#sun god solus

[magicgurljhonnie]

Shino Asada (Sinon) 💙🔫

Gun Gale Online

[witchofthesouls]

Just had a thought.

So you know how, in a lot of mythologies, the gods and goddesses of the countless pantheons each have some sort of "sacred animal" associated with them?

Would the Primes therefore have sacred mechanimals? And if so, what do you think they are?

I actually had thoughts about this, but instead of sacred animals, the Cybertronians used sacred shapes based on the Primes' sigils?

Prima is a single solid disc as the circle is the holiest of shapes, and He is the Eldest with the inherent right to assume Primus' own alt-mode as the Prime of Light. He is the sun of civilization.

Megatronus' sigils are highly contested. His is pieced by the entwined sigils by his cohorts and influenced by revivals and revisionists. There are many contentious and violent arguments on Prime of Chaos on his insignias, which are true, false, and the original. The most vicious fights are based on the academic parties between the 'Quintesson occupation' and the 'aftermath of the Primal Wars.'

Liege Maximo favors angles. Particularly paired triangles. An ode to his horned helmet, the fangs behind lips, the venom hidden upon tooth and claws. He is both medicine and posion. A duality within.

Solus, by the right as Creation, uses a circle as well. She is the Forge of Cybertron, so it's easy to conceptualize her favorite tool into a simplified sigil: a circle to represent the burning spark of her workplace connected to a rectangle pointed down as she is connected to the heart of Cybertron.

Vector, at his most simple, is a gear. He is the guardian of time and overlooks the Grand Machine that's the universe.

Alpha Trion is represented by a diamond of smaller diamonds. Neat and orderly as the Scribe of the Primes.

Quintus, unlike his siblings, is very abstract. Fitting as the Dreamer. Some find his sigil comforting. Others find it terrifying.

Amalgamous is one the whimsical of the Thirteen. As the Father of Shifters, he claims all shapes him.

Nexus is similar but has outward points as He has the power to bestow combination to others.

Onyx as the Lord of Beasts has a sigil in the form of claw, talon, or fang.

Alchemist has a series of shapes in a balanced equation as he's the student of the natural world. "As above, so below."

Micronus is a stable form. He may have a circle but the solid squares, rectangles, and trapeziods are an ode to how He connects to others; amplifying them.

Thirteen's had been lost to time. Many believe he doesn't exist. Or the 'Arisen' is meant for the mortal frames that rose to prominence after the Great Cataclysm.

[brandwhorestarscream]

Ok, I'll bite. What's your take on why the Primes sit idly by?

I am so glad you asked

The short answer: there was a universal law enacted that prevents divine intervention

That explains nothing though, right? Here's the full story:

In the beginning, right after the Primes and their creator defeated Unicron, and Primus transformed himself into a planet. He told his children to do as he would, fill the planet with life and wonder. They did just that, making all manner of mechanical life forms in every shape and size. Everything from teeny tiny accelotls to giant predacon beasts, they create and create and create and over time, Cybertron develops multiple ecosystems in its various biomes

It's not long before they've mastered the creation of life and set out to make children in their own image, just as Primus did for them. Sculpted with their own hands and imbued with power of their sparks, the very first mortal cybertronians were born. The Primes opted to split the planet into 13 equal parts, so they could help their creations settle and the first civilizations are born. Most of them heavily resemble the mecha of the present, that we're used to: big and strong warframes, small and husky minibots, quick and lithe two-wheelers, beastformers, triple changers, etc etc.

Quintus Prime's initial creations eventually lead to everything's undoing

Quintus Prime is Cybertron's secondary god of life. The only one that could imbue life into anything, not just specifically things sculpted of harvested protometal. In his footsteps, the first crystal flowers sprang, and they were the inspiration for his children. Quintus Prime's cybertronians were Crystallines, mecha who's bodies were made entirely of living crystal. As a result, they're semi-transparent, and the light from their sparks causes them to glow. They sparkle when the sun shines on them, and when the wind blows their crystal bodies harmonize to make the most beautiful music. Quintus loves them dearly, and is so proud of his little crystals when he presents them to his siblings

Most of them ooh and ahh over them: Amalgamous and Solus, the engineer and artisan of the Primes, are especially taken with them. But Megatronus comments that they're weak. Crystal is considerably frailer and less structurally sound than cybertronian steel. Just falling down could cause fractures, and fractures in a crystal will swiftly spread could easily lead to amputation. Liege Maximo chimes in that mortals are so clumsy sometimes. Imagine if they just happen to run into one of their metal cousins. They could shatter on impact!

Prima, the eldest and their leader, is inclined to agree. He appreciates Quintus's creative liberty, and they are quite beautiful, but, "Isn't it rather cruel to creative something so frail and prone to injury, Quintus? Perhaps you should craft them of metals instead."

Quintus can't bear to stop msking his crystallines. He loves them, adores them so much! But... they do make a good point. They are fragile. That is the original of Crystal City, Quintus raises a massive oasis of crystal near the equator, creating a valley surrounded by singing crystal mountains and forests, and at the center, he makes the City. An entire civilization where the buildings, roads, sidewalks, everything is crystalline. Including the people that live there. He thinks it's enough, a safe and suitable environment, but there's still more that he can do. As the city grows, as his crystals find love and begin making sparklings of their own, it becomes increasingly more difficult to watch over them all. The crystals are pampered and babied, put plainly: Quintus is constantly asking after them, making sure they have what they need, and using his power to heal any disastrous breaks or fractures. It was manageable when there was only a hundred of them or so, but after several generations there's thousands and he can't keep up.

So, he opts to make them guardians. It's been awhile since he created life, so caught up fawning over Crystal City, he goes a little overboard. A species designed specifically to guard Cybertron's most fragile, they'll need everything! Soft prehensile limbs so they can easily pull the crystallines out of danger, 360° vision so they can never be caught unaware. He introduces the quintessons to Crystal City, and for a long time, everything is fine. Great, even. Cybertron is flourishing: his siblings have each made their own fantastic cities, populated by their many beloved creations. Cybertron's wilds are teeming with all of their wild creations, and at home, the quintessons and crystallines are thick as thieves. The crystals just love their new guardians to pieces, and their guardians love them back.

And then Solus Prime dies.

It's a horrific accident, it should even be possible, and in her death throes her body carves a hollow pit straight down, desperately seeking out her Mother's comfort in her most painful moment. Megatronus Prime is soon thereafter banished, and in the aftermath, a grieving Quintus Prime is approached by one of his very first quintessons. There's a whole fic about it so I wont go into detail, but they wax poetic about how afraid they are that someday the Fallen will return and try to eradicate the crystals on account of their weakness. They trick Quintus into giving then strength to rival the gods, all in the name of protecting their siblings.

Of course, as soon as they have said godly strength, the quintessons turn on the Primes. They lay waste to Crystal City, slaughtering everyone they can, and challenge a horrified Quintus to battle. All of the Primes, they intend to fight them for the right to rule Cybertron, and intend to take the cybertronians as slaves.

The Quintessential War that follows is of great consequence, so much so that it's referred to in history as The Second Cataclysm. Before the Primes manage to force the quints offworld, they completely wipe out 9 of the 13 cities, and only an estimated 2% of Cybertron's population is still alive at the end. Even after the Primes chase them into space, the war rages on, and in the final battle all but Alpha Trion fall

In the aftermath, as gods cannot die, they ascend to the ether dimension where Solus is waiting for them. They're all hurt, exhausted, traumatized. Quintus more than anyone, as he feels thay this is his fault. If he had listened and hadn't insisted on working with crystal, if he hadn't made the quintessons, if he hadn't granted then the strength-

They gather for council and Prima proposes that, with their newfound position in the ether, they should carefully consider. Had they not meddled so much, this outcome would not have come to pass. They take a vote that passes 9 to 2 (Alpha Trion and Solus are the only ones against it. Megatronus and Vector Prime did not vote on account of being banished and locked in cryosleep respectively). Divine intervention should never again be leant on. They ought to keep their hands out of mortal affairs. They were granted free will, were they not? Then let them govern themselves, and we will not interfere. When the law is enacted it cannot be undone, and if they try to break it, the universe itself will step in and foil them. That is why the Primes have not tried to fix things in Aligned. Because they can't. They genuinely think they're doing the right thing, that if they don't meddle and sculpt and micromanage, then things will be alright. Their mortals can still reach them via prayer, and the new Well is helping to repopulate Cybertron, so surely things will be alright.

Things were not, in fact, alright

[heliopauseentertainments]

Solar Flare

Now a complete 92k word novel. Continuity: IDW1

Rating: Teen

Relationship: Megatron/Rodimus, one-sided Starscream/Rodimus, Megatron & Starscream, background relationships

Major Characters: Megatron, Rodimus, Starscream, Zeta Prime, Ratchet

Warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of VIolence, Blood & Gore, Serious Injuries, Weddings, Suggestive Themes, Horror Elements (I.E. Horror of the Divine), Reincarnation, Ambiguous Relationships, One-Sided Relationships. Please see AO3 entry for full applicable tags. AU: Canon Divergence, Gods/goddesses, Early War

Summary:  "To destroy a corrupt system, we must first destroy its gods, starting with this one." In which Megatron makes a mistake by sparing Rodimus, the Prime of the Sun.

Crossposting: AO3 | Dreamwidth

Note: inspired by this art piece on Tumblr.

1st chapter under cut; the full length is on AO3.

"To destroy a corrupt system, we must first destroy its gods, starting with this one."

Megatron, at first, had been so sure of his words as he pointed at the red and yellow mech across the hall, bedecked in jewelry and silk.

The ornate metal doors that had blocked off the throne room laid crumpled on the polished marble floor under his feet, a testament to the temple’s weakness against real resistance.

In his initial planning, after storming the Temple of the Sun in Nyon, he had thought killing a false god would be the easy part. Especially since this Prime did not have a Lord Protector, no zealous paladin dedicated to defending his worthless spark, Megatron had assumed that there would simply be one less obstacle to his goal.

The defenses had been minimal. Pathetic guards ran screaming for their lives after the mundane frontal assault on the main reinforced doors. There had been no point in giving chase, so Megatron had ordered his soldiers to let them flee. Better to have terrified survivors tell the tale, whereas dead mechs couldn’t spread word of change.

If the other Primal temples were built like this one with pitiful security, their job would be a lot simpler. Megatron doubted that would be the case, but he had also doubted this push would have gone so smoothly.

Now he watched as Primal acolytes pulled on the Prime’s arms and hands, trying in vain to tug him to safety, wherever that might be found, far away from the armed intruders.

The Prime shook them off with an undignified curse before marching unhindered towards Megatron, whom he’d fixed with a glare. Not one of anger, no, one of being inconvenienced.

“What are you doing in my house? You’re freaking out my dudes!”

What.

Megatron wasn’t often taken aback, but it appeared today had yet more surprises in store for him than a suspiciously easy siege.

He had just blasted through reinforced doors with his mechs, neutralized several guards with nary a fatality, and kicked down the door to the sacred throne room where the Prime was expected to waste away his days in luxury and splendor. Yet this… this garish half-pint approached him, fine brocades and bangles swaying with the motion, with neither fear nor hesitation.

Megatron hadn’t been prepared for this.

He had been prepared for the pampered brat cowering on the beautiful, shining marble, begging for his miserable, privileged life. He had been prepared to mercilessly terminate that wastrel with a fusion cannon blast, right through the spark and through that stupid Matrix.

Just as soon as Megatron tired of the sniveling, of course.

Consternation on his face, he powered down his cannon with a soft whir as it was lowered to his side.

“Excuse me?”

The Prime planted his hands on his hips, the bejeweled and festooned fins of his spoiler tilted upward in bold defiance.

"You heard me, bolt brain."

Now that wasn't a very godly thing to say at all. What were they teaching these high-caste deadbeats these days? Insults like that were what Megatron would have expected from an overcharged cadet at a seedy spaceport, not the alleged reincarnation of Solus Prime.

For all the supposed elegance and grace of a Prime, especially the Prime of the Sun, this was a smart-mouthed little punk.

This wasn't remotely what had been expected.

Megatron scowled down at the mech who dared call himself a god.

With a wave of his arm, some of his lollygagging soldiers dispatched towards the back of the throne room to seize fleeing acolytes.

"Don't you realize what's happening here?" Megatron asked, staring right back into the defiant, burning blue gaze. "Are you really that brave or are you just foolish?"

"Oh, yeah, I know what's happening.”

Megatron sincerely doubted that, but better to hear what nonsense this unknowingly condemned moron could come up with. Maybe it would be amusing.

“You're being a total spike right now, bursting in unannounced and trashing my house like one of those medical academy parties they show on the holonet. Wreck your own house!"

Not nearly as amusing as Megatron had hoped.

What in the damned hell was this punk talking about?

No wonder this one had no Lord Protector. Who would tolerate this? Shooting him now would do the world a favor. Making a political statement at this point would be a bonus.

"Didn't your caretakers teach you any manners? Rude." Well, Terminus had tried but…. That was hardly the point. The sheer impertinence of this idiot who had no idea he was about to have a hole put through his spark at point-blank range by a fusion cannon.

"I'm about to kill you and you're upset by my lack of aristocratic manners?"

Manners hadn’t really mattered much where he came from, the predominantly manual-class and disposable-class underground city of Tarn, in the various mines where he’d labored in dangerous conditions for ages, or in the black-market pop-up gladiatorial arenas of Kaon. He had never had use for such niceties and this punk was upset that he wasn’t holding out his little finger while seizing the Primal temple.

Ridiculous.

What next? Did he expect Megatron to use a napkin when painting the floor with the Prime’s slowly dimming lifeblood?

Despite the situation and his rapidly approaching final moment, the Prime relaxed slightly, seeming to consider the contradiction now that it had been pointed out, rubbing his chin all the while.

"I suppose when you put it like that, but only a Prime can kill a Prime so like do whatever—Hey! Wait!"

The hand rubbing his chin abandoned its work to point squarely at Megatron's nose.

"I know you! You're that lunatic that got Kaon blown to slag!"

That was it; they were done here. He had tired of this highborn simpleton’s antics.

“Enough!” Megatron bellowed, smacking that accusing point away with the back of his hand. “I don’t have time for your inane blathering!”

“Hey, rude—“

“Seize him!”

Mechs surged forth, several making grabs for the Prime’s limbs.

The Prime struggled, swearing as he strove to free himself of unwelcome hands. He kicked and punched, denting plate. More than a few titanium teeth from Decepticon mouths pinged against the floor after being knocked out.

Flatline would be rather busy later patching up these morons, Megatron thought, intrigued by just how much of a fight this pampered fool was putting up.

The struggle went on until the soldiers managed to immobilize the Prime’s limbs, removing any space for him to get in another good swing.

"Might I suggest something?" A high-pitched voice piped up behind Megatron’s back, persuasively smooth with all the owner’s public speaking practice despite the underlying tinny screech.

"You may not, but you'll do it regardless of my permission, so out with it, Starscream. Let’s get your suggestion over with."

Starscream stalked closer and began to circle the restrained Prime, as though inspecting a new, expensive purchase. His thrusters clicked haughtily against the smooth floor with every step.

"Rather than immediately dispatch this 'god,' why not simply keep him prisoner?"

"What purpose would that possibly serve?" What a waste of precious fuel and man-hours that could be better allocated elsewhere. Why take on the unnecessary responsibility of babysitting?

"Well, would not a new mech simply be chosen as a puppet to take their place? A supposed reincarnation plucked from a hot spot like a shining miracle in the dark night. The Senate and their drooling lackeys will rally around the divine newspark, stir up the people's faith, and so on and so forth. Keep him alive and that little problem just solves itself, doesn't it?"

Starscream had always had an optic for political nuance, even if Megatron often discarded it in the name of idealogical stringency. He generally felt his time was better spent not playing those games. Direct action tended to suit his purposes far better.

“What of the Matrix?” Megatron asked, gesturing with his thumb at the Prime’s chest. Each Prime had one, bestowed upon them by the priesthood that served their predecessor. Relics passed down between supposed incarnations, a symbol of divinity. Turning that worthless relic into a profane trophy of scrap that would almost as profoundly undermine the blind faith of the populace as actually murdering one of their so-called “gods.”

Megatron tapped his finger against his chin in thought.

“Would not destroying the Matrix render the point moot?” A new god couldn’t be reformatted without it, right? At least, not as far as he knew. The whole thing was rustwash anyway, but that was the official narrative.

Starscream scoffed, waving a hand flippantly at the very idea as he continued to circle the immobilized Prime. His wings fluttered with interest, a behavior Megatron had seen his second-in -command perform on several occasions when he wanted something.

Something about this useless creature had caught Starscream’s attention. That would need to be ironed out later.

“Please. They probably keep a bunch of them in the basement or in a bunker somewhere or something. You break one, someone steals a backup and claims it’s the real thing, safely defended from our destructive irreverence. You get accused of having destroyed a fake one for publicity and the whole ‘message’ you want to send crumbles in shame. You know how it is with these ‘relics.’ A shanix a dozen. Best keep this one as ‘proof’ for now.”

A broad, knowing grin stretched across Starscream’s face, shining with implication.

“And, after all, you can only have the fun of killing him once.”

He hated that Starscream had a point—several, in fact. Telling the seeker so, however, would just cause more problems—the overinflated ego sort—down the line.

Megatron would settle for a simple acknowledgment as he leaned down to get a better look at this bedighted speedster.

The Prime was practically encrusted with jewels and precious metals in the form of ornate jewelry, brocaded mesh draped luxuriously over the fins of his spoiler. Feet planted firmly on the ground, the Prime glared defiantly back up at his captor. In any other situation, Megatron would have thought him a beauty to behold, but now the red mech was just a symbol of resources squandered on mere opulence.

The sight disgusted him or… it should have.

“Very well, Starscream.”

Megatron heaved a tired sigh.

“I haven’t decided what his fate will be just yet,” he said, straightening back up. “Lock him up somewhere. I don’t care where. It doesn’t matter. Just get him out of my sight.”

A few of his mechs hesitated, the ones holding the arms and shoulders of acolytes, as though they weren’t sure what to do with their prisoners. Megatron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he stood back up. Did he have to spell out everything for these idiots?

“The cultists too! Just go!”

--

Finally.

The throne room was at peace without that Prime spitting and screaming, now that the brat had been hauled off somewhere in the temple complex, preferably kept under lock and guard.

With the quiet, Megatron could finally get a look around, take stock of the damage and what exactly they had just conquered. This place held many, many valuable resources that they could utilize, either directly or by fencing the goods. Furthermore, he’d gotten it all for the low price of a few explosives, a couple of boot-licking lives, and inadvertent custody a very rude little “god.”

He would figure out what to do with that brat later.

Megatron took a long and slow ventilation before approaching the now abandoned, golden throne at the far end of the room. It glittered in the warm yellow-orange light from the lamps. An impression of the sun was embossed into the high back of the throne and again, smaller, on the arms and seat. It was almost too small, hardly having room for the treads on his back. It was made for more regal frames than his own, intended for heavy industrial work below ground.

The soldiers that still lingered in the room, along with his few lieutenants that had accompanied him, watched in silence.

“We will reinforce the Temple of the Sun, make it an impregnable fortress,” he said, sitting and relaxing into the Primal throne. He supposedly “desecrated” it merely by touch, let alone smearing it with spilled energon and oil from fighting his way through the temple. A shame some of that shed fuel didn’t belong to the previous occupant of this glorified chair.

No matter. It belonged to him now.

From here, it was a short step to de facto controlling the city of Nyon and its weak council.

“With a little work, it’ll make a fine base.” The first, in fact, unless one counted the ruins of Kaon, the last city he and his forces held, he thought, caressing one of the cushioned arms of the throne. After Senate forces bombed the city from the surface of Cybertron, the revolutionaries were forced underground.

Megatron gestured for his lieutenants to approach.

Starscream strode forward, an impatient twitch to his wings and several complaints no doubt already at the tip of his tongue. He still looked smug from his earlier “victory” in changing Megatron’s plans. In stark contrast, Soundwave, ever the professional, simply walked and waited in inscrutable silence for his orders.

"Now, as you know, the Senate is de facto independent, even if they nominally operate under the First Prime in Iacon. They serve no gods but themselves,” Megatron began, “we need to work quickly to fortify our position here. We have some time because they need to calculate the political risk of assaulting Nyon."

They could make good use of this place if they were quick, before the Senate could retaliate for the revolutionaries’ transgressions against the gods. Nyon, however, had one beautiful advantage that Kaon did not: a Primal temple. Even they would hesitate to simply annihilate a sacred location, no matter who held it. Not because they believed, but because the face they would lose with the public would be incalculable.

Megatron smirked, getting comfortable in the stolen throne. Just sitting here was daring the Senate to do something self-destructive and drastic. It was perfect.

Starscream opened his mouth, probably to object, but before he could get words out, he was cut off by a finger pointed in his direction.

“Organize the fortification efforts and recall Shockwave to our new position. Soundwave—“ The blue mech straightened up further to show he was giving his leader his undivided attention. “Round up and contain the remainder of the priesthood. We’re moving in. Once you’ve done that, turn your attention to following the newsfeeds. I want to know the nanoklik Iacon thinks about making a move.”

With a nod, the Soundwave turned on his heel to carry out the command.

Now he just needed to figure out what to do with the blasted Prime of the Sun. Throttling him was unfortunately off the table, for today at least.

Starscream loudly cleared his vocalizer, apparently having something else to say before getting on with his duties.

“What is it now, Starscream?”

“Well, if I may, I have a potential solution to your little Prime problem,” he started, still beaming. It was as though he had guessed Megatron’s thoughts.

“One that could legitimize our position here.”

“I’m listening.” Begrudgingly, but he would hear Starscream out. Might as well.

Megatron narrowed his optics but said nothing as he leaned his face on a raised fist. The seeker took that as permission to continue, a slippery grin stretching across the smooth metal of his face.

“What do you think of the title of Lord Protector? ‘Lord Megatron’ has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

[the-bah-commune]

hi!! we just requested the apollo alter, and forgot lvl, we’d like lvl 4 if thats ok!!

thank you!!

hi, here you go! sorry for the wait, and doubly sorry that it isn't super detailed.

the herald has granted new life! 💠

apollo (greek myth) ... [LVL 4 PACK]

══════════════════

name(s) ;; apollo, apollyon, sunflower, solus

pronouns ;; he/him, sun/suns, god/gods

age ;; xenoAge (antiqueAge, sunAge)

species ;; god

gender(s) ;; genderqueer

orientation(s) ;; polysexual, polyamorous

role(s) ;; naturalist, morning routine caretaker

source ;; greek mythology + religion

sign-off(s) ;; — ☀️🌈

══════════════════

hex code ;; #e4b31d

personality ;; cheerful and flirtatious. he enjoys causing mischief and socializing. sun is caring and wholesome.

bonus info ;; n/a

══════════════════

likes ;; sunrises, eggs, oranges, greek mythology, gold jewelry

dislikes ;; catholicism, alcohol, the dark

possible front triggers ;; waking up, meditation, forest walks

══════════════════

cisid(s) ;; greek, adhd, fatherly, AMAB

transid(s) ;; AFAB, panRacial, lilacScentian, halo

kink/fetish/para(s) ;; dendro, pyro, bondage

[mask131]

The myth of Apollo (4)

As with Dionysos previously (see here), the Dictionnary of Literary Myths of Pierre Brunel offers two different articles about Apollo. Here is the loose (but free !) translation of the second one, « Apollon, the mythical sun ».

APOLLO, THE MYTHICAL SUN

Pontus of Tyard wrote in 1552: “Of all the poetic gods, Apollo is the one that has been the most disguised by the fables and the etymologies of his name.” The mythical figure of Apollo, which has been turned in Western literature as one of the most conventional figures there can be, was considered by ancient mythographers as an extremely complex character, because he was given many names and many properties. Apollo is first and foremost an universal archetype of the Divine, of which literature kept – alternatively as much as indiscriminately – three main names: Apollo(n), Phoebus, Sun. The chronological evolution of the god allows us to isolate and separate the solar god (as a symbol) from his mythological adventures, since the solar Apollo is more present within poetry than within legends.

I/ The names of the Sun

In the Platonic tradition, all the way to the end of the Renaissance, numerous significant and diverse etymologies were invented for Apollo, all reflecting the various functions of the solar god. Within the name Apollo(n), interprets can read as much an idea of destruction as an idea of freeing (from the verb “luô”, to untie) or purification (from the verb “louô”, to clean). This reflects the “drying” effects of the sun, which can be negative or positive – and thus is a survival of the ambiguity of the archaic god.

The interpretations found within the “Cratylus” (see the previous part of “The myth of Apollo”, “The Antique Apollo) allow us to define the four main attributes of the god: medicine, divination (both seen as manifestations of “purification”), music and the art of shooting with a bow. The name Phoebus has been associated by Isidor of Sevilla with the endless youth of the ephebe (e-phoebus), while Cartari (in 1556) linked it to the vital light (phôs, light, bios, vie). For Platon, the name of “Sun” within Ancient Greek meant he who “nuances” the colors (“helios”, the sun in Greek, derived from “aïoleïn”, to nuance) ; and all the ulterior commentators assimilated it with the Latin “Sol”, tied to the adjective “Solus” (the sole, the unique, the lonely), a link which can be found in the neo-Latin languages (in French “soleil” and “seul”, for example). Cartari, who was follow the works of Plotin and Macrobe, linked this precise etymology to the Greek name of Apollo that he translated as “he who is not multiple” (“a” as a privative + “polu”, many) – highlighting again the important idea of unity within the idea of the sun-god.

II/ Main attributes

The mythographers of Renaissance made a very useful synthesis work that offers us in their roughly definitive state the various interpretations of the myth of Apollo, compiling together the commentaries from Antiquity, the interpretations from the Middle-Ages, as well as the point of view of some Oriental civilizations. Within his “Images of the Gods” (1556), Cartari divides the solar myth in a series of elements linked together as part of a long allegorical chain:

1) The sun represents at first, in the diversity and universality of its effects, an archetype of the Divinity. The Assyrians assimilated it to Jupiter as the soul of the world (because through all the other gods, it was always him who was evoked). As such Macrobe noted in his “Saturnals” that all theology always returned to the worship of the sun.

2) As a symbol of eternal youth, as the allegory of the always-new day, of the always-resurrecting light, Apollo is depicted as beardless (except for the Assyrians) and is associated with Dionysos.

3) Because of its central position within the Universe, it is called “heart of the heaven”, by analogy with the vital function of this “pulsing” organ within the human body. The sun is the source of light that communicates their movements to the other astral bodies. It is why Apollo is sitting in the middle of the nine Muses, allegories of the nine celestial sepheres, and with them he embodies the Harmony and the Universe, as a symbol of “symmetry and concordance” (according to Tyard). As such the Music of the Spheres, that R. Lulle will represent through the “Great Lyre of the Universe”, is reflected in Apollon’s association with Music and Poetry (Poetry which was originally simply the art of singing).

4) The rays of the sun are depicted by the arrows of Apollo (just like by those of his sister Diana). They can penetrate the very core of the earth – it is why there is an archaic tradition according to which Apollo is a chthonian or infernal god (and can sometimes be called Hecate, since the primitive gods were without genders).

5) It is due to the purgative and drying effects of his rays that Apollo is also the god of medicine. Mythographers tie this function of the god to the fable of the snake Python killed by Apollo soon after his birth: they assimilated Python to the mythical Flood, as a principal of morbid humidity wrapped around the earth.

6) The attribution of the laurel to Apollo, and the fable of Daphne, are explained by the medicinal virtue of the plant, the always-green plant that never rots, and that the mythographers saw as a symbol of Health. The laurel is also tied to the alchemical symbolism of Humidity, because Daphne was metamorphosed thanks to the intervention of her father, a river-god.

7) Finally, Apollo is the god of divination, because he is the eye of the sky, he sees all and he reveals all secrets (hence why in mythology Apollo was the one who denounced the adulterine love of Venus and Mars). He has the role, within the Universe, of the eye within the human body – he is the “spy of the intellect”, the “censor” or the “rector”, and his eminent position makes him a sign of omnipotence. Cartari described a hieroglyph that designated the sun as a scepter surmounted by an eye – which would identify the mythical sun with the idea of royalty.

Such a synthesis – within which each of the god’s main attributes were defined and linked together – as the interpretative model which was used as a basis for all ulterior poetry. For example take Du Bartas: in his “Sepmaine ou Création du Monde », in 1578, the sun, which is not a god anymore but a mere « ornament of the sky », is always designated by metonymy through a series of names that resume all the attributes of the solar god in his cosmic function: Phoebus with gold hair, the blond Titan, the Torch of Laton, the Archer, Apollo giver-of-souls, the Fountain of Heat, the Life of the Universe, Giver-of-honors, King of the Sky, Eye of the Day, Censor, Torch of Delph, Torch of Delos, he who “makes the face of the world young again”. In a parallel way, from Cartari’s work, the different aspects of the character will be slowly simplified until he simply becomes the god of Poetry, crowned with both sunrays and laurel leaves, sitting among the Muses on top of mount Parnassus, always holding his lyre (which can sometimes represent him in his entirety), distilling the poetic inspiration under the shape of the Hippocrene spring (created from Pegasus’ hoof), a spring that Ronsard will describe as “the fountain of verses”.

III/ The philosophical Sun

Symbol of the Philosophical Gold in the alchemical tradition, uniting the fundamental opposites that are the fire and the water, the dry and the wet ; or a symbol of the divine creative soul within Orphism and Pythagorism, the go of Poetry s the very image of all creation within the Neoplatonic literature, in which Apollo with his lyre is always associated to his “mortal double”, Orpheus. Within the Renaissance, Apollo was the god who inspired the “Poetic Fury”, without which the lyrical production cannot be: it is under his influence that (according to Ronsard’s Hymn to Autumn) the spirit can “penetrate the secret of the heavens” and the soul “rise among the gods”. It is under the sign of Apollo that the soul finds back its celestial origin through the effects of the divine enthusiasm (from the Greek “theos”, god): this is the Orphic origin of poetry. For Ronsard and the poets of La Pléiade, the “inspired Poet” is both the “prophet” and the “priest” of Apollo (hence why in the 16th century it was believed that the Sibyls and the oracles were exceptional poets).

This Neoplatonic interpretation of the myth, which confuses the two main attributes of the god, prediction and lyrical art, this same tradition that shaped the image of Apollo we have today, relies on the commentary by Marsile Ficin of “The Symposium”, which divines four different divine “furies”, associated with four patron-deities. First is the highest, the poetic fury, which is caused by the Muses ; second is the “mystery fury” or the sacerdotal fury, which proceeds from Dionysos  ; third is the prophetic fury, given by Apollo ; fourth is love, and it originates from Venus. Despite the distinction marked within this text between the Muses and Apollo, poets usually invoke indifferently one or the other – the god understood as the “universal principle” and the Muses as allegories that represent the individual repartitions of the poetic virtues. It should be noted that within the Neoplatonic context, Apollo is not opposed to Dionysos – rather their functions are complementary. The god of divination, who is also the god of the penetration of divine secrets, forms a couple with the god who initiates humans to the divine Mysteries ; it is to the point that they are called “brothers” by Pontus of Tyard, who explains the epithet of “Delphic Apollo” by a fake etymology “adelphos”, “brother”, for the “fraternity considered between Denys (Dionysos) and Apollo”.

For the Neoplatonicians, if Apollo is one of the poles of the duality of the world, he is rather opposed as the One, as the universal principle, to Diana, who embodies Nature – that is to say the Multiple. According to the Platonic idea taken back by Giordano Bruno in “Eroici Furori” (1585), the Nature (Diane) is the mirror of the God (Apollo). Apollo is the absolute light whose essence must be hidden, who blinds and kills those that see it directly, and thus he can only be perceived through his reflection. A variation of this idea, developed by Léon Hébreu in 1535) made Apollo the “simulacrum of the divine Intellect”, while the Moon was the “simulacrum of the soul of the World” and acted as an intermediary between the divine plane (the intelligible world) and the corporal plane (the sensible world). This conception has been very influential in term of literary posterity, because it means in a very explicit way, that the sight is a sense that must be valorized: the sensitive vision, the one of the eye, is to be identified with the intellectual vision, the one that allows thanks to the spirituality of the light to distinguish the beautiful from the ugly and the good from the evil. The supremacy of the eye above all other senses will be abundantly developed, in poetic and metaphorical ways, from the 16th to the 17th centuries. Even within the anatomical descriptions of the baroque poets, the eye appears as an intermediary between the sensible and intelligible world, as a double of the Sun, whose light shines upon the minds as much as upon the bodies.

[sir-qwillian-ferne]

INTERLUNARY SOLUS HAS PUBLISHED ITS LAST CHAPTER

The first book in the Circle of Life Quartet series has been officially finished! It covers the four main gods (Life, Death, Afterlife, and Reincarnation - or, Sun, Moon, Solar, and Lunar) in their attempts to perform their duties, while inter-god tensions reign high, and a human gets caught in the middle.

Say, when did they stop having their karaoke nights?

NOT A SUN AND MOON SHOW AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49161229/chapters/124039420

[chaos-era]

Moonflower [Deena/Selena]

So, I've been completely brain-rotting over these two for a while now (if it wasn't obvious given the sheer amount of art I've done and the fact that I plan on making a full fancomic off the premise). I was going to wait to implement and write all this out through the comic, but frankly, I'm a full-time student AND have a full-time retail job. Free time does not exist.

So, my solution is to word vomit all my ideas about these two, their story/relationship, etc. Things are subject to change as things progress but lord only knows I believe I will simply implode if I can't throw this all Somewhere.

So I present to the five of you active in the Nexomon fandom:

An ungodly long textpost about a relationship that an autistic 20 year old is very mentally ill about:

So, some basic questions out of the way:

Who the fuck is Selena?

Selena is the name I gave the female protagonist from the first Nexomon game. I've given her own character and backstory that follows the first game's plot and all that jazz with some added details relating to her family. Basically, I actually made the protagonist from the first game an actual character.

Why Deena/Selena?

This entire ship became an idea in my brain solely because of the canon appearance of Solus's human form. I saw blue hair and an unknown second parent, thought about the sheer angst of it all, and my brain went on a god damn spree. With some time, I thought even just first game Deena/Protag was cute, so thus, the brain rot continues.

Moonflower?

I think having ship names be something more than just smashing their names together is better. The name itself is from Deena's whole plant/flower/life thing and Selena is because, y'know. Selena. Name relating to the moon. Moonflower. I'm real creative.

Why the name Selena for the protagonist?

Similar to the whole Moonflower name I just based it off another thing, that other thing being Solus/Omnisun. Sun and moon. Once again, I'm super creative.

How close to the canon plot is this AU/story?

So for most of the plot of the first game, it's pretty close. Some scenes would be expanded on, developed relationships more, etc., but otherwise the plot was fine. Soon as we hit the complete ending? Take the previous plot and go ahead and chuck it out the window.

There are similar elements, of course. Raging tyrants, Vados and Amelie, Solus (obviously), but the timeline and characters present is completely different and thus relationships between characters is also very different. Characters like Metta (James) and Ellie are not only still around but are active parts of the story instead of being swept under a rug.

---

So, the way I explain things best is through a QnA sort of format, wherein someone asks a question and I answer it, and go from there. So that's how this is going to be formatted. You can skip around and stuff easier that way too :)

Plot holes that I filled:

Why was Deena a similar age to the main protagonist of the first game?

So, the main protagonist is canonically a child, around 15. They're called a child, act like a child, very clearly a child. The Nexolord (Metta/James) is very clearly an adult. All seems fine there. The problem is:

How is Deena so much younger than all her family?

Deena is canonically kid number 4 out of 7, yet she looks and acts the same age as the main protagonist. And it's not like she just looks young, we see her in Nexomon: Extinction as a whole ass adult, same with the protagonist.

My "fix" for this is to make it that she was not in a place where time ticked by the same way. That place being the Netherworld.

In canon, time doesn't move the same way in the Netherworld that it does in the real world. It seems to either put a complete pause on it, or it moves really, really, slow in comparison to the real world. Which, given it's the Nexomon equivalent of the afterlife (not sure if it's just Hell so I'm just gonna stick with it being the afterlife), makes at least some sense. Time doesn't matter once your dead, whomp whomp.

So how/when did Deena get to the Netherworld?

In my AU, she flees there after being disowned by Omnicron. More specifically, she flees at the beginning of Ulzar's crusade against Omnicron. She knows he's hunting down the children of Omnicron, and after all the damage her siblings and father have done to humanity, she knows he's not going to listen to reason. Not wanting to be found by either her family OR Ulzar, she takes her chances in the Netherworld, where she hides out for a very, very long time. She watches her father and siblings be defeated and their souls are locked away in the Netherworld, and believes all will be fine. All of them are in a place they can't just get out of and do more damage, and she's also safe from them - separated.

That is, until a certain bowling ball with ribbons starts resurrecting them.

Deena catches on to what the Nexolord is doing, and, realizing she can't sit idle as her family tries to destroy the world again, decides to return to the real world. But, because she's been separated from her family for so long and time just doesn't work the same, she looks and acts like a fifteen year old girl. She doesn't know how things in the modern era work, she knows plenty about history, and so hides her lack of knowledge under the guise of being an explorer.

---

Now, onto the more fun part:

How the hell did that relationship become a thing.

On Selena's side, it's real simple - human emotions and all that. There's a joke somewhere about how in my AU Ellie was her childhood crush and something something green hair, light eyes, etc. but that joke comic was made already and go find it on my page /lh /j. Selena's just a simple girl who thinks the green-haired ditz is cute and will follow her around like a sad, lost puppy.

For Deena, however, tis a bit more complicated, but it can be summarized akin to meeting someone who's as passionate as you are, someone who matches your passion and drive and energy.

Selena and Deena both want both monsters and humans to live together happily. The one thing that made Selena "different" in comparison to other people with those ideals is that instead of wishing and waiting, she actually went out to try and do it. She chased down the Nexolord, she fought Omnicron's children, and she never once turned back.

That bravery is something Deena aspires to have. She fled from her father's wrath before, but now, here, was this mortal girl with no special powers facing off against demi-gods without a second thought because she believes in her cause. That, to Deena, is worth so much. That's what makes Selena so special.

All that to say, their relationship is complicated. It's impossible for it not to be. But that whole "fighting for what she believes in" comes in again for Selena - she does really, truly love Deena. She did before and after finding out about her true identity - that didn't change anything for her. And it's through Selena that Deena can really see the best humanity has to offer, and she doesn't want to lose that. Selena has devoted herself entirely to Deena, not as some godly figure or because she's a scary monster, but because she's just Deena, and it's the first time she's been appreciated as herself and not as a title.

They're not perfect. Deena hides her problems and bottles up her emotions while Selena doesn't know when to sit down and stay down when it comes to fighting for what she believes in. They get frustrated with each other, they argue here and there, but they work on things.

And that progress definitely gets accelerated by Solus being born. Hard to argue with one another about how they shouldn't bottle up their problems or should stop letting comments get under their skin about a dumb plan if your trying to keep a small, helpless creature destined to become a literal God in your care.

That's all for now from me but I am ALWAYS open to questions. Anon or not I do not care I am ill about them :3

[e-nishka-aosh]

[Timeline] E-Nishka-Aosh - Pre-ARR~Beginning of ARR

With nothing else to do during maintenance, I thought it'd be nifty for myself and others to have a timeline and general notes for my main, E-Nishka! It'll be located under the readmore!

Please note that this may retcon some things I've posted about in the past on really old posts. It may also include certain headcanons and explanations for them, especially with regards to Padjals and the Elementals.

Sixth Astral Era

1535

Layla arrives in Gridania from Thanalan with the aim of honing her culinary arts. She has trouble fitting in and being trusted.

A well-respected Wood Wailer named Caerwyn befriends Layla and helps the others in Gridania to come around to her.

1537

Layla and Caerwyn wed.

1540

Caerwyn is killed by the Ixal when trying to make peace with them.

Shortly after, Layla is found to be pregnant.

Layla’s child is born on the 28th Sun of the Fifth Astral Moon.

He is confirmed to be padjali soon after his birth and is taken by Stillglade Fane, given the name E-Nishka-Aosh by the Elementals.

1540~1548 [0~8]

Layla refuses to accept her child being taken away from her. She heckles the Seedseer Council and demands her son back, but she is denied at every turn.

By his eighth nameday, E-Nishka’s birth mother is formally exiled from Gridania.

1549 [9]

Kan-E-Senna is born.

Ea-Sura-Supin is born.

E-Nishka takes to conjury incredibly quickly and displays an aptitude that most other Padjals take twice his age to master. He becomes a regular face at the Conjurer’s Guild, and is often seen on E-Sumi-Yan’s coattails.

1553 [13]

E-Nishka becomes a Hearer in Stillglade Fane. He dons deep blue and purple robes, contrasting his previous white ones.

E-Nishka begins to demonstrate considerable abilities in hearing the Elementals. There are some rumors that he could even surpass the Senna line with his prowess in this regard.

However, it is made known he is terrible at interpreting the Elementals’ will and emotions for non-Hearers, and that he is often overwhelmed with the Elementals that convene with him.

1556 [16]

Raya-O-Senna is born.

To try and help curb E-Nishka’s shyness, E-Sumi tasks him with aiding him in tutoring the other Hearers, namely Kan-E and Ea-Sura.

The trio become close friends, and remain as such even after E-Nishka stops tutoring them.

E-Nishka formally joins the Seedseer Council at the behest of E-Sumi-Yan.

1557 [17]

E-Nishka begins being tasked with aiding the Wood Wailers and the Gods’ Quiver, assigning them tasks alongside other Hearers. He ventures forth into the Twelveswood when a task is too monumental for a lower Hearer to take care of.

The Sharlayans fail to negotiate with Garlemald and begin to form an evacuation plan of their Dravanian colony.

1559 [19]

A-Ruhn-Senna is born.

Ea-Sura-Supin mysteriously vanishes after the Elementals dismiss him of his Padjali abilities, devastating both Kan-E and E-Nishka.

E-Nishka stops physically aging, later than most other Padjals.

1562 [22]

Kan-E-Senna is made the Elder Seedseer, with the former Seedseer, A-Pitat-Rapa, vouching for her.

Emperor Solus zos Galvus approves Nael van Darnus’s request to study an ancient Allagan artefact.

The Battle of Silvertear Lake occurs.

The Echo first sounds across the realms. E-Nishka begins to have visions of both past and future, though this is attributed to him being a Padjal, much like Kan-E’s visions.

Adel aan Loukios, a conscripted Imperial scout and assassin, escapes the Garlean Empire’s forces in the confusion caused by Silvertear. He takes refuge in the newly built Revenant’s Toll.

1563 [23]

E-Nishka ventures into the Twelveswood after reports of a Hedgetree being compromised.

Upon arriving, the Hedgetree remains mostly intact, though there are smoldering embers of a somewhat dead fire surrounding it.

A wildling appears and attacks the group. E-Nishka realizes that this is his biological mother, Layla, and hesitates.

Due to the hesitation, an archer is attacked directly and nearly driven to death. While tending to her wounds, E-Nishka gives the order to subdue and eradicate the wildling.

E-Sumi reassures E-Nishka that he is not being held liable for Layla’s “mistakes” as the Elementals have not made it known nor have they taken E-Nishka’s horns from him.

Despite this reassurance, E-Nishka begins to doubt himself as a Hearer and requests to take on tasks entirely within Gridania.

E-Nishka begins to help with convening with the Elementals within lumber, stone, and other materials taken from the wood before they are used for man-made goods. He works especially close with chefs and restaurants.

Throughout the years, the people of Gridania grow to distrust E-Nishka after it is revealed his biological mother, who had been an outsider in the first place, was the wildling from the earlier incident.

1568 [28]

Minfilia founds the Path of the Twelve.

1572 [32]

Kan-E-Senna returns to Gridania and reinstates the Order of the Twin Adder. Her sister, Raya-O, becomes the leader.

Kan-E fails to convene with the Elementals. Once she opens up about this, the Elementals tell her that their doom lies within the moon. She motions to reassemble the Eorzean Alliance, citing the growing unrest with the Garlean Empire’s actions.

Yda and Papalymo arrive in Gridania in order to determine what Gridania is aiming to do with regards to military action against Garlemald, as well as to observe the surrounding aether.

The events surrounding Dunstan, Khrimm, and Fye occur, with E-Nishka acting as the “Warrior of Light” in this instance. The events remain largely the same, except he is not taking part of the Rite himself and he knows the people involved. He sympathizes with Fye greatly. Notably, he does not visit the Waking Sands.

The events surrounding Raya-O-Senna and the Elemental Oha-Sok occur, with E-Nishka being the one to aid Raya-O. The events remain largely the same, except he knows the people involved. At the end, Oha-Sok takes up residence in E-Nishka’s staff, the Ingrimm.

Adel Loukios, in an attempt to not be caught again, retreats to Thanalan shortly before the Battle of Carteneau.

E-Nishka joins the Battle of Carteneau, putting his excellent conjury abilities to good use in healing all those brought to him, alongside other conjurers. It is a moment that will change him forever.

The Battle of Carteneau proceeds as normal.

Seventh Umbral Era

0~5 [32~37]

The Syrcus Tower and the ruins that house Omega are uncovered.

Coerthas turns wintry.

The Circle of Knowing and the Path of the Twelve merge into the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

Adel Loukios returns to the new Revenant’s Toll.

The Sylphs begin to argue amongst themselves, with some wanting to summon Ramuh, their primal and deity. The other Sylphs flee and settle within Gridanian Borders, at Little Solace.

E-Nishka is present and very active in the rebuilding efforts surrounding Gridania and the Twelveswood, though he isn’t very “present”. E-Sumi notes that he seems to just be going through the motions.

E-Nishka rarely rests. He only sleeps once he is no longer capable of standing.

E-Sumi assigns a Moogle to watch over him. Her name is Pokcha Pokk.

A Realm Reborn - 5 [37]

Because E-Nishka is taking on any task to get his mind off things, he is tasked with aiding Galfrid in investigating a suspicious individual.

He meets Yda and Papalymo again at Lifemend Stump.

Thankfully, fetch quests are beneath him, so he just goes straight to the Spirithold after this, where he comes into contact with the Black-Masked Ascian and the golem, as well as Yda and Papalymo again.

He skips more fetch quests and converses with Hearer Leonnie at the southwestern Hedgetree. He witnesses first-hand the Elementals’ whispers about the Tam-Tara Deepcroft.

He does begin to make inquiries about suspicious characters, however. He learns of the Ixals wanting to harm the Guardian Tree. E-Nishka does not consult his fellow Hearers before going directly to Lewin, as this is a dire matter.

They act swiftly enough, putting an end to the Ixals’ plans and offing the Black-Masked Ascian, their mysterious individual.

Kan-E awards E-Nishka with the title of Emissary for Greenbliss, though he doesn’t feel like it applies to him.

Kan-E reveals to E-Nishka during Greenbliss that she believes he has the power of the Echo—that he has been chosen not only by the Elementals but by the Gods themselves. The pressure of such a realization causes E-Nishka to faint.

Once he reawakens, E-Sumi bids him to come to Stillglade Fane, where he gives E-Nishka a pep talk, basically. E-Nishka is unsure and anxious about where this is coming from all of a sudden.

Kan-E arrives and says that E-Nishka will be her envoy to the other city-states to detail the remembrance ceremony of the Battle of Carteneau. She admits that it is because he was a part of it that she wants it to be E-Nishka to deliver the missive, but she also admits that she thinks some air outside of the Twelveswood will do him some good.

E-Nishka is worried about what the Elementals will say about him leaving, but Oha-Sok reveals herself to say that the Elementals have given their blessing already, and asked her to pass it on.

E-Nishka faints again.

But the next day, he’s on his way to Limsa Lominsa on an airship, Pokcha Pokk at his side, wearing the white robes of the Seedseers…

[waterloggedsoliloquy]

bc lestat @macarensesangles asked, here are all the dæmon headcanons i have for the ffxiv characters :)

Thancred - flying squirrel named Torthred. the nutkin that follows him around. Squirrels in medeival times represented industriousness, but also biting off more than you can chew. Thancred is also a spy, and a small, surreptitious dæmon capable of gliding is good for the job. He's warmer than Thancred, and generally has gotten over himself where Thancred hasn't.

Y'Shtola - a king eider named Virgil. She's a witch, and all witches have flying bird dæmons. Ducks are symbols of rejuvination, spring, and loyalty-- they were also associated with Penelope, Odysseus' wife and her namesake. He voices Y'shtola's more ruthless, straightforward side-- he's wont to measure things by occam's razor.

Urianger - a tawny owl named Pruneta. Owls are associated with Minerva of course, as a symbol of wisdom and strategy. Often plays translator for him, hilariously, putting Urianger's flowery language into plain (well, plainer) english.

Alphinaud - settles into a parrot during Heavensward. Her name is Angeleaux. Parrots represented wit and intelligence, but also a foolhardiness-- someone who likes to hear themself talk. Angeleaux was exactly as self-assured and pompous as Alphinaud was too. It was a bad sign that they were so often in agreement. After she settles, she becomes a lot less bossy, but still has an impulsive boyish streak to her.

Alisaie - settles into a wildcat during Stormblood. His name is Aloyscius. Wildcats represented ferocity and nobility, as well as witchcraft. He's a total spitfire and loves arguing with Alisaie. The two are frequently at odds, both desiring to leap into action but not agreeing on how. Through Dragonsong into Stormblood they learn to compromise more, and to look before they leap. He has a girlish sheepishness to him, like Alisaie gushing to Tesleen about the Warrior in The Inn at Journey's End.

Tataru - a cairn terrier, like Toto from the Wizard of Oz. Tataru is a servant of the story, making sure everything runs smoothly. He's a bit more of a warrior than Tataru is, standing up for her and others, and like Tataru he's an all-arounder, good at most things in a pinch.

G'raha - a charming hummingbird named Athanasius. Hummingbirds represent the nobility and warriors of the Aztec empire, as they were associated with Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. This would allude to G'raha's princely lineage. As the Exarch, since his dæmon would be a dead giveaway as to his identity, Athanasius hides under his hood and the Exarch pretends he is not a person at all, merely a construct of the Crystal Tower. G'raha is already dorky and emotional and vulnerable, and Athanasius makes it all the more apparent. When G'raha wants to be responsible and focused, Athanasius darts around to anything that will interest him, desperate to sate his endless curiosity.

Ryne - A Honduran white bat named Godelieve. Bats are associated with witchcraft and scrying. Honduran white bats are very small with golden wings, giving an impression of a miniature sin eater.

Estinien - a salamander named Yves. They were thought to be born of fire and immune to its flames, perfect for someone tested by the hardships of life and associated with the blood of dragons. Originally I thought a horse would be good for Estinien, but I figured it'd be hard to do those flips with a horse dæmon.

Haurchefant - a turtledove, also known as a mourning dove. Perfect for a doomed romantic such as himself. A plain, common dove is also good for communicating someone locked out of nobility. 

Zenos - a Komodo dragon named Slibinas. The process that made Zenos a resonant severed her from him. :(

Varis - a grey wolf named Sallustia. She's a fucking piece of work.

Emet-Selch - an unsettled dæmon, as all the Unsundered have. Her name is Agesander. As Solus zos Galvus, she took the form of a lammergeier (bearded vulture) and still prefers this shape, though also is inclined towards snow leopard, ewe, the tamarin, and chimera. She also does not have any limit on distance of how far she can travel from him. Lammergeiers are associated with the mythical Huma bird, an immortal bird who was said to never land, and to watch humanity from afar. Agesander is Emet-Selch's shoulder-devil, essentially, taking devil's advocate positions whenever possible. She carries with her Emet's Tempering, and thus expresses priorities related to Zodiark. She's also just as fussy and bitchy, and enjoys a good argument.

CANON CHARACTER MIRANDA FOIGEL - unsettled at the start of ShB, his name is Mulciber. He's much more tender and optimistic, compromising Miranda's cagey and cynical disposition-- the sweet kid that they so desperately try to not be. He tends to take plain, practical forms, and eventually settles as a river otter or a porcupine. Haven't decided.

Venat - Also technically unsettled, it's just-- it's argos, man. You know argos. The only thing more unsettling about this dog was that if it could talk.

Hermes - Meteion is his dæmon :(

Aymeric - he gets the horse. A white stallion, Ishgard's pride and joy. Merlwyb - Bottlenose dolphin Kan-E-Senna - White elk Nanamo - Savannah hare Raunahn - Sable Antelope Ilberd - Barbary Lion Gaius - arctic wolf Nero - common jackal The Chais - lovebirds, the both of them.

[cjrpbrackets]

I’ve been trying to figure out some of the “lore” for this community and I’m so confused. Sirius is not helping. I made a tumblr account only to annoy them what does this even stem off of??

-✹

....Chonny Jash, somehow.

Listen, there was a war in a Soul askblog's asks and then there was a village and now there's a ton of OCs and Lore and extremely fucked up things happening. Solus my bro my Sun I just work here.

I don't even know anymore. There is no god here.

@thatbendyfan might be able to say it better.

[lauvra]

There was a glitch and notes dating back around 2018 appeared. Lost/Found Notes Pt. 1. 17/6/19 I set my vision to optimism and dial to thirty where my hair is long and I am not here. Your whole life could change so suddenly, but it probably wont. 26/6/19 The T at the end of every word bounces. 27/6/19 I feel like I'm betting on a legless horse without any money and a disdain for bloodsport. What the fuck am I doing here, I do not want to be here. Except some mornings the sun creeps across my wooden floor boards and I bow to the rays and they pierce through my apathy and 25/8/19 Imagine explaining time to an animal. 4/9/19 I think about it, almost more than I don't. Pile all my stuff against the wall in boxes. Everything. I'd finally planned something to completion. Anyone who had a place to go wouldn't stay here. Paramedics don't clean the scene, nor the police. Paperwork, maybe, no formal investigation necessary. Everybody thinks it's their story, their bad day, their excuse for someone's pity. Eventually someone would post my bedframe online and awkwardly disassemble it. They'd borrow a drill when the screwdriver was inadequate, like we did. 9/9/19 Everything happens just before it does. 13/9/19 "Can I play something for you?" That sentence always invoked a shy disgust in me. A red cheeked embarrassment at the audacity of anybody daring to aspire before my eyes, but not when you said it. As I recall now you barely spoke, most of what I learned to love about you came out of observing the way you are. I wonder how I'd ever begin to explain what we were to each other. You taught me not to need to. I said nothing and edged closer in compliance. Most of my interactions feel so manufactured. I gaze through a green lens, observe whatever people are driven to create when they feel something and all I can do is soak in my imagination, wondering what that's like. 21/9/19 "What's wrong with you?" "The opposite of whatever's wrong with you, I guess." Sniffs scalp. Mm a viable mate. 22/9/19 Solitude is regenerative. I walk long cold strips of cement in dark hours past explosions of laughter, lights and clinking. I urge myself to magnetise but always have a better place to go alone. Where am I to take myself, bound in time to others, when not to stretch out these various paths feels like ripping chords from the jelly of my gut. So it is, palm to wound and walk. Solus. 28/9/19 Just before, on the tram along hawthorn rd the driver slammed the breaks and a man cursed him and called him an idiot. I smiled, not because he was angry but because he was scared. When fear manifests this way at least it's raw. 1/10/19 Everything I love about this place I'd corrupt if I stayed. 9/10/19 I put a lot of thought into my lyrics VIOLENT GURGLING 16/10/19 God wasn't God 17/11/19 Last night in my dreams I found myself walking across a grassy oval through shit and cum and blood and fisting and bunk beds, piss and people filming themselves so I started to run before being stopped by a group of people who live there. They wanted me to interview them to share "what it's really like" in their community. I spun around and an American man asked what language we speak. I could not remember. Jung, what's up with that? 22/11/19 I met a dude and feel shy

[witchofthesouls]

I've been twisting this idea in my head for a while.

So assuming that Cyberton had Yore/Fae/Magic at some point but don't in modern day, what do you think wiped them out? Was it just a natural consequence of the loss of wild spaces- the seas drying, the forests and plains and marshes being dessicated by natural disasters? Intentionally by way of Prima's Forceful Guiding Hand? Quintassons desires for a world to more readily be defined and controlled?

In my mind, it was a bit of all of the above. One dominoing into the other until it became too much and the Cybertonian version of Elsewhere collapsed on itself. But that would pose a potential for them to still exist on the Colonies, no matter how reduced.

I kinda talked about it already.

Personal take, especially since TFP did had line about magic and science from Solus' Forge, it's a combination of all that, plus more.

Prima established the city-states as the beacon of civilization and progress as it's by 'birthright' as the first to be and 'rule of strength/might.' He is the Eldest Sun, formed by Primus' own Light. The absolute God-king.

Of course, Primus still had Unicron to provide a check, so Megatronus rose immediately to life from Prima's very own shadow. Primes aren't meant to stand alone, and Prima needed someone who was capable of stopping him, no matter the cost.

Despite the personal writings by the Prime of Light, Prima and Megatronus operated as joint rulers as no one else was able to withstand their combined strength. When they stood together, nothing could budge them.

Basically, a lot of things went down to sow distrust, a tragic dirge of miscommunication, and connecting the wrong dots that led to the Prinal Wars. After it decimated the Primes to the remaining Prima, Alpha Trion, and Alchemist, Prima went far more extreme, even ignoring any and all advice by Alchemist who had to take on a more moderate capacity as he singlehandedly assumed the role of the bridge between the Primes and their mortal kin. Alchemist, unfortunately, didn't have the strength to challenge Prima directly. Not on his own, especially since Alpha Trion is one of the more passive siblings and won't stand against the Eldest's new goals as Alpha is deeply tied to the Quill and saw no point in recorrecting things if the far future painted a better prospect after all the misfortunes that would come.

Prima essentially laid waste to very cycles of renewal that was supposed to revitalize Cybertron in an attempt to call back Megatronus, and the Quintessons took advantage of that to completely break the more fantastical power elements via 'standardization' as they messed with the Well of Allsparks and strip the planet into the what modern Cybertronians know as the Wastelands.

Prima was the one that started the processes to drain the oceans, harvest the volcanoes, excavate the mountains, wetlands dried by reroute, forests cut, desert mined, and grasslands turned to ash as Prima tamed nature to search for his twin. After Prima's disappearance, Alpha Trion gave up as well after the Quintessons messed the Well and Megatronus never returned.

Before Cybertron functioned as a gateway to Elsewhere due to the connection between Primus, Unicron, and Gaea. So the Wilders did have tales of strange beings and stranger places... but after the combined feats between Prima, the Quintessons, and early Golden Age had long stripped the planet's capability to sustain those gateways. (It's also why the connection to reestablish space bridges to the Colonies failed.)

The Colonies would have began to flee from the Guiding/Forceful Hand under Prima, so the potential gateways still exist with them (attested by how some of their people would disappear if they wander too far) but the means to truly navigate them, much like communicating with Titans, space-bridge repair, and the rearing of magic talent, had been lost to time as each world deals with their own crises.

[ramonag-if]

So what IM hearing is that someone in Cyne decided to be a mysoginistic ass and tried to erase the sisters from their pantheon and instead make Solus not only the head honcho, but the only honcho 😂 that tracks

Yup, Erlan did pick and choose the type of worship he would use in Cyre 😅👀 Solus is given high regard in other regions, since he is the sun god, but his sisters are equally revered as well. There's a whole reason as to why Erlan picked Solus and disregarded his sisters and that all links back to why he started the war in the first place with Ishari 😅

[arcaluna]

For the day one of of the Rexwalker week from this post from @rexwalkerweek !

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Day 1: Kamino | Form 1 : Determination, tradition, divergence

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It was raining.

It was raining like today, like every other day really, and it's one of the only thing Rex could think of when remembering about how the war started for him.

ARC training was over and the CCs - and him because of course the Shebs still dragged him everywhere - were ready to embark for their new battalions. Back then, Rex had just listened to bu- Alpha-17's debriefing, and he would be to accompany Cody as a capitain for the 212th.

He had just learned of the two Jedis, a Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, concelor and General of the 7th Sky Army - god, Cody had be helping leading a thirteenth of the full GAR, no wonder his ego didn't get any better - and a Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, soon to be knight. And no one thought to warn him that the latter was... Tall, with broad shoulders, able to easily lift two troopers fully decked on them, sparkling blue eyes and wide smile when happy or proud, with so much compassion it would kill him one day, who felt so much it could easily hurt him, who shared his heritage and didn't hide his childhood once it leaked after that one emergency medical intervention.... Perfection in any clones' mind and especially Rex's as his ori'vode teased.

And after that first encounter on Kamino, where a, back then, Padawan Skywalker had ran after his master with an umbrella at hand after the first just strode under the rain to get to them, after the creation of Torrent, made as some kind of suicide squad that surprisingly - except to Him - survived, after Anakin's knighting and Rex's nomination as his second, after the trials of the War, they were still breathing, still alive and still standing.

The War was over.

And it was still raining.

Anakin caught his hands, dragging Rex out of his reverie, and dragging the captain with him back under the cloudburst dancing and laughing. Rex knew he sported some kind of goofy, lovesick smile that one of the 501st was definitely taking a holo of right now, but he couldn't care less.

"Marry me..." whispered his lover in Amakkvit.

"Which tradition?" was Rex answer.

Anakin hummed, twirling around a bit more, still holding the other tight.

"You still have your Japor snippet?"

Rex nodded, feeling it pressing against his chest under his blacks.

"We did share meals, bed, bled for each other, promised our undying loyalty even if far away or in an open relationship, promised to and did protect each other's family with everything we had when possible?"

Rex nodded again, blushing a bit as the Jedi pressed him closer.

"Well those are more than enough requirements reached for me." he murmured in the blond's ear "Unless you refuse we are considered to be each other's in my birth culture." big lashes batted at the captain, a sly smirk gracing Anakin's lips as he definitely saw his partner's reaction as they both stopped, pressed tightly against each other under the rain.

Rex kissed that smile off his face under the whistles of his vode.

"Mhi solus tome" he whispered, catching his jetti's face between his hands the moment they broke away from the kiss.

Anakin blinked, surprised, before whispering too:

"Mhi solus tome"

"Mhi solus dar'tome"

"Mhi solus dar'tome"

"Mhi me'dinnui an" Rex voice grew louder as the entire galaxy seemed to hold it's breath.

"Mhi me'dinnui an"

"Mhi ba'juri verde"

"Mhi ba'juri verde" Anakin finished before swooping his now husband in another kiss, this one more desperate, needing to be sure everything was real.

Kamino burst in cheers, the sun finally, shyly peeking between grey clouds.

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English isn't my first language, so sorry for any typos and mistakes! (When you find some, could you please point them out to me?)

[herssian]

hold on a fast second pardner......................if Azem's memory stone holds the symbol of the sun...............and if Azeyma is the keeper of the sun.....................and if Azim is the god of the sun................and if both are believed to be derived from Azem.......................and if emet-selch took on the moniker of Solus to found the empire.......................and if.......solus’ etymology.......................................................pertains to the s.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,. . . . .. .h. hold on                                                .