#Less ​Conspiracy

[xtruss]

The Freemasons Have Inspired Centuries of Conspiracy—This Is Their Real History

The Story of How a Stonemasons’ Guild Became the World's Largest Secret Society is Less about Conspiracy and More About Enlightenment Thinking.

— September 19, 2023 | By Erin Blakemore

The Title Page of the Freemason Constitution at the Museum of Freemasonry in Paris. Freemasonry traces its roots to medieval stonemason guilds, though its modern iteration dates to the 18th century. Photograph By Godong, Universal Images Group/Getty Images

What do Rev. Jesse Jackson, George Washington, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Duke Ellington, and Buzz Aldrin have in common? All are members of the world’s largest secret society, the Freemasons—a group whose members include some of the world’s most influential people and whose secretive rituals have persisted for centuries.

Conspiracy theorists speculate the group pulls the strings of international power and finance and is responsible for high-profile murders—some even claim its members worship Satan.

Where is the line between fact and fiction within this secretive society? Read on to learn more.

18th Century Italian-Austrian Artist Ignaz Unterberger Painted this Initiation Ceremony in a Viennese Masonic Lodge in 1789. Photograph By Deagostini, Getty Images

The Origins of Freemasonry

Though the Freemasonry movement has roots in medieval guilds of stonemasons, the vast majority of the movement’s members are not masters of stonework. It’s believed that as stonemason membership decreased, the group began accepting “speculative,” or honorary, members to bolster their numbers. Freemasonry’s modern incarnation dates to the 18th century Age of Enlightenment, when educated Englishmen aimed to commune with others and discuss issues of philosophy, religion, and life in an organized setting.

Fraternal organizations had existed for centuries, but in the 18th century, a variety of men’s groups named after the English pubs at which they met joined together in what they called a “Grand Lodge,” an association that would meet to hold rituals and ceremonies and induct new members. Now known as the Premier Grand Lodge of England, the group was the first of its kind, and as membership expanded so did its list of secret rituals and ceremonies and its membership requirements.

According to the Masonic Service Association of North America, there were about 898,000 Freemasons in the U.S. as of 2020, and there are an estimated 6 million Freemasons worldwide.

Freemasons hold a Lodge meeting in Bordeaux, France, in 2008. Photographs By Regis Duvignau, Reuters/Redux

Who Can Be a Freemason?

Today, membership requirements are relatively simple: Though each group, or Lodge, of Freemasons has its own rules, in general a Freemason must be a male who is recommended by other members of the Lodge, believe in a “Supreme Being,” be of good moral character, and pledge to learn the ways of the fraternity and conform to what Freemasons call their “ancient uses and customs.”

Those customs include a strict hierarchy and a variety of ceremonies and rituals. After they are initiated into their lodge, members go through a series of “degrees” of membership, rising from Entered Apprentice to Fellowcraft to Master Mason. Along the way, they learn the language, rites, and beliefs of the “craft,” engaging in rituals that harken to Biblical beliefs . They also adopt emblems that range from the square and compass, which represents morality, the beehive, which is said to represent cooperation and work among members, and the “Eye of Providence” or “All-seeing Eye,” which represents God’s eternal watchfulness. Some of these symbols are so well known that they are familiar to non-Masons—for example, the Eye of Providence can be found on U.S. one dollar bills.

The masonic symbols of a square (virtue) and compass (wisdom) are placed atop a Bible, which is open to the Gospel of St. John, during a Freemason ceremony. Photograph By Raquel Clausi Rochina, Cordon Press/Redux

Why Catholicism Forbids Freemasonry

When they’re not holding elaborate membership rituals, Freemasons often engage in community service and philanthropy, provide mutual support to members, or work with associated organizations. But despite this charitable focus and the fact that it is not a formal religion, Freemasonry isn’t universally accepted. In fact, Freemasonry is banned by Roman Catholicism, which forbids Catholics from joining and encourages them to associate with Catholic organizations like the Knights of Columbus instead.

“Their principles have always been considered undesirable by the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden,” the Church declared in 1983. “The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.” As Catholic Herald’s Ed Condon explains, the Church opposes Freemasonry because of its secular focus and its role as a sanctuary for “those with heterodox ideas and agendas.”

Power and Panic

Those agendas have long spurred controversy because of the political power wielded by some Freemasons. Though the rules of most lodges discourage members from discussing politics, many of its members are active in political parties and government and the organization’s secrecy and vows of brotherhood have spawned conspiracy theories about its members’ political agendas.

Most conspiracy theories speculate that all Freemasons have the same beliefs and act as a body, tying in with modern anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that associate the group with a shady “New World Order” which controls international finance and relations.

Left: Seats for high-status members are seen in the Freemasons Hall of the United Grand Lodge of England in London. Photograph By Peter Dazeley, Getty Images

Right: A statue of George Washington in a Masonic apron stands inside the New York Grand Lodge Headquarters. Photograph By Fred R. Conrad, The New York Times/Redux

As a result, Freemasonry has become iconic in popular culture and among non-members who are intrigued by its shady rituals. Yet membership has dwindled for years. Why the decline? Some connect it to a larger trend among fraternal organizations and service clubs like the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which have seen steep declines over the decades. Others attribute falling membership to the movement’s refusal to recognize women despite the existence of some all-female lodges.

Or perhaps the fall is due to growing public awareness of the movement’s once-secret rituals, historian John Dickie told NPR in 2020. “I think possibly actually the issue is that secrecy has lost something of its magic," Dickie said. “In an age when it can take two minutes or less on Google to find out what the Freemasons' secrets really are, I'm not sure that they can really hold that much mystique for members anymore.”

Despite controversy and condemnation, the movement persists—but only time can tell whether Freemasonry can remain relevant in the 21st century. Meanwhile, its members say they see Freemasonry as everything from a powerful brotherhood to a chance to give back to the community to what one English member calls “an avenue for personal growth and development.” For now, Freemasonry’s secretive rituals and symbols live on—along with the influence of its best-known members.

[transform4u]

I’m about to start college in the fall and I’m staying in the dorms. The worst part is that I’m nerdy, gay, and really shy, but I just met my new roommate and he’s your typical Republican, football-playing fuckboy. I could already tell he’s judging me hard. What do I do?

As you tear open the envelope from your college, your anticipation is a swirl of excitement and dread. You were supposed to dive into the world of English literature and feminist theory, but instead, your eyes skim over the schedule and land on the absurdity of "American Exceptionalism 101" at noon on MWF. Your head throbs as if an invisible hand is squeezing your brain into a smaller, less enlightened shape. It's like someone has taken a red-hot poker and jabbed it straight into your heart, twisting it until every ounce of your academic enthusiasm and commitment to social justice evaporates.

In its place, a new, alien mindset begins to take root. You find your once-vibrant appetite for critical thinking dwindling into a blustery haze of national pride and simplistic notions of greatness. Your consciousness warps, and before you know it, you're morphing into the very embodiment of the obnoxious Republican frat bro—a brash caricature of entitlement and limited worldview. Your intellect, once sharp and inquisitive, dulls into a blunt instrument of cliché-ridden banter and boisterous bravado. You proudly declare that “common sense” is all you need, dismissing complex social issues with a cavalier shrug and an overstuffed ego that clings to traditional values with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

Politically, you’re a crusader for conservative causes, but your arguments are as deep as a kiddie pool and just as uninspiring. You spout off right-wing rhetoric with the fervor of a zealot, your debates more about scoring rhetorical points than engaging in meaningful discussion. The broader implications of your views—what they mean for marginalized communities or for nuanced understanding—are beyond your narrowed gaze. Your new persona is an obnoxious testament to the virtues of self-importance, oversimplification, and a relentless need to project an image of success and superiority, all while reveling in a blissful ignorance of any perspective that might challenge your bubble of certainty.

As you scroll through social media, you can't help but notice how your humor has changed. It used to be sharp and insightful, cutting through the noise with wit and cleverness. Now, it relies on crude stereotypes and inside jokes that only a select few understand. You find yourself trapped in a self-congratulatory echo chamber where everyone laughs at the same things because they're "in" on the joke.

The right-wing rhetoric flows from your fingers like second nature now - it's all you know how to do anymore after spending so much time surrounded by it online. You see conspiracies everywhere and can easily spot "liberal bias" even when there isn't any present; everything is filtered through this lens which leaves little room for nuance or complexity in thought or discourse anymore for both sides of any debate whatsoever.. This simplistic worldview is not only limiting but also exhausting because everything boils down into binary oppositions: us vs them; good vs evil; right vs wrong.

As you pull out your phone and begin to type a tweet for your followers, crude and rude thoughts start swirling in your head. You think about how much better you are than everyone else because of your right-wing beliefs. You imagine all the liberals who disagree with you as stupid sheep who can't see the truth. You chuckle to yourself at how easy it is to troll them online with memes and insults.

Your fingers fly across the keyboard as these thoughts turn into words on screen: "Libtards are so triggered by facts! Keep crying snowflakes, we'll keep winning!" With a sense of satisfaction, you hit send and wait for the likes and retweets to roll in - proof that there are others out there who share your twisted worldview.

As you glance down at the absurdity of your new schedule, specifically the "Introduction to Sports Management and Fantasy Football" class, a strange, electrifying energy courses through you. It’s like a jolt of vitality has surged into every fiber of your being. Your once meek, unremarkable physique starts to react to this new direction, morphing into something sculpted and potent.

You can feel it in your abs first: the slight tremor as each muscle begins to tighten and firm up, evolving from a soft, unremarkable layer into a six-pack of steel. Each ripple of your abdominal muscles pulses with an almost tangible intensity, as if they are imbued with newfound power and purpose. Your biceps and triceps, once unassuming, now swell and harden, their contours more pronounced with each passing second, like sculpted marble coming to life. They burn with a satisfying ache, a reminder of the strength and endurance you are cultivating.

Your quads and pecs are not left out of this transformation. Your legs throb with a deep, primal energy as they grow more powerful, their definition sharpening into formidable muscle groups that flex with every movement. Your chest, once flat and average, now pushes forward with a proud, chiseled prominence, a tribute to countless hours of physical exertion and dedication.

Your reflection in the mirror reveals a new you—an embodiment of the ultimate football-playing bro. Your physique is now a masterpiece of athletic prowess: broad, powerful shoulders and a chest that speaks of relentless gym sessions. Your abs are a flawless six-pack, every flex a testament to your commitment. Your legs, strong and sculpted, support a presence that oozes both confidence and capability.

Your face, framed by a rugged jawline and a hint of stubble, reflects the charm and self-assurance of someone who is as comfortable on the field as he is off it. Your eyes, whether a sparkling blue or deep brown, are framed by meticulously groomed eyebrows and a tousled mop of hair—short on the sides, longer on top, and styled with effortless precision. Your smile is wide, dazzling, and exudes a blend of charm and cheekiness that suggests you’re not just about physical prowess but also a charismatic personality.

Your wardrobe shifts to match this new persona. You sport snug polo shirts in vibrant colors or classic athletic gear that accentuates your toned form. Distressed jeans fit like a second skin, paired with immaculate sneakers that declare your trendiness. On game days, you don a jersey or hoodie emblazoned with your team’s logo, completing the look with a relaxed, oversized hoodie that speaks to your allegiance and laid-back style. Whether you’re on the field or at a social gathering, your appearance radiates a potent mix of confidence, style, and effortless cool—a football-playing fuckboy who has truly embraced his new identity. As you glance down at your class schedule, your eyes immediately zero in on the last class of the semester: "Weekend Party Planning and Execution of the Woke Agenda." You can't help but feel a sense of dread wash over you. However, as you continue to stare at it, something strange happens. A cruel twisted grin forms on your face, and you suddenly feel an immense heat in your brain. Your thoughts begin to race as images of hot chicks fill your mind. At first, it's just a passing thought – like beating up some loser fags for fun – but then it starts to make sense somehow. You blink twice and find yourself sitting upright in bed with a hard-on that won't go away no matter how much you try to think about anything else!

You glance back at the schedule, desperately trying to process the absurdity of "Media Influence and Pop Culture" slotted for 3:00 PM. The wave of confusion hits you again, making your head spin as you grapple with the chaotic divergence from your original academic path. Just then, you hear a deep, gruff voice from across the room.

"Yo Jackson…you there?"

You turn to see your roommate Zeke, an absolute caricature of a neanderthal-looking meathead. Zeke is the quintessential embodiment of a gym-buffed jock, with bulging biceps and a chest so broad it almost spills out of his too-tight tank top. His face is a rugged mess of stubble and squinty eyes, and his hair is a mop of thick, unruly curls that looks like it’s never seen a comb. He’s sprawled on his bed, surrounded by a heap of sports gear and empty protein shake bottles, his demeanor a mix of lazy arrogance and casual dominance.

Your dorm room is the epitome of a Republican, football-playing bro's domain. The walls are adorned with posters of muscle-bound athletes and American flags, while the floor is littered with discarded gym clothes, beer cans fast-food wrappers. A mini fridge, stocked with enough beer and energy drinks to keep a small army fueled, sits next to a worn-out couch that has seen more game days than it probably should. The space is cluttered with an assortment of sports memorabilia, from signed footballs to framed jerseys, and the overall decor screams "Man Cave" with a patriotic twist.

“Sorry bro,” you reply, shaking off the confusion. “Just thinking about this chick Brooke in one of my classes, dude.”

Zeke snorts and gives a hearty, if slightly slurred, laugh. “Haha, you and your cheerleaders, man. You’re going to be repeating sophomore year again, you know?”

“Haha, no worries, school is for losers anyway” you say, punctuating your response with a belch. “BURRRRRP. Hey, we should head out.”

The two of you stumble out of the dorm, your stride filled with a boisterous swagger. The night is young, and you’re both on a mission to score some action. Zeke’s laughter echoes down the hall as he slaps you on the back, a gesture as friendly as it is bone-crushing. You both head towards the nearest bar, your conversation dominated by crude jokes and brash plans for the evening. As you step into the night, the crisp air is filled with the anticipation of adventure, a perfect backdrop for your football-playing fuckboy persona to shine.

The music is blasting, the beer is flowing, and the girls are everywhere. You grab a couple of cold ones and start making your way through the crowd, looking for some hotties to chat up.

As you weave through the sea of sweaty bodies, you spot her - a tall brunette with killer curves and a smile that could light up a room. She's got on this tiny little dress that shows off every inch of her toned body, and she's dancing like there's no tomorrow. You make your move towards her as if it was destiny itself calling out for you to approach her; after all who wouldn't want someone as hot as she is?

"Hey there!" You say with an exaggerated smile plastered across your face."Can I buy ya lady another drink?" Before she can even respond or give any indication whether or not she wants one more round of alcohol down her throat-you go ahead ordering two shots from one of those cute little sorority girls serving drinks at their table near by.

As you hand her the shot glass, she looks at you with those big brown eyes and takes a sip. The alcohol seems to loosen her up even more, and she starts dancing even closer to you. You can't help but stare at her perfect body moving in time with the music - it's like watching an erotic ballet unfold right before your eyes.

"So what brings a guy like you here tonight?" She asks between giggles, leaning in close enough for your nose to brush against hers ever so slightly. You grin widely as if this was some sort of secret conversation only meant for each other's ears only while reaching out grabbing hold of one those large round ass cheeks which seemingly belongs on goddess herself; pulling them closer towards yourself until they are practically pressed against your crotch area where no doubt by now there must be quite an impressive bulge forming due solely from all these thoughts running through your mind about how amazing it would feel having such beauty wrapped around waistline all night long.

"I just couldn't resist coming when I heard there was going be party like this," You reply smoothly without breaking eye contact once throughout entire exchange."Besides who wouldn't want chance spend time someone as beautiful inside out?!"

You continue to talk with the blonde girl, your eyes wandering down to her ample cleavage as she giggles and responds to your questions. She's clearly drunk already, but that only makes her more receptive to your advances.

As you feel her up, your hands squeezing her big tits through the thin fabric of her dress, you descend into the most obnoxious republican fuckboy imaginable. Thoughts of nothing but sex and being a toolbag consume your mind as you take advantage of this drunken mess who can't wait to fuck you.

Without hesitation or remorse, you pull her closer and press your lips against hers in a forceful kiss that leaves no doubt about what's on your mind. She moans softly into mouth while one hand grasps desperately at back of neck needing something solid anchor self during this whirlwind passionate embrace between two strangers who could care less about anything else besides momentary pleasure they derive from each other right now…

"Let's get outta here," You whisper against earlobe nipping gently with teeth just enough send shiver down spine signaling impending climax soon approach if all goes according plan which it will because there are no consequences for actions taken under influence alcohol right? For now though only thing matter is satisfying primal urges buried deep within both our souls calling out loud demand release only way possible given current circumstances - sex!

[jewish-vents]

i don't want to ghost all my goyish friends. i want to talk to them about the antisemitic posts they've been sharing and the conspiracies they're dancing around. i want to educate them, even though it feels so much like begging them to see me as human, and they've already laughed off all my softer interjections so now i feel like i need sources and more composure than i can muster if it's a purely reactionary conversation. i want to do this, even if it means avoiding them while i draft up talking points so i don't just start screaming that antisemitism isn't even complicated! it's an old bigotry but it's not entirely unique why don't they believe it?? i want to scream at them and i want to hold their hands and make them look me in the eye, but all i end up doing is collecting testimonies of jews feeling the same way i do faced with the same stuff i am while every time i visit my goyish friends' blogs i find more atrocity denial and conspiracy theories and the idea of this hard emotionally draining conversation turning out enlightening to anyone seems less and less likely

so i just keep ghosting them, and regret it less by the day

.

[menagerlie]

WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME IF I WAS A WORM?

furina, lyney, & navia… if they became the worm. gn reader. headcanon format. short, trying to figure out tumblr. pt 1 maybe if i think it’s funny enough to add more characters.

FURINA:

she’s living like this now.

that’s it that’s the post.

i think she’d. leave before anyone had the chance to find her tbh, since she lives alone now... alternatively if it was before everything happened i fear she would just further become entertainment. hydro archon is a… worm ??? 😱😱😱 is this the purest form of water.

how much of worms are water

more than 75%.

they’re just like us fr… new conspiracy theory

we’re all worms.

anywayyyy

fontainians are so funny

would she be disappointed at the lack of mac and cheese? maybe. but in the aftermath of everything, she’s looking for simplicity, for reprieve and a way to enjoy life in the barest of forms. of course becoming a worm would be hard to get used to, but i think she could, fairly easily actually in the grand scheme of things. maybe it’s close enough to what she wants.

she’s been in a human body while playing the role of a god for 500 years. i think she could use a change

becoming a worm in this situation is sort of a metaphor for her situation actually. hehe. learning to live with such a modest, small existence after a lifetime of a lavish, celebrated, constantly watched one. and learning to love it— gunshot

after so long of pretending perhaps being a worm would allow her to shed her old skin and simply be.

i think she deserves it

anyway if you lived with her or visited her like every day, maybe she’d just like. curl up and wait. would probably be fairly particular about how she likes her . um. enclosure.

treat furm kindly or i will get you

:3c

as a wild worm, probably extra afraid of the water. panics in the rain. would be the first up if charmed.

like. worm charming. not. you know what i mean

ok so i’ve been enlightened. that is not why worms come up. ignore that

would wormtainians dissolve

erm. next.

oh yeah. if she’s able to turn back, she’d be happy and relieved of course, but i don’t think she’d be as upset about the experience as the others (except for the fact it may be a bit embarrassing, especially if you saw her). she’s lived a long time, she’s seen a lot, i think she’d appreciate the new perspective. even if it was. silly :3

LYNEY:

oh yeah. totally normal . wait. what

i think he’d magic pocket himself . he’d be safe in there for a bit . right

do you think worms could do card tricks.

do you think he could use his vision

worm. on fire.

anyway

i think he’d try and find out wtf happened and try to get himself to turn back first. if he couldn’t/needs help he’s going to try and find lynette first.

he’s silly to get loved ones’ attention. flips over. attempts to lift a card. rolls around

imagine he could change to a worm and back at will and used it in his shows

disappearing act . but what you don’t know is that there’s a tiny worm on the stage.

i keep getting distracted.

wonders what’s going on but thinks it’s funny at first. then it’s like. oh. oh!!

tries his best to figure out how to turn back. there’s panic there definitely, as any sane person would have, but i think it would especially set in after a little while — he starts thinking less about himself and more about his siblings, father, and you. will you know it’s him? he’s stripped of his capabilities, his tongue, his tricks. he was never a good fighter, but like this he is completely helpless.

if he can’t turn back, i think he’d want to stay w/ lynette at all times. sorry. she’s getting enclosure privileges . you can visit though

would a sentient worm be a funny addition to a magic show

could a worm gather intelligence..?

that would be funny

lynette just sets him down places to eavesdrop and he somehow idk recounts what he heard later

weaponized wormification

anyway. learns to live with it, especially if he’s able to stay near his siblings, though not as comfortably as the others

if he turns back he’s very relieved, a bit shaken. not because of really being a worm but just the helplessness that comes with losing your entire body and existence and what you deem useful about yourself . i think this goes for all of them, though

he’s okay

NAVIA:

president, leader, boss, commander-in-chief of the spina di rosula. my girl !!

you think anything’s changing??? nuh uh

get her some nice soil and a piece of paper with letters on it. congratulations . you’re her translator now.

my sister said wormija board im dying

anyway

might be a little shocked at first and wonder what’s going on, but ultimately i think she’d have fun being a worm if she knew she was going to turn back. she’s sillay like that. i loove her

i think first and foremost she’d try to get the attention of you or other loved ones. might stay close to something of hers if there isn’t a way to reach someone quickly, to try and signal that she’s. herselfff

but like she’s having fun. she’s enjoying it. unbothered queen

so wormquette !! :3c

in wormification angst land, she would mourn her human body but if there’s no way to get it back, she’s not going to let it stop her. she’s been through hardship before. she has overcome it before and she can do it again.

would be the best worm president, leader, boss, commander-in-chief to ever live. for sure

girlypop. she eats. she would slay . beauty and brains even in a worm body. :3

would not be that picky about living space tbh . might like some decorations and a nice place to sleep, though. i think she’d like it being watered! unlike someone.

unbothered. moisturized. happy. in her lane. focused. flourishing.

she’d enjoy sweet fruits in particular! worm version of baked goods.

considering the people she’s lost to being dissolved though, being wormified is kind of funny. like . similar situation (losing your body etc) but she’s still here

:3

hehe. fate

worm angst…

i’m silly

promise

[hangingslothcentral]

looking for a new audio drama?

If you like weird philosophical sci-fi and cyborgs, and hate AI and capitalism, check out Clockwork Bird!! it's the first show I ever made so it's a bit rough around the edges but it's an exploration about the rights of the dead, the limits of science, and the nature of personhood. it's all told through scattered 'found footage' recordings as listened to by Shelly Croft as she looks for her missing journalist girlfriend, Alice, who disappeared whilst she was investigating the welfare of Robin Jaeger, the posterchild for advanced synthetic limbs who may be more, and less, than he seems.

Clockwork Bird as 30 episodes, each 10-25 minutes long.

If you like spooky stories with a lot of heart, long series with lots of moving parts and character arcs, check out Spirit Box Radio! This show has a ton of original music and an accordian cast which grows as the show goes on, topping out at about 27 VAs. Sam Enfield is the happy-go-lucky host of Spirit Box Radio's Enlightenment Segment in the absence of its previous host, but something fishy is going on, and Sam's actually at the centre of a plot with apocalyptic stakes. SBR is a show about grief, storytelling, and what happens when a people pleaser has potentially unlimited magical powers. Find it @spiritboxradio.

Spirit Box Radio has 93 episodes, each 15-30 minutes long, with season finales that are up to 50 minutes long.

Do you like vampires? Gay vampires? Gay vampires that suck (blood. and other, uh, things)? Not Quite Dead may be the show for you. Join Alfie, a former A&E nurse who's knee deep in horrors because of his boyfriend, Casper, who is a vampire. Cas is missing with no indication of when he will return, but without his blood, Alfie is going to die. As time runs out, Alfie records everything he can remember about the months leading up to this moment. This show is gory and horny. Season Two has a tiny blonde guy who sounds French but who is older than the concept of France. This love story bites, viciously, multiple times, for fun and profit. Find it at @notquitedeadpod.

Not Quite Dead has 40 episodes, each 20-40 minutes long. The final season will be out early 2025.

Are you into mysteries and characters who eat hot chip and lie? Do you enjoy listening to shows as they air? Are you a person who likes to have conspiracy-board-level theories about the media you engage with? My new show, Remnants, might be just up your alley. Remnants follows the Apprentice as he learns how to read the objects that come to the First and Last Place. He's watched over by Sir, but Sir isn't much help. Thier purpose is strange and confusing, and the more remnants the Apprentice reads, the more he wonders at what the meaning of it all is, and if there might be some connection he's been missing... Find it at @remnantspod.

Remnants will have 30 episodes of about 30 minutes each in Season One, which starts airing with a double episode drop of episodes 1 & 2 on 15 July 2024.

[morsmvrdre]

Fic Rec Masterlist (UPDATED AUGUST 2024)

all of these have some kind of explicit content. PLEASE read tags. i'm not responsible for you reading something you don't like because you overlooked a tag.

(in order of ship [dramione, nottpott, jegulus, and wolfstar] and then word count. new additions are categorized with an asterisk.)

Dramione

your lonely calls to me - senlinyu (3,085)

“Less than a year post-war, trainee healer Hermione Granger visits Azkaban to perform volunteer medical check-ups and finds something she isn't intended to see, and has no choice but to do something about it.”

Break the Ward - thisisnotadance (6,499)

“So, you like this skirt then?” She asked with a smirk. “They should throw me in Azkaban for the things I want to do to you in that skirt.”

The Wizard from A.U.R.O.R. - Wanderingfair (6,836)

“OR The one where Hermione asks a simple favour as she and Draco confront their unresolved feelings for each other immediately before an important mission.”

The Seduction - senlinyu (11,686)

“Hermione’s expression grew indignant but Draco ignored it and pressed on. “I am trying to seduce you,” he said, staring her straight in the eye. Her indignation faded as her mouth dropped open and her eyes slowly grew round.”

Season Pass (To This Ass) - mightbewriting (16,390)

“[In which Hermione dumps a Quidditch fan and dates a Quidditch player instead. Spite is a beautiful motivator.]”

Ardent Bonds - Musyc (16,741)

“Maybe it was wrong to think about this, maybe it was horrible to even consider, but if Draco Malfoy liked to dominate, she couldn't stop herself from picturing it. Picturing him.”

Sated Thirst - Notawriter_17 (17,415)

“A story told in three parts. Ron. Theo. Draco. Hermione's journey into the world of BDSM and sexual enlightenment.”

Seven Times Seven - steely (21,589)

“Hermione had expected some level of resistance from Draco at her incarceration, but not to this extreme. He was unraveling himself while desperately trying to keep her together.”

* The Tie that Binds - EvergreenTuesdays (22,526)

"Narcissa Malfoy struck a bargain with Albus Dumbledore before he died—that at an unspecified pivotal moment, she would turn the tide of the war, ensuring Voldemort’s downfall. In exchange, her son Draco would be married to the Golden Girl immediately following the war, guaranteeing her family’s return to grace." (READ TAGS!)

Five Months Until Summer - allofthelights11 (27,464)

“She's tried three times over holiday break and it hasn't worked out. Now she has a little more than five months until summer when she can try again.”

Ten Out of Ten - morriganmercy (61,559

“In which Hermione is determined to find a loophole to free her from a forced marriage with Draco Malfoy. But with only two weeks until they are legally required to consummate, it would be irresponsible not to prepare for every contingency.”

Lose Control - madrose_writing (70,082)

“In Elysium, that girl behind the white mask, begging for permission to come undone could be the Golden Girl. That man behind the black mask making her beg could be the Boy Who Had No Choice. In Elysium, anonymity is key. If you could be anyone, who would you be?”

Private Tutor - allofthelights11 (77,407)

“That time Hermione offered to give Draco Malfoy some much-needed sexual experience.”

Wait and Hope - mightbewriting (94,946)

“[In which Hermione loses the last six year's worth of her memories, including the entirety of her relationship and marriage to Draco.]”

A Season for Setting Fires - mightbewriting (95,639)

“[In which a soulmate bond appears while Hermione is tortured at Malfoy Manor. Canon divergent from that moment onward.]”

Between Certifiable and Bliss - HeyJude19 (97,712)

“In the ensuing years, he did not need to constantly remember that blissful, impossible dream. He further did not need Potter bursting into his mostly turned-around life to embroil him in a conspiracy at Azkaban. And he definitely did not need to embark on a clandestine investigation into prisoner mistreatment with Hermione Granger.”

* FAILSAFE - Hypothetically (99,476)

"Professor McGonagall didn’t know that Hogwarts had a Failsafe. The Spell she used to protect the students triggered the castle to protect itself. It’s been creating labyrinths. Some of the loved ones of the missing ventured in, never to be seen again. It’s like they never left. Draco Lucius Malfoy, the verdict alteration comes with a stipulation that you must return for the rehabilitation of Hogwarts."

The Injury of Finally Knowing You - VanillaSage (123,751)

“10 years ago, tucked away in a secret room during their Eighth Year at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy fell in love. 10 years later, the echoes of how that young love burned down still haunt them when, on the day of her divorce, Hermione stumbles upon her old flame once again.”

Meet Me In Dreamland - sinflower81 (126,169)

“A Post-Hogwarts fic in which Hermione and Draco fuck (a lot) without realizing it. Alternating POVs, kinky combos, and a dramatic, spice-driven plot.”

Rosemary for Remembrance - rubber_soul02 (167,789)

“A post-war, slow-burn, enemies to lovers Dramione story about healing, redemption, and second chances. Featuring a full cast of your favourite snarky Slytherins.”

Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Loveisthisselfcare (199,548)

“Hermione straddles the Muggle and Magical worlds as a medical researcher and Healer about to make a big discovery. Draco is an Auror assigned to protect her from forces unknown – to both of their displeasure.”

Bring Him To His Knees - Musyc (246,526)

“Draco is on the case of a murderer, but to investigate, he needs a fake relationship - and a kink club play partner. When Hermione volunteers to take the role, both do their best to maintain the lie without letting each other know the truth: neither of them are acting.”

A Game of High Stakes - In_Dreaming (263,110)

“In theory, the task is simple: kill Draco Malfoy. In practice, putting a curse through the Dark Lord's favoured lieutenant will take everything Hermione has―especially since he's trying to kill her, too. Even more so when the lines between them start to blur. Sometimes, the only way out is through.”

Manacled - senlinyu (370,515)

“Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.” 

NottPott

Chaperones - RoseHarperMaxwell (5,561)

“I'm going to court Granger," Draco said around a mouthful of toothpaste. He spat into their sink and rinsed his mouth, leaning against the doorframe with a casual air that belied the enormity of such a statement. "We need you to be our chaperone." Theo closed his astronomy textbook, using a thumb to hold his place. "I'm sorry, what?” Draco nodded, as though he'd expected disbelief. "Courting Granger. That's something I'm doing now."

No Expectations - In_Dreams (6,963)

“To avoid attending Hermione's promotion dinner solo after a breakup, Harry agrees to a blind date for appearances only. But his resolve crumbles when his arranged date is the disdainfully gorgeous Theo Nott.”

Jegulus

Taking Care - Quietlemonhush (5,084)

“James learns lessons about how to love Regulus.”

The First Person You Loved - Anonymous (8,539)

“Regulus shows up at the Potters' house bleeding and hurt, which reveals something about James' relationship with him to Sirius.”

As if Through Water - third_crow (8,611)

“Or, Regulus learns he and James have more in common than he thought”

* pretty as a peach, bruised like one too - completefailure (29,976)

"From the moment Lord Voldemort had laid eyes upon a stiff backed and scared Regulus, he had been doomed. Sometimes the only way out is through." (READ TAGS!)

* definition of insanity - bizarrestars (54,800)

"(Or, the one where Regulus flirts a little too close to the sun and loves getting burned.)"

The Mystery of Pears - sonwar (89,958)

“In the cave, Regulus doesn’t beg for it to stop. He begs not be left behind, alone. Perhaps this is why, when Kreacher gives one last look over his shoulder and sees terrible, pale hands reaching for his master, he appears in a flash at Regulus’ side, clutches him by the elbow, and Apparates them both out of the cave, directly disobeying his master’s last order.”

Pathological People Pleaser - rweoutofthewoods (114,435)

“(OR: all it takes is a summer-long holiday in Italy, James Potter's teetering mental stability, a secret relationship, friends with benefits, Marlene’s secret, and enough stupidity and insecurity to go around for everything to come crashing down around them.)”

* To the boy who… - ibbsterkisster (238,799)

"Or; the one where Regulus gets forced out of hiding to face the world, make the right but painful decisions, and fights with more than just one Dark Lord." (READ TAGS!)

* chew me up, but don’t spit me out - damagecontrol (261,000)

"Or, this is a story about identity, addiction, self-expression, and love in all of the varying shapes they can take."

Wolfstar

* The Ink Around Our Scars - Written_Willis (10,876)

"Sirius is a tattoo artist that specializes in clients with scarring. In walks Remus Lupin and his damn eyes and flirty smirk causing Sirius to forget his own name. Add in some daddy Regulus and James, Barty and Evan being Barty and Evan, a bit of toddler Harry, and a touch of misunderstanding."

* Underglass - Anonymous (24,496)

"King of the low-down, lord of mud and everything beneath the surface—Remus Lupin is the king of sordid exchanges happening under the Death Eaters’ noses. Nobody has ever been able to make a feint at him and survive to tell the tale. But when an intruder drops in, unexpected and wholly disarming, everything tilts just so on its axis and might tumble the lot of it to ash."

that’s the art of getting by - sarewolf (40,459)

“What do you want me to do?” Remus says, tiredly. All he wants is to curl up on his bed. Smoke a pack of cigarettes. Get drunk. He can’t stop looking at Harry. “Remus...” Dumbledore is gentle. Remus hates when he has that tone. Hates that he knows it will hurt. “There is no one else left.” A bitter laugh escapes him. “So you’ll curse the poor thing with a werewolf for a guardian?”

* At The Healing Edge of Broken - heartofspells (191,322)

"Sirius is a pro football star who finds himself injured. Through a recommendation from Lily, Remus becomes his physiotherapist. Or: Sirius is flying high on success until it all crashes down around him, but he realizes that maybe crashing doesn't always mean the end to everything. Someone's there to throw him a life preserver. He only needs to open his eyes to find it." (READ TAGS!)

[truetalesteam]

True Tales of the Illuminati needs YOUR help to fund a third season!

Big news! We just launched our indiegogo to crowdfund the third season of our show, True Tales of the Illuminati.

True Tales is our full-cast audio comedy about conspiracies gone wrong, where a group of illuminati goons bounce haplessly throughout history snatching defeat from the jaws of other, weirder defeats.

In our first season (which you can listen to here or on your podcatcher of choice) , our gang of Illuminauts failed to keep the pyramids a secret. In the second, they failed to fake the moon landing so hard that they had to actually land on the moon. In the third, Beck and the gang will be going up against their toughest foe yet - the Enlightenment.

That’s right, reason IS the font of goodness, and it’s back to the 18th century to deal with the likes of Denis Diderot, Johanne Weishaupt, and Wolfgang Goethe. Can they match their scintillating wit? Create an objective test of intellectual acumen? Kiss?

We've been acclaimed by the AV Club on their Podmass roundup and made it to the finalists in the 2020 and 2022 Audioverse awards.

We've also had the following very kind words said about us:

"True Tales of the Illuminati is the wackiest, most ridiculous fun. Get swept away into a witty, space-time spanning rollercoaster ride of Looney Tunes hijinks and cartoonish comedy. It reminds me of my favourite audio fiction comedies, from Victoriocity and Wooden Overcoats to Oblivity and The Amelia Project. If you want your ears full of laugh out loud audio mayhem, please help bring this project to life!"

Ella Watts, BBC Studios, Doctor Who Redacted

"One of the funniest scripted podcasts out there, with brilliant characters and a wildly imaginative world. We need more!"

Tom Crowley, Wooden Overcoats, Victoriocity, Crowley Time with me, Tom Crowley

"True Tales is a fantastic, hilarious workplace satire, perfect for the post-truth era."

Henry Galley, Less is Morgue co-creator

Pretty good, right? If you're intrigued, if you like the show, if you want to help us make more, please head over to our indiegogo and drop us a few dollars. If you drop us more than a few, we even have rewards, like early access, stickers, pins, and more!

Oh, and did we mention that we're releasing 15-30 minute standalone minisodes as we hit our funding goals? The first one is already out for your enjoyment here, and we’ll be releasing new ones for every $3k raised. If we hit our $9000 goal, we'll drop a minisode by very special guest writer and performer, Tom Crowley! That’s right, the one from the pull quote! Tom’s one of our favorite writers and performers and he’s given us an incredible minisode, so as you can imagine, we really want to share it with you. So help us do just that!

Making this show is a labor of love, but we also need to pay our actors, our sound designer and rent studio space to make this as great as we can. Thank you so much if you decide to be a part of that. If you decide to donate, head on over to truetalesteam.com/crowdfund. We hope to see you there.

Illuminati, Ollominoto, The True Tales Team

[awakenedsalamander]

So I’ve been wanting to write about this for a long time (my friends can probably attest to the fact I will talk about it unprompted) but I can’t find it way to do so concisely. Here’s my best try.

Is Mage: The Ascension (in its presentation of the Technocracy in specific) anti-science?

I don’t think so, not anymore. But I want to explain why. By the way, I have to imagine that this won’t be all that accessible if you don’t have much knowledge of Mage, but you’re free to stick around if you want to.

So, here’s the thing— the Technocratic Union is pretty much a stand-in for the advancement of the scientific method, “the Enlightenment,” all that. The whole point in the first edition of Ascension is that the Union is science, the science that dispelled notions of magic, and that this is a Bad Thing. They are oppressive, heartless, and cold. The villains, plain and simple.

In later editions, this gets softened, partly due to the notion of “Science is a conspiracy the elite uses to rule the world and keep you down” becoming less fun and more toxic as it gained more sincere believers, and partly because fans really liked the Technocracy.

I think the common read is that Ascension then took the direction of the Technocracy being anti-villains— the Union has noble goals, and many of its members are sincerely brave and compassionate, but ultimately it is too extreme, too callous. It has to be stopped.

This is, to be fair, an improvement over “science is evil,” but “science is too dangerous,” is still not great. And for a long time, this was my view on Mage: The Ascension. Fun ideas, maybe, but the core conflict of the game was just too reckless a portrayal of what seemed to me like a mirror of real-world conspiracist ideology.

And to some extent, I still think that. Especially in the early editions, this is a very fair critique. That said, the game still spoke to me as I looked into it, and for the longest time I wasn’t quite sure why. A piece of it was my own opening up to the notion of our subjective viewpoints affecting our reality— something that deserves its own rambling essay— but a related part of it was me realizing that there was something about the Technocracy that rung true to me, despite my misgivings. And I think I figured it out.

See, the Technocracy isn’t a stand-in for the scientific method, but for scientism.

If you’ve not heard the term, “scientism” is a controversial (we’ll get into why a bit later) pejorative term for the belief/perspective that science, as a body, composes essentially all useful and/or reliable knowledge about the world.

Notably, those who critique scientism rarely hold the view that scientific knowledge is bad or even inaccurate, just that it is an incomplete model of reality. This is not an anti-science position, but a skepticism towards the trust people place in its ability to solve every mystery. Vaccines, for example, are great! No one can reasonably dispute the benefits and efficacy of vaccination. When it comes to medicine, the scientific method has done incalculable good— the lives saved by vaccination alone are countless.

To be against scientism, then, is not to argue that medical science is a failure, or overrated— but to point out that there is more to life than being healthy. Everyone should be glad we have learned so much about treating illness and alleviating suffering. But what of having a sense of purpose? What about love and compassion and justice? What about satisfaction, having gone through a life worth living?

Again, none of that is to say that science or the scientific community is the problem. But if you take the Technocracy as an example of scientism gone to an extreme, one in which things like kindness and equity must be left behind in favor of only the virtue of material knowledge, I think Mage: The Ascension starts to really work.

(I originally intended to write a MUCH longer piece including references to the military-industrial complex, the rise of automation and AI, as well as the increasingly algorithmic nature of culture but this is so long already. And yet I worry I said essentially nothing. C’est la vie.)

[mariacallous]

The past year has done a lot to make me realize just how much many of the online types are not as brilliant or intelligent or compassionate as they've tried so desperately to pretend to be, and that their influence is substantially smaller than they want to recognize.

They're the loudest and biggest frog in a tiny pond amidst the lakes of normality, but are convinced that they and they alone deserve to be heard. And frankly it seems to come from them basically being the ones who got driven out of society and trying to find a home online, but they never did anything to truly question and challenge the things that caused society to be like that to them, or their own internal beliefs and behaviors how much it would influence their way of thinking more than they want to admit.

So they just repeat the same awful behaviors but repackaged to put themselves on top of a new smaller hierarchy.

The people who sneer at the normies falling for tabloids and Fox News end up falling for online conspiracy theorists with even less credibility but more "relatable" vibes. The people who hated how the academics made them feel stupid now becoming the pseudo-academics online who feign their own intellectual superiority. People who hated being bullied and mistreated by real life grandiose figures now becoming the grandiose bullies of their own niches. And they all can't stand the idea that for all of their online power, they're still just a speck of dirt in the grand scheme of things, and that the normies they view as being so much lesser than them are still human beings capable of learning and growing like them, that maybe the normies can see things that THEY can't or refuse to see. THEY have to be the smart enlightened ones, and have built their everything on the idea that they are. And the idea that they're not, that they're just as selfish and gullible as the normies...they can't tolerate the idea at all.

The exaggerated feel of influence and reach with Twitter and tiktok don't help, either.

[saintsenara]

what do u think of lunarry 👀

thank you very much for the ask, anon!

i'm afraid to say that - much as i said for snuna - i'm not convinced that lunarry is a ship that's watertight. this is partially because i've been heavily influenced by @whinlatter's view that luna is best thought of as a golden retriever which has attained the power of speech, and it's also because i find that most non-canon ships involving luna tend to lean really heavily on a fanon version of the character [you know the one i mean, in which she's presented as a sunny clairvoyant whose odd beliefs are actually true, and everyone else is just simply not enlightened enough to see it] in order to try and make whichever pairing it is seem plausible.

i like a luna who is recognisably a conspiracy theorist - who has, alongside her positive characteristics [like her bravery, loyalty, and ability to persevere], a tendency to be stubborn, inflexible, and incapable of taking criticism. that these are traits which harry also - although certainly with a stronger grip on reality - shares is, if you ask me, a one-way ticket to something just genuinely miserable and fairly unenjoyable to read.

there's also - although i think this is actually less of an issue, because when the heart decides it wants something these sorts of things cease to matter - the fact that harry is, canonically, quite physically picky. the girls he's into across the series are all demonstrably top-tier baddies - as are the men; in both senses of the word, tomarrymort nation rise up - whereas the luna of the books is likely to be someone canon harry thinks of as a bit odd looking. i don't think either of them should have to suffer being shackled to a partner who doesn't think they're the hottest thing they've ever seen, tbh.

but i will concede that their post-sirius'-death moment is lovely - and that there's always something to be said for pairings in which harry meets someone who actually has some vague idea about the grief which pervades his life.

and i am, of course, always ready to receive recs which might change my mind.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Hi Rumortracking  Anon! Re: Markus Anderson, idk if you’ve already seen this, but SMM subreddit has an extremely well-researched and enlightening post in 3 parts - “Deep Dive into Markus Anderson” and the early days of Soho House - that is loaded with links to articles, going as far back as c2008-9, detailing MA’s history - from its very inception in London - with Soho House.

MA’s job is to travel to prospective global venues, setting up new Soho House locations…not only the brick-and-mortar facilities, though, but also (and most importantly) the preliminary “special sauce” of identifying and coalescing the ~exclusive core Soho House membership groups in each city, who are then invited to join the SH clique. They consist of trendy up-and-coming 20/30-something “creatives” mixed with established, wealthy oldsters, and each group wants/needs something from the other…the reflected shine of youth/beauty/innovation v access/money/connections…and sex (lots of kinky, nonjudgmental, libertine sex). Markus is the magician who concocts this Soho witches’ brew of social interaction in each city/SH venue, and he evidently is uniquely talented at it. Like a shadowy, deviant society hostess, MA mixes and fixes people. His little black book, not to mention his private phone photo galleries, must be titillating! Also, from very early on, Soho has maintained a Soho House yacht, used for events like Cannes. 

Suspicious types like Weinstein, Epstein, and Maxwell have been involved in SH from the start, and MM’s first documented interaction w Soho House was in 2010 (a picture of her and Ninaki Priddy at one of the LA Sohos). Note: this was before Suits, before her relocation to Toronto, before Soho House Toronto. In other words, MM and MA most probably have known each other for a very long time, and it’s likely that MM has worked for/“at” various Soho Houses (allegedly…and in what capacity, who knows?). Scooby Doo (MA’s alleged ex-lover), Lainey, Messica, Edward Einninful (sp? the UK Vogue editor guy), Missan, ALL of the Yorks (PA, Fergie, Bea, Eugenie)…they all have long-standing ties to Soho House. Not to mention, the curious coincidence that MA was born in Peterborough, Ontario, CA less than a year after Pr Andrew attended school there for a semester…

As you read through these well-documented SMM posts/articles on MA, the linked articles about Soho House “culture” and “ethos” (lol) are equally as riveting. There’s a reason these posts are marked NSFW. Even pics of the Soho House dining room wallpaper are labelled NSFW iykwim. If you or anyone else are interested in falling down the Soho House rabbit hole, then brew some tea, pour a nice Chardonnay, pop some popcorn, and settle in for some juicy reading! 

(Hope this link works: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/SaintMeghanMarkle/comments/189it6f/soho_house_deep_deep_dive_part_1_soho_house_early/) 

***********

I appreciate that SMM has such a loyal following but I’m not a fan. I know these are fighting words but SMM and Sussex Squad are different sides of the same coin. God help you if you disagree with the hive (which I have). It’s not fun.

And come on. Prince Andrew is Markus Anderson’s father just because the dates line up? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds, without any other proof? It’s as absurd as saying Kate is a falling-down-drunk alcoholic who drank her way to stomach cancer or that “abdominal surgery” is code for William having been physically violent towards Kate because of his anger and her 3 month convalescence is so she doesn’t have to be seen with bruises and broken bones. This, by the way, is exactly what Sussex Squad is saying about Kate’s health crisis.

SMM isn’t for me anymore. I’m not going to funk anyone’s fun but coincidences can exist without it being an evil conspiracy.

[imustbenuts]

Sombron's Cobra Dragon Form is a call-out to Buddhist Nagas. Or: wait, are Divine and Fell Dragons really that different?

Hello! I'm back with more info dump on the Buddhism going on in Fire Emblem, whee!!

Did you know that Naga isn't just a name given to the well-known Divine Dragon goddess of FE? Did you know that cobras are the original Naga in Buddhism? There's a funny relationship here.

The word, Naga, is originally a sanskrit word for a snake deity. This class of deities are depicted to be wise serpents, and there is a specific one known as Mucalinda who sheltered Buddha from rain and storm as he meditated to attain enlightenment. Which then leads into these depictions:

Nagas can be depicted as multiheaded or single headed, rarer partial or fully humans. Notably in South and Southeast Asian depictions, they are often cobras. Note the flaps on those necks. 100% a cobra.

But as you all might be aware, the Naga we know in Fire Emblem is a western dragon. Her daughter, Tiki, also is a western dragon.

Bonus: Engage Tiki is slightly different in being feathery. This form reminds me more of a jatayu/garuda but im not going down into that rabbit hole it's a WHOLE OTHER SHIT i dont want to explain rn @_@

Lumera of course, also fits into the class of Divine Dragon with a form like this:

Not at all serpent like. Meanwhile, Sombron is a truer depiction for the Buddhist depiction of a Naga with his less eagle-y and more... cobra head. Incidentally, Grima also qualifies as a closer depiction due having no limbs (wings aside iykyk). Left: Sombron. Right: Grima.

So what does that all mean? Well, two schools of thoughts from me.

At the time of development, the original Fire Emblems were always meant for a western lens. Fell Dragons at the time did not exist conceptually, and so the idea of a divine god dragon was decided to have a western look, in order to match the setting of the games.

Currently, this might be playing with the ideas of Dragons and 'true gods'. Fell Dragons are actually a more accurate depiction of the Buddhist Nagas, and Divine Dragons aren't. Based on this, nerds like me can go 'DIVINE DRAGON CONSPIRACY! WE WORSHIP THE FALSE GODS!' while being kinda correct about it as the devs giggle at my loser ass.

For the lore nerds who might have heard of this... The First Dragons. (Link the First Dragons gallery on fireemblem.fandom.com), and the FE multi-worlds. It could be entirely possible dragons are originally some space faring beings who decided to settle down on various FE worlds, having multiple different species with wildly different looks. As time went on, certain species died out while some survived, and took up the mantle of guiding humanity or just chilling and being worshiped.

Methinks Divine Dragons and Fell Dragons are just names given to them by mortals to differentiate either by appearance or factions. Engage has basically shown us that Fell Dragons aren't inherently evil, and there has been cases of Dragons who aren't perfect either.

As a side, because Buddhism falls under the Dharmic family of religion, Nagas are also depicted in Hinduism. Again, they are cobras who can be partial or fully snake and/or human, and are here assigned the domain of the underworld. Sombron's grand upheaval of Gradlon is a major call-out to this root, as his domain can be argued to be underground for the majority of the game. (Or underwater.)

Buddhism is so widespread that it has morphed and mixed with a lot of other culture and religions, and notably it has mixed with China's. Under the Mandate of Heaven, it is said that when an emperor witnesses a Dragon, it is a sign that the heavens have given them an approval and they would turn out to be excellent rulers. Asian dragons are also serpent-like, and this idea has also appeared in Southeast Asia and more importantly spread to this one country: Japan.

At the end of the day, I don't think Engage is keen in asking 'who is the real divine dragon?' but just messing around with those who know. And now you do.

Have fun with this weird knowledge!

[chimairasden]

More about... Beulah 🌒

Early life: Beulah was born as *** David on 7 April 1768, in a town not far from Paris. She was the third of eight children and the first son. Her father owned a typhography and, throught him, Beulah received quite an education and got in touch with some Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas. While her family pressured her to study in a Yeshivah, Beulah took time, cultivating in secret various kind of knowledge and a corrispondence with a young man she met in a work-related trip in Paris. The man's letters became less and less frequent until they completely stopped in July 1789. Beulah left her home in his search, fearing the worst, but found him very much alive and as an active member of the Revolution. She never returned to her home-town and her family never tried to take her back. Beulah and her lover survived the Revolution and then he even became part of the Convention National, associated with the Girondin Party. Beulah was introduced to several literaly salons and especially to the Madame Roland's one, but this friendship will be paid with life. When Madame Roland was arrested in 1793, Beulah's lover was charged for corruption and she was accused of conspiracy against the Republic. They were found both guilty and both received a death sentence.

Circumstances of death and reborn as a vampire: Beulah watched all her friends and her man falling under the guillottine and tried to hang herself the night before the execution, but something stopped her. Someone stopped her: a slender, pale man, emerged from darkness itself. The man offered her the most precious thing in the world in exchange of one, small, not better specified favor. Beulah tought she was having visions but also questioned what this precious thing would have been for someone who lost everything and didn't want to fight anymore. The man approched to her ears whispering the answer. On October 31 1793, Beulah was found in her cell with the throath slaughtered and a razor blade laying next to her hand. Her corpse was taken out to be thrown in a mass grave, but she arosed from it and, taking advantage of guards' awe in front of the phenomenon, killed them.

🌒

So, this is the first part of Beulah's story! Do you like it? And who do you think is the man that helped her? An Angel? The Devil itself? Or someone we know better? 🤭

L'Émeute, Honoré Daumier, 1848.

[octoberobserver]

WIP Wednesday - Bill x Frank (TLOU) Fic

All he had asked was if Bill had a type. 

They did this sometimes. Especially after a disagreement. It was an olive branch of sorts, a way for them to make up without having to talk about whatever had them at odds—getting drunk and asking silly junior-high-girls-at-a-slumber-party-type questions. Because even without the apocalypse looming all around them, or maybe especially so, Frank had always been curious. Sometimes to his detriment. 

Which was what landed them in this particular shitstorm.

“So,” he began, hoping to lighten the mood hanging over them like a dark cloud. “I found some magazines in the truck today.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bill freeze, a glass of Merlot halfway to his lips.

“Yeah?”

They both knew what kinda magazines he was talking about, of course. And it sure as shit wasn’t Guns ‘n’ Ammo or any of his conspiracy rags, either. But Frank let him stew for a bit, enjoying the blush colouring his cheeks far too much. 

“Yeah. Some pretty interesting stuff.”

Bill grunted, taking a large gulp of wine. 

Frank chuckled.

“Was enlightening too,” he continued lightly, sipping his own drink far less quickly, as if in thought. “Made me wonder about some things.”

The fire crackled between them as Bill chewed on that.

“Like what?” he eventually asked, his voice his usual quiet and reserved.

Frank took another sip, watching the sparks as he swallowed.

“Like what your ‘type’ is.”

If possible, Bill grew even more still at that.

“Type?”

“Yeah…” Frank shrugged, aiming for nonchalance to try and put him at ease. “Like, what kinda guys you find attractive? ‘Cause if ‘Bearskin’ is any indication—”

Bill let out a choked cough.

“Those magazines don’t mean—you shouldn’t be goin’ through my—”

“Bill, Bill, it’s okay. I’m just teasing,” Frank laid a hand on his shoulder, wincing as he realized how tense he was. “I’m not criticizing your taste in porn or anything. It’s perfectly normal and healthy to—”

“Don’t start psychoanalyzing me, Frank,” Bill cut him off gruffly, clearly growing more mortified by the second.

Taking pity on him, Frank squeezed his hand. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I was just wondering who you—”

“You’re my type. End of story.”

Frank’s face burned with more than just the alcohol, a pleasant warmth spreading throughout his whole body as he clinked their glasses together in a toast.

“Yeah? Well, that’s good. ‘Cause you’re my type too.”

Bill let out a snort.

“No, I’m not.”

This fic has been in my drafts folder for months. About 85% done. Idk if there's any interest lol

[nervoustragedyluminary]

You can't "bootstraps" or positive think or talk therapy your way out of having gender dysphoria. You can find ways to cope with it or realise it wasn't gender dysphoria due to beign trans but it doesn't usually magically vanish and telling people that it will if they just think hard enough they won't need to transition and "ruin" their bodies 🙄is lying to people and setting people up for misery.

You can choose not to medically transition as is your right and you can still be trans if you don't medically transition, you can think you needed it then change your mind, you can detransition obviously not everyone has the same types of dysphoria and that's not a sign of you being "less trans" if you are trans

- but if you've felt like you needed medical transition then talked yourself out of it or found a way to live without it you're not morally superior to or mentally stronger than people who do medically transition you're not inferior to people who medically transition either but you're not more enlightened as I've seen some people try to argue you made decisions for your own body and that's fine

but you can't use your experience to argue that people who do medically transition are somehow "weak" or have been "fooled" by some vast conspiracy. Especially when medical transition is so difficult to access

Medical transition isn't a moral or immoral thing it's someone's private medical decision you're not better than other people if you do or don't medically transition.

Don't be an asshole to people

[richmond-rex]

where did the idea that Margaret and Henry killed the Princes come from? it's just so random and feels like a ridiculous TikTok conspiracy than anything else

I personally find it more laughable than genuinely damaging because 1) neither were slandered by any of these accusations of this during history, so it's less about unveiling destructive historical bias and more about dealing with embarrassing modern conspiracy theorists who are more irritating than genuinely harmful, and 2) The Tudors went on to become a long dynasty who are still one of the most well known in English history, so from a broader perspective, any made-up criticism for Henry or Margaret is overwhelmingly outweighed by interest and admiration towards the dynasty. That's why I find the idea that they were somehow responsible so ridiculous and so colossally STUPID. I guess it's expected from Ricardians as these are the same people who have unironically said that Elizabeth woodville was somehow responsible for her own sons disappearance and death, which is one of the most delusional things I've ever heard

The first person to say Margaret Beaufort and Henry VII had more to gain from the princes' death was George Buck, James I and IV's master of the revels in his 1619 biography of Richard III dedicated to the Howard family (who had been supporters of this king) and in honour of an ancestor that, according to himself, had died at Bosworth Field. Buck hated Shakespeare's play so much that he actually banned it. The history of the rehabilitation of Richard III is a long one and started as early as Elizabeth I's death. This 'incredibly brainwashing' propaganda that endured for centuries to the modern day as they claim is a fallacy. As David Horspool pointed out:

The later development of a counter-myth, if not as dazzling as Shakespeare’s monster, has been almost as influential. The pattern was set for a debate over Richard’s merits very early. As the National Portrait Gallery painting reminds us, this was not a case of an unchallenged version of history holding sway for hundreds of years before finally being swept away in more enlightened times. Richard has had historical defenders from the early seventeenth century to the present day.

Simply crying 'Tudor propaganda!' as though it's the only thing keeping Richard III from being universally lauded and free of accusation is an incredible bad-faith argument when there have been four centuries of revisionism advocating for this king. Like, if historians don't hold Margaret and her son as likely as the very man that usurped those boys and had them in his power in the first place it must be for a reason? Work harder.