Cursed Relic: Journal 3

 Journal 3

The Third Journal: The final journal contains an encyclopedia of information concerning the creatures and beings that live in and about Gravity Falls.

----------

Getting all three journals together is usually the first step to having a pretty bad time, so collectors beware.

Cursed Relics is a lower-stakes Inktober response challenge started by Alba BG. Check their work out.

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

See my newest releases on Linktree

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Cursed Relic: Journal 2

 Journal 2

The Second Journal: The second mysterious journal catalogs many of the impossible objects that can be found in Gravity Falls, as well as spells and magic that could be used to unravel the fabric of reality. It is unfortunate that children are the primary owners of this journal.

----------

If you know anything about Gravity Falls, you know we are missing a piece of the puzzle. Stay tuned.

Cursed Relics is a lower-stakes Inktober response challenge started by Alba BG. Check their work out.

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

See my newest releases on Linktree

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

The Minish Cap: A fairy tale

A fairy tale

Legend of Picori: Another of the missing library books Link must recover, Legend of the Picori was checked out by Dr.Left. Dr.Left is obsessed with researching the Picori, the secretive Minish, but is unaware that he shares his home with some of the very Minish he is studying. With the help of the Minish living in Dr.Left’s home, Link can find the misplaced book and return it to the Royal Hyrule Library. Once all three books are returned, Link can finally meet the retired Minish adventurer who knows the secret of entering the Temple of Droplets.

The Complete Tome of Legends, Myths, Tales, and Stories is constantly adding its limitless contents. While the book's indexing is arcane and its numbering esoteric, with luck and persistence, one might find their own story unfolding in the pages of the tome. Most readers fail to find their story and instead discover a tale that the inscrutable intelligence of the book believes will be enlightening or helpful.

----------

If you are going to use the Neverending Story Book in your world, you need to be ready to answer the question, “What happens when I write in the book with what I want to happen?” I can’t answer that for you, but be ready, because people love messing with fate.

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

See my newest releases on Linktree

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Cursed Relic: Journal 1

 Journal 1

The First Journal: A journal filled with observations of the strange and unexplainable things that happen in and about Gravity Falls, Oregon.

----------

I love Gravity Falls. We do not need more Gravity Falls; we need more things that end well.

Inktober is a daily drawing challenge to draw something in ink every day of October. The intense and amazing art that came out of Inktober set the bar so high that it now stresses people out. All that stress means there are chiller response challenges for October that ask a lot less of you to participate.

Cursed Relics is one of those response challenges started by Alba BG, an amazing artist with an evocative style.

I don’t have anything new drawn for Curse Relics, but I do have a few odds and ends floating around that are waiting to get shared.

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

See my newest releases on Linktree

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

The Minish Cap: A collection of three journals

 A collection of three journals

A History of Masks: Another of the three overdue library books, A History of Masks was checked out by the mayor of Hyrule Town. It has been left at his lakeside cabin near Lake Hylia where the mayor goes to relax while making masks surrounded by natural beauty. Link must retrieve the book and return it to the Royal Hyrule Library if he has any hope of meeting the retired Minish adventurer who knows the secret of entering the Temple of Droplets. 

Thank you for visiting the Eternal Archive. The following three memoirs or journals were selected to best assist you with your recent request for information.

Compounding trauma in repeated catastrophe: A time loop case study - Paranormal Psychology Clock Town University

Is it better to have loved and lost? - Connor MacLeod

Am I truly the Hero of Ages? - Alendi

----------

I am a book lover and a reluctant reader. A quote that helps me stay excited about books even when I’m struggling to motivate myself to sit down and read is as follows: 

“My dear,

We need to make books cool again. If you go home with somebody and they don’t have books, don’t fuck them. Don’t let them explore you until they’ve explored the secret universes of books. Don’t let them connect with you until they’ve walked between the lines on the pages.

Books are cool, if you have to withhold yourself from someone for a bit in order for them to realize this then do so.

Truly yours,

John Samuel Waters”

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

The Minish Cap: The Octavo is restless

 The Octavo is restless

A Hyrulean Beastiary: This is one of three overdue library books Link must find and return to the Royal Hyrule Library. Link needs to return these books to gain access to the second floor of the library, where a retired Minish adventurer lives who knows the secrets of entering the Temple of Droplets. Link can find this book in the home of a Hyrule Town cat owner, who borrowed the book to learn more about her new pet.

The Octavo, the eight great spells of the Disc. Actually, it is currently the seven great spells of the Disc, as one has been missing for quite a few years. Speaking all eight spells is supposed to grant the power to create or destroy worlds, but no one we asked had actually tried to cast all eight.

----------

I have not read deeply of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, but I have really enjoyed most of the few books that I have read and all of the mini-series I have watched.

The Hogfather is a must if you haven’t read or watched it yet.

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Drewly: Shepherd’s Journal

 Shepherd’s Journal

Shepherd’s Journal: A detailed account of a nomadic shepherd’s journey to the lost city of Atlantis. The shepherd’s account could be used to retrace their steps and once again find the lost city.

I really love Atlantis: The Lost Empire. I really love Mike Mignola. I really loved finding out that Mike Mignola did the major concept push for the movie and that the animators were told to study and adapt his style as best they could. Look for Mignola’s tell-tale hands; Atlantis has Mignola hands.

What is Drewly?

#Drewly is the month-long art challenge for July, where you don’t have to make any new art. Just post art you’ve already made and celebrate all you’ve accomplished.

Rules:

Share art you have already made.

Share as often as you want.

When you share, tag your art with #Drewly and #Drewly2025

I will be posting art every day of Drewly, so check back in tomorrow for something new.

Check out everything I’ve shared for past Drewly’s here: #Drewly #Drewly2022 #Drewly2023 #Drewly2024

Since you’re here, please consider supporting:

Make a one-time donation with Ko-Fi:  https://ko-fi.com/theeasyspeaker

Become a sustaining supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ItemCardswithTheSpeakingSquid 

Buy a sticker: SpeakingSquid.redbubble.com

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Drewly: A Witcher’s contract

 A Witcher’s contract

Contract: Having a well written contract from the beginning can avoid much ugliness at the end of a job where the lack of a terrifying monster convinces some that they don’t need to part with as much coin as they might have said they were willing to.

Drewly 20th brings us to the end of the Witcher item set.  Eighteen items from the world of the Witcher that you could use in whatever sort of adventure you like.

What is Drewly?

Drewly is a month-long art challenge for July where you post art you have already made. No new art just for Drewly.

There are three rules:

Only post art you have already made.

Post as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

Tag your posts with #drewly and #drewly2024

If you enjoy my work, please consider donating:

Make a one-time donation with Ko-Fi:  https://ko-fi.com/theeasyspeaker

Become a sustaining supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ItemCardswithTheSpeakingSquid 

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: The black spot.

 Wind Waker: The black spot.

Moblin's Letter: Moe the Moblin is so moved by Maggie’s letter that he sends a heartfelt reply that cannot be delivered due to Maggie’s father’s prejudice. Link must deliver the letter directly to Maggie who reads the letter as a heartfelt marriage proposal and thanks Link by giving him a piece of heart. There may be a reading of the letter where Moe literally wants to eat Maggie, rather than figuratively wanting to eat her, but that is lost on Maggie.

Being given the spot is being given a warning, surrender yourself to the will of the crew or see your blood spilled. Some deposed captains are held in the brig to be turned ashore at the next civilized port of call, others are left marooned on a deserted island, and the unluckiest are put adrift in the open sea with a jug of water and a pistol with one shot. Only the bravest, slyest. or the most foolish captains ever try to resist the inevitable fall signaled by the delivery of the dread black spot.

----------

Based on my reading Robert Louis Stevenson created the idea of the black spot, and other classic pirate tropes, entirely for his novel Treasure Island. Makes you question how you know what you think you know.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A love letter for the princess.

 A love letter for the princess.

Maggie's Letter: Maggie was another citizen of Windfall Island who was captured and held prisoner in the Forsaken Fortress. When Link travels to the fortress to free his sister he also frees Maggie who returns home with a valuable Skull necklace. The necklace was a gift from a friendly moblin named Moe and it was so valuable it elevated Maggie and her father out of poverty. Maggie wants to thank Moe for his generosity, so she asks Link ti send Moe this thank you letter. 

Her beauty is beyond compare, her wit is as sharp as a tack, and her laugh is like an angel’s song. It is risky to send your love letters through back channels, but you simply must tell the princess how you feel. Just hope that no one intercepts your message before it can reach the princess, otherwise, her father the king will ensure you never have another moment with the princess again.

----------

Love Letter is a great small quick game that even works well with just two players. I wholeheartedly recommend trying out the little bag packed with big fun.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A special order from the butcher’s shop.

 A special order from the butcher’s shop.

Father's Letter: This letter was penned by the chieftain of the Rito encouraging his son to be brave as he faces the grief of losing his grandmother and the fear of having to present himself to the island’s guardian dragon as a rite of passage. Link is given this letter to be hand delivered to the chieftain’s son.

This Father’s Day, lean into stereotype with a fine cut of premium meat from your local butcher shop. Each of our premier cuts comes with our master butcher’s seal of approval. If you aren’t feeling so generous, you could also spend a third of the price and just get a regular steak from the store, but do you think he’ll notice?

----------

I have a complicated relationship with my father which means I have a blind spot for Father’s Day. I never remember when it is or that people do things for it. I know many people also have complicated family relationships, so if this post doesn’t do it for you, that’s okay.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A letter home.

 A letter home.

Note to Mom: If Link can do an excellent job sorting mail on Dragon Roost Island, he will show the postmaster that a permanent assistant postal sorter would be invaluable. The person who gets this job will eventually ask Link to drop this letter in the mail to their mother. The letter apparently talks about how great Link is, but we shouldn’t be reading other people’s mail.

A simple letter from a son to his mother. No big news to write home about, just small simple everyday goings on. It is for all the simple everyday letters like these that we must sacrifice so much. 

----------

Not all of my item cards lend themselves to epic fiction, sometimes they are common everyday things that just add depth and texture to the experience.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A scroll of occult magic.

 A scroll of occult magic.

Ghost Ship Chart: This unique special chart allows Link to track the location of the ghost ship that sails the Great Sea. It will also allow him to board the Ghost Ship to earn a priceless treasure. Link can only find the chart at the end of a maze filled with floormasters eager to pull Link back to the beginning of the maze.

A scroll of occult magic from an ancient library. Occult mages uncover forgotten or forbidden truths and contact ancient uncaring beings to discover means of controlling the natural flow of magic. To pursue occult power is to trust your research to keep you from the darkest truths or trust your willpower to stay sane facing the naked truths not meant for mortal kind.

----------

This is the last of the five scrolls of magic. Each represents a different source that mages may draw their power from.

A little more than a week left of Drewly.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A scroll of primal magic.

A scroll of primal magic.

Tingle's Chart: There are exceptional charts among the special charts. Two of these charts are given to you directly from Tingle to celebrate your heroism. The first shows the exact location of Tingle Island and the second shows the locations of all eight Triforce charts. 

A scroll of primal magic painted onto an animal hide. Primal magic demands that the user attunes themself to the rhythms of nature to call forth its innate power to work magic. Often primal mages spend long spans meditating in the wilderness to connect to the primal source, but others contain an animal magnetism that naturally resonates with the font, and in rare cases, exhaustive observations have allowed the exceptionally clever to tap the primal power.

----------

I’m not sure this is a great drawing, but I really like the concept of a scroll of magic being inked into an animal hide. Seems more thematically appropriate than a druid carrying a bunch of parchment in scroll tubes.

More wands next week as Drewly 2023 continues.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A scroll of technomancy.

A scroll of technomancy.

Special Chart: These charts show the locations of people, places, monsters, and things of note in the Great Sea. Like most charts in Wind Waker, Link can earn, buy, win, or find them in all sorts of places during his adventures.

A scroll of techno-magic from the burgeoning field of magi-tech. Techno-magic seeks to use the raw processing power of computers to democratize magic to anyone with access to a computer. At least that is the goal, right now only the most powerful supercomputers can begin to control the flow of magic to cast spells.

----------

Magi-tech, hex tech, arcano-tech, almost sufficiently advanced technology, whatever you want to call it, I’m not the first person to say that technology might be used to do magical things.

Drewly is in full swing which is why you’ve gotten so many item cards from me this month. There’s more to come so check back in daily. 

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A scroll of divine magic.

 Wind Waker: A scroll of divine magic.

Triforce Chart: Similar to the treasure charts, the Triforce charts mark the location of a shard of the Triforce of Courage. Link must conquer a challenge to earn each of the charts, but he cannot read them on his own. He must take them to Tingle to have them deciphered for a steep fee. Once translated, the location of a shard is marked on Link’s map.

A divine scroll of magic intertwines spells and scripture to help the faithful channel magic. Divine casters use their faith in higher powers or divine ideals to direct the flow of magic into their spells. Some choose to study divine magic through long hours of memorizing holy texts, some seek clarity through meditation, and some rely solely on their personal connection to the divine.

----------

The magical scrolls miniseries continues. Look for all five over the course of the next few weeks with plenty of other items sprinkled throughout as I attempt to post daily for Drewly 2023.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: A scroll of arcane magic

 Wind Waker: A scroll of arcane magic.

Treasure Chart: Scattered through the Great Sea are these treasure maps that Link can find, earn, win, buy, or just be given during his adventures. Each chart highlights a specific treasure somewhere in the Great Sea with a pillar of light that disappears when Link finds the treasure.

An arcane scroll of magic written in a magical cipher. Arcane schools of magic rely on exhausting hours of study and memorization to learn the words and rituals that harness magical energies to the caster’s will. Only those with great intellectual skills or aweinspiring natural talents can hope to excel pursuing arcane mastery of magic.

----------

This is the start of a new minisereis in the Wind Waker set. I used the five chart/scroll items to draw a set of scrolls from five different schools of magic.

Also coming soon is my annual July art challenge Drewly. I try to post something that I have already drawn every day of July. Watch out for a lot more posts not relating to the Zelda Item Cards project daily during July.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: The true and correct atlas of the world.

The true and correct atlas of the world. 

Dungeon Map: As with most games in the Zelda franchise, a dungeon map appears in each dungeon and shows Link where rooms are, how they generally connect to each other, and which rooms Link has visited. Each dungeon hides the dungeon map in a different location, but it is generally one of the first items Link finds in the dungeon’s treasure chests.

The last great atlas of the world was compiled by Vash the Cartographer more than two hundred years ago. The volume was so famously expensive to produce that no one has been willing to finance the production of a revised edition. What would be discovered if a new set of maps were to be made?

----------

I feel like my books are getting better and more interesting.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph