Mightybog - Your Local Bog/Otherworld

'The Fairy Procession' (Thorn Rose) by Errol Le Cain, 1977.

Sorry I'm late, I got added to the Wild Hunt last night and ran and reveled with them for what felt like 100 years plus a day until I landed the killing blow on a stag with bronze antlers then suddenly woke in my bed, willow leaves in my hair, a nameless song echoing in my ears, and my hands still bloody, so yeah, totally missed my alarm and stuff.

been thinking about my baby bro

New almanac side blog post. This has been really satisfying since I learned it. I'll look up and go, yup there's south, and then idk, feel like I've successfully touched grass for the day. Highly recommended.

Navigating with Orion

Orion is a highly recognisible constellation and is most visible in December and January. For this reason it's considered one of the Winter Constellations. The stars that make up Orion are usually still visible in areas of moderate of light pollution so it's a great constellation for practicing navigation.

Find South

The line of stars that will help us find south are known as Orion's sword. Imagining Orion is another person, you'll find it as a little line below his belt on his right side (your left). As Orion travels across the sky, his sword will point roughly south. This trick is more accurate the further from the horizon and the more upright Orion is.

Find East and West

Orion's belt can also be used to find the east and west. When Orion rises, the belt rises due-east (meaning exactly east) and due-west. The most northerly star on his belt/the star on his left side (called Mintaka) provides the most accuracy, rising and setting within just a single degree of these two compass points.

Bonus Info for Your Stargazing Pleasure

The middle star of Orion's sword is not, in fact, a star, but the Orion Nebula. The reddish star on his right shoulder is Betelgeuse and is showing signs of an impending supernova.

References and Further Reading:

Collins Night Sky (Wild Guide series published 2004)

Wild Signs and Star Paths by Tristan Gooley

Tristan Gooley's website, two pages on the topic: https://www.naturalnavigator.com/news/2010/09/finding-south-with-orions-sword/ and https://www.naturalnavigator.com/find-your-way-using/stars

excalibur :)

A 5200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh bearing what could possibly be the world's oldest example of animation. It shows 5 images of a wild goat leaping, and if you put them in a sequence (like a flip book), the wild goat leaps to nip leaves off a tree. Museum of Ancient Iran

Behold! Dragoon the Great pondering his orb!

I wonder, what secrets of the universe is he peering into?

I was today years old when I realised that Kanen, the main villain in Moment of Truth whose terrorising Merlin’s hometown Ealdor is Alexander Sidding aka Dr. Julian Bashir from Star Trek Deep Space 9.

Now I wonder if there are fanfics of Dr. Bashir and Chief O’Brien in a simulation of King Arthur and Wizard Merlin that’s basically the Episode of the Moment of Truth.

Or one of these Time Travel episodes where they accidentally end up in the past and change something they have to fix so Bashir has to pose as Kanen and at the end they are like ???THAT was Prince ARTHUR??? AND MERLIN WAS A HOT YOUNG REAL WIZARD???

for the @merlinmicrofic prompts Home, Desperate measures and "You wouldn't."

Merlin & Arthur, Gen, 3 x 100 words, Major character death, AO3 link

for @mightybog

A heavy soul, a hopeful man

Their world is in crisis. It aches for its saviour.

“Emrys,” the Disir call.

He despises them. He comes anyway. There's kinship in being the last of the old ones.

“It's time." One steps forward, in her hand a coin.

“What,” he scoffs, “is it my turn to suffer your judgment?”

“We offer a chance. The time of the Once and Future King is nigh. You know it, you yourself have assembled his court.”

It's true. He's found them, souls reborn. The knights. Guinevere.

She flicks the coin into the air. “His rest in Avalon is over. Bring him home.”

The coin spins and spins, reaches its zenith, plummets down.

“Heads or tails?” He remains silent. “That's right, there is no answer. It is both and neither, a mere matter of perspective.”

“Save your riddles.”

“Two sides of a coin, inseparable. One up, one down. It will take all your magic to bring him back, every last bit of you.”

A pause.

“I will die?”

A look of pity, unwanted. “We'll lend you strength. You have three months.”

Its days numbered, his heart beats faster, rebellious. Desperate times. There's no choice. He bends his knee and picks up the coin.

Arthur returned is his every joy. He teaches him about the new world, laughs at him trying to operate a microwave, watches him discover ice cream - looming catastrophe momentarily dismissed.

Blissful ignorance can't last; his magic's gone, he's fading. Confession - now or never.

“No, you wouldn't, please don't-”

“You will have the others. You know the way. You don't need me anymore.”

“I will always-”

“Don't. Please.”

The day dwindles. Miniscule waves disturb the third full moon's reflection on the inky black lake waters. Merlin sits by its shore, Arthur's arm around his shoulders, and, for the last time, waits.

MERLINLADIES’ FAVOURITE COSTUMES Gwen’s embroidered top and fur vest in 4x13 “The Sword in the Stone: Part Two ”