#birch persil

[leifandthorn]

the great Plot Theory Montage of 2020

[dailycrippledcharacters]

Birch Persil (Leif & Thorn)

[Image Description: Official art from the web comic. The art is a sketch on paper that is made to look aged. Birch, a chubby man with short hair. He is sitting with his legs crossed. One of his legs is amputated below the knee. He is not wearing a prosthetic. He is wearing a tunic and shorts. In one hand, he has a thin rapier. Text beside him reads: Transtibial Amputation. End ID.]

Birch is an amputee.

[identity-library]

Disability (Web Series)

A:

Apricot Cookie(s)! (Web Comic)

Sunshine Jubilee (Unspecified Disability, Wheelchair User)

B:

Batman: Wayne Family Adventures (Webtoon)

Barbara Gordon/Oracle (Paralyzed Wheelchair User)

Bugtopia (Webtoon)

Chestnut (Blind)

Tera (Amputee)

C:

Castle Swimmer (Webtoon)

Mono (Mute)

Nethimir (Amputee)

Silver (Blind, Limited Mobility)

D:

E:

Echo (Webtoon)

Echo Dreia (Selective Mutism)

Emara (YouTube)

Dhabian (Amputee, Wheelchair User)

Epithet Erased (YouTube)

Mera Salamin (Chronic Pain)

Eyes (Webtoon)

Juan Seo (Partially Blind)

F:

Flawless (Webtoon)

Elios Zanquen (Blind)

G:

H:

Helluva Boss (YouTube)

Fizzarolli (Multi-Limb Amputee)

High Class Homos (Webtoon)

Princess Sapphia (Amputee)

Homestuck (Web Comic)

Yeongno (Partially Blind)

Caliborn (Amputee)

Lord English (Amputee)

Mindfang (Amputee, Partially Blind)

Sollux Captor (Blind)

Spades Slick (Amputee, Partially Blind)

Tavros Nitram (Paralyzed, Wheelchair)

Terezi Pyrope (Blind)

Vriska Serket (Amputee, Partially Blind)

How to Become a Dragon (Webtoon)

I:

In the Bleak Midwinter (Webtoon)

Ivan (Facial Difference)

Misha (Diabetes)

It's Mine (Webtoon)

Hyuna Lee (Cancer, Wheelchair User)

J:

K:

L:

Leif & Thorn (Web Comic)

Agent D10 (Ocular Albinism)

Birch Persil (Amputee)

Calyx Carvi (Unspecified Disabilities)

Cress Fenouil (Vitiligo)

Cyan (Amputee)

Hawthorn Lavande (Autistic [Changeling Syndrome])

Hazel Cherieshnya (Joint Inflammation)

Hermosa Zikos (Brain Damage)

Iona Nibelungsen (Limb Difference)

Lupine Lavande (Autistic [Changeling Syndrome])

Patotara Kaihanga (Mute - Vocal Cord Paralysis)

Patrik Gagarr (Amputee)

Thorn Estragon (Limited Mobility)

Torsten (Hand Tremors)

Vainø Svansson (Deaf)

Let's Play (Webtoon)

Olivia (Deaf, Mute)

Sam Young (Asthma)

M:

Monster Pulse (Web Comic)

Abel Elizondo (Partially Blind)

Ned McNulty (Amputee)

Ozzy Dieter (Hard of Hearing)

Roger Maugras Sr. (Amputee)

Sophie (Amputee)

Rixis (Limited Mobility*)

Mystery Skulls Animated (YouTube)

Arthur Kingsmen (Amputee)

N:

Nevermore (Webtoon)

Lenore Vandernacht (Unspecified Disability, Cane User)

O:

Out of the Blue (Webtoon)

Felix (Blind)

P:

Postcards in Braille (Tapas)

Sigma (Blind)

Q:

R:

Rebirth (Webtoon)

Noah Collins (Unspecified Chronic Illnesses)

Red Comet Drive (Tapas)

Ceta (Double Amputee, Wheelchair User)

S:

Serious Trans Vibes (Webtoon)

Stephanie "Stephie" Bondu (Autistic)

Sharp Zero (Tapas)

Daniel Becket (Autistic)

Elliot Hong (ADHD)

Sleepless Domain (Web Comic)

Pop Blitz (Amputee)

Spaceboy (Webtoon)

Amy (Synesthesia)

Sunflowers and Lavender (Tapas)

Gabe (Amputee)

Georgie (Autistic)

T:

The Angel in the Forest (Webtoon)

Eliot (Partially Blind)

Montimer (Limited Mobility)

Richie (Limb Difference, Limited Mobility)

The Blind Prince (Webtoon)

Sebastian (Blind)

The Friendly Winter (Webtoon)

Da-Jeong Han (Dwarfism)

Min-Seong (Intellectual Disability)

The Mysqueery Gang (Webtoon)

Archie (Chronic Pain, Cane User)

Rash (ADHD)

Total Drama Next Generation (YouTube)

Kevin (Dyslexia)

Steven (Unspecified Disability, Wheelchair User)

U:

V:

Vampair (YouTube)

Duke (Amputee)

Melissa "Missi" Dumarias (Missing Eye, Partially Blind)

Vindicaris (Tapas/Webtoon)

Arbo (Amputee)

Sel (Amputee)

W:

Watermelon (Webtoon)

Ban (Amputee)

Doran (Blind)

Luna (Unspecified Chronic Illness)

Simon (Unspecified Chronic Illness)

Woven (Webtoon)

Ayşe (Blind)

X:

Y:

Z:

[allofbeercom]

On board the Trans-Siberian Railway for a centenary ride

The worlds longest railway line was completed in 1916. Our girl on the train endures and enjoys the epic six-day journey in beautiful snowy winter

Vladivostok railway station, far eastern Russia. The seven-day train journey from Moscow was over and we disembarked slowly into the black night, crunching through the snow and swaying slightly, as if wed spent too long at sea.

To Russians, the Trans-Siberian Railway, stretching 5,772 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok (it takes more than nine hours to fly), is merely a commuter train. Businessmen, students and legions of soldiers use it, boarding and disembarking at remote stations to go home, visit family and reach army bases.

Trans-Siberian map

For many foreigners, though, its the epitome of romantic train journeys the chance to travel across the largest country on Earth on an absorbing, perception-shifting adventure, one that shakes up preconceived ideas about Russia and offers an insight into the Russian psyche. Like in Colin Thubrons travel book, you are Among the Russians, especially in winter when few tourists use it.

This year marks the centenary of the Trans-Siberian Railway as we know it today. In 1916 as the first world war and civil war raged across Russia causing the destruction of 60% of the countrys railway network the Trans-Siberian was completed. Before then, the eastern end of the journey involved cutting across China, into what is now the Trans-Manchurian route. Nowadays, twice a week, the Rossiya (Russia) departs Moscows Yaroslavsky station, and it was from here that my Russian-speaking husband and I set off. Amid soldiers dressed in blue berets and camouflage fatigues, and worn-out looking policemen in black fur hats, we found our train. It was February. Although a summer trip offers endless daylight, we chose winter, when Siberia is at its most beautiful, snowy and photogenic.

Caroline Eden about to board her train. Photograph: Caroline Eden

We made our way to our second-class, four-berth compartment. Neat and narrow, it came complete with TV and a full-length mirror on the back of a sliding door. Keen for the chance to talk to locals, wed opted for this over the antisocial first-class, two-berth compartments and the noisy, crowded open-plan bunks. Under the two fold-down bottom bunks, heaters belched out hot air. For the next three hours we had the cabin to ourselves; after that it would be a shared experience the whole way.

Novosibirsk station. Photograph: Caroline Eden

It is three nights to Irkutsk in Siberia, where, like most Trans-Sibbers, wed break the trip for two nights before travelling for another three days to reach Vladivostok (literally to rule the east) on the Pacific edge of Asia. Wed rarely move faster than 43 mph.

We eased out of a gloomy Moscow. The harsh economic chill mixed with a mild winter had created a subdued atmosphere and slush-lined streets.

Photograph: Caroline Eden

It sounds simple, and it is, but to understand the Trans-Siberian journey, you need to look out of the window. First, there are the station stops. Some have fantastically long tongue-twister names, such as Uyarspasopreobrazhenskoye. Hard-to-spot kilometre posts edge the railway line, marking the distance covered. The countryside changes but retains a comforting familiarity, a snowy bucolic theme. Outside Moscow I scrutinised the picket-fenced dachas (summer houses) painted in pastel colours. Later on in the journey, I watched out for differences in the izbi (Siberian huts) with their painted shutters and log piles.

Somewhere towards Kirov, an industrial city half a day out of Moscow, the journey found its rhythm. Our matronly provodnitsa (conductress) made regular appearances, checking tickets, selling pirozhki (stuffed buns) and handing out clean bedding. Passengers, in their standard issue grey and red Russian Railways sandals, flip-flopped back and forth to the samovar for hot water to make tea. Outside, a bleached-out white sun shone, torch-like, illuminating huge housing blocks that encircle industrial towns like mandalas.

Russia rushing by the view from the train. Photograph: Alamy

Good intentions to tackle Tolstoy were, I decided, laughable on this train. The landscape is too engrossing, too hypnotic. Our travel-tired eyes succumbed to the scenery until darkness fell. Come morning, the snowy motion picture of birch trees, banks of snow and taiga would repeat, as if on a loop, and once again our attention would be held hostage.

At Vladimir (119 miles), Michael, a businessman, and Yevgeny a bandy (similar to ice-hockey) referee, joined us, and shook our hands in the formal Russian way. Michael, Slavic-looking with high cheekbones and Putin-esque eyes, told us that he wasnt a fan of train travel. No fresh air but a lot of fresh smells, he said dryly.

Photograph: Caroline Eden

When we woke at Perm (892 miles), Vladimir, a bathroom salesman who spoke some English, had taken Michaels place. Yevgeny had left. It was piercingly cold outside, minus 20C or so. Children in metallic puffa jackets hauled skis past spindly birch trees, dogs with bushy tails scavenged in frozen bins and the snow on the rooftops was so thick that the wooden houses looked fit to collapse. Every river we crossed was frozen solid. Watery sunlight melted the patchy ice that had collected on the inside of the train window overnight, creating rivulets of condensation.

We went in search of food, darting through the freezing gaps that connect the carriages. The smell of fried potatoes and solyanka (a greasy thick soup with salty cured meats, sausages, olives, dill and sour cream) led us to the small dining car with its cherry-red faux leather seats, frilly yellow curtains and rattling light fittings. It was empty. Russians prefer to picnic in their cabins, the provodnitsa told us glumly.

Two provodnitsa (carriage attendants) confer. Photograph: Caroline Eden

I ordered tea and a 2 bowl of kasha (porridge), which came topped with a slick of butter. The chef appeared momentarily, dressed in slippers and a velour leopard-print tracksuit, her tangerine hair curled around pink rollers. She gave us a wink then quickly disappeared.

We gazed out of the grimy window. Near the town of Kungar (953 miles), men bulbous in winter clothes were ice-fishing in the middle of the Sylva river. Persil-white snow covered timber mills and gingerbread houses rushed past. Days became distorted as we sped through time zones that the train runs on Moscow time the whole way adds to the confusion (it would be Moscow +7 by the end of the journey).

A dog on frozen Lake Baikal. Photograph: Caroline Eden

Just before we hit Siberia proper, at 1,306 miles, Tatiana and Alexi boarded at Yekaterinburg, with a picnic bag the size of a washing machine. Inside was rye bread, a brick-sized hunk of white pork fat, several litres of vodka and a crate of beer. Alexi was 32, a staff sergeant in the army, and looked like a young Tony Soprano in his wolf fur-lined leather jacket. A crucifix swung around his grey vest and an ornate army sentry ring glittered on his left hand. His round-faced wife was rosy-cheeked and cheerful. Neither of them had ever left Siberia they told us.

Shots were toasted one after the other and were chased with greasy chunks of the smoky, home-cured pork back fat. It cut the vodka beautifully. At 6am, three bottles of vodka later, the cabin was swimming. Lulled by the cradle-rock of the train, we collectively dozed off. When we woke at lunchtime, the tangy air smelled of warm feet, booze and armpits. There are no showers on board and fresh sheets are given out just once, upon boarding.

Irkutsk, where travellers often take a break from the journey. Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto

At 3,069 miles, where there was little more to see than vast expanses of taiga, even the stations had wintry names. We pull into Zima (winter in Russian), then Kuytun (cold in the language of the local Mongol Buryat people). Outside it was almost minus 30C. Finally, we reached snow-clad Irkutsk (3,222 miles), capital of Eastern Siberia.

It is a handsome city of wooden 19th-century houses and good restaurants. Relieved to have proper food, we snatched at garlic bread and devoured piles of hot pasta and risotto at Figaro. On Karl Marx Street men shovelled the snow from rooftops onto the pavements below to stop their houses collapsing under the weight. Huge dagger-like icicles hung dangerously from window ledges.

A lonely bus stop outside the Lake Baikal Museum. Photograph: Caroline Eden

The following day, we drove for 45 miles out of Irkutsk to Lake Baikal, the worlds deepest lake. We walked gingerly on the three-metre thick ice, passing wolf-like pet dogs out for their daily exercise. In the distance, cars drove across it, despite warnings of hot springs and perilous melted patches. We feasted on omul, the local oily fish, which is smoked and sold in supermarkets and restaurants.

The next evening, at 21.22, we returned to the train, pleased to be back on board, despite the poor food and lack of sleep. Stockholm syndrome, we joked. The warm train was softly scented by omul most passengers boarded with bags of it. In our cabin, the TV blared out the 1970s Soviet comic science fiction film Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession. We shook hands with Andrei, a 22-year-old soldier, and Dmitri, our new cabin-mates, already settled into the top bunks. At Ulan-Ude, at 4am, Pavel, a navy officer, boarded and quietly replaced Dmitri.

Omul fish for sale at Lake Baikal. Photograph: Caroline Eden

From the dining car at breakfast, we watched the wind-swept tundra, its long grass bent double by the wind. Thin and delicate clouds hovered above Lesnoy, a small station just before Chita (3,852 miles) and we continued past Takhtamygda, a grim valley with a grimmer prison, lined with inward-facing watchtowers and barbed wire. For the next two days the scenery changed little: taiga and permafrost met swampy lowlands for hundreds of miles.

Every afternoon at 4pm wed return to the dining car and drink Baltika beer and chat with Olga, the lonely provodnitsa, who told us on arrival at Vladivostok she would return straight away to Moscow.

Emerging from a tunnel in Siberia. Photograph: Regent Holidays

Another seven days on the Rossiya cooking, cleaning and looking after her passengers. Another seven days crossing wild landscapes, ferrying an ever-changing cast of characters on an epic 5,772-mile journey across Russia.

Way to go

The trip was provided by Regent Holidays (020-7666 1244), which has a 12-day Moscow to Vladivostok Trans-Siberian Railway trip from 1,365pp, based on two sharing three-star hotel rooms in Moscow, Irkutsk and Vladivostok (B&B) and sharing a second-class, four-berth compartment on the train. Flights and meals on the train extra

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/on-board-the-trans-siberian-railway-for-a-centenary-ride/

[leifandthorn]

Chibi versions of the team from the Leif & Thorn magical girl AU, doing their best Sailor Moon poses!

Doubles as a new color reference for these designs, revamped with a softer palette:

[leifandthorn]

Knights from Leif & Thorn as Lackadaisy-style kitties! Left to right: Rowan, Juniper, Violet, Pascentia, Birch, and Thorn.

[thecomicalquail]

[Image description: A map of the world that Leif & Thorn takes place in. On and around it are various characters explaining how polyamory and plural marriages work in their respective cultures. (Birch’s mother had her arms around her husbands. They are all smiling). Birch’s mother: If we’re talking about polyamorous relationships, West Coast countries have got that all figured out. Take Getsun — it has an elaborate series of laws for just about every multi-person marriage and/or parenting situation you could think of. Like our “one husband and one wife got married, had some kids, brought in a second husband, had some more kids” life story.

Birch: I was born and raised in Ceannis, which doesn’t have such an elaborate system . . . But it tries to recognize marriages from other countries, however they work, so my parents’ marriage is legally protected here. Annie: Getsunese law also says a marriage doesn’t end when you reincarnate! So — if you’re not a long-runner, you won’t know who you’re past-married to, but by golly, you are! I’m all right not knowing the specifics. Gosh, I like having my husband all to myself right about now. . . . Not that we don’t ever have anyone else involved, if y’know what I mean. We just don’t want to marry them.

(There’s an image of Valrún smiling at two people who are grayed out. Leif is below them). Leif: Sønheim only recognizes “marriage” between two people. Multi-person relationships still happen — they aren’t illegal or anything! It’s just, you can only get married in pairs. As for parents: you can legally register up to four for each kid. Probably that started for cases where the original two got divorced, then both got remarried? I have . . . well, I had . . . three.

Colata: The United Islands ‘ave a standard legal by-the-by for two-person marriages, and a “build-your-own sundae” sort of approach for anythin’ else. We made it work out awright, though, eh? Fragaria: Lucky we already had a taste of complicated contracts, from going into business together . . . Unnamed Ice Cream Wife #3: Oh yes — compared to that, getting the three of us married was a piece of cake.

Thorn: Ceannis has kind of a two-tier system, where you can have a “marriage” with up to . . . I think four people? But everybody has to name one person as their “primary partner.” It doesn’t have to be symmetrical — anyone in the group can go with anyone else. This, uh, unsurprisingly, leads to a lot of drama. Kinda wouldn’t be surprised if it was set up that way on purpose, to discourage Ceannic polycules from getting married. Don’t know why I’m even talking about this? I’m not in a polycule. (Leif and Kale are standing on either side of him and looking at him). End description.]

[Plain text: Culture Notes: Polycules and Plural Marriage. End plain text.]

Culture Notes: Polycules and Plural Marriage

(Read the original post on Leif & Thorn

[leifandthorn]

Putting all the the Moon Knight pose studies from @bicatperson to good use -- a collage of Leif & Thorn characters mid-battle.

This is all the Order of the Chalice knights with 100+ appearances, which comes out to "Thorn, his original team, and Pascentia."

[leifandthorn]

You know what's cute? Tiny people in perfume bottles, that's what's cute.

April’s new Patreon wallpaper  features lil' glass-bottled versions of Juniper, Birch, Violet, Rowan, and Pascentia, from Leif & Thorn. Mostly with flowers/berries/leaves from the plant they're named after. Didn't really work for Pas, so I gave her amethysts and dove feathers. Comes in a whole bunch of sizes! Download whichever one(s) fit your needs.

[leifandthorn]

Leif & Thorn Q&A #128-130

[thecomicalquail]

[Image description: A map of the world that the webcomic Leif & Thorn takes place in. Around it are various characters and info boxes explaining naming conventions for various ethnic groups from the comic. 

Mainstream Ceannic names: Plant names + Spices Birch, Cedar, Delphinium, Hyacinth, Juniper, Magnolia, Rowan, Thorn, Violet, Amande, Carvi, Estragon, Fenouil, Lavande, Muscade, Persil, Romarin, Sureau

Kale: Ceannic pet names tend to be Gaelic, like Niamh here (“Nee-iv”). Just in case the French was too easy to pronounce.

Ceannic families of Sønheic descent tend to keep using distinctively Sønheic names: Nordic & sometimes Russian names

Alfhild, Katya, Patrik, Ralph, Tilda, Gagarr, Haetta, Magnusson, Ølsten, Rødlund

Alfhild: Some locals with Sønheic ancestry pick more mainstream-Ceannic names for themselves, or give those names to their kids! Those people are cowards. 

Given names most popular with Ceannic people of West Coast descent: Plant Oils. Angelica, Kokum, Marula, Olive, Ramtil

West Coast last names: Professions. Baker, Glazier, Harper, Sheaver, Thatcher

Given names most popular with Ceannic people of Eastern Continent (Feabhric) descent: Rose varieties. Blush Noisette, Cymbeline, Damask, Hermosa, Violette

Eastern Continent last names: Natural Features. Dubois, Dumas, Dupont, Laval, Merdhuile

Violet: Since I’m mixed-race, and my last name is real Feabhric, sometimes I get called “Violette” by people who figure I’d use the more Feabhric spelling.

Ceannic families of Islander descent also frequently stick with extra-Islander names: Latin, Greek, & Roman names Archarius (“Archie”), Dexippus (“Dex”), Pascentia (“Pas”), Argyros, Stavros, Zikos

Given names most popular with Ceannic people of Steppes (including Iuilic) descent: Fruits. Hazel(nut), Mulberry, Nance, Plum, Quince

Steppes diaspora surnames: Fruits but in Russian. Cherieshnya, Chesnok, Dinya, Grusadrevo, Malina

Hyacinth: Fruits would’ve been expensive in the desert, so I guess early immigrants figured they sounded fancy and exotic? And Iuilic nicknames are all cute animal stuff. Kitten, duckie, grasshopper, chickadee, honeybear . . .

Hedge: Stage names to sound “less Iuilic” were a big thing back in my day. Grassie called me “Nance,” but to everyone else, I was “Hedge.” End description.]

[Plain text: Notes on Ceannic Naming Conventions.]

Notes on Ceannic Naming Conventions

(Read the original post on Leif & Thorn

[leifandthorn]

"I'll do a simple Patreon-exclusive wallpaper this month," I said. "Just some small figures in plain clothes," I said. Next thing you know, I'm drawing 10 figures and spending all evening looking up reference poses of runners from multiple angles. There's a color-tinted version, which I think works better as a desktop, and a clear version, just for fun.

[leifandthorn]

Still a ways off from either Bi or Pan Day of Visibility -- but here's a bi/pan ensemble from Leif & Thorn anyhow!

Left to right: sweet knight Birch, tattooed miner Annie, cute cook Elisa, magical mom Laurel, helpful gardener Leif, social justice goth Hyacinth, shy nerd Hazel, magical dad Ebony, and optimistic guard Geirölul. (...full disclosure, their languages use different categories for sexuality, so the distinction of which ones got flagged "bi" and which got "pan" is pretty arbitrary.)

[leifandthorn]

Dipping back into the Leif & Thorn Gem AU, for some size comparisons! Thorn and his original knights...all the ones who survived the dragon, that is. (Plus, Annie.) Blue Quartz (Birch), Kambaba Jasper (Annie), Ocean Jasper (Birch/Annie), Aqua Aura Quartz (Birch+Thorn)

Green Ruby (Juniper), Blue Garnet (Juniper+Thorn), Sapphire (Thorn)

Amethyst (Violet), Lavender Moon Quartz (Violet+Thorn), Lepidolite (Violet+Rowan+Thorn), Botswana Agate (Violet+Rowan), Carnelian (Rowan), Piemontite (Rowan+Thorn)

Peach Quartz (Peach), Rutile Quartz (Marula)

[leifandthorn]

A few final couples, starring Leif & Thorn characters, in UnicaGem's MerMay prompts. #2 Pirate (minnows) - Mata & Pato #26 Hammerhead shark - Annie Persil #28 Pufferfish - Birch Persil Bonus #5 Swordfish & #18 Seashell - Thorn & Leif

[leifandthorn]

Promo banner for the Leif & Thorn Volume 1 print campaign -- where the main goal is 50% raised!

Along with our lovely title characters, I grabbed a lineup of the ensemble cast that would highlight some of the major storylines in Volume 1...while forming that rainbow color scheme, of course.