#official dire omen

[official-dire-omens]

Basic info:

Adult, student, he/him.

This is a side blog, so you won’t get likes from it, but I can reblog and take submissions/dms!

This is a gimmick blog; I don’t necessarily believe that whatever it is I’m sharing or reposting is a direct omen. Also omen is used. Veeeery loosely.

Asks and submissions are open. This is all for fun and if you’re not sure if something counts send it anyway! Also tag me in posts you think are dire omens/cursed/foretellings (all as defined soooo loosely in what I post).

I’ll tag things #dire omen (ominous things, signs, etc), #as foretold (religion and mythology posts), or #the curse (cursed objects, habits, mental health), but sorting is based on vibes and not super strict.

[official-dire-omens]

genuinely enjoy the vibe you've managed to culminate with these posts. So much cursed amulet

many thanks, we whisper to one another and I take its counsel as gospel

[talonabraxas]

Sun in Gemini II (5/30 – 6/10 2024) The middle decan of Gemini is called the Hermaphrodite, after a child of Hermes and Aphrodite, who bore the external and internal genitalia of both men and women in their own body.

According to one story of Hermaphrodite, found in Ovid, he was a remarkable beautiful young man of extraordinary gracefulness and easiness of manner. A naiad, or water-spirit named Salamis observed him bathing one day, and jumped into the pool to fondle the youth who was too young to understand or consent to these advances. She tried to have her way with him, either through rape or seduction; yet the boy resisted, and Salmacis cried aloud her wish — to be united with this boy forever. A passing god, hearing her prayer, solemnly knitted them into one being — and Hermaphrodite became a god in themselves, a god of the unified masculine and feminine. They blessed — or cursed? — the spring in such a way that anyone else who bathed there would be similarly transformed.

Other accounts suggest that Hermaphrodite was an androgynous figure from birth. Roman theologians attributed the birth of human hermaphrodites to the influence of Hermaphrodite and their father Hermes’ influence. “Serious” scholars of natural history noted that hermaphroditic births were rare but regarded as significant omens of the future, while satirical authors made hermaphrodites into funny figures worthy of derision. Whether by alchemical change in a pool or divine birth, the Greeks and Romans depicted Hermaphrodite with both female breasts as well as penis and scrotum in naked depictions; I’m not aware of a statue that also shows a vagina — but it’s possible. Despite Ovid’s account connecting Hermaphrodite’s origins to female-on-male sexual assault, this boy-girl deity was highly sensualized and sexualized in Roman fresco and statuary, and was considered to be the patron of marriage. Since they united in themselves both the masculine and feminine, their feast day (the fourth of every month) was considered highly auspicious for weddings in many community around the Roman Mediterranean.

And Hermaphrodite stood in contrast to another figure, far more terrifying to the ancient Romans — that of Magna Mater, the Great Mother Cybele. She had been carried into Rome in procession in the form of a Black Stone that was said to have fallen from heaven — and she was placed in the porch of the temple of Capitoline Jupiter in the heart of the city during the Second Punic War, and spiritually married to Jupiter as the principal god of the Romans, an extra consort to be recognized alongside Juno. Her high priestess and priestesses were not scions of Rome, either, but foreigners from Phrygia in what is now Turkey — and there is symbolic evidence that Cybele had been worshipped there in some form since at least 6000 BCE. Even more than the women priestesses wielding significant power in the cult of the Great Mother, though, were the strange and androgyne priests of Cybele — eunuchs all — who had voluntarily allowed themselves to be castrated in service to the Mother. The Roman Senate, with the same kind of shrill horror that some modern US senators reserve for anti-immigration screeds, forbade any Roman man from joining the cult of Cybele as anything other than an observer.

So, here, in miniature, echoing from twenty-two centuries before our own time, we find some of the same kinds of strange dismay and fear of foreign customs, alchemical-medical recreations of the mortal frame, and ancient powers that do not seem to belong to “the modern rational world” —and yet do. Public officials have no trouble vilifying transgender people, and comedians satirize them, and preachers sermonize about the way they warn us that dire changes are coming. And yet, the presence of transgender people in the world is unnecessarily sexualized, their romance is celebrated (both their actual relationship lives and the fantasies we spin about their lives), and their presence in a community is a remarkable signpost (and perhaps talisman) that points to tolerance, diversity, and healthy community norms.

And maybe we react with such a strange mix of hope, unease, joy, and concern around transgender persons today, for the same reasons the Romans did — they’re proof that Mother Nature can bring forth a far vaster range of possibilities and potentials into the world, than our allegedly rational minds can understand. The Great Mother is truly greater, and more awe-inspiring, than we can conceive — and patriarchy has little choice but to bow down to her revelation.

Maybe that’s one of the key messages of Gemini more generally, and of The Hermaphrodite specifically. We humans want to control a lot of things: the wind, Mother Nature, the structure of sex and gender, what are the acceptable desires of flesh and heart — and Cybele and Hermaphrodite both say, “Terribly sorry, but those are not in your power to rule.”

The Dodeks of Gemini II are Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn — and they also tell this complex story of dualities turning into uncontrollable multiplicities. Libra indicates a balance between two — this exactly equals that. But Scorpio is the many-handed monster of desire, carrying both healing and poison in its stinger. Sagittarius is the human, the divine, the technical, the feral and animalistic, all wrapped up in a strange hybridized package. Capricorn is the fish caught in the moment of chan into a goat — a reminder that evolution is ongoing, for sure; but also suggesting the Egyptian crocodile, 250 million years old and counting, reminding us that there are forms of nature far more enduring and steady than ourselves. --Wanderings in the Labyrinth

Hermaphrodite in Dreams Johfra Bosschart

[official-dire-omens]

Official Dire Omen

whatever (it's eating away at my soul)

[mothras-in-my-belly]

Guys, h e l p. I am in dire need of new tv shows/films/anime to watch, bc I broke my ankle and won't be able to walk for 3 monts whoops lmao

So I'm currently on day three of bedrest and i am going i n s a n e

Shows I enjoyed:

Good Omens, Our flag means death, What we do in the shadows, Hannibal, Russian Doll, Dirk Gently's holistic detective agency, You, Dr. Who, Superstore, Inside Job, Bojack Horseman, Love Death Robots, Heaven Official's Blessing

Please I am b e g g i n g y o u

[blackcrowing]

December - Fate

Part of the Weekly Devotional Series

Week One - Core Concept

There are many ideas about what fate is exactly, and how much influence we might have over it. The Irish cosmology appears especially fluid on this concept. Often we see examples of someone being cornered by fate, being left no choice in the matter and simply having to accept what comes. Then at other times we see examples of someone seeming to manipulate a prophecy or geas to their favor using it to propel themselves towards their goal. So there seems to be at least some level of fate that we can effect but certainly it is still a great force acting on the world and all those in it.

Week Two - Mythology

How Cú Chulainn took up Arms, Part of The Boyhood Deeds of Cu Chulainn

Here we see Cú Chulainn manipulate those around him, using the omens of fate to his (supposed) advantage. He wished to have his name remembered for generations to come, and dismisses the price that comes along with it as trivial.

Cathbad indicates that he saw the omens as a warning not an encouragement. He had intended to take the omens as a warnings to prevent him from sentencing any warrior among the Ulster to a short life, despite the fame they would receive.

So not only was fate manipulated in this story, but the same omens were interpreted in two distinctly different ways. What is considered a good omen by one man may be seen as a dire warning by the next and how we act upon the fates laid before us is as individual as we are.

Week Three - Contemplation

Do you have aspects of your life that you think are unalterable? Do you/Would you fight these aspects or do you accept them? How does your choice on approaching these unalterable aspects effect the flow of your life? What kinds of fate do you believe you can change/manipulate in your favor?

Week Four - Integration

If you have taken any kind of oath or feel you have any form of geas, take the time to formally acknowledge them. Make space for yourself to officially recognize the acts of fate on your life.

My Kofi

[sojournclan]

ok im officially writing challenge rules!!!

THIS CLANGEN CHALLENGE IS BIG ON FILE EDITING. If you need help, I can try to guide you based on what I learned while playing.

CLANGEN WANDERING CHALLENGE RULES

No specific map to start at; final map must be “opposite” of the first map in some way.

Challenge ends when you think the cats can feasibly find happiness at their final destination, or they’ve all died. If you need to play like 20 moons on the final destination that’s okay; your goal is for them to reach safety, clarity and comfort.

The cats spend every 6th moon traveling to a new camp, UNLESS someone is actively severely wounded/sick, pregnant, or caring for kits younger than 1 moon. Kits 1-2 moons will be carried if there are enough adults to do so. Otherwise they will stay put until all of the kits are traveling age.

If an extinction event occurs while they’re waiting for one or more cats to reach traveling condition, the chance of them leaving the cat(s) with a volunteer caretaker increases with the amount of cats “lost”. If you generate that they do leave, you can put both of these cats as lost. Once one returns, you are okay to recode the other into the clan as well.

Prey gets overwritten during travel moons:

your adults can bring 2 points of prey each, and apprentices 1.

Kits under 4 moons cannot bring any, and 4-5 moons olds can bring half but only if you think your clan would be willing to put that burden on them for the sake of the whole.

If you disregard the point system, there are 3 preset numbers you can choose based on clan size: 60 (default for starting the game), 120, and 240

Remember: your cats are in this situation because of some kind of dire situation, warning/omen, or occurrence. It’s your decision which, but you need to be conscious of your clan’s behavior and standard reactions either ingame or in your lore for them. You can modify these rules to fit your clan better, but be aware this is the default. If your clan wouldn’t abandon a clanmate no matter what, for example, rule 4 is not applicable to your run of the challenge.

Have fun, good luck, and feel free to suggest rules or other changes and addons!

[official-dire-omens]

Official Dire Omen

bitch you better not be sitting and staring at your old wounds forever wtf

[fallenclan]

i've decided to drop some shallowclan cat headcanons! all of these characters except violetstar were created either by jaguar anon or beetle. if any of these headcanons conflict with already established lore the fault is my own !

floodstar---he was shallowclan's leader before violetstar. floodstar was a wise tom with a sort of wry humor. he disliked the other clans but believed war with them would never be a good idea, especially given shallowclan's low numbers. his death has been thus far ruled an accident. his traits would be wise & good mediator.

violetstar---violetfang grew up on tales of shallowclan's glory and was mentored by floodstar himself. to her bitter disappointment, she soon realized that shallowclan was sitting upon the worst territory of all the clans and frequently faced starvation. in her youth, violetfang was especially hot-headed, always getting into fights with other cats. floodstar worked to temper some of violetfang's anger. although violetfang disagreed with many of floodstar's policies, she still had a lot of respect for him, and almost viewed him as a father-figure. a rumor has circulated among many non-shallowclan cats about floodstar being murdered by violetfang, however most shallowclan cats dismiss this rumor as nonsense. when violetfang first learned of floodstar's death, she was so stricken that she confined herself to her den for days. her first official act as leader was to declare war on fallenclan, who she believed responsible (and whose territory she so desperately wanted for her clan). her traits would be vengeful & unnatural senses.

ravenspot---boulderstep's mother! ravenspot's mate died before boulderstep was born, and boulderstep was the only survivor of an already small litter. from a young age, ravenspot heaped a mountain of expectations on boulderstep. she loves him dearly, but altogether was a pretty shitty mother. ravenspot always seemed to be looking for reasons to be upset at boulderstep and always seemed to be on his case for something or other. ravenspot is older than violetstar but greatly admires her, and believes violetstar will be the cat to "fix" shallowclan. ravenspot resents floodstar and believes his inaction led to shallowclan's current dire circumstances. after boulderstep left, ravenspot was beyond heartbroken and spent days searching for him. when she learned her had WILLINGLY joined fallenclan, she created a narrative with herself as the "perfect mother" who had been "betrayed" by an "ungrateful child." when boulderstep finally attended a gathering for the first time as a fallenclan cat, many moons after the war ended, ravenspot shot him one withering glare and proceeded to pointedly ignore him for the rest of the gathering. secretly, she still hopes that boulderstep will come home one day. her traits would be strict & unusually strong fighter. she's the cat who scarred sleepycloud (she was intending to blind him).

lakelily---shallowclan's senior medicine cat. lakelily is old and tired. he was a dear friend of floodstar's and believes violetstar has tarnished his memory with war and bloodshed. lakelily and violetstar are constantly getting into volatile arguments, but violetstar hasn't exiled or attacked lakelily only out of respect for floodstar. lakelily is very fond of thistleheart and believes she will be a good "replacement" for him. he often casually talks of his future death, which is upsetting to everyone around him. he sometimes wanders off for days at a time, and usually has to be brought back by thistleheart. his traits would be gloomy, omen sense, & lore keeper.

mothwhisker---violetstar's childhood best friend. the two seem to have had a falling out recently, much to everyone's shock. some cats speculate that violetstar wanted to be mothwhisker's mate but was rejected. others claim mothwhisker is upset about the war with fallenclan, however this is unlikely given mothwhisker being one of violetstar's biggest supporters at the time. mothwhisker is a reserved and somewhat aloof cat. they prefer solitude. lately, they've begun hanging out with lakelily. their traits would be calm & good swimmer.

dustfeather---an old and grouchy warrior. he's a big supporter of violetstar and is mothwhisker's father. dustfeather is always getting into fights with other cats. he's always viewed violetstar as a daughter to him, and lately has begun pointedly telling cats that he wishes violetstar were his actual kit instead of mothwhisker. mothwhisker doesn't seem to have much reaction to these comments. his traits would be grumpy & good teacher.

nighthawk---a skittish and easily startled she-cat. she was boulderstep's mentor at the time of his "disappearance." nighthawk spends most of her time with her mate, poppyfrost. nighthawk's traits would be nervous & helpful insight.

poppyfrost---a wary and peculiar cat. they often leave camp for days at a time, similarly to lakelily. they claim to be going on "quests," but refuse to elaborate further. their traits would be strange & somewhat clairvoyant.

fernshadow---lakelily's son. he has a permanently twisted front leg. this happened when he attempted to attack brambletuft in a skirmish with fallenclan, only for poppyfeather to descend on him like a vengeful hawk. fernshadow is bitter over his injury and is resentful that lakelily wasn't able to do anything more for it. he is honeywater's mate and the father of spottedkit, pondkit, and thistleheart. fernshadow's traits would be sneaky & skilled hunter.

branchlight---an older tom, generally regarded as being sensible and easy-going. he's extremely well liked in fallenclan and often helps keep violetstar in check. branchlight was floodstar's mate, and is fond of violetstar, knowing how much like a daughter she was to floodstar. he randomly brought bluepaw and brackenpaw to camp one day as kits. it's widely assumed that he's their biological father, but no one knows who their mother is. he has thus raised them as his own. his traits would be calm & skilled mediator.

flamefoot---honeywater and lizardfang's father, recently retired. flamefoot loves to regale the clan's kits with stories of shallowclan's glory days. flamefoot seems to remember a time when shallowclan was prosperous, when no cat had to go hungry at night. . . most likely, he remembers things as far better than they were. he's generally disliked by the clan's older warriors who view him as a sentimental fool filling their kits' heads with nonsense. his traits would be loving & great storyteller.

yarrowstem---another elder, lichenstep and ravenspot's mother. yarrowstem is generally given a wide berth by other cats who wish to avoid her extremely long and tiresome lectures. yarrowstem is seemingly always in a bad mood and LOVES to complain. she's also a huge suck up to violetstar. her traits would be strict & formidable fighter.

honeywater---a laid back yet reserved she-cat. she's polite but superficial. many cats find her hard to read/understand. as soon as her eldest child, thistleheart, was old enough to be an apprentice, honeywater stopped looking after her. thistleheart fears the same fate will befall her younger siblings. her traits would be cold & incredibly clever.

rabbitface---dustfeather's brother. rabbitface is generally seen as the "cool uncle" type and is pretty silly. younger cats tend to like him but more strict/serious cats find him obnoxious (this includes dustfeather). his traits would be childish & beloved kitsitter.

lichenstep---ravenspot's brother. lichenstep grew up somewhat resentful of ravenspot, as she was always yarrowstem's favorite. when lichenstep came out as a tom, however, ravenspot was his bigger supporter. the two really bonded after that, and now are closer with each other than either of them ever were with yarrowstem. lichenstep is content to support ravenspot whenever he can. he helped her search for boulderstep, and supported her in her grief. lichenstep was furious when he found out boulderstep had joined fallenclan. at some point, he sought out boulderstep at a gathering and created a massive scene where lichenstep called boulderstep ungrateful, selfish, etc. for "betraying" such a "sweet" and "loving" cat like ravenspot. his traits would be bold & formidable fighter.

lizardfang---flamefoot's son and honeywater's brother. lizardfang is a flamboyant and self obsessed cat. he's very flirty and overly confident. cats generally find him annoying. lizardfang is very close with honeywater, despite being her total opposite. his traits would be flamboyant & eloquent speaker.

applepatch---a charming and slightly arrogant tom. applepatch is witty and clever, and is used to getting his way. he's a few moons younger than violetstar and always greatly admired her/looked up to her. he's a massive suck up and is constantly vying for her attention. many cats speculate that he has a crush on her. violetstar is indifferent to him most of the time. his traits would be confident & clever.

thistleheart---boulderstep's childhood best friend. read jaguar anon's fics!! she is centric in several of them. her traits would be compassionate & skilled healer.

-🐉 (don't have enough space to do kits and apps whoops. anyway uh. have some shallowclan!! i know you said not to apologize but i'm sorry for the insanely long asks...)

oooooh i LOVE all these headcanons!!! such cool ideas. im especially fond of Ravenspot being the one to scar Sleepycloud (i am canonizing this now bc its epic). can you imagine if he'd come back to camp and said what the cat who attacked him looked like. and Boulderstep overheard. AUGH.

[asongoficeandfirehistoryau]

Lord Vaellar Targaryen [178-102 B.C.]

The first known Targaryen Lord in written history is named Lord Vaellar Targaryen. He was Lord Aenar Targaryen’s [AKA Aenar the Exile’s] father and there is little of that history to be known. What is known of Lord Vaellar was found in a centuries old book buried deep within a pile of books in a wing of the Dragonstone Fortress that had long since been abandoned. When the wing was restored, the book found was guessed to be one of Lord Aenar’s personal journals. Since he considered himself and his kin to be the only remaining true Valyrian’s in the world after The Doom, he thought it important to keep a written record. Adding to his sense of his own importance was the fact his family were the last dragonriders in the world, so he believed their knowledge and lives should be recorded and documented for posterity.

The first full and intact record that remained of Lord Vaellar Targaryen [b. 178 B.C.] is that of his betrothal and wedding to Lady Naelarys of House Aereneos [b.176 B.C.] in 160 B.C. Aenar recorded that the match was made because while the House of Aereneos was old and powerful, they were also close to bankruptcy and, as a result, they were at risk of being publicly shamed if anyone at court were to find out how dire their finances truly were. The marriage was a desperate maneuver by Lord Aereneos to ensure that his 5 daughters, the eldest being Lady Naelarys, wouldn’t lose their status at court by ensuring a marriage alliance that was mutually beneficial for both Houses. Though the Targaryen’s were high lords, even having few of their number being dragonriders, they were not considered amongst the families of the “Great Dragon Lords of Valyria”. They were, however, one of the wealthiest families in Valyria. This marriage ensured that the Targaryen’s would get what they had been seeking for generations: entrance to the “Great Lords” club. Though they were still looked down upon for having bought their way in, thus the financial troubles of House Aereneos would remain a secret since once the two families joined, Vaellar through Naelarys would inherit his title, territories and holdings from the House of Aereneos in addition to those of House Targaryen. Though some whispered about the reasons for this unusual match*, Lord Vaellar and Lady Naelarys did not mind being matched, as they had been friends since their youth.

There is little record of Lord Vaellar Targaryen’s or Lady Naelarys personal lives or their accomplishments except for the records of their marriage, the birth of their children, and their children’s subsequent marriages and children. In 161 B.C. Vaellar and Naelarys were betrothed and in 160 B.C. they were officially married. Two years after the wedding, in 158 B.C., Lady Naelarys fell pregnant with their first child and, in an unprecedented turn of events, she claimed a dragon from one of the Targaryen’s fleet, Vinyx, which was seen to be a good omen for the pregnancy and the future of their House. Vinyx was a beautiful she-dragon with cream, gold, green and purple, iridescent scales. Vinyx had recently laid a clutch of eggs herself, leading people to suspect she had bonded with Lady Naelarys, sensing a soon to be mother. Soon after Vinyx was claimed by Naelarys, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Vimond “Fireborn” Targaryen, a healthy and robust redheaded child. In 155, she again fell pregnant giving Lord Vaellar another son, Vaenys Targaryen. In 153 B.C. Lady Naelarys finally gave birth to the daughter she had so desired, Velaenora, and again in 149 B.C. she gave birth to another daughter, Relaenna. In 145 B.C. Lady Naelarys gave birth to her 5thchild and 3rd son, Aenar Targaryen and, a little more than a year later in 144 B.C., she gave birth again to a daughter Alaeria Targaryen. Shortly after the birth 6th child, Alaeria, Lady Naelarys fell pregnant again, however, now in her 30s, the pregnancy took more of a toll on her body and she unfortunately miscarried sometime in 143 B.C. and finally in 140 B.C. she fell pregnant again for the last time. She unfortunately passed away at 36 of child bed fever after giving birth to her final son and daughter, twins, Aemor and Alaehna Targaryen, who fortunately survived the birth. Lord Vaellar was reportedly never the same after her passing and in an unusual move for a lord his age, he never remarried. However, once Lady Naelarys passed away, Lord Vaellar became the heir to both House Targaryen and House Aereneos and all their incomes and land holdings making him a “Great Lord” if not in name, then in practice.

*In the “Great Houses” of Valyria, they traditionally either had incestuous marriages or they married into another great house (usually still incestuous because of how intermarried the 14 families were, one for each of the “14 flames of Valyria”). So, Lady Naelarys’ marriage to Vaellar was considered somewhat scandalous, and there were rumors that she might have given away her maidenhood to Lord Vaellar and they were hastily married for that reason, however the rumors ceased when, after a year, they still had no children.*

[meadow-roses]

Some character profile art wips for Hymir, Zephear, Uvaer, Alward, and Nirros.

Recently I've had the privilege of working with the fantastic folks of Atomic Broadcasting to create visual designs for the characters of their new production, "The Written and the Lost" and let me tell you it is going to be EPIC.

Here's the official description taken from their Spotify page:

A rag-tag band of misfits takes a routine job as hired muscle for a research mission and soon finds that they've unearthed something ancient and of dire importance. Soon, the party finds themselves in a race against time to stop a cult and solve a mystery older than memory itself. A quest to learn what is remembered and what is forgotten. A saga of the Written and the Lost. The Written and the Lost is an actual play podcast using the Pathfinder 2E ruleset and taking place in the Lost Omens world setting. Join our rambunctious group of nerds every week for a new chapter in this original story with an emphasis on player-directed adventure and complex interwoven storylines.

You can find it on all major podcast hosting sites or on their website

[official-dire-omens]

Official Dire Omen

who else up resisting the urge

[yume-x-hanabi]

Lore, Beliefs and Customs in Rieze Maxia

A long time ago, I made a post on this topic. It was in dire need of a rewrite, and since this fits so well with the theme for Xillia Week's Day 1 (spirits/beliefs), I thought now was a good time to do it!

References used to write this post: in-game contents (cutscenes, NPC chatter...), Official World Guidance Book, Perfect Guide.

--

As a world that mostly revolves around spirits, it comes to no surprise that Rieze Maxia’s cults and legends are also heavily spirit-based. The countries of Rashugal and Auj Oule do not have an organized religion—rather, towns and regions have their own myths and traditions, some shared, some not.

This post will examine the various beliefs and customs of the Rieze Maxian people, with a few notes about Elympios when relevant.

Pre-Schism

In the distant past, people did not know of the spirits’ existence, and channeled instinctively. There were beliefs in spiritual entities, however, and there existed a language to communicate with spirits. Maxwell’s appearance eventually confirmed their existence, but the creation of the schism shortly after muddled things up.

Post-Schism Elympios

The Elympion population seems to be split between those who simply do not believe in spirits, and those who acknowledge their existence from a scientific viewpoint (usually in relation to spyrix issues or the otherworld reactor plan). Knowledge about Rieze Maxia was not widespread either—its existence appeared in old legends, but it remained unconfirmed for a long time.

Despite this more rational approach to spirit lore, some remnants of spirit lore remain in the tradition of middle names, which uses words from the special language mentioned above. Middle names are picked by parents carefully according to their meanings. For more details about names, see here.

X2 Exclusive—The Kresnik Clan and the Land of Canaan

While legends about spirits, Rieze Maxia etc were rare in Elympios, there was an exception: the Kresnik clan. In order to stand a chance in Origin’s Trial, they passed down a lot of the original lore surrounding the trial and the Land of Canaan from generation to generation, though they kept those secrets closely guarded.

Post-Schism Rieze Maxia

To ensure that the existence of Elympios and its spyrix would be lost to future generations, the first settlers of Rieze Maxia established strict rules that banned the mention of such topics. Thus, the confirmation of spirits’ existence was lost as well, and they returned to a status of legends. From there, many myths developed. The spirits’ existence was eventually confirmed again thanks to the scholar Howe (famous for his Egg Principle).

The Rieze Maxian Calendar

The Rieze Maxian calendar is heavily influenced by spirits. The four seasons are named after the Four Great Spirits, and each month and week is associated to an element. This is useful to know when elemental power is the strongest. For more details about the calendars, see here.

The weeks are each associated to a priestess, and it is not uncommon for parents to name their child a variation of the name of the priestess of their birth week. For example, Presa (named ‘Jill’ by her parents) was named after Julia, the priestess of Pluvia Rubra, which was the week of her birth.

Rashugal—Science over Faith

Spirit artes have become very developed in Rashugal. As a result, spirits are seen as an everyday part of life, and worship is thus less prevalent there.

On the other hand, Auj Oule is home to many traditions.

The Maxwell Faith

Maxwell is especially worshipped in Nia Khera, the first village established by the first settlers. The Maxwell faith and myths related to the creation of Rieze Maxia were passed down through the ages, and though the faith declined over time, many traditions remain. The dwindling faith was recently restored thanks to the advent of Maxwell,

A shrine dedicated to Maxwell stands on the outskirts of the village, and a family of shamans have been tending to it from generation to generation. Their last descendant, Ivar, became Milla Maxwell’s handmaid at a young age.

Altars hosting ‘temporal stones’ representing the Four Great Spirits were erected in the village. Those stones were excavated from the hallowmont, and were worshiped by the villagers. They can be used to summon the Four.

The Nia Khera Hallowmont is a sacred mountain near Nia Khera where it is said that souls and spirits gather. It also holds a special significance to Maxwell.

Efreet—The Patron of Warriors

As the Great Spirit of Fire, Efreet is revered by warriors, especially in the Xian Du area, which is home to the coliseum.

Undine—The Guide of Souls

As the Great Spirit of Water, Undine is often associated with the reincarnation myth (see below). It is said that she guides the souls of the dead on the river of souls.

Gnome—The Master of Harvest

As the Great Spirit of Earth, Gnome is the one people pray to for good harvest. Hamil even has a Gnome festival every year. As a thanks, Gnome makes sure their fruits are especially sweet.

Pluto—The Lord of the Abyss

As the Great Spirit of Eternity, Pluto used to be revered in the Xailen Woods Temple near Kanbalar. The temple is now abandoned, aside from twin shrine maidens who suspiciously do not seem to age. According to legends, the lord of the abyss was sealed in the temple by Maxwell a long time ago, and its worship died out afterward.

Those legends are true. Pluto was indeed sealed by Maxwell, but started undoing the seal over time. The shrine maidens are actually Pluto themself.

Kresnik The Sage

Kresnik the Sage was the one who listened to Maxwell’s warning and gathered followers to renounce spyrix usage. She and her followers were the first settlers of Rieze Maxia (note: in X2, her story is altered a little, and she no longer comes to live in Rieze Maxia herself).

In Rieze Maxia, she has become the subject of many legends:

In Rashugal: the six noble houses claim to be descendants of Kresnik’s six disciples.

In Auj Oule: the seven major tribes claim to be descendants of Kresnik’s seven sons.

Kresnik the Sage also comes up in the creation myth of Auj Oule.

Auj Oule’s Creation Myth—Kresnik and the Chimera

According to the legend, When Rieze Maxia was created, Kresnik the sage battled a legendary monster, the Chimera, which was so huge it blotted out the sky. When Kresnik stabbed the Chimera with her lance, its body fell to the ground and became the continent of Auj Oule.

Gaius’ bodyguards, the Chimeriad, are named after the Chimera. Each of their individual names represent a part of the Chimera.

The Myth of Reincarnation

According to the myth of reincarnation, the souls of the dead are carried by rivers to the hallowmont, where the souls are taken to the land of spirits to be reborn. For that reason, Undine is worshiped as the one who guides the passage of souls.

The Xian Du version of the myth says that only the souls of strong warriors enter the land of spirits, while the souls of losers sink to the bottom of the sea.

The myth of reincarnation is strong in Xian Du/the Kitarl clan, the Long Dau clan, and was also relayed to Elize by her parents.

In regions where the myth of reincarnation is strong, spirit worship is often closely tied to ancestor worship.

The myth of reincarnation is confirmed over the course of the game to be true. When a person dies, their soul enters the river of souls where they cleansed and their memories wiped out, then they are reborn as a spirit. It is part of the reincarnation cycle that rules Rieze Maxia.

Xillia 2 establishes new facts about the reincarnation cycle, but as they have no bearing on the people’s beliefs, they won’t be detailed here.

Prayer Pennants

It is a custom in the mountain clans of Auj Oule, especially Xian Du and Kanbalar, to hang a cloth banner called prayer pennant and make a wish.

Kanbalar’s prayer pennants are sewn with firethread, which prevents them from freezing.

The Xian Du Coliseum

The coliseum is considered a sacred ground. For that reason, it is only accessible by boat so that people purify themselves before stepping inside.

Prayer pennants in Xian Du are often hung with a wish for victory (or a loved one’s safe return).

In the Kitarl clan, it is a tradition to offer a gladiolus to a warrior fighting in the coliseum.

The coliseum was built in Trames 1800 (about 500 years before the game) and used to serve as a way to settle tribal dispute.

The Royal Hunting Grounds

Another sacred ground near Xian Du. They belong to the king of Auj Oule and are administrated by the Kitarl clan.

It was a tradition for clan leaders to hunt a monster in the Royal Hunting Grounds to receive an omen about the fate of their clan—the stronger the monster, the better the fortune. Many clan chiefs lost their lives in those hunting grounds.

Xian Du’s Stone Statues

The tradition to erect statues in honor of strong warriors started in Trames 1670 by a major tribe leader named Xiaman. This is another tradition tied to ancestor worship and the myth of reincarnation.

The Ghost Ship

In recent years, there are legends of a giant ghost ship roaming the sea, moving on its own without the help of spirit artes.

It is in fact the E.S.S. Zenethra, Exodus’ base. It must have been spotted a few times by a few dumbfounded sailors, giving birth to the legend.

There are probably many other legends, cults, and customs over Rieze Maxia (and Elympios, even though they might not be spirit-based). The world is vaster than what we can explore in-game, so there must be other villages and clans with their own traditions.

[hypmicawoou]

New post time! This is just a little speedrun edition of all of the terms and concepts you’ll see in Hunter’s Moon. I probably should have made this first but I wanted to ramble about linguistics first I guess. Stuff below the cut since this got long!

The Uratha are werewolves. They have an ancient history tracing back to the dawn of civilization passed down through oral tradition. They believe they are the descendants of Father Wolf and Mother Moon, two gods respectively ruling over the hunt and of change. Uratha and werewolf are interchangeable terms here. You can approximately translate Uratha to The People. All werewolves speak Uremehir, the language of werewolves, instinctively upon their First Change, or the moment they became a werewolf.

An Auspice is the moon phase that a werewolf experienced their First Change under. There are…sort of five. The Rahu (Full-Moon), Cahalith (Gibbous-Moon), Elodoth (Half-Moon), Ithaeur (Crescent-Moon), and Irraka (No-Moon, or New Moon.) The Uremehir terms in italics can be used more or less interchangeably with the moon phase (e.g. you could call Rosho either his pack’s Full-Moon or a Rahu and any werewolf would know exactly what you mean.) Rahu translates to The Crusader, and they act as exemplars of what Father Wolf should have been, defending the sanctity of all things on the Hunt. Cahalith translates to The Visionary, and they act as oracles and storytellers granted prophetic omens by Mother Moon. Elodoth are The Mediators, acting as judges, diplomats, and balancers between spirit and body. Ithaeur are The Spirit-Masters, healers and spirit-workers. Irraka are The Stalkers, acting as trackers, thieves, and assassins.

For the purposes of the story, I’ll have to mention one extra Auspice. A werewolf born during a stellar eclipse is called a Namm-Dar. Under this rare occasion, the werewolf is considered especially blessed and has the power to manipulate the strings of fate. I wonder if this is relevant to a certain gambler belonging to a star-themed group. ;>

The Firstborn are the original children of Father Wolf and Mother Moon. While they are werewolves, they are also gods in their own right. There are eleven Firstborn that are typically observed by werewolves: Black Wolf, Creator Wolf, Death Wolf, Destroyer Wolf, Dire Wolf, Rabid Wolf, Ravening Wolf, Red Wolf, Silver Wolf, Watcher Wolf, and Winter Wolf. Each has their own purview and their own powers they will grant to those who follow them.

…There might be more out there. One is relevant to this story. Most werewolves don’t even want to speak his name out loud. Hmmm. Ominous.

The Tribes are worldwide organizations of werewolves dedicated to a specific Firstborn. They’re equal parts religious group, philosophical framework, and social club. Normally Tribes would hold semi-regularly hold meetings called mut in Uremehir but that’s not happening in Tokyo since gatherings of more than three werewolves, including within packs, is heavily and often violently discouraged. This is probably for the best. I’m looking at some of the Tribe makeups and there are a few that would be an absolute catastrophe if anyone involved gathered there for more than five seconds. Samatoki and Jiro in the same room together…

I’ll have to dedicate a post to Tribes because there’s a lot to say. But, to hold you over, the names you need to know are: Blood Talons, Bone Shadows, Drinkers of the Well, Eaters of the Dead, Hunters in Darkness, Fire-Touched, Iron Masters, Ivory Claws, Predator Kings, Sky-Seers, and Storm Lords. Please note if you’re looking up canon info: the Eaters of the Dead are in a supplementary book as a potential Tribe and I love them so I ran away with them. The Sky-Seers are based on a post made by Werewolf writer Chris Allen on his Patreon where he proposes writing a Pure Tribe based on utilizing modern warfare techniques, and aren’t mine even if you find nothing by googling them (AFAIK he never gave them an official name.) Finally, the Drinkers of the Well are also a Chris Allen creation but that one I think he made public.

All werewolves experience the urge to hunt. Those who are observant of werewolf religious traditions will undergo the Sacred Hunt, a rite in which a werewolf offers up a specific chosen target to a Firstborn of a Tribe they or one of their packmates represents. A hunt doesn’t always need to end in a kill, but some Firstborn will prefer that you do so. If a Firstborn is pleased by the werewolf’s offer, they will bless the hunt and tip the scales just slightly in the favor of the werewolf’s pack.

The Wolfbloods are those who have the heritage of Father Wolf but haven’t been chosen by Mother Moon to go through their First Change. They often have some werewolfish abilities, and can learn certain magical rites, but are not as powerful as a werewolf is. Many werewolves started life as Wolfbloods before they experienced their First Change, but not all.

Alrighty! That’s it for werewolf-specific stuff. I’ll talk more about other supernatural denizens in another post. :V I just wanted to clear up some of the basics since a lot of terminology gets tossed around.

[askhubertvonvestra]

What are your opinions for each of the DLC fighters of SBBU (both Fighter's Pass 1 and 2)?

You’re seeking combative advice, is that right? I suppose I can oblige. The challenge of assessing fighters from realms other than my own, the professor aside, should prove rewarding.

Byleth: Despite my initial skepticism of their integrity, the professor is a capable fighter. That obviously did little to endear them to those engaging in this inter-realm combat arena, however. That they seemed to slow themselves down to add to the illusion of competition certainly didn’t help matters. In general, it seems as though our professor did not fare as well there as in Fódlan. All the better for us, if I am to be honest.

Pyra and Mythra: I can see why they opted to fight together. The weakness of one is guarded by the strengths of the other. Mythra is far faster and more difficult to hit than Pyra, who brings greater strength with her reduced speed and reaction time. They are decent combatants, but it is their tactical applications that set them apart.

Terry: His technically proficient approach to fisticuffs may seem alienating to the more casual takes that are common in this arena, but they do have their place. The most compelling attribute he has an opponent is delving into deeper reserves of strength when the situation is at its most dire. I’m familiar with the prospect, and I can respect that in another soldier. I’ve no doubt Caspar would be elated to meet him as well.

Min Min: Compared to the combatants here to compete, it is unfortunate that Min Min is easily overlooked. She can undoubtedly fend for herself and has promising potential as a fighter. It may be that she is out of her depths among such adept adversaries, but that makes it all the more impressive that Min Min has continued to fight.

Kazuya: Even more technically proficient than Terry, Kazuya is a considerable threat within this arena. One could argue he has been preparing for such a scenario for the majority of his life and indeed, longer than some of his fellow combatants have been alive. That experience is reflected in his skills, but I would say it does leave him open to a small chance of being outdone by simpler yet effective techniques.

Dragon Quest Hero: If I were in the professor’s shoes, this opponent would be my primary concern. He is equally capable with his sword as he is magic and other, less officially regarded techniques. It’s unclear where such tremendous strength and versatility comes from, but it does remind me of the professor’s own discreet duality. It is not a good omen for those competing.

Steve and Alex: Frankly, this pair appears lost when placed among the other fighters present at the arena. They do appear to adapt quite well, and for that, I can commend them. Innovation is an admirable trait regardless of context. For those only resorting to violence as necessary against natural threats, they have both refined their skills to inflict substantial damage that factors in the surroundings to their best uses. They may not stand out overly much, but they do warrant praise for the effort required to compete here.

Sephiroth: It may offend him not to be regarded among the best this realm has to offer, but I have no issues saying I care not at all what he thinks. Speaking objectively, he is a strategic and powerful opponent with very little in the way of weaknesses. Like most sword fighters, he excels within a certain range of his targets, and he is more than capable of maintaining that optimal distance. Should he fall short and take enough damage, there is yet more strength he can draw on, and that does present quite a challenge to those he’s faced in battle.

Banjo and Kazooie: They are surprisingly skilled, despite their harmless appearances. Their situation is similar to Pyra and Mythra in that they clearly fight better alongside one another. A tactical series of ranged feather attacks will accrue enough damage that the close-range attacks from Banjo could be sufficient to win the match. If nothing else, they do seem to enjoy their time there. I suppose that’s all that matters.

Joker: Dynamic as his fighting style is, there can be no doubt that he is a worthwhile contender. He is prepared for a large range of combative situations and thrives best where the battle plan is flexible. Ranged and close quarters adversaries are equally at risk with Joker present. Where his strength is clearly no match for some of those fighters, his skill is the true threat.

Sora: I admit, I was initially surprised at his involvement. I’d failed to factor in his competitive nature at first, and that clarified the matter very effectively. He capitalizes on his good instincts and intuitive skills through his combative arts, although he does have his flaws in magical spells. It is rather impressive how quickly he can close distance and fight mid-air. I imagine our own aerial units could learn a great deal from him despite his youth and relative inexperience.

[merryfortune]

Peck

Written for 100ships Challenge on Dreamwidth

Prompt #41 Dove

Ship: Snowangelshipping | Asana/Chevelle

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS

Word Count: 1,899

Rating: T

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Tags:  Fluff, First Kiss, Humour, Puberty Blues, Misunderstandings,  Mild Innuendo

  Asana had been thinking about it for a while now but it was probably time for her and Chevelle to have their first kiss.

  She had come to this conclusion after much thought. It just seemed like the next milestone they ought to achieve. After all, they have been on a handful of dates already in the short time they had decided to officially court as it were and they had also spent many moments holding hands.

   Though, it was in the sweetness of holding hands that Asana did predict a possible issue. Chevelle liked to go very slowly, it appeared. Asana did not mind but she still distinctly recalled the very first time they had held hands as a romantic act rather than a platonic one. It most certainly caught Chevelle up in a flurry, it made Asana laugh - both now and then - but she wondered if it was an omen that was going to set the tone for the rest of the relationship milestones that she envisioned for them both.

   Chevelle had lovely hands. They were magician’s hands, long slender fingers with a soft palm. Although, none but Asana knew this privilege given that he wore white gloves all the time but Asana had her tricks.

   She had invited Chevelle up to their private garden on the roof for a high tea. It was their favourite locale for a casual date; the sort of date that didn’t count towards Asana’s personal tally of all the dates that they had ever been on. Teatime and high teas were their private time to bond, not necessarily to date. There was a distinction though even Asana, ever eloquent, did often fail to explain it but Chevelle understood and agreed with her on that note. Though in this instance, high tea could absolutely be a date since Asana had big plans and she enacted them well before they got to the roof.

   She slipped out her hand to Chevelle’s right arm and interlocked it. Asana moved in closer and soon enough, she had Chevelle entangled in her own arms, making him a blubbering, blushing mess. But Asana didn’t stop there, although Chevelle’s reaction was already both sweet and satisfying. She slid her hands down Chevelle’s arm and put her fingers under the fabric of his gloves.

   He looked fit to protest her, even Trapigeon, ever loyal on his shoulder was making a loud fuss, but Asana came well prepared for any duel and love was absolutely the be all and end all duel. She nuzzled in even closer as she held onto his hand: both of hers locked over his, fingers entwining, toying with the glove, threatening to turn it loose, and then Asana gave Chevelle the look. It was utterly angelic. She batted her big, blue eyes at him and suddenly, her little dove was singing a very different tune to the embarrassed and rebuked one that he was trying to muster.

   “You are a sly one, princess.” Chevelle swallowed his initial reaction as Asana held his hand, playful and tugging at him, slowly wriggling off his glove until they had skin to skin contact. It was utterly scandalous. Salacious, even.

   But just once was enough to get Chevelle hooked on the idea of escorting Asana around like a true gentleman. Sometimes with gloves on, sometimes not. Now, Chevelle was comfortable walking around anywhere holding hands with Asana. On the school grounds, even in the corridors, and whilst on their dates around the scenic and romantic spots of Goha City, too. 

   However, that had been a while ago now and whilst it was a very special memory that Asana cherished, she thought it was high time to make some more like that. She loved the feeling of Chevelle’s hands - they were delicate yet made her feel safe to hold onto - and thus, she had no doubt in her mind that she would love the sensation of Chevelle’s lips as well. She had found herself observing him as he drank tea or ate sandwiches at their private tea parties. He carried himself exactly like a bird, behaving as though he were brittle and because of that, his demeanour was of grace and poise. Asana had never been kissed before but she was certain that if it was Chevelle, it would be entirely gentle and she couldn’t imagine a more wonderful thing.

   So, it was time to strategise once more and once more, her old faithful prevailed. She would be direct and forthright, no trickery or traps. So, she chose a date from the calendar and per her expectations, it was going to be a splendid afternoon for a tea party. Just herself and Chevelle, separated only by a multi-tiered display for their exquisite cakes, sandwiches, and other treats the Goha Sixth Elementary School cafeteria could provide. After all, it wasn’t just going to be her first kiss, it was going to be Chevelle’s as well, so Asana planned accordingly and she thought nothing would appeal to him more than familiarity and comfort, underneath a blue sky. She was swooning now just thinking about it.

   When the day came, Asana could not have been more pleased with the weather and had pep to her step all day. It surprised even Chevelle who had no idea that Asana intended to spring the possibility of their first kiss on him but was excited nonetheless for another of their tea parties.

   The wind was mild and the day itself was pleasantly balmy. There had been a soft rain the prior night and as such, the garden still glistened with a tender rain, making everything bloom brighter and more vivid. Their table by the garden centrepiece was set already with white linen table cloths and a display laden with macarons, meringues, and cucumber sandwiches without the crusts. It could not have been more perfect.

   Asana sighed happily as even though she had been the one to organise all this, it was Chevelle who was leading her through the garden bed paths that burgeoned with verdant flowers to their private spot. Hands entwined, of course. 

   “My lady.” Chevelle told her as he pulled out a chair for Asana.

   “My gentleman.” Asana returned the chivalry and sat down, Chevelle tucking her in. He then joined her by sitting at the chair across from her, the only other chair, of course.

   Chevelle smiled as he made an all but impossible selection from the goods in front of him and it was such a feather soft smile, it made Asana’s heart skip a beat. She watched, more eager than she meant to, as he gracefully poured out a warm cup of earl grey tea then took a sip. It only affirmed to Asana that she most definitely wanted to have their first kiss right here, right now and thus, threw all caution to the wind whilst Chevelle savoured that first taste of tea.

   “Pardon me, Chevelle,” Asana interrupted him and his eyes flicked up to her.

   “Yes?” he replied.

   “Have you ever thought about kissing me?” she asked, blurted out, really. She surprised even herself with just how uncouth she sounded.

   Chevelle’s eyes widened, he went bright red, “I - I could never.” he sputtered. “That would be entirely indecent of me.”

   “O-oh.” Asana murmured. She was uncertain as to how she ought to feel in the face of such a response.

   “We are far too young to be deflowering ourselves like that.” Chevelle continued, rambling and embarrassed.

   Asana blinked. It was just a kiss. Actually, it was just the mere proposition of a kiss. What was all this about being deflowered? Her eyebrow twitched as it just began to dawn on her but there may have been a misunderstanding between herself and Chevelle.

   “A-And what would I say to Galient? To my parents? No, it is far too early for us to even think about introducing chicks into our relationship.” Chevelle asked and his poor face was just getting redder and redder.

   “Chevelle!” Asana yelped. “Please, stop, I believe there is some confusion.”

   “Confusion?” Chevelle echoed. “Whatever confusion could there be, you are clucky already and I am still barely out of the nest. I could never kiss you because the consequences could be dire, I’m not ready to be a father.”

   Asana’s heart quaked and she wanted ever so badly to laugh at Chevelle but fortunately, she suppressed the impulse, “Chevelle, why are you under the impression that a kiss could, well, bear offspring?”

   “My parents have given me the birds and bees talk, of course. A kiss is what leads to the insemination of the egg.” Chevelle explained, indignant and folding his arms to prove his indignation.

   “I see.” Asana replied and she finally understood this situation. She nodded her head in deep though. “Chevelle,” she said, “I think you need someone else to give you the birds and the bees talk, because, er, when humans kiss… It does not turn out like that, not without a lot more… Machinations of the body, let’s say. However, I believe the kiss you were taught about was the cloacal kiss and I can assure you, I do not have one so no risk of chicks.”

   Chevelle, who had finally returned to his usual pallor after huffing and puffing and rambling, turned bright red once more. He agonised in embarrassment and Asana finally permitted herself a polite giggle at Chevelle’s expense. He couldn’t blame her. That was quite a mishap to make and though he had his hands in his face, he took a breath and was able to give Asana a sane and proper answer to the question that had catalysed this incident.

   “Asana, my princess,” he spoke very slowly, “I would be honoured to kiss you. Just once, though, just in case.”

   “So a little peck then?” Asana clarified.

   Chevelle slowly set down his hands and nodded, “That sounds perfect.” he replied.

   So, even though they had just sat down, they already got up again for there was a far more enticing treat than those piled high on the displays. Asana was suave as she got up, Chevelle was far more nervous than her and his hands shook. It was cute, making Asana giggle a small giggle, a superfluous breath, really.

   She stood close to Chevelle who appeared to want a bit more space. The compromise was awkward, not quite close enough but too far either and gave Chevelle the room to breathe that he apparently needed. His poor cheeks with their high cheekbones were slick with a nervous sweat and his pale skin was pink once more.

   “Are you ready?” Asana politely asked.

   “As I’ll ever be on such short notice.” Chevelle warbled back to her.

   “Good.” Asana said and she was the one to swoop in.

   The resulting kiss was anything but romantic, nothing at all that Asana had imagined but the fragrance of earl grey tea wafted through it so she couldn’t complain. Chevelle’s lips were soft but fleeting. The kiss lasted less than six or seven seconds, easily, but even after such brevity, Asana’s heart beat faster in her chest and she savoured the soft sensation. Her fingers brushing over her own mouth whilst she watched Chevelle retreat. He hid his face in the crook of his arm, clearly panicking that he had done something scandalous but it was just a kiss. Just a peck.