#day 3 sickness/disability

[fanficsfreeideas]

Vows in the Dark

alastorshippermonth day 3 sickness/disability - ship Lucifer/Alastor

Alastor leaned heavily against the polished bar, his fingers tracing the intricate grain of the wood with an unfamiliar uncertainty. His once-vibrant crimson eyes now appeared dull and cloudy, though to those around him they still held a spark of life—a deceptive effect of the magic he had perfected over centuries. He had mastered using his shadows to see, weaving them into his very essence, but lately it had become harder to conceal his growing blindness. The shadows that were once effortless extensions of himself now served as his eyes, necessary for him to navigate a world that was quickly fading from his sight. With a soft sigh, he welcomed the rare moment of quiet in the hotel. It offered a brief respite from the constant struggle to hide his disability and reminded him of simpler times when he could rely on his own natural vision.

He poured himself a glass of rich, amber whiskey, the liquid swirling and clinking against the ice cubes in the glass. As he brought it to his lips, he could feel the smooth burn of the alcohol as it slid down his throat, warming him from the inside out. In rare moments like these, he allowed himself to let go of the constant vigilance that being blind demanded. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of oak and spice, savoring the taste on his tongue. But tonight, his solitude would be shattered.

Vox slipped into the hotel lobby, his steps light and swift. His smug grin stretched wide as he scanned the room for his target: Alastor. For weeks, he had been observing the man's every move, catching the subtlest missteps and moments of vulnerability. He noticed how Alastor's once graceful steps now faltered, his movements hesitant and uncertain. The sharp-eyed Vox also picked up on something else—times when Alastor reached for an object and his shadows seemed to guide it towards him, a telltale sign of blindness. This once powerful and untouchable man was now slipping, and Vox intended to take full advantage of it.

Vox's hand closed around the small remote in his pocket, fingers curling tightly around its sleek surface. It was a device of his own design, meant to scramble magic in the vicinity and render his target helpless. Tonight, that target was Alastor, and Vox couldn't wait to have him at his mercy. Without hesitation, Vox pressed the button on the remote. A sharp pulse of energy radiated from it, instantly causing the shadows around Alastor to writhe and contort. His confident stance faltered as he took another sip of whiskey, the glass slipping from his trembling fingers and shattering on the floor below. A look of fear crossed over Alastor's face before being replaced by one of confusion and disorientation. A low, involuntary bleat escaped from his lips—a sound so vulnerable and enticing that it sent a thrill through Vox. Frozen in place, Alastor's ears pinned back against his head as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. His shadows are gone, leaving him unable to see and defenseless.

A sly grin spread across Vox's face as he sauntered closer, his voice dripping with amusement. "Well, well, well," he said. "What do we have here?" his steps light and confident. Alastor's jaw clenched in frustration, his eyes remaining tightly shut as he tried to summon his shadows back. But no matter how hard he focused, the interference was too strong. He refused to open his eyes up to Vox, not willing to reveal his vulnerability. "Leave, Vox," he managed through gritted teeth. "You are not welcome here."

Sneering, Vox stepped even closer, reaching out to tilt Alastor's chin upward with a single finger. The touch was cold and invasive, forcing Alastor's face toward him. "Why would I leave, old friend?" Vox taunted. "You cannot even see me. How amusing is that?" His fingers trailed under Alastor's jaw, his grip tightening with each passing second. "You are no longer the feared Overlord you once were," he continued, relishing in the power he held over Alastor. "You are blind."

With a growl of frustration, Alastor swatted at the air in an attempt to push Vox away, but his efforts were futile. His heart raced with fear and anger—he hadn't felt this utterly helpless since he was a child, trapped in a world of darkness and uncertainty.

Vox let out a dark chuckle as he roughly dragged Alastor to the nearby couch, shoving him down with force. His grip on Alastor's arm was tight and bruising as he spoke in a low, menacing voice. "I have a proposition for you," he said, sitting down beside him. "You come with me, give up being an Overlord, and in exchange, I���ll take care of you. You’ll be perfect as my little housewife. After all, you’re useless now anyway. No one wants someone like you. At least this way, you can still be of service to someone." The condescension dripped from Vox's tone like venom.

But before Alastor could respond, a chilling presence filled the room. The air grew heavy and thick, the scent of sulfur burning in the atmosphere. Lucifer stepped out from the shadows, his golden eyes burning with fury as he glared at Vox. He had heard everything and had come to investigate when he heard glass shattering. His gaze flicked between Vox and Alastor before settling on Vox with disgust evident in his expression.

"How dare this lowly sinner step into my hotel and try to steal what rightfully belongs to me?" Lucifer's voice was low yet carried the weight of a thousand storms. "He will make his claim today so no other sinner thinks they can take from me."

Vox's smug grin faltered as he turned to face Lucifer, trying to maintain his bravado even as fear crept into his expression. "You dare to touch what’s mine, Vox?" Lucifer's voice was laced with power and authority. "You forget whose domain you’re in."

Vox sneered, though his confidence wavered under the intensity of Lucifer's glare. "I don’t see your name on him, Lucifer. As far as I know, he’s still fair game."

With a flick of his wrist, Lucifer hurled Vox across the room with a powerful force. The sound of the impact echoed through the room as Vox crashed into the wall and crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain. Without sparing him a second glance, Lucifer kneeled before Alastor. His voice was firm yet gentle as he addressed Alastor.

"Alastor," he commanded, "open your eyes. That is an order from your king." Alastor hesitated, feeling a sense of vulnerability as he complied. His unseeing eyes met Lucifer's blazing gaze. After studying him tensely, Lucifer spoke again in a smooth, almost seductive tone. "Let us strike a deal, Alastor," he purred. "I know Vox has made you an offer, but mine will be different." Alastor swallowed hard, uncertainty swirling in his mind. "And if I refuse?" A slow, dangerous smile spread across Lucifer's face. "You won't," he stated confidently. "In exchange for your unwavering loyalty, I will ensure that your blindness remains a secret to all. Your shadows will remain yours to command, and if anyone dares to come after you again—be it Vox or anyone else—I will personally see to their demise."

The weight of the promise hung heavy in the air between them as Alastor trembled with trepidation. He knew there was no turning back now; his fate was sealed, and it rested in the hands of the King.

Alastor’s heart pounded in his chest as he considered his options. "What is it that you desire from me?" His voice quivered, barely above a whisper. "I want your unwavering loyalty, Alastor," Lucifer declared, his voice low and commanding. "I want you by my side always, as my wife. In every sense of the word. You will serve me and only me; you will never lay with another but me. And most importantly, you will bear me many heirs. You will be the mother to Charlie. What I’m saying is you will be my queen." He leaned closer, his golden eyes blazing. "All I want is your eternal devotion and obedience. And in return, I will use my powers to ensure that your shadows never leave you again and your magic remains intact." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I cannot restore your sight, but I can make sure that no one ever threatens you with your blindness again."

Alastor's hands trembled as the weight of Lucifer's offer settled heavily on his chest. The thought of being owned, of bending to anyone's will, made his blood boil. But then again, Lucifer's offer was irresistible. The idea of his shadows and magic never disappearing again, of being free from threats that could expose his blindness—it was too tempting to resist. His heart pounded in his chest, torn between self-preservation and the creeping dread of losing his independence. "Prove it," Alastor finally said, his voice low but firm. "Bring my shadows back along with my magic."

Lucifer’s smile widened, his golden eyes gleaming with triumph. With a sharp snap of his fingers, the darkness around Alastor shifted and flowed back into him. His shadows returned, swirling protectively around his form like a blanket, cocooning him in a familiar, comforting embrace. Alastor blinked as his magic returned to him. The illusion of sight was restored, but everything appeared slightly distorted. Colors bled together like an unfinished painting, and the edges of his vision were blurred. He reached out, brushing his fingers over Lucifer’s face. Amidst the chaos of his senses, Alastor could sense Lucifer's expression through his magic. Lucifer’s wore a broad grin, and his eyes blazed with golden light, radiating power and control. A sense of relief washed over Alastor, knowing that he had regained his shadows and magic once more. But there was also a hint of apprehension, knowing that if he took Lucifer’s deal, he would be under the king’s control.

Lucifer held out Vox's remote, taunting the powerless device in front of Alastor. "Go ahead," he purred, his voice smooth and coaxing, like a snake tempting its prey. "Press it." Alastor's hand trembled with excitement as he reached for the remote, his fingers curling tightly around it. With a quick press of the button, he waited for his shadows to disappear, but nothing happened. His shadows remained undisturbed by the useless device in his hand. Despite his best efforts to maintain a calm facade, a surge of emotion roiled within him, threatening to break through the mask of composure on his face.

“I don’t want your pity,” Alastor whispered, his voice barely audible. Vulnerability was not something he often revealed, and the sting of it made him bristle. Lucifer’s gaze softened, though his stance remained commanding. “I have never pitied you, Alastor. Not once.” His tone was firm, but there was a certain tenderness in his words that sent a chill down Alastor’s spine. The flicker of empathy in Lucifer’s golden eyes made Alastor feel exposed and strangely protected all at once. “You’ve survived this long in Hell, becoming blind. That earns you respect, not pity.” Alastor’s throat tightened, emotions he couldn’t name rising within him. He nodded, unable to argue against the truth in Lucifer’s words. But there was more to this arrangement than just respect. "And you expect loyalty from me?" Alastor asked quietly. Lucifer’s smile deepened, satisfied by the question. “Loyalty, yes,” he replied, his golden eyes flickering like embers. “But more than just loyalty. I expect you to stay by my side, never leaving me.” Alastor hesitated before responding, his voice steady but laced with intent. “You said I am never to sleep with another, but I want the same from you. If you demand fidelity, then you must offer it in return.” Lucifer’s grin didn’t falter. In fact, it seemed to grow wider, his amusement evident. “I promise you, Alastor, I will never cheat on you. You will be my only partner. There will be no one else.”

A heavy breath escaped Alastor's lips, his chest rising and falling with a mixture of fear and disbelief. The offer before him was both alluring and terrifying—a small comfort that surrounded him. "You said you wanted heirs," he managed to say, his voice laced with incredulity. "But how? I am nothing but a sinner and a male sire. Such things are not possible for someone like me." Lucifer's hand reached out, gently taking hold of Alastor's trembling fingers in his own. The contact was surprisingly tender for one who held such immense power. "I can make it happen." Lucifer spoke softly, his words smooth like silk. "Our blood will mix, and I will cast a spell to brand your stomach with my magic. You will bear many children for me, Alastor. Trust me." Alastor's mind whirled at the implications of what Lucifer was proposing. It was beyond anything he had ever imagined, but he accepted it with an uneasy resolve. His fingers twitched in Lucifer's grip as he spoke once more, cautious in his tone. "Can we... stop at one son, sire?" He trod carefully as though walking on thin ice. Lucifer's grin widened, though his hand shifted to cup Alastor's cheek with surprising warmth and tenderness. "Oh no, my dear bellhop," Lucifer murmured, his thumb brushing over Alastor's skin delicately. "I missed my chance at being a father with Charlie as Lilith took her from me without giving me a chance to raise her. Lilith wanted Charlie to hate me, but now? Because of this deal, you cannot take my children from me. I can finally be a father without the constant threat of losing them." A flicker of emotion passed through Lucifer's eyes, something akin to longing before his mischievous glint returned. "And my dear bellhop, that is one thing I do cherish—being a father." Alastor's muscles tensed at the realization of what he had agreed to. "Sire... may I take breaks between them?" His voice wavered with uncertainty. Lucifer paused, surprise flickering in his eyes before his expression softened. "I wasn't planning on having them back to back, Alastor," he reassured, his tone almost considerate. "I was thinking more along the lines of every twenty to thirty years. But if that feels too close, we can wait fifty years between each child." A mischievous gleam sparked in his eyes once more. "Unless," he added teasingly, "you decide you are ready sooner." Alastor's mind raced as he weighed the risks and consequences of this deal. But ultimately, he forced himself to nod in agreement. "That... sounds reasonable," he managed to say, steadying his voice despite the pounding of his heart. He knew he was walking a dangerous line, but there was no turning back now. "Deal." As the words left his lips, golden and green magic swirled around them, sealing their pact with an irrevocable bond. The air crackled with energy, a binding force that wrapped around Alastor's very soul. He couldn't help but feel both excitement and trepidation at this new future that lay ahead. Lucifer's grin remained predatory but proud as he declared triumphantly, "It is done. You are mine, Alastor. And I am yours." Alastor's heart raced as he realized the gravity of what he had just agreed to—his fate now intertwined with the King. He couldn't tell if he had gained security or signed away his freedom.

From across the room, Vox cowered in fear as his body trembled uncontrollably. His voice rose to a pleading scream, begging for mercy from Lucifer, who stood tall and unyielding. As Lucifer slowly made his way over to Vox, the air around them seemed to crackle with tension and danger. With each step, Lucifer's eyes flashed with a warning, like a predator closing in on its prey. When he finally reached Vox, he kicked him with a powerful force that made him hit the wall and land on his back. Lucifer walked over to Vox, placing his foot on his chest, pinning him down. Vox shook beneath him, his fear overwhelming.

Lucifer's voice was a low, menacing growl, dripping with malice and ice. He towered over Vox, his true form now revealed in all its terrifying glory. His once human-like appearance twisted and contorted into something sinister. His wings unfurled with a deafening rustle, their shadows casting the room in an eerie darkness. The air seemed to vibrate with his power, causing objects to rattle and shake on their own. "You said I had no claim on my bellhop." Lucifer spoke again, his voice deepening and reverberating through the room like thunder. "But now, my claim is on him." His words were laced with a deadly promise that Vox knew he could not defy. As Lucifer's words sank in, Vox felt fear grip his heart. He knew he had crossed a powerful being and there would be consequences. "You will forget Alastor," Lucifer commanded, his voice booming and commanding obedience from Vox. "You will destroy everything you have on him." The king's words rang with finality as he made sure Vox understood the consequences of his actions. And if I ever see you near him again, I will end you." His threat hung heavy in the air as Vox scrambled to his feet in a panic. Without another word, he fled from the hotel, fearing for his life under the wrath of the devil himself.

Lucifer twirled on his heels with a bright, mischievous grin, the sound of his whistle filling the air as he beamed at Alastor. "Now, Alastor," he called out, his voice filled with unrestrained joy, "do you want an apple martini with me? This is such a joyful day, after all. You're getting yourself such a sexy husband!" Alastor couldn’t help but snort at the dramatics, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did you only do this because Vox was trying to steal from you?” Lucifer’s eyes gleamed with amusement as his voice dropped to a playful whisper. “You’ll never know, would you?” He flashed a grin. “Or maybe, just maybe, I could honestly like you, Bellhop.” His tone turned sing-song as he added, “Now, apple martini or what?” Alastor sighed. “I’ll take a whisky, sire.” With a gleeful skip, Lucifer made his way to the bar, snapping his fingers to clean up the glass on the floor. “Blahhh, whisky’s nasty, but whatever floats your boat,” he muttered, wrinkling his nose. As he prepared his own apple martini, he asked in a casual tone, “So, Alastor... how long have you been blind?” Alastor chuckled under his breath, a low, almost mocking sound. “You’ll never know, would you?” Lucifer laughed along, shrugging it off. “Fine, fine,” he said, amusement still thick in his voice. “Doesn’t matter anyway. But wow... you even fooled me.” He grabbed both their drinks and returned to Alastor, handing over the whisky before sitting down beside him. Alastor took the glass from Lucifer's hand, their fingers brushing slightly, and for a brief moment, there was a stillness between them. Lucifer raised his glass into the air with a flourish. “To our marriage, Bellhop.” Alastor snorted once more. “I don’t think that nickname suits me anymore, given that I’m your... queen.” He practically spat the word, his sarcasm clear as day. Lucifer burst into laughter, eyes crinkling with delight. “Nope! You’ll always be that asshole bellhop I first saw trying to take my daughter from me.” He chuckled, leaning back against the couch. “You’re stuck with that nickname, unless, of course, you’d prefer I call you Bambi.” Alastor’s glare was sharp, his lips twisting in a grimace. “I’ll take Bellhop,” he replied flatly.

[caffeinatedopossum]

Unpopular opinion but people should commission me

[forgottennobleconsortuwu]

My pre-order for dtbpf vol 3 arrived damaged so I went in and started the exchange for it. But I was like "well I'll just read the damaged one until the new one arrives and then I'll pack and ship the damaged one that way I'll still have something to read"

Except my dumbass read the entire volume before the new one arrived so now I still won't even have anything to read anyways 😭

[spinogreen0iq]

challenge: treat your/a human child like a person

Difficulty: Impossible

[mewhenifreakit]

ily gay people

[mandana-the-service-pup]

Methotrexate Update

Doctor got back to me about my labs. My absolute monocytes are high but she isn’t concerned. She didn’t explain why (my best guess it’s bc my exercise has increased so drastically in such a short amount of time but idk) She says I can stay at the same dose and she doesn’t need another lab for three months. I have been doing GREAT on it. Hardly any negative side effects.

The stomach pain I’ve had every night for a year is gone.

My post-exercise chest pain that I’ve been going to cardiologist and ER for since Oct 2022 is completely gone (playing and shoveling snow 100% would have set that off)

TMI // My period has been freaking purple since Sept 2022 and I’ve been bleeding so much that the OBGYN thought I had a fibroid rupture. Well I just had my first period on Methotrexate and it’s all back to normal now and the amount was 1/3 what it has been which is a huge relief. It still hurt but I was able to eat and drink which I usually struggle with for the first few days. Maybe the pain will get better over time.

My gums don’t bleed any more when flossing. It just stopped as soon as I started methotrexate.

I’m able to eat and drink a lot more than I was which is great.

I have way more range of motion in my joints (which is making me have more problems with my hypermobility but whatev)

I still have muscle and joint pain but I honestly think most of it is bc I’ve been able to do so much more. I was taking 600 mg ibuprofen 2-3 times a day and my pain was still 7-7.5/10 and now I’m not taking any ibuprofen except maybe once every couple days and it’s a solid 6-6.5/10

Oh and I can take deeper breaths. Like I’m still having low oxygen show up on my oxymeter but for most of my life my ribs have felt like I’m wearing a corset and they can’t expand when I breath in and that has improved so much that I just walk around the house thinking “wow. I can take a breath. Wow” I’m not sure if this is due to my joints and ribs having more range of motion or if it���s connected to the hyperinflation of my lungs that showed up on the X-ray. Idk but it’s awesome and I’m making an appointment with pulmonologist again to double check lung stuff

The only con I’m currently having is the high absolute monocytes which my dr says is fine and I’ve been having really bad night sweats (actually I’m sweating a ton all the time) but I think my body is just like…recalibrating. Usually effects are really seen after a few months so I’m super excited for 2024!

Mandana’s Health Update

Surprise surprise the new vet doesn’t want to prescribe LDN/s

I get why. There are no studies on using LDN for pain in dogs (there are a few cancer studies in dogs which include LDN for pain relief and QOL but whatev) I humored her and tried to use Carprofen but Mandana doesn’t do well on pain meds and always gets an upset stomach after a couple days. This time was no different and she was miserable and vomiting so I took her off it. We discussed all of our options which I’ll list now for reference:

Decrease carprofen from 75mg twice a day to 75mg once a day // not gonna work bc the original dose wasn’t even very effective for managing her pain and I imagine if she’s already having problems with NSAIDs then taking even a small dose every day for years will hurt her.

Try a different NSAID called Meloxicam // we expect the same problem we have with carprofen

Try a different type of pain relief called Amantadine // Used along side NSAIDs (which we can’t do) so not very effective on its own and can have a side effect of urine retention which Mandana is prone to (she gets this as a “rare” side effect of both apoquel and Benadryl so I would rather not risk it, esp since Proin gave her high blood pressure and we had to discontinue it so there would be no back up if she got incontinence again)

Try the new type of pain relief that was just approved in the US called Librela // This is what we’re going to do next. She has an appointment for her first injection 1.5 weeks from now.

Consult with a Neurologist and get an MRI // After we get her back pain approved by our PetsBest insurance we will make an appointment for a neurologist consult and MRI. The two X-rays we have are 9 months apart and show a narrowing of the disc space between L4-5 but the general consensus is that it shouldn’t be causing as much pain as she is in so an MRI will give us a better idea of what’s going on and the Neurologist might have more treatment options for us.

We really want to wrap up some of these big health concerns for both of us before 🐾2025🐾👀 and we are already making a lot of progress so I’m super hopeful!

[gregmarriage]

me as a kid being like ‘i wanna stay home all day and do whatever i want!’ and adult me being chronically ill, disabled and bed ridden ✌🏻

[b-blushes]

you know what would be so good. if all my friends lived walkable distance from each other and we could have art club together.

[opalsiren]

ppl who get a cold or flu or whatever and feel bad for a day or two, only to immediately bounce back and feel fine. on all levels except physical i am in your walls ESPECIALLY if you aren't also chronically ill

[ravio-the-cabinet-man]

mmmmmmm everything is stacking up and i can only keep up this "yeah its fine tho" bullshit for so lomg

[jadevine]

Preindustrial travel, and long explanations on why different distances are like that

Update March 1, 2024: Hey there folks, here's yet another update! I reposted Part 2a (the "medieval warhorses" tangent) to my writing blog, and I went down MORE of the horse-knowledge rabbit hole! https://www.tumblr.com/jadevine/741423906984951808/my-post-got-cut-off-so-i-added-the-rest-of-it Update Jan 30, 2024: Hey folks, I've posted the updated version of this post on my blog, so I don't have to keep frantically telling everyone "hey, that's the old version of this post!" https://thebalangay.wordpress.com/2024/01/29/preindustrial-travel-times-part-1/

I should get the posts about army travel times and camp followers reformatted and posted to my blog around the end of the week, so I'll filter through my extremely tangled thread for them.

Part 2 - Preindustrial ARMY travel times: https://www.tumblr.com/jadevine/739342239113871360/now-for-a-key-aspect-that-many-people-often-ask

Part 2a - How realistic warhorses look and act, because the myth of "all knights were mounted on huge clunky draft horses" just refuses to die: https://www.tumblr.com/jadevine/732043691180605440/helpful-things-for-action-writers-to-remember

Part 3 - Additional note about camp followers being regular workers AND sex-workers: https://www.tumblr.com/jadevine/740604203134828544/reblogging-the-time-looped-version-of-my

--

I saw a post on my main blog about how hiking groups need to keep pace with their slowest member, but many hikers mistakenly think that the point of hiking is "get from Point A to Point B as fast as possible" instead of "spending time outdoors in nature with friends," and then they complain that a new/less-experienced/sick/disabled hiker is spoiling their time-frame by constantly needing breaks, or huffing and puffing to catch up.

I run into a related question of "how long does it take to travel from Point A to Point B on horseback?" a lot, as a fantasy writer who wants to be SEMI-realistic; in the Western world at least, our post-industrial minds have largely forgotten what it's like to travel, both on our own feet and in groups.

People ask the new writer, "well, who in your cast is traveling? Is getting to Point B an emergency or not? What time of year is it?", and the newbies often get confused as to why they need so much information for "travel times." Maybe new writers see lists of "preindustrial travel times" like a primitive version of Google Maps, where all you need to do is plug in Point A and Point B.

But see, Google Maps DOES account for traveling delays, like different routes, constructions, accidents, and weather; you as the person will also need to figure in whether you're driving a car versus taking a bus/train, and so you'll need to figure out parking time or waiting time for the bus/train to actually GET THERE.

The difference between us and preindustrial travelers is that 1) we can outsource the calculations now, 2) we often travel for FUN instead of necessity.

The general rule of thumb for preindustrial times is that a healthy and prime-aged adult on foot, or a rider/horse pair of fit and prime-aged adults, can usually make 20-30 miles per day, in fair weather and on good terrain.

Why is this so specific? Because not everyone in preindustrial times was fit, not everyone was healthy, not everyone was between the ages of 20-35ish, and not everyone had nice clear skies and good terrain to travel on.

If you are too far below 18 years old or too far past 40, at best you will need either a slower pace or more frequent breaks to cover the same distance, and at worst you'll cut the travel distance in half to 10 or so miles. Too much walking is VERY BAD on too-young/old knees, and teenagers or very short adults may just have short legs even if they're fine with 8-10 hours of actual walking. Young children may get sick of walking and pitch a fit because THEY'RE TIREDDDDDDDDDD, and then you might need to stay put while they cry it out, or an adult may sigh and haul them over their shoulder (and therefore be weighed down by about 50lbs of Angry Child).

Heavy forests, wetlands and rocky hills/mountains are also going to be a much shorter "distance" per day. For forests or wetlands, you have to account for a lot of villagers going "who's gonna cut down acres of trees for one road? NOT ME," or "who's gonna drain acres of swamp for one road? NOT ME." Mountainous regions have their traveling time eaten by going UP, or finding a safer path that goes AROUND, so by the time you're done slogging through drier patches of wetlands or squeezing through trees, a deceptively short 10-15 miles in rough terrain might take you a whole day to walk instead of the usual half-day.

If you are traveling in freezing winters or during a rainstorm (and this inherently means you HAVE NO CHOICE, because nobody in preindustrial times would travel in bad weather if they could help it), you run the high risk of losing your way and then dying of exposure or slipping and breaking your neck, just a few miles out of the town/village.

Traveling in TOO-HOT weather is just as bad, because pushing yourself too hard and getting dehydrated at noon in the tropics will literally kill you. It's called heat-STROKE, not "heat-PARTY."

And now for the upper range of "traveling on horseback!"

Fully mounted groups can usually make 30-40 miles per day between Point A and Point B, but I find there are two unspoken requirements: "Point B must have enough food for all those people and horses," and "the mounted party DOESN'T need to keep pace with foot soldiers, camp followers, or supply wagons."

This means your mounted party would be traveling to 1) a rendezvous point like an ally's camp or a noble's castle, or 2) a town/city with plenty of inns. Maybe they're not literally going 30-40 miles in one trip, but they're scouting the area for 15-20 miles and then returning to their main group. Perhaps they'd be going to an allied village, but even a relatively small group of 10-20 warhorses will need 10-20 pounds of grain EACH and 20-30 pounds of hay EACH. 100-400 pounds of grain and 200-600 pounds of hay for the horses alone means that you need to stash supplies at the village beforehand, or the village needs to be a very large/prosperous one to have a guaranteed large surplus of food.

A dead sprint of 50-60 miles per day is possible for a preindustrial mounted pair, IF YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO. Moreover, that is for ONE day. Many articles agree that 40 miles per day is already a hard ride, so 50-60 miles is REALLY pushing the envelope on horse and rider limits.

NOTE: While modern-day endurance rides routinely go for 50-100 miles in one day, remember that a preindustrial rider will not have the medical/logistical support that a modern endurance rider and their horse does.

If you say "they went fifty miles in a day" in most preindustrial times, the horse and rider's bodies will get wrecked. Either the person, their horse, or both, risk dying of exhaustion or getting disabled from the strain.

Whether you and your horse are fit enough to handle it and "only" have several days of defenselessness from severe pain/fatigue (and thus rely on family/friends to help you out), or you die as a heroic sacrifice, or you aren't QUITE fit enough and become disabled, or you get flat-out saved by magic or another rider who volunteers to go the other half, going past 40 miles in a day is a "Gondor Calls For Aid" level of emergency.

As a writer, I feel this kind of feat should be placed VERY carefully in a story: Either at the beginning to kick the plot off, at the climax to turn the tide, or at the end.

Preindustrial people were people--some treated their horses as tools/vehicles, and didn't care if they were killed or disabled by pushing them to their limits, but others very much cared for their horses. They needed to keep them in working condition for about 15-20 years, and they would not dream of doing this without a VERY good reason.

—

UPDATE January 13: Several people have gotten curious and looked at maps, to find out how a lot of cities are indeed spread out at a nice distance of 20-30 miles apart! I love getting people interested in my hyperfixations, lol.

But remember that this is the space between CITIES AND TOWNS. There should never be a 20-mile stretch of empty wilderness between City A and Town B, unless your world explains why folks are able to build a city in the middle of nowhere, or if something has specifically gone wrong to wipe out its supporting villages!

Period pieces often portray a shining city rising from a sea of picturesque empty land, without a single grain field or cow pasture in sight, but that city would starve to death very quickly in preindustrial times.

Why? Because as Bret Devereaux mentions in his “Lonely Cities” article (https://acoup.blog/2019/07/12/collections-the-lonely-city-part-i-the-ideal-city/), preindustrial cities and towns must have nearby villages (and even smaller towns, if large and prosperous enough!) to grow their food for them.

The settlements around a city will usually be scattered a few miles apart from each other, usually clustered along the roads to the city gates. Those villages and towns at the halfway point between cities (say 10-15 miles) are going to be essential stops for older/sick folks, merchants with cargo, and large groups like noble’s retinues and army forces.

Preindustrial armies and large noble retinues usually can’t make it far past 10-12 miles per day, as denoted in my addition to this post. (https://www.tumblr.com/jadevine/739342239113871360/now-for-a-key-aspect-that-many-people-often-ask )

[littlestpersimmon]

Hi guys. Am sick rn, but had wanted to post this before I go and sleep.

Some of you may already know that patreon sent out an update that charges anyone using ios to subscribe to artist's patreons 30% more.

I immediately feel this impact mere hours later, and now, days later. I'm hemorrhaging patrons & have less income. It would mean the while world to me if you guys could please reblog this.

If you use the desktop version or the android app? you will not have to pay 30% more. Needless to say this decision of apple has completely fucked me over months and months to come, unless I somehow make up for my loss by other means.

My patreon is only a dollar a month!

I have around 400 exclusive artwork on it :)

I am working on uploading more art there, and more comics once I am done with my current contract as a comic artist.

I am currently partially homeless- so being alive in general is hard ;y; I wanted to focus more of my work on patreon, until this update- I only have one tier.

I am working as hard as I can, every month ♡ I am also the caretaker of three disabled people- as my dad, who used to do all the housework, is now too sick with a swollen liver that could possibly be connected to his heart problems, and my mama who has limited movement- she "died" of sepsis many years ago after giving birth to my sister, and was revived with nerve damage. I don't know the medical terms, but she was brain dead for however long, and was successfully brought back in a different hospital. She was comatose for months; this event has lead to my family losing everything in hospital bills, our car, our house (literally we became homeless) ah. But long story short, I am the only person in my family who works- as my sister is a teenager, and she is autistic with a very, very low frustration threshold, as she is also a picky eater and still going to school! I'm sorry, many of my followers already know this story by now, I have already doxxed myself multiple times trying to avert crisis after crisis, ahaha. But yes. Patreon added to my cart of Sorrows, and would love to have more folks who aren't using apple, or are using android and the web to come on over and maybe enjoy some of my private art up there. I post around 3-6 art a month, if I am lucky 7. I want to keep making art, and my patreon was what was giving me a semblance of stability until that silly update. Sorry for the long post, and I appreciate everyone helping, reblogging, saying kind words to me, praying for me. G-d bless you all, and stay safe

My patreon:

Direct tipping jar:

My print shop!

[mandana-the-service-pup]

We’re both using CBD & Laser Therapy to speed up our recovery. Highly recommend 👍

[nepenthean-sleep]

the tlt fandom's insidious problem with ableism

this will be my final original post for the locked tomb fandom, if not forever, at least for a very long time.

i have been in this fandom since november 2021, so about 3 and a half years. i can handle john gaius discourse, and butch harrow/butch4butch griddlehark discourse, and imperialism discourse, and all other bigotry discourse, and SA discourse, and all of the other incredibly difficult and meaningful topics that are worth discussing in this fandom, but the fact that i privately told someone who tagged my post with "harrow is crazy and evil and gideon will fix her" that it was ableist and upsetting and to not say those things about people with severe mental health conditions anymore, and i got blocked for it, the fact that that happened from someone who had a "punk" pinned post and was a leftist…

this is my final straw.

i see ableist microaggression after ableist microaggression day in and day out with this fandom and i'm sick and tired of acting like it doesn't deeply disturb me. other people don't think people like me are full human beings. and yeah, that's what all bigotry is, i'm not trying to act like i'm exceptional. but, like a lot of other insidious and deep-running forms of bigotry, this comes from even the most "progressive" of people, people that like to champion other marginalized communities and stand up for other disabled people. but nobody likes psychotic people. even the fucking medical providers that are supposed to help us and sympathize with us don't like us, don't believe us, belittle us and abuse us.

nobody has any idea the amount of trauma this disorder and this diagnosis has inflicted on me, how it has made my life significantly harder on a day-to-day basis and a systemic basis and an interpersonal basis. i didn't have a job for FOUR YEARS. i've had to take medications that make it difficult for me to wake up in the morning, give me issues with swallowing, and can sedate me so much that i can't drive at times. i started this medication in march 2021 and i have never felt fully awake since then. i was involuntarily committed for nine days and experienced abuse and medical malpractice in both a major hospital and a psychiatric facility that led to PTSD. i used to wake up screaming multiple times a week from PTSD nightmares related to my hospitalization. it takes me so much longer to do academic work and i have extensive disability accommodations at my university. i'm still an undergrad student at 26 years old despite starting uni at 20, and i'm not expected to graduate for at least two more years. after i was out of the hospital in 2021, it took me six months before i could start doing schoolwork again, and i could only handle one class at a time. i barely remember those entire six months honestly. the first two months, my mom (my caretaker at that time) said that i seemed like an alzheimer's patient or a dementia patient, that i wasn't myself and i struggled to take care of myself.

and when i read harrow the ninth for the first time in december 2021, i saw all of that in that book. it was a hard read because i saw so much of the shit i went through in harrow's experience on the mithraeum, with ianthe and john who wanted to "help" her but were really exploiting her (reminding me of someone whose actions triggered paranoia in me during my first psychotic episode), with mercymorn and augustine who treated her like an annoyance and an idiot (reminding me of some of the nurses and providers in the facility, people who were undoubtedly overworked and underpaid but still misused their power over me and other patients), harrow herself waking up with panic attacks and not knowing what was real and what was just in her head, her constant yearning for home and leaving the horrible place that she was trapped inside of (self-explanatory). all of this resonated so deeply with me, and even if all of it wasn't the exact same as what i had just gone through earlier in the year, it was all very thematically similar.

and then i got to this fandom and its mostly just people shitting on htn harrow and jokingly calling her a brain damaged wet rat, but like, over and over and over again.

can you imagine how this made me feel lol.

it made me feel like shit.

so i ignored that feeling, maybe even went along with the rest of the fandom for a few moments because you know, maybe i'm just overreacting. maybe it's not that deep. after all, maybe i'm no different from a "brain damaged wet rat" myself. but that was the internalized ableism talking. but it just kept bothering me, and bothering me, and bothering me. it's been like three and a half years now and i can't ignore anymore how much it bothers me, how deeply disturbing i find it that people call her "cutesy" slurs like crazy and psycho and "delulu" or say she needs to be "fixed" or that gideon WILL "fix" her or that "her brain is made of soup teehee" or making "grippy sock" jokes or calling her a "sopping wet pathetic meow meow" or like whatever. honestly i don't even think people are doing it maliciously. that doesn't stop it from being hurtful and damaging.

even if it's not sourced from malicious intent, it's just proof that nobody fucking cares about people with psychotic disorders. nobody fucking cares about the human rights abuses that happen to patients in psychiatric facilities. nobody cares about how hard it is for people like us to make it through the world. do you know that there are some people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that are catatonic, that can't speak or get out of bed? that can't take care of themselves? do you care about them and still think they're people? what about the people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia that can't hold down a job or finish a degree or provide for themselves? the people with these mental health conditions that are homeless or stuck in abusive group homes? are these people "brain damaged little meow meows"? i'm one of the lucky ones! i can still go to school and take care of myself and work! but it wasn't always that way for me, and it may not always be this way for me in the future. do i still matter, then? am i still a person that deserves respect? or am i just another thing to make fun of, especially when and if my condition starts to decline? do you realize that your jokes enable your own bigotry and enforce the bigotry of others?

but its fun to laugh at harrow's declining condition, and make jokes with your friends who will never have to worry about this being in their cards. lobotomized brain damaged wet rat. fuck you.

i know you're just here to mess around and have fun with the books you like, but so was i. i can't do that anymore because people have made this environment so difficult for people like me. for fuck's sake, i used to make shitposts and theory posts all the time. have you noticed i don't anymore?

there's a lot of bigotry in this fandom, but this is the only topic that i feel qualified to speak on at length due to how deeply personal it is to me. please, i am begging you, think about what you say about harrow's mental health, symptoms, and brain. i know she isn't real, but i am, and so are people with the psychotic conditions she has.

[hamsamohammad]

🚨Help save my DISABLED Grandmother and my family from Gaza

I am Hamsa Mohammad, a 24 years old Engineer, I just graduated when the war occurred ! My mother and I were very lucky and escaped 5 Months ago .. but we left our hearts in Gaza! We didn't mean to leave them behind .. we feel guilty every single day that we're safe while they're not ! We tried everything but couldn't collect the funds, my mother is a single mother and we are barely managing to cover our expenses and sending them as much as we can to help them survive in Gaza . Until a friend I met here in Cairo, told me that hopefully you will help us ! 🙏🙏🙏 Help Me Rescue my Family of 4 from Gaza : • MY 83 years old DISABLED GRANDMOTHER (ستي فوزية) right before this war she suffered from a broken pelvis and a broken left hand, and she cannot walk or even go to the bathroom. She also suffers from severe heart muscle weakness and needs many medications, diapers and a urinary catheter ,they can't even find or afford proper drugs and painkillers , everything is extremely expensive PLEASE WE NEED TO GET HER OUT ASAP !! • MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY - Lamis and her husband Malik (29 and 32 years old) They're both sick and suffer from Hepatitis type A.

•Karma 3 Months Old: She is 3 months old , she was born through this terrible war in a tent .. She is malnourished , gets sick ,intestinal catarrh and fevers all the time ! •Ghaith 3 years old: He suffers from severe allergic reactions and he vomits, get sick all the time from polluted water and bad food They're all cramped up in a tentwith other people .. Please I PLEAD to you help them escape

PLEASE SAVE HAMSA'S FAMILY FROM GAZA PLEASE HELP US !! Donate HERE SHARE AND DONATE AND MENTION IF POSSIBLE !!

Donate HERE

EVERY € COUNTS !!!

We need the money for :

Travel arrangements to Egypt ( $5000- per person) for 4 family members.

Urgent Medical Treatment and surgery for my Grandmother( $3000-$5000).

Housing expenses.

Living and transportation expenses during the initial period of travel.

Food and medical expenses.

VERIFIED FUNDRAISER BY @nabulsi

[halorvic]

This #LongCovidAwarenessDay I’m reflecting on how many people have been let down by governments, public health & medical establishments How Covid has been downplayed, airborne spread ignored & vaxx and relax strategies pushed for the sake of capitalism How many have Long Covid because of this? 🧵 Those of us who were disabled before the pandemic could see this wave of chronic illness coming - and many of us have been screaming from the top of our lungs the last 5 years. Begging people not to take their health for granted & to wear a mask and protect themselves. /2 Warning them that there are no do-overs once you become chronically ill. Unfortunately very few people are listening - and many won’t understand the true devastation of #LongCovid until it directly impacts them. At which point it’ll be too late. /3 Despite seeing these waves of disability as an inevitable consequence of “let er rip” Covid strategy - one thing I did not see coming was how many people would willingly embrace not only ableism - but full on eugenics. /4 People in my own life who were previously kind & supportive have become cruel and angry. The masks have been ripped off. They don’t hesitate to tell me that they blame me for the restrictions placed on them in the early days of Covid. /5 That they will never again allow their freedoms to be infringed on in the name of protecting the vulnerable. One even went as far as to say “you’ve been sick for years - just die already.” /6 People who say these things don’t understand what disabled ppl understand all too well - your health is not a permanent state. Everyone will become disabled eventually - some earlier than others. Many who think they’re invulnerable are already vulnerable and don’t even know it /7 Yet rather than adapting behaviour and pushing for a new normal that makes the world safe for everyone - most temporarily abled people have instead doubled down on hateful eugenics talking points and want us to stay home forever (or worse - die). It needs to stop. /8 Covid is airborne and we all share the air. “You do you” individualism is quite literally killing people. We need to start caring about the air we share as this will lead to a healthier society for everyone. /9 Until then we need to mask up. It’s easy, incredibly effective & it might save someone’s life. At the very least you will know you didn’t contribute to another person’s suffering - and you will be drastically reducing your own odds of getting Long Covid. It’s worth it. /end

@broadwaybabyto.bsky.social