#Stygian;

[ringleaderising]

After the Fall || The Host

A great body lies picked clean by the opportunistic flock, and fledgling settlements grow within the grand bones incapable of removal- for the living, the work has begun on a new future.

But for the Host, the sun rises on a trial by a jury of Encore's peers.

[Puppeteer, Magda] [Mithos, Stygian] [Encore, Crux]

Content Warnings: Descriptions of gore!

"Hideous living things... traipsing about with their... free will." The valley below is alive with life even in the darkness of night, the constant chattering of construction crews harvesting and working bone into useable pieces for the slowly growing marketplace and housing in the body of the fallen 'God' below. "Now we are working at a deficit, and they are celebrating as if they've been given a feast- what a pitiful performance he gave. Almost not worth the effort retrieving him."

"Puppeteer, talking to yourself again?" The Skydancer woman adjusts her cane in her hand, head inclining toward the sound of another arrival's voice- the cloying, perfumed scent of roses making it clear who the arrival is, even if she can't see the imperial sidling up behind her, exposed golden bones entangled with flora catching in the gentle breeze passing through the Emperor's Wake. "I thought we were past that little... idiosyncrasy."

"Silence yourself, Heathen. I am not talking to myself. Magda is here."

"Ah yes, of course, we can't do this without Miss mud and detritus can we? Where have you gone then, Maggie?" His voice carries, and as he turns his head to look around, leaning into his spear for balance, Mithos scowls. "Mm, I see. You've misplaced your gravedigger, Puppeteer- perhaps we should keep a better eye-"

"....." He's cut off by the sudden, violent thud of a large, thick stone, humming with magic and depicting an ignited brazier in the center. ".... Marker."

"Weaver's blessings you lumbering oaf you could have caught my foot with that-"

"Stop your complaining Mithos!" Puppeteer snaps, feathered frills flicking up in a display of displeasure. "I spend enough time listening to you moan about that filthy child of yours to tolerate you complaining about doing your job. Help her place the stone."

"Who died and made you-"

"Encore. Now lift the stone." Mithos rolls his eyes, bending to pick up one side of the stone- pushing it into place as Magda watches on silently, filthy gloved claws gripping her shovel handle as she nervously sways back and forth. "It's quite alright, Magda, we will inter him after we've had a little talk, is all... He must answer for this utterly miserable display. It is one thing to die, it is surely another to do so in a way that gives so many of these.... unworthy access to our strength. Not negligible of which being your filthy harlequin and my disobedient doll... Tch."

"So really, you're throwing a tantrum because the Sow's made a purse out of the pig's ear you saddled her with?" Another voice chimes, then proceeds to laugh at his own terrible joke. "Crux and I got held up, apparently, the crippling guilt of a clan leader who failed her people cannot wait the twenty minutes it would have taken to get this done."

"My pack is starved for the hunt, Stygian, not that you would understand that... layabout as you are." The tundra's armor clanks against itself as he extends a wing, a pack of braying wraith hounds trapped within the snowfields displayed on the underside. "...We are sated. Until we know what Encore has to say for himself." Cold air spills from skeletal maw, the thick haze starting to occlude the overlook the five of them stand upon from the ground below, as Magda continues to dig.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Mithos questions, Stygian raising a brow.

"You got a hot date or something, Mithos? Some party to get to in amongst our centuries of free time?" The imperial scoffs, but the skydancer continues, smirking as he removes his tankard from his belt and taking a lengthy swig. "Because I can always give Selv or Lacrymosa a ring, if you're too busy for us, oh no, wait, no I can't, they're a little busy in dragonhome, cleaning up after-"

"I get it. Shall we make a jab about my dead beholder, too?" The argument is ended before it starts, though, when Magda lofts something fleshy and scrunched from the hole in the ground, tossing it to the ground beside Puppeteer's feet.

"Encore... Here."

"Ha, I knew the luscious golden locks were a wig."

"Shut. Up. Stygian." Puppeteer snaps now, holding one clawed hand aloft. "Thank you Magda."

"...Leave?"

"No. You are part of this trial, so you stay." The guardian woman sighs, reaching her own hand to absently stroke at the snout of the skull hung over her wing. "This will not take long." Puppeteer jabs at the fleshy amalgam- revealed now in the haze to be a heart- with the sharp end of her cane, filthy black magic contorting through the meat beneath- until the heart itself shifts, shape changing, the sound of creaking bone and squelching flesh filling the air just the same as Crux's ghostly frost for a short time, until in the place of it lies... Encore.

Stripped of magic, of Godhood, and made of seemingly only a small amount of the flesh that once made him whole, it is still what once was Encore lying filthy and bare in the grass below a scowling Puppeteer with the previous grandiose presence that still lives within those who stand around him now completely vacant. It is also the fallen spirit who's bones now thrive with activity below who, upon regaining enough awareness to speak- begins begging for his life.

"Puppeteer- I- I did not-"

"Did not intend to die or did not intend to do so in such a miserable way that now we are at risk of more hunters at our door? Because you surely did both. Someone get him some clothes. I am not having this discussion with him in the nude."

A ragged, bloodstained bolt of cloth, and then another, finds itself thrown at Encore- who takes a moment to gather himself- bones and flesh mangled and showing- exposed heart muscle making up more parts than it certainly should, vascular and tangling his hands and feet. He is not whole and the pieces they could find are struggling to resemble what he should be- he dresses- he tries to pretend his wings aren't flaps of slick organ, instead of thick leather. Whatever has become his stomach turns.

"What did you do to me...?"

"Well, I mean, you were thousands of feet tall and the size of a frigate, we had to make some exceptions so you could answer for yourself. I just wish those exceptions were less wet... Magda! Get back here." Mithos snarks, turning to catch the retreating figure of Mag slowly trying to slink away in the wintery haze. It's spreading, now, blanketing the bones below and causing less winterized, less hardy workers to hesitate in the sharp, biting chill.

"Not right...." She insists softly. "Cannot see but know it is not right." Her voice rasps, and Puppeteer rolls her eyes.

"We are not here to be bleeding hearts- well, none of us but Encore, hm?" She snickers, Stygian and Mithos laughing under their breath as well as Crux soothes the pack contained within his wings- they've gone from silent to a fever pitch, howling and wailing not unlike the wicked, biting wind. "It seems the huntsman has made his judgement already... You failed us, Encore."

"There is something beneath Lightning that knows of us, it is what killed me- it spoke with the voice of a woman- it told me- it insisted-"

"Ah, so we're listening to voices from beneath the sand now? I tire of this fool, Puppeteer, I say we set the hounds, and be done with him." Mithos grunts, examining glittering golden claws for a long moment. "He was sent on a simple outing, he failed and beyond that, now he's provided these mortals with the ability to better seek the throne. He's endangered all of us."

"Fine. I grow weary of the living anyway. We take our vote now. Those in favor of Encore's return to the earth? Mithos?"

"Nay."

"Stygian?"

"Nay."

"Crux?"

"Nay...."

".... Magda?"

"....." The guardian remains silent- swallowing tightly- Encore turning to her suddenly- she cannot see him but she can hear it in his voice, the way he's been twisted into something disgusting- something unholy, through Puppeteer's touch. She lifts her tail, worrying nervously at it with both hands.

"Maggie- Maggie please- don't- you don't have to go along with this-"

"Majority.... Rule... But I vote... Yay."

"Ah, Tragic it means nothing, here, isn't it, Maggie?" Mithos snorts. "Well, Encore, those are the breaks, huh? Too bad. Maybe in another thousand years we'll see you at the Pantheon Yule parties, but for now? Crux, I hope those dogs of yours are hungry- got some prime meat on offer."

"We hunt relentlessly. Until your guilt leaves your heart, Encore- The Pack will pursue." He hesitates, if only for a moment- the bleach white of his skull almost... sad. "...As my friend, as a former colleague... I will offer you a headstart- you have until the fog passes to get as far as you can. Once it lifts- there will be no freedom from our pursuit- until we are fed."

The Huntsman's wings unfurl again, his loyal pack spilling from within, soon surrounded by several wraithhounds, their bodies gaunt with hunger, their eyes trained ahead on their meal.

So Encore runs. With the haze of safety rapidly dwindling, and new, wrong flesh catching on rocks and trees, he runs- as he knows that death would have been the kindest thing his peers could offer him- and should Crux's hounds catch up, it will never come- eternity under their teeth and claws would make his Collapse look like child's play.

He needs somewhere to hide.

[zegalba]

Stygian Owl, known for red reflection of their eyes that are often associated with the Devil. In the presence of light their eyes can give a brilliant red reflection.

[bogcreacher]

guardian devil, guardian angel

(and silly)

[bigfatbreak]

May I see more of that Friendship Games/Twibra/Frankengroup of Friends AU? PLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE????!!!!!!!!!!

[willthespy]

I feel like Nico would learn to use a bow and arrow to feel closer to Bianca, he knows she’s never coming back but he loves her all the same.

WHY… WHY WOUKD YOU DO THIS!!??!

[blushbrushart]

Muscle Monday! #1 Stygian Zinogre

[rulers-of-the-sky]

Stygian Owl

[thefoxtherapist]

hiii! i saw you were taking requests for wuwa and was wondering if you could write general cuddling headcanons or scenarios for jiyan, calcharo, scar (idk if he’s a cuddle type guy lol), and/or any other characters of your choosing. can have already established relationships

tysm 💜👾

Thank you for the request! I hope you like it! I'm still learning the characters so go easy on me o7

-Scar actually strikes me as somebody overly clingy if given the opportunity. If his schedule allows for it, there's almost nowhere else he'd rather be.

-He's pretty brash about his wants and needs, he doesn't hesitate to take what he wants. And yet, his approach to relationships and intimacy differs from this. If his storytelling is to be believed, I think he'd be hesitant.

-But the moment you open your arms when he comes home? Scar's arms are around your waist in seconds. Always a bit too tight, face buried against you in one way or another. It can be bruising at times, or the complete flipside of far too gentle.

-With Scar its rarely big spoon/little spoon. He prefers when you're laying on your back, either on the bed or the couch. He likes to lay partially on top of you, his face buried in your neck, body half on top of yours like a protective shield. Your arms around him, holding him tightly.

-If he can't breathe because he refuses to remove his face from your neck or hair, then he's cuddling correctly!

-You know those memes that are like (brooding edgy guy) "and what were you up to-" "killing..." "we were cuddling." YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH HIM! Scar will PROUDLY announce everything you two were doing. IN DETAIL.

-He's a proud man. And you've eaten his hair. Ultimately, 7/10.

-Jiyan gonna hit you with "I'm too busy right now, I'll make it up to you." then never make it up to you. The weight of the world is on his shoulders and to some degree he put it there himself.

-You gotta drag his green ass into bed, I'm sorry. But once he's in bed, he will stay there. The thing about cuddling with Jiyan is that it isn't just cuddling? It's also nap time. He's tired, he's overexerting himself, he's fighting a bazillion internal and external wars.

-He likes being the big spoon (you slept on his hair accidentally ONE TIME). Jiyan is a bit tense as his arm wraps around you, his other arm under the pillow. At first his chin will rest against your head, he'll sorta look over you.

-Eventually though he'll relax, his chest will loosen, his grip will loosen, and his face will drop into the top of your head. His breathing gets quieter, calmer. Every time he breathes out a lil hard, there's a gentle breeze that rustles the sheets. But it keeps the temperature perfect.

-It is at this point you could turn in his arm if you want to, bury your face into his chest. Jiyan is fast asleep and happy to hold you as he finally gets some rest with his lover. He's a bit of a snorer though, sorry.

-3/10 on a normal day, but once you get him into the freaking bed, he's so comfortable to nap with and snuggle so 9/10 once hes in there. Good luck though.

-So the edgy brooding guy I mentioned in Scar's section, that is Calcharo. Most of the people who work for him, or even know him, don't even know he has a partner. This is to keep you safe.

-But because of this, physical intimacy is often put aside for safety. He isn't a fan of it, I doubt you're a fan of it. But Calcharo puts those he looks out for pretty high up on his priority list.

-You have a secret knock. And when he knocks in that secret way, he's quick to push by you and into your home. He's quick to check all the locks before he even says hello.

-But his hello is picking you up and bringing you to the nearest soft surface. Your back hitting the couch cushions, him still holding your thighs as he pretty much lays on top of you at a bit of an awkward angle.

-Calcharo tends to kiss and cuddle, it isn't just a relaxing snuggle, he wants to get his kisses in too. Each one gentle, almost tired, as he peppers your face in small kisses. He's a bit like, yes I am saying this to be silly, a puppy.

-If you don't push him off and get him outta his gear, he will sleep like this. Look at that man, he's tired. But the second you push on his shoulder, he's off of you. Very respectful man, my beloved. But he'll follow you to your bedroom, dropping gear on his way. His weapon beside your bed.

-8/10. He's back to giving you kisses and he hasn't undone his boots yet.

[heilos]

Living Harmony AU relevant character sheets/info: Harmony aka the "Tree of Harmony" Stygian Somnambula Starswirl the Bearded Shadow Lock is actually an official canon character from the IDW comics No. 51-53 and I really enjoyed his mini arc introduction enough to include him as a more significant part of my "Living Harmony" MLP AU animation project. When I found out he's a direct descendant of Stygian, one of the Pillars of Equestria, I had to find a way to work him in and give him a bit of an updated design to fit more into my story setting I have planned. My good friend Ori helped vector my finalized concept redesign in the very top image. Listed below is some character and story context for these sketches provided by my myself and Ori who's been a huge help in fleshing out the world building with this cast of characters I'm using in this AU so far. Shadow Lock's main abilities and canon backstory are expanded upon and/or flavored a bit differently here as well.

Stygian’s distant descendant, the last living branch in his family tree

Lives alone in his family’s castle after they retired to the town of Somnambula

Temporary antagonist to the mane 6 that stems from a fear of the Pony of Shadows returning to plague Equestria

Believed he was descended from a monster and desperately tried to erase any mention of the Pony of Shadows from written history

Was talked down from his history erasing spree by Twilight and ends up traveling around Equestria to find more info on the Pony of Shadows, without trying to erase the knowledge this time, and prevent it from returning

The symbol on the front of Shadow Lock’s cloak is his family crest that dates back to Stygian's time period.

There’s a glamor woven into Shadow Lock’s cloak that enshrouds its wearer’s face.

Shadow Lock’s special talent is the concealment and binding of dark magic. He can effectively bind malevolent “spirits” into vessels where they’re unable to cause harm. This can also be reversed as an unbinding spell. ("spirits" in this context are more like a culmination of lingering, concentrated dark magic that takes on a will of its own)

His family castle used to be quite “haunted”. It’s quieter nowadays, but he does have a large collection of miscellaneous items that most ponies would consider “cursed…”

Always carries a healthy stack of books on his person to read and use as a weapon. His spells can pull fictional characters and monsters from stories to fight for him

Created a spell that can trap a creature into experiencing a historical event on loop by using a small amount of written text. The spell can be broken by doing something significant enough that did not occur during the looped event in history.

Shadow Lock and Stygian are extremely hesitant to meet each other at first in present time. The mane 6 and Harmony step in as mediator eventually to help them work out their issues so they can reconnect as family

Much later in the story, Shadow Lock invites Stygian to live in his castle once their family relationship is repaired, the two becoming inseparable

His original design from the comics:

[dragon-wishes]

monhun fusion custom comm :) ruiner nergigante/stygian zinogre hybrid. had a lot of fun with this guy!!

[ringleaderising]

Finally Moved some finished projects into my lair proper!

Calliope || Petri Automa || Revolver Desire || Merlot Illomiae || Stygian

I am now low on lair space again.

[pikminjake]

Zinogre!!!!!!!! Wanna build him yourself? Click HERE. And see below for Stygian Zinogre!

I have well over a hundred different LEGO Monster Hunter models to get posted on here and I'm trying my best to space them out so that it doesn't look like spam!

[bogcreacher]

hey girl!! and Styg

[jacqcrisis]

The few snippets of dialogue I've seen from from Hermes in Hades 2 really reaffirms a core part of whatever his relationship is to Charon to me: Hermes is extremely invested in making sure Charon has someone to talk to.

Please say hi to him. Please make sure he's doing okay. Please look out for him. Someone needs to be checking in on Charon and be there for Charon when Hermes can't be.

Maybe it's because he recognizes Charon is a loner and doesn't have people who worry about him. Maybe its because he knows Charon has a hard time communicating. Maybe its because Charon is a workaholic and will put the people he cares about before himself. Maybe he just really fucking likes Charon.

Probably all of these. But I had that assumption in the first game, and I'm glad its canonized (or so it seems) in second. Hermes worries about his big skull faced man's mental and social well-being so much that he's asking the children of Hades to take some time out of their big important 'find my mom/dad' quests to make sure boatmen aren't too lonely without they speedy chatty birds.

[verquilla]

babysitting

[mersei47]

before audihank have stygian and audi fucking with each others (stygian being a bad influence to the offering)