#scurra

[mythologicafolk]

Scurra, the French Medieval Folk band known for its "strolls" around medieval fairs, released their album Marchands de Fables in April 2024. The band graciously sent us its digital version for reviewing.

Read more:

https://mythologica.com.br/en/reviews/scurra-marchands-de-fables-2024/

[cnidariandreams]

more ttrpg stuff

[forg-time]

petal isn’t as clowny but she’s still a very important part of the circus :)

[mostlygayrage]

OBSCURA: Trailer Analysis

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

In the trailer/video that goes with Chapter One of OBSCURA (Here. Watch it on your own, sub to Rotten Raccons) is PACKED with details and all sorts of information. Let's start with the first thing we see when the video starts.

Cirrus:

This is a snippet of Cirrus' CG in game with some things added. The text in the top left is what we're interested in. "18. presbyter//ecclesia lunaris" What does the number mean? Well if we take it in terms of Major Arcana for Tarot cards. the moon in number 18.(XVIII) Fitting for the lunar priest, but the deeper meaning also fits. Usually meaning hidden danger or enemies, deception to darker forces at play. Then we have the Latin. If we take the dashes and an indication of a break, then the translation is roughly "Preist// height of the moon" But if we take it as one sentence it translates to "Priest of the Lunar Church" Keir:

Again, staring with the number. 20 (XX) is Judgement. I find this fascinating. With obvious associations to justice, scales, balance etc it;s an interesting connection that I wouldn't have originally thought of to Keir but it fits well. The card itself means reflection, reckoning and awakening. Usually taking a look at oneself to see where an imbalance lies so you can fix it and move forwards while reversed can mean a lack of self-awareness, doubt and self-loathing. (yikes) The latin here is interesting too. Instead of having the dashes like everyone else, he had the latin next to the number and then a separate, less visible one at the bottom center of the screen. "Cavilator Fur" translates to "Scornful thief" and the dimmer, less noticeable word is "Cultelluss" or "knife" and it's pointing to where his dagger in on his belt.

Oleander:

The Number 11 (XI) is Justice. Meaning cause and effect, clarity and truth and the reverse meaning opposite. Oleander is a character who knows the effects of his actions. They are measures and precise. He is aware of the cause and effect. And in his neutral and good endings we see him bring his own form of 'justice' or balance. When Lord Valentine tried to have him killed, he simply returned the favor personally, and succeded. "Nerii//periculosum scurra" when translated as a sentence means "A dangerous clown". This obviously references the way Vesper calls him a clown when they first meet and telling us directly that he is dangerous. Francesco:

The Wheel of Fortune is what is assigned to Francesco, meaning change, cycles and inevitable fate, greater forces as play that are pushing towards and ultimate and unavoidable end. This theme goes along with theming that he is running out of time. THere is a reason for him coming to the underground, for rushing Vesper and the tailor so he can experience as much as he can. There is something pushing him forwards.

"Francisium//innocentes nobiles" At a first glance it looks like a latin version of his name, and "innocent nobiles." The second part is correct but the whole phrase means "The innocent nobles of France" which is FACINATING to say the least. The connection to France is interesting to me and brings my mind to the French revolution. Another detail I think is interesting is that his secondary outfit we see him in, the jewelry that is around his neck is right where a beheading would happen and once I saw it I couldn't unsee it.

Thats the first portion. Later in the video we get some images that flash across the screen with more latin and numbers. The numbers correspond with the numbers we were given previously. Again, in the order of how they appear in the video: Cirrus: Snake Skeleton

Latin first. "Obsequium// ducit as caelum" means "compliance leads to heaven" This connects to his entire theme. To get the best end with Cirrus, you don't question him. You don't question his motives or hesitate, you just comply. The imagery of a snake skeleton is interesting too. The obvious imagery and symbolism with snakes, deceit, lies, danger. But also connections to the story of Adam and Eve. The snake that tempts Eve, causing her fall from grace.

Keir: Scales

The Latin here is obscured a bit but it says "Fatum// vestrum vel extaneus" meaning "Your fate is at stake". This one leaves me wondering quite a bit. It says 'your' as if it's talking to the player, to us. To Vesper. This could tie into how Vesper is roped into Mouse Hole, how they are forced to get a noose around their neck like the rest of those living in Mouse Hole. They have to perform well in the heist that happens otherwise they risk death that comes a lot sooner than would be caused by fractum anima. They also risk the lives of Keir and those in Mouse Hole.

The imagery here is super interesting too. Scales are usually associated with justice which happens to be Oleander's tarot card. Scales, are obviously associated with balance, with equilibrium, and fair deals. While we mostly see one side of the scale it seems to be balanced. And in combination with the Latin, I think it's referring to the delicate balance that is Keir's life. A balance of his line of work being risky but lucrative, but if it's too much of a risk, he not only risks his life but all the others in Mouse Hole.

Oleander: Human Skull

"Pantiantur// sicut habes" roughly translates to "Let them suffer as you have" which, WOW. OKAY. Again, Oleander delivers his own form of justice to Lord Valentine by delivering the same thing Valentine tried to do to Oleander, but more personal. Let them suffer as you have. It brings to mind the "eye for an eye" metaphor. An eye for an eye and the world goes blind. But Justice is blind is she not? The skull imagery is interesting as well. This is all painting Oleander as a very dangerous man. Charming and witty, with a flair for the dramatic, yes, but dangerous all the same. A man who can kill. In the neutral ending he says, "For now you are safe with me. If you want to stay like that, you need to follow my lead." If he doesn't have the same attachment to you as he does in the good ending, you are an asset to him and he doesn't spare you the same kindness.

Francesco: Hour Glass

"Tempus//decurrit" means "time is running out". His is the shortest and simplest of the secondary ones. He is running out of time. He rushes you at the tailor to get an outfit made because he can't afford to wait. He wants to get as much as he can, done in the time he has left. No time to waste. The hourglass is the same message. Time is running out. It makes me wonder what is causing his time to run out. Here's the thing, Vesper's time is also running out with Fractum Anima, and interesting connection and it would be interesting if he also had it or something similar but I don't think that's the case with the other things we have seen. With the other things, the "innocent nobles of France" bit and the Wheel of Fortune, It feels like it's alluding to an execution to something similar. But that's purely speculation. That's it! That's what I have! (Thanks to Atlas on discord for great resources and helping me connect the dots with the numbers and tarot!!)

[proserpinesprankster]

Talk about your fantrolls NOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALRIGHTY BITCHES. So note that some have more iterations than others and im prolly gonna fix up the less refined ones AS I AM TALKING.

Ill add a cut because theres so fucking much of them.

Feel free to ask more questions i love my sillies!!!

Lets go in order of caste, therefore...

FIRST OF ALL! Nihila Umbrax, the Knight of Void, Derse sway, Burgundy Blood.

Nihila is a burgundy who was less fortunate at wriggling to say the least. They have multiple significant mutations, their eyes are solid red and their height is comparable to that of an older purpleblood, aswell as large mothlike wings. All of this and its seclusion in the woods has led to it being mystified as a local cryptid, the fact that its horns are shaped like antennae does not help the mothman allegations. Beneath all of this Nihila is overall just a big clumsy blind individual, they like to tinker with electronics and usually end up dumpster diving to salvage parts. They were most likely the troll who got SGrub up and working for the group, but its cryptid nature is not at all ceased during the game. Bowkind Strife.

Next we have Squash Tapeko, the Bard of Space, Prospit sway, Bronze Blood.

Squash is a bit of an anomaly in general, being that he operates outside of the typical laws of space and time. Paradox space and Squash get along like two peas in a pod, or more aptly two pumpkins in a patch, while normal space seems to avoid him like the plague. Hes always wearing those tacky shades that have the lines and stuff, and only has one horn which curls like a stem. Anyone accquainted with the laws of paradox space can tell in an instant this goofy goober is like a pumpkin given physical form. He likes to garden, usually growing squashes for later use as plot devices. Sodakind Strife.

Next! Aureum Crisia, the Maid of Light, Derse Sway, Gold Blood.

Aureum has little to no psiioniics despite being a goldblood, she's insecure for obvious reasons. She compensates with over the top optimism, though in truth she is a realist who never waits for things to fall into her hand. She has spent her whole life using charisma and wit to work her way into alternian business, despite the prejudice shown by higher classes. She can be a bit shady sometimes, but she refuses to take any disrespect. Coinkind Strife.

Beitah Bliuta, the Sylph of Breath, Prospit Sway, Olive Blood.

Beitah is close with Nihila, shes shared purr hive with them for as long as they can remember, practically siblings. Their hive is rudimentary regardless, mostly a well decorated cavern. Beitah is overall playful and childish, and the youngest of the group. She is also however a bit feral, for lack of a better word, most view purr as just overall weird for any of these things. Beitah is smaller than most of the others and wears baggy clothes constantly.

Raekie Venaer, the Rogue of Doom, Prospit Sway, Jade Blood.

Raekie likes to call themself a poet, followed by a murder of crow lusii constantly. They didn't favor life in the brooding caverns and instead live in a makeshift treehouse they ended up making after running away. They don't live in the same area as Beitah and Nihila but they do exchange tips through Trollian, and of course Raekie shares their cheesy poetry. Despite the gothic aesthetic Raekie is a terminal optimist, and knows good and well how cheesy their poetry is. Penkind Strife.

Terrun Biyiga, the Thief of Life, Prospit Sway, Teal Blood.

Terrun hates his own caste, plain and simple, mostly because of having lower class friends and realizing he was a part of the problem. He internalizes this hatred as of the start of the session, simply playing along. He has a certain level of internalized self hate, but covers all of this up with a hero complex and cowboy accent. Revolverkind Strife.

Now for a real interesting one, Celare Scurra, the Mage of Mind, Derse Sway, Cerulean Blood.

Celare Scurra is actually not 100% a troll. She always seems oddly well dressed, and never removes her gloves. On Derse, you may hear a whistling of a familiar tune, though back on Alternia it's less well known. Celare Scurra has joined The Midnight Crew on Derse. By some twist of fate, her body has a hint of Carapacian, which has shrouded half of her dreamself in black. She serves as a villain for this story, overall. Bit of a bitch, but unlike Vriska she doesn't flaunt it. Cardkind Strife.

Kirkor Stilis, the Heir of Heart, Prospit Sway, Indigo Blood.

Kirkor isn't the brightest, but he's sure lovable. Hes the only one even close to matching Nihila's height, and serves as Aureum's bodyguard at times as a result, warding off anyone who would threaten her due to his sheer scale. Theres some sort of moiraillegiac tension there, probably. Overall he serves as, well, the heart of the group. Hes also just very clumsy, someone give the 7 foot tall pair some dexterity. Hammerkind.

Manika Dexsue, the Witch of Hope, Derse Sway, Purple Blood.

Manika gets her kicks in a different way from most purplebloods, she usually only dresses up in the full clown getup for formal stuff. Normally shes wearing a dirty jumpsuit and rubber gloves with a purple gas mask, inviting Nihila over for their latest biomechanical experiment. Nibies' arm tends to end up the test subject. Manika is overall just a short mad scientist, and of course besties with Nihila. Sawkind / Needlekind Strife.

Sourim Paetel, the Seer of Blood, Derse Sway, Violet Blood.

Sourim is a socially inept hopeless romantic. He knows how to interact with high troll society... And thats about it. He's all prose and pretty words, with no real awareness of the state of things. He loves rainbow drinker literature, and this was why he first took an interest in Raekie, and then fell HARD. The fact that he has no social awareness makes flirting difficult, aswell as the fact that he takes Raekie's poetry seriously and Raekie doesn't take his seriously. Theyre both idiots with romance. Rapierkind Strife.

Ossico Blakke, Prince of Rage, Derse Sway, Fuchsia Blood.

Ossico is constantly tired, quick to anger if awoken from a good nap. Overall the whole group knows she has some anger issues to work through, but she cares deeply about her friends and is a sweetheart when shes calm. She is a force of raw destruction with a love for all things cutesy and brightly colored, and ducks. Furniturekind Strife.

Nibies Dulcis, Page of Time, Prospit Sway, Cotton Candy Blood.

Nibies was claimed by a purpleblood cult before she could be culled, and was worshipped as the avatar of their god, this was not a good thing for her. Eventually she did make it out and meet Manika, theyve got some sort of undisclosed redrom going on there, noones really sure. Nibies also hates Celare for an unknown reason, and its rather obvious theyve got some blackrom tension. Nibies is silly and over the top to make up for Manika's lack of clown behavior, with a very intense sweet tooth. She probably would have gone entirely mad if not for this group, and Manika and Nihila made her a prosthetic arm to replace the one she lost. Sweetskind Strife.

[rottenraccoons]

So sorry if you've gotten this question before! I looked through the asks tag but couldn't seem to find it. Regardless, I don't mean to take up your time!

I noticed that in the official trailer on itch.io, (and in the intro when I open the game) each character is listed with what initially looks like a scientific name and a diagram with their chapter one CGs. Keir and Francisco's names are either a one to one exact copy of the names they use in game or very close, in Francesco's case.

With Oleander and Cirrus, both characters that have more reason to use fake names (because it's said in game the Oleander frequently changes his name for his ~*mystique*~ and Vesper speculates that Cirrus' name is likely not his true name, but still says a lot about him,) they have different names. Cirrus is called "Presbyter" which from a quick google search means "elder or minister (most often of a church)" and Oleander is listed as "Nerii" which, from looking up the wikipedia page for the "Daphnis Nerii," also called the //Oleander// hawk-moth. So, I was wondering (if it isn't spoilers to answer) if their true names have been right under our noses this whole time? With Oleander possibly being named Nerii and Cirrus possibly being named Presbyter?

Also, their titles of a sort are listed after their names in what might be latin(?), with Cirrus' "Ecclesiae Lunaris" meaning (from google translate, mind you, I haven't done a deep dive into latin) "a formal congregation of believers of the moon;" Keir's "Cavillator Fur" meaning "one who jeers or mocks a theif(?);" Oleander's "Perriculosum Scurra" meaning "Dangerous clown" (or more likely in this case, "Dangerous Showman;" and Francisco's (Franciscum's) "Innocentes Nobiles" meaning, unsurprisingly, "Innocent Noble."

I just wanted to point this out and ask about it because I really appreciate all the work that has gone into this VN- it's one of the best that I've ever read, and that alongside the beautiful art (the sprites and of the stunning backgrounds, the music that perfectly sets the tone...) and it really is such a breathtaking visual novel. This has- no joke, taken over my brain since I found it three, four days ago, and I couldn't be more happy about it. The work you do is phenomenal.

On a more personal note, too, Cirrus has very much captured my attention, and although I usually don't like to sub all that much, the sheer //intimacy// of scenes with him has me sold on his route. I also love how he holds Vesper to a higher standard- looking through the player guide, all of the other three LIs all have good endings that don't necessarily require getting the maximum affection, bur Cirrus' best ending does require maximum affection (there are, of course, ways to slip up and make up for it later, as stated in the guide, but still.) (That's not to say I don't like the other LI's, they absolutely have my attention, but I do have a favourite, ahaha)

The safeword menu is very much appreciated, and I do so love always having that option of backing out without having to close the game altogether.

OH ALSO I happen to have noticed more things while rewatching the trailer Each character has a number corresponding to them. Cirrus has the number 18, Keir has the number 20, Oleander has the number 11, and Francesco has the number 10. Later on in the trailer, after the character introductions, each of these numbers flashes again, connected to a title and a subtitle. For 18, the latin connected to Cirrus, it says "obedience", with the subtitle meaning, from a quick google translate, "sweet to heaven." For 20, the latin connected to Keir, it says "fate," with the subtitle meaning, "yours or a stranger" For 11, the latin connected to Oleander, it says "patiently" with the subtitle meaning "as you have" and for 10, connected to Francesco, it says "time" with the subtitle meaning "runs" I can guess that this is connected to their routes somehow, because Cirrus values obedience from Vesper, and he //is// a priest. I'm actually not sure about Keir or Oleander's stuff, but Francesco is acting with a certain amount of urgency, so I assume it has to do with him trying to get the full "experience" as it were before he has to take on the family business. Either way, I love love love the details in the trailer, it's absolutely wonderful to pause to try to catch the little things (Also, as an addendum to my last ask, I am not realizing that Keir's title likely means "sarcastic thief," and I might've taken the translation too literally) Obscura has given me a Catagory Five Autism Moment, and that is absolutely a complement! Great work!

So I showed all this to Mugi, who did those images for the trailer, and she was thrilled to see this analysis!!

(I have censored one thing to preserve the mystery~)

A bunch of the stuff in the trailer will probably make more sense the more you know about the guys and their stories, but yesssssss please keep analysing things, we put stuff in there on purpose for people to play with!

[bakawitch]

Okay, so, announcement time!

I am looking for more OCs to add to Miraculous Mortality because 1, I am running out of characters to assign parasites, and 2, this is already a pretty self-indulgent OC stuffed crossover-esc au and I feel like a few extra OCs wouldn't matter all that much at this point XD

So! If you have an OC you're interested in seeing in Miraculous Mortality, feel free to submit them!

Here are the kwamis up for grabs and a few guidelines to follow if you decide to submit an OC:

Hare of Speculation

she/her

Claimed

Kwami: Forss

Tool: playing cards

Theming: Casino

Power: Flutter Bet - The power to make deals and bets and reward the winner and punish the loser. The bets can be one-sided as long as they don't apply to others. If a bet is made between more than one consenting people, the winner will be rewarded by a prize of their choice within reason, and the loser will face a penalty chosen by the winner. The prize and the punishment are usually short-term, but if the user channels a significant amount of energy into one, it can be long term or even permanent.

Moodboard used:

Snake of Liquidation

Claimed

Kwami: Laata

she/them

Tool: gel gun

Theming: Desserts

Power: Jelly Shot - The power to generate a jelly like substance with healing properties. The jelly is safe to consume and is very elastic. It's also strong enough to hold multiple people up, depending on the surface shot out. The activation of the power is not necessary for small shots.

Moodboard used:

Mouse of Exhilaration

Claimed

Kwami: Scurra

they/them

Tool: hat

Theming: Circus

Power: Hijinks - The power to apply cartoon physics to the world. The user's body innately follows cartoon logic, and they are capable of summoning a tool from their hat depending on their preference that's able to apply cartoon physics to other people and their immediate surroundings.

Moodboard used:

Platypus of Isolation

Claimed

Kwami: Excuub

he/him

Tool: eku (wooden paddle)

Theming: Prison

Power: Oubliette - The power to trap objects and individuals in chained energy cells. The cells are inescapable, and only the user can destroy them. The user has the ability to completely control the cells.

Moodboard used:

Lice of Contagion

Claimed

Kwami: Vennen

he/it

Tool: rope dart

Theming: Computer Virus

Power: Mar - The power to infect organisms with a small parasite that lets the user see and hear from the contaminated individuals' eyes and ears. The user can activate this by piercing a target with the rope dart.

Moodboard used:

🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

So! If you are interested in an OC of yours being included with one of these parasites, please send me a quick bio of them! It could be just a random character you made up on the spot or a special little blorbo you wrote novels about. Obviously, credit will be given to those who don't submit anonymously. Heads up that it's first come, first served, so I'll assign kwamis to the first submissions/asks. I'll keep updating the master post here about what kwamis are still available. (Look for TBS)

What to include:

Name:

Age:

Chosen Kwami:

Hero Name:

Bio: (could be anything from nationality to likes and dislikes or tragic backstories)

Physical description and/or reference: (you could use picrew for this! Could be hero/villain form too)

You could also include whatever existing materials there are of them so I can portray them more accurately!

No familial relations to canon characters.

Also. PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you want me to give your oc immunity, because if you do, I will make sure that no serious permanent harm comes to them and that they will be alive by the end of the story. Miraculous Mortality might get a little dark, and I do not want to put someone's oc through things that make them uncomfortable!

Amd with all that out of the way, I eagerly await submissions! If non-anon askers want, I'm also open to consulting about oc and parasite claims through private messages :)

[revenant-coining]

clowncore themed names? (<- is clownkin (like the clown husbandry types, not the human job lol))

here ya go !

Honk / Honks

Sona [latin for honk]

Silly

Tain / Tainer

Cir / Circ / Circus

Fun

Jest / Jesters

Scurra [latin for jester / clown]

Smile / Smiley

Risus [latin for smile]

[carli-meows]

One Cloud Gang: Sounds of Things to Come

Chapter One:

Here come the OCG y'all

Like the Scurra Could

GizMoe Quimp

Green Unicycle (That can turn into a monocycle)

Calm (down)

An Old Homie like that

I brought the candy

Funny Little Guy

Stay (collected)

Fury Filled Palm

I'll Fight for Y'all

Chapter II:

Here come that 123 the OCG

Like a Scurra Would

GooLi O'ZaeDeree

I'm like if Tony Hawk was a Myme and also a girl

Gooli's Espionage Theme (Bein' sneaky 'n' shit)

A new Homie like that

I brought the seltz

Mine

Stay (Calm 'n' collected)

Gunslung Gunpowder Clash

I'll Fight for Him

Chapter 3:

The One Cloud Gang Bitch

Like a Scurra Should

BucKie JaneJeen

Crazy Jyezter on a Pogostick (But watch out)

The Hush-Alley Pins

I'm that Homie

I brought you Fools (Jesties)

GET A ROOM

Stay Down (No Homie Left Behind)

Bliztering Black Blizzard

I'll Fight for It

Other Songs:

This story takes place on Not Planet Earth

Ka-ZAMN God DAMN

The Somewhat Poorly Drawn Tank

I've been a Fool (get it? becuase clowns?)

We'll Fight With You

ADRESS

Don't draft our Story

Obscure Triatary Background Side-Plot Side-Character

Lavender but Periwinkle is a good answer

We Should've Been in a Band

Jesties (Gig Ver.)

God???? At the Kettlecorn Stand???

Suck My Dick About It Then

Get Fucked On

Jyezters Juggalos and Subjuggulators

Plothole

The Nerd Gets the Bully

KaLe GoDosh

The Bully Gets the Nerd

This Empty Ass Desert Ain't A Set

A Vampire Werebitch and a Witch Walk Into a Club

Separate the Art from the Artist

Separate the (F)Art from the (F)Artist

FREESPACE

APPROACH & STRIKE

We'll Fight With You (Reprise)

History Somehow Remembers Us Old Joaks

If Things Go Well

You'll Hear this Song and Read these Titles

So Much in this World I Haven't Made

I Love Using a Standalone SWF Player to make Music It's So Fun And Not Hard At All

[thelenazavaroniarchive]

22nd April 2024.

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏; Series 2 Episode 3 of Lena was broadcast on BBC 1 from 8:30 pm - 9:00 pm.

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟑. In the Daily Mirror, Lena’s family complained about Andrew O'Hagen’s novel; Personality.

THE family of Lena Zavaroni have accused an author of cashing in on the late singer’s memory, I learn. Andrew O'Hagan, deemed in the literary world to be a bright young thing, is publishing his novel, Personality, this week.His “work of fiction” tells the story of Maria Tambini, of Scottish-Italian origin, who was raised on the Isle of Bute, wins a TV talent show called Opportunity Knocks, becomes a child star and dies of anorexia.

Zavaroni, on the other hand, was of Scottish-Italian origin, raised on the Isle of Bute, won Opportunity Knocks and became a child star before dying of anorexia in 1999.

Zavaroni’s sister, Carla Bush, says of O'Hagan: “He’s making money out of somebody else’s life. He is using Lena’s name for his own ends.” O'Hagan admits he was inspired - “touched and intrigued” - by the singer’s life story. But he denies his book exploits her.

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑. In the Daily Record, bonnie Langford said that she had been hassled for autographs at Lena's funeral.

[huntereambrose]

The Vixen Queen: Prologue

Contains adult content. 18+ Readers ONLY.

The greatest weapon of control is the chase.

Always make them chase, and always give a half-reward.

May it become a cycle, a wheel which ever turns,

where they chase and chase and chase after you,

and never catch up.

Grimoires of The Dark Moon

The 343rd Year of The Nordur Imperium

The 2nd Year of The Reign of King Ragnar XII

4A Y343

BAEDSTEN

Her eyes were familiar. A deep, intense violet, that warped his vision each time he looked upon them, pulling reality around him into a tunnel, with all else but her…blurred and irrelevant. There was magic in them, he was sure of it. Magic was easy to spot, but not always easy to identify, depending on the source. Comparatively speaking, whatever this woman was packing was an enigma wrapped in a mystery, with a giant sign saying, ‘Hey! I’m someone you might know from somewhere, and I might practice a magic that you’ve got a particular weak spot for.’ He shuddered, racked by an icy chill that was egged on by the nails she traced along his calf. I might be in danger with this one, he laughed to himself and took a long draw of his pipe, and exhaled. This woman…

She lay across him, her thick black hair falling like a dark blanket over his legs and onto the earthen colored bedding below, her rosy pink lips pulled into a grin. Ganzig found himself sucked in again, like his head was being shoved in an ice cold bucket of water filled with apples — a cruel joke among the Chinids. A classic. Everyone knows you can’t fall for that. But this is Baedsten. Not Chinid. And you…are more known to me than either. So familiar…what secrets are you hiding?

With significant effort, he managed to break free of her gaze once again. The woman snickered, a click of her tongue. The chill intensified. His fingers clenched the wooden pipe tighter as he eyed her, suspicious but amused.

Ganzig took another long draw from the pipe, creating a saturated orange glow within the bowl. The spiced apple flavor of the tobacco washed across his tongue. Chinid weed. Good for dulling the senses…amongst other things. I mean, I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’ve yet to find a more potent aphrodisiac. Also a plus, it calms the nerves. Ugh, I can’t even think about that yet.

He blew out, suddenly noticing the warped sense of time within the room, how it felt isolated from every other thread within The Weavers’ hands, from every thought within their infinitely omniscient minds. Is that because of her? Or is it the trauma about to unfold for everyone in this kingdom once it’s reported that Asher and his men are on their way across The Rissard Sea. Which, of course, it will be reported. Obviously. Only a fool wouldn’t take a chance like this, and Asher’s no fool — Scurra’s delight, I think that’s enough of the pipe for now. Eh, one more draw, call it a good luck charm.

He sucked in, the warmth of the smoke batting the effects of the woman’s charms. Mysterious, crafty fingers of spiritual rapture pined for him, reaching their strong but bony tendrils in his direction, hoping to get a grip on his soul. He had felt it many times before in his millennia long existence. It was an unmistakable beckoning, like the bright aura of a flame calling out to moths as they fly by, ever so close to danger, ever so close to pleasure. A thin current of red began to swirl about her as her fingers moved, as if they were dispensers of scarlet ribbons of the finest satin.

The smoke blew out into the stale air of his still, small home, coating the immediate area in a thick white haze reminiscent of a morning fog. He raised his own fingers and played with it, smirking at the thought that his fingers were dispensing their own ribbons, white to juxtapose the red. He cast a moving image on it, depicting the old Karhai legend of the binding of Tjilbrud — a history he longed to repeat, to slay that savage beast. The scene dissipated with the smoke and Enebish was left in the vulnerable state of limbo between sadness, grief, and recklessness as he looked around his room.

Knick knacks lined the walls and numerous racks of shelves, souvenirs from the thirteen hundred years he’d spent traveling across Teleria. Dragon bones from Nihen. Journals and books from Sunterran shops and old, dusty Jadar libraries and basements. A copious collection of booze and tobacco from all the hotspots: Brette, Chinid, Silica, Gallica, Two-Cities, Dalaï, Slavi. All of them alongside various other accouterments and relics given to him on his journeys, including dried mushrooms, flowers, herbs, and a plethora of concoctions for medicines and alchemy alike.

Straight ahead was an altar to The Triune, perhaps the last one standing anywhere in The Cosmos. He kept their memory alive, but just barely. Their patronage had grown weak over the years since Tjilbrud was unleashed. So close to vanishing, just like The Karhai themselves. All except a few.

The three gods were arrayed upon a single carving, made of ivory that had turned a yellow-cream. Ongor, Baiga, and Iredui, tall and in their white robes, reached out their hands to form akabra. A group channeling of power that should have been extinct, rotten and decayed from infection. He had felt it slipping away for a while, even growing stale — but then, it evened out. Now, it was beginning to find a resurgence. What reason did a gods magic continue to hold strong for their servant, despite their retreat from his realm and a dark spirit poisoning them? The question had gnawed Ganzig incessantly for the last few hundred years. Especially because, for the first time in thirteen hundred years, it was stronger than ever.

Wait…I’ve been here before. Not this exact sequence of events, but something of the same essence. Those scarlet ribbons…they’re more than ribbons, aren’t they? They’re threads, being pulled so that the veil in front of me slowly reveals what it’s been concealing. Me, sitting here pondering questions I should never find the answer to. I swear the last millennia at least have been lived in a constant fugue state, like I’m under some sort of spell I wasn’t aware was cast. Oh gods…literally whoever…why do I have a bad feeling about this?

He quested at the threads as they settled. They swirled down, ever slowly towards their semi-horizontal bodies — movements of spirit, vessels of divination. Vibrating, singing, they called out frequencies of yearning….and an immanent presence. The host? Unidentifiable as of yet, but he had his suspicions. It was a decent explanation for the yearning as well. For him, the source of such intense attraction was clear. But is it her? If it is it might explain my brooding, contemplating the centuries of explorations between the various lands of Teleria, searching endlessly for a way to break Tjilbrud’s Bind, revive the oasis out of The Wastes, to end the suffering…only to remain unfulfilled. Like the air of familiarity about this woman, it was always just out of reach, veiled and elusive, not not out of view. All the while she spreads her spell upon my weak and vulnerable mind. Typical. It really might be her after all.

Ganzig shuddered.

“You’re sad,” the woman finally said in a low voice. “I could fix that, you know.”

Enebish sighed. “You already did what you could.”

“More than that,” she added, taking control of Enebish’s gaze once more. His eyes were guided, as if by magic, over her bare, slender figure. Magic…what magic? Her magic, something enticing, enough for me to wander over this seemingly endless, smooth porcelain landscape. Enough to get lost in it. The gentle, sloping curves. The comforting, plump breasts. Little points of pink. The sharp contours of her face. Those violet eyes. Oh, those eyes…

“You want to be happy,” she added, warping reality around him and trapping Ganzig within it. The nails became like a beat, a rhythm, lulling him into hypnosis. He did his best to fight it, and steadily failed. “Fulfilled. Of service. To know that your additional years of existence weren’t undeserved, that someone besides you benefitted from your survival.”

Enebish gulped and eyed her suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. “And you can do that?” he asked smugly.

“Yes. Of course.” The woman shrugged.

“If that’s your plan, you’re going to need a lot more than what’s between your legs.”

The woman chuckled, haughty, seductive, and bone chilling. Oh fuck. It’s her, isn’t it?

On the verge of revelation, the hypnosis hit stasis as a knock rapped against his door. The woman was unphased, as if it was all part of her plan. Her eyes motioned towards the door.

“You might want to get that.”

Ganzig’s heart turned to water, but fluttered as it fell like rain.

Hah. Yeah. I don’t like that one bit. Coincidences don’t exist. But alright, witch. I’ll play your games.

Ganzig grunted as he shifted his weight out from under the woman. He stood and grabbed the maroon, silk robe from the end table, wrapping it around his thick torso and tying it tight. Another set of knocks rapped against the wood, more eager, with a hint of desperation.

Ganzig reached the door, clicked the lock and opened it. Baedsten’s cool, moist air swept across him. A refreshing, sobering wave. The streets outside were dark, with localized circles of warm light from the oil lanterns. In the small gap of darkness between the lanterns which flanked Ganzig’s tenement was a band of Loyalists, consisting of two Ealanites, a centaur, and a halfling. They looked upon him hopefully, as so many had.

“It’s time,” the young Ealanite in front stated with a seriousness that nearly turned Ganzig’s ancient, stone heart back into ice. “There are Jadar ships crossing The Rissard Sea. The Heralds have begun to move on the palace.”

He was barely a man, perhaps seventeen, and yet he found himself in a position Ganzig knew all too well: fighting for the soul of his people. It was exactly how Ganzig predicted. A foreign born, half-Ealanite Prince was on those ships with ten thousand men. His heralds had proselytized for two years, professing Asher’s generosity, his desire to see Baedsten and all of Ealan united with The Jadar. House Colt’s claim to the throne was hanging by a thread, despite their relation to the now defunct Mercer’s Royal Court.

Ganzig observed the others, finding in them the same spirit as the young man who delivered the news. The halfling seemed the oldest of the bunch, with a sea of wrinkles on his forehead betraying his age. The only female, the centaur, stood also as the strongest. Her legs were strong and steady on the cobbles. A bow hung around her chest, the bowstring nestled safely between her decidedly ample bosom. Deft hands hung at her sides, ready to mow down every Jadar soldier as fast as they could.

They cannot land. Marsden Colt had insisted. If they do, we will have a fight like we have never known.

In the distance, he heard the riders. The clacking of horseshoes upon Baedsten’s flagstone streets were like war drums, spreading chills across his body in a harrowing wave. Their voices, ghostly harbingers of future terrors. “All able bodied citizens to the battlements! Everyone else must shelter! All able bodied citizens to the battlements! Everyone else must shelter!”

Ganzig shifted and grunted away the ghastly visions. The what if’s. The thousands of Ealanites that could die under his support. The thousands of Jadar who would die opposing him. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands, between both continents, who would never be the same.

“The Thaewethens?” Ganzig asked, his deep voice a stark contrast to the boy’s. The warlock made sure there was no hint of apprehension in it.

“Five thousand strong, sir. On their way. Two thousand Iyentian cavalry, too, streaming down Royal Road as we speak at nearly full speed. The ships are ready to leave to meet them. Just waiting for you, sir,” the boy answered.

“Good.” Ganzig ran his hand nervously along the thick wooden frame of the door. He heard the shuffling of sheets behind him, and his heart turned back to water and sank into his stomach, drowning the butterflies. “Let…uh, let me get ready. Tell Marsden I’ll arrive at the battlements shortly.”

“Yes, sir.” The young man nodded, as did the others. “Thank you, warlock, for helping us.”

“We’re not out of it yet, boy. Stay strong.”

Ganzig saw the young man’s eyes fill with a balance of courage and fear as the door swung shut. The perils of war hung in the air now, an ever present terror, but the presence of something else overpowered them. Or rather, someone else. Disclosure had finally come. Familiarity became identity — and he was right.

Ganzig’s body seized with dread. His eyes went wide. Hair stood on end.

Rirris.

Eight hundred and fifty years she had followed him, finding him each time, no matter where he settled, even for a night. Her tricks never failed. He was always deceived.

His eyes were overtaken yet again, guided to the bed where the woman lay, one leg spread, the other angled, pulled close to her body. Hair parted, it hung down over her shoulders, covering her breasts in long, dark waves. She puffed on the pipe, blowing swirling, tangling mists that shrouded her face. As they cleared, her violet eyes held a light of their own. They stared out at him, locking him into their spells as she finally revealed herself.

“Hello, Ganzig,” she drawled, winking. “Miss me?”

“I’ve told you a thousand times,” he hissed, in both exasperation and exhaust. “I can’t be bought. I serve The Triune.”

The woman laughed through closed lips, which pulled into a smirk. “The Triune have masked themselves and left you frustrated, Ganzig. They’re about to be gone from this realm, just as your people are. But I’ve been here. I’ve been honest with you. You’ve known me for almost a thousand years, Ganzig. Have I ever brought you anything but pleasure?”

Ganzig’s skin crawled at the question. Yes. But that’s the problem. That’s what you do. But it’s shallow. I won’t share in your misery, witch. Yet, as always, he couldn’t bring himself to voice a full rejection of her invitation, nor a direct answer to her question. She knows my thoughts, too. This is just a fun game for her.

Rirris had continued to be his biggest fear since the very day he met her. Ganzig readily defined himself as reckless, at times a bit conniving and manipulative — but Rirris took it to a whole new level. Haunting him served many purposes to her, he surmised. Fun, for one. After forty-thousand years of immortal existence, she was probably bored and looking for a fun plaything. It surely didn’t help that she was tied in spirit, drawn by mutual attraction, to every lost cause in The Cosmos. He could only imagine what that must do even to a declinate’s self-esteem. And what does she choose to do? Fuck with them. Use them. Typical.

What really drove him mad was that he sensed a convergence on their paths, one that was inevitable, inescapable. Not even Freya herself could hope to change that fate. All he could do was prolong it. As much as he refused to accept it… he was a lost cause, and he was well too far within her grasp to escape now.

“You’ve brought me a lot of confusion…a lot of regret.” Oh, so much regret. Your calling card, patroness.

“And pleasure…” she reminded him, on all three comments. She wasn’t wrong. Not entirely.

“Be gone.” The words were strained, as if he didn’t really believe them. Had he the capability of being honest with himself…he didn’t. He was close to wanting her just as much as she wanted him. He always was. Her company was an odd comfort, strangely congruent. And that pleasure…oh…she’s not wrong on that.

“Hah,” Rirris scoffed, blowing another bout of smoke from her tantalizing lips. It traveled across the distance between them, wrapping around Ganzig like a lasso, tugging him closer to him. He was helpless to fight it — not that he really wanted to. “Oh, Ganzig. You just prove each time that you don’t want me gone. No. You want to be bound to me. You want to serve me…be my…oh, I won’t say slave.”

“No,” Ganzig denied halfheartedly, fighting listlessly against the steps she forced. “Say it.”

He reached the bed a few moments later. Rirris rose to her knees, set the pipe on the end table and came to him. He did everything in his power not to look upon her, and failed. The declinate witch was amused at his efforts — and at his easy defeat. Skilled, magical fingers ran down his neck, parting the robe and untying it.

“You know exactly how to cast me out,” she whispered, purple eyes gazing straight into his soul. “How to protect against me. Yet, you never do it. Always finding yourself strangely tangled up in me instead, asking me to confirm that it’s ok to want to be my slave.”

“I…” Ganzig stuttered as the robe fell. “Ugh…”

Rirris stood and walked to the set of steel armor hanging on the adjacent wall. Ganzig dutifully watched every step, wandering that porcelain landscape as if he was an explorer on the surface of her flawless skin. She beckoned him, prompting him to dress in his undergarments. He obeyed.

One by one, she assembled his armor — the greaves, cuisses, sabatons. She draped the chainmail over his head, fluffing it out so that it lay flush with his hips. Her sorcerous fingers unlatched the breastplate and placed it around his chest.

“You may be a powerful mage, Ganzig, but you can’t resist me much longer,” she taunted him as she worked, cinching the plate into place. “You’re already mine.”

“I won’t serve you.”

Rirris smiled coyly as she turned, and then wheeled back around with his vambraces. She locked them into place around his wrists. “I always hope you’ve figured it out and yet I walk away disappointed. I’m not going to have to force your hand am I? Ugh. I’m not here for that, though.”

Ganzig studied her, curious. She was surprisingly patient this time around, and that frightened him more than the ten thousand soldiers on their way from Mystara. “Then what are you here for?”

“To encourage you, of course,” she replied, as if there was any other possible answer. “You have a war to fight. A civil war, in fact. One in which many outsiders seek to influence the outcome.”

He squinted, his eyes straightening to a flat line. “Oddly specific description.”

“And a relevant one.” Rirris’s eyebrows raised with her answer. She handed him his sword, then his helmet.

“Relevant?”

“Oh, is it ever…”

Ganzig was hard pressed to remember a time he was so torn with contradictions. Confusion gripped him, but so did clarity. His constitution was firm, but he was so weak against her seductive charms. He longed for her promises, but knew their fulfillment came with caveats. Beggars can’t be choosers. Yet, destiny was set, as much as he longed to escape it. His soul was as good as wed to hers. Soon, it would be official, but he’d run as fast and as long as he could in an effort for it to not be so.

Rirris. Patroness. Witch. Declinate. I…no. No.

She granted him a pivot towards The Triune. He saw now, with deep mourning, that those old gods were growing cryptic and withdrawn. The chill returned to him as Rirris’ nails slithered up his exposed neck and into his hair.

“The Triune, once stark and powerful, now cold and distant…” she whispered, straight into his ear. A single finger tugged at his chin. He turned and beheld her, seeing her in a new form…an infinitely more intoxicating one. “Rirris, once cold and distant, now stark and powerful. I’ll have you, Ganzig Enebish, and you’ll have me…but not today. Today, I need you to win.”

[cnidariandreams]

the memes

[forg-time]

more clown ocs thank you you’re welcome

[rausule]

MEGOR-MARDUK (CIM): Missa et densitas et pondus. Materia neutronum stellarum. He trahit et in se trahit. Gravitatem abyssi significat, deorsum trahentem

Animae plus quam pluma. Ultimus actus eius entropy aequat. Custos probareVoluntas, quia sola voluntas potest suam potestatem transire, eum raro invoca, exquisita cura MUSARUS (SM). Abominatio. Terminus applicatus ad Berosum nuntiis a Sirius, seu Vetus, in amphibio forma

NAGRIKSHAMISH (CIM). Indomita vis pura, Berserker. Se transcendit, transcendit rationem, Shiva et Mars. Fulmen. Ne invocatione indiget, in te habitat

NANNA (SAB) Naugerius Sin. Sphaera lunae. Vetustissimus Wanderers. pater Zonarum. Kalendis (septem) portis

NAR MATTARU (SAB) Oceanus magnus infernus. Naugerius Abu , vel Abyssus .

NATH-HORTHATH (HPL): Magnus Vetus in Celephaide colitur.

NATTIG (SAB): Una quattuor Spirituum Spatia. Ab Occidente et Mare. Aquilae figuram habet cum corpore humano, et facies et ungues aquilae. (Vide etiam Lamas, Sed. Ustar).

NEBO (SAB) Sphaera Mercurii custos deorum. Secunda porta Zonae NECRONOMICON (HPL): Liber Legis Nominum Mortuorum. Primum quae t *

NEG (NEC): Alter e geminis proles Yog Sothoth et Shubs-Niggurath. NEPHILIM (HEB Grants. Nomen significat magni Veteris

NERGAL (SAB): Sphaera Martis. Deus belli et sanguinis effusio. Antiquos agens, nam ad tempus habitavit in Catha. Quinta porta Zonae

NEXHAGUS (CIM): Ignis, solis accensus. Immoderata mutatio. Phasellus et malesuada sapien. Scurra, crudelitas risus et resina. Choroszon mentes Hominis et frater designabat canere. Prima et ultima larva choreae. Saepe eum invocate, ne serio nimis incitetis. Ne invoces eum, ne ad perniciem tuam et risus advolet te

NINAXAKADDU (nec) Carminum domina.

NINIB(NEC) Saturnini Dominum. Naugerius Adar. Eius essentia invenitur et in plumbo, in

[scurrq]

HOUDINI

cuore rotto, spezzato, infranto, abbattuto

come le onde frastagliate

che si interrompono a contatto con la costa

il sale che illude

ma deteriora solamente

il calore che traspare sicurezza

ma brucia soltanto

una ingenua esposizione

di cui si pensava aver ottenuto la pace

ma si è trovato

come unico conforto

la propria rovina.

- scurra