#Series: A Forgery of Magic

[jvzebel-x]

"Who you are when you’re angry is still you. It doesn’t have to be all of you, but it’s a piece of you all the same. If you deny that, you might as well deny your whole maldito self and be done with it."

x. "Nocturna", Maya Motayne

"Know that the voice in your head telling you that you are not worthy, that this task is too great for you to comprehend, may in fact be all the proof you need to know that you are worthy."

x. "Oculta", Maya Motayne

[couldtheysolvethewitchsepitaph]

Dearest readers!

Inspired by @couldtheycatchkira and @couldinfinitytrainhavesavedthem, I have decided to do my own poll blog, revolving around whether or not YOUR - yes! - YOUR favorite character(s) could solve Umineko’s epitaph (and perhaps live through the Rokkenjima Massacre).

SUBMISSIONS STATUS: CLOSED

For clarification, to "solve the Witch's Epitaph" is defined as thus:

Solving the textual epitaph itself, and therefore figuring out (and verifying) the location of Kinzo's gold The solving of the aforementioned epitaph within the time frame of the Rokkenjima Massacres of Oct. 4th and Oct. 5th.

To "survive" is defined as:

To live through the Rokkenjima Massacres and escape the island

The poll options will be as follows:

Could solve the epitaph, would survive: The character(s) are able to solve the epitaph bearing the location of Kinzo's gold, as well as survive the Rokkenjima Massacre. Could solve the epitaph, would not survive: The character(s) are able to solve the epitaph, but are killed through human means or MAGIC. Their death is used as extra material in the Forgeries of the massacre, theorizing whether they were hapless victims, or accomplices to the culprit. Couldn't solve the epitaph, would survive: The character(s) are unable to figure out the epitaph, but survive the Rokkenjima Massacre. Couldn't solve the epitaph, would not survive: The character(s) are unable to figure out the epitaph in time, and are killed through human means or MAGIC. Their death is used as extra material in the Forgeries of the massacre, theorizing whether they were hapless victims or accomplices to the culprit.

IMPORTANT: Please vote based on the character's actual skills, rather than just voting based on whether you like that character or not.

For example, if a character within their respective series is shown to be able to solve complicated puzzles and/or survive through harrowing ordeals, it wouldn't be logical to vote "couldn't solve the epitaph, would not survive" just because you don't like them.

Whether or not the character, after solving the epitaph, survives and also becomes a "witch" - a gender neutral term in the Umineko narrative - I leave that up to you, dear readers.

Now, then! Let's raise the curtain on this stage of tragedy once more! Entertain me!

And of course, please reblog whatever polls you voted in to spread around. It's much more fun to read your guys' essay-length propaganda on whichever option you chose!

[thisisnotthenerd]

got infected by the brainrot of creating d&d characters so:

leverage as d&d characters

note: the setting doesn't involve magic and only has combat encounters in very specific circumstances, so there's an obvious lean towards classes that go hard on the rp based on their abilities. they're thieves. they're a bunch of rogues fundamentally. if a character has magic, the assumption is that it's filtered through the setting, i.e. sophie using disguise self or hardison using remote access.

level wise, the original team is rocking at level 15 minimum in the original series. they’re some of the best of the best before they start working together. think of it this way: the reason they’re so high level is for rp reasons, not for combat, except for eliot. they’re trying to avoid encounters and solve puzzles through various means, not beat up a dragon. plus, given a low magic world, i’m assuming scaling of power is adjusted to the reality these characters exist in; they don't have the hp of a dnd adventurer, but they have the proficiency bonus and ASIs.

obviously there’s potential for better systems / systems that are more suited to heists than combats. i'm most familiar with dnd, so that's what i'm using atm.

first, the obvious:

parker: thief rogue. the base abilities allow for bonus action sleight of hand checks as well as no reduction to climbing speed. i would also add the opportunistic thief feat, as well as the acrobat feat because of her extensive training.

highest stats are dexterity and intelligence, with above average wisdom and constitution, average strength, and charisma is her dump stat. proficiency / expertise for the skills she needs: perception, survival, but not insight. over time with the crew she improves on wis/cha by working with sophie primarily.

nate ford: inquisitive rogue. all about seeing through people, digging into the cracks and finding what’s missing. i considered adding a dip into paladin for oath of vengeance, but one can commit to a code of honor without getting magic for it, so i'm sticking to pure rogue for nate.

i would add inspiring leader, and maybe the acolyte background for his background in seminary school, or city watch investigator for his work with iys. high mental stats, average physical, though intelligence and charisma are higher than wisdom for nate.

sophie devereaux: eloquence bard/mastermind rogue multiclass. both have really good abilities wrt talking to people which is her whole deal. she's often the one talking the group through grifts; if that's not bonus action help i don't know what is. plus jack of all trades allows sophie to work with a ton of different scenarios.

i'd say high mental stats again; max charisma, high wisdom, above average intelligence, with expertise in history, insight, persuasion, and deception, and average physical stats. disadvantage on performance when not on the con.

eliot spencer: another multiclass: fighter/rogue. base is battlemaster fighter, with a hefty dip into assassin rogue for expertise and uncanny dodge, etc. he gets a bunch of ASIs as a fighter, so he can be very well rounded and add feats to round out his rp e.g. chef, athlete, observant/alert. for combat, add the tavern brawler feat, unarmed fighting style, and the mercenary veteran background and you have yourself an eliot spencer.

highest stats are strength & wisdom, followed by charisma & constitution, then intelligence & dexterity, though all of them are above average, because he starts off with good physicals and builds up the mentals with ASIs.

alec hardison: a little tricky, but i’d make him a multi class of arcane trickster rogue and divination wizard, with a heavier emphasis on the rogue than the wizard. filtered through his use of tech, this man basically spams remote access, identify, arcane eye, scrying, rary’s telepathic bond, legend lore, locate object/creature, etc.* i would tack on the skilled feat because he picks up forgery and a bunch of other skills along the way.

highest stats are intelligence and wisdom, followed by charisma, with average physical stats, though his dexterity is higher than his strength and constitution.

*technically he can't cast some of the higher level spells on that list without getting up to 9th level in wizard--i'm handwaving this as him utilizing permanently enchanted items to work around it with his own 5th level spell slots. which he can get with the 9-6 split i set him at. it works with him being limited by location--hardison is at the top of his game in lucille, but when he doesn't have access, it's a little harder to work around.

harry wilson: courtier background to start; he has expertise in the law and its applications, but starts leveling in inquisitive rogue when he starts working with leverage. alternatively, it would be really funny if he starts leveling in lore bard by virtue of being guided by sophie. i could see him fitting into something like the scholar class from SW5e, but that's not what we're doing here, is it.

highest stat is intelligence, followed by wisdom, then charisma, with average physical stats. i would say that he starts off lower level—no higher than 5. the point is that he provides contrast and his specific expertise in the law.

breanna casey: arcane trickster rogue/artillerist artificer multiclass, but more of an even split than hardison to start. leaning towards artillerist, given the nature of the world and the fact that she would love an eldritch cannon. she starts leveling in rogue more after joining up with leverage and working with parker.

highest stats are intelligence and charisma, then wisdom and dexterity, then average strength and constitution. starts around level 8, by contrast to harry, but is still learning and leveling up with the leverage crew.

[the-chipped-cup-awards]

2024 Chipped Cup Awards - Masterlist

Here, once again, are the winners of the 2024 Chipped Cup Awards

FLUFF:

Family: Tea and Roses by @thatravenclawbitch

Comfort: Struck By a Golden Arrow by @avatoh

Fix-it: Ritual by @peacehopeandrats

Reunion: A Dream is a Wish by @rowofstars

SMUT:

Kink/BDSM: On The House by @kelyon

Romance: Brandy, Apples, and Spice by @rufeepeach

Comedy: Accidents by @peacehopeandrats

Threesome: Fulfilling a Fantasy by @thescholarlystrumpet

First Time: Queen Takes Knight by @emospritelet

PWP: In the Dark and Wicked Hours by @rowofstars

ANGST:

Death: Strong for Belle by @desperatemurph

Hurts So Good: To Have and To Hold by @thatravenclawbitch

Misunderstanding: Unexpected But Not Unwelcome by @tickletorso

ROMANCE:

Date (overall) Lost and Found by @peacehopeandrats

Courtship: The Sweetest Dream by @threepwoodmarley

First Meeting: Portrait of the Heart by @chippedcupwrites

GENERAL:

One Shot: Pages of Reverie by @chippedcupwrites

Series: Lover’s Leap by @eirian-houpe

Novel Length: Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things by @peacehopeandrats

Short Fic: Babysitting by @timelordthirteen

Holiday Centric: Brandy, Apples, and Spice by @rufeepeach

Remix: Our Masks by @lotus0kid

Crossover: A Blade for Belfrey by @eirian-houpe

Dark Castle: Marble by @peacehopeandrats

Storybrooke: Leaving Storybrooke by @peacehopeandrats

"Missing Years": The Tent of Infinite Adventure by @peacehopeandrats

Wish!Verse: Deception by @eirian-houpe

SPECIAL CATEGORIES:

Golden Lace: The Storybrooke Whisky Appreciation Society by @threepwoodmarley

Woven Beauty: Undefined Desires by @worryinglyinnocent

Background Swanfire: To Have and to Hold by @thatravenclawbitch

Afterlife: Granted by @peacehopeandrats

Drama: Love Me Before the Last Petal Falls by @deliriumsdelight7

Supernatural/Sci-fi/Horror: The Cunning by @mareyshelley

Comedy: Lacey and the Tramp by @chippedcupwrites

AU-Original: Wretched Beginnings by @poorobscureplainandlittle

AU- OUAT: Tales of Gold by @JurisLadyAnna

AU-Other Media: The Black Swan by @deliriumsdelight7

Creature: The Finfolk’s Bride by @chippedcupwrites

Unexpected Twist: Contract by @kelyon

Bobby Squared: A Blade for Belfrey by @eirian-houpe

Trope: Love Me Before the Last Petal Falls by @deliriumsdelight7

English Language: To Nurse by @charon53

EVENTS

RSS: If You Will Be My Queen by @eirian-houpe

Fluffapalooza (Fic): The Tea Shop by @peacehopeandrats

Fluffapalooza (Art): Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn

Monthly Rumbelling: The Landlord and the Princess by @Rumplerose (AO3)

CHARACTER AWARDS

Belle: The Not So Dark One by @charlotteashmore13

Dark One!Belle: Rags to Riches by @alphashley14

Lacey: Sore Hearted Souls by @nerdrumple

Spinner!Rumple: Witch and Spinner by @Strummer_Pinks

Dark One!Rumple: Gilded by @eirian-houpe

Wish!Rumple: Once There Was a Wish by @peacehopeandrats

Mr. Gold: The Caretaker by @thestraggletag

Detective Weaver: Forgery by @peacehopeandrats

Baelfire/Neal: A House Built With Love by @of-princes-and-savages

Gideon: Finding You by @clarahue

OC Rumbelle Child: The Zoo by @peacehopeandrats

Villain: Cora in On the House by @kelyon

BFF/Wingman: Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things by @peacehopeandrats

ART

Fan Art: Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn

Graphic Art: And Love is When Someone Who Even KNows Your Scars Stays To Kiss You by @chippedcupwrites

AU In Art: Belle Isn’t Fascinated by the Idea of Marrying Gaston by @notonlymice

Fluff Art: Belle French and the Dork One by @chippedcupwrites

Angsty Art: In My Memory It Doesn’t End by @ace-cf-cups

Comic/Graphic Novel: Wearing Each Other’s Clothes by @angelqueen13art

Use of Color: Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn

Video: Your Beauty Never Ever Scared Me by @chippedcupwrites

SUPERLATIVES:

Best Artist: @chippedcupwrites

Best Author: @kelyon

Best New Author: @ace-cf-cups

Best Rumbelle Fic: The Language of Flowers by @deliriumsdelight7

Best Anyelle Fic: Let’s Spend the Night Together by @ifishouldvanish

Best Anyem Fic: Tyger Tyger by @shakespeareanhoneybadgers

Rumbelle Lifetime Achievement: @jackabelle73

[quirkwizard]

I remember someone had brought up a FMAB transmutation type quirk and that one of the main issues with it was that where no draw backs to the power. So would making one of the requirements of the quirk being that it’s used can only activate said quirk if a proper transmutation circle is present for them to use. This would require forward thinking and prep time on the user’s part and they can find a way to circumvent some of the time required by putting a transmutation circle that they use most often on their skin permanently. The quirk itself would still follow the laws set by FMAB as well as equivalent exchange. Thoughts?

Can you make a quirk based on Atom Eve from Invincible?

Doing these together since they have similar abilities.

So my issues were that the downsides couldn't work in the setting. The transmutation circle as concept is so magical and out of place with Quirks that I don't think it could work. All that's left is the the advanced knowledge. That's less of a problem nowadays then the 1900s equivalent, where that knowledge is hidden and less common. The bigger issue is the application of it. Changing something is a lot more potent then simply creating something. Not only are you changing the environment, you are also making entirely new materials to work with. That's way too broad in it's application to really work. The closest thing I think you could get to transmutation as a concept is turning one thing into another thing and that's all you do. You have some water? Maybe you have a Quirk that turns it into gasoline or other forms of water like ice or steam. Limiting the scope like that helps limit the application of it and makes it easier to balance. Alternately, just take one applications of alchemy from the series and make that into a Quirk. A lot of them could be translated as elemental Quirks that either control or create an element. For example, Edward's focus on controlling metal could be covered by "Forgery".

[goldentruths-pod]

UMINEKO EXTRA MATERIALS CHRONOLOGICAL READING ORDER

this is a repost from jenn's old blog, which got nuked for reasons that are too stupid to get into. it has been re-patched with new info regarding symphony. please enjoy!

ok hi again. along with the eight main arcs of umineko, theres been a bunch of side content released in the form of booklets and short stories. though (most) of these extant materials have been rounded up in the form of the compilation discs umineko tsubaba, hane, and saku, almost all of them were released during the ongoing release of the main series! this is a list of all known, translated extra materials, in as chronological a release order as i could put together. know that none of this is required reading. you can just read straight through the main arcs and get everything you need to enjoy the story. but if you’re a nitpicky completionist, like me, this stuff can enhance your enjoyment of the series, and maybe give a few extra hints to those that might want them.

a few notes up front: 1) as much as umineko is for a niche otaku audience, this extra stuff is even more so. stories marked with a * have a cw for jokes (big or small) about incest and/or pedophilia. i was pretty liberal with what i thought counts, but better safe than sorry imo. 2) i recommend the vn adaptations of the short stories, when available. those found in tsubasa will be blue, those in hane will be yellow, those in saku will be red, those in symphony will be purple. those without vn adaptations will be uncolored.

*PATCH NOTE: since the original publication of this list, the final console adaptation of umineko, symphony of catbox and dreams, has been released. this new release includes vn version of four previously non-vn stories, as well as including ALL STORIES WITH VN VERSIONS EVER. this comes at the cost of only using the ps3 sprites. maybe this is better for you, maybe its worse. the choice is yours, reader, and yours alone.

EPISODE 1: LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

EPISODE 2: TURN OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

Important Facts Concerning Magic

EPISODE 3: BANQUET OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

Bern’s Letter

Anti-Fantasy vs. Anti-Mystery

Letter from a Summoner

Memoirs of the ΛΔ

Why Are Closed Room Murders So Beautiful?

Notes from a Certain Chef

EPISODE 4 :ALLIANCE OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

A Certain Witch Hunter’s Interview Tape

*The Seven Sisters’ Valentine

*Beatrice’s White Day

The Witches’ Tanabata Isn’t Sweet

EPISODE 5: END OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

Arigato For 556

Cornelia the New Priest

Labor Thanksgiving Day Gifts

EPISODE 6: DAWN OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

*Game Master Battler!

*Valentine’s Day Letters

Whose Tea Party?

Jessica’s Mother’s Day Present

To Mount Purgatory, Sakutaro

*Jessica and the Love Charm

EPISODE 7: REQUIEM OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

EPISODE 8: TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDEN WITCH

Jessica and the Killer Electric Fan

Forgery no.XXX

*Our Confession

*Angel of 17 Years

The First and the Last Gift -technically a sort of prologue to another ryukishi07 work, but since it includes bern and lambda ive included it here. maybe the least relevant thing on this list.

*Last note of the Golden Witch - saku/symphony exclusive.

[brezelzeit]

Y’all… me and my friend have a postwar ‘Allo ‘Allo AU that fixes all the things I didn’t like about Series 9 and/or the ending! It’s from mostly Herr Flick and Helga’s perspective

I feel that any of these characters, even if they didn't get along during the war entirely may have eventually, after some time, resolved stuff or talked things through and maybe put the past behind and turned new leaves xD cause me and the friend who is working on this AU with me discussed that they got a vibe not many people hold grudges on this show

Helga and Herr Flick (who still looks like Richard Gibson because that other thing doesn’t happen in my version of the canon) are married and have lots of kids (in place of Helga marrying Gruber and I made it so just like them they have six children). Still working out what their careers would look like postwar though, but I would imagine Herr Flick is a record keeper/data collector type person. Probably plays his violin on the side tho, maybe in a band. Not sure about Helga tho, but possibly also a secretary in some capacity too but we'll see

Gruber- fun gay uncle type figure to Flick and Helga’s kids, looks after them when they’re away, spoils them with gifts; is also still best friends with Helga and spends a lot of time with her for social outings.

He has a blooming artistic career and often sends Flick and Helga little doodles or paintings or other creations of his in the mail. He has definitely made a fortune off of the Fallen Madonna- but is it real or is it a forgery? Who knows, but he’s at least happy- and has donated some of the money he’s earned from it to his close friends and most notably Flick and Helga. Much like in Return of Allo Allo- he might be Mimi’s chauffeur on occasion? but is willing to take Helga for a spin with him in his car too! So chauffeur for them both if you will. Gruber has a boyfriend who is my friend’s OC, but he still misses René and crushes on him to this day.

von Smallhausen is a sort of grandpa figure to Flick and Helga’s kids. This obviously means, that he and Flick are on better terms and somehow, Flick changed his ways and attitude/treatment towards him, however that was, and started to be nicer to him. Seeing as he is much older than Flick, he doesn’t have a whole lot of time there but he is the fun grandpa for as long as it lasts. He tells dad jokes, does magic tricks, juggles items, lends the kids parts of his old disguises for little make believe things, and in general, plays games with them and builds little forts with them etc…. Flick will be very sad- even if stoically so- when he passes.

Hans Geering: still gotta develop this more but I feel like he would also be friends with all of these characters and visit them often! He would come see them on vacation on occasion, as he is fully committed to his thing going on with British Intelligence. I’m sure this extends way past the war lol

Imagine Helga, Herr Flick and von Smallhausen- and to some extent the other characters- are always telling stories to the kids of the incredibly silly wartime memories they have... and they even have favorite stories of theirs they like them telling over and over again! For example:

"Vati tell me all about the time you and grandpa Engelbert met a scary butler, an old witch, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Bride of Frankenstein, and a four armed footman in an abandoned chateau!"

"Hahahahaa that's so silly Vati, you got blown up because of a putty nose?"

"Uncle Hubert, you're telling me you saw the ghost of the cafe owner pop up out of his grave to forgive you?"

"How did you fit into that knight costume Vati? And walk in it even though you walk funny like that?"

"Mutti, did Vati really give you a dead fish instead of a rose?"

"Grandpa Engelbert is safe from large bells now, right?"

XD have a bunch of faceswaps I did as reference for when I eventually draw Flick and Helga’s kids

[seeingteacupsindragons]

Lots of projects on my mind or in the works! I made some progress writing my novel and last time your posts about that really helped. :) Currently I'm working on a little series of JR fanart drawings with matching floral backgrounds using flower languages, and I'm close to done. It's been fun sharing fanart with the community! I want to do portraits for Henry and Haruyoshi to finish up the series for now. Loved reading about their friendship in vol 8 so I'd love to give both boys drawings! Not sure what flowers to give them yet, maybe something for wellness or new beginnings for Henry, and creativity for Haruyoshi? Working on that art project has also got me thinking about doing some small, similar series for Yuumori. I could easily get sucked into trying to draw all the characters, but I'd like to start with Sherly and Liam. Open to ideas for their flowers too! :) Besides the art projects, I got inspired to write honestly a very self-indulgent series of short stories about a detective who investigates art related cases (thefts, forgeries, etc.) in an urban fantasy world. Has maybe a little Dresden Files inspiration with the crossover of detective work and magic, but would stay mostly a more episodic detective series, with maybe one personal overarching arc. But I'm not confident in my ability to write a compelling mystery and not give too much away, so this will be a learning experience for sure. I'd also like them to maybe be a little humorous? Maybe first person narration for that?

Apologies I just rambled a lot here, but very excited for all of these!

There's a lot of good stuff with Henry in volume ten that I think would really influence my suggestions for Henry's flowers.

Of course, the main Moriarty characters have flowers from the anime already associated with them.

I often have ideas for mystery/thriller series, but it's just not something I read much so I don't feel capable of writing it that well. I'll leave the mysteries to @quill-of-thoth. There's a lot of fun stuff to do with the genre!

[skelletors]

MCYT as D&D Characters 6 - Scar

Well. The ending of Secret Life sure was something, huh?

Hello one and all and welcome to this very strange series where I turn various MCYTs into playable D&D characters! This was originally going to be someone else, but in light of recent events I decided, hey, I should dedicate this to the S-Tier player himself, GoodTimesWithScar.

A few ground rules for this thing:

This will not be balanced and the builds may not be very good. This isn’t for the minmaxers (not that there's anything wrong with that), this is purely based on either stories these people have participated in or their overall persona on the internet

These characters will go up to level 20, but in no way do you have to play them to the max level to get all the mechanics that make up the character

There will be little to no homebrew in these builds, just for my own ease of use.

I will be using standard array for all of these characters (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) when determining the stats for these characters, also for my own ease of use.

Character Traits to Emulate

Conman extraordinaire

Jellie

Somehow always a wizard???

No thoughts head empty

Race, Class, Background and Stats

Race: Half-Elf (There were a couple options for Scar, but I decided on half-elf as a sort of compromise between his depictions as an elf and the fact that Scar has the most “just a guy” energy.

Ability Score Increase: +2 to Charisma, +1 to two other stats (We’ll go Dexterity and Constitution)

Darkvision: You can see in the dark! Not super important for the character, but pretty useful

Fey Ancestry: Advantage against being charmed and you can’t be put magically to sleep

Skill Versatility: You can have proficiency in any two skills. (It doesn’t matter what you pick, but I’ll chose Persuasion and Intimidation)

Background: Charlatan (In nearly every server Scar has appeared on, he has been a liar or a con man or a salesman. This is perfect for him!)

Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand, Disguise kit, Forgery kit

Class: Bard 20 (I debated on Ranger or Bard, but I decided on Bard because Scar is not wise. I’m sorry, he is the least perceptive, least insightful man I’ve ever seen. Obviously said with love.)

Stats:

Strength: 13

Dexterity: 12 + 1 = 13

Constitution: 14 + 1 = 15

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 8

Charisma: 15 + 2 = 17

An important note: Considering that Scar is a disabled content creator and has shown positivity towards his disability being incorporated into fanart, I find it very important to add that this build works in tandem with the Combat Wheelchair by Sara Thomson. While I don’t normally go into homebrew, mostly for my own sanity, this is a well-made piece of homebrew and as such, I feel it’s important to link here while making a D&D character based off of a wheelchair user. I won’t be touching on this further, as any upgrades that can be made to the wheelchair are based on how much money a party has, rather than level.

Level 1: Bard

Bardic Inspiration! You can inspire your allies and give them an extra die a number of times equal to your Charisma Modifier

Spellcasting! I’m not really going to focus on this, but at the end I’ll list some key spells for Scar. If I remember lmao

Level 2:

Bardic Inspiration! You can inspire your allies and give them an extra die a number of times equal to your Charisma Modifier

Spellcasting! I’m not really going to focus on this, but at the end I’ll list some key spells for Wilbur

Level 3:

Subclass time! Potentially the best time. Or at least a good time. Regardless of the quality of the time, one thing that is undeniable is that it’s time for Scar’s subclass. The subclass, of course, being…

College of Glamour! Coming straight at you from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, College of Glamour bards focus on deceiving and trickery and are as flamboyant as the Feywild, where they often originate. Sounds very much like Scar, and in previous characters, Grian did also originate from the Feywild…

Mantle of Inspiration - As a bonus action, you can use one of your Bardic Inspiration die to give a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier within 60ft who can see you 5 temporary hit points. They can also use their reaction to move without taking opportunity attacks.

Enthralling Performance - If you are able to perform for at least one minute (singing, performing a poem, dancing, etc) you can select a number of creatures equal to your Charisma Modifier within 60ft of you who paid attention to your performance. They make a Wisdom saving throw, and on a failed throw they are charmed by you after an hour. The creature is not aware of being charmed or you attempting to charm them.

Expertise! You get double proficiency with skills you are already proficient in. We’ll go with Deception and Persuasion

Level 4: Bard

Ability Score Improvement. Let’s add a +2 to Charisma, for hopefully obvious reasons, bringing Scar’s Charisma score up to 19

Level 5: Bard

Bardic Inspiration Improvement. The die you use is now a d8

Font of Inspiration: You regain all expended Bardic Inspiration after a short rest

Level 6: Bard

Countercharm: You can play a tune to give any allies within 30ft advantage against charm effects

Mantle of Majesty - As a bonus action, you can cast Command without expelling a spell slot and take on the appearance of someone beautiful for one minute or until concentration on your spell ends. A creature charmed by you automatically fails it’s saving throw against the spell and once you use this feature, you can’t use it until you finish a long rest.

Level 7: Bard

Nothing happens here, just more spell slots

Level 8: Bard

Ability Score Increase! We’re taking a Feat now, we’re gonna go with Fey Touched. This gives you a +1 to your Charisma, Wisdom or Intelligence, we’re going with Charisma bringing you to 20. You also learn Misty Step and another 1st level enchantment or divination spell.

Level 9: Bard

Song of Rest buff! It’s now a d8

Level 10: Bard

Bardic Inspiration buff! It’s now a d10

Expertise: You can get expertise in two more skills! I’m not sure what would be fitting, maybe Arcana and Sleight of Hand

Magical Secrets: Hey. Hey you. Sad that Bard doesn’t have Counterspell naturally? Now you can have it! You can choose two spells from any spellcaster. These spells count towards your known spell and have to be within your spell level, but aside from that, the world is your oyster! You could also get Find Familiar and get your very own Jellie familiar!

Level 11: Bard

Again, nothing happens here other than more spell slots. But who’s complaining about more spell slots?

Level 12: Bard

ASI Time babyyyyyyyy. We’re gonna grab another feat, this time the Actor feat. This gives you a +1 to Charisma as well as giving you advantage whenever you’re pretending to be someone you’re not. Like maybe a certain pirate on a certain pirate server. Also, your Charisma is now 21. Amazing.

Level 13: Bard

Song of Rest is now a d10!

Level 14: Bard

Remember what I said about Magical Secrets above? Yeah, do that again.

Unbreakable Majesty - Your appearance permanently gains an otherworldly appearance, like that of the fey. Along with this, as a bonus action, whenever a creature tries to attack you for the first time on a turn, they must make a Charisma saving throw vs your spell save DC. On a failed save, they cannot attack you and must attack someone else. On a successful save, it can attack you but has disadvantage on any saving throw against your spell next turn. This lasts for a minute and you can only use it once per long or short rest.

Level 15: Bard

Bardic Inspiration buff! It’s now the big, beefy d12. Oooooo. Ahhhhhh.

Level 16: Bard

ASI Time baby! We’re taking yet another feat, and this time it’s the Lucky feat! It’s undeniable that Scar is a very lucky person, and this feat gives you three free rerolls every long rest, either a roll you make or an attack made against you. I’m pretty sure since death saving throws are saving throws, this effectively gives you free rerolls to not perma-die. Pretty useful, considering how prone to death Scar tends to be.

Level 17: Bard

Song of Rest is now a d12

Level 18: Bard

Magical Secrets. See above Magical Secrets.

Level 19: Bard

Here we are, the final ability score improvement. We’re taking one last feat, and that’s the Shadow Touched feat. You can add a +1 to Charisma, Intelligence or Wisdom, obviously we’re going for Charisma. You also learn invisibility and another 1st level illusion or necromancy spell, and there are some fun ones out there. Even at higher levels, upcasting 1st level spells can be powerful. This also bring’s Scar’s Charisma to a monstrous 22. That’s a base +5 to every Charisma check you make, not factoring in proficiencies and expertise.

Level 20: Bard

Superior Inspiration: Whenever you roll initiative and you have no more Bardic Inspiration die, you regain one use. I still think this is a lame capstone ability, but whatever. The rest of this has been insane, we can be a bit lame.

Key Spells:

Cantrips

Vicious Mockery

Friends

1st Level

Disguise Self

Silvery Barbs

Speak With Animals

Find Familiar

Charm Person

2nd Level

Crown of Madness

Gift of Gab

3rd Level

Counterspell

Hypnotic Pattern

4th Level

Charm Monster

5th Level

Seeming

Modify Memory

Dominate Person

6th Level

Mass Suggestion

7th Level

Project Image

Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion

8th Level

Mind Blank

Dominate Monster

9th Level

Wish

And with that, we conclude yet another one of these! Feel free to request more CCs to D&D-ify, and I truly hope that you enjoyed this. I put quite a bit of thought into this, and I got to look into both a subclass and a gamestyle that I don’t normally go for.

[bookaddict24-7]

New Young Adult Releases! (December 26th, 2023)

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Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

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New Standalones/First in a Series:

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (Re-print)

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

New Sequels:

Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2) by Rebecca Ross

Lucero (A Forgery of Magic #3) by Maya Motayne

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Happy reading!

[basicallyjaywalker]

For the ask game >:3 ✂️❤️

🎨 I know you have OC’s but I know embarrassingly little for being a mutual this long. Hand them over rook :)

Edit: I forgot to say hi 😭 sorry I saw you mentioned OCs and literally just. mind blank got the zoomies started stimming forgot my manners. Anyways

Hello Oli :DDD

One thing I would change: I mean. I would rewrite a lot of the series but mainly I would wanna give Nya a more prominent and starring role early on. Let her have more Samurai X moments and quit putting her on the sidelines while the boys do things!!

Favorite ship? Canonically Pixane ngl. I love Jaya but Pixane is soulmate coded for me I break Jaya up at the drop of a hat for funsies I feel bad breaking up Pixane.

Do I have OCs? You're goddamn right I do I have wayyyyyy too many. I'm working on character sheets for the main ones now but until those are uploaded have a taste!

Nataly Chumsworth: Master of Love, half Serpentine, menace to society. If the name did not clue you in she's Pythor's daughter and they have. A relationship.

Roxie Andrews: Master of Peace, local stressed out mom friend, former student at Marty Oppenheimer's! Old friend of Cole's and someone i imagine Nya being besties with.

Jasmine Bucket/Julien: Master of Nature (secondary: Ice), engineer at Borg Industries, made before Bolobo I swear. Zane's half sister but neither has any clue about that yet

Jackie Fei: Master of Magic (I have a whole system set up for this), chronically tired and depressed but gets to have a glow-up, chaotic good incarnate. My favoritest little blorbo ngl

Hannah Stone: Master of Music (different from sound and again swear she was pre-S4), punk rock girl, Chen's former... student is not the right term. Embodiment of that one audio: "they got their weapon, I got cheated out of my childhood)

Kyle Stone: not an elemental master but a former member of Chen's cult kinda (born into it), instead of masking his trauma with anger like Hannah he masks it with bubbliness, chronic overprotective disease. He and Hannah aren't blood related but they're also the closest thing to family each other has

Master Twyla: Master of Light, the teacher of these fucking kids, trying her best to keep the memory of the former EMs alive. Bops her on the head this bad girl can fit soooooo much trauma she's trying to overcome in her, goddamn

Ivy Crest: Master of Wind except not fully until S5 (thanks Morro), Morro's bio daughter and Ronin's adopted daughter (bet you can't guess who she prefers), expert in forgery and shit at mechanics. She and Nya form a close bond in S5 and Nya continues to try and teach her mechanical stuff (it does not work)

Luna McCallister/Garmadon: Master of Dreams, long lost Garmadon daughter who?, big fucking nerd. I have no idea when she and Lloyd realize their related but it makes their interactions at the comic store beforehand a lot funnier (for reference: she is about 2 years older than him)

Jonathan Borg: heir to Borg Industries, curious about the supernatural elements of Ninjago, knows about something he probably shouldn't. His place is not fully figured out yet but I feel like he's gonna start wanting to prove more useful after S7 to mixed results, esp bc his sister is way cooler than him

Willow Whispernight: yeah check back later chief I am reworking her ENTIRE lore lmao. Currently also connected with nature in some way and Jasmine's step-sister

Ahahaha that isn't even all of them. it's been over a decade I am soooo normal. I do not have *checks notes* approximately 20 OCs, named and unnamed, with various places in stories and development

[aspiringwriter22]

Oculta - Maya Motayne | A Book Review

Oculta - Maya Motayne | A Book Review #BookReview #YoungAdult

Title: Oculta Author: Maya Motayne Genre: Fantasy (Young Adult) About the book: It’s the second book in the A Forgery of Magic series that follows Alfie, a risk-taking prince, and Finn, a face-changing thief. Alfie is preparing for an international peace summit while Finn is installed as the leader of a crime syndicate. They must work together to protect their kingdom from a new threat. First…

[peacehopeandrats]

For Your Consideration

This year was a small year for me, so I will be throwing things down kind of quickly, sorted by year. I want to thank everyone who commented and left kudos on these. I'm putting them up for consideration in the @the-chipped-cup-awards because of you.

How To Date A Librarian - A good fit for: Best Rumbelle Secret Santa, Best Date, Best BFF/Wingman

The Monster In The Storm - A good fit for: Best Missing Years, Best Gideon, Best Drama, Best Family

In The Shadows Of Others - A good fit for: Best AU - Based On Other Media, Death, Hurts So Good,

So You Want To Build A Sex Room - A good fit for: Best Kink/BDSM, Best Missing Years, Best Storybrooke 

The Angel And The Devil - A good fit for: Best Golden Lace, Best One Shot, Best PWP

A Full Imagination - A good fit for: Best AU - Based On Other Media

Unconventional - A good fit for: Family, Best Missing Years

Wounds and Scars - A good fit for: BFF/Wingman, Best Trope, Best One Shot, Best Hurts So Good, Best Comfort

Warming The Chill - A good fit for: Best One Shot, Best Short Fic

Series I worked on this year that could be considered for Best Series:

Growing Up

Golden Dreams

Those We Left Behind - A good fit for: Hurts So Good, Death, Best Remix

Beauty and the Beast - A good fit for: Best Dark Castle, Best Storybrooke, Best Remix

The Oldest Door - A good fit for: Best Dark Castle, Best Storybrooke

War In Pieces - A good fit for: Best Storybrooke

Forgery - A good fit for: Best Detective Weaver, Best Afterlife Fic, Best Drama, Hurts So Good, Best Novel Length

Granted - A good fit for: Best Afterlife Fic, Best Dark One Rumple, Best Dark Castle

Lost and Found - A good fit for: Best Date- Overall, Best Storybrooke, Best Missing Years, Best Wingman/BFF

Return - A good fit for: Best Gideon, Best Missing Years, Best One Shot

Once There Was A Wish - A good fit for: Best Dark One Rumple

The Tent Of Infinite Adventure - A good fit for: Best Missing Years, Best Gideon, Best Belle, Best Rumple

Welcome To Storybrooke - A good fit for: Best Storybrooke, Best Gideon, Best Baelfire/Neal

One Lover, Many Dreams - A good fit for: PWP, Best Golden Lace,

One Word, Many Meanings - A good fit for: PWP, Best Woven Lace

Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things - A good fit for: Best Novel Length, Best Storybrooke, Best Missing Years, Best BFF/Wingman

Pop Ins - A good fit for: Best Missing Years, Best Family

The City That Never Sleeps - A good fit for: Family, Best Missing Years, Best Crossover

Snow Bunnies - A good fit for: Best Dark Castle, Best Storybrooke, Best Belle, Best Mr Gold, Best Dark One Rumple

Arson - A good fit for: Best Detective Weaver

Leaving Storybrooke - A good fit for Best Missing Years, Best Storybrooke, Family

There are way too many of these to link individually, so I will give you the link to the series in case you want to go read something.

If one of my Monthly Rumbelling 2021 fics stands out in your memory, please consider nominating it for Best One Shot or Best Short Fic.

Fluff

Family - Bouquet, Journey, Carousel, Wilderness, Balloon, Mobile

Comfort - Illness

Smut

Kink/BDSM - Shop, Stroll, Wax

Romance - Sunshine, Stacks, Home, Teeth, Memory

PWP - Sunshine, Morning

Angst

Death - Morning, Gift, Carousel, Piercing

Hurts So Good - Gift, Waiting, Received, Ritual, Road, Field, Recovery

General Awards

Best Dark Castle - Tea, Choices, Delivery, Storm, Garden, Fantasy, Steps, Ingredients, Frost, Maid, Marble, Memory, Wild, Spy, Blast

Best Storybrooke - Sent, Meal, 

Best Missing Years - Bouquet, Journey, Ruin, Dressing, Carousel, Wilderness, Falls, Logs, Teeth, Balloon, Mobile, Accidents

Special Categories

Best Golden Lace - Stroll

Best Woven Lace - Morning, Wax

Best Woven Beauty - Gift

Best Afterlife - Reunion, Morning

Best AU Original - Wild

Character Awards

Best Belle - Tea, Hunters, Sent, Garden, Visitor, Road, Fantasy, Steps, Falls, Frost, Maid, Meal, Marble

Best Lacey - Stroll, Wax

Best Dark One Rumple - Tea, Choices, Storm, Garden, Visitor, Ingredients, Frost, Maid, Marble, Memory

Best Mr Gold - Received, Fire, Meal

Best Weaver -  Piercing, Depths

Best Baelfire/Neal - Steps

Best Gideon - Museum, Stacks, Wilderness, Balloon, Mobile

Best BFF/Wingman - Fatherhood, Healing, Game, Overnight, Lunch, Blankets

[construingseacats]

Umireread - Legend of the Golden Witch - Chapter 17: Notebook Fragment in a Wine Bottle

The following contains spoilers for the entirety of Umineko. Please do not read if you are yet to finish it.

This is an interesting one, because while this is de facto the shortest chapter in the series - quite literally just an ending cutscene - this is remarkably dense with important information. Unlike Chapter 9, which was short for seemingly no reason, the emphasis placed here is well earned.

So already we’re off to an interesting start - if we’re fighting for mystery, the bodies never being found is quite a significant hurdle to overcome. Of course, it’s an isolated island, so you could invoke the usual rules and say that they were dumped in the sea or thrown in the forest somewhere, in a way that evaded the police investigation or future discovery. But then you need to construct an argument that someone survived past midnight, and managed to escape police investigation - which would be a relatively tall order, given we have established that the police would be able to search for fingerprints and find traces of the culprit afterwards. How do we explain all of that?

Of course, Notebook Fragment in a Wine Bottle lives and dies on the fact that it doesn’t tell you that half the island was blown up. It dances around this fact - perhaps a little too safely, as I wouldn’t have minded some sort of reference that still encourages the interpretation of magic, such as saying that it seemed like the island had been rained down on by lightning or some other powerful force. The use of 18 is also fun here - with the truth sealed away, the fantasy of the two additional humans has become imbued with magic.

Exceedingly clever work here - of course, Episode 1 is a fabricated tale in a message bottle. Those present are the only ones who have heard that tale - because even we haven’t, at this stage.

And of course, people did imagine what may have happened during those two days. After all, we have Episode 3 through 8 to show for it.

PHENOMENAL work here by swapping from “that” tale, Rokkenjima Prime, to “this” tale, Episode 1. It’s so natural that you’d be a savant if you caught it and realised it was referring to two separate tales.

Referring to Episode 1 as “a tale which didn’t need to be heard” also carries several meanings - on the one hand, it alludes to how the catbox could have been kept shut; how, if it were not for the message bottles, the incident likely wouldn’t have spiralled into the irresponsible sea of forgeries that it inevitably did. And, on the other hand, no-one needed to hear Yasu’s penmanship; a personal piece of vent art that spilled out many emotions that she had bottled inside, now bottled in a more physical sense. But even though this tale didn’t need to be heard, Yasu wanted it to be. Perhaps it was selfish of her - perhaps this selfishness was justified. But consequences be damned, she just wanted someone, anyone, to know of her. No matter the cost.

I honestly cannot believe how excellent the writing is in this section. “Through this notebook fragment” makes the implication that Episode 1 is the truth, that we have seen Rokkenjima Prime - but that’s not what it’s saying at all! It is through the existence of Episode 1 that people will learn the truth, as it sets in motion the wheels for people to pick apart and understand the rules at play, to come to understand the culprit and to come and understand Yasu. Of course, there’s something to say about how Rokkenjima Prime is never truly uncovered, and that the world does not necessarily know the full details of it - but of course, the truth is so much more than simply saying who killed who, right?

Dilettante is a phenomenal choice of word - it’s so entirely accurate to what the story wants to capture. Umineko is not critical of those who delve into worlds and treat them with care and respect, who take the time to understand what they are dealing with. It is critical of those who play with the legacies of others without ever progressing past a surface level interest in the subject.

This chapter! Is! So! Good! Okay, so we’ve now established how occultics latched on to this incident, and - with a surface level understanding, by the use of the word dilettantes a moment ago - proceeded to write their own forgeries while adding their own spins on the massacre, using this real life tragedy to write tropey fanfiction for their own amusement. And these are the people who cannot understand Umineko - who, by not engaging with it any further, lock themselves out of a true understanding and appreciation for what is contained within. You cannot find the truth from the comforts of your armchair, from a position where you neglect any mental challenge in favour of stagnation. It must be actively fought for. It must be earned.

We also confirm the earlier comment about how “this” tale and “that” tale are separate - Episode 1 does not reveal the truth of Rokkenjima Prime. Of course, you can interpret this as the fact that you’re not told who the culprit is, but we both know that’s definitely not what it’s referring to, right?

And we acknowledge that, when this message bottle was written, Yasu had no knowledge of how Rokkenjima Prime would play out - Episode 1 predates it, after all!

So, there’s a big point here, made about attribution. After all, Yasu can’t just name herself as the author in these tales - they’re made for people to learn about her, after all.

Hold up - is this just the North Wind and the Sun once again? After all, Yasu can very easily let people know about her - she just names herself as the author, or better yet, writes message bottles saying “Hi, I’m Yasu, here are some facts I would like you to know about me.” But that’s the North Wind - she’s blowing the facts at people, and if she does that, no-one will learn the true her. People would take a passing interest, but they’d be disinclined to dig much deeper. By using the Sun - to persuade people to find the truth by digging deeper into the tales - while many people may not go that far, she hopes (if not ensures) that someone, anyone, will take the time to understand her. And who she really is.

Anyway, we got sidetracked - the point I was intending to make there was that Maria is a curious choice of attribution. We know she couldn’t pick herself, so why her? I don’t really have a good answer for that, and I’m not entirely sure if this is properly addressed anywhere in the text. My best guess at this moment in time would be that, again, Yasu had a soft spot for Maria - attribution is a kindness that she’s bestowing upon her, that her name will carry on with additional meaning. More cynically, I suppose it could be a case of picking the youngest child, to make people go “hang on, a nine year old shouldn’t be able to write like this”, and encourage people to bypass the surface level and begin investigating who Yasu is. But of these two, I’m leaning towards the former.

This is another one that should be tripping up people digging into the mystery - beyond Maria’s jaw being detached from her body, and nothing else being discovered, we say “there had been many body parts that couldn’t be identified as belonging to any specific person”. That does not match up with what we know about the rest of the murders in Episode 1. Something else has gone on right at the end, here.

Very good choice of words accounting for all outcomes on the roulette - she’ll probably be dead, but maybe Yasu is defeated, or Maria manages to escape the explosion. Similarly, depending on how the final hours shake out, there may or may not be a corpse; she may be mostly unharmed by the edges of the explosion, or her body is eviscerated by it. And of course, Yasu wants people to know the truth, she wants people to know her. That is her only wish. That is Umineko.

After all, even if they desired the 10 tons of gold, they did not solve the Epitaph. It remains out of their grasp.

The winner is the Golden Witch Beatrice. The roulette ball falls into a pocket of rouge or noir. It is the expected outcome, but we have so much to go - we may hope once again that we finally hit the zero. We receive the gold. And deal with the consequences associated with it.

And so the introduction to Umineko comes to a close. A novel and a half worth of content has been consumed - and now the tale can truly begin.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate; we have the Tea Parties to get through, first. But hey - it’s not like anything important ever happens in a Visual Novel Wrap Up Party, right?