#Nightlands

[xartwrk]

Moonshine by Nightlands // Cover by Jaime Zu

[kevinlucbert]

Between shadows

21 x 14,8cm, ink on paper, Kevin Lucbert, 2024

[loveme-killme]

I have a pjsekai AU That I can only explain with this image for now

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Arthur and anglo saxon poetry fucks me up. We call it the Dark Ages because of a dearth of sources, but we have a melancholy poem describing the ruins of Aqua Sulis, or Bath, in the centuries after the Roman Collapse. I might make this into a fic someday, but Arthur is only a boy half-grown and roaming through the anglo-saxon heptarchy, a world he still can't quite wrap his head around, Cumbrian, a Celtic language, still first to cross his lips as he stares up at a ruined city. But more and more of what will one day be English rolling around in his mind, two languages with so few loan words there is nothing in English we can use to construct his mother tongue. Walking through a city, what was once a real and robust city and now lays dead and decaying, he wonders.

Who's bones are these broken beams? His own? Were he and Alasdair and Rhys something once called Britannia, now faded? Are they Rome's, who died thousands of miles away in a place Arthur hasn't seen for centuries? His mother's? She ruled and represented nebulous things, these borders shifting and flexing. Rome made a desert and called it peace, but she ruled it anyway, lady of the waters and the north. Maybe. He's unsure. He touches fallen tile and broken stone and knows what he knew when she drew her last. The end of a world that began failing long before. He'll never be able to sort the losses out; the words he may have once used to describe them are dead and gone by the time there are experts enough to study it. All that once made sense has been forgotten under the weight of a thousand years.

This masonry is wondrous; fates broke it courtyard pavements were smashed; the work of giants is decaying. Roofs are fallen, ruinous towers, the frosty gate with frost on cement is ravaged, chipped roofs are torn, fallen, undermined by old age. The grasp of the earth possesses the mighty builders, perished and fallen, the hard grasp of earth, until a hundred generations of people have departed. Often this wall, lichen-grey and stained with red, experienced one reign after another, remained standing under storms; the high wide gate has collapsed.

and

Far and wide the slain perished, days of pestilence came, death took all the brave men away their places of war became deserted places, the city decayed. The rebuilders perished, the armies to earth. And so these buildings grow desolate, and this red-curved roof parts from its tiles of the ceiling-vault. The ruin has fallen to the ground broken into mounds, where at one time many a warrior, joyous and ornamented with gold-bright splendour, proud and flushed with wine shone in war-trappings; looked at treasure, at silver, at precious stones, at wealth, at prosperity, at jewellery, at this bright castle of a broad kingdom.

[cat-esper]

WIP Intro | Nightland Nexus

Genre: epic fantasy

Vibes: worlds come in every flavor, ensemble cast, culture clash, various levels of technology, complex mix and match magic system, space train, magic geology, there's an evil that sleeps and should not be awakened

It is said the Nightland used to be home to a vast civilization. Until the Cataclysm tore away its atmosphere, killed its people, and isolated the many worlds connected to it via portals. Many years passed and the Nightland was rediscovered, and with the creation of the Nightland Railway, the worlds re-established contact and flourished. Prince Kamarissen of Azura is afraid to take his father's throne. Weakened by a childhood injury and overwhelmed with all that ruling entails, he feels like a failure. But when his uncle stages a coup and kills the king, Kam is forced to flee the palace with his two loyal bodyguards in tow. Without an army or the support of the people, he'll be hard-pressed to regain a throne he doesn't think he's ready for. What he does know is that with his uncle as king, Azura will fall. In the crystalline capital of the desert nation Claromanti, Princess Rian has prepared her entire life to be queen. All that remains is to prove she's worthier of the throne than her six sisters in a competition that will test the limits of their bonds and loyalties. With tensions brewing between Claromanti and its neighboring nations, Rian journeys to Azura in order to secure an alliance, but its new king is not interested in peace. Sef is a thief and a smuggler. With the price of magic in Azura so high only the wealthy can enjoy it, smuggling aether across the Nightland from the other worlds is a lucrative endeavor. But when he steals from the wrong man, he must trade his services in exchange for his life. If he can retrieve a key to a hidden vault and take whatever's inside, his life will be his own again. But the key is in the heart of the Azuran capital, and in the wake of what the people believe is the assassination of the king by his own son, such a feat would seem impossible. Sladen is an outcast. Traveling from world to world and calling none of them home, he seeks to prevent another Cataclysm like the one that destroyed the Nightland. This holy quest consists of two goals. The first is to discover the series of vaults scattered across the worlds and destroy whatever lies within. The second is a list of people whose deaths are vital to preventing a second Cataclysm. Sladen arrives in Azura to claim the next name on his list: the crown prince of Azura himself. Their destinies are on an intercept course and with a darkness growing strong once again beneath the surface of the Nightland, only their talents, knowledge, and magic combined will be enough to stop it.

This is by far my most ambitious world-building project so I expect it will be a very long time before I get to the point where I can start drafting this one, but hopefully the wait will be worth it.

I only have a few songs for the playlist so far:

Immortalized - Hidden Citizens

His Brightest Star Was You - Two Steps From Hell

Start a War - Klergy, Valerie Broussard

[junkyarddemento]

NIGHT LAND

When nothing but ash covers the daylight, you know things are really bad. As a young couple flee in their car, we, the audience, start to piece together what is happening and also, what's lurking in the dark to get them! The production design and camera work, really help build cool visuals here.

[twincitiesgeek]

Enter to Win a Signed Copy of The Nightland Express by J. M. Lee!

The Nightland Express, a queer YA fantasy novel by local author J. M. Lee, has a brand-new paperback edition just in time for Pride Month—and you could win one of five signed copies!

This Pride Month, we’re giving away 5 signed copies of the queer YA fantasy novel The Nightland Express, newly out in paperback! The latest book by Twin Cities writer J. M. Lee (author of the Shadows of the Dark Crystal prequel series), it features horses, magic, and two teenagers discovering themselves and a new world in the pre–Civil War American West. For your chance to win, just click the…

[locus-v]

Owie

[manoj2992]

कारगिल में पहली बार C 130 विमान की नाइट लैंडिंग C-130 Night Landing KargilKargil War AviationIndian Air Force OperationsMilitary Night OperationsHistoric Air Force MomentsOperation Vijay Aerial OperationsC-130 Hercules Night MissionIndian Armed Forces AviationKargil Conflict Night LandingAir Power in Kargil WarIAF C-130 Night OperationsMilitary Aircraft Night ManeuversKargil War Aviation HistoryNight Landing ChallengesAerial Operations in KargilC-130 Hercules Night Landing ExperienceOperation Vijay Air Force StoriesIAF Night MissionsMilitary Aircraft in KargilKargil War Documentary.

 #iaf #kargil

[pandabibble]

in attempting to make a silly little video game all on my loathsome

I may have accidentally given myself a multi-level car park hyper fixation.

all you lucky mother fuckers with your donut steel OCs, your drippy blorbos, your turgid johnsons; I'm out here looking at carpark ramps and going "that's a neat ramp placement, the way you can see the ramp going up inside from the front give a nice break in the regular lines of the support pillars", judging concrete monstrocities based on if they're split level or if they are ineffeciently using their floor plan. I just wanted to make a zelda dungeon for a truck why am I forspoken by such uncivil unengineering?

[sharpe-teeth]

Two books, both alike in dignity.

Just finished THE NIGHTLAND EXPRESS by J. M. Lee and YOU'VE LOST A LOT OF BLOOD by Eric LaRocca. Wildly different in terms of content, tone, etc but both are so so good!!

If you're looking for a western but with magic, THE NIGHTLAND EXPRESS is for you!!

If you want a unique and horrific tale of murder and death (with a little scifi twist!) check out YOU'VE LOST A LOT OF BLOOD!!

[deepwaterwritingprompts]

Text: The tower room has eight impossible doors, each marked with a phase of the moon. They lead to the eight rings of the Nightlands, the last of which you can never come back from.

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Did their mother leave Rhys the sword specifically? Or How did he get it?

This is based on the very vague idea that religion and displacement killed Britannia, and this is probably the second wave of Anglo-Saxon invasions, so I refer to the Jutes to try and be specific but eh???? This takes place as the Germanic invaders come to close around the family hillfort, I fucken guess. Idk, There was one Celtic British tribe called the Brigantes in Ireland, Scotland and England and maaaaaybe in Wales. It's a fucken reach, but I'm basically writing fantasy at this point anyway. But anyway, as the Romans pulled out in the 5th century, that transformed into the Kingdom of Rheged in what is now Northern England and Southern Scotland. Arthur is about ten, Rhys is probably sixteen, Alasdair and Brighid about 18. Alasdair has been stabbed, and Brighid was sent away to her her own territories. None of this makes fuck all historical or chronological sense ngl but this scene gripped me by the neck and wouldn't let go until it was on paper. TW for offscreen violence and... consensual implied???? murder.

The Jutes breached the steep sides of the earthworks on the seventh day. The carnyx made their harrowing cries, and Rhys shoved a Jute down and pried his sword from the man's neck, whipping around as the carnyx blew two short notes and a longer third, the signal to summon him to mother. Arthur was on the inner walls with the other archers. Rhys saw his youngest brother flick blood from his fingers as he nocked another arrow and slipped between the maze of stone battlements as fast as his legs would allow him. Arthur glanced down, a frown on his face as his arrow flew, and then he was off the gallery, hanging from the beam and running next to Rhys for home.

"Go back," Rhys said. "Go back, I'll come for you after."

"Mother summoned you," Arthur said, keeping pace. His tunic was wearing thin at the elbows, all the wear of firing, and Rhys ached. He would have to find his baby brother a new one soon and find his cloak before winter closed in.

"Yes," Rhys said.

"I'm coming."

Rhys slowed, stopped for only a moment, his momentum nearly tipping Arthur over as Rhys gripped his arm.

"They breached the walls." He said and Arthur nodded, his too-large eyes watering.

"I know."

"Do you understand what comes next?"

"I... I want to say goodbye. Please. I'll go if you say, but I need to say goodbye."

Rhys squeezed his eyes shut, taking a breath, pain he had ever scarcely imagined twisting in his body. "When I say go, you go."

Another nod, more tears. Rhys held his brother's trembling hand. He was still so young, sandy hair still fine. He kissed his brother's forehead.

"I won't let anything happen to you today." Rhys said fiercely. "But you have to go when I say."

They moved again. In the stone hall, they found mother on the yew throne before the altar where she had once been worshipped.

"Mother!" Arthur leapt into her lap, crying freely now. Her hair was loose, streaming over her shoulders in firey spirals, so like Brighid's. He sobbed into her arms, and Rhys could barely keep his grip on his sword. Not even his own, Alasdair's old one. He'd lost his brother in the fray and Alasdair had not responded to the call. His mother cradled her youngest son and stared at Rhys, searching his face.

He nodded, and his understanding of his duty seemed to give her more strength than she'd had in decades. She gripped Arthur tighter.

"Don't go! Don't leave." Arthur cried and then in a much smaller voice. "Don't leave because of me."

Mother cradled his face, her war torc glinting. "It is not your fault. This is not your fault, sweet boy. All things must journey beyond the sunset. It is only my turn now."

"Where?" Arthur trembled. "Where will you go?"

Rhys had to close his eyes. The world had changed so much, Arthur could not immediately recall where they went in the end.

"West, my love. Beyond the sea and the sunset. With all those gone and all those yet to be. West."

Arthur clutched her tunic in his small, trembling hands, but his small mouth set in a line.

"Someday," She said and kissed him. "In some form. You will find me again, my love. My sweet boy. I love you. I love you so much. Find your cloak, find your bow and live, my sweet boy. Stay alive." She set him on his feet again.

"No," Arthur shook his head and his control broke complete, sobbing. "Mother no, please don't make me go."

"You must," She touched his cheek. "You must find your siblings and you must go. I will see you again."

"Wait for us, Mama." He cried. "Don't go too far west, please. Please."

"I will see you again." She said firmly, and her tears broke over her cheeks. "Go, my boy. Go now."

He wouldn't. He screamed and kicked. Rhys had to lift Arthur as he beat on his back and tossed him from the hall, slamming the doors behind him as he howled. His mother was in tears, beautiful and trembling. The great golden war torc around her neck glinted.

"I am sorry," She said and she gripped his hands. "I am so sorry I have to ask this of you."

"I know." He whispered.

"I won't die under the hooves of the Germans," She said, fiercely, her nails puncturing his palms. "I will die as I lived."

"I know," He said again, unsure how he had managed to keep his sobs boiling in his belly and not rising to spill out.

"You have to keep the peace, my love." She said. "You have to keep the peace between all of you."

"I will." He said and that was what broke the sob open. He dropped Alasdair's old sword. "Don't hate me when I fail. Please. I'll try but I---"

"Never." His mother flung him on her and held him like he was newly weaned and tiny again, clinging to her as all light and life and warmth in the world. "I will never hate you. I will love you and your siblings still when the fire in the sky goes out, Rhys."

The cacophony had grown louder, shouts and screams and clanging metal. She gripped him.

"My torc goes to your sister. What's left of the gold you can divide amongst yourselves." She lifted her hands from him and he went cold without them. She reached behind her seat and lifted her sword. "And this, this will have to be yours."

"Is this..." He stared at the leaf-bladed sword he had watched her wield all his life.

"Yes." She said and pressed it into his hands. "Through my heart, my love. The blood will soak the soil, but my cloak can cover the wound. Wait for your sister to bury me in the barrow. It's cold enough. You know where."

Rhys sobbed. They poured out of him in the rush of the great rivers. One, two, three great gulping sobs, and then he shook his head, rubbed his eyes and looked at her, breathing hard.

"It is time. Remember what I told you." Her dreams of her youngest son, her wisdom for Rhys, her love for all of them.

"Keep the peace. Arthur will one day build impossible iron ships. You love us."

"More than anything, I love you." She said, and he knelt before her on her throne. Her hands were white. She opened her cloak to reveal her tunic, and he lifted the sword.

[cat-esper]

Inkarnate Map Tag Game

I was tagged by @awleeofficial to make a map for one of my settings and since I love making maps, I thought this was a neat idea! I, uh, I'm cheating a little in the fact that I already made this map earlier in the year, but it's one I'm particularly proud of. It's not actually finished as nothing is labeled yet and it's for a wip I have never before mentioned! But I wanted to share it anyway XD

Behold, the city of Harrow, capital of Azura and home to this world's only portal to the Nightland, making it a hub of activity and cultural exchange. With access to the Nightland rail system and connecting portal network, Azura is the leading nation in magic and foreign technologies. In Harrow, the wealthy can buy aether that grants them access to a varied array of powerful abilities, the royal guard is armed with rayguns, and it's an inspiring sight to see the royal cavalcade headed by the king in his Lockland-made automobile. But not everyone is content to let Azura dictate where and to who these off-world offerings are given.

Anyway, I'm going to leave this as an open tag for whoever wants to do it XD

[qbdatabase]

are there any recs for books with queer cowboys?

YES YES YES I am SO hype about queer westerns! some of these feature soldiers, rangers, and outlaws versus strictly cowboys, and some are male x nonbinary pairings, with a few bonus lesbian recs

Classic Westerns

(M/NB) River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (alt-history)

(M/NB) Days Without End by Sebastian Barry (former soldiers)

(M/M) Child in the Valley by Gordy Sauer (outlaws)

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage (closeted gay male, LOTS of period typical homophobia)

All God's Children by Aaron Gwyn

(F/F) Wildflower Words by Sam Ledel (mail order bride mix up)

(F/F) The Boss's Daughter by J. T. Marie (butch lesbian posing as a male cowboy for social acceptance)

(F/F) The Oregon Series by Jae (same as above, but the butch can be read as a transgender man)

Contemporary Romance

(F/F) Prize Money by Celeste Castro (rodeo bullfighters)

(M/M) Forget Me Not by Felice Stevens

(M/M) His Fresh Start Cowboy by A. M. Arthur

(M/M) His Reluctant Cowboy by A. D. Ellis

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Paranormal

(M/M) Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen (rangers)

(M/M) A Book of Tongues by Gemma Files (outlaws)

Breaker by Amy Campbell (outlaws)

(M/M) The Nightland Express by J. M. Lee (postal couriers)

full notes on representation and publishing info at qbdatabase.com

[sharpe-teeth]

I'm not sure if this counts but one of the characters in THE NIGHTLAND EXPRESS by J. M. Lee is discovering their gender and uses pronouns fluidly and its REALLY well done!! On top of being an awesome book in general. ☺️

can i get a rec for a ya fic with a genderfluid main character? i read "symptoms of being human" by jeff garvin and i need more!

Sure! Try:

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke

Mask of Shadows and Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

And keep an eye out for the upcoming Salt the Water by Candice Iloh.

You can also find a genderfluid love interest in The Brilliant Death by AR Capetta.