#Mini Settlers

[nerdybookahs]

Steam Next Fest 2023: Mini Settlers

Steam Next Fest 2023: Mini Settlers #MiniSettlers #Blaugust2023

Steam is currently running its Steam Strategy Fest and as usual, there are a lot of demos to try out. Reus 2 is having its first public demo, by the way! Go check it out if you’re even vaguely interested! But back to the actual topic: Mini Settlers. I started this demo not expecting much at all. Not because of the simplistic graphics, but because it reminded me of Masterplan Tycoon. A game whose…

[cristalconnors]

134. The Settlers (Felipe Gálvez Haberle, 2024)

An exercise in reprehensible, unfathomably bad taste. Hated this!!! Rating: 5.9/10

[yallfavblkgirl]

𝙈𝘼𝙉 𝙆𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙍.

ꨄ • 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 - mizu meets you, the man killer.

ఌ • 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 - blood, gore, kissing, and cussing.

𝙢𝙞𝙯𝙪 𝙭 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠! 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧!

mizu walked into some bar, not to drink anything but to look for someone. this person she was looking for kill 2,000 men in a day, of course this was 2nd place compared to mizu.

mizu sat down at the table when she saw a person with a hood on her head, the person got up and walked out the doors. mizu followed behind the person.

mizu followed them into a alleyway until the person stopped, mizu hid behind a wall and took a deep breath. she then turned around to see that the person was gone.

mizu felt a punch hit her in her face, she looked up at the person looking down at her. “why are you following me?” the person asked, mizu pushed her glasses up and got up.

she pulled out her sword and the person sighed as they did the same but the person smirked and threw their sword down. mizu shrugged and did the same.

the person and mizu started fighting, the person tripped mizu and pinned her to the ground. “answer me! why are you-” the person didn’t get to finish what they was saying before mizu kicked them off of her.

mizu tried to get up but she fell back on her knees, she looked at the person to see them smiling. the person held out at knife with blood on it.

mizu took her hand off her rib to see the blood from the wound, “tell me why are you following me?!” the person yelled before walking over to you.

mizu groaned in pain, the person sighed before grabbing both of the swords. the person banged mizu on the head and mizu immediately passed out.

after some hours later, mizu found herself laying on the ground with snitches over her wound and she gasped when she found out that her wraps around her chest were showing.

the door side open and mizu immediately placed her clothes back on, the person put their hands up and sat down as they placed the mini table down with a tea set.

“can we talk?” the person asked and mizu sat down, the person did the same, “i know why you’re following me now but i don’t care for the story behind it.” the person said.

“some fat guy snitched you up and now he’s cooking something.” the person spoke, “if it’s okay with you, i’m going to take my hood off but please don’t scream.” the person spoke.

mizu nodded, the person slowly took off their hood, mizu jaw dropped a bit as she saw their curly hair and dark skin. “good you didn’t scream so i don’t have to cut out your vocal cords.” she said with a smile.

“you’re- you’re a woman?” mizu asked but the thing she wanted to say was ‘your skin is beautiful’ but she had to hold her tongue on that one.

“yes, i am.” she said with a smile, “i’m y/n.” she said. mizu looked at her in disbelief, y/n laughed causing mizu to look away quickly.

“when i was young, my village was being destroyed by white settlers. they promised that if we went on the boat with them that we would be safe and secure but my mother knew better,” she started as mizu listened and took a sip of her tea.

“my mother threw me onto this ship and begged this japanese woman to take me in and give me a home, the woman agreed but when the white men found my mother they killed her without hesitation.” y/n spoke and gripped her necklace

“i’m so sorry.” mizu said in a low tone, y/n laughed, “don’t be sorry for me, be sorry for those white men because as soon as i catch them im going to kill him for what he did.” y/n said and mizu’s heart skipped a beat.

mizu didn’t know what she was feeling but she took off her glasses and y/n narrowed her eyes, “i’m set to kill a white man too.” mizu said and you smiled.

“whatever clever insult comes next is not as clever as you think.” mizu snapped, you rolled your eyes. “your eyes are beautiful, they used you.” y/n said.

“i’m a monster.” mizu said and you groaned loudly, “you’re not a monster! you’re human if let whatever people say about us get our heads we start to believe everything they say.” y/n said and mizu looked down.

“you’re not a monster, you’re a beautiful boy with beautiful eyes.” she said and mizu smiled a bit, “and you’re a beautiful girl with beautiful hair, lips, eyes, and skin.” mizu said bluntly before walking to her mat on the ground.

you sighed with a smile on your face, mizu laid down but got up and stopped her before she could walk out. “i’m sorry for trying to kill you.” mizu spoke and y/n sighed, “i know.” she said.

“but you’re kinda of a brat.” mizu said and y/n closed the door, “what did you call me?” y/n questioned as her eyebrows raised. mizu smirked, “you’re a fucking brat.” mizu repeated.

y/n tilted her head and got closer to mizu, “what are you going to do about that?” y/n asked as mizu and her started fighting again.

y/n pinned mizu to the ground causing y/n to laugh, “don’t so strong now huh?” y/n laughed but mizu wasn’t laughing it was like she was mesmerized by the girl.

“what?” y/n asked before mizu lifted her body up, y/n let go of her wirst as mizu got up with y/n still on her lap. “you’re so beautiful.” mizu said softly as she pushed her hair back a bit, the eye contact between the two girls was strong.

but y/n broke it, mizu followed her eyes and lifted her head back so y/n could see her eyes again. “please don’t look away from me.” mizu spoke and she immediately went back to looking into mizu’s eyes.

y/n’s eyes look at her lips for a quick moment before she looked up back at mizu’s eyes, mizu smirked as she pulled her in closer.

“the man killer huh?” mizu asked before kissing y/n’s lips.

pt 2????

[probablyasocialecologist]

The roots of Cop City can be traced back to the Israeli Urban Warfare Training Center (UWTC), nicknamed “Mini Gaza”. The UWTC, built with $45 million in U.S. aid, was designed to simulate “the modern battle-field” and features replicas of public and residential buildings in Palestinian cities, including mosques and schools. Frequent Israeli incursions and violent raids of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces escalated after the facility’s establishment in 2005. The UWTC serves as a platform for passing on military lessons learned from Israeli incursions into Palestinian cities and refugee camps, and provides training to both Israeli forces and law enforcement from allied nations like the United States. This close relationship is sustained through a shared security apparatus among settler colonies like the U.S., Israel, and the UK. It involves collaboration and mutual expertise in urban warfare and repression which further strengthen colonial occupation and imperialism.

[ellecdc]

Mini rant I’m sorry

I have this friend who is a chronic settler in her romantic relationships, and she has spent our entire lives (we’ve known each other since kindergarten) bellyflopping between ‘I wish I could be more independent like you’ (when she’s going through a breakup) and ‘why haven’t you found anyone yet?’ (when she’s in a relationship)

She moved her boyfriend into her place last week which is the first I’ve heard from her in like nearly a year (other than birthdays) which is also typical of her when she’s in a relationship, and it’s like she doesn’t know how to talk to me/what to talk about if she can’t talk about boys. We had a group FaceTime tonight and our other friend asked if I was dating anyone right now and I said no. And then my friend went “well have you tried?” …like, no…but I’m also not sitting here crying, wishing I had a partner? Like is that what women are expected to do? Am I supposed to decide that the most important thing for me to do in my life is find a s/o?

Idk, I find it so frustrating. Especially because I’ve always been (and will always be) there for her when the crummy men she dates turn out to be crummy, yet I’m somehow supposed to be sitting here wishing I had what she has? No thank you

[nightwatcherraph]

I just had a funny image in my head of Mikey running around with a mini nuke laughing like the gremlin he is.

Settler: there’s a concern with your brother

Raph: whaddya mean?

Mikey: *in the background laughing as he runs with a mini nuke in his hands and Leo chasing after him*

Donnie: would you rather he be bored or having fun?

Settler: he has a nuke!

Raph: don’t worry Leo won’t let him blow himself up

Settler: you people are insane!

Don and Raph: thanks!

[captainkurosolaire]

Father of Shadow

Grey skies of bone waste, dry uncertain humidity polluted the air, in a time stone of an oppressive era. When a peaceful Nation was under siege of a Garlean Empire was prominent conflict. Depleted soul's were torn from destruction brought upon them, not able to spark their rebel spirits. Hopelessness festered, longed, in the dark-void, absence reigned. Until those who dwell and thrive in night, answered. A Doman elegant-magpie, colored descended below gracefully upon a leather-glove, with a braille message-strung delicately for delivery, to who wields sharp steel and handles Black Miracles. It read two-words, stroked in Hingashi. "Unsheathe Shadow." The figure clad to black, descended below a tall cliff-side using a large-bright dragon-theme kite at the last daring moment, blocking a Magitek Armor with an Operator and fellow squadron leading a convoy of spoiled slavers, formerly settlers, farmers of the neighboring land, that'd know a harvest again. Feet-padded quietly a step in their pause. This mask-silhouette figure gave a small startle. Keen eyes of one Imperialist gave rise to a Eastern-forged scabbard blade, letting out a small-laugh from his throat, "Hey, Men! Seems we forgot one. Ki--" Cut off before the executive order, through a sleeved kunai punctured the throat. The specter of death, was swarmed instantaneous. Time felt frozen momentarily, when two-pursuers stepped in striking distance, before they were aware of the next breathe, they were struck down from a blinding quick unsheathe. A firm masculine gloved-hand grappled one of the defeated imperialist by their skull and used their cadaver as a shield-charge to block, a volley of ballistics sponged to the reload, swiftly, the assailant lunged his blade through the deceased into the reloading legionary, puncturing two-hearts. Crushing flail came swinging towards the assailant from behind, stern senses strengthened for obscured sight gave an acrobatic bending dodge, strands of raven hair's plucked grazing overhead, the swordsman withdrew his blade full of heated ichor, blinding the bruiser. Handicapped and shouting obscenities, he withdrew his chained-flail, the assailant vanished alongside the call-back, leaping carefully on returning weapon. Graciously leaping overhead. A swift-slice midair struck. Another head fell below removed from neck. Sudden commotion and pause made the prisoner's of war began up-roaring with renewed spirits, kicking at their confines. Magitek-Armored pilot took firing aim and unleashed a mini-gun of bullets at the shadow. The figure-glided with the wind, feline ear's rattling towards the preparing machinery coiling before assault, heel's building up wind, his blade let out a howling gust, rocketing him forth towards a hanging-tree, bullet's closely racketing behind. Fluid-movement, his free-arm locked onto a sturdy branch. He parted his blade-flat below his feet using it like a temporarily standing-board. Then unhooked from hip satchel a paper-scrolled bomb strung to another kunai, a fuse laid underneath the hilt like a switch, once launched and struck its target, it'd detonate. Ilm's from filling the assassin with swissed-holes, the weapon's arm of the machinery imploded and cracked pilot's glass windshield, the magitek armor fell off balance, exposed trying to regain control. His eye's-opened widely. Sole's directly above his small-layer between him, in the death-dealer who had catapulted and sprung himself with a feline leap. Shedding a last-gasp before expertly steel slid between the cracked- creases, and impaled him unable to evade demise. His skull ragged dolled forth bashing into the detonation button. Electrical in-balance was felt predicatively, the assassin leapt backwards, yet was unable to clear. Blocking with his arm's and blade, shrapnel of machinery projectiles dug into his flesh, boom sent the shadow careening below harshly.

Ember's surrounding him, scorched land and concussed with his hearing shrieking, distorted, his mask cracked. His body was tortured fashioned to these sensations. Adrenaline coursing inside him, nullifying the extent of his injuries, momentarily, he rolled instinctively feeling the heat near his feline tail. Despite being a deadly-weapon, expressionless, empty-nearly. He finished his task employed, by releasing the prisoner's door, they flooded out looking to find their rescuer but only a blood-trail remained mixed with all the other disarray. He had a date, with someone, that daringly made his sharpest blade, blunt. Even demolished like this, he wouldn't miss the intended target who'd forever alter his knowledge of Life. Using his blade-hilt as a cane to hold uprightness. In all or any; Darkness... There was somewhere a Light, to appreciate.

[Prev:Chapter]: ~ ♪"As Above, So Below"♪

[camlannpod]

Hey, if there was someone named James T Kirk in the Camlann apocalypse, would he be able to shoot phasers out of kit bashed hair dryers? What about a Clark Kent? Could he fly? How does the Camlann apocalypse interact with modern myths as opposed to oral traditions?

Hi! So there's an in-universe answer and an out-of-universe answer. In-universe, our gang doesn't know the answer to this question. Telecommunications went down in the first nine days, and stories by their nature are often contradictory, so our gang just don't know enough yet about how this all works to know what it does and doesn't apply to.

Out-of-universe, which is to say the way I write it (and likely something that won't come up explicitly in the show) - the stories have to have been told for the first time orally. They have to be part of an oral tradition that involves many creators and many listeners. The more tellers, listeners and permutations of the story, the more powerful it is. The age of the stories also makes them more powerful, as does their connection to 'the land' - wherever they were first told. They also have to be...organic? They have to have been told for the sake of telling them, not specifically made as a product to be sold.

By all of these rules, anything that was written for a paycheque is pretty much out - which rules out Star Trek and Superman. You can draw a lot of parallels between modern fiction and mythology, for sure, but they do fundamentally serve different purposes and were created for different reasons. A lot of heart and politics went into the creation of Superman, not least combating the rise of fascism. However, he was also created in the first place to sell comic books.

Modern myths that might work better are urban legends - especially older ones that find their roots in the late 1800s or early 1900s. American rural stories about strangers on the road etc. But in that example, again, the age of the story and its connection to the land is always the most important factor. This means that in the US, for example, indigenous folklore and stories are always more powerful than more modern settler ghost stories, and in figurative or literal conflict, the indigenous stories are going to win the toss. Which means that you're a lot less likely to find a creepypasta type creature unless you're in an area that's isolated from any indigenous cultures. Which is obviously going to be hard to find.

*Finally, a note on religion: I do not feel comfortable playing games with real people's real faiths, which is a big part of why we're largely steering clear of religions and religious stories. There's a grey area where religious figures that have also become folk heroes can come into play, specifically leaning on the power they have from folk legend - so Santa, Joan of Arc etc. As a white British woman, I don't feel I have the authority to tell those stories for other cultures. One day I'd love to have a series of mini-episodes where we invite writers from around the world to tackle these subjects. But I'm not going to be the one who writes those stories, because they're not mine to tell.

[kalevalakryze]

Free-Z

Relationships: Rose MacLean/Lee Moldaver, Lee Moldaver & Lucy MacLean & Norm MacLean, Rose MacLean & Lucy MacLean & Norm MacLean Characters: Lee Moldaver, Rose MacLean, Lucy Maclean, Norm MacLean, Maximus Tags: Soft, No Hurt, Fix It, Self-Indulgent As Hell Notes: I HAVE TO FIND AN ANGLE AND I NEED TO DEVOTE MY LIFE TO THIS NOW!!! anyways, enjoy a snippet I could not get out of my war-torn mind as I struggled through a mental breakdown as a player for over almost sixteen??? years. These games are everything to me. you're my world, fallout. Summary: “We’re gonna scare mom!” The girl whispered, small body shaking in her excitement as she pointed through the stalks towards the shadow of a blue suit passing through the thin paths. The two were so immersed in their plans that they didn’t hear the feather-light steps pushing through the stalks around them, blind to the adult that crouched over them until it was too late. “I think you should jump out at her now.” Moldaver suggested, contradicting herself in wrapping her arms tight around both kids, laughter bubbling past her lips at their delighted screams.

“Lucy! Norm!” Rose’s voice rang through the clear afternoon, warm as the sun shining high over their heads. 

“Shh! Shh!” Lucy crouched in the dirt, fingers pressing into the soil beneath her as Norm huddled close to her side. “Why are we hiding?” He questioned all too loudly. 

“We’re gonna scare mom!” The girl whispered, small body shaking in her excitement as she pointed through the stalks towards the shadow of a blue suit passing through the thin paths. 

The two were so immersed in their plans that they didn’t hear the feather-light steps pushing through the stalks around them, blind to the adult that crouched over them until it was too late. “I think you should jump out at her now.” Moldaver suggested, contradicting herself in wrapping her arms tight around both kids, laughter bubbling past her lips at their delighted screams. 

Norm tucked himself into Lee’s arm, small hands fisting into the sun-warmed fabric of her shirt as his weight was settled against her hip. “Oh no! Did I ruin your surprise?” Her bottom lip pouted out in a weak apology even as Rose parted her way through the stalks of corn. 

“A surprise for me? Or did you ruin their surprise?” Rose bent easily as Lucy dove into her arms, mirroring Lee with her daughter on her hip. 

“Rose!” Lee hissed, chest rumbling with warm laughter as she crossed the distance between the two, brushing her free hand against the vault dweller's bicep. 

Smacking her lips, the woman shook her head slowly. “Alright, alright … Well if it isn’t a secret anymore…?” Soft eyes turned to look at Moldaver, ending any resolve that could have ever existed with the rays of the warmest puppy dog face- soon mirrored by the ‘mini-rose’s’ all around her.

“Well. I’m outnumbered-” Moldaver shook her head, stepping ahead to part the stalks and keep them held back so they could step through, hefting the toddler higher on her hip, Lee took the hand outstretched to her with linked fingers and led the way. 

Settlers moved all around the city around them, kids ran past with different toys and vendors called out their wares. Leaning almost out of her mother’s grasp, Lucy’s hands curiously raised towards the floating bubbles, blown all around by a small group of kids that had taken up a corner of pavement with various colors of chalk. 

“So what’s our surprise?” Lucy started, lolling her head back against Rose’s shoulder to blink innocently up at her. 

“Well... Lee here was the one to put it together. Do you want to tell them?” Shaking her head, the older woman shifted the quiet boy on her hip. “No, love, you go ahead.”

“Ice. Pops.” The words were spoken in an excited whisper; frozens sticks of juice with no radiation, a perfect treat for the hot summer day. Lee was able to count exactly how long it took for Lucy to notice, how fast those vibrant eyes widened, brown hair swishing like a halo around her head as she turned to stare dumbfoundedly at the other woman. 

The two women shared a knowing look between each other as the kids catapulted into a conversation with each other, words flying faster than anyone could ever truly be expected to understand. 

“Hey, Maximus!” Lee greeted as they approached the carefully hidden chests that held their prizes. “Glad your dad caught you in time. Your friends coming?” Honeyed eyes flickered to the pack of kids the boy would always hang out with as she lowered Norm to the ground, hand resting on his messy mop of hair as he vibrated beneath her. 

“Yeah! Come on guys!” Max shouted, waving over all the kids; Before they knew it, Rose and Lee were cutting the tops of treats from the plastic and handing them to various kids, and the sheepish adult who found the courage to make their way into the lines as well. 

As the sun began its descent to the horizon, the kids of Shady Sands were covered in the sticky high fructose juice of their treats. Lee sat with her back pressed into Rose’s side against a bench overlooking the sunset, Lucy sitting almost uncomfortably against her stomach as she licked the evidence of the bright blue ice pop from her fingers. 

Seeming to just remember herself; the small child reached sticker fingers to poke against Lee’s face. “I almost forgot! Thank you! ” The way the child’s body dropped into Lee’s in a violent form of a hug was almost enough to say otherwise, but she still chuckled warmly and brushed her fingers through the girls hair. 

“Hey, anything for my girls, and you too, Norm-” 

A smaller sticky hand pressed against her forehead, plastering the artificial smell of coconut to her head. “Th’nks-” Norm grumbled, muted by his mother’s shoulder where he dozed. The sleepiness seemed to run through the entire family in a quick wave, soon enough the ball of energy pressed into her had faded into a quiet snoring, drool staining the shoulder of her shirt and creating a smooth symphony with the sounds of night and the sleep-babbling of her younger brother.

“Should probably get the kids to bed soon,” Rose managed through a yawn, stretching an arm up over her head as she leaned further back into the bench. “ You promised me a treat later too, you know,” The woman’s eyes flickered towards Lee’s lips as she spoke, already shifting to rise from the bench as she seemed propelled by an earlier promise. 

“Alright, Blue. Lets get you your desert,” Moldaver rumbled warmly, cradling Lucy’s sleeping form to her chest as Rose tucked into her side, Norm cradled protectively against her hip once again as they strolled through calm streets back to their home.

[nesiacha]

In this month of October 1802, a slave revolt was led, among others, by three white men against the reinstatement of slavery by Bonaparte in Guadeloupe

Sensitive souls should abstain when I speak about the fate of Millet ( one of the white men leader of the slave revolt). I have already talked about the revolt against the reinstatement of slavery led by Delgrès, Ignace, and Alexandre Kirwan in several posts here: Link 1, Link 2, and a mini-post on the forgotten French revolutionary Alexandre Kirwan, who played a key role in this revolt: Link 3.

Now, I am looking for more information on the October 1802 revolts. In fact, in Sainte-Anne, there was a rebellion of Black people led, among others, by three white men: Barse, Millet de la Guardière, and Jean Barbet.

Here is an excerpt from Frédéric Régent regarding these three men: “Ménard, who replaced Richepance after his death as Commander-in-Chief of the army, mentions here his expulsion from Guadeloupe by Lacrosse on April 18, 1803. October 6, 1802, refers to the revolt of Sainte-Anne, triggered by three white leaders: Barsse, Millet de la Girardière, and Jean Barbet. During the general freedom period, Barsse was a government commissioner and tenant of the Gassien estate, which belonged to the heirs of Vipart; Millet de la Girardière was a former French officer, a colonist from Martinique, who had been expelled from there due to his political ideas, which were likely republican; Jean Barbet, a native of Antenac in Gascony, was a farmer. Mulattoes Yves (without a last name), Louis Bureau, Jean Gautier, René Gayan, and Louison Bourk, as well as Black men Hippolyte, Édouard, and Jean (Barsse's servant), were part of the conspiracy. They traveled to twenty plantations, recruiting insurgents on each: their numbers swelled to eighty, with twenty on horseback. Twenty-three white people were killed by the insurgents. It is not specified whether they were returning emigrants. The revolt was suppressed by the National Guard. According to Ménard, there was a strong opposition between tenants and returning emigrants. In this regard, he said: ‘I considered Grande-Terre as the battleground of tenants and landlords.’”

According to a site, 23 settlers were killed by the rebels, and in four months, there were more than a hundred executions in retaliation.

Millet allegedly met a horrific fate (sensitive souls should abstain, I say again): he was sentenced to the iron cage punishment by a Guadeloupe tribunal. Here’s an excerpt: “A tribunal in Guadeloupe, by judgment of 11 Brumaire, Year XI (November 2, 1802), condemned Millet de la Girardière to be exposed in the square of Pointe-à-Pitre, in an iron cage, until death ensued. The cage used for this punishment is eight feet high. The victim is placed astride a sharp blade; his feet rest on stirrup-like supports, and he is forced to keep his legs tense to avoid being wounded by the blade. In front of him, on a table within his reach, food and drink are placed, but a guard watches day and night to prevent him from touching them. When the victim’s strength begins to wane, he collapses onto the sharp blade, which inflicts deep and cruel wounds. The unfortunate man, driven by pain, rises again, only to fall once more onto the sharp blade, which wounds him horribly. This torture lasts three or four days.” (Joseph Elzéar Morenas, Précis historique de la traite des Noirs et de l’esclavage colonial, 1828)

So, I would like more information about this rebellion and especially about another one. A very knowledgeable site, although it doesn’t cite its sources (unfortunately, since upon in-depth verification, the information is usually accurate), mentions Fourme, who had already participated in the resistance alongside Delgrès, Ignace, etc. Palème, who followed a similar path, managed to escape. From there, Fourme established a stronghold in which the fight against the reinstatement of slavery continued on Morne Moudongue, then in the heights of Capesterre, before being betrayed and handed over by settlers in November 1805 . So we have proof that the revolt against the reestablishment of slavery lasted even after May 1802. The Guadeloupeans may not have succeeded in winning militarily against Napoleon unlike Haiti (and even then it was difficult to beat them, Richepance half-admitted that he had totally underestimated them to the point of asking England for material aid) but they succeeded for many years at the cost of sacrifice and ordeals to finally succeed in having slavery definitively abolished (which is still less great than that of 1794, the former owners had the right in 1848 to have financial compensation for the loss of their slaves but the former slaves did not have the right to the slightest financial compensation upon their return). May they never be forgotten.

If you have more information on him, I would be very grateful :)

[thetrailthestarsblaze]

Maple Arc

Mapleshade's arc is a lot more politically motivated and complex than in the original.

Mapleshade's family descends from the original settlers, as does Oakfell's. At this point, the Thunder Champions and the Beach Rafters have been waring for a long time and Starwalker Oakfell is very keen on securing his legacy. Oakfell has two (legal) children with his wife, Sweetbriar. A single daughter, Kindlingwish, and a child, Birchface. Starwalker Oakfell basically wants to hook his kids up with a cat that'll give them stronger genes (stronger to him). Mapleshade is picked by Oakfell to be Birchface's mate and heavily pressured into it. Mapleshade is a very daring cat, a peak Thunder Champion and her only remaining family is her grandmother who is too old to be having kittens. Mapleshade and Birchface are good as friends, but aren't interested in each other that way. They both learn that, ironically, they both have mates in the Beach Rafter colony. They bond over this and decide to keep it their little secret and cover for each other. Kindlingwish on the other hand as her heart set on a cat her father disapproves of. Vipergrass has mostly kittypet/loner ancestry. Oakfell continues to push his daughter towards marrying Thrushtalon, who has 'better' lineage. When Mapleshade gets pregnant with Appledusk's kits, Birchface agrees to cover as the kits' father. The night before another battle, Birchface is going on a small walk with his mate, Saltswim and learns from them that Appledusk has been courting a cat named Reedshine behind Mapleshade's back. Angered and wanting to defend his friend, Birchface aims to get Appledusk alone so he can tell Appledusk he knows his little game and to apologize to Mapleshade. Appledusk realizes that he's in trouble and out of panic more than anything kicks Birchface into the rapids, which kills him and his young apprentice, Flowerpaw. Mapleshade hears of Birchface's death and is heartbroken. Birchface never got to tell her what he knew. Mapleshade keeps meeting Appledusk in secret who recounts the whole thing as an accident, that Birchface had slipped and hit his face against the slick rocks, crashing into the river. Mapleshade believes him and has his kits shortly after, passing them off as Birchface's kits.

When the kittens can barely walk, they pass as Birchface's kits easily. Especially Larchkit and Petalkit, while Patchkit is a 'mini mapleshade'. However as they grow, something is off about them. Ravenwing gets requested (read demanded) to do a summoning for Oakfell. Birchface refuses to answer and other cats appear instead, dark spirits that send Ravenwing the omen that Mapleshade's kits are half-colony cats. Not only that, but their true father is Birchface's murderer.

Mapleshade is forced to stay in the nursery to receive her punishment. Her grandmother, Fennelbush, her old mentor Bloomheart, and the deputy, Beestinger. Starwalker Oakfell catches on quick though and to save his conspirators Beestinger takes the blame and is executed. Loyal followers of Starwaker Oakfell (and those afraid of him), chase mapleshade and her kits, hunting them down. It blocks off Mapleshade's escape to anywhere except the Beach Rafters. A storm has brewed through all this and the rivers have turned to rapids. With no other choice, Mapleshade tries to get her kits across, but she and her babies are knocked into the water.

Nearby a Beach Rafter patrol, gathering supplies before the storm gets too bad, hear something going on. Even though Starwalker Darklightening had put propaganda through all her colony's heads, several cats were still firm believers in the 'Life Law'. Two important cats in the patrol are Eeldive who rescued Mapleshade from the water when the actual rescuers wouldn't, and Saltswim, Birchface's mate who had been mourning in silence and guilt, chases after Mapleshade's kits. Eeldive convinces the others to take Mapleshade to the colony and sadly, Saltswim comes back with the dead kittens, Mapleshade crumbles as her life falls apart, only for salt to be rubbed in her wounds when Appledusk proclaims he never loved her, when Saltswim spills his secret. Reedshine, Appledusk's legal mate is so horrified by her colony's treatment of Mapleshade and her mate, that she renounces their mateship then and there. Eeldive, Saltswim, and Reedshine all care and try to protect Mapleshade, when eventually Starwalker Darklightening states that basically Mapleshade is banished.

They continue to care for her in secret as Mapleshade finds her way around to the barn where Myler lives. Myler agrees to house Mapleshade. Eeldive Reddshine and Mapleshade slowly get closer, but Reedshine is pregnant. Maple and her sort of. both know its appledusk's but dont mention it out loud due to the pain of it. Grieving still, Mapleshade tries to sneak to Moonstone to contact Birchface or her kittens or, anyone really. She runs into Ravenwing, who threatens her, but when he mentions her kits in a bad way, Mapleshade attacks him. It's the biggest taboo of all the colonies to attack a healer. Mapleshade had no intention of killing him, but the battle escalates and Ravenwing ends up dead. Mapleshade is badly startled by this and combined with her nightmares she starts not eating or drinking, which leads to her hallucinating.

Later Mapleshade stumbles into Kindlingwish sort of by accident while trying to sneak over to pay respects at Birchface's grave. They get into a small argument which Kindlingwish turns into a physical fight as her grief overwhelms her. By accident, Kindlingwish is bitten by an adder and a scared, confused Mapleshade hears a patrol coming, leaving Kindlingwish to be found and having the patrol see her running from the scene of the crime.

Kindlingwish survives with some lifelong issues and dives into her bitterness, marrying Thrushtalon to please her father and having one kit, Pinefall (named after her father somewhat). She remains bitter and claims to her death that Mapleshade had tried to kill her. meanwhile back into time where Mapleshade is running away, she finds Eeldive who states Reedshine has started to go into labor. Mapleshade rushes to her and helps with her kitting. Soon after, Appledusk decides he's pissed and bitter and gathers supports to 'return reedshine' who he states had been kidnapped by Maple, Eel, Salt, and Myler. he plans on basically forcing Reedshine to come back with him and re-marry him at any cost. A battle breaks out, ending with Mapleshade killing Appledusk and chasing the battle party off. For awhile, Maple, Salt, Reed, and Myler (and Myler's husband) raise the kits and live as barncats/loners. later when Starwalker Darklightening dies, (probably to battle?) the next leader invites the group to return and live in the Beach Rafters colony were previous transgressions would be forgotten. After heavy debate they agree and eventually Maple, Eel, and Reed become wives. Though Mapleshade is haunted deeply by what happened and even at her death, the story around her has shapeshifted over the years.

[elizaditton]

Koronian Mini Lesson #1

Hey everyone! Sorry updates have been slow... this next chapter of Too Small To Be Afraid is probably going to be a long one and I'm still thinking through all that I want to happen. In the meantime, I thought maybe I could tell you all a little bit about Koronia's culture and language!

Koronian (or, Kyoronyar) is one of the two official languages of Koronia, which is one country out of many on the world Perthea. Since Too Small To Be Afraid takes place in Koronia, many characters speak Koronian in addition to English. You may be wondering, though, why does everyone speak English in the book?

Koronia has something called "hospitality culture," which essentially boils down to wanting to be as kind and hospitable to others as possible. When humans arrived on Perthea (Koronia to be exact), a majority of them spoke English. This resulted in the pertheans living in Koronia learning English, since the humans were their guests and they wanted to be hospitable to them. Now, "hospitality culture" isn't without its flaws. A lot of the time, the idea of being hospitable becomes a strong societal pressure. And so rather than "bother" the human settlers by having them eventually learn Koronian (although many wanted to and actually did), English was eventually made one of Koronia's official languages. Many people can and do speak both languages, but because of Koronia's hospitality culture, English ended up becoming more widely used than Koronian. Today, there is an effort to prevent the language from becoming lost. People are encouraged to learn it and speak it, more media is created in it, signs often display both languages, and so on. Many pertheans speak Koronian at home or with friends, and humans are encouraged to learn the language as well.

Here is the Koronian alphabet:

a as in "father," e as in "bet," i as in "see," u as in "boot," o as in "token"

p, b, t, and d are similar to English, but said without that little puff of air. Think of how these letters sound in Japanese or Spanish.

k and g are always pronounced ky and gy, like "cute" and "argue." As such, they're always written with a y in romanizations (but they're only singular characters in Koronian).

f and v are similar to the f sound in Japanese-- you say them without your teeth touching your lip.

s, z, sh, zh, m, n, and y are all pronounced like in English.

rr (notice the two "r"s) is a trilled r.

r (notice the single "r") is a tapped r, like the r in Spanish and Japanese, or the dd in the word "ladder" if you speak English with an American accent.

The Koronian alphabet is syllabic, meaning the letters come together to form the individual syllables that make up words.

Here's some words: vasha (hello) and nokyer (goodbye). 

Thanks for reading! I hope to make more posts like this soon. Nokyer!

TLDR: Koronians pressure each other into being nice, also I ripped off hangul

[midknitefox]

took a break from cult of the lamb to play through fallout 4 so I can motivate myself some more. have some highlights. I wrote down all my thoughts while playing! ofc spoilers for fallout 4.

"if I don't answer the door, we won't be bombed, surely"

-----

"I love codsworth but I went to retrieve nick valentine and codsworth kept getting stuck. he's too bulky to fit through some of the spaces in there so I was basically on my own until he decided to teleport 😭"

-----

""it had been filled with fish-? or monsters? or- monster fish?? maybe, I don't know- i- we- da- not relevant! the minutemen are there now! thats good! for them. and I guess... everyone else too."

I love listening to Travis over the radio talk in between songs he's so amusing-"

-----

"just got a fat man and some ammo and stimpacks

should I be scared for what's coming-"

"Kellogg kept killing me so I delivered him a mini nuke to the face and got him right off the bat."

-----

"nick we just got here [goodneighbor] what the fuck are you drinking and where did you get it"

-----

"dogmeat uses the doghouse 😭💖 omg"

-----

"I GOT A VIDEO GAME IN THE VIDEO GAME!! Hold on, Nick. my son can wait. I have to game."

-----

"I got in my power armor and nick went "always wondered what you'd look like as a robot... not too shabby."

bRO. i love this man"

-----

"me: you took down 4 guys by yourself?

nick:"

-----

"I got to sanctuary and I couldn't find ANYONE even though I checked all the houses. nobody was asleep even tho it was the middle of the night. and so I was checking the house where nick likes to hammer the walls for some reason and I looked out the window. outside I saw jun and 2 settlers standing in the middle of the farm for no reason

...

I went outside to look and marcy, Preston, and mama Murphy were also outside in the farm standing in a line against the wall where I couldn't see them.

what. the fuck."

-----

"oh my goddddd I went and met the radio man in diamond city and he is so pathetic

I love him so much.

the big Russian bartender guy in the city and his brother asked me to help them raise his confidence

this is such a sweet questline

casually putting off getting Hancock for this-"

-----

"THERES A GHOUL IN THE BAR

WHAT

civilian: I think the mayor's okay, he's kept the ghouls out hasn't he?

the ghoul RIGHT BEHIND THEM:"

-----

"I got this off. a legendary radroach. imagine me charging through the commonwealth wielding a rolling pin.

ah... nice. I'll hold on to it."

-----

"YAY new friend ! Deacon can come follow me around now!!

I'm still gonna keep valentine around though."

-----

"it's perfect."

-----

"oh

oh god

I just realized it's called "Swan's Pond"

not "Swan Pond"

and when I initially passed it. Codsworth made note that "There's still a Swan boat here"

..........I hate everything. I have to go deal with this now. I can't not." (me who's actually never dealt with swan before)

-----

"mwah"

(I'll have to reblog cause I'm out of images to post LMAO)

[beachyserasims]

Simblr Intro

Hello!!! My name is Catherine (she/they) and I am so excited to join this Sim community! I am a 30 year old (turning 31 in August) settler, living in the unceded territory of the Lhtako Dené Nation. I have been through things like school, college, and even owning a small business.

Something that has been a constant in my life over the last 30 years has been Sims! Every time I start playing again, it engulfs me completely and my creative soul thrives with all the amazing possibilities of gameplay.

Recently, I started recording my gameplay and the idea morphed into a mini television series based entirely around my most recent sim, Claudia Lestat. I had no intention of sharing my creations, but I tumbled upon Tumblr and learnt about the amazing Sim community that exists here. Ever since, I have been so inspired by the incredible creators that I decided to take a shot at Simblr myself.

My hope is to share my creative vision, adding to the ingenious content that already exists here, as well as connecting with others! Feel free to like or reblog as I look foward to meeting new people.

[unhonest-iago]

Incorrect History; Crystals

Everything that you’ve ever known about crystals is wrong. The simple yet elegant rocks that ties us mere mortals to the world’s fertile soil. You’ve probably searched up many times which stone correlates to when you were born. Aries’ pressurized diamonds to Pisces’ aquamarine.  One used for stress relief, the other stimulating creativity. Looking at them, you wouldn’t think about the many wars and political conflicts they’ve played a role in. Thus I believe it’s time we stepped back and got an even clearer reflection of crystals. That is if you pray to not lose your coveted gems. 

The intro reel plays, the text on screen reading ‘Factually True and Real History with Ted Nivison.’ A few images cascade behind the text, one being of the painting Girl with a Pearl Earring, while it gradually scales in size. Now you see Ted standing in front of a grassy knoll, you can assume it’s a green screen as it looks akin to Microsoft’s home screen.

Most would believe that the first big boom for crystals was New Age mysticism that arose in the 1980s but in actuality, they’ve been around since Ancient Egyptian. A ‘mini me’ form of Ted standing in the original’s hand. This revelation came with the discovery of clay tablets with magic formulas inscribed in hieroglyphics. Because this might come as a surprise to most of you, they did not have Staples.  A picture of Staples green-screened, the smaller Ted becoming aware of larger Ted. That kinda blew my mind when I found out. What the fuck? The mini Ted disappeared now. The Parthenos now set behind them.

Most of what we know regarding crystals comes from the Ancient Greeks. The word crystal derives from the word cryo. Before battle, Greek soldiers would rub hematite on themselves. Oxidation gives the crystal it’s pristine rusted color, closely associating it with Ares, their god of war. One such battle being the Trojan war, historians claim it was over the prized Helen of Troy but this is incorrect. Paris of Troy stealing her from her husband, Sparta’s king. A clip of the film 300’s protagonist yelling Sparta appears on screen. Rather it was what Helen possessed, a coveted amethyst necklace. The war itself almost destroyed the economy, allowing for the Romans to easily take over the omega filled population destitute of alphas. And the amethyst necklace unfortunately lost to time. 

Now let’s talk about the Victorians. A flash of puffy powdered wigs appearing on screen, different pieces of clothing; petticoats, feathered hats, waistcoat pockets holding watches. In 1829, Sir Boris Peel established London’s Metropolitan police force. They quickly garnered a corrupt reputation, referred to as spokes, cracking down on jewelry related robberies. Opals, rubies, & pearls most sought after. Women took to sewing them into their clothes, secret pockets when women’s clothing still had them. Further incorporating them into spring bonnets men on the hands of their watches. As tradition, peer pressure from the deceased goes, this is where aristocratic families willing beloved heirlooms to their descendants originated. As they later traveled to the adventurous new-beginnings of the Colonies, so did these possessions.

The east coast having settled, needing more room to stretch their legs, these ambitious settlers journeyed out west finding specks of gold in the Rocky mountains. They kept part of their finds separate, off the record. Only setting up shop after the glorious centers of attention turned to dust, haunted by their lustrous ghosts. Developing the tricks of the trade, mentoring others under their careful thumb. Hitting the 1980s, with the New Age movement, those jewels repurposed into anchors of healing as we entered the Age of Aquarius. Ted looks to the hourglass sitting on their mantle, the sand at the top now all at the bottom. Ah, it looks like we’re out of time. Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of Factually True History. I’m your host, Ted Nivison. Thanks for watching…or reading. It cuts to them waving, as the camera pans outward, the same intro playing, repeating as the outro. 

[lost-technology]

What if... they played Fallout?

So, a thing came across my dash showing off Wolfwood's amazing carrying capacity and it led to me joking about what if Wolfwood were in Skyrim? Honestly, Fallout is more like their world and I've given thought to how the characters of Trigun would play the Fallout games - whether they were caught in a crossover that put them in a world even more bleak than the one they live in or they...discovered video games and played. (This accounts for characters making play-characters that actually reflect themselves if latter. I mean, I'm a weakling who loves to play a heavy-melee and sometimes big guns characters... I doubt I'd be able to lift a sledgehammer with ease in real life, but my motto in game is "Super Sledges don't run out of ammo!") Vash - Small Arms specialist. High agility and perception. Uses V.A.T.S. constantly (I think hey may canonically have some kind of Plant-inborn version of V.A.T.S!) Downs more Nuka-Cola Quantum that that Petrovita-lady. Luck stat is in the toilet. Is one of those "Hold my beer, Bethesda!" pacifist-challenge players. Despite a low luck stat, he has the Mysterious Stranger perk for whatever reason. It's Wolfwood. The Mysterious Stranger is Wolfwood and Vash gets P.O.ed when he saves Vash's life by killing a tough opponent. Meryl - Small Arms specialist. High intelligence. High Charisma. Takes on a lot of the sidequests that let you explore the world and find out little things about it. Definitely there for the lore. Stampede version Meryl is doing ALL of Piper Wright's quests and will take her as a main companion. Wolfwood - Big Guns. Uses V.A.T.S. sometimes, but prefers a simple target and rapid-fire. High medical skill / all the Medical-related perks. Hoards and owns ALL the Stimpaks. Milly - Big Guns. Carries a Mini-Gun because it reminds her of her stungun. "I had to kill those Supermutants, Mr. Vash, it's just a game! Don't worry about it!" Likes all of the good karma quests were she gets to help people. Would probably enjoy Fallout 4's DLC Striker (the gun that shoots bowling balls). Likes anything with abnormal ammo. Elendira the Crimsonail - Concentrates on doing all of the little quests / getting all of the blueprints for building the Railroad Gun and hoards every railroad spike she finds along the way. Uses the Railroad Gun exclusively. Millions Knives - Melee specialist. Starts out with things like switchblades, graduates to swords as soon as possible. Isn't much for the sledgehammers, but will take a baseball bat and mod it to have razor blades / Bladed Swatter. A murder-hobo who slaughters everything, especially every human he comes across, settler and raider alike. Doesn't do any main quests, just kills stuff. Probably feels some kind of kinship to one of the non-human or left-of-human downtrodden races, like the robots or synths. Ghouls are probably still too human for him to like. Legato Bluesummers - Being more of a telepath than heavy on weapons, I imagine him finding that Vault in the Fallout 4 DLC you can run or downloading Fallout Shelter and running a Vault - in the most evil way possible. Just horrible manipulation on the human residents to torture them and see how they tick.