#Bless Web Designs | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

galaxysupreme17 · 2 months ago

Text

Dreamcatcher Crafting Night

Y/n = Your Name

AgathaRio x daughter!reader!

Y/n’s restless nights had been following her for over a week now. She brushed off the worry when her mothers asked about her sleep, saying it was nothing. But the truth was that something dark seemed to lurk just beyond her reach, pulling her from sleep repeatedly. So tonight, when she shuffled into the living room with another yawn, she wasn’t surprised to see her moms exchanging concerned glances over her tired face.

“Couldn’t sleep again, sweet girl?” Agatha asked softly, her eyes filled with understanding as she wrapped an arm around Y/n’s shoulders.

Y/n leaned into her mother’s warmth, nodding. “It’s just…every time I close my eyes, it’s like there’s something there. Like I can’t shake it off.”

Rio’s brow furrowed as she brushed a gentle hand along Y/n’s arm. “Then we’re going to help you. Together.”

Agatha’s eyes lit up as an idea formed. “How about a little crafting session?” she said warmly. “We’ll make some dreamcatchers and fill them with some magic.”

Y/n’s eyes brightened with curiosity. “Dreamcatchers? I haven’t made one since I was little.”

“Not just any dreamcatchers,” Agatha replied with a wink. “We’ll add protective spells. It’ll be something special, just for you.”

Rio smiled and stood up, heading toward the storage closet. “I think I have the perfect materials in here,” she said, gathering an assortment of hoops, threads, beads, and feathers from the shelves. The supplies, organized in neat rows, felt like they were waiting for this very night. She placed them all on the coffee table, which quickly transformed into a crafting station under the cozy glow of the living room lights.

As they started, Agatha sat beside Y/n, gently guiding her daughter’s hands through the steps of creating the dreamcatcher’s web. “Start with the hoop and thread,” she said softly, looping the thread through the frame with expert hands. “Each knot you make is a promise of peace. Every thread connects to the next, like a spider’s web. Imagine it catching anything harmful before it can reach you.”

Y/n looped the thread carefully through the hoop, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tied the first knot. Agatha watched with a warm smile, occasionally reaching over to adjust a thread here or there, blessing each movement with quiet words of protection.

Rio picked up the delicate feathers and beads as they worked, adding them to the dreamcatcher with a practiced touch. She threaded in a small blue feather, tying it gently in place as she murmured, “Feathers to guide good dreams toward you, mi amor.”

The rhythmic act of crafting filled Y/n with a quiet peace. Each gentle instruction from her mothers and each touch of their hands reassured her. Little by little, the feeling of safety settled into her, filling her heart with warmth.

After a moment, Rio carefully added a silver moon charm to the hoop, brushing her thumb over it before passing it to Y/n. “This will help light up the darkness,” she whispered, placing it in her daughter’s hand. “Just remember that nothing can reach you here. We’re here to protect you.”

Y/n nodded, watching Agatha reach for a tiny crystal that glowed faintly in the soft light. “And this little one,” Agatha murmured, threading it into the web, “will catch anything that doesn’t belong and send it right back where it came from. A little ward, just for you.”

Feeling their shared care in every twist of thread and every added charm, Y/n’s heart filled with gratitude. The simplicity of creating something so meaningful together was a quiet, grounding reminder that she was loved and protected.

When the dreamcatchers were finally finished, Rio held one up, inspecting it with a proud smile. “Perfect, cariño,” she said, brushing a hand along Y/n’s cheek. “You made something beautiful, and it’ll protect you. Nothing will get through this.”

Y/n smiled, admiring the intricate design of her own handiwork, guided and shaped by her mother’s care. Y/n walked back upstairs to her room, and both her mothers followed after they cleaned everything up. Y/n carefully hung it above her bed, watching the delicate feathers and beads sway softly in the dim light.

After it was set, Agatha and Rio stayed close by her side, watching her settle under the covers. Y/n felt a warmth spread through her as she lay back, watching the dreamcatcher cast faint shadows on the walls. Agatha sat beside her, smoothing her hair back, her eyes warm with love. “Just close your eyes, sweet girl. Nothing will hurt you,” she murmured, her voice like a lullaby.

Rio sat on the other side, taking Y/n’s hand in hers, her thumb rubbing gentle circles over her knuckles. “We’re right here, my love,” she said, her words soft but steady. “Just let yourself rest.”

Y/n’s heart settled into a gentle rhythm as she closed her eyes, surrounded by the gentle presence of both her mothers. She felt Agatha’s hand gently brushing through her hair as Rio leaned over to press a kiss to the top of her head, grounding her in their warmth. With each soft word of reassurance, the tension in her body finally melted away.

Gradually, Y/n’s breathing evened out as sleep pulled her in. But her mothers stayed by her side, watching over her with tender patience until they drifted off. Eventually, Rio and Agatha lay on either side of Y/n, their hands intertwined across her, forming a shield of warmth and love.

The dreamcatcher above them swayed softly in the dark, casting its gentle, protective spell over the family. For the first time in weeks, Y/n’s dreams were filled with nothing but light and warmth, and her heart rested, deeply and fully, in the safe haven created by her mother’s love.

#x reader #reader insert #agatha x daughter! reader #agatha all along #agatha x rio #agathario x daughter!reader #rio vidal #agatha harkness #agatha all along season 1 #agatha harkness x daughter!reader

57 notes · View notes

reelmegabyte · 1 year ago

Text

ever wonder why spotify/discord/teams desktop apps kind of suck?

i don't do a lot of long form posts but. I realized that so many people aren't aware that a lot of the enshittification of using computers in the past decade or so has a lot to do with embedded webapps becoming so frequently used instead of creating native programs. and boy do i have some thoughts about this.

for those who are not blessed/cursed with computers knowledge Basically most (graphical) programs used to be native programs (ever since we started widely using a graphical interface instead of just a text-based terminal). these are apps that feel like when you open up the settings on your computer, and one of the factors that make windows and mac programs look different (bc they use a different design language!) this was the standard for a long long time - your emails were served to you in a special email application like thunderbird or outlook, your documents were processed in something like microsoft word (again. On your own computer!). same goes for calendars, calculators, spreadsheets, and a whole bunch more - crucially, your computer didn't depend on the internet to do basic things, but being connected to the web was very much an appreciated luxury!

that leads us to the eventual rise of webapps that we are all so painfully familiar with today - gmail dot com/outlook, google docs, google/microsoft calendar, and so on. as html/css/js technology grew beyond just displaying text images and such, it became clear that it could be a lot more convenient to just run programs on some server somewhere, and serve the front end on a web interface for anyone to use. this is really very convenient!!!! it Also means a huge concentration of power (notice how suddenly google is one company providing you the SERVICE) - you're renting instead of owning. which means google is your landlord - the services you use every day are first and foremost means of hitting the year over year profit quota. its a pretty sweet deal to have a free email account in exchange for ads! email accounts used to be paid (simply because the provider had to store your emails somewhere. which takes up storage space which is physical hard drives), but now the standard as of hotmail/yahoo/gmail is to just provide a free service and shove ads in as much as you need to.

webapps can do a lot of things, but they didn't immediately replace software like skype or code editors or music players - software that requires more heavy system interaction or snappy audio/visual responses. in 2013, the electron framework came out - a way of packaging up a bundle of html/css/js into a neat little crossplatform application that could be downloaded and run like any other native application. there were significant upsides to this - web developers could suddenly use their webapp skills to build desktop applications that ran on any computer as long as it could support chrome*! the first applications to be built on electron were the late code editor atom (rest in peace), but soon a whole lot of companies took note! some notable contemporary applications that use electron, or a similar webapp-embedded-in-a-little-chrome as a base are:

microsoft teams

notion

vscode

discord

spotify

anyone! who has paid even a little bit of attention to their computer - especially when using older/budget computers - know just how much having chrome open can slow down your computer (firefox as well to a lesser extent. because its just built better <3)

whenever you have one of these programs open on your computer, it's running in a one-tab chrome browser. there is a whole extra chrome open just to run your discord. if you have discord, spotify, and notion open all at once, along with chrome itself, that's four chromes. needless to say, this uses a LOT of resources to deliver applications that are often much less polished and less integrated with the rest of the operating system. it also means that if you have no internet connection, sometimes the apps straight up do not work, since much of them rely heavily on being connected to their servers, where the heavy lifting is done.

taking this idea to the very furthest is the concept of chromebooks - dinky little laptops that were created to only run a web browser and webapps - simply a vessel to access the google dot com mothership. they have gotten better at running offline android/linux applications, but often the $200 chromebooks that are bought in bulk have almost no processing power of their own - why would you even need it? you have everything you could possibly need in the warm embrace of google!

all in all the average person in the modern age, using computers in the mainstream way, owns very little of their means of computing.

i started this post as a rant about the electron/webapp framework because i think that it sucks and it displaces proper programs. and now ive swiveled into getting pissed off at software services which is in honestly the core issue. and i think things can be better!!!!!!!!!!! but to think about better computing culture one has to imagine living outside of capitalism.

i'm not the one to try to explain permacomputing specifically because there's already wonderful literature ^ but if anything here interested you, read this!!!!!!!!!! there is a beautiful world where computers live for decades and do less but do it well. and you just own it. come frolic with me Okay ? :]

*when i say chrome i technically mean chromium. but functionally it's same thing

#txt #long post #permacomputing #sustainability

343 notes · View notes

bastardblvd · 2 years ago

Text

submitted entries for the slimeball alley on bastard boulevard collab event. please be mindful of content warnings and boundaries set by authors. want to join? read our guidelines here.

KEY: 🦠 = NSFW ⚠️ = DARK CONTENT

"DOUBLE DOWN" by @ryndicate 🦠 ⚠️

fem reader x slimeball!hirofumi yoshida, reader x stepbro!denji

"didn't know you were into that kinda stuff."

"SAFETY FIRST" by @strawberrystepmom 🦠

fem restaurant manager!reader x fake OSHA inspector!jiraiya

when an inspector unexpectedly comes to your restaurant, you figure out how to get yourself out of trouble.

"A RIDE FOR A RIDE" by @thus-spoke-lo 🦠

afab reader x taxi driver!zoro

it's 3am and walking home from your shitty job at the diner seems like a drag, so you call a cab, hoping for a quick trip back to your apartment so you can finally catch some sleep. your moss-haired, muscle-bound, directionally-challenged cabbie definitely gives you a ride you didn't expect.

"COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF" by @thus-spoke-lo 🦠

afab reader x slimeball line cook!sanji

a few nights pass after the sordid events of "a ride for a ride", and you're working another late night shift at franky's flapjack shack with sanji, that damned pervert cook. sanji manages to piss off your only remaining customer for the night, leaving the two of you alone in the restaurant. soon, things start to heat up in the kitchen--and not just because that one oven door won't close all the way.

"TITS FOR TAT" by @bloompompom 🦠

sorority girl!reader x tattoo artist!eren jaeger

"i hope you have a good idea about how you're going to pay for that tattoo..."

"DELIRIOUS" by @saccharine-darlin🦠 ⚠️

fem camgirl!reader x slimy sex shop owner!gojo x sex shop employee!getou

"your conservative town is something you've never thought that would let a sex shop pop up, it seemed too good to be true, and little did you know after the first time you visited you'd be caught in a web by the two perverted men who run it and quickly you learn that they always get what they want."

“PAY UP!” by @zeninsama 🦠

fem babysitter!reader x designer sunglasses model!gojo satoru

satoru's poor time management has you working overtime, and this cheap bastard has something other than cash to pay you with

"GOD BLESS ME, IT'S SUMMER" by @dolcezzzza 🦠

afab reader x slimeball ice cream truck driver!nicholas d. wolfwood

"open up."

"TRIPLE STRIKE XXX" by @em-plosion 🦠

new employee!reader x bowling alley owner!satoru gojo

"the animated neon signs glowed brightly against the wet pavement and the ‘help wanted’ flier in your hand. having to move to this hell hole of a town was bad enough but trying to find a job in it was worse, at this point this shitty bowling alley seemed to be the best option."

"HANDS TO YOURSELF" by @agirlwithapen 🦠 ⚠️

reader x dirty old man!kishibe

you’d purposely chosen the early morning transit. today was a big day, you see. you were interviewing for a position your friend had offered. it was your chance at stability, financial stability. “first impressions count.” you remember telling your soon-to-be boss over email. they do.

"CAN I HAVE A NUMBER 5?" by @gunfiendbabymama

yuuta okkotsu vs. aki hayakawa

the mcnuggets showdown.

“HONEY TRAP” by @maliciouslove 🦠

fem reader x slimeball starbucks barista!denki kaminari

having a slimebucks apron is equal to having unlimited rizz (source: me) and denki proves it by bedding his brand new colleague on her very first day of work.

“THE HR FILES” by @if-dreams-do-come-true ⚠️

afab reader x corrupt cop!kishibe

kishibe is a shameless corrupt cop with a penchant to make inappropriate advances at fresh faced interns and the reader is unfortunately his newest victim.

"STICKLER" by @princess-okkotsu 🦠

after a run-in with grimetown's sleazy cop nanami, you've come to the dmv to replace the sticker that was stolen off your car from a certain freeloader. you've got to convince the dmv employee, a stickler for the rules, that you quite badly need this problem squared away today.

#slimeball collab directory #LET'S GOOOOOO #kissing u all on the head rn #stepdaddy merc

430 notes · View notes

nyan-nyax3 · 7 days ago

Text

˚₊‧ mushrooms and technology related id pack ☆

names ꒱

ace, al, alton, ambrose, archer, august, barclay, bentley, bobbie, brennan, buck, carver, charlie, chase, chester, chuck, clay, cole, cooper, cove, cyril, damian, deforest, dex, dizzy, elmo, elwood, emil, felix, flynn, giles, griffin, hunter, joel, keiran, kip, lucian, malachi, marcus, micah, nixon, oliver, roscoe, russell, rusty, saint, sterling, travis, vincent

alethea, anemone, angelica, april, aria, blanche, blossom, bonnie, cara, celia, chantelle, cherry, dawn, essence, fawn, fern, freya, ginger, halo, harmony, hazel, heaven, ione, iris, ivy, jade, jasmine, journey, juniper, kestrel, mable, mae/may, maisie, meadow, melody, mica, misty, nova, octavia, reverie, velvet, viola

ainsley, angel, blake, blessing, bonnet, button, campbell, clover, cosmo, crystal, data, digi, eden, enoki, everest, frontier, gift, haven, honey, inkcap, ivory, july, laverne, legacy, linwood, lucky, lyric, magpie, mushroom, mycene, oakley, onyx, oracle, oyster, parasol, parker, pepper, raine, rammy, raven, reboot, remy, robin, saffron, sage, salem, shiitake, silver, sparrow, wire

pronouns ꒱

bi / bits, ca / cap, co / code, comp / computer, con / connector, co / cord, decomp / decomposer, des / design, dev / device, digi / digital, for / forest, fun / gi, fun / gus, hard / drive, moni / monitor, mother / board, mush / room, myce / mycelium, oper / operation, pi / pixel, poly / polygon, pro / program, ra / ram, ret / retro, scri / script, shut / shutdown, soft / ware, spo / spore, store / storage, tech / technology, toad / toadstool, vei / vein, web / website, win / windows

titles ꒱

the forest dweller, the nature-fueled advancement of technology, [x] entangled in wire and root, the decomposing code of a by-gone era, the digital shroomcap, the mycologist, the mycological technician, [x] trapped in a digital forest, [x] with a pixelated cap, the shroom who lives within the web, the scripted dialogue of a coded mushroom, [x] who spreads spores like viruses

genders & other ꒱

aerugender, bleedingtoothic, catamagicis, chlorogender, flyagaricgender, factorisoundic, fungusthing, gilophorean, inkycapgender, mushranatomic, mushroomcoric, mushroomgender, mushroomic, mushroomirial, mushroomnamic, mushrotix, mycorigen, polyporeic, techrobai, trapped_in_a_computer.gender, virtulonogia, wondershroomgender

ai flag, computer..?, shroomhoarder

usernames ꒱

devcomposer, digishroom, enokiyboard, https-fungus, inkcomposer, mush-os, mushram, mushroomboard, operationspore, pixelvein, puffball, retrocelium, retromycena, screeninkcap, shroomdown, shroomware, sporesite, webcap, webshroom

system names ꒱

the mycological operation system, the technological shroom collective, the portable webshrooms, those built from code, those who report to the motherboard, the collective of spores, those whose personas are built into their roots, the fungi who grew from within the depths of technology

#˚₊‧ my stuff ☆#id pack #id packs #name ideas #pronoun ideas #pronoun list #title list #title ideas #username ideas #system names #npt #npt set #mushrooms #technology

23 notes · View notes

narcoticwriter · 1 year ago

Text

Primogems & How They Predicted the Most Devastating Plot Twist of the Game

This item may be the bane of every F2P player's existence and the whale's minor inconvenience to acquire, but I believe that in terms of lore and what the future of the story holds, it can possibly be one of the most blatant warning flags in the game.

Before I go into this specifically, I would like to show you where this post is coming from in earnest.

The one on the left was the beta version of the primogem icon and I have the current one adjacent to it as a comparison.

This? This right here? This is just a slap to the face, a true insult, dare I say a gauntlet thrown on the ground in front of me.

You don't know me if you think I'm going to take that shit, so of course, I'm picking it up and I'll have my pistols. Tell me where and when because I'll be there with receipts.

Not only will I argue that the beta design was quite pointed and intentional with how often this specific shape shows up with characters, lore, and the game at large, I will blatantly declare that it is the key to figuring out where this story is going to end.

If you've been here before, you know what to expect from this, and if you're new? Strap in with some snacks and a healthy appetite for questioning the lore because on this blog, we go ham or we go home.

What is a Primogem Anyway?

According to the wiki, the description of a primogem is as such:

"A primordial crystalline gem that's beyond the mundane world. Shines with the condensed hopes and dreams of universes that once were."

The information here is already intriguing in the sense that the words 'hopes' and 'dreams' are used in relation to their appearance as well as the word 'primordial', which roughly means 'from the beginning of time'.

So with that, we have to ask ourselves one question: how do you even get something like that in the first place?

How Do You Acquire Primogems?

Before I go into this, the ways that I am providing are (in my opinion) the only canonical ways that make sense to acquire primogems at all as they have lore, in-game quotes, and things that point to what I believe will tie into primogems either through other topics or their uses.

Genesis Crystals

To start off, the description of a Genesis Crystal is as follows:

"An energy crystal from the very origin of the universe. Formed from within nothingness out of pure potential and hope, it contains enough energy to create a newborn star."

If one looks at the definition of a primogem, one can see that this Genesis Crystal is used to make primogems. This is evident by the in-game application of the '1:1 Ratio' conversion of Genesis Crystals to Primogems.

It should also be of note that the distinct shape of the crystal is defined as the 'triquetra'. This symbol has a relation to infinity and interconnectedness, which is interesting as the crystal is used as a source to create a condensed byproduct in primogems, something decidedly 'star shaped'. So with that, you also have to ask how one could acquire such a thing in the first place.

The Blessing of the Welkin Moon - New Moon

Please note that this is not in reference to the product that you can buy in the game, but instead, the new moon variant that one can get in web events. This, however, doesn't mean that the lore is not inclusive of the said products either.

I have an ask that went into some more detail about this in a more speculative nature, but for the sake of this, I will put the description of this object below:

"A ritual prayer, recited on the rising of the first new moon, to ask for the moon's blessing in the form of wealth and good fortune. For your purposes, the new moon you shall pray to is the first-ever new moon in Teyvat, since it's the first one you've seen here."

So, with this, we can assume that:

There is a 'prayer' one must make to acquire both primogems and Genesis Crystals

The moon plays a significant role in this process as the said object only last 30 days (roughly the same length as the moon cycle)

Something else of note that I would like to point out is that the new moon is when the cycle starts specifically. Over these 30 days, one can acquire a total of 2,700 primogems and 300 Genesis Crystals, the same as the standard Blessing of the Welkin Moon you can buy.

This image of The Welkin Moon shows a few symbols that we've already seen, such as the primogems themselves as well as the triquetra, so we can firmly establish that this is indeed a valid way of getting these things. But in relation to the moon cycles and lore that incorporates that as well, one must stumble into places you wouldn't typically expect to find those or primogems at all.

Spiral Abyss - Moment of Syzygy

Primogems? In my Sprial Abyss? It's more likely than you think.

The Spiral Abyss is split into two distinct sections, the Abyss Corridor (Floors 1-8) and the Abyss Spire (Floors 9-12) and as such, I'm only going to go over The Abyss Spire in-depth as they replenish their primogems every cycle (15 days).

A physical description of the Spiral Abyss states plainly:

"A grand underground corridor which leads to an unknown spiral constructed by a great empire that has long gone. What treasures await deep in the palace, and what monsters lurk in the shadow..."

"Surrounded by mysteries, the inverse tower is now known as- Spiral Abyss."

With this description, I believe that this 'great empire' is not Khaenri'ah, but something affiliated with the 'Lunar Palace', something that existed and fell into ruination long before the game is set.

With this context in mind, one can see why the snippet called 'Moment of Syzygy' would say:

"The cycles of the moon elucidate the turning points of fate, and as the gears turn at the beginning and middle of the month, the treasures hidden at the end of the spire shows itself."

From Moment of Syzygy, one acquires 600 primogems per cycle of the Abyss, so given the presence of 'treasure' and the heavy emphasis on the moon, one can assume that you would absolutely find primogems even in such a place and if you don't think so, there is proof.

For example, the word 'syzygy' is defined as 'a conjunction or opposition, especially of the moon with the sun'. This is another term for an eclipse, a phenomenon that also includes three celestial bodies (the moon, the sun, and the earth).

Another example of this is something called 'Blessing of the Abyssal Moon'. These come in distinct phases (every 15 days) and are labeled as the 'Waxing Phase' and 'Waning Phase' respectively, granting boons to any characters fighting in the Spiral Abyss, this imagery is further emphasized by the accompanying images of the Corridor and the Spire respectively:

Further on, this Abyssal Moon seems to be a variant of the 'Blessing of the Welkin Moon' as the word 'welkin' means 'the sky or heaven'. So now we have the Heavenly Moon and the Abyssal Moon, two direct opposites in terms of definition and distinct as to what is granted as a blessing.

So yes, you could acquire primogems here with some difficulty. There is, however, another way to do so, though this one might be the most interesting one of all.

Batte Pass - Gnostic Chorus

Please note that I am only referencing the 'Gnostic Chorus' in the teaser trailer and not the purchasable one in the game, although like I've said before, the content in each can be inclusive to each other.

I had some back and forth in my mind concerning the addition of the Gnostic Chorus in this classification, but after looking at the provided dialogue from Venti, I believe it has its place as where one could acquire primogems. The said dialogue is as such below:

"Once, there was a glorious kingdom established among the heavens. From that kingdom came a crowned heir, tasked with seeking out the Genesis Pearl from the Kingdom of Darkness."

"The first crowned heir began her journey of seeking the pearl. But she was deceived, and the memory of her noble origins faded. She now believed that she was the queen of the Kingdom of Darkness."

"But take heart, a second crowned heir had already taken up the path where the first had stumbled. This is the story of your journey, of your tale to be told."

Immediately, one can clock the term 'Genesis Pearl' and can relate that to 'Genesis Crystal', which we have already defined as something essential to how one can acquire primogems as well as going into what it is in its core.

There is also the imagery of the star-like things on top of the city in the heavens and this mountain specifically, which also lends credence to the presence of stars.

This 'Kingdom of Darkness', however, is up for some debate, as it could be Khaneri'ah, the Spiral Abyss, the Abyss itself, Teyvat itself, or something that we haven't come across yet, so I don't have anything conclusive to say about this particular matter.

From the Gnostic Chorus, you can get 680 primogems per pass acquired. As to why I chose to include this boils down to the fact that the story being told in the dialogue is the Traveler's. The story at large can easily be applied to the Traveler as the way the canonical story goes is that Aether is the one to pick up the task. While there are many theorists that think this isn't the case, for the purposes of this and how this will relate later, I will stick with this view.

Why Does All of This Matter?

To summarize what we've gone over, you can get primogems from

Genesis Crystals

The Blessing of the Welkin Moon (New Moon)

Spiral Abyss (Moment of Syzygy)

Battle Pass (Gnostic Chorus)

And the reasons why you can get them from there specifically is because:

A tie to the essences present at the beginning of the universe and frequently emphasized to be from beyond Teyvat

The frequent allusions to the moon and its cycles

The presence of hopes and dreams as material as opposed to abstract ideas

Symbols and lore that coincide with the topics already established

So in this sense, Primogems are not to be understated in any way as they can all be canonically acquired from this.

However, one thing that I haven't gone over until now is what one can do with Primogems after they've got them.

What to do With Primogems?

A primogem's uses are described and laid as such:

Replenish Resin

Unlock levels of the Battle Pass

Acquire Fates (Wishes)

While at first, this may seem like a system in which the game itself operates, the lore that I've also provided points to more of what to expect in the future as well as how the main character (Traveler) interacts with Teyvat at large as there are certain objects only primogems can make:

Original Resin

Acquiant Fates

Intertwined Fates

All of these things have importance to the lore due to how they influence the world around them and how they are used, the original resin being one that brings many things into question.

Original Resin

The uses of original resin are for ley line outcrops, domains, normal bosses, and weekly bosses. However, I will only really be focusing on ley line outcroppings as they are related to the ley lines themselves.

The description provided for original resin is as stated:

"It is said that the roots of all the Irminsul trees and blossoms in the world are intertwined at the deepest, most hidden place in the earth, and that the pattern the root system makes defines the Ley Lines of the world."

It is also necessary to define Ley Lines and the respective outcroppings (also called Blossoms), which are:

"A mysterious network that links the whole world together, within which flow the elements..."

"A flower blossom known as "Revelation" which grows from the Ley Lines in response to someone's desire for battle. Perhaps the treasures within it can help one recall the perils that they have experienced once before..."

"A flower blossom known as "Wealth" which grows from the Ley Lines in response to someone's desires. Perhaps the treasures within it can satisfy a person's monetary desires, for now..."

So to clarify, the original resin would naturally be a part of these as well as the outcroppings and as such, I do find it quite interesting that a certain number of primogems can replenish the Traveler's supply of it at any time it's acquired. This is important because the implication suggests that in theory, the Traveler can do this whenever they'd like.

This original resin can also be used to make something called condensed resin, which is described as:

"Crystal filled with immense energy. The silver-white Irminsul trees and blossoms are connected to ley lines that have become blocked over time. The energy contained in tree resin can purify the obstructing substance."

This implies that with enough of this resin, one could purify (enhance the bounty from the ley line blossom) any unnatural thing that could be obstructing the ley lines, something that primogems could expedite quite speedily in decent amounts. This, however, is nothing compared to what comes next.

Fates

There are no words that can describe how absolutely broken this is in terms of lore and implication, but I can give it a shot.

In short, wishes are the gacha system in the game, but as I've broken down the lore for every item in the game that I have here, it's only natural that acquaint fates and intertwined fates will have some lore of their own as well.

So to start off, the acquaint fates are used on the permanent standard banner. There's a brief description provided here:

"A seed that lights up the night. No matter the distance apart, guided by the stone's glimmer, the fated will meet under the stars."

This likely indicates that this certain type of fate is meant for the standard characters on the banner which will come regardless of the time that passes.

However, one must also take into consideration that the design of the acquaint fate was different from the CBT yet again.

As a result of this, I can no longer believe that the triquetra design is simply a coincidence. Primogems are naturally going to be used to make acquaint fates in this instance as the Genesis Crystals have this motif of infinite interconnectedness and primogems are a part of that cycle.

The intertwined fate lends credence to this statement as its description state:

"A fateful stone that connects dreams. Its glimmers can entwine fates and connect dreams, just as how its glimmer links stars into the shapes of a heart's desires."

This is painful to me. As if it could not be more obvious than this. We get it. Crystals = Primogems as Triquetra = Infinity. I suppose it had to be changed for that reason, then.

So this description is obviously calling people out every time they pull for the character they want, but a fateful stone that connects dreams? At this point, I'm being handed the motifs and themes within the story without even having to work that hard for them.

As I've stated before, dreams are described within the crystals and the primogems and as such, they are going to have to do with the intertwined fates. However, I will also make the point that this is the first time that it has blatantly said anything about the stars. As the primogem is meant to resemble that shape a bit, the connection is also there.

It is also interesting that the act of using these is typically described as wishes, so in the sense that primogems are described as condensed hopes and dreams, that isn't as far from the truth as one would think.

Byproducts

Speaking of stars, the byproducts of using these fates manifest in objects called masterless starglitter and masterless stardust. These are the remnants of fates and are described as such within the wiki except a point of note would be that they are referred to as a 'surplus of destiny'. This likely refers to the characters and objects acquired.

The descriptions are also more akin to off-hand comments such as 'perhaps it can create new destinies when in large enough quantities' or 'perhaps it can light up other corners of the universe.'

It should be noted that these objects can be used to buy more fates, but it takes a somewhat substantial amount to do so. Depending on which characters are acquired, you can get a decent amount of these, which can be used to buy things from 'Paimon's Bargains', which segues almost perfectly into this final section.

The Bottom Line (+ My Theory)

After taking into consideration everything I have gone over in the eight hours I have hyperfixated on this theory of mine, I have one conclusion and one conclusion only. This starts with a question. A small one, a seemingly innocent one. One that you wouldn't usually pay attention to but with all of this? You have to now.

Why is Paimon, of all people, able to convert starglitter and stardust into fates?

Well, I believe it is because of what has been established over and over again in the entirety of this post. Take a moment to look at her for a second or two.

What do you see? Is it familiar? With all that you know now, does it strike a chord within you?

It should, as Paimon is the only character in the game to have both the four-pointed star and the triquetra on their person and character design, and if the 'genesis crystal=primogem' ratio is to be made manifest within the speculation, this means that this little person may be unaware that they are a segment of the universe itself.

People have been saying that Paimon is the Unknown God. People have been saying that Paimon is the final boss of the game. People have been saying that Paimon will betray the Traveler in the end.

Well, I believe that every single one of them is wrong.

Ladies and gentlemen of the viewing party, I submit to you that Paimon is none of those things at all. I submit to you that such petty labels and titles mean absolutely nothing to her in the grand scheme of things. I submit to you that she is simply above them all.

We can discuss Teyvat, Celestia, the Abyss all we want but if this information brought forward is right and primogems really are the established way in which it can manipulate the world for our dearest Traveler and his flying companion? Then who are we to stand against it?

I, Narky, submit to you, the reader, that Paimon is, without a shadow of a doubt, the First Descender.

Do I think that I'm reaching a little bit? Maybe. But does the evidence lie? No, I don't think it does.

To clarify further, no I do not think that the Unknown God and the First Descender are the same people nor do I think that they are on the best of terms. So with that in mind, the theory will make a bit more sense.

Final Notes + Commentary

I've been scouring the internet and the wiki for over eight hours now, so I think I'll end this here.

So . . . what do you think? Will this entire theory be retconned in a future update? Will people much more observant than I pick it to pieces? Am I simply off my rocker and not medicated enough? Pick your poison! As I've said before, we go ham or we go home and I'm sitting in my house.

I would like to thank the Genshin Impact Wiki for having all of this stuff available to scrutinize and read to enable me to do this. All images and quotes I use are from there. I would also like to thank @scalpel-mom-mori for sending me an ask about Khaenri'ahn lore, as this is what got me started on this.

Leave your thoughts, questions, and commentary if you'd like. I'll get to them when I get to them.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this and maybehaps you took something from it that you can utilize somehow.

Until next time, I see you when I see you.

#narky thinks #going ham #genshin impact #genshin analysis #genshin lore #genshin theory #genshin worldbuilding #AKA: i saw ONE thing and suddenly i'm in the wiki trenches fighting for my life

227 notes · View notes

the-cat-and-the-birdie · 1 year ago

Text

Hobie's Boathouse

The S.S Anne Ark

[Headcanon Concept]

Here it is in all it's Grungy Glory. [Mentions of OCs below - Including my girl Disco-Spider Diane]

About Anne Ark:

The S.S Anne Ark is a modified wide-beam canal boat. Completely off-the-grid, and DIY'd by him, it's Hobie's pride and joy. The Anne Ark is three levels tall - a 'ground' floor, and upstairs, and a locked basement below the deck. The Anne Ark has two 'bedrooms' and one 'bathroom'. Hobie's bedroom is what was once the control room, gutted and converted and the second bedroom was once a small equipment space. Hobie has had Anne for four years, and after years of homelessness as a street kid, he happily calls it his forever home.

The Rooms:

The Living Room - [ Read more about Hobie's Living Room HERE ]

Hobie's make-shift art studio/recording booth/library/cat play area, the Living Room is where Hobie spends most of his time. It features his ratty old couch from Tower Hamlets, a ceiling mic for recording, and Hobie's pride and joy - his jukebox.

Hobie's Workshop

To the left of the jukebox is a hallway that leads to Hobie's workshop, and the staircase down to his locked basement.

Hobie's workshop if full of rubbish and metal that he'll tinker away with for hours. In fact, he made every prototype of his watch in that workshop (and there were many prototypes). Despite what one may assume, it's impeccable in there. He also keeps some gear for protests, as well as somethings he's working on for Spider-punk (barbed wire webs anyone?) OCs: Diane hardly goes in there, blessed with organic webs and cursed with technological incompetence. But sometimes he does invite people like Angel and Ale in.

Outdoor Back Deck

The 1st floor Back Deck houses the main parts of the engine. Hobie maintains and upgrades it regularly, trying out things like clean energy, and emission free designs. ________________________________________________

Behind the cat tree in the photo of the living room, there is a staircase that leads up to the second floor. The stairs open to: Hobie's Bedroom

Covered in army green shag carpet and a king size bed, Hobie's bedroom is nowhere near as put together as his workshop. I mean, the guy uses an amp as a nightstand.

There's usually clothes everywhere, thrifted or hand-made, but there's also a set of bean-bag chairs, dozens of posters, and an old busted-up (but working) TV.

His room as a large window facing his bed, what was once the main window of the boat's control room. The second floor stairs open up into his room, with a glass sliding door to the left that leads to the hallway.

Gwen's Bedroom

Gwen's bedroom is barely that - but she still appreciates it more than anything in the world. Hobie understands how important it is to have your own space when housing insecure, so he wanted her to have somewhere cozy, especially know that sometimes Gwen just wants to be alone. Most of Gwen's stuff his here, and she only keeps her clothes at the Society dorms.

The Decks

Front A hot spot Diane is known to throw raging parties after the band plays, and if you're looking for an encore, head down to Floor 1 and look up - Hobie is known to drop the red banner and play a show or two up there. Or night's off, it's a great place to have a smoke. Back The best place to be. During parties, this is dancefloor. Plus, it's a good place for snogging and looking out on the water. When not in party mode, Hobie cooks most of his food on the outdoor stove and grill. Having dinner out while watching the waves. ____________________________________________ The Colors:

Like Hobie, Anne has a whole spectrum of colors - and it's affected by a whole number of things.

Ranging from black and white to full on rainbow (on one rare occasion - now THAT was trippy), Anne Ark changes color the moment Hobie, or someone else, steps on board.

Sometimes, it can even adopt the art style of those inside - running watercolor when Gwen is upset, or going full harsh-shadow when Noir comes aboard.

Every person has a different color, ranging from yellow for people like Percy and Sacha or pink for Angel.

The Cats:

(pictured are Moto (left), and Pierogi (right)) [Read more about The BoatCats HERE] Other cats he has are: Acid & Viper (siblings), Creampuff (named by Diane) _______________________________________________

FAQ:

What's in Hobie's locked basement?

I don't know. He won't tell me. But it's something that means a lot to him. The basement spans the entirety of the lower-level of the boat.

How many cats does Hobie own?

If you ask, he'll say he doesn't own any. They're free to come and go as they please, and none of them have collars. All of his cats are adopted street cats - either too old, or too weak, or those who just wanted to live with him.

But if you ask Diane, she'll say 5. He's been mentioning bringing aboard a 6th.

Does Diane live on the houseboat?

No. Diane has her own Barbie Dreamhouse - a.k.a an all pink apartment back home in 1294's Harlem. She divides most of her time either there, or at the Black Panther Chapter House she was raised in a block or two away. She rarely stays with Hobie (maybe once or twice a month), and since Hobie messes up her throw pillows and always takes something from her closet, he hardly stays with her either.

Does Gwen live on the houseboat?

Mostly, yes. She has a dorm back at Society, and she sleeps there about 3 days a week. But the rest (including all weekends) is at the houseboat. Does Hobie sail/fish?

Yes, he does both.

What are Hobie's favorite colors?

He hates consistency. But Green, Pink, and Orange.

____________________________________

Yeahhhhh so that's the houseboat. Whenever I mention Diane being on the boat, it's this I'm seeing :) And I just added in the favorite colors thing because why not

Welcome to my incredibly detailed mind palace of Hobie's house boat that does even look anything like the actual concept art lol

Stay as long as you like. Take your shoes off, make yourself comfortable. Hobie's grilling out back and Diane's making the Kool-Aid (sweet as hell for no reason smh).

Now per usual, take this photo of Hobie, and if the police ask about a boat or sumn tell em u aint seen shit ok

Bye.

_______________________ OCs mentioned:

Disco-Spider Diane @mothmothmothmothmothmoth 's Sacha

@thewolfsoul 's Percy

@onmyownside1 's Angel

@spidey-bie 's Ansi

@suchholydebauchery 's Asa

anon's Alejandro

(i think that all I mentioned lol)

#no proofread as usu #hobie brown #spiderpunk #spider punk #atsv #across the spiderverse #across the spider verse #gwen stacy #spider gwen #spiderman #spider man #marvel #hobie brown x oc #spidersonas #spidersona #at the houseboat #spidergwen #pavitr prabhakar #miles morales

268 notes · View notes

thecrustiestpurp · 2 years ago

Text

Genius writing of Pavitr Prabhakar

They made an ass of a spiderman in theory yet he's my favourite out of all of them and naturally I'm thinking why.

Ignoring the aesthetic aspects like his sick design and his distinctive web slinging style. I think it's most interesting how they do this through the writing, the way they tackle his fatal flaw, his fat ego and blind optimism by creating a really sharp interval logic and communicating this within the space of 15 minutes.

We understand that his big ego is all earnest and out of naivite rather than him putting down others. He just so happens to be the best and perfect, and therefore everything is great for him. He was given a blessing at a very young age to be a spider and he happens to be good at it of course he's going to be prideful how can it not be. And why would he not gloat, he's a perfect guy perfect grades perfect hair and he knows that makes him special. Especially considering the rest of the Spider-Verse, having a perfect one like Pavitr is unexpected so we're at least intrigued by him.

But why do we like him despite characters with perfect lives and a big ego typically being frustrated. Using his humour the writers made his introduction it as playful as possible so we laugh at how him you know. One of the first things he says is "being Spiderman is so easy" and knowing he's been at it for 6 months it's super funny. He's also relatable, the successes he points out, skipping working out because he has a perfect body, having a girlfriend her parents don't know about, doing well in school are all things that are relatable to us especially if you're Indian, it feels like a real student who's living their best like. Also playfulness is maintained when they go to unglitch spots thing the collider scene, he treating it with even less seriousness "just another easy day of being spiderman" he says and is subsequently blown up - it's funny. We also can't get annoyed during that scene really being invasive to Miles' attempts and channelling the electricity so he's not being frustrating to us or to Miles, just a little naive. We can get humour from it but we also understand this as a flaw too because of the dramatic irony, we're hinting that he's not supposed to think this way.

They also give him the nice internal logic making his mindset sympathetic by testing it within the movie. In the saving India scene, what's most notable is the line "I can do both" turning his idealism into tragedy when he's faced between saving his girlfriend and saving his girlfriends dad. The surrounding microelements and whatnot making the atmosphere feel dire which contributes to the tragedy. But it's that were seeing the life that he easily lives turning on its head. His mentality given definition as a this it will work out so long as I do it, a noble origin for his confidence. Though he knows he's special but he doesn't think he's any more valuable. "do both" showing no real bias towards to what directly affects him - he can empathise with his girlfriend and recognise loosing her and her dad would be devastating. He's not egotistical like thinking he's better than others, he's empathetic and values the people he saves as well as the people they value. The words "do both" colours his saving as this as being an overexertion, he's unaware of what he can't do solidifying his perspective of viewing this as easy coming from a place of naivite. Additionally he has to be the one to save people - "I can do both" - and this is why being Spider-Man is easy for him, it has to be. This all makes him more understandable and the fact this is clearly failing him and tragically makes him sympathetic. Moreover, we care about the love for his girlfriend and for his people because it was fun hearing him explain it earlier so its even more sympathetic that he's loosing what he loves. I think this also stops being a careful what you wish for where we could reproach him because of the scenery we understand him to have.

It seems more he does everything because he's so loving, and he just so happens to be blessed and stuff. Which is super enjoyable to watch! and this burst of characterisation happens in like 20 minutes so like wowowowoowwwowoowowowowow

Anyway, this isn't the greatest most insightful analysis but I just had to ramble about my favourite boy!!

#acrossthespiderverse #spiderverse #spiderman #pravitr prabhakar #found a new character to be fixated on #pavitr i love you sm

303 notes · View notes

loonarii · 9 months ago

Text

Idolizing Imperfection: The Ancient Allusions of 'Midas Touch' - KISS OF LIFE (an essay)

I have missed writing kpop essays so much and after watching the new Kiss of Life MV, I couldn't resist doing a scene by scene (with some lyrics) breakdown of the allusions to ancient mythology - (there are lots of other modern references, especially to Britney Spears, but the ancient ones are what I will be focusing on here, believe me there is more than enough to talk about.) I don't have any official qualifications surrounding this field (yet), but I am studying classical civilization and roman literature for a qualification, and I have a long time obsession with Greek mythology especially. Obviously all of these are my interpretations, this is not a definite guide to what exactly the creative direction team at S2 Ent. were thinking about for this comeback, and if you think I missed something or have a different interpretation of one of the scenes, please let me know in the reblogs/comments.

Let’s begin with the title of the track, ‘Midas Touch’. It references the Greek myth of King Midas, who (according to Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’) after winning the favour of the god Dionysus, was granted any wish he desired. Midas chose the ability to make everything he touched turn into gold, a wish driven by greed. Midas revelled in his new found powers, but the problems arose when he realised that all food he touched would be turned to gold too - he had condemned himself to starve to death. The myth is essentially a cautionary tale about the effects of greed; Midas is a tragic hero that brought about his own suffering due to his hamartia (tragic flaw) - his blessing becomes his curse. Today, having a ‘midas touch’ means that everything you are involved with is successful, but the main association of Midas with greed still remains. In the context of the song, KOL are saying that a relationship with them, although destined to end in tragedy, would be worth it for the ‘gold’ they can bring - “위험할수록 재밌잖아” (“The more dangerous it is, the more fun it is”). Midas may have died a tragic death, but his time alive was quite literally golden. Still, it feels slightly odd that KOL are associating themselves with someone so flawed - an idol should be the image of perfection, and in this way, the meaning of the song becomes quite subversive on a meta level. Keep this interpretation in the back of your mind, we will return to it later.

Within the music video itself, each of the four members are given solo scenes that I believe allude to different women of Greek mythology. Julie is first, depicted lying on a blush pink velvet heart with gold embellishments, shell and heart shaped boxes littered around her. The composition of the framing, as well as the beach imagery seems to allude to Boticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’, linking Julie with Aphrodite/Venus, the goddess of love. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is seen as beautiful beyond compare, but is also often characterised as highly vain and self absorbed. After hearing that some Greeks had begun to worship the ludicrously beautiful mortal woman Psyche instead of her, (and also out of protection of her son Eros to whom Psyche was married), she sent Psyche on a series of impossible trials designed to kill her, so she could remain the most beautiful. Once again, KOL compare themselves to people in the ancient world who were famously flawed.

Natty is seen next, intertwined with glittering spider webs. This is perhaps a reference to the tale of Arachne, a mortal woman who was highly skilled at weaving. She boasted that her skills were greater than Athena herself, the goddess of handicraft (and many other things), and Athena transformed her into a spider as punishment for her hubris (excessive pride). Like the tale of King Midas, Arachne’s story also centres around a fatal flaw bringing your own downfall, and like Midas and Aphrodite, Arachne is not typically remembered fondly within Greek Mythology canon.

Perched on a half dress, half throne that resembles a peacock, Belle is seen next. Originally I wasn’t certain who was being referenced here, but after some research I believe it may be Hera, although if you have another interpretation here I would love to hear it. Hera, the goddess of marriage and fertility, queen of the gods, and wife to Zeus, is affiliated with peacocks as they are one of her sacred animals, and are said to pull her chariot like horses. Hera is also, like Aphrodite, a goddess often portrayed in a negative light in mythology, repeatedly characterised as jealous and spiteful. A famous example of this is when Hera sent two snakes to strangle Heracles/Hercules, the illegitimate son of her husband Zeus, out of spite and jealousy for the boy’s mortal mother. Whether Hera had a right to be annoyed at her husband’s repeated adultery is another discussion, but generally speaking, when Hera is in a myth, she is often the villain.

Finally, we see Haneul, perched upon a corinthian style column (we love a greek column) surrounded by severed heads on spikes, a clearly war ridden scene. This is the allusion I am the least confident about, but I think perhaps she is supposed to be Helen of Troy? Helen is famous for being the catalyst for the Trojan War (perhaps this is the war scene she sits within?), she is the ‘face that launched a thousand ships’. Depending on the source, Helen is either a victim, kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris, or she was seduced and went willingly, abandoning her Greek husband King Menelaus. The second seems to be the accepted narrative among many Roman authors, with writers such as Martial (in Epigrams 1.62) portraying her as the polar opposite of Penelope, who was seen as the image of loyalty. As a result, Helen is commonly portrayed as disloyal and unfaithful, the opposite of what an ideal woman in the ancient world was supposed to act like.

In their group scenes, there is also SO MUCH Medusa imagery - with snakes crawling all over their faces and hissing at the camera, and half broken stone statues littered here and there. As I am sure you are probably aware, Medusa is very much a villain in the myths she is depicted in, and despite modern reevaluations of her story (that I agree with) portraying her as a victim, in the primary sources, she is essentially an evil monster for Perseus to destroy - her death marks Perseus’s ascension to hero status.

So why oh why are KOL comparing themselves to figures so flawed? In their previous releases, especially their first comeback with ‘Bad News’, the girls are depicted trying to fix injustices in society - they expose corruption in corporations, they combat casual misogyny and sexual harassment, and they call out bullying and abuse. In ‘Midas Touch’ I believe they continue their addressing of injustices and double standards, this time with a focus on the idol industry, their own stomping ground. In the kpop industry, idols are expected to be perfect in every way - beautiful, highly skilled, never controversial, and loyal to their fans. Should an idol fail to uphold these impossible standards, they are relentlessly punished, especially if the idol is a woman. Last month, Karina’s earnest apology to ‘fans’ for falling in love exposed how ludicrous the standards are to the world, and other idols like Sakura, Wonyoung, and Jennie, continue to get bullied on a daily basis for not meeting all of the bars the industry sets them. A kpop idol should be talented, but never show off, they should be beautiful and care about their looks but never be vain, confident but never egotistical, and driven by passion, not the desire for fame and money. It’s all fucking impossible, especially when what constitutes being called the second traits is utterly arbitrary and depends on how many people woke up on stan twitter and decided they didn’t like you that day. In ‘Midas Touch’ KOL calls this out by openly depicting themselves with the traits that kpop stans hate - Julie is Aphrodite, beautiful but vain, Natty is Arachne, talented but boastful, Belle is Hera, confident but jealous, Haneul is Helen, influential but disloyal, and they all are Midas, spurred on by greed instead of passion. They recognise that these accusations are unavoidable, and by reclaiming the imagery of these symbols of undesirable traits, they call out and reject the standards the idol industry places upon them. Like Medusa, they may be seen by many fans as a villain, a hurdle for their favourite groups that have more promotion and budget to overcome on their way to the top, but in actuality, they are victims of an industry desperate to mould them into products to be bought and sold. I’ve seen lots of discussion online about what KISS OF LIFE’s concept is, as it seems to vary every comeback, but after ‘Midas Touch’ I am led to believe that their concept is rebellion, against society, idol culture, and the things they deem as wrong in the world. Other groups have done concepts similar in the past, such as LOONA in ‘Butterfly’ (you really thought I wasn’t going to bring them up at some point?? Are you new here??) but KOL is doing it explicitly, and consistently, and to me, that's very exciting. The kpop industry is ever changing, and with the foundations of the new 5th generation being established as we speak, perhaps KOL could cause it to change for the better. In summary, I am SO excited to see what they do next.

That honestly took a turn I wasn’t fully expecting at the end, but I hope you enjoyed regardless - I didn’t really talk about the actual song here, but I fucking loved it, and my full review will be part of my April monthly roundup - see previous installments on my masterlist. I encourage all of you to listen to ‘Midas Touch’ if you haven’t already, congratulations KISS OF LIFE for graduating nugudom, stream Birth by ARTMS, stan loona, and prepare for the loossemble comeback - lmk if you have any thoughts on my analysis or any other interpretations, or any topics you want me to write an essay on. cya next time ~ ari

59 notes · View notes

rukafais · 2 years ago

Photo

My personal designs for Eilistraee and Vhaeraun. Eilistraee can have biolum/star freckles, as a treat :)

They have spider-based forms that are partially inspired by Lolth and designed around existing spider monsters (the phase spider for eilistraee and the sword spider for vhaeraun), because I think it’s more interesting for them to embody positive parts of real life spider behaviour that Lolth doesn’t. Thinking about doing forms based on real life spiders for them though to emphasize that contrast (certain spider species being protective parents, hunting without webs or being active ambush predators in contrast to Lolth’s classic web-spinning aesthetic).

(Eilistraee’s blessed blades come from her severing the sword limbs on her back and working them into usable swords for mortal followers. It’s fine, she’s a deity and can regrow them.)

#eilistraee #vhaeraun #rukart #also eilistraee is Big and vhaeraun is Small because i think it's neat u_u

223 notes · View notes

evolutionsvoid · 3 months ago

Text

With its grip on the land and its influence over all, it is obvious that the Church of Divine Wealth is a massive organization. Their reach is far and their power great, having ruled over all as the dominate religion for an era. At such a size, it is only natural that smaller pieces would be found within. Like the divine bodies they worship, any single entity is built upon multiple parts that function in unison to make it all work. As the blessed organa within our own flesh makes us who we are, the Church has a similar arrangement. Sects within their great folds that serve to bolster their numbers, influence and reach. Some were built within the Church itself, while others were absorbed and repurposed, as the Church found use for them while the outsiders chose assimilation over annihilation. Of the many parts and pieces that thrive in the Church in their own special way, there are four who stand out above all. Four pillars that support the Church of Divine Wealth, four organa whose fluids and faith allow this massive system to thrive. How perfect it all seemed back then...

One of the great sects within the Church is the Emerald Court of Eudaia, an organization of wisdom, learning and philosophy. Here was where the mysteries and conundrums of the world were discussed and debated, where brilliant minds came to puzzle and practice. All throughout the kingdoms held by the Church, courtrooms and debate parlors could be found where folk could learn and witness. Those who wished to meditate upon the secrets of the world, or the turmoils of their own existence would find a home here. The popular saying was that the Emerald Court was the Church's trap for those who considered themselves "too smart for religion." Those who debated about the gods, humors and all of existence would wind up here, fueling the Church even as they question faith. With this freedom to discuss and wonder, it painted the entire organization in a favorable light, giving the impression of open mindedness. And with such wisdom and delving into the mind, what better organization to represent Phlegm? A visit to the actual Court of Eudaia will show this beyond the shadow of a doubt.

The Court of Eudaia is in itself an entire academy, a great fortress of the mind. Beyond the walls lies the grand dome of the court, split and lobed like a divine brain. Within lies countless libraries, parlors and meditation chambers, all so one may better explore the mind. Court rooms and meeting chambers designed to hold debates and discussions, where folk may bring their ideas and theories for scrutiny. And in the center of the two halves lies the one and only Emerald Court, where the high philosophers hang in their web of endless discussion and musing. Here is where the brightest and greatest meet and speak, and where it is said the stances and futures of the Church are mulled over. Even the highest members of the Church would send their ideas and problems to this court, to see what these minds would discover. Folk eager for enlightenment would travel entire kingdoms to gain access, so that they could expand their own wisdom. Those with promise would be seen and eventually invited into the fold, so that they too could become a philosopher.

The most common members of the Court are the Philosophers, those who have devoted their lives to the art of discussion and moral quandaries. They take on the robes of green, and spend every waking moment reading, learning and puzzling over certain topics. As their time in the Court continues, they will begin to focus their sights on a scant few topics, putting all their energy into answering these questions. This niche study is what will give them an identity and purpose, and they will aim to be the master of it. Of course, others may choose this same subject, and they are welcome to, as this is where the great debates begin. Any theory, any idea, must be thoroughly discussed and scrutinized. Debate is necessary to find the truth, to cut through personal bias and foolish assumptions. It is expected for all philosophers to go to battle in the parlor, to be ready to be run through the wringer as they present their ideas. All wannabe students are forced to sit through several precedings, so that they may witness what these debates entail. Naturally, many drop their idea of joining the Court once they see these brutal defenses, as it is too much pressure to bear. This is meant to weed out the weak, as those who cannot take criticism or admit being wrong have no place here.

Philosophers start out as any other folk, but as their studies continue and their imbibing of Phlegm grows more and more to clear their minds, they begin to change. Neglect in eating and personal care causes most to grow gaunt and emaciated, eventually fueling themselves purely through hasty broths and Phlegm. Reclusive in studies and dusty libraries make them pale or even gray in appearance, as the dust and malnutrition shrivels them. In time, growing philosophers will see that they have reached the limit the basic human form can attain, and thus must open their minds further. The use of trepanning is the sign of evolution in a philosopher, literally opening one's mind to new possibilities and ways of thinking. It starts with a hole in the forehead, as if carving a third eye, and eventually calls for the removal of the entire skull cap. Outsiders can easily identify the rank of philosophers by noting how much of their green brains are exposed, as these are those who have expanded their minds beyond normal means. Yet, this is still not the end of their growth.

When one truly becomes a famed philosopher of the Emerald Court, their entire head will be cast aside. As it is found out, the senses and mortal wants simply distract from true enlightenment. A mouth only hungers, the ears are bombarded by distractions and wandering eyes take in details that are superfluous to advancement. Thus, a philosopher will eventually reduce their head to a brain, held within a clear orb filled with brilliant Phlegm. Awash in this calming and wise humor, they can truly be in the right state of mind to puzzle out the mysteries of the universe. The only need they must partake in now is the refreshment of their humor, which is needed when it grows cloudy and confused. Not only does this transformation allow for better thinking, it allows for the truest form of debate and conversation. Now they are no longer hindered by meaty tongues that tire and mortal nerves that scramble and fail. By using clearvein, they can hook up their spheres to other philosophers and swap fluids to partake in deep debate. To outsiders, not a single word is said, yet entire libraries worth of musings are released in mere minutes. Entire networks may be linked up as the arguments grow, taking in more and more perspectives. Some rooms may be reduced to a web of orbs and brains, locked in a ceaseless discussion.

The act of linking brains is a crucial one, as the philosophers warn about getting lost in your own dome and ideas. If one only listens to the sloshings of their own brain, then they will easily fall down the path of bias, blindness and assumption. They must connect with others to discover their own faults and get fresh perspectives. Thus, it is considered taboo if a philosopher has not linked up with anyone for an extended period of time, and word will travel that they have succumbed to ego. If they cannot get their ideas

approved by at least three other brains, then the highest levels of court will refuse to even let them present. Many take the logical route of opening discussion with others, but some crooked philosophers, consumed by ego and the want to be right, will go through shadier routes. They will find weaker minds and simpler folk to take under their wing, and then steal their brains. These will be placed in orbs and given Phlegm, but their minds are far from ideal philosopher material. This is fine for the cheater, who wants strawmen to dominate with their arguments and mind. These naive brains will cave to their superior, and become mere yes men to bolster their image and presence. Inside these halls, it is not uncommon to have posses of philosophers who group together and detract foes who "cheat" or undertake topics seen as unworthy. Though physical violence in heated debates between these unofficial factions is rare, the mental warfare going between them could reduce a man to a mindless husk.

When civil war broke out within the Church of Divine Wealth, the Court of Eudaia was quick to separate itself from the violence. This sect wanted nothing to do with the whole affair, and sealed their gates and halls to all. As philosophers, such brutish battles were beneath them and an utter waste of their talents. However, the crumbling of the Church and the ever growing war provided ample fruits of debate and discussion. Now there were new topics to present to the court, and all minds were eager to be the ones to solve these new conundrums. So now, as the war destroys the lands and leave the people fighting for survival, the great court of Eudaia spends its time and resources to prattle on about war, power and what it all means. Many outsiders wonder if there will even be a world left by the time they settle upon a decision.

Those who have climbed their walls and survived their defenses in hopes of gaining audience are never seen from again. In time, folk have abandoned the idea of rousing the high philosophers from their solitude. With the Emerald Court now fully severed from the outside world, they must be hungering for new ideas and perspectives. No doubt those who break in are seen as fresh tomes, ripe for the reading. Rumors are abound that those who enter are taken apart at the seams by the hungering debaters, eager for more fuel to their debates.

Due to the closure of the court and their defenses, many traveling philosophers were locked out, with no way to get back in. Thus they are forced to wander the war torn lands. However, they have taken this turn of events as an opportunity to learn more about the subject and find real juicy debate points out here in the ashes. With the chaos around them and the abandonment by their own institute, some have gone off the deep end. They would believe that if they find the right subject or philosophical view, that they would be allowed back into their home. And sometimes these different points of view come from others, and they know exactly how to get a hold of these new perspectives. And after all, what they are doing is a favor to the common folk. To be shed of all worries and pain, now allowed to join an enlightened conversation! Who wouldn't welcome such a chance? Thus, reports of mad philosophers in the wilds have begun to circulate, leaving behind the empty skulls of those who proved to be "fascinating conversationalists." It should be remembered that while these crazed folk may be physically frail, their mental abilities and mastery over Phlegm can make them deceptive opponents. Armor and weapons are useless when a wave of Phlegm makes you forget how to even use your muscles.

#orb #sphere #brain #philosopher #art #drawing #fall of ichor

14 notes · View notes