This is my first attempt at mermay and I couldn't not jump astride What Lurks Below by the love of my life and ride it like a mechanical bull.

buff merman silco rough sketch? buff merman silco rough sketch. inspired by What Lurks Below by the wonderful @chickenparm

So we received our Tarokka readings from Madam Eva!

The Dm also did personal readings for each character but Ill post our group reading and then post our individual ones.

The tarokka readings are my fav since I can really sit down and theorize and the fact there will be major differences in the story makes it even more fun! (Dm is using a mixture of Mandymods, Dragnacarta and pyramkings additions to the module)

Her old hands working deftly, the ancient seer removes fourteen cards from the top of the deck, setting them aside. The remaining cards, she shuffles nimbly twice, three times, four.

Madam Eva sets both decks upon the surface of the velvet table. Closing her eyes, she places her right hand over the surface of the larger deck. The crimson flames dim and swirl in eldritch patterns as her lips move silently, a distant tension spreading through the air. The sounds of the rustling trees and rippling pool beyond the tent's walls begin to dim, the external world growing mute and insubstantial as the space within grows more solid—more real.

Slowly, reverently, the crone draws three cards from the top of the deck, laying them face down separately on the table, with the second laid between and above its partners. She then moves to the smaller deck, drawing two more cards. The first, she places below the first three, forming a cross. The second, she places in the center.

The lights of the candles sway like silhouettes, leaning in toward the cards like anxious watchers—yet the air in the tent is perfectly still. No light intrudes through the seams in the tent's walls; no voice rings out in the silence. Shadows and mist swirl at the boundaries of the tent, where the darkness of deepest night dwells—but here, at its center, light yet reigns.

The crone then moves her wrinkled hand to the left-most card—the first. She closes her eyes and tilts her head, as if listening to an unspoken word. The arcane lights within the tent swirl.

"This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy."

A rainbow light dances across its surface. She flips the card.

"The Eight of Stars, oh so tragic, the Necromancer card."

Her dark pupils shift from side to side, as though reading from an unseen text.

A woman hangs above a roaring fire. Find her, and you will find the treasure you seek."

She moves her hand to the second card, this one at the top of the cross. As she closes her eyes and listens once more, the rainbow light vanishes from the first can, only to reappear upon the surface of the second.

"This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope."

The rainbow light flares, its colors fill you with peace and calm. She flips the card.

"Yes, as I suspected, the Two of Glyphs, the Missionary card."

Her eyes stare deep into the shadows that lurk in the corners of the tent.

"A snow-covered graveyard entombs what you seek."

She moves her hand to the third card, at the right arm of the cross, her eyelids closing like a trance, her lips pursed in quiet contemplation. The rainbow light vanishes, for a heartbeat—and then returns bathing the third card with its glow.

"This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance and broken sunlight."

The crone's voice is strong with purpose.

The rainbow light burns like a nova, pure and strong. It hurts to look at it. She flips the card. Madam Eva's eyes snap open, burning with a fierce

determination.

"Yes, yes, the Four of Stars, the Abjurer card."

Her eyes burn with the same intensity of the rainbow light that envelopes the card.

"I see a fallen house guarded by a great stone dragon. Look to the highest peak."

She moves to the fourth card, at the bottom of the cross, and listens once more, tracing small circles across its back as she hums a contemplative note. The magic lights leap and dance upon from the third card to the fourth, now casting swirling embers into the air as the walls of the tent gleam with the shimmer of twilight.

"This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness."

The rainbow light spins faster and faster until finally…She flips the card.

"Ah, the Mists card."

Her eyes spin with a majesty of color, they flick and move as if searching for something from beyond.

"A Vistana wanders this land alone, searching for her mentor. She does not stay in one place for long."

Finally, she moves her hand to the fifth card—and nearly recoils, her brow furrowing until the wrinkles split her forehead like a trench. Behind her, shadows encircle the rainbow light until tit is swallowed by the creeping dark. When next she speaks, Madam Eva's rasping voice is scarce above a whisper.

"Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to her."

Her hand trembles above the card for a silent moment, slowly the rainbow light spills over the card—and then deft, ancient fingers reveal its opposite side.

Madam Eva slowly exhales.

"The Broken One."

As the last syllable passes her lips, the old woman freezes— and then rocks back in her chair, her eyes rolling until their whites gleam like pearls in the darkness—and then she snaps back, the rainbow light glows pure.

"She lurks in the darkness where the morning light once shone—a sacred place."

The sound of the outside world returns—the voices of the Vistani, the crackling of the bonfire, the whisper of the wind, and the lapping of the waves against the shore of the pool. Light, grey and insubstantial, filters in once more through the canvas walls of the tent, and you feel yourselves breathe for the first time since the reading began.

January NoveList Challenge: Read a 2023 Debut

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling

In the far north of Canada sits Camp Zero, an American building project hiding many secrets.

Desperate to help her climate-displaced Korean immigrant mother, Rose agrees to travel to Camp Zero and spy on its architect in exchange for housing. She arrives at the same time as another newcomer, a college professor named Grant who is determined to flee his wealthy family’s dark legacy. Gradually, they realize that there is more to the architect than previously thought, and a disturbing mystery lurks beneath the surface of the camp. At the same time, rumors abound of an elite group of women soldiers living and working at a nearby Cold War-era climate research station. What are they doing there? And who is leading them?

The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao

High above a jungle-planet float the last refuges of humanity - plant-made civilizations held together by tradition, technology, and arcane science. Here, architects are revered deeply, with humanity’s survival reliant on a privileged few. If not for their abilities, the cities would plunge into the devastating earthrage storms below.

Charismatic and powerful, Iravan is one such architect. His abilities are his identity, but to Ahilya, his archeologist wife, they are a method to suppress non-architects. Their marriage is thorny and fraught - yet when a jungle expedition goes terribly wrong, jeopardizing their careers, Ahilya and Iravan must work together to save their reputations. But as their city begins to plummet, their discoveries threaten not only their marriage, but their entire civilization.

This is the first volume of the "Rages" series.

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion - one that could save their world...or destroy it.

This is the first volume of "The Hurricane Wars" series.

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz

Reina is desperate.

Stuck living on the edges of society, her only salvation lies in an invitation from a grandmother she’s never known. But the journey is dangerous, and prayer can’t always avert disaster.

Attacked by creatures that stalk the region, Reina is on the verge of death until her grandmother, a dark sorceress, intervenes. Now dependent on the Doña’s magic for her life, Reina will do anything to earn - and keep - her favor. Even the bidding of an ancient god who whispers to her at night.

Eva Kesare is unwanted.

Illegitimate and of mixed heritage, Eva is her family’s shame. She tries her best to be perfect and to hide her oddities. But Eva is hiding a secret: magic calls to her.

Eva knows she should fight the temptation. Magic is the sign of the dark god, and using it is punishable by death. Yet, it’s hard to deny power when it has always been denied to you. Eva is walking a dangerous path, one that gets stranger every day. And, in the end, she’ll become something she never imagined.

This is the first volume of "The Warring Gods" series.

Mom and Dad are finally married!

Pictured Left to Right:

Papa Pride: Summoner

Dad Father: White Mage, Scholar, Astrologan, Sage

Mom Mother: Dragoon

Kid Child: Warrior

Family Lore below

Don't let the name fool you! Kid Child is the plucky, intrepid (and fully adult) protagonist of the party. The true Warrior of Light. She forges ahead for the good of Eorzea and beyond. She is an invaluable member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, who guide her in divining Hydaelyn's will and helping save the world from monsters. She is Chosen by the goddess Hydaelyn to bring peace to the realm and thwart the machinations of evil wherever it may be found. From beating back the Fourteenth Imperial Legion from invading her home, to stopping the mysterious ghostly Ascians from resurrecting their dark god, Kid Child brings light everlasting.

Mom Mother and Dad Father constantly bicker about Kid Child's well-being. Mom Mother believes that Dad Father is too soft and if he holds her back, Kid will never see her true potential. Dad Father gruffly reminds everyone that pushing too far will very likely kill them all. Kid Child is certain that they loathe each other.

Mom Mother is Kid Child's stern strict-but-fair mentor. She has high expectations for Kid and pushes her to reach greater strengths. Renown for her prowess with the spear, Mom is a fierce fighter in her own right. There is no way in hells that she is going to let Kid save the world all by herself! Her cunning and agility make her a foe monsters tremble to engage. She pushes herself harder than anyone, and regularly shows off her ability to Break Limits in massive, powerful attacks. Kid Child aspires to be as strong as Mom Mother one day.

Papa Pride was an arcanist in the port city Limsa Lominsa, but the study of the arcane geometry to summon creatures seemed wasted on the daily chores of balancing ledgers and checking shipments for contraband. He met up with Kid Child and decided to trade in his desk job for a life of adventure. With Kid, he faced down gods and used what he learned to increase the power of his summoned creatures. There is something strange about summoning magics, an ancient secret lurking beyond his reach. Papa will unravel the mystery--and joining up with The Chosen One and her entourage is the clearly best way forward.

Dad Father is a stoic, resilient type of man. He speaks when he needs to and is direct and to-the-point; he won't mince the words that come out! But Dad Father isn't just a Conjuror, Scholar, Archanist, or Sage--he's really a police detective from 1930's Chicago. He was nearing retirement and had just closed the biggest case of his career. On thirty-six hours without sleep, he thought he was hallucinating when he heard a voice call through the snowstorm: "Hear. Feel. Think." Dad Father plunged into a strange, shadowy dream. But when he awoke, it was not the dour snow and concrete of Chicago that greeted him, but he sunny, verdant forest of The Black Shroud.

Dad Father met Mom Mother in the forest city of Gridania. She helped Dad get his bearings and adjust to life in the strange magical world. Dad immediately fell head-over-heels in love. Dad joined the Conjurer's Guild to learn healing magics to patch Mom up when she got injured. They made a good team at keeping Gridania safe from threats of man and nature alike.

He won't let it show how much it bothers him that the memories of his life on Earth are faded almost to nothing. The mysteries of how and why he was brought to this world nag at him. Will he ever be able to go back? Would he even want to? Perhaps by traveling with Mom's protégé Kid Child, he'll uncover some clues. Dad has delved into dealings with the elementals, study of the aetherial flow, and even searched the stars for answers. Unfortunately, all that has uncovered is a vague sense that Hydaelyn has called him to protect Kid Child (and by extension, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn).

I have been betrayed and lied to by the Penguin Classics Arthur Machen anthology 'The White People and Other Stories’ (Foreword by Guillermo del Toro).

This bastard. This one right here.

A foul deceiver.

For over a decade I have loved and cherished this volume. This and The Great God Pan have been my very best eldritch horror pre-Lovecraft saturation friends for years. So where lays the betrayal? What Judas lurks in these pages alongside the sinister satyrs and uncanny Folk hiding below the hills?

Miss Lally, narrator of “Novel of the Black Seal,” and Miss Leicester of, “Novel of the White Powder.”

‘What? That’s two different people, Arcane!’

But they’re not. They are one single insidious actress.

Specifically, the young lady known as Helen—no relation to the more imposing and inhuman Helen Vaughan of The Great God Pan—as shown in THIS:

This skinny little sucker that I finally read so, so long after devouring the lovely anthology in which I got to enjoy the company of Misses Lally and Leicester respectively, thinking to myself: “How exciting! Non-wilting, non-sexy lamp female protagonists! Two of them, even! I bet Mina Harker and Miss Lally would be such good friends, bonding over writing and tragic martyring. :3 Miss Leicester, condolences on your goo-brother, I hope you sue the apothecary for every cent :3”

But no. No.  

These ladies’ stories were both narrated by the SAME LYING LIAR trying to convince the 1.5 protagonists of The Three Imposters of her sob stories to wheedle them for info about some guy she and her fellow cultists are hunting for.

I fell for an imposter. I am a fool and dunce.

But at least she was the imposter who was the far superior storyteller compared to her cohort villains. There’s a reason Black Seal and White Powder are found in a short story anthology under their own power versus the guys’ lackluster orating. 'Ooh~ scary murder mountain gang~! Ooh~ I got robbed after ripping people off and being excruciatingly English about it, ooh~!' Get out of here. Let Helen work.

My one solace here is that, considering the nature of the content, the imposter-storytellers, and the fact that within TTI there are actual external proofs of the stories as real events that occurred, the Imposters really are exactly that. Imposters posing as the actual victims of the actual weirdness and/or evils described in the stories.

Which means that somewhere out in Machenland, the true Miss Lally and Miss Leicester and Mr. Henry Wilkins and (an admittedly unscrupulous) Mr. Frank Burton probably do exist…and got ripped off by a trio of sadistic plagiarists for the sake of a bafflingly convoluted ploy to wheedle strangers for information about their target. Bet they didn’t even get royalties >:/  

✦Introduction Post✦

They/Them -- Genderfluid -- OC/Fandom Artist I primarily make art as a way to spend my time, mainly of my ocs but I do fandom stuff too! My favorite mediums are digital art, pen and ink, watercolors, alchohol markers, but I also dabble in animation and writing. My ettiquite for this platform might be a bit off, I have basically been lurking for years now but I plan to be far more active soon!

read below the cut for more or check out my carrd!

Still here? Very cool😼 In my posts I might refence some things that particularly interest me such as media and music, so here are some comprehensive lists of those things! Fandoms: Genshin Impact, Good Omens, Obey Me!, Arcane, Deathnote, Dr. Stone, TLOU, JJK, CSM, Inside Job, Repo! The Genetic Opera, and horror movies/content in general. Music: Frank Sinatra, I Monster, Tally Hall, Mirical Musical, They Might Be Giants, and Will Wood. Apart from what I enjoy, I also make my own things as mentioned earlier! I have a handful of universes that are fully flegded out with worldbuilding that I will detail on in a later post. With my own original characters, I also have ocs based in some of the fandoms i'm part of. I'm cool with any and all comments, questions, or requests, don't be shy! I won't make this too long, everything here may be in for change later on and I'm sure I have forgotten plenty of things. Thank you for reading this far!

my persona btw!

Oh dear, that would be quite unfortunate wouldn’t it, @chickenparm.

Being not normal about FrankenGhoul below the cut. Truly my mind is plagued by thoughts of this weird "technically a ghoul" that lives in the woods so enjoy some random stuff about them.

They are the absolute best ritualist topside mostly due to the fact that they have spent an outrageous amount of their time in the woods studying and experimenting with ritualistic magic. They already understood a little about it intrinsically because they are a ghoul, but there’s no real use for it in the pit and they have their elemental magic so most of their knowledge has been learned over time.

Upon hearing Mountain and Dew were on friendly (enough) terms with them, Sister Imperator tried to convince the two to try and get Frankenghoul to share some of their knowledge. Before they even had the chance she returned to her office to find a few arcane symbols carved into her desk that she quickly realized locked everyone but her out of it. One of the drawers also had a never ending bottle of wine inside. There was a sticky note on top of the desk that says "that's all you get" in beautiful script. Still nobody knows how they got in and out without being seen, but she decided to take the offering as a success and leave it there.

It was Primo that originally petitioned for them to no longer be considered a threat or an enemy of the church, starting when he was young. It took until after he retired, but upon finding this out they did leave the old man some clippings from a rare plant that normally only grew deep in the woods surrounding the abbey as a thank you. This was the first kind action any non-ghoul had ever shown them since their summoning so they decided to reward the kind gesture.

Dewdrop found them super scary when their telepathic link first manifested having only heard the horror stories passed around by the siblings over the years. Eventually Dew realized they were just a deeply private person trying to just do their thing and feels better now. Frankenghoul finds Dew very fascinating, which he knows, but what he doesn't know is their desire to study him like a weird bug.

At one point, early on in their time topside, they tried to return to the abbey to confront everyone and be like "why am I even here?". Other ghouls had been successfully summoned by then. They ran into these ghouls and while there was a mutual feeling of connection, the conversation went very poorly. This resulted in Frankenghoul deciding they didn't need to stick around and going back to the woods. When those ghouls told the heads of the clergy what happened and that they were out there lurking in the woods the general response was "We are satanists and you are literal hell beasts. It's fine". It was shortly after that Frankenghoul killed the Papa at the time, Nihil's ancestor.

Welcome to the Forest!

They’re here! SpiderForest is extremely excited to announce our newest webcomic additions! Please check out all the fabulous comics joining us over here, and look for a new spotlight each week!

Webcomic Spotlight - Finding Keys to New Worlds

Brothers - A Postmaster's job is never done, especially with routes this deadly!

Postmasters Sprout and Oz become unlikely heroes after discovering a mysterious magic mailbox. With an increase in virus attacks, there's no telling what dangers they will face!

They could be on track to become the greatest postmasters in the world! Assuming they don't die first!

Read it here > https://brotherswebcomic.com/

KEYSPACE: A Winged Tale - Kids with wings for hair journey into an underground lab to look for a missing scientist.

Deep in the forest dwell the mysterious winged folks: sentient human-like creatures with wings for hair and giant feathered beasts that lurk in the distance. 13-year old Flo and her mother are the surviving crew studying them after the underground laboratory closed. When her mother disappears, Flo and her friends journey down below to look for her. Little did they know that the lab is where the real monsters hide: from eldritch abominations to relic robots to the humans who made them all.

Read it here > https://keyspace.spiderforest.com/

Sao and the Glow of Memories - A fantasy story about the power of memory, community, love, and revolution!

"What is the true power of memory?" This is the question that Sao must asks himself as he searches for his abducted clan. To free them, he'll have to brave a world on the brink of war, join the ranks of outlaws and rebels, mend familial rifts, and confront a corrupting evil born from the legacy of men.

Read it here > https://saoandtheglowofmemories.com/

Moxie - A young naive noblewoman leaves home to find her brother and save the world! In order to be reunited with her brother, a young woman must first save the world by teaming up with a rag-tag group of friends and learn how to use lost arcane magic tied to a mysterious family heirloom. Moxie is a fantasy adventure story about finding courage in unlikely places, becoming the person you were meant to be, and facing perilous dangers with the help of loyal friends.

Read it here > https://www.moxiecomic.com/

Parm, is there any chance you’d be willing to yeet me into the sun? Or perhaps a deep and dark pit? I’m not too picky.

You see, I’m on mobile and wanted to check my notifications. When I opened the app, I discovered something truly horrifying. Apparently I sent chapter four of What Lurks Below to a bunch of strangers. Thing is, I don’t remember doing that. Actually, it’s not something I would do intentionally. Ever.

While I’m absolutely loving WLB, I prefer to fly under the radar and keep to myself on tumblr. Sending a fanfic chapter completely unprompted to a bunch of absolute strangers, isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. In fact, accidentally sending something to a bunch of strangers is something I legit terrified of, I disabled airdrop specifically because of that fear.

I have no idea how this happened. As far as I know, I only liked and reblogged chapter four WLB. I’m not in contact with any other Arcane or Silco fans, so I wouldn’t have shared the chapter in the first place. I’m not sure if I pressed the wrong button earlier or if the app glitched.

Either way, I’m completely and utterly embarrassed. I just finished apologizing to everyone and I’m dreading their response.

You know, I really hate this broken ass app sometimes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to crawl under my bed and curl up in ball of shame.

well i wont/can't yeet you into the sun, and i'm scared of dark places so i can't put you in a pit, but i can carry you in my shirt pocket and you can lay on my boob if you want

"Sorcerers and Apprentices: The Shadows of Eldervale"

The sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the once-peaceful village. A sense of dread hung in the air as whispers of an imminent threat spread among the residents. Little did they know that their lives were about to change forever. In a hidden chamber deep within the heart of a dense forest, three powerful sorcerers gathered around a table adorned with ancient scrolls and arcane artifacts. These men had been bound by a common cause - the protection of the realm from dark forces. With each passing year, their ranks dwindled as their apprentices fell victim to the ever-present dangers that lurked in the shadows. Through the fog of time, a long-lost family member had finally returned. He bore a heavy burden - a mission to unite the remaining sorcerers and rally them against the gathering darkness. As he revealed his true identity, a spark of hope ignited within their hearts. But with this revelation came a terrible price - one that would require a great sacrifice for the greater good. In a tense moment of decision, the returning family member chose to offer himself as a means to seal away the malevolent force plaguing their world. The sorcerers, now bound by fate and loss, vowed to continue his work and protect the realm from any future threats. But in that very instant, the villain made his great escape, slipping through the fingers of time itself. His laughter echoed through the corridors of eternity, promising a return far worse than before. With the veil of darkness lifted, the stage was set for an epic saga that could only end in either triumph or disaster. The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the sleepy village of Eldenbrook. In the center of town stood an ancient tower, its ivy-covered walls and cobblestone foundation testament to the passage of time. Within those walls, a powerful sorcerer named Aldric paced restlessly in his study. He had been waiting for a letter that would change everything, and it had finally arrived. As he opened the parchment, Aldric's eyes widened with surprise. The letter contained an invitation to a reunion of the once-great sorcerers guild, a group from which he had been estranged for years. He had thought they were all long dead or lost in the annals of history, but it seemed that was far from true. "What does this mean?" Aldric wondered aloud, his voice echoing through the empty chambers. His apprentice, Lila, entered the room, her eyes wide with curiosity. "It means we may have allies we never knew existed, Master," she replied, a spark of excitement in her voice. Together, they began to prepare for the journey ahead. They would travel to the heart of the sorcerers guild, where they hoped to find answers about their forgotten kin and perhaps even uncover the truth behind the powerful artifacts that had been passed down through generations. But time was of the essence, as a dark figure from their past threatened to emerge and change everything. In a final act of defiance before leaving, Aldric summoned a protective charm around his home and instructed Lila to keep watch over it in his absence. "We must face our destiny, apprentice," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "And I have faith that you will be the one to carry on my legacy." As they embarked on their quest, little did they know that a villain was watching from the shadows, biding his time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The stage was set for an epic battle between good and evil, with the fate of the sorcerers guild hanging in the balance. In a realm where sorcerers reigned supreme, there were two powerful mages known as Eldran and Valora. They had apprentices, young talents they were grooming to one day take their places among the great sorcerers of the land. One fateful day, Eldran's apprentice, Liora, discovered a dark secret: an ancient artifact capable of unleashing untold destruction upon the world. Eldran and Valora were summoned to assess the situation. Upon examining the artifact, they realized that its power could not be harnessed without great sacrifice. They decided to split the task between them; Eldran would find a way to destroy the artifact, while Valora would train Liora in the ways of sorcery to prepare her for the challenges ahead. As months passed, Liora grew into a skilled sorceress, her abilities far surpassing those of her predecessors. One day, Valora received news that Eldran had been captured by an evil sorcerer seeking the artifact for his own nefarious purposes. Desperate to save him, Liora set out on a perilous journey to rescue Eldran and thwart the villain's plans. "We must work together," Valora urged as they prepared for their mission. "The fate of our world depends on it." Liora nodded resolutely, her eyes filled with determination. "I will do whatever it takes to protect my mentor and our realm," she vowed. Together, they embarked on a quest fraught with danger, confronting fearsome creatures and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Along the way, they encountered an unexpected ally: a mysterious sorcerer who had been watching them from the shadows. He revealed that he was once Eldran's mentor, but had been trapped in this form after sacrificing his own life to save the world long ago. "Your journey has only just begun," he warned. "But I can help you on your path." With renewed hope and a newfound ally, Liora and Valora pressed forward, their hearts steeled for the challenges that lay ahead. They knew that they must confront the evil sorcerer and destroy the artifact at all costs. Little did they realize, however, that their actions would set the stage for a much larger conflict, one that would echo throughout the ages and create an epic tapestry of adventure, sacrifice, and heroism. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the once-peaceful town of Eldervale. A palpable tension now filled the air, as whispers of dark magic and sinister sorcerers echoed through the streets. In the heart of the village, the powerful sorcerer Lord Maldred had amassed a following of apprentices, all eager to learn the secrets of the arcane arts. Among them was young Aria, an ambitious apprentice who yearned for power and recognition. Her mentor, Master Eldric, tried to guide her towards righteousness, but Aria's ambition led her down a treacherous path. As she delved deeper into the shadows, she discovered that Lord Maldred was not what he seemed. "Master, I need more power," Aria pleaded with Lord Maldred, her voice trembling. "I want to be as strong and feared as you are." Lord Maldred studied her for a moment before responding, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling light. "Soon, my apprentice, soon you will have the power you desire. But first, I need you to complete a task for me. It is crucial that you do not fail." Aria nodded eagerly, her heart pounding with anticipation. As she left Lord Maldred's chambers, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this task than met the eye. Unbeknownst to Aria, the life of an innocent villager hung in the balance, and a hero was about to rise from the ashes. The sun had nearly vanished when Aria returned, her face pale with fear. "Master, I have done as you asked. It worked! The villager is gone, but so are the others." Her voice trailed off, as if she could sense the darkness that now loomed over Eldervale. Little did they know, the true villain had escaped into the night, leaving a trail of destruction and vengeance in his wake. In the once-peaceful town of Eldervale, the air was heavy with anticipation as whispers of dark magic spread like wildfire. Young Aria, an apprentice under the powerful sorcerer Lord Maldred, felt the weight of the town's fears upon her shoulders. She had always admired her master from afar, his wisdom and skill unmatched. However, as her power grew, so did her ambition, causing her to drift further away from the path of righteousness. Master Eldric, another apprentice under Lord Maldred, noticed Aria's shift in character. Concerned for her soul and the safety of the town, he decided to have a heartfelt conversation with Aria. He approached her one evening as they sat around the fire, sharing stories of their past adventures. "Aria," Master Eldric began, his voice filled with genuine worry, "I've noticed a change in you. Your ambition has grown beyond your years, and I fear it may be leading you down a dark path." Aria looked into the flames, her eyes reflecting the intensity of her emotions. She knew she was walking a dangerous line, but the lure of power was too great to resist. "I must learn all that I can to protect this town and those I love," she replied, her voice firm. Master Eldric's concern only grew stronger. "Aria, you must understand that power alone is not enough. It is what you choose to do with it that truly matters." He looked into her eyes, hoping his words would resonate. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed through the night, shattering the calm. Aria's face paled, fear washing over her as she realized the true villain had returned, and destruction was imminent. The townsfolk scurried to find safety, while Aria and Master Eldric prepared themselves for the battle ahead. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the now-chaotic streets of Eldervale, Aria's determination hardened. She knew she had to face her master and stop him from causing any more harm. The true villain had escaped into the night, leaving destruction and vengeance in his wake. But the tale of Aria and her struggle between loyalty and righteousness had only just begun, setting the stage for potential sequels or prequels filled with magic, adventure, and the battle between light and darkness.

Pelagos, the world as it is known

[will continually edit & add, & may pull some stuff out to make it its own post]

Many countless lands are suspended above the inscrutable, unending ocean below. Most of these are too small or too barren for life to find purchase - at least not without a way to make it back to larger, richer lands.

Mighty leviathans traverse the sky in loose pods, ever migrating to an unknown destination. As long as people have cared to record history, they have been easy allies, shuttling people across the perilously boundless skies from one land to another for the promise of food, shelter, and some say even simple camaraderie. Galley leviathans are the most commonly domesticated - even-tempered, gargantuan jellyfish eaters. Another type seen more commonly in lands closer to the oceans are the corsairs - blunt-headed, sharp toothed predators who dive into the ocean to catch water-dwelling life. Their speed & aggression make them favorable for raiders & warriors, but unideal for regular folk.

Coming into the end of the first century of what many are considering a new age of civilization, late advances in persistent energy transfer conduits thanks to a renaissance in the arcane practices of magecraft & artifice have made new heights possible in industry & engineering, creating a boom in technology, manufacturing & transportation. Sky trains and, more recently (first seen in practice in the last decade or so), air ships have taken over as the favored way to travel from land to land due to their predictability, efficiency, (alleged) lack of temperament, & sheer capacity to carry freight.

Though the world has been largely divided into fragmented territories ruled by feudalistic nobles, monarchs or warlords for the past two millennia, a wave of revolt has seen many of these once reverently feared figures deposed - at least nominally. The societies found in the aftermath of this movement are diverse, each with its own favored philosophy of governance in this world ready to be reborn in brass & steel; only regrettably few, however, can say they haven't dealt with unintended consequences in practice.

The ocean below is, as far as anyone can tell, endless; as is the sky above. Sometimes a leviathan, long into its years, will travel one way or the other into the endless ends of the worldspace, unfollowable, untraceable. Why they do this is unknown. Some scholars speculate that they are beckoned by ancient things that lurk far beyond possible perception - the lurkers below & the watchers above. Some say the leviathans grow into those inscrutable things. Others say this is all nonsense and no such things could reasonably exist.

Blog Tour: Spotlight on WHEN GHOSTS CALL US HOME by Katya de Becerra!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya de Becerra, which released on Tuesday! I've got all the details on the book and author for you below.

About the Book

title: When Ghosts Call Us Home author: Katya de Becerra publisher: Page Street release date: 3 October 2023

Haunting of Hill House meets found-footage horror in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that explores the power of family ties and the trauma that lurks there. When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla’s amateur horror movie Vermillion, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast–Cashore House. In the years after the film’s release, Sophia’s relationship with her sister became more strained, while her memories of the now-infamous house fueled her nightmares. Vermillion amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film’s hidden messages, and it was rumored that Layla made a pact with the devil–her soul in exchange for fame and arcane knowledge. Sophia dismissed this as gossip…until Layla disappeared. Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind, returning to the very place where it all began. As she gets closer and closer to Cashore House’s haunted heart, she must once again confront the ghosts of her childhood. But the house won’t reveal its secrets without a fight.

Add to Goodreads: When Ghosts Call Us Home Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Katya de Becerra writes atmospheric young adult horror featuring determined characters, complicated families and enigmatic places. Critics called her debut What The Woods Keep “a thoughtful and compelling horror fantasy” (The Bulletin) and “a narrative that will keep readers enthralled” (Booklist), while her second novel Oasis earned a starred review from Booklist. Katya regularly publishes short fiction in anthologies and literary magazines. She is also co-editor of the anthology This Fresh Hell, which reimagines and subverts horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. As a child, Katya wanted to be an Egyptologist, but instead she earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and now works at a university, where she teaches and researches as well as supervises graduate students in Anthropology, Creative Writing and Education. Katya is a short version of her real name, which is very long and gets mispronounced a lot.

Connect with Katya: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

Aight so I was lurking around Reddit and I saw this one cool fanart on the Arcane subreddit portraying Vi, Powder, and Caitlyn in an Actor!AU where the series is a live-action show in their universe. The comments below the post have a bunch of AMAZING headcanons for this AU and I highly recommend to check them out cuz they are GOLD.

What caught my eye was that one of the commenters wrote this:

I know that last bit at the end sounded sad as hell but Mylo and Claggor. As British actors. THINK ABOUT IT.

Headcanons coming at you at super sonic speed:

Both used to play League of Legends in their free time so they're familiar with Riot and their projects

They heard of a show being produced by Riot looking for some actors; "Mylo" got "Claggor" to skip school with him to try for it when auditions came to their city

They did this PURELY for fun and did NOT expect to get a callback or anything, just a once in a lifetime experience they can brag about to their friends

So picture their faces when their mom receives a call a week later, telling her they both got the parts for Mylo and Claggor, and requesting they be on set at a specific date

Also imagine what they'd look like in UK school uniforms; "Claggor" would look more put together while "Mylo" tries to personalize his look (ditches his tie, unbuttons his shirt collar, wears Jordans, etc)

Both had to meet with a vocal coach for a period of time so they could learn to speak with American accents; Apparently they were so convincing that most people were surprised to hear their natural accents

They are very charming to listen to during interviews and are close with the actresses playing Young Vi and Powder

"Young Vi" is a well known actress who's done work in several notable shows and films; She is very talented for someone her age, which is why she was chosen for the role

This is "Powder's" debut as a child actress for film, she originally did work on Broadway musicals; "Powder" goes on to win awards for her performances with "Young Vi" in Ep. 3

"Mylo" and "Powder" actually get along very well offset; He likes to grab the little bomb props she uses and hold them over her head

All four kids do their own stunts and fight scenes; "Vi", "Claggor", and "Mylo" had to train in street fighting and learn choreography, with "Claggor" getting the hang of it faster than "Mylo" did

Just imagine them filming the scene where they're parkouring on rooftops to rob Jayce's apartment

"North Piltover" is actually just a green screen room with fake roofs built, and the four kids are wearing wires and harnesses to help move them when they leap from the first roof to the other

"Mylo" and "Claggor" initially thought they were playing smaller roles and didn't expect to be recurring in several scenes in Acts 2 and 3 (in Jinx's visions)

“Claggor” cried after he read the entire script, especially the scene where Jinx lights the blue flare as visions of the two boys appear behind her; He cried again when he and his brother watched the final product on Netflix

One of the reasons why "Mylo" was cast was because of his unique appearance; He is so distinct that people immediately recognize him when he and his brother are in public

It's also because he does an amazing job playing his dead persona; People were genuinely creeped out when they did his first screen test with Jinx's actress as they rehearsed her first scene showing her visions

Hates having to sit for an hour for the makeup artists to get him ready; Loves scaring "Claggor" and "Jinx" when he wears his "dead makeup"; Crouches on ledges and tables and jumpscares anyone passing by

Despite their stay on set having been cut short due to their mother's accident, their mom encouraged them to continue working on the show for future seasons

NO ONE believed the brothers when they announced they're actors on Riot's upcoming show; Their classmates went apeshit when they checked out Netflix's “#1 new series” and saw both of them on screen

Overall, the two heavily enjoyed their experience working on Arcane and were not opposed to offers to be in other films

“Claggor” does more voice acting work and is featured in notable animated films and video games; He is very versatile and was able to work on a future film with Heimerdinger’s voice actor

“Mylo” does more live-action stuff and was contracted to play Peter Parker in the new Spiderman reboot (Did I take this from the fact that his voice actor played Peter in the PS4 game? Yes. Yes I did)