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theweedrat-blog · 5 years

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Temples are built for gods. Knowing this a farmer builds a small temple to see what kind of god turns up.

Arepo built a temple in his field, a humble thing, some stones stacked up to make a cairn, and two days later a god moved in.

“Hope you’re a harvest god,” Arepo said, and set up an altar and burnt two stalks of wheat. “It’d be nice, you know.” He looked down at the ash smeared on the stone, the rocks all laid askew, and coughed and scratched his head. “I know it’s not much,” he said, his straw hat in his hands. “But - I’ll do what I can. It’d be nice to think there’s a god looking after me.”

The next day he left a pair of figs, the day after that he spent ten minutes of his morning seated by the temple in prayer. On the third day, the god spoke up.

“You should go to a temple in the city,” the god said. Its voice was like the rustling of the wheat, like the squeaks of fieldmice running through the grass. “A real temple. A good one. Get some real gods to bless you. I’m no one much myself, but I might be able to put in a good word?” It plucked a leaf from a tree and sighed. “I mean, not to be rude. I like this temple. It’s cozy enough. The worship’s been nice. But you can’t honestly believe that any of this is going to bring you anything.”

“This is more than I was expecting when I built it,” Arepo said, laying down his scythe and lowering himself to the ground. “Tell me, what sort of god are you anyway?”

“I’m of the fallen leaves,” it said. “The worms that churn beneath the earth. The boundary of forest and of field. The first hint of frost before the first snow falls. The skin of an apple as it yields beneath your teeth. I’m a god of a dozen different nothings, scraps that lead to rot, momentary glimpses. A change in the air, and then it’s gone.”

The god heaved another sigh. “There’s no point in worship in that, not like War, or the Harvest, or the Storm. Save your prayers for the things beyond your control, good farmer. You’re so tiny in the world. So vulnerable. Best to pray to a greater thing than me.”

Arepo plucked a stalk of wheat and flattened it between his teeth. “I like this sort of worship fine,” he said. “So if you don’t mind, I think I’ll continue.”

“Do what you will,” said the god, and withdrew deeper into the stones. “But don’t say I never warned you otherwise.”

Arepo would say a prayer before the morning’s work, and he and the god contemplated the trees in silence. Days passed like that, and weeks, and then the Storm rolled in, black and bold and blustering. It flooded Arepo’s fields, shook the tiles from his roof, smote his olive tree and set it to cinder. The next day, Arepo and his sons walked among the wheat, salvaging what they could. The little temple had been strewn across the field, and so when the work was done for the day, Arepo gathered the stones and pieced them back together.

“Useless work,” the god whispered, but came creeping back inside the temple regardless. “There wasn’t a thing I could do to spare you this.”

“We’ll be fine,” Arepo said. “The storm’s blown over. We’ll rebuild. Don’t have much of an offering for today,” he said, and laid down some ruined wheat, “but I think I’ll shore up this thing’s foundations tomorrow, how about that?”

The god rattled around in the temple and sighed.

A year passed, and then another. The temple had layered walls of stones, a roof of woven twigs. Arepo’s neighbors chuckled as they passed it. Some of their children left fruit and flowers. And then the Harvest failed, the gods withdrew their bounty. In Arepo’s field the wheat sprouted thin and brittle. People wailed and tore their robes, slaughtered lambs and spilled their blood, looked upon the ground with haunted eyes and went to bed hungry. Arepo came and sat by the temple, the flowers wilted now, the fruit shriveled nubs, Arepo’s ribs showing through his chest, his hands still shaking, and murmured out a prayer.

“There is nothing here for you,” said the god, hudding in the dark. “There is nothing I can do. There is nothing to be done.” It shivered, and spat out its words. “What is this temple but another burden to you?”

“We -” Arepo said, and his voice wavered. “So it’s a lean year,” he said. “We’ve gone through this before, we’ll get through this again. So we’re hungry,” he said. “We’ve still got each other, don’t we? And a lot of people prayed to other gods, but it didn’t protect them from this. No,” he said, and shook his head, and laid down some shriveled weeds on the altar. “No, I think I like our arrangement fine.”

“There will come worse,” said the god, from the hollows of the stone. “And there will be nothing I can do to save you.”

The years passed. Arepo rested a wrinkled hand upon the temple of stone and some days spent an hour there, lost in contemplation with the god.

And one fateful day, from across the wine-dark seas, came War.

Arepo came stumbling to his temple now, his hand pressed against his gut, anointing the holy site with his blood. Behind him, his wheat fields burned, and the bones burned black in them. He came crawling on his knees to a temple of hewed stone, and the god rushed out to meet him.

“I could not save them,” said the god, its voice a low wail. “I am sorry. I am sorry. I am so so sorry.” The leaves fell burning from the trees, a soft slow rain of ash. “I have done nothing! All these years, and I have done nothing for you!”

“Shush,” Arepo said, tasting his own blood, his vision blurring. He propped himself up against the temple, forehead pressed against the stone in prayer. “Tell me,” he mumbled. “Tell me again. What sort of god are you?”

“I -” said the god, and reached out, cradling Arepo’s head, and closed its eyes and spoke.

“I’m of the fallen leaves,” it said, and conjured up the image of them. “The worms that churn beneath the earth. The boundary of forest and of field. The first hint of frost before the first snow falls. The skin of an apple as it yields beneath your teeth.” Arepo’s lips parted in a smile.

“I am the god of a dozen different nothings,” it said. “The petals in bloom that lead to rot, the momentary glimpses. A change in the air -” Its voice broke, and it wept. “Before it’s gone.”

“Beautiful,” Arepo said, his blood staining the stones, seeping into the earth. “All of them. They were all so beautiful.”

And as the fields burned and the smoke blotted out the sun, as men were trodden in the press and bloody War raged on, as the heavens let loose their wrath upon the earth, Arepo the sower lay down in his humble temple, his head sheltered by the stones, and returned home to his god.

Sora found the temple with the bones within it, the roof falling in upon them.

“Oh, poor god,” she said, “With no-one to bury your last priest.” Then she paused, because she was from far away. “Or is this how the dead are honored here?” The god roused from its contemplation.

“His name was Arepo,” it said, “He was a sower.”

Sora startled, a little, because she had never before heard the voice of a god. “How can I honor him?” She asked.

“Bury him,” the god said, “Beneath my altar.”

“All right,” Sora said, and went to fetch her shovel.

“Wait,” the god said when she got back and began collecting the bones from among the broken twigs and fallen leaves. She laid them out on a roll of undyed wool, the only cloth she had. “Wait,” the god said, “I cannot do anything for you. I am not a god of anything useful.”

Sora sat back on her heels and looked at the altar to listen to the god.

“When the Storm came and destroyed his wheat, I could not save it,” the god said, “When the Harvest failed and he was hungry, I could not feed him. When War came,” the god’s voice faltered. “When War came, I could not protect him. He came bleeding from the battle to die in my arms.” Sora looked down again at the bones.

“I think you are the god of something very useful,” she said.

“What?” the god asked.

Sora carefully lifted the skull onto the cloth. “You are the god of Arepo.”

Generations passed. The village recovered from its tragedies—homes rebuilt, gardens re-planted, wounds healed. The old man who once lived on the hill and spoke to stone and rubble had long since been forgotten, but the temple stood in his name. Most believed it to empty, as the god who resided there long ago had fallen silent. Yet, any who passed the decaying shrine felt an ache in their hearts, as though mourning for a lost friend. The cold that seeped from the temple entrance laid their spirits low, and warded off any potential visitors, save for the rare and especially oblivious children who would leave tiny clusters of pink and white flowers that they picked from the surrounding meadow.

The god sat in his peaceful home, staring out at the distant road, to pedestrians, workhorses, and carriages, raining leaves that swirled around bustling feet. How long had it been? The world had progressed without him, for he knew there was no help to be given. _The world must be a cruel place, that even the useful gods have abandoned, if farms can flood, harvests can run barren, and homes can burn, _he thought.

He had come to understand that humans are senseless creatures, who would pray to a god that cannot grant wishes or bless upon them good fortune. Who would maintain a temple and bring offerings with nothing in return. Who would share their company and meditate with such a fruitless deity. Who would bury a stranger without the hope for profit. What bizarre, futile kindness they had wasted on him. What wonderful, foolish, virtuous, hopeless creatures, humans were.

So he painted the sunset with yellow leaves, enticed the worms to dance in their soil, flourished the boundary between forest and field with blossoms and berries, christened the air with a biting cold before winter came, ripened the apples with crisp, red freckles to break under sinking teeth, and a dozen other nothings, in memory of the man who once praised the god’s work on his dying breath.

“Hello, God of Every Humble Beauty in the World,” called a familiar voice.

The squinting corners of the god’s eyes wept down onto curled lips. “Arepo,” he whispered, for his voice was hoarse from its hundred-year mutism.

“I am the god of devotion, of small kindnesses, of unbreakable bonds. I am the god of selfless, unconditional love, of everlasting friendships, and trust,” Arepo avowed, soothing the other with every word.

“That’s wonderful, Arepo,” he responded between tears, “I’m so happy for you—such a powerful figure will certainly need a grand temple. Will you leave to the city to gather more worshippers? You’ll be adored by all.”

“No,” Arepo smiled.

“Farther than that, to the capitol, then? Thank you for visiting here before your departure.”

“No, I will not go there, either,” Arepo shook his head and chuckled.

“Farther still? What ambitious goals, you must have. There is no doubt in my mind that you will succeed, though,” the elder god continued.

“Actually,” interrupted Arepo, “I’d like to stay here, if you’ll have me.”

The other god was struck speechless. “…. Why would you want to live here?”

“I am the god of unbreakable bonds and everlasting friendships. And you are the god of Arepo.”

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theweedrat-blog · 6 years

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This is a big, giant list of Youtube tutorials that will teach you all the basic life skills you need to know in order to be a functional adult. There are a lot of important skills that aren’t included in this list, but this should be enough of a basic guide to get you started and prevent you from making a total mess of yourself. Happy adulting! Household Skills:

How to unclog a toilet without a plunger

How to fix a blown fuse

How to fix a leaky faucet

How to clean soap scum from your tub and shower

How to escape from a house fire

How to make a budget and stick to it

How to sharpen a knife

How to clean a self-cleaning oven

How to clean red wine stains from carpet

How to clean blood stains from fabric

How to clean grease stains from fabric

How to do a load of laundry

How to iron your clothes

How to test your smoke detectors

Cooking Skills:

How to tell if produce is ripe

How to know if food is expired

How to properly sanitize a kitchen

How to cook an egg

How to make rice

How to make pasta

How to put out a kitchen grease fire safely

How to use a gas stove

How to use a convection oven

How to cook meat safely

How to use a stand mixer

How to use kitchen knives properly

How to make mashed potatoes

How to make grilled cheese sandwiches

Health Skills:

How to stop bleeding

How to treat a burn

How to do CPR (on an adult)

How to do CPR (on a child)

How to do CPR (on a baby)

How to help someone who is choking

How to save yourself if you are choking alone

How to read a nutrition label

How to treat frostbite

How to recognize when someone is having a stroke

How to maintain a healthy sleep schedule

Mental Health Skills:

How to calm down during a panic attack

How to help someone who is suicidal

How to meditate

How to stop self-harming

How to recognize problem drinking

How to choose a therapist

How to deal with disappointment

How to cope with grief

How to raise your self-esteem

Relationship and Social Skills:

How to apologize

How to cope with a breakup

How to accept criticism

How to deal with bullying

How to argue in a healthy way

How to ask someone out

How to break up with someone

How to recognize an abusive relationship

How to rekindle a damaged friendship

How to speak in public

Job Hunting Skills:

How to tie a tie

How to write a resume

How to write a cover letter

How to dress for a job interview (for women/femmes)

How to dress for a job interview (for men/masculines)

How to properly shake hands

How to nail a job interview

Other Skills:

How to sew on a button

How to hammer a nail

How to change your oil

How to put gas in your car

How to jump-start a car

How to pick a good password

How to back up your files

How to write a cheque

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theweedrat-blog · 6 years

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Guardian OC Asks!

Where does your Guardian live?

Where in the solar system is your Guardian’s favorite place to be?

Do they like the Crucible? Do they gloat after kills? If so, what emote is their favorite?

Is your Guardian in a relationship? How did they get together?

What is their sexuality? Gender identity?

Favorite ship and sparrow? Does it mean anything to them?

What shader does your Guardian use?

If they could only use one subclass for the rest of their immortal life, which would it be?

What exotic is your Guardian’s favorite?

Awoken: are you Reef or Earth born?

What is their Ghost’s name? Does it mean something? Do they have a preferred shell?

Is their clan name something silly or serious? What about fireteam names?

Favorite activity? (Crucible, Gambit, Nightfall, patrols etc.)

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theweedrat-blog · 6 years

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Looking for Something? (Mobile)

Anatomy:

Arms

Breasts

Body Types

Feet

Female

Hands

Heads -Ears -Expressions -Eyes -Facial -Hair -Mouths and Lips -Noses -Tears

Humans

Legs

Male

Muscles

Pelvis

Proportions

Shoulders

Torso

Animals:

Anatomy

Antlers

Beaks

Behaviour

Ears

Facial

Feathers

Fur

Hooves

Horns

Insects

Legs

Paws

Talons

Teeth

Wings

Backgrounds:

Cityscape

Indoors

Organic

Perspective

Quick BGs

Simplistic

Brushes:

Photoshop

Paint tool SAI

Design:

Buildings

Character Design

Clothing

Environments

Folds

Heights

Maps

Names

Sketching

Skin Tones

Drawing and Colouring:

Canvas Size

Colour Palettes

Colour Theory

Comics

Composition

Lighting

Lineart

Painting

Quick Tricks

Shading

Traditional

Fantasy:

Armor

Archery

Horns

Mythical Animals

Mythology

Power Ups

Weapons

Wings

For the Artist:

File Types

Exercises

Portfolio

Reminders

Tablets

Tips and Advice

Tools

Languages:

ASL

Ancient

French

German

Grammar

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Morse

Spanish

Misc:

Animation

Commissions

Cosplay

Crafts

Life

Master Lists

Psychological

Resources

School

Writing

Nature:

Blood

Clouds

Fire

Flowers

Grass

Landscapes

Lightning

Metal

Plants

Rocks

Space

Trees

Water

Wood

Poses:

Angles

Animals

Draw Your X

Humans

Movement

Multiple Persons

Programs:

Clip Studio Paint

Krita

Paint Tool SAI

Photoshop

Etc

World Building:

Buildings

Culture

History

Historical Clothing

Video

Links

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theweedrat-blog · 6 years

Text

Looking for Something? (Mobile)

Anatomy:

Arms

Breasts

Body Types

Feet

Female

Hands

Heads -Ears -Expressions -Eyes -Facial -Hair -Mouths and Lips -Noses -Tears

Humans

Legs

Male

Muscles

Pelvis

Proportions

Shoulders

Torso

Animals:

Anatomy

Antlers

Beaks

Behaviour

Ears

Facial

Feathers

Fur

Hooves

Horns

Insects

Legs

Paws

Talons

Teeth

Wings

Backgrounds:

Cityscape

Indoors

Organic

Perspective

Quick BGs

Simplistic

Brushes:

Photoshop

Paint tool SAI

Design:

Buildings

Character Design

Clothing

Environments

Folds

Heights

Maps

Names

Sketching

Skin Tones

Drawing and Colouring:

Canvas Size

Colour Palettes

Colour Theory

Comics

Composition

Lighting

Lineart

Painting

Quick Tricks

Shading

Traditional

Fantasy:

Armor

Archery

Horns

Mythical Animals

Mythology

Power Ups

Weapons

Wings

For the Artist:

File Types

Exercises

Portfolio

Reminders

Tablets

Tips and Advice

Tools

Languages:

ASL

Ancient

French

German

Grammar

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Morse

Spanish

Misc:

Animation

Commissions

Cosplay

Crafts

Life

Master Lists

Psychological

Resources

School

Writing

Nature:

Blood

Clouds

Fire

Flowers

Grass

Landscapes

Lightning

Metal

Plants

Rocks

Space

Trees

Water

Wood

Poses:

Angles

Animals

Draw Your X

Humans

Movement

Multiple Persons

Programs:

Clip Studio Paint

Krita

Paint Tool SAI

Photoshop

Etc

World Building:

Buildings

Culture

History

Historical Clothing

Video

Links

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theweedrat-blog · 6 years

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Questions for you to answer about your guardian or guardians:

Assume these also mean their plural versions. Also reblog this with your answers when you see this and tag a friend if ya want! I wanna learn about your OCs!!!

1.) What is your guardian’s name? What does it mean? What inspired you to choose that name for them?

2.) What did your guardian name their ghost? What does it mean? What inspired them to choose that name?

3.) What is your guardians favorite weapon of choice? What mod do they use for it? Do they have a masterwork on it and if so, how many enemies have they killed with that weapon?

4.) Do they participate in the Crucible often or do they just go to complete the daily challenges?

5.) If your guardian had to choose to be another class, what class would they pick? Or would they stay the same?

6.) What is their favorite subclass within their own class?

7.) What is their favorite subclass in a different class?

8.) Would they rather receive a titan kiss ( a hard ass headbutt that mostly results in death ), asking a warlock a question that might result in a long explanation, or deciding to play the knife game with hunter and bet at high stakes?

9.) Would they prank other guardians or just their close friends? What kind of pranks would they pull?

10.) Which vanguard memeber to they like to hang out with the most?

11.) Who would they fml out of Skolas, Ghaul, and Calus?

12.) What kind of hobbies do they do in their free time? Are there any particular skills they have that help them with this hobby(s)?

13.) What is their favorite armor set and what shader do they use for it?

14.) Do they prefer silence or are they unbothered in loud areas?

15.) Are they afraid of storms? If so, is there a specific reason why?

16.) Who were they before their ghost revived them? Do they know about this and if so how or what did they use to learn about themselves?

17.) How close are your guardian and their ghost? If they are not close, would your guardian kill their ghost and choose to answer the darkness’ calls?

18.) Would your guardian engage in a romantic relationship with Fallen, Cabal, Hive, etc? If so, what do they find attractive about the species?

19.) Who is their favorite lore hero? Example, Jolder, Saint-14, Andal Brask, etc. Why is this person their favorite and in what ways do they inspire your guardian? What would your guardian say if they were face to face with them?

20.) Does your guardian like plants? If so, what kinds? Do they prefer flowers or trees or shrubs? Would they start a garden?

21.) If your guardian became obsessed with something, what would it be?

22.) Do they like reading books or watching movies or both? What genres are their favorites? Does their fireteam have the same taste?

23.) What kind of music do they like? Do they dance around anybody in any situation or in the privacy of their quarters? What would their favorite song from the Golden Age be?

24.) What does their living space look like? Are there a bunch of pictures around or do Knick knacks cover the shelves? Do they enjoy bright, neutral, or dark colors? Would they purchase a fur rug?

25.) Do they travel around the city often? If so, what are their favorite places to go and who do they go with? Are the civilians ever excited to see them or do they give them a look because of precious mishaps that resulted in property damage?

26.) Are they good with kids? If not, how do they react when a child tries to talk to them? If they are good with kids, what kind of things do they do to entertain them?

27.) Are they in love with Shaxx?

28.) When your guardian sleeps, are they stiff and stay in one spot or wild and kick off the sheets? Do they have nightmares often and if so, about what? How often do they sleep?

29.) Do they enjoy coffee, tea, soda, or water? Would they mix all of these together and drink the liquid on a dare?

30.) What about their personality attracts other guardians to them? What is it about other guardians that attracts your guardian to them?

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