#aluros day

[team-mythic-beasts]

Hey, it’s been a while. Today is a special day, isn’t it?

But, well… having slept away whole months while planning my gift and feeling a bit experimental, I ended up making this piece.

By the way, Celinian tradition - no portrait of a god has both eyes. Some say if the second eye is drawn, the god depicted would come to life, break out of the canvas, and the entire piece would have to be remade. (I’m more of a they-have-better-things-to-do believer, but whatever.)

This is inspired by my first shapeshifting lesson with Aluros: “In order to change your form, you need a clear picture in your mind of what exactly you want to turn into.”

To my complete surprise, he asked me to memorize his appearance - even gave me a painting of himself (which is crazy good) for when he wasn’t available. And to prevent me from being stuck looking like him, he also made one of mine. I barely left his apartment for weeks. Spent a whole lotta time sitting at his vanity with two portraits taped to the mirror frame.

I was really focused on trying to have my reflection be a guy with a freckled face, teal-brown eyes, and glowing multicolored hair. Even in my dreams, I was doing it… until I woke up to one of the Princesses (Domino, I think) hissing at me. That’s how I found out it worked. Good thing Aluros had his crown on when he came back to his room to check on me, or it could’ve been worse. Or maybe I was just overreacting.

It was easier turning back into my original face, though, so my “new look” didn’t really last long. But it was long enough to show my shapeshifting teacher I was ready for the next lesson.

Aluros is not at all a boring mentor, and I’d love to tell you more about this journey of mine sometime soon - like how I got my face marks and my fun-filled experiences with the Princesses! But for now, I’m off to bake him a cake. Cya ^^

— Lucas R.

(This post is a birthday gift for @tolyys 🎂😸)

[team-mythic-beasts]

Seven Years of TMB, Part 4: The Iridescent Rover and the Angelic Author

By Lucas Reynard (feat. Aluros)

(Read series introduction here!)

Trying to outsmart a god, let alone a life deity, at what is basically hide-and-seek with extra steps… is totally impossible. Still, I thought Aluros deserved a little treat for winning— a book about him, written by yours truly. Well… I was going to give it to him eventually, considering I’ve been working on it for a few years already.

As expected, I found him taking the Princesses out for a walk in the woods outside Alphica, happily singing an old song he transcribed for his scholar friends; Clementine trotting around his feet, Lorelei on his head, Domino floating next to him, and Minerva being carried around in his arms, sleeping.

To be honest, I didn’t expect that he’d be here in his god form and not some other guise like… Bengt the Bard or that blue goblin whose name I can’t quite recall. But again, with practically no one in Phantasmia knowing who he really is (other than me), I guess he has nothing to worry about as long as he’s here.

Still, I’m not letting him tag along with me to Mikel’s place unless he changes into his elf form. I’d rather have my partner call Aluros “Mr. Reynard” rather than try to wrap his head around the idea of an “entirely new” deity.

Whoops, I’m getting off topic here… Anyways, back to my story.

“Oh, Lukey! Nice to see you again. The girls have been wondering when you’d…”

Aluros and his familiars were quick to spot me, but quicker did their attention turn towards the purple rectangular object I held in my arms. It’s the God of Colors’ favorite hue, and every author before me who’s ever written about him made that very clear.

Before I could fully explain as to why I got him this present, a collaborative effort from the two older Princesses swiftly removed the book from my grasp, then into their maker’s.

“All About Aluros: The God of Colors… You wrote this for me?”

And so he gently sat himself down, laid sleepy little Minerva onto his lap, and began to go through the pages, each word and picture, as the other Princesses gathered around him. His grin, which started off small yet soft, grew wider with every detail that amused him.

I wasn’t expecting much of a reaction from Aluros since it’s not really an elaborate gift, but looking back at it now… I probably should have. Unlike the stone-faced goddess that is my mother, he’s always been an emotional deity, and this time too was he moved to tears.

“I’m so honored,” “This is everything,” “Thank you so much…”

He kept repeating those words as he wept all over his new book and melted into a puddle, both his hair and the skies slowly morphing into a sweet, euphoric mix of purple, pink, and all those pleasant hues. The Princesses, Minerva included, meowed in harmony at the clouds, as they did every previous “purple sky.”

Like how the air turns golden to anyone who donates to a Moon Goddess statue, Aluros’ joy has the power to free anyone lucky enough to get to bask in it of their worries and all other negative sentiments. For all that my friends and I have endured these past few years, I admit this “purple sky” was much needed.

“Oh, I almost forgot… We got you a present too! Happy Birthday, Lukey!”

Well, I was so distracted from the joy of making Aluros happy that I forgot about my own birthday. Being the artist he is, obviously he’d have made me a portrait— marked with paw prints from all four Princesses.

Today, that portrait has its very own place in my study, framed in elegant wood and set right next to my table lamp. Whenever I’m a bit tired from writing, I’d put all my work aside and stare at it for minutes, even hours on end…

He’s gotten better at capturing my likeness yet again. 💕

Previous: Finny + Photia

[team-mythic-beasts]

[The Gods of Hetaveyond] 10 Facts About Aluros 🐱

A.K.A. God of Colors, The Origin (of Life), The First Shapeshifter, etc.

(Previous: Photia | Next: TBA)

For Earth Day, we introduce the most down-to-earth god in Hetaveyond— Aluros! (pronounced “AY-loo-rose”)

1. Aluros is the only masculine-presenting member of the Three Primordial Gods.

2. Those who receive Aluros’ blessing develop markings on their bodies, which carry over to their other forms. No two shapeshifters possess the same marks.

3. In his main form, Aluros’ hair, eyes, and animal features change color depending on his mood.

4. Aluros’ iconic necklace contains an extremely rare, color-changing gemstone. Only Lucas Reynard, his champion, is known to possess another piece.

5. Despite their differing ideologies, especially regarding mortals, Aluros is close friends with Diadema and her children, as they have been for thousands of years.

6. Aluros’ emotions are known to affect the skies; when he is really happy, the sky turns into a beautiful shade of purple. 💜

7. Aluros and his four familiars, the Princesses of Color, founded five nations in the continent of Kromatista in the early 1600s. Their reign there was short-lived, however, as the mortals grew to believe their nations can operate without their founders.

8. Many believe that Aluros vanished around 300 years ago, as he had not been worshipped since. However, recent studies have pointed out that certain figures in history never really existed— they were only disguises worn by the God of Colors!

9. Unearthed remains of Aluros’ first tribe, Zucoria, reveals a mural of what modern scholars believe to be the true form of the God of Colors— a giant red cat.

10. Aluros is based on the amazing @tolyys! That’s why he’s such a ball of sunshine 💕

Bonus Illustrations

The Many Hues and Emotions of Aluros

The Princesses of Color

from top left, in clockwise order:

- 🍊 Clementine, the Citrus Princess

- 🌙 Domino, the Umbra Princess

- ⛰️ Minerva, the Mineral Princess

- 🐟 Lorelei, the Siren Princess

Ancient mural depicting a gigantic cat surrounded by various smaller figures; subject identified by modern researchers as Aluros

(Previous: Photia | Next: TBA)