#saltedcaramelchaos

[kishdoodles]

KISH KISHDOODLES? A JRWI LISTENER? WOAHHHH

(I’m sure you’re getting a lot of this, but I followed you for life series stuff so this is very exciting lol)

Yea :) You'd have to thank @dinzeeyz for that LOL

(and I don't get a lot of those actually. surprisingly)

[thannydevotee]

your blog title is amazing. One Billion. i can hear the clip in my brain

lol i haven't even watched riptide yet 😭 my riptide friends and i just say it ALL the time. im making a pinned so i can just make my bio "what". every time i open my page i hear it in my brain

[dragonbleps]

I can no longer hold my silence

who is dal? everywhere I go, I see his face. I've heard so much about the man and yet I don't know who he is. oc? sona? simply an incredible fictional character?

(aka I dont member but am intrigued so i'm specifically asking you to ramble about your guy. I need twelve paragraphs by noon tomorrow /lh)

you've activated mY TRAP CARD

MY BOY!!!

SO, Dal is my OC! Or, rather, Dal is the nickname for my TES OC, Dalamus Rex, but when talking about other AUs of him, I'll also use the name Dal often without clarifying, usually forcing people to either assume or figure out from context which version of Dal I'm talking about. A few of his AUs keep the Dalamus first name, or have a name that can be shortened to Dal, even if the name they actually go by is different (ie "Modern Dal" Damon Rex, whose birth name is Dalmatius). Sometimes, if talking about multiple Dalamus' in the same post, I might differentiate between them by using last names (Rex, Sarangerel, Strighym). Or sometimes I'll tag something as "Dal" because it applies to all of them, or vaguely makes me think of Dal even if it isn't entirely accurate to a specific version of him.

Clear as mud, right? WELL, allow me to go through the list!!! (All AUs are specifically AUs of Dalamus Rex. No weird permutations. Dalamus Rex is the origin of all and acts as the base.)

Dalamus Rex (he/him) is the original Dal, and one of two that can be safely assumed I'm defaulting to when I just say "Dal", (the other currently being Dalamus Strighym, and we'll get to him later). Dalamus Rex is a TES OC! He's a Dunmer/Bosmer (Dark elf/Wood elf) vampire who was originally intended to be a one-off antagonist for my other character, Thaerondil, to face. I felt I had hit a wall when writing Thaerondil, and needed something to force me to get him to mature a bit, so I started writing Dal. Dal was eventually supposed to just disappear or die and. Well. It's been 12 years and he's still here! And he's infecting the rest of my braincells.

Dalamus Rex started out life in Morrowind, to a family with a terrible father and a mother who tried her best but was treated just as awfully by her husband. I won't go into specifics unless asked, but you can search Dal's blog and find info (just mind the trigger warnings)! After his mother died, he ran from home and just kept running, eventually making his way into Skyrim at a young age. So while Morrowind might be his homeland, he basically grew up in Skyrim.

In Skyrim, he continued to use his stealth and thievery skills to survive, jaded and unstrusting, until eventually he caught ill with serious respiratory illness and collapsed outside the door of a Bosmer named Falin (fuh-LEEN). Falin took care of him and nursed him back to health with food, kindness, and herbal remedies because Dalamus does not trust mages or healing magic. In spending so much time together, they become fond of each other and fall in love.

Unfortunately, it would be cut short. At Falin's behest, Dalamus accompanies mercenaries to help clear a den of vampires, and ends up knocked unconscious and unknowingly infected with vampirism himself. Near the end of the week, Dalamus would wake a vampire in the middle of the night and kill his beloved Falin for his first feeding.

Wracked with guilt and shame, he runs and goes into hiding. For nearly two centuries he oscillates violently between ridden with guilt and starving himself, and succumbing to the Thirst and becoming a terror to anyone or anyplace nearby. He is stealthy, and wickedly fast, so god help you if you try to run, because he enjoys the chase. While not the strongest vampire, his agility and athleticism more than makes up for it.

Near the end of the two centuries, he finally evens off into a sort of homeostasis, emotionally speaking, allowing him to integrate himself into society if only to lure people to their death in typical Suave Charming Seductive Vampire fashion. This is where his blog canon takes place.

As he manages his Thirst better and can spend more time among people without needing to feed, he spends his time thieving from people and seducing them for more.. mundane needs. But it also means he has the time and ability and wherewithal to have conversations with people, and conversations often lead to connection. And he starts getting attached. (The next bit is going to be incredibly condensed and summarized because otherwise it's 10+ years of storytelling).

He starts building bonds with people. He learns to trust. He starts making friends, some to the extent of considering them family. He learns how to be vulnerable. He accidentally hurts friends. He learns how to apologize. He makes up with friends. He finally finds love again. He has a daughter. He cheats on his wife. He learns that apologies are not always enough. They get a divorce, and it hits him hard. But he has supportive people in his life now, his closest of which know he is a vampire and know of his past and that he has killed on his way here.

He learns how to change his behavior while still remaining himself, becoming ever closer to his friends and family. He finds love again, and is now in a stable relationship with an Agent of Mara, who also happens to be a Healer and a werelion. He has several close friends who he quite literally owe his life to, and for whom he would risk his life in an instant to keep them safe. Dalamus is not religious and is still afraid of Healing Magic but he occasionally reads about teachings of Mara when struggling, and he is slowly, slowly working up the nerve to be accepting of magic, although traumatic experiences and misunderstandings of how magic works are significant bumps in the road.

Damon Rex (he/it) -- A vampire in a fantasy Modern Earth who owns a jewelry store called Aeternum Rex ("forever the king", "forever king", "king forever", "eternal king", however you wanna think of it). CEO, owner, manager, boss, he's all of it. This is his store, and he uses it to swindle wealthy people :)

He's also a jeweler, gemologist, silversmith, gemcutter, etc etc. He's had time to learn it ALL. And he does make some of the available jewelry for the store. Some of it is stolen from the rich and altered to hide the fact. And some of it is synthetic jewelry altered to seem natural. The idea is that he steals valuables from the rich, changes them slightly, then sells them back to the rich when they come around looking for a replacement. Selling the synthetic gems at such a high profit margin also gives him leeway to give discounts to.. whoever he wants, really. But generally it is given to those who are not rich or wealthy, those looking for one-time gifts who will likely not be repeat customers.

He employs mostly teens and young adults from less-than-ideal living situations, or generally those who are desperate for the financial stability to get out of bad situations, buy necessities, etc. How he does this legally, who knows. But he pays them very generously for easy work, and time off is given on the honor system, assuming you will show up when you can work. See, with his speed and with how small the store is, he doesn't really NEED the help, but he wants to help others.

His own backstory is similar to TES Dal's in terms of family situation. But where TES Dal's mother died, Modern Dal became a vampire and returned to save his mother from his father. He then was able to live with and take care of his mother for the rest of her natural life, and this helped give him skills to integrate into society in a healthy manner earlier in his life.

Few people know he is a vampire aside from other supernatural creatures. His employees (who he eventually comes to see as his own kids, in a way) joke about him looking like one or dressing like one, but none of them actually believe anything out of the ordinary is happening. He's just goth, that's all. He's a little scary but he only ever uses his scariness on people who are disrespectful of his employees so it's fine.

Dalamus Sarangerel (he/they) -- FFXIV AU. A Xaela Au Ra who grew up in the Steppes in the Sarangerel tribe. His father is an herbalist, and his mother a hunter, giving him the chance to learn a well-rounded skillset for survival. The particulars of his tribe are TBD, but in my head they're more bestial than is shown in-game.

They were a peaceful tribe. His tribe worshipped the moon, Dalamud, as a guiding deity--Dalamus' was even named after it. But when Dalamud turned red and began descending, all manner of creature and people began behaving strangely. Dalamus' tribe was affected gradually, so gradually he hardly noticed, until they started treating Dalamus himself as a harbinger, and sacrificing animals for their deity.

When the Calamity happened, and Dalamud split open to free the dragon Bahamut, Dalamus got the wake-up call he needed to leave the tribe. Their violence continued, but Dalamus was determined to find a way to reverse their madness.

So, he left for Eorzea (where the game takes place), and discovered that the reason he was unaffected by Dalamud was this mysterious power called the Echo which he unknowingly had. And it meant he was a Warrior of Light. Out of one "prophecy" and into another. Chosen One for a different camp. But if defeating Primals will help him find answers on how to help his tribe, he is willing to do what they ask...

(I haven't played super far into the game, so, alas, his story is limited!)

Dalamus Strighym (he/him) -- BG3 AU. Dalamus Strighym, a Drow born simply as Dalamus, as surnames denoted nobility and a House, and he was born a commoner in the subterranean city of Menzoberranzan 200 years before the events of Baldur's Gate 3. (Disclaimer: Lolth-sworn Drow society in DnD is all kinds of messed up and potentially Problematic, and I'm well aware, but I'm not going to be the one to fix it; I'm mostly taking it as-is).

His family's trade was gemcutting, but neither of his brothers showed much aptitude for it. He had two older brothers. Orgoll, the eldest, a mean sonovabitch who delighted in harassing his youngest siblings. Orgoll became a military officer, strong and powerful, and most importantly, feared. Orgoll was jealous of what small amount of favor Dalamus was shown for his gemcutting skills, and would often sabotage his work.

And Nilaufein, second eldest, a weirdo by Drow standards, passionate about his job raising and training Riding Lizards and Pack Lizards, with a curiosity and fascination about the Surface. In private, he was kind, and hated the cruelty which ruled Menzoberranzan, and avoided being cruel whenever possible, instead using his wit and charm to diffuse situations and altercations. Nilaufein tried his best to keep his brothers from seriously injuring each other.

Nilaufein was selected to join a Raid on the Surface when Dalamus was 30. It was to be Nilaufein's Blooding, the coming-of-age ritual that would see him socially treated as an adult, if he survived. But he never returned, and is presumed dead. Dalamus' own Blooding was to battle a Displacer Beast with a handful of other Drow, and he survived, but not without massive scarring from a tentacle. To celebrate his success, Orgoll visited at the behest of their parents, but used the opportunity to mock both Dalamus and Nilaufein. Dalamus killed Orgoll later that night.

For a while, Dalamus had peace as the only child. He is excellent at gemcutting, one of the best. He makes good money for himself and his family. Then his sister, Taliira, is born, and immediately becomes the family favorite (Menzoberranzan operates under a Matriarchal Theocracy, where men are second-class citizens at best, and Priestesses of Lolth rule with fear and cruelty). If Taliira can undergo clerical schooling to become a Priestess, the family can be elevated.

And so, much of Dalamus' money becomes saved and dedicated to Taliira's teachings. While she is still small, Dalamus is often left to take care of her. He does not dare punish or discipline her, leaving her to do whatever she wants. At first, this meant hanging around him and curiously watching him work on his jewelry. She'd ask innocent questions, he'd give straightforward answers. But as she grew up and was encouraged to be cruel, Dalamus became target practice for her budding magic skills. Despite only being a teen, she was a hellion, and further compounded Dalamus' dislike of magic, especially anything that manipulated the mind or body.

She eventually was sent off to schooling, at which point Dalamus got a few years of peace. Until the minor noblewoman, Nedvyllanna Strighym, set eyes upon him. She thought he looked handsome, and interesting (his eyes and hair are not the typical Drow colors often selectively bred for), and his jewelry skills were second-to-none, and she wanted him for herself. And so she did. He became her personal gemcutter, jeweler, and favored consort.

I won't go into details what that entails bc again, messed up society (if you're interested then you can check his blog where I've written headcanons). But we will just say he is not treated kindly, and yet, because of how twisted the society is and the expectations for men, he thinks it's fine, even preferable in some cases. After 8 years, they have a son. He is not allowed to see or be around the son and does not get attached.

Two years later, he gets caught stealing from another noble (at Nedvyllanna's request), and his punishment is exile. She injures him with a whip and sends him out to wander the Underdark and hopefully die. But he survives, using his piwafwi for stealth, his knowledge of Underdark flora to stanch his bleeding, and a little subtle help from a Goddess he does not worship (and doesn't realize it's her doing). He doesn't escape unscathed, though, as an encounter with a bear-like creature called a Quaggoth gives him a back injury that'll prove permanent and be a source of both chronic and acute pain.

But he makes it to the Surface. And despite being blinded by the light and exhausted by the heat, he makes it to a town, and then a city, and commissions a back-support corset to be made. About a month later, he receives the corset--and the Nautiloid appears over Yartar and begins abducting people, Dalamus included.

So now he's got this mind flayer parasite behind his eye, his back injury is still healing, heck his face and neck scarring isn't completely healed yet, and now he has to work with strangers on the Surface where the sun burns his skin and blinds him, to try and figure out how to remove the parasites before they all become Mind Flayers.

It's been a helluva time the past few weeks for him.

Other versions of Dal I occasionally talk about but don't have specific blogs for:

Dalrex -- (Fallout) An odd, intelligent dark-colored Alpha Deathclaw. Seems to have a proclivity for finding shiny loot to try and decorate his hide with. Curiously able to speak, but not much more than a child. Extremely dangerous, and yet some say he's actually docile unless given a reason to be otherwise. Not many are willing to test that theory, though.

PokeDal -- (Pokemon) An adult pokemon trainer named Damon. He's gaunt, has bags under his eyes, is pale, and a Lampent follows him around. It's believed Lampent is a sort of emissary of death, appearing right before someone dies to take their soul, and yet Damon is still here. Some say it's because he's actually a vampire! But he's not. Probably. He's just a tired recluse who lives in a castle. He takes care of a sanctuary for pokemon who can't, won't, don't want to, or shouldn't become partner pokemon for trainers for various reasons. His team consists of mostly Dark types. Lemme see if I can remember... Houndoom, Corviknight, Umbreon, Zoroark, Lampent, Crobat. I think.

Stardew Dally -- (Stardew Valley) Dalmatius is a farmer who got tired of the monotony of working for a corporate entity. He's a bit pale and thin but surprisingly strong. He always wears his straw hat because he burns in the sun so easily. Just might be a vampire. He mostly keeps to himself, but holds respect for the townspeople.

MonHun Dal -- (Monster Hunter) An arrogant, tall Wyverian man named Dalakai. Unlike many of his people, who dedicate their lives to the study and understanding of the world around them through scholarly endeavors, Dalakai thrives being a Monster Hunter. He is considered immature and brash by his people, but his skills are nothing to sneeze at.

[the-haiku-bot]

JAY’S NOT LESS DEFINED

IN THE EARLY CAMPAIGN OR

ANYTHING LIKE THAT

Beep boop! I look for accidental haiku posts. Sometimes I mess up.

mkay So. I've been listening to the riptide rolleds and it took until like. episode 40? for the Jay-was-a-double-agent thing to come up? And the way Condi was talking about it just put all of that WAY more into context for me, like-

I absolutely love Jay with all my heart, but I kinda assumed he was still figuring out how to play her or something until later in the campaign? 'Cause like, she definitely gets a lot less afraid of being herself after episode 53, and that's when she finally starts definitively bonding with the crew? idk i just ran with jay feeling a little bit empty until about episode 40. definitely should have put it together I know

But then in the rolled Condi said smth like "yeah this navy attack was jay's way out if she wanted. i was there on the front of the ship just thinking about how i could ram it into the other one. this could have gone veryy differently"

AND I FINALLY REALIZED

JAY'S NOT LESS DEFINED IN THE EARLY CAMPAIGN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT

SHE'S CONSTANTLY HAVING THAT INTERNAL DEBATE

SHE'S NOT BEING HERSELF BECAUSE SHE'S UNDERCOVER AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GET ATTACHED

Condi Condifiction has been playing 4D chess this whole time, and he's had us* in check since day one. Good land.

*(or at least me lol, im stupid apparently /lh)

[thelingering]

i was checking to see what tumblr messages thinks of me and by jove they nailed it on the head

[ghosts-and-blue-sweaters]

Decided to make a picrew :)

(first is what I look like now, second is what I’d like my hair to be :)

No pressure tags if you wanna join in & make a picrew of your own: @iiusia @biathediamond @pinestripe37 @thatfriendlyanon @yukeet @skaterfc @cats-inthe-cradle @kanerallels @saltedcaramelchaos and anyone else who’d like to join!

[cursedslimecicle]

Day 62: Slimeception

Submitted by @saltedcaramelchaos

[dogboyratgirl]

im stuck in ravioli hell

WHAT THE HELL IS SEWER RAVIOLI..... WHY IS THERE RAVIOLI IN THE SEWER. WHY ARE HTE PRIME DEFENDERS EATING RAVIOLI IN THE SEWER FROM THE SEWER

[jrwi-barrel-daily-doodles]

can you draw someone throwing the barrel at chip

@saltedcaramelchaos why must you hurt him so T-T

Day: 20?

[how-to-fail-at-ship-jumping-au]

Anon blogs for other anons to follow:

@themalewifeanon

@guitar-anon

@egganonman

@thatstaroneanon

@averytiredanon

@thechairanon

@deathrouteanon

@explode-anon

@anonthatwantsyoursoul

@dvdanon

@dvdanonthesequel

@bookstackanon

@feather--anon

@octoanonthegenloser

@deeremojianon

@thatoneblue-anon

@berry-nonnie

@totally-average-kid (Honorary Anon)

@petalsanon

@micrononymous

@the-one-who-isnt-an-anon

@telephoneanon

@sparkleonanon

@dreamer-anon

@arson-anon

@the-turtle-anon

@drawzz

@the-anon-with-five-names

@toast-anon

@thesonnerises

@saltedcaramelchaos (Honorary Anon)

@biblically-accurate-peacock

@rainbow8980

@mushroom-anon

@spiral-creature-idk

@yvette-lily342

@radio-nonymous

@anon-whos-so-sorry

Tell me about yourself if you want your blog added.

[urlocalwormtoday]

when you get this, you have to answer with 5 things you like about yourself, publicly. then, send this ask to 10 of your followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool) < 3 <3

OUAA 0,0

this might be a little hard because, as strange as it is, I don't know a whole lot about myself via myself tbh. I absorb most information from the people around me-

[1.] uuohhhg I like my poetry. it's not always very good, but it's always there as a mechanism to turn to so I can scream into the void when upset

[2.] i like my bracelets that I wear, both of them are rainbow n pride and they were both gifts so they're very close to me :,D

[3.] i like my collection of figures. i have so many dinosaurs I think it's an obsession at this point but I wouldn't trade it for anything. it's childish but I think it reminds me that I have an identity

[4.] i like how I help people sometimes. or try to if I can, not everyone wants help and that's respectable. i wanna be like a lighthouse so people can dock their ships full of baggage and just rest for a while <3

[5.] i like my drawing skills(??), to an extent. i haven't really found a style yet on account of still needing to get better at drawing in general, mostly humanoids though

I HOPE IT'S ALR IF I TAG PEOPLE INSTEAD OF SENDING IT AS AN ASK BC I THINK IT MIGHT PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT THIS WAY 😭

tagging; @vallkary @ratmouseshrew @semidecentpoet @saltedcaramelchaos @wet-ass-pigeon @traygaming @nachtsynth @internet-cheesecake @ceramicbirb @hallytall12022002

[ihauntyoursocks]

Okay so uh, @skittlebugg and @saltedcaramelchaos since both of you are making OCs now, maybe reblog this post with important additions if you want to share them all together?

[sweet-berrry]

I can't stop making bracelets. Somebody save me.

Colors are @saltedcaramelchaos 's favorite colors! We have purple, teal, green, and blue :)

[arcadian-wild-art]

INTRO POST

Hello hello everyone!

For quite a few years now, I’ve been a big fan of the band The Arcadian Wild. (They’re a small-ish bluegrass band from Tennessee.) I could say a lot about how much I love their music and the impact it’s had on me! So, as technically a New Year’s resolution but more of a long-term goal:

I’m making a piece of art for each song by The Arcadian Wild!

I’m hoping that I can improve at a lot of different art forms, and make something I’m proud of! And, I’m chronicling my journey right here on the site ever :D

I’m also trying my darndest to keep this little blog organized. Every post will (hopefully) be tagged with the song and album name, and its classification (song intro, project commentary, etc.) Again, I’m hoping to keep a record of this whole endeavor, so there should be progress updates, mishaps, and more!

The intro post for Rain Clouds should be up soon, and I’ll start sketching for it! Please listen to The Arcadian Wild and/or follow this blog in the meantime, it would make my day :]

WBFAQIAWH2AQ (Would-Be-FAQ-If-Anyone-Was-Here-To-Ask-Questions) under the cut!

Q: Who are you?

@saltedcaramelchaos! Say hi over there if you feel so inclined!

Q: Are you a member of the band or something?

Nope. Just a fan that wants to pay homage to a band that means a lot to me. It’d be cool if they somehow see this though

Q: What are your header and profile picture??

The pfp’s just a little doodle I did- I have an idea for a more unique one, but I have to wait until it’s not winter anymore :P

Q: Do you have any rules?

Loose ones? I’m trying to go in song release order as much as I can, and I’m trying to have each one be a different art form, within reason. Also, I’ll be changing my blog title to be a good line from the song I’m currently working on. (And yes, this is mostly in the WBFAQIAWH2AQ so I can get the information across lol)

Q: Will you have a consistent schedule?

Nope. Because I’m terrible at planning and it’d just stress me out 😅

Some of my project plans need to be in a specific season, so I’m vaguely planning around that? But honestly, the idea was to have fun and make art about music I love, so I’d rather not worry about it too much.

Q: Can I submit art I made?

Kinda- it won’t replace mine for the project. But I would absolutely love to be tagged if you make anything related to The Arcadian Wild!! I’d love to give you a reblog! I’m just here to appreciate and celebrate their music :D

Any other questions? Feel free to send me asks! I won’t bite. I’d honestly love to talk about the band, art, most things as long as they’re decently on topic! I do reserve the right to not answer an ask if you’re rude though :)

[saltedcaramelchaos]

JRWI FANARTISTS+THEORISTS

These things on Grizzly’s Wonderlust character could be mobility aids/prosthetics!!

It would be super fun if that were the case!!!!

[thelingering]

My Christmas gift to you all

Glistening, pure, snowfall pours out on a field, a great expanse Nature weaves her clean white quilt to snuggle up all of her kin

Brightly, stars glow, both in Heav'n and on trees, evergreens They tell of a new birth one, to save all, ev'ry year

Blackness, comforting disappearance takes o'er the countryside Children and their parents, generations all fall asleep to await a 'morn

Dreams are had, dreams are filled "he came, He came!" the dreamers cry My Lord, Our God; He came indeed wrapp'd in swaths, a tightly warm

Yes, young and old, await this day the gifts, the gots, the whos to do The Babe of babes, the Birth of births has brought a joy unmatch'd

And so this day, I say to you Thank you.

I am so truly grateful I get to spend this day with you.

Sis apud pacem et scias quod amatus es, Dominō et mē

("May you be at peace and know that you are loved, by the Lord and by me")

ok screw it i'm tagging my moots lol, you guys mean too much to me for me to just. not. XD

@saltedcaramelchaos @margindoodles2407 @moethh @lost-to-the-wind-sometimes @nina206

@starsbecoming @justmossyall @groovy-central @catholiccupcake @imherethephantom

@shadow-wizard-moneygang @coldswarkids @religious-extremist @mariorat @g0thiepi3

@meletfavum @soontobeheiress @justuravghazbin @lalarose216 @aspiringbabushka

@fondnessforeunoia @415ukiz @belleishavingamentalbreakdown @thepinkfleurdelis @darnitjack

@cottagecatholic @praiseandpineneedles @cedarofgod

get tagged and know that you're totally good to pass this by lol

(also this poem applies to pretty much everyone, but I appreciate my moots a perfectly normal amount and couldn't not say the words directly to them)