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justadeadreaper · 2 years ago

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Hey, this is for @frogchiro and her COD Gods AU. I hope she is comfortable with this, and I'm sorry if she isn't and will remove it if she asks me. But, let me just say thank you for blessing us with this idea and I am so happy that you are back as you are one of my favourite Tumblr accounts and your ideas are always amazing.

This will be very long and could be confusing so please hear me out as this is 4771 words of explanation.

My idea for God König could be him being a mysterious God that not many people know about entirely but they'll know his cults. He has many, many cults (like the cults of Dionysus or Pan) worshipping him, but all for different things due to how he randomly appeared one day and had all these cults popping up like it was planned, but all these cults fight each other over what he's the God of as they can't seem to agree but to try and beat each other they try to spread their worship to more people, not knowing that it makes König more powerful. I can also break down each aspect, why he has them, how powerful each aspect is due to the size of the cult, and what parts of the world would worship which aspect.

To make this make sense I have made a hypothetical world which I hope @frogchiro is okay with. So for this hypothetical world which I'm basing on other fantasy worlds and our Earth, we can say that most of the mountain ranges would be a majority in the North, going through the North-East and a lot of the East. Now forests would go across the whole world but would be more focused in the North all across to the West, although the North would be thicker deciduous or timber forests compared to the West where it would be mostly oak or birch forests, but the South-West would have some tropical rainforests while the East has a mixture of tropical forests and normal forests. The East going into the West, which would be the middle, would be mostly desert area, which has some oases here and there. Most of the South is a coastal region with the upper parts being sand deserts while on the South-West and East-West would be tropical rainforests with the furthest parts of the South being pure beaches that are mainly used for fishing villages. Of course, there are offshore islands that come off the mainland, with the South and East having the most islands.

Wildlife/Nature/Earth- I see König being worshipped as the God of Wildlife/Nature/Earth due to how we see in his Ghillie Monster and Desidia skins we see that he is tanned and he gives the vibes of an outdoorsman who loves nature and wildlife but also feral animal vibes especially when on field, plus the gun we see with his The Wolf skin (look on the wiki) reminds me of the hunting rifles my great-great uncle owns and he is a giant outdoorsman. This aspect is mainly worshipped in the North and West because those are the regions where it is mostly land thick with nature and forests. The powers König gets from this are the ability to talk to animals and have some control over them but not complete control, he can also morph forests to make them thicker or more confusing, he can also help plants grow but he doesn’t have to much control over it, and he can mimic animal calls but also shift into the animal if he has a part of that animal and he can grant a safe passage through forests or safety from predators to his followers for this aspect.

Mountains/Caves- I see König being worshipped as the God of Mountains/Caves due to how he is a mountain of a man, so it would make sense for him to be associated with them and I thought to add in caves due to caves being closely linked with nature and caves but also due to how caves are natural shelters and it made sense in my mind that people would worship and thank him for these shelters within nature. This aspect is mainly worshipped in the North and North-East because those are the regions where it is mostly mountain ranges and mountains tend to have tunnel systems. The powers König gets from this are being able to be so tall and use mountains as his territory and he can grant shelter and to grant big, strong children to his followers for this aspect.

Shadows- I see König being worshipped as the God of Shadows due to how it was one of the easiest for him to steal first and I always find it funny when someone so big is so quiet and sneaky that they blend into the shadows. This aspect is mainly worshipped by assassins so it can be anywhere but normally there is a designated spot in a city where the assassins can pray to him. The powers König gets from this are being able to travel through the shadows and sneak around and he can grant similar abilities to his followers for this aspect.

Death- I see König being worshipped as the God of Death due to how he probably has the highest kill count and if I saw him on the field I would think that it was Death coming me himself and because it fits into the backstory I have for him. This aspect is mainly worshipped by a select few cults, which would mostly be his most original followers. The powers König gets from this are to be able to see when someone is going to die, to easily kill anyone and to have control over the dead, and he can’t “grant” anything to his followers for this aspect unless they want him to kill someone after they’ve given him a big enough sacrifice.

Oceans- I see König being worshipped as the God of Oceans due to how there’s the whole Eldritch König thing in the fandom which was made worse by his Deep Lord skin and paired with his ability to change into animals from being the God of Wilderness he could have transformed into a Kraken once so people started worshipping this Kraken form so it did not hurt them when they are fishing and allows the to fish in its territory. This aspect is mainly worshipped in the South because it is mostly fishing villages on the coast. The powers König gets from this are the ability to control the ocean and sea storms and he can’t “grant” to his followers for this aspect as he isn’t really aware of this aspect yet.

Fertility- This is inspired by @stariepie 's idea for God König, and I hope she is okay with this, and if not I don't mind removing it as I don't know if she doesn’t mind me expanding on the idea. I see König being worshipped as the God of Fertility due to how much of a fine specimen of a man he is, like who wouldn’t and I see him as a family man, so it just works. This aspect is worshipped anywhere because people want to have kids. The powers König gets from this is boosted fertility and being good at you know what and he can grant a boost of fertility to his followers for this aspect.

Physique- This is inspired by @stariepie 's idea for God König, and I hope she is okay with this, and if not I don't mind removing it as I don't know if she doesn’t mind me expanding on the idea. I see König being worshipped as the God of Physique due to him in my eyes being one of the perfect specimens of a man based on my type, he could easily protect his family and he could give the best of cuddles and he is carrying a whole battle axe down there. This aspect is mainly worshipped in the North because his physique would be most suited for the North region and the men who survive the most there would be like him as you need to be strong and warm to live there. The power König gets from this is his amazing physique and he can grant advantages to get stronger and more muscular to his followers for this aspect.

Secrets/Mysteries- I see König being worshipped as the God of Secrets/Mysteries due to how mysterious he would be to most humans and because canonically we know virtually nothing about actual König but also due to how I think König tries to hide his past and plans to make it easier for him to achieve his goal. This aspect is mainly worshipped by people who worship König as to not piss him off but not because they actually care about him. Music/Poetry/Literature- I see König being worshipped as the God of Music/Poetry/Literature due to how I envision each God having a wholesome part of their aspects which is worshipped and I envision these for him as I think it fits him as I get the vibe he’d probably be a poetry snob and enjoy learning to play and actually playing instruments even if most are too small for him, plus it’s a nod to all the AI covers people make of him singing. This aspect is mainly worshipped by artists because it first came about due to artists romanticising the aspects of König, and he was seen as a martyr for the outcasts of society, which artists tend to be, so he became their God in return. The powers König gets from this is the ability to be able to play most instruments and have a beautiful singing voice, and he can grant the ability to have a breakthrough song or poem to his followers for this aspect.

Madness- I see König being worshipped as the God of Madness due to his social anxiety and the paranoia it causes as I have social anxiety myself which causes me to have paranoia, and I thought it would be cool nod to his social anxiety and how he is feared on the field even by the people he is rescuing. This aspect is mainly worshipped by a select few cults, which would mostly be his most original followers. The powers König gets from this aspect is to cause madness and panic, which is generally in the form of paranoia or anxiety through his screams or he can cause people to become paranoid to the point of changing their memories to something that involves him, and he can grant the ability to cause madness in the enemies of his followers for this aspect.

Royalty- I see König being worshipped as the God of Royalty due to how in German ‘König’ means King, so I thought it was fitting, and royals would see him as powerful and would want him on their side so they could continue ruling. This aspect is mainly worshipped by royalty all over the world. The powers König gets from this are nothing but just being known as the favourite God of certain royal families and he is seen to grant strong heirs to his royal followers for this aspect.

Lost/Forgotten/Outcasts- I see König being worshipped as the God of the Lost/Forgotten/Outcasts due to the backstory I made for him and with his backstory of being bullied outside the AU as I can see how he’d relate to people who are outcasted from society or forgotten about especially for physical differences. This aspect is mainly worshipped by people who are outcasts. König doesn’t exactly have any powers for this aspect, but he has an elite form of guards who are outcasts that he picked out himself as he saw something in them that no one else could, and he uses these guards to protect certain areas that are extremely sacred to him. I could honestly spend hours explaining each aspect and the backstory of how he got it and how it would be worshipped and explain the influences more clearly, but that is the basics for each one, and if I get permission I may go into them more and explain them more.

Strength of the aspects from strongest to weakest: -Madness -Lost/Forgotten/Outcasts -Shadows -Death -Mountains/Caves -Wildlife/Nature/Earth -Secrets/Mysteries -Physique -Royalty -Oceans -Music/Poetry/Literature

My inspiration for God König was actually Persephone due to her history as it's really interesting, and the same for Pan as his history is really interesting as well. I ask you to please watch Overly Sarcastic Productions' videos on the two Gods (their video about Persephone and Hermes as it depicts the history of the two) since if you do, my ideas will make a lot more sense, but I will do a summary. Persephone and Demeter predated the Greek Pantheon due to their mysterious cult and were already associated with Death due to being linked to Poseidon before the Pantheon we know, as he was originally the God of the Underworld, which linked to the Earth and the God of the Oceans as that was seen more important at that time. Persephone had many titles and many things associated with her since people didn't directly talk about her due to being genuinely terrified of her as she was powerful and she was a Dread Goddess linked to Death. Pan is equally as mysterious as Persephone as he is described as a rustic, ancient God of the wilderness and was primarily worshipped exclusively in Arcadia like Persephone. Barely anything is known about him, but we know he's the reason we panic due to the noises he would make.

I also have a backstory for König, which isn't totally figured out yet, but here is what I have so far. So König started off as a God of Madness and Death. He wasn't well known or worshipped at all as being a God of Madness and Death; no one wanted to worship him as those things are associated with very negative things, which caused König to be extremely jealous of the Gods that were being worshipped, which affected his insecurity. So, as the God of Death, he started going and killing other Gods and taking their place; it's why he suddenly appeared as he previously had no worshippers, and he took over the place of one God. The first aspect was the aspect of being the God of Shadows from Graves, and this started by having a cult in a ring of assassins, who needed the shadows to do their job, as he used his powers as the God of Madness to change the minds of that cult to believe he was the original God of Shadows the entire time. But, our dear König got greedy and cocky with his new sense of power and wanted more, so he sent out his assassins when on their killing missions to spread the word of him. Now each assassin was given a different aspect to start cults on depending on the region he was in. These original members are his original court and infested many small cults and would build them up until König was worshipped for that aspect more than the original God, which boosted his power but weakened the powers of those Gods, giving him the chance to go in and kill them. And König isn't going to stop until he gets someone to pacify him or until he's the God of everything, as he wants all the power and he's paranoid about being forgotten and being reduced to a powerless God again.

I imagine König to look very cryptid-like to fit his theme of being inspired by a Dread God and to fit how mysterious and all-encompassing he is. For his body, I say that he is tanned, as I mentioned earlier, as we see that he is somewhat tanned in Desidia and Ghillie Monster skins, and I see him as an outdoorsman, but he would be the tallest God and be a mountain of a man in his height but also in his build, as I imagine him to be pure muscle with a layer of fat on top so think of something similar to a dad bod but muscular which makes him all the more warm and cuddly. Now I see him as someone who is a bit hairy, and for his hair colour, I’m basing on my own family where we are dark strawberry blonde, but at different angles it looks like different colours, so from the back he could look ginger or the front he looks blonde since I can’t pick one colour for him and I thought it would look so pretty on him. I think his head hair, it’s long and puffy to the point that when he takes his mask off, just a bush of hair falls out and it’s an absolute wild mess. His body is riddled with scars, but some noticeable ones would be his cleft lip scar, a clipping of his right ear which is missing, one that runs down the whole of his spine, multiple stab wounds going from the upper area of the left of his chest to the lower of the right of his chest, a burn scar on the top of the right side of his forehead and the bottom left side of his face, and multiple scars on his hands from when the knife in his hand would slip out or from when he was stopping attacks. I feel like his tattoos would either be runes or statement pieces of animals, and he would have piercings in his ears which use bones of bandits he has killed. For his clothing, I imagine him using a mask which is a deer skull with a veil coming out of the bottom of it to cover his face, and he mostly wears furs from a mixture of furs from elk, bears, and wolves -mostly so he can transform into them to scare off hunters from his temple- which he uses as a cloak and to cover his lower half but I would imagine him not covering his chest as a cocky show of strength and to show off his body in general as he is proud of it. For decoration, I see him having chains/necklaces that have small trinkets on them as references to what aspects he has (e.g. for Ocean he has a belt-like chain of shark teeth, but for Wilderness he has vines wrapping around his body, but for Death he uses bones as decorations).

I'd say his sacred animal would either be an eagle due to it being the national animal of Austria and Germany as an eagle represents boldness, power, and victory, which fit König well, or it could be a wolf due to The Wolf skin König has, but also due to how I headcanon him as part Serbian due to @would_tbh on X/Twitter and for the family history I headcanon him to have and due to how wolves are Serbian’s national animal and it fits him well as wolves are described as lone creatures which fits his social anxiety but also how they’re pack animals which fits how König has his own team he has to take care of as a Colonel and wolves are supposed to represent loyalty, strong family ties, good communication, education, understanding, and intelligence which you’d need to be a Colonel and I see him being a big family man. Although I have two more unique choices of what his sacred animal could be. The first is a bear, as in Germanic regions, it was used to represent a warrior, which fits our big guy well and bears are big just like him, and bears can be deadly or cuddly like him as well. While for Indigenous people, a bear can represent strength, family, vitality, courage, health, thoughtfulness and independence, with little need for fellowship with it being self-contained and strong-willed in nature, which are all attributes I would associate with our Colonel. But my second and most unique choice is a winged boar. This is due to how wild boars are surprisingly shy animals that generally try to avoid humans, which fits how the fandom sees König as shy even though he’d probably just want to avoid other people; however, wild boars are also formidable assholes -I don’t get recommended being chased by one- when cornered or angry or threatened so it has come to represent courage and ferocity. The reason why I say a winged boar though is due to Khrysaor, as it was supposed a winged boar that was born when Medusa’s head was cut off. I thought this could be a nod to the eagle, but also a nod to how Medusa’s eyes are deadly as they can turn anyone to stone and the only part of König that isn’t covered is his eyes, and if he were to look at you, with his size and demeanour, you’d probably freeze on the spot like you were a stone statue.

König's relationship with the other gods is messy, and when I say messy I mean messy:

Ghost- Fucking hate each other. Just plain enemies to the point that they have fake versions of each other in their temples that they train with and brutally murder. König hates Ghost as due to Ghost being the God of War, Strength, and Fertility; he is König's biggest enemy due to how much power and influence Ghost has since it's an equal amount to König and Ghost has the strength as the God of War and Strength to be able to attack König and actually be able to beat him in combat. While Ghost hates König as some people have started worshipping König for fertility instead of Ghost, and due to Ghost thinking Madness should be under the aspects that Ghost is the God of as Madness induced by Fear and Panic is what is experienced in War (this is based on the sons of Ares: Deimos and Phobos).

Soap- Surprisingly, these two actually get along. I imagine Soap is also the God of Art, as in painting and drawing, so the two get along due to their love of the arts. Soap loves making paintings of König's poems, songs, or stories, and in turn, König loves making songs, poems, or stories based on Soap's drawings or paintings. They are also friends as Soap being the God of Spring means that König's nature flourishes more and is reborn after it's destroyed by Makarov in Winter.

Gaz- This is based on how people replace Gaz with König but these two are hostile to each other. The reason why I say this is because Gaz is the God of the Hunt, König is the God of Wildlife. To hunt in König's forests and kill the animals under his protection, you need his permission and sacrifice some of the hunt to him. Gaz did not do that as he didn't know, and Gaz accidentally killed König's favourite winged boar, which pissed König off greatly, so he went to fight Gaz and so the two have hated each other ever since.

Krueger- I headcanon Krueger and König to be cousins, so these two do get along but they annoy each other like all cousins do as even not in the Gods AU, I see König as the older cousin who used to be the main problem maker of the family before Krueger -who was an accident- was born; they may not have much of an age difference as I see it as König being five years older, but once König realised that Krueger was as chaotic as him, or even more so, he would get Krueger to do his schemes with him or just encouraging Krueger’s schemes. But back to the AU, originally, Krueger was a more powerful God than König, but as König grew in power, he became more powerful than Krueger, but as they have that cousin love for each other König helped Krueger by giving him an aspect or two that he didn't want. I don't know what Krueger would be the God of, but I know it would link to König somehow.

Makarov- I headcanon Makarov to be the God of Winter and Plagues. This has caused him and König to be respectful rivals as sadly Makarov's plagues and Winter kill König's animals and nature but he benefits from Makarov's plagues killing people as it means he has more souls due to people dying. Makarov, like König is trying to kill the other Gods to become more powerful, so it has caused a rivalry. Makarov is slightly jealous of König being the God of Death but the two do have some respect for each other because of their similar goals and how their aspects affect each other.

Valeria- I headcanon that Valeria is the Goddess of Deserts and Poisons/Venoms. She and König both don't like Alejandro since König sees him as a risk due to Alejandro being the God of Rage like @stariepie said, and as we see in the campaign, she hates Alejandro. So due to both having a mutual dislike of him, they made an alliance where Valeria's poisonous and venomous animals are protected in König's forest, and in return, König has oases through Valeria's deserts so his followers can have some water when traveling through to get him more followers.

Horangi- Everyone headcanons these two as friends, and I do too, so I imagine these two became friends as Horangi is the God of Bad Luck and Gambling; one time challenged König to a game of Matgo where the first to get enough points to say "Go" then "Stop" got to take an aspect from the other God. Horangi, due to being the God of Bad Luck, lost but König liked Horangi's balls to challenge him to such a challenge, so he gave Horangi the aspect of tigers from König's aspect of Wildlife, which made Horangi also the God of Tigers.

Roach- I headcanon that Roach is also a God of Outcasts, but unlike König who focuses more on people who are outcasted due to their physical appearance, instead Roach focuses more on people who are outcasted due to being different by having a mental disability as I see him as autistic and mute. They are allies since they are the only few people who are accepting of outcasts and they sometimes trade their chosen outcasts with each other as I also see König having autism and sometimes he sees one of Roach’s outcasts that he thinks is a lot like him and the same with Roach as König may have an outcast who’s mute due to a physical disability or scarring.

Price- Based on @stariepie 's idea of God Price being the God of Knowledge and Wisdom and my idea of him also being the God of Stratedy makes König either fear or be uncomfortable about Price. Unlike with Ghost, who constantly fights or acts snarky with König which created the hatred for each other on top of the other issues, Price doesn’t take notice of König as he just sees König as another God but does judge König’s friendliness with Makarov. But, König fears Price due to that, as König is smart enough to understand that with Price being the literal God of Knowledge it means that Price knows König’s weaknesses and knows ways to defeat him, which does not help König’s anxiety-induced paranoia as he sees Price’s indifference as Price plotting something. Graves- Our poor Phillip hates König for obvious reasons. I also see Graves as the original God of Shadows because he started the Cult of Shadows, which was a ring of assassins, but König accidentally became it as well as some assassins saw him and thought oh Death God if we worship him he could help us kill more König saw it as a perfect opportunity to steal his first aspect by making them think he was the God of Death and Shadows. This, of course, created hate between him and Phillip as Graves sees him as an undeserving thief who’s overstepping and trying to take over, while König hates Phillip as half of all assassins still worship Graves and König thinks that they should be worshipping him.

One little fun fact: a headcanon I have for God König is he is actually the God that gets sick the most as he is the blood type AB- as seen on The Wolf skin and said on the wiki, and all my relatives that are AB+ or (especially) AB- get sick really easily and seriously so I imagine him to be the worst when he’s sick; he genuinely makes man-flu seem like it’s nothing as he’s overdramatic and tries to push through it even if he is near enough dying.

Sorry about this, but I'm just a giant König fanboy and adore this man and have so many fucking ideas and headcanons for this man which I may post at a later date if anyone is interested because I have so fucking many, and I have made a full backstory and family tree and the same goes for Price, Makarov, and Soap which I can talk about for days. If I have anything more to add to it, I'll probably post it or send it to @frogchiro 's inbox, but if you have questions, you should honestly ask her as it’s her AU unless I get permission from her to answer the ones I receive.

Now, if either person mentioned in this are uncomfortable with this or needs me to remove anything, just please tell me, and I'll remove it when I see it. But I hope they are okay with me expanding it with my own ideas, but if not I do not mind removing it. If there’s anything offensive or any mistakes, please tell me. I also may come back and edit this at a later point if I think I need to. I just saw the posts and got inspired as I adore König, especially God König. Also sorry if the formatting is weird this is my first ever post on Tumblr instead of being a lurker so I may change the format if I'm not happy with it and if I need to add any tags to this I will just tell me if I need to.

-This is Ozzie signing out, and I hope you have a fantastic night.

#konig #konig cod #konig call of duty #konig mw2 #könig #könig cod #könig call of duty #könig mw2 #gods!cod au

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20kleagueszine · 27 days ago

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🐟 ⋆｡˚ Ahoy ocean lovers! ⋆｡𓇼 🐳

🌊 From the mysterious depths of the seven seas, we bring you a treasure trove of knowledge! !.·˚ ༘

DID YOU KNOW? 20K LEAGUES TRIVIA ✫5

😮Diatoms are made of... GLASS?!🤓

They’re intricate, they’re tiny, and they’re absolutely amazing! Meet diatoms, the master glassworkers of the seven seas. These microscopic algae aren’t made entirely of glass, but they’re encased in it! Every year, diatoms extract around 6.7 billion tons of silicon from ocean water to craft stunning, glass-like shells known as frustules.

But this isn’t your average windowpane! These shells are symmetrical, geometric, and razor-sharp, like nature’s own stained-glass windows, built with atomic-level precision. And they’re not just pretty, they’re powerful.

Despite their size, diatoms are oxygen powerhouses, producing nearly half of the oxygen on our entire planet. That’s right: every other breath you take might just come from one of these microscopic artisans!

And they don’t stop there. When desert winds blow dust from the Sahara across the Atlantic, diatoms help transform it into fertilizer for the Amazon rainforest, playing a key role in Earth’s nutrient cycles.

So next time you go to the beach and look at this vast blue marble, think of all the beauty there is! from massive singing whales to microscopic glass artisans, all living under the same blue sky!

✫・*₊ ° .Come back soon for more amazing marine themed facts! 🐙✫・*₊ ° .

#trivia #funfact #marinetrivia #oceantrivia #marinelife #seastars #20kleagueszine #ocean #oceanzine #zine #charityzine #zineproject #marine trivia #marine life trivia #sea creatures #diatoms

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writerpolls · 1 month ago

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#writers on tumblr #settings #nature settings #sff settings #setting preferences #lush worlds #writers of tumblr #writer polls #writers #writing polls #writing queue #poll blog #pollblr #writing community #tumblr polls

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unidentifiablelifeform · 2 months ago

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100 Prompts to Inspire Speculation

Do you have a speculative evolution setting or scenario, but are unsure what to do with it? This list can help you decide what topic to explore next! Choose a number between 1 and 100. Then search on the list below to find your corresponding prompt. Think about these prompts like episode titles in a David Attenborough documentary.

If you get a biome, consider the following: Describe this biome in your project. Where are these areas located? How do these ecosystems function? How do they differ from present-day Earth? What lives there? How has the ecosystem evolved?

If you get an ecological niche, consider the following: What species fill this role? How are they adapted to this lifestyle? How do they function in the ecosystem?

If you get a group of organisms, consider the following: How widespread are these organisms? What ecological roles do they fill? How much do they vary in their size, shape, and behavior? Have they changed in diversity over time?

And if you find yourself unsure of what to describe about your speculative organisms, you could always ask some Queature Questions!

List of Topics

Temperate Grasslands - Biomes in the temperate zone where the predominant vegetation is made up of grasses, forbs, and/or shrubs.

Tropical Grasslands - Tropical biomes where the predominant vegetation is made up of grasses, forbs, and/or shrubs.

Arid Deserts - Biomes with a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation, with typically bald rocky or sandy surfaces. Includes both hot deserts and cold deserts.

Semiarid Deserts - Biomes with an excess of evaporation over transpiration, but not so extreme as in arid deserts. Vegetation is often scrubby, thorny, or short.

Tropical Rainforests - Tropical Biomes with continuous tree cover, consistently warm temperatures, and abundant rainfall.

Seasonal Tropical Forests - Tropical Forest biomes with a very distinct wet season and dry season. Includes both monsoon forests and tropical dry forests.

Temperate Deciduous Forests - Temperate zone biomes where the predominant vegetation is made up of deciduous trees. Layers of decomposing leaf litter lead to rich soil.

Boreal Forests - A high latitude biome with vegetation primarily made up of coniferous trees.

Temperate Rainforests - Temperate Forest biomes with high annual precipitation and/or continuous tree cover.

Mountains - Mountain slopes have varying climates depending on the conditions of the surrounding area, but all are united by the decrease in temperature with elevation, leading to stratified ecosystems.

Caves - Habitats formed from hollow spaces in the Earth. Isolated, dark, and low in nutrients, few species spend their entire lives here.

Tundra - Biomes where tree growth is hindered by a short growing season and cold temperatures.

Polar Regions - Locations at the planet’s highest latitudes, the geographic poles. The coldest conditions can be found here, and sunlight changes dramatically with the seasons.

Lakes and Ponds - Large, stationary bodies of water that range in volume from temporary pools to vast permanent lakes.

Rivers and Streams - Flowing bodies of water that range in volume from small creeks to vast rivers that drain enormous watersheds.

Wetlands - Habitats where the water table is high, and the soil is constantly inundated. Includes marshes and estuaries.

Swamps - Forested wetlands that often form along large lakes and rivers.

Inshore Waters - Relatively shallow waters near the continent.

Open Ocean - Open Ocean habitats far from land, beyond the continental shelf.

Deep Ocean - Deep-water, high-pressure ocean habitats beyond the reach of sunlight. Includes the ocean floor, deep sea vents, and the water column.

Coastlines - The meeting place between land and sea, it varies greatly in conditions depending on location. Includes tide pools, tidal flats, and sandy beaches.

Reefs - Underwater features of rock, shell, or other stable material that support ecosystems by providing shelter and increasing the structural complexity of the benthic environment.

Islands - Small landmasses isolated from a mainland by an expanse of water.

Detritivores and Decomposers - Organisms that break down organic matter and accelerate the processes of decomposition.

Scavengers - Carnivores that specialize in feeding on decaying carcasses.

Microfauna - Microscopic animals smaller than .1 mm in length.

Megafauna - Animals larger than 45 kilograms in body mass.

Parasitism - A close biological relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of its host. What parasites inhabit this world? What groups of organisms are most represented in this ecological niche?

Pollinators and Nectarivores- Animals that transfer pollen between plants, usually in the process of searching for nectar.

Parasitoids - Parasites that eventually kill their hosts.

Generalists - Species that are adapted to a relatively wide range of conditions.

Specialists - Species that are adapted to a relatively narrow range of conditions.

Folivores, Grazers, and Browsers - Animals that feed on living plants.

Arboreal Species - Organisms that are adapted for lifestyle climbing, clinging to, or living on plants.

Filter Feeders - Organisms that filter edible matter from the surrounding water.

Herbaceous Plants - Non-woody plants.

Woody Plants - Plants that support their tissues with wood.

Predators - Animals that hunt and prey on other animals.

Foundation Species - Organisms that define and structure their ecosystems, like reef forming corals and forest trees.

Ecosystem Engineers - Organisms that create, maintain, or significantly alter their habitats.

Granivores and Frugivores - Animals that feed on the seeds or fruits of plants.

Insectivores - Animals that prey mainly or exclusively on arthropods.

Diggers and Burrowers - Animals that dig tunnels through the soil.

Keystone Species - Species with a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Microbes - Microscopic organisms too small to see with the naked eye. These include bacteria, viruses, and archaea, along with many eukaryotes.

Extremophiles - Organisms that live in conditions that push the limits of what known life can adapt to. What extreme habitat conditions can be found in this world, and what organisms live there?

Seed Dispersal - Movement of seeds from the parent plant to a new location. How do plants travel and propagate themselves in this world?

Different Times of Day - How do organisms change their activities with the cycles of day and night? What species are active during the darkness of night? What species emerge with the light of day?

Mutualism - A close biological association where both species in the relationship benefit. What examples of mutualism can be found in this world?

Ecological Succession - How do ecosystems change through time? What changes do they go through if disturbed and allowed to recover?

Different Times of Year - How do organisms change their activities according to the time of year? How seasonal are ecosystems in this world?

Weather Events - How do climate and weather patterns shape the ecosystems of this world? How do weather events like storms and floods impact ecology?

Notable Geographic Features - What unusual geographic features exist in this world? How did they originate, and how do they function? What organisms can be found in these natural wonders?

Rocks and Minerals - What is the geology of this world like? How does the composition of rocks and minerals affect organisms? How is the geological history of this area visible in the landscape?

Water - How does water travel across this landscape? How does its distribution affect the ecosystem?

Layers of Vegetation - What different heights and types of vegetation can be found across the landscape? How does this affect ecosystem function and species abundance?

Microhabitats - How complex is this environment? How do conditions vary with location and scale? How does habitat selection allow species to survive in this ecosystem?

Foraging - What interesting foraging strategies do organisms in this world have?

Drinking - What interesting methods do organisms in this world have for acquiring water?

Feeding - What strategies do organisms have for handling and processing food? How are they adapted to do so?

Communicating - What interesting methods of communication do organisms exhibit?

Sleeping - What organisms have unusual sleeping habits or behaviors? What organisms undergo hibernation?

Grooming and Bathing - How do organisms in this world groom themselves and keep clean? Which ones have an interesting relationship with cleanliness?

Play - What organisms exhibit play behavior? When do they do this and how?

Growth and Development - How do organisms change as they grow and develop? How does this affect the ecosystem?

Migration - Do any organisms regularly travel long distances? What causes this, and how do they know where to go?

Competing with a Rival - What organisms compete with others of their species, and what resource do they compete for? How does the competition go?

Evading a Predator - What strategies do organisms have for avoiding predation?

Finding or Building Shelter - What strategies do organisms have for finding shelter? How do organisms build their shelters?

Social Behavior - What organisms have interesting social organization? How do members of this species interact with each other?

Courting a Mate - How do organisms find and choose mates?

Caring for Offspring - What behavioral and physical adaptations do organisms have to ensure their offspring get the best start in life?

Hatching and Birth - What unusual ways do organisms start life?

Exploration and Dispersal - How do organisms disperse and reach new habitats?

Evolution - What organisms have an unusual evolutionary history? How does this history interact with the ecological present?

Genetics - Do any organisms exhibit interesting genetics? How freely do genes travel between populations?

Biogeography - What factors shape the distribution of organisms in this world? How stable are these factors, and how have they changed? How are organisms changing their range?

Fungi - What fungi can be found in this world? Which ones are edible, and which are poisonous?

Mammals - What mammals can be found in this world? How familiar would they be to someone from Earth?

Birds - What birds can be found in this world? What are the best spots for birdwatching?

Reptiles - What reptiles can be found in this world?

Amphibians - What amphibians can be found in this world?

Fish - What fish can be found in this world? What are the best locations for fishing?

Aquatic Life - What organisms inhabit the water bodies of this planet?

Mollusks - What mollusks can be found in this world?

Insects - What insects can be found in this world? What clades are the most diverse?

Arachnids - What arachnids can be found in this world?

Crustaceans - What crustaceans can be found in this world?

Charismatic Flora - What are the charismatic flora of this habitat? Which ones would people most appreciate in a botanical garden?

Charismatic Fauna - What are the charismatic fauna of this habitat? Which animals would people be most excited to see on a safari or in a zoo?

Establishment and Starting Ecosystems - How did your ecosystem function during the first few million years of establishment? How did the ecosystems shift and change in the early years?

Explorer Observations - What things would a person travelling through this ecosystem experience?

Research Spotlight - What about this ecosystem would inspire the most scientific research? How would this research be carried out?

Follow an Organism - Describe the ecosystem by following a focal animal throughout an episode of its life.

Species Fact File - Pick a species that inhabits this ecosystem and describe its biology, life history, and evolution. Be sure to include a few Fun Facts!

Mysteries - What mysteries remain in your project world? What phenomena remain unexplained?

Paint A Picture - Describe a few short scenes in this ecosystem.

Framing Device - Explore the framing device around your natural history. What events led to the initiation of your project? How is information about this world being collected? Does your project have a narrator? What are they up to?

Try Out Another Format - Try out a format different from the usual for your project. For example, illustrations in a primarily text-based project.

Playing Favorites - Do you have a favorite species or family of organisms in your project world? Focus on them for a bit and add more detail to their ecology and evolution.

#speculative ecology #speculative biology #speculative evolution #spec evo #spec bio

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reverseenchancia · 5 months ago

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Once upon a time, in a world of enchantment and wonder, there was a little princess named Sofia. Her magical amulet took her on adventures to far-off lands, each more fascinating than the last. Let's explore the colorful kingdoms of Sofia's world and discover how they mirror our own!

Kingdoms with confirmed real-life inspirations:

Enchancia: British Isles

Galdiz: Spain

Arendelle: Norway

Wei-Ling: China

Tangu: Middle Eastern cultures

Freezenburg: Arctic regions

Hakalo: Hawaii or Polynesian cultures

Now, let's uncover the reasoning behind the chosen locations for kingdoms without confirmed inspirations:

Borrea: Iceland

The name Borrea evokes a sense of the north, with its chilly winds and icy landscapes. Iceland, with its unique blend of fire and ice, volcanic activity and glaciers, provides the perfect real-world parallel. The country's otherworldly landscapes, from the Northern Lights to geothermal springs, align well with a magical kingdom in Sofia's world.

Brazendell: Brazil

The name Brazendell bears a striking resemblance to Brazil, suggesting a vibrant, tropical setting. Brazil's diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to the coastal regions, offer a rich tapestry of environments that could inspire a fantasy kingdom. The country's colorful culture and carnival spirit also fit well with the show's lively atmosphere.

Cariza: Caribbean islands

Cariza's name has a melodic, tropical ring to it, evoking images of sun-drenched beaches and crystal-clear waters. The Caribbean islands, with their mix of cultures, colonial history, and natural beauty, provide an ideal real-world inspiration. The region's pirate lore and hidden coves also add an element of adventure perfect for Sofia's world.

Corinthia: Greece

Corinthia clearly draws inspiration from the ancient Greek city-state of Corinth. Greece's rich mythology, philosophical traditions, and architectural marvels make it a natural fit for a fantasy kingdom. The country's Mediterranean climate and island geography also provide diverse settings for magical adventures.

Isleworth: Ireland

The name Isleworth implies an island nation, making Ireland an apt choice. Ireland's lush green landscapes, ancient castles, and rich folklore tradition align perfectly with the fairytale aesthetic of Sofia's world. The country's Celtic heritage adds a layer of mysticism that enhances the magical elements of the show.

Khaldoun: Jordan

Khaldoun's name has distinct Middle Eastern phonetics. Jordan, with its ancient city of Petra, vast deserts, and rich history, offers a wealth of inspiration for a magical kingdom. The country's position at the crossroads of ancient civilizations also fits well with the diverse, multicultural world of Sofia the First.

Maru: Egypt

Maru's short, impactful name echoes the brevity of many ancient Egyptian names. Egypt's long history, iconic monuments like the pyramids, and the mystique of the Nile provide a perfect backdrop for a fantasy kingdom. The country's ancient mythology and hieroglyphic writing system also add elements of mystery and magic.

Merroway Cove: Italy

The name Merroway Cove suggests a coastal setting, making Italy's Mediterranean shores an excellent match. Italy's picturesque coastal towns, maritime history, and rich cultural heritage offer diverse inspirations for a seaside kingdom. The country's reputation for art and cuisine also aligns with the show's colorful and varied world.

Norberg: Sweden

Norberg has a distinctly Scandinavian sound, making Sweden a natural choice. Sweden's forests, lakes, and northern lights provide a magical setting for a fantasy kingdom. The country's folklore, featuring trolls and other mythical creatures, also fits well with the magical elements of Sofia's world.

Paraíso: Portugal

"Paraíso" means "paradise" in Portuguese, creating an obvious link to Portugal. The country's beautiful beaches, historic cities, and seafaring tradition offer rich material for a fantasy kingdom. Portugal's Age of Exploration history also adds an element of adventure that fits well with Sofia's quests.

Princess Ivy's kingdom: Romania

The Gothic architecture associated with Princess Ivy's kingdom aligns perfectly with Romania's castles, particularly those in Transylvania. Romania's rich folklore, featuring creatures like vampires and werewolves, adds a touch of spooky enchantment that contrasts nicely with Sofia's usually sunny world.

Rudistan: Russia

Rudistan's name, ending in "-stan," suggests an Eastern influence, while the vastness often depicted matches Russia's enormous size. Russia's diverse landscapes, from tundra to forests to mountains, provide a variety of settings for magical adventures. The country's fairy tales and folklore, featuring characters like Baba Yaga, also enrich the fantasy elements of the show.

Satu: Indonesia

Satu Southeast Asian, making Indonesia a fitting choice. As the world's largest archipelagic country, Indonesia's diverse islands and cultures provide a rich tapestry of inspirations for a fantasy kingdom. The country's tropical forests, volcanoes, and unique wildlife also offer exciting settings for Sofia's adventures.

Trufflandia: France

The name Trufflandia immediately brings to mind truffles, a delicacy closely associated with French cuisine. France's reputation for fine food, art, and fashion aligns well with a kingdom of refinement and taste. The country's fairytale castles and diverse regions, from the Alps to the Riviera, also provide varied settings for magical stories.

Unnamed kingdom (Lord of the Rink): Switzerland

The ice skating theme in this episode connects naturally to Switzerland's Alpine setting. Switzerland's snowy mountains, picturesque lakes, and reputation for precision (like in watchmaking) make it a perfect inspiration for a kingdom centered around ice skating. The country's multilingual nature also fits well with the show's celebration of diversity.

Westerberg: Germany

The name Westerberg suggests a Western European location, and Germany's central position in Europe makes it a great fit. Germany's famous Black Forest, fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein, and rich tradition of folklore (think Brothers Grimm) provide perfect inspirations for a magical kingdom. The country's reputation for engineering could also inspire unique magical contraptions in Sofia's world.

Zumaria: Croatia

Zumaria's name has a Mediterranean flair, matching Croatia's Adriatic coastline. Croatia's stunning coastal cities, like Dubrovnik (which has served as a filming location for other fantasy series), offer inspiration for a beautiful seaside kingdom. The country's mix of Mediterranean and Eastern European influences also adds depth to the cultural tapestry of Sofia's world.

These choices reflect a balance of linguistic cues, geographical features, and cultural elements that enrich Sofia's magical world with real-world diversity, providing young viewers with a fantastical introduction to global cultures

#sofia the first #sofia the fandom #kingdoms #sofia the first Kingdoms #disney #my explanations

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andean-deer · 2 months ago

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Aqu-aqu: Dune

Aqupampa: Desert

Atulun: Atoll (from Spanish atolón)

Chala: Coast

Chawpiqucha: Gulf

Chullunkusapa: Iceberg

Ch’illami: Basin

Hatun chullunku: Glacier

Hatun hacha: Forest

Hatun qucha: Ocean

Hirka: Hill

Huch’uy muqu: Butte

Huch’uy qucha: Lagoon

Inkill: Prairie

Istmu: Isthmus (from Spanish istmo)

K’ikllu: Strait

Mamaqucha: Sea

Mayu: River

Mayu pallqa: Delta

Nina urqu: Volcano

Pampa: Plain

Paqcha: Waterfall

Pata: Mesa

Phiyurtu: Fjord (from Spanish fiordo)

Pukyu: Geyser

Puna: Plateau

Qaqa: Cliff

Qasamarka: Tundra

Qichwa: Valley

Qispina: Cove

Qucha: Lake

Quchapata: Beach

Ranraa: Jungle

Rarq’a: Canal

Sinu: Sound (from Spanish seno)

Tamyay hacha: Rainforest

Turupampa: Marsh

Uqu: Swamp

Urqu: Mountain

Wahiya: Bay (from Spanish bahía)

Wasis: Oasis (from Spanish oasis)

Wat’a: Island

Wat’akuna: Archipelago

Wayq’u: Canyon

Yaqa wat’a: Peninsula

Yaqulla: Cape

#fuck it.#new tumblr content that nobody asked for.#. q’ipina #quechua #ñuqapta #langblr

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forests-creatures · 11 months ago

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#nonhuman #otherkin #otherkin community #therian #nonhuman alter #therians #therianthropy #alterhuman #otherkin stuff

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blakenation1 · 1 year ago

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Prom is stupid and I hate it: 3/28/2024

Y'all know I'm trans, and I really try not to make it my whole personality, but I do take a lot of pride, I guess, with it being a part of my identity. Here's a blurb from March about some of my thoughts, being transgender, and I figured you DPS tumblr folks might enjoy this. Especially some of my other trans mutuals!!

It’s March, and I’m very excited about spring being on the way, the weather warming up, swimming, beach, vacation, graduating! How exciting to leave.

Prom season is at its dawn. To me it’s like when someone tries to talk to me when I have my headphones in. I am the only transgender person I know in my school. I’m probably the only one. Looking around and seeing guys with their girlfriends, or girls and their girlfriends, or boys and their boyfriends, people and their partners, and seeing them happy together is cool I guess. It’s cool how they can not question if their partner even views them as a boy or girl or non-binary. Maybe later on it would be cool to meet someone and go out, but I don't even know what I really look like right now.��

I think what will really hurt is seeing these happy people at prom. Sometimes I close my eyes, and I am someone very different, but very similar to who I am now. I still have the same blond hair, except it will be blond instead of blonde. My body will look different though, and my voice will sound different. My clothes will fit me differently, and the sunshine will finally not feel like a sunburn for once in my life on my exposed skin. People can’t see it, and people can’t understand that no matter how I dress, my clothes remain overly affectionate, hugging and kissing every curve and wave of my skin. That’s what the mirror tells me anyway.

When I look in the mirror, I see a stranger, but when my friends, family, teachers, peers, look at me, they see a friend, daughter, niece, sister, student, and someone familiar. I think that it is insane how people look into my eyes, and perhaps see someone that I am not familiar with at all. Sometimes to really understand what I look like, I have to look at actors on television. Sometimes I look outside at a leaf on the ground. Sometimes, I look at the mountains and the ocean. Sometimes I look directly into the sun and I see my real reflection. I look at a desert at night, and it is like looking into a mirror. A mirror that is so kind.

I don’t wish that I could be like guys my age, but I wish that I could be more than them. I think about how I would do my hair, how I would walk, how I would dress, how I would talk, how I would sit, if I were born a man. In the end, I think that being transgender is so much more than becoming your true, authentic self. It’s identifying with things much more than gender. Identifying with the plains, deserts, rainforests, beaches, islands, pastures, sky, moon, sun, mountains, garden spiders, or the very breeze that races across the earth everyday. It's these things, but you can’t tell some people, because they think you’re crazy, and they think it isn’t real, but shame on them because nature is very much so real. It’s just existing but you can’t tell some people you exist because they look at you like (as my mother would say) “you got ten heads” and then you can’t exist. You have to suck it up, put on clothes other people want to see you in, go to church, go to school, and then hopefully dream about that boy. The one who has blond hair, but a silly-looking knot sticking out from his throat, he has a very nice face, but he is also still 5’4”.

Prom is stupid and I hate it, because while other teenagers and almost-adults get to experience their youth this way, I get to wait til my late thirties! Or even my forties! Nothing wrong with peaking in your thirties or forties at all, I’m just saying that it’ll be nice. Perhaps twenty years from now, I’ll be friends with the mirror.

#blake blabbers #dead poets society #writing #transgender #trans male #trans pride

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dire-wolf-days · 1 year ago

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Therians! Alterhumans! Friends!!

#therian culture #therian #wolf #therianthropy #wolf therian #otherkin #<3 #alterhuman #kintype #wolf theriotype #therian community #therian things #therian poll #fox therian #bunny therian #alterhumanity #random poll

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truthofdragons · 4 months ago

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✨️Dragon Types And Classification 🐉

This post will be about the classification of dragon types according to T.O.D. aka the Truth Of Dragons blog. This is by no means the universal way of classification and will always be in development. If you have any questions or recognize something i may have missed, please let me know! When looking at Nonhumanity through a scientific lense, we have to take into account everyones experience with it. The more data fellow dragons can provide, the better this blog gets.

So, the various dragon types can be broadly categorized into five groups.

-Element

-Magic

-Biome

-Otherworld

-Alien

Many dragons are part of more than one group or type.

Let's begin with the element group. This group has the subcategories Weather, Biome specific (such as swamp water but not necessarily swamps as a whole), and Tempature specific.

They can also be classified by the individual element they represent and the subclasses of said element. The main four are Water, Earth, Fire and Air. All elements on the periodic table can be sorted under each element as a subclass element. A dragon can also have multiple of these subcategory element types, such as a water and earth element dragon.

When classifying an element dragon according to T.O.D's classification system, one would put Draconiselementa first, then the specific element, then the specific association. For example:

Draconiselementa Water-Ice

Next let's move onto Magic types. Dragons under this category have the subcategories Vessel, Diety, Witchcraft, and Lesser-Diety. These can be a bit confusing so let me explain, a Vessel type gains magical power from an external power source such as a diety, a Diety type has a naturally large power well internally from which they gain magical power, a Witchcraft type is a being associated with the craft as a while or specific sects of the craft, and a Lesser-Diety type is one which gains their power from an internal well within them but also from external sources (often as a faerie dragon, daemon dragon etc.).

These can overlap much like the Element types and one can sub-categorize them even further by specifying the Diety, specific sect of Witchcraft, etc. Because there are so many of those though I will only talk about the second subtypes.

When classifying a magic dragon according to T.O.D's classification system, one would put Draconismagica first, then the subclass.

For example:

Draconismagica Witchcraft

Next let's talk about the Biome types. This based on my poll (which will be at the end of this post) was the most popular type. It has 12 subclasses which just like the others can overlap. The subclasses are Desert, Swamp, Forest, Tundra, Taiga, Mountains, Rainforest, Grasslands, Beach, Open Sea, Deep Sea, and Coral Reef.

When classifying a Biome dragon according to T.O.D's classification system, one would put Draconisbioma first, then the subclass.

For Example:

Draconisbioma Rain-Forest

Next is Otherworld Types. These are Dragons who either come from or are associated with specific worlds under the Otherworld umbrella term. For more information on my beliefs and categories of the otherworld go to this post: ☆☆☆

The subclasses of this type are dependent on the homeworld of the dragon, but some examples/common worlds are Underworld, Space, Mental Plane/DreamScape, and Faerie Realm.

When classifying an Otherworld dragon according to T.O.D's classification system, one would put Otherworld first, then the subclass.

For Example:

Draconisothera Dreamscape

Next is the Alien type! Because this one is so dragon specific and there are so many planets out there there are no defined subclasses for them. When naming these you would simply put:

Draconisaliena Moon

(Using moon as an example planet.)

When combining types, you would put the Draconis part with the type you associate yourself with most, then the subclass, then the next type and its subclass.

Example: Draconisothera Dreamscape Elementa Ice

Here is my breakdown of the types according to popularity (among a small sample size of the Tumblr Draconic Community). The anonymous poll ran for 24 hours and some of the types were not as well defined as they are now so take it with grain of salt, it's more for curiosity sake.

(Photo taken off of my laptop so the wuality is shite)

So, there is my breakdown of the various dragon types and how to classify a dragon. By the way, this is not including body type or scale/fur colour, that will be covered in a different post. Please let me know what you think and if you have any additional ideas.

#dragonkin #science #otherkin #classification #nonhuman #alterhuman #dragons #dragon

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bottledbutterflies · 8 days ago

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A Little About The Island & Park Itself

Capullo Island is located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and it's home to the largest amusement park in the world, Oasis of Discovery, Theme Park & Zoo.

When it first opened its gates, the park took up a small fragment of the Alaska-sized island, but now, fifty years later, the majority of the island has been divided into nine sections and is practically covered attractions, animal enclosures, and amenities.

Section 0 - The Oasis

Located on the top left-hand side of the island is Section 0, The Oasis. It's the first, and last, section the majority of the park's guests will visit during their time on the island. From the docks and train stations to the landing strips and helipads, all of the public arrival and departure points are in this section.

The section also contains the largest hotel strips on the island, as well hundreds of attractions, recreational centers, and restaurants.

It’s bordered by Sections 1, 2, and 3.

Section 1 - The South American Section

Enviroments: Deserts, freshwater rivers, rainforests, and rocky mountain ranges.

Notable Attractions: The canopy obstacle courses, fruit bat gardens, and river rides.

Notable Animals: Crystalized Boas, Orchid Tapirs, and Scarlet Ocelots.

The section is bordered by Sections 0, 2, and 4.

Section 2 - The European Section

Environments: Forests, freshwater lakes, meadows, and snow-topped mountain ranges

Notable Attractions: The campsites, fairytale forest, and underground cave systems.

Notable Animals: Campfire Deer, Lavender Lynxes, and Underground Bears.

The section is bordered by Sections 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5.

Section 3 - The North American Section

Environments: Canyons, forests, open plains, and mountains.

Notable Attractions: The canyon and hiking trails, fairgrounds, and ranches.

Notable Animals: Lumber Wolves, Tarantula Monkeys, and Winged Buffalos

The section is bordered by Sections 0, 2, and 5

Section 4 -The Asian Section

Environments: Bamboo forests, deserts, grasslands, and mountains.

Notable Attractions: The hot springs, interactive animal zones, and mountain ziplines.

Notable Animals: Golden Tigers, Koi-Patterned Elephants, and Lotus Leopards

The section is bordered by Sections 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Section 5 - The African Section

Environments: Deserts, forests, grasslands, and savannahs.

Notable Attractions: The safari tours, rock climbing challenges, and antelope races.

Notable Animals: Baobab Elephants, Barbed Lions, and Crackling Hyenas.

The section is bordered by Sections 2, 3, 4, and 7.

Section 6 - The Oceanian Section

Environments: Beaches, grasslands, tropical forests, and wetlands.

Notable Attractions: The crocodile cafes, ocean strips, and outback biking zones.

Notable Animals: Bottlebrush Kiwis, Starlight Kangaroos, and Tiny Penguins

Bordered by sections 4, 7, and 8

Section 7 - The Antarctic Section

Environments: Open water, polar deserts, and tundras.

Notable Attractions: The glacial tidepools, glacier scaling, and winter wonderland.

Notable Animals: Monarch Penguins, Tidepool Orcas, and Trunked Elephant Seals.

Bordered by sections 5, 6, and 8.

Section 8 - The De-Extinction Section

Environments: Carboniferous forests, fungi forests, ice-age plains, prehistoric jungles, and rocky deserts.

Notable Attractions: The evolution simulation, fossil digs, and lab tours.

Notable Animals: Irish Elk, Smilodons, and Wooly Mammoths

Bordered by sections 6 and 7.

#the butterfly's effect #the butterfly's effect: discovery #world building #oasis of discovery theme park & zoo #theme park #zoo #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writblr #writers #writing #creative writing #biomes #continents

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notwiselybuttoowell · 7 days ago

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On Sazan, a small island off the coast of Albania, the landscape is Jurassic. Ferns, giant lavender, plumbago, rosemary, broom and laurels grow on the mountain at its centre. The view from the top, with its dramatic sunsets, is dizzyingly beautiful.

Albanians call Sazan Ishulli i Trumpëve – Trump Island. Until now mostly untrammelled by development, it is on the verge of becoming a mecca for ultra-luxury tourism, another addition to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s real-estate portfolio. Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast in July 2024, Trump could barely conceal her excitement: “I’m working with my husband, we have this 1,400-acre island in the Mediterranean and we’re bringing in the best architects and the best brands,” she said. “It’s going to be extraordinary.”

When I reached Kushner by phone the same month, I detected brimming enthusiasm for Sazan, which he seemed to regard as something of a treasure. He said he plans “to create the ideal resort that I’d want to be at with my family and with my friends”.

Before I visited the island, I marvelled at the thought of traversing its roughly 40 miles of trails, climbing its mountains covered in rainforest and exploring its deep waterways with names such as the Bay of Paradise, Hell’s Gorge, Devil’s Gulf and Admiral’s Beach. I wanted to see it before the phrase “I’m going to Sazan” becomes the prerogative of the rich.

Sazan lies between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, strategically positioned at the entrance to the bay of Vlorë, in the strait of Otranto that separates Italy from Albania. But as [island guide] Celaj explained, “Sazan’s climate is not Mediterranean – it’s subtropical. You can see from the vegetation. The biodiversity is crazy.” Indeed, the brush seemed to have emerged from Spielberg’s computer, giving rise to a jungle of colossal ash trees, hornbeams, maritime pines and holm oaks.

Unable to stray off the beaten path, I made do with glimpses of carpets of rare ferns and valleys of tall grass sloping down to turquoise waters. It was like standing at the dawn of time, watching the landscape be created. Kushner was also speechless when he first saw it in 2021, he told me: “I was just very surprised that something like that existed in the middle of the Mediterranean and hadn’t been developed.” Preliminary approval from the Albanian government for Kushner’s project came on 30 December 2024.

Albania has risen to the top of some of the most prestigious travel rankings in recent years, largely thanks to the prime minister, Edi Rama, who has turned the country into an economic tiger of the Balkans.

I asked Rama if he worried about any political complications relating to the new real-estate project. He told me his country “can’t afford not to exploit a gift like Sazan”, adding: “We need luxury tourism like a desert needs water.” He isn’t afraid of courting controversy, either, especially “if it helps draw attention and bring investment”.

Rama has been “a great partner” and is very forward thinking, according to Kushner. “The government’s clearly seen that it can be something,” he told me during our conversation in July 2024. “They’re building an airport right there [in the Vlöre area].”

Albania isn’t Kushner’s only target: he is also interested in Serbia, where Affinity Partners plans to turn the former defence ministry building in Belgrade into a luxury hotel. Affinity’s business broker in the region is the former US ambassador Richard Grenell, who served as Trump’s special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations between 2019 and 2021. According to the New York Times, while Grenell was special envoy, he pushed a related plan that Serbia and the US jointly redevelop the former defence ministry. He has since joined forces with Kushner on the new development deal, and is now a partner in Affinity. (Kushner told me it was Grenell who first suggested he invest in Albania.)

Kushner, who served as a senior adviser to Trump from 2017 to 2021, denied using his position to advance any plans to develop Sazan when we spoke in July 2024. “I never met Prime Minister Rama when I was in government,” Kushner told me. “But even if I had, it’s not a conflict of interest. People who serve in government, they build different relationships.” He claimed that interest in Serbia and Albania “is going up tremendously” as a result of his company’s real-estate deals.

Negotiations with Affinity about the sale of Sazan were kept secret. Residents and parliamentarians were not aware of the $1.4bn deal until it was published in the papers.

Nearly 12 million foreign visitors travelled to Albania in 2024, a 15% increase on the previous year, according to local media. That’s “too many for us, and too much pollution”, [Tourism Minister] Kumbaro said. “Sazan is the way to go. The ideal recipe: nature and luxury tourism.” She was enthusiastic about the project, explaining that Affinity is working closely with the government agency in charge of strategic investments, meaning those that exceed €15m.

The trade-off is substantial: zero taxes during the construction phase and the state takes care of all infrastructure, including water, electricity and sewage, according to Kumbaro. Everything else – the sun, the sea, the monk seals and the subtropical jungle – is already there.

That is precisely what worries environmentalists such as Olsi Nika, a marine biologist and the director of the NGO EcoAlbania. “This area is in the Karaburun-Sazan maritime national park. It means the beaches and waters within 2km (1.25 miles) of the shore are protected. What will large public works, the building of docks, yacht traffic and sewage run-off do to the place?”

When I met [Ceo and co-Founder of Affinity Partners] Abehsera for lunch in Vlöre in August 2024, he gave me a preview of the plans for the island’s development [...] I asked him whether the island would remain accessible to normal people, to locals who want to make use of its beaches. “I think everyone should have the opportunity to visit the island,” he told me.

Kushner was more sceptical. “We’re creating a very high-end luxury product,” he told me. “One of the most compelling points about the island is just the ability to have privacy … But I also think there are certain aspects of the island we can build out that will give people the opportunity to come visit and enjoy some of the food and the trails.”

#excerpts #Mediterranean #sazan island #Albania #real estate development #biodiversity #corruption #international politics

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