#tales of stars and magic

[talesofstarsandmagic]

Next up is character explanations. I did have character portraits for all the main cast but then I went and changed the finaalin design (what Aala and Nila are) so I’ll have to redo those lol.

Anyway, btw, I call the main cast of Onto the Horizon the Horizon crew since Irel’s ship is called the Horizon so it makes sense, so you may see my use that sometimes so I’m not typing out all of their names.

So Aala I introduced a bit before as Tides of Change is her book. Basically OTH will be a 5 book series and while every book will have the perspectives of all the main cast, each book has a dominant perspective.

For a few more details on Aala though, she loves the ocean and as finaalin are semi aquatic reptiles, she will go and sit underwater for a while, and if she has a heat vest on to keep her body temperature up she will stay there for hours as she loves listening to oceans sounds which she uses as inspiration for her music. She cares a lot about the traditions and culture of Ocera, and while she doesn’t believe in the religion (I have litterally just realised I haven’t named the dominant religion on Ocera, woops) literally, she does believe in its teachings and loves the stories. She isn’t particularly close with many people outside of her family, with the only exception really being Veli, who is the Priest of the Sun and who she will be marrying. He’s pretty much her best friend and she’s fine with the arrangement as they get on and it’s traditional (I’ll do a post on Oceran/finaalin culture at somepoint). Also, as a slightly silly thing, Aala hates space travel, specifically Jumping which is this story’s equivalent to hyperspace or warp drive.

Nila is 10 so is pretty young and does kid things. She loves art and especially loves painting. She looks up to her older sister but does not understand how she can’t enjoy being on a ship because space is awesome. She’s incredibly curious about pretty much everything, but especially magic. This mainly stems from her wanting to understand why she’s different. She does wonder how others see the world as she can see magic and how beautiful it is and she can’t think how the world would look without it. She is very sweet, but does have some issues since her home world gets invaded and her parents are killed. While she does look up to Aala, they do have some conflict as Aala is forced into a more parental role and Nila is a traumatised 10 year old so doesn’t always do the most rational things.

Keryn Narkel has worked for the Insurgency for several years at this point and frankly just wants to get out of her job. She hates it, she hates most of her coworkers, and is sick of hiding. The only coworker she tolerates is her childhood bestfriend/rival, Rayka. Now Rayka sees Keryn as her biggest rival but Keryn just sees her as a little sister and they have a bit of a complicated dynamic. Keryn is an azuran (I’ll go more into them later) and unlike most of her species, her hair is short, which on Azaal (the azuran native home world) is a sign of a criminal. Anyway, Keryn has her reasons for hating the IGA despite working for them and no I will not be elaborating further (for now at least).

Irel Tanik is the face of the Insurgency. They run a good chunk of it, and are responsible for uniting several different groups together, including the Lomaran Resistance (also known as the Lomaran Network) and the New Dawn Alliance. Irel is stubborn, sometimes a little hot headed, but they care deeply for justice and are very compassionate. They grew up with the leader of the New Dawn Alliance, Jas Castern, and while they are close, they have drifted apart over the years as Jas is willing to do whatever it takes to win, no matter how many innocent people are between him and victory, which does not sit well with Irel. They are also very close with Avalis, who became their second in command when they took over from Ezren, the previous leader of their group. Irel is a talented mechanic, which they use to upgrade their ship (the Horizon) and their prosthetics (they lost both of their legs when they were 12 in an accident). They also accidentally made the AI in their ship sapient (well, sort of accidentally), and once ethey realised, they named it K8 and once the war is over they intend on making it a body so it can properly explore the galaxies.

Finally, we have Avalis. He is a volcarnirin who was involved in war from a very young age. Like all members of his species, his body heats up dramatically in response to adrenaline, but he is also a plasma channeller, and a very skilled one. He is one of the most skilled fighters in the Insurgency and being very tall and muscular he is also pretty intimidating, which has gotten Irel out of trouble more than once. He is actually very kind and quiet usually, but you put him in a fight and he will do anything it takes to survive. For him, there are no rules in a fight, and he will use any tactics necessary. Irel is his best friend, but he’s also close with Ria, one of the leaders of the Lomaran Resistance, who is also his sparring partner. On the outside it would look like Ria wouldn’t stand a chance as she’s only around 4’2, but she can match Avalis’s skill without much hastle. She’s also one of the few who understands his PTSD and especially his struggle with sleep, the pair of them often sparring while everyone else is asleep. Avalis has a lot of problems with PTSD, but he has his ways to deal with it.

And that’s the main cast. I love these guys a lot. My next post will probably be on some side characters because I need an excuse to talk about Ria in depth, but I may do a lore post.

[artistdove]

Somewhat official designs for each of my Mickey and Oswald Aus along with minor lore. For those that want basic info on each au, here's the link.

Between the Screen Au

Mirroring ear injuries due to Blot.

Mick has minor health injuries due to having the Blot in him during Epic Mickey, resulting in monthly check-ups and a paint monitor.

Mixed their outfits post Epic Mickey.

Oswald is co-leader of Wasteland and head of the Conversion Trolley Station, while Mickey still acts but occasionally works side jobs.

Tale of 2 Brothers

Style is based on the Beta pitch, so semi-angular basically.

Both have the Blot in them, so they can use paint or thinner with their hands. Old movesets from the Epic Mickey Beta trailer are present when they fight.

Oswald keeps his Blot arm hidden at all times unless around Ortensia, Gus, Mad Doctor, and the Blot. Mick eventually sees it.

Toons & Dungeons

Oswald is an Artificer/Sorcerer and Mickey is a Bard/Sorcerer.

Oswald has minor lighting spells while Mickey has various spells. Oswald has a gun that can shoot electricity, Energy/Paint, and Acid/Thinner. Mickey has a wand, Pan Flute, and Lute. Both carry a small hidden dagger.

Oswald was taken in by the Gremlins while Mick gets adopted by Yen Sid.

Rising Star

Outfits change over the years, so this is the main look.

1920s-60s they stay conservative with looks, but eventually let loose as times change.

Can be depicted smoking or drinking cuz they old.

Magic Island

Villagers inspired by Mickey and Oswald, so their names are different. Oswald = Clover while Mickey = Elias.

Clover is a Smug/Lazy Villager while Elias is a Jock/Peppy Villager. Idk if that makes sense (；・∀・).

Elias sleeps early while Clover stays up late.

Local Toon

Classic old looks. Nothing much to say, they are kids in this world and look like their first designs.

Toon High

Main designs until later arcs.

Oswald prefers loose cloths unless working on machines, which he wears tanks or snug clothes. Mickey likes active wear or normal teen clothes.

Later on, the two wear something of the other as a way to solidify their repaired brotherhood.

Ink & Mirrors

Actual plot is Mick and Ink!Oswald. Parallel plot is Oswald and Ink!Mickey.

Both are dealing with completely different issues. Ink!Oswald is hunting Mickey while Ink!Mickey is trying to help Oswald.

Ink!Oswald is stuck in a sort of limbo where his mind is like pre-Epic Mickey, mostly due to the false heart Bendy implanted into him. Ink!Mickey seems to have kept some of his self due to his heart, but Alice Angel mangled the poor mouse.

Mickey is constantly stressed as he tries to escape the studio and revert his brother. Paint barely works on these enemies so he is stuck using only thinner and electricity, leaving him heavily drained.

Oswald is alert 24/7 and trying to rescue others alongside fixing his brother. Having never used the brush before, he finds it a tad difficult to use correctly. It's also causing him to drip. He has a limp due to an attempt to use his leg as a weapon, which failed horribly.

P.D. Toons

Public Domain toons turned into ocs. They are still the original characters, but my own take.

Oswald is Oliver Hare and Mickey is Willy Fieldmouse.

Oliver is the local trolley driver. Willy is a staff member for a local studio.

[khaopybara]

❝This bowl is not enough. Treat me to two more. Order yours, too, and let's eat together. Only then, I'll stop being mad at you.❞

KAPOOK PLOYNIRA as JUDY episode 8 of THE TRAINEE

[anghraine]

ngl I always find it wild to see Star Wars stuff that's like "if you think about it in terms of realistic statistics/science then..." about almost any aspect of it.

I mean, what about the Star Wars films gives the impression that this universe abides by realistic statistics, or realistic anything else? SW is broadly a fantasy epic projected onto an IMAX screen with a space background painted on it. Yeah, the planets and moons in the films almost always have improbably limited biomes and two major locations max, because narratively these locations are usually just fantasy city-states with space aesthetics.

Starships travel at the speed of plot and we simply jump past the amount of time that presumably is passing, and sort of imply the passage of that time through shifts in the character dynamics. But this passage of time cannot be analyzed with any kind of consistency because the only logic governing it is the pace of the story.

Just how long did it take the Empire to send a full contingent of forces to Dantooine, search the entire planet, find the Rebel base, and then report back to Tarkin between one scene and another? No one says and no one appears to care. How long did it take Han and Leia to reach Bespin and what exactly went on between them while Luke was, in the same time frame, going through a protracted training over multiple days at an absolute minimum? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

How do giant space worms survive inside asteroids that somehow have an Earth-approximate gravitational field and I guess an atmosphere? Shhhh don't think about it. The point of the sequence is not "how does the giant space worm subsist off this random asteroid and how does it breathe and how does gravity work in this context, seriously" but that the giant worm sequence is fucking sick.

There's probably some after the fact EU justification invented by people who had nothing to do with the original writing of the space worm (or perhaps there are several mutually incompatible explanations) and I am profoundly disinterested in them. Nothing could make this even slightly realistic and it was never intended to be. Star Wars sings space shanties at scientific/mathematical realism as it sails past on a completely different ship going in the exact opposite direction.

And I do mean "sails" because while astronomy might tell us that space is unfamiliar and wild on a level we as Earthbound lifeforms can barely comprehend, Star Wars understands that space is basically an ocean, yet with stars and cool but survivable planets in it, or sometimes it's air but combined with a super cool space background so you can have early 20th century aerial combat that would make no sense in actual space conditions and doesn't need to.

"If you consider relativity, then just running the Empire would be..." General relativity does not govern the galaxy far, far away. Space magic does. I'm not sure there are even time zones.

[chiistarri]

hi chat i want more mutuals again u should interact if u like stuff in the tags >_<// !!!

[violetsinyoureyesandguns]

She looked like a religious icon with flowers and stars growing from her rotting body,✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

like someone you would sacrifice your soul for˚ ཐི⋆ ⋆˚࿔𝜗𝜚˚⋆사랑 ⊹⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺⋆༄˖°.🪷

[bl-bracket]

Mini-Bracket: Best Marriage Proposal in a QL

So, as many of y'all may have heard, as of June 18, 2024 the marriage equality bill just got passed in Thailand, making it the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same sex marriage and also only one of three countries in all of Asia to legalize it (Taiwan legalized it 2019 and Nepal legalized it in 2024 as well). While technically it won't fully go into effect for another 120 days, I've planning to do something to celebrate it for a while so with great pleasure I introduce the first mini-bracket: Best Marriage Proposal in a QL!!!

What's a mini-bracket? Well since we are currently still in the Most Unhinged Bracket (currently in the finals and about halfway through the loser bracket) and I have a planned hiatus coming up due to traveling, what it really means is that there will be a shorter submission time, no prelims, all one-day long polls, and will be running at the same time as everything else. This is just supposed to be a little fun thing to celebrate marriage equality!

Same base rules apply (which you can read in the form and in the pinned post) EXCEPT this time I'm going to open it up to all QLs! While GLs are still in the early stages of becoming an established industry compared to BLs (and thus it still feels kinda unfair to them if I were to say that that the brackets were for all qls but would still be like 90% bl at least), it didn't feel right to not include them in this one!

Also there's some extra rules this time!

For the purposes of this poll, the proposal MUST be for a queer couple (mlm or wlw)

While this is to celebrate gay marriage being legalized in Thailand, any East Asian live action bl is eligible

It must be a legitimate marriage proposal, not just an offhand comment about wanting to get married in the future or making some other type of serious commitment as a couple that isn't marriage (like moving in together). Those are all good, but not what I'm wanting to highlight here. 

Submissions Close on June, 22 @ 7 PM GMT

Submit your favorite marriage proposals in a QL Here!

@tournament-announcer

[kaycartoons]

I love having totally not cursed cartoon lore books. Yup, not cursed at all. (yes I know the httyd book is based on the book series not the movies but its still cool to see how the books inspired the movies and cartoon).

[666candies]

golden horns (1972)

[fairytale-poll]

BEST MODERN FAIRYTALE ADAPTATION! ROUND 1D, MATCH 2 OUT OF 4!

Princess Tutu (2002 - 2003) is based off the Ugly Duckling and Swan Lake; Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (2003 - 2004) is based off the Little Mermaid; A New Magical Tale! Mofuderella is the Star!? (An episode of Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure) is based off Cinderella.

Propaganda Under the Cut:

Princess Tutu (2002 - 2003):

This show is PHENOMENAL. Starts as a fairy tale show, slowly starts to discuss fate vs free will and the archetypes that fairy tale characters have to play and what would happen if they could fight the narrative. Also has one of the most perfect endings to Duck's arc that any protagonist could ever have.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (2003 - 2004):

I love my magical girls

A New Magical Tale! Mofuderella is the Star!?:

I love that transgender teddy bear so much

[raayllum]

Three diamonds

[talesofstarsandmagic]

So the interesting thing about writing my second draft is I’m really just letting myself write. My word count for draft 1 is very low (it’s just under 25,000 words) so I’m letting myself just go for it. Aala is a very introspective character and I love writing descriptions of emotions and behaviour so I’m just letting myself do that and it’s really fun.

Also, I’m letting myself add in more worldbuilding details and I am so excited to get to the scenes that actually take place on Ocera because then I can get into some of the details I made for Aala’s culture. I can’t go into everything I’ve made but that’s fine, I make more than I need so that I can give more details later if needed and because worldbuilding is the love of my life. I plan on doing a finaalin lore post one day so I can explain all about them but idk when I’ll do it.

First thing to know about me as a writer is that worldbuilding is my favourite, especially making biology and cultures.

Anyway, I’ll be doing a post soon on the main cast of Tides of Change soon I just need to proofread it.

[artistdove]

Y'all wanted to see each version of Ortensia. So here ya go. For those that haven't seen Mick and Ozzy's and want to know more about the aus, click this.

Between the Screen

Mother of 3 and honorary mother of 418, only 3 are legally adopted by Ozzy and Ortensia

Changed her look after being freed from stone

Works as a co-host for the Troley Station's Diner

Tale of 2 Brothers

Gentle Queen of Nostos Burrow

Mainly resides in the castle, but often visits each area to play and help others

Has no clue about Oswald's dark plan, and isn't sure if she is for or against it

Toons & Dungeons

Daughter of a wealthy banker/merchant

Troublesome as she often sneaks out or disobeys her father's rules

Fighter class, this is her main design

Rising Star

Daughter of a banker

Has made minor appearances in films and magazines

Stubborn at times

Toon High

Former private school student

Dating Oswald in secret

Star student

Ink & Mirros

Entered the studio after Mickey and Oswald didn't return in a week

Learned she could turn parts of her body back to stone and use it as a weapon aside from her claws

Won't leave until she brings back the brothers and finds some of her missing kids

Magic Island

Name is Annebelle

Normal type of villager

Loves to sing

Local Toons

Added head tuffs cuz so many older toons that were cats just looksthe same

P.D. Toons

Name is Sadie

Assistant to the director of the local studio and one of Willy's best friend

Copper's Sister (Copper is Julius in this universe)

[khaopybara]

People with this kind of personality tend to be introverted, idealistic, creative, and driven by high values.

QL Characters + MBTI

[its-leethee]

--Tales of Xadia, p.10

...it is known as "the Key of Aaravos," and legends say it unlocks something of great power in Xadia

--2x06, Heart of a Titan

[apathetic-tortoise]

Couples that can now get married: Part 2 - Engaged edition

Rain and Phayu - Love in the air/Wedding plan

Pisaeng and Kawi - Be my favourite

Phupha and Tian - Tale of 1000 stars

Akk and Theo - Enchanté

Min and Jinta (kinda) - Cherry Magic

Puen and Talay - Vice Versa