#Elder Mountain Fire

[svalleynow]

Dangerous Fire on Elder Mountain brought Under Control Saturday

On Saturday night, shortly after 8 PM, Haletown Fire and Rescue responded to a mutual aid call on Elder Mountain. An uncontrolled wildfire was threatening three structures. Upon arrival, Haletown firefighters collaborated with Chattanooga Fire, which had successfully brought the fire under control. The Haletown team promptly began extinguishing the remaining hot spots.

[elderscrollsconceptart]

View of Red Mountain from Solstheim

Concept art for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Dragonborn DLC

Art by Rashad Redic

[mino-vp]

Skyrim Action Shots #1

[solxamber]

Dragon's Favourite Sacrifice – Trey Clover x reader

Trey finds himself volunteering to be the human sacrifice to you in place of his siblings. What he didn't expect was to become your housekeeper instead of being eaten.

Crossposted from my ao3!

The village doesn’t know how to react when Trey volunteers as a sacrifice. He’s fully prepared for the worst, thinking back on all the horror stories the elders tell about the dragon god—the terrifying, ancient being that can destroy their village with one swipe of a claw. At least, that’s what everyone says.

But it had to be done. The village is on the brink of disaster and their last hope was the dragon god that lived in the mountains. The villagers began to proclaim that this was happening because they forgot to send a sacrifice in recent years. And when the current sacrifice chosen turned out to be one of his younger siblings, Trey had no choice but to volunteer himself.

As he approaches the temple, though, Trey wonders why the place looks like it hasn't been touched in years. Not exactly what you’d expect from a wrathful deity.

Maybe they just don't care about keeping things tidy before eating their next victim?

The inside of the temple is surprisingly cozy, but he doesn't have time to think about it. You, the ancient dragon, make your entrance—or rather, you wander in, yawning, and blink at him like you've just woken up from a really long nap.

“Hey… uh, are you the dragon god?” Trey asks, clutching the bundle of supplies he'd brought along.

You stretch, wings fluttering lazily behind you, before giving him a confused look. "Who else would I be? The village’s lost pet?"

Trey blinks. This is not what he was expecting. He was ready for a quick, brutal end. Maybe some fire and brimstone. Not... this.

“Right.” He clears his throat. “I’m Trey, from the village. They sent me as the sacrifice.”

You squint at him like he's just told you the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard. "Sacrifice? They still do that? I haven’t asked for a sacrifice in… decades. I was actually happy to not have my nap interrupted by scared humans. I was going to help with the crisis anyway."

Now it’s Trey's turn to stare. “You… don’t want the sacrifice?”

"Nope." You shrug, completely nonchalant. "You can go back to the village if you want. Or, if you're looking for a change of scenery, the village on the other side of the mountain is kinda nice."

Trey lets out a small sigh, but it’s not exactly relief. “I… can’t. If I go back, they'll think the offering was rejected. My siblings could suffer for it."

You pause, then nod thoughtfully. "Ah, yeah, human politics." You click your tongue. "I hate when that happens. Well, just so you know, the past sacrifices? Yeah, they all ended up in the village on the other side of the mountain."

Trey’s jaw drops. "Wait… what?"

"Yeah." You nod sagely. "They all thought the same thing—'Oh no, the dragon’s gonna eat me'—but I just sent them over there.”

He blinks at you again, trying to absorb all of this information. "So… you don’t actually…?"

"Eat people?" you finish for him, giving him a strange look. "No. That’s gross. Why would I do that?"

Trey's lips twitch upward. A beat of silence passes before Trey clears his throat again. "Mind if I stay, then? I can cook, clean, and—"

You give him a sideways glance, and your eyes light up. "Wait. You cook?"

"Yeah," Trey says, still trying to grasp that he’s negotiating his survival with a dragon.

A slow grin spreads across your face. "Well then, you’re hired. Welcome to dragon duty."

Trey’s not sure whether to laugh or cry at how anticlimactic this has all turned out. He’d prepared himself for noble sacrifice, but instead, he’s somehow signed up for dragon housekeeping duty. With a deep breath, he puts on a smile. "So, uh, what do you want for dinner?"

From that moment on, life with you is… surprisingly comfortable. Trey, ever practical, makes himself useful.

He handles things with the same calm practicality he’d use back in the village, except now, there’s a giant, sometimes snarky dragon looming over him as he goes about his tasks.

He spends his days cooking, tending to the temple’s neglected gardens, and even baking pastries—though you still don’t believe him when he says there’s no oyster sauce in his sweets.

“You’re pulling my tail,�� you mutter, eyeing the perfectly innocent-looking cake Trey’s set out in front of you. “I can taste something weird in it.”

Trey just smiles. “Oyster sauce. Definitely.”

You huff, giving up on trying to figure him out, and focus on enjoying your meals and new company instead.

One evening, after a particularly good dinner (with no discernible oyster flavor, much to your disappointment), you glance at Trey lounging by the fireplace. He's been here for a while now, and you find that you're quite enjoying his company. In fact, you're enjoying it a little too much.

"So, you’re not as terrifying as the stories make you out to be," Trey comments one day, setting down a plate of food.

You snort, flipping lazily on your side. "Thanks, I guess. Humans are always so dramatic."

"And the drought?" Trey asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Taken care of," you reply with a smug smile. "Already brought in the rains.”

He nods and settles down next to you, holding a book from the library that you never bothered to visit.

Well, it's now or never. “So,” you begin, almost casually, “I’ve decided.”

“Decided what?” Trey looks up from the book he’s reading.

“That you’ll be my mate.”

He nearly drops the book. “Your... what?”

“My mate.” You stretch your wings, trying to look as imposing as possible—though you’re pretty sure Trey isn’t intimidated by you anymore. “You’re the first human who actually stuck around. And you can cook. That’s mate material.”

Trey is, understandably, at a loss for words. “…You’re serious?”

“Completely.” You flash him that grin again, all teeth and playful confidence. “Unless you’ve got a better offer somewhere else?”

Trey pinches the bridge of his nose, but the smile tugging at his lips betrays him. “No, I think I’ll stick around.”

And just like that, Trey Clover—the supposed human sacrifice—finds himself the mate of a centuries-old dragon. Maybe this wasn’t the fate he expected, but all things considered… it could be worse.

At least the dragon likes his cooking.

Masterlist

[anomaly-hivemind]

A Taste of Fire ☆ Dragon! Kyojuro Rengoku x Reader | Kinktober Day 2

Summary: You’re unfortunately chosen to be sacrificed to a dragon, but Rengoku being well Rengoku he is not going to kill you. You're definitely not off the hook, though.

Word Count: 4134

Tags: monsterfucking, monster/human relationships, dragon, Rituals, Predator/prey,  size kink, size difference, marking, knotting, dragon shifter, fluff and smut, oral, penis in vagina, overstimulation, aftercare, mating, Teratophilia, slight cockwarming, slight dacryphilia, blind and you’ll miss it.

It was that time of year, when the scorching summer sun began to cool, and the leaves began to change in hue. The whole world grew slower, it was also that time of year when your village chose someone to be a human sacrifice. About a day's walk away high up in the mountains was a dragon, of course, it wasn’t always there, however, it had been there for as long as you’d been alive.

The beast didn’t leave the mountains that often, and no one was allowed to venture that high up into the mountains to come across its lair aside from village guards and the sacrificial lamb. However, when it did leave everyone would stare in horror and awe as it soared through the open skies.

Though most of the village lived in fear, some also worshiped the dragons because of the power they wielded. Some time ago some foolish ignorant cowards got the grand idea that if they had a human sacrifice they could keep the dragon away from the village since a so-called “dragon expert” told them that dragons only need to eat once a year or some other stupid shit like that.

Unfortunately, before you could gather enough gold to hightail it to another village or a city you were chosen to be the sacrifice for the year. As they called your name your stomach churned and you felt like you were gonna be sick. The crowd parted around you as the village elders beckoned you forward. Your teeth were clenched tight and your muscles tense. You wanted nothing more than to run, but you couldn’t move, your feet were fixed to the ground.

Two people dragged you away to the village priests’ home where you got scrubbed clean and put into the boring beige sacrificial robes. Another person comes to him leading a sheep which the handler made to stand beside you.  You were told loudly to get on your knees to start the ritual. 

The Priest tells everyone to bow their heads, your heart was beating so erratically that you were starting to think you may have a heart attack before you could get eaten. He starts murmuring a few words as he cleans a wavy-looking knife.

 “And our keeper, the Red Dragon, will let us all stay in the name of the lamb of Sacrifice!” The Priest rams the knife into the back of the sheep's neck, you jump at the loud cry of the farm animal as its wool becomes stained with its blood. He drops the knife back on the table and looks down at you. His eyes were etched with determination and confidence as he placed a hand on your chin. You wanted to cry, you could feel the urge blowing into your eyes and you could feel the hairs on your body bristle. 

“You are saving us.” He whispered as he placed two fingers over your eyes to make you close them. 

  The two men picked up the sheep and tilted it above you. You let out a loud gasp when your body becomes coated in blood. The hot sticky liquid coats your robe and body. The viscous content matted your body as it started to slowly dry. You open your eyes, looking at the crimson color on you, its slow dripping almost causes you to disassociate from the experience. They yanked you off the ground roughly and

you stumble to a stand. Dragging you to the outskirts of the village they began chanting in low rumbly tones as they forced you against a pole and tied you there so you couldn’t run. 

This was all your life amounted to, nothing more than a sacrifice to a bunch of people who didn’t hesitate to send you to the slaughter. These people who had known you your whole life and now they were simply throwing your life away. 

Not too long after you hear the faint sound of wings flapping rhythmically, and the townspeople quickly begin to second the mountain. The blood was starting to cake up and dry a bit in places on your body. You hated feeling all sticky, but you guessed it wouldn't matter all that much when you were about to get eaten by a dragon. 

The sound of the dragon was growing louder and louder. When you looked up at the sky you could see the dragon closing distance in the air. You feel like you should be crying, or begging the great heavens to save you but you don’t. You knew it wouldn’t help you, in fact, no one was coming to help you. You close your eyes and accept your fate, a quick meal to “save” a bunch of scared townspeople. 

Moments later you were wrapped in a warmth, which you assumed was the maw of the beast. You were dead… at least that's what you thought before you felt the wind ripping around your body. You opened your eyes to see you were thousands of feet in the air in the dragon's claws. A scream gets stuck in your throat and your mouth goes dry as you choke on the feelings of dread. It overwhelms you, so much that you go limp and faint.  

You slowly wake up on the cave floor, surprisingly still alive. You look around, jumping and scrambling back when you meet the almost hypnotic eyes of the dragon, very clearly staring at you. Yellow rings wrapped around reddish orange pupils with white slitted irises, unmoving and unblinking; with its head tilted, almost curiously you supposed.

The dragon was just looking at you, motionless and breathing softly, at least that's what you assumed was soft for a dragon. You are scared now, more than ever, there’s no reason to try to put on a brave face when you are getting ready to die.  You could feel the warm breath waft over your naked body…  You look down at yourself, your bloody sacrificial robe is gone. 

The dragon moves closer, you lean back further wondering why this large beautiful creature hasn’t torn you to shreds yet. You squeezed your eyelids shut when you saw the dragon open its mouth. What you didn't expect was to be met with the hot tongue of the dragon licking the blood off your body.  It brings a chill up your spine as confusion slaps you. 

You were a deer in headlights, frozen with fear as the dragon licked you like a mother cat would its baby. The licking suddenly ceased, you opened your eyes, the blood was gone and the dragon moved away. 

“Thank you?”  You tilt your head as you sit in front of the dragon, why are you thanking the dragon that’s going to eat you? You didn't know what was going on right now. The dragon let out a loud huff before you watched it visibly start to shrink.  Your eyes widen as you hear the bones of the dragon actively start to shift and their skin glows a hue of different shades. Some of the lights were actively making your eyes burn a bit so you closed them and just listened to the snap, crackle, and bop. 

When it stopped you slowly opened your eyes to an unexpected sight. Before you were a man? Well, a humanoid of great stature and musculature. He had choppy blonde hair with red tips, however, his eyebrows were… black. And strangely shaped a bit like arrowheads.

His torso, arms, and legs, had red scales of various sizes, along with a few spikes on his arms and legs. Long thick red horns with ridges protruded from his head, curving slightly to the back. Then there was the matter that he was well, naked, you were trying not to look but you couldn’t help but notice the…large assets he possessed. 

Trying to find something else to focus on you looked back to his face, and he had such an unyielding stare, wide diamond-shaped eyes with such a unique color, white slitted pupils with red and yellow rings… red and yellow rings? The dragon turned into this “man”?

“You’re… the dragon?” You asked, unsure if he could even understand you, maybe he couldn’t even speak.

“Yes! Is that not clear from my appearance!?” He said, placing his hands on his hips. You looked up at him from your seated position,  you felt so small, and helpless and the fear was still present within you, even if you couldn't take your eyes off of him. He was very beautiful and you felt almost drawn to him, like you're not supposed to look away from him. 

“What are you planning on doing to me?”  There was no better time than now to ask this question. Even if you were afraid of the answer.

“I'll keep you unless you want to go back to that village of yours.” 

“So you're not going to eat me?” You kind of felt like this was instigating. You don't really want him to change his mind. You were happy that you weren't going to have a meal. 

“No. I don’t feel like it right now,” The fact that he said right now and still a feeling of dread within you. So there was still a chance that he was going to devour you.  

“Then what happened to the other people that’ve been sent to you?” If he was eating people then you were not going to be the last The only reason why you assumed that he did eat People. Because you weren't the first to be sent up here. All who have never returned.

“Don't worry about that.” He shrugged and got down to his level. He was crouching right in front of you now. The smile on his face revealed his sharp teeth.   

He grabs your chin and gives you a once-over. You let out a squeak at the feeling of his warm skin radiating on you and sharp talons so close to puncturing your flesh. This close you get a better look at his size compared to yours. A wave of heat shoots to your core; why was there a part of you seemingly aroused right now?

“You smell delicious,”  He complimented, as his touch loosened.  His eyes are intense as they look at you with an odd gentleness.

“Delicious?” You were wondering how he could find your smell any kind of pleasing. You feel like you still smell like the remnants of the metallic twang of animal blood that was once on you. Which was also mixed from the time when he had run his tongue along your body to clean you off. 

“I'll keep you nice and right.” His horns brushed against your head as his face was near your neck.  You could feel his teeth against your skin causing you to shiver. You felt like you should be fighting him off, pushing him away, and booking it as fast as you could. 

But you knew that you couldn’t, that you shouldn't. There was no point in risking making this dragon in human form anger. He was larger than you, stronger than you, but something within you liked that. 

“So do you have a name?” Your voice quivered. 

“Kyojuro,” he said with his unwavering and almost uncanny smile. The small amount of evening sun that was filtering into the cave made his teeth glint, and once again you were reminded of how sharp they were, he could probably tear flesh apart in an instant, no problem. 

A shiver ran down your spine at the thought.

He places a kiss on your skin but you let out a wince when you feel his sharp teeth digging into your skin. He holds you in place so you can’t pull away and tears almost form in your eyes. His talons were so close to making your bleed, that didn’t stop any pain though as they dug into your flesh.

“Oh that hurts!” you complained out a whine. 

“You’ll feel all better soon, I'll make you feel much better.” He whispered and pulled you onto your back. You let him, staring up at his hypnotic eyes as he looked down at you with a hungry gaze except it didn’t like the type that would involve you being a meal at least not fully.  But the way he bit you told another story, even more so when he takes another bite at again on your collarbone.  

Then he would suck on the mark before creating another one somewhere else. He was getting lower by the second he was looking up at you, running his tongue on your skin. You let out a gasp that finally catches Rengoku’s attention, a smirk grows on his face. 

“Am I making you feel good already, I can smell your arousal,”  Kyojuro spoke, a devilish smile on his face.

“I-i- um,” Your words were caught in your throat and your mouth was dry as you looked at him. He could smell you, the effect this was having on your body and mind you should be scared and in a way, you are still afraid of him but there was the underlying attraction. 

“It smells delectable, time for a little taste,” he said, licking his long tongue over his lips. Fear coursed through your body as he sniffed down your body. Rengoku smiled as he propped your legs up and open. You knew he said he wasn’t going to eat you but you still had that underlying fear.

When you felt his warm breath and his hair tickle your inner thigh you let out a yelp of surprise. His teeth dug into the fat of your thigh as he moved up, he was so close

 to your cunt. 

He licked a stripe up your pussy and let out a satisfied hum before going back in lapping and sucking with vigor. His tongue slipped into your hole, wow he was really eating that puss. You closed your eyes and let out a moan, gripping his horns and holding them in a tight grasp to pull him closer, you wanted more of this. Even though you feel like this is the opposite of how you should be feeling right now. 

Lewd slurps and moans bounced off the cave walls. He took his tongue from your hole and began swirling it around your throbbing bud you couldn’t help but cry out in pleasure. The pleasure was almost overwhelming but you knew you wanted more. 

“Ha-h more~” 

Kyojuro happily obliged and he worked to devour you with added fervor, you couldn't stop yourself from humping his face, your hips bucking up and pleasure coursing through you every time your clit brushed against his nose. He tightens his grip on your thighs to hold you in place, clearly, you were moving too much and he wanted you fully under his control. 

Your chest heaved as you tried to control yourself, however, your eyes were watering and you could feel the small amount of control you had slipping away from you. The way his tongue reached inside you writhing around or the way it flicked your clit just made waves of euphoria over you, your insides fluttered and it felt like you were floating.  

At the back of your mind, you were thinking about his teeth so close to such a sensitive part of you and the marks that littered your thighs certainly didn’t help that fact, however, that only seemed to make your juices flow more. 

“Oh- a-augh~!” The coil that had been slowly winding deep in your core released, your body tensed and your body raised slightly off the ground as pleasure ripped through your being. As you came down from your high your chest heaved as you attempted to catch your breath.  You closed your eyes only to have to force them open after being given a light pat on the face.

“We’re not done yet, I still have to get my fill… and once I’m satisfied, I'm going to ravage you.”  He pulls you a bit off the cave floor, your legs against his thighs and the rest of you still limply on the ground. He rubs his cock along your wet entrance, you could feel his fat head pressed against you. 

He rubbed the tip along your folds, teasing it. Your hips bucked forward though you knew it would surely wreck your insides. That was definitely too big, this was by far the biggest you saw let alone take and it caused a pit to form in your stomach but also a wave of heat in your cunt. He was getting ready to move into you, he let out a hiss as he stretched you out. It was certainly too big for you and you let out a pained whine, it didn’t help that you were as wet as you were. 

“Oh my gosh,” you moaned repeatedly, trying to cope with the pain, but there was also an underlying pleasure, you liked that you were triple times stuffed full. As Rengoku began to slowly rock his hips into you you could feel yourself slowly adjusting to his length. More and more it became easier for him to slide in and out from the mix of juices and precum. The pain turned into pleasure and you found your cries turning from moans of pain to pleasure. It still hurt but you liked the pain, it felt good.

Rengoku’s hands gripped your hips roughly and vigorously pounded into you, his fat balls slapping into your skin. It felt like his dick was carving out its own spot in your insides, bullying all the sweet spots inside over and over, again and again. You felt like your eyes were going to roll into the back of your skull as he started to make up a rhythmic pace. Your legs made a weak attempt to wrap around him, it caused him to let out a breathy chuckle.  

“Look at you, all mine, I can't wait to fill you up. ” He smiled and cleaned down to sink his teeth into your shoulder, you let out a moan. You wanted that, the words he said just echoing in your ears after he said it.  You felt like everything was on fire, your blood, your body, mind, and soul was begging for another release. This was evident when you could feel your walls clench around him getting ready for another climax. 

Your legs quaked and your walls clenched and spasmed around his magnanimous cock. Each thrust felt like too much, too overwhelming, too stimulating, and yet you couldn’t get enough.  You feel like with the way your moans were echoing throughout the cave the village would have been able to hear you.  

He smirks and leans into your neck, nipping over the other bite mark this time, the sensitive skin and causing you to try and squirm. His hips bucked against you becoming aggressive. You wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders, wanting to pull him deeper into yourself, and urging him to take you harder. Your body is trembling with the pleasure and pain of his thick cock stretching you out. You felt like you were being torn apart, but you couldn't stop yourself from wanting more.

You felt like you were going to cum all over again, and you could feel him start to throb. You screamed out as Rengoku rammed into you, his cock being the thing pushing over the edge this time. Your body convulsed beneath him, legs tightening around his waist as you tried and fight the overcome by waves of pleasure. Your tight walls fluttered, trying to decide if you should loosen up or tighten to hold him inside you with a vice grip. 

“There you go pretty” he doesn't stop, in fact, it's the opposite as when he starts to pick back up to chase his own high. You didn't even have time to process the ending of your second before you started to feel the weak building of a third one. 

“I'm sure you have one more left in you” It wasn't a question, he was telling you to have the strength and willpower to stay conscious long enough to have another orgasm and that was easier said than done. 

Your body felt limp, and your mind was fuzzy, all with the added blanket of building pleasure. You felt like you were on fire and everything was hot you could almost taste it.

“I can't take it anymore!” You pant and groan. 

“You can” he hissed and you saw his eyes contradict even more than before into a predator-hungry gaze. It makes you shiver, his voice was harsh, if not encouraging. But even though he said you could, you went so sure. 

He moved faster, and harder and you cried out. He was letting out sounds that made your ears hot and your cunt harder. He grabs one of your hands, holds it in a firm grip and they both get closer to finishing. 

His thrust got messy and rough and his claws started to dig into your hand. You could tell he was close, and you weren't that far behind.  Then you felt it, the throbbing of his cock then he started to swell up. You could feel him getting bigger, ripping you open and stretching you past your limits. 

You could feel him right on the edge of ripping you in two with his knot, but you found yourself craving more of his touch. You held onto him tightly, milking every last drop from him as you writhed beneath him. You lay beneath Rengoku, your body still trembling from the intensity of your coupling. Along with being filled far past the brim, and you know that you would never feel this full by anyone else. 

You felt his weight on top of you, his cock still buried deep inside you, feeling like it was getting bigger by the second. You reached up, tracing your fingers along his chest, feeling the sweat on his skin. You could feel his heart beating against your hand, the sound of their shared breaths filling the air around them. 

He places a kiss on your cheeks, then forehead as he holds you closer to his warm form. His warm seed, trapped in you by his knot. His hold is gentle and protective, as you murmured incoherent curses as you feel yourself climaxing around his knot.  You could feel your jelly legs dampened with small rounds of love juices that managed to seep out. 

Kyojuro wrapped his large arms around your waist and flipped both of you over so you were lying on his chest. He was so warm it was pretty comforting. You could fall asleep if it wasn’t for Kyojuro's large cock still semi-hard inside of you.   

“How are you still hard?” Kyojuro just laughed at your question; the small shifting of his body from laughing made his dick twitch and you were still sensitive.

You let out a whimper. Kyojuro placed a kiss atop your head. “Shh, it’s okay,” he held tightly and rubbed your back soothingly. You feel your eyes start to get more heavy, and your body starts to become lucid. You both just lay there and claws lightly tracing patterns against your skin as you worked on getting your active senses to calm down. 

His hips rocked forward as much as they could. Even the little movement was far too much, you could barely take it. You tried to focus on your breathing, or his breathing, or anything else than the overwhelming pleasure you were feeling right now. 

“You’re doing so good,” Kyojuro whispered, patting your head comfortingly. 

Waves of pleasure washed over you so many times, you were so fucking out you didn’t even know your name or where you were. All you knew was that you couldn’t stop cumming. Kyojuro let out a grunt and you were pumped full of more cum. You could feel it leaking out the sides of your hole, which was thoroughly stuffed. Finally, you could feel his dick going soft, however, the knot at the base of his cock which was keeping him inside, had not. 

“My knot will go down in a few minutes, just relax till then okay,” Kyojuro said. Soon enough the knot did go down and he could finally pull out, cum flowed from your cunt, slipping down onto Kyojuro. He sat up and lifted you into his arms before standing up.

“Huh, where are we going?” You asked, a bit drowsy.

“There are hot springs up here in the mountains, going to clean up you, you’re gonna be hurting so the spring water should help,” he carried you gently and all you could do was start to fall asleep. 

[breelandwalker]

Magical Oil Recipes - Buffs and Blessings Edition

For anyone looking to brew up a potion for the purposes of augmentation or blessing, here are some recipes I’ve created that you might find useful.

To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.

Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.

(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)

*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested. **- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.

All-Purpose Blessing Oil For blessing, purification, and consecration.

Lavender

Sweet Basil

Bay Leaf

Patchouli Note: Use Olive Oil for the base.

Brim With Vim Vitality Oil To restore flagging magical energy and clear post-spell haze.

Tangerine (Satsuma) Peel

Cinnamon Stick

Ginger Root

Vervain

Cauldronkeeper Wisdom Oil To enhance intuition and wisdom.

Hazel (leaves or bark)

Elder (berries or bark)

Sage (any color)

Peach Pit (in master bottle) Note: Peach pits contain a small amount of cyanide, which may be released if the pit is broken down. Exercise caution with the finished oil.

Clear the Way Obstacle Remover Oil For overcoming difficulty and attracting new opportunities.

Dried Sumac Berries

Ginger Root

Sweet Basil

Full Moon Lunar Affinity Oil For augmentation of spells attuned to the lunar cycle.

Willow Bark

Jasmine Flowers

Fennel

Mugwort** Note: Use With Caution.

High Noon Solar Affinity Oil For augmentation of spells attuned to the solar cycle.

Calendula Petals

Chamomile

Bay Leaf

Eyebright Note: Use With Caution.

Golden Fields Prosperity Oil For abundance, good fortune, and general well-being.

Sesame or Pumpkin Seeds

Wheat or Barley Kernels

Orange Peel

Honeysuckle

Get Me Through the Day Endurance Oil For a tiny extra boost on those low-energy days.

Lemon Verbena

White Oak Bark

Rosemary

Echinacea**

Hearthside Home Blessing Oil For a comfortable and harmonious home.

Sweet Basil

Vervain

Pine Needles

Willow Bark

Jack-of-all-Trades Work Enhancement Oil For augmentation of workplace abilities.

Sweet Basil

Meadowsweet**

Borage Flowers

Vanilla Bean

Magical Me Power Boost Oil For augmentation of spellcasting.

Ginger Root

Rosemary

Bergamot

Cedar Tips

Steel Backbone Fortitude Oil For bravery and endurance.

Blue Vervain

Pine Needles

Cedar Tips

Yarrow**

Truthteller Divination Oil For augmentation of divinatory practices.

Evening Primrose**

Hibiscus Flowers

Celery Seeds

Tea Leaves

Watchful Eye Viewing Oil To enhance powers of observation.

Grape Leaf

Lemon Balm

Rosemary

Celery Seed (or dried leaf from stalks) Note: Do not apply to skin around eyes. Do not apply directly to eyeballs either.

Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:

Penn Herb Company

Starwest Botanicals

Bulk Apothecary

Mountain Rose Herbs

Specialty Bottle

Image Credit - VeraPetruk

All recipes are © 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.

[notyetneedcoffee]

Stretch

Kinktober - Size Kink NSFW - Adults Only

Summary - The Witcher is just so big.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” You smiled up at the Witcher. “Particularly tonight.”

“Hmm.” He rumbled, though you noted his golden eyes kept darting down to you.

Standing close to him and wearing stays that held your breasts high, gave him a particularly enticing view. You knew how to take advantage of your small stature when it came to men. This man, however, was always a challenge.

People milled around the hall dressed in their finest. A large fire blazed in the hearth and musicians played. No one danced. This gathering was not that kind of celebration.

Some people considered the Trades Celebration archaic. The villages in these mountains, being isolated and small, would gather once every ten years. Some of the men and women would bed others from other villages to diversify the bloodlines of each isolated area. As the main objective of the celebration was pregnancy, a famously sterile Witcher seemed decidedly out of place.

“I could say the same for you.” Geralt finally said. “I would not have expected you to be anxious to become a mother.”

“I’m not.” You leaned a little closer to him to speak conspiratorially. “But there are great business contacts to be made here.”

He nodded. You were a herbologist. He often sought you out for rare and valuable ingredients.

“What brought you here?”

“Bruxa.” Geralt frowned. “After I cleared them out, I was offered a place to stay for a time and asked to attend tonight by Marthox.”

You grinned, glancing at the rich village elder and his four daughters. “Do you think he’s ignorant to the fact that you are unable to pass on your magnificent genes?”

“Probably.” He took a long drink from his glass.

“Do you plan to deflower one – or all – of his willing daughters anyway?”

“No.” He leaned down to your ear. The top of your head only came to his shoulder. “I’m more interested in something a little more feisty.”

“Then why are we wasting time here?” You grinned.

Geralt just turned and marched out of the hall. You had to jog to keep up with him. As soon as you turned the corner into a dark hallway, the Witcher paused. He swept you up and tossed you over one shoulder.

You swallowed a squeak, grabbing the back of his jacket out of fear of the height. “Geralt!”

“You were moving too slow.” He chuckled.

His room boasted its own large fireplace, stone bathing tub, and soft bed. You bounced in the middle of the mattress when he tossed you down. Geralt grabbed your foot to unlace your shoes. Laying there, looking at your foot in his large hands, feeling his strong fingers rub into the arch of your foot, lit the fire in your belly.

Geralt placed a knee on the bed and leaned over you. His white hair fell forward and you could smell the mead upon his breath. “It’s good to see you, little one.”

You touched his face, running your fingers over his high cheek bones and strong jaw. When you skimmed the soft skin of his lips, he lowered his head and kissed you. Your tongue eagerly reached for his as the kiss grew rough.

Geralt broke away with a satisfied noise. He gathered your skirts in his hands, lifting them to your waist. Your legs instinctively fell open for him as his rough hands slid along your thighs. As his thick finger teased your opening, rubbed around your clitoris, awakening your arousal, you laid your head back and studied his looming form.

You adored the time spent with the Witcher in bed. You felt tiny, delicate, and feminine under his touch. He exuded power. His strength could take your breath away, but you never feared he would hurt you. His wide chest engulfed you. His thick thighs pushed your legs so far apart.

Geralt’s head lowered between your legs, tasting your sex, licking and sucking at your clit. Fire circled through your body. You needed more. Pulling at the laces of your bodice, you desperately fought to free yourself from your clothes. Geralt manhandled you around, tugging at skirts and throwing away underclothes. Once naked, he again buried his face in your cunt with a determined growl.

You pulled at his white hair, shaking as his grumble vibrated through your clitoris. Two thick fingers slipped through your wetness, spreading your slick, pumping against sensitive flesh, and stretching you. Deep moans poured from your mouth as your hips rocked into his face.

Geralt rose to his knees, rubbing at your clit and fingers pumping wetly in your cunt. Your back arched as the coiling tension threatened to snap. The corner of his lip curled up. His gravel deep voice poured over you like warm honey. “That’s it, little one. Come all over my hand and I’ll stretch this pretty little pussy over my cock.”

You shook, cunt clenching at his fingers, wetness flooding over his hands.

As you lay there feeling your thighs quiver, Geralt stripped off his clothes. He did so with efficiency and no attempt at seduction, still the flex of his muscles and sight of his hard flesh caused the fire to flared hotter.

Geralt crawl over the top of you, mouth covering your breast and sucking your nipple to a hard peak. His kisses trailed up your neck, teeth grazing your skin. Kissing you, allowing you to taste yourself on his tongue, he pushed your legs further apart with his knees.

You felt the wide head of his cock rub along your entrance. With immense control, he pushed in. The stretch bordered on pain, but under assault of his kiss, breathing in the scent of sweat and sex, your body rocked up against him to invite him deeper. Rocking slowly, each thrust pushing him further, filling you. Heat burned down your chest to settle between your legs.

He sat back on his heels, pulling your body along with him. You cried out at the change of angle, his cock hitting just the right spot. Your legs wrapped around his waist. Memorized you watched Geralt allow a drop of spittle to fall up on your clit. His thumb circled and stroked as he fucked into you harder.  

You moaned, back arching and hands clutching at the sheets.

“Fuck,” He growled. “Fuck, yes.”

You shook in his grip.

“Mmm.” Geralt’s hips moved faster, harder. “Again. Fuck. Come again.”

You squeezed your own tits. Geralt moaned. Your thighs quivered. You panted, breath escaping with each thrust. “Oh, gods!”

His fingers dug into your hips. He lifted your pelvis to meet each powerful thrust. Fucking you hard. You felt like you were being blissfully split into two. He growled. “I said fucking come for me.”

“Yes!” You snapped, shaking hard, whiting out.

Faster, rougher, and soon Geralt roared his own release.

He flopped back on the bed, pulling you along with him. You lay spread across his chest, a sated and boneless mass. No part of you touched the bed. You floated on a warm island of Geralt muscle. You rubbed your nose into the hair on his chest, breathing in his scent.

“Hmmm.” He sighed, one big hand coming up to rest on your ass. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” You mumbled with a smile. “But I can’t feel my feet.”

“I’ll carry you if I need to.” The smile could be heard in his voice. “Cause I’m not through with you yet, little one.”

Want more? Check out my Master List.

[kaynanarie]

Eyes of Gold (Part 3)

(A WukongxReader story inspired by Beauty and the Beast and Lutung Kasarung.) (First) (Prev) (Next)

            The rest of the morning was spent scrubbing and drying out your old robes at the riverside. After a quick lunch break, Shihou showed you around the forest, perched on your shoulder the entire time. He pointed out trees ripe with every fruit imaginable, picked more of the purple-flowered jewelweed for your medicine, and gathered soft leaves to use for makeshift bedding.

            It was wild and beautiful and nothing like you expected. Even with the ominous reputation of Fruit and Flower Mountain at the back of your mind, you couldn’t help but feel at peace in such a paradise.

            “If I’ve been invited to the palace, why do I have to wait?” you asked Shihou that evening. While the sun had set, he helped you gather wood and light a small fire near the cave. His knowledge was unexpected but you were no longer surprised by the not-so-ordinary monkey.

            “Staying near the river makes it easier to wash until the poison ivy is gone,” Shihou explained, leaning against you to enjoy your gentle pets through his soft fur. “Plus, the King wanted some time to prepare a proper room for you. You’re an honored guest and he takes his role as royal host very seriously.”

            You were surprised to hear such a courteous reason. “Is it really that big a deal?”

            “He wants to make a good impression.” Shihou glanced up at you, his gilded eyes catching the light of the fire in a reddish glow. “You said you heard stories about Sun Wukong. Is that why you’re so scared of him?”

            “Well…I mean…” I pondered your response carefully. “The elders told us tales about him, mostly out of caution.”

            Shihou tilted his head curiously. “What did they say?”

            “The usual story,” you shrugged. “The Monkey King was a powerful demon that defied heaven and was imprisoned for it. He was sent on a journey to atone and returned to his kingdom once it was through. His spell on the mountain keeps it warm and bountiful year-round.” You glanced at the surrounding forest, green and vibrant even in the dead of winter. “But Monkey King hates humans and kills any that cross his path so the mountain is forbidden.”

            “He doesn’t hate humans,” Shihou argued with a frown. “He just knows how dangerous they can be. The King only wants to protect the mountain and his people.” A quiet melancholy fell over the monkey as he studied the fire. “The last time humans were welcome on the mountain, hunters killed our kind and stole from us. After that, the King banned all humans from his kingdom and forbade any demons from entering the village.”

            The pain and loss in his voice pulled at your heart and filled your eyes with tears. You couldn’t help but scoop him into a comforting hug. “I’m sorry.”

            “Don’t be,” he said, patting your arm in return. “You’re not to blame.” Even after you released him from your sudden embrace, he remained seated in your lap, reluctant to move away.

            “So, I’m still allowed to stay?” you teased, taping Shihou’s nose to lighten his mood. “Even though I’m human?”

            Shihou pouted but grabbed your hand, placing it back on his head for more pets. “You’re an exception. The King sympathizes with your exile and you’ve already shown more kindness than most humans. As long as Sun Wukong allows it, you are welcome on Fruit and Flower Mountain.”

            You only nodded, continuing to brush your fingers through Shihou’s fur. “You speak very highly of your King.”

            “Of course!” Shihou perked up, pride sparkling in his eyes. “He’s the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! He’s strong, handsome, clever, and he’s defeated every demon that ever challenged him.”

            “Sounds humble, too,” you muttered, earning a glare from Shihou. “I mean, he sounds formidable. What other stories do you know about him?”

            He tapped his chin in thought. “There’s a lot of them. Like how he became king by jumping through a waterfall and finding a palace on the other side. Or how he stole his weapon from one of the dragon kings. And then there’s all the adventures he had while on his journey.”

             Shihou launched into different tales of the Monkey King. He was a gifted storyteller, capturing your attention with vivid descriptions and excited gestures. From monks and dragon horses, to pig husbands and river demons, to kingdoms of women and mountains of flame. Every detail painted the journey for you, like he’d seen it with his own eyes.

            As enthralling has his performance was, the night grew late and your eyes grew heavy. You found yourself nodding off more and more, lulled by his soothing voice and your newfound security on the mountain. When you startled awake for the third time, you found Shihou watching you, a cheeky smirk on his face.  

            “I’m sorry,” you yawned, rubbing your bleary eyes.

            Shihou chuckled. “No reason to be sorry. It’s late and there are plenty of stories for another day. You should get some rest.”

            “What about you?”

            “I won’t be far, don’t worry,” he said with a reassuring smile. You nodded, shuffling half asleep to your makeshift bed. “Sleep well.”

            “You too–,” but when you turned back, he had vanished. Only the dying fire remained, crackling as its dim light flickered around the empty clearing. Even though you couldn’t see him, you could still sense his presence lingering in the darkness. With a last searching glance over the shadowy trees, you turned back to the cave.

            It was still gloomy and bleak but the leaves were soft and made the floor more comfortable. As you drifted off to sleep, the fire slowly burned itself to smoldering embers. The only light left was the glowing pair of golden eyes keeping watch into the night.

[numbersandstars]

Nakshatras Paranormal Abilities List- Part 2

Here is a list of paranormal abilities of each nakshatra. It is a short list and needs to be more complete. I'm working on it but feel free to share any other abilities with your nakshatras in the comments or via pm. Thanks.❤️

Svati: Herb knowledge, growing plants that brings healing energy, Vastu/Feng Shui mastery, enlightenment, fighting demons. Connection with a sword or a weapon. Vishakha: Occult traditions, spiritual initiation, celibacy leads to spiritual powers, rituals. Connection with tigers, fire rituals, lightning strikes. Anuradha: Numerology, astrology, tantra, sufism and any other occult science, keeps secrets, occult gifts, devotion/bhakti. Connection with lakes, Krishna, Radha. Jyeshtha: Talismans, occult power, magical items, involved in secret societies. Connection with elder gods/goddesses. Mula: Herbal healing, exorcism, occult power, astrology, intuition, omen reading. Connection with Kali, ancient temples, cave temples, holy mountains, volcanoes, ruins. Purva Ashadha: Invigorating energy, using pendulum. Connection with goddesses, waterfalls. Uttara Ashadha: Snake charming, powerful position in religious institutions, setting up new beliefs, challenging the divine. Connection with elephants, Ganesha. Shravana: Clairaudience, clairvoyance, past life memories, strong intuition, magical music, prayers are heard. Connection with Vishnu. Dhanishta: Vastu/Feng Shui mastery, magical music, alchemy, healing (pulses), magick, controlling the elements. Connection with dolphins, warrior gods/goddesses. Shatabhisha: Herbal (flowers) healing, shamanism, discovery of secrets on nature, occult knowledge, astrology, all-seeing eye, keeps secrets, involved in secret organizations. Connection with the ocean, Varuna. Purva Bhadrapada: Alien and other entities contact, astrology, magick, tantras, extreme spiritual practices, prayers are heard. Connection with gurus, saints, graveyards, fire, fire breathing dragons. Uttara Bhadrapada: Brings rain, shamanism, deep spiritual practices, devotion/bhakti, astrology, magick, prayers are heard. Connection with water dragons, lightning, Lakshmi. Revati: Contact with the dead, astral traveling experiences, psychic, prophecies, devotion/bhakti. Connection with oceans, elephants, lighthouses.

See Part 1: from Ashvini to Chitra here.

[s0rr3l]

BLACK MYTH: WUKONG OC

Name: Lǐyú (carp)

Age: 25

Height: 5''11 ft/180 cm

Pronouns: They/Them

Story

A traveller out of time and space, Lǐyú finds themselves stranded on Black Wind Mountain, alone and at the mercy of its hostile inhabitants.

Taking pity, the Keeper of Black Wind Mountain takes them in and assigns them the position of <Shrine Caretaker>, a minor position that oversees the upkeep and maintenance of the various shrines within Black Wind Mountain.

Under the elder Keeper’s care, Lǐyú begins to familiarise themselves with their new circumstances through the Keeper's guidance. Inbetween duties, Lǐyú takes the time to learn and record the world about them in an effort to understand and survive.

This routine persists for several weeks, until the arrival of a certain monkey.

Lǐyú is an optional (Companion) to the [Destined One], who may join your party after accepting the request of the Keeper of the Black Wind Mountain.

Accepting Lǐyú as a (Companion) will unlock their personal quest <<Long Way From Home>>.

((More info about their stats/abilities below!))

Stats

Although physically weak, Lǐyú is a valuable companion of the Destined One and shows surprising tenacity against the challenges of this new world.

(Companion) Lǐyú has 5 stats to upgrade from LVL 1. Stamina Recovery Rate and Damage Reduction stats are unlocked after clearing Chapter 1 ‘Black Wind, Red Fire’.

Abilities

[Luck that goes against the Heavens]

Lǐyú's fortunes are known to dip and rise in unusual patterns.

While they often come across opportunities to gather precious materials, ingredients or equipment, it is always accompanied by mortal peril.

Their Luck is so unnatural that it defies the natural balance of the world, so fortuitous encounters often come with the risk of danger in an effort to suppress their Luck.

(Companion) Lǐyú has MAX LVL [LUCK].

Can inflict one of the following debuffs to enemies within their range: Increased Miss Rate, Reduced Critical Hit chance, Reduced Movement Speed, Reduced Resistance to the Four Banes

Grants one buff to allies, 2 buffs to Companions (for more information, please see BUFFS page)

Increase the rate of EQUIPMENT/LOOT drops and discovery of precious ingredients/materials

Due to their nature, (Companion) Lǐyú will influence the [Destined One]'s own [LUCK].

Warning: should Lǐyú enter the STRESSED state, their [LUCK] will start to indiscriminately target allies and foes alike.

Will attract enemy AGGRO within a certain radius if not using Stealth

Allies and Companions will be afflicted with one random debuff: Increased Miss Rate, Reduced Critical Hit chance, Reduced Movement Speed, Reduced Resistance to the Four Banes

Introduces random environmental hazards

It is recommended that the [Destined One] keep Lǐyú's STRESS to a minimum.

Skills

(Companion) Lǐyú should come equipped with the following skills prior to joining the [Destined One].

Shrine Caretaker: Taught the basic upkeep and care of shrine maintenance. Allows Lǐyú to access the hub-world like the [Destined One].

Stealth: the ability to sneak past lesser yaoguais. However, skill will increases STRESS on Lǐyú. Can be upgraded.

Additional skills can be attained or unlocked through the completion of quests or advancing the main storyline.

TIP: Lǐyú is purely a support type (Companion) with little to no attack skills and prone to causing unexpected changes to main storyline. May the [Destined One] keep this in mind.

Spells

Due to limited Mana, Lǐyú cannot perform any spells.

Upon the completion of the <<Teacher for a Day>> quest, Lǐyú can begin training to increase mana and unlock [Spells].

In Chapter 3 ‘White Snow, Ice Cold’, Lǐyú can trigger the optional side quest <<Teacher for a Day>> upon meeting (Companion) Zhu Bajie.

Curios

Due to limited space, can only equip one curio at a time.

Upon meeting the Yin Tiger or upgrading to Legendary quality armour, Lǐyú can increase their curio slot by +1.

Current slot:

Wind Chime: Rare quality. Found while exploring the ruins of an old temple at the bottom of the mountain. Slightly increases movement speed. “Hark, the wind rises! That yaoguai must be coming this way!”

Inventory

(Companion) Lǐyú starts off with 10 inventory slots. These are their starting equipment:

Journal: Never seems to run out of paper. Lǐyú can use this item to access daily observations, enemy weaknesses and important landmarks/discovered secret realm locations.

Gourd: unknown quality, gifted by Yuan Shoucheng. A mysterious item that will grow along with it's user, has yet to show any special abilities. Can be upgraded.

Backpack: unknown quality, bigger inside than out. Carries all of Lǐyú's belongings.

Smartphone: rare quality. A keepsake from Lǐyú's world. Interacting with this item with the [Destined One] can trigger side quest <<???>>. “What a marvelous device!”

Fruit Leather: peach-flavoured. A consumable item that can raise the [Destined One]'s favourability.

Equipment

(Companion) Lǐyú starts off with the following equipment:

Old Temple Garb: rare quality. Gifted by the Keeper of Black Wind Mountain, who claims it was left behind by the previous Shrine Caretaker.

Cotton wristwraps: common quality. Plain but sturdy, in surprisingly good condition.

Cotton legwraps: common quality. Plain but sturdy, in surprisingly good condition.

Sneakers: unknown quality, but undeniably tough. A foreign brand gifted by their best friend. Claims to be both water-proof and fire-proof.

Hoodie: rare quality. A limited edition print from Lǐyú's favourite brand. Offers no defensive abilities but brings a sense of comfort. Can decrease the rate of Lǐyú's STRESS.

Quest Objectives

<<Long Way From Home>>

Lǐyú's final objective is to return to their original world. This can be completed by first completing main quest <<Revive Sun Wukong>>

(This objective is an optional side quest available to the [Destined One]. It is not compulsory for the completion of main quest <<Revive Sun Wukong>>)

<<Hug Auntie>> (must complete main quest objective)

<<Eat hotpot with friends>> (must complete main quest objective)

<<Red String of Fate>>

Secret side quest that triggers randomly depending on the relationship status between (Companion) Lǐyú and the [Destined One].

To unlock post-game content, the [Destined One] must complete main quest objective <<Revive Sun Wukong>>.

Endings

There are currently three available endings depending on whether the [Destined One] will complete Lǐyú's personal quest <<Long Way From Home>>

<<Till We Meet Again>>

Normal ending. Lǐyú returns to their original world after the [Destined One] fufills their destiny.

<<Promise>>

Secret Ending. Unlocked after the successful completion of the following side quests:

<<Long Way From Home>>

<<Red String of Fate>>

<<Fishbowl>>

Secret Ending. Unlocked after the successful completion of the following side quests:

<<Red String of Fate>>

<<???>>

Depending on the [Destined One]'s actions during CHAPTER 3, can trigger side quest <<???>>

(To achieve this ending, the [Destined One] must fail to complete side quest <<Long Way From Home>>)

[svalleynow]

Fire on the Mountain Sunday Nov. 5 and Monday Nov. 6

On November 5, 2023, at approximately 11:15 a.m., the South Pittsburg Mountain Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Jackson Point Rd for a wildland fire. Engine 1 responded with six members. Sewanee TN Volunteer Fire Department also responded. A unified command was established, operations began, and Tennessee Forestry was notified. Command requested Jasper Highlands Fire Department, South…

[mino-vp]

Skyrim Action Shots #2

[infiniteglitterfall]

I keep thinking about a post or a comment I saw months ago that basically said, "if this isn't a genocide then why haven't I seen any photos of Israel on fire"

So here are some photos of Israel on fire.

Starting with the obvious:

October 7th, 2023. Hamas attacked 21 towns. Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Re'im, and Nir Oz were essentially burned to the ground; it will take years to rebuild them.

Satellite images during the attack show fires burning all over.

On October 7, Israel’s farming industry lost approximately 40% of its workforce and 30% of its physical area when the nation’s agricultural center became a warzone and the site of mass death and destruction.

The war forced thousands of people in Israel’s north and south to abandon their homes, leaving hundreds of acres of farmland to lie fallow while the IDF secured the area from further Hamas attacks.

Devastating losses About 20% of Israel’s agricultural land is located in the Gaza border area.... 75% of the vegetables consumed in Israel usually come from the Gaza border region, plus 20% of the fruit and 6.5% of the milk. Meanwhile, Israel’s northern region — which has been facing increasing rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon — accounts for a third of the country’s agricultural land, and according to the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, about 73% of its domestic egg production is concentrated in the Galilee and Golan regions.

Hezbollah's rocket attacks upon Israeli civilian areas, and Hamas rocket attacks from Lebanon, have caused massive fires across northern Israel.

The elimination of Israel has been a primary goal for Hezbollah, just as it is for Hamas and its affiliated groups.

Unlike Hamas, which targets Jews per se and cites the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to explain why, Hezbollah's reasoning follows that of the dictatorship of Iran:

"God, according to Hezbollah theology, cursed all Jews as blasphemers damned for all time and throughout history. Hezbollah, as well as the political/religious leaders of Iran, believe that the destruction of Israel will bring about the 'reappearance of the Imam (the Shiite Islamic Messiah).'"

Fire and brimstone it is, I guess.

April:

Nature and Parks Authority says that some 80,000 dunams (20,000 acres) in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights have gone up in flames since the start of the month.

The Katzrin fire in early June:

Since the fighting erupted, the total scorched area in Israel is three times greater than the area consumed by the two greatest fires in Israeli history: the Sha'ar Hagai blaze west of Jerusalem in 1995, and the Mount Carmel forest fire in 2010. In each of those blazes, some 20,000 to 25,000 dunams of forest went up in smoke.

The total area burnt down now is also three times the combined area incinerated in 2016 when extreme weather conditions caused a wave of fires that consumed some 41,000 dunams. A similar size of woodland and forest also burned down during the Second Lebanon War. In 2019, a huge blaze consumed large swaths of central Israel's Mevo Modi'im community.

According to a Haaretz analysis of satellite images, which matches with estimates by authorities, some 210,000 dunams (about 52,000 acres) of land burned down in Israel and Lebanon: about 150,000 dunams in Israel from Hezbollah attacks and Israel Defense Forces anti-aircraft fire, and around 60,000 dunams in Lebanon. The burned-down areas in Israel stretch over a large area in the Galilee and Golan Heights, while in Lebanon they are concentrated near the border – due to the Israeli military policy of setting deliberate fire to [complex fortified] areas there in order to keep Hezbollah combatants away and to damage the vegetation that provides them with cover.

...These included trenches, bunkers, rocket-launching positions and arms storage sites.

June 4:

'If the fire spreads to the mountain – everything changes': Residents try to survive amid Hezbollah rockets

As rockets rain on their homes and wreak havoc, some Israelis believe the government's lackluster response shows it has forfeited the north to terrorists. "This is Hezbollah's new strategy – intentionally firing on open areas to ignite fires and burn the north," says former mayor.

Gay Eyal, the security officer of the Golan Regional Council, hasn't slept a wink since yesterday. More than 20 communities in the north, including two evacuated towns of Avivim and Dovev, fall under his wide purview.

"It seems this is the new method of the enemy: They see and hear what's happening – they understand burning the north is more effective," Eyal stated grimly. "We're coming off a night of fires. And this morning another blaze started in the Yir'on Forest. Our biggest fear is the fire spreading to Mount Meron. If that mountain ignites, all the communities of Meron, Safsufa, and the Galilee panhandle will be in danger." Eyal claims they prepared in advance, positioning 24 water trailer rigs of 1,000 liters each in every community. "It's a drop in the bucket. We geared up this past year with many water trailers to assist with firefighting, but it's not enough. We're working with fire stations in Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Tiberias, and Carmiel – our council is dealing with four fire stations. The firefighters are doing everything they can, working ceaselessly. They're tearing themselves apart, but the fire is spreading like a field of thorns."

...Another resident from the north who was out all night at the various fire scenes also tells Israel Hayom this morning: "It's impossible to describe what we went through here last night. Everything burned, an entire region was ablaze. I drove between the fruit orchards, between communities as the fires raged, and my heart burned. The feeling is terrible, of destruction. There's no way to explain the feeling of people watching their life's work burning before their eyes."

June 12:

Hezbollah launched some 215 rockets and several more missiles and drones at northern Israel on Wednesday, in what it said was a response to the killing of a senior commander in the terror group by an Israeli airstrike a night earlier.

The successive Hezbollah attacks began on Wednesday morning with a barrage of at least 90 rockets fired at several [CIVILIAN] areas in northern Israel, including Tiberias — for the first time amid the war — Safed and Rosh Pina, sending tens of thousands of people to shelters, as Jewish Israelis celebrated the Shavuot holiday.

The Israel Defense Forces said another 70 rockets were then launched at the Mount Meron area, home to a sensitive air traffic control base. Ten more rockets were fired at the northern community of Zar’it, and an anti-tank guided missile struck a factory of the Plasan armored vehicle manufacturer in Kibbutz Sasa, causing damage. Later in the morning, a drone launched from Lebanon detonated in an open area near the northern community of Zivon, local authorities said. Several more rockets were fired in the afternoon hours at the upper and western Galilee areas.

[nihildenial]

a midmorning activity break...

mountain better be careful where he hits copia's baseball...a certain elder papa is in firing range

[atlaculture]

Just a thought I had when seeing your building culture posts

I feel like Jalebi is such an air nomad style food. With the bright orange and swirled patterns, you can't tell me Aang wouldn't love it.

Additionally barfi feels like another air nomad dish. Perhaps it could be made with bison milk?

I know the air nomads are inspired by Tibetan monks, but as theres sprinkles of Hinduism and Indian culture in the show. So this is my thoughts as an Indian person

I agree, I think these foods would work well for the Air Nomads. In fact, barfi and other Indian dairy desserts have been happily embraced by the Tibetan communities in India. Truthfully, the reason I limited my Air Nomad cuisine posts to mostly Tibetan food was to narrow the scope of my research. Really, any vegetarian dish from any culture could integrate well into the Air Nomad culture established by the show's canon.

The way I see it, there would realistically be two types of Air Nomad cuisine:

"Temple" Air Nomad Cuisine: This would be the cuisine that the Air Nomads developed within their temples, high up in the mountains. Like the Himalayas, this climate is good for growing barley, root vegetables (droma, potatoes, daikon, etc.), mushrooms, and certain strains of peppers. These would be the ingredients, along with sky bison dairy, that young Air Nomads would grow up enjoying.

"Local" Air Nomad Cuisine: My conception of the Air Nomads is that they were mostly sky bison herders with strong spiritual beliefs and ascetic practices. Their culture was viewed as quite mysterious by the other nations, but the average person (before Sozin's reign) regarded an Air Nomad's presence as bringing good luck to those around them. This was due to the commonly held belief that the Air Nomads were on good terms with the spirits, which was generally true--- Yangchen notwithstanding.

I establish all this worldbuilding to give context to the once flourishing vegetarian cuisines of the Avatar world. When an Air Nomad would stop by a town to purchase or trade for supplies, many villagers would rush to invite the monk over to their home for a meal--- some hoping for a blessing, others desiring spiritual guidance, and a clever few knowing that a well-traveled nomad is the best source for world news.

Although Air Nomads would humbly accept whatever food was offered to them, most villagers would go out of their way to prepare vegetarian dishes out of respect and hospitality. Thus, prior to the Hundred Year War, all nations had a thriving vegetarian culinary tradition that utilized their local ingredients. This came to be known colloquially as "local" Air Nomad food. Sometimes these dishes would become so popular with the nomads that temple elders would bemoan their people becoming too attached to these earthly pleasures.

I think both the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom would have Indian-inspired vegetarian dishes that they would serve to an Air Nomad guest. The Water Tribe's vegetarian dishes were especially unique and labor-intensive, considered a special treat for any one of any nation. @mostly-mundane-atla has a great post on what WT vegetarian dishes would look like.

Just another Air Nomad headcanon that lives in rent-free in my brain. ^_^

[criticallyinneedofadar]

Hello! I am quite enjoying your writing!

May I please request some Adar fluff? Maybe Yule is approaching in Middle Earth and Reader has organized some small treat for the Uruk children. As the end of the evening Adar offers to escort Reader back to their quarters, when it starts to snow. Reader is delighted, and Adar uses this as pretext to wrap his arm and cloak around them. Then perhaps a goodnight kiss?

Thanks!

This was so sweet I almost cried!! Sweet Adar and his poor Uruks!

Yuletide Joy

The cold in the air signals the turn of the season, crisp and biting, yet it feels softer here among the mountains. The world outside the fortress is blanketed in frost, the ground hard underfoot, but you’ve come to find a kind of peace in the harshness. The Uruks move through the camp with the same steady determination as always, indifferent to the encroaching chill. They are practical creatures, efficient and blunt, and their lives are not built around the sentimentality you once knew in other places.

Still, the approaching season stirs something in you. Yule draws near—a time of warmth, of light in the dark, of remembering what is good even when the world feels cold and unyielding. You have lived through many Yules, some filled with joy, others with sorrow, but never without the sense of something shared, something meaningful.

As you walk through the camp, your breath clouding in the frigid air, you pass a cluster of Uruk children gathered around a low fire. They speak in rough voices, exchanging half-teasing jabs, and though their bodies are young, their faces bear the same hard lines of survival you see in their elders. The fire’s light dances in their eyes, but there is no laughter, no sense of anticipation for the season to come. Something feels… empty.

Later, in the quiet of the hall, you bring your curiosity to one who might answer. Adar sits near the great hearth, his dark eyes reflecting the fire’s glow, his presence both commanding and oddly still. He looks up as you approach, and though his expression remains unreadable, there is a flicker of acknowledgment in his gaze.

“May I ask you something?” you begin, hesitant yet determined.

He inclines his head slightly, inviting you to continue.

“Do the Uruks celebrate Yule?” The question feels strange on your tongue, an echo of the life you once knew—before this. “Or… anything like it?”

For a moment, Adar says nothing. The fire crackles between you, filling the silence. Then he leans back, his gaze thoughtful, distant. “No,” he says at last, his voice low and measured. “They have never known such things. Their lives have been forged in darkness, in hardship. There has been little room for celebration.”

The words strike you harder than you expected. You knew, of course, of their suffering—how they were shaped by cruelty, by war—but to imagine a life devoid of even the smallest joy, even the brief warmth of a shared moment, is something else entirely.

“They have known no kindness,” he continues, his tone softening slightly. “And kindness was never taught to them.”

A silence stretches between you, heavy with understanding. You glance toward the fire, watching the embers pulse like faint, dying stars. “Then… perhaps it is time they learned,” you say quietly, the idea taking root in your mind before you can question it.

Adar watches you for a long moment, his dark gaze unreadable. Then, without a word, he turns back to the fire, as if to say he will not stop you—but he will not help, either.

It is a challenge, unspoken but clear. If you wish to teach them Yule, you must do so yourself.

You leave the hall with a strange warmth blooming in your chest, despite the cold outside. For the first time in years, you feel the season stirring in you—not as a memory, but as a possibility. And as you step into the chill night, you find yourself smiling.

This Yule, the Uruks will know something different. Something new.

. The decision you made the night before settles firmly in your mind: this Yule, the Uruks will feel something other than the weight of survival. There will be warmth, gifts, and something resembling joy.

The first step is understanding what they might appreciate—and that means asking questions.

You find Rakha near the camp’s edge, her shoulders broad and scarred, her expression as always, sharp and skeptical. She is one of the few who does not outright avoid conversation with you. Perhaps she even tolerates it. Her eyes narrow slightly as you approach, her hands busy sharpening a blade that has seen years of battle.

“Elf,” she greets with a rough voice, the name more observation than insult.

“Rakha,” you reply, your tone light. “I need your advice.”

She gives a short, barking laugh. “Advice? From me?” She raises a brow, clearly amused. “What mischief are you up to?”

You smile, undeterred. “Not mischief—something more… festive. If you were a child,” you say carefully, “what would make you happy? What do the young ones enjoy?”

Her sharpening pauses, and she frowns in thought. “The children enjoy games, though they play rough. Not like your kind.”

“I’m not asking for my kind,” you reply softly, watching her face. “I want to know what would bring them joy.”

She considers this, her dark eyes narrowing. “A good hunt. A game of strength, something with competition.” She taps the blade thoughtfully. “And perhaps food. Something sweet—if you can manage it.”

Sweet. That will be a challenge, but not impossible. You thank Rakha and make your way through the camp, gathering scraps of knowledge from the Uruks willing to speak. You hear suggestions for rough-hewn games, tales of contests they enjoyed as whelps, and ideas for food that might please even their hardened palates.

By mid-afternoon, your mind is full of plans. You’ll need supplies for a feast—perhaps roasted meat, root vegetables, and something sweet, even if it’s simple. You will craft small gifts from what little is available, carving trinkets from wood, perhaps stitching small pouches of dried herbs and spices. It’s not much, but it will be something.

You throw yourself into the preparations with a quiet determination, keeping your work discreet. The Uruks eye you curiously, though few ask questions. They’ve learned not to expect answers from you unless you offer them willingly.

But Adar is not so easily deterred.

He finds you late in the evening, standing near the great hearth, sorting through a pile of worn fabrics and dried herbs. His steps are soft, his presence unmistakable. You don’t look up as he approaches, focusing instead on your work.

“You’ve been busy,” he says, his voice calm, but with a hint of curiosity. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing important,” you reply too quickly, too lightly. “Just something to pass the time.”

Adar tilts his head, and you can feel his gaze on you, sharp and knowing. “You are lying.”

You glance up, meeting his eyes briefly, trying to muster an air of nonchalance. “It’s nothing,” you insist with a faint smile. “I have everything under control.”

He watches you for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before finally giving the smallest of nods. “Very well,” he says, though his tone betrays that he knows more than he lets on. “I will leave you to your… nothing.”

As he turns to leave, you exhale a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. He knows. Of course he knows. But for some reason, he is letting you have this—letting you work in secret, pretending he does not see.

A small, pleased smile tugs at the corner of your mouth. Whatever he thinks, the Uruks will have their Yule, and you will make sure of it.

Even if Adar lets you think it is all your idea.

The halls are alive with the smell of roasting meat and spices, the rich aroma blending with the faint, sharp scent of evergreens you’ve woven through the space. The fire roars high in the great hearth, casting flickering light across the worn stone walls. For the first time since you arrived, the fortress feels less like a bastion of war and more like a home—at least for one night.

You step back to survey the scene. The long tables, usually bare and utilitarian, are lined with simple but hearty food: roasted meats dripping with juices, stewed roots seasoned with herbs, and in the center, a collection of small, honeyed pastries you worked tirelessly to prepare. It was no easy feat to find the ingredients, let alone bake them without notice, but you managed—and the golden treats gleam temptingly in the firelight.

The Uruk children are the first to arrive, creeping in hesitantly, their wary gazes darting around the room. They eye the decorations with suspicion, unused to such offerings, but the warmth of the fire and the enticing scent of the feast lure them closer.

One small Uruk, barely more than a whelp, edges toward the table, his eyes wide as he stares at the pastries. He glances back at you, suspicion still lingering in his gaze. “What is this?” he asks, his voice rough but curious.

You crouch to his level, smiling. “They’re sweets,” you explain gently, picking up one of the small pastries and holding it out to him. “Try it.”

He sniffs the treat, his distrust warring with curiosity, but eventually, hunger wins. He takes a tentative bite, and his eyes widen in shock and delight. He chews slowly, savoring the unexpected sweetness, before letting out a low grunt of approval.

Soon, the other children follow, cautiously at first, then with more confidence. They dart toward the table, grabbing treats and food, their faces lighting up with something that might almost be joy.

The room fills with noise—laughter, the clatter of plates, the delighted cries of the children as they realize that this night is theirs to enjoy. One of the older Uruks, Rakha, appears in the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a bemused expression. She steps forward, grabs a sweet pastry, and takes a large bite.

Her eyes narrow, as if trying to maintain her usual gruff demeanor, but the way she devours the rest of the treat gives her away. “Sweet,” she mutters, chewing thoughtfully. “Didn’t think I’d like it.”

You grin, leaning against the edge of the table. “Seems you have a sweet tooth after all.”

She snorts but doesn’t deny it, reaching for another. Around the room, other Uruks begin to filter in—adults drawn by the warmth and scent of the feast. They take their seats hesitantly at first, watching the children with quiet curiosity, but it doesn’t take long for the tension to melt. Soon, the room is filled with the sound of conversation and laughter, rough and unfamiliar, but genuine.

The children play games near the fire, shouting and chasing each other through the hall, their sharp-edged voices echoing with unexpected joy. One of the younger ones topples, only to be scooped up by an older Uruk, who chuckles as he sets the child back on his feet.

You watch it all unfold, the sight filling your heart with warmth. They are fierce, scarred, and hardened by life, but tonight, they are something else: a family, if only for a moment.

At the center of it all, the fire crackles and roars, casting golden light over the gathered Uruks. Some sit close together, sharing food and stories, while others lounge near the edges, their expressions relaxed, their usual wariness softened. The sound of laughter, rough and raw, fills the room like music.

As the night deepens, you feel a presence behind you, and you don’t need to turn to know it’s Adar. His footsteps are soft, but the air seems to change when he enters, a stillness settling over the moment.

“You’ve done well,” he says quietly, his voice low and steady, just loud enough for you to hear.

You glance at him, a faint smile tugging at your lips. “It’s not nothing,” you reply, teasing, recalling your earlier evasion.

Adar’s dark eyes glimmer in the firelight, and though his expression remains unreadable, there is a softness there, a hint of approval. “No,” he agrees. “It is not nothing.”

Together, you watch the Uruks—your Uruks now, in some small way—as they revel in this unexpected celebration. For once, there is no war, no fear, no pain. Only warmth, joy, and the fleeting magic of Yule.

The hall is finally quiet, save for the crackling of the fire, its embers glowing faintly in the hearth. The Uruks, full and content, have begun to drift away—some lingering near the warmth, others guiding the children back to their sleeping quarters. The scattered remnants of the feast remain: half-empty plates, crumbs from the pastries, and overturned wooden cups.

You sit at the edge of one of the long tables, exhaustion settling into your bones like a deep ache. Yet, despite your weariness, there is a glow in your chest, a kind of satisfaction that makes the fatigue feel lighter. You move to gather a few plates, intent on helping with the cleanup.

“You’ve done enough.”

Adar’s voice, smooth and low, cuts through the quiet, and you turn to see him standing at the edge of the hall, his dark eyes unreadable but soft in the firelight. He crosses the room, his steps slow and deliberate. “Let the others take care of it,” he says, his gaze locking with yours. “You deserve rest.”

You hesitate, glancing at the mess still left to be cleaned, but the warmth in his voice and the weight of your own exhaustion finally convince you. “Perhaps,” you admit with a small smile, “I could use some rest.”

“Come,” Adar offers, extending his arm in a subtle but unmistakable gesture. “I will walk you back.”

Surprised but grateful, you nod and rise, taking his offer. His presence is steady beside you, and as you step out into the cold night air, the sharp chill is softened by the nearness of his warmth.

The snow has started to fall, soft flakes drifting down like stars shaken loose from the sky. The quiet is profound, the sounds of the camp fading behind you as you walk together, boots crunching in the fresh powder.

“You’ve done something remarkable tonight,” Adar says after a moment of silence. His voice is quiet, but there is something weighty in it, a rare gentleness. “They laughed. Truly laughed. It has been many years since I heard such a sound.”

You smile, watching the snow gather in the dark locks of his hair. “It wasn’t just me,” you reply. “They were ready for joy, even if they didn’t know it.”

He glances at you, the faintest curve of his lips betraying something like amusement. “You underestimate what you’ve done.”

You walk a little farther, the night air crisp and still. The conversation turns to the night’s success, and as you speak, a thought strikes you like a sharp pang. You halt mid-step, realization blooming in your mind.

“I forgot something.”

Adar stops, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?”

You exhale, a soft puff of white in the cold air, and laugh at yourself. “I forgot to make you a gift. With everything else, I… I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

He tilts his head, studying you with that patient, enigmatic expression. “You think I require a gift?”

You shift on your feet, suddenly feeling foolish. “It’s Yule. I should have made something, given something—”

Adar steps closer, close enough that the cold air seems to vanish between you. His hand reaches out, barely brushing your arm. “You gave me something,” he says softly, his voice like the distant roll of thunder, “something no gift could surpass.”

You blink, caught by the intensity in his gaze. “What?”

He smiles, a small, rare thing, and the firelight from the hall catches in his eyes. “The sound of my children laughing,” he says. “Of them living, not merely surviving.” He pauses, and the weight of his words lingers in the air like the falling snow. “That is more than I could have asked for.”

At his words, warmth blooms in your chest, fierce and unexpected, and you realize there is nothing else you could have given him that would mean more.

As you stand at the threshold of your chambers, the snow falling in gentle silence around you, Adar steps forward, his gaze heavy with unspoken meaning.

Adar leans in slowly, his eyes never leaving yours. His hand moves from your arm to cup your cheek, his palm rough but his touch achingly gentle.

“If there is one gift I desire,” he murmurs, his voice low, “it is this moment.”

Before you can speak, his lips brush yours, soft and deliberate. The kiss is warm, unhurried, and tender, his confidence steady where yours trembles. For a heartbeat, you freeze, uncertainty swirling in your chest—but then the warmth of him draws you in, and you melt into it, your hands rising to rest lightly against his chest.

The kiss lingers, sweet and fragile, until he pulls back just enough to look at you, his breath mingling with yours in the cold air. His thumb brushes your cheek, a soft, lingering touch.

“Goodnight,” he whispers, his voice a soft caress.

You manage a shaky smile, your heart still fluttering. “Goodnight, Adar.”

He steps back, his cloak brushing the snow as he turns and walks away, the snow falling around him in a silent curtain. You stand at your door, the warmth of the kiss lingering long after he is gone, your heart full in a way it hasn’t been in a long time.