Sy & Quark do weird stuff

we write and other things. @syaraan @residentofthepresent

[unstableisingsociety]

Hi internet folks. 

Sy (@syaraan) and Quark (@residentofthepresent) here. 

This blog is for posting about the projects we are working on together.

We write for Life Series / Hermitcraft, Harry Potter / wider wizarding world (yes, I know), and other stuff (who knows what, yet)!

We are both, both world building nerds and scientists! So expect the expected combination of those two things from this blog. 

From the Void AU - #ftvau #fromthevoidAU - A greek myth inspired minecraft/mcyt worldbuilding project that Sy started back in 2023 and Quark joined in 2025. 

Things reblogged from, or created by @residentofthepresent - #quarks stuff

Things reblogged from, or created by @syaraan - #Sy's stuff

[spotlights-and-stars]

my favoritest thing in hermitcraft fanfiction is when it takes place in a pseudo-minecraft fantasy realm but the hermits are still sometimes described with their nationalities. like okay this is a world where magic exists and you can respawn after you die and the entirety of reality sometimes gets new features added and new worlds can be created out of thin air, each with their own accompanying otherworldly pocket dimensions, and some people have special admin powers that allow them to alter the fabric of reality, and gods/cosmic horror monsters/a weird cult called the Watchers may or may not inhabit the spaces in between existence. also Canada exists. Canada exists here and we are not going to address it

[unstableisingsociety]

Notes from Magical Physics 101 

Lecture 1: Introduction. 

09/02/2016 AD

Magic's interaction with the physical is facilitated by 4 particles/forces/waves (depending on the current interpretation you are using)

They are:

Push/Pull

This is the simplest one, allowing magic to be converted to momentum or vice versa.

[note to self: lecturer is very slow talker]

Restore

This is a force which essentially tries to return the amount of magic present to near 0, a small amount of this permeates everywhere, though it can be focused to make more effective

Maintain

This force tries to maintain an object's current form, which in this course will primarily be observed in contrast to the restorative force

Emulate

This is the one this course will look at the least. Its distinctness from the rest is subtle enough in this course, where we’ll primarily be using it to explain minor deviations from experimental and theoretical results. 

The main differences between Magical-Physical and purely physical interactions are as follows:

Magical-physical is less restrained by distance and time due to magic being seemingly disconnected from both or, at most, only slightly linked to spacetime.

Instead of forming atom-like structures with a nucleus and orbiting charges, these interactions are best thought of as forming knots. Additionally, they are a lot less stable. In general, these knots will be loosened over time by the opposing forces of restoring and maintaining. The arrangement of a knot determines its effects.  

A spell is generally a large burst of the same knot. The number of knots in a spell is generally measured with a logarithmetic method called Faries(Fr), with the formula being 10^Fr = knots

Magical-physical interactions are a lot more manipulable than purely physical interactions. For example, with enough control, it is possible to make an Einstein-Rosen bridge (wormhole). 

[note to self: already knew this]

Purely magical forces have no direct connection to the physical and often only bleed through into reality at points where there is an extremely intense amount of physical, or magical - physical forces occuring. Some examples of this would be black holes, a small amount at the boundary of an atom, and -notably the only man made example and the only one relying on magical - physical force- the philosopher stone’s power source the large hadron collider. 

The physical philosopher's stone is actually just the output valve of magical engineer Nicholas Flamel’s magical syphon, which operates by applying an intense amount of pull/push circularly, maintained by a strong maintaining force surrounding it to maintain a lack of restorative effects.

Reading for lecture 2:

Physical vs Magical-Physical Forces: A Starting Explanation; June 2003; Elizaveta Kane, Kahurangi Kauri Smith; pg 37-41

Further reading

Magical Conduits by Perenelle Flamel (1771)

[unstableisingsociety]

Computer simulations have no calculations that can account for the existence of Demigods. No probability calculations, no recorded statistics from other instances, not anything that could possibly work. So the first sign that this was not season 8 but a simulation should have been that Pearl and Grian weren't quite right.

[unstableisingsociety]

There are many, many worlds. Most are not named. They all have IDs, but names? Why would they need names? You memorize the ID of the world you grew up in, but you only call it "home."

Most worlds call themselves some sort of name meaning "home planet," "homeland," "place where we can rest," "place of safety," or "place of rest." Some of the older planets call themselves a name that means "stone." Some, those still affected by the conquests and battles of their histories, keep the names that other worlds gave them. Sometimes worlds rename themselves.

But world to world, planet to planet, server to server, most are known by only their IDs. The named worlds, well, they are all known for a reason.

[unstableisingsociety]

There are five layers to existence, to reality, to everything: Over, Aether, Ether, Nether, and Ender.

Over is both the simplest to explain and by far the most complex, because the Overworld is the universe as we know it (or as you know it; that is probably the better way to say it). It is planets and suns and distant stars, all separated by the cold, empty void of space. The closer you get to the Core, where magic once reigned, the odder things get. There is a higher concentration of planets made of floating islands, of spaces where the void is breathable, as if it were air by the sea.

If you get close enough to the Core, to the center of this galaxy, you find that planets themselves seem to cease to exist in favor of great rings drifting through space, grand floating islands hovering above nothing, and oceans without land beneath them. You step slightly further and now the air is breathable - the void, I mean. It is as if the chaos at the heart of the galaxy is simply a world as a server to itself, something created in chaos where order can reign, where life can survive, and death becomes something significant in its rarity.

The further from the Core you travel, out to the edges of the galaxy, the more you find something like an old sci-fi interpretation of planets and space. The further you travel out towards the edge, the fewer lingering remains of magic exist. Everything holds itself under its own power. Everything tends towards chaos with nothing to slow it down from its natural pursuit. Some worlds - some planets, called "servers" mostly these days - are entirely one biome, being too close or too far from their star for water and environments to truly thrive in their differences.

[unstableisingsociety]

From The Void AU

A Minecraft worldbuilding / MCYT Pantheon au project we have been working on. All things - if you trace them back far enough - come from the Void. Everything from nothing. The stars, the sun, and the moon, created out of the gaps in between them. What if Minecraft was a universe made of galaxies?

What if servers were planets?

What if the Hermits were a crew terraforming and building up cities on far away worlds? What if the magic that the heart worlds (the first servers) were built on was fading?

[residentofthepresent]

Advice for dealing with prophecies

Note to all aspiring antagonists: stop working against prophecy. Prophecy generally tells something that will happen and generally can't be stopped; however, most prophecies are very vague and have loopholes. USE THEM.

E.g.

prophecy:

Only young child x can kill you./child x will kill you

Solution:

Don’t try to kill them, raise them to rule alongside you forever, and enjoy your near immortality until they kill you as a mercy in your old age.

Prophecy:

You will die on (specific date).

Solutions:

Get involved in a game that involves the player character's death, play it, and die that day.

Alternate solutions include removing that date from the calendar

Prophecy:

Main rival can’t be kill be any man or blade.

Solution:

Send a woman with a hammer

[transmascmarypoppins]

why is this post completely broken in every way imaginable

[cecilsrandomeverything]

Broken notes… deactivated account… removed image….

Finally, we have them all.

[spacefinch]

In addition: OP’s name is just… gone. No “[insert username]-deactivated[insert a bunch of numbers]” as is the standard for deactivated blogs.

Just the world “deactivated.” Look upon their post, ye mighty, and despair.

[chatblancofficial]

It’ll be almost impossible to find this post unless it wanders across your dash.

[huewrite]

It wandered across mine. I shall help it travel forward.

[gossamermouse]

this is not a place of honor

[a-tragedy-in-perfection]

no highly esteemed deed is commemorated here

[residentofthepresent]

nothing is valued here

[syaraan]

What is here was dangerous and repulsive to us.

[residentofthepresent]

This message is a warning about danger

[gneissisanicerock]

The danger is in a particular location

[residentofthepresent]

it increases towards a center

[silm-somewhere-under-infinity]

the center of danger is here

[residentofthepresent]

of a particular size and shape, and below us.

[residentofthepresent]

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Mace Windu, Luke Skywalker, Plo Koon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia Organa, Bail Organa, Breha Organa, Owen Lars, Beru Whitesun Additional Tags: One Shot Collection, Reincarnation, Alternate Universe - Reincarnation Summary:

This is a collection of Star Wars What Ifs and AUs that we came up with and started writing. So far we have: 1) Plo and Mace Skywalker AU - Plo Koon and Mace Windu wake up post O66 in the child bodies of Luke and Leia.

[syaraan]

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Mace Windu, Luke Skywalker, Plo Koon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia Organa, Bail Organa, Breha Organa, Owen Lars, Beru Whitesun Additional Tags: One Shot Collection, Reincarnation, Alternate Universe - Reincarnation Summary:

This is a collection of Star Wars What Ifs and AUs that we came up with and started writing. So far we have: 1) Plo and Mace Skywalker AU - Plo Koon and Mace Windu wake up post O66 in the child bodies of Luke and Leia.

[syaraan]

The words made no sense to Plo. They didn't break through the chaos in his mind, he couldn't hear them. All he knew was the force and its brilliance and the fact that something was very, very wrong. Then, he found himself a different feeling. Like he needed to breathe, he needed to breathe, but something in him was telling him not to. Where was his mask? Where was his mask? If he took a breath, that would be...

His body was overwhelmed, his body gasped. And his mind, now more focused on this than his connection to the force, braced. Plo waited for the pain to come, but it didn't. It didn't. He opened his eyes. The world was bright, but his eyes didn't hurt.

Through the blur and what he felt must be moisture - Tears (but he couldn't cry…) - he could see what must have been the owner of the voice. The woman, well-tanned skin, young but worn. None of the creases of age, but the leathery texture of experience was etched deep in her face. But her tone was soft, her voice was kind, and on the face of someone who has lived through so, so much, her smile was gentle. But mostly, most importantly, in the force she was safe, in the force she was warm, in the force they were already bonded, and Plo did not know how.

Finally her words seemed to come through to him. "It's okay Luke, it's okay. Just a dream, just a nightmare. You're alright, you're okay. Don't worry, I'm not mad, I'm not mad. It's okay Luke, it's okay." She was comforting him. No, she was comforting Luke. Or was it Lukka? Plo looked down in his hands and... Oh. Oh. Oh. They were... human. Or at least humanoid. He knew a little of how humans worked and... Well, he didn't imagine they would feel quite like this. He was far, far too small for one, but then this woman was comforting him as if he were a child and looking again at his hands. It looked like he was.

read the rest here on Ao3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/82705196/chapters/217729706

[syaraan]

Let me tell you a story

(I know only the end)

The cacti hold all the water they need, though more is not unwelcome. But this? This water is iron, is salt. It runs off their spines and seeps into the sand. They do not know if they welcome this. They have no choice.

Spines are torn from waxy flesh into blooded shins, as one of them -the Players- half lifts the other into the spiky wall. Scars are hard and they do not tear anew in this battle. Perhaps a victor will walk away with skin like blooded armor. Cactus spines pose ready to plant themselves… but there won’t be a survivor here. 

Wings are bound only in promise. Though ‘only’ is not the right word. But even bound, feathers are stronger against thorns than threadbare shirts half opened.  

One pulls the other past the spines, outside the ring. The sun burns the desert sand. And it is a gash across the face, and a crack in the skull that kills him. 

The other, a victor not survivor, screams. And the flowers wilt in the forest. 

There are no tears to water the rocks for these eyes have no way to cry them. The void is lit with burning sun, and wings not bound by anyone, do not spread as Xelqua|Grian|Sol steps off the edge. As Xelqua falls, a thousand eyes, not quite aligned, watch the ghosts. A scared hand reaches out as if to catch… ‘Grian’ the ghost whispers. ‘Sol’ the voices sing. 

Under a cloudless sky, the cacti drink in the desert. Crowned in spines and sun beams, they wait.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[syaraan]

Let me tell you a story

(I know only the end)

Time has named it dawn, but the sun does not encroach into the darkness of the night. Those that are its, those that the sun has claimed as its own, are gone, are dead. Only one survives here. Only one player yet lives. And the sun refuses to rise on his victory.

Smajor can do nothing but laugh as the bloodlust leaves him. He can not grieve for the price of victory. He dares not notice the blood on his hands and sword. He takes but two leaps to scale the hill to where he is above the tree line. There, he deepens a puddle found in a small dip in the hill slope for the creature he carries in the bucket at his side.

This creature, -innocent of the blood, innocent of the tears, innocent of the pain that was dealt- Scott wishes will outlive him. But, watching the thin trail of blood in the water, he can only say, ‘at least we will not die alone.’

‘But alone you are, oh Loyalty’ the Void, the World whispers. ‘You who would not turn to betray them, you are alone in your victory. Weep!’ 

Scott ignores the red that drifts from his own fingers as he strokes her fins. He laughs, “Finally! Finally… finally.” The laughter turns to sobs and he yells at the stars and the night for surrounding him. “Finally,” he whispers, as a single star blinks out.

“Come with us” the voices call, and too focused on the stars not hidden by the dawn, Smajor does not see the bolt of sunlight that kills him.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[syaraan]

Let me tell you a story

(I know only the end)

There is blood on her scythe and blood in her hair. And blood in the fangs that hang around her throat that she cut from the carcasses of the wolves from her home. Wind and rain and sea and sky shall not wash it from her. It stains the snow that even now clings around the rims of her boots.

The sun sets behind her as she wanders up the slope. There is only one life left to take. She is the last of the pack. And with the moon in her eyes, she stalks her final prey.

She reaches the ridgeline. Her prey does not run.

For just but a moment, what little that is human in her,  What little she has not torn and fed to the wolves to be devoured - those wolves that are now dead - lingers with some breath of hope. Hope that still, Loyalty would not kill the wolf. But the void between the stars sings in triumph as finally Loyalty grieves. And the moon reflects the fire's light as it sings in victory. Oh how she wishes they could die alone. 

The rest (3rd life, last life, limited life, secret life) are up on Ao3

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works