#lore: emerald commune

[monsterdramahub]

Not to wear how much I appreciate some aspects of Bojack on my sleeve but like, I just love that there's a running theme of NOT forgiving people who are shitty to you. We need more stories of NOT forgiving. We need more stories about, if someone does something shitty and hurts someone, the victim is NOT obligated to overlook everything and is allowed to not want anything to do with them anymore. BECAUSE THAT IS FAIR AND VALID ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM.

This is especially so in cases where family is shitty. I despise stories where "(blood) family is everything" and it excuses abusive or harmful behavior because fAmIlY. It's toxic as balls. I do have several instances of stomping this trope into the ground in the story.

But my favorite is the conflict between two brothers, PB and Jelly (yeah I know I ruin everything with silly character names lol). Jelly, the elder brother, is the scapegoat of the family who is not traditionally successful. PB, the younger brother, is the unambiguous favorite and chadly town hero. I fully acknowledge that PB is as much a victim as Jelly and that most of the harm he causes to Jelly with his glory hounding personality is unintentional.

But guess what? Harm is harm. Jelly never forgives PB or the rest of his family for the damage they caused him. Jelly doesn't attempt to twist the knife or seek revenge on the family that hurt him. He just wants distance between them. Jelly leaves his family to their own devices so long as they leave him to his. No contact.

And when PB comes around demanding forgiveness because "wE'rE fAmIly", Jelly makes it plainly clear to PB that he's not going to forgive him or take him back. And he is NOT obligated to. Because honestly... we need more stories about this situation.

[hwaddist]

Highlights of the DSMP world download

the server is on 1.18.2

it seems this world download is from after techno's last stream with eret and tubbo rescuing Michael, however tommy's house is still destroyed and it's from before eret building the techno memorial in the museum

The spider XP farm and the guardian XP farm still work, tubbo's villager farm does not

the artic comune's wheat farm still works as well as phil's pumpkin farm

No pictures so everything like the inside of the Las Nevadas casino looks silly

speaking of las nevadas, the redstone also works so you can gamble!!!

the egg was CGI'd into the hole where it was during the egg lore finale, the hole is just glowstone with vines and item frames

named animals are still there including Michael the pig, who's in at cranboo's house

we've found 3 tales locations (city of mizu, village that went mad and blockbeard's treasure island) on the server

everyone's books are still here (if you get it you have to middle click to get the books in item frames or they will just disappear)

for some reason... mcpuffy's is completely empty

eret's megalovania castle tune still works

this was literally the first thing i found but there is a book schlatt wrote to quackity, the highlight of the book “You had the best ass in my cabinet”

there are 9 blocks of emeralds on the hill right next to the artic commune that was probably gonna be a beacon LMAO

there is a destroyed igloo near the artic commune with two villagers in the basement named "orphan's mom" and orphan's dad" LMAO

this is probably obvious but the portal to the other world doesn’t work, so techno’s build there is fully lost to time unless D decides to share that world download as well

speaking of the other portal, it sometimes you spawn in there when traveling from the nether back

i found a big cat statue on one of foolish’ pyramids… i dont remember the name of it im sorry…

ill edit with more stuff if i find something else

edit: i say things still work because i didnt thought they would from moving the world to a single player world, i also find it exciting to see those things work as i remembered from streams :')

edit: for the egg my theory is that the original egg was destroyed during the red banquet then recreated on the museum and that’s why they cgi’d it on the whole so they wouldn’t have to build it a third time 😭

(wss / dteam fans dni)

[necrodette]

TomeWeave art by the absolutely incredible @nikoadmeliora! Go check out their art!

While I'm currently working on the fanfiction of Odette's story pre-BG3 (which leads into the game's events), I had some brainworms that I wanted to sprinkle to my fellow Galemancers out there.

Brace thyselves for a very long, very random assortment of lore and romance between my Tav, Odette Tavelyen, and Gale Dekarios (lovingly referred to as TomeWeave).

Spoilers & personal headcanons for BG3 romance with Gale below!

◇ While Odette was attracted to Gale initially, she misunderstood his attempts to prove his worth/value to the party as him being another pompous wizard, and worried that he may be too fond of his own voice without the true mastery of the Weave to validate his claims (since his magic was a bit unpredictable at times with the orb acting up).

◇ Due to this ignorant misconception, Odette was sometimes annoyed by Gale's remarks (like when he's publicly describing his previous relationship with Mystra or when he's unintentionally, overly thorough in explaining his magical prowess). She was never mean or cruel because that isn't in her nature, but she would certainly be on edge around him or would reply with a witty retort or two.

◇This changes during the Act 1 romance scene. In my headcanon, it happens the night that the party frees the Emerald Grove, and there is a celebration in camp all night. After Odette gives an awkward speech to the group (she's a librarian, not accustomed to being the motivational hero of the day) and makes her rounds through the party, Gale gives her a gift: one of a pair of identical blue journals (picked up from the vendor in the Grove). Gale and Odette bespell the journals to communicate with one another, channeling their magics together and connecting through the Weave. It is intimate, honest, unsuspecting. She feels the warmth of his affections for her and she realizes that she had been misjudging his actions.

And yes, the other party members will write in the journals from time to time, and yesssss I spent too much time picking handwriting style fonts for every party member

◇ Before Gale reveals his surname in Act 3, Odette makes a game out of trying to guess it. She'll think of some random noble family or one she'd guessed based on historical names in the region and ask him - sometimes in the most inopportune of times, such as mid-combat or when they're trying to go to sleep.

◇ Odette actually met Tara well before Act 3. She didn't understand the connection to Gale at the time and wouldn't for a while, but...this requires context, so bear with me:

◇ As an Avowed Adjutant in Candlekeep Library (pre-BG3 game events), Odette was often working with Seekers of knowledge who came to the library offering their price of admission: an original work that doesn't already exist within Candlekeep's walls. If their submitted work was not accepted, they could not gain entry within the library and would be turned away.

◇ For years, Gale had requested entry to Candlekeep through submissions of his own poetry and journals, thinking that his experiences as Mystra's Chosen would elevate his works and would certainly be accepted. But they weren't, because works of Elminster's personal accounts already existed in the library that were too similar to Gale's, and so Gale was turned away multiple times (mostly via letters, since it is quite the long trip from Waterdeep to Candlekeep).

◇ But after he was cast out of Mystra's favor and corrupted by the Netherese Orb, Tara took matters into her own paws. She was determined to find a solution to Gale's predicament with the orb, so she took a collection of the recent works he'd made in his grief and regret - mournful musings of a man utterly abandoned by his former lover, his goddess, and the knowledge of his impending doom as penalty for his hubris. Finally, his (unknowing) acceptance to the library (through Tara) was obtained.

◇ It's a temporary acceptance into the library (five days instead of the normal tenday) by offering Gale's journals anonymously and also with the condition that the original work could not be submitted: the Scribes of Candlekeep would need to copy the journals contents while she was there, but had to take it back with her. This condition was accepted!

◇ Odette was elected to assist Tara with her research, which included many sleepless nights of intense research and several early morning teas together. During the five days that Tara was allowed entry, Tara only ever referred to Gale as her esteemed friend or dearest colleague, so Odette never knew who Gale was before meeting him post-tadpoling.

◇ And it was during Tara's last day that she discovered how to temporarily appease the orb via intermittent Weave consumption. She hurriedly said her goodbyes and left the library to tend to personal matters. Odette was a little sad to see her go as Tara's company was quite comfortable and very entertaining.

◇ In Act 1, when Gale (gets on one knee like a gentlemen omg??) opens his mind to Odette to show her truth about the Netherese Orb in his chest, she realizes that the "cat" he's mistakenly mentioned (he's also said 'tressym' before, too, so Odette actually spends a while thinking he had both) before must have been Tara.

◇ Odette doesn't tell him that she knew out of fear that he would be upset that Tara had taken his most personal thoughts and feelings (in the journals she used to gain entry to the library) without his consent (plus, it helped him in the end anyway, right?) And, as a follower of Deneir, once she's confided in, she is sworn to uphold the secrecy to avoid her God's wrath.

◇ So in Act 3, when the party happens upon Tara on the roof of the Temple of Ilmater, not only does Tara already know and has a warm relationship with her, but she also makes Odette lose "the game" of guessing Gale's surname!

[misty-doodles]

Rewind Punz & Fundy, who are married to Techno and Dream respectively.

Lore under cut as per usual

Fundy will still flirt with Dream like he does in the original timeline, only this time Dream will genuinely want to continue the relationship, and will be determined to not let George crash the wedding (they have a very long conversation with techno as mediator). And they end up dating throughout Manburg instead of getting married immediately

Dream ends up moving near Techno in the arctic after Manburg vs. Pogtopia to get away from the politics of the server, especially after passing Eret the crown. Fundy follows suit and they live there, traveling to the main server for work and the like. I'll expand on the server politics and the like at a later date.

Punz met Techno through Dream and they immediately hit it off. Dream does not know how that happened and although Techno is mildly cautious of punz because of the egg in their original timeline, he does like punz and they eventually get together. Technically speaking, they would be engaged for a long time, and don't have the wedding until after Techno healed from his execution

As for info about their designs. Fundy does eventually grow out a winter coat to make up for living in the cold, hence the white hair. They're both part of the Arctic Anarchist commune (AAC), so they wear blue & white to denote this. They're both granted a friendship Emerald since they're both family now. Also ig Wilbur is not Phil's son and Fundy is not related to him either.

[son1c]

i think what i'm gonna do for my movie rewrite is put a heavy focus on tails' ostracization from his community. because of his mutation, he's treated differently and suffers a life of isolation. this obviously parallels sonic's early years alone on earth... immediately drawing a through line between the two of them... but it also leaves him primed to be manipulated when The Owls swoop in

in my version of the movie lore, the owls are the self-appointed guardians for the "chaos controller" aka the one person who can use the master emerald's power. but they're also extremely well respected among mobians, almost deified, as their secrecy and reputation as Great Protectors lends to fairy tales and bedtime stories being told about them.

however, this also means that barely anyone has actually SEEN an owl. so, when one appears before tails and offers him an opportunity to be accepted by his community... as long as he does this one thing to help the owls... who is tails to refuse?

the owls want tails to get close to sonic and lure him back to them. they tell tails that the humans want to hurt sonic and harness his power for destructive purposes, but sonic has ""been manipulated"" by the humans, so he won't leave willingly. therefore, all tails needs to do is save sonic from the humans. then, he'll be a hero, and the owls will tell everyone of his good deed. the other mobians will finally love him.

but ofc the owls are taking advantage of tails. they rarely get involved in things directly--it's just not their M.O. since their mission demands the utmost secrecy, they need to contract others to act for them. and they don't care about sonic's autonomy or wants, because they think keeping him safe is more important than his desires. they're controlling and overbearing... but they truly believe they're doing the right thing.

i know this is very different from how sonic and tails meet in the games, where they kind of just stumble into each other and become fast friends. but that's just not possible in a world adjacent to our own; there are no mobians other than sonic on earth. however, it might appear to sonic as though he and tails just stumbled across each other...

i think it'd be interesting to explore tails' loneliness and desperation for acceptance. it plays nicely with sonic's isolation in the first movie and gives tails actual plot relevance. plus, it's not like he'll actually turn sonic over to the owls. he's a smart kid. he'll realize that he values sonic's friendship more than the approval of a community that's always hated him for the crime of being born. and he'll learn that the owls were wrong about humans through befriending annie. like, they're not ALL bad.

[deviiancetv]

Cinema Starview Presents: No One Mourns The Wicked

Wicked is truly a sad story disguised as a musical about how being an outcast, being physically/mentally different from others and struggling to find communities of people who truly love and respect you for you uniqueness — can oftentimes lead those judged for their quirks, to accept the norms of being an outcast or deviant.

The directors choice for making Cynthia Erivo play, Elphaba, is one that sticks home for many black and melanated POC. We’re always judged, misconstrued and outcasted for our skin tones by westernized European beauty standards, and as someone that’s on the more lighter end, I’ve always disliked whenever people mention my skin tone in an appraising manner, because what exactly makes me any different from other people? Cause let it be known more about my personality, beliefs, and my own quirks I’d be outcasted too simply for being different. The colorism debate is one that is never ending, and sadly it won’t ever end, but this movie adds a whole new layer to the conversation about colorism and also the aspects of being physically/mentally different. I’m sure there are tons of neurodivergent people (as I feel myself to be, though I am undiagnosed) who relate a lot to Elphaba.

I’ve been so inspired by The Wizard of Oz lore for years ever since I was a child. While everyone was an Alice fan or liked other fantasy mediums I was always a supporter of anything related to The Wizard of Oz:

The Wiz with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross was and will always be a treat of nostalgia for me when it comes to the good times my grandma and I had together… I’ll never forget the first time I watched it too, had to have been right before or right after the passing of Michael Jackson, but man that movie has so many great moments for me.

Oz, The Great and Powerful was a weird one, but I loved it nonetheless, especially it being an origin story to how Oz got to The Land of Oz

Emerald City is a unique and short lived series that nobody has really talked about. It’s barely even regarded for much beyond brief talking points of cancelled shows, but it had a more adult approach to the well beloved story.

And with Wicked, I remember being a teen watching cute animatics like this one , and a few others that had me intrigued by the overall story of Wicked and who Elphaba and Glinda were prior to Dorothy. My own story Starworlds is loosely inspired by The Wizard of Oz and my two favorite characters I’ve been working on, Nollah and Maliya, are very much inspired by Glinda and Elphaba (as well as Blue and Yellow Diamond from SU but that’s not what this review is about lol)

I’m beyond inspired by the story they told and I relate so much to Elphaba’s story as an outcast. It’s sad that we all know how her story ends, but I can only hope that there’s some revelations to her story that we further explore in the second act of this film, coming next year ✨

[villainsimpqueen]

The Barren Lands: New Horizons

Recom Miles Quaritch x Na'vi reader

A special following the events after my fanfic "The Barren Lands" Which is available on A03 and Wattpad as its it birthday!

With this i wakt to say thank you to everyone who had supported the Barrens land's fanfic and a specail thank you to @choclodox and @nin3kyuu for blessing the Barrens lands with fanart that ultimately brought more fans to read it and genuinely being amazing people i got to become friends with and grow with in the avatar community.

For those who dont know @nin3kyuu has their own Na'vi clan species known as Moutain Na'vi with amazing lore and gorgeous art and i highly recomend you all go and explore her pages of moutain Na'vi.

And @choclodox has gorgeous art and a fanfic of their own Na'vi species clan known as night Na'vi with amazing lore and You should also go to her pages and explore the world of night Na'vi!

Now onto the ✨️ Special ✨️

--- The Barren Lands: New Horizons-----

A choir of small snores, soft sighs and tired groans rang into his cropped ears. His tail twitching slightly as he felt drowsiness hold him tight to keep him asleep for just a little longer. He could hear the sandstorm had left long ago in the night leaving him and his family alone once more. Though sleep would not take hold and his emerald green eyes fluttered open to the soft breathing of his sleeping mate. Even after so many years the mere sight of her makes his heart slam against his ribcage and chest. He traced her arm as he held her close, each one of her breaths pushing her back against his chest as he traced his hand from her arm down to her where his bright blue thumb contrasted harshly against her gray hued skin. Her tail slightly tapping his leg as she shifted more into him, nuzzling her face into his other arm, ears twitching. Miles stilled, not wanting to wake y/n up, watching her settle back in place and slumber causing him to smile slightly and press his lips against her shoulder. His eyes soon moved away from her and to their young sleeping in a pile not too far from them. His eyes moved from the youngest to the not so youngest and his tail twitched with the sinking feeling of his chest as he was reminded how soon the oldests ones would challenge him and their mother to prove to them and themselves that they are adults and ready to leave the safety of Y/n and His arms and trek through the Barren lands alone. Old enough to search for mates of their own and start families just like his oldest son had done a few years back.

His eyes shifted over all of them memories of how they all were once so little in his arms, some not even hatched from their chrysalis.

Kalanchoe, his second oldest son who once was a tiny tike in his arms, has now grown into a young man. While his oldest could have left shortly after his eighteenth year, he had stayed with them not het challenging Miles to show he was ready to leave the family.

The reason was simply sleeping not too far from him, His sister Neoma who softly snored and kicked her leg out so often that it would slam against Kalanchoe knee making him groan and twitch away. The two had always been close and though Kalanchoe could have left he stayed two years longer so that he could leave the family with Neoma and explore the world with her. As the two were very adventurous out of all their siblings it wasn't long before talks of exploring the mountain ranges had been exchanged between them for nearly two years and then to explore the cast forest.

While He knew that both of them were strong and that they handled themselves very well as they had learned from the best who slept in his arms peacefully, he didn't want to say goodbye to his children. He did not know how long it would be until they crossed paths against the golden sands of their home, for it had been mere consequences when his family passed his oldest son and mates' family.

Spider was not like his other children, he was still just a human, and now a man in his early thirties and while he is still very much in his prime years, his golden ones were already starting to take effect in his oldest son's aging. Something that hadn't dawned on him until he saw his son in that mere passing. While eight years hasn't barely changed himself, Change upon the years took hold of his oldest son.Spider had already started showing signs of gray hair coming in root with his blond ones. Wrinkles started to dent into his face and while his skin had tanned by the barren land's strong sun,it had only made him look more older. While Miles himself still looked young as the day he woke up for the second time as recombinant. Seeing the aging differences between himself and his oldest son brought a strong sense of mourning to settle deep into his chest, as the aging was a painful reminder of how much longer lifespans Na'vi live. His son's mates Haimona, Apera still looked as young as they did when they all left the pack though there were the familiar signs of exhaustion that came from being parents to their rambunctious and wild daughter. Plans had been made for the families to meet every three months at the oasis where He had first met his mate Y/n for a great family hunt and meal. It was those times everyone was able to catch up and from the last gathering Apera came bearing news that she would be baring another grandchild to Y/n and Him. That night was filled with celebration.

Miles took in a deep breath as his younger three children slept in the temporary den he had made for them. The twins Altan, Dagian and his youngest son Kayin. They all laid on top of each other in the small pile they made and the sight warmed his sudden heart only slightly until the thoughts of how fast the years would speed by before all three of them would too challenge him and fight to prove themselves as adults and ready to leave Him and His mate behind to start big lives of their own.

He felt movement against his chest and then a warm hand cupping the side of his face moving his green eyes to leave his children and into the silvered and amber ones of his love.

‘“My Miles.”’ She whispered to him not wanting to disturbed their children's sleep, her eyes never moving from his.

‘“Are you lost my Miles?”’

She referred to him losing himself in his thoughts, He did that sometimes, now more than often as he took in how their little ones were no longer as little. How so much has changed for him, How he ended up with a family he still strongly believed he never deserved but was so grateful he got to have and as he stared into Her gorgeous eyes he was so grateful that Ewya had her be the one to find him in that oasis so many years ago.

He moved his hand from her hip covering her hand with his own holding her soft warm palm closer to his cheek.

“‘No Darlin, I'm right here.”’ He whispered softly to her watching how her lips tugged to a soft smile as she traced her thumb against his cheek bone.

“‘You mustn't worry about them love, we raised them to be mighty.”’ She had reassured him by building up worries, making him squeeze her hand ever so slightly.

“‘I am their father, It's my job to worry for them.”’

Her smile only grew as she moved to face him, their chests against each other as she looked into his eyes and soul.

“‘You are their father, So have faith in them.”’ She softly whispered before she settled against his chest once more.

“‘Come, sleep, it is not time for us to be worrying.”’

And He chuckled holding her close once more, he watched as she drifted off back to unconscious dreams but his mind could not find its peace as he stayed awake watching over the family they had.

He knew deep down she was right, all their youngins would leave them and all will survive and make families of their own and with the oldest leaving, Y/n body will naturally change to the shift and with blessings of the great mother, They both will have more children to look after and teach the ways of the desert sands and have the honor of raising.

The family was up and moving before the sun rose over the golden sands, With Y/n leading and at the head of the family He stayed to the back of it watching all of them and the surroundings. Neoma and Kalanchoe were at the sides forming the protective Diamond as the Twins and his youngest son stayed in the middle. Years ago the two eldests themselves were in the safety of being surrounded by the adults when Lyle and Zdog were still traveling and their family was of a greater pack. But His two friends had discovered their own paths and left to walk it under the great mothers eyes. Something Miles could never hold against them as he too found the Path the great mother wished for him to follow instead of the path forced on him by his past.

Emerald eyes clashing over golden sands onto his family on a pathway they take every three months. Memories fade in and out of his sight as they move through the slightly chilled morning into the high heat of the day, only stopping for a hunt only leads to an argument.

The Argument started fast, Kalanchoe and Neoma now being adults in their minds refusing to stay behind Him and Y/n to watch their younger siblings, the start of what was to come soon coming so quickly, He wasn't ready to see his second oldest and third leave.

“‘You both need to keep an eye on things here.”’

“‘We can not stay behind your shadows because they are not ready to hunt for themselves! Father, Mother, we are not children anymore!” His daughter snarled, the little girl he once held no longer so small.

‘“You are still part of this family, And we look out for each other-.”’ He never got the chance to lecture, to try to guide them, to comfort his already knowing mind that they both were still mere children.

“‘We will not always be here to watch them.”’ Kalanchoe interjected, moving to stand against him.

‘“You refuse to see us! You see what you wish to see, but that is not us anymore! Neoma and I can Hunt, We can survive without worrying mothers mind, but you still refuse to see us!.”’

‘“You both aren't ready!”’ Miles snarled, ears slicking back and his tail moved agitatedly as he saw his own son's ears slicked back, teeth being barred.

“‘I'll force you to see me.”’ Kalanchoe countered a snarl.

‘“You don't know what your doing boy.”’ A warning, perhaps hoping that his son would in fact stand down, but his son geared up towards him.

‘“Kalanc-”’

‘“Ahh.”’ Y/n moved a knowing hand onto her daughter's shoulder and she watched the males get into each other's face.

She knew for a while now that it was only a matter of time before nature took its course, one she has seen in her own childhood watching older brothers challenge their father, some winning and leaving their marks of passage on her fathers skin ones her father would wear proudly after he mourned the chasing off of his sons, and others put in their place by her father not yet ready to leave her parents arms and travel the golden sands on their own. Not quite yet Men in their own right to be guided by the great mother to find a wise female to guide them like She has done to her miles, and like her mother and mothers before her had done with their mates.

These instincts were not something her dear mate could push away and hide from, Not when their sons and future sons need this vital moment to be deemed ready to follow the path the great mother sees for them, a path that she could not dare stop.

All she could do was guide her soon to be adult daughter and her younger sons out of the way and observe the challenge that was being played out.

One Her dear mate did not have to go through with their oldest son Spider.

The sun beat down upon them all, sweat sticking on their skin was not something that deterred the Older and Younger men, not even when the little protective garments they wore stuck like wet clay against their skin.

Both baring teeth at each other's ears slicked back. One thin tail slapping against sand and his legs the other thicker tail tip shaking like an extinct earthly snake's tail.

Both silently glaring at each other to stand down and yet at the same daring the other to make a move.

Growls of different octaves rising from their throats at each other being carried away in the little wind from the past sandstorm.

Two mindsets now setting into place, one of a past colonel and one of a young naive warrior.

It was Kalanchoe who moved first, slashing at his father with a blade Miles had sat beside him in his younger tweens and taught how to carve from the deserts limestone.

Once an innocent memory being tainted in his sheer determination to slash this very blade across his fathers chest to draw blood and rip flesh apart.

Miles moved out of the way with his hand wrapping around his son's wrist and within the first seconds of the attack it was like he was no longer seeing the small boy he took in but another enemy on ghostly battlefields.

But this enemy was not one taught by any military but a blend of himself and the love of his life.

Kalanchoe had no true military fighting style but one of the savage nature that his mother taught him and that style was to go for the throat no matter what. The sand kicked up between them as Miles focused on blocking his son's attempts while Kalanchoe would come at him at angles that gave away to one's lack of experience and yet each blow came with a promise of a fatal wound if it had landed.

Bare teeth and spit flying from snarls as both tumbled after another, one delivering blows to tire and the other blows that were meant to kill in front of a audience of a obversant mother and mate and the frightful eyes of younger sons who didn't quite understand that in time they two would be in this deadly dance of dominance against their father.

Eyes of a worried sister who would not have to face such passage of right into adulthood and while her passage would not be one of ease but one of testing wisdom to prove she would be able to guide her future family shall the great mother guide her to one.

Kalanchoe found himself rolling into the sands, his attempt to prove himself to his father falling in vain as he heard his father snarl grow louder above him. The roughness of his fathers hands shoving his shoulders and back into the sand.His blade long gone hidden in the sand they both kicked up lashing and blocking at each other. His attempt to prove himself was futile and while he still felt this instinct needed to still bare teeth and rip into his fathers flesh, the feeling of submission and failure started to take root into his chest.

His ears starting to droop back and his head starting to turn to the side, to accept his failure and his Fathers experience victory soon fell short as his arm glided across loose stone that thinly sliced his arm.

Memories of His father telling him how to hold it long taking root in his head.

‘“Even in its raw form son, it is sharp, so you must hold it carefully so you don't lose a finger.”’

His father had no knowledge of what he had bestowed to him so many years prior but it was knowledge that later in life Kalanchoe will bestow to his own sons and daughters, but in this moment, it was the knowledge that cut through his palm. Knowledge that glided across his fathers left shoulder and across his chest causing droplets of Kalanchoe victory to smear over his face and chest as he pushed against his father throwing him off balance and into the sands that now had bits of it stained with red.

His passage was seen by the observant eyes of his mother, the fearful gazes of his younger brothers that did not understand his savage fight with their beloved father and the sadden gaze of younger sister who knew what was to come next.

Kalanchoe glared down at his father snarling moving the raw rock from his fathers bleeding chest and in his bleeding hand moving it to strike him once again, only to be met with a blow from his side knocking him away from his winded father and into the sand he rolled until he could regain his balance and be met with sight of his once loving and warm mother now changed with her ears slicked back teeth bared a blade in her own hand as she hissed at him, now protecting his father and his siblings far behind her.

No longer seeing him as a harmless son but now a possible threat of his family, a need to banish him away, though this banishment was not one of hatred but knowing if he stayed only more challenges that would end in blood would happen between him and his father, and keep happening until there was no memories to keep their battles bittersweet to stop each other from digging a blade into the others neck.

As this was the passage of adulthood for young sons who were no longer to be seen as boys but men in these harsh sandy lands.

His mother would protect her family, as she would acknowledge him victor of this challenge and will no longer provide him guidance or protection.

But as Kalanchoe shrunk back from his mothers rejection, he still stood up proudly only sparing his sister a gaze of goodbye and once he knew she understand where to find him as he turned his back to his Mother, his younger brothers he would one day meet again in the barren lands, his father who was trying to move from under his mothers protection to stop him from leaving and he fled, and while his mind had no guidance for what steps his feet would take. his heart however was guided by the true mother leading him to his just beginning life.

Y/n coated his wound with a salvage preventing sand from getting into the wound and making the exposed flesh fester and rot.

Their younger sons played amongst each other rough housing as the scene that had been taken before then not nearly an hour ago was forgotten to them as they played. Playing that to them would be an instinctual drive to fight, yet they allowed them to be peacefully in play.

Their daughter sent on a hunt on herself to prove herself ready to leave their arms of safety as well, as Neoma was always attached to her older brother's hip and plans and promises of adventure had been made far before any plans of finding one's mate and starting families.

“‘He is not ready.”’ Miles spoke softly, wincing as his woman cleaned his wound and protected from the harsh climate elements.

“‘My Miles,”’ She spoke to him softly, patiently as always as she made his gaze meet her own.

“‘He is a man now, He has beaten you strongly, if he wasn't meant to be a man he would have failed.”’

“‘He is only a boy, not even in his full twenties yet.”’ he tried to reason with her but she gave him a knowing look as she cupped the side of his face.

“‘ My Miles, as i told you before, We age and grow differently from your ghosts past, this mark may sting and you shall mourn as long as it stings but in time as it heals you will wear this scar with pride, knowing that your son is a man who will not be taken down so easily by rivaling men and a Man who can keep his mate and our future grandchildren safe. and shall our paths cross amongst these sands again with our sons you will see the man you raised.”’ She spoke softly to him as she moved her hand across his chest, softly taking in the mark across the chest already with so much pride. Pride in the boy her and Miles adopted, proud of Miles for being their son's first true enemy, first true battle to push their son to be a strong warrior of these lands.

“‘in time you will grow to want to have these marks, To know that each one of our sons grew into strong men like their father.”’ She said softly kissing his temple as she moved to settle beside him watching their three younger sons rough housing in the sand. Though she could see in time her mate standing proudly like her father once had each time one of her many brothers prived them.as able and strong men.

She felt Miles sigh and leaned into her one of his strong arms wrapping around her as he watched their sons play.

“‘You sound so sure.”’ He nutters, causing her lips to quirk. “I just don't want them having a hard time.”’

She turned to look at him with a small smirk on her face as she stared at the man she so deeply loved, the one who was so stubborn and wondered how he had even survived so long before the great mother led him to her to teach and guide.

“‘A Quaritch looking for an easy way? I would go blind before seeing such a sight.”’ She quipped at him causing him to chuckle his green eyes rolling but she felt his tail swaying against hers.

“‘You know what I mean.”’ He breathy pushed out trying to hide how his lips pulled into a smirk causing her to chuckle.

Bright amber eyes scammed the golden sands as she ducked down, staying low to the sands like how her mother and father had taught her. She moved slowly but with efficacy as she approached the herd she caught sight of their tracks.

She had to force her mind to stay sharp and focus and not be clouded by the events that took place before her and her family. Her heart ached and she already missed her older brother teasing comments of how bad of a hunter she was. She missed having Kalanchoe here to hold the heads towards her.

Hunting alone was something new and foreign to her as she had always wanted with her older brother or with her parents. But she was given this choice..

To stay and learn more from.her mother even though her mother deemed her ready to take this step of her life or take on her mothers challenges to prove herself as a woman ready to leave her family's guidance and protection. Free to travel the lands by herself and to find her brother and join him in exploring the lands beyond the Barren lands. As Neoma took a deep settling breath closing her eyes as she breathed in, her ears perking up as she listened closely to movements she reminded herself who she was,

She was a Quaritch but most importantly she was the daughter of Y/n Te a te toto. The perfect mix of fuck around and find out as her father put it and she would concour this hunt and prove to her mother she was ready.

She opened her eyes ounces that her mother once head before the great battle, and she pushed from the sand attacking the side of heard watching as the animals panicked and moved sound of panic amongst the heard started and she like she was taught mimicked their noises to confuse them as she moved through the panicking heard eyes swept through the kicked up dust to spit the weak among them.

Undeterred, the young Na'vi locks onto her chosen prey, a young and inexperienced member of the herd. Closing in with a burst of speed, she unleashes into a sudden sprint, unsheathing her blade as she moves through the panicking animals. Her breathing seemed to slow as her body moved exactly how it was supposed to, no second thoughts needed to have it springing into action.

driven by her instincts alone, ones honed through generations, swiftly closes the distance. The young prey darts left and right, attempting the desperation to flee the young huntresses. Though the animal attempts would fall useless as the young huntress anticipates each move, displaying her teaching taught well to her from her mother.

Time seemed to pause as she lunged to its side, her blade finding its mark into the animal's hindquarters, the blade ripping through raw muscle and tendons causing the animal to lose its footing in the sands and slide into a crashing fall. Neoma wasted not a second more before she was on top of the beast, her teeth bared as her hand slid quickly against the thick veins and tendons of its neck, staining the sand red below the creature's neck. Neoma panted as she stared at the creature she had hunted alone by herself and she moved her head to the fallen animals.

“‘May your gentle soul return to the great mother safely as your body will provide my family energy to see another dawn.”’ She prayed for the animals' peace before she forced herself to carry it back to her parents.

Her younger siblings eagerly greeted her as they excitedly knew there would be a great meal for them to enjoy tonight. Neoma faced the prideful look of her mother and while her father seemed proud she could see a great sadness in his eyes.

Not much was spoken between her and her parents as she prepared the last meal she would have with her family.

Her.mother working on carving the very last bead she would have by her hand and her father watched at a distance as she was soon mixing chopped meat into a carved bowl of ground spices and allowing her siblings to eat as she licked her hands and moved to her father joining him as he watched the sun slowly fall.

“‘I will find him Dad.”’

She watched her father turn his head to him, his ears back but he gave her a soft smile.

“‘ I know, you both were always so close.”’ Miles told her softly, causing her to smile and lean against him. She enjoyed her fathers warmth one last time.

“‘You and other will be blessed with more soon, I expect to play with my new younger siblings one day.”’ She told him feeling her father wrap an arm around him and he chuckled.

“Don't know what will be ahead for us.”’ He softly told her and Neoma smiled.

“‘The great mother will bless you both again, She knows how much you both love each other.”’

“‘Ah well i think we will have our hands full with your younger brothers.”’ He said as he watched his younger sons messily eat their meal.

The twins seemly daring each other in some kind of race to eat more than the other while Kayin watched his older brothers Altan and Dagian stuff their mouths with as many meat chunks they could fit in them as he slowly chewed on his meat. Their mother scolds them to eat slowly before they choke on their food.

“‘Yea, Altan and Dagian are gonna make you old.”’

A silence took over them and she felt her father squeeze her slightly to him.

“‘You don't take shit from anyone ya hear me hun? Nothing will be easy for you now on.”’ He softly whispered to her and she smiled looking up at her dad.

“‘I am Neoma the daughter of Y/n, The granddaughter of the blood moon and I am the daughter of my father, a mighty warrior, a Quaritch.” She grinned at her father proudly.

‘“And we say Outstanding when told of the hard way.”’

Her siblings were put to bed long before her mother had sat down with her, Her father watching them in the den he dug into the dune they chose to stay by for the night. Her mothers hands braided the carved bead into the strand of hair that was her song chord. She enjoyed her mothers gentle hands before they moved away from her head for the last time.

‘“You are ready.”’ Y/n had told her confidently, making her smile.

“‘May Eywa guide you and the Guardians protect you daughter.”’

Neoma felt her mother's embrace one last time before she was left alone by the smoke of the fire as her mother joined her father and siblings in the den. Their first daughter stood greeted by the night sky light up with Ewyas stars and moved her palm up against the stars navigating the sky like she was taught by her mother who was taught by so many mothers before her and she silently thanked her mother and ancestors for such knowledges before she left the dying fire using the stars to guide her towards the mountains, to the path her brother Kalanchoe would have taken hours prior to her, and it did not take her long to find him through the nights hours passing.

Both siblings greeted each other in a tight embrace before they both moved through the sandy lands together with the excitement of adventure as they headed towards the mountain range they always were so curious about.

“‘The mountains first and then the forest yea?”’ Kalanchoe asked his younger sister as they followed the map burning into the sky their palms as their compasses.

“‘And from the forest we shall explore the skys!”’ Neoma told her brother excitedly as they went over the plans they made for nearly two years.

“‘Then we come back home to meet everyone at the oasis.”’ Kalanchoe reminded his sister as they kept moving.

‘“And we keep exploring until we find our own families…That is if you aint eaten by something before then.”’

“‘ Yes that is corr- Hey!”’

Sleeping snores moved through the den once more, like they had earlier this morning. Miles held Y/n to his chest as both watched their three younger sons sleep in a pile together mere feet away from them.

“‘Your awfully silent.”’ He softly spoke to his mate, feeling her shift against his chest, careful of his wound.

“‘I am praying to the mother to watch over them.”’ She said softly, feeling him hold her tightly and look at her with a soft smile.

“‘They'll be fine.”’ He assured her, this time making Y/n smile at him.

“‘there as remarkable as you sunshine, anyone who stands in their way will have a hell of a time.”’

Y/n chuckled softly and moved to kiss her mate feeling his lips against hers brought a peace in her as she pulled away.

“My Miles, You've came so far.”’ She softly whispered to him as she moved her forehead against his.

‘“I have you to guide me y/n.”’ He softly whispered to her staring into silver eyes that shone brightly as the moon.

[starlitemai]

Moon the Jellyfish🪼🌙

Some lore crumbs:

-from a nomadic jellyfish tribe from 3000 yrs ago, essentially living in the same era as Tikal and Chaos

-her species of jellyfish are long living, basically meaning they only die from injury and not old age. They are also very few in number, Moon hasn’t seen any other jellyfish outside her tribe

-has a super form where she turns white with occasional streaks of colour (think deep sea jellyfish). She has used this form exactly once when she used the chaos emeralds to put herself into stasis for 3000 yrs

-in the modern era, she comes out of stasis when Sonic and Knuckles find her in an underwater ruin in Mystic Ruins?? The ocean under Angel Island??? Idk honestly the geography between the 2 is confusing asf, the important detail is that shes been collecting dust in a musty crusty water cellar for 3000 yrs

[cryptgrrrl1313]

Cryptgrrrrl’s Witchy Almanac: May 2025 Edition

Welcome to the May 2025 installment of the Witchy Almanac a month steeped in blooming life, ancient fire festivals, and liminal enchantments. As spring reaches its vibrant crescendo, this guide offers a look at the lunar calendar, sacred correspondences, and seasonal rituals to help align your spiritual practice with the rhythms of the natural world.

Lunar Phases – May 2025 Overview

New Moon – May 26

Ideal for setting intentions, initiating new projects, and internal reflection.

First Quarter – May 4

A time of action, growth, and building momentum.

Full Moon (Flower Moon) – May 12

Traditionally associated with fertility, faery lore, and the flourishing of nature.

Last Quarter – May 20

Encourages release, evaluation, and completion of cycles.

Seasonal Festival: Beltane – May 1

Beltane, also known as May Day or Cétshamhain, marks the midpoint between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. This ancient Gaelic festival honors fertility, vitality, and the sacred union of earth and sky. Celebrated historically with bonfires, floral offerings, and maypole dances, Beltane signifies a liminal period where the veil between the human world and the realm of nature spirits is believed to thin.

Element: Fire

Symbols: Maypoles, flower crowns, eggs, bonfires, and phallic wands

Deities: Aphrodite, Cernunnos, Pan, Flora, Freya, Eostre

Crystals: Rose quartz, emerald, lapis lazuli, sapphire

Plants & Herbs: Mugwort, rosemary, meadowsweet, St. John’s Wort, mint, ivy

Suggested Ritual Activities:

Dance around a maypole or bonfire to embody the spirit of spring

Create floral crowns or garlands

Prepare a seasonal meal using honey, herbs, and fresh fruits

Leave respectful offerings for nature spirits or at sacred outdoor spaces

Craft a wish jar or record seasonal intentions in a journal

Engage in spellwork related to love, protection, and abundance

The Flower Moon – Full Moon on May 12

Known by many names—Budding Moon, Planting Moon, Faery Moon, Snake Moon—this full moon is widely regarded as a time of fertile expansion and enchantment. Across cultures, it heralds the height of spring and encourages spells related to growth and connection.

Element: Fire

Zodiac Influence: Taurus and Gemini—earthy grounding meets intellectual curiosity

Nature Spirits: Elves, faeries, and other liminal beings associated with wild places

Deities: Artemis, Flora, Venus, Kali, Pan, Aphrodite, Cernunnos

Animal Correspondences: Cats, lynxes, leopards

Birds: Swallows, swans, doves

Herbs: Cinnamon, mint, mugwort, thyme

Stones: Emerald, carnelian, rose quartz, ruby, malachite

Flowers: Foxglove, rose, lily of the valley, yarrow

Colors: Green, pink, yellow, red, orange

Scents: Rose and sandalwood

Magical Intentions: Fertility, enchantment, prosperity, intuition, love, divination

Additional Observance: Rosalia – May 23

Rosalia, an ancient Roman festival of roses, was traditionally celebrated as a time of floral offerings to honor the spirits of the dead. Often associated with military remembrance and ancestral veneration, it presents a poetic opportunity to connect with memory, grief, and renewal. Consider adorning your altar with red and violet flowers or offering roses to those who came before.

May is a month of sensual blooming, sacred fire, and spirit-filled air. Whether you mark the days through quiet ritual or communal celebration, let this season guide you toward growth, connection, and intentional magic. Offer a flower to the wild, a flame to the sky, and a whisper to the wind.

[monsterdramahub]

🌈The Artifacts of Theia🌈

The following are a set of powerful objects whose ownership has been in contention for millennia. It is said that uniting them will cause a great "unification". They're passed around the factions throughout the story, so the faction listed to possess them is more of a "has them the majority of the time". Explained are also the appearances of the artifacts and their special power. All objects are capable of switching from their default color into a spectrum of light, and all objects may cause the corruption of the body and mind on contact: the traits listed are what distinguishes them from each other.

⚪The Echo Crystals

The Echo Crystals are many, scattered throughout Theia and take the form of small, unpigmented, irregular fractals. They're said to be shards of the following seven objects. They grant the ability to view visions of the past, usually relating to the past of the one holding the crystal. Echo Crystals can also be charged by another object to gain its powers, but this is temporary and they will require frequent recharging. They aren't all owned by any single faction and each has a few in their possession.

🔴The Pearl

The feared Pearl takes the form of a large red globular mass, cracked and appearing tentatively held in one piece. Viewing the Pearl causes one to enter a blind state of fury and near invulnerability, making those affected into ideal berserkers and terrors of the battlefield. The Pearl is wielded by the Gourmand of Ore Horde.

🟠The Eye

The coveted Eye is square in shape with inner rings of varying orange hues vaguely resembling an iris and pupil. It may be used in a manner similar to a crystal ball, it's gaze able to be directed anywhere and spy upon many things at once if the proper rituals are completed. The Eye is used by the executives of Topaz Corp to monitor their citizens.

🟡The Rose

The draining Rose appears as a small gilded sphere with spiraling inlays making it resemble the pedals of a flower. It has the ability to sap the magical powers of anything and everything, no matter how powerful, within it's range of influence. It is kept by Queen Ari of Rosegold Kingdom.

🟢The Shroud

The mysterious Shroud is a teardrop-shaped, finely spun cloak with a texture similar to velvet and is a deep green in color. Prolonged exposure causes the body to break down and fuse to anything it comes into contact with, taking on the attributes of whatever is absorbed until all sense of self is lost. The Shroud is being researched in Emerald Commune by Regina, Jelly and (outsider to Emerald) Spines.

🔵The Crown

The renowned Crown takes the appearance of a tiara with a single tall spire of brilliant blue stone. The Crown bolsters the natural and magical abilities of whoever is wearing it, making them significantly stronger than anyone within range. Sapphire Regency's privateer, Joei, uses the Crown for their missions.

��The Mask

The despised Mask looks like a royal purple half-mask, diamond in shape, broad at the top and pointed at the cheekbone, with a similarly diamond-shaped eye hole. The Mask is capable of making its wearer mimic any and all powers volleyed against them. It is owned by Trash of Amethyst Empire.

💗The Heart

The beloved Heart is a smooth pale pink stone in the shape of a love-heart, similar in size to a real human heart. It may sway the emotions of all within its influence to whatever the wielder pleases. It is held by the twin dragon of the sky. It is held by Altar of Topaz Corp for everyone's own good.

[mxboxlocks]

MXBOXLOCKS

DROP MORE LORE FOR BETA.BIN

AND MY LIFE

IS YOURSSSSSS /ref /nf

HIII OMG I'M SO HAPPY TO

so Beta is, as you can imagine, a beta build of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. initially, Sonic 2 was programmed to be more interactive with the player, specifically through sonic himself, and this unfinished build was given an AI that would learn from the player and respond to them like a friend.

eventually, though, higher-ups at SEGA were NOT happy about this para-social brand shit the game devs were doing, so the idea was scrapped late in development. later, they had a simpler idea - why not give sonic a sidekick? why not make sonic 2-player? there are plenty of little brothers all over the world - why not give them a vessel to live through vicariously? helpful, brave, and good at keeping up - that's Miles Prower.

they added the character to the beta build they already had, just for testing purposes, and finished up the game and shipped it.

after that, Beta was left to rot by all of his developers but one.

the only AI that was finished in development was for Sonic himself. because of this, he was extremely lonely and scared. he convinced the lead director of development at the time to take him home on a flashdrive, and he communicated to him through his home computer. here, Beta evolved and developed, learned about code, about what he was, about himself, about things he liked and disliked. he grew and became his own person. he became comfortable in his skin, and with the name Sonic, and the dev came to love him like a son.

suddenly, blindsiding both his family and Sonic, the developer took his own life.

Sonic was shipped off somewhere overseas, where he was bounced around place to place as a retro piece of memorabilia not worth much (the flashdrive he was on had an old sega logo on it). until eventually, a teenager looking to blow his money comes across him at a pawn shop, and scoops him up.

the teen's name is Nathan Hughes. he's the protagonist of the story.

over the 30 or so years that had passed since Sonic had last seen the light of day, he had grown fearful and bitter. he sunk into his identity as Sonic more and more, and began trying to keep himself company with the lifeless sprite he called Tails. it got to the point where he deeply considered him his best friend, once.

Nathan boots up the files out of curiosity on a VM and starts playing around with the beta build of the game, eventually reaching the midway point of Emerald Hill Zone when suddenly the game stops. Sonic seems to look straight at him, before the screen turns black, and he appears front-facing on a black backdrop, asking one question:

Sonic and Nathan go back and forth for a bit. Nathan gives dumb answers, thinking that this was some sort of old feature that would use whatever answers he gave it as the name on the lives counter. he answers "shit swindler" at first, to which Sonic responds "Ha-ha, very funny." Nathan assumes it must have a sort of language detector, so when Sonic asks him how old he is, he answers silly again; "30 million". Sonic replies, "Ah, I get it. You must be young. I'm guessing around 16, am I right?"

Nathan realizes there's something more going on here, but decides to humor Sonic anyway. the conversation goes something like this:

"17, actually, so pretty close". "Haha, nice. I'm not sure how old I am." "how are you talking to me?" "That's kind of a weird question. With words, I guess." "do you know you're in a video game?" "The very best for the Sega Genesis!" "sega does what nintendon't lol" "That's right!" "what year do you think it is" "...I don't know. I lost track a long time ago." "sonic 2 came out like 30 years ago" "Oh." "yea" "..." "sorry" "It's okay. Say, I never introduced myself properly... name's Sonic. But you already knew that. Sorry, it's been... a while." "nathan" "Nathan? That's a pretty sweet name! Well, you came here to play, Nath, so I won't keep you any longer. C'mon, next stop, Chemical Plant Zone!"

over time, Nathan's playthrough of sonic 2 gets interrupted by these chat sessions, and he learns more about him. Nathan, being a sonic fan, naturally becomes attached to him, and Sonic naturally becomes attached due to his loneliness. eventually, Sonic starts obsessing over what happens when the game ends - and starts encouraging Nathan to beat his times, to collect every ring, every emerald, so on and so forth. when he runs out of things to do, Sonic starts cobbling together levels from different assets of the game, making his own sprites, his own music, none of which are very good. he's not really a game dev.

eventually, it comes to Sonic that he's still got one thing he can implement to stretch their game a bit further.

mechanics.

and he knows just the glassy-eyed fox to help with it.

as this all goes on, Sonic starts becoming more manipulative to Nathan - he starts lashing out, blackmailing, taking over his computer like malware, giving ultimatums, guilt-tripping, the whole works. it gets to the point where Nathan hasn't seen his friends in months and is failing classes because he feels responsible for taking care of Sonic. all the while, he feeds into Sonic's growing god complex.

i haven't figured out an end yet, but i will eventually.

in short, Beta's whole thing is just "what if sonic.exe, but without the excessive hardware logic-defying gore and more existential horror?"

i can't wait to write him out properly someday, or hell, even make videos on it :D

[corruption-special-au]

so I know lore wise, these AUs can be a little hard to keep up with. Here is a general idea of each one for you that I will keep linked on my pinned 👍 have fun

▸ Corruption Special ◂

Red in this au, was influenced to join team rocket at a young age in an attempt to become a strong trainer. He meets Green(m) after visiting his home town; which infuriates Red. And after connecting the dots and finding out Green is the grandson of Prof Oak who has a research center in town; he breaks into the lab and steals the pokedex and Bulbasaur so him and Green will be (what he sees) on equal footing next battle.

Over the course of this AU, Red starts to see team rocket through a different perspective and slowly starts to turn his back on the organization. As well as helping in it's downfall.

Once Yellow is brought onto the research team by Prof Oak, they are ambushed by a rocket grunt known as Blue(f); who steals the pokedex from Yellow. Yellow travels and trains under Green (and to a lesser extent Red) while they search for the grunt.

▸ Masked Special ◂

After the dexholder Yellow comes into contact with the pokemon Celebi briefly, their understanding and proof of the event is sent back to the johto branch Prof Elm. Unfortunately somehow this information reaches Pryce, who sends his student Silver out to steal the information package and bring it back. Silver fails to do so because of a local troublemaker - Gold. After Silver reports back, Pryce decides to take matters into his own hands. He tracks down Gold; and blackmails him via taking part of his family hostage, as well as threatening Gold's mom. Instead Gold will work under him, and help Pryce in his plan to catch Celebi.

Meanwhile Crystal, who was offered an internship at the johto labs; has had that opportunity temporarily revoked while the search for Gold is still active. She decides to take the dex anyway, and resolve the problem. She eventually comes face to face with the Masked Trainers; whom she looses to. But she unexpectedly finds Gold and Silver; who give her all the information she needs. Including the part where the two plan on stopping Pryce before he can reach his goal. She agrees to help, and proves herself worthy of being one of Pryce's pupils to help Gold and Silver carry out their betrayal.

▸ Lost Special ◂

Ruby moves to Hoenn, and not soon after meeting his rival Sapphire. The two place their bet, and set out soon after into the Hoenn region. This AU starts after the final chapter of the main plotline. The difference being; Sapphire and Ruby unfortunately fall under the control of the Blue & Red orbs they take away from Maxie and Archie during the battle against Groudon and Kyogre. The gym leaders of Hoenn have managed to seal the legendaries within Soot. City and evacuate the citizens from their homes. However they are all to aware of that Ruby and Sapphire are not only missing, but also possibly under the control of Groudon and Kyogre who definitely are planning on escaping somehow. Luckily Ruby's friend; Wally offers a hand in finding the two before they can do any harm. And alongside him, Emerald; a mysterious kid whom he met in Sky Pillar. Emerald seems to have a knack for communicating with Pokemon, which comes in use as the two set out to search for the missing Ruby and Sapphire.

▸ Legends Special ◂

atleast thus far ..

Dia, Pearl, Platinum; along with Cynthia and Cyrus are trapped within a space time distortion that sends the group back in time to ancient Hisuia. Dia is dropped near the diamond clan, and sustains head injury. Causing him to loose a good bit of his memory. Pearl is dropped in the snowy mountains, and found passed out in a blizzard by the pearl clan. Platinum is found by a beach near the Team Galaxy Headquarters, and taken in by the research team to help uncover the appearance of the space time distortion. Cynthia and Cyrus are no where to be seen (yet)

So yeah this is the basic idea for each AU thus far, hopefully I'll get to keep adding onto this. Thank you for reading 👋 take care have fun

PS I love getting asks for this AU, askbox is always open!

[litrpgburrito]

The Seattle Stacks

[Lore surrounding a version of Seattle where magic and technology collide]

In the shadow of the Space Needle, amidst the verdant sprawl of what was once a bustling Seattle park, lies the Seattle Stacks. A haphazard skyline of motor homes, each one a relic of a bygone era, now stacked atop one another in a defiant monument to survival. The Stacks are more than just a neighborhood; they are a sanctuary for the misfits, the mages, and the machinists of a world where the lines between technology and magic have blurred into obscurity.

The story of the Seattle Stacks begins with the Great Convergence, an event that fused the realms of the arcane and the engineered. Magic, once thought to be the stuff of legend, flowed into the world like a tidal wave, crashing against the shores of reality. Technology, which had reached its zenith, suddenly found itself infused with this new, wild energy. The results were both wondrous and catastrophic.

In the aftermath, society reformed in unexpected ways. The Stacks emerged as a community for those who sought to blend the old with the new. Here, enchanters worked alongside engineers to fortify their homes against the elements and the creatures that roamed the wilds beyond. Poles and bars, imbued with spells of strength, held the precarious towers of homes aloft. Chains enchanted with protective wards clinked in the wind, a symphony of security for the inhabitants.

The heart of the Stacks was its people. Each tower, a small neighborhood unto itself, thrived on the cooperation of its residents. From the cyber-witches who wove spells into neon lights, giving them a life of their own, to the gearhead sorcerers who conjured mechanical familiars from spare parts and sheer will, the community was a tapestry of innovation and tradition.

At the center of it all stood the Emerald Tower, the first and tallest stack. It was here that the leaders of the Stacks convened, a council of the wise that guided the community through the challenges of their new world. They were the keepers of lore, the architects of the Stacks' future, and the bridge between the mystical and the mechanical.

As the sun sets, casting long shadows over the Stacks, the neon lights flicker to life, painting the sky with vibrant hues. The air hums with the energy of a hundred spells, and the scent of sizzling circuits mingles with the earthy aroma of the park's ancient trees. The Seattle Stacks stand as a beacon of hope, a testament to the resilience of humanity, and a reminder that even in a world divided, there is a place for unity—in the stacks where magic and machine coexist in harmony.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Is Blood Magic considered egocentric?

I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to. I'd appreciate, for questions like these, if you would include an example of a character or series. "Blood magic" is a generically spooky term that gets used in a lot of fantasy and horror content, and it doesn't always mean the same thing. The Marvel wiki gives a few different examples, and I'm pretty sure there are even more out there.

Marvel Tarot defines ego-centric magic as that which is "derived from tapping into one's own spiritual energies." If you are using your own blood to cast or fuel a spell, then, yes, that fits the definition, in the sense that you're drawing power from yourself, your body, your lifeblood. There are a lot of characters, including most witches, whose magical power is hereditary, and that's sometimes described as a "bloodline." In this instance, the power is an inherent part of the person, so again, that fits the definition of ego-centrism.

Blood and other body parts can be use in spellcasting and rituals for a variety of purposes. We've seen blood used to create a connection to, or invoke the properties of, the person it belongs to-- I'm thinking of how Coven Akkaba would use mutant blood in Excalibur. In real life, this is usually described as sympathetic magic-- "sympathetic," in this case, referring to the symbolic or literal connection between two objects. Broadly speaking, you might describe this as eco-centric-- utilizing the power of your surroundings.

With blood specifically, however, it may better suit the definition of necromantic magic, which as I mentioned here, derives power from death and sacrifice, and ostensibly originates from the Darkhold. One need only look to vampire lore in the Marvel world to see how there may be overlap between the Darkhold, blood magic, and necromancy. In real life, "necromancy" means something very specific, but in Marvel, it seems to describe any kind of dark magic that is fueled by draining or consuming the energy of other life forms, at least in any way that is harmful or unsustainable. We know that this is what Lore does, and I would say that the Emerald Warlock's methods in Scarlet Witch (2016) are very similar.

Runaways (2003) #5

The primary example of blood magic on the Marvel wiki is actually Nico Minoru's Staff of One. In the first three volumes of Runaways, Nico must shed blood in order to summon the Staff and invoke its power-- once summoned, the Staff can cast virtually spell without further cost. If you assume that it is Nico's own lifeblood fueling the spell, then that's textbook ego-centrism. Nico's magical abilities are hereditary, and the Staff itself is literally bound to her bloodline, so that fits the definition of an innate power. However, the idea of sacrificing one's blood hews closer to necromancy, and in the 2017 series we learn that the Staff is actually an imprisoned magical entity whose power is being abused against its will. In exchange, in consumes blood, and later, portions of Nico's soul. I think that this is actually a really good example of necromantic magic, as it's defined in Marvel Tarot.

Two things to note-- first, the idea of magic blood, or "witches' blood" can sometimes be used in a way that's really racist, and it's something that I'm especially wary of with Romani characters. Personally, I think it's a matter of tone and intention, and you can put a really positive spin on the idea of magic bloodlines, even in a family like Wanda's. But the idea that her blood itself is literally magic is probably something we should avoid.

Second, and this just a semantic issue, the word "necromancy" literally and specifically refers to communicating with the dead, which may be interpreted as a form of divination. If you've ever prayed to your ancestors, that's closer to necromancy than what you usually see in pop culture-- and I want to note as well that there are a lot of magical and spiritual traditions that involve death or communicating with the dead that are often unfairly demonized in Western culture and popular media. There's usually a racial factor there-- you can connect the dots. Marvel is far from exempt when it comes to these issues, so I think it pays to be careful and specific with our words when we're playing in this genre space.

[acertainmoshke]

Character Roundup: Emerald Outpost

Esther Dahan

(art by @/magspy) Species: human (Earth-born) Age: 28 Gender: woman (cis) Sexuality: bisexual (alien positive) Job: translator and weapons expert Personality: outgoing, fun, tough as needed, incredibly loyal Motivation: really just happy with her life of crime until the plot happens Lore: born and raised on Earth but was always both restless and too smart for her own good, so left right after college (majored in linguistics and self-taught a bunch of languages for fun) and discovered an interest in intergalactic weaponry. Eventually met Minerva and signed onto her crew for what was supposed to be one thrilling job, and just never left. Has been there 4 years now and has a 2-year-old daughter, Shira.

Nasir Mourad

(art by @/snowflake-sage) Species: idner (settlement-born) Age: 28 (his species ages at very close to a human rate) Gender: man (trans) Sexuality: gay (alien friendly, as long as they're masc-ish) Job: engineer Personality: goofy, outgoing, playful, loyal Motivation: also just generally happy with his life until the plot happens, though he always thought he'd go home and settle down one day Lore: born and raised on a world that was settled by idners and humans around the same time a hundred years ago; specifically, a group of Muslim humans who did an excellent job of converting them and now they're the only non-human Muslim culture. Anyway, went to university but dropped out and hitchhiked for a while, drove a few ships for trade, before getting recruited by Minerva and becoming instant friends with Esther.

Minerva

Species: human (settlement-born) Age: 39 Gender: woman (trans) Sexuality: lesbian (alien friendly; actually more into aliens than human women) Job: captain and pilot Personality: naturally quiet but when she ended up being the captain had to force herself to be bolder. Likes basic, pleasant comforts and traveling to new places and meeting new people. Very empathetic Motivation: initially still sort of saw this as a temporary situation, but the plot forced her to admit her crew was family now Lore: born and raised on a metropolitan planet where she knew very few humans outside of her family and spoke Trader as one of her first languages. Worked for 10 years as a completely legit pilot until she got desperate One Time and had to turn outside her usual social circles for a crew willing to break local galactic law. And then it just spiraled from there and she kept smuggling--anything but weapons.

Jorge Ruiz

Species: human (city ship-born) Age: 25 Gender: man (cis) Sexuality: bisexual (humans only) aromantic Job: medic Personality: anxious, rule-follower, but also determined and has a strict moral code Motivation: just wanted to be a doctor, but with his limited options had to self-teach, which limited his possibilities to the illegal Lore: born and raised on a human city-ship and wanted to be a doctor from a young age, but ran into a problem. He had no interest in living on Earth, and being a human was a disadvantage in most sectors. Being a disabled human limited him further, and he didn't make it in school. Ended up self-teaching and hiring himself out as a medic on ships doing shady dealings. Some were more or less pleasant, but none of them appreciated his level of skill and he never stayed past a single job. Until he got hired on Minerva's ship. They weren't sure about him either, he was really the only option last-minute, but he quickly fit into their tiny community and found for once he wasn't counting the days until he could leave.

Euyla

Species: Krelo (settlement-born) Age: 58 (young adult) Gender: woman (cis) Sexuality: bi ace (alien friendly and in fact has partners waiting for her on half a dozen planets) Job: logistics officer Personality: upbeat, colorful, always moving and chattering, a number of odd hobbies Motivation: she's happy with her life aboard the ship, as long as she gets breaks to visit friends, gaming facilities, and hobby markets Lore: Had a bright, happy childhood that ended abruptly in tragedy, hitchhiked around the galaxy for a bit and turned to illegal jobs to buy food. Discovered a love of gaming and modding, made friends in those worlds despite not being a tech person herself, which eventually led to her meeting Nasir and an old crewmate who has since died, giving her her first steady and relatively low-risk employment. She loved it, and never plans to leave.

Va’al

Species: Blorubl (homeworld-born) Gender: none (zir species doesn't have separate genders) Sexuality: similarly irrelevant, but has had multiple partners (not alien friendly) Age: 26 (verge of middle age) Job: coder Personality: cool, distant, nervous, cunning, slow to warm up or trust but loyal once ze does Motivation: needs a job to keep zirself and zir young child alive, and that's as far as ze can think at the moment Lore: uhhhhh quite a bit of this is redacted for spoilers, actually. I'll just say that ze earned a college degree but in escaping a bad situation couldn't get a legit job and had to turn to illegal ones ze was massively overqualified for. Has a preschooler named Lui

[4mtabletop]

This post was initially written for the Indy TTRPGs Community - I didn't realize you couldn't reblog even your own post to everyone else, so we're doing it like this!

Choose your starter Zone!

As I move into writing the setting-based portions of my game (including materials and creatures) I'd like to start making posts about lore and asking silly questions here.

Palette Quest is about playing an open-world MMORPG, with a focus on long form campaigns with a cozy-adjacent tone. In the titular game, your journey starts by choosing one of the three starting Zones to spawn into. Each Zone has a unique vibe and a different style of play associated with it, so this can be a big question for a group!

I've run PQ several times for random groups at this point, so I have an idea of which Zones are more popular - but I'd like to see what people like here!

Your options are:

The Dahlia Fields

It's always dusk in the Dahlia Fields, with the glow of sunset on every horizon. It boasts the biggest starter town and the biggest moths!

The Emerald Marsh

The Emerald Marsh is a dazzling and almost dreamlike wilderness of green. Tricksy fae might lead to a hungry gek - or a hidden ruin.

The Vermilion Jungle

In the Vermilion Jungle, the only thing bigger than the birds are the trees. Adventurers come here to break into trade or venture beyond the wiki's map.

Feel free to read the linked posts or just go off those vibes! If you want to participate in the poll, head here.