#scaris

NEW SALEM and SALEM are two sides of the same city

In the Ghoulfriends books the city is called just Salem, while in Ghouls Rules is New Salem, and at first i thought it was just a continuity error.

But yesterday i was thinking, it might be cool if it wasn't!! Garrett said they used to imagine every city in the MH-universe would have two sides, human and monster.

I think I've mentioned it before, but the way i like to see it is that the "Monster World" exists as a parallel alternative reality to the "Normie World" (similar to how we see happens with the "Ghost World" vs Monster World in Haunted). So, for example, humans have Paris but monsters have Scaris, and they exist separately on two different levels of reality (hence why one has a monster population n the other human).

BUT: the headcanon is also that the two worlds often get in contact, especially in "paranormal" areas, such as Salem, Transylvania, Loch Ness lake, the top of the Himalayas, and in general haunted/spooky places, like catacombs.

I like to think Monsters are aware of the Human World, and build their cities to kinda mimic normie ones (so similarities can be based on just aesthetic, not necessarly cause the same historical events- especially irl tragedies lol- have occurred in Monster World as well. Like i prefer to believe there wasn't a MH ww2 or 9/11 and shit lololol. I like to think monsters have their own sillier historical events, tho are also aware of human history and avoid Human World especially when really bad stuff is happening, and sometimes change their own monster cities/landmarks out of respect for normie history). But I think most normies aren't aware of Monster World, like parisians don't know about Scaris unless they're like... paranormal fans or smth.

I also like to think the existance of/connetion to Monster World has to do with the Builders; the people who made the catacombs; but i digress

NEW SALEM would kinda be the exception. Tho the rest of the world wouldn't really pay much attention to it, they'll probably think it was one of those funny paranormal tourist-attraction cities, kinda like in Gravity Falls? yk.

I like to think the original city was just SALEM, and there monster and normies were living together, hence why they built the Hall of Halloween. From the Ghoulfriends canon I take it was founded by Skelen Moania too.

I think it'd be cool if the forest that surrounds MH/the city of Salem was haunted, hence why it was a place were the Monster and Normie realities collided.

Then idk exactly what would happen, but i like to think Normies decided to break from Monsters, probably because of fearmongering from Monster Hunters like Van Hellscream. This caused them to leave and build their own Normie City on the other side of the forest, promptly called NEW SALEM.

Because again, i like to think the forest is haunted/paranormal/magical, it probably functioned as a natural border between the two.

I like to think this all happened long before the founding of Monster High in 1814. And I like to think the reason the "monster council" chosed/approved to build the school in such area was because of its old history of peaceful coexistence between humans and monsters.

I also like to think that's the reason MH is built so close to the forest/border, and right above the catacombs that connect both cities. Both as a sign of unity and as a way for normies to be able to come in contact to MH, if they so wish to.

Still New Salem, the normie side, would just be connected to Normie World, while Salem, the Monster High side, is (aside from the forest) connected to Monster World. That's why the city where the ghouls actually live is populated by monsters, has monster stores like the Maul and the Die-ner, and why Little Crops of Horrors from the 5th Ghoulfriends book exists. The only thing/magic that keeps the two realities connected *is* the haunted forest.

I assume (from how Clawd and other werewolves talk about chasing humans) that some monsters also have houses very close to the forest border, such as the Wolf family. The normie substitute teacher, Lou-Zarr, probably lives in that area too i'd think.

(idk how to end this)

I just think it would be cool if SALEM was the monster side and NEW Salem the normie side. And if there was a conviniently paranormal forest between them. It'd help explain the world building. :>

I think it would have been fun if the new character from the comic House Haunters, Maple Lodge, was the daughter of a HAUNTED TREE from said forest (instead of "daughter of a haunted house", cuz im sorry but to me that was kind of a stupid monster type that didn't match her lumber jack design at all T-T). And if house haunters was instead "forest haunters" or something; cuz imo the hauted house setting was ok but a lil restrictive. Like when Frankie gets attacked by that squirrel and loses all her limbs, I think it felt more like a "lost in a forest" plot point than a "lost in a haunted house" one. I think it could have been a cool opportunity to play with the world building if it was a forest instead. (House Haunters was quite ok tho!!! i found it mid but genuinelly thats the best the comics have done so far imo; together with the pride specials which i also liked <3 ).

(Again idk how to end this)

Сatrine has always captivated me with her perfectionism and the incredible, heartfelt care she puts into every single detail of her canvases. for this look, i really wanted to capture her refined, artistic soul - think soft pastel lavender shades, elegant plaid patterns, and a touch of that classic scaris charm

she’s giving pure artsy, office-siren-meets-boho energy and i’m honestly obsessed

the goodies:

tray files: catrine’s files will be available very soon! once this post hits 50 likes/reblogs, i’ll drop the download link absolutely FREE for everyone

cc-list: i’ve gathered all the "treasures" used for her look below (hair, clothing, and accessories) so you can bring a bit of french aesthetic into your own game

Outfit 1 Choker ♡ Shirt ♡ Bracelets ♡ Shorts ♡ Nails ♡ Ballet Flats

Outfit 2 Shirt ♡ Bracelet ♡ Gloves ♡ Skirt ♡ Shoes

Alt operetta under the cut heheehheegbrfnjirvwibhpohugerhu0bwfrsdobfuh

Oh I LOVE these guys

I added my own touch on them all (mainly piercings or changing colours a little(apart from Venus I changed all her face gulp))

Lowk might make drawing monster high characters into a series these were so fun to do

Mayhaps some character suggestions will be completed👀

Omg omg i want to get the acc sprites(idk if that’s the acc name..the 2d stock images) and re design them with my own touches keeping the original style I’ve seen so many of them done on TikTok 😋