#jazzhandsmcleg

[lizzieraindrops]

Destiny is a story about shapes and grief.

I think I may have figured out Destiny. I don't think the primary conflict between the Light and the Darkness is the philosophical issue we thought it was.

I got thinking about it after all this talking, with many others but especially @jazzhandsmcleg, about the way all of The Witch Queen DLC and its 4 seasons have had overarching narratives surrounding trauma and cycles of violence and grief, and the way the Darkness and the Light are characterized by their different approaches to it.

In TWQ, Savathûn is given a true second chance for her species in the Light. But as Ikora points out, she struggles to break free of the learned patterns of the Darkness, continuing the pattern of deception and violence.

Same with Season of the Risen - it’s the Warlords and Dark Ages all over again, but this time it’s the Hive. It forces once again to ask: what does it mean to be given a second chance if this is what you do with it? Temper this with Saladin’s story about the girl from the Dark Ages who he protected, but who became a cruel mortal Warlord in her own right. Crow objects to the mental torture of the Hive Lightbearers and he tries to break from the cycle of interspecies violence, but unintentionally ends up continuing it by killing the Psion and heightening tensions between humans and the Uluran.

Season of the Haunted!!! Literally, the entire thing is about confronting your traumas and greatest fears and the worst parts about yourself and beginning to heal them, making something better from them. Completely changing the game by turning Nightmares that torment into Memories that guide you. Crow with the memory of Uldren, Zavala with that of Safiyah, Caiatl that of Ghaul - and most importantly, resolution focuses on how they, specifically have been held back from healing by their self-incriminating Nightmares. It challenges the cycle of continuing violence on a very personal level. Eris even has patrol dialogue describing the a Nightmare as a thing of pain craving only more pain: "Such is the cycle."

Season of Plunder brings up the very same questions on a much higher organizational level. It gives us Eido and Eramis taking very different jaded vs. new-hope approaches to the legacy of the Whirlwind, asking: can we change? Are we defined by generational trauma forever? Can we continue to grow and change for the better even though it can never be undone? Though Eido is clearly young and naïve, we're clearly given the opportunity and narrative nudge to sympathize with her desire and hope for growth and redemption, both for the Eliksni overall, and for Eramis in particular.

And we're not even done with Season of the Seraph, but it already goes incredibly hard asking the same questions, again from a more personal angle. How far, and through how many generations is trauma transmitted? From the Bray family to Rasputin, to Felwinter to Osiris to Ikora – how do we fix this? How do we fix this? How do you defeat an enemy who IS war itself? What can you do to end an endless cosmic cycle of violence?

Go back and back and back in Destiny's lore even back to D1, and the majority of conflicts seem driven by this cycle of grief and revenge and violence. The entire line of humanity's war with the Hive goes back through Oryx's grief for Crota and the First Crota Fireteam and Eriana-3's grief for her wife Wei Ning. Even the Hive siblings' pact with the Worm Gods, though manipulated by Rhulk, was driven by the pain and grief they endured for themselves and their people, and wanting to escape that cruel pattern. The entire predicament of the Eliksni and their conflict with humans is driven by the trauma and grief and loss of the Whirlwind. Even Caiatl's empire, a conquering force that would be highly regarded by the sword logic, now must reckon with the same kind of loss in the Fall of Torobatl.

How do you escape this cycle and stay free of it?

I think, this year, we are finally seeing the beginnings of an answer.

I can't highly enough recommend the TWQ Collector's Edition lorebook (page scans & transcript) and The Hidden Dossier (page scans & transcript) that immediately follows it. What I've been calling Ikora's theory of "memory and grace" that she develops through the course of these two lore books is a balanced philosophy of memory/Darkness and grace/Light (which honestly deserves an entire post of its own). I think it clearly points toward the final resolution the story of the conflict between the Darkness and the Light.

In light of this, something in the Calus part of the new Lightfall CE lorebook (images, transcript) really jumped out at me.

“The doomed and the damned left the record of their downfall in the OXA. Your star got its name from the oldest myths in that archive. And when your mother told your father that story…the star became your name. A prayer that all will go as it must…and the way it must go is struggle.” “Aiat.” Not a word in Ulurant or any other Cabal tongue. “But Caiatl means something else..” “Yes. ‘It may not always go as it needs to go.’ A good name for a soldier." "A strange name for a daughter," I say. "Your father chose it for your mother's sake. Out of love."

And because the parallel is so overwhelmingly striking, I am once again going to reference philosophy/worldbuilding from the Young Wizards universe, which has great resonance with Destiny lore and which Bungie has been long aware of and has even been referenced in Forsaken-era canon lore.

“all the fair things skewed, all the beauty twisted by the dark Lone Power watching on his steed. If only there were some way he could be otherwise if he wanted to! For here was his name, a long splendid flow of syllables in the Speech, wild and courageous in its own way—and it said that he had not always been so hostile; that he got tired sometimes of being wicked, but his pride and his fear of being ridiculed would never let him stop. Never, forever, said the symbol at the very end of his name, the closed circle that binds spells into an unbreakable cycle and indicates lives bound the same way.” [...] “Nita bent quickly over the Book and, with the pen, in lines of light, drew from that final circle an arrow pointing upward, the way out, the symbol that said change could happen—if, only if—and together they finished the Starsnuffer’s name in the Speech, said the new last syllable, made it real.” Excerpt From: Diane Duane. “So You Want to Be a Wizard, New Millennium Edition.”

CAIATL’S NAME IS LITERALLY THE UP-AND-OUT SYMBOL.

I know I'm probably only talking to the handful of Destiny players from the (very small) Young Wizards fandom, but what you need to know is that this moment is pivotal and sets up the series-long theme of hope for an eventual exit from the cycle. It's the incredibly small, overwhelmingly improbable possibility of a second chance, a new start for the Lone Power, the source of all strife and suffering, who itself is driven by loss and pain. A concept of extended grace that is inherently tied to the philosophy of the Light.

“Billions of years, it took. All the redemptions there have ever been went toward this; from the greatest to the least. And finally in the fullness of time you came along, and took my role, of your own will, and woke up a race powerful enough to change the whole Universe, and gave them the fire.” She glanced up at the mobiles and smiled. “How could he resist such a bait? He took the gamble: he always does. And losing, he won.” [...] “The Defender reached down and put a hand into the shadow. “And we are going where such matters are transcended… where all his old pains will shift. Not forgotten, but transformed. Life in this universe will never have such a friend. And as for His inventions… look closely at Death, and see what it can become.” The long, prone darkness began to burn, from inside, the way a mountain seems to do with sunset. “Brother,” the Defender said. “Come on. They’re waiting.” Excerpt From: Diane Duane. “High Wizardry New Millennium Edition.”

This is the devil’s second chance, its homecoming. Grace among the memory. How do we heal this? By fixing it. By making and TAKING that opportunity of grace.

Likewise, Destiny is shaping up into its own universe’s story of this Reconfiguration, the remaking of everything that exists through the act of a second chance, both offered and taken, with full awareness of the irreversibility of harm already caused.

Destiny isn’t the story of the light and the darkness fighting each other. That happens, but that’s not what it’s ABOUT.

It’s “And I know exactly what we are. We’re best frenemies with a history of intense mutual hurt and messy reconciliation, leaving a deep tenderness as well as an almost impenetrable knot of scars. What could be simpler?” (Chalco)

It's “For so long, I believed peace was beyond my reach. No more. I have found it in guiding others down the same path that saved me. But… I might allow myself to want more than peace. What, I am not certain. Is joy the word? Might I find that again?” (Eris)

It's “Second chances… hm. Turns out I've been using mine wrong. I thought being a Guardian was my destiny. That wielding the Light for good was the most I had to offer. But it's clear now. This is what the Traveler chose me for. I was reforged in the Light for a purpose. To remake something dead and gone… into something beautiful. To learn how to forge something new from what we were. Everything Uldren did to the Reef, the Scorn… Fikrul. I have a responsibility — no — a calling to make them whole. And… I can't replace Cayde. But I can cover his old patrols — maybe organize the Hunters a bit, if they'll let me. Clean up some of my mess. I don't know if I can fix everything Uldren left broken… but I can try.” (Crow)

We aren’t defeating the Darkness. That’s never what it’s been about. It’s about breaking the cycle of trauma and grief with memory and grace. We're transcending the Final Shape, but we're not here to destroy it or become it. We’re harmonizing the Darkness and the Light into a sustainable balance to create something new from the wounded remains.

We're here to heal the broken relationship between the Winnower and the Gardener.

That's all that it is, in the end. They had a falling out, and now they hurt, and they hurt each other, and everything else, forever. Breaking free from that cycle begins and ends with them.

Is that fair? No, it's not.

But Destiny is – unhingedly, brilliantly, paradoxically – a FPS game about how to stop killing each other, growing ever more into a framework of restorative and reparative justice.

The story says, we are all culpable, we have all done awful shit and have endless potential to do more awful shit – AND, most critically, we all have the potential to do better (grace). AND, the act of making the conscious choice to do so and letting that happen is the only way for things to get better (memory).

The Collapse happened and it was horrible, the Red War happened and it was horrible, the Great Disaster happened and it was horrible, Twilight Gap happened and it was horrible...AND?? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND? The Whirlwind happened and it was horrible! The Fall of Torobatl happened and it was horrible! Your species' Choice was stolen and you became the most prolifically violent killers in the universe and it was and is horrible! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Are you going to make it more horrible? Or are you going to make it BETTER????

Are you going to fight for the Final Shape, or for the gentle kingdom ringed in spears?

[azvolrien]

jazzhandsmcleg replied to your post:

surely ONE bull is a lifetime supply for most people?? XD

Depends how long it lives for!

[anonforlackofabettername]

happy birthday!!

Thanks! I appreciate it 🥰💜

[nimblermortal]

If you get this, answer w/ three random facts about yourself and send it to the last seven blogs in your notifs. anon or not, doesn’t matter, let’s get to know the person behind the blog!

Sorry, Nonny, this has been sitting in my inbox for ages. Kept a record of the blogs in question when I first saw this, but uhh I don't believe in chain mail so I'll just tag 'em at the end if they wanna.

Rule in exchange: Anyone who wants can consider this an ask from me in their inbox, BUT you gotta tag me in your answer so I can read it.

I've taken up spinning lately, very desultorily, because I don't have enough projects. The results are NOT usable except a) very popular with cats and b) Cosimo (Havanese puppy) disemboweled my bigger ball. Do recommend as a pet toy, and recommend puppies if you want to start over with over-spun yarn. Start over from cleaning and carding, I mean.

I'm working on my third gallon of blood for the Red Cross. They desperately want me to get closer ASAP, but I've got a gaping wound in my back and I need my blood right now. It hurts to not give in and give blood.

When I was itty I wanted to be a dog so bad I made my family serve me meals under the table and sat among their legs trying to eat without my hands. This lasted roughly between the ages of 3 and 8.

@raven-6-10 @jazzhandsmcleg @lukiyu @hello-delicious-tea @ionlywanttoreadforever @starfishlikestoread @that-gay-jedi

[imaginariumgeographica]

Got tagged by @jazzhandsmcleg!

rules: choose 4 of your favourite characters from 4 pieces of media as options and let your tumblr pals decide which one most suits your vibe

I have lost all memory of anyone ive ever known so im gonna do a classic 'if you're reading this and want to do the thing im tagging you' thing

[songofwizardry]

tag meme!

thank you @operafloozy for the tag!

three ships: beauyasha (critical role), shadowgast (critical role), and one of my oldest loves, elrond/gil-galad (tolkien)

first ever ship: possibly wolfstar from my harry potter fandom days, but before that (before i really knew what i was doing or that i was shipping) i wrote and read lots of mallory towers fanfic and had gay thoughts about it (bill/clarissa and darrell/alicia stand out in my mind).

last song: factories by autoheart

last movie: ... possibly red white and royal blue?

currently reading: just started my reread of harrow the ninth by tamsyn muir, also reading the fifth season by n.k. jemisin, have been reading the liveships series by robin hobb for like a year bc i keep forgetting to continue reading it; and for poetry, slowly working my way through your emergency contact has experienced an emergency by chen chen. also, idk if this counts as reading, but i am once again Attempting Homestuck and it may stick this time. we'll see.

currently watching: season 3 of house, campaign 3 of critical role, season 1 of dimension 20: the unsleeping city (rewatch)

currently consuming: i have just finished my coffee

currently craving: it is starting to get chilly and autumnal, and so i daydream of an electric blanket and really good hot chocolate

no-pressure tags! @abelovedfool @jazzhandsmcleg @halfelven @calliopecadence @demigirl-demigod

[jazzhandsmcleg]

azvolrien replied to your post: jazzhandsmcleg: I’m in the middle of the long...

I saw a goldcrest while out on site this week!

What a cute little bird! I learned some stuff while looking them up. They have a MASSIVE territory. I also learned that they are sometimes called the king of the birds, which seems like quite a lofty title for something so small. Good for them.

Here’s the one I saw -- a vermilion flycatcher.

This pic and the one I saw the other day were both males. Apparently the male vermilion flycatcher is the rare exception to the general rule that Flycatchers Are Drab. The females can get a little pink, though, like if you took a British robin and swapped the white and pink areas.

[crow-posting]

update: @jazzhandsmcleg uploaded Entelechy from the Final Shape collector's edition! Be sure to check out the doc and thank them for their hard work!

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[from original post]

"It has page numbers in their original locations, photos with text IDs, and a link to the IMGUR photos of the physical lorebook that I used for transcription. Enjoy!"

Since Destiny lore is inaccessible (I've seen the question, "Do Guardians need to eat?" cross my dash several times and it's Driving Me Nuts™), here are some users and resources I use when searching for lore/grimoire:

@thefirstknife on Tumblr

My Name Is Byf on YouTube

Destiny Lore Vault on YouTube

www.Ishtar-Collective.net

Destinypedia.com

Destiny Dialogue Archive

Destiny Definitions [flavor text] Archive

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Destiny 1 Grimoire lore (PDFs)

Destiny Collector's Edition lore (Reddit links)

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Destiny 1 beta archive & cutscene archive

Destiny 2 Cutscene Archive [Seasons 13-20]

[emeraldskulblaka]

Get To Know Me

I was tagged by @erdariel to do this tag game, thank you so much!! ♡

favourite colours: green & red

currently reading: the Peristephanon by Prudence

last song: "After The Rain (Radio Edit)" by Eurielle

last movie: In the Heights (2021)

last TV series: The Witcher

sweet, savoury or spicy: sweet

currently craving: sleep

currently working on: questions on a text for tomorrow's English class

Tagging @sirona-art @onewhodarestohope @jazzhandsmcleg @nimuerofour @justsomeghostofme! No pressure, feel free to ignore 💚

[lizzieraindrops]

Ikora is terrified of losing Eris now that she has become the Hive god of vengeance. The long tension between them has finally been driven to breaking point. Can the two of them reconcile their conflicts and misunderstandings before it might be too late?

Some good old-fashioned monster-loving.

I simply cannot accept that so few Eris/Ikora monsterfucker fics have been written when Season of the Witch offered them up to us on a silver platter. I had to take matters into my own hands. So I offer you: some deeply fucked-up women who love each other so very much. Absolute shout-out to my mvp of a beta @jazzhandsmcleg.

Liminal - Chapter 1 (1728 words)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

All things considered, Ikora has done a remarkable job of keeping her apprehensions under control. However, after a violent week of tithes and transformations, Eris turns an assessing look upon her as they discuss strategy in the HELM.

"You are troubled by this," she says flatly. Ikora cannot deny it, so she doesn't. Although Eris' posture these days is already impeccable, she draws herself up even taller as if bracing for something where she stands, precisely in the center of the stern wing of the HELM. The shimmer of the Hive portal to the Athenaeum behind her frames an imposing portrait. "Is it the form my vengeance takes that upsets you, or the part of me that chooses to take it?"

The impact of those words in Ikora's chest makes her gape in dismay. "Eris, no, that's not..." The sheer harshness of perspective that only shows Eris possibilities of judgement leaves Ikora at a rare loss for words. She surges a step forward before halting her half-reaching hand, retreating like an uncertain eddy in the water.

"My concern is for your safety, Eris. I have others, but none so pressing as that."

After a moment's consideration, Eris turns away. "Of course it is." She sounds faintly abashed. “Nonetheless, I must press forward. Surely you can see that this is the best strategy available to us."

With another soft step that narrows the gap between them, Ikora dares to lay a hand on Eris' upper arm. Though she is often strict about intrusions into her personal space, Eris merely turns back to her in open surprise.

"As far as I can tell, it is the only option currently offered to us. I don't like it. But it is where we are."

Eris acknowledges her with a nod, but dissatisfaction still shutters her demeanor.

With a light squeeze on her arm, Ikora asks: "What is it, Eris?"

Eris does not meet her concerned gaze. "The shape of my vengeance has not changed, only altered its direction as I have walked its path. This spell unbinds the limits of my body, yes, but the shape I take within it is still mine. It has always been a part of me. Did you know that, before this?"

They do not move except to breathe, drawing neither further away nor closer together. Ikora thinks long and hard, reaching for both honesty and compassion.

"I'm not sure that I can ever know it with the same intimacy that you do. The Hive and their lore have been so intertwined into your life, but...you are the only one who can decide their role within it. They can't. You've clearly demonstrated that over the years. And neither can I. While I don't think I knew the depth of that connection, before, I understand that this is how you are choosing to define it."

Silence. "You didn't answer my question."

Ikora had, but only the surface inquiry, not the deeper meaning beneath it. Do you realize that this monstrosity is not only who I have become, but part of who I have always been? Has it changed how you see me? "You didn't actually ask it," she says quietly.

Eris gestures open-palmed acceptance. In her other hand, her lurid Ahamkara bone casts shadows and sickly green light that wreath about it in perpetual unrest.

Ikora would not make her ask.

"I didn't know, not quite. But all of...this, it makes sense for the Eris I do know. It's everything you've ever striven for since you escaped the Hellmouth. I don't fear that this spell is controlling you, because I know you are perfectly capable of choosing such a drastic course of action all on your own. And I will defend your actions to the others, despite my own fears for you."

Eris lays a gauntleted hand over hers in brief acknowledgement. "I believe you, I think. Time will tell."

Ikora nods. Her heart sinks, but the soft rebuff does not take her by surprise. She had not supported Eris through the relatively tame controversy of acquiring Stasis: why would Eris rely on her now? "Truth in action," she says like a promise. Their old refrain, from long before this; before many of the latest losses in their neverending list. Asher. Sagira. The Traveler itself. Everything they still have to lose looms over them like a promise of failure.

Yet Ikora is rewarded with a faint smile. It only soothes the very edges of her glass-sharp fears, and only for a little while. That is not the reason why she treasures it, why she tucks it away deep within herself where the shards will have to tear through her own flesh before they can take it from her.

___

As the weeks pass and Eris grows ever stronger by the tithes of the sword, Ikora keeps her promise despite her concerns growing in tandem.

She maintains her distance from the throne world. She has many other duties, after all, when she needs to keep her mind off this mission of utmost critical importance. But she remains within close call on comms as often as possible while Guardians cavort through the endless, treacherous floors of the Spire, sweeping across its buried Altars like a wavefront of death.

She has not seen Eris transform since that first time; never up close. But her voice changes as she drinks the lakes of lifeblood Guardians spill upon Savathûn's Altars for her. In its cadence and flourish, it's completely recognizable as hers; but the deepened tone and even fuller timbre buzzes in layered intervals, at turns grating against or harmonizing alongside each other. The sound of it makes Ikora shiver to hear, even over comms. The many voices of the many-mouthed hunger multiply and grow ever more potent. How much more Hive-sculpted power can she possibly contain without searing herself from the inside out?

Yet whenever they meet to discuss strategy, Eris is the same as ever. Perhaps she stands a little taller, now, a little prouder in the shoulder than before. She has every right to do so. She is a god now.

It makes Ikora's heart quail like nothing else has in her life. She is losing her. She cannot stop her. She can only aid her, so she does. She tries. Her chest won't stop hurting no matter how long she ignores it.

In a feeble attempt to wrest a nonexistent solution from an impossible situation, she meets Eris at the Lectern in the Athenaeum to assess her Deck of Whispers. Perhaps before the sheer force and breadth of Ikora's analytical skills, the strange cards' paracausal potential will yield something, anything—anything.

She is losing hope that she can make any difference to Eris' survival. Once more betrayed by her doubts, the shivering of Ikora's traitor heart makes her hands just a little unsteady as she draws a card from the gleaming deck.

Before she can turn the card over, Eris closes her fingers on the other end of it. Surely she feels the tremor through the heavy gilded paper. For a moment, thick silence holds them.

"Even you tremble in my presence now?" Eris asks softly.

"What?" Ikora whispers, crestfallen.

"It is all right," Eris says. Her voice hangs heavy with resignation. Her hand falls from the card as she retreats. "Others who did not shrink from me before do, now. I merely thought...you never recoiled from me even at my worst. But I know what I have embraced goes far beyond what most could condone. I could never expect of you—"

"Eris, do you think that I am—afraid of, or—repulsed," she lets the word fall off her tongue like vomit. "By—this? By you?"

"You have every right to be."

Whatever Ikora had been feeling before, this is far worse. "Eris, no. No..." Ikora puts her card down on the Lectern’s table without even looking at it and reaches for the hand Eris has withdrawn. So gently, she cups those slack fingers in her own palms, as if they were burned and in need of bandaging. "That's not it at all. Please don't think so little of me."

"I don't. I have always thought most highly of you. Therefore, I should expect you to eschew...this."

Ikora sighs. "I may have reservations about the high risks of your strategy, Eris, but that doesn't mean I'm going to abandon you. I won’t listen to you speak of yourself this way." Then again, can she truly blame Eris for expecting more of the same pattern? "I know that my actions in the past have given you reason to expect such disregard. And for that, Eris...I'm sorry."

Eris stands silent for a moment. "That is kind of you to say." Her tone is smooth with sincerity, yet relatively unaffected. What she leaves unspoken sours the air between them like the obscuring cloud of a Wizard's poison curse. Her hand twitches in Ikora's as if to draw away. Ikora wraps her fingers more firmly about hers, but not so tightly that Eris cannot escape.

Desperate not to let any more of her actions drive Eris further away, Ikora speaks before she even knows what she intends to say, only that she means it.

"Will you transform for me?"

Silence rings. Standing perfectly still, Eris stares at her. "Why?" Minimal emotion inflects her voice, neither reluctant nor eager, but more simply curious than anything else.

Ikora chooses her next words very carefully.

"I wish to bring my actions into harmony with what I speak." Her heart is pounding like a premonition of battle, except for the fact that Ikora is afraid.

For a long time, Eris merely watches her. Then, in a strange, delicate voice, she says: "Yes. Then I shall."

A chill like undiffused static runs down Ikora's back, and it is not unpleasant. A gleam of blue catches the corner of her eye among the green chiaroscuro of the Athenaeum. The card she had cast aside lies face-up on the red velvet tablecloth, showing jagged curves that branch off a whirl of crackling Arc energy. She had drawn Liminal.

The spiking electric potential between them reaches a height that makes her skin prickle. For the first time, Ikora thinks she may finally understand the beauty, the glorious inevitability, encapsulated in the prayer and invocation of Aiat.

[azvolrien]

jazzhandsmcleg replied to your post:

what is your prize as the winner of Burghead Bull Bingo? (also sorry about all the notifs)

a lifetime supply of bulls (I’m not XD)

[nimblermortal]

@adroitjackal tagged me!

rules: choose 4 of your favourite characters from 4 pieces of media as options and let your tumblr pals decide which one most suits your vibe

I’ll tag @unfavorableinstigation and uhhhhh @jazzhandsmcleg, and anyone else who wants it

[besidemoonlight]

Oh my god I love him! What a sweet color palette too! Thank you so much!!! @jazzhandsmcleg

Part 1 of Dogcember is from 1-15 December 2021. For this, I will be drawing dogs. If you want me to draw your dog, reblog this post with a photo of your dog, and in the body of the post (not the tags), include the dog’s name. I will draw all the valid requests I receive within that time period.

Only one request at a time; but once you’ve received your request, you can make another request, and so on.

Only one photo per request; you decide which picture you want me to draw.

Only one dog per request; if your photo has multiple dogs in it, be very clear about which one you want me to draw.

You can put in a request as long as it’s the specified time period, somewhere in the world.

No pugs.

It’s acceptable to request a picture of a friend’s dog or a relative’s dog or a dog you sometimes babysit; the important thing is that you have a connection to that dog, and it’s not just some random photo you found.

Black lives matter, and trans rights are human rights.

I’ll be drawing them in the order I receive them; if it looks like I missed your request, drop me a line, it might have happened because hellsite.

[azvolrien]

jazzhandsmcleg replied to your post:

LOVE this. My favorite parts are how reasonable the fare is and the fact that the Dogleg line is very much just that. XD Are the trams gryphon-accessible??

The fares are inspired by (though somewhat cheaper than) how it works on the buses here in Edinburgh. So if you're only going to be taking one or two trams in any given day, it's cheaper to just pay each journey individually, but if you're going to be taking three or more then a day ticket is more economical.

And they try to be! The trams are designed so that the doors, stairs and seating areas have enough room to fit an average-sized gryphon, though a particularly big one like Redbolt might still find it an uncomfortable squeeze. Gryphons are generally more likely to just fly to wherever they're going, though, so they don't feel this is in urgent need of correction. Bear in mind, Stormhaven isn't a huge city by the standards of the real world; it's only about three miles across.

[azvolrien]

jazzhandsmcleg replied to your post: The Bastion

I don’t know why exactly but I’m just tickled by the construct that walks on the waterwheel. Is there a class element to the question of horses vs. constructs?

Yes, but the exact nature of that element can vary depending on where you are. It’s kind of like owning a horse vs owning a car; for people in urban areas where there’s less room to keep one, owning an actual flesh-and-blood horse can be a bit of a status symbol considering all the expenditure needed to feed and house it, whereas you don’t need to feed a construct and it doesn’t need more space than the amount it physically occupies (and it differs from a car in that you don’t need to fuel it, either).

On the other hand, constructs and the workshops that make them are much fewer and further-between out in more remote rural areas and both space and horse feed are at less of a premium, so someone having a personal construct is generally a sign that they’ve gone to some trouble to acquire it - a bespoke construct is expensive, though there are cheaper options (e.g. built ones are cheaper than grown ones, and ones built for a general market will be cheaper than those made for a specific customer). Sometimes rural communities band together to commission one that they can all use on a rota, like how several different farmers in a given area might share the same combine harvester, but overall you’re still more likely to see living horses used as working animals.

[azvolrien]

jazzhandsmcleg replied to your post:

oh to be an old man on a horse with an incredibly judgemental drinking horn

He looks like he’s had a good night out, doesn’t he? XD