#world development

[zeroperks]

bug bus bug bus bug bus!!!

[winterarts]

Draconians had to evolve to be so big, sturdy, and heavily armored due to the fauna they live around. The closest things to dragons live here. Giant reptiles prowl the lands of Onisona. Some are similar to crocodilomorphs like postosuchus, others like ancient reptiles like garjainia or saurosuchus, and others still resemble large theropod dinosaurs, like the tyrannosauridae family, and ornithischian dinosaurs such as triceratops and ankylosaurus.

The prey are either huge, heavily armored or both, and the predators there have some of the strongest bite force out of any nation. Onisona is beautiful with its rock formations and its layered orange view, but anywhere you go, you could be in serious danger just from the wildlife. Both herbivores and carnivores will attack. This is why it's recommended to have a draconian guide when traveling there.

[msbutterfly5294]

Sooo , I spent almost three days researching all forms of government for my world-building . Wanted to share my finds with y'all so you can properly decide what form(s) of government fits your world / societies in your world best !

< Forms of Government >

Anarchy : The absence of governments or rules

Anarchism : The advocacy for this condition and the philosophy behind it ( an ideology/movement )

Authoritarianism : Power is concentrated in a single leader or small group, suppressing political freedoms, civil liberties, and democratic processes, often through force, propaganda, or control of institutions like the media and military, aiming to maintain the status quo and prevent opposition, though modern forms can subtly erode democracy from within via elections

Autocracy : One person with absolute power

Electoral Autocracy : A hybrid political system that holds multi-party elections but lacks the genuine freedom and fairness of a democracy, functioning more like a dictatorship where the ruling party manipulates institutions and suppresses opposition to maintain power

Adhocracy : A flexible, adaptable, and informal organizational structure without bureaucratic policies or procedures.

Anocracy : A political system that mixes elements of both democracy and autocracy (dictatorship), functioning as a hybrid or transitional regime that isn't fully democratic or authoritarian, often characterized by some political competition but incomplete grievance resolution, making it unstable and prone to conflict

Algocracy : A system where computer algorithms and artificial intelligence play a significant role in making decisions and managing society, often replacing or assisting human governance for increased efficiency, using data analysis to set rules, monitor behavior, and implement policies in areas like law, transportation, and public administration

Bureaucracy : A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Capitalism : An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit

Confederation : An organization which consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league; a looser league of independent states where member states retain ultimate authority

Confessional State : A nation that officially recognizes, supports, and promotes a specific religion (a "state religion"), integrating it into its laws, policies, and public life, often encouraging citizens to follow it, unlike a secular state which remains neutral in religious matters

Colonialism : The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically

Corporatocracy : A society or system that is governed or controlled by corporations

Communism : A political and economic ideology aiming to create a classless society where the means of production (factories, farms) are owned communally, private property is abolished, and resources are distributed based on need, not profit

Cyberocracy : A hypothetical, future-oriented form of government defined as "rule by information". In this system, power is derived from the ability to collect, process, and act upon information through advanced technology, such as networked computer systems and artificial intelligence.

Consociationalism : Deeply divided societies (ethnic, religious, linguistic) that ensures stability and democracy through power-sharing among elites from different groups, preventing majority tyranny and promoting inclusion via grand coalitions, proportional representation, mutual vetoes, and segmental autonomy, rather than simple majority rule

Despotism : The exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.

Demarchy : Political decision-makers are chosen randomly from the citizen body, often through a lottery process (sortition), rather than by election, aiming to create a more representative and less corruptible government by using ordinary people to form policy groups

Dictatorship : A single leader or small group holds absolute power, unchecked by laws or the people, often seizing control through force and maintaining it by suppressing dissent, controlling information (propaganda), limiting civil liberties, and using intimidation or terror

Civilian Dictatorship : A non-military government where absolute power rests with a single leader or party, often disguised in civilian clothing, suppressing opposition and civil liberties while maintaining control through propaganda, regime parties, or personality cults rather than direct military force, unlike traditional military juntas or monarchies

Military Dictatorship :  the military holds all political power, often seizing control through a coup d'état and ruling without civilian consent, suspending rights, and suppressing opposition through force to maintain order, typically led by a single general or a council (junta)

Democracy : A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

Consensus Democracy : A model of governance that emphasizes broad participation, power-sharing, and decision-making through consensus rather than simple majority rule.

Direct Democracy : A form of government in which policies and laws are decided by a majority of all those eligible rather than by a body of elected representatives.

Digital Democracy : The use of information and communication technology (ICT)—including the internet, social media, and AI—to enhance democratic processes, increase government transparency, and boost citizen participation in decision-making.

Herrenvolk Democracy : A political system that is democratic for the dominant ethnic or racial group, but tyrannical or disenfranchising for others.

Liberal Democracy : A democratic system of government in which individual rights and freedoms are officially recognized and protected, and the exercise of political power is limited by the rule of law.

Liquid Democracy : A hybrid, flexible voting system combining direct and representative democracy, often facilitated by digital technology.

Representative Democracy : A system of government where citizens elect officials to make decisions, create laws, and handle policy matters on their behalf, rather than voting on issues directly.

Social Democracy : A political and economic ideology that advocates for a peaceful, evolutionary transition to a more egalitarian society by combining a capitalist market economy with extensive state regulation, social welfare programs, and democratic governance.

Soviet Democracy : A form of government where power is exercised through directly elected soviets (workers' councils) rather than a parliamentary system.

Totalitarian Democracy : A system of government where absolute dictatorship is disguised as a democracy, relying on mass popularity, intense ideological commitment, and the coercion of individuals to conform to a single, state-mandated vision.

Ecclesiocracy : A system of government where religious leaders hold political power and control the state, often using the church's administrative structure, but without claiming direct divine revelation like in a true theocracy.

Electocracy : A political system where citizens can vote for their leaders but have little to no say in policy decisions between elections, as the government does not share power

Ergatocracy : A rare form of government where the working class, or laborers, hold the power and rule

Fascism : A far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, and the forcible suppression of opposition

Federalism : A system of government that divides and shares power between a central national government and regional state governments, balancing localized self-rule with shared national interests

Federation : A group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs; A federation is a stronger, more integrated union with shared sovereignty

Feudalism : The nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

Gerontocracy : A state, society, or group governed by old people.

Imperialism : A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Kakistocracy : Government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.

Kleptocracy : A society or system ruled by people who use their power to steal their country's resources.

Kraterocracy : A system of government where rule is by the strong, meaning those powerful enough to seize and maintain control through force, coercion, cunning, or social maneuvering rather than legitimate authority or consent, embodying the principle of "might makes right".

Kritarchy : A system of government where judges or legal experts rule, and it emphasizes rule by law and impartiality, with decisions based on legal knowledge rather than politics.

Logocracy : A system of government or rule by words, language, or reason; it can describe a society governed by logic, rhetoric, or even by manipulation of language, often used ironically or critically to mean a government where mere words hold sway over action or substance.

Meritocracy : Government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.

Monarchy : A form of government with a monarch at the head.

Absolute Monarchy : A form of government where a single hereditary ruler—a king or queen—holds supreme, unchecked authority over the state and its people. The monarch is not restricted by written laws, a constitution, or a legislature, with their power often justified by the "Divine Right of Kings". 

Constitutional Monarchy : A form of government where a hereditary monarch (king, queen, emperor) serves as the ceremonial head of state, but their powers are restricted by a constitution and limited by an elected parliament. In this system, the monarch acts as a symbol of unity, while the legislative body and prime minister hold the actual power to govern. 

Elective Monarchy : A system where the monarch, or head of state, is chosen by election rather than hereditary succession, often by a small group like nobles or religious leaders, contrasting with hereditary monarchies where the crown passes within a family.

Self-Proclaimed Monarchy : A state or entity established when an individual, lacking traditional royal lineage or dynastic ties, declares themselves monarch.

Military Junta : An authoritarian government led by a committee of high-ranking military officers who have seized power, usually through a coup d'état rather than by election. 

Minarchism : A political philosophy advocating for a minimal state, limited to essential functions like national defense, police, and courts, to protect citizens from aggression, theft, fraud, and breach of contract, while upholding individual rights and free markets.

Netocracy : An emerging global upper class that holds power through superior networking skills and technological expertise rather than traditional capital.

Noocracy : An form of government or system of control administered by new, inexperienced, or untrained officials, often referred to as "upstart rule".

Nepotocracy : A form of governance or organizational management where positions of power, authority, and influence are awarded to relatives of those already in control, regardless of merit or qualification.

Nomocracy : A form of government based on the rule of law rather than the arbitrary will of rulers, terror, or personalized power, and it signifies a system where rational laws and civic rights hold sovereignty, often preventing rulers from easily changing laws. 

Oligarchy : A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Ochlocracy : Government by a mob; mob rule.

Plutocracy : Government by the wealthy.

Particracy : A political system where political parties hold the primary power, often to the detriment of citizens or individual representatives, essentially becoming an "oligarchy of parties" where voters have limited real control.

Republicanism : Support for a republican system of government.

Republic : A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Crowned Republic : A system where a country functions like a republic (with elected officials running the government) but retains a monarch as a symbolic, ceremonial head of state, possessing little to no real political power, essentially acting as a figurehead.

Classical Republic : A form of government inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizing civic virtue, active citizen participation, the rule of law, and liberty as non-domination, where citizens prioritize the common good (the res publica) over private interests, often through a mixed government with balanced powers to prevent corruption and tyranny.

Constitutional Republic : A form of government where the people hold power but elect representatives to exercise it, all while being governed by a supreme constitution that limits the government's power and protects individual rights.

Democratic Republic : A form of government operating as a representative democracy where the people hold supreme power and elect officials to represent them, rather than relying on a monarch.

Federal Republic : A system of government that combines a central (federal) government with regional governments (states or provinces), where both levels derive power from a constitution rather than each other. It is a representative democracy (republic) that divides sovereignty between a national authority and local subunits, ensuring shared governance and local autonomy. 

Parliamentary Republic : A form of government where the executive branch (prime minister and cabinet) derives its democratic legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature (parliament).

Presidential Republic : A form of government where a president, who is both head of state and head of government, is elected for a fixed term, typically directly by the people.

People’s Republic : A sovereign state, typically organized and controlled by a Communist or Socialist party, that claims to represent the interests of the working class.

Semi-Presidential Republic : A hybrid government system with a directly elected president (head of state) sharing executive power with a prime minister and cabinet (head of government) who are responsible to the legislature, creating a dual executive that blends features of presidential and parliamentary systems.

Directorial Republic : A system of government where executive power is held by a collegial body (a directory or council) of several individuals rather than a single president, acting as both head of state and government. This council is elected by the legislature but remains independent of it during a fixed term. 

Merchant Republic : A state governed as a republic, but with power centered on wealthy merchant families and commercial interests, where political influence comes from wealth and trade, not inherited nobility, with leaders often elected from powerful guilds or families.

Socialism : An economic and political system based on public, collective, or cooperative ownership of the means of production, rather than private ownership.

Stratocracy : Government by military forces.

Synarchism : Joint rule or government by two or more individuals or parties.

Technocracy : The government or control of society or industry by an elite of technical experts.

Theocracy : A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

Timocracy :

1 ) A form of government in which possession of property is required in order to hold office.

2 ) A form of government in which rulers are motivated by ambition or love of honor.

Totalitarianism : a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

Tribalism : The state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes.

[leonenjoyer69]

After sitting half finished for forever, I finally present Lanyon's Mindscape!

I spent quite a while coming up with everything and developing things in a way that connected very heavily to Lanyon's character (as well as Elias's) for my Lanyon Takes the Potion AU, so I'm very happy to finally share it! I mentioned it a while ago on the QnA with @arythusa , but here's the whole long summary!

I have a reason for each and every detail and choice, so if you have any questions, leave them in the reblogs or comments and I promise you I would LOVE to answer them :3 also, reblogs would be very appreciated, I put a lot of work into this <3

Now, let's begin!

The Mindscape

A twisting mansion of halls, doors, and spiraling staircases, Lanyon's mindscape is a vast, extravagant space.

Most of the mindscape has an inherent purple hue; grand chandeliers also bathe the upper, more "frequented" areas in a golden light. However, the deeper you travel, the more sparse these golden lights become.

Lanyon doesn't have the same odd "compartmentalization" abilities that Jekyll does, leaving his mindscape much messier and more confusing, with very little of it being any sort of "organized". Furthermore Lanyon hasn't ripped himself down to a shell of a person like Jekyll has; nor does he suffer from the same self hatred as Jekyll and Hyde, making his mindscape much more lively.

Residents of the mindscape include mind versions of: Jekyll, Everly, Lanyon Sr., Lanyon's mother (though she acts as more of a ghost,) the shadow people, and the Nightmares™.

THE ROOMS AND LAYOUT

THE HALLS

The halls are long and confusingly twisty, covered in unmarked doors, blurry portraits, and golden chandeliers, as well as other occasional decorations and clutter. There are very few doors that actually stand out enough to know they're special, like the ballroom, greenhouse, library, alchemy room, and Lanyon Sr's office. Most of the special rooms are near the surface, never moving, as their influence on Lanyon's character and memories are too strong to be moved from near the subconscious.

Memories, however, do tend to shuffle around a bit, even moving between floors depending on how much Elias or Lanyon is thinking of it. This shuffling has the ability to bring nightmares up from deeper levels to the more "safe" ones.

Many of the halls tend to lead in circles or straight into dead ends, and some doors simply lead to more hallways.

THE POCKET WATCH

To combat the twisting and turning, Elias eventually realizes that his "broken" pocket watch acts more like a compass, pointing him in the general direction of where he wishes to go. Mindkyll also has a pocket watch like this, being one of the more mobile mind people (despite his slight limp.)

The pocket watch has the normal larger clock face, as well as a smaller one for "seconds". The hands all spin aimlessly until a destination is thought of. The hour and minute hands work together for general direction like a compass, while the seconds tell the level, with straight up/forward being a higher level, down being a lower level, and horizontal being the current floor. Elias only figured this out with Mindkyll's help.

Elias, Lanyon, and Mindkyll all have an inherent attachment to their given watches, and when they're in other hands or removed from their persons, they feel more lost and confused, as if they have brain fog.

THE LIBRARY

Lanyon spends a decent bit of his free time reading and watching plays and productions, so it only makes sense for him to have a grand library filled with the fleeting memories of these pasttimes.

The bookshelves are oppressively tall, and despite the number of books and scripts, most of them aren't quite readable, since their words have been at least partially forgotten. However, there are a decent few books that are mostly filled out, namely favourite stories or plays he's ingested, old school books (thanks to Jekyll's influence,) and partially filled out journals or phrases that stuck with him, either from other people or things he's told himself.

Additionally, there is a reading nook with a fireplace in one of the corners, since reading is a comfort he hasn't abandoned.

THE MUSIC ROOM

The music room is a cozy space with a few chairs, a fire place, a grand piano, other various instruments, and sheet music strewn and hung about. There's also a couple of paintings, but they're covered mostly in music sheets. One of the other notable instruments is a violin, though it doesn't get used until Elias comes around.

This room is where Mind Everly spends most of her time, when not in the greenhouse, of course. Most of the music pieces are either nonsensical, or genuine ones that the real Everly has played for Robert.

This room becomes a sort of safe space for Elias after certain...events.

THE BALLROOM

The ballroom is a large, extravagant 2 story room. The floor/lower space has walls lined with windows, bringing a golden light to the whole room. However, nothing can be seen on the other side of the windows. Pillars sit between a few of them, holding up a large, wrap-around balcony-- I.e the second floor. The lower space also has a large circular design in the middle of the floor.

The second floor also has windows, as well as a few doors-- one of which leads into Lanyon Sr's office, since Lanyon viewed the tie between his fathers work and status so strongly, both becoming his whole life.

Because of how much of Lanyons life was built around balls and gatherings, the room is filled with shadowy upper class folk, all with somewhat blury features. They tend to act quite mindlessly, seemingly at least somewhat under Mindkyll's Beck and call, but they do dance together and murmur nonsensical, unsettling things to each other. They don't say anything that can be made out, but their growing judgement towards anything odd in the ballroom and overlapping voices can cause panic quite easily.

This room is frequented by both Mindkyll and Mind Lanyon Sr. Mindkyll tends to roam around, framing and dancing with the shadow people, while Mind Lanyon Sr stays on the balcony above, ever watching and judging what goes on below.

THE GREENHOUSE/GARDEN

An overgrown greenhouse filled with various vines, shrubs, and flowers (with occasional symbolism). there's an area for plants directly in the ground, as well as tables covered in pots, metal rafters with hanging pots, and a couple of trellises. The room is mostly all glass-- which still can't be seen through, but gives a warm, comforting glow to the room. There's also a glass table, which seats 2, and a little nook in one of the corners.

A lot of the flowers tend to change, as well as "randomly" bloom and wilt.

Elias likes to spend a lot of time just sitting in this room, occasionally with mind Everly. He also likes cutting back the overgrowth, but it always comes back. He eventually starts to keep track of how the flowers change as well.

THE ALCHEMY LAB

Based heavily around Jekyll's office and Alchemy-covered university desk, the lab is a dark, candle-lit room cluttered with alchemy equipment, books, and potions. There's an odd green fog in the air, making it one of the only rooms that isn't bathed in purple or gold.

This is the other room Mind Jekyll tends to frequent, usually experimenting or organizing his things. Lanyon and Elias both try to avoid this room, as the air feels uncomfortably heavy and tainted.

THE OFFICE

Lanyon's personal office, though it's quite lacking in furniture. The room mainly consists of a desk, chair, scattered books, and a lone, curtained window. The walls are covered in portraits (mainly of his father) and the desk is littered with bills and paperwork. The room seems almost abandoned, at least until Elias comes around to it.

THE UNIVERSITY DORM ROOM

A memory of his dorm room with Jekyll. The window seems to give a faint blue light, though the curtain usually covers it (symbolizing how he hid the relationship and his feelings.)

Jekyll's desk has a few alchemy things scattered on it, as well as text books. There are bunk beds, but the top looks unused.

There are various objects in the room that trigger a memory when they're interacted with, since many core memories were made in the room, buried or not.

LANYON SR'S OFFICE

A large, oppressive office, lit primarily by the two windows. The shelves and tables are covered with books and paperwork. Mirrors litter the walls (symbolizing Lanyon's similarities to his father), as well as portraits.

Mind Lanyon Sr obviously frequents this room, doing random work and reading. The room is also directly connected to the second floor of the ballroom, high above everyone else to show how Lanyon believed his father to put himself and his work above everyone else. Lanyon tends to avoid this room, and the second floor of the ballroom in general, as it makes him feel exposed. Elias also tends to avoid this room, as it makes him feel small.

THE CHARACTERS

ELIAS WRIGHT (LANYON'S HJ7 ALTER)

His outfit gives a more "working class" feel, inspired by his father's youth. They're also far more comfortable than Lanyon's usual clothes, so Elias doesn't mind them too much. The outfit somewhat symbolizes Elias's working spirit, as well as his yearning for his Father's approval via following in his footsteps (to a certain degree), acting as a sort of errand boy around the society/for Jekyll. They also make him look ungentlemanly, simple, and weak, making him stand out in the mindscape.

He has a "broken" pocket watch on him at all times, which he instinctively feels very protective over, as it's somewhat linked to his being.

Additionally, in memories he can "take the spot" of Lanyon, letting the memory compulse him on how to move. He likes doing this to feel like he's still Lanyon-- like he's whole again.

Feelings wise, Elias isn't too against the mindscape for a good while, mainly in the beginning. While it is confusing and lonely, leaving him quite on edge most of the time, he does at least find solace in mind Everly, Mind Jekyll, and some of the rooms. He does have a few run-ins with nightmares, though he always manages to flee or be saved somehow by mind Everly or Jekyll. He prefers to stay on the higher levels where it's brighter and safer, though occasionally he does go down to dig through memories, much to mindkyll's masked annoyance.

He initially sticks around Mindkyll quite a bit, dancing and hanging out in the ballroom or alchemy lab with him, even if he occasionally makes Elias kind of uncomfortable. Elias is quick to trust him and his charm, falling into him as a safety since Mindkyll is so kind towards him, and since he resembles Jekyll so much. Mindkyll is also quite touchy and praising with Elias, feeding Elias's yearning for romantic intimacy from Jekyll. Mindkyll usually knows just what cards to play to make Elias either fall for his charm or feel bad for him. They do pursue something of a "relationship", and despite the occasional discomfort Elias feels, he is quite reliant on Mindkyll for a while, using him as a stand-in since the real Jekyll seems so unattainable.

Also, Elias finds Mindkyll's "sparkle machine" ability quite funny, but of course falls for it. On a few occasions he's accidentally sparkled back, shocking Mindkyll and somewhat offending him.

Additionally, Elias hangs with mind Everly a decent bit too, finding her to be a more calming presence among the greenhouse and music room. She gives him advice and lets him talk, acting as a sort of mental therapist. She doesn't like mindkyll. She'll play music for Elias or sometimes just sit with him in the greenhouse.

Elias somewhat avoids mind Lanyon Sr, rarely trying to get to the ballroom's second floor, unless he feels he has to. He also partially tries to avoid his fathers gaze, though sometimes he can't help but look up at Lanyon Sr watching over the ballroom, yearning to make his father proud of him. Lanyon Sr's critical gaze tends to make him feel small, cringing under the judgement.

A mind version of his mother also haunts the mindscape, though she is scarcely seen. She does seem to like Elias far more than Lanyon though, sometimes even holding Elias and calling him her baby. She only really shows up in the greenhouse, from what Elias has seen.

MIND JEKYLL

A resident of Lanyon's mindscape, he's a sparkly amalgamation of Jekyll and Hyde. Wandering between the ballroom, halls, and his lab, he mainly dances, experiments, and charms. He has phantom pains all around his body, stemming from Lanyon's constant fear of Jekyll getting hurt (especially via potion mishaps), and has a limp in his left leg from recurring nightmares of Jekyll stepping in a bear trap on the faithful Bleeding Heart Night™.

Before Lanyon and Elias split, mind Jekyll looked far more like normal Jekyll and acted a bit more awkward. however, after learning of Jekylls duality, mindkyll became a bit more Hyde like, his sideburns growing out, his hair growing messier, and gaining a hole filled cape and green hat, as well as gradient eyes. He hates his new appearance a decent bit, blaming Elias for it.

He spends most of his time in the ballroom, since Lanyon taught him how to act "proper" and he seemingly surpassed Lanyon at that, causing him to become a sort of icon to Lanyon in that sense. In the ballroom he's quite the charmer, going between the shadow people and playing them as he wishes, which stems from Lanyon's jealousy of how Jekyll acted (and still acts) with women at parties while they were together.

Mindkyll tends to feel an inherent hatred for Elias when Elias is around him, as if Elias's presence by itself just causes stabs of anger and resentment in him, though usually he can force this feeling down in order to keep his charming facade up. However, on top of that resentment, when he feels like he has any sort of control over Elias, he gets a swell of pride and power in his chest. He tends to get more inwardly cocky, which mixes with the hatred and makes him increasingly cruel at times, though he does mask that with his charm and sparkles. He's also very much emotionally manipulative, pulling at Elias's weaknesses and the slight inherent attraction Elias has for him, since he looks like Jekyll and such. He doesn't really tend to outwardly show any of his hatred of course, since he wants to keep Elias's trust for the most part, but he does Harbor Lanyon's resentment and repression of all those "weak" emotions and such. Additionally, he holds a lot of Lanyon's "rebellious" stage, feeding off of the power he gets from having control.

He also lets off sparkles as a sort of defense mechanism for when he feels threatened or starts getting impatient/aggravated. They have a somewhat calming effect, most of the time at least, made to distract people from his real intentions and feelings. Occasionally, however, their impact/sway is dulled, like against Mind Everly. Eventually, Lanyon starts becoming more resistant to their sway, and after a certain future event, so does Elias.

MIND EVERLY

Mind Everly tends to avoid the ballroom, so she doesn't really interact with the shadow people unless she has to. She's also surprisingly adept at fighting off the nightmares. When Mind Mumyon randomly shows up in the garden, or on rare occasions the music room, she'll kinda just chat with her and keep her company until she wanders off/disappears again. With Mindkyll, Everly tends to be a bit "low patience" with him, not really playing into his charm and tending to ignore him.

Mind Everly knows she's just a part of Lanyon, being one of his main comforts and someone that he confides in, and she's quite alright with doing her thing and occasionally helping out Elias or Lanyon. She's just as sweet and trustworthy as the real Everly, acting somewhat as a therapist and general advice giver. She's also quite protective of Elias after certain events.

She frequents the Music room and the Garden, only occasionally going into the ballroom if she feels she has to. She completely avoids the alchemy lab, and only goes into Lanyon's office every once in a while to clean it up a bit.

MIND LANYON SR

Mind Lanyon Sr looks quite similar to the real one, just far more oppressive and judgemental, far more emotionally detached than the real one. He has a distressing aura to him, causing discomfort to the shadow people and monsters and annoyance to most of the other mind people that get close to him. Mindkyll seems to be the outlier to this, as he generally tolerates Mind Lanyon Sr's presence quite well, even occasionally seeking it out.

He usually hangs out on the second floor of the ballroom, staring down and judging the people below. He's this ever-watching presence, detached but still close enough to control things-- or at least seem like he could. Otherwise he frequents his office, doing work, reorganizing, or reading.

He'll occasionally hang out with Mindkyll, vaguely talking to him and slipping him praises. He sees him as more successful, fond of him in a "my son should be like you" way. Despite this, he still gets quite judgemental of Mindkyll when he looses his temper or shows his more "mad scientist" side.

His feelings towards Elias are a little mixed. For the most part, Mind Lanyon Sr is constantly judging Elias, disgusted by his emotional vulnerability and how he's everything the real Lanyon Sr tried to get rid of in his son. But, on the other hand, occasionally he can't help but be the *slightest* bit proud of the fact that Elias has at least SOME work ethic.

Were Elias to try and talk to mind Lanyon Sr, he would probably be met with Mind Lanyon Sr ignoring him, silently judging him, and/or verbally jabbing at him, pointing out his flaws. Elias is quite heartbroken at this, but for some reason he tries to get Mind Lanyon Sr's approval a handful of times before finally giving up, cringing under his stern, judging gaze.

Otherwise, he's aware of his state as a concept and is quite fine with it, intent on keeping Lanyon and Elias in line, in his own detatched way.

LANYON'S MOTHER (CELIA)

Cecilia Lanyon (Mumyon) somewhat haunts around the mindscape, quite scarcely seen. Because of her distance and detatchment towards her son, she rarely shows up, and when she does it's usually in the greenhouse, since she mainly "bonded" with Lanyon by having him help tend the garden occasionally. Since at home she was also commonly hysterical, Mind Celia is generally quite blank, but occasionally snaps a bit emotionally.

When Lanyon is around her, she tends to somewhat blankly stare at him, VERY occasionally actually talking or acting motherly towards him. Elias, however, tries to drag a bit more of that motherly persona out. He yearns for validation and affection from both of his parents, and the mindscape if the only place he'll ever possibly be able to get it. She occasionally seems to give him a little of the attention he wants, talking in very short sentences when they're together in the greenhouse, maybe pointing out flowers or their symbolism. Sometimes she does seem quite cynical, however, which tends to throw Elias off.

Her and Mind Lanyon Sr don't really ever interact, unless Mind Celia just happens to silently join him on the second floor of the ballroom for "show". She mostly ignores mindkyll, but has snapped at him at least once. Otherwise, she usually just tolerates him. She likes Mind Everly well enough, it's hard to dislike her, and she enjoys listening to Mind Everly's music.

Most of the time she's not the most aware of things, but she does have her more clear moments.

(Cecilia Eleanor Lanyon was made by my friend Luka ( @lukas-broken-bow ), while mind Celia was adapted by me bc her character EATS, THANK YOU FOR DEVELOPING HER LUKA, I LOVE HER)

THE NIGHTMARES

The nightmares take on a lot of forms, with one resembling Morcant being the most notable. Along with that, however, there's also many "mad scientists", physically ruined by their science, and various magical creatures and monsters, like vampires (there's one with a resemblance to Dracula), other werewolves, and reanimated things (ones that are especially gory, since Lanyon is disgusted by things like exposed innards,wounds, and rot.) There's also a nightmare "Hyde", who is somewhat formless and mainly causes general havoc and stalks around.

With the twisting of the mindscape and so many doors scattered about, the nightmares tend to stay in lower levels, trapped behind said doors or simply lost, especially if Lanyon keeps them off of his mind. However, when thought of or triggered via seeing or hearing something (or occasionally at random), doors will open or memory rooms will move, allowing nightmares to find themselves closer to the subconcious. They're also more active in higher layers in moments of higher stress, or heavy sleep deprivation, as those " doors" become harder to unconsciously keep closed.

Mindkyll is somewhat fearful of them, some more than others, but when they're closer to his ballroom or lab, he tends to be less scared. Or, when he needs to swoop in and "save" Elias from a couple of nightmares, he tends to forget some of his fear. Mind Everly is somewhat scared of them, but is more so annoyed by them. Mind Lanyon Sr. doesn't really have to deal with them, considering his spot on the balcony, and simply watches when they come about.

THE SHADOW PEOPLE

The shadow people are vague, blurry high society folk that remain in the ballroom. They're all dressed very well, their bodies partially see-through as if they're mere ghosts.

The shadow people don't really interact with anyone but each other and Mindkyll, since he somewhat has control over them. They dance amongst each other, muttering nonsensically until their "words" all blur together. They're not very aware of anything, all in all quite mindless, but when there's anything "wrong" or "ungentlemanly", that's when they act more. Their voices start to rise, despite still being mere whispers, growing more cacophonous and anxiety-inducing as they stare. Their judgement of anything odd is ceaseless, usually only calming at Mindkyll's demand or when the oddity leaves the ballroom.

Additionally, mindkyll can manipulate them to react in other basic ways, like acting charmed or shocked, and he usually does it for his own enjoyment. When a nightmare manages to get into the ballroom, the shadow people aren't targeted. Instead they grow more sinister looking, especially expression wise, and their mutterings take on a certain sharpness, their judgements growing harsher. Usually mindkyll needs to remove of the nightmare for them to act normally again.

_______

And that is the basics of the Mindscape! Once again, I'd absolutely LOVE any questions in reblogs, comments, or even my asks :3 thank you so much for reading all of this, I hope you enjoyed!!

[silver1silvia]

How I think a middle class person would dress in Tolas

[theeccentricraven]

World Building in 5

Thank you again @kaylinalexanderbooks for the tags. I'm making this for this tag but couldn't remember if that was the original post I did my first Blood Cleaners post (because Tumblr posts don't have dates....) but because of this open tag here I can say this is for that 😎❤️

Rules: post 3-5 pictures that capture a setting in your world and tell us about it! Remember to cite your sources and include image IDs to make your post accessible!

I've done this before for The Blood Cleaners link 1 link 2

Now I'm doing this for Sanctuary Calling!

Sanctuary Calling is a YA Dystopia set in a future where human civilization lives on Mars, the moon, and space stations, but only a few live on earth. It all began when human civilization was collapsing as a worldwide economic depression caused the governments of many nations to fail. The remaining few who held power formed a world government called the World Council or WC for short. One of the first measures they passed was declaring earth a reservation or "sanctuary", ordering the whole human race to evacuate earth and live in space. The only humans allowed to live on earth were societies that didn't use modern technology - the Maasai, the Inuit, the Sami, various tribal societies, and the Old Order of the Amish.

Nari is an ingenious teenage girl who has lived in a biodome on Mars her whole life. Decades after the evacuation order and many generations living in space, some humans are forming a secret rebellion to earn the right to return to earth. Nari joins the rebels who infiltrate a way back to earth. The plan goes wrong when Nari crash lands near the ruins of Cleveland. She uses her ingenuity to craft a device that flies her south, where she finds an Amish community. Nari's life has turned upside down now that she's gone from her high-tech life on Mars to a quiet electricity-less Amish farm.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4 | Source 5

Tagging: @ddgraywrites @gioiaalbanoart @happypup-kitcat24 @orphanheirs and OPEN ✨

[tingremlin]

I wish I had this much energy everyday, this is awesome. I've missed doing all these different things with my Oc's and developing their words SOOOOO MUCH🐠🌸

Maybe listening to nostalgic music is the creativity keeyy [Damn I love colors]