#purity lionheart

[rumaskift]

Hi and welcome to part one of Skift's greatest hits from Leviara (2022-2023) tumblr won't let me post all of it, there's so much oh my god what happened

[canisalbus]

Noticed an Ask that asked if you listened to gothic music, to which you said no. Now I'm curious, what kind of music do you listen to? Any band recommendations that you particularly enjoy? I'd love to hear and maybe give some a listen!

I could give you a list of some of my current/all-time favorite songs, would that be anything at all? These have been formative to me in some way and I keep returning to them frequently.

The Knife - Silent Shout Fever Ray - I'm Not Done Röyksopp - Running To The Sea Cosmo Sheldrake - The Fly Fleet Foxes - The Shrine/An Argument Florence & The Machine - Hunger Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart Scandinavian Music Group - Liian laiha rakkaani Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness Nicole Dollanganger - Smitten With You Soap&Skin - Me and the Devil Purity Ring - Flood on the Floor Milla Rumi - Opettelen ilmeitä Hozier - Take me to Church The Correspondents - Finally Alt-J - Every Other Freckle Heikki Kuula - Pilvellä Käärijä - Huhhahhei Mika - Origin of Love Keane - Crystal Ball Aurora - Heathens Värttinä - Tammi Gorillaz - Tranz Woodkid - Iron Go-A - Kalyna

My newest obsession is Automatic by Half Alive, been replaying that all day everyday lately.

[dalivanmagritte]

NCT FIC REC : LEE JENO

back to the nct fic rec

Jeno fic rec part.2

favs

lionheart (fav, smut, fluff, royal!au, knight!au, monarch!au)

premium boy-toy (fav, smut, stripper!au)

step on a crack, dr.lee's gonna break your back (fav, smut)

wanna know what it's like (fav, smut)

yours to tame (fav, fluff, smut, knight!au, princess!au, royal!au)

koi no yokan (fav, smut, abo!au)

slick pup (fav, pervert!au, smut)

prince of wolves (fav, smut, werewolf!au, vampire!au)

i suddenly realize my archnemesis is hot (fav,fluff, angstish, demigod!au, mythology!au)

pride & prejudice (fav, fluff, angst, smut)

no smut

rainfall (fluff)

the deal (fluff, college!au)

cigarettes after sex (fluff, angstish, suggestive, college!au)

do you even know how to have fun? (angst to fluff, badboy!au)

classics (smut)

secret (smut, fluff, sub!jeno (kink discovery))

sweet lies (smut, angstish, ghost!jeno!au)

heatstroke (mechanic!au, smut)

tattooist!jeno (fluff, angst, tattooist!au, florist!au)

himbo (smut, himbo!jeno)

cute little intern (smut, ceo!au, intern!au)

mine only (smut)

possessive dad! (smut, pregnancy!au, soon to be parents!au)

ridin' club switching lanes (smut, streeracer!au)

sweet fury (smut)

hit the breaks! (serie, smut, streetracer!au, mechanics!au)

rich purity (serie, smut, virgin!au)

possessive jeno (smut, roommate)

a different kind of exercise (smut, personal trainer!au)

the rock of gibraltar (smut)

jeno uses his strength against you (smut)

the bat & dove (smut, fluff, mafia!au, racer!jeno)

banana (smut)

guardian gloves (smut, angstish, boxer!au)

teddy bear (smut)

strong jeno (smut)

codename : monster (smut)

his order (smut, ceo!au)

sli(ck-p)up (smut, perv!jeno)

fireproof (smut, brotherbf!au, college!au)

size kink (smut)

only 'til dawn (smut, badboy!jeno, goodgirl!reader)

day6: overstimulation (smut)

day19: pet play (smut)

little wifey (smut, husband!au)

hard dom! (smut)

wrapped around your fingers (smut)

my first and last (smut, college!au)

summer hair = forever young (smut, fluff)

perv!jeno (smut, roommates!au, perv!au)

monster in hiding (smut, stalking!au)

can't take it? (smut)

alternate universe (magics, gods, royalty, etc...)

my sunset is yours (fluff, hogwarts!au)

helping hand (fluff, hogwarts!au)

transfiguration spell (smut, fluff, angstish, hogwarts!au)

sinking ships (smut, sailor!au, mermaid!au, horror!au)

change in you (smut, vampire!au, georgian-era!au)

puppy (smut, supernatural!au, werewolf!au)

sunshine (fluff, angst, mermen!jeno)

the lucky one (fluff, angst, demigod!au, mythology!au)

son of morpheus (fluff, demigod!au, mythology!au)

son of apollo (fluff, demigod!au, mythology!au)

son of shadows (part of elysios serie, fluff, demigod!au, mythology!au)

the tale older than time (fluff, demigod!au, mythology!au)

late night company (fluff, comfort angst, demigod!au)

scream (smut (dirtyyy smut), halloween!au, ghostface!jeno)

why dying my hair was the best decision of my life (fluff, soulmates)

take my breath (smut, abo!au)

puppy pound (smut, abo!au)

jealous (smut, abo!au)

sos x jaemin (smut, abo!au)

destiny (smut, abo!au)

stepbro alpha jeno (smut, abo!au, stepbro!au)

pretzel (smut, abo!au)

phone fuck me (smut, ghostface!au)

incubus!jeno (smut, incubus!au)

ascention to the throne (serie, smut, royal!au, prince!au, political!au)

with another member

just so you know x jaemin (smut)

i'm a mouse duh! x jaemin (smut)

they're roommates x jaemin (smut)

the sequel x jaemin (smut, ghostface!au, halloween!au)

cookie jar x jaemin (smut, stepbrother!au)

can you handle it? x johnny, jaehyun, jaemin (smut)

morally gray (and tw)

baby trapping (smut, sugardaddy!au)

shameless (smut, stepson!au)

undone (noncon, smut)

teddy bear -> our sick story, thus far x haechan (dubcon, smut)

stepbro!jeno part.2 (DUBCON, smut, stepbrother!au)

behind closed doors x haechan (smut, slight dubcon, stepbro!au)

the walls are thin x jaemin (DUBCON, smut)

shoplifter x mark (dubcon, smut, bodyguard!au, stepfather!au)

switch -> chain x johnny (dubcon, smut, neighbour?au)

arcade (continuation of switch/chain, smut)

[ferretteeth]

Swedish references in Disco Elysium and A Sacred and Terrible Air

There's a couple of things I keep thinking about in the Elysium universe from a Scandinavian or specfically swedish POV and I need to put them somewhere. It makes sense a lot of the game is both Slavic and Scandi inspired since the author is Estonian (and many of the people working on it also are from North Europe).

To start off: racism and white nationalism. This starts in Disco Elysium with, for example, the Hjelmdallarmann comic which is clearly an in universe viking fiction. Vikings, Celtics and similar have in real life unfortunately been co-opted by white nationalists wanting to return to anarchist values. The same goes for the fictional ancient civilizations in Elysium. We know what types are into the Hjelmdall fiction

In Terrible Air this is shown in Vidkun Hird, the imprisoned white nationalist who once led a nationalist party called Hjelmdall. He also shares a name with Vidkun Quisling, Norwegian nazi collaborator.

Vikard similarly resembles IRL white nationalists interested in these aesthetics by talking at length about how beautiful the missing Lund girls are, focus on racial purity and innocent women as soon as they're old enough to have children.

In summary, Elysium’s worldbuilding is so extensive there’s in-canon white nationalists with a hard on for vikings.

On a lighter note: Vaasa and Katla are both very clear analogs for Northernmost Europe. Vaasa is likely named after the Swedish royal lineage Vasa, often considered to be our “great” kings since they successfully created a Swedish empire which contained much of Northern Europe and a few isles in the Atlantic. There even is a Finnish town named Vaasa after Swedish occupation.

They speak Swedish a few times in the books (song lyrics, Skål!) also there is just Östermalm which exists in real life. I was there two days ago.

Northern Katla is definitely Finland. It shares a border with Grad (Russia) and also Cunoesse is from there.

(Näkki is a necken or nix, water-living faefolk who play the fiddle)

Here's Cunoesse just calling you a "cop motherfucker" in Finnish (more or less. Vittu is a transcendental curse and hard to translate)

Katla could be named either after the Icelandic volcano or after the dragon in Bröderna Lejonhjärta (The Brothers Lionheart) by Astrid Lindgren, same author who did Pippi Longstocking. Or maybe something entirely different but those are the things that come to mind. Here is Katla from the movie, haunting Scandinavian children since 1977.

[bonefall]

BB!Speckletail

[ID: Speckletail from WC. She is a light golden tabby with a fluffy 'cravat' mane and brown stripes. She also has brown flecks.]

Since she's been coming up a lot! The problematic bulldozer conqueror herself. The only apprentice to survive the Great Hunger, inheritor of Doestar's legacy, and girl with the coolest death in BB

Clanmew Name: Poeswash Tiny spots pattern (Poes) + Tail (Swash)

Alignment: ThunderClan, born and raised

Relationships: Parents - Stagleap & Mossheart Aunt - Doestar Mentor - Pinestar Apprentices - Halftail, Mousefur Children - Lionheart, Goldenflower, Mistleclaw, Snowkit Grandchildren - Cinderpelt, Brackenfur, Thornclaw, Brightheart, Swiftpaw, Lynxkit, Bramblestar, Tawnypelt Father-of-her-children (derogatory) - Smallear

A serious, relentless molly who pushes herself to the limits of her abilities, and one of ThunderClan's strongest warriors when she was in her prime. Always says what's on her mind, even if you didn't want to hear it, and would rather 'beg forgiveness' rather than ask permission.

She may be aggressive and critical, but it's easy to understand where it came from. Speckletail has has a rough life-- between losing family to starvation, her murderous son-in-law, and a hawk, she has a hard time catching a break.

Ideologically, she is an excellent example of a Hard Traditionalist. She believes strongly in the values of Clan Culture at the time of TPB, like purity, loyalty, and strength, and is one of Firepaw's 'lesser' antagonists well into his warriorhood.

After her death, Speckletail is invoked as a Patron of Disaster. When storms ravage territory, or when fire tears through the forest, she is prayed to for protection, and to forestall the destruction long enough for you to make an escape.

Jumbled trivia below the cut!

The 'creamy ruff' that Doestar has is a trait that follows down to Speckletail, and at least one of the Frostfour will end up getting it.

The 'boots' and spots are from her mother, Mossheart.

Speckletail is very religious. She prays to StarClan regularly, and would often consult the Clerics with things she'd perceived as signs. She doesn't have visions, but is still quite pious.

Featherwhisker was always so good at assuring her that her nightmares weren't signs... she misses him immensely. Though she got along just fine with Spottedleaf.

She was Pineheart's first apprentice, and just as he began training her, the Great Hunger began. It was a barren summer, and a frigid winter.

None of her siblings survived. None of the other apprentices, either. She even lost her father, Stagleap. A lot of cats died.

But Pineheart kept her alive, and taught her how to be resourceful.

To her dying day, Speckletail was 'thrifty...' and would yell at cats who she saw wasting food.

In general, she could be quite negative. She had a bad habit of imagining the worst case scenario and sticking to it.

But it also made her very brave. Her worst fear is the thought of missing her chance to save someone-- death has no power over her.

In spite of her critical and harsh personality, she was VERY close with all of her family. She regularly braided Goldenflower's mane for her, and spent lots of time with her grandchildren.

She was especially happy when Goldenflower chose Tigerclaw as a mate, she was always fond of the boy.

So, she was particularly shocked when his crimes came to light. Especially that he'd been working with ShadowClan, and they assassinated Lionheart for him.

Snowkit's death devastated her, when he pushed Tawnykit out of the way as the hawk bore down on them. In her prime, she could have made that leap, she'd killed large prey like hawks before... but she couldn't. She was too old, and the strength had left her body.

She didn't like the Elder's Den very much, and felt restless. She felt powerless all over again.

And speaking of elders, Smallear is the father of her kittens but they had a very volatile relationship. They're too much alike, and were constantly getting into fights and breaking off.

He was not involved with any of their three litters. Speckletail pointedly raised them alone, but it was known that Smallear was the father.

But this also meant she mourned them alone, when Mistleclaw died of plague, Lionheart was assassinated, and when she had no body of Snowkit's to bury.

She was finally at peace with it all, in the final days. Seeing her grandchildren become fine warriors, getting to watch her great-grandchild Whitepaw grow up.

But then the destruction of the forest began with a twoleg monster veering off the Thunderpath, rolling over the trees.

As the camp was evacuating in a panic, she called Thornclaw to her, and ran towards the danger.

She wouldn't let humans and their pets take more family from her... aaaand allowed some guy probably named Matthew to file the WILDEST workman's comp case in history.

While Speckletail just thought she was attacking another predator, little did she know she was making the news and setting off a cascade of events that would lead to a team of researchers getting funding. A miracle.

But the Clan cats don't know this... all they know is that when they pulled Speckletail out of the wreckage, her fur was shiny with the blood of the monster.

It was too noxious to clean off of her remains, so they buried her with a rainbow in her fur.

Speckletail immediately became popular across the Clans for this story, becoming a patron in record time.

[bedofthistles]

Lion De Noir

The Secret of Moonacre / Merrynoir

Black as night, and quiet as death, the De Noir clan lived perfectly content. Perhaps the villain in many a tale, and never the hero, Robin De Noir learned to accept his fate as black hearted. And while he failed to meet his father's expectation's many times over, he knew his betrayal would have him banished for evermore.

From that moment on, he was no longer the Coeur De Noir’s fool of a son, but the Lionhearted Guardian of the Moon Princess. Who, at the 5000th Moon, broke the curse over the valley, reunited the two families, and ushered in a new era of magic.

However, the tales of Moonacre never end and a new page is turned; boys grow into men, hardened hearts soften, and all will learn of a rising calamity that comes with the dawn. There cannot be light without dark, love without hate, good without evil; balance and harmony must be maintained.

May the Moon shine as bright as the night is dark, and may the Sun continuously bathe her in his warm glow; thus begins the next chapter of The Ancient Chronicles of Moonacre Valley.

Part One: Red

Passion of passions

Of pride, devotion and love.

Of the strength that resides in all of men’s spirits

Of the lion’s eye and beating heart;

Red to represent life.

Devotion | Life | Family

Part Two: Black

Mystery of mysteries

Of power, authority and prestige.

Of the evil that resides in all men’s minds.

Of the moonless night and graveyard dirt;

Black to represent death.

Darkness | Death | Power

Part Three: White

Purity of purities

Of perfection, balance and innocence.

Of the light that resides in all men’s hearts.

The perfect moon and her sea pearls;

White to represent hope.

Moonlight | Hope | Purity

Part Four: Lionheart

De fierté, de puissance, et de perfection

De ceux ordonnés garder la vallée

Les mal famés et Cœur de lion

Le Clan De Noir

Spirit | Mind | Heart I | Heart II | Epilogue

[richmond-rex]

Hi! This is probably going to sound very rambly but I'm really confused and my thoughts are all over the place

The Ricardian xenophobia and anti-Welsh prejudice against Henry VII's ascension is so sickening to see, but it's also ... extremely baffling? In my opinion, there's no other reason it could have originated other than Ricardian double standards.

Because..the Yorkists *also* had Welsh heritage. Edward IV emphasized his Welsh lineage as much Henry VII did and much earlier (highlighting his descent from Llewellyn, utilizing the prophecies of Cadwaladr and the struggle between the Red and White Dragon, etc). The first Welshman to be ennobled since Owain Glyndwr’s fight for freedom (William Herbert) was during his reign, and the fact that very few Welshmen bothered to obtain letters of denizenship during that time (literally *one* person from 1467—1483, and while one is obviously still too many, it's a significant drop from his predecessors and should absolutely be noted in a positive way) is a clear indication that he did not make much use of the Penal Code. Which is a good thing, obviously! Yet for some reason, this is conveniently ignored, even though we know for a fact that David Powel believed that Henry VIII’s Welsh heritage was from his mother Elizabeth of York rather than his father.

The Yorkists *also* had Irish heritage through Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster & wife of Lionel of Antwerp, which is also conveniently ignored for ... reasons.

And the comparison between Elizabeth of York’s “English Plantagenet blood” versus Henry VII’s “Tudor blood” which I have seen from some Ricardians is so bizarre to me. Apart from her Welsh and Irish connections through her father as discussed above, Elizabeth of York’s grandmother was from Luxemburg. Her grandfather began his career as a simple English knight. The Woodvilles, as usual, are simultaneously vilified and entirely disregarded when talking about the supposed "end of the Plantagenets.

So like...I'm a little confused WHY people assume that Henry VII's ascension heralded this massive change in terms of nationality or bloodline? Like you mentioned, he was also directly descended from Edward III. His grandmother was the Queen of England, his uncle was the King of England and his mother was one of the wealthiest English heiresses of her time. And Owen Tudor was given letters of English denizenship after his marriage to Catherine of Valois, which would have passed to his sons and grandson.

Of course, when talking about the Plantagenets/Yorkists, I mainly focused on Edward IV and his children, which probably why it's barely taken into account. When people fantasize about the so-called “purity” of the Plantagenets and Yorkists, they’re mostly (99.9% of the time, tbh) talking about Richard III, the emblem of "Englishness" (🤮) in the Victorian era and other eras (although he's certainly not the only one - Henry V, Henry IV to an extent, Edward III, Richard Lionheart and Henry II are all viewed in a very similar way), and mindlessly swallowing Richard’s own propaganda again Henry VII.

(While this isn't completely related, I wouldn't feel comfortable sending this ask without it so I hope it's okay and it doesn't get too long. To be honest: the Tudors are ALSO seen as symbols of English nationalism by an overwhelming majority. They are probably the most famous and well-known English dynasty; a vast number of English history books literally start with the year 1485; the red-and-white Tudor rose is one of the most memorable symbols of the English monarchy; and a vast number of people view that era as the "golden age" of England; Henry VIII and Elizabeth I Tudor are probably the most well known English monarchs of all time. So I certainly don't feel comfortable believing that there's a one-sided negative view against them because that's objectively not true; they're seen in a very positive manner by the vast majority of people. Which is why the contrary claims are so confusing to me - they're so vehement, but they also make no sense whatsoever, and they're completely opposite from the positive and glorified view that - overwhelmingly imo, at least internationally - opposes them)

Sorry if any of this isn't framed properly, English isn't my first language. I can send an ask to clarify anything it it's too confusing to understand 😅

Hi! Sorry for taking so long to reply! I must admit that I lost you there in the end (sorry) but I think I got the gist of your ask. There are a couple of views regarding the 'Welshness' of the Tudors. Some people disregard it entirely because of the things you said by the end of your ask: Henry VIII's break with Rome and Elizabeth I's triumph against the Spanish invasion/armada have been regarded as hallmarks of the making of British (and by British, read: English) culture, as much as Henry V's fight against the French, for example. Of course, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were not (culturally at least) Welsh, so I would find it equally weird to claim that 'Welsh' was the defining Tudor trait.

As Dr Adam Chapman highlighted in this podcast episode, there was no such thing as 'Wales' as a well-defined country. Welsh identity was cultural, political and based on language. What made Henry VII Welsh was not some x-times removed ancestor, but the fact that he spent his formative years 'in the most Welsh place imaginable' (William Herbert's household), that he most likely spoke Welsh, famously enjoyed Welsh culture (Welsh mead, Welsh music, openly promoted the cults and celebrations of Welsh saints such as Saint David & Saint Armel), promoted Welsh servants, and the fact that he was embraced as Welsh by the Welsh themselves.

But mostly, I think many people do not know that the Tudors were originally Welsh at all! Mostly, people who bemoan that aspect — even if, technically, only one Tudor monarch was Welsh — are the ones who like to romanticise Richard as the last true bastion of Englishness such as Philippa Gregory, Rosemary Jarman, John Ahsdown-Hill, Sandra Worth etc. It is ironic, as you said, because the Yorkists also had Welsh heritage, and when push comes to shove you'll find plenty of ricardians saying Richard was 'more Welsh' than Henry VII because of some ancestor x-times removed, even though Henry had a Welsh grandparent, was born in Wales, was raised in Wales, and grew up in a Welsh-speaking household where Welsh cultural traditions were held. Apparently, being Welsh is terrible unless it's time to say Henry VII was fake Welsh or was less Welsh than the Yorkists.

(never mind that Henry VII was also descended from Llewellyn the Great)

(also stupid because Henry VII never claim to be descended from King Arthur)

It doesn't matter if they don't consider Henry VII to have been very Welsh (or Welsh at all) because suddenly being Welsh is too cool for such an uncool guy like Henry Tudor. The Welsh people of his time viewed him as Welsh. He had all the right conditions to compete for the prophetic mab darogan title as explained here, and that's something considering a part of the Welsh people had been willing to accept even the Yorkists for the title at the time they were against the Lancastrian crown. Edward IV explored that advantage on some occasions, especially when it came to legitimising his rule via prophetic discourse.

However, as stated by Gruffydd Aled Williams, if Edward IV 'did not excite overmuch enthusiasm among the Welsh bards' (in the number of poems produced), it seems like Richard did not even come close to that. It's not that we find very few poems praising Edward's brother (I wonder if there are actually any), it's that the Welsh poets were especially harsh on Richard — he was compared to King Herod (who ordered the killing of the first-born sons), and called unchristian names such as 'saracen'. He was also called ableist names such as 'little Richard', 'deformed Richard', 'little raider', 'small Richard', 'feeble-bodied', 'little ape' and so on. From 1483 onwards, the bards who once had their loyalties divided between Jasper Tudor and Edward IV/William Herbert, unanimously united in Henry Tudor's favour.

Again, cultural identity mattered a lot, which seems to be conveniently forgotten when they decide that it's actually cool to be Welsh. Most of the time they don't seem to see it as good quality, though. The aspect of cultural identity matters when they like to explore the idea that the Tudors were not culturally English, so they didn't know and respect English traditions. It's not uncommon to see the claim that Chilvary died with Richard at Bosworth — Sandra Worth's “at Bosworth Field died the Age of Chivalry” — as if Henry VII didn't extensively engage with chilvaric performance (x, x) and discourse (x).

In my opinion, the real problem with this kind of discourse and re-imagination of the past is, of course, the very real anti-immigrant and English nationalist sentiment that has gained so much currency in Brexit-era England. Henry VII & his family are dead, they can't be offended by any of that — the immigrants who are associated with diseases according to that kind of rhetoric, for example, are not.

[swordduels]

Quizz time! PS. I didn't make the quizz. I used a website :3 Which of my favourite specific character archetypes are you? Results for quiz Which of my favourite specific character archetypes are you? (uquiz.com) For Clarimonde: The Beauty.

Beloved, beautiful, naive, innocent—or at least, perceived this way. The one representing goodness, in all its purity, to others. Smarter than they let on. Clarimonde: Come again? Sigfrid: Bahahaha! Bullshit!

For Sigfrid: The Lionheart.

The loyal one, the stubborn one, the one who fights for others. The guarder, the watcher, the brave, foolish, valiant person who is not the same person by the end of the story. Sigrid: Heck yeah. Clarimonde: Hmm, you are indeed quite foolish. Sigfrid: Hey! Don't steal my thunder.

For Circe: Sister Winter.

A cold, bitter person, who was once naive but learned fast. Resilient, chilly, melancholy. A person waiting for spring. Circe: Me, cold? Absurd.

tagged by: @cursedfortune

tagging: @arrachnes @helreginn @mxgnolium @thevoiceofthepeople

And everyone else who want to do this quizz :3

[greenerteacups]

Hi! I tremendously enjoy reading Lionheart so thank you so much for sharing your talent with us all.

What are some of your headcanon reasons for pure blood supremacy and for the relatively low fertility of magical families?

Thank you! It's my pleasure!

God, this is so interesting. This is the lore that gets me going, seriously. This got way long, though, so I'm hiding it under the cut.

Quick background for other readers— pretty much every estimate we get of the number of magical families in Britain is insanely low, considering: (1) most purebloods are not squibs; (2) unions between muggles and wizards doesn't reduce the chances of having a magical kid, as far as we can tell (Chamber of Secrets, page number disregarded in haste, but Dumbledore claims that virtually every wizarding family has muggle blood somewhere; also, the alternative would be a bizarre piece of worldbuilding, considering it's a cornerstone of Death Eater ideology); and (3) muggles can have magical children. So, by basic laws of population, either (a) there should be way, way more than 1,000 students at Hogwarts, or (b) squibs actually far more common than we think, we just don't hear about them, or (c) magical families have low fertility rates. Because (c) does the least damage to the suspension of disbelief, it's a pretty common headcanon.

I also prefer (c). I can think of at least a couple plausible reasons (c) could be the case: things like blood maledicts and magical diseases and (this is where it gets nasty) some really gnarly complications related to carrying a literal magical being to term. What if a burst of accidental magic from the fetus turns your placenta into concrete? What if it Vanishes its own umbilical cord? Hell, what if its magic just isn't compatible with its mother's — you know, the way moms with a different blood type from their babies sometimes have to get immunosuppressants, so their body doesn't identify the fetus as a disease and attack it? Even though magical medicine is pretty advanced, I can see pregnancy being one of those things where, even if you can catch a magical crisis fast enough to save the mother, the baby's chances aren't great. Which is... really dark, obviously. But it would also explain why pureblood families don't often have more than one or two children. (I think the Greengrasses are the only Golden Trio-Era family in Slytherin with two kids; I could be wrong, though.)

To that point, we don't see other families nearly large as the Weasleys, and a lot of people seem to regard having that many kids as strange or unnatural — which doesn't make sense, if your society is in the middle of a fertility crisis, but would be a tad more understandable if it came with the implicit risk of danger to the mother. It also explains why so many of these pureblood houses are in decline: you've only got one or two chances to keep this thing going, and if you have bad luck for even one generation, you're toast.

Then you incorporate pureblood supremacy, which is this nebulous, cruel, incestuous doctrine of bloodlines and social station that essentially operates as magical caste. In an era before modern science, I can easily see the difficulty of carrying a magical child becoming a sort of mark of nobility: a test you pass, bringing a noble child into the world, and their scarcity makes them valuable. In a feudal England, where having a blood heir is vitally necessary for the important life milestone of Not Getting Your Clock Cleaned By The Rival Lords, that difficulty of conception would make fears about "purity" much more intense. So you get wizarding nobility (the original purebloods) panicking and trying to concentrate as much magical blood as they can to increase their conception rates... being tragically unaware, of course, that it's the magical blood that's actually killing them.

The additional irony of that scenario is that in so doing, the pureblood families are actively hurting themselves by limiting their genetic pool — just look at the Black family tree, it's basically a cross-stitch pattern — which obviously increases the risk of recessive diseases and health complications that diminish lifespan and ability to conceive. So although they think they're protecting their lineage, they're actually breeding themselves into extinction. And meanwhile, people like the Weasleys — who have been marrying with muggles "for ages," according to Ron — are regularly having up to seven children, and remaining healthy for years afterward. I think that's pretty fitting.

[thequeendomhq]

THE SANCTUARY ~

NAME. UTP AGE & BIRTH DATE. 35+ SPECIES. Witch FACTION. Tower of Olympia OCCUPATION. Public Health Advisor

The world is hardly kind to young women who show a spark of being greater than they. An Astorian witch who escaped the flames, those you left behind gave everything to see you to safety, nightingales and Agents conspiracized to bring you to the shores of Eterna. In the soft embrace of the Tower of Olympia you found a family waiting for you with open arms. They would protect you and they mourned alongside you, your grief was their grief, your pain was their pain. Witches rescued from the border between Lysara and Astoria came through the doors when you were an Accepted, marked by burns and wounds you saw the horror that was nearly your fate and worked to undo it. There wouldn’t even be a scar, but you knew that these wounds were more than skin deep. Healer, you tended to the battlefield, you worked in the halls of hospitals and clinics across the realm. In every corner of Taravell there were people who suffered, you bit the risk and faced it head on; the shores of Caribella, the grain fields of Astoria, the frigid lands of Iskaldrik, and the treacherous dunes of Ankhuria. You weren’t alone, and those you saved would know the safety and purity of the power that you wielded. To Eterna you returned once more, there you set your post, advisor to Queen Arethusa Mordecai herself on the safety of not just the witches of the realm, but the wellbeing of a nation.

CONNECTS

THE RIGHT, REDEMPTION, LIONHEART, SPHERE, BLAZING, and ENGINEER: Members of the Queen's Court

NOTES

Healer of Ceres or Student of Proserpina.

[mustlovesteve]

LATBG Playlist

Spotify link

Notes:

This only includes song specific to chapters/arcs.

These are all from Steve's POV unless otherwise specified.

Chapter references are based on the actual chapter numbers, not the upload number. (So, for example, the 1st uploaded chapter is actually the Prologue, and the 30th uploaded chapter is the 29th actual chapter.)

Screaming by CHVRCHES - Main Theme/Prologue

Glitch by Taylor Swift - Ch. 01-10

Eat You Alive by The Oh Hellos - Chapter 03

Mt. Washington by Local Natives - Chapter 13

Can't Help Myself by Now, Now - Chapter 16 (Eddie POV)

Home by Daughter - Chapter 17

Labyrinth by Taylor Swift - Ch. 18-20

Degausser by Brand New - Chapter 22

watersong by Purity Ring - Chapter 23

Master Pretender by First Aid Kit - Chapter 24

Diving Bell by Starset - Chapter 25

Try (P!nk cover) by Eli Lieb - Chapter 26

Hollow (Lo's Version) by Lo Spirit - Ch. 28-37

Pressure by Paramore - Chapter 30

Fall to Pieces by Avril Lavigne - Chapter 31

Go Away Closer by This Will Destroy You - Chapter 32

Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths - Chapter 34

XO (Beyonce cover) by CHVRCHES - Chapter 35 [NOTE: not available on Spotify, but found here]

Sun-Bleached Flies by Ethel Cain - Chapter 36

Asking For A Friend by CHVRCHES - Chapter 37

Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush Cover) by RichaadEB & annapantsu - Chapter 37

Don't You Worry by Lucy Rose - Bad End AU

Chinese Satellite by Phoebe Bridgers - Bad End AU

BONUS: (D)POTC Playlist

I Have Made Mistakes by The Oh Hellos - Main Theme

Don't Swallow the Cap by The National - Chapter 01

King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men - Chapter 02 (Robin's POV)

Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars - Chapter 04 (Eddie's POV)

I'll Be Good by Jaymes Young - Chapter 08 (Hopper's POV)

It's Alright by Mother Mother - Chapter 09

All This Love by Angus & Julia Stone - Chapter 10

(under construction)

[wyvernwriterarchive]

🌄Dalgari, World of Legacies 🌄

🌐Dalgarian Chronology🌐

Long ago, the world of Dalgari was ruled over by all of mankind and overseen by the gods of the realm.

Humans, Elves,Ainmhi, Olphiests…they all lived in peace.

That was until a sorcerer named Riven sought to control the world.

He made a deal with a dark deity, one called Teragyth, and brought a plague of monsters and madness to the world, inspiring his Olphiest brethren to revolt.

The goddess of truth and legacies, Leanogy , enraged and distraught by the madness Teragyth’s power had unleashed, blessed eleven people with incredible power and blessed weaponry, asking them to defend the people from this threat.

So began a long and brutal war, with the world's people coming out on top.

Unfortunately…the Olphiest were now seen as the true enemy. The eleventh hero was demonized and eventually killed, along with her brethren. And the Olphiests fled to an island.

Though shaken, the other heroes reformed and reshaped their nations and the world, passing down their mystical abilities throughout the generations.

The world of Dalgari is currently restless. Teragyth’s eye still watches the continent and causes monsters to attack. And even without his scheming, the world has grown more cruel.

To protect the people of Dalgari and ensure peace prospers, some nobles and royalty proposed a plan.

The Gilded Guardians.

A group of people dedicated to defending the innocent and bringing peace, while also acting as an officer academy or mercenary guild for those who wish to test their might. The guild has been in preparation for a while. And now, it is soon being opened to the public, stationed near Cerotia's capital.

That…is where our story begins.

🗺️Countries of Dalgari 🗺

⚡Cerotia(Archduchy of the Bear)⚡

“O, Lord Johan, Luminary of Cerotia, divine hero of unity. Keep our souls united and prosperous as we face the new world of today.”

A grand archduchy in the middle of the continent, sporting plains and forests. Wealthy and strong, its people come from all walks of life and fill the country with pride. Mercenaries and other warriors are common here, and they protect the country when the military can't. Its leader founded the Gilded Guardians, which is supposed to fiercely protect the people of the world, as well as unite people from every country. An ambitious goal.

Known for its wealth and colored armor given to royal knights.

“O, Lady Hjördis, Warmaster of Bovent, holy heroine of strength and glory. Give us the power we need to defend all we love with passion and fury.”

🔥Bovent(Empire of the Bull)🔥

An imperial empire in the rough and boiling northern mountains. Its people are mighty and are a bit brutal. Strength is valued above all, and those who wield it must make the choice to be benevolent or cruel. While the current emperor is seemingly kind to his citizens, those who defy him are met with an unending fury. Nobles have seen this as a threat and often try to distance themselves or revolt against the emperor.

Known for its mines, smiths, wyverns, and its blacksteel weaponry.

❄️Liron(Kingdom of the Lion)❄️

“O, Lord Eirwan, Lionheart of Liron, noble hero of honor and pride. Help us shield our weak from those who wish to harm our lands with your majesty.”

A kingdom in the snowy mountains. The royal family and nobles live lavish lives, unconcerned about their people who suffer in the cold. This has caused many to despise the country, and many flee for a better life. Those who stay must pursue chivalry and knighthood, or in some way serve the crown, in order to live a comfortable life.

Known for its cavalry and elven magic.

✨Phenlory(Holy Kingdom of the Songbird)✨

“O, Lady Sigrun, Valkyrie of Phenlory, saintly hero of purity and life. Guide us to victory and safety with your holy mystical light.”

A theocratic kingdom in the snowy tundra. Its citizens are devout and holy, though some of its people are more zealous and harmful than others. It's rulers even more so. They see the heroes of eld as divine, and anyone with relations to them are treated with the highest of respect. Small and not exactly strong, it relies on the strength of allies to stay safe.

Known for its holy magic and pegasus riders.

🌲Delka(Queendom of the Elk)🌲

“O, Lady Diantha, Auspex of Delka, wild heroine of serenity and the forest. May your fruitful lands sustain us and give us joy for years to come.”

A queendom in the deep forests and jungles. Seen as a safe haven for those who never wish to see bloodshed again. Its people live with a constant and unending peace, knowing very little about war. Though because of the current queen’s mysterious disappearance, things have been growing a bit hectic as of late.

At the center of the country is a large, magic tree. It was said to be grown by Diantha, and it protects all its people from danger as long as it lives with magic.

🌪️Pakwil (Dominion of the Wolf)🌪️

“O, Laird Aldhelm, Zephyr of Pawkil, blessed hero of the people’s wishes. Even through grief, persecution, and strife, may your winds move us ever onward.”

A dominion in the steppes and mountains. Its people are jolly and hardy, and they often spend their time studying things like music, poetry, or art. The country is very diverse, and camaraderie is encouraged. Nobles ignore this concept and are extremely divided. Even the head oligarch seems to hate the diversity in not just the country's people but the world's. They seek to turn the country into an isolationist and militaristic country.

Known for its griffons, and its sharp, critical weapons.

🔮Nowtuol(Aristocratic Union of the Owl)🔮

“O, Lord Jefrin, Archimage of Nowtuol, clairvoyant hero of knowledge and deduction. Help us leave no stone unturned and no truth hidden or dismissed.”

A union with beautiful plains and beaches. Its people are studious and knowledgeable. It has a vast wealth of knowledge in all sorts of subjects, and has made breakthroughs in tactical, magical, and technological developments. This means that, while their army is small, it's ray magical might and tactical knowledge makes them masters in the battlefield. However, despite this vast amount of magical knowledge, they rarely use it to great effect.

Known for its enchanted weapons and magic.

🏜️Ampherous(Sultanate of the Cobra)🏜️

“O, Lord Rashid, Hellion of Ampherous, glorious hero who balances law and chaos. Protect us from the shadowy evils of our world and usher us to a grand future.”

A sultanate in the sands. Its people tend to either be law-abiding and patriotic or sly and a bit rebellious. Merchants are common here and are well protected by royal soldiers. They must be, as bandits appear much more frequently than other countries. Or, at the very least, they're more organized. Long ago, the previous ruler of the country made some foolish deals, causing it to be cursed to be attacked by a spectral army one year after every new sultan is crowned. It's up to the current generation to protect the people now.

🌑Umbertala (Kingdom of the Raven)🌑

“O, Laird Delyth, Gremory of Umbertala, mysterious hero of truth and bane of deceit. We ask that you unveil the darkness that lies to all of our hearts.”

A dark kingdom in the dark, western swamps and forests. Its people are both mysterious and curious. Not many people travel in and out, but the few that do seek to learn all they can about the world. It's not that they aren't allowed to leave, but the people are already afraid to leave because of the country's dark monsters…and the people of the outside world. Its rulers do their best to serve the people, but don't reach out for help too often. They don't trust other countries to not stab them in the back. Again.

💗Taliver (Republic of the Salamander) 💗

“O, Lady Anthiese, Dawncaller of Taliver, shining maiden of cheer and resolve. Though our paths may be harsh and treacherous, we know you shall keep our spirits high in darkness.”

A republic with arid sands, cliffs, and savannahs. People are cheerful but weary. The country faces rocky relations with its neighbor Ampherous, and severe storms and droughts are common. But even still, its people use faith and revelry to stay happy and hopeful in hard times. Several artists, dancers, and bards come out of Taliver with a joyous heart, looking to bring stories of hope to the land.

💧Scalborn (Union of the Dragon)💧

“O, Lady Golthera, Beastcaller of Scalborn, eclipsed heroine of the oppressed. We ask that you shield us from hate and spite and gift us liberty one day.”

A union composed entirely of a few islands. Its people, the Ollphéist, live here in relative peace, though they must defend themselves from humans,elves, and ainmhís. They hide away on the islands, rarely heading on to the mainland, and they must be strong to avoid invasions. Though it seems a few people want to try peace with the mainland after all these years.

[sunnycowleaf]

(one has blur on Ratstar, the other doesn't)

"Ratstar HATES what the clan is becoming. All these kittypets and loners. Is there no purity anymore? Whilst the clan sleeps they drag one of the kits out into the snow, allowing its small body to cool and finally die from the cold. Eventually, all stories come to an end…Ratstar's with Lionheart pushing them into a sinkhole. A blessing on the whole clan as only 1 cat looked on and mourned at the Vigil."

"Lionheart murdered the previous leader, Ratstar, by shoving him into a sinkhole. As the celebration began he couldn't help but feel underappreciated but at the same time…he couldn't just tell the clan he did it..."

Depicted: Lionheart watching as Ratstar meets his demise via sinkhole.

If only that was where it all ended...

[horrifichaunts]

Which Character Archetype are You?

the Beauty.

Beloved, beautiful, naive, innocent—or at least, perceived this way. The one representing goodness, in all its purity, to others. Smarter than they let on.

Life/Death/Life.

A person who represents the mysteries and inner workings of the world's forces; a person who has destiny at their back, a person wielding their understanding like a weapon. A person who cycles through rebirths and deaths, growing ever more clever.

the Beauty.

Beloved, beautiful, naive, innocent—or at least, perceived this way. The one representing goodness, in all its purity, to others. Smarter than they let on.

the Lionheart.

The loyal one, the stubborn one, the one who fights for others. The guarder, the watcher, the brave, foolish, valiant person who is not the same person by the end of the story.

[bonefall]

What cats give Tigerstar his lives, since he gets them from the dark forest instead?

I think StarClan has an argument over it. The vast majority of cats in StarClan are furious with him; his murder attempts, his killings of innocent cats, his betrayal of ThunderClan when he was an ally of Brokenstar. He's everything they don't want.

But on the other hand... a little bit has changed about the dynamics of Bonefall TPB StarClan since I decided he would get Dark Forest Lives.

This is before Bluestar's death and Thistleclaw is still part of StarClan. So are his supporters. There are a few of them who want to give a life.

So I'm thinking, first, StarClan rejects him. Says they flatly refuse to give him his lives for what he has done. Runningnose leads him away, knowing there are other allies in the skies, but a few of his StarClan supporters follow quietly. Not very many-- less than 3.

It may make a cool setting for him to receive his lives at the border between StarClan and the Dark Forest. It's a strange, dusty nebula-like place where it's hard to see what's in front of you, impossible to find StarClan unless you're blessed by a star. Some of the glowing eyes in the fog are blue; most are red.

Thistleclaw (StarClan) For purity. To always stick to his principles, even when it makes life harder.

Brokenstar (Dark Forest) For ShadowClan. To always keep it in his heart, and protect it at all costs. It is the strongest and most noble Clan, and without it he would not be leader today; be worthy of it.

Skystar (StarClan) For conquest. Long ago, he watched his namesake Clan wither from the inside due to weakness. When the time came that they had no more territory to miserably cling to, they drowned like ants without a leaf. Never roll over and show your belly to your opponent; take what others don't deserve to have!

Leopardfoot (StarClan) For legacy. She conceived Tigerstar and his siblings because she wanted to mother strong, honorable kits. Pinestar and his bloodline were known for being Crusaders, respected and powerful. He left them and destroyed his reputation; but she's here to remind him that he is her son, more than he is his son. She finishes by telling him how proud she is.

Mapleshade (Dark Forest) For revenge. Oakstar put her children in that river, and Darkstar refused to allow her to bury them. She killed 3 more and StarClan became so furious they called both leaders to a trial and damned her victims in their blind rage. She couldn't win; but she could hurt them. THAT is a victory.

Oakstar (Dark Forest) For glory. After StarClan unfairly put him on that trial, he dedicated his life to trying to please them as they allowed a ridiculous rule to be implemented. His Crusades did not please StarClan, but they were wrong. They were a high point in history, never before nor since have warriors been so strong as when they brawled constantly, just for honor! Remember that warriors were made to fight, it is life's purpose.

Clawface (Dark Forest) For humility. All the strength in the world won't get an idiot very far, and it's easy to get caught off guard when you think you're at your most powerful. Never underestimate an opponent-- especially one you think will be easy to beat. (because he got killed by Graystripe lmao)

Shredtail (Dark Forest) For dedication. Always have a goal in mind, make every action a means to an end. Know what you want and cut a path towards it-- even through your allies, if it comes down to it.

And he looks around... is there no 9th cat to give him a life? Someone assures him that sometimes leaders don't get 9, when there aren't enough cats who wish for their long rule.

Angry, he's about to pack it up and move on, when a voice asks, "have I missed the party?"

It's Spottedleaf, his old friend... and a cat who was caught in the crossfire of his scheme to replace Lionheart. She plays with him a bit. "I'll give you a life... but I won't tell you what it is! Do you trust me?" knowing Spotty, and knowing he got her killed, and knowing she knows now that he killed her brother, he thinks about this... but his ambition wins out. He wants to win as long as possible.

The life she gives him is for death. For his first to be his last. She lays a curse on him that day as revenge for what he did and what he became; that his reign will be short and his ending bloody.

Later, when Tigerstar is striking the Impossible Deal with Scourge that he does not plan to honor, the leader of BloodClan pauses to consider the alliance... Clan cats are a dishonorable bunch, and BloodClan formed in the first place to oppose their violent crusades. Scourge is no fool, there's no way this broad-shouldered scoundrel is planning to make good on his side of the bargain.

But against his better judgement, as if the wind whispers in his ear... he agrees.

psst! Go look at this fanart of this scene!

[imaginaryshorts]

Shrouded in Light: A Tale of Innocence and Courage

Title: "Shrouded in Light: A Tale of Innocence and Courage"

The picture encapsulates an ethereal image of a young girl garbed in silken white, her tiny frame veiled with an elegance that rivals the beauty of gossamer threads spun by moonlight. Her eyes, innocent yet shimmering with silent strength, beckon us into a world turned with dreams, courage, and resilience.

The village, lovingly coined Harmony Nest, is a picturesque little settlement nestled in the heart of the countryside. It's populated by approximately five hundred residents, a perfect blend of families, elders, and youthful souls carving their niches in this serene environment.

Harmony Nest is known for its charmingly designed cottages, all of which evoke a sense of the traditional mixed with the contemporary. A sprinkling of vegetable patches and small, manicured gardens complement the quaint architecture, adding a vibrant palette of colors to the village landscape.

It is surrounded by rolling green hills, providing mesmerizing views beyond the horizon. They form a natural barrier, cocooning the village in seclusion from the rest of the world. The hills are adequately forested home to diverse flora and fauna. The elders often recount stories of deer and birds of bright plumage sighted during their early morning walks.

Her story begins in a quaint village in the emerald patchwork of the countryside. The girl we'll lovingly name Lily was known for her serenity. Draped in white muslin, she would often skip along warm cobblestone paths, the veil fluttering gently behind her — a symbol of her purity and youthful grace.

Life was simple yet enchanting. However, the tranquility was disrupted one summer afternoon when the village was thrust into chaos, threatening their peaceful existence — a ruthless tyrant desired their tranquil lands. With a spirit torn between innocent trepidation and indomitable courage, Lily found herself chosen by fate to lead her village against the oppressive intruder.

The image transforms into a stunning canvas of emotions as Lily digests this harsh reality. Despite her white dress symbolizing innocence, it now carries a heavy undercurrent of responsibility. Her veil acts as a shroud, shielding her from the upcoming turmoil.

Her village, though initially skeptical about her chosen role, soon recognized the lionhearted spirit flickering in her youthful gaze. With the unity of her people behind her, Lily transformed from a simple village girl into an emblem of untainted courage.

Under her leadership, the villages united an indomitable force facing their common enemy. The image of the girl in white with a veil no longer represented her innocence but also her courage and determination to protect everything she loved.

We watch Lily's veil morph into a banner of defiance against the tyrant; it's ethereal white, a stark contrast against the battlefield's harsh canvas. Her spirit of innocence and courage, born from the image, metamorphoses into an inspiring tale of resilience, proving that heroes can be found in the unlikeliest of people, no matter their size or age.

Her tale reveals the power and resilience hidden in innocence, showing the compelling transformation of a simple girl into a fearless leader. In the end, the image of the girl in white encapsulates the mesmerizing blend of innocence, courage, and victory, inspiring all who glimpse her tale.