#tropical sea monster kin

[tropical-starlight]

Self indulgent moodboard i made for myself lol

(made in canva if your wondering)

[flightyfish]

Trying to explore how my kintype looks....

[punkeropercyjackson]

Kidcore!Percy Jackson ft.my Pjo s/i Lex de los Santos

He's autistic and it's a special interest and coping mechanism from his extremely brutal childhood,which also manifests in him being an agere flip!!He's a 7-10 range Little and a Big Sibling/Parent caregiver!

He actually managed to repress his age regression out of sheer spite and will for years(Poseidon genes)but after realizing his autism,he began to mellow out and let himself be loved enough that it finally happened.Sally was there for him when it happened and knew what it was from research on autism and bpd and ptsd which he also has so she took good care of him

SUCH a fan of Cookie Monster,he was his first ever comfort character in fact!!Cookie Monster desserts are one of Percy's favorite things EVER and he watches Sesame Street totally unironically

Was a Ghibli kid,Ponyo being his favorite and he gets back into it starting in his senior year at Goode High thanks to him,Sally and Estelle having a marathon

Temporary sea themed tattos

Beach Days means using his powers to make the experience straight up tropical-The water tricks he does are actually insane,he gets the marine life to interact with him and other beach residents without exposing he can talk to them and keeps everybody's drinks at proper temperature since them being liquid gives him domain over them.He's transfem bigender and was on estrogen so instead of just swim trunks or even them and tank top,since he's femme,he wears bikinis with attached hoodies and has multiple different pairs,all of which are blue

Lo-Fi Chiptunes are like lullabies to him but in the claming sense,not that they make him sleepy

Video games special interest too.He's a lifelong Pokemon,Animal Crossing and Splatoon fan the most but also grew up on Girlgogames,the Nickjr and Cartoon Network websites and time management games as a genre having played so many he literally can't count.He only uses emulators,phone games and secondhand consoles on anti-capitalist principal and is filled with fun facts,trivia and 'UM ACKSTUALLY''s in him with zero gaming fanon brainrot,He's A Real Gamer™️.Nessa is his Pokestan and Piplup is his signature Pokemon,his favorite villagers are Flick,Cookie and Rosie and he's a Tom Nook defender('He's NOT a capitalist,he's my dad you bitch and he's not even rich!!!')and his ideal partner is someone he can 100% comfortably play AC with to the point of doing it cordinatedly even without including the visiting eachother's must(which he also wants!!)aka Lex who's also autistic about video games,Marina is what set him for life on Splatoon as a franchise and he's obsessed with everything about it and subconciously employed the vibes into his natural personality,he has cartridges from his childhood saved and worn out character plushies Sally bought him he refuses to part with,does video game analysis and shitposts on his vlog channel and he follows the 'energy drink loving,cat ear headphones owning,super hot and pretty gamer trans woman' stereotype.He loves Cotton Candy Bang the most and his headphones are blue!!

Stickers enthutiast and puts them all over his stuff and carries around goofy positivity stickers to give out but some mean ones too because he loves being a little shit

He loves y2k/tween cosmetic products because not only does it look better than non-punk styles to him but it's also better on his skin.Lex taught him how to do them best and find which are for him!!Transfem/transmasc boygirl solidarity <3

Read Warrior Cats,Animorphs,Chronicles of Narnia and Goosebumps thinking they'd be regular 'ol jolly kids book series'.Sweet lordt he was wrong(but at least they were good!!)

Little!Percy is also a kitty regressor because Percy is calico cat kin(and shark kin)and a handful but not in a bad way!!He loves coloring,tickles,bubble baths,fairy tales,having his hairstyles changed and doing biiiig streches-Sally even does the long cat thing with him because he's fucking huge LMFAO 6'4 and thick as fuck(muscle and fat healthy balance)!!And Cg!Percy and Ca!Lex are Little!Nico's and Little!Hazel's official Cg's as their found older siblings and pseudo-parents to being with.They do babytalk,carry them around,give them extra kisses and take them on safe adventures like gardening(Percy's afrosolarpunk and so is Lex because they're a Demeter kid so La Residencia Jackson has it's own vegetable garden)and playing hide and seek around the apartment complex.They've learned how to spot when they're Tiny when they try to hide it and it's gotten to the point they've stopped and make a b-line for them when it happens instead because of all his ressurances and how safe they make them feel.Percy calls them his 'Little Rockstars' and 'Precious'(as in pearls)and Lex calls them their 'Baby Buds' and 'Shooting Stars'

Nico and Hazel made cat themed communication cards for them as a gift so he uses them when they're nonverbal.They have matching Aquapets too

Can't get enough of legos-he learned how to make them in diy.This extends to lego media such as Lego Monkie Kid,Lego Friends,The Lego Movie franchise,Ninjago,Lego DC,etc.He has a legosona and everything!!

Blues Clues raised him.Atla was also a top influencer and he kins Katara but actually,not just the stupid water powers jokes.He wished she was real so they could be best friends and wants to adopt her now

Has a shark plushie with blushy cheeks named 'Nugget'

And a gummy sharks addiction too

Really digs cozy horror and Wendell & Wild is his highest bar for it,as well as Kat Elliot for kids movie protagonists(correct)

His hair is mermaidcore dye style long locs,he uses his bottom of body of waters meditation sessions to take underwater pics and post them on his social media for the bit,his surfboard isn't safe from the earlier stickers attacks and he's got a whole hoard of diy'd ocean materials based things

Eats his food sloopily,including the fast food because getting it on your clothes is 'an essential part of the experience' according to him.He also loves googling weird sounding recipes to cook the foods but in blue(blue dragon egg cookies,blue marshmallow cloud cookies,blue candy cane cloud,blue bubblegum cloud slices,blue sparkly fruit gummies,blue chocolate rock candy geode,etc)and start to give Lex therian validation to give them to have,Lex being calico cat kin like him but also dragonkin,ghostkin,plantkin and mermaidkin

Sonic The Hedgehog autism is within her and burning bright.Ask her for lore and Strong Opinions™️ and her favorite Snapcube moments /threat

Goes to the local cat cafe and the frozen yogurt place at least twice a week and every other weekend with the other three Outcast Godlings and tbh they're the reason they're still in bussiness.Percy and Lex get cotton candy froyo with m&m's and gummy bears every time they have a date there

Was supposed to be a Special ED kid but melted down so bad when Sally offered she never even considered it again and he regrets to his day,eternally wondering what could've been as the purpose was to make school easier for him and befriend other mentally disabled kids and his internalized ableism was so bad already it ruined his chance

But at least he convinced Nico and Hazel to attend when they moved in with him and Sally post-Tlo and post-Boo respectively.The same one in fact and it gives him a bittersweet happiness(but no resentment)how happy they are at it and how much they thrived at it,both academically and socially.But at least he's had Lex ever since TLT and that's enough to sweeten it into sugary fluffy goodness because he's practically married to a pink punk rock nature angel(his description of them)

Pegasister!!Her fave pony is Rainbow Dash out of relatability and she's watched EVERY single FIM episode,watched every EQ movie and read every G4 comic.Flutterdash truther because she has taste and they're so Perlex-coded,diy's herself merch and buys at thrift stores for it too and has a ponysona named Wave Cookie she asked Hazel to help her design as a fellow Pegasister and she returned the favor with Hazek's ponysona Gold Ghostie and they convinced Nico and Lex to make theirs too under Obsidian Angelcake and Strawberry Surprise.She even does Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy cosplays with Lex on her vlog channel!!

And finally the vlog channel's name is 'Blue with no Clues' as an obvious ref <3333 Lex earned the nickname 'Magenta The Detective' from her fans due to her frequent apperances!!

Collects stim gifs

Her petty crime sprees include stealing overprized junk food

Uses sea animal reaction images only

Mega into Superman and Spiderverse.'Superman' not only as in Clark Kent but the Superfam as a whole as she reads the comics and watches Maws and she's got a HUGE thing for Gwen Stacy and Hobie Brown(platonically ofc)because they're both too much like her for her not to.Ghostpunk is literally Spider Variants!Perlex

Polly Pocket is her doll and she has multiple but her favorite is Beach Party and she fills it with actual salt water and lugs it around as stimming,W.i.t.ch. is her magical girl and Will is her fave because of the tgirl swag and mama's girl with abusive dad rep and Brandy's Cinderella is her DP and she owns a Cinderella 1997 CD and redraw the pic of her and Paolo eating fast food together as her and Lex

You best believe Riptide has charms on it

Lex is obsessed with Shopkins,Totally Spies,Strawberry Shortcake,everything pink and sparkly,arts and crafts including having a magic infinite scrapbook gifted to them by Demeter,boba,dogs,The Secret Saturdays,Starfire/Koriand'r(comics readers represent!!),sitcoms and cryptids so Percy indulges them back like they do her.They even have matching fully funfictioning thanks to being tricked out by Leo Barbie flip phones

Hardcore Bluey fan.Bluey is so hercore and i mean the show,not only the character and she got Nico and Hazel into it with her and Lex discovering it together beforehand and being equally loving of it and they go all out when it comes to Bluey in emotions and their followup enthutiasm

[warrior-cat-pride]

Little Daisy with this German shepherd therian flag (( one with paw print))

https://www.tumblr.com/pubbywubby/736736786063261696/german-shepherd-therian-flag-arctic-fox-therian?source=share

Scourge and Sol with the second flag for tropical sea monster kin ?

https://www.tumblr.com/tropical-starlight/728821084386918400/sea-monster-kintherian-flags-tropical-sea?source=share

[delightfuldevin]

Taglist!! (More tags to be added as needed)

Basics:

#devin speaks - talk tag

#king sad sack - vent tag (I’ll try not to vent here too often; I don’t consider this the place for that)

#devin’s gaming logs - talking about games I’m playing (will be warned for spoilers)

#answered the thing - ask tag

#here and queer - LGBTQ+ tag (positivity; I don’t do discourse)

#happy tag - things that make me happy/feel good/cheer me up

#funney tag - things that make me laugh

#important tag - things that I think are important/want to remember

#wishlist - things I want to buy

#hornytimes - nsfw tag (minors/ageless blogs better not interact with those posts or you WILL be blocked)

Creative:

#art tag - my art

#anitag - my animations (this tag might be empty for a while cause motivation is a bitch ;-;)

#fic tag - my writing (again, might be empty for a while lol)

#prompts - writing/drawing prompts I’d like to do (may include ask games, if ever I do those?)

#random art - art by other people that doesn’t include my kins, synpaths, or F/Os

Interests:

Note: non-self ship fandom related interests are on my multifandom blog @theamazingworldoffandoms (just reblogs over there; my creative stuff stays here)

#aes - aesthetic tag **

#cool beans - science stuff

#animalia - animals **

#mushies - mushrooms

#super mario headcanons

#cookie run headcanons

#animalia and #mushies are only for real images; drawn images go in #random art

Self Ship/Kin Stuff:

#from the white void <3 - gush tag

#kin tag - me (my kins) **

#syntag - me (my synpaths) **

#sonas tag - me (my self inserts) **

#hearttag - my otherhearts **

#faves tag - my F/Os **

#kiddos tag - my kid F/Os (they’re still tagged under #faves tag, they just get a tag all to themselves as well cause there’s so many of them lol)

#self ship tag - me (my kins, synpaths, or sonas) and my F/Os interacting with each other, as well as anything related to self shipping in general

#other’s self ship - other people’s self ship content

#other - posts that aren’t categorized in any of the other tags (posts in this tag may be given a new tag in the future if enough of the same type of post shows up)

Tags marked with ** are general tags that are further categorized. I added the specific tags under the cut if you’re interested, just cause I love showing off my tags haha (Tag organization is genuinely very fun to me which is why I have all of them listed. The most important ones are all above, so don’t worry about reading these specific ones if you don’t care lol)

#aes

#beside the seaside - beach/ocean/tropical

#forest fairy melody - forests

#waterfall - rainy

#falling for fall - autumn

(More to be added)

#animalia

#reptilia - reptiles (includes snakes so be warned of that, actually it’s probably mainly snakes)

#aves - birds

#mammalia - mammals

#aquatica - any water dwelling creature (mainly cause I didn’t want to accidentally tag a freshwater animal as “sea dwellers” haha; accuracy is important in organization :3)

#phibs - amphibious fellows

#kin tag

#big red - Mario

#bonedaddy - Jack

#vibrant summer - Mango

#the eel deal - Frye

#syntag

#comic - Sans

#first class fire demon - Calcifer

#sunnydrop - Sun

#sonas tag

#eggs and rice - main sona

#chocolate eclair - Super Mario

#trail mix - Pokemon

#poprocks - Sonic

#apple cider - Kirby

#fruit salad - MLP

#saltwater taffy - Splatoon

#candy corn - Deltarune

#pumpkin puree - Cookie Run

#black licorice - Hollow Knight

#hearttag

#spooky scary skeletons - skeletons

#made of stardust - stars

#faves tag

#cuddle monster - Bowser

#wingman ghost - King Boo

#peachy - Peach

#flower power - Daisy

#my rose - Rosalina

#baby boy - Bowser Jr

#sporty boi son - Larry

#star child - Morton

#venny’s little princess - Wendy

#tol insane son - Iggy

#bad boy son - Roy

#smol clown son - Lemmy

#classy and sassy son - Ludwig

#lil rabbid son - Spawny

#starry rabbid daughter - Rosebud

#heroes of hope - Maurice, Louis, and Cherry (Rabbid Peach)

#blade master - Edge

#right hand bro - Luigi

#my lovely minions - Bowser’s minions

#fruity pie - Pitaya

#phantom bleu - Roguefort

#pretty petal - Cherry Blossom

#little red - Cherry (Cookie Run)

#sourpuss - Lemon

#poppy - Popcorn

#little miss rebel - Currant Cream

#party pal - Birthday Cake

#voila! - Cinnamon

#cookie of class - Eclair

#miss moonlight - Moonlight

#brightest star in the sky - Shining Glitter

#razzle dazzle - Raspberry Mousse

#my sweet archer - Wind Archer

#lil sailor child - Peppermint

#smol ink child - Squid Ink

#lil magician daughter - Cream Puff

#chess twins - Chess Choco

#rice cake daughter - Moon Rabbit

#spooky and sparkly daughter - Pumpkin Pie

#robotics child - Strawberry Crepe

#toy time daughter - Lollipop

#dreamy conductor daughter - Milky Way

#pasta daughter - Fettuccine

#uncle caviar - Captain Caviar

#scholar sis - Blueberry Pie

#lizard bro - Dinosour

#fashion sis - Sour Belt

#surfer bro - Soda

#peppy sis - Cheerleader

#spicy bro - Peperoncino

#spicy nephew - Habanero

#goldie - Ananas

#water type - Lotus

#tanny - Rambutan

#vel - Red Velvet

#The One - Churro

#freezing hot princess - Blaze

#chaos control - Shadow

#shiny sis - Rouge

#mc princess - Pearl

#dj hyperfresh - Marina

#cold blooded bandit - Shiver

#hype manta storm - Big Man

#sea star - Callie

#boss lady - Marie

#nenie - Annie

#best clown buddy - Marx

#uncle meta - Meta Knight

#poyo - Kirby

#princess of the night - Luna

#dragon child - Smolder

#griffin son - Gallus

#sunsis - Sunset Shimmer

#honey - Red

#chalk daughter - Susie

#spade nephew - Lancer

#grillbae - Grillby

#showtime - Rory

#stardust - Whitney

#moonflower - Ione

#blush - Pinky

#uncle apollo - Apollo

#hoppity - Sasha

#rrr-owch - Lucky

#ragdoll queen - Sally

#finest trick or treaters - Lock, Shock, and Barrel

#voidheart - the Hollow Knight

#blessed daughter - Joni

#uncle six eyes - the Hunter

#pk bat son - Ness

#pk snake son - Lucas

#flower crown child - Crona

#plasma twins - Pot of Fire and Pot of Thunder

#auntie bayo - Bayonetta

#four elements disaster - Rubilax

#auntie eclipsa - Eclipsa Butterfly

#uncle glob - Globgor

#uncle clay - Clay

#vegetable fam - Goku, Vegeta, Cabba, Caulifla, Kale, and Broly

#misc cc - anyone without a tag

It’s very obvious which one of these tag groups made me have to put it under a cut fbchcfghcghvjvhnv

[therealvagabird]

The Days of Clay - Pt. 2: Beasts, Peoples, and Class Concepts

Part 2 of my paleo/neolithic RPG setting concept. Here are the concept overviews for the more “living” aspects of the world.

You can read the full setting rundown all at once on my WordPress.

Feel free to a leave a comment, and share!

Saurians

Found throughout the tropical and otherwise hot regions of the world, from searing deserts to sweltering jungles, saurians are a common form of fauna across the equatorial continents. Though most saurians are quite similar to all other animals – skittish, of varying size, and uninclined to hunt humans save under ideal circumstances – the great Thunder Lizards are well feared, and stories of them are known the world over in tales of dragons and other great wyrms. Saurians are cold blooded and include such species as the tyrannosaur, the carnotaur, velociraptor, and oviraptor as prominent therosaurs. There are also the mighty thagosaurs, the ceratops, brachiosaurs, and diplodosaurs as among the grandest of the Thunder Lizards. The hunting of these beasts outstrips even the danger of hunting Great Mammals like the mammoth, though that has not stopped some of the most fearsome warrior-tribes from attempting and succeeded at such feats. Tales of the taming of Thunder Lizards are also common, though even less substantiated. Not that factuality matter more than a good story to most shamans and their listeners.

Ape-Men

Ape-Men comprise all those varieties of bipedal or mostly-bipedal humanoid creatures who straddle the line between ape or monkey and man. Those who live in areas where there are no ape-men to be found might think that the distinction between an ape-man and a monkey, or an ape-man and a rather blunt and hairy person might be indistinguishable. Those who have ever seen an ape-man know the uncanny appearance by which those creatures can be identified. Though some believe that the ape-men are just as intelligent as humans, they have no language, no writing, and use but the most primitive of technologies. Some are quite small, while larger breeds can also be found, even in high altitudes and frigid environs. Most ape-men tend to cluster in basic den formations, and though they will not craft tools or shelters, they are sometimes smart enough to set up basic lean-tos, making use of existing caves or other helpful geography, and may pick up and utilize bones and rocks as basic weapons and the like. Though not very violent by nature, ape-men tend to compete for similar habitats as humans, and so often come into conflict with them. Ape-men clans who have lost great numbers to humans before tend to avoid all future confrontations even generations later.

Lizardmen

Similar to ape-men, lizardmen are the various breeds of bipedal, dexterous lizards who can sometimes be found in the territories of other saurian species. Little is known about how they differ from other scaled creatures save for their intelligence. Like ape-men, despite not having any known language or culture, the lizardmen have shown some ability to use tools, and tend to cluster in social groupings. Many of these dens are found in places most humans know as “Shatterlands” – angular rock formations common in deserts and some jungles, which various lizardmen of different species seem to all gravitate towards as ideal homesteads, even displacing other saurians in the process. Lizardmen range from the great crocolids and saurids to the more diminutive skinks and kobolds. They are uncommon outside of their usual ranges, and some say they are even dying off little by little.

Great Mammals

Found throughout the world, though most of all within the great tundra of northern lands like Batyr, Siral’ik, or Dziil, there are those creatures known as the Great Mammals. Also known as Great Beasts or Great Hairy Ones, these are the mammalian creatures who nonetheless rival the largest saurians in size and power. Mammoths, shellbacks, giant sloths, sabercats, dire wolves and dire bears – these are a source of both great danger and great plenty to those tribes who share their lands. Some Great Mammals may be found in southern reaches, such as with the giant ape-kin, or the elephants, giraffes, and the like which wander the savannahs of Noba Rugna. It is uncommon for saurians and Great Mammals to share habitats, though the bloodletting when the two come into contact can be significant and godlike.

Great Coldbloods

Separate from the saurians, Great Coldbloods is a catch-all term for creatures such as the giant snakes, colossal toads, and other creatures which do not share the same general markers of “true saurians” like the therosaurs, brachiosaurs, or ceratops. Though the distinction is rather vague, it is important to tribal peoples who live in southern lands, as Great Coldbloods tend to not be as aggressive and predatory as saurians – they are no less dangerous, but they prefer to stick to their well-defined hunting and ambushing grounds. Some Great Coldbloods are significant enough to take on and fell saurians in their own right, and command just as much fear as any other terrifying predator.

Great Shellhides

Perhaps the broadest category by which the human tribes of the world define the largest types of various animals, Great Shellhides comprise all those cold-blooded, hard-skinned, and boneless creatures which crawl beneath the earth. Though most “bugs” are insignificant things perhaps defined by powerful poisons to compensate for their size at the deadliest, Great Shellhides are monstrosities able to go claw-to-claw against other Thunder Beasts and Great Fauna. Hellspinners, elephant beetles, stoneborers, sand-devils – though some can be quite docile despite their size, most pose significant threats to any humans who dare to trifle with them. Within the seas there are also the giant crabs, temple clams, and devil-lobsters, among others. Though most hunters would not dare attempt to assault any Great Shellhide due to their impervious armor and the terrible ways they are capable of killing, the promise of tender blue-meat and a rich supply of chitin for crafting means that to many, the risk is worth the reward.

Leviathans

Encompassing all those beings which make sailors quail at the mere mention of their names, there are the seabound leviathans. Leviathans are not a single species, nor even a clade, but rather a term for any aquatic monster which is defined by its immense size. Whales are often considered leviathans, along with the great sharks such as the megalodon. More terrible are the leviasaurs – mosasaurs and ichthyosaurs and the like. Kraken, or the god-squids, are another class much feared by all who know of them, as well as the sea-serpents and dragon-turtles. Despite their fearsome reputation, most leviathans pose no great threat to humans, confined as they are to the abyssal sea. It is more common for even the bravest of seafaring tribes to meet their end by exposure or storms than by the direct attack of a leviathan, though that is seldom comforting to most sailors. The hunting of leviathans is considered by many to be the penultimate feat of prowess – to slay something as large and terrible as a Thunder Lizard, yet within their own element.

Giants

Sometimes conflated with ape-men, giants are among the rarest of all the near-human species. Defined as massive humanoids, tending to display blunted manlike features and standing anywhere from over two to five times the height of an adult human. Giants are usually found in reclusive dens, or solo, in the wilder areas of wherever humans might be found. The very largest are confined to the north and far east, in the most remote reaches of lands like Fjallgarth and Siral’ik. Little is known of giants, save for their prodigious size, ferocity when challenged, and rather hideous appearances. Much like ape-men, lizardmen, or parcies, they seem to have no higher culture, yet maintain a level of intelligence above most base animals. They may use fallen trees or great stones as makeshift tools, and some have even been said to herd Great Mammals, though it is unknown if there are any truth to these stories, or if the giants merely hunt such beasts. Most giants prefer to avoid humans when they can, unless in a desperate or vengeful position, as it is a common feat of strength for warriors of the northern lands to seek out and slay giants when they can.

Parcies

Pronounced “park-ees” and often referred to as “little folk”, “sprites”, “gremlins”, and numerous other regional names. Parcies are a strange class of creatures believed to be offshoots of humans or ape-men. Though there are many different breeds of parcie, they are often defined by short stature, and intelligence somewhere between humans and beasts. Humans born with conditions such as dwarfism may be confused with or referred to as parcies, but it is known to most who have encountered the little folk that they comprise their own group of species altogether. Most parcies are shrouded in mystery, living far away from humans, and maybe engaging in clandestine theft if they need to. Kidnappings, misfortunes, and other ills are sometimes attributed to parcies, though good luck and positive happenstances may also be called the work of parcies. While most are reclusive and nonviolent, they have been known to attack humans if threatened. Taking inspiration from certain parcie stories, some humans have even “tamed” parcies as servants or pets when they can. Notable breeds of parcies include brownies, gremlins, tomtens, dzedka, memegwesi, memegwaans, and nimerigar, A singular parcie can also be called a parca.

Humans:

Wisewalkers

Most humans throughout the world are of the breed known as “wisewalkers”. Though there are just the most minimal of differences between the different human subtypes – beyond even more tertiary traits such as skin color, cultural inclinations, or habitat – some distinct traits can be identified. Wisewalkers tend towards being the least hirsute of the human breeds, and the most inventive. The grander settlements of human make have oft been the work of wisewalkers, and the technologies they have pioneered are impressive. Though not so strong or swift as their cousins, the mental acuity of the wisewalker breeds has seen them become the most prolific of all humans.

Hobblehands

Smaller than wisewalkers, hobblehands are known for their great agility and cleverness. Though they are not quite as inventive as their larger cousins, they are quick learners and were the first creators of many basic tools that the wisewalkers would later improve. Standing about three to four feet tall on average, hobblehands are named for their dexterous skills, making for great ambush-hunters and adept crafters of small implements. They tend towards darker or ruddy skin tones depending on region, with curly hair, and round-featured faces that some have said look halfway between an adult and a child – though not in the same way an adolescent’s does. Hobblehands can be distinguished from dwarves or parcies by their proportions, looking rather like full-grown humans of a smaller size. Most hobblehands tend to live within their own tribal communities, and though they are not often leaders of mixed societies, they are much appreciated as crafters by the wisewalker shamans.

Neanders

Large, muscled, and brutish in appearance, the neaders are the human breed most known as warriors and hunters. Stereotypes of their low intellects and blunt affect obscure a significant truth, however – that the neanders are just as sharp and clever as any human strain. Most often found in the north, neanders stand about the same height as wisewalkers, though tend to hunch and have an overall more apelike physique. Besides these differences in build, they are the closest to the wisewalkers in terms of overall appearance. They possess greater strength than wisewalkers, and significant stamina. However, though they have displayed no less cleverness than their cousins, they seem to lack a certain degree of inventive spark. Neander tribes – perhaps due to their skill at hunting – tend to eschew higher technologies if they feel they have no need of them. Sometimes battling their wisewalker neighbors, many neander tribes have been brought into the fold of larger wisewalker gatherings for their might and skill.

Wildlings

A class of humans who straddle the line between true humans and ape-men, wildlings far exceed the strength of the neanders and the agility of the hobblehands – yet unlike those two sub-species, they are marked by a noticeable lack of higher cleverness. Though still capable of tool crafting and the basics of human civilization, wildlings are not very inventive, and prone towards blunt solutions even when it might not be in their best interests. They prefer the wilds from which they take their name, eschewing large gatherings in favor of tight-knit tribes. The most physically adept of all humankind, they tend to be feared and mocked by their cousins, though like the neanders they may be contracted as formidable warriors. As they are so skilled at survival, most wildlings are content in their primitive ways, wanting for nothing more than the bounty their own two hands can bring them. They are often hunched and quite hairy, with apelike visages, though otherwise human in appearance. Their most common roaming grounds are in the southern grasslands and forests, though they may also be found anywhere in the deep wilds that they have staked out for hunting and foraging, from the frozen north to the burning south.

Class Concepts:

Magic is nonexistent in the known world, but that does not mean that mysticism and superstition are absent. Neither does it mean that these belief systems are without merit or use. Shamans, witch doctors, prophets – these are individuals who act as storytellers, leaders, and the glue which holds entire tribes and even emerging states together. Many possess skills of great importance, not bound to one cultural context, such as knowledge of herbs and natural substances, knowledge of crafting and building, or an uncanny memory for the behaviors of animals or the patterns in the weather. For some, belief is a powerful force in and of itself, with warriors and magicians able to work themselves into states of mania which help them endure beyond typical limits. A human can only do so much with their body, even at the strongest, but knowledge and faith are what set humanity apart from the other beasts.

Warrior

A versatile hunter of both men and beasts, able to specialize in various types of weaponry and combat-craft. Warriors, depending on tribal background or personal preference, may choose to focus heavily in certain talents, or diversify for the sake of adaptation. In some places, like the city-states of Sakha, warriors are free to spend more time mastering the arts of combat, given that they do not have to worry as much about base survival. Wilder types may not be as refined in their martial talents, but know the arts of hunting and foraging, or even translate knowledge of poisons and clever crafts into effective fighting supplements.

Shaman

The cornerstone of most tribes is the clan shaman – the priest, the healer, and the storyteller. Shamans, much like warriors, are as varied as the flowers of the field, or the birds of the sky. They blend concrete knowledge and skills with a flair for the dramatic, able to command great respect for their wisdom. Shaman may specialize in many fields, such as healing, inspiring their allies, lore of the wilds, and afflicting their foes with terror or poisons. Some shaman may hold combat knowledge, but for the most part these figures are noted for the stories they tell and the knowledge they keep rather than any outstanding physical abilities. Memorized lore of humans, beasts, plants, seasons, and more can all be utilized by a shaman in order to achieve their ends, whether that be leading their flock to prosperity, or leading their enemies to their doom. Though many think the skills of the shaman to be magic, most of the time trained wisdom and a perceptive nature is just as good.

Skinchanger

One art renowned and feared across the wide world is that of the skinchanger. Shamans who specialize in channeling the spirits of beasts, skinchangers may hone a number of abilities based upon their chosen spirit-animals. Skinchanging requires two physical components – a hide, and a mask. These shamans undergo extensive training in their youths to assume the mind of a given beast, studying their quarry for months and even years so as to learn what it is to be that animal. Then, they must slay that given beast and take its hide, as well as craft a mask from its remains. By donning these, the skinchanger enters a unique mania granting them the power of that beast. Though no real change comes over the individual, they are not to be trifled with. The pelt of a bear or a saurian is still a great armor, and when the person wearing it is bearing a set of claw-gloves and has worked themselves into a frenzy, even great warriors can succumb to terror. Other skinchangers may pursue less “direct” approaches, such as by donning armor made from the carapaces of creatures like the Hellspinners, stalking the high treetops, besides others. Skinchangers learn much by studying their given animals – of which they may have several, should they choose to carry several costumes – such as techniques for climbing, digging, using poisons, foraging, and hunting.

Berserker

Similar to the skinchanger is the berserker, who trains themself to enter a blood-frenzy during battle so as to shrug off injuries which would incapacitate other humans. Berserkers are defined by their great martial skill, and the means by which they enter their blood-frenzy. Some channel simple rage, while others call upon totem spirits or other shades to empower their bodies, and some make use of more literal bloodlust or even strange herbal concoctions. These warriors tend towards a very direct style of combat, favoring brute strength over more diverse or subtle means, yet berserkers tend to also be noted for the various skills they accrue in training their blood-frenzy. Berserkers may be quite knowledgeable in techniques of survival, or hunting, or herbalism as dependent on their backgrounds. For one to rely on strength alone is not enough, however mighty, and so berserkers tend to hide greater wisdom than meets the eye.

Boxer

Somewhere between a healer and a fighter, boxers are set apart from more typical warriors by their deep and intimate knowledge of the human body. Boxers are fighters who have received a degree of training as bonesetters, spiritual healers, or even chirurgeons. A boxer may in combat leverage this knowledge to target their enemy’s pressure points or vital organs, while out of combat they may apply the same techniques to their allies to alleviate pains or fix physical ailments. Boxers pay for their very specialized skillset by struggling in circumstances outside their training. They do not fare well against beasts lest they have knowledge of their anatomy and are not as able as dedicated healers to treat diverse illnesses. They do not do well in armor and may only competently use a set number of specific weapons. Still, the arts of the boxer are much respected by those who know of their reputations.

Beastmaster

The taming of wild animals is not an uncommon calling among certain tribes. Many warriors may hew closer to the path of the hunter, appreciating the company of a loyal hound or boar. Certain shamans may keep birds or other noble creatures as pets, believing them to grant good fortune, or training them to perform useful tasks. Skinchangers go a step further, and attempt to emulate and become as beasts. Beastmasters focus first and foremost on breaking the wills or otherwise earning the trust of wild animals of all stripes, allying themselves to the might of nature. These individuals are much more skilled at taming a larger variety of creatures than a typical hunter might, though even when they choose to simply use a dependable hunting-wolf, it is likely that their wolves will be better trained, and they will be able to command more of them at once. Some beastmasters end up taming great and fearsome beasts like saurians, great mammals, shellhides, and the like. They may even use such massive creatures as mounts. Others could specialize in directing much greater groups of smaller beasts. This could range from a small pack of hunting dogs, to entire swarms of vermin. If a beastmaster is able to safely forage and care for something like a wasps’ nest or a rodent warren-queen, they may even tame a whole horde of tiny pets.

Crafter

Creating things such as tools and shelter is a must-know skill for any human in the wide world, but for some it is more than a simple necessity. Some pursue the knowledge of material things the same way shamans pursue stories, or beastmasters and skinchangers pursue animal lore. Crafters specialize in creating items of exceptional make and identifying the uses of various materials. Bone, stone, wood, hide – even rare metals such as copper – all of these can be put to a multitude of uses by crafters, such as the making of weapons, tools, talismans, and more. Other crafters may specialize in larger projects, such as masonry, forestry, or boatbuilding. The downside is that crafters do not often make for good warriors or hunters and cannot be expected to do much more in combat than level their tools against the foe – though those tools are bound to be of exceptional make. Yet many bands of tribals do well to have one or more dedicated crafters among them, as just as they can put rare materials to good use, they are also quite adept at dismantling things. This can range from skinning a beast to chiseling a hole in the weak portion of a stone-brick fort. Likewise, groups with crafters always tend to accrue more loot, as crafters are skilled at pulling every last thing that could be of use from a fallen beast or a resource-rich area.

[mythcookierunocs]

Tropical Rainbow Punch

Rarity: Legendary

Stamina: 290

Combi Pet: Volcanic Tiki Torch

Combi Bonus: Changes Bonus Time to SurferBro, giving the Cookie permanent surf effect while in Bonus Time and creates 3 obstacles to destroy.

Abilities: As the cookie runs, an energy bar (with 5 sections to fill) fills 1 bar per 10 seconds, jump is replaced with surf, when surfing, the cookie creates a Rainbow Tropical Popsicle Surfboard, gains a slight boost effect, and drains 1/2 of an energy bar section per 5 seconds. If the cookie destroys 10 obstacles while using this ability, gain +2,000,000 and 1 Alphabet Jelly that has not yet been collected.

Magic Candy: When Cookie Surfs, all Jellies turn into Soda Crystal Jellies (Soda Crystal Jellies grant +7,000 to Jellies original value and increased Cookie’s speed while they use Surf).

Volcanic Tiki Torch: Creates Flaming Tiki Potions at given intervals (heals 30 stamina and gives gradually increasing blast effect for 5 seconds)

Story: A Cookie that seemingly came out of nowhere... Tropical Rainbow Punch claims he had come from an island far away from the oven where he had found a magical lake of rainbow punch, drinking said Punch gave him the ability to bend the ocean to his will, transmuting the water into the same Punch substance he had drank from before. Occasionally he will travel back to the island, honing his surf skills and acting as a sort of guardian for the island. They say his powers are so intense, he was able to calm even the most powerful of sea creatures…..

Quote: “What’s up Bro? Wanna go hit the waves with me and that Soda Kid?”

Relationships:

[Admiration] Crab Apple Cookie- “Ahhh, so cute....... wait, what was I doing again?”

[Trust] Squid Ink Cookie- “Kid’s not doin’ anything wrong! Just give them a chance!”

[Friendly] Soda Cookie- “Whats up bro! Let’s go and surf some more!”

Crab Apple Cookie

Rarity: Legendary

Stamina: 150

Combi Pet: Duriant

Combi Bonus: +3,000 to all Jellies after first revival

Abilities: Cookie transforms at the start of the run into Crab Apple Leviathan, replacing Jump and Slide with two claws that destroy obstacles and collect jellies (While Cookie is in Crab Apple Leviathan form, creates Apple Stem obstacles at given intervals [Apple Stem obstacles act as normal obstacles]).

Magic Candy: When an obstacle is destroyed in Crab Apple Leviathan form, a secondary stamina gauge and a tertiary Apple Core gauge are filled until the cookie runs out of stamina. Dependent upon how much the Stamina meter is filled, Cookie will be revived in regular cookie form with up to 170 Stamina. Dependent upon how much the Apple Core meter is filled, Cookie will receive up to +80,000,000 . In cookie form, when obstacles are destroyed, Cookie gains +5 stamina per obstacle.

Crabby Coconut: Pinches Jellies at given intervals (Pinched Jellies grant Stamina Drain Nullification for 4 seconds and +1,000 to all Jellies that are the same as the Pinched Jelly).

Story: Crab Apple was not always the friendly Island-Dwelling Basket Weaving Cookie he is known to be today. Crab Apple was once a massive oceanic menace, terrorizing the seas and causing tempests everywhere he roamed. That was, until Tropical Rainbow Punch was able to lift the curse placed upon him by granting him access to the Rainbow Punch Lake. Now, with the help of Tropical Rainbow Punch, he is learning to control his powers.

Quote: “I used to be a monster y’know...”

Relationships:

[Admiration] Tropical Rainbow Punch- “He’s such an idiot........ but he is a cute one......”

[Friendly] Squid Ink Cookie- “I feel sorry for them, it’s not fun being called the monster.”

[Tension] Alchemist Cookie- “for the last time, I’m not that gross type of crab apple, stop asking me for flavor analysis samples!”

One of my older Cookie OC Pairings, TRP Cookie is the first image and CA Cookie is the second! Decided to make some tropical cookies a while back, Crab Apple is based off of an image I saw of some tropical apples that were shaped into little crabs. Art by @diond-drawingthings !

Please do not tag as Kin/ID/Me, you will be blocked.

[choicesfanficanonymous]

Kin (Estela x MC/Taylor (f), Estela/Aleister sibling stuff)

Book/Series: Endless Summer

Summary: Post-ending (Endless ending). The world beyond La Huerta is gone, Taylor’s family are nothing but a fabricated daydream, and Estela’s only living relative is a walking reminder of her connection with the figure that tore her life apart. What do love and kinship mean in this burned and scarred world?

Word Count: 5384 words (sorry, a long one!)

“Hear me out, dudes,” Raj urged, setting down steaming plates of food on the table. “this place has everything; everything we need… except for…”

“Waterslides!” Craig exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.

“…waterslides!” Raj finished.

“And how,” Aleister sneered, “pray tell, do you intend to build such a thing? I suppose one of you is an engineer, equipped to build a theme park monstrosity up to health and safety regulations.”

Jake scoffed. “Malfoy, when has anything we’ve done met health and safety regulations? I dunno… maybe jumping into the path of the Loch Ness monster’s psycho cousin with nothing but a ripped-up hang-glider was a stretch, but a slide? That’s goin’ too far!”

“Fine, enjoy your death-trap. I can assure you I won’t be running around beneath it holding a net.” Aleister wrinkled his nose. “But there’s no escaping the fact that a waterslide would be an absolute eyesore. I swear, paradise is wasted on you people!”

“But who build’s a world-class tropical resort without a waterslide?”

Around the tables by the pool that had been brought together for breakfast, the Catalysts, save for Diego who had spent the night in Elyys’tel with Varyyn, chattered animatedly. Since Rourke’s demise, it had become routine, along with the nightly dinner gathering. Dealing, as they were, with a loss so huge, so devastating, holding together was the best they could do. Raj was in his element- on almost full-time hospitality duty- and he saw it as a way of honouring his grandmother. If he could do anything at all to keep his friends smiling as they moved through unspeakable grief, he’d be doing her proud. Taylor, wracked with guilt for her failure to sacrifice herself to end her friends’ suffering, had been reclusive, but she was trying… she was trying so hard to be the supportive shoulder they all needed. Beneath the table, her fingers were entwined with Estela’s, stroking them in a circular motion, and feeling a soft and reassuring pressure in return. As she took a sip of juice- what strange fruit it contained, a mystery- Taylor briefly made eye contact with her wife, and it was enough to make her heart flutter. She tuned back in to the familiar bickering and reached for a breakfast burrito.

“This is ridiculous!” Aleister was saying. “When you’ve all emerged from fantasy land, we can talk about creating something that’s actually worthwhile. The sheer knowledge we have access to- the possibilities are…”

“Waterslide! Waterslide! Waterslide!” chanted Craig, banging his fists on the table. To his great satisfaction, Aleister’s face began to colour with increasing frustration.

“I’m sorry- how old are you; eight?”

“And what are you, the fun police? Estela- he’s your brother, stick it to him!”

In an instant, the table went quiet. Estela’s expression turned cold and stony. A hard glare resting upon Craig, who withered back with an averted gaze, she got to her feet and, without a word, walked away.

Aleister looked pointedly in the opposing direction, discomfort showing clearly on his flushed, drawn face. Grace immediately placed her hand over his, looking over him with great concern.

Zahra rolled her eyes. “Nice one, dumbass, you really outdid yourself there.”

Quinn’s brow furrowed, worry all over her face. “Taylor, is she okay?”

“I- I’ll go after her.” Her gut twisting, Taylor rose from the table. The silently bubbling tension within the group had finally breached the surface, and she felt a personal responsibility to resolve it.

She strode out onto the sand, picking up the pace until she had almost reached her wife’s side. Without looking back, Estela reached her hand out behind her, inviting Taylor in.

“It’s a shame we can’t fix that faulty connection between Craig’s brain and his mouth.” Taylor took Estela’s hand and grasped it tight.

“Family means something,” Estela growled. “My family is gone. Aleister is not… is not…”

With a tug of her arm, Taylor pulled her into a hug. Estela was tense, but she returned the gesture, her movements stilted.

“Do you want to be on your own right now?”

Estela took a moment before answering. “No. Stay with me.” She held on tightly to Taylor’s hand. It anchored her, holding her from losing herself in grief and rage. Slowly, she calmed herself and gave Taylor an encouraging smile. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I don’t worry about you- pretty sure you are literally the biggest badass on earth. But I do care about you. And even the strongest people can use a hand to hold sometime.”

“You can do more than hold my hand, you know,” Estela said, a smirk on her face and a glint in her eye.

With a giggle, Taylor nuzzled her face close to Estela’s and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek. “That’s a start, right?”

“I’m feeling better already.”

As she went in for another kiss, Taylor felt a gentle hand catch the side of her face, lovingly drawing her lips towards Estela’s. They met in a tender, lingering dance.

Estela came away, her cheeks glowing. She sighed. “Goddammit, I love you, Taylor.”

“Goddammit, Estela, I think I love you too,” Taylor said, a laugh in her voice. She playfully twiddled with Estela’s hair as she watched her expression become thoughtful.

“I do want to open up to everyone. I care about them,” Estela said. “Even Aleister, two-faced bastard,” she added with a snarl. “It’s just, some things I… can’t. He’s no brother of mine. Hearing it is a knife in my chest. You understand, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. Well, as much as anyone can. You know, I don’t think anyone’s expecting you to be a bubbly, outgoing life of the party all of a sudden. And everyone knows you care. It’s obvious. They like you for you. I think even Aleister does… in his snobby, terrified way.”

“He should be scared. Half the time I can’t stand to look at him. And the stupid thing is, I don’t even know if it’s the betrayal, or if I just don’t want a reminder of who I am.”

Taylor shrugged. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m getting the impression the ‘secret half-sibling’ thing is weirding him out too.” She kicked off her shoes and walked into the sea, enjoying the cooling feeling of the water lapping around her ankles. “Look, I know talking isn’t always your strong point, but it might do you both good to just put it all out there. Maybe that’d do something about that elephant in the room.”

“The last elephant on earth… maybe we should keep it, for now.” Estela sat down in the sand and rested her head on her hands. There was no hurry; they were together on this island for as long as they lived. Confronting Aleister, confronting whatever it was he meant to her, it could all wait.

“Just… just, don’t let it trample over you, all right? You deserve to be happy.”

In spite of everything, a smile tugged at Estela’s mouth. She watched Taylor wandering through the shallows, her face a picture of quiet contemplation. There had been a lot of that in the week or so since Rourke’s plans had been scuppered… introspection, coming to terms with new identities and adjusting to a future so different to what any of them had envisioned. Estela knew she was fortunate; grief for her tio and the earth aside, her future was far brighter than she’d have expected not so long ago. She just hoped her friends- friends… how long it had been since she’d had any of those- would in time find the same contentment. Perhaps more than anyone else, though, Taylor appeared lost. Estela looked over her wife protectively in the aftermath; with no quest for vengeance to occupy her, her purpose was now to support Taylor through a turbulent period of transition. And, of course, it worked both ways. Today felt like a bad day, but there would be tomorrow, and the tomorrow after that. Estela bit her lip, her eyes glazing over as troubled thoughts swirled through her mind. Perhaps Taylor was right. Perhaps she should stop skirting around Aleister, if nothing else but to avoid awkwardness for everyone else. She wondered, how did Aleister perceive her? The child of his father’s affair, he could quite easily resent her. Maybe he should. After all, at the end of the line, Rourke had acknowledged Estela as his truest heir, not Aleister. As much as she tried to shake the ridiculous thought from her head, Estela found herself coming back to a disturbing conclusion. Part of her was afraid that Aleister- not family, never family, but a genuine link to her mother- might turn away from her. She angrily pushed the notion from her thoughts. She didn’t need or want a half-brother, and certainly not a literal Rourke clone at that. It was just… part of letting go, and she’d grown enough to know that letting go was what she needed. Having been powered on anger for so very long, Estela wasn’t quite sure who she’d be once she had no living person to channel it towards. Would she simply implode? Perhaps… if she didn’t have Taylor.

The faint sound of sand beneath light feet made Estela alert. She glanced sideways to see Quinn approaching, a piled-up plate in her hands.

“I thought you might appreciate breakfast to go,” said Quinn shyly.

Surprised and touched, Estela sat back in the sand and offered Quinn a bashful smile. That girl really was too good.

“Thanks.”

Taylor came running back from the water and put her arms around Quinn. “You’re the best, you know that?”

Quinn beamed in response, and she carefully sat herself down beside Estela, making sure not to drop anything. “Well, I couldn’t let you miss out. I think we all know Raj’s heart would break just a little if you two didn’t get to enjoy his breakfast burritos.” Tentatively, she placed a hand on Estela’s arm. “And, if I’m honest, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Estela’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t shy away. “I’m… fine. Is Aleister…?” She shook her head. “However I feel about him, I mean… I don’t like him… but we’re on the same side. When it comes down to it, it’s not him who’s really hurt me, it’s his father.” Still, she could not say ‘our’ father. Her tio was the only father figure she’d ever needed. Out of nowhere, she felt a stab of pity for Aleister. He’d never had that.

“I think he and Grace were gonna go down to the library together. That’s their happy place.”

Taylor plonked herself down in the sand and began tucking in. “Honestly? I think that Aleister’s pretty happy on the whole. He’s just adjusting to… a lot.” She gave a little sigh. Poor Aleister. With everything that had happened since the revelation of his origin, she hadn’t taken as much time as she should have to make sure he was okay. Responsible as she felt for caring for her gang of friends, she knew she’d dropped the ball there. “Like we all are. But we’ve all got each other’s backs.” Relieved to see Estela looking a little brighter- another win for Raj’s cooking- she put her free arm around her. “I’m gonna have to give my compliments to Raj- these are so good!”

“We’ve got to be getting low on meat that isn’t squirrel or… dinosaur. Is there anything left in the freezer?”

Quinn furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “I think we’re getting near the end of our supplies. I’ve been meaning to do some baking but… once everything’s gone, it’s gone. We should talk to Varyyn; if the Vaanti can throw lavish feasts, there’s no reason why we can’t make La Huerta work for us too.”

“I don’t need to ask Varyyn to know how to hunt,” said Estela. She was quiet for a moment. They needed to start doing something. The initial high of the fight for survival ending had waned, and what was left was reality. Everyone was in pain. With emotions running high, the group could easily splinter, devoid of a clear way forward. Chilling around The Celestial wasn’t enough anymore. “But you’re right. We have everything we need here. I’m going to go hunting- or fishing, it feels like it’s gonna be a hot one.”

“You’ll teach me, right?” Taylor asked.

Estela just smiled. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine much she’d rather do with herself. She met Taylor’s eyes and answered her silently.

Beaming, Taylor raised her burrito. “To bringing home the bacon- or whatever the screwy La Huerta equivalent might be!”

“Cheers!” laughed Quinn as she and Estela bumped their tortillas to Taylor’s.

Having gathered a few supplies, all the while managing to avoid any awkward encounters in the wake of the breakfast drama, Estela led Taylor along the coast to the west, Furball trotting eagerly at their heels.

“There,” Estela said, nodding her head in the direction of a strip of land rising out into the sea. “There’s a reef just beyond the cliffs.”

Carefully, Taylor lowered herself down the rocky side of the grass-covered headland, gripping tightly with her fingertips in a precarious hold. Beneath her, Estela climbed down with ease, barely slowed by fact that she had the added complication of holding a spear under her arm.

Taylor huffed, a little breathless. A pebble plinked off her forehead, and she looked up to see Furball skittering around the edge, watching them with great curiosity. “You be careful, little guy! You don’t want to sl-“ She bit her tongue as she lurched downward, her foot missing the next hold. Scrambling to regain her grip, Taylor felt something firm beneath the ball of her foot, and she glanced beneath her.

“I think the fox is fine. You might want to check your own footholds.” Estela held the blunt end of the spear beneath Taylor’s foot until she appeared to have steadied herself. She settled on a jutting out ledge just above the water and held out a hand to guide her partner down the last little way.

“And we couldn’t have just swam out from the shore?”

“Not unless you want to catch all the waves breaking. It’s better to go straight to where the fish are.”

Stripping down to her swimming costume, Estela slunk into the water, her movements smooth and stealthy. Taylor followed suit, ducking under the crystal-clear water. Together they swam out to a colourful reef, where they found themselves surrounded by silver-scaled fish that appeared to shimmer in the bright sunlight. It was beautiful.

Running out of breath, Taylor returned to the surface and treaded water, watching as Estela rounded onto a target and popped her head above the water, hair plastered to her face.

“Hey, you want me to try and herd them over to you?”

Estela nodded. “Push them toward the sandbar, if you can.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Taylor swam from side to side, sending the fish swimming away from her- and towards the sandbar, where Estela was waiting. After a few moments, Estela streaked forwards, and came up with a writhing fish on the end of her spear.

“Okay, that was impressive.”

A little smile on her face, Estela beckoned Taylor over to the shallows surrounding the sandbar. She pulled her close against her chest and lowered into the water. “Here,” she said, taking hold of the fish with one hand and giving Taylor the spear with the other. “Don’t flail around so much. Be still… keep your eyes open… focus.”

Feeling her pulse quicken at the sensation of her partner wrapped around her, Taylor took a moment to redirect her attention to the task at hand. She held her breath and put her face under, trying to avoid sending ripples out into the water as Estela gently guided her spear arm backwards in preparation to strike. She didn’t move a muscle, and soon the fishes swam by them, oblivious. Seeing her chance and taking it, she thrust her arm forward, but the resistance from the water was greater than anticipated and she came short.

“Dammit!”

“Try again… you were close.”

Estela swam away, taking her catch back to the rocks, where Furball spun around in excited circles. Determined to catch something, Taylor slipped back beneath the surface and tried again… and again… and again… until finally…

“I got one!” she hollered, taking in a mouthful of water and spluttering.

“You’re a fast learner. Throw it here.”

The sun rose high into the sky, beating down hard on the La Huerta coastline. The pile of fish Furball had been diligently guarding had grown satisfyingly, and he proudly perched himself on top, watching as the women splashed about in the sea. At one point, Taylor had sat him on her shoulder, egging him on as he shot ice out into the waves, catching fish that got in the way of his short, powerful blasts. He only accidentally iced Estela one time. Leaving fishing to the pro, Taylor built up a small fire on the edge of the headland and managed to tackle the cliff face with just enough finesse to bring up a large fish to cook.

“Shit, it’s hot,” Taylor grumbled, very quickly realising that the water was very much the place to be.

Mrrrrp? Furball chirruped, and he sent out a small wave of snow. He bounced to the side and looked up at Taylor quizzically.

Taylor scooted over and sat in the newly frosted-over grass. “Thanks, little guy!” She pulled off a little piece of meat for him and tickled his back as he dug in. That little fox was totally unique, one of a kind. Had he ever had a family? Thinking about Estela and Aleister, about the families her friends had all lost, Taylor felt a bizarre loneliness. She could reach into her mind all she wanted, but there was nothing beyond sitting beside Diego on the plane. In fact, the more she tried, the less that came to her. Even knowing it was all fabricated, a lie, she wished the false memories of a childhood were still there. So she could at least pretend. Next to the lives of everyone she cared about, her existence seemed so… shallow… empty. You could scratch beneath her surface and you’d find nothing, no history at all.

“Something on your mind?”

Taylor jumped, looking behind her to see Estela hauling up the fruits of her efforts up onto the grassy outcrop. “God, you nearly made me jump outta my skin! You know you don’t have to sneak up behind me like a ninja, right?”

Estela crawled over, sitting down beside her wife with a little grin. “It’s fun making you squeal.”

“One of these days, I’m gonna get you so- “

“You can try, if you like. But you should know I don’t scare easily.”

“We’ll see…”

Brushing a wet strand of hair from Taylor’s face, Estela looked at her imploringly. “So, what has you so distracted? You looked… sad.”

Taylor shook her head. “It’s nothing. I…” And then she stopped. There was no point to hiding what she felt, not from Estela. “I’ve just been finding it harder and harder to recall anything I thought I knew before we came here. The fake memories Vaanu gave me. I know how crazy it sounds trying to hold onto something that was never really there, but… it’s all I’ve got.”

A thoughtful frown on Estela’s face, she considered Taylor quietly. “Maybe your true memories are taking their place, pushing them down. Is any of it left at all?”

“I can sort of recall things related to Diego. I guess those feel more real because he’s here, I’ve got something solid to build from. But anything else… no. It used to be like a blur, but now there’s nothing there. Blank. Of course, it was going to be like this- it’s not as if the memories I thought I had were ever real. I just feel hollow, like I’m missing something that should be there.”

Estela pulled her close, so they sat shoulder to shoulder. “I can’t imagine it,” she said softly.

Taylor winced. “This is going to sound insanely self-absorbed with, well, everything, but I wish I’d had a family. People to remember from my childhood. Hell, even to have had a childhood at all.”

“That’s not selfish. All those things; it’s part of being human. How could you not want that?” Estela gave a heavy sigh. “Memories, a past… family. Losing it all, it feels like you’re being ripped… torn to pieces. It’s the worst pain there is. But it hurts because what’s been taken away meant something. My mom, my tio… I would go through losing them again, over and over, if it meant we could have one more day together. Or an hour.” She leant her head against Taylor’s and closed her eyes. Hearing the gentle crashing of the waves, she could imagine they were sitting together on a San Trobidan beach. “I wish I could give you those memories… those hours.”

Grasping her lover’s hand tight, Taylor exhaled shakily. She slowly relaxed into a comfortable silence, closing her eyes to appreciate the feel of Estela next to her, giving unflinching support. Her stupid hurts and worries didn’t feel so shameful while she had that love surrounding her.

“Tell me,” Taylor whispered, after a long while. “Tell me about all the little things. The memories that make it worth the hurt.”

A small but warm smile came to Estela’s face. “For a long time I couldn’t look back. Looking back made me weak, and I couldn’t afford to be weak. Even when I was small, I couldn’t stand it. Mom wanted to protect me, and I never wanted her to feel like she’d failed. When I was eight, I broke my arm- or had it broken for me. Kids in San Trobida, they don’t know anything but fighting. That’s all we see all around us, on the news, it’s just normal… you learn to pull a punch young. It was after that, Tio Nicolas started to teach me to defend myself. I knew I would do whatever it took to follow after him; I was too young to understand, but I knew he was fighting so Mom didn’t have to worry anymore. When the riots kept me awake at night, I would crawl into bed with her. I wasn’t afraid… I didn’t know any different, but I knew she slept better if I was in her arms. I would go to sleep with her singing to me, stroking my hair, holding me like I was her whole world. I’d get up before sunrise, make her a coffee. Spill it everywhere ‘cause, you know, broken arm. And she didn’t care that I made a mess, she just knew I loved her.” Her voice became hushed. “I loved her so much, Taylor.”

“I know.” Taylor gently rubbed Estela’s arm, hoping that she could give even a little comfort. All she really knew of Olivia Montoya was from her virtual reality message, and from the haunting hotel room recording. “I- I wish I could have met her. She seemed so intelligent… brave.”

“She was. She was so determined. Whatever it took for her to get the future she wanted for us, she faced it. But she always found time for us. Just for us.”

“Like going on your lunch hikes?”

“Yes, like that. And when I was little, we used to walk along the beach and collect shells. We’d go swimming and look at the fishes; there would be tropical fishes in all colours. She showed me how to appreciate small things… beautiful things. Sometimes, it felt like the world was blowing up all around us; you need to find beauty in the little things when that’s your life. And she made it easy. Just being near her. She would sit and read on one side of the room, and I would sit on the other side. We didn’t have to say anything, I could just feel that she was there. After she was gone, I don’t remember being happy. Not until I met you.”

Taylor wrapped her arms around Estela’s waist and nuzzled her face against her neck. She suddenly started giggling.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“Estela, my love, my soulmate, my heart’s desire, my dearest friend, my starlight… you stink of fish. Like, bad.”

Estela laughed and put her hands to Taylor’s face, pulling her in. She caught her mouth in her own, kissing her fiercely. Taylor’s hands travelled up Estela’s back and into her hair, holding her close as she reciprocated, the momentum pushing them down into the grass. After a moment, they both doubled over, collapsing into giggles.

“You’re not smelling like a basket of flowers yourself.”

“How about we finish this once we’re cleaned up a bit?”

Propping herself back up, Estela gazed over her wife, her cheeks hot. “Promise?”

“Cross my heart.” Taylor looked into those dark eyes, which were brimming with warmth, and felt herself melt. A promise like that? Not even a question.

“I’ll give these to Raj,” Taylor said happily, swinging the bucket of fish. “We are gonna be his absolute favourite people. At least until everyone’s sick of seafood.”

Estela gave her a quick kiss. “I hope so. He’s been on my back about the knives disappearing from the kitchen.”

“Yeah… I’m pretty sure there was a note pinned to the drawer. Something about ‘these knives are for cutting food, not people’. You may have been mentioned by name. In bold block capitals.”

“That’s our next job, then. Make some practical weaponry. We should get a hold of some of that amber the Vaanti use.”

“Sounds good. The cutlery is spared, and you can put your dagger-envy to rest. Everyone’s happy.” Taylor gave Estela a playful shove and headed inside.

Estela made to follow, but her eye was caught by a movement from the side of the hotel. It was Aleister. Her walls leapt up, her gaze hardened, and she turned away.

“Wait! I wanted to…” Aleister faltered, singed by the hostility that radiated off her. “I have something for you.” He wished he’d thought to just give what he’d found to Taylor, who was rather less the human equivalent of a bomb that could go off at any moment. “You needn’t think of it as a gift or anything sentimental. But it belongs to you.”

He thrust his hand forward, ignoring the clear mistrust in Estela’s eyes. She took from him several crumpled photographs.

Estela’s mouth dropped open. Her eyes grew wide, then scrunched tight shut, wet with tears before she could properly comprehend what she held in her hand. She turned herself away from Aleister and messily wiped her eyes.

Mirroring her actions, Aleister awkwardly turned to the opposing side, completely at a loss for what to say. Dealing with emotions was not his strong point. Words of comfort, sympathy? Simply callous coming from him. “I, uh, that is my mother and I… and Grace… we found these in a hidden safe in the library,” he said finally, still avoiding eye contact.  “I had wondered… he said he’d truly loved your mother… perhaps something might have been kept.”

Her fingers running tenderly over a photograph; a small child, arm in a sling, walking hand in hand with her mother along a beach, a rough but almost pretty town in the backdrop, Estela could barely hear Aleister’s words.

“My mother,” he continued, “knew that he’d put away some items from her room. Obviously, somewhere private… hidden. It’s not much, but it seems he couldn’t bring himself to destroy everything.”

A flicker of rage licked through Estela’s heart, but it was extinguished by a bittersweet wave of aching sadness and love.

“It’s the fish… the smell; it’s making my eyes water,” Estela lied, sniffling still.

Aleister snickered appreciatively. “Given the sensitive nature of our exchange, I decided it best not to comment on the… aroma. I am glad that you are at least aware of it.”

“A small price for dinner. I hope you’re hungry.” Frowning, Estela looked down at the ground and then pointedly into Aleister’s face. Well, shit, better get this over with. “We almost died because of you. You were so stupid, so arrogant, you almost killed the only people who gave a damn about you- “

“-Can we not do this now?” Aleister scowled and rolled his eyes. It had been too much to expect to get through to someone so blinded by hate. Estela was just like their father… never satisfied… out of reach. It was small wonder he’d seen something in her that he never had in Aleister. “Is it really so difficult for you to let the past be the past for five minu-“

“No.” Estela’s gaze became steely, and Aleister was momentarily forced into silence. “No; listen.”

“To your well-prepared character assassination? I would rather not.”

“You put your trust in the wrong person. Even the best people…” she felt her voice waver as she thought of her mother, of Lila. “Even the best of us can trust the wrong person… the worst person. In the end… you made your choice. You saved us. He… he told you he could bring your mother back to life. You were an idiot to believe it but… I understand. You’re a better man than Rourke ever was. And I can’t keep holding a grudge against you. I don’t want to.”

Aleister’s face registered surprise, but he quickly collected himself. “Uh, thank you. I know how personal this has been to you; how personal it has always been. You and I have been at odds so much of the time… but I would not have wished my father upon you. I’m sorry.”

Estela winced, her face clouded over. Her eyes flickered back to the photo. To her mother. The last person she imagined would keep her in the dark. Tears rolled down her cheeks and once again she had to look away. She felt a hand placed awkwardly on her shoulder, then hastily removed.

“Ah, I…” Aleister stammered. Where was Grace when he needed her? She’d have wrapped Estela in a hug and been done with it. Certainly, she could have done so without the fear of having her lights punched out. But yet Estela didn’t bristle at the bumbling attempt at physical contact. If anything, she looked… amused. “Is something funny?”

“You’re about as good at opening up as I am,” Estela said, smirking through her tears.

“A side effect of a life shaped by a treacherous snake,” Aleister said with a wry smile. He paused for a moment, trying to read her. “We have a certain kinship. A regrettable one, I’ll admit, but… I’m grateful to have it. He was never much of a father… my mother died when I was small… it has been lonely, I’ll admit. Perhaps, in time…?”

Estela’s mouth was dry. “…maybe we could have a couple of drinks, stew over how he screwed us both over?”

“That sounds appropriate. I don’t expect you to ever see me as family… kin… but…” Unsure, he held out his hand.

“Friends I could do.” With a deep breath, Estela grasped Aleister’s outstretched hand firmly. “I’ll leave the hugging to Taylor, though.” She glanced down to the precious photos held tightly in her other hand. “And, uh, thanks. Thank you… more than I can say.”

He gave her a nod of understanding, and they parted ways. Her photographs clutched to her chest, Estela realised she was trembling.

“Hey?” called Taylor, walking over, her brow furrowed in concern. “Hey, is everything all right?” She put her arm around Estela’s shoulder and inhaled sharply as she saw what was in her hand. “Wait- are those?”

Estela wiped her eyes and nuzzled close to Taylor. “Everything is… good. Uh, better than… uh…” Another deep breath. “It’s family… family stuff.” She put a hand to Taylor’s cheek and almost laughed at the stunned look on her face. “Let’s go up to the room, okay? We’ll get cleaned up and… I’ve got some things to share with you.”

[unfadingones]

Avariel (Winged Elves)

Disclaimer: All information here is copied directly from the Avariel elven subrace entry in the Races of Faerun book of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons and Dragons series, 3.5 edition. Nothing was changed except the occasional grammatical error.

Regions: Most avariel choose the Avriel region, but other valid regions include Damara, the High Forest, Narfell, the North, Silverymoon, the Vast, and the Western Heartlands. Racial Feats: Flyby Attack (See Monster Manual), Hover (See Monster Manual), Improved Flight, Rapid Flight. Racial Prestige Class: Bladesinger Level Adjustment: +3 (may not be applicable in 5e)

The avariels, or winged elves, are without a doubt the most reclusive and least numerous of the elven subraces on Faerun. Many scholars have long dismissed them as creatures of myth. In truth, small numbers of avariels still dwell in Faerun, concealed in hidden enclaves and remote regions.

The most striking feature of the avariels is their soft, feathered wings. These wings have spans of anywhere from twelve to sixteen feet and are usual white, but they may also be gray, brown, black, or speckled. Avariels take great pride in their wings and spend long hours grooming them. Their skin is pale, often porcelain white, with tinges of blue or faint silver. They have silver-white or black hair, with other shades being rare but not unheard of. The avariels' eyes are rather large and more expressive than those of other elves, and they tend to be brilliant shades of blue or green. A few avariel have scintillating violet eyes as pure as amethysts. Avariels stand 5'9 tall on average, with thing, graceful limbs and angular facial features. They are the most beautiful and striking of the elven races, although too often this beauty is marred by haughtiness and condescension toward their land bound kin, whom they often pity.

Avariels are even more delicate than other elves, and their movements are quick, calculated, and graceful. They prefer to wear loose fitting, diaphanous clothing that catches the wind in flight and ripples and weaves in the air. Armor is almost never worn, because it tends to weight them avariels down and hinder their graceful motion. Avariels cannot fly while wearing heavy armor.

Avariels age more quickly than most elves, having the starting age and life expectancy defined for gnomes in Tables 6-4 and 6-5 of the Players Handbook. Avariels use the following random height and weight characteristics instead of those described on Table 6-6:

Avariel, male           5'0 +2D8, 70lbs x(1D6)lbs Avariel, female        4'8 +2D8, 65lbs x(1D6)lbs

History:

Along with the green elves and lythari, the avariels are one of the three oldest elven races. Today, though, they are all but extinct, forced into the far corners of the world ages ago by the ancient dragons and hunted mercilessly by evil folk.

The avariels, upon their first migrating to Faerun millennia ago, found the world to be a vast, beautiful place. Unfortunately, vicious dragons ruled the skies above ancient Faerun. The newly arrived avariels were nearly wiped out by the dragons before the First Flowering. the last of their race flew eastward long before the first Crown War, wandering the skies only when they had to, hiding on the ground like vermin and living terrible, dirty lives as nomads and scavengers.

The last redoubt of the avariels today is known as the Aerie of the Snow Eagles, a crystal citadel hidden atop one of the most remote peaks in the Icerim Mountains of distant Sossal. The exact location of the Aerie of the Snow Eagles is one of the avariels' most closely guarded secrets.

The aerie itself resembles a tremendous castle or tower of glass, built on a sheered-off mountaintop. A flight of avariel nomads discovered it abandoned ages ago. The avariels believe that the original mountaintop was taken by a Netherese archmage who wished to use it to build a floating city. The present-day aerie is a wonder to behold. The walls of the glass aerie are magically hardened to the strength of steel. Inside, the Aerie of the Snow Eagles supports a tropical climate, complete with jungles of plants and trees long extinct elsewhere in Faerun.

For two centuries, this last lair of the avariels has been led by Winged Father Aquilan Greatspan (CG male avariel Ftr4/Clr12/Dis5/Hie1). The avariels fly there still, fishing in the freezing waters of the Great Ice Sea and hunting the icy reaches of the Great Glacier.

Outlook:

Avariels came dangerously close to extinction long ago, and has taken them thousands of years to recover to the point where they don't have to worry about the fate of their race. Only recently have they begun to expand back into the world, sending explorers, diplomats, and merchants south into Faerun proper. Small, scattered bands of avariels still exist in the heartlands of Faerun, but these groups rarely number more than a dozen and usually avoid civilized areas.

Avariels are free spirits who would like nothing better than to simply soar on the currents high above the ground, taking in the views Faerun has to offer. They possess an irrepressible zest for life. Even in the darkest, most desperate situation, an avariel remains cheerful. Unfortunately, while friendly to those they consider their equals, avariels also tend to be condescending and even downright rude to land-bound races. The avariels are usually unaware of this; it's just their natural reaction to treat land-bound races as lesser creatures. Given time and enough exposure to other cultures, avariels can overcome their natural bias.

Avariel Characters:

Winged elves combine a tradition of vigilance and skill at arms with a joyous reverence for the sheer peaks and open skies of their homelands. Many become fighters, rangers, or clerics. Avariel civilization is old and established, so avariel barbarians are unheard of. Wings elves lean toward the divine rather than the arcane, but a small number take up the study of wizardry and generally excel at it. Common multiclass combinations include fighter/cleric, cleric/ranger, and cleric/wizard.

Favored Class: The favored class of the avariels is cleric. While many avariels are drawn to the study of combat and skill at arms, the hearts of the winged elves favor a more contemplative and philosophical existence. Even those who spend their lives studying the marital tath often set aside these pursuits in order to return to a holier calling.

Prestige Classes: Some avariels practice the art of the bladesong and use it to protect their communities. Like other kinds of elves, winged elves greatly respect the skill needed to become a bladesinger. Avariel wizards often aspire to become arcane devotees or loremasters, while avariels of all other classes are drawn to the divine champion and divine disciple prestige classes.

Avariel Society:

The avariels have a unique model for their societies, separating into two groups when they congregate in large numbers: a war-like society of fighters and soldiers, and a peaceful society of thinkers and religious scholars. These two subcultures, as diametrically opposed as their separate philosophies may be, work together to forge a powerful symbiotic relationship.

Warlike avariels have a complex code of honor that they use to guide and temper their militaristic activities and training. These avariels spend their lives defending their kin. Their lives are geared toward war and power, and they answer to their ward chiefs, who share responsibility for ruling the society with the religious leaders of the peaceful avariels. The martial avariels are proud and hearty, and they form eternal friendships with those who earn their respect and trust.

In combat, warlike avariel have little pity or remorse about cutting down their enemies. The concept of surrendering is highly dishonorable to these avariels, both for themselves and for their enemies. Once lethal combat begins, few avariels break off until they or their enemies are dead. Drawing blood from and enemy is nothing less than a promise to honor the enemy with one's skills in combat and not humiliate him by leaving him alive to dwell on an embarrassing defeat. The act of slaying an enemy is viewed simply as delivering on that promise.

Warlike avariels prefer to use ranged weapons, and they aren't above using wings to gain an advantage over land-bound enemies. This is supported by their code, which allows them to cut down an enemy from an unassailable distance in the skies above. Those who cannot defend themselves against an attack from the skies should know better than to mak an enemy of a clearly superior foe.

The peaceful avariels, unlike their warlike kin, focus mainly on arts and the intellectual aspect of life. When faced with conflict, a peaceful avariel relies on her brains and diplomatic abilities- and often on her magic power. Peaceful avariels are artists, philosophers, and researchers who spend their lives studying the world and its history and creating works of art simply for the sheer joy of creation. The peaceful avariels are also responsible for providing their society with food, entertainment, and education. Many peaceful avariels are also very religious and spend much of their time contemplating the ways of their deity, Aerdrie Faenya.

Despite their divergent personalities, these two subcultures interact surprisingly well. Young avariels typically spend time immersed in each subculture, learning from both warriors and priests. These exchanges, which often last for a decade or longer, allow avariels raised in one subculture to learn how the other subculture lives.

Language and Literacy:

All avariels can speak Elven and Common, and each learns an additional language based on his or her native region. Most winged elves are intelligent enough to pick up at least one additional language. This additional language is usually Auran, so the avariels can speak with allied creatures of the air such as the giant eagles they adore. Additional languages often learned by avariels include; Goblin, Orc, Sylvan, and the predominant human language(s) of their home region. Avariels also often learn the Draconic and Giant languages so that they can converse with their hated enemies if the need arises. All avariels are literate, except for avariel barbarians (assuming they exist).

Abilities and Racial Features:

Avariels have all the elven racial traits listed in the Player's Handbook, except as follows: (Note: One or more of these may be retconned due to 5e rule changes)

+4 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom. Avariels have hollow bones and, as a result, are more fragile than humans. At the same time, they are gifted with a keen intuition and intellect, and an almost otherworldly grace.

Keen Sight (Ex): Avarials gain a +4 racial bonus on all spot checks, this replaces the standard +2 racial bonus that most elves gain.

Avariels gain a +4 racial bonus on jump checks. They are strong for their weight.

Proficient with either rapier or longsword, profient with lasso and bolas. This replaces the standard elven weapon proficiency with longswords or rapiers and proficiency with short bow, longbow, composite longbow, and composite shortobws.

Flight (Ex): Avariels have a flying speed of 50 feet with average maneuverability, as long as they do not carry more than a medium load, are not wearing heavy armor, and are not fatigued or exhausted. Avariel wings have a span of 12 feet on average; they cannot fly in an area that does not allow them to fully extend their wings.

An avariel may make a dive attack. A dive attack works just like a charge, but the avariel must descend a minimum of 30 feet and attack with a piercing weapon; if she hits, she deals double damage. An avariel can use the run action while flying, provided she flies in a straight line. For more information on flight, see the Tactical Aerial Movement second in Chapter 3 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Home Region. Bonus languages: by region.

Favored Class: Cleric

Level Adjustment: +3. Avariels are more powerful and gain levels more slowly than most of the other common races of Faerun. see Table 1 in the Introduction.

Avariel Magic and Lore:

Although the warlike subculture of avariel society appreciates magic and respects its power, members of the peaceful subculture the the true masters of divine and arcane magic. The avariels, like most other elven races, have wholly and completely embraced the art of both divine and arcane magic. Unlike most other races though, the avariels have only recently (in elven terms) become re-established on Faerun. For most of their history, the avariels simply haven't had the luxury of experimenting and toying with magic; they were too focused on simply surviving. But with their discovery and colonization of the Aerie of the Snow Eagles they have, for the past 500 years, felt safe enough to begin researching magic once again.

Spells and Spellcasting:

Avariels favor conjuration and transmutation magic for their versatility, and the miniature jungle world within the Aerie of the Snow Eagles is the culmination of their most potent conjurings and transmutations. Avariels have also been focusing more on divination spells of late, as they seek out their lost - and well hidden - brethren.

Avariel Magic:

The avariels are commonly thought to be the originators of wings of flying. Ancient rumors hold that powerful and compassionate avariel spellcasters invented the first wings of flying as gifts to for land-bound friends so that they too could know the bliss and rapture of soaring the skies above Faerun. It stands to reason that winged boots may have also been introduced into the world by generous avariels as well.

Avariel Deities:

Like the aquatic elves, the avariels acknowledge the Seldarine as a whole and pay lip service to most of these elven deities, but they hold a special reverence for a single member of that pantheon - in their case Aerdrie Faenya, the elven goddess of the skies, weather, and avians of all sorts. Although they do not elevate their religious beliefs to the level of fanaticism, the avariels as a whole are deeply religious, and the thought of not venerating a deity is alien and unwholesome to most of them.

Avariels believe that it is due to Aerdrie Faenya's intervention that they are able to survive at all. Ages ago, Aerdrie Faenya gifted the avariels with their wings because she knew that they would face great trials and danger in the future and would need the advantage of flight if they were to have any hope of survival. Avariels also believe that she takes more of a direct hand in their lives than do the gods of the other elves. Avariels often attribute to Aerdrie Faenya's intervention events that most other races would view as simply fortunate coincidences.

Relations with other Races:

The avariels are on good terms with other sentient, good aligned avian races. They admire and respect giant eagles, a bond that survived the dark centuries of draconic persecution. The avariels are also fond of the aarakocras, but since the winged elves were driven from the Star Mounts, their interaction with these bird-men has dropped off significantly. They get along well with air genasi as well, although they are often frustrated with the genasis ambivalence and disinterest in good and evil.

Avariel relations with land-bound races are not nearly as productive. The avariels have traditionally viewed those who can't fly as objects of pity (at best) of derision (more commonly). Recently, the avariels have begun to realize the error of their ways - the landlocked faces, despite their lack of wings, can be powerful and helpful allies. Avariels from the Aerie of the Snow Eagles have recently sent diplomats to neighboring kingdoms (Narfell, Rashemen, Damara, and the Great Dale in particular) and have been doing their best to treat the ground races as equals.

The avariels are still hunted to this day by evil dragons, who view the winged elves and their magical aptitude as the greatest threat to their dominion over the skies of Faerun. Dragons have nowhere near the presence in the skies as they did in the ancient past, but their memories are long. In particular, the white dragons of Hoarfaern are particularly dedicated to the final destruction of the avariels and the Aerie of the Snow Eagles.

Avariel Equipment:

The avariels have taken the craft of glassblowing and elevated it to an art form. When most races turn to metal, wood, or stone to craft gear, the avariels have turn to the fragile and delicate medium of glass. In a way, their affinity for glass as a medium reflects their very nature, for the avariels themselves hare fragile and beautiful people.

While much avariel glass is delicate and decorative, the winged elves have also mastered glassteel (see the appendix), a form of glass as strong as metal. Many avariel outposts are made of glassteel, as are some armor, weapons, and tools.

Arms and Armor:

The avariels prefer to fight with ranged weapons and usually carry bows of some sort when they are away from the Aerie. The avariels sometimes prefer ranged weapons that incapacitate their victims. As a result, the winged elves train with lassos and bolas extensively. When forced into melee combat, avariels use swords almost exclusively, with a marked performance for longswords (for stronger avariels) or rapiers (for more dexterous avariels). Avariels prefer lighter armors that do not restrict their ability to fly, so mithril armor is especially valued.

Animals and Pets:

The avariels have long had a close bond with the giant eagles of Faerun, and they settle in the same areas. Giant eagles are intelligent creatures and are considered allies, not pets. Avariels are naturally fond of any non evil avian creatures, particularly birds; most avariels keep a few birds as companions or pets. Pet birds are never caged though, and can come and go as the please. Cages don't sit well with the avariels.

Avariels sometimes employ arrowhawks, griffons, and hippogriffs as guards for their aeries. They adore rocs and think of them as magnificent beast touched by Aerdrie Faenya. Rocs are admired from afar, however, as such massive creatures don't easily fit in avariel cities.

Avariel Region:

Small numbers of avariels live with their elven kin in various refuges across the northern portions of Faerun, but this region describes a character native to the Aerie of the Snow Eagles, north of Rashemen.

Preferred Classes: Cleric, fighter, ranger, wizard. A character of one of these classes may choose a regional feat and gain her choice of the bonus equipment below as a 1st level character. An avariel of any other class may not select one of the regional feats here and does not gain the bonus equipment at 1st level.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, and Auran. Bonus Languages: Damaran, Draconic, Giant, Rachemi, Sylvan, Tuigan. Regional Feats: Artist, Education, Mind over Body, Rapid Flight, Strong Soul. Bonus Equipment: (A) rapier* or longsword*, or (B) /wand of cure light wounds/ (1st level, 20 cgarges(m ir (C) scroll with 6 1st level and 1 2nd level cleric spells.

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Breach Zone by Cole, Myke (Appears on 6 Lists)

Defenders by McIntosh, Will (Appears on 6 Lists)

Full Fathom Five by Gladstone, Max (Appears on 6 Lists)

Mirror Empire, The by Hurley, Kameron (Appears on 6 Lists)

New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft, The by Lovecraft, H.P. & Klinger, Leslie S. (Appears on 6 Lists)

Traitor's Blade by De Castell, Sebastian (Appears on 6 Lists)

Darkling Sea, A by Cambias, James (Appears on 5 Lists)

Emperor's Blades, The by Staveley, Brian (Appears on 5 Lists)

Horrorstör by Hendrix, Grady (Appears on 5 Lists)

Steles of the Sky by Bear, Elizabeth (Appears on 5 Lists)

Three, The by Lotz, Sarah (Appears on 5 Lists)

Afterparty by Gregory, Daryl (Appears on 4 Lists)

Angel of Losses, The by Feldman, Stephanie (Appears on 4 Lists)

Book of Life, The by Harkness, Deborah (Appears on 4 Lists)

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California Bones by van Eekhout, Greg (Appears on 4 Lists)

Great Glass Sea, The by Weil, Josh (Appears on 4 Lists)

Maplecroft: the Borden Dispatches by Priest, Cherie (Appears on 4 Lists)

Quick, The by Owen, Laura (Appears on 4 Lists)

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[pandoramusicbox]

The Islands of a thousand bridges.  an area located between Skalipia and its eastern neighbor of Auyilkir. It is an artipeligo with well over a thousand islands some with residents but many that are much too small to allow anyone to live on them permentally. its a very vast region with a diverse  range of land scapes. though most of it is rather covered forest as the endless forest goes through it. the majority of the islands are very tall and difficult to land on from the sea, though some are much easier then others. these often have prosperous fishing villages usually of seafolk or of other people. There are several diffrent kinds of islands but more on that some other post. To ease travel along these islands, as they are rather treturous to sail due to intense fog, unpredictable wether and the frequent whirlpools of the region, people of the islands and of the continents began to construct bridges to make travel safer and easier.   at first these bridges where quite primitive, fallen trees, planks across a gorge in places where the islands are close enough to jump between. but as time and travel increase the bridges grew longer and sturdier  and much more permanent. built from rope, stone, wood or other materials. eventually the region came to be known for its bridges. these bridges allowed for easier travel between the two continents. though with the numerous bridges there are many paths to take to get between them. this region gets frequent rain though there are some rather barren islands. some more tropical others in the north have hardier trees. the region dose have nations but those nations usually only have claim over a few close by islands, most of the people off the beaten path live in small tribal villages. because of the amount of travel that occurs the population is very diverse. Mesturune and Fay and the trade languages of the region.  common species: -cliff harpies, jerks they eat a lot of fish. but are well known for harassing travelers. (found in the north) -grip, hevenkin reletives of harrpies, they do live in this region but tend to live more in the north of scalipia. -the green people, around four feet (121.92 cm) in hight. they have blue-green skin and dark hair and eyes, they are rather hefty in body type, they are considered the indidious people of the islands. are considered animakin because they have small tails, though it is often debated they belong in human kin. thought to possibly be relatives of jiants. they are somewhat amphibious and have suction-cup like fingers so they can clime slippery cliffs.  - flightless birds i’ve yet to name. -puffins, but also way to many seagulls, colorful seabirds and raptors. -spider monkeys and snow monkeys. -scilla, dog-faced long necked  six limbed sea creature that sleeps in sea cliffs. - Rim, small humanoids. -just an assortment of sea monsters - rainbow flap flaps, no actual name yet but they glide around and have colorful frills -ghouls, closer to Auyilkir, but have been making their homes on the islands for several centuries at least. -umbra, in the more southern regions of the islands umbra make thir nests. -Vescorians, bat like creatures, live in the caves of islands. because the region is so vast tempeture and climate varies greatly depending on how close you are to the continents, the forest or whether you are more north or south. (all photos are stock photos and are used only to help in visualization, if a photo is not a stock photo it was not known to me) 

[tropical-starlight]

showing some cool stuff off from my collections that just feel really otherkin to me

this little sea turtle snow globe i got in monterey, i really like this its so pretty <3

my pride and joy, a crab leg. i might make this into a necklace but also i really dont wanna damage it

various cool rocks! these are some of my favs. its hard to tell because of my lights but they are aqua aura quartz, a opalite moon, and a rose quartz moon!

shark tooth! idk what species it belongs to

sea urchin shell! the reason you might find these shells is because starfish like to eat them and they leave the shells behind lol (side note, i totally think sea urchin shells would go so hard as arm cuffs)

and this goober!! they are a melon soda sea slug

thats it bye ✌️

[belerencodex]

The Elemental Planes

Cetea: Plane of Water

High in the night sky, visible only from late fall to early spring, is the plane of Cetea. It glints with it’s pale blue light, viewed with a powerful telescope it’s surface seems barren and cold, hiding the true nature of the plane. For below the thick crust of ice that covers the surface of  the plane lies a vast ocean teeming with life. Whereas Arrush is a slightly smaller facsimile of Beleren in it’s surface, Cetea, the most distant of the elemental planes is it’s opposite, the plane is immense, dwarfing Beleren in size, almost three times larger. The solar portal does not hang over the plane’s surface, instead it is found at the very heart of the plane. Six immense pylons of coral, stone, and ice stretch from the crust down into the liquid depths, holding the portal in place at it’s center. Cetea is the least explored of the four elemental planes, it’s vast depths are so large as to be effectively endless. Many who have reached Cetea have simply been lost to it, eternally carrying on through the endless seas of the plane of water. One curious feature of the plane that often catches visitors by surprise, things don’t sink towards the center, they sink outward, the gravity of Cetea is subjective, switching directions somewhere around the middle of the ice crust.

The Ringreef & the Marid Courts

The energy of the solar portal warms the waters around it, so much so that it boils perpetually around the core, but starting around 3,500 miles out from the center and stretching out over the next thousand miles of depth, the pillars that hold the plane together have developed an intricate webbed network of corals. Rooting off the columns as the one solid foundation in the depths, the corals have stretched out into a chaotic lattice that eats up much of the sunlight. The tropically warm waters teem with a multitude of fishes, both natives of Beleren long-since transplanted, and strange creatures born to the plane itself. This is the paradisiacal region of Cetea, the Ringreef, and where one finds paradise one finds struggles over who owns it. Many races claim dominion over the Ringreef and they are far from united races. Marid eternally war between themselves over petty feuds, carving out their petty demesnes within the Ringreef, building extravagant bubble-domed palaces to house their air breathing servants and pets and lounge in. It is a common habit of the Marid to claim dominion over waters of Beleren, notably currents like the powerful Daijur Westerly that carries ships around the Skyfang Cape, bodies of water like the Gulf of Toz between Rijan and Kulvin, and oases dotted across the valley of Ib. These titles are largely ceremonial, between the influence of fey creatures like Nereids, the claims of Storm Giants, and Dragons, it has been difficult for many millennia for these Marid nobles to press their claims. That being said they do hold some kind of truth though the exact understanding of this power is poorly understood by most. It seems that the waters of Cetea are in some way a reflection of the water on Beleren, this energy manifested most strongly in the existence of the Marid. Those of the proud race of genies who have discovered their roots in Beleren have been able to manipulate forces on Beleren from beyond the plane within their domain. Many Marid attuned to this ability have set themselves up as minor gods, exacting tribute from denizens of Beleren traversing their waters. It seems though that death from either side can affect the other, since the rains stopped falling over Ib and the oases run dry, Marid who once wielded great power from their mastery have grown withered, broken of spirit and mind, or simply vanished as the last drops of water burn away in the desert sun of Ib. It is seen too in the decay of waterways, when a powerful Marid noble is slain, the waters they once presided over can become corrupted, where once they bloomed with life and fed the world around them they become poison.

Ot-Garata,  the Triton Republic

Marids are not uncontested in their dominion over the Ringreef, many lesser races live in hidden tribes and villages scattered through the reefs but one race stands proud and defiant of the will of the Marid. Ot-Garata, home of the Triton. These marine humanoids are natives of the plane with a long history of conflict and strife, Marid have long sought to conquer their smaller, weaker neighbors, and the deep dweller races of Krakens, Sahuagins, and Aboleth have alternately sough subjugation or annihilation of the the Triton, through all this darkness the Triton have never lost their heart. These proud people live in harmony with the denizens of the reefs they call home. Through magic and craftsmanship they work their homes into the landscape so as to appear as a part of nature. Tritons congregate into small cities called Polisi where they live in close knit communes, it’s not uncommon for a single Triton to know every other member of their Polis. Scattered out over hundreds of miles in all directions these Polisi are joined together by a republican system. Located in the dead center of the network of reef communities is the sparkling city of Uluttu, carved from a single immense pearl. At the center of the city is the House of the Republic where one member from each Polis gathers, chosen by their fellow citizens for their virtues and high regard. Their system has achieved a perfect utopia, every member of Triton society is fulfilled and happy, feeling that their needs and interests are represented by their government. Suriyan visited Uluttu and was held in high regard by the Triton, he encouraged the Water Clan of Rijan to follow their example and they have emulated their distant extraplanar cousins through a religious system based on valuing honor, public service, and civic responsibility, administered through a hierarchy of Suriyan priests and wise-folk. It is common for these priests to summon Triton statespeople of high repute for wise counsel. 

The Nalu Wanderers

Beyond the Ringreef lies open ocean an expanse known to locals as Otatoa, light filters through in beams and cascades through holes in the reef’s lattice. The deep stretches down on seemingly endlessly, it’s 8,000 miles down to the bottom, to the layers of sediment, sand, and bones that blanked the bottom. Many creatures live in this open sea, most of them very unfriendly. But there is a glint of kindness in the depths. The Nalu Wanderers are a race of aquatic elves, long lost on the Material Plane, in the chaos of the Astral Wars their homelands in Beleren were destroyed and they were sent into exile, through alliances with the Triton and friendships among the Marid they were able to cross over to Cetea and find a new home on the plane of water. It wasn’t long though until they began to wear out their welcome, the Marid felt they were eternally owed by the Nalu, that they should and would always be second class citizens of the plane of water, no more than tolerated outsiders. The Triton too chafed against their neighbors for the Nalu lacked the steadfast morality of the Triton and as time wore on they were betrayed again and again by Nalu seduced to evil by Aboleth and Kraken. Finally there came the Tempest War which ended with the massive expulsion of the Nalu, out into the open seas of Otatoa. But they found a new way of life in the deep, they tamed whale sharks to carry things and passengers in their mouths, shepherded schools of tuna and sardines, and riding sharks and seahorses. They now live in constant movement through the open waters. With time the hostility between the Triton and the Nalu has subsided and they now trade for those things the Nalu cannot create themselves. The evil races of the deep have long battled against the Nalu, seeking control of the brighter waters higher up, some among the elves have even turned against their kin saying that by allying with the deep races against the Marid and Triton they can retake the Ringreef. These deep dwelling Nalu are known to as the Azluc. The Azluc themselves are also riven with internal conflict, each individual Azluc tribe served a different master and to stir the pot more some of the tribes actually do resist the pull of the outsiders, instead forming necromancer tribes resurrecting the bones of dead leviathans to serve them in battle.

The Depths of Antu & Tolostari

No light reaches the bottom of Otatoa, the inky depths are home to all manner of strange and cruel monsters and the water is frigidly cold, brackish as small amounts of ice melts and mixes with the saltwater above. Meanwhile in places clouds of marine snow cascade over the bottom, throwing cakes of pale sediment over the bones of long dead behemoths. Legends say once the plane had huge defenders, leviathans of immense proportions who battled against invaders from the outer planes. Their carapaces and bones still litter the depths. What were they battling though? Two long rifts gape open along the seafloor, these are not cracks in the ice, the ice is over a thousand feet deep and very solid.  These rifts were pulled open through acts of dark magic, the chaotic outer planes of Sheel and Govoth have their own aquatic realms and long ago dark agents of those realms were able to infiltrate the minds of powerful creatures of Cetea and corrupt them, get them to invite in these creatures of evil. On one side of the plane lies the Depth of Antu, this sucking tear in the bottom of the plane opens up into the open seas of Sheel, the chaos plane, creating a massive vortex on the eastern side of Otatoa, a maelstrom called Astivitaix (asta-vit-eye-ix). By chance this has created a curious new ecosystem, the vortex creates a pocket of air in the depths 2,000 miles from end to end and 800 miles wide, raging winds and wild waves tear through through this aquatic cyclone. At intervals without any clear pattern there will be a sudden reversal of the pull and a massive jet of water will rip outward from the portal, creating wild fast moving currents that create storms across the plane and releasing aberrant monstrosities of the chaos realm into the waters of Cetea. Across the world in the western ranges of Otatoa another rift opens into the endless reaches of Govoth. This rift, known to locals as Tolostari has a curious biological effect on the plane, the deepest parts of the portal rage with intense heat, sending blasts of superheated water erupting back up into the deep dark waters at the bottom of the sea and creating an ecological hotspot with mollusks and other creatures living off the warm waters of the edge. It was this warmth that first drew in the Sahuagin, once a peaceful race turned violent and evil by the corruption of the creatures of Govoth. When the first Aboleth and Kraken emerged through the portal the Sahuagin were lost, driven mad and enslaved by the elder beings. Many heroes of the Triton and Marid have sought to close these portals and none have succeeded. Now few dare venture into the darkness of the depths for fear of the legions of hellspawn and aberrations that dwell there, feasting on the rot and decayed corpses that sink to the bottom, waiting for their chance to seize control of the warm, bright waters of the Ringreef.

Keretovos Land of the Icerime

Above the ice, in the barrens of frost and snow that envelop the plane and protect it from the Astral Plane, few things live. Remorhazes skitter across the glaciers hunting the yeti who dwell in the ice caves littering the cliffs and spires, subsisting on ice mephits and the other strange creatures of the surface. The light that shines down on the surface of the plane is cold and pale, offering no warmth, only bright light that dazzles as it ripples off the surface of the snow and ice. It also never changes it’s position in the sky, the false sun of Vasha-Ti-At-Yen shines only over the westerly point of the plane, turning with the plane itself in its daily rotation. As one ventures further across the surface they enter a realm of perpetual night, where light has never touched. Nothing lives there, it is an empty land of darkened snow. Vasha-Ti-At-Yen though has constructed her own realm on the plane’s surface, a tall spire of ice rises almost all the way to the bright ball of light she constructed and she presides over her realm of frost with joy. In times gone by she was worshipped on Beleren as a god of ice and snow, now her prestige has faded but still on her plane she commands great respect as the uncontested ruler of Keretovos, the surface realm of Cetea. Her realm cannot support true life so she replaces it with facsimile of her own design, stretching out around her spire are forests of ice, beings of frost constructed in the forms of familiar creatures of Beleren. The trees are strange in appearance, one might be tricked at first glance into thinking they were some kind of white pine, but below the shaggy branches the trunk is translucent blue and looked at closely, the needs on the trees are spread out in the pattern of snowflakes. Vasha still observes the material plane, claiming dominion as Queen of Winter. Each year on Beleren she dispatches her ice mephits and wargs to spread frost across the far northerly and southerly climes of Beleren. In parts still they construct effigies of her in wintertime of snow or ice to ward off her wrath and invite a calmer, gentler winter. It is said that she can see through every flake of snow in a flurry, through the prism of ice in an icicle., that she can touch anywhere her cold reaches, indeed she has been known to send her agents to kidnap people on the material plane who catch her interest, keeping them as eternal subjects in her tower of ice, she has been known to forget the need for warmth that most creatures of the plane have. Legends tell of times throughout the history of the world when she sought to extend the reach of her frost all  across the plane, enveloping the whole planet in ice. It has been many millennia since the last Ice Age but should the fancy still strike her who knows if she could be stopped.

[tropical-starlight]

A couple of ideas for alterhumans to help connect to your kintypes!

(pt: a couple of ideas for alterhumans to help connect to your kintypes! end pt) long post ahead :p these dont have any specific kintype in mind, so this applies to pretty much anybody! 1. Research more about your kintype! learning cool stuff is actually pretty fun, the more you learn about your kintype (whether that be from a book, a informational video, or a website) the more you'll learn about yourself and therefore you can connect to your kintype better 2. Eat some food that reminds you of your kintype! we all gotta eat in order to live, so you might as well eat something you enjoy and your kintype enjoys! you could eat some foods your kintype eats (ex: sushi if your kintype is piscivorous) or you could eat some foods that remind you of your kintype's habitat. make sure what your eating is safe and also be safe if you have any allergies and/or dietary restrictions! 3. Decorate your room/den to remind you of your kintype's habitat! there's many ways you can do this! if you have colored light strips you can change it to a color of your habitat, you can collect items that you associate with your kintype (this is also great if your dragonkin or another kintype that enjoys hoarding things!) you can get candles or air freshener that smells like a habitat to use in your room, and you can even print out some pictures that remind you of your kintype to put on your wall! theres many more too 4. play! many species of animals learn about how to survive by playing, so this can be good to connect with your kintype can be fun and euphoric! you can run around if your caninekin, headbutt stuff if your goatkin (please be really careful and dont headbutt any hard items i dont want anybody to get a concussion D:), playfight with your fellow kin friends if your...well...a lot of animals really, or pounce on stuff if your felinekin! but play dosent have to be physical all the time! you can also play video games with your kintype, rp online as your kintype, or if your a fan on DnD you can play dnd as a race that is or is similar to your kintype! 5. dress like your kintype! -im pretty sure you all know gear is quite popular in the alterhuman community, but along with that you can tailor your clothing style (pun intended) to match your kintype's appearence! i like to dress with bright colors and ocean themed accescories to match my tropical sea monster kintype. another example is that lets say if your polarbearkin you can dress in fluffy and warm clothing with white and blue colors. but also take the tempature into mind, i dont think you'd wanna dress like a polar bear when its 120 degrees out lol other things you can do: -make a pinterest board and put images that remind you of your kintype! (heres mine if you want a example) -draw your kintype, or make a kinsona/fursona to represent yourself -listen to some music! believe it or not spotify has a official otherkin mix that you can listen to, its pretty good! -watch shows or documentaries about your kintype -go to a zoo with your kintype -go to a place your kintype would live if you can (ex: the beach if your orcakin, or the mountains if your snowleopardkin) and yea! i hope this helps some folks out! theres many more ways to connect with your kintype including many posts that are focused on a particular species, so i'd recomend doing some research here! :D

stay safe, drink some water, take ur meds if you got any, and be yourself always! :3

[tropical-starlight]

Sea monster kin/therian flags

Tropical sea monster kin/therian flags

Deep-sea monster kin/therian flags no image ids yet, but they would be appreciated! also heres the link to the sea monster i used for some of the flags because im not in the mood to get sued: Sea monster icons created by Flat Icons - Flaticon