#unbound creations

[linuxgamenews]

Unleash Your Inner Crow in Just Crow Things: A Playful Sandbox Adventure Game

Just Crow Things sandbox-y adventure game is coming to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Credit goes to the creative and spirited team at Unbound Creations for this delightful experience. Due to be available on Steam. If you're keen to dive into a world where mischief meets charm, Just Crow Things could be your next great adventure. While playing as a crafty little crow, out to make a name for yourself in a series of playful, sandbox-style settings. Your mission? To stitch together a reputation (or "Crowputation") that echoes through the lands—from the quaint streets. Doing so from the French Riviera to the bustling corners of New York, and all on Linux. This experience offers ten uniquely crafted levels where freedom and discovery are the name of the day. Each setting is a mini-playground loaded with puzzles, hidden items, and opportunities to cause a delightful ruckus. Why do all this? Well, because it's fun—just "caws"! Customization is a big part of your Just Crow Things journey. You can deck out your crow in adorable accessories like hats and scarves. This isn't just about looks; it's about flying through these levels with your personal flair. As you explore, you'll find various foods that not only satisfy your crow's hunger but also unlock new "poop modes." Due to be a cheeky mechanic that adds a layer of humor to your interactions.

Just Crow Things - Gameplay Reveal Trailer

The real joy comes from the toolkit you build along the way. Picking up a graffiti spray can let you leave your mark on the city walls. Or while using a leaf blower to disrupt a quiet day in the park. Even handling a blow torch—a great way to 'warm up' the night (and yes, that's as mischievous as it sounds). "Make new animal friends and help them out" isn't just a line; it's a core part of your Just Crow Things adventure. Each friend you make and each task you complete also adds to your Crowputation. From helping a frantic Squirrel Mom find her lost kids to racing against the Ferret. Since these interactions enrich your experience and deepen the game's world. And it doesn't stop at the main objectives. Optional side quests are peppered throughout to challenge your skills and intellect. So keep an eye out for all the crow puns scattered around—these add entries to your "Puncyclopedia." A fun collection that brings an extra layer of engagement. Just Crow Things sandbox-y adventure lets you live out a lighthearted fantasy of chaos and charm. It's an invitation to spread your wings, explore vibrant worlds, and embrace the joy of being the best crow around. Whether you're in it for the puzzles, the customization, or the sheer fun of creating a bit of adorable chaos, there's something here for everyone. Be sure to Wishlist the game on Steam. Due to make its way onto Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

[was-it-really-worth-it]

Game 275 - Headliner: NoviNews by Unbound Creations

I picked up this game through the itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality. I chose to donate 10 dollars, and I found about 153 games in the bundle that I was actually interested in. So, the consideration for this game will be if it was worth the 7 cents (rounded up) that I paid for it and the hours that I played it for. The bundle has since ended, but I still encourage you to make a donation to the organizations listed here.

What did I think it was at first? A visual novel about being a journalist? News machine?

How was the character creator? You can choose from a few models for your character as well as set your name, pronoun, and defy instructions by filling in the section that you're not supposed to fill in.

How was the game? It definitely fits in the same wheelhouse as Democratic Socialism Simulator, Papers, Please, and Death & Taxes.

The game takes place in a cyberpunk future where everyone has genetic modifications. It's kind of a REPO setup minus the debt. You are a Headliner, the person responsible for approving the news. You pick what gets published and what stories are buried. I think you're meant to work at a government news outlet, but that wasn't super clear until the second half? Your goal is to develop a consistent position and voice for the news, and then you walk home to feed your dog, feed your drone, talk to your friends, and see the consequences of your actions. I got my brother disappeared, my friend's kid killed, and my love interest diseased, but the truth came out!

Most of the gampelay involves choosing between stories that you want to publish. You can also read memos and recieve notes approving or disapproving your selections.

The game is bizarrely prescient about how humans will react to a plague for something made in 2018. The art feels polished and builds an atmosphere that feels reactive to the choices the player makes.

What did I not love? When selecting between a pair of stories, you have to remember which button approves which side - I messed this up a couple of times and had to alt-F4 and try again. There's no prompt or explainer for it, but there is one for how to leave work - this could have been a good addition.

I think the overall message about how the media shapes public opinion here is a good one, but it did feel a bit divorced from real-world conversations on this topic. If I were a real-life Headliner, I'd want to review research and statistics before deciding what pieces to post, especially on the scientific topics like alcohol and psych meds. However, this does not exist in the world of NoviNews. It feels like you're just posting your opinions willy-nilly. Fine for social media! Not fine for government news outlet! My boss said as much, too, but what was the alternative? Even the conspiracy people don't bring reciepts for what they want you to publish.

At 3 hours and 7 cents, was it really worth it? I think so! I really liked it once I understood what it was.

I will say, the game really really wants you to play it repeatedly but that's just not my thing.

[brightgoat]

Pretorius's Tomb (comic page practice)

[gay-artificer]

Man i do like Downpour but it really is no Rainworld. This isn't "downpour is bad" post just a... passive thought on how Rain world really is a kinda lightning-in-a-bottle type game with the way it feels. I don't think you can intentionally capture that. Like its got something to it that can only exist as a something that emerges naturally rather than through emulation

[duncneydivorce]

If i were to ever adapt Quicksilver: No Surrender the ‘indefinite motion which separates himself from reality that’s metaphysically represented by a still grey landscape’ would just be the Backrooms.

[rachelkaser]

2022 Games in Review: My favorite customizable avatars (of me)

Several games of 2022 had character creators. I made myself in each one. How different do they all look?

With many games I’ve played in the past, I would make an effort to create a unique character, someone with a name, story, and appearance all their own. However, in 2022, I made most of them into variations of myself, in appearance and name. I tried not to cheat, but to get as close to my real appearance as possible -- I even included glasses were I could, as I wear those quite often.

I could tell you that it was part of some experiment or longterm project . . . honestly, I just got lazy. Every time I entered character creation, I just made a version of myself (with one exception) because it was easier. That means that, by the time I was done playing my games of 2022, I had several versions of me off on adventures. Now I want to compare and contrast how they look.

“Why?” I hear you ask. Because it’s interesting to see the differences in style across the different genres of games? Because it’s instructive to stretch the limits of what these games are capable of to best represent our true selves? Why not?

These are in no particular order, except the one at the very bottom, which is basically an honorable mention.

Disney Dreamlight Valley: My time as a Disney kid/adult

Disney Dreamlight Valley was surprisingly good as these games go. I thought it was just going to be a cheap cash-grab title banking on Disney’s good-but-increasingly-overused name. But no, it’s actually a somewhat charming life sim where you, the player character are the Only One Who Can Save the World. I can totally see its appeal for kids and the kid-adjacent adults who need a serotonin fix (ahem).

For that reason, I was surprised that the player avatar is not more cartoonish, for lack of a better way of putting it. I thought it would be an animesque, bug-eyed kid character (though my eyes are on the big side). But no, they’re at best a young adult who’s very into Disney fashion. Honestly, this version of me looks like the one who beat feet all over Disney World with my family between the ages of 15-25. According to my husband, it looks a lot like me -- I just think it’s a younger, thinner version of me.

Pokémon Legends Arceus: My first monster hunt

See the above? This is what I was expecting with Dreamlight Valley. But perhaps it is better suited to Pokémon. What I enjoyed about Arceus in particular is that -- unlike certain other Pokémon titles (see below) -- the character is not a fresh-faced youth who just wants to catch ‘em all. No, in Arceus, they’re a hardened hunter in a world where everyone seems to think Pokémon are dangerous.

But even so, the version of me in Arceus still looks so adorable. They’re like a tiny terrier: Adorable, but a deadly serious hunter. Admittedly, I can’t pull off the scarf-kerchief combo in real life as elegantly as my in-game avatar did. But considering I have no real influence over the character’s features, this one still looks like a decent representation of my inner child.

Coral Island: Living my crunchiest life

Full disclosure: I messed the eyes up in this one, because mine are not almond-shaped. So we’re just going to ignore that and look at the rest of me here (because I’m actually not sure if it’s possible to adjust your facial features post-creation in-game at this point in early access). Admittedly, out of all of them this one probably best captures my general dorkiness, especially with the glasses.

What amuses me about this is that this avatar looks how I would probably look if I did hard labor on a farm. She’s definitely the most willowy version of me that’s still supposed to be an adult . . . and yet her head is still as wide as her hips. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got an enormous noggin in the real life, but I’ve got the hips to balance it out and then some.

Harvestella: Not sure why I even bothered

From one cozy life sim we move on to another -- or at least I thought Harvestella was a cozy life sim. Turns out it’s a Bravely Default game wearing a cozy-life-sim hat. If I’d known that when I started, I wouldn’t have bothered to even try and make myself in the game, because the customization is undercooked. It’s not the worst character creator this year, but it’s a good example of how shallow they can be. Why even have one at all?

Still, I managed to get her to look superficially like me. She’s still not as thin as the Coral Island avatar, if only because she’s got some thighs on her (as do I IRL). Actually, this version of me is kind of the inverse of Coral Island, in that she’s got a tiny head and shoulders on an absolutely stacked pair of legs and hips. Neither one bears a strong similarity to reality, but it’s still fun to see a version of me that aligns with the art style of both worlds.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns: My most optimistic cheekbones

To be fair to Midnight Suns, Hunter already comes with a defined name (sorta), backstory, and personality. So making them look like me was actually going against my natural inclination as a player. But by the time the game launched in December, I was committed to the bit, so I went for it. It was kind of fun to see my in-game self dillydally with the Marvel heroes, if a bit disconcerting.

Funnily enough, this version comes the closest to getting my lips and nose right -- in that they look like actual parts of a human face. But goddamn me to hell and back, I do not have cheekbones that nice. I might attribute those good looks to Hunter’s demoness mother, but I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be human and I’ve never cut glass with my cheeks.

Need for Speed Unbound: My failed attempt to look cool

Need for Speed Unbound was another game that had, at best, a token character creator. Since your in-game avatar basically spends the majority of their time in a car, their appearance really doesn’t matter because it’ll never be as fancy or familiar as that of your favorite ride. But I tried anyway, because I felt like I could at least look like the streetwise badass I shall never be in real life.

Not to repeat myself, but at least the features on this face look somewhat like mine. Those are definitely my eyebrows. I won’t deceive you, though: I don’t look anywhere near this cool. I don’t have piercings in my ears, let alone other appendages. And I look forward to the day I can dye my hair that shade of purple, so I guess this is me living my ombre dreams through the game.

Saints Row (2022): I’ve got everything but the tats

I might not have believed it, but the one game I played this year with a halfway-detailed character creator was Saints Fucking Row. And yes, before you ask, the game’s quality really is this bad. Also, for some reason the game wouldn’t let me soften the shade of blush I used, so I look literally clownish and not metaphorically here. I’d also never where Santo Ileso fashion personally.

But I’ll say this for Saints Row, it’s the only game this year were I could accurately represent my own thickness. I’m a chunky lady, no denying it, and this is closest I came all year to looking like myself, round of face, thigh, and chest. I don’t have those clean, Southwestern-style tats, but that’s more aspirational than reflective of reality.

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet: My back-to-school look

My hair isn’t actually purple, but I felt that, in the spirit of playing the Violet edition of the game, I should go full color here. Who knows -- maybe my hair will look like that someday! As for the rest of me, well . . . if the Arceus version of me is a seasoned (but adorable badass), this one looks like the most boring student in the entire school. She’s just here to catch ‘em all.

Still, this game’s photo mode is probably out of any I played this year. Posing with various pocket monsters was adorable, and completely in-character for a young student discovering the world. This version of me is not bad at all -- it just suffers by being not as interesting as the rest of my avatars this year.

Horse Tales Emerald Valley Ranch: What even am I?

I don’t know what to say about this one. I’m already on record as labeling this game my least-favorite of 2022. This wasn’t because of the obviously piss-poor graphical quality. Not at all -- there’s nothing wrong with a bit of a graphical lowgrade, especially in a horse game where the intent is depict the rider as an extension of the horse.

No, I hated it because this is not a depiction of a horseperson. These are acceptable street clothes, but I’m not wearing headphones and loafers to ride over mountainous country and beaches. Also, leaving all that aside, why can I not change the colors of my eyebrows and lashes, which are stuck on “auburn?” I do think it’s ironic that they ask you to select a masculine or feminine character while the default hoodie is in the colors of the non-binary pride flag. 

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: My average D&D character

Now presenting my Tiny Tina character, a.k.a. the one time I resisted the urge to just make myself in a game. She still looks close-ish: She has my hair and eye color, but she doesn’t share my name or pretty much anything else about me. But honestly? This was as close as I was reasonably going to get within the context of the game. Because I play Dungeons and Dragons (or Bunkers and Badasses, I suppose) IRL, and I balk at the notion of making someone who looks like me.

Most D&D characters I’ve made have are a far cry from myself and my lived experience. Even when I incorporate elements of myself or my appearance, it’s usually by accident or with a particular goal in mind. I can’t make a version of me 1-to-1 and engage with the game’s premise in good faith. So here you have it: My unbelievably ugly Wonderlands character.

And that’s it! All the versions of me I made this year! No, I’m not going to give an actual pic of myself for comparison -- this isn’t really about realism, but more about how best I feel I’m represented in the worlds of these games. But if anyone has any other in-game avatars they think look better, or if you just want to show me your creations, feel free to tag me below or on Twitter!

[gamertagmrrobotony]

-NFS Unbound

[discommunicator]

Ythosham, the first Grave Witch (and her current appearance)

She was once a fearsome villain, was killed by her own minion, some time has passed, then has returned via a living plush doll that was a memento made by her only real friend, the Puppet Witch.

She no longer possesses the power of her former self since her creation Samomile has usurped all of it. At least she's unbound from the morbid compulsion which made her dominate others, and now she is interested in how the world has been going without her presence and how it is going to be.

Ironically, the Puppet Witch believes that this living doll is only imitating Ythosham because it is modeled after Ythosham. Regardless, Ythosham seems just happy to be with her best friend once again, gladly working as an unofficial mascot of the music shop the Puppet Witch runs

[ascendingaeons]

Hymn to Sekhmet

by Joey Rivers (ascendingaeons)

O Sekhmet, Great Eye of Ra, the First and the Last Healer and Destroyer, Mother and Daughter You Who accepted the Command of Ra, Your Father To cleanse the Two Lands of Isfet But Your nature was too mighty, Great of Strength as You Are Wanton and unrestrained, You ravaged Earth as a purifying flame And as Ra looked on and saw His Eye, He was stricken with pause By the Will of the Sun, Your Rage was quieted by a crimson brew And into transformative slumber You fell, Great Goddess And from Your great Rage, Het-Heru rose A new Eye was christened, of eros sublime And you, Great Mother, knew the sadness of regret

You, Great Goddess, know the measure of rage unbound And so You Stand, Great Mother of War, in defense and duty Of the Principles and Consequences of Ma’at Your Children are many, Great Lady of Life Diverse in their multitudes, empowered by their tribulation

Yours is the soldier, Your Mighty Sekhem made flesh and bone Entrenched in a maelstrom of fire and blood Returning home to a nation that does not understand him

Yours is the survivor, a living branch of Your burning Will triumphant Endeavoring to rise above the quagmire of loss and agony Through You their struggle is transmuted into the golden light of ka ascendant

Yours is the mother, she who knows sacrifice and sleepless nights A font unyielding of love and pride, of smiles and laughter perfected They who bear the weight of the world so a child can know childhood

Yours is the healer, an alchemist of the ontological persuasion He who is humbled by the frailty beholden to human experience He who ushers Your Sekhem through the riptide of transformative loss

Yours is the artist, through whose passions course Your Divine Fire Who walks the scales of inspiration and madness, knowing Creation unfiltered An alchemist versed in the milieus of perception

For You, Great Goddess, are the very Force of Change You are that which makes men tremble so Such an unnecessary fear, of wisdom and experience untouched Were I You, I would feel such sadness But how You smile, Great One! How You laugh! How You fight! You are not “she who cowers before Apep!” NO! You are the Great Lioness Who rends Chaos asunder! You fight and rage and bite and tear Passion and emotion alive and unrestrained!

You are Love, Great Goddess You are Fear, Great Goddess You are Devotion, Great Goddess You are Loss, Great Goddess You are Health, Great Goddess You are Sickness, Great Goddess This is why I call You the Mother of Life Your Ka is the very essence of experience! Your Sekhem is the very wind of change!

When I first called upon You, timid and unsure, I beheld Your Gaze, a window of fire open before my face And as quickly as You Saw me, You left And again when I called to You with offering of water and bread Exhausted by grief and devotion, tirelessly sung from a caregiver’s heart You came to me and my eyes were opened to You! As I lay without sleep, You stood at my bedside Stroking my back with strong hands of fire Whispering strength and courage into my ear As a sentinel You walked with me, a Mother Lioness guarding Her cub Such loyalty and tenderness You showed And my eyes were forever opened to Your nature

You are the very Force of Creation, the Monad of Being From which stems those primordial principalities Love and Fear, Physis and Logos, Known and Unknown Order and Disorder, Life and Death, Dynamism and Stasis

I offer henu to You, Great Goddess of Creation The endless potentiality and movement of the living cosmos The Fires Divine that Become living sinews and living earth

I offer henu to Your Husband Ptah, the Cosmic Smith Patron of artisans, of those who tirelessly toil In the pursuit of Bringing Into Being but a shard of the Sacred Unmanifest

I offer henu to Your Son, the Beautiful Nefertem The Ageless Lotus that rose from the Benben Stone The First Splendid Light to Shine in the churning Waters of Nun

It was You Who held my right hand as I accepted the mark of a healer And embraced me as a Mother would Her graduating son I offer You my pain, Great Goddess So that You may transmute it into Strength I offer You my fear, Great Goddess So that You may transmute it into Courage I offer You my uncertainty, Great Goddess So that You may transmute it into Wisdom

Into Your Belly I give of myself to unleash my greatest potential To burst from Your Bosom, shining and emboldened For there is nothing that is beyond Your Reach, Great Mother It is for me, now, to See that nothing is beyond my own

Dua Sekhmet! Dua Sekhmet! Dua Sekhmet!

[monstersdownthepath]

Homebrew Horror: The Unnamed

The world hosts all manner of boogeymen and ghost stories, many of which are based on very real entities that prank or prey upon mankind when the sun sets and the lights go out, but few enjoy the obscurity and success of the Thing with No Name. There is perhaps a handful of people in all the world who can claim to have witnessed the nameless horror hunt its prey, and fewer still who are telling the truth about it, as to speak of it to another is to invite it into your life.

The scant scratches of concrete information that can be pieced together all paint a similar picture: It is predator that has haunted thinking beings as far back in history as anyone can look, its methods of hunting and its means of killing leaving precious little evidence behind. What it truly is, where it came from, and why it hunts the way it does are all mysteries which cannot be solved. Rare and esoteric writings which tell of it list numerous titles, all unhelpful; The Thing with No Name, the Stain on the Page (or simply "the Stain"), the Nameless Legend, and simply the Unnamed. It is written that such ambiguous titles are to protect the reader, not the creature, for attempting to affix any more descriptive title to it is the surest way to invite its horrific attention.

The Unnamed is one of several self-keeping secrets in creation, hunting down and annihilating any creature which knows too many details or who becomes too curious of it, for reasons which may never be truly known. For those it hunts, it seems like a nightmare made terribly real in a way few other creatures can match; an unstoppable, inescapable force which will use seemingly any trick to disorient, mislead, and ultimately capture its victim.

Anyone targeted by the Stain can always feel when it's near, and rarely do they ever manage to find help before they're simply never seen again. Witnesses to the scenes rarely speak, and never coherently, never to say what they saw, lest it target them next. Even in scenes where a tremendous struggle obviously took place, investigators struggle to turn up so much as a single drop of blood or scrap of hair of the victim... but sometimes they find something else. A misshapen footprint, a handprint caused by something deeply inhuman, or some strange fluid almost but not quite like blood that causes the mind to reel with a single touch.

Not enough to solve a mystery, just enough to make one curious. Just enough to make one try and wipe away a stain of ink on some dusty old report tucked away in the back of an archive to see what could have been written underneath.

The Unnamed CR 13 Chaotic Evil Medium Aberration (Shapechanger) Init: +8 Senses: Darkvision 60ft, low-light vision, thoughtsense 60ft, blindsight 20ft; Perception +23 Aura: Unwind (30ft, DC 24) ------ Defense ------ AC 29, touch 14, flat-footed 25 (+4 Dex, +15 natural) HP 193 (15d8+105), Regeneration 5 (Cold) Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +14 Defensive Abilities: Amorphous, Unbound, Undone; DR 10/Cold Iron and Lawful; Immune: Charms and compulsions, death effects, poison; Resist: Acid 15, Electricity 15, Fire 15; SR 17 ------ Offense ------ Speed: 50ft, climb 30ft Melee: Bite +17 (1d8+6 plus poison/19-20), slam +15 (1d8+6 plus grab), 3 tentacles +15 (1d4+6 plus pull) Ranged: Bone dart +15/+10/+5 (1d3+6 plus poison/19-20) Space: 5ft, Reach: 5ft (10ft with bite, 20ft with tentacles) Special Attacks: Pull (10ft), rake (Bite +17, 1d8+6 plus poison), Unwind Spell-like Abilities (CL 15, concentration +17) Constant: Freedom of Movement At-will: Dancing Darkness, Ghost Sound (DC 13), Ventriloquism (DC 13) 3/day: Rusting Grasp, Telekinesis (DC 17), Warp Wood 1/day: Knock, Modify Memory (DC 16), Teleport, Traumatic Eyebite (DC 18) ------ Statistics ------ Str 23 Dex 19 Con 25 Int 13 Wis 21 Cha 15 Base Atk: +11; CMB: +16; CMD: 31 Feats Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Improved Critical (bite, bone dart), Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Traumatic Spell-like Ability (Eyebite), Sickening Critical Skills Acrobatics +13, Bluff +13, Climb +21, Intimidate +15, Perception +23, Stealth +21, Survival +23 Languages All; language mastery. SQ Change Shape (any past victim; see Uncanny), Compression, Unknown ------ Ecology ------ Environment: Any Organization: Unique Treasure: Standard (taken trophies) ------ Combat: The Stain enjoys toying with its Target out of both sadism and pragmatism, forcing them to make mistakes and expend resources battling shadows and hallucinations. It goes Unseen as long as it is able to, tormenting them with its spell-like abilities to haunt them, destroy or remove light sources, weapons, and escape routes, and make it seem as though it is coming from everywhere at once. It will attempt to hit them with one or several of its bone darts to infuse them with its poison and terrorize them with the hallucinations, but it will try to avoid killing them with its darts (including by making them nonlethal). It will further toy with them with its tentacle attacks from a distance, making them think their hallucinations are real, until eventually wearing them down and closing in to finish them off and consume them. Against a large group of victims, it will attempt to isolate and pick them off one by one after loosening their reasoning with its poisonous aura, stolen voices, and Eyebite. When the mood strikes, it leaves one survivor (never its Target) alive but traumatized and possibly insane, usually using its Modify Memory to erase the majority of the encounter. But never all of it.

Morale: If a group of creatures has no Target among them, the Unnamed will fight only long enough to potentially traumatize one into becoming a Target later, and then flee to let the memories fester. When in a combat involving its Target, the Unnamed will always attempt to kill them, even if its own life is in danger. If its foes prove to be beyond its power, it will still attempt a death or glory attack against its Target. Its own life doesn't matter. It will come back eventually. ------ Special Abilities ------

Unbound (Ex): The Unnamed will not be denied its happiness. It may make an additional saving throw at the end of each of its turns to remove any effect causing any of the following conditions, even if the effect causing the condition does not normally permit a saving throw: blind, confused, dazed, deafened, exhausted, fatigued, nauseated, sickened, slowed, staggered, and stunned. This does not require an action. If it is affected by multiple effects or conditions, it may only make one additional saving throw with this ability each turn.

Uncanny (Ex): The Unnamed can use its Change Shape ability as a full-round action to change into any creature it has ever consumed, but its shape is grotesquely twisted to the point it could not possibly be mistaken for a normal creature. It does not gain any additional abilities, the changes are purely cosmetic. Similarly, though it can speak any language, its voice is completely inhuman and distorted. Creatures under the effects of its poison (see Unwind, below) or who are confused or insane instead see and hear it as if the transformation was flawless. This effect is lost if they are adjacent to it.

Undone (Su): If the Unnamed reduces a Target to 0 HP or lower with its attacks while the Target is both within its reach and suffering from the effects of its poison (see Unwound, below), the Target's body crumbles to a fine dust the Unnamed may inhale as an immediate action or at any point within the next minute as a swift action. When it does so, it regains 4d8+15 hitpoints and may immediately end one condition or effect on itself.

Unknown (Su): Whenever a creature attempts to give a more descriptive title or a name to the Unnamed, or attempts to describe its appearance or abilities in detail to another being, they become a Target. When creature becomes a Target, they are shaken automatically for one round by the sense that they have committed some unfathomable wrong. What "naming/describing the Unnamed" entails will vary at the DMs discretion; it could be as simple as writing details into a document meant to be read by another, speak the details aloud to another, or drawing it, but it must be a willing, conscious attempt to define or describe the Unnamed to another intelligent creature. Creatures defining or describing the Unnamed only for themselves may still become Targets, at the DMs discretion (it often allows these creatures to write just enough to make a potential reader curious, but no more). The Unnamed knows the precise location of all Targets not shielded by divine power, as well as the distance and direction to them relative to itself. Targets become permanently shaken whenever the Unnamed is within 1 mile of them as a sense of impending doom creeps into their minds, and if it is within 100ft, this condition pierces all forms of immunity to fear. All parts of this ability works across all boundaries and through any barrier.

Unseen (Sp/Su): When not being observed by an intelligent creature, the Unnamed may become invisible as a standard action, as per Greater Invisibility, except the effect lasts until an intelligent creature successfully sees the Unnamed through any means (such as if it's outlined through Glitterdust or mundane dust, or viewed through True Seeing), until any creature ends its turn adjacent to the Unnamed (or vice-versa), or until the Unnamed ends the effect itself as an immediate or free action. It can only use its spell-like abilities while invisible using this ability.

Unwind (Ex): The Unnamed produces a powerful, hallucinogenic poison which it delivers with its bite and dart attacks. It may also produce a colorless, odorless version of the poison as an aura that slithers 30ft out from it, affecting all creatures which inhale it, though they gain a +5 circumstance bonus to the save. It may begin producing this aura version of its poison as a full-round action and stop as a move action; its bite and dart attacks do not poison their targets while it's producing the aura, and it can only maintain the aura for a total of 7 rounds a day (they do not have to be consecutive).

--Unwinding Venom: Bite, dart, or aura--injury, contact, or inhaled; save Fort DC 24, frequency 1/round for 5 rounds, effect 1d3 Wis damage plus hallucinations for 1 round (all other creatures have 20% concealment), cure 2 consecutive saves.

[wingedblooms]

Credit: This stunning moodboard comes from the genius of @bloomingdarkgarden. I am forever grateful for her time, skills, and encouragement.

Background: This is a little headcanon of Elain and Azriel on a mission in Cretea during the island’s annual Nephelle competition and celebration. Elain convinces Azriel to participate in the competition, but he is unaware that she has a surprise in store for him.

Listen with (as I did) Luminary:

As the horns sounded, Elain moved toward the forest in tandem with other competitors, her form blending into the mass of bodies dashing across the moss-covered soil. Her steps were swift and silent as a doe while her focus turned inward, reaching for that now familiar seed of power in her core.

She imagined that seed inside her becoming something else, its form budding and unfurling until Elain, herself, bloomed into something golden and rosy. Something else and yet nothing at all.

A living force cutting through the world.

At first, she was just a flash of gold among the trees. But as she wove through the forested course, her power steadily built into a golden torrent.

Plants spread like wildfire in her wake, sprouting from the soil and curling around trees as she flowed around shocked competitors. Those caught in her wake struggled to avoid the flora sprouting around them, falling behind with a string of curses. Her mouth curved into a smile as she left them behind, cascading into the canyon with the power of a mighty waterfall.

Ahead of her, weaving in and out of other competitors, was a familiar shadow.

Azriel.

Her smile grew and she picked up speed, her power rushing and roaring through the narrowing canyon.

~🌸~

Azriel maneuvered through the canyon’s narrow cliffs with ease, his form a dark and sinuous song along the path. He was lost to the movement of his body, so much that he didn’t register the sound or the subtle vibration of the rock building behind him. It wasn’t until shouts of alarm reached him that he realized something was amiss, the hairs on his neck rising. Powerful, rushing water. But before he had a chance to so much as turn, his body was blasted against the stone walls of the canyon with the force of…sweet smelling air?

He’d know that scent anywhere.

Azriel’s eyes snapped open and his vision was filled with warm, iridescent light as it rolled through the canyon with the force of a sparkling river. The ancient stone around him trembled and cracked, giving way to new growth. Blooming vines curled around his wings and wove through his shadows, stretching longingly toward Elain and her power.

Her power was a song of creation around him. At once wild and gentle, both pure and ancient. He could hear her in the rush of water, the hum of wings, and the rustle of plants as the land woke in her presence.

Azriel’s breath burst out of him with a joyous laugh, and like the plants she wove into existence, he raced after her, following the trail of light and color in time to see her rise out of the canyon.

The sight caused him to stumble and murmur, “Mother above.”

Elain rose like a wave of gold above the earth, bright as the sun at dawn. He glimpsed the faint outline of her feminine curves, her hair unbound and eyes alight with joy. Life flourished and spread beneath her like a verdant sea rippling with blooms.

She outshone even the bright light of the Mother, and he was utterly helpless against her sacred call.

Azriel followed her across the now vibrant distance to the finish line, where the crowd had descended into mirthful chaos.

Elain’s power gradually dimmed and folded into her core, a bloom falling asleep, as she landed. Moments later, Azriel appeared next to her, his shadows vanishing into mist as they met her warm afterglow. The question was little more than a reverent whisper when he found his voice, “How?”

Triumph shone in Elain’s eyes as she offered, “Amren taught me in secret. I wanted to surprise you, see if I could outrace the fearsome shadowsinger. Death incarnate.” Her mirth turned sly as she shrugged, “Now we know I can.”

His eyes turned molten as he closed the space between them, “Elain, you are—”

“Our new champion,” interrupted an amused feminine voice from behind. They both whirled to face the legendary warrior-scribe, Nephelle. Humor danced on her face as she extended a hand to Elain. “And our people are desperate to honor her. Your passionate confession will need to wait, shadowsinger.”

Azriel let the bold claim linger between them and reveled in the blush that bloomed on Elain’s soft, creamy skin. He would give anything to steal her away, to take his time tracing the path of that deepening blush and worship her with his own body and soul. But she was already brushing past him and placing her hand in Nephelle’s.

When she was nearly swallowed by the cheering crowd, her doe eyes lifted to his and caught, and his breath all but left him at the emotion he found burning there.

Hope.

There was tentative hope in her eyes and it tore down what remained of his impenetrable armor. Azriel’s longing rose to the surface and made him ache, desperately, for a future that was not fated to be his.

But as he stared at the place where Elain’s form disappeared, and the hopeful warmth of her eyes with it, he didn’t give a damn about the forces that decided their fates.

He would always long for Elain, even when he was nothing but a whisper of darkness between the stars.

~🌸~

My notes: Elain’s form was inspired by canon hints (her questions about changing form, the iridescent light of Hope, being compared to a golden mass and a bloom in a mud field, glowing with the dawn, her scent a promise of spring and a sparkling river, etc.), as well as the Firebird sequence in Fantasia 2001. The story centers on a spring sprite who brings life to the land after destruction and her body moves like a force, shifting color as she travels. It reminded me of blooming Wyrd and Elain. While the destructive Firebird made me initially think of Vassa, I remembered that Amren’s form was one of light and fire, and she breathed death upon fleeing soldiers. Elain asked about her ability to change form for a reason, and I think their otherworldly forms could be quite similar, but while Amren’s power took life, Elain’s brings life. Like that defiant thread of Hope, her powers might be able to cut through the dark, break through stone, unravel entire worlds (like healers can), and build anew.

Tag: @elainarcheronweek, Day 2: Hope

Elain’s recurring vision of this can be read in part one.

[linuxgamenews]

Get Ready to Unleash Chaos with Just Crow Things: A Unique Gaming Experience

Just Crow Things release for the sandbox-y adventure game with a new trailer for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative team at Unbound Creations. Getting ready to make it's debut on Steam. Unbound Creations, the award-winning indie studio behind hits like "Rain on Your Parade" and "Headliner: NoviNews," has just announced the release date for their new game, Just Crow Things. In this title, you play as a little crow on a mission due to prove herself to the world. Make new animal friends, poop on unsuspecting humans, and steal all the shiny trinkets you can find. Since each level is like a mini sandbox, packed with fun items to discover and puzzles to solve. Plus, you also get to cause a bit of chaos along the way. Why? Just caws!

Just Crow Things - Release Date Trailer

In this level-based adventure, you'll reclaim what was stolen from you while making new animal friends. You'll tackle different tasks in various settings like the French Riviera, Ancient Egypt, and bustling New York. Some tasks will also test your skills, some your brains, and some are just plain silly. You get to choose the most fun ways to create Adorable Chaos - since there's something in the Just Crow Things release for everyone!

Key Features:

Explore 10 Unique Levels: Each one is a sandbox full of surprises.

Customize Your Crow: Dress up with cute hats, scarves, and more.

Discover "Poop Modes": Find and eat different foods to unlock new ways to poop!

Use a Variety of Tools: Pick up and use all sorts of objects.

Make Animal Friends: Help them out and build your Crowputation.

The Just Crow Things release also offers optional side tasks to challenge you further. Find hidden hats and skins, beat racing challenges worldwide, and unlock a special Sandbox Mode. Since this is where you can unleash all sorts of mayhem. Spread your wings and show off your crow style by customizing your appearance to be as cute as possible. If you can't wait to play, there's a Linux demo available on Steam still.

Release Date

Just Crow Things sandbox-y adventure is due to release on August 15th for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Get ready to dive into this crow-tastic chaos. So, gear up and prepare to cause some adorable fun with your feathered friend. It's due to be intriguing, and I can't wait to see all the creative ways to wreak havoc. Catch you on August 15th!

[curatedbyondrea]

Creating Content in Your Feminine Energy

Have you ever felt the urge to express yourself, to create, to share your truth – regardless of the outside world's validation? That, my friend, is your feminine energy calling.

Unbound by Likes and Follows:

Unlike the chase for metrics and external approval, feminine energy thrives on authenticity. It's a vibrant dance, a voice that speaks its truth with the confidence that resonance will find it. It's about the pure joy of creation, the act of expressing yourself because it feels good, because it's a part of who you are.

Embracing Your Inner Strength:

Now, a healthy feminine energy isn't passive. It holds its own space within you. Think of it as having a strong inner masculine that allows you to confidently express yourself without needing external validation. You are complete within yourself, and your voice deserves to be heard.

Seeking Authentic Connection:

Where does feminine energy truly blossom? In authentic connection. It seeks fertile ground, a space where you can nurture both yourself and others. This gentle exchange allows your expression to find its home and connection to flourish. It's not about one-sided validation, but a beautiful dance of giving and receiving.

Ready to Tap into Your Feminine Flow?

Here are a few tips:

Focus on what brings you joy. What activities make you feel alive, creative, and inspired?

Embrace your intuition. That inner voice often speaks through feelings and hunches. Trust it.

Connect with nature. Immerse yourself in the beauty and flow of the natural world.

Nurture yourself. Self-care is essential for a healthy feminine energy.

Seek authentic connections. Surround yourself with people who value your true self.

Remember, feminine energy is a powerful force within you. Let it flow freely, express yourself authentically, and nurture the beautiful connections that come your way.

Follow for more tips <3

[literally-nobody-asked]

I really love aeons from hsr- so I decided to create my own 💪

______________

Strelizia, the aeon of the Indomitable- focusing on concepts such as freedom/ liberty, fearlessness, bravery, longing, anticipation and change.

Unfortunately little is known about this aeon, as they were absorbed by Aha, the Elation, around the time of Aha’s creation.

There have been speculation amongst scholars about the history of the Indomitable, as there have been little recorded evidence of their existence despite the physical manifestations of their impact amongst the universe.

However recently anthropologists have written about two distinct factions related to Strelizia from stories passed down by word and mouth.

Epinephrine Pirates: A reckless and boundless faction of space explorers, mostly made up of liberated organics. They have no goal, no organised forces, no direction, no fear. But despite that, they can be recognised by an intricate butterfly symbol worn somewhere amongst their being.

The Dauntless Scholars: An unusual faction seeking enlightenment. These self proclaimed scholars are mainly made up of inorganic beings seeking to feel and be unbound by their design, with a few organic beings dotted around. They’re said to be just as reckless as the pirates, however the difference that sets them apart is their ruthlessness, as their ambitions and longing for something they can never achieve, makes them dangerous, makes them fearless and deadly. anthropologist have the most information about this faction out of the two, as it is said the scholars have terrorised the universe for years leaving dents and fractures that have carried on throughout generations. In stories they are often represented by black bands worn on their body.

Ultimately, followers of Strelizia are either categoried by adrenaline junkies, forever travellers, or emotionless beings seeking enlightenment.

___________

And that’s it so far, it’s a bunch of mushed up ideas for now but hopefully they make sense 💪💪💪

[campbell-rose]

Helluva Rewrite: Blitzø

ft Loona doodles :) Alright first off sorry this took so long i got a job lol

A large part of his character is the fact that he used to be a clown, so I took a bit of two face in this design and accentuated the scarring on the left side of his face. I decided to give him the circular cheek bits to allude to the clown as well as ruffling his collar under the clothes. He’s the most complex design of the IMP so far, aside from Loona’s multiple spots, so i tried to keep the colors simple but distinct from M&M. I took the spikes and put them on his clothes – as in he puts on thorns to keep people away. I think a pink tone suits his more lusty character. 

Now as for his character... I'll be honest I struggled with him for a bit. I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted his character to go or how serious this rewrite would take the drama Viv wants to write. I adore writing deep characters, so I suppose I’m going to have to take The Office’s approach of being a comedy with moving parts. There are overarching plot lines in this version, that being Moxxie’s mafia ties coming back to haunt him, Blitzo’s past coming back to fuck him over in the form of everything about him, and Millie’s insecurities fucking her over when it counts. Maybe the series underlying theme is how running from your problems doesn’t work. Idk, because I also like the whole monster of the week type assassin gigs they do. I’ll make it work. 

So now, introducing the new and improved Blitzø! 

Blitzø is a mixed imp, his father being from Greed and his mother being from Lust. As such he’s a very poor mix of bad traits. He’s hypersexual (to the point of disturbing others), greedy as fuck (as he underpays Millie and Moxxie), is greatly attached to and possessive of those he likes (hence his smothering of Loona and stalking of M&M), and tends to think with his dick in most situations which get him into quite a few pickles (hehe pickle) 

Alright, so personality wise he is just about the same. He shits on others, is generally an ass and not very shy about it, but one thing I want to change is his delivery. This Blitzø is much more jovial about what he’s doing, putting on an act of being very charming and playful, even when he insults people. Ex, the line in the pilot when he mentions Moxxie crushing his dreams would include a very childish pout and a chuckle after. He plays the things he says off as jokes so it gives him an air of... idk like you don’t know when he’s ever being serious. 

He grew up in a circus in Greed along with his twin sister Barbie Wire (side note if Blitzo was my og creation he would have a pun/type name like Barbie does. Too tired to come up with one now, but mainly just because Barbie Wire is a much more creative name than fucking Blitzo) and his mother, who was dying day by day. His father was the ring leader and used his children as props to make money. Blitzo was a double act with Barbie Wire where they would do tricks on trained horses before Barbie started wanting to do trapeze and Blitzo was paired with Fizz instead to do acrobatics and tell jokes. 

Now since we don’t know what the fuck happened in Blitzo’s past (despite being on fucking season 2) I’m going to leave this bit open ended until Viv plays her cards then rewrite it into my story.  

So overall I’m not tweaking too much with Blitzo. Maybe instead of being a woobie who is like oh woe is me I suck he is just an overt asshole who sort of wants to be better but that’s too much work.  

His relationship with Stolas is a can of worms and I fucking hate worms. Alright, so we’re scrapping the childhood buddies thing, and going full force into what we all were shown in the pilot – this powerful demon is banging Blitzo in exchange for the Grimoire. Now real quick, why doesn’t Blitzo use Asmodean crystals? In this I'm making it so only lust demons can bond with crystals (bonding meaning only that demon can use them) and unbound crystals can’t leave Lust. So Blitzo would have to go to Lust and buy one, which is expensive as fuck and he was too broke at the time he struck the deal with Stolas. He’s planning on ditching Stolas as soon as he has enough cash to buy a crystal for IMP to use. 

So Stolas and Blitzo are both using each other, neither of them are like “omg I think he likes me”. Stolas wants sex to fuel his imp fetish and Blitzo wants the book. Blitzo has every intention of cutting this off as soon as he gets the crystal, and in his mind is only really indulging some rich brat demon. The issue comes when Blitzo finds himself actually liking Stolas – he likes the owl’s stupid spiels about literature and space and herbs, he likes that Stolas tells him helpful things with no prompting (like how certain herbs can treat injuries and things like that), and he finds himself liking Stolas’s company. Which is a big problem if he wants to cut the demon off, so he starts trying to get that in gear. This is also while being constantly reminded how unlovable he is and how he ruins everything he touches, but he’s conflicted because Stolas has started to treat him kindly and refer to him like an acquaintance rather than a sex toy. 

Any I'm tired af, going to bed. 

Oh, but before I go I just want to say that now that I’ve finished the IMP gang, I’m taking a minor break from reworking Helluva and will be posting some RWBY redesigns I’ve made because I fucking hate RWBY but at the same time it’s like my childhood. I’ll tag anything Rwby I'm doing as Rwby Rework if you’re interested, but don’t worry I’ll continue to do more viv/helluva/hazbin later this month! 

Thanks for reading <3

[blackmetalbats]

Dies Irae

I am so sorry but i did a deep dive on the Dies Irae because of the last malevolent episode and now its gonna be all of you's problem.

one of the oldest and most frequently borrowed of all melodies is the ecclesiastical plainsong to the sequence 'Dies Irae', because of the theme's intrinsic merit, but also its liturgical associations. No record of its origin remains, but both words and melody appear to have been suggested by a passage from the Respond ' Libera me, Domine', which follows the Requiem Mass (catholic mass for the dead) on solemn occasion.

SOURCE: Gregory, R. (1953). “Dies Irae.” http://www.jstor.org/stable/730837

the Requiem Mass contained several special components; the Dies Irae was one of these, formally added to the Mass in 1570. Its text was penned by Thomas of Celano during the late 11th or early 12th century, and it offers a graphic depiction of the horrors of Judgment Day for sinners. the New Catholic Encyclopedia states that

"The medieval Sequence stresses fear of judgment and condemnation."

SOURCE: Brooks, E. (2003). "The Dies Irae ("Day of Wrath") and Totentanz ("Dance of Death"): Medieval Themes Revisited in 19th Century Music and Culture." https://scholarworks.uark.edu/inquiry/vol4/iss1/5

Centre panel from Memling's tryptich Last Judgment (c. 1467–1471)

the text contains three basic references:

(1) Zephaniah 1:15,16

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.

(2) II Peter 3:10-12

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

(3) finally, the judgment portion of Matthew 25 is cited as part of the scriptural basis for the "Dies Irae."

THE TEXT, in an english translation from the original latin

Day of wrath and doom impending, David's word with Sibyl blending! Heaven and earth in ashes ending!

O, what fear man's bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth. On whose sentence all dependeth!

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth. All before the throne it bringeth.

Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking. To its Judge an answer making.

Lo! the book exactly worded. Wherein all hath been recorded; Thence shall judgment be awarded.

When the Judge His seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth. Nothing unavenged remaineth.

What shall I, frail man, be pleading ? Who for me be interceding. When the just are mercy needing?

King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us. Fount of pity, then befriend us!

Think, kind Jesus! my salvation Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation.

Faint and weary Thou hast sought me. On the Cross of suffering bought me; Shall such grace be vainly brought me ?

Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution. Ere that day of retribution.

Guilty, now I pour my moaning. All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

Through the sinful woman shriven. Through the dying thief forgiven. Thou to me a hope has given.

Worthless are my prayers and sighing. Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying.

With Thy favored sheep O place me, Nor among the goats abase me. But to Thy right hand upraise me.

While the wicked are confounded. Doomed to flames of woe unbounded. Call me with Thy Saints surrounded.

Low I kneel, with heart submission. Crushed to ashes in contrition; Help me in my last condition!

Ah! that day of tears and mourning! From the dust of earth returning, Man for judgment must prepare him;

Spare, O God, in mercy spare him! Lord all-pitying, Jesu Blest, Grant them Thine eternal rest.

the first six stanzas describe the Judgment. the other stanzas are lyric in character, expressing anguish of one of the multitude there present in spirit; his pleading before the Judge who, while on earth, sought him unceasingly over the hard and thorny ways from Bethlehem to Calvary; and now, in anticipation of the Judgment, pleads before a Savior of infinite mercy, who, on Judgment Day, will be a Judge of infinite justice, before whom scarcely the just will be secure.

SOURCE: Demaray, D. E. (1965). "Thomas of Celano and the" Dies Irae". https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2018&context=asburyjournal