#(because i actually do not have hobbies in the traditional sense)

[soy-sauce-and-mothra]

Hey! Are there blacksmiths in your story? I'm a hobbyist blacksmith and I'm here to help!

Blacksmithing is one of those things that a lot of people get wrong because they don't realize it stuck around past the advent of the assembly line. Here's a list of some common misconceptions I see and what to do instead!

Not all blacksmiths are gigantic terrifying muscly guys with beards and deep voices. I am 5'8, skinny as a twig, have the muscle mass of wet bread, and exist on Tumblr. Anybody who is strong enough to pick up a hammer and understands fire safety can be a blacksmith.

You can make more than just swords with blacksmithing. Though swords are undeniably practical, they're not the only things that can be made. I've made candle holders, wall hooks, kebab skewers, fire pokers, and more. Look up things other people have made, it's really amazing what can be done.

"Red-hot" is actually not that hot by blacksmith terms. when heated up, the metal goes from black, to red, to orange, to yellow, to white. (for temperature reference, I got a second degree burn from picking up a piece of metal on black heat) The ideal color to work with the metal is yellow. White is not ideal at all, because the metal starts sparking and gets all weird and lumpy when it cools. (At no point in this process does the metal get even close to melting. It gets soft enough to work with, but I have never once seen metal become a liquid.)

Blacksmithing takes fucking forever. Not even taking into account starting the forge, selecting and preparing metal, etc. etc. it takes me around an hour to make one (1) fancy skewer. The metals blacksmiths work with heat up and cool down incredibly fast. When the forge is going good, it only takes like 20 seconds to get your metal hot enough to work with, but it takes about the same time for it to cool down, sometimes even less.

As long as you are careful, it is actually stupidly easy to not get hurt while blacksmithing. When I picked up this hobby I was like "okay, cool! I'm gonna make stuff, and I'm gonna end up in the hospital at some point!" Thus far, the latter has yet to occur. I've been doing this for nearly a year. I have earned myself a new scar from the aforementioned second degree burn, and one singe mark on my jeans. I don't even wear gloves half the time. Literally just eye protection, common sense, and fast reflexes and you'll probably be fine. (Accidents still happen of course, but I have found adequate safety weirdly easy to achieve with this hobby)

A forge is not a fire. The forge is the thing blacksmiths put their metal in to heat it up. It starts as a small fire, usually with newspaper or something else that's relatively small and burns easily, which we then put in the forge itself, which is sort of a fireplace-esque thing (there's a lot of different types of forge, look into it and try to figure out what sort of forge would make the most sense for the context you're writing about) and we cover it with coal, which then catches fire and heats up. The forge gets really hot, and sometimes really bright. Sometimes when I stare at the forge for too long it's like staring into the sun. The forge is also not a waterfall of lava, Steven Universe. It doesn't work like that, Steven Universe.

Welding and blacksmithing are not the same thing. They often go hand-in-hand, but you cannot connected two pieces of metal with traditional blacksmithing alone. There is something called forge welding, where you heat your metal, sprinkle borax (or the in-universe equivalent) on it to prevent the metal from oxidizing/being non-weldable, and hammer the pieces together very quickly. Forge welding also sends sparks flying everywhere, and if you're working in a small space with other blacksmiths, you usually want to announce that you're welding before you do, so that everyone in a five-foot radius can get out of that five-foot radius. You also cannot just stuck some random pebbles into the forge and get a decent piece of metal that you can actually make something with, Steven Universe. It doesn't work like that, Steven Universe.

Anvils are really fucking heavy. Nothing else to add here.

Making jewelry is not a blacksmithing thing unless you want jewelry made of steel. And it will be very ugly if you try. Blacksmithing wasn't invented to make small things.

If there's anything here I didn't mention, just ask and I'll do my best to answer.

#yes some of this was directed at steven universe #the only thing su got right was bismuth crying when her anvil broke #cus those things are goddamn expensive and hard to transport #blacksmith #blacksmithing #writing #writing prompts #writing advice #writeblr #writer #writer problems #writerblr #writerscommunity #writers on tumblr #writers and poets #writers

[featherymainffins]

Me showing DSAF to an acquaintance who has only heard of it like: "You will get depression due to this later. Anyway this is my primordial pet freak, he has killed hundreds of people and will kill again and I think he should be locked in a controlled environment forever. Oh no not for his crimes. It's because I want to study him like a bug forever. Perhaps break his bones one by one... Anyway when I draw him drawing is actually fun and doesn't feel like a stressful performance."

#its so funny i just cant be normal. normal people have like #normal characters that they consider characters that bring them joy. i always pull out the most rancid fucker and go #'this is my emotional support piece of shit and when i draw him i rediscover what hobbies are' #(because i actually do not have hobbies in the traditional sense) #(as in activities like drawing or writing are actually not fun for me at all #i do them because im fairly good at them and because it's a habit; like doing your homework. but i hate them. it's a stressful thing #and it brings me more tears than fun. i like to produce products i like being productive but i hate the process and i hate #how i can make a mistake and i feel judged the whole time. i feel like that during playing instruments and during sewing amd #i felt that way during horse riding and i feel that way no matter what i do. constantly judged and evaluated and like #my performance has to be flawless and every tiny mistake justified. like my life is a constant process of justifying my actions in #front of a court and a judge and a jury.) #(but when i draw some specific characters I don't feel that way. i feel like this weird feeling that i think might be joy? i don't feel #stressed out at all and seem to forget that i am being evaluated #i forget that i have to constantly earn my life. j don't stop every few lines to get a breather to calm myself down and assure myself #that i can do this flawlessly. i just...draw and if it's less than perfect i just correct the mistakes. but I don't feel pressured or judged #i find myself smiling and it's weird. because i never feel like smiling when im drawing or writing or anything.)

[whore-ibly-hot]

How strong is Joey? You said previously he has big man tatas

And how’d he treat his sons vs daughters? I feel like he’s accidentally lovingly misogynistic. Especially given his conservative religious upbringing. Like he doesn’t believe that darling should labor in the sun, but he doesn’t believe that darling is lesser than him because she’s a woman. Does this make sense?????

Joey's actually very good about beating back any unintentional misogyny. He has a lot of family members, but Betty Jo, one of his sisters, is probably the biggest and strongest laborer in the family. She's huge, and could probably hog tie a cow and carry it into the next field if she needed. He's no stranger to women working just as hard if not harder at traditional masculine activites than men.

He tends be more gentle and allow darling to stay in the house and do stereotypically feminine chores because he just loves them so much! He thinks they're delicate, and their from the city. He doesn't want them to overwork themselves!

As far as kids, Joey is thrilled at whatever his little guy or gal is into! More of a home chores kid? Great! Wants to help on the farm? Awesome. Doesn't really want to do anything but sit and play with rocks? A little odd, but he's more than happy to join in.

The only real difference in how Joey treats kids is age. Until the kid is about eight or so, Joey will treat them like glass. Gently holding them, extremely slow and careful piggyback rides, and baby proofing the house even if they're old enough to ride a bike and swim. Once they're over eight? All bets are off. Play wrestling, swinging the kid around over his head, or throwing them into a big bale of hay from the hayloft. All if the kid is okay with it, of course.

He's excited is his kiddo is good at something he isn't. If Joey's little boy comes up to him and talks about how much he likes cooking or baking, Joey's thrilled! He's always had someone too make meals for him, and he can't cook to save his life. He's so excited that his kiddo has a hobby he can learn with them. Regardless of what his kid is into, he'll sit and listen with fascination.

Joey has had a lot of siblings, but as the youngest boy he doesn't have a ton of experience with babies. Because of this, you'll have to tell him off from time to time, as well as his other family members because of the odd things he may do. He's only ever been around baby animals, so you'll have to explain why human babies can't be held by a scruff, or why they won't start walking within a few days like a baby cow. He's a little disappointed he won't be able to have a conversation with his kid for a few years, but that doesn't stop him from talking to them.

"Mhmm, there's my big healthy lil' dumpling'. What're you gigglin' at, huh? You happy to see daddy? Are ya?"

Joey is thrilled that his family uses hand me downs so much now that he has kids of his own. Seeing his little girl in his old red truck shirt of his little boy in some big green rain boots is enough to make him cry. Expect to see him showing the kids and the rest of the town old family photos of him in the same clothes when he was little.

He's a great dad, especially in the early years. Diapers need changed? He's dealt with grosser. Babies hungry? You stay in bed, he'll feed them. You honestly don't even need to purchase a crib, because his baby is not leaving his broad chest.

"Cmon, darlin'! I'm big and soft, I'm just as good as any old crib, and Joey Jr. Here agrees. Let him stay a lil' longer? Please?"

#ask me stuff #yandere #yandere oc #tw.yandere #yandere fanfiction #yandere content #x reader #yandere boy #oc joey #yandere farmboy #yandere farmer

[cupidlovesastro]

taurus moon

taurus is ruled by venus. venus represents romance, arts, love, beauty, aesthetics, femininity, and harmony. the taurus personality is stubborn, laid back, sensual, materialistic, aesthetic, patient, consistent, stable and hard working.

moon represents emotions, intuitions, comforts, unconscious mind, instincts, spirituality, motherhood, fertility, femininity, and your home.

what does it mean when these two interlink?

taurus is a stable sign, while the moon can be unstable. people with their moon in taurus can mean that these people are slow to reaction or even emotions. they could be slow to intense emotions as well. there’s a stubbornness with these emotions, maybe you do not want to feel them, or even surprised that you feel them. you could put yourself under pressure by believing you don’t have time to be emotional or struggling with your emotional well-being. i could also see that some individuals may actually be open to their emotions and just let them pass by without reacting to them. you feel the need to be strong, especially at your most vulnerable points.

♉︎ things that could make you sad is when you are left behind, rushed, told you don’t listen, not able to do/ wear things that make you feel pretty, when you feel insecure, feeling too vulnerable, when things are hectic, and when life feels like it’s moving faster than you

♉︎ the moon represents comfort. taurus in moon can mean that you find comfort through pleasing your senses. you could like nice candles, comfort foods, a good song you enjoy, etc. things like that tend to put you at ease. shopping is also something that could comfort you, or at least browsing things. doing your make up is another thing that could calm you down, or at least distract you from life situations or emotions your having. reading books is also something i could see these individuals enjoying because it’s at your pace, and they can be romantic and really fill your imagination.

♉︎ your mother could’ve been very nurturing and loved cooking. she also could’ve been a great cook. she could’ve been the kind of mom who always had the house smelling nice, beautifully decorated house, good furniture, etc. she also could’ve preferred staying home than going out, and she could’ve been a shopper. always buying a lot of things, and i could see you mother may have been into reading, crocheting, and other activities that take time and patience. she could’ve been stubborn and maybe you two bumped head because of that. her beliefs could’ve been more traditional than yours which could’ve lead to arguments and such. she also may have been a stay at home wife, and if she wasn’t then the job she had could’ve paid a lot of money

♉︎ you didn’t have a chaotic household, where things were constantly happening. your home life could’ve been slow moving, not much happened in your house. the house also could’ve been quiet a majority of the time. your family could be very loyal to one another and caring as well. they might be strict or stern as well, and maybe even stubborn. also, they could be the type of people to never go on vacation or rarely go on vacations

♉︎ if you are into art, your art could have a lot of texture or simulate texture being there. you could also take awhile to complete your pieces, like a few days to even a few months. art takes effort and patience, which is something you have, so art could be one of the perfect hobbies for you. if this is something you take seriously, like as a career, then you could be quite pricey about your art. (not a bad thing) your art could be about love, femininity, or even just for aesthetics

#astro community #astro observations #astro placements #astro posts #astrology #zodiac shit #gemini #capricorn #aries #scorpio #taurus #astrology ask #astrology community #astrology notes #astrology aspects #astrology stuff #astro notes #astrology chart #natal astrology #astrology signs #astrology posts #astroblr #zodiac posts #zodiac #zodic signs #zodiac stuff

[hetalimagines]

General headcanons for Alfred as a boyfriend (SFW)

Here's my first actual post on this blog, hehe... I can't find the ask but someone requested some Alfred headcanons, so here are my rambles about what I think he's like as a boyfriend!

He’s honestly not the most traditionally romantic person. Your relationship is more like friends who make out sometimes. But he does have his own little ways of showing you he loves you!

He’ll put together playlists of songs that remind him of you. They’re mostly loose connections, like maybe a song mentions your eye color, or the lyrics remind him of a date you went on together, or it just sounds romantic and makes him wanna kiss you. He likes to sit with you while you listen (to every single song), and he interrupts the songs a bit to explain why he chose them.

“This one had me thinking what if we were dancing in a ballroom together, and out of nowhere, bam! Zombies bust in. The door crashes to the ground! Our dance turns into one of those cool fighting scenes with the—oh, this part reminded me of the time I woke up early and you were about to fall off the bed. You had a cute bedhead.”

(You have no idea what the lyrics are at this point.)

Dates with him are pretty casual, more like “hanging out” than anything fancy. Maybe you stay at home and watch movies/play games, or you go out for dinner at a local diner, or you go do awful karaoke together, or you go and prank a friend together.

He’s happy as long as he’s with you. Bonus if there’s food and/or drink.

He occasionally takes you out to a more traditional restaurant and dresses for the occasion. They’re usually expensive, too. The food isn’t his preference (too complicated for his palate), but if it makes you happy, he’s all for dealing with it for just one night.

His primary love languages are acts of service and quality time. He’s always doing what he can to help you out (and feel proud of himself in the process). Whether he helps you run errands, runs a bath for you ahead of time, or fluffs your pillow before you get in bed, it’s all because he wants to make your life easier!

He gets a little jealous if you ever spend time with your shared friends without him, or if you spend more time with others than him.

He’s so excited if you take interest in any of his hobbies. Movies? He’ll ask if you want to co-write a script with him. (He’s very relaxed about what exactly ends up in the script.) Archaeology? He has so many random facts to dump on you, and he’ll be super impressed by any knowledge you have on it. Conspiracy theories? Time to watch a bunch of documentaries! He enjoys them despite their flaws, but lets you know exactly when something is false and what actually happened.

He tries to take interest in your hobbies, too, even if he doesn’t understand what you’re talking about. It could be the most boring thing and he’d still listen and ask you questions about it. If it makes you happy, he wants to know all about it.

Pet names from him consist of things like babe, dude (💀), honey, occasionally sweetie, (jokingly… mostly) prince or princess. It’s all over the place. He’ll call you honey and dude back-to-back sometimes.

He loves debating if you’re comfortable with it! But be warned, he gets very heated about certain topics. His sense of justice is important to him. Otherwise, he’s usually not serious about these debates and doesn’t care who wins.

He tries to keep things light and doesn’t usually let people see his more serious side. He’ll open up to you more over time, however. It’s really him letting a wall down and allowing himself to get closer to you.

Every now and then, he has days where he’s a lot quieter and calmer than usual. He just wants to relax, stay on the couch with you and watch movies or simply chat. Maybe a movie chattering in the background as he tells you about his childhood. He doesn’t try so hard to keep up this energetic, heroic persona.

He’s right back to normal the next day like nothing happened.

Likes to annoy you for fun. Not in a mean-spirited way. He just thinks your responses are cute and has poor impulse control. Poking your cheeks or ruffling your hair or playing an obnoxious song loudly on the stereo while he dances. But he’ll back off if you’re genuinely upset with him. He means no harm.

He loves if you’re willing to play along with whatever he gets up to. Maybe he’s decided he’s going to try and vacuum the whole house while doing a handstand on the vacuum. You can hold onto his legs to help him stay balanced.

This man is very impulsive and has a tendency to get himself hurt. Random bruises all over his body or a cut along his forearm. He bounces back easily, and doesn’t want to fuss over it, but he lowkey likes if you baby him about it. He’ll always say how it’s not a big deal and he can take it, but his heart does this little flutter when you show concern, and even more if you force him to take better care of himself.

He burns himself in the kitchen and you force him to run it under cold water. He’s swooning inside.

He likes to gossip about others, especially over breakfast. He can’t help it; he’s just nosy, and he always has an idea of what’s going on and how he can help out. Huge bonus if you gossip with him!

He loves to feed you, but the majority of the food he brings for you is burgers or tubs of ice cream. He likes to experiment with the burgers’ toppings and seasonings, but they’re all burgers nonetheless.

Every now and then, he does plan some big romantic endeavor. It’s like a surprise. You never know when it’s coming… You wake up one morning and find out he’s booked a week long cruise, your bedroom is filled with balloons, and there’s enough breakfast food on the table to feed an army.

He does this thing sometimes (often) where he swoops in and has to save you. A puddle on the ground? No need to fear! He picks you up and swiftly carries you over it. The safest place for you is in his arms. He’ll even lay down and let you use him as a bridge if you want.

A suspicious penny on the sidewalk? LOOK OUT, IT MIGHT BE A BOMB! Let HIM step on it before you get blown up!

He steps on it. Nothing happens. Better safe than sorry!

If you’re the more independent type, that won’t stop him from trying. He just wants to keep you safe and have you appreciate his efforts. Being disinterested or resistant will just make him try harder.

Says cheesy stuff like “happy wife, happy life” unironically. He’s also the type to use terrible pickup lines to flirt with you. Totally unaware of how bad they are until you start laughing.

He also doesn’t care that they’re bad. He’s just having fun.

Loves to give you his clothes to wear. Seriously. You want one of his hoodies? Try six of them.

You complain when one stops smelling like him so he puts it on, works out, then gives it back to you like :D! Fixed the problem!

He takes so many pictures of you guys. Videos, too. His phone storage is eaten up by it. His favorite thing is to take selfies together. Usually with some silly filter. Or an even sillier caption.

“me and the babe out shopping” and it’s a picture of you, holding a piece of fruit with the dog ears filter

He’s not the most physically affectionate, but he always gives you morning kisses and especially kisses before leaving the house. He also loves carrying you around (mostly bridal style) in his arms for no reason other than he can. A hand on your back, another on your thighs, your head pressed against his chest. He loves it.

He loves knowing you find him physically attractive! He worries sometimes about being too overweight, so any reassurance that you like his body helps. If you think he’s hot, and you’re hot yourself, that must mean he definitely is.

Has a tendency to call you hot, but he’ll call you other things if it makes you uncomfortable.

Occasionally brags about you and how lucky he is. Not as often as you might think. Though he gets oddly competitive if anyone acts like their partner is better than you and starts spouting whatever he can so everyone knows you’re the absolute best. No competition.

#alfred isn't one of my fave characters so i hope i did him justice ♡ #hetalia #hetaila headcanons #hetalia imagines #hetalia x reader #aph america #hws america #aph america x reader #hws america x reader #america x reader #reader insert #sugar

[comradekatara]

Thoughts on sokka and ty lee?

okay so i have a little theory that the reason ty lee had a crush on sokka was because she knew it would drive azula insane. i know that we never actually see her talk about sokka to azula (although we do see that it pisses mai off), but surely talking about how hot sokka is just to see azula’s eye twitch was like one of her favorite offscreen hobbies. also they are just kind of fascinating besides the obvious flirtation between them because they are both so scarily intelligent that any sort of actual relationship between them (whether romantic or platonic or whatever) would be operating on levels we could not even begin to comprehend. like they’d get into fights about astrology but instead of the idiots of makapu village or katara who is just like “science is gay” ty lee is actually making a persuasive and somewhat convincing argument and sokka has to expend more than 3% of his brainpower to actually refute her. i also think they are the only two people in the world who are actually evenly matched at pai sho and their games last hours each. but in my mind their relationship is like. they are both dating suki and they will flirt with each other but they won’t actually hook up in any capacity unless suki is also there. but most of the time they just have a very strange, scary friendship wherein no one else can understand what they are talking about except for maybe mai and suki (and even they get lost sometimes). so i don’t really ship it in a traditional sense, but i do nonetheless think their dynamic is very fruitful because they are both such layered, fascinating characters in general.

#actual-giraffe #asks #sokka #ty lee #sokka&tylee #not tagging the rest of them but the sokka suki mai ty lee polycule is real . 2 me

[rendezvouz-fling]

Some of my fav placements pt. 2⚡️

(Quick note: My learning has progressed so here’s my fav placements as of rn!🥂)

• Sun • Scorpio, Aquarius, Capricorn, Gemini, Cancer & Leo!

Scorpio suns just feel like family! They can be nice/generous to a fault. Their sun falls in my 5th/6th house cusp and that’s funny because I see them as fiery and dramatic yet they’re also very caring and protective so it’s a big yes. 🙌🏽

Aquarius suns are literally the coolest! I can’t express how much I love you guys!! Literally always down for anything and hella open minded and I love that! They have this way of making others feel included in stuff even if they’re not that close with the person.

Capricorn suns where do I start? Their generosity is often overlooked. They’re the types to give without asking for anything in return. They’re also very caring even if it doesn’t show. These people tend to have big hearts and are also no bullsh!t type people.

Gemini suns.. I always tend to feel a fast connection with these people (their sun falls in my 12th/1st house cusp). Most of them are sweet and understanding, have bright ideas and hilarious laughters! I feel like I can talk to them about anything & everything because they’ll understand and then add onto it lol.

Cancer suns are so energetic and child-like and I’m so here for it!! Their sun falls in my 1st/2nd house & I know some other Cancer suns who are very chill and strive for stability above anything. They’re also very fun to be around and are great listeners!!

Leo suns are so nice!! Yes they might be brutally honest when calling you out but they’ll also look out for you and stick up for you no matter what! I love how unapologetically upfront they are! They can also seem a little distant at first but when they get attached to you it’s game over! • Moon • Aries, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Libra, Scorpio & Taurus!

Aries moons are smarter than given credit for! They’re very playful and very upfront. Have loud laughs and love trolling others for fun.😂 They’re also sweet people.💕

Sagittarius moons are actually pretty chill and charming in public but won’t back down from a debate/fight. I can’t express how alive and understood I feel with these people!! They’ve got stories for days and love laughing & lecturing others!

Aquarius moons’ detached yet daring demeanor is so attractive!! 😩 Also the goofiness is never ending!! Name me an Aquarius moon who doesn’t have an elite sense of humor I’ll wait.😂

Libra moons have cute smiles/laughters and are also funny people!! They give off 50% balanced / 50% chaotic energy lol. This one Libra moon I know has always wanted this cookie cutter, traditional relationship and I think that’s very Libra moon-like! Also, y’all feel like sisters to me!💗

Scorpio moons are very sweet and thoughtful when developed! They’re the types to check on you, try to help you in any way they can or do favors for you. Very generous and giving!😩 They’re also the types to include you in things or make plans with you!💞

Taurus moons to me are soo smart & eloquent! They have a fine eye for items of quality and for fashion!! They’re also understanding, somewhat old fashioned and tend to be pragmatic!

• Rising •

Gemini, Libra, Cancer, Leo, Virgo & Scorpio.

Gemini risings, I don’t think I’ve met that much but the few I’ve come to meet lately feel like extensions of myself. Their curiosity & way of talking, down to the way they view life feels all too familiar and intriguing! Normally we’d exchange knowledge and experiences so that’s cool.🏹

Libra risings and their calm & collected auras are soo satisfying to be around! They tend to be artistic and you’ll notice it right off the bat even if they just consider it a hobby. The main ones I know tend to be talented at everything that has to do with Vanity! From makeup to outfits to hair, just impeccable taste.🤌🏽💕

Cancer risings are sweeties.🤎 Their cheeks & eyes are so adorable!😩💕When they’re comfortable enough around you they tend to do this baby voice and it’s honestly the cutest thing!😭In social outings they tend to be shy and somewhat reserved yet very friendly and attentive!

Leo risings—first of all, GREAT HAIR. 😭💞 I’ve just come to befriend a few Leo risings lately and they come off so energetic and blunt! They’re the types to shamelessly say what everybody else is thinking and I love that!! They can also come off a little aggressive but what’s a Leo without flair?😟

Virgo risings are like, the other half of my brain.🥸 These people remember all the little details. You guys are soo smart!! They also come off as no bullsh!t type people which I like.🤎 I love how different they are from Gemini risings yet how fitting they both are with each other.

Scorpio risings are shy, cute babies!!💗💗 They’re not always mysterious like their stereotype. They just don’t know you and are too shy to come up to you and just introduce themselves. A lot of them are down to earth and actually really funny people! They’re also very talented and sweet!💜

• Mercury •

Libra, Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn & Cancer!

Libra mercuries are smart! They’re smooth & persuading. Animated and thoughtful. Understanding & charming. Love this placement!💗

Sagittarius mercuries are blunt and careless. Realistic and somewhat logical. Hilarious but can also be cold. I love this placement because the vibes are just genuine with them.❣️

Gemini mercuries can be very expressive or exaggerating sometimes especially when telling stories and I love that!! They also give off an intellectual vibe that’s very attractive!!❤️‍🔥

Virgo mercuries never miss the details. From minor to major and have very collective ways of sharing knowledge!🧃

Capricorn mercuries are the real strategists!!🎰 People I know with this placement are careful with their words/actions and often explain that they don’t want to seem negative and such.

Cancer mercuries are so sweet and caring! When they’re mad they don’t get all rude like a fire mercury would and that honestly sinks my heart.🥺 You just feel like these people care for you if you’ve stuck around long enough to get to know them!

• Venus •

Scorpio, Gemini, Libra, Leo, Sagittarius & Pisces.

Scorpio venuses are super caring and have this warm & calming energy to them!! 💜

Gemini venuses are fun to be around, naturally charming and very stimulating!!🍸

Libra venuses are levelheaded and tend to reason with situations.💄

Leo venuses like to show you off/boast about you to other people.💝

Sagittarius venuses are full of life and very enticing!💘

Pisces venuses are poetic, dreamy & comforting.💗

• Mars •

Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius & Virgo.

Aries mars are quick to come to your defense, playful & stimulating, energetic and sporty, funny & fiesty.

Capricorn mars are soo attractive!! Both in personality AND physicality!!😮‍💨

Scorpio mars are playful, somewhat pragmatic and deeply emotional people.💜

Taurus mars are ethereal!!💞 So tender and caring, possessive & sensual. Ughh😩😭🤎

Aquarius mars are just as calm as Cap mars!! They’re quirky and kinky. And also just very mentally & physically sexy?🥸🥂

Virgo mars are freakyyy people, ifykyk.😌

#astro community #astroblr #astro posts #astrology #astro blog #astro placements #rendezvous-fling

[nordickies]

Could we have a little more Estonia and Finland? I just love the way you draw them ^v^

Finland and Estonia's relationship is something so special, and any interaction they have makes me full of joy. But maybe it's one of those things only Finns and Estonians understand - these two connect so much more with each other than they do with the rest of the Nordics or Baltics

Some of my random views on their relationship are under the cut

Finland and Estonia have known each other for as long as they can remember. These two cultures have always interacted and traded; after all, they only have 80 km (~50 miles) of sea between them. And I am not opposed to the idea that they're actually related! They have a lifelong bond and have been with each other through some of their worst moments. Sometimes Finland and Estonia feel like only they truly understand one another, and everyone else is an outsider in their world. There is a lot of love, validation, and support between them!

Estonia should be older than Finland, and he has a lot more life experience than him. In their youth, Estonia was the protective one with great skills, who didn't fear other nations around them, while Finland was too young to understand what was happening. I would argue Estonia can be even more intimidating than Finland if he really wanted to be. Even Sweden didn't dare to mess with him (at first). Estonia was a wild one back in the day, never letting go without putting up a fight, but since then, he has become more calculative. Simply put, Estonia is the brain, while Finland is the brawn. You can see it in the way they approach things, too; Estonia is more knowledgeable but careful due to his experiences, making sure to plan things way up ahead and taking a long time to trust others. Meanwhile, Finland is more trusting and stays neutral in many matters. Because of his people-pleasing personality, Fin just doesn't want to be enemies with anyone. Estonia, however, finds it impossible to sustain. These two have been under the same rule twice, but their experiences have been very different

Finland values their relationship highly and spends a lot of time with Estonia, though Estonia sometimes sees Finland as a little too dependent on him. Finland can be tiresome at times and doesn't always understand Estonia's worries, but Estonia knows Finland loves him deeply and would do anything for Estonia, even against orders. There have been times when their leaders haven't approved of their cooperation, yet they have always found sneaky ways to support each other

They're poets, just like the rest of the Baltic Finnic people, and music plays a huge part in their life, especially for Estonia. Estonia has an amazing singing voice and produces music in his free time, but Finland is more skilled with lyrical writing and instruments. Their "alien" status among other Europeans and dying roots have driven them to cooperate more together to preserve their heritage and traditions

They share similar lifestyles and common interests, to the point that they can almost read each other's minds. They both have a great sense of humor and a lot of insider jokes. Estonia and Finland are both silly and curious, constantly getting stupid ideas they just have to try out. Estonia is very clever and a bit of an inventor. These guys have come up with the wildest usages for old vehicles and electric scooters. Speaking of cars, these two are crazy (but skilled) drivers. Both countries are known for their cold-nerved WRC champions, so it's a hobby that they share. They're daredevils who want to go fast on rural forest roads or frozen lakes. To them, it's a ton of fun - for others, it's a nightmare. Estonia and Finland can turn anything into a challenge, like throwing various items, seeing who can stay in the sauna for the longest, or competing about wife-carrying. They have a lot of competitiveness but in a healthy way. Fin and Eesti are happy to compliment and cheer each other on. All they wanna do is have fun! (While Norway and Sweden will argue and diss one another mercilessly over the smallest of wins)

They're both party-loving people who have get-togethers all the time, usually involving alcohol and sauna. When they're intoxicated, they can begin to understand one another, which is freaky. When they hang out together, they speak a weird mixture of each other's languages, switching between Finnish and Estonian and, in some cases mixing some other language in there too. And no one else has any idea what is going on. Finland especially finds Estonia's language hilarious, and they get into some awkward misunderstandings from time to time

THEY'RE INSEPARABLE BEST FRIENDS, END OF DISCUSSION. THE IDEAL AND PURE MASCULINE FRIENDSHIP! Plus, FinEst literally says "finest"! If you ship them, all my love to you <3 But in my opinion, Estonia deserves someone less draining than Finland, hah. And male friendships can be so pure, and I want to see more of them!!

#hws finland #hws estonia #my art #headcanons

[pigeonpeach]

You’re making it hard to leave

Nilou x gender neutral eremite reader part 2!

Part 1 here

Part 3 here

Part 4 the final part

A/n: i think I’ll do one other part maybe? Maybe two more? I’ll see. Sorry if yall aren’t big nilou fans because she is my muse now

Sumeru city was… different. You weren’t expecting your fellow eremites to be okay with you taking time off to go to the city. You gave the excuse of wanting to explore the culinary field a bit before going back out. Although you suspected they knew of your feelings to Nilou. They hadn’t seen her alot. After that night they seemed to sense your feelings and fondness of her. You remember your fellow eremite Clear water pulling you aside before you left the Ribat, heading to the jungle instead of the desert. Her words still lingered in your head. “If you keep entertaining those feelings of yours, you’ll get in too deep and then you’ll be stuck inbetween worlds.” She didn’t seem too happy with your decision to go forward anyways. You told her it wasn’t like that. That you simply were sick of the desert and wanted to try the city life. Its not like Eremites are bound to the desert. Plenty are in the jungle and in the city. Although your tribe was not one of them…

Your tribe… you wondered how they were now. A high value client called for escort to a camp somewhere. You wouldn’t get any mora from that considering your absence but you waved them off, leaving your own little cook book with them. Although you weren’t related to any of them, you had come to see them as family. Your family were Eremites. This job was more than just mercenary work or desert life, it was your blood and your family traditions. As the only child you felt the pressure to continue your families legacy. Even if you didn’t like it that much. You aren’t the closest member of the tribe, but they notice your absence in the morning. They noticed your protectiveness of Nilou and even commented on it once she left to rejoin some friends at the Ribat. Your tribe wasn’t close friends you would say, they seemed annoyed by the few hobbies you enjoyed outside of any sparring or strengthening exercises. They humored your cooking for the tastes and delicious foods you could make, but if you tried to ramble about your thought process and future ideas for other recipes they’d nod out of sync clearly trying to skip the conversation. Spars was the only bonding you had with them. You were strong no doubt, they were as well. It was actually fun to wrestle with them, even sometimes assisting in their workouts occasionally. But your bond with them wasn’t the strongest, you wouldn’t like to leave though. This had been your life since forever it seemed, leaving and changing professions now would be like becoming a different person completely. But alas, the city was now in your sights, the bridge to the city was right over a waterfall. Birds gathered to chirp as tourists fanned themselves with the overpriced fans vendors would purposefully upcharge. A sigh left your lips as you headed in.

The bustling market place was almost… exciting. You hadn’t seen such assortments in awhile. Aaru village did have market days where merchants would sell goods and eremites could get better equipment, but more importantly, you could get foreign spices, often for a discount as those merchants recognized you. Your culinary skills had won over and eased many clients, in fact your main topic of conversation with them was their dishes. If they were from afar you would inquire about their specialties, their comfort foods etc. If they brought vegetables or meats of their own you would prepare it. Because of that they’d lower their prices for you. Not always but sometimes. Generosity isn’t common, especially towards eremites like yourself, you take what you can get. But here you weren’t to well known. Both a relief and a burden. You had only one “friend” in the city. Those various College students you escorted wouldn’t be likely to help you out here.

Maybe this was a bad idea? Maybe you should go back into the wilderness and relax there. People send you glares as if trying to intimidate you, which is weird considering you’re just trying to find the Theatre. The shorter ones were intimidated and timid. Finally you had to admit defeat, you wouldn’t find the theatre yourself, “Excuse me?” You asked a old lady.

“WHAT?! I don’t WANT YOUR PRODUCTS!” She yelled.

“I just wanted to know where the Zubayr Theatre was.” You said, a stern expression settling as you looked at her confused. She seemed red with embarrassment as she cleared her throat.

“Ah sorry, keep going straight and make a left by the hospital.” She said. You didn’t know city folk could be so tense. Either way it only made you regret your decision more.

The day was horrible, you finally got in just in time, the lights were on and the crowd was surrounding the stage. You found a spot where you could see the stage. Wondering if this truly would’ve been worth it all. Nilou was nice yes, but you also hadn’t seen her since she left the Ribat, you had wanted to go with her but your tribe insisted you stay for a bit. Maybe this was all just for nothing…

But when the crowd died and the music began, your eyes naturally drew to Nilou even before she got into the spot light. She waited behind a pillar as some other people seemed to encourage her. Finally she stepped into the light, spinning with grace. And in the moment you saw her again did all those doubts melt away, the stress, the glares, the anxieties seemed to evaporate. The Theatre was indoors which made the music echo off the ceiling and the walls, surrounding your ears. Her dance was like the one you saw before, but it seemed a bit.. stiff. Probably just nerves. You couldn’t take your eyes off of her for the longest time.

For a moment, she moved closer to the edge of the stage, her eyes landed on yours, you noticed that stiffness leave. Her movements became more confident and even quick. The music built up tension as the lights seemed to get brighter and brighter. You noticed her hydro vision was glowing as she raised droplets of water to surround her. And then at the end did the water splash outwards, forming a lotus flower surrounding her. Applause erupted as people cheered. You clapped along, still dazed as you looked at her.

You waited after the show. But it seemed like everyone in all of Sumeru wanted to meet and talk to her. You waited patiently, ignoring the pangs of hunger, you hadn’t been able to eat today. Your nerves and mind blocked out any hunger, now however you were antsy and hungry. Nilou’s eyes darted, meeting yours, you wondered if you were overthinking when she seemed to straighten up upon seeing you. Quickly dismissing herself and running over.

“You made it! I- i mean i figured you would at some point but I didn’t expect to see you so soon!” She seemed excited. “I also expected you would leave right after if I’m honest.”

“I went through alot of trouble to be here. Don’t worry I’m not in trouble with my tribe or anything, i have about a week until they’re back, then I’ll go back to work. Consider it a… vacation.” You said. She seemed even more excited.

“Oh that’s wonderful! That gives you plenty of time to explore the city and its treats! Say, our theatre group is going to have a celebratory dinner later if you would like to attend..” she noticed your stomach’s growl. “Oh dear, did you not have anything?”

“Ah.. i guess I forgot. I was so focused and stressed I forgot about food entirely. I might just find a local stand if that’s okay.” You said.

“I’ll join you then. I’ll help you find one. There’s usually a lot at this time. Ooh! I actually have a friend of mine who likes to give me discounts and such. Lets see them!” She said, taking your hand by instinct as she started to walk out the area. You normally wouldn’t let someone grab you like that but.. you were really whipped for her. Embarrassingly so, considering you hardly knew her.

“Woah you’re right, that does kind of resemble lobster meat.” Nilou’s friend tried some extra scorpion meat you had. “Wow, that might be a untapped market, scorpion meat is hardly ever sold.”

“Well it is rather hard to get. They are fighters and often in groups. It would take a seasoned hunter or fighter to avoid their stingers and take them out quickly.” You said.

“Well I’ll be damned. You truly do make friends with the weirdest people Nilou.” He chuckled. You felt slightly insulted

“Oh he didn’t mean like you’re weird just that my selection is. I’ve had friends from nobility, other nations, and even eremites including yourself. I guess to some people its strange.” She said.

“Oh yeah i didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure there’s stranger things than eating scorpions. Anyways here is your order, Potato Boat and Tachin, don’t worry its on the house!” He smiled. You were a little surprised. She seemed a less so.

“Oh are you sure? I have plenty I could pay you with!” Nilou said insistent.

“Its fine you’ve helped me plenty of times, not to mention those free tickets youve given to my daughter and I. By all means I am in your debt. Enjoy your meal you two.” He said shooing you two away. You smiled.

“Thank you sir, if you ever do need something I’d be glad to repay the favor.” You said instinctively. He said surprised.

“Oh no don’t worry, you’re Nilou’s friend so any friend of hers is one of mine. Enjoy the meal.” He said. You would retort but you figured it wouldn’t hurt to not do so. The two of you waved goodbye leaving to find a quiet spot to eat. Although your dish was alluring and fragrant, you were still focused on Nilou. Finally you two found a short stone wall, there was minimal traffic through the area as you two sat on it to eat.

“How was your journey here? You seemed to get here a day later.” She asked curiously.

“Not bad. I had to negotiate with my tribe a bit. Its all good now. I actually wasted some time trying to find some more harra harra fruit.”

“So you spent s night all by yourself in the wilderness?” She seemed worried.

“Well yeah, I’m fine though obviously. I’ve done it before even in the desert.” You contemplated your mext words. “My parents were eremites too, so they wanted to test my ability to survive in the wilderness. It helped toughen me up.” She seemed worried.

“So.. your parents left a kid.. alone in the desert… to prepare them..” she seemed concerned.

“It wasn’t in a unsafe location. It was on the outskirts of Aaru village, pretty safe. Besides I only ever did it in the seasons with few sandstorms and few monsters nearby.” You said dismissively. You started to eat your food, hoping to avoid more questions. But Nilou’s worry still lingered, you could sense it.

“When did you know you wanted to be a Eremite?” She asked. You chewed and swallowed while contemplating your answer. Hoping the cheesey potato mixed with garnishes and spice would somehow come up with a appropriate response.

“Well.. my whole family have been eremites. Its kind of a tradition going down both sides. I Think its back to my great great grandparents maybe? But.. well I didn’t really have many other convictions in life. At least this way I get to see the world and have adventures.” You said. Her concern didn’t fade.

“Do you like being a eremite?” She asked. You pondered. The potato no longer provided a distraction or soothing sensation, you didn’t realize you had been taking such big bites as most of it was gone already.

“Sort of. I don’t really know what else I’d be though.” Silence fell as you felt like you ruined it all. “Don’t worry about me. I’m strong, I can and have been through alot. Sure my life isn’t perfect but no one’s is really. I’m satisfied.” You said.

“Hmm.. I guess its wrong of me to make that judgment. There aren’t much opportunities in Aaru village other than being a eremite is there?” She asked cautiously but sympathetically.

“Yeah. Usually you have to be born into that role, most don’t want to train someone other than their own kids. Besides money is always a issue there. I’m sure things are getting better now. Sometimes I visit my parents there. They’re retired now. My dad was actually the one who fueled my love of cooking. He loved preparing all sorts of meats, crocodile jerky, crocodile meat, Scorpion, snake meat, and there was the occasional mushroom. I think sumpter beast as well? He was a expert hunter. As his only kid he passed that onto me. I actually enjoyed those moments the most.” You felt more at ease, remembering how he’d tease you with the skinned snake body, puppeteering its mouth and threatening to eat you if you didn’t eat your greens and go to bed on time.

“That’s actually sweet… i think.. I’ve never heard of snake meat being eaten.. isn’t it venomous.” Nilou asked. You paused, your focus on her slanted headdress that was starting to fall off, your hand reached out to fix it. She seemed a bit flustered as you fixed her headdress. “Oh thanks.”

“Its no problem. Anyways enough about meats and deserts. What is city life like for you?” You asked.

“Well.. you’ve seen it today but I’m kind of uh… ‘popular’ in some circles. Our theatre group is well liked and has helped built up this community and stability. There’s tons of friendships and bonds between each other. Everyone has each other’s back. We’ve dealt with the Akademiya’s interference alot and having that close knot community is essential for pushing back. But its not just that, for me its like everyone is a friend I haven’t met yet. I know alot of people in the Akademiya and out of it. They’re all so compassionate and sweet. I sometimes feel burdened by all their favors and free stuff.” Nilou smiled as she rambled.

“Free stuff?” You asked confused.

“Oh you only saw part of it today. But I’m friends with lots and lots of vendors. Whenever they have the chance they give me excess products and such. Its kind of exhausting carrying all that stuff. I tend to give it out sometimes if its not personalized. Of course it does depend on the item in question but I also like to give stuff back to the community as well.” She sighed happily, noticing the darkening sky.

“That sounds nice.” You smiled unintentionally.

“Oh its dark out! I guess you need to head back to your inn right?” She asked. You looked at her confused.

“Umm.. I’m actually going to go camping nearby.” You answered. She seemed surprised.

“F-for the whole stay? You’re not going to get a hotel room or anything? There’s pretty cheap inns I could recommend if you’re hard on cash. Heck I even know a guy w-“ you held out your hand so she stopped.

“Its fine. I like it that way. Trust me I’m very capable.” You smiled at her. She sighed, clearly still worrying.

“You’re sure? You don’t get alot of vacations.. why not indulge a little?” She asked. Her offer seemed tempting. Your back had been aching recently… you hadn’t slept in a proper bed in years. And if she was honest about getting a good deal then it might be worth it.

“As long as its cheap. I don’t really care about he quality really.” You said. You noticed a glint in her eyes as she lightened up.

“Great! Lets head over!” This time she held her hand out to you, offering it. You paused, deciding to take the chance you took her hand in yours. You had more time to notice it now, your hand was a big bigger than her dainty but long fingers. Her fingers interlocked with yours perfectly. You knew that it is foolish to let your heart run, to let it dominate your senses like this, but you couldn’t help it.

The inn bed truly was a good choice. You never felt so comfortable in your life. The roll up cushion you used for transport wasn’t even close to this level of comfort. The inn itself wasn’t too impressive, but it was comfortable. Nilou snickered reminding you that she was still here.

“You… you look like you melted..” she giggled. Normally you would shoot up and try to defend yourself but… the bed is too comfortable to leave. And with the gentle gaze of Nilou you wondered if this was what spas felt like.

“It feels.. nice…” you mumbled. She smiled. You felt a little bad, Nilou had essentially bargained her way to a less deal by offering the hotel owner to perform for his little daughter’s birthday, an then insisted on paying it herself. All day she had been so nice, so accommodating.. you couldn’t just let her do everything. “How should I pay you back?” You asked.

“Hm? Well there’s really no need. I won’t hold it against you trust me. I had a lovely time with you today and that’s all I could ask for.” She insisted with that smile. That smile, that’s the stuff that would get non believers on their hands and knees and prayer. Nilou was very pretty, you had tried very hard to ignore that. But when she smiled at you with that genuine and sincere smile, it felt like every brick of your walls fell like dominoes. It was almost scary how Nilou bypassed every instinct and intuition you had developed. You wondered if maybe she was setting you up. But then your meeting made no sense. Who dances in a oasis at night just hoping some kind eremite would fall for their trap. Besides this is one weird trap considering the lengths she had gone to.

It didn’t make sense to think of Nilou as anything sinister or immoral. So your caution drained as she sat on the bed.

“Are you tired? You look really sleepy. I’ll leave if you’re tired.” She said.

“Nilou..” she came a bit closer. “I’d do anything you would ask me to. That is my payment to you.” Nilou’s cheeks grew pink.

“Oh.. you don’t have to.. but if you insist. I promise I won’t make you do something too demanding.” She said. You shook your head.

“I can take it, whatever you need me for I’ll do.” You insisted. Nilou hummed in thought.

“Well… we do need help with stage building when you have some time.. really wed just need you to be our heavy lifter. Our main strong arm is on paternity currently. And.. I wouldn’t say most of the team is that um… strong? Not in a negative sense just in that they wouldn’t be able to do it as easily. Of course you don’t have to! Its just a offer and you will be paid I assure you!” She stood up. You smiled.

“You know its not a favor if you pay me right? I’ll do it but I still owe you one.” You smiled comfortably. Her nervous expression soothed into a gentle smile. As she stood up.

“Alright if you insist,” she collected her things. “Alright well I gotta go now. I’ll see you tomorrow right?”

“Certainly.”

“Great. Sleep tight! I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said before leaving. You noticed a sound in the room, quickly recognizing it as your heart. You sighed.

You know its bad to get attached so quickly. Its the worst thing for a person like yourself to fall in love so easily because it leaves you so vulnerable. If Nilou didn’t return your feelings you felt like it might crush you. But you didn’t want to ruin your friendship with her. You wanted her in your life. Just in some way at least. But it didn’t really matter then, you wouldn’t see much of her when you back to the desert. That idea stung. Clear Water’s warning just became more and more clear.

#genshin imagines #genshin x y/n #gender neutral reader #nilou x reader #domestic fluff #pinning #slight angst

[i-heart-hxh]

I'm sure you've gotten this question before but the needle question got me thinking: do you have any idea how the Zoldyck heir situation even works? I'm guessing it's based on a talent and performance base (and having anime protag hair lol), but it's interesting that it's not simply "the eldest child is the heir to the family business." And if so, when was Killua deemed the heir? Love to hear your thoughts!

Hello! Actually, nobody's asked me this before, so it's a fun topic to dig into!

Canon doesn't provide much detail on this topic, so I'll do my best to convey what we do/don't know and then make some guesses based off that.

There's a popular belief I've seen in the fandom that Killua was chosen as the heir because of his hair color (and/or potentially nen type that may or may not come along with this), however this has never been confirmed by anything in the series. I do think when Togashi designed the Zoldyck siblings with Killua being the only one to inherit the white/silver hair like Silva and Zeno, it was almost certainly with the intention of making the fact that he's "special" among the family even clearer, but as far as we know currently, the heir is chosen based on perceived talent/potential.

I'm guessing this might include physical prowess and skill as an assassin, leadership ability, and mental stability. Killua is said to be the most talented Zoldyck in the entire history of the family, so I'm sure that heavily weights the decision towards him (in spite of the elements that make him "unsuitable," which the family seems to believe they can push out of him in various ways).

(Unofficial translation, but it was worded in a more straightforward way than the official one.)

We're never told how or when the heir is decided--perhaps they evaluate the children at a certain age with regards to this, or it's simply an ongoing discussion among the heads of the household until they come to a decision. There may be some formal process or ritual to determine who becomes the heir that we just haven't been given info on. It wouldn't surprise me with how complex the Zoldyck family's traditions, rules, and ways of operating are. I do think it makes sense that the heir isn't just the first born son, because assassination is an intense, multifaceted trade and leaving that business in the hands of just anyone doesn't seem wise.

Here's a bit that implies there's some sort of timeline by which the heir is prepared to take over the family, because Killua is apparently at the most crucial stage of this:

Looking at the other siblings, I think it's pretty clear why Killua is the best choice (in the view of Silva and Kikyo)--Illumi is unstable, power hungry, and has no qualms about killing innocent people to achieve his goals; Milluki is a shut-in who seems more focused on his hobbies than "work" and lacks common sense; Alluka has the Nanika issue and is barely even considered a member of the family to begin with. I don't know if Kalluto has anything in particular that disqualifies him, but it's not as though it's easy to compete with Killua, the most talented Zoldyck in the history of the family...

It wouldn't surprise me if we get a little more detail on the heir situation later in the series, seeing as Killua is still considered the heir as far as we know, and I think that's an issue that's going to have to be dealt with eventually in some way or another.

That's about all the insight I can give on this topic for now because we've only been given little tidbits on how it works, but I hope this was helpful or interesting nonetheless. Thank you for asking!

#hxh #hunter x hunter #killua #zoldyck family #meta #asks #ive-bean-boozled #my posts #if anyone finds any other references to the heir situation and how it works I'd be curious to see! #I don't think I missed any but there's a lot of detail in hxh and I can't re-read the entire manga to be sure

[boopiddyboop]

Bang Chan Natal Chart Reading

Hello and welcome to my first individual chart reading on this blog. While I read charts (especially of K-Pop artists) mostly for fun, I wanted to try something a little more involved in scope. I rotated between candidates for the first victim, but ultimately I landed on Bang Chan (who may or may not be my ult bias? More on that later). I have hopes to do other idols whose birth times are confirmed as well, if there’s any interest in reading more. Or even if there’s not. Honestly, this entire blog is pretty self-indulgent.

Full Disclaimer: Most of my knowledge is by traditional astrology, which involves but is not limited to: using whole signs, excluding Uranus-Pluto for natal charts, different sign rulers, and different planetary interpretations.  Astrology is subjective by nature; I do not think my way is best, simply that this is the version of interpretation that makes the most sense to me. This is not a professional service, simply a hobby meant for entertainment purposes only.  Feel free to disagree with or question my conclusions.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s get into the meat of it:

Placements:

Sun: Libra - 5th house

Moon: Libra - 5th house

Mercury: Libra - 5th house

Venus: Scorpio - 6th house

Mars: Sagittarius - 7th house

Jupiter: Aquarius - 9th house

Saturn: Aries - 11th house

Ascendant: Gemini

Midheaven: Aquarius - 9th House

North Node: Virgo - 4th House

Starting from the top, Bang Chan’s chart ruler in Mercury in Libra, which presides over his Gemini Rising. Sun and Moon are also in Libra. What does it all mean? Well, for one, Libra is one of the two signs ruled by Venus (the other being Taurus). Typically speaking, Libra is an incredibly artistic sign, looking for beauty in the world. It seeks to be fair and just, which can lean into being indecisive at worst. It’s no wonder that Libra is touching every part of Chan’s big 3. Who he is, how he feels, and how he communicates, all in Libra- between that and his 10th house in Pisces, another incredibly artistic placement, I have little shock that he ended up in music. It just suits him so well. With all that Libra energy sitting in the 5th house, a benefic house and the ruler of fun and pleasure, he’s very charming. Someone who comes off as a friend almost immediately. Magnetic, even.

Chan’s Libra 5th house is ruled by a Venus in Scorpio. As I mentioned in my previous blurb about Stray Kids’ charts, without that Scorpionic influence, I think Chan would simply float away with his ambitions (Libra, as a Cardinal sign, is very idea oriented and less execution).. Instead, Scorpio adds a lot of the emotion and ambition needed to make them a reality. Scorpio Venus, ruled by the malefic Mars, gets misinterpreted both positively and negatively, but I do think that its influence in his chart is largely helpful. With it being placed in the 6th house, the house of work and health, it's giving caretaker vibes. Acts of Service as a love language type. 

Moving on to the seventh house, Chan has a Mars in Sagittarius that is…interesting. Mars, the sign of energy and fight, is sitting in the house of long term relationships and opposite of self. Mars in Sagittarius is actually a decent placement because that fire sign is helping his Mars work as intended, but sitting in the seventh house, this points to potentially being hasty in relationships. Also, may enjoy dynamics with a little bite to them. I’m reminded of the clip of Chan, specifically.

So the 9th house is the house of other cultures, right? It’s little surprise that Chan has both his Midheaven and Jupiter sitting here in Aquarius. Success, expansion and public exposure in foreign cultures. Groundbreaking interpretation, I know. Though, when it comes to Chan, I wonder what one would consider the foreign culture? Ethnically Korean, raised in Australia, professionally working back in Korea. Which one to consider home? With his North Node sitting in the 4th house, the house of home, I think this is a question he has asked and may continue to ask across his life. 

Finally, I’ll make my final observations on his Aries Saturn in the 11th house. Saturn in Aries havers (1996-1999ish)  tend to have extreme irritation and constriction in their life wherever this is placed, if not balanced out. Unfortunately, the major aspect to this placement is its opposition to his Libra Sun. It seems like a war between the self and the dreams. The fun and the vision. I don’t think it’s a reach to say that he definitely experienced this dynamic in his predebut years, but that’s the fun of doing celebrity chart readings- you have a lot of source material to work with in confirming your biases.

All in all, I do really like Chan’s chart! He’s not without his struggles, but I think a lot of the energy is cohesive. As an aside, my personal chart is so incredibly similar but trine to his (Air/Fire dominant, with a smattering of water influence to tame that), that it's no surprise that I was immediately drawn to him. I love seeing astrologically how we tend to pick biases that either sync or balance with our energy.

Questions, comments, or requests can all go here

#astrology #kpop astrology #stray kids astrology #skz astrology #bang chan #bang chan astrology #bang chan natal chart #stray kids chan #stray kids bang chan #christopher bang #stray kids

[nectar-cellar]

💕 self-love time! talk about which ones of YOUR creations (edits, artworks, fanfics) you like the most then send to other sim-blogs to do the same 💕

i love this question, thank you for spreading the positivity!!

i really love my vlad and bella one shot. i make story posts so rarely because i struggle with writer's block and writing is a skill i don't often practice. i cant even name the last book/story i read... i've really neglected my hobby of reading and writing. but i just love the photography and mini story i came up with for that.

here's the link for those who want to read it from start to finish.

i kind of cringe at the writing tbh. but it's ok. i give myself permission to write imperfectly.

obviously, my count vlad sim is one of my favourite sims i've ever made. sometimes i change up his beard and his outfit, but his face has stayed the same, that's how perfect he is to me. 💘

for my cc, i can't believe i've actually created so much stuff when you browse through the tag on my blog. i love the sportswear set i came up with. at first i just wanted to make a tight compression shirt. then my ideas kept expanding until it ended up as a whole set. also, i got a few people to test it out for me and i loved seeing their sims wearing it. i think that download sums up my blog and sense of humour pretty well. i can't believe how many downloads it got and i often see it in other people's screenshots. i just love it. show me all your pixel beefcake.

i am also really proud of the beard packs i made. first, because figuring How To Make A Beard was such a journey. second, because i use those beards sooo much on my own sims and they just make them look so good UGH! third, because they're also the items that get downloaded the most which i never expected. at first i only planned to make one beard pack, i never thought i'd end up getting so many ideas or that i would be able to actually execute them. i see those beards in so many ts3 screenshots here, on twitter, and on youtube, it just makes me feel like wow i really contributed something to this community that everyone can enjoy over and over again.

and i can't even take full credit for making them because they wouldn't have been possible without the textures by @/imamiii , simple life, omega starr, etc. so it almost feels like a tribute to the creators who came before me and whose stuff i loved before i ever was a cc creator. that is how i feel about making cc, like it's my way of giving back and continuing the tradition of making and sharing cc for fun, creativity, and community above everything. 💗

[swashbucklery]

I have been thinking about the costuming in Willow a lot, and yes this is for fanfiction reasons but it's also just for fun. As background, my non-fandom hobbies are mostly textile based: I sew garments and teach sewing classes, I'm an experienced knitter and handspinner and I've started to dabble in wool processing from fleece and four-shaft weaving.

So once I get into a Textile Puzzle Hole I can go pretty deep, and this is a fun and important part of understanding the worldbuilding for me.

Because they're doing a thing with Willow that - I actually really enjoy. It's not "classic fantasy" in the sense that it's not period-appropriate or of a specific era that we'd recognize. They're also clearly trying to call back to the 80s roots of the original film with some of the design choices; mostly the elements of armor and clothing that they're pulling from traditional martial arts clothing and the existence of Fun Fantasy Denim.

A lot of my thoughts aren't necessarily about critique, but more about trying to put together a cohesive rubric for myself as to what the costuming aesthetic is. Because it's not "anything goes," it's got a specific vibe and a clear voice and I want to "get it" more for my own writing and for my own understanding.

I think the two rules that I've drilled down so far are:

Textiles As Artisan Material (all-handmade, no fantasy spandex)

Function Over Form

1. Textiles As Artisan Material So to get into this a little, I want to get into the idea of how textiles are made because for me I'm In Deep and know a lot about the raw material to cloth to garment process but the average person does not. (I will say, I'm excepting the Cuirass from all of this - we know metatextually that it's a 3d printed stretch fabric bodysuit; it's also magic so it doesn't count.)

So, the average person is used to textile production that is predicated on post-industrial-revolution technology. Meaning:

power-driven machines for weaving and spinning

computer technology available in spinning and weaving machinery to allow for easy production of highly complex cloth structures and patterning

overabundance and artificially low costs of raw materials

When you are thinking of fabric (and I'd include cloth and leather here but not metal armor) as a skilled artisan material, understanding the reasoning for, for instance, Jade having one shirt for the entire series involves understanding what steps are involved. Then, we can understand how many human beings are involved in fabric and therefore garment production and also how many people need to get paid along the way. A piece of cloth entirely handmade for a garment would involve:

a producer to grow the textile fiber (cotton, flax, wool, hide for leather)

skilled artisans to process the fiber (washing, preparing for spinning which could include combing/carding wool, retting flax, etc, leather tanning)

skilled artisans to add dye. This can be done at the stage of prepared fiber, finished thread/yarn, or finished cloth. In a real-world/modern context, this would have significant impact on the cost of cloth. Certain colours (reds, purples) are much harder to dye true than others or require more expensive dyestuff.

skilled spinners to turn the fiber into fine threads for weaving - depending on the fineness needed for the specific weave of the cloth this could be weeks to months of work. Thinner threads will take more time but have more drape and be less stiff as a cloth, so you'd need thin threads for next-to-skin garments like undershirts, and for fine fabrics in things like dresses or fancy formalware

weavers to weave the threads into cloth. Again, the timing here would depend on the type of thread being used but it would also depend on whether or not there are any woven-in embellishments as components of the cloth. Basic cloth in plain weave would take time but not a lot of extra skill; twills or patterning require more time and weaving skill.

embroiderers to add any embellishments either to the base cloth or to the finished garment

tailors and seamstresses to make garments to measure, which would involve cutting any pieces out of the finished cloth and turning it into a garment the correct size for the wearer. If we are assuming that the mechanical sewing machine has not been invented, then garments would be sewn by hand.

handsewing a correctly finished garment involves more than just tacking the pieces together; seam finishes so that the cloth doesn't unravel often require going over the same seam line one or more times. The labour hours in this step cannot be overstated.

metalworkers or other craftspeople to make fastenings and finishings: buttons, toggles, grommets on lacing that weren't handsewn, etc.

leather garments would be made by a separate type of textile worker, since leatherwork requires different tools and a different skillset to successfully construct garments.

So for a basic garment we're looking at needing to pay six separate types of skilled artisans for their work, up to six or seven if it's a garment with elaborate fittings and/or finishing such as buttons or metal fasteners.

The textile economy is relevant here because it is going to translate directly into style. Cutting fabric into patterned shapes leaves waste; this is fine if you're using mass-produced fabric that you can easily afford to replace but if cloth is the 10/10 most precious thing in your garment, you're going to try to cut it into as low-waste a design as possible. It might also lead to less fussy fitting, so that garments are adjustable and can be used by a person for much longer.

It also translates into textile types. Prior to the advent of mechanical knitting machines, any knit (stretch) fabrics would be hand knit. If you have ever tried knitting yourself, you understand that knitting with thin thread takes more time, and therefore more labour hours.

What this means for clothing in-universe on Willow is:

almost entirely woven fabrics, with the exception of handknitting (see: Elora’s scarf-shawl)

this likely does translate into undergarments; I've been looking at regency and late-Victorian era examples to get my head around. The modern bra and panty set is heavily heavily dependent on not just machine knit fabric but also a TON of petroleum-based synthetic textiles that cannot be produced without modern post-industrial means.

fastened using items that can be handmade! Buttons, toggles, clasps, ties or belts for the most part, with the occasional Fantasy Rivet or Fantasy Grommet.

precious! so precious! Expensive to produce and also worth caring for; we see some examples of visible mending in-show and that would have been the standard for everyone with the exception of Kit and Airk.

2. Function Over Form So this is maybe something that I only think about because I sew, but the modern eye is really used to equating and understanding "woven" fabrics and "stretch woven" fabrics as equivalent. Jeans are the easiest example to think about: they're made with denim, but in things like skinny jeans that denim is usually blended with some kind of spandex. Typical woven fabric doesn't stretch in either direction in a meaningful way; stretch-woven fabrics do so because of the synthetic textile content.

So a lot of the design choices that we see in the show really have to take into account that those textiles won't stretch with movement, and that the wearers need to be able to swordfight:

larger, baggier shirts with cuffs or vests rather than more fitted shirts, to allow for full movement at the elbow and shoulder

trousers that have a bit of extra wearing ease at the hip and thigh, so that when the wearer sits or squats there is room for the change in their body shape with these positions

there are a couple of GREAT leather jackets (Kit's in the early season especially), but if you look closely there's actually a grommet-and-lacing system to attach the sleeve head to the body, so that the shoulder still moves. So clever!

Anyway I have been having a lot of fun thinking about this and deconstructing the garments further. Thinking more about the costuming helps me find the worldbuilding details that make it easy for me to write, and I’d love to chat about this lots and lots! I do have some screenshot receipts for this; I didn’t include them because I mostly just wanted to write and not do ~graphic design today.

#grouchy aunt j's fantasy textile opinions #willow: medium powerful magic once adjusted for inflation #willow 2022 #fibre arts are the best arts

[dailyadventureprompts]

Heavy Topics: Elemental Madness and Mental Health

To catch everyone up on the discussion that’s been going around regarding the depiction of “madness” in TTRPGs, there’s a long tradition in media of portraying those suffering from breaks or disruptions to their mental health as dangerous and alien. This has not only stigmatized those people most in need of sympathy and aid but has slowed down a lot of discussions regarding mental health and by doing so created an environment where ignorance,  neglect, and traumatic abuse can be perpetuated.

At the same time, this concept of “madness” as it exists in media has taken on a life of its own, seen as an almost elemental force that can pervade the world and eat away at the inherent order of things like an acid of the mind. This sort of madness has mechanics in many game systems, with characters having to resist and treat it as they would poison or a magical curse. The problem arises when these systems begin to interact with real mental health concerns:  I’ve played games where taking PTSD or Alcoholism as a flaw at character creation got me more skill points, to say nothing of Lovecraftian horrors inflicting schizophrenia or obsessive compulsion as an AOE attack.

TLDR: What we have here is a topic that needs to be handled with nuance, a situation that TTRPGs have been historically bad at. On one hand as someone who wants his hobby to be welcoming and who has had long struggles with mental health, I don’t want to include things in my game that could be alienating or othering. Conversely, there is a place in gameplay for both mental strain and psychic fuckery but those systems need to be handled with tact and placed at a remove from mental health conditions which should be something dealt with more on the character side of things. If we really want to cement this gap, I propose separating “elemental madness” into an actual force that doesn’t just afflict the mind, but reality itself, afflicting the targets and their surroundings with a dreamlike surrealism.

I’ll talk about my reasoning behind elemental madness below the cut, as well as why it’s fucked up to try and deal with real mental health issues through game mechanics.

Madness as genre conceit: Every culture has superstition surrounding mental health, but as the western enlightenment gave way to industrialization the old thoughts about demons and visions from god gave way to the concept of insanity as illness, and that those experiencing or expressing abnormal behaviours or beliefs should be confined just like those suffering from any other form of contagion. It was this tradition that intersected with one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century: Howard Phillips Lovecraft and the xenophobia that underlined his work

Lovecraft was terrified of the unknown, in that if he didn’t understand something he was very likely to write a short story about it being the vessel for a life ruining/world dooming horror.  Central to his work is the idea that there are things one can learn that can break the human mind, entities so vast or so terrible, truths so impossible, that it destroys a person’s ability to reason and leaves them to gibbering terror (his natural state apparently).  This is the form of madness that d&d has inherited, the sort of thing that has cultists pledging themselves to gods intent on ending the world, and villains acting in nonsensical ways because they have to do something in order for the story to make sense.

Madness in this way is a crutch for lazy writing, a means by which an author can move their narrative chess pieces about without having to write REAL justifications for why they’re acting this way. Saying that a serial killer is “crazy” lets you skip past writing about how cycles of abuse and social pressures can lead someone to kill, the same way that a cult performing vile rites saves you from having to write a reason for people to be brought to that extreme, or to examine your own justifications for why this group should be the enemy

Madness as a Mechanic: Personally I don’t believe there’s anything truly beyond human comprehension, both in that we’re imaginative beings and if we really did encounter anything outside of what our rudimentary organic perceptions could perceive, we’d simply come up with a working model and deal with it, much in the same way that we’ve done with quantum physics.  This is one of the reasons I’ve never been on board with lovecraftian horrors that break the brain just with their mere strangeness.   That said, I’m a firm believer in the idea that our minds can break down, as I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to rebuild from such a break down and prevent another one. As such, here’s a scattering of thoughts regarding mental health and how it should and shouldent be handled

By far “stress” is a more useful mechanic to track than a building “madness” or depleting “sanity” pool, because stress can be applied to all manner of situations. Everyone understands that there’s a wide veritety of things that can stress you out, from having to rough it over multiple days in the wilderness to seeing a friend fall in combat to confronting a horrifying monster. Stress buildup could switch off the refresh rate of abilities over time, or cause a character to act out should it reach some kind of threshold, leaving it up to the player to decide what kind of outburst is appropriate for their character (mental health event included).

D&D’s madness tables do an okay job representing various short-circuits in the brain, aside from the indefinite madnesses, which hew a little too closely to real world. These tables are usually used when the character is suffering some form of psychic trauma or attack, so it’d be better for the indefinite side of the table to emulate longterm scars such an attack can do.

Dealing with mental health challenges on the character side rather than the mechanical side allows us to sidestep a whole bundle of troubling implications. If my depression or anxiety could be removed with a restoration spell, what about my autism? sixty years ago homosexuality was considered a mental defect, could that be taken away with 100gp worth of diamonds and a quick trip to the local cleric?

Madness as Surrealism: Yeknow what’s scary? When your lack of control over your life and environment manifests and once fundamental forces like causality and reason begin to break down.  This is why genres like ARG horror and the new weird are taking off, and why projects like the Backrooms are resonating with such a wide audience. We’ve gone beyond the horror that we might be trapped in a space with someone who’s violently out of touch with the world, and have entered into a horrifying new era where we are trapped in a world that’s violently out of touch with us. THIS is the toolbox I want to play with, rather than the dementophobia of lovecraft’s era, where I can paint with everything form Escheresque architecture to glitch-horror to the revelator ravings of abrihamic doomsayers. 

This to me fits far more with the theme of horrors outside of reality trying to press in, and gives a wider pallet of options to pull from if I don’t want to muck about in any mental health baggage my audience might be dealing with.

#heavy topics #mental health #cw mental health #dm advice #dm tip #dm tips #dm tools #writing advice #self harm #Cultists #homebrew mechanic #d&d mechanics #madness

[stockpheebphoob]

Do you have any headcanons on illyria? ( and I'm quite curious on how he/she looked like, so if you don't mind, can you make some fanart of him/her?) ^_____^

I never would’ve Thought someone would Ask about My Illyria! :D

I’ve got a couple Ideas of What she’s Looking Like, but I haven’t Fully decided on Anything :,) I have plenty of old and Very Ugly drawings (which, I don’t Think you guys Care to See)… But, This Ask inspired me to Attempt her Design again :D I was just Doodling, really, so it’s Very Messy. I hope you Guys don’t Mind.

Okay, onto the Headcannons for Her Personality and Such (which, I apologize for Any incorrect Information. It’s Hard to do these Sorts of Things with Ancients since there’s Not Much to Base them From. Also, I don’t know Much about Illyria as a Kingdom, haha…):

Sort of like how Italy and Romano say “Grandpa Rome”, I like to Imagine that. Albania calls her “Mother Illyria”. In some of my Older stuff with her I used to Say “Mother Illyria the Great”, but I think that Title is Too Long to Say All the Time

Also like how Grandpa Rome will Visit Italy and Romano at times, I’m sure Illyria does it too. Other than Albania and Kosovo, though, they don’t Seem to Care as much. (Maybe Croatia, too)

Chronic Fisher. So much Sea, can you Blame Her?

Really Fierce. She often got in Fights and Caused Trouble. Can also be defined as Reckless, but, it’s the Same Thing basically

Also very Energetic and Ambitious, I imagine

Picking into So Many wars like How Else can I describe her other than A Troublemaker

Not a Moment of Peace with her, I fear

Probably wasn’t As Old (visually) Compared to The Other ancients

She Despised Rome (and Italy + Greece, but Mainly Rome). In Relation, Rome was Very Hostile to her. She did eventually Apologize for her Earlier Lifestyle under King Agrons rule, but Didn’t feel Too Bad about what she had done Afterwards.

I’m not Very Sure how ancients/kingdoms work in Hetalia, but I always Imagined it as the Ancient being A Ruler more-so than a Parent. So, no, I don’t title Illyria as Albania’s (or Anyone’s) actual Mom, but Albania definitely Calls her it because of how Similar they are lol

She got into Plenty of Fights with Little Macedonia :,3 I think Macedon is Technically Northern Greece more than it is Macedonia, but I’ll have to Look into it More.

She was Mainly focused on Gaining Land in the Beginning (Under rule of King Agron), but, she Soon decided that Regional Trade was good too (Under rule of Queen Teuta)

If I settled on her Being Male, I think he’d Still be Wearing the Dress. I have an Idea that Albania probably got Mistaken for a Girl when he was Little (Like Italy or Hungary) because his Traditional Clothing has Dresses. So, the Same Thing would Happen to Illyria lel

Though, her being A Woman sort of Makes More Sense to me. Queen Teuta faced Misogyny as a Queen, so imagining that Other Kingdoms thoughts of her Were Similar to the ones Applied to Queen Teuta is Understandable to me

Pirate 4 Lyfe (Kleptomaniac)

So, TLDR: Illyria was a Reckless and Ambitious woman who’s hobbies included Fishing and Thievery. Very loud and Such, obviously. Never Afraid to Fight (She probably Should’ve Been, though)

I really Hope that this was Good for my first Question/Ask post. If you guys have Any Specific Questions or Recommendations about her I’d Gladly Listen ^u^

#Hetalia Illyria #hws Illyria #APH Illyria #Hetalia #yugotalia #aph kosovo #aph albania #aph croatia #aph macedonia #hws kosovo #hws albania #aph greece #hws croatia #hws macedonia #hws greece #balkantalia #hetalia ancients #i don’t know how to tag #asks open #answered asks

[chronotsr]

Pre-G1 Modules, part 1 - Temple of the Frog

So we're going to blow through this really fast cus there's a lot to cover -- I have 9 modules to go through before we hit G1.

G1 enjoys the reputation of "first DND module", but the reality is a little more complicated than that. G1 is more properly, "The first published standalone TSR adventure module". Which, as you can guess by the number of qualifiers, means it's not the first anything, really.

In the beginning, Tactical Studies Rules was Don Kaye, Gary Gygax, and Dave Arneson in a design capacity. They flopped around for a while, stealing copyrighted shit for money, releasing mediocre wargames, and eventually shrug and release DND anyway. It does very well. Don Kaye dies, they reorganize TSR into TSR Hobbies because Don's wife didn't like being involved, and we have enough preamble to get to Temple of the Frog.

TSR Hobbies had pole position to win the race to first adventure, and it worked, although for a variety of reasons (like Gary not really getting why someone would want to buy a premade adventure), they didn't publish discrete adventure scenarios. The first published, commercial adventure is technically in the original D&D ("Little Brown Booklet") supplement #2, Blackmoor: Temple of the Frog, and the dungeon is Arneson's.

Keeping in your head that Temple of the Frog is the literal first adventure is the very first adventure because this is basic as hell. There's a cult to the frogs, they're trying to make the most bestest amphibian monsters, and 1.0 twists.

It's kinda charming though. This could be anyone's first map. My first maps looked kind of like this, in fact my first dungeon map was also a big church. A lot of early conventions are already here: a map is provided, on grid paper. Rooms are keyed, evocative descriptions are given (although this is actually pretty ho-hum, stating things as boring fact). The preamble is adequately interesting, but doesn't really establish any important context information about the actual conquering of this temple (the key system would be nice to have first, rather than buried halfway in, but be nice it's the first one). Conspicuously missing: any information about suggested starting level or party size. Now there is a old-school tendency that the levels of a dungeon should increase in difficulty about one level per….level.

In traditional Arneson form, there's some scifi bullshit going on. Here's some fast tidbits about this module:

The new head of the temple is an alien. His magic devices are all technological devices. There's spaceships. It's not my jam, but you simply have to accept that scifi/fantasy fusion was the trope of the time, it is completely ubiquitous in 70s fantasy books.

There is a weirdly complicated system of magic (technology) rings that control doors. There's a hierarchy to them that takes a whole page. It's clearly very important to Dave!

There's something about timeshifting that is, frankly incomprehensible to me. I do like hiding the big secret lair under a giant organ, though.

After you get through the first floor of so, so many people wandering around, we finally have monsters. A room of medusae (former captives), gargoyles operated with scifi bullshit, magic chains that turn off traps, giant rats and skeletons.

There's some very fun verbiage here, "each [medusa] taking 16 hit points". Like, taking 16 points worth of hits. It makes sense but there's something very fascinating of seeing this period where the metaphor of hitpoints is not just A Thing That Has Always Existed, but clearly something you have to explain to people and they are still thinking of it in less abstract ways.

Some further fun verbiage is that at this point, "Dungeons and Dragons" is a specific book that you can reference in the way you nowadays would say "Check the Dungeon Master's Guide". Check the Dungeons and Dragons! (Fun fact: the titular Dungeon with Dragons is, in fact, Blackmoor Castle's Dungeons.)

This sentence drove fear into my heart. You are bolder than me if you're gonna run an encounter that has 1,200 enemies in it. In what I can only describe as rank cruelty, cloudkill expressly doesn't work on them. And then the adventure just kind of ends. Dave, buddy, you can't tell me that the alien-priest reports back to the mothership and give me no means to go there. That's malpractice man! It would be my literal first port of call if I was rewriting this. I NEED TO SEE THE FROG FANDOM ALIENS' SPACESHIP.

Overall, the vibes are still very wargame. The building is a castle that feels like it's meant to be sieged more than raided. But it's the first! Anyone who runs this in 2024, and in a modern game engine, deserves a kiss on the forehead for their hard work.

#ttrpg #tsr #dnd #dungeons and dragons #0e #chronotsr