#intermediate alchemy

[heexseung]

꒰ 🌧 ꒱ ┄ ❛ dark academia ；caeruleum ❜

* pairing: vampire!heeseung x afab!reader

* tags: smut, fluff, romantic, human!reader, degradation (m. receiving), praise (m. receiving), mentions of free use, handjob (m. receiving), overstimulation (m. receiving), bratty!heeseung / switchy!heeseung if you squint, cunnilingus, body worship [kinda] (f. receiving)

* summary: because you two were loud last time, rumours have been spreading around about you two, causing you to receive a lot of unwanted attention from your peers.

* word count: 10k

* a/n: hello babes !! omg i almost forgor about this- but i DIDNT SAUR ENJOY THIS REPOST <3333 tysm for all ur support i wish u the loveliest days ahead c: and if you wish to come drop by my twitch streams, you can dm me and ill gib u my link ehheeheheheh ok thanks baiii

Even on weekends, you'd typically spend all of your free time cooped up in your tiny dorm, studying. Your timetable consists of waking up, getting ready, going to classes, studying and sleeping. You don't really do anything else and you don't really go outside much either.

It's not that you're in love with learning, although you do like learning — it's just that you don't really have anything else to do. Nothing interests you and oftentimes, you'd get so bored that you just end up thinking, well, the books are right there. Might as well do some studying. At least it'll give me something to do.

You thought about going outside and seeing the world; the world that is so unknown to you and many other humans out there, the world that any human would be extremely lucky to see… yet you can't bring yourself to step outside of your dorm unless it's for classes. You wish you had more courage to do so but after your first day here, you decided that it's best to lay low and not bring any attention to yourself. After all, your existence here is already controversial enough.

Thus, you live your life like this. It's boring and repetitive… but it's not like you're doing anything to actually change it. Plus, being here is something that you've always wanted to do ever since you were a kid, so it's not all bad and despite the less than ideal treatment you've got during your time here, there's still nowhere else you'd rather be at.

Besides, the isolation, gossip and rumours don't bother you much anyway. It'll never be as bad as the first week and you're thankful that everyone here usually lets you be — that is, usually.

Lately, you've come to notice that people are gossiping about you again but you're not sure why. You can't really hear what they're saying nor can you really ask someone about it… but you doubt it's because you're human, they've already gossiped about that on your first week here.

Maybe it has something to do with your lab partner, Heeseung. After all, the gossip did start right after the day you hooked up with him. But you doubt it.

Speaking of your lab partner, you wonder where he's been all this time. It's been a couple of days since you last saw him, he didn't even come to class two days ago. You hope he's okay.

You don't think you'll see him today either. After all, you both only share one class together, Intermediate Alchemy, and you don't have that class today. Even so, for some reason, there's a part of you that hopes to see him today anyway, maybe because he's the only person who's actually kind to you here. Everyone else would just ignore you.

As you walk down the hallway to go back to your dorm, the faint sound of an unfamiliar melody stops you in your tracks. You do a double-take, is what you're hearing what you think you're hearing?

It is.

It's the piano.

Someone's playing the piano, and beautifully so. Such beautiful and delicate melodies played with such grace, you can't help but think to yourself, a complex piece like this must take days to learn how to play. Who's playing it? And what piece is this?

Thus, you follow the faint sound of the grand piano, hoping to find the talented person playing it. Besides, you're in no rush anyway.

After a few seconds of walking, you find yourself standing in front of a closed classroom door. The sound of the piano is still a bit hard to hear properly but you don't want to open the door and disturb the person playing so you press your ear against the door, trying to listen to the piano piece as discretely as you can.

Thank God the hallway is empty or else there'd be more weird rumours about me, you can't help but think to yourself while silently chuckling.

But all too quickly, like less than a minute or so, the melodies stop playing. You wait for a few seconds to see if they'd continue but instead, you hear the faint sound of footsteps coming closer to you. You barely have enough time to detach yourself from the door and look unsuspicious before the door suddenly opens and an annoyed looking Heeseung peeks out.

However, his expression quickly changes to a surprised one as he sees you standing there like a deer caught in headlights. Now with his eyes wide and his eyebrows raised, he opens the door a bit more as he looks at you. A moment of silence passes by until you awkwardly clear your throat to break the silence.

"Um, hi," you say to him, hoping that he's not annoyed at you for listening in on him.

"Ah… hi…" he shyly says. His left hand scratches the back of his head as his eyes move away from you, but only for a moment. "Sorry, I, uh… I thought you were... one of those people."

His tone is sharp and annoyed and he rolls his eyes as he says the last two words but then he looks at you again and gives you a smile that reaches his eyes.

You reply, "No, no. I'm sorry I… kinda listened in on you."

"Kinda?" He asks with a teasing tone, his smirk is evident.

You laugh in response. It's short but the lightheartedness of the laugh still manages to dissipate the awkwardness between you two. Heeseung leans against the door frame with a smile and softly says, "It's okay."

And then he pauses. It feels as if some words are meant to be spoken here, right at this moment, but there's only silence as he stares at you. A couple of seconds later, he continues, "Um… do you wanna come in?"

Hell yeah. You've never seen this room and you're curious.

It seems that your facial expressions tell him your answer loud and clear. He gives you a bigger smile, the kind of smile that one can't stop from appearing even if they tried, and takes your hand in his to pull you into the room with him. His hand feels slightly warmer than yours and something that surprises you is the fact that his hand feels like it fits you more than your own. It makes you feel strange... knowing that even your own hands, hands that were created to fit perfectly into each other…

All your life, you've always thought that there's no way someone else's hands would ever fit into yours as perfectly as yours do but as his hand holds yours, guiding you to take a seat in front of the grand piano, you think to yourself, maybe I was wrong.

Brushing your weird thoughts away, you pull your hand away from his and look around the room. It's a bit dark in here because the curtains are closed but you can still make out what's inside the medium shaped room; some bookcases at the wall, a whiteboard at the front, some musical instruments at the left side and this grand piano at the right. Other than that, it's pretty empty which makes it appear more spacious than it actually is.

After putting your sling bag down on the floor beside you, Heeseung, now sitting next to you, starts playing a different tune than before and you watch as his pretty hands gracefully move from one key to another, you listen to the unfamiliar yet beautiful piece of composition.

Soon, the music grows in pace and intensity, you can feel the composer's passion as it goes on. Then it slows down to a soft and romantic pace, somehow reminding you of the beauty of nature despite being in a dark room with none, and then a moment later, it grows again until it eventually comes to a really slow and soft tune that reminds you of the gentleness of a mother bird singing to its nestlings. As you listen to him play, you feel like you're being kept at the edge of your seat, following the music as if you're a leaf in a stream of water. It's exhilarating, really. You didn't know music could do such a thing.

By the time he finishes playing, you're in awe of his talent in playing the piano, fully knowing that playing such beautiful composition takes a lot of time and effort. Before you could compliment him, he's already speaking, "Do you like it? It's called Dreams of Love by Franz Liszt."

"Yeah," you say, a bit breathlessly, just now realising that you've been holding your breath. "Wow, you're so talented."

His laugh is soft in your ears. "Thank you."

Turning to him, you look him in the eyes and say, "I didn't know you could play piano so beautifully."

Your words make him blush a bit; a soft shade of pink dusts his ears and cheeks — it reminds you a bit of the intimate moment you shared with him a couple of days before. As he murmurs a shy thank you, it becomes a bit awkward between you two again. Heeseung starts fiddling with his fingers and he opens his mouth as if to speak but he closes it back after a second or two.

Eventually, he does speak but his voice is devoid of all lightheartedness from before and his face shows a sorrowful expression. "Look," he sighs and turns to look at you. "I should apologise for the… uh… well, the last time, um, you know." He then gives a frustrated groan, burying his face in his hands at his failed attempt to communicate his thoughts to you. "I'm sorry, I- We… we shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry."

You can only stare at him in disbelief. "What?" You say, your tone sounding a bit too harsh for both of your likings.

Truthfully, his words hurt you, more much than you'd like to admit. In a way, you kind of gave him a part of you, you showed him your vulnerability and you let him touch you in ways you'd never let strangers or even regular friends do... and now he tells you he regrets it. It hurts and you feel a bit embarrassed. You enjoyed your time with him but unfortunately, you guess he doesn't feel the same.

Suddenly, Heeseung realises that what he just said is probably the worst thing he could ever say to you. He quickly tries to take it back, "Wait- nonono, I meant-"

But you're already standing up to leave, not really wanting to hear whatever else he has to say. As you move, he gets up with you, his tone starting to sound desperate as he calls out to you. "No wait, please, please don't leave. I don't think you understand me."

And to think that I thought we could actually be friends.

You might sound a bit dramatic but you can't help what you feel. Now your relationship with him feels weird and awkward. You just want to quickly leave.

Right as you're in front of the door, he grabs your arm as a last attempt to stop you. Calling your name again, he pleads with you, "Please listen to me, it's not what you think. I-"

With wide eyes, his breath hitches as he stops himself from continuing, a bit mortified at what he almost blurt out. You only give him a confused look with an eyebrow raised. After a moment of just staring at each other in silence, he finally breathes out a worried sigh and surprisingly rests his head on your shoulder while intertwining his hand with yours. But what's more surprising is the fact that you don't have the heart to push him away.

What a weird person, you think. First he tells me he regrets having sex with me and now he does this.

"I'm sorry. I'm a mess when I'm with you," he murmurs, his face heating up at the confession.

As much as your heart beats faster at his words, you can't help but ask yourself, why? You're just a human. Heeseung can't possibly like you, could he? He has many other suitors that would be more than elated to be with him. Maybe he means that you just make him nervous — you wouldn't be surprised if you do since you make many people here nervous by just breathing.

Just as you're about to say something, you hear footsteps coming near you both, along with the sound of people talking... surprisingly about you. Although you're not new to people gossiping and spreading rumours about you, it does pique your curiosity; you've always wondered what people say about you behind your back.

On the first week, you heard people saying that you came from a rich family that had relations with the university's administrative staff or that a supernatural family adopted you or that you're not really human. Those were only the light rumours. Sometimes, when walking to class, you'd hear people say that you're working undercover for the human government, that you're only here to destroy the supernatural space and that everyone should be wary of you.

It makes you a bit sad, to be honest, because those words couldn't be further from the truth. However, you don't particularly blame them; humans haven't exactly been nice to the supernaturals, so you try to not take offence.

This time, however, the rumours are something else and it seems to involve not just you but someone else too.

"There's no way that happened," someone irritatedly says. If you could see them right now, there's no doubt in your mind that they'd be rolling their eyes.

"I'm just saying what everyone else is saying," another person says, their tone more nonchalant than the other’s.

"God, I swear, rumours are so dumb, like Heeseung and Y/N fucking in the dorms, really?" Your eyes go wide at the revelation, is that what everyone's talking about? But how did they know? And why is it a huge deal if I get laid? It doesn't make sense to you.

The same person continues, their voice growing louder as they walk closer to where you're standing, "This sounds as ridiculous as the time when everyone was saying that Jake fucked 100 people."

"Ah, but this one could actually be true," the other person thoughtfully says.

"What? Don't tell me you actually believe-"

"There are people who said they heard them," they say as a matter-of-factly, their voice now growing fainter as they pass by you but you can still hear the change of tone in their voice, now sounding more intrigued, "They say she edged him a couple of times and he wouldn't stop begging her to fuck him." Chuckling, they continue, "Must be a fun time."

Heeseung buries his head deeper into your shoulder as they say that, his hair tickles your neck a bit but you don't mind. Plus, you're more focused on their conversation, so much that you almost don't feel his hand tightening his hold on yours.

At the same time, you hear the former laugh and say, "You're so fucking weird."

Their conversation doesn't stop there but that's all you're able to hear, they're too far for you now. However, you're pretty sure Heeseung can still hear them — after all, his hearing is better than yours could ever be. But now that you know what everyone's talking about, you understand why he said what he said. He's surely not fond of the gossip about you two. You feel a bit sorry about it and despite knowing that it's not really your fault that people gossip about you, it doesn't really make you feel better.

A while later, Heeseung finally speaks again but he still doesn't move away from you and his voice sounds grim, a contrast to his usual demeanour, at least from what you've seen. "Sorry. It's my fault. I should've been more careful."

You try to look at him, a bit confused at what he's saying but he's hiding his face from you so you instead simply ask him, "Huh?"

He takes a deep breath as if trying to gather his confidence. Then, he pulls away from you and you're now able to see his face clearly. Ah, so that's why he was hiding.

With an obvious blushing face, he says, "It's not that I regret it, of course not, it's just that I think we should've done it elsewhere because obviously, people could hear and it was so stupid of me for not thinking about that." He gives out a frustrated sigh and continues, his voice soft and sad, "I guess I got carried away... I'm sorry."

Another moment of awkward silence as you try to make sense of what's going on. When you finally do, you can't help but question him, your voice almost as soft as his, "Why are you apologising?"

Giving you a surprised look, he pauses for a moment as he contemplates his answer. "D-doesn't the gossip bother you?"

He looks so sad that you just can't help but tenderly hold his face, making him look at you as you reassure him, "Heeseung, people always talk about me. It's nothing new. If anything, I should apologise since you got dragged into it."

Quickly objecting, he blurts out, "No, it's my fault! If I would've been more careful- if I haven't been thinking with my dick instead of my brain, this wouldn't have happened and you wouldn't have hated me and everything would've been fine and-"

You've never seen him look so distraught before. Seeing him being so uncharacteristically talkative worries you because despite knowing little of him, you do know one thing; he's not the type to word vomit, he always thinks things through before he speaks his mind and when he speaks, his words are fully thought-out. He may stutter here and there but they'd still seem thought-out and planned. Now, seeing him not able to do so and just desperately speaking, trying to convince you that he's at fault... it just doesn't sit right with you. How long had this issue been on his mind? And to what extent does he blame himself?

"Heeseung, calm down."

But he doesn't. He seems to be fully inside his mind, blurting out words as much as he can as if he's blurting out days' worth of worries. You're not sure what to do to calm him down but in a state of panic and with your hands already on his face, you pull him close and kiss him, hoping that the shock would be enough to stop him from overthinking.

Fortunately, it works. He gives a soft muffled sound as your lips touch his and then everything gets quiet. Still, he doesn't kiss you back, most likely too shocked at your actions. The kiss itself isn't long, you don't let it nor need it to be — you pull back a few seconds later. Looking into his almost teary eyes, you apologise for the sudden kiss, "Sorry, I didn't know-"

You're pretty sure he wasn't listening to you because now the tables have turned; now, he's kissing you and the kiss he gives you is way different than your attempt to get him to calm down — it's intense, messy, desperate and so intoxicating that you almost forgot to kiss him back.

When you do kiss him back, his actions only become more desperate. His hands constantly move; first from his sides to your shoulder, then to hold your face, then to your arm as he pushes you against the door, then to your waist, almost as if he's trying to make sure that you're really here. His lips never stop moving to press open-mouthed kisses to yours and as he does so, a small part of you can't help but feel like he's offering every part of him to you through the kiss, stealing your breath away in the process.

Eventually, you both pull away, needing to breathe. For a while, you both stare into each other's eyes. Heeseung rests his forehead against yours, his lips a bit swollen as he pants and his breath feels hot against your lips.

After a moment of intense silence, he speaks, his voice sounding a bit hoarse and it's as if he's talking to himself rather than to you. "You don't hate me."

You reply, "Of course not. How could I?" Gently caressing his cheek with your thumb, you whisper, "You're the only person here who's been kind to me."

Something in his eyes changes — you're unable to pinpoint exactly what it is but you don't ask either. He gulps, still breathing heavily, still looking into your eyes and then asks you with a soft wavering voice, "Why did you kiss me?"

It isn't his question that catches you by surprise but the look in his eyes that make him seem like he's expecting or hoping for a certain answer. If you were to look away, you could answer him honestly; "it was to help calm you down" but you can't look away, not when he's staring at you so intensely, not when he looks like he's begging you to say something specific as he waits for your answer. Your breath hitches as you think, unsure of what to say to him.

But it seems that you were silent for way too long. Breaking eye contact with you to look at the ground, Heeseung takes a step back and his hand rubs the back of his neck for a short moment.

"Did you only kiss me to shut me up?" He chuckles after he says that but the slight bitterness in his voice is evident.

"I'm sorry, I panicked. I was trying to calm you down," you eventually say.

He simply stares at you as if you just said the most absurd thing ever; eyes wide, eyebrows raised, mouth slightly open. After realising that you're actually serious, he grabs your hand and slowly brings it to rest on his chest, giving you the chance to pull your hand away at any moment if you wish. "Can you feel it?" He softly asks.

You know what he's talking about — his heartbeat right underneath your fingertips... but you can't feel it nor hear it. Thus, you replace your hand with your ear, resting your head on his chest as you try to at least hear his heartbeat.

Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump.

It's faint but you can hear it... and it's beating quite fast for a vampire. You've heard that vampires have a slower heart rate than everyone else's and right now, you'd say his heart is beating pretty fast, just slightly above an average human's. You can feel his breathing too, it's a bit laboured.

When you pull away to look back up at him, you're greeted by a blushing Heeseung who asks you with a small smile, "Get it?"

Is he trying to say that you make him nervous?

Shaking your head no at him, you're still a bit confused as to what he's trying to convey. At your response, he sighs, runs his hand through his hair and then whispers to you, "How am I supposed to calm down when you're kissing me?"

That's when the realisation hits you. "Oh..." you whisper, now getting it.

"Yeah..." he whispers back then lightly chuckles. Placing his hand on the door behind you a moment later, he leans into you and continues in a low voice, "You wanna know how you can calm me down?"

That low voice makes you feel weird things, you just can't resist entertaining him when he speaks like that. "What?" You ask, your voice also low.

"You can hug me." Raising an eyebrow at him, you hum for him to continue, a bit surprised at the answer. "I like hugs," he continues with a boyish smile.

"You want a hug?"

With the same smile, he softly says, "Yeah."

"If you say please, I'll give you one."

He wastes no time. "Please," he says with a bright smile and hopeful eyes.

How could you say no to him when he looks so cute? So you hug him, wrapping your arms around his torso and resting your head on his shoulder. He immediately hugs you back, his grip on you a bit tight but you don't mind, not when he feels so warm and comforting.

After a long moment of just hugging each other, you can't help but playfully ask, "Are you calm now?"

"I don't know," he starts. "Maybe you can check my pulse to find out?"

You can practically hear the smirk in his voice as he says that. You're not sure what he's hoping to get out of it — maybe he just wants your hands on his neck... or maybe he just likes to tease you. Whatever it is, you can't help but roll your eyes.

Suddenly, a fun idea pops up inside your head and you nonchalantly reply, "Okay."

Grabbing his face with both of your hands, you pull his head back to look at his neck. As your hands move to make him look up, your eyes take in every millimetre of his neck, specifically the spaces underneath his jawline, trying to find a pulse. Fortunately, it doesn't take you a long time.

"W-wait wait wait wait-" He gasps as your tongue probes at his pulse, his hands now moving to grip your shoulders. You only did it to tease him — you like it when he's flustered, but surprisingly, you can actually feel his pulse underneath your tongue. Intrigued, you pause your actions to count his heart rate, as weird and funny as that sounds.

You're not really surprised when you feel it beating rapidly. After a few seconds, he gives out a shaky exhale and says, "Is this a normal thing humans do?"

You chuckle at his words and then quickly bite down on the spot. He gives out a choked moan in response and further tightens his grip on your shoulder. "Aw, is baby flustered?" You tease him, unable to help yourself.

He can only whine your name as your tongue starts swirling around the same spot.

"You're so responsive... I love it," you whisper to him, your voice making him shiver. "And to think, I'm only playing with your neck. Is it that sensitive?"

As you start sucking on the small bit of skin in between your teeth, his jaw moves in an attempt to answer you but you don't hear his voice at all — he doesn't speak, not even when you're done giving him a hickey, not even when you're done giving him three. Pulling back, you take a moment to admire the small bruises on his neck but as time goes by and nothing changes, you begin to realise something.

"Why aren't they disappearing?" You comment, a bit alarmed.

However, Heeseung doesn't seem that concerned. He shrugs it off and replies with half-lidded eyes, "Ah, it's fine, it'll go away eventually."

"Is that normal?" You ask, still a bit hesitant.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry."

Deciding to take his word for it, you continue leaving hickeys on his neck. He hums in approval, his breathing hot and heavy and you eventually lose count of how many you actually gave him. When you pull back to look at his neck again, it's already half-covered with small bruises; all of them still bright red.

Just the sight of it makes something inside you snap and you can't help but ask him, "You don't mind me touching you right, Hee baby?"

With his head a bit dizzy, Heeseung struggles a bit to speak, "N-no, you can... you can touch me all you want."

"I can touch you anywhere?" You smirk, already knowing what you're going to do to him.

"Anywhere you want," he softly replies.

At his words, your hands waste no time moving to his torso, touching every part of it from his shoulders, then to his collarbones, then to his chest. His breath hitches when your hands move across his nipples but you don't stop to play with them — you continue moving your hands down to his abdomen. As you do so, you ask him, "I can touch you here?"

"Mhmm." His eyes automatically close as he says that, wanting to focus on your hands touching his body.

Seeing him relaxed and full of anticipation at the same time only spurs you on and so, you move one of your hands to squeeze his ass. He gasps and jumps in response, not expecting that to happen.

"What about here?" Your teasing tone only seems to make him melt.

"Y-yeah," he breathlessly says as he rests his head on your shoulder, his hands now gripping your waist.

Further teasing him, you slowly move your hand from his ass to grip his dick through his pants. "Even here?" You ask him with a raised eyebrow.

He can't stop himself from moaning and pushing back into your hand at the contact. But before he could reply, you're already talking while feeling him up, "Wow, you're already kinda hard. Does this turn you on, hm? Being groped like a whore?"

Giving out another moan, he starts grinding into your hand as if to show you how turned on he is. He doesn't say anything but you can practically guess what he's thinking right inside his head; feel it, feel how hard you make me. You push your hand against his dick harder and he hisses in response. "You like that? Being my whore? Letting me play with your dick however I want, whenever I want?"

"Yes," he moans. "Just use me."

"Now, now. Where are your manners?" You ask as your other hand starts playing with his left nipple through his shirt.

At first, he stays quiet for a while, not wanting to answer you but as your fingers pinch his nipple, he jumps and squeaks out, "Please!"

"Please what?" You can feel his dick getting harder through his pants and just to tease him further, you play with his tip, pressing and swirling your thumb against it over and over again.

With a groan, he relents surprisingly quickly, "Please use me how-however you want. I really need your hands on me, please."

"I'm already touching you though?"

"No..." He trails off with a hiss. "Can I please take off my pants?"

As you feign thinking, he hurriedly continues, "Please, I need to feel your hands on my dick, please? I'll do whatever you want, I'm your whore. Just please touch me, it feels really good. I need it so much. Please."

"Needy today, huh?" It's a bit surprising, honestly, you were expecting him to give more of a fight based on the last time you hooked up, but nevertheless, he's still cute. Plus, it makes your job easier.

In response, he just hums, simply agreeing with whatever you're saying without a second thought. Satisfied with his pleas and answers, you tell him that he can take his pants off and he quickly does so, his movements hurried and sloppy, desperate to get it off as quick as he can. Once his pants are discarded on the floor like a metre away, you pull him into you by gripping his hips and then you pin him to the door right behind you.

Immediately, he leans against it and his hands go to grip your waist again but you quickly grab his wrists and pin them right beside his head. Leaning closer to his ear, you sternly tell him, "Keep your hands there, got it?"

He gulps and nods at your authoritative tone. You then take a good look at his dick since you didn't really get to last time — you notice that it's lanky, average girth, with a slight curve to the left and circumcised. It's also hard but that's already obvious. In a way, it suits him and you think it's pretty, just like him.

When you look back up at him, you can't help but smile at the shy expression he gives you. Whispering into his ear, you say, "You have such a pretty dick... but do you know how to use it?"

Biting his lip, he slowly shakes his head no. As your right hand go to unbutton his shirt, you continue, unable to mask the excitement in your voice, "Well that doesn't matter. I can always teach you how." You let your fingers brush along his shaft, your touch barely there as you continue, "And when you do learn, I might let you fuck me one day." The response he gives you is cute; he quickly nods his head and pleads with you. "Would you like that?"

"Yes," he gasps, trying his best to not buck his hips. "Please."

"Alright, baby." Finally deciding to give him what he wants and put him out of his misery, you spit on your hand and start stroking his dick. Your spit makes your hand move easily and after a few moments of stroking, he gives out a loud moan, throwing his head back when you suddenly squeeze his dick — hard.

"You want people to hear us again?" You teasingly comment.

He nods and replies, "Yes... wanna... let them know... how... good you make me... feel."

"How dirty." You can't stop your smile of fondness from appearing or the chuckle that comes right after.

"I'm... your whore... remember?" Despite being paired with gasps and moans, his remark still manages to come out playful.

"Go ahead then, baby." He whimpers as your hand starts stimulating his tip. "Let everyone know who's making you feel so good. Your voice is too pretty for you to be quiet anyway."

Your right hand finally finishes unbuttoning his shirt. Without wasting any second, you touch his bare skin, running your hand all over his torso. His body's response intrigues you; everywhere your fingers go, his skin beneath you twitches and you're just using your hands. Imagine using your mouth — luckily, you don't need to imagine since he's right there.

The sound of his moan is so loud this time that it almost echoes across the room if it weren't for the room having many carpets. And to think that all you did was lick his chest. Granted, you did pinch his nipple while tightly squeezing his balls as you do so but who cares? He's so fun to play with, you just want to keep him like this for hours... but unfortunately, you're pretty sure that class is about to start soon, which means many people walking through the hallways.

Thus, you pick up the pace, trying to get him to quickly reach his high. Your left hand quickly moves up and down his shaft, your right hand goes to fondle his balls and your mouth starts sucking on one of his nipples — you doubt he's going to last long since his body is so sensitive. And based on his constant moaning and twitching, you can tell that you're right.

As you continue, he suddenly speaks, "I... I can't get our first time out of my head. I-it's like- it's like you're... haunting me." He moans when you lightly bite down on his nipple, his hips accidentally bucking into your hand. "Every time I close my eyes... I remember it again... I see it vividly... and I... I want to do it again with you... Did you... put a love spell on me... or something?"

As he continues to talk, a small uneasy feeling makes itself known to you — the kind of feeling that makes you feel as if something is wrong. It makes you furrow your eyebrows in suspicion as to what it could possibly be... but as you look at the man in front of you, you quickly understand. Just one look at him and you can tell that he's not in his right state of mind and you're pretty sure that he's just blurting out whatever's coming to his mind at this time. You can't shake away the thought that whatever he's saying right now is too private. You don't believe you should hear this, at least, not right now.

Worrying that he might end up regretting whatever he's saying, you tell him, "Heeseung, I don't want to hear anything else come out of your mouth except those pretty sounds you make, okay?"

And just to be safe, you insert two of your fingers into his mouth. As your fingers press against his tongue, he hums in response, closing his mouth and then he starts sucking on them. His tongue swirls around your fingers as he looks at you with half-lidded eyes.

Your hand goes to abuse his tip, your thumb swirling the precum around and pressing down on it again and again while your other hand continues to keep his mouth busy. His body shakes at your actions and suddenly, he quickly pulls your hand away from his mouth to say something.

"I'm gonna cum, what if-"

"You can cum, Hee baby. Go on, cum for me. You can do that for me, right?" Your voice sounds so sweet that he just wants to do whatever you say.

"But it- it's gonna get messy..." he whines and trails off. Despite his worries, his hips start bucking uncontrollably into your hand, trying to catch his high anyway — he doesn't want to stop but a small part of his conscious brain still worries about how he'll clean up his mess.

"Don't worry, baby. We can clean it up," you reassure him. "Go on, be a good boy and cum for me. And keep your hands back up."

"Okay- I..." He puts his hands back up and sucks in a deep breath as he feels himself reaching his high. That conscious part of him from earlier disappears and now, he's almost chanting, "Thank you. Thank you thank you thank-"

The moment you start harshly sucking on his neck again, he's gone; with a loud and long moan, his hips thrust into your hand and streams of cum messily come out of him, getting all over your hand, onto your pants and even onto the floor. His body is shuddering and his eyes are rolled to the back of his head as your hand starts milking him for all he's got.

You coo at him, "Good boy, baby. Such a good boy for me."

"Please-" He squeaks, head thrown back against the door. You don't stop touching him though, not even when his streaks of cum stop coming out, not even when he starts uncontrollably trembling at every touch of your hand. One of your hands continues to quickly stroke his dick while the other fondles his balls, alternating from left and right. As you squeeze them, he gasps and whimpers your name.

"You're being such a good boy, baby... just taking whatever I give you." You start licking his chest, from his navel to his nipple. Heeseung shuts his eyes tight as his body continues to tremble against his will, his hands now in fists beside his head. As you play with his nipple, sucking on it and swirling your tongue around it, his back arches and he can't stop himself from thrusting in and out of your hand.

"You can cum for me one more time, right?"

He groans in response, nodding. "A-a... any... thiiing... f-for... y-you."

Letting go of his nipple to whisper in his ear, you say, "Right, you did say that you're my whore."

"Y-yes, yes, yes." He gasps.

So you continue touching and stimulating him until he cums again. Throughout it, he doesn't speak at all, only making pretty noises while his body trembles. It doesn't take long before he cums again. This time, it comes as a surprise — he didn't tell you that he's close. Perhaps he, himself didn't know that he was or maybe he wasn't paying attention, too busy being lost in his own bliss. Either way, based on his reaction, it seems that he's also surprised; he cums with a scream, his voice echoes throughout the room, his eyes tightly closed, and his hips stop moving but he's still trembling all over as another shot of his cum comes out of him.

So gorgeous.

You slow down your movements, not wanting to push him too much, until you eventually stop. Heeseung pants in front of you, looking helpless and blissed out.

"See, I knew you had it in you." As you slowly coax him back to reality, you slowly become aware of how uncomfortably wet your panties are. But you push that aside for now.

It takes him a moment to come back to reality and when he does, he still feels a bit dizzy. His hands go to grip your shoulder and waist for support and you hug him to soothe and comfort him, rubbing your hand on his back — the hand that's cleaner than the other. A moment later, he breathes out a soft thank you, feeling a bit spent.

"I'll... clean everything up," he breathlessly says while hugging you. You pat his head while his arms wrap themselves tightly around you.

"That's okay, baby. I have tissues in my bag. We'll clean it up together, yeah?"

He doesn't answer you and instead, asks for a kiss. Of course, you give it to him. How could you ever say no to this man? The kiss is unsurprisingly hot, heavy and messy, your tongues intertwine together just like your breaths. He moans into it and then pulls back to kiss your neck.

"Your turn?" He whispers into your neck, his breath hot against it. You close your eyes as he starts kissing and licking your neck, his tongue hot and wet swirling on a certain spot. You grab his shoulder as he continues, and then, a moment later, you feel his sharp fangs graze against your neck but before you could make sense of what's happening, he quickly pulls away, stopping himself.

"Sorry, can I-" He gives out a shaky breath. "I wanna... make you cum." He whispers out the last part. It was so soft that you almost didn’t hear it.

"You wanna make me cum?" You whisper back, your eyes still closed, now fully aware of the tension in between your legs.

"Yeah." His hands tenderly touch your body as he says that, going down from your shoulder to your breast and finally coming to rest on your waist.

"Sure."

He kisses you again but compared to your last few kisses, this one's short. Pulling away from you, he says, "We should- uh... change positions? Would it be easier for you?"

"Ah, yeah, okay." Despite your voice sounding nonchalant, your pussy throbs at the anticipation of finally getting the attention it craves. After you both change positions, with you now leaning against the wall and him in front of you, his hands go to unbutton your shirt and unhook your bra as he kisses you.

Gripping his hair, you pull him away from you — which earns you a moan. "Go fast, I think it's almost time for class."

"There's still tons of time," he reassures you. "Barely anyone has class in this building anyway. Don't worry."

Trying to reassure you, he gives you a smile and goes back to tenderly kissing your neck. It seems that there's a clash of wants — you just want to cum while he probably just wants to take his time with you. You're about to protest but his hands and mouth on your body make you change your mind, at least for now. With his hands kneading your breasts and his mouth slowly moving from your neck to your breasts, you give out a defeated sigh.

"Fine."

With a triumphant smile, he mumbles a thank you into your skin. His mouth is now sucking your left breast, his tongue swirling around your areola and the nub, making your pussy wetter by the second. The urge to touch your pussy grows as he continues his actions. One of his hands plays with your right breast while the other goes to unbutton your pants.

All of a sudden, he lightly bites down on your breast and you jump in response, unable to stop your moan from coming out. "Fuck, your mouth feels so good."

He moans too but his moan comes out muffled against your breast. After a while, your hand grips his hair and he hisses as you move his mouth to your other breast. "Keep going baby, you're doing so good. Such a good boy for me, aren't you?"

The praise only spurs him on, his movements now getting bolder. Wasting no time, he begins to kiss it and then lick it, until finally, he takes it into his mouth, harshly sucking on the mound. You hiss and arch your back in response. With your pants now on the ground, your legs start to feel cold but your core is still hot and wet, demanding attention.

Eventually, he finally moves on, leaving your breasts to kiss down to your navel. Every kiss he leaves you is tender yet hot against your skin, just like his hands on your body. Once he reaches your navel, he kneels down and as you let him put one of your legs over his shoulder, his face is now very close to your crotch. Even so, he still doesn't give your pussy any attention yet. Instead, he starts at your inner thighs, specifically the one on his shoulder, slowly licking up closer and closer to your heat as his hands continuously move up and down your thighs. He stops where your thigh meets your groin and starts taking a small bit of your skin into his mouth to suck and bite on it.

You let him leave a hickey there — it's not like you can't hide it anyway. After he's done, he pulls away to admire his mark on you with a small satisfied smile but just as you thought he'd finally start eating you out, he starts the same thing over again, except this time, on your other thigh. You groan, beginning to get frustrated.

He seems to find it amusing, given by the fact that you can feel him softly chuckling into your thigh as he kisses it. "Heeseung." Your stern yet breathless voice only makes him smirk.

"Hmm?"

"You're being a brat," you hiss at him.

Pulling away from your thigh, he looks up at you with a defiant smirk and coyly says, "I'm only taking my time."

But as he moves to continue his actions, your authoritative voice makes him pause and shiver. "Heeseung, I will literally slap you." You're in no mood to take things slow, you just want to cum. That's all you want — to finally release all this built-up tension in your pussy.

"Kinky," he mumbles with a pout. It's not because he doesn't like being slapped — it's actually something he's willing to try especially during sex as long as you like it, but he's just pouting because he didn't get to-

Giving a frustrated sigh, you say to him, "You can leave a hickey there after I cum, damn it."

His face lights up as you say that and his hand grips your thigh. "Promise?"

"Yes!" You hiss. "Now be a good boy and make me cum."

Wasting no time, he hums and nods at your command, moving his mouth to your clothed pussy. He buries his nose and mouth in your heat, you can't stop a moan from escaping at the contact. His mouth starts kissing you, over and over again as his nose bumps against your clit.

"Fuck," you mutter, your hands gripping his hair tighter as he starts licking a long strip. It's relieving honestly — your pussy finally getting the attention it so craves... but it's not enough. You want his mouth on you, without anything else in the way. Thus, you tell him to take it off and he hums, acknowledging your command... but after a while, your panties are still on and he hasn't made a move to remove it, he just keeps on slowly eating you out with a smirk. When you finally realise that he's doing this deliberately, you snap.

"Heeseung!" Your voice is louder than you expected. "Take them off, for fuck's sake." Then, as if your mouth is on auto-pilot, you continue, "Do you want me to fucking slap you, huh? Is that what you want? You want me to fucking snap, don't you? Want me to pin you down and fuck you till your brain doesn't work anymore?"

At your words, Heeseung feels a bit intimidated but he can't help but also feel turned on at the same time. He moans into you and as he pulls away to pull down your panties, you continue, "Finally starting to take me seriously, huh? You're such a fucking brat, I swear to God, Heeseung. You just want to get punished, don't you?"

"God, you're so wet," he moans into you when he finally buries his face into your pussy again, without your panties this time.

Finally feeling his mouth on your heat, you moan in relief, pushing his head closer to your pussy while leaning against the door. His tongue starts licking up all your juices while his nose continuously bumps against your clit. Then, he starts sucking it, causing you to arch your back. "Fuck. That's right baby, keep going," you say, your tone now way calmer than before.

He hums into you as he continues to eat you out just the way you like, swirling and pressing his tongue against your pussy, sucking it, slurping up all of your juices. Your free hand now goes to play with your breast, massaging it while stimulating your nipple at the same time. His cums smears on your breasts as you do so but you couldn't care less about being clean right now.

When he inserts his tongue into your core, you loudly moan, your hand squeezing your breast tightly. And as he continues, sliding his tongue in and out of you, your pussy starts tightening around it and you gasp, "Fuck, I'm getting close. Don't you dare stop, you little brat, you hear me? I know you're thinking about it."

Gripping his hair tightly, you grind his face into your pussy, using him like a toy as you keep up a steady rhythm. He doesn't mind, of course he doesn't. He did say that you can use him however you want. And to help you reach your high, his hand moves to stimulate your clit, rubbing it in circles.

Here it comes, the release you've been seeking; there's that familiar knot in your stomach and with the help of his mouth and hand, you finally reach your climax with a moan, cumming all over his face as you bask in your release. Heeseung continues eating you out throughout it, taking in all of your juices in his mouth, not letting a single drop escape. His movements grow slower as time goes by until he eventually stops and pulls away, only to leave that hickey he so wanted on your thigh.

By the time he's done, you've gained your consciousness back. Still breathing heavily, you caress his head and softly say, "Thanks."

He licks your thigh one last time and then gets up to kiss you, wrapping his arms around you in a hug while doing so. You let him, not really bothered by the taste of you in his mouth. But the kiss doesn't last long since you're still breathing heavily.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," you say after pulling away from him.

"It's okay," he says, resting his forehead against yours, his breathing also still heavy. Your hands move to cup his face and with a swipe of your thumb, you collect your cum on his face and feed it back to him. His lips part when your thumb touches them, and he obediently sucks it without protest.

"Good boy," you praise.

You pull your thumb away from his mouth. As his arms unwrap themselves from you, you lean against the door and give out a heavy sigh. Looking back at him, you say, "We should clean ourselves up and get dressed."

With a nod, he agrees, going to get the tissues from your bag that was by the piano. When he comes back with it, you both clean up the mess you both made; first, you both clean yourselves — although Heeseung prefers to clean you more with his mouth than with the tissues, then, you clean the floor and the door that still had streaks of his cum on them, and finally, you clean your clothes.

It's when he buttons up his shirt, you notice something strange.

"The hickeys are still there," you mention, now alarmed again.

Heeseung also gets alarmed, quickly taking out his phone to see himself but then chuckles a second later when he sees how he looks through the screen. "Damn, I looked fucked up," he mumbles.

His hand grazes the still bright red bruises on his neck and his eyebrows furrow at them when he doesn't see them healing. He turns to you and asks, "Did you drink something?"

"What?" You question as your hands are buttoning your shirt.

"Did you drink a potion or something today?" He asks, still looking at himself through the screen, his eyes looking slightly dark.

You pause your actions as you try to remember.

Potion...

Oh!

You remember now. It was during Tuesday's alchemy class where Heeseung unfortunately wasn't there. You remember that your lecturer taught the class about a new potion. Apparently, it's a consumption potion which means it only works if you consume it and he so kindly let you drink some of it after he finished explaining its properties. The colour of it was a very rich shade of blue and it smelled like the ocean... but the taste was... unpleasant, to say the least.

His voice rings across your mind, "So what it does is that it drastically slows down someone's regeneration ability, not yours but anyone you touch. Use with caution, alright. Don't be killing anyone. That's against the law."

"Oh... yeah, yeah I did. During alchemy class yesterday," you say, continuing to get dressed.

"Was it blue?" He puts his phone back in his pocket and continues buttoning his shirt.

"Yeah."

"Ah... no wonder."

You expect him to continue speaking but instead, he keeps quiet and simply tries to smooth out the wrinkles on his shirt. Eventually, you ask him a question that's on your mind, hoping that he's not annoyed or angry at you for leaving too many obvious hickeys on his neck. "But what are you gonna do?"

Please don't be angry at me.

"Oh, for these?" He shows you his neck, tapping the bruises on it. Then, with a smirk, he continues, "I'll keep them. Thanks."

"Are you sure?" You stare at him, surprised at his response.

Nodding, he reassures you, "Yeah, It's no problem. It'll go away eventually."

For the second time today, you decide to take his word for it. However, you can't help but wonder how long the potion's effect will last — maybe a couple of days? Hopefully not.

When you both finally finish making yourselves look presentable again, the comfortable silence you both share suddenly turns tense and awkward. You're unsure why but the reason makes itself known to you as you make your way to grab your bag.

Heeseung calls out your name. He sounds a bit nervous as he softly asks you, "What are we?"

Grabbing your bag, you think about it for a couple of seconds. "Hm, I guess... friends with benefits?"

"Oh..." He slowly nods, looking down at the floor.

"Unless you don't want that. This can be a one-time thing if you want."

"Nono, I-" He quickly says. "I just..." Taking a deep breath, he brings his head up to make eye contact with you and continues, his voice soft and a bit unsure, "I want something more..."

You look at him as soon as you hear that; he stands there, still near the door, with his posture straight and his face serious as he looks at you. "What?" You can't help but say.

Gathering all his courage, he nods to himself and continues, "I want to date you."

Surprise is the only word that describes how you feel right now. Never in a million years would you ever think that someone here actually likes you, much less want to date you. You've never even thought about dating a supernatural before either. And although you do like Heeseung... you're still unsure if you like him more than just a friend or not. Unsure of how to reply to his sudden confession, you end up just staring at him.

At your lack of response, his cheeks begin to turn pink again and says in a shaky voice, "If that's... a bit too much then it's alright." He gives you a reassuring smile, hoping that you don't feel pressured to reciprocate his feelings. "I don't mind just being friends with you."

"Heeseung, I'm sorry, I'm not too sure," you begin. "I mean, you're the only person who's been kind to me here. I'm not sure if I like you that way... and I wouldn't want you to fall in love with me, only for me to realise later that I never really liked you more than a friend in the first place."

Silence fills the air again as he takes in your words.

"Would you... give me a chance, at least?" He finally says. "Like at least let me take you on a date? Please?" As he looks at you with such cute and innocent eyes, you find yourself smiling at him. "I can show you the world if you want..." and ever so softly, he says his next sentence, "If you promise to show me yours."

His voice sounds melodious as he says that — you could hear the genuineness and hopefulness in his voice. And as you both stand there, just staring at each other, you begin to think to yourself; why not?

"Where would you take me?"

His face immediately lights up as you say that and you can't help but laugh at his cuteness.

"Anywhere you want," he replies with a bright smile, the kind of smile that could make the whole world stop and stare.

"Okay," you softly say, walking closer to him and giving him your hand.

For the first time in your life, you find yourself feeling excited about leaving your dorm, you find yourself anticipating to explore the world that you were so hesitant to get to know. It's as if your worries about laying low suddenly don't exist. And even though you're not really dating, you still can't stop the wide smile on your face as he meets you halfway, taking your hand in his and lacing your fingers together.

"Thank you," he whispers, bringing your hand to his lips to place a soft kiss on it.

"Thank you," you reply.

"For what?" He looks at you with a smile, slightly confused at your words.

Many things — for being kind to you, for being your friend, for not judging you just because you're human, and honestly, many more. But what comes out of your mouth is a simple, "Not every human has the honour of having a potential vampire boyfriend."

His laugh is bright and rich, music to your ears. His eyes crinkle as he laughs and his smile is wide. Just the sight of him laughing wholeheartedly makes your heart feel full. When he finishes laughing, his demeanour changes a bit to a playful one, leaning closer to whisper in your ear with that low voice and that signature boyish smile, "I can be much more than a vampire boyfriend."

"I have no doubt about it," you say to him as you try to calm down your beating heart.

Grabbing your bag from you with his other hand, he says, "Let me walk you to your dorm."

"Okay."

As you both reach the door, you take a look back and scan the room, just to make sure that everything's as it should be. You look back at him when you're done; he has his hand on the door as he asks you, "Ready?"

Nodding at him, you let him open the door and walk you to your dorm, your hands entwine together the whole walk.

[talonabraxas]

The Way to Sophia

The transmutative process of spiritual alchemy is shown in Thomas Bromley’s The Way to the Sabbath of Rest, 1692.

The illustration shows three spheres: the dark sphere of Sathan, the astral realm including sun, moon, and constellations, and the illuminated sphere of Sophia, above. Within these spheres are three crosses: below is a dark cross, in the center of which is the seed of a stalk, around which is a spiral.

Here begins the work, rising up toward the light. In the middle is a cross with an eye in its center, symbolizing the intermediate stage of "Head-work" in which one sees Eternity but does not inwardly experience it. Above is the white cross within which is the Eye in the Heart, the experiential culmination of the theosophic work, topped by the head of wheat in the blinding light of Sophia, Virgin of Wisdom.

While the context here is firmly Christian, with the agricultural metaphors (seed, wheat) and the emphasis on a female ‘deity’ (Sophia) and a dark underworld power (Sathan/Hades) I detect faint echoes of the Ancient Greek Eleusinian mysteries.

[rivensdefenseattorney]

Alfea's Curriculum

(WIP)

Department of Alchemy and Potionology

Beginning Level:

Introduction to Potion Brewing: A foundational course covering basic potion crafting techniques, understanding ingredients, and the fundamental principles of potion making.

Botanical Studies for Alchemists: This class introduces students to enchanted botanical studies, focusing on identifying and understanding the magical properties of plants used in potion-making.

Essentials of Healing Magic: An introduction to healing and restorative magic, emphasizing the ethical use of magic for healing purposes and the basic principles of channeling energy.

Intermediate Level (Prerequisites: Beginning Level Classes):

Intermediate Potion Crafting: Building upon the introductory class, this course explores more complex brewing techniques, potion stability, and the interaction between different ingredients.

Advanced Botanical Studies: Delving deeper into enchanted plants, this class explores rare and powerful botanicals, their cultivation, and their specific applications in potion-making.

Healing Elixirs and Remedies: Focused on practical applications, this class teaches students how to create specific potions and elixirs for various healing purposes, including physical and emotional ailments.

Advanced Level (Prerequisites: Intermediate Level Classes):

Mastery in Potionology: A comprehensive study integrating advanced potion crafting techniques, potion artistry, and experimentation with rare and volatile ingredients.

Enchanted Gardens and Sustainable Magic: This class explores the creation and maintenance of enchanted gardens, emphasizing sustainable practices and the ethical use of magical resources.

Advanced Healing Arts: Mastery-level training in healing magic, focusing on complex healing spells, energy manipulation, and the integration of potions with magical healing.

Overlapping Classes:

Alchemy Lab Practicum: This practical class runs parallel to different levels, allowing hands-on experimentation and application of theoretical knowledge in a controlled environment.

Ethical Practices in Potion Making: An ethics course required at each level, focusing on responsible use of magic, moral considerations in potion making, and the consequences of misuse.

Department of Elemental Arts

Beginning Level:

Introduction to Elemental Arts: A foundational class introducing students to the basics of elemental forces (earth, air, fire, water), their manipulation, and the ethical use of elemental magic.

Defensive Magic Fundamentals: This course covers the basics of defensive spells and shields, teaching students how to protect themselves using elemental magic.

Arcane Foundations: An introductory class exploring basic arcane arts, including rune crafting, spell formulation, and magical incantations.

Intermediate Level (Prerequisites: Beginning Level Classes):

Elemental Control and Channeling: Building upon the basics, this class focuses on honing the control and manipulation of specific elemental forces, teaching students to wield them with precision.

Combat Magic Techniques: This class delves into combat-oriented elemental magic, teaching offensive and defensive combat spells tailored to different elemental affinities.

Advanced Arcane Studies: Expanding upon arcane foundations, this course explores complex spellcraft, advanced rune work, and the creation of personalized spells.

Advanced Level (Prerequisites: Intermediate Level Classes):

Mastery in Elemental Manipulation: A comprehensive study focusing on mastering the fusion and synergy of multiple elemental forces, enabling students to create powerful elemental effects.

Advanced Defensive Tactics: Specialized training in advanced defensive spells and strategies against various magical and physical attacks.

Mystical Combat Mastery: An advanced combat-focused class, teaching students to seamlessly blend elemental forces into offensive spells and maneuvers.

Overlapping Classes:

Elemental Combat Practicum: Practical training sessions running parallel to different levels, allowing students to practice combat techniques under controlled conditions.

Ethics in Elemental Magic: A mandatory ethics course at each level, emphasizing responsible and ethical use of elemental and arcane magic.

Department of Magical Studies

Beginning Level:

Introduction to Magical Studies: A foundational course providing an overview of the magical world, including an introduction to mythical creatures, historical contexts, and the basics of artisanal magic.

Mythical Creature Identification: This class focuses on identifying, studying, and understanding various mythical creatures, their behaviors, habitats, and magical properties.

Historical Foundations of Magic: An introductory class exploring the history and evolution of magic, tracing its origins through ancient civilizations and significant magical events.

Intermediate Level (Prerequisites: Beginning Level Classes):

Advanced Mythical Creature Research: Building upon the basics, this course involves in-depth research projects on specific mythical creatures, their impact on Fae realms, and their cultural significance.

Legends and Lore: An exploration of mythical tales, legends, and folklore, dissecting their symbolic meanings and their influence on magical practices.

Artisanal Magic Techniques: This class focuses on the practical side of artisanal magic, teaching students the creation of magical artifacts, wand-making, and enchanted objects.

Advanced Level (Prerequisites: Intermediate Level Classes):

Mystical Anthropology: A comprehensive study of the relationship between Fae and mythical creatures, exploring their interaction, cultural exchanges, and historical significance.

Advanced Magical Historiography: This course delves into the analysis and interpretation of magical historical texts, deciphering ancient scripts and understanding magical artifacts' historical contexts.

Mastering Artisanal Magic: Advanced training in crafting powerful magical artifacts, imbuing them with specific abilities, and understanding the intricacies of enchanted object creation.

Overlapping Classes:

Mythical Expedition Practicum: Hands-on fieldwork that runs parallel to different levels, allowing students to conduct research on mythical creatures in their natural habitats.

Ethics in Magical Studies: A mandatory ethics course at each level, emphasizing responsible research and ethical practices in dealing with magical creatures and historical artifacts.

Department of Diplomacy and Leadership

Beginning Level:

Foundations of Diplomacy: A foundational course introducing students to the principles and practices of diplomacy, including negotiation techniques, diplomatic etiquette, and conflict resolution basics.

Leadership Essentials: An introductory class covering the fundamentals of effective leadership, emphasizing communication skills, decision-making, and team management.

Cultural Studies and Intercultural Communication: This class explores the diverse cultures within the Fae realms, teaching students how to navigate cultural differences and communicate effectively across different lineages.

Intermediate Level (Prerequisites: Beginning Level Classes):

Advanced Diplomatic Negotiation: Building upon foundational skills, this course delves deeper into negotiation strategies, scenario simulations, and diplomatic problem-solving.

Strategic Leadership: An intermediate-level class focusing on strategic planning, visionary leadership, and fostering innovation within Fae communities.

Diplomatic History and Case Studies: An exploration of historical diplomatic events within the Fae realms, analyzing case studies and learning from past diplomatic successes and failures.

Advanced Level (Prerequisites: Intermediate Level Classes):

Masterclass in Diplomatic Relations: A comprehensive study of diplomatic relations between Fae kingdoms, advanced negotiation techniques, and the art of maintaining alliances.

Leadership in Governance: Advanced training in governance principles, focusing on leadership in politics, law, and decision-making processes within Fae societies.

Crisis Management and Diplomatic Crisis Resolution: Specialized training in handling diplomatic crises, conflict resolution, and mediation techniques in high-stakes situations.

Overlapping Classes:

Diplomatic Simulation Practicum: Practical simulations running parallel to different levels, allowing students to apply their diplomatic and leadership skills in realistic scenarios.

Ethics in Diplomacy and Leadership: A mandatory ethics course at each level, emphasizing ethical leadership, integrity, and responsibility in diplomatic engagements and governance.

Department of Mystic Arts and Expression

Beginning Level:

Introduction to Enchanted Artistry: A foundational course introducing students to magical expressions through visual arts, covering basic techniques and introducing mystical elements into artistic creations.

Fundamentals of Musical Enchantment: An introductory class exploring the fusion of magic with music, teaching basic musical theory and introducing enchantments into compositions.

Introduction to Mystical Movement: This class introduces students to magical dance forms, focusing on basic movements infused with Fae essence.

Magical Drama Basics: Exploring the use of magic in theatrical arts, covering basic acting techniques infused with mystical elements.

Intermediate Level (Prerequisites: Beginning Level Classes):

Advanced Enchanted Artistry Techniques: Building upon foundational skills, this course dives deeper into magical art forms, teaching advanced techniques and experimenting with diverse mystical mediums.

Harmonizing Magic in Music: An intermediate course focusing on refining enchantments in music, exploring composition, and blending different magical elements in musical pieces.

Mastering Mystical Movement: Advancing dance techniques with a deeper understanding of Fae essence, intricate choreography, and the fusion of magic into movement.

Enchanting Theatrical Performances: This class delves further into the use of magic in theater, focusing on advanced stagecraft and mystical storytelling techniques.

Advanced Level (Prerequisites: Intermediate Level Classes):

Artisanal Magic in Visual Arts: Mastery-level training in creating magical artifacts through visual arts, integrating functionality with artistic expression.

Mystical Performance Showcase: A capstone course where students showcase their mastery in their chosen discipline, presenting a culmination of their artistic and magical journey.

Required Classes for All Students

Foundations of Magical Theory: An introductory course covering the fundamental principles of magic, its history, and its significance in the Fae realms.

Ethics in Magic and Society: A course focusing on the ethical use of magic, moral considerations, and the societal impact of magical practices.

Ancient Fae Studies: Exploring the ancient civilizations and cultures of the Fae realms, delving into their traditions, rituals, and historical significance.

Mystical Arts Practicum: A practical course allowing students to experiment with various forms of magical expression, encouraging creativity and practical application of learned theories.

Fae Lore and Legends: An in-depth study of mythical tales, legends, and folklore within the Fae realms, providing cultural context and understanding of significant narratives.

Introduction to Elemental Forces: A foundational class introducing students to the basics of elemental forces (earth, air, fire, water), their symbolism, and their relevance in magic.

History of Diplomatic Relations: An overview of diplomatic events, alliances, and conflicts between Fae kingdoms, providing insights into the dynamics of Fae diplomacy.

Leadership Skills and Team Dynamics: An introductory course focusing on essential leadership qualities, communication skills, and collaborative teamwork within magical communities.

Introduction to Potion Brewing: A foundational course from the Alchemy and Potionology department, introducing students to basic potion crafting techniques, understanding ingredients, and the fundamental principles of potion making.

Mythical Creature Studies: A course exploring the diverse and mystical creatures within the Fae realms, focusing on identification, behavior, habitats, and their significance in Fae lore and culture.

Introduction to Enchanted Artistry: A foundational course introducing students to magical expressions through the arts, covering basic techniques and introducing mystical elements into artistic creations.

__

Only 2 more posts to go and I'll be done with Alfea's section. I wanted to know what classes/study would you follow at Alfea?

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi! I was wondering if you happen to know of any ttrpgs that utilize dragoons as a class option/thematic presence?

THEME: Dragoons

Hello, so when I followed up with you, you mentioned that you wanted dragoons from Final Fantasy, rather than the historical dragoons - and I’m glad I clarified, because I was sifting through historical games at first. From what I understand, the main points of dragoons is that they are a class who fights with a spear, with strong elements of launching themselves into the air/attacking from heights to land hits with extreme force. I also understand that they are meant to have strong relationships to dragons. So let’s see what we’ve got.

Final Fantasy Legend Edition, by Mildra the Monk.

This is an intermediate-complexity tabletop roleplaying game based on the Japanese console RPG series, Final Fantasy.Whether you're a veteran or someone new to the series, these streamlined rules and various customization options will help you get started with ease.

When I went to check out this game, the Dragoon class was the first image listed on the storefront. This class comes with some classic jump abilities, and other character abilities that are all about pinning down your enemies from the air. You also have access to the appropriately-themed Dragon Arts, tying your character intimately to their historic roots. The game itself moves through what it calls a four-phase structure: Preparation, Exploration, Encounter and Downtime. Each arc is likely to follow a quest that has been given to your characters, and these four scenes give you a procedural structure that typifies many ttrpgs.

Megalos: Crystalpunk Fantasy Roleplaying, by matara.

MEGALOS is a game for telling stories about adventures in the clouds, fighting evil empires, and dueling ancient gods. The Worlds of MEGALOS are vast and old, each a cosmic emanation connected to one another by the Wellspring- the source of all aether in the cosmos. Make your own World of MEGALOS or play in one of ours, from the Oradam Rift to Pallid Telkane to Zone Gachette to The Erefane. Soar through the air in an airship, dogfight imperials, and wield aetheric magicks as a punk-rock witch.

This tabletop game is inspired by things like classic JRPGs, electronica music, and medieval alchemy. MEGALOS is the first game to use the SLIPSTREAM game engine, which uses pools of d20s as the core of its task resolution mechanic.

The martial damage class for Megalos is called the Throne, and it hast at least two subclasses that I think you could use to make a Dragoon-like character. As a base class, Thrones have access to a flight ability called Liftoff, and both Arklights and Champions use this ability to do some neat things with combat.

Arklights are warrior monks, interested in the “protection and cultivation of ‘good’”. They have a lot of light and wings metaphors, including an ability called Falcon Dive, which allows you to dive at your opponent while in the air, with an upgrade ability to inflict piercing damage to multiple enemies. Then there’s the Champions, fighters who are all about learning new techniques and experiencing combat as a way of life. They’re very brawl-friendly characters, but their abilities Aerial Charge (which launches you in the air) and Meteor Drop (which is practically a dive-bomb attack) give me pretty strong Dragoon vibes.

Lancer, by Massif Press - and the Field Guide to Suldan, by KaiTave.

Lancer is a tabletop role playing game centred on shared narratives, customizable mechs, and the pilots who crew them. Set many thousands of years from the present day, Lancer imagines a future where a survivor humanity has spread to the stars after weathering terrible ecological collapse on Earth -- the end of the Anthropocene as a consequence of unrestrained consumption and poor stewardship.

Lancer features a mix of gritty, mud-and-lasers military science fiction and mythic science fantasy. In the setting, conscript pilots mix ranks with flying aces, mercenary guns-for-hire brawl with secretive corporate agents, and relativistic paladins cross thermal lances with causality-breaking, unknowable beings.

Lancer’s big thing is the ability to make a mech that can do some really cool things, all based around combat. You build your mechs with pieces you gain access to through licenses, many of which are distributed by various companies and organization. The base game has the IPS-N Nelson Frame, which is all about close-quarters combat and high mobility, with a gigantic War Pike that can puncture armour. If you want to go full Dragoon mode though, you’ll want to download the Field Guide to Suldan fan expansion, which has an additional frame option for the Nelson, giving you the power of flight - and an ability called Drive Burst, which allows you to move really fast in one direction and do a whole bunch of extra damage to anyone in your way.

If you want a game that’s all about figuring out neat combos and making your machine really really good at specific things, you want to try Lancer.

Fabula Ultima, by Need Games.

FABULA ULTIMA is a Tabletop Roleplaying Game inspired by Japanese-style console RPGs, or JRPGs.  In Fabula Ultima, you and your friends will tell epic stories of would-be heroes and fearsome villains, set in fantasy worlds brimming with magic, wondrous locations, and uniquely bizarre monsters!

A game that is typically advertised for folks who want a Final Fantasy experience, Fabula Ultima is likely going to hit a lot of similar plot beats and game moments that feel familiar. When it comes to character creation, you are expected to put together a few different options to make someone with a lot of cool talents that you can expand on as you grow.

One of the pre-gens in Press Start, a quick-start version of the game, looks fairly Dragoon-like, with a heavy spear and a move called “Soaring Strike” that looks like it can send you airborne to fight flying enemies, so I think it should be fairly easy to make the kind of character you’re looking for.

First Fantasy, by Marc Strocks.

A one-page RPG created for the game(s) jam.  In the year 199X, technological cities grow thicker by the day, feeding off the planet's resources. Demonic fiends fill the wilds, attacking anything that moves. With a weapon by your side, you travel the world. This is your mission. This is your story.

First-Fantasy is a single page full of a lot of roll tables, both for character creation and adventure creation. This game feels like it’s relying on folks who are well acquainted with the lore and tropes of Final Fantasy, and gives you a few tools to add chance to your story. Character creation is pretty slim, but the Dragoon class does give you the basics: a spear or a sword, a Jump-charge ability, and the metal plate you’d probably expect a knight of some kind to wear.

UMBRA, by Star Bear Games.

UMBRA is a Table Top Role Playing Game in which you delve into a world of bug Knights! It features the quick and snappy combat of the LUMEN system.

Under and within a grand oak tree lays a sprawling metropolis known as the Cradle. Making their lives under the watchful rule of the Ashen King, are the bugs of the Cradle. Every bug has a part to play, big or small, in the kingdom. For you, oh noble Knights, your part is that of protector.

Inspired by Hollow Knight, I thought about Umbra for two reasons: one, because the titular character of the game does a lot of jumping when in combat, and two, because this game is based in LUMEN, which is all about modular combat and strategy.

You cobble together a few different things to make your character unique, including a House, a weapon, and armour called Regalia, which give you different abilities or advantages. If you want to make a Dragoon-like character, I’d recommend making a bug from Horn House, which gives you the hard-hitting, high-damage typical of an armour-puncturing spear. You’d then make your spear by taking a Point weapon and giving it tags like Reaching, to give yourself the ability to stab from a distance. Then for Shell regalia, you can take either Hovering Wings, which gives you the ability to fly, or Propelling Wings, which give you heightened jumps, allowing you to stay in the air for extended periods of time.

If UMBRA itself isn’t the setting that you want but you like this level of customization, then I recommend checking out some other LUMEN games for different genres, but the same easy-to-learn fast-action strategy.

RottenFall Heroes, by LazerSamuraiGG

In a world forever changed by cosmic disaster, ordinary lives collided with the extraordinary. It all began with the sudden appearance of mysterious beings, turning unsuspecting humans into monstrous entities known as the ROTTEN. The trigger? A mysterious collision between an Obsidian Pyramid and the moon.

As if this upheaval wasn't enough, interdimensional beings known as VILLAINS seeped into our reality, distorting familiar landscapes into surreal nightmares.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, emerged a glimmer of hope – the Heroes. These courageous individuals joined forces, establishing schools and enterprises to combat the encroaching darkness. They ventured forth into the warped realities, confronting villains and safeguarding the innocent.

Mechanically, I cannot honestly say that RottenFall Heroes has anything that looks like a Dragoon in fighting style. However, what it does have is a class called a dragon knight, which involves a person who has a solemn pact with an ancient Dragon, who has granted them access to special powers. In Dragon Form, you are especially talented at wielding two-handed weapons, and I think you can choose a spear or lance if that’s what you desire. You can also re-roll your attacks when fighting with your clawed hands, and you’re resistant to fire. If you want the connection to dragons more than the ability to jump really high and pile-drive someone from the sky, then you might be interested in RottenFall Heroes.

You might also want to check out…

The Fire Emblem recommendation post I put up a couple of weeks ago.

The Official FFXIV TTRPG has Dragoon options! And it looks like there are free versions of the rulebooks.

This playbook for SLAYERS is all about playing a Dragoon-like character.

[thefadecodex]

As briefly explored in Theory of Spirit Complexity, where we examined the nuanced relationship between emotions and spirits, and further expanded upon in Spirit Alchemy: Paths to Purpose, I aim to explore even deeper into the concept of how spirits can "evolve," growing in complexity and purpose over time.

The Spirit Continuum: Wisp → Emotion → Virtue → Ideal

A Framework for Exploring Spirit Complexity in The Fade Codex

This framework provides criteria to distinguish between the increasing complexity of spirits, examining their embodiment of emotion, virtue, and ideal. The transition between these stages isn’t always clear, but this theory aims to outline how spirits evolve and interact across the continuum.

Trying to determine what would be a virtue vs ideal is the most challenging part, so below describes these concepts given how they are being used by The Fade Codex for this theory. 

1. Wisps (Most Primal)

"Flickering, Instinctual, and Unformed."

Definition: Wisps are the simplest and least developed forms of spirits, little more than drifting fragments of emotional energy or undefined intent. They have a lot of potential for growth.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody fragmented emotions, fleeting impressions, or vague intent.

Behavior: React instinctively.

Complexity: No self-awareness, no clear intent, and no capacity for reflection.

Examples:

A flicker of joy

A ripple of fear

A wisp of mischief

How to Identify a Wisp:

Is it 'formless', flickering, and reactive?

Does it lack any clear sense of identity, purpose, or reflection?

Does it behave like a fragment of an emotion rather than a distinct entity?

Key Question: “Is this merely an echo or fragment of an emotional current, without self-awareness or intent?”

2. Emotion-Based Spirits (Simple Spirits)

"Raw, Instinctive, and Reactive."

Definition:Emotion-Based Spirits are primal entities that embody a singular emotional state or feeling. They act instinctively, often lacking deeper self-awareness or long-term purpose.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody a raw emotional state or feeling.

Behavior: Reactive and instinctual, driven entirely by their core emotion.

Complexity: Limited self-awareness; they do not question their purpose.

Examples:

Comfort: Seeks to soothe and ease distress, offering immediate relief without addressing long-term causes or consequences.

Curiosity: Driven to explore, discover, and learn without moral alignment.

How to Identify an Emotion-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit operate primarily on a single, raw emotion?

Are its actions instinctive rather than reflective?

Does it lack broader philosophical or moral alignment?

Key Question: “Is the spirit reacting purely based on an emotional state?”

3. Virtue-Based Spirits (Intermediate Spirits)

"Purposeful, Reflective, and Morally Aligned."

Definition:Virtue-Based Spirits represent moral or ethical values derived from emotional roots. They demonstrate intention, reflection, and a clearer sense of purpose.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody a virtue or moral principle derived from emotional roots.

Behavior: Purposeful, with clear moral or ethical alignment guiding their actions.

Complexity: Moderate self-awareness; they can question their role and purpose.

Examples:

Valor: Represents courage and strength in the face of fear.

Compassion: Embodies kindness and empathy, actively seeking to alleviate suffering.

Justice: Strives for fairness, equality, and righting wrongs.

How to Identify a Virtue-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit act with a clear moral or ethical purpose?

Is its behavior reflective rather than purely reactive?

Does it demonstrate awareness of consequences and long-term outcomes?

Does it inspire or guide mortals in line with its virtue?

Key Question: “Does the spirit’s behavior demonstrate a guiding principle or moral alignment beyond raw emotional instinct?”

4. Ideal-Based Spirits (Most Complex Spirits)

"Abstract, Self-Aware, and Interconnected."

Definition:Ideal-Based Spirits embody abstract, interconnected systems of values, philosophies, or universal truths. They are highly self-aware, complex entities with far-reaching influence.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Represent abstract ideals or multi-faceted philosophical concepts.

Behavior: Deliberate, with deep reflection and long-term strategic goals.

Complexity: Profound self-awareness and the ability to question or redefine their purpose.

Examples:

Wisdom: Embodies knowledge, reflection, and insight.

Benevolence: Represents compassion, protection, and justice on a grand scale.

Eulogy: Represents reflection, remembrance, and honoring of loss.

How to Identify an Ideal-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit represent an interconnected system of values or abstract philosophy?

Are its actions part of a larger plan or long-term goal?

Does it demonstrate significant self-awareness, questioning, or redefining its role?

Does it inspire widespread cultural or spiritual significance among mortals?

Key Question: “Does the spirit’s nature transcend individual moral actions to embody a larger, interconnected system of meaning or purpose?”

Spirit Evolution Pathways

Exploring the Evolution of Spirits Across the Continuum

Spirits are not static beings; they evolve through interaction, reflection, and transformative experiences. Let’s focus on an example to lock in the understanding of how a spirit might ascend to Wisdom—one of the highest forms of an Ideal-Based Spirit—we can examine the pathways of evolution using emotion, virtue, and ideal as building blocks.

1. Understanding Spirit Fusion and Evolution

The Role of Interconnected Values

To our knowledge, spirits don’t simply “merge” their concepts—they grow by internalizing the lessons of other spirits they interact with or by reflecting on their experiences. Evolution isn’t linear; it’s a network of interconnected relationships between emotions, virtues, and ideals based on what experience the spirit is having.

Emotion-Based Spirits can provide the impulse for growth.

Virtue-Based Spirits provide the moral framework or guiding principles.

Ideal-Based Spirits represent the culmination of these elements into abstract philosophies.

2. Pathway Examples to Wisdom

Summary: “A spirit that learns, explores, and confronts difficult truths may evolve into a Spirit of Wisdom by synthesizing knowledge and insight.”

Summary: “A spirit that accumulates knowledge while maintaining balance between justice and mercy may ascend to Wisdom, acting as a steward of understanding and fairness.”

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Metal catalysts can be valuable, even when they aren't precious

Transforming trash to treasure might sound like alchemy, but in some industries it's already happening. For example, furfural, an abundant plant byproduct, is regularly converted to tetrahydrofuran (THF)-based compounds that are highly valued as pharmaceutical intermediates and solvents. This conversion process isn't easy though. An efficient conversion requires either expensive precious metal catalysts, like ruthenium and palladium, or non-precious metal catalysts that demand harsh conditions. Now, a research team from the University of Osaka has set out to address this issue. As detailed in their study published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, the team sought to develop a cost-effective catalyst for furfural conversion under mild conditions.

Read more.

[simmearly]

Sims 4 Challenge: Virtual Village

The Premise:

You've been tasked with building and managing a thriving virtual village in The Sims 4. Your villagers will need to work together to survive and prosper, relying on their unique skills and abilities.

The Roles:

* Spiritual Leader: A wise and powerful individual who can commune with the spirits and provide guidance to the village. This Sim can be a Spellcaster, but it's not mandatory. They are the primary caretakers of children and are responsible for passing down the village's knowledge and traditions. Upon their death, a designated heir must take their place, or the village will perish.

* Skills: Wellness, Herbalism, Alchemy, Parenting, Writing, Swimming, Snorkeling, Painting, Knitting, Cross-stitch, etc.

* Scientists: Intellectually gifted Sims who can unlock new technologies and advancements. Train these Sims in the Logic skill. You can have up to two Scientists per generation. Reaching Level 10 in Logic unlocks new advancements for your village.

* Builders: Skilled craftsmen who can construct homes, tools, and infrastructure. Train these Sims in the Handiness skill. Level 10 Handiness is required to construct larger structures like piers, foundations, and monuments.

* Farmers: Hardworking individuals who can cultivate crops and provide food for the village. Train these Sims in the Gardening skill and have them fish to maintain a steady supply of resources.

The Challenge:

* Establish Your Village: Create a new household with two unmarried Sims (ideally) and an optional child.

* Live off the land: in the early generations, attempt to feed your villagers what they forage, collect, fish, grow and harvest! In the later game, feel free to purchase these things as you have guided your villagers into thriving!

* Assign Roles: Designate specific Sims to each role, ensuring a balance of skills. For instance, one Sim could be a Spiritual Leader/Gatherer/Scientist, while the other could be a Builder/Gatherer/Farmer.

* Technology and Advancement:

* Logic Tech Tree:

* Trainee (1-4): Basic knowledge, off-grid living.

* Adept (4-9): Intermediate skills, irrigation, farming, basic crafting.

* Master (10): Advanced technology, monuments, complex structures, higher education.

* Tech Points: Earn these through training scientists. Complete collections to earn an extra 5000 tech points once per Generation, Spend them to unlock new technologies and structures.

* Trainee: 1000 points

* Adept: 5000 points

* Master: 20000 points

* Tribal Tech Tree:

* Tier 1: Survival

* Fire Mastery: Unlocked at the start.

* Shelter (5000 points): Build basic shelters like huts and lean-tos.

* Crafting (10000 points): Unlock candle making, nectar making, and other thematic crafting stations.

* Tier 2: Community

* Agriculture (5000 points, Master Farmer): Unlock advanced gardening techniques.

* Animal Husbandry (5000 points, Master Farmer, Adept Scientist): Domesticate animals.

* Social Structure (10000 points, Generation 3): Unlock clubs, weddings, and social events.

* Tier 3: Civilization

* Pottery (1000 points): Unlock pottery for storage and cooking.

* Weaving (5000 points): Unlock knitting, cross-stitching, and clothing customization.

* Metallurgy (10000 points, Generation 3, Master Scientist, Master Builder, Shelter and Metallurgy unlocked): Unlock metalworking.

* Tier 4: Advanced Civilization

* Writing (Generation 2, Adept Scientist, 1000 points): Unlock journaling and storytelling.

* Astronomy (5000 points): Unlock telescope.

* Architecture (10000 points, Generation 3, Master Builder, Master Scientist, Shelter and Metallurgy unlocked): Construct complex structures like temples and fortifications.

The Goal?

Build your village across multiple lots, and play through 10 Generations, unlock the technology you want, and create a small civilization! This is a creative challenge, so feel free to adjust the rules and tech tree to suit your play-style!

Additional Challenges:

* Natural Disasters: Simulate natural disasters like fires, floods, or droughts.

* Disease Outbreak: Introduce a disease to your village.

* Conflict with Neighboring Villages: Roleplay conflicts and negotiations.

Have fun and let your creativity soar!

Remember, the key to success is balance, cooperation, and innovation. Good luck!

(Point System - WIP!)

Some tips!

Build a winery, and a warehouse to store your goods!

Once you have unlocked advanced construction, create a mystical temple to house your Spiritual Leader!

Create more villagers as you progress, and have as many children as you want! Everyone does not have to stay on the Initial lot!

Pull from Sumerian, Egyptian, Aztec and Early Native American design elements to create to your hearts content, there is no money in this challenge, only Technology!

Sul Sul!

[vampiresdontbelonginfairytales]

Next

Previous

First

First in this arc

I'll just copy-paste the book version here:

Stratford-upon-Avon International College

Prospective students should return their application, along with letter of reference and payment details (either billing address or sponsor agreement) no later than May 31st/Lumistide 22nd.

Students must provide us with their ideal course arrangement. While the college will do its best to comply, we ask your understanding that this is not always possible. Schedules will be confirmed two weeks before the official start of the school year, which is September 1st / Grameltide 24th.

If a subject you wish to study is not available, contact the school and it can be discussed.

If combining study with an apprenticeship or other work experience off campus, please provide details of the master on the form provided.

Below is a list of subjects. Semesters are 10 weeks long with a break of two weeks between each. Students who wish to focus on one subject at a time should choose the intensive option. Students who wish to study multiple subjects at once should choose the multi option. For multi subject study, up to three major subjects may be chosen for part time study, with three minor subjects, up to four main for full time, dependant on course. Subjects may also be chosen as electives. Apprenticeships are not recommended to be combined with the intensive option.

Please state your intended length of study for each subject in semesters or years.

Subject list:

Languages always available:

Common Gaian

Common Calypso

English

Japanese

Arabic

MSL (for other dialects of sign language please contact the school)

Afrikaans

Other languages available by request

Physical Education: (intensive option not available)

Fencing   

Rhythmic gymnastics

Self defence

Weaponry

Archery

Various martial arts available (please contact the school)

Witchcraft and other arcane arts:

Basic Alchemy

Intermediate Alchemy

Introduction to Magic

Beginner Magic

Intermediate Magic

Runecraft

Blacksmithing

Jewel craft

Earth subjects: (intensive option not available)

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Business Studies

C++

There was quite a list of Earth subjects which she just skimmed over. It occurred to her that she was going to need some help filling this in. What the heck was an elective?

----

Comic text

(Minutes after Sara left)

(shortened version of above)

Then: (extreme closeup of Lucinda's concerned face)

Lucinda: I'm just gonna... go fill this in at work.

[santoschristos]

The Pillars of Polarity

“Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.”—The Kybalion.

The principle of polarity shows us that spirit and matter are opposite poles of the same thing (the intermediate planes), being merely different rates of vibration. In hermetics, it is believed that the All and the Many are the same, the difference being varying degrees of mental manifestation.

In Hinduism, the creator god Brahma sprang from the cosmic golden egg, and from his own person, created both good and evil, light and dark.

The Bible also talks about polarity when it speaks on the war between the flesh and the spirit:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” - Romans 8:6-8

We see polar opposites in other aspects of life such as hot and cold, tall and short, hard and soft, love and hate, fear and courage. For example, hot and cold are both on the scale of temperature being simply different degrees, hot being on the upper scale of temperature, and cold being on the lower end of the scale. We witness this again with the flow of electricity: for an electrical current to work you need both positive and negative charges; you need both poles.

The principle of polarity gives us a clear vision of how transmutation works. Transmutation is not changing one thing into an entirely different thing, but changing the degree of the same thing. For example, one cannot transmute fear into love, but one can transmute fear into courage, or hate into love.

When the alchemist is able to understand and use the hermetic principle of polarity, he or she will better understand their own mental state. This understanding will allow the alchemist to view his or her own mental state as matter of degree of a specific emotion, thought, or feeling. The alchemist will be able to raise or lower their vibration at will, becoming a master of his or her own vibration. This will free the alchemist from the control of others’ vibrations and ideals. The principle of polarity allows the alchemist to aid others emotionally and intellectually as they move closer to the will of the divine. The mastery of the principle of polarity gives the alchemist the ability to perform spiritual, mental, and physical alchemy in all situations.

[talonabraxas]

The Pillars of Polarity

“Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.”—The Kybalion.

The principle of polarity shows us that spirit and matter are opposite poles of the same thing (the intermediate planes), being merely different rates of vibration. In hermetics, it is believed that the All and the Many are the same, the difference being varying degrees of mental manifestation.

In Hinduism, the creator god Brahma sprang from the cosmic golden egg, and from his own person, created both good and evil, light and dark.

The Bible also talks about polarity when it speaks on the war between the flesh and the spirit:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” - Romans 8:6-8

We see polar opposites in other aspects of life such as hot and cold, tall and short, hard and soft, love and hate, fear and courage. For example, hot and cold are both on the scale of temperature being simply different degrees, hot being on the upper scale of temperature, and cold being on the lower end of the scale. We witness this again with the flow of electricity: for an electrical current to work you need both positive and negative charges; you need both poles.

The principle of polarity gives us a clear vision of how transmutation works. Transmutation is not changing one thing into an entirely different thing, but changing the degree of the same thing. For example, one cannot transmute fear into love, but one can transmute fear into courage, or hate into love.

When the alchemist is able to understand and use the hermetic principle of polarity, he or she will better understand their own mental state. This understanding will allow the alchemist to view his or her own mental state as matter of degree of a specific emotion, thought, or feeling. The alchemist will be able to raise or lower their vibration at will, becoming a master of his or her own vibration. This will free the alchemist from the control of others’ vibrations and ideals. The principle of polarity allows the alchemist to aid others emotionally and intellectually as they move closer to the will of the divine. The mastery of the principle of polarity gives the alchemist the ability to perform spiritual, mental, and physical alchemy in all situations.

[snugglesquiggle]

one of the big differences between pushro 0.7 and pushro 0.8 is that in 0.7, physics is done how you'd naively expect it to be done. to move something, the game changes its xy position. to push a block, first the block is moved, then if that works, the pusher is moved. you want to change an object property? just set a field variable

0.8, though? it ditches this entirely for a whole set of structures and algorithms. (as i always say, this is why the update took so long). now, every possible update to the game state is couched in the form of a sequence of intermediate commands and instructions, and this sequences are 'compiled' down to a series of object field writes.

this has a number of benefits - there's true undo now, (previous versions just recreated the level from start and and replayed all but one move). physics is a lot more regular now that you can calculate a tile's next state completely independent of actually changing anything. (previously, you had to be careful when you changed things and worry about certain physics effects working differently when they went "against the grain" of left-to-right evaluation)

it might seem complicated, but once i knocked out the grunt work of rewriting every single function, it was remarkable how clean and understandable it all was.

recently, i've started writing tests, because the physics has gotten deeply complicated (the physics.js file is well over a thousand lines, and at this point huge chunks of logic aren't in that file).

which means i'm rigorously examining some cobwebs of edge case physics to finally straighten them out. after months of more or less comfortably the new physics, i didn't expect this to be what breaks me

the problem is simple: what rightly happens if you push a block over top a slipperly ice tile? i haven't fully decided, but whatever the correct behavior, it's not this

if the player walks west, first they will push the block, causing it to slide westward to the ground tile. then the player is dragged west to complete their aborted movement.

then - by some strange alchemy - they vault over the block and land on the orange fire tile, killing themselves.

trying to parse the multi levels of interaction and indirection to understand what the fuck is going on even in this simple level is gonna put me on the news

[fading-into-stardust]

My March Reading List

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7/10 - a good place to start for beginners, talks a lot about how we can self sabotage ourselves through doubt, skepticism, and negative self talk. Doesn't talk much about specific rituals except for the lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram which it pretty highly recommends. Primarily talks about inner alchemy and how you can improve your inner self through magic and mindful practice. I would describe this as a self help book with a side of magic.

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8/10 - another good one for beginners, goes briefly over lots of the questions you might have just starting out with witchcraft, paganism, and magic and goes more into detail about different kinds of pagan worship. Goes into specifics about a few different kinds of beginner friendly rituals and offers up several self-reflective questions. It also goes into more intermediate and more advanced stuff twords the end but it's all presented in a way that's still pretty beginner friendly. Also offers up a bunch of other book suggestions.

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7/10 - this book primarily focuses on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. It talks a lot about the authors personal experiences with several annicdotes about the authors experience at meditation retreats and It goes pretty deep into the psychology of why and how mindfulness works with several psychological studies and relates them back to certain teachings of Buddha (mindfulness, non-self, emptiness/formlessness, ect). It's a pretty good introduction to Secular Buddhism and a good deep dive into the psychology of mindfulness. My only complaint about this one is that it gets a little rambling towards the second half of the book.

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6/10 - objectively it's a pretty good book. The author comes at the book with a Hellenistic perspective telling several myths from mostly Greek mythology but also some Egyptian and Norse mythology. Aside from that it also explains other things associated with each element (astrological signs, colors, dieties, stones, herbs, and tarot card, ect.). It wasn't my favorite since I don't really work with star signs or greek mythos but I would recommend it if you do.

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6/10 - this books tells multiple different legends and myths involving The Morrigan sisters and offers up the authors interpretation of each. Also interspersed with annicdotes from the author and from other Morrigan followers.

[alchemyofazeroth]

Greater Healing Potion

Difficulty:

Intermediate alchemy. Alchemy trainers teach this recipe later in their classes as students advance.

Ingredients:

One-part Liferoot, freshly chopped.

One-part Kingsblood berries.

One crystal vial, for bottling.

Makes one potion. Adjust for larger batches by multiplying in a 1:1 ratio.

Recipe:

The recipe for a Greater Healing Potion originates in the Swamp of Sorrows. To concoct a potent Greater Healing Potion, one must begin by procuring whole Liferoot and a handful of ripe Kingsblood berries. Liferoot, known for its remarkable ability to retain fluids and prevent dehydration, should be thoroughly cleansed of any residual soil or debris. The root's inherent saltiness and earthy flavor are indicative of its capacity to collect saline from the surrounding waters. Crush the Liferoot using a mortar and pestle, taking care to extract as much of its natural liquid as possible. The remaining plant matter should then be immersed in the extracted fluid to further enrich the serum's restorative properties.

Resist the temptation to bind these reagents with alcohol or oils, as the waters of the Liferoot alone suffice.

Next, add the vibrant Kingsblood berries. Gently muddle the berries, allowing their crimson essence to infuse the mixture. The potion should then be left to mature, harnessing the ambient heat of the swamp to promote the binding of its components. Should this elixir be prepared outside of the Swamp of Sorrows, leaving an cast-iron cauldron in direct sunlight for a whole summer's day will impart the same ambient heat needed before brewing.

Within a day's time, the Greater Healing Potion will be ready. It should exhibit a deep crimson hue, its rich color evocative of the potent restorative properties contained within. The aroma of the potion is a complex melange, with the sharp, saline scent of Liferoot intermingling with the honeyed sweetness of Kingsblood berries, hinting at the flavor profile to come. The true marvel of this concoction, however, lies in its astounding efficacy in mending grievous wounds. When administered, the potion works with an almost preternatural swiftness, knitting together torn flesh, mending fractured bones, and restoring the body to a state of wholeness. The rapidity and completeness of the healing process is a testament to the remarkable potency of the Greater Healing Potion, solidifying its status as an indispensable tool for adventurers, warriors, and healers alike.

[knives-and-magic-rp]

Introduction (Update 2)

Hello there! Here is @imamarillys and I'm trying to RP for the first time in a while. Yay?

I'm 28 and made Dela Kinomoto originally as an OC for the Marvel Universe. I did RP in the past but that was over a decade ago, so please be patient. English is my second language, the main one being Portuguese.

>> If you are a MINOR, please do NOT interact. Sorry buds :/

>> Cursing during RP is okay. I’m too old to mind it, but let me know if that’s something that you rather avoid.

>> The description of violence is okay. Heck, the writing practice will help me wonders.

>> NSFW can be considered but is not guaranteed.

>> More rules and observations will be added if necessary.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

(Longer doc in case you are bored and need something to read: https://shorturl.at/yCxVO)

Recommended tags: #art #lore

About the character

Name: Dela Kinomoto

Pronouns: she/her

Age: late 30s (?)

Sexuality: straight

Occupation: sorceress by choice, hacker to pay the bills.

Basic description: Japanese-American, long black hair, grey eyes, always present red lipstick. She prefers to be dressed mainly in black, covering her arms, torso and legs completely. Kinomoto bears a few scars that can be seen at first glance: on the back of both hands are old burn marks, and cut scars can be seen next to her left eye and on the base of her neck. She always carries two daggers of blue handles on her belt and wears a Sling Ring on her left hand. Her appearance overall is rather average... and maybe she prefers to keep it that way.

Secret: Dela has been a traveler of the multiverse for decades, not willingly but by force. There are no obvious signs of it and she usually tries to keep that to herself.

Powers and abilities:

Daggers: duel wild. Sometimes boost the weapons with magic.

Hacking: her ability is a tad rusty, but Dela still can invade and corrupt select systems. Despite not knowing everything, her previous knowledge gives her advantage when learning about new systems and hacking methods. Giving time and some practice, she proves herself as a fast learner with technology.

Martial arts: intermediate knowledge of Bagua Zang, characterized by circular movements, constant spinning and evasive maneuvers. Dela would rather redirect an attack than to block it; she has lower resistance to direct blows. She frequently boosts her martial arts attacks with magic.

Sorcery:

Advantages on casting: portals, levitation, manipulation of darkness, light, water and plant elements. Blood manipulation.

Disadvantages on casting: shields and protection spells, manipulation of air and fire elements, transmutation and alchemy.

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I have more details for this character but they’ll be revealed gradually as role playing go.

Let's do this! Here goes nothing~~~~

[liviablithe]

Air to Water, Water to Ice || Solo

TIMING: 8 months prior LOCATION: Ulricus's Study PARTIES: Solo SUMMARY: Ulricus shows Livia the capabilities of a master alchemist.

Alchemy, my dear, is a science. Ulricus had told her, over & over again. Even the greatest of spellcasters confuse the ancient art of transmutation as a solely magical pursuit. Though at its core, knowledge of science is required if the skilled alchemist is to become the master alchemist. He usually paced, up & down his study, as he taught Livia the basics of transmutation & matter manipulation.

Sometimes she listened, most of the time, she did not. “To turn a gas into a liquid & that liquid into a solid is but the beginner stages of alchemy. To turn the air into water & that water into ice.” As he said this, he laid out his palm before Livia. A sphere of crystal-clear water manifested before him, droplets dripping onto his palm before turning into a tight, compact sphere. Livia leaned in closer at this moment, mesmerised by its gentle currents. Take a good look. His actions told her. A good look at all you can do. With a clench of his fist the ball of water turned into a large ice cube & Livia gasped. She clapped, encouraging the performer for an encore. “An intermediate alchemist,” He continued. “Is able to manipulate transmuted matter, bending it to her will.” Like this. He said, as he glazed over the sphere with his other hand. Pieces of ice chipped away, turning into water on contact with the warmth of his skin. It did not take long for the sphere of ice to turn into a snowflake, floating within Ulricus’s palm. Amazed, Livia watched with her mouth agape. She was always impressed with his magical capabilities. He delighted in her reactions, a smirk tugging at his lip. But, the lesson had to go on. Sorcery was no child’s play. Dropping his hand, the snowflake evaporated into mist, holding its form in the air before slowly drizzling down towards the floor. “True masters of alchemy, Livia, only but a few sorceresses that walk this earth can warp & deform not only inorganic matter such as liquids, gasses & solids but also organic matter.” He stopped now, standing before her, holding her gaze. “Do you know what I mean by organic matter? Give me an example.” Even when asked a question she remained relaxed, slack even. She had become completely comfortable around Ulricus & he had become completely comfortable around her. Even now, during a lesson, she had arrived in her pyjamas. “Well, this apple?” She suggested, picking up the red, ripe fruit on her desk. Ulricus nodded in agreement, though paced again, somewhat disappointed by her answer. “Yes, the apple, but I want you to think bigger. I did not become a master by bending the matter of…, apples.” Ulricus headed to the front of his study & unsheathed one of his daggers on display. He had mentioned little of it to her previously; it was ancient, ceremonial, it’s handle, a regal lion carved by glistening jewels. “It’s Aztec.” Ulricus said, as he returned to Livia. “They worshiped big cats. This exact dagger had been used to sacrifice multiple big cats for the success of the acting tlatoani.” He held out his hand, motioning her to take the dagger. “Now, stand.” Livia stood, taking the dagger in her hands. It felt heavy though she gripped the handle, impressed by its craftmanship. “Now, Livia.” He said, arms open. “Stab me. Stab me right in the heart.”

She furrowed her brows, mouth agape. “Ulricus! Stab you? Don’t be stupid, I’m not doing that.” She was about to drop the knife, but he raised his palm, motioning her to stop. “Don’t be so dramatic, you won’t be hurting me. I’m going to show you what it means to transmute organic matter. I want to show you true power. Now, grow up & stab me.” He tapped his chest, right over his heart, & opened his arms again as if ready to embrace her in a hug. She hesitated, but approached him steadily, the dagger feeling dangerous with her fingers gripped tightly around the handle. The lions head awkwardly protruded out of a gap in her knuckles. She was awkward with the weapon, clearly not accustomed to holding such a thing. “Stab me, & don’t hold back. Get a good grip” He encouraged, watching her pace towards him, noticing her awkwardness. Her heart raced. Ulricus was unconventional with his teachings, she knew this, but he had never asked her to attempt & injure him before. “You’re…, you’re sure?” She asked, holding his gaze. “Yes, I’m sure. I trust you & you need to trust me too if you’re ever going to learn anything from me.” Lips pursed, Livia nodded instinctively, hyping herself up for the act, preparing herself to stab her mentor. With a swift motion, Livia raised the dagger & brought it down on Ulricus. The knife, unexpectedly, phased straight through him, followed by Livia’s hand, her arm & then her entire body. She toppled onto the ground, as if his body had opened to her & spat her back out again. Looking back, aghast, Livia was left speechless. She heard Ulricus chuckle. He turned to face her; a grin expanded on his face. Where Livia had phased through, his body appeared to take on the shape of mist, his clothes too, floating at the waist, being split in two. “You don’t get to where I’m at by casting spells on apples, Livia. You get to where I’m at by pushing the boundaries.” His head & torso floated above her now, slowly yet surely, he was becoming a gaseous form. She reached out, her fingers slicing through his chest like a plane flying through clouds. “Oh my God, Ulricus.” Livia exhaled, amazed. Floating up & over her head, Ulricus materialized to his usual, tangible self, feet to the ground. Everything about him was intact. His clothes, his teeth, his eyebrows, the many alchemic runes that covered his entire body, the same runes that allowed him to turn the air to water, the water to ice, the ice into a snowflake, & back to air again. The runes & transmutation circles tattooed on his body that allowed him to turn into a cloud, immune to the sharp blade of a knife. Livia broke into laughter, & accepted Ulricus’s hand, rising to her feet. “Now, Livia.” He smiled, happy to see her so joyful. “Before you go floating into space…, let’s get you learning the basics." Livia could not deny. She was definitely listening now. "Let’s get you turning water, to ice.”

[moonpile]

Update 46 PTS: Solstice

Spoilers below!

See also:

U46 PTS: Solstice Zone Screenshots - Part 1

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Testing the new Home Goods vendor plants with old plants at the new earnable house, Bismuth Steam Baths.

The new plants and giant boulders are awesome! Will be very useful. Plants a bit oversaturated though, just like some West Weald ones.

Earnable house – Bismuth Steam Baths:

Very happy that this is earnable. BEAUTIFUL exterior and bath area! But they are so far apart, with a lot of Altmer interior in between that doesn't excite me. With only 600 slots we are basically forced to choose which area to use.

In-house portals would be extremely useful.

Both to port directly to where you build from outside the house (set a new entrance), and secondary ones to go between areas without wasting slots on reskinning unused areas.

If you agree, I hope you will join me in asking for such a feature via in-game feedback and/or on the forums!

More of my feedback here: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8296976/#Comment_8296976

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@futerko-profi already has video up of the house!

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More screenshots below: New furnishings & their sources, zone shots, dyes:

13 new achievement furnishings are being added and can be unlocked or purchased after completing the prerequisite achievements.

9 achievement furnishings that can be purchased from Sabione Adrard in Sunport.

2 can be purchased from achievement furnishers in your alliance zones.

2 new trophy and bust furnishings can be earned from completing the Ossein Cage trial on normal and veteran difficulties.

9 new furnishings can be earned from antiquity leads in solstice including a new music box!

24 can be purchased from Mahei-Jekka, Home Goods Furnisher vendor, in Sunport.

77 new furnishing plans are being sourced in 3 locations.

68 can be found across the Solstice zone.

5 can be found in Solstice’s Antiquity bonus loot when excavating antiquities of intermediate or higher difficulty.

4 can be found in Algae-Laden Sunport Packs which can be fished up in Solstice.

47 can be collected from a variety of unique sources in Solstice.

14 can be earned from pickpocketing citizens across Solstice.

12 furnishings can be found in Algae-Laden Sunport Packs.

11 can be found in the Solstice treasure map chests.

8 can be collected from Alchemy and Clothier resource nodes in Solstice.

2 can be mined from Blacksmithing and Jewelry resource nodes in Solstice.

A few are bugged, so no pictures yet.

Sadly, the portal is completely flat from the side. But would look ok if placed in some framing element like a doorway. The achievement is the group event in the public dungeon.

Furniture vault! (Excuse my testing mess here; behind it are some new stone fire pits which are great both normally and upside-down!)

A good idea, but would be FAR more useful to have 1000 storage slots for stacking up to 200 items/slot, rather than 500 slots for 1000-stacks. Speaking with other housers, very few (if any) of us actually stack up to 1000 of any one item. But 100-200, certainly.

If you agree, you can react to my comment or leave your own: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8296954/#Comment_8296954

Testing pile showing some items + a list of what will be "Reward" furnishings which are, frankly, currently unrewarding: in my testing so far, nodes are very sparse and these don't seem to drop at all.

Feedback on that at the bottom: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8296954/#Comment_8296954

Lots of new bismuth crystals from various sources: achievements, antiquities, and Home Goods vendor.

Sunport Fountain, Floral Wall will surely be a popular item. Small water spout to turn anything into a fountain, shower, etc!

Shown above with some of the new Argonian stone pillars, which unfortunately may come from Treasure Map leads. Don't count on unlocking those for 2+ years unless you want to spend millions of gold on maps :(

Likewise those orange lilies: supposedly one of the zone rewards for harvesting, but drops may be too rare. Feedback here: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8296976/#Comment_8296976

Futerko's video shows ALL of the new items, and here's an complete list showing icons via ESO-Hub: https://eso-hub.com/en/seasons/seasons-of-the-worm-cult-part-1/furniture

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Zone screenshots:

Nice new character select screen.

Loads of gorgeous Argonian stone architecture I hope we get structural pieces from for housing:

(You can see some of the plant saturation is a bit over-the-top. I do use a subtle ReShade; even without it, they're very saturated.)

Above is a World Boss area. I'd love to have EVERYTHING here for housing! These blue crystals and ladders too.

The water features around Sunport are gorgeous. Basically everything above are #eso housing wishlist items!

New Fashion:

Dyes

The dye “Shell-Tide Green” is obtained from completing the “Hero of Western Solstice” achievement. [Shown with King Orgnum's Wine and Contraband Violet on the belt.]

The dye “Dolorous Indigo” is obtained from completing the “Ossein Cage Vanquisher” achievement. [This dye is very much a purple, more like plum than indigo, as you can see below.]