If we could travel far beyond our galaxy, and look back upon the Milky Way, it would be a glorious sight. Luminous spirals stretching from a central core, with dust and nebulae scattered along the spiral edges. When you think about a galaxy, you probably imagine a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way, but spirals make up only about 60% of the galaxies we see. That's because spiral galaxies only form when smaller galaxies collide and merge over time. Or so we thought, as a new study posted to the arXiv preprint server suggests that isn't the case. The standard model of galaxies is that they evolve over time. Galaxies formed from vast clouds of primordial hydrogen and helium, and so likely had a fairly amorphous structure at the beginning. Given the density of the early universe, galactic collisions and mergers were common, which gave galaxies their rotations and caused them to form disks and spirals. All of this takes time, so we would expect spiral galaxies to be fairly common in the local universe, but rare in the early universe.

Continue Reading.

Sabine Wren

Tale As Old As Time

Story Summary: On a cool evening night on Peridea, Sabine and Ahsoka discuss the stories they wish to leave as their legacy.

Evening was falling; a cool breeze whispered through the Noti encampment to herald the coming dark.

Preparations had already been made to move the next morning. Sabine had come to appreciate the constant movement of the strange crab-like beings that had welcomed them into their company. It gave her a sense of purpose; something to focus on in the meantime while her master figured out their next move.

Huddled around the campfire, her belly full after a good dinner consisting of some spicy stew, Sabine listened to the chatter of the Noti around her and gazed into the luminous night sky above.

“It still amazes me, no matter how much I look at it,” said a familiar voice. Sabine turned to find her master, Ahsoka Tano, walking up to the campfire, Huyang close behind.

Sabine agreed. Many evenings on Lothal had provided her with a wondrous view of the stars but Peridea had it beat by a large margin.

Ahsoka sat down next to her Padawan with a slight huff. After a moment, the older Jedi asked, “Would you like to hear a story, Sabine?”

Sabine blinked. “Aren’t I a little too old for bedtime stories?”

“One is never too old,” Ahsoka chided, “to hear a good story, my Padawan.”

Huyang offered, “I have plenty to offer in that department, Lady Wren.”

Sabine considered that. “What kind of stories?” she asked.

“Tales of the Jedi, and their numerous exploits across the galaxy,” said Huyang.

Sabine’s eyebrows raised in astonishment. “I thought the Empire wiped out all stories of the Jedi. Or replaced it with their own propaganda.”

“Oh, they tried,” replied Ahsoka. “To their credit, they did do a thorough job of it. Most of the modern galactic citizens don’t know much about the Jedi at all, despite the purge happening fairly recently in our lifetime.”

She smiled a little. “But they couldn’t erase all of it. The Jedi existed for a millennium before the Empire. Their stories are written in the very fabric of the galaxy.”

“Are there stories about you, Master?”

Ahsoka laughed. “Oh, I’m sure. I traveled a fair amount back in my youth.”

Sabine looked to Huyang with a grin. “Are there any funny ones about her, Huyang?”

Huyang pondered for a moment before replying. “There is one where she had to pretend to be someone’s fiancée. It was with a boy named Lux, I believe-”

Ahsoka, embarrassment coloring her tone, interrupted him. “Okay, maybe not that one.”

Sabine’s grin turned mischievous. “Oh, did you have a crush on him, my master?”

Ahsoka crossed her arms and sighed. “It was complicated. Happened during the Clone Wars.”

“Oh.” Sabine dropped her teasing. “What happened to him?”

Ahsoka seemed to withdraw into herself. “I’m not sure. I heard rumors of his death during the Rebellion.”

Sabine felt a gentle sadness and regret pulsing out from her master. She decided to drop the subject.

“What kind of story would you like to be remembered for, Lady Tano?” asked Huyang.

Ahsoka blinked at the droid. “That’s quite the question, Huyang.”

“You’re a hero,” suggested Sabine. “You’ve helped so many. So maybe a heroic story.”

“Jedi don’t do this to be remembered, Sabine,” reminded Ahsoka. “We do it because it’s right.”

The older Jedi stared into the fire. “I’m not sure I want to be remembered at all,” she confessed. “I haven’t always done the right thing.”

Sabine said, “But you’ve always done the best you can. I’ve never seen you settle for anything less.”

It felt weird defending Ahsoka against herself. She had rarely seen her master be so unsure before.

Ahsoka smiled appreciatively at Sabine. “That’s true.”

She looked at Huyang. “I suppose that’s the story I’d like to be known for: someone who tried her best to help out.”

“Very appropriate,” observed Huyang. “I’ll keep that in mind for future reference, Lady Tano.”

The droid turned to Sabine. “And you, Lady Wren? When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?”

Sabine blew out a breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s still being written.”

“A good answer,” said Ahsoka. “You’ll have plenty of time to decide.”

“I would suggest a comedy,” offered Huyang.

Annoyed, Sabine flicked a pebble at the droid. It dinged on his metallic exterior, satisfyingly.

Ahsoka laughed. “Go ahead with a story, Huyang. There’s a funny one with Master Yoda, if I recall? When he spent time with the Wookies.”

“Ah, yes,” said Huyang, approvingly. “That is a good story.”

Ahsoka settled into a more comfortable position. Sabine followed suit, leaning in with interest.

“A long time ago,” started Huyang, “in a galaxy, far, far away . . .”

When the story was over, Ahsoka stood and stretched her back. “You’ll take first watch?” she asked Sabine.

Sabine nodded. “Sleep well, Ahsoka. Same to you, Huyang.”

Huyang replied, “As a reminder: I am droid, and therefore do not require sleep.”

She rolled her eyes. “I will throw a bigger rock at you next time,” Sabine promised.

After they left, Sabine took a stick and poked at the campfire. The Noti had retired to their huts; she was alone with her thoughts.

She leaned back and gazed into the star-lit night sky over her head.

When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?

Sabine thought of her life so far; what had been lost and sacrificed.

Her mistakes and failures.

Should it be a tragedy? A cautionary tale for others?

As she brooded, the fire began to die out. Reaching out for another log to feed it, she paused.

“I don’t want to be a tragedy,” she said out loud.

She tossed the log into the campfire and it roared back to life. Sabine watched the glowing embers rise on the night breeze, drifting into the night sky like fiery petals.

She thought of home. Not Mandalore - but Lothal. Her loth-cat, Murley.

Kanan. Hera. Jacen. Zeb. Chopper.

My family. The names repeated in her head, over and over, like some sacred prayer.

And, of course, whenever it was darkest for her, she thought of him.

Sabine looked back into the fire, feeling it’s warmth flow into her.

Ezra filled her mind and, like the campfire, beat back the darkness. It was his constant gift to her; making the dark small.

When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?

Sabine smiled. She had her answer.

Whispering, Sabine says it to herself, as though she was uttering a private, secret wish.

“A love story.”

Scorpio’s Lighthouse ~ 20 Oct 2023

Scorpio’s Lighthouse ~ 20 Oct 2023, Philip Sedgwick

Today Ceres in Scorpio aligns with APR220 (approximately 14 Scorpio 04 as of 2023), a unique black hole system. Also known as IC1127 or 616H, this black hole from which no light can escape, weirdly and ironically, stands out as the brightest object in our local universe. The result of a collision of two galaxies, the resulting singularity became ultra-luminous as it heats up the galactic atmosphere.

Consider this black hole a beacon - lighthouse like. The primary utility of this object seeks to guide galactic travelers away from pot holes and road blocks such that in the real world, they navigate well around objects that might induce a stumble. And this black hole combines information and insights into an organized and useful melting pot that becomes a solid philosophy. Imagine functioning in the real world in ways that dart and shift like a graceful super star athlete on the pitch.

Why so much insight from this black hole? In addition to marking the focal point of the black hole, this degree is the virtual intersection of the Galactic and Super-Galactic Centers. This intersection creates several interesting buttons to click in the multiple choice section of life. First, when it comes to information gathering, take only those insights and prompts that succinctly and effortless guide you on your path. Anything that does not further, you can leave behind. Second, work out any subconscious interference to your consciously declared agenda. Avoid the urge to bet against yourself or attempt to manipulate circumstances with double negatives intending to cancel out and conjure up a positive. State clearly and emphatically those conditions you consciously seek, confident that personal fears are recognized and neutralized.

Right now, while the world is as it is, what to do to invoke the best of the patterns?

Ceres advocates for passion. Sure, both sides in any conflict passionately (and sometimes blindly) pursue causes with full conviction and unrelenting determination. Remember that Jupiter intercedes in these matters, and works with Mercury and others to negotiate outcomes that work for the greater good. Ultimately, Jupiter’s outcomes, though self-serving, provide more than liveable conditions for all. He stands on the bridge of the ship and reminds the individual on the helm to be aware that the rocky crag shoreline is where it is and to steer clear, while remaining aware of the wind and tidal forces. His final caution notes that those things at which a person stares, they tend to steer toward. So, create fine foci for pursuit.

On 30 October Mercury in Scorpio aligns with APR220, “Trick or Treat,” is quite apt for this transit. The idea is that with proper reward, no shenanigans are necessary. Is it a bribe? Trickery? Sleight of hand? Nope. The ideal manifestation declares affirmatively what is wanted and when received a proper “thank you” fits the bill. When the Universe provides guidance that declares an optimal course ahead, give thanks. Express gratitude. And perhaps adopt the doctrine of thanking in advance or engaging in well-intentioned propitiation.

02 November Mars in Scorpio crosses the degree of APR220, without crossing the black hole attitudinally. Here, one may confront the cosmic plan that states: Here’s what must be done to get from here to there in good fashion. Sometimes, some of the plotted points rub sensitivities and reactions the wrong way. The point is, these factors are known to be “must do.” Emotionally wrap around necessities despite personal preferences, and structure a plan so that those essential “not so enthused about” steps become most easily transacted. Mars suggests taking on any life unpleasantness during times of high (not frantic or reactive) energy. Then, ease back, settle into the fun stuff and enjoy the ride. Similar to the other “M” planet to APR220, take time to notice and savor accomplishments and tasks well accomplished. Such personally applied accolades serve the next direct contact to this black hole.

The next direct contact to APR220 occurs on 06 November with Sun conjoining. It is time for conscious realization of “You Are Here.” It is time to acknowledge all the things that got you here and that without those events and interactions, you would not be here. It is time for selecting life options that serve your greatest desires. It is time for being the energy you wish to manifest. This is not “fake it ‘til you make it.” This “be it,” realize it, then be it some more.

Also, Mercury quincunxes Eris and the north lunar node in Aries at the same time the Sun is with APR220. This suggests realizing and fully communicating your best fit in the world, with your real world plan and within your cosmic agenda. For those with whom you interact on a regular basis, it is important to clearly listen to their articulations describing their self-centered reality and to accept that as a nonnegotiable consideration.

When realizing that those “with” you possess tracks not perfectly aligned with yours, the matter becomes that of defining how to cooperatively engage with those others for the benefit of all. Also at this time Venus in the mature degrees of Virgo undisputedly moves into orb of the Super-Galactic Center (ZS) in Libra. While not yet in the sign of ZS, this marks the remove-the-wheat-from-the-chaff tasks. Life becomes an energetic matter of noticing where one feels attracted to engage and where one feels repelled to either not engage or disengage. With Venus to this supermassive black hole system and the Sun to APR, the matter at hand is to find ones perfect energetic place with others and to share similar tracks. Seek a personal Goldilocks Zone of having just the right amount... not too much... not too little... alignment and interaction with all the perfectly guiding persons and forces in life.

Given the strangeness of the times, considering the life distractions at hand personally and globally, take time to spot the helpful navigational sources in life, gratefully comply with directive assistance and make the most out of the unabated creative flow and pursuit of passion that fills the air.

More soon.

Now is the time. The year is winding down, things need to get done, and to do so, possessing the confidence to know your personal cylinders fire in a consistent matter with the cosmic trends overhead satisfies the soul. Use the links below to schedule a consultation or consultation package, order a Galactic Report, asks personal questions, or whatever best serves your life direction. And if you do some comparative shopping as it often goes this time of year, not only are these services a bargain, they benefit from years of experience in observation of planetary and exo-planetary considerations and might just trigger that thing that needs to be triggered.

Visit my Website Consultations and Services Quick Order Form Astrological Texts

Round 2 of my OC sexyman poll! There were a couple of 50/50s in the first round, so the next round of those will be 1v1v1s. Links to the rounds will be added as they go up!

Ennui vs Flux

Synchronicity vs Lumin vs Electra

The Alchemist vs Null Pointer

Neo vs Ren vs Quarz

More info about the characters under the cut.

Ennui

[profile link here]

Originally a D&D-inspired OC, now just a general OC

Lich that was so so shit at magic when he was alive but now that he's dead he's actually sort of decent at it

Worldhopper - he travels between universes, using a jury-rigged super powerful explosion spell to catapult himself into a different universe by destroying the one he's currently in.

He only cares about one person, and that's his demonic boyfriend Alu. Anyone else can get fucked, as far as he's concerned.

Flux

[profile link here]

General OC in the same world as some of my and my friend's kinsonas

Her species infects the brain of other species, appearing as a sort of ghost or hallucination until they mature enough to become physical, bursting out of the host's body and killing them in the process. They usally give their host immense bloodlust and taste for raw meat. [mmm flux hungy feed her tasty prion diseases]

On that note, the most lame and cringefail of her entire species. She's supposed to get her host to kill and stuff like that, but she mostly just annoys and makes fun of him.

Synchronicity

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC

One of the fair folk, lives in the deep forest and would quite like not to be disturbed.

Finds great fun in tormenting whatever non-fae might cross their path

Thought NitroLock_ was fun to 'play with', so when they got his name, they kept him around to do some work for them.

Kind of sadistic, sometimes. Usually. Most of the time.

Has stolen peoples blood to use for sympathetic magic before

Lumin

[profile link here]

Originally designed as a general oc, but quickly adapted into a Cosmosdex (Tegyp) OC.

Almost never wears a shirt under his open suit jacket, unless he's pretty much forced to.

Kind of an alcoholic. Tries to pretend he's a fun partyboy, but he just gets all miserable.

Very into modifying robots. He claims he improves them, but he's fucked up a perfectly good Cupid unit is what he's done. Look at it, it's got anxiety.

Electra

[profile link here]

Sonic OC, builds and codes robots for a living.

She has built a robot that she considers her son, so she could technically be a MILF, if you're into that.

Mega autism and hyperfixated on engineering. Would love to infodump about whatever her current project may be, and gets super attached to everything she builds.

The Alchemist

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, an AU of Ruti.

Basically what would've happened if Ruti grew up with other magic users who could've taught him how to use his magic.

It speaks primarily Standard Galactic.

Never calls people by their names, instead using a title/other noun ["shopkeeper" or "friend" or "thief", etc.] because names have immense power in a language as soaked with magic as Standard Galactic is, and that habit carries over into other languages.

Makes potions. Definitely legally.

"ruti" "the cooler ruti"

Null Pointer

[profile link here]

BNHA/MHA OC, but liable to become a general OC any day now.

he/she girlboything

Has the ability to lag herself out of reality for a bit; from an outside perspective, this looks like freezing in place and loosing all collision before abruptly teleporting.

Also has the ability to hack any sufficiently complex technology, as long as line-of-sight is maintained.

His mascot [the little demon dude shown next to him] shows up on the screen of any technology he hacks. Just to be cocky about it.

Generally very cocky and aggressive while fighting/sparring, or just in general.

She has 97 mental illnesses and is banned from most public spaces

Ren

[profile link here]

OC for Monkey Wrench [by Zeurel on Youtube]

Big bear of a man [in the gay sense]

Mechanic/weaponsmith/arms dealer

Former mercenary. Would take out entire ship crews by sneaking on under the guise of a mechanic and "fixing" their ship [rigging it to blow as soon as he got to safety.]

Neo

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, specifically for Empires SMP Season 2

Has ice magic powers, and lives in an Ice Spikes biome.

Its moral compass is a fucking roulette wheel

Tries to be nice, but has a very skewed idea of what "nice" and "good" is.

Would probably keep you as a pet if you asked

Quarz

[profile link here]

General OC

Shapeshifter, and he uses this power for evil. [Shapeshifts into whoever he's talking to in order to psych them out, though he claims it's to "level the playing field".]

Sort of a sardonic personality, often deriding others and putting himself above them. He does it to distract himself from feeling shitty about himself, but you could never get him to admit that.

Loves to inflict terrible events and circumstances on others [my ocs. or sometimes my blorbo du jour]. It is his favorite activity

Astral Log 8.14.22

Saw a new area in astral last night. It was deep underground in a carvern, accessible only by the water leading into it. There were luminous white shells and crystals spotting the shallows trailing the rocky shore and pink algae along the edge of the water and along the cave walls in such a way that I was reminded of cherryblossom petals. There were beings here — it’s hard to describe one maiden as anything other than a Portuguese man of war jellyfish given humanoid form. She asked a traveler there what they wanted most, as she’d seen this man around a few times, but he refused to tell her and she vowed to keep an eye on him until he did. There were mermaids here, unremarkable except that their tails were like a galactic motif; a deep cosmic blue color with iridescent flecks along the fluke. They were all dark haired and oddly friendly. That is the first thing I noticed about this place: the lack of hostility from the locals. The respectful, almost reverent way both the visitors and the community had about them makes me think this place was either a temple or the dwelling of someone highly esteemed. I don’t know precisely why I was there, but I’m thankful to have seen it.

the Star Wars Universe

(some personal headcanons and worldbuilding)

The Star Wars equivalent of our (the Milky Way's) local group is the Lucas Group. It has a total diameter of roughly 3 megaparsecs (similar to our local group) and a total mass somewhere in the order of 2×10^12 corel masses (One corel mass is the mass of the Corellian sun).

members of the Lucas group are

Thranta Nebula (also called Gemini Galaxy, or Ivax and Kiax), the largest member of the Lucas Group

Celestial Court Nebula, the third-largest member of the Lucas Group, also a spiral galaxy, widely believed to be the home of the Celestials

Silver Bird Galaxy (Mirror Nebula)

Phoenix Galaxy

Wellspring Galaxy (GFFA), a galaxy between 100,000 and 120,000 light years across, or 37 kiloparsecs (a parsec is 3.258 light years), and approximately 13 billion years old. The galaxy's luminous disk contains some four hundred billion stars. By the time of the Skywalker Wars, the galaxy was home to between five and twenty million sentient species, and over one hundred quadrillion sentient beings lived in one billion star systems, interacting with each other through travel, diplomacy, trade, politics, and war. Even with all of this, only about a quarter of the galaxy had been properly surveyed by the galactic community.

Thranta Nebula satellite galaxies

Celestial Court satellite galaxies

Silver Bird satellite galaxies

Phoenix satellite galaxies

the Wellspring Galaxy (GFFA) has its own system of satellite galaxies as well:

Companion Aurek (Rishi Maze)

Companion Besh (Firefist)

Companion Cresh (Large Ahitarian Cloud, LAC)

Companion Khren (Small Ahitarian Cloud, SAC, aka the Yuuzhan Vong Ancestral Galaxy)

Companion Dorn (Pool of Light)

Companion Ænth (Pool of Shadow)

Companion Neng (Summer Star)

Companion Esk (Big Green Fish)

Companion Forn (Shiraya)

Companion Grek (Scorekeeper I)

Edit: The numbers are actually mostly from The Essential Atlas.

(many of the names are from me)

Short gamma-ray bursts traced farther into distant universe A Northwestern University-led team of astronomers has developed the most extensive inventory to date of the galaxies where short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) originate. Using several highly sensitive instruments and sophisticated galaxy modeling, the researchers pinpointed the galactic homes of 84 SGRBs and probed the characteristics of 69 of the identified host galaxies. Among their findings, they discovered that about 85% of the studied SGRBs come from young, actively star-forming galaxies. The astronomers also found that more SGRBs occurred at earlier times, when the universe was much younger — and with greater distances from their host galaxies’ centers — than previously known. Surprisingly, several SGRBs were spotted far outside their host galaxies — as if they were “kicked out,” a finding that raises questions as to how they were able to travel so far away. “This is the largest catalog of SGRB host galaxies to ever exist, so weexpect it to be the gold standard for many years to come,” said Anya Nugent, a Northwestern graduate student who led the study focused on modeling host galaxies. “Building this catalog and finally having enough host galaxies to see patterns and draw significant conclusions is exactly what the field needed to push our understanding of these fantastic events and what happens to stars after they die.” The team will publish two papers, detailing the new catalog. Both papers will publish on Monday, Nov. 21 in The Astrophysical Journal. Because SGRBs are among the brightest explosions in the universe, the team calls its catalog BRIGHT (Broadband Repository for Investigating Gamma-ray burst Host Traits). All of BRIGHT’s data and modeling products are publicly available online for community use. Nugent is a graduate student in physics and astronomy at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). She is advised by Wen-fai Fong, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Weinberg and a key member of CIERA, who led a second study focused on SGRB host observations. Benchmark for future comparisons When two neutron stars collide, they generate momentary flashes of intense gamma-ray light, known as SGRBs. While the gamma rays last mere seconds, the optical light can continue for hours before fading below detection levels (an event called an afterglow). SGRBs are some of the most luminous explosions in the universe with, at most, a dozen detected and pinpointed each year. They currently represent the only way to study and understand a large population of merging neutron star systems. Since NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory first discovered an SGRB afterglow in 2005, astronomers have spent the last 17 years trying to understand which galaxies produce these powerful bursts. Stars within a galaxy can give insight into the environmental conditions needed to produce SGRBs and can connect the mysterious bursts to their neutron-star merger origins. So far, only one SGRB (GRB 170817A) has a confirmed neutron-star merger origin — as it was detected just seconds after gravitational wave detectors observed the binary neutron-star merger (GW170817). “In a decade, the next generation of gravitational wave observatories will be able to detect neutron star mergers out to the same distances as we do SGRBs today,” Fong said. “Thus, our catalog will serve as a benchmark for comparison to future detections of neutron star mergers.” “The catalog can really make impacts beyond just a single class of transients like SGRBs,” said Yuxin “Vic” Dong, study co-author and astrophysics Ph.D. student at Northwestern. “With the wealth of data and results presented in the catalog, I believe a variety of research projects will make use of it, maybe even in ways we have yet not thought of.” Insight into neutron-star systems To create the catalog, the researchers used several highly sensitive instruments at W.M. Keck Observatory, the Gemini Observatories, the MMT Observatory, the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory and the Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory to capture deep imaging and spectroscopy of some of the faintest galaxies identified in the survey of SGRB hosts. The team also used data from two of NASA’s Great Observatories, the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope. Prior to these new studies, astronomers characterized host galaxies from only a couple dozen SGRBs. The new catalog is quadruple the number of existing samples. With the advantage of a much larger dataset, the catalog shows that SGRB host galaxies can be either young and star-forming or old and approaching death. This means neutron-star systems form in a broad range of environments and many of them have quick formation-to-merger timescales. Because neutron-star mergers create heavy elements like gold and platinum, the catalog’s data also will deepen scientists’ understanding of when precious metals were first created in the universe. “We suspect that the younger SGRBs we found in younger host galaxies come from binary stellar systems that formed in a star formation ‘burst’ and are so tightly bound that they can merge very fast,” Nugent said. “Long-standing theories have suggested there must be ways to merge neutron stars quickly, but, until now, we have not been able to witness them. We find evidence for older SGRBs in the galaxies that are much older and believe the stars in those galaxies either took a longer time to form a binary or were a binary system that was further separated. Hence, those took longer to merge.” Potential of JWST With the ability to detect the faintest host galaxies from very early times in the universe, NASA’s new infrared flagship observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is poised to further advance the understanding of neutron star mergers and how far back in time they began. “I’m most excited about the possibility of using JWST to probe deeper into the homes of these rare, explosive events,” Nugent said. “JWST’s ability to observe faint galaxies in the universe could uncover more SGRB host galaxies that are currently evading detection, perhaps even revealing a missing population and a link to the early universe.” “I started observations for this project 10 years ago, and it was so gratifying to be able to pass the torch onto the next generation of researchers,” Fong said. “It is one of my career’s greatest joys to see years of work come to life in this catalog, thanks to the young researchers who really took this study to the next level.”

ponysona masterpost 🦄

Wishy Whimsy

base 1 | base 2 | sprite made in Ponytown

Name: Wishy Whimsy

Species: pegasus

Pronouns: he/him

Gender: transmasc

Sexuality: bisexual

Cutie mark: a purple top hat with glittery effects around it

Occupation: ringleader

An eccentric show pony with a chaotic personality, Wishy Whimsy lives up to his name by being an entertaining ringleader, and generally high-energy all around. Having been affected by Discord's magic when he was released from stone, Whimsy's appearance was greatly altered, and he is able to perform low power chaos magic on occasion, typically without intending to- whenever he tries to harness his abilities or control them, nothing seems to happen. Nonetheless, he is very optimistic, to the point he unintentionally makes light of serious situations sometimes.  

Whimsy was very happy by the affects of Discord's magic, the results of which giving him the push to leave home, and find happiness elsewhere. His circus travels across Equestria and beyond, with the intention to bring a little silliness to the world. When he's not traveling, he's usually in Canterlot, where most of his friends reside.

Due to his visual snow, it's difficult for Wishy to see at night, making him dislike the dark and nighttime. However, so long as it's well lit, he's fine with staying out after the sun sets.

Galactic Glitter

sprite made in Ponytown

Name: Galactic Glitter

Species: unicorn

Pronouns: they/them

Gender: agender

Sexuality: aromantic asexual

Occupation: detective

Spellcasting: average

Cutie mark: a blue exclamation mark, and a blue question mark, (!?) over a magnifying glass' handle, which has a star(?) inside the lense.

Despite being a bit of a grumpy unicorn, Galactic Glitter is rarely rude to others despite their mood, and will feel bad if they hurt another pony's feelings. They're very good at language arts, writing, and mystery solving, but they struggle with math, socializing, and science. Regardless, they want to do their best to help everypony with their various mysteries, whether they're as silly as finding a button, or as important as tracking down a lost pony. Glitter will offer their services to anypony who they think could use a hoof, because even though they can come off aloof and uncaring, the opposite is true: they care so much about everything and everypony, but they just have trouble expressing that, as well as their emotions in general. They can get so focused on solving their cases, that others can have trouble talking to them, resulting in them seeming like they're ignoring other ponies, when they're not. Nonetheless, even if their true feelings are unclear at times, they put their best hoof forward to aid the community every day, with a positive outlook on the world.

Cherry Ember

sprite made in Luminous Kingdom

Name: Cherry Ember

Species: unicorn

Pronouns: she/her

Gender: demigirl

Sexuality: aromantic lesbian

Occupation: sorcerer, potion maker

Spellcasting: above average

Cutie mark: a single, shiny cherry, with a small flame on the stem, and a smoke effect that makes the shape of a heart near the end. Heart-shaped shine on the cherry.

A morally grey unicorn with an affinity for explosions, Cherry Ember lives up to her name by enjoying both cherry flavoring, and making fiery infernos with her knowledge of potions. With her abilities, she can make potion-bombs of different strengths, from spawning a small burst of fire, to demolishing an entire mountain: However, she doesn't use the large scale ones, saving them "just in case of an attack on Equestria." Even though she definitely makes her potions for fun, she worries of another enemy attack on Equestria has made many of her nights sleepless, making the high-octane unicorn quite low-key.

Since Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis all got turned to stone, Cherry Bomb's worry only increased; she knew full well someday, something else would come. Something, possibly, even worse.

Cherry Ember, despite her sleepiness, is quite sociable, and enjoys visiting with other ponies, as well as causing some harmless mischief with them. (Not harmful to ponies, anyways- things like making trash explode, tagging trees, etc.) She does her best to hide her anxieties, opting to have fun during the day, study during the night, then maybe sleep for a couple hours before everypony is up. Cherry is very generous, enjoying to do spells or give (NOT explosive) potions to the ponies she talks to.

Crystal Candy

sprite made in Luminous Kingdom

Name: Crystal Candy

Species: Crystal Empire Zebra

Pronouns: they/she

Gender: femme nonbinary

Sexuality: androsexual

Occupation: a clown in Wishy's circus

Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Well, Crystal Candy has black, white, and rainbow stripes! She was with an uncommon genetic condition that affects few in the Crystal Empire- a fur mutation, that makes some of the follicles crystalize, and grow into lager ones. Once fully grown, they fall off painlessly.

As expected of a clown, Crystal is positive, playful, and fun to be around; but they're a lot more laid back than one would expect from their occupation choice and colorful appearance. When not working, Candy prefers to relax with friends, take naps, and listen to music on the jukebox at the local cafe. She has a passion for peacefulness, making her a good person to intervene in conflicts and help calm things down.

CC is known to get around by tying multiple enchanted balloons around their waist, allowing them to float around. She seems to keep these balloons on hoof at all times.

Mintberry Creme

made in Luminous Kingdom

Name: Mintberry Creme

Species: seapony (can change to land and sea forms with a special object)

Pronouns: she/he/fin

Sexuality: polysexual

Gender: fluid

Occupation: ice cream maker

Swimming: average

A seapony with a semiliquid mane, Mintberry Creme has a dream to find the perfect flavor of ice cream, frequently experimenting with different, obscure flavors and combinations.

(rewriting)

Creme can have a hell of a silver tongue at times, grilling others on both sides before they even realize they've been insulted- however, he doesn't do this without being instigated first, such as when rich Canterlotians enter his establishment just to insult his business, etc. For the most part, though, fin's cordial and polite with fins customers and friends, treating others how they treat fin.

More TBA in the future!

Space Oddity: Uncovering the Origin of the Universe’s Rare Radio Circles - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/space-oddity-uncovering-the-origin-of-the-universes-rare-radio-circles-technology-org/

Space Oddity: Uncovering the Origin of the Universe’s Rare Radio Circles - Technology Org

Outflowing galactic winds from exploding stars may explain the enormous rings.

It’s not every day astronomers say, “What is that?” After all, most observed astronomical phenomena are known: stars, planets, black holes and galaxies. But in 2019 the newly completed ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder) telescope picked up something no one had ever seen before: radio wave circles so large they contained entire galaxies in their centers.

Odd radio circles, like ORC 1 pictured above, are large enough to contain galaxies in their centers and reach hundreds of thousands of light years across. Image credit: Jayanne English / University of Manitoba

As the astrophysics community tried to determine what these circles were, they also wanted to know why the circles were. Now a team led by University of California San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Alison Coil believes they may have found the answer: the circles are shells formed by outflowing galactic winds, possibly from massive exploding stars known as supernovae. Their work is published in Nature.

Coil and her collaborators have been studying massive “starburst” galaxies that can drive these ultra-fast outflowing winds. Starburst galaxies have an exceptionally high rate of star formation. When stars die and explode, they expel gas from the star and its surroundings back into interstellar space.

If enough stars explode near each other at the same time, the force of these explosions can push the gas out of the galaxy itself into outflowing winds, which can travel at up to 2,000 kilometers/second.

“These galaxies are really interesting,” said Coil, who is also chair of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. “They occur when two big galaxies collide. The merger pushes all the gas into a very small region, which causes an intense burst of star formation. Massive stars burn out quickly and when they die, they expel their gas as outflowing winds.”

A simulation of starburst-driven winds at three different time periods, starting at 181 million years. The top half of each image shows gas temperature, while the lower half shows the radial velocity. Image credit: Cassandra Lochhaas / Space Telescope Science Institute

Massive, rare and of unknown origin

Technological developments allowed ASKAP to scan large portions of the sky at very faint limits which made odd radio circles (ORCs) detectable for the first time in 2019. The ORCs were enormous — hundreds of kiloparsecs across, where a kiloparsec is equal to 3,260 light years (for reference, the Milky Way galaxy is about 30 kiloparsecs across).

Multiple theories were proposed to explain the origin of ORCs, including planetary nebulae and black hole mergers, but radio data alone could not discriminate between the theories. Coil and her collaborators were intrigued and thought it was possible the radio rings were a development from the later stages of the starburst galaxies they had been studying. They began looking into ORC 4 — the first ORC discovered that is observable from the Northern Hemisphere.

Up until then, ORCs had only been observed through their radio emissions, without any optical data. Coil’s team used an integral field spectrograph at the W.M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaii, to look at ORC 4, which revealed a tremendous amount of highly luminous, heated, compressed gas — far more than is seen in the average galaxy.

With more questions than answers, the team got down to detective work. Using optical and infrared imaging data, they determined the stars inside ORC 4 galaxy were around 6 billion years old. “There was a burst of star formation in this galaxy, but it ended roughly a billion years ago,” stated Coil.

Cassandra Lochhaas, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics specializing in the theoretical side of galactic winds and a co-author on the paper, ran a suite of numerical computer simulations to replicate the size and properties of the large-scale radio ring, including the large amount of shocked, cool gas in the central galaxy. 

[embedded content]

Her simulations showed outflowing galactic winds blowing for 200 million years before they shut off. When the wind stopped, a forward-moving shock continued to propel high-temperature gas out of the galaxy and created a radio ring, while a reverse shock sent cooler gas falling back onto the galaxy. The simulation played out over 750 million years — within the ballpark of the estimated one-billion-year stellar age of ORC 4.

“To make this work you need a high-mass outflow rate, meaning it’s ejecting a lot of material very quickly. And the surrounding gas just outside the galaxy has to be low density, otherwise the shock stalls. These are the two key factors,” stated Coil. “It turns out the galaxies we’ve been studying have these high-mass outflow rates. They’re rare, but they do exist. I really do think this points to ORCs originating from some kind of outflowing galactic winds.”

Not only can outflowing winds help astronomers understand ORCs, but ORCs can help astronomers understand outflowing winds as well. “ORCs provide a way for us to ‘see’ the winds through radio data and spectroscopy,” said Coil. “This can help us determine how common these extreme outflowing galactic winds are and what the wind life cycle is. They can also help us learn more about galactic evolution: do all massive galaxies go through an ORC phase? Do spiral galaxies turn elliptical when they are no longer forming stars? I think there is a lot we can learn about ORCs and learn from ORCs.”

Source: UCSD

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

Aurora’s Whimsical Guide to Celestial Lights: A Galactic Tale

Once upon a starlit eve, in the enchanting expanse of the cosmos, there resided Aurora, the whimsical goddess of dawn. With a twinkle in her eye and a swirl of her celestial gown, she embarked on a spirited endeavor to illuminate the wonders of Earth’s auroras - both Northern and Southern Lights - with her trademark mix of humor and wisdom.

“Greetings, my stargazing sprites and space-time travelers!” Aurora chimed, her voice echoing through the galaxies. “I, the ever-effervescent Aurora, am thrilled to guide you through the marvels of our universe’s most spectacular night shows – the auroras. Let's uncover the mysteries of these night-sky delights with a touch of humor and a rainbow of scientific facts!”

Aurora began by painting a vivid picture of the night sky transforming into an astonishing light display. “Imagine the heavens suddenly bursting into a canvas of shimmering colors, like an artist liberally splashing neon hues across a dark, velvety sky. That, my dear friends, is the aurora - a celestial spectacle that has puzzled mortals since time immemorial.”

She revealed the science behind these mesmerizing lights. “These aren’t just atmospheric decorations, oh no! They’re the result of our dear Earth, the charming blue marble, colliding with particles from our Sun – that great, fiery star. These solar particles, thrown out like cosmic confetti, meet Earth’s gases, leading to a show of dazzling lights. It’s nature’s own neon billboard, inviting us to gaze in wonder.”

Aurora then took her audience on a tour of the two types of auroras: the Aurora Borealis, a luminous tiara gracing the northern hemisphere, and the Aurora Australis, a swirling, colorful skirt around the southern pole. “Both are like nature’s disco balls, turning the sky into a photon-filled dance club,” she quipped.

The goddess elaborated on the colors of these lights. “It’s all about atmospheric gases meeting solar particles. Oxygen gives us greens and reds, while nitrogen, the bashful cousin of oxygen, bestows blues and purples. A veritable rainbow in the sky!”

Aurora didn’t forget to honor the Earth’s magnetic field, the unsung hero of this phenomenon. “This invisible shield is our cosmic bouncer, directing solar particles towards the poles, crafting these splendid lights. Without it, our nights would be far less magical.”

Thus, Aurora, with her captivating storytelling, unraveled the mysteries of the auroras. She transformed complex science into an enchanting narrative, drawing her audience into a world where celestial phenomena danced hand-in-hand with myth and legend.

“And so,” Aurora concluded with a graceful bow, “our auroral journey comes to an end. Remember, every time you witness the auroras, you’re seeing a cosmic ballet choreographed by the universe itself. Until our next celestial rendezvous, keep your eyes on the skies and your hearts filled with wonder!”

And with that, the goddess of dawn dissolved into the first light of day, leaving behind a trail of stardust and an audience forever enchanted by the mysteries of the auroras.

Voyage of the Starborne Seeker

In the galactic tapestry of the cosmos, where constellations told tales of forgotten realms, Captain Nylomy commanded the starship Celestial Seeker. Her journey through the cosmic ocean was not just a mission; it was a quest for the mysteries which lay beyond the shimmering veil of stars.

The Celestial Seeker, adorned with the scars of interstellar travels, carried a crew as diverse as the galaxies themselves. Among them was Navigator Aric Voss, a keen mind with eyes held the reflections of distant quasars. His nimble fingers danced across holographic star charts, guiding the ship through the celestial symphony.

One fateful day, the Seeker detected anomalous readings from the Nebula of Eternity—a cosmic enigma which whispered promises of untold knowledge. Captain Nylomy, fueled by an insatiable curiosity, set a course for the heart of the nebula.

As the ship ventured deeper, the fabric of space itself seemed to ripple, revealing a corridor to a dimension untouched by mortal hands. The crew, a mosaic of races from far-flung stars, hesitated before this cosmic gateway.

Captain Nylomy, a beacon of determination, led her crew into the unknown. The corridor, a ribbon of iridescence, unfolded like a cosmic road. They emerged on the other side in the Astral Atrium—a celestial nexus suspended amidst the kaleidoscopic nebulae.

Here, they encountered the Luminal Scribes, ethereal beings who chronicled the eons in celestial scripts. The leader, a being of pure light named Marooy, beckoned Nylomy to partake in the weaving of cosmic tales.

Each crew member found a connection with the Astral Atrium. Aric communed with celestial mathematicians, exchanging algorithms that transcended mortal comprehension. Engineer Kaela discovered the harmonies of cosmic energies, tuning the ship's engines to resonate with the music of the spheres.

Captain Nylomy, with hands bathed in starlight, wove her story into the fabric of the universe. The Luminal Scribes, in turn, gifted the Seeker with a stardust-infused crystal—an artifact of cosmic wisdom.

As the Celestial Seeker departed the Astral Atrium, the crew carried with them the echoes of celestial knowledge. Captain Nylomy, now a guardian of cosmic lore, charted a course for unexplored galaxies, her eyes reflecting the luminous trails of newfound wisdom.

And so, under the boundless canopy of stars, the Starborne Seeker continued its voyage—a vessel of dreams, sailing through the cosmic sea in pursuit of the next chapter in the endless saga of the universe.

Fast Radio Bursts are an astrophysical enigma. They are intense bursts of radio energy lasting anywhere from a fraction of a millisecond to a few seconds, typically with a frequency of around 1,400 MHz, and we still don’t know what causes them. They were first detected in 2007 but were initially so rare and short-lived that it was difficult to confirm they weren’t terrestrial in origin. With the inauguration of the CHIME telescope and other wide-field radio observatories, we started observing lots of them, which confirmed they were both astrophysical and mostly coming from outside our galaxy. Now one has been observed from a galaxy 8 billion light years away, and it could help us solve a cosmological mystery. The dominant theory for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) is that they are caused by magnetars. Neutron stars with an extremely strong magnetic field. Just as the Sun’s magnetic field can trigger solar flares, magnetars could experience magnetic flares that emit flashes of radio light. We know they are extragalactic because they occur all over the sky, not just along the galactic plane of the Milky Way. Measuring their distance is a bit more tricky. Distribution of FRBs seen by CHIME. Credit: CHIME/FRB Collaboration Since FRBs emit a radio pulse at a uniform frequency, we can use what is known as a Dispersion Measure (DM) to determine distance. When the radio pulse passes through ionized intergalactic gas, higher frequencies pass through it a bit faster than lower frequencies. This is similar to the way visible light is refracted by a piece of glass. Violet is refracted the most and red the least because violet light takes a bit longer to pass through the glass than red light. What this means is that rather than seeing the FRB light all at once, we see the lower frequencies a bit later than the higher ones. The more distant the FRB, the more intergalactic plasma it passes through to reach us, and the greater the dispersion. Of course, to use this for distance, you’d need to know the distribution of intergalactic plasma. If there are clumps of plasma between close galaxies, the FRB would have a dispersion measure similar to that of distant galaxies with little intergalactic plasma between them. Unfortunately, we don’t have a good mapping of intergalactic plasma. It’s a missing part of the “total mass” of the Universe. We know it’s there, we just aren’t sure how much of it is there. This new discovery could help change that. Known as FRB 20220610A, it was observed by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in 2022. The ASKAP data was precise enough that astronomers could pinpoint its location in the sky accurately enough to pin its origin to a particular galaxy. The team then used follow-up observations by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to confirm it likely came from a small cluster of merging galaxies. The VLT observations then determined the redshift of the cluster to find the distance. Macquart relation between DM and redshift for FRBs. Credit: Ryder, et al The light of the FRB 20220610A traveled 8 billion light years to reach us, making it the most distant fast radio burst ever observed, and likely at the distance limit for FRBs we can currently detect. But more importantly, knowing its distance, we can compare this to the dispersion measure to calculate the amount of ionized gas between galaxies. The idea for using FRBs to map intergalactic gas was first proposed by Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre Macquart, which is why this comparison is sometimes known as the Macquart relation. If we can pinpoint lots more fast radio bursts, we will be able to build a distribution map of intergalactic gas. From that we can get a handle on the overall mass between galaxies and help pinpoint the total mass of the cosmos. Basically using one mystery to solve another, which is a pretty cool trick. Reference: Ryder, S. D., et al. “A luminous fast radio burst that probes the Universe at redshift 1.” Science 382.6668 (2023): 294-299. The post A Fast Radio Burst Took 8 Billion Years to Reach Us appeared first on Universe Today.

1. The speed of light is a limitation of physical space-time but not of higher dimensions. 

2. History is recorded in time, which our science still does not fully understand.  Time is the measure of the duration of a movement, a change or event.  Without time nothing happens. It is what separates events as space separates objects.

It appears to be dualistic: digitized according to quantum physics and a continuous flow or plenum integrated with space as space-time in relativity physics, something like the particle-wave nature of matter.

We will find there is a dual nature to everything in physical reality.  Everything is based on frequency, an oscillation in time and space. Time and space make up the fabric of reality in lower dimensions as consciousness and love are the fabric of reality in higher dimensions.

Quantum physics has discovered that reality is non-local, that is, that the cause of an event may happen in the future not the past. Quantum fluctuations produce tiny geometries in time—

time has a geometrical nature that governs motion.

In relativity time varies with the velocity of the observers so that for one who is approaching the speed of light time appears to slow and finally stops. It is much different from our time on earth, thus with a different history. 

To confound the picture even more, some of our space visitors are time travelers, returning to their past or into their future in order to change their present, again along a specific timeline.

Torsion fields produced by quantum spin and motion depend on “time density”, thin or thick, the amount of change per unit of time which in turn is related to entropy, the tendency of order to disappear over time in a closed system. 2nd law of thermodynamics. If anything, history demonstrates the opposite effect of increasing order or complexity over time, negentropy, suggesting that while the universe is a bounded thus finite system that energy is constantly moving in and out of it from the primordial void.  This occurs through blackholes.  The Key is balance in the duality system not stasis.

3. According to extraterrestrial wisdom, our planet is actually 7.5 billion years old. Earth was conceived in Orion, in the star, Rigel, and then transplanted to our Solar system where it was born out of the sun as a plasma sphere which is still at the center of the earth.  The formation of the earth combines the push of the electric charge of plasma with the gravitational pull of an accretion disk of matter leaving large cavities inside the earth. At this point the planet was not quite formed. It looked like a luminous blue-green orb, not quite spherical.  The first beings arrived here in nonphysical bodies, set up the original planetary grid system which encoded the original plan, life blueprints and experience scenarios.  They were called the “Gardeners,” the ones who gardened the planet, and they were reptilian.  Also among the first to arrive in the solar system were the original Founders, or what our secret space program calls the “Builder Race”, who built huge domed structures on other planets and moons.

With the fall of the Empire the plan for earth was modified.  It was to become a grand experiment in spiritual evolution, blazing a fast track return to Source while redeeming the fallen light and rebalancing the karma of the Galactic Wars.  The whole Orion drama would be replayed again…and again on earth.  As a planet of unsurpassed beauty in the galaxy, earth holds a special place in the experiment in spiritual evolution that could change the entire universe.  A call for volunteers went out again and the first wave of souls arrived, 144,000.  They would become the humanity of earth.  The Creator made a covenant with them for their service, the conditions of agreement or a sort of rules of the game to be played.

The objective of the experiment would be to explore a new path of ascension, of evolution through multi-dimensional reality on our universal path of return.  The idea was to ascend to the 5th dimension, the mental planes, passing through, not to, the astral emotional planes as is standard. The lessons of the experience in the astral planes, however, would still have to be learned but while in the 3rd physical dimension, making its sojourn that much more difficult.  Humans would also attempt to awaken and redeem the fallen dark ones, which could only be accomplished from within.  According to free-will it could not be imposed from without, interfering with the free-will of the dark. Due to free-will the dark may ultimately choose not to turn to the Light and will be taken to another realm to continue their evolution.  Likewise certain humans will awaken and assist those other beings who come to achieve enlightenment.

(Source)

What would happen to Teyvat when the Creator die? I want to know your interpretation of it because that La Signora and Dottore was amazing work.

La Signora Pt. 2

Warnings: character death, end of the world scenario

Fun Fact! Ever since writing the Signora idea down and publishing it on the blog, I've had an idea on what would happen after.

I originally wanted to write a oneshot like I did with Dottore's part 2, but I'm still a bit down from the exhaustion and headache yesterday, so I'm going with the same style as I did for the first part.

Hope you enjoy <3

-Lilith

Tagging people who might like this: @nicebonescomrade; @gunterdon; @potatodumbass; @thai

There are no big changes to the world. The animals and Hilichurls are more ruthless and less happy, as if someone's presence from the world was suddenly missing. They used to dance and sing and chirp and bark happily all around Teyvat. But suddenly it all stopped. All the acolytes who are a different race (so, Kokomi, Klee, Sucrose, the lot) and the Abyss also feel it. They all know: something bad had happened to their Creator.

However, none of them feel the changes as bad as Signora. To her, it seems as if the air pressure around her increased; she struggles to breathe, no matter where she goes. Rocks and roots that weren't there before constantly trip her on her way to the Shogun. Birds would fly low in the sky to hit her and boars ran to her instead of away as they usually would. As soon as she reaches Inazuma, she thinks she's safe, but the heaviness in her limbs increases and makes it almost impossible for her to get away from the dogs and cats hissing and growling at her. She is sure they would attack her if it wasn't for the liquid fire running through her veins.

La Signora is glad once she stands in front of the stairs leading up to Tenshukaku, the residence of the Electro Archon. She is just in time for their meeting, too. Her plan to take the Gnosis is flawless; even a delay of a minute would be a hindrance for it.

She glares at the guards at the entrance and takes a step forward; only to crumble to the ground as pain bloomed in her chest. A white light surrounds her body and the pain spread, her mouth opening in a mute scream.

The sudden surge of power and light from the Harbinger alerted not only the Shogun, who had been staring at the black liquid flowing out of cracks in her beloved Creator's statue in the temple she'd built in Tenshukaku. But also Lumine, who'd been on her way to go face to face with the Inazuma's Archon. It is an aura so painfully familiar that she hastens her pace, running through the city with no care for the Shogunate guards shouting at her.

Both the Shogun and Lumine come to a halt on opposite sides of the Harbinger, who is clawing at the ground and trying to shake off whatever it is that surrounds her.

"What...have you done?", Lumine asks in horror, although her heart already knows the answer. The cracked statues of the Creator in the city and their citizens crying out in fervor. The pressure in the air, so vastly different from its usual static.

La Signora gasps, a mad grin growing on her face. She barely hears the Traveller through the ringing in her ears. "Got rid...of a pest."

"Is that what you call your god these days?"

The voice that comes out of nowhere is neither female nor male. Neither light nor darkness. It echoes around them, multiplying until a chorus rings in their ears. The Shogunate guards are the first to kneel or bow down. Lumine falls to her knees next. The Shogun, too, finds herself losing control of her body, muscles seizing up and forcing her to stand still.

More light appears hovering in the air above Signora as it slowly forms a body. It has no distinct features, the outlines rough and moving as if it couldn't decide what it wants to be. It is painful for their eyes and all but Lumine and the Shogun avert them, the last two too entranced by the galactic eyes staring back at them.

"Is it...is it really you, Your Grace?", the female Traveller speaks up, lips shaking. Her heart beats at an erratic pace, eager to burst out of her chest and be handed over to the diving being in front of her. The one who had guided her to Inazuma all along, their warm presence a blessing and a light in the darkest of times. And here you are, finally.

The displeasure evident in those otherworldly eyes fades a bit as you turn to her. She is sure she would have been graced with a smile if you had possessed a face. "My dearest Lumine, it is so good to see you", you coo, floating down to her. You take her face in your hands and watch as she all but melts into you. "I wish we had met earlier, when I still possessed that human body."

"Human...body? But...no. Don't tell me..."

The Shogun's voice brings you out of your moment of peace and your gaze darkens. You glare at the puppet. "I do not wish to speak to a Puppet", you hiss. A light arrow shoots through the Shogun's body and disperses as Ei is forced out of her Planes. She didn't even have a second to react, it all had happened so fast. She blinks several times, confused as she takes in her surroundings. "This is not..."

"No, it isn't your Planes of Euthymia. It's the real Inazuma as you can see." Your voice is cold and the chorus of it grows stronger. Ei whinces, a hand coming up to rub at her head. She stops mid-motion, mouth falling open as she finally understands what she is seeing. "Your...Your Grace? Oh. Oh no, I'm so sorry."

She continues mumbling apologies and useless explanations for why she hadn't come out earlier as she quickly gets onto her knees and bows low, her forehead touching the ground. You are about to chastise her yet again, but Lumine's hands come up to cover your own as she snuggles her face into your touch, a happy sigh escaping her lips. Your chuckle rings through the air. More Inazumans are coming up the hill to Tenshukaku, curious to see what is going on. And one by one, they, too, kneel to you.

A long time ago you would have been pleased by this clear sign of devotion. However those times have long since passed and your recent adventures, or rather...their recent actions had soured your mood greatly.

You let go of Lumine and float back to the Harbinger, determined to do what you've come here for. The Harbinger who still struggles against your holy light holding her down and bringing her pain. "There's only one punishment befitting of you...and that is death. You realized who I am, even saw your true purpose...yet you still killed me."

Gasps could be heard from the crowd at your back and Lumine's anger fuels your own.

Signora growled at you, even as her mask slips off her face and reveals the burning marks she'd received after infusing herself with liquid fire. "And even now I don't regret it. You want to kill me? Then do it! You made my life hell. Killing you and ridding you off this world was the least I could do."

Her audacity almost makes you laugh.

"Oh, you think you'll be granted a simple death? No no, that wouldn't do. Not at all." The stars in your eyes start moving until they show the Harbinger the face of her loved one. "After your death, your soul will be stuck in an ever-lasting limbo. You'll be forced to watch your loved one die, over and over again. But not only that. He'll shun you. He'll hate you...he'll be the embodiment of your own hate towards me. A fitting punishment, is it not?", you mused.

And true to your words, you do what you've foretold her. Signora didn't even get a chance to redeem herself. A single flick of your hand, no words spoken, and her body turned to ashes in front of them.

"And now that this is done...Ei."

"Yes, Your Grace?" Eager to please, as always, Ei looks up at you with adoring eyes. It seems she is unaware of the deeds of her puppet and her citizens. It's a shame.

"Why have you forsaken me?"

The silence is palpable. Only Lumine understands. Lumine, your first vessel. The one you've watched for a long time, even if she wasn't created by you. Lumine who knew from the beginning that there never was an Imposter. It was you all along.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I...I do not understand", Ei stutters. A shiver runs down her spine at the foreboding feeling in her chest.

You turn away from her and to your beloved Traveller, motioning her to explain. And she gladly does.

"The Imposter all of Teyvat has been looking for and hunting down...it was our Creator all along", she says, her eyes firm and sad. Sad for you because your own creation did such horrible things to you.

"I still don't understand. Imposter? Your death? A hunt?"

You hum in affirmation, still not turning to the Electro Archon. "You can't even see what your own puppet has been doing...I really should have never given you the title of Archon."

The Inazumans could only watch as the Electro Archon is stripped of her powers and title. Purple mixes with white, turning your body violet for a moment before it fades.

The next time you speak, your voice is heard all around Teyvat. Even the Abyss hears you speak, for your voice is the wind, the people of Teyvat. It is everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

"I gave you a chance to welcome me as a human being just like you. No memories, no powers. Just a human me. And what did you do? You proclaimed me an Imposter. You hunted me down like a wild animal. You hurt me, tortured me, brought me close to death several times. From today on, for a whole year, calamities will wash over Teyvat. Stronger and more disastrous than ever. Not even your Archons will be able to safe you anymore. Should you survive, you may try and regain my favor and love. Should you be dead...well, I'm sure that the Abyss, or as you once called it Khaenri'ah is sure to take your place. For they will be the only ones safe. They showed me care and welcomed me. They knew me even like that. And so they get to watch as this world becomes a living hell."

And you stand true to your words. Kaeya, Albedo, Dainsleif and the Twins. All those and some more who had shown you mercy watch from the former island of Khaenri'ah as your power slowly destroys the world you've created.

Maybe they should have been sad.

But you stay with them during that whole year and give them your attention and love, and they fully indulge in it, deaf to the screams and cries of the other regions.

Their Creator has chosen them to live on. And so they will make sure that nothing like this ever happens again, should you grant them with your human presence. They'll be your true acolytes and your knights, now and for all of eternity.

Even the Twins, the only ones in Teyvat who weren't created by you, honor you and pray to you. They cease their travelling to stay by your side.

Sometimes the Followers of the Star wonder how it is that the world wasn't destroyed with your death and you are aware of those questions lingering in their head.

As if you, the God of all gods, were stupid enough to bind the existence of your creation to a weak and fragile physical body. Oh lovelies, no.

For as long as your transcendental soul exists, your creations shall, too.

An eternal paradise, if your wrath isn't evoked again. Maybe next time, none shall live to see the future.