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thebalkanwitch · 3 years

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Cancer Season!

Full Moon in Capricorn!

Supermoon!

Strawberry Moon!

This is LONG-TERM energy

This is SETTING UP YOUR LEGACY energy

This is redefining what “family” means to you energy

Feeling overly sensitive? Feel like you need to re-establish boundaries? Feel like you need to go that extra mile in order to see results? Feel really horny, too? Yeah it’s not you, babe, its Cancer season AND a Capricorn full moon. Let’s get into it:

I was working late the other night and Harry Potter was on (I’m an artist, and I like to have some background noise while I work, preferably music, audiobooks or a movie I’ve seen a thousand times), and let me tell you when Harry went into that pensieve I cried like a baby (you all know exactly which scene I’m talking about). Granted, I was pms-ing but that’s not the point (and yes, I know, there are problematic characters written by a problematic person, but let me enjoy my guilty pleasure, this one time please and thank you), the point is, Cancer Season came in and hit me like a tidal wave, pun intended, and I know I’m not the only one!

Cancer is water, Capricorn is earth

Emotions, Logic

Heart, Mind

Feminine, Masculine

Mother, Father

These are sister signs, or two signs that sit opposite one another on the astrological wheel. There’s an interesting push/pull dynamic when it comes to these types of pairings. At first glance you would assume that they wouldn’t get along, but they actually have more in common than you would think. In this case, the Capricorn full moon falling in Cancer season is quite simpatico. They’re both cardinal signs, they’re both hardworking (in their own ways, respectively) and they are both determined. Caps and Cancers may tackle projects differently but they are tenacious and will get the job done! This is an excellent time to focus on career goals/ family planning/ your 5 year goals, etc

I know I sound like a broken record but seriously, you cannot welcome new things (blessings, relationships, projects, beginnings, etc) without clearing out all the old shit! It is stagnant energy, it is dead weight and it is taking up space. That being said, have you cleaned? No, but seriously, have you CLEANED?? I mean spiritually, emotionally, physically cleaned.

I recently went to a family event (first one post-pandemic) and I gotta say, I really didn’t miss most of the people I saw. That’s what I mean by CLEANING. Only a handful of people have been in my home in the last two years and it has been absolutely wonderful! Not everyone needs access to you or your energy. Not everyone is entitled to you or your time, remember that! Setting boundaries is not only a necessary form of self-care but also self-love and spiritual cleaning. You don’t want some asshole coming into your home, touching everything, fucking up the peace and throwing your energy off, regardless of how they are related to you. I understand this is easier said than done, especially coming from the Balkans. “Family” comes with a sense of entitlement that makes navigating every gathering like maneuvering a minefield (WHY DID YOU GAIN SO MUCH WEIGHT? WHY DID YOU LOSE SO MUCH WEIGHT? ARE YOU SICK? WHEN ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED? WHEN ARE YOU HAVING A BABY? WHEN ARE YOU HAVING A BOY? WHY AREN’T YOU WORKING? WHY AREN’T YOU STAYING HOME WITH THE KIDS? Etc). We’ve all dealt with this nonsense in some form or another and at times it seems like FAMILY is an oppressive four-letter-word that we are just doomed to deal with forever, but let me remind you of this interesting little fact: Albanians are probably THE most family-oriented or family-minded culture that I know of (and this may be the incorrect terminology, so if anyone has a better suggestion, let me know!), to the point of being almost neurotic when it comes to whom is considered FAMILY.

There are very strict social and cultural mores that are followed to this day, among Albanians, specifically when it comes to marriage and familial bonds. Albanians cannot marry someone with the same last name. Albanians cannot marry their cousins, at least not until their 7th cousin. After their 7th cousin it’s open season because let’s face it, by the time you go that far in the family tree they either don’t exist or they’re so far away that there is no chance of being blood-related. Albanians cannot marry someone from their godparent’s family and vice-versa. Albanians should not marry someone within their “mëhallë” or neighborhood because chances are somebody’s got a secret and the neighbor’s cute son could actually be your brother 😆 (gross but realistic and true and while this is not a strict cultural rule, it is a general rule of thumb). Finally, the most interesting little tid-bit and the point of this whole spiel, Albanians cannot marry someone in the same “fis” or tribe as their own.

What is a fis? A fis is a tribe or clan that each family belongs to. Every single Albanian family can trace its lineage to a specific fis, and each fis is composed of multiple families. So marriages were always a serious affair and had to be considered and discussed at length, with great focus on lineage and creating new kin-ties. THAT BEING SAID, YOU DETERMINE WHO IS IN YOUR FIS. YOU DETERMINE WHO IS ALLOWED INTO YOUR FAMILY. If someone is blood related to you but doesn’t make the cut, it is what it is. If someone is not blood related to you but they are your sister, guess what? You just got a new sister. This is the energy of this time. Restructuring from the ground up. What is your family going to look like? What is your career going to look like? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

Full moons represent completion, the end of a lunar cycle. Think about what you want and how to get it! Organize your time, ground yourself and focus on your priorities.

Themes: quality over quantity, grow up/ glow up, pick your family/ grow your circle

Keywords: practical, disciplined, emotional (just because you KNOW what you have to do doesn’t mean it’s gonna be easy. If you need to cry, cry. If you need to scream, do it! release all that shit and move forward accordingly)

Use: *YELLOW* tigers eye, citrine, amber (work that solar plexus!)

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thedancefloorsilly · 3 years

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Hi! Congrats on 300 that's amazing!🎉 can I participate in the f/o's event please? I choose Chrollo and Kurapika (seperate). I don't have any absolutely necessary hcs for the relationships that I need to mention, except for that both are loving of course.

I'm really sorry if this is too long or too much! I tend to be open to a horribly obnoxious extent. I just overshare a lot. I had to reread this multiple times and shorten it as much as I could make myself.

Basic about me: I'm an aries sun w/ a gemini moon and leo rising, personality type is INFP. Hobbies I like are writing (normal fictional stories and fanfic), reading, drawing, painting, digital editing, walking around in nature (not quite hiking), Minecraft, and adventuring to places near me.

I get attached to random things and get really excited whenever I see them. Some examples are flowers, moths, shiny/pretty rocks or crystals, and anything similar to bottle caps/can tabs, safety pins, and other little shiny thingies.

While I tend to pride myself on how mature I can be and just how intelligent I am- normally in unique critical thinking, language skills, and imagination/creation, I'm also just a little kid at heart. I have wildly exaggerate reactions to things I like no matter how small or big they are, and due to rejection sensitive dysphoria I can be a little childish in turmoil no matter how many big words I use.

I actually like that I express joy so much and can romanticize any scenario + fall in love with insignificant objects. It took me a while to realize I even liked to do this because I didn't realize I had been masking my entire life. Due to other things being masked and whatever I have issues connecting the image of myself now to the image of myself when I was little to an alarming amount, yet still have a connection to her on the inside because I know she would be similar to now if she could.

I have ADHD and maladaptive daydreaming issues, possibly autism but I'm still doing research.

I really like praise and I need someone telling me good things about me, and I have envy problems. I wouldn't call it jealousy because I never act on anything, nor do I wish bad for the people who are doing good. My main issue, I guess, Is the "never enough" kind of thing. That's the only way I can describe it. When I'm upset, the only way to describe how I feel about myself is that I'm never enough, and no matter how much I try people won't like me as much as healthy me likes me...does that make sense? It's like I blame other people but I aim the hate and hurt feelings towards myself?

The words I'd use to describe myself are creative, intelligent, sensitive, affectionate, exaggerative, wondrous, and open

I kin Gon. Other characters are: Reki (sk8 the infinity), Anne (anne with an e), Coraline, Syd (I am not ok with this), lance (voltron), and Kaido (saiki k)

Very random details that don't matter: •I have wavey-curly hair but it can change wildly. It can be really curly, fluffy and insane, or completely flat without much at all. I've never used curling product or whatever to get it curly I just have to tightly braid it for a day and it's completely there. •I wear basic clothes but extra af accessories everywhere and somewhat crazy eyeliner. I like little trinkets as accessories like safety pins, paper clip necklaces, or hair ties on my wrist. Also some normal ones like rings, chokers, and bracelets. •I am definitely a spiritual bitch and I'm all for the moon and crystals and herbs (very basic I know), of course actual witchcraft work, but a little basic romanticizing doesn't harm nothin'

Let me know if i didn't do something right! I'm happy to be one of your 300 followers <3

Hi!! Thank you so much and ofc!! Ah don't apologize the more info the easier it is (I liked reading all of this, and plus I got so many ideas bc of it :D) !!! I also have that habit LOL. you did everything right so dw (and omg thats so nice the at the end mah heart :,)). Have a great day and enjoy <333

Event: Closed

Kurapika

- It’s not a surprise on why Kurapika loves you so much, as there are many things about you guys that make such a great fit. Having you as his lover just makes Kurapika appreciate one more thing about his life.

- Lets start off with the fact that you romanticize the scenarios and objects in your life. To Kurapika, he views this as you having an appreciation for the little things in life. For someone to express joy through the seemingly “insignificant things” is such a beautiful thing to him, and to Kurapika, he also thinks of it as a reminder to enjoy life’s little gift’s.

- This also reflects off his own way of thinking. For someone who has lost almost everything, Kurapika reminds himself to be grateful for all the things life has to offer. When life gets tough, he remembers some of the big and small things that he is appreciative for: seeing the sunrise each morning, his friends, how he’s able to wake up to see another day, and one of the most important things of all, you.

- There is not a day where Kurapika does not remind you how important you are to him, how much you’ve changed part of his outlook on life, how you’ve gave his little dark and grey world some color. For that, he’s just so exceedingly grateful, and his heart is full of this everlasting love for you. Having said that, those days where you feel as if you’re never enough always make him upset to hear.

- Though Kurapika might be a littleee uncertain with his advice, he tries to solace you the best that he can. With his calm voice, he’ll try and reassure you that you are enough, even if you might no see that in your eyes. One thing Kurapika wishes for you is to one day view yourself the way that he always does.

- Kurapika and you also share your love for nature, which was one thing you later learned about him. Growing up in a beautiful forest in the Lukso Province as a kid, he was surrounded by nature almost all through his life. He has such an appreciation for the beauty that the naturel world has. Kurapika and you sometimes set up dates where nature is most present, such as in a forest, or maybe in a field of flowers at night when the two of you can stargaze in each others arms.

- These have to be one of his favorite kinds of dates with you. The serene atmosphere that the environment brings Kurapika puts him at such ease, and having you by his side the whole time just perfects everything. While these moments can be filled with exchanged laughter from your conversations, or a calm silence from taking in the presence of your surroundings and each other, you guys always have such a wonderful time out of it. The ending to these dates can be topped with a heartfelt kiss from the two of you, as a reminder that your love and appreciation for each other is so deep-hearted and sincere.

Chrollo

- As the leader of an infamous group of thieves who can steal as much as they desire, Chrollo knew that he couldn’t just ‘steal’ someone’s love. You intrigued him from the start, and being that you guys seemed to be very different in personality, Chrollo was willing to know more about you.

- In his eyes, you were like this divine gem that somehow ended up in his grasp, except without the use of “stealing” it. Now that you and him are dating, there’s not a day where Chrollo doesn’t try and show how much he loves you. Let’s start with how every time he call’s you, it’s with the use of an endearing name. He usually goes back and forth between calling you “my love”, “my dear” and “sweetheart”.

- Every time you feel envious, or have those feelings of inadequacy, Chrollo pulls you close to him, and tries to comfort you with the sweetest of words. Now usually if he would ever say something this heartfelt to someone, it would be for personal gain in return. But, whenever he pulls you into his arms and whispers his own advice, it’s because it’s genuine. All the praise you hear coming from your mouth is something that Chrollo truly means, and wants you to understand.

- He also really enjoys your personality in which you romanticize everything. Chrolo finds it very cute to him, and loves seeing how you get excited with the smaller things. As someone who could steal almost anything for you (large jewel, rare items, etc.) Chrollo finds it funny that you just like to pay attention to the little things. With that being said, anything that he finds that reminds Chrollo of you, whether it be out on his missions or a daily stroll), he’ll always bring back. He loves seeing the visible excitement on your face, the way your eyes bright up and that lovable grin to follow. He just can never get enough of it.

- Knowing that you also love these, Chrollo will always gift you with a bunch of rare flowers that he saw. He will usually give you about three or four of the most prettiest flowers you’ve seen, and he’ll tie it with a small ribbon just for you. While you’re expressing your love to how beautiful these flowers are, of course, he’ll sneak in some lovey compliment (“yes they look nice, but they don’t look as amazing as you”. Normally these are very cheesy, but Chrolllo says it in a way that just works).

- Reading dates are very common with you and him. Chrollo is an avid reader, and going on a date based on his interest next to someone he so deeply loves would just be perfect. You guys could just cuddle on the couch or bed, maybe light some nice candles around, and just... read next to each other!! It might not sound like much, but it’s very enjoyable when you’re around each other.

- All in all, the love Chrollo has for you cannot so simply be described in just words. Even though there might come danger from his own role, he will promise to protect you. Chrollo is just so happy to have met you, to be with you, to call you each other’s, and to develop this mutually genuine love that you and him have.

a/n: this was very very fun to write nd I rlly hope u like it :D ty for participating again !!

#hm you know #reading some of the things u said reminded me of me #lol #reki kinnie wavelength :')#I wish u the best and only the best bc u deserve that <3 !!#300 followers event #kurapika #f/o #selfship

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moonpool-system · 3 years

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🌺 What does your headspace look like?

👑 Who is/are the host(s)?

🎲 do anyone in your system have a lucky object/word/etc?

ty for the ask!! These'll be long, but I appreciate it ✨

"What does your headspace look like?"

I actually just typed this out yesterday so the explanation is fresh in my mind! So our headspace is a moderately sized landscape with a lot to cover- the "centerpiece" of he headspace is a mountain based on Celeste Mountain from the video game Celeste. It's more one mountain than two, but it's still littered with various ruins and such, all with varying importance to system history. If we're looking at a birds-eye view of the headspace, lets say Celeste Mountain caps off the west side (as we've never been beyond it).

It's super cold up there - in the picture it's snowy all the way to the bottom, but in our headspace the snow cuts off abruptly to a cliff, and after descending down it you're greeted with mild, vast fields. The fields take up most of the middlegrounds of the headspace, about a mile and a half, and are in fact very flat despite our reference photo. Nestled into the cliff where it meets the fields on the west side of the mountain is our home- a medium-sized cabin of dark wood that's dug into the mountain.

Inside the cabin is a near-replica of Leblanc café from Persona 5 - some different details are that it's wider to make for more space, there's a couch on the bar side near the wall, and of course, it's all much more rustic with cabin walls and such. Not to mention a couple pictures of us hanging up! If you take the stairs there's a hallway leading off to many of our rooms. The one Badeline, myself, and Akira share looks similar to Akira's room in P5 (albeit a bit bigger, and with two beds)

If you head east through the fields you'll enter the Forest, which is somewhat of a mysterious place for us. It's mostly unexplored, though a few of us live there, and is full of strange things and a generally existential vibe. Tecchou's campsite is there near a river, though we've never followed it at all to tell where it goes. There's also possibly a cabin in there that we've never visited and feels vaguely extradimensional. At the back of the Forest is an invisible wall that runs along the entire eastern side.

running along the entire north side of the headspace is a shoreline with a small amount of sand, maybe four or five yards or so before it hits grass? between the Forest and the coastline is the Moonpool cave (yes from Warriors), which is where our system gets its name from. If you walk into the cave it becomes nighttime within it- and at the end is a tiny pond with a natural skylight in the top where the moon shines through. It's a very spiritual place for us and where most of our soulbonds come from. We have a Steven Universe style teleporter to quickly get between the Moonpool and the cabin.

About half a mile out from the shore is a little island with big rock formations and a small forest! There's not much there but it's a fun place to climb around on.

That's about all! We know there're things behind the mountain but none of us have explored there yet. That was a long explanation but I hope it was worth it!

"Who is/are the hosts?"

Hosting is actually pretty funny in our system- I (Lucia) am the main host and system manager, so im in front most of the time. Our co-host tends to change as time passes- first it was Badeline, then it was Church, and currently it's Atsushi, and sorta cycling back to Badds. Newbies keep ending up as cohosts lmao, but we have like 2-6 people in co-con at any one point.

"Do anyone in your system have a lucky object/word/etc?"

Hmm the only thing i can think of are our bracelets- I used to use them for kin shifts, but when Badeline and co came around I started making little bracelets for everyone. I've since fallen out of that, but Badds' bracelet is still her most prized object.

thanks again for the ask! have a great day ^^

#system infodumping #headspace infodumping #answered ask #ask memes

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wildwren · 3 years

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The Last Kingdom // AU Canon Divergence // Erik x Aethelflaed // Rated E

Chapter Eleven: For The Sake of a Ship, read on AO3

featuring: Erik, Christian and Pagan ship blessings, Norse spirituality

CWs for the chapter: animal sacrifice

Erik and Aethelflaed prepare for war in the North, but first there are two ships that need to be blessed in very different ways....

They stood on the bank of the river, a disorganized crowd of warriors and servants, townsfolk and children who craned and jostled to see the ships bobbing on the water. The sun came weakly through the thin screen of cloud, but it still glinted in sharp points upon rings of shining mail, and on the cuffs of helms that had been polished to a bronze luster.

The Mercians were stiff-backed and somber with the pomp of the morning, their blue cloaks thrown over their shoulders like folded bird’s wings. They would lose their layers with desperate speed once the rowing began, Erik knew. But for now they looked fine and fearsome in their metal.

Smoke drifted across the gray water from the decks of the ships, where silent monks swung great silver pendants of flaming herbs. Oswey’s voice followed behind the sweet, acrid smell.

“Lord in Heaven, our guide and savior, I pray that you bless these ships, that they might be protected, that they may be held in the safety of your Holy love!”

He spoke with more passion than Erik was used to seeing in the man.

“May they be free from evil and corruption! May they be free from danger and disaster! May all foul demons and devils flee before them! May the men…and…the women…on these ships hold your righteous work within their hearts, may they be free from corruption, may they….”

And so it went on. The rhythm of the words became lost in the hum of Erik’s mind.

He watched Aethelflaed, where she sat astride a roan stallion, its dun-white coat brushed to a gleaming shine. She was dressed in her own peculiar way - half a Lady, half a warrior. She wore a madder-red gown which draped down to her knees, but below its hem Erik could her hart-skin trousers, and her high leather shoes fixed around her ankles with bands of hammered metal. Atop her head lay a a green-gray hood, held to her temple with a circlet of pure gold. And over her body, like the scales of her dragon, her mail shirt rippled and clung to her form. It was hooded, and it capped her shoulders before giving way to the long, tapered sleeves of her overgown. Around her waist was cinched a wide belt of braided leather and tablet weavings, a tiny tapestry rendered in green and drawn-gold thread, winding in the shapes of beasts and angels. Bjarta-Blotha swung from the front, hung even with her waist from two leather loops, its sheath embellished with silver filigree, its pommel of polished horn bright like a bone against her mail.

That had been Erik’s seax - Bright-Blood - his ancestral blade, given to her in a ritual to seal their bond all those years ago. He had not taken it back, even when she had offered. The mail coat had been a gift of his as well, and he was glad to see it still fit, for it had been fashioned especially for her shape, and now she looked as fierce and as proud and as beautiful as she had on the field of Alnecester five years before. He only hoped it did not weigh too heavy on her.

Oswey’s prayer was coming to a close. “In the name of the Lord, and in the name of his son Jesus Christ, our blessed savior, may this be done. Amen.” There was echoing rumble, as all the villagers spoke their own word in return, and Erik found his lips turning around the word as well. It was hard not to, when it seemed to live in the air. But his had been a different kind of prayer.

Amen.

The quay was suddenly churning with activity, as men shouted commands, as warriors, and horses, and the final loads of cargo were directed into place. Erik’s let his eyes leave Aethelflaed as he turned to his own work.

“Horses to the stern!” He bellowed. “Men to the benches! No sail yet! NO SAIL YET, Eadger, you fool!” The overeager youth dropped the rigging and scurried off towards his seat.

“There’s no room for your horse, Daga, we spoke of this!”

The older man tried to protest.

“I know you think it’s a slight, but we’ll have more horses once Lord Aldhelm meets us in the North. Send it back to the stables! Before I offer it as blood-tithe to the Gods!”

The man paled at that and disappeared.

“You’re not coming on my ship. You’re for Lady Aethelflaed’s crew.”

The woodswoman Clufweart looked up at him with wide brown eyes, her dirty braid swinging across her shoulder. “No,” she said with calm confidence. “She says I’m to go with you.”

Erik sighed. “She has sent you to punish me then?”

“Perhaps she has sent me to protect you, Lord.” She raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not your Lord.”

“You’re my Lord now, aren’t you?”

For fuck’s sake. This would be trouble.

“Make yourself useful, and bring me the goat that’s in the workshop there. Give the boy a penny.”

“My own penny, Lord?”

He glared at her, but he tossed her a coin and was slightly surprised when she caught it with ease. But he supposed she did have a strong arm and a quick eye with a bow. Perhaps she would not be a total waste of space.

Lady Aethelflaed’s crew was nearly settled. He could see across the water to where she sat, beneath a stretched canvas tarp. He knew his ship was meant to go first, and he panicked a bit at the slowness of his own crew. He had left her the best men, it was true. But there was nothing to be done for it now.

“You!” He commanded a cluster of oarsmen. “Stand there, along the bow.”

They did not question him, but they looked at him with wary, curious eyes as they blocked the vantage from Aethelflaed’s ship. Clufweart had returned, and the goat trotted behind her on stiff, nervous legs.

“Bring it here,” Erik said, as quietly as he could make the command.

“Why a goat, Lord? Or is there nothing better to use to wet your —-”

“Enough.”

Clufweart silenced herself, but there was a smirk remaining on her wide, round face.

“Christian men, turn away if you wish!” Erik said to the crew. “I promise I shall not despoil your priest’s blessing.” Some of the men’s eyes had started to widen, their faces turning pale or coloring with red at the realization of what he was going to do. “But I am to captain this ship,” he continued. “And I must sanctify it in my own way.”

One man coughed, spluttered, found his voice. “The Lady Aethelflaed—”

“The Lady Aethelflaed knows what I am,” was all he said in return.

He had spoken truth to Aelfwynn. It had been a long time since he had made a real offering. It is was hard sometimes, to make space for the Old Ways, when his life lay so long in Christendom. He knew his luck had gone thin, his hamingja half-starved for lack of feeding, and perhaps that was why his hugr had been so grim of late. But this ship, this ship would bring him back to life.

And so he had to make an offering.

The goat was tense, wide-eyed. It smelled its own fate like a horse smells the rain. It was a buck - a young one, Erik realized - and that was good. He held a gentle hand out to it. It flinched, but then calmed as he stroked it slowly and softly.

“It’s alright,” he whispered, close to its face. He did not look at the men, he did not know if they watched him, or turned from him, or judged him in scorn. But Clufweart still stood close, and he could feel her eyes on him as he drew the blade slowly from his belt.

“It’s alright,” he said again. “You are going to the God now.”

The breath huffed in short bursts from the goat’s nostrils, heavy and raw, but he did not bolt. Erik stared into the inky blackness of his eye, and the strange square pupil that sat within it.

“Freyr,” he said, and he did not know if spoke in his own voice or in the voice behind his voice, within his mind. The words came in the tongue of his father, in the Norse which he spoke so rarely now.

“Freyr, son of Njord, take this offering. Be fed on it, be fat on it, be full with its blood. Look with favor on this ship, look with favor on these men, look with favor on this voyage — that we may win glory, yes —- but that we may win safety, too…that these men might know peace. I offer to you, Freyr, God of my kin, for it is you who sows the growing field and sings the winnowed grain. I offer that these men may be fat on your peace, as you will be fat on the blood of the goat. I offer to you, Freyr, God of my kin, for Skíðblaðnir sails always on a sweet wind. I offer that your breath may billow our sails and protect us from harm. I offer to you, Freyr, that you may be fat on the blood, that you may bless us, I offer, Freyr, to you, to you, to you I offer, this blood, Freyr — !”

And he drew the knife across the goat’s throat. It choked, it sighed, its eyes rolled wildly, and then it buckled on its knees and the blood flowed like a red wave across the deck. Several men crossed themselves at the sight of it, but Erik paid them no mind. His was watching the eye, and the light that receded from it, carried by Freyr across the worlds.

There was a horn blast from Aethelflaed’s ship - a short, sharp sound. It was time to go. Erik stood, wiping his blade on his tunic.

“Save the body,” he said to a nearby deckhand. “We will cook him, when we reach the Trent.”

The men were all stuck in a queer silence, as if captives of the moment. Clufweart was looking at him with an unfathomable expression on her face. One man stirred awkwardly at his bench, as if to reach for his oar.

“RAISE ANCHOR!” Erik bellowed, undeterred by their strangeness. “WE ROW NORTH!”

And he felt the wind sing in response.

#the last kingdom #tlk fanfiction #fanfic #the last kingdom fanfic #erik x aethelflaed #aethelrik #au canon divergence #angst #slowburn #saxons and vikings #tlk erik #tlk aethelflaed #tw: animal sacrifice #tw: animal harm

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thestruidora · 4 years

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The Renegade

Supernatural Fanfiction

Rating: Explicit

WARNINGS: This story will contain but it’ll not be limited to explicit 18+ content including Obsessive Behavior, Smut, Car Sex, Shower Sex, Edging, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Fluff, Oral Sex, thigh riding, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Jealousy, Possessive Behavior, Love Triangle

Category: F/M

Pairings: Sam Winchester/Original Female Character, Dean Winchester/Original Female Character and Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester/Original Female Character

Summary: An angel is a spiritual creature, who dwells in heaven and serves as a messenger between God and the human race. They have no desires of their own, that is to say, they have not been given free will, as with men, and were created with the sole purpose of giving glory and fulfilling their Lord’s plan. For this reason, Eva would always be a renegade amongst her kin. A fallen angel receives no compassion or mercy, it is a black sheep strayed from its flock.

Author’s notes: Ok, so, I know, it has been a minute. Bear with me.

Chapter Three

The Times They Are A-Changin’

“The battle outside ragin’ Will soon shake your windows And rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin’” — Bob Dylan

“Witness? Witness to what?” Sam inquired in the midst of the confusion, the dust from Bobby’s living room being risen due to the strong winds.

“We need to go somewhere safe.” Bobby said before Eva could answer, gathering as many books as quickly as he could while he felt the atmosphere get cold, the breath he let out visible in the suddenly chilly air. “Follow me.”

They moved fast, trying to cover their eyes from the harsh air with their hands. The older man in front, guiding them as they went down through a flight of stairs into a lower level of the house that neither Sam or Dean had ever seen before. Opening a strong, tick iron door, Bobby allowed the three to enter into a special room before he got in himself, closing the door behind him.

The basement room was made entirely of iron and covered with pentagrams and Devil's traps. Sam and Dean took a good look around, not believing in what they were seeing.

“Bobby, is this...” Sam began, moving in to touch one of the walls.

“Solid iron. Completely coated in salt. 100% ghost-proof.” Bobby responded, a proud look on his face as he started to lay down the books he held on top of a small table nearby.

“You built a panic room?” Eva asked, sounding genuinely impressed, her eyes inspecting the writings on the walls.

“I had a weekend off.” Singer replied, shrugging while focused on the literature in front of him.

“Bobby.” Dean said, eyes landing on a poster of a swimsuit model that had been plastered on the wall around all other anti-supernatural symbols.

“What?”

“You're awesome.”

“I don’t know how awesome I feel right now, boy.” Bobby sighed, fixing the cap on his head and turning from his reading to the boys, receiving a puzzled look from them as he frowned in weariness. “There’s a bunch of angry ghosts out there and we can’t stay here forever.”

“We won’t have to.” Eva murmured in a distracted ton, seeming concentrated on the writings on the walls still, unaware of her hold on the three man’s attention on account of what she had said.

“Care to elaborate on that by any chance?” Bobby spoke when he realized she would not.

“Oh.” She finally acknowledge them, brown eyes darker in the low lighting of the panic room, a nonchalant report in her features as she proceeded to explain. “I know a spell, but I will need some things from the kitchen and the spell has to be cast over an open fire.”

“The fireplace in the library.” Sam was quick to suggest, looking fixedly at the way Eva kept trying and failing to remove the curly hair of her bangs from her forehead, as if unaccustomed to the feeling.

“Perfect.” The angel let out, giving up on the task and bringing her hands down in a frustrated motion.

“Hey, hold on a second there, Chief.” Dean’s voice filled the small area, bringing Eva’s attention in his direction, a slight grin of irritation forming by the side of her lips and in the gleam in her eyes. “My brother here is clearly infatuated by your…” His hazel orbs scanned her body up and down before he continued. “Godly attributes. But before we go anywhere near that door, risking our lives for a spell that you just pulled out your ass…”

“Oh my God.” Sam closed his eyes, head tilting up in disbelief.

“I’ma need some answers from you.” The dirty blonde haired man finished, crossing his arms on top of his chest, the muscles expanding in volume by the change in posture and creating a more imposing figure.

“Sure, Denny. I’m an open book.” The sound of Eva’s timbre was sweet and upbeat while she offered Dean two good blinks, a sarcastic smile adorning her face.

“Alright.” The older brother’s tough exterior faltered a bit as he was surprised by the angel’s cool demeanor, but taking a quick moment to clear his throat, he pulled through. “Let’s start with these ‘witnesses’. Why are they here?”

“They’ve been risen. That’s why it’s called the Rising of the Witnesses.” She responded, short and condescendingly, but the dark-skinned woman’s allusiveness was not lost on Dean.

“Who rose them?” He inquired.

“I’m not sure, but whoever it was, they did it on purpose.” The hunters shared a look, an intrigued frown in their features. “See, these ghosts, they were forced to rise. They are called Witnesses because they have witnessed the unnatural. None of them died what you'd call ordinary deaths. They woke up in agony. They're like rabid dogs. And the fact that they are all people that hunters, like yourselves, couldn’t save, it’s not a coincidence.”

“So you’re saying that who did this was targeting us?” Sam questioned.

“Most probably. Y’all do have some unfriendly acquaintances out there.” The way that she said it, so full and heavy with irony, plump lips moving around the words so slowly, finally became apparent to the taller Winchester, who gave out a puzzled look.

“And that’s why you’re here, Little Angel? To protect us?” Dean’s tone was challenging, provocative.

“Not quite.” Eva answered, punctuating her syllables. “Whoever did this had big plans. These ghosts being here is just the beginning. They are a prophecy, a sign.”

“A sign of what?” The siblings spoke together, their voices blending into each other, the same apprehension in them.

“The Apocalypse.” Her guise didn’t shift the slightest, keeping a serene composure while uttering her reply.

There was a sepulchral silence in the room. Bobby lowered his head and let out a long breath, a kind of recognition in his features, as if he already suspected that to be the truth. Sam’s eyes grew twice their seize, and he kept staring at the angel without blinking once, as if waiting for her to reveal that she had been joking. Dean’s mouth formed and reformed words that were never pronounced, his lips agape in a circular shape, brows knitted together in deep thought as he processed the repercussions of what was said, before he finally spoke.

“Apocalypse? The apocalypse, apocalypse? The four horsemen, pestilence, $5-a-gallon-gas apocalypse?”

“That’s the one.” Eva smiled an empty smile.

“So that’s why you’re here.” The shaggy-haired man said, a hint of accusation as he fixated his gaze at the girl. “Angels finally come to Earth and it’s the end of it.”

“That’s what I’m trying to stop.” She crossed her arms, tucking them underneath her breasts, sounding unaffected by the way that the Winchesters were reacting to her news. “There’s still time, but you two gotta be prepared.” She gestured to both of them, a superior air about her when she continued. “Big things are afoot.”

“Do I want to know what kind of things?” Dean was quick to ask.

“I sincerely doubt it, but you need to know.” She tipped her head to one side, her curls stirring gracefully with the tiniest of movements. “The Rising of the Witnesses is one of the 66 seals.”

“Okay. I'm guessing that's not a show at Seaworld.” Dean muttered from under he’s breath.

“Think of the seals as locks on a door.” Eva explained.

“Right.” Sam agreed, ears and eyes very open as he focused on everything she said. “Last one opens and…?”

“Lucifer walks free.” Her voice faltered for the first time in front of them, and all three hunters realized how her gaze didn’t met theirs.

“Lucifer?” The eldest Winchester said it way too fast, stuttering a little as he licked his suddenly dry lips. “You mean… Satan, the Ruler of the Underworld… The Devil? That Lucifer?”

Sam began to wander along the space, hands messing with his hair from the roots to the ends in a mechanic, stress reliving manner.

“He’s been locked in a cage for a long time now, and I believe that it would be in your race’s best interest that he stayed that way.” The curly-haired woman realized that she needed to regain control of the situation, upping the volume of her timber so that it resonated trough their emotions. “And in order for that to happen, I’m going to need you and your brother’s collaboration. Got it?”

“This is crazy.” Sam blurted out, hands still ruffling his hair when he stopped moving to face the angel again.

“Look, this is not some ‘monster of the week’ bullshit no more, ok? You guys have entered the big league now.” Eva’s deep brown eyes stared back at the light-colored ones with intention, reaching somewhere inside the hunters, somewhere that had been deemed dormant by them a long time ago, somewhere where their fears lived. “Welcome to the end of times.”

They had prepared themselves to leave the panic room as well as they possibly could, filling up many salt rounds to load their weapons with. The atmosphere in the place was cool and professional, almost sterile. The group worked in silence, the humans showing concern in their faces after the news that the angel had presented to them. She, in the other hand, helped to make the bullets in a steady pace, moving seamlessly and caring no emotion whatsoever in her features.

“So,” Dean began, once he realized that he couldn’t take the silence no more. “Since when do angels need guns to fight off some ghosts?” He looked over at her, realizing that she had progressed in the chore much quicker than he had. “Matter of fact, can’t you just snap your fingers and make them go back to rest?”

“If I could, I wouldn’t be stuck down here, stuffing cartridges with a condiment.” Eva didn’t make eye contact, focusing on the rough white substance that she handled, lips pursed together lightly while she felt it getting more and more under her fingernails.

“Are you always this delightful or today you’re in a special mood just for me?” Dean snapped back, finishing up and beginning to assemble his gun.

The woman let out a breath, closing her eyelids for a couple of seconds, seeming to be gathering her patience before she looked up at him with a much softer semblance.

“If they were normal ghosts, I could deal with them much faster, except they were risen to fulfill a specific purpose, in a specific way that renders my powers obsolete towards them.” Her tone wasn’t nice per say, but it was definitely more polite than what the men had grew accustomed to up to that point, and Dean found himself without knowing what to say next, before she finished off. “Happy?” The last word had such a subtle, corky mischievousness to it that made the blonde want to laugh, and he looked over at Sam for acknowledgment, receiving it right away as the younger brother was already smiling.

“Peachy.” Dean responded, deciding to give up on taunting the angel for now.

“Alright.” Bobby said, gathering up his things while the others did the same. “Cover each other. And aim careful. Me and Eva are going to need some backup to find everything we need for the spell. You boys don't run out of ammo until we’re done, or they'll shred you. Ready?”

“Not really.” Sam replied, little humor in his voice as him and Dean marched towards the door and got ready to open it. “Are you sure you know how to use that?” He asked Eva, who was holding on to her gun in a nonchalant manner.

“I saw humans discovering gunpowder, I think I can handle this.” The brunette gave the tall man a quick grin, not changing her posture in the way the held the weapon.

“Ok, then.” Dean let out, kind of enjoying the frown that was forming in his brother’s face the more he noticed the girl’s sarcastic and brass demeanor, right before he opened the door and they went on to fight some ghosts.

As it turns out, Eva’s deep knowledge of the human race’s history wasn’t enough to translate the theory of fire gun’s usage into practice. From the minute they left the panic room, all the enraged ghosts from the Winchesters' past attacked them with a vengeance, and the angel proved herself to be a terrible shot when dealing with them, not being able to once aim her weapon correctly. To the point of when the ghost of FBI Special Agent, Victor Henriksen, came upon them in Bobby’s kitchen, trying to stop them from gathering all the ingredients needed for the spell that would set the risen Witnesses back to rest, the woman almost got Dean while attempting to shoot at the flitting spectrum. Thankfully, his reflexes were quick and he was capable to dodge the projectile before getting hit, while Sam aimed straight into Henriksen’s chest, making him vanish into nothing.

“Ow!” Dean exclaimed when he jumped out of the bullets reach, noticing the small tear they created in his brown leather jacket, right at the arm. “Easy there, Tiger, don’t help us too much.” His hazel eyes glowed in a light, electric green, showing anger as he looked down at the small brunette, and he extended his hand out to grab the gun out of her fingers in a harsh movement, a disapproval in the way he stared, but she only shrugged.

“Ok, let’s just… Try not to die before the world ends.” Bobby said, irony in his voice as he rolled his eyes and kept moving fast, collecting everything that could be used in the spell provided by the angel.

As it were, the incantation worked, but nothing could be done about the seal that had already been broken. Eva left them as soon as the spirits disappeared, with only the sound of wings flapping to announce her exit. And the three man wondered, without actually saying it out loud, if they could trust the yet mysterious being, and if they could, who had been the one to purposefully break that seal and send those furious ghosts towards them?

The last answer came to Dean, later that day, when the sun was already out and they all slept. In his dreams, Castiel came to him, giving encrypted answers to all his questions, expect one.

“Who did the spell? Who rose the witnesses?”

“Lilith.” The blue-eyed angel responded, hard, firm features that seemed to be sculpted in marble, making Dean ask himself if that was a perpetual quality in all ‘Lord’s soldiers’. “Those seals are being broken by Lilith.”

“And what about your little friend, your work college? Showing up here out of nowhere and helping us out. What? You guys felt sorry for us all of the sudden?” Dean inquired, not understanding the puzzled look that Castiel gave back to him. “Eva? Sam’s guardian angel?”

There was a strong recollection that passed through the man’s face after Dean uttered his final words, and the hunter was about to probe more for information, but Castiel quickly moved his hand up to touch the human in the forehead, waking him up from his dream and ending their conversation.

The very first thing that the blonde saw once he opened his eyes was the dusty ceiling of Bobby’s old house, when he woke up in the sofa of the living room. Letting out a shaky breath, Dean closed his eyelids once again, relaxing back into the uncomfortable cushions, mind racing through the events that were dominating his and his brother’s lives. But the moment didn’t last long, as the full voice of the impertinent lady that kept reappearing in his thoughts made itself present in reality.

He moved way too quickly to look up from his laid down position, vision still blurred from sleep as the image of the curly head of the short, dark-skinned angel started to form clearly and he saw her there, leaned against a wall in Bobby’s kitchen with a bottle of water between her thin, long fingers, head pointing almost completely up as she managed to look at Sam, with who she was talking to. The scene seemed so surreal, so out of place to Dean that he had to blink a couple of times, rubbing the tiredness out himself as he got up from the sofa and slowly made his way to the kitchen’s entry, eyebrows frowned when he noticed the way Sam smiled a cheeky smile after being told something by the girl.

“Hem.” He oldest sibling cleared his throat, calling out their attention.

“Dean, look! Eva’s back.” Sam gave out a tight laugh when he realized Dean’s presence.

“Yeah, I see that.” The man stared at her up and down, intrigued by the fact that, differently from Castiel, Eva had changed her clothes from the last day.

“Good morning, Princess Di.” Her makeup clean face turned to him with a sarcastic smirk, dimples showing in her cheeks now that he saw her clearly in the light of day.

Dean laughed shortly after hearing the nickname, the provocative tone in her voice not lost on him.

“So, are you going to give us another mission, Charlie, or you just couldn’t stay away?” Dean leaned against the entrance, mimicking hers stance, his muscles rippling from under his thin sleep shirt and there was a challenge in the way they stared with one of their brows raised, without batting an eye.

“What, and miss your midwestern charm, Kansas boy?” Eva nipped back, her grin widening into a smile as they sized each other up.

Sam laughed openly then, finding the clear tension between his brother and the angel genuinely funny, especially in the way that the woman seemed to consistently come up with better comebacks at every turn.

“Can I speak to you for a second?” Dean asked her, a sudden seriousness taking over him, surprising both Eva and Sam. “Privately?”

“Oh,” She gathered herself quickly, putting her mischievousness facade back on, a smile so big adorning her face that they could see her straight white teeth then, as if she knew what he would want to talk to her about. “Sure, lead the way.” Her medium sized, unpolished, yet feminine nails tapped a couple of times on the lid of the water bottle she held, her thin writs catching Dean’s attention for a second too long, as he thought about how fragile she looked on the outside, at least until she opened her mouth.

The hunter gestured with his head towards one of the corridors that lead to the living room of the house, where they could be alone without anyone being able to hear them. Eva nodded, making a beeline towards the indicated place, and Dean shared a look with the taller man, noticing that he was puzzled by his older brother’s request, but nothing else was said, and Dean followed her to the corridor.

“Whats up?” She fixed her hair out of her eyebrows, trying to keep the curls of her bangs from her forehead, fingers going nail first into the roots and shaking the threads upwards, creating more volume to the mane that framed her face.

“You knew it had been Lilith this whole time, didn’t you?” Dean went straight to the point, crossing his arms upon his chest, shoulders seeming to expand with the motion.

“Yes, but I thought it would be wise to refrain that information from your brother.” Eva didn’t seemed to be faced whatsoever with his question, beginning to play with the plastic bottle in her hands, the sound of the water stirring side to side in the container attesting to that.

“Excuse me?” Dean wasn’t ready for her unbothered veneer, and his hands that held onto his on arms tightened visibly, knuckles withing with the pressure.

“Listen, during the time that you’ve spent away,” Her voice dropped in volume then, her soft spoken tone sounding so melodic and calming that it was almost capable of camouflaging it’s true purpose. “Sam has been venturing into some very dangerous activities. You know, with a demon.”

“Ruby?” Dean took the hint soon enough.

“Mm-hmm.” She nodded her head, lips pursed in irritation with the mention of the name.

“Look, whatever he has been up to with…”

“Some Basic Instinct type shit, Dean.” Eva interrupted him, voice low but harsh all of the sudden.

“Wait, you mean…” The man was clearly confused, trying to place the pieces of the conversation back together as they went, the idea that he was going to the one using an accusing tone in the exchange long forgotten.

“I don’t care what he’s intentions have been to engage in any of this.” Eva stopped him mid sentence once more, dropping her arms to her sides and walking a step closer to Dean, brown meeting hazel in an intense way, but she kept on, practically whispering but knowing she was being heard clearly. “All I know is that he believes he’s doing the right thing because of Lilith, because of this obsession with killing her he has gotten himself into. But let me tell you, ain’t nothing good about what he’s doing, and since I can’t be one to put the fear of God into him due to fucking free will, you’re going to fix it. Alright?”

Dean didn’t said anything back, didn’t seemed to be able to. His irises scanned her entire face, finally finding some real emotion coming out of her, but it was anger. And the man swallowed whatever he could possibly say to her then, because the realization finally dawned on him with it’s true force now.

They’re weren’t dealing with the same beasts no more, there was no diary that could break down the strengths and weaknesses of these beings. They were all-powerful and all-knowing, and they could see right through his and Sam’s armatures, to the point of seeing everything they ever did or ever thought. And know, one of them was specifically telling him that his brother’s choices might lead him to a terrible ending.

So Dean simply stared at her, not knowing what to say next, so she did.

“Good talk.” Eva’s serious features contoured into a joyless side grin, and she tapped him in the shoulder twice before walking down the hallway back to the kitchen, hands working on unscrewing the lid of her water bottle before taking a long sip, and Dean’s mouth fell agape when he realized how Sam’s eyes lighted up when he saw her get back.

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pwpoetry · 4 years

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Q&A with Aracelis Girmay

M: I'm so fascinated by the work that goes into curating a Selected! Where does a project like this even begin? How did you set about choosing the poems and contextualizing Clifton's oeuvre?

A: The only way I knew how to begin was to read, first, individual collections of Clifton's work. Just the year before I began the Selected I had studied the terrible stories with a brilliant group of graduate students. I had also spent a lot of time reading good woman, which includes her exquisite memoir, Generations. In Generations she writes: "And I could tell you about things we been through, some awful ones, some wonderful, but I know that the things that make us are more than that, our lives are more than the days in them, our lives are our line and we go on." And in beginning the Selected it was the "more than that" that I felt I needed to listen toward. Her work teaches me attention and the poems awaken my sense when I am thinking with them, and so I thought that if I could trust that the poems would teach me how to listen toward different versions of the Selected then I would be able to edit the book. I felt that if I could just read closely and slowly and with immense attention, that a process would begin to reveal itself. I read individual collections, I took notes about structure, themes, questions. I read the Collected (what I describe as a devotion of a book edited by Kevin Young and Michael Glaser). I read interviews. I talked with family, friends, writers. I spoke with one of Ms. Lucille's daughters, Sidney, and asked questions and listened and listened. Sidney and her sisters sent me the titles of some of the songs their mother loved. I listened and listened some more, picturing her dancing with her family. I was so very grateful to speak with Sonia Sanchez who said so many things, but the thing that felt most compass to me was when she talked about an old-fashioned smile that people sometimes get when they hear Lucille Clifton's name. And then she said: "I want Lucille to be seen, not an old-fashioned smile." She spoke about what it must have taken for Ms. Lucille to write her deeply political, livid, aching poems. And I listened and listened. Eventually I started to understand the histories she was recording and making across the work--from the first book to the last. As I say in the foreword: "It was toward such repetitions and echoes that I listened, and out of them I began to see the shape of this Selected of poems rendered with documentary, spiritual, and mystical sensibilities." In the first drafts it was very difficult to narrow the choices down but as my publisher, Peter Conners, said, "This is a Selected." Meaning: this is the version I've gathered for now. There are always possible others. But I made decisions to not include some of her very vital work like the messages from the Ones because it seemed the messages were lengthy and could not be excerpted, and in the end I decided to bring other individual poems in instead of that longer work as deeply important to her legacy as it is. Because it is Lucille Clifton, I knew that anything that was not everything would be a loss--so I accepted that, and I began to trust the resonances I was noticing. As I mentioned earlier: because in her work she paid such attention to it all, it seemed that as a gatherer of this Selected I also needed to pay attention to everything. Every dream with her in it, every time her name came up or someone shared a poem of hers, every memory anyone shared with her or her work in it (it turns out that she is everywhere!)--this was all part of the listening and the gathering. M: I find your response so moving, so alive in its efforts at engaging with her. I’m glad I asked what seems a very basic, potentially simplistic question. Was there anything that surprised you as you spent time with her work in this new way?

A: I'm not sure that it's quite a surprise, but I remain astounded by how radical her work is. To Sonia Sanchez's point, across the years of her writing life Clifton is writing poems out of the truth of her life. I mean, she is writing the truth about her life--with lucidity, strangeness, anger, joy, and complexity. She is insisting that a poem is and can be made with the truth of one's experiences, and in the languages that are your own, with the mind and metaphor and associations that are your own. How lucky are we who come after her, who get to read that knowing! In 1972 she published "the lost baby poem" in good news about the earth, and in the poem she directly addresses the "almost body" of the lost baby, offering up a definite poem for an almost child. In the address of the lost baby is both an insistence on its there-ness and an acknowledgment of its absence. There is no resolution, but instead the clarity and vulnerability of the truth. She writes about and toward Black Life, her coming into her politics (as in "apology" dedicated "to the panthers"). She writes about the conditions and demands of Whiteness. She writes about the deaths of her most beloved people on the earth. She writes about illness, dialysis, cancer. The earth. The flowers. The histories of the land and the land. Her work speaks to the times in which they were written, and speak to me so deeply and fully now, all these years later.

M: You’re certainly not alone in both your admiration and kinship with her. Can you talk a bit about Clifton's legacy, and the influence her work has had on other poets?

A: It is hard to know how to begin to answer. I mean, in her lifetime she published 13 collections of poems, a memoir, and more than 16 children's books written for African American children. She was a brilliant and deeply loved teacher. She was a Cave Canem elder. Her work and her person have actually changed people's lives. She has helped people I know to know what a poem can be and might be, but not just that, she has helped people to know what a person can survive, that a person can survive. That love and imagination and memory can last and last. That we can keep on knowing and talking to our beloveds who have passed on. That every thing is kin. In his gorgeous essay "In Praise of Lucille Clifton," Reginald Dwayne Betts describes coming to her work and writes, "...what I was doing when reading Clifton, more than when reading anyone else, was understanding myself." Nikky Finney, in the first pages of her exquisite Head Off & Split, writes "FOR LUCILLE CLIFTON" large and in all caps. And later, "Dahomey woman of light, laughter, language" (no period). In graduate school, 2001, Cornelius Eady met with a small group of us in the library to talk about her genius. And Elizabeth Alexander, just days after Lucille Clifton passed on February 13, 2010, shared these words in her "Remembering Lucille Clifton": "...we were still shocked that she had left us, for I do not think there is an American poet as beloved as Clifton, or one whose influence radiated as widely." In the acknowledgments of How to Carry Water I include quotes from writers and friends on Clifton's work. And part of what moves me is that she speaks so deeply to each of us. It seems so many hold her in the closest places--the poems whispering in the blood. I could go on and on and on. How her poems have been water to drink, water to share. The meeting ground. The moon. How her poems have been the sea to face shoulder to shoulder with so many of my beloveds.

M: I love those images so much. How has your relationship to Clifton's work--and perhaps even your own!--been shaped by this project?

A: I remain utterly grateful to her for her fierce, tender, elemental poems. Exquisitely revised and honed (as I had the chance to see in the archives)--seemingly polished smooth and yet wild, too, and possessed by the earth. I can say that to have spent so much time with her poems has opened me into a different kind of study with--and of--her work. I've been given the chance to wonder with others--and with other readers in mind!--about some of what feels most urgent and yet mysterious about her work. The focus of this project has given me the chance to feel her voiceprint in such a sustained way that familiarity has given way to new sensing. You know how sometimes that can happen? These breaths feel, to me, new.

#poetry #Lucille Clifton #Q&A #interview #writing #literature #aracelis girmay

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thezodiaczone · 5 years

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November Forecast for Capricorn

Let it go, let it flow! A major 12-year chapter of your life is coming to an end, Capricorn, and you’ll have the next 13 months to navigate the transition. On November 8, Jupiter, the planet of growth, luck and expansion, will shift into Sagittarius and your twelfth house of closure until December 2, 2019. This is a year to “sort the crops,” evaluating everything you’ve created since 2007 and looking at where you want (or need) to correct course.

It sounds serious, and well, this IS a pretty big deal. You’re preparing to start a whole new 12-year cycle in December 2019, when auspicious Jupiter will shift into Capricorn and put your personal goals on the fast track. Until then, you may feel a bit tired or low-key since the twelfth house rules the subconscious, and your “inner world” will be the most active realm of your life. Vivid dreams, serendipitous moments and a slower pace will become the new normal.

In other words, Capricorn, prepare to exit your comfort zone! Well, maybe not entirely because you’ll still have structured Saturn marching through your sign until 2020, making sure you stay on top of your most important goals. At least you’ll still have a tether to the material world. But don’t expect to be too anchored there! With Jupiter in your imaginative and spiritual twelfth house, the next 13 months could awaken your artistic side or help you tap into healing and esoteric abilities. The key word for the twelfth house is “surrender”—and, well, that’s not easy for any mortal to pull off (least of all a take-charge Capricorn!). But you’ll grow so much in the coming months when you stop forcing agendas and swimming upstream and allow the universe to step in to offer a little divine guidance.

The twelfth house rules all things hidden, and that includes agendas. You may find out exactly who is—and isn’t—on Team Capricorn since people’s true colors are clearly revealed by truth-teller Jupiter. With the Sun in Scorpio and your eleventh house of group activity until November 22 (and an eye-opening Scorpio new moon on November 7), you could start shifting some of your alliances this month.

Some of the people you distance yourself from may even share your DNA. You’ll find out starting November 6, when radical changemaker Uranus takes a final four-month lap through Aries and your fourth house of home and family. From March 2011 to May 2018, the side-spinning planet shook up this foundational part of your chart, which may have brought a move, a pregnancy or shifting dynamics with relatives (especially your mother or close female kin). If you’re the type of Capricorn who carries the weight of the world on your shoulders, authentic Uranus helped you “get real” and start liberating yourself from those codependent ties.

Now you have one last round of this before Uranus makes a permanent exit from Aries on March 6, 2019, not to return again in this lifetime. Translation? Your holiday guest list might be a little thinner, but the people on it will actually be enjoyable company. Or if you do a big family gathering, you’ll make sure to keep impenetrable boundaries with the button pushers and avoid the polarizing political conversations. Pro tip: Don’t offer up Casa de Capricorn as a crash pad this year—and if you’re the one traveling, rent a hotel or Airbnb instead of staying with relatives.

On November 16, there’s a retrograde “changing of the guard” as love planet Venus ends a six-week backspin and communicator Mercury STARTS a three-week reversal. Venus has been retrograde since October 5, backing through Libra and your career zone for the past two weeks. If you’ve been at odds with colleagues or feeling out of sorts about work, that’s why. The tenth house also rules fathers and men, so this Venus cycle may have stirred up discord with an important guy in your life.

Any lingering resentments will need to be addressed as Mercury turns retrograde from November 16 to December 6, spending the bulk of its backspin in Sagittarius and your twelfth house of closure and forgiveness. Prepare those olive branches! When the Sun joins Jupiter and Mercury in Sagittarius on November 22, you’ll have a full month to work through any of these issues—and to catch up on serious rest before Capricorn season begins on December 21. Until then, take it easy because you’ll probably feel a bit foggy and emotional, and you need to be gentle with yourself.

You’ll have moment of clarity on November 23, when the year’s only Gemini full moon beams into your orderly and analytical sixth house. Your intuition that’s been running in the background will suddenly connect the dots. If you’ve been weighing a decision, today you could finally make it. The sixth house also rules health and fitness, and this one lunation falls oh-so inconveniently on Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S. But hey, there’s no rule that you have to slip into a post-turkey tryptophan food coma; or if you did that already, don’t beat yourself up—just move on. Today’s moonbeams could inspire a switch to more mindful eating and regular exercise over the holidays. Everything in moderation!

There’s plenty to enjoy about the holidays besides the food, anyway—like the company of great friends. And your social life will be on a definite upswing starting November 24, when hazy Neptune ends a five-month retrograde through Pisces and your third house of communication and community. If you’ve felt a little adrift from your most compassionate crew since June 18 or just haven’t had the time or motivation to catch up, Neptune’s direct turn will help you connect. Make space for meaningful moments over the holiday season.

One of the month’s most heart-opening days arrives on November 26, when the Sun and Jupiter make their annual meetup, this year in Sagittarius and your healing twelfth house. This could be a huge day for epiphanies, from emotional breakthroughs to a major reconciliation (forgiveness is powerful!) to finally letting yourself process a situation that caused heartbreak or grief. While that doesn’t exactly sound like FUN, it’s vital that we let blocked feelings get unstuck, especially because they can lead to stress and even disease if left unattended for too long. This powerful meetup of the life-giving Sun and generous Jupiter reminds you: Suffering is optional! So we recommend opting out and letting yourself be human—vulnerable, messy, real and loveable just the way you are.

Love & Romance

So…where is this thing going? If you’re almost afraid to ask, we can’t blame you, Capricorn. Love planet Venus is wrapping up her retrograde mid-month, a challenging cycle that’s wreaking havoc on hearts from October 5 to November 16. Venus was retrograde in Scorpio and your idealistic eleventh house until October 31 before backing into Libra and your tenth house of long-term plans for the duration.

If you’ve been “future-tripping”—i.e., obsessing over what’s next instead of enjoying the moment—then Venus retrograde has probably been extra-tough for you. Figuring out which way to go has been as clear as cauliflower soup! And since no self-respecting Capricorn likes to travel without a map, you’ll be oh-so-glad to see Venus correct course on November 16. The cosmic love goddess will remain in Libra for the rest of the month, but after that, you’re all clear to resume plotting out your world-domination-for-two master plan!

Meantime, intensifier Mars has been in Aquarius since September 10, heating up your second house of work, money and security. Mars is here until November 15, adding to the pressure to lock in something solid and possibly causing couples to fight over finances. Your hectic schedule and weighty responsibilities may also have made you short-tempered. On the upside, Mars in this posh house could have brought some sultry and sophisticated date nights!

Book yourself one of those on November 9, when Venus and Mars form their third and final trine of the year—a lovely connection that brings out everyone’s best (in spite of Venus still being retrograde). Couples who WANT to talk about the future should book the best table, open a bottle and do it in a luxe, five-star setting today. Bring some pleasure and pampering into the picture, and people will be far more amenable to hearing your requests for more consistency in the relationship, for example. (Just save the Excel spreadsheets for another day…and focus on the Egyptian cotton sheets instead.)

On November 15, Mars will move into Pisces, heating up your third house of communication for the rest of the year. Not only will the red planet add vibrancy to your social life, but single Caps could do some first-class flirting (and who knows where THAT will lead) just as the mistletoe and ambient lighting is being hung.

Key Dates

November 26: Sun-Jupiter Meetup This brilliant annual conjunction could be one the happiest or luckiest days of your year! This time, the annual summit electrifies your twelfth house of recovery, transitions and soulmates. You can almost magically heal a sore spot in your relationship by choosing to forgive and forget (or asking for forgiveness). Singles might meet someone who you feel like you’ve known for lifetimes—’cause maybe you have!

Money & Career

It ain’t over till it’s over! Go-getter Mars is in Aquarius until November 15, revving up your second house of work and money. Mars has been here since September 10, bringing demanding deadlines and duties, stressful expenses as well as money-making opportunities in increased doses. You may need to lean in just a little bit longer—while also navigating some irritating office politics thanks to Venus being retrograde in your career house until November 16. Stay focused on your work and don’t get involved! It would be tempting to unload your stress on someone, but that will only distract you from your duties.

On November 15, Mars moves into Pisces and your communicative third house for the rest of the year. It will be easier to have direct, productive dialogues then (but watch for coming on too strong). A project you’ve been toiling away at might be ready to pitch or put on the market—just in time for Black Friday and holiday season sales.

The Gemini full moon on November 23 prompts you to take inventory of Team Capricorn. If you need to cut some slackers (or properly train people, if they’re not being put to full use), this is a day to start hiring, firing or implementing new systems that will help your life run more smoothly. With Jupiter now in your twelfth house of surrender and rest, you’re gonna need some extra hands, so you might as well start sharpening your delegating skills now.

Key Dates

November 19: Mars-Jupiter Square Under this square between aggro Mars and never-say-never Jupiter, you want to dig in your heels and keep fighting the “good” fight. But if you pause for a moment to observe, you’ll realize it’s only making matters worse. Work harder to find the strength to compromise. Sometimes it’s actually more effective to humble yourself and extend the olive branch.

Love Days: 24, 29 Money Days: 8, 18 Luck Days: 29, 16 Off Days: 27, 31, 13

#capricorn #monthly horoscope #horoscope #horoscopes #astrology #capricorn monthly

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nemesis-nexus · 4 years

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Full Wolf Moon 2019

HAIL THE ANCIENT FAMILY! The world is a vast and wild place and we are all lucky to be part of it! What was created was meant to keep everything well cared for and to self-replicate with the turning of the Seasons! We humans were put here to be Earth Guardians and Water Protectors, the ones who were meant to oversee everything in our respective areas and to make sure that the Balance was kept so that all things could continue to thrive! However, we have lapsed into a state of complacency that has made many of us falter at our posts! Instead of protecting our Home, many humans are actively destroying it in the name of greed and arrogance, they just call it “Industry” so it sounds consistently progressive which in a sense it is, it is progressively killing off not only entire herds of animals of all kinds, it is progressively destroying the ecosystem which EVERYTHING relies on for survival INCLUDING itself, which they either don’t or don’t WANT TO understand!

Right now we here up North are in the Season of Death called Winter when the Natural World puts itself to bed to reenergize and regenerate, when the Wheel turns once more and the Season of Rebirth called Spring comes ‘round again! When you look at how Nature times everything and how everything always gets taken care of you wonder how it is the disconnect between the Natural World and the so-called Modern World of the Human Race came to be in the first place.

We are one even though we are many and we are connected by the delicate Web that holds all things in existence together!

The Web of Life includes everything and it's constructed very intricately so that every aspect of it and every life form in it plays an integral role. If anything is removed from this Web everything suffers, we have seen this before with other animal and insect species that have become extinct!

A great example; some of the endangered species include bees which if there are no bees left due to pesticides being sprayed on crops and flowers as well as humans just killing them, then we will all die! Bees are responsible for the pollination of not only trees and flowers but crops as well! In short no pollination means no crops, no crops means no food for animals OR humans!

What it comes down to is the human race has a job to do; that is to be the voice for the voiceless and protect those who even though they can fight for themselves cannot defend themselves against aerial assaults, long-range or chemical weapons!

The human race likes to think that it's above everything else and it couldn't be more wrong, the truth is all forms of life on this planet uphold one another and every time we allow a species to go extinct what we're really doing is engineering our own destruction!

The bushfires in Australia saw the deaths of millions of animals and flora, as well as massive amounts of devastation to human families! To find out that 200 HUMANS set these fires DELIBERATELY demonstrates just how deep the disconnection from the Spiritual really is, it’s as enraging as it is heartbreaking! To think that anyone could be so callous or so cruel is almost beyond belief!

As Above, So Below, All Things Great and Small from humans to our quadruped brethren, to our winged sisters and brothers, to our insect kin, all plant life, the rivers, the trees the mountains, we may take on different forms but we all need each other to survive! Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Heart/Spirit all living as one!

Earth = Heart and Earth is the Heart of us all, right now our Mother's heart is breaking because we are not doing what we need to do to heal her from our past and present transgressions, but all that can and will change if we all work together!

I have been saying this for years that if humans put aside their differences and came together as a whole with a common vision and a common goal for the future and shared ideas on how to be more proactive in ways of sustainable farming, banning factory farming, cleaning up the oceans and beaches, moving away from fossil fuels and putting a serious cap on carbon emissions we will make a significant impact and begin to change the current state of things for the better!

These are of course just a few of the things that need to be worked on and I'm not saying it's going to happen overnight but it can happen if we really want it to and we need for it to! If we stay on the course that we're currently on the only end result will be DEATH, not only to the human race but to EVERY species and life forms on the Earth!

As John Lennon once said "You can call me a Dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you will join us and the world can live as one!" Because I truly believe that this is possible and it can be done, we just need to work together to make it happen! It's not going to be easy but it will be worth it especially for future Generations!

They say that the whole purpose of life is to create something that will outlast us and I agree because if we start this now and show people what we mean by sustainable living and renewable energy then the youth who are already stepping up and making their voices heard will join with us and keep it going long after we are gone! We CAN do this people I KNOW we can!

Tonight is the night of the Full Wolf Moon when Wolves can be heard the most and the loudest! In North America (and other areas) wolves, despite their misguided stereotypes, are not feared! Instead they are respected and revered as Spirit Animals and Guides who help the human race to not only keep fighting no matter who or what our aggressor is, but to also be strong in the face of adversity and even tragedy!

Life, Death, Intelligence, Strength, Perseverance, Stamina, Intuition, Nature and the changing of the Seasons are all gifts that have been bequeathed unto not only us but all living things and it is important that we do not forget who we are and why we are here! Remember to always be grateful for what you have but to also never stop striving to improve your situation as Time and Tide waits for NO ONE! The world does not owe us anything; our Great Mother provides everything and we as her children have a duty to show our appreciation by taking care of her and keeping her healthy so that her Heart can go on beating the rhythm of Creation and perpetual Life!

NEVER Back Up! NEVER Back Down!

NEVER Give Up! NEVER Give In!

“Wolves of Odinn

Can you hear them in the distance?

The Wolves are howling, alerting the Clans!

Can you see the shadows stretching across the frozen Tundra?

The hunters are on the move and the Moon is their only light!

Can you feel them all around you?

They are sniffing the air and catching your scent!

Can you understand what is happening?

The ones you called out have answered and are responding!

Can you run fast enough?

Your lies and deceit are about to catch up with you!

Can you cover your tracks?

No matter where you run your footprints in the snow will betray your direction!

Can you withstand the thought of all you disrespected descending upon you?

You thought you had all the power and that we were gone yet HERE WE ARE!

Do you have anything you would like to say before divine justice is reigned down?

Remaining silent will not help you now as your actions have already sealed your fate!

Did you think that we would disappear completely just because you wanted us to?

The reality is we’ve always been here and we’ve been waiting to confront you!

Did you think all the pain you inflicted would be swept away like the sands of time?

We will never forget the agony, rage, denigration or dehumanization you perpetuated!

How long did you think that you could lie, cheat and steal before the world became aware?

Your days are numbered as our Ancestors are screaming out to us and we are listening!

What will become of the world when all the Heathens rise up to reclaim our Place?

A new day will dawn when once again the Earth and all her children can live free again!

Do you know who the Wolves are that are tracking you down and ready to pounce?

WE ARE THE WOLVES OF ODINN AND WE ARE ONE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MANY!”

---

"Dragon Spirit

In Darkness we are born,

To Darkness we shall return!

In the Middle Space of Above and Below,

The Dragons Heart doth burn!

From Stardust we are molded,

Dragons Blood in our veins!

The Sea of Tranquility carries us through,

Until Stardust again is all that remains!

The Dragons are always alert and ready,

Ever observing, hear their call!

They will fight with all due ferocity,

Until the enemy doth fall!

As the Body Earth stands steadfast,

The Breath of Wind does blow,

The Soul Fire inside vigorously churns,

While the Waters of Life doth flow!

The Darkness of this night is deep and it is long,

Comparable only to Family ties that are so strong!

The Great Wheel continues to turn brining on more changes,

It is for us to adapt or die when the script rearranges!

There is no constant and nothing is guaranteed,

But through hard work and effort we find our Dragon Spirit freed!

The most important thing to remember is loyalty to Blood and Spiritual Family,

And adhere to the premise that we are ONE even though we are MANY!"

-HPS Meg “Nemesis Nexus” Prentiss

ZI ANA KANPA! ZI KIA KANPA!

MAY THE DEAD RISE AND SMELL THE INSENCE!

AVÉ IGGIGI!

AVÉ ANUNNA!

AVÉ DRACONIS!

HAIL THE GREAT SERPENT!

RESPECT TO ODINN!

RESPECT TO FRIGGA!

RESPECT TO FREYA!

RESPECT TO FREYR!

RESPECT TO ÞOR!

RESPECT TO BALDUR!

We are ONE even though we are MANY and we stand STRONGEST when we stand TOGETHER!

HAIL THE ANCIENT FAMILY!

🐍🌎🌬💖🌿🦌🐺🐲💧🔥🐉

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wkakadrac · 7 years

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Work in Progress: Zakhara for 5E

I’ve had to scrap a lot of my prior work re: Adapting Al-Qadim content for 5th Edition due to major balancing, overlap, and / or over-complication issues. Progress continues to be made, if a fair deal slower, so expect me to release a bunch of posts on the matter eventually.

That said, I’ve also begun work on an Plane Shift:Zendikar-esque primer for people interested in running games in the Land of Fate. Below is what I’ve currently completed, with the main things I still need to include / write out being:

1) A proper geographic summary of Zakhara

2) The differences between the Al-Badia (nomadic) and Al-Hadhar (settled) demographics

3) A rundown of the Cities of the Ancient

4) A theological tl;dr of Zakhara’s predominant faith(s) / deities

5) Some suggestions on how to apply existing Background options to the Zakhara setting.

If all goes well the rough draft should be complete by today, at which point I can try slapping it down in the DM’s Guild by Wednesday for feedback. If anyone has any critique, commentary, desired additions, or so-on, my Ask Box and Replies are always open. Bear in mind that some thematic aspects of the AD&D2E setting will be omitted to keep the adaptation in line with modern Wizards / 5E design principles, leaving DMs who further research the subject free to decide whether they want to include such themes / content or not.

"There is no Fate but the Fate which we are given." -Zakharan proverb

Introduction Dungeons and Dragons has a rich history of official campaign settings stretching back over a span of four decades and five editions. A treasure trove of inspiration for Dungeon Masters seeking to add something unique to their campaign, this document offers a brief look at one of the more frequently acknowledged - but rarely focused upon - backdrops of the Abeir-Toril setting: Zakhara.

Released as "Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures" back in 1992 for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, the setting of Zakhara was in some regards a prototype of the modern Dungeons & Dragon world. It featured some of the first official Dungeons & Dragons material to separate a creature's race from a universal archetype or nature, introduced several monsters that have gone to become staples in modern Monstrous Manuals, and made extensive use of class kits whose designs were closer to modern class archetypes than they were the usual AD&D 2nd Edition kits. At the same time, it was - and still is - a world of its own, drawing inspiration heavily from arabic history and mythology both pre- and post-Islam as well as contemporary (at-the-time) pop culture invoking to the same subjects.

Pushed to the wayside during the 3rd and 4th Editions of Dungeons and Dragons, the setting was brought back to the attention of Dungeons and Dragons players with the release of the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide in late 2015. Teasing readers with hints of the distant land, it is my hope that this document will further kindle that spark of curiosity and inspiration within players and dungeon masters alike.

Zakhara: The Land of Fate "Far to the south of Faerún, beyond Calimshan and even the jungles of Chult, are the Lands of Fate. Surrounded by waters thick with pirates and corsairs, Zakhara is a place less hospitable than most, but still braved by travelers who hope to profit from its exotic goods and strange magics. Like Kara-Tur, Zakhara seems a world away to Faerúnians. It is thought of as a vast desert, sprinkled with glittering cities like scattered gems. Romantic tales abound of scimitar-wielding rogues riding flying carpets and of genies bound in service to humans. Their mages, called sha'ir, practice their magic with the aid of geneies and, it is said, might carry the lineage of these elemental beings in their blood." - Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

"Zakhara is a world of extremes. Travelers may cross a seemingly endless sea of dunes, cresting wave after wave, and then suddenly find an oasis as lush as any imagined paradise. They may climb snow-capped mountains that soar above 15,000 feet, or discover the deadly Pit of the Ghuls, whose murky depths plug well below the level of the distant sea." - Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara

Provide a quick overview of the overall geography and major differences from the north. The expansive deserts that define its more iconic Western lands and the lush jungles clinging to its Eastern shores. The preponderance of Genies and other Elemental kin and relative absence of many traditional beasts such as Dragons. How its gods defy the common northern conventions of belonging to any one race or sub-race in either worship or form.

>Al-Badia & Al-Hadhar< Use this section to highlight the two (broad) lifestyles of Zakhara: Al-Badia (Nomadic) and Al-Hadhar (Settled)

>Domains Within Zakhara< Offer a brief summary of the following reaches:

>>Cities of the North<< The northernmost polities of Zakhara, closest to the Great Sea and Faerún. Major cities include Hawa (practical capital to the Corsair Domains), Qudra (Huzuz's most firm grip on the region), and the so-called Free Cities of Hafayah, Liham, Muluk, Qadib, Umara, and Utaqa: Relatively independent city-states as well as the most common destination of foreign visitors and merchants to the Land of Fate.

>>Cities of the Heart<< The geographic and political heartland of Zakhara, located along the fertile stretches of land bordering Suq Bay and its tributaries. Here lay Huzuz, seat of the Master of the Enlightened Throne and peer to Waterdeep in both size and grandeur. Other major cities include Halwa, Hiyal, and Wasat.

>>Cities of the Pearl<< The chief economic financiers of Zakhara, located along the Western shores of the Golden Gulf and Crowded Sea. While its cities - Ajayib, Gana, Jumlat, Sikak, and Tajar - are among the wealthiest in Zakhara, only Jumlat and Gana actually produce pearls in noteworthy quantities. The rest make do with othervaluable exports, including rare metals, spices, woods, and other exotic wares.

>>Cities of the Pantheon<< The spiritual heartland of Zakhara, situated along the Eastern shores of the Golden Gulf and Crowded Sea. Here one will find the most pious and stringent adherents to Enlightenment in the form of the Pantheist League, though the form this piety takes sometimes varies greatly between members. Major cities include Fahhas, Hilm, Hudid, I'tiraf, Mahabba, and Talab.

>>Cities of the Ancients<< The

Races of Zakhara Ostensibly, humans are the dominant race within the Land of Fate. They are by far both the most populous and most widespread of its inhabitants, and it is with their city-states that those outside of the realm most frequently interact with. No other nation within the Land of Fate comes close in either size or breadth to that pledged to the Enlightened Throne.

In practice, however, the division of power is highly complex. Many settlements disproportionately include nonhuman races among their seats of soft and / or hard power. Genies and their kin frequently serve as advisors and generals to the mortal leaders of the Land of Fate, with many more wandering its vast wilderness in pursuit of their own agendas. In the East villainous Yak-Men operate with nigh-impunity from their stronghold within World Pillar Mountains, and in the south the jungles of the Haunted Lands yield only the most tenuous of grips to its recent Zakharan occupiers.

Nonhuman races account for approximately ten percent of the total population in most Zakharan settlements, this number trending closer to fifteen or even twenty percent within more cosmopolitan cities such as Qudra and Hiyal while the cities of the Pantheist League rarely surpass more than a five percent nonhuman demographic on their official census'. The predominant nonhuman races found in major cities include - but are not limited to - elves, half-elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, half-orcs, genasi, kobolds, ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, hill giants, lizardfolk, and gnolls, with coastal settlements often including communities of merfolk and locathah as well.

To outsiders looking in, Zakharan society can appear almost alien or even mad. Dwarves laughing alongside kobolds and hill giants at a city's dock as they wait to unload their final vessel of the day. Lizardfolk in suits of maile standing watch as an ogre in fine clothes supervises the closing of their shop. Gnolls kneeling alongside elf and human as the sound of prayer bells echoes through a caravanserai. But to natives of the Land of Fate, this melting pot of various races and origins comes as naturally as the rising of the sun or the stages of the moon. And while it would be inaccurate to say that race has no bearing whatsoever, it is ultimately how one acts - what values they come to honor and exemplify - that is most important within Zakhara.

Faiths of Zakhara Use this section to give a brief rundown of The Loregiver, Enlightenment, and the local divines. Also mention Kahin (Idol-Priests) and the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods. Only deities marked with an asterix (*) are viewed as proper deities within the Pantheist League.

>Zakharan Deities<

Deity; Ideal; Symbol Bala of the Tidings; Music; A zither *Hajama the Courageous; Bravery; A featureless disk Hakiyah of the Sea Breezes; Honesty, Truth; A cresting wave Haku, Master of the Desert Wind; Freedom, Independence; A stylized gust of wind *Jauhar the Gemmed; Wealth; A gold dinar Jisan of the Floods; Fruitfulness; A rain cloud *Kor the Venerable; Wisdom; A sunburst *Najm the Adventurous; Adventure, Curiosity; A single arrow pointed upward *Selan the Beautiful Moon; Beauty; A ringed moon Vataqatal the Warrior-Slave; War, Duty; A red-bladed sword Zann the Learned; Intelligence, Learning; A fountain's jet

Player Backgrounds

>NEW BACKGROUNDS< Desert Rider Oft traveling beyond the outskirts of society, you have spent nearly as much of your life in the saddle as you have on your own two feet. Whether you hail from one of the many nomadic tribes who eek out a living in Zakhara's unforgiving wilderness, delivered messages or goods between distant city-states and villagers, or sought to put your past as far behind you physically as it was chronologically, you have learned not only the art of survival but how best to handle and care for your steed in the most tumultuous of situations.

Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument. Languages: One of your choice. Equipment: Your steed, a pack or riding saddle, a set of common clothes, a worn but functional tent, and 5 gp.

Trusty Steed Well suited for desert environments, Camels remain the traditional mount of choice for Desert Riders hailing from the Land of Fate. Be that as it may, adventurers are rarely a traditional lot and hail from a wide variety of sizes, cultures, lands, and circumstances. Should you prefer a different mount, discuss with your DM possible alternatives to choose from. Potential steeds should generally be of 50GP value or less, or - in the case of creatures without a given market value - 1/4 CR or lower. Example alternatives from a Desert environment include several breeds of Draft Horses, Giant Lizards, and - in the case of Small riders - Giant Wolf Spiders.

Feature: Born in the Saddle So long as you are not incapacitated, you have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off your mount and grant your mount advantage on Wisdom saving throws against being charmed or frightened. Furthermore, so long as you remain within 30' of your mount, you may treat their exhaustion level as one point lower than it actually is. Thus a steed with one level of exhaustion does not suffer from Disadvantage on their ability checks, while a steed with two levels can still move at its full movement rate.

Matrud You did not always live on the margins of society. Once you had a place to call home, people you could call family and friends who would staunchly vouch for your honor. They're gone now, taken from you by your exile. Maybe you committed whatever unspeakable crime it is that stains your reputation, or perhaps you were framed by another in an attempt to ruin you or your family. Whatever the truth, you have learned not only how to survive but to thrive with nothing more than your wits, the strength of your arm, and what few belongings you have yet managed carry with you.

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Perception Tool Proficiencies: One type of tools from the following: Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Herbalism Kit, Poisoner's Kit, Thieves' Tools. Languages: One of your choice. Equipment: A set of tools (one of your choice), a set of traveler's clothes, a bag of caltrops, and a pouch containing 10 gp.

Feature: Ear to the Ground You can easily find the local outpost of the watch or similar organizations, and just as easily pick out dens of criminal activity within a community. In addition, you can't be surprised by allies or recent (≤1 minute) former allies while you are still conscious.

Additional Materials

Playtested rules for Aarakocra, Deep Gnome, Genasi, and Goliath player characters may be found in the Elemental Evil Players Companion available on dnd.wizards.com .

Rules for Pyromancer Sorcerous Origin and Inventing Options may be found in Plane Shift: Kaladesh available at either dnd.wizards.com or magic.wizards.com .

Rules for Merfolk player characters may be found in Plane Shift: Zendikar available at either dnd.wizards.com or magic.wizards.com .

Playtested rules for the Storm Sorcerous Origin and expanded backgrounds may be found within the "Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide" (ISBN 9780786965809) available for purchase at dnd.wizards.com.

Playtested rules for Aasimar, Firbolg, Goliath, Kenku, Lizardfolk, Tabaxi, Triton, Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kobold, Orc, and Yuan-Ti Pureblood player characters may be found within "Volo's Guide to Monsters" (ISBN 9780786966011) available for purchase at dnd.wizards.com .

#dungeons & dragons #d&d 5e #Al-Qadim #Zakhara #Al Qadim #5E #D&D

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