Calen Bender Mornden
@mandokarla.bsky.social
Demi/Ace Dragon-obsessed Fantasy Writer and TTRPG enjoyer. He/him.
Medium Profile: https://medium.com/@mandokarla
Profile banner commissioned from: deviantart.com/ridiy
Medium Profile: https://medium.com/@mandokarla
Profile banner commissioned from: deviantart.com/ridiy
I've been rereading the series for the first time in years, and I cannot overstate how fucking good this specific book is. The character work bleeds on the page, I love it. #Temeraire #Dragons #Fantasy #Book
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I've been rereading the series for the first time in years, and I cannot overstate how fucking good this specific book is. The character work bleeds on the page, I love it. #Temeraire #Dragons #Fantasy #Book
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
This is some evil, evil shit that is simultaneously shocking and not surprising at all
Alt text
November 14, 2025 at 5:46 AM
This is some evil, evil shit that is simultaneously shocking and not surprising at all
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
Holy shit, just learned about the typewriter art of Montserrat Alberich Escardívol, a Catalan typist. Using an extra wide typewriter and 180 color ribbons, she built up elaborate images from simple characters like 'm' and '.' and ';'. Here is her typewritten painting of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Holy shit, just learned about the typewriter art of Montserrat Alberich Escardívol, a Catalan typist. Using an extra wide typewriter and 180 color ribbons, she built up elaborate images from simple characters like 'm' and '.' and ';'. Here is her typewritten painting of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
TYPEWRITTEN.
TYPEWRITTEN PAINTING.
TYPEWRITTEN PAINTING.
Holy shit, just learned about the typewriter art of Montserrat Alberich Escardívol, a Catalan typist. Using an extra wide typewriter and 180 color ribbons, she built up elaborate images from simple characters like 'm' and '.' and ';'. Here is her typewritten painting of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
November 13, 2025 at 3:46 AM
TYPEWRITTEN.
TYPEWRITTEN PAINTING.
TYPEWRITTEN PAINTING.
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is as much a compelling work of rhetoric as it is a game with strong themes and great characters. It spends 2/3rds of the game setting up a steelman position to knock down in the climax, and that's part of what makes it so fascinating 20 years later.
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is as much a compelling work of rhetoric as it is a game with strong themes and great characters. It spends 2/3rds of the game setting up a steelman position to knock down in the climax, and that's part of what makes it so fascinating 20 years later.
Finally Finished Final Fantasy XVI. I'm emotional about it. I love this game. Despite its flaws, it's purpose-built to remind us that we can affect change in the world. Clive is the GOAT. #FinalFantasy #FF16 #FFXVI
November 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Finally Finished Final Fantasy XVI. I'm emotional about it. I love this game. Despite its flaws, it's purpose-built to remind us that we can affect change in the world. Clive is the GOAT. #FinalFantasy #FF16 #FFXVI
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
The massacres are so bad you can see the discoloration on the ground in satellite images.
They have been in stage 5 famine for over a year.
This isn't a war, it is a genocide despite the ICJ's denial and the US, UK, and UAE have blood on their hands.
www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...
They have been in stage 5 famine for over a year.
This isn't a war, it is a genocide despite the ICJ's denial and the US, UK, and UAE have blood on their hands.
www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...
October 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The massacres are so bad you can see the discoloration on the ground in satellite images.
They have been in stage 5 famine for over a year.
This isn't a war, it is a genocide despite the ICJ's denial and the US, UK, and UAE have blood on their hands.
www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...
They have been in stage 5 famine for over a year.
This isn't a war, it is a genocide despite the ICJ's denial and the US, UK, and UAE have blood on their hands.
www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...
Odin dark is my BOY in this run of Conquest. I decided to pick the game back up after years away for fun, and everyone that sleeps on this guy is missing out. He doesn't take much investment to do his job, and he improved the entire run for being used. #FireEmblem #Fates #Conquest
October 28, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Odin dark is my BOY in this run of Conquest. I decided to pick the game back up after years away for fun, and everyone that sleeps on this guy is missing out. He doesn't take much investment to do his job, and he improved the entire run for being used. #FireEmblem #Fates #Conquest
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
Backed by the Heritage Foundation and Big Tech, KOSA will force everyone to upload their ID to access the internet. In an age when Palantir has direct ties to ICE, where technofascists are in power and want to eliminate and censor everything, we CANNOT allow KOSA to pass.
It NEEDS mass pushback.
It NEEDS mass pushback.
🚨‼️As of yesterday KOSA is at 64 cosponsors with @vanhollen.senate.gov + @kim.senate.gov - who claim to support LGTBQ+ rights but are clearly okay with supporting legislation that’ll censor us off the internet- newly signed on.
You know what to do: www.stopkosa.com
You know what to do: www.stopkosa.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Backed by the Heritage Foundation and Big Tech, KOSA will force everyone to upload their ID to access the internet. In an age when Palantir has direct ties to ICE, where technofascists are in power and want to eliminate and censor everything, we CANNOT allow KOSA to pass.
It NEEDS mass pushback.
It NEEDS mass pushback.
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
dear US friends, when a sitting president (re)builds the seat of government, it almost always means the president has no intention of leaving at the end of term. your African friends with decades of experience
October 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
dear US friends, when a sitting president (re)builds the seat of government, it almost always means the president has no intention of leaving at the end of term. your African friends with decades of experience
I've had thoughts about the #fantasy genre of late, and I decided to write some down. Eventually I'll put my criticisms of Sanderson down so I don't just sing his praises, but there's a part of Rhythm of War that I think captured what the genre should be.
calenbender.medium.com/the-dog-and-...
calenbender.medium.com/the-dog-and-...
“The Dog And The Dragon” Is The Cosmere Story That Matters
A fable within a fantasy captures the power of the genre more than many full tomes.
calenbender.medium.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I've had thoughts about the #fantasy genre of late, and I decided to write some down. Eventually I'll put my criticisms of Sanderson down so I don't just sing his praises, but there's a part of Rhythm of War that I think captured what the genre should be.
calenbender.medium.com/the-dog-and-...
calenbender.medium.com/the-dog-and-...
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
#Drawtober Chapter IV - Spellbound Princess
Meeting with the Goddess
Meeting with the Goddess
October 21, 2025 at 12:36 AM
#Drawtober Chapter IV - Spellbound Princess
Meeting with the Goddess
Meeting with the Goddess
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
The petition calling for the revival of #Everhaven has nearly 10k signatures. Spread the word to others and to game publishers of the game and how much people want it released and saved from Forte. #ProjectDragon #cancelledgames #cozygames
www.change.org/p/bring-back...
www.change.org/p/bring-back...
Signez la pétition
Bring Back Everhaven (Project Dragon) - Phoenix Labs
www.change.org
October 10, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The petition calling for the revival of #Everhaven has nearly 10k signatures. Spread the word to others and to game publishers of the game and how much people want it released and saved from Forte. #ProjectDragon #cancelledgames #cozygames
www.change.org/p/bring-back...
www.change.org/p/bring-back...
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
Here's how close #Everhaven / #ProjectDragon was from Early Access. If only there was a game publisher out there who want to save it~. Gambit Digital is one possible candidate. #BringBackProjectDagon #cancelledgames #cozygames
Source: x.com/FromHappyRoc...
Source: x.com/FromHappyRoc...
October 21, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Here's how close #Everhaven / #ProjectDragon was from Early Access. If only there was a game publisher out there who want to save it~. Gambit Digital is one possible candidate. #BringBackProjectDagon #cancelledgames #cozygames
Source: x.com/FromHappyRoc...
Source: x.com/FromHappyRoc...
Define your music taste in eight artists:
Poets of the Fall
Blind Guardian
The Amazing Devil
Linkin Park
Ado
Guilhem Desq
Neonfly
Eluveitie
It's so hard to narrow things down so much, and I made sacrifices on favorites to get a better representation of breadth, but a lot is missing still 😅
Poets of the Fall
Blind Guardian
The Amazing Devil
Linkin Park
Ado
Guilhem Desq
Neonfly
Eluveitie
It's so hard to narrow things down so much, and I made sacrifices on favorites to get a better representation of breadth, but a lot is missing still 😅
Define your music taste in eight artists:
Tori Amos
Battlebeast
Powerwolf
Orbit Culture
Within Temptation
Joe Hisashi
Yoko Kanno
Tori Amos
Battlebeast
Powerwolf
Orbit Culture
Within Temptation
Joe Hisashi
Yoko Kanno
Define your music taste in eight artists.
The National (Matt Berninger)
Josh Ritter
Gregory Alan Isakov
Sam Tinnesz
Anais Mitchell
Angus and Julia Stone
Breaking Benjamin (Benjamin Burnley)
Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong)
Your turn! 🎶🎧
The National (Matt Berninger)
Josh Ritter
Gregory Alan Isakov
Sam Tinnesz
Anais Mitchell
Angus and Julia Stone
Breaking Benjamin (Benjamin Burnley)
Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong)
Your turn! 🎶🎧
October 18, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Define your music taste in eight artists:
Poets of the Fall
Blind Guardian
The Amazing Devil
Linkin Park
Ado
Guilhem Desq
Neonfly
Eluveitie
It's so hard to narrow things down so much, and I made sacrifices on favorites to get a better representation of breadth, but a lot is missing still 😅
Poets of the Fall
Blind Guardian
The Amazing Devil
Linkin Park
Ado
Guilhem Desq
Neonfly
Eluveitie
It's so hard to narrow things down so much, and I made sacrifices on favorites to get a better representation of breadth, but a lot is missing still 😅
Another note on "His Majesty's Dragon":
I enjoy that Lawrence's arc in this book is in large part setting aside the stiffness of English high society in favor of shared humanity and authenticity. He's still a bit stiff, but the way he develops and is contrasted with Rankin is great characterization
I enjoy that Lawrence's arc in this book is in large part setting aside the stiffness of English high society in favor of shared humanity and authenticity. He's still a bit stiff, but the way he develops and is contrasted with Rankin is great characterization
October 16, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Another note on "His Majesty's Dragon":
I enjoy that Lawrence's arc in this book is in large part setting aside the stiffness of English high society in favor of shared humanity and authenticity. He's still a bit stiff, but the way he develops and is contrasted with Rankin is great characterization
I enjoy that Lawrence's arc in this book is in large part setting aside the stiffness of English high society in favor of shared humanity and authenticity. He's still a bit stiff, but the way he develops and is contrasted with Rankin is great characterization
I've started rereading the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik, and I can't help but appreciate how vivid the combat is--something hard to render at scale, imo.
I also can't help but think of how cool it'd be as a game. A cross between Dreadnought and Century: Age of Ashes? Could be incredible to play
I also can't help but think of how cool it'd be as a game. A cross between Dreadnought and Century: Age of Ashes? Could be incredible to play
October 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I've started rereading the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik, and I can't help but appreciate how vivid the combat is--something hard to render at scale, imo.
I also can't help but think of how cool it'd be as a game. A cross between Dreadnought and Century: Age of Ashes? Could be incredible to play
I also can't help but think of how cool it'd be as a game. A cross between Dreadnought and Century: Age of Ashes? Could be incredible to play
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
October 8, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Whenever I finish a book series, I mourn. The worlds are real, in their way, and leaving them behind with a closed cover feels like saying a last goodbye to a dear friend, trite as the comparison is.
Some series are harder to end than others for me. This is one of them. Goddess bless Melanie Rawn
Some series are harder to end than others for me. This is one of them. Goddess bless Melanie Rawn
October 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Whenever I finish a book series, I mourn. The worlds are real, in their way, and leaving them behind with a closed cover feels like saying a last goodbye to a dear friend, trite as the comparison is.
Some series are harder to end than others for me. This is one of them. Goddess bless Melanie Rawn
Some series are harder to end than others for me. This is one of them. Goddess bless Melanie Rawn
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
I feel crazy reading this. All these men with their insane theories about the end of the world and too much power/money to indulge all their fantasies of apocalypse and "saving the world" by violently oppressing and killing people. www.wired.com/story/the-re...
The Real Stakes, and Real Story, of Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession
Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt. They’ve been a road map for the billionaire ever since.
www.wired.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I feel crazy reading this. All these men with their insane theories about the end of the world and too much power/money to indulge all their fantasies of apocalypse and "saving the world" by violently oppressing and killing people. www.wired.com/story/the-re...
Sometimes the only way to remember and reconnect with an old love and story is to feel the grief of it anew.
Tears, in joy or sorrow, are as much a sign of a story told true than any number of objective measures espoused by learned men and women.
I've missed these books dearly. Goddess blessing.
Tears, in joy or sorrow, are as much a sign of a story told true than any number of objective measures espoused by learned men and women.
I've missed these books dearly. Goddess blessing.
September 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Sometimes the only way to remember and reconnect with an old love and story is to feel the grief of it anew.
Tears, in joy or sorrow, are as much a sign of a story told true than any number of objective measures espoused by learned men and women.
I've missed these books dearly. Goddess blessing.
Tears, in joy or sorrow, are as much a sign of a story told true than any number of objective measures espoused by learned men and women.
I've missed these books dearly. Goddess blessing.
Reposted by Calen Bender Mornden
Emphasizing this excellent point: speaking only positively of any health condition isolates people who are really suffering.
Even if it isn’t a policy, discouraging people from talking honestly about conditions, treatment, etc endangers people at the highest risk to protect people from discomfort.
Even if it isn’t a policy, discouraging people from talking honestly about conditions, treatment, etc endangers people at the highest risk to protect people from discomfort.
Re: TOS changes. Only allowing mental health stories that are positive is perpetuating the gross trend of only supporting mental health issues when it's palatable & sanitized
All this does is stigmatize the ones who are still battling or don't have happy endings, that want understanding over inspo
All this does is stigmatize the ones who are still battling or don't have happy endings, that want understanding over inspo
September 21, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Emphasizing this excellent point: speaking only positively of any health condition isolates people who are really suffering.
Even if it isn’t a policy, discouraging people from talking honestly about conditions, treatment, etc endangers people at the highest risk to protect people from discomfort.
Even if it isn’t a policy, discouraging people from talking honestly about conditions, treatment, etc endangers people at the highest risk to protect people from discomfort.