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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 9h

#tavqotd Electronic 🖤 I can’t say which subgenres are best suited to Xal, because I’ve found tracks that suit him in many of them. www.youtube.com/live/plkpGLW...

youtube.com

meganeko - Judgement [cw: flashing lights]

YouTube video by meganeko

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 9h

And on the second occasion, he had absolutely nothing at all. He wasn’t even wearing any clothes, not even his underwear. Both times were difficult for him, but he managed to rebuild his life from scratch, so I’d say losing all materialistic isn’t the worst thing that could happen to him.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 9h

#tavqotd Well, he’d already found himself with literally nothing but himself on two previous occasions. On one occasion, Xal was left with nothing but his broken armour and a broken blade. Apart from that, he had nothing else.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 10h

#tavqotd You won’t let Xal absorb the tadpoles’ power or become illithid -> Xal will leave the party and try to kill you. You betray the Emperor -> Xal will immediately betray you, leave the party and try to kill you.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

Ultimately, the ceremorphosis did not help him find himself, yet he did not lose himself either. At least, not all aspects of himself. His soul remained the same, as did everything he had possessed before the transformation.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

It was only this belief that helped him overcome the fear that paralysed him as he watched the tadpole levitating peacefully above his open palm.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

That this was something that HAD to happen to him, no matter what. He believed that, in this way, he would find his true self and put an end to his endless search for his identity.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

2. Ceremorphosis. What could be worse than losing yourself during an agonising transformation into something new and unknown? Xal knew that he might lose himself and, in doing so, lose absolutely everything he had… yet he felt that he HAD to go through with it.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

It was sheer horror, stemming from an act of self-sacrifice – completely out of character for Xal from the distant past – and the fear of losing his little brother or his soul forever.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

nor merely because this Pact was unwelcome to him, nor even simply because he was surrounded at that moment by a loathsome mist of uncertainty, but also because the freedom—and perhaps the very life—of his beloved brother depended on a single word from Xal: ‘I agree’.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 11h

#tavqotd 1. The very first truly ‘terrifying’ fear that Xal experienced was entering into a pact with Moander. It was terrifying not only because he found himself face to face with a god-like, corrupt entity,

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 15h

There’ll be plenty more content with them in the future. 😌Surprisingly, I actually like their dynamic myself, which is actually quite rare. I rarely like what I write, lol.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 18h

Good luck with that. Russian is a very poetic language, although it can be quite complex in some aspects. That said, from what I’ve observed, native speakers themselves don’t know their own language very well. 😭

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Reposted by Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑

Ash | Ayumu 🤍🦑 @ashlynnaska.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd Well… Depends on how you look at it. Past, future, before, after… all the same in the grand scheme of things if you have enough eyes. In truth, the disguise the Emperor… chose (?) is part of a time travel paradox. He found a singular clear memory in Ayumu's mind, a memory from… the future.

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Reposted by Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑

Ash | Ayumu 🤍🦑 @ashlynnaska.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Someone 👀

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

btw The continuation of Sshamath.☑️ It took a VERY long time to write these 10 pages, I know. 😂 In fact, I couldn’t bring myself to start translating for a very long time, because I usually write in my own language.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It’s actually a very weird plant, but I’m a fan of weird plants. Weird plants thrive better in my care than non-weird ones, lol.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I received this poor, exhausted, tiny flying squid today. The long journey was hard on the little one. 😔 It doesn’t look much like a squid yet, but it’s got its whole life ahead of it.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd Quite shitty… most of the time. He’s a former Drow and now an Illithid. Both of these races are deeply hated. He can, of course, use disguise to make a less shitty first impression, but even with a disguise, thanks to his "lovely" character, he makes an almost exclusively SHITTY impression.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

And that’s the most positive thing I can imagine. If Xal was ever meant to be born in my mind, it was for this reason alone. To be honest, the only reason I’m still writing about him is because Ash is someone who inspires me 24/7.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd I’ve written loads about how much Xal means to me and how he’s really helped me, and blah blah blah... But there’s one thing I could write about forever – the fact that it was Xal who brought me together with this wonderful, lovely person - @ashlynnaska.bsky.social 🖤

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd Xal generally enjoys physical contact with those he trusts. For him, such interactions aren’t quite as important as they are for his brother, but he finds them VERY pleasant. Сuddles are simply part of something far more monumental.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd Something like that, but much worse. 😂 He can’t draw or carve pumpkins. Source: www.amievilligerharris.com/blog/2017-ja...

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

What’s more, he learnt to take pride in them and was very sorry that they had vanished after the ceremorphosis.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#tavqotd Xal's entire body was one huge scar. Extensive burns? Scars from an autopsy? Self-harm? Scars from torture? More than 90% of his body was covered in scars of varying severity. Over time, he learnt to love all his scars.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I’d say this book IS Patron in general, because it’s what inspired me. I can’t even call it a book, because it isn’t a book, lol. There’s far too much that’s baffling, creepy, and bizarre.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

whose lives are nothing more than a fleeting spark in the endless darkness... yet when the time comes to choose, he always chooses them, and nothing else. In the end, this is his true essence – not because of, but in spite of his nature.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd He himself, the world, the universe, freedom, life, duty… none of that matters to Xal when it comes to those he holds dearer than anything else. Xal does not understand why he is so unreservedly willing to give so much for mere mortals,

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd Tar - Gusli. I can’t explain why. It’s something on a deep, subconscious level. Perhaps it’s because the gusli sound extremely tender and melancholic to me. It depends, of course, on what the musician is playing, but still. Probably my favourite instrument. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaFs...

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd The Seeing One - Vargan. Medieval rave, or music from hell. It depends on your pov. I drew a great deal of inspiration from vargan when I was writing the Seeing One, and I still find this instrument a source of inspiration. www.youtube.com/watch?v=STME... www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1pH...

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd Something like that, perhaps? Xal generally enjoys reading a variety of genres, but can’t stand romance in any form.

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Reposted by Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑

Flowlithid @flowlithid.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

There's tons of cool challenges this month. For now I think I'll try Novel 90. I recently finished the rough outline for Sunfall, and the cover art is coming along too. This story has evolved SO so much since March. And Joss is getting so babygirl 😭 #writingcommunity

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd Before, like all elves, Xal couldn’t sleep. Instead, he meditated. But after his ceremorphosis, he began to sleep… standing next to the bed, which irritates the Emperor just a little.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd Xal is desperately trying to gather up his guts, which have spilled out all over the crash site. At the same time, his eye begins to ache so terribly that his mind becomes clouded and he can no longer tell the difference between his own guts and Nautiloid’s.🤔 It’s definitely not much fun.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

There are only a few people towards whom Xal can show compassion without feeling either vulnerable or foolish.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

may find himself showing it towards people for whom it is entirely inappropriate. His extremely emotional humanoid side – the source of all his flaws – is still very strong, no matter how hard Xal tries to pretend otherwise.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#tavqotd Xal considers compassion to be a sign of weakness and vulnerability. It is strange to show compassion towards victims when you are a predator… on the other hand, he knows full well that he is certainly not without this trait and, much to his own annoyance,

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Literally every news story from that country over the last 15 years has been a fucking circus.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Xal dropped the flask with the plague, and now it’s in Russia, you know.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

In this case, the Seeing One is simply a cheater. 😔

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#tavqotd It. Because it can take on absolutely any form, so it can be either the ugliest thing in the universe or the most beautiful. But actually, I like all my characters equally.

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Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑 @inemperorsname.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#tavqotd Black + silver Black + gold Black is my favourite colour (and Xal’s favourite colour too). Silver and gold are noble colours that go perfectly with black. 🖤And anyway, those colours really suit him.

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Reposted by Xal 🦑 #1 Mind Flayer Supremacist 🦑

Ash | Ayumu 🤍🦑 @ashlynnaska.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

🧡

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