Simply Not Allowed

I used to use Google docs, but the white mode only was really annoying me (tires my eyes), so I swapped to Ellipsus (which I genuinely love and recommend), but it was bothering me a bit that I need wifi in order to use it, so now I switched to LibreOffice Writer, which I do like.

It very much has a Microsoft Word feel, but is open source and you need no accounts to use it. It's local on your device, so no AI can scan it, and no wifi is needed.

1) NORN COMMUNITY STUFF

norn aren't so strictly individualistic as they seem first blush! the tradition of norn marriage being one which both parties must be seen as equals and vouched by their peers implies there's a degree of social approval needed, and i've absolutely applied this before towards things like adoptions within norn society too (vouching for the child's need and the parent's ability). a recognized marriage means if someone tries to challenge, i.e. "so-and-so should have been MY mate", those who vouched would come to the aid of the aggrieved party whom they approved of

i also figure there's a BIG culture of hospitality, since norn are incredibly frequent travelers and adventurers in a harsh land and keeping a good homestead is something to take pride in! hosts are expected to give a host food and lodging as they need it and entertainment with stories and songs are also expected, and guests are meant to accept these things and offer their own stories and/or songs

being a bad host and throwing someone out of your home for no good reason is grounds for people distancing themselves from you or your home, and being a bad guest will find you having to brave the outdoors on your own more often than not, which leads me to:

2) WRITTEN AND ORAL HISTORY

Norn have been shown to be BIG on oral history, legend and stories in general, and i imagine the social aspects of the first point influence that greatly. THEY LOVE GOSSIP. they want to know how the neighbors are doing, what the latest is in hoelbrak, what's going on with the commander/wayfinder, and so on!

Oral history probably takes specific emphasis because a LOT of written history was likely lost as the norn fled south from Jormag, and though many norn may write poetry or write down their history, having it spoken and remembered by others is what gives it the longevity, exactly like how norn live on in the memory of others by their legends. that said a lot of oral history was likely lost too with how many norn died in Jormag's initial blizzard 💦 any shaman or skaald is a WEALTH of knowledge, and given how norn are implied to be long-lived they no doubt have a LOT of known history carried with them

3) FUNERARY PRACTICE

norn live on in the memory of others! so it makes sense that a skaald is expected to show for a memorial, so they can learn about the deceased and compose something for them. a shaman may show up too, depending on the deceased's chosen spirit (but raven would be likely given raven's association as the ferryman of sorts). a moot can be thrown if they're life is definitely something to be celebrated!

i like the idea of funeral pyres because they're big and dramatic, but i could see an argument to be made for like. letting a body be reclaimed by the natural world, too (i think i also just enjoy pyres because my norn is a guardian jfdkfk)

while norn want to be remembered for their legends by as many people as they can, many long-running family homesteads keep histories of their ancestors going so they can live on if their lives were a little more quiet to the broad world

4) OWL STUFF

Wow hi i have some thoughts. so there's not a HUGE amount of material on Owl but based on the Heart and text at Owl's Abbatoir, Owl is sort of the de facto Spirit associated with the healing arts, as there's an emphasis on caring for one's family

the healing arts are considered uncommon amongst the norn too! there's an npc in hoelbrak who says as much, though she gives no indication she's affiliated with a spirit as far as i know (feel free to correct me). so i figure, compounding with the idea that a lot of norn history was lost in the move south and that Owl followers are relatively uncommon, there's a correlation there

Yippeeee yayyyy!!!

barry cat tax:

turns out

it was definitely my favorite boba place at my favorite mall. I sent op an ask with this photo when I was leaving the mall earlier (I don't think they've seen it yet but I was astounded)

you guys would all have loved my (not on tumblr) spouses reaction when he went "oh no the kiosk is gone" and I immediately said LOST JOB FROM TUMBLR?!?

Took my last day off to doodle my new two characters as I was in need of a new unique sylvari-- I mean mordrem, and charr! I wonder who gets who was the inspiration for Absinthorn 👀

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How all my commanders differ on key points in VoE so far:

"Heard you need a mechanic"