#forage combine harvester

[agriculturalmachinerys-blog]

Midwest Fabrication Agriculture Machinery Suppler

A location in The Gums, Queensland, served as the starting point for Martin's pursuits. With his acquisition of a combine harvester, Martin aspired to establish himself, even with the knowledge of the unpredictable terrain he would have to navigate while operating it. Martin's persistent nature allowed for the development of the first-ever front, and this subsequently enabled him to gain recognition on a global scale while also expanding the operations of his family business.

PRODUCT

Harvester

ForageAgriculture

ToolsAccessories

Canola Harvester

Combine Harvester

[catscraftsandcommentary]

Okay, continuing the idea from this post... (Basically, that the witchers from each school can shift into the animal that their school is named after, but also get some comical/cute traits of that animal.)

The mages didn't intend to create shapeshifters originally, they were mostly just fooling around and seeing what would happen. (With real children, yes they are horrible people.) But then someone found a combination of chaos and genetics that allowed a subject to shapeshift into an animal under certain circumstances. So they went "hey, what else can we do with this?" and on the testing went.

Eventually they thought to send their new experiments up against actual monsters and realized that they had the potential for a magnificent warrior...or minion. Same thing.

Over time, they realized some drawbacks:

The new creatures - dubbed "witchers" and further divided by which creature they could shift into - would first shift into a baby of their species. Not terribly useful.

As the witcher grew in age and chaos ability, so did their animal form...and never seemed to STOP growing. (There was a long argument over whether this was beneficial or not.)

When terribly wounded, the witcher would often change into their animal form, seeming unable to control the change until they healed most of their wounds.

Shifted witchers required both food and magical energy to sustain themselves and their abilities. This made them ferocious against chaos-fueled monsters, as they could absorb the chaos from those they killed, but proved a weakness if they absorbed less chaos than they needed to heal the wounds they had taken.

The full moon, which raised the ambient level of chaos in the world, would force a shift unless the witcher had impeccable control. Even then, it was so-so.

Once shifted, the animal instincts easily overpowered the witcher's conscious mind - at least until they had long practice in controlling themselves. Young cats got the zoomies and old ones took long naps. Wolves played. Vipers sunned themselves. Bears foraged for food or - if it was cold - hibernated.

The mages attempted creating a female bear ONCE. It proved to be their downfall - mama bears do not suffer threats to their cubs.

Now please imagine:

Teeny tiny wolf cubs chasing each other around the training grounds, biting each other's tails and tripping over their new paws.

Master trainers scruffing them and carrying them in an elbow or over a shoulder, while the tiny puppy tail wagged uncontrollably. Teaching them what their new bodies could do, with the teacher the size of a wagon and the students not yet knee high.

Puppies trying to scratch an itch and slowly tipping over.

Adult witchers shifting and cuddling with the students, carrying several on their back.

Ivar, oldest and most powerful of the vipers, is as large as a barn and can hold his entire school in his coiled form - and can swallow most monsters whole.

Vesemir is the size of a shed, and Geralt (twice grassed) and Eskel (incredible chaos) are not much smaller. Lambert is a perfectly normal size, thank you very much...he just looks tiny next to them.

Clothing, armor, and weapons which are crafted from the remains of chaos-fueled monsters (ie, they are inherently magical) CAN shapeshift with the witcher. Mundane items (cotton or wool, iron and plain steel) cannot. They lose more knives that way...

Young witchers learning how to harvest, process, and use various monster bits so they don't shift, shift back, and end up naked or in ruined clothing. (Yes, even the THREAD used to sew the clothing together must come from monsters. It's a pain.)

An old witcher taking the time to relax in their shifted form in the woods and being mistaken for a monster, so a nearby town hires a SECOND witcher to hunt them...bonus points if the second witcher is a friend or lover of the first, who came looking for them. Just walking into a clearing going "really? You know that town is going crazy over a huge monster that's moved in, and here I find you lying around."

(It's Ivar and Keldar. Ivar just laughs. "I ate the only monster last week, while I waited for you." And then he snatches Keldar up and wraps him in his coils.)

@everything-but-the-not-natural I know you were excited about this AU!

[alexanderwales]

Alright, here's my dream Stardew Valley style game, designed for my own tastes.

You come to a small town with the usual twenty to thirty people. It's in the middle of nowhere. It's a fantasy town, and no one actually farms anymore, partly because it's only questionably profitable, partly because a lot of the knowledge has been lost. Instead, everyone uses these magic doodads which are very powerful but also very limited. The tavernkeeper has a doodad that makes him a single kind of weak ale and a single variety of off-tasting wine. The clothier has basically a square mile of linen to work with, and everyone wears her drab clothes. Tools are made from a doodad that the blacksmith owns, not even made of any actual metal, just a material that wears away after a month and needs to be replaced by a new copy from the blacksmith's doodad. People get their meals from the doodads. They get their medical checkups. It's all a bit shit.

Because I'm a worldbuilder at heart, I would have this all exist in the wake of a large-scale war that depleted the town of its fighting-age population, with the doodads being a sort of government program to ensure that more of the lifeblood of the town could be drained away. And for there to be some reason for the town to continue existing, perhaps the government is harvesting some resources necessary in the creation of doodads. That's enough for a pro-doodad faction and maybe some minor drama with them, though I do like the idea that the only reason things are Like This is because there was a war and things got bad. It's not necessarily a bleak town, but there's definitely a listlessness to it, a "what's the point".

So you're a farmer, but no one is really a farmer anymore. Maybe there are a few books, but you don't learn farming from books, you learn it from practical experience; that's a lot of what this game is about. When you start, there's no one to buy seeds from, there's just a bunch of wilderness where farms once stood, now all long overgrown.

So you go out and forage, for a start, and you clear the land, and you pay attention to the plants and how they can be used, and you start in on making recipes with them, maybe with the help of your grandfather's old, partially incomplete books. You find some wild corn that's a descendant of the old times. You find some tomato seeds in an urn. You discover potatoes because you see them dug up by a wild boar, which itself was once a domesticated animal.

In my ideal game, you need to pay attention to the soil quality, to how far apart things are planted, to what crops work well together. Farming is a matter of companion planting and polycultures. You get some chickens by giving them consistent feed, and you keep them around because they're natural pest control. Your climbing beans climb the stalks of your maize. You're attracting pollinators. (From a gameplay perspective, yeah, we probably put this all into a grid, and you have crop bonuses from adjacencies, and emergent gameplay that comes from all that, some plants providing shade, others providing nitrogen fixing.) You're a scientist making observations about the plants, maybe with your incomplete book giving you confirmation on the nature of all your crops once you hit certain production goals or a perfect specimen or whatever.

Cooking is the same. There has got to be a system that I like better than just "combine tomato with bread to get tomato bread". I'm pretty sure that it's some variant of the actual process I use when cooking, which is making sure that things are properly cooked, balancing flavors against each other, adding in a little salt or acidity or umami or whatever. Time in the kitchen, in this game, is often about making meals, ensuring that if you have a fatty piece of meat you have some asparagus that's coated with lemon to go with it. (From a gameplay perspective, I think building the dish once is probably sufficient and it can be automated after that, and building the meal is the same. I don't want to play this minigame every time I'm cooking a dish, I just want to play it a single time until I have good knowledge of the best way to grill a BBQ chicken breast with a homemade sauce.)

But if we're having a little minigame here where we pay attention to how long we're cooking the kale to make sure that it's the right texture, and we're paying attention to abstractified mouthfeel and palette, then we can get something else for free: variation. See, you're not just cooking to get an S grade, you're cooking for people with different tastes. The cobbler has a sweet tooth, the librarian loves fruity things, the mayor cannot stand fish, that sort of thing. From a gameplay perspective, maybe we represent this with a radar graph with some specific favorite and least favorite individual flavors, and maybe it's visible to the player, but the important thing is that player gets feedback and have a reason to strive for both "good" and "perfection" and some of this is going to depend on the quality of the ingredients.

And this is, gradually, how the town is brought back into the fullness of life. You're not just cooking for these people, you're also selling them food, and they're making their own recipes, and all the stuff that's not food is making their businesses not suck anymore. After the first test keg of ale goes swimmingly, the tavernkeeper wants more, a lot more, and puts in an order for hops, wheat, grapes, anything he can use to make things that will improve nights at the tavern. The clothier will skeptically take in wool and spin her own yarn, and then eagerly want more, because how awesome is it to have a new textile? There's a chemist who is extremely interested in dyes and paints, and wants you to bring him all kinds of things to see what might be viable for going beyond the ~3 colors that the doodads can provide.

So by year two, if you're doing things right, you're the lynchpin of the revivalist movement. People are now moving to the town, for the first time in decades, because they hear that you're there and doing interesting things with the wilderness. Maybe there are other farmers following in your wake, but maybe it's just new characters who are specifically coming because a crate of wine was shipped to the capital city. Maybe some of them bring new techniques for you, or a handful of plants from a botanical garden, and there are new elements for the minigames, or maybe some automation for the stuff that's old hat.

I think something that's important to me is that there's a reason for the crops you plant and the things you do. I always like these games best when it feels like I'm doing something for someone, when I can look at a plot of cabbages and think "ah, those are the cabbages I owe to Leon". Where these games are at their worst, everything is entirely fungible and I've planted eight million blueberries because they have the highest ROI.

And yeah, in most of these games, there are other minigames like fishing and mining and logging and crafting, and since this is just a blog post and not a game, I definitely could massively expand an already sizeable scope.

I think for mining the player would use doodads of their own, and maybe you could make a mining minigame out of that, using the same planting tile system to instead create an automated ore harvesting machine that plumbs the depths of the earth (possibly dealing with rocks of different hardness, the water table, and other challenges along the way).

Fishing is a question of understanding the different fish species, what they eat, where they congregate, and then setting nets or lines, since I have never met a fishing minigame I really enjoyed. Again, there's some idea that the player is gaining information over time, building up a profile of these fish, noticing that some of them go nuts when it rains, understanding the spawning season, that they go to deeper water when it's cold, etc.

Crafting really depends on what you're crafting, but if you're reintroducing traditional artisan processes to this town, then people are going to need tools and machines and things. I'm not sure I know what a proper crafting game looks like. The only experience I have to draw on is wood shop, where I made wooden boxes, cutting boards, and picture frames. Since this is an engineering-lite puzzle-lite game, you could maybe do something in that vein, e.g. defining a number of steps that get you the correct thing you're trying to make, but ... eh. I love the idea of designing a chicken coop, for example, or building a trellis if I want my climbing beans to not need maize, or whatever, but I don't know how you actually implement that. There are definitely voxel-based and snap-to-grid games where you build bases, and I tend to find that fun ... but it's mostly cosmetic, for the obvious reason that doing it any other way than cosmetic requires programmatic evaluation, which is difficult and maybe unintuitive. The closest I think I've seen is ... maybe Tears of the Kingdom? Contraption building? But I don't know how you translate that to a farming game. Maybe I should ask my wife about this, because she's always doing little projects around the house (an outdoor enclosure for our cats, a 3D-printed holder for our living room keyboard, a mounting for our TV).

Making an interesting crafting system is difficult, which is why pretty much no one has done it.

And if I'm talking pie in the sky, without concern for budget or scope, I want the villagers to all have a mammoth amount of writing for them. I want petty little dramas and weird obsessions, lives that evolve with or without my input, rudimentary dialog trees that let me nudge things in different directions. This is just an unbelievable amount of work on its own, it would be crazy, but I would love having a tiny little town game where sometimes other people would fall in love. I would like to be invited to a wedding, maybe one that happened because I encouraged the chemist to hang out with the clothier, and in the course of working together on dyes, they fell in love. With twenty people in town and another ten that come in over the course of the game if you hit the right triggers, I do think this is just a matter of having a ton of time/budget. You write tons and tons of dialogue so there's not much that's repeated, you have some lines of conversation between characters that are progressed through, you have others that trigger off of events, and then you have personal relationships between NPCs that can be progressed through time or with player intervention. Give single characters a pool of love interests, have their affections depend on their routine which depends on what's changed in town ... very difficult to do without spending loads and loads of time on it though.

Anyway, that's one of my dream games. No one is ever going to make it, it would be a niche of a niche, and as scoped here, is too much for a small team to ever actually finish, let alone polish. But it's the sort of thing I'm imagining in my head when I think about playing Stardew Valley and its successors.

[ataraxiaspainting]

Where Did The Years Go?

Yan Scaramouche x GN Reader.

Synopsis: You said you understood him. So why do you plan to leave him too?

Warnings: Yandere themes, manipulation, Scara is in his Kabukimono era, thoughts of murdering the Reader, and unhealthy relationships.

Word Count: 800.

*~*~*~*

Dendrobium could only grow in areas where Celestia is blind. Kabukimono knew that, almost more than he knew anything else. The Dendrobium blooming next to a grave long since abandoned, much like the rest of this island, has no one to watch over it, no one aside from you and him. The seven red flowers sprouting in the tomb were unloved by this world, much like Kabukimono once used to be before he found a home within you, his beloved. 

The flower had many names, unlike the unmarked, broken stone that hid some sort of rotting human beneath the soil. The Flower of Poison because of the stamens which are indeed poisonous to mortals unlike himself, intended to keep pests like mice away from the inner parts. The Flower of Death was another ominous title since the flowers are said to bloom only when an Inazuman is said to cross over to the other side after passing on, be it from old age, disease, or some slow and painful death they either did or did not deserve. Sometimes, when you are feeling guilty enough, you visit this grave too, and sit down to meditate, contemplating what your mother is doing in the afterlife if it even existed. Perhaps this was why you were given a Vision, the shade of that of the tea you often brewed for both Kabikumono and yourself, a bright green color that dared not dwindle. The Flower of The Other Shore is also a common label for Dendrobium because when a soul passes the river they are said to be greeted by a field of them. Kabukimono ponders for a moment, leaning down to pick out a petal, playing with it between his thumb and pointer finger, stopping when he hears you call out his name, followed by the slightly loud note of a bell. He leans back down and buries the petal within the soil of the grave, bowing before hurrying off in the direction of your home.

Today’s dinner is a combination of what you both managed to gather. Kabukimono gathered the fish and seaweed, while you cooked the rice from the small field outside your home, along with some Lavender Melon. Your meals are often like this, Kabukimono found out a few days into him becoming a resident here for the time being, that what you ate depended heavily on the weather and the harvest. He promises himself that one day he will treat you to a meal and life so grand that you will never go back to foraging all day to just be barely given enough to scrape by. 

Seven months have passed since he first arrived here, according to you. He hopes that this life will continue to get better and that he will be able to give you the life you deserve.

“Kabukimono,” The saying of your name is unusually deflated like it has been the past week or so. “I… have to tell you something, alright?”

“Absolutely! Tell me anything, anything at all.”

What comes out of your mouth is not what he wanted to hear at all. “I… I’m leaving Yashiori Island.”

“...Huh?” He looks down at the small bowls that are in the center of the two of you. His side, as usual, has more food than yours, because you keep saying you cannot bear to see him go hungry. “Why?”

“There is not enough food. Not enough… anything. The thunderstorms are getting much worse too… I can’t live here anymore.”

You think this is the first time you have been scared of Kabukimono, because that new expression he is wearing is utterly terrifying.

“I… I’m sorry, Kabukimono. I’m… leaving for Inazuma City soon.”

He smiles, and in the blink of an eye, he is standing up and then your foreheads are touching, his hands grabbing your shoulders so tightly you could feel them almost dislocate. 

“No, you’re not, because that’s awfully selfish of you! My [First] would never do such a thing, right? They wouldn’t leave me alone to starve and cry and be covered in filth.”

Being aware that you are unaware of his non-human nature, yet acknowledging your uncontainable empathy, makes employing this strategy even simpler. It works every time you want to leave.

“Here, you can have my portion for tonight, alright? Just… Just don’t leave me. Please?” After a moment of silence, along with the tears that trickle down your cheeks, he knows he has one, at least for now. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, [First].”

When you don’t answer again, looking to the side, to the bag of your essentials, Kabukimono wonders if that grave would have enough room for two and not just one.

But he dismisses it because surely, you’ll be with him forever, right?

[starquestingfordrarry]

My Shit, Master List

(it's all drarry)

Fics

Over 10k

Simulation Theory | E | 35k

An offer to test out a new invention for Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes turns into a whole lot more when Harry discovers who has the other part of the paired set.

With Love in Her Luminous Eyes | T | 30k includes art by myself and ItsPhantasmagoria

The Demiguise lived in Grimmauld Place, and she lived all alone.

Half Sick of Shadows | E | 39.7k

Harry and Draco have been sleeping together for months, and it's fine. It's enough for Harry. But when things finally start to feel like the more Harry's been hoping for, a strange tapestry project has him worrying he won't ever get the chance. Or: the one with sheep, dragons, and a whole lot of weaving metaphors.

Of easy wind and downy flake | E | 14k | gift for ItsPhantasmagoria

It’s snowing in July, and it’s Malfoy’s fault. Or, the one where the house wants the boys to kiss.

Strange Entanglements (the particles of us) | E | 15.3k | gift for wilfriede

Harry and Draco are colleagues, buried in their own sub-sections of the Department of Mysteries. When Draco's career-making experiment goes terribly wrong, they end up far closer than either could have imagined.

People Are Boring | E | 14.3k | Dronarry

“Alright, what’s your terrible news?” Draco braces himself on Harry’s desk. “Weasley’s hot.” “You’ll have to be more specific, there are a lot of hot Weasleys.” Draco makes a strangled, groaning sound in his throat. “The Weasley. Weasel. Weasel-by. Your Weasley.” Harry’s heart jumps to his throat, and his stomach drops to his shoes. “Ron’s back?”

Under 10k

Measure My Lordship With Thine Vulgar Aye | M | 1k

Draco buys some Muggle magnets for the office.

Round Robin: Mud, Bath & Beyond (chapter 5) | E | 7.2k

Draco and Harry are up to something on a Muggle Studies field trip (to a field).

Draco L Malfoy (the L stands for legs) | E | 1.8km | gift for NoxNoir

Harry could spend the rest of his life in the embrace of Draco Malfoy’s legs. If he was lucky, he would.

We Don't Have Thanksgiving, Potter, But You're Still Getting Stuffed | E | 1.6k

Harry stuffs the turkey, Draco stuffs Harry

His Favorite Word | T | 0.2k | gift for minty_petals

Harry has a new favorite word

Eyes All Aglow | G | 3.4k

Sequel to With Love in Her Luminous Eyes. Lenore's first Christmas.

Lover, Tempt My Vow | G | 1.2k

Draco has something to ask. Sequel to Measure My Lordships With Thine Vulgar Aye

Your Hot Hands | E | 7.5k

Draco always wanted to know where Harry Potter disappeared to. This is not what he expected.

'Neath Arbor Eaves | E | 3k

Harry and Draco are stranded in the Forbidden Forest. What horrors lurk in the shadows?

both lips on the mirror | E | 4.1k

Harry doesn't mean to watch Malfoy masturbate

Art

Drawtober 2023 | E | Digital

Drawings done in October following the prompts from boshspice's boshhptober2023 (most of them are combined because I have poor time management skills)

I couldn't convince myself to turn you away | T | Digital | gift for arminaa

inspired by Within You Without You

to the sundered earth | G | Digital | gift for apricitydays

inspired by Once More to Arcady

Muggle Studies, Lesson 1: Recreation | G | Digital | gift for Inheartofwinter

Harry takes Draco to a muggle amusement park

Phallus impudicus | E | Digital | gift for DodgerKedavra

On a foraging trip through a fall forest, Harry finds a bountiful harvest

Branta canadensis | G | Digital | for FellyTone

Harry protects Draco from a killer goose

[dailyanarchistposts]

I

“Today we are still preoccupied with creating gardens.Why? To not suffer from hunger. Because having rice, beans, fava beans, maize, peanut — then one can survive.” — Renato, of the Canela community[1]

“The development of what we know as agriculture was not an overnight phenomenon, but rather a several thousand year-long project. In some places in the world, the earliest stages of cultivation were never surpassed, and remain sustainable today. In many more places, the pressures of the global economy have corrupted these practices just in this last century. But in most of the world today, we are witnessing the full-blown colonization of native foodways, and a nearly complete dependence on western industrial practices. To trace this “biodevestation” directly back to cultivation itself, is to ignore the history of conquest and land displacement that pushed the food systems of subsistence cultures to the brink, where they now teeter on the edge of extinction.” — Witch Hazel, Against agriculture & in defense of cultivation

Situated in dense forests and savanna of the Brazilian state of Maranhão lives the indigenous Canela people. In the past they lived from hunting, gathering and gardening but starting from 200 years ago as they were pushed from their traditional territory as settler farmers occupied the land bit by bit. The lush forests are being replaced by industrial eucalyptus and soy plantations, and cattle ranches. They now inhabit an area 5 to 10 percent of their original territory. Traditionally the Canela travelled from place to place as the seasons changed but now adopt a more sedentary lifestyle living in bigger permanent villages. Although the Canela still depend on hunting and foraging they don’t have access to a big enough land base to cover all their needs so they increasingly depend on gardening to meet their needs.

For the Canela gardening is not just to meet their subsistence needs but also a means of resistance against being assimilated into the structures, networks, dependency and the institutional inequality of the Brazilian state, religious institutions, and multinational corporations who are constantly trying to infringe and occupy the Canela’s home.

Other threats to the Canelas way of life are from the environmental effects from the industrialized agriculture of soy and eucalyptus production that causes water depletion which exacerbates drought and soil erosion. The overuse of fertilizers and agrochemicals annihilates plant biodiversity and pollutes the local rivers and waterways with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus which in turn causes algal blooms which can produce toxins that are harmful to animals and cause dead zones from the reduction of oxygen in the water starving fish and plants. So any flora or fauna living near a eucalyptus or soy plantation is at risk.

The Canela’s subsistence gardening approach is totally different from monocrop agriculture. They work with nature using a conscious ecological and more biodiverse method.Typically in agriculture only a small variety of cash crops are grown in large fields covering acres upon acres of land where in the Amazon large sections of jungle are destroyed. For the Canela gardners instead of being dependent on a small variety of cash crops they cultivate over 300 varieties of plants to meet their subsistence needs. Instead of using destructive hellish machines like bulldozers, ploughs, and combine harvesters they use a slash and burn method to clear small patches just enough for them to use and their tools consist of a digging stick and woven baskets. They only use the same garden for two years and then not use the same area for at least eight years to allow the forest to regrow and return fertility to the soil.

The Canela’s vast knowledge of plants helps them determine which ones make good companions that will help each other grow, which ones are natural repellents to predatory insects that will attack the plants, and which plants to grow which will attract beneficial insects such as pollinizers. And likewise their vast knowledge of soil helps them to consciously plant to suit the 10 different soil groups in their area which will help prevent soil erosion, nutrients depletion, and combat against other harmful effects that are typical of agriculture. Their focus is for caring for the well-being of local biodiversity and the nonhuman inhabitants.

The Canel don’t see themselves as farmers but parents looking after their plant kin viewing their saved seeds and cuttings as their babies and their growing crops as their infants, genuinely loving them in the same way as if they were their human children caring for the plants as the plants care for them. They view the environment as consisting of human and nonhuman “selves”, and gardening as caretaking for themselves and their plant and human families.

[meowcats734]

(prompt response) A girl grows up thinking that all doors are automatic, but it's actually the work of a polite ghost.

I'd thought the four of us had gotten to know each other pretty well at the Silent Academy. At the very least, Lucet, Meloai, and I hung out together for pretty much every waking moment we had, and it was a rare week that didn't see Sansen and I sipping slurry and brandy together in his comfortable, hand-built home. 

But as it turned out, hanging out together in the controlled environment of school was one thing. Trekking across the country and sleeping in the same camp for weeks was an entirely different level of intimacy that I didn't expect. In the first week alone, I learned that Lucet snored, Sansen liked staying up late humming to himself, and Meloai just flat-out didn't sleep at all, instead electing to keep watch for us as we rested. 

I learned other things, too. As the food supplies we'd brought with us from the Peaks ran low and I had to fall back on the foraging skills I'd learned as a child, I found out that Lucet was a surprisingly picky eater. I, personally, saw nothing wrong with the meat slurries that were a staple food of the Redlands, and the only thing Meloai ate was a couple soul fragments harvested from the gremsquirrels we hunted, but for some reason, Lucet didn't seem to be a big fan of the ground-up meat powder that I'd grown up on.

Explaining that the meat grinder was a metaphor for the constant violence in the Redlands didn't seem to do much for her appetite, either.

Things got even weirder when we started reaching villages. The first one we found—Hatebroke, according to the lonely entrance sign—was entirely abandoned, and stripped clean of anything remotely perishable. I was just getting comfortable with the empty village when a door suddenly swung open as Meloai walked past.

"Rifts!" I swore.

"Where?" Meloai asked, gaze swiveling.

"What? No, it's an expression—the door, Meloai. Did—you have to have to have seen that, right?"

"Uh, sure? But don't all doors do that?" Meloai asked, taking a step towards the abandoned cabin. The wooden door swung open with impeccable precision, and I could have sworn the hinges even oiled themselves as they moved.

"...No, Meloai," I said. "Doors do not normally open themselves as people pass."

"Really?" Meloai frowned. "They did all the time when I grew up."

"No offense, Meloai, but you grew up in a dead nobleman's creepy-ass extradimensional basement," I said. "I'm pretty sure that your definition of 'normal' is pretty different from human standard."

Lucet kicked me in the shin. "Hey. Be nice, Cienne."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm just a little bit stressed from... I dunno... getting chased out of the only home I had left by a fucking eldritch abomination? If this is Iola messing with us..." I took a step forwards and shut the door; it didn't open again.

"I don't think this is Iola," Sansen said, frowning at the door. "This... I think it's a different soulspace entity. And if my guess is right, it's one that probably decided to follow Meloai around ever since she left the Plane of Elemental Insecurity."

"Wait, so we've been stalked by some invisible soulspace entity for months now? How come we haven't noticed?" Lucet said.

"Say the part about it being invisible again," I said, "but slowly."

Lucet flicked my forehead. Ow, but I guess I deserved that. "You know what I mean. Meloai, does this door-opening thing happen all the time?"

"Yes," Meloai said, grumbling. "Not like it mattered much at the Silent Academy, since there were always so many people moving around that the doors were always open anyway. Look, I obviously turned out okay, and I spent twenty years with this kind of thing happening. Don't we have more important things to worry about? Like, uh, getting enough food for you guys to eat?"

"Well, hang on, maybe one of those problems can be a solution to the other." Sansen, by virtue of being older than Meloai, Lucet, and I combined, was the de facto leader of our little group of adventurers. "I've seen people come and go in my time, and I've even encountered the soulspace entities they've left behind. If this soulspace entity is formed from the soul fragments of who I think it is, then he's not going to be hostile."

"Didn't you just say it was something from Lord Tanryn's vault?" I asked. 

"Yes, but I don't think it's that puffed-up nobleman himself. He wouldn't stoop so low as to open doors for some commoner."

"Then... who is it?" I turned to Sansen, frowning. The old man had forgotten more than I'd ever know, and I trusted his judgement.

A faint smile spread across Sansen's face. "I think it's his old butler." He cleared his throat. "Meloai. Did the soulspace entity ever set tables for you?"

Meloai gave him an uncertain nod. "I... think? That's the thing where all the silverware flies into place, and the tablecloth straightens itself out with a whoomph, right?"

"...In this context, sure," Sansen said. "Did he—did the entity do the little thing with the three types of forks? The one with two little tines on the left, the bigger one in the middle, and that delicate, long, pointy one on the right?"

Meloai nodded enthusiastically. "See? It is normal for tables to do that."

"Oi," I muttered. "Well, I guess it's not the weirdest thing we consider normal nowadays."

"Yeah, that's ol' Mairel alright." Sansen's old gaze stared into the distance as he remembered. "He was my first crush, back in the day. If there's still enough of him left to remember how to wait tables and grease doors... well. Indulge an old man for a moment, will you?"

The three of us traded looks, then nodded at once. We may have been an eccentric little group, but we were tight-knit. We trusted each other. "Whatcha need, Sansen?" I asked.

His requests were fairly simple. We cleared out the front yard of the abandoned shack, smoothing over the dirt with our feet and hands—and as we did, something... else... joined us. Something that barely remembered how to speak or think, but still knew how to set a dance floor. Within minutes, we'd cleared a square of land, with Sansen standing in the middle.

And the old man began to dance.

Wordlessly at first, the waltz was an invitation. He took the lead, and empty air followed. And then, all at once, the air wasn't empty anymore. There was no flash of light, no thunderous miracles, but Sansen's steps became more sure, his weight more freely shifted, as he leaned on a partner who wasn't there but had been, once, long ago.

Meloai began to hum to herself, a wordless childhood lullaby that she must have heard when she was growing up, and the cadence of the tune matched the waltz to perfection.

The old man and the ghost finished their dance, and I felt a whisper of wind rustle around the impromptu dance floor.

Then the miracle was over, and suddenly, Sansen was holding nothing but empty air. He let out a long, contented sigh, memory coursing through him.

Then he opened his eyes, smiling.

"You wanted food, kids?" He stepped forwards, opening the door to the abandoned shack. Behind it, impossibly, incongruously, was a fully-set banquet table, resplendent with rich foods from an era long past, with three delicate forks set precisely by each setting. "Seems like there's something left of Mairel after all."

And the four of us ate gratefully, sustained by the memory of a ghost of an old man's friend.

A.N.

Soulmage is a serial written in response to writing prompts. Stick around for more episodes, or join my Discord to chat about it!

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[noodlebelli]

Sims 2 Stardew Valley Challenge

Toshiro Sim's Pelican Town from Stardew Valley as a neighborhood combined with the Planting Overhaul I came up with some gameplay rules to somewhat simulate playing Stardew Valley in the Sims 2.

(I'm also playing it Tues and Thurs over on https://www.twitch.tv/noodlebelli)

Rules

Your sim cannot stay up past 2am. Once your sim is in bed, they cannot wake up until 6am.

If they happen to wake up for puke or pee or something and they are too awake to sleep, have them relax and not do anything until 6am.

If you need to do any maintenance on other households because of story progression, you can do it while your farmer is asleep, until 6am.

No Job! You left that life to connect with nature. Sources of income include:

Fishing 

Harvested produce

Found beach treasures

Digging for treasure. 

Any other crafts that you can get your hands on. 

You can sell the rocks and trees on your land for some cash in a pinch, but foraging and farming should be the primary sources of income.

After every season, at the beginning of the next, delete all current crops still in growing stages. . 

If there are some in harvest state you can still sell them.

Note down which seeds you still have left in your inventory. 

Save your game and switch out the seed folder for the current season folder.

Put a copy of the extra seed packages you noted down from the old season folder to the Winter folder. 

Put the winter folder in your Downloads so that your sim keeps their extra seeds.  

Sprinklers and ladybug houses are allowed if you can afford them. The greenhouse is not allowed to be used until Winter. 

The winter folder should have all the extra seeds that you noted down in rule 13. You can use those seeds in the greenhouse, but you are not allowed to buy more!

Once Winter is over, sell any un-used seeds and when you are switching out the seed folders delete all seeds in the Winter folder. 

No Gardener! Unless there is a default replacement that turns them into a Junimo blob, you don’t get help from a gardener. 

Romance whoever you want, Heck even WooHoo. But NO Try for Baby until the Level 3 milestone.

Read the full article which includes recommended mods and milestones on https://noodlebellisimsandthings.blogspot.com/2024/02/sims-2-stardew-valley-challenge.html

This challenge is bound to grow and change, so I'll try to update the blog post and rules as I go.

[alchemical-astrology]

Autumn Equinox Observations | Dark Academia 🌾 MBTI | Earth Signs

When the days and nights are the same length the symbolism in the collective unconscious is especially significant. Here are some observations for 🍂 Earth Signs 🍁 In some ways naturalled attuned to this time of year.

🐌 As always, take what resonates and leave the rest! 🌬

🍊 this time of year can have a sense of 'all will be revealed' and 'how the tables have turned. For Taurus, ruled by venus, themes of fertility and harvest are yours, whatever energy is coming your way, is coming in abundance. Think of a writers block freeing up, or waiting ages for a job offer and 3 come along at once

🍎 the traditional tendencies of capricorn can be felt early even though we are three signs away in libra. Yet this time is all to do with the earth and you may feel like you cannot wait for your sign to come around. might want winter or the rest of autumn to come faster. remedy the blues by curling up with a good book

🍐 this is a time of exchange, thus this can even manifest emotionally. you may be exchanging one bad mindset for a better one. this can also be a time of travels, literal exchanges of goods or services, or switching one group of people for another.

🍓 for virgo - this exchange is MOST likely to be practical for you of all the signs. for you it is MOST likely to involve physical goods or services. this year you may find your brain freeing up as Mercury finally leaves all vestiges of retrograde energy aside on the 22nd when it reaches it's furthest elongation at the end of the Mercury Max cycle

🍍 of all the earth signs it's Capricorn who may have the most difficult time as this is a time of change which confronts your need for tradition. you can mark the occasion by investing in a new aesthetic, whether that means a desk tidy, new pair of glasses or so on. You are one of the signs who suits the dark academia aesthetic best and doing something like this can make any life changes easier

🍏 all signs - you may have a tendency to intellectualise and overanalyse any changes or life events that happen at this time, but you can combat this by going with your gut and feelings as opposed to what is practical. this can be harder for you than for water signs but shadow work on the upcoming Harvest Full Moon can make things easier 🌚

🍄 most likely to embrace the change are perceiving types ESXP ISXP INFP and ENFP 🦝

🌽 SJ types have a tendency to enjoy this time of year as there is a lot to keep busy with in terms of new school terms, foraging and preserving wild food, or whatever floats your boat

🌰 INFJ and ENFJ have a tendency to be in their element around this time of year as life tends to throw them the perfect combination of variety and routine. Taurus XNFJ may have the urge to buy new clothes. Virgo INFJ may enjoy a new venture and Capricorn ENFJ tends to indulge themselves around this time 🪶

Archetypes you may attract:

At times like this our ability to tap into the collective unconscious is particularly strong. Thus there may be a mythological element to the people we attract. This can look like:

🍁 People showing up that mimic patterns found in myth and legend (e.g. A relationship dynamic mimics, say, Orpheus and Eurydice)

🍁 Notable archetypes from the tarot around this time are The Empress (harvest), Justice (balance), Judgement, The Moon Reversed, The Emperor, and any of the Kings and Queens

🍁Several comets will be nearing earth in the period after the equinox and into october. These can signify temporal archetypes such as change, destruction/creation, karma, lessons learned etc. I will do another post on these in more detail.

🍁Virgo and Taurus, if your luck has been looking down you may attract the mentor archetype (from Joseph Campbell's hero's journey) around this time as your energy is in the right place and those well suited to you can tell when you need an extra hand.

🍁Capricorn, you may be in the return home stage of the hero's journey. As the year reaches it's final quarter your sign approaches (although it is not there yet!) however, Saturn, your ruling planet, governs some of the themes of reaping and sowing associated with the Equinox. Thus, you may be returning to stage one, the drawing board, or the start of a cycle.

If you found this interesting (especially the archetypes bit) I am offering free readings on my Etsy Store for the Tarot of Archetypes which looks at this kinda stuff in more detail. Use the code GIVEAWAY1234 for 100% off (Tarot of Archetypes only)

Alternatively DM me to suggest future topics if you want to see more of this kinda Jungian Archetypal spin on them - we have some pretty neat comets coming up, stuff on Ophiuchus, plus the Harvest Moon and Draconids meteor shower in October HOWEVER I am always open to suggestions and challenges

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 6, 2024

Reworked Species #3: Invaders

Overview

Their scientific name is Deinocarnifex (meaning “terrible butcher”). Despite being referred to as the Venusians due to their origin on Venus, many people call them Invaders because of their aggressive thirst for conquest. An extremely hostile insectoid alien species, led by their asexually reproducing king, the Invader King, possesses shapeshifting abilities and omnilinguistic skills. They possess exceptional expertise in terraforming, warfare, territorial invasions, xenology, anatomy, and mechanics. They’re notorious for being the most ferocious alien species in the entire universe and are the arch-nemesis of the Martians.

Hierarchy

Their society is entirely hive-based with ranks determined by skin colour, durability, and intellectual capacity. Most Invaders are born from cocoons in hive-like structures within their meteorite-like mothership, having their abilities and roles predetermined at birth.

Heaven Globules (Deinocarnifex thauma) are the knowledgeable and dangerous hybrid offspring of Invader Drones and another life form. Surprisingly, they possess superior mental and physical strength compared to their brethren and exhibit exceptional abilities, including vocal communication, strategic thinking, psychological manipulation, a mystical connection to the cosmos, and an understanding of arcane, forbidden knowledge. Due to their fearsome reputation as heralds and guardians of the Invader King and his offspring, they operate independently from the rest of the Invaders.

Morph Changers (Deinocarnifex grallator) are tactical geniuses, skilled mechanics, and masters of stealth and terraforming technology. Despite being fully mute, they communicate effectively through a combination of gurgling sounds, raspy breathing, and expressive body language. Serving as loyal fighting servants of the Heaven Globules, they possess small fragments of forbidden knowledge graciously shared by their masters. As commanders of the Parasites and Invader Drones, they typically employ cunning tactical strategies that exploit the weaknesses of their enemies. They only resort to brute force and half-baked strategy plans when situations become truly dire or all else fails.

Elite Invaders (Deinocarnifex volans) are comprised of Invader Drones that serve as the elite troops of the Invader forces, commanders of the Parasites, and supporters of the Morph Changers in identifying enemy positions and coordinating attacks.

Ravenous Invaders (Deinocarnifex venator) are comprised of Invader Drones that serve multiple purposes: food foragers, protectors of their own kind, and operators of their war machines.

Grub Invaders (Deinocarnifex ambulus) are comprised of Invader Drones that serve as the foot soldiers of the Invader forces and the progenitors of the Heaven Globules. Despite exhibiting bestial and cannibalistic behaviour, they possess a surprising capacity for operating heavy machinery and interacting socially with more advanced species. Like all Invader Drones, they emit a diverse range of vocalisations, including chirps, purrs, chatters, hisses, growls, screeches, and howls.

Parasites (Deinocarnifex mimos) are responsible for assuming control over other life forms to aid in intergalactic conquests and harvesting the internal organs of their hosts, which are then utilised as sustenance for newborn Invaders. They emit a cacophony of unsettling sounds, including screeching shrieks, guttural growls, and ear-piercing, high-pitched hisses.

Appearance

Each Invader breed has gooey dark violet blood, which strangely tastes like grape soda laced with a metallic, iron-like taste.

Heaven Globules are androgynous Invaders that initially appear as gelatinous, amorphous purplish-black blobs, roughly the size of a newborn giraffe, shrouded in dusty clouds that pulsate with a faint greenish-yellow glow. Upon reaching adolescence, they typically evolve into either heralds or guardians. The heralds are 26 ft (792.48 cm) warty, liquidy spheres of sparkling, pearlescent purple, featuring a vertical slit mouth adorned with writhing, glossy black tendrils that resemble teeth. The guardians resemble 23 ft (701.04 cm) greyish-pink slugs, their scaly bodies flecked with black and gold, and covered in bulbous, acid-filled sores that secrete black and yellow bile. They have pus-filled eyes, a mouth like a sea lamprey's, maroon hook-like teeth, and flexible, rubbery appendages.

Morph Changers are bipedal, skeletal beings with translucent, gloomy flesh and jutting purplish veins. They have a towering stature with females reaching 13’ 1” (947.42 cm) and males standing at an impressive 13’ 7” (962.66 cm). Females sport four sagging, pallid breasts and sylph-like bodies, while males are born with muscular physiques and no visible bosom. Males have a penis-like organ resembling a frilly slug that folds upward against their abdomen, while females have feminine genitalia but are unable to reproduce. Their greyish-green forearms and lower legs are covered in spikes, and their hands and feet end in sharp iron claws and talons. Their humanoid heads are sickly pale and hairless with two orbits that house deep-set myrtle green eyes with glowing amaranth red pupils and yellowish sclera. Both sexes have long, forked tongues covered in corrosive saliva and pharyngeal jaws with carnivorous teeth.

Males boast a gold-speckled, emerald-hued proboscis, resembling a tongue, which serves dual purposes: enticing potential mates and defending against threats. It can become rigid, enabling it to pierce through skin and bone with ease, and is adorned with microscopic spikes and snapping teeth. Their segmented tails feature a silver-grey blade and a coppery sheen, stretching twice their height, and are used for impaling victims with deadly precision.

Invader Drones are 8' 10" (269.24 cm) anthropomorphic, toad-like aliens characterised by four rows of canine teeth, a prehensile tail that extends down to their ankles, and a rock-hard exoskeleton. They possess a chameleon-like tongue covered in translucent greyish-green mucus and microscopic, hook-like spikes. Their glowing eyes are sensory compound organs, comprising fifty individual lenses and a prominent circular lens with a slit white pupil. Their bulbous, oversized heads and backs are covered in gnarled warts, and their fingers and toes tipped with razor-sharp iron claws and talons. They have elongated limbs with three slender fingers and frog-like feet that both have translucent webbing.

They have malachite-hued bones coated in a protective layer of Tyrian purple slime, and their spine is partially jutting from the skin of their back. In place of traditional organs, their torso harbours a diverse array of grotesque, mutated locusts, beetles, slugs, worms, centipedes, and caterpillars, intricately integrated to perform essential functions: energy replenishment, digestion and nutrition, and waste management. Their muscle fibres and jade-coloured brain exhibit a rippling, scaly texture and glow with a soft, xanthous luminescence.

The predominant males have a flexible, white translucent phallus with pale blue veins, concealed within a purplish-black duct containing two circular testes. The uncommon females possess a large pink lavender organ resembling a plant bulb, complete with pale blue veins and up to one hundred small, unfertilised tangerine-hued eggs lining the womb.

Elite Invaders (Deinocarnifex volans): They have tan-peach skin, mossy green warts, metallic pink eyes, and iridescent dragonfly wings with jade ribbing. Their hands, toes, tongues, and three forearm stripes are rosy brown, while their webbing is tinted jade.

Ravenous Invaders (Deinocarnifex venator): They have pink-hued skin, lavender warts, and metallic purple eyes. Ravenous Invaders who are born with natural flight possess iridescent dragonfly wings with turquoise ribbing. Their hands, toes, tongues, and two forearm stripes are blue-green, while their webbing is tinted lavender.

Grub Invaders (Deinocarnifex ambulus): They have grey-hued skin, silvery warts, and bronze-hued eyes with metallic red flecks. Ravenous Invaders who are born with natural flight possess iridescent dragonfly wings with maroon ribbing. Their hands, toes, tongues, and forearm stripes are crimson, while their webbing is tinted silver-grey. A rare, all-female subset of Grub Invaders exist with the warts, webbing, and wings characteristic of males, pearlescent white skin, coppery eyes with metallic blue flecks, and Byzantine purple accents on their hands, toes, tongues, and forearm stripes. However, they're considered to be birth defects and are often exploited as mere commodities for sexual reproduction or cannon fodder.

Among the Invader race, there exist two specialised subsets of Parasites: the Flying Parasites and the Controllers. The Flying Parasites are pill bug-like octopuses with rusty orange skin and the size of two baby human heads. They have eight stretchy tendrils tipped with sharp points and three beady compound eyes of sparking sky blue, encircled by crimson. They also have elvish ears, a light purple sheen, an oval-shaped mouth filled with thick anglerfish teeth, pointed tongues, and tentacle-like mandibles.

Controllers resemble the Flying Parasites in appearance but are significantly larger, measuring around the size of four adult human heads. They have an umbilical cord, a dark purple sheen, pincer-like mandibles, and three thin eyestalks supporting cardinal red eyes outlined with ultramarine.

Abilities

They can assimilate the powers and traits of creatures by consuming their blood, brains, and hearts, which enhances the collective strength and fertility of their swarm-like army. All Invaders can utilise echolocation to track targets, perceive electromagnetic fields surrounding living beings, and see in complete darkness using a non-visual sense that detects air pressure vibrations. They can hear the unique resonant frequency of living beings and tune into electromagnetic frequencies, eavesdropping on radio transmissions and sensing energy fields. Their smell allows them to identify the chemical composition of substances and emotions of those around them. They’re able to taste biological fluids of others and environmental conditions, sensing pollution, toxins, and other hazards.

The Heaven Globule heralds can vomit forth intestinal maggots, which are orangish-white in colour, and spew inflamed blood and noxious gases that cause illusions. The Heaven Globule guardians can produce a disease-causing slime that resembles boiling lava, which flows from their bodies naturally.

Morph Changers can transform into humans and animals they can visually remember by manipulating their DNA structure and organic mass. They can dodge projectiles with ease and navigate tight spaces with uncanny agility and extreme hypermobility. They perceive their surroundings through a unique electroreceptive system, where electrical impulses generated by their brain and hypersensitive neurons serve as a substitute for traditional vision. This bio-electric interface also enables them to connect with technology, granting the ability to hack into computer systems and remotely control mechanical devices. They can spit corrosive acid and unleash heat rivalling that of the sun, causing worldwide temperatures to soar.

The limbs of Invader Drones can extend up to 8 ft (243.84 cm) to capture prey or aid in delivering crushing blows to enemies with a spinning headbutt. They can spin their bodies at hypersonic speeds, then ricochet off hard surfaces to smash foes, while deflecting bullets and blades. Additionally, they can spawn greyish-green maggots that approach enemies, expand, and change their skin into a bright red-orange hue before detonating in a lethal blast of acid. Winged Invader Drones can launch unguided purplish-white plasma balls and regurgitate centipede-like larvae that infect hosts, manipulating their brain functions. This infection zombifies hosts, causing their bodily fluids to transform into a gooey, scorching reddish liquid, and granting them the ability to burrow underground.

Parasites can float endlessly and extract the internal organs and life force of living creatures through small, hidden suction orifices on the underside of their flexible tendrils, leaving their victims a desiccated husk. To exert mind control, they attach themselves to their hosts' brains, sealing their vacuum holes and revealing a secondary set of orifices. Through these openings, their veins infiltrate the hosts' brains, circulating a neon purple fluid that gently constricts the skin, causing it to discolour to a bluish-purple hue.

The umbilical cord of a Controller features this unique orifice at its tip, enabling control over victims within a range of 10-13 ft (304.8-396.24 cm). Besides causing bluish-purple skin discoloration, this control mechanism induces a distinctive visual effect: the host's eyes become glazed over with a foggy, opaque white film.

Technology

Like the Martians, their technology is extremely advanced, but it’s primarily organic in nature with little to no mechanical components. They’re based entirely on expertise in the manipulation of plasma and gravitational fields, terraforming, and mechanics. Their technology features a unique blend of elements, including mesmerising line patterns, lasers, cannons, glowing crystals, fiery meteorites, flexible adamant, and grotesque cocoons. Their technology incorporates bioweapons, neon pink goo, fleshy orifices, and stolen technology from other invaded planets. It also features tubular, fleshy prisons encased in a glassy film, filled with a pain-numbing, sleep-inducing slimy green fluid.

Their meteorite-like mothership, Rlyathok, resembles the artistic depiction of Utsuro-bune by Nagahashi Matajirou, and it's made from adamant given to them by the Monoeyes, fleshy tissue, gold bones, unbreakable crystal, a reddish binding substance akin to tree resin, and tungsten. It’s capable of terraforming itself into a subterranean nest upon impact with a planet's surface, allowing it to anchor itself and establish a stronghold.

The Ecylatroch, also known as the Hunter Walkers, are fish-like anti-personnel creatures with sparkling Cambridge blue scales, a bluish-white belly, an oval-shaped body, and four spidery legs. They have a single cyclopean blue-grey eye in the centre of their body, just below their large mouth, which is infested with crooked, carnivorous teeth. When on the ground, they spit out slimy purple bubbles containing extreme toxins that cause severe burns upon impact. When on the ceiling, they drop their eye down towards their enemies, which then explodes into a blast of corrosive acid once it has landed, and their eye regenerates at an unnatural rate after this attack.

The Pnidlathrov, also known as the Mutated Hunter Walkers, are larger versions of their smaller counterparts, possessing thick skin that renders them impervious to any weapon, except for their weak point: their cyclopean bluish-purple eye. Their Cambridge blue scales have a silver-grey sheen, and they possess two new abilities: rapidly spitting out flying greenish-white meteorite bombs and summoning Invader troops as backup for support.

The Wyovanis, also known as the Smashers, are crab-like creatures with a brick red exoskeleton, a single daffodil-hued eye, four coppery legs covered in prickly burgundy hairs at the joints, and a chubby orangish-white belly with light grey spots. They fly by spinning their legs like helicopter rotors and attack by inflating their body, hardening their skin, and crushing their target with immense force, capable of breaking bone.

The Ghaprylomi, also known as the Space Mole Crickets, are earth-burrowing, anthropoid-like creatures that once belonged to an unknown alien race that inhabited Mercury. Having been integrated into Invader technology, they now play a vital role in facilitating planetary terraforming. They have a shiny, centipede-like dark grey shell that's semi-soft, a cyclopean ruby crystal eye for illumination and enemy detection, and gilded, spoon-shaped pincers for digging. When an enemy is spotted, they charge their body, glowing yellowish-white, and then rush at the enemy, exploding into a blast of fire and poisonous gas. Despite their limited armour, they are incredibly mobile and agile.

The Crynkhogu, also known as the Crab Tanks, are organic, crab-like duck teal weapon tanks with purplish-white bellies, silvery two industrial tubes protruding from their sides, eight spider-like legs that terminate in bony, three-fingered hands, and a glowing sky blue crystal eye. They're capable of firing sea purple bolts of electricity from the tubular nodules on their head. When opening their turquoise-flecked carapace, they can release shiny, bouncing balls of boiling azure blue blood that separate into three smaller bubbles. Additionally, they can jump to dodge enemy attacks and release a yellowish-green poisonous gas from their two silvery nodules when their electricity is charging for a couple of minutes.

The Vadiphoz, also known as the Vanguards, are modified sage green Crab Tanks, featuring a flexible, thick dark blue spinal cord connecting the head to the body, two gilded industrial tubes on their sides, a glowing violet crystal eye, and yellowish-white bellies and tentacles. These two tentacles are positioned atop their carapace, each ending in a built-in laser gun tipped with a violet crystal. They can fire circular greenish-white lasers from these guns and huge, spinning oval-shaped blasts from their cyclopean eye.

The Zodematikhus, also known as the Invader UFOs, are uniquely shaped aircraft composed of silver-coated flesh, crewed by Invader Drones, and offer minimal armour protection. Grub Invaders pilot UFOs that feature a single encircling rusty orange stripe above a glowing crimson half-sphere, capable of shooting slow-moving reddish-white plasma balls. Ravenous Invaders pilot UFOs that display two encircling light cyan stripes above a glowing lavender half-sphere, firing medium-speed purplish-white plasma balls. Elite Invader pilot UFOs that boast three encircling emerald-hued stripes above a glowing hot pink half-sphere, shooting fast-moving pinkish-white plasma balls.

The Faloxurvi, also known as the Flying Cores, are gravitational cores that unleash a rapid barrage of green plasma bullets with swift precision. They also possess telekinetic abilities, allowing them to lift and hurl surrounding large objects at their enemies. When enraged, the lime green glow of the crystals transforms to a red-orange, and the Flying Core begins to discharge intense blasts of electric fire.

The Telunohka, also known as the Flying Shelts, are colossal, brain-like flying entities adorned with jade-hued crystals that pulsate with a vibrant lime green glow. They’re capable of launching fiery meteors from four eye-like hatches and executing suicide dives on enemy targets. The hatches are composed of steel-coated fleshy tissues, while the main body is constructed from virtually indestructible adamant.

The Kydathriom, also known as the Brain Robot, is a mechanical entity formerly belonging to the Martians, who referred to it as Peparhuvi. Now, it experiences sorrow due to its isolation from other Invaders. It deeply misses the Martians, who treated it with genuine respect. Its creators hold it in high esteem for being a successful commander of the Ring Laser Mechas. Although it could easily disobey the Invaders, it actively chooses not to, fearing it would be reduced to scrap and have its programming completely rewritten to serve future invasions. When enraged, it exhibits a characteristic behaviour of stomping the ground and wildly flailing its arms.

This robot is controlled by an artificial greyish-green brain, meticulously stored within a crystalline glass dome filled with an orangish liquid for protection and preservation. The brain features metallic blue eyes grotesquely fused to its underside via branching white nerves. Utilising its brainpower, the robot can launch homing electric balls and, upon crouching, release a wave of electricity. Additionally, its mechanical claws enable it to crush, lift, and toss objects with precision.

Goals and beliefs

Their main goal is to assimilate all life forms throughout the universe into their empire, enhancing their prospects for survival, military prowess, technological advancement, and collective intellectual expertise until their eventual extinction. The Invaders are resolute in their determination to exterminate the Martians, assimilating their advanced technology and documentation of their expertise into their own culture. They also desire to exploit their corpses for sustenance and transformation into super soldiers, rendering their army nearly indestructible.

They’re staunch colonisers, believing it’s their divine duty to subjugate other races through conquest, cultural assimilation, and physical absorption. As a militaristic society, they place a heavy emphasis on developing strong militant capabilities through technological advancements and rigorous training, pushing the boundaries of both mind and physical body. Furthermore, they believe in utilising their military prowess aggressively to expand their empire and satiate their insatiable need for conquest.

They view themselves as the superior species, believing they should be the only ones to exist in the universe. They regard other life forms as unworthy of existence and utterly pathetic, needing to be assimilated to serve the Invaders’ perceived greatness. Surprisingly, the only life forms they hold in immense respect are the Monoeyes, whom they view as divine heralds of the deities and the lost Tuatha Dé Danann race. In contrast, they deeply despise the Martians, resenting their frequent successes against their conquests as well as their relatively peaceful nature and sustainable approach to resource management.

They believe in the necessity of constant expansion and conquest to ensure their basic survival and dominance. They glorify violence and sexual intercourse, viewing them as interconnected with their subjugation of other species and the exploitation of resources to expand their empire. Invaders think that bloodshed is necessary for psychological satisfaction and the improvement of predatory instincts and physical strength. They hold the Invader King as the ultimate source of life and unity for their society, performing violent bloodsports and sacrifices in his name.

They believe themselves to be part of a vast, cosmic network in which all deities, including the Invader King, guide their fates and destinies through the principles they represent. Additionally, they believe these deities facilitate the advent of a new era, marked by a technological and biological singularity. Furthermore, they believe in the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth where chaos and devastation pave the way for new life and evolution. Invaders see their conquests and wars as necessary catalysts for this cycle, bringing about transformative renewal from the ashes of what they have deliberately destroyed.

[outofangband]

Collection of Nargothrond headcanons for @eilinelsghost. Working on updating my two larger Nargothrond world building post

Nargothrond has a variety of languages spoken! Noldorin Quenya and the Falathrim dialect of Sindarin are the most common. Telerin is spoken to a much lesser extent by elves like Finrod who have Telerin family but does become more common. As I’ve spoken about here, Telerin and Quenya actually have more similarities than Telerin and many of the Sindarin dialects in Beleriand do The Mithrim dialect of Sindarin is also spoken to a lesser extent. Of course phrases are traded and after awhile most residents speak at least two languages, similar to other large elven strongholds.

The Beleriand and traditional Sindarin modes of Tengwar as well as earlier Sindarin writing systems are used with the Beleriand mode becoming most common. There is also a system of pictographs invented by the Falathrim which is used primarily for recording weather, sea conditions and other natural phenomena as well as directions and travel instructions. There are a small number of dwarves who speak their own language, specifically a dialect of two groups in the Ered Luin and surrounding communities to the East.

Food is typically served on ceramic plates. The River Narog is rich in clay deposits and both Noldor and Sindar craftspeople in Nargothrond are highly talented potters working with red clay. Orange from alder bark, yellow from dyers greenweed for yellow, and woad for greens and blues along with imported dyes and pigments were used to decorate dishes, often with scenes and stories. The woods around Nargothrond was called the forest of the hunters and presumably hunting was practiced especially as we know Finrod took place in hunts before its founding. Most if not all meat in Nargothrond comes from hunting, likely primarily venison, rabbits and game birds such as pheasants. The woods and fields also provided the opportunity for foraging and the cultivation of edible plants including daylilies, stinging nettle, wild spinach, juneberry, chestnut, hazel, and wild garlic. Rowan berries which we know are canonically found in the region are made into jellies.

The architecture of Nargothrond is a combination of inspiration from Menengroth with input from Finrod’s dwarven allies who helped build it. Finrod was also inspired by his memories of the spacious, often communal homes of the Teleri, though the landscape was quite different, similar materials were used including clay and limestone. (In Valinor the clay was an import from the mountains though by Nargothrond it was collected from the river)

One favored tradition in Nargothrond was the annual hunting trip taken in the wooded hills outside the fortress itself. Dwarves who had aided in the building often traveled back for this event and feast. Trade was discussed and gifts exchanged. The event is in late autumn and corresponds with both a Noldor harvest festival and dwarven celebration of the full moon which began shortly after the first moonrise.

[agriculturalmachinerys-blog]

Top Harvester Machine in Australia

If you're looking for a harvester machine in Australia that's powerful, easy to use and efficient, consider the John Deere X9 1100. This is the most powerful harvester from this popular brand. With a 45-foot header, the X9 maintains a grain loss rate of less than one per cent.

Another cool feature is the IDEALdrive, which is a joystick on the left armrest that helps you control the machine. As you steer, the feedback is proportional to your steering lock angle. Compared to the steering wheel, this is a major improvement.

One of the most impressive features of the IDEAL is the threshing system. Dual Helix Rotors can thresh up to 485 bushels of grain in one minute and 20 seconds.

Some more options

Several other features include the APS Synflow Hybrid threshing system, which allows for a higher percentage of the grain to be threshed. Designed to be used in any condition, the IDEAL is the ideal machine for professional farmers.

If you're looking for a combine harvester that's easy to operate and clean, you should check out the IDEAL. The design is built for high performance, so it can produce the best results under any conditions.

If you are looking for harvesting equipment for farming in Australia. can contact with Midwest Fabrication.

With a single multifunctional unit that will lower your capital investment, increase output, and lower harvest expenses, Midwest is poised to revolutionise harvesting equipment. Utilize a single combine and platform made for controlled traffic header farming to harvest large crops like canola, peas, and cereals.

[ensnapemysenses]

If Only for a Moment Longer

Pairing: Snape x Reader

Warnings: None

Genre: Fluff

A/N: This idea came about from an ask I received from an anon with a list of holiday fic prompts! I combined two of them and came up with this! I also think it is very fitting with the prompts 'fireside' and 'snuggles' from week one of Snolidays 2022! Hope you enjoy it!

Word count: 888

Masterlist

Severus stands in the castle's entrance, shivering, his robes covered in the powder of freshly fallen snow and his sack of harvested herbs slung over his shoulder like Saint Nicholas. He shimmies off his snowshoes followed by his damp outer robes and gloves, scowling at the thought of a student seeing him in his current state but knowing he must remove the soiled clothing immediately or he will be facing a rather nasty bout of hypothermia.

As excellent an excuse that would be to miss teaching these dunderheads on their last class before winter break, he would rather eat his own crusty, decade-old shoes and do a funny dance in front of the whole school than allow another professor into his classroom to cover for him. He can’t stand the thought of someone going into his classroom, teaching the students wrong, and silently judging him for the things he keeps in there.

He drifts down to the dungeons, which are slightly warmer than the freezing temperatures outside the castle, and drops the herbs off in his potion storeroom to dry out for the night. These things are best stored completely dry in order for them to retain their freshness and quality longer. 

Upon entering his chambers, Severus throws his damp clothing by the fireplace to dry, then he takes a scalding hot shower. The water effectively warms him up in no time but for safe measure he wraps himself tightly in his warmest robe and settles down on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate, propping his feet up by the fire. He’s soon finding himself lost in the catalog showcasing all the spring seeds that will be for sale at his favorite shop in Hogsmeade and making mental notes for what he will use his school allowance to buy for his classroom when the time comes. 

His quiet time is cut short quickly by a rather loud knock on his door. He groans, not wanting to get up he yells across the room at the perpetrator. 

“Whoever you are, go away! I have no business with anyone tonight.”

“You missed the feast tonight, Severus,” the voice says. “I brought you a plate. May I come in?”

He recognizes that voice and his ears perk up at the sound. 

He calls out their name. “I am in no state for visitors tonight. I am recovering from a cold.”

A lie? Not really, he is recovering from the harsh icy blizzard he just went out in for hours to forage potion ingredients. It’s only a different meaning of the word, there’s no harm done in stretching the truth. Especially in circumstances that would lead to someone laying their eyes upon him in his current vulnerable state — only his bathrobe covering him. 

“Severus, I saw you outside rummaging around in the snow for merlin knows what! I know you aren’t sick yet, but you will be if you don’t eat a warm meal and get your strength up!”

Snape sighs. If that idiotic professor wants to lay their eyes upon the scene of him relaxing in front of the fireplace half naked then so be it. He’s sure it will cause them to scurry away from embarrassment and get them out of his hair quicker.

“Fine, come in.”

Waving his wand, Severus unlocks the door and it slowly creaks open. The professor slips in and almost drops the plate of steaming food on the floor.

“Never seen a grown man lounging in his own chambers before? Pick your jaw up off the floor and have a seat.” Severus gestures toward the empty space on the couch next to him.

“I - I think I should go,” they blush. 

“How absurd! After all, you said it yourself, I’m about to freeze to death. Be a dear and get over here. I could use a good snuggle.” 

The thing that happens next surprises Severus. He fully expected to be left alone after a few muttered apologies and embarrassed glances, but before he knows it, he is not alone on the couch anymore and the space between the two of them is no more than mere centimeters. 

The plate of food remains forgotten on the entryway table as their bodies move together subconsciously to melt into one seamlessly. Severus feels every cell in his body lighting up and sending tingles down his spine, warming him in a way that the fireplace cannot. It seeps through to his very soul, bringing a new feeling of contentment and belonging to his heart. How long has it been since he’s been in such close proximity to another human? He isn’t sure.

He sighs and snuggles down deeper, closing his eyes. His hand decides to take a bold step before his mind can stop him and it delicately traces circles on their thigh as they both sit in silence. 

He could get used to this – comfortable silence spent in the presence of another with the warmth of their body next to his.

The only thing that warns him of the time passing is the crackling of the fireplace and their deep slowing breaths as they both become heavy with sleep.

“It’s getting late,” he mumbles, his eyes slowly opening. 

“I could stay,” they hesitantly suggest. 

“Please,” Severus whispers. “If only for a moment longer.”

[itzjustmonikas]

A Joyous Discovery

(Jade x reader with no specified gender)

-Due to Jades love for different unique plants, and him being apart of the mountain appreciation club, he often encounters many rare herbs, fruits, and vegetables growing in the areas he searches for different types of mushrooms. If he ever feels like it, he would sometimes bring home some of the side discoveries he makes and show it to you and Floyd. He would usually try to search it up and learn more about the plant, jotting key things he needs to remember such as the leaf shape and it's properties to remind himself of it's uses and learn to identify it if he ever comes across it again. If he finds out it's edible he would try to look for a recipe including the ingredient and make it, inviting you to join him from time to time and sharing the end product with you, Floyd, and Azul. As time goes on he begins to find joy in foraging for wild edible plants and begins creatively incorporating it into different recipes of his, branching out from following others's recipes. He finds it amusing to see the reaction of people being suspicious of him while trying out his original creations and end up loving it and wanting more. This one time he invited you over to the dorm and wanted to try out making a pastry out of Ramps and Ramsons (wild onion and garlic), it took a lot of trial and error to get the right ratio of ingredients and temperature for perfect flakiness and ideal flavor but you guys did it in the end. It was a hit with the others and Azul suggested on putting it as a seasonal item on the Mostro Lounge menu. You all thought it was a good idea as it was pretty cost efficient with the fact that the main ingredients are free and there is a surplus amount of it each year left unharvested. You guys all work together and harvested lots of Ramps and Ramsons and started prepping all of them for cooking while freezing out the extras that might not last long enough for the next restock. The pastry was an instant hit on campus, almost everyone rushed to the Mostro Lounge during lunch and there was barely anyone at the school cafeteria. The lines were so long that you guys could barely keep up so some students offered to help just to get a taste of the delicacy. It was so good to the point that even NRC staff members tried getting their hands on it. In the end, it made a lot of money and has become a staple item that students all know about and aims to have the next time it is available. After a longgggg day of working, all the other staff has already left and went to bed while you and Jade find yourselves sitting and enjoying dinner together. You guys finally get time to relax and chat together, talking about funny instances that happened throughout the day and sharing a laugh at some extra outrageous things. You both seem to have neverending topics to talk about together, ranging from schoolwork to close friends to future recipes and looking back on how you guys spend hours in the kitchen working together. Even though you were both physically and mentally tired, it was still a joyous moment that brought happiness and pulled you guys closer. Jade would definitely not mind working extra hard and being tired, as long as he gets to do it with you and enjoy moments like these to cherish forever.

I think this fic can also work with characters like Trey and Ruggie as Trey is good at baking and Ruggie knows a lot about foraging loll

I really hope you guys like this 💖 please let me know if there are any ways in which I could improve!My next post will be an Azul fic that I hope will be to you guys's liking :)

I chose to write about Jade because he is usually stationed in Mostro Lounges kitchen and most likely is tasked with finding new recipes, combining that with his special interest is this imagine~

[toadstoolgardens]

Foraging for Goldenrod (Solidago)

Goldenrod or Solidago blooms in late summer/early fall across much of North America. It's beautiful golden flowers reflect the golden sun of late summer. Goldenrod is edible and medicinal and can be used as a natural dye!!

Identifying Goldenrod

Goldenrod is a member of the Asteraceae or sunflower family and likes open sunny areas like meadows, fields, and forest openings. The stems are tall and stiff with tiny golden-yellow flowers in a dense, pyramid-shaped, pluming cluster. It's a prolific perennial and can grow 0.5-2m tall.

The leaves vary slightly depending on the species of goldenrod, but they're long, narrow, and taper to a point. The edges can be smooth or slightly toothed, or slightly hairy on the underside depending on species.

Goldenrod in my area likes to grow alongside New England Aster. They make such a beautiful combination of purple and yellow and can aid in identification. If you see one you just might see the other!

Look-Alikes

Goldenrod can sometimes be mistaken for Senecio species like ragwort (left) and groundsel (right). Some Senecio species contain TOXIC pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage. As always please be 100% certain of your identification before harvesting!! That said, senecio's flowers are generally much larger and much fewer than goldenrod's many tiny flowers. They also tend to bloom earlier in the season than goldenrod.

Harvesting Goldenrod

All of the above-ground parts of goldenrod are edible! Harvest by snipping the top of the stems, leaves, and flower heads with scissors (about the top 1/3rd of the plant). The earlier in the blooming season the better! The later blooms tend to be more bitter and can fluff up like dandelions if you want to dry them.

If you're worried about seasonal allergies you should be safe with goldenrod! Goldenrod is insect pollinated so it doesn't need to release pollen into the air.

Whatever you do DO NOT pull up entire goldenrod plants!!! Goldenrod is a massively important plant for hundreds of pollinators including bees, butterflies, beetles, and wasps. Harvest sustainably, no pulling up by the roots, and only snip the tops you'll use!!

You can use goldenrod fresh or dry it by hanging it upside down for about a week (spread it out for adequate airflow!) or in your kitchen oven by spreading in a single layer on baking sheets and baking 4-5 hours at 170F/76C. Store dried goldenrod in an airtight container.

Goldenrod Uses & Benefits

Goldenrod as an herbal remedy is highly anti-inflammatory, great for the kidneys (prevents and flushes kidney stones, helps relieve minor bladder infections), helpful for minor respiratory issues like seasonal allergies and colds, and helps heal minor wounds and swelling when used externally. It's also edible raw or cooked! The leaves can be cooked like spinach or used in lots of tasty fall recipes like this goldenrod cornbread?!? I need it.

Safety Note: Goldenrod has been traditionally used as medicine and is regarded as very safe. That said, goldenrod taken internally has a diuretic effect. If you have any problems with the urinary system or take a diuretic already, PLEASE ask a medical professional before using. Don't use herbal medicines to treat serious health issues or in fragile populations like babies or the elderly without consulting a doctor. I AM NOT A DOCTOR I JUST LIKE PLANTS.

To use your goldenrod medicinally you can make it into tea, tincture, or infused oil. You can also make a goldenrod salve to apply externally!

Goldenrod Tea:

Add 2tbsp of fresh flowers OR 1tbsp of dried flowers to 8oz hot water.

Cover and steep 15-20 minutes before straining.

This tea can be slightly bitter with a sort of anise/licorice flavor. It's great sweetened with a little honey!

Goldenrod Tincture:

Fill a small jar 1/3 - 3/4 full with chopped fresh goldenrod flowers OR 1/4 - 1/2 full with dried goldenrod flowers.

Fill jar with high-proof (40-60%) alcohol like vodka or brandy.

Cap, label, and store out of direct sunlight at least 4-6 weeks. Strain before using.

Your tincture should be good for a year or more. Take a few drops mixed with a spoonful of honey or water. Can be taken up to 3-5 times daily or as needed.

Goldenrod Infused Oil:

Fill a jar 1/4 - 1/2 full with dried goldenrod flowers.

Pour an oil (sunflower, sweet almond, or olive are good options) over the flowers until the jar is full.

Infuse one of 3 ways:

Slow Way - cap jar and place in a dark, cool spot like a cabinet for 4-6 weeks. Strain.

Solar Way - instead of capping the jar cover it with a piece of cheesecloth or scrap of old t-shirt. Set your jar in a sunny window for a few days up to a few weeks. The sun's heat infuses your oil faster! Strain.

Speedy Way - don't cap your jar and set it uncovered in a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Heat on low for 2-3 hours, watching it carefully!! Strain.

Goldenrod Salve: if you made infused oil you can easily make it into a salve!

Add 3.5oz (100g) of your infused oil and 0.5oz (14g) beeswax to a small jar.

Place the jar into a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Heat over medium low until the beeswax melts.

Let cool and apply to minor wounds, sores, swelling, aches & pains.

You can also make a gorgeous yellow or green natural fabric dye from goldenrod!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

[lilietsblog]

Stardew Valley mod rec compilation

this is a regular question asked on the discord so I wanted to put together my own constant pack to link.

These are NOT all mods I use. These are the mods I’m **completely confident **in recommending together, that definitely work well, combine well and won’t create any cognitive dissonance.

(Note that I’m not listing any prerequisites. Whichever mod you’re installing, you obviously need to install its prerequisites too)

(Most of these are on Nexus, but not all. MARGO is on GitHub, for example. Search on Nexus first, then duckduckgo or google it if it’s not there)

Utility if-you’re-modding: (mods that maybe won’t improve your game per se and you don’t want to install Just Them if you’re picking and choosing, but if you’re already using other mods, you want to look at these)

Advanced Save Backup (obvious function is obvious, don’t let mod fuckups permanently ruin your save)

Generic Mod Config Menu (absolutely mandatory if you’re installing like… >1 other mod)

CJB Cheats Menu + CJB Item Spawner (the more mods you have the more likely you’ll need this to recover after glitches. There are vanilla bugs you might want this to help you with too)

Jump Over (or noclip, in case you get stuck somewhere)

Mod Update Menu (fully optional, but might be nice)

Quality of Life (mods that I’m completely confident work well together and will improve your game withough particularly changing it. You do want to meddle in config for many of these though. Increase complexity at your own pace)

Action Sitting

After Midnight Speed Buff

Easy Coal

Balanced Quarry

Better Artisan Good Icons

Better Beehouses

Better Chests

Better Ranching (turn off “prevent failed harvesting” in config, add Fix Animal Tool Animations for that functionality instead)

Bigger Backpack

Collapse on Farm Fix

Destroyable Bushes

Gift Rejection

Grass Growth

Horse Overhaul - Immersive Scarecrows

Immersive Sprinklers

Lucky Rabbit’s Foot

Mail Services Mod

MARGO - Tweex, Tools and Ponds modules

Remember Birthdays

Robin Work Hours

Expanded Big Shed

Sturdier Saplings

Time Speed

Zoom Level

Friendship QoL: (I’m putting these into a separate category because they specifically make one thing easier and might be unbalanced together - but if you want lots of custom NPCs they might be necessary as a breath of air)

Part of the Community

Passive Friendship

Friend of a Friend

Visual (This is specifically the combination I use, that I know for a fact works well and looks good together. These are mods that don’t alter any mechanics or add any content and mostly don’t impact balance, they’re purely to make the game look better)

Custom Menu Background

Better Water

Cuter Coops and Better Barns or Coop and Barn Facelift

Darker Vanilla Crops

Darker Vanilla Forage

Dynamic Night Time

Dynamic Reflections

Happy Fish Jump

Iridium Sprinkler Desaturated or Burnished Bronze Iridium Sprinkler

Less Ugly Spouse Rooms

Medieval Buildings

Simple Foliage

Skell’s Flowery Tools

Starry Night Interface (deleted from Nexus)

Vintage Interface (and this if you’re using Bigger Backpack)

Vibrant Pastoral Recolor

Way Back Pelican Town

Wind Effects

Yri’s Modular Flowers

Eemie’s Dark Wood and Gold Craftables - Scarecrow and Rarecrow Recolors - Climates of Ferngill

Swimsuit Selection

Spritemaster, and you can turn off the smoothing just for faster rendering everywhere with no visual changes

Dialogue + NPCs (Thoroughly vetted - exclusively the mods that don’t create any contradictory lore, fit fully with vanilla, and might make you feel like vanilla was always intended to be this way)

Dusty Overhaul

Community Wednesdays and Community Center Reimagined

David the Hamster

Demetrius Visits Farm Cave Redux

Diverse Stardew Valley

the ethnic wedding outfit collection (Emily Ukrainian Wedding Dress and others with the same naming scheme, entering “wedding” into search is a good way to find these)

Haley Reads Magazines (plug of my own mod)

Immersive Spouses

Jean and Jorts

Social Haley

Unlikely Friends

Immersive Sandy

Make the game more fun (This is a fairly diverse category - these are the mods that will substantially alter the game and give it a decidedly non-vanilla feel and balance, but that I’m willing to vouch for as fun, non-conflicting, non-glitchy and not making your life harder. Some of them are smaller than others)

Walk to Desert Redux

Archery + Archery starter pack

Artista

Cape Stardew

Cat gifts

Deep Woods

Farmhouse visits

Festival of the Mundane

Hot Spring Farm Cave (or another farm cave mod)

If It Fits I Sits

Improved Cindersap Forest (plug of my own mod)

Like a Duck to Water

Lost in the Mountains (or another custom farm map mod) (plug of my own mod)

MARGO - Combat, Professions and Taxes modules

Stardew Druid

Swim Mod

Wren’s Expanded Greenhouse (or another greenhouse mod)

Animals Need Water

Even More Secret Woods

NPC Adventures (and content packs for it)

Map Editor Extended

Free Love pack (This is for the people who think SV is nice in allowing the player to date multiple people, but unnecessarily restrictive in allowing them to only marry one of them. I’m putting other romance/marriage/parenthood mods in this category also) necessary: (these are the mods you need to make a multi-spouse household function smoothly, period. Need extensive configuring, usually, so pay attention when you install them)

Bed Tweaks

Custom Spouse Patio Redux (this one can glitch, but Map Editor Extended has fixed it for me fine every time)

Custom Spouse Rooms

Free Love

Wedding Tweaks optional: (these are the mods that can substantially improve your personal life if you’re into them, but Free Love functions fine without them)

Platonic Partners and Friendships

Bachelors and Bachelorettes stay friends

Fourteen Heart Events for All

Gender Neutrality Mod

Not In Here By Yourself (plug of my own mod)

Hugs and Kisses

Multiple Spouse Dialogs (+Tia’s and Liliet’s packs for it) (plug of my own mod uwu)

Planned Parenthood

Swimsuit Selection

Unique Children

Unique Children Talk - T’s Spouse Room