#massika

[zhemariart]

Art trade piece for @icediamant <:

My Carrd c: Commission Info c:

[talesofmetalandmagic]

Midnight at Xerath’s

“The Protector shines splendidly tonight, noble Magus”

“It sure does. I could look at it for a lifetime.”

Xerath and his own retinue sit around a refined campsite, coated by the all-encompassing sheathe of stars that only the Shuriman desert can display.

Soon they’ll ride back to Nerimazeth, where he’ll claim a throne of his own. He feels giddy and extatic, brimming with ideas on how to make an Empire that feels right.

His problem has been disposed of, locked inside a coffin and buried in the sand. Now it’s his turn to suffer the darkness and the pain; he has the stars to guide him, and he’ll never quit relishing their shine.

And yet he feels… empty.

“Let us have a toast, my pride and joy. Let us celebrate the glorious reign that will be.”

“Praise be at Xerath”, they call, as the wine pours. He relaxes, his metallic body loosening, his electric heartbeat smoothing into a pulsating groove.

He should feel complete at this point.

Yet he feels as if there’s a missing part of his body, or his very soul. As if the cracks in his stony foundation were down to his very core.

And he wishes he had the words to speak it, but not even a genius such as he can find them.

He walks down the dunes, on the tip of his toes, imagining to have lungs to breathe that purest of air.

They once had a goddess for clean air. He knows, because he studied. He’d sometimes tell himself old legends back inside the dreaded Emperors’ Tomb, to remember, to dream, to hope.

As he’d do back when he was…

“What ails my lord?”

Xerath’s loyal Sandseer has walked to his side, dragging her goblet with her. She’s always the first to come to his side when he’s upset. As if she saw through his stone body as well.

“I wish I knew” Xerath says.

She looks at him, from the top of his coating to the floating tip of his fingers. A unique creature. Beautiful, powerful, sad.

“Perhaps it’s this joy, that feels foreign. This triumph. This freedom.”

Cursed land, what have you made me. Not even my dreams can complete me.

“Your pain will cease, best of all Ascended. I glimpse a future that’s safe for you.”

Xerath doesn’t speak. He clenched his metallic eyes shut, allowing his retainer to touch his hands. She gives him a gentle smile.

“I pictured my own retinue for a long, long time. It never felt like it was truly mine, though. Perhaps I knew it was but a foolish fantasy. Even dreams were a rarity, when I grew up.”

“But we’re here now, my liege. As real as this very ground.”

Xerath cannot show a smile, but he lowers himself until the sand burns under his energy.

He sighs, quaking and creaking. He’s all-powerful, a magnificent anomaly, and his brain power stays immense, but even then he cannot get what he wants.

What he’s wanted for so long.

“I wish my mother and father could see me.“

[estella-the-star]

Relatable 😔

so torn between obsessing over Jack and Masika since I've been shipping them for SO LONG and fearing for Gothi's mental state (Like girl I get having high empathy but take a couple seconds to care about yourself)

[megamassikalove]

Hey Massika! I got an ask wondering if I still intended to recolor your Xtreme Shower Tub. I've never recolored anything like it before though, so I was wondering if you had any tips for me. Specifically, I wanted to know how to get the rings and folds from your curtain texture onto the patterns I want to use. Hope that makes sense :) TYIA!

Hi!

First you'll need to know the mapping:

You should pick a curtain that has NO pattern, use this as a base. Then desaturate the curtain part. You'll create a new layer (color or pattern) and blend that with the curtain. This way you will still see the folds.

There are really good tutorials how to recolor here.

Good luck!

[thetakenpokemon]

Interlude III - Otherworldly Invaders

[Location: Venhara - Dunefields of Den] [PoV: Abasi, Venharan Sand Strider]

After we brought back word of discovering more tracks to the Queen, many more Dune Striders have been deployed to the region of its location. Ever since then, more tracks have been discovered by not just us but the other Dune Striders.

Although at first it was satisfying to finally be proven right, the fact that the frequency of these tracks being discovered is only increasing is something that fills me with a great amount of dread. The number of possible entities that these tracks tend to group together range from one to over twenty, however none of us have managed to actually get a close glance at whatever left them. The most one Strider saw was a glint of metal, however it vanished just as they were upon it - just like Massika and I's experience.

Today we decided to travel further away, reaching near the borders of the Soa Wastes - a severally inhospitable region of both sand and rock. Many hostile Ferals live in this area, its harsh conditions and the fact that there's no point in crossing it making it a region where rarely any Venharan steps foot in it.

However due to the fact that the frequency of the tracks border the region, we both decided to push further in.

"We can't go much further, Abasi." Massika cautions me, drinking from her near-empty flask. "We still must make the trek back - something that would be dangerous due to our dwindling supplies." I let out a sigh and take a swig from my own water-flask, feeling the warm water flow down my throat. With a gulp, I let out a growl of annoyance. "I know, but we still must find at least something. The creatures must have come from there, I know it!" She gives me her own look of annoyance. "Don't let your emotions overrun you, Abasi. You are no pup just joining the Dune Striders, you know the limits of our bodies. The Venharan Desert will strip the meat from our bones and dry our skin if we push far beyond our bodies and spirit can manage."

I stash the bottle back at my belt with the rest, my fist clenching in frustration. "I know! I know..." I sigh again. "Yet I still want to find whatever created these tracks, so that our Queen may know peace."

Massika approaches and places her hand on my shoulder. "I understand, Abasi. However there is no need to push ourselves far beyond our limits. We are Dune Striders, not-"

I look at her, noticing her pause. Seeing her eyes narrow as she peer in the distance, I turn my gaze quickly to look at the direction. In the distance I see-

"There!" Massika shouts! "Follow!"

Immediately she sprints down the dunes, towards a shiny metallic glint. Without question I move into action, following her as swiftly as my legs can manage.

We scale dune over dune, moving across the land as effortless as Venharan Golisopods. As we get closer to the metallic glint, we start to make it out.

A metallic figure.

Just as we start to decipher the details, it flashes red...before disappearing.

Before I could exclaim my frustration, Massika's shout causes me to focus on her. "Further down!"

She continues down the direction, my gaze turning further down the landscape to see the same metallic glint further on. It teleported further into the Soa Wastes.

We continue to sprint, the sand dunes slowly changing to that of hard rock and coarse dirt. As we start to get closer to the figure, it vanishes in a flash of red before reappearing further away.

This chase continues for many many minutes, the hot Venharan sun already beginning to set as the air grows cooler and colors of the sky becomes that of red and violet.

Just as we get close again, the figure vanishes for the last time - disappearing for good.

I don't feel frustration however despite my exhaustion and aching legs, for before me and Massika is something we would have never thought to find out here.

As both of us slow to a stop - gasping for breath all the while, we couldn't help but gawk at what's before us.

The only thing that stands out in the Soa Wastes is the fact that it's nothing but flat lands of sunbaked clay and rock, its surface impossible for all except the most hardy and brutal of Pokemon to live. Yet standing out in the middle of nowhere is not dark brown and clay red, but green and silver.

Towering before us are numerous massive square-like structures and pillars, their surface coursing with light and shining with metal. Surrounding them are countless vegetation unlike anything we have ever seen, the flora glittering in the sun with bright greens and the occasional blue. Surrounding the structures and flora is a vast river, however instead of water it flows with a glittering white liquid - its consistency and colors appearing almost like milk.

As we continue to stare, we start to pick out other details. There are numerous metallic glints amongst the structures and flora, appearing to be made of a silvery metal. When we focus on them, we realize that they are humanoid figures.

"How?" I manage to utter, dumbstruck. "How does this place exist?"

The last time a Venharan has been out here in the Soa Wastes is months ago, the reason due to the fact that they were a mercenary hired to bring back the claws of an infamous feral Drapion. They never mentioned anything of a place like this during their time here.

"This could not have been here before." Massika nods, also dumbstruck. "We all would have known of such a change."

And yet here it is, something akin to an oasis in a desert. Yet this...is certainly no ordinary oasis.

"We must get closer." I tell her, my expression becoming determined.

"I agree." Massika nods, however her expression becomes uncertain. "However caution must be used, for we do not know how these beings will react to us."

We keep our bodies low to the ground as we begin our approach, trying our best to conceal ourselves despite the fact that there is no cover for us to hide behind. As we continue to creep towards the structure, a feeling of dread begins to well in my stomach.

This...does not seem right.

As we get closer, I notice that the texture beneath my feet is changing. The stone is slowly becoming more smooth, various lines and patterns replacing the material beneath me. It's becoming unnatural - artificial even, as if something has changed the very ground beneath us. Soon the ground consists of not only smooth stone, but metal wires and rods as well as glass.

At one point me and Massika stop, our gaze turning to the very ground in confusion. Slowly however our expressions become one of horror.

"The land is changing." Massika whispers, her tone betraying the increase in fear.

She's right, it's as if the surrounding landscape is slowly turning into whatever the pillars and vegetation consist of. Just as there are towering spires of glass and metal, the surrounding land is becoming more and more like it as it gets closer to the center of the structures.

At this point we have seen enough.

"We must return with haste, we have found where they reside." I whisper quietly, my tone filled with urgency. "This is not something any of us can handle, this needs to be brought to the Queen immediately."

Massika opens her mouth to respond, however it quickly closes as her gaze turns to look behind me.

I follow her gaze, uncertain on what she has seen...

...and I can only stumble backwards as I witness what can only witness as a sphere of flashing light.

As the sphere flashes, several dark clouds materialize around it and begin flashing with lightning...

...just like the sudden storm from a month ago...

Just as realization begins to hit me, something loud echoes around us.

A terrifying, terrifying sound.

With a final flash, the sphere explodes and countless figure appear around. They are all humanoid, possessing silvery bodies and a singular red glowing eye. Loud distorted screams and chirps come from them all as Massika and I realize that we are completely surrounded.

"RUN!" Massika screams and with that instant, the odd weapons in the hands of these machines begin to glow.

Without hesitation I dive past the intruders, making a full-blown sprint towards the way we came from. As the machines scream their distorted cries, I feel something hot as a red bolt of light streams barely past my head and strikes the ground, scorching it.

By the Queens, they're attacking us.

Both me and Massika duck and weave as we continue our dash for our lives, avoiding incoming fire as the machines shoot at us. With every amount of ground we gain, new tiny storms of lightning and light appear before releasing more of these machines.

My heart is pounding with every new batch of reinforcements, adrenaline pumping through my veins like no other as I try to evade their every attempt to cut me off.

At this point the 'Oasis' of the machines is far in the distance, yet they're still pursuing us.

My feet feel brittle, my legs becoming sluggish, my lungs burning like they're on fire. At this rate, I don't think I'll make it.

And yet, just as my fears start to overcome me...

...the incoming fire from the machines stop.

I still don't stop, continuing my mad sprint to get as much distance away from those things as I can. Only after what may have been hours of running did I finally stop, my chest heaving so hard that I could faint right this second.

With my eyes barely focusing, I turn and survey my surroundings. None of those machines are within sight as I'm well back within the Dunes of Den. Massika is right besides me, parts of her fur singed and smoking from the few bolts of energy that managed to graze her body.

"By Venharan's sun, what was that?!" Massika wheezes, her eyes filled with pure terror.

Although the immediate danger is over, a new set of fear sets its claws upon my heart.

These machines...

They can teleport.

They possess weapons unlike anything we have ever witnessed.

They have vast numbers.

And most importantly...

...they are changing the very land into whatever structures they are creating.

"We need to alert the Queen." I rasp, choking on air as my lungs continue to struggle to breath. "We need to alert our people."

My jaw sets tightly.

"Venhara is in danger."

[goatskickin]

Hi goat! I saw your reply to my message to Massika :D I'm very glad you also like those pants, and I'm in no hurry! I'll wait for whenever you get to make them. I just needed to say thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️ ✨✨✨bye✨✨✨

you are most welcome! It will take me some time, and I'd like to have them match the maxis waist as the original conversion that @megamassikalove did (as I like that style too)

[caedar]

Swords with Souls (original story) B38

Lord Idris tells the Sword Maker that sometimes, a place gone vile must be completely burnt down

Two Days Late So Far… (Swords with Souls) Fantasy Fiction By Dan Watt (Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone) Cover by Darren Joy (Author of the Plagueborn series) – Adult content – ‘Fear not Egbert,’ the lord told him as they came face to face. He watched the lord’s sword hand but saw no intention of violence. ‘King Durmad has ordered the diversion of the Massika River to a new palace…

[thelittlemage-arts]

i’m in deep.....

anyways, here have my apprentice, Massika. 

thanks to @thearcanacompendium for the background. 

I redid all the buttons because i’m a glutton for punishment. 

this is a soft girl who just wants to snuggle and sleep. 110% will trip into trouble. will always be helpful. likes making new friends. but first impressions are everything to her.

[mistakee]

A great day to become better “Do you, Be You, Stay True, Never Give Up” - KEE. #beatboomers #iamcolumbusga #colga #massika #artish #hustlenaire New #Music on the way〽️ 🚀 💣💣 (at Oak Grove, Westmoreland County, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2fTY4r2b8/?igshid=160a9so3cullx

[musecityofbooksandmind]

TaeHyeong was walking back to his house when someone pushed him into another man. “I apologize for bumping into you. Have a nice evening, sir.” He got home and was attached by Amr, Massika, and Chione. His three cats. 

@yunikunayunikon for Akihiko

[karl-bodmer]

Massika-Saki Indian, Wakusasse-Musquake Indian, plate 3 from Volume 1 of 'Travels in the Interior of North America', 1833, Karl Bodmer

Medium: aquatint,paper

[talesofmetalandmagic]

Better days will come, child. You’re smart. You’re a fast learner. You’re strong. There’s nothing you cannot do. Your life will not end like your father’s.

Mother. I can’t lose you too.

We will meet again. In a better place. A home for us all. Your mother loves you. Don’t you ever forget it. Now come here. Remember me with a kiss.

She was once a revered, authoritative woman. But that was back then. Before their family lost everything they’ve ever had – including their names.

And the one known as Xerath would never forget her. Or her gentle husband, who held them both as they wept through their dreadful days. Sometimes he’d lose himself in reminiscence and feel the regret and pain burn like his own electricity.

In his youth he requested Azir to find his mother at least, give her a home – even if by purchasing her – and make so that she spends her old age by her son’s side, better fed. But how do you find a woman with no name?

“I’m sorry, my friend. You have me, now. You’ll never be alone.”

Ages pass.

The son of these unfortunate scholars, who lost their freedom to a cruel empire, has taken the heir of said empire as prisoner and is forcing him to build a temple at his image.

When they make it to the altar, Azir gently asks what he wants on it. Xerath, as a response, grabs him by the face and shocks him deeply into his brain.

“M-MY LORD! LET ME GO!”

“Do you see them, Azir?”

Faces peer through the mist. A sagely looking old man, cut by the sand and burnt by the sun, saddened and benumbed. A stern, despairing woman with tears in her eyes. They remind Azir of someone he loved.

“These were my parents. My father, who died in the indifference of your people. My mother, who had to leave me so I’d not die like him.”

Azir is shedding tears of distress, but Xerath does not let go. “They were a million times your likeness, and more deserving of your power. If they were still here, they’d cherish my choice to hurt you.”

“It hurts… my lord, stop… I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Azir always says he’s sorry when he’s scared. Xerath burns him even harder, and through the film of tears those faces become as crisp as new.

“I don’t recall my true name, but I remember theirs. Hakim and Massika. Don’t forget. Don’t you ever forget them, I… I…”

It sounds as if he too is in tears. An ominous creaking sound comes from his chains. Azir screams in pain, barely able to struggle in that hold.

I didn’t know. I couldn’t have helped. We just… we just…

“Burn these faces into your memory, Azir. May they torment you until you’ve forgotten who you are. And now… paint them. This is their altar. They will become the gods of my empire.”

Xerath slips off the room, heaving, trembling. He never stopped missing them for even a day.

Azir curls up in a ball, sobbing and whining in pain. He feels as if his head had been torn off his neck, and put through a wringer.

Has Xerath been through so much?

Yes. He was.

[ello-sims]

Overalls replaced with @littlelittlesimmies recolors of 4t2 Saurus Rainbow Collection by @vulrien-sims made fullbody by massika

I tried making these when I did this set originally but SimPe was fighting me but I’m glad I can post these as a little something for pride at least! I hope you all had a safe and happy one 🌈

Downloads

SFS | MF

[megamassikalove]

Hey Massika :) I'm interested in maybe recoloring your Xtreme Shower Tub (post/716473654121234432) and was wondering if you had a psd of the dirty state that you could share? Thank you very much in advance and have a nice day!

Hi! I do have the dirty state as an overlay. I'll upload the file with the original textures and overlay...

Done...

DOWNLOAD

[thetakenpokemon]

(Partial) Third Interlude Summarization

After the events of the Progria arc, the third interlude focuses on the transpiring events in Venhara as well as the Praxic Blades - the ones who will quickly become the main focus of the next arc.

For the Praxic Blades, they are currently on their way to Venhara due to the vision that Rinako had received. Although she’s no longer plagued by the nightmares, she still feels a strong sense of dread due to the message of Tiye - the Fourth Queen of Venhara - gave her. She was meant to ‘save the kingdom’, yet she had no idea what is even threatening said kingdom and how she can even do anything about it. Although she may be a skilled warrior, she does not possess nearly enough strength or capability to save an entire kingdom. The other members of the Praxic Blades are also incredibly uncertain, some (particularly Valence and Richmond) question if following this ‘vision’ is even a good idea, however ultimately Rodrigo and Artemisia give their full support to helping Rinako. Vedika however is merely just part of the ride and cares less regardless of the decision.

As for Venhara, it continues to focus mostly on the Dune Striders Abasi and Massika in their searches for the mysterious footprints. As time continues to pass they find these footprints becoming more and more frequent - as well as increasing in numbers. However they notice these footprints seem to come from a certain area in the desert, however they eventually find something that gives them a great amount of concern...

There is a brief moment where it focuses on an unknown individual from the GoT, a Night Watcher by the name of Asahi. He is a Greninja with a great skill in tracking as well as a keen sense of detecting anomalies, thus his skills have made him a prime choice in investigating the unusual storm and tracks in Venhara. As of currently he is in transit to the location through ship and will be arriving to the desert kingdom very soon.

Lastly there is an unusual scene taking place within another world in another universe, a vast structure once mentioned through the ‘From the Veil’ series. This location is the Vault of Glass, where a Fallen from House Winter is traversing through the dark labyrinths of the machine called The Vex. Eventually he stumbles upon an unlikely entity within its time-breaking chambers, and the resulting encounter causes chaos that may change everything for both the universe they originated and the universe of Pokemon.

Ultimately the next story is referred to as thus: The Venhara Arc.

---

(Note: I do have some incomplete posts of some of Abasi and Massika’s investigations in Venhara. Although I could simply just do a quick summary on their specifics, I have decided to instead revisit them and finish the posts instead of leaving them alone. It will only be a couple, however it will reveal what exactly Venhara will be dealing with - as well as how dangerous of a threat it is.

Additionally I did write a partial post of what happens within the Vault of Glass in preparation for the next arc, however I will also revisit it. Although the ‘From the Veil’ series is simply an ‘inside look’ on the happenings of the other universe to give context - be it events of said universe or the thoughts of individuals, this particular ‘From the Veil’ isn’t necessarily something that brings thought or context. This is an event that will actively affect the universe of the blog as well as shape the inevitable events that will transpire.

I don’t have a set time on when these posts will be released since my time has been very limited as of late, however you should be able to expect them eventually!)

[littlelittlesimmies]

128 recolors of 4t2 Saurus Rainbow Collection by @vulrien-sims made fullbody by massika

Download : SIMFILESHARE

revallsay wished a full body outfit for the Rainbow Collection and massika granted their wish ! However, they only did one recolor, so I made 128 more.

Mesh not included, grab it at the original GoS post.

Sorry for the lazy preview again. I don’t enjoy taking pictures of Sims.