#Realm of Shades

[psychagoguedigitalmusical]

Psychagogue rough concepts (music, characters, world)

It's Sunday, so I slept in today. Spent some time trying to find and learn some music theory. There's so much out there, and beyond just the currently tough parts of learning stuff like chords and intervals and melodies and harmonies, I also face the practical challenge of figuring out, uh, literally how do I actually write musical ideas down before they totally dissolve out of my head? I have MuseScore, FL Studio, and BoscaCeol installed on my computer from previous but I'm having trouble just getting started using the tools, honestly. On occasions where's I've had a piano in front of me, it was tough because my ear training (I think that's the right term?) is not very developed. Probably why I couldn't figure out jazz solos. But hey, down the line, I'll have picked up enough to make a halfway decent attempt. I did find a website with some nice beginner-friendly PDFs, and I think I did actually pick something up today around identifying Intervals, and having a better intuitive understanding of what Major/minor/Augmented/Diminished mean and how they can be derived in this context. Still no clue how to apply that to anything practical, but I'm sure that'll come later.

I guess even if you're drinking from a firehose, some water gets in your mouth.

For now, I'm solving the "getting musical ideas out of my head" problem by humming or whistling into voice notes on my phone. I figure I can do the analysis later to understand what I'm actually doing.

That being said, here's a taste of some rough musical ideas I've put together so far: (jank) (zeroth draft) (it was actually kinda tough to get these here. I had to open discord in my browser, get the files directly from the element, and put them through Audacity to convert the filetype. There's definitely an easier way I'm sure, but whatever)

I've got a pair of phrases here that I'm imagining would fit into a type of sea shanty or upbeat waltz type of song. The first would be the main melody, and the second would be the countermelody.

Now, as for narrative and worldbuilding, I think I gave a basic overview in a previous blogpost, but I've got some more ideas that have started forming that are more or less ready to share, even in their alpha-beta-proto stage. Let's start with a few characters:

Morvic - A sensitive boy growing up in a quiet seaside town. He hasn't exactly had the happiest adolescence so far, for various reasons. Naïve and abrasive at times, but overall trying his best.

Manor - An outgoing and kind girl from Morvic's hometown. Love of Morvic's young life, he is absolutely head-over-heels infatuated with her, and has been for as long as he can remember. Her tragic and avoidable death incites Morvic's journey into the Realm of Shades on a quest to bring her back to life.

The Psychagogue - A mysterious man rumored to be a powerful necromancer. He watches over the entrance to the Realm of Shades.

The Goddess of True Life - Not much is known about the Goddess of True Life. It is said that she resides in a temple made of horn at the far border between the real world and the Realm of Shades and has the power to bring a shade to true life.

Morvic's Shade and Manor's Shade - Morvic's companions (of a sort) on his journey through the Realm of Shades.

For worldbuilding, I have some quick sketches I put together today showing off some rough geography and my concept of Morvic's initial encounter with the Psychagogue. I'll let those speak for themselves.

Geography so basic you can find it in an elementary schooler's science textbook next to a peninsula, volcano, and diagram of longshore drifts.

A cave deep in the mountains composed of what appears to be crumbling ivory. The Realm of Shades lies behind a solid wall within the cave. In order to enter, you must cast your own shade onto the wall, and then you may pass through. More about shades in a future post.

Rough geography of the Realm of Shades located under the mountains. The cave entrance leads to the top floor of the Ivory Spire. Descend through there and there will definitely be interesting locations for Morvic to traverse through on the way to the Temple of True Life. Despite the Temple of True Life being physically very close to the Ivory Spire, there is an uncrossable gulf that separates them, making you go the long way around. From the temple, there is a 1-way climb back up to the real world.

I've got way more ideas than just what I've shared here; these are just the ones most developed and ready to share at this point. I have a private Discord server I use to take notes, and basically anytime I have an idea about Psychagogue I write it down as soon as I can before it evaporates. I have the rough shape of the story, some key moments, additional characters, and at least one song shaped out narratively so far, but those will come in due time.

I want to make sure I'm striking a good balance on this blog between Epic, Psychagogue, and various development musings, so next post will be some more Epic analysis on Just a Man. Probably starting on that after I post this, tbh.

That's it for now.

[zelda-the-sacred-realm]

"Share your pain with me"

"If the suffering is too much for you, please, master, allow me to take it on with you." -Twilight from Zelda the Sacred Realm

This piece is dedicated to Twilight and Time(Hero's shade). During their journey together, Twilight learned that his Master, so cold and impassive to belonging, he carried the weight of an unjust and sad life on his shoulders

As his teacher he eased the burden on Twilight's shoulders, and as his student Twilight learned to do the same for Time

The two are portrayed as different personalities, Time is impassive to his pain, Twilight suffers from a pain that is not his

Here is the reverse version:

Hope you like it! 💖

[thebramblewood]

For one night only, Glimmerbrook University and the Council of Sages proudly present Mr. Mysterio's Floating Circus!

Previous / Next

I must direct a massive thank you to @surely-sims and @doctorsimcraft for not only their incredible Simblreen set but also the stunning build and Sims that accompanied it, without which I could never have mustered up such a beautiful backdrop. I added the carousel, but the rest is theirs. Eternally grateful for your generosity and talent!

Morgyn: Have you had enough time to consider it yet?

Caleb: Consider what?

Morgyn: [rolls eyes] You know what.

Caleb: I’m still not sure it’s a good idea. People already gossip. Living outside the Realm — with your vampire lover, no less — will only open you up to more scrutiny.

Morgyn: I’m not a monk, Caleb. I can live wherever I want with whoever I want, and it has no bearing on my role as a Sage.

Caleb: [tilts head uncomfortably] They seem to think it does.

Morgyn: They may be traditionalists, but deep down they know a little modernization is good for the Realm. Besides, there’s hardly another spellcaster waiting in the wings to take my job. They can’t fire me.

Caleb: That won’t stop the general public from clamoring for it anyway.

Morgyn: A small minority maybe. Spellcasters have never been a monolith, and the younger generation is more open-minded than ever. Cross-occult discrimination is at an all time low. Gemma just turned in a paper on it.

Caleb: [grunting with effort] Lilith wouldn’t like it.

Morgyn: Ah, now we get to the crux of your argument. Respectfully, Caleb, I know she’s family, but she’s also selfish and manipulative. Your philosophies are no longer compatible, if they ever were. Would it kill you to admit you’ve grown apart?

Caleb: Yes, she can be cruel, but it’s only because-

Morgyn: She’s jealous, of course. She wants you all to herself. But you’d think after a century you’ve earned the right to your own life. It would benefit you both.

Caleb: What if it’s just too soon?

Morgyn: [chuckles] You may be an old man, and I’m no spring chicken myself, but five years is plenty long enough. I want to wake up next to you for the rest of my life.

Caleb: [quietly] But it won’t last forever. You’re keeping old age at bay for now, but one day you’ll have to relent, and then-

Morgyn: That’s a problem for the very distant future. [whispers] Just promise you’ll keep thinking about it.

Caleb: I’ve thought about it.

Morgyn: And?

Caleb: Let’s do it.

Morgyn: Great! There’s an adorable little cottage for sale on the outskirts of Glimmerbrook. We can swing by and see it before you head back-

Caleb: [laughs] You were never going to let me say no, were you?

[theegh0st]

Doodle dump of misplaced heroes!!

[sunn-mechanic]

[ID in alt]

Finally found you, my emperor

A Shade of Advice AU

[snacobie]

Do you want another nap?

[nibbelraz]

King of the Northern Desert and his small human Husband 💞

[dewwshi]

i liked the sparring scene from the start of siege of darkness a normal amount

[typingwithmyhandstied]

One of my favorite things in fiction is royals whose closest relationship is someone who serves them (bodyguard, servant, adviser, etc). It can never just be simple. It has so many questions. Are they doing this because they care or because they are forced to serve me? Can it be a real friendship if someone is always forced to listen to the other? Are they protecting me because they care or because they are forced to? Are they hating me as they protect me above themselves? Will there always be a sense of propriety that will always have to remain? And most of all, it is a testament to the loneliness of the royal (and sometimes the other too). The only person they have to talk to is being paid to be there. Think about that.

a/n: I have drafted this so many times in my head that I feel like I'm forgetting something.

[zelda-the-sacred-realm]

Wip of a possible new Main Artwork!

Twilight is Hero's shade's student, his master is important to him, and he knows the suffering he carries inside

"If the suffering is too much for you, please, master, allow me to take it on with you." -Twilight from Zelda the Sacred Realm

I will never stop repeating that I love these two characters, and that I can't wait for you to see them reunited in my story 💖

[puppetmaster13u]

Can't stop thinking about This prompt/au lol

I almost like to think that Clockwork kind of half-sent Danny to the ghost-world version of Gotham because he was struggling and is honestly just a kid and could use some guidance. And with how the Observants dislike him to the point of murder, CW sure couldn't keep him in Long Now. But Gotham? Now there's a place that not many go, thanks to curses running amok, a very dangerous City Spirit, and amalgamations of fallen Guardians and Rogues. It's chaotic, dangerous, and a hell of a shot, but the Bat could, and most probably would assist the newborn guardian. The living world and the infinite are intertwined after all, influenced by whatever realm it drifts closest to.

Thankfully Danny seems to be enjoying himself- he has a proper ghost friend now! And he's starting to be able to understand Batblob's cacophony of Silent-EverSilent-Gurgles-DistantWhispers-QuietScreamsSilence easier too without Robin translating. (His Ghost-Speak is getting so good :D) He wishes he could bring Sam & Tucker but it's a little too far into the ghost zone. And the ghosts and Vlad doesn't bother him here! (The last time he tried, unknown to Danny, the older halfa was met with a malicious swarm of teeth and maws ready to rip and tear and not lose another child again-) He's even gotten shown the exits to the living-world's Gotham. Robin likes to ramble about the new and different living-robins and about their friend who was also a robin and who disappeared one day and whose core they carry on their belt. Maybe he can help them find out what happened to him...

[dadaromance-azi]

A quick sketch of Time from @zelda-the-sacred-realm

I tried to mak him as majestic and beautiful as he is in the comic. I love him so much! (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

[kobble-arts]

Have an Elysia meme inspired by the best line in all of Elysian Realms

+ Bonus Elysia without text under the cut

[snacobie]

Taulmaril

[hero-of-the-wolf]

WAIT A SECOND—

image credit: Zelda Dungeon // Hero's Purpose

[hotstreak2k3]

It’s finally here!

RwanLink’s 18th anniversary tribute to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is finally out on Youtube.

Check out this video and reblog it to pass it on. :)