I love this because like 99% of this kind of paleoart is patriarchal Man the Hunter type fantasies but these guys are just like “fuck it we’re outta here”
my favorite part of last event was talking to lamia, I think? her & Finn honestly present my best chance to deal with Melathor (ideally maximizing his usefulness without becoming Spiritually Corrupted in the process), and she approached the situation less like the paladins and more like the Thistles.
the thing about How People React is like ... Val & Lirima jumped immediately on the smite train, so Iphy isn't really gonna give them too much credence. it's hard to believe "I just want the best thing for you" when (1) iphy only initially lied about Melathor's presence because she knew she'd be fucked if the churches found out and (2) she was immediately justified in hiding it because they just kept killing her.
she's done everything the town asked of her after; she's consumed by guilt as the scab father HIMSELF attacks her friends to get to Melathor/her; everyone wants her to get rid of him but presents no actionable plan to actually Do So.
then there's lamia. lamia, one of val's old friends - lamia, the lich, who did not speak to iphy at first but softened the moment she saw the rot; lamia who told her it was lonely, so lonely, but there are people who would understand, there are people who would still look at her kindly, even as she changes.
I'm talking about power attacks, I'm talking about the slay skill. I'm talking about speccing her into damage, so she's not defenseless anymore - she can heal, oh yes, but she can hurt, too.
I'm talking about death magic and shadow phase, I'm talking about extra armor. I'm talking about a soldier.
Get you a girl who speaks in parentheses. Get you a girl who includes information in a sentence that isn't necessary but adds additional context or commentary.
farewell wanderlust / the horror and the wild / the rockrose and the thistle - the amazing devil // the moss king - ashnikko // northern attitude - noah kahan // from eden / blood upon the snow - hozier
oh fuck *falls back into old habits* *screen fades to black* *level loading* TIP: your belief that you are incapable of changing for the better will become a self fulfilling prophecy if left unchallenged
doc continues to be my favorite person in town also. genuinely I am so so happy he sorta took me under his wing after michang stopped coming to the game; between him & the whole Growing Bark thing, iphy's becoming ... a lil hardier. it's nice to not be so squishy.
also. LOVE FOR THE HEALERS. shout out iron thistle gang for their kindness and generosity to all the healers. and huge thanks to the sheriff of the town, who allowed a child to brutally slaughter him so I could teach her to revive. it was, in fact, quite funny.
like sorry but undergoing drastic, repulsive change as your body becomes warped and attuned to the old magic, magic gifted to you by an impartial, ancient, unremembered god, magic that is good and useful - magic that mars your skin, peeling it away, rotting it and turning it into something stronger, something ancient, something *forgotten* --