#atlf

Hey so. About 5 years ago this week we released AFTER THE LIGHTS FAILED and to celebrate that, Abe snuck around behind Mike's back and coordinated with a bunch of artists to do an arrangement album of all of the songs. Each band or musician took one song and made it theirs. It's a work of art, and Mike cried a lot while listening to it. You might too. Full lineup: Travis Hayes, Petriform, Dogcatcher, [MONO]Stereo, Alexis Blair of El Gato Dice (and so many more), Ace Waters, Zen Zenith (of August Brings, Please Do Not Fight + more), Matthew Joseph Payne, and Gnarboots.  Because they're sneaky bastards, our drummer Joey, violinist Alan and bassist Josh feature on several of these covers but NOT playing their corresponding parts because I mean, why not. Anyway - here it is. Style ranges from solo acoustic folk to elaborate analog synthtronica and banjo-driven horn sections. Listen to it. It's beautiful. https://curiousquail.bandcamp.com/album/five-years-after-the-lights-failed

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@infiniteocs

But it's my birthday!!!!!!!

This is a digitalized reconstruction of a 'vlajka štěstí', translated to 'luck flag' The luck flag was a standard issue item of the Royal Velarian Land Guard. This flag, typically a swallowtailed banner consisting of the national colours and extra blank space was issued to a man when he is inducted into the army. It is then typically signed by the soldier's friends, comrades, family, co-workers, or even neighbors on one side, and spells were written on the other by priests and other spiritual leaders of the Oritsan faith. The flag was supposed to be stored folded in a soldier's pack or pocket, however, memoir, photographic, and even film evidence have shown these flags tied to the fore-end of rifles or even tank and artillery barrels. One E.Y. Kurchovsky of the Krasnovarian 72nd Infantry Brigade recalls in his memoirs: "The Royalists had all been killed charging down [Hill 173], Yegramov and his posse naturally scrounged for whatever trinkets they could get their hands on. I hung about with them as they did, but i didn't take anything, with one exception. These Velarians had these peculiar flags tied to their rifles, looked like their national red-white-blue but with some white space on the sides which were covered in writing. I couldn't read any of it, of course, so I took one to bring to Antonov. He had a look at it and told me it was mainly mystical bullshit, but he also said that there were some motivational slogans or something written on it. Clearly didn't work out for the poor buggers. I traded it in with a tanker for a pack of cigs the next day. Seems he wasn't fazed by all the blood on the damned thing." - E.Y. Kurchovsky, "Those Who Died There", 6672. As per the traditions of the Oritsan faith, cremation was the norm for body disposal, and rememberance of the deceased. However, due to the nature of war, KIA soldiers were not afforded the luxury of being given a proper departure from the world. In lieu of ashes, it was more common for the luck flag to be sent home to the family of the deceased soldier. These flags were proudly presented in living veteran's homes and even more inscription was usually added during events reuniting RVLG veterans. The luck flag was also frequently looted by Krasnovarian soldiers, as they saw these flags as a valuable trophy, and collecting them was seen as a mark of distinction. Unsubstantiated rumors also state that Krasnovarian officers would place considerable bounties on these flags. These captured flags remained as trophies in Krasnovaria before relations between Velaria and Krasnovaria thawed in the 6680's. Many have now been sent back to the living relatives of their original owners or to Velarian museums. Please enjoy this extra ATLF lore posting, resumed work on the next chapter, but progress is glacial at best. Got diagnosed with tuberculosis so progress may slow even more, but still, work is resumed, hooray probably.