#under different names

[saym0-0]

after UDAD right before they blew up the acharon the mechs performed a purely self indulgent concert broadcast across the entire city with as many dramatic reveals as they can fit in, as by this point they're well known as individuals one way or another in pretty much every level of society

[inkskinned]

i love you vaccines i love you research i love you reading the book instead of having chatgpt summarize it i love you critically thinking rather than reacting to a headline i love you investigating the source material i love you science i love you math even though you are personally my enemy (math/yn slowburn) i love you writing even though you try to stab me a lot i love you Experts in Your Field i love you Using The Brain

[wordsmithic]

Ancient Greek Women Mathematicians you didn't know about

Αίθρα - Aethra (10th - 9th century BC), daughter of the king of Troizina Pitthea and mother of Theseus, knew mathematics in another capacity unknown to many. So sacred to the beginnings of the most cerebral science, Aethra taught arithmetic to the children of Troizina, with that complex awe-inspiring method, since there was no zero… and the numbers were symbolically complex, as their symbols required many repetitions.

Πολυγνώτη - Polygnoti (7th - 6th century BC) The historian Lovon Argeios mentions Polygnotis as a companion and student of Thalis. A scholar of many geometric theorems, it is said in Vitruvius' testimony, that she contributed to the simplification of arithmetic symbols by introducing the principle of acrophony. She managed this by introducing alphabetic letters that corresponded to each in the initial letter of the name of the number. Thus, Δ, the initial of Δέκα (ΤΕΝ), represents the number 10. X, the initial of Χίλια (Thousand), represents the number 1000 etc. According to Vitruvius, Polygnoti formulated and first proved the proposition "Εν κύκλω η εν τω ημικυκλίω γωνία ορθή εστίν" - "In the circle the angle in the hemi-circle is right angle."

Θεμιστόκλεια - Themistoklia (6th century BC). Diogenes the Laertius scholar-writer mentions it as Αριστόκλεια - Aristoclia or Θεόκλεια - Theoclia. Pythagoras took most of his moral principles from the Delphic priestess Themistoclia, who at the same time introduced him to the principles of arithmetic and geometry. According to the philosopher Aristoxenos (4th century BC), Themistoclia taught mathematics to those of the visitors of Delphi who had the relevant appeal. Legend has it that Themistoclia decorated the altar of Apollo with geometric shapes. According to Aristoxenos, Pythagoras admired the knowledge and wisdom of Themistoclia, a fact that prompted him to accept women later in his School.

Μελίσσα - Melissa (6th century BC). Pupil of Pythagoras. She was involved in the construction of regular polygons. Lovon Argeios writes about an unknown work of hers: "Ο Κύκλος Φυσίν - η Μελίσσα - Των Εγγραφομένων Πολυγώνων Απάντων Εστί". (The title translates to "The circle is always the basis of the written polygons" or so.)

Τυμίχα - Tymicha (6th century BC). Thymiha, wife of Crotonian Millios, was (according to Diogenes Laertius) a Spartan, born in Croton. From a very early age, she became a member of the Pythagorean community. Iamblichus mentions a book about "friend numbers". After the destruction of the school by the Democrats of Croton, Tymicha took refuge in Syracuse. The tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysios, demanded that Tymicha reveal to him the secrets of the Pythagorean teaching for a great reward. She flatly refused and even cut her own tongue with her teeth and spat in Dionysius' face. This fact is reported by Hippobotus and Neanthis.

Βιτάλη - Vitali or Vistala (6th – 5th century BC). Vitali was the daughter of Damos and granddaughter of Pythagoras, and an expert in Pythagorean mathematics. Before Pythagoras died, he entrusted her with the "memoirs", that is, the philosophical texts of her father.

Πανδροσίων ή Πάνδροσος - Pandrosion or Pandrossos (4th century AD). Alexandrian geometer, probably a student of Pappos, who dedicates to her the third book of the "Synagogue". Pandrosion divides geometric problems into three categories:" Three genera are of the problems in Geometry and these, levels are called, and the other linear ones."

Πυθαΐς - Pythais (2nd century BC). Geometer, daughter of the mathematician Zenodoros.

Αξιόθεα - Axiothea (4th century BC). She is also a student, like Lasthenia, of Plato's academy. She came to Athens from the Peloponnesian city of Fliounda. She showed a special interest in mathematics and natural philosophy, and later taught these sciences in Corinth and Athens.

Περικτιόνη - Periktioni (5th century BC). Pythagorean philosopher, writer, and mathematician. Various sources identify her with Perictioni, Plato's mother and Critius' daughter. Plato owes his first acquaintance with mathematics and philosophy to Perictioni.

��ιοτίμα - Diotima from Mantineia (6th-5th century BC). In Plato's "Symposium", Socrates refers to the Teacher of Diotima, a priestess in Mantineia, who was a Pythagorean and a connoisseur of Pythagorean numerology. According to Xenophon, Diotima had no difficulty in understanding the most complex geometric theorems.

Iamblichos, in his work "On Pythagorean Life", saved the names of Pythagorean women who were connoisseurs of Pythagorean philosophy and Pythagorean mathematics. We have already mentioned some of them. The rest:

Ρυνδακώ - Rynthako

Οκκελώ - Okkelo

Χειλωνίς - Chilonis

Κρατησίκλεια - Kratisiklia

Λασθένια - Lasthenia

Αβροτέλεια - Avrotelia

Εχεκράτεια - Ehekratia

Θεανώ - Theano

Τυρσηνίς - Tyrsinis

Πεισιρρόδη - Pisirrodi

Θεαδούσα - Theathousa

Βοιώ - Voio

Βαβέλυκα - Vavelyka

Κλεαίχμα - Cleaihma

Νισθαιαδούσα - Nistheathousa

Νικαρέτη - Nikareti from Corinth

There are so many women whose contribution to science remains hidden. We should strive to find out about more of them! For more information, check out the books of the Greek philologist, lecturer, and professor of ancient Greek history and language, Anna Tziropoulou-Eustathiou.

[lynxgriffin]

Eldritchrune - Pathetic House

Story Setup Eldritchrune Masterpost

Back in the light world, the empire is still causing trouble for Hometown, and Undyne tries to stand up to it! She instead has an unexpected run-in with Alphys, and gets a reminder of past mistakes...

Yaaay, finally got another comic out! I wanted to tackle a scene that was a bit shorter and simpler, and check in on some more of Hometown's residents! What might happen to them when Kris gets back is anyone's guess!...

Alt text for this comic is under the read more:

Page 1

Panel 1 - Full body shot of a Hometown resident - the little goblin character dancing in the rain, but now presented as a human with poofy hair and a small hat. They happily splash around in a muddy puddle around one of Hometown’s streets, kicking up water. 

Panel 2 - Inset panel as the teen is startled out of their splashing, eyes wide, with a sudden yell from off-panel: “HEY!”

Panel 3 - They turn around fast to see Undyne approaching them. She’s a tall human with her red hair tied back, dressed in boots, a sensible work skirt and vest, and arm guards. She strides purposefully towards the teen.

Panel 4 - Over-the-shoulder shot of Undyne as she looks down at the teen. They pull their hands together, looking a little nervous. “O-officer Undyne! I was just having a bit of fun here… Good rain last night…”

Panel 5 - Mid shot of Undyne as she raises up a hand reassuringly, and says, “Hey, you’re not in trouble! But that rain’s flooded some of the torn up road here…you’re gonna twist an ankle!”

Panel 6 - Undyne kneels down more to the teen’s level and points ahead. She says, “Just head up to the town square. It’s safer to jump around there.” The rain-loving teen immediately dashes off in the direction she points. “Oh great! Thanks, Undyne!” They say, waving at her.

Panel 7 - Small closeup panel as Undyne watches them go, smiling…

Panel 8 - Her smile then vanishes as she hears a THUNK sound from offscreen. She glances to her left with an annoyed expression.

Page 2

Panel 1 - She turns and looks at the source of the sound. Undyne stands in the foreground, while ahead, two empire solders dressed in armor are facing an old, dilapidated house with a broken window. An old skeleton of a large tree looms nearby. One of the soldiers laughs and throws a rock at the old house.

Panel 2 - Closer shot of the two soldiers, still both laughing. Another one, the larger of the two, holds up another rock…

Panel 3 - And throws it at the house again. It knocks off the old building’s side with a loud THUNK!

Panel 4 - Closeup on Undyne as she yells angrily at them: “HEY!!”

Panel 5 - Wide shot as Undyne marches purposefully towards the two soldiers. The scene is framed by overgrown grasses and shrubbery. “What do you think you’re doing?!” she says as she strides towards them.

The larger soldier replies, “What concern is it of yours?” Panel 6 - Undyne holds out one hand towards the old house, still annoyed. “Hometown is *my* jurisdiction, and you’re bothering the Ghost Cousins! So yeah, *my* concern!”

Panel 7 - Medium shot of the larger soldier, who just looks back at Undyne. “‘Ghost Cousins’?” he says, incredulous.

Page 3 

Panel 1 - A mostly empty panel, except for Undyne, who holds up one finger to explain. “Yeah, Nap Spook, Mettle Tom, and Mad Muse! They all died years ago, and this house is *their* spot. It’s rude to pester him!”

In the background are images of the three ghosts she’s mentioned: Nap Spook, a light blue ghost with curly hair that looks withdrawn and sleepy. Mettle Tom, who resembles Mettaton, with their fancy clothes and hair flip. However, here they don’t have their usual bombastic flair, and appear more withdrawn. The last one, Mad Muse, appears as a more furious poltergeist, with flaming hair. 

Panel 2 - Medium shot of the two empire soldiers. The skinnier one leans into the larger, and says to him, “Angel, they were right…these folks are *so* superstitious.”

The larger soldier addresses Undyne: “You lot believe in haunted houses?”

Panel 3 - Undyne faces the two soldiers as the larger one waves to him. “Well, we’re going to take care of this one for you.”

“What?!” Undyne says, not liking where this is going.

Panel 4 - Upshot of the old ghost house. It’s looking pretty unkempt and worn down, with the old tree looming overhead. Offscreen, the soldier says, “This dilapidated old place needs to be torn down. It’s taking up space that could go to much better use.”

Panel 5 - Medium shot of Undyne as she gestures angrily back at the house. “The Ghost Cousins have a right to *their* house!” she says, insistent. 

Page 4

Panel 1 - Medium shot as Undyne faces down the two soldiers, all three of them framed by the haunted house in the background. “You empire jerks think you can just show up and push us around?! This town is my home, and my charge!” she says, pointing a finger in the face of the closest soldier. “I’m not gonna let you tell *us* how we should use our own land!”

Panel 2 - Medium shot of the two soldiers, neither of which seem worried by her threat. The skinny one holds up his hands in mock worry, and says, “Oooh, such a big, *scary* threat from the backwater guard!”

The larger one grins and says, “A direct request from the Knight to your Mayor should be sufficient to get this place demolished.”

Panel 3 - Undyne doesn’t seem impressed by the threat either. She sneers back at them, “Need your stupid boss to tell you *how* to push us around?”

Panel 4 - Full body shot of the three still standing in front of the ghost house. “Tch…should’ve expected that from creeps like *you*,” she says, still pointing.

The larger soldier raises an arm to hold back the thinner one from moving forward, looking aggravated. The soldier says, “Unlike superstitious bumpkins like you, the Knight knows how to properly *run* things. How to keep this country in order.”

Page 5

Panel 1 - Single shot of the larger soldier, who continues with a sneer: “And we’ll *all* be better off once your backwater town realizes that and starts *contributing* to the empire.”

Panel 2 - Closeup shot on Undyne as she narrows her eyes and grimaces. This definitely pissed her off.

Panel 3 - Undyne gets up in the soldier’s face, clearly raring for a fight. “How about your big, holy Knight comes down here, and I’ll *contribute* a few good punches to their face!” The soldier stands stalwart against her threat.

Panel 4 - Even though Undyne is close in on him, he just smiles at this suggestion. “Ha! You, actually fight the *Knight*? I’d like to see you try!”

Panel 5 - Medium shot as Undyne spins on her heel and begins to march off as the two soldiers look on. “Then how ‘bout I drag them down here for you to see!” she says, and turns to go and do just that–

Panel 6 - Only to suddenly run head-on into Alphys coming in from the other direction. The soldiers watch as the two collide, sending Alphys’ books and papers flying–

Panel 7 - Alphys and Undyne both fall to the ground from the force of the sudden impact, and land in the mud with a splash. Alphys’ papers scatter everywhere.

Page 6

Panel 1 - Medium shot of the two soldiers as they burst into uproarious laughter. The thinner one slaps his knee, and the larger one throws his head back to guffaw at the two of them.

Panel 2 - Alphys and Undyne are still trying to collect themselves in the mud as the two soldiers walk past them and head back towards town. While the thinner one keeps laughing, the larger one ways to them and says, “Good luck with that, bumpkin!”

Panel 3 - Undyne quickly stands up in the foreground, while below her, Alphys quickly scrambles to get to her feet and pick up her dropped books and papers. There’s mud all over her coat. “O-ohmygosh, I’m s-SO sorry, Undyne! I didn’t see you there…” she stammers.

Panel 4 - Wider shot as Undyne helps Alphys retrieve her dropped papers. “Ngggah, it’s fine. I just can’t stand those weasely empire creeps,” she says, glaring in the direction where the soldiers disappeared. 

Alphys sadly agrees, “T-they really won’t l-leave us alone, huh…”

Panel 5 - The two are now fully back on their feet. Undyne hands the remaining lost books and papers over to Alphys, who takes them back into her arms. “T-T-thanks, Undyne!” she says, blushing noticeably. 

Panel 6 - Over-the-shoulder shot of Alphys as she holds tight onto her books. Ahead of her, Undyne reaches behind her head and offers an awkward smile back. “Yeah, it’s…no big deal,” she says.

Page 7

Panel 1 - Wide shot of Alphys and Undyne standing by the ghost house. It still seems forgotten and dilapidated in the background, but the two are now focused on each other. “So, what’re you up to by the ghost house, anyway?” Undyne asks.

Alphys replies, “Oh, I-I just wanted a bit of moody reading atmosphere!”

Panel 2 - Medium shot of Alphys as she holds out one of her books, admiring the title. “I got a new fantasy story, a-and I’m excited to give it a read…”

Panel 3 - Medium shot of Undyne as she smiles, and gestures towards Alphys’ book. “Nice that you got the time to dig into it right away!”

Panel 4 - Alphys’ face drops a little, and she hugs the books to her again. “W-well, I haven’t had as many kids to tutor these days.”

Panel 5 - Shot of the two women standing together, although Alphys is now turned away, lost in an upsetting thought. “Usually on Tuesdays, I gave Kris some tutoring, b-but…they ran off last fall, so…” At the name, Undyne suddenly starts. 

Panel 6 - Focus on Undyne as she looks away, her expression guilty and perhaps regretful. In the background in grayscale, there is a memory of Toriel and Asgore sacrificing Kris to the demon prince…Undyne was also present, wearing a fish mask.

Page 8 

Panel 1 - Closeup on Alphys as she continues: “I-I can’t imagine them r-running out on the Dreemurrs! Especially Azzy! So…m-maybe it was m-me…they j-just got so sick of how I taught things, t-they had to escape it…” Alphys looks sad and self-depreciating, somehow only thinking of how this might be her fault.

Panel 2 - Medium shot as Undyne puts a reassuring hand on Alphys’ shoulder, causing Alphys to look back up at her. “Hey, don’t talk like that! I don’t think that would’ve been it…” Undyne says.

Panel 3 - “I’m sure your teaching is great!” Undyne says, and tries to give her an encouraging smile.

Panel 4 - Alphys looks up at her with admiration, taking her encouragement to heart. “G-gosh, that’s nice of you to say! And uh…”

Panel 5 - “Whatever those soldier creeps might’ve said to you, I k-know *you’re* a better peacekeeper than they’ll ever be!” Alphys continues in a wide shot of the two. Undyne keeps her hand on Alphys’ shoulder. 

Panel 6 - Closeup on Undyne’s unsure expression…unlike Alphys, she can’t really take the encouragement to heart. With what she’s participated in, she doesn’t know how good of a peacekeeper she really is now.

Page 9

Panel 1 - Still, Undyne is determined to put on a good face for this woman who’s clearly pining for her. In a medium shot, she gestures to herself with a big smile. “At least for this town, I’m gonna do whatever I can!” Alphys looks up at her with admiration and fondness.

Panel 2 - Wide shot of the ghost house, old tree and surrounding mud-speckled road. Undyne leads Alphys away from town, and more towards the gloomy old forests surrounding them. “And for you, let’s find you that perfect mood spot!” she says. 

[tokopng]

my ptcgic2024 entries :] i didn't place in the top 300 but i always enjoy doing art for it

[wolfythewitch]

I wonder if anyone has ever followed me for my fics

[tesscourtes]

a continuation of this

I was talking a bit about the cult chapter on twitter, so I might as well post these snippets over here as well! Have some concepts with bonus Billford!! A little snipplet on the aftermath of their night out hehehe. I drew my pookie and me in Gravity Falls' artstyle a while ago too, because I want to shamelessly have us cameo in the comic LMAO.

[crimsonchili]

Roger Barel, the biggest Kate x Ellis shipper

[mogwaei]

Idk what I was doing with this one?? but I adopted the idea that he saw vhenan approaching across the hall, picked up a book, posted against the wall and was like I Am Totally Reading and Not Watching Her.

[mask131]

I am re-reading the Silmarillion, and something strikes me. The women of Tolkien's world have been talked about TO DEATH especially with all the recurring debates surrounding the Rings of Power series.

As we all know, Tolkien was not a "feminist" in the modern sense of the word. He had a very male-centric point of view and appreciation of the world, he had male-driven and male-centered stories, and actual women characters were sparse and rare. There are only five really big female characters in "The Lord of the Rings" - the quintet of Galadriel, Eowyn, Goldberry, Lobelia and Shelob. [No, don't talk to me about Arwen, she only really was a character in the movies, in the book she's just there in the appendix and she was literaly an afterthought of Tolkien to act as Eowyn's romantic double...]

Consider this. Galadriel, Eowyn, Goldberry, Lobelia and Shelob. This tells you everything you need to know about Tolkien's women, in good and bad.

The Silmarillion has the same motif of having a lot of female characters, only for most of them to be just footnotes, secondary characters with no lines, under-developped one-liners... with in a contrast a handful of super-cool, super-badass, complex and developed heroines at the center of the plot.

Aka, on the bad side, when listing the Valar, while Tolkien gives an interesting personality, great domains and cool attributes to all the male ones, half of the female ones are just... there. And do one stuff. And never appear again. I mean come on... Vana and Nessa? Estë and Vairë were done dirty... That's the actual type of "non-feminism" Tolkien has. It isn't about him hating women or trying to be offensive in his depictions - it is about him just, not putting as much thought, effort and care into his female characters as his male ones, a bit the same way he creates the vast expanses of the East and South of Middle-Earth and then never bothers actually developing more of it or seeking to tell tales of it - but that's for another discussion about Tolkien's "racism". Here we talk about women.

But here's the thing, aka the good side... When Tolkien does find the time and care to develop and flesh out a female character, by Iluvatar he goes all out! Again, we are back on what I said earlier: the women of Lord of the Rings can be counted on one hand... but these fingers are Galadriel, Eowyn and Shelob, so you can't claim he isnt writing powerful, important or uninterestng female characters. Which leads me to my original remark - as usual I get driven away in digressions of all sorts and kinds.

Have you ever noticed that Melkor's greatest enemies, the ones he fears the most, and his most effective foes... are women? Tolkien might not like to put them front and center of his tales, and he might have been a man of the early 20th century England in culture and mind, but boy does he has something to say about how women are actually the first enemies of the literal embodiment of evil and destruction! I mean think about it. Varda of the Stars, and Yavanna of the trees. Nienna has her ambiguous relationship to him - her tears work against him, and yet without her plea for him he likely would not have been released from the dungeons of Mandos. You have Melian with her Girdle, and Luthien with her Hound. And of course most of all Arien, guardian of the Sun, not only one of the rare fire spirits that Melkor couldn't corrupt (despite him basically ruling over all fire), but that frightens him so much he keeps hiding away and doesn't even dare to attack her... [I also reblogged some times ago a post praising the brilliance of Tolkien keeping the old European sun-moon motifs but switching the genders. The weaker, inconsistant, lustful, whimsical, disorderly, untrustworthy Moon is now a male principle, while the steady, dangerous, strong, powerful and beautiful Sun is a woman.]

It is actually REALLY easy to do a feminist retelling of Tolkien's work. Melkor doesn't fear Manwë as much as Varda. Aulë's works and servants get corrupted by Melkor, while Yavanna's do not. Melian and Luthien actively works against him. He friggin' pisses himself when the Woman of the Sun shows up. Sure, there are some evil female characters that serve him down the line and are relegated to the "obscure footnotes and undescribed secondary characters" zone - Thuringwethil the vampire or queen Beruthiel. I coul also dropped deleted characters from early drafts, like the ogress Fluithuin. But among them stands Ungoliant... THE only true female big bad on the dark side of Arda. THE badass, nightmarish, creepy eldritch abomination. And who ends up double-crossing Melkor, almost KILLING him, and again making him basically shit in his pants - as Varda and Arien do.

The first enemies of Morgoth are not the Valar, or the Maiar, or the Elves... It's women.

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 167

Honestly, Danny is having such a good time right now. He gets to travel with Ellie, explore space, just have fun. Plus his secondary protector-instincts are having soothed despite him not technically doing any hero-ing anymore. Really his sister had the right idea when she decided she wanted to become a doctor, this is honestly a blast.

And if someone does end up passing away, well, Ellie is always happy to help soothe their spirit and guide them to the Realms where they can reach their respective afterlife. Or become a ghost. 

They are completely oblivious to the fact that there are now legends and entire temples dedicated to them now. Apparently accidental ascension is in fact a thing, as Dan later laughs at them about. 

[squipdop]

happy valentines <3

i like to imagine theyre grossly affectionate with each other whenever the chance arises 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

[kusanagihaku]

realised this compilation of all the omamoris has been sitting in my drafts forever but in light of shop update tomorrow here's all of them in one post!!

i don't have hodge and podge to draw warding cards, but i hope these can give you blessings and protection in whatever you do!! meanings for each ghoul under the cut:

jin: 財源廣進 （cáiyuán guǎng jìn）

prosperity and wealth

"jìn" for jin!

tohma: 黃金滿屋 （huángjīn mǎn wū）

house filled with gold and silver (because he transferred from vagastrom to frostheim!); abundant wealth

kaito: 歩歩高升 （bùbù gāo shēng）

to continuously improve

kaito has 歩 in his name!

luca: 萬事如意 （wànshì rúyì）

for everything to go your way

“rú" for luca!

alan: 金玉滿堂 （jīnyù mǎntáng）

halls filled with gold and jade; abundant wealth

alan has 堂 in his name!

leo: 八面玲瓏（bāmiàn línglóng）

to have good social relationships

leo has 玲 in his name!

sho: 高飛遠翔 （gāofēi yuǎn xiáng）

to fly high and far = to have a great future

sho has 翔 in his name!

haru: 飛黃騰達 （fēi huáng téng dá）

to achieve meteoric success in your career; to make a lot of money

飛 = fly, 騰 = run/soar, like haru's super speed!

towa: 三羊開泰（sān yáng kāi tài）

originally 三陽開泰 - to have a surge of good luck

but 陽 (sun, yáng) replaced with 羊 (goat, yáng) just for towa!

ren: 年年有魚 （niánnián yǒu yú）

originally 年年有餘 - to have excess / more than enough every year

but 餘 (excess, yú) replaced with 魚 (fish, yú) just for ren!

taiga: 紅虎齊天（hónghǔ qí tiān）

originally 洪福齊天 - boundless blessings, supreme bliss

but 洪福 (hóngfú) replaced with 紅虎 (red tiger, hónghǔ) just for taiga!

romeo: 富貴有餘（fùguì yǒuyú）

to have a surplus of wealth

富 = rich, 貴 = expensive, like romeo!

ritsu: 夢想成真 （mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn）

to have your dreams come true

part of ritsu's name 針 (zhēn) sounds like 真 (real, true)

subaru: 鶴壽松齡（hè shòu sōng líng）

to have a long life

鶴 = crane, like subaru's goc sprite!

haku: 玖天觀月（jiǔtiān guān yuè）

originally 九天觀月 - to reach for the stars

but 九 (nine, jiǔ) replaced by 玖 (jiǔ) from haku's name!

zenji: 吉祥善事 （jíxiáng shànshì）

to have auspicious and kind deeds

zenji has 善 in his name!

ed: 長命百歲（chángmìng bǎi suì）

to live to an old age

because ed is 400+ years old...

rui: 龍精虎猛（lóng jīng hǔ měng）

to have the spirit of a dragon and the ferocity of a tiger; to be energetic and lively

because he never sleeps!

lyca: 八方來財 （bāfāng lái cái）

to get fortune / money from all directions

"lái" for lyca!

yuri: 學海無涯（xué hǎi wú yá）

endless learning, boundless knowledge

because of yuri's research!

jiro: 身體健康（shēntǐ jiànkāng）

to have good health

i feel like if i were to wish good health on only one ghoul... it would be jiro...

[serpentface]

Taighr A Teng, current high priest of Finnerich and beloved populist monarch, posing in his eclectic mix of royal regalia, a simple commoner's cloak, and dancer's garb.

---

His career as king has, so far, been notably impressive.

He had his starts as a lesser nobleman from the plains on the northwestern edge of the region. This northern region was never directly occupied by the Imperial Wardi invaders and only loosely controlled by the tributary puppet government, and the rebellion against this loyalist government and the resulting Finnerich civil war originated here. He rose to prominence in this war, eventually functioning as the general of these rebelling forces.

These forces utilized guerilla tactics and light archer cavalry (the latter being central to the warrior culture of northern Finns) to great effectiveness, and Taighr received a bulk of the credit for this. He claimed to have been visited by the solar chief god Neghri and cloaked in his armor. He never declared himself a possible king, but his confidants (conveniently) publicly urged him to undergo a rite of kingship to prove his god-given invulnerability, and he was successfully seen to perform the naked dance through fire unscathed. This granted him acknowledgment as truly chosen by Neghri, and planted the notion of Taighr being potentially a legitimate king (a status that is usually hereditary, and only granted to high lords when not) in the minds of many of his people.

Afterwords, he prominently fought on khaitback half-naked, clad only in the garb of a dancer (Neghri is a god of the dance among many other things). His claims of divine armor seemed to hold true- he never suffered any more than flesh wounds in over three years of sustained warfare.

He led battle in which the Wardi general Odomache was captured and killed, and is heavily suspected to be/popularly championed as the one who executed her with her own handcannon. He will neither confirm or deny this, but has the gun in his possession and sometimes appears with it in public. Either way, his role in this pivotal battle, subsequent expelling of Wardi troops, recapture of the capital and eradication of the Wardi-loyalist government cemented his status in the minds of a significant majority of his people. He performed the fire dance yet again in the capital and was formally declared king in the aftermath of the war.

He entered into kingship under the near-worst of circumstances. His kingdom has been decimated and politically fragmented in the aftermath of two decades of Imperial Wardi occupation as a grain tributary/colony, and the onset of a multi-year drought began that very year.

Part of his success against this adversity rested in seizing unprecedented and wholly centralized power. The former system of kingship rested upon a council of lords that each governed their own territories, with a king's power Publicly resting in his authority as high priest but practically resting in his lords' alliance and loyalty. He declared this system to be responsible for Old Finnerich's downfall (already a very widely held belief in the general public) and executed almost all the remaining lords (who were also political rivals, having a claim to the crown more legitimate than his own by the traditional standard) and their kin under accusations of being Wardi loyalists.

These executions extended further to many lesser nobles and other identified traitors, in the end wiping out a sizeable portion of previous authority figures. He replaced executed lords and nobility with trusted loyal compatriots and popular public figures, and made efforts to legitimize his reign by taking the daughter of a former lord (who had died a martyr resisting the original Wardi invasion and was widely beloved) as his queen.

This capitalized on general public sentiment of distrust of surviving former leadership (who, if not loyalists, at least Submitted to Wardi occupation) and was a move favored by the majority of commoners (who received none of the fringe benefits that benefited loyalist nobility under Wardi rule, and this invasion occurred in the context of Preexisting tension and peasant revolts). This was not, of course, a universally accepted move, but Taighr's merciless treatment towards accused traitors along with general public favor for his action has gone a long ways towards dissuading dissent in these first years of his reign.

He has so far used his heavily centralized power to great effectiveness in rebuilding efforts and famine response. He reduced taxes on commoners, supplementing this lost income with the very substantial liquidated assets of the former lordship. Much of these assets were grain, which has been stored en-masse and rationed and periodically redistributed to alleviate the famine. The hardier, more drought resistant grain (particularly a strain of barley) has been heavily invested in planting projects. He divided the lands of his executed nobility and civilians killed in war and granted it to members of the peasantry to farm with increased status as landowners, which has caused a sizable migration to the fertile southeast of the region.

Some of his most recent maneuvers have involved resumption of raiding Wardin and Bur's trade ships and coastlines. The piracy has been beneficial to securing needed resources and wealth, while the raids (which have largely hit villages and small towns that don't have a Lot to offer mid-drought) have more of a function of terrorizing weakened enemies and building public morale in trying times. He's also in the process of courting a neighboring kingdom of Hrolje (with historical trade ties to Finnerich) into full allyship against their shared enemies (Imperial Wardin, the Burri republic, and several Royal Dain kingdoms).

A drought (which has lasted six years so far) occurring the very year he took the crown is a spiritual issue as well as a practical one. As the people's high priest, he should have the power to commune with the gods (particularly Neghri, chief of the gods with whom he has a singular connection as king) and prevent such a thing from happening. The public reaction to this drought has been varied, but most see its occurrence immediately following the expulsion of Imperial Wardin and defeat of its high priestess as significant. Many consider this to be the foreign god Odomache's vengeance, and question why their own gods (who are much more powerful and hold total sovereignty over this land) have not intervened to help them.

Taighr's public stance is that this is not quite the case. Their own gods have sent this drought to both punish their enemies and to test the Finn people. They have not forgiven Finnerich's surrender to their enemies, and require proof of the people's loyalty and strength before they will call the drought away. This message is harsh but hopeful in tone, and has been embraced (or at least accepted) by a sizeable majority. A sense of purpose to their suffering (HEAVILY bolstered by effective practical measures of famine alleviation) has gone a long way to keep Finnerich's general populace unified and confident in their new king in the face of adversity.

He has had tremendous success so far, but his rule has clear potential for future instability. While he is very popular among the peasantry, not everyone loved the whole 'mass execution of political rivals and their families' thing. Some members of these families are known or suspected to have escaped (and potentially have more legitimate claims by tradition than Taighr does). His reduced taxation on the commoner class cannot last forever, and his functional creation of a new landed peasantry class is untested and likely will not remain stable in the long term. A small but not insignificant minority interprets the drought not as a test but punishment from the gods for the acceptance of a false king.

---

Taighr has shunned most regalia for his public image. His outfit here has only the bare minimum regalia of the torc and headdress (along with his tattoos), and the rest is dancer's garb and a simple cloak. His image is partly as a maneuver to appeal to his people, who simultaneously desire a traditional king (as their protector and benefactor who can commune with the gods) but are utterly disillusioned with their former dynasty for having so deeply failed them (and being somewhat unfavored even before their surrender to Imperial Wardin).

His choice to partly neglect a traditional 'royal' image emphasizes his outsider status from this now heavily scorned ex-dynasty, while still appearing in such a way that legitimatizes him as a king to public perception.

The arm tattoos and banded motifs on the headgear contain symbols widely used in Finn art, but are forbidden to be worn as tattoos for anyone other than kings (unless the right has been granted by a king in recognition and blessing). A kings rule is marked with arm and leg bands added for each year of sovereignty, with symbols chosen to represent the character of each year and a king's accomplishments and actions therein. These tattoos tend to be flattering in their meaning and serve to cement a chosen narrative into the king's very skin- his successes are lauded, his difficulties are acknowledged but framed as a struggle in which he remained strong/will ultimately be triumphant.

The first year shows an abstract symbol of unification and brotherhood, representing his role early in the war when he had already emerged as a military leader was first acknowledged as a potential king. The second denotes clouded skies and an obscured sun, representing the struggle and uncertainty in the height of war. The third shows victory by the arrowhead, celebrating the end to the war, Finnerich's restored sovereignty, and the expulsion of invasive elements. The fourth shows the motif of maize, denoting the sense of hope and regrowth in the first year free of tributary occupation (somewhat in contrast to the reality of the drought). The fifth shows clouded skies yet again, as this was when public elation over their victory was thoroughly quashed by the drought not only Not Stopping but having its worst year of all, one of the more difficult years of his sovereignty. The sixth shows foundations, a sense of rebuilding in regards to great public works and triumphant management of the famine, a year in which more rain came and his land/grain distribution system entered full swing. The seventh shows an abstract symbol of clasped hands in unity and arrowheads, celebrating allegiance with Hrolje and great success in raids against enemies. He is in the eighth year of being recognized as a king, and the latest one has been outlined but not completed.

The tattoos on the back of his hands mark his status as legitimate king chosen by Neghri, capable of communing with the gods and performing acts of magic. This symbol is completely forbidden to be worn by anyone besides a king (including on clothing/jewelry/etc) and is the ultimate symbol of lordship, sovereignty, and connection to the chief of the gods.

His head (not directly visible here) is artificially lengthened, having been bound in infancy. Artificial cranial deformation is a widespread practice among many of the North Viper peoples, where it tends to be associated with beauty, nobility, and/or a semi-divine status. This practice is reserved exclusively for the hereditary nobility (kings, lords, and lesser nobles) of Finn culture. The trend for most Finn headgear to be very tall and pointed is at least related, giving a person a noble and dignified bearing (regardless of their skull's actual length).

[dumbfucksystem]

do you guys think anyone remembers to put flowers on airplane’s grave…

[proshippers-against-censorship]

I am very much a proshipper, I LOVE dark fiction and I use it as an outlet for my illegal paraphilias, but.. I could never, ever agree with the term "proship" meaning "anti harassment".

Antis can still express their distaste and ignore proship content without harassment. Antis are antis usually because they don't like kodocon or darkships, not because they wish to harass somebody.

I am friends with many antis, they don't tolerate my ships but they do tolerate me. I still consider them antis and so do they since they hate sexual dark fiction.

Eh, no hate to proshippers who use that meaning to define their stance. I define it as being tolerant and supporting of dark fiction, no matter what it is and knowing that reality and fiction are not the exact same thing. I define antiship as the opposite.

Unfortunately, proship has always been the same rebranding as SALS/DLDR/YKINMKATO. You can choose personally to think of things however you want, but that doesn't change what the original definition of something is.