertility, agriculture, nature and the seasons.

Reyna, Goddess of the hearth, fire and of the right ordering of domesticity and the family, and also goddess of war.

Yes, they have 16 gods!!

I don't know what to name them but it has to be a cool name, like we got the Titans and the Olympians so it has to be cool.

Also imagine if like the Olympian gods we have now being translated to future generations as the bad guys (like how we have Kronos and Gaea now) and like the demigods gods (cuz I still don't know what to name them) are the forces of good that protect humanity, because they need humans to worship them of them to exist obviously.

So this generation of demigods gods are like nice gods for once!! They care for their children and the people under their wings!!

Best things as follows:

Percy, the god of the sea, is married to Annabeth, goddess of wisdom and war strategy.

Nico, god of death and the underworld, is married to Will, god of the sun and music.

Jason, god of the sky, is married to Leo, god of fire and crafts.

Frank, god of war, is married to Hazel, goddess of earth and riches.

Reyna, goddess of the hearth and war, is married to Thalia, goddess of the hunt.

Conner and Travis are the new twins and Rachel, goddess of family and marriage, is a sworn maiden because she wills her powers to maintain other relationships either between gods or between mortals.

Dakota on the other hand, doesn't like to be restrained as much as a mad person could go.

In this world there's nothing called being a maiden so as to be a hunter, bullshit I'm telling you, goddess Thalia herself is married.

Piper, the goddess of love and beauty knows best than to fall in love. Meg is one of the young gods, still closed in her bulb.

Also pffft, Thanatos who? I'm sure Nico can manage it all.

Another generation of demigods arise within no god is whoring around, the gods observe mortals and seek potential within them and when a god catches a mortal child leveling up to their preferences they claim them as a sort of blessing and take them under their wings.

The camps theme is surly still there, merged into one camp because one for some reason humans are less, and two because there's nothing called greek and roman gods anymore, only one version.

Demigods still go on quests, and as we know gods can't directly help them but they always make sure not to use mortals unless it's necessaity, and they try to help as much as they can.

I'd really love to live in a world like that! This post started off as a little imagine then quickly turned into world building, lol.

[rjzimmerman]

A couple of days ago, I was collecting seeds from the milkweed pods in our yard. Having not done this before, but being fully aware of the fuzzy stuff that flies out of the pods, I was battling fuzz (technically, "floss") as I was pulling off and storing the seeds. Then I got smart, and decided to cut a slit in the pods and then gently pull out the mass of floss and seeds, and then just pulling the seeds off and dropping then into the container. As I was doing that, I noticed how super soft the floss was as I pulled it fresh out of the pods, and wondered........do any clothing manufacturers use this stuff? Did a Google search, and learned....yep!

Excerpt from this story from Happy Eco News:

As consumers demand more eco-conscious apparel, brands are getting creative with natural materials that keep warmth in and environmental harm out. One unlikely hero emerging from prickly planted fields is the common milkweed—yes, literally plucked straight from the wild. While best known as the sole food source for iconic, struggling Monarch butterflies, milkweed’s hidden potential is nestled right inside its fluffy, silken floss. This fleecy fiber is an amazing natural insulator and is finding a new application in jackets, parkas, boots, and ski gloves for humans.

As outdoor apparel companies race to reduce environmental impacts, milkweed clothing insulation is proving a promising substitute for conventional insulation fillers—one aligned with cleaner agricultural systems. Its hollow-cored fluff offers an animal-friendly, biodegradable alternative to goose down. Unlike petroleum-based synthetics like polyester fibers, milkweed fills garments with a regeneratively sourced material that decomposes rather than lingering for centuries in landfills.

With conscious consumerism accelerating across industries, apparel buyers now consider impacts far beyond cost and quality when evaluating purchases. An unlikely hero from both suffering North American grasslands and climate crosshairs is rapidly gaining traction as a sustainable insulation material – common milkweed floss. Beyond keeping heat in and winter out with insulating performance rivaling goose down, milkweed rates exceptionally on multiple sustainability indicators resonant with eco-conscious consumers.

As a native perennial thriving on marginal lands, milkweed flourishing requires no irrigation, fertilizers or pesticides – regrowing reliably year after year. From a toxicity and allergen standpoint, milkweed avoids issues associated with many synthetic insulations or down. And supporting milkweed crop expansion helps reverse monarch butterfly declines blamed on agricultural habitat loss. For shoppers concerned over microplastics shedding into waterways from standard fleece, milkweed offers a soft, homegrown, biodegradable alternative. In short, milkweed checks all the boxes for socially mindful consumers seeking future-focused apparel that balances functionality with ethical, regenerative supply supporting threatened pollinators.

Signaling the momentum of milkweed clothing insulation, major brands like Patagonia are incorporating the fluff through novel partnerships with companies like Vegeto Textiles. Dedicated milkweed plantings bandwidth habitat zones while fibers make their way into garments. Other types of textile manufacturers are also jumping on board, some with announced plans to insulate blankets and quilts with milkweed.

Still, despite its promise, milkweed clothing insulation remains in its infancy. Technological barriers to processing millions of floss strands into a stable textile filling have just recently been worked out. Machinery and techniques to update this long-known application concept into a scalable commercial reality. Companies have worked for years honing best practices for taking raw milkweed fluff through cleaning, drying, and fiber alignment steps to transform fuzzy floss into outdoor-ready filling. Advancements in the coming decade will further improve integration potential across diverse textile products, opening doors for milkweed clothing insulation in everything from t-shirts to winter boots.

[datotherd00d]

RSA Fanmade Dorms

Thought I should share a fleshed-out(ish) list of dorms that me, @chohouse , and @dizastermango made for Royal Sword Academy. Honesty thought that RSA should get more love (plus it was a lot of fun to make this, especially since I have some OCs that go to RSA). Also I made a Pinterest board for the dorms, the dorm uniforms, and their ceremonial robes.

The overall inspiration of these dorms were the supporting characters in the stories of the Big 7, but it’s the characters that were associated with the heroes. Now with that out of the way, here is the list!

- Iterspeculo: Spirit of Carpe Diem

Themed off of The Mad Hatter

Pronounced as “I-ter-speh-coo-loh”

Carpe Diem roughly translates to “Living in the Moment”

The complete opposite of Heartslabyul when it come to organization and tidiness

Basically an eyesore, and constant game of ‘Eye-Spy’

Dorm name was made with: ‘Speculo’ which is Latin for mirror, ‘Iter’ meaning journey, so it completely comes out to ‘Journey (through the) Looking Glass’ 

- Baoheart: Spirit of Mindfulness

 Themed off of Rafiki

Pronounced as “Bau-hart”

ALL DORM MEMBERS LIVE IN A GIANT BAOBAB TREEHOUSE! It’s pretty cool ngl

This dorm is SO chill and can be wise. They have a lot of relaxing activities like yoga and meditation sessions. Literally living that Hakuna Matata life 

Dorm name revolved around the tree that Rafiki lived in which is a Baobab tree, and the heart because it sounded better and more whimsical than tail or fang lmao

- Plimsoll: Spirit of Sharing

Themed off of Scuttle

Pronounced as “Plim-sl”

Nautical and sea port vibes with this dorm (ngl was hard to figure out, so I mixed it together)

Heavily community based! Everyone helps everyone out because why not? The more the merrier! 

Literally a silly headcanon, but the common room has a deep brown wood flooring to imitate a ship and someone made the joke of it looking like shit, so now everyone calls the common room the “Poop Deck”

Name came from the Plimsoll Line of a ship, which is a mark on the hull of a ship indicating how deep a cargo ship can travel safely to trade goods

- Sadjinn: Spirit of Friendship

Themed off of The Genie

Pronounced as “Sah-jin”

Kind of similar to Scarabia, but it has that overall “goodness” to it

Not as many parties, but still very much so community based

It’s a more creative dorm that leans more into enjoying what you have and making the most out of it with the people you have. Literally if Kalim was a dorm it would be this one.

Also, the Cave of Wonders is where the dorm resides, and it is surrounded by a beautiful oasis and small forest of sorts

Name came from: ‘Sadiq’ meaning friend in Arabic, and a Djinn (Jinn) is another name for the mythical creature of a genie (this is under the pretense of fiction and fantasy rather than the Arabic/Islamic religious aspect of Jinns) 

- Septierre: Spirit of Humility

Themed off of the Seven Dwarves

Pronounced as “Sep-tea-error”

Such a hardworking yet humble dorm. Like omg- this dorm is that meme that is like “It’s not much, but it’s honest work”

COTTAGECORE VIBES!!!

Literally all of the produce and materials for the school is from this dorm! The students in this dorm are basically all in agriculture and geology, it is wholesome and very simple living

Mostly flatlands with cottage dorm rooms/dorm housing. It’s cute ngl. A lot of orchards and mines and woodland creatures

Name came from: ‘Septem’ which is Latin for 7, and ‘Pierre’ roughly translates to ‘stone/rock’

- Fulgyros: Spirit of Growth

Themed off of Philoctetes (Phil)

Pronounced as “Fuhl-ger-ose”

Dorm of perseverance and growth (emotionally, physically, and mentally. Literally in every possible aspect)

Basically the gym bros/fraternity of the school lmao, but don’t worry, they’re usually himbos. Just want what’s best for everyone and will help achieve that goal

All Ancient Greece influences, kind of a mix between Mount Olympus and Phil’s home/training area. Ethereal and godly vibes with white and earth tones. One of the more pristine dorms, especially with their mostly white uniforms

Name comes from: ‘Fulger’ which is the Latin root word for ‘lightning’, the suffix ‘-ysos’ from Dionysus who Satyrs would be associated with (along with Pan), and ‘-os’ from mythos

- Rosasci: Spirit of Harmony

Themed off of The Three Fairies (Flora, Fauna, and Merrywheather)

Pronounced as “Roh-zeh-see"

Spirit comes from the three fairies working together to raise Aurora despite how chaotic it was. They worked in harmony together and were able to make things work. So that same vibe of responsibility and harmony of oneself and community is prominent in this dorm.

All roses imagery with no thorns. Thorns are a big nono in this dorm

Was another difficult dorm to figure out, but then again this whole school can be viewed as pretentious, so why not add in that overly sweet ‘goody-two-shoes’ aspect lol

However, this dorm is so pretty and very Fairycore with flowy and whimsical uniforms and decorations

Best way to describe the dorm vibe is the Moors in the first and second Maleficent movie

Name came from: ‘Rosaceae’ which is the botanical family name for roses. It’s a simple but pretty name.

- Bonus HCs

Snow White’s Wishing Well is the magical object(?) that sorts students into their dorms

The way it works is that you have to sing a tune or something into the well, and the well sings back to you what dorm you are sorted into. Note that the voice singing back is a collection of voices that are in perfect harmony. It’s creepy if you think about it because do those voices belong to anyone??? Who knows.

Also, students arrive to RSA in a brilliant, blinding white, pumpkin carriage drawn by horses, pegasi, unicorns, even comically large seahorses/dolphins, you name it! It’s magic- anything is possible.

Honestly think of the flying carriages in Sophia the First, and bam it’s that, but a white pumpkin! 

Everyone is alert and awake during their journey to the school, with various magical accommodations to make the trip as pleasant as possible. Hungry or thirsty? No worries, a menu with simple summoning spells fixes that. Bored? Don’t sweat- free wifi in the carriage AND a hidden movie screen to watch the latest block buster starring Vil Schoenheit  and Neige LeBlanche. It’s basically a first class seat on a magical airplane. Straight up comfort.

However, once you do arrive to the school and land, your luggage disappears (of course there is a notice before you land). Once you get your dorm and room assigned, your luggage will already be there waiting for you

Students are dropped off towards the back of the castle where staff greets the new students on the outskirts of a whimsical tree line. Upon crossing into the forest, students are magically dressed in their ceremonial robes and matching makeup . They all flood into a large whimsical pavilion full of seats (think of the one from Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses) that surrounds a very well known wishing well

After the ceremony, the headmaster opens portals to the Heart of the Castle where the main portals are.

RSA has a similar portal system to NRC, but the room is full of really pretty ports that fit the decorum of each dorm/school location. It’s located in the heart of the castle, which is easy access for the students and staff

That is basically all of the headcanons I had, and I hope it helps in any creativity process, or was enjoyable! Let me know if you want any more HCs or have any comments, questions, or concerns! It was a blast making this!

Also! If you want to use any of this for OCs or fanfics, please go ahead!! Just please link this post and like/reblog 🖤 I appreciate those who want to use this! Thank you!

[dailyadventureprompts]

Villain: The Birdwatchers

In a moment before a major turning point of the campaign, the party encounter a group of sinister figures standing on a hill observing a great murmuration of birds, massed in their thousands and winding through the sky like some colossal thing with life unto itself. One figure, shrouded, watches the swarm with a concentration that borders on mania, while the other two, armoured,  begrudgingly turn to the party and regard them with a distant wariness. The party have intruded on something sacred, and while they’re warned not to interrupt the oracle at her work, they’re extended a stark invitation to stay and find out what the future holds.

Adventure Hooks:

These foreboding strangers are agents of an order that follows the Flock of Famine, a monstrously powerful celestial of disaster and dissolution that appears in time of great turmoil to make hopeless situations worse. The priests of this order practice a form of divination called Ornithomancy, which gleans insight into the future from the movement of birds. While this art is practised in many cultures, the nameless order study the Flock in order to divine the woes of the land and how they could be turned to the order’s benefit, as well as what the monstrosity wishes for them to do in order to help it achieve a full manifestation. They’re more than happy to share the information with the party if it’ll help push them towards rash or destructive ends.

The Order’s agents appear during a crisis, whether it be a brewing civil war, a spreading blight, or in the wake of an ongoing disaster, acting as advisors to whatever pretty tyrant promises to make the situation worse. Which means when the party confront this foe, they must also face off against a prophetically inspired anti-paladin bodyguard throwing around wasting curses left and right. Imagine their surprise then when after knocking the villain from their throne, a very similar knight shows up and pledges service to them, offering them insights on how to best exploit future events.

Looking to redevelop land long left fallow, a farmer is perplexed when her plow keeps bringing up fingersized shards of silvery metal, and has come into town to ask around if anyone ( say a group of well respected heroes) might know anything about it. These shards were infact the fragments of a holy weapon sent by the god of harvest and agriculture (Pelor, Yondalla, karametra ) Foreseeing the threat posed by an emerging Flock of Famine. To actually get the weapon, the party will have to aid the farmer in tilling her land, putting in the sort of work that they might’ve thought they were above being high-flying adventurers and all.

Edit: Also thanks so much to the ever amazing Jessjackdaw for their monster stats/ideas.

[afeelgoodblog]

These are The Best News of Last Week

🎼 — Meet the Grammy of the Grammys 😊

1. Man gives $12,000 worth of classroom supplies to 150 middle school teachers

Bryan Tsiliacos has the goal of completing 30 acts of kindness before his 30th birthday, and he just completed his third on Wednesday.

2. Lab-grown meat cleared for human consumption by U.S. regulator

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time cleared a meat product grown from animal cells for human consumption.

UPSIDE Foods, a company that makes cell-cultured chicken by harvesting cells from live animals and using the cells to grow meat in stainless-steel tanks, will be able to bring its products to market once it has been inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Reduces emissions, reduces food and water consumption, greatly reduces the risk of foodborne illness, potentially cheaper for consumers, prevents the raising and killing of animals — this is a win all-around.

3. Police dog finds lost Michigan hunter, 80, who fell in river

An 80-year-old Michigan hunter who got lost and repeatedly fell into a river was rescued by canoe after a police dog tracked down the soaked man.

The man’s wife called Michigan State Police on Wednesday evening after her husband, failed to return home after three hours. State police said her concerns grew when she heard her husband shooting several shots, which meant he was lost, MLive.com reported. The hunter was unharmed, but cold and wet due to falling into the river three times, police said.

4. Researchers Rediscover the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon, a Bird Lost to Science for 140 Years

The camera’s display was tiny, but there was no mistaking the creature it showed: the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, a species that hasn’t been documented by scientists since it was first described in 1882.

“To find something that’s been gone for that long, that you’re thinking is almost extinct, and then to figure out that it’s not extinct, it feels like finding a unicorn or a Bigfoot,” says John C. Mittermeier, director of the lost birds program at American Bird Conservancy

5. Puppy Mill Rescue Dog Becomes ‘Helper Dog’ for Dogs Overcoming Trauma

Lolly was one of the over 500 under-socialized, scared dogs that the ASPCA rescued from neglectful conditions at an Iowa puppy mill in Nov. 2021, and now the canine is helping other pups.

Lolly’s journey from “nervous” puppy mill rescue to hero helper dog started last year after the ASPCA pulled Lolly from the Iowa breeding facility. Following her rescue, Lolly went to an emergency shelter operated by the ASPCA for initial exams and treatment.

6. Angela Álvarez crowned best new artist at Latin Grammys — aged 95

Cuban American, who started recording career at 90 after decades of performing for family and friends, says ‘it’s never too late’.

The Cuban American musician’s crowning moment came after decades of writing songs but performing them only for friends and family — until, at the age of 90, she went to the Avalon, the historic Hollywood nightclub, and gave her first concert.

7. Lost dog hands itself in at Loughborough Police Station

A lost dog has been reunited with its owners after walking into a police station.

CCTV footage from Loughborough Police Station captured the moment the border collie arrived and took a seat in the waiting room. Leicestershire Police staff fetched some water and gave her a fuss before calling the number on her ID tag.

Good reminder to keep a collar on your dog.

. . .

That’s it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Have a great week ahead :)

[vultures-and-scavengers]

Honnleath Headcanons

So, I couldn't find a decent picture of the Origins world map with the DLCs, but that red dot is about where Honnleath is, according to the Stone Prisoner's map marker. Southern Thedas is, appropriately, within the southern hemisphere, and things get colder the further south you go. Beyond the Korcari Wilds is what seems to be a polar region referred to as the Sunless Lands, and the Kocari Wilds are described as forest and swamp.

The Korcari Wilds themselves are probably best described as boreal wetlands, and they lie just to the east of Honnleath. To Honnleath's west, there's then the Frostback mountains. It's also between the territories of Avvar and Chasind peoples, which depending on the specific group, may or may not be an issue for Andrastian settlers in the region.

In addition, the largest settlement within any distance of Honnleath is Redcliffe, and Honnleath is about as far from Denerim as you can get, while remaining in Ferelden.

TL;DR: It's geographically isolated, probably freezing, probably has shorter summers and less sunlight, and likely does not have a great deal of wealth, unless there's mining and other non-agricultural industry.

Farming

Farming in cold climates is hard. You have less time in the year, less sun, less warmth, etc. Not all crops are hardy enough to last through the temperature changes and freezes these regions might go through. Depending on how miserable the cold might be that far south, I think Honnleath might fall within the USDA hardiness regions 2 or 3. Note that these zones are based on the temperature extremes a region might face, not the average temperatures.

ATTRA has this post about farming in cold climates, and while it is undoubtedly aimed for a modern audience, the crops themselves listed are still a handy resource.

Peas, radishes, mustard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, fennel, radicchio, and scallions are among those listed as suitable for colder climates. They also further down mention juneberries.

CropCare has this post about crops by zone as well.

For zone 2, they list dill, chives, carrots, broccoli, radishes, cabbage, and brussels sprouts. For zone 3, they list beets, garlic, parsley, turnips, squash, radishes, peppermint, and some onions.

Lastly, the Sustineri Project has a page where they list cherry, apple, pear, plum, and raspberry trees as possibilities within zones 2 and 3.

But with less time in the year to grow crops, and less sun, I don't see Honnleath able to earn as much income as more northern regions. They're likely dependent on what they grow to sustain themselves, and sell what extra they can.

Politics/Standing

The headcanons I have for Honnleath's politics are dependent on its location and climate. Ferelden seems to operate on a system similar to feudalism, with banns reigning over regions, with arls above them, and then teyrns, and then the monarchs, who are beholden to the Landsmeet, which is the annual gathering of these lords.

Bordering the Korcari Wilds, Honnleath was likely one of the first regions invaded by the Blight, and there were survivors only due to the Hero of Ferelden's timely arrival. In addition, that far from Denerim, Redcliffe likely is the greatest political influence on Honnleath. However, there's a strong chance the Chasind and Avvar have their own influences, if Honnleath engages in trade with either group.

Trading with Chasind is more likely, I feel, as Honnleath is closer to the Wilds than the mountains, and while the Avvar do trade with 'lowlanders', it seems to be less common.

I did come up with my own Bann for Honnleath: Bann Moorstead. Bann Moorstead resents ruling a land so far from Denerim, a land poorer in crops and capital than the more fertile Bannorn at Ferelden's heart. Determined to try and keep up with his richer peers, Moorstead continually raises taxes on the already minimal population within his holdings. During the Blight, Bann Moorstead, fueled by resentment towards his fellow lords, sides with Loghain, sending his forces to reinforce Loghain instead of protecting his lands.

And full disclosure, Bann Moorstead was created largely so I could play in the sandbox and add more depth to Cullen's distaste for nobles. It's played as a joke for most of Inquisition, but given his own origins, I think it's more than just the trope of 'military man hates politicians and fancy people'.

[skaruresonic]

I was going to make a broader overarching point about how IDW's version of the characters seem more interested in virtue-signalling than in proving their goodness through their deeds, but I got a bit tuckered out. Anyway. Tl;dr for the wall of text ahead: the games still win in this regard. By a landslide.

In Unleashed, Sonic can accept a sidequest from a little Mazuri girl named Yaya. Normally, Yaya is shy, perhaps even nonverbal, and will flee if you attempt to talk to her. It's rare to see her during the day, so when you spot her out in the open, cowering but attempting to communicate to the best of her ability, it's a clue that she wants something badly enough to risk her fears. After several false starts, Yaya manages to ask Sonic to get her a chocolate sundae. She doesn't explain why, nor do you immediately receive a reward when you give it to her. It's only later, after Yaya's mother recovers, that you learn the reason for her odd request. Mom was sick, and Yaya wanted to give her a sundae to help make her feel better. Despite avoiding you until now, she managed to swallow her fears for the sake of her mother.

It's sweet, as well as a humanizing moment for Yaya, her mother, and Sonic. As a good deed, it's nothing grand. Giving someone food when they're sick isn't nearly as lofty as air-dropping food to a nation in need, certainly, but in Unleashed, you at least see the tangible effect you've had on the people you helped. You just brightened the day of a mother and her daughter.

Through sidequests like these, Unleashed shows us that no act of kindness, however small or inconsequential seeming, is wasted.

Conversely, one of the... myriad reasons this panel rubs me the wrong way is that it achieves almost the opposite effect. The people of Mazuri are instead objectified. They're a monolith, a statistic, to help polish the Restoration's reputation to a sterling sheen. In this regard, they might as well be props.

We hear about this aid nearly secondhand, as it's something Silver, Blaze, and Jewel intend to do but haven't yet. All the scene is intended to do is make the Restoration look good, as though by mere dint of being called the Restoration, we couldn't put 2 and 2 together and figure it out.

The one time we're informed of their humanitarian aid, we're not shown it. So really, what was the point of bringing it up, if not to stroke the heroes' self-righteous boner?

Inaccuracies to the games aside (which is par for the course for the book), there's all sorts of... unsavory implications at play here. Blaze "was touring" Sonic's world when she happened upon Mazuri's plight. Because we're not given much detail other than "poor crops this season," we have to assume Blaze took some initiative to ease the situation.

Take a moment to think about this. Blaze hails from a water world. How would she know what constitutes sufficient crop failure to warrant shipping aid to a completely different clime than the one she's most familiar with? How does she know what "poor crop season" looks like in Mazuri? How does she know she doesn't have any biases about the way people in Mazuri should approach their agriculture? Does she understand they eat more than just crops, and sell fruit and broiled ibanga as well as confections? If this is her first time touring Sonic's world, how does she approach the government of its denizens? Did she do this respectfully? Did she confer with Mazuri's Elders? Did the people seek her help? Did they say Out Loud With Their Mouths that they'd accept her help, or did she presume their needs? We don't receive answers to any of those questions. She "was touring" the area when she saw a problem worth correcting. The thought starts and ends there. The people of Mazuri do not merit a voice or agency in the matter, because all that really matters here is that you know how virtuous Blaze, Jewel, and Silver are for helping the less fortunate in their time of need. (Which is really ironic, considering Surge calls Sonic out for speaking over her and Kit when they're standing right in front of him in the exact same issue.)

Add the connotations that Flynn frequently describes Blaze as "the imperial princess of the Sol Empire" instead of "duchess" or "guardian of the Sol Emeralds"... Marry them with the implication that she's butting into the business of a foreign nation when we don't know the specifics of their plight, they're just Objects to show us how virtuous our heroes are, and this whole onion of suckage starts to reek.

[irunevenus]

Mayan Mythology: Deities, Cosmology and Cultural Legacy

Mayan mythology is one of the richest and most intriguing traditions of pre-Columbian cultures, full of myths, legends and stories that explain the origin of the world, the nature of the gods and the relationship between humans and the cosmos. The Mayans, who inhabited the region of Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize), developed a complex civilization marked by a deep understanding of astronomy, mathematics and religion. Mayan mythology, as a central part of the culture, is directly linked to these aspects and is expressed in texts, rituals, art and architecture.

Mayan Cosmology The Mayan worldview is structured in three main layers: the sky, the earth and the underworld, also known as Xibalba.

Heaven: This is the realm of the gods and deified ancestors. The sky is divided into several layers, and each of them is governed by different gods. The most important sky god is Itzamná, who is also the lord of wisdom and creation.

The Earth: This is the place where humans live and interact with the gods through rituals and sacrifices. For the Mayans, time on Earth is cyclical, meaning that cosmic and historical events repeat themselves in predictable cycles. The concept of cyclical time is fundamental to understanding the famous Mayan Calendar, which is based on complex astronomical calculations and rituals.

Xibalba: The Mayan underworld, ruled by gods of death and disease, is described as a place of suffering and darkness. However, it is also seen as a necessary stage on the spiritual journey. The myth of the Popol Vuh, one of the best-known stories in Mayan mythology, describes the twin heroes who descend to Xibalba, confront the lords of death and return triumphant, symbolizing the overcoming of death and rebirth.

2. Main Gods of Mayan Mythology The Mayans worshipped a large number of gods, each associated with specific aspects of life, nature and the cosmos. Many of these gods were personifications of natural forces, such as the sun, rain and vegetation. The main Mayan gods include:

Itzamná: The supreme god of creation, lord of the sky and wisdom. He was also associated with writing and knowledge, and was considered the patron saint of priests.

Kukulcán: Represented as a feathered serpent, Kukulcán is a highly venerated deity and is often compared to Quetzalcóatl of the Aztecs. He symbolizes the union of heaven and earth and was one of the main gods of the Mayan pantheon, especially in the post-classic period.

Chaac: The god of rain and thunder. Chaac was extremely important to the Mayans, as agriculture depended on rainfall, and therefore rituals were performed in his honor to ensure good harvests. Chaac is depicted with an axe and large tusks, symbolizing his power to cause storms.

Hun Hunahpú: One of the twin heroes of the Popol Vuh, who is killed in the underworld but is reborn as the god of corn. His story symbolizes the renewal of life and the cycle of crops, a central theme in Mayan mythology and culture.

Ix Chel: The goddess of the moon, childbirth, and medicine. Ix Chel is also associated with water, especially floods and fertility, and is an important figure for Mayan women. She often appears alongside Chaac, reinforcing the connection between rain and the fertility of the earth.

The Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Mayans One of the most important sources for understanding Mayan mythology is the Popol Vuh, a sacred text that narrates the creation of the world, the story of the twin heroes, and the origins of the Mayan people. Written by the Quiché, one of the largest Mayan ethnic groups, the Popol Vuh was preserved during the Spanish colonization and contains a rich compendium of myths.

The Creation of the World: In the Popol Vuh, the gods create the world in several attempts, using different materials to form human beings. Only in the last attempt, when using corn to mold the first men, do they manage to create perfect humans, who begin to inhabit the Earth and worship the gods.

The Hero Twins: Hunahpú and Ixbalanqué, the hero twins, are central figures in the Popol Vuh. They challenge the lords of Xibalba in a series of trials, eventually triumphing and ascending to heaven. Their story is a metaphor for the victory of life over death and is deeply connected to agricultural cycles and the renewal of nature.

Ritual and Religion Rituals were a fundamental part of Mayan religious life. Many of the myths and sacred stories were intertwined with practices of sacrifice, divination, and offerings. Priests played a crucial role in interpreting the signs of the gods and conducting rituals to ensure harmony between the cosmos and humanity.

Sacrifices: The Mayans performed sacrifices, both of animals and humans, to appease the gods, especially in times of crisis, such as during droughts or battles. Blood was seen as a sacred offering, necessary to maintain the balance of the world.

Ball Games: The Mayan ball game (Pok-ta-Pok) was a ritualistic ceremony that also had deep roots in mythology. The game represented the battle between the Hero Twins and the lords of the underworld, and often had a symbolic outcome involving human sacrifice.

Legacy and Influence of Mayan Mythology Mayan mythology continues to have a profound impact on the indigenous cultures of Central America. Even after the Spanish conquest, many of the Mayan myths and traditions survived, being incorporated or reinterpreted within the context of Catholicism. Today, the descendants of the Mayans still maintain cultural and religious practices that reflect this rich mythological heritage.

In addition, Mayan cosmology and the Mayan calendar continue to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts around the world. The supposed “end of the world” predicted for 2012 was based on a misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar, which rekindled global interest in this ancient civilization.

Conclusion Mayan mythology is a reflection of the cultural and spiritual complexity of one of the most advanced peoples of Mesoamerica. Their myths not only explained the origin of the world and human beings, but also served as the basis for their religious practices, their view of time and the cosmos. Even today, Mayan mythology continues to be a source of fascination and study, connecting the present with a deeply spiritual and symbolic past.

[luimagines]

Hyrule can be medieval, but there are a lot of lost civilizations, so we can say that maybe even if the civilizations are lost, some habits survived the passing of time.

The sheikah (in the sanctuaries or even Vah Ruta) or zonnan, for example, have their own devices that their main function is to throw water. These could have served the purpose of agriculture and to clean.

Hyrule is medieval with lots of advanced civilizations, but that doesn't mean that all of their devices or habits are gone, we can still find the temples or tracks that they were once there.

Considering that there are old people in Hyrule and that they are still alive (taking for reference the medieval era in our world where a 30 years old was considered a elder because of the life expectancy), we have two options: hylians don't get sick often or people have a good hygiene.

Some of the habits that survived were the ones about hygiene, and we can even speculate that the devices are still in use even if the people don't know their origins.

Besides, Hyrule has a rainy climate that creates rivers and lakes, and it has lots of mountains (that contribute to the water cycle).

In conclusion, there are a lot of facts that say that the boys are clean (or at least they try to be (catching a cold in an era where penicillin doesn't exist is a game over and the heroes mustn't die before completing their purpose (being TP the only game where a doctor exist (we exclude the cientists in other games because they are cientists not doctors))). Problem solved.

But I can't defend Wild or Twilight because in an interview with Aonuma and Fujibayashi, they said those two were the ones that stink the most.

And I can't defend all of them after a battle, but I tried my best.

-💠 (aka "I don't know why I'm doing analyzing this topic")

I fully agree with this except for one crucial point.

This is under the assumption that there is a civilization. Which is all fine and dandy. I like to think that Wild actually has a bathroom/shower at the back of his house in BotW- you know that one door that's just there for no reason?

But they're in the middle of no where. No plumbing. No water. No soap- unless they brought some. But they're gonna run out at some point.

And again, teenage boys just stink. End point. It doesn't really matter what they do. If they're active, they smell. ^.^*

I think most of them would jump at the chance to take a shower when the opportunity arrives. Warrior and Sky I think are at the forefront, but how many times is that going to happen?

How many of them are willing to jump into a freezing cold river?