#embrace your fears

[trappedinafantasy37]

There are multiple gods in the game that you can directly interact with and they all have ties to the narrative. You can interact with Shar via Shadowheart. You can interact with Mystra via Gale. You can interact with Myrkul via Ketheric when he takes on the avatar form. You can interact with Bhaal via Durge and in the fight with Orin. You can interact with Bane after killing Gortash and using "Speak with Dead" in which the soul you speak to is not Gortash, but Bane himself. I would include Vlaakith in this list but Vlaakith is not a god, she is a lich presenting herself as a god. And, of course, there is the Absolute which doesn't really become a god until it ascends into the Netherbrain (although that is debatable).

But, did you know that Lolth will also interact with you? As far as I am aware, Lolth is the only non-story related god in which you do have interactions with. One of them is only available if you are a Lolth-sworn drow, and the other is only available if you are a Cleric of Lolth (you do not need to be Lolth-sworn for it).

The first instance is in the goblin camp with the spiders in the pit. This does require that you are a Lolth-sworn drow and that you have the ability to speak with animals. When talking to the spiders, you will have the option to present yourself to the spiders as Lolth herself. If you fail the persuasion check, Lolth gets pissed off as she was listening to you and is not happy that you tried to present yourself as her. And she tells the spiders you are an imposter and they attack you. But if you succeed the check, Lolth doesn't do anything and the spiders will think you are Lolth. So, Lolth doesn't really have a problem with you pretending to be her. But if you are going to pretend to be her, you better do it right. If the spiders think you are Lolth, you can ask them about what's going on in the goblin camp and the spiders only talk about one thing. They immediately tell you that there is another drow in the camp who has forgotten her way and that she is forsaken. And, as I said, Lolth is here. She heard the spiders admit this. Lolth does nothing about it.

The second instance is in the Underdark with the Phalar Aluve. When you interact with the sword, you have two different checks, a Strength check and a Religion check. If you do the Strength check, you can just pull it out of the stone and be on your merry way. If you perform the Religion check, the narrator will tell you different things depending on certain conditions. If you are a Lolth-sworn drow and/or a Cleric of Lolth, the narrator will tell you that the religious rite to pull the blade from the stone is blasphemous as it pays honor to the weak. If you are of any other race and/or cleric of any other god, the narrator will tell you that the sword is of Eilistraee and the rite pays honor to the fallen. The religious rite is that you spill a little bit of your blood and the sword will rise out of the stone on its own. If you do this as a Cleric of Lolth (you don't need to be Lolth-sworn) you will feel hundreds of spiders crawl all over you as Lolth is warning you not to do shit like that ever again. Not only did you perform the religious rite of another god, you performed the religious rite of a god she hates. And she is letting you know how much she hated that.

These are the only two instances in the game that I have found in which Lolth interacts with the player but there are plenty of other moments in which Lolth could interact with you, but doesn't (such as with the Phase Spider, the baby spiders in Grymforge, Kar'niss, or the dead spider in the Gauntlet of Shar). Of these two moments where Lolth does interact with you, one of these instances is in the goblin camp, and the other is in the Underdark not too far away from the goblin camp. I don't think it is much of a coincidence that these two interactions occur in close proximity to Minthara. Almost as if Lolth has a reason to be in that area specifically to watch and monitor things, and you just so happened to be there. And the only things that compel her to interact with you is because you pissed her off. But, as long you don't piss her off, she will do nothing and she will say nothing.

When Minthara was being tortured by the Absolute, she prayed to Lolth and begged Lolth to give her the strength to fight her enemies. But Lolth does nothing and Lolth says nothing. In fact, that was the full extent of Lolth's "punishment" for Minthara, nothing. All Lolth did was not answer Minthara's prayers and not show up when Minthara needed her the most. Lolth did not torture Minthara like the Absolute did, Lolth did not turn her into a drider, nor did Lolth eat her. All she did, was nothing. And yes, Lolth is known for abandoning drow and no longer interacting with them. A drow has to do something incredibly awful in order for Lolth to just back away from them entirely. But you cannot convince me that Lolth is going to let one of her Baenre's go so easily. It's not as if Minthara has done anything truly awful either to make Lolth that mad.

According to Minthara, she herself has sinned against the Spider Queen, but it's not as if she chose to abandon Lolth, she was forced away and mind controlled into being devoted to another god. But would this make a difference to Lolth? Does it really matter if Minthara was compelled to have faith in another god besides Lolth? It isn't until Minthara is freed and feels the absence of Lolth that she chooses to no longer follow Lolth. Minthara even mentions how turning against Lolth is a big no-no in Menzoberranzan. Minthara herself at one point has hunted down and killed those who turn their backs from Lolth so she knows the same will be done to her if she were to ever return home. In fact, if you are a Lolth-sworn drow or a Cleric of Lolth, you are given unique dialogue options with Minthara to kill her because she is a traitor to Lolth and these options continue to show up until you recruit her into your party and she joins your roster. Despite all of this, Lolth does nothing. Minthara spews anti-Lolth rhetoric left and right, and Lolth does nothing. If you take Minthara to the tabernacle, she will spit on a shrine to Lolth, and Lolth does nothing.

Minthara is also able to walk through the Gauntlet of Shar, which is in the Underdark, and Lolth does nothing. Sure, you could argue that its connection to the Shadowfell and the fact that Shar is there via Shadowheart is enough to keep Lolth away. The lore of DnD does not make it quite clear what the relationship between these two goddesses are. But I am willing to bet that Lolth is smart enough not to step on Shar's toes because Shar would annihilate her. However, there is a small little section of the Gauntlet where it actually does spit you out directly into the Underdark and into Lolth's territory. Minthara can walk right out there just fine, and Lolth does nothing.

But most importantly, Minthara's default ending is her returning to the Underdark with the sole purpose of destroying House Baenre and then killing Lolth. Destroying House Baenre could lead to a chaotic and political disaster in Menzoberranzan, and Lolth does nothing. Minthara quite literally wants to kill Lolth and has intentions to do so after taking House Baenre, and Lolth. Does. Nothing!

If Minthara goes into the Underdark and destroys House Baenre, this will cause chaos and death. And the Baenre's won't be the only ones she has to destroy, but any and all allies of House Baenre in which they do have a lot. And Lolth will feed off of all the death and carnage and chaos that Minthara is about to bring to Menzoberranzan because Lolth loves chaos more than she hates traitors.

Maybe, Lolth has not abandoned her as Minthara thinks she has. Maybe, Lolth has done nothing and said nothing because Minthara has not actually upset her. Maybe, Lolth has done nothing and said nothing because Minthara is already doing everything Lolth wants her to do. And all it took, was making Minthara think that Lolth abandoned her. There was no need for Lolth to answer Minthara's prayers, because Minthara always had the strength to fight her enemies.

[uncanny-tranny]

I love you smile lines and worry lines and grey and white hair and wrinkles and purple spiderweb veins and the process of aging and living in a body that is standing the test of times. I love you experiences that make you wiser and stories that make you laugh, and every little process that happens to get to the point where you have so many memories because you have the fortune to be here and be so radiant

[clawsandpaws-creativearchive]

Time for me to make yet another massive multi-turtle art piece! Here is our fun little collab/coloring page for our cross-cabin narrative! Each member who was able to participate will be coloring/editing in their own turtles/aus!

Both cabins thought it'd be fun to plan a friendly game of capture the flag! Unfortunately it didn't take long for the planning session to break out into chaos! ( Cabins 14 & 15 ) @tmnt-fandom-family-reunion ~ Cadoo 🐾 All included campers will be tagged under the cut:

🔥 Cabin 15: GGTH! Don: @clawsandpaws-creativearchive Sparky!AU Smokey: @belleyellsaboutturtles Move Along! Mikey Raph: @justalittleobsessed 🛸 Cabin 14: HEM Mikey Raph (and Nibbles): @languajix ICE Donnie: @leilanising GoTP Mika & Spirit: @wandering-ghost The Second Shot: @twignotstick True Colors: @v-albion Covert Au Mikhail: @chessman-protocol Fear's Embrace Marco & Donnie: @karonkar

[positivelypresent]

Endings are also beginnings. 🪿

[cloudburst-ink]

🌈 Free the gays from weird heteronormative top/bottom discourse 2k24!!! 🖤 (And by extension, the dom/sub associations that go with it!! Which are also a completely separate though sometimes overlapping concept!!!)

Write your violent angry murder blorbo getting railed!! Make that sweet shy angel baby a top! Make them both verse and throw the concept out altogether because it’s inherently a bit silly to start with!! ✨ And your personality in the rest of your life often has nothing to do with your bedroom preferences anyway! ✨

Or don’t! Do whatever you want because it’s fanfiction! 🥰✨ Write them with whatever dynamics or lack thereof that you want—that’s the point! And no one can tell you what is and isn’t okay to write in your own fics!! 🎊 They're fictional characters, have fun!!!!!

Happy new year fellow fandom gays!!! Go wild!

[cinnamonjeane]

I love you grey hairs. I love you crows feet. I love you laugh lines. I love you receding hairlines. I love you age spots. I love you eye bags. I love you natural aging!!!

[dimsilver]

do y’all ever think about how badly hozier needs to read till we have faces

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Courage to Be Disliked: Embracing Authenticity

Shaina Tranquilino

February 16, 2024

In a world that often values conformity and seeks approval, it takes immense courage to be disliked. We are constantly bombarded with societal expectations, social media pressures, and the fear of being judged by others. However, embracing the courage to be disliked can be liberating, empowering us to live life on our own terms and foster genuine connections with those who appreciate our authentic selves.

1. The Illusion of Social Approval:

Society conditions us to seek validation from others as a measure of success or happiness. This constant pursuit of acceptance can lead to compromising our true identities, dreams, and desires. The courage to be disliked requires acknowledging that not everyone will like us or agree with our choices – and that's perfectly okay.

2. Self-Acceptance and Inner Freedom:

When we embrace the courage to be disliked, we cultivate self-acceptance. Instead of seeking external validation, we learn to validate ourselves based on our own values, beliefs, and passions. This newfound inner freedom allows us to pursue what genuinely fulfills us without being confined by societal norms or the fear of judgment.

3. Authenticity Breeds Connection:

When we have the courage to be disliked, we attract people who value authenticity rather than superficiality. By staying true to ourselves, we create meaningful connections with individuals who accept us for who we are, flaws and all. Genuine relationships are built upon mutual understanding, respect, and acceptance – traits that flourish when authenticity is embraced.

4. Growth through Criticism:

The courage to be disliked doesn't mean disregarding constructive criticism altogether; it means having the resilience to differentiate between valuable feedback and baseless negativity aimed at discouraging us from being true to ourselves. Constructive criticism helps us grow personally and professionally while allowing us to maintain our authentic identity.

5. Inspiring Others:

By embodying the courage to be disliked, we become a source of inspiration for others who may be struggling to break free from societal expectations. Our authenticity can encourage them to embrace their true selves, ultimately creating a ripple effect that promotes individuality and diversity in society.

The courage to be disliked is the key that unlocks the door to a life lived authentically. It liberates us from the shackles of seeking approval, empowers us to embrace our uniqueness, and fosters genuine connections with like-minded individuals. When we have the audacity to stay true to ourselves, we inspire others to do the same, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive as their authentic selves. So let go of the fear of being disliked and step into a life filled with freedom, growth, and fulfillment.

[endermen-impasta]

This man's color palette lives in my mind rent free... I mean, AH! Yes, blinding pink. I love it. (( Nothing rude, I really do love it ))

-- Credits to: @karonkar because this is his OC --

[yusuke-of-valla]

C'mon, Chidori, help the kids. You like Yusuke. Look they made you a paper SEES armband proclaiming you as Member 15. Doesn't rescuing that little girl feel good? You should just do this with us forever and oh look it's Takaya with the gun.

Takaya: Fuck them kids.

[1introvertedsage]

I fear my power, not only because I know what I am capable of but, also because of the risk of potential pain or fallout involved. Not only mine, but for others. It’s an inherent fear. I’ve chosen to damper the fire and that I know, only hurts me. But if I stepped past that, with a pure heart, in use of the power I hold… true magic can happen.

[kneelingshadowsalome]

I really love having places like your fantastic blog were we can explore insane, evil or out of the norm characters like your König without shame! Without weird looks from others or being judged for liking that kind of stuff. For me, even as a child I always found the broken, evil or (seemingly) villainous characters soooo much more appealing than the heros or knights in shining armour. For example, I always found the villains in sailor moon waaay cooler than the good characters! And that's still the case as a grown up for me when I consume media.

And I'm obviously not alone, seeing everyone here go crazy about your yandere König or fics with dark themes and characters in general. You said somewhere, that you weren't sure about the reactions to just friends when you posted it but honestly - I'm not surprised at all that everyone likes it so much! I think it's very healthy to explore dark themes through fiction and it's a great outlet for our normal everyday lifes. As well as the smut that comes with these problematic characters! I'm in a very loving and healthy relationship with my partner and I wouldn't want it any other way, but reading stories with that kind of dark sexual content just soothes that little itch inside of me and I really enjoy the thought experiments that come with this.

It seems a lot of people here (or in general) are surprised, that they are so into this kind of stuff. So I'm just rambling in your ask box because I think there's nothing wrong with being enamoured with content like this and it's fantastic, that we can all explore it together, inspire each other and let loose a bit! <3

Yes! Oh my god I'm so here for you and all the people who have an itch for madness and morally grey characters 🩷🩷🩷 this is absolutely a safe space for exploring yandere König or brat tamer Ghost or whatever else that's a little bit broken, without shame.

This message was so sweet and I read it like ten times with a huge smile on my face because it's just so liberating and loving. I'm so happy to have found all you lovely people to share these crazy thoughts & obsess over fictional PTSD men with.

I'm also a firm believer in that it is only healthy to explore our "shadow" through art. And I consider fanart, fanfiction, all this creativity and brainstorming here art – it's creative, it's fun, it does what art is supposed to do: it inspires thought and emotion and connection 💗 These things are what make us human and it's better to have some kind of an outlet than none at all.

And I mean... I could analyze what's at work behind the attraction to these characters/dynamics, sure... I could debate from different feminist (not to talk of psychological 🫠) viewpoints how problematic it is and what it reveals of me when I'm entertained when writing or reading this shit. But nope, not gonna deep-dive into that in here, and not going to kink-shame myself or anyone else here either.

And like you said – it's not that serious! The world is kinda crazy and we all have our worries, we all have our hopes and fears and quirks. Why not have some fun with toxic König while we're at it. No harm, no foul.

Thank you so much for this message and I hope you have a lovely day 💋🩷💞

[boo-moved]

reposting it bc I fixed it a lil bit

og post

[thatonesongyouretryingtoremember]

New rule: anyone who says life only has value because it ends CANNOT judge me for saying there is comfort in mortality. Clearly one of us is being more reasonable here and it's not the first guy.

[ewwis-but-fandom]

thinking about how different nanami looks before he went back into the jujutsu business. sure, he's still wearing corporate wear now, but it's so much more expressive. a cream suit, blue shirt, patterned and brightly colored tie, and eccentric glasses. even his hair — where it was once gelled down and perfectly smooth, is now spiky and pushed back, stray hairs here and there. it's clear that he's so much more content as a jujutsushi than a corporate salaryman