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intothisshadow
( More this way... )duskpeterson
Free at my website.
Blood Vow (The Three Lands). He has taken a blood vow to the Jackal God to bring freedom to his land by killing Koretia's greatest enemy. But what will he do when the enemy becomes his friend?
New installment:
Side story | Heir. Secrets can destroy. Secrets can also heal.
New omnibus:
Blood Vow: Novel and Side Stories.
Tempestuous Tours (Crossing Worlds: A Visitor's Guide to the Three Lands #2). A whirlwind tour of the sites in the Three Lands that are most steeped in history, culture, and the occasional pickpocket.
New installments:
My fiction announcements are also available by e-mail and feeds.
flareonfury
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xmen100 
@ mcu100 
@ xmen100
@ mcu100galorechallenge Round 14 is now open! Officially finished uploading all the old prompts. I still need to add new prompts/crossovers since nothing new has appeared, feel free to suggest prompts/crossovers HERE. Still need to make a new promo banner & header but meh, I haven't felt like it honestly.intothisshadowI've now been on Linux Mint only for 2 months! I deleted Windows 11 off entirely January 9, 2026 and even though I was a little worried I'd come to regret it, so far I have not! I haven't needed Windows for anything. I'm so happy with Linux Mint!
Even the two apps I was sorry to lose with Windows, Paprika Recipe Manager and Scrivener, I managed to get working once I discovered Lutris ✨ Those two are the only Windows apps I'm stil using, and not that much. Paprika also has an Android version which I have on my phone so that's great.
In other great news, I actually managed to install the otwarchive software (the software that is developed for and runs A03) on Mint. It was not any easier now than back in 2017 or so when I tried the first time. Let me tell you, it was an exercise in frustration! I followed the otw's Docker Desktop installation instructions, had trouble getting my head around Docker but once I did, I mostly figured it out and got the otwsoftware up and running. Except the default installation come with a controller, css and database error, and not being familiar with ruby/rails/whatever, I could figure it out myself. But suddenly it dawned on me to ask AI, and so to Gemini I went. It solved the controller problem in 1 minute, css in another (I had been banging my head on the wall otwarchive wall for 2 weeks by then!), and then the database problem as well and low and behold, I had a otwarchive up and running without any errors! Yay!
... And no yay. 3 times out 4, everytime I'd start otwarchive, docker would come up with an error: ghost container/image and the otwarcheve would not load at all. So, back to Gemini to troubleshoot. And we did, for three days. Nothing worked, always the ghost thingy and always full reinstall. Until after I asked Gemini, is Docker Desktop necessary to run it because that seems to be the problem, can Docker be run from terminal. At that point, Gemini told me that there's native Linux docker engine and it might work better in my system given I've been having such problem with the Desktop version. So with Gemini's instructions on how to remove Docker Desktop fully, then how to install the Linux docker native engine and finally otwarchive itself. And... IT WORKS!!!! 🥳✨
This docker raw engine version is SO MUCH faster than the Desktop was, and not a single ghost container/image/whatever since then. Or any other problems - otwarchive's on my laptop been working like a dream with the native engine! And it's very easy to start and shutdown. I made some aliases and bash script to make it easy. The reason I wanted to try and get the otwarchive on my laptop is because I'm curious, and because it'd be easier to develop site skins that way. Gemini also helped me create a python script to automatically update the site skin css I'm working on, so now I don't have to save it, copy, go to AO3/my otwarchive, find the skin and open it, paste the css, save. The script does all that automatically for me while it's running! So cool 🥳
duskpetersonThe protocol for entering the palace changes from time to time, so I can only offer a general outline. If your business is with the court or council, you should present yourself and your credentials to the guards at the southern gate of the outer wall of the palace. It is best to arrange beforehand for your visit. If this not possible, or if you cannot provide an exact time for your arrival, expect to wait as your credentials are sent into the palace to be checked.
Normally, you will be provided with an escort into the palace. If you arrive at a time before the palace begins its day, you will be expected to make your own way to the eastern gate of the inner wall. There your credentials will be inspected again, along with any document that the palace has sent out, permitting your entrance. You will then be allowed to enter the inner wall and make your approach to the palace itself.
The palace being located atop a high hill, you will find yourself faced with the steepest and longest set of stairs in the world. Pace yourself. You may wish to bring refreshments to partake of at the halfway mark.
At the top of the stairs, once you have recovered your breath, you should show your credentials and palace document to the guards at the gate, holding them up for inspection. The guards may not appear to look at you or even notice you. Do not be deceived. Those are real spears they are holding across the doorway.
If the guards grant you entrance, they will lift the spears. If they do not, you must retreat to the palace's inner wall and determine there what the problem is.
Assuming you manage to pass all these barriers, you will find yourself in the entryway to the palace. You will be guided at this point through the remaining stages of reception, which vary according to your rank and status. At some point, however, you will be let loose from Emor's protocol and permitted to take your own path. Let us start with a general introduction to the Chara's palace.
[Translator's note: This breathtakingly long procedure can be cut short if you possess the right credentials, as can be seen in Breached Boundaries.]
goodbyebirdao3_isdown, so come on over.fannishtarot and running a Make Your Own Fandom Tarot event for a good long while now, gathering some quotes and such here and there. I think it would be such a rewarding way to deep dive into the tarot and also your own fandom(s) and fannish inclinations. Like, who or what would The Fool be to you in your chosen fandom? I think it'd be an excellent way to internalize a bunch of significators, etc. But I am not getting that started until I have a bunch more prep under my belt lol. I'd basically have to amass six months of posts beforehand, to make room for work schedules, travel, the occasional downtime/brain crash.scifirenegadeconradveidt community is up and running! There a Movie Tournament Poll happening, and the film that wins will be highlighted for a whole month!
thisbluespiritgoodbyebirdyoutuberecs is a fun community I just became aware of!potentiality_26scifirenegademuccamukk, The Importance of Being Earnest livestream on the 12th of March!
thisbluespirit100fandoms, because I felt like it and also I thought there should be something for it, so:duskpetersonBefore I lead you into the palace (figuratively speaking), I need to emphasize the importance of good behavior.
Bad behavior can get you killed anywhere in the Three Lands, but in the Chara's palace it is also likely to get you tortured for days. This is because the highest penalty for crimes committed in the Chara's palace is death by torture - the so-called "Slave's Death." Although the previous Chara ordered the release of the empire's slaves, bringing to an end the torture of every palace slave condemned to death, traitors are still liable to this penalty.
The definition of "traitor" can be quite broad in the Chara's palace. I recommend that you not test its boundaries.
Some specific advice:
Be on your best behavior. Dress well, and learn the rules of courtesy toward Emorian noblemen and palace officials. When in doubt, bow. Address everyone you meet, whatever his age, as "sir" or by his title. You need not address the Chara by his full title, which is quite long; just "Chara" will do.
The wearing of arms is permitted by law in the Chara's palace if it is your custom in your homeland. However, if you choose to wear arms, you will find that every guard in the palace will leap upon you the moment you take the wrong turn in your path. Your life will be easier if you set aside your weapons during your visit. You are in no danger of being attacked yourself; the Chara's palace is the most heavily guarded building in the world, and visitors are free recipients of that guarding.
Also, be aware that the wearing of hidden weapons in the palace is considered a crime of treachery. Even I don't try to do this, unless I have made prior arrangements with the Chara.
[Translator's note: The Slave's Death is a tender topic for the Ambassador. Just why is explained in Blood Vow.]
intothisshadow - AO3 Site Skinsduskpeterson - UPDATE: Heir (The Three Lands) + Blood Vow omnibusflareonfury - Crossover Galore Challenge is now open!!sharpiefan - In which I ramble about writing and other fandom stuffintothisshadow - Linux Mint & otwarchive (AO3 software)duskpeterson - FIC: Entrance protocol (Tempestuous Tours)goodbyebird - In my defense,scifirenegade - Assortmentglinda - Survived Februarythisbluespirit - Unofficial Fandom 50: Frontios [4/50]goodbyebird - to me, we are all bonita.potentiality_26 - Writing Roundup: February 2026scifirenegade - Stats: February 2026thisbluespirit - Ficlet: Live in Hope (Small Prophets)duskpeterson - FIC: Behavior in the palace (Tempestuous Tours)
