#shamanism through numbers

[just-a-ghost00]

Your next significant relationship - Who? When? Where?

Group 1 - Controler

Letters : N U Z E D M L K I O S Significant words/names/signs : SKZ, nudes, suki, soul, miso, sun, zen, Leo, kids, Nike, Mike, lion, Leon, noise, sound, Link, links, Dion, Zeus, Odin, Oden, onze (french for 11), douze (french for 12), uno, dos/due, dom, Muse, likes, silk, sold, DMs, solid, kudos, doki, slime, smile, Milo, miko

WHO ? - The Empress / STRENGTH / Herkimer diamond : power wash your energy This person is not what they seem. They may look harsh on the surface but deep down they are as fragile as Quartz. People may only judge them based on their looks and not who they are at there core. They are beautiful without a doubt. Extremely sensual and feminine. Their beauty feels ethereal. They are highly sensitive and spiritual. They could be a healer. The Herkimer diamond card mentions New York's Mohawk Valley where it can be found. So maybe this person is a New Yorker or they would like to travel to New York. With the strength card being related to fire, this person could have important fire placements in their chart (Leo, Sagittarius, Aries). They are powerful and determined. They know what they want and they won't back down no matter what you put them through. Though this person is affected by what people think of them, they would rather die than show it. They could have red hair. Their hair is rather long and straight. They like to wear bracelets. They are connected to the stars. They are grounded and protected by the universe. The Empress is also assiocated with Taurus. They present themselves as a woman. They feel close to their ancestors. It might be that there were warriors in their bloodline. Especially women. Their women ancestors were fierce in battle and they like to take after them and ask for their guidance. I'm feeling a strong connection to witches and shamans.

WHERE ? - 9 of swords / UNDERWORLD / Barite : get answers to your biggest questions. Places this person could be from or have been to at some point are : USA -> Nevada, Misouri, Georgia, Texas / China / India / Morocco / Mexico / Iran / Kazakhstan / Canada / Australia / Thailand / Nigeria / Peru / UK -> Scotland The 9 of swords card shows imagery of a woman lying down in the snow, with mountains in the background. So this person could live in a cold climate country/region. I'm thinking of the Alps, Himalaya, Caucasus, Alaska range. I'm thinking about Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, Groenland, Iceland. Any city starting with a U or a B. Furthermore the character on the card has a dress with an important amount of stars on it, which reminded me of the European Union flag. In terms of the meeting, it could be through social media. The underworld card gives me a sense of mystery, of something being hidden. So it could be the dark web for some. Or on a website that keeps things hidden from people (i.e. content available only for subscribers or a private account). Also you could meet them in your dreams before you meet in 3D. Also, the underworld could be a metaphor for rave parties, clubs and so on. They could live or you could meet near an important building or monument.

WHEN ? - XXI The World / NATURE / Labradorite : protect your magic. The labradorite card mentions Aurora Borealis and the sign of Pisces. So Winter could be relevant, as well as the period from mid February to mid March. The number 21 could be relevent. So if we think in terms of dates it could be 02.21 or 03.21. The World speaks of cycles as well as the long term. So it could represent several years in terms of timing. When it comes to zodiac signs, The World is related to fixed signs. So Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius season could be relevant as well. Which means that you could meet them between mid April to mid May, mid July to mid August, mid October to mid November or mid January to mid February. The World could also represent a time of your life when you are traveling abroad. Again, the character depicted on the card has a lot of stars in their hair. So I'm thinking of the USA as well as the EU. As she is dressed in red, holds red roses and has horns on her head, I'm also being reminded of Spain. The nature card could talk about a time of your life when you are in the wild, connecting with nature, taking a break from the drama of big city life.

Group 2 - Phone

Letters : T E N N U L N O R I S Significant words/names/signs : tennis, Noris, Noe, Noel, runs, Euro, sun, tenor, soul, norns, nine, tunes, Sonne (Rammstein song), Uriel, notes, nuns, trio, route, routines, Riolu (pokémon name), Loire (region in France), Lorie, LOTR, rise, sonnet, soir (french word for evening), nuit (french for night), riots, Lise, lotus

WHO? - IV The Emporor / Sacred Sexuality / Sapphire : find your tranquil place. This person is very masculine and grounded. They could be a father and/or a leader, a mentor, an entrepreneur. The sign of Aries could be significant. They are incredibly determined and strong. Their sexual drive is high. They pay a lot of attention to their health and appearance. They have a lot of sex appeal. This person could be in the fashion industry or could even be that they get money from people watching their body (selling pictures of them, having access to private erotic content). They could have a bit of a bad temper. Piercings also seem significant. On the sacred sexuality card, there’s a full moon and roses. This tell me this person is a romantic and is more of a night owl. They have an important status. We’re talking about company owners, freelance artists, lawyers, head officers, doctors, headmasters of big schools, politicians and so on.

WHERE? - 6 of swords / MOVEMENT / Garnet : get into your depth. -> places they could be from or have gone to : Czekoslovakia, Kenya, Madagascar, India. The 6 of swords depicts a beautiful woman rowing a boat on a lake. Behind her is a white mountain. In her boat are two herons. So Africa seems significant, particularly Tanzania where Kilimandjaro can be found. I’m also thinking of the Mt Fuji in Japan, in Yamanashi. This person lives near an important body of water. Or you might meet them there. Another thing that is significant is movement. So you could meet them where you’re going on a trip, as you travel or relocate. You could meet them on a boat. Anyplace you want to create something (art, music, writing and so on). When looking at « get into your depth » this gives me the feeling you could meet this person in the 5D before meeting them in person, like through dreams or meditation.

WHEN? Queen of wands and VI The Lovers - DARE TO DREAM - Citrine : manifest your masterpiece. First of all I have to say, when I was shuffling the cards for the WHEN? the bells of the nearby Church started ringing. So this tells me when you're going to Church either for communion or for a wedding. Summer is significant, especially from mid June to mid July. I would even say the month of June is the most significant of the two. When you go after your dreams, you will meet this person. On the DARE TO DREAM card, you can see a diamond trapped in an eagle's claw. For some reasons it reminded me of metal and rock bands, of concerts and big events like the Superbowl. So maybe one of your dreams is to go watch your favorite band/artist live or to go to Hellfest or any big convention that is happening in Summer. If there are any French people here, I'm thinking of the Olympics happening this Summer in Paris. And also the Japan Expo convention. In terms of timing, I’d say in a few months.

Group 3 - Mirror

First of all I want to say my coffee spilled as I did your reading. So either you or this person is super clumsy and/or coffee is significant in your relationship. Letters : E L I C O O E U J I A Y

Words/names/signs : Jay, Jey, Joy, Jolie, Julia, Julie, Jule, July, Lucy, cool, jail, Luc, Loïc, Alice, ciel (French for Sky), clue, juice, école (French for school), eco , CEO, Lucie, Lucia, Cloe

WHO? - XVII The Star / Ancestors / Obsidian : protect your soul. Aquarius comes in strongly for this reading. This person is an introvert. They are often seen as a daydreamer, someone that doesn’t care about earthly life. They look like their head is in the stars. Which, in some way is true. This person connects strongly with the Ethers. Social media seems to be important. They could be an influencer or have a certain amount of followers that they help. Think of tarot readings, raising awareness about certain subjects (mental health, disabilities, menstrual cycle, sexuality and so on). This person could be famous in some type of way or they are going to be at some point in their life. Overall they have a good reputation among their peers. They are valued for their work ethic and their deep insights. They are divinely protected. Family business comes to mind. They care about family a lot, especially the deceased ones. This person would be the type to seek out advice from their ancestors or try to honor them as much as they can. Scorpio is also a sign that seems relevant. I don’t know why but I thought of a surgeon. So maybe they have undergone an important surgery. Or they are very sharp. Because I definitely don’t feel this person is a surgeon. Well it could be, but honestly I feel more the energy of influencers and public speakers, like ambassadors of NGOs and stuff like that. Soft and caring, they feel and look rather feminine. Giving more than receiving. They love animals. They draw a lot of attention just from their presence. I think their aura is pretty strong and vibrant. Connected to nature, especially trees and plants.

WHERE? - 7 of pentacles / movement / Herkimer diamond You could meet at work, as you’re changing jobs or they are. During a break at work while you’re printing/scanning papers. In sacred spaces. New York. Somewhere in a lot of greenery like a park or a farm. As for places they could come from or have been to, we have : Norway, Ukraine, Arizona, China, Afghanistan, Herkimer county. If not these places, there could be farms where this person lives. Also they live in a place where there is a lot of activity, especially work wise. So this makes me think of hot spots like La Défense in Paris where a lot of businesses and political administrations can be found. Other places like that would be : Midtown New York, La City London, Marunouchi Tokyo, The Loop Chicago, Bankenviertel Frankfurt, Zuidas Amsterdam, Gangnam Seoul and so on.

WHEN? - 4 of swords / Death / Aquamarine : Keep your cool. You could meet on the fourth of a month, in April. At a time when you’ve lost your voice or when you are going Hermit mode, when you are sick or when you are mourning a loss. During a period of depression. During Scorpio season. In several weeks. Also it could be when someone or something pushes your buttons but you can’t express your frustration somehow. That could be anything really. Like queueing for registration in a building and someone is trying to take your spot. Or shopping at the mall and a customer is being super rude but since there are children around you can’t fully tell this person what you think of their attitude. Stuff like that.

[theremustbeabear]

a lot of monster media has a hard time with balancing making their monster incredibly dangerous but also keeping the most important characters alive without it seeming like obvious plot armour

but i think the terror does a really great job--not just because they do allow it to kill a number of important characters, but because of the composition of the two scenes where tuunbaq is beaten

the first, in ep 5, is when tuunbaq chases blanky up the foremast, which, on the surface, seems like a very obvious case of plot armour. tuunbaq kills several other crewmen with incredible ease in that very same scene, but then blanky is spared long enough to escape from it, simply because he's an important character.

but that's not what's going on there. all of the easy deaths, so far, prior to this, have occurred on tuunbaq's territory. on flat ground, on the ice, and now tuunbaq is staking its claim on terror. but terror is still occupied, and blanky, especially, is a man who is more at home on a ship than land. tuunbaq is beaten, here, because blanky is playing with a home turf advantage. blanky does have armour, but it's not because he's an important character--it's because tuunbaq has invaded the space where he's most comfortable, and so he goes up, to where he knows a bear can still follow him, but it'll be exposed, and too heavy to follow him all the way.

and this show has done a great job of setting the stakes, already, by this point--the first time i watched this scene, even though blanky was so far surviving the confrontation, i was incredibly sure that he wasn't going to make it out. i thought for certain that he was going to have to sacrifice himself in order for them to hit tuunbaq with the cannon, and so it was deeply satisfying when he actually survived. i was so fucking happy, because i was already starting to get sad about him being dead, even though he wasn't dead yet, lol. it feels earned, when he makes it out, and fair enough that he loses a leg in the process, too.

the second, in the final episode, is i think a bit more obvious, and considering how many other major characters get torn apart, it doesn't feel quite so much like crozier has plot armour. but tuunbaq is once again beaten by using the things that are not native to its land, that tuunbaq isn't designed to deal with. the sick and poisoned flesh of the seamen it's already consumed, for one, and then the boat chain.

and, for the second time, in order to beat tuunbaq, a limb must be sacrificed--crozier's hand, i think, counts, even though he loses it after the confrontation is long over, because blanky only loses his leg properly after the fact as well. and i think this can be brought around to how tuunbaq's shaman must remove their own tongue to communicate with it--if one wishes to have any sort of dominance over tuunbaq, a part of their body must be given in exchange. silna and her father give their tongues, blanky gives his leg, and crozier gives his hand.

and it is emphasized through hickey's failure that tuunbaq cannot be controlled by the expeditioners. the colonizers. it can be beaten back, and suppressed, and killed, through sacrifice, but it cannot be harnessed. it belongs to silna's people, to the inuit, and cannot truly be taken away. the only way to beat it is by invading its home with foreign powers and losing something of yourself in the process.

tl;dr thomas blanky doesn't need plot armour because he's just that good /silly and also this show is just. awesome.

[imsobadatnicknames2]

Been working on this for a bit: Ensam Själ. It's a set of tools and procedures for Mörk Själ, my soulslike hack of Mörk Borg.

In it you will find a 2d10-based Yes/No oracle with a chance for random events, a variety of dark fantasy-themed spark tables, and a set of specific procedures for exploration using these tools.

It takes inspiration from a lot of different solo and GM-less rules, such as Mythic GM Emulator, Conjectural Roleplaying GM Emulator, Game Master’s Apprentice, Solitary Defilement, FORGE, and my very own Pocket Delver (If you've played Pocket Delver, the last set of random tables should look pretty familiar)

As always, licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0, so feel free to poach and steal any bits and pieces you like from it.

It costs $5 USD, but there are 10 community copies available, and I will be adding a new community copy for each sale made. Also, for the next two months it will be available at a discounted price for everyone who already owns the full version of Mörk Själ.

Plus. If community copies run out and you still want a free copy because you can't or just don't feel like paying for it... you can just message me about it, and I'll be more than happy to give you a download code.

Anyway hope y'all enjoy it :)

As a little demonstration of how it works, I will copy the full example of play I included at the end of the document under the cut.

Example of Play

Here is a demonstration of solo play applying the procedures contained in this document.

After randomizing character creation, our chosen undead is Abigeal of Kingfisher Thicket, a Battlemage with a missing foot and vague memories of being betrayed by an old ally.

Abilities: Strength +2, Agility 0, Toughness -1, Presence +2

HP: 5

Inventory: Shortsword, Fur Armor, Lantern, 3 Flasks of oil.

Inventory slots: 4/13

Stamina: 9

Spells: The Fortress, Merciful Sunlight

Her main goal is to track down and punish the old ally who betrayed her, who is...

Roll on NPC spark table: 64 – Arrogant, 16 – Thief

... an arrogant thief by the name of Ciannán the Grinning.

Rolling on the Area spark table (22, 26) we find out that she begins her quest in a flooded prison. I’ve decided that the enemies for this area are: Nuisance: Sewer Rat – Normal: Ghost – Tough: Wraith – Miniboss: Amphibian Shaman – Boss: Giant Sewer Rat.

Let’s generate a room:

Roll for number of exits: 6 - three exits. Roll for cardinal directions: 2 – NE, 4 – SE, 8 – NW. I chose not to roll for exit type for the time being and assume the three of them are horizontal

Roll on room content tables: Encounter: 11 – Nothing. Loot: 8 – Weapon (Roll on weapons table to determine weapon: Femur) . Room feature: 9 – Nothing.

Standing on top of a small ledge, Abigeal looks upon the rest of the flooded room, an abandoned guard post in an ancient, now flooded prison.

Is there a light source in the room? (2d6 on Soul Oracle: 6 – Yes) Luckily, the light that filters from the cracks on the ceiling above is enough to see clearly.

Is the water shallow enough to walk across it? (2d10 on Soul Oracle: 4 – “Yes, and...”) The water is shallow enough to reach all of the doors walking, and barely deep enough to get your feet wet. Due to the Yes, and Response, Doom is increased by 1.

Abigeal ignores the femur floating in the water, instead going to check the coffer beside the old guard table.

Is there anything of value in the coffer? (2d10+1 on Soul Oracle: 12 – No, but...)

There is nothing in the coffer, but when she crouched down to check it she managed to spot something in the water under the table.

Is it a key? (2d10+1 on Soul Oracle: 8 - Yes)

Abigeal grabs the key she spotted under the table, and then finally decides to check the door to the Northeast.

Room generation:

Roll for number of exits: 2 – None, the room has no doors other than the one she came in through.

Roll on room content tables:

Encounter: 16 – 1d3 tough enemies. Loot: 11 – Nothing. Room feature: 12 – Nothing.

Upon entering the flooded guard barracks, Abigeal suddenly finds herself facing a Wraith. As she wasn’t making any particular effort to conceal herself, she’s spotted almost immediately.

Roll for Wraith HP (4d8): 21

Initiative: Test Agility DR12. 19 - Success, Abigeal acts first.

Knowing she can’t defeat the Wraith head-on, Abigeal tries to use her Merciful Sunlight spell to blind it.

Spellcasting: Test Presence DR12. 18 – Success.

Casting Merciful Sunlight and aiming the bright light directly at the wraith’s eyes, Abigeal manages to blind it for 8 combat rounds (There is no set effect for blinding, but I’ve decided the DR to avoid the wraith’s attacks has been reduced to 6)

The wraith tries to hit Abigeal, but she easily avoids its touch and counterattacks with her shortsword, just barely managing to hit its almost incorporeal form. She decides to spend one Stamina to add one damage die to her attack, hitting with 2d4 for 7 damage.

I will omit the full play-by-play narration of the encounter, but Abigeal manages to defeat the wraith after seven rounds of combat, with her HP reduced to 4 and her Stamina Reduced to 3, and earns 250 souls. She rolls her weapon’s Usage Die, but luckily it comes up 3, so her weapon isn’t damaged. However, when rolling her armor’s UD it comes up 1, so her armor receives one level of wear and its UD is reduced from d8 to d6.

After stopping to catch her breath, she recovers 2 Stamina, and decides to examine the room.

Is there any container for guards’ belongings still intact?

(2d10+1 on Soul Oracle: 3 – Yes, And...)

There is not only one, but several barrels and coffers containing the former guards’ belongings. Among them, she finds 2 bombs, a net, 20 ft of rope, and a spear. Due to the Yes, and Response, Doom is increased by 1.

Abigeal takes the spear and the two bombs and adds them to her inventory.

She then heads back to the guard post, now taking the door to the southeast.

Roll for number of exits: 3 – One exit. Roll for cardinal directions: 3 – East. Roll for exit type: 3 – Horizontal.

Roll on room content tables:

Encounter: 11 – Nothing. Loot: 16 – Random scroll. Room feature: 14 – Major obstacle.

Rolling on a spark table to determine what the obstacle is, I decided to roll Verb + Subject

31 – Increase. 16 - Adversity

Towards the center of this room, the water level is much higher respective to the floor, making it impossible to traverse to the other side walking.

Is the scroll on the side of the room Abigeal can reach on foot? (2d10+2 on Soul Oracle: 11 – Random Event)

A random event occurs. Before determining what it is, I resolve the yes/no question by looking at the result of the higher of the two dice. As it’s an even number (8), the answer is yes, the scroll is floating on the side of the room Abigeal can reach on foot.

Roll for event type: 12 – Reveal

Something is revealed to not be what it initially seemed. I decided to roll Adjective + Subject and...

21 – Ancient. 12 – Ally.

Rather serendipitous.

I decided to interpret this as... she suddenly remembers this was an important place for her and Ciannán, back in the old times before the undead curse.

Is this where he betrayed her? (2d10+2 on Soul Oracle: 21 – No, and...)

This doesn’t seem to be the case, quite the opposite, in fact. Due to the No, and Response, Doom is reduced by 1.

Is this where they met? (2d10+1 on Soul Oracle: 10 – Yes, but...)

She recognizes this as the place they met, but she can barely remember anything from that encounter other than the place itself.

I’m going to stop playing here for the time being, closing this example of play on what I think is the most interesting note so far.

[ihaveforgortoomany]

Reverse 1999 and child soldiers (just rambling) (global friendly)

It doesn't take long for anyone to realise most of the cast (excluding awakened, entities like Voyager and AlienT, and people like Eternity) are young: ranging from most being 17-16 with adults around their 20s and Shamane currently being the oldest (excluding the above) at around 40. (Edit hes 45 thanks for clarifying)

Alright you say, this is a gacha game ofc the characters would be around these ranges and we hope every patch to get character that is above 40 (wdym someone like Tooth Fairy isn't 30? Same for Kakania and Isolde, how are they 19 and 18 respectively?For example). Hey I would like more older characters too, but I think the ages are partially intentional if we look into lore on a thematic level.

Ok. We already know the Foundation, Laplace and now Zeno (though it was ofc from Lilya) they produce child soldiers, workers and scientists:

Vertin is the Timekeeper at 12

Sonetto probably became a field investigator around 14-16 at best (correct me if we have a better frame of reference)

Ms Moission in her character profile apparently was a field investigator at 14. (I spelt her name wrong I think)

Mesmer Jr started working at the age of 12

As of the release of the Zeno anecdote we know Lilya around 14 was already in field missions and has seen the state of war.

(Probably could include X, Horrorpedia here but I don't have much info)

What am I getting at? Characters being young in their fields of work is completely intentional, one due to the Storm in the case of the Foundation as the first had taken nearly the entire workforce (plus Child Labour Laws) so in desperation to maintain numbers and order the age to become investigators, soldiers and scientists became much lower. I don't know if the SPDM existed before the Storm but the way it functions primarily serves to replenish those lost workforce.

And two: the perception of arcanists and the importance placed on the manifestation of their arcane skill as young as possible.

We see this in the case of Mesmer and Isolde/Trista.

Mesmer Jr once she was tested to see if she had her arcane skill immediately was set to manage mentally unstable patients at the age of 12. (She alongside Vertin probably needs the most therapy)

For Trista this was the seance her mother brought to at the age of 3, dying as a result and leading to her mother with Isolde to delay by 3 years. (Acting as if that was a mercy which it really is not)

There is an emphasis on an arcane families and arcanists maintaining their societal status/ relevance through children developing their arcane skills as soon as possible plus the idea of childhood and working is flipped on its head with the presence of arcanum.

Ok idk if worded that bit correctly but in short: our idea of when a child should be working (which is never) or the time someone should be in teaching before they get into a profession (TF, Kakania and Madam Z) is warped and absent in R1999. For Kakania, shes 19 but I would argue this is because of how she had dropped out and decided to be an unlicensed doctor. Most characters being younger is the result of arcanum being present in the world.

Moreover there is a general theme of lost childhoods/ forced to grow up fast in the younger cast. Exclude characters like Ezra, Matilda (so far) and Spathodea since they are relatively fine/ not deeply traumatised. Everyone else, Vertin, Sonetto, Mesmer Jr and characters like Eagle, Monlicht, Oliver Fog were forced to grow up fast despite their young age.

Summary: characters being in younger age ranges either being literal child soldiers or certain adults being relatively young is the result of the devastation of the Storm alongside the different perception of age in the arcanum world, there the manifestation of your arcane skill seems to be used as a sign of maturity and readiness to be thrown into work (Mesmer and Isolde being put om their respective career paths at a very early age) (or your Constantine celebrating the erasure of Child Labour Laws)

[oldguardleatherdog]

I would like to know more about pup history!

Well, hello, and thanks for asking! Sorry it took a while to respond.

Pup Play as we know it today got its start in 1986 at the International Mr. Leather gathering in Chicago when the partner of a leather artist at the Vendor Market, who showed up in a full-body leather pup suit and a mask crafted by a saddlemaker, started bouncing around the place barking and howling and humping the leather guys as they browsed the whips and chains on display-

-as a protest against the hardcore stoic impenetrable macho attitude that was prevalent among leathermen in those days - the standing joke was that "S&M" stood for "Stand & Model" - breaking through their poser facade, forcing them to interact and engage in a way that was just too cute and endearing to ignore or resist.

Pup Play began as an act of protest at the biggest leather gathering of the year against a cultural and institutional barrier to communication and connection. One guy - one dog - broke through that barrier, and nearly four decades later there are thousands of people around the world who pull on a pup hood and hit the ground or the mats or the dance floor barking up a storm, expressing ourselves in ways that are free and full, in a spirit of joy that at its best can transcend roleplay and allow us to experience, however briefly, "the time when the divorce between human and animal was not yet complete." (Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Princeton University Press, 1972)

That guy, "Ranger", who's a good friend and a real sweetheart, is still active in the scene here in San Francisco and is our "First Pup", the original (and best!). A year later, almost to the day, I came out as a gay man - and when I came out, I came out barking. The man who put me on all fours for the first time was the man who brought me out, my first and only Leather Daddy who set me on this wild path that became a life's work.

I'm Pup Number Two, 37 years on all fours. I taught the first Pup Play workshop on record (San Francisco, August 1997), where I presented the first Trainer/Handler curriculum to a leather audience for use and adaptation, conducted numerous clinics, demos, and performances for groups and clubs across the United States, and showed hundreds of kinksters of all ages and genders how they could find, embrace, and express their "inner canine." Over the past year, I've been giving my presentation/lecture on Pup History online and IRL for pup-and-handler groups; it's been well received and is being expanded with new research from the field for 2025.

For several years Ranger and I were the only ones doing this radical fringe weird thing that was viewed as disgusting and sick and immoral by the leather and kink community, vilified so strongly that for the first decade those of us who practiced this kink did so mostly underground, communicating through word-of-mouth and personal ads in magazines, because if it got around that we liked to bark in the sack we'd have been thrown out of the community as sickos who were barely a step above actual bestialists (a slur that has never been true of our practice or those who practice it).

In the US and Canada from 1986 to 1997, there were only about a dozen known pup players - researchers including myself are actively searching for others from that long-ago time if they even existed - and we had to fight like hell for years to be open about the kink that we loved and to be able to express ourselves openly in this way. That's surprising to many given the popularity of Pup Play today, but it took a lot of hardcore commitment in the face of opposition to get us out from the shadows and into the light of day.

I hope this is a good introduction to our history and that I've expressed it well enough to satisfy your initial curiosity! There's much more, of course, so if there are any particular areas you're curious about, let me know, awoo!

Thank you for asking. "Beast wishes" to you for a happy and humpy New Year!

Woofs + wags, Alpha Pup Bruzr

[fandomobbsessedb]

Your Favorite Players Favorite Player.

Young-Il/ Frontman / In-Ho/ Player 001 x Gi-Hun's Sister Reader)

Chapter 4 : It’s Play or Be Played

Warnings: blood, gore, murder, changes to canon events, obvi, uhhh strong language but I can’t think of where off the top of my head. Guns and long descriptions, a little kissy kissy here n there.

Hehe- canon events

The haunting classical music echoed in the stairs, sending shivers down your back and through your feet. Using the energy you pushed further and further up the stairs. You walked in between Gi-hun and Young-il. Everytime you looked up your brother would be looking down at you, and everytime you looked behind you Young-il’s eyes burned into your skin. When you had woken up for the game that day Young-il seemed to have covered you with his blanket, the gesture sweet but not really needed. You didn’t even know when he had woken up.

Gi-hun did though.

He watched Young-il wake up for his turn. He watched him take the blankets on both of you and straighten them out. He watched as Young-il brushed some hair away from your face before running his hand down to your shoulder and beyond to your arm. Of course always two steps ahead, Young-il had learned what woke your brother up where the others stayed asleep. Intentionally waking him so he could watch, as the thing he was trying so hard to protect was slowly but surely being pulled away from him.

The doors in front of the group flushed open like curtains, revealing a huge open room with a carousel in the middle. Only there were no animals to ride on, they were walking onto the ride.

Welcome to your third game. The game you will be playing is Mingle.

“Mingle?” You whispered under your breath confused. You observed the room a bit more unsure of how this was mingle. Young-il placed a hand on your shoulder. His other hand pointing to the rooms around you.

“We’ll all have to seperate and divide in those rooms when a number is called.” He told you, nearly cheek to cheek with you, ensuring you could see what he was talking about. The name of the game was certainly older than you, so he probably knew more about the actual specifics of the game.

As the players stepped onto the platform, you found it a little entertaining. As you listened to the instructions your mind couldn’t help but wander. When you were little, there was a merry-go-round at the park by your school. Whenever Gi-hun use to pick you up after he was done with work, he would always have acoin to let you ride. It made you so happy you forgot about all the bad things about your day as you rode the elephants and giraffes and penguin statues. Sometimes Gi-hun would even join you lifting you higher up then the pole would let it go.

Internally you felt the most at peace you’ve been since you entered the game. You went to grab the nearest arm and found it to be Young-ils. He simply smiled at you as you attached to his arm.

Let the game begin

The sudden jolt of the platform shook you from where you stood. Using his free arm, Young-il grabbed you before you fell. The eerie kids music having a little ring to it momentarily distracted you before the wheel stopped.

Ten

Gi-hun turned to you and quickly counted your group.

“We have six, we need four more!” He shouted over the chaos. You saw Young-mi’s group standing right behind you with five people. The mother son duo, Young-mi and Hyun-ju and… the shaman. They turned to talk to Gi-hun.

“ We have five!!” They shouted looking around. Almost on beat you all turned your head to face the crazy lady who looked back at you with a defiant look. Without a heart beat in between- your group sprinted for the nearest room leaving that crazy bitch behind. Young-il ran behind you, you felt his hand push you into the room you had claimed by your lower back, ensuring you got in. As soon as Gi-hun entered behind everyone you took a breath as you heard the buzzer of the clock, and the doors lock ca-chunked. You took a breath thinking you could relax, until the gunshots started.

You and a few others in the room jumped in surprise, waiting for it to be over.

The following players have been eliminated.

Players 013, 043, 049, 054, 060

Squeezing your eyes shut tightly, you stood to take a full deep breath.

“What’s the plan when we get split up Gi-hun?” Dae-Ho asked, worry etched across his face now that you all had a minute to breathe.

“For groups of five or four we split up evenly, any above that and we grab whoever we need.” He sighed.

“And what if it’s smaller?” Young-mi asked, grasping onto Hyun-ju’s hand in fear.

“We decide as we go I guess.” He thought. “We can divide out pretty evenly since there’s ten of us in here.” He nodded. You copied his motion looking around the room at who would likely get paired up.

Exiting the room you witnessed the puddles of blood, just collecting on the floor. One mistep, and you had accidently slipped in one of those puddles. It jostled you a bit but you found your balance, looking down you saw the stickiness connecting your shoe to the floor.

Oh my god, oh my god oh my god oh my god, I’m gonna throw up.

You bit your lips to try and keep your mouth closed so as to not throw up all over, and now have blood and vomit to walk on. You took a deep breath again as Gi-hun stood next to you and helped you walk away from the pile.

Ring-a, ring-a, ring-a

Ring-a, ring-a-ring

Ring-a, ring-a, ring-a

Ring-a, ring-a-ring

Four

Trying your hardest to keep your balance you slid in place as your group looked around at eachother.

Hyun-ju’s group gave a silent nod to each other and your group, then ran like the wind towards a room.

As your group looked together to decide who would go, Gi-hun planned to usher you all towards a room. Young-il seeing his sacrifice grabbed at your hand about to pull you away to find a separate group, when a painted hand grabbed onto your ponytail and yanked you backwards.

You slipped in a slick blood puddle and fell into the body behind you, you felt two arms link with yours as they started running.

“LETS GO; WOOOOOOOO” Thanos exclaimed pulling you backwards with Nam-gyu. Se-mi ran next to them shouting an apology at your group. Your slimy shoes did nothing but aid your captors as they pulled you from your group.

“STOP, GUYS HELP ME, STOP IT, STOP” I screamed, I didn’t want to go with these morons, I wanted to stay with my brother. I saw the group trying to make a grab for me but getting pulled back by the crowd. “LET ME GO” I struggled, I saw my friends getting smaller and smaller as I was taken farther away. A door blocked my vision from them as Se-mi slammed it shut, and fiddled with the lock.

“LET ME GO, LET ME OUT OF HERE!” I jumped trying to reach for the door.

“Ah ah ah, no way we’re loosing a game as easy as mingle” Nam-gyu tsked at me, catching me mid jump and barricading the door. I heard the screams start as the timers buzzer sounded. I tried to push him out of the way when Thanos yelled, silenced my cries.

“Wait!” He pointed to Nam-gyu with a confused look on his face. “Where did you leave my boy Gyeong-su?” He asked. Se-mi and Nam-gyu shrugged at eachother before Thanos sighed and ran a hand down his face. Shoving the both of us away from the door, he scared me when he started screaming.

“GEONG-SU”

The gun-shot sounds shook me to my core as Thanos watched his buddy get shot and added to the piggy bank. Peeking through the crack of the door and the wall, I looked around to see if I couldn’t spot any of my group. It was hard to see but so far I hadn’t caught even so much as a glimpse.

You watched in horror as a gaurd walked past your room and to the yellow one adjacent. You screamed at the sudden gunshots from the room next to you. Se-mi rested a shaking hand on your shoulder as the door unlocked.

I stood, frozen in fear. They needed all the players on the platform for the next round, if I just didn’t go, they couldn’t start it. I didn’t want to face the awful truth that… there was a possibility my brother would be- dead. I watched as a puddle of blood started to seep through the floor from the room over and started hyperventilating.

“Hey (Y/N)!” Thanos shouted from the entrence. “Come on señorita, we got a game to play.” He bounced. Wrapping an arm around your shoulders he escorted you from the room, whopping and hollering with Nam-gyu.

Gazing around the room you saw your group exit their door, as apprehensive as you were to leave yours.

“(Y/N)? Young-il??” You heard them shout from their side. With a sad smile you walked over to where they were, Jun-hee being the first to see you.

“(Y/N)!” She yelled, catching the attention of your group. As quickly as her enlarged belly let her she made her way to you in the middle. As soon as you where close enough your wrapped eachother in your embrace. You, careful of her stomach, and her leaning it away. As you relaxed seeing they were okay, she let you go and Dae-ho picked you up with fervor.

“Oh thank god you’re okay!” He cried. I smiled a tight smile at his worry and finally got to Gi-hun. He grabbed at my shoulders and pulled me into him tight. His beanstalk frame towering me, but wrapping me in its comforting cape.

I laid my head against his chest, listening to his sprinting heart beat slow to a mild jog. I felt him take a breath as he started patting me down. His tight arms released me for a moment, holding my face and looking me over. He ran his hands down my arms as he lifted them for inspection as well.

“Gi-hun I’m okay, are you?” I replied, pushing his arms off of me and holding his arms in turn, he nodded. You looked at the rest of the group in confusion.

“Wait, where’s Young-il?” My heart rate picked up once again, I searched the area around us again not seeing his dark mystery eyes.

Now that I think of it, they’re kinda like a basement-dweller’s… eyes never dilating or is that a stoners… he looks like he would kinda do drugs if given the chance…

“Gi-hun!” Someone yelled from behind you. You all turned to see Young-il slightly jogging to your group. Jung-bae didn’t waste any time and jumped into a hug. Young-il didn’t necessarily reciprocate but instead met your eyes, after Jung-bae released him and Dae-ho patted his back, he turned his attention to you.

With a smile I went in for a hug, he went to reciprocate when we noticed how close our faces sat. When we hugged it felt different from the others hugs. It felt like before, warm and enticing, leaving much to be desired.

When you both pulled away, slowly, your faces rest barely an inch apart. You could feel his warm exhale tickle the cold skin of your face. Taking a deep breath I turned back to my brother and stood near him again holding his hand.

“I'm glad you're back.” Jun-hee admit resting her hand on her stomach. Young-il smiled back and looked around.

“Wait a minute. If the next number is seven, we won't need anyone else, will we?” He chuckled. Coming to stand beside you and wrapping his arm around your shoulders, effectively pulling you away from Gi-hun.

“Why not?” Dae ho responded. “Oh, in her tummy? Right, that makes seven!”

“What if it's twins?” Jung-bae laughed “Does that make seven?”

All players, please step onto the center platform.

As you stepped up Young-il pushed you into the center of their group with Jun-hee creating a secure circle around you.

Three

As the music and lights started flashing around you, you felt Young-il stealthily grabbing your hand and interlacing your fingers. Jung-bae and Dae-ho nodded grabbing Jun-hee and rushed to their own room. You saw Young-il and Gi-hun nod grabbing your arms as they rushed off towards a room.

The door locked behind you, trapping the tension inside without a release. You were sat on the floor as Gi-hun and Young-il stared between each other. Your hand went down to help you straighten your seated position when a cold, slick substance caused you to shiver.

A gunshot rang across the room when the firing start. Young-il noticed your shakiness and pulled you into his chest, matching the earlier feeling Gi-hun gave you. You felt like a caterpillar, wrapped in the safety of your cocoon. His hands sat tight on your ears, blocking out all but the sound of your heartbeat. His white t-shirt creating a calm ambiance in contrast to the dark room you found yourself in.

As soon as the shots stopped he pulled back from your face, with his hands still covering your ears. Gi-hun was oblivious to the interaction behind him as he watched the massacre.

My eyes locked into his. A whirlpool of dark emotions swirling around in his trapping gaze. The rest of the world fading around you as you felt yourself fall deeper and deeper into his embrace. Physically you leaned closer to his face, the tips of your noses almost touching. He blinked down at you, scanning you over making you feel like a book of secrets he had been searching for.

His hands slowly trailed down from your ears, the edges of his fingers tickling your jawline. His finger nails lightly scratching at your skin, like a match on scratch paper, feeding the flame inside your stomach. He gently cradled your face in his wide, warm hands. He leaned in, almost in slow motion it felt so long. Your eyes hooded further blocking your view of the room. Your lips came so close you could feel the chapping skin of his- the tension between you melting away the closer you got. Your hands rested on his wrists keeping him close.

Finally, like a bullet meeting a body, his lips met yours. Crashing through the walls of your emotions with such force, such determination, you wondered if he was actually a superhero, the force was so magnetic.

But alas, it wasn’t meant to last…

The lock opened like a cock-blocking lock would. Really fucking annoyingly.

Gi-hun turned helping his sister up who was still flushed from….. well he didn’t know what, probably her nerves from the gunshots. But on the inside, she never felt more at peace.

He popped his head out of the door starting to look for their friends. Young-il helping his shaking sister out of the room, he noticed they were one of the first groups out and waited anxiously.

————

Young-ils hand around my waist felt like a favorite belt, locking into place. I was so shaken up from the murders, then to being taken to heaven for a few solitary moments, the brought back to the living hell we where in was, really fucking with my brain. Looking to the side I saw Geum-ja embracing Hyun-ju and Young-mi, reveling in her relief at their wellbeing before her eyes met me and she yelped once again.

“YOU’RE ALIVE TO!” She exclaimed quickly shuffling her way to me. I met her in the middle and embraced her like a grandma.

“You’re not hurt are you.” She held my face in the same spot Young-il’s hands previously rested. She started turning and twisting me to look me over before meeting my gaze once more. I nodded in response. I looked up behind her to see Young-sik standing there looking like he was about to cry.

“Mrs.Jang?” I tapped her shoulder and pointed behind her. She saw her son and rushed to him embracing him like she had me and the other girls.

Watching their emotional embrace suddenly made a wave of regret flush over me. What was I thinking? My brother was working so hard to protect me and keep me safe from everything in here, and I disrespected his presence back in the room with Young-il. I turned back seeing Young-il look to me, but I didn’t match his gaze, instead embracing Gi-hun who copied his earlier motion of holding me close like a mama bear who’s baby just fell in the river.

————

As Young-il watched Gi-hun help you climb up the stairs and stand next to him, an overwhelming feeling of greed came over him. As he watched the siblings stay closer than ever… he knew what he now had to do…

————

Six

Your group once again scanned who was part of their bregade and who would go in what groups.

Gi-hun did the quick math. “Four women and two men!”

“I stay with my mom!” Young-sik demanded, Dae-ho volunteered and off the group ran. You stood there with Young-il, grasping his arm tightly as your brother searched for one more person. They spotted a woman who had been abandoned by her group and swept her up running into a red room, the countdown just ending.

Again as you heard the screams and cries of players being shot your heart couldn’t take it anymore. You looked between Gi-hun and Young-il who in turn were looking around the room ensuring everyone’s safety. Young-il being the one who had comforted you before got your attention.

You buried yourself into his chest as his hands came up to cover your ears. Gi-hun looked at the two of you with an angry confused look, of course you didn’t get to witness it as Young-il quietly nodded his head at the door to distract his prey.

When they had let you out you looked for your group again, finding Jun-hee and Myun-gi speaking angrily, and Hyun-ju with a distanced glaze.

“Hey uh, where Young-mi?” Jung-bae asked looking around at the others doors in hopes of finding her. Dae-ho looked at you with a desolate look before looking at the rest..

Feeling faint at the sudden revelation you leaned on Jung-bae behind you who was more than happy to help, until Young-il came in.

no, no she can’t be, no.. no no no

You could barely get enough oxygen, your feet felt like led weights… turning around you started yelling.

“Young-mi….. YOUNG-MI!” She can’t be gone, I can’t- she’s… she’s…

“(Y/N), she fell and didn’t make it in the door fast enough.” Geum-ja left her son’s side and came to comfort me.

“No, no she, she went to a different room.” I trailed off looking around for her short little bob cut. Turning to the door they came from, I saw the puddle of blood dripping off from the door. A scratching sob wretched my body as I fell to my knees. Someone I knew, someone who we were close with, was taken oh so easily, as I feared would happen to me and the rest of the group in due time.

I could hardly breath I was letting so much out, the built up stress and pressure of this place, along with a close loss.

“I don’t know how much more I can do this.” I cried into my hands. Geum-ja got down and held me as I wept, turning the dried out blood into liquid once again.

Now, the final round will begin

“One more round (Y/N)” Young-il said in an attempt to comfort the weeping girl. Slowly her cries subdued as she ran out of steam. She turned from the door, not seeing the guards behind quickly wiping up the floor where Young-mi had been shot.

Her slowly made her way up the bloody steps. It was like some kind of sick confetti, sticking to her shoes and painting them red. Like a celebration that she wasn’t dead.

The wheel spun, its tantalizingly slow speed teasing what was to come.

The lights dulled as the music started, and the last players stood like statues holding their place on the platform.

“What do you think it'll be this time?” Dae-ho broke the silence asking.

“Two” Young-il responded sturdily.

Slowly, Jung-bae turned his head. “Why?”

“There are 126 people left, and there are 50 rooms. So there won't be enough for everyone, only for 100 people. The rest will be killed.” He said, holding his head up, determination boiling over in his mind.

Two

“Oh god” I cried to myself, I quickly looked at our group trying to see who had a game plan. With 0 hesitation, Gi-hun made a grab for me when Young-il pointed at a room and yelled.

“RUN!” He shouted.

Like the flash of a lightning bolt our group divided and grabbed people to run with. Time seemed to slow down as I bolted to the door, unquestioning his order. I saw the number “001” run past me in as two other guys had their hands on the door handle. I slowed down seeing the room being taken to look for other open doors. When I turned back it all came onto me at once as I watched Young-il grab the man’s shoulders with an iron fist, yanking him away.

“GET IN!” Again without question, I yanked open the door and clambered in. I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks.

Someone was already inside.

Young-il shoved his way inside and slammed the door shut. He looked at me before following my line of sight.

“Out” he huffed. The man tried to protest but was quickly shut down as the timer counted down from ten, and Young-il tackled his ass.

“Lock the door!” He yelled from the corner. I did my best to hold my ground as I tried to get the jostling door to shut. Once I locked it I heard the overhead count down and turned my attention back to Young-il.

Five

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth in shock as I saw him strangling the man on the floor.

Four

His head turned purple as Young-il’s hold got tighter.

Three

Snap

Two

He….. he killed him.

One

Young-il released a sigh letting the man’s body hit the ground. The gunshots started at the leftover players. He stood from the ground with his arms out for an embrace. He pulled me into his arms blocking the sound’s out again. I was shaking, I could hardly stand and my jaw hurt from how much I was shivering.

As I stared into the darkness of his clothes I felt his breathing pumping like a non-stop machine. Following his breathing I managed to calm down once more.

I remembered the camera sitting in the corner of the room. Slowly turning my head to look at that little black bug, I watched a light inside go from red, to green. I turned my face back into his chest as I cried. My hands gradually clutched onto his jacket tighter and tighter. If that guy was still alive when the timer ended… we would’ve been killed.

He just held me close as I sobbed, rubbing my back as I came down from the anxiety rush.

“It’s over now, the games done.” He reminded me. One of his hands came off my ears to wipe at my face. His hand tilted my chin up as he wiped my face. I stared at the eyes that entranced me so, realizing there was a darkness I hadn’t noticed before. My breathing quickened as I went to pull away.

Young-il recognized that however and quickly finished what he started in the round second to previous. Holding my chin in place his chapped lips came into contact with mine, holding me in place.

Most people don’t realize when a tsunami is coming, the water pulling back farther and farther till the wave crashes in and destroys everything. You were one of those people, and Young-il is that Tsunami.

The overwhelming feeling of desire flushing away all your worries as the wave crashed onto shore. His lips feeling like the only life raft you had. His hands holding your face above the water saving you from surely drowning. It boiled over in your stomach and the heat filled into your face. For a brief moment, only a moment, you were on a deserted island, the water rushing away from you as your little island stood strong. The only two things there where you and Young-il, oblivious to all the pain and destruction befalling your peers.

He pulled away for a brief moment wrapping you in his arms, suctioning himself to you. In a moment of vulnerability on his end, his hold tightened.

“No force in this world will ever break my hold on you.” He whispered deeply into your mouth. Trembling in his hold, he disregards your uncertainly and re attaches your lips.

“You’re the only force I need.”

AN: I just really wanted to write all the kissy kissy scenes and I’ve spent so long on this chapter too. I hope you guys like it! I’ll keep ya’ll updated on chapters five and six on the master list.

Until then!!!!

Yours truly

~FandomObbsessedB

TAGLIST: @blacksnape123 @newtsniffles @missmollya @watasinekoru @justaproudslytherpuff @jamiewritesfanfiction-blog @tinylawyerbluebird @connorsandroids @foulbreadpaenut @starlightluvsu @machipyun

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Dictionary of Esoteric Terminology

for your next poem/story (pt. 2)

Esoteric—designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone; may refer to the occult

Aeon - either an indefinite or infinite period of time; the Gnostics used the word to represent eternal manifestation emanating from God

Aniadus - the virtue or efficacy of things; life force

Buddhi - wisdom independent of knowledge or learning

Candali - literally, "fierce" or "wrathful"; Vajrayana word for a kind of heat generated and experienced during certain types of meditation practices; this heat burns through impurities and confusion

Chayot - the "lightning flash" described by Ezekiel; it is sometimes used to describe states of spiritual ecstasy

Daka - literally, "one who goes into the sky"; "hero" or "warrior"; formally, a masculine Yidam of semi-wrathful appearance; generally, a type of protector or messenger

Erodinium - an omen, hidden until after the fact, then a presage signifying a recurrence of the event; a ripple or node of synchronicity

Glyph - from Greek glyphe, meaning "carved work"; a symbolic figure or character usually incised or carved in relief

Hsin - the intuition; the original mind; the pure and distilled essence of the vital force, ch'i

Hsu - an important Taoist concept meaning "emptiness" or "nonexistence," in the sense of stillness and receptivity

Ignis Leonis - elemental fire; also called Fire of the Lion, Aether, Pyr, Aethos, and Jupiter Argos

Insufflation - to blow or breathe upon; frequently used in healing to transmit the life force; some practitioners recommend alternating cold and warm breath; many shamanic healers also use the technique of drawing out harmful energy or spirits using the breath

Kamea - a "magic square" used in talismanic magic to produce sigils, which are produced by converting a word or name into numbers and then tracing the numbers on the kamea appropriate to the force being channeled

Khaba - an ancient Egyptian word for a part of the soul of a human being; the astral body

Khaib - the shadow; an ancient Egyptian term for the Body of Habits, the part of the human soul which leaves the body at death and may continue an independent existence; symbolized by a shadow cast in sunlight

Loka - place, locality, world, or plane; there are rupa-lokas (material spheres) and arupa-lokas (spiritual spheres)

Maqam - the continual awareness of the presence of God; grace

Necessitas - the mother of the Three Fates in Roman mythology

Otz Chaim - the Tree of Life

Phantasmata - a thought-form capable of communication

Spagirus - a person who can separate the true from the false, the good from the bad, the pure from the impure, yet reject duality and cleave to unity

Tiamat - the Babylonian goddess of the primeval chaos ocean, usually described as an immense dragon; she was eventually slain by Marduk and split in two, one half becoming heaven and the other half becoming earth

Vril - a mysterious, universal force responsible for evolution and spiritual transformation; the fire of the gods

Wakan - an American Indian term for the force which suffuses the world and maintains cosmic order; it is the force behind magic and reveals itself in visions and prophecies

Zos - the body considered as a whole; was used by Austin Osman Spare to refer to the total field of sensation and awareness; is symbolized by the hand

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Part 1

[radiance1]

Vlad owned a cookbook.

Keyword, owned.

But you see, it was far from an ordinary cookbook.

It was a bit magical in nature, not on any purpose of Vlad's part, despite being the one to make it. It was created a while after Vlad stopped having an obsession with Maddie and became on somewhat better terms with Jack, in which he decided to entirely ignore one Daniel Fenton.

Instead, he focused on creating the perfect cookbook that has ever graced the mortal plane. Made from the highest leather, the best finest paper and bound together with the best thread he could find.

All helpfully sourced from the Ghost Zone.

Of course, after all of that he had to, well, fill it with recipes.

He had multiple duplicates scouring the internet for various recipes, and since it's for personal use he doesn't have to care for copyright or whatever since it won't be used by anyone but him. While also looking around in the Ghost Zone for specific types of ghosts.

Mostly grannies.

Overtime and with help from his multiple duplicates his cookbook has quickly become filled up, though for some reason there seemed to be an endless number of pages left unfinished, doesn't matter since it's just more space.

Then he started to encounter the spirits of witches, wizards, warlocks, shamans. You get it.

He took recipes from them too, because when he meant this would be the greatest cookbook, he meant it, and what is potion making if not Alchemy, and what is Alchemy if not cooking?

So, after some time, with blood, sweat, and tears being poured into his book with recipes from everywhere and his own personal recipe along with few decorations here and there, making it look less like a common book and more like the prized treasure it truly is, and Vlad's work is finally complete.

The greatest cookbook to ever grace the mortal plane.

He went to sleep happy, woke up the next day happy, used his newfound cookbook happily and was overall having the greatest of times.

He also found out that his cookbook became sentient. Which is nice, because he can just call out a page and it'll flip right through to it, but he doesn't recall how it became sentient.

He's been watching it carefully before completion, and every time it came in contact with ectoplasm it never became sentient like the food the Fentons produce (And yes, living food is indeed within the endless pages of his book), so it maybe had something to do with the more magical recipes contained within.

Not that he cared, really, since it served it's purpose extremely well.

Except, a few months later, with a visit from the Fentons to his mansion, he finds he lost it.

Vlad, predictably, is in shambles.

Is it because his cookbook is a genuine danger to society if in the wrong hands?

No.

Perhaps because contained within its pages are high level alchemical recipes?

No.

Or maybe because there was a recipe to create some kind of potion to kill an immortal, make someone immortal, or reverse death? (Honestly he didn't even remember where he got that one)

Fuck no.

He's in shambles because he didn't even get to use a quarter of the recipes that weren't even his own.

Also, because it's became his technical technically both his son and best friend.

Who does he accuse first?

One Danny Fenton.

Because it only disappeared after Danny came to visit, and while he wouldn't put it past Jack to do something incredibly stupid, the man was nowhere near his book at the time!

Danny, predictably, is not at all amused.

Vlad then pesters him to go out and search for his missing greatest creation and doesn't stop until Danny agrees.

So, now Danny has to find a cookbook that can and probably is a genuine danger to society if someone decides to use the far less than normal recipes.

Also, why the fuck did Vlad even have them??

[calsvoid]

ten (sorta) thoughts on squid game season 2 (SPOILERS):

1. holy fuck this season was so beautiful and the creative genius behind it was so wonderful

2. the rock paper scissors minus one scene has got to be the most intense game scene out of every single one (not game, but game SCENE, as in watching these two friends who i didn’t even care about half a second before be forced to bet their lives against each other only for one of them to be placed with a guaranteed win and not take it was probably the craziest thing to ever happen and fuck having that be the first episode truly through me for a spin)

3. speaking of, the guy that lived (who is known as guy with the wife because me and my brother kept saying that he has a wife as a reason why we want him to live) is one of my favs for no reason, i hope he gets out alright DONT YOU DARE DO ANYTHING TO HIM CAP’N I TRUSTED YOU

4. i knew as soon as they started having two girls bond i was done for and i spent every moment of theirs begging for both of them to live because i think i’ve seen this film before and i didn’t like the ending

5. soooooo many characters and character dynamics were just absolute chef’s kiss and it helps so much with that buildup of hope and tension; last season obviously had some wonderful people and relationships (i’m still not and never will be over the marble game) but something about this new cast was just absolutely wonderful. there were almost no characters i didn’t like or wasn’t invested in, and i am very excited to see how they turn out next season. hyun-ju’s group, gi-hun’s group, hell even thanos’s group i enjoyed all of them. min-su’s betrayal fucked me up so bad though and him failing to save her and having to see her die FUCK. also young-mi’s death was so painful, especially since she was the first main group member death. the mom and son were hilarious im going to fight god if they don’t end up together in either life or death

6. all about women’s rights and women’s wrongs this season, number 11 i love you and i hope you find your child i will kill your almost rapists for you. i don’t care that i hate the military hyun-ju is hot with a gun and she can fuck me with one of she wants. i pray for that fetus please let them get out alive. the mom was fantastic and such a nostalgic character, very accurate portrayal of an auntie and i love her for that. shaman queen is batshit crazy and good for her

7. the set design yall fucking BEAUTIFUL. i can’t describe it, but it just adds so much to that deceitful hope with all the rainbows and clean lines. and also the use of the stairs during the gun fights, ugh so amazing what a great way to repurpose that set

8. ALSO THE ADDED KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOLDIERS SIDE, god i love the extra lore behind their recruitment, their system, all that. loved the twist and as i’ve said i love number 11 shes my queen

9. god seong gi-hun had me ROOTING for him. his sheer determination was felt by me too and i really hoped that he would finally get to get justice, that finale just hurt all that much more

10. i wanted so badly for inho to end up having a semi-redemption arc even though it was unlikely, i unfortunately fell for his manipulation and wanted to believe in him god it hurt watching him use the sounds of someone else’s death to trick gi-hun

[marsneptunes]

Could the scene of then flying be a reference to the fact that witches used brooms as a ritual to freedom, fertility, womanhood and sexually?

The use of hallucinogenic plants for shamanic purposes goes back to prehistory. In medieval Europe there were a number of hallucinogenic plants in fairly easy supply. First among these was the rye mold containing ergot fungi. With effects on humans similar to LSD, ergot was a powerful hallucinogen, and others readily accessible hallucinogenic plants like henbane, deadly nightshade or mandrake.

One of the ways to ingest a hallucinogenic drug besides swallowing it is through the mucous membranes, for women, through the mucous membranes of their vaginas. The witches confessed, that on certain days or nights they anoint a staff and ride on it to the appointed place or anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places. Once this had been done, the effects of the “flying ointment” would begin to take effect.

And then we have these moments that they look like having some peace, freedom, pleasure, yearning and desire.

And why the fixation on the broomstick and not another object? The herbs used in such a preparation would have been kept in small broom-like bundles know as whisks, which may have been boiled whole in oil, both releasing the active ingredients from the whisk and thus soaking the handle with the concoction.

From the viewpoint of our modern times, such drug use and self pleasure are not such shocking acts, but are in fact liberating, but at the time a woman choosing to do what she wished with her own body or mind was so unthinkable as to be synonymous with the devil himself. Many women were tortured and killed because they dared to explore such personal liberties.

Remembering that we have some scenes in the show of Lilia talking about how the witches were perceived and how much the suffered, it would be interesting the possibility of the show bringing those elements to the history.

Credits for the gifs @/sassymajesty @/trynot @x/mndvx @/carricfisher

[bvidzsoo]

Hello my fwiend!

I would like you to write me a story with Devil Hongjoong himself 👀😈

With the numbers 6 and 20 HEHET 🤭

Anyways thanxx and you are the best bye! ❤️‍🔥

◆Devil!Hongjoong (is not for the weak hearted)◆

↳6. I liked the stories more about you.

↳20. If I go with you...nothing will happen to me, right?

A/N: Orsi, you gave me a kick in the ass with this one, but I managed to come up with something good (hopefully), hehet. Hope you like it! (and everyone else who stumbles upon this) Requests are open until the 1st of November!

TW: mentions of suicide

◆Halloween Prompts◆

The strong wind whipped my hair all over my face, getting in my eyes and open mouth as my lungs heaved desperately for more air. Nothing seemed to be working anymore, I couldn't breathe, as if someone was squeezing my windpipe with their hand, tightening and tightening their grip with each passing second. Why did it have to be me? Why wasn't I good enough? Why did things never work in my favor? My dream job...it was right in front of my nose, everything went well, I passed the interview, I got introduced to my colleagues and then...it just all slipped through my fingers. That dreaded call this morning turned everything upside down. I had been barely working there for a few days, and I was already fired. Why? They didn't want to tell me, it sounded like they didn't have one good reason, they just didn't want me anymore. Just like everyone else, apparently. Nobody liked me, nobody wanted to be my friend, nobody loved me. My family disowned me the second I turned eighteen, I had nowhere to go. Nobody to go to. If I didn't have a job, I didn't have money and I wouldn't survive on the streets for long as winter was rapidly approaching.

Another choked up sob left my lips as I grabbed the railing of the building, thirty stories up, a certain death in front of me. I was scared. My whole being trembled as my knuckles turned white by the force I was gripping the railing with, I didn't necessarily want to do this, but there was no other way out. I didn't want to live this miserable life anymore. I just couldn't. Not when I felt so alone, so tired and scared. My family always told me I bring misfortune to everyone around me and thus I'd live a lonely and torturous life, perhaps they were right. Perhaps, I truly was cursed, like a shaman has told my mother once. I hiccupped at the thought and wiped at my face with the sleeve of my blouse, too thin for this harsh weather, not that it mattered for much longer. I braced myself and closed my eyes, shivering when another strong gust of wind blew against my fragile body, slightly pushing me forward. There was something weird about it, it almost felt like bony fingers wrapped around my hips for a mere second, pushing me forward lightly. Perhaps my brain couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't anymore, so without much thought, I swung one leg over the railing, gulping anxiously. I had nothing to lose. Nobody would miss me. Nobody would care. I'd just make it into the statistics of some bored researcher at the end of the year. I closed my eyes and went to haul my other leg over the railing as well, when smoke invaded my nose. Cigarette smoke, as it chewed at my throat, the smell something I could never digest. My muscles tensed and I gasped when I heard the loud exhale then inhale to my left. Was...was someone here? How did I not notice? My eyes flew open alarmed and as I turned my head to the left, I was met with the face of a stranger staring back at me. My mouth fell open and I stumbled backwards in fright, hissing when my leg caught between the bars of the railing slightly, pulling on the muscles of my shin. The stranger smirked before turning his head forward, exhaling the smoke of his cigarette again. His black hair was blonde at the ends and it was spikey, disheveled as it stood up in odd directions. It looked as if it was styled like that, but the stranger didn't seem like he cared much about his hair. His black leather pants clung to his body and as I lay on the cold ground, I noticed the black fur coat around him, making his shoulders seem wider than any human's I have met so far. There was something dark about his aura, as if shadows swum around him, blocking the streetlights from falling on him for too long. My heart was thumping fast in my ribcage.

"You humans are so quick to throw away something so precious," The stranger's voice was smooth, not too deep, "Life."

Was he here to scold me? To try and change my mind?

"This," He motioned at the cigar between his bony fingers, "is just a slow way of killing yourself, did you know?"

"If you care so much about life," I couldn't help the hostility in my voice as I snapped back at him, "then why are you killing yourself with it?"

The stranger fell silent for a second before straining his neck to look over the railing, then threw his cigar down, still burning. My eyes widened, what if someone was walking by right now?

"That thing can't kill something which isn't human." The stranger answered quizzically, turning to face me. My body seemed to be on high alert, something in my gut dropping at the full sight of him. His cat-like eyes were dark, looked soulless even, as the dark eyeshadow deepened his stare. His skin was fair, almost too much, and had zero blemishes. His high nose looked perfect and his lips were burgundy red, the only real color on his face. How were his cheeks not flushed in such cold weather? A silver piercing decorated the center of his lips and he had matching jewelry on his ears, around his neck and fingers. If I previously felt poorly dressed, the stranger made me shiver just by the sight of the absence of anything underneath his fur coat or his barefoot. His bony fingers extended towards me, nails painted black, and despite the screaming voice in my head telling me to refuse the help and bolt for the door, I ignored it. I gripped his hand and allowed him to pull me up to my feet, a bone chilling tremble traveling through my hand at the contact.

"You're going to catch a cold." I found myself muttering as I swiftly pulled my hand out of his, subtly rubbing it against my side as it felt frozen out of nowhere.

"No, human, I won't." The stranger chuckled, tilting his head and widening his eyes, "You, though, will. But I suppose you don't care as you were just about to throw yourself off a building before I interrupted."

"I—" I stuttered, eyebrows furrowing at the lack of an excuse, "I wasn't—"

"Yes, you were." The stranger chuckled lowly, a chill running down my spine, "I don't blame you, though, anyone with a cursed soul breaks at some point in their life. You were lucky enough to last this long."

My eyebrows furrowed at his words, and I found myself taking a step backwards when the stranger took a step towards me. What did he mean? Cursed soul? How did he know about that? It probably wasn't even true.

"What are you talking about?" I asked in a whisper, wrapping my arms around my frozen body, desperate for a little warmth. Perhaps I should've worn my fluffy jacket when I decided to come up here. But then again, I didn't think I wouldn't be able to go through with my plan.

"Your soul," The stranger spoke up as he started approaching me, sending my heart in a frenzy, dread filling my whole being, "is black, that means it's cursed. I don't have to see it to know, I could smell it from miles away, human."

My eyebrows furrowed as I listened to this crazy man talk nonsense, still backing away from him, until my back crashed into the door which lead downstairs, "Whatever you're saying makes no sense, whatsoever, you sound like a crazy man right now."

"That's what people think of you too, did you know?" A wide smirk spread onto the stranger's lips, making him look scary, "A crazed woman, her eyes and stare empty, void of life. Did you know you don't have a shadow?"

I gaped at this crazy man, shaking my head no, hand searching for the doorknob behind me, "You never had one. It's here, with me, actually."

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked around, trying to understand what the man was saying. How was it here with him? And since when did I not have a shadow? I always had one...didn't I? My hand finally found the doorknob and I gripped it tightly.

"Which asylum did you escape from?" The question was rude and I would've never asked anyone that in a normal scenario, but the man was freaking me out. What was he going on about? My words, however, make the man laugh and I jumped, his laughter loud and high-pitched as the wind carried it away, making him look crazed. When his eyes connected with mine again, I could swear they were glinting and pulsating with darkness.

"What are you?" I whispered as I turned the doorknob, only for it to not open. No. I was stuck here with this deranged man, and all I could do was stand and watch the crazed look overtake his whole features. His nose flared and I could swear he got taller in just a few seconds, suddenly towering over me as his lips parted, sharp fangs bared menacingly at me. Was this a bad dream?

"The Devil." He whispered as he leaned closer, bony fingers grabbing my hips as sharp nails tore through my clothes. I froze as his nose came in contact with my neck, inhaling deeply, moaning lowly as he pulled back enough to stare into my eyes, "I haven't met a human like you in centuries."

I couldn't help but gulp, mind running at miles per hour, trying to find a way to escape. The Devil? This man standing in front of me? Besides the deranged look on his face and his odd behavior, he didn't exactly look like the Devil. At least, the stories people told about him described him nothing like this.

"You're too nice to be the Devil." I found myself muttering, the dread in my stomach settling, becoming familiar at this point. Everything in my body was in fight or flight mode, yet I couldn't move, the man in front of me kept me locked in one place.

"Don't let my appearance fool you, human." He mused sweetly, his grip around my hips tightening, nails digging into my skin, breath hitching, "If you're not afraid of such a dark entity, perhaps the name Kim Hongjoong will frighten you."

Indeed, the name, Kim Hongjoong, did frighten me as my eyes turned into saucers, gaping at the deranged man calling himself the Devil in front of me, "You're—you're Kim Hongjoong?"

He was a very dangerous man, everyone in the city feared him. Nobody knew what he looked like or who he was, he was almost like a myth. A story to scare children, except that he was real. As real as anyone else could be. And he wasn't afraid of anyone or anything. He killed whomever he wished, he tortured whomever he felt like, and he prayed on innocent people.

"They aren't innocent." Hongjoong's whisper reached my ears just a second after my own thought and my breathing stuttered for a second.

"How did you—what—" My mind was a jumbled mess. A few minutes ago, I just wanted to end my life. To disappear forever. Now, I was pinned against a door by Kim Hongjoong...and the Devil himself?

"Your mind is a loud place, human, your scent isn't the only thing which drew me here, you know?" A smirk crossed his lips and I gulped, averting my eyes when his intimidating gaze became too much.

"What do you want from me?" I found myself asking, curious whether I'll get to see tomorrow's sunrise. Hongjoong just hummed, sharp nails retracting from my skin, soft fingertips the only things pressing into my hips now.

"I haven't decided yet, human." He answered honestly and I looked at him, biting my lower lip, debating what I wanted him to do with me. I couldn't stay here. I had nothing left here for me anymore. If I didn't die tonight, I'd be dead next week by this time. There really was no other end to my story, and perhaps, this man in front of me was my escape from the curse.

"And if..." My voice faltered a little and I gulped as Hongjoong raised his eyebrows, a sly smile appearing on his lips, "And if you take me with you?"

"Where to?" Hongjoong asked amused, clicking his tongue and stepping away, the shadows which seemed to swirl around us disappearing with him. Suddenly, it wasn't so cold anymore.

"I don't know..." I shrugged and hugged myself, "Anywhere."

"You don't know what you're asking for, little one." The beam was back in his eyes, pupils pulsing as more darkness seemed to wrap around his body, blocking the streetlights from my view, pulling me into his own darkness. I shivered at the sudden warmth, glancing around, but seeing nothing. Were we still on the rooftop? My muscles cried in agony at the warmth, grateful that I finally stopped killing my body. But would it last?

"If I go with you..." I gulped and looked down, avoiding Hongjoong's piercing eyes, "nothing will happen to me, right?"

For a second it was silent, until Hongjoong started giggling. He sounded amused, but something told me to avoid his gaze right now, limbs trembling slightly in fear. I just asked the Devil to take me away, to where, I had no idea. Probably to hell. Could a human willingly go to hell if they were still alive?

"If you wove to stay by my side until the end of days," Suddenly, Hongjoong's lips were pressing against my ear, his words slurred as his voice dropped, "Nobody and nothing will be able to destroy you. Not even the curse placed on you. I'll allow you to take revenge on whoever did that to you."

Hope. A flicker of hope in my chest was spreading like wildfire. Suddenly, he gave me a new purpose. Suddenly, I was glad I didn't jump off the building. Suddenly, as I looked up into Hongjoong's eyes, I felt a desperate need to grasp onto life and find out who cursed me, to have my revenge on them. Suddenly, Hongjoong's darkness seeped into my own skin, leaving me breathless for a second as I felt my whole body glowing.

I chuckled, looking down at my arms before feeling Hongjoong's cold hand cupping my cheek. I looked at him and smiled, I couldn't remember the last time I have smiled so genuinely, "And for a second, I thought I liked the stories more about you."

Hongjoong's lips parted as he chuckled and then pressed his forehead against mine, our world going black for a second, before thunder rumbled the earth beneath our feet, "Those stories are half the truth you could ever understand with your little brain, human. Let me take you to my World."

Masterlist

[midnight--sadness]

So I've seen a number of anons bring up potential Gi-hun pregnant during the second games scenarios, but I think for maximum comedy he should have zero idea he is pregnant and randomly go into labor either during or in between one of the games.

Gi-hun, during the search for the Frontman, slept with "Young-il" nine months before, who claimed he was grieving the death of his wife and unborn child. Really, In-ho wanted to see Gi-hun, and one thing led to another. So when they "run into each other" at the second games, it seems like a massive coincidence.

Gi-hun has been displaying some strange symptoms like nausea and stomach pains and the occasional odd food craving that he has dismissed because of his stubbornness and determination to stop the games. Plus, the thought that he is pregnant just never even occurs to him because he is not showing because he has not eaten much or rested and simply because he believes he is far too old to worry about such things anymore. So when his waters break at the second games, it is a big "what the f*ck" moment for all parties.

I would love to imagine how In-ho reacts, but I have already taken up a lot of space 😂

this is soo gihun 😭😭😭😭 this would definitely happen to him vnienkgv

sometimes he feels some fluttering in his stomach but he just thinks it's something bad he ate, neverming that he never actually eats anything 🙄

i'm trying to think of the funniest moment he could go into labor and it's either as he is about to vote on the games or when they are playing mingle or the pentathlon.

let's say it's during mingle.

they have just crammed ten of themselves into the room and the shaman is yelling like a maniac and inho is staring creepily at gihun and gihun is bent over, clutching his stomach and watching the remaining players be gunned down outside.

his abdomen is cramping and his hips and lower back ache really back but he thinks it's the physical stress of the game and the result of not eating anything while being nauseous all the time. again, pregnancy flies right over his head because he. is. old.

the labour is one of those that is super quick!

gihun is still watching through the door slit when he feels something wet down his legs and he looks down to find his pants are wet.... daeho of course, would ask if he is okay and jungbae would chuckle that he peed his pants but gihun is just horrified and geumja is like "that doens't look like pee 🤨"

and gihun curls up in pain, holding his abdomen and inho is like "are u pregnant? 😟" and gihun says no, that's impossible... except that they had sex nine months. his contractions are worse and everyone is freaking out and the door won't open!!!! and inho feels like he is about to pass out bc what do u mean he's having another kid????

gihun has the baby right in that room, there isn't even time to get anyone out. junhee has a lovely preview of herself within the following month and daeho can't look gihun in the eye bc he's seen ALL of him. jungbae immediately claims to be the baby's fav uncle and geumja is admonishing gihun for not noticing that he is pregnant. of course, hyunju, our queen, held gihun's hand through the whole thing and let him yell at anyone he wanted, particularly inho 🥰

OR - he has the baby during the night while everyone is in the dormitory asleep

[soporificlily]

I was so teary eyed going through this place.

(my thoughts below the cut)

But I kinda know what these jars are for? It's just so cruel and sad.

~ ~ ~

I had learned about some of the lore from reading other people's posts, and watching some videos, but I'm still not like very familiar with it all.

The saddest part about it is that it reflects our own world, because this happens here. It doesn't manifest in the same practices and methods every time, but whenever it happens there is so much suffering.

As far as I understand, the Hornsent were probably bigger in number and stronger as a force than the Shaman/Numen people, and so they took over and kidnapped them. I think they might've also seen them as lesser, which would to them excuse the inhumane treatment that the Shaman people received from the Hornsent.

Why did they do it tho? I still don't understand. I know that the jars are referred to as saints, but what makes them saints? Is it the suffering they endure?

Was the whole stuffing people into jars thing something of a religious nature, or was it just cruelty? Because it could either be that the Hornsent were genociding the Shaman or they wanted to use their bodies for some divine ritual.

OH! almost forgot. The cycle of violence continues once the oppressed become the oppressors. You know, like Marika starting a holy war and sending Messmer to burn and genocide the Hornsent.

Even the innocent ones who had nothing to do with the Jars. Just like most people in the Jars are probably innocent too.

I guess I'll find out more the more I explore the Land of Shadow.

As always, the history of this world is so fascinating.

[talonabraxas]

I trow I hung on that windy Tree nine whole days and nights, stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin, myself to mine own self given, high on that Tree of which none hath heard from what roots it rises to heaven. — Hávamál (Line 137)

The Wild Hunt of Odin Talon Abraxas

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the earliest and foremost histories of the Anglo-Saxons, who were descended from the same Germanic tribes as the Norse and broadly shared the same body of religious lore, records the following event as having happened in CE 1127:

Let no one be surprised at what we are about to relate, for it was common gossip up and down the countryside that after February 6th many people both saw and heard a whole pack of huntsmen in full cry. They straddled black horses and black bucks while their hounds were pitch black with staring hideous eyes. This was seen in the very deer park of Peterborough town, and in all the woods stretching from that same spot as far as Stamford. All through the night monks heard them sounding and winding their horns. Reliable witnesses who kept watch in the night declared that there might well have been twenty or even thirty of them in this wild tantivy as near as they could tell.

This spectral, nocturnal horde was the “Wild Hunt,” which was recorded in folklore all throughout ancient, medieval, and even early modern Europe, but was especially concentrated in the Germanic lands of northern Europe. In Scandinavia, it was called Oskoreia, “Terrifying Ride,”[2] or Odensjakt, “Odin’s Hunt.” In Middle High German, it was called Wuotanes Her, “Odin’s Army,” and in modern German Wütende Heer, “Furious/Inspired Army,” or Wilde Jagd, “Wild Hunt.”

It swept through the forests in midwinter, the coldest, darkest part of the year, when ferocious winds and storms howled over the land. Anyone who found him- or herself out of doors at night during this time might spot this ghostly procession – or be spotted by it, which might involve being carried away and dropped miles from where the unfortunate person had been taken up, or worse.[6] Others, practitioners of various forms of magic, joined in it voluntarily, as an intangible part of them (a “soul,” if you like) flew with the cavalcade while their bodies lay in their beds as if sleeping normally. Sometimes, the members of the Hunt entered towns and houses, causing havoc and stealing food and drink.

The Leader of the Wild Hunt

When accounts of the Wild Hunt mention a leader, the figure who filled this role varied greatly. In Germany, the leader could have been “Perchta, Berhta, Berta, Holt, Holle, Hulda, Foste, Selga, Selda, Heme, Herla, Berchtold [or] Berhtolt.”

However, as the Wild Hunt’s various names across the Germanic lands attest, one figure was especially closely associated with it: Odin, the god of the dead, inspiration, ecstatic trance, battle frenzy, knowledge, the ruling class, and creative and intellectual pursuits in general. Two of Odin’s hundreds of names further demonstrate his association with midwinter, the time of the year in which the holiday Yule (Old Norse Jól) falls: Jólnir and Jauloherra, both of which mean something like “Master of Yule.” The myths describe him frequently riding throughout the Nine Worlds on his eight-legged steed, Sleipnir, on quests of a shamanic nature, another theme that connects him to the Wild Hunt. As H.R. Ellis Davidson put it, speaking of the manifestations of the Wild Hunt that continued well into the Christian era, “it was natural that the ancient god of the dead who rode through the air should keep a place in this way in the memory of the people, and it reminds us of the terror which his name must once have inspired.”

Conclusion

In the body of lore surrounding the Wild Hunt, we find a number of themes that connect it powerfully with the dead and the underworld. For one thing, there’s the ghostly character of the hunters or warriors themselves. Dogs and horses, animals that were closely associated with death (amongst a great many other things), were almost invariably present. In some accounts of the Hunt, the riders can hardly, if at all, be distinguished from land spirits, who were themselves often conflated with the dead, as if the two were thought of as being in some sense one and the same. Finally, for the ancient Germanic peoples, the worlds of the living and the dead were especially permeable during midwinter, which goes a long way toward explaining why this troop of apparitions haunted the land during that particular part of the year. In the words of Claude Lecouteux, “[T]he Wild Hunt fell into the vast complex of ancestor worship, the cult of the dead, who are the go-betweens between men and the gods.”

It was as if the very elements of midwinter – the menacing cold, the almost unrelenting darkness, the eerie, desolate silence broken only by the baying winds and galloping storms – manifested the restless dead, and the ancient northern Europeans, whose ways of life and worldviews predisposed them to sense spiritual qualities in the world around them, recorded the sometimes terrifying fruits of such an engagement with the enchanted world in their accounts of the Wild Hunt.

[surelyspacejunk]

Melina is the Gloam Eyed Queen

I've come to this conclusion because I think the simplest possible answer the game provides is going to be more convincing than the 5D chess theory crafting required to explain her existence. Convoluted theories of her being the GEQ's child, or the GEQ sealed in a child, or cursed from an Empyrean rival or what not require theorizing how Melina could end up with the GEQ's powers when the simplest answer is that she simply is the GEQ.

If that's not enough for you I've listed below several reasons why I've come to believe that Melina is the GEQ.

1. The Frenzied Flame Ending shows you that Melina is the GEQ.

The Frenzied Flame ending shows her vowing to deliver destined death to you with the appearance of the Gloam Eyed Queen. I don't think it gets any simpler than the game telling you who she is.

2. The Shadow Realms may imply that there is a period of time between Marika's Ascension and the establishment of the Golden Order.

I list this as important because it slots Melina's story neatly into a timeline where it can exist and make sense.

The two biggest hints that this period exists are the Marika statues and churches scattered across the land (even in places Messmer's crusade could not reach such as the Abyssal Woods) and the hornsents' fixation on Marika's betrayal.

Some people believe the betrayal happened shortly after (or during) her ascension but that doesnt don't really sit well with me because the hornsent would have needed to trust her first for the betrayal to feel real. No evidence in game shows that the hornsent had much respect for the shamans beyond them being great concrete goo, so it doesn't really make sense that they'd feel betrayed by someone they feel below them. If they felt someone below their station had become a god they didn't accept, they would surely use the word cheated would they not? But they don't use the word cheated, they use the word betrayed. For a betrayal to feel real, the hornsent would have needed to trust and consider her to be an important part of their culture first. Perhaps they did not care all that much that Marika was a shaman, just that she was a successful result of the Divine Gateway they built. Surely after all the sacrifices they must have felt some relief that it worked out?

So after her ascension, churches and stakes are propped up through out the land before they are abruptly slaughtered and sealed away during Messmer's campaign. Sometime between those two events is where the GEQ's story fits in.

3. Dominula's Rituals show that both the GEQ and Marika share similar cultural traditions. Festive Grease ties it back to traditions in the Shadow Realms.

There are a number reddit posts that have connected the braids of Dominula's festivals to Marika and the Godskins. This reddit post points out cultural overlap of the flowers, runes and visuals seem to imply that they are honoring Marika from traditions that predate the Erdtree, yet in practice seem to be in-line with what the Godskins celebrate. I believe that the festive grease implies that the flaying traditions were done by the Numen shamans themselves which was then picked up by worshipers in Dominula. Perhaps, Melina herself incorporates the cultural flaying in her faction as a twisted and bittersweet way to remember the shamans that came before her. With all this laid out, it's easy to conclude that the Erdtree allows the Dominula tradition to continue despite it's connection with the 'heretical' Godskins, because it has always been a part of Marika's heritage as well.

4. Ranni and Melina's sealed eye implies that they are both Empyreans. (more info for Miquella & Malenia to follow.)

I also like the theory that all of the Empyreans are one eyed which would neatly explain what similarities Melina and Ranni may have. There isn't much visual evidence that Miquella and Malenia were one eyed, but people on reddit speculated that Miquella could have literally meant that he had one eye when when said, “I abandon here my eye”. For Malenia, it could have been that the rot had already claimed one of her eyes in youth as we could see with Millicent's sisters, with differing variances of their sight being afflicted by the Scarlet Rot. Hers is admittedly the shakiest conjecture, but it's a theory I like that visually links Ranni and Melina and gives unity to all the Empyreans born under the Golden Order.

This reddit post is the one that put me on board with the one eyed empyrean theory which lists a lot of evidence for this pattern. There are some points that make me pause though, because I could not verify some of these claims, such as the One Eyed Marika statue supposedly located in the Round Table. If they are talking about the Colosseum Marika, I think the statue is simply too damaged for that to be verifiable.

That said, I think this is an interesting observation, and it'd be interesting to see fanart of Miquella with one eye.

4. Melina is one of three other people who are familiar with Torrent, two of which are Empyrean Demigods.

This one is simple. Torrent seems to have a nose for power. Ranni seems to be familiar with him and we see promo material of Miquella riding him in the Shadow Realms.

5. The Drama

The drama of a Marika having Maliketh kill her child who rebelled against her sounds so messy and inline with the rest of the family's mess that I can't help but enjoy it. This is not proof of anything, this is me admitting that accepting Melina as the GEQ aligns with my flavor of Rule of Cool. Not to mention it would be in character for both Fromsoft and GRRM to have a daughter rebel against her mother and be crushed and erased from history for it.

So if we assume Melina is the GEQ, the timeline would imply that:

Melina, first daughter of Marika is born as an Empyrean.

Gains control over the Rune of Death and the Godskin Apostles.

Implements characteristics of the Crucible in her Godskins (with their animal/snake like features) and adopts the practice of ritual flaying.

Comes into conflict with her mother, Marika and is defeated by Maliketh.

Marika creates The Golden Order.

Various wars to consolidate the Golden Order's power are launched.

The Messmer's crusades are launched and sealed away with the Shadow Realms and are forgotten.

The Shattering happens.

Melina is left as a somewhat amnesiac spectral version of herself until the Tarnished guides her on their journey back to the Erdtree.

The rest is up to us.

====

And that's that.

As usual, all this theory crafting is just for fun and can be right or wrong. I know I already disagree with some of my Messmer/Melina theories I myself wrote(lol) but I've settled on this one pretty strongly lately and wanted to share.

[the-art-of-witnessing-the-cosmos]

🌞 - Surya , The Atman , The Animus, Father Archetype

The sun represents the true essence of the higher self of the personality.

That which we truly are when we let go of the bindings that pull us down.

It's the king , the royal , charishma , spotlight , father figure , expression of creativity , self esteem , pride , selfishness too.

Sun in Aries ♈ - Mesh Rashi.

The Sun finds it truest expression in the sign of it's friend Mars. Here he is free to express himself in a true manner , to shine bright, to take initiative, to create , to create something worthwhile, self confidence runs high , goal driven.

Sun in Taurus ♉ - Vrishabh Rashi.

Here the Sun indulges in the pleasure of accumulating resources , wealth & sensual pleasures. Pleasant , companionable & comfort oriented. Focus on beauty & wealth . Strong financial intelligence . Artistic taste & collection of valuable resources.

Sun in Gemini ♊ : Mithun Rashi.

Here the Sun deals with life with intelligence and humor. A touch of adolescence and a penchant for communication. Dexterous , eloquent speaking , crafty skills and a light hearted approach to numbers , life and living :).

Sun in cancer ♋ : Kark Rashi

Sun in it's friendly Rashi seeks rooted environments of caretaking, nourishment , emotional attunement , sheltering and schooling. It shines bright and feels patriotic towards its motherland. Sensitivity is enhanced . Supports & defends home. Home is where one's heart is. 😌🌞🪄

Sun in Leo ♌ : Simha rashi

Sun here likes to shine bright . Loves to express itself in various forms . Dramatic. Romantic, needs to be centre of attention, self confident , regal , loyal , a bit self centred, generous and large hearted , full of vitality & life :).

Sun in Virgo ♍ : Kanya Rashi

Sun here inclines itself toward service , healing and intelligently dealing with life. Analytical and intellectual. Healing energies. Kind and helpful . Hardworking & sincere .

Sun in Libra ♎ : Tula Rashi.

Sun here immerses itself fully into the relationships with the other , thus forgets itself. Likes harmony, beauty & sense of fairness. Love to serve their partners . Can make great lawyers & attorneys . Should maintain a healthy balance between self & others :)

Sun in Scorpio ♏ : Vrischik Rashi

Here the Sun imbibes the power of Mars in astral waters and subconscious and thus undergoes death , transformation and an alchemy of its innermost nature and leads a life of power & strength backed up by the depth of its intense emotionality.

Sun in Sagittarius ♐ : Dhanu Rashi

Sun here follows the adventure of his lifetime. Righteous , carefree , kind and optimism guide his heart . Helpfulness and generous nature . A happy go lucky. Honest , blunt , creative and full of vitality . A traveller of life itself. Expansive spirit.

Sun in Capricorn ♑ : Makar Rashi

The Sun here takes up life seriously and imbibes a sense of maturity. Responsibility and a sense of oldness . Father in his son's sign. Here he yearns to contribute to the society. Status conscious, financially conscious & hard working.

Sun in Aquarius ♒ : Kumbh Rashi

Here the Sun loves to connect with all the networks of society. Lucky and gains through connection. Friendly and fair. Values friendship and loves the exoticness . Detached yet connected. Intellectual and broad minded . Galactic and spacious . Full of ideas . Evolves.

Sun in pisces ♓ : Meen rashi

Here the Sun loves to swim in the oceanic waters of the subconscious, the astral world. Kind , patient , artistic, poetic, compassionate . Highly intuitive . A healer , shaman. In this world but not of this world. Is slowly learning the art of letting go.

Looking for the self in addiction does not help. :)