#obsidian quantity

[maggamesblog]

How Much Obsidian for Portal: Crafting Your Gateway to New Dimensions

In the enchanting realm of Minecraft, portals serve as mystical gateways to extraordinary dimensions. Among these, the Nether portal beckons players to a realm of danger and intrigue. To unlock this passage, mastering the art of crafting obsidian is essential, knowing precisely how much is needed for the portal’s creation. This comprehensive guide will unravel the mystery of “how much obsidian…

[archive-z]

curating reading lists (without social media)

a guide to finding stuff to read, for @divorceblogger. this is a guide specifically for avoiding things like goodreads/storygraph etc which aggregate books that are popular without being all that helpful for finding things on niche/specialist topics.

a bit of housekeeping before getting to the actual list-making tips:

i mostly read nonfiction targeted at both academic and popular audiences. i also read a mixture of classic lit, genre fiction, zines & conceptual/artists’ books, and playtexts & poetry. i read traditional print books, non-traditional print publications, PDF and ePub ebooks on an iPad/iPhone, and listen to audiobooks and audio dramas.

i have a infinite number of books i want to read. the discovery process of new & interesting outstrips my capacity to read them all, so i have to be extremely selective. this also means i never tolerate a book i’m not enjoying. it can have weak points, but i have to be getting something out of the experience, or else i am wasting my one wild n precious life, ya feel?

my goal is to read for quality, not for quantity. i tend to dislike a lot of online reading communities for their focus on metrics (number of books, page count, word count, etc). i bristle at tools that try to push my reading into this direction. i have a reading practice, in the same sense that one would have an artistic practice. thinking of my reading as a practice — rather than a project, a thing to be completed and checked off the checklist — helps orient me towards patterns of thinking that serve me better

i work in the arts industry, so fiction and non-fiction books are reference tools. when I finish reading a book, I put it back on the shelf, like returning a tool to the toolbox until it is time to use it again. i live in a bachelor flat, so obvs i have to resist the incessant pressures of consumerism, but it doesn’t bother me that i have not read every book that i own. they are there for when i get to them. similarly, i would not be bothered by owning a kitchen fire extinguisher that i have not used.

where do I keep my reading lists?

Obsidian: for organising to-read lists on specific topics, genres, eras, locations, etc. i repeat books across multiple lists where appropriate. i don’t keep a single master list of everything I want to read because it would simply be too unwieldy to manage. Small focused lists of no more than ~25 books on the topic are best, imo.

TinyCat: for cataloguing physical books that i own. i have a shortcut to the website on my phone so i can easily pull it up if i can’t remember what books in a series i already have. i can tag anything unread with my “antilibrary” tag. for my own amusement, i also insert library pockets and circulation cards into my books and stamp them with the date completed (using my beloved rotary date stamp). i can also stamp the date a friend who borrowed the book completed it. i like seeing the signatures add up over time.

Zotero: for academic bibliographic citations. useful habit to get into if you transcribe lots of quotes from yr readings into yr notes.

how do i develop my reading lists?

i usually develop my reading lists through a combination of concerted effort to research a topic & ambient browsing. this isn’t Abt How to rigorously conduct research though so im gonna focus more on ~letting books organically find me~

when i have a book that i enjoy, i see if the author has written any more books on topics that interest me. incredibly basic 101 advice but somehow people still miss this one.

check the bibliographies & acknowledgements. if something comes up in bibliography after bibliography, its usually a good sign its worth checking out. also, authors usually thank other authors in their acknowledgements, its a great way to start building an idea

i love when artists talk abt their influences in interviews, like this interview abt what influences and easter eggs there are in disco elysium (i screamed at the Einstürzende Neubauten reveal!!!). i love when fans come up with their own reading lists for media, like my list speculating what daniel molloy would have read and watched in 1973.

when i am travelling somewhere i try to read something related to the to place I am going. Wikipedia is a first easy point of reference to find out if yr destination is famous for being the birthplace of X poet or Y film is set there.

tertiary sources. secondary sources are about a primary source, whereas tertiary sources aim to provide an overview of the major debates in those secondary sources on a specific topic rather than to generate their own new ideas/arguments. the oxford university press “a very short introduction” series varies in quality but its often a very useful starting point.

recs from friends/gifts. my loved ones know i like books, and books are usually a cheap & easy gift for holidays & special occasions. i gift books that i want to read myself, so we can talk abt the book together.

what physical locations do I browse?

Local library, university library. You might be even be able to get a specialist library card to an archive or museum reading room. Some public libraries also have special collections like the Seattle Zine Library.

For-sale section in the local library. proceeds usually go to supporting the library

local secondhand bookshop. there are several in walking distance, i usually hit them up quarterly, especially as i gift a lot of secondhand books

local independent bookshops. several local independent bookstores host an annual bookstore crawl where if you get a stamp from all of them in one weekend u enter a draw to win $1000 gift card :)

thrift store/charity shop/antique markets. there is usually a section with books even if the main focus is clothes/furniture

book events. author talks, staged readings of new plays, poetry readings, book/lit mag launch parties, Writers Festivals, small/independent press fair, rare book fair, zine fests, international library day, conferences

bookshelves at house parties. im 100% the person checking out yr bookshelf at a house party. great place to get yr flirt on.

travel. basically any new place im going, i look-up in advance the local library, second hand bookstores, charity shops, antiques stores etc. and save them in my maps on my phone. if i can conveniently pop into one while im there, neat! i particularly like municipal libraries bc the big ones are usually architecturally interesting (like the Vancouver Public Library) and the small ones are usually really charming and full of specific local history, leaflets to interesting local stuff, etc.

what online locations do I browse?

navigating the online catalogue to yr local & academic libraries is a whole skill unto itself. i was very fortunate be born in the late 90s and to have a specific local librarian teach me boolean operators before i could tie my shoelaces, ride a bike, or, frankly, do most human being things (shoutout to Miss T yr a real one). your library very likely has something like a workshop or at the very least a help desk that can help u with this if needed.

mailing lists of small/independent presses.

publishers websites (academic and general audience).

wikipedia. u can look at the footnotes section on wikipedia. its free. its legal.

looking up university syllabi. some are on profs’ websites, some are available through the university library. there is also the Open Syllabus website which aggregates the most often mentioned books in submitted syllabi, organised by discipline or through a visual map.

what’s available on libby/borrowbox.

Archive dot org and google books/google scholar to read the previews and judge if the book is worth following up on.

i didn’t actually include any selections of my personal reading lists, but if you would like to know more you can always shoot me an ask with a specific topic in mind.

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Good Omens graphic novel update - February 2025

Happy February. Given Spring in the northern hemisphere is fast approaching, we've got a bumper update on the behind-the-scenes happenings and the status of the overall project.

With everything starting to fill the shelves and our 7th March deadline for locking the PledgeManager to upgrades and new orders, it means that the tiers are now capped based on stock levels. More on relevant quantities later in the update.

Items are continuing to arrive en masse and are in pre-fulfilment checks. A few of the team visited our distribution partners to talk logistics and see everything taking shape. Over 100 tonnes of books and merchandise will be distributed from here in the coming months. Here's a snapshot from that trip:

Our printers in Italy are marshalling vast amounts of paper from our storage units, ready for printing.

The printing of the graphic novel will keep two of the biggest printing presses in Europe running constantly for over two weeks!

We've got some nice pieces to show people in the coming months – Paul Kidby has been recording his work on the new illustrations for the Good Omens Obsidian Illustrated Edition; the different editions of books being developed are really lovely; and we're following up on the final loose threads towards project completion.

More admin info in the kickstarter post :)

[aloeaceae]

On Witches

Cloud Tower is one of the three schools the viewer gets to know intimately in Winx Club, and yet, not much is actually known about witches as magical beings. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and lurking in Winx-themed forums, and here are some headcanons I’ve developed about them.

What Are Fairies?

Okay, yes—this post is technically about witches. But to understand witches, we first need to understand their counterparts: fairies.

Fairies are magical beings with a unique ability to generate magical energy—mana—internally. While as civilians they may have some magical abilities, a fairy’s power increases dramatically when they activate their wings through transformation. In that form, mana is continuously generated through the wings, though only for a limited time. The more advanced the transformation, the more aggressively mana is produced, and the stronger their magic becomes.

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the main point.

What Are Witches?

In short, witches are fairies who lost the ability to transform.

Centuries ago—long before the Ancestral Witches and the Black Circle—there was a long and turbulent war between fairies and other magical beings. Some fairies, in desperation, fled to Obsidian: a dimension of darkness and despair steeped in black magic. It was a last-resort escape, as they knew no one would dare follow them into such a realm.

Prolonged exposure to this darkness and negative energy gradually stripped them of their wings and their ability to transform. For some, the damage was so deep that the black magic penetrated their DNA, corrupting their magic cores and altering them so thoroughly that even their offspring could no longer transform.

Still, because mana is intrinsic to their being, they retained the ability to wield magic—just not to the same extent as fully transformed fairies. So, to compensate for the power they lost, they turned to black magic.

On Black Magic

Black magic is a powerful—but more volatile—form of magic, amplified by emotion. The more emotionally charged a witch is—and the more in tune they are with their inner self—the better they can wield it.

Since witches aren’t tied to a transformation form, their magic is far more flexible. Unlike fairies, who are often limited to one or two magical affinities (Musa–fairy of Music, Stella–fairy of Sun and Moon, Tecna–fairy of Technology, etc.), witches have access to a broader and more diverse arsenal of spells.

On Amulets

But relying on black magic alone wasn’t enough. Without wings, witches could no longer generate mana continuously, which limited their ability to cast powerful spells. This led to the creation of amulets—tools designed to store large quantities of mana externally.

An amulet can be any object, though witches typically choose small, portable items like jewelry for convenience. One example from the show might be the vacuums the Trix use—tools not only aiding in storing mana but also possessing a convenient function to detect powerful magic. Later in the series, the Trix are given Gloomix jewelry, another clear example.

While amulets can store large amounts of mana, they deplete quickly depending on the type of spells used and the duration of magic being cast. As a result, witches must recharge them regularly, usually through full moon rituals.

Because they lack the innate resources available to fairies, witches tend to be more inventive and more attuned to nature in their magical practices.

On Education

There are far fewer witches than there are fairies, and they often live in close-knit communities, as it’s crucial to teach young witches how to safely handle their dangerous magic as early as possible. Cloud Tower is one of the few schools that provides this education.

Students there learn essential skills such as amulet-charging rituals, emotional regulation, and mana control. Still, many witch families choose to educate their children at home, passing down knowledge from generation to generation.

Some witches retain the ability to channel wings and transform as their DNA had remained only partially altered by the Obsidian dimension, but such occurrences are rare and usually triggered by moments of extreme emotional intensity. While some seize this rare opportunity to turn to white magic (eg. Mirta), many witches who discover this ability choose to remain witches rather than become fairies. For them, the advantages of wielding black magic far outweigh the benefits of transformation.

More lore: On Alfea, On Cloud Tower

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Make Me Feel Alive Episode 3

Gilbert von Obsidian's Birthday Story

This is simply a fan translation and is not intended as a replacement for the game. Expect grammatical errors.

On Gilbert's birthday, there was an unusual tension hanging around the castle.

(Is his birthday really taboo?)

(No one talks about it, and no one's preparing a celebration.)

As I whisked the cream into the bowl, I couldn't help but think about it.

(I always thought it was normal to celebrate birthdays.)

(But I guess not for him.)

------------Flashback-----------

Gilbert: "Will you also celebrate my birthday at the risk of your life?"

Emma: "........"

Gilbert: "Even if it's you, I might still find it unpleasant."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(He really meant those words.)

(If my expectations are wrong, things could get really messy.)

My heart raced so rapidly that it seemed like it might burst out at any moment. Even my hand holding the bowl was trembling.

(No, I need to be more confident.)

(I'm his fiancée, so I gotta keep it together.)

Taking a deep breath to dispel the anxiety and tension, I unconsciously resumed what I was doing.

Emma: "I wonder if he'll be happy."

???: "Mhm, it's really delicious."

Emma: "!?"

I turned around and saw Gilbert already devouring the sponge cake.

(What the hell? When did he get here!?)

Gilbert: "Come on, don't stop. If you don't keep your hands moving, I'm gonna eat everything."

Emma: “Wait, please don’t eat it!”

(The cake will be gone before it’s finished!)

Hastily taking the sponge cake from him, his refined face twisted into an unhappy expression.

Gilbert: “Do you really have to do that?”

Emma: “If I run out of sponge, I won’t be able to make the cake.”

Gilbert: “It was delicious as it is.”

Emma: “Even if it’s delicious, it won’t be enough!”

Gilbert: “Ehh? I prefer quantity over quality.”

Emma: “I’ll bake a lot of cookies later, so can you please let this slide?”

Emma: “I really want to prioritize the quality of the cake. I want to make this birthday cake special.”

Gilbert: “Hmm. You’re really brave.”

He brought a chair over and sat down, looking up at me intensely.

Emma: “This is just my speculation, but I don’t think you don’t want your birthday to be celebrated.”

(Since he’s the one who told me about his birthday.)

Emma: “It’s just that you hated lies.”

Emma: “On a special and important day, you couldn’t tolerate it being tainted with corruption and deception.”

Emma: “I thought maybe that’s the case.”

(His mother and older brother were kind to him in the past.)

(Those two surely celebrated his birthday when he was young.)

(But that day will never come again.)

(The only people left around him were the corrupted aristocrats.)

Gilbert: "Fufu. As expected, you really love me."

Gilbert rested his hand on his chin and laughed briskly.

Well, he was right.

Gilbert: "Will you really celebrate my birthday wholeheartedly?"

Emma: "Of course."

Gilbert: "I've killed many people before, and I might kill many more in the future."

Gilbert: "Would you still celebrate it and support me if I continue executing those who wish me a happy birthday?"

Emma: "........."

I felt like he was testing my determination.

(Birthday celebrations are a way to say thank you for being born.)

(It's also a day to hope that you will continue to live.)

Celebrating the birthday of a notorious villain who shook the entire continent is not something one can do half-heartedly, and those who celebrate might, in a way, bear a certain burden of guilt.

Emma: "Yes."

(Even though he might be an irredeemable villain, I want him to find redemption.)

(Despite his numbness to human feelings, I believe he has the most beautiful heart in the world.)

Emma: "Even if you've turned the whole world against you, I'll still celebrate."

Emma: "I'm already a pretty bad woman just by being here, so it's too late now."

Emma: "Please don't underestimate my feelings for you."

(It's his birthday, yet it's hard to even genuinely celebrate.)

(This is the price he has to pay for his position and for seizing control of the evil empire.)

(Celebrating a birthday with such determination to the point of risking one's life is a first for me.)

Gilbert: "Fufu, sorry. I might have teased you too much."

(Huh?)

He stood up from his chair and reached out to touch my eyes.

His cold fingertips scooped up a single drop of tears that even I hadn't noticed.

(I hate this. I didn't mean for it to be like this.)

(However, I can't help but wonder how many years he has suppressed his birthday to protect his memories from being tainted.)

I forcefully wiped my tears and peered into his red eyes.

He was smiling as usual, but I was surprised to see a noticeable wavering that made my heart ache.

(No, these tears aren't mine.)

(He's the one who really wants to cry.)

(I wonder what he has been thinking about every time his birthday comes around.)

(I'm sure he was lonely at first, but then he probably forgot how lonely he was and didn't feel anything anymore.)

(But now he remembered the loneliness. Is that why he told me about his birthday?)

With an overwhelming impulse, I reached for his cold cheek and lightly kissed it.

Gilbert: "What is it?"

Emma: "I can't give you the cake right away, so here's an alternative gift."

Gilbert: "It's rather shabby for a present."

Emma: "Then, how about this?"

I placed the bowl on the table and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Then I kissed him deeper than before, and he bit me hard on the lip.

(Ouch!)

Thankfully, there was no blood, but the bitten spot throbbed as he licked it with his tongue.

With this, he took control, overpowering the initiative I had held.

His cold fingers pried open my lips and gently devoured my tongue.

Feeling weak, I leaned against the worktable, and he lifted the hem of the black dress he gave me, forcibly inserting his fingers into my inner thigh.

Emma: "Gil, it hurts."

Gilbert: "Yeah, I'm doing it on purpose."

Emma: "Why?"

Gilbert: "Because you don't like pain."

(You're really saying that?)

The pain quickly turned into another sensation as his fingers worked inside me.

It was like a mark of affection that Gilbert used to engrave on my body every night.

(That's why I can't hate it.)

Gilbert: "See, you're already enjoying it."

Gilbert: "By the way, this is the kitchen. Aren't you going to stop me?"

With a squelching sound, his cold fingers increased to two.

Just before my mind was about to go completely blank, he stopped, and I unconsciously let out a sigh.

Emma: "Just for today."

Emma: "No matter what you do, I'll endure it if that's what you want."

Gilbert: "Because it's my birthday?"

I nodded and wrapped my arms around his head, pulling him close to my chest.

Emma: "I won't lie to you."

Emma: "So until you feel at ease, feel free to continue as much as you want."

Emma: "I want you to know that I genuinely want to celebrate your birthday."

Emma: "I'll keep telling you until you believe it, no matter how much it hurts."

Gilbert: ".........."

Gilbert: "What? So you already figured it out?"

(As expected, there's always a reason behind his threats.)

Emma: "You're probably much easier to understand than you think."

Gilbert: "I think those are words only someone who faces me head-on can say."

Gilbert: "It's really a pity to be liked by a troublesome man like me."

He suddenly laughed and bit my neck.

(Erasing all the suspicions built up over the years might be difficult, but if I can convey that he won't be lonely on his birthday, that alone would be enough.)

While enduring all the pain and pleasure he gave me, I somehow managed to finish the cake.

After celebrating together, we naturally embraced each other's bodies.

After being thoroughly teased during the day, my body immediately welcomed Gilbert, and all that remained after we reached the climax was the sound of our heartbeats.

Gilbert: "Fufu. Your heart is still pounding."

Emma: "I can hear the sound of your heartbeat too."

Wrapped in each other's arms with nothing between us, the sound of our heartbeats resonated.

(His heartbeat is proof that he's alive.)

(I want to feel this every time I celebrate his birthday.)

When I put my arms around his back, he slightly furrowed his eyebrows.

(There are scratches on his skin.)

Emma: "Sorry. It's probably because of me."

Gilbert: "It's fine. I like it when you hurt me."

Gilbert: "It would've been nice if you left not only scratches but bite marks as well."

His fingers traced along my arm, where the bite marks were.

(Not just the arms. I feel like I was bitten all over today.)

Emma: "It's difficult because I don't know how to control my strength like you do."

Gilbert: "Then let's learn together. Shall we master it by my next birthday?"

Emma: "You'll celebrate with me again next year?"

Gilbert: "Who knows? Whether it will be the last or the first is up to you."

Gilbert: "If you love me a lot, I might change my mind."

Emma: "........"

Gilbert: "But your celebration this year wasn't unpleasant."

Gilbert: "Thank you."

Emma: “.........”

(I’m gonna tear up.)

(I might start crying again if I let my guard down.)

He smiled and gently stroked my hair. His expression was more readable than usual, possibly because the eye patch was off.

Emma: “Then, how about inviting Roderich and Walter to the party next time?”

Emma: “I’m sure both of them really want to celebrate your birthday.”

Gilbert: “That’s not happening.”

(Not happening, huh?)

Gilbert: “I don’t need other people’s celebrations. As long as I have yours, that would be enough for me.”

Gilbert: “Because I only love you.”

Emma: “I’ll shower you with lots of love, so please let me celebrate next year, too.”

Gilbert: “Fufu, got it. As long as you’re you, I’ll let you celebrate.”

Gilbert: “Continue loving this beast with your pure heart, okay?”

Episode 1 ╎ Episode 2 ╎ His POV

[allaboutthemoonlight]

How to Maximize Your Productivity Living with Limited Time

Hello, friends! Today's post is a little longer, but it's something I felt I needed to share.

We all have different commitments—school, work, hobbies, etc.—and in today's fast-paced world, our schedules are overflowing, leaving little room for us to breathe. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and struggle with the constant juggle of work and obligations, leaving many of us feeling perpetually busy and struggling to find balance in our lives.

So, this week, I wanted to talk about time management and productivity, specifically task management systems that will help you efficiently plan out your life and find time for absolutely everything.

Over the last two months, I've experimented with a plethora of different productivity and task management systems and want to share five strategies that will help you maximize your productivity and have time for all the things you love.

Embrace slow productivity

This is probably my favorite tip I’ve ever encountered and felt compelled to share.

After listing to a podcast hosted by Jordan Harbinger and Cal Newport where they talked about shifting mindsets concerning the work we’re doing, my outlook on productivity has changed.

Slow productivity is founded on the idea of “resourcing your work so it garners a sense of fulfillment rather than leaving you feeling overwhelmed”. To really embrace slow productivity is means not over-loading your plate

That can be difficult because we’ve been conditioned to believe that beibusy and doing more is a sign of progress; however, it’s important to understand that doing less things =/ accomplishing less goals. In fact doing fewer things often makes our work more sustainable, allowing us to work at a natural pace and pay more attention to quality instead of quantity.

This is probably my favorite tip I've ever encountered and felt compelled to share. After listening to a podcast hosted by Jordan Harbinger and Cal Newport where they talked about shifting mindsets concerning the work we're doing, my outlook on productivity has changed.

Slow productivity is founded on the idea of "resourcing your work so it garners a sense of fulfillment rather than leaving you feeling overwhelmed." To really embrace slow productivity means not overloading your plate.

That can be difficult because we've been conditioned to believe that being busy and doing more is a sign of progress. However, it's important to understand that doing fewer things does not equal accomplishing fewer goals. In fact, doing fewer things often makes our work more sustainable, allowing us to work at a natural pace and pay more attention to quality instead of quantity.

Here are some steps to help you embrace slow productivity:

Prioritization: Identify the most important tasks or goals and focus on them first. Emphasize quality over quantity and aim to produce meaningful results rather than simply checking items off a list.

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Personally, this has helped make tasks feel less overwhelming and helped me maintain focus and momentum.

Set Realistic Expectations: Setting realistic expectations is crucial. Understand the time you have and what you can accomplish within it to avoid overcommitting, particularly to tasks that don't align with your priorities.

Finding a planning system that work for you

Effectively managing your time requires a solid organizational framework. The planning system you choose plays a crucial role in maximizing your productivity. This means finding the right digital or tactile analog tool that works for you.

Digital Tools: There is a crazy amount of digital planning tools available that comprise different features such as to-do lists, task and project managers, and progress trackers. I’m slightly biased here, but apps like Notion, TickTick, obsidian, Trello, or Asana are good for organizing tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress on a project. Additionally, using a calendar app such as Google Calendar, outlook or, Fantastical can you schedule your time effectively and avoid overcommitting.

Pen and Paper: If you’re someone who prefers the simplicity and tactile experience of traditional pen and paper planners, processes such as bullet journaling or simply using a journal to keep note of all your commitments offers a flexible system for organizing tasks, events, and notes in a customizable format. One perk about using pen and paper is that it offers a level of permanence that can’t be found in digital tools. Once you write something down (depending on the tool you write with) it’s permanent.

Hybrid Approach: You can also combine both of these methods to create an experience that works for you. For example, you can use a digital calendar while also keeping a bullet journal as a task manger or place to reflect.

Personally, I find that the hybrid approach works best for me.

Time blocking

Time blocking works because it provides a structured approach to managing your time effectively.

Time blocking is the process of dividing your day into blocks of time dedicated to specific tasks or activities—allowing you to minimize distractions and maintain focus on the task at hand.

Here’s what I’ve found to be the best way to implement time blocking:

Identify Priorities: Start by identifying your most important tasks and goals for the day or week. These are the activities that align with your overall objectives, values, and contribute to meaningful progress.

Choose Time Slots: Next, choose specific time slots in your schedule for each task or activity. It’s crucial to be realistic about the amount of time needed for each task, and consider factors such as your peak productivity hours and natural energy levels.

Time blocking may seem antithetical to flexibility. However, regular review and adjustment is a good way to make modifications in response to changing priorities or interruptions.

<3 Luna

[evolutionsvoid]

Out there in the endless oceans are some truly strange tides, and the Humor seas are easily the top ones to be found. Impossible quantities of crude Humor, all concentrated into one vast body, creating a sight that many would think only existed in tall tales. Yet, they do exist, much to the misery of any sailor, as Humor seas are infamous for their harsh conditions and terrible beasts. Take the Snaring Seas, for example. Also known as "Black Seas," these fluid bodies are made entirely of Black Bile, creating ebon waves and obsidian currents. Well, sort of. In some areas of a Snaring Sea there is fluid movement similar to the watery ocean, but it is mainly where the bile is diluted a bit. But as it grows more concentrated, or gets fouled up with enough debris and detritus, the Black Bile can thicken and congeal. If one is foolish enough to sail deeper into its heart, you will find that this sea eventually turns into something more akin to a choking swamp or a terrible tar pit. Great globs and clots floating on the fluid, and a surface that becomes so thick and gummy that you would swear you would be able to walk on it. But of course, you should never do such a thing, as it is certain death. But then again, if you reach such conditions on the Black Sea, then you are probably already doomed.

The Snaring Seas are infamous due to these tar patches and places where the fluid is more like mud than water. Thick gunk that slows ships, eventually bringing them to a complete stop. Like a great beast bogged down in tar, boats can become trapped in these mires, with no way to escape. The wind is not strong enough to push you free, and attempts to row will just mean stuck oars. To make matters worse, it appears certain conditions can cause the Black Bile to crystalize erratically, resulting in jagged spires erupting and crumbling within the sea. Bad enough trying to push through the crud, but now you must fear unseen crystal chunks and sudden spikes that may destroy your ship. With how thick it is, there is a high chance a busted vessel won't sink, but that still means you are trapped on the Black Sea, with little hope of getting out. There are plenty of horror stories that sailors will share that tell you how that sort of situation ends...

Due to this, Snaring Seas are rarely traversed, at least not with large vessels that easily get stuck. However, in places where water and Black Bile mix, the dark fluid is thin enough to still be traversable. There, some folks may risk diving into it, seeking out Black Bile globs and crystals to fish out, or special creatures to hunt. Obviously, the sea is rich with Black Bile and infused materials, one just has to be daring (and foolish) enough to go get it.

In and around the Black Seas can be found the Blackshard leviathan, a beast whose home and name tells you everything you need to know about it. It bears a heavy shell that erupts with Black Bile spikes, giving it a powerful defense. From its forehead emerges another dark lance, used for warding off predators and goring prey. Its flippers are clawed and hand-like, carrying impressive strength to help pull itself through the thicker parts of the Snaring Sea. This lets it feed upon anything that gets stuck in the tar, unable to break free before its toothy beak devours them. In thinner fluids, it hunts with its horn and spikes, barreling through schools and pods to wound and cripple prey. What aids in this is the fact that the Black Bile spikes easily shatter into jagged shards when they come in contact with flesh, creating clouds of slicing pieces. The horrid slivers bite into skin and blubber, working themselves in deeper with each movement. The pain immobilizes its food and foes, giving the leviathan the opening it needs. It doesn't take long for these spikes to regrow, pulling from the leviathan's internal bile supply and the surrounding fluids to become deadly once more.

When it comes to hunting the beast, it is a tricky kill. Their backs are armored in thick shell and the jutting spikes keep whalers from getting too close. Blackshards are practically guaranteed to do damage to the whaling ship, as they ram right into the side and embed numerous spines. The spikes breaking can give a brief opening, but it won't be long before they grow back. Forcing the beast into more diluted waters can slow the process, as there is less Black Bile to absorb. Sticky fluids like Amber can gum up these weapons and prevent them from shattering and scattering. With thick armor and heavy weapons, one can smash these spikes and aim to crack the shell. One method calls for snapping off these spikes and then using a Yellow Bile infused spear to stab deep into the stump. If one can reach the regrowth organs underneath and trigger the Black Bile within, a small explosion will follow. These internal blasts can greatly damage the beast and also ruin its ability to create spikes.

Slaying a Blackshard results in great stores of meat, blubber, shell and Black Bile. Their spines are perfect for making into nasty weapons that pierce deep and leave horrible wounds. The crystal in them is of good purity, and is great for replenishing stores, inscribing information or even powering a construct. The Aquanuats believe that crystals like these are what could create aquatic bone-bile constructs, perhaps even an artificial leviathan (though they don't say this out loud too much, as seafolk get a little freaked out about that idea). Their heavy shells create incredible armor, both for man or boat. The bile infused meat has an incredible earthy flavor and seems to bolster the mind. Some whalers will swear that eating enough of it allows you to absorb parts of the beast's memory, giving you information of the world below. Legends like to say that this method is how one is able to successfully cross a Snaring Sea, using the memory of this dead leviathan to know exactly where to sail and how to avoid being bogged down. Of course, that is just a legend, and honestly no one really knows what you would get from such a feat. For some groups like the Scholars, however, there is the idea that the heart of these seas carry unique strains of Black Bile crystal, that could be invaluable in their efforts. Good luck finding anyone to go get them though...

[nihilnovisubsole]

Because of your latest post: not sure if you’ve answered this before, but how does someone even entertain the idea of writing for the game dev industry? Did you start out on indie games or just write before and show them your work? Since it’s such a subjective field etc

if i have, it bears repeating! here's a rough timeline of what i did. never discount the value of luck and the kindness of friends

2016: i was doing a random freelance transcription job when i saw @theivorytowercrumbles post about writing for voltage. they reblogged the studio's open casting call for new writers. since it was so lenient - no experience, fanfic samples allowed - i applied. they hired me for their new project, but let me go after a trial period, citing that the tone of my writing was a bad fit for that game. i foundered for a while after that. i don't take rejection well. i started dangerous crowns to try to make money from writing some other way.

2017: one of voltage's producers reached out to me and said they'd started another project that i was a good fit for. she felt letting me go was a mistake and wanted to snap me back up. i said yes, i mean, are you kidding? so i started on reiner's route.

2018-2019: i kept at it. i took on diego's route. it occurred to me that i wasn't making very much money, but i liked my coworkers, and i was building my portfolio, so who cared? i also finished dangerous crowns, and a handful of people bought it, but certainly not enough to support myself or anything.

early 2020: between the pay and creative differences with voltage's team, it started to sink in that i needed to find other work. i applied to the few open game writer jobs i could find, but with only mobile romance in my portfolio, i got nowhere. i threw in dangerous crowns samples. i tried to network on twitter. i still never made it to the interview phase. i foundered for a while again.

late 2020: the voltage writers went on strike. i gave a statement to a journalist that one of obsidian's narrative designers noticed. we became acquaintances over it. another old friend of mine threw me a life raft in the form of a different contract, better paying, on a non-romance indie game. i took it gladly. i added a twine game to my portfolio, too. i kept applying. i got a few interviews, but something still didn't click.

2021: i finally accepted that i needed formal help. i did a portfolio workshop. i got resume coaching. the coach passed my name to a writer on the company of heroes team. they liked me! they also paid me more money than i'd ever seen in my life. at the same time, obsidian advertised a narrative job opening. i applied on a lark and let my ND pal know i was doing so. why not, right? college-new-vegas-fan me would want me to. they rejected me, but not before i passed their writing test and two interviews. i had nothing to lose at that point, so i told my ND pal that i was bummed. she gave me a golden piece of advice: "you came really close. try again."

2022: obsidian had another narrative opening. i threw myself at it. i was now going to annoy them into hiring me. since i was a known quantity from applying six months before, they had no qualms about interviewing me again. this time, it worked out, and i've been there ever since.

what's the common denominator here? i met people who thought i was all right and gave me a hand up when i needed it. the standard advice is to work with a community of your peers instead of trying to get your heroes to senpai-notice you. it's not that they don't care - they just have their own thing going on, and your peers could be the heroes of tomorrow if the right project comes along. i also found the portfolio was the end-all-be-all when it came to job hunting. i went through a grieving process with that! i'm not afraid to admit it. i wish studios had held my degree or dangerous crowns in higher regard, but i just had to make games in a wider variety of genres, and that was that.

one caveat: narrative is a really saturated field right now. a lot of people want to write, and there aren't many openings. it's not uncommon for big studios to get hundreds of applicants. larian probably got over a thousand for the job they posted recently. i feel awful saying that, because i don't want to discourage you, but i'd feel worse if i didn't let you know what you were getting into. if it's something you want, you should try! keep an open mind about the random projects you may find. you never know where they'll take you.

[talon-dragonbeast]

niche kin appreciation 22: create a "beginners guide" to your kin

what is an enderman?

endermen (sometimes called enderfolk) are inhabitants of the End, a dimension almost completely devoid of life that features in the popular videogame Minecraft. they are humanoid creatures characterized by their black skin and purple eyes, long arms and legs, large ears, and tail. endermen are able to teleport, and attack players when they look them in the eyes.

canon (left) - my version (right)

where do endermen live?

despite their name, endermen can be found in all three dimensions!

the End is their home dimension. although not all endermen are born in the End, most will spend at least some time in this dimension, as its considered an important cultural tradition and gives them the opportunity to form or join a haunting (the enderman family unit). as mentioned above, its almost completely barren, with endermen, shulkers and endermites being the only organisms capable of surviving there in the long term. and not for any reason: in the End there is only rock, obsidian and void. the only food available is the chorus fruit, which makes you teleport when you eat it, and there is no water.

the Nether is an underground dimension, accessible only by portal. it is an incredibly hot place, full of lava and monsters, where if you try to sleep on a bed, it will Literally Explode with you in it. in this dimension, endermen are only really able to thrive in a biome called the Warped Forest, and only because the temperature there is significantly lower. as the name implies, it is a forest, only instead of trees there are giant tree-like fungi with cyan "leaves" and redish-purple "trunks" growing out the ground.

the Overworld is where players live. it is a rich dimension where you can get food from the ground and the animals around you, and water is found in every corner (and even falls from the sky sometimes!). the endermen that live here are called Wanderers, and little is known about how they live. these endermen are... peculiar, reclusive; not quite lost, but you couldnt say that theyre not lost either.

what are their abilities?

endermen can teleport from one place to another, and from one dimension to another. when they scream, they can unhinge their jaws and emit a strange static noise that gets louder and louder until its almost unbearable to hear. they are slightly telepathic, and are able to perceive others intentions, emotions, and even thoughts, through a psychic bond that is voluntarily formed through eye contact. they have claws that can easily kill a player in a couple of blows, and are very agile, allowing them to dodge arrows.

what are their weaknesses?

endermen are weak to water. they dont really have to drink anymore because they evolved to survive in the End, where the only available water is dissolved in the air. they are used to absorbing small quantities of water through the skin via osmosis, so when even the smallest drop of water touches their skin, their cells absorb it too quickly and explode. this is manifested macroscopically as very painful burns, at least until the water stops touching their skin.

whenever a player looks an enderman in the eyes, it is forced to freeze in place, becoming unable to move until the eye contact is broken. this is because of the aforementioned psychic bond, that is forcibly opened between the enderman and the player and is incredibly taboo to do outside of hauntings. when the player stops looking, the enderman becomes enraged due to the pain and the taboo, and attacks the player, usually killing them. some players wear carved pumpkins on their heads to be able to look at endermen without fear of being attacked. this works, for some unknown reason.

if endermen could talk, what would they say?

Block Good. more chorus fruit P.lease :]

original

[dunmanticarchivistsmain]

Alright I’ve had a good night to sleep on Wild Life and I’m ready to cook up my headcanons on Life lore.

Despite the name that was a relatively tame first episode; everyone’s spread out in a usual fashion, claiming high ground, resources and allies.

The opening teams this time are such a treat; you’ve got Jimmy, Scar and Lizzie. Treebark. Obsession Duo. GrumboMan. BET. BigB off by himself (whyyy)

Aaaaand there’s the Gs (now upgraded to 4G with impulse being Grownman or Guy). What kind of destiny is so intractable, so unyielding, that after 4 seasons of death, betrayal and pain these 3 cannot deviate from their orbits around each other?

It's almost strange to see, especially after the healing that was Secret Life. Why the regression, why the diving back into what seems like an unhealthy relationship?

It's only after watching Scar, that I realised. Pearl semi-won Secret Life. She may not have carried one of her chosen Mounders to victory, but her personal arc of healing was completed by relinquishing the bloodlust and desire to win, her half hearted ally Scar earned his victory, she made new friends and had a mostly good time being in the thick of things. I'd like to think Scar came out of his victory the most sane of all the winners, so far he seems a little on edge, but he seems much sharper in his survival skills (aside from the falling please never change Scar <3) planning defenses and gathering allies etc. Interestingly he put Pearl on 100/100 relationship immediately, despite having never interacted (?) with her at all this first episode except sharing the first deaths.

Anyway back to Pearl, what's her headspace going into a new life series, having mostly achieved her goal of getting a friend across the finish line?

Primarily I see her as cautious, with her familiarity of the twists and turns of the seasons changing, she wants to know what ground she's treading first. Circumstance or destiny has brought old faces to her side, ghosts made manifest. So she tests. She tests if they remember, as she does. No better than known quantities, as a control for what may have changed. Clearly they do. They remember it all. The gaslighting, the gatekeeping. Just not the girlbossing. I think Pearl has made her peace with that. That part of her is a rotting corpse chained to her soul. That part of her died when he killed them.

And then there's Impulse. The one who seems on the cusp of remembering, of being drawn into the nexus of unbreakable fate. He has always been a contender, an aspirant to the pantheon. He positions himself as the useful one, at the very least a player in the games. So far he's contributed a lot of time to the team, digging obsidian, herding cows, figuring out the wildcard. But is he really stuck in? Between the moon and stars which side will he lean if perchance....one were to bolt?

Because this is not a stable configuration; for the first time in 5 seasons, Pearl has not outright said: I want my team my partner my universe assigned person and I to win. In fact when Cleo brought up loyalty, of all the people she who could best have a claim to it, Pearl outright shoots down the idea that day one alliances last despite having never being the one to break them up and having always wanted them to hold. I think victory means little to Pearl now, she has won, she has lost, her team has won, her team has lost. So what drives Pearl, in a world of chaos and uncertainty? I don't really know but if I had to guess?

Defiance.

She has never been a conformist, and she only cleaved to people's flawed expectations as a subversion. Pearl has been on a malicious compliance arc lately on hermitcraft and I am having some tasty hopes that will continue (copium intensifies). Grouping up with an old team? That sounds like great groundwork for expectation subversion if you think she's going to be like previous season, loyal and almost self-sacrificial. Why would she, to a group that treats her like trash?

Very much enjoyed the opening episodes this week, they are such fertile soil for headcanons and interpretations. Looking forward to the weekly twists and turns with all the cast and crew.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a book "The galaxy will know, before long, one way or the other, that defiance yet exists in this crooked house of lies" ~The Path of Heaven, Chris Wraight

[helloescapist]

Describe It to Me | Gyomei Himejima

Word Count: 1761

Setting: Gyomei x gn!reader (reader is a kakushi)

Content Warning(s): mentions of gore/violence, angst

Summary: a tap at your window, an emergency request delivered by a kasugai crow leads you to to devastation and a man you had not seen since the Final Selection.

A/N: full disclosure, I lost where I was going with this, and just cut it short. 🫣

Cries echoed into your ear drums, the stanch scent of iron that threatened the earth beneath your feet. Tarnished soil, dragged and muddled across gore and destruction. Limbs that tangled beneath their own weight, splintered, and shattered in the depths of the dark. The night robbed of light, the moon shied away from the horrors that you bore witnessed too. As though the sight were far too much for the gentle spirit to bear, the devastation littered throughout the landscape.

Trees torn from their roots, evidence of their once productive life, snubbed out with a single thrust.  Trunks threatened to smash to bits, the mass majority of branches fractured. Only the occasional splintered branch worth consideration of mulch in the years to come. Left ruined amongst the forest floors. Foliage robbed of any chance of survival, crunched beneath zori. The embroidered mark of the slayers before you as you pressed forward, bundled together in a close knit as kakushi often traveled. Averted eyes that struggled to process the bloody scene. The ache of your heart upon your sleeves, the stench of death that left you unsettled and uneasy. An unusual nightly excursion to a devastated area, the call having been one of desperation begging for aid, a large quantity at that. A Kasugai crow that rattled against your bed window. Rose you from your slumber, leaving you with little time to process the severity of the situation. His delicately obsidian feathers were immaculately maintained soothed only by the night wind. A shadow amongst the cover of the trees, the distinct caws assisting with guiding you amongst the terrain. Small scowls you had been quick to decipher as attempts to assist your travel in the depths of the night. Shooed away any doubts, and anxieties that may have begun to fester in the pit of your stomach, and urged the others of your group to remain steadfast to the cause. Though they were less than tactful at tucking their emotions away, despite the clothes that clung to their features. A final cowl from the Kasugai. You had arrived.

              Iron that threatened to spirit away your senses, overwhelming taint that threatened the vile in your stomach. Eyes that followed the trace of gore, and the eyes that met your own. Trembled from the faint glow of the lanterns you bore. Momentarily stunned, and confused, regardless of the time that passed you always found your feet. Bared your weight when your body threatened to give out, carried you regardless of how your heart hesitated. Fingers that weaved and picked through torn uniforms, the furrow of your brows as you patched small scratches, grazed over the smallest of blemishes.  Several of the slayers falling in the mizunoto, new recruits that appeared dazed and confused. Dazed to the point that they neither flinched, nor registered the way your hands skated across their craniums. Evaluated their response, their reflexes. All well intact, the flutter of their chests, and raps of their breath as  though the air threatened to abandon them. Their heartbeats rattling into your fingers, throbbed in veins and dashing beat, painfully aware of the clammy state of their skin devoid of color. “What happened,” your pressed, their eyebrows at the met of their tone betraying their frustrations.  Snubbed of the greet of the teeth, it’s surprising how little the uniform shielded slayers from the wrath of the bearer. Taro’s bad temper once again straying him to rash decision making. A fairly recent transfer, he had indicated the desire to try his hand at caring for the wounded, and assisting their travels to the Butterfly Estate though his bedside manner betrayed any such sentiments. Whispers that the boy had merely wanted to avoid shuffling swordsman to the smithing village not without reason. The youth was tall, and barrel chested, so much so that his uniform left little to the imagination, nor did he take into consideration the way his size towers over the newer recruits, “OI! Answer me.”

              “Shock,” you sighed, allowing yourself to draw to your feet. The patches of bandages secured to your patient’s face. The skim of the other kakushi readily at work before cutting your eyes at the kakushi at your side. His annoyance beginning to fester to the point that his fingers had caught at the brows of the patient, threatening to draw them to their feet should they not answer. “A patient that exhibits symptoms of shock should be treated with care—he’s not going to answer you,” the drip of warning poised in your voice. As sharp and lethal as the dagger secured at your hip. All too aware that the cloth shading your features to the night would not protect the inexperienced kakushi from your wrath.

              The pitter of voices, fallen into trembled tones. Shook with e ach word that parted from dry lips, guided by the beckoning way of a subordinate. The frantic touch, drawn to rush to their side. Eyes that met the scratch of blood that had met at the top of the skull, being tended to with delicate fingers as the words threatened to overflower. Rattled mumblings of demons, and surprised attacks. The shatter of bark, and the sickening moan that it had released. A giant that could bear the weight of trees, yielded them as mere weapons no more than a means to combat a beast of the night. The tremble of the victim’s eyes and dilated pupils, telling symptoms of hallucinations. Concussions. The passing thought to review their status before the feathers ruffled near your ear. Perched a small creature that threatened to consume the entirety of your shoulder, its little beak peppered through your hair. It’s frail voice near begging, near mournful of its pursuits. The little crow who had dared the darkness of night to seek assistance. “Is this Kasugai perhaps yours,” you whispered to the ramblings of a madman. Ignored, and threatened to send the individual into a state of panic. The threading of their fingers through their hair,  scratched into the aches of their scalp murmurs that were incomprehensible. The kakushi at their side, rattled by the sudden lurch of their body. Fumbled and anxious cries that bellowed, drew a finger to your side. Caught your eye at something that emerged from the ground. As though it had splintered the earth. A stone—no, the oddity of the shape a blade of some sort. The nudge of the crow in your ear, feathered through the strands of your hair at the insistence. Hefty, an abandoned blade amongst a battle field, far too aware the severity of such a loss should incur. Lifting upon it, caught amongst muck, an unholy mixture of dirt and blood that threatened to confine the remainder of the weapon. Chains that emerged like the dead from its pull. The sickening staunch of a scent you rarely had interactions with. Brain matter that clung to speared ends. Metal that formed tips, and edge upon the end of the chain. A ball marred by the spikes that bore casualties, the opposite of the hefty discovery clenched between your fingers. An axe and flail, and the weight your heart threatened to stop. The bit of your body stumbled to bear its weight. Giant. Fear taking over the better part of your senses, the distant reflection of a man. A mountain of a main carved from stone by the gods, the callous of his hands curiously embracing the touch of wisteria petals unheeded by the blood at his fingertips. Delighting in the presence of such beautiful fragrance though he would never know the sight that marveled before you. His mere presence the only reason you had survived the Final Selection, and the whisper of his voice, deep and soft, “Describe them to me.”

The only payment he had requested in return for your life.

The rush of feathers fluttered against wings as the shrieks of a scaw rang through your ears. Threatened your senses and drew you to muster what little strength you could manage. Strained muscles shook your core. Numb to the weight, leaving little choice but to draw the tug of the chain. The spike far too much for you to heave as it dragged through the blood-soaked dirt. No time to acknowledge the tears that edged their way to your eyelashes.

“T-Take me to him,” you demanded.

[an-orange-twilight]

Subtle Gear for Cat Therians!

Hello! My Pinterest and Etsy are full of cat related things, so I thought I'd share some things that could make cute and interesting gear for the therian community!!

Most of these you can wear, but remember gear can take any shape and form, meaning it could also come in the form of decorations :3

Enjoy!

[inspofromancientworld]

Çatalhöyük and the Beginning of Cities

Source: https://daily.jstor.org/catalhoyuk-its-story-continues/

Çatalhöyük is a site in Türkiye that captures the transition between small groups of hunter-gatherers following food sources to a more settled lifestyle that changed the land around it to raise crops and herds of animals. As we have studied it over the past half century, we have learned a lot about the first city that housed about 8,000 people at its highest. Our perspectives have also shifted, as well, from a perspective rooted in a matriarchal society to one in which gender wasn't destiny.

By Nevit Dilmen (talk) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14783156

Within Çatalhöyük, houses shared walls and there weren't any streets to separate them. People walked from roof to roof to travel through the city and homes were entered through the roofs, as well, via a ladder. Homes show evidence of being plastered and decorated with murals and figurines. Among these figurines were initially found quite a lot of Venus figurines, 'voluptuous, nude women', which led early researchers to hypothesize that there was a matriarchal society worshiping a 'mother goddess', which gained traction at the time as it was in the middle of the rise of second wave feminism. Within this 'matriarchal society', it was thought that women controlled economic factors and were the ones who directed religious life.

By Wolfgang Sauber - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53242123

Further research pushed back against this idea, proposing that if it were true, there should be a stratification visible in the remains at Çatalhöyük, but what is found is a relatively equal distribution of goods as well as a lot of shrines without the separation of a 'priestly quarter'. Additionally, with a much larger quantity of figures found, only 5% represented the 'mother goddess' style. Later cities that had a documented hierarchy showed a clustering of goods and shrines. The site also seems to lack public buildings, based on the sizes of the buildings and rooms within them, which would be needed for a socially segregated society. Instead, the way the buildings are clustered together indicate a society that was more cooperative. It is possible that the roofs themselves formed the public 'building', lending a place to gather together, especially when the weather was nice.

By Elelicht - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22743701

The houses had plastered walls and floors and were kept very clean, as there is very little rubbish remaining in them as archaeologists study the site. Refuse of all kinds was taken to midden heaps outside the ruins. Burials, though, happened under the floors of the homes, especially under the hearths. People were usually buried tightly curled up into the fetal position then put into baskets or wrapped into reed mats. There is also some evidence that people were exposed before their burial. Supporting the belief of an egalitarian society, these burials show that males and females enjoyed equal nutrition and were equally treated in death.

By Mark Nesbitt from London - 017-nesbitt, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7429579

Çatalhöyük shows at least 18 levels of rebuilding, showing that it was used over a long period of time and the individual houses also show renovation within them. Each layer was built of mud brick and then plastered over. It was in use between approximately 7100 and 5700 BCE. Within the remains, we can find the beginnings of agriculture with crops such as wheat, barley, and peas. Evidence of animal domestication can also be found with the bones of sheep and, later, cattle being found. The remains of pottery and obsidian tools can be found as well as evidence of trading with shells from the Mediterranean and flint from Syria.

[wanderxdusk]

Diamond Dogs

Can summon two large canine specters (one white and one yellow). These canines have stony, Southeastern-styled heads, star-speckled bodies, and collars with Choctaw diamond motifs. They can fight in her stead, often using relentless thrashing with massive, heavy jaws. They can also be used as shields against some projectile attacks.

Another way of manifesting is morphing her arms as two large, toothed warclubs. These warclubs bear the same stone canine heads but have large teeth-like serrations along their bottom jaws”. She can strike them to the ground to create small-range earthquakes and as blunt-force weapons.

Black Velvet

Emits a sparkling, black, water-like substance, which quickly overtakes the user (reference to the Underworld, the water panthers domain) The user is then transformed into a massive, horned, panther-like beast and gains super natural strength, speed, and senses. Due to the user's body being surrounded by the substance, most regular strikes will be repelled.

The user can take on an alternate form, with large, obsidian war clubs overtaking the arms. The war clubs are styled as snarling panther heads and are capable of earthquakes and summoning large quantities of the black water.

[raptorfae53]

Hunter Huntsmann and Ashlynn Ella redesigns/Monster forms.

Hi guys, I'm back again with more eah art since you guys really liked the previous piece,this time of Ashlynn Ella and Hunter Huntsmann,secret lovers and respectively the daughter of Cinderella and son of the Huntsman, the former of which is tidying the enormous quantity of hair that sprouted during the latters metamorphosis into a centaur.

As opposed to Duchess and as cute as they are, I always felt the original incarnations were a bit flat in terms of characterization,so I've taken a bit more liberty here than with Duchess's design...

My version of Ashlynn is a practical,industrious, deeply loving girl always fixing,mending and generally tinkering with stuff to make others lives better who lives with her widowed sickly mother and her majordomo and head of house as well as her two daughters, who in the absence of ashlynns father are expected to take up the role of the wicked stepmother and sisters in her story. The thing is that aside from engaging in a secret romance with a guy that is definitely not her destined prince, Ashlynn cant bear the thought of her family being torn apart purely because destiny says it should, she loves her stepmother and stepsisters as if they were blood family,and feels like they are under a lot of scrutiny because of who they're expected to be.

On top of this, outside her duties as princess and heir to Cinderellas kingdom,Ashlynn feels very responsible for her living spaces at both ever after high and her mothers castle as well as for her family's shoe company, and is often partaking in a million and one odd jobs of all kinds or just helping people out (most notably copying notes for brair during her narcoleptic episodes in class). As a result Ashlynn often finds herself worn out and is thankful hunter is around to help her take it easy and wind down after a long day on her feet.

Her monster form is an Obsidian Gargoyle,a protector monster made out of volcanic glass.

Meanwhile, my version of Hunter is a boy who is best described as sensible, mellow and passionate about nature. Hunter came out as trans in his early teens,much to the surprising elation of his father, who includes the boy in all of his own,very macho interests and hobbies. The thing is though is that just because hunter has transitioned that doesnt mean he still isnt the same person personality-wise and still enjoys a lot of the same,more stereotypically feminine things he did then like participating in gymnastics and cheerleading, continuing to dislike hunting,trapping and generally acting as if the wilds are ones personal space to do as they please as well as being a staunch vegan and environmentalist.

Deep down hunter fears for his father and by extent his family,believing his father's machismo is based on internal insecurity and repression, and wishes his father will one day be willing to talk about these feelings and take a more active role in his and his sister fern's lives beyond a distant "bringing home the bacon type" . A sentiment that his friends and bandmates Raven Queen,Cerise Hood and Dexter Charming can empathise with and which powers some of the Rebels' most powerful music.

His monster form is a centaur,well known as a creature of the untamed wilds.

Hope you like my art BTW.