#children of sea layouts

[agassi]

[fattymadiy]

children of the sea

[dazedasian]

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$6.1k raised out of $30k total

Please help Ahmed provide for his many kids as the winter becomes colder..

[dsknsk]

Arknights and stars

On that topic, Arknights has always had a connection to the stars and its own star map is a bit wonky if compared to earth now but makes sense if you see it in the great scheme of things.

From Astesia's file on, it's been implied that the dome that surrounds Terra is fake, and Kristen is the first one who has gone beyond it so far (traveling from Terra to beyond the dome). It's also said that the reason people cannot navigate the sea reliably is because the stars themselves aren't reliable.

But it's also a bit more concrete that the stars are a bit off, or, it would look like that.

Remember Children of Ursus? Everyone remembers its dark story but few remember the map layout.

This is the Big Dipper, part of the constellation Ursa Maior. Fitting for an event that features bear characters.

But wait! Doesn't the Big Dipper look like this?

It does. But the Big Dipper over 50,000 years looks like this...

Like I pointed out in the previous post, the stars are always on the move. It may seem slow to us but if you take a large enough timescale then the sky sure does shift from what it's now.

Remember this skin of Astesia's?

It sure is a pretty skin. But zoom in on the star chart and you'll find something...peculiar...

Several constellations look...off. Like Leo, Virgo, Hydra and Gemini. And...

The star that's marked as the North Star (i.e the star in the middle) is not Polaris, but Vega, the largest star in the constellation Lyra! Don't see it? Here, I'll make it a little more clear:

And Lyra how it is now, which is, again, slightly different from how Lyra is depicted in the above image:

Vega is not our current North Star, it's the star Polaris (duh). But Vega was in about 14,000 years ago, and will be again in about 12,000 to 13,000 years in the future. So not our current North Star.

The celestial globe is also tilted at 45 degrees instead of 23,5 for earth.

So! A huge misser on the part of the artist, right?

Wrong!

You see, the ecliptic and equator in the artwork do obviously not align with our current ecliptic and equator. But our equator and ecliptic looking like in the skin can only happen if the precession of the earth's axis is tilted towards the south...which will be the case in 12,000 to 13,000 years from now. At that time, the constellations will look 'off' compared to how they look now (I was talking about the stars shifting over time in my previous post) and Polaris will no longer be the North Star, like in the artwork.

The kicker?

Lone Trail reveals that Terra is at least 13,000 years old.

[sleepyorchidmonster]

So, wouldn't it be fun if, when the Cataclysm happens, we temporarily enter a trial stage where we can see what the rest of Teyvat is doing while we're (presumably) in Khaenri'ah?

Like, Paimon makes an off-handed remark about how she hopes our friends are alright before we enter a domain, and next thing you know, we're playing as Jean back in Mondstadt, following her as she orders the knights to defend the city, before finding out to the Cathedral has been targeted and running up the flights of stairs alongside Lisa, Noelle, Mika and Eula. Once they reach the Cathedral, they rush to the basement alongside Barbara, only to find Albert rifling through priceless artifacts.

Then Albert reveals himself to be an Abyss Herald, saying how he spent the past years pretending to be an unsettling Barbara fan so he could be near the Cathedral and figure out the building's layout, as well as learn more about Barbatos.

We then beat him up for it. (I just want an excuse to beat up Albert). And, after the battle is over, Barbara wonders about Rosaria's whereabouts.

Rosaria is currently rushing through Springvale, trying to reach Wolvendom to see if Razor is alright. Diona, Bennet and Fischl are following her, alongside Draff and a few hunters.

They fight alongside Andrius and a pack of wolves, fending off the Abyss, especially the rifthounds (the people of Springvale evacuated to Mondstadt City).

And, just as the next wave of monsters appears, we cut to Dawn Winery, where Diluc, Kaeya and Amber are protecting the estate. (Assuming Kaeya is in Mond and not fighting his demons back in Khaenri'ah).

Meanwhile, in Dragonspine, Albedo, Mona, Klee and Sucrose are fending off a bunch of Abyssal monsters with the help of Albedo's siblings (there's an entire pack of rifthounds circling the group in a protective manner).

Then we hear an earth-shattering roar and a revived Durin suddenly takes to the sky, starting the final segment of the Mond Cataclysm fight, where we accompany Dvalin, Durin and Venti in a battle in the skies, the old foes now allies.

Then we jump from region to region, finding out how our friends are doing while the world burns to the ground.

Notable mentions that I'll probably include in another post at a later date include:

- Qiqi healing Millelith soldiers while Keqing fends off the Abyss;

- Hu tao, Shenhe and Baizhu dealing with restless spirits in Wuwang Hill;

- Rhodeia single-handledly protecting Qingce Village with a thousand Hydro mimics;

- The Akitsu Kimodameshi Youkai children attempting to protect other kids in Hanamizaka, and when that almost fails, Itto and Yoimiya swoop in to protect the kids;

- Sara, Heizou, Kokomi and Gorou working together to fend off monsters coming from the Dark Sea to Watatsumi, with Raiden on the frontlines;

- Yae sending out fox spirits to protect Narukami Island from atop the Shrine;

- Xiao, Yelan and Yanfei fighting at the Chasm;

- Wanderer fighting alongside the Pari before returning to Sumeru city to help Nahida;

- Nahida and the Aranara coordinating efforts to protect and guide all the people of Sumeru, be if by offering protection or providing oasis and safe havens;

- The Akasha being temporarily back so the entire regionof Sumeru is connected, with eremites and people from the rainforest sharing knowledge, be it the location of enemies, evacuation routes or first-aid tips. The children and elderly are also swapping stories, to calm each other down and avoid panicking;

- Nilou is guarding the Sanctuary of Surasthana, not that anyone is getting near Sumeru city, what with the green shield of Dendro and Apep looming in the background;

- Lyney and Lynette looking for Freminet, only to see a gigantic hydro construct of Pers fighting a Wolflord alongside the Salon Solitaire (Freminet and Furina besties agenda);

- Enemies such as Treasure Hoarders and Fatui fighting alongside the playable characters against the Abyss.

[drenosa]

This AU was spawned by @novankenn, with further additions from a few others.

After the Saga that was The Arc Horde: Expansion and before the Saga that was The Arc Horde: Date Night, there was:

The Arc Horde: A Son's Day Out

In the Kingdom of Vale, at the outskirts of it's capital city, a manor stood imperiously between the others in the district. It was grand, incredibly so, compared to it's nearest neighbours. The plot of land holding multiple buildings and distinct area's for a wide variety of uses.

Living quarters, lounging areas, recreational facilities, workshops and even a fully stocked and staffed medical ward were just part of the full range of what the Arc estate contained.

Today we find ourselves at one of the buildings holding living quarters. Here the regular pandemonium that comes with 38 children in one household was echoing through its hallways.

And it's in those hallways we seen the most peculiar sight. It is a boy. The only boy. The only non-blond brother amongst a sea of 37 very blonde sisters who can all call themselves children of one Jaune Arc.

This boy was currently running for his young life. Stuck in an objectively pretty dress and with fetching twin-tails in his brown, chin-length hair, he tried his best to ignore the sound of the pursuing party behind him.

"Aureus Gawain Autumn-Arc! Get your skirt-covered butt back here, right now!"

"We were still busy with your make-up! You're ruining the whole ensemble if you don't get back here!"

"Uncle Ren's tea leaves will not go to waste!"

The shrill voices behind him had the volume of airhorns, one the lanky 9-year old boy had no desire for to hear up close. Running through the hallways of the Arc Manor, he did his best to remember the layout of the stupidly large group of buildings he called home.

Turning the corner he spotted an open window. The collection of running sounds behind him gave him little reason to hesitate, scrambling over the windowsill and shutting it as he dropped down on the dirt beneath it.

Not even daring to breath, he listened on as his sisters stampeded past. When the noise was gone, he gave a quick glance through the window, dropping back down with a sigh of relief as he finally got a moment of peace. A moment well-suited to take stock of his own situation. Which, all-in-all, was a pretty stupid situation to be stuck in.

He, Aureus, only son of Jaune Arc, was once more "invited" for a tea party by some his sisters.

He, as always, respectfully declined said "invitation".

His sisters, as always, respectfully ignored his opposition and dragged him off by the ankles to "get dressed for the occassion".

He, as is often the case, managed to escape partway through his make-over. Leaving him him a "fetching spring dress" and twin-tails in his brown, chin-length hair.

His escape, which didn't succeed as often as he'd like, left him sitting outside a window, in the dirt of the inner courtyard of the Arc Manor.

The courtyard was actually the perfect place to be. The whole area was a massive garden with plenty of hedges, flowers, trees and most importantly, broken sightlines.

Aureus, his heart somewhat calmed, quickly made his way through the veritable maze that was the estate's central courtgarden, mentally keeping track of which direction he was travelling as he took a few extra turns to hopefully confuse any would be pursuers.

Popping back out the maze on the other side, he was greeted by the facade of another building, one that housed many of his home's lounging and recreational areas. Spotting yet another window left open thanks to whatever fortune he had left, he once again scrambled up and over the windowsill.

Dropping down on the floor with a huff Aureus finally took a real moment to enjoy an actual succesful escape from the clutches of his rabid sisters.

"Oh, well look at that, sisters. A surprise waiting below us."

Whatever warm relief the boy was feeling rapidly froze over with fear. Throwing his sight to-and-fro he desperately looked for his new tormentors, only to see no-one on either side of the long hallway.

"Aw... and he's looking everywhere but at the right place."

"Hihi, you'd think he'd know better by now."

Freezing again as the cogs in his brain tried to wrack and wrench together a coherent thought, Aureus looked up. Up near the ceiling he spotted three sets of triangular ears twitching with interest, three sets of amber and blue coloured eyes glinting with mirth, and three toothy grins smilling with delight.

Three of his sisters, the Belladonna children, lounged lazily together in the rafters, their composures as cat-like as can be.

"Hello, little brother." Said Yoru, the first Belladonna-Arc sister.

"Having some early exercise today?" Followed Raatri, the second.

"Not the best clothes for it, no?" Finished Nisha, the third.

Then again, Aureus might be wrong about the order. As much as he tried, and generally succeeded, in identifying which of his many same-faced sisters he was dealing with, the Belladonna triplets were among several who made it their life-goal to confuse anyone they could with an ongoing game of "who's who?".

With lazy stretches the three got up from their spots in the rafters, before hopping down almost 20 feet and landing with a grace and precision only a Faunus of the cat variety could perform.

Dressed in dark, baggy clothes, the three 11-year olds looked every bit the stereotype of the moody, pre-teen girls of generations past, wearing baggy trousers and baggier hoodies and with hands shoved deep in their roomy pockets.

The middle sister then traded looks with the sisters on her left and right, and with a simple arm motion the two nodded and sprinted off in opposite directions.

Thus Aureus was left with one Belladonna-Arc. Quietly, as if speaking any louder would alert his recently evaded peruers to his location, he hazarded a guess to which sister was before him.

"R-Raatri?"

"Nope." Was the curt, grinning reply.

"Yoru then?"

"Ooh, got it in two. Well done." Yoru's grin widened, just a little, as she regarded the dress wearing boy on the floor.

Said boy swallowed uncomfortably, knowing his future today was uncertain in the best case.

"What do you want?"

Yoru's grin became full and toothy as she held out two items in her arms. Aureus had failed to notice his sisters carrying anything before, so seeing a backpack in one hand and a small stack of Lien in the other was mildly surprising to say the least.

"We're going to get some ice-cream."

And with that strangely ominous declaration, Yoru tossed him the backpack, which he found to be filled with some baggy clothes fitted for him.

"Get dressed, you're being recruited."

Aureus sighed deeply as he pulled out the pants and hoodie. No matter what happened today, at least it beats being stuck in a dress drinking poorly made tea.

(A/N: A new little adventure, focused on the (not-so-)golden(haired) child of the expansive Arc family. What hi-jinks will Aureus be drawn into? What opposition will he face alongside his feline-inclined sisters? And will the ice-cream actually be any good, if they can get any? Guess we'll find out eventually. Thanks again for @novankenn for being the foundation of this bonkers AU, it's a good bit of fun all things considered)

[mandoriana]

Salazar Slytherin (Pendragon)

Curiosities about Salazar Pendragon:

Salazar is the youngest son of Merlin and Arthur.

He is the only one of the siblings who can always see Thestrals because he was weak and almost died when he was born.

Salazar is the "mama's boy"; Merlin spoils his youngest, and Salazar loves the attention from his mother.

Since he was little, he has had Basil, a basilisk. Merlin allowed Salazar to keep the young Basil because he trusted his son to control the magical creature.

Salazar walks very gracefully and rarely falls unless one of his siblings trips him, which happens often because the others inherited Merlin's clumsy legs.

Salazar has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and his hyperfocus is snakes.

Sal is the second tallest among the siblings, standing at 1.90 meters, only shorter than Godric.

Basil hatched on the same day Salazar was born. Merlin felt the connection between the two and decided to let the young Basilisk live with Salazar until the creature grew too large.

Sal is afraid of horses because they remind him of Thestrals.

Sal loves astrology and would spend his entire life looking at the starry sky if the sun didn't eventually rise.

Merlin was always more concerned with keeping Sal out of sight due to his magical "asthma" (instead of lacking air, Sal's magic can suddenly drop and kill him unless someone helps by transferring magic to him).

Arthur and Salazar spent nights awake looking at the sky. Initially, it was because Arthur wanted Merlin to sleep and knew his husband wouldn't agree out of fear of leaving Sal alone, but it soon became a tradition for the two.

Salazar's autism comes from Arthur.

Salazar is gay.

Salazar created the first wand with a phoenix feather. Since using his magic was dangerous, he solved the problem with the wand, which allowed him to better control the amount of magic he used and thus avoid risks.

Salazar spoke Parseltongue because Basil taught him.

He is the best swimmer among the siblings and loved swimming in the lake with Basil.

When he founded Hogwarts with his siblings, he thought it was okay to mix magical and non-magical people, but when a nearby village started a witch hunt, Sal lost faith in humanity.

Sal was the last of the siblings to die.

Sal never had a husband or children, but he fell in love with a man once. When the man discovered magic, he started the witch hunt.

He loves drawing and was the one who designed the layout of Hogwarts Castle. This is also how he created the Chamber of Secrets where Basil could live for years.

Salazar inherited from Merlin the druids' ability to speak telepathically. Thanks to this ability, he developed the Legilimency spell, allowing him to read minds and detect lies, which he uses to protect his family.

Gaius died at the age of 100, so Sal had time with his grandfather to learn some medical tricks.

Salazar has a secret garden where he cultivates plants and herbs, many of which he uses to create potions and remedies.

Besides Basil, Salazar has a special affinity with other magical creatures, such as griffins and Aithusa, and often spends time caring for them.

Salazar is known for accidentally creating several cruel spells. He tried to create one that would make cuts for surgical purposes, but it went wrong and became an Unforgivable Curse (Crucio).

He has a collection of ancient magical artifacts that he found on his travels with his siblings, each with a unique story.

Arthur feared not having moments with Salazar because, unlike his other children, Sal hates swords. So, to have father-son bonding time, Arthur began teaching Salazar to play the flute and guitar.

Salazar keeps a Pensieve where he stores his most precious memories, including special moments with his family and important magical discoveries.

Salazar loves the sea and frequently visits the coast to swim and explore underwater caves, where he finds rare ingredients for his potions.

He is responsible for gifting Rowena with pearls he finds during his visits to the sea.

He keeps a detailed diary of his family's adventures and achievements, ensuring that the Pendragon history is preserved for future generations.

[starzzach]

*ahem* son of the sea god ? 👀

hiiiiiiiiii malllllllllll

this one is really funny bc i have 1 wip of them being the gods, and this wip of them as the children of the gods set in a percy jackson-esque universe.

i haven't worked on this fic in a while but there's a solid enough foundation i think the snippet (under the cut) will make sense!

-

In fact, he hopes he can get another kiss out of the whole encounter, but Charles is sighing, standing up and tugging on the collar of his shirt, dragging Carlos with him. “Come on,” he says airily, dusting down his shorts, and tousling his perfectly styled hair. “It’s time for lunch.” Pointing down at the camp, he uses his other hand to take Carlos’, leading him down as if he hasn’t used this path countless times.

There are jeers and whistling from some of the other campers when they emerge, but Charles doesn’t drop his hand. Rumours have flown around about the two of them for more summers than Carlos cares to count. Lando spies him from the archery range, waving wildly in greeting. Carlos doesn’t have the chance to wave back, jerked yet another way by Charles’ iron grip. “Where are we–?”

“Lunch,” is the only answer he gets.

They’re, like, not really heading to lunch though. Unless the layout of the camp has completely changed in the months Carlos has been gone, the mess hall is in the opposite direction to which they’re moving in. He tries to fall in step with Charles but he’s making it much harder than it needs to be with the length of his stride. They walk past the Zeus and Hera cabins through to the Poseidon cabin, which Charles opens harshly with his shoulder, nearly knocking the door off its hinges. “You’re stronger these days,” he tries to joke, but Charles merely shoves him in, rolling his eyes. “What–”

“Gods,” Charles complains under his breath, hardly audible over the shut of the door behind them, “why can’t you take a hint?” Carlos only has a moment to try and comprehend the situation before Charles is walking them backwards, capturing his lips in a kiss so brutal he wonders whether the goal of all this is pain or pleasure. The air in the cabin has always been slightly salty, but Charles’ sweetness almost seems to be in a battle with it. Carlos loses himself in the embrace as his back hits the wall, arms hesitantly encircling Charles’ waist as his hands make their way along his jaw to his hair. 

An embarrassing noise escapes from Carlos, and he can feel Charles smile against his mouth, grip lightly tugging on Carlos’ hair in retribution. Carlos would stay here forever if he could, hiding away from his responsibilities and lost in Charles’ embrace instead. He deserves it, after the last two, three, four, five years. If it’s what Charles wants too.

Charles leans back, nibbling on his bottom lip before he lets go. He doesn’t go too far. Carlos doesn’t think he could take it if he did. His breathing is heavier than normal, which he takes as a small victory along with the redness coating his whole face, stretching down his throat and disappearing into the neckline of his shirt. But even after all that, he still looks mildly irritated.

“What hint?” he asks incredulously, brows furrowing. He’s getting increasingly tired of being left out of the loop, especially like this.

But Charles steps back for real this time, clearly wanting to use his hands in what is sure to be an argument, and Carlos feels his loss immediately. “After this winter?” he says, as if that makes anything clear. “You don’t even check to see if I’m here? If I came?”

He sounds… he sounds something close to hurt. Carlos’ frown deepens. He’s actually seriously at a loss here. Much had happened last winter, but nothing immediately comes to mind. “What?”

“You–” And, yes, here is the hand irritated hand waving, accompanied by his signature pacing. If the other campers could see him now, the senior counsellor of the Aphrodite cabin losing his shit over Carlos of all people, well, it would cause serious scandal. “You’re so annoying!” he huffs out, and Carlos blinks.

He was. Well, expecting worse. “But, why?”

Charles covers his face in what seems to be a silent scream. “If you want to be together then we have to be together,” he stresses, glaring venomously at Carlos as if he’s a piece of mould on the wall and not someone he’s proposing a real romantic relationship to. “Stupid. You’re so stupid, gods.”

“But I didn’t even do anything!”

“Exactly!” he says, and now he’s more confused than ever. “You can’t just kiss me and then not make anything, you fool.”

“Do,” he corrects distractedly, trying to process the whole conversation. He cannot quite tell if Charles is speaking, well, normally, or if his words have a sweet tinge to them, fogging up his thoughts. He blinks and then looks back up at Charles in surprise. “You want to be together? With me?”

Charles closes his eyes, counting wordlessly to himself. After a beat, he says: “I’m going to drive my knife through you.”

Carlos is sure even his ears turn red. “Oh.”

“‘Oh’,” Charles mocks, but he’s red himself, too. That’s him blushing twice in one day. A new record. (Certainly not, but, come on. Carlos has earned the right to exaggerate.)

After a few moments of silence, they both speak up at the same time. 

“So–” 

“You–”

Carlos scratches the back of his neck in a nervous gesture, holding out his other hand for Charles to hopefully take. Hopefully is pushing it, because his arm doesn't feel like his own, but the air tastes salty again on his tongue. “Lunch?” he asks, avoiding his eyes. They’re green in this light, and he doesn’t think he’ll be able to look away if he does.

Charles clears his throat. “Okay,” he says indifferently, interlocking his fingers with Carlos’ as if that was a totally normal thing to do.

As if Carlos wasn't going to obsess over this for at least tonight.

-

honestly this fic has been kind of a headache to characterise bc half of their backstory is inapplicable due to their new parentage so. yeah. also i won't be hearing any complaints about their godly parents ESPECIALLY if its about charles (if you're thinking why not ares for carlos. you are thinking correctly)

[tears-of-amber]

FREYA (a deity deep dive & some UPG)

⚔️Who Is Freya?⚔️

Freya is a Norse goddess of war, love, beauty, sex, pleasure, magic, and so much more! Its very hard to summarize the extent of her powers, and what knowledge remains of her through artifacts and myths suggests she was once as complex a deity as Odin (bearing many alternate names and ruling over so many aspects of life). I took inspiration from @coinandcandle for the layout of this post. Hopefully that isn't a problem! If I get any information wrong or site sources that someone else discovers to be unreliable, I am open to feedback! Note: some of this is UPG, and I'm very clear when I'm stating UPG. If there's any confusion, feel free to message me!

⚔️Parents & Siblings⚔️

-Njördr (Freya's father, a Vanir god)

-Njördr's Unnamed Sister (Freya's mother, who some scholars speculate is Nerthus, yet it remains a mystery)

-Freyr (Freya's brother, a Vanir god)

⚔️Significant Other⚔️

-Odr (Freya's husband, a mysterious wandering god who is suspiciously like Odin)

⚔️Children⚔️

-Hnoss (Freya's daughter)

-Gersemi (Freya's daughter)

⚔️Epithets⚔️

-Hörn (meaning "flaxen", probably in reference to her hair)

-Gefn (meaning "the giver")

-Syr (meaning "sow" a creature that was associated with fertility like Freya)

-Valfreyja (meaning "lady of the slain", as Freya is the goddess who picks and rules over half the slain warriors in her hall Sessrúmnir, in the field of Fólkvangr.)

-Mardöll (meaning "sea-brightener" or "one who makes the sea shine") Note: I always think of her making her father Njördr proud, as a way of making the sea shine, but that is UPG.

-Vanadis (meaning "Vanir goddess")

⚔️Important Notes⚔️

-Freya is famous for her beauty, and her lavish taste. An example of this is her iconic necklace Brísingamen. She acquired this necklace by sleeping one night with each of the dwarves who made it. In return they made the necklace (which is said to have been gorgeous and forged out of gold with amber beads).

-Something that also confirms that amber and gold are sacred to the goddess Freya would be the story of how she cries tears that turn to gold when they touch the earth and to amber when they fall on the sea. Its important to note that she cries these tears for her husband Odr who has not returned in a long time from his wandering journeys. Below is a picture of the famous artwork that depicts her tears by Gustav Klimt:

-Oh, and Freya rides a chariot pulled by cats. Pretty cool, huh? The original cat lady. Cats are sacred to her, so if you want to honor her be sure to treat feline friends with extra respect and adoration!

-When she doesn't ride her chariot, Freya is said to ride her boar into battle. The boar's name is name is Hildisvíni (meaning battle swine).

-Freya possesses yet another treasure: her falcon cloak. This magical cloak of falcon feathers helps her to fly with the ease of a falcon. Therefore, its safe to say that falcons are sacred to this goddess.

-Despite being a goddess of sex and pleasure, Freya is not easily won over. The myths reveal she wont just sleep with anyone. Many giants sought to steal her away and wed her, yet she never caved and slept with someone she didn't see the benefit in sleeping with. In my UPG, she is a very independent goddess.

⚔️Modern Deity Work⚔️

Correspondences (These are based off of my UPG)

Rocks/Stones/Crystals

-amber

-gold

-falcon's eye (also called blue tigers eye)

-carnelian

-rose quartz

Herbs/Plants

-rose

-cinnamon

-mugwort

-daisy

-lily of the valley

-cowslips

Animals

-cat

-boar

-falcon

-rabbit

-hawk

Offering Ideas

-cinnamon tea with honey

-sweet decadent foods

-pieces of amber

-cat figurines

-jewelry (specifically necklaces)

Acts Of Devotion

-spending time caring for cats

-fighting for what you believe in

-standing up for yourself

-being respectful of your own and others sexualities

-beauty routines

-glamour magic

-learning seidr

-connecting with magic in whatever form feels right for you

-practicing being more loving and compassionate

⚔️Sources⚔️

[cyberpunkonline]

The Weirdest Games You May Have Missed

Introduction:

In the vast and ever-expanding world of video games, where countless titles are released every year, it's easy to get lost in the sea of "normal" and mainstream titles. But let's face it, sometimes, normality is overrated. There's a peculiar charm in exploring the weird, the offbeat, and the downright bizarre games that often go overlooked. These games might not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are unforgettable experiences that deserve recognition. In this article, we'll delve into the world of the strangest and most noteworthy games, offering a "Fucked up rating" out of 10 for each based on their themes, reception, and general consensus.

Captain Blood (Fucked up rating: 7/10):

Captain Blood takes you on a surreal journey through the cosmos as you attempt to communicate with alien species. The game's bizarre visuals, complex alien languages, and psychedelic landscapes make it a truly unique experience. Your goal is not just to survive but to decipher and interact with a myriad of strange extraterrestrial life forms. While it might not be for everyone, its unconventional approach to storytelling and communication is something to behold.

Weird Dreams (Fucked up rating: 9/10):

True to its name, Weird Dreams is a nightmarish adventure that blurs the line between reality and the surreal. Players navigate a series of disturbing dreamscapes, encountering grotesque creatures and solving perplexing puzzles. Its unsettling atmosphere and unconventional gameplay make it a true gem for fans of the bizarre. The game's eerie soundtrack and nightmarish visuals contribute to its deeply unsettling atmosphere.

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (Fucked up rating: 8/10):

Adapted from Harlan Ellison's sci-fi classic, this game explores themes of torture, redemption, and existential dread. It's a grim and unsettling journey through the minds of five tortured souls, each facing their own unique horrors. The game's dark narrative and moral dilemmas leave a lasting impact, and the voice acting adds an extra layer of unsettling realism to the experience.

Rule of Rose (Fucked up rating: 9/10):

Rule of Rose is a psychological horror game that delves deep into the disturbing relationships among a group of orphaned children in a mysterious, twisted orphanage. The game explores themes of power, cruelty, and psychological trauma in a way that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. The haunting orchestral score and eerie art design intensify the feeling of unease.

The Suffering (Fucked up rating: 7/10):

This action-horror game is a descent into the nightmarish horrors of a prison overrun by monstrous abominations. The game is known for its graphic violence and psychological elements, making it a haunting and disturbing experience. The game's gruesome creature design and oppressive atmosphere contribute to its unsettling nature.

E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy (Fucked up rating: 6/10):

E.Y.E is a surreal and ambitious cyberpunk game that blends elements of first-person shooters, role-playing, and exploration. Its complex narrative and bizarre world-building make it a challenging but intriguing experience for those who appreciate unconventional storytelling. The game's intricate lore and cyberpunk aesthetics add depth to its eccentricity.

Deadnaut (Fucked up rating: 8/10):

Deadnaut is a roguelike sci-fi horror game that places you in the shoes of a team of spacefaring investigators. As you explore derelict spaceships and face off against cosmic horrors, the game's oppressive atmosphere and grim narrative create a genuinely unsettling experience. The procedural generation of ship layouts and unpredictable encounters enhance its replayability and sense of cosmic dread.

Vangers (Fucked up rating: 9/10):

Vangers is a surreal and mind-bending open-world vehicular combat game set on a bizarre alien planet. Players navigate a surreal landscape in customizable vehicles, encountering strange creatures and solving cryptic puzzles. The game's absurdity is matched only by its complexity, offering a unique blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving that's as bewildering as it is captivating. Its nonsensical dialogue and intricate world-building contribute to its strangeness.

Conclusion:

The world of gaming is a vast and diverse one, and these weird and wonderful titles are just the tip of the iceberg. From surreal dreamscapes to psychological horrors, cosmic mysteries, and the alien landscapes of Vangers, there are countless overlooked gems waiting to be discovered. So, did I miss anything? Undoubtedly. The world of gaming is a treasure trove of oddities and eccentricities, and it's up to each player to embark on their own journey of discovery to find the next weird and wonderful game that will leave a lasting impression.

- Raz

[the-quicksilver-diary]

The Archive

Thunder rolls far beyond, resounding across an endless sea. The ocean crashes upon an island's sheer and jagged cliffs. And on this island, that forsaken hunk of ancient stone cradled in boundless sea and thundering sky, sits the Archive.

The Archive contains mathematical theorems written by the first scholars of the desert lands, and blueprints for vast machines dreamt by visionary artificers. It is a library of genius. The Archive contains forbidden esoterica, and secrets whispered to mad prophets in twilight hours. It is a vault of arcane power. The Archive contains maps of all the stars ever born, all the lands ever roamed, all the children of creation. It is a store of wonder.

For all it contains, the Archive serves as a bastion of memory. Its bricks, whose clay was made wet by tears and made stone by hellfire, were laid by the tireless constructs of yore. Each brick remembers the life cut down to make it, each cry of a widow or whimper of her young. And within those walls, anything known by man, beast, or god is recorded in a book for future retrieval.

The Archive, its name long dead with the poor soul who drafted its layout, is a structure erected aeons ago by sleepless builders, housing all the knowledge ever conceived. Its spires reach tall into the terrible night, grasping for a semblance of starlight unreachable by mortal-laid stone. Along the outer walls of the Archive, facing forever to the moon, are cast a row of stained-glass windows depicting strange geometries.

The moon, in accordance with her cyclical temperament, shines angles of light that refract through these geometries. While within her candle-wax humours, the windows filter light such to display small creatures of the pasture, mirages of wonder and fondness. And while the moon is within her waning and hollow humors, the glass bends to a crueler will and spawns countenances of nightmare and shadow.

These monsters blur the quality of their own outline, substance uncertain against the aether of being, demeanor hostile to the concept of life. Countless visitors to the Archive have become lost in its labyrinthine halls, devoured by phantoms whose rasping bellows call to mind a place that never was.

There once was a Librarian who lived within this grand and damnable Archive. None knew his name, even if such a thing could ever have been important. The Librarian was brilliant, he knew the home and content of every book in his domain. The Archive, as a result, was kept in impeccable and pristine condition. It was a monument of glory and brilliance sought by all in the kingdom of men, holding texts on still-fresh vellum and ink retrieved with lightning swiftness. That is, until came the inexorable end of the Librarian.

The Librarian, alone in his keep, was driven mad by visions of shadows that stalked the Archive's halls. Stalked by shadows that never were, he sought the cold embrace of the deep below. His fall was unremarkable, the splash of his body upon the water unseen among the havoc of the waves. Only the tide mourned for him.

And once the Librarian was gone, the shelves grew angry and afraid. They lost their cohesion, books dissolving through higher dimensions and rotating themselves to opposite ends of the complex. No-one can recall the order or material within these texts. Curious men still search the Archive, some to find wisdom of decaying sages, others to map its Escherian routes. Books open, and their pages bleed, their words illegible to the conscious mind. The Archive has lost its glory, containing still all the knowledge there ever was. And all the same, the hallowed sea sings a dirge for the corpse she cradled, and so sway shadows dreamt by glass.

[fattymadiy]

art by daisuki igarashi

[happyk44]

So I just found out that Poseidon is also the god of droughts and what are your thoughts on a child of poseidon with drought powers, a complete opposite to their more sea based children?

[ID: Screenshot of a google search. The search term reads, "god of drought in gr...". The search term is cut off due to the mobile layout of the screenshot. A featured snippet at the top comes from wikipedia, reading, "List of water of deities".

The core of the screenshot is the People Also Ask section, of which the return is "Who is the Greek god of drought?" This question has been dropped down to show a result from "www.theoi.com". The answer reads, "Poseidon was the Olympian god of the sea, earthquake, floods, drought and horses. He was depicted as a mature man with a sturdy build and a dark beard holding a trident (a three-pronged fisherman's spear)." /end ID]

Oh! I knew this 🙌 I think it's related to him being the god of the sea/water, sort of like how Apollo is associated with healing but also the plague. I always find it funny when that happens 🤣

So for the kids who skew more to the side of drought, obviously they still have their sea powers. They're probably far more dry in tone, less empathic, less emotional. Maybe they're more prone to the earthshaker side of Poseidon as well, and the equine, to make up for the lesser interest in the sea. Plus earthquakes and horses are more land-based and a drought affects the land (agricultural loss, wildfires, increased sandstorms, etc).

In PJO canon, I'd want to say drought-based kids grew up more inland where access to a large body of water was difficult to come across. So it's less about internal nature (as with my interpretation of the freshwater vs seastorm Neptune babies), and more about familiarity and adaptation - sort of like how catci and other desert plants have evolved to handle long periods without water.

Powers that they have an increased capability for over their sea counterparts:

causing earthquakes! they can manipulate them on a small or large scale, but they have higher propensity. it's a little harder for them to cause underwater earthquakes tho (which. can become tsunamis btw)

dehydration - sort of an inverse of drowning a person in their own fluids, they will the liquids inside them to dry up at a rapid pace

as a subset of that, i think it would be so cool if they could pull a tantalus-like punishment with enough focus on someone. no matter how much you drink, you will always be thirsty, you will never be satisfied, you will be captain barbosa and his crew, turning skeletal in the moonlight

they can withstand higher and drier heats than their sea-preferred counterparts (for example, percy would be hanging off of carter in the desert, crying for water, while they're chilling and vibing, truly a cactus of a person)

similarly, they retain water better, and sweat less. their bodies need less fluid to keep going on (this makes them better at giving blood lol, stay juicy everybody!)

while most children of poseidon are capable of piling water in the air into something usable, the drought prone kids have picked up how to pull water/usable liquid from anything available, as dry climates may lack enough water in the air for it to be worthwhile compared to humid climates --- so they're more likely to pull water out of living things, pull water out of the ground, or even find water deep underground (well water!)

due to the above, they're more capable of causing inland floods, they can pull water out from deep in the earth and force it to surround areas that are devoid of rivers, lakes, or even high rainfalls - this isn't just because of the whole "god of floods" thing either, it's because after a long period of drought, sudden rains can cause flash flooding to occur, so they're good at making flood happens

heat generation! they may be able to make things hotter, and/or drier

they have perpetual black thumbs. they are... not very good at growing plants lol

finding/summoning horses. it might take a while, but if there is a horse, they will find it (like the horse version of a dowsing rod, which, lol, they're kind of the human version of a dowsing rod, i guess), and if there are no horses nearby, they will get one to come to them through ✨ vibes ✨

their version of a storm is a heatwave OR extreme rain. yes, they can summon hurricanes or typhoons, but those are much more ocean-based things. so forcing high and burning levels of heat that makes everyone stumble and sag, sweating through every inch of fabric they have OR extreme and heavy rainfall that practically drowns you where you stand and knocks you to the ground is more their instinct

lowkey i wanna give them sandstorms as well, since that can be an effective of long-period of drought, but. you know. idk how much greece was ever getting pummeled by sandstorms for that to be something they associated with drought. (egypt, on the other hand, set, my dangerous and beloved)

(funnily enough set is also the god of foreigners, so like, who knows, maybe he and poseidon struck a funny deal when one of his kids traipsed over there while wandering around)

Since I think the difference between sea-based Poseidon babies and land-based Poseidon babies is just due to their adaptation of their environment, I think someone who is sea-based could easily become more land-based after living in such conditions for a while, and vice versa. Sort of like accents, lol. You know, if Percy decided to up and move to the desert in his 40s, he'd adapt after an initial period of "oh my gods oh my gods where is the fucking water where is the ocean i am dying" lol. it would take him a lot longer to pick up on the accent of the land than if he were younger, and so he'd still maintain his "sea" accent long-term

Because of this, I think it would be really neat if, way back when, it was common for the kids to take a few months away from camp to go living in the desert for a bit so they could pick up some land skills - like a rite of passage for poseidon demigods. one of the older cabin members goes out with them to make sure they don't die, helps them hone into the skills they might not have tapped into before, etc and so on. The kids come back at the end of their outing, more well-rounded and capable of tapping into the opposite side of their powers, when and if needed. Some of the kids might repeat the outing more than once for funsies, but most of them usually just do the one time thing, and then practice their land-based powers on a smaller scale at camp.

If a land-based kid comes into camp when they're much older, they don't typically have to do the outing, but sometimes they'll go out, not to learn anything, but to help the others, since they'll essentially receive assistance with their sea-based powers while they're at camp (presuming every version of camp has been based near the ocean or some giant water mass throughout the years - if not, then it goes the other way around, where they take a few months to go chill out on a beach for a few months).

Thanks for asking! If anyone else has any extra ideas, feel free to add them on! :)

Additionally, just 'cause, here are the four types of droughts I came across while googling "drought causes" because, lol, I'm an island boy, I am not familiar with droughts and wanted to get some facts in that weren't high temps and low rainfall (source):

Meteorological: region-specific; occur when an area receives less rainfall than normal; often measured by comparing the current situation to previous years’ rainfall. Some locations are affected more harshly than others.

Agricultural: when there is not enough moisture in the soil to sustain the growth of crops. Crops need different amounts of water based on their level of maturity, so they can be susceptible to droughts at different times. For example, most plants require moist topsoil to germinate, but this could be less important down the line as the plant matures. So, the effects of an agricultural drought hinge largely on the growth stage of the plants.

Hydrological: when there is a lack of surface and subsurface water supply; detrimental effects can be most readily observed in watersheds and river basins; affect the entire water cycle, take longer to notice, and have effects less immediately obvious than with other droughts.

Socioeconomic: when the water supply is too low to support human and environmental needs; wreaks havoc on the supply and demand of crucial commodities like water, grains, fish, and hydroelectric power.

[outofangband]

Teleri gardens post for @actual-bill-potts

Mentions of this on my other world building posts for the Teleri! I actually have a lot of head cannons about the differences in gardens between the three peoples of the Amanyar and I will make posts about Vanyarin and Noldorin gardens soon!

Second note: this is not meant to be a flora post as I want to make a separate one with more extensive information on that however, I will include some examples of plants 

As always please feel free to ask more!

-The Teleri have beautiful gardens of a variety of forms; formal gardens, groves, orchards, vegetable and herb gardens, aquatic gardens ranging from elegant ponds to elaborate whimsical waterscapes, and coral gardens.

-There are extensive and beautiful gardens at the palace of Alqualondë including a fountain carved over a natural spring, a grove of trees (mostly black and maritime pine) with a small natural pond, and a stream that runs to the ocean through a small opening in the sandstone walls.

-Shapes of gardens tend to be spiral or circular from above. Circles, spirals, waves, and other similar shapes are common and a lot of their art and this absolutely includes outdoors and garden art 

-Some of these coral gardens are cultivated from existing tide pools with help from Maiar of Ulmo. These can serve as living monuments to the ocean and its creatures, and are very sacred places to the Teleri.

-There are several green houses in Alqualondë including one or two built over warm springs that provide moisture to the plants and soil. Glasswork is another important Telerin craft as I mentioned on my first world building post. Though Noldorin architectural styles or practices might have been used in their construction, the glasswork and horticulture/ecological work is from Telerin knowledge and practices

-There are also many purely underwater gardens. Some of these are in lagoons, and groves found more inland. Some of these are in the ocean beyond the harbor. Many of these are very difficult to access to outsiders, requiring access through hidden coves and through steel treks. These gardens are home to many aquatic and ocean plants, and the creatures that find sanctuary in them; kelp, seaweed and sea grasses and others 

-Gardening, landscaping and design and water engineering are important Telerin crafts! They take a lot of pride in how land and water are represented in their gardens, in contents and layout and shape, etc

-The soil around and through Alqualondë is very fertile. It’s not uncommon to find fragments of shell and limestone or sandstone in the soil thus the plant life tends to be limestone friendly though the levels are not so high that it makes it inhospitable to species that aren’t 

-Small pebbles and shells often decorate paths in gardens and parks. Statues are rare in gardens but small rock/pebble formations are sometimes made

-Especially among the nobles but also elsewhere, aquatic gardens often with elaborate waterscapes. These utilize pumps, spinning wheels, elegant slanted trofts carved from stone, clay or bamboo, and elvenmade streams and ponds

-Even in non water based gardens, water elements such as fountains, often in whimsical or creative shapes, bird baths and ponds are common. There are carved sandstone structures around several saltwater springs creating fountains in Alqualondë’s main spaces. These are viewed as the sea opening up within the city

-Telerin gardens, even formal ones, tend to require minimal pruning, and rely on methods that allow the species to grow thrive, and cross pollinate as they would naturally. While, this is true of most elven garden practices in general it’s often especially visible in these 

-Children play in the gardens a lot and lessons are often held here!

-As I mentioned on my previous world building post for the Teleri, many streams run from the Pelóri to the ocean and they run through the city. There are also many underground streams, and both sources are utilized to bring water to gardens, houses and other water elements. I actually headcanon that both Tirion and Alqualondë have systems somewhere between canals and aqueducts.

-Sea cabbage, common gorse, juniper, bay, sea oats, yarrow, sea thrift, curry plants and sea campion are some of the most common plants in small gardens. Bay leaves are common garnishes and seasoning in Telerin cuisine.

[good-books-to-read]

Title & Author: Lore of the Deep by Claire Cock-Starkey

Publication Date: Out Now!

Score: 83/100

Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/650f93ec-708f-404c-9028-936dce7d6cfc

Comments: This beautifully illustrated book introduces children to mythology and folklore from the sea. I particularly appreciated the layout, which featured a clear and easy-to-understand content page. The book is divided into several categories, including "Creatures of the Sea" and "Stormy Waters," with each category containing 5 to 6 entries. For instance, the "Stormy Waters" section covers topics like sea weather lore and waves and whirlpools.

Each entry includes a short story, such as "Arion and the Dolphin" and "Sinbad the Sailor and the Roc." Although the stories are brief, they fit well with the overall flow of the book and are perfectly suited for a younger audience.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group for providing me this book for review consideration via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[scotianostra]

On August 29th 1930 36 people, the entire population of St Kilda were evacuated from the island.

On 10 May 1930 the people of St Kilda sent a collective letter to William Adamson, the Secretary of State for Scotland, requesting that they should be evacuated from their home. By the end of August that year the evacuation was completed and the process of resettlement on the Scottish mainland had begun. The abandonment of St Kilda is sometimes described as one of the few occasions when the ending of a community has taken place in a voluntary fashion.

Generations had struggled to scrape a living from the unforgiving land far out in the Atlantic, but the 20th century had finally caught up with the harsh reality of existence there. It was a brutal process, as they carried their possessions and their furniture on their backs to the pier, the men had the unenviable task of drowning their working dogs in the sea, as they were not allowed to take them with them to the mainland, it was either that or leave them to starve, a very harsh ending to their life on the archipelago. Their cats were left to fend for themselves, but from what I can gather were eventually all killed off by the military over the next few years.

St Kilda is not unique, other Scottish Islands were abandoned beforehand, most notably, Handa, off Sutherland which met its doom in the 1840s. Mingulay, in the Outer Hebrides that was deserted by 1912. The Islands of St Kilda though had become a curiosity, a sort of freak show for tourists to observe.

St Kilda is actually the name given to the group of islands, though most people when quoting St Kilda, really mean the largest island where the actual village was, that is actually called Hirta, I myself when posting here have occasionally just title the photos St Kilda, rather than correcting myself, lazy, a wee bit I just find it easier than explaining the Island group each post.

Hirta was occupied by humans for over two thousands of years by various residents and there were many traditions handed down the generations, traditions influenced by monks, viking sailors, medieval rulers and landowners.

What remains there now are the ruins of both their original houses, mainly blackhouse type houses, alongside slightly newer houses which had been built for them in the later years. The layout of the 19th-century village remains to this day, and over 1,400 stone-built Cleit for storing food and fuel are scattered all over the islands, and even on the sea stacs.

In 1726 a St Kildan visited Harris, caught smallpox there, and died from it. His clothes were returned to St Kilda in 1727, and brought the disease with them. Most of the islanders died, only 1 adult and 18 children survived the outbreak. However, 3 men and 8 boys escaped the disease as they had been left on Stac an Armin to collect gannets. The disease spread while they were there and nobody could go to fetch them. They were eventually rescued 9 months later. The owner of St Kilda had to send people from Harris to repopulate St Kilda.

As if the harsh conditions weren’t enough the Islanders had to cope with the effects of the First World War, the Royal Navy erected a signal station on Hirta, and daily communications with the mainland were established for the first time in St Kilda’s history. In a belated response, a German submarine arrived in Village Bay on the morning of 15 May 1918 and, after issuing a warning, started shelling the island.

Seventy-two shells were fired, and the wireless station was destroyed. The manse, church & jetty storehouse were damaged, but no loss of life occurred. As a result of this attack, a 4-inch Mark III QF gun was erected on a promontory overlooking Village Bay, but it never saw military use.