#they beauty of folklore and all other mythological concepts

[ghost-bxrd]

Eldritch Jason and Fae Dick might get along

They totally would!

Dick would show off his collection of teeth and Jason would blink his countless eyes in bewilderment because— that’s a lot of teeth.

Admittedly, my version of the fae are very close to eldritch entities. Sort of like… cousins. Like, dogs and wolves. Both canines, but wolves have existed for far longer than dogs have 👁️

Other beings or entities is a good word to describe them I think ksksks ✨

[lunatic-pudge]

TF2 Mercs Green Flags (except it's very biased)

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I love my boys. Yes, this is biased and questionable. But this is meant to be cute and fun.

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Scout:

-Silly little goober, great person to be around when you need cheering up

-Golden retreiver boyfriend

-Can easily make you laugh without even trying

-Artsy fartsy

Pyro

-Cutie patootie who makes the cutest drawings of you two together

-Owns an Easy Bake Oven

-Master at baking, never-ending supply of sweets for you to indulge in

-Your biggest supporter. Would literally cheer for you if you rob a bank

Soldier

-Also your biggest supporter, will demand that other adore you as well

-Will let you own any pet you want no matter what the animal is

-Speeches of why you're the best thing to ever exist and how America is blessed to have such a beauty like you live there

-Will give you anything and everything you could ever want, like human ears. Definitely a good person to be if you like collecting weird stuff

Demo

-Precious baby boy is a major cuddle bug

-Def knows how to knit/crochet, will make you whatever you want

-Baby man likes learning about folklore/mythology

-He's essentially a big walking teddy bear. Perfect for cuddles, especially on a cold or rainy day

Heavy

-GIANT WALKING TEDDY BEAR

-Protective baby boy, big scary dog privleges

-Bookworm, can recommend a good book if you don't know what to read

-Perfect person to lay around and cuddle with, he can smother me any day. Dates at home are TOP TIER

Engie

-THE BEST PERSON TO GO TO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING AN OFF DAY HANDS DOWN

-Smart boy, can make you stuff that helps with day to day activities which is helpful if you can't do certain things to having a disability or something

-Dad bod, dad bod, dad bod, dad bod, dad bod, can't get enough of it

-Voice of an angel, will sing for you if you'd like. Can def sing you to sleep

Medic

-NERD, he's an adorable nerd! Let him ramble about his hyperfixations!

-Def a good pet owner, would kill someone if they don't take proper care of their pets

-Would make sure you take care of yourself, he's kinda like a dad that cares

-He's such a maniac. I can see him just secretly being up to no good all the time. And he's also very girlypop

-Putting an extra for him cause I can: Medic boobs. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

Sniper

-Sweet, precious baby boy who can do no wrong. He strikes me as someone who listens to EVERYTHING when it comes to music. He ain't genrephobic

-Also a collector of weird things. Likes making bone jewlery. Bone boy

-I just love the concept of him being feral? This is probably the weirdest thing on the list. Like there's the golden retreiver boyfriend (Scout), and then there's the feral boyfriend (Sniper). Literally acts like a cat, hiding away from people, hissing when people that aren't you tries to touch him, will demand attention/affection from you, ect. I need to make a more detailed idea of a feral boyfriend so work with me plz

-He would absolutely let you wear his clothes, thinking about how adorable you look. He'd do the same with your clothes if they're big enough for his lanky body. You two swap jackets in the winter time so you guys always have a piece of each other when you two are busy and aren't able to see each other

Spy

-I know a running joke is that Spy is a smelly French asshole, but I really do think that he wears some of the nicest smelling cologne out there. Expensive af colonge, but damn, it's addicting

-Smarty pants. Not just anyone can be a spy, it takes quite a bit of intellect for it. And not to mentions he knows multiple languages? Love it, even if I hate the French language with a burning passion

-Him having a good taste in fashion? He's gotta know what he's doing by wearing suits all the time. Not only does he look fresh af, but people always look so good in a suit, especially when it fits them. But please also picture him dressed in a more romantic goth aesthetic plz, okay I'll stop now

-Is good at paying attention to even the littlest of details about his partners. Even if you're trying to be cryptic or subtle about things, he'll always find out. He's def a protective type too

[witchofthesouls]

So, I'm just thinking now, considering how Unicron is Earth (or well, the inner-most parts of the planet, and Gaea being the outer parts and making up his prison), would that technically mean that in some cases he (or perhaps Gaea) may or may not have created some of the Pantheons of ancient Earth?

I mean it would explain why so many of the Greek Gods were such jerks.

And would that furthermore make many of the creatures and beasts in those mythologies creations of the two? Like, going back to Greek Myth, Typhon is actually a direct creation of Unicron, meant to destroy the gods, and potentially Gaea herself.

Idk, just a bit of a thoughty-think I had

Primeval Anon

I did have some thoughts related to this, but more in the 'magic was once real' area.

Personally, I think Unicron was meant to represent the 'end' of everything; he was of the Void where everything was sprang forth, he is the Call to return to it. Death, I suppose.

Gaea is an... intermediary. In a way, she's the bridge of Unicron to Primus as she represents the 'driving force of chaos in creation and death' since neither of them would completely stand on their own. Hence, why Gaea and Megatronus Prime were respectively 'born' because both step into a critical role as support/adversaries/contemporaries for the respective forces that once came of nothing. Primus needs Unicron, just as equally as Unicron needs Primus, so they made their own versions of their brothers to fill that particular void of in their lives, even if Unicron did his by mistake because he was in a coma.

The accidental union between Gaea and Megatronus would have made a nearly indestructible prison that would have kept Unicron caged definitely as he's contained on a very secluded galaxy and feed through Gaea's brand of chaos via life/death cycle of the native lifeforms... if it wasn't for the incoming visits of other Primal lineages or creations (the Quintessons and the modern Cybertronians).

Because of the absolute chaos that's combined, is it really a surprise that Earth/Gaea plays a pivotal setting across the multiverse?

In a more commentary route, when it comes to the Ancient Greeks or any of the pantheons of the ancient world, violence is an integral theme within them because they're are divine personifications of their respective domains. Life is beautiful, but it can be full of grief, suffering, and cruelty as well as joy, wonderment, and compassion. The pantheons reflect that conflicting, confounding nature.

So going back in the direction of the ask, 'magic is real' is basically the joint that holds Elsewhere and all the Other AUs because it's deeply fascinating thinking about the roles that humanity played among that. Magic is a really wild concept in and of itself, so everything can be true, even if contradictory. It's like the old philosophical and theological debate of whether or not did gods predate humanity or did humanity make gods in their image to explain the universe?

So if the power of collective faith had shaped the world holds true, then it really puts a different spin on the various tales told across the world of all kinds of folklore stealing away many humans, staying near human settlements, or the creation of certain kinds of entities, doesn't it?

[oshamirweek]

Further details on Oshamir Week Prompts

Here are some further explanations on what each of the daily prompts entails (full text below the cut). If you have any other questions feel free to ask and we'll do our best to answer.

Day 1 - Canonverse AU: Works for this prompt should take place in the Star Wars universe but change something (or many things) from The Acolyte canon. Some exmaples include: Sith!Osha and Jedi!Qimir; neither were Jedi; Qimir meets Osha first; Osha never leaves the coven; etc. This includes all things considered canon divergence.

Day 2 - Legends & Lore: Works for this prompt can draw inspiration from myths, folklore, and fairytales from any culture or media! This includes re-imaginings of Greek mythology, Filipino folklore, and classic fairytales like Beauty and the Beast. This is probably a theme where artists and editors can really go wild. We can't wait to see what you'll create!

Day 3 - Bonds: Works for this prompt should include concepts such as arranged marriage, soulmates, reincarnation, prophecies, the red string of fate, etc. Force dyads can also fall into this category. Another name for this theme could be 'Fate/Destiny'.

Day 4 - Free Day: Free Day is for all fanworks that do not fall into any of the other six themes of Oshamir Week. Please do not post any works for 'The Dark Side', 'Fantasy', or 'Earth AU', on this day.

Day 5 - The Dark Side: Works for this day include the darker (and sadder) side of our emotions and favourite tropes. Jealousy, betrayal, possessiveness, as well as forbidden love, mind control, tragic endings: all fall under this category. Dubious consent, brainwashing, somnophilia, captor/captured, etc. should be posted on this day. Dead doves and dark subject matter are all permitted, just be sure to tag accordingly!

Day 6 - Fantasy: This theme includes any fantasy or supernatural elements such as magic, vampires, angels and demons, zombies, dragons, monsters, etc. Some elements may overlap with Legends & Lore, in which case you can post on either day. A Royalty AU with magical elements would post on this day. Works based on other fantasy media would also post on this day.

Day 7 - Earth AU: Any modern or historical AU will fall under this day's theme. This includes any works that place during the Victorian era, Regency era, Tang dynasty, Joseon era, etc., as well as university AU, coffee shop AU, athletes AU, and others. Works invoking dark academia or Gothic atmosphere would also fall under this day.

[whencyclopedia]

Noah

Noah is considered one of the patriarchs in the Jewish Scriptures or one of the founding fathers of what became the religion of Judaism. His story begins in Genesis 6 and consists of three elements: the evil of the earth; the flood narrative; Noah’s descendants in the list of the nations of the world. Noah was the son of Lamech and lived to be 500 years old.

The Evil of the World

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:1-4)

"Nephilim" in Hebrew is difficult to translate. From the root of this word, it has often been translated as "those who do violence", and it came into the King James version as "giants". Many ancient cultures had folklore tales of giants in the distant past. Later Jewish traditions claimed that the sons of God were angels and when these fallen angels mated with women, they also taught humans the art of metallurgy. This led to two evils, the coining of money and weapons of war. In the apocalyptic literature of the visions of Enoch, they are called the Watchers. This text claimed that they were punished by God by being chained in the lowest pits of She’ol, an early Jewish concept of Hell.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So, the Lord said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)

We read that Noah was "a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth" (Genesis 6:9-10). God told Noah that he was going to "put an end to all people" (Genesis 6:13). For centuries, this passage has been analyzed in relation to understanding the nature of God. If God is omniscient (all-knowing), did he not know that humans would commit evil? How could God change his mind about his creation? However, this story was not unique. Other cultures had stories of a god or the gods punishing humans for their evil. In Egyptian mythology, the sun god Ra, sent his daughter Sekhmet (the lion goddess) to slaughter humans. He then had to undo her destruction when it appeared that all humans would be destroyed and so he made her drunk by beer that resembled blood to stop the slaughter. In Greek mythology, the god Zeus also wanted to punish humans (see below).

Continue reading...

[atamascolily]

Doppelgangers, Homunculi and Other Narrative Possibilities in Walpurgis no Kaiten

The key visual for Walpurgis no Kaiten shows Homura confronting what appears to be a duplicate of herself (or someone wearing her face). Combined with PMMM's predilection for Germanic literature references, this instantly makes me think of the concept of the doppelganger (literally "double-walker"), a term which was coined by the German Romanic author Jean Paul in his 1796 novel Siebenkäs ("Seven Cheeses").

Siebenkas (full title, Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces; or, the Married Life, Death, and Wedding of the Public Defender F. St. Siebenkäs in Reichsmarktflecken, Kuhschnappel). The Wikipedia entry summarizes its plot thusly:

As the title suggests, the story concerns the life of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkäs and is told in a comedic style. Unhappily married, Siebenkäs goes to consult his friend, Leibgeber (Bodygiver), who, in reality, is his alter ego, or Doppelgänger. Leibgeber convinces Siebenkäs to fake his own death, in order to begin a new life. Siebenkäs takes the advice of his alter ego, and soon meets the beautiful Natalie. The two fall in love; hence, the "wedding after death" noted in the title.

Since then, the doppelganger has migrated further afield, appearing in stories like Edgar Allan Poe's "William Wilson" (1839) and Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Double (1846). In addition to being a figure of inexplicable mystery and horror, the doppelganger frequently infiltrates its target's life, taking on their name and place in society by displacing the original. The doppelganger is also similar to many doubles from folklore and legend, including the Celtic fetch, which is usually seen as a omen of death. None of this bodes well for Homura, obviously.

The doppelganger is also closely related to the Gothic Double, where one character's personality is divided across two bodies (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde being the ur-example). In these accounts, the character's shadow--all of the traits that they repress or deny about themselves--manifest physically in the form of a double (often distorted or otherwise visually distinctive) that serves as antagonist and narrative foil in one.

Finally, the doppelganger also serves as the inspiration for the Doppels in Magia Record, which are temporary manifestations of a magical girl's witch form inside the controlled environment of Kamihama City. However, the game takes place in an alternate continuity, so it's not clear what, if anything, will carry over to the movie.

A design similar to Homura's in-game doppel from the 2015 concept movie trailer, featuring the Clara Dolls armed with pins.

While it's not quite the same as a double, there's one other example from German literature that this image reminds me of: the Homunculus from Goethe's Faust, Part II (1832). Homunculi (Latin for "little human") are perhaps best known from shows like Fullmetal Alchemist, but they have been popular in literature for centuries as alchemical creations and artificial life.

In Faust Part II, Faust's assistant Wagner creates the Homunculus--despite greeting Mephistopheles as "cousin", the Homunculus has a unique relationship with Faust, capable of seeing into his dreams. The Homunculus guides Faust and Mephistopheles to the "Classical Walpurgisnacht" featuring the Thessalian witches and other characters from Greek mythology (unlike the more Germanic Walpurgisnacht celebration from the original Part I). In contrast to Faust, who is both matter and spirit and spent most of Part I yearning to be spirit alone, the Homunculus is pure spirit, but yearns to be human. However, he dies in the process as the fire of his being mingles with water and the glass flask containing him shatters on the throne representing Love.

Given all of the Faust references in previous installments--not to mention the association of the Homunculus with fire (remember, "Homura" is a homonym for "flame" and her emblem is a salamander, which was associated with fire in European heraldry) and the shattering of the glass flask mirroring the shattering of a soul gem--it's entirely possible there might be more in Walpurgis no Kaiten. We shall see!

Not every odd or unusual design choice in this show heralds back to Faust, but it's generally a good starting point.

(As an aside, a common term used to describe Wagner is famulus, which has the same Latin origins as the word "familiar". In one of those twists that makes translation so fun, it's also a 100% accurate rendering of the word Sayaka uses in Rebellion to describe her relationship to the Law of Cycles--かばん持ち, kabanmochi, or "private secretary".)

While it's still too early to tell which if any of these archetypes/references will be present in Walpugis no Kaiten, the key visual suggests that the primary conflict of the movie will be Homura confronting herself--though how and why this doubling/splitting/mirroring comes about has yet to be explained. It also suggests that the movie will be as complex, deep, and chock-full of allusions to German literature as its predecessors and I am so here for it.

[bluedalahorse]

Young Royals and the divine disruption of eros

Young Royals enthusiasts have a lot to say about the nature of love (specifically eros, or romantic and/or sexual love) in the show’s universe. Usually they identify an element of the divine in the love we see onscreen. The show itself nods to this with soundtrack choices like Elias’s “Holy” and through some of the imagery and filming choices. (Someone else can probably speak to that better than I can, and probably already has.)

But what does it mean, that love/eros has an element of the divine? Is divinity always benevolent, or kind? Does it always encourage someone toward more compassionate behavior? In a Christian context, we usually think of “love” as being associated with moral goodness, or at least a kind of selflessness or compassion. As a former classics major, however, I can’t help but look at YR’s divine eros through the lens of the ancient Mediterranean myth and folklore. Here, the divine is more a force of nature, and far more morally neutral.

Some background: in the ancient sources Greek gods and goddess are less like immortal, superpowered humanoid beings, and more like abstract and/or natural concepts personified. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the divine figure most associated with eros, and she is a powerful and at times vengeful goddess who should not be underestimated. Modern sources (and even a few ancient sources) tend to downplay or soften her influence—leaning into this idea of a beautiful goddess playing matchmaker for lonely individuals—but even when she’s bringing companionship into a person’s life, she’ll still shake things up in the process. The Trojan War begins because Paris chooses Aphrodite’s realm as his definition of beauty/excellence, and Aphrodite sets Paris and Helen’s relationship in motion.

What makes Aphrodite—and by extension, eros—so dangerous is that she is so disruptive to the social order. Marriages in the ancient Mediterranean tended to be arranged, and while eros certainly did exist within some of those marriages, it wasn’t a guarantee at all. You may well develop feelings for someone other than your spouse, and what if that destabilizes your marriage? You could also develop feelings for someone who makes you behave outside your assigned gender or class expectations, and then you aren’t fulfilling your class role, which causes a breakdown in the social hierarchy. Being in love may be euphoric, especially if the person you love loves you back and you’re of compatible social ranks, but it may also be unbearable if circumstances don’t work out for you. Unchecked eros can even lead to the birth of monsters, such as when Aphrodite dooms the Minoan queen Pasiphae to fall in love with a bull, which then eventually leads to Pasiphae giving birth to the Minotaur. Look at any selection of poems from the ancient Mediterranean and you’ll find as many poems cursing love as praising it.

And one of the wildest things about eros? Nothing about it is rational. People may try to rationalize their feelings of eros later, or come up with why they like a person… but feelings just are what they are. Actions can have a rational component, and an element of agency. You can technically control your actions. Still, feelings do not operate in the same way, and feelings are always trying to influence actions. Part of the reason it is important to respect Aphrodite is that she can always get you and hijack your heart when you least expect it. (Unless you’re aromantic I guess, which. Hooray exceptions?)

Let’s bring it back to the Swedish show. I think often, people want to talk about the wilmon and sargust pairings as being as far apart from one another on the spectrum as can be. I’ve even seen the idea thrown around that wilmon’s eros is the Most Real while sargust’s is Less Real, and while I get where that argument is coming from, I also don’t necessarily agree with it myself. On my end, when I look at love/eros in Young Royals as defined first and foremost not by moral goodness but by its power to disrupt, these two pairings feel very alike to me and deeply thematically connected. Moreover, they are equally exciting to watch play out onscreen. Each of the four characters involved develops feelings that conflict with something about who this character is as a person and the social role they hold. Each character at times resists their feelings and at other times gives in. Sometimes both characters give into their feelings together! (Those parts of the story are often gif’d and reblogged by tumblr, at least on the wilmon side of things.) You can also learn a lot about each character by how they deal with the disruptive power of eros, and what they allow eros to disrupt—ultimately, August tries to exert control over his romancey situation with Sara and make it fit his concept of the social order, and disrupts the well-being of the Eriksson family in the process. Wilhelm, meanwhile, is willing to challenge the structures of the monarchy and his own family because of his relationship with Simon. There’s also a lot of twists and turns along the way for each of them that are enjoyable to watch.

There’s a tendency in fandom to hold wilmon as a sort of Fixed And Unquestionable Religious Truth Of The Young Royals Universe, and I get why. There’s also a sort of tendency to see sargust as the devil to wilmon’s god, and again, I get why folks feel that way too. For me, though, I don’t really feel that way, in part because I see both pairings as equally subject to the divine nature of eros, and eros is something that is dynamic and morally neutral and constantly in flux and most of all, disruptive. I like that both pairings are a little chaotic and capable of making me feel a range of things, even if I always do come out of a YR marathon exhausted because of it. Eros is disruptive the way that war and revolution are disruptive, and sometimes they’re all happening at once, and in the end it makes a pretty good story.

Anyway, if you’re wondering, one of my favorite Greek plays is Hippolytus by Euripides, and Aphrodite is pretty terrifying there. I find her power to disrupt and destroy fascinating. And that’s probably why, against the expectations of my mlm slash-loving younger teenage self, I’m going to be writing fic about these trash-tragic horsey heteros for as long as this fandom exists and I feel compelled to do so. No apologies about that, really. You’ll all just have to put up with me.

[fairylandblog]

Faerie Drums

Enchanted faerie drums have symbolized magic, mystery, and the fae in folklore and mythology. These drums, thought to have magical powers, can connect humans and faeries, summon mystical forces, and affect nature. They enchant and threaten in numerous tales and legends. Fey drums symbolize the link between music and magic, a notion that spans cultures and resonates in human stories. Many traditions claim that supernatural materials make up faerie drums. We may frame the drum with oak and rowan, ancient trees with protective or magical characteristics. It may have skin from a mythological beast or magical animal, giving it an otherworldly appearance. Deep, resonant drumming calls the fae to assemble under starry skies in woodlands and hills. These drums are faerie instruments with a rhythm that may charm listeners, change perceptions, and bend nature.

Tradition dictates that faerie drums play at faerie revelries in secret glades or old mounds. When the drums beat, they enchant adjacent people into the faerie circle. Hearing the rhythm often makes people want to dance to the unearthly music. The faerie drums can charm mortals for hours or days, and some tales warn that they may get stuck in the fairy realm and be unable to return home. The beats seem to bend time, making a night of dance last years in earthly life. These stories warn against falling for fae magic. Magical faerie drums are also believed to affect nature. In some traditions, the fae use drums to summon rain, wind, or fog to hide. The drums' cadence matches the earth's heartbeat, allowing the fairies to merge with nature. This connection between music and nature emphasizes the faerie drums' balance and power. Depending on the player, their magic can generate beauty and harmony or chaos and disaster. Some stories allow mortals to glimpse the fairy world through a faerie drum. The drum can summon the fae or let the player into their realm if played correctly. Mishandling the drum or using it for personal gain might have catastrophic results. Fae are fiercely protective of their relics, and mortals who mess with them risk their wrath. The dual nature of the faerie drum symbolizes the concept of human-fae interaction, where curiosity and ambition sometimes result in catastrophe.

Enchanted faerie drums have meaning beyond folklore. They symbolize how music and rhythm can change consciousness and transport people to other worlds. Various cultures utilize drums in shamanic activities and spiritual journeys to induce trances or other states of consciousness. Faerie drums, as otherworldly instruments, represent music as a gateway to the unknown. Their charm comes from their power to fascinate and remind us of the wonders beyond the mundane. Faerie drums are emblems of the fragile balance between the mortal and magical realms, not just instruments. Their rhythm celebrates the interconnectedness of music, nature, and the supernatural, asking us to listen to life's hidden melodies. As with all things fae, they warn us to approach the unknown with curiosity and caution, as their magic is costly. The faerie drums, whether they provide joy, power, or danger, symbolize the fae's enchantment and mystery.

[wingedblooms]

Lovely monster

This is a Maasverse post, and as such, there are spoilers for all Maas series. Proceed with caution.

If you’ve read any of my posts, you know how much I love witches. I love that they are present in every world in the Maasverse and I cannot wait for them to play a more central role in acotar, especially if many of us are right and the Archeron sisters are indeed witches. This series builds on the Elain witch theory I posted with @rhyssescups back in 2021, which was inspired by a conversation with friends. It is something I return to often and always felt I had more to say, so I am finally getting around to that now, starting with the concept of witches as lovely monsters. Elain's story is believed to be inspired by the myth of Blodeuwedd, a spring maiden who is transformed into an owl in Welsh mythology. I couldn’t help but notice how owls are linked to goddesses, witches, wisdom, and prophecy in folklore. These are connections I draw repeatedly throughout this series, so it makes sense to start with a discussion on owls and witches.

Owls and witches

Like Elain, owls were believed to have mystical and prophetic powers, and the myths surrounding them were full of contradictions (kind of like the concept of lovely monsters). They were associated with mythical beings and ancient goddesses, who at one point in history, represented a continuum of life and death (life, death, and rebirth). They were feared as bearers of death and admired as otherworldly messengers and solemn protectors. As a symbol linked to Athena, the goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology, they were viewed as a good omen: a sign of victory in battle. Some believed they had an inner light that enabled them to see in the dark (and after years of research, we now know their sight and hearing have been adapted for hunting, giving them excellent precision; some can even hunt on sound alone in complete darkness). They were also viewed as a bad omen: a sign of catastrophe and death. This dark aspect is connected to Lilith, a woman, demon, and goddess in various legends who is linked to witchcraft. In Roman mythology, owls were believed to be transformed witches who drank the blood of infants. Sounds familiar, right? 

“What else dwells here other than kelpies?” “Some say witches,” he murmured. “Not the human kind,” he added when she raised a brow. “The kind that used to be something else and then their thirst for magic and power turned them into wretched creatures, banished here by various High Lords.” 

“They don’t sound so bad.” 

“They drink young blood to fill the coldness the magic left in them.” (acosf)

Like owls, Sarah’s witches are full of contradictions; they are lovely and bloodthirsty. Over the course of this series, we'll even see that they possess similar features and powers. Ironteeth witches in Erilea are no exception:

Legends were still told of the strange and deadly people who dwelt there—the cruel and bloodthirsty descendents of the fallen Witch Kingdom. (com)

Slowly, like lovely wraiths from a hell-realm, the witches appeared. (qos)

Even Crochan witches, who are considered peaceful, are described as beautiful and fierce warriors:

“Do you know how many young women I’ve trapped in this wagon in the past five hundred years?” Yellowlegs’s voice was everywhere and nowhere. “How many Crochan witches I destroyed? They were warriors, too—such talented, beautiful warriors. They tasted like summer grass and cool water.” (com)

Some witch clans appear safer than others; strange and beautiful, like Elain. And they are mistakenly underestimated too. 

A blooming flower 

“She is no more High Fae than we are,” Devlon countered. 

A pause that went on for too long. Even Rhys seemed at a loss for words. Devlon had complained when we’d first met that Amren and I were Other. As if he possessed some sense for such things. Devlon muttered, “Keep her away from the females and children.” I clutched Nesta’s free hand in silent warning to remain quiet.

Mor let out a snort that made the Illyrians stiffen. But she shifted, revealing Elain behind her.

Elain was just blinking, wide-eyed, at the camp. The army.

Devlon let out a grunt at the sight of her. But Elain wrapped her own blue cloak around herself, averting her eyes from all of those towering, muscled warriors, the army camp bustling toward the horizon … She was a rose bloom in a mud field. Filled with galloping horses. (acowar) 

After Nesta is accused of being a witch, Mor snorts and moves aside to reveal Elain. This made @rhyssescups and I originally wonder: what truth does the Morrigan know that we (and Devlon) don’t? 

Like the ordinary witch glass amulet with hidden depths from Azriel’s bonus, Elain is dismissed as harmless at first glance. She is busy taking in the camp like an owl, blinking and wide-eyed, possibly seeing fates that others do not and averting her gaze. This may be a coincidence, of course, but Elain is also wearing a blue cloak, like the odd Blueblood witches in Erilea who claim the gift of Sight, and perhaps like Prythian priestesses who have their own lethal power and, when in full garb, represent the Voice of the Cauldron. (Sorry, but I have to wonder—does Elain make them purr, too?) Even the phrase rose bloom in a mud field in this scene is reminiscent of the witch curse in Erilea, as @offtorivendell pointed out in this reblog.

Of claws and fangs

We are reminded by Amren, Rhys, and Azriel at different points that Elain has hidden depths. She has toppled even the most powerful creatures in a moment of unexpected precision and violence. Well after the Feysand bonus conversation, Rhys even links Elain to the fearsome creatures of the ancient Valkyries: 

“We never heard of them in the human lands,” Elain said. She’d been as riveted as Feyre to hear Cassian tell of it: first of Nesta and the others’ interest, then of the brief history of the female fighters. “They must have been fearsome creatures.”

“Some were as lovely as you, Elain,” Rhys said from beside Feyre, “from the outside. But once they set foot into the arena of battle, they became as bloodthirsty as Amren.” (acosf)

Funny, this also reminds me of when Elain set foot into battle—

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.” (acowar)

Is this conversation another reminder of Elain’s other side that we continue to see glimpses of, the side that Rhysand ponders in both acofas and the acosf Feysand bonus? Does this other side have another form, like Amren, who once possessed a deadly, winged body and drank blood? Sarah may have hinted at this possibility in acofas when Elain persistently asked Amren about changing forms. 

Witches are, according to Cassian, changed by magic. Their thirst for magic and power turns them into wretched creatures that drink the blood of the young much like Ironteeth witches who prey on the young and vulnerable in Erilea. Their cruel and bloodthirsty behavior was the stuff of legends and the reason Crochans referred to them as monsters. Monsters who were made.

“We pity you, each and every one of you. For what you do to your children. They are not born evil. But you force them to kill and hurt and hate until there is nothing left inside of them—of you. That is why you are here tonight, Manon. Because of the threat you pose to that monster you call grandmother. The threat you posed when you chose mercy and saved your rival’s life.” She gasped for breath, tears flowing unabashedly as she bared her teeth. “They have made you into monsters. Made, Manon. And we feel sorry for you.” (hof)

Cassian specifies that the kind of witches that are exiled to the bog are made rather than born. Are mortal witches, by contrast, born? Do they descend partially from demon (Valg) ancestry like the witches in Erilea? It makes me wonder about Theia’s line, whether it truly crossed with demon blood like @silverlinedeyes and @offtorivendell have theorized, and a trace of it lingered in a human line (i.e., the Archeron line, as @shallyne has also suggested). If the Archerons are descended from Theia, did their rebirth activate ancient witch heritage? Are they witches born and made? Does this explain why a magical cauldron is obsessed with them? 😆

Regardless of whether Elain might have been born or made into a witch, she has another side that is similar to witches. This side resembles (at least figuratively) Ironteeth witches. Unlike the Crochans, Ironteeth witches were more like their demon ancestors and possessed iron teeth and claws that they could call upon when needed. @cassianfanclub pointed out that Elain showed some teeth according to Feyre: 

I plopped onto the sofa beside Rhys, lifting his muscular legs to wiggle beneath him. “Elain showed some teeth,” I observed. “I wasn’t expecting that.” (Feysand bonus)

And grew claws:

But Nesta cut her off, seething at the pity about to be thrown her way. “Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.” (acosf)

And like Ironteeth, she slices through throats, making the Cauldron—or is it the Heart of Darkness within the Three-Faced Goddess?—purr. 

The Cauldron purred in Elain’s presence as the King of Hybern slumped to his knees, clawing at the knife jutting through his throat. Elain backed away a step. […] The Cauldron seemed to realize what she’d done, too, as his head thumped onto the mossy ground. That Elain … Elain had defended this thief. Elain, who it had gifted with such powers, found her so lovely it had wanted to give her something…It would not harm Elain, even in its hunt to reclaim what had been taken. (acowar)

-

He noticed the shut door then, drawing in breath to shout. But Manon smiled broader, and a row of dagger-sharp iron teeth pushed from the slits high in her gums, snapping down like armor. The man started, hitting the door behind him again, eyes so wide that white shone all around them. His dagger clattered on the floorboards.  And then, just to really make him soil his pants, she flicked her wrists in the air between them. The iron claws shot over her nails in a stinging, gleaming flash. The man began whispering a plea to his soft-hearted gods as Manon let him back toward the lone window. Let him think he stood a chance while she stalked toward him, still smiling. The man didn’t even scream before she ripped out his throat. (hof)

-

She [Manon] glanced toward the door moments before he heard approaching footsteps. They were silent until the knob turned, revealing Aedion’s frowning face. “Awake and ready to rip out throats, it seems,” the general said by way of greeting. (eos)

Lest you think I am suggesting Elain choose violence, I think it's important to note that Manon, a beautiful witch with a monstrous side, chose peace. She became a child of peace rather than war.  

Once upon a time […] there lived a witch

Knowing that the worlds are connected and themes are repeated, we might also be able to look to the Hind for clues about Elain’s future as she tells us a story about a witch who becomes a monster to escape an unwanted marriage. She was once beautiful and kind, living in a cottage: 

She began, “Once upon a time, before Luna hunted the heavens and Solas warmed Cthona’s body, before Ogenas blanketed Midgard with water and Urd twined our fates together, there lived a young witch in a cottage deep in the woods. She was beautiful, and kind, and beloved by her mother. Her mother had done her best to raise her, with her only companions being the denizens of the forest itself: birds and beasts and the babbling brooks …”

“She grew older, strong and proud. But a wandering prince passed by her clearing one day when her mother was gone, beheld her beauty, and wanted her desperately to be his bride.”

But she was more interested in a humble life in the forest, and finding real love, than riches or power. 

“She had no interest in princes, or in ruling a kingdom, or in any of the jewels he offered. What she wanted was a true heart to love her, to run wild with her through the forest. But the prince would not be denied. He chased her through the wood, his hounds following.”

The prince and his hounds chase her, so the forest helped her shift form to evade them: 

“As she ran, she pleaded with the forest she loved so dearly to help her. So it did. First, it transformed her into a deer, so she might be as swift as the wind. But his hounds outraced her, closing in swiftly. Then the forest turned her into a fish, and she fled down one of the mountain streams. But he built a weir at its base to trap her. So she became a bird, a hawk, and soared for the skies. But the prince was a skilled archer, and he fired one of his iron-tipped arrows.”

To save her from death, the forest transformed her into a beast of claws and fangs: 

“It struck her breast, and where her blood fell, olive trees sprouted. As her body hit the earth, the forest transformed her one last time …”

-

“As the witch fell to the earth, the prince’s arrow through her heart, the forest transformed her into a monster of claws and fangs. She ripped the prince and his hounds to shreds.” Her fingers began trailing up his spine. “She remained a monster for a hundred years, roaming the forest, killing all who drew near. A hundred years, so long that she forgot she had once been a witch, had once possessed a home and a forest she loved.”

All feared the creature she became except for one. A warrior who saw not a thing of nightmares, but a creature of beauty. His love turned her back into a witch and they lived a life of peace in her forest: 

“But one day, a warrior arrived in the forest. He’d heard of the monster so vicious none could kill it and live. She set out to slaughter him, but when the warrior beheld her, he was not afraid. He stared at her, and she at him, and he wept because he didn’t see a thing of nightmares, but a creature of beauty. He saw her, and he was not afraid of her, and he loved her.” She released a shuddering breath. “His love transformed her back into a witch, melting away all that she’d become. They dwelled in peace in the forest for the rest of their immortal lives.” (hosab)

This story is clearly a metaphor for the Hind (a deer shifter with witch blood who is called a monster for her work with the Asteri), but it made me wonder if it was something she made up or if it is part of witch lore. Is this a bedtime story she was once told? If it’s the latter and these worlds are separated by space and time, as Sarah’s recent interview indicated, then could this story come from another world? 

I wonder this because it reminds me of the Archerons, especially Elain: she’s beautiful and kind and spends much of her time in the garden. Contrary to what we were led to believe, she missed their humble cottage in the woods and didn’t seem concerned about finding a match (until they needed protection). Her mother believed she would wed for love and beauty. Greyson, her fiancé, has hounds, her mate’s family is known for possessing magical hounds, and she fought off Hybern’s hounds with her bare feet. It's clear Elain's got a thing with hounds. Is it possible Autumn Court could send their magical hounds after her in her own story? Could the Cauldron have given her something—a seed of power—to evade their clutches? Will it allow her to grow figurative or literal claws and fangs to defeat them on her own? And might we see her temporarily lose herself to that monstrous power or form? Tell me, who doesn’t want to see the calm and sweet gardener go a little feral? 

Next: Seed of power, or how Elain might learn to shift like a forest witch.

Series: seer. wise woman. witch.

[dreamlandreader]

Mythology, Folklore and Behind the Scenes Fact File

Welcome to the fact file for Foolish Fire, a place where you can find more information on the background of the inspirations behind my Secret Santa gift for the amazing @popjunkie42-blog 💖

All of the inspiration I have taken from myths and folktales have been adapted to the story I am trying to tell, but where I have made creative adjustments, I will try to point out the changes below.

Erebus Forest In Greek mythology, Erebus is the personification of darkness. Some Ancient Greek authors also use Erebus to describe the particular form of gloom found in the Underworld. The concept of Erebus is most famously mentioned in Homer's Iliad, in which Erebus is the physical location that Hercules must venture into to collect the three-headed dog Cerberus. This mythology inspired the name of the forest in Foolish Fire due to the importance of how dark this particular forest gets and the impact this has within this story.

Will-o'-the-wisps These little creatures are tricky beings found in numerous forms in various European folktales. Traditionally known for mimicking the flickering light of a lantern, will-o'-the-wisps use their light to deceive weary travellers into getting lost.

Within this story, I decided to make it so that the will-o'-the-wisps are utilised by other creatures in the forest to capture prey and have a particular ability to cause a dreamlike trance in their victims. The title for this fic comes from the Latin translation for Will-o’-the-Wisp (ignis fatuus), which directly translates to foolish fire in English.

Belisama Lake The lake Feyre finds herself wading into during Foolish Fire is called Belisama Lake, a name inspired by the Celtic Goddess of lakes and fire, whose name, it has been reported, translates to ‘Most Mighty One’. During the Roman period, the river currently known as Ribble River, which runs through the North of England, was referred to as the Belisama in honour of the Goddess.

The Monster in the Lake The creature Feyre encounters in the waters of the Erebus forest was inspired by a mixture of one very famous creature from Scottish folklore, and an aquatic beast from approximately 240 million years ago.

The Loch Ness Monster The concept of creatures lurking beneath the surface in large bodies of water was not new in 1933 when the Loch Ness Monster was first brought to light on a global scale, however, Nessie is perhaps the most famous of all mythological lake monsters. Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness attracts vast numbers of tourists every year, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famed creature who is said to reside there.

The Nothosaurus Whilst the inspiration to add an underwater challenge to Foolish Fire came from the legend of Loch Ness, the real-life inspiration for the creature itself comes from a long extinct semi-oceanic reptile, who at 14 metres in length, dominated waters in the Triassic Period. The Nothosaurus was a carnivorous animal with needle-like teeth and a thick tail that acted as a paddle to steer it through the water.

The Empusa This shape-shifting female, with one copper leg (and sometimes a donkey’s leg, too), is commanded by Hecate in Greek mythology and uses her abilities to seduce and feed on young men. For this reason, she was compared to a vampire in the ‘Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology’ by William Smith (1849).

In Foolish Fire, the Empusa roams the woodlands of Pythian and is one of the most wanted creatures by all seven High Lords for the numerous violent deaths she causes yearly.

The Waterfall The waterfall Rhys and Feyre stumble upon in chapter three is inspired by Plitvice Lakes National Park and the stunning waterfalls that are found there.

The glowing element of the waterfall is inspired by the natural beauty of bioluminescent waters like those found in many locations such as New Zealand, Cambodia and the Maldives.

The Red Shoes The Red Shoes is a Danish fairytale, written by Hans Christian Anderson in the mid-1800's. It has been adapted numerous times, perhaps most famously in 1948 in a film adaptation by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The tale also inspired singer-songwriter Kate Bush's seventh studio album of the same name.

The Cyclops Over the years there were many interpretations of cyclops in Greek mythology, famously however, three talented cyclopes named Arges, Steropes, and Brontes, help to craft Zeus's thunderbolt. With their distinct single eye in the centre of their heads, cyclopes are incredibly recognisable characters, even in the modern age.

Cerberus Hades three-headed dog Cerberus is the famed creature who guards the gates to the Underworld. His three heads and serpents tails makes him an incredibly terrifying creature in Greek mythology, but in Foolish Fire a baby Cerberus is the sweetest of all little pups and makes the perfect addition to Feyre and Rhysand's perfect little family.

Click here to find to the series masterlist

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Bright Sword

Author: Lev Grossman

Genre/s: mythology and folklore, historical

Content/Trigger Warning/s: mentions of rape; depictions of physical and emotional abuse of children and adults; depictions of the brutality of medieval battles and their after-effects; depictions of nearly drowning and being buried alive

Summary (from author's website): A gifted young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot to compete for a spot on the Round Table, only to find that he’s too late. King Arthur is dead, and only a handful of the knights of the Round Table survive.

They aren’t the heroes of legend, like Lancelot or Gawain. They’re the oddballs of the Round Table, from the edges of the stories, like Sir Palomides, the Saracen Knight, and Sir Dagonet, Arthur’s fool, who was knighted as a joke. They’re joined by Nimue, who was Merlin’s apprentice until she buried him under a hill.

Together this ragtag fellowship will set out to rebuild Camelot in a world that has lost its balance, even as the fairies and old gods are returning, led by Arthur’s half-sister Morgan le Fay, and rival factions are forming around the disgraced Lancelot and the fallen Queen Guinevere. It is up to Collum and his companions to reclaim Excalibur, solve the mysteries of this ruined world and make it whole again. But first they’ll have to learn the truth of why the lonely, brilliant King Arthur fell.

The first major Arthurian epic of the new millennium, The Bright Sword is steeped in tradition, full of duels and quests, battles and tournaments, magic swords and Fisher Kings. It’s a story about imperfect men and women, full of strength and pain, who are looking for a way to reforge a broken land in spite of being broken themselves.

Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-bright-sword-a-novel-of-king-arthur-lev-grossman/20856403

Spoiler-Free Review: This is a heartbreaker of a book and make no mistake, but also a GEM of a book in its own right. There is both light and dark contained herein, and it all comes together to make something absolutely beautiful, and absolutely bittersweet.

So, first things first: you do not need to be completely familiar with the Arthurian Cycle to understand this story. As long as one knows the broad strokes of the story about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round, the reader will have no problems keeping up.

What DOES matter when reading this book, though, is picking up the themes that Grossman lays down in throughout the novel. There’s quite a few one could pick up, but after some back-and-form with a close friend via messages, I’ve concluded, as she did, that the main theme is that of cycles: of old to new and back again, of faith, and of people. The groundwork for this is laid in the novel’s first chapters, when the protagonist, Collum, observes how successive waves of occupants changed and shaped the landscape of Britain, each one leaving their mark on the land and its inhabitants. He also brings up the concept of a “golden age”: notably, he observes that “golden ages” all come to an end. That bit’s important because, as the reader knows (but Collum doesn’t), King Arthur is already dead.

Tied into that theme is the conflict between Christianity and the pagan faiths of Britain. This is a theme that’s frequently been picked up in other adaptations of the Arthurian cycle, but oftentimes, in those adaptations, one is held up as better than the other. In this novel, though, it’s made pretty clear that returning to the old ways is neither better nor worse than accepting Christianity - mostly because, in the end, it all depends on the people running the show. After all, terrible things have been done in the name of God, just as there have been good things done in the name of the old gods.

Speaking of people running the show, this book also offers a lovely and incredibly human portrait of Arthur himself. I know that this is something a lot of other books, movies, and even TV shows have attempted to do, but this novel’s take on Arthur is such an excellent balance between a legendary hero and a flawed human being. He’s a genuinely good person, and wants the best for the people around him and for his country, and he works HARD to make that so, but he is still human, and therefore is prone to doubts and mistakes. This is King Arthur with impostor syndrome, and it makes him a wonderful character to read about.

While Arthur is certainly important in this novel, the other characters are definitely just as important, if not more so. After all, it is through their eyes that the reader comes to understand Camelot and Arthur himself, and it is through their actions that the fate of Britain is decided. And, just like Arthur, they are all wonderfully, poignantly human while also being pretty damn heroic, especially since most of them have faced rather tough odds before and during their tenure as Knights of the Round Table.

Which leads into the second important theme of this novel, which is another thing my good friend and I circled back to repeatedly over messages: breaking cycles is vitally important for moving forward. This is showcased most prominently in the novel’s overall plot, which follows the protagonist Collum has he helps determine Britain’s future, but it’s also present in the story arcs of the other characters - including the antagonists. Like Collum, they are all caught up in a cycle, whether that is their internal struggle with their gender or sexuality; finding their place in the world at large; or a history of abuse. And to be able to move forward, to avoid getting stuck in a rut, they have to break that cycle and move forward - or find themselves doing more harm than good. It’s difficult to illustrate this well without going into some very big spoilers, but suffice to say that this is a very important theme and plays into this novel’s climax.

Because that’s another thing that the novel focuses on and spends a lot of time trying to get across: all golden ages must one day come to an end, and everyone must move on and keep on living. Time and time again the novel talks about how the age of miracles has ended, and how Britain’s inhabitants must deal with the aftermath. What does one do when one must live in the shadow of a golden age, watching the world move on and slowly forgetting the greatness that once lived in it? What does it mean to have lived through a time when it seemed like all things good and great were possible, only to come to the end of that time with nothing ahead but something lesser? That part really got to me, because we all hope that things will get better in our lifetimes, and we all try to do SOMETHING to make things better while we’re still alive, but what if the chance to do so has long since passed? What’s the point of struggling? What’s the point of living?

And this book says: that’s it - living is the point. One lives, and keeps on going, changing as one needs to, because to give up is to choose stasis, and that just doesn’t work out well for oneself or for anyone. Change is never painless, of course, and it can be sad and terrible and dark, but it is necessary regardless. But what we can do is choose HOW we rise to change, HOW we move with it. We cannot stop change, or make it happen faster, but we CAN choose how we act when it arrives.

Overall this is a beautiful, wonderful book: an interesting take on the Arthurian cycle that is familiar with its origins, but still manages to put a new spin on the legends instead of retelling them. There is a bittersweetness to this novel that will resonate with a lot of readers, and will likely leave them thinking about the story long after they’ve put the book down.

Rating: five grails

[itsthenovelteafactor]

TV Shows Roundup: Jan - June

AKA every show I watched in the first half of 2024. I’ve been wanted to keep better track of my own viewing habits and thought it’d be fun to keep a running list with mini reviews. might do a tier list at the end of the year if I end up having enough. Curious what y’all have been watching/if you have any recommendations!

about 12 shows here which sounds like a lot but in my defense, there are a lot with one one season (currently!! we are manifesting some renewals here)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (season one):

Full transparency: I was not watching this show. 12 year old me who was obsessed with Percy Jackson, knew who her godly parent would be, and acted out sword fights with her siblings, was watching this show. She has no complaints. School Spirits (season one):

As soon as I heard the premise of this show I was on board, but it ended up delivering even more than I expected. The mystery was interesting and I felt like I received information at the exact right pace, the ghosts made a very charming undead-breakfast club and the characters in general were very compelling. Whoever put that Phoebe Bridgers song at the end of episode 1 deserves and Emmy and I’m not kidding. Loki (season 2):

I’ve fallen out with the MCU as a whole, but this show brought me back for season 2. I appreciate how it stands on its own as a series with its own characters, worldbuilding, and story that doesn’t require I watch 15 movies and 2 shows to comprehend. This season leaned into the wacky scifi time trace shenanigans in a way that reminded me of Doctor Who at times. The ending made me unexpectedly emotional. The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself (season 1):

Okay, I liked the first couple episodes of this but once the main trio of Nathan, Annalise, and Gabriel were together it was *electric*. I loved how gorey and dark it wasn’t afraid to get and the characters played off each other so well. I’m devastated we won’t get to see more of these guys because despite the fast pacing of the show, you really grow to love these characters. Lockwood and Co (season one, rewatch):

Just as good the second time! Truly a masterfully done show; the worldbuilding, mysteries, and aesthetic are top notch but what sells it are the characters and their relationships to each other. There really is something incredibly comforting about this show for me, I keep coming back to Portland Row and the people who live there. The fact that we did not get to see later books in the series adapted is a tragedy.

Fleabag (seasons one and two):

This is just smartly done comedy with characters whose dysfunction manages to feel a little too familiar. I loved the shades of the stage play peeking through - there is a theatrical feel to the show overall that I love - and despite its cynicism, this show has a beating heart that occasionally hits you across the face. Basically everything they say about this one is true.

Doom Patrol (seasons three and four):

I will admit, season three (minus the DVDA) episode, felt very slow to me, but season four was an excellent return to form. It’s strange, bordering on absurdist, and flits between comedy and horror at a dizzying speed. This show is an underrated gem and truly one of a kind.

Cracow Monsters (season one):

This show is beautiful; its color scheme, setting, and camera work are immersive and feel like wandering down rainy cobblestoned streets. The story took a while to pick up, but the horror elements were very well done. I wish we’d spent a bit more time with the other students, as they all seemed like interesting characters in their own right. I loved the mythology, and folkloric inspiration.

The Artful Dodger (season one):

It’s a period drama, it’s a medical show, it’s a heist, it’s inspired by Charles Dickens. This show is utterly delightful and thoroughly engrossing. I suspected I would enjoy it from the concept alone, but there is just something completely charming about it start to finish I could not get out of my head.

Dead Boy Detectives (season one):

So…this show took over my brain. The world here is populated by dynamic and fascinating characters and the case of the week format allows for the chance to see them shine in different situations. It somehow balances the absurd, the macabre, and the heartfelt and once it finds its footing does not let up. It’s smart, eccentric, and basically candy for the kind of person who loves over analyzing the actions of fictional characters (me).

Hannibal (season 3):

Had to wait for this to come back on Amazon to finish and it did not disappoint. First half of the season was slower, but I really enjoyed the gothic castle sections. Second half was Red Dragon, which was really cool with these versions of the characters. A wholly satisfying (and appropriately morbid) conclusion to the series.

Andor (season 1)

People have been telling me to watch this and that I’d love it since it came out and they were all correct. There was so much more thought and care put into the depiction of life under an oppressive government and I expected and even if I wasn’t a Star Wars fan, the story is gripping and beautifully shot on its own. Because I *am* a Star Wars fan, it’s even better.

[catsketgames]

Hello! This is my first time sending an ask, so I hope I’m doing this right. I love your writing style and how you mix beauty/ art with the grotesque. The way you do body horror is so cool and fresh (if that makes sense).

I’m sorry if I ask any questions that you have already answered, and there is no pressure to answer all of my questions. I apologize for any misspellings and grammar mistakes. Also, I ramble sorry about that as well.

I’ve been following for a little while and gone through a lot of the asks and saw there were some based on music. I was wondering if you had character playlists for your characters. If you do is there a link for them?

This came to mind while I was reading an ask while listening to music, but I kind of headcanon that Genesis is into dad rock (maybe nickleback. I say this as something silly in my head) and progressive rock (like the band Genesis lol). Sorry if it is cannon and that completely went over my head (I haven’t had a chance to go through the visual novels he is in completely)

I can’t figure out though what music I can connect other characters to, like Erebus.

One song that I like for Areon is Blood Magic by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me.

Now I have two non music related questions/ headcannons. What is Adonis? Are they possibly in the realm of a fae type entity? Is it Adonis or possibly the camera they use to influence the MC in Fatal Focus?

Lastly, how do you come up with your character concepts? Do you take a lot of inspiration from religion, folklore, and mythology? I like your character concepts a lot, I find them unique.

Thank you for the hard work you put into your games, and stories!

AHHH thank you so much! That makes me so happy that you like my work! I really appreciate, and I hope I can bring some more crazy shit to y'all!

Genesis LOVES dad rock. He's the embodiment of a dad. I was inspired by my dad being a huge rock fan when I was growing up.

I have a few music playlists! I have one for Dorian, Aeron, Genesis, Erebus, Kayn, and Lenore so far! I'm a little Elitist (joke) with my music playlists. I try to have them both sound like and have lyrics matching the characters. I love IDKHOW, I think I had a song by them on a previous iteration of Aeron's playlist.

Adonis is something like a fae! They have a combination of using their general fae influence over other individuals (and the town, both in the nature and in the people) and through the camera. It's like having miasma of spray paint in the air versus being sprayed in your face.

I get my character inspiration from a few places: usually music, things I already like, fucked up dreams I have. I try to think across disciplines and bring it altogether. Books, movies, games, bring 'em together for something new.

[yeah-another-aesthetic-blog]

Nana as a Kumiho Aesthetic

A kumiho or gumiho (Korean: 구미호; Hanja: 九尾狐, literally "nine-tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. It is similar to the Chinese huli jing, the Japanese kitsune and the Vietnamese hồ ly tinh. It can freely transform into a beautiful woman often set out to seduce men, and eat their liver or heart (depending on the legend). There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears, several of which can be found in the encyclopedic Compendium of Korean Oral Literature (한국 구비문학 대계/韓國口碑文學). Kumiho and other versions of the nine-tailed fox myths and folklores share a similar concept. All explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, said to be foxes who have lived for a thousand years, and give them the power of shapeshifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman. However, while China's huli jing and Japan's kitsune are often depicted as either good, evil or neutral, the kumiho is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time Koreans began viewing the kumiho as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention the benevolent kumiho assisting humans (and even make mentions of wicked humans tricking kind but naïve kumiho). In later literature, kumiho were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. The fairy tale The Fox Sister depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for their livers. The most distinctive feature that separates the kumiho from its two counterparts (Japanese kitsune, and Chinese huli jing) is the existence of a 'yeowoo guseul' (여우구슬, literally meaning fox marble/bead) which is said to consist of knowledge. According to Korean mythology, the yeowoo guseul provides power to the kumiho and knowledge (and intelligence) to people if they can steal and swallow one. The kumiho can absorb humans' energy with it. The method of absorbing energy with the "yeowoo guseul" resembles a "deep kiss" (i.e. a kiss using a tongue). The kumiho sends the yeowoo guseul into people's mouths and then retakes it with their tongues. If that person swallows the yeowoo guseul, however, and then observes "sky, land, and people", each observation gives the observer preternatural knowledge. But the person fails to watch the "sky" in most tales, so they get a special ability but not the most important one.

[sicmvndvscreatvsest]

BASICS

FULL NAME: SEON HAE [ 선해 ]

OTHER NAMES: AKIRA, AKIRA HAE, SEON HAE [ 아키라  in Korean, あきら in Hiragana, アキラ in Katakana, and 明 in Kanji. 선해.]

» MEANING: Seon [ As a family name, Seon may be written with either of two hanja, one meaning "to announce" (宣) and the other meaning "first" (先). Each has one bon-gwan: for the former, Boseong, Jeollanam-do, and for the latter, Jinseong, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, both in what is today South Korea.. ]; Hae [ Hae in Korean means 'sun.' The Chinese character behind "Hae" (해) in Korean names, meaning "sun", is 海 (hǎi) in Mandarin Chinese and 해 (hae) in Korean Hanja. It is a combination of the characters for "sea" (海) and "sun" (日), and can be interpreted as "ocean sun" or "sun over the ocean". ]; Akira [ Akira (あきら, アキラ) is a given name present in a few languages. It is a unisex Japanese given name that is predominantly used for males. There are several kanji for Akira. In Thai, Akira or Arkira (Thai: อาคิรา, อาคีรา, อาคีระ) is a unisex name meaning 'the sun' or 'sunlight'. In Japanese there are many alternative ways to write the name Akira in kanji. This is not an exhaustive list. A popular kanji is 明 (the combination of the two different characters 日 = sun and 月 = moon) which means "the light coming from the sun", "sunlight and moonlight", "bright", "intelligent", "wisdom" or "truth". Though Akira is generally used to name males, sometimes it can be a female name as well.]

NICKNAME: Sunny, Aki.

AGE: Nearly 300-years old; 28 in appearance.

DATE OF BIRTH: 13th November, 18th century South Korea.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Kumiho realm, in fall.

OCCUPATION: Bodyguard to a powerful and rich vampire businessman.... Akira trained with her friend Seung-yong.

RELIGION: N/A

ORIENTATION: Homosexual; Homoromantic.

GENDER: Cisgender Female.

SPECIES: Kumiho

A kumiho or gumiho (Korean: 구미호; Hanja: 九尾狐, literally "nine-tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. It is similar to the Chinese huli jing, the Japanese kitsune and the Vietnamese hồ ly tinh. It can freely transform into a beautiful woman often set out to seduce men, and eat their liver or heart (depending on the legend). There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears, several of which can be found in the encyclopedic Compendium of Korean Oral Literature (한국 구비문학 대계/韓國口碑文學).

Mythology

The old Chinese text Classic of Mountains and Seas, the earliest record to document the nine-tailed fox, mentioned that the fox with nine tails came from and lived in the country called Qingqiu (靑丘) three hundreds miles east, the term meaning "green hill" interpreted as the country or region of the east and was later historically used to refer to the region of Korea at least since the era during the Three Kingdoms of Korea. However, the name of Gojoseon (called Joseon in the record), the Korean kingdom that existed along with other minor states of the Korean peninsula at the time, was separately introduced in the same record. Kumiho and other versions of the nine-tailed fox myths and folklores share a similar concept. All explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, said to be foxes who have lived for a thousand years, and give them the power of shapeshifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman. However, while China's huli jing and Japan's kitsune are often depicted as either good, evil or neutral, the kumiho is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time Koreans began viewing the kumiho as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention the benevolent kumiho assisting humans (and even make mentions of wicked humans tricking kind but naïve kumiho). In later literature, kumiho were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. The fairy tale The Fox Sister depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for their livers.

Knowledge beads

The most distinctive feature that separates the kumiho from its two counterparts (Japanese kitsune, and Chinese huli jing) is the existence of a 'yeowoo guseul' (여우구슬, literally meaning fox marble/bead) which is said to consist of knowledge. According to Korean mythology, the yeowoo guseul provides power to the kumiho and knowledge (and intelligence) to people if they can steal and swallow one. The kumiho can absorb humans' energy with it. The method of absorbing energy with the "yeowoo guseul" resembles a "deep kiss" (i.e. a kiss using a tongue). The kumiho sends the yeowoo guseul into people's mouths and then retakes it with their tongues. If that person swallows the yeowoo guseul, however, and then observes "sky, land, and people", each observation gives the observer preternatural knowledge. But the person fails to watch the "sky" in most tales, so they get a special ability but not the most important one.

Powers

Most legends state that while a gumiho was capable of changing its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it (i.e. a foxy face, a set of ears, or the tell-tale nine tails) or a magical way of forcing; its countenance changes, but its nature does not. Although ancient legends indicated that kumiho could help humans, in modern times, these animals are known to eat human livers and hearts. They usually carry out their evil acts by tricking people into consuming their organs. Unlike Japanese kitsunes, which are portrayed as having multiple tails and magical abilities, kumiho is a nine-tailed creature all throughout their lives. According to Korean mythology, if a kumiho doesn’t eat human flesh for a thousand years, it might transform into a human. This is because the animal’s soul can still seek human flesh.

**Akira is deemed to be very strong even at a young age as a kumiho. She fights well because of her extensive training and has the ability to use her kumiho powers of bending and stopping time, appearing and disappearing, etc. Although sometimes, she can be impulsive. Akira is trained in taekwondo, sword fight, and other forms of martial arts. She also boxes often with Seungyong.

PERSONALITY

STRENGTHS: Powerful, Brave, Loyal, Passionate, Resourceful.

WEAKNESSES: Distrusting, Violent, Stubborn, Manipulative, Jealous.

APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Han So-hee.

HEIGHT: 5'5 [165 cm.]

WEIGHT: 105 lbs. [48 kg.]

BUILD: Lean.

GAIT: TBA

HAIR COLOR: Reddish.

EYE COLOR: Amber in kumiho form; she likes wearing contact lenses for the colors.

BIRTHMARK: Yes.

OVERVIEW: » SCARS: Yes. » TATTOOS: Hell yeeees!

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Spirit world; kumiho world.

RESIDENCES: Spirit world; Seoul, South Korea. She has a home in Japan, too.

NATIONALITY: Well, South Korean.

ETHNICITY: Asian.

FINANCIAL STATUS: Upper-class, she is also mad rich.

EDUCATION LEVEL: Akira took many courses coz she gets bored easily, she probably finished some of them or almost finish some of them.

DEGREES: Something...

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Korean, Japanese, other Asian languages, she's been learning Thai but she sounds awful. English and Hebrew... She said she likes the way it sounds so she just picked it up. Then she got into Arabic, too. She's a mess.

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Kumiho gods/spirits. They're alive and well and just want Akira to settle down. Never happening, she said.

SIBLINGS: Lots....

CHILDREN: None.

PETS: She's got a pet dragon, but not really coz this 'pet' is a FULL GROWN dragon. More like bffs.

SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS: » Dragon bff.

FAMILY HISTORY: Akira is a mischief and lazy and her parents prayed to the kumiho gods and guardians to help them straighten her. A kumiho have nine tails all throughout their lives but the gods decided that Akira will be working for hers. She was to earn a tail for each 100 year she lives and make her parents proud. Later on, Akira met Seung-yong, a human who bonded with a dying dragon's ball and earned its powers. She became very close to the young witch/dragon and trained with him as a soldier/fighter. Seungyong became a bodyguard which interested Akira but her parents didn't think it was a suitable job for her. Akira pursued different careers then and witnessed how her kind were treated and taken advantage of by humans. When a childhood acquaintance got into a mess caused by a human, Akira became vindictive and haunted humans who has a dark heart and feasted on them.

Her parents didn't want her getting in trouble so they allowed her to finally train with Seungyong and pursue a career that would keep her focus. She has been working as a body guard for various entities and the latest was for a rich vampire who is living among the humans.

Seungyong wanted to investigate this vampire who has been connected with some known murders in other realms. Akira is helping his friend by sticking with the vampire and collecting info for her bounty hunter friend.

Akira travels everywhere due to the nature of her job.

ROMANTIC HISTORY: Messy. She had a lover that she had a roller-coaster relationship with. Akira can get overwhelming and many times, this reincarnated lover/partner, left her.

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS: Dragon bff, Seung-yong.

THOUGHTS ON LOVE: "It's messy."

HEALTH

PHOBIA(S): None.

HANDICAP(S): None.

MENTAL DISORDER: None.

PHYSICAL DISEASE(S): None.

PREDISPOSITION(S): N/A.

[greatdevourer1231954]

Dark Elves and Light Elves

Sometimes, when wars are the only thing learned in life, it becomes easy to forget how they started and none know better than this then the factions of the Light Elves and Dark Elves.

Who are they

Elves are a type of human-shaped supernatural beings in Germanic mythology and folklore. In medieval Germanic-speaking cultures, Elves seem generally to have been thought of as beings with magical powers and supernatural beauty, ambivalent towards everyday people and capable of either helping or hindering them. However, the details of these beliefs have varied considerably over time and space, and have flourished in both pre-Christian and Christian cultures.

The word Elf is found throughout the Germanic languages and it seems it was originally to have meant "white being". Reconstructing the early concept of an elf depends largely on texts, written by Christians, in Old and Middle English, medieval German, and Old Norse. These associate Elves variously with the Gods of Norse mythology, with causing illness, with magic, and with beauty and seduction.

The Elves are usually contrasted in two types: the Dökkálfar (Døkkálfar "Dark Elves", singular Døkkálfr) and the Ljósálfar ("Light Elves", singular Ljósálfr); the former dwell within the earth and are most swarthy, while the latter is "fairer than the sun to look at". This light and dark duality may have originated from Christian influence, importing the concept of good and evil, representing angels of light and darkness. A kenning for the sun in Norse poetry is Álfröðull, "elven wheel".

Origins

Just like dwarfs in my AU, elves are descendants of a group of flying arthropods resembling cicadas that feasted on Ymir’s wastes.

When the primordial giant died, the elves just like the dwarfs, evolved sapience by feeding on his flesh.

They soon migrated to a new realm, Alfheim, full of gigantic deserts and beautiful forests, with a unique wildlife, almost resembling those of the Carboniferous Period.

History

While they are intelligent and civilized beings that possess their own architecture, spoken and written languages, the Light Elves and Dark Elves have been at war for eons, always fighting over control of the Light of Alfheim, an ancient and powerful source of energy, that resides on the lake of Souls, an afterlife for every Giant, Dwarf, Elf, beast and animal who dies in the Nine Realms.

This conflict has lasted so long that neither side has secured a permanent victory. Because of such eternal war, the Elves are an isolated race, rarely interacting outside of their home realm.

However, it wasn’t always like that.

Centuries ago, the elves were originally all equal. That was until some of their kind discovered the Lake of Souls along with the Light Well. Soon, those elves began basking themselves in the Light overtime, which became an obsession and addiction. Eventually, due to having basked under the Light for a very long time, they turned into Light Elves.

To express their new selves, they began delving into art and invention. Because of their newfound power, an age of prosperity among the Light Elves had begun.

However, in the Deserts of Alfheim, where their other kin, the Dark Elves, live, the abundance of life there began to wither and die until there is none left after the creation of the temple. Seeing that the Lake of Souls is not of use for the Light Elves, and believing that they have gone too far, the Dark Elves immediately waged war, thus beginning the centuries-long conflict.

However, at some point in time, Freyr, a Vanir God, arrived in Alfheim and accidentally fell into the Lake of Light. Seeing this, the Light Elves believed him to be a god and, thus, began revering him, due to their belief, along with that of the Dark Elves, that he could bring peace between them. Under Freyr's leadership, he was able to bring control of the Light onto the Light Elves for thousands of years. Broughting total order throughout Alfheim.

However, when Freyr's sister Freya married the All-father Odin, in an attempt to end the Aesir-Vanir War, he strongly objects it and decided to abandon Alfheim, leaving it to its fate. As a result, The Light Elves, not knowing of the true reason behind Freyr's unexpected and supposed disappearance, began to believe that their lord is lost. Some assumed that he has returned to Vanaheim while others believed that he has been captured and is held in Asgard, the home-realm of the Aesir Gods.

Taking advantage of Freyr's absence, the Dark Elves, led by their late king Svartáljǫfurr, proceeded to attack the Vanir God's temple, which houses the Light. Without Freyr, the Light Elves were unable to gain the upper-hand over their dark counterparts. As a result, the Dark Elves were able to take over and secure control of the Light, covering it with a giant hive. With the Light under their control, the Dark Elves began slaughtering any Light Elf they could find, which forced them into hiding.

Not only that, the dark elves soon begin hunting the illusive and powerfull (REDACTED), using then as war-animals to keep the light elves always, however this action caused them to become extinct.

Ever since then, the Dark Elves remained in control of the Light and the Ringed Temple for a very long time until a group of foreign from another realm accompanied by a male (REDACTED) and a female (REDACTED). The Dark Elves and their king immediately welcomed them with absolute hostility and tried to take them down. However, the they would always managed to gain the upper-hand. When they reached the Light, the Dark Elves made a desperate attempt to protect their hive, but they eventually failed in the end. Ultimately, the foreigners freed the Light from the Dark Elves' grasp, allowing the Light Elves to return to the Ringed Temple.

Status

Upon regaining and securing the Light, the Light Elves began their mission to try and locate Freyr. As for the Dark Elves, however, they scrambled and went into hiding.

Dispete that, there are rumors that the Light elves are becoming more defensives, but despite all of that, the leves are still hoping that Freyr might come back to pring eace to their realm once again.

Abilities

Peak Superhuman condition: Like many other races the Elves possess an immense increase in strength, agility & durability compared to the average human being.

Speed: Elves are renown for displaying impressive bursts of speed. Though not as fast as Vampyr they exceed over the average human being moving in at 60kph, a speed enhanced to the point of making it very difficult for one to be able to react to them. As most swift Skinwalkers of this ability are biologically resistant to the side effects of moving at such speed. The Elf is able to utilise an enhanced feat of speed whilst airborne.

Agility: Elves are known for showing incredible feats of agility. Soldiers have been shown to rapidly respond or alter by adapting its initial stable configuration, in which they change the their body's position efficiently. This ability requires the Skinwalker an integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, strength, speed & reflexes. The chitinous skin of the Elf is incredibly flexible & lightweight in which enables them to use such actions.

Dexterity: The Elf is capable of controlling their movements and muscles more precisely than the average human, making them unable to be clumsy or fumbling. Elves initiate a near perfect coordination and precision in which they can flawlessly perform physical tricks with both gross & fine motor skills. This allows them to perform such stunts.

Flight: Both male & female Dark Elves possess a pair of insectoid wings similar to that of Odonate insects. The flight pattern of the Elf is direct rather than indirect, with flight muscles attaching to the back. This allows the Elf an active control of the amplitude, frequency, angle of attack, camber and twist of each wing entirely independently. The normal cruising speed of an Elf averages around 70 miles per hour (112 kph), however they have been clocked at 150 mph (240 kph) without the help of a tail wind for up to half an hour at a time before tiring to an appreciable degree. Unlike dark elves, the light elves do not have wings but the light gave them the ability to levitate in the air and fly without the need for wings.

Ovipositor: Female Elves possess a hidden extendable appendage located in an abdominal cavity cushioned together by a flexible membrane within the diaphragm, this appendage is known as an ovipositor. Ovipositors are a new feature that wasn’t present previously with 1st generation Elves but became more prominent in recent generations after they arrived in Alfheim. This appendage a long muscular tube & is equipped with a piercing stinger. The functionality of the ovipositor is used transmit eggs into the flesh of living organisms in which they parasitically grow inside the hosts body in the span of 9 months. Upon hatching develop into larvae that resemble human infants with soft bleached skin, the fate of the host is dependant on the size & strength of the organism. Preferably Elves target animals in which the swarm abducts & nurtures until their initial birthing, it was made illegal by (REDACTED) that Elves target other humans as part of their cycle.

Light manipulation: Despite what many think, Light elves are incredibly powerful warriors, more than the dark elves could be In other words, this is because of their great connection with the magical light of alfheim, which gives them the ability to create powerful weapons made of magical light such as swords, knives and cannons.

Conclusion

The war between the Light elves can be seen as a great lesson on how wars can become meaningless if they forgot why they started in the first place and that, there is not always good guys or bad guys in it.