#adventures in the inklings challenge

[fictionadventurer]

Now that the teams are posted, it's time for the yearly behind-the-scenes comments!

Providence is your electrical engineer brother stopping by at the exact moment you're trying to find a decent-looking random generator to divide the list into teams, and when you ask if he knows of any, he hand-programs one for you.

Me when recruiting people for this challenge: I want as many people as possible! Me when tumblr refuses to let me paste in the names as a numbered list, so I have to backspace and hit enter for every single line so it will format properly: Why are there so many names??

(Though that did turn out to be a good thing, because it forced me to look at every single name on the list and make sure the formatting hadn't messed it up.)

Tumblr, we need to talk about the issue where scheduled posts disappear from the queue but then don't show up on the dash for several minutes. It always works out but only after several moments of terror.

[bookshelf-in-progress]

First two years of Inklings Challenge: Spend most of the month trying to write a complicated epistolary fantasy, then in the last three days switch to a simpler idea.

This year's Inklings Challenge: Spend most of the month trying to write a simple idea, then in the last three days switch to writing a complicated epistolary fantasy.

[inklings-sprint]

Time to Brainstorm!

Let's think about Team Chesterton. Adventure or intrusive fantasy.

Let's start with adventure first and we'll switch to intrusive fantasy halfway through.

What type of adventure are your characters going to go on?

How is this adventure going to incorporate one of the works of mercy?

Is the adventure directly related to your choice of mercy? Or is it going to be less obvious?

🪻🌸💮🏵️💐🌷🌻🌺🌹🪷🌼

Your adventure happens by being dragged into visiting the sick/imprisoned. This was not how you expected your day to go, but it's definitely been interesting.

You're caught in a storm, it's pretty terrifying as you're not just caught in any storm, but one that you're pretty sure includes a funnel cloud right above you. This is not the kind of adventure you signed up for when traveling. Nobody around you did either though. Dealing with the aftermath of the storm will be as much of an adventure as surviving the storm.

Panic! A young child is lost on a beach and is tired, hungry and thirsty. What can be done to help this lost child get back to their family.

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

I already have a 2 hour playlist for my Inklings Challenge story and idek how I'm going to write it but hey at least I've got inspiration right?

[fictionadventurer]

I've honored my tradition of loving the month of May by writing a poem in it's honor: "May"

I've lived up to my tradition of honoring Rietta's birthday (from @isfjmel-phleg's Blackberry Bushes stories) with blackberry lemonade and lemon cake (the photo counts as creating something).

And I've thrown together a "King Thrushbeard" retelling that revolves around some royal traditions: "The Beggar's Door".

The Chesterton Challenge: Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the Chesterton Challenge! The beginning of a month full of creativity! I can't wait to head on this journey with all of you!

Today's Optional Prompt is: Tradition.

Chesterton was an advocate for tradition in secular and religious contexts, and May 1st is a day associated with all kinds of traditions, from May Day to St. Joseph the Worker to the opening day of writing and art challenges.

You can interpret the word any way you want. Will you write about a fantasy world's traditions? Write an essay about your favorite springtime tradition? Create artwork within a traditional art medium? The sky's the limit!

Whatever you create, make sure to show us or tell us about it by reblogging or replying to this post.

Now go forth and create!

[justanothersquidblog]

Can you tell us about this annoying octo gf you are giving yon?

During Splatoon 2, Yon battles with her identity as she was set up by her parents to be their genius bread winning daughter that would be the first in her family+town to truly leave and come back a rich business billionaire-

Due to the way she was raised, she was very tightly wound and stuck to rules like flies to gluetraps in a way to cope with her realization that Inkopolis was nothing like her parents said and all her years of preparation, over-maturing, and isolation were completely and entirely unnecessary.

So, when thinking of a rival- I thought to myself; what's the opposite of Yon? Yon being a rule follower that's had to fight for everything she's learned and holds the weight of her home town on her shoulders- and I figured..

An octarian soldier with nothing to lose and little care for the rules of the world, reckless, and careless- but with all the confidence a god could only have.

I havent finished her design yet, or her name, or really anything! But the basis of their dynamic is that Rival is full of talent and strength but dsepite that- the people around her have low expectations of her worth due to being a loose cannon.

She missed out on San's original dive into the Valley so when Splatoon 2's plot occurs and Yon goes fighting her way through the Canyon, she's absolutely ECSTATIC to finally fight a worthy opponent and show off to everyone who the best is.

So during Yon's story, Rival popped up a lot- sometimes even hijacking the success of her own squad- just to 1v1 Yon.

She later left the military after Splatoon 2, and reunited with Yon when Yon had to forge her documents so she could join inkling society, only for Rival to end up in court for multiple crimes, the most important of which she didn't actually do- leading Yon and Rival on a rabbit hole adventure behind the scenes.

She genuinely admires Yon and would never put her down- but also wants to challenge and be better than her- something strange and new for Yon, who's used to people only admiring the version of her that will give them the most gain.

[popcornfairy28]

Finished my @inklings-challenge story this year, for Team Lewis! 😁

"How to Pack Realistically for an Alternate Reality" was actually the third idea I had, but it's the one that compelled me the most to write. So I ended up with Portal Fantasy (which I figured I would) and the theme as "Pray for the living" which is not what I was expecting.

I actually had quite a bit of this story ready last week, but then I got a cold and wanted to record me reading it when my voice wasn't shot so I held back on posting until tonight. In the future, when I post my regular fics, I would also like to include the podfic in the original fic's post as well, so it was nice to do that with this one.

Summary: Emeline was expecting another boring weekend with her cat Lucy, but that's shattered when a stranger walks through a portal into her closet claiming that he needs her help. She might as well go on an adventure like her favorite TV shows.

[fictionadventurer]

Inklings Challenge Question!

As the time approaches to choose this year's list of themes, I really, really want to use the traditional list of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. We did the Corporal Works of Mercy last year, so if we're going to use the other list, this is the year to do it. They've all got great story potential (my deciding factor was realizing that a lot of stories from previous years already fit these themes), while also being a good way to help us incorporate spiritual ideas into our stories.

My only point of hesitation is that Protestants might object to one item on the list.

Because this is the list.

1) Admonish (or warn) the sinner

2) Instruct the ignorant

3) Counsel the doubtful

4) Comfort the sorrowful

5) Bear wrongs patiently

6) Forgive all injuries

7) Pray for the living and the dead.

If we use this list, I'm using the whole list and not watering it down, but a lot of Protestants object to the idea of praying for the dead. I figure that with 6.5 other items on the list that all Christians can agree with, that still offers plenty of room for Protestant participation. The tag for that theme would be #theme: prayer, which all Christians can agree upon, and allows people to feature the kind of prayer they're comfortable with. But would the very inclusion of the idea of praying for the dead offend them and/or keep them from participating? I don't want to water down my faith, but I also don't want to drive people away from an activity meant to be a fun way to bring Christians together. Are Protestants okay with what I otherwise think could be one of the best theme lists we've had?

[fictionadventurer]

@magpie-trove

Now that you've put it that way, it sparks a thought that this would be perfect for the Inklings Challenge blog. Give it a Lewis connection. The Four Loves Fairy Tale Challenge or something. Pick a type of love to center your story around and tag appropriately. Center the deadline around Valentine's Day (because it's seasonally appropriate and means the stories would post before a good chunk of the community leaves for Lent), but it could last through February. Possibly allow artwork entries as well--it's an element I've been wishing we could incorporate into a challenge, and fairy tales offer so much imagery that it would be an ideal way to work this in.

@kanerallels I absolutely do not want to steal your idea out from under you, so feel free to veto this spur-of-the-moment idea, but since I already have the infrastructure in place for writing challenges like this, I thought I'd offer the possibility.

For the past year or so, I've been mulling over this writing idea that I thought would be pretty fun, and I feel compelled to share it. Partially because @accidental-spice told me to, but also for other reasons that will become clear later in this post

So, picture this: fairy tale retellings, but with platonic relationships

Don't get me wrong, I adore romantic retellings! But there are. A lot of them. And I think that retelling some of those stories as platonic relationships could be super cool

It also occured to me that this is the sort of thing some of my Tumblr friends might find interesting! So-- would anyone be interested in writing a short story retelling or two with me? It would be platonic focused, but romantic stuff in the background would be totally fine!

I don't know if this would be some kind of Inklings/ Whumptober styles thing, or just something a few people thought sounded fun and did together. I just know that I like this idea, and I like the idea of posting such stories on here!

Let me know if any of y'all are interested. If there's a lot of interest, I can look into providing some better guidelines. Tagging some people who I thought of beneath the cut! (Don't feel any pressure to respond, of course! But if you feel like tagging someone not tagged in this post, you're welcome to do so)

@christian-latte-anon @musewrangler @fairytale-lights @sailforvalinor @taleweaver-ramblings @imissthembutitwasntadisaster @magpie-trove @swinging-stars-from-satellites @fortes-fortuna-iogurtum @hollers-and-holmes @winterinhimring @friendrat @bluebellwren @silverpaintedstars @authorofemotion @bookdragon1811 @laughingphoenixleader @freenarnian @dimsilver @firefletch @o-lei-o-lai-o-lord

[bookshelf-in-progress]

Me, faced with a shiny new story idea: Save it for the Inklings Challenge, save it for the Inklings Challenge, please save it for the Inklings Challenge, I'm begging you please save it for the Inklings Challenge

[ettawritesnstudies]

I finished Runaways but I scheduled my Livestream for next week!

Context:

I'm going to make the anthology one way or another to launch with the book, this is just a matter of prioritizing. It'll involve editing the current Kofi stories, writing some new ones, and making supplemental content.

I have 0 thoughts for Inklings currently but it's coming up soon so I should probably figure that out.

End of the Road is a NA paranormal coming of age story about one way road trips, grief, and ghosts. Could be published after runaways because they have a folklore/supernatural element connecting them. Capitalizes on the 20something angst.

Vilotta's Adventure is a MG historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy following a princess who apprentices with Leonardo da Vinci when he comes to her parents court to paint a portrait of her mother. She gets to be an inventor, has a series of misadventures, and learns about friendship along the way. Could be published after Runaways because they're both MG, bonus points for Educational Content™. Rewrite of the first novel I ever wrote so it's not going anywhere.

Art stream: I'd still do 25 minute sprints w/ no talking and just art on screen so you can write without distractions or I show you my progress during breaks. Motive: I miss drawing and my brain hurts.

[cacartoon]

"Other OctoAgents do play a role in continuing the search in little ways. Paani and Min especially"

Now I want to know more about how they tried to help, can we know more please ?

Also this au is neat and I like it!

Of course! Also thank you :)

Now while the Octonauts are off doing their own things while grieving the loss of their captain, and the junior agents and kids are keeping tabs on them, the Octo Agents are picking up where things were left off.

While most are tending to the Octonauts and giving them something to do (ei. Professor Natquik giving Peso medical work down in Antarctica; Ryla having Dashi join her on cave expeditions; Ranger Marsh having Tweak work with him in the Everglades; Pearl having Shellington work with her and her studies; and Calico Jack helping Kwazii continue his solo search for Barnacles), two agents in particular are also trying to help find the missing captain.

Paani and Min.

Min being a map maker, kept detailed maps and layout of the day Captain Barnacles disappeared and potential places he could’ve ended up. While this was easy for land, she never mapped the ocean and waterways much, and it would be challenging as the ocean is a vast area with many possibilities. Enter Paani, your local hydrologist. Going with the flow is his thing, and he wasn’t one to shy away from adventure.

So, working together, they tried to find Barnacles through their methods. Paani exploring waterways and islands and Min using this info to map out routes and potential locations to search.

Min would also get some details from the Octonauts, more specifically Professor Inkling and Dashi, about the day the disappearance happened and where Barnacles was last known to be.

And this team work, would finally give Kwazii and the other Octonauts the first concrete clue to finding their captain.

Let’s just hope Paani can stay out of trouble long enough to let them know what he discovered.

[bookshelf-in-progress]

Your observation about "clothe the naked" is making me really wish I could use my "Tattercoats" retelling for this challenge! Because that's exactly what the fairy tale is about! Revealing her true identity and showing the world that she is a person whose life is valuable!

(I may still write it this month, but I've decided it's not going to be my "official" entry because there was already a retellings challenge).

Thoughts on the Corporal Works of Mercy and themes I think they readily link to:

Feed the hungry: hospitality, bounty

Drink to the thirsty: hospitality as well, refreshment

Clothe the naked: reasserting humanity/personhood

Shelter the homeless: opening all one has to others

Visit the sick: giving of oneself to others

Visit the imprisoned: understanding and/or duty

Bury the dead: human dignity, closure, making things right

[rassicas]

idk if this is the question box )scratching my head) but thank you for translating that interesting tidbit about the ink tank! It had me thinking.. How is the ink refilled in their tank? I kind of assumed a tube was connected somehow to their sacs like an iv lol.. I think im actually lost on how the mechanisms of the inktank work for the inkfish. Ik this game's logic and biology isnt meant to be taken apart like this though it's fun to ponder bout it. Id love to hear your thoughts! Thank you kindly

I'd definitely give this post a read as to why the "ink tank drains ink from the inkling" idea doesn't make a whole lot of sense. all we really have in terms of words from the devs is that the weapons are not hooked up to the ink tank and that ink comes from the wrist. it seems like itd be pointless strain on the inkling to drain more of their ink into the tank... which they would swallow back into their ink sac?

I think the way the ink tank is filled is just as simple as it being filled from the pressure of outside ink going into the tank, like putting an open bottle underwater. this would explain why your tank refills very fast when going under the ink. in the case of hi-tech turf war tanks, the flow of ink into the tank could be more controlled, and have filters to keep it clean. The speed that outside ink flows into the tank depends on your ink recovery ability. (I think abilities are like digital tags that interact with the ink tank) Limited ink challenges would just be disabling the function of the ink tank that allows it to take in ink from the outside.

As for agent 3, their ink tank is literally just a soda bottle held with rubber bands. refilling it could just be like. opening up the cap a bit or poking a hole. maybe cleanliness is less of an issue since this homemade tank is just for their scrap hunting adventures where they would just be swimming through and taking in their own ink, rather than playing a team sport that involves using ink that others have used. Also with how an ink tank THIS low-tech can exist, as well as how turf wars started out as a back-alley street sport played by kids, and how many thick items of clothing you can wear, that also pushes me away from the idea of ink tanks requiring medical equipment like needles and tubes directly into the ink sac through the back (though this was what i initially imagined too) Unfortunately, No matter if you view it as inkling->tank->weapon, or tank->inkling->weapon, or how the ink goes in or whatever, there's gonna be contradictions somewhere. i feel like these things have not been thought about in depth on the developer side, or at least are not wholly reflected in game, like how some of the visuals seem to point towards that it's inkling->tank->weapon somehow, like the way the ink tank passively refills when you stand. but I'm going to chalk that up to being a gameplay thing. Because after all, gameplay takes priority and Splatoon Is A Game, and this leads to things like subs and specials coming from seemingly nowhere. (I don't recommend thinking too hard about how a realistic in-universe turf war would work, unless you like headaches)

...Final note, the ink tank needing to drain from the ink sac to function also is a problem for say, if a non-inkfish wanted to play ink based sports, which is mentioned to be a Thing that happens in-universe. Since non inkfish dont die in water and can't respawn, i belive they'd have to play under a different ruleset.... for those who cant produce ink on their own, I think it'd make sense for them to play with the ink tank hooked up directly to the weapon.

[skelswritingcorner]

Whenever You Need Somebody (March x Farmer)

(This wasn't showing in the tags when I first posted this so I'm reposting it... FOR THE THIRD GOD DAMN TIME)

Kaltain, the new farmer that arrived the previous season, has been running around ragged for as long as the residents have known her. Elsie and Juniper decide to pry into who Kallie might pursue. Also, mild implied Ryis x Farmer.

Warnings: March challenges the farmer to a fight, March being a tsundere as per usual, mild vulgar language

Word Count: 1,044

A/N: Ah yes, my first fanfic for Fields of Mistria. Surprisingly, doesn't include any form of endometriosis! Also I accidentally wrote this in 3rd person and not 2nd person, so the farmer is less of a reader insert and more of her own character this time 'round. Enjoy :3

Ever since Kaltain moved to Mistria, she has been busy every single day. Tending to crops, contributing to the museum, mining, and so many other things that many of the townsfolk wonder how she is able to get everything done within all days she's lived in the town.

"Kallie's such a busybody, isn't she?" Juniper swirled her glass, looking over at the periwinkle-haired farmer. She was discussing something with Olric, who was holding a dagger in his hands.

Elsie nodded, "I've never seen her talk to people that often either," she looked to where Juniper was observing the farmer and Olric, "is she secretly seeing someone?"

Hemlock chuckled from the counter, "Talking about her again?"

Juniper took a sip of her wine, "What's wrong with that? Kallie's quite the enigma, we're just trying to figure things out. Elsie, you're the love expert, why don't you try asking Kallie if she has anyone in mind?"

Elsie smiled, getting up from her seat at the bar to walk over to the farmer and blacksmith. When she tapped Kallie's shoulder, the young woman stopped talking to Olric and turned to Elsie. "Oh, is there anything you need, Miss Elsie?"

"Just call me Elsie, you don't need to be so formal. I saw that blade in Olric's hands, those gemstones inside have such luster! Tell me, how did you get your hands on such a thing?"

Kallie grabbed the dagger from Olric, cautiously showing the gem-studded hilt. "This? Something I was gifted back in my adventuring days. It's an ornamental dagger given to me by some noble I guarded on a route one time. I don't know much about it, so I wanted to ask Olric if he had an inkling of what it's made of."

Olric rubbed the back of his neck, "I've never seen anything like this before. If this was something March made, I would've recognized it. However, all I can tell is that the gemstone over here is Rhondite," he pointed to the center red gem, "and the ones next to it are moonstone! The blade seems to be made with silver, but that's all I could figure out."

Elsie hummed, "That's quite a beautiful thing, and so are those gems! Anyway, I have a question for our dear Kallie, if you have the time."

"Go ahead." Kallie sheathed the dagger before putting it in her bag.

Elsie placed a hand on Kallie's shoulder, "Have you ever been in love before?" The question baffled the farmer, as it was something she never considered. She often kept herself busy enough that love wasn't something actively on her mind.

"I'm no stranger to it, why do you ask?" Kallie raised a brow at the question. Is Elsie plotting something? Trying to play matchmaker?

"Oh, no real reason. Well, I lied," Elsie smiled, "the Shooting Star Festival is in a little more than a week, and I wanted to see if you have anyone in mind to watch the stars with."

Kallie groaned, "You should know my rules by now, I'm not going to romantically pursue anyone until most of the damage from the earthquake is taken care of."

Juniper cackled, "So do all of us here. I know what you're thinking with that, you're thinking of making a full commitment to a partner when you're able to have the time to pursue them."

Taking a sip of her wine, Juniper continued, "You spend a lot of time with March and Ryis. They're both quite strong, I'm sure at least one of them is interested in you."

Kallie growled, "I don't plan on dating someone right now unless they can defeat me in a fight."

"A fight, eh?" And the grumpy blacksmith is here, and so is Ryis. Ryis waved at Kallie with a smile, walking up to her.

"I doubt you'd get that from any other guy than March, if we're going to be honest here." Ryis chuckled, fully knowing of Kallie's notorious reputation back at the Capital. He chose not to tell anyone else, since Kallie likely wanted to put her old life behind her.

March walked up to Kallie as well, "Just to tell you how I'm feeling, I'd fight you even if it was for any other reason. Something for you to understand. I've gotten quite strong over the years, I can take you on."

"You're never gonna give up on trying to be better than me, aren't you?" Kallie's mouth curled into a shit-eating grin, "Well, I hope I don't let you down by saying that adventurers are better combatants than blacksmiths. I'm not letting you run around thinking you're so smug about thinking you can take me on, then desert me when you realize that you're over your head."

Hemlock shouted from the bar, "Don't start fighting in the Inn, you two!"

"NOT PLANNING TO!"

Kallie stretched her arms above her head, shoulders popping and neck cracking. She was done here, and needed to go back to the farm to go take care of things. "I'm gonna take my leave now. Olric," she patted Olric's shoulder, "thanks for helping me identify the materials of the dagger. Sorry to say goodbye and desert the place, but I have to do stuff at the farm now. See you later!"

With that, she speedwalked to the door, leaving the Inn to go to the farm. March looked over at Juniper and Elsie, who were giving him knowing looks.

"What are you two plotting?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Oh, nothing!" Elsie waved her hand, "We were just thinking of who Kallie would be with for her first Shooting Star Festival. I think she matches your energy quite nicely, March. Maybe she'll ask you?"

Ryis shook his head, "After all that? She's never been interested in dating anyway. Told me several times."

Juniper smirked, "And how do you that?"

"Oh, just something that came up once." Ryis answered, a bead of sweat on the side of his forehead. There's another reason, but that isn't anyone's business but Kallie, him, and March.

Eventually, the Inn went back to its usual chatter, the earlier conversations easily forgotten. The people of Mistria will eventually find out who Kallie ends up dating anyway. For now though, they won't know.

That's right y'all, this fic was simply an elaborate rickroll. Why did I do this? I was tempted while streaming to do this. Why this fandom specifically? Blame the clown man.

[find-the-path]

Inklings Challenge 2024! My first story idea also went north out of the farthest sight so this is what we're going with. All dialogue (technically) so a lot of what I meant to put in is slightly off-screen. I think I do want to continue this though. @inklings-challenge

You asked for a tale and you’ll get one, don’t worry. Quiet now, this one’s true. There were once three brothers who lived in a bright kingdom down south. They were all moderately happy.

The eldest and most skilled with a sword longed for adventure in the north, where the kingdom used to stretch long ago. His gift was far-sight. On cloudy days he looked out east, south, west, north, and told stories of distant peoples to entertain his younger brothers.

The middle brother was the most practical of the three. His gift was swimming, as glad and airless as a fish. The whole family discovered that when he was three and the river was swollen, after much panic. His dream was to join the fleet of ships that patrolled the kingdom’s southern seas.

“---But he joined the pirates instead, and reformed the island blockade!”

What’s all this about pirates, all of a sudden? The royal navy fights the pirates, son, they don’t join them. That’d be counter-productive. Don’t interrupt the story.

The youngest, the quickest, hadn’t yet decided what he wanted to do. He had time, for his own gift had not yet become apparent.

In due time the eldest brother came of age and went off to seek his fortune. Northward, of course, as he’d always wanted. The lands were wide and empty to the north, save for small towns full of insular people and stretches of jagged mountains that the royal geologist had a personal grudge against.

He went past those mountains. Past the brown hills he found beyond them. Looking north, he saw clouds of mist obscuring the furthest stretched of his sight. In the company of a band of scouts he passed out of knowledge of homeland and family, and ceased to be heard of.

Years passed. The younger two brothers grew up and left the house, seeking their fortune afar. Rumors of war in the north grew louder. The king called his council to advise him on the matter, but what they discussed was not known in the kingdom, and the youngest brother chafed at the ignorance. The north had always held a mystery for him--- that of his brother’s death. They all assumed he was dead by now: a fairly intelligent assessment.

At last ten winters were gone by and the youngest brother was as grown as he was ever going to be. He decided he would go north himself, to discover what had the royal advisers in such disagreement, and also a hint of what had happened to the eldest.

He set out in autumn---

“But Papa, the middle brother! Did he go sailing? Did he fight the pirates?”

I don’t know if he ever went sailing, son. I suppose he might’ve found pirates but that’s not what this story is about yet.

“It’s your story, how can you not know?”

Yes, it’s my story, and it’s still being told. Shh and let me finish.

Just north of the capital the youngest brother found a caravan under attack, and helped fight off the mercenaries in return for information and dinner. He tracked the men who hired the bandits to a research town on the edge of the great forest, where he heard tell of a dragon set up in the mountains blocking his path. I can’t see the dragon, which mean it probably can’t see us, but there’s enough sources to look credible enough.

He’s trying to go around it now. If he gets across the moor--- and if that dragon doesn’t see him--- he might make it.

“But you said nobody’s got over the wall for ten years!”

Not since I did it, no. But my brothers... they’re another kind of stubborn. Your uncle’s coming, lad, and when he does we’ll be ready.