#i really need to write some of the rune stuff down

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

Listen you can't just give me new lore and expect me not to ask ESPECIALLY if it involved magic system

Does the rune you clicked with matched the kind of person you are? Like someone who is caring will click with a protection rune or a healing rune or is it based on how willing the person is to learn it?

In the ye olden days how does one know which rune they would click with like do they just try different runes and if they don't click with they moved on to a different rune? Imagine an expert just throws a bunch of runes to a baby sorcerer and be like “here try this runes and tell me how you feel about it”

If someone who studies history found that Stan's a sorcerer, what would be their reaction? And is it a shock Pikachu face?

Is magic reserve something you're born with? Or can you expand it?

Tldr : more lore! More lore! More lore! More lore! ✊✊✊

You've fallen into my trap of asking me to elaborate so i can talk more about my magic world building >:)

The first initial click will always match the type of person a sorcerer is. Stan views himself as someone who breaks things and messes stuff up, so he was drawn to the break rune (plus all the writing it over and over. Its not a necessary step but it does make it easier and speed up the process) in different circumstances he could have also clicked with the sneak, protect, illusion, or anything else that fits Stan. After that a sorcerer can technically click with any rune, as long as they work to understand it. Stan doesn't care about plants or growing things in a garden, so he's struggling.

In ye olden days as long as they knew someone had the chance to become a sorcerer they could guess which runes they'd click with. Unfortunately there wasn't a guarantee someone would click at all, even if they did have a larger magic reserve. Potential sorcerers could go to specilized schools to try and click through rune writing and doing rune activities (such as going around a castle and breaking everything they came across *coughStancough*) but its not something that can be forced (without messing the person up). There was also the chance that people would randomly become sorcerers going about their day to day lives, like how the woman Fiddleford knew clicked with the dance rune and started using it on everyone. People were taught to look for certain signs (doing a certain action over and over again, looking exhausted, zoning out, etc (which can be written off as truama)) so that if they saw their neighbor or someone they knew they could take steps in case it was a potential sorcerer clicking.

Once the first click happened baby sorcerers were taken to isolated facilities and thrown a bunch of runes and pushed through rune activities until they clicked with at least three more, after which they were free to go home or continue rune learning. They'd interview loved ones and the sorcerer to figure out what would work best, and go from there. If something didnt click after three days they'd move on (Due to rushing the process to stabilize the baby sorcerer. If Stan had been shoved writing the rune he's about to click with over and he'd click with it faster than he has been.) Stan's learning his runes in the classic fashion of doing activities and watching the world around him, which works but is very slow.

If someone who studied history and knew about sorcerers as a concept seperate from wizards learned about Stan there would be a new person living in the castle becoming Stans #1 pest. You know the type, eager to learn and watch and the exact type of person that would creep Stan out, even if they were doing it for purly academic reasons. Stan's a living relic of a long forgotten magic art, and they're going to rediscover the limits of his capabilities together :) (Stan would rather not. Please leave? He has enough problems with the dragon, demon, and McGuckets health worries)

Magic reserves are something people are born with and something that can grow over time. Everyone has a little bit of magic in them that keeps them alive and naturally connects them to magic in a non sorcerer fashion, and some are born with larger magic reserves due to blood line factors. Its similar to a muscle, the more its used the bigger it is, so weak sorcerers can get stronger the more they cast spells and push their limits. Or it can artificially grow, like if someone carries an arcane battery in their pocket and rolls it around with their bare hands while it leaks magic straight into them (but who'd be crazy enough to do that! There's all kinds of side effects from non controlled magic exposure!)

There's also a hierarchy of runes. The lowest tier is grammar and filler runes, that don't have any special innate ability to shape reality. Like how shouting the word 'the!' at someone doesnt really convey meaning. After that it goes from very specific runes, like water, to more complex ones, like liquid. Stan's first one was a complex one, as 'break' covers a whole lot more than just learning 'snap'. There's lots of ways to break something, but only so many ways you can snap. The limits of a sorcerer's ability is their magic reserve and their imagination, so Stan, who's mental ability is so strong he's a natural mindscape manipulator, has a lot of potential for being very powerful, even if by ye olden days standards he'd have a less than average sorcerer's reserve (another good thing for Fiddlefords arm). A sorcerer can 'upgrade' their clicked rune into a higher tier by doing it a lot and deepening their understanding.

[wings-of-ink]

Status Report and things to come...

Hello all! I wanted to check in and give some updates and links and all that jazz.

Things are cooking! I'll probably be fairly quiet off and on in the next month or so, but that will change. I just have a lot of stuff to do and get through before I'm at a stage where I can unleash hell. I am also planning on opening up asks more after I get adjusted (perhaps mid July).

The last couple of weeks were super busy for my personal life. Nothing terrible, just a lot of things all at once that needed to be done ASAP. There isn't much news on the production front, other than the May subscriber extras were posted today. The spicy one features male Rune and a new MC customization which I am testing for implementation into the the main game. The side story features a gender selectable Rune but is a fairly streamline cute story. Links are at the bottom if you are interested!

As I said before, I'll be kicking up another project as soon as time allows this season. And I've had an idea...

Subscribers this month also got access to what was essentially a prologue for another IF. If you've been kicking around a bit, I did a poll a while back where I spun different ideas and everyone voted for their favorites. Number 1 stole the show, but all ideas had an outpouring of support. The prologue mentioned is actually for #3. I started writing it just for fun to play with how that IF could start (I was in a mood, lol). I got some good feedback on it, so then I got another idea.

I think I want to do this for each of the new project ideas that I have and want to run with. Writing an intro for them will help me form them in my mind and give them some life and structure. As I get these done, subscribers will have the first crack at them, but they'll eventually go public. And then...then we vote. This gives me a chance to know if I am just not going to enjoy one idea or the another and such, and it gives you a chance to sample new stories to see what interests you the most in practice.

I will be doing one for each story idea from the poll PLUS one more. They will be very plain. Using no templates and just super basic coding to give the idea and feel of the actual project. The pretty stuff will come later. I don't know how long they will be. My guess is from 6k-10k words. I will work on them when I can but for the rest of May and all of June, Chapter 6 of GC is my priority. I would really like to have it done soon. This year has been obnoxiously busy so far, but things are going to slow down soon so my schedule opens up more.

Also to come are more character portraits! Subscribers get the first look and then a week later, they will go public. I'm a bit behind on that, and will have some super secret art to post after this!

Other than that - I'm hanging in there, I see some things in my Tumblr inbox I will get to soon, my shoulder is the same and I'm still doing therapy, and my kitty cats are great!

That's all for now! Take care!

~Lunan ^_^

Patreon

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[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Ok for the au stories fullmetal alchemist/ Harry Potter… Ed adopting a female Harry and teaching her to be a badass

Female Harry loves her grandma Izumi

Harriet Potter was an odd girl. She looked normal. Long black hair always in a braid, a fondness for red that occupied her wardrobe, big green eyes. But the fact was she was odd. She wore red yes but also the strangest sort of jewelry. Huge skull rings, tacky necklaces and clothing that one Muggleborn commented looked like it came right from Hot Topic, whatever that was.

She was ridiculously smart, and fond of debating with her teachers about everything. Her reaction to Transfiguration as a loud ‘what the actual fuck’ lived on in Hogwarts history but she also excelled in it. She even did well in potions despite Snape being… himself.

She was foul mouthed but incredibly polite to McGonagall, Pomphrey and Sprout. She always was writing in her notebook and loved to study but also tossed the books to the side to have fun.

Ron liked it. Hermione, other then disliking the cursing alongside the lack of respect for the male teachers, liked Harriet to. Or Harry as she told them to call her.

“Wait what?” Harry said as she flipped through a rather large book. “What the… fucking hell!” She jumped up and took off. “Gotta Owl my dad!”

“Who did take her in?” Hermione wondered out loud. “According to everyone she lived with her aunt and uncle but she said she was taken from them by the authorities.”

“Huh?” Ron hadn’t heard that. Hermione nodded.

“I asked her some stuff about London and she told me she’d lived in Amestris since she was six because a Military Officer took her from her relatives when they were being arrested,” Hermione said.

“Amestris?” Percy asked, having been walking by. “The only All Magical country?”

“Harry says it does have Muggles they just don’t hold with keeping magic a secret because they’re under a military dictatorship and most magical people have to register,” Hermione said. “She did say the laws are loosening after a revolt about fifteen years back…”

“Seventeen,” Harry was back with her owl on her shoulder. The girl sat down to begin to write. “Can’t believe a Philospher’s Stone…” she muttered.

“Oh! Nicholas Flamel! Yeah he’s right famous for being the one person-“ Percy began but Harry snorted.

“Amestris has a few people who made one. My dad even figured it out.” She told Percy bluntly. “And it’s foul.”

“Wait, really?” Hermione asked in surprise. Percy didn’t look like he believed it as Ron simply watched Harry.

“Yeah. Also, turn lead into gold?” Harry stopped writing to grab a new piece of paper she drew a circle on and then wrote what looked like runes down. She grabbed a pencil lead Hermione had (she used something called mechanical pencils which were kinda cool) and placed it in the circle.

Harry clapped her hands and touched the circle, causing a blue glow to envelope the lead. When it was done, a golden rod lay where the lead was. Percy stared in open mouth shock.

“Gold isn’t hard for any alchemist to do. It’s just illegal in Amestris and England actually. The only good thing Flamel did was claim the Stone was the only way,” Harry said. “I have to turn it back, but you can scan it to prove it.”

“Why is it illegal?” Ron asked, staring at the lead hungrily.

“Economics. To much gold added to the economy causes prices to rise,” Harry explained. “Things get more expensive and money becomes useless.” She let Percy verify what the thing was before she turned it back to lead.

“What else is wrong with the Stone?” Hermione asked.

“How it’s made. My dad and Uncle figured out how and were so disgusted they backed out of their goals,” Harry said grimly. “Alchemy is equivalent exchange. I can’t make things out of nothing. Conjured items here don’t last either,” Harry sounded relieved when she said that, “as you’re offering energy. But Alchemy is a science. Not magic. My other Uncle, Roy, he’s a Muggle but he can use Alchemy. All you need is what goes in.”

“Whoa!” Ron was impressed but then a thought struck him. He felt his face go pale as Hermione asked about what kind of Alchemy Roy did. “Wait… what’s Equivalent for a long life?”

Harry looked at him grimly. “A few hundred years ago Xerxes was destroyed in a single night. No one knew who had done it, not until seventeen years ago when Amestris nearly met the same fate. A man, no a monster had done it. Created a Philosopher’s Stone. He used Xerxes.”

“No…” Ron said as Hermione huffed.

“What does that mean?” The girl asked.

“A life for a life,” Percy said, his voice shaking. Harry nodded.

“So if Flamel is over six hundred years old… who did he kill for his Stone?” Harry asked quietly.

[ninja-muse]

Somehow, for being the shortest month, February felt long. This is partly work chaos and partly … current events. (I've just spent a lot of time staring slack-jawed at the news.)

Astute followers will notice I didn't post a review this month. That's because the only book I really felt like saying anything about—The Prague Cemetery—was excellent in many ways but also something I cannot in good conscience recommend, at least in this current political climate, to a generalized audience. It's a brilliant take-down of antisemitic, authoritarian, conservative, cis-white-male thinking (yay) but narrated by someone who is all of those things and simply in it for the money (urf). Not the funnest thing to have read shortly after a certain inauguration but probably good for me in the long run.

And sure, I could've reviewed the third Emily Wilde book (but how to, without spoiling?) or Tokyo Ueno Station (sad, doing some smart things within its genre) or My Kind of Trouble (gender-swapped Music Man!) or any of the others but there wasn't much to say about any of those and/or I didn't have the energy.

In more personal news, I've been writing again, at least a little! I'm maybe a scene and a half from being done the chapter I've been on since November and for one of those scenes I can cannibalize something I cut months ago. Then it's a matter of wrapping things up, so I think five chapters left, maybe less. This could be my year! I've done better blocking out all the current events stuff, which usually stymies my writing, on an emotional level than I usually do. I hope that can continue.

I've also been trying my best to boycott US products and companies, though I'm not doing so great with, like, social media and email and also I probably shouldn't have bought Aftermarket Afterlife but in my defense, Seanan McGuire is a good egg and deserves royalties. For whatever that's worth. I've been helped in the not-buying-of-books by having no other books in need of buying, and also library holds! So many! I have been spoiled, which probably means I'll have to wait another month or more before anything else comes in for me. (Have I added, like, eight books to my holds queue though? Maybe.)

How have your Februaries and your readings been? Let me know if you've got recs for me!

And now, here's what I read this month in order of personal enjoyment…

The Tragedy of Heterosexuality - Jane Ward

The social and relationship problems caused by heterosexuality and ways they can be addressed.

8/10

🏳️‍🌈 author

warning: deals with misogyny in all its forms

library book

Tokyo Ueno Station - Yu Miri The ghost of a migrant labourer recalls his life story from an encampment of unhoused people.

7.5/10

Japanese cast, Korean-Japanese author

library ebook

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett

Emily and Wendell set off to take the throne of a faerie kingdom.

7.5/10

🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (achillean), Afro-Irish secondary character, blind secondary character, 🇨🇦

reading copy

My Kind of Trouble - L.A. Schwartz Harmony has arrived in Brookville to promote a fake musical festival that will take down the mayor. But first she needs to win over the librarian she’ll “rent” the land from.

7/10

fat POV character, autistic POV character, autistic secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (lesbian, sapphic), fat and autistic author

warning: homophobic antagonists

library book

Swordheart - T. Kingfisher

Halla has inherited an estate and a bunch of greedy relatives she needs to escape, fast. Fortunately, there’s a man—in a sword?—who’s happy to help her.

7/10

ADHD-coded main character, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (nonbinary)

warning: suicidal thoughts, suicide, violence

library ebook

The Last Sun - K.D. Edwards

Rune Saint John is hired to find a missing Atlantean scion and uncovers a conspiracy.

7/10

🏳️‍🌈 main character (achillean), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (achillean)

library book

Rise - Mira Grant

Stories of the Rising and its aftermath that didn’t make it into the Newsflesh trilogy.

7/10

reasonably diverse cast (BIPOC, 🏳️‍🌈, differing abilities)

library ebook

The Prague Cemetery - Umberto Eco

A forger in 19th century Europe recounts the social upheavals he has witnessed and his hand in the conspiracies underpinning them. A polemic exposing the hypocrisy, contradictions, greed, and evil of antisemites and others determined to keep their place atop existing power structures.

8/10

warning: antisemitic protagonist and secondary characters, xenophobic and misogynist protagonist, homophobic characters, sexual assault and rape, murder

off my TBR

DNF

Love and Other Paradoxes - Catriona Spivey

Joe is dreaming of being a famous poet when he meets Esi, a time traveller on a mission. She agrees to help him meet his destined muse; he promises to help her save her mum.

Black British secondary character

reading copy

Currently reading

The Gilda Stories - Jewelle Gomez

A girl escaping slavery finds refuge in a bawdy house run by the elegant Gilda, and immortality in Gilda’s shared vampirism, allowing her to give witness to 200 years of history and Black American life.

Black protagonist, Black secondary characters, Lakota secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 protagonist (sapphic), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (sapphic, achillean), 🏳️‍🌈 author, Black author

library ebook

Spooky Lakes - Geo Rutherford

A sumptuously illustrated microtour of strange and scary lakes of the world.

library book

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

Victorian detective stories

disabled POV character (limb injury), occasional Indian secondary characters

warning: racism, colonialism

Monthly total: 8 Yearly total: 18 Queer books: 2 Authors of colour: 1 Books by women: 6 Authors outside the binary: 0 Canadian authors: 1 Classics: 0 Off the TBR shelves: 1 Books hauled: 1 ARCs acquired: 2 ARCs unhauled: 3 DNFs: 1

January

[akindofmagictoo]

"what do you want to know about Iphigenia" EVERYTHING. I just love hearing about other people's dnd ocs.

I'm particularly interested in the nature of her warlock pact and her relationship with he brother. Because I know her father killed her?? tried to kill her??? but she clearly misses/cares about her brother. Is he dead? still with their father?

(hilariously the other iphigenia dnd PC I know of also had complicated brother things going on...)

But also warlock stuff because I really love warlocks. They're one of my favorite classes, and I think they just have SO much potential for storytelling built into the class itself. Coming up with patron dynamics and how involved (or uninvolved) they are in the warlock's life is always SO much fun. I have 3 warlock characters (two of which haven't truly gotten played but are very developed) and all three of them have DRASTICALLY different relationships with their patrons. (One was forced into it, one is buddies with their patron, and one of them doesn't even know they're a warlock, actually.)

It's after 4am here, so I really need to go to bed (thank FUCK I don't have classes tomorrow... I would be dead if I did), but I will be VERY excited to read what you reply in the morning!!! 💖💖💖

(hi, if you hadn't guessed, this is @memento-morri-writes.)

well hello there! yes, i did gather it was you :))

warlock pact, her brother, and her father...? yeah, so this is basically a rundown of Iphigenia's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. praise the Lord for the read more function, or i'd have to apologise to a lot of followers.

(Waterdeep: Dragon Heist spoilers abound)

(also, my standard set of trigger warnings for this backstory: murder, family violence (very literal), cult activity, human sacrifice, and mentions of mutilation.)

Iphigenia is an aasimar, adopted shortly after birth by a very high-up noble family - the Cassalanters. she is now 19. the family by now have three other children: Osvaldo, who is eleven months older than Iphigenia; and Terenzio and Elzerina, who are twins and about to turn nine.

well. Osvaldo is... complicated. he disappeared three years ago. don't worry about that. but he and Iphigenia were so close; Iphigenia has never trusted anyone so deeply and instinctively as she trusted him. she was always the slightly better politician (Osvaldo's bad with consequences, ie he very rarely experiences them), and he was the more reckless of the two, but he would NEVER let any of his siblings come to harm. i love him, your honour.

we'll get to him.

the day before the campaign, Iphigenia was woken in the middle of the night by her father. he said he needed her help with something; she went with him, a bit confused, but trusting him. that's her dad. it's so cool that he needs her help with something! of course it won't be bad.

still, she was a bit uncertain, so she asked what was up. he cast Charm Person on her. everything's fine and cool. off they go, further into the house, down into what used to be the family crypt (it had supposedly been buried some years before). she sees that she's standing in a rune circle. he wants her to help with some magic? awesome! she's not exactly a wizard or anything, but she is a nerd, so she's happy to help. (the charm person has nothing to do with this, obviously)

but the charm does break when she looks over and realised he has carved a sigil into her wrist. (oh, and the rune circle bursts into flames for the aesthetic)

naturally, she starts freaking out. he casts Hold Person on her. and he keeps working. obviously Iphigenia is not freaking out any less, but she can't move now. it's... fun.

finally, finally, the Hold Person wears off. her arms are pretty much useless now, both forearms covered in sigils. but she can run, so she tries to. she hesitates at the edge of the fire, just for a second. his arms go around her from behind - and that's her dad, he's giving her a hug, how nice!

until she feels cold metal catch at her throat, and hot blood gushing down her chest.

he holds her while she bleeds out, begging him to save her even as her words are drowned by the blood she's choking on. she begs in Common and Celestial, unknown to her. she's dying. she's really not thinking.

and then she does die. like properly dead.

so this next bit isn't anything she properly remembers, but her father's summoning circle rerouted; instead of dialing a devil, it summoned a celestial. Iphigenia's mother (one of her birth mothers. they're lesbians. Iphigenia has a comically large number of mothers), Irissa Rynmore. who has not realised she has a daughter? i think? or at very least hasn't been able to find her properly. either way, Irissa is very quickly irate about said daughter being dead.

Iphigenia remembers flashes of this - a bright light, a warmth in her chest, and not much else.

the next morning, Iphigenia wakes up back in her own bed. just like she was when her father woke her. well, that was a horrible horrible dream, wasn't it, she thinks... and then she looks in the mirror, and the scars aren't gone. that wasn't a dream. that was real.

this was the morning the campaign began; that evening, she arrived in a tavern looking for the party fighter, as the only person she could think of who could maybe help her fix this. after Iphigenia's brother disappeared, the fighter made sure she got out of the house and didn't get super depressed. Iphigenia, having No Idea How To Deal With This, fled the house and didn't look back.

(fun fact: I wrote this up novel-style. a couple excerpts can be found here. the document could be known as "Iphigenia fails an improbable number of consecutive wisdom saves", but is actually titled "Iphigenia donates blood")

SO. then the campaign happened, and that's been two years of play, so i'm not gonna summarise the whole thing, but some highlights.

Iphigenia, via consensual kidnapping (long story), was returned to her house, and a scene ensued which i like to call The Talk But It's "Your Parents Are Cultists". Iphigenia's parents have a deal with Asmodeus; part of the cost was Osvaldo, and the twins are about to be taken as well. Osvaldo's body is in Lady Cassalanter’s attic, transmuted into a devil and hidden behind powerful protective magic. the twins are fine... for about a week more.

the Cassalanters want to protect the twins (wow, so kind of you to care about the children YOU TRADED AWAY), and there is one possible loophole in an Asmodeus contract. what they told Iphigenia is that they need 1 million gp; they have about half, and the other half can be obtained via the Stone of Golorr, the MacGuffin of the module that leads to a bunch of embezzled treasure hidden in the city.

unrelated, the Cassalanters are hosting a ball, as they do every year, and have opened up 99 places via raffle to the whole city, not just the nobles! wow! cool!

Iphigenia did her own research, and it turns out alongside 1 million gold pieces (well, one million minus one), they also need to sacrifice one hundred minus one souls. sound familiar? yeah. i was fully sobbing OOC, Iphigenia was dead certain she was going to lose all her siblings, because she can't let that happen.

her parents asked her to help obtain the Stone, which she did, and now they want her to help get the three 'keys' needed for the Stone. she's playing along, and definitely terrified that she won't be able to stop them at the last minute, per her plan. but she's a politician at heart (she learned from them); it's the best way she knows how to get information out of them, and also the safest place for her to be until she decides to make her move. we're pretty sure we'll have to confront them at the ball and stop them. we may also forge one of the keys. it's a really really delicate and utterly terrifying game to play. Iphigenia is fighting for her life not to get gaslit (actually i fully got gaslit OOC, that wasn't fun).

the Cassalanter house currently has wards that prevent celestials (Irissa) from getting in. very rude and lowkey racist against the half-celestial Iphigenia, lol. working on fixing that too.

so currently our options for saving the twins are to 1) kill the Cassalanters, 2) kill Asmodeus (lol no), or 3) ask Sarenrae nicely for help. she can shield the twins from Asmodeus's influence.

to save Osvaldo, we can 1) make our own deal with Asmodeus (the fighter correctly pointed out that Osvaldo wouldn't want Iphigenia to, and she's RIGHT), 2) ask Sarenrae for help. there is a cleric multiclass in my future, but that'll probably be after the campaign.

Iphigenia wants to fix this! she wants her parents to be the parents she idolised as a child. she wants them to stop this and repent and come back. i doubt this will work, but if anyone can help me do this, it's the goddess of redemption herself. failing that, i guess we get to do a murder? (the rest of the party has been sharpening weapons to kill these guys since the start of the campaign. weirdly, Iphigenia's goodwill holds a lot of power over them. i'm looking forward to informing them of this fact.)

on pacts: Irissa is an absolute delight. she's very scatterbrained, but so so kind. she regularly shows up to dreamscape tea parties holding books titled stuff like "Parenting Your Adult Child". she's trying so so hard to be a good mum to Iphigenia. to clarify, her wife Selene died in childbirth, which is why Iphigenia was adopted. i haven't had the chance to ask, but i really want to ask Irissa, "do i look like her?"

Irissa is also very ready to smite the Cassalanters. the only reason she didn't kill Lord Cassalanter on the spot was that she was busy healing Iphigenia. would have solved a lot of our campaign problems, but also would have broken the module.

Iphigenia finds her a little overwhelming at times, she's very talkative and kind of a lot, but she's precious and really trying. and honestly, Iphigenia needs one parent who loves her. without Irissa and the party, Iphigenia would have been got by her parents' gaslighting long ago.

right. i think i've outdone you on length of post. enjoy!! i'll see if i can come up with more Rook questions for you 👀 feel free to hit me up with more Iphigenia questions if you want, i have SO many thoughts about my best girl

(1.5k words. could be worse.)

[majorproblems77]

Sacred realm competition entry!

Hello!

This is my participation in the @zelda-the-sacred-realm's writing and art competition, for the theme Adventure. I love this comic so much and I love the characters. I've tried my best to characterise them based on the information we have.

We are sending our friend Link on an adventure today, and I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it. (To be honest, i really enjoyed making this and ill probably continue it in the future.)

And a thank you to the creator, for giving us the opportunity to create stuff like this. This was so much fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has come up with as well.

It will be Cross-posted to my A03 account (And my writing account)- As soon as I figure out how to tag it so it's findable

For now, I introduce

You're a hero too, a sacred realm short story

- 1705 words

“It’ll be an adventure!”

He was already on enough of an adventure thank you very much. According to Wind, they had come across a Temple entrance of some kind, and The young spirit seemed eager to explore its depths

“Uhh Sky?” Link asked softly. Standing behind the spirit as the sky hero walked ahead of the group.

“Look over there. You see that.” Wind bounced on the balls of his feet and pointed to his right towards a large-looking tunnel. Engravings curved around the wall.  “Theres a tunnel here. And where you find engravings like this. There's often a temple not far behind. With puzzles!”

“A puzzle?” Link asked. “Like from the stories?”

“Yeah!” Wind smiled, his eyes searching the wall. “Guaranteed there’s a puzzle in there.”

“Gods and spirits often leave things for heroes to find later. I got these from a temple!” Sky turned his head to show his earrings. The light of the hero's spirit shone across them as Link looked closer at them. “Originally these were fireproof earrings for my adventures through a volcano.”

“You think I’ll get anything like that?” Link looked back to the forest behind them as they entered the tunnel.

“Well, you are a hero.” Sky smiled. Placing a hand to Link’s back. Turning his head to look at him. “So I would think so!”

Link smiled softly, as Wind ran ahead. Ushering him forward. “Come on!”

Wind lead the way into the tunnel as the group entered the darkness. “Is it very long? Do I need a torch?” The realm’s hero asked, wringing his hands nervously as he continued to follow the group.

The tunnel opened out to large pit in the middle of the room. Decorated in red and blue torches the top of the walls had runes across it. Sunlight filtered through the ceiling, as the three separated. Time walked to one of the walls, investigating it. While, Link walked to the large pit which sat central in the room.

“Uhh… What do I do?” Link turned back to Sky, who had paused between the two. Looking to the ceiling above the hole, then down at it. He moved across the room to stand besides Link. Sky looked around the room. Eyes pausing on time for a moment. A hand raised to his chin.  “Well. If I had to guess…”

“Hang on.” Sky paused. Looking to Time who had a hand raised. Then to Link. “I think he should figure it out.”

“Why?” Wind raised an eyebrow. Crossing his arms. “We are here for a reason. Surely we should be helping him when we can.”

“And if there's another spirit barrier?” Time said, stopping the hero of the wind’s in his tracks. He pointed a finger towards the hero of the Sky. “You were out of action for a week by hopping into the fight.”

“Hoping into the fight was the right thing to do.” Sky shot back quickly. His voice not accusatory for the moment, but a hint of annoyance on the tip of his tongue.

“I had it handled.”

“Did you?” A pause. “Or did that thing inside the medallion have to save you.” Sky pointed to the item on Link’s chest. Eyes fixed on Time.

Link’s eyes widened at that. The spirit, which he’d nicknamed amulet, was still a mystery to him. Every time it entered the fray he felt helpless. Like a prisoner in his own body. He took a step back and lowered his head. Biting his lower lip as he looked down at the item in question. Placing a hand under it so he could look at it again. The lights of the hero’s spirits shining bright across the surface. Twilight, Wild and Worlds light’s shining dimly.

 The medallion was a warning and a burden, its golden surface a cruel reminder that he still had a lot to learn.

“uhh, guys.” Wind walked over to Link while the others locked eyes with each other. The tension cut with a knife. “Maybe you should wait…”

“Link.” Sky’s voice was immediately laced with guilt as he heard the spirit move around him. His eyes searched the walls below him and they met a small platform. About five feet below him. An eyebrow raised as he turned. “I shouldn’t have…”

“Now look what you’ve done.” Time stood with his arms crossed.

“I…. I didn’t.” Sky stuttered. Looking over to the man in question. Who was leaning over the edge of the platform. Having spotted the same one he had. “Link Wait!”

Link wasn’t paying attention to the spirit beside him. His eyes fixed on a platform below him as he moved around the pit slightly. Placing a foot right on the edge of the pit he took a breath.

Here goes nothing….

Link jumped onto the platform below him, and felt the feeling of shifting through a barrier. Another spirit barrier. The others wouldn’t be coming with him.

“Link!”  Sky’s voice above him he didn’t look up. “Link! Wait!” Slowly walking over to the edge of the ledge he was on allowed him to. He could do this. He could do this. He could…

Oh…. There was no platform there. There was no platform there! Nonnonononono.

He looked upward. Trying to see if he could jump back out. Taking a step back, The feeling of a plate pushing down startled him. He looked to his foot and spotted a pressure plate.

Oh no…

 The walls began to rumble and shake. The platform began moving. The sound of stone grinding as the platform began to retract into the wall from which it came.

“Oh nononono,” he slid backwards and scrambled to the wall. “Nononono, please stop please stop please stop.”

“Link! Link! To your Right!” Wind’s voice sounded over the noise. He looked up rapidly to see the hero of Sky pointing, “Down! And to your right!”

He looked right and saw another platform springing from the wall. A little lower. Panic rising he looked up to see Sky and Wind pointing to it. “That one! THAT ONE!” The spirits voice sounded worried. He appeared to be leaning down but recoiled as blue flames licked at his fingers.

He nodded, standing up on shaky feet he jumped down another five feet.

Another plate. Another shifting platform. As he jumped lower and lower.

The further we went the braver he became.

It was just jumping down a few stairs he’s fine. Well more than a few, but as sky said. He was a hero, right? He should be able to do this in his sleep.

Finally, he made it to the floor. Looking up from his spot he could still see the yellow glow of Sky and Time above him.

“Link! Are you okay?!” The sky hero’s voice echoed down the tunnel as the last of the platforms disappeared into the wall.

“Yes!” Hands to his knees he took a few deep breaths before straightening up. Looking around the walls were a deep grey, illuminated by the faint glow of lanterns dotted across the wall. The ground shifted around his feet, the sand falling away as he made his way around. Placing a hand to the wall he walked the pit’s perimeter to find a switch. But found nothing.

“There’s nothing down here!” He shouted up towards Sky who disappeared past the lip before returning. “I can't find a way up!” Looking across the walls they were decorated with random poles and circular patterns. He felt fear grip him.

Trapped. He was trapped.

“We can't get down to you from here!” Wind’s voice shouted down. “Think you can disable the spirit barrier somehow?!”

“I don’t think so!” He tried to keep his voice steady. Don’t want to panic Sky. “I’ll keep looking.”

“What do you see?!” Time also leaned his head over the pit, his face as stoic as ever.

“Just a bunch of Sand…” He looked to the floor and crouched. Brushing at the floor. More sand met him. The way it shifted made him pause. It didn’t seem all that deep. And there was an indentation buffed in the ground.

A door? A way out? Deeper into the ground. Great.

He began to dig around the edges of the square indented in the floor. If he just kept digging. And digging. And digging. Hoping He might find a way out of this mess.

His fingers brushed a latch as his digging became more frantic.

He revealed a door, and his eyes widened. “Guys! Guys, I found a door!”

His fingers latched the handle and pulled, opening a pit of darkness. The sound of sand falling into it filled his ears as the ground around him shifted. Looking into the darkness he could just about make out the floor below him. He’d have to jump into the pit, which would close the hatch…

A One-way drop.

“Sky! You guys better get back in the medallion!”

“What did you find?!” The Skyloftians's voice sounded. The outline of shining light filtered down towards him. A hand raised to his forehead as he squinted his eyes. “Are you okay?!”

“There’s a hatch in the floor!” Looking more closely he spotted carvings dotted across the wall.  “I think. I think Wind was right! I think it’s a temple!”

“Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go!” Wind’s voice echoed around him as swirling wind shifted around him and light burst back into the medallion. His spirit shone as bright as ever along side the others.

The swirling sounds of fire and lightning echoing through the air rang in his ears as the spirits flew down the tunnel and nestled inside the medallion.

He wouldn’t be alone, he just had to remember that.

The door above him loomed red and blue dancing across the wall. He raised a hand to the surface and pushed. The door creaking forward darkness met him as he reached to his right. Looking between a red torch and a blue torch before grabbing the red torch, and holding it close to his chest as he took a deep breath. Walking into the darkness. One thought echoed through his mind.

Time for an adventure.

[anzuhan]

no one has asked BUT heres all songs i did cover w innovators for now

notes:

for sugar sugar rune ones, theres no anew but there is tieria included because this was prior to the innovator idol au, and i didnt yet make the innovator unit

same for yurushite neko!, was made prior to it and is the single one that has tieria for vocals

each song has the same formatting as: title - author OR title (where it's from); VO1 [main vocal] [- innovator unit singer, written down if needed] (original singer, written down if needed) each Vocal or Guest is color coded to the idol or guest it has, color picked from the drawing; for same color ones: hiling, anew and bring always have the lighter colors; ribbons, revive, divine always have the darker colors

in some iterations, 'guest' does not have to mean someone that just dances extra on stage but also just someone mentioned/hinted towards (even moreso with non innovator unit guests, mainly tieria / lyle)

i tried my best to have the set of songs be as varied as possible from actual idol group songs, from idol gacha games, anime ops and eds, vocaloid, and just others i thought would fit (i.e yurushite neko, halcali songs (?), anything else that doesnt fit in previous criteria) :")

below cut are also more ideas of songs i really wanna draw stuff after. also its very very very very long AND a screenshot BECAUSE i stood 6 hours to write all that and tumblr hates me and wont let me upload the text so enjoy squinting if ur not on mobile i guess

EDIT i had to make it into multiple screenshots because otherwise it was in 140p and u couldnt understand anything. thank you tumblr. remember it is illegal to yap as hard as me

[alpaca-clouds]

What people need to understand about the Edda

To continue on my rant about the middle ages, let me quickly verge into the area of the Norse. To start, please remember: The culture was named "the norse", viking was just a job description so to speak. The vikings were all norse, but not all norse were vikings.

Here is the thing: Every kind of fantasy nerd loves the edda. No matter whether we talk the prose edda or the poetic edda. It does also not matter whether we are talking queer fantasy nerds - or the kinda white conservative one. Sure, they gonna focus on very different parts of the edda, but they sure fucking love the edda never the less.

There is only one problem a lot of folks do not talk about: The Edda is not really a good source. Because it was not written down by the Norse, it was written down by Snorri Sturluson, who was a Christian and he very much imposed his Christian views onto the Edda. Or to phrase it differently: We actually do not know a lot about the actual Norse mythology, partly because the Norse did not use their runes to write anything down, partly because a lot of religious sites and idols were once again destroyed as Christianity became the main religion adopted by the Norse.

Loki is the best example. We... actually do not know whether there was a god named Loki in the actual Norse mythology. Because outside of the Edda we have little to no evidence for it. And what little evidence we have does not point towards Loki, the trickster, but rather Loki, god of the heath. And we can see that a lot of the symbolism used for Loki actually does mirror very well typical medieval symbolism of Satan. Which would also explain why Loki does a lot of bullshit and gets away with it - until he doesn't and ends up with that "cruel and unusual punishment", you know?

Yes, it is to assume that quite a few aspects of the Edda are very much based on actual mythology. We have enough evidence of some of the gods existing and being prayed to, like Odin and Thor for example. We also have more than enough evidence for the people believing in dwarves and elves to some degree. But the details of most of the stories? Yeah, that is actually a lot more questionable. Because if you look at it from a comparative lense, you will actually find a lot of Christian influences in there.

This is also why this is a whole field in comparative mythology: Trying to find all those Christian influences in the Edda and then analyse why they are there and go by context and historical findings to get an understanding of what the original mythology might have been before that.

I might note, that the Norse mythology still is a lot more complete in our understanding, of course, than the Gaelic mythology. Because in the way the Gaelic mythology was written down we find a lot more stuff that clearly has been added from a Christian point of view. Like the tuatha de danann being linked to fucking Moses.

But I am really begging people to not always go "Well, actually" when it comes to Norse mythology, because even if you have memorized the Edda word for word... you still are mostly guessing which parts are Christian influence and which parts are actually Norse.

[illarian-rambling]

I heard ghost ship in space and came running :)

So I’m not 100% certain how your cast fits into the ghost ship unless I’m vastly misunderstanding what you mean by ghost ship but I’m here to ask questions all the same because I love characters. Here goes:

I’m going to assume at least some of the characters are either from or end up forming a spaceship crew (feel free to ignore this if not) so I’m curious what roles they end up playing (like who’s the captain, the mechanic, the helm officer, etc)? What ways do they suit those roles and what ways do they really not suit those roles?

What’s their goal? Do they all agree on it? I feel like going out into the death void that is Illarian space isn’t something you do unless you have a plan of what you want

How do they react to the unique challenges of space? Like I love space, but the tiny living quarters, lack of natural light or nature of any kind, spending time in a small environment with the same five people, rationing, knowledge that any minor damage to your ship could kill you… it’s not for the faint of heart. Are they used to it? How do they cope (or not)?

I hope some of these help the brainstorming :)

This helps so much, thank you!

So, by ghost ship, I mean the characters for this are gonna be ghosts. Essentially, the vague idea is that some mages on Illaros found out that there's this 'mysterious wall' at the edge of their solar system, and they want to launch a ship into space to check it out while also investigating some of the other planets along the way because yay first space travel! However, technology hasn't progressed to space suit level. The ship is actually just a wooden ship with a runic engine that they're teleporting into space via a teleportation rune etched on basically a manhole cover they managed to launch up there by putting it on top of a well with a bomb at the bottom. They know they don't have the means for survival up there, so what do they do? They go to a Chosen priest and ask them to summon up some ghosts.

At this point, the gods have a vested interest in this mission. A few ghosts might be small enough to slip past End unnoticed and find out if there's anything else in the universe. But they don't want to give up their best and brightest on what's likely a suicide mission, so they pick some screw-ups with a few skills to send instead, promising them a better place in the afterlife should they succeed. Some divine magic allows the ghosts to be bound to the ship and off the mission goes!

The thing about all these fuckers being dead though, is that they don't need a lot of traditional ship stuff. Especially since it's a magic ship that mostly flies by itself. I've got five crew members planned out, each with a role.

Faalgun Falani is the captain. He was a renowned Flying City pilot until his gambling addiction got him fired and eventually beaten to death. He's an uptight sort who tries to adhere to a code of honor, even though he often slips up. Out of all of the crew, he knows the most about space and the other planets, as the Flying City travels between planets frequently. I think he really wants to get into his religion's heaven to prove that he's not a total failure. Maybe he's got family or a lover there too? Who knows!

Nyda Burningrock is an astronomer who died about 400 years before the story takes place. She's Nabafyrian and has a bit of a complex about not being an adept fighter in such a martial culture, despite her rough and tumble nature. She was actually the first to theorize that the 'stars' move under their own power more than what's accounted for by gravity and the rotation of the planet, and she found a way to predict those movements, but unfortunately, she didn't write anything down or cite any sources. Her end came when she decided to travel to the realm of the Fair Folk to observe the sky there. She lasted about 15 minutes before getting hunted for sport by a fae lord.

Kaulakri Placeholdersurname is gonna be a sort of foil for Nyda, I think. She's a halawemavish selkie and the ship's cartographer, as well as a natural historian. She has beef with Nyda because mapmakers have been trying to replicate Nyda's method of predicting the unpredictable movements of Illari stars for centuries, but again, Nyda wrote literally nothing down. Kaulakri, on the other hand, writes everything down. She's neat and orderly and unfortunately wasn't able to get her comprehensive map of the world's ocean currents organized in time before she died of a random stomach bug.

Pashananath (Pash for short) is the ship's negotiator, for if they encounter any life beyond the wall of End. He's one of the Fair Folk and grew up in the Hive (a vast compound city ruled by a powerful fae demigod). His Contribution (an important concept for fae) was music. He was quite the musician, but due to his faculty for languages, he also worked as a honeytongue - essentially a smooth-talker/jester for hire in Fair Folk society. He died very young for one of the Fair Folk when another fae decided to kill him for playing a pitchy song. Pash isn't too mad about this (fae morals are weird), even if the rest of the crew things he should be.

And finally, there's Anarac. The scientists didn't ask for him, but the gods sent him anyways. No one knows what his specialty is because he never talks. He's the longest dead out of all of them and is one of the extinct Araunian people.

With such a cast, I'm hoping there'll be a good deal of tension. I don't think they actually know much about End (besides Anarac), except that the Chosen who summoned them said it's dangerous, so they arent worried about it nearly as much as they should be. I'm hoping that Nyda and Kaulakri can have a fun rivalry, while Pash might be the son figure Anarac needs, and leading these people to success will help Faalgun stop thinking he's a failure.

I'll probably structure it more episodically, with fun stuff happening at each planet they stop to explore. I have no idea what's gonna happen when they reach End's blockade, but I guess I can figure that out later. I think the main environmental problem for a ship full of dead people would be that if they get too far from the ship, they start to lose their ability to stay corporeal, then they just fade away.

Lmk if you have any more questions or suggestions! I think this really helped me with getting things straight in my mind, so thanks a ton <3

[ladyhindsight]

Of Morgenstern family history, inconsistencies as to previous books and plot, and me generally just not getting it.

Not as glorious as she makes it sound because it was less to do with glory and more to do with stupidity. First she makes the demons aware of her presence and then tries to battle them with ornamental axes, which probably would be funny if I had more tolerance for Clary’s bullshit.

Back to the point I made in chapter 12: Why does it matter where to rune is placed? The series has barely told us anything about the workings of runes, it has barely made any sense with the use of them. Do you benefit more having the mendelin rune where Clary has it or does it actually matter?

I don’t understand how unbuttoning a shirt hides any stains.

Sebastian and Clary talk about stuff: what the demons were talking about, Sebastian telling Clary about the plan but actually lying, how Sebastian thinks Valentine was wrong etc. Sebastian then invites Clary to join him on one of his excursions in order for him to prove himself to her. Then we cut to Team Good

This idiot is surprised that Alec defended his sister and didn’t let his boyfriend air out his frustrations unfairly on her. It is to drive the wedge further down, not that Alec would otherwise defend Isabelle since none of them defend each other when actually some standing up is required.

Team Good get the news about Luke being awake, and they begin to plan for the summoning of Raziel. Not a lot happens there on that front, and we’re back with Sebastian and Clary.

Clary has already commented on Sebastian’s looks in the beginning of the book. I don’t get why this point needs to be reiterated here just because he gets glances from girls.

“So this was what her brother looked like. Really looked like, alive and moving and animated. A pale face, all angles and planes, tall and slim in black gear. His hair was silvery white, not dark as it had been when she had first seen him, dyed to match the color of the real Sebastian Verlac’s. His own pale color suited him better. His eyes were black and snapping with life and energy.” –Chapter 3 “Bad Angels”

And it's not even the first or the last time Clare keeps describing him like this.

Fucking really.

→ It’s because it is the only sense of humor Clare knows how to write.

→ Jace doesn’t smile either. He smirks and grins like an ass.

→ Sebastian just said that Clary didn’t kill Valentine. Valentine died because of Clary.

→ Here they are having one of their many you are just like me, no I am nothing like you, oh but you are, I am not because kjdsakldjsl arguments. Many more to come…

→ Funny how Clary never thought to ask Jocelyn about her middle name. Seraphina would’ve been a lot cooler, but also a lot more on the nose and edgy.

→ Clarissa Seraphina Morgenstern. Pretty cool. It’s probably all those Rs that make it sound strong. But Clarissa Adele Fairchild suits her character better.

I did enjoy this part where Sebastian tells Clary about the Morgensterns. It was interesting.

It’s funny how Sebastian paints Jocelyn as the villain and ruthless woman who betrayed her husband in the cruelest of ways, simultaneously brushing past all the horrible things Valentine did to her and was as a person.

Sebastian and Clary then arrive at a place where Clary meets a disgraced Iron Sister Magdalena.

Glad that that plot hole has finally been answered. In the fifth book and not where it was supposed to be.

However, in City of Bones, Luke explains that the Circle ”allied themselves with demons—the greatest enemies of Shadowhunters—in order to procure weapons that could be smuggled undetected into the Great Hall of the Angel, where the Accords would be signed.”

So where do we stand on that now since it was apparently Magdalena who armed them? Also why would they need an Iron Sister arming them when they were just good ol’ regular Nephilim with the access to weaponry anyway? Did Clare just try to cover a plot hole with a nonsensical answer?

Not even the Parisian ones passing by?

Sebastian hands over the chunk of adamas for Magdalena to craft into what he asked. Which we know is a cup. Clary and Sebastian start to leave, and Magdalena makes a comment how they look exactly like their parents. Which fair, because they are the exact copies of them where looks are concerned.

[katyspersonal]

Well- I've made really great strides in SoTE! FINALLY! Going to write down the progress in 2-3 posts in order before I forgot, but at the moment I reached the final boss gfhtfjj

1) So, I was checking remaining points of interest, such as finishing killing bosses and minor enemies! Turned out there was a furnace golem I needed to activate to fight, that was blocking Ruins of Unte! You need to throw a Hefty Furnace Pot in its opening!

So, behind it was the secret place with flowers, an incantation, and this item:

2) In fact, I've gotten REALLY good at killing Furnace Golems x) I finally adapted to the timing of jumping when they attack!! Like... I didn't even need their Cracked Tears, nor they drop much runes, nor I had anything to explore left that they prevented me from. I just made it my mission to kill all of them and I did bfgthfh

However, one on the way to Manus Metyr and one in Charo's Grave ('the red area') are only killed by getting at the high spot and throwing like 3 Hefty Furnace Pots in them! There was in fact an in-game hint to do that in one of the broken ones before entrance to Shadow's Keep, I just forgor 💀 so @val-of-the-north had to explain me XD But yes, this is why there are Spiritsprings near them and their legs don't get damage!

3) So, after all dragons and all Furnace Golems were gone from the DLC map, the only thing left was remaining Tree Spirits and big hyppos!

^ Interesting lore (dropped by the Tree Spirit in the Elac river that leads to Cerulean Coast eventually!)

4) Again, my other objective was to kill two big hippos that I remembered were on the way to the way towards Abyssal Woods, just didn't engage with at the time! I got stuck though, because I didn't see what it gave me.. so I asked Val and he mentioned Village of Flies should have been somewhere around!

Apparently it was some place I've missed, even despite the fact that I did activate the grace needed for it before! I never got other instructions, however, now that I knew there was some secret place nearby, I started to find one secret nook after other!!!

^ For example, this was in a secret waterfall nooks! I did explore that area before, just.. not enough, I guess? This is a really cool symbol of why they searched a new way! fAlLiNg LeAvEs TeLl a StOrY

5) However, that was NOT the village I was seeking, knowing nothing but 'it should be here', but I found it in another turn!

THIS IS A SURPRISE TOOL THAT WILL HELP US LATER because trust me some big lore discussion with Val followed regarding the flies sickness gfhghgj That happened later though!

I just think it is so funny how this area was actually easy to find if you explore well... and I DO explore well. For example, right now I have Scadutree Blessing lvl 18 and I did NOT look up any guide to find these! I just discovered them as I proceeded to explore every corner! Sometimes you can only find something as long as you KNOW it exists XD Psychology is hilarious

5.1) Honestly, Scadutree Fragments + Revered Ashes mechanic is one of the coolest things in DLC! Extra rewards for exploring the open world game are!!

6) Another loose end to pick was to finally challenge Dane, who kicked my ass too much earlier:

Granted, he kicked my ass again hghhghg Guess his concept of getting stronger by not allowing much interaction, let alone attachment, works just fine :p I won though

They added cool dual wield and fist combat weapons in this DLC though, I like that! Can't wait to get to NG+ to try all the new stuff in the base game properly!

7) At first, I didn't even know this seal existed:

I learned about it when I was taking closer looks at Spirit Ashes, and when me and Val were done losing it at Queelign's image I asked him what WAS he holding in his hand. ...turned out that was really easy to find, it was in the room at Shadow's Keep's drowned church with headless Marika statue after water got drained 🤡 "I explore the world well", huh?

8) Speaking of Shadow's Keep, it had a painting puzzle in it earlier that I never solved gfbgjf It gave one of the dragon hearts:

Another one apparently was supposed to be a reward for defeating Bayle picked from Florissax, that I've never gotten because I completed her questline properly! (Got her incantation, spirit ash and her calling me 'my good lord' affectionately tho 😳)

So whereas her transformation would empower Dragon Cult incantations (the zappy ones), this one empowered Dragon Communion ones (the head/claw ones received by eating Dragon hearts). Does this item imply that before, even the Drakes' hearts were more stone-like? They really are just a branch of alternative evolution from Ancient Dragons, aren't they? :p

9) And there was another painting puzzle, in that area where we learned Formless Mother lore! In the furthest part on the hill! There was also variant of Leda's armor

^ this was the reward for that puzzle!

10) For final one, I vaguely recalled that I saw an item in Belurat that I never figured out how to pick up! In search for it, I ended up also finding a letter from Leda and a Cross below that I've missed earlier, but apparently was supposed to check 🤡🤡🤡 And I did get the item, it was a dried bouquet that powers up attacks if the spirit you summoned dies!

11) So.. I really, really could not think of any other loose end to pick up. I did literally everything except for proceeding with the "actual" game. xd (If I forgot anything @val-of-the-north and others you know where to find me gfhhghh)

I killed every optional boss/enemy and I picked every item I could think of, so I had to go to the Rauh Ruins.. That was a bit of headache :^) Though looking back at it, it was fun.. Okay I'll share in the next episode post!

[wings-of-ink]

Wanna eat your work that's how deliciously you write!!

Recently I saw super sad ask about MC breaking up with RO (gently). If you haven't done this before, could you give us ROs reaction?

BUT THERE'S A TWIST!

In the end ROs also find out that MC done this on purpose to keep ROs out of something dangerous. MC still loves them ofc but they hurt them to protect them,,,,, kinda poetic

So glad you find it tasty, Anon! I will continue to cook this stuff up and feed you even more (but you're gonna have to have a few veggies before dessert).

That is a super sad ask! But I like the twist. As the MC has some difficult things ahead, something like this may come up in the routes, but it's too far out for me to see quite yet. And it may just be MC sneaking off to "handle" something (that they really shouldn't be doing alone).

Oswin:  

He can't swallow for fear of choking and goes silent.

MC watches Oswin carefully, noticing that he's started to subtly shake.

"So…that's just it." His voice is breaking.

MC nods, trying their best to keep a straight face.

"You…you put up with me for all this time, I tell you everything, all…all that I've…" Oswin's voice cracks and tears start to roll down his eyes.

There's a ringing in their ears, MC can't stand this, but it's for the best. The world is better with Oswin in it, they have to do this to keep him safe.

"I can't…I can't bear this. It will kill me, MC…we planned a life together. I don't want to be apart." Oswin lands on MC's shoulder, releasing a painful sob.

MC feels their very soul begin to burn. They don't want this either, but it's the best way. They keep telling themselves that. It's for the best.

Zahn: 

Zahn takes the news with a cruel amount of stoicism. MC expected some sort of resistance, maybe even tears or a plea. Were they hoping for that even?

MC waits for a response for a while, but Zahn gives nothing away before simply turning around and leaving. MC stands in shock for several minutes before they snap from their daze and go out to find them.

They find Zahn sitting by the brook, watching the water churn by, still quiet and still.

MC sits next to them. "Zahn you need to say something…please."

"Why should I?" Their voice is straining but harsh.

"You let me say my part…it's only fair."

Zahn nods, and then chuckles, but the sound is cruel. "You just threw me away like everyone else did. So, no, I don't know what to say."

Duri:

"You forget how easily I can read you." Duri smirks, folding their arms and leaning against the wall.

MC stares at them. They knew it would be a challenge. Lying to a demigod is stupid at best - then again, so is romancing one. "My choice is still firm."

Duri shakes their head. "It's the choice that is the lie, MC."

"It's still mine to make."

They nod. "That's true."

MC expects more argument on the subject, spotting a peculiar shine to Duri's doleful eyes that's rare to see.

"I guess I will just have to convince you to pick me again then. I did it once before…somehow. Even if you don't want to love me now…you can still love me later."

MC's resolve nearly cracks, but they try to give nothing away.

A familiar smile splays on Duri's lips, but it lacks the mirth they usually have. "Besides, I have to find what you're hiding, and you know how good I am at that."

Rune:  

"No," Rune says.

MC shifts uncomfortably. It has to be now. They have to say goodbye now before it's too late. Losing themselves is one thing, but they can't lose Rune. "What do you mean no? It's the way it is, the way I want it."

Rune's eyes roll, the purple orbs practically glowing. "You're hiding something."

"I am not. I just…we are from very different worlds, this isn't the time - I can't…"

"You can't what?" They fold their arms and stare into MC.

"Be with you like this."

They begin to pace. "Did you learn how to lie from Oswin? Don't feed me lines like that when your voice holds no conviction. Make no mistake, Northbreaker, I know that I am no one's first choice in a lover."

MC barely stifles a rebuttal.

"No one puts up with my shit unless their feelings are genuine, MC. What hurts me the most is not your failure to convince me that you'd rather us go our separate ways - it's that you apparently do not trust me enough to help you shoulder your burdens."

The quiver of their lower lip betrays MC's feelings.

???:

"Would you like to try that again with a straight face?" He smiles. That stupid smug smile that you hate to love. It doesn't reach his eyes and it's the most condescending look he has in his arsenal.

"We can't do this anymore. I was infatuated, it's not-"

"Real?" he finishes. "Not real love?"

"Yes."

He tuts. "No, no, my dear. See, I opened all I am to you - that is a door you cannot close easily. Don't mistake the phrasing as a threat - if you truly wish to part from me, then do so. But, don't lie to yourself or to me."

"I'm not-"

"You are spectacularly bad at it." He affirms, his voice hard. "You knew you would not be able to, but you still tried."

MC stands there feeling like a scolded child. He always flips everything on its head.

He sighs. "I am sorry. I am hurt. I know you are hiding something, but I do not wish to imagine my world without you. Please, just let me help."

There you are Anon! May the angst nourish your wicked and lovely soul. ^_^

[allmightyscroll-swag]

WHICH ONE?

My answer is

YES

I'm gonna tell you about my fucked up bird dude cause I love him actually

THIS IS HIM ^^^^ BENJAMIN!!!!

I'm gonna put everything under cut just for others' convenience lmao (also quick CW for things like unethical experimentation and the things that come with that)

SO . Like in this world magic exists but it's not like your usual magic. I kinda treat it like art in the sense that if, given time, effort and dedication, everyone can do art. But obviously, nobody does, because maybe they're just not interested in it, or learn really slow, or have given up on it. In the same vein some people learn and improve in magic very quickly while for others it takes their whole life. There's probably a very skilled 13 year old out there who can revive people and summon whole hurricanes just cause....

BUT IM GETTING OFF TRACK.

So this world is kinda set in the medieval times? So the understanding of magic is quite lacking. So in one kingdom some of the greatest scientific minds got together under the kings approval and were like 'yo. Let's check how far we can push this, actually,'

The first batches of experiments, labeled the beta stage, consisted of mostly animal based experimentation. Can you cast spells into multiple objects? Can you give a dog the ability to cast magic? Can you store magic? Can you modify things? How far?

.... Not many of the beta experiments survived. If any. But their sacrifices gave way for the second, proper stage to begin; human experimentation.

This is the stage Benjamin, or C-86 which I'll be calling him in this period, came from.

C-86 was not an easy experiment to take care of. Energetic, disruptive, unresponsive and totally unrelenting to cooperate. Was this because he was genetically modified at birth? Were the bird genes that they've etched into his DNA somehow causing him to do this? Or was it simply the result of genetical modification being a new, untested method?

Whatever the case may be, C-86 was a problem. Countless injured scientists, some having to be hospitalized due to infection - it was taking a toll on the facility, and they needed a solution.

Another untested method that was being developed was rune making. With runes you could imbue an object with a specific quality, store and write down spell combinations, and much, much more.

Their use in relation to C-86 was simple. To reel him into obedience. How? Well, mind control was a good option. Best case scenario they'd be able to lock away or even eliminate the disruptive part of him.

Long story short the attempt failed - leaving C-86 more than just an inconvenience now. But an actual active threat. Due to his new ability to [REDACTED].

Let's say they had to take unethical measures to keep him under control now.

As the years passed, a very important thing that occurred was that two of the experiments escaped. Which made the population extremely suspicious and thrust the facility into the public eye. In response, the lead scientists made the drastic decision to move the facility. It wasn't the only facility around by now, but it was the one responsible for both the experiments and the escape.

This is a very shitty map doodle but basically, the quickest route to the new facility was through another country - an empire, to be exact. And the scientists had to move as quickly as possible with their very alive cargo for obvious reasons.

The empire caught wind of this, and sent their own forces to retrieve this top secret cargo, cause it was on their territory after all.

The transport gets raided and thus, most of the experiments either escape, or are now in possession of the empire. So y'know very fun stuff.

Due to being unconscious while the transportation was happening, C-86 was in possession of the empire now.

From there, he gets taken to the emperor- and this is where my favourite part happens and it's honestly just so much fluff & angst as C-86 or Benjamin now befriends the emperor's son, Albert, and he basically gets found family'd and finally experiences some happiness 😭😭

The overarching arc at first there is Benjamin attempting to better Albert's relationship with his dad, who Albert believes he has to constantly prove himself to, to make him proud and to make sure he still loves him. In reality the emperor loves and cares for his son unconditionally but due to the environment can't show it without loosing his "Strong, Undisputed and Merciless Emperor" image he gained.

The arc ends with Benjamin running away due to being inherently convinced that he's completely unlovable and undeserving of anything good due to him not being human :) in his goodbye letter he basically goes, 'well now that you're at way better terms with your dad, my job here is done and you're free to continue with me finally out of your hair.'

[straydogkins]

Kin advice: Memories

Okay so I know I talk about my memories here in detail and I wanted to share how I remeber so much!

As a disclaimer we've been doing this since we were 15, we're fairly used to this but it takes practice and time to get used to some of these methods! This will be added to if you have any methods you want to suggest as a btw!

Also as a final note: Remember to take care of your health, as someone with PNOS I know how easy it can be to 'fall' into a negative delusion, so start learning your signs and symptoms that you are, take your medication, and stop if at any point you feel upset or your body is giving you signs (ie headaches, nausea, cold dread, ect).

Meditate and let your mind 'go' in whatever direction it wants. Idk if this makes any sense, I am not a meditation expert I just enjoy 'letting my brain go' and allowing it to remember in its own time.

Get a pendulum and start asking them questions. If you can't afford one- Try using other methods (ie shufflemancy, rain drop races, runes, tarot cards, ect) or make your own pendulum with some strings and paper clips. Remeber to build up a relationship with your pendulum and take everything with a grain of salt.

Ask for others opinions on your canon via sharing memories or getting tarot readings/pendulums/ect done. This can show you that you may be correct with specific feelings or need to look at new options. But remeber to take all 'fortune telling' with a grain of salt- You know yourself and your memories best.

Write your thoughts and memories down. Sometimes when I write I realise that something happened that I can't rember or am able to piece pieces together between memories more efficiently.

Surround yourself with objects, food, memories, ect that remind you of [kin]. These can trigger memories and is a really useful way of recovering stuff.

Interact with your source. An point liking to the last one- If you want to, keep a diary/document while watching and write down anything you feel is 'wrong' or 'didn't happen'. I hope that makes sense.

Know that you won't be able to 'see' every memory. Sometimes you have to rely on emotion and gut feelings- And that's okay. It's important to recognise this.

Remember to trust yourself the most, only you will know thos and its important for you to explore these on your own.

[littleladymab]

Hi! I've just read the snippet from your Ezra/Luke/Mara fantasy AU on Ao3 and I'm super intrigued!

Don't know much about Mara (or Legends for that matter) but it's super compelling so far! Love the way you describe all their magic, lightsabers being summoned energy weapons sound so cool! I know that Ezra's magic is teleportation (love the detail about the hyperspace eyes btw!), and Luke was using Runes I think? What's Mara's magic like?

I magic something rather rare in your universe? I think it's implied in your fic that the Empire is hunting magic users? (But I could be wrong!)

Anyway, just wanted to drop by and say I loved your writing! No pressure to answer if any of these questions are spoilers or silly! (Also Ezra/Luke/Mara is very big brained)

HELLO OMG THANK YOU!!!

So like real quick Mara 101 just in case is her first appearance is in the original Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire etc) and she had served as the Hand of the Emperor, which was he would send her out on super special secret missions and she would spy or assassinate etc. Not as a sith or dark jedi apprentice (legends is RIDDLED with dark jedi) even though she is force sensitive. She only uses it to like, tap briefly into the precog senses and reflexes. After the emperor is killed, she does keep hearing him in her head and he's like "man you know who I hate? Luke Skywalker. You should kill that guy". And she also hates Luke because he killed the emperor and so she makes it her life mission now to kill him but, well, we've all seen how well that goes LOL

I keep some of the same concept here in that she is working for the Emperor (in this setting it's ticked back a few years to be during rebels era) and she's tasked to go hunt down Luke. A huge "with us or against us" in that Jedi/magic users have to keep their abilities secret still and they're hunted down -- and any magic users the Empire catches they'll study the abilities of in order to find a way to turn it back on other magic users. Mara existed as a super elite commando type of person who HAD magic but was never taught how to use it beyond the bare-bones senses it gave her. Anything to give her an edge in fighting against other magic users.

Luke, for his part, spent most of his youth with Obi-Wan who taught him enough to defend himself if needed but still made sure the bulk of his magic was kept secret (Leia is here, but she's got a WHOLE other story). Ezra's teleportation is my fun little wink and nod to him getting yeeted into hyperspace and then also just his interactions with the Interdictors in Rebels (and that scene where he's talking to the purgill for the first time and he gets those hyperspace eyes? LOVE it)

All magic users are able to do a lot of the same basic stuff -- shields, wards, heighten their senses and reflexes, etc. They can also physically manifest it as a lightsaber. But then sometimes you'll get super special abilities (Ezra's transportation). Luke specializes in protective spaces as he started to learn how to use his as a weapon later (after he and Ezra started traveling together) and it doesn't come as naturally to him as it does Ezra (and Mara).

Mara's magic is still primarily geared towards being offensive, but Luke helps her a lot in getting a solid foundation of the basics, and Ezra spars with her to get her used to using an energy weapon/lightsaber instead of an actual metal blade which she used to use.

Thank you so much again for reading and come to ask me about it!!!

If you ever do want a great intro to Legends (and Mara) I highly recommend the Heir to the Empire trilogy! Timmy Z, the author that you are!! I love the way he writes Luke and it's really influenced how I approach Luke as well. (Also Thrawn's there!)

[birlwrites]

do you have any recommendations for fics or other writers/artists that make Regulus-centric stuff that isn't jegulus?

I DO YES - i don't really know anything in the realm of fanart but if anyone does feel free to hop on!

first of all, some good places to look are in the ao3 collections for regulus black fest (it's a different collection every year). you can find a lot of info on the tumblr blog which i am not going to tag because i feel like their notifications are probably hellish but it's https://regulusblackfest.tumblr.com/ - the url is just regulusblackfest

and they also have artwork! so that's a good source for that as well if you haven't already looked

of course, there will undoubtedly be jegulus in there, but it won't ONLY be jegulus

as for my personal recommendations:

rosewater:

if you're looking for regulus/evan, i have a bookmark collection on ao3 of my favorites. it's a bit on the small side, and they're all one-shots right now, but i do check the tag pretty religiously (we're talking 5+ times per day) so i will add more new favorites as i find them!

and here is a link to xslytherclawx's works on ao3 (@xslytherclawx-writes on tumblr), already filtered down to just the works featuring regulus, of which there are QUITE a few

no romance:

these are some of my ABSOLUTE FAVES for regulus-centric fics! here goes:

leave no stone unturned (a series of standalones) by thedivinecomedian has a lot of great stuff - i haven't read the whole series, but i love blackpool, styx, and sabotage! please do mind the content warnings on all of those. (as the title of the series suggests, they're all standalone fics)

bindings, bindings by quietlemonhush isn't SOLELY regulus-centric - it focuses on regulus, sirius, remus, james, and lily - but regulus is one of the main characters, he has a pov, and i just love the fic in general agslhgjskdf. once again mind the warnings but it's less intense than, like, blackpool

through a glass, blackly by wheresmejumper is one that i just read fairly recently and became an INSTANT fave. it's just so well done GAHHHHHH my jaw was on the fLOOR when i got to the end, highly highly recommend, yet again do mind the warnings

some more no romance fics i found in my older bookmarks:

birthright and brotherhood - one-shot, regulus pov of sirius running away

to blow a gasket - one-shot, regulus using notable muggle inventions like duct tape and explosives to steal the horcrux

miscellaneous pairings:

smoke slow: a spy!regulus au - regulus/remus series, regulus is The Spy who ends up with the hogwarts teaching job. he's a runes professor, one of my favorite takes on the 'regulus was dumbledore's spy' premise, and regulus himself is just *chefs kiss* he's punched dumbledore in the face multiple times and i live in the hope of him getting another one in. the dialogue is EXCELLENT

midnight hues - bartylus one-shot, emotional hurt/comfort i guess? it's soft (it's in a series, but the series is more a collection of regulus fics than anything requiring continuity)

kindness blooms - regulus/petunia series, which is a WILD pairing but the author totally sold me on it - 'good petunia dursley' is a prominent tag in the series, it becomes more harry-centric as the series progresses but there's still a lot of regulus!

AND FINALLY........

technically this fic should go in the no romance section but it's just so glorious that i felt the need to give it its own section

regulus black and the way things changed: a not!fic - another take on regulus becoming a hogwarts professor, told in humorous bullet point style, and it's just delightfully unhinged the whole way through. regulus competes with gilderoy lockhart re: who is the most fabulous dresser at hogwarts. snuffles gets HEAVILY involved. it's absolutely wild. also they kill voldemort and whatnot

okay that's what i've got right now - if anyone else wants to add on more, including art, go for it!!