Fantasymap of Odand Aedohela -Old Land - with real buildings & fantasy elements. Map contains kingdoms with detailed roads and marked biggest cities, as well as mountain passes, rivers and forests. Heavily inspired by medieval illustrtaions and Marine map and description of the Northern lands from 1539 and others examples of old cartography.
Thanks for the ask, anon, this was something i would like to talk about before so i am glad you did :)).
There are things that definitely should’ve changed/never happenned in Fruits Basket. Also there are things that could’ve been better and the things i personally would like to change so here we go.
I think we should’ve seen more insight of Tohru. After all, she is the main character. I wish she take the control of her own story and become the narative of it, instead of hearing everything from other characters. We also should explore the side of her that she saw dirty, that she would do anything to feel secure because i think showing characters capable of being dark makes them more real and human. It should’ve happenned with Tohru too. This side of her should’ve been more explored.
Tohru should’ve treated more realistic, not everyone realize her pain and kindness and they shouldnt keep narrate her as if she is angel, its unrealistic. Because not everyone can love everyone, no matter how good you act, most people wont realize it and its okay. So basically that ‘main character’ and ‘shoujo’ power shouldnt happen. She is just a normal girl and she should’ve been treated that way. Tohru’s unhealthy behaours such as toxic positivity and people pleasure should’ve been adressed and she should learn to deal with her feelings better. That she stop smilling always and let her feelings be free.
And i think her parallels with Akito should be one of the biggest focus in story than romance.
Before continue, i would like to erase or at least adress every toxic and exist ideas in story. Just imagine that they all gone. Its a story about invidual’s importance than sacrificing their happiness for everyone, that its both important. Just imagine that they all adressed one by one and characters find the right ways. Because being ‘good’ person doesnt make you less toxic or justifiable. Its about challenging yourself every day so characters also should face consequences of their actions, not just one character.
Tohru’s besties Hana and Uo are still protective of her cause she make them worry but they are not overprotective or at least, later they should realize that they made Tohru more fragile by constantly trying to protect her.
The rivalry between Kyo and Yuki was more dramatic and brutal than comedy relief. Because the tension between them would be more than just comedy and simple fight.
I think Momiji is really cute little boy (kinda reminds me of Misha from Vnc). Foolish traveler story doesnt exist, he just mentions that Tohru’s kindness is not her being stupid to others and he wants them to realize her because in this story, not everyone realize her. He relates Tohru about this cause others dont realize him either in a way.
He is very fond of her and projects her mother issues on her, thats why he feels jeolous of Kyo, he doesnt want to loose his mother figure. He never view her as romantic interest. + Momiji doesnt really change when he become teenager like that.
Kana didnt loose her mind cause of what Akito said because thats ridicilous. Who would care random teenager’s words and loose their minds? Some maids blame on Kana for it, all the pressure around Kana made her give up and lead her to blame herself. Which is the side of story not many zodiac members know about.
Akito didnt try to kill Rin twice, the reason is its simply unnecessary. One time was enough for the plot. And it didnt happen with pushing from the window. (and its also pointless to get Rin hurt pyshically so its unnecessary). When Akito learnt Rin was going out with Haru, she put her to cat house and cut her hair. She put her there as punishment, later she let her go by thinking she understood her lesson. Its obviously traumatized Rin. Later, we met Rin with short hair at the first time. Later in story, we find out why her hair become like that even though it was shown as long in Haru and other zodiac members’s memories.
Kyo rejects Kagura and talk about how much uncomfortable he felt around her, that he doesnt love her cause she never give him a break, that she doesnt respect him as person, calling her out for her abuse. + Arisa never beats Kyo but just tease him as joke.
Ritsu was shown with his boy clothes when he was introcuded. He was seen as shy boy and at the end of story, he was shown in girl clothes as growth cause thats what who he really wants to be, that its okay to be himself, that he can enjoy with what he likes.
Haru had a love triangle type of relationship betwen Yuki and Rin and it actually adressed, instead of treating it as joke.
Rin and Haru never slept but they just kissed each others when they started going out. And actually they were more than just lovers, they were besties who supported each others. Also Rin never saw her body as something she can offer to others.
Ayame had a thing for Hatori and he is just besties with Mine.
Not every zodiac members like each others and they dont do that banquet meeting anymore cause they dont need it, they are free. Story also should’ve adressed other character’s flaws too, not just certain ones. And it shouldnt been treated as comedy relief.
Rin also gets friends outside of Tohru at school and after Tohru and Kyo talk, Rin and Kagura understand each others more and gets closed, like sisters.
And when Haru learnt that what Akito did, thats when he got mad. Also other zodiac members learn it later and feeling bad for not realizing sooner. Not just them, it even make Tohru uncomfortable so her lack of empathy towards Akito increase too.
Kureno always saw Akito as cute younger sister or even like his own daughter so naturally, he never had romantic or sexual desire for her. He witnessed her suffering and he decided that he had to protect her, even it means ignoring other people’s suffering. Because to him, his younger sister’s happiness was more important than anything. He also felt responsible for her.
And Kureno and Uo didnt have some kind of love story. Arisa had one sided crush/interest cause he was looking like male version of Tohru but Kureno never see her that way. Tohru wanted to see him cause she thought he needed to be saved too. The reason why Kureno decided to talk with Tohru because he saw her positive effect on zodiac members and decide to talk about his and Akito’s side of story. At the end, Kureno had a last talk with Akito at hospital. They talked about their feelings and suffering. And Kureno decided to leave for a while. They both wished happiness for each others.
Shigure, just like Kureno never really had romantic or sexual feelings for Akito but he was obsessive with her. At first, it was shown as he was obsessed with Akito, this is why he got jeolous of his secretive relationship with Kureno. He didnt sleep with Ren but he helped her in some authority cases, this is why Akito told him to leave from here. Then Shigure to decide to use zodiacs for his goal and after some time pass in story, we learn that what he was truly obsessive about was the connection between god and zodiac members.
Because of his neglective family and his position as zodiac in Sohma Place made him search a reason to live. He thought that he could achieve it by being the ‘special one’ for god so he used everyone for the sake of it. He is still the same jerk. But at the end, after the curse, he felt empty. At the end, he realized that what truly gave meaning to his life was his connection with zodiac members, not the ‘bond’ but it was too late because he used them as tool and in the end, most of them left him too. After all, actions have consequences. He also gets punched.
Katsuya was a few years older than Kyoko, they were in same high school. Katsuya’s father realized that Kyoko needed help so he let her live in their house to become family which lead Katsuya and Kyoko’s falling in love with each others. Then years later, they get married and have Tohru.
Akito never really fall in love with anyone, she was just really confused with her relationship with parents, maids and zodiac. She was acting flirty unconciously cause of Ren. She unciously imitate her mother’s seductive behavours sometimes.
Hana never had any interest on Kyo’s father even as joke but she casually tease him about Tohru. But when she randomly saw Akito at school, she found her hot without knowing who she is.
Kyo never witness Kyoko’s death. We dont need two death story to make it tragic. Its also cliche. Kyo met with Kyoko when he ws young but he never saw her death. When he found out that Tohru was her daughter and she id dead, she felt regret without ever telling her to goodbye.
(Honestly, maybe it would’ve been better if Tohru didnt end up with Kyo, instead they are just very close friends/they just became like that in the end).
I also think there should be another character besides Tohru who can be actually parental figure for zodiac members. Tohru’s taking mother role at young age is unhealthy and it would be very limited so there should be one more character besides her to help them. Maybe Kazuma can be one or another person who can fulfill that role.
Rin should’ve meet with Akito after Akito’s change and Rin lash out and scream about her pain and how she will not forgive Akito. I think they both need this talking at least. Akito also cries too by hearing, it lead her to understand the suffering her actions caused to others. Akito’s crying made Rin surprised. She doesnt forgive her there but now, she understands her change and why others are open minded about Akito. And they both just leave.
Story was longer than it actually was. We saw about the Sohma place people more and Tohru met with them and it actualy broke her, even lead her to act angry sometimes. And actually seeing parents like that made her feel so sad and frustrated.
Also story focus on more actual villains of story, abusive parents and how much it hurts their children. This part of story should’ve been adressed more. And their children should realize this too, that they also dont have to forgive them and they can have life without them too.
We should get more side of Akito. Since she was a character who will eventualy get redemption and the real curse is not just zodiac’s, its also her side, it is important. We get backstory of how she was groomed since her young age, as the lead of that place, as god, as ‘special one’ and how maids take advantage of her. Even after her encounter with Tohru, we get see her struggling and suffering more. Story doesnt end there.
After reaching out to Akito, Tohru request Akito to end the curse and Akito says she doesnt know how. Eventually they all become free, when they let go including Akito herself. It happens later.
At the hospital scene, when Akito asks ‘Why they they help me? Why are they kind to me? Why are you kind to me?’ to Momiji and he answers with ‘Well, you needed help so….isnt it only natural?’ with a smile on his face.
We see how sohma people start blaming on Akito for not being ‘proper’ leader. Even Ren tried to kill her. Which eventually made zodiac members realized that curse wasnt just on them, it also hers too as ‘god’. Because of Ren attempting to kill Akito, they realize that Akito cant stay here cause she cant even protect herself cause of guilt. She stays in mental hospital, gets help and Tohru and Hanajima often visits her. Later, Akito having a normal life with her friends at outside.
Since Tohru meets with Akito a lot, Kyo and Akito see each others a lot, they even become actually friends. Sometimes Kyo tease her by calling her god and her change. It also kinda make Akito embrass about it and smile. After all, cat and god was supposed to be close but Akito and Kyo only become friends after they stopped being cat and god so it was funny too.
Tohru and we audience learn more about the old zodiacs and how much brutal it was even in past. Past gods were even more cruel since it was old times. Tohru doesnt just stay in house and coincidently meeting with zodiacs, she also takes action to look for them and learn more about the curse and of course, she is really curious of them too.
Everyone eventually get to learn actual curse of story.
And maybe this is just me but i would like this story to happenned in fantasy world, idk i think it would be more interesting. With a little more magic, more drama and action, it would be really amazing, i think.
Well, i could write more and more but you get the point. This is my version of it. Its a lot more fun. I imagine something like this, its a lot better, i think. There might be things i forgot to say but for now thats it.
Been making some of my own brushes recently, so this piece was a bit of a tester :) Let me know if you guys are interested in this more painterly style
Would you stand before these gates as a friend, or as an enemy?
It is an immense team effort by the Lager der Elben construction team to put this stockade into place for each Epic Empires. The modules have to be carried to the location and assembled there, and after the event, they are again disassembled and carried to their storage location. My part in this was very small: During the original planning phase I gave feedback and Ideas to how it looks from the outside and what it should support gameplay-wise: Limited cover for defending archers and plenty of space where enemies can try to climb the wall.
I’ve had these character designs sitting in a folder for about a year…after rediscovering them, I figured why not do something with them, they look like they’ve got a story! My notes for the red guy say he’s a “fighting librarian” and the arm bands denote his librarian rank. I’ve got some world-building to do.
In 2012, I was working on a story called “Project VirscA”. It involved a space colony crashing into an alien world, where the survivors had to fight off Reptilian overlords with god-like technology. In order to write that story, I made a world map and gave locations their names.
Now 4 years later, I needed a world to give the creatures of Project Anima (Tronic) a home. So, I grabbed the old Davellir map, polished it up a bit, and now it looks better than ever!
Sure, the geological features are traced from the old map, but I think it looks nice now. I guess I did learn a few things in the past few years!
“Along the river The Scheldt in the Flemish Ardennes in Belgium, there are many ‘secret’ spots where Mother Nature has full control on the landscape. One of these places is the nature reserve The Rijtmeersen. For more than a year I wandered through the wild forests and open spaces of the nature reserve and I took about 15 000 images over a timeframe of one year. An enormous archive that expand more and more through the months, because my daily and if that isn’t possible, weekly walk in Nature with my camera is my must-do meditation. My archive is like a huge seed bank, where I can consult and use photos like they are seeds, to plant them in my hanging gardens. It reminds me of the zen-gardens I used to see all time when I was young, with sand and a miniature rake you could miniature garden and make yourself at peace again, all this while Buddha was smiling at you secretly. “
Round up of the 7 Sephalan Guilds of my fantasy world building Oberant ! In the future I hope to keep pushing the concept and design for each Guild, in the meantime I’m glad I got to introduce them to you ! What’s your favorite magic Guild ? (See my previous posts to help you decide ;) )
Looking for fellow creatives for a fantasy project!!
Hi all! I’m looking for other people who might be interested in collaborating on a hobby world-building project. !!Please help me find people by reblogging this post!!
[ID: Sketch of someone waving cheerfully at the viewer. end ID]
This world is designed to be the basis for a magic-based, multiplayer platformer fantasy game similar in ways to Maplestory and Fantasy Life, where the player character travels throughout various cool and magical realms. If you want to learn more about the world, please check out the information under the “read more” (I didn’t want the post to get too long).
Some stuff about me: I’m a Thai-American genetics student/researcher with heavy interests in evolutionary biology and Southeast Asian culture. I like to draw/design in my free time. I’m looking for people who are interested in contributing (to any degree), especially those who have an interest in biology, ecology, or sociology/anthropology. I would love to be able to work with other people from cultures that are underrepresented in the fantasy genre (though ofc not a requirement). No skills necessary!!! I’m able to handle all the art and visual design load on my own, I’m just looking for anyone imaginative!
I tend to be very realism-focused, so I’m hoping that input from others will help this world blossom into a more fantastical, wondrous setting. You don’t have to commit to anything–if you want, you can just hang around a bit and see if it interests you, or just provide input once in a while.
This is currently just a fun side-project that I work on in my spare time. I want to make it clear that even though I’m designing it with a videogame in mind, there really is no guarantee that it would ever get to that point, and I don’t want anyone to join with the hope that it would eventually pay off monetarily. I’ll make sure that anyone who contributes heavily will get a say in where the project eventually goes, if it turns out to last long.
Please contact me on Tumblr or Twitter to get involved! I plan on making a Discord server to keep all our collaboration in one place, invites given by PM.
[All images described in alt-text]
The premise of the world is that flora and fauna are not separate beings, but instead that all animals start their lives as plants, turn into animals, and then at death they create seeds which sprout into new plants. People also go through this life cycle–when they start out life they’re the huge, slow-growing plants that provide the structure for complex ecosystems (pine trees, kelp, huge cactuses), and then when they become people, their community cares for the ecosystem in question.
–MAIN GOALS– - To build a work in the fantasy genre that rejects the overwhelmingly common eurocentric and often colonialist setting, as well as incredibly popular westernized systems of fantasy morality (light v. dark, demons v. angels, etc) - To portray fictional cultures in a way that highlights the incredible diversity of IRL cultures without stereotypes or homogeneity - To show the interconnectedness of everything, including showing different groups of humans as being connected with each other and showing humans as part of the environment; actively rejecting contemporary notions of “mastery over nature”
!!Everything below here is subject to change!!
Since I’m heavily interested in evolutionary bio, I built the biology of this world on the premise that life evolved much like it did on our world, starting from a single organism and blossoming out into different branches. Humans, or rather “people”, evolved multiple different times whenever a complex, dense ecosystem arose. Here are the groups of people I’ve come up with. The player chooses which species they want to start out as, and the dominant weapons or magic style of that culture determines the combat style they first learn to use. (Each group of people has multiple different subcultures, but there would be one “main” subculture that players start out in.)
Merfolk/seafolk:
Perhaps some of the earliest peoples, seafolk start their lives as kelp and inhabit the thick kelp forests that surround many coastlines. They have a love for exploration and discovery, but generally avoid encroaching on land. Their magic generally has to do with water, and the weapons they use are mechanical crossbows and heavy blunt weapons (blunt weapons integrated with controlling/redirecting the flow of water to lend force to blows). I haven’t figured out which real-world cultures to draw on for inspiration for seafolk societies, since nobody IRL lived underwater, of course. This is probably the most open-ended group of people. They’re visually based on fish and salamanders.
Frostfolk:
These people start their lives as conifers and thus inhabit the taiga and tundra. Their magic mostly has to do with ice, cold, or wind, and their main weapon of choice is spears. In this group of people, I want to have different societies: a nomadic hunting/fishing society, a nomadic pastoral society, and a more sedentary river/forest-based society. They’re based visually on dinosaurs, specifically theropods, with perhaps more bird-like features.
(No name yet):
Related to frostfolk but now geographically isolated from them, these people start their lives as cycads and live in the tropics, especially on chains of islands. Some subcultures would be highly seafaring, while some would be more sedentary and involved with metal-working and smithing. For the sedentary cultures, their magic would revolve around utilizing fire, and weaponry would be small blades made from obsidian. They are also based on theropods, but would have more vibrantly colored feathers like tropical birds.
Dustfolk:
Based on carnivorous mammals, mainly cats, foxes, and coyotes, these peoples start their lives as succulent plants like giant cacti. They inhabit the deserts and canyons of the world and live a largely nomadic life. Their magic has to do with wind/sandstorms, and their main combat styles are focused on hand-to-hand combat, utilizing claw or knuckle weaponry.
Plainsfolk/brushfolk(?):
These people start their lives as deciduous trees, generally as part of savannas, or sparse forests on mountainsides. They are based visually on ungulates, mainly deer/antelope, goats, and pigs/boars. I plan to have a semi-nomadic subculture in the dry savanna, a more sedentary agricultural society in the tropical savanna, and a mountainous society. Their weaponry would use a combination of sword and shield, and they would utilize light magic by way of reflective metal or glass.
(No name here either… they’re humans):
Finally, there would be a species of primate-based people that start their lives as broadleaf evergreen trees and inhabit the tropical jungles of the world. Many of their societies would be agricultural, with some fishing river-based cultures. Their magic would be related to monsoons and thunderstorms, especially lightning magic, and they would use long, thin blades for fighting.
—
In addition to the “main” cultures of the world, there would be many cultural centers where multiple peoples meet and trade food, goods, and technology. People will not be divided by nation borders or “species”.
Currently, my idea is that combat is used to battle metaphorical representations of disease, malaise, generally bad and imbalanced things. I haven’t developed this part of the storyline too much yet, I just know some thematic goals I might have.
In addition to combat (either physical or magical-based depending on the player’s preference), players would be able to pursue a few different skills, like farming/breeding using a robust genetics system, tailoring/clothes-making, furniture/crafts-making, smithing, healing, cooking; as well as more “meta” hobbies like making maps and puzzles for other players to use.
Again, if you’re interested in getting involved or have any questions, you can reach out to me here on Tumblr or on Twitter.If people do end up being interested, I’d like to make a small community on Discord to chat with! Edit: We do have a discord server now, you just have to ask to join!
PSA to all you fantasy writers because I have just had a truly frustrating twenty minutes talking to someone about this: it’s okay to put mobility aids in your novel and have them just be ordinary.
Like. Super okay.
I don’t give a shit if it’s high fantasy, low fantasy or somewhere between the lovechild of Tolkein meets My Immortal. It’s okay to use mobility devices in your narrative. It’s okay to use the word “wheelchair”. You don’t have to remake the fucking wheel. It’s already been done for you.
And no, it doesn’t detract from the “realism” of your fictional universe in which you get to set the standard for realism. Please don’t try to use that as a reason for not using these things.
There is no reason to lock the disabled people in your narrative into towers because “that’s the way it was”, least of all in your novel about dragons and mermaids and other made up creatures. There is no historical realism here. You are in charge. You get to decide what that means.
Also:
“Depiction of Chinese philosopher Confucius in a wheelchair, dating to ca. 1680. The artist may have been thinking of methods of transport common in his own day.”
“The earliest records of wheeled furniture are an inscription found on a stone slate in China and a child’s bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating between the 6th and 5th century BCE.[2][3][4][5]The first records of wheeled seats being used for transporting disabled people date to three centuries later in China; the Chinese used early wheelbarrows to move people as well as heavy objects. A distinction between the two functions was not made for another several hundred years, around 525 CE, when images of wheeled chairs made specifically to carry people begin to occur in Chinese art.[5]”
“In1655,Stephan Farffler, a 22 year old paraplegic watchmaker, built the world’s first self-propelling chair on a three-wheel chassis using a system of cranksandcogwheels.[6][3] However, the device had an appearance of a hand bike more than a wheelchair since the design included hand cranks mounted at the front wheel.[2]
The invalid carriage or Bath chair brought the technology into more common use from around 1760.[7]
In1887, wheelchairs (“rolling chairs”) were introduced to Atlantic City so invalid tourists could rent them to enjoy the Boardwalk. Soon, many healthy tourists also rented the decorated “rolling chairs” and servants to push them as a show of decadence and treatment they could never experience at home.[8]
In1933 Harry C. Jennings, Sr. and his disabled friend Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first lightweight, steel, folding, portable wheelchair.[9] Everest had previously broken his back in a mining accident. Everest and Jennings saw the business potential of the invention and went on to become the first mass-market manufacturers of wheelchairs. Their “X-brace” design is still in common use, albeit with updated materials and other improvements. The X-brace idea came to Harry from the men’s folding “camp chairs / stools”, rotated 90 degrees, that Harry and Herbert used in the outdoors and at the mines.[citation needed]
“But Joy, how do I describe this contraption in a fantasy setting that wont make it seem out of place?”
“It was a chair on wheels, which Prince FancyPants McElferson propelled forwards using his arms to direct the motion of the chair.”
“It was a chair on wheels, which Prince EvenFancierPants McElferson used to get about, pushed along by one of his companions or one of his many attending servants.”
“But it’s a high realm magical fantas—”
“It was a floating chair, the hum of magical energy keeping it off the ground casting a faint glow against the cobblestones as {CHARACTER} guided it round with expert ease, gliding back and forth.”
“But it’s a stempunk nov—”
“Unlike other wheelchairs he’d seen before, this one appeared to be self propelling, powered by the gasket of steam at the back, and directed by the use of a rudder like toggle in the front.”
Give. Disabled. Characters. In. Fantasy. Novels. Mobility. Aids.
If you can spend 60 pages telling me the history of your world in innate detail down to the formation of how magical rocks were formed, you can god damn write three lines in passing about a wheelchair.
Signed, your editor who doesn’t have time for this ableist fantasy realm shit.
Some options for other disabilities and aids:
“Jack had an unusual pair of sticks, unlike anything Jill had seen before; they were much like canes, but rather than ending in a knot or handle they continued up into a pair of bracelets, held together round his wrists by a cunning slide mechanism. They kept him, she noted, quite sure of foot even on the steep ground.” (wrist braces; cerebral palsy)
“Fandir wore a ring around her ear. It looked something like a fancy collar, its edges tipped outward as though forming a funnel, and when she was spoken to she turned it in the direction of the speaker.” (hearing aid, based off antique “hearing trumpets”)
“Victor’s left arm was a marvel of the modern age–held together with a thousand miniscule steel plates and ten thousand tiny gears, wearing a small brazier, much like a jacket cuff, to fire the steam that moved its mechanical fingers.” (prosthetic arm, steampunk)
“Sasha carried one of the most unusual canes Mara had ever seen: it was longer than might be considered useful to someone her size, and hollow, its walls so thin it surely couldn’t hold her weight. Mara watched as Sasha swept the cane ahead of her. At first she thought Sasha was merely clearing a path, but then the cane struck a large rock, and Sasha neatly sidestepped it having never been told it was there. Ah, that solved the mystery, Mara thought: the hollow stick vibrated in Sasha’s hands when it struck, and its sound told her what danger she might face.” (white cane, blindness)
“Sibatyn clapped his hands over his eyes. ‘Here,’ said Yanit, ‘put your scarf over your eyes and take my arm. I can lead you until the lightning is over.’“ (avoiding flashing lights, photosensitive epilepsy)
“‘She grows quite ill on bread, even Rosie’s best,’ Sam lamented. ‘Can’t keep a bit of weight on her. It isn’t proper, for a hobbit.’ Gandalf nodded. ‘Have you considered, perhaps, feeding her on Elf-bread? She may take well to grains not often found in the Shire.’“ (special diet, Celiac disease, food allergies)
I literally had to think harder about what disabilities I wanted to represent here than I did about how to represent them. It isn’t hard. You have no excuse.
OP is spot on. Also, thank you @prismatic-bell for including the food intolerances/allergies one – that’s pretty much exactly how I handled it in my series. As with all of these, and indeed with many other forms of representation that sometimes get pushback in SFF, it’s just a matter of wording it in genre-friendly terms. Sometimes I get the feeling some people forget that’s an option, or it doesn’t occur to them. But obviously there is also often ablism and assumptions at play.
(I heard Gandalf’s lines in Sir Ian’s voice so that was fun :P )
Oh, hey, seems like a good time to talk about some of the fantasy Accessibility Aids in Leif & Thorn…
Iona:magic-crystal-powered hover-chair! The floating spell is savvy enough to give her a smooth path up stairs, but not powerful enough that you want her to drive it off a balcony.
…I mean, unless it’s a seriousemergency.
Multiple characters:prosthetic magic-crystal retinas/eyes! In most cases, it’s because they got an injury too serious to reverse with healing magic.
For Dex here, they have ocular albinism, which isn’t great for your vision in the long run, and decided to get out ahead of it.
Unfortunately, the spells aren’t magically non-glitchy.
Thorn:emotional support animal! His cat, Tiernan, helps him deal with PTSD symptoms via psychic soulbond. Also, she can see through the fourth wall.
Also seen here: Kale with his service dog, who helps him sort through benign-but-confusing visual hallucinations. She does a fair amount of emotional support off-the-books, too.
Multiple characters again:signed languages! In the page above we have Pato (in green), who is hearing but mute, and Leif (purple hair), who learned it for his job.
As in the real world, they don’t always get the respect they deserve – Leif didn’t even consider describing himself as bilingual until a third-party observer saw him giving a deaf person directions and pointed it out.
Multiple characters:hormone injections for dysphoria! Eventually replaced with hormone-regulating crystal implants, once they get the levels right.
…or, in the case of Imri (above), replaced by “turn into a vampire and get good at shapeshifting.”
Laurel: uh, mostly relying on other people for help! She has faceblindness, so she leans a lot on other visual cues, such as “what does your magical-girl costume look like?”
People who know her usually are good about IDing themselves… and her kid is good at IDing people who don’t know her.
(Come to think of it, if I tried to list all the Leif & Thorn characters where “other people being chill and accommodating” was an integral part of their disability handling, we’d be here all day. It’s not as easy to represent with a comic-panel visual as “cool magic prosthetics” are, but it’s definitely A Theme.)
