#and incredibly primitive dogs

[m4rv3l-girl]

Truth or Dare

Loki x Y/N

Y/N and Loki play together

Requests Open - See blog!

Warnings: none, but Loki in this a warning itself..

“Come onnnn, it'll be fun!” Y/N's voice was a persistent whine, bordering on playful mischief, as she pestered Loki for the umpteenth time. Her eyes sparkled with the kind of infectious enthusiasm that Loki found irritating—and, perhaps secretly, a bit charming.

She had been insisting for hours that they play Truth or Dare, a game she claimed was an essential part of Midgardian culture, but one that Loki found particularly banal. After all, how could a game played by mere mortals ever hold any value for a God of Mischief?

"Not only are your Midgard games dull," Loki retorted, his deep, velvety voice holding a trace of disdain, "but they are incredibly repetitive. I refuse to lower myself to such pedestrian frivolity." He crossed his arms over his chest, emphasizing his refusal with a firm tone, the very picture of regal disinterest.

Y/N, however, remained unfazed. Her persistence was unyielding, as if she could see through his mask of indifference. She gave him a pleading look, her eyes wide and imploring, like a child on the verge of a tantrum. "Please? Just one game?" She stretched the words out dramatically, her voice lilting in a way she knew he couldn’t ignore. “I’ll stop bugging you…”

Loki let out an exaggerated huff, his eyes narrowing slightly. He had faced far greater trials in his long life—battles, betrayals, even near-death experiences—yet the persistence of a mortal girl seemed more vexing than any of them. But perhaps, he mused, indulging her just this once would get her to cease her annoying chatter. Surely one game wouldn’t be too much of a compromise.

"...Fine," he muttered, his voice dripping with reluctant resignation. “One game."

Y/N’s face lit up instantly, her grin spreading wide across her face like a child unwrapping a long-awaited gift. She nearly bounced from her seat in excitement, her hands clapping together with an impish giggle. Without a second thought, she scooted closer to him on the couch, her knee brushing against his. She looked up at him with an almost dog-like eagerness, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.” Loki’s voice was dry, and he tried to layer his words with as much disinterest as possible. But Y/N could tell—there was a flicker of intrigue beneath his aloof exterior.

“Okay, so it’s simple,” she explained, her hands gesturing as if she were explaining a grand, ancient ritual. “One of us will ask the other Truth or Dare. If the other chooses truth, you can ask them anything, and they have to answer honestly. If they choose dare, they have to do whatever you tell them.”

Loki’s eyes rolled in exasperation, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Primitive, he thought to himself. Mortals and their childish amusements.

"Right. I'll go first," Y/N declared, not wasting a second. She leaned forward, practically vibrating with energy. "Ask me!"

Loki sighed, rolling his head back slightly as if this entire ordeal were the greatest burden in existence. He supposed he could amuse her for a moment, if only to hasten the game's end.

“Truth or dare?” His voice was smooth and even, his disinterest more than apparent.

“Truth.” Her answer was quick and confident.

Loki narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking deeply. If he was going to play this ridiculous game, he might as well make the most of it. There was something to be gained here—a little insight, a little fun. His eyes glinted with an idea.

“Alright. Whom do you prefer: me or Thor?” He asked the question with casual arrogance, already knowing the answer, but curious nonetheless.

Y/N didn’t even hesitate. “You,” she said, her voice filled with certainty.

Loki’s brow raised, an almost feline smirk creeping onto his lips. “And why is that?” His curiosity was piqued, though his tone remained casual, feigning indifference.

Y/N grinned but didn’t fall for the bait. “It’s not my go anymore. Truth or dare?” Her eyes sparkled with challenge.

“Hm… I suppose I’ll pick the dare,” Loki replied, intrigued by what she would come up with. Surely nothing she could propose would be difficult for a God of Mischief.

Y/N’s mind worked quickly, a wicked grin spreading across her face. Her eyes danced with mischief as she leaned in, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “I dare you to say something in Asgardian.”

Loki blinked, slightly taken aback. Of all the dares she could have chosen, this was so... simple. He almost felt insulted. “Like what?” His voice was laced with boredom.

“Just something,” she pressed, her eyes alight with curiosity.

Loki grumbled, but complied, his voice sliding smoothly into his native tongue, the Asgardian words sounding like silk on air. “Du er altfor pen til å delta i en aktivitet så kjedelig.”

The words flowed effortlessly, the language rich and elegant, and for a moment, even he appreciated the beauty of it. Y/N’s eyes widened, mesmerized by the sound, even though she had no idea what he had said.

“What does it mean?” she asked, her voice soft and curious.

Loki’s smirk returned, a touch of amusement in his eyes. “It’s not my turn anymore. Truth or dare?”

“Dare.” Her response came quickly, and there was a hint of intrigue behind her voice.

Loki’s smirk deepened, sensing an opportunity. “I dare you to reveal why you prefer me over my brother.”

Y/N blinked, surprised at how easily he had turned the tables. Clever, as always. She bit her lip, her voice faltering slightly as she responded. “I like Thor, don’t get me wrong. But you’re… more interesting.”

There was something in her voice, something she wasn’t saying. Loki noticed, of course, and his smirk grew wider.

“More interesting, you say?” Loki preened, leaning back slightly in his seat, clearly satisfied. “That is true. I always was the more exciting brother. Truth.”

Y/N hesitated for a moment, thinking of a question, and then, in a quieter voice than usual, asked, “Why do you put up with me?”

Loki’s brow furrowed, and for the first time since the game began, he looked genuinely curious. “Excuse me?” He leaned forward slightly, his emerald eyes narrowing.

“I mean, I know I can be annoying,” Y/N continued, her voice soft, her gaze avoiding his. “Most people can’t tolerate me for this long. Why do you stick around?”

Loki sighed, but there was a warmth in it, as if he were letting down his guard just a fraction. “Three reasons, darling. One, you are not irritating—your spirited nature is something most mortals are too dim to appreciate. Two, you are enjoyable company, and few people in this realm or any other can claim that honor. And three...” He leaned in closer, his voice lowering, the air between them thickening. “I’m a god. It takes more than a lively mortal to crack my patience.”

Y/N felt her heart flutter at his words, a warmth spreading in her chest that she couldn’t ignore. The affection in his voice, veiled behind his usual arrogance, was enough to leave her speechless for a moment.

“Truth or dare,” Loki said, breaking the silence.

“Truth,” Y/N whispered, still trying to recover from the feeling his words had ignited.

Loki’s eyes darkened with mischief as he leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. “Are you attracted to me, dear? Does my voice make you tremble? Do you feel your heart quicken when I am near?”

Y/N’s breath hitched. Her heart was pounding, and she knew he could hear it.

“That’s three questions...” she managed to whisper, trying to deflect.

Loki’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming. “One question with sub-questions, love. And I suspect the answer to all three is the same.”

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn’t deny it. “You would be correct,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Loki chuckled softly, the sound low and throaty. It sent shivers down her spine. “I thought as much. You don’t hide your emotions well, darling. Your skin turns the most delightful shade of scarlet whenever I touch you.”

Y/N’s face flushed even more at his teasing, and she quickly tried to regain control. “Truth or dare,” she said, her voice wavering slightly as she attempted to shift the focus away from herself.

Loki’s eyes gleamed, his smirk never fading. “Dare.”

The air between them seemed to grow heavy, and Y/N took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she had. Her voice came out soft but determined. “I dare you to kiss me.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Loki’s eyes widened ever so slightly, his smirk faltering for the briefest of moments. Then, slowly, deliberately, he leaned in closer, his gaze locking with hers. The space between them seemed to shrink until there was nothing left but the anticipation hanging in the air.

[followthebluebell]

entirely random question, if you happen to have any thoughts on it: why are cats so terrible at fetch when dogs aren't? even kitties who enjoy the "chase-and-return" concept usually don't actually fully return the toy when it seems like dogs work that part out pretty quick.

Because we bred dogs to do it, basically. A lot of dog breeds are retrievers, which do exactly what it says on the tin: they retrieve things. Teaching my poodle to play fetch didn't require much 'teaching' because those instincts are right there at the surface. He wants to fetch things the same way an artist wants to create. It's what he was born to do.

Even dogs that aren't retrievers are still dogs and are, in general, hardwired to listen and learn from people. People can and will make an argument about 'oh, but this breed is STUBBORN' (ie, huskies, salukis, a lot of hounds tbh, pretty much every primitive breed, etc; I'm not going to sit here and list all the breeds that are deemed 'difficult to train'), but I don't think that's fully accurate. Primitive breeds that are 'hard to train' are STILL going to learn from humans. They just don't always learn the things we're trying to teach them, but that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

I also want to emphasize that I FULLY believe that dogs changed us too. I don't think humans would be what we are today if it wasn't for our fully unique relationship with dogs. There's no other animal that we've domesticated the same way we have dogs, and there never will be. They fulfill so many roles in the development of human kind that it's astonishing. They were our hunting companions, our guardians, our trackers, our food, they even supplied wool (the salish wool dog is an extinct breed that was raised for wool similar to sheep), and our friends. Because of them, we became human. Because of us, they became dogs.

i'm sorry i'm getting really emotional about dogs. It's just that there's such a deep relationship between the species. Over our centuries, dogs became so incredibly attuned to us, to the point where they have the ability to communicate with and understand us more than any other domesticated species and we have the same with them. There's no other species on earth that inherently understands what a human means when we point a finger, but dogs DO.

basically dogs fetch because we bred them to want to retrieve, they want to learn things from us, and we want to teach them. Cats don't have any of these instincts. This doesn't mean they're any lesser or greater. They're just different and that's fantastic.

[ms-scarletwings]

Personal Vort Headcanons

(And not as a true essay because really, the show gave out so little in specific details for this race that any real attempt to put together a thorough analysis or theory about them necessarily will arise from or give way to fanon fodder at best. Such freedom and gaps in information remains a blessing and a curse.)

- The modern Vortian people evolved from highly intelligent, predatory ancestors which had to adapt to an erratic, competitive ecosystem. Like Homo sapiens, they once filled a niche as both hunter and the hunted, until the development of primitive weaponry and an apt for problem-solving helped them eliminate their natural predators and claim the mantle of dominant species over their home world.

- This origin coincides with a preferred diet high in protein and calorie-dense foods. It’s assumed that Vort dogs, implied to be a kind of processed sausage, are a culinary signature particularly enjoyed by this species. This suggests that Vortians are likely either obligate carnivores, or opportunistically omnivorous. Such a hypothesis is further supported by their jagged teeth, suited for ripping and tearing animal flesh.

- It is possible that their hornlike appendages might be hollow and serve an important role in their hearing; alternatively, they may actually be blood-rich and act as thermoregulating organs. They are shown to be capable of some degree of movement and functionally help a Vortian emote extreme amounts of stress. It may also be that they continue growing throughout the life of the individual, designating a visible marker of wisdom and age.

- Vort’s inventive history is one filled with hyper militarization, not in the pursuit of war, but in dissuading would-be marauders from the outside, such as the Planet Jackers. Their alliance with Irk was one born of shared commercial and strategic interest: While the Irkens began initially behind the Vort in technological prowess, their sheer numbers, connections with other powerful organizations, and continued expansion throughout the galaxy offered an invaluable level of protection to Vort by virtue of being an ally. On the other end of the table, Irk enjoyed a golden era of prosperity and dominance over their territory, directly fueled by Vortian ingenuity.

- The Vort do not have a binary understanding of gender and are a single-sexed people, reproducing either through the use of technology (like the Irkens) or naturally by some form of parthenogenesis. Evidence available indicates that they have a concept of family units, and Vortian fathers are dedicated parents toward their offspring.

- Pre-Invasion, Vortian society was a technocratic republic which selected out its leader(s) by experience. The appearance and significance of the “universe’s most comfortable couch” leads me to believe that it was a luxury designated for the highest ruling despot of the planet, who was either assassinated or usurped by invader Larb to complete his mission. If Vortian growth continues beyond adulthood, then the couch could theoretically be tailored to seat a single incredibly old, enormous individual. This is an idea that draws inspiration from DBZ’s Namekian society , and their Grand Elder Guru.

- Regarding the end of their connections with the Irken Empire, a severe miscommunication was what led to the diplomatic bridge burning on both sides of the exchange. While it was Irk who blamed the scientists of Vort for the death of Almighty Miyuki, the Vortians had correctly identified an Irken transfer as the true perpetrator of the disaster, and decidedly cut ties in retaliation of what they perceived as an attack instigated by the Empire to justify future aggression.

- Following their civilization being brought to heel by Larb, the majority of escaped Vortians by and large have no real leadership and exist as scattered fugitives across and beyond the Empire. Due to their technological marvels and pride falling into Irken hands, as well as their brutal time within the research prison, most of these escapees have had their wills to rebel against the armada beyond a state of “every man for himself” survival broken. Lard Nar is an exception that many of these peers would probably view as moronic and foolhearty for his endeavors leading The Resisty head-on against the Empire.

- Their thin, wormlike tongues hold vestigial remnants of when they were once used as a tool to feed on small tree or crevasse dwelling arthropods.

- Above all else, Vortian leg structure baffles a human-perspective evolutionary analysis, at least at first. Their legs appear to follow an ungulate-like shape, ending in pointed, stilt-like tips; Earth has no surviving carnivorous ungulates, let alone one that has transitioned into an obligatory biped. Both of the latter concepts alone would make for a most inefficient strategy when working with this leg structure. A bipedal gait would suggest a need for stronger, developed legs to support the whole animal, but the Vortians’ remain almost dainty. Their appearance, intellect, and food suggests a history of hunters and prey, but such a leg structure would undoubtedly leave them horribly equipped for fast sprinting or even stable ground holding against a threat.

Sure, there are some gazelle to observe here that can stand for long periods… to feed on vegetation. There are kangaroos and other digitigrade bipeds… which have adapted counterbalancing tails and other means of stabilizing their gait. None of it could make sense to me until I realized I was thinking far too narrowly. Grasslands are where our hooved things thrive, but they’ve managed in more extreme situations before. No one ever said that Vortians were operating under the rules of Earth’s environments anyway. I mean, what hinderance is a weaker gravity to thinner legs? I’ve been thinking at this like a dumb primate that went from an arboreal ancestry to endurance running over long stretches of plains, but what if the people of Vort didn’t follow such a path?

It’s come to my best guess now that Vortians originated not from distance runners, but exceptional climbers.

Performing meme necromancy aside, consider the humble ibex or mountain goat. Fascinating animals for sure, seen not only scaling damn near vertical cliff sides, but able to nimbly navigate up at down them about as easily as they scamper over flat ground, and all for the sake of a good salt lick. How on earth does something tiptoeing on a hoof pull that off? The first neat trick up their sleeve is that it’s a very specialized, split hoof in fact- Cloven toes and rough inner pads that allow them to really grip onto the rock surface, even amid strong gales and other harsh alpine weather. Vortian forelimbs have taken this to the next step, aiding them with a dexterous upper grip as well, equally fit for higher tool use and traversing heights. A less visible adaptation that mountain goats also utilize is their enlarged inner ears, which provide them an incredible innate sense of balance and coordination over their relatives. It’s absolutely a possibility that the organs on a Vortian’s head may even play some similar, if not well understood advantage on this front as well. Alongside the development of their larger skulls and and sapient-like intellect, their evolution spared no waste to giving them a sure-footed agility. And this lifestyle needn’t have been for the soul sake of licking rocks, for we’re free to interpret what we may about the threats and prey that old Vort was packing. Under this idea I’d like to think that the first Vortians congregated in tribal packs like early anthropoids, but taking to the cliffs, or maybe even the trees as their prowl. From higher vantage points they could both elude larger predators as well as feed upon all manner of smaller life forms they could pluck off of the rocks and out from hidden crevices. If larger game was an option, it was likely either scavenged, or taken down collectively, the whole group enacting a precise ambush from above.

[doberbutts]

ok ok ok so i grew up with tons of big farm dogs. i haven't had a dog for a while now bc running away from home, poverty, etc etc. life might be settling into a place in the next few years where i could get a dog.... and i'm thinking about a chi when that time comes. do you have good info on them? how to find a (relatively) healthy one from a breed rescue or reputable breeder? anything about them that should be known if you dont have one? any quirks they have? feel free to ignore this but this is a chance to spread chihuahua propaganda if you want :)

If you are looking for good information on the breed, I would locate the website for the breed club in your country and start reading. If there's not much of a website, see if you can find any events put on by the breed club in your country so that you can go and learn more in person. Unfortunately the dog world is half people old enough to be our grandparents, so there's not always a lot of technological knowledge to make information readily available to the public in the way we're typically used to.

In the US, that would be the Chihuahua Club of America, but of course you're on anon so I have no idea what country to look for.

I do not have good luck with rescue so I will not be advising you there. Finding a responsible breeder can be quite difficult, especially in this companion breed that is ridiculously popular. In general, you are going to want the breeder that health tests to at minimum the standard laid out by the breed club. Here, that would be heart, knees, eyes, and a basic genetics test. Showing vs not showing, sports vs no sports, those are things that personally I think matter less to the average buyer who just wants a nice pet.

Personally I look for people who at least take their dogs to events and have fun, because I think temperament is incredibly important in any dog breed, but "events" doesn't need to mean "dog events". My chihuahuas' breeders take their dogs to their Buddhist meetings, where they sit on the laps of attendees and run around the temple freely. This tells me a lot more than "does sports", because it means the dogs are capable of being around a large group of strangers and in a strange area completely offleash and are not only safe but happy to be doted on by whoever is delighted by the presence of a billion tiny dogs. They do also take their dogs to fun run sporting events, and they show their dogs too, but I think in a companion breed the hanging out at the temple provides me more information.

As far as quirks go... they're pretty clannish. A good chihuahua is a friendly dog that may square up and fire off at an incoming challenger- they are pretty similar to terriers after all, and my girls will try to chase coyotes off my property despite very much being snack-sized- but at the same time they shouldn't be little asshole rat dogs that no one wants to be around. They prefer to hang out with other chihuahuas or similarly-sized dogs, though with good socialization you can convince them that bigger dogs are okay too. They're very affectionate and needy, but also have their own independent streak, and when training you may need to be creative when convincing them you're worth listening to. They're pretty cold-intolerant and seek heat and comfort. They come from feral pariah dogs, so they have a lot of "primitive" traits seen in other frequently loose, roaming dogs. They can be hard to potty train as they're avid markers, even the females. They tend to steal and hoard and bury things. Despite a reputation for being yappy, mostly my chihuahuas are pretty quiet until there's a reason to bark, but Fae does do a single bark at passersby when out on a walk.

[doginprogress]

The Ibizan Hound

For National Purebred Dog Day and Day of the Podenco (May 1st) please enjoy this write up I recently did on the Ibizan Hound (aka Podenco Ibicenco).

Please keep in mind that I am U.S. based, so most of my information is going to be about the community and sports here in the United States.

The beginning of the Ibizan Hound, like many primitive breeds, cannot be narrowed down to a specific set of dates or even years. Like many other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern breeds, fanciers like to compare Ibizan profiles to those of dogs found in hieroglyphs and on statues and imagine their ancestors being those who lived among the Ancient Egyptians. Then, at some point, they were said to be brought over to the island of Ibiza on trade ships. Recent genetic testing does not quite support this story, but what can't be denied is this - Ibizan Hounds have been uniquely selected and adapted over hundreds of years to hunt rabbit through the brush-filled, rocky embankments and hot, arid climate of Ibiza.

Ibizans are pack hunters - first using their eyes, ears, noses, and innate curiosity to investigate the area and find anything attempting to hide in briars or other natural formations. A bark, a wagging tail raised over the back, and an excitement for the future chase alert the other dogs and the human hunters to the prey's location, where the dogs will congregate, flush the prey from it's hideout, and hope for a quick catch. But, if the rabbit is clever enough to avoid immediate doom, the chase gives way over the harsh landscape. This is where the Ibizan's unique conformation comes in. Their front is intentionally forward set and has more elasticity than most breeds, giving them the ability to maneuver, rotate, and change direction mid-air. Combined with lithe, flat muscling, their medium size, incredible leaping prowess, and fear of nothing in the face of the hunt, most Ibizans have the drive and ability to go over, under, around, or through any natural obstacle they may find in their path. Ibizan Hounds are an excellent example of form follows function in that everything, from the ears on their head down to the tips of their tails, has been fashioned to help them excel at their purpose over the years of selection for the best hunters.

In the United States today, Ibizans have been recognized in the Hound Group by the AKC since 1978. Officially, the standard calls for females to be 22.5-26" and males 23.5-27.5", though small deviances in either direction shouldn't be held against a dog who is otherwise a nice example of the breed. With this height range, you can find dogs anywhere from 35-70+ lbs. Because of the conformation of their skeletal structure and flat muscling, it is common to find healthy or even overweight dogs who show hip bones, ribs, and spine, especially during their "teenage" phases. All purebred Ibizans will be red, white, or most likely, a combination of red and white with rosy, flesh toned noses and pigmentation. Both smooth and wire coats are allowed, and in the AKC, are shown together in the ring and can be interbred. The only disqualification in the AKC standard is for "Any color other than white or red and any pigment color which is not as described". The standard leaves enough open to personal interpretation that Ibizans tend to have a range of "styles" within the breed, while retaining the distinctive breed type. Overall, Ibizans should be elegant, refined, and "deer-like" in their appearance without being fine to the point of fragility. Moderation is an essential aspect of their appearance and ability. An Ibizan overdone in one way or another would not excel at it's original function.

Temperamentally, the word moderation could not be less true. Ibizans (affectionately called beezers by those who love them) should be stable, easy-going, and affectionate. Aloofness with strangers is common and acceptable. However, alongside all the above comes a dog with a wicked sense of humor, an innate curiosity, and the physical ability to follow through on their heart's whims. Beezers are over-the-top goofy and tend to be wildly affectionate with those in their inner circle. Ibizans are pack dogs, and should easily integrate themselves into groups and generally get along with others. They do well with routines and order, since they tend to make their own chaos, but training must be approached with the understanding that most are very easily bored, and will find it beneath themselves to repeat an activity they believe they've conquered.

While they obviously excel at running sports like lure coursing and racing, Ibizans are also able to have fun and have been making strides in sports like agility, nosework, rally, and dock diving (and rumor is a few are starting to dabble in flyball). The breed is also one that sees many Owner-Handlers win and do well in the conformation ring. Beezers are generally classified as high energy, and most are willing to keep going all day if they find whatever activity to be enjoyable. However, once they reach maturity, you're just as likely to find them lazing the day away on the comfort of a bed or couch.

Ibizan Hound Club of the United States

AKC Ibizan Hound Breed Page

FCI Podenco Ibicenco Page

(Pictures are used with permission)

[shallowrambles]

What I like about Sam, is he doesn’t seem have a complex about his perceived “femininity.” No matter how much Dean teases him, it never seems to hit. It doesn’t seem to be a sore spot. (“Maybe he thinks you’re compensating, Dean.)

Sam is bothered by not feeling STRONG/powerful, but that seems a little more targeted/nuanced than gender styling/performance. Sam seems to move through the world of “mad men” masculinity with some ease compared to Dean, who even in early seasons is shown to be a bit of a Tryhard.

Sam seems to me to be more bothered by being a “low-caste” “untouchable.” (Aside///In religions studies, sacred executioners were sometimes incredibly shrouded/outcast in old religions, which is fascinating.)

HENRY: Hunters? Hunters are apes.

I think too of Uriel’s mud monkeys comments. Ketch and Hess in s12 calling hunters stupid soldiers/DOGS. Rowena’s Rageddy-Anne/FILTH. Her “dirty little body” (because she was poor). He seems very connected to these high-powered ideas of purity/higher class… stuff that swirls with ideas of polluted blood/half-breed.

i just… I personally feel he doesn’t feel the need to compensate so much about gender and sex, and that’s illuminating, especially in the era/culture he’s growing up in. Sam wants to BE strong to be strong, he wants to be elite. He actually seems to want to be perceived/ come off as gentler than he really is. (I.E. his preference for nondescript vehicles…)

I perceive him as wanting to be seen as more high-class, united in theme with ambition-characters like Crowley and Rowena, but not as idealistic in his snootiness as someone like Henry.

So that’s just where I place more weight/analysis. Sam doesn’t hate hunting. In fact, he kinda seems to love it more than other characters do. What he hates if that it puts him in the less posh, respected class.

I think I’ve said this before but lower classes get stuck with terms like dirty/filthy/primitive animals and tye classist charge of sexual deviancy/incest… (hi, zachariah! This backfired with Adam btw, because Zachariah overestimated Adam’s valuation of class and his love for his struggling, single-parent mom. BTW, Adam seems way more aware of things his caretaker-mom gave up to raise him… just way more emotional intelligence.)

///

Anyhoo, the lower classes tend to turn around and hurl insults at the higher classes about effeminate/wussy/soft to combat the fact that the higher classes are technically more successful/masculine/potent. (We see that with Gwen Campbell, when faced with Dean’s cushy life she’s probably actually jealous of.)

These gender-performance barbs ultimately come from a place of weakness, because performing a crass gender stereotype doesn’t cost lower classes as much to perform. You can “other” the higher classes on a budget that way! (Paraphrasing Wally from s12: “Maybe I can’t own a suit like yours, Mick Davies, but you got soft hands, you pussy…”)

BTW: Mick Davies and Sam got along like a house on fire. I doubt Mick’d have gotten on that well with more blue collar peeps like Eileen, Dean, Cas*, Mary…

Of note, the demons in the show also trade in innuendo… because they’re coming from a low place trying desperately to punch up at figures that aren’t even very moved by the insults (we see this when Crowley tries to insult Cas or Lucifer).

[chroniclingworlds]

Ferridae

These strange animals are the only quadrupeds present in the north, and have very unusual internal anatomy that suggests a close relationship with the Auranauts and Papyracetae. They are likely the closest living relatives of those bizarre aerial beasts, and thus offer an important look at their evolution. Their external anatomy is equally strange, with huge crests that are extremely sensitive to electrical activity. Exactly how and when they arrived in the north is still debated; the fossil record suggests they were living around the Moon Sea by at least 220 million years ago, long before the great migration between the two hemispheres.

“Ferrids”

Pictured: the half-moon Ferrid, a very striking species that lives in the subtropical jungles around the southern tip of the Moon Sea.

These small omnivores inhabit the trees around the Moon Sea. They are believed to be somewhat of a living fossil, strongly resembling the ancestors of all Ferridae that first migrated to the north. Most modern species have evolved to be arboreal, taking advantage of the lack of other tree-dwelling animals to adapt to a huge variety of niches, ranging from species which measure only a few inches and feed on Viatora larvae to varieties the size of a dog that hunt other Ferrids and drifters. The majority of species also eat plants, and seem to prefer red plants, but occasionally feed from the fleshier Plantimals that share their territory.

Needleheads

Pictured: the violet-crested needlehead, native to the semi-arid plains around the Western Rise.

With a venomous spike on top of their crest, needleheads are well-armed to fend off larger predators. The venom is not especially deadly but will cause pain and sickness, and predators typically learn not to target these animals after one encounter. These herbivores can be found all throughout the Moon Sea basin region, usually solitary except during the spring when they gather to mate. Highly versatile, species of needleheads live everywhere from the dense forests around the Moon Sea to the outskirts of the Canyon Fields.

Harp Sheep

Pictured: the two-toned harp sheep, which lives in the dry forests in the center of the Moon Sea crescent.

Despite their innocent-sounding name, harp sheep are not passive herbivores. Like their smaller cousins the needleheads, they have venomous barbs on their crest to deter predators. Although they are primarily plant-eaters, they have been seen hunting down and consuming smaller animals as well as carrion. Their incredible electrosensory capabilities allow them to feel storms coming from up to a hundred miles away, and will often become excited and agitated when they sense one. Because of this, they are occasionally kept by Xaraka villages to indicate when rain is approaching.

Pyramidalopes

Pictured: the northern stripe-back, which live in huge herds across the boreal plains.

The largest of the Ferridae, herds of these odd-looking herbivores roam the plains between seasonal feeding grounds. Most of their diet consists of red plants, but they have been known to feed on Plantimals as well. Despite their strangely shaped bodies, they are quite fast and elegant, capable of reaching speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour. Unlike their relatives, they do not have venom, and instead rely on speed to evade predators. Their modified crests contain hollow air sacs, making them light and flexible, and also indicate their close relationship to the even more unusual Drifters.

Drifters

Pictured: the lesser kite-bird, a common sight in the Moon Sea forests.

Sharing the trees with their distant relatives the Ferrids, drifters belong to their own family, and in fact used to be classified as a primitive Auranaut. Similar to Earth animals, the Ossaforms of Strix have two lungs. In this group, one lung has been adapted to act as a temporary balloon. Drifters can shut off regular oxygen-binding blood flow to this lung and instead concentrate inhaled hydrogen and helium inside it, causing the body to become slightly buoyant. This allows them to leap from trees and glide easily away from predators or catch flying prey. Unlike their cousins the Auranauts, drifters cannot float indefinitely. Eventually they must return normal blood flow to the lung and sink back down to the ground.

[tribbetherium]

The Middle Temperocene: 150 million years + 1000 years post-establishment

Almost People: The Calliducynomorpha and Convergent Species

The Calliducyonidae are the third sophonts to arise on HP-02017, after the harmsters and the splintsters. Their rise to prominence, however, has been an incremental, gradual one, bit by bit as with all evolutionary processes, and as evolution is never a straight line, devoid of any definite goal except whatever survives for now, other branches of the overall taxonomic family--the Calliducynomorpha--emerged, diverged, and continue to persist.

These close taxonomic cousins of the true calliducyons, the Eucalliducyonidae comprised of the two species of southhounds and three species of northhounds and the multiple subspecies of each, range in various levels of intellectual prowess, representative of various rungs of the progression toward full sapience. Some are simpler near-sophonts, comparable to, in human terms, early hominids, others being highly-sophisticated but not quite sophonts, akin to great apes like chimpanzees, and others are simply instinctive animals just marginally more intelligent than the Earthly carnivorous mammals they share their niches with, the canids such as dogs and wolves. Thus a spectrum is formed, of various animals blurring the clear line between person and beast: and the true calliducyons, in their lore and culture, have percieved such beings in very different ways.

The closest living relative of the calliducyons is the saddled baskerville (Protocalliducyon primalis): a primitive species that diverged six million years ago from the common ancestor of the northern baskerville and southern baskerville that gave rise to the northhounds and southhounds, respectively. While still more closely related to the northhounds, the southhounds bear closer resemblance to this basal species, sharing their stocky builds, pack-hunting of large prey and highly-intelligent and empathetic behavior toward its fellows.

Saddled baskervilles are complex creatures: they care for their own kin, use tools to a more limited degree, are behaviorally flexible and adaptable, and even have a complex means of vocal communication. However, they are, compared to true calliducyons, simple and child-like, as their communications, loosely "stories", are merely descriptive events of actual experiences. They do not imagine, create folklore, philosophize about the nature of their world or grasp complex abstract concepts, and their language in comparison is far simpler. And unlike the true calliducyons, they are significantly more instinctive, and lack higher understanding of morality: engaging in such animalistic practices as killing the pups of rival packs, copulating with members of their close relation, or consuming their own feces-- all behaviors that their closer neighbors, the southhounds, find abhorrent.

Their more feral behaviors and amoral unpredictability has led to a deep rift between them and the southhounds, who typically do not welcome them in their territories, and see them as savages. Indeed, some packs of saddled baskervilles are known to become hostile to the southhounds, to which the southhounds are left to retaliate thusly. However, certain groups of southhounds, such as the darkears, admire them for their "purity and freedom", and their simpler ways. Some packs have even learned their simple words and call a truce with them--though these are limited interactions and not true conversations, and the two do not mingle due to their behavioral, biological, and mental differences.

Further down the line are the Paracalliducyonidae, a group of baskervilles which diverged even further back at about eight million years ago, and formed two distinct branches: the plainlupes and the falsehounds. These are even simpler beings than the near-sophont saddled baskerville, yet are still incredibly intelligent in animal standards: having flexible learned behaviors they pick up from social groups and experiences.

Plainlupes (Paracalliducyon spp.) are a wide genus of baskervilles with at least four species, ranging widely across most of South Ecatoria and are such encountered by both northhounds and southhounds alike. Smaller than either species of calliducyon, plainlupes are typically opportunistic and somewhat omnivorous, though not to the extent of the northhounds. This opportunism sometimes leads to conflict with their sophont relatives, particularly the highbrows, who know them as "voiceless-ones" who prey on their livestock, and their cultural impact is also evident in many northhound cultures, who fear them in belief that their primal attitudes and lack of self-awareness is somehow contagious, with superstition making them hostile against the plainlupes to avoid them being "taken of their minds" and become feral beasts like they are.

This opportunism has taken to a strange new degree with the falsehounds (Pseudocalliducyon spp.), which actively mimic the coloration and appearances of the brown northhounds: even possessing thicker fur on top of their heads to make their heads appear bigger. This evolved as a defense mechanism: as rival predators such as tigerillas and other lycanines quickly grew to recognize the danger posed by antagonizing the northhounds, capable of tool use, cooperation, intellect and planned retaliation against threats, they began to recognize their distinct appearance and steer clear of groups of them. This has been exploited by the falsehounds, who imitate their appearances and even behaviors, gripping sticks in their mouths even despite not actually knowing how to make and use weapons. But the bluff is enough to make even the largest tigerillas back away at least most of the time, not wanting to take the risk of being taken on by an enemy that will be determined to take them down if they harm any of them.

This mimicry, however, has led to some daring individuals actually attempting to sneak into northhound territories, with the intention of stealing food. They roll about near northhound latrines to take on their scent, then passively imitate their behaviors while discreetly sneaking to their food stores and raiding their stashes. Often, the impostor is caught and evicted, but not before they grab a few mouthfuls off of their meals, leading to many northhound tribes attempting to check their identities by specific vocal "passwords". As they do not understand complex language this is where most falsehounds are caught and chased away. Most northhounds are merciful to the falsehounds, seeing them merely as an annoyance and a trickster, content with simply driving them off until the falsehounds realize their cover is blown and they give up. But to the drysanders, ever so hostile to foreigners, they are seen as demons in false guises walking amongst people: and will not hesitate to kill the intruders upon exposing them: which in rare cases, has led to accidental lynchings of other fellow northhounds unfamiliar with their dialects and thus mistaken for falsehounds.

But not all relationships of the calliducyons with their feral brethren are hostile and aggressive. Some smaller calliducynomorphs, ones who pose little threat and are not competition, are even tolerated and adored by their sophont kin. One such example is the desert wildchild (Paedovulpecyon minimus), a fennec-like hunter in deserts, savannahs and grasslands, and is primarily an insectivore, hunting stinging insects as well as small duskmice and rattiles as well. They are different enough from the northhounds to not arise wariness, and their small, pup-like appearances has caused them to even appear endearing to them. The nomadic mixens, in particular, allow them to tag along in their packs, as they hunt small stinging insects that bother them and thus serve as vermin control, as well as amusement and companionship. To many other northhounds, however, this relationship is uncanny at best and uncomfortable at worst: though most distantly related to the true calliducyons among the Calliducynomorpha, the resemblance is still very much there--and to them, it is the equivalent of someone keeping tiny childlike people as pets.

But it is not only species that are of close kin to the calliducyons that incite such responses: many other, entirely unrelated non-sapient animals, through convergent evolution and coincidence, come to resemble the calliducyons themselves, be it in physical appearance and/or coloration. These species, different as they may seem, manage to evoke an uncanny sense of sameness to the calliducyons: and thus find a place in their folklore and culture, and form unconventional relationships, because of this resemblance.

One such case is the common folkmouse (Callidumimomys minimus), a small furbil species that is an otherwise unremarkable agouti-like herbivore that feeds on grasses, stems and seeds. But what makes it very distinctive is that its coloration, by chance, happened to resemble that of the brown northhounds: with the telltale dark mane, eye spots, pale ruffs, spotted colors and tufted ears that, together, create an appearance that very closely echoes the coloration of the northhounds. Small basal rodents such as furbils and duskmice form much of the northhounds' omnivorous diet: but the folkmouse is an exception. Many northhound beliefs see the folkmouse in different lights: some see them as "spirit kin", others see them as reincarnations of their ancestors, and still others see them as former northhounds that were cursed into turning into mindless diminutive creatures. Whatever their reason, the northhounds as a whole generally refrain from hunting and eating this particular species: and through accidental circumstance and the superstition of a sapient predator, the folkmouse has in essence evolved the most unusual of defensive colorations that have come to protect it from a very unorthodox hunter with rules of its own unlike those of nature.

A similar case applies to the ring-necked wolfface (Phocilycaenops cynocephalus), a member of the group of semi-marine bayvers called gnawruses: specialized to eating hard-shelled prey like shrish and notiluses, they developed blocky heads and squared-off snouts to help in pulverizing tough exoskeletons. Gregarious on the beach, they recognize one another through facial markings, most prominently pale spots above their eyes, and a ring of light and dark fur around their necks. This has given them a very uncanny and coincidental resemblance to the southhounds, which normally would hunt the pinniped-like creatures as they were vulnerable on the beach, in particular the baywulves who were coastal ranging and thus subsisted heavily on marine prey.

Naturally pattern-seekers, the baywulves quickly came to recognize the very similar faces and markings of the sea-beasts, especially when coupled with their defensive grunts and growls that sound much like their own vocalizations yet devoid of words or meaning. They, too, like the folkmouse, are spared the predation of the intelligent creature they so by chance happened to resemble, as baywulf culture has come to see them as guardians of the sea, and consider it a bad omen to harm or kill them. As such, while they do hunt other species of coastal bayvers, this species is off their list, with this cultural belief even providing some selective pressure toward those whose vocalizations sound more like southhound voices--to even further this uncanny resemblance and reduce their risk of being hunted by them.

Most noteworthy are the flyers, that bear resemblances to their faces and markings, as flight is seen as almost magical by the northhounds, and thus easily enter their folklore depicted as supernatural forces or physical manifestations of the spirits that govern the world. One such species, the wandergander known as the maned stormspirit (Ornithocyon tempestas), is widely revered as a holy creature by the northhounds, especially due to its propensity to fly ahead of storms to prey on marine life disturbed to the surface, and gathering after storms on the beach to feed on washed-up or trapped small prey. This, through confirmation bias, has led a number of northhound cultures to see them as either harbringers of storms, or actually causing the storms themselves, and as rain brings water and life they are viewed thus as incarnations of some of the spirits that guide the cycles of nature: with the mythical figure Storm-Chief, associated with the photosynthetic shroomor complex "Stormchief's Eyes", being depicted and described in lore as an immense maned stormspirit who challenged the gods themselves and was struck down for his hubris.

But resemblances to flying creatures take a darker turn in the deserts, where the falcyons, large predatory ratbats, scour the skies in search of prey. Their canine-like heads and similar markings have caused the drysanders to view and portray them as flying monsters with the heads of people: and none are as dreaded as the skewering harpshrike (Phobocynonyctus crucifigere), the species most closely resembling their own facial appearances: and also the species most likely to prey upon the drysanders' vulnerable pups. It is most dreaded by the northhounds in general due to its grim habits: storing the carcasses of its prey up in trees, it skewers them onto thorns and sharp branches to keep them out of reach of thieves, and to more easily take them apart into bite-size pieces for consumption. As such, the deserts are a common sight for the macabre spectacle of small, dessicated, skeletal and half-eaten carcasses decorating the branches of thorny trees: on occasion ones that may had been some unlucky pup out in the open at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

The existence of a diverse array of wildlife resembling themselves, some their own distant kin while others just being convergent animals that bear a coincidental resemblance to their own looks, has had a humbling effect on both northhounds and southhounds alike. Blurring the lines between being and brute, they view themselves not as a separate category of life, or a higher rung in the advancement of creatures. Rather, they both have come to see themselves as just another creature, just another piece in the puzzle of the world, as just another kind of animal as part of the world as anything else: made special solely by their capacity to tell stories, and make choices informed by them.

--------

[son1c]

What if Whirley learns how to be less feral by hanging around Windthrow? And how do the other Scavengers react when they find out the guy who technically kidnapped their friend isn't actually a monster?

windthrow definitely brings out the best in whirley :)

now that he's safe, well-rested, and with enough to eat, whirley becomes very curious about his surroundings. the egg base is like nothing he's ever seen before. though primitive, there's technology there! it has running water! how does it work? and how does that thing over there work? and that and that and that? he has so many questions-- unfortunately, his means of "asking" involves taking things apart, and not vocalizing the questions themselves, but hey... he IS learning!

the first time he does it, windthrow is out somewhere, and when he comes back... and sees pieces of the ceiling fan scattered all over the floor... well, he's a little upset tbh. like bro, i leave for five seconds and you start breaking stuff? not cool!

whirley kinda whines like a dog that KNOWS it did a bad thing, and then... puts the fan back together. quickly. and seamlessly. and when windthrow flips the switch, it actually... still works.

huh.

windthrow wants to see if whirley can do that with other stuff too, and before you know it, he's taken apart everything in the room and then put it back together again. who knew this kid was so smart? windthrow is amazed. "whirley is incredible!" windthrow thinks. meanwhile, whirley is just glad his new friend isn't upset with him anymore :')

as for the other scavengers, uh. well, they've launched a rescue mission. convinced thorn rose to help, because, well, c'mon, he's just a kid, thorn! you gotta help! and after a tense moment of silence, thorn--the softie--agrees. so they all go hunt down the fox. thorn's flickie leads the way, sniffing out whirley's trail. they're all prepared for a fight to get him back...

but they weren't invited. unlike whirley, who was carried into the egg base by windthrow, the scavengers don't have an escort, and they're seen as outsiders. so the defense system activates when they get too close. remember, this is a world filled with violent megafauna. so dealing with aggressive weeds is what it's meant to do.

ofc, getting shot at doesn't help the scavengers' view of windthrow. not one bit. but now, they're DETERMINED to get the fox back.

[losech]

I’m interested in WSL for small game hunting, but I’m not someone who has a home dedicated to hunting full time. I live in a small city filled with lots of trails and surrounded by state parks I hike on frequently. I also trap in the season and would have a dog accompany me on the line. Not planning on buying a dog soon but am interested to know what sort of lifestyle changes I may want to make to best accommodate such a dog in the future.

As a custodian of the breed in the US and also a breeder, what are some traits and aspects you desire in potential WSL owners?

I live smack in the middle of town, it's not rural either. I do have a little trail system I can walk to, but it's not the wilderness I'd prefer it to be. I have to drive to where I hunt, hike, and camp. While living rural is ideal, it's not a requirement for owning WSL. I know of some in other urban areas, there's even one in New York City. I look for people who want what the breed is, a high drive primitive hunting dog, not just how they look or because it puts up game, and are willing to get outside and do stuff with the dog in the woods. They have incredible stamina and enjoy a wide variety of activities. They do not need to be exclusively hunting dogs to be happy, many of my friends with WSL are part-time or even non-hunters. Since you're already outside doing stuff often, you should have few adjustments to make once you bring a dog along. It sounds like one would fit in pretty well with all the hiking. It's mainly the temperament of WSL that people can get hung up on, so reading about the breed and being sure you want a primitive hunting spitz is best. They can be spicy, loud, have very high prey drives, somewhat handler soft, and some of them are great escape artists. They are fairly easy to train, if you find the right motivator for that particular dog. They tend to be pretty independent, but do develop strong bonds with their person. Some of my WSL are fairly social with people, at the end of the day, they're *my* dogs though. And while a lot of them are good with dogs they live with, and even strange dogs, same sex and straight up dog aggression isn't uncommon in the breed, so don't expect them to like every dog they meet. Mine generally need to be managed around strange dogs, especially if those dogs are rude. The book Hunting Laika Breeds of Russia was written by Flint's breeder and has some good info in it. (He's very old school and has a couple questionable pieces of advice so take that stuff with a grain of salt.) There is also an article on Project Upland about hunting Laika breeds. You can listen to some podcasts about Laikas as well. Meeting a WSL before you get one would be good, but depending on your location, that might be hard to do. In Russia and Siberia, WSL were originally developed to accompany hunters on the trapline, they can be helpful with that. If you haven't already, I recommend watching Happy People: A Year In The Taiga (Amazon or Youtube) to see some Laikas at work in their homeland.

[librarycomic]

I'm A Great Friend! by Lauren Stohler. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023. 9781665918336. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781665918336?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Capybaras all lounge around the pond calmly, offering protection to their bird friends on their backs. Baby Capybara wants some bird friends, too, but his energy and activities drive them away. After he attracts a few, there are a few funny pages where the birds try (and fail) to hang on for the ride. I love the energy of Stohler's illustrations, and how she ends the story.

A Child Of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston. Candlewick, 2016. 9780763690779. https://www.powells.com/book/-9780763690779?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Every page of this book is mesmerizing, with its hand-drawn font, its photographic collage elements, and the way words are part of the illustrations. It's about a child from a world of stories inviting another kid (and everyone) along on adventures. It's a perfect gift from experienced readers to new readers.

Fish by Liam Francis Walsh. Roaring Brook Press, 2016. 9781626723337. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781626723337?partnerid=34778&p_bt

A boy and his dog fish for the letter F I S and H in this nearly wordless adventure that uses a few elements of comics to incredible effect. And the drawings themselves are perfect, as are the colors.

The Sword In The Stove by Frank W. Dormer. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016. 9781481431675.

Two chefs look for their friend Harold. One assumes he went potty. But then they find his sword in the stove. How did get there? (Spoiler: they're not very happy with the answer when they finally get it.) Dormer's primitive-looking drawings work with the silly humor and word balloons to create a ridiculous atmosphere that makes the ending not at all as scary as it might have otherwise been.

Picture Book Reviews!

[abuddyforeveryseason]

Greetings, humans. This is the Buddy for November 23rd. He comes in peace. Take him to your leader.

Yup, it's an alien. One of the most boring types, the short gray ones with big eyes. I know they're supposed to be based on a long-running idea of what evolved beings would look like (short and big-brained, they're the nerds of interstellar space), but they all act a bit dorky. Maybe it's the squeaky voices, or the fact that they're all so stuck-up.

It seems like a lot of writers have this issue where they make their characters egomaniacs, or otherwise obsessed with their own personality, with being the best at what they do. And that's usually a case of the writer's wshes bleeding into the story - writers define characters by their personalities, so any threat to it isn't an opportunity to change, but a danger to the writer's job.

Usually this comes in the form of a character being supposed to be a super cool badass, but ending up just being a braggart who's always telling people about how much of a badass they are (which, as we all know, isn't very badass). But it's also seen when a character's supposed to be very kind and intelligent, but becomes jealous when someone else is kinder or more intelligent thant they are. Makes no sense - after all, if you're so nice, wouldn't you be happy someone else is nice too? Make the world better?

And of course, there are some aliens that take this to a species-wide extreme. The aliens that claim to be "more evolved" than us primitive earthlings, but, really, they're just smug and haughty. If they're so logical, why are they feeding their ego by bragging about how much better they are than other species? You never see us doing that. No human'll look at a dog and say "foolish creature! You are not aware that, with my people's incredible leash technology, you are under my thrall!" Of course not, it's a dog, we just accept it for what it is. What sort of person brags about being smarter than a dog?

[archfeyworkshop]

World of Arturium: Eshandis

Okay, it's coming a day late because everything got delayed a bit this week, but I doubt people are too worried about that. And it's got a nice little name, even if it's not too inspired. Sue me, I'm dog-tired. In some ways the poster-girl for my setting despite being quite unlike much of it, I think the best way I can sum up Eshandis is...

In the north of the world is a long mountainous peninsula. The northernmost reaches of this are the north pole and then a long stretch of taiga, but the southern half of the continent is commanded by a dense rainforest and then a sea of black sands. Long long ago this land was the home of Fire Giants and was formed from scores of volcanoes and supervolcanoes, but so long ago those mountains were ground down into vast swathes of sand. Hence the name, comprised of granite, andesite and diorite sands along with all the others. The volcanoes that formed it are nowadays dormant or long-extinct for many millennia, believed entirely extinct until a supervolcano was almost forced to erupt by the Giant, Thaddeus. Thwarted by a group of adventurers the caldera was instead transformed into an Oasis and spread into a river that cuts through the desert from north to south.

Once part of a greater nation and now a sister nation to its neighbour, Sharadin, Eshandis is home to three species: Henbi, Lamia, and Elves. The Lamia and the Elves are the settlers - they reside in the cities, near universally full-figured with various shades of dark skin due to the climate. Their shape is courtesy of their origins in the old Spring Court, the first that was lost many millennia ago, the court of fertility and motherhood that thus provides its distant descendants with voluptuous forms, resulting in the quote above. When the Spring Court came to the world its people transformed over generations into what they are today and they were welcomed with open arms by the species that predated them - the Henbi.

Having dwelled in the desert since before the Faerie came to the sands, the Henbi are a nomadic serpentine people possessed of remarkably flexible genetics. Elves and Lamia may see evolution over only a few generations, but the Henbi are not only capable of reproducing with essentially any sapient species, they will produce a fertile offspring that is a clear hybrid of the parents. With largely serpentine features and this incredibly dynamic line, no two Henbi are even remotely like with number and arrangement of limbs, blood quality and content, necessary diet and almost every possible feature being wildly diverse between its members.

Led in caravans along the routes of long-lost volcanic corridors by their caravan masters, the Henbi had long traveled the desert and survived without settling, and as gregarious communal people they welcomed their new visitors.

The strife from there is a matter of many thousands of years of history - with the nations splintering and reforming then fracturing again, and the Henbi being subjected to the brutality of slavery as hospitality was forgotten and Eshandis thoughts turned to empire. Time, tragedy and the impatience of the shorter-lived races would re-teach these lessons time and again however, and modern Eshandis is relatively stable as a place with the Elves and Lamia residing in several coastal cities and the Henbi once more returned to their wandering, often traveling between the cities and bringing mail with them.

Eshandis is the birthplace of many things. Many systems of government have come and gone, magic was first learned and taught here and developed in the early eras. Control of the rainforest means that the world owes Eshandis for the marvels of chocolate and coffee, and many nations owe their starts in some part to the people of this nation. But if not for the Henbi much of it would have ended far more disastrously. Their presence was a constant check against ambition and detachment, and ultimately served as a primitive form of a manner of government later adopted by other nations across the world, with shorter-lived and longer-lived species balancing each other's qualities such as in Keda Varr.

Even so, its magic, chocolate and voluptuousness is what the nation is best known for. Its population has inspired many salacious rumours courtesy of traders, and its governmental system is a magocracy, with the education system fundamentally intertwined with the necessary skills to make one an effective politician and each of its key players within the government being a capable mage and experimenter. The exact details of this education system requires some work still but...hey, that's what worldbuilding is for.

In part as a result of this and other events in the nation's history, Eshandis is not particularly religious. Many Religions are allowed to operate within the nation but are kept firmly separate from the political workings, and there are additional requirements and licenses needed in order for someone to have any power drawn from another entity be it a god or other form of outsider, and failure to be properly licensed carrying a harsh penalty up to exile or life in prison. For Elves and Lamia, that is a very long life. Artifice often fills the gap left by divine presence, an arcane means to heal and rejuvenate, but prohibitively expensive, leaving holy healers in a hard to replace role but deliberately constrained beyond their norm in other nations.

I can't really hide the fact that a lot of Eshandis was designed after seeing an image of a busty Lamia in a crop-top. It led to a number of smaller features of the nation that are harder to fit into the natural flow of all this. That the sand bakes in the heat but there is frequent rain making less clothing more important than full covering. That the rainforest cities famously has nudist districts and bathing rivers. That every rooftop in every city is a little garden to support the nation, with ramps instead of stairs and large pits of pillows tending to replace beds for the sake of the serpentine peoples.

But I'm very tired this week, and this is all I can think of to explain for now. I think next week I'll explore its harsher sister, Sharadin.

[doberbutts]

@grison-in-space

Replying this way to spare poor OP from our continuing color conversation, and because I genuinely enjoy talking to you about these things and the post is looooooooooong af already

As usual I think we agree more than we disagree except on the fine details- I would agree with most of what you’ve said as well except for:

While I do agree that chihuahuas have low litter numbers (singletons are not uncommon in the slightest and a “big litter” for a chi is 5-7) and common practice is to keep them in large groups (helped both by size and by the clannish nature of primitives), I also think a large contributing factor is standard. Because written into the very standard is, nearly verbatim, “this breed has only two DQs for a reason, and even one of them only DQs from showing and should still be bred, because faulty dogs should just be bred to better dogs so we don’t lose our hard-won diversity by restricting too heavily on any one physical trait”. Whether that’s actually what happens in practice is, as always, something that varies breeder-by-breeder. But it’s also written directly into standard.

The standard is deliberately left short and vague in order for many interpretations to be allowed. Nearly every fault is a minor penalty, with most of them having an added “but an otherwise correct dog should not be penalized”. Fae could show, despite her fairly faulty eyes and underline. The expectation would be just to breed her to a dog with better set eyes and a more correct underline. The two breed DQs are missing testicle (should not be bred) and oversize (just breed to a smaller dog). That’s it. Everything else is “improve it in the next generation”. So when that is the expectation the standard sets from the start, it helps allow diversity and also prevents extreme traits from worsened.

And genuinely being in chihuahuas has made me want other breeds to follow suit. A friend of mine has a doberman with fairly extensive (for the breed) white markings. Standard DQs more than 2in of white on the chest- the dog has a mark a bit bigger than that as well as some white toes. The problem is that while I could understand (but sort of disagree with) penalizing a truly tricolored dog, a small white mark on the chest and some white toes just means pigment didn’t fully finish closing all the way by the time of birth, and isn’t inherently a genetic trait. Additionally in a breed bred from butcher’s dogs and other randomass street dogs, especially in a breed that at its conception was “idgaf what it looks like as long as it bites”, I think it’s extremely silly to penalize a dog for an incredibly minor white mismark.

My friend has taken this dog through various show rings and working trials. The dog is honestly a fantastic worker and has titled fairly easily. While she’s not doing personal protection, she does accompany the owner to pretty much every public outing and does her job well of looking strong and intimidating walking next to my friend down a busy city street- and has both the training and the testing to prove that she will respond to a threat with protection. The dog has passed health testing with flying colors, received high marks in show rings that are willing to look past the white to evaluate the rest of the dog, and is now almost 10 years old without much sign of slowing down which is pretty good longevity for the breed.

My friend bred this dog to a correctly-colored dog and produced a litter of correctly-colored puppies except for a single one who also had a white mark on the chest and a couple white toes. A correctly-colored daughter was kept, worked, shown, and bred to an even darker pigmented dog. None of the puppies have white markings. Some of them have dark masks, which is also a fault in the opposite direction but one most people are willing to overlook because of aforementioned focus on dark pigment following WWII.

If we are to keep these arbitrary DQs, I think is almost always better to just breed better in the next generation than to completely axe an entire possibility for the sake of ~preserving standard~. Certain DQs I can understand- undescended or missing testicles are an inheritance problem that negatively affect both fertility and longevity (cancer), so sure. Albinism in the dobermans is a major health concern, so sure. Bad temperament, because no one wants a dog that will attack you just for walking by, sure. But others I think are less “means shouldn’t be bred” and more “means should be improved in the next generation by breeding to a better dog”.

I think that is really a major ticket to fixing the inherent problem of failing diversity in purebred dog breeding, and if by “breed to a better dog” means outcrossing, I think that should also be grouped under that. But right now some breeds (dobermans) are too busy clutching their pearls about even just line outcrossing and acting like show line vs working line dogs are two separate breeds with absolutely nothing in common and that breeding them together will create deformed horrific crossbreeds (you think this is a strawman but I have literally heard someone saying basically this at a working event) to even consider bringing in an actually different breed to their precious carefully-cultivated lines of a dying breed running out of time before it goes extinct. Big sigh.

All this to say: DQs that do nothing to the health of the dog or the ability to do its job are stupid and most of them should not be DQs and if they’re really meant to be avoided they should just be bred to a more correct dog rather than removed entirely from the breeding population.

[elektramouthed]

 Has anyone bothered to study the modes of work of primitive peoples, the importance of play and creativity, the incredible yield obtained by methods which the application of modern technology would make a hundred times more efficient? Obviously not. Every appeal for productivity comes from above. But only creativity is spontaneously rich. It is not from ‘productivity’ that a full life is to be expected, it is not ‘productivity’ that will produce an enthusiastic collective response to economic needs. [...]  To the extent that automation and cybernetics foreshadow the massive replacement of workers by mechanical slaves, forced labour is revealed as belonging purely to the barbaric practices needed to maintain order. Thus power manufactures the dose of fatigue necessary for the passive assimilation of its televised diktats. What carrot is worth working for, after this? The game is up; there is nothing to lose anymore, not even an illusion. The organization of work and the organization of leisure are the blades of the castrating shears whose job is to improve the race of fawning dogs.

Raoul Vaneigem, from Revolution of Everyday Life (tr. John Fullerton, Paul Sieveking)

[southerntchiorny]

So lately I’ve gained interest in American Hairless terriers (mostly because they don’t have the dentition problems other hairless dogs have) Could you please list a list of pros and cons, and what made you go with AHT over other hairless dog breeds? I’ve been leaning towards them because they seem to be less primitive and more trainable than the other hairless breeds while still being velcro, and have some terrier-tude but not as much as other terriers do. I also wanted to ask about his weekly grooming process and if he needs sunscreen every time he goes out, or does a shirt suffice? Can they also play safely with other dogs?(like do they have a bigger risk of injury because of their lack of hair?) thank you and I hope you and your dogs have a good day!

(This took so long for me to answer, I’m so sorry! I’m a terrible procrastinator with the attention span of a cactus 🌵)

So Furby is my first AHT! I’ve only had a touch of experience with the breed before getting him because his breeder also has Black Russian Terriers and we became friends through our local kennel club training classes. I got an AHT because I’ve always loved hairless breeds and I wanted something to be able to compete with in various sports.

All that to say that I’m certainly not a breed expert yet, but here are my observations so far!

Pros

Bald. My BRT is a lot of upkeep with his hair and I love that it takes me 15 minutes to bathe, dry, file nails, and maybe put a bit of lotion on about once a week. A fun fact: AHTs do not have the same dental issues that most hairless breeds have either.

Compact. I’ve seen a wide range of sizes for AHTs but at most they’re no bigger than maybe a beagle (there’s one I show against built like a damn tank but he’s not outrageously huge)

Smart. Sometimes terrifyingly so. Furby found out how to escape expens from about 5 weeks old. His attention span isn’t always zeroed in and focused but when it is, he picks up on things very quickly.

Fashionable!! Personally, I prefer light sun clothes to sunscreen. A good pair of lightweight pajamas for coverage and a bit of sunscreen on his face, ears, and tail. Clothes are very important for bald bebes and it’s one of my favorite things to have countless outfits for the Boi.

Attitude! This honesty leans both ways but I love a spunky terrier attitude and this boy has it in spades! It also means he can be A LOT, especially around other dogs. I will admit that he didn’t get as thorough of a socialization experience as my BRT did when he was a puppy, though. Socialization is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT with these guys! He also carries the ‘fears nothing’ traits of terriers.

He’s just so fucking funny. I can be annoyed with him about something and then he goes straight into making me laugh about it. Definitely a class clown who must have all eyes on him and nothing less.

Cons

These aren’t terrible but just things that could be aversive for some people

Energy. This is only a mild con for me just because I’m a low energy person, but I knew what I was getting into and wanted a competitive dog. He’s definitely challenged me as a dog owner/handler but in the best ways.

Destructive. This could just be a Furby thing to be fair. He can’t have beds, only blankets, because he shreds them. He also enjoys gutting plush toys. I let him work it out on cardboard boxes and paper for some controlled chaos.

As far as the safety issues, he wrestles with my BRT regularly and this is something my breeder’s dogs also do with her BRTs. He does get some scratches and scuffs sometimes but nothing major. I do put vet wrap on his ankles when we play with his flirt pole, though, because he goes absolutely nuts for it and skins up the area under his brake pads.

If you have any other questions I’m happy to provide what I can!