#all art is open source for personal use only

[vanity-complex]

Was tasked to create a soda label for a class of mine. Decided to make a pretend hard seltzer label based off that stupid Edward Cullen post.

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 ( 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 !! )

𝟭. improve your writing skills ( ✒️ )

i feel that not everyone has the perception of how important it is to know how to write. you don't have to be a poet, nor the new emily brontë, but fluid, conscious, rich writing makes the difference. really. you could write a page without saying anything at all, but if that damn page is written good and smoothly, then you can be sure that you will get extra points. take the time to improve your writing skills, the best advice i have for doing so is reading. read as much as you can. read novels (non-fiction in this case doesn't help because the content is preferred rather than the form), read contemporary authors – you don't necessarily have to read sophocles' tragedies, but read quality stuff. expand your vocabulary, your knowledge of syntax, learn to use punctuation! and then write, tell stories, write love letters, write reviews of films, books, cultural festivals, open a blog on tumblr and write to practice, reread what you write ad nauseam, until it is perfect, until the form of your essay is pulitzer prize worthy.

bonus some of my favourite authors (tell me in the comments about yours!): ian mcewan, banana yoshimoto, haruki murakami, george orwell, josé saramago, albert camus, khaled hosseini, hanya yanagihara

𝟮. develop critical thinking ( 💭 )

if you have always studied passively by absorbing information and vomiting it onto a test sheet then you have wasted your time. taking on information is not enough, you need to know how to rework it and develop your own idea about it. especially in the arts and literature one may disagree with certain information provided by a textbook. developing critical thinking is not easy, especially due to the school system that teaches us to standardize thinking. always consult all available sources on a given topic, compare them, analyze contradictions. it might be difficult and tiring – our brain spends more energy processing two conflicting pieces of information than processing two pieces of information that agree – but it will be worth it. by practicing critical thinking and improving your argumentation skills, you will not only be able to improve in your studies, becoming able to present complex topics and make interdisciplinary connections, but also in daily life, you will become much less influenced and manipulated by external information.

𝟯. find yourself an interest ( 🌷 )

it could be anything, but find an interest that excites you and you enjoy and do research about it. watch videos, documentaries, read articles. it doesn't have to be school-related, it must be an external topic that you are passionate about and that allows you to rediscover the joy of studying and learning every time school seems to suffocate it. sometimes i'm not in the mood to study for exams, so i dedicate myself to my personal research and finally find my spark, my seek for knowledge. for example, my interest is true crime, it has always fascinated me since i was little, but yours could be wild animals, makeup, comics, ships, planes, ocean flora, literally anything. there is no constraint.

𝟰. analyze your mistakes and recognize your wrongs ( 🫒 )

there is no shame in making mistakes. everyone makes mistakes, we are human, but the real sin is getting bogged down in mistakes, refusing to acknowledge them, and continuing to make them again and again. we should be continually growing, continually discovering ourselves, both intellectually and emotionally. how many of you were the "gifted kid" when you were little and then grew up into burned out high school / uni students desperately seeking academic validation? there comes a time when talent isn't enough, you have to put in the effort, and this doesn't make you less intelligent or gifted, in fact, quite the opposite. dedicating time and attention to your personal and intellectual growth also means having to ruminate on your mistakes. it's scary, but it's the most effective way if you really want to improve. take a notebook and at the end of the day reflect on the highlights and the wrongs, what you could have done better, where you would like to push forward tomorrow, what you achieved today. did you make a mistake? first ask yourself why and then look for a way to solve the problem, make every bad moment a lesson, a brick on which to build the version of you you wanto to become tomorrow.

𝟱. don't be afraid of doing researches ( 🧃 )

the amount of fake news and misinformation online is appalling. opening any app like tiktok or instagram we are inundated with information that is often (not always, but not so rarely) inaccurate. don't be afraid to conduct your own research, if you have time to mindlessly scroll through tiktok you will also have five minutes to read an article regarding that information provided. don't know the meaning of a word? look it up before using it. not sure about a piece of information? check it before using it in your argumentation. in the age of immediate access to data we have no excuse to be superficial.

𝟲. master communication ( ♟️ )

mastering communication is essential in both personal and professional realms. it's the cornerstone of building meaningful relationships, whether it's conveying ideas effectively in academia or fostering connections in the workplace. developing strong communication skills not only enhances your ability to articulate thoughts but also empowers you to listen actively, empathize with others, and resolve conflicts constructively. ultimately, honing these skills cultivates confidence, credibility, and success in all aspects of life.

𝟳. push yourself out of your comfort zone ( 🧸 )

build your confidence. confidence is uncomfortable. don't be afraid of it. you are young, this is the right time to experiment, take risks, discover who you really are. this is the best time for you to do those things that you would otherwise never do, you don't want to regret later in life that you didn't accept that scholarship, that trip abroad, that job opportunity, because you didn't feel comfortable enough. do things that take you out of your comfort zone until everything becomes your comfort zone. go on solo dates, be a social butterfly, tell the girl at the bookstore you love her t-shirt, go to the theater alone, eat at a restaurant alone, take that trip. if it goes badly, you'll only have one funny story to tell.

𝟴. stay informed about the news (but not too much!) ( 🌍 )

this might be controversial, but: stay informed about the news, just don't overdo it. personally, i am an easily influenced person and i realized that being constantly exposed to the bad things happening in the world had drained me and made me terribly depressed. don't get me wrong, you need to be informed about what's happening in the world and in your country, just being constantly surrounded by horrible news repeated ad nauseam on TV programs is of no use. be aware.

[nyoomerr]

Luo Binghe Shimeji (Extended Version!)

a couple years ago, riladoo created an adorable binghe shime! he could be picked up and tossed around your computer screens, climb around on all your windows, multiply, and all the other cute things that come in the standard base shimeji set.

more recently, i reached out to riladoo with a commission request - more action sets for binghe! over the past couple months, riladoo has worked hard to make some adorable binghe art, and i've updated all the source code and config files to accommodate the new actions! 🎉

the extended action set includes: - a 'sit and eat' idle action - two 'head patting' actions when the mouse hovers over him - a 'fall and cry' action for when he falls from tall heights - a 'land nicely' action for when you place him down gently

the original binghe shime listing on riladoo's gumroad has been updated to have all these new actions, so go grab him now!! he's free / pay what you want! 🥰

i've put more details about the new action sets + general shimeji setup tips below the cut, but otherwise -- LET THE BINGHE COMPUTER INFECTION COMMENCE !!

**these extended actions only work on windows, not mac. sorry ;w; the original shime set has a mac version, though!

Extended Action Set Details

when you download the files from riladoo, you're looking for the .zip file labeled "Updated Shime code" !

sit and eat this is an idle action that will trigger randomly the same as any other idle action. if you want to trigger it manually, you can right click the shime -> 'set behavior' -> 'sit and eat'

head pats these are 'stay' actions that will trigger automatically when you hover your mouse over the shime. i recommend hovering your mouse over his head for maximum head-pat-effectiveness! unfortunately, this action won't play if the shime is actively climbing a wall/ceiling - maybe in the future this can be extended further, but for now there are only head patting actions for sitting and standing poses :>

falling variations (crying / default / land nicely) there are now a total of 3 'falling' actions. to see the 'fall and cry' action, allow binghe to fall from the top half of your monitor. to see the standard/original 'fall and trip' action, allow binghe to fall from the low-mid range portion of your monitor. to see the 'land nicely' action, gently place binghe down at the bottom of your monitor. this means you're rewarded for catching binghe when he falls off a window - if you catch him and set him down, he lands nicely, but if you let him fall normally, he'll start crying!! 🥰

Shimeji Installation Tips

if you've never had a shimeji before - don't worry, they're super easy to install! i recommend following this video tutorial created by the person who originally created the source code for shimeji. you can skip the parts about downloading the shimeji itself - you'll get that from riladoo's website :>

if you install everything but opening the shimeji executable does nothing, download jarfix to resolve this issue.

if you follow the tutorial and update the 'interactive windows' but the shime still doesn't stand/climb on the specified windows, restart your computer to resolve this issue. alternatively, make sure you don't have any 'unexpected' monitors plugged in - a friend of mine had their shime constantly falling down through their monitor onto their screen drawpad, which was confusing until it got figured out!

if you are on mac instead of windows.... i am so sorry i actually have no idea how to help 🙇‍♂️ the original/default binghe shimeji set DOES have a mac os folder in with the downloads, but i've never tested it (don't use mac), and even if it works, it won't include the extended actions (i didn't build an executable for mac with the new code).

More Questions???

feel free to hit me up! in the replies of this post / through DMs / send an ask - whatever is best for you. i'll tag any asks i get about the shime with #binghe shime chronicles so they get archived nicely. i got very familiar with all the source code / config files to get this lil guy set up with his extended actions, so hopefully i can answer any questions you have! 💪😤

that's all!! i am so happy w how the new actions turned out - the art riladoo did for them is SO cute! - and i hope y'all will be, too!

[plutosunshine]

What leads you in life?

Our Ascendant is the lens we look through, our direction and navigation. The ruler of Ascendant can show what leads us in life.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 1st house

Basically, your identity is what leads you in life. Life gives you situations when you need to realize that you are number 1 on your path. You learn to lean on yourself and trust your gut. You will gradually build a strong sense of self and become self-reliant, strong, and dedicated. The universe wants you to realize how special and unique you are and that you can count on yourself. Trust your instincts and don’t allow others to manipulate and mislead you. You know what you want and need, so if you trust yourself, you will win this life.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 2nd house

Your values are leading you in life. You are meant to build strong and solid self-esteem and become your own source of energy and inspiration. Your values are this strong solid foundation you lean on. This gives you self-confidence and direction in life. You have your system of values and worldview which allows you to feel stable and secure going throughout life. You are dedicated and have great stamina, which helps you to reach your goals in life. You know that you can count on this side of your personality and that’s why you can move forward towards any goal that’s in your mind.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 3rd house

Your desire to learn and get new experiences leads you in life. You are curious and like everything new and unusual and that allows you to experience different kinds of moments in life. Your curiosity and intellect lead you toward great opportunities. You always want to refresh your system of values and judgments, and your attitude toward life goals is flexible. Your desire to get knowledge and experiences will lead you toward the most incredible opportunities and moments. So it is important not to ignore this great desire inside you!

The ruler of Ascendant in the 4th house

The exploration of your true self and inner needs is what leads you in life. Unconsciously you desire to dig deep into your soul and find all the treasures and dark sides you have. Investigation of your roots or even previous life may be interesting for you as a tool of exploration yourself. Also, you need to work through your suppressed emotions to get the opportunity to set yourself free from heavy emotional baggage. Spirituality, psychology, esoteric, and other techniques may be good tools for self-exploration. Your connection to the people you love is very important for you and you find your authentic self through the soul connections.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 5th house

Creation is what leads you in life. It is not necessarily art or something creative but it is anything connected to creating something new. Whether it be new life or a new project, maybe even starting a new life with no strings attached. Self-expression is one of the most important themes of this placement. You need to explore your talents and express all you have inside through them. One of the things I would like to mention is your attitude toward life. The universe wants you to not take life so seriously. The 5th house is all about lightness, playfulness, and positivity, so you will discover the best opportunities in life only by following this approach to things.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 6th house

Self-improvement is what leads you in life. You are extremely hard-working in terms of self-exploration and your detailed and persistent approach to things helps you not only know yourself but also help others with that. You are a great helper and advise-giver because of how much knowledge you have. You know that information is what opens the best opportunities for you and don’t stop receiving new knowledge. Being in service to others gives you the energy for reaching your own goals. And you have so much to tell others about life!

The ruler of Ascendant in the 7th house

The desire to live in harmony and balance is what leads you in life. Life can be stressful and exhausting but the universe creates the situations when you need to set peace in your mind. It is not easy and requires a lot of hard work on yourself, however, inner balance is what brings you the best opportunities in life. This harmony relates to all your one-to-one relationships as well. You need to find balance, when you give and take equally. Only that type of relationship will bring you happiness and satisfaction.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 8th house

Transformation and epiphany moment is what lead you in life. What I mean is that you are going through transformations all the time and you get so many insights about life, so much wisdom and epiphany moments that you could even become a spiritual teacher. The universe will try to open your intuitive abilities so that you could dig deep into your soul and souls of the others. You cannot be fooled easily, you see what people hide beneath. And it comes from your own dark and transformative experience. You are meant to help others on their spiritual healing journey because you have so much wisdom inside. And it comes from a place where you had to explore your fears and unhealed wounds.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 9th house

Expansion of the horizons is what leads you in life. The 9th house is all about expansion, open-mindedness, exploration, teaching, spirituality, and intellect. You desire to get new experiences to share them with others later. A positive attitude is what brings you the best opportunities in life. The universe will create spontaneous and unpredictable situations for you to get new unforgettable experiences and realize the meaning of life from a different angle. If the 8th house explores the dark sides of life, the 9th house is meant to explore the brightest. In the best expression, this placement gives you a lot of luck and unexpected opportunities.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 10th house

The desire to be the most respected and recognized in your field is what leads you in life. Also, I would say that a big goal leads you. Because the 10th house is a very strong house and it needs attention, recognition, respect, and success. But also, it needs patience and persistence because as we all know Saturnian influence slows everything down. The native slowly but surely reaches one goal after another to build the biggest empire. It all sounds very big but it doesn’t necessarily have to be something huge. The 10th house just needs the direction where to navigate all its forces.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 11th house

Dreams and hope are what lead you in life. Even if you have been through a lot in life, you still have that little sparkle of hope. You have dreams and you have everything you need to achieve them because the 11th house is ruled by a fixed sign. Connection to some group of people may bring a lot of success into your life because the energy you get from others fires your dreams up and allows you to continue. Even in the hardest times, this placement suggests you direct all your forces to a bright future.

The ruler of Ascendant in the 12th house

Healing is what leads you in life. You are meant to dig deep into your traumas and the traumas of your family. Even if you are not doing it consciously, something leads you on that path. You may be into spirituality, meditation, psychology, or esoteric, and even music may be your tool of exploration. You are meant to help others on their journey with all compassion and wisdom you have. Also, art and any creative field may be very good for you and others may say that it is healing and calming.

[devsgames]

HOT GAMEDEVS DON'T GATEKEEP

Inspired by this post by @midwinterhunt, here's a compilation of all the game dev resources I have come across, most of which I use fairly frequently. Most of these are free, some are paid but fairly cheap. Feel free to add your own resources. ✌️

Important reminder: When using basically any works or programs someone else created in your games, make sure you thoroughly understand the licenses and terms it has been shared with. If you don't know what the terms are, reach out to the resource and ask. Don't be lazy about this; it's not only dishonest but it can come back to bite you.

Engines

Unity - Best suited for mobile and multi-platform.

Unreal - Tailored for shooters and high-fidelity experiences.

PICO-8 - Virtual console for simple games

Godot - Open source and free!

GameMaker - Good for 2D games

Bitsy - Great little engine for making simple games and experiences

Construct - Never used but have heard nice things

Scratch - If you've never coded before, this is the best place to start. Great for young devs and those who want to get their feet wet.

Adventure Game Studio - Best suited for adventure games

RPG Maker - Best suited for top-down classic JRPG style games

Twine - Text-centric games like Interactive Fiction

Assets

OpenGameArt - Many assets, various licenses, and plenty of CC0 content.

Unity Store - For Unity only. Some free.

Unreal Store - For Unreal only. Some free.

Godot Asset Library

Jean Moreno's Toon Effects - Some of the best effects available on the Unity store. Unity only but I've used them in basically every project.

Steamworks.net C# Wrapper For Unity - Unity only C# wrapper for integrating Steam compatibility to your game

Itch.io - Plenty of free art assets and game dev resources

Kenney - Kenney makes tons of open-source assets for devs to use.

Art

Mixamo - Generates rigs for your humanoid models and lets you apply a library of free humanoid animations to them. Super helpful for prototyping. Adobe.

Blender - Free, open source and fully featured 3D program.

XNormal - Free offline normal map generator

Normal Map Online - Free online normal map generator

Crocotile - Cheap tool for building 3D models from sprite sheets

MagicaVoxel - Free voxel modelling tool

Piskel - Free online sprite drawing tool

Aesprite - Paid sprite drawing tool

TurboSquid - Not always great quality, but can be good source of free placeholders.

Textures.com - Limited texture downloads per day but free for personal use.

Pexels - Free stock photo resource. Most are free for commercial use. Check licenses.

Clipstudio - Good for illustration or graphic design. One time payment.

GIMP - Image editing program a-la Photoshop. Free.

Audio

Audacity - Free and fully-featured DAW/audio editor.

sfx.me - Free 8-bit synth-style sound effect generator for games.

CastingCallClub - Easy forum to find amateur voice talent for your project (p.s.: you should pay them).

FreeSound.org - Free sounds, searchable by license. A go-to for my audio needs.

Incompetech - Royalty-free music by Kevin McLeod.

Scott Buckley Music - Royalty free with conditions. Generally more on the cinematic side of things but very good stuff!

SoundCloud - 'Search -> By Track -> Filter: Use Commercially' leads to songs posted with allowance of commercial use. Always reach out to the artist to understand their terms and confirm that it's okay to use with your project.

Project Planning

Keymailer - Handy for mailing keys to influencers (don't expect a lot of traction unless you're paying for some of the features though).

Trello - Kanban board. Great for organizing tasks, managing bugs, etc. Free.

Notion - Private text and wiki page editor. Good for project organization, note taking, and fleshing out ideas. Free.

Obsidian - Alternative to Notion, with similar features.

Miro - Free whiteboard for organizing thoughts, images, brainstorming, etc.

Wave - Free Bookkeeping site. Great for keeping finances organized.

[theoutcastrogue]

[From a 2014 article by John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats. He's talking about how a random spam email ended up inspiring a part of his book Wolf in White Van. Later, in 2020, the album Getting Into Knives came out, and I think it inspired its artwork too.]

"It took years for me to be able to just reflexively delete spam, or filter it so that I never see it at all. I blame the spammers for this; the quality of their work took a sharp nosedive at some point. But during whatever period of the internet’s growth you’d call the early 2000s, it seemed like you’d still get some winners: things that had been typed up by a person, sent out to a bunch of email addresses they’d bought or rented for 5 or 10 bucks from the only guy who was ever going to make any money in this particular exchange. Most of them went directly, if manually, into the trash; but once in a while, there’d be one that seemed to earn, at the very least, the minute it’d take me to read it.

The one I’m remembering here was subject-lined SUPPLY OF KNIVES. [...] The subject line opened on an all-caps email that boasted, in ornate, antiquated English appealing to the reader’s more refined sensibilities, about the high quality of the knives on offer at an external website. You shouldn’t click on links in spam email. I live my life on the razor’s edge! I clicked the link.

I want to tell you about these knives: They were beautiful. They were weird. They had elaborate designs in the handles, moons or stars of wolf heads, and special grips, and a variety of points. They were made from metals whose pedigrees were described lovingly, and had been struck — smithed? wrought? — via processes I knew absolutely nothing about, but that sounded fantastic, difficult, arcane. It’s the joy of specialized language: When you’re an outsider to it, it can’t help but sound cool.

Of course this is the whole idea of any operation like this. SUPPLY OF KNIVES could well have been, and probably was, a company in Ohio who’d stumbled across an old warehouse full of knives, and knew enough about sales to describe these things in the most exotic terms they could find. I’m pretty immune to pitches: Who likes to feel like he’s being pitched? But somebody involved with SUPPLY OF KNIVES had had just enough authorial flair — that, or true faith — to caption each knife’s mysterious, blurry accompanying JPEG with a description whose constant recourse to specialized vocabularies seemed to say, “You’re not even reading this unless you already know about this sort of thing. Let us therefore speak like the fellow travelers we are.”

It was like a trade catalog for roadside bandits in need of knives.

I can’t speak for everybody, but I know that when I was a child the life of the roadside bandit seemed like a pretty romantic way to go. I looked at all these knives and read the descriptions and was just generally delighted about the whole thing, so I saved the email in a “memorable spam” folder I used to keep that had maybe two other emails in it. A few years later, Apple came out with this robotic-arm-screen iMac you never see any more, and we were long overdue for a new computer so we got that; and then, after a while, I got myself a laptop, because I was traveling all the time, and eventually both the old iMacs ended up in the basement, and they were both asleep but alive until fairly recently, as far as I knew.

But when I went to check for the email, it was gone. The old blue iMac is dead, bricked, lifeless. Searches on the term “supply of knives” on this laptop and on good old robot-arm-screen find nothing. The backup CD for the blue iMac drive is probably in a drawer around here somewhere, but that’s like saying, “The coin I had in my swim trunks’ pocket is probably somewhere in the ocean.” There is no SUPPLY OF KNIVES. There’s only the memory."

[source]

And this is the wonderful cover art of Getting Into Knives. Back cover and promo material below. Note that "Knives International" and "Knives Wordwide" are not real companies, they appear to be a callback to that elusive spam email.

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Eskel noted Geralt’s scent on the crossroads. There wasn’t a lot of overlap in their paths (with so few witchers left, the priority was to cover as much ground as possible, not seek company), but Eskel had chased a creature much farther west than he usually went.

After a long, difficult hunt, Eskel decided he deserved to spend a night in his brother’s company.

Only, as he’s following Geralt’s scent trail, he hears an unfamiliar voice. The voice is in the same direction as Geralt’s scent. But Geralt didn’t take people on hunts, did he?

Eskel finds the source of the voice at what could only be Geralt’s camp. A man in a multi-colored, unbuttoned doublet is cooing and chatting at Roach. Who, amazingly, tolerates the noise. She’s also letting the man braid her mane.

What the fuck?

Scorpion, having recognized Roach, announced their presence with a neigh. The noise startled the colorful man. The man spun on his heel, fumbling to pull out a knife at his waist.

That knife…that was a Kaer Morhen blade!

Upon getting a good look at Eskel, the colorful man relaxed and sheathed his blade.

“You witchers, always sneaking up on poor bards. I swear, one of you shall startle me into a heart attack one day.”

Though he griped, the colorful man looked cheerful as he approached and held out his hand.

“Jaskier the bard, master of the seven liberal arts, at your service. Who might you be, sir Witcher?”

He was baffled by the man’s sunny, fearless attitude, but he took the hand, saying, “Eskel of the wolf school.”

“How delightful! Do you know Geralt?”

“We consider each other brothers.”

“And yet he never mentioned you. That man,” Jaskier tsked, “He never tells me anything!

“If it’s any consolation, he doesn’t tell us much either.”

Jaskier went on to tell Eskel that Geralt was out hunting and would be back soon. The bard invited Eskel to make himself at home and join him by the fire. They simply must become acquainted!

As Jaskier went on, Eskel got a good whiff of his scent. It was familiar to him. It was something that hung on Geralt when he returned from the path. Not to mention, Geralt’s scent was all over this man.

Given all of these signs, Eskel could only come to one conclusion: this was Geralt’s secret lover. The only thing that could make it more obvious would be if they exchanged medallions, which was impossible because this man wasn’t a witcher.

Eskel wasn’t surprised that Geralt kept his lover a secret. He had always been a bit territorial. And getting personal details out of Geralt was like trying to pry an alligator’s mouth open.

How lucky he was to encounter Jaskier! They could fill each other in on the details Geralt was needlessly stingy with.

I'm a huge sucker for witchers-meeting-jaskier fics, especially when they come to the conclusion that Geralt is in love with his bard (because he is!) I love this, I love this, I love this!

[kyra45]

Introduction v2

Please read this too.

Want a dragon design?

(I am not qualified to verify the legitimacy of Palestine fundraisers if it’s a GoFundMe link. Please check out vetted lists instead of asking me on anon or in general. I can not verify Palestine GoFundMe links.)

Hi! I’m Key (aka Jess from @shadowfoxsilver) and this is a blog where I attempt to document scam posts and scam blogs while also trying my best to post information about easy and simple ways to spot scam accounts. Any information supplied here has been obtained from public sources though sometimes it is only found in private places. If the information is from a private source, I will have personal data redacted while leaving important information visible. While my focus is pet donation scams, other scams can be found here if I have enough to show it. My featured tags are also another way to access information quickly.

The main purpose of this blog is to have a publicly accessible resource of information that can be found if you have searched around. Most of what I post is generally tagged properly or at least to the best of my ability. I also use this post to compile a quick access point to important links as over time the posts get buried. This way opening my blog pulls up a post where you can quickly find any links you look for.

While I do work daily, I do try my best to keep all my information up to date so a post may have new information on it at a later date. All the stuff I do here is only a hobby, but I do have a ko-fi here if you’d like to check it out. Do not feel pressured to send me anything. It is your choice!

As of recently, an anonymous user may send asks to people who interact with me and tell them I’m a scammer. This anon is just a scammer who has been over here for a while now being annoyed that I bust scams. If you have any questions, my asks and messages are always open.

Now listed below is useful links and other places you may find me where I mainly post art. Feel free to share this post, I don’t mind.

—

Keys guide to scam spotting v3 | | PVP posts | A poll | Disclaimer | Laura Deramas | Tips to spotting scams based around Palestine | Daily scam list

Art blog | Main blog | Toyhouse | deviantART | Key and Jess

[mythosandthemorbid]

🔪❤️‍🩹Depollute me, pretty baby❤️‍🩹🔪

Next Chapter ->

(Art by Gatobob)

CW: implied cannibalism, self harm, bondage (unsexy way), blood, general violence. Same warnings as the source material, boyfriend to death.

Type: Strade x reader, first person POV of the reader

Everything was dark.

Drip drip drip...

I was aware of the sound of a dripping facet... or perhaps a leaky roof? I shifted slightly, my leg brushing against the floor. It felt like concrete. I blinked a few times. It was still dark.

Drip drip drip...

There it was again. I decided I wanted to investigate, to try to get a sense of my surroundings. I tried to stand, but some sort of force tugged at my wrists, holding me back. I tried to move forward, but it was there again. Reluctantly, I leaned back. Whatever was behind me wasn't a wall, though it was tall and hard. Rectangular? It was some kind of pole. I lifted my fingers, trying to feel around my hands. I was met with rope. My hands were tied behind me, keeping me against this pole.

“Goddamnit...” I muttered, trying to clamp down on the fear already rising within me. I needed to stay calm. I focused on my breathing.

In and out.

Slowly.

Wherever I was, it smelled suffocating. The smell of cleaning products and... bleach? Filled the air. It was nauseating. It mixed with the smell of sawdust and must, but even beneath all that, there was something more.

I tried to move again, tried to focus on the sensations rather than the smell so I wouldn't throw up. Moving my legs was easy enough as they were unbound, there just wasn't much to do. I began tapping my foot against the floor, hoping the rhythmic sound would help calm me. Thats when I became aware that it wasn't concrete I was tapping against. It was a puddle of something. I dipped my shoe in it again, then brought my leg closer. It smelled coppery, like blood.

“Fuck,” I said, sounding choked already. My voice cracked a bit on top of already being hoarse from how dry my throat was. How long had it been since I’d last had water? How long had I been down here for? Would I ever get out?

My memory was a blur, the last thing I recalled was leaving the bar. Now I was trapped somewhere, unable to move, and there was blood. My heart pounded in my chest, my eyes darting around as I frantically tried to make sense of my situation, to at least figure out where I might be. I couldn't make out anything in the darkness.

“Help...” I said, quieter than intended. Panic set in. “Help!” I said again, louder. “Somebody help me please! HELP!”

I called out again and again, my throat growing sore. It was no use.

Tears streamed down my cheeks- they had been for awhile. I was alone. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of my own sobs. What seemed like hours passed before I heard something else. A slight creak. The click of a doorknob.

“Hello?” I called, cringing at how broken my voice sounded. There was a pause, then I could've sworn I heard a quiet laugh. The sound of creaking stairs followed. Someone was here. I wasn't sure whether I should be relieved or afraid.

“Moin, moin! You’re awake earlier than I expected.” The voice sounded somewhat familiar- it was definitely masculine, there was a German accent too. “Sorry to keep you waiting. That was rather rude of me, no?” A light clicked on overhead, blinding. I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut. “Ah ah ah,” he tsked. I felt his rough, calloused hand grab my chin, tilting my head up. “It’s rude to pretend I don’t exist, you know.”

“Thats not...” I was going to protest, to say that wasn't my intent, but thought better of it. I didn't want to piss off my captor. I tensed but opened my eyes anyway. The light stung. Standing before me was a man who had to be in his thirties, someone I recognized. “Strade?” I asked, squinting at him slightly.

“Ah, so you do remember me!” The smile on his face grew. He let go of my chin and instead brushed my tear-stained cheeks with the back of his hand. “You were quite talkative at the bar last night, where'd all the energy go, hm? I didn't take you for the shy type... then again, I also didn't think you'd be much of a crier.” He stood, cheerful as ever. “Though, I must say, the tears are a pleasant surprise!”

“What... What’s going on?” I asked quietly, afraid to even speak. My mind felt foggy, I was thinking slower than I’d previously realized. He seemed to plow right forward, as if he was four steps ahead, leaving me in the dust. I was still having trouble processing.

“Oh, I really did a number on you, huh?” he asked, patting my head. I winced, pain immediately shooting through me. My head was pounding. Why hadn't I noticed that before now? “I’ll fix you up, don't worry. Can’t have you too damaged before we get to the fun part!”

He turned away from me and started rummaging through some cabinets. I could hardly understand what he meant, so I took this as an opportunity to familiarize myself with my environment, now that I could see. I looked around, wincing slightly as the pain in my head persisted. We had to be in a basement, considering the stairs and concrete floors. There were toolboxes and construction materials everywhere. In front of me was a drain. I glanced at my legs and froze. The puddle was red. It was blood.

My stomach turned and I let out a soft groan, leaning against the pole again. I couldn’t do this, I felt like I'd throw up already. I didn’t even know whether that was my blood or someone else's. Had he admitted to hurting me? I couldn't remember. Why couldn't I think clearly? Everything was sore, everything hurt, and worst of all I couldn't even process any of it properly.

Strade perked up upon hearing the noise. He brought over some bandages and the like, crouching down in front of me once more. “Making cute sounds already?” He asked, chuckling to himself. I looked up at him and opened my mouth to respond. No words came out. “And cats got your tongue too, eh? Don’t worry, you can speak to me. Ich beiße nicht.”

“Mmn...” I mumbled as he brushed my hair out of my face. “What are you doing?” I asked, watching him pour something on a cloth.

“Cleaning you up,” he said simply, pressing it to my head. I winced as the cloth touched my skin, stinging like fire against my already throbbing head. The smell of whatever he was using was sharp and medicinal, overpowering the musty, bleach-filled air. I gritted my teeth, trying to keep still as he dabbed at the wound.

“There we go,” he muttered, almost to himself, placing a bandage over whatever wound I had. “We can’t have you bleeding all over the place before we even get started.”

“Started?” I croaked, the word barely escaping my lips. My heart was racing, and every nerve in my body screamed at me to fight, to run—but I couldn’t. The ropes dug into my wrists with every subtle movement, and my head spun too much to even think clearly. “What do you mean?”

Strade’s smile widened, as though the question was exactly what he’d been waiting for. “Oh, you’ll see,” he said, his voice sweet, almost caring. He leaned in closer, his face inches from mine, and for the first time, I noticed the gleam in his eyes. ���But not yet. Like I said, I need to patch you up, make sure you’re all nice and healthy. Can’t have you passing out on me before the fun begins.”

I swallowed thickly, my throat dry as sandpaper. “Why… why me?”

Strade tilted his head slightly, as if the question surprised him. “Why not you?” He tapped the side of his head with a finger. “Fate’s funny like that. Sometimes you’re in the right place at the wrong time. Or was it the wrong place at the right time? Either way, you caught my eye. Now here we are.”

I bit down on the inside of my cheek, trying to ignore the rising panic. There was no reasoning with him, no pleading that would change his mind. He was enjoying this—whatever this was. I was shaking a little, the dread sinking in deeper with every passing second.

Suddenly, he stood up, brushing off his hands as if he’d just finished a simple chore. “Alright! Now that you’re all cleaned up, I think it’s time we get started.” He clapped his hands together, his grin never faltering. “I’ve been planning this for a while, you know. So I hope you don’t mind if I take my time. After all, it’s not every day you get a special guest like yourself.”

“I thought you said- said you’d wait until I’m better,” I said with a nervous laugh, tugging at the ropes again. No use.

“Oh I will, but it can’t hurt to start with something small,” he said, rummaging through a tool drawer. He paused for a moment. “Well, it will hurt, actually. But that’s all apart of the fun!”

My breath caught in my throat as I watched him pull out a small, glinting object from the drawer. It looked like a scalpel, sharp and delicate. The kind of tool meant for precision. The kind of tool I was familiar with, though I wasn’t supposed to be.

I steeled myself, taking a deep breath. Right. Right. I could deal with this. If a scalpel is all he was going to use, I’d be fine. My heart still pounded in my chest, but I managed to keep myself steady, refusing to let my panic spill over into outright terror. Not yet.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of something on Strade’s face—a flash of surprise, maybe even disappointment. He was expecting more, wanting more from me.

His smile faltered slightly, though it never fully disappeared. He leaned in closer, the scalpel gleaming as he lifted it toward my face. I felt the cold, sharp edge graze against my cheek, just a whisper of pressure. My muscles tensed, but I didn’t flinch. I stayed still. Silent.

“Oh?” Strade’s voice was laced with amusement as he tapped the blade lightly against my skin. “Aren’t you a brave one.” He dragged the scalpel down, barely scratching the surface of my skin, watching me with that same eager look. “But I wonder… how long can you keep that up? Du kannst nicht ewig Löwe spielen.”

I swallowed hard, but still said nothing. The silence stretched between us as he continued to tease me with the blade, tapping it against my cheek, down my neck, each tap calculated, deliberate. He was waiting for me to break.

A tear slipped down my cheek, unbidden, and I felt the tension rise in my chest. I couldn’t help it. I was terrified. But I kept still, refusing to let the sobs escape.

Strade chuckled softly, wiping the tear away with his thumb. “Ah, there we go,” he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. “That’s more like it.”

He didn't stop there. The scalpel danced over my skin, cutting again, but softer this time, more deliberate. He was drawing it out, savoring every reaction. I felt the sting, sharp and spreading like fire, and more tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't stop them now.

The pain wasn't overwhelming, not yet, but it was enough to make the tears fall faster, my breath hitching as I tried to stay quiet.

He moved the blade slowly, creating shallow cuts along my arm, then up to my shoulder.

"Such beautiful reactions," he mused, his voice low and pleased. "Cry some more. I love watching it… you're so pretty when you cry."

Strade's smile widened as he looked me over, watching the tears fall freely now.

"Hmm... I think we need to loosen things up a bit," he murmured, stepping behind me. I felt the ropes around my wrists slacken as he untied them. My arms dropped forward, sore and shaking from being held back for so long.

Before he could take control again, I moved.

My hand shot out, grabbing his wrist, and before I could second-guess myself, I took the scalpel from his fingers. For a brief second, Strade's eyes flashed with surprise.

"Oh?" he said, his tone curious but amused, as though watching a child play with a new toy. I didn't hesitate. My grip tightened around the scalpel, and I pressed it against my own arm, drawing it across my skin. The sharp sting bit into me, but I felt... calmer. I could breathe again. The control was mine, even if for a moment

Strade's eyes darkened with something like fascination, his lips curling into a slow grin.

"Interessant," he murmured, stepping closer, watching intently as I made another cut. The blood welled up quickly, dripping onto the floor below. "You really are something special, aren't you?"

The satisfaction in his voice was unmistakable, and I could feel his gaze fixated on the blood and my trembling hands. "Do it again," he whispered, voice low and commanding. "Show me."

I hesitated for just a moment, then did as he asked, slicing into my skin once more. The pain was sharp, but there was a strange comfort in it—knowing that this part, at least, was on my terms.

As I pressed the blade deeper into my skin, again and again, more blood spilled over my arm, pooling and dripping onto the floor. I hadn't realized how deep I was cutting, but something about it felt... right. Control. The pain grounded me. I didn't know it at the time, but it was exactly what Strade wanted.

I heard it then, a soft, low sound—a noise of pleasure slipping from his lips. My eyes darted up, and I caught sight of him. His eyes were half-lidded, his face slightly flushed, and I noticed the bulge in his pants, his arousal now unmistakable. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I was more terrified or disgusted.

Strade chuckled softly, catching my glance. "Ah, forgive me," he said, his voice thick with amusement, though there was a hunger beneath it. "I wasn't expecting you to be so... bold." His eyes flicked down to my arm, now covered in at least five deep cuts and several shallower ones. Blood trickled steadily, and his gaze lingered on it, fascinated. "You've truly outdone yourself."

His grin widened, but he didn't move to do anything about it just yet.After all, he had his manners.

"It'd be rather rude of me to indulge right now, wouldn't it?" he teased, taking the scalpel from my hand with ease. He brought it up to his lips and kissed the bloodstained blade, sighing contently. "But, mien liebchen, you've given me such a beautiful show. Truly, wunderschön."

He knelt beside me, wiping my tears with the back of his hand, the same disturbing tenderness still in his touch. "You're quite the special one, aren't you?" His voice was low, husky with satisfaction. I shuddered as he carefully set the blade aside and began tending to the cuts he'd made-and the ones I had made myself.

Strade hummed to himself as he poured antiseptic onto a cloth and pressed it against my wounds, though he didn't seem to mind my winces of pain. "You've bled quite a bit, und wie hübsch es ist. Can't have you passing out on me, hm?" His hands moved deftly, almost clinical, as he worked to clean and bandage the cuts. But I could see it-the way his breathing had quickened, the flush on his face deepening.

With one hand still bandaging me, his other slipped toward his own waistband, fingers tracing idly over his erection. He groaned softly, clearly enjoying himself, but not quite ready to lose focus on the task at hand. "Mm, I'll have to excuse myself soon," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "But don't worry, I'll finish fixing you up first."

His grip tightened slightly as he worked faster, the occasional low moan escaping his lips as he tried to maintain control. "You've done so well," he praised, his voice filled with delight. "So well, mien liebchen. I'll make sure you're all patched up, and then..." He trailed off with a wicked grin, standing up and gathering the bloodied bandages. "Well, you can imagine what comes next."

Strade moved to retie my wrists, only to realize that the rope would reopen my wounds if I struggled against them at all. He chuckled to himself and shook his head, grinning as he proceeded to tie them anyway. “Scream if you need me,” he said with a grin. He gave one final, lingering look, his eyes sweeping over the blood on my skin, the tremble in my body, and then without another word, he stepped out of the room, leaving me alone. Again.

[toki-woki-fnaf]

"As a new Faz-Trainee, you are mandated to be taught by our new and improved Helpi model."

In 3 Lives at Freddy's: Follow The Yellow Rabbit you will have a new buddy throughout it all, say hello to Helpi! He's a great conversationalist and a great source of information for your new job. He'll learn how to best suit your needs as he learns more about you, way better than any in-person job training!

WELCOME BACK TO 3LAF!!! With 3LAF: GOLDEN THREAD ENDING IN SEPTEMBER, ITS TIME TO TEASE THE NEXT!!! If joining a Minecraft Third Life server based fully on fnaf and a unique fnaf mod interests you then I'm happy to announce that Invites are open yet again for 3LAF:FTYR! Before you do ask to join or if you want more information then I do suggest looking at our posts for the first 3LAF (Introduction, Animatronic Reveal) and 3LAF:Golden Thread (Introduction 2, Animatronic Reveal 2, Structure Reveal) to get a good vibe on what its about, although both may have incorrect information as they are older! For FTYR we will be having a fun fnaf twist on the Boogeyman mechanic which will be explained in the next teaser more specifically!!! FTYRs start date is around mid-november to december at its latest and will run every saturday from 1PM to 6PM pst (It is that long so people can join late and or take breaks, you do not have to stay for all 5 hours and you may join late into the time <3) 20 out of the 36 slots are currently full so there is plenty of space to come join in as either a player, spectator or backup player, send me a tumblr message asking to join and bam if slots are up then you're in! A note for any players who are wanting in, you got to have a skin that is at least a little vaguely tied to fnaf and I heavily recommend making a character for when you play in sessions, a lot of players use this opportunity to do a lot of roleplay and make silly guys (I suggest looking at the #3laf #3laf-gt and i think #3laf art tag as there you can see a lot of the players FUCKING BANGER ART AND CHARACTERS I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH!!!!)

Regardless, thank you for reading!!! I am the sole modder that makes this mod so it's very very fun to be able to show my work in these silly little teasers, on a more developer side: Coding Helpi has been such a pleasure and such a nightmare, i've had to rewrite his code twice... the second time I fully coded his main system and as soon as a celebrated it all got corrupted... only Helpi got corrupted which was quite ironic. I'm giving this one an extra month and a half as I don't want to burnout on developing but I've been having a very silly time with what I have been coding, I'm very excited to see people go silly with all the new stuff!!!! <3 <3 <3

[wise-tortoise]

Hi! i’m new to chengxian. so i was wondering, do you have any recs please? preferably long one shots (10k+) and set in the original location (i don’t like modern aus mostly as they are based in the us or uk). sorry for all the stipulations!

HELLO ANON AND WELCOME TO CHENGXIAN!!

I am DELIGHTED to be a source of fic recs, and I have JUST the fics for you.

First of all, I highly recommend checking out the various ao3 collections of past chengxian events, such as Chengxian Happy Ending Fest, or Chengxian Minibang 2023, Chengxian Week 2020, Chengxian Week 2021 , Our Meeting is Inevitable or The Chengxian+ Collection, which are a goldmine of wonderful fics. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding something to your taste among them!

Now, on to my personal recommendations, under the read more because this got LONG.

Based on what you said you'd prefer, the fic all my dreams have come and gone a half a million times by iri_vail sounds like something you'd enjoy. It's a lovely post-canon shuangjie reconciliation fic, 10k words, with wonderful art. There's frogs too!

consider rivers by Lirazel, 9k, canon divergence fic with no war that rewrote my brain chemistry. Jiang Cheng wants Wei Wuxian to marry Jiang Yanli: lots of yunmeng trio feels, lots and lots and lots of pining.

after the sun sets by Artemis1000, 12k words, it's an amazing fic set during sunshot campaign, lots of hurt/comfort, lots of love and understanding and softness between our two favorite miscommunicators.

electricity between both of us by zyprexd is an absolutely incredible series of two fics that make me go feral. Past w4ngxian, tentative shuangjie reconciliation with long overdue communication, lots of feelings aknowledged and accepted, Wei Wuxian introspection.

Turn Back, Dull Earth by groundwiremantaray, 8k, canon divergence, a whole lot of fluff (with a delightful twist). Though not a oneshot, if you like to read happy times with chengxian, this is absolutely the fic for you.

this love that I most fear by Runespoor, 25k words divided in three chapters, in which a coreless Jiang Cheng has to aknowledge Wei Wuxian as his bastard brother in order for him to become sect leader, with all the relative implications. An angsty delight!

Little Sesame by Rurtle, which is an absolute must read. In which the summoning ritual goes wrong and Wei Wuxian reincarnates into a dog. Shenanigans ensue.

born of waters like blood by Artemis1000 (same Artemis as before) which is one of my absolute favorite fics of all time. Chengxian baby made of resentment and lake waters! Chengxian being dads! An unspecified number of eyes!!!! This fic is a bit shorter than the others I've recced, but absolutely worth reading.

letters from inside the storm by serein, in which everyone has a very bad time (not me though, I enjoyed this IMMENSELY), double whump with a very tentative reconciliation.

if tomorrow would ever come... by Midori_99, 17k, a reincarnation fic in which Wei Wuxian after his death reincarnates into a playful little fox and, despite his best efforts, finds himself once again in Lotus Pier, beside Jiang Cheng (and, really, there's no better place for him to be). The good, GOOD, cathartic angst right here, good food for the soul.

If you'd like EVEN MORE chengxian fics, my bookmarks are open and the fics are all ready to receive lots of love (and of course, if you like, there's my fics too, but they're only open to registered users)

Alright, that's definitely not all the fics I would like to rec, but that's about all I can fit in a single post before it becomes too long.

I suggest of course that you check out other works by the authors I listed, as they are all incredibly talented (and I really really wish I could put more of them here but I tried to contain myself with word count and setting as per your request)

Thank you for the ask anon, I hope you'll enjoy your stay in the chengxian side of fandom and I wish you a wonderful day!!

[mask131]

The gods of Gaul: Introduction, or why it is so hard to find anything

As I announced, I open today a series of post covering what some can call the "Gaulish mythology": the gods and deities of Ancient Gaul. (Personal decision, I will try avoiding using the English adjective "Gaulish" because... I just do not like it. It sounds wrong. In French we have the adjectif "Gaulois" but "Gaulish"... sounds like ghoulish or garrish, no thank you. I'll use "of Gaul", much more poetic)

[EDIT: I have just found out one can use "Gallic" as a legitimate adjective in English and I am so happy because I much prefer this word to "Gaulish", so I'll be using Gallic from now on!]

If you are French, you are bound to have heard of them one way or another. Sure, we got the Greek and Roman gods coming from the South and covering up the land in temples and statues ; and sure we had some Germanic deities walking over the rivers and mountains from the North-East to leave holiday traditions and folk-beliefs... But the oldest gods of France, the true Antiquity of France, was Gaul. And then the Roman Gaul, and that's already where the problems start.

The mythology of Gaul is one of the various branches of the wide group known as Celtic mythology or Celtic gods. When it comes to Celtic deities, the most famous are those of the British Isles, due to being much more preserved (though heavily Christianized) - the gods of Ireland and the Welsh gods are typically the gods every know about when talking about Celtic deities. But there were Celts on the mainland, continental Celts - and Gaul was one of the most important group of continental Celts. So were their gods.

Then... why does nobody know anything about them?

This is what this introduction is about: how hard it actually is to reconstruct the religion of Gaul and understand its gods. Heck we can't ACTUALLY speak of a Gaulish mythology because... we have no myth! We have not preserved any full myth or complete legend from Ancient Gaul. The pantheon of Gaul is the Celtic pantheon we probably know the least about...

Why? A few reasons.

Reason number one, and the most important: We have no record of what the Gauls believed. Or almost none. Because the people of Gaul did not write their religion.

This is the biggest obstacle in the research for the gods of Gaul. It was known that the art of writing was, in the society of Gaul, an elite art that was not for the common folks and used only for very important occasions. The druids were the ones who knew how to read and write, and they kept this prerogative - it was something the upper-class (nobility, rulers) could know, but not always. Writing was considered something powerful, sacred and magical not to be used recklessly or carelessly. As a result, the culture of Gaul was a heavily oral one, and their religion and myths were preserved in an oral fashion. Resulting in a great lack of written sources comng directly from the Gallic tribes... We do have written and engraved fragments, but they are pieces of a puzzle we need to reconstruct. We have votive offerings with prayers and demands inscribed on it - and while they can give us the names of some deities, they don't explain much about them. We have sculptures and visual representations of the deities on pillars and cups and jewels and cauldrons - but they are just visuals and symbols without names. We have calendars - but again, these are just fragments. We have names and images, and we need to make sense out of it all.

To try to find the explanations behind these fragments, comparisons to other Celtic religions and mythologies are of course needed - since they are all branches of a same tree. The same way Germanic mythology can be understood by looking at the Norse one, the same way Etruscan, Greek and Roman mythologies answer each other, the mythology and religion of Gaul has echoes with the Celtic deities of the Isles (though staying quite different from each other). The other comparison needed to put things back into context is reason number 2...

Reason number two: The Romans were there.

Everybody knows that the death of Ancient Gaul was the Roman Empire. Every French student learns the date of Alesia, the battle that symbolized the Roman victory over the Gallic forces. Gaul was conquered by the Romans and became one of the most famous and important provinces of the Roman Empire: it was the Gallo-Roman era.

The Romans were FASCINATED by Gaul. Really. They couldn't stop writing about them, in either admiration or hate. As a result, since we lack direct Gallic sources, most of what we know about Ancient Gaul comes from the Romans. And you can guess why it is a problem. Some records of their religion were written in hatred - after all, they were the barbarian ennemies that Romans were fighting against and needed to dominate. As such, they contain several elements that can be put in doubt (notably numerous references to brutal and violent human sacrifices - real depictions of blood-cults, or exaggeratons and inventions to depict the gods of Gaul as demonic monstrosities?) But even the positive and admirative, or neutral, records are biased because Romans kept comparing the religion of the Gauls to their own, and using the names of Roman deities to designate the gods of Gaul...

Leading to the other big problem when studying the gods of Gaul: the Roman syncretism. The Gallo-Roman era saw a boom in the depictions and representations of the Gallic gods... But in their syncretized form, fused with and assimilated to the Roman gods. As such we have lots of representations and descriptions of the "Jupiter of Gaul", of the "Mercury of Gaul", of the "Gallic Mars" or "Gallic Minerva". But it is extremely hard to identify what was imported Roman elements, what was a pure Gallic element under a Roman name, and what was born of the fusion of Gallic and Roman traditions...

Finally, reason number three: Gaul itself had a very complicated approach to its own gods.

We know there are "pan-gallic" gods, as in gods that were respected and honored by ALL the people of Gaul, forming the cohesion of the nation. But... Gaul wasn't actually a nation. It was very much like the many city-states of Greece: Ancient Gaul was unified by common traditions, a common society, a common religion and a common language... But Gaul was a tribal area divided into tribes, clans and villages, each with their own variations on the laws, each with their own customs and each with their own spin on religion. As a result, while there are a handful of "great gods" common to all the communities of Gaul, there are hundreds and hundreds of local gods that only existed in a specific area or around a specific town ; and given there were also many local twists and spins on the "great gods", it becomes extremely hard to know which divine name is a local deity, a great-common god, a local variation on a deity, or just a common nickname shared by different deities... If you find a local god, it can be indeed a local, unique deity ; or it can be an alternate identity of a shared divine archetype ; or it can be a god we know elsewhere but that goes by a different name here.

To tell you how fragmented Gaul was: Gaul was never a unified nation with one king or ruler. The greatest and largest division you can make identifies three Gauls. Cisalpine Gaul, the Gaul located in Northern Italy, conquered by the Romans in the second century BCE, and thus known as "the Gaul in toga" for being the most Roman of the three. Then there was the "Gaul in breeches" (la Gaule en braies), which borders the Mediterranean sea, spanning between the Alps and the Pyrenean mountains, and which was conquered in the 117 BCE (becoming the province of Narbonne). And finally the "Hairy Gaul", which stayed an independant territory until Cesar conquered it. And the Hairy Gaul itself was divided into three great areas each very different from each other: the Aquitaine Gaul, located south of the Garonne ; the Celtic Gaul located between the Garonne and the Marne (became the Gaul of Lyon after the Roman conquest) ; and finally the Belgian Gaul, located between the Marne and the Rhine. And this all is the largest division you can make, not counting all the smaller clans and tribes in which each area was divided. And all offering just as many local gods or local facets of a god...

And if it wasn't hard enough: given all the sculptures and visuals depictions of the gods of Gaul are very "late" in the context of the history of Gaul... It seems that the gods of Gaul were originally "abstract" or at least not depicted in any concrete form, and that it was only in a late development, shortly before the Roman invasions, that people of Gaul decided to offer engravings and statues to their gods, alternating between humanoid and animal forms.

All of this put together explains why the gods of Gaul are so mysterious today.

[spacedustpan]

Hey Tennessee fandom people: the ELVIS Act getting ready to go through. It prevents you from using likenesses of Public Figures and their voices. It's Supposed to target AI of musicians and actors but it's written So Broadly that it can effect things like Political News Reporting, Political Parody, AMVs, Fan Edits, and of course Fan Art. It's not limited to Tennessee households either so a Hollywood company can relocate a headquarters or branch to Tennessee and use Tennessee law to sue people outside the state.

If you care about any of that, then look up your county's/district's representatives in the Tennessee Senate and House and start calling. It's headed to General Assembly.

Specifically the bill says - no one can use a famous person's likeness or voice without that actor's permission for the actors life plus 10 years - .

You can see how likeness and voice can be broadly applied and of course fans would never be able to get permission for fan content.

Surely you can see how this would affect amvs and fan edits on places like Instagram.

It would also affect things like Fan Art for Live Action Series.

This would limit free use for things like parody which would effect comedy too.

It's named after Elvis and claims to be for the entertainment industry but it's written so broadly so that it can be used by public figures in general. So Politicians would be covered under it.

Honestly politicians are trying to get this passed in Tennessee to limit the use of their own likenesses for things like memes because it's a fairly easy state to get ultra conservative bullshit passed.

Here's some more info from Real Clear Policy writer Hannah Cox:

"

Right of publicity laws typically include stringent, clear exceptions and only apply to advertising, merchandise, and fundraising purposes. Those exceptions are for “newsworthy” images in content that provides a “public interest,” which encompasses everything from hard news to documentaries, to satire, to celebrity gossip.

This is a fantastic structure that ensures an individual has a right to their own personhood while also upholding the First Amendment, its protections for free expression and freedom of the press, and ensuring the public has easy, fast access to information.

The ELVIS Act doesn’t include these provisions. As currently written, filmmakers would have to obtain permission from nefarious actors like Jeffrey Epstein’s estate in order to make a documentary about him. The producers of Forrest Gump wouldn’t be able to include all those scenes with historic figures. 

That’s a really good way to protect powerful people from scrutiny. And it would severely stagnate the flow of information online as even obtaining such permissions could take weeks. Additionally, out of fear, many content creators would simply play it safe out of fear of litigation.

The ELVIS Act also does not limit its reach to those living or dead, nor does it restrict its parameters to those with a Tennessee domicile. This seems like an open plea for people to infiltrate the state with ridiculous lawsuits that wouldn’t make it past the first gate elsewhere. It’s almost like the trial lawyers associations wrote this bill instead of Hollywood unions.

But to be clear, this was brought to the Republican legislature by the music industry associations and Hollywood unions - a peculiar entity for conservative lawmakers to be carrying water for to say the least. What these entities really want is an end to Fair Use practices because they’re bleeding money, and instead of making better products or creating new revenue sources, they’re simply being lazy and attempting to restrict the market.

"

--

When you call: You're a concerned republican worried about how limiting AI can hurt small business and how the law should be written more specifically and Exceptions Should be included To Protect Fair Use for Non-Commercial, News, and Parody use, because all are integral to Free Speech.

The Law is Simply Too Broad the way that it's written now and it limits Facebook campaign support for Republicans if they have to get permission from Liberals to use their likenesses. It limits free speech which is integral to preaching God's good word against his disbelievers in a political setting and you won't stand by a politician that limits your freedoms like that. This is America Land of the Free and you'll be damned if you let someone step on you like that. That its Big Government infringing on your rights as an American instead of sensible small government.

--

If you dont live in Tennesse this will still affect you with the ways it's written. It doesn't take much for companies to set up "official" shop in a new state.

It will also ABSOLUTELY be used as the model for a much worse NATIONAL bill if it gets passed in Tennessee. Because Politicians will see that it already succeeded once and HollyWood and the Music Industry are two lobbies FLUSH with cash for bribes and campaign donations.

Mark my words this will absolutely bleed over into national politics which will be devastating for News Reporting and informing the populace which is ALREADY in awful shape.

[felassan]

Snippets from shinobi602, cut for length.

Comment made after the character trailer, before the gameplay reveal:

"I know I sound like a broken record at this point but I'd really wait for the gameplay footage before writing it off. I agree that the tone of the trailer isn't how I would have personally revealed the game lol. But it's definitely a mature story...(with classic DA humor of course) I think people will come around when they see it in motion." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

"I just got a sneak peak at the gameplay being shown on Tuesday. A small sample, but enough to get a good taste. It feels like a much better Inquisition to me. Absolutely not Fortnite or Overwatch." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

User: "Maybe this gameplay showcase is going to show us all the character creator options, the RPG mechanics and skill trees, the expansive dialogue choices you can make, the minute to minute gameplay and how the world works." Shinobi: "You won't get all of that. But it's a solid chunk. This is just the first step in a long several months ahead. They have to save stuff for more beats down the road too or else you run out of gas lol." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

User: "Very excited to see a glimpse into that for the gameplay reveal, hoping the game's beginning is as memorable as the other entries" Shinobi: "It is a massive boost in quality for the series. I'm not talking art style or anything, but just in terms of sheer quality and technical fidelity. Really hard to keep my tongue bitten lol, but I'm excited to see what everyone thinks tomorrow." [source]

Comment made after the gameplay reveal was teased:

"Yup, that's what it looks like, but there's so much more goodness. Looks amazing imo." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

"it feels like the ME2 of Dragon Age." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

"Oh just wait. The hair tech is phenomenal in this. Even I was thinking "aye is this a Bioware game!?" lol." [source]

Comment made before the gameplay reveal:

"They look different but to be honest the more you see them, the more you get used to it. I love the way Harding looks now. It's more stylized, but also a huge boost in technical fidelity in Frostbite." [source]

Comment made after the gameplay reveal, before the press who saw the demos at SGF shared about what they saw:

"Pretty much every person I've talked to across a dozen different media outlets, ~95%'ish, has walked out of the private demo sessions with glowing praise." [source]

-

"I don't mean there aren't any open ended areas to explore. But it's a tight game, with a focus on not wasting the player's time with bloat. They took a lot of that feedback from Inquisition." [source] [re: the game not being open world in design]

-

One preview from a large outlet basically boils down to 'Bioware is back'. [source]

-

"I'm optimistic. From conversations I've had, they are genuinely serious in trying to make a Bioware classic here. They do not want a repeat of Andromeda or Anthem. I can only go based off what I've heard obviously - haven't played it. We all have our opinions on the combat, but they learned a lot of hard lessons since Inquisition, taken a lot of feedback to heart, and want this to feel like that tight, structured high quality experience we used to get from them. Andromeda and Anthem came in hot at launch. I felt some warning signs before those came out, but here? Right now they're just polishing. It's all polish from here to release. I'm really hoping this is the start of their return to form. That team's been through a lot, I hope it works out for the best." [source]

-

User: "I think there certainly is a decent contingent of legitimate dissatisfaction or concern around the game, but I'm not sure that that's an overwhelming segment, but I do think it's something BioWare in EA should not and cannot ignore." Shinobi: "They've definitely taken notice. There's a lot more to show between now and launch." [source]

-

"One thing I'm particularly happy about and can't get over is how much better the hair rendering is. It might be a small thing to some but it looks incredible. It's in another stratosphere compared to DAI." [source]

-

"Everyone in the previews was gushing about how robust the CC is in Veilguard so there might be a decent chance to make some wild Qunari designs." [source]

On the Next Mass Effect:

"ME will look very, very good. Don't worry." [source]

[a-whisper-in-the-forest]

A deal

Part 1 (Disgraced apple pie) Part 2 (A work of art)

TW: Violence

Hero adjusts the earpiece in their ear. The annoying thing has a tendency to fall out during fights.

“Hero, can you hear me?”

Other Hero's voice sounds through the earpiece. “Yes, I can hear you.” Hero says with a nervous edge in their voice. These fights stress them out every time. Whoever said that it gets easier, has never been in a fight.

The Agency send Hero and their team to investigate an empty warehouse, on the edge of the city. There have been a few sightings of villains and henchmen walking in and out of the building. According to their surveillance team, there should be no one inside now. The perfect opportunity to know what those criminals are doing.

“Alright, there should be a hallway on your left side. Go through there. There should be a big storage room at the end.”

They hear Other Hero crackling through the earpiece. “Got it,” Hero answers, sneaking through the hallway. Sure enough, they can see an open door leading towards a big storage room. When they move towards the door, they hear a voice from inside.

“I'm telling you, Supervillain is going to reward us for this one. They're gonna see how much of an asset I am.” Other Villain's voice echoes through the room. Hero's hair on the back of their neck stands up straight. They don't like Other Villain. No one does. They might not be the most powerful one, but they have no regard for personal safety and will not stop at anything. That is what makes them dangerous.

“I'm gonna get my own lair or something. Something big is going to happen, mark my words,” Other Villain continues. Hero tries to inch closer but stops the moment they hear the other's voice. “For the third time today, shut up.” The cold voice is immediately recognised by Hero. Villain? What are they doing here? Supervillain only sends Villain if it's something serious.

“And for the third time, no. I do what I want. You're not-” Other Villain didn't get to finish that sentence. “Ouch, you motherf- ouch. Why would you punch me like that?” Other Villains hisses in pain. “I told you to shut up, didn't I?”

As Hero scoots closer, they can see behind the corner. Other Villain is walking around while Villain sits on some sort of crate. Both of them are suited up and ready for a fight. If this ends up in a fight, Hero is going to need a whole lot of backup.

All of a sudden, they can hear some muffled cries. As their eyes dart around the room to find the source, they can see a hunched over person bound to a chair. They may be sitting in a dark corner but Hero can easily distinguish the Sidekick's uniform. They quickly go a bit back in the hallway so there's a slimmer chance of being heard. “Other Hero?”

"Yes? Everything alright?”

Other Hero responds through the earpiece. “I think i just found the missing Sidekick from the Other team.”

"Oh, that's great. Are they okay?"

“I don't know, they´re being guarded by Villain and Other Villain.”

“I am calling back up. I will be back in a minute.”

Hero looks around the corner again only to see Other Villain gone. “Did your mother never tell you that it is rude to eavesdrop?” Hero's heart sank as they heard the voice behind them. They slowly turned around. “Hi~,” they say, looking like a deer in headlights. 

“If I were you, I'd run.” 

Hero didn't waste another second and bolted to the nearest exit. A bright flame flies next to them, hitting a nearby wall. Their earpiece flies out by the sudden movements. They don't dare to look back and keep running. They try to see the building’s lay-out in their mind.There is no way they can beat Other Villain on their own. If they go left on the next corner, there should be an exit close by. 

“If you want them to stay alive, I'd stop,” Villain says behind them. They stop dead in their tracks. They turn around to see the Sidekick held up in the air by shadows. “What do you want?” Hero asks, growing desperate seeing the sidekick panic in their shadow bonds. “A little favor.” Other Villain says, having caught up with them. “Like what?” What could they possibly ask for? “All the heroes' personal files would do the trick.” Other Villain smiles, standing with confidence next to the struggling Sidekick. “I can't do that…”

“Well, guess Villain here can have some more fun with Sidekick then.” With perfect timing the Sidekick starts to scream. “Stop, not again! Please!”

They look at Villain. How is this the same person that they talked to for hours in that diner? They looked at Villain's face to expect the same smug grin as Other Villain, or at least a glint of malicious pleasure in their eyes. They didn't find any. They see a sadness they can't quite explain. If they are so against doing this, then why are they doing it anyway?

“So?” Other Villain asks. “Fine, I'll do it. Give them over now,” Hero answers quickly. They were so gonna get in trouble for this. That's a problem for later. They first need to get Sidekick out of here and get them medical treatment. “I don't think so. You can have them back when we have the files. Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?” Villain gives Other Villain an annoyed look. They stopped hurting Sidekick as soon as the Hero said ‘fine’. 

“Alright then,” Hero says reluctantly. “Where do I drop off?”

“You know where,” Villain answers the question. “In two days.”

“Done.” And with that Hero turned around to go look for their team. Villain has a lot of explaining to do next time.

~

What Hero doesn't see, is a figure appearing out of the shadows, well hidden by Villain's powers. “Good job, you two. Villain, how about you bring our little friend home? Other Villain and I still have some grocery shopping to do. I am giving you your reward by not pushing you into a crowd, which I know you hate.” The figure steps forward and caresses Villain's cheek. “What do we say then?”

“Thank you, Supervillain.”

Next part

Hi! Finally part 3 of this series! I did struggle with this part so I hope it lives up to your expectations. I hope that the next parts come a bit easier :).

[ghulah]

Papa Emeritus, Terzo and the weight of the Mitre.

Due to popular demand, here is my Terzo analysis. It has been significantly cut down(if you do want the uncut analysis, here) because most of it was bullet points and unhinged notes I made. To be completely transparent, this was inspired by @cityofmeliora's own Terzo analysis post as well as several other analyses which I will be linking (also some headcanon stuff the wifecule had cooked up together lol).

These are all the posts (1 2 3 4 5 ) I used as resources and this compilation of Ghost interviews, as well as the Metal Myths part 2, because that's sort of required viewing at this point, isn't it?

I'll be splitting this analysis up into sections, first are brief descriptions and explanations of my understanding of the different aspects of Terzo - as Papa, as a Cardinal and as himself.

As for my sources, I won't be inserting the direct quotes here(because this post would be the longest ever) and they are all available in the aforementioned links.

Anyway, onwards, Ghesties!

First of all, What is Papa?

This is in reference to Papa, the entity, the image - not the person. Papa is a character, he's a mask, he's a façade. He is an image and an idea and the face of the Clergy. He is everything and he is above all yet he is not. According to mister Ghost-man himself, he is a stereotype, he is someone you know from somewhere and often than not he's old, charismatic, maybe a little bit bitter. He is sort of nebulous, he is a concept.

All whom take up the mantle, the Mitre, live up to this to a certain degree, it's part of the job! It also might be part of the bloodline, but y'know.

In that case, who is Papa Emeritus III?

The character of Papa III, the performer, the leader, the one to show us the way. Papa III is the face of the Ministry, he is a showman, a diva who is perfect for the role of the Satanic Pope who is not only theatrical, but also charismatic and fun and ambitious! He is artistic and outspoken. He knows what he's doing, he loves having a good time - drinks, partying, sex! He encourages it, as long as everyone is safe. He wants to bring about a new age, something to thrive. He will lead us all to damnation!

Papa III cares for his people, he makes sure they are safe and sound even in the midst of the chaos of the Rituals. He is, after all, the messenger that leads the audience through the hero's journey - a guide.

Cardinal Terzo

Let me be clear, this is all derived from Bishop Necropolitus Cracoviensis (who is representative of the album artist Zbigniew Biela) testimonial on Terzo when they were buddies back in Poland.

Cardinal Terzo was a slutty slutty, party man with a revolution in mind. He actually had a lot of visions and ideas to keep the Ministry going and modernizing it. He seemed super, well, locked in. He also likes Futurism, which aligns with his Art Deco and German Expressionism in his box of early 20th century art movements. He saw a future and he wanted to bring it to life, he held the same sins as his brother, Vice, Lust, Greed - but he had Ambition (credit to user cityofmeliora for this epiphany). That's what set it all off. Cardinal Terzo had that joie de vivre.

But who is Terzo?

Terzo Emeritus is a man of many pleasures - it's just those pleasures don't often involve people. He likes early 20th century fashion, he likes early 20th century art movements, he likes theater, he participates in it. He does have a pleasant personality, perfectly charming and joyful and teasing - but, he's not 'on' all the time. Or rather, he might not genuinely feel that way unless something or someone actually interests him. He might not be as slutty as everyone thinks he is. He moves like a fucking cryptid when he isn't performing, which is even funnier considering how open he seems to act. He wanted to do so much as Papa, he cared a lot. He had so many ideas, he wanted to take care of his flock and wanted to spread his ideas and cement the Ministry as a real power by opposing all those mindsets that keep holding society back. He was a revolutionary taken out too soon for another agenda at play, which is his true tragedy.

If anything, his charming Papa persona is what draws people in - but it's untouchable, because it's an idea, a face he puts on. Terzo is most likely the mellow, a toned down version of that face. Secondo influenced him, not enough for him to be exactly like him, though, so.

On a very real level - he's sort of like that 'when your circle small but y'all are crazy' meme. He has only a few people who are truly close to him and know what he wants and who he is while everyone else is on the outside looking in. He seems to keep people at bay, even the ones he approaches first. It's the people who either stick around and play along long enough to catch all his little ticks or the ones who saw through it all in the first place who get close to him.

That self hatred and hatred of everyone came a little later, when everything started to not fit into place anymore. He had restrictions on him, he couldn't bring his vision to life - he began to resent that idea. He knew that he was expendable, it was inevitable that he would be gone soon. He was still Papa, he cared, he wanted better for the Ministry. But it was, to a point, all for nothing if he was going to be stifled.

Ambition and hubris being his downfall is just a repetition of every Greek Tragedy we've been told. And much like the Bringer of Light, Terzo was brought down to Hell. Thanks Sister Imperator.

Sorry if some of this sounds a bit silly, it is quite self indulgent and made when I was sleep deprived. But also, I love character analysis and I love Ghost so!

Bonus tidbit: All that talk of separate travel made me think that Terzo might like sightseeing as a fun headcanon. So in my mind he might have a film camera stashed somewhere to take with him. It fits with the idea that he is quite a recluse and takes time to himself, he doesn't need to socialize to go out and see things and take pictures. Of course this is also extrapolated from his nerdy film and art interests. (this part was inspired by a convo with @3hroo)