I'll be looking forward to it regardless! When last I left off the party got evicted from the library. Gonna try to read some more tomorrow.

In short: the Shayta do need to rely on others, but only until they are freed...

#AntagonistApril
The Shayta are extraordinarily powerful; strong enough to rival the deities of Theryl. They can twist the laws of the one in ways that defy logic and understanding. The only thing holding the Shayta back is the fact that they're imprisoned in the underworld...

Man I need to pick up the slack on reading through Infernulls so I can meet this guy.

Like, I recently put down a game I was really, genuinely enjoying because of a sudden and rather extreme difficulty spike. I know the game will likely get better, but if the only way forward is copious amounts of grinding I feel like I have better uses of my time, you know?

I find myself dropping media a lot more often than I used to. Shows, books, games... It's become a lot more difficult for me to slog through anything that starts losing my interest.

Some genuinely wish to see the Shayta freed and Theryl destroyed, while others foolishly believe they can exploit the powers of the underworld for their own ends. A few would even gladly betray the Shayta, given the chance...

#AntagonistApril
Monsters are loyal to the Shayta mainly because they have no choice in the matter. They are created as extensions of their masters' will and have no real ability to defy it... Humans who worship the Shayta, however, do so of their own accord.

#AntagonistApril
Given that the Shayta are mostly trapped in the underworld, they don't have much choice to rely on others. This usually means either sending monsters wreak havoc on their behalf or manipulating mortals into enacting their will.

#AprilWorldbuilders
Theryl actually doesn't have stars. The moon is a giant bird/demigoddess who illuminates the night with her gentle blue glow. Phela's light has a soothing quality to it, which helps mortal minds drift off to sleep... Oh, and her feathers allow seers to gaze into the past.

#AprilWorldbuilders
Holites tend to value community very highly. Your whole town/tribe is your family, and the needs of the group tend to outweigh those of the individual. Outsiders, including those from other tribes/packs, are usually regarded with a degree of hostility or suspicion.

Been slacking on April prompts lately. Need to catch up on #AntagonistApril tonight.

That sounds absolutely stunning!

#AprilWorldbuilders
As I've said before, bloodcats essentially serve as the equalizers for Hol's ecosystem. They keep the population of other species in check and even safeguard areas of wilderness from human expansion. Of course, bloodcats can also occasionally become problems themselves...

Would you say Tynan is... More than meets the eye?

This is because monsters are ultimately seen as disposable pawns by their creators. The Shayta don't generally care what their beasts look like, as long as they have the ability to kill. Some sorcerers are even able to summon monsters, but controlling them can be a different matter...

#AntagonistApril
As stated before: the Shayta are the creators of all monsters in the world of Theryl. Monsters are by and large created to be mockeries of life created by the Divines. They usually resemble amalgams of animals and objects with anatomies that don't wholly make sense.

Well beyond the three mentioned:
-Scholars and seers are generally entombed
-Hunters are laid out for beasts to feed on their bodies (as a way of giving back to nature)
-Judges are mummified
-Healers are usually laid to rest in a garden
-Artists are buried

#AprilWorldbuilders
In Theryl, one's profession and patron deity typically determine their funeral rights. Artists are buried, warriors are cremated, performers are set adrift at sea, or in lakes/rivers. This is universally true across nations.

I'll definitely have to look into it, though I can't promise I'll be super active there lol

Some tribes revere bloodcats as holy, believing them to be incarnations or avatars of Eminess herself. That said, on the rare occasion that a bloodcat poses a serious threat to civilization or even the ecosystem, hunters of a thunder pack will be called to deal with the matter...

#AprilWorldbuilders
Bloodcats are respected and feared across all of Hol. Humans and animals alike know not to trifle with them if it can be helped. The beasts will likewise leave human settlements well-enough alone if they're not provoked.

#AntagonistApril
There aren't really any joke or comedic antagonists in the Seeker Saga. Comedy relief tends to be something I reserve for the more good-aligned characters.

The cover of "5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love." A redheaded witch (left) pulls a blonde witch hunter (right) closer by her necklace.

Picked this up at the library the other day. Not usually my exact cup of tea but it was a fun little #yuri read.

#AntagonistApril
The Shayta don't exactly have 'right-hands,' as it were. The only technical exception to this is Rabas, who has his Raballa; four intelligent monsters that act as his spies throughout Theryl. Like all monsters, though, the Raballa are simply tools to be used...

#AprilWorldbuilders
Both Elux and Hol tend to be a bit wary regarding outsiders/foreigners. Elux in-particular has very strict immigration laws, while most tribes in Hol will dismiss outsiders outright the majority of the time (though exceptions can sometimes be made for merchants and priests.)

Yeah, it sucks. I might wait at least until the deadline though. D2D isn't going to charge until the anniversary of your account, it seems, so we have until then to sell at least $100 worth of books through them.

Cultists/heretics/sorcerers are a different story though. For one reason or another, they've fully invested themselves in serving the Shayta. Some do it for power, others out of a sense of nihilism. Either way, they're usually pretty committed.

#AntagonistApril
The Shayta have monsters and cultists. The former are by and large disposable pawns who exist only to kill and destroy until they're stopped. With a few exceptions, monsters don't really have the capacity to think too hard about their roles.

Some of my Seekers can be fairly self-sacrificial too. Drey will readily lay down his own life to protect someone else, and Adelle will do the same for the betterment of her kingdom. Odd, likewise, is ready to give up what little he has left for revenge.

So to answer the question: it depends.