#damatris

[sixminutestoriesblog]

molybdomancy

Probably about as far back as humanity has been able to think beyond the immediate, there have been different ways to try to predict what's coming in the future. Sometimes this is possible by paying attention to patterns.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight.

Red sky in the morning, sailor, take warning.

These days we know its atmospheric pressure that tints the skies and the science behind the old mariner's rhyme. Back then, they just knew that seeing it meant a pattern was in place and should be heeded. Just because you don't understand why a pattern happens, doesn't mean recognizing the pattern is foolish.

Unfortunately for humanity, there are a lot of things that happen over the course of a year that have no pattern, or even warning, to recognize. That doesn't mean humans don't still want to be warned about them.

Enter molybdomancy.

Molybdomancy is one of many attempts at foretelling the future.

The way it goes is like this. A piece of lead is put into the bowl of a spoon and melted over a candle. Once the lead is entirely liquid, its quickly dropped into a bowl of cool water. The lead quickly re-hardens and the shape it takes, and sometimes the shadow that shape casts on the wall, predict the future.

The practice itself dates at least as far back as the Romans and Greeks. It was a part of older Jewish folk-medicine that was used when an illness was attributed to fright as well. The shape the lead took would resemble the creature that had caused the scare.

Fast forward to modern New Year's Eve traditions.

In Finland, the tradition is called uudenvuodentina. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland its called bleigießen. In any of these countries, just before the new year, you can buy kits that will provide you with little ingots of lead, the spoon to melt it in and a list of explanations of what the shapes could be predicting. Well - not the lead anymore. That, it turns out, can be pretty dangerous to your health. Instead, these days, the kits come with either tin or wax. It's not the material, its the shape the water reveals that matters. So, somewhere in the midst of all the celebrations, people can take a little time out of their party to try to see if they can catch a glimpse of their future on new year's eve.

Here are a few of the meanings the shapes could take:

Ball, Kugel (ball) = Glück rollt auf dich/luck will roll your way

Degen (epee, sword) = Mut zum Risiko/risk-taking courage

Frosch (frog) = Lottogwinn/lottery win

Gitarre (guitar) = Wunsch/wish

Fuchs (fox) = schlau, Eigenengagement/smart, self-initiative

Kelch (chalice) = glückliche Zukunft/happy future

Maske (mask) = überall gern gesehen/welcome everywhere

Not enough?

Try here and here. No. Of course, they don't agree. That's part of the fun of fortunate telling.

Today's post is sponsored by @damatris who commented on the new year's traditions around the world post with a couple traditions I hadn't heard of before. They were delightful and I had to make a full post for at least one of them.

Kiitos, @damatris!

[izzy-hands]

Thank you for all the new glorious Witcher S3 gifs! I'm loving them all! <3 <3 <3

you are most welcome! i can't really help it, tbh, i'm just so high on the fact that i enjoyed this season so much so far, my brain can't stop thinking about gif ideas 😂

[haleths]

🎵

television man - talking heads

union city blue - blondie

do it again - steely dan

all the things she said - simple minds

so emotional - whitney houston

send me a 🎵 and i’ll give you 5 songs from my shuffle

[laisme]

dari evolution!!!

i was gonna make him sad :( but then modern au came out and suddenly i think he fits being a funny hahas guy more idek

[spielzeugkaiser]

I wanted to do something low brain-y today, so I slapped some cd project red art on my witcher books :) (this is underside of the books, maybe for the back something with Ciri and the top another thing? I like the thought that it's like a journey..) Also 💖 for @damatris who gifted me those, thank youu 🥺

[wren-of-the-woods]

This is a few days late but thank you for tagging me @flowercrown-bard! This was fun <3

rapid fire five things that make me happy:

Laughing with my siblings

When writing suddenly starts to go well

Wind on my face

Spotting wildlife

When a film has the perfect music to achieve what it's going for

No-pressure tagging: @cherryjuicegf @bambirex @dreamofbecoming @siriusly-the-best-bi @bloodsoaked-rainbows @jaskefer @damatris @karolincki @ghostinthelibrarywrites @rebrandedbard @misterkarchie-sideblog and anyone else who feels like it!

[dapandapod]

Writing Patterns (Tag Game)

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there’s a pattern!

Thank you for tagging me @samstree 💛 Let's see if there is anything here lol.

The pain is unbearable. (Dead I live, recently finished, 3 years in the making, Geraskier)

See, there is thinking outside the box, and there is thinking outside the box. (Bring a friend home, Jaskel at IKEA)

It starts, as it often does between the two of them, with a deep bottle of spirit and a great idea. (Our lives, intertwined, Geraskier handholding)

For all the love Jaskier has of words and language, he is strangely picky with nicknames. (Particular with nicknames, Geraskier)

Technically, Geralt does not work with humans. (Ribbons in calm water, Geraskier, laaate mermay)

The fire cracked merrily, built tall to fight the winter. (Stuff of dreams, Geraskier)

It was supposed to be an orgy. (Them or me, Geraskier, +18)

Awakening as a spirit guide seals Jaskier’s fate. (Guiding light, chapt.2 where the story is)

Oxenfurt in early summer is just as busy as expected. (Connected, Geraskier, +18)

“I can’t believe you told them it is our honeymoon!” Jaskier hisses. (Leave your mark, Geraskier)

Guess who my main ship is 🤣 I .. cannot put the finger on what the pattern is, but I sense one 🤣 if you see it, feel free to holler at me.

Tagging: @loki-is-my-kink-awakening @lokibuswrites @damatris @magdelanesingerin wait how did it get to 1am, feel free to join me!

[magdelanesingerin]

WIP game

Rules: in a new post, post the names of all the files in your wip folder regardless of how nondescriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet and tell us about it!Then tag as many people as you have wips! If you don't write, list your art wips!

Thanks fort the tag, @dapandapod! <3

Ok, lets do this! Currently in my WIPs,

A Life Alone 2

Sweet Indifference

Botanist sequel

Mountain Men

No Chorus

My Side

And as for tagging others...I'm a hermit, so this is always a bit tricky. Let's go with @damatris, @fangirleaconmigo, @jaskierofrivia

[blaidd-gwyn]

Thank you for tagging me @wren-of-the-woods!!

Rules: Shuffle your repeat playlist and post the first ten tracks, then tag ten people.

Ascend by Dezko

Nothing Left by Eliminate, XAELO

Fire - Morgan Page Remix by Just A Gent, Caitlyn Scarlett, Morgan Page

Make This Go On Forever by Hahlweg

Just the Kinda Feeling by Yotto, Lost Boy

Desire by Sub Focus, Dimension

Zone by Venjent

Dream of Us by Fella, Marcus Cardello

Feel by CaitC, Christina Harrison

Let Me Go by Feint, Josh Rubin

Some of those absolutely deserve to be there, others are there by coincidence (I don't even like Feel that much).

Tagging: @spoopy-scary-skeletons69 @witcherbeech @cosmicwalnut @damatris @the-not-so-silent-back-up @watercolour-fishy @flosimo @dancingwiththefae @bambirex

[officerjennie]

Thank you @loki-is-my-kink-awakening for tagging me!

Rules: Pick five fragments from your unfinished WIPs and then tag five people to keep it going. Let’s have fun with it and help each other shape those fragments into published fics!

All of these are Witcher fic snippets, and I think the last count for WIPs was...close to 70...

Also, fun fact! The siren Jaskier fic was one of the very first I started for the fandom! And who knows when it'll be finished :D

1 - Subnautica AU Ch. 2

Could he even find out if the air was safe to breathe? Without trial and hopefully not error? He licked his dry lips, wincing when he found the crack and dried blood again, and swore under his breath at himself.

“Yen, can you run diagnostics on the atmosphere of this planet?”

“In order to run diagnostics of that kind, I’d need access to a particle counter, a moisture meter, an air flow monitor, a thermal imaging camera -”

Geralt growled as the voice went on in a dry tone, reaching up to rake his sweaty hair out of his face and swearing again when he hit his helmet instead.

2 - Arranged Marriage AU Ch. 1

Julia had certainly made a sight. The gown had suited her, lace and train and all. Her hair curled and pinned up, her lips a deep red, eyes a stunning blue. Eyes that hadn’t met his even once. Not when she walked down the aisle, not when they said their vows. Not when they shared a chaste kiss in front of the witnesses.

Her lips, deep red and brilliant, had been a thin line the entire wedding and reception. At least, Geralt thought while nursing his wine, he wasn’t the only one suffering.

3 - Siren Jaskier, one-shot

“A warrior.” Jaskier ran his hand up Geralt’s thigh and shifted beneath him. The tip of his tail flicked some water into the air, spraying it onto the other end of the nest. “How fearsome, brave, heroic. Geralt the witcher saving the world from big, scary monsters.” 

“You make it sound ridiculous,” he snorted, tugging off his glove and tossing it towards his swords.

“Bet you make it look glorious. Beautiful.”

Geralt dropped the second glove right onto Jaskier’s face just to get him to stop.

4 - the ruin in me Ch. 4

Jaskier wasn’t strong enough for this.

It was day three, and he was sweating. Itching. He couldn’t think about work when his entire body was screaming at him, and despite knowing how pathetic it was he couldn’t think hard enough to care.

Work was slow. His cock was hard. And he couldn’t see the screen in front of him.

5 - Jaskel thing that I forgot about

Eskel had ever been an observer of people. As much as he loved to stay out of their way, sit in the corners of rooms and avoid the main roads, walk to the side and let people pass him by, he had ever been a watcher all the same. Studying the way people laughed, how their faces would turn in any number of emotions, what clothes they would wear and what it all meant to each and every person. There were times before Deirdre when he would sit and people watch just because he could, wondering what their lives might be like, tucking away the little bits of information he learned about them away in the back of his mind for no other reason than he found them interesting.

It had been only natural, then, that he watched the bard.

Tagging:

@jaskierswolf @geraltrogerericduhautebellegarde @dapandapod @damatris @fangirleaconmigo @luteandsword @kueble @kuripon and anyone else who wants to?

[definitely-not-iorveth]

tagged by @swanfloatieknight in a 15 questions tag game :3 thank you! 💚

1. Are you named after anyone?

nope! i chose my name based on the meaning.

2. When was the last time you cried?

..............yesterday? 8D

i'm going through emotions lately ok

3. Do you have kids?

no 👍

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

hmm. i don't think i do, but it's difficult for me to judge. ask my friends. 😂

5. What sports do you play / have you played?

none, unless basketball, volleyball and soccer at phys ed count

6. What's the first thing you notice about other people?

uh

good question.

i tend not to notice people much to be honest.

7. What's your eye color?

honey brown.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings pls. let them go through the grinder and live happily ever after afterwards.

9. Any special talents?

eh, not really? writing, maybe.

i'm mostly here to look pretty.

10. Where were you born?

poland 💀🕯️

11. What are your hobbies?

writing, rpgs (both tt & pc), board games.

12. Do you have any pets?

no. i recently lost parenting rights of my dog. 😔

13. How tall are you?

178 cm / 5'10"

14. Favorite subject in school?

depends at which level

primary, it.

middle, math & polish.

high, english & physics.

15. Dream job?

writing fanfiction 😂 or idk a streamer.

tagging: @vossn @korls @loki-is-my-kink-awakening @dapandapod @damatris @officerjennie @goofgoofdildo @lauvemsomhelst

[izzy-hands]

I think it has been far too long since I last told you that you're one of my favorite gif makers. Thank you for making such beautiful ones. ❤️❤️❤️

and i cherish it every time 😭 thank you so much for being lovely and taking the time to send this, getting these kind of messages never fail to make my day brighter and put a huge smile on my face.

i am joey, joey is me.

[wolf-twenty-one]

nine some people i'd like to know better 🌷⚡️

tagged by @queertemporality (sorry for not doing this sooner it was sitting in my likes and i kept meaning to do it, i think a version is in my drafts on one of my blogs

last song: Brianstorm - Arctic Monkeys (because in my heart I'm still in high school and my mom is late to pick me up, and I'm listening to AM cds with my best friend, and it's sunny outside)

favorite color: red! red! red!

currently watching: mostly youtube video essays lbr, but also House of the Dragon

last movie/tv show: Classic Who, almost done with the first Doctor, I'm gonna work through all of classic Who

spicy/savory/sweet: real bitches can balance all three in a dish

relationship status: if i have to spend many more years in the middle of nowhere alone I'm going to fold into myself until I become a black hole

current obsession(s): Hamlet

last thing you googled: Euripides Trojan Women (which seems intellectual but before that was the release date of the original Freaky Friday and upholstery cleaner)

tagging some mutuals cos i never respond to ur posts and/or i have been bad at maintaining our texts/DMs: @saranethrising @velvetcrowe @romulanholiday @damatris @thecrownofflames

[laisme]

thingy yeah because lit song that matches them

[no-gorms]

https://www.tumblr.com/snoozingcat/716636086562127872/headspacedad-damatris-vieratheartist-i-love

Imagine Steve and Tony bunnies, Tony flopping to prove how little he cared about Steve, Steve ignoring it, Tony starting to flop because he actually becomes comfy around Steve, Steve not noticing it, Tony not doing it anymore post CW, Steve now really noticing it

----

Oh no, that was cute, and then you made it sad!

Anyway, imagine post CW when Steve has been really not noticing it for a while... and then finding the opportunity to tentatively, awkwardly, hopefully flop in front of Tony, right where Tony can see.

[wren-of-the-woods]

2023 writing roundup

Thank you so much for the tag @bambirex! I posted 13 fics in 2023, mostly Witcher with a few other fandoms towards the end of the year.

January

Sometimes It Takes A Prison Cell

When Yennefer is thrown in a cell to await execution, the last thing she wants is a cellmate. She gets one anyway: one who is loud, annoying, and convinced that he will be rescued by a witcher. She expects his company to make her miserable. She does not expect it to slowly become bearable, to grow fond of him, or to want to help him — and the last thing she anticipates is that the rescue might actually happen. Or: Yennefer and Jaskier meet in a dungeon. It goes, all things considered, surprisingly well.

March

Spoons and Other Signs of Devotion

After the dragon hunt, Geralt finds that the spoon Jaskier gave him is missing. A story of kindndess, rebuilding, and love.

April

Of Magic, Meddling, and Mice

When Jaskier leaves his prison cell together with Geralt, Gordon tags along. This changes far more than one would think. (Gordon may not quite be the ordinary mouse everyone expects him to be.)

Love, Joy, and Kittens

When Geralt and Yennefer finally get a room at an inn after weeks of travel, Jaskier expects to spend a calm evening with his lovers and sleep in a real bed. This plan is derailed when they find an unexpected creature in their room. Or: In which Geralt, Yennefer, and Jaskier meet a kitten.

July

the greatest songs (are made up of unspoken words)

Radovid hears many songs of Jaskier’s over the years. Each one intrigues him more.

Words of Love

“I should warn you,” Jaskier said between kisses in the soft darkness of the shed, “That I know some… very interesting people. You may want to avoid meeting them.” “I’ve dealt with the Redenian court for decades. Your friends can’t be worse than that.” Five times Radovid meets Jaskier's friends and family, plus one time they are alone.

A New Work of Art

When they make camp in a beautiful forest, Yennefer and Jaskier are happy to sit by as Geralt draws — but the subject of his piece makes them far more emotional than they would have expected. 

True Slug's Kiss

When Geralt finds himself entangled in a magical mishap, Jaskier is prepared to save him as usual. What he is not prepared for is the sheer strangeness (and sliminess) of the situation— nor the feelings that it will force him to reveal.

A Dance By The Sea

In which Jaskier and Yennefer go to a festival on the coast, and Yennefer reminds Jaskier that he is loved.

your gaze lights the fire

When a close encounter with Rience leaves Jaskier in desperate need of somewhere safe, he goes to the only person he knows will take him in: the prince he swore he’d never see again.

October

It's Just Like Falling Snow (I Am Above You, And I Love You)

Cassian dies. What comes next is far less lonely than he expects.

To Catch The Wind

In which Fëanáro begins to invent the Tengwar.

December

This Accident and Flood of Fortune

Lizzy and William are looking forward to a quiet date watching their sisters perform in Twelfth Night — but when they discover that George Wickham is waiting in the wings, they must use Lizzy’s wits and their combined nerdery to help William get his revenge. Or: In which Lizzy comes up with a scheme, and even Shakespeare would be proud of the chaos that ensues.

Tagging the people I collaborated with this year, @bloodsoaked-rainbows and @thequeeninyellowlace, and @ghostinthelibrarywrites @dreamofbecoming @jaz-the-bard @cherryjuicegf @damatris and anyone else who feels like it! <3