#arcane geography

[evren-d]

I found this pretty early on and it’s served me well, as far as I know nothing here is contradicted in the show, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/evkK-MQWcYA

Could someone please explain to me how piltover and zaun connect in arcane? I've watched the show and have looked online but can find a simple, straightforward answer. Is zaun physically under piltover? Is there a bridge? There was a bridge in the show but I've seen people say that's not how they connect. Could someone please explain I'm so confused

[deception-united]

How do you create laws and rules for building fantasy worlds? I have a hard time defining these things, especially as a beginner. Do you have any ideas to help me?

Hi, thanks for asking and so sorry for the delayed response. Creating laws and conventions for your fantasy world is a fascinating aspect of storytelling, though the process can be difficult. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Define the world's purpose. What kind of stories do you want to tell in this world? What themes, genres, or tones do you want to explore? This will help you determine what kind of rules and laws are needed.

Establish a foundation. Decide on the basic structure of your world, such as its geography, climate, cultures, and magical systems (if applicable).

Determine the rules of magic. If your world has magic, define how it works, its limitations, and its consequences to maintain consistency and balance.

Create a hierarchy of laws. This can include physical laws (gravity, physics, etc.), magical laws (if applicable), social laws (cultural norms, taboos, etc.), and political laws (governance, laws of the land, etc.).

Consider the consequences. Think about how these laws and rules will impact your characters and the world.

Be consistent. Stick to your established laws and rules. Consistency is key to creating a believable world.

Leave room for flexibility. Don't be too rigid. Allow for exceptions, surprises, and evolutions in your world. This can bring unexpected plot twists or force your characters to think on the spot and come up with new solutions or plans of action.

Keep track of your world-building. Write down your laws, rules, and lore to keep everything organised and consistent.

Here are a few questions and guidelines to consider when defining the laws and conventions of your fantasy world:

Physical Laws:

What is the nature of time and space?

How do the laws of physics differ from our own world (e.g., gravity, motion, energy)?

Are there unique natural phenomena (e.g., magical energies, elemental forces)?

Magical Laws:

What is the source of magic in your world (e.g., innate, divine, arcane)?

How is magic accessed and controlled (e.g., spells, incantations, rituals)?

What are the limitations and costs of using magic (e.g., exhaustion, corruption, moral consequences)?

Social Laws:

What are the cultural norms and values of different societies in your world?

How do social hierarchies and power structures function (e.g., monarchies, democracies, tribes)?

What are the customs and taboos surrounding magic, technology, or any other sensitive topics?

Political Laws:

What forms of governance exist in your world (e.g., kingdoms, empires, city-states)?

How are laws created, enforced, and punished (e.g., trials, punishments, rehabilitation)?

What are the relationships between different political entities (e.g., alliances, rivalries, vassalage)?

Remember, world-building is an iterative process. Don't be afraid to make changes and adjustments as your world evolves, and feel free to add to or modify the questions and guidelines to suit your story and your world. For a more extensive list of questions and guidelines, check out my previous post. Hope this was helpful! Happy writing ❤

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[mollysunder]

I know people have tried using Caitlyn's map to understand Piltover and Zaun's geography, but I think Silco's map in Zaun offers a better view. When you piece together the brief shots of Silco's own map, including after Jinx vandalized it, you can make out more details in Piltover.

For example, in the area designated as Upper Piltover, there's a yellow highlighted path called Gold Way in parenthesis that leads to the Council's building. Upper Piltover likely most likely contains the Blue Wind Court, the district home to the wealthiest families in Piltover.

If you tie all the shots of Silco's map together, you get something like this. I find it interesting that Silco's map shows that there's two smaller bridges that connect Zaun and Piltover across the river. They don't appear as prominent the main bridge, they might even be in disrepair, but they are present on a Silco's map chose to keep. Are these bridges no go zones for Zaunite trade? Are they smaller commuter corridors perpetually out of service? Who knows, at least we know they exist now, and so does Jinx.

Someone made a cleaner version of the map for an rpg site. The map mixes Arcane's new geography of the two cities, but still applies old and unconfirmed names for sections of both cities, so it'snot completely accurate. I thought it would be good to include because it gets the shape of the fissures right.

[whomst-the-hell]

as an arcane fan who never played league, the geography of piltover/zaun makes no fucking sense to me like,, at first i thought zaun was like. under piltover? right? bc its cavernous and shadowy n everything, but the bridge (which is a majorly significant element of the story) wouldnt really? make sense in that context? then i thought that they were neighbouring cities under one singular government divided by a river and that the “undercity” thing was just like. figurative yk? but then i saw maps like this

which does seem to present a more literal above/below divide but then?? what the fuck is the bridge?????? this isnt a rhetorical question, someone please actually tell me how the fuck the bridge works /gen

[stari-hun]

Ley Lines : A Strong Supporting Field

Wouldn’t the study of ley lines be super important support for other fields?? Ley lines are a field that take a while to study, but Windsong took what couldn’t have been more than 2-3 days maximum to almost entirely map out Rayashki. Her speed is in part from how much she studied ley lines and her past experience, but even though she hadn’t identified the source of changes (which she noted is the hardest part in any ley line map and no one’s ever completed one with EVERY source) she still completed most of it in a short span.

Ley lines show maps and markers in arcanum, but for travelers as regular maps they’d be indispensable? Most groups likely have at least one arcanist with them for support like how Bessmert’s team used Yenisei as their guide and backup. She’d be able to read the map of arcanum and have a much easier time getting around than solely using landmarks. Even a nonarcanist would be able to follow a map like that, especially since Windsong proved she can identify and give advice on arcane animals in the area. In fact that means ley line maps might be more useful to human travelers than arcanists. Windsong proved she was able to tell a creatures region and if they were mutated quickly. If there was a map of a region that showed you the exact migration patterns of the creatures nearby, which ones were herbivores and carnivores, AND recommendations on how to deal with them? Those types of maps should be in circulation far more than regular maps.

The study of ley lines are also a good supporting field? In Farewell, Rayashki chapter 6, a reviewer recommends Windsong to join a geographic institution, but in the first place the study of ley lines should be a supporting field. It overlaps into mathematics, animal and ecosystem studies, cartography, and it’s already within the field of geography. While arcanists are shown a level of trust in the research community, especially in fields accessible to only arcanists, the study of ley lines is beneficial to many surrounding fields. Ley line research is a difficult study, but people study niche fields all the time that are then important references to larger ones. For example, a human studying migration patterns could reference a ley line map to predict where their subject might travel to next as they plan their journey.

[y-rhywbeth2]

Lore Compilations (+ this blog's tagging/filter list at the end)

A WIP of a pinned post table of contents to tidy up the blog while I empty my fixations onto it plus a lore accuracy disclaimer (so I don't have to keep typing one), because why not. I like tables of content.

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Disclaimer regarding lore accuracy: If you combine 50 years, 5 editions, 10+ settings, god knows how many novels, and then all the writers who all retcon and contradict each other's work then what you get is a clusterfuck. The lore I show here is compiled from all five editions of the game. You will likely see stuff out there that contradicts some things I say, or stuff I didn't mention/know. That's the lore for you. If you were the Dungeon Master making your own story, your job would be to pick and chose and build your own take on the setting out of it. I, personally, heavily favour older lore. Larian absolutely did this with Baldurs Gate 3 - frankly, I don't think they even know half this lore even exists, and Bioware took some liberties in the original games too. Wizards of the Coast themselves trample D&D into the ground all the time! All D&D is near enough fanfiction built on fanfiction. Therefore, if you find any information useful you may take it, leave it or tweak it to your desire for your own story, because it's D&D lore, and that's how it works.

Disclaimer regarding Larian's canon (and Bioware, and Obsidian): The setting shown in BG3 does not really match up to the setting as presented in sourcebooks (and sometimes novels, previous games, and 'word of god). I'm always talking about the latter and reframing the story and characters within the latter.

Disclaimer regarding asking me for my opinions on how [x] works in canon: I can make an educated guess based on the sourcebooks, but there are many gaps in many places and however educated the guess, unless it comes from a sourcebook, novel, or writer, it's just my own headcanon.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS [WIP] (I make no promises as to the speed or order at which any of this is produced - and some of these need updating)

Abeir-Toril Why it's called the "Forgotten" Realms

[Some of this is getting revamped at some point] History | Time & Festivals | Lexicon [1] [2] | Languages | Living in Faerûn [1] [?] | Notable Organisations | Magic | | Waterdeep | The Underdark | Geography and Human Cultures

Baldurs Gate: The City #1 | Demographics | Law & Legal System | Aministration & Government | ???

Human Names | Clothes and Fashion | Music | Dating, Sex, Marriage etc [part 1] [part 2] |

Religion How religion works in the Realms, the different pantheons in the world and then individual posts dedicated to the gods as individuals, how and why to worship them and how their churches function

Religion | Priesthoods and Temples | Deities

Death and the Afterlife Dying | Judgement | Afterlives

Deities in BG3 Shar | Selûne | Bhaal | Mystra | Jergal | Bane | Bane #2 | Bane #3 | Myrkul | Lathander | Kelemvor | Tyr | Helm | Ilmater | Mielikki | Oghma | Tempus | Silvanus | Talos | Corellon | Moradin | Yondalla | Garl Glittergold | Eilistraee | Lolth | Laduguer | Gruumsh | Bahamut | Tiamat | Amodeus |

The rest of the Faerûnian Pantheon Gods of Magic & Knowledge | Nature Deities | Cyric | The Elemental Lords | Good Deities | Evil Deities | Neutral Deities |

Arcane Magic

Public Perception | Types of Mages | The Weave | Specialisations | Obscure types of magic | Elven High Magic | ???

Vampires Feeding | "Biology" | Hierarchy & Powers | Weaknesses & Cures | Psychology

Elves The Complete Book of Elves once said ‘The elves of Toril do not follow the standards of most other worlds,’ which yeah, pretty much. The Player’s Handbook is not necessarily going to be accurate when talking about the Tel’Quessir.

Physiology and quirks | Names & Clans and Houses || Pan-Cultural things: Social life | Time and Age Categories | Homes | Language | Art | Entertainment | Technology || Elven 'Subraces' still a wip || Philosophy and Religion & Pantheons || Half-elves | [WIP]

Drow Culture | Other Drow Cultures

Planars & Planetouched Tieflings | Githyanki | Bhaalspawn | Devils

Dwarves Overview | Culture | Specific Cultures | Magic | Religion | History

Orcs

Hin - That's "halfling", if you're over 3'4" Overview | Names | Culture | Homelands | Religion

Gnomes Culture | Names | Homelands | History | Religion

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Tagging system:

Various lore things that don't go in the larger compilations are tagged lore stuff. Things that aren't lore will get tagged babbling.

For sensitive material, such as if I feel like poking at the various delightful topics presented in the game:

I'll use edgelord hours as the generic "reader discretion advised"

The tag villainous nonsense means Dead Dove Do Not Eat.

the family circle is an extra warning for discussing the themes and subtexts such as those present with Bhaal's cult and the Bhaalspawn: including reproductive horror and sexual abuse, including the incest.

When babbling about my ideas for a World of Darkness AU specifically Vampire the tag is wod shenanigans.

If I feel like posting anything I scribbled ("art"), the tag will be the scribbles

When I'm making posts and being negative or complaining about video games and trivial stuff, it will be filed as: griping.

Whenever I find or consider something new about the Dead Three and/or want to rant and scream insults at Bane again, my tag is the idiot three

When I babble about my characters, I tag it OCs, and the ocs are also tagged by name. So far I've only mentioned Vel

If I don't want to put my babbling about certain characters into the tags, I'll just put the / in front. /astarion, /orin, /gortash, /durge, etc

When I want to babble about stuff happening in my game as I play it, they're tagged playthrough shenanigans. The original games are bg2 playthrough shenanigans.

When I start talking about my oc's romance with Astarion I'll tag it petty murder boyfriends

[brain-depositary]

I was looking at @smol-lydia’s Jewish Viktor Arcane headcanons and though they’re mostly fluffy cultural things it’s really gotten me thinking about with in comparison how Jayce’s arc and surrounding milieu is so 19th century and by that assumption maybe calling Viktor Jewish-coded makes a lot of sense.

Like we look at other characters from Zaun and even given what we know eventually happens to Vi, there’s a definite undercurrent of loyalty to their position societally, geographically, that Viktor, despite apparently being from the same place, doesn’t seem to have, despite being passionate about problems that have affected him and people he knows due to geography (water purity, mining safety, etc). Considering the way the rest of the show handles matters of national/ethnic identity this is actually very weird. What’s his deal?

Well, look at this through the 19th century lens, and consider if Viktor was Jewish, well, a LOT is going on for Jews during that time — Jewish Emancipation was happening piecemeal in Europe and Jews were slowly gaining equal rights to Christians and integrating into mainstream society and struggling to navigate what that meant. With this as the backdrop, Viktor not feeling especially connected to Zaun vs Piltover makes more sense. His family may have only recently begun integrating and he would likely still consider himself an outsider to both words, possibly symbolized by his accent. To him, Topside and the Undercity may be the same (derogatory), to the point that he rarely mentions anything about it to Jayce despite being very close and only begins pushing back when Jayce starts being weird about it. He seemingly only caves to ideas of national identity under huge pressure — which is exactly what the conflict in the show continuously ratchets up. So, we’ll see how he fares in season 2.

I’m not knowledgeable enough in LoL lore but I have a feeling this analysis would make Arcane Viktor Jewish and LoL Viktor a gentile.

[eating-plastic]

Written in the Stars: M.Rasmodius x FEM!Reader SMUT

Warnings: nsfw, smut (minors and ageless blogs gtfo) age gap (older man-younger woman, reader is +18 OBVIOUSLY), p in v sex, unprotected sex (remember protection irl y'all), creampie, oral sex (fem receiving because Rasmo eats pussy like a champ and I will not take any criticism), fingering, outdoor sex, reader loses the ol' v card, some swearing, reader having kinda shitty parents, soulmates thingy, slow burn, fluff, probably some grammatical errors

Word Count: 11056 Words

A/N: Oh Rasmo, how I wish I could romance you in the base game. God bless to the Stardew Valley modding community tho for making romancing him possible. Specifically, scenes in this are based on mods by PaintedParrot and WerewolfMaster. May both sides of their pillows always be cold lol. Anyways, this is long, so if you're just here for the smut, you're gonna be scrolling a bit. Either way, enjoy, everyone!

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'....There is always a conflict when creating life. Just how much free will do you give a living being? This was a question that the old gods wondered about during the creation of humanity.... In the end, the old gods agreed that the life they created would be given free will, but those that were worthy enough to wield their powers would be given gifts. A life that would be manipulated to be filled with joys as they would see fit. Each one of the old gods granted those worthy of their power with many gifts....And the deity of love gifted the followers of the arcane with a soulmate, rewriting the stars so that they would meet the one who would give them eternal happiness on the mortal and astral plain.'

Your opinion on magic was complicated. You were fascinated with the supernatural but knew that it couldn't be real. The life you lived was filled with science and miserable realism. Not to mention those that mock your interests. What a miserable world where you were forced to go to school, in order to get a mundane job, where you would just work to your death. No mythical creatures or spells.

That was until you got a letter in your mailbox.

It was a letter that under normal circumstances would make a person upset. However, you just felt confused reading it. Your grandfather had passed away and he left his farm plot to you. That didn't make any sense. Your parents said both of your grandparents had died before you were born. You never had any photos with them. Come to think of it, you never had any photos taken with any relative that weren't your parents. Not to mention where the farm was. Stardew Valley? You had never heard of a place like that, and your father was a geography teacher. You knew counties and villages that were forgotten to time. Oh yes, your parents had some explaining to do for sure.

--------------------

You confronted your parents the first chance you could. You just wanted answers. Surely this was all just a big misunderstanding. A letter that was meant to go to someone with a similar name to you or something.

But no, your parents had broken. You had a grandfather, specifically it was your paternal grandfather. Your dad felt miserable living in such a small village, feeling alone and bored with farm living. When he became old enough to head to the city, he met your mother and claimed to have gotten a "proper education". Stardew Valley became "dangerous" to him after that, so he left.

Eventually, your mother had guilted him into visiting your grandfather so that you would get to know him. She had never been to Pelican Town, hell she didn't even know that it existed like most people. Upon arriving though, she regretted it. The last time they had taken you to visit your grandfather, you were only four years old.

"Godless, hellish, unexplainable," was how they described Stardew Valley, and yet you didn't believe them. They were the ones always preaching about how this life, bleak and cruel, was enjoyable. How you were always just complaining over nothing. They never cared about how unhappy you were, often dashing your love for the supernatural, raving about the evils of witchcraft.

So you turned your back on them. You didn't know if Stardew Valley would hold the key to your happiness, but you had no doubts in your mind that it would be less bleak than where you were now.

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As soon as the bus pulled into the small village of Pelican Town, you were stupefied. First of all, you had never seen so much color in your entire life. Secondly, the scenery was absolutely beautiful, with lush trees and rolling green hills. The buildings were cute too, cozy even. And the air was so fresh and clear.

Even when you arrived at your grandfather's old farmhouse you felt taken aback. It was so simple, so cozy, so human.

Yes, you were going to enjoy your new life here. You were sure of it.

Suddenly, you sense something...off. Not bad, just off. You head out of the farmhouse and head to the overgrown fields. There you catch a glimpse of purple. Upon getting closer, you see that it is a girl about your age with violet hair. Was it possible to dye your hair such a bright color?

"Um, excuse me?" you call.

"Hm? Oh, hi!" she greets, a bit startled at your presence. "That's right, someone was moving in. Sorry about this."

"It's fine. Um, what are you doing?" you ask. You had never met someone so cheerful.

"Oh, you know, old, abandoned places always have some sort of spiritual energy to them. I just wanted to see if I could sense it," She stands up from her position on the ground.

"You believe in the paranormal?" you cock your head to the side, amazed.

"Yeah, there's all sorts of supernatural shit here. A lot of people claim that there's not, but don't believe them. They know there's something going on. Why would they be so scared of that old wizard if they didn't?" she rambles. Wait, what the hell was she talking about?

"I-what? Wizard?" you never thought it was possible for someone to say something so outlandish that it actually made your brain malfunction.

"Hm, Yeah! He hangs out in this creepy tower in the Cindersap Forest. I...um," the girl stops, face dropping a bit. Suddenly, she just shakes her head, recovering from whatever had distracted her. "Never mind that! I'm Abigail, by the way!"

"Y/N," you say, simply. Was this girl crazy? There was no way that she was for real, right? Still...it was nice to meet someone as passionate as you about the supernatural. "Hey...you wouldn't happen to know about areas that have spiritual energy to them, would you?"

"Um, of course I do! Are you into the paranormal, too?" Abigail asks eagerly.

"I...I am, actually," wow, it was weird admitting it without being mocked or belittled.

"Sweet! Hey, it's going to be a full moon soon. That's like, the perfect time for spirits to come out. Meet me in the old graveyard if you can. We can try a séance," she rambles.

"Yeah, that does sound fun...I'll be there," you decide.

"Cool! See you then, Y/N!" and with that, she skips out of your field.

Well, this was certainly going to be interesting.

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Your friendship with Abigail bloomed since that day. It was nice having someone as fascinated with the occult as you. When you weren't farming, you were exploring around with her, looking for some sort of energy in an area. The funny thing was that you could always sense something when she couldn't. At least she didn't think you were crazy though, always eager that you could feel a vibe she couldn't and begging you to describe what you felt.

Now, you two were doing something that could be seen as a bit, um...illegal. Well, where you came from it would be seen as illegal, but apparently in Pelican Town, no one really seemed to care? You decided to not think about it too much.

Abigail wanted to drag you to the rundown Community Center because there were allegedly "forest spirits" that had taken residence inside. Also, she was apparently taking you with her, because she was a bit too scared to enter the building by herself.

Everything about it seemed odd, as you would expect forest spirits to take residence in an abandoned building in a, well, forest. You didn't care though, because it intrigued you. You could sense something within Stardew Valley, and that sparked a desire to know what that sensation was.

Upon entering the decrepit building, you didn't know what you expected to run into. You knew you would find...something. The building radiated a strong aura, even when the both of you were just simply standing outside of it. If you had to predict what you would've run into, you expected it to be maybe a mystical animal sprite.

What you both did run into completely dashes your expectations. What you and Abigail find is...a colony of cutesy...apple looking creatures? Huh, you definitely couldn't have predicted that. While you think they look adorable, Abigail was absolutely frozen beside you, amazed.

"Y/N...do you know what those are?" she whispers to you. You almost don't hear her. You are too distracted by how the little creatures were looking at you. They didn't seem malicious, at least you couldn't feel anything negative about them. Another odd thing, was the fact that they seem to completely disregard Abigail's presence.

"Wha-no. Of course not," you whisper back when your brain finally registers that she asked you a question.

"I can't believe it...I didn't even think they were real," she is still in absolute awe.

"What? What are they?"

"Junimos. They're said to take care of the forests in Stardew Valley. At least that's what stories always said."

Interesting. Once again, you would think that creatures that are meant to take care of forests would be...a bit bigger. Also less cute.

The spirits all whisper to themselves, all while still glancing at you. Finally, one of them jumps up and makes its way over to you, wielding something in its hands.

"Y/N!" Abigail whisper yells to you and tries to pull you away, but you raise your hand for her to wait.

The Junimo stands in front of you and raises its arms, presenting you with what looks like a scroll.

"F...for me?" you ask, confused. The spirit does a little hop, indicating that yes, they wanted you to take it.

So you did. You carefully took it from the creature, giving a little nod and saying "thank you" to them. The spirit gives you a nod back and runs back to their friends. You unravel the scroll and...you have no idea what you're looking at. It just looks like a bunch of scribbles and symbols you can't understand.

"Woah, what is that?" Abigail asks, trying to read it too.

"I-I don't know. Clearly they want me to take it though," you glance up, but all the Junimo have gone back to the tasks they were doing before you two had entered. "Come on, let's get out of here. Maybe I can understand it better in sunlight?"

You highly doubt it, but still. So you both leave, and just as you suspected, the scroll made even less sense.

"Maybe...do you think there could be books at the library that can help us translate this?" you ask.

"I don't think so. I've read every book possible on the languages of different spirits. I don't...," Abigail trails off, suddenly becoming fidgety.

"What? What's wrong?" you quickly become concerned at her change in demeanor.

"There...there might be someone that can help," she mumbles.

"Really? Who?"

--------------------

The large tower that stands in front of you and Abigail gives you both entirely different reactions. While you look at it with fascination, she looks at it with discomfort.

"So this 'Wizard' guy...he might be able to translate this?" you say, still in disbelief that there is an actual wizard in the small town despite running into literal forest spirits and sensing a powerful, magical aura from the tower.

"Stop saying it like that. This dude's the real deal, I swear," she wrings her hands a bit, clearly uneasy.

"Alright then," you begin to walk towards the front door.

"Wh-What are you doing?" she whisper yells at you once more. "Y-You're just gonna ask him? Just like that?"

"I have to translate this. I...I think the Junimo gave it to me for a reason. I have to know," you look at your friend, who is still looking at you incredulously. "You can leave if you get a bad vibe, but I really don't feel anything negative at all."

Abigail opens her mouth to speak, but closes it. She then begins to slowly back away. You sigh and continue to walk towards the door. You knock on it and wait. Suddenly, it slowly swings open, but no one is there. You turn to look at Abigail, but she was long gone.

'Great,' you thought. 'Honestly, what is she so scared of?'

You make your way into the tower, standing in an entryway filled with plants you had never seen before. It's interesting, but you have a scroll to translate, so you continue to walk forward, heading up a small flight of steps.

You then find yourself in a large room, with a bubbling cauldron and a large symbol on the floor in a corner of the room. Standing in front of it, is an older man with purple hair and beard, dressed in black robes and wearing a hat that looks like a mix between a wizard hat and a cowboy hat. His eyes are closed, and yet he senses your presence.

"Ah, yes...come in," he says, before slowly opening his eyes and looking at you. He then stops, his eyes widening as they fall on you, as if he recognizes you. Odd, considering the fact that you had never seen him before. You would've definitely remembered. And yet, you too felt like you had seen him...somewhere.

"I-I'm sorry about bothering you, sir, b-but I think you can help me with something," you ask, sheepish because of his gaze.

"Help...ah, yes, help!," he quickly tries to shake the odd sensation he must've felt, clears his throat, and makes his way over to you. "I am Magnus Rasmodius. Seeker of the arcane truths. Mediary between physical and ethereal. Master of the seven elementals. Keeper of the sacred cha-...erm, you get the point."

He quickly wraps up his ramblings when he sees you give him a funny look. Everyone in Pelican Town fears this guy? He seems like a total dork. Not that you had a problem with that. You honestly found it cute.

"I see...well, I'm-."

"Y/N," he finishes, which causes you to be taken aback. "I know. I had foreseen your arrival. You have come to me to translate something, correct?"

"I...how...?" you shake your head. Damn, Abigail was right, this guy really does seem like the real deal. "Y-Yes, that is why I'm here."

"Naturally. Come, let me show you something," he motions for you to stand closer to the symbol on the floor. He then raises his hand and a look of concentration spreads across his face. "Behold!"

There is a bright flash, and a Junimo appears in the center of the symbol. You jump back, startled, even blinking a couple of times to make sure your eyes weren't playing tricks on you.

"You've encountered these before, correct?" he looks at your amazed face expectantly and tries to push down the amusement he felt at your childlike wonder at what happened.

"Hm? Oh-yes! I-I have," you nod. "It's a Junimo, right?"

"Correct, mysterious creatures they are. For some reason, they refuse to speak with me. And yet...," he trails off, looking back at the spirit. He raises his hand once more and they disappear in another bright flash. "They gifted you a scroll, yes?"

"Y-Yeah...is that...bad?" you awkwardly ask.

"Not at all. Just interesting...," he continues to stare where the spirit once stood, before once again shaking his head. "May I look at it?"

He holds his hand out, at which you hand him the scroll. He unravels it and takes in the writing.

"Yes, this seems about right. One moment, if you please. I shall return, shortly," and just like that, in a flash, he is gone. You look around the room cautiously, feeling out of place in a stranger's home. Your eyes fall on the cauldron once more and the green smoke being excreted from it. In all your years of chemistry, you don't think you had ever seen something like that.

Suddenly, there is another flash of light, causing you to jump once more. There the wizard stands, making his way to his cauldron.

"I have found it," he says, a bit exhausted. "Forgive me, it took a bit. The language is rather obscure."

"What does it say?" you ask, unable to hide your eagerness.

"'We, the Junimo, are happy to aid you. In return, we ask for gifts of the valley. If you are one with the forest, then you will see the true nature of this scroll,'" he recites. This causes you to cock your head to the side. "It would seem that they have taken a great interest in you...."

"Th-That's not bad, right?"

"Of course not. In fact, it is quite fascinating...," he takes a large ladle that rests within the cauldron and begins to stir. "I had wondered what compelled me to make this...."

He then raises the ladle to his nose and sniffs.

"Ah-hah! Yes, just as I thought," he then turns to you and motions for you to come closer. "Come here!"

You hesitantly move to stand next to him, which causes him to tense up a bit. Still, he clears his throat and collects himself.

"I had wondered what they had meant by "one with the forest". I think this may help. My cauldron bubbles with the essence of the forest," you look at him confused, so he explains it to you. "Baby fern, moss grub, caramel-top toadstool...can you smell it?"

He holds the ladle to your nose, which you inhale.

"It smells earthy," you conclude.

"Precisely. Here, drink it. Let the essence of the forest flow through you."

You look up at the wizard, shocked. Was he serious? He expected you to drink something from a stranger?

"It'll be alright, see," he raises the ladle to his lips and drinks a sip from it. He gives you a reassuring smile, which melts your nerves a bit, although it could've helped that he actually drank whatever was in the cauldron.

So you drink it, putting your trust in him. For some reason, there was a voice in your head that was telling you that he wouldn't let harm befall you.

The taste hits you hard. It's bitter and tastes like what you imagined the ingredients he mentioned would taste like. Still, you force it down, letting out a shaky breath afterwards.

Then the effects of the fluid hits. Your vision begins to go green. Not black, green, which actually freaked you out more due never experiencing it before. Then...you feel a calm rush through your veins. Your breathing becomes normal once more, and then....

You wake up in your home. Wait...what? No, that wasn't a dream, that couldn't have been. Looking out your window told you that it was now late afternoon. Jeez, how long had you been out? How did you even get back here? Did the wizard carry you? You were so confused, but at least you felt well rested.

You leave your bed and head outside to check on your crops, before noticing that you had a letter in your mailbox. You open it, and get some answers from it.

'Dear Y/N, my deepest apologies. I did not expect you to react so severely to the elixir. I hope you can forgive me. I made sure you got home safely and have given you back the scroll so that you may fulfill what the Junimo have asked of you. Please rest up as needed. -M.Rasmodius.'

You didn't know how to respond to the letter. Under normal circumstances you should've been outraged or confused. Instead, you found the letter to be sweet.

--------------------

Truth be told, Rasmodius was happy to get you out of his tower as fast as possible so that he may have a chance to think. There was no way you could've been who he thought you were. That strong pull towards you, the rush of electricity through his veins as his eyes fell upon you, you clearly radiating a connection to the arcane.

No, not after his luck with love. You couldn't have been the one. He didn't believe that he had such. He had accepted that the deity of love never wanted him to have a dearest companion. Especially someone as young and beautiful.

Still..., if you weren't his soulmate...perhaps you could serve well as an apprentice.

--------------------

Abigail hounded you the next day. She was so worried about you which you found humorous. The wizard seemed like he wouldn't even harm a fly. Well, unless he had too, but that's besides the point. What was important was the fact that you could now not only read the language of the Junimo, but just as you expected as you went back to the Community Center, you could understand them as well.

They had asked you for offerings. "Bundles" was the word they used. When a bundle would be completed, they would bless the community with a gift, something to benefit the villagers. If all bundles are fulfilled, the Community Center shall be returned to its former glory.

This was definitely not something you would've been expected to do back in your home city. If you were to explain it to anyone from there, they would think you were utterly mad. And yet, it was just what you desired. A quest to satiate some magical creatures that had put their trust in you? Of course you would do whatever you could to complete it.

Needless to say, Abigail thought you were the coolest friend she ever had, and promised to aid you however she could.

So you got started right away. You began with what you could do first. Completing whatever felt easiest, and working up to the more difficult bundles to be completed. And yet, despite the joy you felt when completing a bundle, the praise of a Junimo when accepting your offering, and the reward for your effort, you still felt like there was more you could do. After all, once the Community Center was completed, what then? You wouldn't allow this to be the end of your mythical adventures. So you decided to visit a certain someone that would make sure those quests never ended. At least, that was what you told yourself when you began to desire seeing Rasmodius again.

So you walked back into the Cindersap Forest and towards his tower. You knock and wait for the door to open on its own once more, before entering.

The wizard was standing right in the same spot he was when you had first met him.

"Ah, Y/N. I foresaw your coming, today. Please join me," he holds his hand out for you to come closer. You do as he tells you, less hesitantly this time. "Forgive me, but I must know. How goes your quest with the Junimo, hm?"

"Oh, it's going great!" you go on to eagerly explain what was asked of you and your progress. Rasmodius smiles at your enthusiasm, his heart even beating a bit faster.

"Excellent. Just as I thought, they had put their faith in you, Y/N. Do not falter."

"I won't," you smile up at him, a bit of pride flowing through you. Suddenly, the wizard clears his throat, composing himself once more.

"You are destined to do great things, Y/N. That is why it is good you came. I have something for you," he begins, causing you to look up at him curiously.

"What is it?" you ask, unable to hide your intrigue.

"A lesson in the pervasive energies of the world," he explains, which causes you to look at him oddly.

"I-I'm sorry, um, what do you mean?"

"Let me explain," he then motions to the stone floor. "Do you see this symbol here?"

"Yes. I was wondering about it," you say, trying to analyze it. Did you see it in a book somewhere?

"I imagined so," he nods. "This is a gate. A portal to another world. A doorway through which an elemental can traverse or a window through which I can peer."

With Rasmodius' explanation, your fascination with the symbol grows. All you can utter is a noise of awe, which once again amuses the wizard.

"Indeed, Now, tell me, have you ever encountered an elemental?" he asks. You think a bit, until your eyes widen a bit at a revelation.

No, you hadn't seen an elemental in person, but you read about them in a book Abigail had given you. You also remembered seeing the symbol in the book as well.

"No, but I've read about them," you explain, which causes the wizard's eyes to widen a bit. "They are creatures made up of the properties of our universe. They can only bond with those who can properly use magic."

"That is correct," he trails off, before shaking his head. "Your intrigue with such beings is fascinating."

"Isn't everyone? Creatures that shouldn't exist, creatures that go against everything we know about science, still occupy the same world we do," you cock your head to the side.

"Yes, but they still don't believe that they are real. Just creatures created for fantasy," he sighs. "That is why your interest in the manner is rather captivating...that is why the spirits must have taken a great interest in you."

You look at the wizard, stupefied. When you decided to visit him today, you didn't really expect this.

"You sense them, correct? Even when those around you cannot?" he asks.

"Yes," you then begin to think. "In fact, ever since I drank that elixir you made, they have only gotten stronger...voices getting louder."

"As mentioned, you are destined to do great things, Y/N. I have no doubts in my mind that your abilities may...attract greater attention," he looks into your eyes, and you can swear you see a bit of longing within them. Perhaps that was just you though, as he quickly blinks it away. "Serve the world and be at peace."

The sound of his front door opening causes you to turn your head. Taking it as your time to leave, you nod back at Rasmodius and bid him farewell. You had your crops to tend to, and Abigail wanted you to go frog hunting with her.

--------------------

It was a warm, sunny day, and when days were warm and sunny, you found yourself hanging outside. Especially since you enjoyed listening to the voices of the forest. You found yourself in the Cindersap Forest once more but you did not intend to visit Rasmodius. You wondered if the spirits around a wizard's home were any different then those that were not. Maybe stronger, maybe louder, maybe....

A force stops you when you come across a clearing. You don't know what it is, but it is a force that wants you to watch something. Something that the wizard was doing.

He was standing in the center of the clearing, his eyes closed and face strained with concentration. It looks like the forest was being illuminated by a blue light. He then raises his hand to the sky, and holds it for a moment, before his eyes flutter open and his body relaxes. You don't even realize that whatever was holding you had let you go.

"It is alright, Y/N. You may approach," he turns his head to you. You leave from your spot at the tree line and move to him.

"What were you doing?" you inquire.

"Just assessing the barrier," he glances back up to the sky. "It should last 6 more seasons."

"Barrier?" you look up but don't see anything odd.

"Let me explain," he looks back at you. "While Stardew Valley may seem tranquil, monsters do lurk in its darker corners, particularly deep in the woods. West of my tower, there are dangerous slimes that attack any human they see."

"Like...more dangerous than the ones in the mines?" you ask. You had started exploring the mines a little while ago, and you had your fair share of encounters with slimes of varying colors.

"Indeed," he affirms. "And as the magic practitioner of Stardew Valley and Pelican Town, it is my responsibility to maintain the magical barrier that prevents the monsters from attacking."

"Wow," you glance upwards once more. "That...sounds like a lot of pressure."

"It is, but it is something I must do. When a witch or wizard chooses their home, they also swear to protect the residents of that home," he explains.

"Is it hard?" you ask, which causes Rasmodius to chuckle. The sound makes your heart skip a bit.

"Not after having a lot of practice," he shakes his head amused. "Although, the barrier I keep isn't too vast. There are many witches and wizards that maintain barriers that dwarf mine considerably. Those do take a considerable amount of mana."

"Well then," you give him a small smile. "Thank you for your protection."

Your words cause him to smile back. No one ever thanked him, and he never expected such, but it still felt nice. Especially since it was coming from you. Suddenly, he pauses before looking at the sun.

"Ah, my apologies, Y/N. I must attend a council meeting."

You open your mouth to ask him what he meant, but he had already disappeared in a flash of light. You sigh, but look towards the sky once more. It was a noble thing, protecting those that seem to fear him. Those that probably never thanked him.

--------------------

Your connection with the spirits of Stardew Valley only grew, especially as you approached the last few bundles for the Junimo. As such, Abigail would tag along with you on your walks into the forest to hear what the voices within would say. You had no problems translating for her, especially since the spirits had taken a liking to her because of her passion.

You also found yourself discussing anything significant in your conversations with Rasmodius, as he had taken great interest in your connection with the forest spirits. You would also visit his tower when you were curious about something you had read in a book on the supernatural.

That was what you were doing now. You had read something that had intrigued you, so you entered the Cindersap Forest on a quest for answers. You knocked on the door to the wizard's tower, but it didn't open on its own like it usually would.

'He must be at a meeting or something,' you think, before turning to walk away. 'Maybe next-'

Slowly, the front door creaks open. You look back at it, confused, but enter. He must've just got back.

You enter the tower and call his name, but get no answer. Odd. He's not in the main room. You even checked his bedroom, but nothing. You think about leaving, until you remember a staircase leading downwards in the entryway.

You walk down the steps, still calling for Rasmodius and getting nothing in return. Upon entering the basement of the tower, you pause, a rush of energy flooding through you. You wonder what he does down here to make you feel such an aura.

You find yourself being pulled to a room full of books. It's cozy, a room you desire for your own farm. Maybe the next time you speak with Robin, you can discuss it with her. Maybe you'd even include the strange shrine as well. The thought makes you chuckle.

Your eyes scan the many books on the shelves until one calls to you. You pull the book from its place and open it carefully, as it looks quite old.

'....The deity of nature gifted her followers a connection to the Earth. Those that could both wield the powers of the arcane and worship her offerings, would have their stars rewritten. Their crops would always grow plentiful. Their animals always healthy. The spirits of the trees would regard them as their own, granting them their trust. And if they satisfied the requests of the spirits, they would be gifted great rewards....'

'Interesting,' you continue to read on. 'A deity of nature...I wonder what other deities there are. What do they gift?'

Suddenly, a bright flash of light appears beside you, causing you to jump. The wizard now stands before you.

"What are you doing? I only allow those I trust down here," he demands, before his eyes cast down to the book in your hands.

"I-I was j-just wondering where you were, a-and I-I just," you trail off, shaking a bit.

"Hm," he moves closer to you and glances at your book. "This book is over a hundred years old. It details both the history of life itself and the history of users of witchcraft...quite an odd book for you to find intriguing."

"I-I don't know...I find it interesting," you defend, a bit confused at his change in demeanor.

"I see...," he thinks, before shaking his head. "Forgive me, it seems I had forgotten whom I have been talking to. You hunger for knowledge, Y/N. You desire to know the explanations to all of the mysteries the arcane holds."

"I do," you agree, which causes him to nod.

"Visitors from the town here are rare, and not one of them has been drawn to my books," the wizard laments. "My teachings would be insufficient if I never let you quench your thirst for knowledge. For that reason, I shall grant you access to my basement. As long as you promise to stay away from the 'Shrine of Illusions' and the warp hall, you may read any of the books in my collection that interest you."

"Really?" your eyes light up and a smile grows on your face.

"Yes," he chuckles out at your reaction. "Just don't open them too far, as it could crack the spines. Some of these books are hundreds of years old."

"I promise, I will be careful," you look down at the book in your hands and back up at him, before throwing your arms around him in an embrace. "Thank you so much, Rasmodius."

Your hug startles him and makes his body heat up. Oh how he desperately wants to throw his arms around you too. Still, he settles with awkwardly patting your back.

"You are dearly welcome...perhaps I may even be able to teach you some light magic as well," he remarks, causing you to pull away.

"I would like that very much."

--------------------

As your knowledge of the arcane grew, so did your abilities that Rasmodius would teach you. You visited him often, whether to read or for a lesson. It was odd, having someone occupy the same space as him after being alone for so long, but the wizard didn't complain. However, he still questioned if you truly were his soulmate. He longed for you, really he did, but you could've very well been another test. If he had loved and lost before, why couldn't you be the same?

So he tried to stay professional, and when that failed he tried to stay cordial. He enjoyed your presence, and if he couldn't have you as a lover, he'd have you as a friend.

Your thoughts on him weren't as complex. You saw him as a wonderful teacher, and as an eccentric friend. You especially would enjoy when he would go on tangents about things he was most passionate about. It reminded you that despite being powerful and almost intimidating, he was still a lovable dork. You had to admit, you were crushing on him a little bit.

You went to visit the wizard on a relatively nice day. Not because you wanted to learn or read anything in particular, but because you wanted to hang out with him if you could.

You arrive and find him outside, muttering something to the plants in his garden.

"Hi, Rasmodius!" you chirp, approaching him.

"Good afternoon, Y/N. I'll be with you shortly," he greets.

"What are you doing?" you cock your head to the side.

"Just a simple protection spell," he explains. "There has been a recent influx of locusts in the forest. I'm just making sure they don't come after my fruit. It's much more efficient than your typical pesticides."

"Really? Wow, you're gonna have to teach me that for my own crops," you remark, causing him to chuckle.

"I don't think you will have to worry, but if it puts your thoughts at ease," with that, he finishes up the spell for the rest of his fruit. Once he finishes, his face drops. "I need to maintain a layer of magical protections on these plants anyway. My ex wife hated them...said they were a sign I was growing soft."

"That's awful," you gasp.

"She still tries to lay the odd hex or two on them when she's out flying at night," he replies, nodding. This only causes a small inferno to spark within you. Not only because it affected your friend, but also because it felt like a slap in the face with your love of farming. What a horrible woman!

"Hmph, well I hope karma bites her back for that," you mutter angrily. Your reaction causes him to mumble something to himself.

"It's one of the reasons Caroline and I....She has a lovely sunroom, you see. Oh well...," though it is soft, you can still hear it. At the mention of Caroline's name, a bit of jealousy sparks within you, even though it seems like whatever he had with her had ended. Rasmodius just shakes his head and clears his throat. "It's difficult. While I love the solitude of the forest, and I enjoy my duties of protecting the Valley...but even a wizard gets disheartened at having his heart broken twice."

Your gaze on him softens, although you do think about how you wouldn't be able to visit Abigail's home now that you were developing a bit of a hate-on for her mom. Upon seeing the sympathetic look in your eyes, the wizard just shakes his head.

"Do not worry about it, Y/N. I will be alright. I'm...," he stops, deciding to change directions with his words. "I'm certainly not in a hurry to give it a third try...but if I do happen to fall in love again someday, it will be with someone who can appreciate a good garden."

"Well, my farm does have an awful lot of plants," you find yourself saying, not realizing you had said it out loud and not in your head until he starts laughing.

"I suppose you are right. But remember, even once you get past the plants, there is the smell of the cauldron," he smiles, before turning to enter his tower. "If you would excuse me, I have business to attend to inside, now that my plants have been adequately protected."

"Y-Yeah, right, um," your face feels hot. "I should probably go too. I'll see you tomorrow, Rasmodius."

"Please, from here on out, call me Magnus. I believe we are past the point of formalities and it's less of a mouthful," he quips.

"Right, well...see you tomorrow, Magnus," you rephrase. He's right, it is a lot easier to say.

"Of course," he muses. "And you as well, Y/N."

--------------------

If you had to describe your relationship with Magnus to someone, you would describe it like the drop of a roller coast. Climbing up that large hill of your friendship, and now at the top. The cart is teetering in-between platonic and romantic. The two of you truly have been growing closer, getting to a point where you felt like you needed to see each other at least once a day.

You had never felt this way towards anyone before, it was such a strong pull you felt towards him that you couldn't explain, so after a long day of tending to your crops and animals, you went to visit his tower. Sure, it was a bit late...okay very late, but you knew he would be happy to see you again.

Nowadays, you would still knock on his front door, but would let yourself in without waiting for it to open by itself. You call for Magnus but receive no answer. Upon entering the main room of the tower, however, you found him muttering to himself while mixing something in his cauldron.

Suddenly, he curses in frustration and begins to pace back and forth in front of it. You make your way towards him, concerned.

"Magnus?"

The wizard jumps at your voice, before relaxing when he realizes it's just you.

"Y/N, I apologize. I didn't hear you enter," he places a hand over his heart and takes a deep breath. "It would seem you caught me in the midst of some rather delicate work."

"Oh, really? What are you doing?" you ask, intrigued.

"I find myself in need of a way to produce artificial energies for my own use," he explains, though it doesn't answer your question that much.

"And what might that be?" you push, causing him to let out a defeated sigh.

"I...um...have not been sleeping lately. I hoped to remedy that with this ritual, but I have only achieved frustration, as you might've noticed," he pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes out a tired breath.

"That's terrible. Is there no sleeping elixir recipe out there?" you question. You couldn't imagine the last time you got a poor night sleep. Surely it must've been before moving here.

"This was the last one I tried," he mutters, before looking at you. "Tell me, Y/N, what do you do when you cannot sleep?"

"I wish I could tell you, but I really don't remember the last time I couldn't," you reply sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Magnus."

"Hm, just my luck," he shakes his head.

"Have you tried common, non magical ways? Tea? Meditation?" you throw out.

"Believe me, I have tried everything that the mundane do first," he moves past you to pace around his portal, grumbling to himself. "I am doomed to toil until I succeed or fall into my own cauldron."

You just shake your head and follow him, grabbing his arm to stop him.

"Magnus, enough," you say, sternly. "If even magic won't work, then the only thing left to do is just lay down."

"I can assure you I've tried that," he mutters.

"Well then, I guess I'm staying here until you try again," you figure.

He sighs once more, and stares down at you. Unfortunately for him, you weren't showing any signs of backing down, which causes him to relent.

"Oh, very well. I will try again. But just know that I will be back at this as soon as you leave."

"Whelp, I guess that means I'm staying the night, then," you quip, which causes his face to heat up and for him to clear his throat.

"Yes...well," he thinks for a moment, before giving you a tired smile. "It'll be quite difficult for you to keep yourself entertained watching me sleep."

You just shrug, and follow him into his small bedroom. He mutters something to himself, and in a flash of light he is now dressed in...oddly casual pajamas. He then crawls under the covers of his bed, but smirks at the strange look on your face.

"What?"

"Nothing...just surprised that you dress like a normal person for bed," you tease. "I thought you would've worn a night shirt or long underwear."

Magnus laughs and shakes his head.

"Believe me, I find the simplicity of these to be a lot more comfortable. Just promise to not tell anyone in the village about it."

"Ha! They wouldn't believe me even if I got a picture of you," you make your way over to his side of the bed and sit on the edge now that he seems comfortable. His smile begins to fade and he lets out a sigh.

"Y/N," he begins, eyes starting to get heavy and moving to take your hand.

"Yes, Magnus?" you let him hold your hand and squeeze it reassuringly.

"Please...don't let me...dream...," and with that, he nods off. What an odd request. Still, you would do it. You honestly would probably do anything he asked you.

You sit there for a bit, watching his peaceful face as he sleeps. You promised you would stay all night, so why not get comfortable yourself? After all, his bed was big enough for two. You carefully stand up and move to the other side. You then quietly mutter the same spell he did, replacing your previous clothes with your own pajamas.

Now dressed to sleep, you gently climb onto the bed, keeping yourself above the covers fearing that sleeping under them would've been too far. Jeez, his bed was comfy, and as soon as your head rested on the pillows, you fell asleep.

What did he have trouble sleeping for?

--------------------

As morning rolls over Stardew Valley, Magnus stirs and slowly blinks open his eyes. Did he really sleep all night? Not to mention the fact that he didn't dream once. He smiles to himself, realizing that you by his side really did help him. He sits up to stretch but pauses as he feels something, or more accurately someone, moving behind him. He glances over his shoulder, and his eyes widen. He couldn't believe what he was looking at.

There you were sleeping peacefully on the other side of his bed. You look so serene, the glow from the sunlight illuminating your beauty. The scene makes him smile, before averting his eyes and shifting a bit when he sees that your pajamas was a pretty night dress.

You yawn and sit up, stretching yourself. When you open your eyes, you let out a surprised gasp.

"What's wrong?" Magnus turns back to look at you concerned.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sleep here all night-or at all," you quickly try to defend, worried that you have made him uncomfortable.

"Please, do not worry about it. Your presence...,"he thinks for a moment before continuing. "Your presence was greatly appreciated."

"So you slept all night?" you ask, a small grin forming on your face.

"Yes, I did," he nods, and gives you his own smile.

"I really don't get it," you wonder. "Your bed's so comfortable, and you fell asleep rather quick. Why have you been having trouble with it?"

He looks away from you and sighs, already feeling his face heat up with shame.

"Occasionally, I find myself plagued with dark dreams...and I decide to childishly resort to avoiding sleep entirely. I must apologize for the state you found me in, but I must also thank you for choosing to stay by my side," he turns back to you and takes your hands in his. "With you by my side, I slept soundly as I have not for several weeks."

This makes your smile grow, and for your cheeks to warm up.

"Aw...you're welcome," you reply, a bit sheepish now. "You know I'm always happy to help you, Mag."

He lets out a small laugh at that. He normally was not a big fan of nicknames, but with you he would make an exception.

"Yes, well...," he squeezes your hand while he thinks. "If there is anything I can do to repay you, you have but to ask."

"Oh please, I...well," you drawl out, playfully. "If you insist...some breakfast would be nice."

"Of course. What would you like?" he asks, and you tell him what you're craving. "Alright, just a moment."

You expect him to get up and go find what you requested, but instead he holds his hand out flat and says a spell. Suddenly, a tray appears in his hand with what you asked for on it. Your eyes widen in shock.

"Yo-You can just do that? You can just summon food?" you move to touch the tray to see if it is real.

"Yes, but it can take a considerable amount of mana depending on how much food is summoned. So thank you for giving me something relatively simple," you giggle at that, before he offers you the tray. "Go ahead, and eat. Oh, and don't be afraid to ask for more if that is what you desire."

You did eat what Magnus gave you, and it was the best breakfast you had ever eaten.

--------------------

Could you have said that your relationship with Magnus was far from friendship at that point? Yes, you absolutely could. To be fair, it is hard to keep things platonic when you both longed for each other and slept in the same bed. The real question was when things would become official, and you could finally say that you two were a couple.

Fortunately, the time came when you got a letter in your mailbox.

'Greetings YN, many untold wonders are sheltered amongst the trees. Today, in particular, a strange energy stirs in the forest. If you would like to learn more on these unknown secrets, meet me in the hidden woods North of my tower. Sincerely, Magnus.'

It was a rather formal letter, then again Mag did like to be formal when he was teaching you something. You were none the wiser to the letter's true nature, as you were too excited to know what he had found.

So you departed from your farm after taking care of your crops and animals, making your way to where you were asked to meet him.

--------------------

You found Magnus standing in the center of what looked to have been an old shrine, with cracked pillars, pink roses, and the statue of a beautiful woman. It all looks so tranquil, a place where you could just go to be alone and think. As you approach him, he appears to be lost in thought, looking at the statue.

"Boo!" you playfully jump out and startle him out of his thoughts.

"Ah! Oh Y/N, you must grant an old wizard some mercy with tricks like that," he sighs, but a smile forms on his face at your mischievous giggle.

"Sorry, but it was just too easy," you let out in-between your impish fit. "Besides, I gotta keep this old wizard on his toes, don't I?"

His grin only widens at that and he shakes his head.

"It's good that you came," he says, almost absentmindedly.

"Why wouldn't I? You knew what you were doing when you wrote that letter."

"Yes, well," he takes a deep breath before continuing. "I'm afraid I have deceived you with what I wrote. I have brought you here for...a different purpose."

"Oh, um, okay," this confuses but still intrigues you on what he had in store for you. "Why am I here, then?"

"As you know, I have spent much of my life to divination and communication with ill-understood lifeforms," his face falls. "As such I have lost much of what comes naturally in human conversation. It is difficult for me to...oh, how is it said...?"

He trails off a bit, before placing a hand over his heart. He then glances at you and takes a step closer.

"Y/N," he takes your hands into his. "Listen. Open your mind. Open your senses. Can you hear it?"

You strain your ears to see if you can pick up the voices of the forest, but you can't hear anything.

"Hear what?" you ask, not realizing you had taken a step closer to him.

"My heart," he explains. "It pounds in my chest more fiercely than I have ever known it to."

His words make your own heart's pace speed up, and an unfamiliar warmth begins to spread throughout your body.

"The energies of the Earth surge around us. Her energy surges around us. It can be no accident. I have grown tired of lying to myself. I can no longer deny my feelings for you," his words make your eyes widen in surprise. "I truly did not think it possible after my ex wife and-oh never mind them. I care nothing for them now. I only care for you, my dearest Y/N, for you have enchanted me."

As soon as he finishes his confession, your mind replays his words in your head over and over. They make you feel like you're floating, like all of this is just a dream. Eventually, a voice whispers in your ear that you should probably respond to him.

"I feel the same way," you finally get out, although you wish you could've confessed your feelings to him in an equally beautiful way.

"Truly?" he asks, suddenly, which makes you giggle. "Ahem, I mean-that is...of course you do."

He rambles on about how he "never doubted" your feelings for him. You let him babble on though, as it's just another reminder of how he was a dork.

Your lovable dork.

You smile and move to wrap your arms around his neck, which stops him. He beams down at you, bringing one of his hands to your waist, while the other caresses your cheek.

Like two magnets, your bodies lock together and your lips meet his. The feeling causes sparks to fly behind your eyelids, and for electricity to flow through your veins. Then, an image flashes in your mind. A passage from a book.

'....And the deity of love gifted the followers of the arcane with a soulmate, rewriting the stars so that they would meet the one who would give them eternal happiness on the mortal and astral plain.'

When you both finally pull away, you look at him in awe, especially with everything now looking more vibrant.

"...That's what you are. You're my soulmate, aren't you?" you breath, still reeling from the kiss.

"And you, mine," he utters, still caressing your face. "With my heart broken twice, I had assumed the deity of love had not wished for it to be complete. But now I realize she was punishing me for my impatience, for not waiting on you."

You turn your head to look at the statue beside you. The woman's stone face looks upon you and Magnus benevolently.

"And this...this is her shrine, isn't it?" your eyes fall back onto him.

"It was the only way to be sure," he explains.

And with that, your lips found each other once more, as if even that brief moment of them apart was too long. You had never kissed anyone before, but with the knowledge that you know now, you doubt that it would even feel half as good.

Eventually, you two were no longer standing. You were now laying on the soft grass with him hovering over you, his lips now on your neck and his beard was scratching your sensitive skin in the best way possible. Neither of you even realize it, slowly becoming intoxicated on the other. Even as you begin to mewl and writhe underneath Mag from him sucking your soft flesh, you both only become aware of your predicament when he pulls away to look at you.

"Ah, forgive me," Magnus pants but still doesn't move off of you. "I have no idea what's gotten into me."

"Are you gonna stop?" you breath out, unable to hide your disappointment.

"Do you wish for me to continue?" truth be told, he really wants to, feeling a powerful lust flow through him that he had never felt before. Of course, your comfort came first, always.

Fortunately for him, you are being consumed by the same raging desire, and you nod desperately. With that, he takes the straps of the dress you were wearing and slowly pulls them downward, exposing more of your skin for him to worship.

You should've been embarrassed, nervous even considering the fact that this was going to be your first time having sex, but your mind is way too fuzzy to care. Especially as his mouth is back on you, now focusing on your chest and having his teeth graze your flesh.

Slowly, he moves downward as does your dress, until your breasts are exposed to him. He wastes no time moving to one of them, swirling his tongue around the sensitive bud there, before locking it in-between his lips. Meanwhile, your other breast is being massaged by one of his rough hands. The feeling causes you to cry out and arch your back upwards. You don't know if it's even possible for your panties to get anymore wet, especially as he switches so that your breasts get equal treatment.

You continue to moan and your fingers thread themselves in-between Mag's violet locks, nails scratching his scalp and causing him to groan. He pulls himself away from you, which pulls a whine from your lips, but you stop when he pulls your dress from your body and tosses it to the side.

It was only now, with you being in only your panties, that you realize the intensity of the situation.

"M-Mag?" you manage to whimper out.

"Yes, my love?" he gazes up at you with his pupils blown wide. The sight is almost enough for you to forget your words.

"I-I'm...this is...,"it takes all your might for your cloudy brain to form what you wanted to say. "T-This is...my...first t-time."

Despite his mind being just as muddy, your words still pierce him.

"Is...is it, really?" he breathes out, to which you nod. "I see...."

He lowers his head to your stomach and places a kiss there.

"Let me take care of you...I will take care of you," he murmurs in-between kisses, getting lower and lower until his fingers find the waistband of your panties.

He looks up at you, his eyes asking you for permission. You let out a soft "please", desperate for him to continue. So he does, not wanting to deny you, and pulls the damp fabric from your body. The sight of your soaked pussy makes him groan and realize just how uncomfortable his robes were.

Magnus mutters a spell to himself, causing his clothing to disappear entirely, and sighs with a bit of relief. You, on the other hand, are now delirious with lust as you gaze upon him. You had never seen this much of him before, not that you were complaining, especially as your eyes fall on his cock. He was long, with the tip bright red and precum dripping down his shaft. You honestly thought that he was going to just fuck you right then and there, which you certainly had no problems with.

He surprises you though, lowering his head to place a kiss to your mound first, then to your wet folds. You shamelessly moan at the feeling of your pussy finally getting some attention. He then begins to drag his tongue through your lower lips, starting at your entrance and ending at your clit, moaning a bit as he laps up your arousal.

Your hands find themselves back in his hair, sobbing loudly with pleasure. This just eggs Mag on as he latches his lips onto your clit, sucking on it harshly to see how you'd react. Just as he thought, your fingers tighten their grasp and your wails increase in volume and pitch.

He then slips one of his fingers inside of you, finding little resistance due to your slick. The feeling of what could be compared to a coil tightening forms within your stomach, your release imminent. All it takes is him pushing in a second finger to drive you over the edge. You cum hard on his hand and mouth, tears of pleasure flowing down your face. If you cumming from his mouth was that intense, you can't even imagine what cumming on his dick's going to be like.

Even as you fall from your high, Mag continues to scissor his fingers inside of you, stretching you out so you can be ready for his length. It is taking him his little self control he has to not fuck you quite yet, but quickly snaps once his brain hyper focuses on how your pussy swallows up his digits, not to mention the feeling.

So he pulls his hand away from your body, and wastes no time lining his cock up with your tight little hole. He looks back up at your blissed out face, though he gives you less time to give him permission. Not that you care, you're craving his dick despite getting your release mere seconds ago.

As soon as he pushes the tip of his length inside of you, he quickly loses himself. That sweet, lovable dork that never liked losing his composure was nowhere to be found. In his place was a man that was rutting into you like his life depended on it.

The pain that you should've been feeling from him repeatedly shoving all of cock in and out of you was severely dulled. It felt like you were being claimed by him, and as such, all you could really focus on was pleasure. Likewise he was feeling like he was being claimed by you, which was why he was fucking you like an animal in heat, on top of the fact that he had denied himself of such pleasure for so long.

That feeling was the two of you officially sealing your bond as soulmates, and nothing from here on out would shatter it. Of course, the two of you would realize that after the heavy cloud of lust left your brains.

At a particularly harsh thrust, you dig your nails into Mag's back and throw one of your legs over his waist, which he wraps an arm around to hold it in place. The new angle causes the tip of his dick to hit areas inside of you that you weren't even sure were real up until that point.

All it takes is three strokes of his cock inside of you for you to cum hard, screaming so loud that you wouldn't be surprised if someone all the way in the village heard you. At the feeling of your velvety walls constricting his length, he let out his own moan as he floods your pussy with his seed.

You both are sweaty and exhausted, with Magnus using all of his strength to keep himself from crushing your limp body. He continues to shallowly thrust into you, not wanting to come down from his high. To be fair, you didn't want to either, as your vision was still white and your legs still felt like jelly.

When the two of you finally do come back down to Earth, you both don't know what to say, still not believing that this was real. All you can pant out is an exhausted "wow", followed by a tired laugh. Mag smirks at your reaction, but quickly loses it.

"What's wrong?" you ask, concerned, worried he was starting to have regrets.

"That...that really was a miserable way to lose your virginity, wasn't it?" he lets go of your leg and moves his hand to your face, brushing some strands that were sticking to your sweaty face.

"I...I don't think so," you move your own hand up to his face to cup his cheek. "I really enjoyed myself. Did...didn't you?"

"O...Of course I did. It's just...," he frowns. "I just feel that your first time should've been passionate and spent on a comfortable bed, and not with me rutting into you like an animal in heat."

"I don't mind," you shrug. "I enjoyed that a lot. Besides, I thought you were really hot."

"Really? Even though I looked completely undignified?"

You giggle and nod.

"Absolutely," you then pull him down into a kiss, which he returns. When you both pull away you glance upwards at the statue. "I think it was what she wanted anyways."

Magnus turns to look up at the statue as well.

"Perhaps you are right," he nods, before smiling down at you. "Still, if I can't worship you on a soft bed during, would you allow me to do so, afterwards?"

"I'd like that, but um, Mag?" you ask.

"Yes my love?"

"Do you think you could warp us to that bed? I don't think I'll be walking for a while," you quip.

"Ah-yes, of course! Um...I am terribly sorry," his apologizes sheepishly.

"As I said, it's fine. I was just warning you," you tease.

He nods, before carefully pulling out and moving off of you. He collects your panties and dress, before pulling you into his lap.

In a flash of light, the two of you were in his bedroom. Magnus sets your clothes at the foot of the bed, before gently laying you down on top of the soft covers. He then lies down next to you, and pulls you close to him. You nuzzle into his chest eagerly, getting comfortable.

"Yeah, this is nice, too," you smile.

He nods at you, and begins to rub your back. Suddenly, he tenses up.

"Uh oh, what now?" you giggle, looking up at him.

"I haven't even told you that I love you, yet. I truly am a horrible soulmate aren't I," he shakes his head.

"I thought that was your big declaration you gave me at the shrine?" you smirk.

"Yes, but it wasn't those three words was it?"

"Mm, no, but it had the same effect," you hum.

"Did it really? I would've rather...," he trails off about what he wished he would've done for the whole thing. Of course, you get tired of his rambling and place a kiss to his lips to shut him up.

"You really are a big dork, you know that Mag?" you quip. "But if it helps you rest up, tell me now."

"As you wish," he nods, before clearing his throat. "I love you, Y/N. And I promise that I will cherish you in this life and the next."

"I love you too, Magnus," you start before getting comfortable once more. "And for as long as I exist, I will stay by your side and love you as fiercely as you'll let me."

[the-whatcherof-89]

IMPORTANT: the second image is a representation of one item in her inventory: the Robe of Scintillating colors.

For further informations about the item follow the link: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/r-z/robe-of-scintillating-colors/

Link for the image: https://thechekhov.tumblr.com/post/664888618002808832/a-little-behind-on-rqg-but-i-had-to-draw-wilde-in

Zombiecleo Aka Cleo the Badass Mom . 

Human Living Flesh Golem Bard(Masked performer) 9 Dark Delver 9  CR20 CN Humanoid(Construct) XP307,200

Chaotic Neutral Medium Humanoid (Construct) Perception+35 INI+9

HP121(18D8+38)

AC40(+5Dex+5Shield+10Natural+5Deviation+5Armor)

BaB+12/7/2 CMB+16 CMD+31

Melee Serpent’s fang+21/16/11 1D4+9, Everbloom thorn+21/16/11 1D8+9, Spells

Ranged Light crossbow+21/16/11 1D8+4, Spells

FORT+10 REFL+20 WILL+21

Racial traits: Bonus feat(Strong personality), Skilled, RD15/Adamantine, Natural armor, Flesh golem immunities, Spirit within, Berserker, Animating spirit.

Traits: Prospector, Scarred.

Class abilities: Dual identity, Bardic performance, Seamless guise, Exaggerated pose+3, Fascinate, Inspire courage+2, Dirge of doom, Stage combatant, Well versed, Lore master 1/day, Distraction, Inspire greatness, Social grace(Renown, Social grace: Bluff, Stand up), Fortunate soul 1/day, Thrilling escape 3/day, True seeing 1/day, Trap sense+3, Vigilant combatant, Left for dead, Resourceful disabler, Guard-breaker, Surefooted, Bardic knowledge, Master explorer.

STR18 DEX20 CON- INT18 WIS10 CHA26

Feats: Craft wondrous items, Brew potions, Toughness, Lingering performance, Fast stealth, Spellsong, Improved initiative, Arcane strike.

Skills: Acrobatics+18, Appraise+9, Bluff+20, Climb+9, Craft(Stone and metal)+25, Disable device+13, Diplomacy+20, Disguise+23, Escape artist+13, Knowledge (Arcana)+25, (Dungeon)+8, (Engineering)+27, (Geography)+8, (History)+11, (Local)+8, (Nature)+8, (Nobility)+8, (Planes)+25, (Religion)+8, Linguistics+1, Perception+25, Perform(Dance)+25 (Sing)+17, Sense motive+8, Sleight of hand+13, Spellcraft+25, Stealth+13, Survival+5, Swim+17, Use magic device+21.

Languages: Common, Elven, Draconic, Necril.

SpellcastingCL9 DC18 Spells per day 7/6/5 Spells known: 0-Read magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Detect magic, Mending, Resistance. I-Charm person, Hideous laughter, Grease, Cure light wounds, Expeditious retreat. II-Heroism, Cure moderate wounds, Mirror image, Glitterdust. III-Haste, Phantom steed, Dispel magic, Charm monster.

Equipment: Darkleaf Delving Leather armor of fire resistance+4, Darkwood caster shield+4, Ring of protection+5, Robes of scintillating colors, Serpent’s fang+5, Everbloom thorn+5, Light crossbow+2, 50+2 Adamantine bolts, Belt of physical might+4(STR, DEX), Ring of resistance+4(as per cloak), Bracers of the glib entertainer, Headband of mental Prowess+6(INT CHA Planes), Daredevil sandals, Bag of holding type I, Cleo’s Shawl(works like a cloak of Human guise + Mantle of spores), Wands(Haste, Lighting bolt III), Tome of leadership and influence+2(Used), Manual of quickness of action+2(used), Kits(Bard, Alchemy), Masterwork lock pick tools, Masterwork mask(grants +2 to disguise worth 313GP), Entertainer’s outfit, Rope with grappling hook, 2 Disguise kit, 2200GP.

Background: Lover of rainbows, Architecture and Geology, former Teacher and with a rather dry sense of humor, Cleo is an inhabitant of the far land known for his various Hermits. Always ready to voice her opinions in many fields. While she has built various wonders across the years, Cleo like her name suggest is sort of a zombie-like creature(what type is not exactly known) sayin that she “Prefers the hard truths of zombies than the easy lies of elfs” although no one has seen elven creatures in the land of the Hermits. Sometimes struggling with her dry humor in making it more akin to the other Hermits and wishing to be able to control her urges in expressing her opinions she thinks if this is caused by her zombie-like nature. “So your nature gets in your way?” Said a voice as she was building an absurdly-long long rainbow bridge. Cleo looked around but found no one, she was alone. “I can help you. All you have to do is simple: find me.” Cleo was not known to shy away from a challenge and said: “Bring it on!” A simple snap of fingers was heard “Okie dokie” Said the voice. The world shifted, her aspect changed and she found herself in front of a catacomb at the top of a stony hill, with new gear and knowledge never seen before. “I will realize your greatest wish, all you have to do is find me. Good luck!” Cleo looked around and stared at the town behind her at the bottom of the hill. “Yeah, but i am going to stab you SO HARD after this.” And  she started to walk down the hill.

Image of Zombiecleo made with Heroforge.

[o-craven-canto]

Words borrowed from other languages in English

Very incomplete list, based mostly on The Languages of the World (3rd ed.), Kenneth Katzner, 2002 + a heavy use of Wiktionary. some notes:

Many of these words have passed through multiple languages on their way to English (e.g. Persian -> Arabic -> Spanish -> French -> English); in that case I usually list them under the first language that used them with the same meaning as English.

I generally don't include words whose ancestors already existed in Middle English, unless their origin was exotic enough to be interesting.

The vast majority of borrowings are terms very specific to their culture of origin; I generally only include those that are either well known among English-speakers, or of general use outside that culture. As always, this is largely subjective.

INDO-EUROPEAN FAMILY (West and South Eurasia)

Hellenic

Greek: angel, chronometer, democracy, encyclopedia, geography, graphic, hieroglyphic, homogeneous, hydraulic, kudos, meter, microphone, microscope, monarchy, philosophy, phobia, photography, telephone, telescope, thermometer, and way too many other scientific or technical terms to count

Germanic

Afrikaans: aardvark, apartheid, fynbos, rooibos, springbok, trek, veld, wildebeest

Danish: Lego, simper

Dutch: brandy, bumpkin, coleslaw, cookie, deck, dock, dollar, freight, furlough, hodgepodge, landscape, maelstrom, noodle, Santa Claus, waffle, walrus, yacht

German: aurochs, bildungsroman, blitzkrieg, cobalt, dachsund, eigenvector, ersatz, gestalt, glockenspiel, hamburger, hinterland, kindergarten, kohlrabi, lager, poodle, quark, sauerkraut, wanderlust, yodel, zeitgeist

Icelandic: eider, geyser

Norwegian: auk, fjord, krill, lemming, narwhal, slalom, troll

Swedish: lek, mink, ombudsman, rutabaga, smorgasbord, tungsten

Yiddish: bupkis, chutzpah, kvetch, putz, schlemiel, schmaltz, schmooze, schtick, spiel, tchotchke

Slavic

Czech: robot

Russian: fedora, glasnost, intelligentsia, kefir, mammoth, pogrom, samizdat, steppe, sputnik, troika, tsar, vodka

Serbo-Croat: cravat, paprika

Celtic [many of these words are shared between the two languages]

Irish: bog, galore, gaol, geas, glen, orrery, shamrock, slob, whiskey

Scottish Gaelic: bard, bunny, cairn, clan, loch, ptarmigan, ?scone, slogan

Italic-Romance

†Latin: way too many, but ignoring the ones that were already naturalized in Middle English: a priori, arcane, algae, alumni, artificial, calculus, cancer, carnivore, cavity, circa, confide, dire, federal, flammable, homicide, interregnum, larva, lemur, magnanimity, manuscript, millipede, nebula, nimbus, nocturnal, octave, optimal, postmortem, senile, supernova, urban, verbatim, and countless medical or legal terms

French: the bulk of French (or rather Norman) borrowings occurred before Middle English, but to stick to my rules: aubergine, bourgeois, buttress, camouflage, capitalism, caramel, chassis, chauvinism, cheque, collage, elite, embassy, ennui, espionage, etiquette, facade, fondue, gouache, guillotine, infantry, lingerie, mauve, mayonnaise, mollusk, Renaissance, reservoir, sabotage, souvenir, turquoise...

Italian: allegro, aria, balcony, bandit, bravo, calamari, casino, cello, chiaroscuro, crescendo, contraband, contrapposto, fresco, gazette, ghetto, gusto, inferno, lagoon, lava, mafia, malaria, pants, quarantine, tempo, umbrella, vendetta, volcano

Portuguese: baroque, brocade, cachalot, cobra, creole, flamingo, petunia, pimento, zebra

Spanish: abalone, armadillo, bolas, bonanza, canyon, cargo, chupacabra, cigar, cilantro, embargo, gaucho, guerrilla, junta, manta, mesa, mosquito, mustang, patio, pueblo, rodeo, siesta, tornado, vanilla

Iranian

Persian: bazaar, caravan, checkmate, chess, crimson, dervish, divan, jackal, jasmine, khaki, kiosk, lemon, lilac, musk, orange, pajama, paradise, satrap, shawl, taffeta

Indo-Aryan

†Sanskrit: brahmin, Buddha, chakra, guru, karma, mantra, opal, swastika, yoga

Bengali: dinghy, jute, nabob

Hindi: bandana, bungalow, cheetah, chintz, chutney, coolie, cot, dungaree, juggernaut, lacquer, loot, rajah, pundit, shampoo, tom-tom, thug, veranda

Marathi: mongoose

Romani: hanky-panky, pal, shiv

Sinhalese: anaconda, beriberi, serendipity, tourmaline

DRAVIDIAN FAMILY (Southern India)

Kannada: bamboo

Malayalam: atoll, calico, copra, jackfruit, mahogany, mango, pagoda, teak

Tamil: curry, mulligatawny, pariah

Telugu: bandicoot

URALIC FAMILY (Northern Eurasia)

Finnic

Finnish: sauna

Saami: tundra

Samoyedic

Nenets: parka

Ugric

Hungarian: biro, coach, goulash, hussar, puszta, tokay

VASCONIC FAMILY (Northern Pirenees)

Basque: chaparral, chimichurri, silhouette

TURKIC FAMILY (Central and Northern Eurasia)

†Old Turkic: cossack, yurt

Tatar: ?stramonium

Turkish: baklava, balaclava, bergamot, caftan, caviar, harem, janissary, kebab, kismet, minaret, pastrami, sherbet, tulip, yoghurt

Yakut: taiga

MONGOLIC FAMILY (Mongolia and surrounding areas)

Mongol: horde, khan, ?valerian

SINO-TIBETAN FAMILY (China and Southeast Asia)

Tibeto-Burman

Burmese: ?marzipan

Tibetan: lama, panda, tulpa, yak, yeti

Sinitic [Chinese languages closely related, not always clear from which a borrowing comes]

Hokkien: ?ketchup, sampan, tea

Mandarin: chi, dazibao, gung-ho, kaolin, oolong, shaolin, shanghai, tao, yin-yang

Min Nan: nunchaku

Yue (Cantonese): chop suey, dim sum, kowtow, kumquat, lychee, shar-pei, ?typhoon, wok

TUNGUSIC FAMILY (Eastern Siberia)

Evenki: pika, shaman

KOREANIC FAMILY (Koreas)

Korean: bulgogi, chaebol, hantavirus, kimchi, mukbang, taekwondo

JAPONIC FAMILY (Japan)

Japanese: banzai, bonsai, dojo, emoji, geisha, ginkgo, hikikomori, honcho, ikebana, kamikaze, karaoke, koi, kudzu, manga, origami, pachinko, rickshaw, sake, samurai, sensei, soy, sushi, tofu, tsunami, tycoon, zen

KRA-DAI FAMILY (mainland Southeast Asia)

Thai: bong, pad thai

AUSTROASIATIC FAMILY (mainland Southeast Asia)

Vietnamese: pho, saola, Vietcong

AUSTRONESIAN FAMILY (maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania)

Western Malayan

Javanese: ?junk [ship]

Malay: amok, camphor, cockatoo, compound [building], cootie, durian, kapok, orangutan, paddy, pangolin, rattan, sarong

Barito

Malagasy: raffia

Phlippinic

Cebuano: dugong

Ilocano: yo-yo

Tagalog: boondocks

Oceanic

Hawai'ian: aloha, hula, luau, poi, wiki

Maori: kauri, kiwi, mana, weta

Marshallese: bikini

Tahitian: pareo, tattoo

Tongan: taboo

TRANS-NEW GUINEAN FAMILY (New Guinea)

Fore: kuru

PAMA-NYUNGAN FAMILY (Australia)

Dharug: boomerang, corroboree, dingo, koala, wallaby, wobbegong, wombat, woomera

Guugu Yimithirr: kangaroo, quoll

Nyungar: dunnart, gidgee, quokka

Pitjantjatjara: Uluru

Wathaurong: bunyip

Wiradjuri: kookaburra

Yagara: dilly bag

AFRO-ASIATIC FAMILY (North Africa and Near East)

Coptic: adobe

Berber

Tachelhit: argan

Semitic

†Punic: Africa

Arabic: albatross, alchemy, alcohol, alcove, alfalfa, algebra, alkali, amber, arsenal, artichoke, assassin, candy, coffee, cotton, elixir, gazebo, gazelle, ghoul, giraffe, hashish, harem, magazine, mattress, monsoon, sofa, sugar, sultan, syrup, tabby, tariff, zenith, zero

Hebrew: amen, behemoth, cabal, cherub, hallelujah, kibbutz, kosher, manna, myrrh, rabbi, sabbath, Satan, seraph, shibboleth

NIGER-CONGO FAMILY (Subsaharan Africa)

unknown: cola, gorilla, tango

Senegambian

Wolof: banana, fonio, ?hip, ?jigger [parasite], karite, ?jive, yam

Gur-Adamawa

Ngbandi: Ebola

Kwa

Ewe: voodoo

Volta-Niger

Igbo: okra

Yoruba: gelee [headgear], mambo, oba, orisha

Cross River

Ibibio: calypso

Bantu

Lingala: basenji

Kikongo: ?chimpanzee, ?macaque, ?zombie

Kimbundu: ?banjo, Candomblé, gumbo, macumba, tanga

Swahili: askari, Jenga, kwanzaa, safari

Xhosa: Ubuntu

Zulu: impala, mamba, vuvuzela

KHOE-KWADI FAMILY (Southwest Africa)

Khoekhoe (Hottentot): gnu, kudu, quagga

ESKIMO-ALEUT FAMILY (Arctic America)

Greenlandic Inuit: igloo, kayak

Inuktikut: nunatak

ALGIC FAMILY (Eastern Canada and northeast USA)

†Proto-Algonquin: moccasin, opossum, skunk

Cree: muskeg, pemmican

Mikmaq: caribou, toboggan

Montagnais: husky

Narragansett: ?moose, ?powwow, sachem

Ojibwe: chipmunk, totem, wendigo, woodchuck

Powhatan: persimmon, raccoon

SALISHAN FAMILY (Pacific coast at the USA-Canada border)

Chehalis: chinook

Halkomelem: sasquatch

Lushootseed: geoduck

IROQUOIAN FAMILY (Eastern North America)

Cherokee: sequoia

SIOUAN FAMILY (Central USA)

Lakota: teepee

MUSKOGEAN FAMILY (Southeast USA)

Choctaw: bayou

UTO-AZTECAN FAMILY (Southwest USA and north Mexico)

Nahuatl: atlatl, avocado, chili, cocoa, coyote, chocolate, guacamole, hoazin, mesquite, ocelot, quetzal, tamale, tegu, tomato

O'odham (Pima): jojoba

Shoshone: chuckwalla

Yaqui: ?saguaro

MAYAN FAMILY (Southern Mexico and Guatemala)

Yucatec Maya: cenote, Chicxulub

ARAWAKAN FAMILY (Caribbeans and South America)

†Taino: barbecue, cannibal, canoe, cassava, cay, guava, hammock, hurricane, iguana, maize, manatee, mangrove, maroon, potato, savanna, tobacco

Arawak: papaya

CARIBAN FAMILY (Caribbean coast of South America)

unknown: curare

Galibi Carib: caiman, chigger, pawpaw, peccary, yucca

QUECHUAN FAMILY (Andes)

Quechua: ?Andes, caoutchouc, coca, condor, guano, jerky, llama, mate, poncho, puma, quinine, vicuna

AYMARAN FAMILY (Andes)

Aymara: alpaca, chinchilla

TUPIAN FAMILY (Brazil)

[borrowings are often shared between these two languages]

†Old Tupi: ananas, arowana, Cayenne [pepper], jaguar, manioc, piranha, tapioca

Guarani: cougar, maracuja, Paraguay, petunia, toucan

CREOLE LANGUAGES (worldwide, mixed origin)

English-derived

Chinese Pidgin English: chopstick, long time no see, pidgin, taipan

Jamaican Creole: dreadlocks, reggae

Chinook-derived

Chinook Jargon: potlatch

EDIT 08-01-24: added lots more examples, especially African, Asian, and North American languages. Still not done. EDIT 17-01-24: finished adding examples, more or less. EDIT: 18-02-24: apparently not (cheetah). EDIT: 20-05-24: nope (mosquito); 30-06-24: jerky, mukbang, cello, glockenspiel, hodgepodge; 06-06-25: marzipan, lagoon, contraband, artichoke EDIT 02-11-24: finally expanded the French and Latin points. Also, added kudos, camphor, moose, and the Thai and Vietnamese sections.

[piltover-sharpshooter]

Ok so the blu-ray release of Arcane season 1 has a map of Piltover and Zaun and...yeah the geography changed quite a bit from before. Will have to analyze later.

[davidsmith9582]

revisin for gatherin arcane knowledge for my fa the wizards battle in geography the morra of the forces of nature i must partake in at dawn

image: The Wizard by Don Maitz

[open-hearth-rpg]

Faction Builder & City Builder Toolkit

I've put up two new print-and-play card deck toolkits on itch.io. Both include a printable deck as well as text files.

FACTION BUILDER TOOLKIT

This lets you collaborative building factions, primarily for classic fantasy games (Godbound, 13th Age, Blades in the Dark) but also for modern urban fantasy games (Urban Shadows, Changeling the Lost, Dresden Files Accelerated).

Factions

Side A of each card has a pair of types– vampires, merchants, assassins. The GM, player, or table as a whole can draw 3-5 cards and pick one. Place the chosen card with the chosen side facing upright. 

Side B of each card has three descriptors- wary, outsider, calculating. Again drawn three to five cards. Then pick one or two descriptors, each on different cards to add to the type. The card’s format allows you to slide the Side B cards under the type card, leaving your choices exposed at the top and/or sides.

You can do this several times to build up a set of new factions for your campaign.

Faction Actions

Side A also includes a tool for determining what factions do in between phases of play. When “time passes” or a game has formal downtime, the GM can draw one (or more and pick one) to show what plots and operations the faction has set in motion.

If you need more details, the GM can randomize if the action targets another faction (1-4) or is aimed internally (5-6). If it affects other factions, roll randomly from your list of factions to see who it targets.

The action list has 30 options, each repeated once in the set. Notes: This material builds on the ideas of factions and their use in play, particularly from 13th Age, Blades in the Dark, Dresden Files Accelerated, Godbound, Green Law of Varkith, Urban Shadows, and World of Darkness.

CITY BUILDER TOOLKIT

This has tools for collaboratively building a fantasy city setting, primarily for classic fantasy games (Godbound, 13th Age, Blades in the Dark). Using this you can create your own fantasy city for games which come with a default location (Swords of the Serpentine, Dishonored). It works in conjunction with other world building tools like Microscope or The Deck of Worlds. 

Side A of the Cards has three blocks:

The first 40 includes

City Environment (Dimensional Crossroads, Glacier, Skyrealm)

City Geography (Arboreal, Labyrinthine, Walled Districts)

Threats & Disasters (Authoritarian Control, Mass Amnesia, Undead)

The next 30 includes

Magic Sources (Dreams, Fossilized Faeries, Paradoxes) 

Technology (Alien, Electropunk, Time of Revolutions)

The last 50 includes a set of details about magic, wizards, and arcane society which you can mix & match. 

Side B of the Cards has the backer, along with 120 different Unique Locations for your city. 

GMs can use this to generate a new city or entirely new setting. Even better, with the printed cards groups can use it to collaboratively build the world they want to play in.

For both the text is shared as Creative Commons Share-Alike Attribution 4.0. The material here is not AI generated and permission is explicitly not given for generative AI use. 

Both are also available on DTRPG-- and will eventually be available in a printed version on DrivethruCards.

[raeynbowboi]

How to Play as Apollo in DnD 5.5e (UA)

I've built Apollo once before but he was a build I really struggled with because his set-up had too many variables, and he pulled from too many different spell lists. While I provided two ways to build Apollo using the 5th Edition rules, both options left something out of his kit, failing to capture the full breadth of Apollo's abilities.

This build is using the rules from the new UA playtest rules for DnD 5.5 Edition (because nobody is still calling this 5th Edition, WoTC) released in Playtest Packet 6 on June 29th, 2023. The new rules made it much easier to build someone like Apollo with much greater ease.

PROTECTOR AASIMAR (+2 CHA, +1 DEX) NOBLE BACKGROUND (History, Persuasion) CHAOTIC GOOD ALIGNMENT

For his race, Apollo had to be either a Variant Human or an Aasimar. Aasimar gain the Light Cantrip, speak Celestial, gain a Healing Touch feature, 60 feet of Darkvision, resist Radiant and Necrotic damage, and he can take on a Celestial Revelation in the form of a Radiant Soul.

Gods are the highest form of nobility, and he's the illegitimate bastard of a King, so we'll call him a Noble for History and Persuasion. Apollo is the god of mathematics, and the muses that serve him govern things like history and geography, which I'd file under either History or Nature checks. Apollo is also regarded for being a charming deity, though most of his love interests end up not being into him and trying to run away from him. So, while I'll give proficiency with Persuasion but not expertise.

Apollo's official DnD alignment is listed as Chaotic Good.

BARD COLLEGE OF VALOR

ATHLETICS, MEDICINE, & PERFORMANCE LYRE, DRUM, & REED PIPE SHORTBOW & SHORTSWORD

Honestly, Apollo works with any of the four Bardic Colleges present in the Playtest material. He is known for his charms, he's quite knowledgeable, and he's the closest thing to a God of Dance in the Greek pantheon not including the Muses. However, I went with Valor because it gives him Extra Attack and Battle Magic. I gave him a shortbow because Longbows were invented in the middle ages and he's from Ancient Greece, but if all you care about is damage, then Longbow becomes available through the College of Valor as well.

OPTIONAL MULTICLASS

RANGER CONCLAVE OF THE HUNTER

Whether you want a 1 level dip for Hunter's Mark or are playing by Mulligan rules of two classes at a time, Ranger levels make Apollo better with his bow. There's also a few Ranger-exclusive spells Apollo can't pick up as a pure Bard like Conjure Barrage that more Ranger levels would allow Apollo pick up if the player really wanted them.

WARLOCK PACT OF THE BLADE

Any Blade Pact Warlock can choose to swing with CHA, allowing Apollo to prioritize his Charisma stat over his Dexterity. Dexterity is still useful, but if you're hoping for more feats, this gives Apollo a reason to neglect his Dexterity.

FIGHTER

As with the Ranger, the added Fighting Style and Weapon Mastery allows Apollo to do more with his bow than he could as a pure Bard. Champion would allow Apollo to crit more often, showcasing his masterful marksmanship, but Battle Master would let him show off his more strategic side.

STATS

POINT BUY STR 10 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 16

STANDARD ARRAY STR 10 DEX 16 CON 13 INT 8 WIS 12 CHA 16

LEVEL 20 (Standard Array with Resilient (CON) feat) STR 10 DEX 20 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 12 CHA 20

SPELLCASTING

At 1st Level, we'll choose the Divine Spell List to prioritize giving Apollo access to Healing, Radiant damage, and Divination spells. Later, at 10th Level, we'll get access to fire spells and archery spells from the Arcane and Primal spell lists as well. Let's look at Apollo's spell list at level 20. For this list, I'll be assuming that Apollo is a pure Bard.

C Booming Blade, Firebolt, Light, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying, Vicious Mockery 1 Burning Hands, Cure Wounds, Guiding Bolt 2 Augury, Scorching Ray, Shatter 3 Aura of Vitality, Daylight, Fireball, Spirit Guardians 4 Divination, Locate Creature 5 Contagion, Flame Strike, Mass Cure Wounds, Swift Quiver 6 Harm, Heal, Sunbeam 7 Fire Storm, Resurrection 8 Sunburst 9 Power Word Heal, Power Word Kill

BUILD PROGRESSION

At 1st Level, we choose the Divine Spell list and get 2 cantrips and 4 spells. We'll start with Sacred Flame and Spare the Dying, along with Cure Wounds, Detect Magic, Guiding Bolt, and Inflict Wounds. We also get a free feat at 1st level, and we'll pick up Tough to boost our HP to be more appropriate for a god.

At 2nd Level we get Exptertise in 2 skills. We'll choose Performance as the god of Music and Medicine as the god of Healing.

At 3rd Level, we'll choose the College of Valor for the reasons stated above, though Lore would be my second choice. If you go with the College of Lore, add Animal Handling, Intimidation, and Perception to his skill list.

4th Level comes with the first ASI or Feat option. While boosting our CHA and DEX is important and worth prioritizing, at some point during the build, we'll take Resilient (CON) to boost our CON from 13 to 14 and gain proficiency with CON saving throws, keeping the god of pestilence and medicine from getting sick as easily.

6th Level grants Apollo access to Extra Attack.

Then at 8th Level, Apollo gets another choice of ASI or a Feat.

9th Level gives Apollo expertise in two more skills and we'll add Athletics and History to his expertise skills.

At 10th Level, Apollo can start learning Arcane and Primal Spells as well, letting him pick up spells like Fireball and Swift Quiver.

With 12th Level comes another choice of an ASI or a Feat.

Our final subclass feature comes online at 14th Level, when Apollo gains the Battle Magic feature, letting him make a weapon attack as a bonus action after he casts a spell.

Another ASI or Feat becomes available at Level 16.

19th Level gives us our final ASI or Feat, and the last chance to pick up Resilient (CON)

At level 20, Apollo gets Words of Creation, granting him access to the 9th level spells Power Word Heal and Power Word Kill.

APPROPRIATE FEATS

If you rolled for stats and you got really lucky or your DM hands out feats as rewards, here's a little collection of feats Apollo would get some use out of.

Athlete

Fighting Style: Archery (If Multi-classed Fighter or Ranger)

Healer

Musician

Prodigy

Resilient (CON)

Sharpshooter (requires Longbow proficiency)

Skilled

Tough

War Caster (if not College of Valor Bard)

[writerblue275]

God I love my friends

I’ve mentioned this on my main blog, but one of my friend groups is doing a PowerPoint party at our friendsmas this year. Can be about any topic. I’m ranking a bunch of characters from Arcane (from least fav to most fav). I’m fucking proud of my presentation and I’m so excited to give it (says something because I HATE public speaking).

One of my former roommates from undergrad (and one of my other best friends) stayed at my apartment for a night this weekend while she was making her 12-hour drive home for the holidays. I got said friend into Arcane. She let me practice my presentation on her and omg it was so fun. A. She loved it. B. Her little commentary throughout (since it was just us two) even gave me more ideas for what to add to a couple slides lmao. C. I have a whole slide that is just a collage of Viktor photos before his ranking slide even comes up (because DUH HE’S MY #1.) and my friend ADORED IT (her #1 is also Viktor so we are very biased lmao).

Said friend also stumbled upon Heartsteel by accident (thank you Spotify algorithm) and was like, “WAIT THIS SLAPS” so I ALSO did a deep dive into the lore of each Heartsteel member as well as showed her their base skins compared to their Heartsteel skins. And I went through the MV with her and pointed shit out.

I feel so lucky to have friends who let me go on about my hyperfixations without judgement omg. And it was so fun to see my best friend when geography makes it so we don’t see each other much anymore. 😭

[ccohanlon]

castaway: an interview

Traveller and diarist C.C O’Hanlon spent most of the first half of his life at sea aboard a variety of vessels until marriage, children, and ill health held him ashore. He has come to think of himself as a ‘castaway’.

Now in his late 60s, C.C. is still as restless as he was in his youth. During the past decade he has wandered ceaselessly, from Australia to France, Germany, the U.K., Morocco, Italy, Ireland, and Spain. Recently, he has come to rest on the Salento Peninsula, in southern Italy, where he and his wife of 33 years, Given, are restoring a 200-year-old limestone village house.

C.C. was one year old when he first went to sea, a long voyage to Italy from Australia aboard an old Italian immigrant ship, accompanied by his parents. He became a qualified sea navigator in his early 20s. He funded the building of a small yacht of his own by delivering other people’s yachts and writing and photographing for UK and North American yachting magazines.

He has the hard-shelled demeanour, brawny bulk, and gnarled, bearded features of an old salt but C.C. is a surprisingly thoughtful, informed observer of nature and an expressive writer. Earlier this year, the respected Dutch publisher, Thomas Rap, announced that it had commissioned him to write a non-fiction book about the sea and his uncomfortable relationship with settlement and the shore.

It felt entirely appropriate that we should connect by email from seas at opposite ends of the European continent — me by the Baltic in Jurmala, Latvia, he by the Adriatic, in Puglia, Italy.

How did you become a castaway?

I stumbled ashore, somewhat damaged, in my 30s and let others convince me it was time to settle. Big mistake. I ended up rootless, a nomad, more unsettled than I had been at sea. I’ve been stranding ever since on a series of different shores.

Which has been your favourite voyage so far?

My very first passage alone in a very small yacht from the island of Jersey, in the English Channel, to Crosshaven on the south coast of Ireland, a distance of about 290 sea miles. This was in the mid ‘70s, before everyone had GPS. I had a couple of compasses, a wristwatch, a radio receiver, a barometer, and an old sextant I was teaching myself to use. Paper charts. Hardly any safety gear.

It wasn’t an epic voyage. I was very inexperienced. It took about three days. But when I finally made landfall, I felt like I had mastered some arcane craft, an ancient magic. I could find my way across a featureless sea.

What challenges are there in leading a life as a castaway?

For me, living close to the sea — being aware of its presence, being alert to its constantly changing state — and yet being frustrated, often, because I’m unable to actually get out there on it.

I miss voyaging.

What inspires you?

Unusual young people, like Hannah Lily Stowe, whom you’ve featured here. And certain solitary, rarely remarked upon, but rather extraordinary people who live (and voyage) at the margins, like Kris Larsen and Nick Skeates.

Also maps. Or, more specifically, nautical charts, maps of the sea. I have, maybe, a couple of hundred of them, many more than half a century old. I read them as I would a book.

A chart is a wondrous artefact.. At first glance, it’s just an annotated image of a stretch of water and its littoral, a repository of essential data. But a chart is filled with history, geography, oceanography, metereology and several hundred years of maritime lore and experience, all conveyed in a visual language that has evolved over centuries.

A chart can pique your curiosity about the physical world: the magnetic anomalies of the north-east Pacific, say, or the inshore canyons of the Atlantic coast of Portugal, which can form waves that reach a hundred feet in height. Or it might draw you into a real-life adventure up the Congo, the world’s deepest and maybe most mysterious river.

Is there a book about the sea that you would suggest to read?

There are two:

My childhood favourite was Arthur Ransome’s We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea, published in 1937. I wish more kids would read it these days and imagine themselves sailing the tiny Goblin without adult supervision across the grey North Sea.

The other is The Starship And the Canoe, an unusual double biography of a famed physicist who dreamed of designing massive, improbably powered rocket-ships and sending them on manned voyages to Mars, and his son who lived in a tree, in between voyaging in hand-built, sea-going kayaks along the north-west Pacific coast, from Canada to Alaska.

What does the sea mean to you?

Possibilities! Every encounter with the sea is different. Nothing there is fixed or immutable, nothing is ever the same. When you venture out into it, you can never be sure what to expect and that element of uncertainty — of expectancy, of risk — is at the heart of sea-faring.

The sea always provides powerful experiences, whether it’s excitement, wonder, awe, puzzlement, terror, misery, tedium, frustration, longing, self-doubt, deep satisfaction, loneliness, or enlightenment — but never quite when or how you might expect them.

You can never take the sea for granted — it might, after all, take your life — and whatever you get from it, good or bad, savour it, no matter what.

First published in The Sea Library magazine, Latvia, as part of a series, When I Grow Up, edited by Anna Iltnere, 2021.