#Creative terrestrial names

[mypetnames]

200+ Creative and Cute Fox Names for Your Terrestrial Furry Friend

Ready to find the perfect name for your fox? Whether you're naming a real fox, a plushie, or simply dreaming of a fox companion, we've got you covered with unique and delightful options.

From nature-inspired names to mythical legends, funny picks to elegant options, you'll find the ideal match that reflects your fox's unique personality.

Check out our full list of 200+ fox names

[randomgods]

why are they shiny?

fr tho, how do you get them to look like that? its so neat looking

Great question!! My slugcats are shiny because I believe the species is similar to our planet's terrestrial molluscs (slugs). This is not simply due to their name, which is non canonical to the universe of Rain World, but because of in-game dialogue, sound cues, and official art!

I believe that slugcats originally evolved from the purposed organism mentioned in the bright magenta pearl; "a small slug to clean the insides of pipes." Since slugcats are the perfect size to fit snug into pipes and the squishy, squelching sound you can hear when slugcats slide/jump through them, it makes a lot of sense to me that they are descendants of these cleaning slugs. As well, it looks like every slugcat other than The Saint does not have fur in official artworks. And they were described as having a "mochi" like texture by the devs on the most recent anniversary stream.

[at this point I began writing an essay as to why this all reinforces the themes and lore of the game because I’m insane but I will stop myself]

TLDR; my slugcats are shiny because I believe they are hairless and have mucus-y skin which allows them to easily slide through and clean pipes.

Tho also no hate to ppl who draw them furry, it’s very cute! I love how creative the community can get with some of the designs :)

Anyways here is a small tutorial on how I do the shine on slugcats sometimes. My method changes from drawing to drawing but its all kinda based around this! I hope it helps!

[whitherwanderer]

1 // steer

// a response to S&S. 506 words. Cyberpunk 2077 AU. Sif is pissed.

“Road legs” was the term, as she explained it to the motel room ceiling fan.

Nomads weren’t nearly as creative with names as they were with a campfire, sauces from the bottom of a diner to-go bag, and some unlucky possums—but it did get the idea across. Easy enough to understand the terrestrial equivalent to feeling like you’re on a boat days after getting back on land, when a ten hour drive was long enough for most to start dreaming about the road even when sprawled out on a truck bed under the stars.

Hard to shake off that shudder of her Thorton’s frame on a stretch of old highway, the blur of the lane lines whipping by, and the quiet unease of knowing a pothole the size of a small sedan could sneak up on her if she glanced away for even a milisec—all of it kept at bay by the more urgent need to complain about whatever was on the radio. It kept her up at night; she jolted awake each time she felt herself drifting into sleep, like she might be veering off course towards certain, fiery death at 90mph for the human crime of being a little tired and distractible even hours after her hands had left the wheel.

So what was the opposite of that? Not the weariness of it, but the longing for it? Unable to keep still, pacing around the room and lying down to check her phone, and pacing some more and lying back down to stare at the ceiling fan, and flipping through every channel on the motel TV because it felt close enough to flicking up the speed on cruise control. Was there a name for that?

Roadsickness?

Like homesickness? Would she even know how to draw the comparison? Gotta have a home for that, she muttered to the ceiling fan. It didn’t have much to contribute to the thought.

It might be nice, she told it, if she could remedy this restlessness by kicking up some dust on the roads just outside the city. But, oh yeah, someone killed her fuckin’ truck. Yeah. Killed it. With a fuckin’ knife!

It wasn’t the ceiling fan, but there was a long, heavy sigh in response. She pretended it was the ceiling fan because it might have been the only way she kept herself from physically strangling the next person to step into her crosshairs.

Yes, she knew it was the truck or them. Yes, she knew what the Scavs would have done if they had caught them. But that truck was thousands of eds and countless hours of work with her own two hands! Her whole damn life was under that hood! Why the hell did it always come to lose-lose in this fuckin’ city?

If anyone could fix it, it'd be a nomad, right? It rattled at her. She’d get back behind the wheel soon enough.

She fumed quietly. Well, no one else was ever going to touch the wheel again, that was for damn sure.

[mnkeethewriter]

Mapmaking through Words

With the prevalence of bestselling fantasy worlds like Middle-earth, Westeros, and Hogwarts flooding the mainstream media, building a world from scratch can seem like a daunting task. Where does one even begin creating such a masterpiece, and how do you make it stand out from the hundreds already out there? Lucky for you, I live and breathe worldbuilding. I’m here to help you streamline the process and get your creativity flowing through prompt questions and guided brainstorming. Worldbuilding doesn’t have to be this impossible task. With the right building blocks, you’ll be making the dream in your head a reality on paper in no time.

With today's topic, let’s start from the ground up, literally. The most fundamental aspect of worldbuilding is, well, building the world. You can’t create a map without topography, just like you can’t write a story without a physical setting to drop your characters into. Nature is the very foundation that you will build everything off of, and it will ultimately affect the trajectory of your story. Imagine how different a story written in a bountiful farmland would be compared to one written in a desolate wasteland. With that in mind, I want to highlight and discuss our first prompt question.

What biomes are your world composed of? According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a biome can be defined as “a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.” 

There’s much debate on how broad or narrow to categorize these communities, so remember the list I’ve provided below is just a fraction of the diversity this world, and hopefully yours too, offers.

Tropical Rainforest

Hot and humid

High rainfall with no dry season (50 to 260 inches yearly)

Greatest biodiversity in the world

Mostly composed of evergreen plants

Temperate Forest

Mild climate with four distinct seasons

Coniferous and/or deciduous trees

Taiga (Boreal Forest)

Largest terrestrial biome

Coniferous trees

Long, cold winters with little daylight (9 months below freezing)

Short summers (1-3 months) with up to mild temperatures (19 to 70°F) 

Desert

Hottest biome

Extreme temperature swings from day to night (-40 to 120°F)

Little to no precipitation (Less than 20 inches yearly)

Tundra

Year-round permafrost allowing only low plants to grow

Dry climate (6 to 10 inches of rainfall yearly)

Below freezing except during short summers (37 to 54°F)

Little to no daylight in winter

Grassland

Transitional biome between forests and deserts

Various names/kinds dependent on location (plains, prairies, steppes, etc.)

Short and/or tall grasses with little to no trees

Savanna

Transitional biome between forests and deserts

Tree-studded grasslands

Warm climate with wet and dry seasons

Freshwater

Low salt concentration

Further categorized as streams/rivers, lakes/ponds, wetlands 

Ever-changing biome

Marine

High salt concentration

Largest biome in the world

5 major oceans covering 70% of the Earth

References

1. Augustyn, A. (2023, January 13). biome. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/biome

2. Moeller, K. (2013, July 19). Boundless Biomes. ASU - Ask A Biologist. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/biomes

[chaos64sprinkles]

StaryLasery In Art Pixel Animation! Serie 9

Rarity: ★★★★☆ Rare (1.4%)

Sprinkles: Bark! Bark! (Okay, the next inani-mate bat is called StaryLasery, which is a purple star shape with blue eyes and no sharp teeth, similar to the plunger from LockTheEpic, but the difference is that I read about StaryLasery that she had been captured by alien-ET- terrestrial (I don't know who they are) who performed surgery on her that made her lose her tooth and turned the tooth into a lamp that shoots lasers that they put in her left eye, so she was named StarPurple for StaryLasery and it also says that she escaped and ended up in the inani-mate bats' mansion by luck!)

Discovery By Stickmanshowevery

Credits for Sounds:

Canvas Dropcloth Snap 1 by zembacraftworks -- https://freesound.org/s/428337/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Laser Wrath 4.wav by marcuslee -- https://freesound.org/s/42106/ -- License: Sampling+

Before-After remix of 78674__joe93barlow__on0-1.flac by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/115591/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

on0.wav by joe93barlow -- https://freesound.org/s/78674/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Lightsaber Whoosh by h2p34 -- https://freesound.org/s/650564/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

[liquidstar]

Hello!! Goddess OC anon here! Today I would like to borrow your ear for a spot of cosmology! In my universe, all sapient beings have a potential direct-ish line to the gods in their minds. This is because the gods are not entities on their own, but the eventual result of tens of thousands of dead consciousnesses sharing a single thought or aim until a new being is shaped, like a metamorphic rock. Most of these are the result of cultish rituals, except for the protectoress and the seeker (god of knowledge), since that's what's generally needed to have so many people dying with the same intrinsic desire.

(None of these gods have names yet because I want to give them cool and intimidating titles yet am so very very bad at naming >.<)

The universe is a vast number of planets, many of which are inhospitable, lifeless, or in the last legs of their civilization. Travel between them is possible due to the remains of a prehistoric interstellar alchemy-powered civilization. Opening a star gate requires a sacrifice, not always in blood, but always terrible. Many species exist - some emerging from the radioactivity-and-blood-magic cocktail the Alchemeisters left on the planets they abandoned.

The lines connecting mortal to deity exist in almost everyone, but need to be opened. In the case of the god of knowledge, for example, everyone (well, 70% of every sapient, individual, mentally human-aligned species) is born with a logic puzzle in their mind. If they successful find, consider, and solve this puzzle, their connection to the god is opened up. The opening for the god of bloodshed is a sufficient amount of simple violence, one premediated murder, and one betrayal and butchery. Every female child is born with an open link. It's not perfect - there's all the problems of AGAB roles - but it's the easiest way through, especially since souls don't differentiate between humans and eldritch beings, let alone men and women.

The purpose of priests is to help with this psychic connection, help explain the clauses, to link one devotee's conscious to that of the rest of them to make a sort of psychic gathering. (A groupchat of sorts.) The reason the students of the seeker are so predominantly male is because priests will often crack open the hooks a tiny bit for male babies, making it easier for them to find the puzzle in the first place, and then to connect. Higher priests also serve as leaders of these gatherings.

Luna, the trans priestess from before, is also a member of the Seeker's flock, though these days she mostly just goes there to spy. She finds more fulfillment in the pen than the textbook, these days. This intelligence is how she managed to link herself to the protectoress' ladies by hand.

The Protectoress differs from the other gods in a few other ways, especially related to what happens to priestesses after their deaths but this is long enough.

Happy Belated Birthday, as well! All good wishes for your year to come.

i think this is all SUPER interesting and creative lore for the gods, im not really sure what else i could say beyond the fact that im very invested in this system! i am a bit curious abt the way some of the sex biases work and why though? esp since they dont differentiate between men and women but then at the same time they do? it might be on me for not fully getting it tho lol

i really do have to give you huge props for coming up with such intricate and HUGE lore for a system thats cosmically-based. not just terrestrial fantasy but THE WHOLE UNIVERSE its so cool. it creates such a great sense of scale here, like, the way you explain it really does make it seem big. bigger than anything going on on earth that we could really understand. but at the same time everyone has the potential to really connect with the gods on this scale, like the lines you described... its really very cool. the whole all is one and one is all thing.

AND from the little bits of info on other worldbuilding stuff you give its also clear theres a looooot going on for the mortals too. like the alchemisters and radioactivity magic and stuff. theres a lot of complex lore here building on top of itself that i find super fascinating. its awesome!!!

honestly im not great at names either, so i dont blame you for having a hard time coming up with ones to match this scale. i think my only suggestion (from experience) is to not overcomplicate the names. sometimes short and blunt sounds can convey power in just one syllable. its to the point, yknow? so i think thats something to consider when making names that sound grand too... also sometimes its not the name itself, but the context surrounding it! AT managed to make a name as silly as "golb" seem soo serious and important lol. so dont stress too much abt the name itself but what you can make with it, especially with lore this grand! but obvs youd know what fits them the best

and thank you!!! i appreciate it :) i hope your year is good too just in general :p

[mayamidnightmelody]

Steven Spielberg: The Maestro of Cinematic Magic

In the vast landscape of cinema, few names resonate with as much emotional power and creative brilliance as Steven Spielberg. His oeuvre is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling, his films not mere pieces of entertainment but profound explorations of the human spirit, infused with wonder, terror, and unbridled imagination. Spielberg’s work is a symphony of emotions, capturing the zeitgeist of multiple generations, and leaving an indelible mark on the very fabric of film history.

A Journey Through the Heart of Cinema

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 18, 1946, Spielberg's journey from a young boy with a Super 8 camera to a visionary filmmaker is the stuff of legends. His early fascination with film became evident when, at the age of 12, he made his first home movie: a Western titled "The Last Gunfight." This nascent passion blossomed into a career that would redefine the boundaries of cinema.

Spielberg’s breakthrough came with the 1975 thriller "Jaws," a film that not only set the blueprint for the summer blockbuster but also demonstrated his uncanny ability to tap into primal human fears. The suspenseful tale of a man-eating shark terrorizing a small beach town became a cultural phenomenon, showcasing Spielberg's genius for blending intense character development with edge-of-your-seat action. It was here that Spielberg's signature style—combining awe-inspiring visuals with deeply relatable characters—began to take shape.

The Power of Vision and Imagination

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw Spielberg cement his status as a master storyteller. With "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), he took audiences on a mesmerizing journey into the unknown, blending science fiction with a deeply human quest for understanding and connection. The film’s iconic finale, with its dazzling light show and hauntingly beautiful musical communication, is a testament to Spielberg's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and hope.

In 1981, Spielberg introduced the world to Indiana Jones with "Raiders of the Lost Ark," a swashbuckling adventure that paid homage to the serials of the 1930s and 40s while redefining the action-adventure genre. The character of Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford, became an instant icon—a testament to Spielberg's knack for creating memorable, larger-than-life characters.

But perhaps no film encapsulates Spielberg’s emotional range and visionary prowess better than "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982). This heartwarming tale of a young boy befriending a stranded alien touched the hearts of millions, its themes of friendship, loss, and love resonating across age and culture. Spielberg’s direction, combined with John Williams’ enchanting score, created a cinematic experience that was both magical and profoundly moving.

Confronting the Shadows

Spielberg's genius lies not only in his ability to craft fantastical adventures but also in his willingness to confront the darker aspects of human history and nature. "Schindler's List" (1993) is perhaps his most poignant and powerful film, a harrowing depiction of the Holocaust that is both a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a stark reminder of humanity’s capacity for evil. Shot in stark black and white, with only the girl in the red coat providing a jarring splash of color, the film is an unflinching portrayal of atrocity, yet it also highlights acts of incredible courage and compassion.

Similarly, "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) redefined the war film genre with its brutally realistic depiction of the D-Day invasion and the subsequent quest to bring a soldier home. The film's opening sequence, with its visceral, almost unbearable intensity, thrusts viewers into the chaos and horror of war, underscoring Spielberg’s commitment to authenticity and emotional truth.

A Legacy of Inspiration

Beyond his cinematic achievements, Spielberg’s legacy is also defined by his contributions to the industry and his philanthropic efforts. As a co-founder of DreamWorks, he has fostered new talent and innovation, helping shape the future of filmmaking. His charitable endeavors, particularly through the Shoah Foundation, have ensured that the stories of Holocaust survivors are preserved and shared, educating future generations about the past.

Spielberg's impact on popular culture is immeasurable. His films have inspired countless filmmakers, artists, and dreamers, each one touched by the magic he brings to the screen. His ability to balance spectacle with substance, to weave intricate human stories into grand narratives, has set a benchmark for cinematic excellence.

The Emotional Maestro

Steven Spielberg is more than just a filmmaker; he is a maestro of emotions, conducting a symphony of visuals and sounds that resonate deeply with audiences. His films, whether they depict fantastical adventures, heartwarming friendships, or the stark realities of history, all share a common thread: an exploration of what it means to be human.

As we look back on Spielberg's illustrious career, it becomes clear that his true genius lies in his ability to connect with the human heart. His stories are our stories, his dreams our dreams. Through his lens, we have soared to unimaginable heights, faced our deepest fears, and been reminded of the enduring power of hope, love, and imagination.

In honoring Steven Spielberg, we celebrate a legacy of cinematic magic that has shaped our lives and will continue to inspire generations to come. His films are not just milestones in film history; they are emotional touchstones that remind us of the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

[harmonyckrs]

Act 2, Scene 3 of Twisted Veronaville: The Homewrecker and the Matchmaker

THE LAST PAGE

Here lies the homewrecker of the arranged Capp marriages, now having taken the identity of a new man.

*DING. You have one new message.*

Albany: Hello.

Albany: Pascal?

Albany: I can see the green dot next to your icon. I know you're online.

Pascal: no i'm not

Albany: Please don't joke with me. I broke up with Goneril a couple of days ago. I wanted to ask if you wanted to move in, or at least visit?

Pascal: no

Albany: Please? Hal misses you. He wants to learn more about the stars, and I can't find anyone better to show him than you.

Pascal: astronomy101textbook9thedition.pdf, starmapvers42.pdf

Pascal: hope these help. let me know if he wants more. got some on aliens too

Albany: Pascal, I'm being serious. I did not break up with Goneril for you to ghost me.

Pascal: maybe you should've thought about that before dating a man who was deliberately ruining your marriage

Albany: I was willing to take the risk because I know you'd be worth it.

Albany: Please?

Albany: I'll pay you.

Albany: Goneril let me keep all of the money. She moved in with her sister. She doesn't even want the kids! She won't be a problem anymore.

Albany: I'm looking for something real now! And I know I can find it with you!

Pascal: can't say the same

Albany: I refuse to let something as beautiful as what we had be destroyed!

Pascal: got to go water my plants. goodbye

Pretending to be his brother wasn't something that Pascal was really comfortable with. But there were people relying on him, and he had chosen to sacrifice his morals long ago.

Morals were only holding him back from the one goal he was now desperately trying to achieve.

Pascal: (That woman looks so much like Zoya.)

Pascal: (I should take a photo and send it to her later, once I figure out where Aktu and Sita are like she asked.)

Pascal: (Oh, is that Albany?...why is he at H&M?...he doesn't seem to recognize me. Think I should be good...I'll just buy some extra clothes for some new disguises. I wonder if I can pass as a girl...)

Ripp: That's my friend's uncle over there! I'm going to say hi.

Pascal: (Ripp's here! That means Aktu and Sita are, too!)

Ripp: Hey Mr. Lazlo! Do you remember me?

Pascal: Yeah, man! What's up, little dude? How've you been, bro?

Pascal: (Darn it! Too forced!)

Ripp: Pretty good! Dad sold me to ninjas but they've been pretty nice so far.

Pascal: (Ninjas? I thought you'd come up with something more creative, Aktu). Damn, that's rough! Glad you're in one piece though!...my guy!

Ripp: Yeah...oh, and one of them said he knew you.

Pascal: Did he, now?...Aktu, I'm guessing?...man, it's been, like...so long. A while. Can you give me his number, bro? I think he changed it.

Ripp: Yeah, sure! No problem.

Pascal: (HA! Success!)

*RING RING*

Aktu: Greetings, mortal...What brings you to the House of the Extra Terrestrials?

Pascal: Aktu, I know it's you.

Aktu: (PASCAL? How did he find me?) Pascal? It's been so long, man! What's up?

Pascal: Hamza, Zoya and Sana are in Veronaville right now, looking for you. They're not happy with you and Sita interfering with people's fates.

Pascal: They think I'm on their side, but I've been messing with people's fates too.

Aktu: How can I trust you?

Pascal: Ask Albany or Goneril for the name of the man who ruined their marriage.

Aktu: ...Woah. Pascal! How did you even do that?

Pascal: There's a lot of sexually repressed gay people here...do we have a deal, Aktu?

Aktu: (Well, he's a reliable guy. And plus, he's never let me down before.) Sure!

Pascal: Great! Talk to you soon.

As Pascal and Aktu spoke to each other for the first time in a long while, Antonio had decided to pay his sister a visit. However, Bianca had "coincidentally" left for work, leaving him with just Kent.

Kent: Tried to make some pie myself, but I burnt it. Let me know how it is.

Antonio: It's...not too bad, actually, despite the charred taste. I didn't know you knew how to bake.

Kent: Had to do all the cooking and cleaning for Regan and Cornwall in exchange for letting me stay with them.

Antonio: Maybe we can bake together sometime...if you want to, that is. I still don't know what happened to Hero, but it would be unfair for me to take it out on everyone in your family. And I don't think it was you who did it.

Kent: Thanks, Antonio. And welcome to the dark side. Bianca and I welcome you with open arms.

Antonio: Ha, thanks...and I'm sorry about your date, too.

Kent: It's no big deal. I can just find another.

Antonio: (Yeah, but there's not that many gay people in Veronaville, is there? There's got to be some way I can make up for it...)

Aktu: A coupon for Monty's?

Aktu: "Sorry about the incident that occurred to you at our restaurant as a result of the family feud. To make up for this, we have supplied you with a coupon for two free "date night" meals at Monty's for both you and your special someone."

Aktu: Hm...I wonder if Pascal would be interested in Italian food.

Antonio: (No, no! It's meant to be for Kent!)

Sita: (I can hear Antonio's thoughts from the bush he's trying to spy on us from.) Or maybe it's a sign that you should ask Kent for a second date.

Aktu: After what happened the first time, no way! You give it to Kent.

Sita: You know I'm not interested in that dating stuff. And didn't you tell me that Pascal was a huge health nut? He'd probably hate it.

Aktu: Hm...Ripp, what do you think?

Ripp: Beats me! What do you think, guys?

Tybalt: Kent could use a partner.

Mercutio: I say go for it! If you're still friends with him despite the fact that his presence at our family restaurant fucked up your date, then it probably had the potential to be a legendary date!

Tybalt: It wasn't his presence that was the problem! It was because your family were being stubborn assholes who didn't serve them food!

Mercutio: Normally I'd fight you on that, but you're probably right.

Aktu: (Huh, they're actually improving.) Well, alright then! I'll give him a call and see if he wants to hang out again.

Antonio: (YES! Thank goodness for that girl!...it was almost like she could read my mind!)

Sita: (If I wasn't trying to keep these powers secret, I'd make him owe me a huge favor.)

THE NEXT PAGE

[tanadrin]

how many protolangs did you design for sogant raha? are they the languages of the colonists from 60k(?) years ago, or did you start somewhere more recent? if you did start more recently, what is the justification? not in an 'i think you did this wrong' way, just that those languages are all descended from whatever ship's language eventually so there would be a gap in the history where language doesn't exist

so sogant raha didn't start as a grand design from first principles. it just sort of... accreted, starting with a nucleus of some worldbuilding ideas and early attempts at conlanging when i was a teenager.

as a consequence, some regions/periods are covered in much greater detail than others. the oldest and probably most in-depth portion of the project is the Lende Empire, which is actually located near-ish the end of the world's overall timeline (a few thousand terrestrial years before the "present"), while a lot of the stuff nearer the beginning (the varonar period, the continent/archipelago conflict, the Burning Spring) is of comparatively recent vintage.

all of which is to say, there isn't even a schematic diagram of the full history of languages for sogant raha, to say nothing of a protolanguage or set of protolanguages i derive all later languages from. i could do that, i suppose, but it would be wildly unnecessary: the comparative method can't reconstruct relationships at the range of 60,000 years, and the very often really struggles to reconstruct relationships more than a few thousand years old. (and from an artistic point of view, well, sometimes it serves creativity better to start with a phonaesthetic idea or just a bunch of random disconnected names and then only later try to work them into a coherent whole.)

i can say for sure that the languages of sogant raha don't have a monogenetic origin: the people of the Ammas Echor didn't have a single language, and the Sanda, who didn't arrive until after the Burning Spring, come from a completely different branch of the Exile.

[antaxzantax]

I would also love to hear some of your headcanons for Alfred and Alexia. Only if you want, of course.

My headcanons are related to the fanfic I am currently writing, so none of them are directly related to the videogame and its canon.

Anyway, here are some of the headcanons I am working on (subject to change), from childhood to adulthood.

Alexia Ashford

Her family nickname is "Lexia". She hates her name being confused with Alexandra and its diminutives (Alexia is the feminine form of Alexis, not Alexander).

His greatest passion (and obsession) is literature. He reads absolutely everything as a form of escapism or hobby, as well as for study or knowledge. Outside of his studies and work, he reads a lot of contemporary philosophy and enjoys writing essays or non-fiction. Although he also reads a lot of fiction, he does not usually write prose, preferring poetry. Outside of literature, his interests include contemporary independent music (the more niche and quirky, the better) and cinema, which he watches with his brother, with the exception of a few films that catch his eye because of their subject matter or style. His favourite franchise is Alien because of the xenomorphs (because of their association with ants).

Apart from biology and chemistry, Alexia is interested in computer science, especially artificial intelligence, and music composition with electronic synthesizers. She is also knowledgeable in various disciplines such as physics, anthropology, history, etc. She is a Renaissance woman.

Alexia tends to be introverted and socially conformist so as not to attract attention. Unlike her brother, her personality, hobbies and tastes are straightforwardly unusual, rather than stereotypical, which tends to make her seem odd to those who do not know her.

The origin of their sociopathic tendencies is related to their social isolation, both forced and voluntary, due to their differences in intelligence and personality.

Alexia's genius is based on an accelerated learning capacity, and a highly developed problem-solving and creative ability.

Alfred Ashford

His family nickname is "Alf", like ALF the alien. The nickname was given to him by his maternal grandmother before the series premiered.

He started playing video games at the age of 7, as an escape and a way of overcoming the boredom of loneliness and the absence of his father and sister, who were at university. Alexander gave him the video game E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari 2600 for his thirteenth birthday. As a teenager, his love of video games, especially the explicitly violent ones, would become one of his greatest passions and collections, along with music and film.

He is passionate about both high and pop culture. His favourite artist is David Bowie and his favourite film genres are slasher and snuff. His favourite serial killer is Michael Myers from the Halloween series.

His best and only real friend is his cousin Auguste Campbell, with whom he shares hobbies and sociopathic tendencies.

Alfred tends to be outgoing and socially normative, although his personality, hobbies and tastes are unconventional. He is not shy, but his lack of self-confidence makes him withdrawn and not as decisive as Alexia.

The origin of his sociopathic tendencies is related to the absent father syndrome with Alexander, his own insecurity at being compared to Alexia, and his contrast with Alexia's personality. He resents Alexander's incomprehensible indifference towards him, especially as he knows that Alexander had a very good relationship with his father Edward.

Alfred is gifted, although his talents come from the social sciences, the humanities and the arts. He has a talent for drawing.

[chroniclingworlds]

Xenocarnivora

When the ancestors of the Lunidae traversed the equatorial regions, their predators followed close behind. They have poorly developed crest membranes and thus lack all electrical sense and have diminished hearing, and rely primarily on sight to target prey, potentially driving the evolution of the confusing profiles of many northern animals. Unlike the Rostertia and Rexiidae, this group never evolved claws, and thus resorted to more creative methods to take down prey.

Lashtails

Pictured: the red-tailed lasher, common throughout the northern Moon Sea forests.

Lashtails represent the outgroup of Xenocarnivora, an older and more primitive lineage that is not closely related to the others. These small predators use their long, spine-covered tails as weapons. They will repeatedly hit prey with it until they are subdued, at which point they use their strong bite to finish the job. Because of their preferred method of hunting, their tails are much stronger and more flexible than their larger relatives, allowing a much wider range of motion. Living in the forest undergrowth and hiding amongst dense foliage of the plains, they feed on Leaf-Crests, Spinies, and small Ferrids.

Reapers

Pictured: the painted Reaper, found on the semi-arid plains around the Western Rise.

With a crest modified into a powerful, scythe-shaped weapon, these creatures are grouped with the other members of their family in the Gladicrista, or “sword crests”. These predators use their unusual crests to take down prey. Reapers prefer to come up behind an animal and use their downturned crest to stab at the legs and tail, injuring the prey to prevent it from running away before beginning to feed. They specialize in hunting smaller, slower animals such as Double-Heads, Needleheads, and larger ground-dwelling Ferrids.

Jousters

Pictured: the boreal Jouster, a large species native to the polar plains of the far north.

With long, wickedly sharp crests, the Jousters resemble a terrestrial version of the Skylancers. They use their crest in a similar way; to stab and impale their prey. These predators live across the plains and woodlands, hunting quick prey such as Harp Sheep and Pyramidalopes. The Jousters are very fast and agile, able to turn on a dime despite their weighty headgear. True to their name, they also use these crests in combat against their own kind. Large males will spar over females in the spring, and as such the males often have larger and stronger crests with thicker neck muscles.

Falseheads

Pictured: the six-eye blood-crest, a species found in the dry woodlands in the interior of the Moon Sea.

These are the apex predators of the north, specializing in larger prey such as Nightcrawlers, Hole-Backs, and young Towers. With a head almost fused with their stocky body, they are built for powerful ramming, and are strong enough to break the bones of their prey with a direct hit. While many animals on Strix display sexual dimorphism, Falseheads are known especially for this. The crests of males are much larger and more elaborate than females, giving them a strange profile. Females seem to prefer the more extreme shapes, further driving the evolution of bizarre headgear. Each species has a different shape and color, and even subspecies have a good bit of variation. Many of these spectacular crests have been historically used as Xaraka battle-helmets.

[ear-worthy]

“Digital Folklore” Podcast: Where Scary Meets Smart

Podcasting is a safe space for all varieties of monsters. There are more than 175 podcasts about zombies, 47 about werewolves, at least 200 about witches, and 34 about vampires. In two of those podcasts, the co-hosts believe themselves to be vampires. I don’t recommend attending their live shows.

The new Digital Folklore podcast has an entirely new and unique take on monsters. This new immersive podcast shines its light on digital monsters. The first episode, which debuted this week, takes on the internet myths of Slender Man and Momo. As the show notes reveal, “this episode introduces us to two monsters who were birthed on the internet but couldn’t be contained there.”

With topics ranging from the absurd to the unsettling, the Digital Folklore podcast is an accessible and entertaining way to learn about folkloric concepts and societal truths.

Immersive podcast is a term thrown around carelessly these days, like woke and cancel culture. But Digital Folklore delivers even more than expected. The first episode was like a rich symphony of sounds and sonic texture.

The sound design and production here is pure ear candy. There are sonic layers that are incredibly intricate to pull off. This sound team doesn’t need video to saturate listeners in its lurid world.

The background music is appropriately ominous, drifting into the creepy. The two co-hosts are superb at enhancing the macabre mood, and the storytelling makes the listeners feel as if they’re at a campfire listening to scary stories. Then the narrative introduces listeners to a series of experts who offer a lesson in ostension, monster theory, and moral panic.

If you think, this is the podcast version of a cheesy horror movie like M3gan, you’re wrong. Listen to co-host Perry Carpenter during the first episode: “There’s a concept in Folklore. It’s called ‘ostension’ and it describes something very much like this. How the stories we tell push into the real world. It’s like the idea of manifestation. It is a building of a bridge between our imaginations and the physical world. But what about when manifestation actually happens? What about when we bring things into existence that we never really wanted to exist? When something horrible manages to cross the bridge”

Speaking of the co-hosts, there are insanely good.

Perry Carpenter is the founder of 8th Layer Media, which produces the show. He’s the author of two books and has published way too many research papers and online articles. Perry is also the creator and host of the “8th Layer Insights” podcast, which explores the human side of cybersecurity. His day job is that of Chief Evangelist and Strategy Officer for cybersecurity training company, KnowBe4.

Mason Amadeus is 8th Layer Media’s creative director, lead audio engineer, and other co-host of the Digital Folklore podcast.

Mason’s background in audio began as a hobby before he transitioned into an eight-year, multifarious career in terrestrial radio. Amadeus is also a freelance podcast producer, voice actor, sound designer for live theater productions, and collector of tedious hobbies.

Carpenter and Amadeus (doesn’t his name sound like a character from a Dan Brown novel?) gel nicely together, plunging listeners into the universe of internet monsters with a mixture of intellectual curiosity and spooky theorizing.

Unless you believe the show is all about scaring listeners and eliciting that dopamine blast of anticipation, be forewarned. The show hews closely to mundane facts. In the first episode, for example, the hosts mention a murder in Wisconsin of a young girl by two young girls who believed the victim was Slender Man. But the hosts ground that internet meme when they interview an author who explains that one of the perpetrators was an undiagnosed schizophrenic whose visions included that of Slender Man. Rather than a case of supernatural intrigue, it’s tragically another case of the failure of our mental health care system.

The production studio that created Digital Folklore is called 8th Layer Media. The company is just entering the podcasting space with one other podcast called 8th Layer Insights, which takes listeners on a multidisciplinary exploration into how the complexities of human nature affect security and risk. Topics include cybersecurity, psychology, behavior science, communication, leadership, and more — “delivered in a focused, easy-to-digest, and creatively lighthearted fashion.”

Its next podcast to be released is My Podcast Journey, where Carpenter and Amadeus offer to give is a full peek behind the curtain, ‘open sourcing’ their entire process, as well as interview and learn from other prominent creators. Covering everything from tools and workflows to business and logistics, this show aims to give a pragmatic, useful, and deeply-detailed look into every aspect of creative work.

Carpenter and Amadeus call themselves “analytical weirdos” and the term fits snugly on them. Consider how they came up with the name of their media company, 8th Layer Media.

“In the field of information technology, there is a concept called the ‘OSI Model’. It describes seven abstract ‘layers’ which computers use to communicate across networks. From the physical/electrical (layer 1) to the visual/interactive (layer 7), it is a useful tool for considering the technical aspects of a network — but when thinking in terms of security, the OSI model neglects the most crucial factor: People. The 8th Layer.”

Aren’t these the perfect two people to create and host the Digital Folklore podcast about internet monsters?

[bjfinn]

Beetlejuice headcanon #3:

Beetlejuice is a Shoggoth -- that's not a last name, it's a class of demons. In H.P. Lovecraft's stories, the Shoggoth were created by the Elder Things.

According to Wikipedia:

"At the Mountains of Madness" (1931) includes a detailed account of the circumstances of the shoggoths' creation by the extraterrestrial Elder Things. Shoggoths were initially used to build the cities of their masters. Though able to "understand" the Elder Things' language, shoggoths had no real consciousness and were controlled through hypnotic suggestion. Over millions of years of existence, some shoggoths mutated, developed independent minds, and rebelled. The Elder Things succeeded in quelling the insurrection, but exterminating the shoggoths was not an option as the Elder Things were dependent on them for labor and had long lost their capacity to create new life. Shoggoths also developed the ability to survive on land, while the Elder Things retreated to the oceans. Shoggoths that remained alive in the abandoned Elder Thing city in Antarctica would later poorly imitate their masters' art and voices, endlessly repeating "Tekeli-li" or "Takkeli", a cry that their old masters used.

And from Bloody Disgusting (19 August 2020):

What is a Shoggoth? In “At the Mountains of Madness,” Lovecraft described them as, “Formless protoplasm able to mock and reflect all forms and organs and processes – viscous agglutinations of bubbling cells – rubbery fifteen-foot spheroids infinitely plastic and ductile.” Meaning, they were massive amorphous beings, very unlike the creatures in (HBO's series) "Lovecraft Country".

"Lovecraft Country" series developer, writer, and showrunner Misha Green had a specific vision in mind for these beasts and turned to Oscar-award winning creative studio Framestore as a creative partner in reimagining these monsters. Speaking with Bloody Disgusting, Framestore’s head of CG and project VFX Supervisor Grant Walker explains the origins of the Shoggoth’s design process, “In terms of Lovecraft’s descriptions, you kind of feel like it’s a shapeless thing with lots of eyeballs, but it’s terrifying. I think they wanted to make it tangible, a bit more terrestrial. There’s no reason why it couldn’t have been a big blob with tentacles and eyes, but its character in 'Lovecraft Country' is a guard dog.”

A guard dog, tasked with guarding the gates of the Netherworld.

Betelgeuse is Cerberus.

And now he's guardian of the Maitland/Deetz home.

[dandyghest]

🚪 hiya! taanishi! welcome on in! you can call me Dandy (they/them) ! I am an artist, a writer, a crafter, and a storyteller! I enjoy telling and sharing stories through whatever medium is closest at hand!

‼️ Please donate to gazafunds.com if you have the means to do so!

📖 Here's my carrd !

🎨 You can find my original art under the tag dandyart dot png

💗 My passions include: barghests and church grims (and any other black dog folklore), terrestrial isopods, art and writing, puppetry, dogs (especially Snoopy the beagle), lanterns, the fae, and automata !

🌲 I have a project called Deadwood Lodge (tag linked) that's a year-round camp in the deep woods, home to misfits and other "monsters" (real and metaphorical). There's also a fae realm and automata and a whole bunch of other things I've stacked into the concept, tetris-style. I would link an information page here but I'm currently working on (learning) coding a whole website for it, so in the meantime feel free to ask me about it if you'd like ! :o] (If you enjoy Millie from DL, you may enjoy the sideblog @sphinx-stash!)

🖼 I do my best to put image descriptions on all my art, and sometimes I write image descriptions for others' posts. Please feel free to critique any descriptions I write - I am always looking to improve!

🗣 If you see a non-English language in my art, it's likely Michif (specifically Southern Michif). I'm learning to speak it to help to stop my cultural language from disappearing due to colonization, so I occasionally use it in my art to connect with it more! I'll try to attach an English translation to posts that include it, but if I miss any then feel free to ask what something says :]

common reblog tags used:

"aesthetics": digital angel, down on sunny street, kitty corner, leafy green computer screen, nostalgia, rabbit-heart, rural, seaside celestial, warm

item cataloguing: decor, fashion, jewelry, objects with faces, plushies, stickers, tech

photo categorization: cityscapes, exteriors, flowers, interiors, landscapes, nature, night, trees and forests, water, winter

art tags: art, art doll, beading, collage, crochet, dolls, embroidery, fibrecraft, glasswork, knitting, multimedia, needlefelt, ooak, others ocs, painting, photography, quilting, sculpture, soft sculpture, storybook style, textiles

things i enjoy and tag for: dandelion motif, death motif, dogposting, puppetry, sheepposting, shuckposting, star motif

post themes: on art, on creativity, on healing, on storytelling, on writing

posts that remind me of an OC are tagged as "[name] aes" (same with fae courts from my worldbuild - "[court] aes"). "deadwood aes" is for anything that reminds me of DL, and "deadwood by night" is for the night-time version of DL (where reality gets a bit lopsided).

[eggoverlord]

It's been a bit. I mainly listen to music on my commutes to and from school, so I didn't listen to as much over the summer, but here is my list for summer, June through August

The Soul Children - The Soul Children - Soul

Remain in Light - Talking Heads (as preformed by a mostly cover band with the guitarist from talking heads I saw them live and they did really good also I have already listened to the original) - Post Punk

Animals - Pink Floyd (Covered by Colonial Claypool Flying Frog Brigade also already heard the original same story as previous one) - Prog Rock

Mouth to Mouth - Lipps Inc - Disco

PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Doom-ish Prog Metal. Basically, King Gizzard metal, it's very much them and you can tell (in a good way obviously)

Apollo XXI - Steve Lacy - Alternative R&B

Star Booty - Bitch Magnet - Like early early math rock, punk or grunge sounding almost

Light Of Worlds - Kool & The Gang - Funk

My Sound (1993-2004) - Dillininja - Jungle

G I R L - Pharrell Williams - R&B&Pop

The Origin Of My Depression - Uboa - Experimental Stuff I don't even know

Fresh - Sly & The Family Stone - Funk

Incunabula - Autechre - IDM

Phocus - VHS Head - Music made from VHS tapes (weird electronic shit)

Zen, or the Means Without Ends - Heaven Pierce Her - Yeah, this guy listens to Swans, how could you tell? But fr good music a lot of droning with some chill guitar

Isolation - Kali Uchis - R&B

To Smithereens - Gay Beast - Very Noisy Math Rock

Songs EP (Live In Chicago) - Piglet - Math Rock

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud - Miles Davis - Modal Jazz

Vespertine - Björk - Experimental Pop

The Beggar - Swans - Experimental Rock

Songs For The Terrestrially Challenged - Speaking Canaries - Math Rock

Grievances and Dead Malls - Nero's Day At Disneyland - Experimental Breakcore Shit

From Rotting Fantasylands - Nero's Day At Disneyland - Experimental Breakcore once more

Dream of an Endless Ocean - David Szymanski - Experimental Electronic with a lot of Classical Elements

Don Caballero 2 - Don Caballero - I've already listened to it also math rock

10,000 gecs - 1000 gecs - If you havent listen to the album you wont believe me but. Hyperpop with a shocking amount of nu metal of all things. It goes hard though. Also ska sometimes

Locked Into Phantasy - Laura Bousfield - Experimental Breakcore stuff

When The Pawn - Fiona Apple - Some Kind of Pop and/or Alternative

Songs From The Big Chair - Tears For Fears - Pop of the very 80s variety

Attention Shoppers - Nero's Day At Disneyland - Experimental Breakcore

It Was Written - Nas - Gangsta Rap

A Go Go - John Scofield - Instrumental Funk

Surrender - The Chemical Brothers - Dance (which is one of the least creative genre names)

Ashes of the Wake - Lamb of God - Groove Metal

My War - Black Flag - Hardcore Punk with a bit of Mathy stuff

Anthology - Colour - Midwest Emo

The Blues - BB King - Blues

Celebrity Skin - Hole - Grunge

Something Else (Rudy Van Gelder Edition) - Cannonball Adderley - Hard Bop

Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder - RnB

100 One Says - 100 Onces - Mathy Rocky

Superunknown - Soundgarden - Grunge

"Bird" Symbols - Charlie Parker - Bop

Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet - Bop

Light as a Feather - Chick Corea and Return Forever - Jazz Fusion (re-listening)

Quebec - Ween - Experimental Psych Rock

[officevalle]

Streaming Services, Smart Devices, and the Future of Music

The transformation of how we consume music has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. Gone are the days when listeners were tethered to physical media or reliant on terrestrial radio to discover new artists. Now, a universe of sound lives within your smartphone, smart speaker, or computer, granting instant access to entire catalogs at any moment. This dynamic shift is largely thanks to the rise of streaming services and the rapid advancement of smart device technology. As we look forward to the future, we find ourselves in a moment where innovation not only changes how we listen to our favorite songs but also how we interact with the entire music industry—its artists, its gatekeepers, and its evolving creative expressions.

The Question of Spotify’s Freemium Model Among the many platforms that dominate the digital music sphere, Spotify stands out as a pioneer and a household name. But a common query persists: is Spotify free forever? In essence, Spotify’s free tier is an ad-supported model intended to grant open access to millions of tracks. This approach, while it does allow users to explore music without immediate payment, comes with its own limitations—such as ads interrupting your playlists or songs occasionally being played out of sequence on mobile devices.

However, this “freemium” approach serves as an important entry point. It invites curious listeners into a massive musical library, encouraging them to eventually consider premium tiers that offer ad-free experiences, offline listening, and improved audio quality. By doing so, Spotify has created a continuum from casual user to dedicated subscriber, one that drives its popularity and sets a template for other services to follow. For many, the presence of this free model, even if limited, ensures that access to music remains democratic and far-reaching.

Integrating Music with Smart Home Technology Meanwhile, as streaming platforms perfect their curation algorithms and catalog sizes, smart devices continue to refine how easily we can access these musical treasures. Voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa represent a major leap forward in convenience and integration. When you connect Spotify to Alexa, a world of music becomes available at the sound of your voice. This frictionless experience is more than a novelty—it reshapes the landscape of daily music consumption.

Instead of fumbling with your phone, you can simply utter a command while you cook, clean, or relax, and your favorite playlist or latest podcast begins seamlessly. This hands-free control aligns perfectly with modern lifestyles where multitasking is the norm. It’s a prime example of how technology consistently evolves to fit around our habits rather than forcing us to adapt to it. By doing so, it not only enhances our ability to enjoy music but also gives artists new avenues for reaching audiences right where they are.

Who Rules the Rap Throne? Debates in a Streaming World The age of streaming has also fueled ongoing cultural conversations, particularly in genres like hip-hop, where new voices emerge rapidly. An age-old question—who is the best rapper—has taken on new dimensions in this era of abundant content. Instead of being limited by the handful of rappers you’ve heard on the radio, you can easily dive into discographies of both established icons and underground newcomers. Metrics like streaming numbers, social media influence, and cultural resonance all play into these debates.

It’s not just about sheer volume or lyrical complexity anymore; it’s also about how these artists navigate the digital space, engage with fans, and influence broader trends. Some might consider the best rapper to be the one who best harnesses streaming platforms to connect with audiences, while others remain purists, insisting on timeless lyrical prowess. In either case, the digital landscape facilitates a more diverse and informed conversation, allowing personal taste to guide discovery rather than mere exposure through traditional channels.

Industry Titans Shaping the Future Behind every track streaming on your device, there are industry powerhouses orchestrating the flow of music. The largest music company in the world wields significant influence, managing global catalogs and determining how resources are allocated to nurture new talent, negotiate licensing agreements, and ensure that artists’ music reaches new ears. In an era of instant access, such a company becomes a crucial gatekeeper, bridging the gap between creation and consumption.

Understanding the role of industry giants is key to appreciating how listening habits evolve. Their investments in streaming technology, marketing strategies, and cross-platform promotions set the stage for which artists break through. As algorithms guide listeners toward certain tunes, these companies help shape the cultural narrative by deciding which music is front and center. While indie platforms and smaller labels continue to gain ground, the industry titans have the clout to champion any artist or genre at scale.

Reinventing Classics with DJ Covers Beyond questions of cost, convenience, and cultural discourse, the future of music consumption also revolves around creativity, reinterpretation, and adaptation. A dj cover is a striking example of how artists breathe new life into existing tracks. DJs strip songs down, reconstruct their beats, and then layer fresh elements that reflect contemporary club scenes, festival atmospheres, or personal artistic visions. The result is not just another remix, but a transformative piece of art that can appeal to a completely different audience than the original track.

This creative recycling fosters a sense of continuity and reinvention in music. Classic hits from decades past can re-emerge on dance floors around the world, bridging generational gaps. Moreover, by distributing these covers through streaming services, artists extend their reach and influence. It’s a testament to how technology doesn’t merely make music more accessible—it makes the very concept of a “finished” track fluid and open to reinterpretation.

Looking Ahead: Personalization, Immersion, and Innovation As we look to the horizon, we see trends that promise even richer, more personalized experiences. Music recommendation algorithms are already sophisticated, predicting your interests with uncanny accuracy. In the future, they may evolve into highly intuitive systems that not only know what you want to hear next but also understand why. Such artificial intelligence could factor in your mood, the time of day, and even the changing seasons to curate a soundtrack tailored exclusively for you.

On the hardware front, we can anticipate even deeper integration of voice assistants, wearables, and possibly augmented reality headsets. Imagine a world where music follows you seamlessly as you move from your home to your car and into your office. You might simply say a word or gesture subtly, and the ambient soundtrack of your day shifts to match your environment, tasks, or social setting.

Moreover, immersive experiences like virtual concerts and interactive music videos are gaining traction. Virtual reality performances, where fans can feel present at a live show from the comfort of their homes, redefine what it means to experience music collectively. This expansion of possibilities ensures that music remains central to cultural and social life while pushing the boundaries of how we engage with artists and their work.

Conclusion In this current era, where streaming platforms connect us to global hits and forgotten gems, where smart speakers stand ready to obey our musical whims, and where debates over the best artists rage under the glow of infinite playlists, we are witnessing more than just a technological shift—we are experiencing a cultural renaissance in how music lives in our daily routines. The future of music is not static or easily defined; it is a fluid landscape shaped by technological ingenuity, industry power plays, creative reinterpretations, and deeply personal listener preferences.

As we stand on this threshold, one thing is certain: music will continue to evolve, adapt, and flourish. Whether you’re discovering a hidden hip-hop talent, marveling at a DJ’s creative spin on a classic tune, or simply telling your smart speaker what to play next, you are part of a grand experiment in musical exploration. And as this journey continues, streaming services and smart devices will remain powerful catalysts for innovation, ensuring that the world’s soundtrack is always fresh, always accessible, and always thrilling.