Twenty Percent True

I'm Carolyn Rahaman, and I write novels, short stories, and the Twenty Percent True Podcast, short stories about modern monsters. Buy me a coffee and become a patron

[oakleybillions]

Did you know? To protect themselves from natural predators, certain species of mermaid have adapted to using coral as a natural camouflage!

Hehe happy mermay! Love drawing funny fish people

[simkaye]

Just vibing bro 🏳️‍⚧️

[michelletolo]

Here's a painting I made for the ImagineFX art challenge "Mystical Meets Machines".

The theme was too intriguing to pass by - especially after I got the idea of some unicorns grazing by the remnants of an ancient, mechanical dragon. Someone in the past were keen on acquiring the great powers of a dragon for themselves, leading to a bitter end. Now it has rested peacefully for centuries, becoming part of the landscape.

Lots of fun painting this one, especially all that moss!

Photoshop, April 2024. And as always, no AI used.

[thecollectibles]

Seekers by Eugen Papen

[devinellekurtz]

Freeing the Beach Spirits

[generaljenobi-deactivated202411]

[ironmyrmidon]

I think necromancy wouldn't be outlawed in your typical wizards-are-common fantasy world. Not for moral reasons, but for economic reasons. I think most lords would be unable to resist the allure of having their peasants continue to plow their fields after death or having guards that never fall asleep or need to step away from their station. Your local baron probably already has a court wizard. They would probably command their court wizard to at least learn the fundamentals of necromancy.

Also, considering how many real world nobles pursued immortality, at least some of your wealthier nobles should be liches or ghosts. What king would choose to die and bequeath their kingdom to their squabbling failsons when they can just become a death knight?

From a religious angle, if ghosts are a real and observable phenomenon, then surely any sensible church would tell people that their soul goes to heaven while their body stays on earth. What kind of virtuous person wouldn't want their corpse to help provide for their children? In fact, don't you kind of have a moral obligation to leave behind your physical attachments when you ascend to the afterlife?

Adventure hook: kill the lich lord of this land, but only so that their son can claim the throne and enact some moderate necromantic reforms. No more ghosts, but of course your corpse is still the property of your liege lord.

[emily-e-draws]

don’t worry, they’re friendly..? 🐉🗡️✨

[spitblossoms]

[w1lmuttart]

The lake town

[ex0skeletal-undead]

Dead Slow, acrylic on paper by DanielKarlsson

[zegalba]

Naoki Ito: Urban Nature (2009)

[sttinkky]

An overgrown light pole in Poland

[falseknees]

[chriskotiesen]

[stitchy-face]

[OC] Get jiggy with it

Watercolor, ink, gouache on cold press watercolor.

[thestuffedalligator]

Cooking horror game where you play as a cook working in the galley of a ship in the 1800s. There’s some kind of supernatural nautical horror story going on in the background but you barely notice this because you spend all day cooking in the galley.

[muffinlance]

As the game goes on you have to cook for fewer and fewer people but their orders--and the ingredients they bring you--become increasingly unhinged