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houseplant type friend

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1. To learn something interesting and new, especially about nature

2. That I try to express myself through writing and drawing

3. To collect little trinkets and shiny things

4. To go for walks

5. To give things away for charity

@bnuuwitch @frontalheadpart1 @lilystarcluster

Answer this blog with 5 things you like about yourself.

Then when done ask this exact question to 10 of your favourite followers

I was forced to do This

Positive is good

Non negotiable

Favourite? Me? 🥹

Uh

1. I have a masculine jawline

2. I have at least five friends that I have made

3. I can put together an awesome DnD campaign

4. I tan really easily

5. I have a wide vocal range, which makes answering the phone a joy

Do I know how to tag? No, anyway:

@marshmellowtea @grovebean @raidermomma @cornley-amateur-drama-society @baldmark @lordkuntfuck @lord-valery-mimes @nostalgicmermaaiid @personinthepalace @ribbibbledibbles

Sorry. You're the guys in my tags list that seem the nicest :) plus I can't remember the users of other people so I'm so sorry if I've forgotten you 😅

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that ‘pakige?’ post but me, a couple hours after posting a fic, like ‘comints?’

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I remembered it.

And then another idea came from it.

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Heheh! :D

The same goes for you! I don’t even have anything to compare to the fact that you’re my mutual — you’re just incredible!

And also for others!

@frontalheadpart1 @wendycat12 @bnuuwitch

Befriending an artist who you deeply admire probably never ceases entirely to feel totally bewildering and surreal.

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Happy Father's Day!

The promised creation, Transcendent, is not only that which would fulfill Worldless’s desire for his own disappearance — it is a part of himself, a secret longing.

All iterations, including Starfolk, to some extent represent their creators. Each iteration reflected some part of them and gradually took shape until it acquired the ideal form that conveys the entire nature of the creators. Lightfolk embody Worldless’s stability, his strength and beauty, his constancy and unchangeability, whereas Darkfolk represent LUCA’s fragility, her desire for change and inventiveness, as well as endurance and persistence.

Yet this happened by accident; they weren’t created with the initial goal of resembling their creators in any way. Worldless is not a very far-sighted planner. When he comes up with ideas, he overlooks many nuances and mechanisms by which his creations should exist — which sometimes would have led to situations where no iteration could have survived. For example, Worldless might forget that they need to move, or even if they do move, they face obstacles because Worldless did not think through how their muscles should work.

But that never happened, because LUCA filled in these gaps. When Worldless, so to speak, presents his initial draft, forming new life in the neutral lands, LUCA, over time, mentally senses what Worldless intends — though he has not fully completed the design. LUCA then takes on that task, embedding everything necessary into the sparks, which are then put into the next generation of the iteration. But Worldless is unaware of this, because he believes that each iteration develops something new on its own. This is not far from the truth. Although LUCA ensures functionality, she also does not look far ahead in her plan, as she allows life to exist independently and to develop without their involvement.

Mostly, after incident with the spear, LUCA strives not only to free herself and Worldless, but also to free life and give it a chance to continue to exist. In her view, they are not needed — all living things will find their own path to perfection, carving out their own purpose without them.

As for the emergence of Transcendent — this is another part of them both, their shared desire. They both longed for something that would be born from them, different from them, and at the same time a joint creation. The union of Lightfolk and Darkfolk into the Transcendent is precisely a manifestation of the form of that desire.

Regarding the case of Edda and Aven — no Transcendent has yet appeared from them; one could say it does not yet exist. It will not be a merging of them into a single Starfolk or coexistence with it on the same plane. They represent their creators, a part of the shared path, their true nature and desires. Their transcendence is the birth of a new world.

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I don’t know if this can be called unusual when writing, but sometimes I can’t find the right word or a synonym for it, and sometimes the word exists for me in another language, while in my own I forget it.

When I’m doing the initial writing, I don’t search for the answer on the internet, because at that moment inspiration is carrying me, but it might disappear if I get distracted from the document while looking for the right word and after that, the spark is gone.

So, in that spot, I type a random sequence of numbers and letters, something like hs81va, so that when the section is finished and I’m rereading it for checking before editing, I remember that I need to insert the appropriate word there.

Weird thing you do in writing go!

It has to be like. An actually uncommon thing. Not 'I use notes app' or 'I don't post most of my writing'

I'll go first: I write on quotev using drafts for nostalgia purposes and I have never stopped doing it. I hate change btw

Tag people: @ispiralis uhhh anyone who writes sometimes

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My Tumblr still lives in the past and refuses to accept change

Did you change your profile picture?

I see it differently.

Yep! I decided it was time for an update.

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Leonid Pasternak  (Ukrainian, 1862–1945) - The Torments of Creative Work

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Though Raudar and Ealeit never engaged in direct confrontation on the battlefield, he could occasionally witness her achievements from a distance.

And then there were those two as well, because I got pulled into ships again — but I still can't come up with any good ideas for how to bring it to life.

P.S. Stars, demon heads are the hardest thing to draw — one moment I can see them clearly in my mind and know exactly what they should look like, and the next the details just fade away, especially when I pick up a pencil. Then it becomes even harder to even roughly capture what I had in mind.

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It was rewritten three times, the text became even more wordy, but the next chapter is finally ready. It was supposed to be longer, with several points of view, but it was turning out too long and overloaded, so I decided to split it into separate chapters.

The story is slowly picking up pace, but I promise that once the introductory part of the AU is over, the text will read a bit faster.

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🩵💙

And a little bit of 💚

(I know you didn't reblog the ask game, but still)

AAAAAAA thank you!

Even so, I still can't fully express all the emotions I'm feeling right now!

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I’m not even sure if it’s worth introducing a fanfic in a way that makes it perfect for falling asleep, but here it is

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I just need more of them.

The relationship between Aithris and Sadris was quite tense from the very beginning. When the falfain caught her at their first meeting, it reopened old wounds, because she had once again left her himminsker in danger. Overall, the situation with her first lightfolk was not simple, because in reality, she didn’t lose in battle - she willingly descended into a darkfolk. Aithris didn’t confess this upon returning, because that would have made things easier for her himminsker if she ever came back home and to her original state, but if it was discovered that she gave up her polarity voluntarily, she would not have had a pleasant fate.

Aithris was removed from her duties, so she had nothing to do and spent her days reading manuscripts and training with Saoin, redinad (sort of the Light paladin) of their High Lady, which was a great privilege - which is why Aithris only caught more hostile looks, since she had too much free time for someone of her kind and too much attention from what was essentially the third most important lightfolk in their fief. And that only worsened things, because with no important duties, Aithris overthought everything that had happened. She felt guilty, because she hadn’t noticed in time that her himminsker was unhappy in the form of a lightfolk, didn’t find out the reason why, and allowed such an act, although she could have prevented it.

When she was assigned to Ealeit, she promised herself that this time she would be able to protect her - until Sadris shook that conviction by capturing her, which made her start to think that maybe she really was an unreliable tairnsteal to protect others. She primarily blamed the falfain for this.

Sadris, in turn, saw her first and foremost as a formidable opponent, and therefore his self-esteem and confidence rose slightly when he caught her - considering that it wasn’t all that easy, given her reputation. But he understood that pulling it off a second time wouldn’t work, and if Aithris wished, she could easily crush him. So he tried to ignore her, not draw attention, to show that he wasn’t a threat, which Aithris perceived as arrogance, which only increased the tension.

They could barely tolerate each other when Ealeit and Raudar planned a new meeting, but that was still bearable - unlike the situations when they couldn’t come in person, because that might raise suspicions, so instead, they sent Sadris and Aithris.

After a few such meetings, they pointed out to their Starfolks that they also had responsibilities, and messages couldn’t be relayed if one of them was missing, which would mean the other wasted time waiting for a chance to deliver them - and their absence would also cause suspicion (which was partly true, but their main goal in saying this was that they hoped it meant they wouldn’t have to meet one-on-one anymore). So they were offered something like a messenger’s journal in which they could write messages so the other could read and leave their news in return.

Even though the meeting hideout was well-hidden in the caves under the Mountain Bastion, the possibility remained that someone could find it - and also the journal containing all those messages. So they were told to come up with their own cipher for passing messages, especially since Ealeit happened to mention that Aithris was good at such things, considering she had tons of free time when she hadn’t yet been assigned a partner, spending her days reading, and Sadris, in turn, due to his position, good at both deciphering them and creating his own - so they could work together on a secret language.

Unable to escape fate, they had to agree, though they did so with some relief, because they understood they were closer to never seeing each other face-to-face again. While in the final era lightfolk and darkfolk mostly hate each other, they do acknowledge - and even admire - an opponent who managed to overcome or outsmart them.

So, still holding grudges and unfinished business, they unknowingly set up a sort of competition, where they tried to outplay each other to the fullest, tracking their “wins” by marking each other’s personal items - though the marks were placed by the loser. Because if one side won, the losing side had to carve a tally mark onto the winner’s object, to keep things fair - since a tally mark left a trace of elemental power, which confirmed that it had been placed by the loser, not secretly by the owner.

They competed in all sorts of small things: guessing how many red stones were in a pile of gray ones, how many leaves from the cave roots would fall by tomorrow, who would stumble first during a debate, and so on - but most of their games revolved around their invented cipher and whether each of them could decode it in a certain amount of time. Sometimes they forgot about the tally count, just having a good time; other times they took it way too seriously - until eventually, it became just a subtle part of their meetings, rather than an attempt to prove something to each other.

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Oh, interesting!

I hope to read them someday 👀

Well, it's time to talk about tribute, currency units, and a bit about the surrounding environment - how it's affected by the Starfolk and what their diet is like. So it might get a little boring.

Within the fief, residents pay tribute every year before or during the start of autumn. Starfolk have several options for how to pay this tribute: either in pure monetary income - called liostal (from Gaelic briostal – shard, sliogan – small shell) - or in raw materials. They can also mix both types, adjusting the percentages accordingly, usually falling between 70% and 30%, depending on how the Starfolk choose to pay and the situation within the fief. Sometimes a decree may be issued recommending payment in certain proportions, and the percentages might change for specific reasons.

There are, however, unchanging exceptions for certain fields - for example, builders. They obviously can’t tear a piece off a wall to prove they’ve done work, so they pay entirely in monetary compensation. Typically, their employers handle this, allocating a portion of their wages and effectively calculating and paying the tribute on behalf of their workers.

Farmers and other Starfolk who work with production tend to use a mixed type of payment, although they usually provide tribute in the form of the raw materials they have produced or extracted.

The tribute then moves on to the fief and from there may reach the capital. It’s best to start with the capital: it collects tribute from the other fiefs once every 4–5 years, typically 60 percent in provisions and 40 percent in pure income, though this can vary depending on the fief’s situation. Some are endowed with higher production, resulting in an excess of goods, so the fief may pay entirely with those. Others simply have more money and pay in coin. This situation can change, especially if a particular fief has had an unproductive year or two due to weather conditions, but the capital usually doesn’t take that into account. It might only pay attention if several fiefs in a region report the same issue - in such a case, the capital grants them a recovery period, exempting them from tribute for a certain time (typically 3 to 8 years) to allow them to recuperate. If only one fief suffers, the capital disregards the reasons, and the fief is left either in debt to the capital (which is very costly) or must request help from other fiefs, remaining in debt but to them instead (which is usually cheaper, though not always).

Each fief is known for something. While Starfolk may not know every detail about a given fief or its location, they clearly associate it with the goods and benefits it provides. For example, Soaring Gardens are known for steel extraction and silk production, while the Flaming Spire is famed for growing spices, delicacies, and materials for writing and reading.

And now, how tribute is distributed within the fief. Although the capital only requires tribute once in a while, it demands the total amount accumulated over the entire period, not just the year in which it’s due. Therefore, it’s easier to calculate this from the “leftovers” the fief retains after paying tribute to the capital - namely, 40% of the provisions and 60% of the monetary tribute (though these values can be reversed or vary).

Now, rounding the 40% of goods to 100%, this is typically distributed as follows: 50 to 70 percent is sold to neighboring fiefs, while 30% remains in the local granary (this too can be reversed or vary).

As for monetary resources, rounding the 60% to 100%, the internal distribution is different.

30% goes to the fief treasury, under the control of the fief priest, who is entitled to 17% of this amount for personal use, which he may spend as he sees fit. Anyone can access the treasury - not freely, but by submitting requests explaining their needs. The priest reviews these and decides whether to allocate resources. Requests tend to be fulfilled more quickly when many concern the same issue, such as building a new bridge or structure, allocating land for planting, and so on.

10% goes to the high lord’s treasury, which he can manage however he wishes, as it is not tied to any obligations.

20% is allocated to the upper class - the ruling elite - considered to be just one cycle, meaning these funds go to Starfolk who happened to be born into a particular kind. It may seem like a lot - more than what the lord or priest receives - but considering that cycles include far more Starfolk, each usually receives barely 0.1% of the amount, and this share decreases with lower rank within the cycle.

So-called “lesser lords” may occasionally receive payments from the capital by birthright, but more on that later. First, the rest of the fief’s tribute: 30% goes to the population, considered future wages for ordinary Starfolk. The final 10% is held in reserve, untouched unless absolutely necessary - for example, if distribution proportions become unbalanced (like not enough for the population or elite or the lord), or if a year or several are unproductive. In such cases, the reserves can be used to pay tribute to the capital and avoid falling into debt. These reserves are also built up in advance for potential debt repayment.

Now about the birthright that grants a reward from the capital. From time to time, the capital reviews the productivity of each fief and then allocates a certain amount, with 20 percent designated for the fief’s lord and the rest for the first-cycle Starfolk within that same fief, while the priests receive... nothing. But that’s not a problem, since priests still end up with more money overall, as they receive it annually, whereas lords and the others only receive it at intervals - usually at the same time as tribute must be paid to the capital.

The reason for this lies in the relationship between lords and priests, their rights, roles, and responsibilities - and most importantly, to prevent conflict. In truth, many lords are dissatisfied with the higher standing of priests and would like to remove them entirely to claim full ruling authority. However, the reason they don’t is simple - laziness. Lords want absolute power but are unwilling to handle the day-to-day affairs of the fief, preferring to relax. Therefore, there’s an agreement: priests manage all internal matters, while lords are responsible only for external affairs.

The most crucial part is that only a lord has the final word - one that no one has the right to dispute. Though some priests may push back and disagree, in certain cases the lords do relent. So the priest functions as the lord’s workforce, also responsible for calculating taxes - though the lords have made this "easier" by calculating the portions meant for themselves, the first-cycle Starfolk, and the reserves.

Lords also oversee the organization of public festivals and the establishment of rules and reforms within the fief (considering Raudar’s current position, he must do all of this on his own).

And now, probably the most important part—what liostals actually look like. Each faction has its own design, but they all carry the same value, as the currency was during an era when there was leniency in relations between the Starfolk, when they could freely trade among themselves despite differences. Nowadays, this is rarely practiced, except in a few officially designated fiefs by the capital, and within the underground and black markets.

Local currencies are made from several materials: silk, plant veins, sand, crystal, and shell. Here’s the breakdown of what each material is used for. The base is formed from shell fragments, harvested from the shells of local Starfolk - not by breaking or gutting them, but from natural filtration. The shells produce these shards themselves, which later detach. These fragments form the unique design known as the “crystal pattern,” though there’s no crystal involved in this part. Crystal is used elsewhere - to coat the shell and to engrave the denomination and serial number.

Each denomination not only has a distinct shape but also a color, achieved by adding colored sand. And before moving on to the final features of the currency, one important thing must be said: Starfolk currency cannot be stolen. Well - it can be taken, but no one except the rightful owner can use it.

This is made possible through the use of veins of foliage, which retain the elemental energy of the owner, completely filling the liostal - making it unusable by anyone other than the Starfolk whose energy flows within the currency. So how do they make payments? On the reverse side, there are two small indentations made of silk, known as vessels of trade. These are connected to the plant veins, and when a Starfolk decides to make a payment, they place their finger on one side of the indentation to absorb their own magic, thus releasing the currency. Then another Starfolk can infuse the emptied currency with their own magic through the second indentation.

The process takes only a second. There used to be just one indentation, but while the owner was drawing out their energy and preparing to hand it over, it could be stolen in an instant - someone could quickly fill the currency with their own magic, making it impossible to reclaim (unless they were caught and beaten until they withdrew their energy). To prevent this, the dual-indentation system was introduced: the owner absorbs their energy from one side while holding the other side toward the intended recipient, allowing them to immediately grasp and infuse the liostal.

Can this be bypassed? Yes, but the secret is generally known only to those who mint the currency - knowledge even lords don’t have access to. Taking the dark route often isn’t worth it, since illegally extracting magic can cost more than the stolen amount. If someone tries to infuse the currency while it already holds another’s elemental magic, it either won’t respond or will simply shatter. Only if it’s partially emptied might one be able to force out the remnants of the previous owner’s energy with their own.

As for the segments or “coins,” there are only four instead of a hundred to represent the full value, and they are contained within each liostal denomination. These segments can be removed, though they’re usually kept separately. However, all segments are linked, so if, for example, someone needs to pay 5.3 liostals, they can break off the necessary amount, and later recombine the parts to prevent them from being lost.

The shape of the liostal also allows for versatile storage - sometimes they are stacked to enable the quick extraction and charging of several liostals within a single second, instead of doing it individually for each coin.

Additionally, because of their form, liostals can easily snap together, which leads some to create intricate shapes or figurine-like stacks for easier transport. Different denominations can also be fused into a single high-value liostal, mainly for transporting tribute to avoid carrying too many small shards.

Now regarding the influence starfolks have on their surroundings. The plants used in currency absorb and retain magic for a reason. By law, starfolks are only allowed to use a specific plant for this purpose - but in truth, every plant is capable of it. To explain this more clearly, take the example of Mountain Bastion during the rule of the darkfolks. Back then, the high peaks were much warmer and windier, which kept the skies perpetually clear. The environment had a pale gray tint, slightly darker, and the vegetation mainly consisted of sharp-tasting or sweet-sour fruits and vegetables.

When the lightfolks took over the Bastion, the climate became noticeably colder, and thunderclouds settled permanently over the mountains with constant lightning. The vegetation also changed - from sharp and sweet to more refreshing, like mint, and mildly astringent, like bitter tea. The appearance and colors of the plants also shifted.

In other words, sometimes the conditions of a land are influenced by the ruling faction. The color of the terrain may change slightly, weather shifts are rare but do happen, while the flora always changes to match the faction. Their magic affects it - especially the flavor. While most starfolks can experience a full range of tastes, there are exceptions. Each faction lacks consistent access to a certain flavor: lightfolks don’t have spicy plants, and darkfolks don’t have refreshing ones. Some flavors are present in smaller amounts - for example, darkfolks have few astringent plants, and lightfolks rarely have sour ones.

The same applies to minerals. Lightfolks are unaware of the existence of salt, as it's obtained either from the sea or very dark places they typically don’t explore. Darkfolks, in turn, can't access chalk dust. (Though some do know of these things through certain workarounds.)

Regarding diet, it can be said that all starfolks are vegetarians, consuming only fruits, vegetables, minerals, and rare provisions provided by animal-like starfolks, such as milcru. Technically, they could eat animalistic starfolks, considering those beings would regenerate, but such behavior is deemed completely unacceptable in their society. Even starfolks that resemble “carnivores” - like local wolves or lions - only consume plant matter, for them “herbivorous” starfolks are either seen as potential sources of absorption and for herbivorous in turn, carnivores pose a threat to their own polarity, because every starfolk tends to view others in only two ways: either as an absorbtion source or as a danger. Any interaction outside these two roles is seen as savage or perverse and is punished severely.

However, there have been darker chapters in history when some attempted to "taste" others. While most starfolks see such acts as distant, monstrous, and unthinkable in modern times, few realize that such a practice actually occurred fairly recently - on the border between the two kingdoms.