Queerfri

20 Ghananian American, Pan attracted. pronouns they/them, he/him and She/her Iook at intro #Intro

[cyriledits]

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[cyriledits]

Gilbert Cocteau & Serge Battour icons

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[vintageindianclothing]

Attendants, 19th century.

All paintings are from the 19th century. The costumes of the attendants show the changes as we move from the 18th century muslin and chintzes (the diaphanous nature is of a slightly earlier time, late 18th tends to have a more opaque depiction) to the broad paijamas and simple tunics of the early nineteenth century to the darker tones, gold edged and embroidered tunics of the late 19th century (often of velvet) with slightly militaristic details.  Towards the end of the 19th century, men also tended to wear churidars (tights).

In pic 1 perhaps because the painting is part of a scene depicting a meeting with a religious figure, the nobleman’s tunic is simple muslin. The costumes of the nobles of pics 2 and 3 are not so clear cut, pic 2 is more in line with the round yokes and opulent tunics worn by some of the nobility in the mid to late 19th century* while the man in pic 3 has some kind of block print silk kind of tunic with a pashmina shawl.

Pics from the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian).

*perhaps a later depiction of Wajid Ali Shah.

[vintageindianclothing]

In Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan kingdom tucked between China and India, it’s obligatory for everyone to wear the national dress. For men this means the gho, a knee-length gown tied at the waist by a belt called a keram. For formal occasions a silk scarf, a kabney, is added to the ensemble, the colour of which depends on the wearer’s status. [X]

The gho is tied at the waist so as to form a pocket.

A little bit on Bhutanese clothing here.

[ambitiousdreamer28]

Study : Other Religious Symbols in Islamic Art and Architecture Part 2 : The Swastika

Surprised? In this edition of the series I am going to discuss this particularly controversial symbol. I am going to write briefly about the origins and the misuse of this sacred religious symbol, …

[bestiarium]

The Siona [Malagasy mythology]

There is an old folk belief among the native people of Madagascar that if you leave a fire burning when going to sleep, a creature from the forest sneaks into your house to warm itself.

These beings are called Siona, and they resemble small humans. They are naked and their skin is completely covered in lichen. This layer of lichen serves as natural camouflage, for they can hide between rocks to avoid detection. They live in the wilderness, far away from human settlements. When travellers pass through their territory, the Siona will try to steal unprotected food. But they are not dangerous, and I’ve found no account of people being attacked by a Siona.

Normally, they survive by eating the roots of Vigna angivensis, which is a native Malagasy herb called Avoko or Havoko by the native people.

The Siona stands out between the other monsters and supernatural creatures from Malagasy folklore because it was once human: it is said that they are created by a strange affliction. When this disease infects a person, the victim slowly loses their mind and deteriorates (and presumably also shrinks, for a Siona is said to be smaller than a human) until eventually they become a new Siona. Lichen symbionts start to grow on their skin and eventually the person leaves society to live in the wild.

This disease is not fatal, and once a person contracts it, they can be nursed back to health. If properly cared for, the victim can avoid the grim fate of turning into one of these creatures.

Finally, and this is just speculation on my part, but I wonder whether this myth originated from a real person who was afflicted with a rare skin condition? Perhaps this person was shunned, and the story was passed on and was eventually exaggerated to the point of fiction. Or perhaps it originated as a cautionary tale about leaving a burning fire unattended (in the sense that a monster would come into your house if you didn’t extinguish a fire before going to bed).

Source: Sibree, J., 1896, Madagascar before the conquest: the island, the country and the people, London. (image source: me, but you could probably tell that because it’s a crudely drawn pencil sketch. Who knew proportions were so difficult to draw? I gave up on drawing feet and hid them behind a circle of rocks)

[cadavarts]

I'll never get tired of drawing him until I do

[rob-pattinson]

LIL NAS X 2022 | 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Las Vegas (April 3)

[soulakuarian]

That Top!

[asnixs]

[woeworld]

@mossworm

[mossworm]

yoooooooo.......

[beyonce-knowles-carter]

My name is Helga Sinclair. I’m acting on behalf of my employer, who has a most intriguing proposition for you. Are you interested?

ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001)

[fabcrabart]

MONSTER CRAB GIRL basically crabtaur uhh? I meant to finish this a month ago and completely forgot about her until I saw some trilobite mobs in FFXIV lmao uhh hh anyway this sheet was meant to compliment her anthro sheet! 

[dkafterdark]

*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Cover image and summary from Goodreads*

In a world where everyone has magic coursing through them, legend says magic itself craves a mate. Legend says those with opposite magics have the greatest chance of forming the unbreakable Bond it desires. A.B. Cerise is an obsessive compulsive pop star with the ability to turn invisible. He’s an out bisexual with absolutely no belief in Bonds. He has a love-bruised heart, thinks dating in the spotlight is a hassle at best and a nightmare at worst, and has no intention of going through it all over again. Matthew Hellman-Levoie is the NHL’s number one goalie prospect, the youngest in a hockey dynasty, and one of the rare few who can see the unseeable. He’s a straight man who wears his heart on his sleeve, has grown up searching for a Bond, and dreams of finding the love of his life. Legend never said anything about what to do when sparks fly between two people opposite in more ways than just magic.

Totally adorable! I enjoyed reading The Magic Between so much that I was smiling the majority of the time and probably giving off major heart eyes. This is the perfect read if you enjoy soul mate type stories, magic worldbuilding, celebrities in love, and slow burn romance. The story has gentle pacing and I love that Matthew and AB take their time getting to know each other, become friends, and slowly become more. They both have issues to work through and I liked that they're patient and support one another. I especially appreciated that while their magical bond helps them deal with some of the negative aspects of their magic, it isn't a cure all. For example, AB still has OCD and intrusive thoughts but with the bond he's learning how to better manage it. One of my other favorite things is the communication through the story. Matthew and AB face a lot of challenges and they always take the time to talk through things with each other and with their friends.

All the characters in this book are stellar! I instantly fell for Matthew and AB. From their initial meeting they charmed me and I got so invested in seeing how things would turn out. I also loved the supporting characters! Friends, family, band members, and team mates, they all have important roles in the story. They're a diverse cast and super queer!

This book is sweet, tender, fun, and flail-inducing! An instant comfort read. Also, the illustrations by Victoria Newberry are the CUTEST! This cover *swoons*

Pub date February 15, 2022

[dkafterdark]

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Image from Amazon, summary from Goodreads*

Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands. Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart. As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King.

Lovely, soft, tender, gorgeous, moving. As a lover of faerie tales, folklore, and historical romance, Oak King Holly King is exactly my cup of tea! I was quickly swept away by the lush descriptions of faerie and then fell for the novel's protagonists, Shrike and Wren. They're both loners -- Shrike because he belongs to no fae court and lives in solitude, Wren because his desire for men has made him an outcast from his family and former friends. Despite coming from different worlds, together they find companionship as they work to solve Shrike's dilemma as the newly crowned Oak King. Wren also has his own troubles, ones that Shrike is equally eager to help solve. The various plots, both human and fae, kept me guessing - right up until the last chapter - about how things would turn out for Shrike, Wren, and the supporting characters.

One of my favorite things about the novel is the gentle pace of the romance and the way that Wren, after living his entire life under threat of death for his sexuality, gradually grows comfortable with physical intimacy while in the freedom of the fae lands. He and Shrike have so many sweet moments together, simply enjoying each other's company and getting to know one another, that I couldn't stop myself smiling. I also liked that in the fae lands there's acceptance of queerness as well as a variety of gender identities (many of the fae are referred to by gender neutral pronouns). There's also some trans rep in historical England that I loved reading about! Some other things I really enjoyed: Wren's eternally optimistic and kind-hearted boss, Shrike's anachronistic wardrobe, bird!Shrike, the fae festivals surrounding the seasons, the many fae allies of Shrike and Wren, and that one Horse Guard. This book is full of magic, has hurt/comfort, sweet romance, and a powerful and stirring conclusion that I'll be thinking about for a long time! 5 Stars

Pub date February 14, 2022

[mayakern]

the knight and the nymph

second in a series of queer fantasy illustrations i’m doing!

see the process on patreon!

[carnetimaginaire]

Jacob Janerka,  Hello, this is crab…

[owlcryptid]

Michael for a commission ✨✨

Commissions

[thecreaturecodex]

Vermin Lord

“Insect Warrior” © Любен Русинов‎, accessed @characterdesignreferences​  here

[Commissioned by @justicegundam82​. The description of the vermin lord in the 3.5e Monster Manual III gives it membranous wings and a stinger, neither of which are seen in the original art. So I wanted to find some insectoid that did have them, but most art for anthropomorphic wasps or bees online is too horny (sexy human women with antennae, wings and some colorful stripes).

Some notes on the conversion. The commissioner requested it be reduced in CR from 17 to 14. The swarm aura has been replaced by a “chewing aura” that manifests magically, as opposed to being somewhere between a magical effect and a real swarm. Since the giant vermin spell in Pathfinder RPG is much less flexible (and useful) than the 3.x version, I gave it a straight summon ability instead–the three vermin selected have the advantage of all being in the same book, Bestiary 2, for people who still like to have hard copies around.

Edit: Replaced the art. The owner of the character I originally used contacted me and asked me to not use that piece. I wish this one wasn’t scaled to be so tiny, but I quite like the design. It could always be the web of one of its giant spider minions]

Vermin Lord This large creature appears to be a wasp-like humanoid the size of a giant. Two pairs of membranous wings grow from its back, its four arms end in clawed hands, and its abdomen is tipped in a wicked stinger. It carries a panoply of weapons.

Vermin lords are cruel and exploitative creatures that fancy themselves rulers of jungle kingdoms. Their ability to magically control giant vermin gives them an army of soldiers, which they use to capture other creatures to toil for them. Vermin lords do not work well together—if two come together they will fight in an attempt to kill or enslave each other. The winner absorbs the territory and vassals of the loser. Most vermin lords are obsessed with magic items, and use their minions to raid tombs and temples, engage in banditry, or make items for the vermin lord’s use.

Vermin lords can attack many natural weapons at once, but prefer to use manufactured magical weapons if they can. Their venom is lethal, resulting in massive internal bleeding in those affected, and they avoid using their stings if on a mission to capture, not kill. Few vermin lords are found alone, and even if they are, they can summon monstrous insects and arachnids to fight alongside them. Their chewing aura tears enemies apart as if they were engulfed in a swarm of insects.

A vermin lord stands ten feet tall and weighs about seven hundred pounds. Despite this, they are nimble on both land and air.

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