#the Sunguard

[sjolldorei]

he asks if you wanna go skinny dipping, wyd?

[ailurocide]

Question- do companions get their wings clipped, or pinioned? Not to out myself as a bird nerd but while they're both very bad things to do to a bird, one is a LOT worse than the other.

Clipping a bird's wing means cutting back the primary flight feathers on one wing. Clipping only one wing prevents the bird from properly balancing in flight, meaning it'll swerve to one side and fall to the ground if it tries, so it won't be able to maintain flight. It's technically painless (though robbing a bird of its ability to fly is still Bad, they're designed almost entirely for wing-powered flight from the ground up. You should see what the avian respiratory system looks like), and is reversible.

After molting, the flight feathers will grow back, and the bird will be capable of flight unless its wings are re-clipped. However, clipping often starts before a bird can learn to fly, and even without that the wing muscles will atrophy over time due to disuse, meaning that a bird whose been getting wing-clipped every molt will still have a significant road to recovery after the clipping stops, and may need to be trained or re-trained on the basics of flight.

Pinioning is worse. Pinioning means amputating one wing just above the wrist joint (the second joint of the wing, further from the body. usually just past this, to leave the thumb/alula/"bastard wing" intact so its feathers cover the stump), usually while the bird is still so young that its bones haven't had time to harden, usually without painkillers of any sort. This has a similar effect to clipping, but A. it's fully permanent and B. it throws off the bird's balance even when on the ground, as that's a not-insignificant amount of weight removed from just one side (if both sides are clipped/pinioned, the lack of imbalance means the bird can re-learn how to fly even with shortened wings). Doesn't effect heavier birds like waterfowl too bad iirc, but those tend to keep both feet on solid ground (or just float on water).

A pinioned felfolk would likely have some trouble with delicate balancing, especially as instinct might tell them to use their wings to aid them in balancing- which only makes things worse, since one is, of course, pinioned. One with clipped wings might struggle a bit, but the weight difference would be a lot less drastic, and it's just a matter of waiting to molt & regrow those flight feathers (molts usually happen at least once a year for most species, sometimes more often but most will at least molt in late fall, so their feathers are in good condition to keep them warm during winter)

...Sorry for the unprompted nitpicky inbox essay, but both options have significantly different implications for dear Castel and I'm not good at keeping my mouth shut about bird stuff. Still, I hope this could be helpful to you in some way!

Okay first off: please don’t apologize!! Thank you sincerely for bringing this to my attention… I always love learning new things about animals, even if they’re heartbreaking like this.

Everybody say thank you to bird nerd anon!!

After reading through this a few times and really think about it, I’m gonna alter a few things now that I’m more informed:

(I’d also like to reiterate that what the Sunguard Guild does to their companions is barbaric and not the norm for Guilds and their companions. I do not support the practice of declawing, pinioning, or wing-clipping.)

The Sunguard Guild typically pinions their companions. They have this process done to prevent their companions from leaving the Guild, and typically the head of the primary companion family, or the overall oldest companion, is in charge of ensuring that the pinioning goes well and relatively smoothly.

So most of the current Sunguard companions have a pinioned wing.

[duckweed-fr]

yo, selling my copy of firefly catcher for what i think i picked it up for (450 g) because my f pose skydancers are absolutely drowning in accents while my poor neglected boas languish naked!

eta: sold! accent redistribution commence 👀

[blackjackkent]

Random Tav sharing - I mentioned him in tags earlier but I don't think I ever shared a picture.

Trystan Sunguard, future Galemancer when I eventually get around to finishing his run. Great Old One Warlock elf with noble parents who was gonna go to super prestigious wizard school but got too big for his britches (rather like another wizard we know) and tried to match wits with an eldritch power... and failed.

Has been having a bad day for at least five years. Terrified of his own powers. Cracks bad puns to relieve tension. Needs a hug. Another BJK sadboye special.

[guardianglass]

In 2023, the Indian glass products industry stands at the forefront of innovation and quality. Notably, the production of glass for uPVC windows has witnessed a remarkable surge.

[dilutedyellow]

Obligatory Beach Episode (Mouthwashing)

Warning: Mouthwashing (game) spoilers

A/N: Wanted to write a fluffy fic of the Mouthwashing cast at the beach, but I probably would’t finish it if I tried to flesh it out. If I do, I’ll probably post it here and on AO3. This originally started off as a comic idea so I might draw some of the scenes later.

Curly and Jimmy are separate because I originally didn’t want to include them at all. I love Curly, but I think the crew deserves a respite from those two. Jimmy gets punished for even showing up because I really didn’t want him here.

I have more fanfic ideas so let me know if you’d prefer this style or would rather wait for a fleshed out fic/comic.

Unimportant but I had Hawai’i local Daisuke in mind when writing this.

Actual Story:

Tulpar crew goes to the beach

A non-shitty corporate vacation? Must’ve been a mix up, someone’s getting fired

Takes place before events of the game or in a different universe

Swansea

Drinks a mocktail while lounging on a chair under an umbrella

Complains the mocktail isn’t alcoholic

“At least it tastes better than that mouthwash”

Anya

Doesn’t take off the sunguard (also has a hat)

Only dips feet into the water, highest she gets is up to her knees

Finds a tide pool, helps some fish back into the water

Stays longer to watch the night sky

Daisuke

Goes surfing/bodyboarding

Shell necklace

Gets everyone to wear floral print

Wants to be buried/burry someone in the sand

Makes a sandcastle

The sunset looks like the one on the Tulpar

+Jimmy & Curly

Curly

Tries to get Jimmy to put on sunscreen

Jimmy thinks he’s being too pushy

Jimmy doesn’t listen, gets sunburnt

(Gently) scolds Daisuke and gets called captain

“Yes, Captain”

Is flustered, trying to say he’s not their captain when they’re “off work”

No one believes him

Everyone calls him captain more

Checks on Anya when she’s looking at the stars

Grills some meat for the crew (allusion to being eaten, provides sustenance no matter what, self sacrifice)

Asks Jimmy for help in an attempt at making up with him (for pissing him off over offering the sunscreen)

“Come on Co-Captain, we’re a team, right?”

[sjolldorei]

finally doing the whelp daycare quests. love this game. love a good pet battle situation <3

[ailurocide]

whats the history of the houses’ companions? -🪷

When compared to the meaning of a bunch of daffodils, a lone daffodil’s meaning is very interesting and stark in comparison!

[blackjackkent]

I haven't done his playthrough yet but this is the boy I set up to romance Gale. c: His name is Trystan. Elf Warlock.

MLM Galemancer roll call!

I wanna see your Gale husbands and increase visibility for Gale's beautiful romances with other men. Reblog and share a pic of your MLM Galemancer character or reblog to spread more visibility of Gale being with men~ Here's one of mine: this is Shams my Dark Urge sorcerer

[gloopdimension]

gorma uses 8=D emote. Waynecrew chuckle their asses off before he explains... Ahh, I figured it would be cute :) 'Tis a young vessel reclining their visual sunguards, happy on a winter's day.

[guardianglass]

From architectural marvels to intricate artistry, this blog unravels the mesmerizing potential of glass in various industries. Explore the latest innovations in energy-efficient windows, avant-garde glass sculptures, and cutting-edge automotive glass technology. Gain valuable tips on maintenance and cleaning to keep your glass surfaces pristine. Delve into the world of sustainable glass solutions, showcasing how this versatile material is reshaping the future of construction and design. Whether you're a glass enthusiast, a design professional, or a curious reader, this blog invites you to discover the endless possibilities of glass.

[blackjackkent]

Help Me Pick My BG3 Character :D

Given that I'm almost done with Throne of Bhaal and going to start liveblogging BG3 pretty soon, I need a vote on which of these characters I should play for that playthrough, because I'm torn. :D

Poll at the bottom!

Some of these are my old D&D characters that I would be reviving in a new medium and some are brand new. All romance options are completely possible at this stage - waiting to see how the character actually interacts with them all in game. :D

Rhian Wolfswift. (Originally named Aderyn, but I already used that on this blog for one of my DAI Inquisitors.) My first D&D character, half-elf bard with the urchin background. Sarcastic, charming when needed; grew up busking on the streets for money and will do basically anything that gets her the coin to keep her mother housed and off the streets.

Jayce Fraser, tiefling ranger with the outlander background. Another of my D&D characters. A roamer and hunter of wild beasts, travels with a wolf companion named Caleb (if the game will allow it). More comfortable among animals than people and dedicated to the preservation and protection of the natural world.

Hector Carlisle, human monk, sage background. A certified BlackjackKent sad dad special. New OC for this playthrough, not played before. History nerd who was the illegitimate child of a monk in a monastery of Selune and was raised there after his father disappeared. Very smart, very dedicated to serving those around him, wildly unprepared for the outside world after having spent almost his whole life among other monks.

Trystan Sunguard, elven warlock, noble background. Another fresh OC. Was well on his way to becoming one of the most powerful wizards that had ever been seen at the extremely prestigious school to which he was sent - until he got far too confident in his own skill and opened a portal to the Far Realms, and something looked back.

[ichorscrawl]

Snapleap Sunguard - Lichenfall

A short-furred, ginger tabby tom with blue eyes.

[reazonozaer]

An evening shot on the road heading southeast from Rorikstead with Fort Sunguard looming in the distance.

[quelfabulous]

I've been following your art for the past 7 or 8 years now, and the journey you've taken Felo on has been absolutely amazing to see. I'm so thankful that you've shared it with the internet because it's beyond words what you and others have created. I was always excited to see the next part of the story. I remember crying a bit seeing the piece about the last battle with the Sunguard but then being relieved you continued on in another way. I'm excited for the future.

;_; oh wow. This was incredibly meaningful to read. I did not realize sharing my stuff would have such a long lasting impact. But I'm really warmed to know that my love and joy for this character and the things I create with him spark so many feelings for others. I'm really touched. Words like these are something I really needed to hear- especially now as a lot of things (AI, data scraping, anti-trans rhetoric) have made me begin to fear what and where I post. Thank you for these very kind words. @docleech