#mysterious ocean phenomena

[archivist-crow]

On this day:

MARINE MODULATIONS

On February 20, 1803, scientist Alexander von Humboldt and his expedition were onboard ship near the equator when the sound of beating drums filled the air. As recorded in Nature magazine, May 19, 1870:

“On the 20th of February, 1803, toward seven in the evening, the whole crew were astounded by an extraordinary noise, which resembled that of drums beating in the air. It was at first attributed to the breakers. Speedily it was heard in the vessel, and especially toward the poop. It was like a boiling, the noise of the air which escapes from fluid in a state of ebullition. They then began to fear that there was some leak in the vessel. It was heard unceasingly in all parts of the vessel, and finally, about nine oclock it ceased altogether.”

No reasonable explanation was ever discovered for this phenomenon, although it was similar to the "Grey Town Noises" heard off the Atlantic coast near Trinidad.

These noises had been reported as a "peculiar metallic vibratory sound...musical…with a certain cadence, and a one-two-three time tendency of beat," and it was stated that they could only be heard in iron ships and not in wooden ones. The famous novelist Charles Kingsley wrote that the sound was "like a locomotive in the distance rattling as it blows off steam." Kingsley said that it could be heard in wooden ships as well as iron ones.

Text from: Almanac of the Infamous, the Incredible, and the Ignored by Juanita Rose Violins, published by Weiser Books, 2009

[markethighs]

Title: Unexplained Mysteries: Exploring Earth's Biggest Enigmas (Part 1 & 2)

Description:  Have you ever heard of the Bermuda Triangle or the Nazca Lines? Our planet is full of unsolved mysteries that baffle scientists and explorers. This 2-part series dives into some of these enigmas, from the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space.  Join us as we explore the unexplained and venture beyond the known!

SEO Tags: unexplained phenomena, bermuda triangle, nazca lines, voynich manuscript, the hum, extraterrestrial intelligence, SETI, ocean exploration, mysteries of earth, unsolved riddles, documentary, science

[fornaxs]

Surface Tension (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1302336562-surface-tension?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=Fornaxs&wp_originator=4LDnFYhKelOlwRohZ11a%2FoN1MthxyO7VOR8rARSPoTg72hwHEmsd2BChvbBv3xwEPNlnDIyigyDPJFCznw%2F8mqXcZ4x%2Bgeg0b%2Fe6EGBbt55BTzGI7F6CE5fsnNGkXJxO 

What would happen if every ocean, every swimmingpool and all other large bodies of water were one day impossible to break through the surface of? This is part one of a Two-part story.

[nobrashfestivity]

Cover for Der Orchideengarten

First published in 1919 under the editorship of Karl Hans Strobl (1877 - 1946), an Austrian writer of dark and unusual horror tales who also was the publisher together with Alfons von Czibulka, it ran until 1921. Der Orchideengarten was more than a magazine devoted to the fantastic; appropriately founded in the year that across the ocean, Charles Fort would publish his Book of the Damned, the magazine too, devoted space to anomalous phenomena: "…we no longer dismiss as nonsense all things that are not explicable in terms of the known laws of physics. Mysterious connections between human beings, independent of spatial and temporal separation, spooks, the appearance of ghosts, all are again in the realm of the possible…" as the editorial in the second issue of Der Orchideengarten explained.

scanned by Will Schofield. on or before 2006/ dieschwarzesonne

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hello! Do you have any fairytale/disney-esque ttrpgs you could recommend?

Theme: Fairytale Games

Hello there friend! I sure do! We've got a really nice selection here to look at - and don't forget to check out the previously recommended!

I’ll Be Taking That, by porchlightdusk.

You are a goblin, and you are what you hold close: discarded trinkets, unloved baubles, desperate comrades. These precious bits of flotsam give you courage enough to rummage through the treacherous alleys and howling wastes of this world. Venture out from whatever miserable hovel you sprouted and seek the shiny things of the world, oh little chaos beast!

I'll Be Taking That is a tabletop roleplaying game in which a narrator and several players tell the stories of rambunctious goblins in a harsh world. Play is rooted in narrative choices and collective, chaotic joy, supported mechanically by a lightweight inventory-as-skills action resolution system and overflowing random generation tables. IBTT is built on Caltrop Core by Titanomachy RPG and draws heavily on the philosophies of Powered by the Apocalypse systems, among others.

This is a game that situates you into the fiction very well in just the first few pages. Chaotic nonsense is definitely encouraged in this game, and I can feel the undercurrent of mischief sprinkled throughout the book. Trinkets are a core tenet of this game - you will accumulate them as you adventure, and risk breaking them on your worst failures. Your attachment to these trinkets will also rise and fade. If you want a game that lets you embrace your inner gremlin, you might want to check out this game, although be aware - it’s still in development!

Witchblood: Pulp Fantasy Fairy Tales, by Rose on Mars.

The Woods… …are dark and deep, but they are not lovely. Inch by inch, they close in on the villages of humanity. And in those encroaching wilds dwell the witches. Ancient, primeval, creatures from before the First Eve and still potent today.

In this world, where life is brutish and short, you stand tall. You are a witch's grandchild, or a disinherited noble, or a scion of the good folk. You are part of humanity, but also apart from it, by your own choice or otherwise. You are caught between the expectations of your birth and your own needs and desires. Run from your past, or chase it. Love freely, or not at all. Stand between the hearth and the wilds. They may not call you a hero, but your name will live on ever after.

Witchblood is a roleplaying game about who you were, who you are, and who you will become. Take on the role of a self-determined, tough-as-you-want pulp fantasy protagonist wandering a world of bloody -- but not always grim -- fairy tales. Wield the powers of birthright and destiny. Explore the darks of the forest and brace yourself against the bite of the wind. Do what’s right, or just what’s right for now.

These are the woods through which Little Red voyaged through; this is a fantasy world that might remind you of The Black Cauldron, or the brambles summoned by the witch in Sleeping Beauty. Character creation involves choosing options that look like classes, as well as pairing together identity tags that can be rated from 0-5, as well as pairing opposing Qualities, also rated from 0-5. You will roll d10s according to your Identities and Qualities.

This is a game where combat and conflict are expected, and stories can be expected to turn darker before becoming lighter. If you like traditional fantasy alongside fairytales of witches and darkness and danger, Witchblood might be for you.

Nexalis, by Cezar Capacle.

We invite you to step aboard your enchanted vessel and set sail on the ethereal ocean known as the Nectar. Nexalis calls you on an awe-inspiring journey across a universe filled with countless uncharted islands, each teeming with unique cultures, mysteries, and magical phenomena.

Nexalis is an otherworldly realm where islands drift amidst an endless cosmic ocean of magical plasma, the Nectar. The Nectar, pulsing with vibrant, ever-shifting colors, mirrors the celestial patterns that guide adventurers on their thrilling journeys. At the heart of this sea lies the Celestial Nexus, an entrancing vortex of astral energy that births islands and renews the world in a constant cycle of creation.

As you journey through the Starbound Isles and the shimmering Nectar ocean, you will encounter vibrant cultures, awe-inspiring landscapes, ancient relics, and enigmatic secrets. Guided by celestial constellations, you will brave untold challenges, learn valuable lessons, and forge lasting bonds with the people and places you encounter.

Nexalis is a bright fantasy game, a genre that focuses on themes of wonder, exploration, and camaraderie. It showcases a vibrant and diverse setting, filled with colorful landscapes and imaginative creatures. Stories in Nexalis tend to be character-driven, often revolving around personal growth, discovery, and the building of relationships.

If you liked movies such as Treasure Planet or Atlantis, this might be the game for you. The magic of this place feels ancient and yet unlike traditional fantasy. The gameplay is guided, meaning that you’ll cycle between two different modes, depending on whether you are in a high energy scene or moments of reflection and role-play.

On the Way to Chrysopoeia, by NessunDove.

On the Way to Chrysopoeia is an epistolary roleplaying game written by Morgane Reynier and illustrated by Marion Bulot. Together with a partner you will be writing a four-handed adventure, first by inventing its two protagonists and then by leading them on a legendary journey. It’s a different way to make up a story in your head: you’ll be reinventing objects and places you see every day, turning them into crucial ingredients for a Great Work of alchemy. 

Reality itself and your daily life will bleed into your characters’ fictional journey. What if your favorite museum was the headquarters for a league of mad scientists? What if the path you’re strolling along lead to an unknown city…? The journey is narrated through the exchange of letters between two characters: the Master and the Disciple. They walk the way of the Athanor— the alchemical Crucible, the pot where explorers melt their research and experiences. Each one is the keeper and judge of their partner’s progress. 

This is a great option if you don’t have a large play group but you have someone with whom you’d like to play with who lives in a different time zone. One of you plays a Master, the other a Disciple. The Disciple is on a quest. The Master is stuck at home, due to age or infirmity. The goal: to find Chrysopoeia, a mythic city full of hope and magic - although the specifics are up to you. This is a largely interpretive game, so if you like writing and world building, this is a game for you.

The creator of this game has also created a game called Chrysopoeia & All Around for group play at a table, borrowing from Lasers & Feelings!

Stormwild Islands, by Gizogin.

Welcome to [Stormwild Islands], a tabletop role-playing game. Set in the Stormwild Islands, a cluster of islands in the middle of a perpetual, continent-sized storm, this game explores the aftermath of a generations-long war and the magical damage done to the world as a result.

In terms of genre, [Stormwild Islands] fits most closely with “gaslamp fantasy”, an early industrial setting with a great deal of magic. Spellcasters are commonplace, and they work alongside new innovations like steam engines to create a world that changes very quickly. Golems - humanoid constructs with minds and wills of their own - have been instrumental in bringing about this new wave of industry, but their use in the war and their newfound push for independence might be even more significant. Alongside all of this is a world of spirits, otherworldly creatures who think and act according to completely different rules, and mixing spirits with humans or golems tends to cause all kinds of clashes.

This is a game for the folks who like moving little guys around on a map, especially if you’re familiar with games like D&D or Lancer and you don’t want to stray too far from the familiar. The cycle of play will fluctuate between combat and narrative moments, so expect your characters to be all about fighting their way towards victory. If you like combat and kicking butt, this looks like the game for you.

The player’s guide as linked above is free to download, but if you want the Gamemaster’s Guide, you’ll have to buy it.

The Fae Team, by Almost Bedtime Theatre.

Two years ago, a crack squad of the Sun Guard’s Human Intervention Division was sent to prison by the Faerie Court for a crime they didn’t commit. These woodland creatures promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Faerie Realm underground. 

Today, still wanted by the Sun Guard, they survive as freelancers. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The Fae Team.

The Fae Team is a role-playing game inspired by The A-Team television show, but puts the players in the roles of skunks, weasels, frogs, etc. and gives them magical powers before sending them through a gargoyle-generated portal into the human world to solve problems. As one does.

The rules of this game depend on a two-stat dichotomy, similar to Lasers and Feelings. You choose a number between 2 to 5, with a higher number indicating that you are good at calm and precise actions, while a low number means you are better at wild and physical actions. There’s also plenty of bits and pieces to make your character unique, such as your faerie gift, and the item that your characters carry around.

A session of this game can be fairly episodic, with an NPC contacting the group for help and giving them a mission that requires entering the human world. While the mission (and its complications) are expected to be generated by the Story Guide, the players are encouraged to describe the world around them and create elements that they get excited about. If you want a game that is lighthearted and magical, check out The Fae Team!

Sunderwald, by Long Tail Games.

In the center of the kingdom of Realm, there exists a dark and unsettling forest. It is known as the Sunderwald. 

This is a game about how the woods change us, and how we change the woods. It features a complete, stand-alone game with character creation, enemies, advancement, the whole deal. It is also a legacy tabletop roleplaying game. During play, you will physically and permanently modify this book. Do not be afraid. Scar. The. Book. 

The fact that this book is meant to be manipulated and modified makes it feel somewhat akin to a wizard’s grimoire, or a magical artifact. This is a book that asks you to make your own pieces of the world, and might also feel like a kind of achievement system by doing specific things with the game.

While most tasks appear to be resolved with a d6, playing the game involves so much more than rolling dice. Your characters have descriptive skills, might take upon themselves physical and mental scars and consequences, and will grapple with their inventory, wound threshold, background and magic. If you like unfolding a mystery together, if you like manipulating physical objects, and if you like fairy stories or tales like Alice in Wonderland, you might like this game.

Games I’ve Recommended in the Past

Hearts & Ravens, by Martian Machinery.

We’re All Mad Here, by Shanna Germain.

Wanderhome, by Possum Creek Games

Jack Kills Giants, by Andrew White.

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Where Can You Find Inspiration to Write a Fantasy Novel?

I fell in love with fantasy novels, I'm guessing you have as well. My passion for the genre has only grown over the years. As a fantasy writer myself, I know that finding the right inspiration can be difficult. However, if you're willing to put in the time and effort, there are many places where you can find inspiration to write a fantasy novel. Here are five of my favorite places to find inspiration:

1. Historical Events and Periods: One of the most effective ways to find a starting point for your fantasy novel is to draw inspiration from historical events or periods. For example, you could use the Napoleonic Wars as the basis for your fantasy world's conflict between two powerful empires, or you could create a magical kingdom based on the medieval era. The possibilities are endless!

2. Mythology and Folklore: Another great source of inspiration for a fantasy novel is mythology and folklore. You can use these ancient stories as inspiration for your characters and events, or even incorporate them into your story directly. For example, you could take inspiration from the Greek gods and goddesses to create a pantheon of deities in your fantasy world, or you could draw from the Norse legends to create an epic tale of adventure and heroism.

3. Nature and the Environment: The natural environment can also provide plenty of inspiration for a fantasy novel. Consider using elements of nature such as mountains, forests, oceans, and deserts to create your setting or plot points. You could even incorporate natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods into your story for added drama and excitement.

4. Other Genres and Media: While fantasy is a unique genre with its own set of rules and conventions, you can still draw inspiration from other genres and media sources. For example, you could incorporate elements from science fiction to create a futuristic setting for your novel, or you could use mystery elements to add intrigue and suspense to your plot. Similarly, you could draw inspiration from TV shows, movies, video games, and even books to create a unique and memorable experience for your readers.

5. Your Own Imagination: Finally, don't forget that the best source of inspiration for a fantasy novel is your own imagination! Use your imagination to create worlds and characters that are truly unique and interesting to your readers. Don't be afraid to experiment and explore different possibilities - you never know where your next great idea will come from!

By exploring these five sources of inspiration and more, you can find the spark you need to create a truly magical and engaging fantasy novel that readers will love for years to come. So, start brainstorming - the possibilities are endless!

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Creator au but reader takes the form of a stray cat? Traveling around and sneaking into ships for long voyage’s (probably snuck onto the alchor)

The great thing about being friends with a piratefreaklover is that she'll answer all your questions about pirates and ships, and you know? This concept is not so impossible!

The Alcor crew were probably even searching for a cat (cats were useful on the ships because they hunted mice, decreasing possible diseases and protecting the supplies). One day, this mysterious cat just appeared from nowhere , and, since they were incapable of finding one in the city, they decided to keep the one that had just decided to use the ship as their new home! No one suspected anything. I mean, how could they? It was just a stray cat that maybe decided to take a nap and accidentally remained stuck there! No one suspected that it wasn't an accident, and that the cat knew exactly where they were and what they wanted to do.

The cat seems to be quite fond of Beidou and Kazuha! That's a good thing! They love to spend time with the captain and the young ronin, enjoying their presence, welcoming them every time they board the ship and spend the nights in their cabin or outside, under the starry sky.

However, that animal appears strange... it appears as if they can understand and respond to their words... but maybe it's just an impression, right? But that isn't the only strange thing that has happened: after adopting the cat, the ship never encountered any problems, difficulties, or danger on its voyage! Not only that, but it was like finding treasures. Fighting monsters or enemies was simple! The crew never once felt fatigued, sick or in pain. Maybe that cat was a lucky charm! They even suggested naming it "Lucky"!

If the crew decided to dismiss those strange phenomena, Kazuha's curiosity never once left his mind. What was the cause of this impressive good fortune? Why was he able to feel the sea alive? It wasn't something that he had ever felt before on the ship; it was new. When they faced the tides, the ocean reminded him every time that it wasn't their enemy or their ally, it was something that they needed to respect and just follow. Now it was different; it was protecting them every time!

Maybe,one day, he'll catch the truth about the secret of the Alcor, and maybe, he'll catch even a glimps of someone that every night slips away in the shadow.

[thekingofwinterblog]

Was the Grand Line originally land?

So in lights on the most recent chapter, 1113, we learn that the world government's great and final plan is to flood the entire world, leaving only the red line above the sea level and drowning the rest of the world.

With this in mind, there is of course the obvious question, of wheter this was always the plan, even during the void century.

And if so, there is the question of wheter or not the original alliance succeeded, and the Grand Line as we know it is just a post apokalyptic remnant of a once, much grander landmass, not necessarily one made up completely of land, as we know that some of the kingdoms(the great kingdom itself) during the Void century WERE islands, but one where there was still a very clear land bridge across the world, beyond just the red line.

So, lets dive into this idea, and the evidence for and against.

Starting off with, the grand line is a bizarre place, and we have no actual explanation of why it exists. It cannot be the one piece equator equivelant of the equator, for as oda has confirmed, the map above is aligned so north, south, west and east are those direction on the globe, with the red line and grand line both at an angle across the world, not aligned in the four compass directions.

Then of course there are the frankly bizarre phenomena of the grand line, which though a lot has a somewhat logical explanation, there are still plenty of mysteries, such as the bizarre weather currents of the grand line, and the way the calm belt is very clearly supernatural in how it works.

Why is the start of the line so bloody strange, so much less predictable and filled with nonesense than the rest of paradise?

But lets begin dissecting the idea that the grand line is a post apokalyptic wastelands. How would the continent sinking into the sea explain the weather phenomena?

Well... Crocus claims that the reason for the grand line's being filled with abnormal magnetic fields as a result of each of the islands being very rich in minerals, which frankly speaking, doesnt really seem to be the case for the most part from what we've seen... but if you assume that them "being rich in minerals" actually refers to the idea that the core of each of the islands that survived the ancienct apokalypse were filled to the brim with strong, durable metals from the very core of the earth as the lands around was sunk beneath the waves, there might be some logic to it.

The "islands", or at least the mountains they rest on, would indeed be filled with rich minerals, and more importantly, they would be way closer to the surface and now much more "uncovered" by stone, and be just beneath the surface, and so wrecks havoc on anyone trying to use a compass.

but are there more to suggest the grand line used to be above sea level?

Yes, actually, there is.

In paradise, there are 4 megastructures that seems to defy any, and all logic for how they could possibly have been built.

The tree gates of justice.

And Impel Down.

we have no idea who built these ginormous structures, but the simple reality is that with what we know, They just dont make sense.

The Gates are so so stupidly big, that the only creatures that would match it is the big elephant of the minks, and the florian monster.

However, forget the size, the bigger problem is the foundations.

Impel Down is structured like a castle, with a very clear, tiered set of levels.

assuming it was indeed built in the middle of the ocean, from the bottom up, the only race who could possibly have done it would have been the fishmen, who from what we know would have absolutely no reason whatsoever to help the world government make it, given they were on the opposite side during the Void Century, and relations have not gotten much better since.

however... if we assume that both of these structures, the gates of justice, and Impel down, were made on land BEFORE they were submerged, the mystery of the how their construction suddenly makes way more sense.

they are stupidly big, but they were built above ground, making their construction much more logical.

if so, then at the bottom of the sea in this area, one could probably find walls, similar to the gates, connecting the 3 gates, with all 3 and the castle of impel down obviously having been part of some grand, defensive fortification, with their current use of controlling the whirlpool having little to do with their original intention.

And then of course there is how the one piece world is portrayed in Monsters.

We dont know exactly when Monsters is set, but it has to be sometime before the void century, because it was in a different age than the era of isolation that was put into place after the the mountain walls were put into place after the great war, and it cant have been during the void century itself, for it it had been, any mention of the man would have been ruthlessly wiped out by the world government, and he would most certainly not have been famous across the world.

So he lived sometime before the great conflict started.

the more interesting part about monsters though, is how the world looks. Rather than the familiar world of island based city states, We are shown a wast landscape with no sea in sight.

Now it's of course possible this story is set somewhere on the red line, or one a massive island, but there is something else to suggest that the world of old was fundamentally different than what came later.

Ryuma was recognized as the man who carried "the world's greatest warrior soul", and was famed far and wide, with the nickname suggesting a level of international fame on the same level as mihawk... except there is a bit of a problem here.

One piece's world building is built on the fact that every single island is very isolated from all the rest of the world. even if there is one world government, that a lot of states are a part of, but defacto, each island is an independent nation unto itself, except when the world government wants something from them.

News simply does not spread in this way in the one piece world. The only reason pirates such as Luffy, whitebeard and roger are famous, is because the powers that be have a wested interest in making them famous, and spread their wickedness and thus warning of their danger, but also as a justification to why they need to have the mariens around to protect people.

and yet the tales of Ryuma both in monsters and in one piece proper is a worldwide spread story, which given how old he is seems bizarre all things considered(how old his legend is, how widespread it is, how nobody except the people of Wano would have a political reason for keeping his legend alive, etc)... but if one assumes the entire world has heard of him because he literarily walked from one end of the world to the other, with only small boat trips to cross gaps in the continent of the grand line, then the idea that he would be remembered by all long, long after his death makes way more sense.

And then of course there is another, huge detail that is very easy to miss. One Piece's age of exploration just ended, relatively speaking.

The one piece world is OLD, with Alabasta's capital being 4000 years old, and the world government as an organization being 800 years old.

And yet... The world, or more speciffically the grand line was still being charted out and mapped as late as 400 years ago.

four centuries after having been created, the world government and the people of this world didnt know the rough layout of paradise, the part of the grand line where the only kingdom we know for a fact was part of the original alliance against the great kingdom was located.

That seems... insane to be perfectly honest... but it makes WAY more sense if one assumed that the Grand line used to be one, relatively well connected landmass that stretched across the world in relation to the red line.

But once that for the most part sank into the sea(most certainly as a result of the full might of the ancient weapons being unleashed on either side of the war), the world as the people of old knew it was broken, and had to be completely remapped, a process that took centuries.

This could also explain the world government's big symbol. a cross with 5 dots, one in the middle, and 4 around it.

Now the idea that this symbolizes the 4 directions of the world is not a new theory, but the dots are another question, with us having no idea what they mean.

Here's my theory.

all five represents the same thing, the alliance's big plans for a capital of the world, Mary Geoise, located on one of the spots wheree the world's two big landmasses met. the meaning as it originally was envisioned, was that no matter which direction you went, you would always end up back here at the center of the world.

[ancientorigins]

In 1804, the book Modern Geography – a Description of the Empires, Kingdoms, States and Colonies: with the Oceans, Seas and Isles: In all Parts of the World was published by John Pinkerton.  In it there is a comment regarding a population of Aborigines that shared Sydney Harbor with another tribe.  They were described as flat-nosed with wide nostrils; thick eyebrows and sunken eyes.  Their mouths were of ‘prodigious width’ with thick lips and prominent jaws.  The Aborigines regarded them as another people entirely: the Yahoos or Yowies meaning “hairy people”. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/australian-yowie-mysterious-legends-tribe-hairy-people-003605#sthash.AwjIbZTe.dpuf

[radical-revolution]

“People normally cut reality into compartments, and so are unable to see the interdependence of all phenomena. To see one in all and all in one is to break through the great barrier which narrows one's perception of reality. We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

"The basic laws of the universe are simple, but because our senses are limited, we can't grasp them. There is a pattern in creation." ~Albert Einstein

Every “thing” in the Universe is a system. These systems are connected to surrounding systems and made of smaller systems. All these systems are self-organizing and work together as unified wholes. Many of these systems are extremely creative, new structures and creations “emerging” from their interactions.

Our Universe is a creative system, as is Nature. Most systems exhibit certain shared characteristics, such as self-organization, wholeness, balance, connectedness, creativity, cycles (of change and stability) and what the Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh referred to as “inter-being.”

Inter-being refers to how all systems are connected and flow into one another in ecological relationships, sharing energy and elements. A tree for example is made up of water that existed as rain and clouds, sunlight, carbon that came from the air and other elements. Your body is the same, made up of trillions of atoms that are billions of years old and have been moving from place to place on our planet (and before that in the Universe) for a long long time.

Wholeness refers to how self-organizing systems form dynamic wholes, that regenerate their patterns across time and maintain harmonic functioning. Balance is really essential in a system, whether its your body, an ecosystem, a family, a community or solar systems.

Cycles of change are what allow for creativity and evolution, but also what maintain the wholeness and health of systems. The term “regeneration” refers to the processes that allow living systems to heal and sustain themselves across time. Your body, a forest, the ocean, a family, maintain stability by sustaining balance in relationships, regenerating connections and self-organizing wholeness.

Change is also a constant. Every system is constantly changing inwardly or outwardly, either in regenerative “virtuous” cycles of circulation that maintain order and stability, or degenerative “vicious” cycles which can create chaos, eventually leading to the collapse or death of that system. We seem to be living in an age now where many patterns are becoming unstable. Change (whether creative, regenerative or destructive) is imminent.

Sometimes the chaos of a vicious degenerative cycle can be transcended, and a new pattern of relationships is born. When people talk about spiritual growth, or psychological healing, this is often what happens. The “death” of the old pattern allows a new way of living and being to be born. Nature actually requires death in order to regenerate new life.

It’s one of the mysteries of our Universe, that even the total collapse of a system is never the end of it’s story. Most of the atoms in your body, for example, were created in the center of former stars which “died” in super nova explosions. If those stars had not seeded our region of the galaxy with these atoms, we would not be here.

Understanding how systems grow, change, evolve and transform like this is sometimes called “systems thinking” or “ecological consciousness.” I think it’s what many culture’s down through history have called “wisdom.” It’s an understanding all of us in this each deeply need.

~Christopher Chase

Fukuoka, Japan

"You are something that the Whole Universe is doing, in the same way that a wave is something that the Whole Ocean is doing..." ~Alan Watts

“I think the difficulty is this fragmentation. All thought is broken up into bits. Like this nation, this country, this industry, this profession and so on… And they can’t meet. Wholeness is a kind of attitude or approach to the whole of life. If we can have a coherent approach to reality then reality will respond coherently to us.” ~David Bohm, physicist

***

[bethanythebogwitch]

Today I'l finishing up presenting and giving my thoughts on all aquatic Digimon. For previous parts of this series see all fish, all mermaids, all aquatics part 1, and all aquatics part 2. Today I'll be covering the remaining ultimate/perfect and mega/ultimate level Digimon.

The first one of the ultimate/perfect is Anomalocarimon. Anomalocaris is one of my favorite extinct animals and I'm absolutely delighted that both Digimon and Pokemon based a monster off of it. It also definitely takes after a sea scorpion with it's scorpion-like tail. It was even born from scientific data about extinct species. I think this is a great Digimon that deserved more attention. Anomalocarimon caused a bit of a translation kerfuffle when it was given the English name Scorpiomon (because American kids are too dumb to know what an Anomalocaris is I guess). Well there's also another unrelated Digimon called Scorpiomon so the English dub was forced to change its name to SkullScorpiomon. Yes, this has caused confusion before. Anomalocarimon also has an x-antibody form that looks like it was standing next to a bunch of exploding spray paint cans.

Anomalocarimon

Anomalocarimon X

Next is Dagomon, who was given the English name Dragomon. It's a minor change but kind of dumb because Dagomon comes from the Cthulhu mythos character Father Dagon and has nothing to do with dragons. Despite being named after Father Dagon, Dagomon is clearly Cthulhu as a Digimon. It's also treated as such in the animes. in Digimon Adventure 02 it rules over deep ones in an extradimensional spaces called the Dark Ocean and is implied to be more of a Lovecraftian horror than a Digimon. In Digimon Ghost Game it starts turning people into deep ones and is powerful enough to overwhelm a higher-level Digimon. I know it also shows up in Xros Wars, but I didn't watch that. It wears Buddhist prayer beads. In a heavily Buddhist country like Japan, a monster dressed like a Buddhist is probably the equivalent of historically-Catholic countries having vampire priests. I dig this one and while I say that a lot of Digimon could use more attention, I think Dagomon only showing up a little bit and being overwhelmingly powerful and mysterious is very appropriate for a Lovecraftian Digimon.

Related to Dagomon is Hangyomon, called Divermon in English. It's very much based on sea monsters like th Creature from the Black Lagoon, but with scuba gear. I think it's a neat Digimon. Notably, Hangyomon's most prominent appearance in the anime wasn't actually them. It was in the same episode as Dagomon and the Dark Ocean where at the end it's revealed that the creatures that presented themselves as Hangyomon were actually disguised deep ones serving Dagomon.

Next is Gusokumon and listen, I'm a simple nerd, I see a giant shrimp that shoots fish-shaped torpedos and I like it. It's also based on real-life biological phenomena relates to the deep ocean. Like many real deep-sea animals it lives life on show mode, being able to live an extremely long time while not getting to eat very often. It feeds on injured Digimon that sink to the bottom of the ocean, which sounds a lot like deep-sea scavengers and whale falls (Whamon falls?)

Next is MarineChimairamon, an aquatic chimera. Yes, it's spelles chimaira instead of chimera. When I looked it to to find out if that's an alternate translation from the original Greek I found out that "chimaira" is the name of a heavy metal band from Ohio. So congrats guys, you accidentally have a Digimon named after you. Two actually, because there is also a Chimairamon (English: Kimeramon) and the two are very similar concepts. They're artificial Digimon made out of a combination of body parts of multiple other Digimon. OC, do not steal. I actually like MarineChimairamon more that the original. I can see Coelamon's helmet, Ikkakumon's head and tusks, Octomon's horns, One arm from Ebidramon and the other from Hangyomon, and tentacles from Gesomon.

Finally at this level is MarineDevimon. Just like how MarineChimairamon is the aquatic version of Chimairamon, there is a land-based Devimon. While Devimon is an evil genius, MarineDevimon is consumed by hate and can destroy its enemies with raw power. I think it's a great design for an evil aquatic Digimon

The apex of Digimon evolution is the mega/ultimate level and there are indeed megas lurking in the depths of the Net Ocean. One of the many horrors down there is Cthyllamon. This very new Digimon is an evil version of MarineAngemon. It's just as tiny and like MarineAngemon, it preferes to not fight. While MarineAngemon uses the power of live to drain its foes of their fighting spirit, Cthyllamon terrifies enemies into diving up and brainwashes lower-level Digimon into serving it. Cthylla is a less-well known member of the Cthulhu mythos, a daughter of Cthulhu who looks like a winged octopus and serves as a back up body for big C if he is ever killed. Cthyllamon doesn't really have anything to do with that. I think it's a great counterpart to MarineAngemon and a delightful little villain

KingWhamon is a bigger version of Whamon and that's about all we know about it. Generally the measure for whetehr or not a Digimon is official is if it has an entry in the Digimon Reference Book and KingWhamon doesn't. The Reference Book is where you get the lore of what that Digimon is and does, so we don't have that for KingWhamon. Despite not appearing in the Reference Book, KingWhamon has an anime appearance in Xros Wars and a card in the card game, which sounds pretty official to me. It's a gigantic whale with an island growing on its head. Te idea of a sea creature so vast that it can be mistaken for an island is common in the legends of seafaring cultures around the world. It's a fine Digimon, I just wish we had more to go off of.

Next is Xiangpengmon and while it looks like a bird dragon, it is aquatic. It's based on the peng, a Chinese legendary creature that can turn from a bird to a fish. This is seen in its evolutionary line, starting as the bird Xiquemon, evolving to the fish Huankunmon, and finally ending as a dragon. Chinese dragons were often depicted as living in the sea and being capable of flight. I think Xiangpengmon is a great Digimon. It is one of 6 species that debuted in the China-exclusive mobile game Digimon New Century and all of them are amazing.

If there can be said to be an aquatic Digimon that's the most powerful, it would have to be Leviamon. Named after the mythical leviathan, Leviamon is not only a big red crocodile, it's one of the Seven Great Demon Lords. They are the epitome of evil in the Digital World and some of the most powerful Digimon ever. Each Demon Lord bears the power of one of the seven deadly sins and Leviamon holds the power of envy. Despite being ungodly powerful, Leviamon envies those it sees as better than itself and lashes out against them. How big is Leviamon? It's big enough that it could swallow the Digital World in one gulp. It's definitely for the better that it spends most of its time asleep in the depths of the sea. The lore says that the limits of Digimon power are being decoded and Leviamon has none. Its existence is also the foundation of evil in the Digital World. So it's a being with no limits that is the origin of all evil. Sounds less like a Digimon and more like some unfathomable embodiment of evil that happens to be masquerading as a Digimon. I think that's super cool and while Leviamon is definitely the least visually interesting of the Demon Lords, it's still one of the coolest. Leviamon also has an x-antibody variant and oh boy. The aquatic Digimon have actually lucked out when it comes to having decent x-antibody variants and you may wonder why I call x-antibodies as a whole overdesigned and ugly. This, THIS, is what I mean when I say x-antibody variants are overdesigned. There are so many lines on this thing that it can be hard to tell what I'm looking at. And it's not even the worst x-antibody form, not even close. The seal of envy hovering over it like a halo is cool, but all the Demon Lords get their seals incorporated into the x-antibody designs so it's not even a unique idea. There is just no salvaging this x-antibody design.

Leviamon

Leviamon X

That wraps up the aquatic Digimon and I had a lot of fun doing this. Since Halloween is up maybe I'll showcase some of my favorite spooky Digimon or the other Demon Lords. I may also do an intro to Digimon post because I have gotten comments from people saying they like the Digimon but don't know much about the franchise and how to approach it.

[wolfboy88]

all your wip titles sound smutty and fun i love it 👀 but I'm super curious to know about Legend of the Sea Wolf??

LOTSW is probably one of my older wips that I really should be getting around too.

Tagging @shinigamimailjeevas who also asked about this one 😀

Summary:

Every town has its legends and Beacon Hills was no exception.

A town riddled with deep secrets and layered rich with myths. It’s what the town is built on

Like the legend of the mysterious enchanting sea creature that lurks in the depths of the Black Forest Lake, haunting the preserve in its search for a companion, its soulmate with ocean blue eyes.

It’s an urban legend at its finest and no one really knows whether it’s real or not.

But the locals are insistent. There have been many sightings over the years of a young man, half-wolf half-siren or reptile in roaming the preserve and the lake, always around the month of October aka Halloween season.

But one thing is for certain - the bodies. The ones that mysteriously turn up every year.

And now his best friend is missing.

Excerpt:

“Isn’t that just one of those crazy made up urban legends to scare people from going into the woods at night?” Brett scoffs arrogantly, voice taking on an edge of disbelief.

After everything Liam had seen, he highly doubted it.

Mr Douglas seemed to think so too. He was always a bit eccentric. “Well, feel free to prove me wrong in your thesis. Make sure you have valid points to validate your arguments.”

Liam couldn't help but feel a surge of determination at Mr. Douglas' challenge. He had spent countless nights researching and gathering evidence to support his thesis on the existence of supernatural entities in the woods. The countless eyewitness accounts, unexplained phenomena, and eerie folklore had convinced him that there was more to the woods than met the eye.

With a confident smile, Liam turned to Brett, ready to defend his beliefs. "You know, Brett, I've come across some truly compelling evidence during my research. There have been numerous reports of strange sightings, unexplained disappearances, and even encounters with otherworldly creatures in the depths of the forest."

Brett rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Come on, Liam. You can't seriously believe in all that nonsense. It's just people's overactive imaginations playing tricks on them."

Liam shook his head, refusing to back down. "I used to think the same way, but the more I delved into this subject, the more I realized that there's something truly mysterious happening out there. People have experienced inexplicable phenomena, like hearing disembodied voices, seeing shadowy figures lurking among the trees, and even feeling an overwhelming sense of dread that they can't explain."

Brett crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "And you expect me to believe all of that? Sounds like a bunch of campfire stories to me."

[technicalgrimoire]

What kind of Skeleton will you hatch?

Our newest book, Bones Deep, is back in print! Let your skeleton hatch and explore the ocean floor. Built for Troika, usable anywhere.

Grab it on the TechnicalGrimoire website. 120 pages, color interior, A5 hardcover digest book.

The Book Includes:

120 pages of underwater weirdness.

6 skeleton backgrounds, ranging from cute to creepy.

20 locations, each with a dozen encounters.

36 spells inspired by ocean phenomena.

50 creatures inspired by real deep-sea life.

5 adventures to kick off your campaign.

Straightforward underwater sandbox. No swimming allowed, no oxygen required, no extra math. As a skeleton, you can treat the ocean floor like an alien world and jump right in.

Emergent adventures. Every random encounter in Bones Deep aims to draw you deeper into the setting. Warring factions, clues to hidden treasure, terrible foes, cute pets, and nefarious mysteries all compete for your attention. The book includes 5 detailed quests to kick off your campaign.

More real than you’d imagine. It was written by a team of folks who were heavily inspired by real deep-sea life, including a boat captain and an underwater educator. We even wrote the real-world scientific names of creatures so players can marvel at the wonders of the deep.

[nobrashfestivity]

Covers for Der Orchideengarten

First published in 1919 under the editorship of Karl Hans Strobl (1877 - 1946), an Austrian writer of dark and unusual horror tales who also was the publisher together with Alfons von Czibulka, it ran until 1921. Der Orchideengarten was more than a magazine devoted to the fantastic; appropriately founded in the year that across the ocean, Charles Fort would publish his Book of the Damned, the magazine too, devoted space to anomalous phenomena: “…we no longer dismiss as nonsense all things that are not explicable in terms of the known laws of physics. Mysterious connections between human beings, independent of spatial and temporal separation, spooks, the appearance of ghosts, all are again in the realm of the possible…” as the editorial in the second issue of Der Orchideengarten explained.

scanned by Will Schofield. on or before 2006/ via dieschwarzesonne

[raayllum]

Stuff about the Primals from Tales of Xadia

Moon

This primal source is characterized by phases, a light that fades to darkness and then returns again anew. It is connected to spirits and the veils between life and death. It is cyclical, waxing and waning, thus those that draw upon it are also changeable by nature. The line between shadow and light, truth and reality, beginning and end… that’s where the Moon primal resides. This line does not disappear when the sun has risen; Moon magic is still possible even in daytime.

Sky

Much like the atmospheric phenomena it masters, the Sky primal source is also linked to speed, freedom, and clarity of vision. Sky magic is at its strongest up in the air, within the clouds or at the top of mountains. It embodies the dynamism of free movement, unburdened by the chains of the earth. Even though it is found in the powerful wind, rain, and other forms of weather, there is magic in even the barest breath or the weakest whisper. The mage relying on the sky needs only to look up.

Ocean

This is reflected in the magic that Ocean mages wield: dynamic, forceful, reaching everywhere and anywhere, within and without. It can also become surprisingly powerful in rain, giving this primal a powerful synergy with the Sky primal. Ocean magic also includes ice magic, giving mages another powerful offensive and defensive tool.

Sun

And yet, where this magic destroys, it can also heal. The lesser known side of the Sun primal revolves around restorative and illuminating qualities. Mages with strong control over their emotions can call upon Sun magic to illuminate the truth, heal sickness, and even purge dark magic corruption. The primal is at its peak power at midday, when the sun is at its highest point. Wherever there is light, the Sun primal can be invoked. A single candle’s flame in the dead of night is enough to call upon the arcanum and bring forth light and warmth.

The Stars

The most powerful and rare of the primals, Star magic is a mystery to most mages and remains the topic of intense debate among scholars. It has been centuries since the last living Startouch elf roamed Xadia, and as such, much of what we know about the primal is based on legends. Ancient texts hint at powers far beyond the scope of the other primals, including the manipulation of time and space. As far away as the Stars are, however, they’re ever-present to the inhabitants of Xadia, a haunting reminder of their smallness, their mortality, their grand insignificance in the face of the cosmos.

[uriekukistan]

Shirazu for the headcanon thing?

his love language is giving gifts. even though he’s saving for his sister’s treatment, he still makes sure to buy something for his squadmates birthdays or christmas. it’s never something big or expensive, but always something the other person really needs or wants. everyone really appreciates shirazu’s gifts, and the fact that they know he’s still trying to pay for his sister’s treatment on top of that makes his gifts very meaningful and special.

he is really into aliens, ufos, conspiracy theories, or any other kind of mysterious unexplained phenomena. he likes those iceberg explained videos, or like the “top 10 unsolved mysteries” “top 10 unexplained ocean discoveries” type of videos.

he is seriously afraid of any type of bug. if one shows up in his vicinity he will be screaming his head off on the nearest elevated surface until one of the other squad members takes it out on a paper towel. saiko has definitely either pranked him with fake bugs or has brought him a bug.

despite the fact that he hates bugs, he likes to be outside. he clears his head by going to the park or something and he has his window cracked open often so he can get a breeze (probably why there’s so many bugs in your room, shirazu).