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Europa’s Deadly Secret

An eerie silence lay heavily upon the once bustling scientific research station, the pride and joy of the Ixaltrian Union, as it drifted aimlessly across the galaxy.  The station’s various computers, instruments, and lights were all darkened, save for.  The deep space transmitter, once used for transmitting message back to the Union HQ, now transmitted a warning.  The message, recorded by Arch-Scientist Zygratis, repeated without hesitation “The station is infected, the humans have released the Atraxxik Parasite from beneath Europa.  Begin Bio-Containment Protocol Level 4″. 

A massive Diedacta Battle Station manuevered into positioin, just far enough away from the infected zones of the Milky Way to have 100% accuracy with the Cryo-Flash cannon, the same weapon that had sealed the Atraxxik threat thousands of years ago, and avoid potential infection.  The only thought Commander Ralex had as the cannon fired it’s deadly, frigid payload was ‘Billions will die, but tens of billions will live to see tomorrow...’ A single tear fell as his gaze wandered towards the cluster of now frozen stars where his wife and newborn daughter were now entombed forever in ice.  “I’ll see you soon, my love...” he whispered as he loaded a single plasma charge into his pistol.  “I’ll see you soon.”

I wrote this with a prompt from r/writingprompt over on Reddit.  The prompt was “Aliens have been avoiding direct contact with Earth, not because they fear humans, but the dark secret that lies beneath the ice of  Europa, which human’s are drilling into..”

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Spells of MTG in D&D: Counterspells Part 1

Compared to D&D, Magic the Gathering is brimming with counterspells. As D&D only has the one, I thought it’d be exciting to translate a few over from MTG to give some exciting new options for control-based player characters and NPCs.

Countersquall 3rd-level abjuration Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you can take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you cast a spell. Range: 60 feet Components: S Duration: Instantaneous You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell is of 2nd level or lower, its spell fails and it has no effect. If it is of 3rd level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, the creature’s spell fails and has no effect. If the spell is countered in this way, the creature suffers 2d8 lightning damage.

To compensate for keeping this spell at a lower casting level, I lowered the level of spells that it automatically counters, so that it can also deal lightning damage while at level 3.

Disallow 4th-level abjuration Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you can take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you cast a spell, or make an action other than a melee weapon attack or ranged weapon attack. Range: 60 feet Components: S Duration: Instantaneous You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell, or making an action. If the creature is casting a spell is of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and it has no effect. If it is of 4th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, the creature’s spell fails and has no effect. Alternatively, if the creature is making a non-spell action, it must make a Wisdom saving throw vs your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is unable to make the intended action this turn, but does not use up its action this turn.

The limitation I added for countering actions with this spell was included so that when a party of players are fighting a particularly powerful creature, countering its multiattack doesn’t lock it out of combat and dull the battle.

Memory Lapse 3rd-level abjuration Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you can take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you cast a spell. Range: 60 feet Components: S Duration: Instantaneous You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell is of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and it has no effect. If it is of 4th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, the creature’s spell fails and has no effect. If the spell is countered, the creature no longer has it prepared, but regains the spell slot used to cast it.

I wanted to keep this at 3rd level, and give it a similar effect to the card, as well as including flavour of forgetting the spell (which I represented with the spell no longer being prepared). The spell slot is retained instead of used up, in the same vein of the spell not being countered and put into the graveyard.

Mental Misstep 1st-level abjuration Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you can take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you cast a cantrip or a spell at 1st-level. Range: 60 feet Components: S Duration: Instantaneous You interrupt a creature in the process of casting a cantrip or a spell at 1st-level. The spell the creature is casting fails and it has no effect. You may cast this spell by suffering 5 necrotic damage instead of expending a spell slot.

As I wanted to represent the phyrexian mana cost for this spell, I gave it an amount of damage that can quite heavily affect weaker spellcaster characters. This cost allowing it to be cast more than normal is balanced out by the fact that it only affects spells which can be cast more regularly.

Spell Swindle 5th-level transmutation Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you can take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you cast a spell Range: 60 feet Components: S Duration: Instantaneous You attempt to capture the energy of a spell before it is fully cast, and transmute it into a small fortune. If the creature is casting a spell is of 5th level or lower, its spell fails and it has no effect. If it is of 6th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, the creature’s spell fails and has no effect. When a spell is countered in this way, the energy of the spell is transmuted into d20gp for each level of the countered spell, which rains down around you. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the interrupted spell has no effect if its level is less than or equal to the level of the spell slot you used. 

The first thing that came to mind with this counter was that it should be a transmutation spell as opposed to an abjuration one. As a 5th level spell, it functions similarly to regular counterspell cast at that level, but lacks the flexibility.

Find a couple of other counterspells that I’ve translated to D&D from MTG in my Spells of Zendikar post!

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I need a movie where Jeff Bridges works for a secret government agency that deals with paranormal issues and emergencies. It has to take place at the point in his career where it's no longer exciting and he's just so used to dealing with monsters attacking him that he knows exactly the play by play on what the outcome will be. I guess it would almost end up being like a cross over between "The Big Lebowski" and "Supernatural".

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Little doodle while at work. Can't believe I fucked up my own signature on this one.

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Reflection

Life is a rollercoaster of fucked up crazy stuff. Some good, some bad, some is down right ugly. It.can be hard to solo, like trying to solo the latest 10 man raid wearing grey gear in WoW hard. I am thankful that I have my fiance in my life. She's not a skinny barbie doll type, she's not the most socially graceful, and she has a lot of baggage from her past. But I don't want her to be any other way than what she is to me: Perfect. Without her, I doubt I'd be as chipper as I am in the face of financial uncertainty. It's actually amazing what you can face, and even smile at, when you're not facing some shitty life events alone. My advice to the guys and gals on tumblr: stop chasing princesses that always need saving. Find yourself a queen who is more than capable of fighting beside you. Find a women who is an equal to you and recognizes you as her equal. Don't view it as the "missing piece to my puzzle" cliche bullshit... It's a toxic way of viewing someone and especially viewing yourself as anything less than a complete being. Going back to what I said about the stuff you can face when you have someone that you can truly depend on, I want to touch on something my generation and the iGeneration have created that isn't a healthy option: safe spaces. The world is, since the dawn of life on this planet, unforgiving and unsafe. Modern society has made a lot of people "soft" and offended by every little thing deemed politically incorrect. The weak die, so the strong may live. That is the only certainty that mother nature set in motion and even we can't break that rule with 100% success. Instead of trying to create a false sense if safety you should stand together, whether as a couple like myself and my fiance or as a group, and move forward regardless of how bleak things may seem. Without my beloved kitsune, I'd probably be posting in a more bleal light...

I don't care if this doesn't get seen or reblogged. I certainly don't care if this post offends anyone in any way so save any welching for someone who cares. I am speaking from personal experience. Both myfiance and I have been sexually abused, and she dealth with worse than that, but we didn't let that stop us from moving forward, and I know that anyone can do it. "If it's going to be, it's up to me." These words are the best advice my grandfather ever gave me while I was growing up, now I hope these words can help some of you find your way to brighter days

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idk why I made this

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MEK. Little piece I threw together at work. Not liking my "M" here but otherwise not too too bad.

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Are fedoras really that bad?

YES YES THEY ARE

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A friend irl. She's an amazing artist.

just some sketches to practice clip studio

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This. You don't like the way the creator set their character, then stop following the series.

small psa: it doesn’t matter how deeply personally attached you are to a character/game/series/what have you. if it is not your creation and does not belong to you, you do not get to take anyone else’s right to publicly enjoy that thing away from them. nor do you have the right to act hostile or passive-aggressive toward anyone for enjoying it in a way you don’t “approve” of

period. bottom line.

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“Sigils, Ciphers and Scripts: History and Graphic Function of Magick Symbols” by M. B. Jackson (2013) - selected plates.

This book is highly recommended - it packs a very large amount of accurate information into its 64 pages.

“The world is language” - Terence McKenna.

At each level of experience there are various languages, codes and symbols that describe that level. The first step to improving your own state and that of others is to understand how these languages work. The next step is to start writing your own narratives, stories and texts in your language of choice.

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Mindfucked

情景師アラーキー/荒木さとし SATOSHI ARAKI

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In Which Diversity Isn't a Myth

Ok. I’m tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.I’m also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list. 

I tried to included as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I don’t speak Russian…) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogging (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list. 

Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, etc), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.

Dragons

The Chinese Dragon

The Japanese Dragon

The Korean Dragon

The Vietnamese Dragon

The Greek Dragon

The Indian Dragon

The Polish Dragon

The Austrian Dragon

The British Dragon

The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)

The Spanish Basque Dragon

Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)

Alphabetical List of Dragons Across Myths (Great way to start)

Little creatures (without wings)

The Legend of the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun

Chanaque /Alux (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)

Elves

Elves in Mythology and Fantasy

Elves in Germanic Mythology

Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)

Norse Dwarves

The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves

Ten Types of Goblins

Goblins

Tengu: Japanese Goblins

Gnomes 

More on Gnomes

Pooka: an Irish phantom

Creatures with wings (except dragons)

Fairies

All sorts of Cultural Fairies

Fairies in Old French Mythology 

A Fairy List

Bendith Y Mamau (Welsh fairies)

Welsh Fairies

Peri (Persian fairies)

Yü Nü (Chinese fairies)

The Celtic Pixie

Angels in Judaism

Angels in Christianity

Hierarchy of Angels

Angels in Islam

Irish Sylph

Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)

Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)

Harpies

Spirited Creatures

Druids

Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)

Types of Djinns

Aisha Qandisha and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore

Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)

Nymphs

Spirits in Asturian Mythology

Valkyries

Lesovik

Boggarts: The British Poltergeist

Phantom black dogs (the Grim)

Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian Mythology (list)

Demons in the Americas (list)

European Demons (list)

Middle-East and Asia Demons (list)

Judeo-Christian Demons (list)

Nephilim, more on Nephilim

Mahaha (a demon in Inuit mythology)

Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois mythology)

Ghosts

Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)

Malay Ghosts

Yuki-onna (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

The Pontianak (a ghost in Malay mythology)

Funayurei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

Zagaz (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)

Japanese Ghosts

Mexican Ghosts

Horse-like mythical creatures

Chinese Unicorns

Unicorns

The Kelpie (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)

The Centaur

The Female Centaur

Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)

Horse-like creatures (a list)

Karkadann, more on the Karkadann (a persian unicorn)

Ceffyl Dwfr (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)

Undead creatures

The Melanesian Vampire 

The Ewe Myth : Vampires

The Germanic Alp

The Indonesian Vampire

Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)

The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire

Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires

Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire

Vampires in Malaysia

Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire

Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures

Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire

Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire

Genesis of the Word “Vampire”

The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology

Slavic Vampires

Vampires A-Z

The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths

Zombies in Haitian Culture

Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids) 

Satyrs (half-man, half-goat)

Sirens in Greek Mythology (half-woman and half-bird creatures)

The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology

Werewolves Across Cultures

Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth

Nagas Across Cultures

The Kumiho (half fox and half woman creatures)

The Sphinx

Criosphinx

Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)

Pooka: an Irish changelings

Domovoi (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)

Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)

Yech (Native American folklore)

Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit mythology)

Sea creatures

Selkies (Norse mermaids)

Mermaids in many cultures

More about mermaids

Mermen

The Kraken (a sea monster)

Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)

Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)

Bunyip (sea monster in Aboriginal mythology)

Apkallu/abgal (Sumerian mermen)

An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures

Slavic Water Creatures

The Encantado (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)

Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)

Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit mythology)

Monsters That Don’t Fit in Any Other Category

Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa

Amphisabaena

Abere

Bonnacon

Myrmidons (ant warriors)

Troll, More on Trolls

Golems 

Golems in Judaism

Giants: The Mystery and the Myth (50 min long documentary)

Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit mythology)

Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)

The Minotaur

The Manticore, The Manticore and The Leucrouta

The Ogre

The Orthus (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)

The Windigo

The Windigo Psychosis

Rakshasa (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)

Yakshas (warriors in Hindu mythology)

Taqriaqsuit (“Shadow people” in Inuit mythology)

References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe

Creatures of Irish Folklore 

Folklore and Fairytales

An Overview of Persian Folklore

Filipino Folklore

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

Alaska Folklore

Spanish (Spain) Mythology

Mythical Archive

Mythology Dictionary

List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters

Native American Animals of Myth and Legends

Native American Myths

Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology

Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts

Angels and Demons

List of Sea Creatures

Yoruba Mythology

Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z

Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Mythology

Creatures from West Africa

On the Legendary Creatures of Africa

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

References on writing a myth or mythical creatures

Writing a MYTHology in your novel?

How to Write a Myth

10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures

Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species

Legendary Creature Generator

Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures

(I have stumbled upon web sites that believed some of these mythical creatures exist today… Especially dragons, in fact. I just had to share the love and scepticism.)

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Holding the keys to my throne