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samsno1 · 1 year ago

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Flowers

Castiel x GN!Reader

i love his eyes. that's it, that's the tweet. guys...this is very sweet but i don't know if i'm satisfied?? tell me what you think, writing castiel is very hard, lawd

Summary: In a hunt, a flower appears over your pillow after you come back to the motel room at night. Who left it there?

Warnings: FLUFF, TOOTH-ROTTING FLUFF, i pictured s4/5 cas in this, use of y/n, sweet confession, NOT PROOF READ, that's it? english isn't my first language

WC: 2.5k

You can learn how to change Y/N for your actual name here

enjoy!

When you started hunting with Sam and Dean one of the last things you expected to encounter was an Angel, especially after discovering they aren't “harps and halos" like in the books you read as a kid, but instead soldiers and sometimes assholes.

Castiel was an exception to the “asshole” part, he was actually very sweet when it came to you and the boys. Helped you, saved you and cared for you. In that sense, Cas was just like the Angel stories, a guardian of the humans he was in charge of.

And for you, it was fun teaching Cas about humans and how they behaved, helped him when he didn't understand Dean's pop culture references, got him to watch classic movies and listen to music and he was always very keen into doing so, curious and intrigued in what you explained to him.

Those big blue eyes always gave you his full attention, sometimes with that little frown that you started to call “The Angel Frown” while he questioned you about something that, to you, was basic knowledge. You were always as patient as possible with him, always clarifying what you could in words he could understand and that ended up always making him come to you for help.

In conclusion, you and Cas got closer and you started to catch yourself staring when he wasn't looking, admiring his smiles, drowning into his sapphire eyes and wishing that he had just more doubts about how people acted so you could spend more time with him.

You knew, from what Castiel told you, that Angels and feelings, human feelings at least, weren't compatible and that things such as love and romance weren't truly a reality for him and his siblings, they were warriors after all, created to serve their Father and that was it.

Even when Castiel rebelled for the Winchesters, letting go of the “I don't serve men” mindset was difficult but you, Dean and Sam were there for him. You were more understandable then the brothers because you knew Cas was trying his best.

And because you fell for the Angel, but nobody needed to know that.

One night you arrived at the motel room you were staying at, after waving goodnight to Sam and Dean, them going to their separate room.

You opened the door and sighed deeply in exhaustion. It had been a long day of questioning and more questions appearing then those answered. At first you guys thought of a vengeful spirit, then cursed object, then witch. All of those possibilities were still up and it was driving you three insane. People were dying and you felt useless.

Once you closed the door and threw your stuff in the closest table you turned to your bed, where your bag was placed to get some clothes to take a well deserved shower. But, when you looked at your pillow, you noticed a single pink flower sitting over it and you furrowed your eyebrows.

You approached the flower slowly, skeptical about it, your hunter instincts telling you this wasn't good news. You slowly reached for it, as if it could bite your hand off, and picked it up. You analyzed the plant, very confused and grabbed your laptop.

You searched until you found a flower similar to the one you were holding and learned it was a Camellia. You looked between the screen and the flower and you searched up what a pink Camellia meant because, as much as you knew, flowers weren't really something you looked into.

What you found was shocking. According to the internet, a pink Camellia represents admiration and appreciation and Camellias and general represent love and affection. You widen your eyes at the flower in your hands, looking around your empty room as if someone would pop up and explain what this was doing at your bed. Wrong room?

You couldn't think of anybody that could give you this willingly. It definitely wasn't Sam or Dean because, first, they spent the whole day by your side and, second, unless they meant it platonically, the boys didn't see you like that. You loved them and they loved you, of course, but, to them, you were like a sister Dean loves you like he loves Sam, the same way Sam loves you like he loves Dean and vice-versa.

The only person that came to your mind was…No, it couldn't be, he said himself, love for him was basically unachievable but you couldn't help but wonder, even if your rational brain said it was stupid to think Cas would mean that. You smiled at the flower, that tinge of hope lightning inside you.

You looked around the room to look for something you could fill up with water and found an empty beer bottle. That'll do.

You washed the bottle to get the smell of alcohol off and filled it up with water, placing the little flower inside.

The pink color of the petals clashed with the transparent green of the bottle and you smiled at that. It looked cute in a way. You thought, even if this didn't come from someone you knew, you were keeping it, at least the flower.

You left the makeshift vase in your nightstand and took your stuff to the shower, peeling off your suit and your tie on the way, leaving it on the ground as you locked yourself inside the bathroom.

In these moments, Cas thanked his abilities of becoming unseen because you arrived just as he was leaving the Camellia over your pillow. He spent the day researching flowers, finding an interest in how humans always gave them to the people they cared about or to the ones who passed. He wanted to give you one to show you that he cared for you and also as a thank you for being patient with him for a long time.

He always felt happier around you, a warm feeling inside him always seemed to bloom. He felt the need to be close to you, like you were a human magnet. Everytime you looked at him he felt a weird feeling in his stomach, your smile was always something he felt the need to chase, he wanted to see it always in your face. He admired the way your eyes would shine when you were talking about something you liked.

When he saw you placing the flower on the nightstand with a smile he felt that weird feeling in his stomach again. He would do anything to see that look on your face again.

That hunt lasted a week, taking you three too long to figure out it was a witch and even longer to find said witch and to say you guys were fed up was an understatement.

For that long week you dared to say you missed the Angel, you thought about calling him, praying to him, multiple times but what were you going to say when he arrived? Missed you? I just wanted to see you?

Everything you thought sounded too intimate so you discarded the idea of calling him.

But two more flowers appeared on your pillow after that pink Camellia. A Peony that you learned meant for the Chinese something along the lines of “the most beautiful” and a stunning Carnation in a light red shade that represented admiration. At this point you were very intrigued about who was the one giving you the flowers, Castiel still on your mind. You didn't want to get your hopes too high, you were probably overthinking it anyways, making your heart speak louder than your brain.

You were lying on your bed, staring at the tiny bouquet of three flowers given piece by piece to you. It was your last night in that room, Dean having insisted he needed the sleep so as to not crash the Impala from tiredness. You had offered to drive as you weren't as bad as he was but, of course, that was an immediate no from the older brother so all of you settled for one more night.

As you close your eyes and start to fall asleep, a sudden flutter of wings gets your attention. It's dark in the room so you take a peek and for sure it's Cas. You hold back a smile and close your eyes, pretending to be sleeping.

You feel the Angel approaching the bed, his presence making your heart quicken in your chest. From what it sounds like, he's just standing, watching you and you start to feel very nervous.

Castiel on the other hand arrived to see your sleeping form and couldn't help but watch. You looked peaceful, your breathing was calm and you looked…pretty. Cas thought all his father's creations were wonderful but he felt like you could top them all, literally, in your sleep.

He had another little flower in his hand which, to him, had a very self-explanatory name, a Forget-Me-Not.

He spun the blue flower on his fingers, debating if he should leave it inside the vase or besides you, over your pillow.

He approached you and while he was placing the flower next to your head he felt a gentle hand wrap around his wrist and instantly froze on the spot.

You opened your eyes and looked at his near-horrified face. You smiled at him.

“Got you” You said, a little above a whisper and looked at the flower he was holding. That one you knew the name and what it meant and you felt warmth spreading through your cheeks, not just at that one flower, but knowing now that all those flowers you received came from Cas.

“I'm sorry for disturbing you” He said as he retreated his hand and you held the Forget-Me-Not. He was tense, not looking at you.

“So you were the secret admirer leaving me these flowers?” You asked as you slowly sat up on the bed and placed the blue flower inside the bottle with the three others. You placed both your hands over your lap, fidgeting nervously with your fingers. “Why?”

He looked around. What was he supposed to say? Himself barely knew why he was doing this but it felt right so he kept going with it. He noticed that the flower meanings resembled things that he felt or thought of you and he enjoyed collecting them for you, especially after you kept them.

“These flowers all have a meaning behind them” He started “Take them as a thank you for…being helpful with my understanding of human behaviors”

You smiled stupidly at that. The way he said it sounded like something he had rehearsed before coming to you to say it, the words too polite. But yet, that's one of the things you liked about him.

“You didn't have to Cas…They are beautiful, thank you” You said and looked at the flowers again, biting your lip. You felt his eyes on you, it was always intimidating. You knew that it was just the way he was, look right into your eyes while you talk to show you had his full attention, his beautiful blue orbs hypnotizing.

Cas analyzed every aspect of yours as you sat in front of him, his eyes wondering over your figure and his hands moved faster than his thoughts and he reached for your shoulder, his palm traveling from your shoulder blade to the end of your upper arm and back up, tracing a pattern over your skin. He longed to touch you and be closer to you in a way he couldn’t explain so, in this moment, you both alone, he decided to fulfill this wish.

You widened your eyes and looked up at Castiel who was entranced by the movement of his hand, goosebumps flaring up on your skin.

“Cas?” You said and acknowledged your call with a hum “What are you…?”

He finally looked at you, his hand steadied on your shoulder.

“When I’m around you I always feel this need to touch you, be closer and this…” He shakes his head, finding a word to define how he felt. “Warmth comes over me everytime you smile”

His eyes bore through yours and you could only stare back at him, shocked.

“Cas, you’re saying–”

“I think I might love you, Y/N” He interrupted. The way he said it sounded like a confusion, a slight approach, as if he was tiptoeing around the thought, not sure if he wanted to grasp it or just keep his distance.

You were dumbfounded. He sounded so sincere and your heart started to beat faster, his hand over your shoulder felt like it was burning through your skin. It all made sense, the flowers, the way he was always keen on talking to you even when you did most of the talking and he just listened with a faint smile and pure interest, he just didn’t know because he never felt like this before, he didn’t know what loving was like.

You landed a hand over his cheek, your eyes practically watering with an emotional overload at his words. You thumb rubbed the light stubble on his cheek and you pulled him in for a hug. You wanted to kiss him so bad but you were on a baby steps basis with the Angel.

You hugged him tightly, his hands hesitantly wrapping around your frame as you let out a deep breath. When you pulled back, you didn’t pull away completely from him looking between his eyes and his mouth, a giddy smile on your face.

“I think I might love you too Castiel” You said and he widened his own eyes, a light chuckle coming out of you at his reaction.

Your chuckles were cut off by his lips on yours and you gasped in surprise. His mouth was as soft as you expected, his lips moving against your in perfect sync. He was impressively a good kisser, one of his hands gently holding at the back of your neck while the other slid down to your waist.

You felt like a bomb had exploded inside you, a foreign feeling of happiness spreading to every single cell on your body as your arms wrapped around his neck to hold yourself when he sat on the bed, pulling you over his lap, making you yelp.

You both pulled away, your arms still wrapped around each other and he had a light smile on his face. You one hundred per cent had a shocked look on yours, your cheeks hot and breathing heavy.

“Where’d you learn that?” You asked, absolutely knocked by the kiss.

“Dean told me a thing or two” He said and you couldn’t help but laugh, your body shaking against his as he also chuckled. “It seems like I did great?”

You stopped your laughs and looked in his eyes, drowning in their ocean blue. You gave a peck to the corner of his mouth.

“You did amazing” You said as one of your hands played with the hair at the nape of his neck and he pulled you in, the warmth spreading through both of you yet again, never wanting to let go.

A/N: Notes and reblogs encourage me to keep writing, feedback helps me make those writing better. Thank you for reading, XoXo.

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sillovain · 1 month ago

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Spirituality of the Scadulands

Essay 5. I have seen very little written about religion in the Lands of Shadow, so Im going to try and write about it. What do people believe? and maybe what it all means in big picture. All lore essays -> #Treesandbeasts

1.1 Life is Short

If you imagine the world on the eve of the Erdtree Age, the City of Belurat stands at the centre of The Lands Between. Surrounding it are numerous towns, and around them are villages. To the south, the shores where "death washes up". To the north, the highlands where “the vitality of the Crucible flourished”. This land once contained both powers of both life and death.

In this time, death was simply a part of the Elden Ring (thus mortality was the norm). People would die, their spirits travelling somewhere beyond. In such a world, there would be incredible power in maintaining contact with the dead. And sure enough, the most widespread spiritual practice among the Towerfolk is spirit channelling.

Spirit is "immortal essence" (see. Roderika, Surging Frenzied Flame).

You could say that the core difference between pre and post Erdtree times is the experience of natural death, and thus the respective worldviews of people in each time.

This society also appears less centralized relative to the later Erdtree one. There is no evidence for a singular God-figure or the presence of the Elden Ring, what passes for divinity in this time is more local and mundane. Whatever Divine Warrior Ornis might be, he’s definitely not a god in the Marika sense. Neither, will you find kings or Elden Lords here, the only named authorities are religious figures (eg. Inquisitor Jori, Saint Romina, Sage Midra).

Faith itself also seems less exclusive. Though Tower-Priests appear to be the most powerful faction, every settlement has its Tutelary Deity (ie. a local one). Likewise, there exists numerous groups that perform something unique - Romina’s church performs purification, Shamans are mediums and scapegoats, Spiritgrave tenders watch over tombs and cremation rites. The only truly heretical faction is Midra’s followers, but even they seem have been tolerated for some time.

While this situation looks messy, consider that the reverse is true - the Erdtree system is very uniform. Not that surprising, given the history of stamping out anything that isn't Erdtree or Ancient Dragon (and secretly Dominula).

Game uses 2 demonyms; Towerfolk and Hornsent. I don't think these are equivalent terms given there's a sizeable portion of people here who lack horns entirely. Are the hornless simply unable to participate in spirit channelling personally? Or are there other ways around this?

Avoiding the Midra tangent, its complex and this essay is long enough. Short answer is that there's clearly a time between Midra amassing a following, Frenzy Flame manifesting, and the authorities being alerted. You can discourse endlessly if any of that was "the point".

2.1 Patron Ancestors

In every settlement sits a Tutelary Deity, an ascended corpse enshrined as an ancestor (see. Curseblades, Outer God Heirloom). Mechanically speaking, its purpose is to collect Revered Spirit Ash ("the remains of those who came before"). As per. Spirit Calling Bell, summoning a person's spirit requires their ashes, the role of Tutelaries then becomes quite obvious - Its a shrine for gathering and calling spirits of the local dead. And sure enough, familial spirits are invoked as guardians (see. Watchful Spirit, Tanglehorn Bairn).

You could thus describe the mundane religion as "Ancestor Worship". A representative ancestor (tutelary) is a shrine where the local dead gather. There, they may be invoked by living members of their community for protection (among other things).

What does Vengeful Hornsent mean by his "Clan"?

What does family, kinship and legacy mean in a world of natural death?

In gameplay, Spirit Summoning also calls for a "Rebirth Monument" (a column-like stone). Horns = rebirth monument on the body (hard pointed object).

Does this sort of spirituality continue at present in a marginal form? Ashes of War are remains that can impart knowledge of battle techniques. Invoking the dead is the passing down of knowledge.

Family shrines (+food offerings) are widespread IRL. Related is the idea that the dead return during certain festivals/times of the year. Think about the "Small Private Altar" Gracesite and if Belurat has any famous festivals.

small private altar grace site, with food offerings

2.2 Kin Circles

Necessary tangent. I don't want to discourse over the word "Tutelary", but "patron" or "guardian" deity are generally equivalent concepts: the globally widespread idea that some people/place/profession has a divine patron. Another relevant concept is the "Legendary Progenitor", the idea that some people share kinship (blood or otherwise) through a founding figure (real or mythical) that sometimes doubles as their patron god.

An in-universe example is the Guardian Deity of Temple Town, Ornis - "from whom the horned warriors claim descent". This is to say; an ascetic ritually becoming an "ancestor" to a random town may seem odd, but there's precedent for ancestorship/kinship not being about literal bloodlines.

For patron deities of professions, why is Taylew the "guardian deity of smithery"? The name of settlements has largely been lost, but there's some suggestion of a "profession/function + settlement" naming convention. Prospect Town, Temple Town, Shaman Village.

If Tutelary = enshrined corpse of an ancestor, then Grandmother(s) of Shaman Village(s) also fit the criteria.

2.3 Tumult of the Heavens

Above the mundane religion is a closed and elite form of spirituality - Divine Invocation used by Sculpted Keepers. This art involves drawing down spirits into living vessels, granting (the keeper) superhuman abilities. In game, this is represented by various horned helmets giving stat bonuses. Additionally, when beast-type warriors (incl. Lion Dancers) "powerup", they float into the air to manifest weather/storm powers.

see. Equipment from Horned/Beast/Bird Warriors, Ascetics and Lion Dancers. Also Spirit Ashes of Horned Warrior/Ornis.

Sculpted Keeper helmets having a low 'Focus' stat could also be interpreted as enabling trance/altered states.

This usage of "spirits for personal empowerment" appears unique to the Divine Tower's extensively-horned inhabitants. Its not found in the towns and villages, or used by the shadow commoners. This is a grand showcase of power among the priestly elite.

Its implied that tower priests keep knowledge hidden (see. Inquisitor Ashes, Lamenter, Secret Rite Scroll). Who is the audience for the Dancing Lion festival?

+2 Horn Charms suggest that horn growth is intentionally enhanced and cultivated. The priests of Enir-Ilim are vastly more horned than anyone else. Sprouting enough horns that they can be cut and gifted is a powerful gesture (see. Horn Tender currency). Hence, what's "sculpted" about a Sculpted Keeper?

There is a common reverence of storms/weather in pre-Erdtree times (see. Stormveil, Badlanders, Zamor). Is this because Enir-Ilim's influence once extended into lands beyond? Or is this just reflecting something older and more widespread? Why is Godfrey leader of the Crucible Knights?

You could compare this to the present day Ancient Dragon Cult seemingly being exclusive to the Leyndell Army. These are sky-centered elite faiths.

To summarize, the "core" of Divine Tower religion is about communion with the ancestors and communion with the elements. First and foremost is one's local identity (family, hometown, profession etc.) under a patron deity. Above that, are a class of priests that practice horn cultivation to invoke inhuman spirits.

There's likely overlap between the 2 halves (eg. Jori can summon spirits of other inquisitors). Why are Horned Warriors modelled after "heroes of older times"?

Is invoking familial spirits the precursor to Divine Invocation? With few small horns, you can speak to the dead. With many large horns, you can channel heavenly beasts. The elite religion sprouts from the common one.

2.4 Charnel Grounds

Next are a collection of practices associated with death and purification. Most interestingly, the professions associated with them seem exclusive to hornless people. Along the southern regions, Gravekeepers watch over the tombs and cremate using Ghostflame. Church of the Bud kept sacred flowers and performed purifications. Shamans appear to be healers, mediums and scapegoats.

There's general idea that there is a class system based on presence of horns. You can invoke ideas of ritual impurity, the task of handling death and filth being reserved for certain people. Plenty of IRL examples for "unclean" professions.

While the trend seems to be that highest authorities (Enir-Ilim) are the most extensively horned, there's also explicitly hornless spiritual masters (see. Romina, Midra, Nanaya).

3.1 Roots of Gold

Gold bears a specific meaning. It is the colour associated with the Greater Will (and no other cosmic power), the residue of a Star-Beast-Ring that fell long ago. There is a very limited list of gold-aligned societies (that we know of), just Farum-Belurat-Leyndell. Thus the advent of the Golden Order marks the passing from one golden society to the next. Primordial (Crucible) gold leads to modern gold, Belurat into to Leyndell.

Think about the Golden Order's founder. How she (seems to have) originated as a priestess in these lands, able read it's language and knowing secret Tower Rites - this is familiar spirituality to her. Given all this, can we draw any analogues between spirituality in the Land of Tower and the present Erdtree one?

Consider how much "root" imagery there is in the Crucible

At first, Bear Communion appears to be this strange (and seemingly isolated) type of magic, described as "more akin to the divine invocation of the hornsent than it is to the Dragon Communion". The connection here being someone claiming/invoking a beast/non-human spirit. Sculpted Keepers calling the divine beasts/birds, Godfrey-Serosh, and ultimately Marika-Elden Beast. In that sense, the foundational power of the present age's god follows in line with all this.

With Divine Invocation being such as exclusive art, perhaps its not surprising that the person who wields similar power in the current age is also the Golden Order's godhead. Also compare Sculpted Keepers being described as vessels and Marika as vessel of the Ring.

Returning to the idea of Tutelary Deity as guardian ancestor for a group of people - can we then say that Marika is tutelary to the entire realm and its people? Her Erdtree governs the cycle of life (even collecting the dead in a physical sense), as creator of this life cycle, Marika could be called originator of the Erdtree people. To convert is to be adopted into her family. To quote Queelign - "Marika mother to us all".

Looking at one's tutelary is a sacred act (see. Outer God Heirloom). Think about how Marika's image (especially her face) is treated (and where it gets used).

If Tutelary = Divine Corpse, then this is even more true at present.

Far beyond this essay, but you could expand on this idea of god as parental figure. A fundamental provider and protector.

3.2 Crucible Flames

Fire (and attitudes to it) seem to be the dividing line between primordial vs. modern gold. There's a suggestion that it is an intrinsic part of tree-ring-gold system, made taboo in the Erdtree Age. Crucible Aspect: Breath is the only Erdtree spell with fire. Erdtree prophets constantly glimpse fire. Burning the Erdtree appears to be an inevitable part of starting a new age.

Erdtree Prophets parallel Inquisitors with their saffron robes, covered eyes and ability to use fire. Difference being that this power is taboo for the prior, and a casual weapon for the latter.

Nothing explicitly stated about trees, but a (spiral) tree is one of the most common visual designs in these lands. The graves at Belurat city explicitly surround a tree, though unknown if connected to later tree burials.

Despite (comparatively) relaxed view on fire, there is still a fear surrounding Fire (as per. Furnace Golems).

Returning to the fundamental question of worldview - is the difference in attitude to fire just about the acceptance (or not) of inevitable ends? Its not that burning trees is good; rather we accept that sometimes/eventually trees burn (and new life follows) vs. there is one perfect and eternal tree that should never burn.

left: open world grave, right: Belurat grave

3.3 Closing Thoughts Wanted to keep on topic, so there's a lot of relevant things (and tangents) I did not cover.

Inquisitors wield the power of gold, but lack the Elden Ring (and a central god that bears it). How does this make sense? Answer deserves a essay on its own, but consider how priests of Enir-Ilim wield Rune Arcs as weapons. TLDR; there are definitely older Shattering(s).

Absence of the Elden Ring can also be interpreted as the lack of Order in literal sense. Shattering and Convergence - does it also apply to society? A world of many local gods gives way to a world under a universal one (Belurat broadly draws aesthetics from Mediterranean antiquity).

Erdtree and Ancient Dragon Cult coexist thanks to commonality of gold (see. Gravel Stone Seal). Implications for primordial vs. modern gold?

While not enslaved like in the present, Misbegotten with their extensive set of Crucible aspects are only ever seen congregating around forges and never in settlements. In that sense, they are a stateless people even in this ancient time. Having too many Crucible Aspects might thus be seen negatively. Non-DLC Crucible talismans imply that this taboo has developed over history. Perhaps the long arc of physical ideals goes; many aspects (Misbegotten) > 1 aspect (Hornsent) > 0 aspects (present day). Curseblades (shunned and imprisoned) are the only Hornsent with tails.

There's an assumption that "hornless = no Crucible influence". Instead consider - different aspects. People seem to be turning into trees and flies, aspects themselves are mutable (Morgott loses horns on dying).

Avoiding Fell God discussion for now (difficult to make sense of, but will write about it someday).

---END--- Thanks for reading. I sprouted several rounds of horns/trees/fingers to channel this. Shares and reblogs very appreciated, tyvm.

#elden ring #elden ring lore #the hornsent #heavenisgreen #treesandbeasts

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theplotmage · 8 months ago

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Murder Mystery, Occult, Paranormal & Fantasy Prompt Ideas for Writers

1. The Cursed Amulet - A wealthy collector is found dead after acquiring a cursed amulet. The protagonist must uncover the artifact’s dark history to solve the murder.

2. Blood Moon Ritual - During a blood moon, a prominent figure is sacrificed in a forbidden ritual. The investigator discovers a cult trying to summon an ancient deity.

3. Witch’s Grimoire - A renowned witch is murdered, and her grimoire is stolen. The book contains spells powerful enough to alter reality.

4. Haunted Manor - Guests at a secluded manor start dying mysteriously. It’s said the house is haunted by vengeful spirits from a tragic past.

5. Necromancer’s Revenge - A necromancer brings people back from the dead to seek revenge on those who wronged him, resulting in a string of murders.

6. Sorcerer’s Apprentice - An apprentice sorcerer is killed during a magical experiment gone wrong. The protagonist must navigate a web of magical deceit to find the killer.

7. Alchemical Poison - A series of deaths caused by an untraceable poison leads to an alchemist who’s using forbidden knowledge.

8. The Phantom Assassin - A shadowy figure with supernatural abilities is killing off members of a secret society.

9. Demon Pact - A series of murders mimic those described in an ancient text about summoning a demon. The protagonist suspects a pact with dark forces.

10. Arcane Library - A librarian is found dead in a magical library where books can come to life. The books themselves hold clues to the murder.

11. Midnight Masquerade - At a masquerade ball, a guest is killed, and the murder is linked to an ancient ritual involving the masks.

12. Sacred Relic - A sacred relic is stolen, and those connected to its theft are being murdered by a guardian spirit.

13. Time-Worn Curse - An old curse reawakens, killing the descendants of the original cursed family. The investigator must break the curse to stop the murders.

14. Vampire’s Thrall - Murders in a town coincide with the arrival of a charismatic stranger who may be a vampire seeking revenge.

15. Elemental Fury - A mage controlling elemental forces is killing people who wronged him in the past. Each murder is committed using a different element.

16. Runic Inscription - Victims are found with runic inscriptions burned into their skin, leading the protagonist to an ancient prophecy.

17. Ghost Ship - A ship thought lost at sea reappears, its crew murdered. The investigator discovers the ship’s cursed history.

18. Puppet Master - An enchanted puppet is killing those who mistreated its creator, a deceased toymaker.

19. Celestial Alignment - Murders align with celestial events, suggesting a ritualistic pattern. The protagonist races against time to prevent the next murder.

20. Shadow Realm - Victims are being dragged into a parallel shadow realm, their bodies found drained of life.

21. Enchanted Forest - People who enter a forbidden forest are found dead, their bodies entwined with enchanted vines.

22. Murderous Djinn - A djinn, bound to an artifact, is killing people who come into possession of it.

23. Spellbound Love - A love potion gone wrong leads to obsessive love and murder.

24. Seer’s Vision - A seer predicts their own murder and enlists the protagonist to prevent it, but the future seems immutable.

25. Ritual Dagger - A dagger used in ancient sacrifices is rediscovered, and each person who touches it is killed.

26. Charmed Life - A person with a charm for eternal life starts aging rapidly and dies under mysterious circumstances.

27. Mystic Tattoo - A tattoo artist’s clients are being murdered, their tattoos turning into deadly curses.

28. Dragon’s Curse - A dragon’s curse starts killing those who stole from its hoard.

29. Mirror of Truth - An enchanted mirror reveals the darkest secrets of those who look into it, leading to a series of murders.

30. Ghostly Whisperer - A medium is killed by a spirit they summoned, who continues to haunt and kill.

31. Warding Sigil - A town’s protective sigil is broken, unleashing vengeful spirits on the townspeople.

32. Sorcerer’s Duel - A duel between powerful sorcerers results in one’s death, but the victor’s life is now in danger.

33. Forbidden Love - Star-crossed lovers from rival magical factions lead to a series of revenge killings.

34. Haunted Heirloom - An heirloom brings death to the family that inherits it, linked to an ancestor’s dark pact.

35. Shapeshifter’s Hunt - A shapeshifter is targeting a specific group, blending in seamlessly until the protagonist uncovers their true nature.

36. Arcane Academy - A student at a magical academy is killed during a spell-casting exam, and the murder is linked to a dark secret of the school.

37. Spectral Assassin - An assassin’s ghost seeks revenge on those who betrayed him in life.

38. Illusionist’s Game - An illusionist’s final trick results in real deaths, with magic and deception intertwining.

39. Golem Rampage - A golem goes on a killing spree, and the investigator must find its creator to stop it.

40. Philosopher’s Stone - A hunt for the philosopher’s stone leads to deadly competition and betrayal.

41. Mystic Caravan - A traveling caravan brings death wherever it goes, linked to an ancient curse.

42. Sealed Tomb - An ancient tomb is opened, releasing a vengeful spirit that begins killing those responsible.

43. Moonlit Beast - A werewolf’s attacks coincide with the full moon, but this werewolf is being controlled by someone with dark intentions.

44. Soul Harvest - Victims are found with their souls extracted, leading to a dark sorcerer seeking immortality.

45. Witch Hunt - A series of witch trials results in the wrongful deaths of innocents, whose spirits now seek vengeance.

46. Crystal Prophecy - A prophecy within a crystal ball foretells murders, but the seer is manipulating events to fulfill it.

47. Enchanted Theater - Actors in a theater troupe start dying in ways that mimic their cursed roles.

48. Dark Covenant - A secret society’s members are being killed off one by one, linked to a broken blood pact.

49. Doppelganger’s Curse - Victims are replaced by malevolent doppelgangers who are committing murders in their place.

50. Forgotten Sanctuary - An ancient sanctuary is disturbed, releasing an entity that begins killing those who desecrated it.

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geospiral · 2 months ago

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Hyuna is such a great character, and her complex feelings and perspective of the world that comes with her deep empathy for humanity is so interesting to think about.

While Alien Stage is about the perseverance of love in a broken world where mankind no longer has the language, traditions, or moral understanding of right and wrong to help them express their feelings, it stands out to me how Hyuna’s story is mainly centered around the love of humanity as a whole instead of being primarily centered around one other individual in the main cast (two in Till's case). This isn’t to say that other characters don't have this kind of love; it’s just that we are shown Hyuna being a part of a larger community beyond Anakt, and her interactions with other characters tend to go far beyond that of our leads (even when Mizi is in the rebellion, we mostly see her with just Hyuna).

And when she is with her respective pair, Luka, her brother Hyun Woo, or his presence, is usually right alongside them.

Hyuna is not a vengeful person. Of course she hates the Segyein for what they’ve done to mankind, but her focus is on the people. She leads the rebellion because she loves what she's fighting for and wants a better future for humanity.

It’s a crucial part of Hyuna’s character that her love always comes before any hate or resentment she may hold, even when it’s justified, which is why her relationship with Luka is so important when it comes to highlighting her complexity, because Luka is not a Segyein; he is a human just like her, her brother, and all others she has encountered in her life. He is oppressed under the same system that she is and has faced horrific abuse of all kinds under his guardian. The two of them were close and she loves him, but he is also responsible for causing some of the most painful moments in her life.

After her brother’s death, Hyuna’s world was shattered, in part because Hyun Woo was one of the most important people in her life, with this possibly being the first time she had ever been confronted with death, but also because, despite being an accident, Luka was the one that caused it. She could ignore and push aside her discomfort with some of his more egregious behavior before, but not here. His lack of reaction to Hyun Woo’s death compared to that of her presence made it clear to her how deeply unhealthy his infatuation with her truly is, and it hurt to see how he seemingly did not care about his actions despite him and her brother being friends.

Hyuna grew up to understand mankind’s faults, that people can be incredibly selfish and are capable of horrific cruelty, but instead of becoming jaded, her appreciation for humanity grew alongside her, because she knows that people can learn, choose how they act, and grow and change to become better.

Her optimism doesn't come from a place of naivety but of hope. “Recreating the extinct concept of love was by no means an easy task for her either.” Hyuna exists in a world where the Segyein have stolen everything from them, including what they know to be right and wrong. By all means, Hyuna should hate Luka; she wants to hate Luka, but she can’t. She understands that Luka is a byproduct of his environment, and while that will never excuse his actions, she knows that he genuinely didn’t understand he was hurting her because he was just copying what the Segyein had done to him and what he came to think was affection.

Hyuna can never forgive Luka, and she shouldn’t have to, but what she does want is for him to change and grow outside of the Segyein’s influence, just like she does for all other humans, to understand that what he has done is wrong and why it was wrong, because despite everything, she still loves him. Hyuna is a character that will forever be defined by her overwhelming love for others, even when she doesn’t want to be.

#alien stage #alnst #alien stage analysis & official content #alnst hyuna #alnst luka #Arise and walk is my favorite comic we've gotten so far I think.

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astra-ravana · 29 days ago

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Slavic Magick

Slavic magick, also known as Rodnovery (Native Faith), Slavic Witchcraft, or Vedism, is a deeply ancestral, animistic, and nature-based practice rooted in the folklore, mythology, and spiritual traditions of the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, Czech Republic, etc.). It is a blend of pre-Christian paganism, folk magick, and shamanic traditions, honoring the spirits of nature, ancestors, and deities.

Core Beliefs in Slavic Magick

Worship of the Rod and Rozhanitsy (The Great Ancestors):

• Rod is the primordial god of fate, ancestry, and creation, representing the great cosmic order.

• The Rozhanitsy are ancestral spirits who determine the fates of newborns.

Animism & Nature Worship:

• Everything in nature is alive and sacred—rivers, trees, stones, and animals all contain spirits.

• Slavic magick involves working with land spirits (Domovoi, Leshy, Rusalka, etc.) to bring blessings or avoid misfortune.

Duality & Balance:

• Slavic spirituality embraces the harmony of opposites—life and death, light and darkness, masculine and feminine.

• The Zorya (Morning and Evening Stars) embody this balance, protecting cosmic order.

The Power of Words & Blessings (Zagovory):

• Spoken charms, incantations, and verbal spells (called Zagovory) hold immense power.

• Traditional blessings, protective words, and curses were often whispered over water, fire, or herbs.

Slavic Deities & Spirits in Magick

Major Slavic Deities:

• Perun – God of thunder, war, and justice (similar to Thor).

• Veles – God of the underworld, magick, wealth, and animals.

• Mokosh – Goddess of fate, fertility, water, and weaving.

• Svarog – Creator god of fire and the sky.

• Zorya – The twin goddesses of dawn and dusk, gatekeepers of the cosmos.

• Morana – Goddess of winter, death, and rebirth (associated with the burning of effigies in spring).

Slavic Household Spirits:

• Domovoi – Guardian spirit of the home; offerings keep him peaceful.

• Leshy – Woodland spirit, protector of the forest.

• Rusalka – Water spirit, sometimes benevolent, sometimes vengeful.

• Bannik – Bathhouse spirit, must be appeased with offerings of soap and water.

Ancestral Veneration & The Dead:

• Dziady is a ritual where food and offerings are left for departed ancestors.

• Ancestral spirits play an important role in guidance, protection, and revenge magick.

Tools & Sacred Items in Slavic Witchcraft

Herbs & Plant Magick:

• Mugwort (Chernobylnik) – Protection, divination, and connecting to spirits.

• St. John’s Wort (Ivan-da-Marya) – Wards off evil spirits.

• Rowan Berries (Riabina) – Used for protection charms.

• Birch Bark & Leaves – Associated with purity, new beginnings, and the goddess Mokosh.

Ritual Objects & Symbols:

• Rushnyk (Sacred Cloth) – Embroidered with protective symbols, used in blessings and rituals.

• Dolls (Motanka) – Handmade dolls used for protection, healing, and fertility spells.

• Sun Wheel (Kolovrat) – Symbol of Svarog and the cycle of life.

Sacred Water & Fire:

• Water from three different wells or rivers is used in purification rituals.

• Bonfires (Kupala Night Fire) cleanse and bring fertility and protection.

Slavic Magical Practices & Spells

Protective Magic & Amulets:

• Red thread charms protect against the evil eye (sglaz).

• Salt & bread offerings to spirits ensure household harmony.

• Burning juniper or mugwort cleanses a space of negative energy.

Love & Fertility Magick:

• On Ivan Kupala Night, young women place flower wreaths in the river to divine their future husbands.

• Honey & apple rituals are performed to bless marriages.

Curses & Baneful Magick:

• Burying a cursed item under a threshold binds misfortune to the victim.

• Mirror spells reflect harm back to an enemy.

• Zagovory incantations spoken over water can be used for both blessings and hexes.

Weather & Agricultural Magick:

• Burning effigies of Morana in spring banishes winter and invites fertility.

• Farmers would whisper to the earth before planting to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Ritual Calendar & Holy Days

• Maslenitsa (Spring Festival): A pagan Slavic celebration of renewal, featuring fire rituals, effigy burning, and feasts.

• Kupala Night (Summer Solstice): Bonfires, water rituals, and flower wreath divinations mark this festival of love, fertility, and purification.

• Dziady (Ancestor’s Night, Autumn): A time to honor the dead with feasts, candle rituals, and spirit offerings.

• Koliada (Winter Solstice): A festival of light marking the rebirth of the sun god Svarog.

Modern Slavic Witchcraft & Reconstruction

Slavic Pagan Revival (Rodnovery):

• Many practitioners today are reviving pre-Christian Slavic traditions.

• Groups such as Rodnovery, Slavic Heathens, and Folk Witches are keeping the ancient ways alive.

Slavic Witchcraft in Modern Practice:

• Some mix traditional Slavic beliefs with Wicca, Norse paganism, or folk magick.

• Ancestral veneration, nature magick, and oral traditions remain central.

Slavic Witchcraft & Divination:

• Tasseography (Tea Leaf Reading) is a common Slavic practice.

• Egg Cleansing (Osteomancy) detects and removes curses.

• Throwing bones, wax divination, and water scrying are still used.

How to Begin Practicing Slavic Magick

• Connect with Slavic Folklore & Myths

• Read fairy tales, mythology, and folk traditions from your Slavic ancestry.

• Honor the Spirits & Ancestors

• Start an ancestral altar with candles, bread, and personal heirlooms.

• Learn Slavic Symbols & Rituals

• Practice using Kolovrat, Rushnyk, and Motanka dolls in spells.

• Work with Slavic Deities or Nature Spirits

• Meditate with Perun, Veles, or Mokosh.

• Celebrate Slavic Pagan Festivals

• Observe Kupala Night, Koliada, and Dziady with traditional rituals.

Slavic magick is a rich, complex, and deeply ancestral path full of earth-based spirituality, protective magick, and powerful deities. Whether you're of Slavic descent or simply drawn to its mysticism, nature worship, and ancestral wisdom, this tradition offers a powerful way to connect with the spirits, honor the old ways, and walk a magickal path.

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