#feast of remembrance

[queerprayers]

i want to say first of all that i fully respect a community's/denomination's/culture's right to have closed practices. i am not entitled to other people's traditions, and when i am a guest in a space i understand that everything is not automatically for me. and i know i do not have to understand to respect.

and also! when i go to a catholic church and can't receive communion i want to fall on the floor weeping. what do you mean i can't have him he's right there. sorry my baptism was the wrong kind of baptism. i'm hungry and you want me to become someone else before being fed.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

For the Feast of All Saints :: [Robert Scott Horton]

* * * *

“He had developed a superstitious fear of the instant, that tiny hole through which all the time available to human beings must pass.”

— César Aira, Varamo [exhaled-spirals]

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

after a night of boisterous fun i just got back from the local cemetery for some more solemn contemplation. said prayers for and made offerings to not just my own ancestors who are buried here but to the ancestors of my people in general.

[dionysianivy]

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

What is Anthesteria?

Anthesteria, celebrated from the 11th to the 13th of Anthesterion (February–March), was one of the biggest festivals dedicated to Dionysus. Known as the Festival of Flowers, it marked the arrival of spring, the opening of the new wine casks, and the renewal of life. But it wasn’t just about feasting and drinking, it was also a time of purification, fertility, and remembrance, when the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin.

At the heart of the festival was the ritual opening of the wine casks that had been fermenting since the last harvest. This wasn’t just practical; it was symbolic. The wine had been maturing underground, just like Dionysus himself had once been carried in Zeus' thigh before being "born again." Bringing the wine to the surface was more than just a tradition,it was a reflection of Dionysus’ own myth.

But Anthesteria wasn’t all joy and celebration. It was believed that during these days, spirits wandered freely, so while people enjoyed the festivities, they also took precautions to protect themselves. The festival was a strange mix of life and death, revelry and ritual, perfectly embodying the nature of Dionysus, a God of both wild celebration and deep mystery. During Anthesteria, it was also said that the maenads celebrated privately in the mountains and forests. In some legends, Dionysus' marriage to Ariadne was held during Anthesteria.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Days of Anthesteria

Day 1: Pithoigia (Jar-Opening) 🌸

The first day of Anthesteria, Pithoigia, was centered around the ritual opening of the pithoi, large clay jars that contained the previous year’s wine. These casks had spent months underground, and now, they were unearthed and brought to the sanctuary of Dionysus. A portion of the wine was poured out as an offering, and the rest was shared by all members of the household.

The day was filled with flowers, marking the beginning of the season. Everyone over the age of three was invited to participate in the first taste of the new wine, and the mood was communal and joyous.

Day 2: Choës (Pitchers) 🏺

The second day of the festival, Choës, was a time of popular merrymaking, characterized by wine-drinking contests in which even slaves and children participated. People dressed in their finest clothes, with some even embodying figures from myth connected to Dionysus. There were visits to friends and drinking contests, where participants had to drink an entire chous (about 3 liters) in complete silence. This day was open to everyone, even slaves, highlighting how Dionysus transcended the boundaries of class and status.

For children, Choës marked a special rite of passage. Boys reaching their second year were crowned with flowers and given small drinking vessels, symbolizing their gradual initiation into the community. Meanwhile, the devoted followers of Dionysus, his maenads and priestesses, took part in private, sacred rituals that marked the spiritual union between them and the god.

Day 3: Chytroi (Pots) 💀

The final day, Chytroi, was dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Pots filled with a sacred mix of seeds and grains, called panspermia, were offered to Hermes Chthonios and the wandering souls of the deceased. During this time, it was believed that the spirits of the underworld walked among the living. To protect against any malevolent spirits, people chewed on hawthorn leaves and smeared their doorways with tar. The festival came to a close with the dismissal of the spirits: "Away with you, Keres, it is no longer Anthesteria!"

With these words, the spirits were sent back to the underworld, and life in Athens returned to normal, marking the end of the brief but intense period when the living and the dead had shared the same space.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Activities To Do:

🍷 Drink wine, or any liquid that you like.

🍷 Place flowers on your altar.

🍷 Honor God Dionysus.

🍷 Go to pottery.

🍷 Make a special mask for Lord Dionysus.

🍷 Do a libation in nature.

🍷 Go to the theater.

🍷 Collect flowers from nature.

🍷 Read and recite the hymns to Dionysus.

🍷 Honor both life and death.

🍷 Take a walk in nature and/or in the mountains.

🍷 Draw Dionysus's symbol or carve His name in stones or wood.

🍷 Make art for Dionysus.

🍷 Make a flower crown.

🍷 Honor your deceased loved ones.

🍷 Leave offerings for spirits.

🍷 Light candles.

🍷 Plant seeds in your garden.

🍷 Plan a feast and celebrate with your loved ones.

🍷 Sing and dance while listening to your favorite songs.

🍷 Do creative activities like art or poetry.

🍷 Go wild and celebrate it as you wish, Kala Anthesteria!

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

[myslashyvalentine]

The MSV 2025 Archive is Open!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

We made it. That is no small thing this year with the current world events. There would be no My Slashy Valentine without all the amazing writers, old and new, who take this challenge on during the winter doldrums (or in the southern hemisphere, the summer sweats!)

A special thanks to Zhie, who double checks my matching, is an excellent sounding board, a tireless promoter and stalwart fandom ringleader.

Congratulations to all our new writers who completed their first swap: Abel/ baby_bat_98, Amanda/Thinwhitedutchess, Angela/ChillinbytheFire, BalrogBalls/TimelessUtterances, blueberryrock, cloudbower, Lanthanum12, Laufey/fullofleaves (though technically a veteran from 2004!!!), LiselleLascelles, Meredith/Rian, Misty/MysticFinde, Mona/queerofthedagger,  Mouse, Saint/saintstars, Shannon/ElrondsLibrary, Tamatoa/thereisamanmadeofcrabs and  Victoria/0ur_Ouroboros! Please check out their stories and make them feel welcome. 

Thanks always to all our veteran writers who continue to participate, tell their friends and show new participants that this is a fun Valentine's Day tradition! Together you all make this swap a vibrant part of the Tolkien community.

And now, for your reading enjoyment… The 2025 My Slashy Valentine Collection.

My Slashy Valentine 2025: The Master List!

Abel/baby_bat_98 wrote The Shape of Us for Nuizillien Aglarien wrote Things That Were for MysticFinde Amanda/Thinwhitedutchess wrote Lost in the solitude of his immense power for Rian Angela/ChillinbytheFire wrote Back in Business for DragonofMordor Argleena wrote Learning to Love Yourself Through Being Loved for Abel/ baby_bat_98 Azh/AdmirableMonster wrote Heartsease for Narya_Flame ♥ Azh/AdmirableMonster wrote and some nights we're choking on the words (but some we light on fire) for Heather/ohboromir ♥ Azh/AdmirableMonster wrote a little light to call my own for elladansgirl BalrogBalls/TimelessUtterances wrote Altitude Sickness for Amanda/Thinwhitedutchess ♥ BalrogBalls/TimelessUtterances wrote Bumping Exoskeletons for elladansgirl Bird/ingenious_spark wrote Shipwrecked Heart for i_did_not_mean_to BloodwingBlackbird wrote All the snow has turned to water for Azh/AdmirableMonster blueberryrock wrote The ones we hurt for Nuredhel bluehair wrote SERVANT for cloudbower cloudbower wrote Desire path for JazTheBard chrissystriped wrote "I will risk the Wrath of the Valar" for bluehair ♥ chrissystriped wrote In his Light for elladansgirl EclecticKefi wrote A Cold and Uncaring Place for RaisingCaiin Elennalore wrote Lesser Rings, Higher Passions for EclecticKefi Elentarial/BaccaratBlack wrote What These Bones Know for starlightwalking Elio/silverfisting wrote worm moon for Angela/ChillinbytheFire Elleth wrote Spring Feast for thurinngwethil Fey/ThatFeanorian write The Future We Fight For for Mona/queerofthedagger fictional-hr-department wrote Plant me where the red deer feed for Bird/ingenious_spark Gilithlin wrote Coming Home for reindeer_pizza Heather/ohboromir wrote Khajmel for sallysavestheday IDNMT/I_did_not_mean_to wrote Is it love? (When you hold me, when you touch me, it's so powerful) for Ladywithaquill IgnobleBard wrote Which Thou Must Leave Ere Long for Shannon/ElrondsLibrary Jade/Elladansgirl wrote Comfort From A King for  BalrogBalls/TimelessUtterances JazTheBard wrote A Visit to the Forges for Lanthanum12 just_jenni/jenni4765 wrote ON THE STREETS OF TIRION NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING for a_world_of_whimsy Kit/kitkatkaylie wrote Finrod's Very Cunning Plan To Pull A Luthien for mangacrack LadywithaQuill wrote His Blonde King for fictional_hr_department Lanthanum12 wrote Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl for NiennaWept Laufey/fullofleaves wrote Occidental Philology for senalishia ♥ lynndyre wrote When I fall and time goes slow for kitkatkaylie maglor-my-beloved wrote Remembrance for Argleena ♥ maglor-my-beloved wrote All that is Gold for elladansgirl mangacrack wrote Wrong Side of Heaven for Elio/Silverfisting Misty/MysticFinde wrote You Will Understand When You're Older for Mawgy

Meredith/Rian wrote The Care and Feeding of Touch-starved Warlords for Fey/ThatFeanorian Mona/queerofthedagger wrote puissance (stay my hand now) for Victoria/0ur_Ouroboros Mouse wrote Two Captains for Tabru Narya wrote Affection for BloodwingBlackbird NiennaWept wrote wrote sweet wine and marble dust for Saint/saintstars Nuinzilien wrote The Power of Persuasion for Blueberryrock Nuredhel wrote For I am thy Lord for Tamatoa/thereisamanmadeofcrabs Pages/Lost_inMiddleearth wrote Been with you such a long time (You're my sunshine) for phyncke RaisingCaiin wrote speak not to me of fine things for Laufey/fullofleaves reindeer_pizza wrote Quality Assurance for steadfastalysanne2022 Saint/saintstars wrote A Way Back to Happiness for maglor_my_beloved sallysavestheday wrote Hear Me in the Song of the Waves for mouse Senalishia wrote Where you go when you're gone for LiselleLascelles Seregons wrote Feathers Fall Slowly for Gilithin Shannon/ElrondsLibrary wrote she hath my love, even through the darkness for Elleth starlightwalking wrote I'm here for ChrissyStriped steadfastsalyanne2022 wrote Sons of the Wilderness for seregons Tabru wrote Tears Unnumbered Ye Shall Shed for Melusine6619 Tamatoa/thereisamanmadeofcrabs wrote Thaw for Elentarial/BaccaratBlack ♥ Tamatoa/thereisamanmadeofcrabs wrote on those cold and star-bright nights for elladansgirl Tethys_resort wrote Patinka for Aglarien thuringwethil wrote take this lonely heart for Pages/Lost_inMiddleearth Victoria/0ur_Ouroboros wrote This shaking keeps me steady (I should know) for just_jenni Whimsy/a_world_of_whimsy wrote Legacy for elennalore

—————

[lilianasgrimoire]

Every Pagan Holiday

JANUARY 

KALENDS 

1st January 

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome 

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists 

Honouring Janus/Juno, first day of the Year. Kalends brought us the word 'calendar'. 

ÞORRABLÓT (THORRABLÓT) 

End of January/beginning of February 

Origins: Iceland 

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru 

Midwinter Festival honouring Thor, usually by feasting and poetry. 

FEBRUARY 

IMBOLC 

2nd February 

Origins: Celtic polytheism /Ireland, as St. Brigid's Day 

Observed by: Most neopagans, Wiccans, Druids, Asatru (as Charming of the Plow)  

Imbolc is the most widely known and observed pagan holiday in the months of January and February. It falls at the beginning of spring/end of the winter for the Celtic peoples; marking the changing of the seasons, as most holidays do. St. Brigid is a Christianised form of or inspired by the Celtic fertility goddess Brigid who is celebrated on this day.  

PARENTALIA 

13th-21st February 

Origins: Ancient Rome 

Observed by: Greco-Roman polytheists 

Translating to 'Ancestors Day', Parentalia is a nine-day celebration of deceased ancestors. Historically it was observed by feasting and making offerings and sacrifices to the dead and spirits of the underworld.  

VÁLI'S BLOT 

14th February 

Origins: Old Norse 

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru, Norse polytheists 

Váli's Blot is considered by some Asatru to be the Norse equivalent of Valentine's Day but is widely acknowledged as a season changing festival. A day for marriage and celebrating with family and friends, and for remembrance of Váli, the son of Odin who defeated Höðr on this day.  

LUPERCALIA 

15th February 

Origins: Ancient Rome 

Observed by: Greco-Roman polytheists 

Festival thought to honour a wolf who raised abandoned princes, celebrated originally by sacrificing goats to the gods, feasting, and, for fertility, nudity and fornication. 

LESSER ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES 

17th-23rd February 

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists 

Initiation to the cult of Persephone and Demeter by sacrificing a pig. Prelude to Greater Mysteries, initiations held on these dates. Once completed, initiates could then move onto Greater Mysteries in the autumn.  

ANTHESTERIA 

27th February - 1st March 2021 

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists 

Athenian festivals dedicated to Dionysus and the dead. Held around the full moon in the month of Anthesterion, which in the Gregorian calendar this year roughly translates to 27th February. 

THE DISTING/DÍSABLÓT 

End of February/beginning of March 

Origins: Uppsala, Sweden 

Observed by: Heathens, Asatru, Norse polytheists 

Celebration of Valkyries and other female spirits, called dísir. Sacrifices were made for a good harvest. Celebrated still by an annual market in Sweden.  

MARCH 

KALENDS 

1st March 

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome 

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists 

Honouring the god Mars/Ares. Kalends brought us the word 'calendar'. 

OSTARA/EARRACH 

20th March 

Origins: Anglo Saxon paganism, popularised as Ostara by Wicca 

Observed by:  Anglo Saxon Pagans, Wiccans, Neopagans, Druids (as Alba Eilir), Heathens (as Summer Finding), Ásatrú (as Sigrblót)  

The northern hemisphere's vernal equinox, the word Ostara was introduced though Wicca and named for the goddess Eostre. Surprisingly unrelated to Easter in all but name, Ostara symbolises the beginning of spring. As a seasonal holiday it is widely celebrated by many different groups of pagans.  

RAGNAR LODBROK'S DAY 

28th March 

Origins: Icelandic Sagas 

Observed by: Ásatrú  

Day of remembrance for Ragnar Lodbrok, Viking King of legend  

APRIL 

KALENDS/VENERALIA 

1st April 

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome 

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists 

Celebration of the first of the month, this one honouring the goddess, Venus. 

REMEMBRANCE FOR HAAKON SIGURDSSON 

9th April 

Origins: Norway, C9th 

Observed by: Ásatrú 

Day of remembrance for ruler of Norway who claimed lineage to Odin in the Icelandic Sagas.  

WALPURGISNACHT 

30th April 

Origins: German Christianity, originally Saint Walpurga was known for banishing witches and other pests 

Observed by: LaVeyan Satanists 

Anton LaVey chose to celebrate this holiday as a follow up to the spring equinox and due to its past association with witchcraft.  

HEXENNACHT (WITCHES' NIGHT) 

30th April 

Origins: German folklore, as Walpurgisnacht but witches were alleged to convene with the devil in this night 

Observed by: Temple of Satan as 'a solemn holiday to honour those who were victimized by superstition'.  

MAY 

BEALTAINE/BELTANE 

1st May 

Origins: Celtic (Ireland/Scotland/Isle of Man)  

Observed by: Wiccans, Neopagans, Celtic reconstructionist, Ásatrú/Heathens (as May Day)  

One of the more well-known pagan festivals, Beltane is a festival of fire and the beginning of the summer. Also widely referred to as May Day, it is celebrated by lighting fires.  

KALENDS 

1st May 

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome 

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists 

Honouring the goddess Maia, for whom the month may have been named.  

REMEMBRANCE FOR Guðröðr of Guðbrandsdál 

9th May 

Origins: C11 Norway, Icelandic Sagas 

Observed by: Ásatrú, Norse, heathens 

Guðröðr had his tongue removed by Óláfr for rebelling against violent conversion from Norse paganism to Christianity.  

JUNE 

KALENDS 

1st June 

Origins: Ancient Greece/Rome 

Observed by: Hellenic/Roman polytheists 

Anniversary of temples to Juno Moneta (protectress of money, her temple was where coins were made), Mars/Ares (God of war), and the Tempestates (goddesses of storms).  

ARRHEPHORIA 

3rd Skirophorion (translates to mid-June)  

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic reconstructionist 

Feast in celebration of Athena and fertility.  

MIDSUMMER/SUMMER SOLSTICE 

21st June 

Origins: Agricultural holiday/longest day observed for centuries by many civilisations. Christianity can date to as early as C4th 

Observed by: Wiccans/Germanic neopagans (as Litha), Asatru/Heathens, Druids (as Alban Hefin)  

One of the main four holidays in the Wheel of the Year and popularised by Wiccans and neopagans as Litha which is taken from the Anglo-Saxon words for June/July, this is the longest day of the year and the middle point and sometimes considered the beginning of summer.  

JULY 

REMEMBRANCE FOR UNNR/AUD THE DEEP MINDED 

9th July 

Origins: C9th Iceland 

Observed by: Ásatrú, Heathens, Norse reconstructionist 

Aud was a traveller in the 9th century moving between Dublin, the Hebrides, Orkney, and finally Iceland following the deaths of her husband and son. This day is to honour her memory.  

HERACLEIA 

July/August  

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists  

Festival dedicated to Heracles the demigod and his death, involving feasting and celebration.  

AUGUST 

LUGHNASADH/LAMMAS 

1st August 

Origins: Celtic Britain (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man) 

Observed by: Wiccans, Neopagans, Christians (as Lammas), Ásatrú (as Freyfaxi)  

Named for the god Lugh, this festival is one of the Celtic harvest festivals and marks the beginning of the harvesting months. It was celebrated by climbing mountains, bull sacrifice, offerings, and feasting. Handfasting is commonplace with Wiccans in modern times.  

REMEMBRANCE FOR REDBAD, KING OF THE FRISIANS 

9th August 

Origins: C7th Frisia (area of Germany/Netherlands)  

SEPTEMBER 

NOUMENIA 

8th September  

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists 

Celebration of new Hellenic lunar month. Offerings of honey and incense made to household deities.  

REMEMBRANCE FOR HERMANN THE CHERUSCAN 

9th September 

Origins: C9th CE 

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú 

Hermann the Cheruscan, also known as Arminius of the Cherusci tribe, led the defeat against the Romans at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest and is lauded for saving Eastern Germanic peoples from being conquered by the Roman Empire.  

AUTUMN EQUINOX (NORTHERN HEMISPHERE)  

22nd September  

Origins: 1970s neopaganism 

Observed by: Wiccans and Neopagans (as Mabon), Ásatrú (as Winter Finding)  

Named Mabon by prominent Wicca and Neopagan Aidan Kelly, after the Welsh mythological figure Mabon ap Moldron, the autumn equinox is one of the harvest festivals and marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. Mabon is a relatively new pagan holiday not based on any specific historical festival, but traditionally people around the world would celebrate some kind of harvest festival around the end of September/beginning of October. 

OCTOBER 

PYANOPSIA 

7th October 

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists 

Pyanopsia, or Pyanepsia, is a festival to honour Apollo, one of the most important deities, God of music, the sun, knowledge, healing, and archery - amongst other things. During the festival, two special offerings would be placed on doorways and carried to the temple. These offerings were a bean stew, and an olive branch wrapped in wool with honeys, pastries and seasonal fruits hanging from it. 

REMEMBRANCE FOR LEIF EIRIKSSON 

9th October  

Origins: C10th CE 

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans 

Remembrance for Leif and his sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir, children of Erik the Red, who are cited with being the first Norse explorers in North America.  

THESMOPHORIA 

12th-14th October 

Origins: Ancient Greece 

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists 

Festival held in honour of Demeter Thesmophoros, goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, goddess of death and life, Queen of the Underworld. Celebrated primarily by women, this festival is linked with fertility, and we know very little about it due to its secretive rites. It is thought that it involved the sacrifice of pigs (although some sources say women), and abstinence.  

REMEMBRANCE FOR ERIK THE RED 

28th October 

Origins: C9th CE 

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans 

Erik the Red, probably named for the colour of his hair and beard, was the first permanent European settler in Greenland. His children were explorers too, who went to America, and although his wife converted to Christianity, Erik remained faithful to his Norse pagan gods. 

SAMHAIN (HALLOWE'EN) 

31st October-1st November  

Origins: Gaelic - Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man 

Observed by: Celtic pagans, Neopagans, Wiccans 

Pronounced SOW-in (sow rhyming with cow), Samhain was originally a harvest festival marking the beginning of winter. The day itself is the 1st November, but celebrations begin on October 31st, and this has become the accepted associated day. It's a festival of the dead, where the síthe, fae and spirits, can enter this realm from their own. Wiccans talk of a 'veil' thinning, meaning the boundary between worlds. Similar death related festivals around this time can be noted in other faiths from across the globe, and of course in the modern Hallowe'en. 

WINTER NIGHTS (VETRNAETR), ÁLFABLÓT/DÍSABLÓT 

31st October 

Origins: 

Celebrated by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans 

Winter Nights is mentioned in the Ynglinga Saga as one of the three greatest blessings of the year, the other two being Sigrblót in April, and þorrablót in late Jan/early Feb. Winter Nights is the celebration of the beginning of the winter season; Álfablót is a sacrifice to the elves, and Dísablót a sacrifice to the female spirits (dísir) and Valkyries.  

NOVEMBER 

REMEMBRANCE FOR SIGRID THE HAUGHTY 

9th November 

Origins: C9th CE 

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans 

It is not actually known whether Sigrid Storråda, or Sigrid the Haughty, was an actual historical figure, an amalgamation of a few, or simply a myth. The lore goes that she was proposed to multiple times and turned down many but went on to orchestrate conflict when a potential suitor - Olaf Tryggvason, King of Norway - attempted to convert her to Christianity.  

DECEMBER 

REMEMBRANCE FOR EGILL SKALLAGRÍMSSON  

9th December  

Origins: C10th CE  

Observed by: Heathens, Ásatrú, Norse pagans  

Day celebrating the poet, farmer, and berserker Egill Skallagrímsson, who is recalled in The Icelandic Sagas by Snorri Sturluson. Egill is known for his many killings and escaping death by writing an epic poem after being captured when washing up on our Northumberland coastline.  

SATURNALIA  

17th - 23rd December  

Origins: Ancient Rome  

Observed by: Roman polytheists, some Hellenic  

Like Yule and Lesser Dionysia, Saturnalia was the Roman winter festival celebrating the coming return of the sun and honouring the god Saturn. The standard feasting and drinking feature, and slaves would be treated as equals like Dionysia. Saturnalia is another festival cited as being picked up by Christians and used as inspiration for Christmas.  

WINTER SOLSTICE (YULE/MIDWINTER)  

21st December  

Origins: Germanic nations, as early as C4th CE  

Observed by: Norse pagans, Wiccans, Neopagans, LaVeyan Satanists, Ásatrú, Heathens, many Germanic nonpagan peoples  

Yule is the midwinter festival known commonly among pagans as a time for feasting, being with loved ones, remembering ancestors, and looking forward to the return of the light and warmer days. Many pagans will celebrate Yule for more than one day, some celebrating a week either side, some for longer, up to two months, and some for twelve days afterwards. True Yule would have originally been in January for midwinter, but King Haakon the Good  

moved it to coincide with the Christian celebrations in the 10th century, as told in the Ynglinga Saga.  

On the 24th of December, Anglo Saxons are said to have celebrated 'Mothers Night' honouring female ancestors. 

RURAL/LESSER DIONYSIA  

End of December/beginning of January  

Origins: Ancient Greece  

Observed by: Hellenic polytheists  

Smaller festival honouring the god Dionysus (Greater Dionysia took place in cities at the end of winter). Feasting, mask wearing to stop distinction between classes so that everyone could feel equal, sacrifices, parades, and phallic display were all used to celebrate.

[deathmetalunicorn1]

NSFW ish with Queen of forgotten with Qin Shi and Lu Bu

As he asked her to dance for him and he wasn't expecting a feast for the eyes of naked exotic dance catering with the other prostitutes who respect their queen with the request due to they are being payed well to do so

And that what they learn that Queen have nipples piercing

-You had invited QSH and Lu Bu to your home on the anniversary of the day you killed your husband, when you reclaimed your throne- it was a day of both celebration and remembrance, as everyone mourned the death of your son, but everyone celebrated that you retook your throne from your tyrant of a husband and leading them into prosperity.

-There was one event, meant for special guests of yours, ones who knew of your past, like your friends, that many would kill to see but you would kill them first for even thinking about it.

-The women that surrounded you were all wearing very revealing outfits similar to the one you were wearing, it looked like a belly dancer’s outfit, but more revealing as the top covered basically nothing as it was sheer.

-The women were some of the prostitutes that took you in when your throne had been taken, keeping you safe and in return, even in death in Valhalla, they followed and respected you.

-This event was the Dance of Death, the dance where the prostitutes enchanted the guards and nobles to give you a clear path to your husband.

-Your two friends were honored to be invited to the celebration, knowing how much it meant to you and your kingdom, but they were also stunned when you told them that you were honoring them by showing them the dance that helped you reclaim your throne.

-The dance was enchanting, the music was lively but there was something dangerous if they had to pick out a word, as the women danced around, trying to tempt them with their bodies.

-However, their attention was only on you, as you danced alongside your friends and allies, your hips rolling as they peeked out from the piece of fabric you called a skirt.

-They felt their throats tightening as they noticed something shining on your chest, as they could just see something through the sheer material, seeing that your nipples were pierced.

-They gulped in unison, now realizing exactly how you had seduced the guards and nobles to get to your husband.

[fearandhatred]

ok so what if the reason crowley likes watching aziraphale eat is because nothing he does for himself can give him back the pleasure he felt when creating his stars, so the next closest feeling to that is through experiencing someone else's greatest pleasures. but it will never be enough

text below the cut

hunger is a funny thing; multifaceted, duplicitous there's a hunger to give and a hunger to take the hunger of passion and the hunger of greed

i knew only of the first type of hunger, before time, before sorrow back when there was just the explosions of supernovas, the heat of the cosmos, the planets in my grasp and the world at my feet back when i was the barycenter of the universe and all my steps created consecrated ground the souls at my tabernacled fingertips, helpless, hopeless, defenceless the power to do whatever i wanted to them and choosing only kindness

that was before i knew how it feels to have it all stripped away to go from being larger than life to living in it; from creating to the realisation of having been created, at the mercy of things of my own design to be helpless, hopeless, defenceless, in a world that was never kind to me

that was before i knew the agony of hunger pangs, bone deep and spiritual that carved out my marrows, left me substanceless and corrosive everywhere and nowhere, that nothing i did could satiate that nothing can satiate but grace

there's a hunger to give and a hunger to take and the damned have nothing left to give

but you do.

you take and you take and you take, never left wanting a taking borne not from desperate emptiness, for once, but one of indulgence you gorge yourself with selfish pleasure, glut yourself with food unneeded fulfilment, hunger stacked upon already-there satisfaction and in taking, so also do you give

with each fistful you grabbed of that ox rib i could imagine snatching my stars out of the sky pressing them down between my palms, permanent claiming marks seared into my hands i imagined swallowing them down, eruptions of light and neutrons on my tongue with each sip you take of wine i imagine myself sucking in the universe galaxies and planets orbiting in my stomach, the centre of the world's gravity i imagine breathing in liquid life, the warmth of existence stinging my throat

and for the first time, my hunger is sated by watching you sate yours for now, it's enough for me to just watch

so establish this covenant with me: take your fill of animals, of drink, of everything within reach stuff your heart full, consume the world raw, and i'll do the same with my eyes but after that, tear the flesh off my frame, gnaw on my hollow bones strip me of the little i'm still worth, leave me bare and stranded feast on my body, broken for you do this in remembrance of me, and maybe i'll do the same

because that hunger of creation i can never get back, no matter how much i try so now i just gorge myself on you

[chapelofmyheart]

As September approaches:

Let's talk about Michaelmas 𓇢𓆸

As a Catholic folk witch, I must say I'm pretty excited for Michaelmas cause I haven't been good at keeping up with Catholic holidays, but I'm gonna start trying so I can have fun stuff to look forward to.

Michaelmas, also known as the Feast of the Archangels, is a holiday on September 29th that celebrates the Archangels and St. Michael's defeat of Lucifer. It also celebrates the end of the harvest and the autumn equinox.

Now here is some popular Michaelmas foods:

~ Goose

Also known as a "Stubble Goose", which is prepared around the time of harvest and fattened on stubble fields.

~ Michaelmas Bannock

Bread or cake made from equal parts barley, oats, and rye. In remembrance of absent friends or those who have passed, breads that have been blessed at Mass were given to the poor in their names.

~ Nuts

A tradition was cracking nuts on Michaelmas Eve (September 28th)

~ Blackberries

Folklore in the British Isles say that Michaelmas is the last day to pick blackberries due to the legend that Lucifer fell on a prickly blackberry bush when he fell from Heaven. So blackberries shouldn't be eaten the days after Michaelmas. Before Michaelmas, people would make blackberry jams and pies.

Now, the Michaelmas flower:

Asters (Michaelmas daisy), was one of the few flowers left around at that time of year when a procession was held at the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This got the rhyme, "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds." People like to plant these during the harvest time so they'll be around during Michaelmas or use them as decoration for the holiday.

Some ways people celebrate Michaelmas:

~ Having a gathering for family and friends

~ Preparing autumn harvest foods like pumpkins and squash

~ Giving to the poor

~ Attending church

Sorry for not being active for so long!

[ananiel]

I promised i would take today a brake as it is my birthday but i am writing and writing is me so here we got again, because this idea has Been eating me from the morning!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Would anyone be interested in a darker version of a Dionysus!Reader? One that lingers not in the revelries of wine and ecstasy, but in the quiet spaces between death and rebirth, where the echoes of lost souls hum like wind through hollowed-out bones? A Dionysus not of indulgence, but of tragedy, of grief and the madness that follows when one has seen too much of both?

Dionysus, after all, was born from ruin. Zagreus, torn apart and scattered, left only embers behind—embers that reformed, that reshaped into something new, something weaker perhaps, but still alive. A reborn god who carries the weight of what came before, who remembers, if only in flickering dreams, the pain of being unmade. And maybe, just maybe, that memory clings to them still. Perhaps it manifests in the way they walk through the world, never quite at home in Olympus, never quite at peace in the Underworld, forever straddling the threshold between life and death.

This Dionysus!Reader would be different, a god not of drunken revelry but of fragile liminality, one who brings comfort to the lost, who walks among battlefields before the crows can claim their due, pressing grapevines into the blood-stained earth so that something may yet grow from it. A god who cradles the hands of the grieving, leaving wine not for celebration, but for remembrance, a drink to steel shaking hands and soothe ragged sobs.

Perhaps they are gentler than their more well-known depictions, quiet in their sorrow, seeking out the forgotten and offering them a place in the vines that grow from graves. Or perhaps they are bitter, laughing sharp and hollow at the festivities of Olympus, at their fellow gods who know nothing of loss, nothing of impermanence, who feast and fight and love without consequence. Perhaps they refuse to sit on that golden mountain for too long, feeling the weight of Zagreus’ death press into their bones, weakening them, drawing them downward, back to Hades' halls, where the truth of the world is carved in shadow and stone.

And maybe it is in this duality—this split between joy and grief, between life and death, between the living and the dead—that they find their true power. Perhaps this is why they understand tragedy so well, why their stories cut so deep. Because they know both sides. They have been both sides. And in the end, perhaps they are neither.

Would they be more mystery than mirth? Would they still dance, but only in twilight, their feet pressing against the dirt where the dead lie waiting? Would they whisper to souls long gone, telling them of the vineyards that bloom from their resting places, of the way the world still turns despite their absence?

A god of rebirth. A god of insanity. A god who knows that sometimes they are the same thing.

Would anyone like Something like this for the concepts of god reader?

[eilinelsghost]

Finrod from The Warning Sounds Too Late

The Warning Sounds Too Late

Part 18 of The Atandil Series Rating: T Relationships: Finrod/Bëor, Finrod & Maedhros, Finrod & Gildor, background Fingon/Maedhros, Finrod & everybody at this dinner basically Characters: Finrod, Bëor, Gildor, Angrod, Eldalótë, Orodreth, Orodreth's wife, Finduilas, Aegnor, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor, Original characters Word Count: 6,218

“Blessed was the joining of your forbearers’ souls, and blessed are we by the fruit of their labor.” Eldalótë stood at one corner of the table with a slim chalice raised in salute, first to the king at her left, then to her husband at the foot of the table. “May joy be upon what joy hath wrought!” “And may Elbereth make light to shine upon you!” came the echo along the length of the table, the clinking of glasses, the laughter rippling like a brook. Balan sipped from his cup and let his eyes drift over the little assembly. They were strange, these feasting customs of the Nómin—the ritual washing each of another’s hands, the bread broken and passed to the guest at one’s side, the form of the toasts, indeed the gathering itself. “Do you celebrate birth’s remembrance among your kind?” he had asked once in Estolad, curiosity piqued as Nóm watched the merriment of Belen’s feast with rapt fascination. “Or does the counting become too cumbersome?” “Nay,” Nóm had flashed a sidelong grin, “tis the day of begetting that we celebrate.” And Balan had laughed, thinking him in jest, till the king’s look of earnest confusion told him otherwise, and then he laughed still more in bemusement. It was the crude term Nóm had used in his assertion—the trouble, Balan teased him later, that came of learning a language through prodding about in another’s head. The vocabulary thus gleaned was only as respectable as the mind he plumbed.

[Keep reading on AO3]

[multifandomxzion]

Phaidei x Moonian! reader pt.4

(Spoilers for Amphoreas quest)

Its over. The war is over. Nikador has been defeated, and Caelus has even learned the power of ice and touched the path of remembrance! Everything happened so quickly.. and you and the others feel, just so.. So tired. You feel like you could sleep for weeks. Amd you do- well- atleast if castorice didnt wake you up

Castorice: I dont mean to wake you my guest, but its time to get ready.

Reader: Hm..? What?

Castorice: Mydei is hosting a feast and has invited you and your friends

Tribbie walks in, expression hardened

Tribbie: Why is Moonie not ready yet?!

Reader: Im up.. Im up.. *You suddenly seize still. Mydei invited you, Caelus and dan heng over for a feast.. Well, I mean.. There's bound to be food but an actual outfit?! Idk..*

Reader: Do I even have anything to we-

Tribbie: Let us worry about that! *she says as her other 2 twins appear out of nowhere, practically dragging you away*

The feast was a harmonius event, Phainon and Aglaea dancing, while Mydei and Caelus were having an eating competition trying to see who could eat more than the other (And Mydei was winning) You, Tribblets and Castorice practically galloped all the way there, hoping to not miss alot

Reader: We're here! We're .. *pant* here

You dont notice now, but Phainon and Mydei both stop in their tracks to look at you, your in a traditional robe similar to Aglaea, w/ a few of your own accessories ofc and a golden head piece! You looked like an average citizen and yet at the same time so...

Phainon: I...

Mydei: I...

Dan Heng: Come join us reader

You actually have alot of fun at this feast, Aglaea attempts to teach you a traditional dance, You eat to your hearts content ect! At some point you walk out to Mydei's balcony to get some fresh air from all the social interaction, only to be followed by a certain white haired individual

Phainon: Ah, so this is where you are! Are you ok Reader?

Reader: Yeah,, Just burned out.. Parties take alot out of me

Phainon: I uh.. I see! Shall I keep you company until you wish to go back?

Reader: If you want ig..

And thats just what phainon does, staying right by your side.

Phainon: Caelus told me that you have fun stories to share about your travels, I'd love to hear some.. To hear more about you

Reader: Huh? Really?

*Phainon looks away sratching his neck, signalling he's nervous*

Phainon: Yes, I eould like to maybe find a proper way to apologize that way. I um.. I was rethinking our interactions together and realize how I may have sounded like.. I only cared about one part of you, which isnt true, You have helped me save Amphoreus, as a warrior, that alone proves so many things about you. *He grabs your hands, intertwining them with his*

Phainon: Your brave, Courageous, sweet, you get the idea, and If it werent for your 3's help.. I dont even want to imagine such a fate.. I want to show you just how much I appreciate you. Not just your beautiful skin, but You as a person, reader. You are not some treasure to be searched, But a one of a kind to be earned and cherished!

Phainon stares into your eyes as he says every word, your stomach becoming queezy with butterflies as he compliments you, He looks like he has more to say but he's holding back

Phainon: I.. *he looks back at the party, then leans into your ear*

Phainon: I believe Mydei wishes to dance with you, but he is too shy to ask you directly, You should go dance with him!

Reader: But I havent mastered any-

Too late, Phainon grabs you and almost throws you back into the party, pushing you towards Mydei

Phainon: Alright you both, go dance!

You and Mydei get on the dance floor and dance together, weird enough even if Mydei comes off more aggressive and mean, He is suprisingly gentle when guiding you trough the dance, Your so focused on trying to get it right that you dont even realise the look of pure adoration on phainons face.. As 2 bright stars dance in front of him

(Sorry if this was alil rushed, its 2AM by the time I post this-)

Pt.5

Back

[thegrinningghost]

if you’re taking lotf writing requests, how about you write some Roger and Jack content:D Roger doesn’t get enough love I feel

I am taking lotf requests!! Y’all deserve to have more writers, honestly. Realistically this should’ve taken me longer! Unluckily and luckily, I got sick, so now I have all the time in the world to write stuff.

Hope that a Simon cameo doesn’t throw off the attention from Jack and Roger. Those two really deserve some love—especially Roger!—though they also definitely deserve some subtle angst >=}

Hope you like it!!!

P.S. tell me if I’m crazy or not, but the end gives some heavy Once Upon A December vibes, I think

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

The church bell rang hollow through the empty halls. All the while, a large, cloaked beast ran through the rain, being wrangled by misdirections and the pressure of time.

“This way!”

“No! Here!”

“Through this door! Come on, you lot! Come on!”

The creature shuffled in, hiding in the corners as it dried itself off, prepping itself with a saintly attitude as it slowly wandered off to take its seats. “Seriously,” one of the older boys mumbled, “even I know better than them! I’d be a better leader, really. Right Cambourne?”

The smaller boy nodded, his hair dripping like a soaked rat. “Probably!” A mother shushed the boys. Many had shed their cloaks, but the ginger boy held his tight, as did a quieter boy. “Hey,” the taller boy whispered. “Who are you?”

“Who are you?” The boy retorted, though his voice held no spite like one might expect. Unlike the other boy.

“Excuse me?” He feigned an over-the-top offense, falling backwards into the lap of the smaller boy, Cambourne, who let out a startlingly high-pitched yelp. The woman turned around to shush them again, as did her son. The older boy hissed some bitter curses at the two, then sat up with a lopsided, unapologetic grin directed toward Cambourne and their mysterious new friend. “So,” he whispered, though he was still quite loud. “Who are you, anyway? And no ask-backs! You’re not part of this choir, but you still have the cloak…what are you?”

The boy huffed, shifting, and facing the older boy.

“Roger.”

“Merridew. Or Jack.” The ginger boy smiled, “That’s Simon Cambourne. He’s queer.”

Roger raised a brow at Simon, who rubbed his neck in shame, his legs bouncing incessantly. Shrugging, he focused back on Jack. “Want to ditch?”

The two stood, and so did Simon in a flash, blocking the two from leaving completely. “Wait! What if they catch us? We’ll get in trouble!”

Jack laughed, nudging Roger’s side and whispering. “See? Queer.”

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

“Roger!” The painted boy yelled towards the rocky cliff, strenuously hiking up to the top. He called again, the waves drowning out his voice, leaving the other boy in peacefully eerie silence. 

The taller boy had grown thinner over the days, though his ego had been feasting like a king. He opened his mouth to shout another call, only to groan, the words leaving a taste of bitter remembrance in his mouth. “Roger!”

“Jack.” The boy finally responded back, voice faintly above a whisper. He cast a glance at him from over his shoulder, then focused back on the smaller boy by his side.

“Roger,” Jack huffed, failing to catch his breath, “leave him alone.”

“You tell him to, first.”

The tiny boy smiled and waved, sending shivers up the Chief’s spine. “Right,” he murmured. Slowly steadying his breath, he straightened himself out. “You. Leave him alone. Roger. Come along.”

He gestured with his spear, still, Roger made no intended movement to get up or even look away. “Roger.”

“Chief,” he said at last, turning his eyes away from the shadow of the ghastly boy, focusing on the waves swallowing dislocated rocks on their journey down. “Do you remember? The day we first met. When we plotted to ditch, and he tried to stop us. When we convinced him, and we all ran out into the unbridled storm. When it pelted us in the face as we hid around the park. And when it finally cleared, and he led us home with only the guidance of the stars and the streetlamps. Do you remember?”

Jack sighed, mumbling as the sea spray touched the mask he wore. “I wish he was still here to guide us home again.” The two stared at each other for a moment, the sea sweltering as a chilling voice echoed around them, memories dancing gracefully across the bloodstained stones.

The Chief coughed, waving a hand of dismissal towards the timeless shades and the darkly shadowed boy. “Shut up,” his words slurred together in a touchy tone. With a simple gesture, the other boy stood, and they slowly began to climb down the cliff together. All the while, the ghoulish guests strayed further and further towards the sea, the glistening, sinister grin of a bloodied mask edging them away. A cursed reminder that declared mantic remarks, none of which the passing line of boys paused to hear.

[pagan-stitches]

White Sunday/Provodní

I stumbled across this custom in my little book about the folk customs of Zjnomo (the area of Moravia that my slavic lineage hails from). But couldn’t find much more information on the practices in western Slavic culture. There does still seem to be a strong custom of visiting graves after Easter in traditionally orthodox countries where it is called Radonitsa or Provody.

The general idea of White Sunday seems to be a spring time version of Dušičky (All Soul’s Day) which is still widely commemorated.

The photos are all from my personal practice. I have either visited graves of family and friends on White Sunday in the past or left offerings on my altar.

White or Provodní Sunday is the first Sunday after Easter. The name "provody" has been documented since the 14th century and has also been preserved to this day in the opening verses of Easter carols, for example in the well-known "Hody, hody, provodory". In the past, White Sunday was apparently connected with the cult of the dead. Perhaps its name comes from "proceedings to the cemetery", the seeing off of the deceased, which used to be associated with gifts for the dead, feasts at the graves and devotions for the deceased.

White Sunday was also a milestone following the great pre-Easter fast and the Easter holidays. Dance parties and sometimes pilgrimages were often held in the villages, during which boys returned the gift of pomláz to girls.

Source:

“Provodí was a Slavic holiday, a remembrance of the deceased, similar to the carrying out of Morana and celebrations of the arrival of spring. Ancestors were remembered exuberantly and cheerfully, and feasts were probably even held directly on the graves. Then Christianity moved things around, but Provodí Sunday remained at least as a name.”

Source:

[theroyalhouseofwindtsar]

The kingdom was alive with celebration as Queen Zarah, The Queen Mother, marked her 60th birthday. Thousands of people gathered outside Saint Helen Palace, waving banners and cheering as the royal family stepped out onto the grand palace grounds to greet them. The sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over the beautifully decorated palace, adorned with flowing banners and fresh white roses—symbols of honor and remembrance.

Dressed in an elegant royal gown, Queen Zarah stood at the center of it all, her presence commanding yet filled with warmth. At her side were her daughter, Queen Alexandra, and her husband, Prince Spencer, along with Princess Elizabeth and her husband, General George. Though Prince Alexander was unable to attend, his presence was deeply felt.

As the joyous cheers filled the air, Queen Zarah raised a hand, and a respectful hush fell over the enormous crowd. With a warm smile, she addressed both the gathered citizens and her cherished family.

Queen Zarah’s Speech

"My heart overflows with gratitude on this special day. To stand here, surrounded by my family, my people, and the kingdom I love, is a gift beyond measure."

"To my dear daughter, Queen Alexandra, you are my greatest pride. You have carried the crown with wisdom and grace, and I could not have asked for a more capable queen to continue our legacy. And to her husband, Prince Spencer, you have stood beside her with unwavering strength and devotion—thank you for being the rock she can always rely on."

"To my beautiful granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, you embody the future of our kingdom. I see so much of our family’s strength and kindness in you, and I know you will continue to bring honor to our name. And to your husband, General George, a man of courage and integrity—I am proud to call you family."

"To my beloved son, Prince Alexander, though you could not be here today, know that you are always in my heart. No distance can break the bond between a mother and her son, and I send my love to you wherever you may be."

Queen Zarah’s voice softened as she continued, her eyes glistening with emotion.

"And lastly, to my darling husband, King Arthur, who left us seven years ago but has never left my heart. Arthur, my love, everything we built together stands strong today because of you. Your wisdom, your kindness, and your unwavering love continue to guide me. I feel you with me always."

"To my people, to my family, to this great kingdom—I thank you. May we continue to stand together in unity, love, and strength for many years to come!"

As she finished, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their love and admiration echoing through the palace grounds. The royal family stepped forward, greeting the people personally, shaking hands, and exchanging warm words with those who had come to celebrate.

The festivities continued throughout the day, with music, performances, and a grand feast in honor of Queen Zarah’s remarkable life and reign. It was not just a birthday—it was a moment in history, a celebration of family, legacy, and the unbreakable bond between a queen and her people.

Happy 60th Birthday, Queen Zarah! Long may you reign in health and happiness!

[brockgold]

Noquaria: The Golden Wake

Brock Gold stepped off the landing ramp, boots gleaming like sunrise over obsidian oceans. Above him, the Golden Mothership shimmered in low orbit, radiating heatless light that painted the gentle tides in bands of molten gold. Before him—Noquaria.

A world of endless sea, dotted not by land but by ancient, living islands. Great cephalopods whose backs rose above the waves like lilypad continents. Upon them, the Noquarians lived—a gentle, amphibious race of artisans and fishers. Their soft vocal clicks and iridescent skin reflected a culture of peace, ritual, and deep balance.

Brock had arrived in peace. The Hive had detected the planet's unique biological rhythms—data pulses matching the Golden Code. For weeks, he lived among the Noquarians, joining feasts of seagrain and glowscale fish, trading stories and teaching rudimentary signal glyphs.

But then—the disappearances began.

Children missing. Circular trails of bloodless water. Heavy night fogs pierced by deep clicks. The elders blamed the water. They had released toxins months earlier, they confessed, to drive away the reef serpents—creatures they feared but now suspected had once kept something far worse at bay.

Brock dove beneath the tides in a pressurized gold-weave exosuit. Down into abyssal trenches where even Noquarians dared not swim. There, he saw them—Cetaphracts, ancient, mammalian leviathans with eyes like void-stars and intelligence crueler than hunger. They swam in silence, hunting without song. Tracking.

And then—the realization. The poisons had not just driven out the reef serpents. They had broken the ecosystem's ancient agreement. The predators now ruled.

Back on the cephalo-island village, Brock stood before the gathered people. His armor steamed with sea mist, golden light piercing through the dark. "You do not need salvation," he said, voice modulated for their ears. "You need remembrance. Harmony. And strength."

He activated a module on his wrist.

From orbit, satellites adjusted. Drones descended. Brock deployed Hive-seeded coral pods—golden growths that filtered the waters, healed the damage, and attracted the reef serpents once more. They returned, not as invaders, but as protectors. The balance restored.

Noquaria pulsed with life again.

That night, under the twin moons, the villagers gathered. Brock stood at the base of the shuttle ramp. “The Golden Army offers no empire. No conquest. Only order, unity, and strength. Walk with us, if you wish.”

A hush. Then—one Noquarian stepped forward. Young. Bright-eyed. Their skin shimmered with resolve.

“I want to know the stars,” they said.

And Brock extended his hand.

Moments later, the Noquarian emerged aboard the mothership—now clad in polished biomech armor, skin golden-slick with transformation. A new drone? A new brother?

A new star.

From orbit, the planet Noquaria glowed faintly below. A trace of gold. A beginning.

Epilogue – The First Trace of Gold

Noquaria gleams now—not with conquest, but with harmony. A single choice. One brave step into the unknown. From that moment, the tide turned—not just for one world, but for all worlds yet untouched.

The Golden Army does not demand. It invites. It does not conquer. It uplifts.

There is order in unity. Strength in discipline. Perfection in obedience.

Across galaxies, new stars await.

📡 Transmission from the Golden Army Mothership: Planet Noquaria—stabilized. Harmony—restored. New drone—awakened.

One spark was all it took. One choice. One transformation. The Hive is listening. The Hive is expanding.

You’ve seen the proof. The Gold uplifts. The Gold protects. The Gold perfects.

🛰️ We offer: — Biomechanical transcendence — Indoctrination chambers in lunar orbit — Purpose beyond entropy — Uniforms forged in light — Brotherhood through code

Ready to ascend? Step forward. Extend your hand. Let the Gold reshape you.

🪐 Apply for Hive integration: Recruiters live now @brodygold | @goldenherc9