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completeoveranalysis · 4 months

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[2]

NEW FAVOURITE COVER?

NEW FAVOURITE COVER!

Chapitre 201 - The Truth from within the Ruins

Oh this is just beyond gorgeous. Who can stand against the pure concentrated adorable that is Tsubasa Babies Family Photo? Now with all four of them!

I’m in love with all the tiny details that they clearly spent so long on - all the lovely folds of Sakura’s dress, the intricate detailing on Fai’s robe and staff. Lava Lamp is in his ceremonial garb, and tiny Kurogane IN HIS FANCY LITTLE OUTFIT. (AND HIS POSTURE? GET OUT. Incredible)

Kurogane doesn’t have Ginryuu yet (since this is Happy Childhood AU, so his father will still have it. Still has the moon though!) but Lava Lamp has the Syaoran Family Sword all ready to go. His outfit would be incomplete without it - they’re all wearing clothing from their home worlds, or maybe their families? I’m technically not sure which world Lava Lamp comes from, but his outfit is Family Legacy all the way down. I’m dying to know if Fai’s outfit is in the style of Seresu or Valeria - I don’t think they’re all that different, but I think I would put my money on Valeria based on the position of the fur and the curl motif. In which case it’s fun for me that his Happy Family AU is in Valeria instead of with Ashura. (sorry not sorry Ashura get fucked)

I suppose in this version he never had reason to leave Valeria in the first place, so it’s a very nice touch that the outfit doesn’t immediately resemble the clothing he wore in his backstory, since that’s all so closely linked to the death of his twin, who would be alive here. Very nice visual choices all around, especially with each of them in their own unique colour pallette. Oh, and even with the colour differences they all have bits of yellow somewhere on them, showing their connection.

The left/right split between them is really fun too - sword wielders on one side, phenomenally powerful magic users on the other, cats vs dogs, unique child/parent pairings, etc. It’s very funny to me that they found a super fancy chair for Sakura and a cushion for Kurogane, but nothing for the other two. But Fai draping himself over the chair is such an incredible piece of character flair, which I am in love with, but also, the TOUCH? The little touch of tiny hands? Sakura reaching back to put her hand on the back of Fai’s? Tiny Lava Lamp’s little grip on Kurogane’s arm? OH it’s so touching.

And behind them all? THAT WINDOW. Such a clear symbol positioned directly in the centre frame. At first I thought it might be an eye, but this is Happy Family AU so there should be no Evil Wolverine to spy on them. What I’m voting on instead is CLAMP playing with Tarot symbols again and this being the Wheel of Fortune, or a similar idea of a wheel of destiny. They use the latter idea a lot in their earlier works (RG Veda and X/1999 say hi), but I think the tarot symbol in particular really shines through with the ideas they’re playing with in Tsubasa/xxxHolic, and has a very strong parallel to the idea of hitsuzen.

After some much safer googling it looks like the “Wheel of Fortune” in Tarot can mean change or cycles or inevitable fate, but on the flipside could also be lacking control. I think the reversed meaning of the card really speaks to me the most about their situation in general, as it describes bad luck and misfortunes thrust upon you from external forces, that you are fighting to take control back from an unwinnable situation. That fighting it is impossible, that continuing to fight it can only bring more suffering, and that the only option is to let it go. To stop blaming yourself for the thing you did wrong, or the thing that you think was your fault. To forgive yourself, to accept it all, to let yourself move on, to accept that change is inevitable, and to finally be able to move forward and just let everything happen.

Because if that’s not exactly the whole situation we are in I don’t know what is. It’s a mirror for the things that Fai and Kurogane have already been through, and for what Lava Lamp Guy is still currently fighting, and CLAMP love to do drop these symbols all the time.

And this is a bit of a tangent but who’s gonna stop me? Clamp LOVE their tragic destiny pairs, especially in their early works - the couples deeply love but also cursed by fate, like Kendappa and Souma, Ashura and Yasha (flavoured differently in RG Veda, but still fitting this cycle again in Tsubasa), Subaru and Seishirou, Sorata and Arashi (unfinished), Kamui and Fuuma, etc. The characters who are so different from each other, so diametrically opposed, but in love still, and it burns so strong that they either have to kill each other or let the world burn around them - or both! They’re always fighting destiny, just like the reversed wheel of fortune, and they fight it to the point of obliteration.

AND THEN we have Tsubasa, and I think it’s so endlessly interesting that they took the same pattern and turned it around. Syaoran and Sakura definitely fit the theme (and wild that they took the Cardcaptor Sakura happy couple deliberately to make the most universe shattering tragedy out of it, but I still haven’t seen how their story ends, whether one will have to tragically die to save everything or whether they’ll get out somehow). But what I mostly want to talk about (surprise surprise) Kurogane and Fai, who fit the pattern exactly. Complete opposites, diametrically opposed, set up as antagonists and destined to kill each other but fall in love instead. That they both fight against the tragic pasts that defined them and eventually change their mind. Eventually, slowly, they accept love again and realise that they can actually live with themselves and each other if they let it all go.

And I think what really gets me is that if this was an earlier Clamp work they absolutely would have tragically died - they would have killed each other in the climax of Seresu and it would have been beautiful and terrible and no-one ever would have ever emotionally recovered from the complete and utter devastation.

BUT THEY DIDN’T.

CLAMP spend all of Tsubasa revisiting all their old works, taking us through a parade of the various tragedies they’ve sung across the years, all leading up to them ultimately breaking their own pattern and letting Fai and Kurogane save each other from the same Clamp fate that claimed every tragic pair before them. They choose each other and get out alive. They stop blaming themselves for the unchangeable parts of destiny and finally forgive themselves. And it’s just very emotional to me that it’s these two that make it, these two that get to recover and choose each other and live their lives inseparable from this point on. The two that had arguably the most tragic backstories also get to face their trauma, survive, and live.

And it’s just so beautiful to see how the CLAMP storytelling method has changed over the years, and to find out that after all these years, the big destiny story they really wanted to tell in their longest and most detailed work was about the two men who fell in love, against all odds and saved each other. Despite absolutely everything saying that it should be impossible, it’s Kurogane and Fai that finally flip the tarot card back around and live.

And I’m extremely interested in what this means for Lava Lamp and Not!Sakura.

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radar-of-minecraft · 9 months

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Presenting: The Minecraft Item Challenge

I am back, this time with a challenge run, I want every block and item in Minecraft

Welcome to Minecraft Alpha 1.0, in this challenge I attempt to get every iteam and block in Minecraft, in the update they were originally made obtainable in (I wish to clarify this because some things stay creative only for the entire Beta phase of developement, like sponges). Anyways, here is my spawn.

I got lucky with the 20% chance of getting a snow world, which means I can get snow blocks and snow balls before weather is added in Beta 1.5, unfortunately, it will make all of my screenshots ugly until Alpha 1.2 when Winter Mode is removed.

My first goal in this world will be to make a simple but nice house that I can slowly update alongside the game, but before I do that I should explain what all items I need to get before updating to Alpha 1.1, there are 132 items available in Alpha 1.0, the full list will be below the cut.

Arrow

Block of Diamond

Block of Gold

Block of Iron

Book

Bookshelf

Bow

Bowl

Bread

Brick

Bricks

Brown Mushroom

Bucket

Cactus

Chest

Clay

Clay Ball

Coal

Cobblestone

Cobblestone Stairs

Cooked Porkchop

Crafting Table

Dandelion

Diamond

Diamond Axe

Diamond Boots

Diamond Chestplate

Diamond Helmet

Diamond Hoe

Diamond Leggings

Diamond Pickaxe

Diamond Shovel

Diamond Sword

Dirt

Egg

Feather

Flint

Flint and Steel

Furnace

Glass

Gold Ingot

Gold Ore

Golden Axe

Golden Boots

Golden Chestplate

Golden Helmet

Golden Hoe

Golden Leggings

Golden Pickaxe

Golden Shovel

Golden Sword

Gravel

Gunpowder

Iron Axe

Iron Boots

Iron Chestplate

Iron Door

Iron Helmet

Iron Hoe

Iron Ingot

Iron Leggings

Iron Ore

Iron Pickaxe

Iron Shovel

Iron Sword

Jukebox

Ladder

Lava Bucket

Leather

Leather Boots

Leather Cap

Leather Pants

Leather Tunic

Lever

Milk Bucket

Minecart

Minecart with Chest

Minecart with Furnace

Mossy Cobblestone

Music Disc 13

Music Disc Cat

Oak Boat

Oak Door

Oak Fence

Oak Log

Oak Planks

Oak Pressure Plate

Oak Sapling

Oak Sign

Oak Stairs

Obsidian

Painting

Paper

Poppy

Rail

Raw Porkchop

Red Mushroom

Redstone Dust

Redstone Lamp

Redstone Torch

Saddle

Sand

Slimeball

Smooth Stone Slab

Snow

Snow Block

Snowball

Stick

Stone

Stone Axe

Stone Button

Stone Hoe

Stone Pickaxe

Stone Pressure Plate

Stone Shovel

Stone Sword

String

Sugar Cane

TNT

Torch

Water Bucket

Wheat

Wheat Seeds

White Wool

Wooden Axe

Wooden Hoe

Wooden Pickaxe

Wooden Shovel

Wooden Sword

Anyways, this is the most amount of items in one update, although most recent updates really come close. I do also think that this will be easier than the staggering list would have you believe, because there is not many items that require exploration, which will be by far the hardest part of the game even from the start.

#Minecraft #Minecraft Item Challenge #liveblog #Minecraft Alpha

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taking-thyme · 2 years

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🜂 Fire Witch Guide 🜂

Ever since I started practicing Witchcraft, I always assumed my main element would be something like water or air. But recently I’ve realized that I correspond more to fire personally, so I decided to write up a nifty guide to Fire Witchcraft. Hope you all enjoy!

Fire Correspondences

🔥 Represents: Courage, Enthusiasm, Willpower, Anger, Hatred, Jealousy, Energy, Will, Healing, Destruction, Strength, Physical Exercise, Self-Knowledge, Power, Passion, Sexuality, Divinity, Heat, Flame and Light

🔥 Colors: Red, Orange, Gold, White and Pink

🔥 Gender: Masculine

🔥 Direction: South

🔥 Energy: Projective

🔥 Pentagram Placement: Bottom Right

🔥 Day: Sunday

🔥 Time: Midday / Noon

🔥 Moon Phase: Waxing

🔥 Sabbats: Beltane, Samhain, Midsummer, Lughnasadh

🔥 Chakra: Solar Plexus

🔥 Life Cycle: Childhood / Pre-puberty

🔥 Season: Summer

🔥 Zodiac Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

🔥 Tarot Suit: Wands

🔥 Major Arcana: The Emperor, Strength, Wheel of Fortune, Temperance, The Tower, The Sun, Judgement

🔥 Senses: Sight

🔥 Incense: Cinnamon, Frankincense, Dragon’s Blood

🔥 Stones: Fire Opal, Ruby, Garnet, Jasper, Bloodstone, Lavastone, Quartz, Tiger’s Eye, Obsidian, Agate, Rhodochrosite

🔥 Metals: Gold, Nickel, Steel, Brass, Copper

🔥 Plants: Nettles Allspice, Basil, Garlic, Hibiscus, Juniper, Onion (and all Alliums), Red Repper, Red Poppy, Thistle, Almond Tree, Cacti, Chile Peppers, Cinnamon, Mustard, Tobacco, Most Nuts, Seeds and Pods, Clove, Patchouli, Bay, Chamomile (research plants, herbs and trees before burning, ingesting or using on skin for some are toxic and even lethal)

🔥 Animals: Lion, Salamander, Snakes, Coyote, Fox, Mantis, Scorpion, Ram, Squirrel

🔥 Mythical Creatures and Spirits: Jinn, Genies, Dragons, Phoenixes, Salamanders and Fire Drakes

🔥 Instruments: Violins, Guitars, Lyres, Harps and other String Instruments

🔥 Ritual Tools: Fire, Lamp, Athame, Candles, Dagger, Sword, Burned Herbs, Requests on Paper, Amber, Ashes, Brass, Charcoal, Peppers, Copper, Gold, Lanterns, Lava Rocks, Lead, Pumice, Tin, Wands

🔥 The Body: The Head, Arteries, Tongue, Pulse, Small Intestine, Middle Finger, Facial Complexion, the Outer Ear, Corners of the eyes, Blood and Perspiration

🔥 Fire-related Magic: Protection, Courage, Sexuality, Energy, Strength, Authority and Banishing Negativity Spells. Also Candle Magic, Storm Magic, Time Magic and Star Magic as well.

Types of Fire and their Ritual Uses

🔥 Balefire / Bonfire: Use for cleansing, protection, pyromancy and burning spell ingredients.

🔥 Candles: Use for candle magic. You can anoint or carve the candle for a specific intent, and different candle colors have different meanings.

🔥 Fluorescent Light: Use to “light” your way in life, illuminate a situation and bring a soft, steady energy to a spell.

🔥 HearthFire: Use for kitchen witchery and ancestral magic. Often associated with health, wellness, warmth, wisdom, birth, creativity and life.

🔥 Heat: Use heat to transfer energy between objects, particularly energy from yourself to a magical object. Can also be used to speed up your spells, infuse your spells with energy, or spice up a relationship.

🔥 Lava: Use lava to burn bridges, invoke a clean slate, clear away the competition and bring about destruction.

🔥 Lightning: Use to focus energy, enhance spellwork, enchant objects, infuse yourself with power, storm magic and to bring about change.

🔥 Rainbow: Use to connect with the Otherworld, communicate with the dead, and inspire hope and joy.

🔥 Sunlight: Use to purify, cleanse, charge, energize yourself and objects, ignite a situation, illuminate situations and remove negativity.

Deities for Fire Witches

🔥 Brigid

Culture: Celtic

God/Goddess of: Spring, Fertility, Family, The Hearth, Childbirth, Fire, Blacksmiths, Scholars, Physicians, Prophets, Healing, Poetry, Occult Knowledge and Justice

Offerings: Blackberries, Baked Goods, Milk, Honey, Beer, Brigid's Crosses

🔥 Sun Wukong the Monkey King

Culture: Chinese

God/Goddess of: Trickster God, Protection

Offerings: Fruits, Peaches, Tofu (NO Meat!!)

🔥 Hephaestus

Culture: Hellenic

God/Goddess of: Fire, Smithing, Craftsmen and Volcanoes

Offerings: Greek and Italian Wine, Smith’s tools, Hot Soups, Olive Oil, Coffee, Metals, Clay, Frankincense, Pottery, Handmade crafts

🔥 Ares

Culture: Hellenic

God/Goddess of: War

Offerings: Dark Red Wine, Whiskey, Black Tea or Coffee, Olive Oil, Beef, Red Meats, Spicy Foods, Garlic, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Weapons and Armor

🔥 Ra

Culture: Kemetic

God/Goddess of: The Sun, Creation

Offerings: Frankincense, Myrrh, Kyphi Incense, Water, Candles, Bread, Fruit, Beer, Poultry, Traditional Linen and Gold

🔥 Freya

Culture: Norse

God/Goddess of: Love, Beauty, Sex, War, Battle, Death, Gold, Witchcraft

Offerings: Ale, Honey, Mead, Finer Things, Apples, Barley, Pork, Feeding stray Cats, Primrose, Mugwort, Jewelry, Perfume

🔥 Hestia

Culture: Hellenic

God/Goddess of: The Hearth, Domesticity, Fire

Offerings: Homemade Meals, Baked Goods, Sweet Wine, Fruits, Olive Oil, Hot Tea, Lavender Incense, Pottery

🔥 Pele

Culture: Hawaiian

God/Goddess of: Volcanoes, Creation, Fire, Lightning

Offerings: Fruits, Flowers, Forest Plants, Berries, Vegetables

🔥 Durga

Culture: Hindu

God/Goddess of: Protection, Strength, Motherhood, Destruction, War

Offerings: Honey, Apples, Pomegranates, Dried Fruits, Sandalwood, Red Cloth, Hibiscus, Kaleva

🔥 Horus

Culture: Kemetic

God/Goddess of: War, The Sky, Protection

Offerings: Raw Meat for Hawks and Falcons, Breads, Acacia, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Eye of Horus

🔥 Sekhmet

Culture: Kemetic

God/Goddess of: War, Destruction of Enemies, Healing, Medicine

Offerings: Beer, Pomegranate Juice, Arrows, Spicy Foods, Frankincense, Dragons' Blood Incense, Raw Meat, Red Wine, Gold, Bonfires, Red Glass, Mushrooms, Warm Milk, Strong Tea, Blackberries, Raspberries and Bright Flowers

🔥 Prometheus

Culture: Hellenic

God/Goddess of: Trickster God of Fire and Creation

Offerings: Frankincense, Bonfires, Olive Oil

Common Signs of a Fire Witch

🔥 Very physically active, even if they're not interested in sports. Just has this overwhelming urge to move or fight, and may often get out of bed because of this

🔥 Your body, especially your hands or core, feels very warm. You're like a human heater

🔥 You were particularly energetic as a kid, or even now. You're spunky

🔥 You're very brave, especially with standing up to people

🔥 You prefer cooler temperatures because it doesn’t bother you as much

🔥 You constantly feel hungry, or have an active digestive system and a fast metabolism. You may get acidity or heartburn a lot

🔥 You prefer hot drinks and food over cold ones

🔥 You feel thirst more often than most

🔥 You are energetic, passionate, dramatic and prone to irritability or being emotionally volatile

🔥 You are very eloquent and expressive, and often may talk too much or too quickly

🔥 You’ve been praised for your leadership ability

🔥 You are very very curious, and may be easily distracted

🔥 You suffer from: anxiety, insomnia, circulatory issues like anemia and palpitations, dizziness or light-headedness, inflammation, skin rashes, aches and pains, loneliness or are easily overwhelmed

Ways to bond with Fire

🔥 Teach yourself not to fear it, or at least not too much. If you’re anything like me, fire kinda scares you, despite your connection to it. Light a candle and meditate, and teach yourself that fire is a part of you, so you shouldn’t fear it without reason.

🔥 If you’re an artist, try using charcoal pencils more often

🔥 Meditate with candles

🔥 Drink warm soup or tea (don’t burn your mouth though)

🔥 Release your passion and/or anger. I recommend getting a punching bag for when you’re feeling particularly riled up

🔥 Working out, or any other activities that make you sweat

🔥 Burn Bay Leaves with wishes on them to make them come true

🔥 Get a Himalayan Salt Lamp. Don’t use it if you have pets though, as it might harm them

🔥 Use a Heating Pad when you’re in pain

🔥 Take time to notice your body heat more often. Appreciate how warm your skin and breath feels

🔥 Pursue your passions, whatever those might be. If it makes you passionate, go for it. Fire is the element of not holding back

🔥 Channel your passion and especially your anger into productivity rather than pain

🔥 Drink tea with warm spices

🔥 Eat spicy food if you can handle it

🔥 Be brave in all things

🔥 Use more Dragon imagery in your life

#long post #fire witch #fire element #fire elemental #elemental witch #elemental witchcraft #fire #witch #baby witch #witchblr #witchcraft #witch tips #witchs

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thesunlitnerd · 4 years

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The elements are commonly invoked at the beginning of rituals or used in their physical forms to symbolically purify the ritual circle. Each element has associated symbols, rituals and meanings, which are outlined below.

Air:

Air represents the mind and intelligence, communication, telepathy, psychic powers, inspiration, imagination, ideas, knowledge, dreams and wishes. In rituals, Air is represented in the form of tossing objects into the wind, aromatherapy, songs, and hiding things in high places. It rules spells involving travels, instruction, freedom, knowledge, discovering lost items, and can also be used to develop psychic faculties. Air also rules the visualization.

Gender - Masculine

Direction - East

Energy Projective On Pentagram - Upper left

Symbols- Sky, wind, breezes, clouds, feathers, breath, vibrations, smoke, plants, herbs, trees, flowers

Goddesses- Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, UraniaGodsEnlil, Kheoheva, Merawrim, Shu, Thoth

Spirits - Sylphs, Zephyrs, Fairies of trees, flowers and winds.

Time - Dawn

Cycle of life - Infancy

Season - Spring

Colours - Yellow, white, crimson

Zodiac signs- Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Sense - Smell, hearing

Stones and jewels - Topaz, pumice, rainbow stones, crystals, amethyst, alexandrite

Magick tools - Censer, wand, sword

Metals - Tin, copper

Herbal - Clove, myrrh, pansy, primrose, vervain, dill, lavender

Trees - Acacia, Almond, Aspen, Hazel, Linden, Maple, Pine

Animals - Eagle, raven, spider

Instruments - Flute, wind instruments

Type of magick - Divination, concentration, wind magick, prophecy, Karma work

Ritual Action - Playing a flute, tossing objects in the air (over the shoulder), burning incense, hanging objects in trees

Fire:

Fire represents energy, inspiration, love, passion, leadership. In rituals, Fire is represented in the form of burning objects, love spells, baking, and lighting candles and fires. Fire is also the element of change and can represent magick itself. Fire is the most physical and spiritual of the elements.

Gender - Masculine

Direction - South

Energy Projective On Pentagram - Lower right

Symbols - Flame, lightning, heated objects (stones in particular), volcano, rainbow, sun, stars, lava, heat

Goddesses - Brigit, Hestia, Pele, Vesta

Gods - Agni, Horus, Prometheus, Vulcan

Spirits - Salamanders, Firedrakes

Time - Noon

Cycle of life - Youth

Season - Summer

Colours - Red, gold, crimson, orange, white

Zodiac signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Sense - Sight

Stones and jewels - Ruby, fire opal, volcanic lava, agathe

Magick tools - Dagger, sword, athame, censer, lamp, candles, incense, herb burning, paper requests, knife

Metals - Gold, brass

Herbal - Garlic, hibiscus, red peppers, cinnamon, coffee, beans, seeds, chilly peppers

Trees - Alder, Ash, Cashew, Cedar, Chestnut, Fig, Juniper, Mahogany, Oak, Holly, Rowan, Walnut

Animals - Dragon, cat, lion, horse, snake, cricket, mantis, ladybug, bee, scorpion, phoenix, coyote, fox

Instruments - Guitar, string instruments

Type of magick - Candle, healing, love spells, energy work

Ritual Action - Burning objects, wood, paper, heating, preparing decoctions, cauldron work

Water:

Water represents emotions, absorption, subconscious, purification, eternal movement, wisdom, the soul, and emotional aspects of love and femininity. In rituals, it is represented in the form of pouring water over objects, brew making, healing spells, ritual bathing, and tossing objects into water.

Gender - Feminine

Direction - West

Energy Projective on pentagram - Upper Right

Symbols - Ocean, river, shell, spring, lake, well, rain, fog, cup

Goddesses - Aphrodite, Isis, Marianne, Mari, Tiamat, Yemaha

Gods - Dylan, Ea, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon

Spirits - Undines, Nymphs, Mermaids, Fairies of ponds, lakes or streams.

Time - Twilight, dusk

Cycle of life - Maturity

Season - Autumn

Colours - Blue, turqoise, green, grey, indigo, black

Zodiac signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Sense - Taste

Stones and jewels - Aquamarine, amethyst, blue tourmaline, pearl, coral, blue topaz, fluorite

Magick tools - Cup, cauldron, goblet, mirror

Metals - Mercury, silver, copper

Herbal - Ferns, lotus, mosses, bushes, water lilies, gardenia

Trees - Apple, Apricot, Birch, Cherry, Elder, Elm, Rose, Willow

Instruments - Anything resonant, harmonica, cymbals, also a flute made from real reed or willow bark

Animals - Dragon, water snakes, dolphin, fish, cat, frog, turtle, swan, crab

Type of magick - Mirror divinations, magnet work, love magick, lucid dreaming, cleansing, protection spells

Ritual Action - Bathing, dilution, washing, sprinkling, preparing cold herbal infusions

Earth:

Earth represents strength, abundance, stability, prosperity, wealth and femininity. In rituals, Earth is represented in the form of burying objects in the earth, herbalism, and making images out of wood or stone.

Gender - Feminine

Direction - North

Energy - Receptive

Symbols - Rocks, fields, soil, salt, caves, clay

On Pentagram - Lower left

Goddesses - Ceres, Demeter, Gaea, Mah, Nephtys, Persephone, Rhea

Gods - Adonis, Athos, Arawn, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Mardyk, Pan, Tammuz

Spirits - Gnomes, Dwarfs, Trolls

Time - Midnight, Night

Cycle of life - Age

Season - Winter

Colours - Black, green, yellow, brown

Zodiac signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Sense - Touch

Stones and jewels - Rock crystal, emerald, onyx, jasper, salt, azurite, amethyst, quartz

Magick tools - Pentacle, Pentagram, salt, images, stones, gems, cords

Metals - Iron, lead

Herbal - Ivy, grains, oats, rice, patchouli, lichens

Trees - Cypress, Honeysuckle, Jasmin, Lilac (some say Lilac is Water)

Animals - Cow, bull, dog, horse, ant, bears, wolf

Instruments - Drums and percussion

Type of magick - Gardening, magnet images, stone (jewel divination, work with crystals), knot, binding, money spells, grounding, finding treasures, runes,

Ritual Action - Burying, making clay effigies, planting trees or herbs

Aether:

Arther also called Spirit, is the prime element present in all things, providing space, connection and balance for all Elements to exist. Aether is immaterial, unlike the Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Aether is essential to our sense of connectedness with spirit and well-being and represents the sense of joy and union.

Gender - Universal

Direction - Universal

Energy - Universal

Symbols - Cord, rope

On Pentagram - Upper

Goddesses - The Lady

Gods - The Horned God

Cycle of life - Eternity

Season - The wheel of year

Colours - White

Sense - Higher receptions

Animals - Dove

#energy work #spirituality #universalenergy #energy #motherearth #spiritualjourney #self healing #witchcraft #cleansing #elemental witch #air elemental #fire elemental #water elemental #elemental spirits #earth elemental

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tabletoptrinketsbyjj · 7 years

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Trinkets, 9: Interesting baubles, semi magical objects and items touched by mystery.

A powerful magnet that appears to be in the shape of a stylized spider

A powerful magnifying glass

A preserved flower that lights up when you blow on it

A Randomly Colored metal sphere, one-inch in diameter that is always warm to the touch

A red gemstone that changes to a deep purple colour when it catches the light

A rod that does nothing but make overly dramatic “SWOOSHing” noises at even the slightest movement.

A roll of five bandages that changes size to perfectly fit any wound up to six inches

A set of tassels that attach to your clothing and flutter when you’re near someone you love

A sheet of paper that absorbs ink (and stains) after one hour

A signal horn that, when blown, blows bubbles instead of making a sound

---Keep reading for 90 more trinkets.

---Note: The previous 10 items are repeated for easier rolling on a d100.

A powerful magnet that appears to be in the shape of a stylized spider

A powerful magnifying glass

A preserved flower that lights up when you blow on it

A Randomly Colored metal sphere, one-inch in diameter that is always warm to the touch

A red gemstone that changes to a deep purple colour when it catches the light

A rod that does nothing but make overly dramatic “SWOOSHing” noises at even the slightest movement.

A roll of five bandages that changes size to perfectly fit any wound up to six inches

A set of tassels that attach to your clothing and flutter when you’re near someone you love

A sheet of paper that absorbs ink (and stains) after one hour

A signal horn that, when blown, blows bubbles instead of making a sound

A silver needle that always remains sharp but can puncture nothing

A silver whistle in the shape of a wolf’s head.

A single sparkling earring that whispers optimistic words when its bearer feels sad.

A six foot long, multi-coloured wool scarf

A six-inch wand of glass that can be bent and even tied in a knot

A skull of an unknown creature that is covered in ornate tattoos, one of which is the face of someone you used to know

A slab of petrified wood that glows with a soft green hue

A small blown glass bird that flaps its wings in sunlight

A small blue stone that stays wherever you put it, even if you release it in the air, but it can hold no weight

A small brass statuette taken from the nearby shrine of a minor God of a Random Good Domain

A small bronze lamp that was reputed to have once contained a genie before it was freed by a foolish sultan.

A small coin pouch that holds twice as much as it appears it should

A small compass that never points north, and sometimes points at strangers.

A small crystal goblet which makes an unusual ringing sound when tapped.

A small disk that bears the image of the father of whoever is touching it

A small doll that appears to have been pierced numerous times with 4 silver pins

A small folding chair made of wood and canvas

A small glider built from the cured wing-skin of a bat stretched over a wooden frame.

A small grey bottle with a screw-off lid that looks like a piece of common rock

A small handheld box that can project a series of shadows on any flat surface. The shadows seem to be asking for help.

A small iron hammer made by an ancient dwarven clan

A small iron sphere that always remains one-inch from the tip of a short marble rod, even though they are not physically connected

A small iron statuette taken from the nearby shrine of a minor God of a Random Lawful Domain

A small living cactus in a crudely decorated ceramic pot.

A small metal box filled with blue powder that, when snuffed, causes profound feelings of ecstasy for about a minute followed by painful cramps that are alleviated only by a messy and noisy bowel movement

A small metal box that makes a clicking noise when in the presence of smoke

A small metal box that produces sounds of hysterical laughter when shaken

A small metal container that keeps liquid poured inside lukewarm but makes it bitter

A small metal container that makes a loud (but brief) shrill tone when opened

A small metal container that produces a peculiar (but not unpleasant) odor when opened

A small metal disk with a crystal at its center that causes a buzzing noise in the ears of anyone holding it.

A small mirrored cube

A small model ship that, when placed on water, always points towards the location of the real ship it is linked to currently wrecked off the coast.

A small orange flag with the symbol of a pair of crossed bone clubs in black on it

A small pearl that always feels warm to the touch locally known as Dragonpearls, used to keep warm during cold evenings.

A small piece of bronze hammered into the form of a bearded dwarf’s head

A small piece of natural, unworked stone that, when held up to an ear to it, makes noise that sounds like that of people screaming

A small pinkish crystal attached to a piece of leather cord.

A small rod that emits a voice saying the same thing in an unknown language every time a button is pushed

A small round mirror that reflects nothing during the day and reflects only the moon at night

A small sack made of supple, high quality leather, with a dyed design that makes the entire pack look like a chicken when carried

A small skull carved from lava rock

A small sphere nested within a cube, but the cube exists out of phase and cannot be touched

A small stamp that creates a bizarre design on anything edible

A small statuette of a man with an eye in the center of his forehead

A small steel box set with a single piece of coral on the top. Each side of the interior is mirrored.

A small stone block from a long-forgotten castle. For some reason, gripping it puts you in a foul mood.

A small stone box containing a single unfamiliar coin of a silvery metal.

A small stone idol depicting a nightmarish creature that appears be half human and half giant worm.

A small stone statuette taken from the nearby shrine of a minor God of a Random Neutral Domain

A small sundial on a leather strap that can be worn on the wrist.

A small wooden box filled with a dozen polished turquoise buttons.

A small wooden box filled with dried leaves from the Crescent forest

A small wooden sailcart toy

A small wooden statuette taken from the nearby shrine of a minor God of a Random Chaotic Domain

A small wooden top. When you spin it you hear the rushing wind, but no one else does

A small, bone, eye mask that protects the wearer’s vision from the effects of heavy snow.

A small, ornate bead that adjusts to fit over any diameter of rope or string

A small, warm metal blade that gives a very close shave

A smokeless and odourless candle.

A smooth river stone with shards of bone stuck into it. If you look hard enough you can see that the bones are not of a human but of a goblin.

A soft, big-brimmed hat that sometimes drips water when it’s not raining

A sprig of dried wolfsbane that completely rejuvenates in the light of a full moon and dries out again the following morning.

A spyglass, dented and bent in half. However because the inside is so reflective, it can still be used.

A steel flask filled with water from the Lake of Golden Dreams

A sticky piece of metal that shows a series of bones and adheres to almost anything

A stone snail figurine that grows edible mushrooms instead of a shell

A stone tablet inscribed with the names of a dozen ancient knights

A stone with a mouth carved into it, that sometimes has a pinkish tongue

A strange rock hammer with a steelmark of Abyssal runes. The runes read “HAIL TO THE KING OF THE ROCK”

A stub of paper with writing on it that says something different to everyone who looks at it

A stuffed jackdaw that occasionally blinks or cocks its head.

A teardrop-shaped crystal that always leans to the south

A teardrop-shaped crystal that forms salt crystals along the bottom surface

A three foot length of steel chain that glows blue if touched by sweat or salt water

A tiny box with a button that makes a faint chiming noise when pressed

A tiny cage in which different things appear, sometimes living, sometimes not. There appears to be no way to open or break the cage.

A tiny glass vial with silver end-caps and a chain for wearing as an amulet. Every full moon a message printed on a slip of rolled paper appears inside.

A tiny harp with strings made of glowing energy

A tiny metal mouth that spits out words all day long, at random

A tiny orb of an unknown metallic alloy

A titanium sewing needle that can only unweave thread.

A toy sword that whistles a children’s song when swung.

A tube of lip gloss that makes the user’s lips invisible for one hour when applied.

A used hangman’s noose that fills whoever holds it with a sense that justice was done

A vampire fang capped with gold.

A varnished orb, eight inches in diameter, made from a nothic’s eye.

A velvet pouch containing a small silver bell, a razor blade, and a sprig of holly

A violin case containing a functioning violin and bow, sized for a cat sized creature

A violin case containing a functioning violin and bow, sized for a mouse sized creature

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vintgesoda · 6 years

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* 🎮 / HEADCANON : bedroom .

upstairs , turn to the left , go down the hall , last door on the right . it was his originally his older sister’s room until she was ten , michael moved into it when he was six . the door is a dark wood with a round golden handle . on the outside of the door you can see marks on the door frame where his mom once measured his sister’s height then his own height . there’s also an old poster for space invaders on the outside of the door . behind the door is a hook where there always seems to be some sort of hoodie or coat or both hanging . inside it’s not a large room by any means but large enough to be comfortable in ! it’s about 10 x 8 . he’s got hardwood floors that have seen their days of wear - n - tear such as scrapes from sliding furniture around . part of the ceiling , to the left when facing in from the doorway , is low & slants upwards from the roof . his bed , a full , is tucked into a corner of the room with the head of it under the slanted side of the room . it doesn’t have a bed frame the mattress just sits atop a wooden boxspring . he’s got white sheets with a red comforter & a pac man blanket . at the end of his bed , across from his door , is a small window however the navy blue curtains it has are typically pulled shut . across from the end of his bed is his closet , door wooden like the door to the room but with a square panel of shutters on the top half , & inside that is a shelf , hung clothes , & his shoes tucked inside it’s 2 x 3 space .

the walls are an average light beige & he’s got posters & such decorating much of the walls for games , comics , & bands ( posters to be listed later . ) he has a short bedside table , decorated with a few stickers , with one drawer by his bed & beneath it is a small stack of tins & boxes holding things from pokemon cards to weed to nostalgic heavy knick knacks . ontop his nightstand is a simple digital clock & simple desk lamp decorated with mario stickers . his dresser , short with four drawers , sits to the left of his bedroom door . it’s made of light wood & on top it is a small TV with stacks of his consoles next to that which allows him to play comfortably from his bed or from the beanbags stacked by the dresser which are often pulled out to the middle of the room . he has a desk by his closet which , similar to the dresser , is light colored . sometimes his laptop will be on it but more often it’s on his bed . he does have a silver eighties bombox constantly sitting on it , too , with a stack of cassettes by it . on the other side of his desk is a small white cube with four cubby holes containing game guides , games , DVDs , & miscellaneous books . atop his cubby holes he then has a red & yellow lava lamp . lastly , he has a small mini fridge under his window at the end of his bed that he begged for for christmas for storage of his vintage sodas . it’s plain & black but has a small white board on it that usually has drawings or notes from jeremy when he visits .

his room is typically fairly messy with scattered school related objects & clothes about the floor as well as tangled game controllers . his bed is sometimes sloppily made to please his mother but typically it’s simply a mess . he also hardly ever turns on the light or pulls back his curtains , preferring the dim atmosphere of the string lights he has about the room & his lamps on his desk & beside table . this causes his room to get quite dusty , musky , & stuffy sometimes .

LIST OF WALL DECOR :

bob marley ‘ one love ’ tapestry , located beside bed . tapestry is surrounded by colored christmas lights .

super mario bros poster , located above tapestry .

childhood drawing from jeremy , located above mario bro’s poster .

3 polaroids located in space between one love tapestry & window . polaroids are of jeremy at the beach with an ice cream bar , his family’s two cats as kittens , & his mother & younger sister when she was still a baby .

pac man wall decal , above window . only pac man , four dots , & blinky . not entire decal in picture .

pokemon poster , right of window . surrounded by white battery powered string lights .

grateful dead poster , underneath pokemon poster .

dazed & confused poster , on closet door under shutters .

steel master sword replica , right of closet & above desk . includes sheath beneath it & hylian shield beneath that on the left .

map of hyrule , right of hylian shield , beneath sheath .

vintage speed limit sign , right of sword display & map . above cubbies .

mario calendar , left of bedroom door when facing it .

bob marley & the wailers poster , right of door behind tv .

small assorted stickers , behind consoles .

legend of zelda poster , beside dresser near floor due to slanted ceiling . poster surrounded by colored christmas lights .

woodstock poster , on slanted wall to the far left .

area of wall beneath woodstock poster is drawn / written on with pen , pencil , & sharpie .

scott pilgrim vs. the world poster , beside woodstock poster . very large . takes up most space between that poster & the edge of the bed .

gay pride flag , above / at head of bed .

asortted polaroids decorate space around bedside table .

other assorted things such as concert tickets , movie tickets , or post cards decorate the walls in bits of spare space .

#* 🎮 〉 ▌ ⋅ / LEVEL HINTS : hc .#long post tw #long post //#he has so much shit on his walls i love him #anyway my favorite thing in there #is the fucking sword #deadass just has a STEEL SWORD sheath & shield fucking MOUNTED ON HIS WALL

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naturallysleepy · 6 years

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Guards of the Plain chapter 1 part 1

He woke up in his small stone bedroom. He groaned and rubbed his eyes as he heard the voice of his mother shouting at him to get up.

"Jack-Lynn! Get up! We are opening up in 2 hours!"

He kicked off his blankets and swung his legs out of bed. He shivered as his feet hit the cold floor. He reached over to his small oak wood side table, which stood alone on 3 legs, and turned on the small oil lamp. As his eyes adjusted to the light he took in his surroundings.

His room was small, damp and short. Not that he really minded. He actually liked his room. He had a small wooden desk and chair that he had built himself when he was younger. A stack of books stood on the desk, stretching so high it almost hit the low ceiling. Across the room from his bed in the corner had 3 outfits hanging on hooks. He smiled, remembering his time in the room. He was in a good mood today.

He stood and took a few steps to reach the opposite wall and choose his outfit for the day. He dressed quickly in a pair of brown cargo shorts and a long sleeve white shirt. He put on a clean pair of socks from under his bed and headed out the door.

He walked through the hall, passing by the store room and the forge. He climbed the stone stairs and jogged quickly across the doorway to the store front, just in case the window shutters were open. They were not. He entered the kitchen as his mother was placing a bowl of porridge and a glass of milk on the table for him.

"Morning Mother." He said stopping to give his mother a kiss on the cheek. She smiled down at him and moved to sit at the table in the spot to the left of his. He sat smiling across the table as well. "Good morning to you too Mama."

"Mornin'," Mama said just looking up from the newspaper long enough to smile at him.

Mama and Mother had been there for Jack-Lynn since he was 5 years old, lost in the Forest Plain with no memory. They took him in and kept him safe. He loved them very much.

Jack-Lynn was made a official member of the Lynn clan shortly after. They had given him the name Jack and he used it with pride. Not that he had ever had to introduce himself.

Jack-Lynn was different. He had known that from the moment his mothers took him in. They were both over 7 feet tall. His Mother had long light brown hair, thick dark skin, and large muscles, dispite being rather small for her heritage. And she had one large brown eye. Mama had short choppy black hair, lighter tan thick skin, and muscles larger than that of his mothers. Her one large eye was sky blue.

Jack-Lynn was not like that. He was not a cyclops. He didn't know what he was. No one did as far as he knew.

He had two light brown eyes and auburn hair that reached his shoulders. His skin was thin and pale. He muscles were small but sturdy. He was strong enough to get any job done around the store but nothing like his mothers. Not to mention he was under 6 feet tall.

His mothers kept him inside. If others knew something like him exists, he would be imprisoned. This city didn't usual treat strangers with open arms.

He looked across the table and read the front page of Mamas newspaper. He saw the photo of an elf family holding a large golden necklace, with shovels by their sides and dirt on their faces. The headline read "ELF FAMILY DIGS UP GOBLIN MADE NECKLESS IN GARDEN". Lucky them, Jack-Lynn thought.

"Jack-Lynn I wish you would let me cut your hair." His mother said, staring at him with her big eye. He blushed. Mother didn't like his hair, but Mama said it made him look manly.

"Leave the boy alone Mary-Lynn," Mama said. She didn't even look up. They had had this argument often.

"Just because he doesn't go out doesn't mean he can look like a scavenger, Dana-Lynn." Mother replied.

"A scavenger?!" Jack-Lynn protested.

"He looks fine!" Mama replied.

Jack-Lynn just chuckled. He liked his hair this length, but his parents didn't often worry about his looks, so he found this all very funny.

"Jack-Lynn, please at least tie it back," Mother asked. Jack-Lynn sighed and pulled off a string from around his wrist and used it to tie up his hair. "Anything interested in the news today?"

"Nah, just fluff," Mama replied. She turned the page and let out an interested, "Ohh"

Jack-Lynn gulped down a mouthful of his Mothers bland porridge and looked up.

"What is it?"

"The Gaurd got back in town last night."

That caught their attention.

The Gaurd worked directly under the Emperor who ruled the city and was considered strongest in the land. The were the only ones allowed to leave the city and brave the dangerous of the wild, as even the Emperor could not interfere with there duty to protect the Plains. Jack-Lynn had read stories of their greatest adventures and use to dream of joining, but he learned better as he grew up.

"Have they announced their findings?" He asked, trying to suppress the longing in his voice. Mama shook her head.

"No, seems that their planning to keep it a secret."

"I don't know who would be stupid enough to join them. So dangerous out there." Mother said. Jack-Lynn blushed. He couldn't help fantasizing about what it would be like to leave the city. "And don't think I can't see that look Jack-Lynn. You're not joining."

Mama coughed on her food.

"Jack-Lynn!" She stared at him wide-eyed. "You don't think..."

"No!" He said quickly. "No of course not. I wouldn't last 2 seconds outside this door. I know that. Just a crazy dream I have every now and then." He stared intently into his bowl, avoiding the eyes of his mothers.

"Jack-Lynn..." Mother started but lost her words.

"Jack-Lynn you know it's not that we think you can't take care of yourself," Mama said. "We know you're strong. It's just if anyone saw you. Saw what you are..."

"I know Mama. It's fine." Jack-Lynn said. He really meant it. He was different. He knew that even without ever leaving the family home. He wasn't a Cyclops, like his mothers and the rest of his clan. He read all the books he could get his hands on, looking for anything that was like him. He knew all there was to know about every known race and species. But there was nothing like him. The closest this were elves or dwarfs. Maybe Oracles. But they all had things Jack-Lynn didn't. Skills. Ability. Strengths. He read about strangers species that had been discovered over the history of the city. Treated with ridicule and judged unfairly. But there were tons of each species in the city now. If people found Jack-Lynn, with no way of proving what he is or where in the Plains he came from, the would likely mark him a danger and lock him up. Or worse.

That's what his mothers always said.

Mother cleared the table and Mama moved to open the store. So Jack-Lynn headed back to the basement. He wasn't allowed upstairs during store hours. So he worked in the Forges. As he heard the bell above the door welcoming the first customers of the day, he donned his uniform and got the stove heated.

Because of his strangely thin skin, Jack-Lynn wore protection against the hot metals and molten Lava. Cyclops had such thick skin that the heat wouldn't bother them, only having to wear simple safety gloves. If others from his clan saw him wearing Dragonhide boots, apron, and long gloves that go all the way up to his shoulders, he would be a laughing stock. But he was good at his job.

Jack-Lynn grabbed hammered out sheets of different metals and dumped them one at a time into the lava, heating them up till they glowing white with heat. He laid them on the work table and pulled the metal with his hands. It was hard work, shaping the metal till it was thin enough to be forged into a blade. After a day's work, Jack-Lynns muscles ached and cried. His mothers were master blacksmith and they could forge a sword in a day's work. But with the custom orders, which their shop was famous for, most projects consisted of multiple blades and took a few days.

Jack-Lynn wasn't surprised that they got many orders today. Many wanted the best and most unique weapon to impress the guard in hopes of joining. It happened every time they returned to the city.

After spending the day pulling red hot metal over and over, Jack-Lynn was happy to hear his Mama's voice calling him up for dinner.

The sun was well on its descent from the sky as his mother told him to wash up. His face was covered in soot from the stove and his clothes were soaked in sweat. He didn't really care. But he promised to wash anyway.

His Mother decided as a treat, that she would go out and get dinner instead of cook. It was a treat for all them really. Mother wasn't the best cook. Mama was even worse.

Both his mothers left to get the food, so Jack-Lynn got to have some time alone. He loved his mothers very much but was happy to have the time to himself while the sun was up. He began to wander through the old house.

The home belonged to the Lynn family and stood on the very edge of the largest park in city, with a stone wall separating the woods from their home. From the windows, you could stare out and see the tips of trees stretching high above that of the stone wall. The house had been given to Mother when her parents passed away, as she was an only child. The home was large enough to once hold the entire Lynn clan. Now it was only a few rooms. The rest had fallen victim to the elements. The only rooms above ground that still standing were the kitchen, the library, the study, his mother's room and the store front. Most of the underground rooms were still intact. Jack-Lynn had spent the 12 years he had lived here learning about all the secrets of the home. He knew the ruins better than his mother did, he thought as he moved from wall to wall, jumping over collapsed ceilings and crawling through structures that had once connected the rooms together. Until he found the spot he was looking for.

It was by far his favorite spot in the house, even though he wasn't supposed to go there. The roof of the house had collapsed, which in turn collapsed the room above him, leaving the ground floor exposed. It had been like that for years, and the elements had blown in dirt and seeds. A small tree had been growing for a few years and grass now grew over the rubble, with flowers began to sprout over the rocks as the summer began. The sun-soaked the rocks and bathed the former room in light.

Jack-Lynn walked to the middle of the room and lied across his favorite spot, his back resting up against a former section of wall. He loved the feel of the sun on his skin. He knew he didn't have long to stay here, as the sun was lowering and his parents would be home soon, but he couldn't help but relax. He never got to go outside, so this was the closest he ever got. The only sun he was allowed to get was through the sunlight in his Mothers bedroom. He wasn't upset that he wasn't allowed to go outside, really, but that didn't stop him for longing. Longing for things he knew he couldn't have.

He closed his eyes and dreamed of leaving the city, and finding others like him. He felt like he had been lying here for hours. But before the sun had set fully, he heard his mother call him. His eyes shot open. For a moment, he thought he saw a large dark shape fly over the ruins. He panicked for a moment. There were a number of species that could fly. He hoped no one saw him. But what he saw was too large. Must have been a small dragon. They fly over the city from time to time. His mother called again.

He scrambled to his feet and rushed through the ruins. He ran into the kitchen and stopped when both his mothers stared at him. His Mother didn't look too happy.

"Jack-Lynn I told you to wash up. Look at you! You're covered in more dirt than when we left." She scolded him.

He shrugged. He sat at the table and sniffed the air. The food smelled wonderful and filled the kitchen with its aroma.

"What did you get?" He asked.

"We went down to Arthur-Lynn and Maggie-Lynn's home. They made spicy Ox meatballs and spiced corn." Mama explained.

"Nice!" Jack-Lynn shouted. Mother placed a plate of food at his place, and Jack-Lynn grabbed his fork and moved to dig in. Suddenly his face was full of damp fabric.

His Mother wiped his face roughly with a rag. He could hear his Mama laughing. He shrugged his mother's attack off.

"Mother!" He snapped. "I'm 18 years old. I don't need my face wiped for me."

"Well excuse me." Mother said before taking her spot at the table.

The three of them ate until they were full, with Jack-Lynn sweating at the heat of the Ox meatballs. His mothers spoke of the news they heard from their neighbors and others in the neighborhood. Mostly rumors of the guard and what new discoveries they might have made. The neighborhood in they lived was mostly populated to the Lynn clan. But over the last few years, more and more elves had been moving in. The neighborhood was known as the Material district, as most of the city blacksmiths were here, as well as the largest library in the city. Jack-Lynn had always wanted to go there.

After dinner, Jack-Lynn finally went and bathed in the underground water spring under the kitchen. He said goodnight to his mothers and headed back to his room. He stripped off his sweat and dirt ridden clothes and collapsed on his bed wearing nothing but his undergarments, as per usual. He closed his eyes and fell asleep without climbing under his covers.

He slept peacefully that night.

The next day was almost exactly as the last, if not busier. They ate leftovers that night and took turns in the bath. He slept peacefully again, exhausted.

As he slept that second night, something woke him. He felt warm. Unusually warm. Like the stone edge of his bed was much too warm. He woke with a start. He raised his head but couldn't see in the dark. He coughed and realized that his room was filling with smoke.

Panic washed over him.

"Mama! Mother!" He shouted. He burst from his room. The smoke flowed down the stairs. He could hear the wood burning. Then he heard it.

"Jack-Lynn!" His Mama.

"Jack-Lynn!!" His Mother.

He rushed up the stairs, his feet burning against the hot stone. He burst through the kitchen, heading to the room of his parents. As he crossed the threshold to the study, his Mother and Mama bust in.

Before he could get a word in, express his relief that they were ok, they thrust a cloak over his head and wrapped him tightly. He could tell that it was one of the old cloaks of his adoptive grandparents, as it was much too large for him. As he was wrapped snugly in the large piece of fabric, he felt much too warm and confused. Then his Mama lifted him in her arms and ran for the store front. The fire seemed to have spread from the ruins, as the study was burning the most and spreading to the kitchen. As the ran through the store, Jack-Lynn peeked out of his coverings and saw the weapons decorating the walls. He rarely stepped foot in the store, but the thought of it burning down made him want to sob.

They burst through the door and into the streets. Neighbors gathered around and watched the old house burn. Jack-Lynn was held tight to his Mamas' chest, cradled in her arms like a child. He watched through a gap in the fabric as the flames engulphed the only home he ever knew. He had never seen it from the outside. The walls of the store were stone, with the wooden supports painted white. Above the storefront was a sign that read "Lynn Custom Metal Works, branch 4". He couldn't believe this was the first time he had seen the front of the store. He couldn't believe that he would never see it again as the heat of the fire burst the windows and began burning the sign.

His Mama was crying. His Mother was too. He felt his eyes burn as tears dropped from his eyes.

Mama pulled him close to his chest as the last remnants of their home crumbled as the fire burned out in the middle of the cold night. Mother fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands.

Other cyclops, members of the clan Jack-Lynn, came forward and tried to comfort them. His Mother and Mama were kneeling infront of what was now a smoldering ruin of their former home. The other cyclops had to work quick before the fire spread to the park, and had just managed to put it out in time.

Peaking out of the cloak around him, Jack-Lynn felt the lump in his throat grow again as he caught sight of the small tree from his hiding spot, now char black and dead.

Suddenly the ground rumbled. The steady sound of hooves stormed in the night.

"It's the Gaurd!" An elf cried out.

Mama pushed him further into her chest. He curled up as much as he could, trying to keep out of the eyes of others. It was common knowledge outside the clan that his parents did not have a child. He prayed that no one asked questions.

The crowd parted and two centaurs with the bodies of brown stallions marched forward. Each was equipt with a bow and a quiver full of arrows. Each wore a chest plate and steel helmet. They appeared to be twins from what Jack-Lynn could see from his limited view and young ones at that. They looked maybe 5 years older than him.

As the reached the site of the fire and him and his family, they parted. The scariest man he had ever seen stepped between them. He about as tall as his mothers, standing well over Jack-Lynn's height, with large muscles. His skin had the appearance of mossy green-gray stone, and his face was short and flat, with pointed ears that were too think to be elven. He had two pairs of short tusks that protruded from his lower jaw and over his upper lip. He wore large shoulder guards, as well as guards on his forearms and knuckles. Two thick leather straps crossed his chest in an X, strapping his shoulder pads on as well as a large spear across his back. Under, he wore an expensive looking white cotton shirt and leather pants. His large body and his bare feet shook the ground with each step.

Jack-Lynn swallowed nervously.

He approached the three of them. He looked down at his parents. Mother stood up, and Mama followed, staring him in the eye. Jack-Lynn hid his face, but he could feel his stare burning into his skin.

"You are May-Lynn and Dana-Lynn?" The Orc asked. "The owners of the Lynn family Custom works?"

"Yes." Mother said.

"Why does Rugo-Drum want to investigate a store fire?" Mama asked.

Jack-Lynn paled from under his cloak. Rugo-Drum. The Captain of the guard. What could he be doing here?

"I simply was in the neighborhood when the Gaurd received the message. Do you have something to hid?" He said calmly. Mother was the one who spoke up, keeping Mama from lashing out. Mama got angry when she was scared.

"Of course not sir." Mother said. "We are in mourning for our store. My wife is just in shock."

"Hmm." The Captian said. Jack-Lynn could still feel the Captian staring at him. He was sweating. He was also scared. "And who is that you are holding?"

He still held a certain amount of calmness in his voice. Like he was simply curious, and not investigating something strange. Mama tightened her grip around Jack-Lynn.

Whispers broke out through the crowd. It was clear from the way she held him that she was holding someone not something.

"It is our son." Mama spat out. Mother grabbed his leg as if to ensure herself that he was still there. The whispering grew.

"Hmm." The Captian said again. "Bring him."

With those words, the centaur circled around them. With their bows at their sides, Mama and Mother obeyed. The Captian turned and began walking back into the city. Mama and Mother followed as the centaurs brought up the back.

The crowd seemed to follow them as they walked through the streets of the city. Jack-Lynn could hear whispers all around. They walked for ages, but he refused to risk peeking out and take in the sights, even though he was curious.

After ages of walking, Jack-Lynn heard the sound of metal gates opening. He felt his Mama tense up as they walked past. He was wondering where he was when he heard the sound of large doors opening next.

As they walked into a building, he could feel the warmth of what sounded like a large hearth burning in the room, and he could tell by the echo of their footsteps on the stone floor that the room was very large. Jack-Lynn peeked out from over his Mamas' shoulder. He couldn't see the whole room but it was bright white stone, lite up by oil fueled torches that lined the walls. From the shadows he could see on the floor, there must have been a chandelier hanging above them, helping to illuminate the room. He ducked back under the cloak as they all stopped walking.

"Emperor," The Captian said, and Jack-Lynn heard him lower to one knee, making a thud on the floor echoing throughout the room. The centaurs followed, and then Mama and Mother bowed also.

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