#I like that it fits the autumn equinox with the colors and the spring one with the flowers >:3

[autumnalwalker]

Hello hello, and happy Muse Monday! For the Archivist, what's one autumn tradition that you miss from your home world?

(Answering below in character as per the rules of Muse Monday...)

Autumn... it would be that time of year now, wouldn't it, with the equinox not long past. Or would it be spring? Hard to say with this place only having two real seasons to speak of, dry and rainy. And the Village is just barely south of the equator, so I suppose that technically offsets the seasonal cycle as well.

Autumn... what was it like again? No, that's too dramatic a wording. I haven't forgotten, it's just that I have to concentrate on it. It's a period defined by transition. Spring is the beginning of warmth. Summer is a middle and heat. Winter is a cold ending. But autumn? Autumn is the space between. A winding down and a handing off. A stop to take a breath. Seasons are cycles and all of them are in perpetual transition to the next, but none of the others embody it so fully.

But that doesn't say what it was like, now does it? It varied with climate, of course, but most archetypically it was defined by the changing of the leaves on trees. For many species in many places their leaves would, for a few months, change from green to a vibrant spectrum of reds, oranges, and browns. Warm colors set alight in contrast to the falling temperature. And along the way the leaves would begin to fall in preparation for the cold and dark of winter, lending the season it's other name. Fall. It was my favorite season, I think. I have this impression of being from someplace too warm to get much of the classical look of autumn in the trees, but being surrounded by the imagery all the same. It was the perfect time of year for me to be outside, with the overbearing heat of summer finally gone but the biting chill of winter not yet arrived. For all that it's the season of life winding down, I do believe it was the season in which I felt most alive. One would think that spring should have been similar, but something about it just wasn't the same. And once again I am reminded that my body must have changed when I came here to tolerate this endless summer so well.

Autumn... what were its holidays again? Those are always so hard for me to recall. Strangely, it seems that the only ones I can remember the names of were the ones I know I didn't celebrate. There were four in that season I observed though. Or maybe it was two holidays and two days with personal significance. At any rate, I can only remember anything about two holidays in that part of the year. One was, if I recall, much like the solstice celebrations here. A time specifically meant above all else as being for gathering with family and loved ones, culminating in the sharing of a meal.

The other one though, it tugs on my memory more than any other now that I turn my mind in its direction. I suspect it was my favorite, not only of the season, but of the year. How do I describe it in a way that anyone in the Village could understand? It was just such a strange one, lacking the ties that most other holidays had to religion or patriotism. Then again, how would I even describe patriotism to people from a world consisting of exactly one Village? Suffice to say, it had unusual cultural roots compared to most others. And as for what it was even celebrating there was a fascinating duality to it. On the one hand, it was a holiday about confronting and embracing fear, horror, darkness, and death. On the other hand it was a time of playful whimsy that turned the darkness into something fun. Alluring. Familiar even. Whether one leaned more to one side or the other or found a way to blend them was entirely a matter of individual preference. It was a time for those who didn't fit in or harbored love for things other found unsettling to embrace that about themselves. And on the day itself the tradition was to don a costume and be something, or someone else for a night, whether that be a monster, a character from a story, another profession, or a walking joke. Or for some, it was a chance to doff the figurative mask they had to where for the rest of the year and have a moment to be themselves for once. In many places, houses would be decorated for the holiday with symbols and figures of horror made whimsical and costumed children would go from door to do as the houses' residents handed out sweets. Something like the equinox festival here, except with everyone dressed as a shade all at once.

If autumn is a season of transition and liminality, of things changing from one form to another and nothing being as it was seems or will be, then that holiday may have been the purest concentration of that.

Autumn... once upon a time it meant so much more to me than a change in average ambient air temperature. More than just another step in the natural cycle and its cultural associations. It was dear to me... I think. I find myself thinking of how when I first arrived here I cried tears of joy at not recognizing myself in the mirror and didn't know why. I still don't, not entirely, but now I wonder if my love for that holiday was for a similar reason. Perhaps it is for the best that I can't recall it viscerally enough to miss as acutely as I otherwise might in this world of endless summer.

#muse monday #writeblr #writers on tumblr #ask game #oc ask game #answered asks #the archivist's journal

[tired-reader-writer]

*deep breath*

HOO BOI AM I INCREDIBLY NERVOUS.

The first outfit is just a very casual, home wear type of thing, I suppose! It's not much but he can just throw a coat on if he has to like say, receive a guest or meet someone or go out. Since I assigned the season spring to him for numerous reasons, I wanted to give this outfit soft spring sort of colours:

“Long associated with the cycle of life, birth/rebirth, and renewal/resurrection, the Vernal Equinox – Spring – signifies a time when light and darkness carry equal weight, creeping towards the Summer Solstice when the sun holds sway, extending the light of day.”

Hence, light green!

Those are almond flowers on his clothes, and as for my reasons for choosing almond flowers...

Buckle up babes, we're going on an Almond Journey.

“Highly revered in many cultures, the almond symbolizes watchfulness and promise of new life, as this tree is the first to burst into bloom in many countries. For the Jews, the almond branch was the model for the menorah, and for the Christians, it is a symbol of Jesus’ virgin birth. The almond blossom is also a symbol of bravery and courage, purity, hope, and love. From Greek mythology, the almond blossom is a symbol of eternal true love, unconquerable by death.”

×

“Blossoming branches of fruit and nut trees hold a special place in our ancestors’ collective unconscious. To them, the blossoms were sacred and held the Goddess’ promise of life and abundance. Ancient Romans revered the blossoming almond, showering newlyweds with the nuts as a fertility charm.

For our modern human psyche, the seemingly sudden bursts of color remind us of an eternal cycle of fresh starts, a recurring miracle. One day cocooned buds add diminutive points of color to dark branches. Overnight, the buds unfold into tiny blossoms, multi-petaled gems. Life begins anew, offering the promise of sustenance as the year ripens.”

Almond flowers bloom in spring, his assigned season (also, do you know how much of a hassle it was to find out when they bloom?? Google is such an asshat, it keeps giving mixed answers like “oh almonds are harvested in autumn” LIKE NO DUDE I WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY BLOOM JFC—) (ahem anyways) and spring is... new beginnings, a fresh start, youth, idealism, that sort of stuff, right? And due to the role he plays in the AU (giving the clan a new start and some land to settle on, he's very idealistic and even though he matures he never lets go of said ideals, I've been wanting to write a scene where he “sat in vigil” alone as his two little ones slept kinda watching over them but I have not gotten to it I am so sorry, and while I'm guessing that the eternal true love business is supposed to be of romantic love I'm stretching it to include both romantic and platonic loves— aka he's a devoted and loyal husband to Kazai but also he will never stop treasuring Ayunnen and Kashi til the day he dies. And of course, there's no way he's gonna stop loving his little brother, and also his son.) almonds/almond flowers felt quite fitting. Also the Alborz mountains have almond trees, though I fucking forgot if almond trees originated from said mountain range. They probably did, iirc? Anyways, geographically it was a fit. (You have no idea how many times I've visited the Wikipedia page of the mountain range, bless them)

And the fact that it was used in wedding ceremonies is justba cherry on top. Not like he and Kazai are gonna need the fertility charm though LMAO

Anyways, moving onto the next one, it's just the same type of clothes as the first + a coat, suited for less relaxed settings! I tend to associate him with red, I wish I knew why, maybe it's his eyes, and I thought he'd look good in red so here he is, in red. A purple coat over that, and I tend to think of purple as the “family/household colour” as opposed to “personal colour” so I just made it the outermost layer, the “family/household colour” worn overtop the more personal colours, for more... I don't want to say formal, that's too stuffy for what I have in mind, but for like situations where he's not just with close/loved ones in a relaxed setting. That's also why I deliberately chose not to include purple in his first outfit. I thought I didn't have much to say about this one but huh, looks like I had a bit more than I initially thought. The yellow just looked nice on purple, haha. Though I did choose a softer, brighter yellow than what I'd give Kazai, to invoke the spring feel.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARRIVE AT HIS WEDDING OUTFIT. BOI I WENT HAM ON THIS ONE AND I THINK YOU CAN TELL. I have like. SO MANY THOUGHTS.

First of all, GREEN. Green is the favored wedding colour of the clan, and he's wearing lots of green to honor that. @innerchorus said he'd look good in green and I wholeheartedly agree. Look at him.

The pin I'm having him wear on his innermost layer is supposed to be of an ash tree seed, though I did take some creative liberty with the design so uh, does it look like an ash tree seed anymore? Anyhow, the reason for choosing it is:

What do the seeds of ash, sycamore and maple trees have in common? They all are enclosed in a wing-like structure that helps them disperse - away from the parent plant and indeed each other.

It was just smth I saw on some tumblr post, and I was like... “so the apple fell faraway from the tree” and kinda interpreted this as him distancing himself from his parents' deeds and attitudes to pave his own path. He did not agree with their actions and thought processes. The mountain range does have ash trees, too! So yeah.

As for the leaves on the red parts of his outermost robe, I did choose a very particular tree's leaves, and said tree is Persian Ironwood!

Parrotia persica, the Persian ironwood, is a deciduous tree in the family Hamamelidaceae, closely related to the witch-hazel genus Hamamelis. It is native to Iran's Caspian region (where it is called انجیلی anjili) and Iranian Azerbaijan (where it is called Dəmirağacı). It is endemic in the Alborz mountains, where it is found mainly in Golestan National Park.

And Golestan is:

Golestān Province (Persian: استان گلستان, Ostān-e Golestān) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the north-east of the country and south-east of the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Gorgan.

Oh but I'm not done yet. That's not the only reason I chose this tree,

The name 'ironwood' comes from the almost indestructible nature of the tree's timber which may explain why it is not commercially grown. Herbalists have used the species for the treatment of various fevers and respiratory infections. It is also used for food colouring and food flavouring.

Ironwood is a common name for many woods or plants that have a reputation for hardness, or specifically a wood density that is heavier than water.

The wood is beyond strong, toughest in the face of floods, axes, and anything else.

I've even seen ironwoods described to have “unyielding strength”. Shapur, as I see him, is a very strict and stern (hence hard) man, but he is fair too. Maybe he and Kazai choose to plant an ironwood sapling? Undecided as of yet but I like the idea. I decided to include this in place of an entire tree like on Kazai's robe, mainly because I couldn't fit it on here but I still wanted to incorporate something for it. Tried making the leaves white, it clashed badly with the red imo, so... yeah.

The necklace! I feel like it's kinda lackluster but... I chose to stick with it. You'll see some similar choices as in Kazai's necklace, like the three repeating colours and such. There's also a wolf, I wanted more wolves on his actual clothes but... like with the tree, no place to put them on without it being cramped/jarring so... sadly I couldn't. The wolf is both Isfan and Areyan. His second layer, I really liked the asymmetrical trim look on his first outfit so I repeated that here, and of course, more almonds. This time it's the almond seeds, to reference the wedding thing. I tried to incorporate the colours from Kazai's wedding attire onto this too, to hopefully give a more cohesive feel. And as for the embroidery/detailing on the purple layer... I tried a bunch of times and decided this was nice. Also I wanted more pink on his clothes so... pink I included. In hindsight I probably should've included more white, this outfit doesn't have much white. But that could be in my favour too, since it could be said it's because Shapur doesn't follow that faith so he doesn't have as much but he still chose to honor it in subtle ways.

The ornaments on his braids, I don't know if they can be seen but there's dark blue beads! I probably should've chosen a lighter colour but... that's Kashi's colour, haha. And the white string was for Ayunnen. I like to think that that ornament originally belonged to Kashi (maybe she wore it at her own wedding), that Kazai gifted to Shapur instead of wearing it in his own hair.

I tried to reuse the colours from Kazai's wedding clothes sleeve for the trim on the neck of the purple layer but somehow in my eyes the colours didn't work so I scrapped that and included silver/white instead, and a lighter purple instead of the pink of Kazai's puffy collar shirt layer— hence why I included that pink on the bottom instead. The earrings... I just thought they looked nice, haha.

So this is it!! This was... A Trip™ to write, and I can only hope it'll be A Trip™ to read too. If nothing else my mental gymnastics should be rather entertaining.

#arslan senki #the heroic legend of arslan #heroic legend of arslan #winds of wolfsong #wolfpack au #shapur #rotten egg's shitty art #the character design sheet saga #what's with me and my penchant for associating characters with red #it happened first with Lacie Baskerville— I imagined her dress to be red #only for it to turn out purple #then Shapur #then Zandeh #strangely enough I can't associate Isfan with red #??????? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BRAIN #I hope y'all enjoyed this! #imma go hide now

[stardryad]

ok so I just found your blog and I’m in love with your art style!! so so cute! could you do a doodle of Pippin with sunflowers? tysm!!

Heya thank you so much, it means a lot!! ❤️❤️

I couldn't help myself with this one, it fits so much with this equinox season! So have a colored one hehe

#I like that it fits the autumn equinox with the colors and the spring one with the flowers >:3 #Lotr #it was nice making it after the first step of coloring the commission #now I'll come back to it o/ I'll make the other doodles still so dont worry you all who send me prompts! #also for the mushroom anon I love you #and will draw something for what you said too #Tolkien #Pippin Took #Peregrin Took #Lord of the Rings

[blackroseenchantments]

#Sabbat #Crystal Sets - 3 Crystals - Choice of Sabbat - Comes in Sachet #sabbatcrystals #wicca #witch #etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/718898514/sabbat-crystal-sets-3-crystals-choice-of?ref=shop_home_active_9&frs=1

Each set comes in a sachet. Crystals range from 3/4 inches to 1 1/2 inches and will vary in size. For these sets I poured through tons of online opinions and book references to see the different versions of associations. I didn't want these sets to overlap each other with the same crystals in multiple sets. So each set is different and there are 24 unique crystals for the complete set. I also picked crystals that I would choose myself for each sabbat. If you would like a different crystal than I have chosen for a particular sabbat, please message me and I can more than likely get it. You may also request to switch crystals between the sets. Samhain - carnelian, black obsidian, labradorite Yule/Winter Solstice - emerald, snow quartz, ametrine Imbolc/Candlemas - garnet, bloodstone, onyx Ostara/Spring Equinox - green aventurine, moonstone, aquamarine Beltane - rose quartz, moss agate, fire agate Midsummer/Litha/Summer Solstice - sunstone, fluorite, ocean jasper Lammas/Lughnasadh - tiger's eye, citrine, rainforest jasper Mabon/Autumn Equinox - amethyst, lapis lazuli, hematite A note about a few of the choices - Labradorite isn't a common one for Samhain, but I chose it because it is associated with connection with higher guides & spirits and psychic readings - both of which are often done on Samhain. It's also a stone of magic, and increases psychic abilities. I think it is a perfect stone for Samhain. Snow quartz I only saw once in reference to Yule, but I think its a better fit than the usual clear quartz. Snow is perfect for the winter solstice of course, and carries the same properties as clear quartz. Fire agate doesn't often come up for Beltane, but it is perfect as well, since it is a fire festival and bon fires are traditional. Ocean jasper is not common for Midsummer, however I think it's associations with ocean energies and the colors it often comes in make it a perfect crystal for the summer solstice. I reminds me of summer. Yellow jasper is also sometimes used for the solstice and it often has yellow in it. Rainforest Jasper for Lammas. Usually it is yellow jasper etc. But I think rainforest fits as well since it carries the colors of yellow brown and green associated with the sabbat.

#sabbat #wicca #witchcraft #witch #pagan #spiritual #samhain #yule #imbolc #ostara #beltane #midsummer #lammas #mabon #crystals #sabbat crystals #sabbat sets #etsy #etsy shop #crystal witch #crystal collector

[theaetherwitch]

The Wheel of The Year

I’ve been meaning to make this post so get your pencil, BoS, and get ready to learn cause this gonna be a long one! This is very important for any beginner witch to learn if you intend to celebrate the holidays Wheel of The Year This is the turning of the seasons based on the sun rather than the moon. There are eight holidays or Sabbats that are traditionally recognized. These sabbats represents birth, death, and rebirth, and are usually associated with The Lord/God but nothing is preventing you from honoring The Lady/Goddess or your own deities as well!

When it comes to celebrating these holidays, there is no set defined way to do it. Do whatever feels natural and fits into your practice best. Here’s some more traditional information though to get you going in a good direction. And when it comes to the decor, decorate however you see fit and don’t feel obligated to use real plants because faux flowers are just a good.

Yule About: Yule lands on the days of 20-21 December, and is traditionally celebrated with fire and family. In some traditions this is the time when the death aspect of The Lord/God is overtaken by by the rebirth aspect (sometimes referred to as the Divine Child.) This is the holiday where many of our christmas traditions come from and are based on, so this is a relatively easy holiday to celebrate! Colors: Red and Green Incense: Frankincense, Myrrh Decor options: Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Pine/Pinecones Herbs: Bayberry, Chamomile, Rosemary, Sage Traditions: Yule Log, this is a log to be decorated and burned at the end of the holiday. Instead of cutting down a tree, find an old log that’s been laying in the woods and take it home with you! It doesn’t have to be very big. When the holiday is over, you can dispose of this log however you feel fit, but make sure to keep a piece of the log for the new year as a good luck and protection charm! Yule Tree, essentially just a christmas tree! Traditionally this tree is real, but a faux tree works just as well.

Imbolc/Candlemas About: This is actually a holiday that most seem to ignore or forget about, but it’s just as important as the rest! Celebrated on the days of 1-2 February, this is typically a holiday to celebrate The Lady/Goddess in all her forms, Maiden, Matron, and Crone. This is the holiday to banish the winter season and welcome in spring. Imbolc is a good time to delve into fertility magick if that’s something you’re interesting in. Colors: White, Light Blue, Lavender, Silver Incense: Lavender, Vanilla, and any floral scents. Decor options: Flowers, and Angelica Herbs: Basil, Bay Traditions: Burning Lavender or White candles, and the best way to celebrate this holiday is spring cleaning! Clean the house, rearrange things, make a new altar set up, and take a nice warm bath to cleanse yourself. This is the time for you to be reborn into something new.

Ostara About: Falling on the days of 20-21 March, this is a holiday that represents the warrior aspect of The Lord/God, and it’s also the Spring Equinox. This is a holiday of balance, and fertility. Colors: Any Pastels Incense: Jasmine, Rose Decor Options: Wild Flowers, Acorns, Daffodils, Honeysuckle, Lily Herbs: Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Violet Traditions: This is the best time to buy (or even make) yourself a new broom, or go out into nature to find a staff. Now is also a really good time to start a garden if that interests you.

Beltane About: This holiday falls on 5 May and is the last of the spring and fertility festivals. This is when The Lord/God and The Lady/Goddess join together to become whole, making this a good time for any workings in love or family. Colors: Dark Green, Light Blue, Lavender, Pink, Yellow, and White Incense: Frankincense Decor Options: Angelica, Bluebells, Daisies, Ivy, Rose Herbs: Almond, Angelica, Rose Traditions: The Maypole, a tall pole decorated with flowers or ribbons that is danced around during the festival. This is a little less likely for people to do (though i have a friend who does), so an easier way to celebrate this holiday is to make your space green, flowery and inviting!

Midsummer Night/Litha About:This is the summer solstice, and is usually celebrated on the days 20-21 of June. This holiday is a very powerful one and represents The Lord/God in his entirety. During this holiday, people celebrate success, drive, and passion. Colors: Dark Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold Incense: Lavender, Sandalwood Decor Options: Fruits, Pines, Roses (feel free to use a bowl of fake fruit!) Herbs: Chamomile, Lavender, Fennel, Thyme, Hemp Traditions: This is the best time to do magick dealing with business or financial affairs. But being that this is the summer solstice, honestly any spell will be exceptionally powerful so save your big ritual of the year for this day! Lammas/ Lughnassadh About: The first of the harvest holidays, this is usually when the prep for winter begins and the fall seasons really takes off. Colors: Yellow, Cream, Brown Incense: Frankincense, Sandalwood Decor: Grain, Corn, and Fallen Leaves Herbs: Heather, Wheat Traditions: If you have a garden, this is a good day to check and harvest what foods are ready. It’s also tradition to start stocking you magickal pantry for the cold months to come. Stock up while resources are a plenty. And one last tradition is the baking of bread, a good time to have some fun in the kitchen and get crafty.

Mabon About: This is the Autumn Equinox and the time when harvesting really gets going. This holiday is on the days 20-21 of September, meaning if you live in a more rural area you’ll start seeing the farmers out and about and the leaves have really started changing and falling. The year is close to its end! Colors: Red, Orange, Brown Incense: Myrrh, Pine, Sage Decor Options: Fallen Leaves, Vines, Acorns, Corn Herbs: Marigold, Sage, Rose Traditions: Collect, press, and save fallen leaves to use in protection spells!

Samhain About: Ahh, the witches favorite holiday and the holiday that signals a new solar year! This holiday falls on the same day as Halloween, 31 October. This is a time to celebrate, honor, and communicate with passed loved ones. This is another very powerful day in the craft, so save any big spells or rituals for this day! Colors: Orange, Green, Black, Purple Incense: Patchouli, Myrrh Decor Options: Pumpkings/Jack-O-Lanterns, Corn, Gourds, Leaves Herbs: Heather, Sage Traditions: Alot of the tradtions we have with Halloween actually have their origins based in the craft so feel free to celebrate normally! If you’re looking to communicate with the dead, this would be the night to do it (but be careful, spirits have heightened strength and negative entities/energies like to take advantage of those who are inexperienced.) And of course, if you have a big ritual or spell that you want to cast, this is a really good day to do so.

I know this was a long reply, but a really necessary one. Hopefully this helps!

#pagan wicca #paganism #pagan #wicca #wiccan #wheel of the year #pagan holidays #witchcraft #witch tips #my tips #yule #imbolc #ostara #beltane #midsummer night #lammas #mabon #samhain #pagan sabbats #my grimoire

[crystallized-shadow]

Series: Forces of Nature Rating: G Pairing: Hashirama/Mito, background Madara/Tobirama, background Itama/Izuna/Kagami Word Count: 1885 Warnings: Mourning Summary:  The Fall Equinox is upon the gods, but even as Hashirama celebrates his eternal partner's day, he still mourns the lost of his best friend.

Happy first day of Fall!!

Ko-Fi // Commission Info

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

"What has you so sad my love?" Hashirama looks up at the concerned face of his eternal partner; he knew some of the lesser gods called her cold but he couldn't see it.

"It's the end of summer."

Mito nods in understanding and Hashirama is grateful when she doesn't press for more information. Normally this day was a joyous occasion, it was the start of Mito's season and while Hashirama's own power dropped he was always excited for the Fall Equinox. However since Madara's disappearance centuries ago, the mark of another summer passed without the fiery god was a solemn event.

"How is Tobirama?" Mito asks, ever concerned about the winter god and how he's handling the day.

"The same," Hashirama admits, looking in the direction of the snowy mountain Tobirama spent most of his free time now, "I haven't seen him since the Solstice."

Mito follows her husband's gaze, worry creasing her brows as she thinks back to the solstice. Since Madara had been ripped away from them the gods always honored him on his day. No one had quite gotten over the loss, and Mito suspected they never would; Madara hadn't named a successor so there would always be blaring gap in their ranks to remind them. The hardest hit were Tobirama, Madara's eternal partner, and Izuna, Madara's younger brother, who could only stand to be in the same room as each other on this one day. As expected, Tobirama's anger was icy and his glare froze the hearts of anyone foolish enough to mention Madara's name in his presence, while Izuna's anger was as dry and scorching as droughts under his command. Izuna blamed Tobirama in part for Madara's death, it had been on his solstice the summer god had died and he was the last one to see Madara. The embodiment of droughts needed somewhere to focus his hatred and rage, least he burn the whole world, and the icy winter god seemed to be the only one who fit that need.

"I'm sorry, I'm ruining your day, aren't I?" Hashirama asks, bringing Mito back to the present. Seeing the genuine worry on the spring god's face, the Goddess of Autumn shakes her head with a gentle smile.

"Of course not my spring," Mito assures, cupping her partner's cheek and running her thumb along the markings there, "I miss the little fireball too and I know your barriers are their weakest right now." Unlike the solstices, where one god's power increase came from the other god's power loss, the equinoxes were more about balance. Hashirama was more susceptible to his emotions during the Fall Equinox and thus couldn't draw out his full power, while Mito had perfect control of her powers today.

Hashirama smiles and leans into the hand, the chilled touch making him shudder in the best of ways. "Thank you my autumn," he murmurs, shifting just enough to kiss her palm, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I dare say you'd send a lot of time wallowing in the corner and flooding the lands with Weeping Willows," Mito chuckles, ignoring her husbands overly dramatic pout. "Am I wrong?"

"No," Hashirama whines, draping his larger bulk over Mito's delicate frame, "but that's not the point."

"You have a point my darling spring?" Mito teases, easily supporting the other god's weight, "that would be a first."

"Miiittttoooo!" Hashirama shifts, wrapping his arms tightly around Mito and spinning them around. "You're so mean to me!"

Mito allows Hashirama to have his fun before the tiniest flick of her fingers has a burst of brightly color leaves sprouting on her husband's normally flowering vines. He squawks indignantly releasing her to sort through the mess she's made of his hair.

"I see some things never change," a voice chuckles, drawing both gods eyes to the God of Monsoons watching them.

"Itama!" Hashirama grins, abandoning his new hair adornments to tackle his younger brother into a hug, "I didn't think you'd come!"

"And miss my favorite sister's day? I don't think so," Itama chuckles, hugging his brother back. Once he is released he turns to hug Mito. "I hope Hashi hasn't been too much of a downer today."

"No more than Izuna I'm sure," Mito teases, enjoying watching Itama flush and stutter helplessly for a moment. "I am surprised the hothead let you leave his side."

"He more or less forced me to go," Itama admits, running a hand through the white half of his hair, "knew he was horrible company right now and didn't want me to see him like that."

"Meaning he wanted to burn something," Mito states and the monsoon god doesn't even feel bad as he shrugs.

"It's not like the humans don't deserve it," Itama points out indifferently, "they have to pay for their transgressions against us; I care not who punishes them as long as they suffer."

"Itama," Hashirama scolds, frowning at his brother's lack of caring for the humans, "humans are still a young species, we must be kind to them. Just because a few of them made a grave mistake doesn't mean they all have to suffer!"

"I doubt you would try and stop Tobirama's warpath." Even though the words aren't harsh, Hashirama still flinches back like he's been struck.

"You are the only season favorable to humans," Mito says sympathetically, brushing her nimble fingers through Hashirama's hair to both comfort him and remove the leaves he's forgotten about. "You can't expect us to care if they die, it's just not in our nature."

"Madara would have agreed with me," Hashirama sulks as he pulls Mito into a hug, "he never hated the humans."

"Perhaps he should have," an icy voice states, freezing everyone in place, "then he would still be alive. If you two hadn't insisted on your silly tradition of heading their prayers I would still have my summer beside me."

"Tobira..."

"Don't."

Before Tobirama can say anymore, a torrential downpour opens up over his head, thoroughly soaking the god.

"That's enough Tobi-nii," Itama scolds, not even bothering to flinch when narrowed red eyes sharper than ice meet his. "Hashi-nii is the life giving season; it's in his nature to care about everyone, even those undeserving."

Tobirama is silent for a long minute as the water falls from him as snow. "I know," he finally admits, his anger draining away to leave him feeling hallow, "but I can't forgive them."

"No one is asking you to," Mito points out, smiling gently when Tobirama's lost gaze focuses on her, "we are only asking you to be fair to Hashirama."

"I'm sorry Anija," Tobirama sighs, hesitantly holding his arms apart as a peace offering, "I didn't mean it."

"I know Otouto," Hashirama mutters, his usually bright grin long since muted as he hugs his brother close, "even I can't forgive the humans that took him; I too have forsaken their lineage."

"Thank you." Tobirama feels the ice around him thaw just a little bit as he lets himself selfishly take comfort from the still grieving spring god. It was only now that the winter god remembered he wasn't the only one suffering; Hashirama had known Madara the longest, the two seasons centuries older than the rest of them. For Hashirama to forsake a whole line of humans, rather than just the culprits, truly spoke to how deeply wounded Spring's heart was.

"This is touching and all, but hasn't the rainy season passed?"

"I'm standing right here you damn brush fire," Itama huffs, without bothering to turn and face the God of Wildfires, who just strolls over with a grin and drapes himself over the monsoon god.

"I'm surprised Izuna let you go," he murmurs in a pale ear, "I know I wouldn't have."

"Kagami," Hashirama whines, drawing the fiery eyes so similar to Madara's yet not even close, to him. "Could you maybe not molest my brother in front of me?"

"Of course," Kagami chuckles, his grin overly innocent as he steps away from Itama, "though that implies my touches are unwanted, which can't be true, right Ita?"

"Of course not!" Itama is quick to assure, able to see the genuine worry under the exaggerated pout; their relationship was still new enough that Kagami questioned almost every move he made.

"What brings you here Kagami?" Mito asks, smoothly drawing the attention away from the couple, "I would have thought you'd be raising a forest fire or two to send off the season."

"I already did, and Izuna asked me to leave him alone so I came to find Itama," Kagami says with a shrug and Mito narrows her eyes at the minor god.

"Let me see it." Mito orders in a tone that just dares Kagami to disobey, holding out her hand expectantly.

Kagami sighs but rolls his sleeve up, revealing the deep burns crisscrossing up his entire arm. "I'm fine," he grumbles but offers his arm to Mito anyway.

"You know better than to let your magic rage out of control like that," Mito scolds as she carefully pushes her own magic into the wound. Healing wasn't her specialty, but with her perfect control it was child's play to sooth the damaged nerves and encourage Kagami's natural healing to start up.

"You know I can't stop it," Kagami mutters, eyes staying firmly on his feet as the older goddess works. He was still young, only a dozen or so millennia old, and while his control was never great, it was a lot better before Madara had died. The summer god had been the one to start training the young wildfire; Izuna had since taken over but too much hurt and rage existed in both for either of them to safely use large quantities of fire magic. Kagami usually managed to do his job with the spells he already knew, but occasionally his emotions still got the better of him.

"Did Izuna push you this far?" Itama asks, because he needs to know the older god wasn't taking advantage of their new love.

"No," Kagami sighs, carefully flexing his fingers after Mito releases his arm, "but seeing how sad he was pissed me off and I couldn't not make those bastard burn!"

For a moment no one speaks, but then a bitter chuckle slips from Tobirama. "You remind me of him," he says simply, surprising Kagami, "I suppose it's time your training started back up, isn't it?"

"Izuna can't," Kagami reminds the winter god, who just rolls his eyes.

"As if I was suggesting that desert," Tobirama scoffs, "I'll train you."

"But...you're the God of Winter."

"And?" Tobirama challenges, summoning a fireball to his hand, "my summer and I shared much during our eons together."

Kagami stares at the display, quickly following Tobirama when the older god turns to leave.

"Did anyone else know he could do that?" Itama asks after the two are gone, wondering if that had truly been his brother.

"I had no idea," Hashirama admits, staring in the direction Tobirama had went.

"I'm not surprised," Mito chuckles, "Winter and Summer were always the mold breakers. This will be good for him."

"I fear for the humans even more now," Hashirama mutters, horrified by the thought of the wildfires Kagami would raise once he had a better grasp on his powers.

#Hashirama Senju #Mito Uzumaki #Tobirama Senju #Itama Senju #Kagami Uchiha #mentioned Madara Uchiha #mentioned Izuna Uchiha #hashimito #background madatobi #background itama/izuna/kagami #pretty sure I just invented that pairing #at least I did over on ao3 XD #Forces of Nature au #magic au #God of Spring Hashirama #Goddess of Autumn Mito #God of Winter Tobirama #God of Summer Madara #God of Drought Izuna #God of Monsoons Itama #God of Wildfires Kagami #set between To Kill a Season and The Doldrums of Summer #next one will be a sequel to Stolen Winter promise! #Fall Equinox #mentions of how the gods powers work #magical backlash #Kagami can't control his powers very well #anyone predict the wildfire god or the monsoon god? #my writing #crystal writes

[lady-literature]

Roman’s Daughters

Made for the Sanders Sides Big Bang, @ts-storytime

Summary: Roman has many sons, much too many to count. He only ever has nine daughters.

Pairings: Roman/Patton, Roman/Logan, Roman/Virgil, Roman/other people

Warnings: non-graphic violence, mentions of blood and injury, minor character death, non graphic mentions of sexy times

Apart of the same series: In the Sky We Fall | All Hail the Consort of Darkness | Ease My Pain and Soothe My Worries | The Gods are Dead

Read on Ao3

Roman has many sons. Much too many for anyone to keep track of.

He only ever has nine daughters.

His first is before he understands the love spring brings, the comfort of winter and the laughter of autumn leaves. It’s before he understands new love.

He is young and reckless. Heartbroken for a time he did not exist and a person he did not love, but he searches all the same for someone like him.

Someone like the memories he holds, the future he dreamed of.

He finds a woman with wit like a whip and laughter like the sun. She is the rich earth and the golden sun. Her wrists sparkle with the finer things and she worries not for the simple ones. She is mischievous in all the best ways and Roman falls for her. It’s not the same love as before he doesn’t think, but she makes him happy and that’s all that matters to him right then.

She bites kisses up his neck as he laughs and he leaves bruises on her hips as she plans pranks and jokes in that clever little mind of hers.

All is great. Until it isn’t.

Her father finds out. Locks her in a room to starve for her disobedience. Better her dead than carry a child out of wedlock.

Roman hadn’t known they were a secret. Hadn’t know he was supposed to hide.

When he finds out it’s too late.

He breaks down the doors, her father cooling on the floor behind him and her pale and weak in his arms. Her belly is swollen in a way that means one thing and he doesn’t know what to do. She’s dying in his arms and his child may never seen the light of day and he is sobbing.

His throat feels tight but he calls for Dahlia, for Mother Earth. Thinks that maybe the goddess of life can help him.

She comes in a flurry of spring breezes and sweet smelling things. The moment she rests her eyes on him he knows his precious Nadia won’t make it.

“Please,” he begs. “Save the child.”

It is bloody, and Nadia dies halfway through. Roman kisses her forehead. A final goodbye for his ray of sunshine in the darkness.

Dahlia hands over a screaming babe. She is warm and light and more beautiful than he could have imagined. She has her mother’s rich dark skin and curly hair, her eyes glowing amber in the dimness of the room. He loves her fiercely, and never wants to give her up.

“What is her name?” the Earth Mother asks, her voice quiet in the stillness of the moment.

“I’ll name her Thalia.” Roman looks at the Earth Mother, his voice sure, but his eyes less so.

She smiles at him. “That is a good name.”

Roman looks back at his daughter and can’t help but smile.

Thalia grows with beauty and grace and charm. She’s a handful in the worst way, running off and playing tricks. Her humor is all encompassing and she brings joy wherever she finds herself next. She reminds him so much of Nadia it hurts sometimes. The way she’ll cock her hip after telling a joke, or push her hair behind her ear when feigning innocence is a perfect copy of the mother she never got the chance to know.

He is older, but no less reckless and twice as arrogant.

He dances with the mortals on the night of the Autumnal equinox when he should be at Court greeting the arriving Season. Instead he finds himself on the bank of a river, bedding a wood nymph with hair like fire and a voice like bells.

Months later, when summer begins to set in once more, the fiery haired wood nymph finds him and thrusts a squalling bundle of warmth in his arms.

He stares up at her confused and stricken, cradling the child close to his chest.

“A daughter of fire and heat has no place among the trees. Her name is Euterpe.” And then she is gone.

This one has his light skin and the fiery red of the flames her mother danced with. Freckles dot her cheeks and shoulders and Roman has no idea what to do with this child. Thalia grew to womanhood via trial and error and hope. And Summer is right around the corner, he cannot rear a child right now.

He finds himself at Thalia’s door, her home brightly lit and cheerful. When she opens the door she merely rolls her eyes and opens her arms. Roman practically sags with relief, he kisses her forehead and promises to visit often.

“Of course, Father. You owe me a barrel of honey for this, though.”

“What on earth would you need honey for?”

His eldest daughter grins, wide and mischievous and a tad bit cruel. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Roman leaves before he can become an accomplice to whatever Thalia has planned.

He makes a mistake on the third. The sweetest mistake, but a mistake nonetheless.

He falls in love with the spartan prince. He falls for his beauty and laughter and wide, pretty eyes. He falls for a heart as full as his own. For a mind that dreams the way he does and understands. For a swordsman who’s skill and grace with the blade rivals his own.

Roman loves him with his whole being for a year. A wonderful year filled with love and light and happiness.

And then Roman loses him. His precious Hyacinth falls to the jealousy of another god, and he is killed in front of his eyes.

Roman remembers little more than fire and screaming before he shows up at his daughter’s house, their faces creased with worry when they look at him. He knows he is a mess, pale and dirty and crying.

Gods, he’s crying so much. He doesn’t think he’ll ever stop.

His daughters, his beautiful, wonderful, understanding daughters pull him in without a word.

They sit on the floor for hours, days, weeks. Roman doesn’t know.

He only gets up when there is a knock on the door. Thalia stiffens, and moves to answer it, but he stops her. He knows who is there, but he doesn’t know why.

When he opens the door he finds a woman with golden blonde hair and dark olive skin. The child on her hip is a carbon copy for all except her eyes. Those were Hyacinth’s eyes.

“You’re Roman.” It’s not a question so he doesn’t answer. She continues, “I am- was Hyacinth’s wife.”

Roman flinches minutely at the use of past tense. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“And I, yours.” Her eyes glow bright with unshed tears and she looks less put together than a Princess should be, but her eyes are understanding. She holds no anger or jealousy in their depths and Roman thinks he would’ve liked her very much so in another life.

“This is my daughter, Calliope. I have been ordered to kill her. I cannot-” She swallows. “She is my everything. Please.”

The girl cannot be more than three summers old. But a royal bloodline cannot be muddied with a bastard child.

Roman opens his arms to receive the girl. “She has a home here.”

The woman sags with relief and presses a kiss to Calliope’s forehead for a long moment before handing her over.

He spends as much time as he can with his daughters for the next few years, leaving only for summertime and his godly duties.

He watches Calliope grow and write and learn. She fills her head with too many books and ideas that she must write them down to get them all out. She demands to be left alone for hours on end so she can write without interruption.

When she stops growing, Thalia suggests asking Time to make an exception with this one. Roman runs off the second she’s finished speaking and returns only when he carries the sweetened ambrosia that will make her immortal.

She is not of his blood but she is his all the same. He had been dreading having to watch her age and die. It seems her sisters had been too.

The house becomes filled with singing and laughter and thousands of half written scrolls and books.

Roman doesn’t think there’s a better place in the world.

Patton brings him his fourth. He comes to him covered in dirt and holding a too quiet child in his arms. He’s frantic and tense, his eyes darting around the undergrowth as if waiting for something to jump at him.

Roman goes to him immediately.

“My love, what’s wrong?”

Patton’s eyes meet his and there are so many emotions in those depths but Roman sees anger and worry the most. “I had too. Her name is Terpsichore and they- they were-” Patton stops, his face hardened with an anger Roman had never seen from him before. He looks furious and Roman doesn’t want to know what made him so angry, but with the bruises around the girl’s wrists and the tear tracks down her cheeks, Roman can guess.

His stomach rolls at the thought.

“I took her. Roman, I had too. Her mother, they-” Patton’s voice hitches and he stops talking.

Roman looks at the child. Her skin is darkened gray and her hair pale silver. Sharp teeth fill her mouth and he can’t see her eyes but he can take a guess at the color.

This is not the child of a human union, and he knows how the mortals fear what they do not understand. Knows that the gods may not fear, but they ignore and shun. This child won’t fit in. Won’t have any place were she can be herself.

His gaze returns to Patton’s. “What do you need.”

Patton sags with relief, the bleeding heart. “She is yours.”

Roman’s eyes widen. “I- what?”

“Raise her. Please. I don’t know who else to ask.”

“I am no father.”

Patton gives him a look like he thinks he’s exceedingly dim, and wow, he normally only gets that look from Logan. “Your daughters are wonderful and strong. I know you will raise her with love.” Patton passes Terpsichore into Roman’s arms and she immediately snuggles into his warmth, her face looking less pinched as he holds her close.

“You could raise her with more love than I.” It’s a token protest and they both know it. Roman is staring down at this child who hails from hell but will grow in the heavens and he already adores her.

Patton leaves him and Terpsichore with matching kisses on their foreheads and flowers in their hair.

Despite giving the care of Terpsichore over to Roman, Patton becomes as much of her father as he is,visiting whenever he can. Terpsichore follows in his footsteps as a wonderful dancer and she exudes a certain grace that neither of her fathers poses. Her nimble fingers weave flowers into her hair every day, and her and Patton look nothing alike but it is obvious she is her father’s daughter.

She finds herself at festivals and celebrations, dancing so beautifully that people forget the way her eyes absorb all color and her smile’s a bit too sharp. She prefers dancing to Euterpe’s songs though.

She is strange and bright and wonderful and she grows up in a place of light where people love her with all their hearts.

The fifth daughter is planned rather than chance. But she is not planned by him.

“Your daughter’s are growing into fine young women.”

Magic startles him so badly that he nearly impales himself on his sword. He turns around to face them, eyes wide and confused already.

“Uh… thank you?”

Magic studies him for a moment before their slitted cat-like eyes light up and a smile graces their lips. “You do not know,” The air around her sparks, “Interesting.”

Roman doesn’t know what’s so interesting about his daughters other than they are his whole world, but he doesn’t think Magic means it like that.

“I would like your consent on siring a child of my blood.”

Roman almost chokes. Magic has never been a- He never would have thought… Magic just existed. They had no set gender, no true form even. They were all and everything. To think they’d want to bear a child? It was a thought that had never crossed his mind.

“You want- I don’t- what? You want to- to-” Heavens, he can’t even say it. Magic is a wonderful person, don’t get him wrong. They are shy and timid but snarky and fun. Not the most threatening combination but when you add the power that they have at their beck and call you find they are not someone you’d want to cross.

Roman doesn’t understand how he got to be here, he just wanted to practice his sword skills.

Magic laughs at him. “You misunderstand. I do not wish for a daughter, I wish for a protege. Yours are growing finely and will be important one day. I want to have a daughter of magic among them.”

“But that still means…” Roman waves his hand, his ears pink.

“Roman, I am Magic itself. I can certainly create a child through unique means. I just need your permission for it to work.”

“Oh. Uh, sure. Yeah. Babies, yay!” he says weakly. Magic looks both amused and disinterested at the same time. They place their hand on his chest and yanks. Roman cries out and when he opens his eyes again--when had he closed them?-- he sees Magic holding a flickering, crimson red ball of light no bigger than an acorn.

“What is that?”

“Your essence. But only a part.” Their eyes flick to his. “The girl will be brought to you when she is ready.” And with that, they are gone.

It is a year later when a cradle appears from nowhere in the middle of the living room. His daughters eye it with curiosity but allow him to approach it first.

Inside is a little girl, merely a few weeks old, swaddled in a blanket made from woven wind. The child’s eyes are bright green, the pupils cat-like and all knowing. She stares at him as if she keeps the secrets of the universe safely tucked away inside her head. The fuzz utop her head is brown at first glance, but if she moves it just so it explodes into a million colors that shouldn’t exist.

There is a note placed next to her. Roman tucks the girl into the crook of his arm before reading it.

When she comes of age send her to me. She will have questions I can answer.

Her name is Clio.

When he looks back at his daughters, scattered around the room he finds varying levels of exasperation and curiosity.

“It’s too small,” Thalia pipes up, “Send it back.”

Terpsichore smacks her on the back the head and steps forward to hold her new little sister. His girls fall for her just as he knew they would, just as he knew he would.

Clio grows with her head in stuffed in between the pages of her books, with wit that cracks like a whip and is no less painful. She’s smart, maybe too smart, as she finds herself in the middle of at least five academic debates at any one time. At least three of them are because of Joan.

She learns to wield magic like breathing and Roman wholeheartedly believes that if she had the ambition she could take over the world with it. Instead she creates pocket dimensions to keep her growing collection of books.

Him and Logan are on the beach, enjoying each other’s company in a way they rarely get to. The waves lap at them when they roll to close to the sea. The smell of salt water and sweat filling the air as they scream and moan and touch.

When they finish they fall asleep on the sand, curled into each other and content with the world. The waves lap at their feet until the sunrises.

When Roman opens his eyes he finds himself looking not into the eyes of his lover, but that of a child. Her eyes big and curious and the seafoam green of clear waters. She looks at him with wonder and he stares back in confusion and mild fear.

He hits Logan on the arm to wake him up. He is not handling this alone.

“Uh, hello. Good morning,” he starts. A hello is a good start, he thinks. He doesn’t want to spook this child.

“Good morning!” she says brightly, her smile is wide and she’s missing a few teeth. “I’m Urania!”

“Nice to meet you, Urania. Where’d you come from?” Roman asks because he honestly doesn’t know how she got here. No one lives around here for miles.

“I came from the sea.”

“The sea.” Logan repeats, moving to sit up and yup, Roman glad they redressed before falling asleep. “Where are your parents?” Logan asks.

She looks at him like he said something funny and kinda confusing. “You’re right here, silly.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The sea gave me life as a gift to you in exchange for something She took a long time ago.” She speaks as if she’s repeating words someone else said. “Look!” she lunges for Roman’s arm and holds her own up to it. “We’re the same.”

They are indeed matching shades of bronze. And she has Logan’s ears, long, awkward things that stick out from under her short, brown-black hair. She looks like them, a perfect combination filled with childhood wonder and innocence.

Roman looks at Logan over her head and sees him shrug. Roman sighs and begins making plans in his head for a new room in his ever growing home.

Urania is, without a doubt, Logan’s daughter. She adores the stars and spends hours gazing at them with a wonder that never fades from her eyes. Logan patiently teaches her the names of each one, tells her the stories of the constellations and the planets that move around them.

For awhile, the world is quiet. His daughters are all fully grown with their names recognized by many.

And then there is a war.

The Malevolent rise up and try to take the godly realm by force. They beat down their barriers and throw the world into chaos. He tries to shelter his daughters from the battles as best he can, but they are children of the God of War. The fight is in their blood, and they make their way to the frontlines anyway.

The entire time he is tense and worried, trying to keep an eye on all six of them as they make their way through the enemy. Carving a path of death and leaving only destruction is their wake. He is proud of the way they fight as a unit, playing off each others strengths and moving on to the next target before the last one knows they’re dead.

He’s so focused on his daughters and staying alive he almost misses it. The shrill cry of a woman a little ways off the path.

Roman whistles once to let anyone nearby know he’s fine before he rushes into the underbrush towards the sounds of screams.

He stumbles through the bushes a second to late. He sees the blow headed toward the woman’s stomach, watches as the sword slides through her like butter.

The woman falls and Roman charges the Malevolent who would so cruelly take an innocent life.

The second it’s safe he falls to his knees next to the woman. He recognizes her as one of the heavenly attendants. He’s passed by her many times and he remembers how kind she was.

And now, his hands hover over her bloody torso, unsure in what to do or how to help. She’s still breathing but just barely.

Her head lolls to look at him. “My- my daughter,” she forces out through stuttering breaths. “My Mel- Melpomene. She’ll be alone- I- Please- Help her. She is- hiding. Please.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll keep her safe. She’ll be safe.” The mother is gone before he finishes speaking.

He finds the girl hiding in the thicket a few yards outside the clearing. She’s shaking, her eye big and liquid when she looks up at him.

“You’re mother sent me. You’re safe now. It’s okay.” He reaches out his hand slowly, palm up so not to spook her. But it doesn’t seem a problem because she just looks at him, blinks once, and then throws herself sobbing into his arms.

She can’t be any older than two summers but she understands something horrible happened.

Roman carries her back to the safe point, careful to stay well away from the battlefield. She doesn’t ask after her mother and where she is. Roman is glad she doesn’t. He doesn’t know what he’d tell her.

Thalia is the first he finds at the camp. She takes one look at the shaking, little girl in his arms and knows immediately, what has happened.

Thousands of emotions flash across her face in the span of a second before she settles on cheerful. Her go to, to mask the pain.

She scoops the little girl out of his arms and begins talking her ear off. She starts telling stories and tales that are half lie and a quarter exaggeration but just the right amount of ridiculous. In a few minutes she has Melpomene smiling and half the camp laughing so hard they cry. A ray of sunshine in the darkness.

From that day on, Thalia and Melpomene are rarely ever seen apart. They are two halves of a whole. The light and dark sides of the same coin.

She is the quietest of his daughters, the most solemn at times and the harsh realist in a group of dreamers. But he loves her with the simple fierceness he loves all of them with.

The house is filled with art and singing and laughter. It’s rarely quiet, never still and writers and musicians come from all over the world to just speak with his daughters. Roman thinks he understands what Magic was talking about all those years ago when she said his daughters will become something amazing.

He and Valerie are walking through one of the more beautiful mortal gardens when she asks.

He doesn’t understand what she means until she turns bright red and waves her hands in front of her, “Oh just ignore me. I don’t know why I said that it must be the heat getting to me oh dear-”

“You want to be the mother of a daughter of mine?” He and Valerie had been friends for centuries, The Goddess of Love and the God of Romance too similar to be anything else.

“The whole pantheon wants to bear a daughter of yours,” Valerie says it like its common sense. “They’re beloved by all. Everyone wants to call at least one of them their own.���

This is news to Roman. He knew that his daughters were adored and loved but he hadn’t know that many were envious.

“You want to bear my child because… why? Power? That doesn’t sound like you.”

“What? No!” she says appalled. “A child born from the two of us can only have an affinity for love. I think the humans need someone to bring them a little more love right now.” She looks off into the far distance, as if she can see the atrocities being committed right now. Perhaps she can, the humans don’t seem to have much Mercy these days.

He consents, and they lay together.

It’s is awkward, bedding such a treasured friend but the two are close and end up laughing by the end. Their friendship not stronger, but still just as intact as it was before.

He’s by her side for the entirety of the pregnancy, unlike with his other daughters. He gets to feel her kick and move around and he thinks it’s magical.

They name her Erato and Roman knows that when she’s grown she’ll look like exactly like her mother but with broader shoulders and lighter eyes.

She turns out almost exactly like Valerie expected. Her heart is as big as the sun and she loves love. There’s always this faraway look in her eye and she leaves a string of broken hearts behind her. She is beauty and grace and a softness her sisters lack.

She sings about romance and family, writes about epic trials and true love’s kiss. Her poetry never fails to pull heartstrings and Joan finds another daughter of his that they like, though Erato is a stickler for happy endings that Joan will pull their hair out over.

Virgil bursts into the Hall of Seasons, still dressed as the King of Sky. He looks frantic and like he doesn’t know what to do.

In his arms is a child, a little girl who clutches at him like he’s her life line and Roman already knows what’s happening before he speaks.

“She fell from the sky. I- Logan said to come to you.”

The girl is pale, and she is thin, remarkably so. Her hair and eyes are matching shades of silver and she glows faintly. Roman thinks she might be a fallen star.

Before he can say anything, the girl speaks in a voice that echoes as if there is more than one person speaking through her, “You have been given daughters from the earth, sea and sky. Blessed to share a child with each of your dearest lovers. I am the last daughter you will have. I am the last gift to you.”

And okay. That is a mildly terrifying statement coming from a toddler, but that’s fine. He has eight other daughters. He can handle scary children.

Virgil on the other hand looks as pale as the child in his arms. Roman places his hand on his cheek.

“She’s mine too?” he breathes, looking down at the girl. She stares back up at him with curiosity and love. Virgil melts.

“Yeah," Roman kisses both their foreheads. "She is.”

They name her Polyhymnia and she grows with a voice like honey. It’s deeper and calmer than Euterpe’s and when they sing together Roman’s heart fills with joy.

Virgil spends every spare second he has around her, as if expecting her to suddenly disappear. He so obviously loves her with everything he has, Roman wonders how he contains it all in his chest.

Virgil doesn’t sing often, but when he does it’s only because Polyhymnia asked him too. When they sing together it’s like the night, calm and smooth and quiet. They are lullabies and darkness and the sweetest words.

Polyhymnia grows and then stops. Just before womanhood, grows into a not-quite adult and stops.

“Children have more faith and belief,” she tells him one day. Roman nods as if he understands even though he doesn’t quite get what she says. He stopped trying to follow everything his daughters say.

Especially Clio. Almost everything she says goes over his head.

Polyhymnia forever stays the youngest, the child. She doesn't mind though. She just keeps singing and laughing with her sisters.

Roman only ever has nine daughters.

Thalia, Euterpe, Calliope, Terpsichore, Clio, Urania, Melpomene, Erato and Polyhymnia.

They’re purpose, to inspire and create. To reign over the arts and sciences. To protect all knowledge and creativity.

Comedy, song, written epics, dance, history, astronomy, tragedy, love poetry and hymns.

They are known as the Muses.

#sanders sides #ts big bang #my typewriter

[getthebutters]

I solved Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD/Seasonal Depression) so you don't have to. 9 easy proven steps

Summer is winding down. Despite the ponderosa, we’ve had some great fun and enjoyed living in a way that felt like it might never happen again. But that means Moody Emo Spooky Libra Sweater Weather Season is right around the corner!

 While I love spooky season, it also signals the start of my annual decline into a depressive episode that lasts until somewhere near the spring equinox. Some people call it seasonal affective disorder (SAD); I call it hell. Though it is torturous to live like a zombie for 6 months a year, I’ve found ways to make my ride down the river Styx a lot more comfortable.

For example, our Fall releases are usually our best of the year because it matters more than any other time of the year. These creations are more than just new stuff to sell, they're a reason for us to take care of ourselves, remain sensual, creative, continue our rituals, and honestly stay alive.

But that’s just one part of this 1100-word article on beating seasonal affective disorder aka SAD aka Seasonal Depression aka the Fall fall. Since I personally deal with this shit, I’ve learned a ton to make this crappy season feel a lot better and I’m as excited as I can be to share them with you all!

  Change your meds

"Treat yourself like a child or wild animal in a zoo. Plan activities or even just new stimulation for yourself. "  -- Jerome

The change in seasons causes a change in brain chemistry. Even if your meds had been working previously, now might be the perfect time to increase your dose, add a helper or take a break. If you’re not on meds, it might be a good idea to think about. Talk to your doctor and see if there’s something you can try.

8 years ago, around my birthday, I started taking anti-depressants for the first time - Wellbutrin 100mg daily. A couple years later, I asked for a switch to something different and she added Zoloft 50mg daily. Which helped me regain my sense of optimism, creativity, and imagination. It’s been a long time; I’m glad to have them back.

 Invest in a 5500k or higher lightbulb

Light therapy has been a great treatment for SAD and major depression for people closer to the poles for a long time. Light boxes are an easy but kind of expensive option – cheap ones start at $50. Whereas you could install an outlet timer and fluorescent bulb over your head to wake you up with a burst of “sunlight” every morning for about $25. You could also spend less than $10 and buy a specialty CFL (compact fluorescent) or a LED equivalent bulb that’ll fit in any standard outlet.

 Keep busy, be useful

Because I like projects and fall on the frugal side, I prefer the DIY options for the tip above. Even if you have the cash for a light box, it’s always a great idea to aid your sense of accomplishment with a series of short projects or a long-term hobby. Although I have found some types of tasks, projects and hobbies work better than others.

For my depression, getting a useful hobby with measurable results has been a life and mind saver. Having something to care for, watching something grow, getting better at something, these things keep me connected to the world and people around me.

 Give yourself a break

My depression feels like nothing, and everything is happening at once. The result is an exhausting mixture of behavior that is at times frantic, tense or eerily still – sometimes all at once. A bitch gets tired from time to time and when that happens, I give myself the time to rest up, even if that means sleeping for 24 hours straight.

Even under ideal brain conditions, rest is necessary. Autumnal depression or SAD has a way of zapping our energy like nothing else. It’s important to know when it’s time to rest. You’re not a failure for needing a nap or some solo Netflix and chill time.

 Get stimulated

Now, I’m not a doctor or an expert on this. So, this is just some personal experience, not advice.

For me, the morning is a crucial time. If I can find a way to just start my mind right when I get out of bed, I can usually rev up to a functional level of energy; if not, I’m fucked. Previously, I fixed that with some not so legally acquired Adderall, but it raised my blood pressure too high. Now I start my day with a cup of coffee or two.

There’s something in the getting up and doing a useful thing plus ingestion of a stimulant that really seems to help me. I also like smoking cigarettes for the same reason. If you don’t like coffee but do like cannabis and tobacco, a spliff with a tobacco and a strong, energizing sativa might be a great option.

Novelty & Enrichment

Treat yourself like a child or wild animal in a zoo. Plan activities or even just new stimulation for yourself. Change up what shows you're watching, what you're wearing, the fragrances of butters you're wearing, the bath bombs you're using, the color of the light in your room, reorganize your space, change what you're eating, and who you’re fucking.

"It’s important to know when it’s time to rest. You’re not a failure for needing a nap or some solo Netflix and chill time. "  -- Jerome

Maybe also trying some new things, even something you might think of as traditional and boring. Something like playing cards, board games, drawing, painting, taking a dance class, bingo, or working out.

 Exercise

Look I understand that you already know this is a fact and if you want it to work out, you'd be working out already. So, this is going to be a very short section. But just know that exercise will make you feel better, moving on.

 Stay away from downers

Whether it’s joy sucking people or intoxicants, it’s important to minimize the things that are zapping your energy and spirit. If you’re a weed smoker, stay away from indicas as they will make you sleepy. If you’re on SSRIs ask your doctor if adding a stimulant to your meds might help. If you’ve got a case of the fake people, say goodbye, goodbye to all the fake people your life.

 Be selfish

Being selfish gets a bad rap. Usually, though, selfishness is actually healthy. We often overexert ourselves trying to be there for everyone. We need to spend more time being there for ourselves. Selflessness and sacrifice are valuable features in martyr, but martyrs die and you’re trying to live. Be a little selfish, sacrifice less of your soul and you’ll have a greater ability to lift yourself, which, funny enough, will still help to lift others.

[ghost-nettle]

The Autumnal Equinox: Finding balance as the cycle ends

With the happy, chaotic vibes of summer coming to a close, we welcome in the more introspective part of the year. It is a time to withdraw, to cleanse, to give thanks for what we have grown in the year and prepare that which we are ready to discard on the Feast of Ashes in October. 

Often this is a time to gather with those you care about, or simply revel in your love of self and reflect on the dropping temperatures and changing leaves. The bounty of the late summer garden gives way to roots and gourds and the last of the herb garden offerings. 

Like the Spring Equinox, this period marks a time of equal day and night, making it a good time for magic that relates to reining in bad habits, finding peace in a busy lifestyle, or bringing harmony to a household in strife. Unlike the Spring Equinox, however, which focuses on bringing balance to restore energy and vigor for growth the Autumnal Equinox welcomes you to bring balance for a proper rest. It’s energy asks you to appreciate everything you have done, big or small, and prepare for the darker half of the year by gathering up all of your grief, fear, anxiety and exhaustion in bundles before you so you can be ready to let them go. For we cannot release what we do not need if you don’’t first examine what we have and who we are. 

I will share with you some of my traditions for this time of year, to give you an idea of the kind of productive magical and mundane work you can do to prepare yourself for the waning light. As someone with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), I find that my transition into Fall is very important to my mental health as it reminds me to let go of what I cannot control. 

Some good Autumnal Equinox traditions:

🍁 Just like Spring Cleaning, you can do some Fall Cleaning and prepping your house for the colder months. Put out your cold weather clothes (if appropriate for the time) and go through your warm weather things to bag up what doesn’t fit anymore or is unwanted anymore to give to secondhand stores or repurpose into other things (old t-shirts make nice dusting clothes~!), check windows for drafts, clean the fireplace and chimney if you have one, polish up your kitchen and pantry, sweep and mop floors and reset any wards or protection magics you have on your space. 

🍁 If you are so inclined, the first day of Fall is a perfect day to decorate for Halloween and for the season! You can make a ritual out of it like I do by sipping hot apple cider and playing some spooky or seasonally associated music (I tend to gravitate toward richer, warmer folk music around this time of year!)

🍁 This is the second harvest holiday, and I personally strongly link this time of year to apples, so you could go apple picking and afterwards make an apple ie charmed to bring peace and happiness to those who eat it! Or if you picked a lot of apples make a happiness applesauce! You can also slice up apples and cook them in the oven to make apple chips for teas or just to snack on.

🍁 If you are looking to bring balance into some aspect of your life, consider setting up a white candle and a black candle on your altar (or perhaps a yellow/gold and blue/silver set would work too!) As you work your magic for the day, the candles will invoke the equinox spirit into your working! If you cannot have candles, you can use a sunstone and a moonstone, or you could use clay or paper colored with your desired hues depicting balance. 

🍁 If the weather is fair and you have one near you, I find that visiting a river or stream is particularly nice as they are a body of Water, which is linked to emotions and also to the properties of motion and overcoming obstacles. If you find that you are having trouble coming to terms with some aspect of yourself or an event in your life, spending time near a river or placing a river stone on your altar might help you. 

These are just a few ideas of how to bring the Equinox energies into your home and to use them in your practice. Other popular activities include feasting, offering appropriate gifts to spirits of the land and home, having a bon fire, and tying natural strings to trees  as a form of wish making.

#autumnal equinox #mabon #sabbats #witchcraft #green witch #cottage witch #hearth witch #kitchen witch #witchcraft* #magic #autumn #fall #equinox

[zorayda-art]

Building Terrix: Day 1

Worldbuilding June, Day 1: Introduction

Disclaimer: As DM, I tend to steal ideas from here and there for my personal game. Most of this is cherry-picked, combed over, changed, warped, and molded to fit Terrix. If you see an idea in here you recognize as not mine, that’s probably because it’s not. This isn’t for a book, or anything I’m making a profit from--only for a fun game and a world I can provide for my wonderful players. :)

How does this world differ physically from earth? Is it the same size (same density, same gravity), same ratio of land/water, same atmosphere, etc.? Does it have more than one sun or moon? Rings? Are there spectacular constellations/comets, etc. visible at night or by day?

Terrix is different from Earth in a few ways, but not many. The size is slightly smaller, but it is the same density, and the size isn’t enough to affect the gravity too much—though on Terrix, you would be slightly lighter than on Earth.

Terrix is further from Exxus than the Earth is from Sol; however, the variance in temperatures is relatively alike on both terrestrial planets, meaning that Exxus is an older star and therefore burns a little brighter to reach Terrix in the same way Sol reaches Earth.

There are three moons surrounding the planet: Alodel, Wyna, and Tela. The first two are significantly smaller than Earth’s moon, Tela being only slightly smaller but further away and not completely spherical and formed (through a telescope, one can see the somewhat “squashed” shape).

The stars are very visible from Terrix, save for light-polluted places (from magic or technology, as in Aerilon). Space travel has not yet been achieved through technological means, but planar travel happens often enough that scholars know a little bit about wormholes and that sort of travel. The constellations and stars hold importance to sailors and navigators on Terrix, as well as some who worship deities who put importance on the stars. There are two visible planets (within the Exxus system) with the naked eye in the sky, and a red giant that exists far away but is clearly seen and colored.

Random constellations generated:

These nine stars form the shape of a helmet. The constellation represents a tale of greed. It is most significant on the winter solstice, when it appears setting towards the Northeastern horizon. Its meaning is intertwined with the constellations representing a pair of boots, a throne and a horse. Those born under it are said to be pessimists. 

These seven stars form the shape of a shield. The constellation represents a figure from the creation myth. It is most significant on the spring equinox, when it appears rising from the Northern horizon. It is opposed by the constellations representing a rearing horse, a sword and a fox. Those born under it are known for their confidence. 

These fifteen dim stars form the shape of an ant. The constellation represents a tale about the power of good. It is most significant on the summmer solstice, when it appears high in the sky. Its meaning is intertwined with the constellations representing a bow and quiver, a queen and a wheel. Those born under it are often impulsive. 

These thirteen bright stars form the shape of a longbow. The constellation represents a great villain. It is most significant on the autumn equinox, when it appears halfway towards the Western horizon. It is usually interpreted together with the constellations representing a lyre and a spear. Those born under it often become teachers. 

These eight stars form the shape of a winged woman. The constellation represents a tale of treachery. It is most significant during summer, when it appears low on the Northeastern horizon. It is counterbalanced by the constellations representing three women, a torch and a mountain. Those born under it are usually ambitious.

Are there non-human inhabitants of this planet (elves, dwarves, aliens)? If so, how numerous? How openly present? What areas do they occupy?

Terrix is home to many different sentient beings. Humanoid creatures tend to be the most abundant and rapid-growing population, making up for most of the population. Humans and dwarves are responsible for half the humanoid population, with tieflings and dragonborn together only making up less than 6%. 

There are other races as well, including gnomes, elves, goblins, goliath, orcs, aarakocra, tabaxi, lizardfolk, kenku—and many, many more.

Each race has a preference as to where they live. 

Humans inhabit most larger cities near bodies of water, and generally are very involved in trade. They can be found all over Terrix, and are an involved race. 

Elves vary just as widely as humans, from the drow in the Underdark to the wood elves occupying the beautiful naturally wooded areas to high elves who prefer their secluded, temperate homes to the triton who live beneath the waves and by the shores of the ocean. Elves are less inclusive than humans, and depending on which subrace of elves we’re talking about, they can be somewhat suspicious of strangers, and have a too-haughty attitude due to their intelligence and long lifespans. 

Dragonborn vary in their preference depending on their draconic blood, having a natural affinity for certain environments. Dragonborn tend to prefer sticking with their own kind, but they value relations with other races, believing that having strong allies makes them a better, stronger community. They are regarded by others with respect, curiosity, and fear—dragons have always been somewhat sacred or fierce, so dragonborn are treated much in the same vein.

Tieflings usually follow human trends, though many hot-blooded tieflings have a preference for cool or temperate climates. Tieflings are much like halflings/Hin in that they tend to blend in with whatever race surrounds them, but tiefling-led communities are around, and they usually keep to themselves. 

Halflings/Hin are amazing farmers and shepherds. They love wide, open-area bits of land and are usually found in the plains. Hin are warm and friendly, and tend to get along with every race as trusted neighbors. 

Dwarves occupy mountains and underground cities, though not as deep as their Duergar cousins who prefer their halls even further into the Underdark. Dwarves are friendly enough, and sturdy, but they live long and hold grudges. While they make good trade partners, do not cross a dwarf, and don’t take their invitation to their underground kingdoms lightly. 

Aarakocra and Kenku tend to love mountains and high altitudes, though not overly freezing temperatures. Birdfolk like these are curious, and while friendly, they don’t really get the concept of things “belonging” to people—they tend to be thieves to outsiders, though they get confused by that concept since everything in their communities are shared. 

Tabaxi thrive in jungles and hot, humid climates, though there are some subraces who prefer the desert life. Tabaxi are somewhat aloof, and prefer relations with others when it benefits themselves. 

Orcs vary like humans do and are famous for being able to live and thrive in places that were once thought inhabitable. Orcs are stubborn and tough, and are seen as barbaric by others. In reality, orcs are very friendly to outsiders who show them respect, though they will start wars over grave insults. 

Lizardfolk, kobolds, and yuan-ti have preferences for warmer climates, often in jungles, forests, and some in the desert. A few subraces even live near volcanoes (often locally referred to as “lava lizards”). Lizardfolk tend to be suspicious of outsiders, because they themselves are seen as monsters right away and are often hunted and killed under this assumption. Getting to know a lizardfolk surprises them, and may endear you to them.

Then there are other races and people who live between the planes—not of Terrix, and not even of this system.

How are the continents laid out? If there is more than one moon/sun, how does this affect winds, tides, and weather generally?

(Refer to map for continents.) There are six main continents, all of which cover around 33% of the planet's surface. The largest continent is Usratia, followed by Makane, Orcran, Aezith, Pylith, and the freezing continent of the south pole, Edres.

There are three moons: Alodel, Wyna, and Tela. Alodel has a phase length of 18 days. Wyna has a phase length of 27 days. Tela has a phase length of 31 days. Each moon differs in size and all affect the tides, whether slightly or no. All of them are much weaker than the effect of the Moon on the Earth’s tides, however, so their effects aren’t really seen until two moon phases line up with each other. When it is predicted that all three moons line up, people on the shore prepare themselves and there is often a religious celebration with it. 

Weather and winds are much like Earth’s, save for some pattern changes due to differing currents. Terrix is a planet full of old magic, and it survives off of this like a life force. Without magic, many of its basic functions would change and would cause worldwide death and disaster. Magical energy weaves throughout all energy of Terrix. It is interwoven with climate shifts, weather, atmosphere, it’s in all the plants and rocks, it’s consumed and used and shifted by the fauna, it lives deep beneath the earth and it surrounds it. If it is tainted, it can cause major shifts in the populace and wipe out billions (this has happened once in the past).

How much land is there, and how much of it is habitable?

The land covers about 1/3 of Terrix’s surface (184,000,000 square miles of the planet’s surface with 60,720,000 square miles of land). The differing humanoid races have different ideas on “habitable” lands (namely the orcs), but if we subtract the freezing north and south poles, and the hottest/driest desert lands, we would have about 38,474,208 square miles of habitable land (approximately 63% of the total landmass).

Is the axial tilt and orbit the same — i.e., does the world have the same seasons and same length of year as Earth?

Terrix has 400 days per year with approximately 100 days per season, which can be more extreme in shifts according to the places closest/nearest the sun. The most widely accepted calendar consists of sixteen months, each with twenty-five days; however, it is more common to name the day, the season, and the year as the date (twenty-first of Winter, 4284). The weeks are the same as Earth (mostly for convenience and not confusing my players) as Sunday-Saturday weeks with 7 days.

#wbj #wbj2017 #worldbuilding #dungeons and dragons #dnd #proto is a dm