#fish powder horn

[ltwilliammowett]

Fish shaped powder horn, 1821

[aiweirdness]

AI-generated donuts

If you're going to open a late-night donut shop, you're going to need a unique set of over-the-top donuts to set the proper festive atmosphere. But how to keep the ideas coming?

I decided to see what donut ideas I could get using OpenAI's GPT-3 text-generating models. I collected seven of the weirdest donuts and descriptions I could find (such as a pizza donut, or a dirt-themed donut), and presented them as a list for the AI to complete. I've drawn a few of the best donuts it added to the list.

[human illustrations of some of the ai-generated donuts below]

When I say I used "GPT-3" for this project it's hard to be exact about it, because OpenAI often updates the models. The newest GPT-3 versions (as of May 2022) actually did the worst at this task - they kept presenting me with real donuts that they'd seen during their online training, and not even particularly weird donuts. They were trying to match what was most common online, not what I was asking for. But the original early-2020 GPT-3 models were more willing to deliver the weirdness. Here are some more of my favorite results from the various models!

The biggest model, DaVinci

Violet Beauregarde - A lemon glazed donut with blue raspberry eyes and a raspberry center The Candleberry Flu - A chocolate doughnut filled inside with ganache plus a dripping candle on top that's dripping liquid sediments Brick of Yum - A glazed doughnut sandwiching American cheese, with red pepper jelly inside The Confusatron - A doughnut sliced into three layers - vanilla, coconut, and chocolate, dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with sugar pearls that look like circuit boards The Purple Stuff - Chocolate, oreo, and purple stuff sprinkled with powdered sugar

Curie, the second-largest model

Heckleberry - A strawberry donut smothered with blueberry syrup and crushed vegan Crunchies Donut of Doom - Rainbow donut filled with Frosted Flakes, black sprinkles, and sour candy The Alligator Rising - A spiral donut, frosted with chocolate and filled with a filling of chocolate hard-boiled egg and green apple slices Hell Raisin - A jelly donut with a filling of peanut butter and hot dogs Dark Crystal - A donut filled with candy corn and white chocolate chips I ♥ My Gay Ex - A rainbow Jell-O donut with white frosting, red sugar sprinkles, and pink glitter Fish N' Chips – Topped with chocolate and tangy tempura-flavoured icing

Babbage, the second-smallest model

Mr Crepe - Topped with tapioca pudding, green sprinkles Little Red Apples - Topped with pumpkin bread crumbs and small red apples Chalkista - Stationary donut with chalk dusting Horns - Cupcake gripped in both of the animal’s horns Julius Rooms - A pair of bottomless donuts Doughnut Forest - A profusion of donuts spread throughout the French Quarter Flintlock fennec - bacon, fried okra, and burnt thermochromic alcohol Baffle - cocoa powder, giraffes, and vanilla wafers

Ada, the smallest and definitely weirdest model

Bath Roll - Three donuts melted hot on one side Friar Flats - Topped with tomatoes, honey, red paint and ceramic chili caps Ponder Owls - magical, yellow-feathered donuts covered in icing with puffiness and shine By Soul - filled with firecrackers, black bean dip, red pepper syrup, and watermelon Coconut Fun - Sulphure hasn’t been wiped off, a demon cake filled with coconut cream and pistachios Blood Donut - Creamy moist donut topped with spoonfuls of delicious blood Goofy Trick - the elephant, is a clown and it's all about tossing treats into his skull Spankin’ - Other-colored donut with a frying pan in the middle

Bonus content: More of Ada's weird donuts (plus some donuts made of antimatter??)

Also you can buy the donuts on a tea towel! Along with pies, cookies, and breakfast cereals.

[smokeys-house]

Three Fish, Two Birds, Whetstone

(An installment in the Travel Log series)

Morning fog drifted drearily along the banks of a babbling brook. Just beside the river, an old moomin set her clothes aside her tent. She'd been fishing for months on end. Her trip to Venice had been waylaid by her past, ever taunting her. Venice was only a day or so away, and yet many more she'd sat waiting along the river. Puukko stepped into the river, wandering along its bed til she met with a spot wide and wealthy with fish. The cold water reminded her of her home above Moominvalley, in the snowy Lonely Mountains. She had left in autumn, but by now winter had arrived and nearly left.

“I really ought t’ head into town. If fer naught but a new fishin’ hook.” She stared into the river, her claws extended as she hunched over. “But iffin’ I'm already in town, it's much too simple t’ get t’ Venice from there.” She mumbled to herself. “Now look at me. Crouched in a river miles from home fightin’ me own thoughts. Puukko, you are a damned fool.”

She stood there for some time, waiting for her prey to pass under her paws. She struck suddenly, and with force, latching onto a fish with her claws. “Yer all mine, now!” She killed it quickly as to not cause it undue suffering, holding it in her other paw. “That's breakfast sorted. Now fer lunch ‘n dinner…” The waiting was unavoidable, with or without fishing she'd still just be waiting. Waiting for her own mind to change. “You've run afoul the great and fearsome Captain Whetstone… now… Surrender!” She acted playfully, snatching another fish from the water. She rested it gently between her teeth, having no bucket for her quarry. The final fish by the name of dinner followed shortly after. It was no match for the determination of a woman who'd been doing nothing lately but fighting her own determination, and fish. Puukko began her triumphant trot back to her campsite, shaking the morning dew and river water from her fur.

A noise drew her attention from under the suffocating fog. A familiar sound, but one she'd not heard in an age. The heavy click of a flintlock hammer followed by the fizzing of the frizzen. Her eyes widened and her heart began to pound as a bullet whizzed past her and into the trunk of a thick tree. She stumbled a moment, catching herself with her paws before tucking herself behind said tree. Her mind was racing and her lungs were burning from the cold winter air. The silence following the shot stretched on and on.

“Bountymen? After all this time, nary a peep an’ now as if from thin air, bounty hunters?” She thought to herself. “Wait a moment, a flintlock? Guns have cartridges now.” Images of her time ill-spent in the wild west flashed before her. She steadied her breath as best she could, attempting to listen for any information at all above the sound of her heart thumping. A young man swore under his breath as he fumbled his powder horn, before casting the rifle aside and readying a second one from his back. Searching her surroundings, the only plan of action she could drum up was to rush him.

She dove from her hiding place to the nearest tree adjacent. The rifleman squinted, readied his gun and fired at her once again, the bullet rippling the fog as it tore through the air and embedded itself firmly into the other tree. In her brief glimpse, she saw no other guns on the man. She charged him, sprinting through the trees and diving once again with her arms outstretched, tackling him to the ground.

“Mon Dieu! A moomin?” The rifleman wheezed, pinned to the soft earth with a massive paw wrapped around his throat.

“Oui..?” Puukko's raised fist softened just slightly in confusion. “And yer… not a bounty hunter, I take it?” She took in his characteristics. A young man with a pale complexion and curly locks. He wore a thick coat And a well decorated hat, but all that he wore was clean and seemingly new.

“No, but surely you've heard of me. For I am Baptiste Boucher, hunter extraordinaire! The greatest rifleman in all of Italy!”

“And you're French?”

“No, I just have a French accent and speak French for fun. Of course I'm French.”

“Well, what in Booble's name are ye doin’ shootin’ at me fer!? I'm no beast!” Puukko stood, picking him up off the ground with her, releasing him with a shove.

“One could make that argument, madame. You are… rather strong for your age?”

“Oh, so I'm old and I'm beastly, so ye try t’ shoot me?” She prodded his chest with her pointer finger.

“Perhaps you have a camp where we might discuss this matter away from the site of a supposed attempted murder..?” His eyes darted from side to side, scanning the fog.

The pair made the short walk upstream to Puukko's campsite, with Puukko herself following just behind the rifleman, watching him cautiously. Her tent and belongings sat idle upon the grass, a modest comfort set in amongst a few small trees. Her things were laid out around a stump, atop which lay her capelet and an enamel cooking pot. A few large stones encircled a bundle of wood, with layers of ash beneath it as though it had been used several times. She set Mr. Boucher’s rifles aside, just beyond his reach.

“Sit.” She pointed at the ground on the opposite side of the campfire as she searched her bag for matches. The pleasure of speaking with someone who spoke the same language she did was undercut by the violent and strange circumstances. “Now tell me who ya are ‘n why yer here again?”

“I am Baptiste Boucher, hunter extraordinaire. I hunt great beasts.”

“Still missin’ the why, sonny.” The distrust in her voice was apparent, and as she piled tinder under the logs, she never took her eyes off him.

“I. Hunt. Great. Beasts.” He repeated, as if reading his own business card.

Puukko lit a match, setting it under the tinder. She stood up and towered over Boucher, balling her fists. “Need I remind you who shot at who here?” Mr. Boucher did not flinch.

“The people of Mestre put out a reward for the killing of a large brown bear that had been behaving strangely, and wandering very near town. Very large, disheveled fur, big nasty scar!” He dragged his finger across his eye dramatically. “The people assumed it was rabid. And we do not get many bears here, so they were frightened.”

“A bear?!” She palmed her face. “I'm no bear, I'm a moomin!”

“To be fair, you were standing in the river on all fours with a fish in your mouth, mon ami. Not the first time, either.” Baptiste reached over to the stump where Puukko's belongings were, taking her pipe and the sachet of tobacco next to it. He packed it, tamped it down and handed it to her. She silently accepted, sitting down beside him a comfortable distance away. She lit another match and puffed on her pipe gently, tossing the match into the campfire.

“I think I've about lost it.” She said, dejectedly with a heavy sigh. Puukko passed her pipe to Baptiste. She seemed utterly defeated, staring into the flames.

“Well, you asked me. I ask you the same. Who are you? Why yer here?” He made as grouchy a face he could muster as he mimicked her.

“Not s’ sure these days. I been a lot, ‘n done a lot, too. These days I'm mostly jus’ tired. Folks call me Puukko.” She felt a pang in her chest thinking about how different her name sounded in her mouth, and how much softer it sounded when it came from her friends back home. “I make knives.”

“And the why you are here? Sonny?”

“Don't go makin’ me laugh, now.” She smiled. “I'm lookin’ fer somethin’. Or someone. I dunno… I just know when I get to Venice, I'll have m’ answer.” She took the pipe back, breathing in and letting the smoke settle in her mouth. “It tastes of home…” She thought to herself. The word home lingered long in her mind, creating an unshakable foundation for further thoughts to settle in and cozy up.

“I think you are hiding something.”

“An’ you ain't?”

“I am!” He smiled earnestly.

“Yer pretty bold, ain't you. Or maybe a little dumb. Perhaps both. Cozied up right quick with yer quarry an’ helped yerself t’ me things just to sit an’ jaw a while. And what's with the flintlock rifles? Ye fumbled yer powder horn, y'know they make ‘em so you don't need yer own powder now, right?”

“You've caught on, I see.” He took a long drag off her pipe. “Very well, it's only fair. I did try to kill you after all. My name is not Baptiste Boucher... I'm not even a hunter, I'm an actor. I'm as bold as they come, fearless in fact, but the one fear I cannot shake is the stage.” He was impossible to read. One moment, he's performing zealously, or at least enjoying himself, and the next he's plain and dry, if not without humor.

“Yer an actor? That hunts bears..?” She asked, shooting him a look of suspicion.

“Tch. Bears, lions, monsters, master criminals? I don't care. We are all as equals beyond the barrel of a gun. I've never feared the dark, nor a shark, nor the spark of romance. It would make for a useful skill if I cared for anything but to act!” He clutched his shirt, throwing his head back with his other hand against his forehead. “I'd rob a bank if it could get me a starring role.”

“Yer serious? Yer not scared o’ bears but yer afraid of… what? Not getting applause? I been in a play before. It ain't that hard.”

“What was this play of yours? What was your role?”

“Well, I guess not in a play. But I've been on stage! Er wait, no, I have been in plays…Just not me actin’ in ‘em.”

“And this play was?”

“And your rifles are..?” She avoided the question.

“I'm embodying the role of one Baptiste Bouchard, and as luck would have it, I can act! No one suspects a thing! Aside from the bear I was meant to hunt, that is. Turns out, she's quite wily. The character is from a long time ago, you see. Method acting is about the details! Now, we've figured out who I am, and what I'm doing here. What is a knife maker doing dining on river fish on her way to Venice?”

“I'm… a tourist?”

“For being in plays, you are certainly a poor actor.” He rolled his eyes.

“I'm… in love. I'm in love with a woman I met many many years back, an’ I'm in love with the life I left behind t’ find her.” She hesitated a moment. “I keep tellin’ myself that's not what I'm out here fer, and that I'm here for this or that, but I need t’ see her. Just one last time. I can't go back home til I do, but I can't press forward. On account of I'm scared. Fer what feels like the first time in all me years.”

“I do not think you will find her here, Captain.”

“What?” Her heart sank.

“I said you will not find Marion here.”

Puukko sprung up, lunging for her knife. Before she could reach it, the man drew a derringer from his vest, pointing it idly off his knee at her.

“Leave it. You won't need it.” He said, following it with a heavy sigh. “My father spent his life hunting the bounty on you, and taught me the trade. Thing is, there aren't exactly bounties to hunt these days, Whetstone.”

She sat back down, eyes wide. She'd been caught off guard. She'd not met anyone who knew her past in what felt like a lifetime. “So what happens now?” She asked.

“This.”

He pulled the trigger, a small pop followed after, and a flag with the word “BANG!” written on it unfurled from within the barrel. Puukko flinched, her life flashing before her eyes before succumbing to complete confusion.

“I'm just an actor.” He set the toy gun on the ground with a half-hearted laugh. “Or, aspiring to be anyway. My father probably thought bounty hunting would never end. That's what he knew, so that's what he taught me. When you made your disappearance, he was crestfallen. The bounty was gone, and so were you. Marion was free to go, as well. You were his white whale as he tells it…” He took a moment, seeing Puukko’s dumbfounded expression.

“When I was a child, this was all just history. I never knew of pirates nor bounties outside of what my fanatic father told me. But I'm familiar with the story from the plays. The Cane King, The Rose Captain, all the different versions, actually.” He paused for a moment. He put his head in his hands, bouncing his knee. “I heard there was a big nasty beast with a scar, and seeing as I'm due to audition for Bouchard soon, I took the opportunity. I've never seen Marion, but the way my father spoke, I'm certain she's long been gone. Likely somewhere far, far away.”

The confusion that had welled within Puukko only grew, alongside it now a stinging pain from the actor's closing lines. Her ears began to ring, and a dull ache formed in her throat. She was overwhelmed with grief. The vain hope that she'd held onto for so long seemed all the more farther away, despite journeying so far from home in the first place.

“I'm sorry. About your fish, too.” He placed a wax paper wrapped sandwich on the stump by her things. “She was there, though. In Venice. Had a ship, too.”

“The Honeyed Word?” Puukko muttered.

“Don't know. But there's a blacksmith in Venice with a help wanted sign, perhaps you could start looking there.”

The campfire abated the fog somewhat, and the crackling became the only present sound during a bout of silence between the two. The song of nature began to return after the gunshots had set the world silent for a time, and the morning sun pressed firmly behind the clouds.

“What's your real name?” Puukko asked.

“Aymeric. Just Aymeric. Or, if I'm speaking to an Englishman, I'm-a-Rick!” He said, chuckling lightly. He managed to lighten the mood a little, but Puukko was still too tense to share in a laugh.

“If yer a trained gunman, how come ye missed?” Her voice betrayed a hint of longing. It wasn't as if she'd wanted to be shot, but she was beginning to feel that she had been in a way.

“Missed?” He cocked his head to the side.

“Two shots, two tree trunks.”

“No,” he wagged a finger. “Two birds, one stone.”

“Booble's beard.. speak sense, lad!”

“You've got a reason to push on into Venice. I've fooled one of the greatest pirates who ever lived. Even got to practice performing for an audience for once!”

“What audience?!” Her impatience was evident.

Two creeps shuffled out from a patch of tall grass, clapping with quiet fervor and nearly inaudibly cheering.

“Thank you, you're too kind!” Aymeric stood and bowed in place. The creeps did not cease applauding.

“Did ye… pay those two or…?” Puukko asked. She was beside herself with confusion, beginning to feel that this was all a fish-induced hallucination. Just then, her head began to spin. “Just… leave me in peace. I need t’ be alone fer a spell.” She sighed heavily, resting her weary head in her paws as Aymeric continued to bow for two cheering creeps.

[johaerys-writes]

As Fate Would Have It

Patrochilles | Omegaverse | E | Ch. 7

Read on AO3 | Read from the beginning

The journey to Pelion lasts for the better part of the day. They make their way through narrow, serpentine paths winding through dense forested land, twittering birds and bubbling streams accompanying them as they ride higher and higher up the mountain. Chiron leads them at a gentle, even pace that’s easy on the horses, and talks to them about the trees, herbs, animals and mountains they pass by. 

This is sage, the first shrub to bloom this season. The leaves are used to manage pain and inflammation in the body; the flowers make a lovely tea. 

Great horned owls live in dense populations here, and they often lay their eggs in the fall; you must be careful not to hunt them when they’re rearing their young. 

Do you see this wide rock, up there on the hillside? Pan is known to come and rest there from time to time. I would avoid it, if I were you. 

“I’ll be sure to,” Patroclus mutters under his breath. His brush with the divine has been nothing short of testing so far; he doesn’t exactly want to push his luck further. 

The clean, fresh scent of the mountain greets them as they approach the glade where Chiron’s cave lies, late in the evening. Its mouth is covered by thick leather panels, no doubt meant to keep the cold at bay. Even though in Phthia it is still very much summer, Patroclus can feel the change of the temperature that comes with the altitude. His skin prickles at a chill, sharp breeze, and he wishes he had taken a cloak with him before he dashed out of the palace like a man possessed. 

“Leave the horses there,” Chiron tells them, gesturing at a covered alcove in the stone that has been turned into a pen of sorts. “There is grass for them to graze on, and plenty of shade for when day breaks again.”

Patroclus guides the horses there, his and Achilles’ both, as Achilles stretches his legs and his arms after the long ride. It is a beautiful place, quiet and serene, and so very green. Pine needles and acorns crunch under his feet as he walks. After so many years in the lowlands, it is strange not to hear the murmur of the waves or smell the sharp scent of the sea with every gust of wind. 

Achilles is waiting for him by the entrance of the cave; they make their way inside together, their heads turning this way and that to take everything in. There is a big fire already burning in the middle of the large, circular room, bathing the space in vibrant warmth. There are tools of all kinds covering the entirety of one wall of the cave, while the other is lined with amphorae, crates, boxes, vials and clay bowls filled with strange powders and dried herbs of  all kinds. Achilles’ nostrils flare as he inhales, eyes wide with curiosity, and Patroclus can’t say that he can’t relate; his own keen nose has been practically assaulted by all the different kinds of smells that can be found in this room, from the sweet tang of stum to the musky odour of dried mushrooms, to the floral scent of fresh blooms, cut and left to dry on the wide worktable. It’s like a workshop or a laboratory of sorts, and Patroclus is more than a little curious about what the centaur busies himself with here. 

“Come,” he tells them, “sit by the fire. There is food and drink aplenty; I think you might need it.” 

They both sit down on the furs in front of the fire and accept the warm wine that Chiron offers them, as well as the strange porridge of coarse wheat and sour milk, sprinkled with goat’s cheese as soon as he takes it off the fire and serves it into bowls. Patroclus has never had anything like this before, but it’s quite delicious and very warming. He hungrily wolfs down his share, and gladly accepts the second helping Chiron generously ladles into his bowl. Achilles is reluctant to try it; he sniffs at it cautiously, brows drawn in a curious frown. 

“Is there any fish in it?” he asks. 

“Not a trace,” Chiron answers, amused. “Being this far up, fish aren't as easy to come by here. Unless you’re prepared to go fishing at the river everyday, I’d suggest you get used to different kinds of food.” 

Achilles’ frown deepens. He brings a small spoonful to his mouth, chewing very slowly. Then, his features twist in an expression of faint disgust. 

“How far away is the river?” he asks, a little choked, before he downs his wine. 

The centaur smiles widely; his teeth are perfect rows of white teeth, stark against his dark skin and darker beard. “I’ll take you both there first thing in the morning,” he says, then offers Achilles a few strips of what looks like smoked brown trout. 

They talk while they eat, Patroclus and Achilles giving the centaur a detailed rundown of all events in Phthia and beyond. Though he lives in such a quiet and secluded place, he seems to have a fairly good grasp of everything that’s happening in Greece and beyond, of the doings of both men and of gods, yet he still listens with avid interest as they both relay to him the news, important and mundane. 

After dinner, Achilles asks to play one of the lyres that are hanging off of the cave wall; he plays for them, the crystal clear notes filling the space with sweetness. When the fire is reduced to embers, and Achilles’ fingers slow on the lyre strings, Chiron pushes himself up on his large hooves. 

“It is late, and you are both weary. There is much to do tomorrow; I suggest you take some rest.”

He leads them to another room, adjacent to the larger one, connected to it by a brief passage in the stone. There is a table in one corner, and a small basin filled with clear water in the other, a bundle of furs next to it. It is small and quite bare but Patroclus couldn't be asking more from a room he is, presumably, only going to use to sleep in.

There is just one small problem: there is only one pallet in the room.

Read on AO3!

[campgender]

“Lullabye for a butch” by Melinda Goodman, published in The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader ed. Joan Nestle (1992)

Saturday night November 1980

I am 23 driving a '68 Delta east on 4

to the George Washington Bridge

jockeying with other drivers

coming off routes 80 and 47

for a clear veer to the lane my lover

works, the 3-to-11 post-Thanksgiving shift

She grabs my hand as I fly

money green flags

in her direction

laughing over the moan of diesel brakes

her wool-gloved fingers pry then tangle

in my naked palm

Ignoring the blaring horns outside the booth,

our mutual radios pump the club

version of Grace's "Warm Leatherette"

as she steps out on exhausted concrete

to place an orange cone

between my bumper and the

bumper behind mine

I like her uniform:

fresh polyester dark blue

and bright white collar

topped with overcoat,

scarf and ski cap for the blizzard on the way.

If it snows the Port Authority

puts her up at a motel otherwise

she stays at my place but has to be back

by dawn or be counted AWOL

So she's up before five

folding her flowered pajamas

into the bottom drawer

of my colonial chest

with handles like rings

through a bull's snout

“You got my nose”

moaned the only teenaged woman

who ever loved me

and my tollbooth honey

reminds me of her

as I chain the door behind her

hearing steps down five flights

to the street, the bridge,

and the gunmetal morning

I always loved

gentlemanly attentive butches

even those who won't fuck

for the first five dates

'cause they “want to get to know you”

till you beg

and by that time

you're married

They want to make sure

all those free concerts

fish dinners

and stories about home

won't get thrown back

in their teeth

After all...

butches are vulnerable

It's the femmes that are fierce

with their long legs

and tight jeans

making you watch them

Butches are the sweet ones

with their clean shined shoes

and socks

and underwear

smelling of baby powder

and Camay

I loved

the way she wrote her name

in purple script

all over the top sheet

of my coloring pad

when supper was done and the dishes stacked

I wish I could kiss her now

slide my tongue through her teeth

erase the years I fell

for women as distant as Queens

is from the Bronx

Just hold this butch in my arms

make her know

It's not the 2 condominiums

she bought with rare pennies

collected on her job

but her

her strong back

and big hips

and corny sparkling eyes

when she walks around

to open the door

on my side of the car

in front of the skinny eyes

of the fat boy dealers

strutting in and out

of their customized vans

and the heads rolling in

from Jersey

She doesn't even see

the tooth-sucking teens

as she walks back around

in her ten-gallon brim

to slide behind the wheel

Doesn't tell me where we're

going till we're parked and walking

out of the lot

up the block

arms linked

to see Patti Labelle

live at the Savoy

and I'm on my heels

all night screaming

through till the last song

running my fingers up the back of her neck

till the walls come down, tables break in half,

everybody's glass explodes

ice cubes hailing the city for miles

as Patti rains on

somewhere

over the rainbow

way up high

there's a

land that I dreamed of

once in a lulla-

bye.

[as-above-rp]

I almost forgot to post these--but I finally got Hymn and Kairi's field uniforms finished! These are the uniforms they'd wear on raids and such in the kingdom with Mack.

I'll include some notes and explanations for design choices below the cut, and add these to their muse pages when I get home from work 👍

All employees under Mackentire sport animal skull masks; the Fleshlings have horse skull masks (modified to have sharp canines for the intimidation factor), while the Labrats have rat skull masks. (These masks are obviously not taken from the animals of the same names, but custom made and fit to the head of the individual wearing it).

Anyone who does fieldwork with Mack is required to wear additional armor. All of the fleshlings have matching uniforms which include the following; a skull mask, and chest armor, pelvic armor, shoulder pauldrons, and gauntlets over the forearms and shins, all with a navy blue color scheme and orange accents.

However, 'elite' members are allowed to tweak and customize their fits, so long as there is adequate coverage to keep vital organs safe. They may also select their own animal for their skull mask to be modeled after.

Now that we've gotten all of tghat out of the way, let's get into Hymn and Kairi's individual uniforms!

Hymn Nikolaou, alias "The Siren"

Hymn has modified his uniform to be slightly more streamlined and lightweight to accommodate his fighting style, and possible combat in water. His bodysuit has mesh cutouts around his gills for easy breathing when under water. In addition to using his voice and bare hands for combat, his gauntlets have long blades attached for slashing attacks.

His mask is modeled off of the Dunkleosteus, an extinct genus of large arthrodire (jointed neck) fish that existed during the Late Devonian period. He chose this creature for it's reputation as one of the first marine apex predators, and stories told to him by his mother growing up of ancient sirens who hunted them and used their bones for armor and weapons.

Hymn is the only member who does not have any additional covering over his mouth.

Kairi M. Scott, alias "The Scarecrow".

Kairi modified her uniform to allow for more range of motion to accommodate her mixed martial arts style of fighting, which relies mostly on quick punches and powerful kicks. She wears additional wrapping and plating on her hands with bone protrusions below her knuckles, for extra protection when punching and for pin-point damage. She wears a belt with two harnesses attached; Around her waist are various mixtures and powders that she makes herself within the lab, with the following intentions; Green serum for health/quick healing, blue powder for paralysis, red serum for a temporary boost to all 'stats', and a purple powder for poison. On either thigh she has holsters for her handheld weapon of choice, two switchblade scythes.

Her mask is modeled off of a Jacob's sheep skull, a piebald and often polycerate (multi-horned) domestic breed. She chose this animal for it's unique horns, and a reclamation of being called 'the black sheep' of her family by her mother growing up. Despite the association with 'sheep' being 'followers' at the mercy of their shepherds, she sees herself less of a follower keeping her head down and doing as she is told and more of a wolf wearing a sheep's skin to protect the flock from within. This further plays into her choice of alias 'scarecrow', which was taken from the name of decoys made by farmers in the shape of a man and often stuffed with hay or straw to scare away birds and wildlife from their crops, thus watching over or 'protecting' the fields.

Kairi additionally wears a black hood over her bodysuit which attaches to her mask to hide her blonde hair, which could lead someone to discovering her true identity.

Individual images:

[emblematicemblazer]

World building and theories of Engage

Zephia

Zephia's name is ‘Sepia ‘ in Japanese. Sepia is a brownish red colour however I think the name references something less flattering. Her starting class is Mélusine, which is a female spirit with fish characteristics, like a mermaid, therefore I believe that ‘sepia ‘ is taken from the Latin for the common cuttlefish, ‘sepia officinalis’. The various versions of the Mélusine tale have common features: 

Guardian of a location - Zephia is guardian of Sombron and one of the shards

Cursed being - She is cursed with great power which resulted in the death of her family.

The succubus from another world who procreates with a human.

A seductress

A harbringer of death.

The cuttlefish was a symbol of good luck in Celtic and Japanese mythology due to their ability to adapt to their environment or to change to defend themselves. In the Bible the cuttlefish is associated with temptation and chaos due to their habitat; the unpredictable ocean. It was believed if cuttlefish was eaten, it filled the person with lust. 

I will start from top to bottom with her design, upon her head she has elaborate horns. The horns could be a reference to tsunokakushi. At a Japanese wedding, a tsunokakushi is worn to cover the horns of jealousy and anger. Zephia's horns could be the symbol of her jealousy and anger. Horns are also associated with danger, many horned creatures are dangerous and they can be used to make weapons. Zephia is definitely a dangerous character. There are poisons made from the powder of horns. Veyle’s constant exposure to Zephia's ‘poison’ builds up an immunity that enables her to wield poisonous weaponry (dragonstones are believed to protect from poison as well). The shape of her two horns are similar to the crescent of the moon. If the horns symbolise the waxing moon then it is a sign of rebirth whereas if they symbolise the waxing moon then they are a sign of death. Devils and demons are depicted wearing horns; the devil in the Bible, satyrs in Greek mythology and oni in Japanese mythology. Horns are also used as the symbol of cuckoldry. 

Not all associations connected to horns are negative. They can symbolise strength and fertility due to the connection with horned beasts pulling plows. The horned beast is seen as impregnating Mother Earth. I mentioned that horns symbolised the moon but they can also symbolise the sun. Across different cultures, the sun symbolises life and renewal, as well as being worshipped as a God. In the Bible, the sun is connected to God, his son and Mother Mary. In Buddhism the sun symbolises enlightenment and the awakening of the mind.

God's from many different traditions around the world are depicted with horns; Pan, Dionysus, Aphrodite (Greek) Hathor, Isis, Seth, (Egyptia),  Śiva, Pashupati, (Hindu), Cernunnos and Selene(Celtic). In this sense, horns are symbols of divinity and power. Yama is a god in Tibetan Buddhism who is often depicted with three red eyes, the face of a bull, two horns entwined with fire and a crown of skulls. Yama's role is to oversee the movement between repeated cycles of birth and death, and as a king, he encourages people to be careful with their desires and actions by frightening them. This makes him the judge of deeds and misdeeds and his judgement determines a person's rebirth. In some traditions he watches over the purgatorial aspects of the birth/death cycle.

The tassels from her horns could be a reference to the roots of the lotus plant. In Buddhism the roots represent the struggle and suffering a person goes through to attain enlightenment. The feathers could be mayurapattra. These feathers symbolise the peacocks ability to digest poison, a person is able to take in the poisonous desires of life and still continue on the path to enlightenment. 

The ability to maintain abnormally long hair can represent beauty, royalty and divinity. A normal person cannot have hair that gets in the way of completing tasks, only royalty and deities can. Royalty can afford to have the hair cared for, styled in extravagant hairstyles and even carried by servants. Deities are deities, some must have anti tangle magic. Artemis was fortunate enough to have a nymph comb her long locks. In some Buddhist traditions, the head is shaved to detach a person from the desire of vanity, however, some buddhists do not cut their hair as they want the mind to be in a natural state. In the Bible, long hair is associated with strength, Samson's strength came from his uncut braided hair. For a woman to have long hair, it is considered her glory because it is a beautiful way to cover her heqd, maintaining her modesty (1 Corinthians 11:15)

The revealing nature of her outfit can be explained by her species; dragon mage.  Her body temperature is higher than a humans. The black, purple and pink colour way seem to be associated with Elusia and the Fell Dragon. 

[exhausted-archivist]

Dishes, Sauces, Soups, and Sides

Updated: 2023/12

As of now this list is updated with everything found in media released as of Oct 2023.

Like the original, this contains all canonical breads, desserts, dishes, sauces, soups, and sides. If known to a specific region it is marked next to the item in parenthasis, if it is not it is either unknown or universally eaten.

For Other Food Posts

Drinks

Raw Ingredients

Prepared Ingredients

Canonically Possible Foods and Drinks

Food and Drink Master Post

Disclaimer

Though real life plants may be listed here as edible it is for fictional use only. This is not intended to be used as a reference nor guide for what plants are edible or safe to eat. Please do not use it as such.

Breads

Bark Bread

Biscuit

Whole Grain Biscuit - Commonly made in Chantry cloisters. A staple in their simple diets.

Black Bread

Braided Honey and Date Bread (Anderfels)

Brown Bread

Buns

Butter Puff - Bread made by folding butter into the dough allowing it to become puffy and softer than usual bread. (Orlais)

Crumpet

Dark Bread

Dried Bread

Flat Bread - A no-rise bread. Served with dip, brushed in oil, and/or as a side. (Nevarra)

Honey Loaf

Lichen Bread - Bread that is made using lichen. (Orzammar)

Black Lichen Bread

Peasant Bread - Comprised of wheat, grease, and salt in equal measure, made by Dalish and city elves in Orlais. They top it with butter, jam, and sometimes sugar. (Elves - Orlais)

Pumpkin bread - A favorite of Dorian Pavus (Tevinter)

Raider Queen’s Bread of Many Tongues - Created by the Raider Queen, this bread calls for flour, baking powder, salt, butter, brown sugar, molasses, eggs, bananas. The creator calls for Par Vollen bananas but another version of the recipe says Rivaini bananas are an acceptable replacement. (Rivain)

Rolls

Bread Roll

Sweet Rolls

Ryott Bread - Made of a protein rich grain called ryott. (Ferelden, Chasind)

Sweet Bread

Thin Bread - A thin bread used to make wraps in Seheron.

Whole Grain Bread - Another staple made in Chantry cloisters.

Wraps - Described as "soft" bread.

Appetizers, Starters, and Refreshments

Blood Orange Salad - a salad of bitter greens with blood orange slices served on top. (Nevarra)

Canapé - a type of hors d'œuvre.

Couscous Salad - A salad comprised of couscous with many varieties, one such variety includes red bell peppers and mint. (Rivain)

Crab Cakes - a classic dish in Kirkwall. (Kirkwall)

Dried Bread and Fruit

Eggs à la Val Foret - An egg dish served with a cream sauce. (Orlais)

Fluffy Mackerel Pudding - Celery, pepper, mackerel, diced onion, mustard, salt, Antivan pepper, ground mace, cardamom seed, eggs. Also known as Feast Day Fish (Ferelden)

Fried Crab Legs - A subsitute for the Orzammar dish of fried young giant spiders.

Fried young giant spiders - A common food in Orzammar, usually served with an alcohol-based sauce that varies with every establishment. (Orzammar)

Roasted Cave Beetles - Roasted whole and eaten out of the shell. (Orzammar)

Roasted Prawns - A substitute to cave beetles, said to have the same taste and texture.

Shredded Dried Meat and Cheese - A dish that is commonly used as a spread by the dwarves and used for lunches. (Orzammar)

Snails Dressed in Butter and Oil (Avvar)

Snails and Watercress Salad - A non-traditional dish inspired by Avvar cuisine featuring snails and watercress to appeal to lowlander pallets.

Stuffed Deep Mushrooms - A dish derived from various Orzammar deep mushroom delicacy. This Fereldan creation is stuffed with cheese and spinach. (Ferelden)

Rations, Tavern Fare, and Travel Food

Beer Nuts (Kirkwall)

Bread and Cheese

Chicken Wings - Sold in The Rusted Horn as ‘Wyvern Wings.’ (Ferelden)

Crow Feed (Antiva)

Dried Foods

Dried Fruit

Dried Meats

Fereldan Hearty Scones - a scone filled with bacon and cheese, careful, a mabari might snag it. (Ferelden)

Fish Pockets - A meal of fish, crisp vegetables, spices, and a soft wrap.(Seheron)

Fish Wrap - Fish wrapped in thin bread (Seheron)

Grey Warden Pastry Pockets - A hand pie filled with meat and other foods. Olesian Grey Wardens put their own twist using Olesian puff pastry.

The Hanged Man's Stew - The tavern’s featured dish, made with a different mystery meat every morning. (Kirkwall)

Jerky

Jerky Ball

Spiced Jerky

Meat Skewers - A portable snack. A known Orlesian version of this snack is primarily eaten by nobles while out on hunts and are not interested in the hunt, made of meat, cheese, and wine-soaked fruit.

Pickled Eggs - Eggs, sugar, salt, vinegar, and various spices and seasoning of the cooks preference. Favored in Ferelden and seen as a cure all. Served in nearly every Fereldan tavern. (Ferelden)

Pig Oat Mash - A constant dish on The Hanged Man menu, a popular hangover cure if washed down with brandy spiked cider. This warming porridge contains apples, dried salt pork or smoked bacon, dried rolled oats, berries, ale or water (Kirkwall)

Poison Stings - "Poison stings" is the colloquial name. Orange peels coated in chocolate, a crunchy yet chew texture that is both sweet and sour. A favored snack of Dorian Pavus when traveling from Tevinter to Ferelden. (Tevinter)

Provisions and Rations - Typically consist of dried meat, nuts, and a variety of other simple foodstuffs.

Dry Ration

Hardtack

Qunari Ration

Stuffed Vine Leaves - Common tavern food in Tevinter, stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. Can be topped with lemon juice or tzatziki sauce.

Treviso Energy Balls - Made of peanut butter, oats, and dried fruit, it is a famine food invented during the occupation of Treviso in the Qunari Wars/The New Exalted Marches.

Unidentified Meat - Despite it's ominous name, it's simply chicken legs. Sometimes served with Nevarran flat bread. (Tevinter)

Dips, Glazes, Gravy, and Sauces

Apples Stewed in Brandy Sauce

Applesauce

Cherry Sauce

Cheese Sauce

Cream Sauce

Deep Mushroom Flavored Cream Sauce - Commonly served with seared nug. (Orzammar)

Dragon’s Blood Sauce (Nevarran)

Gravy

Honey-glaze - A sauce used to glaze various foods, particularly meats.

Hot Sauce

Llomerryn Red Sauce - A sauce that goes on almost everything, contains pulped tomatoes, onions, red pepper, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard powder, hot pepper powder, salt, cinnamon stick, allspice, cloves, fennel seeds, dill seeds, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, bay, garlic. (Rivain)

Mushrooms cooked in ale - One recommendation for this sauce is to be served over roasted nug.

Mushroom Sauce

Nesting Roast Gravy - Gravy made from the pan juices of a nesting roast. Meant to be served with the roast. (Orlais)

Plum Sauce

Red Wine Marinade

River-herring Gravy - a gravy as white as apple blossoms. (Orlais)

Special Sauce - A sauce infused with the essence of fifty-two herbs, prized for the ability to help with “inadequacy”. (Kirkwall)

Spider Leg Sauce - a variety of alcohol-based sauces unique to each Orzammar establishment, meant to be paired with fried young giant spider legs.

Tzatziki Sauce - Served with stuffed vine leaves. (Tevinter)

Wild Flower Glaze - A honeyed glaze made of wild flowers, it is recommended to use flowers plucked at dawn and the lowest blossoms. (Anderfels)

Yogurt Dip - Often served with flat bread (Nevarra)

Soups and Stews

Barley Soup

Blood Soup - Merrill is credited with the creation of this creamy beetroot soup, it is topped with roasted chickpeas. (Dalish)

Butter Soup - A simple, inexpensive, and easy soup. Made as midmorning meals or midday refresher for field workers. It is commonly fed to children and convalescents due to its nutritious nature. Ingredients include water, potatoes, cinnamon, star anise, clove, bay, peppercorns, salt, noodles, cream, butter (Orlais)

Cabbage Stew (Ferelden)

Deepstalker Stew - A stew of deepstalker is made when rations run low. (Legion of the Dead)

Denerim-rabbit Stew - Made with rat (City Elf)

Enchantment Soup - Made by Sandal, edibility unknown.

Fereldan Potato and Leek Soup

Fereldan Turnip and Barley Stew - White beans, oil, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, stock, turnips, turnip greens, sausage, barley, cumin, dried basil, oregano, salt, pepper, herbed wine vinegar

First Day Festival Stew (Orzammar)

Fish Chowder (Antiva)

Fish Stew

Lamb and Pea Stew - Alistair has his own version of this soup. (Ferelden)

Lentil Soup - A universal soup, with lentils being common in every Thedosian pantry.

Nettle Soup

Norbotten Fruit Stew - This dish is used to rehydrate dried fruits: dried apricots, pitted prunes, raisins, mixed dried fruits (cherries, apples, cranberries, etc), lemon or orange, cinnamon, cloves, water, sugar or honey, brandy. (Anderfels)

Pea Soup

Ram Stew (Ferelden)

Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup (Ferelden)

Turnip Stew (Ferelden)

Turnip-Goat Stew (Ferelden)

Wild Rabbit Stew

Main Course

Alamarri Pickled Krone - Krone, Brine, (optional) pine pitch and druffalo dung.

Baked Fish - An Avvar cooking method where they wrap fish in pungent leaves and clay before cooking it in banked coals. (Avvar)

Baked Krone with Honey - The honey is typically used as a side sauce for dipping. (Fereldan)

Beans and Bread

Boiled Roots

Braised Nug with Elfroot (Dwarven)

Braised Ram with all the Trimmings (Ferelden)

Broiled Boar Head (Fereldan)

Cacio e pepe - A dish of three ingredients; spaghetti, pepper, and pecorino romano. (Antiva)

Dalish Deep Forest Comfort - String squashes, halla butter, garlic, mushrooms, elfroot or spinach, diced tomatoes or beetles, hot red pepper, rock salt, halla cheese or goat cheese, edible wildflowers (borage, chicory, etc), pine nuts. (Dalish, Southern Orlais)

First Day Chicken - a dish served during First Day in some parts of Orlais. (Orlais)

Fish in Salt Crust - Cooked much liked the baked fish, instead of using clay, the fish is covered in salt and wrapped in pungent leaves before being cooked in banked coals. (Avvar)

Fresh Oyster - Noted to go well with Llomerryn red sauce.

Fried Fish

Fried Mush (Orzammar)

Glazed Krone (Ferelden)

Gilded Swan with River-herring Gravy - An eastern spice, flour, gold leaf, river herring, swan, yolk. (Orlais)

Gnocchi (Antiva)

Goat Custard - A broiled goat head, not to be confused with the dessert. (Ferelden)

Grilled Poussin - Grilled chicken, typically a younger chicken. (Chasind)

Ham

Anderfels Smoked Ham - It tastes of despair

Avvar Ham

Ham Stuck with Cloves

The Jade Ham - Honeyed with wild flowers (especially those picked at dawn), masterfully seasoned, and spiral-cut. Not considered edible but better used as a weapon. (Anderfels)

Orlesian Ham

Smoked Ham

Herbed Chicken and Biscuits (Ferelden)

Jellied Meats

Jellied Pigs Feet - A delicacy in the Free Marches and originally a popular commoner food that has risen to the tables of nobility. Pigs feet and/or pork hocks, salt, onions, garlic, allspice, peppercorns, bay. (Free Marches)

Veal Galentine (Orlais)

Liver

Lutefisk

Nesting Roast - This dish is classically made with a quail stuffed in a pheasant stuffed in a swan. Served with gravy made from the pan juices. (Orlais)

Mad Burnard’s Gift of Flesh - A nesting roast unlike any other, involving a whole wyvern, stuffed with a whole gurn, stuffed with a horse, stuffed with a large halla (horns and all), stuffed with a swan, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a quail, stuffed with a bunting that choked on a gold piece. (Orlais)

Nug Steak (Orzammar)

Nug-gets (Orzammar)

Nug-loaf (Orzammar)

Nug-Nug - A dish meant to resemble a nug peeking from its burrow; made of ground meat (beef preferred), parsley, egg, salt, crushed cumin or mustard seeds, black pepper, cooked rice, tomatoes, onions, chives (Orlais)

Paella - Made with rice, saffron, and a variety of seafood; such as shrimp, cuttlefish, and mussels. (Antiva)

Pancake - The breakfast food and savory dishes.

Crepes - A very thin pancake that can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients. (Orlais)

Hearth Cakes - Described as a common fare where they are baked on an iron griddle. They are made with halla butter (can be subbed for goat or cow butter), flour, hardwood ash (can be replaced with baking powder), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, sugar, mixed dried fruit (like cranberries, raisins, and currants), an egg, and milk. Described as baeing crispy and flaky on the outside, but remains moist on the inside. They are grilled on one side and then are flipped over, ensuring they are all crisp and bown. (Dalish)

Nug Pancakes - A savory pancake made with nug. A favorite among dwarven children. (Orzammar)

Porridge

Bland Porridge

Deer Porridge - A savory porridge served with deer.

Porridge with Raisins

Savory Porridge - Served with meat, vegatables, or spices.

Pudding - A sweet or savory, steamed dish that can be topped with gravy or chocolate.

Rack of Ribs (Ferelden)

Ram Chops (Ferelden)

Ram Cutlet (Ferelden)

Rice and Boiled Vegetables (Tevinter)

Roast

Gurgut Roast with Lowlander Spices and Mushroom Sauce (Avvar)

Roast Boar - One cooking method involves the boar being stuffed with apples (Ferelden and Orlais). Another has it served with a side of candied yams.

Roast Chicken

Roast Duck

Roast Hog

Roast Lamb

Roast Turkey - Common in the Free Marches, especially among Starkhaven nobility, as well as the Chasind.

Roast Wyvern - Common with the Avvar and Orlais.

Roasted Cave Beetle (Dwarven)

Roasted Giant Spider (Dwarven)

Roasted Nug (Orzammar)

Roasted Phoenix - One of the most infamous meals in Thedas, it is served with sweet red wine.

Roasted Rabbit

Roasted Venison with Wild Greens - The venison is seasoned with mint and pepper, served with wild greens and sweet pastries. Paired with wine to drink. (Ferelden)

Slow-roasted Nug-let (Orzammar)

Spit-roasted Deepstalker (Dwarven)

Spit-roasted Nug with Hot Sauce (Orzammar)

Sandwich

Ham Sandwich

Sausage - There are about twelve different kinds of sausage unnamed mentioned in Last Court.

Black Pudding - A type of blood sausage made from pork or beef blood, pork fat or beef sue, and a type of cereal. (Orlais)

Smoked Sausage

Spiced Sausage

Savory Pies

Dove Pie - A pie made with live doves, for the theater of the meal. (Orlais)

Nug Bacon and Egg Pie (Ferelden)

Pigeon Pie

Pork Pie

Starkhaven Fish and Egg Pie - Fish from the Minanter River (carp, trout, or others), wine, onion, carrot, thyme, bay, sea salt, dried currants, sliced almonds, boiled sliced eggs, butter, flour, fish broth, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg, cream, fried whitebait or other small fish. (Starkhaven)

Turnip and Mutton Pie (Ferelden)

Unmentionable Pie - It is a meat pie that uses the typically undesirable parts of an animal. (Ferelden)

Venison Pasty - A hand pie filled with venison. In Serault, it is served with curls of goat cheese. (Orlais)

Seared Nug - Usually served with a deep mushroom cream sauce. (Orzammar)

Simmering Partridge - Cooked with sweet onions and pale beans (Orlais)

Smoked Meat

Smoked Boar

Smoked Fish

Smoked Rabbit

Smoked Venison

Spiced Nug

Stuffed Cabbage - A seasoned cabbage head stuffed with meat.

Venison with Apples Stewed in Brandy Sauce

Wandering Hills - A delicacy made from large creatures of the same name. (Anderfels)

Wyvern Steak

Sides

Antivan Olives - Soaked in vinegar and stuffed with capers.

Boiled Turnip (Ferelden)

Brandy Soaked Cherries (Orzammar)

Candied Yams

Croutons

Fried Potatoes - Recommended to be served with Llomerryn red sauce.

Hard-boiled Egg

Honey Carrots - Most common in Orlais where it is traditionally sweeter compared to other places due to the use of honey.

Jarred Olives (Tevinter)

Jellied Eels (Ferelden)

Mashed Turnip (Ferelden)

Peeled Grapes (Tevinter)

Picked Foods

Pickled Apples

The Pickled Apples of Arlathan - Apples said to be from the time of Arlathan. The taste is described to be one of fresh apples, with the same crispness.

Pickled Fish

Pickled Lamprey

Pickled Nug

Pickled Ox Tongue

Pickled Vegetables

Pickles

Roasted Sides

Roasted Chestnuts (Nevarra)

Roasted Figs (Rivain)

Roasted Potatoes - Recommended to be served with Llomerryn red sauce.

Roasted Turnip (Ferelden)

Sera’s Yummy Corn

Smoked Bacon

Steamed Beans

Steamed Turnips (Ferelden)

Stir-fried Turnips (Ferelden)

Toast

Toasted Bread - Used for dipping in stews.

Toasted Chickpeas - Used as a topping for soups and salads, sometimes as a replacement for croutons.

Wine Soaked Fruit

Baked Goods, Desserts, and Sweets

Bread Pudding - Made with stale bread, eggs, milk or cream, and other ingredients varied by if it is savory or sweet (Ferelden)

Cake

Cake with Apples

Cake with Nutmeg

Chocolate Cake

Cupcakes

Cherry Cupcakes - Historically a common method used to poison people, often served in the theater. (Tevinter)

The Exquisite Misery - A little cake topped with a dusting of anise, deep mushrooms, and gold dust. (Orlais)

Found Cake - A chocolate cream cake topped with white frosting and strawberries (Ferelden)

Hearth Cake - A pan-made cake; made of flour, hardwood ash or baking powder, halla butter, sugar, mixed dried fruit (currants, cranberries, etc), egg, milk. (Dalish)

Honey Cake (Orlais)

Lamprey Cake - contains no actual lampreys, it is modeled after the appearance of lamprey.

Lemon Cake

Petit Fours (Orlais)

Pound Cake

Round Cake - Often topped with poppyseed and honey. In Serault, they will sometimes have the antlers baked into the crust. (Orlais)

Sponge Cake (Orlais)

Sugar Cake - One version is made with strawberries and sugar-cream icing dressed on a pound cake. (Ferelden) Another version is made with a "humble cake" and is dressed with butter, sugar, and almonds. Both are seen as great gifts and good pick-me-ups after long days of traveling, and are often served by merchants.

Sugar-drizzled Lemon Cake - A type of lemon cake that was used in Antivan Crow history to assassinate templars.

Sugarcake - A dense cake usually topped with powdered sugar.

Sweet Cake

Wedding Cake

Candy

Black Licorice Candy - Can be salted. (Tevinter)

Bon-bons

Candied Almonds

Candied Fruit

Candy Apple (Ferelden)

Candied Dates (Tevinter)

Candy Cane

Carastian Candy - A candied chocolate. (Tevinter)

Peppermints

Spun Sugar (Ferelden)

Sweetmeat - A confectionery treat, sometimes candy coated fruit.

Toffee

Unnamed Candied Nuts with Spice - A candy that is sweet until swallowed, then they leave a spicy aftertaste. (Orlais)

Cobbler

Dalish Forest Fruit Cobbler

Strawberry and Rhubarb Cobbler (Ferelden)

Cookies

Biscuit - A hard, flat, and unleavened baked treat that can be sweet or savory.

Butter and Sugar Cookie - This cookie isn’t specified as it is only described by these ingredients.

Raisin Cookies

Shortbread

Tea Biscuits

Wafers

Custard

Goat Custard - Differing from the Fereldan savory counterpart. This custard is made throughout Thedas with goat milk and has numerous varieties. On pairs it with roast fig. A Rivain variation uses milk of the Ayesleigh gulabi goats specifically for its sweeter milk.

Donuts

Ice Cream

Orlesian Guimauves - Another name for marshmallows.

Pastries

Antivan Apple Grenade

Cinnamon Rolls - one of Varric's favorite pastries.

Croissant - Vivienne starts every morning with one. (Orlais)

Honey and Nut Pastry (Tevinter)

Macaroon

Marie du Lac Erre’s Sweet Ruin - One version of this pastry with a dramatic history, the recipe contains; butter, powdered sugar, chocolate, vanilla extract, flour, orange or mint extract, baking powder, and milk. (Orlais)

Tarts

Unnamed Blueberry Pastry - A light, sticky pastry with blueberries. (Possibly Nevarra)

Varric's Favorite Pastry - A pastry spread created by Devon, a Fereldan cook, after consulting with Varric Tethras on his favorite pastry.

Pie

Apple Pie

The Blessed Apple - A pie made by a small cloister of Chantry sisters tending to the orchard, they use the windfall apples and share the pies freely; as well as the apples. The ingredients are flour, salt, butter, water, apples (golden apples from Lady’s Orchard preferred but others are acceptable substitutions), brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. (Orlesian)

Minced Pie - filled with finely chopped fruit and sweet things.

Pudding

Blancmange - A white pudding made of milk or heavy cream, its name is Orlesian for "white eating". Because of the mild, sweet taste it can have a variety of toppings such as toasted almonds, ribbons of fresh mangos, red grape compote, cherry saus, or Vivienne's preferred plating of white chocolate curls with whole jasmine flowers. (Orlais)

Caramel Pudding

Dessert Pudding

Rice Pudding

Scones

Sour Cherries in Cream (Orlais)

Sticky Figs Rolled in Nuts (Tevinter)

Sticky Jellies (Orlais)

Sources:

(If you want to find the direct links or page numbers, check out the Wiki's Food and Ingredients page.)

Primary Sources:

Dragon Age: Origins (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: Awakening Dragon Age 2 (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: The Last Court Dragon Age: Inquisition (DLCs + Multiplayer)

Books:

Dragon Age Tabletop RPG Core Rulebook Dragon Age Tabletop RPG: Blood in Ferelden Dragon Age Tabletop RPG: Game Master’s Kit: Buried Past World of Thedas Vol. 1 World of Thedas Vol. 2 Dragon Age Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Dragon Age: The Calling Dragon Age: The Masked Empire Dragon Age: Asunder Dragon Age: Last Flight Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Short Stories:

Short Story: Paying the Ferryman

Comics:

Mage Killer Knight Errant Deception

Codex Entries, Letters, and Notes:

Entry: The Ben-Hassrath

Codex Entry: Blackwall the Last Few Years

Codex Entry: A Compendium of Orlesian Theater

Codex Entry: Feast Day Fish

Codex Entry: The Diary of Triolus Hertubise

Codex Entry: The History of Soldier’s Peak: Chapter 3

Codex Entry: A Letter to Harding

Codex Entry: A Magister’s Needs

Codex Entry: The Noladar Anthology of Dwarven Poetry

Codex Entry: On Avvar Cuisine

Codex Entry: The Pickled Apples of Arlathan

Codex Entry: In Praise of the Humble Nug

Codex Entry: Ram

Codex Entry: Redcliffe (Inquisition)

Codex Entry: A Scholar’s Journal

Codex Entry: A Supply List

Codex Entry: A Tattered Shopping List

Codex Entry: Waterlogged Diary

Letter: Feeling Inadequate?

Note: Cook’s Note

Note: Instructions for the Maid

Note: The Rusted Horn’s Menu

Note: Short Note

Armor, Items, Junk, and Weapons:

Armor: Wade’s Superior Dragonbone Plate Boots

Item: Found Cake

Item: Sugar Cake

Item: Lamb Bone

Junk: Stale Biscuit

Junk: Qunari Rations

Weapon: The Jade Ham

War Table Missions:

War Table Mission: Abernache over Under

War Table Mission: Disaster in the Deep Roads

War Table Mission: Inspire

War Table Mission: The Tevinter Resistance

The Last Court Cards:

A Tumbledown Shack

An Unofficial Meeting

Decide the Archoress’s Fate

Flames of Freedom

The Fields

Go Hunting

Good Neighbors

Graffiti

The Next Course

Outlaw Councils

The Whispering Woods

Your Bailiff is Attacked

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[kemetic-dreams]

Ethiopia🇪🇹, Horn of Africa

A group Ethiopians having a raw meat lunch.

This popular dish among the Ethiopians is called "Tere siga".The meat mostly comes from the cow and served with a powdered hot spice blend called mitmita,a hot dipping sauce called "awaze", and senafich (mustard sauce).

A famous theory behind Ethiopians taste for raw meat comes from the Abyssinian-Adal war in 1600 It is believed that Ethiopians began to eat this food during the battles between Ethiopians and Somalians. It is believed that every time the Ehtiopian army prepared meat, the enemy easily fish them out and kill them in their sleep.They later came to the realization that the attàckers were using the fire that they mostly build to roast or cook the meat to locate them. To avoid being attacked in such a manner again, they chose to c0nsume their meats raw rather than roasting or c00king them.

This was later incorporated into Ethiopian culture and developed into a popular delicacy in honor of the occasion.

[positiveglitchexists]

Okay so- can you please tell me some more headcanons or other things you have about the dsmp? Like the characters- If you don't wanna tell me then that's completely okay! I just wanted to ask cause I really like hearing about headcanons and stuff that people have- /gen /nf

IM ALWAYS SO HYPED WHEN I GET TO SHARE MY HEADCANNONS :D THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING!!!! /gen Apologizes for this being answered so late.. And because these are mostly centered around Tubbo because I love talking about his character OH ALSO There is a tw warning on one of the hcs, please read it so you can skip it if you need too!

- Since George is sleeping all the time, People (Sapnap) have started to take care of him because it's very clear he doesn't want to- waking him up so he can drink water or eat or even just dragging him out of the forest he always falls asleep in!

- When Tommy was younger, he really wanted to be a fish. A goldfish to be exact, because of this factor he would spend most of his day trying to last underwater and to this day Tommy can now last a long time underwater!!

- With Tubbo's horns growing in, he headbutts everyone (usually for affection). The only people who can keep up with it is Technoblade and Puffy. Since Puffy has horns herself and Techno.. Is well Techno.

- Adding onto it, People (Philza) have started to refer to Tubbo as "Little Goat" because usually only baby goats headbutt for affection, Tubbo hates it and Tommy laughs everytime.

- if GeorgeHD did exist, I believe that he wouldn't hate George. Yep that's it-

- Tubbo is a very shaky person, his hands shake all the time. It's to the point where he gets pissed off about it, Ranboo likes to grab his hands and hold them for a few minutes when it's bad, it doesn't get rid of the shakes but it grounds Tubbo

- Tommy and Tubbo tickle each other all the time, even when L'manburg was first getting started they tickled each other. It's like their love language and even in Manburg or Pogtopia era no one had the heart to tell them to stop. (Wilbur had tried to tell them to stop but then they just started tickling him.)

- Quackity fidgets with his wings when he's stressed, and considering he runs a nation he's stressed alot. Most of the feathers on his wings are either bent or certain spots don't have as many on them because of his fidgeting.

- Quackity is a very angry duck and that can cause him to lash out at people, so when he gets like this people (usually Las Nevadas workers or Wilbur) like to pet his wings and softly tickle them! It doesn't mean they get away with it, After you pet them you're sent on cleaning duty. Or in Wilbur's case just get tortured with pictures of salmon.

- Tubbo has a bunch of Disney princess bandaids on his scar because Micheal thought he was in pain with the scar and so to make him feel better put bandaids on him! (Tommy also insisted on putting hello kitty bandaids on him-)

- Everyone on the Dream smp likes to tickle each other, Soft tickles, hard tickles, reward tickles, punishment tickles, comfort tickles. They will always find a reason to tickle each other- this is very confusing to new members who join because the smp doesn't waste time in showing them their little habit!

- Tubbo has a bunch of reasons to liking nukes but one of the reasons is because once they launch they often leave a gun powder smell, reminding him of Wilbur. It's.. Comforting in a strange way.

- Yknow that thing were people can like.. Taste words? I feel like that's what Tommy has, which is why he repeats words alot (Pog, pogchamp, primes) cause they taste good. That and for verbal stims!

- on the topic of stimming, Tommy used to be really embarassed about his so he would bite on his tongue whenever he felt a verbal stim coming on.. Like really bite. So much it would draw blood, until one day when he caught Techno stimming. Big strong Techno, the coolest person ever. Safe to say he started letting his stims out a bit more after that.

- when Quackity is excited about something (or someone) he shakes and flutters his wings! It's really cute, especially since it happens when he catches Wilbur coming over to Las nevadas. He hates him, he swears he does! But his bird brain loves Wilbur, he can usually stop them before Wilbur catches wind of it, he does not wanna deal with Wilbur finding out.

- I like to think Tommy has a bunch of pictures hung up around his house of him and his friends, the pictures are hung up on fairy lights! It's literally the only pretty thing about his house.

TW SCRATCHING SOMEONE PURPOSELY - Almost everyone on the Dream Smp has "bad" nails, most being bitten, dirt under the edges or just horribly cut nails. The only people who don't is Antfrost and Quackity, also Puffy. Antfrost is a cat so.. Y'know? He doesn't like having his nails touched so they grow perfectly until hes forced to cut them, Quackity used to have some uh vivid daydreams about.. Scratching a certain someone (Schlatt) so he takes good care of nails. Just incase the day ever comes, and Puffy likes her nails to be atleast cut so she looks professional in therapy sessions!

- Almost every hybrid on the server will make their hybrid side noises, okay that's a bad way of saying it but like Quackity will make duck noises, Tubbo will make goat noises, etc etc. And it always seems to happen when they're excited.

- and yes Tubbo does In fact make goat noises when he knows he's gonna get tickled, it's such a big tell that he wants tickles. Tommy teases him about it all the time, "I'm gonna get you Tubs!-.. D-Did you just bleat? AWW TUBS!! Your so excited for your tickles!! Come here-"

- Tubbo likes eating Christmas ornaments. Also soda cans it's.. It's concerning. S-Someone should probably stop him-

- Tommy can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocius off the top of his head, no one knows how or why but it's very good for winning challenges!

- If you make any tickle teases to Tommy about his tummy, he will go bright red. It isn't even his death spot but the thought of it being tickled makes him very flustered.

- The bench trio, (Tommy, Tubbo, Ranboo) all like to watch child shows in their free time, they have watched cocomelon before but Tubbo got aggressive at it and almost smashed the tv with a headbutt-

- Tommy, as a bird hybrid makes nests, He sees Tubbo and Ranboo as his "flockmates" it doesn't matter that they're different species. When Tommy needs comfort he goes to the nest, Ranboo is usually the first to catch on so he goes and picks up Tubbo (Who squeals out of surprise) and starts bringing him towards Tommy. He drops him into the nest and sits down himself and they both do whatever they can to make Tommy feel better.

- Tommy in the universe he has wings, he claims they aren't ticklish. And people think it's true because when they try to tickle them he doesn't react.. Until Philza comes along. Philza has wings himself and it only takes a few minutes before Tommy is on the ground laughing his head off.

- Quackity and George on occasion spend time together. I mean Quackity's fiances left him and George's (Boyfriend? Best friend?) Left him so they bond over it, "Well Karl apparently forgot me so" "Ah, Dream forgot me too." They sit in silence until Quackity offers George a drink.

- The reason why George is so tired all the time is actually because of his mushroom hat, the type of mushroom he has on his head actually has like a sleeping thing in it. But even if he did take it off he would sleep the same amount so..????

- I like to think Quackity and in the universe where Tommy has small white wings they often will stretch their wings subconsciously towards people they trust to get compliments. If you compliment their wings, their bird brain will go crazy.

- Animals, for some reason, are naturally drawn to Tommy. It confuses people because he's loud, very very loud but he can draw even the shyest animals to him.

- Wilbur is the type of sibling to randomly enter your room, stare at you for a few seconds and then leave. WITHOUT CLOSING THE DOOR.

- Tubbo and Tommy have tried to convince Quackity to go to marriage therapy and they actually have managed! But once Quackity saw Karl, he became so pissed so fast that he broke the card in his hand. He never went to see then again.

- Quackity has a specific casino card that he fidgets with, it's become a comfort object for him like the rings around his neck. The thing is, the card doesn't belong to his casino. It was made far far before it, he has no idea where it came from. But it has alot of tape on it, (And a small signature from Wilbur.. Seriously where the hell did this card come from?-)

- Karl is asexual, Tommy is aroace, Technoblade is also aroace, Purpled is aroace, George is asexual.

- The smp has so many people with mental health issues, Puffy has stopped being surprised how many people come by nowadays.

- Wilbur will believe everything a fortune cookie has to say, he orders at least 20 a day.

- Tommy collects squishmallows!

- I believe in "Wilbur threatening to blow up people's houses if they are mean to his family" supremacy.

- Tommy refuses to eat apples because of the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and he's like: "But I don't want Puffy to stay away :("

- Tommy's safe food is dry ramen and Wilbur's is sand or pop rocks.

- Tommy will just randomly stare into people's eyes from across the room, he just keeps staring even as they look scared because why the hell is this 6'0 man staring at you like he wants to murder you???

- Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo all have to do positive affirmations in the morning as it's a assignment assigned by Puffy after their last group therapy session, Sometimes they like to give compliments to each other. Sometimes on rough days they like to name five things they like about each other and trust me they always have five things.

- (Bit sad) Tubbo always knew Wilbur favours Tommy over him.. Doesn't mean it hurts any less. Words spread to Wilbur about how everyone thinks he favours Tommy over all his brothers. And while he loves Tommy, he loves all his brothers. Even Tubbo, the small goat boy who they found on the side of the road. Wilbur realizes Tubbo must think this way as he is usually quick to deescalate rumors, so he does what any good brother would do. Rushes over to Tubbo, stares for a few seconds until Tubbo's attention is on him and then tickles him. He tickles him while saying how much he loves Tubbo, how he could never pick a favorite brother, and if he finds out who told these rumors he's going to blow up their house.

- Ranboo takes dust baths, I said it.

- Tommy and Tubbo have a hard time with selfcare, Tubbo because he likes to overwork and Tommy simply because he's too nervous to be anywhere near big baths of water. So they've started washing each others hair in the sink. The thing they learned was this was a sign of trust, they trust that they won't hurt each other and will allow the other many breaks as they want before they continue.

- I'm pushing the "Tommy knows how to knit and makes sweaters for his friends" agenda.

- I'm also pushing the "Tommy and Tubbo definitely cry at romance movies even if they are terrible and hug each other while crying while being like "BUT HOW COULDD HEEE THEY WERE INLOVEE"

- Most people think Ranboo is mentally stable, jokes on them he's also mentally unstable! The problem is crying burns his skin so he can't cry half the time.

- Wilbur and Ranboo hang out because of the burger van of course but also because Wilbur is trying to figure out what the hell is Ranboo's other side. He has a million theories, the most popular being ghost. Not ghast, he thought that was stupid just... Ghost.

- Tommy can shapeshift, but he can't control it. Whatever his subconscious decides is what happens. If he's feeling more eager to cause trouble, he'll have a raccoon tail and ears, if he feels more soft he'll have white wings. He tends to hide these things or just have devil horns. He just finds them comfy.

[old-archivist]

Foods of Thedas: Prepared Ingredients

I separated these from raw ingredients because they either are foods/drinks on their own but are included in recipes, or involve a certain amount of cooking/processing to make them that separates them from those listed in raw ingredients. However, like with raw ingredients, I’ve only included items that are mentioned or shown in game for easy reference. Should you want to find additional and “speculative” ingredients you can visit this post or the master post.

For Additional Food Posts

Dishes, Sauces, and Sides

Drinks

Raw Ingredients

Cannonically Possible Foods and Drinks

Master Post

Basic Ingredients

Alcohol

Brandy

Cinnamon-infused whiskey

Dark Llomerryn Rum

Hirol's Lava Burst

Prophet's Laurel Gin

Red Wine

Watered Down Ale

Whiskey

White Seleney Wine

Broth and Stock

Broth

Deepstalker Broth (Dwarven)

Fish Broth

Stock

Brown Stock

Eggs

Hard Boiled Egg

Essences and Extracts

Essence

Orange Essence

Extract

Mint Extract

Orange Extract

Vanilla Extract

Golds

Edible Gold Leaf (Orlaisian)

Gold Dust (Orlesian)

Grains

Noodles

Grain-based Noodles

Pasta

Spaghetti (Antivan)

Pie Dough

Oils

Cod Liver Oil

Oil

Sugars

Brown Sugar

Molasses

Powdered Sugar

Sugar

Sugar Syrup

Vinegars

Apple Cider Vinegar

Herbed Wine Vinegar

Vinegar

Desserts and Sweets

Desserts

Buttercream

Caramel

Chocolate

Chocolate Bitters

Custard

Pound Cake

Tea Biscuit

Toffee

Wafer

Jam

Plum Jam

Raspberry Jam

Misc

Sugar Cream Icing

Sugar Flowers

Sugared Rose Petals

Syrup

Dried and Cured Foods

Dried Fruits, Vegetables, and Fungi

Dried Apple

Dried Apricot

Dried Beans

Dried Cherry

Dried Cranberry

Dried Currant

Dried Mushroom

Dried Peas

Prunes

Pitted Prunes

Raisin

Cured Meats

Bacon

Smoked Bacon

Cold Cuts

Dried Meats

Dried Mackerel

Jerky

Lutefisk

Salted

Dried Salt Pork

Salt Pork

Salted Beef

Salted Dragon Meat

Salted Fish

Salted Goat Meat

Salted Meat

Sausage

Blood Sausage

Smoked Sausage

Spiced and Salted Sausage

Smoked

Smoked Beef

Smoked Fish

Smoked Goat Meat

Pickled Foods

Pickled Ox Tongue

Pickles

Prepared Animal Products

Gelatine

Grease

Ground Meat

Ground Beef

Ground Nug (Dwarven)

Lard

Spiced Meat

Miscellaneous

Lyrium

Wyvern Venom - There are 47 ways to distill wyvern venom to be safe for consumption.

Sources: ( If you want to find direct links or page numbers check out the wiki’s Food and Ingredients page.) Dragon Age: Origins (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: Awakening Dragon Age 2 (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: The Last Court Dragon Age: Inquisition (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age Tabletop RPG Core Rulebook

World of Thedas Vol. 1 World of Thedas Vol. 2 Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Dragon Age: The Calling Dragon Age: The Masked Empire Dragon Age: Last Flight Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights Short Story: Paying the Ferryman Short Story: Paper and Steel

DA:O Codex Entry: The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 3 Codex Entry: A Tattered Shopping List Item: Sugar Cake

DA II Codex Entry: Wyvern

DA:I Codex Entry: Plant vs. Corpses Codex Entry: Waterlogged Diary Note: The Gilded Horn's Drink List Note: Knight-Captain's Orders

The Last Court Flames of Freedom The Next Course Thieves The Wyvern is Cornered

Like this stuff? Wanna support the blog? You can check out my ko-fi.

[soulsanitarium]

The White Reindeer (Finnish: Valkoinen peura) is a 1952 folk horror drama film directed by Erik Blomberg in his feature film debut. He made the script with his wife Mirjami Kuosmanen, who is playing the leading role. It was entered in competition at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival and earned the Jean Cocteau-led jury special award for Best Fairy Tale Film.

Blomberg interviewed few local people for the film and made some background work. However the idea for the film was purely inspired by the daydreaming of his wife, old European folk tales and anthropology from Africa (more precisely shamanistic witch beliefs of the Azande -tribe).

The Sámi (/ˈsɑːmi/ SAH-mee; also spelled Sami or Saami) are a Finno-Ugric-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland). There are some reindeer myths related to this movie in their mythology (old religion) in some areas. Such as half human half a deer - god.

The Seita is a holy place, A Sami sacred place. One of the well known Seita is Ukko’s island. It is a rocky island in lake inari. Reindeer was also the most popular sacrificial animal in bigger rituals, fish or fat of the fish was common for fishermen. If the matter was small then there was no need for animal sacrifice. There are stories of human sacrifices but these stories can also be legends and ghost stories.

Below: I got the chance to visit Ukko’s island in winter 2023 with the snowmobile

Witches Drum in conjunction with the magic singing spells and different powders is seen in the film. The witch's drum was usually an oval small drum covered with reindeer skin with some patterns drawn on the membrane the drumstick or rather the hammer was made of reindeer bone horn. Or it could be also metal. Rings made of metal were placed on the top of the membrane and moved over the patterns. The Shaman interpreted the meanings of the patterns and guided the rings where depending on whether intention was good or bad. In a 1673 book Lapponia you can find drawings copied from the original drums. Most of the drums were later destroyed by the Christian priests.

The most scary mentioned “real” thing in the film is Ruumiinmulta (bodily soil). It was a poison used in magical revenge. Soil could be just soil from the graveyard, but more powerful soil was collected from the corpse.

Above: Very rare silver jewelry that was found from Ukko’s island ( Sami museum Siida in Inari ) also you can see the drums rings & bone hammer below it. Below: Aurora in the center of Inari village & The photo of the witches drum is from the Siida museum (the Christian priests destroyed every drum from Finland so this drum is borrowed from Sweden- hopefully they will donate the drum to the museum permanently).

[a-crimson-dawn]

Pirates of the Carte Seas Chp 3 - Captain Yami Sukehiro

Little ways from the harbour, a warning hangs in the form of four skeletons - the remnants of the navy's efforts to clean out the place from people of the criminal sort. In tattered clothing, they hung from gallows, off the headland looking over the Carte seas, one corpse clutching a wooden sign on which is printed "Pirates be warned" in black paint.

It is not that the newest visitor does not see this warning, nor that he ignores it.

The brawn-for-brains, of rugged looks, simply doesn't - can't - give a shit.

As the sails of his truly magnificent sea vessel pass by, he looks on, unfazed, headed landward, in spite of his rather obviously damning looks. At most, he salutes them, before chucking the cigarette he'd been smoking into the sea. Leaping from the rigging…

… he finds himself hopping onto to the wooden tiller, parting ways with his sinking fishing boat that had the great misfortune of leaking. He didn't know how, he didn't know why, and cared even less than he had about those skeleton men. Best not to cling to things – including the "Stubborn Bull", that went near completely under just a few moments as he stepped ashore.

Port Raquey welcomes him with less fanfare than he'd hoped, but at least, with some luck, he'd be able to slip past the towering ships of the navy - the large form of "Integrity" catching his eye briefly -, fixing his focus onto his next vessel. Sure, the large dreadnought is a powerful ship, fit for a large crew, but with the man's somewhat less… numerous… team, he found it more tempting to "borrow" the smaller armed vessel that floated near Fort Kira and went by the name of "Faith".

He walks past the harbourmaster - who glances at his small sunken boat with confusion, before regarding the visitor cautiously. "This man is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid," the greying harbour master remarks to himself, in what he thinks is too quiet a voice to overhear. Clearly, he doesn't fancy the idea of pissing the visitor off.

And in fairness, neither does the visitor.

"Tch. You'd be surprised at how often those two traits coincide," the visitor takes subtle glee in watching the man flinch when he is heard, before the harbour master gets to tying the ship down.

The visitor goes off ahead - or plans to, anyway - fixing up his sword-belt, attached to which is a sheathed katana, a compass, a pistol and a small powder horn. Instead, the harbourmaster seems to pluck up the confidence to step before him.

"It's a shilling for the dock space, and I'll be needing your name," the older man remarks, tapping at his ledger.

"How about three shillings – and you forget the name?" three shillings are tossed at the ledger, which the man looks down on with apparent eagerness, giving the visitor a welcoming smile now, as he steps aside.

"Welcome to Port Raquey, Mr Smith."

For three shillings - not his own, either - the visitor figured, the welcome was warm enough… and Captain Yami Sukehiro could do with the boring alias for now.

[dramatic-shitpost-poet]

Pacman Frog

Enclosure:

Never house them together, they are very aggressive to other frogs.

A 20 gallon or 30 x 12 x 12 inches can house one frog comfortably

They need heat and this can be provided through heating lamps (no under the tank mat as it may burn them)

UVB is not needed, but has lots of benefits and a day and night cycle is certainly needed

Have enrichment and hides for them like leaf litter, branches, cork bark, live or fake plants, moss (good for humidity), 

Substrate can be coconut fiber and needs to be about 3-4 inches deep for them to burrow. Should be damp, not wet.

Humidity needs to be around 80%

They need a shallow water dish that should be scrubbed at least weekly and have fresh water daily

They need a daytime temperature of about 77-83 and nighttime temperature of 70-75

Spot clean daily and completely disinfect every 2 weeks (Bioactive enclosures are also something to look into)

Diet/Feeding habits:

Opportunistic eaters (carnivores and insectivores). They like to sit and wait for food to come by

They are scavengers in the wild and wait for prey to come to them as they hide in leaf litter

They can eat pinky mice  and feeder fish (Occasionally), earthworms, dubia roaches, crickets, waxworms, mealworms, etc.

Every meal needs to be dusted with calcium powder and vitamins

Growing frogs should eat about 5 insects daily or as much as they’ll eat in 15 minutes

Adults need to be fed every other day and the same amount

If feeding pinky mice, then feed one and wait 2 weeks before feeding anything again

Age identification:

Most live about 5 years, but some can live up to 15 years

Physical traits:

They have a very round, but circular body 

Their eyes have small horns above them, but not sharp

They have a huge mouth for their body

They typically come in a bright green color with brown or yellow spots with black outlines

Their bellies are white

Their colors will develop as they age

Morphs widely exist including albinos, strawberries, etc.

Hatchlings grow into their colors

They have teeth

Females grow to about 7 inches long, maybe 9-10 inches

Males grow to about 5 inches long

Hatchlings start at about the size of a quarter, but most are sold as juveniles

Most weigh about half a pound, but some weigh a full pound

Personality:

They like to burrow

Sedentary, but territorial 

Very territorial

Nocturnal

They are most active when it is raining in the wild

They may move a lot for the first few weeks in their new enclosure in order to find a good burrowing spot, then they will just burrow

Loves to eat and may mistake your finger for food, so be careful

They are happy when burrowing

They will bite if threatened

Health concerns:

MBD- caused by lack of calcium and vitamins; abnormal bones and general weakness

Red leg syndrome and flavobacteriosis are both caused by a dirty environment and extra stress (skin starts to deteriorate)

Vitamin A deficiency- rough skin, swollen eyes, buildup of fluids, etc. Can be fixed by feeding gut-loaded insects

You can mistake a live frog for a dead one if there is not enough food or humidity. If they lack those things, then they will encase themselves in a tough outer layer of skin and not move at all.

Check for parasites if your frog isn’t eating and it isn’t a temperature issue

Ammonia poisoning occurs when the tank isn’t cleaned regularly

Handling:

Let them adjust at least 3 days, maybe a week, before handling

They may bite, so make sure not to handle them while they are in food mode

Always wash hands before and after handling

Hold them only when needed as they absorb through their skin

Hold them like a hamburger and make sure they can’t jump too great of a distance

[mythozoological-pet-care]

Your guide to Hellhound Care:

The hellhound has a few subspecies. All subspecies are very intelligent ,high energy,and have high protein requirements. They generally rate at about a 2:

Greek Hellhound (Canis Infernus Graecus):

Arguably the best known the two types are spotted or solid . They typically appear similar to a mundane rottweiler or doberman pinscher. They can be a bit difficult to keep due to umbrakinesis abilities and space requirements. The general rule of thumb is 10 acres per hound. They usually prefer a dark ,warm environment.

Domestic Hellhound( Canis Infernus Familiaris):

These hounds require far less space than their greek counterparts. They can live quite comfortably in a mid to large apartment,providided there is a park nearby. They have the same dietary requirements and are typically easier to train.

Water: It is recommended to avoid commercially available magic water purifiers due to containing powdered unicorn horn. A small moving water feature is best.

Enrichment: puzzles,chew toys and small pools of live fish are all great enrichment options for your hellhound. You may want to also consider nose games and small bonfires. Training requires constant variation else your pup may get bored.

Diet: Despite popular belief ; it is not a good idea to give your hellhound charred meat or human sacrifices. It is however recommended to give them a diet consisting of mostly meat (avoiding fatty cuts such as bacon) ,bone matter,organs,and a few vegetables. Avoiding legumes and most fruits.

Equipment: a strong leash and harness, measuring scoops & knife (for food), nail grinder, and a bed.

Things to be aware of :you may want to avoid unicorn horn,holy relics and holy wells due to the aversive reaction they have to these items. If they do come into contact ;contact your nearest mythozoological veterinary practice.

[genericswordsmaiden]

I've been thinking about this passage from "The haunter of the dark" for years, and I think it's finally time that I explain my thoughts on it.

In the whole story there's an underlying will to make fun of Italians, actually I think this is one of the most tame ones in terms of racist subtext. In my twenty years of life, I've seen how my country is often the butt of many many jokes, even some cruel ones, so when I read this for the first time I just laughed a bit. I also find it funny how he specifically named that one priest after a fish ('merluzzo' means cod if anyone was wondering). It's actually one of my favourite stories, from the events that led him to write it to the actual tale it narrates. Blake is a strangely charming protagonist.

But let's get to the reason I'm here - let's talk a lil' bit 'bout culture. I was born, raised and (sadly) still live in southern Italy, and the "obscure charms" he refers to always made me think of the most common here in Campania (the region from where most immigrants came to America in those years) and that is, the horn.

This little thing here. This is my personal one - of course, almost everyone has one. Since neolithic era, the horn symbolised fertility and prosperity, and that's where this is derived from. To properly bring good luck, the horn must be a gift from someone else, you cannot buy one for yourself. Then, you have to sting the palm of your hand with it's pointed end. Only then it'll work. I Iike to say I don't really believe in this stuff, but the culture of my region - of my family, even - is under my skin at this point. When someone says something bad might happen, to prevent a jinx from hitting me or someone else, I make a gesture like this 🤟 with my hand and point it to the ground. I don't specifically know the origin of this, but it comes naturally to me. In the most rural towns and places, there are still old women preparing special powders, waters or balms to ward off evil. One famous adage in Naples says that "the eyes are worse than knives" - in reference to the "evil eye", the idea that people can supposedly put spells on you, as if their malice and their hate can cling to you passing through their eyes, and bring bad luck. It's one of many that my mother often repeats to me.

Oh boy, I think I strayed a bit too far from what I wanted to say? Maybe, maybe not. I wanted to tell a bit about how superstition influences my folks even to this day, and I can only imagine how much more vivid it all was in the 1930's. It's no surprise that Lovecraft mentioned these traditions that, for obvious reasons, to him must have appeared strange and also useless.

In a way, I'm sort of happy that part of my culture made it into one of his works.