#trails of zero

[redylan]

He gets me

[sunstonetrails]

Randy Orlando, the man so straight he's willing to be gay to please a woman

[serpentface]

Etadinii priest (cult of Inyamache) standing near the serpent stone, a megalithic structure predating any historical record. Contrary to first impressions and occasional jesting, this is almost definitely not a giant penis (though Some level of symbolic phallic intent is possible), and was probably shaped to cast a long shadow resembling the head and neck of a snake.

Its location is within the present-day province of Wardin adjacent to the city Jaesai, close to the border of Ephennos. A temple to Inyamache was built around it three centuries ago and greatly expanded within the past century, though the stone and the majority of the associated site remains intact.

It is most likely at least couple thousand years old, long predating the written record and having only hazy and conflicting accounts in different oral histories. Most of its original features have been worn away by erosion, but petrogylphs of a snake and rows of scimitar deer (locally extinct or possibly never extant in this area), gazelle, and aurochs remain visible (and may have been re-carved at various points in history), and there are traces of concentric rings at the 'head'. 21st century level analysis would also find traces of ochre within the lines of the petroglyphs, which were painted and repainted red for at least a couple centuries after its creation.

This is the largest single prehistoric megalithic structure located within present day Imperial Wardin (unless burial cairns constructed over slab tombs are counted) and its existence is very technically impressive, especially given the nearest possible quarry is about 50 miles away. The builders of the site were almost certainly a fairly small society of nomadic pastoralists, so the diversion of time and manpower to the quarrying and movement of this stone (and others on the site) would have been absolutely exceptional. Most similar structures from the era are significantly smaller (about human height) and found closer to quarry sources.

The stone is part of a larger site that was mostly or entirely constructed in the same period. It stands adjacent to a shallow, rounded manmade pit buffered from erosion with brick walls, encircled by smaller horizontal slabs. A single circular slab is placed in the center, which is currently referred to as the sun stone. A nearby arroyo also shows signs of modification from the same period (beyond typical redirections for irrigation), diverting any potential floodwaters away from the site to prevent inundation of the pit.

The primary purpose of this stone and the site itself is recording the winter solstice. During the solstice sunset, the snake's cast shadow approaches and perfectly engulfs the circular slab at the center, appearing to devour it. The notion that the sun is eaten by a snake (either on the winter solstice, during total eclipses, or both) appears to have been a common thread in religious belief in the region. This notion is no longer held in the Wardi sphere (the night of the solstice is the sun's yearly death and total eclipses are a concerning premature and unnatural death) but still has linguistic traces, particularly in the word for total solar eclipses being a compound form of the phrase 'swallowed sun'.

Ownership of the site has changed hands numerous times over its history, but it has been in near-continuous use by all its owners as a place to observe the winter solstice and perform related rites. Virtually all proto-Wardi monotheist animist worldviews cast the sun (or sun + sky) as God and/or the source from which all beings emanate, and most considered the winter solstice to be an exceptionally significant (and potentially dangerous) moment in the year, as the time of the sun's dying and subsequent rebirth.

Within the faith of the 7-faced god, veneration of God has shifted to focus more upon the earth (with the sun as an Extension of the earth, all parts of God's body) but the winter solstice still retains extreme religious significance- it's used in part to determine the date of the new year (which occurs on the first new Nyaram moon on or after the solstice), and is still recognized as the moment of the sun's death.

The state cult of Inyamache currently maintains this site as part of the temple grounds and uses it to measure the winter solstice in the same capacity it has for millennia, using the total engulfment of the sun stone as the signal to begin their most important rites of the year. It is understood that it's at least Possible that the sun could fail to rise the next morning if proper action is not taken to ensure its rebirth.

The serpent stone stands in contrast to the brightly plastered and painted temple (and the other prehistoric slabs on-site that have received this treatment) in remaining unaltered in the modern era. The state cult holds that the serpent stone and its associated site was created by the first men, and considers the location and the serpent stone itself to be sacred and regulated by taboo. The only people permitted to enter the site and touch the stone are Etadinii priests (who cleanse it with water once per solar month). Solar eclipses (and subsequent misfortunes attributed to them) are occasionally blamed on trespassers.

[dragaliareferencearchive]

Model references for Trails of Ink (Yixuan) - Zenless Zone Zero

[appelsider]

Trails x DRRR!! Collab ✨

⭐️Credits:

@alyossan : Rean || @aegisasu : Crow || @azumishard : Elie || @kimikoyokoyami : Lloyd & KeA || @ lunaflor : Aaron || @breadmasterlee : Van || @crossgenesis : Altina || @tofuloafu7 : Millium || @raichana : Kevin || @verniedk : Ries || @appelsider : Swin || @solmango-art : Nadia || @lurebreaker : Renne || @miyo02 : Estelle || @seiransong : Joshua

[bowloflentils]

For those curious about Trails, here are four entries you can jump right into:

Trails in the Sky

Trails from Zero

Trails of Cold Steel

Trails through Daybreak

Starting with the first game (Trails in the Sky) is a good choice, but if that isn't appealing then try out whichever installment above looks the most interesting. See if you like it and worry about the other games later.

Until relatively recently, it was impossible to play through the series in release order officially in English. So many longtime fans, like myself, have experienced Trails in all sorts of wacky combinations. So don't worry too much about where to start and just follow your bliss.

[destielscowboy]

steve rogers in one of those “america’s sweetheart” crop tops… send tweet

[thaumana]

Buying gifts for the Christmas holiday🎁

The Seeker sisters, Fran & Noel, together with KeA. From [Trails to Azure] & [Trails From Zero].

Commissioned by derreuq

[yewlania]

“Oh, what’s this? Who knew you had a way with animals?”

Based off the Search for the Kitten’s Owner side quest 🥺 I’ve been chipping away at Trails from Zero while working on my assignments so that I don’t lose my sanity 😭 not quite done yet but soon……

[trailsofmemes]

[video-game-jams]

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero - Inevitable Struggle

[alinalal-art]

⭐ SHOP PREORDERS ⭐

Preorders are now open for these new items on my shop!!! Every order that includes a preorder item will get a free Aigis sticker.

Open until September 23rd! Estimated shipping will be in November.

https://alinalal.etsy.com

[robo-dino-puppy]

horizon zero dawn (remastered) | aloy 35/?

[abirddogmoment]

I didn't take any photos but I took Rory skijoring for the first time today!

We did a 3.5km groomed multi-use trail with my (new to me) classic cross country skis. I got these skis off Marketplace last year but hadn't had the chance to use them yet. I'm not sure if it was my ski wax, the snow, or the weather, but I was NOT getting the glide I hoped. We both worked super hard so I let her off for the last 500m so she could run free while I skied.

It was really fun despite the effort! Idk if it'll be a regular activity in our rotation (as rollerblade canicross and free running both mutually easier and enriching activities) but it was cool to try out anyway.

[witchofcustom]

I sure do wish there were single Zemurian dads in my area

[inkedmyths]

Shoutout to all of us Kiseki/Trails series enjoyers on Tumblr. There's like 10 of us and the brainrot is terminal