Transformers/Humanformers and Such

Side blog for Transformers, Humanformers, and other au/art ideas. Main is @theeldritchdarling

[transformersmadnessandmore]

Hello!

Since I mostly reblog stuff on my main, I decided to create a side blog for my art, ideas, and other au/speculative nonsense I come up with. post will be irregular and infrequent 'cause I have no idea how to access this from my phone. If anyone knows how, please tell me. It would make posting on this blog a lot easier!

Main is @theeldritchdarling for those who are wondering

Update: Nevermind! I figured it out!

[theeldritchdarling]

How do they determine fertility? Is it possible to change it through acquired means? Would an individual pretend to possess stronger fertility in order to gain higher social status?

To what extent has their technology developed, roughly equivalent to which period of human history?

Answering out of order, because my brain finds the second question easier…

2. My AU takes place roughly the equivalent of the beginning of Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) and the Wild West (1865-1895).

Many people still live in frontier country, settlements are only a few generations old, and most people still rely on hunting and wild farming for survival.

The peoples the moved towards settlement lifestyles did so not because of farming but because of territorial disputes. Having settlements from your tribe instead of someone else’s shows this land belongs to you.

Factory farming is just barely getting started, and this will lead the push for an Industrial Revolution. But it won’t be kind, there will be bloodshed once this gets larger…

1. To answer the first question fertility/gender is determined by urine chemical reactions. Similar to how giraffes test ovulation, by causing the females to urinate and tasting urine, once they reach puberty young Areians are told to urinate into a bowl. This urine is mixed with a chemical solution which causes a chemical reaction (color change, smell change, and or consistency change). Different types of reactions are associated with different levels of fertility (Fertile, Extremely Fertile, and Infertile).

Have people attempted to alter or fake their gender? Absolutely. Because of the fluid nature of fertility, people can use artificial means to alter their hormone levels to give them either a higher or lower level of fertility depending on their wants and needs. But this is heavily punished, sometimes even by death, depending on their wants and culture. Many see a gender an infallible even when it isn’t, similar to humans. So if anyone wanted to change their fertility/gender they would have to go about it in secret.

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

Types and environments:

Homo Rapax/Killer Folk can be divided into five phenotypic groupings based on environment.

1. Plains/Flatlands (Homo Rapax - Eduro)

2. Mountains/Highlands (Homo Rapax - Auditus)

3. Tundra/Oceanic (Homo Rapax - Sirena)

4. Desert (Homo Rapax - Tolerantia)

5. Hairless/Island (Homo Rapax - Implumis)

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

Homo Rapax Implumis - Hairless Areians

Out of all the Areian phenotypic variants, Hairless Areians are considered one of the strangest and elusive groups.

As their group name suggests, Implumis is primarily hairless. Even more so than their Homo Sapien Sapiens ancestors, Implumis is 80% completely hairless. Only the groin area and top of the head possess any amount of hair.

Because of this lack of skin protection, Implumis thermoregulates via continuous sweating.

Implumis is native to the third largest continent along with its nearby islands. This continent is the only one that exists exclusively in the planets tropical zone.

This, plus its continents isolated location means that Implumis evolved without any interference or competition from other animals. Resulting in its lackadaisical and isolated nature.

Little is known about the ethnic groups or cultures of Implumis. What is known is that they are the only Diurnal (active during the day) group of Areians. And that they only meet for mating. Implumis is incredibly isolationist and solitary. Even members of their own group will be kicked out; choosing to be highly territorial and violent if others enter an individuals territory.

Pups will stay with the carrier parent until they are about 10 seasons old. Then they are promptly kicked out or fight their parent/siblings for territory.

[theeldritchdarling]

Question.

1. Is there a ritual marking the transition from childhood to adulthood (coming-of-age ceremony)? What specific requirements does this group have regarding the responsibilities, abilities, character traits, or social roles of an "adult"?

2. Must one have an heir or be an heir, and own property (house, land), in order to be considered a "complete person"?

3. Which causes of death are considered noble and praiseworthy? For example: dying for family revenge, dying in battle for the tribe/country, dying for one's faith, dying to protect others, etc.

4. Is the group pluralistic and inclusive, without an absolute center (e.g., federation, alliance, polycentric), or does it have a clear authority, holy site, leader, or value system as its center (e.g., monarchy, theocracy, single-ethnicity center)?

5. Is revenge a mandatory duty (non-delegable) or can it be renounced or transferred (delegable)? Is the duty of revenge passed down through bloodlines from generation to generation (e.g., a father's debt paid by the son, blood revenge must be taken), or is it limited to the parties directly involved and not passed to descendants?

6. What is the group's level of identification and loyalty toward the "state"? If the concept of the state is weak, what is the primary unit of identity — is it the family/clan, or social class/stratum?

Across cultures and religions when an Areian enters puberty (12-15 seasons) their pheromones become stronger, indicating that the pups have started puberty. A ritual is conducted to determine the child's adult gender; urinating in a bowl then mixing said urine with a chemical cocktail. The changed color, smell, appearance, and texture determines the adult gender the child is now assigned. Adults are responsible for more complicated tasks such as hunting, manual labor, skilled labor, and politics. Once a child’s adult gender (fertile, extremely fertile, and infertile) has been determined they begin apprenticeships and training under the other adults of the same gender. Work and labor is divided via genders; Child (Basic house chores, farm work, and care), Elder (childcare and education), Infertile (housework, low labor, and servant work), Fertile (Scavenging, farm work, and craftsmanship), Extremely Fertile (hunting, craftsmanship, and politics). However, an Areian isn’t considered an official adult until their early twenties. Once twenty seasons an Areian can wear a significant marker (often jewelry or other ornamentation) that signifies that they are an adult and no longer need to be cared for by the Elders. And, that they can no longer be around the children unless nursing.

It’s actually gender that determines “personhood”. Child and Infertile are not considered “people”; children because they are still young and don’t have stake in society and Infertile because they are incapable of having children. (Ability to have kids/number of kids = personhood)

Any form of death that happens in “batttle”. This is ill defined and changes from culture to culture, but dying for the clan, tribe, and family is typically seen as noble.

Most cultures do not have a singular ruler as their center of government. Instead the practice of a geritocracy, rule by elders, is at play. Simply put, once those of the Fertile and Extremely Fertile genders have reached the gender of Elder they are automatically given status and authority. Areians assume that Elders are the only ones capable of both raising pups and making the more difficult decisions because they have the lived experience and history to support their claims.

It depends on the grievance and severity. It is not considered okay for an individual to just go out and seek retribution. Instead a comity of elders will be created and they will decide if revenge is justified. And the severity will differ depending on situation. At the small end, a fine and community service is given. At the larger scale, the perpetrator is killed and/or the entire family clan is dissolved and sold off into servitude.

The highest level, at this point in my AU, is loyalty to the tribe/culture one is raised in. The concept of “The State” isn’t an actual concept yet.

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

Ursula with xer foster family @rosetta222 Killer Folk ocs!

Ursula loves and is grateful for xer foster family .They gave xem a home, a family, and love. But it wasn't always perfect. Being both a Mountain Areian and an Accurst meant that Ursula had to deal with a lot of discrimination and cruelty growing up. Coupled with xer chronic mental illness that no one knew how to deal with, Ursula sadly felt rather isolated and alone even when surrounded by loved ones.

Which is why leaving and going low-contact was both the best and most painful decision Ursula ever makes.

[theeldritchdarling]

Lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, partial solar eclipses, full moons, blood moons. Do they have any effects? Are they cultural or physiological? Positive or negative?

Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moons - Many cultures probably see it as an auspicious event. Especially if all three moons are affected.

Solar Eclipse - Isn’t given the same regard as most Areians are Crepuscular (active during dawn/dusk) or Nocturnal (active during the night). Hairless Areians might view them with cultural significance, but their elusive and solitary nature makes it difficult to know.

Full Moons - Depends. Probably not given much significance beyond common folktales. With three moons, it is a much more common development. All three of the moons being full is exceedingly rare, so is given reverence across many cultures.

New Moons/No Moons - Treated as a fearful or frightening event because of its rarity. Seen as an ill omen across many cultures.

Any physiological effects are probably psychological or cultural.

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

All Tomorrows/Killer Folk AU

(Beaumont and family belong to @rosetta222)

General story idea that I want to write one day (not really a fanfic writer, but maybe one day):

1. Ursula returns home from xer apothecary/midwife training. Finally reuniting with xer family after many seasons apart.

2. Attempts to return to routine, but the reality of xer situation prevents that:

a. Xer status as an adoptive child, Mountain Areian, and as an Accurst comes up quite often. Showing the distance between xem and xer family.

3. The revelation of xer mental disorder and xer attempts to manage it.

a. Revealed they’ve just recently gotten symptoms (schizoaffective disorder/schizophrenia typically shows up when the individual is in their late teens early twenties).

b. Family doesn’t fully understand it and it becomes clear they do not understand xer need for xer medication.

4. Difficulties balancing current lifestyle with xer mental health spring up:

a. Taking meds constantly and family being on xer case for xer medication/long hours of work w/o any appreciation (work constantly undermined or ridiculed by others)

b. Family attempts to help only exacerbate issues further (failing to see their own privileges and differences).

5. Attempts to discuss issues fall on deaf ears.

a. Deeper exploration of the culture and politics xey live in.

b. Realization that “Home” is no longer/maybe never was safe.

6. Flashback to how xer joined the family and xer early childhood.

a. Revelation of how different life was for xer compared to xer adoptive family.

7. Heart-to-heart with xer oldest adopted sibling and reveal that xey will be going low contact from now on; xey love xer family, but xey realized that xey will always put xer politics and status above xer wellbeing.

[rosie-dear-rosie]

I love you speculative biology. I love you worldbuilding projects. I love you creature design. I love you fantasy biology. I love you speculative evolution. I love you science fiction.

[theeldritchdarling]

All Tomorrows - The Areia Project: A Side Story

Alcide, Beaumont, and associated OCs belong to @rosetta222. Ursula belongs to me. (Just me trying and practicing to write out some characters and their characterization. Trying to flesh out my world a bit more)

Note: ‘We’, ‘Our’, and other plural terms in quotes refers to the character using the individual we and not the collective we.

“Of all the bloody fekkin’ nonsense! What were you thinking! You WERE thinking correct?”

“Yes. Yes ‘we’ were thinking.”

“Than WHAT bloody thought possessed you to do this?!”

Ursula gestured to Alcide’s current state; ‘Their’ chest, arms, and stomach were littered cuts, slashes, and gashes of varying shapes, sizes, and depths.

The worst was a set of six gashes cut diagonally across ‘their’ chest and stomach.

Ursula could only click ‘their’ and scrunch ‘their’ nose and eyebrows at Alcide’s current state. Alcide needed stitching. Which required sewing up the wounds. WHICH required shaving of the fur near the wounds. No one’s favorite pastime.

Areians took pride in their furs and manes. Furs and mane were symbols of status and health. Soft furs and long manes meant a person was of great standing and caste.

Alcide’s patchwork chest and twisted wispy mane gave the opposite impression.

Alcide could only grumble. Knowing no answer would be satisfactory for their sibling’s aggravation.

The two fell into an awkward silence. Ursula cleaning and clearing the wounded areas and Alcide responding with small twitches and grunts at the disinfectant and shears coming near ‘their’ wounds.

“You know-“

“Alcide don’t-“

“Just listen-“

“‘We’ are NOT in the mood for this-“

“Just listen. Please. What they said was wrong. ‘We’ know you would prefer to just walk away, but ‘we’ can’t. You’re my sibling. My family. And THAT should be respected.”

“If only it were that simple, Al. But it doesn’t change-“

“NOT that Simple?! It IS that simple! And what do you mean it doesn’t CHANGE anything?!” You are a part of my family! You ARE family! And that should mean something.”

“It DOES mean something. But it does not change how they view ‘us’. Nothing will…”

“And WHY Not?!”

“Because I’M different!”

Alcide eyes had gone wide, chest heaving up and down. ‘They’ starred at Ursula. Having not seen this side of ‘them’ in a very long time.

“I’m different. And nothing will change that.”

Ursula stared down at ‘their’ hands. ‘Their’ hands. The obvious physical marker of ‘their’ difference. Of everything that the world hated about them. ‘They’ wouldn’t dare look in the mirror. Two inky black pools with golden slits. The proof. The proof to the world. That ‘they’ were wrong.

Alcide’s mouth gaped up and down. No words spilled forth. For there was no way to deny truth.

“Grrrrr.”

A series of growls escaped through clenched teeth. Alcide’s fists clenched at the cruel realty.

“It still isn’t fair.”

“Life is not fair nor unfair. It just is. And there is nothing crueler.”

A tense silence entered the space between once more. Ursula returned to ‘their’ work and Alcide simply stared upward. For nothing could be said that would alter cruelty.

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

Homo Rapax - Killer Folk/Areians: Diet

Homo Rapax is an Obligate Hypercarnivorous sophont. Meaning over 60% of their diet and necessary nutrients must come from animals and animal products. Meat, milk, bones, and fats of an animal are all necessary nutrients for Homo Rapax because of their limited diet.

The only non-animal nutrient sources Homo Rapax is capable of consuming are root vegetables, fungi, and squashes.

An adverse effect of this limited diet is that Homo Rapax suffers from Auto-Brewery Syndrome. Grains and fruits are incapable of being digested without being fermented in the process.

This has lead to a common cultural phenomenon of bars, taverns, and other communal eateries offering breads, fruits, and fruit dishes as an alcoholic option. Alongside regular alcoholic beverages.

[alltomorrows-theareiaproject]

Homo Rapax - Killer Folk/Areians: An Overview

Lifespan: ~400 Earth years (~80 Seasons)

Diet: Obligate Hypercarnivore

Adult Height: Varies by group; 5-10ft/152.4 cm-304.8 cm)

Adult Weight: (Varies by group; 100 lbs-600 lbs/45.3 kg-272.1 kg)

Areians are a bipedal, digitigrade, hominoid sophont descendant of humanity (Homo Sapien Sapien).

Homo Rapax, similar to Homo Sapiens is an altricial (young appear decidedly different than their elders) and viviparous (birth to live young) sophont. They are also a bisex species with an inseminator sex and a gestator sex, same as humans. Compared to humans however, Homo Rapax possesses minimal sexual dimorphism between the inseminator and gestator sexes; outside of nursing and pregnancy, both sexes possess relatively flat chests, retractable, phallic genitalia, and wider hips because of their digitigrade stance.

Homo Rapax is a highly communal sophont species. With child rearing, courtship, partnerships, and sleep being done as communal acts.

[theeldritchdarling]

All Tomorrows/Killer Folk AU: OC Mental Health Disorders and Symptoms

WARNING: This post mentions several different mental health disorders, their symptoms, and the rather unhealthy self-medicating and coping practices of my All Tomorrows/Killer Folk oc. Reader discretion is advised.

Because I’ve given Ursula so much trauma, I figured that she would have at least a few mental health issues. This does not make light of these issues and I recognize how debilitating many of these can be without proper treatment. This is done primarily as a character study and understanding of how my character interacts with the world.

Schizoaffective Disorder - Bipolar Type: Developed this in their late teens and has been doing their best to manage the symptoms. Ursula’s primary symptoms are

1. Severe auditory hallucinations

2. Manic and depressive episodes (ranges from a few hours to a few days)

3. Difficulties with time management and personal care (will deteriorate without aid or proper medication)

Multiple Anxiety Disorders, most of which she had dealt with since she was a child

1. Selective Mutism - Has dealt with this since the murder of her family and has learned Hunter’s Sign, a modified variant of sign language that focuses on hand/arm and ear movements, to communicate

2.Panic Disorders - Primarily panic attacks and continuous night terrors. Mostly manageable, but the night terrors continue.

3. Separation Anxiety Disorder - Was much worse when she was younger, but has learned to cope with it.

This also manifests as physical issues such as ear pulling, hair/skin pulling (to the point of balding or scarring), and constant rocking and humming to self-regulate.

Ursula doesn’t have the best methods for coping. Her primary method is with catriss smokes. Catriss is functionally a cross between catnip and marijuana. A major relaxant with fairly addictive properties (sense of euphoria and calm). A risk of taking in large doses is death or near death experiences (functions such as heartbeat and breathing risk being slowed or stopped completely with overdose).

By inhaling it, the user is able to relax. Ursula uses it to reduce the effects of her Anxiety Disorders and is able to minimize her mania and hallucinations. It doesn’t remove them, but it does keep them near manageable. (Smokes as either cigarettes or hookah)

Will also turn to emotional eating and alcohol consumption (fruits or breads) to reduce stress. Does okay with managing her mental disorders and consumptions so long as she is able to minimize outside stressors. Relies on her pack mates to help keep her organized and maintain balance.

[theeldritchdarling]

All Tomorrows/Killer Folk AU: OC design inspirations

Some facts about Ursula’s design -

Xer fur color and marking are loosely inspired by those of bobcats and red foxes (Xer ear tufts are from the bobcat and xer arm/leg markings are from the fox)

Xer facial markings are also based on jitsu r masks and their markings

Xer outfit is meant to be a cross between Plains, Mountain, and Accurst fashions:

1. Plains is meant to be inspired by Western (1803-1912) and Victorian (1867-1901) Fashion. Hence, the inspiration for xer pants, military boots, and hat.

2. Mountains is meant to be a loose mix of Minoan and Peruvian/Andean fashion (ie: the poncho tunic with deep v-neck).

3. Accurst, at least in my head, is a cross between Romani/Roma and Mesoamerican fashions. The only semblance now is her bone jewelry and pendant (bones, along with volcanic glass, are the most common sources for jewelry).

[theeldritchdarling]

All Tomorrows/Killer Folk AU: Three-split souls and Ages (Seasons)

Unlike humans, Areians wouldn’t have an Age of Reason. Because Areians don’t view themselves as “Thinking animals that feel” they are “Feeling animals that think” and split their souls as such.

Their Corvid companions/soulmates represent memory and logic/reasoning respectively. While Areians themselves represent empathy/emotions.

“Shoot first, ask questions later” is definitely the motto of the Areian species. Prone to emotional outbursts and reactions, add in the sexual fervor thanks to their seasonal libido (known as the hunger of the hunt), without their soulmates, Areians are known as The Killer Folk for a reason.

Corvids act as the rational thought and cooler heads of the trios. Using their vast and far better long term memory to recall information and apply it to the now. Hence the importance of the Corvid Order to maintain borders and monitor trade.

For Areians their Ages (called Seasons because this is their base unit of measurement for long periods) would probably be something like this:

1. Season of Expansion/Ruin - Industrial Revolution leads to advancements in technology along with the rise and growth of factory farming and company towns.

2. Season of Rebellion and Bloodshed - As the growth factory farms and company towns persists, resentment and frustration grow from Nations and tribes whose lands are being taken and destroyed thanks to factory farm practices.Small rebellions slowly turn violent and bloody as risks of food scarcity grows eminent and smaller families that had relied on the larger clans for protection and security in exchange for their services grow restless. In an attempt to quell a potential rebellion, the larger clans redirected the smaller families anger towards the company towns and factory farms. Claiming they were the ones causing as this strife because they were causing Sickness to the land.

3. Season of War and Advancement - With newfound passion and anger, the nations turned and waged war on the company towns and factory farming settlements. These settlements, majority made of smaller clans and families weren’t prepared for the initial onslaught, and forced to retreat. They made up for it by being more than prepared for the consecutive battles after. What they lacked in might and numbers, they made up for with technological advances. Advances in weaponry and technology became commonplace as both groups used gorilla warfare tactics to attack, steal, and manipulate the other side to their advantage. With the Nations and larger families eventually getting the lead as they began to replicate and advance the settlements weapons. Resulting in them pushing back the settlements to only a few isolated areas and groups.

4. Season of Empathy - After the wars, the lands were left devastated. To combat this, the Nations worked to heal the lands, but angered by the settlements, whom they blamed for this, pushed the settlements into fallow lands and forced them to pay huge tithes and repentance. Out of this cruelty, a new philosophical movement was born, Empathy. Empathy pushed for compassionate understanding and calmer reactions. Hurt and horrified to the actions of the older generations, Empathists rejected the belief systems of their ancestors and made attempts to open communications and trade with the settlements.

5. Season of Decadence and Expansion - Empathy lead to power and corruption and soon enough, the Season of Empathy morphed and twisted into one of debauchery and scandal. New clans and families born from Epathists thinkers took advantage of this new era and amassed vast amounts of wealth and power. Creating the first kingdoms and empires. Pushed by greed and want, these powers did what many once thought sacrilegious: crossing the Null into the unknown. Mapping the world and eventually learning of the new lands and peoples who inhabited them. And seeking to conquer them.

6. Season of Revolution and War - Endless conquests and violence gave way to complacency and weakness. Fed up with the useless of rulers, the conquered peoples of the world rebelled and gave one last glorious pushback against the settlements. Having grown complacent from the ever flowing import of goods, most were not prepared for the coming war and many more perished within it. Pushed to the brink of extinction, the settlements were finally and permanently beaten down.

7. Season of Exploration and Reconnection - Once vast and great empires, the settlements were reduced to small and confined city-states with limited power. The Nations regained control and returned to their previous ways with the modern advancements of the many wars and trials of the previous Seasons. The settlements became places of violence and filth thanks to overcrowding and limited resources. Space exploration and alien outreach was primarily funded by powerful clans and tribes thanks to their vast swaths of resources. The first connections with other post-humans were made and soon the Second Empire came into being.

[theeldritchdarling]

Silly videos of my dog sent to me while I was away at college 10

[theeldritchdarling]

Silly videos of my dog sent to me while I was away at college 9