First Draft Club
“Write in Public” | Posting open to anyone, join as a member for accountability and rewards. Learn more at firstdraft.club. | @firstdraftclub
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~✨3 TYPES OF INGREDIENTS TO HELP FADE HYPERPIGMENTATION(a must read!)✨~
That $1,000 K-beauty serum that you are over relying on to try and fade years worth of hyperpigmentation is probably not going to work
If you actually want to see results and fast, you need to be using 3 types of ingredients
The first is something to help speed up your skin cell turn over, I am talking about your retinoids, chemical exfoliants, etc., because believe it or not, the pigments from those dark marks you can see on your skin are actually sitting way down below your skin surface. These ingredients will help push that pigment up, so your skin can naturally shred away
The next type of ingredient is something to stop the excess melanin being produced in the first place, these ingredients are called tyrosinase inhibitors, so I am talking about your azelaic acid, kojic acid, vitamin c, arbutin and believe me there are a lot more. Because hyperpigmentation is really just your skin going into over drive, as a response to trauma and producing way too much melanin
And finally you need to be using sunscreens, because UV rays trigger melanin production. Not only will not using sunscreen create new areas of hyperpigmentation, it will also make your existing dark marks even darker and we don't want that at all. 5 replies
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** 2 Years of Thanks to /gmfarcaster (my /firstdraft )
Yesterday was the 2-year anniversary of /gmfarcaster. I hear the official celebration is tomorrow with @nounishprof live from Base Camp (Vermont, not Everest) & @adrienne not live from Mongolia 🤷♂️
We owe them a debt of thanks.
In a space that moves fast and frantic, prof and adrienne help us keep up and stay sane. And they do it with fun and ease!
It's easy to take things for granted when they become a staple, and after 289 episodes it's easy to take /gmfarcaster for granted.
I hope we are reminded to say thanks and show our appreciation.
I was doing some Maths in my head last night...
289 shows at an hour for each of them - 600 hours
Let's think ultra conservative...
2 hour of prep for each show (it's more!) - 600 hours
2 hour to get the replay out (it's more!) - 600 hours
Travel & shows for ETH Denver, FarCon, Base Camp etc etc - 300 hours
Admin & Guest stuff each week 2 hours - 200 hours
Building a bot, hypersub, mini app - 200 hours
You get the point? That's 2000 hours and we haven't done it justice.
I don't know what /gmfarcaster financials are, but I think it's a pretty small.
What would be an ultra-conservative hourly rate? $50? That's $100K. I don't know if they've gotten even a fraction of that. And that doesn't scratch the surface. It's probably 3x, 4x that or more.
This isn't an ad for GM Farcaster. It's simply a tangible, thought-out thanks. I like to make things concrete and vivid.
It's clear that @nounishprof & @adrienne do what they do for really one reason: They love Farcaster. 💜
I hope a day comes when we can not only thank projects like this, but also support them better.
For now, I hope we show our appreciation and remember not to take them for granted. 2 replies
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The latest donghua hit, Lord of Mysteries, is a dark fantasy set in a Victorian-era world filled with arcane secrets, shadowy organisations, and a surprisingly grounded system of magic.
But for newcomers, its dense lore and layered power system can quickly feel overwhelming. If you’re just getting into the story, whether through the original web novel or the new anime adaptation on, this should help you understand how its complex power system works.
This guide is for newcomers curious about the world’s strange but meticulously constructed framework of rituals, potions, Pathways, and personas that shape the fate of every character in the story.
It goes without saying but, consider this your [SPOILER WARNING] in case you aren’t caught up yet.
What is a Beyonder?
A BEYONDER is someone who has consumed a potion tied to a specific SUPERNATURAL PATHWAY, which is kind of like a magical career path. Each pathway offers a unique theme and a ladder of powers called SEQUENCES.
Each Pathway in Lord of Mysteries is loosely inspired by a Major Arcana card from the Tarot deck with each title reflecting archetypal roles that shape a Beyonder’s abilities, identity, and fate. Once you pick a Pathway, switching to another is extremely risky unless it’s an adjacent one. Most people stick to one Pathway for their entire journey.
There are 22 Pathways in total, and each one grants a different set of abilities as a person progresses through it.
What are Sequences?
Each Pathway is structured like a ladder of Sequences, counting down from Sequence 9 (the weakest) to Sequence 1 (on the edge of godhood).
Here’s how the power tiers generally break down:
Lower Sequences (9–8): Beginner-level powers. Beyonders can perform basic supernatural feats but remain mostly human.
Mid Sequences (7–5): Powers grow stronger and more dangerous. Mental strain increases. Klein’s allies like Dunn (Sequence 7: Nightmare) and Daly (Sequence 7: Spirit Medium) operate at this level.
High Sequences (4–1): Demigod-level abilities. Beyonders at this stage can manipulate reality on a large scale, but are constantly at risk of madness or losing control.
To advance to the next Sequence, a Beyonder must consume the next potion in their Pathway. But it’s not as simple as drinking and leveling up.
How do you level up?
The key to safely progressing through Sequences is called the ACTING METHOD. This is a core part of the Lord of Mysteries power system and one of the reasons it feels so grounded and original.
Here’s how it works: Each Sequence is tied to a title — Seer, Clown, Spirit Medium, Nightmare, etc. — and that title isn’t merely symbolic. A Beyonder must act like the title to digest the potion properly. In Klein’s case, as a Seer, he needs to perform divination and engage in prophetic rituals. That’s why he joins the local Divination Club.
By acting in line with the nature of their Sequence, Beyonders gradually stabilise the chaotic elements within the potion. This process is called DIGESTION. Only after fully digesting a potion can they safely move to the next one.
What happens if you fail?
If a Beyonder fails to digest a potion or advances too quickly, they risk losing their sanity. This loss of control can turn them into violent, deformed monsters or inhuman beings consumed by the very power they tried to harness. Failed Beyonders are often dangerous and unstable, which is why official organisations like the Nighthawks try to regulate potion use and monitor their activity.
Who regulates all this?
The supernatural is largely hidden from the public. Instead, it’s managed by major religious and military institutions. Each church holds dominion over a few Pathways. For instance, the Church of the Evernight Goddess oversees the Darkness and Death Pathways and runs the Nighthawks.
Other official factions and rogue organizations compete over magical knowledge, potion ingredients, and ancient texts that help decode the rules of being a Beyonder.
The Antigonus Family Notebook
The Antigonus Family were once powerful nobles deeply entrenched in occult research. But like many who rose too quickly through the Beyonder ranks, they were destroyed by the very powers they sought to master. One of their surviving relics is a notebook containing handwritten records of their studies, rituals, and most dangerously, Beyonder potion formulas.
This notebook plays a crucial role early in Klein’s journey. It provides rare and secret knowledge — most notably about the Acting Method — and introduces Klein to the idea that climbing the Sequence ladder is possible without succumbing to madness, if one is disciplined and careful. It’s also a cursed object, capable of triggering hallucinations and mental collapse if handled incorrectly.
What are Sealed Artifacts?
Beyonders often use powerful magical items called Sealed Artifacts. These are rare, dangerous, and unique. Think of them like cursed tools that can give you incredible power, but they come with side effects that vary from inconvenient to life-threatening. Artifacts are ranked from Grade 3 (least dangerous) to Grade 0 (most dangerous). Because of their power, Sealed Artifacts are heavily guarded and usually only handled by high-ranking Beyonders.
What’s the Gray Fog?
Klein gains access to a mysterious space above the spirit world, known as the Gray Fog. From here, he can communicate with others, conduct rituals, and even protect himself from divine interference. It also becomes the base of operations for the Tarot Club.
What makes this Power System so unique?
The power system in Lord of Mysteries is both strict and flexible. It runs on clear rules but allows for mystery, improvisation, and growth. The Acting Method turns every new power into a test of identity. Advancing through the Sequences can’t be achieved by brute force, but requires self-understanding, discipline, and learning how to wear a mask without becoming it.
It’s not a system you can cheat. You have to earn every step, and if you’re careless, you might not survive the climb. This creates a world that feels both magical and believable, with no shortcut to becoming powerful. You have to study, adapt, and survive. That’s what keeps the world grounded, even as it grows more bizarre.
If you’re just starting the anime or the novel, take your time. The story doesn’t rush its explanations, but once you start to see how the pieces fit, the world opens up in clever, satisfying ways.
Lord of Mysteries is airing on Crunchyroll, check it out and enjoy. 2 replies
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** /firstdraft & Fueling Your Farcaster Journey ** (my /firstdraft )
I've completed a weekly /firstdraft every week this year--so about 35 straight. I joined because @mark did some weekly promo questions last December & it did enough to draw me in.
First Draft is pitched as an 'accountability writing group' & it is that, but it can do more than that for you. It can help fuel your Farcaster Journey.
So many people want help finding their place on Farcaster. Everyone's advice is be yourself and talk about things you love. That sounds great but can be tough to take hold of. Enter /firstdraft
You have a weekly reason & a weekly expectation to write about a topic that you are interested in. You would be surprised at how over time that can help shape your role and your engagement here. It's not a magic pill--nothing is--and you have to be patient.
I have been writing on some aspect of Farcaster culture & projects each week. I was already doing that, but 35 weeks of First Drafts has dramatically formalized that part of my role here and I've noticed that their is a growing expectation for what I might write about and what people will learn in my small, but important circle.
@pichi was creating a few bangers about the algo and Dune related data, but I sense that prior to her joining First Draft it was hit or miss when she felt like it, now it's every week and I sense 3 out of 4 are bookmarkable posts.
I noticed this week that @josephineoriaku is documenting her FC journey, @0xtheweb3nerd is documenting his web3 learnings. And today I noticed video banger creator @thumb made (his first?) first draft which caught my attention.
So, all you new followers of mine--many from TBA & others wanting to learn more about how to find your place here...
What's the topic that you want to write about for the next 10, 15, 25 weeks?
What day and time do you want to post it?
Tell me in the comments or ask me any questions for help. Soon your first, First Draft will be your 35th First Draft.
Thanks to @mark for creating this for himself and running it so that the rest of us can benefit. 5 replies
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NAIL + HAND CARE ~ PART 1 💅✨
The best nails are the ones carefully taken care of by you, and for you, no one can take care of your nails other than yourself, as a content creator having a clean, healthy hand and nails are a huge major part of the content itself! Have you ever taken pictures of your matcha latte drink and you feel disgusted by the sight of your hand and nails? Or you feel not satisfied by the way the back of your hand looks and the brokenness of your nails??? Yeah, I know that feeling too
Your nails are like little protective shields on the tips of your fingers and toes. They are made of a tough protein called keratin, the same stuff in your hair, hence why taking in food that contains zinc, iron, protein or certain vitamins helps in nail growth and healthility
Must people suffer from unhealthy nails not because they did something wrong but simply because perhaps they are not eating the right food nor they don't have access to the right information(which is what I am bringing to you)
I am very big on healthy self-care, and I love taking care of every part of my body the best natural way possible, so here you have it:
Top tier ways to take care of your nails + hands, split in two categories:
Basic Nail + Hand Care Method:
»Clean
»Moisturize
»Hydrate & Seal
Advanced Nail + Hand Care Method:
»Clean
»Treat
»Moisturize
»Hydrate & Seal
»Beautify and Aesthetics
You can agree with me that retail therapy is not that hard, look out for my next writing, where I will be breaking down these "top tier ways" of healthy nail + hand care!
PSS: the images were inspired by Keccers and this manicure is called "soap nails", I will write about it soon, my kind of nails if you ask me, ily✨🫶💕 1 reply
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