#entity 404

[heroforgeryhemporium]

herogrian and friends

[entity143herobrinenulldreadlord]

I have everyone there, it says, "let's make it short, you know someone and you don't know someone, or you called them, or you don't call them." In short, it's your choice. that's all for now, and so far I can't send anything sideways, because right now the drawing is not finished yet, because it will take a very long time to finish, because I'm currently sitting in Minecraft. with friends. That's all for now.

[backrooms-pantheon-convergence]

always

The long-awaited reunion between Symmetria and Rhythmos. The conclusion of Nostalgi Gaius' story.

[switchedaccountssorrryyy]

I remastered a video on Entity 404!

Go check it out!

[waylay-managment-2]

HELLO EVERYONE WELCOME BACK TO ROUND TWO!!!

As you might have noticed, Tumblr has nuked my first blog, and hates my guts; but we persevere! Step one to winning a war is to keep going when you lose the battles!

Feel free to start your stories at any point: I know switching to a new blog midway through a conversation could be jarring!

Rules

No sexual content

Add trigger warnings to posts that need them (with suicide, gore, ED’s, etc)

Flirting is okay, just don’t take it to far (yes Prince, you’re okay)

don’t start rp with other people unless they seem fine with it! I know it can be hard to tell with anon but try not to interrupt like, the introduction.

you don’t need to have a character to interact, but I would recommend it if you want to make a story. I totally understand the appeal of random shitposts with no cohesion and you can be the anon that makes them

OC’s are loved

Other fandoms are welcome

Fanart is appreciated!!!! I love it!!!!!

discord if you want to join!

characters

played by me

Lilith 🦉

Casper Davis 🔖 (waiter)

Daisy May ⚕️(doctor)

Oliver Abara 🍹 (bartender)

Penelope Markos 🥘 (chef)

(Gracelyn White) Libby 📖 (librarian)

normal patrons

Cowboy (Jackson) 🤠

Francis

Abbey

Gin

Entity 0

DG

Mira

Orchid

Iris 🎨

Stella 🌠

Orion 🦜

Bill rose 🌹

Abbigail Prinn 👁️‍🗨️

Twelve-eyed shadow monster 👀

Anthony 🎷

Faroe and Jane 🛁

Orchestra!Arthur and John 🎼

Elle ☄️

A ✨

Caleb Whitely 👑

Trademark ™️

Clarence 🪲

Mr. Campbell 🩶

Candy 🍬

Nova Nyarl

Ghost Kayne

Emcee 🎤

Vixen 🦊

Kiersten 🏹

John (@kingundone)

Darkthur (my beloved) 🔪

Faroe and Jane 🛁

Gin 🎭

Knave 🃏

Stolin ⌚️

The Poet ✒️

Daisy Lilith 🪶

Daisy Kayne 🌼

Space blob 💫

Ant and cricket 🐜 & 🦗

Cube Salesman 🧊

Mander 📼

Lux 🍂

Sage Black “spots” 🐆

Ophelia 🍄‍🟫

Najma Harb 🪻

[NO NAME YET] 🧸

[NO NAME YET] 🌲

Mason and Mischief 🌲 &⚕️

[NO NAME YET] ⛈️ 🐉

[NO NAME YET] 🎷 🐀

[NO NAME YET] 🪴

[NO NAME YET] 🔆

Evelyn 🏔️

Little lamb and whisper 🦐

Merlot 🍷

Wanda ⏱️

[NO NAME YET] 🐦

Seven 🪙 🐍

Tallin 🐺 🩸

Rory ⚙️

Candy 🍭

Penelope 🎀

Edward ♟️

Scratch 🦇

No name by choice 🌂 🟪

Odette Flume 🍵

Idris ⚠️

Esther 🖍️

Seth 🚪

The Progeny 🐍

Rowan Linh 🐈‍⬛

William/Vanity🪽

Caspian and Kit 👁️ & ☀️

Rita Velásquez 🍸

Blank and Beau 📺 🦎

Alastor and Natalie 🕊️ 🐇

more I missed???? Sorry I love you all but there’s so many of you

Nightvale patrons

Cecil 💜

Magnus Patrons

Jon 👁️

Tim 💥

Sasha 🎞️

Martin ☁️

Jonah 🧿

Peter 🌫️

Will 💭

Liam 🪾

Randal 🧃

Micheal distortion 🌀

Gerry 🗝️

Agnus 🔥

Jack ❤️‍🔥

Alma Swallow 🪏

Harper Halloway 🥩

more??????

Genshin 1920’s AU (just… don’t ask…)

Diluc 🦅

In stars and time

Loop 🎻

Camp Here and There

Tony/Tony 🍝

Jedidiah 🕰️

Penumbra Podcast

Slip Jackson 💊 ⚙️

Sarah Wire “Director W” 🕶️

Homestuck… for some reason… because I’ve lost control

Caliborn ⛎

Station 404

Troy 🔨

Em 📻

The Mechanisms

Toy Soldier ��

Pony D’Ville @pony-dville

Fnaf I guess?????

Papaya

Patrons that have moved on to the dark world

Yves Linmann 🍺 (not on this blog, but he still needs recognition)

[itadoraki]

Yoga... or Kamasutra?

—————————————————————————

Night Raven Colle Leaders x R.femele

—————————————————————————

You've always been very flexible, so you decided to start a new stretching routine. He found a channel called "Body & Desire Connection" and began to follow classes without paying attention to the names of the videos... After all, "inverted bridge position" and "opening of cosmic pleasure" seemed like spiritual names, didn't they?

With the bedroom door ajar, your beloved leader passes... and sees you bent into indecent positions, with the most innocent expression in the world.

—————————————————————————

.

.

Riddle Rosehearts (Heartslabyul)

You have one leg behind your head and arching your body, saying:

"Inspires... and contracts the pelvic chakra..."

Riddle, who came to call you for tea, locks at the door, getting as red as her hair.

"I-THIS IS NOT YOGA!"

He tries to look away, but his eyes inevitably fall on the curves outlined by the tight shorts.

"Who taught you... this indecency?!"

You, confused:

"Hey, isn't it to open the heart... and the legs?"

He chokes.

"I... will have to supervise your training from now on... very closely."

⸻ ———————————

Leona Kingscholar (Savanaclaw)

You make a full opening with your hip thrown forward, supported only by your hands. Leona enters with a sleepy face and stops in the act.

"...Heh. It's today."

He leans against the door with a malicious smile.

"I didn't know you did this kind of yoga. She's hired as my private instructor."

You blink, confused:

"But this position helps in the lumbar chakra, right?"

He laughs, approaching.

"I can show you another way to stretch..."

⸻ ———————————

Ashengrotto Blue (Octavinelle)

You are in the position of the "inverted carnal shell" (name invented, but he believes) when Azul enters, adjusting his glasses... and they almost fall.

"Oh heavens... are you getting ready to seduce me or invoke an entity?"

You:

"It's just yoga, Azul... look how I'm opening my hip!"

He clears his throat, clearly sweating.

"This... is... very healthy. Allow me... cof... to participate in the next session, for scientific reasons."

⸻ ———————————

Vil Schoenheit (Pomefiore)

You are doing the position of the "star of heavenly desire" in the middle of the room. Vil enters with a book in his hand, and freezes.

"Honey... this is not yoga. That's... material for sensual rehearsal."

You laugh:

"No, it's not! It's a body opening exercise. Look!" (And folds even more).

Vil sighs, looking at the ceiling:

"So innocent... and so dangerous."

He closes the book and smiles:

"Let's correct your posture... starting by letting me guide your movements."

⸻ ———————————

Idia Shroud (Ignihyde)

You are upside down, with your body twisted and your breasts practically escaping from the top. Idia comes in just to get a cable... and it crashes.

"ERROR 404: SANITY NOT FOUND"

He's in shock. You look upside down and nod:

"Hi, love! I'm doing quantum stretching of the pelvis!"

"WHAT?!"

The flames in his hair turn pink, and he turns around running...

But he comes back seconds later with the cell phone.

"I need to document this. I mean... evaluate technically!"

⸻ ———————————

Malleus Draconia (Diasomnia)

You are making a triple opening with the arched body, almost floating so gracefully. Malleus appears in the garden and observes in silence.

"Are these... human mating dances?"

You:

"What? It's yoga!"

He smiles gently, but the look is penetrating:

"Interesting. So... can I participate? Maybe we can create a position called Draconic Union."

And you? I just wanted to improve my posture...

⸻ ———————————

Kalim Al-Asim

Kalim enters jumping and excited as always, until he stops and sees you on all fours, arched impressively.

"UAAAAH!! HOW FLEXIBLE!"

He runs to you, his eyes shining.

"This pose is new! Can I try too?"

You:

"Of course! It's yoga!"

He tries... and falls. Laughing out loud, throw yourself on your lap.

"Is this yoga? Do you swear? Because my heart is beating like passion."

He hugs you, laughing:

"You are the most fun - and sexy - girlfriend of all!"

—————————————————————————

[deposedefenddeny]

An entity claiming to be United Healthcare is sending bogus copyright claims to internet platforms to get Luigi Mangione fan art taken off the internet, according to the print-on-demand merch retailer TeePublic. An independent journalist was hit with a copyright takedown demand over an image of Luigi Mangione and his family she posted on Bluesky, and other DMCA takedown requests posted to an open database and viewed by 404 Media show copyright claims trying to get “Deny, Defend, Depose” and Luigi Mangione-related merch taken off the internet, though it is unclear who is filing them.

404 Media on Dec 19, 11:24 a.m. ET

[vespidclan]

404 kind of reminds me of an entity in the backrooms-

I literally know nothing about the backrooms but this is a fantastic comparison I fear. 404 LOVES you!

This specific one ^ I absolutely see 404 in that

[verysanebsdfan]

𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒂 𝒁𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒄𝒌 𝒙 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒂!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

Request: And also one where reader is very similar to misa misa from death note !! She's a famous model w kira as her nen and she joined the Hunter to try and see what else she could do!!

Hii!! This is a story to a second part of this request, I hope you like it.

Also i havent watched Death note since like 3 years ago so it may not be all so accurate, the personality i mean !!

tw: mentions of murder and manipulation, headcanons so if dont like it dont read, okay it feels more like a story but kshssksksj

Its longer than i like and expected

MASTERLIST!!

Idk if i understood it correctly, but your nen will be an entity of sorts, Kira, who owns something like a death note but the person doesnt have to die, they can just do whats written in it and then go on with living.

────୨ৎ────

ꨄ︎ Getting tired of your modeling career was something to be expected, the toxic beauty standarts were very annoying, also having people behind your back constantly was just draining, so you ran away.

ꨄ︎ You being an exceptional child learned nen at a very young age, thanks to your nen teacher, so you figured you could expand your abilities and go to take the Hunter exam, I mean people say it's hard right?

ꨄ︎ Upon arrival you immediately notice some interesting people, so far, mostly number 44, who's aura is very interesting, however its pink!! How cute !!

ꨄ︎ Waiting for some time bored you very much, but more interesting people started appearing like number 301, 99 or 294. Only 301 and 44 appeared to know nen though !!

ꨄ︎ How boring !!

ꨄ︎ You bet you could fight and win against all of those people, using your nen ability of course, you might be wondering why did you choose an ability like this, well it is really simple. In the world of modeling and acting, you need people to like you and do what you want, whether it's to not go through some stuff you don't want to, or to higher your pay, maybe just living comfortably. But from whatever point of view you look at it, it's useful.

ꨄ︎ Waiting for few more hours, and being in a room with other 404 applicants was honestly suffocating. You could basically cut through the tension in the air. Everyone was so tense, guys chill it won't be that hard !!

ꨄ︎ I mean i am sure it is the stares that everyone is giving Tonpa, who is currently trying to poison some newbies, number 403, 404 and 405. How interesting...

ꨄ︎ Being led through a very long tunel was also very interesting, i mean, the people here are dropping like flies, losers.

ꨄ︎ But being approached by a green kid who told you that you look strong was something you didn't expect, you thought you hid your strenght well !!

ꨄ︎ But he was fun to hang out around, so you stayed, getting joined by another kid your age later on, number 99, one of the interesting people here.

ꨄ︎ And that is when your life finally started getting interesting.

(why is the beggining longer than headcanons i usually do ;-;)

ꨄ︎ Exploring the airship with the two boys made it really interesting, especially hearing their bacstories, why is everyone here fatherless or has a toxic family...including you, the stare you got from Killua when you told them your parents were assassinated was wild...He might know, you figured, but of course it couldn't have been him, he is not strong enough for that yet...

ꨄ︎ Then getting separated from them in the third and partially fourth phase too was very boring, it was so quiet without them...

ꨄ︎ After you passed the exam, and went to save Killua from his crazy family, you were all together again, and training to get stronger. Mostly on the punching bags in the Heavens Arena...uhhh Humans

ꨄ︎ Unfortunately many people have recognized you, since you were a model and acted in a lot of movies, how annoying, so Killua started being protective over you, subconsciously though. (too ooc?)

ꨄ︎ Months after that, while you guys were on the Whale Island, Killua decided to tag with you and Gon while he finds his dad and you find the person who murdered your parents. Sweet.

ꨄ︎ During the Yorknew arc having been recognized by even more people was so annoying, i mean you couldn't even partake in Kurapikas plan !! At least not like Gon and Killua, what a shame...you could just write some stuff and the boss of the Phantom Troupe could come to you !!

ꨄ︎ Either way, surviving all this while slowly catching feelings was very good. As you got into the game, Greed island and later reunited with your nen teacher, Bisky, everything seemed ideal, at least until you had to leave, it was so fun here !! No anoying 12 year olds fawning over Killua when you walked on the street, it is wrong to kill children after all, no perverted men eyeing you up and down- that was a lie, but still... it is wrong to kill people in general but the latter was fun

ꨄ︎ And now you had to fight some stupid BUGS ?! no.

ꨄ︎ Of course you will, you cannot just leave them, i mean the only thing stopping you are your feelings, but that doesn't change anything...

ꨄ︎ Of course after all this mess you were brought into, you weren't able to confess either. It hurts. It really does, but Gon...he is in bad condition so you gotta set the priorities straight.

ꨄ︎ In the end, Gon met his father, and you met Alluka, how cute, blurting out that you love her brother wasn't so cute, but hey, she supports you !!

ꨄ︎ Telling Killua that you love him right before leaving to kill his older brother who killed your parents wasnt cute either. But hey who cares right ?? We only live once, and you want to kill Illumi Zoldyck you might not live much longer, what do you have to lose.

ꨄ︎ Him trying to stop you wasn't very flashy either...

ꨄ︎ But you cannot leave him now can you ?? Illumi will wait, after all, who can kill him if not you ??

────୨ৎ────

I don't like it a a a a

[strawbiecream]

Hallo spoon again, this time im doing another quick yap before i inevitably disappear for the next few days (or a week)

yes, its headcanon yap. yes, its john doe again. no, i wont stop talking about him

scratches my chin thoughtfully

The Spectre got John in its grip so the corruption comes in a package. A two in one! Not only it gets to manipulate John to its will but also the corruption, how crazy is that? Though it halted the advances of the defunct codes so it no longer spread across his body like wildfire. That doesnt stop the fact that it will continue to affect him. The Spectre could have just let the codes continue its thing: to let it strip away every ounce of empathy and reason that lingers within—turning him into a brutal, cruel and heartless killing machine he was made to be, to let it petrify his dying soul, to let it warp his body and twisting him from the inside out to the point where salvation is no longer an option.

I like my John being a creature but not too much of a creature if that makes sense, hes still somewhat human to me especially now when hes in The Spectre's "great" care that he gets to keep whatever essence of humanity is left in him

But it chose not to.

The Spectre gotta have its own fun with the survivors and killers as well. By halting the corruption's advances, it can keep John's mind stuck in a limbo for as long as it wish to—switching from him being pretty out of it and having moments of clarity. The latter rarely happens, though. Being under constant surveillance of the entity, no one is allowed to catch a break. However, if John were to gain his consciousness back: his body would immediately go numb along with his spinning head; his thoughts would be an incoherent mess that jumbles on top of one another, making him unable to form proper thinking and speech; his heart—would heavy with a feeling so familiar yet so foreign, so far away. John would only lay there in his own personal "limbo" that The Spectre set up for each killer, feeling nothing but the numbing pain across his body and the corruption humming ever so softly on his forever damaged arm. It drives him crazy—hearing the spikes rattles, clicks and sounds of the subtle movements on the side of his torso, gripping onto him, suffocating him. He wouldn't be able to do anything about it, completely powerless against a force out of his control. It's even worse when the sadistic entity doesn't let him go completely, not when it wants to prolong the worsening state of his.

If John were to be the next killer and he isn't ready for the round, The Spectre would mock him before forcing him back into the usual wild and animalistic self. It would also takes away any traces of her in his memories, to try and make sure he won't ever and will never remember.

The remaining essence of humanity that still presents in that monster can be seen through his old habits that he—unknowingly—does. Sometimes after emerging spikes from the ground, he will use his claw to pull on his tie a little as a way to "adjust" it. Sometimes after locating the survivors using 404 ERROR, he will bring his claw up to push the nonexistent glasses on his face with his palm. These little habits can catch the eye of the survivors, but they don't think much of it when their main goal is to survive.

Thansk for coming to my yapfest lelelele :D :D :D im off to lock in again

[backrooms-pantheon-convergence]

Claudius, Augustus and Gudang

Art by Ally Charnutz, ArtlessArteen, xueran11148, LichtHex, and Nidrok

[dutifullylazybread]

What are your Rolan headcanons?

Apologies for the late response! My brain gave me an Error 404 notification, and I sat there for a moment like... What are my Rolan headcanons?! But then I thought on it, and I definitely have a few! Romantic and NSFW are under the cut!

SFW

Rolan can't actually sleep without some form of light. Prior to Elturel's Descent, there was this glowing orb that hung over their city that they called The Companion. Before they learned the real reason for its existence (which I will not spoil here), it was this entity that shed light over the city 24/7, and that light extended out in a 50 mile radius. So people born in Elturel were used to sleeping with the Companion overhead at all times, whereas visitors would use light-canceling curtains so that they could sleep (inns would offer these). This is my long way of saying that Rolan can't actually sleep if there isn't a light source going in the room. If it's the fireplace, it can die down throughout the night, but it must be going when he falls asleep.

I think that he drinks wine and has a deeper appreciation for it because of the Descent. All food in Avernus tastes terrible--even the rations that you brought with you. In the "Descent Into Avernus" module, the text makes a point to say that wine tastes like spoiled milk in Avernus. So I think that, for Rolan, he savors the taste of wine in particular. Sometimes to the point of excess.

Whatever he overindulged in at the Last Light Inn, he now hates. For no reason whatsoever, I think he went too hard at Plum Fizz, threw it up, and now he can't even stand to look at it. I don't want to say that the same is the case for Arabellan Dry, but there is at least one drink that he overindulged in that now turns his stomach.

He is a very light sleeper. Zariel had a skeleton crew of devils that would skulk the streets of Elturel and torment its inhabitants. If Rolan was a heavy sleeper before, after having the devils pass his family's home with such regularity put him on edge, because they could never guarantee that the devils wouldn't break into their home. Now, even the slightest noise can wake him.

I think that a devil offered him a deal in Avernus. Likely, it would have been the power to protect Cal and Lia. I think he was very close to taking it--even more so if their mother was dead at this point. I think he ultimately did not take it, and I think Lia and Cal yelled at him if they found out he was considering a deal in the first place.

This man 100% tried to brave Avernus' terrain to find a way to keep his siblings safe. The problem with Avernus is that the terrain is ever changing. Per the "Descent into Avernus" module, going to Fort Knucklebone might be ten miles. Going BACK from Fort Knucklebone might be sixty miles instead. I don't know if he gave up and went home of his own accord or if the party of heroes who helps Elturel help him get home. Either way, he views it as a failing on his part.

After their mother was killed, I think Rolan experienced a serious amount of survivor's guilt. This makes it so he is even more protective of Cal and Lia. Nothing else matters but keeping them alive. Hence why he is so deep in his cups when you find him at Last Light--he feels that he broke the promise that he made to their mother. He failed to protect his family. The ONE promise he wanted to keep, no matter what.

He wrote to Lorroakan, desperate for an apprenticeship, because the other Elturel Refugees were also heading to Baldur's Gate. However, refugees from Elturel were being actively blocked from entering the city. I definitely think he believed that Lorroakan was talented if he could lay claim to Ramazith's tower, but I also think that he wanted to make sure that he, Cal, and Lia all had a home when they got there. I think that he was willing to put up with a lot if it meant that his siblings were safe. So, in a sense, this was an apprenticeship of convenience, but I also think he did believe that a wizard who presided over Ramazith's tower would likely be a talented one.

I think that Lorroakan likely took credit for one or two of Rolan's arcane discoveries.

This man is vain. Everything about his appearance says "immaculate." Does he find a smudge on his sleeve? Prestidigitation. Is there a tear along a seam? Mending. Hair out of place? He'll be back in ten minutes--he just needs to get everything in order.

He is always thinking about how he can make a spell into an experience that Cal and Lia can enjoy. Not just prestidigiation, but also minor illusion. I wouldn't put it past him to learn Control Weather so that if they're too hot, he can cool them down. Are they disappointed that the snow disappeared too soon? Well, he has just the answer.

He is overprotective. To a fault.

While he genuinely believes it when he claims to be "the handsome master of Ramazith's Tower," or argues that he is talented, I think he started saying these things so that he could convince himself first. If he was abandoned by his birth parents, that no doubt took a toll on him. So he is very fond of positive self-talk.

Romantic

He might not always know how to verbalize his feelings, but he does demonstrate them in other ways.

Your favorite food? He learns how to make it. And he always has the ingredients on hand.

You mention offhandedly what your favorite drink is? He has at least three tins/bottles of it on hand.

If you want to make him short-circuit, wear socks that don't match.

He'll say he isn't a cuddler. He is a liar. He'll claim that the extra pillows and blankets lying around are there for your comfort, which is true, but he is also the one who is primed and ready to tuck them around you and him and read for hours on end.

Also, he loves spending time with you doing different things in the same room. He doesn't think he gets lonely since he is so used to studying on his own, but when you start sitting next to him or settling into place on a nearby couch while he works, he realizes what was missing.

He is the king of longing stares from across the room.

Will short circuit if you sit on his lap and kiss his neck (can't say more in the SFW section!)

Will cling to you when you sleep in the same bed. You honestly don't need much in the way of blankets because of the heat he puts off.

NSFW

Oh ho ho ho. I have so many and so few at the same time!!

Will bite you if you ask (and will fantasize if you don't), but he loves the idea of marking you as his, so he wants to do nothing but give you lovebites.

Personally, I think he is a switch. He can go from being the best service top in the world to being the one in need of a lot of physical affection and care. He struggles to actually verbalize what he needs, but if you can pick up on his cues, you can very much so tell whether he needs you to take the lead. From there, it's a matter of suggesting something and seeing if he is game.

That being said, he will not hesitate to bend you over a desk or take you against a bookshelf.

I don't think Rolan is a virgin (let's be real, if he has so many fans outside of a D&D setting, he definitely had a few who were attracted to him in Elturel). But he has always been very focused on taking care of his family or his studies, and I don't think he was ready for a serious relationship until after settling into the tower.

That being said, while he isn't a virgin, he also isn't well-versed in different sexy time fun things.

THAT BEING SAID, if you float an idea to him, he's going to consider it. And, so long as he is comfortable, he's down to try it too.

And once you and him start having sex on the regular, he starts to see the real potential that spells can have. Mage hand is an easy one... but what about enlarge person?

Get him worked up enough, and he will absolutely decide to fuck you in every single room of the tower (Cal's and Lia's excluded)

100% uses his tail. I shall say no more.

Your moans will make him short circuit. It takes EVERYTHING for him not to come when you moan.

Your moans, or your squeals, are also enough to get him hard. Expect him to start acting a little... needy after you make a noise like that.

King of morning sex. I shall say no more.

Loves when you go down on him. And if you moan around his cock? He's a goner.

If you blow him under his desk? He will never be able to sit at that desk again... not without going full mast.

If he's working and you whisper something lewd in his ear before walking off, he is either going to abandon his studies and want to take you up on your suggestion or he's going to sit there and stew. Either way, you have a blushing mess of a wizard on your hands.

[crystal-va]

404 ENTITY REPORT: 01

- Karvarshal / Faker

"Despite this... creature being a fairly new 'addition' to the multiverse, I've decided to reorganize my reports to have it as a top priority."

-------------------------------------------

"It calls itself 'Karvarshal; the Trickster God'

it's shown itself to be an active threat to the multiverse, destroying universes and timelines without cause. It seems like it's attempting to copy me, but it misses a purpose in its destruction.

I'd adore the chance to remove it, however, it is unfortunately incredibly powerful and... tricky.

It moves through shadows, making it an incredibly annoying foe in battle. It also seems to have abilities that are meant to be mimics of my own. Its version of the Godray is far simpler, acting like a burst of raw magic as opposed to the condensed beam of mainframe energy I use. It seems to have a fairly perfect recreation of my Blue Mastery, only noticeable difference being the black aura that surrounds what it uses it on as opposed to the normal blue aura. Similar stories for the rest.

The rest of its abilities outside of its unique shadow manipulation seem to be borrowed from others it's fought. I've seen it mimic Abyss' crystals, minor code manipulation from Root, strings from Error and Fatal, and other less significant examples.

all of these seem to be made with the same form of magic.

(additional note: it's magic seems to be incredibly different from the normal magic flowing through the multiverse, impossible to tell what specifically makes it different without a sample)

To top everything off, it's smart, incredibly smart. Not as smart as me or Omni, but incredibly intelligent nonetheless. It seems to attempt to hide its intelligence with its monstrous actions and body language, but I see through it."

Danger Level: Multi-Universe Threat

END REPORT

This is the beginning of a little "series" I wanna make in between working on comics and (sometimes) asks. Little bits of notes 404 keeps on the different figures in the voidverse!

The timeline of these won't necessarily be chronological, sometimes 404 will have root and fatal, sometimes he won't. You can gather what's recent and what isn't based on that.

(I promise I'm still working on the several comics I've already started... at least one of them should be done moderately soon...)

404 & Karvarshal / Faker belong to Vibeless15

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VoidVerse interpretations from me

[monetizeme]

An entity claiming to be United Healthcare is sending bogus copyright claims to internet platforms to get Luigi Mangione fan art taken off the internet, according to the print-on-demand merch retailer TeePublic. An independent journalist was hit with a copyright takedown demand over an image of Luigi Mangione and his family she posted on Bluesky, and other DMCA takedown requests posted to an open database and viewed by 404 Media show copyright claims trying to get “Deny, Defend, Depose” and Luigi Mangione-related merch taken off the internet, though it is unclear who is filing them.

[bardhobibi]

Boothill, Aventurine and the IPC: Survivors of genocide and colonisation, loss of identity, loneliness and racial discrimination

CONTENT WARNING FOR GENOCIDE AND COLONIZATION DISCUSSION, PEJORATIVE TERMS USED FOR THE ROMA PEOPLE, CULTURAL ERASURE AND RACISM

First, I want to apologise for the English. It's not my first, not even my third, language, and I originally wrote this in my first native language and then translated it with Collins. I have tried to correct it as much as possible, but maybe there are errors.

Very bad introduction

I am going to start by explaining a crucial thing in political studies: neither of them is a war survivor.

For a war to be considered as such, it has to be between two armies that are moderately equal in strength and technological power: The two World Wars; the Peloponnesian War between the Greek city-states between 431 - 404 BC; the Hundred Years' War between 1337 and 1453 that pitted two French and English houses against each other, etc. These are wars. And wars are a kind of military and violent conflict. But not all military or violent conflicts are wars. And as a curiosity, a violent conflict between an occupying force and an occupied territory can NOT be considered a war.

So let's remember the origin of these two characters, and above all, what they have in common. Which is a lot, and for this we will also have to take into account later on which peoples, very real, both are inspired.

Sigonia-IV

Aventurine in lore comes from a planet called Sigonia-IV, mainly desert and with a small population. The native peoples all have the same language, however, they have been divided into clans and wars and conflicts are common. At some point, the IPC arrived on the planet, and Oswaldo Schneider, leader of the Marketing Development Department, managed to reach a treaty with the clans called "Sigonian Sovereignty", according to which all the clans were united in a single political entity. However, among these clans, there was a marked prejudice towards two specific clans: the Katicans and the Avgins. To such an extent that there were prejudices against these clans that the rest decided to leave them out of the treaty of Sigonian sovereignty, and it was voted in parliament to expel both clans to the most desert areas, also giving the Avgins autonomy.

It is important to mention that the Katicans and the Avgins were already minoritarian clans due to a first near-extinction event that took place in the past due to a conflict between the two, and that "hatred" between the two clans continued in the present day. Banishing them together to an even more deserted area had no way it would end well, and in fact, it ended terribly badly. The conflict between the two clans escalated, and eventually, the Katicans decided to carry out a planned extermination against the Avgin population. The Avgins, knowing that this was a possibility, asked the IPC for help, who agreed to send aid if the conflict worsened. Finally, the day of the Avgin’s Kakava religious festival arrived, and the population came out to celebrate, believing themselves to be safe. However, the Katicans took the opportunity to attack, and the IPC did not appear to help. The result was 6,728 Avgins dead and 3,452 missing. The IPC announced this event as a "small rebellion" caused by "the Katican insurgents, who had a long history of hatred towards the IPC". They even go so far as to announce:

“The clan launched a massive attack on the Avgin , who where under the protection of the IPC […] The spokeperson expresses his deepest condolences for this devastating humanitarian disaster, at the same time delivering an important message on this matter to all the interplanetary citizens. Finally he proclaims: “The hammer of Preservation will fall on all beings, regardless of life and death, regardless of race, regardless of ideology, to uphold the basic rights we inherently possess” (The Life Of Aventurine Summarized | Penacony Trailblaze Mission Cutscenes | Honkai Star Rail 2.1)

The only known survivor was Kakavasha, a young orphan who until then lived with his sister in a poor tent and wagons in the desert and who must not have been more than ten years old the day of the attack. After the event, he was sold and tattooed as a slave, until he finally killed his owner and managed to rise in the IPC to the Aventurine we know, where he would receive constant complaints from other workers racially motivated by concern that he was Avgin. But it is important to mention the last complaint that the worker mentions about Kakavasha:

"And let's not forget the letters from the councillors of the Sigonian Sovereignty. They denounce his tribe for once breaking agreements and sowing discord, leading to significant changes in the balance of peace between the tribes, resulting in repeated delays in the signing of agreements between Sigonia and IPC. Allowing such an employee to join at the IPC would be a severe detriment to public relations…"

Whether or not it's true what the Sigonians say about the Avgin's alleged conflictive nature, I don't care. There is still a component of racial prejudice. Let us remember that these same councillors were the ones who voted, PARLIAMENTARY, to displace the Avgin people to even more desert areas, condemning them to famine, and forcing them to political independence so that they would not have responsibility for their security. That, in hindsight, the councillors complain that an Avgin, the last known one left and who was only a child when his people suffered a genocide, has a position of power, reveals a level of prejudice that clearly discredits, in my opinion, any criticism they had of the Avgin. Fuck, that his ethnic background is a "detriment to IPC public relations" is pure racism.

So let's take a good look at the Avgin conflict and genocide as if you were my students:

If we are left with only the story sold internationally within the game the result is this: A conflictive clan has been exterminated by another conflictive clan and the IPC did not arrive in time to prevent it, but no one is going to be very sad because they were conflictive people who did not contribute anything anyway *sad face*. This is fk bullshit. The Avgin genocide was orchestrated and premeditated. Both by the Sigonians and by the IPC.

Let's remember one very important thing: The Katicans. All we know of this clan is that they were rivals of the Avgins, had a first near-extinction event between them in the past, and that the rest of Sigonia hated them as much as the Avgin, and there were also strong prejudices towards them. We don't know what prejudices existed towards them other than being a violent clan, but we know there were more. Enough to displace them equally to the desert. What's the problem with this? It was a premeditated step knowing what was going to happen between the two, and the intention was to cause a second Katican-Avgin extinction event. They could have displaced both clans to two different deserts. But they didn't. Lock two hungry animals in an empty room. Let's see if they become friends. No. The reality is that only one will come out alive, if not both of them dead.

The initial plan might seem simple: gather them in the desert and hope they will kill each other if they don't starve to death first. Both options worked. But the reality was more complicated and insidious. Let's remember that the Sigonians gave independence to the Avgin clan mainly so that they would not have to take care of them: if they die of hunger or something happens to them, it is their problem. But why didn't they give it to the Katicans (it is mentioned that independence was given to the Avgin specifically, but no mention to the Katicans, so for now I will assume that they did not have it) despite also being in the same situation? It would seem obvious to give independence to both clans and let them kill each other. Sigonia would have no responsibility. Easy. Because they also wanted to get rid of the Katicans. They knew that this clan would attack the Avgin because they were stronger. But if they were also independent, the Sigonians could do nothing to punish them and they didn't want a strong clan having political independence. However, if the Katicans were still Sigonians, and attacked a "foreign" people, it means that Sigonia had the ability to legally judge the Katicans for war crimes and justify the prejudices they already had against them. I'm not going to take the blame off the Katicans for the Avgin genocide, be careful. They shouldn't have to do it, and they were ultimately guilty of this crime. But lately I am going to recognize that, even as victimizers, they were victims: they were sent to starve to death in the desert, they were deprived of political freedom and suffered institutional racism, and they were expected to commit genocide as an excuse to increase the iron fist against them and ensure their future confinement in the desert and that they end up starving for real. The genocide was orchestrated to ensure the extinction of the two clans without even having to touch them: The Sigonians and the IPC would have their hands clean of blood.

And did the IPC actively participate in this plan, you may ask? But of course :D

We know that the IPC has no problem getting blood on its hands, as we will see later in the case of Boothill and Aeragan-Epharshel. But if they can manipulate the situation and come out with clean hands? Obviously they are going to do it. The Sigonian Sovereignty was completely in agreement with collaborating with the IPC, so "why not do them a small favor and eliminate the two dissident clans?" When the Sigonian counsellors gave autonomy to the Avgin and sent them into the desert, the Avgin ended up asking the IPC for help in case the Katicans attacked, but we know that when they did, they did not appear. This is the only and greatest evidence of the IPC's active participation in the Avgin-Katican extinction plan. By being "autonomous", the Avgins could not ask for help from the Sigonians, so they went to the IPC, who, by accepting, would be the good guys in the story. And the Sigonians would know this, because by promising the IPC's help, the Avgins would make a tragic mistake: relax. It was the only missing piece to allow the Katicans attack to succeed. What the IPC would have to do was simply "not have time to show up." This is why the Avgin were given autonomy and not the Katicans, because they knew that they would be the victims of the impending genocide. Sigonia would then not be to blame for the death of the Avgin, nor had the responsibility for the Katicans attacking, as it was their decision, a decision that would reinforce their confinement in the desert and mark them as enemies of the IPC for attacking one of their "protégés". And so you have a perfect genocide plan for two clans:

Send two enemy clans to the desert, where they are going to starve to death and tensions between them are going to increase.

Give autonomy to the Avgins so that Sigonia is not to blame for what happens to them, cutting them from political and social proteccion, so that they have to ask the IPC for help.

When the Katicans attack, the IPC, the only help the Avgin had, should not arrive in time and let them all die.

Legally judge the surviving Katicans for war crimes because they still are Sigonians, to mark them as enemies of the IPC, and to reinforce their confinement in the desert.

The only part of this plan that we could say I have "invented" is point 4, about the fate of the Katicans since at the moment in the game nothing is mentioned about it. But it is not necessary either. It is the next logical step.

Aeragan-Epharshel

Boothill comes from a continent called Aeragan-Epharshel, where he was educated as a cowboy. It is unknown what happened to his biological parents, but it is known that his adoptive parents found him as a baby in the snow, and his original name in the local ancient language meant "loaded gun". Aeragan-Epharshel is described as a prosperous and resource-rich continent, large and with livestock and agricultural trade. It presumably has a tribal society, as at the very least Boothill describes its home society by that name. But the main resource they had; I do not dare to say how much knowledge the native population had about it; it was an underground black metal that caught the attention of the IPC as it was used for the construction of heavy weapons and/or weapons of mass destruction. The IPC, upon discovering the large settlements of this black metal in Aeragan-Epharshel arrived, and without even trying to negotiate with the local tribes (as they actually did in Sigonia-IV), they began a massive excavation project that displaced entire tribes from their lands, being humiliated with abusive purchases and insults to their beliefs. I hope there is no need to explain why this is textbook colonisation. Because of this, the local populations would organise themselves as guerrillas to fight against the IPC, without success due to the disproportionate difference in armament strength. Not even knowledge of the terrain was giving them an advantage. Boothill would decide to disguise himself and sneak into the main ship to look for the man who was running the entire operation and thus end the problem at its root. He would not find him. Instead, he would discover something worse, the words of, allegedly, Oswaldo Schneider, leader of the Marketing Development Department:

“Aeragan-Epharshel contains crucial strategic resources. He who claims it first will take great advantage in departmental competition. As these savage and uncivilised cowboys are unwilling to cooperate with the Marketing Development Department, we have no choice but to assume administration of this world on their behalf. We are running out of time. You are permitted to use military force and bring civilisation to this world”

The following would happen very quickly. Boothill would try to flee the ship, but by the time he reached his home, it was too late. Everything had been engulfed in flames, not even the ashes of his family were left and his entire tribe was completely annihilated. What little population of other tribes remained was minimal and they ended up separated in tiny reserves that are smaller every year (i.e. they face very real extinction).

I want to stop here and ask you to reread the words of Oswaldo Schneider. Come on, read them again.

Very well done, baby.

Have you analysed well what it implies? Yes, wow, he's a bad person, he's racist, he's called them savages and uncivilised, he's a coloniser... Etc. That's the obvious part. What may not seem so obvious (or yes, lol) is how this message reveals the IPC's real strategy for the Aeragan-Epharshel continent, and it's much worse. Colonisation and occupation are not simply about forcibly entering a territory and seizing power. There are always strategies in place to control native populations both physically and psychologically: violent repression, displacement of populations and finally the destruction of their native identity. But there is also a psychological event happening in the minds of the colonisers: they will always look for excuses to turn the rhetoric in their favour and become victims or saviours. Words have the power to change history and move armies towards criminal acts through the dehumanisation of native populations.

Notice how Schneider speaks of the native population not "COOPERATING": What these words imply is that "the actions of the IPC are valid and necessary, that they have come in peace, and that they were expected to cooperate as if nothing had happened, being surprised that there was resistance." It's the same shitty logic that when a cop in the Police TV shows suddenly chases someone innocent on the street, the person runs away and then throws in his face a "why were you running away if you're innocent". I don't know, why were you chasing him when you know you can't trust a policeman in almost any country, much less there? They assume the desire for cooperation because they consider themselves a higher authority figure.

Which comes to us in Schneider's following words: as "THEY HAVE NO CHOICE" but to take over the administration of this world "IN THEIR PLACE". The "we have no choice" implies that it is their "last option", that "oh what a shame to have to go to this extreme, but you have left us no other option", that they have "tried everything previously, but their patience has run out". With these words, "we have no choice," he is blaming, consciously or unconsciously, the native tribes for his own death. It is a "if we attack you, it is your fault for not cooperating, we did not want to". And finally, it continues with a colonialist infantilization towards the capacity for self-government of the natives. There is an assumption that "they are violent because they have not let us take resources from their lands" = "they are savages, without diplomatic and political capacity and they cannot take care of themselves, so we have to come and take care of them so that they do not kill each other". If you say I'm exaggerating, let's remember Schneider's last words: "They can use military force and CIVILIZE THIS WORLD." He says so himself. These are his words. It could not be clearer. Schneider considers it a disgustingly paternalistic responsibility to care for this "infantilized" society. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Schneider say in a future verbatim: "We teach them culture and a language, I don't know what they're complaining about.”

What is tremendously terrible is the manipulation that these words reveal. He complains that they do not cooperate, and that they have been left no choice but to almost exterminate them and assume power in the place. It's fucking gaslighting. Manipulation at a tremendous, insidious level. The reality is that the IPC arrived dehumanising the native populations so much that they did not even bother to negotiate with them and entered by force and with violence. They provoked the local population, and when they logically defended themselves, they played the victim. I don't know if you understand how repulsive this is. It is difficult to understand the helplessness that Boothill, the only survivor of his tribe, suffers, being aware of how the history of his world has been sold, and how they have been villainised.

Racial discrimination and loss of identity

What Boothill and Aventurine survived was not a war. They were survivors of a violent colonising conflict and planned genocides. And they are also victims of racial discrimination. Yes, in the game they are both white as milk, one is blonde and the other has white hair. We know how the gamecompany is, it is a little difficult for them to put skins of other colors. But that doesn't change anything. Canonically, they suffer racism within the game itself, and in real life, they would suffer it as well. The skin is not the only indicator of being able to suffer racism.

Boothill, as far as I remember, in the current game, there is no mention of any direct insult or discrimination towards him, but mainly because he does not make relation to anyone who is prejudiced towards the people of Aeragan-Epharshel. But canonically, as we could well hear Oswaldo Schneider say, the tribes of Aeragan-Epharshel were "savages without civilization from whom it is not necessary to ask permission to extract resources from their lands and with whom genocide is justified, and those who survive, to be displaced from their lands of origin and grouped in reserves where they can be re-educated and civilized." This is canon. I'm not making it up. It is said as it is within the game.

With Aventurine it's even more obvious. The genocide against the Aeragan-Epharshel tribes was caused directly by the IPC for two reasons: 1) they did not bother to negotiate with them because they considered them so inferior, and 2) there were no conflicts (as far as we know and the rapidly united) between tribes as notorious as in Sigonia-IV. Sigonia's problem, and what suited the IPC very well, was the long history of conflict and prejudice that existed between clans and that they exploited. They didn't need to get blood on their hands, they just had to pull a couple of strings and that's it.

But also something that the Avgins were known for was their physical appearance: they are described as extremely attractive, and with very striking eyes like Aventurine's, something specific to them and that racially marks Aventurine, differentiating him from non-Avgins.

However, this was mixed with big negative stereotypes: they were considered a clan of cheaters, liars, social manipulators and thieves. This defamation was not unique to his home planet. In his story (Character Story: Part I), we discover that when he started working for the IPC, other workers sent formal and informal complaints, mainly "concerns about his origin", and his eyes are mentioned:

"It's complaints about him, both formal and informal. My mailbox has been flooded with them like countless pieces of paper. I wonder... if it's worth reconsidering his inclusion in the Strategic Investment Department.”

"What do these complaints say?”

"Mostly about his origins. Those eyes of his…"

The conversation goes on to mention two cases in which Kakavasha (he still used this name) allegedly deceived the IPC by guiding them to false resources, although the other person later reminds him that those were nothing more than rumors. Let's face it, these rumours wouldn't have existed if he wasn't Avgin, and they would have treated it as "mistakes." His presence was also considered an "IPC public relations problem", solely because of his ancestry, as the Sigonian Sovereignty had complained about it. Even today, we know that Aventurine continues to suffer some degree of disguised discrimination, only cut short by the fact that he is now someone with power within the IPC.

Another thing, in this section, and which both have in common, is the loss of identity. Both are the last survivors of their respective tribes/clans. Yes, in Aeragan-Epharshel there are still natives on the reservations, but we know that from his specific tribe, he is the last. The same with Aventurine. There are still many Sigonians. Avgins? As far as we know, only him.

In the case of Bothill there are two essential things that we do not know: whether all the tribes had the same language, and if his tribe consisted of all the inhabitants of Aeragan-Epharshel as a continent or if there were several tribes, among which his own? Since it has been directly mentioned that in Sigonia everyone had the same language, but this has not been mentioned for Aeragan-Epharshel, we can assume they were different languages. We do know, however, that there was in the past at least one common ancient language in Aeragan-Epharshel, which leads me to understand that it could be a situation like Latin, and that it has subsequently been divided into multiple languages, or has evolved so much that the old and new languages are too different.

“The child had a striking and beautiful name that in the ancient language of Aeragan-Epharshel meant "loaded gun.”” (Character Story: Part I)

No matter the case, for Boothill, his language is in danger of extinction in the same way as his people. In a few generations, there will be no one left who speaks his language, if there is even anyone left who speaks it, as far as we know, the other tribes that remain could have other languages. If that is the case, it’s highly likely, the language of his specific tribe is already extinct. But even if this was not the case, there is another detail to take into account: the native populations of Aeragan-Epharshel that remain alive are all gathered in small reserves, and that the IPC intended to “civilise” these populations. Honestly, does anyone seriously believe that they are allowed to continue speaking their original languages? We all know that this is not the case. Even if there is anyone left who spoke the original language of Boothill or had knowledge of the ancient language of Aeragan-Epharshel, in two or three generations, they will be forgotten. We, as players, are not even left to know his real name. The one that had a beautiful meaning in the ancient language of Aeragan-Epharshel, and within the game, is the same. No one is going to call him anymore by the name that previous generations gave him, or know what it means. No one is going to celebrate his tribe's festivities with him again. No one is going to sing to him the songs that his father sang to him in his childhood and he inherited to sing to his daughter, nor will they ever hear the guitar rhythms he grew up with the moment he dies. Because his tribe's culture has disappeared into the flames, and he is the last one left.

Aventurine is the same. While we know his original name, Kakavasha, he has since stopped using it. Aventurine, sadly, is a name that opens many more doors for him, while Kakavasha is a name that puts a target on his back without people even needing to see his eyes to identify him as Avgin. Because Kakavasha is also a name with a marked cultural influence: it is derived from an Avgin holiday that he can no longer celebrate. While the Avgin religion was mainly celebrated in private, the Kakava was one of the few, and as far as we know, the only, public and common celebration of the Avgin due to its importance. And there is no one left to celebrate it as it should be. In community. Faith in Gaiathra Triclops has been reduced to the memories and privacy of a single person who does not even have the possibility of celebrating it properly.

Both are alone, their community's cultural identity extinct, and yet they still suffer discrimination because of their origins.

"Inspirations" from real etnias

I cannot continue this work without taking into account something very important. The real ethnic and cultural inspiration behind these two characters. At the moment it's pretty obvious, especially Boothill, who I'm going to start with. It is clearly inspired by a mix between cowboys and Native American people. But to what extent is it inspired? Well, let me tell you one thing: "inspired" is an understatement. Canonically, within the game itself, Boothill is Algonquin Apache. And I don't say "inspired," "referenced," "pseudo-canon," "feels," "based," or any other word meant to justify the denial that he is Algonquin Apache specifically. I'm talking about the game itself, within the lore itself, the word Algonquin Apache is used to define Boothill's native continent. I know what you will think, when was that? Because in the anglo-speaking translation of the game this does not appear anywhere. And you are right in fact.

Let's remember what his continent is called "Aeragan-Epharshel". This means nothing by itself. But it's important to remember that the game's original language is Chinese. The screenwriters are Chinese. And "Aeragan-Epharshel" is a pseudo phonetic anglo-translation of the original Chinese 阿尔冈-阿帕歇. However, the literal translation of 阿尔冈-阿帕歇 is, in fact, Algonquin-Apache. If you translate the original Chinese wiki, 阿尔冈-阿帕歇, it will be translated as "Algonquin-Apache".

And in real life, the Algonquin are the most widespread Native American group left in North America, especially in Canada and to a lesser extent in the United States, and it is a grouping defined by its linguistic root, which are the Algonquian languages. The Apache are another well-known Native American group, which is distributed in the southwestern part of the United States, also with his own language.

Out of curiosity I went to an online translator of proto-Algonquin to search for "loaded gun". I didn't get anything from the combination, BUT "gun", according to this translator, is said "paᐧškesikani" (I don't know to what extent this is true or not to the language), and in Apache gun, according to the translator I used, would be "bee ídiltʼohé", so if you follow the language rule, maybe its original name is something like that. Another interesting detail is that its current name, Boothill, comes from the expression "Boot Hill", a real term to refer to cemeteries for unknown, unclaimed or indigent people. Him, wearing in his cibord body the same black metal for which the IPC killed all his tribe, and naming himself like a "burial for unknown people", is pretty poetic, and fucking sad.

In a very summarized way, I hope that we all know what was the fate suffered by the native communities of North America. The european settlers did not seek integration with the local tribes and were treated as foreigners in their own territory, they were displaced from their own lands, attempts were made to re-educate them by forcing them into a new language and religion with punishments for using their original languages and faith, and today many live on pseudo-autonomous reservations where the current governments (USA and Canada) are not responsible for them condemning them to a tremendous insecurity, legal, physical and social, causing hate crimes against them not to be properly judged and unable to defend themselves against disproportionate institutional discrimination.

And now Aventurine. My dear Aventurine. It makes me sad because there is so much denial about the real people in which he is inspired. In fact, as a curiosity, the same thing happens to Boothill. Their ethnicity is canonical within the game itself in a slightly different way, but the same in spirit.

His planet, Sigonia-IV, is, to a lesser extent, a poorly done phonetic translation (but not as badly as Aeragan-Epharshel) of the original (simplified) Chinese: 茨冈尼亚-IV. In English, the letters have been changed so that the name is not recognized, which, in Chinese, is written practically as it is. 茨冈尼亚-IV., translated into English, is literally Tsigonia-IV. Some of you will see where this is going. The word 茨冈尼亚-IV. is basically a "compound" word: they have taken the name of an ethnicity and added -ia at the end to make the name of the planet/state, such as France (Country of the French/Franks). 茨冈, the first half, is the one we are interested in: it literally means "tzigane", and 尼亚, the second half, the "nia". It is literally, planet of tziganes. But who are the tziganes in real life? Well, the Roma people. The "gypsies". In fact, if you translate 茨冈 in any translator, you will get "gypsy", but pronounced in Chinese as "Cígāng".

Gypsy is basically a pejorative word (so avoid using it) with which the Roma people have historically been called. So at the very least, canonically within the game, Aventurine's original ethnic nationality is “Tzigane” aka "Gypsy" aka “Roma".

But it is not the only "reference". The name of their original clan, "Avgin", within the game and in the Sigonian language, means honey. But in fact, in real life, Avgin also means honey in the Romani language, coming from the Persian angabīn (انگبین). Another instance is the religious event that the Avgin celebrate and where the genocide took place: Kakava, which we can in fact, recognise as the basis for Aventurine's original name, KAKAVAsha, having been born on this day. The fact is that the Kakava religious holiday exists in real life, and it is a religious holiday called exactly the same celebrated by the Roma-Turkish people in Turkey.

An extra detail are the details in the design of Aventurine that are reminiscent of a peacock, an animal from the Indian subcontinent, the same place where the Romani people also theoretically come from before their migrations.

Aventurine is Roma. And unfortunately, his history is a reflection of the real life of these people. People stigmatised for centuries as "thieves and violent liars", who have been physically and legally removed from the states in which they have tried to settle. People that has also suffered a real genocide attempt by Nazi Germany. It is not known exactly how many were killed, but it is estimated that between 25% and 50% of the total Roma population died, and this genocide was not recognised until 1982, so they did not receive justice in time either. And today, in addition, they continue to be victims of severe institutional discrimination. I do not know their situation in North America. But in Europe? The racism that this community suffers is one of the worst, mainly because its discrimination is minimised and, above all, normalised even by people who do not present active racism towards other people. Their integration is prevented in the states where they live, but they are criticized for not being integrated. It is a vicious circle of discrimination from which it is not easy to escape.

So, if you are interested, reread this entire analysis, but now change the words for their real translations.

Read how a corporation organised the Algonquin, Apache, and Roma genocide. How the Algonquins and Apaches have been called "savages without civilization", and how the Roma have been called "liars and thieves". How the governing capacity of the Algonquin and Apache peoples has been infantilized and the few who remain have been sent to reservations stripped of their liberties. How people complain about a Roma person working with them in the same company.

Read, and learn how Boothill and Aventurine would suffer active and normalised institutional discrimination in our real and very present world, and think about who the IPC would be. 

(P.D. Damn this was long and this is the resumé… I feel like I left a lot of things out and this is still 11 pages)

[mountmortar]

hey, guys! i feel this post is kind of important to make given the sheer amount of people who use discord:

(and here's a link to the article that isn't paywalled, in an archive).

as per the first two paragraphs of the article:

An online service is scraping Discord servers en masse, archiving and tracking users’ messages and activity across servers including what voice channels they join, and then selling access to that data for as little as $5. Called Spy Pet, the service’s creator says it scrapes more than ten thousand Discord servers, and besides selling access to anyone with cryptocurrency, is also offering the data for training AI models or to assist law enforcement agencies, according to its website. The news is not only a brazen abuse of Discord’s platform, but also highlights that Discord messages may be more susceptible to monitoring than ordinary users assume. Typically, a Discord user’s activity is spread across disparate servers, with no one entity, except Discord itself, able to see what messages someone has sent across the platform more broadly. With Spy Pet, third-parties including stalkers or potentially police can look up specific users and see what messages they’ve posted on various servers at once.

here's another (brief) article about it:

news about this has just started reaching people en masse within the last couple days, but i didn't know if it had reached tumblr yet, so. yeah. here.