this is a ludicrously deep cut

[caramelchameleon]

original here

this nonjoke is based on an obscure lore fragment that was posted as an enciphered puzzle on jenna moran's tumblog so like. i hope the deeply uncharacteristic expressions of delight in the final panel are enough to carry it without context. hang on i think i have the text saved (eta; i did. you can peep the comments for it)

Comments

YEP i found it

[caramelchameleon]

here's the original cipher on the wild off-chance that someone reading is like me and finds it fun to solve these
PZOFWZ XQZ JXLWJ, PZOFWZ XQZ JVC, PZOFWZ XQZ JXMWWMDU FO XQZ JZLJ,
XQZWZ RLJ L ILD RMXQ L QFAAFR YQZJX
QZ QLN DF QZLWX—QZ IZWZAC NWLDV MD XQZ OZZAMDUJ FO XQFJZ LWFGDN QMI.

GA FXVDDAP XV PMZUB EX E FXEM-FXMAYU DVVQ VUA PEW
E FAOAU-GAEPAP FUEBA VS FGEPVYF FQZDDAP ND KAFZPA GZR,
YGZFDAMZUH XV ZXFAQS, PMZDDZUH DVZFVU,
XGZUBZUH VS XGA REQZJA ZX JVNQP PV; KNX XGVFA YAMA ZXF XGVNHGXF.
XGAW YAMA UVX YGEX YEF ZU ZXF GAEMX.

UIZ,U ZY JIAB. UIQQ VZAJ VAFY, IPB PG GPY VG VYQQ EGX EGX ICY DYIXVAMXQ.U
ZAJ KGCBJ NAYCRYB VZY JYCNYPV; AV RCIKQYB APVG ZAJ RZYJV
IPB JYCTYB AV IJ ZAJ ZYICV VZYCYIMVYC.

and the solution

[caramelchameleon]

BEFORE THE STARS, BEFORE THE SUN, BEFORE THE STIRRING OF THE SEAS,
THERE WAS A MAN WITH A HOLLOW CHEST
HE HAD NO HEART-HE MERELY (drank?) IN THE FEELINGS OF THOSE AROUND HIM.

HE STOPPED TO DRINK AT A STAR-STREWN POOL ONE DAY
A SEVEN-HEADED SNAKE OF SHADOWS SLIPPED UP BESIDE HIM,
WHISPERING TO ITSELF, DRIPPING POISON,
THINKING OF THE MALICE IT COULD DO; BUT THOSE WERE ITS THOUGHTS.
THEY WERE NOT WHAT WAS IN ITS HEART.

"AH," HE SAID. "ALL THIS TIME, AND NO ONE TO TELL YOU YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL."
HIS WORDS PIERCED THE SERPENT; IT CRAWLED INTO HIS CHEST
AND SERVED IT AS HIS HEART THEREAFTER.

[cameoflage]

They Absolutely Are

[kihou]

++!