Two Shadow Elves, a woman and a man, stand nude in a ornate courtyard filled with lush rainforest foliage. Each of their bodies are marked with geometric tribal patterns. The woman covers herself with both arms, while her companion lazily places his hand behind his head, his other arm at his side, leaving himself exposed.

Suri’s Journal. One page filled in with text, the other partially filled in, with “Lumagraph” photos of a palace and an empty courtyard. Text in the journal reads, “We’ve been staying with the Shadow Elves for about a week now. I finally worked up the courage to ask our hosts why they seem to be so stand-offish whenever I’m around. They’ve been nothing if not hospitable to the human crew and marines. Apparently it was all just a misunderstanding! They were avoiding getting to close to me because they were concerned about the effect that Shadow Elves have on other Elf subspecies, who often describe a mental haze or buzzing effect when in the presence of Shadow Elves, which can even manifest as physical pain. This effect is generally understood to be a result of their affinity to shadow magic, which causes a sort of aura that interacts with the light affinity of most other Elves. I had to explain to them that I have no magical affinity, and thus there are no detrimental effects of being in close proximity to Shadow Elves. Our hosts were very apologetic when they heard my explanation. In fact, by way of apology, one of the local elders insisted quite adamantly that I take up lodgings at his estate for duration of our stay. ~ The estate is wondrous! The mansion is a veritable palace, with lush gardens and terraces. My host and his wife have been truly generous with their time as well as their dwelling space. I’ve been able to learn about local customs and started practicing their unique dialect when speaking with them over the last few days.”

Suri’s Journal. One page filled in with text, the other page has several “Lumagraph” photos of a Shadow Elf couple standing in a courtyard in various states of dress. Text in the journal reads, “They were quite curious about the purpose of my journey, so I explained my research and record taking techniques. My lumoculus was of particular interest, and though it’s not a particularly new invention, my model does have some new features and is far less widespread. They even asked to have their portraits taken! Afterwards, I asked if they would be willing to pose nude as well. I want to be able to record not only the trappings of status, but the true essence of my subjects. The scars they bear, the markings that they adorn their bodies with, and the physiques that they chose to maintain. To my surprise, my host seemed quite happy to participate. His wife, however, is a member of the local guard, and a very serious woman, so it took some coaxing to convince her. I think the novelty of my lumoculus was too intriguing to pass up, though, and ultimately she agreed as well. They were a bit shy at first, but he started playfully teasing her, and soon they were both laughing together. I’m so glad I was able to witness this side of a people that are so often portrayed as dour, mysterious, and even dangerous. It is my hope that I will find more points of commonality on this expedition. The world is far too divided as it is.”

Suri journals about her interactions with the Shadow Elves.

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Elf #ShadowElves #SuriJournal #FantasyFriday #Lore #Worldbuilding

A group of Voyager Marines converses with one another while sitting in a dimly lit crew cabin lined with bunks. They wear teal undershirts and white uniform trousers with black lace-up military boots. In the foreground, Company Commander Rukshah Aya holds a white towel against her nude body, having just vacated the communal showers. Her back is to the viewer, displaying a toned, athletic body. One large breast is visible from the side, partially covered by her towel. She has dark skin and wavy dark hair, cut in a short cropped style, still glistening with drops of water. On her right shoulder is tattooed the emblem of the Ellanifel Voyager Marines Private Security Agency, a circle surrounding an anchor and two crossed swords. Rukshah glances back at the viewer with one dark eye, the left side of her face covered with a black eyepatch.

Suri’s journal. One page has been filled in with text, while the opposite page has “Lumagraph” photos of Marines in uniform, and the the emblem of the Ellanifel Voyager Marines Private Security Agency, a circle surrounding an anchor and two crossed swords. Text in the journal reads, “The security forces on this ship are made up of soldiers from The Ellanifel Voyager Marines. They are a highly renowned mercenary company, though I doubt that they would appreciate me describing them as such. These soldiers of fortune hail from the mercantile Republic of Ellanifel. Their primary specialty is pirate interdiction, though I noted during the spirit possession incident that they also have several mages in their company, possibly to deal with much more dangerous threats. They seem to be very well equipped. I'm not certain what a "Stansbury Arms Type 92 bolt-action rifle" is, but the marines seemed quite proud of the weapon, so I told them I would make a note of it in my records. These marines appear to be rather shameless when it comes to public nudity in their communal crew bunks, but I suppose that’s the natural result of living in such close quarters with fifty other soldiers. All in all, they seem a capable sort, and I must admit I do feel safer with them on board.”

Suri journals about the security forces on the ship. The theme for this Thursday is “Mercenary”

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Rule34 #Mercs #Mercenaries #ThemesThursday #Lore #Worldbuilding #SuriJournal

A human male scholar with neatly trimmed facial hair and round glasses sits in a warmly lit academic office. He raises his hand to his chin in a thinking gesture, his eyes closed in deep contemplation. Above his shoulder, a glowing orange Muse hovers in the air next to him. The Muse takes the form of a small, mostly nude woman with fairy wings and curving antennae. Her lower body is transparent. She closes her eyes and smiles as she basks in the excitement of curiosity and learning.

Suri’s journal. One page has been filled in with text, while the opposite page has a ink drawn diagram of basic spirit types and some "Lumagraph" photos of mages performing magic. Text on the diagram shows the correlation of emotional states to spirit types. Joy for Sprites, Excitement for Muses, Anger for Wraiths, Fear for Banshees, Sadness for Shades, and Disgust for Revenants. Text in the journal reads, “After the events of last night, one of the crewmen asked what I knew about spirits. I started off by explaining that, contrary to many cultural myths, there is no indication that spirits are the souls of the dead. Our current scientific understanding is that spirits are beings of pure energy. In fact, the vast majority of spirits in our world exist in a completely unconscious state, simply drifting energy fields to be utilized by mages in order to perform magic. I must admit, I went off on a bit of a tangent at this point, with my explanation of spirit types and the development of consciousness in the spirits that inhabit our world. It’s such a fascinating topic, I just couldn’t help but ramble on and draw some visual aids. I was going to continue, but I think all of this information merely served to terrify the poor young man all the more, as he excused himself from my cabin clutching a holy symbol and muttering oaths under his breath. I fear that the knowledge of spirits being unseen and ever-present did little to sooth his mind in light of recent events. It's really quite unfortunate. I even drew a simple diagram to illustrate my explanation!”

A piece of worn paper with written notes. Text on the paper reads, “There is a hierarchy of cognition in spirits that develops over time. First, the “collective unconscious”. The natural state of spirits. Drifting unseen like currents in a vast ocean of energy that permeates our entire world. Spirits in this state are little more than energy sources for magic. Second, “mimicry”. Spirits respond to, feed off of, and amplify the emotional states of living creatures in their direct vicinity. Places of intense emotional importance, such as battlefields, graveyards, and even wedding halls or dance parlors can become nexus points of spirit activity. A battlefield where hundreds have been killed will be the birthplace of angry, vengeful Wraiths. A graveyard where families come to mourn will spawn weeping Shades. A place of higher learning will become the home of curious and excited Muses. The third level of spirit cognition is “role-taking”. Spirits that have reached the mimicry phase may latch on to a specific individual, often replaying moments of that person’s life long after they have died. This of course led to the phenomenon of “hauntings” and the belief that the souls of the dead linger in the physical world. The fourth, and final stage is “self-actualization”. At this stage the individualized spirit becomes a fully self aware being, able to manifest at will. Spirits who reach this level of cognition can become immensely powerful, and are often worshiped as local deities. This is the case with various gods and goddesses throughout the world, as well as the Djinn of the far east.”

Evil spirits aren’t the only supernatural myths. Many cultures also believe in beneficial spirits as well. Sprites, Muses, and guardian spirits are just a few of these mythological creatures.

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Rule34 #Ghost #Spirit #Magic #FantasyFriday #Lore #Worldbuilding #SuriJournal

A red glowing wraith in the form of a nude woman with long flowing hair floats above a bald-headed sleeping sailor. The wraith's body is partially transparent, her mouth gaping open, her eyes like dark voids with points of bright light. Her arms reach down, brushing against the body of her unsuspecting victim.

Suri’s journal. One page has been filled in with text, while the opposite page has “Lumagraph” photo of a possessed sailor reaching towards the viewer. Text in the journal reads, “One of the sailors was killed tonight. During the night watch, the ship must have sailed through a region of high spirit activity, and several of the crew were possessed by wraiths as they slept. I heard scraping noises outside my cabin, and being curious to a fault, I took my lumoculus and went to investigate. At first, I thought it was a crewman sleep walking, but then I observed the rippling fields of red energy surrounding his body like fire. When he turned to face me, his eyes were burning with the same red flames. I could immediately ascertain that it was textbook spirit possession. Perhaps I should have run, but fascination got the better of me and I raised my lumoculus to capture an image. He lunged at me then, surprising me. As a Ni’vae Elf, more commonly known as a ‘Null Elf’, I have no affinity to any form of magic. One advantage of this genetic aberration is that spirits are rarely able to even perceive us, much less attack us. I was so shocked that it could see me that I simply froze. I was extremely fortunate that one of the ship’s marine mages arrived in time to exorcise the wraith. Sadly, the victim had already gone into a state of shock and was brain-dead before he could taken to the medical bay.”

Suri’s journal. One page has been filled in with text, while the opposite page has A slip of paper with a medical examination of the possessed victim written on it. A “lumagraph” photo shows burn scars on the arm of the victim. Text in the journal reads, “I asked the Chief Medical Officer if I could observe the autopsy. Spirit possessions are relatively rare, and not well documented. Even a successful exorcism can leave lasting damage to the physical body. Spirits are beings of concentrated energy, and can override electrical signals in the brain. A victim of possession is often fully conscious as the spirit induces muscle spasms to directly control the host body, which explains the seemingly uncoordinated, sudden movements of a possessed individual. Organic brains typically have subconscious limiters to prevent our own muscles from damaging our bodies. Spirits, however, override these limitations, causing muscle damage, torn ligaments, and even broken bones.” Text on the paper reads, “Victim was completely unresponsive during initial treatment, indicating neurosynaptic burnout. Medical examiner noted severe ocular damage. Limbs showed evidence of damage to the ligaments. Electrical burns on the extremities indicated intense direct manipulation of muscle tissues. Declared dead on arrival.”

<Content warning for this one. Descriptions of death and bodily harm>

Ghosts and malevolent spirits are a mainstay of many mythologies. The theme for this Thursday is “Possession”.

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Rule34 #Ghost #EvilSpirit #Possession #ThemesThursday #Lore #Worldbuilding #SuriJournal

A gray skinned mermaid with a shark tail and fins lays on her stomach on a sand bar at low tide. She props herself up with lean muscular arms, her clawed fingers connected by fleshy webs. Her long black hair glistens with drops of water, clinging to her shoulders and back. Her ribs are lined with gills. Her inky black eyes glare at the viewer, her brows furrowed, and her dark lips in a scowl.

Suri’s journal. One page has been filled in with text, while the opposite page has a “Lumagraph” photo and a slip of paper with ink sketches of mermaid anatomy on it. Text in the journal reads, “Early in the afternoon, the spotters called out sightings of merfolk trailing the wake of the ship. The merfolk of this region are extremely territorial, so it's standard procedure for vessels to be at high alert when passing through their waters. I was able to stand on the upper deck and look over the side of the ship to capture an image of their silhouettes under the waves. There are many who believe mermaids to be nothing more than primitive savages, but these merfolk made no move to attack us. I think they were as curious about our ship as I was about them, and they moved off after a short while. These merfolk live in small communities, but I've read about the great mermaid kingdoms on the far side of the hemisphere from my home. Perhaps we can visit them during the course of this expedition.”

Many cultures have legends of mermaids and sirens, beautiful women of the sea that will lure sailors to their doom. Welcome to another Monster Monday.

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Rule34 #MonsterMonday #Mermaid #Lore #Worldbuilding #SuriJournal

Suri’s Journal. One page is covered in written text, the opposite page has several “Lumagraph” photos of human mechanics doing maintenance strewn across it, and a simple silhouette diagram showing the height difference between an elf and a human. Text in the journal reads, “Once I settled into my cabin, I decided to explore the ship a bit. It appears that many of the crew members and marines are humans. I've never seen so many of them in one place before. They are so tall! There were human students at the Academy of course, but they were predominantly waifish academics. These humans are strong, working types. Even the women could easily lift me over their heads! To be perfectly honest, humans are quite intimidating, and I'm pretty tall for an elf! I can only imagine what it would be like to meet an orc. I've heard that the tallest Uruk can be almost twice as large as a human! The old wars must have been truly terrifying affairs. ~ My size does provide me one advantage. It seems I can sneak about mostly unnoticed. In my exploration of the crew decks I happened upon a pair of marines in the midst of an intimate encounter. They were quite preoccupied, so I don't think they noticed me. I quickly made my exit, leaving them to their lovemaking.”

A dark skinned woman being fucked from behind by a pale skinned man in a dark ship cabin with pipes and navigational charts on the wall. They are both topless, the woman has her white uniform trousers pulled down around her legs. She is wearing black military boots with armored knee-plates, and an eyepatch that covers a scarred eye. The man is entirely nude, a mustache adorning his lip, and his dark hair slicked back. He grabs his partner by the hips as he thrusts into her.

Fantasy worlds are often filled with strange and different peoples, but almost always also include humans as well. Rarely do we look at ourselves from the perspective of an outsider. What would an elf think of humans?

#NSFW #AI #AIGenerated #Elf #FantasyFriday #Lore #Worldbuilding #SuriJournal