#each of the artifacts have a little story about them bc they’re all attached to his own stories ofc

[heartplaces]

afternoon studies 📚

as promised, a little castiel candid from my stanford era fic, this gentle sin! if you’ve read it, trust that the rest of his walls have just as many artifacts, if not more. 💛 and if you haven’t, well! join me hehe!

[enby-enderdragon]

Dude please tell me abt ur mc worldbuilding

Mx Elliott Whycraft, my beloved, I would give you the biggest hug right now if I could

Okie, okie, so its mostly just a pantheon of gods that I’ve made, but I do also have some ideas for, like, holidays and things that would happen on those holidays and things that certain followers of certain deities would do, but I digress. I’ll just tell you about the deities I chose mostly since I don’t wanna be too rambly. I can save the other details for other asks if people really wanna know about that. This is gonna go under a cut bc this might end up being a long post. Like I said, unfortunately for you guys, I’m very autistic and religion worldbuilding is a special interest of mine.

Uhhhhh, warning, possibly some bits that could be considered Slimecicle Cinematic Universe spoilers if you haven’t seen “The HARDEST Minecraft Difficulty” yet??

So, the first deity I chose, of course, is DreamXD, shortened down to XD. He’s the big king of the gods and he has the epithet of “the Prime” since he’s one of the bigger and more worshipped deities in the pantheon. Things like Church Prime in the DreamSMP and Techno’s channel member bell fall under his domain. XD is specifically the god of order and life so, as mortals began to worship the pantheon, it felt natural for XD to rise to the position of God King. XD is also the protector of the Dragon’s Realm. It’s his job to make sure that, if the Enderdragon ever has to die, that she is only killed A) she absolutely has to be because he’s very attached to his Dragons and B) he always makes the the Dragon has a successor.

The second deity I chose was Drista. No one is really sure how old Drista is, not even the other gods, because she’s the goddess of chaos, so she’s XD’s counterpart and has to have been around since the first chaotic thing happened in the mortal plane, but she appears very young compared to the other gods and she’s referred to in the mortal scriptures with the epithet of “the Young”. Drista falls under with the duty of being the protector of childhood and children in general, which only adds to her epithet. Aside from all that, she’s also the guide for souls of the dead into the Afterlife.

The third deity I chose was Grizzly. Now, a lot of mortal scripture about Grizzly was lost because his stories used to be burned when people would try to write them. A lot of people passed his stories around orally, but still, a lot of the scriptures were lost and mortals can’t truly now a lot about what happened with him. The biggest things that survived history of his stories is that he is the god of the forge and of mischief, but one day, he had a falling out with the other gods and they cast him out of the Pantheon Proper, which earned him the epithet of “the Fallen”. Nowadays, stories say that Grizzly is the King of the Damned, but no mortals know for sure exactly what that means.

The fourth deity is Condi. Condi is one of the oldest gods in the pantheon, even older than XD by millennium. Condi is the god of magick, so he was the deity that separated the Three Realms from each other. There’s rumors of a secret fourth realm that Condi uses as an escape from the other gods, but again, those are just rumors. No one has ever been able to craft a proper portal to this secret realm, but still, the realm of the Aether is mentioned too many times in scriptures for it to be a coincidence, right? Anyway, Condi also the Weaver of Fate, so, as you can imagine, he’s a very busy god. He has the epithet of “the Wise” because, if you’re gonna have this much shit going on as a god, you’ve gotta be wise.

The fifth deity is Bizly. Bizly, even by the other gods, is considered weak and useless, as he’s the god of animals and monsters. Most of the other gods will ignore him and couple of the other gods can be outright mean to him for no reason. This earned him the epithet of “the Dismissed”. Because of the way that the other gods treat him, Bizly took it upon himself to be the protector of the weak and underdogs. To mortals, he also become equivalent with the start of spring, so a lot of mortal stories call him the “bringer of new starts”.

The sixth deity is Foolish, of fucking course. He’s the god of storms and the seas and, even though his domains are usually very rough things to mortals, he himself is a very chill god (these days) and he doesn’t really interact with the other gods unless he ABSOLUTELY has to. He tends to spend most of his time as the protector of Mizu, a legendary city that is said to live under the deepest parts of the mortal oceans that houses only the most holy artifacts and important scriptures of the gods. There’s a specific rune that was created that is said to be a sigil of Foolish and it’s supposed to bring great wealth to a person if they draw it on themself. Foolish has the epithet of “the Undying” because I’m uncreative cgvhjbkgv

The seventh deity is Kristin, the goddess of death, because I have to. Again, she’s a goddess that doesn’t really like interacting with the other deities if she doesn’t have to. She tends to spend most of her time tending to the souls of the Afterlife, making sure everyone is happy and cared for and with their loved ones if they can be. The only deity that she has constant contact with is Drista, since the younger goddess helps her collect the souls of the dead. Kristin is known to take pity on a few souls that have no one every now and then and she’ll make them into angels and let them roam the mortal worlds again until they die and then they’re dead for real with no take-backs.

The eighth deity is Irene. She’s a very flighty goddess, not known to stick around in one place for long. As the protector of the Mortal Realm, she does her best to make sure that every mortal has a happy and healthy life on the earth. She’s typically the goddess of medicine and family in most portrayals of her scriptures, but there are a few places that will cast her as a more “dark” (using that word lightly because I can’t think of a better one) goddess of apathy and discord. Those mythos as that “darker” goddess are very rare, however. She has the epithet of “the Matron” and she’s the only recorded goddess to be referred to with the title of “Lady”. The other goddesses don’t seem to like that title.

The ninth deity is Herobrine. He’s the god of both the sun and the moon, so a lot of mortal legends say that the sun and moon are his glowing eyes and he’s watching over the mortals and he’ll punish any greedy or malevolent mortals. Because of that line of mythos, Herobrine earned the epithet of “the Watcher”. He’s known for collecting wayward souls that are stuck between Grizzly’s Damned Kingdom and Kristin’s Afterlife and he’ll make a wayward soul into an assistant of sorts to help him watch over the realm and punish mortals. Sometimes, his Watchers can get a little overzealous and will take in souls that aren’t ready yet, but Herobrine never forces a soul to stay if they don’t want to and lets them go back to the mortal realm.

The tenth and final deity is False. Yes, Miss False “Supremacy” Symmetry herself is a goddess. Specifically, she’s the goddess of war and blood. She, again, is a goddess that doesn’t much like the other gods and stays away from them as much as she can. In scripture, she’s never referred to by name because legends say that, if you speak her proper name, she’ll appear and kill your entire land or family or whatever. Most texts and stories refer to her either as “the Blood God” or by her epithet of “Animus”. She’s considered the herald of the winter months and she’s also the protector of the Nether Realm.

[2traveldads-blog]

We always love to visit places we’ve heard about but never been before.  We especially love finding the unknown side of a city or area…. like Daytona Beach. ��The first thing that comes to mind when you hear Daytona is either NASCAR racing or spring break, but we were just there exploring the area and did all kinds of family friendly activities in Daytona Beach.

First off, there is so much more to the area than just the beach or NASCAR events.  We’re all about exploring the smaller towns and getting into nature so activities in Daytona Beach and the surrounding towns really made for a fun trip.  Take a look how we planned a vacation in Daytona Beach that got us into the Florida back country, showed us some history, gave a dose of science AND allowed for fun beach time.  

Getting to the Daytona Area

I wish every layover happened in the Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB).  Yes, it’s a tiny airport but it’s beautiful, clean, not crowded and so easy.  With only a few airlines flying via DAB it’s not a madhouse at all.  Also, depending on the season and day of the week DAB flights are fairly inexpensive, which is such a bonus when you’re talking about family travel.

If you’re driving, Daytona Beach lays a third of the way down Florida’s Atlantic Coast.  We paired a trip to Daytona with a vacation to St Augustine, but it can easily be added onto an Orlando trip or be its own thing.

Note:  although a small airport DAB has plenty of rental car options, including companies that will allow one-way rentals, to or from DAB.

Activities on Daytona Beach

We love beach days and we’ve done them all over Florida, most recently up and down the Florida Gulf Coast.  Activities on Daytona Beach are very different from other beach towns.  Here vehicles are allowed to drive on the beach almost everywhere and there are designated lanes of traffic.  It’s odd.

Tip:  if you want to do beach time with kids, plan it at LOW TIDE so that there is more space for them, as when the tide comes in the play space in minimized and it’s not safe for children due to the cars.

Riding Bikes on the Beach

One of the activities in Daytona Beach we enjoyed was riding beach bikes ON the sand.  We’ve rented bikes in Victoria BC and in Georgia’s Golden Isles (on both St Simons and Jekyll Island), but have never ventured directly onto the beach with them.  It’s a totally different way to experience it.  We got our bikes through Blue Coast Shop and were outfitted with trailers, helmets (optional), bike locks and storage bags.  Our bikes had big fat tires meant for riding on sand.

Biking on the beach is not as easy as biking on pavement or mountain bike trails.  On the beach you need to keep up your pace and really pay attention to where you’re riding.  There are pockets of soft sand that’ll make you tilt or over-correct if you’re not paying attention, or there are hard pressed bumps from cars being on the beach.  And then if you’re riding just off the tide line you might just have to ride through the edge of a wave if you’re not careful.  It’s really a mixed bag.  Totally fun, but if you’re looking for an easy ride, this ain’t it. This is a workout to remember and you’ll love it!

Tip:  if you want to snap pictures while riding, use a GoPro with a strap. Shore bird will fly alongside you and it’s the coolest shot if you can capture it!

Adding some Science to your Vacation

Since we get to travel so much our kids get to experience all kinds of nature and beauty and we’re so thankful for that.  With it though, we also like to work in educational stuff as much as possible and there are the perfect activities in Daytona Beach and around for that!  

MOAS Children’s Museum and Planetarium

The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences is quite the place.  With collections of historical artifacts, Americana/memorabilia, some beautiful art galleries, a children’s museum and a planetarium, you could spend hours here wandering.  It’s actually a great idea if you’ve been spending too much time in the sun and need a little break.

If you know me in real life or just have been following our blog for awhile you know that children’s museums are an anxiety attack waiting to happen for me.  Denver has a very nice one, but the one here in Daytona was ideal.  It wasn’t too big and it wasn’t overly crowded.  The kids had a blast!  Most of our time was spent doing the cause and effect activities, but our youngest, Elliott, loved the black-light room where he could build a skeleton.  It was ridiculously silly.

The Planetarium at MOAS was also really cool.  We weren’t there during a full on space exploration presentation, but got to see a laser show instead (and it wasn’t a Pink Floyd one).  The kids loved watching the laser story of Orion’s Belt and the mythology behind it.  Totally random fun activity in Daytona.

Tip:  check the MOAS website for a full planetarium schedule including special space events.

Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center

We’ve got a few really awesome local aquariums in the Pacific Northwest, so you might say that we’re aquarium aficionados.  What made the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center so great was the bottomless education available at every display.  From learning about pollution in the oceans to touching stingrays and hearing about each one’s individual personality, it was a treat.  There were lots of staff available for questions and hands on opportunities.

Fun story:  we asked about local bird watching, specifically looking for roseate spoonbills and the most awesome lady, Shell, gave us info, maps, and even had us pop back to her office to check for local tips online.  She and everyone else was ready and willing to play teacher and tour guide.

Turtle Recovery and Conservation

We love when an attraction type place is actually there for a purpose and not just entertainment.  The Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center is just that.  In addition to learning about the local environment and interacting with the sea life you’ll see just offshore, they also have a Sea Turtle Hospital ICU Ward.  Here they treat and nurse injured sea turtles of all kinds and sizes.  While this isn’t necessarily the “attraction” of the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center it was the best part for us.  Veterinarians watch over the many turtles treating their wounds and conditions with great care.

There is also a bird sanctuary and recovery center.  This was a great surprise for us, with recovering pelicans, owls, hawks, and even a pair of bald eagles.  There is a good portion of the complex that isn’t accessible to the public, but we could hear the birds squawking as they were being treated.  Such a wonderful group of people taking care of Florida’s wildlife.

Tip:  if you’re traveling northward there is another cool operation in Georgia’s Golden Isles:  the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.  Their operation is a bit bigger, servicing a very diverse ocean-going clientele.

History in the Daytona Area

Before arriving in the Daytona Beach area we know very little about the area…except for its NASCARness.  Daytona was actually settled in 1870 and has some great pockets of culture and cool sights.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

We climb every lighthouse we come across.  We have an adorable one in our area, the Point No Point Light (it’s so tiny!), so we feed out need for nautical fun every few weeks with a visit.  The Daytona Beach area has one that’s much much cooler:  the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.  At 175 feet tall and built in 1887 it’s quite the sight.  The area surrounding the tower, once keepers quarters and utility buildings, is actually a collection of small museums all about lighthouses and the area’s seafaring past.

Tip:  if you’re traveling with little kids, this is a great place to visit as there are no height restrictions to climbing the 203 steps.  The St Augustine Lighthouse has 219 steps and has a height restriction of 44 inches tall, so not all kids can climb.  The only restriction to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is that any climbers must do it on their own; they cannot be carried.

DeLand Historic District

This spot is a bit out of the way, but if you’re venturing inland it’s a great area to stop for lunch and maybe go for a stroll.  The town of DeLand is exactly what you picture when you think of a turn-of-the-century settled town.  It’s got perfect sidewalks lined with trees, squares and greenspace, and Stetson University right in the middle of the historic district.  We stopped in for sushi and a short stroll.  It was night and day different from Daytona Beach where we’d been for the last few days.

Florida’s Back Country

When we did our epic Florida Gulf Coast road trip we got to head inland and explore some of the natural springs.  Florida has over 1000 springs and they’re all different and beautiful.  We visited two while on our Daytona Beach trip.

De Leon Springs State Park

Best breakfast ever.  What?  At a state park?  Yep, totally true.  Within DeLeon Springs State Park is the Old Spanish Sugarmill Restaurant.  Um, it was meant for us.  The tables have their own griddles in the middle and you pay per person for different types of pancake batter that you cook yourselves.  It’s the coolest and the kids had a blast.  The Old Spanish Sugarmill has been in operation since 1961 and I hope it outlives us.  The staff was so nice and truthfully, we were wishing we’d discovered it on day one in Daytona.

Tip:  if you have somebody with allergies, there are enough moms and gramas working at the Old Spanish Sugarmill that you need only mention a tiny concern and they’re on top of it! We were able to have a great time in a completely egg-allergy safe environment.

Beyond the fun restaurant there’s more. De Leon Springs State Park is the home of the Fountain of Youth.  Wait… Wasn’t the Fountain of Youth in St Augustine?  Yes, there too.

The beautiful head springs found in De Leon Springs State Park also lay claim to being the fount, Bimini.  It was a legend for the longest time and thank goodness Juan Ponce decided this was it… or the St Augustine site is it…  It’s beautiful, either way, and I swam in it.  Now you won’t see me age in our pictures.

Once you’ve dipped in the Fountain of Youth, you should head down river on an ecotour to learn more about the spring and the marshlands surrounding it.  We had a very chill naturalist lead us down river, spotting all kinds of birds and cypresses, as well as alligators and even a manatee.  The kids really enjoyed the abundance of wildlife on our ecotour.

Note:  if you’re not familiar with the term, an ecotour is a tour where you’re introduced to and learn about the ecosystem of the area, so it’s not just sightseeing; an ecotour’s purpose is to teach and inspire conservation of the delicate natural world.

Tomoka State Park

After doing several other kayak and ecotour expeditions we were ready to explore Tomoka State Park on our own.  We rented kayaks from the Tomoka Outpost within the state park and headed out.  The kids are pros at water safety so jumping in a kayak is NBD (no big deal)… but when the warning from the state park comes with “be aware of alligators and sharks in the brackish water…” we’re a little more cautious.  We talked to the kids about staying calm and keeping their hands out of the water and then set sail.

Renting kayaks at Tomoka State Park was really easy, and since we headed up river we had a very safe experience.  It’s easy to turn up each little channel and wander through the grass islands in your kayak, so having a continuous flow back out to the Innercoastal Waterway keeps you going the right way and you cannot get lost.  This is super awesome when you’re kayaking with kids because they want you to paddle up all of the most narrow waterways available.

Tip:  don’t forget your extra water on the kayak trail, as it’s hot and in the middle of the grass islands there is very little wind to cool you off.

Blue Springs State Park

Our final adventure activities in Daytona Beach landed us at Blue Springs State Park… so we save our best for last.  Much like Rainbow Springs State Park on the Gulf side, Blue Springs is beautiful beyond words.  We we directed here by some other folks on our ecotour in De Leon Springs State Park and I’m so glad we listened.

We parked in the main parking area and started hiking upriver.  I say hiking, but it was all on boardwalks.  As if the Spanish moss swaying in the tree above us wasn’t enough, we started out jaunt along the river and were completely sucked into the gorgeous water.  There was viewing platform after viewing platform as we wandered up river… and then we got to get in!!!  

Oliver, our oldest, and I got in first.  We swam around and played, but needed a better area for all four of us to get in.

After walking past the tube rental station (that’s right!) we found a great spot for all of us to get into the river and enjoy the crystal clear water.  Closer to the actual Blue Springs there weren’t any of the scary huge Florida Gar fish (harmless), so the kids got to have fun without fear.  I wish we would’ve planned better to be able to snorkel or dive at the actual head spring as it’s the deepest and most beautiful we’ve gotten to see in Florida.  Next time…

Tip:  if you can plan it out, there are great camping facilities at Blue Springs State Park.  You can have a fun Daytona Beach vacation and then move inland to immerse in nature.  Just a thought…

Four days in the Daytona Beach area was just about right, but we could’ve easy spend one or two more.  Upon our next visit we aim to camp in the Florida State Parks near Daytona.  We loved the towns we rolled through and the beauty that waited just away from the beach.  The sights and activities in Daytona Beach and around were so much fun we would happily return upon another #LoveFL trip!

Beyond Daytona Beach: exploring Daytona as a family We always love to visit places we’ve heard about but never been before. We especially love finding the unknown side of a city or area....