#sarula

[leavingautumn13]

another batch of npcs in this spelljammer campaign, this time focused on some early game quest givers [first batch here]. details under the cut

[i have commissions open now]

[frenchy-and-the-sea]

the sheer amount of bullshittery that Fortune's Favor is capable of is astounding. Spending twenty minutes arguing about which inn to try to sneak our huge, expensive magic plinth into, sending in the bard because they are both the most persuasive and also not a tiefling in a town that is historically not great to tieflings, only for them to overcorrect on trying to come across as Not To Be Fucked With (Let My Friends In Or We're Gonna Have Problems) so much so that Val had to step in with her drawling, blue-collar straightforwardness and smooth things over enough that we could spend ALMOST 1K GOLD ON AN INN ROOM FOR THE NIGHT is actually pretty standard for us at this point.

We also tried to get a portable mouth drunk. As you do.

[lyssahumana]

[wrenmcdonald]

DEATH & REBIRTH: An Evangelion Fanzine is now up in the shop!

Featuring work by Anabel Colazo, Beto Irogoyen, DARKMEATNOW, Diigii Daguna, Genie Ink, Jake Terrell, Jan Buragay, Jane Mai, Kelly K, Linnea Sterte, Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky, Luis Yang, Mel Tow, Patrick Crotty, Sabii Borno, Sarula Bao, Tia Roxae, & Wren McDonald

Cover by Genie Ink

RISO printed with Aqua, Light Lime, Fluorescent pink, Black (cover), Cornflower, and Bright Red (interiors)

[jesncin]

what are some of your favorite queer indie comics?

OOH! Off the top of my head in no particular order:

To all the White Girls I've Loved Before by Sarula Bao

Crimes by Kelsey Wroten (tho I also love Cannonball)

Shattered Spear by Otava Heikkilä (tho I also adore Sasha from the Gym and I will be reading Home By The Rotting Sea)

When I Arrived At the Castle by E. M. Carroll (tho anything Carroll does I'm a huge fan of and I desperately want to have a hardcopy of their new book A Guest In The House)

Love Condemns Her by Hana Chatani

Wrecked Hearts by Mathilde Kitteh and Luca Oliveri under Peow Studio (some of the stories are hit and miss but the general vibe of space romance inspired Lunar Boy, so it has a soft spot in my heart for that).

Boyish Anthology (butch x butch anthology! Hit and miss stories as most collections tend to be, but the ones that hit are so good especially when butch characters and butch x butch pairings are abysmally rare in sapphic spaces)

Of Thunder And Lightning by Kimberly Wang

Itching, Inching by Arantza Pena

Heat by Jean Wei

In Fair Verona by Val Wise (tho I'd pay attention to anything Val does tbh they're all gold)

Two Gay Little Animals Share Their Secrets by Anatola Howard (I love the You Were My Joker Last Night comic too)

Sacred Bodies by Ver

I don't doubt I'm forgetting some comics that I'll be devastated I didn't bring up here but!! These comics. I love them. Indie comics really scratch that itch where most mainstream publishing can't ever replicate.

[charliemonroe]

Got tagged by @sarula do a fun music poll!

"List your top 5 albums from your top 5 artists (can't have a repeat of the same artist) on a poll, so your followers can vote which album they think captures your vibe the best"

[rivetgoth]

Angel @lysistra tagged me in another one of these :D This time the prompt is:

List your top 5 albums from your top 5 artists (can't have a repeat of the same artist) on a poll, so your followers can vote which album they think captures your vibe the best.

Not including any Skinny Puppy/Ogre projects because tbh I know those will win LMAO. Gotta get more creative lol.

Tagging @otisbdriftwood @captainspaulding @sarula @glass-blown-eyes @otisbdriftwood

Just for fun (but also maybe to help anyone who's unsure and takes voting seriously LOL) under the cut is a song from each album 🖤

Culture Club's Colour by Numbers

Severed Head's City Slab Horror

Martin Dupont's Hot Paradox

IAMX's Metanoia

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's Butterfly 3000

[mw-537]

Contrabass Conversations Illustration by Sarula Bao

[barebeautybody]

Reptilia

Models - Dolly and Sarula

Photo - Max Trombly

[lyssahumana]

[jlunnposh]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Vintage Y2K Express Sarula Medium Wash Blue Stretch Denim Boot Cut Jeans Womens.

[jesncin]

Firstly, I loved Lunar Boy and congrats on the Harvey nom! Also wanted to know if you have any recommendations for stories (any medium, any demographic) that you think has a nuanced take on the intersection between race and queer/trans identity? it's really easy (for me at least) to feel pretty doom-and-gloom about the overwhelming whiteness of queer rep but no! the intersectionality we crave is out there! you just have to look for it!

p.s I really enjoy your approach to criticism and have enjoyed reading your recent posts. I genuinely think it's making me a more thoughtful viewer.

Thank you for the kind words on Lunar Boy and our media criticism!! ;0; Ooh yes! Here's my list of recs for QPOC stories:

Our Dreams At Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani. While race isn't directly talked about, it's still specific to the realities of being queer and Japanese. This short manga series inspired a lot of Lunar Boy.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender. YA novel about a trans masc Black teen going through love triangle shenanigans and self discovery.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (this author does a ton of sapphic novels I believe). YA novel about two girls starting a rival henna business but perhaps?? Love?? Happens??

The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa. This MG graphic novel is available for preorder now, and is written and drawn by a friend of mine :3 the story is about a 2 Spirit child who wants to create a ribbon skirt to wear for the upcoming powwow.

Sergius Seeks Bacchus by Norman Erikson Pasaribu. A collection of poems (translated into English by Tiffany Tsao) covering an array of genres and stories. Beautifully touching queer Indonesian writing, I recommend anything Norman writes.

These are harder to find but for more queer Indonesian film there's Memories of My Body (coming of age story about a Lengger Lanang dancer, Indonesia's drag dance tradition), Lovely Man (a religious young woman seeks to reunite with her estranged father, who is now a waria sex worker) Madame X (extremely camp queer SUPERHERO MOVIE about a trans woman fighting a violent hate group).

Idk if this is available anymore, but I adore To All The White Girls I Loved Before by Sarula Bao. A short comic from Short Box's annual digital Comics Fair (which I recommend keeping an eye out for comics in the indie scene). It's about the author's unflattering desire to assimilate with the white girls she had crushes on. Some pages are on her site.

Those are what immediately come to mind for me but I'm sure I'm forgetting more!! These are the ones that directly engage with the intersection of being queer and POC, as opposed to a character being incidentally QPOC.

[thinkinglookingdoingspring2023b]

Schyler Hoard - Portfolio Reviews

This portfolio is by Brooklyn based graphic designer and illustrator Sarula Bao. I first became familiar with her work through The New Yorker, for which she designs frequently. I appreciate her portfolio because of the fact that the simple, white background really grants the platform for her artwork to pop. Her illustration and design style is very maximalist and colorful, so having a white backdrop is beneficial for seeing her work clearly. I also liked how the homepage of the website demonstrated her works in enlarged format and with ease, as the viewer can scroll and look through as soon as they open up her website. Overall, I love her design style and the applications of her work - I think her portfolio very effectively displays and conveys her talent.

This portfolio website is from one of my favorite photographers, Elizaveta Porodina. Porodina's photography style is so distinct and creative, and I adore her work. I found this portfolio interesting because I am mostly familiar with Porodina's work through Instagram, and I believe that is the platform she is most active on, so I enjoyed comparing the ways in which she displays her work via curated website and curated Instagram grid. On her website, I liked how her works were displayed via a scroll feature, and were organized through a clear, easy to follow grid system. I also liked little playful features such as the animation of Porodina's name when I hovered over it with my mouse. What I found the most interesting was that all of her works were not on her website - she had a section dedicated to select works - but she also included a link to her Instagram, which is a lot more extensive. My experience and perception of Porodina's portfolio is that she may use a dual-portfolio system, with using Instagram and social media to enhance her traditional website. I think this is unique and a great way for designers to distribute their work.

[blossompuppy]

Commission for @urdnotgrunt of their DND oc, Sarula, as a mermaid! 🦑🧜‍♀️

Sarula is so cute! I’m so excited to have gotten a commission to draw her as a mermaid🥰 she’s a goldfish if you’re curious!

[dalish-farther-roam]

Tavern Training

A little down-time stuff for Amon “The Weary” during his house arrest, after a very difficult talk with one of the NPCs from his backstory.  Posted here at the urging of @colonelcupquake @frenchy-and-the-sea @villnis @phoenix-failing @themilokin @urdnotgrunt @kelseyofcake

             “Ok, now you’re just making things up, what purpose can this possibly serve?” Val said, as she entered the crowded tavern downstairs of the Lesan Inn. She and Tara stood side by side, Val’s hands on her hips, Tara’s arms crossed, watching Amon and Rona.

              Those two were balancing in the middle of the floor, on one foot with the other leg stretched out directly in front, their supporting leg bent to a ninety degree angle and their arms held in front and, in Amon’s case, his tail wrapped around his torso.

              “Balance is the point. Balance within and without.” Amon said.

              “And why is Rona doing this? I thought you were learning pole-fighting, yeah?”

              “Amon needs to meditate and I wanted to keep him company… somehow… it became this.” Rona said, her voice taught against the strain in her muscles. Sweat was forming on both their brows and the tavern patrons were starting to take bets as to who would fail first.

              “There’s a sort of game- sort of training we can do next, but this always came first. The Masters said it was to establish balance but we novices always thought it was just to tire us out first.”

              “Then why are you doing it if you don’t even think it helps?” Asked Tara.

              “For Balance” he said. “Depending on where we were, sometimes we’d be balancing over burning embers, or on loose rock or ice or at the edge of a windy cliff, but that’s harder to do in a tavern.”

              “For which I thank the gods!” Called the Innkeeper, which sent laughs rippling around the watching crowd.

              “Right, well we’re going to go do some shopping for potions and the like – do you all want anything?” Asked Val.

              “Health potions?” Said Rona.

              “Better tasting trail rations?” Said Amon.

              “No such thing,” Said Val, “but I’ll see what we can do.”

                When the rest of the party returned to the Inn, they found Rona standing before a large boulder that she or Amon must have rolled in from outside. It was slightly large than Rona herself was. As they stepped inside, Amon spun around, whirling his booted foot into the boulder, which cracked, sending smaller pieces scattered around the room.

              There was a collective “oooh!” from the crowd, and Sarula watched as money changed hands. “What are you doing now?” they said as Rona cursed and Amon pulled his arms into his body, gathering the scattered pieces of earth into a solid boulder again.

              “Ok, ready? You take it now.” He said, and Rona dropped into a low stance, her feet spread wide, arms half outstretched, concentrating on the boulder. As she did so the others could see the boulder begin to shrink, the earth groaning, Rona’s face scrunching with effort.

              This time Amon stepped forward and slammed a steel-knuckled fist straight into it. The boulder wobbled but didn’t move or break. He punched again, and again. Small pieces were beginning to fly off, cracks forming. He rose a leg straight into the air and brought his heel down like an axe atop the boulder as Rona’s body suddenly slumped, and the rock shattered into pieces.

              “If I find rocks on my floor, I’m charging you extra!” The Inkeep called now, but with a smile on his face as he filled tankards for the gathered crowd. Apparently Amon and Rona’s training had become somewhat of a spectator sport.

              “We’re training.” Rona said.

              “You’re connection to the elements is undeniable, and the power you wield it with is overwhelming” Amon said to her, “but there is another power within the elements, and within you and the air, the gods and the planes. You cannot simply wield it like a god and overwhelm your enemies, or the environment, because it is in them too.”

              “That old lady really got to you, huh?” Said Tara.

              “She echoed what I’d heard often.” He said. “Ianry understands, that’s how fire feels, right? Almost like another heartbeat?”

              Ianry shrugged. “I guess, I don’t know what life is like without feeling that so how would I know?”

              Amon flicked his tail at him.

              Rona looked up at Amon. “I know that, I can feel it too but I don’t know what you mean by not wielding it like power. I learned to call in such a way that the wilds answer, but its also almost like alchemy – you call to a seed to sprout a vine, you call to the water in the soil and the air to make a tidal wave, you call to the little pieces of rock in a boulder, and it all condenses together.”

              Amon looked at her quizzically. “So that’s how you do it? That’s fascinating. I get that, to walk over walls I just kind of focus on the earth under my feet, and the air around me and sandwich myself between them, but it is already there. I hadn’t really thought of it like a science though.”

              “Yeah, what you’re talking about sounds more like Ianry’s magic.” Rona said, frowning.

              “Sort of, you can learn it though. It becomes more like… a relationship? Like when you look into someone’s eyes and you can feel what they feel, if only for a second.” He said.

              Rona and Val inadvertently locked eyes. “I think… maybe I think I can understand that.” Rona said.

              “Wait, so you’re like, having sexual tension with a rock?” Ianry said. “That’s not at all what I do.”

              Amon ignored him and squared up with Rona again. “Ready?” She nodded. “Remember, it isn’t about answering power, its about a relationship – two parts of one energy seeking balance.”

               They repeated the process until Rona was physically falling over when her rock was shattered.

              “Ok, I think you all could use a break and a snack.” Val said, from the table where the rest of the party had been resting and watching.

              “No! I think I figured something out!” Rona said through gritted teeth. She rose to her feet again and looked at Amon. “This is like fighting right?”

              Amon nodded “It can be.”

              “Ok, I think I’ve got it, lets go again!” She said, bracing herself before the boulder.

              Amon swung is foot up again in another axe-kick – the kind his friends had seen shatter bones, and brought his steel-clad heel crashing down. But instead of a crunch or crack, there was a soft “ptch” as his foot landed it what had suddenly become a pillar of sand. He wrenched his foot out and spun around, swinging the back of his fist towards – nothing, as the pillar of sand collapsed onto the ground. Not losing his balance, he shifted into an open stance and swept his tail at the loose sand, which pulled together into a round boulder which rolled away before becoming vaguely cubical and shuddering to a halt.

              Amon grinned ear to hear, gazing down at Rona who looked up at him with a fierce and wild expression. “It takes most of us at least a week to figure that one out. Now the real fun begins.”

              For the next few hours the pair took turns using whatever strategy they could think of to protect the boulder the others attacks. Amon often hardened just the part of the boulder facing the blow, while Rona swiftly transformed the rock to avoid attacks. Both were fans of suddenly turning it into a sphere and letting it roll across the tavern floor while patrons gleefully lifted their chairs out of the way. Eventually they even split it into two large rocks and let their friends and random patrons take turns trying to shatter it. There was little either of them could do but dodge when Tara broke out her Crab Hammer, which routinely showered those in the “splash zone” with pebbles.

              Only when Amon slipped on the puddle of sweat that had formed beneath them did the Innkeep insist the games end. Rona rolled out the boulders and Amon used rags to clean the sweat from the floor, too tired to use his ki magic.

              “Well, my star pupil, I don’t know about you but I’m taking a long bath.” He said, slinging his tail around Rona’s shoulders as they headed upstairs.

              “Ugh, me too. Do you feel better?” She said, tugging at the tuft of hair at the end of his tail to keep it out of her face.

              He whipped his tail side to side and paused on the stairs for a moment. “Yes, things make more sense, I think.”

              “You think? So I’m guessing more of this tomorrow?” She said, smiling at him over her shoulder.

              He grinned back. “If you’re up for it – you’ve got a lot of work to do yourself.”

              “MMmmmaybe” she said “Or maybe I’ll whip up a nice big lunch and just watch, I’m starving.”

              Down in the tavern, Sarula was smiling up at their retreating bodies. “That doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad they’re doing ok.” They said to the party.

              “Monks relaxing looks exhausting.” Said Tara. “And messy.” She fished a small pebble out of her drink.

              “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to turn in for the night.” Val said hurriedly, already halfway up the stairs.  

              “I’m not!” Said Ianry “You guys want to play cards or something?”

              “Now that sounds more my speed!” Said Ievos, pulling up a chair next to Sarula. “What do you say?”

              Sarula grinned. “Sure, now that its actually quiet enough to play.”

                Upstairs, Amon was in his room alone, staring into the bright blade of the sword he called the Taiyang Jian, the “Sunlit Sword.” In his mind he weighed the teachings of his Order, echoed by Urgath. He saw the Planes in a constant dance of entropy, crashing into temporary balance before sending each other spinning off again into one another’s gravity. He saw his mother walking into the woods to find him, his sisters slung on each hip. He saw the yawning portal of water breaking loose of the mirror’s frame, his friends embroiled in battle against the Aboleth, and the shadows retreating from the swinging blade of light above the Black Dragon’s seal. He imagined Urgath’s hut in flames, the hate in the old captain’s eyes, recalled his own burning rage.

              Which way would the balance fall? Would the world be ready? And who was leaning on the scale?