#maritime lore

[ipomoea-batatas]

I absolutely want to hear about the extremely cursed lighthouse 👀

YEAH BABEYYYYY CURSED LIGHTHOUSE HERE WE GOOO

Ok so this lighthouse is called Minot's Ledge Light. Here it is today.

You may notice that unlike most other lighthouses, it's in the MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN.

It's about a mile or so out from the shore, southeast of Boston Harbor (off the coast of what’s called the South Shore) and it's built into a rock ledge that's just under the water (Minot’s Ledge, after which it’s named. “Minot” was a merchant who lost a very valuable shipment there. Seems kinda fuckin rude to name the ledge after him but whatever).

This ledge, and other rocky ledges nearby, made the area SUPER dangerous before the lighthouse was built. FORTY ships were lost there in less than a decade in the 19th century.

Oh, and folks of an ~age~ might recognize this lighthouse from this famous photo from the blizzard of '78:

Just to give you an idea of what the weather conditions can be like in the area. (Is this foreshadowing? PROBABLY)

Anyway, building a lighthouse here was obviously high priority. There was a bit of an exposé on the negligence of the Lighthouse Establishment (the gov. dept that was in charge of lighthouses at the time), and the construction of Minot’s Ledge was part of a push to show that the department was taking things more seriously.

As the lighthouse needed to be built ON the ledge, some cutting-edge, never-before-seen lighthouse design was in order. (More foreshadowing?? MAYBE???)

Isn’t it cute??

(If you notice that it looks nothing like the modern-day lighthouse above...no you don’t. Don’t ruin the story for the rest of the class)

The problem is, Minot’s Ledge itself is only exposed for a few hours at low tide, which obviously presented some problems. No one died building it, but all the equipment was washed away once, and people ALMOST died when they were swept away by currents.

It took years to finish because of the tricky conditions. It was finally finished and lighted on New Year’s in 1850.

It was obvious right away that this design was...not it. The lighthouse would sway violently in rough conditions. (One of the keepers told Henry David Thoreau that bad winds would literally rock their plates off the table.)

The first keeper wrote to the government reporting unsafe conditions, but was ignored. He resigned in October of that year.

The new keeper and his two assistants also reported dangerous conditions. Storms kept weakening the braces, and the structure had to be repaired often. However, every time the authorities came out to inspect the lighthouse it was ALWAYS a calm day, and they were like “idk seems fine?” And continued to ignore safety concerns.

In April of 1851, a storm had kicked up. The keeper had gone to the mainland to restock, but he didn’t make it back before the storm started in earnest. The two assistant lighthouse keepers were left at the light.

This was a BAD storm—nearly a hurricane—that went on for a week. By the fifth day, it looked bleak enough that the assistant keepers released a message in a bottle with their last words.

On day six, the legs of the structure began to fail one at a time. When there were only three legs left, the keepers began to ring the alarm bell continuously for as long as the lighthouse still stood.

By morning, it was completely lost to the ocean.

The two lighthouse keepers’ bodies were later recovered—one had washed ashore nearby, and the other was found on a nearby island a few hundred feet from the mainland. The latter keeper HADN’T died of drowning—he survived and managed to swim to the island, thinking he’d made it to the mainland, only to die of exhaustion and exposure.

Their message in a bottle was found two days later on the North Shore of Boston Harbor. It read: “The beacon cannot last any longer. She is shaking a good three feet each way as I write. God bless you all.”

Here are the ghosty bits:

1) People still say you can hear the bell ringing during bad storms. Once the lighthouse was rebuilt (properly, out of stone this time, which took YEARS—they had to start over at least once when a ship crashed into the structure and took the whole thing out), apparently they had a hard time getting keepers to stay on. They reported hearing the fog bell ringing at odd times, and ghostly figures in the lantern room. Most didn’t make it a year.

2) The lighthouse was automated pretty much as soon as the technology was available, removing the need for lighthouse keepers to live there. But passing ships still reported seeing a man hanging off the side, calling out.

Most people reported that the figure couldn’t be understood, but one Portuguese sailor said that the man was yelling for help in Portuguese. Sure enough, one of the two assistant keepers who perished in the tragedy was Portuguese.

So that’s the story of the cute little “I Love You” lighthouse and the horrible shit that happened there. Sources: This article

This one too

And obviously, Wikipedia. What am I, the pope

[ghostvalley2]

Axel my best friend axel how r u?

hi Selm!!! I’m ok! I’m about to pack up my dinner for tomorrow then head to bed because I have to be up stupid early for my shift which is. checks notes. fifteen hours long, yikes. friend lend me some sonic games for my DS so i’m gonna play some while i wind down yay yay yay

how are you!?

[zahroreadsthings]

Museum trip...

Check notes for previous instalments

You follow a sign pointing to a maritime museum and after a short walk enter a squat building sitting at the edge of the town.

A grinning young man walks up to you. 'Good afternoon! Welcome to the Wreck Reef Maritime Museum. You're not from around here, are you? We so rarely get newcomers - gosh, this is exciting. Would you like a tour?'

You barely have time to nod before he walks into another room.

'You would have noticed some nasty reefs and cliffs if you've been by the coast. This place has seen a lot of wrecks and was settled by shipwreck survivors centuries ago! They lost a lot, but here are some things they were able to save...' He shows you a watch, a compass, a chest, the remains of a mast, and quickly rattles off brief histories for each of them. You follow silently. You also grew up by the coast but the waters are much calmer in the south and you haven't seen many wrecks.

The guide then shows you tools used by the area's first coast and weather witches. There's a set of bowls, a small case, a fan, some shells, and more items you don't recognise. Your dagger warms as you approach.

'They're not much different from the tools our witches use today. Some people think they're scary but by all accounts we've had barely any wrecks or drownings because of them.'

'I came here to start as the weather witch's apprentice but all I've heard of her is her bad mood.'

‘Oh! You’re the new apprentice? Well… yes, she can be a bit prickly,' he says diplomatically. 'Her head hurts a lot.'

He continues talking you through the museum, then leaves you to browse on your own.

[dr-sciencemachine]

Beware the red sky at morning, sailor, for the Sun is freedom yet the Sea is confined.

And may Davy Jones take your tainted soul, should their Will you ever defy.

[james-is-here]

I have a different idea that’s not hunger games themed

The idea is a pirate captain hongjoong x male siren reader

Hongjoong is a pirate captain who captures the reader and steals his siren song so now the reader is mute. Years later the reader is cast out by his brothers and sisters and forced to live as a mute human. He works in a tavern as a waiter and hongjoong and his crew walk into the bar. Reader recognizes him and doesn’t wanna serve him but his boss makes him so he does

He brings the crew the drinks and hongjoong starts flirting with him and realizes he’s mute. I don’t have many ideas from here sorry but I think it’s a good story. I want them to have a happy ending but I also want some angst in there if that’s alright? I hope you like it :3

-🖤

(Notes at the end)

On the edge of Eldoria sea is a cove known by all as Siren's Lament.

In the annals of maritime lore, tales echo of gallant fleets embarking on perilous quests in search of the elusive cove, a whispered secret among sailors and adventurers alike. From bustling ports, ships set sail, their journey fraught with danger. Yet, upon their return, only a scant few brave the tumultuous seas back, bearing witness to the trials endured.

Their ships, battered and worn, tell stories of unseen perils lurking beneath the waves, of storms that rage with vengeful fury, and of whispers beckoning towards oblivion. Each voyage to this treacherous cove is a gamble, a dance with destiny where discovery may exact a price steeped in sacrifice and blood.

On of these many fleets was that of Captain Kim many years ago, his ship on the brink of sinking with temporary repairs in place, the hold of his ship partially flooded. The crew was battered and bruised, disheartened at the failed journey and their losses, including that of Captain Kim. His second hand returned to his family with his Captain's hat in his hand, a locket, and a sullen expression. The wife cried as the son gently took the hat and locket the second hand passed to him, saying that his dad passed with honor and dignity and he wouldn't want anyone else as his captain.

Before leaving, the second hand left with one more word. "Kid, when ye older, if you avenge yeh father 'e said to find the one whid black scales. That the one that lured 'im to 'is death." He points at the locket in the boys hand. "That is the Locket of Luring Silence."

The locket is a delicate item adorned with intricate carvings and inset with a shimmering gemstones and pearls that pulses with inner light. When opened, it emits a soft, hypnotic glow that lures the Siren's song into its heart, sealing it away from the world.

"What does it do?" The boy asks. "Can steal a song strai't from a Sirens throat." "Why would I do that?" Kneeling down, the second hand places a hand on the boys shoulder. "Kid, Sirens are heartless, selfish beasts, luring unsuspectin' souls to their wa'ery graves whid beguiling songs. They haunt their cursed coves, carin' not for gold nor glory, only for the mis'ry they sow with each hauntin' note." He takes the hat and places it on the boys head.

"Do yeh father proud, Hongjoong, yeah?" The boy nods, determination on his face.

"I will."

Years later, the young Captain Kim now had his own crew and his father's ship was repaired, he even had some of his father's crewmates on board.

At the Sirens Lament, within the ring of rocks, a few Sirens swim around in the sunlight, a few older guppies laughing and splashing their friends and a few parents float about with their younger guppies.

Other Sirens sit on rocks that breech the waters surface, on one of them lays an older male Siren with a younger girl. The girls scales travel up the sides of her waist and she wears the remnants of what use to be the sails of a ship covering her chest as her scales have yet cover her chest.

"Come on, has anybody ever been curious on what's out there? I bet it's fascinating." The male next to her groans as the girl pushes on his chest with enthusiasm, flicker her with his tail before rolling onto his front. "I bet it's terrible. Callista, You know the type of people that come from out there." "I know but am I the only one that can't help but wonder?" "Yes. The rest of us rather not think about what's out there and enjoy our life here." The girl groans and flops on the males back, her tail flipping up out of the water and splashing them.

"Mn, you're not a very fun brother." "Go to Nereus, see what nonsense he's getting into." "But you're the fun brother." Pushing up and tilting to the left he shoves the girl off, she yelps when he falls into the water. "You just said I was no fun, how does that make sense." She was going to retort when your mother called out. "Callista! Stop bothering your brother and help me corral the guppies!" "Mn is older, why can't he do it!" "Because I called for you, not Mn." "Aw, Mom."

Diving into the water with a whine and swimming away, Mn laughs as he settles on his rock, kicking up his tail and dropping it into the water, listening to it splash in the water and the others swimming around. He had all his developments, his scales were up his sides, over his collar bones and to the back of his neck. From there they travel over his shoulders and down his arms to his hands which are webbed. He had extra fins above his hips and wrapped around his waist were strings with different trinkets attached. His scales colored black with sprinkles of white and silver grey.

Laying his head down on his arms, he looks out past the rocks near him before sitting up and noticing something that is way too closer for comfort. How had nobody noticed sooner. "Pirates!" Everyone turns at his yell, watching him dive off his rock and the ship behind him.

Everyone stops what they're doing and dives off their rock or starting to head towards the depths of the cove. Mn and a couple other older Sirens got into place to trick the pirates should they enter the actual cove.

That's just what these pirates do.

Mn's mother looks to her son with a worried gaze and Mn catches it heading to his spot. "Mama, what's wrong?" "Just be careful." Her silver hand cups her son's face and brings his head down to kiss his forehead. "I will, Mama. I promise." He kisses her forehead in return before giving her a smile and swimming off. She watched him swim off, she knows he'll be safe but protecting the cove was how her husband was taken from them.

Three men in a row boat enter the cove and stop in the center, they were the firsts to enter with a boat instead of their whole ship. "Are you sure this is the right cove?" The one rowing asks as he stops and looks around, catching a few odd shapes lurking just under the waters surface.

"What other cove is known to be at the edge of Eldoria?" The other one asks. "Would both of you be quiet?" Finally the last one scolds both of them. "Sorry, Captain." They both say, lowering their heads when he stands up carefully and looks around.

Wearing thick black boots, white pants, a belt with his sword attached, a baggy red shirt and a long black coat was the younger Captain Kim, hat snug on his head and the Locket of Luring Silence hanging off his belt.

"Hey, what's that?" The one rowing says, turning towards a few lurking Sirens behind a rock that have started their song. "It's so...pretty." The Siren, salmon colored scales, bravely swims up the boat, her song being the most alluring to the male and she smiles up at him, reaching out to the dazed male and he takes her hand. "Thomas, No!" Captain Kim yelled out but the Siren smirks and pulls Thomas overboard and into the water.

"Shit, they're already hunting." "Captain?" "Just ignore them, they're just stupid fish, okay?" He grabs the net at the bottom of the boat. "Now, help me get this ready." When the other didn't respond or help him, he looked up. His other crew was over the edge, a blue Siren male was under the water and he was reaching out. "Charles-!" He reached out to him when he stopped, one voice among the song catching his attention.

Looking towards the voice, he saw a Siren behind a rock who slowly made his way to the boat like the others. "Captain-" The other crew yelled out and Hongjoong turns to see the blue Siren take him away and into the depths.

He turns around, the Siren still there and Mn has no time to react before the net Hongjoong was untangling was suddenly thrown over him. He tried to swim away but that just made the net wrap around his body more and Hongjoong held the net closed, hoisting him up onto the boat with a little struggle.

Mn squirmed trying to get out of the net but the other stepped on his neck, the Captain holding him still as he pulled out his sword and held it to the Sirens face and Mn stops struggling.

Hongjoong breaths heavily from the struggle, eyes scanning over the scales and scowls down at him when Mn's black scales shine back at him in the sunlight. "It's you. You're the Siren with black scales that lured my dad to his death." "W-What? W-Wait, n-no, please!" "Oh, it speaks." "I-I'm not who k-killed your dad." "I was told a Siren with black scales lured my dad to his death." "I-I have m-my dads s-scales, p-please d-don't h-hurt me, please."

"What if I do, huh?" "I-I c-can't leave my mom alone. I-I t-took my fathers p-place in the family, I-I can't leave them." "Fine." He pulls back his sword and steps off his throat. "Can I hear your song one last time?" He asks as he untangles the net and Mn dives back into the water.

"Why would I do that, pirate?" He shrugs. "It was nice." Mn opened his mouth, his song meeting Hongjoong's ears and Mn misses him reaching to his belt and pulling the locket from it.

Hongjoong smirks, opening the locket and holding it near Mn. His eyes widen and he wanted to stop and swim away but its as if the locket kept him frozen. Mn winces, his throat burning as it felt like his voice was physically being torn from his larynx.

The locket closed by itself when it had his voice and Mn's hand shoots up to his neck, jaw dropped partially as he stares up at the Captain in shock and worry.

"I'll let you live but," He then holds up the locket and waves it tauntingly. "I'm take this." Mn reaches out for it but Hongjoong pulls it back, laughing at Mn as he took the oars and started rowing back to his ship.

When out of the cove, Mn still remained where his was and his mother swam up to him and looked him over. "Mn, are you okay?" She cradles his face, making him look at her worried gaze. He went to answer but nothing came out. His eyes widen, hand wrapped around his neck and scratching at it as if to bring his voice back. "Did...Did that pirate steal your voice?"

Mn nods, scratching at his neck and his mother takes his hands away so he doesn't hurt himself. "It's okay. It'll be alright, Mn, okay?" Mn starts crying, his arms moving to wrap around his mother and she does the same. "Oh, Mn..." "Mom, will Mn be okay?" She removes an arm from Mn and wraps it around Callista. "I hope..." She whispers into the girls hair and kisses the tops of their heads as her other kids join them.

The power of a Siren resides wholly within their voice, a symphony of enchantment that binds them to the depths of the ocean. Without the melodic gift, they are but a shadow of their former self, bereft of the captivating allure that defines their existence. Stripped of thier voice, a Siren becomes vulnerable, their once-potent magic reduced to whispers on the wind. No longer able to command the currents or entrance the hearts of mortals, they drifts aimlessly, a solitary figure adrift in a sea of silence, longing for the song that once defined her.

For a Siren, to lose their voice is to lose their very essence and they begin a gradual transformation into a mortal being. As their abilities wane, they become vulnerable to the dangers of the human realm, disconnected from the ocean's depths that once sustained them, gave them life. It falls upon the cove's inhabitants, fellow Sirens, to decide their fate. They must choose between aiding them in their transition to mortality, offering guidance and protection as they adapt to their new reality, or casting them out to fend for themself among humanity. The Siren, stripped of their allure and defenseless, also holds the option to depart voluntarily, seeking solitude to safeguard themself from the perils that now threaten their existence.

Only a few months later, you sat at the shore deep within the cave of the cove. You still had your tail, glimmering with grey scales and only a grey black ones spotted around.

You've been silently watching the tied roll over your tail, tears falling down your face as you've come to terms with your fate. You've heard every murmur from other families and your siblings have started to avoid you. 'Why be around someone that can't speak?' Callista, who was once your best friend, now avoids you and goes elsewhere.

You're no longer seen as the family leader, that's been given to Nereus and you didn't even get to decide that. Nereus has even started to ignore you and boasts about being the family leader and making dad proud unlike 'the mermaid who couldn't take down a pirate.' You were even called a mermaid. 'You don't have a voice so why should you be called a siren.' some of the other sirens said either to your mother or to your face.

"Mn? Son?" You look up when your mother joined you on the shore, placing a hand on the side of your face and you lean into her touch. She then picks up your hand, looking over your arm which started showing more skin as the scales disappear.

Picking a loose scale off your arm, she rubs it between her fingers, sighing deeply as she leaned onto your shoulder. "Mn, You..." She holds your hand tighter. "I don't want to...but the others are talking about...sending you away." Your hand briefly tightens in her hold. "I know, Mn, I know. I'm sorry...but you know it's your choice. If you stay, I will help you no matter what but you are such a bright spirit and I'm so proud you're my son and I'm simply suggesting that you'll be better on land."

She lifts her head off your shoulder to see your reaction before reaching up with a gasp and wiping your tears. "Oh, My son, I know. I'm sorry this has happened to you but know that I'm so proud of you and your father would be so proud of you as well. You're so brave, so strong, so perfect and I wish I never had to do this to you, that this didn't happen to you."

Your shoulders jolt with a silent sob and your mother takes you into her arms. "The choice is yours, but while you still have your gills and tail you should leave now..." She pulls away and cradles your face. "Just to get as far as possible before it's too late..."

Hesitantly, you nod your head, kissing your mother forehead before moving your hand to your arm and pulling out a few more scales, a mix of black white a grey and place them in her hand before pointing towards the hand made necklace your mom made for all her children, a few of her scales attached to one another in a small diamond surrounded by one scale from each of her children. Your siblings ripped your scale off their necklaces the moment Nereus was made the family leader.

"Oh, Mn..." You tap your temple then point to yourself and your mother smiles. "My dearest eldest son, I'll always remember you." Pointing to your heart then to her, you hug her one last time. "Oh...I love you, too, Mn. Be safe, okay? Don't worry about us, just..."

She pulls back one final time and cups your cheek, kissing your forehead and smiling weakly. "Just be yourself." Nodding, you lean into her touch one last time and go to swim away when you heard splashing and quiet yelling.

"Kids, come here." Your mother calls out and your brothers and sister come closer to the shore. "I understand you have all resented Mn but at least say goodbye?" Callista was the first to come up next to you, followed by Nereus, Luna, and a very hesitant Lirian.

You open your mouth, no sound coming out as you mouth to them that you're sorry. "I guess...we've been unreasonable. You didn't loose your voice on purpose, that pirate took it." Nereus spoke up first.

"Mn doesn't want to leave...but he's doing it for his own safety." You nod at your mother's words. Your siblings look at each other before your sisters are at your sides and Nereus is moving behind you to hug you all at once, causing you to let out a silent sob as you hug them back the best you could.

They let go and you look at them all one last time with a small smile then to your mother before moving further off the shore and into the water. "Be safe, Mn!" Luna calls out and you turn, waving goodbye one last time before they watch you dive under water and swim away.

"Get up!" I gruff, raspy voice calls as a hand slaps the back of your head and you jolt up. "Customers are arriving, get out there." You glare at the back of the tavern owner as you rub the back of your head and get up.

It's been three years now since all your powers were gone. You were found floating in the ocean by a fisherman who took you in and helped you, he was really nice when he realized you couldn't speak or walk, super patient with you and caring.

His brother on the other hand...

He own a tavern, the most popular one on shore and if it wasn't for the fisherman and the care he has for you as if your his son, you wouldn't have your job.

The fisherman had to go on his yearly outing to get more fish so you were stuck with his brother, a big oaf with a snaggle tooth, half his hair, and if you didn't know any better, you'd think he was apart of some pirate crew. (I was picturing a member of crew from Pirates of the Caribbean XD )

Exhaling sharply, you shift to the edge of your makeshift bed, still rubbing the spot the tavern owner, Samuel, smacked before standing up and getting dressed.

You buckle a belt over your oversized shirt, slip on a pair of worn, brown pants, and a pair of black boots.

You trudge out of the back room and behind the bar, leaning on the top for a moment while you yawn, eyes closed before a hand slaps on the surface. "Oi, get to it!" Samuel bellows, glaring at you.

You yawn again before walking over to your first table of the day while Samuel wonders over to a table of woman who you can tell are way out of his league but he buys them mead and they keep coming back.

A little while later, five tables into your shift, loud, boisterous laughter and yelling fill the room and you look up from the tap you're at only to scowl and look away, back to the mug in your hand.

Placing the mug on the counter with the other two, you easily, albeit still a little shaky, grab the mugs with one hand and two bottles of mead in the other before going over to the table that ordered all the drinks.

You go back behind the bar, beginning to clean the cups there as you glance at the group that just walked in and has sat down. You really wish you weren't the only server in the particular moment.

"Oi, Sam! Can we get drinks over here!" Samuel looks up from the whor- lovely woman he's talking to, his smile falling as he looks at who yelled then scowled at you. "Boy, go get their order." You heavily drop your hands, the glass in your hand making a small thud on the countertop as you glare at Samuel, shaking your head. Samuel stands up, one hand on the table and the other pointing at you. "Er lucky my brother is attached to ye' or I'd kick ye' out. Go do yeh job!" He points at the crew and you huff, removing your towel glad hand from the mug and placing both down before stomping over to the table.

They all keep talking as you lean on a chair, waiting for someone to order. "He can't speak, by the way!" Samuel yells and they finally turn towards you, you're lucky there's only a few crew members here. Last you knew it had about twenty members.

With a tight lipped smile and an eye roll, you push off the chair your were leaning on and walk back to the bar. You had to make six beers and grab six meads, not the hardest task but you just really didn't want to serve them. "Oi, make that seven beers."

You look up and your annoyance and reluctance couldn't have gotten any higher. You were initially annoyed because you hated this group cause they were always loud and obnoxious, but with the new face in the group, the hat and the outfit he wore, and a familiar looking locket around his neck, now all you wanted to do was put down the mug in your hand and go punch him.

If looks could actually kill, Hongjoong's head would've been gone. With each fill, you're glaring at the side of his head. When you have six mugs, you carefully picked up the three mugs in each hand, taking them to the table. "You're missing a few things." His voice called out as you walked away and you turned back, showing your hands to indicate that you only have two hands.

You fill the last mug needed for the table then just grabbed a whole box of mead. You heavily place the mug down in front of Hongjoong then take six bottles out of the box before walking away and taking care of the box. As you attend to a patron at the bar, you hear a whistle and look over to see the captain flick two fingers for you to come over to the table.

You get the man at the bar his drink then go over to the table, offering a sarcastic smile to the male and cross your arms. "Oh, what's with the sour look, darling?" You scowl at the nickname and gesture with your hand for him to hurry up with what he wanted. "What? Don't want to talk to me? How can a cutie like you not want to talk with me?" Your eyes twitch as your glare hardens and you go to walk away, dropping your arms and wanting to get away from him but he grabs you wrist and pulls you into his lap, his right hand clasped around your right wrist and his left planting itself on your waist and squeezing, grip tight and fingers digging into you as you squirm to get off.

You didn't expect Hongjoong to be the type to flirt with guys but all you knew about him was the interaction from three years ago and the mutters you hear from other patrons. "Why you so quiet, handsome?" You turn to glare at him, leaning away from his tight hold on your waist. Your eyes flicker to the locket around his neck and your first instinct is to yank it off his neck, punch his face, then run away.

"Too stunned by my looks?" You look back up and glare, struggling in his hold but he just pulls you closer. "Come on, stop playing hard to get, just relax." You couldn't take it anymore, you reach out, yanking the locket and when Hongjoong let go of your wrist and his grip on your waist loosened, you stood up and punched him.

His crew stood up, pulling their swords out but Hongjoong recovered quickly, standing and grabbing your wrists. You struggle in his hold as he moves both your hands to one of his as he takes the locket back. You thrash in his hold, wanting the locket back but he smirks darkly and pockets it. "You're a feisty fella." Your mouth opens to complain but nothing comes out. "Oh, you really can't say anything."

Looking around, you see his crew still standing guard and Samuel's harsh stare is directed to you. You know you shouldn't have lashed out like that but you can't stand Hongjoong, you hate him for taking your voice, you hate him for ruining your life and the locket was right there, you couldn't stop yourself.

"Sammy, Mate, mind if I take him for a moment?" "Wha'ev'a. Just bring 'im back, yeh? He's the only server I got." "Will do. Boys, stay here."

Dragging you out of the building, you fight against his hold. "Stop moving." He yanks on your wrists, dragging you further and further from the tavern and over to a ramp. You stop walking, not really wanting to get on his ship but he yanks you up onto the ramp.

Once on the boat, you let's go of your wrists, throwing you onto the deck and you turn over, propping yourself up on your elbows as you glare at him angrily. "Put the pout away, fish." Your scowl falters as you look away then back up at him.

"Yeah, I recognize you. How are you here?" You glance to the pocket he put the locket in then back up to him. He takes it out, holding it up. "This? This turned you human?" You push yourself up, standing to be face to face, tapping your throat. "So taking your voice took away your tail? That's dumb." You slapped him, his head turning with the impacted and he holds the locket away when you try to grab it. "You are starting to get on my nerves."

Your eyes widen as you point to yourself. "Yes, You are annoying me." You throw your arms up. "How?" You nod. "You're very physical." Your hands rest on your hips as your glare returns. You really wish you could tell him all the words on your mind but even if he did give your voice back, you haven't used it in three years, how would you sound? Could you even speak if you did have it?

You point at the locket then at your neck. "Give it back?" You nod. "Mmm...no." You physically deflate and open your mouth to speak again but end up huffing when nothing comes out. You grew to enjoy not talking but in this particular moment that's all you want to do. How would he feel if he had to leave his family because his means of survival were taken away? How would he feel if he couldn't communicate like normal? How would he feel if he was in your position?

You went to slap him again but he caught your wrist again. "Stop that." You tilt your head towards the locket and stare at him with a desperate look. "I'm not falling for this look, you aren't getting it back. You took my father, I took your voice." You wanted to say you didn't, you were practically a guppy when his dad attacked your cove. You tap your neck again, giving up and pleading to the pirate to give your voice back. You need to actually talk to him, you need to speak, you need your voice.

"Y'know, without a voice, you're cute." Your desperate look turns into confusion as you back away and he finally lets go of your wrist. "What? Without your voice I can focus on your face." You hold up three fingers, point at your throat, then tap your temple.

"What?" You hold up three fingers, point at the locket, then tap his temple. "How would I remember your voice?" You nod. "I-" He finally went silent and looked away from you, causing you to look at him confused. "You can't tell my crew." You roll your eyes and gesture for him to continue. He takes the locket between his fingers and taps it on his palm. "Well, I- Uh...I listen to it..." He presses a button on the side and opens it slightly, your own voice meeting your ears. "And since I'm telling the truth, the reason I said what I said is because without your voice, I'm now focused on your looks and not just the pull of your voice."

Inhaling then exhaling, you place a hand on top of his and he looks up, he doesn't flinch the locket away, just letting you hold his hand. You tilt your head, moving your hand from his to tap the locket gently, then tap your throat again. "But I promised to avenge my father." You tilt your head, raising a brow. "What?" Nodding towards his hands you look back up at him.

"You'll just take your voice and swim back home." You shake your head. "How do I know you're telling the truth?" You point to yourself, your lips, then at him. He may have ruined your life but damn, you couldn't deny he was good looking.

"Why would you want to kiss me? You literally punched me when I was flirting with you earlier." You shrugged before raising your free hand to the lapel of his coat and pull him in until his lips connected to yours. You never thought your first kiss would be with a pirate, his lips were chapped but you two fit together so smoothly.

He leaned in closer and you felt his hand move and open the locket completely, lifting it until it was closer to your throat. The feeling was overwhelming, causing you to pull away and gasp, eyes opening wide as your hand leaves his and flys up to your throat while you look down at the now dark locket that once glowed with your voice.

Even with your voice now returned to you, you didn't know how to speak, didn't know what to say. You genuinely got comfortable with not speaking after so long. "Where's..." He starts and you look back up to realize he hadn't pulled back from you completely. "M-My..." Your voice is raspy and it kind of hurt as you rub your throat and attempt to clear your throat.

"Weird..." You mutter with a look of disgust and Hongjoong laughs softly. "W-What?" "The look on your face." "I-It...Is. Been...th-three...y-years." You rasp out quietly. "I thought if you got your voice back, you got everything back too.." You shake your head. "Been too...long...no more...magic." "Oh..."

"My D-Dad...t-took yours...i-isn't it e-enough...that you m-made...me...an o-outcast...of...my...f-family..." He hums with a sigh. "I guess." You go to slap his chest but once again, he catches your wrist. "Slapping isn't very nice, y'know?" "S-so i-is...t-taking my...voice..." "I regret what I did, you're too talkative now." You hum, tilting your head. "Th-Thought y-you l-liked my v-voice?" "I'm thinking about shutting you up again." "Th-Then do it."

He presses his lips to yours again, pulling a squeak out of you as you weren't expecting him to kiss you again. He pulled back with a laugh and you figured it was because of the noise you made so you take your hand away from his and slap his shoulder. "I-It's n-not f-funny." "Exactly, it was cute." You playfully shove him away and walk away, heading to the ramp when he stops you, his right hand grabbing your left and pulling you back over to him, his left hand placing itself on your waist as laughter kept spilling from him.

"I-I'm sorry, okay. For everything." "Y-You j-just wanted...t-to make...y-your dad p-proud." "Yeah, but taking your voice took you away from your family." You shrug. "A-At least...now I-I c-can yell b-back...at r-rude p-patrons." "What? You're not going back there." "I-I h-have t-to..." "Instead...I'm going to take you back to your cove...to see your family."

You stare at him wide eyed. "Th-That's...That's a d-death w-wish." "We've done it once...we can do it again." "W-why?" He shrugged. "I ruined a cute boys life, I want to make it up to him." "I-I'm s-stuck...w-with the f-flirting...a-aren't I?" "Yes."

When his crew returns, you were waiting in his quarters and he was in front of the door, waiting for his crew to settle down. He gave you new clothes and one of his extra coats. "Oi, Capti'n, Sammy boy is upset. Where's his server boy?" "He's not his server boy anymore." You heard a knock and you open the door, stepping out and next to Hongjoong. "He's now my right hand." "Yeh addin' a mute boy to our crew? How's he gonna be useful on a ship?"

"M-More th-than...y-you f-from wh-what...I-I've been t-told." They all look at you with wide eyes. "He can talk?" "He can and it's best if you treat him with respect." "Why should we?" Another crew guy asked, stepping forward in an attempt to intimidate you. "He's my partner now, you disrespect him, you're disrespecting me." "I don't buy it." Hongjoong scowls softly before snapping and two loyal crew members take the guy by his arms and drag him to the ramp but instead of throwing him down the ramp they throw him overboard into the water.

"Anyone else?" They all stayed silent and he smirked. "Good. Ramp up, we're heading out." "Where are we going sir?" "Don't worry about it." He looks over at you and you meet his eye. "You'll know soon enough." He says still speaking to the crew member as he shrugs and walks away.

"W-Why c-can't...they kn-know?" He wraps his arm around your waist and pulls you closer. "Don't feel like telling them yet." He shrugs with a smirk and you chuckle, going to walk away to go up to the wheel but his arm pulls you back, both hands now on your waist as he leans in to kiss you. Another squeak leaves you as you're not use to kissing him yet and he laughs against your lips. "J-Joong!" You scold as he keeps laughing, hands squeezing your sides gently. "I'm sorry, it cute." He leaves another peck to your lips. "And keep calling me that. I like it." "Wh-What if I c-call you m-my captain?" "Careful. It sounds way too good coming from you." "I-I'll k-keep that i-in mind for l-later."

He smiles, kissing you again before pulling away and taking your hand to pull you up to the wheel. Behind it is a chair and he sits in it, pulling you with him to sit on his lap and wrap his arms around you. Feeling bold, you reach up and take his hat, placing it on your own head, making him laugh.

"You're lucky, fish boy."

"That I am, Captain."

Oh my lord I think this is the longest thing I've written. Feels like it is anyway.

I'm way behind on requests and just posting in general so I gave myself a goal: Write and finish 5 requests. My reward for myself is writing something inspired by that one Felix concept photo.

Boys skin just needs marked and bitten

Anyway, this is the first request of my goal that I've finished. For the other four, my plan is Agere Seung, HyunHo angst/smut, SeungIn w/ Innie in a skirt, then Corruption with Felix but it might change depending what I end up getting in the mood to finish but either way they will get done.

thanks to @succubus-hansol who is like amazing and motivates me but also reminds me to not overwork. Literally the best online friend I've ever made. 🥰

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, I loved making the lore, I guess, and coming up with all the details.

[serpentface]

@latenightagain Ok here we go [x]

INTELLIGENCE:

They are very intelligent animals- on a primate scale, more cognitively complex than lemurs but probably less than most great apes. Their social organization is a lot simpler than proto-elowey were. They cannot produce as complex vocalization as elowey, and lack developed facial musculature for expressions. (As a tangent, elowey are less visually expressive than humans and rely more heavily on olfactory and audial senses)

VOCAL MIMICRY:

The vocal mimicry myth is based in the reality that their warning vocalizations sound quite a lot like the cries of young elowey children. The folklore extends this to claim they produce the unique bleating cries of babies, screams for help, or outright mimic complex speech. This is also complicated by the fact that historical qilik ranges heavily overlap with elowey, and qilik CAN mimic speech, so some real life mimicry by qilik may be attributed to hutsmet.

TAKEN AS AN INFANT:

That sort of thing has probably happened on an incidental scale in history, but would not be common enough for any particular views to develop around it beyond 'that's probably a bad idea'.

It's not quite the same thing but some elowey cultures have variants on 'changeling' myths, where hutsmet kidnap and replace elowey children. The hutsmet changeling is usually disguised by magic to pass as an elowey, but is often identified by never starting to speak (or only being able to speak through mimicry), never learning to walk bipedally (or using quadrupedal locomotion in ways deemed inappropriate or excessive), or their scent glands being uniquely foul-smelling/the secretions killing trees and rotting wood. Most stories involve the changeling sneaking out at night to poison fruit trees, smudge out territorial boundaries, or kill livestock and eat only their eyes. Sometimes the changeling eats its parents. Occasionally the hutsmet changeling is said to grow up more or less 'normally', but usually disappears into the woods when it is time to be wed.

There's other variant mythology of the 'animal bride/groom' folkloric motif where a magic hutsmet passes itself off as a man and weds to a clanmother, only to steal the resulting offspring and disappear into the woods. Or a hutsmet clanmother kidnaps a man and bears a child off him. The story usually ends with the man escaping with his hybrid child - in some instances the child is an elowey and grows up normally, in others the kid tragically pulls the classic 'disappear into the woods' maneuver and returns to its mother.

HYBRIDIZATION:

They are not close enough to hybridize. This doesn't stop people from Believing they are, with hybrids occurring in folklore (as mentioned above) and the occasional person claiming hutsmet ancestry.

There's one prominent warlord who established a maritime empire in the southeastern sea about 300 years BP who claimed to have a hutsmet mother, which was probably a facetious "I'm a dangerous motherfucker" type boast but is has gone down in legend as a literal fact. (This is one of the lore areas where I have concepts developed but little to no person or place names, sorry)

HUMANS AND HUTSMET:

Very hard to generalize because there's massive variations in human-elowey relationships (and intersophont relations in general), so human-hutsmet relations heavily depend on this context. In instances of human cultures that tend towards species-xenophobia, hutsmet may be used as an rhetorical device to (for a lack of a better word) dehumanize elowey via casting similarities between them and wild animals.

But speaking very, VERY broadly, humans and elowey tend to group themselves together as being the most 'alike' sophonts, so hutsmet may occupy a similar place in the cultural imagination as being Creepily Like People But Wild. Otherwise they are significant animals in their environment but their resemblance is regarded more as a curiosity.

They also are fuel for beliefs about the existence 'wild' humans (if elowey have a 'wild' version, then humans must too?), which leads into-

CHIMPS:

Chimps do not exist in the contemporary of the setting, but there's a few places whose 'wild human' legends are probably (heavily embellished) cultural memories of long-extinct great apes.

Most primates in the present day are lemuroids, with no nonhuman great apes and most species of monkeys existing in relative geographic isolation.

[satohqbanana]

This won the recent poll, so I will delight you with a bit more lore and worldbuilding... based on the old poll.

Luishreya TL;DR:

War Queen Luishreya is a balding green-haired, brown-skinned amputee and warrior who not only led at least 11 troops, but also became queen of a kingdom and gained the attention of at least two gods. By the power of both knowledge and wisdom, she led the nation of Verforlea for a long time and left behind three heirs.

Political background TL;DR:

The Endless Wars between multiple nations and city-states during Luishreya's time established the nation of Verforlea. With no suitable heirs to follow into her grand footsteps, Verforlea eventually became susceptible to enemies. Upon its fall, the Emerald Kingdom arose.

Thanks to its predecessor's prior wealth, the Emerald Kingdom became very rich and powerful, but it also got cocky and aggressive towards other nations. The Platinum Fort eventually got fed up of its antics and voiced out their opposition to the kingdom's predatory practices. Soon, a war sparked, covering the real reason why using the debate of alchemy VS magic. Due to this, they began seeking allies and sympathizers to their plight. To protect their maritime trade and tourism industries, the Damasqus Network, which lay between the two, decided to hold a neutral stance and opted to offer hospitals and clinics for wounded soldiers on both sides.

For a time, the biggest question was what the Kingdom of Prisma, the floating nation of Crystallistes, and the city-state of Kaleidopolis will do... until former Prismatic princesses and sisters Head Mage Grace and Queen Charity decided they were going to side with the Platinum Fort.

At the present time of Liberatio, the situation had been at a standstill, both sides silent but agitated, awaiting each other's next moves.

Extra Game Stuff:

The icon for Magia contains the Shruysi character for A.

Surprise screenshot of a room in the Heartwood Academy basement:

Homework:

Unlock more lore and worldbuilding by rearranging the following statements in a meaningful manner:

Insightful Reflections - Gentle is the darkness where the dust settles, and great is the wisdom you have earned.

Ephemeral Journeys - Just as everything has its start and its end, it also has a median where one must make crucial decisions.

Reinvigorated Hopes - Rejoice in your regenesis, and be reborn anew as the cycle of time restarts.

Breathtaking Discoveries - Wide is the world that awaits you, and boundless is the knowledge under the light.

Peaceful Reveries - Trust in the curtain call of time; permit the cycle to reach another graceful end.

Arcanium Masterpost || Current Tag List: Feel free to ask to be tagged!

General Tags:

@philosophika, @amaiguri, @thecomfywriter, @wyked-ao3, @kingragnarok-writes

[mindblowingscience]

Long considered myth, freakishly large rogue waves are very real and can split apart ships and even damage oil rigs. Using 700 years' worth of wave data from more than a billion waves, scientists at the University of Copenhagen and University of Victoria have used artificial intelligence to find a formula for how to predict the occurrence of these maritime monsters. The new knowledge can make shipping safer. Stories about monster waves, called rogue waves, have been the lore of sailors for centuries. But when a 26-meter-high rogue wave slammed into the Norwegian oil platform Draupner in 1995, digital instruments were there to capture and measure the North Sea monster. It was the first time that a rogue had been measured and provided scientific evidence that abnormal ocean waves really do exist. Since then, these extreme waves have been the subject of much study. And now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute have used AI methods to discover a mathematical model that provides a recipe for how—and not least when—rogue waves can occur. With the help of enormous amounts of big data about ocean movements, researchers can predict the likelihood of being struck by a monster wave at sea at any given time.

Continue Reading.

[pikapeppa]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤️

Oooh don't mind if I do since I'm on a kick of rereading a bunch of my own writing currently! 🤣 First off: tagging back to you, lovely @johaerys-writes, and forward to @crackinglamb @alyssalenko @sinsbymanka @vorchagirl @chloefraazers @mwasaw @himluv @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul @contrivedchaos and anyone else who would like to play! Please, anyone and everyone, join in!

So okay. I thought wayyy too hard about this and had A LOT of difficulty choosing because I actually really enjoy rereading my own fics 😅 but I did my best! Answers below the cut for anyone who wants to keep reading:

- Fall Into The Tide: Dragon Age, Sten/f!Mahariel, ~54k words. The premise of this fic is that Mahariel decides on a whim to follow Sten on his maritime journey back to Par Vollen. This was actually the first fic that came to mind as a favourite, and to date, I feel that it's the best thing I've ever written; I'm really proud of Sten's characterization and the emotional beats. I still cry like a baby every time I reread it LOL.

- Lovers In A Dangerous Time: Dragon Age, Fenris/f!Hawke, ~525k words. This is my Fenris the Inquisitor fic. I just finished rereading it and I had a lot of "wow I wrote this? Good job me" moments while reading it! 😂

- Until We Meet Again: The Witcher, Geralt/f!Reader, ~250k words. The point of this fic was that I personally want to fuck Geralt so I made it everyone else's problem BAHAHA. This fic completely mutated from self-indulgent smut to accidentally-falling-in-love in a totally unplanned way, and I'm so thrilled with how it turned out!

- Just Hold On, We're Going Home: Samurai Champloo, Mugen/Fuu/Jin, ~38k words. SamCham is my favourite anime, and the end of it is so heartwrenching to me, even though it's a happy ending. So I wrote this fic to heal myself 🤣 This fic was entirely a gift I wrote for myself on the assumption that no one would actually read it, and it's been lovely to see how many people were craving a poly happy ending like I was!

- The Love That Grows From Violence: Dragon Age, Felassan/f! Lavellan, ~181k words. This is a post-Trespasser fic where a bitter Lavellan falls in love with Felassan, who was made Tranquil rather than killed in the Fade. This fic holds a hugely special place in heart partly because the idea was BRILLIANT (it was suggested to me by a wonderful reader-friend!), and because writing this became my cozy escape during the worst of COVID. I'm really proud of some of the emotional beats in this fic and the lore aspects, and I really hope that Veilguard will not end up proving me entirely wrong or I might just die LOL. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS (I CAN'T HELP IT, THIS WAS REALLY HARD):

- Even The Hardiest Desert Blooms Need To Get Wet Sometimes: Horizon Forbidden West, Drakka/Aloy, ~365k words. I JUST REALLY LOVE DRAKKA, OKAY? I JUST LOVE HIM. A LOT. I had a ball writing every chapter of this fic just because I adore the disaster Desert gremlin, and I always love the opportunity to write texting in fics, which I got to do here a lot, so this fic makes me a very happy girl 🥰 The only reason this didn't make my top five is that I don't actually reread it very often!

- Inadvisable: Dragon Age, triple romance for Solas/f!Lavellan, Abelas/f!Lavellan, Felassan/f!Lavellan (different Lavellans LOL), ~668k words. This is my modern AU university fic collaboration with my beloved friend and artist Elbenherz. IT WAS SO HARD NOT PUTTING THIS FIC IN THE TOP-FIVE; the only reason it didn't make the cut is because it was either this one or The Love That Grows From Violence, and I just have such cozy-fuzzy vibes/memories of writing TLGFV. 

If anyone decides to check out any of these fics, I hope you enjoy! 🥰

-- love from your friendly neighbourhood Pika xoxo

[halopedia]

Lore Thursday — UNSC Army

Tasked with the defense of UEG colonies and the long-term occupation of enemy territory, the UNSC Army maintains land, maritime, and airborne forces. The Army is also involved with civil works in support of other UNSC branches.

[yoga-onion]

[Photo above: Banyan tree in Shuri Castle Park]

Legends and myths about trees

Forest spirits and natives (5)

Kijimuna – Mischievous red-haired spectres

Kijimuna are legendary small tree spirits from the Okinawa Islands in Japan, who live in trees (generally old banyan trees). They are said to look about 3 or 4 years old and have red hair.

Another name for the kijimuna is bungaya, which means roughly large-headed. The Kijimuna are known to be very mischievous, playing pranks and tricking humans. One of their best-known tricks is to lie upon a person's chest, making them unable to move or breathe such as sleep paralysis. Even though the Kijimuna are tricksters, they have been known to make friends with humans.

They are skilled fish catchers and only eat the left or both eyes of the fish they catch. Therefore, if you become friends with a Kijimuna, you can always get a fish and become rich. They are good at diving and fishing and catch a lot of fish in seconds. But all the fish they catch have no eyes. They can also run around on the water surface and can stand on the water while carrying people.

They are extremely hatred of hot pot lids, octopus, chickens and human farts, and it is forbidden to let them near the Kijimuna. They also die (or are forced to move to another tree), if a nail is driven into the tree in which they live. They will take terrible retribution, including murder, against anyone who breaks these prohibitions.

Nevertheless, as long as one do not break these prohibitions, they are basically harmless to humans, and many lores say that they are "good neighbours" with humans.

[History of Ryukyu Islands (collective name for Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Archipelago and Yaeyama Archipelago)]

The Ryukyu Islands are known to have been inhabited by humans for about 32,000 years.

The Ryukyu Kingdom was a monarchy, existed in the southwestern islands of Japan for about 450 years, from 15th century to 19th century. It developed through diplomacy and trade with China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asian countries, and the castle of the Ryukyu dynasty, Shuri Castle, was the political, economic and cultural centre of its maritime kingdom. In the late 19th century, the Japanese Government, dispatched troops to oust King Shoutai from Shuri Castle and proclaimed the establishment of Okinawa Prefecture (Ryukyu Disposition). Here, the Ryukyu Kingdom was destroyed.

Genetic studies have shown that populations in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa Islands, Miyako Archipelago and Yaeyama Archipelago) have no direct genetic link to mainland China or Taiwanese populations and have identical paternal lines to mainland Japan, and nuclear DNA analysis in 2018 showed that genetically, Ryukyuans are the most closely related, followed by mainland Japanese, from the Ainu (Ref) perspective.

Furthermore, in 2021, a paper on archaeogenetics published in the journal Nature stated that DNA analysis of prehistoric human bones excavated from the Nagabaka (lit. Long graveyard) site in Miyakojima City showed that they were "100% pure Jomon", a research finding that indicates that prehistoric archipelago people came from the Okinawa Islands.

木にまつわる伝説・神話

森の精霊たちと原住民 (5)

キジムナー 〜 いたずら好きな赤毛の妖怪たち

キジムナーは、日本の沖縄諸島に伝わる伝説の小さな木の精霊で、樹木 (一般的にはガジュマルの老木) の中に住んでいる。見た目は3、4歳くらいで、赤い髪をしていると言われている。

キジムナーの別名は「ブンガヤ」であり、「頭の大きい」という意味である。キジムナーは非常にいたずら好きで、いたずらをして人間をだますことで知られている。最もよく知られているのは、人の胸の上に横たわり、身動きや呼吸をできなくさせる「金縛り」だ。そんなキジムナーだが、人間と仲良くなることもある。

魚捕りが巧みであり、しかも捕った魚の左目または両目だけしか食べない。その為、キジムナーと仲良くなれば魚をいつでも貰え、漁運に恵まれる。海に潜って漁をするのが得意であっという間に多くの魚を獲る。でも、彼らが獲った魚は全部目が無い。また、水面を駆け回ることができ、人を連れながらでも水上に立てる。

熱い鍋蓋、タコ、ニワトリ、人間のおならを極端に嫌い、それらのものをキジムナーに近付けるのは禁忌である。また住んでいる木に釘を打たれると死ぬ (或いは別の木への転居を余儀なくされるとも)。これらの禁忌を破った人間に対しては、殺害を含む恐ろしい報復を為す事も辞さない。

然し、禁忌さえ破らなけ��ば基本的に人間には無害な存在であり、人間とは「良き隣人」であると言う伝承が多い。

[琉球諸島 (奄美群島、沖縄諸島、宮古列島、八重山列島の総称) の歴史］

琉球諸島には、約3万2千年前から人類が住んでいたことがわかっている。

15世紀から19世紀までの約450年間、日本の南西諸島に存在した君主制国家、琉球王国は、中国をはじめ日本、朝鮮、東南アジア諸国との外交・貿易を通して発展し、琉球王朝の王城、首里城はその海洋王国の政治・経済・文化の中心にあった。しかし、19世紀後半、日本政府が軍隊を派遣し首里城から国王尚泰 (しょうたい) を追放し沖縄県の設置を宣言した(琉球処分)。これによって、琉球王国は滅亡した。

遺伝子研究では、琉球列島 (沖縄諸島、宮古列島、八重山列島) の集団は、遺伝的に中国本土や台湾の集団との直接的なつながりはなく、日本本土と同一の父系を持つという研究結果や、2018年の核DNA分析から遺伝的に、アイヌ（参照）から見て琉球人が最も近縁であり、次いで日本本土人が近縁であるという研究結果が発表されている。

さらに、2021年には、宮古島市の長墓遺跡から出土した先史時代の人骨をDNA分析した結果、「100％純粋な縄文人」であったとする考古遺伝学の論文が雑誌「ネイチャー」に掲載され、先史時代の列島人が沖縄諸島から来たことを示す研究結果が発表されている。

[magickkate]

Hey witches! Are you drawn to the rhythm of the waves, the salty scent of the sea, and the boundless expanse of the ocean stretching to the horizon? If so, you might be attuned to the magic of Sea Magic, a mystical practice that connects with the elemental energies of water and the mysteries of the deep. Here are a few ways to embrace the magic of Sea Magic:

🌊 Connect with the Tide: Sea witches typically have a strong connection to the ocean, drawing inspiration, energy, and spiritual guidance from its vastness and power. Tune into the ebb and flow of the tides, allowing their rhythmic movement to guide your magical workings and rituals. Work with the energy of high tide for abundance and manifestation, and low tide for release and letting go.

🚰 Water Magic: Water is a central element in sea witchery, and practitioners often work with its properties for cleansing, healing, intuition, and emotional balance.

🌙 Moon Magic: Like many other forms of witchcraft, sea witchery often incorporates lunar cycles and phases, harnessing the energy of the moon for rituals and spellcasting.

🪸 Herbalism: Sea witches may work with herbs and plants associated with coastal regions or those that thrive in saline environments for magical purposes.

🐬 Work with Sea Creatures: Connect with the spirits of the sea and the creatures that dwell beneath the waves, such as dolphins, whales, and mermaids, honoring their wisdom and guidance in your magical practice.

🐚 Collect Seashells and Sea Treasures: Sea witches may collect shells, driftwood, seaweed, and other items washed ashore for use in spells, rituals, or as talismans. Gather seashells, sea glass, and other treasures washed ashore by the ocean, incorporating them into your spells, rituals, and altar decorations to infuse your magic with the energy of the sea.

🌊 Invoke Ocean Deities: Cultivate a relationship with ocean deities and spirits, such as Poseidon, Yemaya, or Neptune, by offering prayers, making offerings, and invoking their blessings and protection in your magical workings.

🧜🏼‍♀️ Seafaring Lore and Folk Traditions: Sea witches may draw upon maritime folklore, legends, and traditions for rituals, spells, and divination practices. Marine creatures like dolphins, whales, mermaids, and sea turtles may hold symbolic significance in sea witchcraft, representing various aspects of the ocean's energy and mythology.

🌬️ Navigation and Divination: Some sea witches incorporate navigation techniques, such as reading the stars or using instruments like compasses, into their practice. Divination methods related to the sea, such as scrying with water or shells, may also be used.

🦭 Respect for Nature: Central to sea witchery is a reverence for the natural world, particularly the ocean and its ecosystems, with an emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Sea witches often perform rituals for protection, purification, healing, and empowerment, drawing upon the strength and resilience of the ocean.

Whether you're a beachcomber, a sailor, or simply a lover of the sea, Sea Magic invites you to dive deep into the mysteries of the ocean and explore the hidden realms that lie beneath the waves. So let the rhythm of the sea guide you, and may your magic flow as freely as the currents of the ocean! 🌊🐚

Books to Read:

Water Magic by Lilith Dorsey

The Sea Witch: A Grimoire of Ocean Magick by Jennifer Heather

Year of the Witch: Connecting with Nature's Seasons through Intuitive Magick by Temperance Alden

[getvalentined]

HI THERE!! A fellow FFVII pleb here 🙌🏼🙌🏼

But I have not played Ever Crisis, and your art is

💥mega💥 from it.

May you infodump at your will where these outfits are from in the game, if you have any reference pics, and what the game covers?

If not, that is fine too 🌷

Thanks!

Thank you for the nice comment about my art! I've been in a slump recently on account of the world being on fire and having chronic pain in my hands, so I'm glad people are still enjoying what I have put out there.

Most of the EC outfits are only really "in-game" as related to non-canon seasonal "Portal" events, referred to as such due to their existence being explained via the existence of a spell of the same name, originally developed by Shinra before being ruled useless and put on a shelf. The materia for the spell was apparently stolen at some point in the early '90s, and it periodically crops up due to fiends, Cetra, or other nonhuman entities creating an excuse for the cast to get into alternate universe hijinks. The lore indicates that the Portal materia may have been stolen by the A.I. that ran the simulator originally used to train P-0 Class SOLDIERs during the course of the First SOLDIER Battle Royale, which eventually developed a form of sentience and literally ran away. This seems to be what caused that training program to shut down in-universe. (IRL the game was shut down because of real world financial fraud perpetrated by one of the co-creators of Sonic the Hedgehog, because we live in the weirdest timeline. Getting some closure on it in-game was super interesting, though.)

The game itself is intended to be a sort of abridged version of the entire Compilation of Final Fantasy VII (not the funny youtube haha kind of "abridged") told in short sections with frequent breaks, allowing it to be played basically anywhere.

There are currently three active titles:

Final Fantasy VII: The OG, but make it bite-sized. The pacing here is pretty poor, but mostly because the devs seem intent on pushing it as the flagship title of Ever Crisis even though it is not the one that they use in advertisement. (Current chapter: recruiting Vincent in Nibelheim.)

Crisis Core: Everyone's favorite gay tragedy. The pacing on this one is about the same as it is in the original, although there are a couple new little bits. The translation is still ass due to "no homo," and recently they seem to be working very hard to retcon Angeal being a self-righteous trashbag for some reason, which is kind of ruining the whole storyline, but we'll see if they fix that. (Current chapter: Genesis' siege on Shinra HQ.)

The First SOLDIER: Not to be confused with the battle royale title of the same name mentioned above, this game starts with three unenhanced P-0 Class SOLDIER randos (they're relevant to Rebirth) and segues into the backstory of Sephiroth starting around age 13-14. This is what they used in advertisement, and then delayed updates on so many times that the ending was spoiled by Tseng during a board meeting in Rebirth. I am not joking. (Current chapter: Act I end.)

The game is intended to eventually also include Dirge of Cerberus and even Before Crisis (which has never been released outside Japan and hasn't been playable even in Japan for over a decade), but not until after the OG and CC's storylines finish. There is roughly one chapter update to a single active title every 4-8 weeks, so it's going to take a while.

All that said, there are currently around 80 alternate outfits spread over 13 playable characters (some are more favored than others, Aerith has about a dozen while Barret has three), and I don't actually even have half of them altogether. I do have a lot, though, so I'll put details under the cut of what I have and if there are any specific ones you'd like to see I can get screenshots for reference purposes.

— Cloud [5/9] Murasame, Bandaged Coat aka Death Gigas cosplay, Festive Garb, Saber Style, and Bahamut Garb. Missing Battlefield Garb, Maritime Sailor, Zidane, and Glavenus Armor.

— Barret [2/3] Fiery Cape and Electroarmor. Missing Scrap Armor.

— Tifa [2/10] Metalfoot and Fairy of the Holy Flame. Missing Lifeguard, Amarant, Guide Uniform, Bunny Bustier, Feather Style, Kirin Suit, Passion Mermaid, and the upcoming Bahamut gear that I will not be pulling for.

— Aerith [2/11] Rosy Battle Suit aka postcanon Genesis cosplay and Chocobo Suit. Missing Sunny Robe, Prism Dress, Garnet, Fairy of Snowfall, Floral Gown, Classic Coney, Kamura Dress, Citric Dress, and Bahamut Robe.

— Nanaki [2/4] Seaside Aloha and Canyon Duds. Missing Rubber Harness and The Hellhound aka the Sonic OC recolor skin.

— Yuffie [1/5] Puckish Lion. Missing Winter Moogle, Sparkling Skater, Shinobi Hawk, Summer Moogle, and Bahamut Mantle.

(No image because I hit the limit and it's a disaster tbh.)

— Cait Sith [2/3] Marching Jacket and Felyne Kamura. Missing Party Jacket.

— Vincent [3/3] Bouncer Suit, Stray Dog, and Formal Attire.

— Zack [4/8] Tropical Beach, Guardian Style, Glacier Armor, and Zinogre Armor. Missing Valiant Suit, Black Hound, Holiday Suit, and Shinra Full Dress Uniform.

— Sephiroth [8/9] Aeroglider, Edged Wings, Dark Harbinger aka the half-Galian Beast cosplay, Kuja, Celebratory Garb, Lethal Style, Shinra Formal Uniform, and Natant Jacket. Missing Dark Attire because it was running the same time as one of Vincent's outfits and I didn't have the crystals for both. (sob)

— Glenn/Matt/Lucia [1/who cares] I only have 1 proper alternate outfit for each of them and only because the game gave them to me, plus Lucia's Vivi, which is just a recolor of the first alternate outfit with a hat on top.

No images because I hit the limit and I don't care for any of these people.

[stardust-swan]

How to Be a Real Life Mermaid 🌊🧜‍♀️🐚

The Look

🐚 Wear sea foam green, aquamarine, teal, ocean blue, soft grey, lilac, periwinkle, emerald, pale gold, white, deep blue, and turquoise

🐚 Pick flowy fabrics such as taffeta, chiffon, linen, silk, muslin, and sequined fabrics that resemble fish scales

🐚 Choose garments like maxi dresses, flowy skirts, bandeau off-the-shoulder tops, tank tops, soft scarves used as tops, shell clutches, woven bags, and pretty beaded sandals

🐚 Accessorise with jewellery made from pearls, sea glass, seashells, turquoise, aquamarine, opals, gold that resembles the sun glinting on the sea, and silver that reminds one of the metallic sheen of fish scales. Examples of accessories you can wear are bangles, anklets, layered necklaces, and pearl earrings

🐚 Makeup Ideas: eyeshadow in nudes like a sandy beach, greens and blues like the sea, or lavender and pink like a coral reef, shimmery highlight, dewy skin, coral pink lipstick, and seashell pink lipgloss

🐚 Hair Ideas: loose curls that look like ocean waves, fishtail plaits, green and blue hair dye, pearl hairclips, and sea salt hairspray. Brush your hair with a pretty wide-tooth comb.

The Lifestyle

🐚 Listen to songs such as Martha's Harbour by All About Eve, No Ordinary Love by Sade, Come Into the Water by Mitski, Pearl Diver by Mitski, Mariners Apartment Complex by Lana Del Rey, and Call of the Sea by Claudie Mackula (a longer mermaid playlist is here).

🐚 You can also listen to the sounds of the ocean, like whale song or waves crashing on the beach

🐚 Watch movies and TV shows such as Aquamarine, Splash, The Little Mermaid, H20: Just Add Water, Mr Peabody and the Mermaid, Miranda (1948), Mermaid Melody Pitchi Pitchi, Ponyo, Barbie in a Mermaid Tale, Barbie: The Pearl Princess, Neptune's Daughter (1914), A Daughter of the Gods (1916), Queen of the Sea (1918), Venus of the South Seas (1924), and Magic Island (1995)

🐚 Read books, fairytales, and poems such as The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, The Mermaid Handbook by Carolyn Turgeon, Mermaids: The Myths, Legends, and Lore by Skye Alexander, A Daughter of the Sea by Amy Le Feuvre, Undine by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, The Mermaid by Alfred Lord Tennyson, and The Sea-Child by Katherine Mansfield

🐚 Mermaids are renowned for their beautiful siren song, so sing sweetly and brightly as often as you feel like it

🐚 Make your self smell like the ocean by using a deodorant like Old Spice Deep Sea, and perfumes like L by Lolita Lempicka, Acqua di Gioia, Salt Air by Skylar, Fleur de Corail by Lolita Lempicka, Seahorse by Zoologist, Nymphéas by Kismet Olfactive, Salina by Laborattorio Olfattivo, Alien Mirage by Mugler, Very Sexy Sea by Victoria's Secret, 20,000 Flowers Under the Sea by Tokyomilk, Nebbia Spessa by Filippo Sorcinelli, Tiziana Terenzi's Sea Stars Collection, Chant d'Extase by Nina Ricci, Sirena by Floris, Squid by Zoologist, and Orto Parisi Megamare (be aware that the latter two suit a dark siren who lures men to their deaths more than a sweet mermaid princess).

🐚 Make your home smell like the deep sea too, with sea salt scented diffusers and candles such as Yankee Candle Sea Minerals, Yankee Candle Seaside Woods, or Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt

🐚 Home Decor Ideas: silk sheets in blue, grey, and sea green, seashell jewellery trays, homemade terrariums, jellyfish embroidery, seashell candles, beaded curtains made from string and shells, paintings of maritime scenes, glass vases filled with layers of sand, seashells, and faux pearls, seashell shaped soap dishes, rattan furniture, woven baskets, treasure chests to keep your valuables in, mermaid figurines, a seashell or jellyfish mobile, a bowl filled with seashells, a glass bottle filled with ocean water or with a love letter inside to replicate a message in a bottle, mosaics with marine motifs like seahorses and shells, even an aquarium with colourful fish if you are able to care for them

🐚 Spend lots of time around near bodies of water, swimming in it to connect with your inner mermaid, or just walking in it and feeling the sand beneath your feet

🐚 Collect seashells and pretty pieces of sea glass thar wash up on the shore

🐚 Watch synchronised swimming, or even learn it yourself

🐚 Go diving, snorkeling, or mermaiding

🐚 Visit aquariums to see beautiful exotic fish and learn more about the ocean

🐚 Do your best to be sustainable; make the world a cleaner place for your fishy friends to live in. If possible, attend a beach clean-up group local to your area to help pick up litter

🐚 Carry a haircomb and hand mirror with you at all times (you can hotglue seashells and faux pearls on the back of the mirror to make it even more like a mermaid's treasure)

🐚 Watch documentaries and read books on the ocean, marine life, and nautical myths and legends

🐚 Enjoy snacking on seaweed soup, coconut water, and Guylian seashell chocolates

🐚 Take luxurious baths with dead sea salt, seaweed masks, small white bath bombs that resemble pearls, a coconut scented candle, and calming music

[dimetrodone]

Oscar the grouch

Pass but he IS the most fuckable Muppet on Sesame Street I’ll give him that.

Also upon researching Grouch Lore I found out that Oscar is “canonically” of Maritime Canadian decent

[eliounora]

I was reminded of my peak childhood obsession which was pirates of the caribbean, it impacted my identity so deeply that when I had to choose my area of study for my history thesis in university I wanted to become a maritime historian but I thought better of it since I live nowhere near a sea, ANYWAY the first pirates film is so good, there was so much lore and all the relationships between the characters were so delicious like jack and will were the perfect duo and jack and barbossa should have held hands tenderly maybe