#armored giant on war elephant

[cheemscakecat]

Humans are Space Orcs: War Elephants.

So in the age of the internet, even a random human in Alaska can find out what an Elephant’s personality is like. They have powerful memories that help them find water in the dry season; there’s studies that show how they find us cute. They’re usually only dangerous if they get into alcohol or some sort of drugs, or if something is threatening them. Including stupid tourists that won’t back off or shut up.

But in the age of Rome, in the ages when War elephants were a thing, and only people from those countries knew the personality of the beast, they were terrifying.

You see this creature for the first time as a random soldier, covered in armor and charging into battle like a living tank? Heck yeah, you’re scared.

Imagine how aliens from other worlds would feel if elephants didn’t exist there, or had long gone extinct so they weren’t taught about in school? You mean you trained them to do tricks in your circuses? Had vaudeville acts forcing an elephant to crawl on its knees like a human infant? And they just let you?

Which of course, would lead to the horrifying talk about breaking an elephants spirit when it’s a baby. Something that not all humans have heard about on Earth, even today.

There’s something awe inspiring about a 5 to 6 foot, 150 to 250 pound species learning to take advantage of a multi-ton giant savanna beast. Wait till the aliens watch Jurassic park.

[ninebaalart]

Covenant War Elephant

one of my girlfriends off-handily mentioned that there would be an elephant in halo 3 and I think she didn't realize that my immediate assumption would be that there would be a giant alien covenant armored elephant that you would have to take down like legolas from lord of the rings. since then, it's become a recurring joke that 343/bungie should add in a real elephant into halo

[loominggaia]

Heya, I was thinking on making a fanfic concept of a Total War game AU for Looming Gaia, and I just wanted to know if you had any specific military trivia (It’s alright if it’s a rough concept) for each of the great kingdoms, as well as the Feral Nymphs and Cult of the Crescent (Who would take over Yerim-Mor in the Total War AU)

Unfortunately I don't know anything about Total War, so please forgive me if this information isn't very useful (but if there is anything specific you'd like to know, please feel free to ask!). I will talk about the specialties, strengths, and weaknesses of each Great Kingdom military + some other factions. I'll also use a little RPG logic for simplicity's sake.

Folkvar: Medieval era technology + magic. Huge naval fleets of traditional wooden ships armed with magic cannons. Soldiers are armored in thick hides, furs, and chainmail that offer protection without slowing them down too much. Favored weapons are axes and hammers. Specialty units: mammoth-mounted soldiers. Sled-dog chariots. Pretty self-explanatory.

Matuzu: Medieval-era technology + magic. Extensive land control with diverse cavalry, mostly riding okapi. Diversity is their greatest strength, with a balanced mix of units from all over the world. Favored weapons are spears, crossbows, and magic staffs. Specialty units: Dolphin-mounted Aquarian mages and elephant cavalry.

Lamai: Advanced neolithic-era technology. Uses a lot of sneaky tactics like poisons and traps. Favor blowguns, magic spells, and siege weapons like catapults. Soldiers utilize powerful drugs to make them stronger and faster in battle. Specialty units: Medusa military captain that turns enemies to stone. Assassin blowgunner; a highly camouflaged soldier with nearly perfect aim, can fatally poison many enemies without being caught.

Yerim-Mor: Soldiers have inadequate armor and weaponry, but unmatched resilience and resourcefulness. Typical weapons are chipped swords, rusty kitchen knives, rocks, etc. On rare occaions they may be armed with industrial-era guns. Camels and horses are common mounts. Specialty units: Elite gazella, a fast gemsbok-mounted soldier armed with a polearm and skilled in hand-to-hand combat should they get dismounted. Rocback bomber, a roc-mounted soldier that drops huge explosives. The roc is only loyal to its original master and will go berserk if the master dies.

Zareen: Uses industrial-age equipment such as guns, tanks, battleships, and airships. Its equipment is mostly iron and powered by dirty fuel, so it's very heavy, unwieldy, expensive, pollutive, and prone to malfunctioning from time to time. Favored weapons are guns and hammers. Their "cavalry" drives trucks. Magic use is rare. Specialty units: Super soldier, a genetically-enhanced person wearing gas-fueled power armor. Ironjaw handler, a soldier accompanied by an incredibly strong genetically-enhanced dog.

Evangeline: Medieval era equipment. Excellent sky control with flying dragon-mounted soldiers. Also has a lot of horseback soldiers. Uses pure iron armor and weapons, which blocks direct spells and deals extra damage to fae, but slows the wearer down some. Swords and arrows are preferred weapons. Special units: Siege dragon, a giant flame-breathing dragon mounted by 6 dragoneers. It can destroy entire towns. Also has nymph mercenaries in its ranks, which are the only units that are permitted to use magic.

Mogdir: Purely arcane and natural technology. Mostly mages. Preferred weapons are magic staffs, wands, and enchanted arrows. Their culture forbids the use of animals for war, but giant insects are not considered animals, so they have cavalry mounted on giant grasshoppers and dragonflies. Specialty units: Beetle tank, a giant armored beetle mounted by 3 soldiers (it can’t fly, but moves quickly). Hornet cavalry, flying cavalry that rides giant hornets, which can impale enemies with their stingers.

Etios: Uses basic neolithic-era weapons and armor, but all soldiers are gaian and therefore very strong. Has a small population of magic-using soldiers as well. Favored weapons are clubs, slings, and spears. Specialty units: Jouster, a heavily-armored centaur with a wooden shield and long spear. Builds insane momentum as it charges and impales enemies, killing even the largest enemies instantly. Rock-master, a minotaur or ogre armed with a boulder on a rope, which it swings around to insta-kill many enemies at once. Only minotaurs and ogres have the upper body strength to wield this weapon to its full potential.

Seelie: Mostly fae and faery mages that use elemental spells, with drau and kobolds as infantry/meat-shields. Never utilizes necromancy. Favors staffs, bows, and animal thralls as weapons. Specialty units: Weefolk spies, tiny units (gnomes and pixies) that can easily gather intel and sabotage enemies without being noticed. Titania, the queen herself is basically a WMD that will enter the battle if things get dire and lob powerful spells around. Resurrects if killed, but has a long cooldown.

Unseelie: Mostly fae and drau soldiers that use enchanted swords, staffs, and undead thralls as weapons. Their army is chaotic and unorderly, often deserting and not following orders. Specialty units: Necromaster, a necromantic sorcerer that resurrects dead soldiers to fight again. These zombies will keep fighting so long as their body is in-tact enough to swing a weapon, but they cannot cast spells. This unit basically gives every other soldier a second life bar, and also adds every enemy killed to Unseelie ranks. It’s really OP, but it’s compensating for the fact that the rest of the Unseelie army sucks.

Damijana: Machine-magic technology. Soldiers mostly use elemental laser rifles or enchanted blades. Utilizes power suits, but they’re much sleeker than Zareen’s, trading protection for agility. Their tanks are lightweight but the cannons do heavy arcane damage (glass cannons, essentially). Specialty units: Jetter, a soldier dressed in sleek power-armor that flies around with a jetpack, may be armed with guns or heavy melee weapons. Cycle cavalry, soldiers mounted on hovering motorbikes. The bikes move incredibly fast, can turn on a dime, and have guns mounted to them. The downside is, their high speeds and lightweight frame mean crashes are almost always fatal.

Aquaria: Almost 50/50 mix of dorikori infantry and Aquarian/nymph mages. Unmatched water control, but poor land and sky control. Cavalry rides dolphins and hippocampi. Army cannot stray too far inland for risk of dehydration. Boosted speed in the water, speed penalty on land. Dorikori units always fight in coordinated pairs, making them doubly effective and almost impossible to evade. Industrial-age tech is forbidden. Specialty units: Globeholder, a large monster that can transport thousands of soldiers in its globe. It also has a devastating melee attack with its two tentacles, but if its globe is destroyed, it becomes useless. Whale jockey, a mage riding an enchanted whale (usually an orca or similar). The whale’s large size is great for crowd control and can be used to tip over ships.

Crescent Cult: An honorless, sadistic army whose cruelty knows no bounds.. They are cowardly in small numbers, but become more emboldened the larger their troop is. The more you whittle down their battalions, the more likely the rest are to flee. Their troops, weapons, and armors vary drastically, but they are always uniformed in red and black stripes. They have a lot of skorpius, undead thralls, and pyriads in their ranks. Almost all of their troops are male because they are too vicious to females. Their aggressiveness means they often deal damage to each other. Specialty units: Elite War Priest, a soldier wearing an enchanted mask that makes them more powerful and harder to kill. This unit no longer needs to eat or drink, and instead survives by eating the suffering of others. Can torture victims to increase its power. Agony cradle, a stationary unit that’s used as an ambush trap. If it contains a victim, it will passively heal any cultists nearby.

Order of Love and Light: A righteous army that hunts down the wicked. They fight with honor and mercy, occasionally converting enemies to their side. Their attacks deal extra damage to Crescent Cultists. Favored weapons and technology level varies drastically, but their main specialization is healing. Almost all Love and Light soldiers have medical knowledge or healing spells they can use to heal other soldiers nearby. The larger their troops, the harder they are to defeat because they just keep healing each other. The majority of their troops are female, which gives them penalties to physical attacks but a boost to loyalty. They will never desert each other. Specialty units: Master medic, a sorcerer who casts powerful AOE healing spells, which can instantly bring a large number of allies back from the brink of death. Hymnotizer, a mage who sings magical hymns that cause wicked-hearted enemies to destroy themselves.

Feral Nymphs: Angry nymphs who believe peoples are harming Mother Gaia, and it’s their mission to defend Her. They deal extra damage to commoners. They only use magic and natural weapons like sticks, clubs, spells, and enthralled animals. Their armor is also made of natural materials like wood, stone, or leather. They would be powerful if they were more coordinated, but they’re quite divided geographically, so they tend to attack in small troops or alone. They prefer to attack using less direct means, like causing storms, floods, or earthquakes. They are an all-female force, but they suffer no penalties to physical strength. They are hostile to all peoples, and even other nymphs who aren’t part of their faction. Specialty units: Titan nymphs, these are diverse units with a wide range of abilities for just about any situation. However, they are incredibly hostile, even to feral nymphs, and hard to control.

I hope this is at least a little bit helpful! I've been planning to completely overhaul the military articles for a long time, and I'd like them to have more info like this.

--

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[ramonag-if]

I Got A Couple Of Questions

1. Is There Divine Armor (In The Game) Or Was Given The Bloodguards Destructive Streak Destroyed.

2. Are There Any Divine Beasts.

3. Are There Terrifying Monsters Or Beasts In The Game Like The 7 Beasts Of Calamity Or Seven Deadly Sins, Or The Giant Elephant Snake Monster That Guards The Gates Of The Underworld In African Mythology.

4. How Would Irus And Salyra React To MC Being Pregnant With Irus's Kid Since Its Gonna Be A Hard Time For Both Of Them Given There In A War And All.

5. How Would Ro React To The MC Dressing Up As The God Of Death And Messed With Them Making Them Think They Died And Went To The Other Side. (It Would Be Pretty Funny If It Was Like When Conker Meet Death Aka Greg The Grim Reaper From Conkers Bad Fur Day) Just Speaking In A High Pitched Voice.

Not that I know of (I plan the basic scenes, but not small details like this so I can't tell you if it'll come up).

No, not in the current Age of the game.

The only beasts here are the Blood Guard.

Pregnancy won't come up in game but in the DLC, so it's not in the planned scope of the game's plot.

No one would believe this 😂 Gabus is very much real to those in the game world - Gabus is otherworldly and not at all mortal so no one would be fooled. It's good to keep in mind that Gabus doesn't look human at all. Atses is the most human looking, followed by Imteus and Ehulla. At most, the other characters would humour the MC or roll their eyes in disbelief 😅

[oldschoolfrp]

“Season’s Greetings from all the folks at Ral Partha and Hobby Game Distributors,” featuring some of their classic 25mm fantasy miniatures (Dragon 80, December 1983)

[theblackbookofarkera]

Obuak

Obuak is a monstrous beast from the Black King’s menagerie of terror. The beast is kept in the torture caves outside Ucal-Magdeosh whilst not at war where he is constantly tortured by his keepers to keep the monster angry and on edge. The height and width of a castle keep Obuak is a haunched over giant cyclops with thick skin covered in scars and patches of hair. When being deployed to the field he is donned with black iron armor covered in spikes and rending blades. Obuak is commonly used in sieges or when the enemy fields war elephants or other minty beasts to which Obuak shows no fear.

“Its cries of pain when being forced back into its cave ring with more than physical agony…they are the cries of a creature ashamed of what it is.”

-Or Baz Shema-Moses, Elorite scout

[djarinbarnes]

can I have number 8 with Mando, if you write for him?

Evanescent Sparks - The Mandalorian

8. Hands brushing unexpectedly.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

pairings: din djarin x female reader

word count: 1.8k

warnings: none other than the reader being an absolute klutz and an awkward, blushing mess

a/n: so this is basically Chapter 5 canon, which I've done a twist to... This is my first time writing for the Mandalorian.... Seeing I have little to no knowledge of the Razor Crest’s interior other than what I’ve seen in the show, I've just freestyled the things from the events of chapter 5...... I don’t even know if this is good, please don’t come after me, but HERE YOU GO I love you guys and <3 stay safe

a/n 2: I’m trying to quit using y/n, so don't mind me.

I don't own the Mandalorian, © Dave Filoni, Chapter 5, The Gunslinger

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

You remember clearly when you met him the first time. One day he was just there. At the hanger where you worked for Peli, along with her droids. You’d heard him from around the corner, that modulated voice insisting on no droids, and you immediately knew you had to investigate.

There was something interesting in the way the armor on his body caught the light of the dual suns of Tatooine. You’d heard about Mandalorians in the brief years of school, the stories of the Clone Wars still fresh in your mind. You hadn’t ever thought you’d see one in real life though, yet here he was.

You knew he had to be sweating under all that heavy beskar and the clothes underneath it. He didn’t say much though. He never really talked about himself, you noted. You watched him from afar when he took off on one of Peli’s speeder bikes.

“SPARKS!” you cringed at her tone, knowing you had a long night in store for you. You reluctantly made your way down to the center of the hanger, stopping dead in your tracks when the giant crest came into view.

“Holy shit.” You muttered under your breath, taking in the holes from apparent battle, the dripping of uncertain fluids coming from the exterior.

“We have a fuel leak among other things that needs to be fixed. He requested no droids, so it’s all on us, unfortunately.” You watch as she makes her way around the crest, her indicator constantly beeping as she points it to the aircraft.

“I’ll handle the leak first, then fill it up.” You mutter out, finding your welding tools before getting to work on the Razor Crest. You feel a hand on your arm just after finishing the weld, turning to find Peli standing in front of you.

“Don’t fill it all the way. He only paid us 500 credits.” You nod and push your goggles up to your hairline, wiping your brow with the back of your hand, the warm, dry air on Tatooine making you sweat more than you’d like. “You should really be careful next time, you know. Sparks can ignite fuel, you know.” Peli let out a laugh as your eyes widened.

“Dank farrik, oh my maker.” You laughed at your mistake, realizing you could’ve easily blown up the hanger. “I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry Peli.” You look at her apologetically, to which she just lets out another laugh.

“He’s something, I know that. A Mandalorian, here in my hanger… It’s crazy.” Peli makes her way into the makeshift kitchenette of her hanger. She comes back quickly with a cup of ruby bliel, handing it to you with a nod.

You quickly gulp down the gooey drink, relishing in the way it sated your thirst. With a nod, you move around the crest, welding over holes from the blaster fight it’d taken a toll in. You quickly locate all the holes, welding them quickly but efficiently, climbing the ladder way more times than necessary.

You were sweating buckets, your whole t-shirt soaked through under the dual suns. You jumped and slid down the ladder quickly, gliding to your feet with a heavy puff. You let Peli know that you were done, and that you were going to cool off.

Once inside the confinements of the living quarters, you pull off your soaked shirt, letting it fall to the floor with a dull thud. You pull out a wet, cold cloth from the cooler, dabbing it all over your bare torso to cool yourself down.

You find a clean shirt and pull it over your head, grabbing another cup of ruby to cool you further. You make your way to the doorway of the hanger, looking over the dusty terrain of your planet. You sigh in content before squinting your eyes, trying to see something in the distance.

It was almost never boring working and living with Peli. But sometimes, you did miss the rush of Mos Eisley. You could barely see the city from 3-5, but you could dream. Dream about the cantinas and the bustling life you left behind.

You turned after a few minutes, walking back to where Peli had sat down with her droids and started a game of sabacc. You knew Peli was a master at the game, which was why you never dared to challenge her. Yet you sat down across from her, watching as she laid in three bolts and a motivator.

You silently laughed, damn well knowing she was going to win the hand over those stupid, no-good droids. You watched as she threw around the cards, making the droids tilt their heads in her direction, clearly confused as to what she was doing.

Your ears picked up the sound of something you didn’t recognize. Your head whipped toward the crest, your head tipping to one side. “Peli?” you carefully spoke up, making her look at you. Then she heard it too.

“What is that sound?” You carefully asked, and she shrugged her shoulders, pointing to a droid and asking it to fetch her blaster rifle. You both got up and you reached over, grabbing your own small blaster, holding it in front of you as you both walked towards the crest.

“I’d stay in that ship if I were you!” you heard her yell, before you both lowered your weapons, your eyes landing on a small, green creature making its way out into the sunlight from the dual moons setting on the hanger.

It looked… sad? You and Peli gave each other a look, before both your heads snapped back to the crest, from the sound of the creature giving a little wail. You watched as Peli handed over her blaster rifle to one of her droids, before crouching down, slowly.

“It’s just a…. child?” you spoke softly as Peli lifted the thing off the gangway, arms stretched in front of her.

“Let Peli take a good look at you...” You heard her say before she turned, her eyes catching yours. “Alright, there we go… Did that bounty hunter leave you all alone in that big nasty ship?” you smile at her chosen words, listening closely as the child let out another small wail.

“What… is it?” you spoke softly, stepping closer to her.

“How do I know what it is? Give me a second!” she stared at you, before turning her attention back on the child in her arms. “Alright! Would you like some food? You hungry?” The child let out another sound, and you sighed, putting your blaster into the hands of one of the droids.

“You feed it; I’ll get back to work.” You said as you grabbed your toolbox, making your way into the crest. You welded up the holes in the hull quickly, before strapping the box over your shoulder to climb the stairs to the cockpit where, what you suspect to be the navigation log, has been beeping your ear off for the past half an hour.

You sigh when you finally enter the cockpit with both your hands over your ears, trying to keep out the brain-numbing noises that are way more prominent in the closed-off space. You light all possible bulbs in the cockpit quickly before locating the log and the red alarm button, that’s been going off.

You quickly lay down on your back under the panel, finding a few detached wires that may have set of the alarm. With swift fingers you untangle the wires from the main panel, before reattaching them to the navigation log. You grin when the beeping stops and push yourself from under the panel.

You rise from the floor and, unexpectedly, comes face to face with the dank farrik Mandalorian, startling you. You feel your heart pick up the pace of its beating, and you find yourself just standing there… Unable to do something. You hadn’t even heard him come in, and the crest was barely what you could call soundproof.

“I… I’m sorry, Mandalorian, I was just fixing some wires under the panel and…” you try to look everywhere but the helmet, where you’re certain a pair of eyes are judging you. “Um… excuse me…” you whisper quietly, before brushing past the statue of a man in front of you.

You stop in your tracks as you feel your hand glide over fabric, then finding a certain warmth you hadn’t expected. Skin? You stutter as you feel something that could go for electricity and take a step back, turning to face the elephant in the room, and finding that elephant to have discarded his fucking gloves. A blush creeps into your cheeks, and it makes you want to crawl into your own oblivion.

Was he allowed to do that? Possibly. You just hadn’t expected it. You had expected a pair of leather gloves, but they were nowhere to be found. You quickly made your way around him to grasp your toolbox, before quickly muttering out a sorry, leaving the cockpit faster than your own feet could carry you, causing you to drop your toolbox on the way down the ladder.

“Dank farrik!” you yell out, quickly getting your toolbox upright, before hurriedly pushing your things back into the metal box. You scurry out of the crest, hiding your reddened face from where Peli is sitting with the child. You didn’t need her to ask questions.

Once inside the, what you assumed to be safe space of the hanger, you quickly pour out the contents of your toolbox to rearrange everything the way you like it. It a fairly easy task, except when you come to the conclusion that you’re missing one of your favorite screwdrivers. You used it in the cockpit and you- fuck - you probably forgot it there in the midst of your trembling, blushing mess of an encounter with the Mandalorian.

“You forgot this.” You let out a yelp as the modulated voice speaks up behind you, startling you yet again. You turn and find him right there, in your hanger, screwdriver in his not-so-glove-covered hand, making you gulp down a fair amount of saliva that’s gotten caught in your mouth.

“Thanks.” You whisper before taking the tool from his hand, the warmth of his palm sending even more shockwaves up your fingers, though your arms and right into your heart. He had to notice the way your skin got clammy and your heartrate picked up, but he just turned on his heel and left the hanger, leaving you to think over what the fuck just happened.

[paperanddice]

Tlatusks are elephant sized, horse-like tundra dwelling beasts. They differ from horses however with their six legs and dense, shaggy, white hair that keeps them warm in the cold environment. Two curving horns sprout from the top of their head, and two sharp tusks protrude from their mouth. These fearsome weapons are actually tools used to dig up the often frozen ground of the tundra so the tlatusk may eat roots and tubers, but many predators give them a wide berth regardless as they are very deadly. When possible, frost giants will often capture and tame a tlatusk, using them as deadly beasts of war as well as burden to help carry the large amount of supplies a nomadic giant band requires to survive.

Originally from the 3.5 Frostburn book. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as a spot on the Paper and Dice Discord server, consider backing me there!

5th Edition

Tlatusk Huge beast, unaligned Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Hit Points 184 (16d12 + 80) Speed 50 ft. Str 24 (+7) Dex 11 (+0) Con 20 (+5) Int 3 (-4) Wis 12 (+1) Cha11 (+0) Senses passive Perception 11 Languages - Challenge 8 (3900 XP) Keen Smell. The tlatusk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell. Trampling Charge. If the tlatusk moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 16 (3d10) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the tlatusk can make one hooves attack against it as a bonus action. Actions Multiattack. The tlatusk makes two attacks: one with its gore, and one with its hooves. Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d10+7) piercing damage. Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6+7) bludgeoning damage. Bellow (1/Short Rest). The tlatusk unleashes an ear shattering bellow that can be heard for miles around. Each creature in a 30-foot cone must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is deafened and stunned for one minute. The target can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the stunned effect on a success. On a successful save, the target is deafened for one round and is not stunned.

13th Age

Tlatusk Huge 7th level troop [beast] Initiative: +8 Tusks and Horns +12 vs. AC - 65 damage Natural 16+: The tlatusk can make a stomping hooves attack against the target as a free action. [Special Trigger] Stomping Hooves +14 vs. PD - 35 damage C: Bellow +12 vs. MD (2d3 nearby enemies) - 40 thunder damage and the target is hampered (save ends) Natural Even Hit: The target is also stunned (easy save ends, 6+). Miss: The target is hampered until the end of its next turn. Limited Use: 1/battle, when the tlatusk is staggered or the escalation die is 4+. Crushing Charge: If the tlatusk moves before attacking an enemy it was not engaged with at the start of its turn, it can use stomping hooves on a natural 12+ with its tusks and horns attack. AC 21 PD 21 MD 17 HP 360

[gaangadventures]

Soulmates

Part One / Part Two / Part Three

Feel free to request!! c:

You used to meditate alone in the mornings, although after the Southern Air Temple, the airbender himself would start to join you. You thought it was nice and it had somewhat reminded you of how you had done the same with your brother.

But you had yet to find out what they thought of your scar, mostly keeping it covered with your armor. You almost hadn’t wanted them to find out either, since a firebender having a burn scar was practically unheard of.

However they may think of you, you at least wanted them on your side. Where else would you go now? Your brother thought you were a traitor, and your father had banished you years ago. Thinking of Zuko had brought a small frown to your face, even though you tried to keep your expressions neutral for the most part.

“You have no idea where you’re going, do you?” Sokka remarked, fiddling with the very same map that you had been tempted to burn on more than one occasion. Mostly because you couldn’t be bothered to read it.

“Well, I know it’s near water.” Aang answered, before turning to the lemur on his shoulder.“Momo, marbles please.”

At the moment, you had been attempting to help Katara with her sewing. Although it was mostly just her trying to teach you since you had never done it before. There had been no need for you to do so, and you never learned. “How does that work?” You muttered, mostly to yourself, biting the side of your lip in concentration.

“You’re doing it backwards.” Katara tried to explain, showing you how to start again, and you let out a huff of frustration.

“How does Sokka even get so many dumb holes in his pants?” You were almost ready to give up, but hadn’t really wanted to since the only other girl was actually starting to get along with you.

“Here, like this.” She tried one more time, and you had finally understood it somewhat. Attempting to patch it, you had actually managed to sew part of it, even if it did not look as good as what Katara had done.

“Hey Y/N, Katara, check out this airbending trick.” While continuing to sew, he attempted to catch your attention, but you knew that if you looked away from this, you would not be able to continue it.

“That’s great, Aang.” You spoke up, pulling the thread and tightening the patch.

“That’s really nice.” Katara followed, having not looked as well as you.

“Neither of you even looked.”

“That’s great.” 

“But I’m not doing it now.”

“You need to give girls space when they do their sewing.” He was in for it now.

“What does us being girls have to do with sewing?” She asked, and you could tell by the edge of her tone that there would be an argument and it almost made you want to laugh. The last argument you had gotten into with your own brother had actually been about his obsession with the avatar, and with that thought, you began to wonder if more siblings were like you and your own or more like Katara and Sokka. 

“Simple. Girls are better at fixing pants than guys, and guys are better at hunting and fighting and stuff like that. It’s just the natural order of things.”

“All done with your pants, and look what a great job we did.” You couldn’t help but laugh when she threw the pants and it had hit him in the face. He deserved that one.

“Wait! I was just kidding! I can’t wear these! Katara, please!” He pleaded, showing how bad the hole was by putting his arm through it. “Y/N?” You only shook your head, feeling oddly satisfied at this.

“Relax, Sokka. Where we’re going, you won’t need any pants.” Hearing Aang talk, your satisfaction had been replaced with concern.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” You asked, raising your eyebrow as your worry and concern only grew. “Aang, where are we going?”

“You’ll see!” You only got an excited response and a grin, and you hoped that this sort of thing was optional.

When Appa had landed onto the ground, you could safely say that you could sew a patch now and you were more excited over the fact that Katara was actually talking to you. Did she forget you were a firebender or something? You assumed so and it wasn’t like you liked to show off your ability much, if at all.

“We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn’t we get a little more flying done before we camp out?” The water tribe boy mentioned, as everyone was getting off of the bison.

“He’s right. At this rate, we won’t get to the North Pole until spring.”

“But Appa’s tired already. Aren’t you, boy?” At Aang’s sentence to his companion, he let out a low grunt. “I said, aren’t you, boy?” He repeated, lightly elbowing Appa, and the bison began to yawn.

“Yeah, that was real convincing. Still, hard to argue with a 10-ton magical monster.” Sokka spoke up, and you pet Appa before beginning to follow the rest of the group as they walked towards the water.

You had heard of these from your brother, but actually seeing the giant fish leap out of the water was another thing.

“That’s why we’re here--elephant koi, and I’m gonna ride it. Y/N, you’ve gotta watch me.” Once you realized just what he was doing, you immediately turned your gaze, your cheeks most likely turning pink. Did he not own a swimsuit or something? You did, but you had left yours back at the palace since you no longer needed it. That, and you had outgrown that one by now.

Your gaze was brought back to him however when you heard a splash and a “Cold!” Now seeing him on top of the elephant koi, you couldn’t help but be in awe. And also maybe a little jealous since you wanted to do that too and it looked so cool!

“He looks pretty good out there.” You commented, only for Sokka to put his two cents in.

“Are you kidding? The fish is doing all the work.”

“No, Appa! Don’t eat that!” You cried out, hurrying over to get the bison away from it, he was most definitely not supposed to be eating that.

“There’s something in the water!” Sokka yelled, catching your attention before you hurried back to the shore, listening to Momo chatter out his worries as well.

“What’s wrong?”

“Aang’s in trouble.” Katara informed you, and all three of you began yelling at him to come back. Whether he could hear any of you was another thing however.

It seemed like he didn’t quite understand since he waved at you guys before the giant koi had sent him flying into the water, only moments before another giant creature rose its large fin from the waters. What even was that? Once Aang could see it, he was quite literally running across the water. You were just glad that he had run into Sokka upon reaching the shore instead of you. That had to have hurt.

“What was that thing?” Katara was quick to ask, your gaze flickering from each sibling and then Aang.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, let’s not stick around to find out. Time to hit the road.” Sokka placed his input, and you were thinking of something to add to the conversation when all of you were overtaken before any of you could even try to use your bending.

Being blindfolded and having your arms bound at the same time was not a pleasant feeling.

“Or we could stay a while.” Sokka added to his previous statement, while you were thinking of ways to escape. You could burn your way through, but you weren’t sure just how many there were or if you could even get the others out. So for now, you supposed you’d let this play out while being practically dragged along by some strangers.

“You four have some explaining to do.” A man said, the four of you now bound to a pole that you were itching to burn. But you weren’t exactly up for hurting your companions, as your control wasn’t that great yet.

“And if you don’t answer all our questions, we’re throwing you back in the water with the Unagi.”

“Is that what that thing is called?” You couldn’t help but mutter, mostly ignoring whoever was talking. You couldn’t see them anyway.

“Show yourselves, cowards!” The water tribe boy shouted, before all of your blindfolds were taken off. Blinking your eyes to adjust to the light, you could see that they were all women with a similar uniform, and you bit your lip to keep most of your excitement from bubbling out. These were the Kyoshi Warriors! You had read about them after sneaking into the royal library one night and had accidentally stayed up too late that night, you had been absolutely dreadful at training the next day.

At the faint memory, you looked down at your covered wrist. It hadn’t left as bad of a scar as the latest one had, nearly limiting your range of motion.

“Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. All of you were meeting spectacular warriors, of course Sokka had to be sexist about it. How did Katara put up with him for so long?

“There were no men. We ambushed you. Now tell us, who are you and what are you doing here?”

“Wait a second. There’s no way a bunch of girls took us down.”

“I think you’re forgetting your sister is stronger than you.” You remarked, hoping to knock him down a couple pegs.

“A bunch of girls, huh? The unagi’s going to eat well tonight.”

“No, don’t hurt him! He didn’t mean it! My brother’s just an idiot sometimes.” Katara interrupted, while you hadn’t said anything in his defense.

“It’s my fault. I’m sorry we came here. I wanted to ride the elephant koi.” Aang spoke up, a mildly sad tone to his voice.

“How do we know you’re not Fire Nation spies? Even one of you is dressed like Fire Nation.” The man in blue mentioned, pointing at you.

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t exactly have any spare clothes.” You commented, your own voice holding a ruder tone than you had meant to. “I’m not a Fire Nation spy.” You carefully answered, having almost said that you weren’t Fire Nation, but that would be a lie. You didn’t agree with the nation and such, but it was your home. You couldn’t deny that part of yourself.

“Kyoshi stayed out of the war so far, and we intend to keep it that way.” You assumed the man was the leader of the island, and you couldn’t say you liked him much but you could at least respect him for not having hurt any of you. Yet.

“This island is named for Kyoshi? I know Kyoshi.”

“Ha! How could you possibly know her? Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She’s been dead for centuries.”

“I know her because I’m the avatar.”

“That’s impossible. The last avatar was an airbender who disappeared a hundred years ago.”

“That’s me.”

“Aang, now’s a good time to do some airbending.” You added, looking at both Sokka and Aang to make sure you weren’t touching either of them before closing your eyes and heating up your hands. You had to be precise with this.

“Throw the impostor to the unagi.” The leader cried out, and suddenly the ounce of respect you had for him was gone as the Kyoshi Warriors drew up their fans and you had very carefully burned the rope through without even setting the rest of it alight.

At the leader’s command though, the monk had broken out of the ropes by flying into the air and you slipped out of your own at the same moment.

“It’s true. You are the avatar.” The leader finally agreed as Aang floated down to the ground.

“Now, check this out.” He said, before grabbing the marbles out of his shawl and spinning them in between his hands without touching them, which you had to admit was pretty cool. And apparently the people of Kyoshi Island agreed, cheering for him, and even one guy was foaming at the mouth. Was he okay? You blinked, looking at the now unconscious man in concern.

You stretched, somewhat worried about what the people would do if they found out you were a firebender with a high status. Would you be cast out? Or would it be worse when they found your title? Princess Y/N, banished princess of the Fire Nation. They couldn’t use you for much, seeing as you were banished, your father wouldn’t accept a ransom. Practically trapped in your thoughts, you hadn’t noticed when everyone else was awake after a night in one of the empty houses on Kyoshi.

You also hadn’t noticed that you had started pacing some time ago, your gaze switching from the floor and to the statue of avatar Kyoshi being repainted.

“All right! Dessert for breakfast! These people sure know how to treat an avatar. Mm! Y/N, you’ve gotta try these.” Aang exclaimed after a few people had brought over practically a feast of pastries, and he was quick to try a few as they left. Katara was hesitantly tasting a puff of some sort on his left. You weren’t even sure if your stomach could handle anything yet, as you had been bubbling with nervousness, but you caved at his look.

“Maybe just a bite.” You answered, carefully sitting at his right before reaching and taking a puff that looked somewhat similar to what Katara had picked up. You glanced over at the rest of them before taking a bite and being pleasantly surprised at the taste of it.

“Sokka, what’s your problem? Eat!” 

“I’m not hungry.”

“But you’re always hungry.”

“Since I’ve known you, you’ve complained more about food than anything else. Are you that upset about being beaten by girls? My sister and I used to beat my brother all of the time.” You spoke up, making sure not to talk with any food in your mouth. 

“They snuck up on me.” Sokka retorted, only for his sister to mouth off as well.

“Right, and then they kicked your butt.”

“Sneak attacks don’t count. Tie me up with ropes.. I’ll show them a thing or two.. I’m not scared of any girls. Who do they think are, anyway?” Sokka exclaimed, before beginning to leave the room muttering to himself, then promptly turning around to grab a few desserts.

“What’s he so angry about? It’s great here. They’re giving us the royal treatment.” With that, you held back a wince. You did not want to be a royal anymore, not that you really did in the first place.

“I disagree. I think I prefer camping out in the woods.” At least then you wouldn’t have to worry about failing your firebending training or if you’d done too well to the point of upsetting either sibling.

“Hey, don’t get too comfortable. It’s risky for us to stay in one place for very long. Especially with Y/N and her brother on our trail.” At Katara’s comment, you only nodded in agreement, although you were saddened at the thought of your last meeting with your brother.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Besides, did you see how happy I’m making this town? They’re even cleaning up that statue in my honor.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you excited about being the avatar. I just hope it doesn’t all go to your head.”

“Come on, you know me better than that. I’m just a simple monk.” He said, standing up and looking out through the open window, immediately hearing girls cheer. 

As he left the house, he had been chased around by his fangirls while you had been helping Katara ready with things she was more accustomed to. Holding a jar as she picked out the ingredients wasn’t difficult, you thought as Aang had managed to excuse himself from his fangirls for a moment.

“Hey Aang. Can you help carry this back to the room? It’s a little heavy.” Katara asked, while you just bit your tongue to keep from saying anything rude.

“Actually, I can’t right now.”

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“I promised the girls I’d give them a ride on Appa. Why don’t you two come with us? It’ll be fun.”

“Watching you show off for a bunch of girls does not sound like fun.”

“Well, neither does carrying your basket.”

“It’s not my basket. These supplies are for our trip. I told you, we have to leave Kyoshi soon.”

“I don’t want to leave Kyoshi yet. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something I really like about this place.”

“Oh, I could tell you what it is.” You muttered, eyes narrowed at the mob of girls already forming not too far away.

“What’s taking you so long, Aangie?” One of them yelled at him, and if you were almost tempted to throw a ball of fire at her. That was your soulmate she was talking to like that!

“Aangie?” Katara asked, and you were so very glad that she happened to be saying pretty much everything that you wouldn’t.

“Just a second, Koko.” He turned around, giving her a smile and a wave.

“Simple monk, right?” You remarked, before forcing yourself to somewhat relax upon seeing a bit of steam coming from your hands. You had to be calm before you set something ablaze, but at least you were practicing your self-control lately.

“I thought you promised that this avatar stuff wouldn’t go to your head.” Katara said

“It didn’t. You know what I think? You two just don’t want to come because you’re jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what?” You almost scoffed, although you were pretty sure that he had hit the nail right on the head there. 

“Jealous that we’re having so much fun without you.” Aang responded, but you hadn’t said a word this time.

“That’s ridiculous.” Katara agreed with you, placing one more ingredient in the heavy jar.

“It is a little ridiculous, but I understand.” Aang said, causing you both to huff and walk off, heavy jars in each of your arms.

Heading back to the room, the two of you put the jars not too far from the entrance so that you wouldn’t have to carry it too far when the group would leave.

“He was right, wasn’t he?” Katara coolly commented, leaving you to almost babble in surprise, before ultimately giving up.

“Yeah.” You answered shortly, letting her speak as you began your stretches as she started to practice with her waterbending.

“Is it his name on your wrist?” To which, you nodded, taking a layer of clothing off as you finished them and began your firebending training.

“I doubt it’s my name on his though.” You admitted, feeling like you had actually managed to make a friend without either Azula or Zuko being friends with them first. It also happened to be the first time anyone had seen the majority of your scar apart from the physician.

“Y/N, when did that happen?” Katara asked, a bit of concern seeping into her tone for her newfound friend, once she could see the extent of your scar that covered your shoulder and all the way down to your right wrist.

“It happened three years ago.” You said, feeling a bit of shame for being a firebender with a burn scar, but mostly anger at what your father had done to both of you because the two of you disagreed with him in different ways.

“Oh spirits. . Y/N.. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry that happened.” You weren’t sure what she was thinking of when she fell quiet.

“Hey, Katara, it’ll be okay.” You murmured, before continuing, unsure of whether or not you should hug her.

“Can I ask, who did this?”

“My father. But I left, and I don’t plan on going back.” You answered, stiffening for a moment when she hugged you, not having expected it.

As you each turned back to your training, having bonded more than either of you expected, in walks the avatar himself.

“Y/N, remember how the unagi almost got me yesterday?

“Yeah.” You answered curtly, creating a flame in your hand as you balanced yourself on one leg. This was about control, and you needed to practice. You made the fire curl like as if it was water around your hands.

“Well, I’m gonna go ride it now. It’s going to be real dangerous.”

“Good for you.”

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“Nope, have fun.” 

“I will.”

“Great.”

“I know it’s great.”

“Well, I’m glad you know.”

“I’m glad you’re glad.”

“Good!”

“Fine!” The two of you bickered back and forth, your own flame growing in size but before you lost control, you dispelled it so you could calm down.

“Are you sure that it’s not your name on his wrist?” She teased, your cheeks growing hotter as you dropped your flame again.

“I’m sure!” You exclaimed, although you hoped that she was right.

“Okay, then go see him when you’re done and see how he reacts, and I won’t be going.”

“He likes you, not me, Katara.” You remarked bluntly, glancing over at her to see her just shaking her head. You would go to see him alone, and you’d be proven right, of course.

You always liked to be right, and this would be no different. Or maybe you just couldn’t imagine someone liking you for you. You shook your head at the thought of it. Now you couldn’t focus, and you ended up leaving earlier than you usually would have finished your training.

You ended up arriving at the shore just in time as his fangirls were leaving, secretly being quite satisfied with that fact, not that you would admit that.

“Y/N, you showed up!” You noticed that he happened to be quite excited, but you chalked it up to it just being because you were his friend.

“Yeah, I wanted to make sure you didn’t get eaten or anything. I was worried.”

“Back there you acted like you didn’t care.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. I did let all that attention go to my head. I was being a jerk.”

“Alright jerk, now get out of the water before you get sick.” You joked, knowing that he wouldn’t take that seriously.

“On my way!” He yelled back, before swimming back as you noticed the unagi behind him. Within moments, the creature had caught up with him, lifting him out of the water on its scales only to spray water out of its mouth at him, but you noticed he was at least alive when he was screaming and holding onto its whiskers, being flung around like a ragdoll. You hurried towards him when he had finally let go, landing in the water. For a moment you wished you could bend water instead when you grabbed onto him and the unagi leaned down to see you, but you shot a ball of fire at it. You missed and it was quick to spray where you were, creating a wave and knocking the both of you backwards.

The two of you had been lucky when you washed up a bit behind rocks, having a natural cover, and the serpent hadn’t seen you. Upon looking out at the sea again, you could see the metal Fire Nation ship and you instantly knew it was Zuko’s. Skillfully hiding behind some rocks as komodo rhinos walked onto the island, you moved Aang to wake him up.

“Y/N. .” He coughed out, while you let out a breath of both exasperation and relief. “Don’t ride the unagi. Not fun.”

You had been quick to help him up onto his feet and head back to the town, 

“Hey avatar, these little girls can’t help you now.”

“Hey, over here!” Aang yelled out to your brother, as you tried your best to control the flames burning the houses. He kept him distracted as best as he could, and you couldn’t help the village as it began to burn down, with even the repainted statue of Kyoshi burning.

“Look what I brought to this place.”

“This isn’t your fault.” 

“Yes, it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me.”

“Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us if we leave. I think it’s the best way.” You attempted to comfort him, while you were helping Katara keep kids away from the flames.

“I’ll call Appa.”

The three of you and Momo were on Appa, helping Sokka onto the bison, as you glanced down at the flames and you could see your brother in it all. You probably wouldn't have noticed, had it not been for his hair.

“I know it’s hard, but you did the right thing, Aang.” You spoke up, noticing the look on his face. “ Zuko would have destroyed the whole island if we stayed.”  You couldn’t help but think that it was partially your fault, remembering the betrayed look on his face when you had gone against him and helped the avatar. Blinking the memory away, you quickly saw him jump off of Appa, simply falling into the water only to come out riding the unagi. Letting your shoulders drop for a moment, you couldn’t say you were entirely surprised when he used the serpent’s ability to spray water to help the village.

You were at least glad when he jumped back up and Appa had managed to catch him just in time.

“I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous.”

“Glad to know you’re learning.” You said as he came back, before giving him a momentarily awkward hug.

[valhahazred]

The fifth in a series exploring the popular modern folklore of cryptozoology and what Mythos forces may have inspired it.

Water monsters

If any cryptid is discovered to literally exist, precisely as described by legend and folk-lore, it will probably be a water monster. The ocean is a big place and it's easy to believe we could miss a large animal in the lightless depths.

That said, the physical evidence for sea serpents is just as dubious as it is for any other cryptid, with a lack of clear photos and any biomaterial turning up inconclusive at best and known animals or hoaxes at worst.

Water Horse

Typified by its relatively stocky build and a horse-like head with a mane and/or short horns. Water horses once seemed ubiquitous amongst sea and lake monsters but have been largely replaced outside of a few stubborn hold outs, such as the Loch Oich monster.

Plesiosauroid

Relic plesiosaurs are definitely one of the most iconic cryptids, with their humped back, four diamond shaped flippers and curving swan-like neck. Funnily enough, paleontologists do not think that prehistoric plesiosaurs could lift their necks at an angle like that. Either their modern descendants evolved to more easily stretch out of the water or the plesiosauroids are actually a completely different animal exhibiting parallel evolution.

Or they’re the ghosts of sauropods.

Super Eel

These immense serpents are common sights amongst sea monsters although they range wildly in detail. Super eels have been described as literally just giant eels or similar fish, elongated crocodilian reptiles and something like a basilosaurus.

Many-finned

Described as a long serpentine creature with a segmented armored hide, a dozen fins and in at least one sighting, a walrus-like head. A similar serpent with a distinctly arthropod appearance known as the con rít (centipede) has been sighted in the waters around vietnam.

Not all sightings can be neatly classified however.

A serpent sighted in Cape Sable, Nova Scotia in 1976 was certainly an odd one. It is said that it was built like a 50 foot sea horse, with greyish snake-like skin covered in barnacles. The strangest part was its head, which witnesses described as something like a crocodile's but tusked and having huge bloodshot red eyes that projected out of the skull on stalks!

Kaunuzoth, the glowing thing of Moore Lake

Members of Glaaki's slug-like species can be found in freshwater lakes all over the world, resting from their interdimensional journeys. Kaunuzoth is one such entity, albeit a particularly strange one.

Something really has been seen in the Moore Lake Reservoir. In 1968 a trio of youths (known only as Michael, Richard and Cindy) were having a midnight fish at the side of the lake. Around 2 in the morning one of the fishers noticed a red glow in the water about a quarter mile away before it disappeared. At first they remained unconcerned but suddenly all the night noises ceased and they noticed the glow was back, only 30 feet from the dock. They claimed that the red glow they noticed was a pair of eyes, set in a white crocodilian skull. But what really scared them is that there was something else out there, something huge that loomed in the darkness behind those glowing red eyes. As the crocodile-like head surged towards the dock they raced back to their car and fled the area, leaving their supplies behind. As they looked behind, they noticed the red glow filling the water around their abandoned dock. The local police investigated, although they found nothing but the remains of what seemed to be a feast of raw horned trout.

Other people have seen the red glowing eyes or were plunged into a stifling silence but nobody has reported seeing the huge thing in the darkness since.

Bokrug, the Great Water Lizard

Bokrug is one of the small gods, a native to Earth’s Dreamlands. Bokrug was once a greater and more active god but when his people, the Thunn'ha of Ib, were destroyed he was made lesser for it. He spent 1000 years gathering strength for his final revenge against the perpetrators and nearly spent the last of himself in their destruction.

Now he sleeps at the bottom of his lake, with only the shades of Ib to keep him company. Very little could persuade him to come to the waking world but there are a few things that could awaken his ire enough to make the trip.

The Covington family are old, old money. Descended from british nobility, their family has traditionally lived in a palatial estate in the english countryside and they want for nothing. Lately however, their fortunes appear to have changed. The Covingtons are dropping like flies and the servant staff has fled. Rumours abound of ghostly figures seen wandering their land and a serpent has been seen in the nearby lake, each time coinciding with the death of a Covington. Lord Covington is desperate for this to stop and has spared no expense in bringing all manner of Investigator to the estate.

However, he hides a secret from those who would help; in the secret history of their family they came from a city called Sarnath in the country of Mnar, a place that has never appeared on any map of any age. They fled some ancient disaster with the treasures of that land and used it to buy their nobility. Their ancestors sent forward a warning, to stay far from water, to fear the Great Lizard and to anoint the “shard of Ib” with blood every 10 years. Lord Covington never believed that superstitious twaddle and when his father died a decade ago, he sold the stupid thing on auction.

Chaugnar-Spawn

One of the more out-there theories hanging over the loch ness monster is that it is in fact a swimming elephant, either having escaped from a zoo in the 1930s or perhaps even stranger, a hidden species of pachyderm native to western Europe. Perhaps they’re on to something?

While not at all elephants, the vampiric entities known as the Chaugnar-Spawn do closely resemble them and share some anatomical features. Just like an elephant the Chaugnar-Spawn can use their trunks as a snorkel while swimming!

The advancement of humanity has driven the Chaugnar-Spawn out of their traditional hunting grounds, into deep woods and jungles and more insidiously, beneath the waters of the world. So much of human civilization is located on the shore it is very convenient for a semi-aquatic predator looking to snatch some easy prey.

Byatis

The serpent bearded Byatis, 3rd god of divination. Lore of Byatis is widespread but light on detail, with only the 3rd volume of the Revelations of Glaaki having any real information.

In regards to its supposed relation to Cthulhu and the Star Spawn, human authors were actually more accurate than they usually are in claiming such things. While Byatis is neither a star spawn itself or any kind of “water elemental” it is a member of another species that calls the stellar corona of Xoth home. It came to Earth with them, hitching a ride as the remora does the shark.

Byatis is adept at a form of astral projection that is massively disruptive to local subspace conditions, awakening spirits and drawing residual psychic impressions (also known as a stone-tape haunting) from both past and future. Its projections can even manifest in a smaller, ectoplasmic form in these zones, the spidery toad-like spirit giving rise to the legend of the Berkeley Toad.

Yith-Parrallel Aquaform

Although their technology often resembled it, the Yith did not have much use for magic. In their eyes the whims of greater powers can't compare to the reliability of rune circuitry, psychic metal and atomic power. Things changed when the time came that the Polypous Ones broke free of their ancient prison to war against the Yith. Some radical thinkers (not coincidentally many of them deemed unworthy of braincasting forward in time) turned to the occult lore so far only recorded for historical posterity. With the aid of an unknown entity (or entities) these Yith escaped sideways onto another earth, one where the Elder Things never landed, where the Polypous Ones were never born and the biosphere grew independent of the Shoggothim.

Now they are back in this instance of Earth. Perhaps they have been for millennia, watching and waiting. But for what? Are they merely following in the footsteps of the ancient Yith and observing for anthropological purposes, or is the presence of their aquatic spies a sign of some more nefarious goal?

\\------------------------------------------------------------------//

Wow, that felt like it took a million years to write! Turns out there aren’t that many fun conspiracies around sea serpents for me to bounce off of.  

Also, I’ve been addicted to Among Us!

[crossoverworldtree]

Cybertronians (Variable Quality)

An alien species created by the Elder Things, the race is divided into two factions: the Autobots and the “True Cybertronians” (usually, the slur “Decepticon” is applied to them). They are often quite large and dangerous because of many built-in weapons.  

A Basic Transformer is roughly human-sized and can imitate things that are roughly a square yard in size. This could be a home entertainment setup, a large stereo system, large desktop computers, or a go-cart.  Some even take human form and are dubbed “Pretenders.”  To take a shape, they need to scan it into their system. Once done, they can call it back as needed.  Shifting shapes takes 1 action, scanning new ones takes 10 Rounds/1 Minute, reduced by 1 round/6 seconds for every level of Intelligence the Transformer has. While in that shape, they have the physical attributes and abilities of that machine if they are greater than their own native ones, but no more than +5 at most.  Still, they are a bit ‘more’ than what they imitate.  A go-cart will go very fast, a TV can show more channels, etc.   Being able to mimic biological entities increases the cost of the quality by 1, but they can often make the mistake of copying something with a far different mass – making giant bugs or tiny elephants. This ability works like Cloak of Beasts but uses Willpower + Mr. Fix-It (or Science for Organic Mimicry) + 3 to scan a new form in.  -8 for something that flies, and -10 for an aquatic machine.  They cannot, however, alter their mass overall. Once the change is made, it simply takes an action to achieve.

Cybertronians have the Robot Quality (and may raise their attributes to Superhuman levels), an Armor Value of 5, and Increased Life Points +20, and can operate without issue in the vacuum of space.

On the negative side, they have 2 distinct weaknesses.  Super-hot weapons and electrical attacks .  A simple fire or basic homemade flamethrower won’t do, it’d have to be HEAT rounds, direct energy weapons, thermite, military-grade flamethrowers, etc.  Basically, if it deals more than 5 damage per hit/success level, it triggers the weakness. Beams and Plasma really wreck them.  In these cases, the damage multiplier after armor is increased by 1 (minimum 2).  Electricity-based attacks have 1/5th their armor, deal double damage, and negative effects from having their system ‘fried’ like that are doubled.  The constant state of civil war amidst the species, and their ability to anger other space-faring races through their constant covert and overt wars, earn them Adversary 5 no matter if they are neutral or a commander in the armies.  In their ‘native’ form, they are definitely not human, and they tend to hold a prejudice against organic beings due to how ‘fleeting’ they comparatively are (Mild Delusions – “Organics are gross!”).

A Basic Transformer is a 12 Point Quality.  13 if they can take organic shapes.

Some transformers are smaller, about 1 to 2 feet tall.  Small transformers have ½ damage from falls, have +3 to hit, a +1 to avoid ranged attacks, and a +1 to hit larger foes.  However, their life points are halved, and the damage they do in melee combat is also reduced by half.  This increases the cost of the quality to 14 or 15 points.   These are often called “Minicons.”

Most transformers, however, are larger.  

A transformer that can take the shape of a motorcycle has an added +5 to Strength, +20 Life Points, and +1 Armor Value.  This type of Transformer costs 17 Points, 18 if they can take organic shapes. They stand 7 to 9ft tall.

A transformer that can take the shape of a sedan or pickup truck has an additional +15 Strength, +100 Life Points, and +3 Armor Value.  They also suffer a -4 to Dodge, and attacks on the character have a +2 to hit. This sort of Transformer costs 27 Point Quality.  Or 28 if they can take organic form, though their options are limited and most do not. They can stand 15 to 20ft tall.  This is the most common type of Transformer. 

The leadership of the species tends to be 30 to 40ft in height.  In addition to the normal base Transformer quality, they have +16 Strength, +200 Life Points, and a +5 Armor Value.  On the negative side, they have a -5 to Dodge, and attacks against them have a +3 to hit.  These can become Humvees, 18 Wheelers, or even tanks, jets, and helicopters.  This variety of Transformer costs 32 Points.

Extra weapons (Natural or implanted ‘supernatural attacks’) and armor are bought separately.  

Transformers WERE from a Kardashev Type II civilization, but the constant Civil Wars over the last several hundred millennia has knocked them down a lot.  The best they can manage is Kardashev Type 1 (Medium) for the most part, purchased separately (3 Points).

[beautifulterriblequeen]

I’m really intrigued by Rayla’s moonshadow assassin peers. I especially am interested in Andromeda because I think she is the only other girl in the group? Do you have any headcanons in how these teen/young adult assassins interacted? Do you think Rayla isolated herself from them because she was always iffy about taking a life? Also TDP finally colored their map and I know you live maps, find any new cool stuff? I especially love how there’s a frozen sea north and a spinning sea south, imagine the powerful Magic’s that channeled to make them.

Okay, so I jumped straight to the map, did 80% of it, and wandered away for a few weeks. I apologize, anon. Let’s get this going again:

I’ve got a few headcanons on the Moonshadow assassins! It seems likely that they hang out mostly with each other, when they hang out, to reinforce their teambuilding and to give them some socialization, since assassins tend to keep others at arm’s length. So I kinda figure they tend to roam as a pack on their evenings out in the village, if they’re not married to a non-assassin like Runaan is.

I think that could be part of the reason that Rayla might not have hung out with the others as much, too: Runaan wanted to be either training or at home with Ethari, so Rayla probably spent a lot of time doing those things just because he did them. And when Runaan was doing more serious training or missions, that’s when Rayla had her free time to run around the forest and make adoraburr friends. 

Runaan could’ve probably insisted that she do something more assassiny with her free time. Shadow an assassin, do more studying, practice certain prescribed skills on her own. But he didn’t. He let her play. Soft assassin is soft!

Listen, anon, I have a fun headcanon for you about Andromeda--and by fun, I mean it’s really angsty half a second after you start thinking about it. Ready? 

What if: Andromeda is Runaan’s half-sister. If they’re both Lujanne’s children by different assassin dads who kept dying in battle, but a Moon mage needs an assassin leader partner to defend Xadia with, and Lujanne knew her son Runaan wasn’t old enough to lead yet, so she burned through three or more husbands protecting him until Runaan was well trained enough to lead the assassins himself and had fallen in love with a mage who adored him and would be his partner in her place.

 Andromeda looks a fair bit like Lujanne, too:

Along with Runaan, they all have long hair, side tails bound in silver cuffs, and some form of braids. Andromeda’s hair is sectioned in front similarly to Runaan’s. Her accent sounds more British than Scottish, though she only has the one line: My eyes for truth. And Lujanne and Andromeda are the only two Moonshadow elves we’ve met who have medium blue horns, while Runaan’s are dark blue. Almost everyone else’s horns have purple or pink as their base color.

But then, see, Andromeda went on Runaan’s mission, and she died. Her spirit was the most aggressive in TTM, usually closest to Rayla with her sword out, as if she hated Rayla the most. If she had a vested family interest in Runaan’s mission succeeding, and then it went pear-shaped because of Rayla, that would make sense.

No matter if she’s related to Runaan or not, she’s wearing horn cuffs, so she was in a dedicated relationship of some kind, and that’s so sad. Someone’s missing her the way Ethari’s missing Runaan. :’((((

Anyway, it’s just a headcanon, but since you asked, there ya go.

Okay, on to my thoughts on the map, of which I have a normal and healthy amount:

The Map Border: 

Everyone doodles in the borders. I love to see what they put there.

Starting in the upper left and going counter-clockwise, the five human crowns are cool

Cornucopia swirls center left look like an homage to Cabbage Man from ATLA

Bait is staring at Evenere. his home? Or maybe he just wants to eat the dragonfly on its logo

Human defender has a beard. Hairagorn. He's very heavily armored but has no helmet. Long hair is braided to rest on front of shoulder, like the blond elf in the painting at the Moon Nexus. Old timey hairstyle?

He’s defending Katolis Castle specifically. I wonder if the little white building is kinda random or if it’s supposed to represent the Banther Lodge. Nah, I have a better guess: that’s where Viren grew up

The crack in the map looks meta. It's been repaired somewhat. Makes me wonder if it's an in-world map, whose, who ripped it, and who fixed it. Sir Phineas Kurst seems like the kind of guy to almost shred his really cool map

The star behind Zym's egg has seven points

The two ships on the southern waters are western and eastern respectively. Tidebound elves from Singapore? Jack Sparrow would be proud

There is land just south of the Dragontail, wonder what’s there?

The leaves around the human figure are small and numerous while the Moonshadow elf has fewer but bigger leaves

The elf is standing in the way of one of the six leaves growing out of the rune rose and that leaf's curly tip seems to have been replaced with a curl of the elf's very long hair

The human pose is more offense and the elf pose is more defense. But the elf has two swords, and one has some wicked hooks in it.

Elf has 4 fingers instead of 3 so whether it’s in-universe or meta, they were drawn by a human :DDD

The elf's braid winds around their horn and I think that's clever

High collar shirt under protective layer, bracers and elbow gloves, bare biceps, complex shoulder getup, ornate hair that's butt long and partly braided, two long slightly curving swords... horn cuffs too. This is a Moonshadow assassin in the same gear Runaan's got, poised to defend the Xadian half of the map as the human is poised to defend his side

The rune rose isn't a compass. It has a two sided pointer and six primal runes. Just decorative I guess. ;)

More lettuces on right center.

Maybe a portaling caterpillar on the center knot? Little bug pal, I see you

“The Five Human Kingdoms” lettered in red, “Xadia” in blue. Giving me Stratego flashbacks. Even the flowers on their banners are color coded

Banners in the corners are similar but Xadia has more fluttery tips

Thunder drawn all attacky top center, does he have anything to do with the Frozen Sea being frozen?

Compass rose under Thunder’s wing

Dick island near the compass. Well, Duren is the breadbasket of the human lands. A most excellent cartography joke! 10/10 would chortle wholesomely again

The Human Kingdoms:

Neolandia

Capital Eboreus seems to be a lake city below a mountain and I'm here for all the Lake Town refs. 

It's also the eye of the elephant shape

Not a lot of trees, mostly grasses or desert. Only borders Duren across a couple rivers/estuaries/sea channels

Heart shaped island next to elephant trunk

Land generally broken into several sections by sea/rivers 

If it’s rivers, they seem to generate from the capital’s lake and flow in several directions. And they say there’s no magic left in the western lands! ;)

But if there was exactly one source of freshwater in a desert land, it makes sense that you’d find a way, magical or mechanical, to spread that lifegiving water in as many directions as possible so your people can thrive so kudos to Neolandia’s ancestors/Tidebound elves/whoever managed that, it’s brilliant

I can and will make up explanations for anything on a map. I adore worldbuilding

Del Bar

Two named locations. Since Del Bar’s national symbol is a serpent, I guess Serpentongue is the capital.

Hinterpeak is a sweet name. Looks like Helm's Deep with that retaining wall. What’s it for? Are there dwarves in this land? Is it an Earthblood stronghold? Maybe it’s like the Mines of Moria, and the Earthbloods were chased out and/or killed inside and now it’s full of nasty orcses but someone left a MacGuffin down there so *nudges hero* Off you pop.

Nice forests around the southern mountain range but northern DB is more arid or grassy lands like Neolandia. 

Considering that crops grow well in Duren, which is farther north, I assume there is a massive meteorological gyre over the human lands, with a southern wind blowing down over the western realms and keeping them icy until the mountains of Hinterpeak block and divert them, protecting Evenere. The winds don't blow eastward without warming right up-- and causing thunderstorms in Katolis how about that-- because there is a warmer side to the gyre over Katolis and Duren, blowing tropical warmth and moisture north and providing rain for trees and crops alike. Most years, anyway.

How does the weather fail in Duren for seven years in a row, anyway? That seems like a Thunder issue. Unless it’s a Sunforge issue, which I’ll get to below.

Ahem.

Borders Neolandia, Duren, and Katolis across rivers, but most border is coastline.

Serpentongue probably got its name from the two river heads around it

Cluster of dead little cracks spawns a single river. Looks like someone cracked the tub and it drained away. I wonder how much of this landscape has been affected by the Mage Wars. Big watery basins have flooded and other spots seem dead. The lands may or may not actually touch depending on how deep some of these waterways are

Evenere

Looks like someone punched holes in the land with a giant pencil to make it a separate island. Broken outline with scattered islands

That Pawprint Isles has only four toes

Moon-shaped island is very crescenty indeed

Are these isles home to refugees or outcasts from Xadia? Listen, I want pirates and that sea looks pretty Caribbean to me

No capital city, hmmm what's that about? Is it underground, does it move? Maybe Fareeda’s capital is on the back of a world turtle and she’s constantly on tour around the island?

That arm of land ending in a peace sign, please can we get surfers

The hills emanating from that claw shaped headland look like something is sleeping under the island, hello yes I am here for giant immortal creatures please

Katolis

its capital is also called Katolis, the only human realm to use the same name twice

Weeping Bay could be a ref to the tears the humans shed after they reached the west. Or the Moonshadow elves as they left their forest for the east. Or both. Both, in this case, is bad but balanced

Boomerang island next to the Dragontail

The river the Dragaang rode on was going uphill

The watery slash in the land between Katolis and Del Bar is awfully straight. So is the one between Del Bar and Neolandia. I call magical warfare.

Katolis has a bunch of mountains in the east, part of an old natural border before the lava one appeared

Mt Kalik is probably volcanic. It's a standalone mountain and it's really tall. Rex Ignius maybe? Oh, probably not, I think I see him peeking on the other side of the map

The trees of Duren and Katolis are different then the western lands. Softer green, deciduous. And the land itself is yellower, warmer in tone

Forests centered on Mt Kalik

The Moon Nexus looks like an eye on a dragon head near the Dragontail, and Evenere looks like a severed wing (Yes I am still wondering where Luna Tenebris went, why do you ask)

Weeping Bay looks like the most natural body of water in the western lands

Three red little trees scattered around the Katolis map. Fruit trees? How very Moonshadow.

Duren

The only land border among all the human kingdoms is between Duren and Katolis. Maybe it used to be further south along the river?

Capital is Berylgarten, set on a lake. Beryl is a stone that’s usually green, blue, or yellow in color, very gardeny

Second smallest realm but the breadbasket of the human lands. Has several little forests and great tilled fields

Being a farmer in Duren is probably as awesome as being an assassin in the Moonshadow Forest; you do what you do for all your friendly kingdoms

Northernmost land is cold and craggy, named Skall's Hook along the sea

Third ship in the Frozen Sea is icebound and crushed. Looks western, indicating no possible passage

Lots of colored trees and shrubs as if fruitbearing, I keep comparing Duren to the Yakima Valley in Washington State

Where the lava reaches the Frozen Sea, it melts the ice next to Duren's mountains

Northern Xadia:

Lux Aurea

Most of the center lands of this map has warm tones for its ground. Maybe that’s because of the long reach of the warmth and light of Lux Aurea’s Sun Nexus, and only the lands that are just too far from it are truly cold and icy. It would explain why Duren is a breadbasket realm so far north--it’s just across the border from Lux Aurea.

If there’s anything to that, then I suddenly worry for the fate of all the human lands now that the Sunforge has gone dark. It’s early summer now in Xadia, and crops in Duren will be ripening soon... Unless the sun’s magic was helping them grow. This coming winter could be rough. Next winter, people will die. Unless they can purify the Sunforge again.

Also, I have to wonder if Duren’s seven years of famine had anything to do with Sunforge shenanigans. They’d have happened at Khessa’s command, and we know she despises humans. If she was responsible for all the struggles that humans had to go through without enough food for seven years, and then their desperate attempt to fix the problem by invading Xadia for a Magma Titan’s heart which extended and exacerbated the war, I can see why Aaravos might feel Queen Khessa deserved to die

The city’s shaped kinda like an Egyptian pectoral necklace on this map, and that’s super pretty and not at all ominous

Also that’s a lot of gold for a whole city and I wonder how they got it all

The Shiverglades and the Shards

These areas are north of Lux Aurea and seem cold but not very icy, even though the Frozen Sea is right there. More thoughtful glances at the Sunforge over this one. Is it warming the land, or not warming the sea? Both?

Shiverglades is a play on Everglades, so this is a cold swamp, which sounds super fun I’m sure. Permafrost, tundra maybe?

The Shards seem to be rock islands with ice mountains. Glaciers are cool. 

I wonder if something broke those islands off on purpose. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy worldbuilding? Yeah, well, I like world-wrecking, too.

Storm Spire

Has a good view on everything that happens for miles, including Lux Aurea, the Midnight Desert, the Shiverglades, the Black Tundra, the Uncharted Forest, and Drakewood. 

Defensible position, no other tall mountains nearby

Also able to alert others to danger, especially since Avizandum could teleport like lightning

The Midnight Desert

It’s pretty big! And it looks like it’s littered with ruins of columns and dead palm trees. Like something else used to be in that great space and then something Very Bad happened to it. Maybe there was one great city where all the elves could mix together, and then it got utterly obliterated and the elves all fled to their respective safe places around Xadia. A city of black stone, back when Aaravos wore a crown? Now pulverized to dust and surrounded by not one, not two, but three primal nexuses? Hmmm...

All the wisps could be heat from the sand, or spooky spirit hints, or just an ominous sign of danger from the snakes below, but the overall effect is that the land is unhealthy if not cursed

The oasis is marked, and it must contain a spring since it runs a river out to join the river that passes through the Moonshadow Forest

Also the actual oasis kinda resembles a blue lizard which is adorable and probably also terrifying

Moonshadow Forest

The Silvergrove is the only village marked in the forest, so in keeping with the other lands and general map legend rules, it’s likely the capital/central village for the Moonshadow elves

The village is marked by four round-roofed homes between two tall leafy trees that shelter and hide them. It’s a hybrid balance between the blocky manmade castles of the human lands and the actual forest around them, showing a blending with nature that even the Sunfire city of Lux Aurea did not embrace, with all its golden buildings

It’s a good-sized forest, and it kinda stretches thin to the east but there it tentatively connects to the Drakewood Forest

Moonstone Path to the west just chilling in the lava like a blank alignment chart. Moonstone Path is Chaotic Hot.

Southern Xadia:

Ruins of Elarion

Elarion is a city, and it’s been lost to the humans for a thousand years

The building outlines are squared-off towers like the more modern castles in the west, suggesting that humans in Xadia built for strength and defense as soon as they could. They felt vulnerable and created protections in their architecture. The three elven cities we see also play to their strengths, but those strengths include magic. Elarion’s humans had to find a different strength, and they went with craftsmanship and ingenuity

It seems to be the only human city from before the border was drawn

“Ruins” doesn’t necessarily mean no one lives there at all, but it’s been emptied of humans and no one else has maintained it since

It had a great position on a vast lake, with sheltering hills and easy sea access

Sea of the Castout

This inland sea has five inlets and outlets. It’s hard to be sure which is which with some of them, with the way the water is drawn on this map. But I’m kinda liking the idea that all the water swirlies are places where Tidebound magic has been placed over the millennia, so the water can do whatever it needs to do depending on circumstances. That goes for the human lands, too. Katolis backward river, you’re off the hook.

With a name like "Castout,” I wonder if it was some kind of universal toilet to flush away things you didn’t want--including humans--who might wash up near Elarion and start to build there. Yeesh.

The rivers that flow into this sea pass through or near the Moonshadow Forest, the Midnight Desert, the Storm Spire, Drakewood, and the Uncharted Forest. That’s a lot of drainage.

It’s pretty far from the Tidebound Archipelago, so maybe its name is referencing Tidebound elves who have left their home colony

Was this always a sea, or did something that Xadia wanted to forget get flooded and hidden in the depths?

The land around it seems open and hospitable. It could be a good place to build/rebuild in a time of peace.

The Far Reaches

Open grassland with low hills

Two of the hills look like giant boot prints

Several colorful trees which I hope are fruit trees

Bounded by two rivers from the Sea of the Castout

Looks homey tbh, great spot to retire to get away from everything if there were a war that really shook you up

Ocean Point

There’s a Star rune here, and it could mean many things

The closest other marked location is Elarion

If this was where Aaravos lived of his own free will, I can see why he’d take a shine to the humans. They were his neighbors.

If he is imprisoned here, it’s literally the furthest point in Xadia from the other elven realms, with the Moonshadow Forest being the closest one and Umber Tor not too much further but in a totally different direction. If they were trying to isolate him physically with a portable mirror to watch over him, that’s a good spot for it

Possible location that the cube is leading Callum toward? Portal to the Star Touch home plane? Aaravos’s seaside B&B? Trap street?

Eastern Xadia:

Drakewood

Umber Tor looks to be the tallest mountain in all of Xadia, save possibly for the Storm Spire. It’s more traditionally mountainy, with a nice snowcap. Since it’s labeled, I’m guessing it’s the Earth Nexus, under which an Earth Archdragon sleeps

Also there’s a giant yellowish-brown dragon chilling next to the Tor. Yeah, he seems nice. Rex Igneous, I presume?

Or maybe not, since the neighboring forest is called Drakewood. Maybe this woods is just where a bunch of Earth dragons hang out? Ezran and Pyrrah flew off and returned with a crew of Sun dragons from somewhere, so dragons must have communities too

The mountains that edge the sea are shaped roughly like a stone dragon in flight

Drakewood seems to be the forest closest to Umber Tor, with both deciduous and evergreen trees, though there’s a huge swath of wooded land here, to the north and to the southwest. I wonder what the locals consider the border where the Drakewood becomes the Uncharted Forest and why. The way the evergreens are drawn almost looks like a border, a sort of kingswood set aside for a specific use. Rex Igneous’s best toothpicks?

Uncharted Forest

Okay this is a properly magical name, very mysterious. But uncharted by whom? People with charts? This might be a Sir Phineas Kurst name, which is outsidery, and it makes me wonder if the locals/neighbors have their own name for it, which the human explorer never learned, a la “Thunder” for Avizandum

Maybe “Uncharted Forest” just means no one ever turned those trees into charts though, old growth ftw

If no one lives here, will someone move here? If someone lives here, who are they? Earthblood elves? Moonshadow elves? Humans? This mystery, it calls to me

the trees are mostly deciduous and fill basically all of this whole section of land, up against the mountains and the rivers, so it seems very fertile land indeed

Earthblood elves could live here, but there is no city marked. Maybe because we haven’t gotten that far in the show, or maybe that’s the wrong sort of descriptor for how the Earthbloods live and organize. Maybe the whole forest is their city, like Pando, the interconnected quaking aspen clone forest

The northernmost part of this forest lies right between the Storm Spire and the Tidebound Archipelago, so it might get a regular flyover route for migration or messages

Yes, this forest is the most interesting place in Xadia to me, I desperately want to learn more about it

Black Tundra

Yeah this place isn’t ominous

Similar to the Shiverglades, but where that has shrubbery, the Black Tundra has single dead trees and creepy curving spikes. Scorched? Poisoned? De-magicked?

The water north of this area isn’t frozen, and with a lake to the south and a river and a moderate mountain range, the whole area looks like it would otherwise be decently habitable, but instead it’s cold and black

Is climate change a thing here, or will we get a nice horrible disaster instead?

Tidebound Archipelago

These islands have dotted lines around them, like they’re submerged at high tide, or maybe made of shifting sand that literally moves around like sand dunes across a desert, or perhaps they’re exactly at sea level with half their civilization in the air and half underwater or in cool bubbles, or maybe the islands actually float

Maybe the Tidebound elves even sank them on purpose for defensive purposes

The archipelago is about even latitudinally with the Storm Spire Lux Aurea, Berylgarten, and Eboreus so they probably get pretty nice weather

There’s no ice in sight here in any direction along Xadia’s east coast, so presumably the prevailing current is a warm one

do they have bridges connecting the islands? Ferries, animals who give them a lift across?

the islands have quite a bit of space on them. I wonder if there’s a big population, maybe a shifting population? Do Tidebound elves migrate up and down the coast like gray whales and return to the islands for certain holidays or social events?

This is probably the hub of the Tidebound elves’ culture, but the sea surrounds the whole land and infiltrates it with many rivers and lakes. The Spinning Sea and the Frozen Sea are pretty firm Do Not Enter signposts, but a determined Tidebound could get around either one if they wanted to

What I’m not seeing here is a city. Either it’s not been marked yet, or that’s not a thing that Tidebound elves have in their culture. If they don’t have a city, they’re possibly migratory in family groups, or maybe they stick to small villages like the Moonshadows do, but with even less central leadership

[thesolitarystripe]

Writing Prompt #6: This time he was prepared for…

Well today's entry is special, to me at least. This is a little snapshot of the main character in the novel I've been writing. This is not a scene from the book itself, all of those I will be keeping to myself! However, I found a prompt today and it felt like it could fit into this world I'm building. People always ask what genre the book is in and I usually say it's a modern/fantasy book which is funny because I really don't enjoy writing in the modern era but, sometimes the genres pick you, you don't pick them.

The beast fought savagely, with no sign of tiring or hesitation even as the goliaths thundered together time and time again. Teren. The Guardian Angel sworn to protect his human assignment was nearly prone, save for his right hand that was steepled above the pavement and his right knee that refused to let the left touch down. Breath came quickly, in short puffs. Glowing eyes, incandescent, like white fire, rose and regarded the ebony creature before him with a deep-rooted hated; the kind that one feels etched into their bones from their generations of ancestors before them. A ferocious roar shook the fibers of reality around them, causing the very fabric of which the planes of existence were made to quake. This was the largest demon, Teren had ever faced. Silver blood dripped from his brow, a deep cut just above his left eyebrow, sent thick cascading trails down his face. The Guardian heaved his heavily armored body upright, the scrape of metal ringing in the air as he willed his arm to pick up the jewel-encrusted sword he carried. Upon the other arm, a shield. The barrier was clutched tightly in his left hand and brought with a thud against his chest. Monstrous wings flared out to the side, as brilliantly white as his hair that matched the alabaster hue of the clouds that hung in the skies above. The angel was draped in armor of blinding silvers, iridescent whites, and the softest aura of blue that matched his eyes. Both sword and shield were dressed to match, sparkling despite the shadow looming above them, a demon, the manifestation of evil itself.

Another roar shook the earth beneath his feet as the creature reared back, showing its scaley underbelly that looked akin to the black carapace of an ant. Two ‘feet’, if you could call them that, crashed back down to the pavement, claws breaking the manmade walkway with ease; the beast leaned forward, opened its fang-lined mouth, dripping with an obsidian goo that was too thick to be saliva but it couldn’t have been anything else.

“My sword is my purpose, my shield my truth,” Teren murmured beneath his breath, hoping to rally his own heart, for fear began to gnaw at it.

While the demon was large, in human terms, it tripled the size of an adult elephant—Teren himself was much larger than the average human. Even with his great wings and heavy armor though, he appeared minuscule in comparison. The angel looked around him, in the physical realm, nothing changed. Streets were as busy as ever with commuters walking hurriedly, cars drove through him and the beast as if they were only specters within the waking world. Teren was grateful at least for the safety of the metaphysical. All he had to do was ensure this amalgamation of pain and suffering did not bleed through to the human world.

“Come on then!” Teren beat the hilt of his sword upon the face of his shield and watched as the beast stirred, snarling and spitting its black ink all over the ground. Perhaps it did tire for there was hesitation in its lunge. Teren had not been the only one wounded, on its hind foot, it was missing two of the three toes it had. A black pool formed around the severed area. Surely, it had to feel pain.

As worn as the titans were, their bodies surged forward. Shield met jaw with a sickening crunch of bone, the demon’s head was knocked away, a moment where its softer neck was exposed flashed by. Teren thrust his sword upward, slashing across the charcoal exterior and watching as soot and liquid flew in the direction his blade went. This time, he was prepared for it. The counterattack. The demon’s claw flew through the air, swiping at Teren’s body but he had expected it having been smacked into the ground before by the same move. Those giant, feathered wings clapped in front of him, making an inorganic sound that matched the tone of a jet breaking the sound barrier. The angel’s body flew backward, Teren caught himself on the ground, steel boots skidded with a shrill shriek across the concrete. Again, he threw himself forward. After the claw had completed its pass from left to right, the demon’s body staggered forward without its hind toes to steady its large body. The tail, a scorpion’s tail hauled forward to find balance, but Teren was already en route, his blade poised, it came down and struck. The tip did not break the skin with ease, but he laid his weight into the blow and severed a chunk from the beast. Another cry. Yes, they did feel pain. Teren smirked, gave his blade a twirl within his fingers as his confidence began to return.

The creature turned sharply, mouth agape as it hissed into the Guardian’s face, Teren let out his own war cry, the sharp edges of his face tense, making him appear more angular as if he were carved out of the steel of a blade himself. Light met dark again. Bodies clashing and trading blows. The angel flew backward, catching the bleeding end of the beast’s tail; he crashed upon the ground and rolled, unable that time to find his feet. Fatigue was setting in, he had to imagine his foe felt it too. Teren looked up at the sky, his home. One by one, he settled his feet onto the ground and stood. Sweat began to mix into the stripes of silver that obscured his face. With one last might flap of his wings, his body shot high above the Earth. Weightless in that perfect moment where he neither traveled up or down, Teren leaned back, wings extended down, arms with their tools falling out to the side. A deep, centering breath filled his lungs as he twirled his body midair until he faced down. Teren’s right elbow drew back, sword taut in his hand, held in a straight line where he aimed. The force of his wings clapping behind him sent him torpedoing down until the metal pierced the weakest point of the demon’s carapace, just behind its neck. Teren hung from the blade, feet bracing on the side of the creature’s writhing body as it jerked from side to side, trying to reach behind its head to relieve itself from the pain. The Guardian Angel wedged his blade deeper, clinging to it as he pulled himself up, lifted his shield, and banged it onto the hilt. As the blade sunk in up to its handle, the beast staggered, screaming as its limbs flailed. All Teren could do was hang tight or lose his weapon.

Finally, the beast collapsed in defeat, its pained cries grating against Teren’s ears. Only when it had fallen could Teren find his footing on top of it. With a great roar of his own, he pulled the sword from the demon’s neck only to plunge it in again, and again. Teren worked against the natural armor of the beast until it cracked and dissolved under his assault. When a strange-looking softer layer was exposed, Teren brought the blade down as if to sever but the creature was too large. His efforts were not in vain, however, soon the shrieking stopped, and the beast’s body could only twitch, like a spider in its last moments of life. When all seemed safe, Teren stood atop his foe, head tilted back as he gasped for air.

Weary, worn, and near his own collapse Teren’s eyes looked up at the patio of an apartment above him. The white flames settled, sizzling out and leaving the bright blue eyes that managed to look both human and not.

“Hayley,” he whispered. Teren held his hands out to the side, sword, and shield within them, like sand they began to sift through his fingers, glittering out of existence as he scaled the building with an easy flap of his wings. The angel landed upon the small iron railing of her personal deck and looked within. The girl was curled up on her bed where Teren had left her earlier. Rushing inside, he slid onto the bed beside her. Hayley had stopped crying and her breath was becoming more even. Teren’s eyes scanned the air, to a mortal he may have appeared crazy for they could not see as his eyes did. Hayley’s aura had quieted, delicate ribbons shifting around her, ones of blue, white, and green—the good ones. Teren searched for the red line that had started this all. The crimson ribbon that indicated the hunt. Hayley had fallen into her anxiety like a rat dropped into the ocean, expected to survive despite the massive waves swallowing its delicate body. Teren’s hand came down and brushed the hair off her face; her skin was damp from her tears but, she slept. “You’re safe now,” he promised as he looked down at her with adoration in his eyes. Hayley heard or felt none of this of course, with their opposite realities, Hayley saw nothing of what Teren did but felt it immensely.

Until she could fight her own demons, Teren was her sword and shield, her faithful Guardian.

[maswartz]

Power Rider Animaster

(Logo by Markolios and @riceyhot)

Many many centuries ago King Trion was faced with warring kingdoms on every side. To defend his people he ordered his alchemists to create a new kind of warrior, one that took its power from various animals. They succeeded and created the Anima out of Animal Medals that harnessed the power of unique animals. However the Anima were too great of warriors and soon turned on Trion. They had the power to use Bio Medals to create more of their kind they called BioBeasts. The Anima soon waged war against each other and endangered anyone caught in the crossfire. The ensuing conflict was called the Anima War

Desperate Trion and the warring kingdoms formed an alliance and with the aid of one of the Anima named Avius a group of alchemists from all the kingdoms sealed the Anima away within a tomb, even Avius was sealed. When King Trion passed he made his own tomb the seal for the prison of the Anima.

One day an archeologist accidentally broke the seal releasing the Anima. The Anima War has begun again. King Trion’s spirit instructed the man to use his power to defeat the Anima. Avius forms a tense alliance with the man seeking revenge on his fellow Anima. The man became Power Rider Animaster.

The archeologist was a man named Isha Maheswaran and using the Hawk Tiger and Grasshopper medals he transforms into Animaster Ha-Ti-Gra. The hawk medal grants enhanced vision, the tiger grants slashing claws and the grasshopper grants great leaping.

Face Claim: Waris Ahluwalia

Transformation Device: Wild Belt Transformation Call: Let’s Ride Transformation: Three medals with the alchemist symbol for each animal form in front of him before attaching to his and forming the armor. As the armor forms images of the three animals appear behind him sounding off. Finishing Moves: Rider Kick (triple charged kick) Rider Slash (uses his sword charged by a Bio Medal) Vehicle: Anima Cycle: High speed cycle

Isha can use a wide array of Animal Medals to transform into many different forms, however the most powerful forms are the combos.

The Beetle Mantis and Grasshopper combo is known as Animaster Be-Ma-Gra. The beetle grants shocking lighting, the mantis grants slashing blades and the grasshopper grants great leaping. In addition to these the Be-Ma-Gra form has the ability to split into clones of himself. Finishing Move- Rider Swarm (clones all kick a single target)

The Lion Tiger and Cheetah combo is known as Animaster Li-Ti-Che. The lion grants the ability to produce blinding light, the tiger grants slashing claws and the cheetah grants amazing speed. In addition to these the Li-Ti-Che form has the ability to emit intense heat. Finishing Move- Rider Rush (speeds towards the enemy and slashes)

The Rhino Gorilla and Elephant combo is known as Animaster Rhi-Gor-Ele. The rhino grants a hardened helmet with a horn to use as a weapon, the gorilla grants powerful gauntlets for punching and the elephant grants the ability to create minor earthquakes. In addition to these the Rhi-Gor-Ele form has the ability to control gravity. Finishing Move- Rider Smash (uses a quake to trap the enemy before finishing them off with a mighty punch)

The Hawk Peacock and Condor combo is known as Animaster Ha-Pea-Con and is one of Isha’s most powerful forms. The hawk grants enhanced vision, the peacock grants wings that can be used as projectile weapons and the condor grants powerful talon like legs. In addition to these the Ha-Pea-Con form has the ability of flight and can use the Phoenix Shield to create mighty burning attacks. Finishing Move- Rider Flame (uses the Phoenix Shield charged with medals to shoot a burning blast)

The Whale Eel and Octopus combo is known as Animaster Wha-Eel-Octo. The whale grants the power to breathe underwater, the eel grants electric whips and the octopus grants the octopus legs which split into four in  total. In addition to these the Wha-Eel-Octo form can turn his body into living water. Finishing Move- Rider Wave (turns into water and attacks with a flurry of blows)

The Cobra Turtle and Crocodile combo is known as Animaster Cob-Tur-Cro. The cobra grants immunity to poisons, the turtle grants a sturdy energy shield and the crocodile grants a powerful slide kick. In addition to these the Cob-Tur-Cro form can summon a giant energy cobra from the wrap on his head to attack the enemy. Finishing Move- Rider Venom (the energy cobra bites the enemy weakening them leading to a slide kick)

The Pterodactyl Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus combo is known as Animaster Pte-Tri-Tyranno. The pterodactyl grants the power of flight, the triceratops grants shoulder spikes and the tyrannosaurus grants a whipping tail. In addition to these the Pte-Tri-Tyranno form can use the wings to freeze his enemies as well as use a gun-ax charged by medals. These medals cannot be used with any other medals and this combo is powerful enough to destroy the medals themselves! Finishing Moves- Rider Blizzard (freezes and smashes the enemy) Rider Blast (uses the gun-ax to destroy the enemy)

A young woman named Priyanka Patel was selected by an orginzation who took a quick interest in the Anima. She was picked to use the Genesis system to fight the Anima alongside Isha. This allows her to become Power Rider Genesis. In this form she can use Bio Medals to produce weapons. Face Claim: Chriselle Almeida Transformation Device: Genesis System Transformation Call: Let’s Ride Transformation: The armor forms around her Finishing Move: Rider Armor (summons all her weapons at once forming a mighty armor)

After the original Genesis system was destroyed in a battle it was rebuilt as the Regen system turning Priyanka into Power Rider Regen. Her abilities are the same but stronger. Transformation Device: Regen System Transformation Call: Let’s Ride Finishing Move: Regen Armor (a stronger form of the Rider Armor) Power Rider Duow/Animaster: A man claiming to be the reincarnation of King Trion appears. He’s even able to transform into Animaster with his own combos. At first Isha welcomes the help against the Anima but the truth is soon revealed when Arnold Jones comes searching for the King Memster. It turns out the man was a collector of rare antiques and used his King Memory Unit to steal for his collection. One day he stole a relic belonging to King Trion and somehow absorbed the Animal Medals and gaining part of the King’s personality. However the man’s original cruel nature resurfaces and he absorbs the Royal Hawk, Tiger and Grasshopper Medals becoming a monstrous beast both Riders must defeat. In the aftermath Isha takes the remaining Medals for his own use. “King Trion’s” combos Elk, Antelope, Bull (El-An-Bul)- Combo power- Energy horns Shrimp, Crab, Scorpion (Shi-Cra-Sco)- Combo power- Swimming through the ground Centipede, Bee, Ant (Ce-Be-An)- Combo power- Turns body into living swarm Walrus, Polar Bear, Penguin (Wa-Po-Pen) - Combo power- Summons snowstorm Wolf. Porcupine, Rabbit (Wo-Por-Ra)- Combo power- Camouflage (Faces by @dream-chef-flavors)

Previous Powerverse Next

[vajrapoet]

The lands of Kitatak are at war. Fires blaze down bamboo huts. Elephant riding warlords trample crocodile raiders. Krabi-wielding heroes fight alongside eagle-winged Garuda. Heaven is split open by prayers and sacrifices. Boats are torn apart by storms summoned by babaylan. Confederations of Datu war for forty days and forty nights, both land and sea, against a tyrannical Maharadya, calling upon the help of their almighty Ginu and Their Thirteen Heavenly Beings.

This is GUBAT-BANWA: KITATAK PANTASYA. An unapologetic Heroic Fantasy setting that rises and is based on pre-colonial Southeast Asian sensibility, mythology, and history, with a focus on the Philippine. There are no knights in shining armor slaying dragons here: you are timawa wielding kampilan hunting down giant boars at the behest of your diwata-blooded Rajah, or sakay-sarimanok riding across the hinterlands to find the Nuno, the crocodile dragons that sail through earth, sea, and sky.

[talesfromgringolandia]

Underwing Challenge Day 4 - What’s the world of your WIP like?

So first of all, the world of Bo and Shen is incomplete. There’s a lot of gaps that I haven’t gotten to yet, mostly names and stuff.

For example, there’s this big blur of the history of the early years of the Venus colony. Essentially, Earth colonized the entire solar system, including Venus. Then there was a massive war, and Earth lost, leaving Venus completely stranded, without communication to the outside world.

Some basic info on Venus: The air pressure at the surface is equal to 90 earth atmospheres, making it completely uninhabitable. But it was also rich in minerals, so colonists would use gas to drill out the valuables. The gas ended up trapped in the rocks, which floated up to the height where the pressure equals earth pressure. This is my explanation for the floating islands. Also, the people doing the mining tended to belong to the same families, who became very isolated in their wealth. After some time, they ended up permanently deformed by their delves into the abyss, becoming the dwarves.

Before the war, people lived on artificial floating islands, powered by electricity and stuff. The “natural” islands were decorated with plants and animals and made great vacation spots, but no one lived there. But after the end of the war, or maybe during it, Venus experienced its first abyssian storm.

Near the surface of Venus, it's constantly storming, and in those storms live dragons. Please don’t ask how they weren’t noticed during the mining phase. These dragons are pure black, have no legs because they can almost swim in the thick air down below, and can breathe lightning. Sometimes, storms from the Abyss will overflow into the upper atmosphere, and rarely, those storms contain hordes of dragons.

During the first dragon storm, the artificial islands were completely destroyed. The citizens were unprepared. The small portion who survived fled to the natural floating islands, where they struggled to survive. It was essentially the apocalypse. It only took a few generations for these people, who were reduced to stone age equipment without electricity, to forget a lot of their history.

Soon, the Titans appeared. I don’t know where they came from. They introduced the people to the Aether, and taught them how to use it.

After a long time, sky ships were invented, and people could finally travel to other isles, establish nations and such. And that's how the current situation came to be.

Here’s something to understand about the technology in the Sky Isles. They can’t mine metal from the islands, because they risk destroying the very ground they stand on. But luckily, alchemists, people who use aether to control organic things, came up with a solution. They genetically engineered plants which can be spun into a fiber, which is a pretty good substitution.. It's still not quite as good as actual metal, or True Metal, so the few scraps of true metal that remain are incredibly valuable.

All sky ships, weapons, large buildings, et cetera, use some metal fiber. There are various kinds of metal fiber plants. Iron oak is by far the most powerful, but also a little rare because it's very difficult to cut down the tree. The most common is copper-root, which are like onions. There’s also silver-leaf,(not sturdy, but pretty), and probably something for gold? Still not finished with that bit. But copper-root tools and buildings are everywhere, while sky ships are most likely made of iron oak.

Most technology is developed in Galras, where Tinkerers can use the aether to cause massive clockwork machines to move. So most sky-ships are built there, although they need to cooperate with the dwarves to finish them.

What's the Aether? In-world, not many people know, with the exception of some individuals who specifically study its nature. It's something people use to do cool things. The aether is actually the manifestation of people’s souls in the real world. You use your spiritual soul to effectuate physical change, and these interactions are called aether. The more aether you use, the more you attach your soul to those activities. This is why tinkerers are known to be mad scientists, and why many alchemists grow so attached to their craft as to start experimenting on people. The Titans know how to effectively and safely use the aether to not only avoid negative effects, but create positive ones. Felenor and the other good titan use this knowledge for the good of humanity, while Ildra and Lralso use it to turn people against each other.

I must also mention the clockwork sentients - clockwork robots, powered by aether, who have minds of their own. More on them later.

There are four main nations, each composed of one main isle and those isles surrounding the main one. These isles, in order of settlement, are the Dwarven Isles, where the dwarves live underground in labyrinths; Destra, where the paladins originated; Galras, a technological power, and the origin of Tinkering; Endora, covered in a dangerous swamp, and only has one city, also called Endora; and Minvir, a mountainous, snowy isle where the sparse tribes are at constant war with each other.

I’ll talk more about the specific isles below the cut, because this post is long enough.

So remember the dwarves? Their ancestral profession changed their appearance significantly. Their skin appears permanently burned, and is ebony black. Not like dark brown. Pitch black. They’re also short. They’re excellent engineers, and can see in the dark better than humans can.

During the dragon storms that caused the apocalypse, they managed to flee separately from everybody else, ending up on an isle that was already full of holes because it was home to an insect hive. They’ve tamed these insects, which range from the size of dogs to the size of elephants, and they harvest the insects honey, which can be spun into a steel fiber that needs a better name. The honey can also be burnt to produce the gas that goes into the balloons on Sky-Ships, which means that dwarves are obscenely rich. They are also very secretive, to the point that a lot of people don’t know the actual name of the Dwarven Isles. Coincidentally, neither do I.

Occasionally the dwarves will venture into the Abyss to recover true metal from the wreckage. I’m not sure how they do this yet.

The first isle to be settled, besides the Dwarven Isles, was Destra, which you might recall is the origin of many paladin orders. There is a lot of history in Destra, it's kind of like visiting Rome, its really ancient. At the moment, it's completely conquered by the paladins of Ildra, Titan of suffering and despair, who let paladins of Lralso(deception, dishonor) run free. Paladins of Felenor(justice, honor) and of placeholder name(love, charity) have to flee or are killed. Some fought back, but most of those were killed.

Before the conquest of Ildra, however, Destra was mostly run by paladins of Felenor. Their law was just and honorable, which doesn’t mean there weren’t some bad eggs in the system, but the system was good. But some people didn’t enjoy being ruled by a law they had no choice in, and began a revolution on the south side of the isle. During this, they discovered tinkering, and turned the tide of the war with the construction of clockwork robots. Once they had conquered half the island though, the paladins began to learn how to easily deal with the automotons, who were pretty stupid being simply robots. So the Tinkerers ended the war by building massive drills which cut the island in half. The Tinkerers' side became Galras. The northern isle, which is still called Destra, was weak after the war, which opened them to Ildra’s conquest. Those drills still line the northern coast of Galras.

More about Galras! Their capital city is Kellenth, which is like one giant skyscraper many stories tall. Towards the top is where the elite live, while the bottom extends deep into the ground. The bottom floor is full of criminals and evil, where the light doesn’t shine. It's like cyberpunk, but it's clockwork. The city is supported by four massive True Metal pillars, which are a statement to how rich Galras has become.

Shortly after the war with Destra, Galras created a Clockwork Sentient, a clockwork AI. It soon went rogue and fled to an unknown isle, where it has constructed a factory of clockwork sentients. These ones are not nearly as powerful as the first, which is now called the Master Sentient. These minions are known as clockwork sentients, or just sentients, and sometimes they defect and come to live alongside humanity. Understandably, many people are… reluctant to accept them. The Master Sentient frequently conducts raids on Galras, and has recently conquered a small corner of the isle. They are rapidly becoming a significant threat, and the war against them is affecting the entire nation. The Master Sentient is not actually the first sentient, but there are some left over after the war with Destra, who are now ancient and live in the corners of Galras.

Don’t forget the Sentries! Sentries are soldiers who use clockwork armor and weapons, which they control by their aether, in combat. They compose the higher ranks of the army and protect city streets. They also make great mercenaries. Each suit of armor is unique, since soldiers will customize it with their own gizmos and setup. Think of each gamer in reality having their own setup.

Also the Storm Guard! There’s a fleet of ships specifically dedicated to preventing dragon attacks. This was created after a particularly bad battle with the Master Sentient, during which a surprise storm turned the tide, allowing the humans to win but at a much higher cost.

Next is Endora! It was originally established way back when Destra wasn’t split in half, as a rest stop for passing sky ships. That was hundreds of years ago, and now Endora has grown significantly. It has developed a reputation as a land of freedom, where there is neither the arm of the Galrian government nor the chaos of Ildrian Destra. There are farms right outside the city, and some small villages as well. Don’t forget the hordes of monsters that live in the swamp just beyond civilization; they frequently come out and attack settlers.

Endora has also become a safe haven for alchemists, who fled from Galras after people reacted to the image of alchemists as mad scientists who experimented on people. Many alchemists in Endora still perform these experiments, creating the chimeras, human-animals hybrids who often flee society to live in the swamp. There is a large hidden community of chimeras living there now, and many have adapted alchemy to the purposes of protecting nature, rather than exploiting it. These call themselves druids, rather than alchemists. Don’t take too kindly though - they can put the well-being of nature over human lives. These are two extremes though. Most alchemists are well-meaning doctors, and most druids are guardians of their people.

Recently, the Felenor Academy for Guardians was founded by Ambrose, where young men and women are trained to protect the city from monsters, and their families from crime. The city is mostly run by the people in charge of the ports, so at the city border with the swamp, not much is done. The Academy is changing that by empowering people to protect themselves.

Endora is also a major exporter of fish, which, since there’s no ocean, are rare pretty much everywhere else.