#big lapin vibes

[johnnyspells]

[xx-emi-chan-xx]

FNAF SPIN OFF: Withered bonnie Page 15 and 16

''Withered Bonnie origins'' is the prologue to FNAF 4, which is the real start of the AU. ''

DEVIANTART - https://www.deviantart.com/watergirl93/art/FNaF-SotP-SPIN-OFF-Page-01-964426531

 +16!! GORE AND MUTILATION OF A MINOR

[bywandandsword]

On my journey of reconnecting with my Creole and Cajun culture, I've been reading our folklore and I ended up thinking about Compère Lapin (the Creole version of Br'er Rabbit) as sort of my metaphorical guide through all this. His stories normally involve him getting the upper-hand through trickery and wit despite going against bigger and stronger opponents, and as a physically small person and an environmentalist focused on Louisiana, where Big Oil reigns, his stories vibe with me a lot

I mentioned I planned on incorporating Storywork into my research, and in preparation for that I'm taking a folklore class and it's because of that I ended up reading some of John Swanton's work. He collected a lot of Native American folklore during the early period of anthropology, and this bitch just casually drops the "southern trickster rabbit" genre. So of course I go looking, and come to find out most southern tribes ALSO have a trickster rabbit figure who stole fire, independent of Compère Lapin. AND there's another figure, Nanabhozo of the Anishinaabe, particularly of the Ojibwe, who's a notorious trickster, who also stole fire and commonly takes the form of a rabbit

How fucking neat is that?

[nancypullen]

Montmartre

How do I describe Montmartre? It sits high above Paris and has been home to the greatest creative minds in history at one time or another. From Renoir to F. Scott Fitzgerald, they all gathered here to celebrate a bohemian lifestyle and feed their creative juices. Artists, writers, dancers, prostitutes, pretty much anyone who wanted to escape came here and they were welcomed. After a long period of wars, famine, and general misery two Parisians in exile, Hubert Rohault de Fleury and Alexandre Legentil, promised to build a new church if God saved France. Apparently he did, and the big, beautiful Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) was built smack dab in the middle of all the heathens.

At first they thought, "there goes the neighborhood", but then they just kept right on doing their thing and Sacré-Cœur did its thing. How's that for an incredibly brief summary? We love it here. There's music, art, wonderful food, beautiful shops, and the vibe doesn't seem to have changed over all those centuries. Street after street you'll find artists plying their trade. Want a quick sketch of your own face? You can stand right in the street and have it done in minutes. I didn't. Why would I want my face?

Mickey was busy snapping away with his camera so I pursued my hobby which is helping the local economy. THis lovely shp sold locally made olive oil soap with every fragrance you can imagine.

Those baskets at the doors hold bags of dried lavender that smelled wonderful. 5 euros for 3 bags! The gentleman running the store said they had a huge summer harvest.

This post is a bit of a mess, somewhat disjointed, but it's late and I just want to get it done - so pardon me if I jump around.

We stopped in at a place we remembered from our last visit, The Museum of Montmartre, a wonderful collection of paintings throughout the history of the village by names I recognize and some I don't.

That building is separated by a garden from a second building, all parts of the museum. The garden is quite famous...

I told Mickey to get on the swing and look, but this was the best he could do.

It's a really peaceful and lovely spot.

From these gardens you can look out at parts of Montmartre that are humming along as they always have. Look at this little vineyard!

Down at the bottom of that vineyard is a coral colored building, called Lapin Agile.

The Cabaret du Lapin Agile was a favorite spot for chansonniers poets (singer/songwriters) and artists to meet. Carco, Apollinaire, Courteline, Max Jacob, Renoir, Utrillo, Modigliani, Braque, and Picasso were mentioned as regulars. In 1875 the painter Andre' Gill painted a sign showing a rabbit jumping out of a pot, "The Rabbit of Gill" ( le Lapin a Gill). It was transformed into the then natural"Agile Rabbit" (le Lapin Agile). Anyyywayyyy, The Cabaret du Lapin Agile is the last operating artistic cabaret.

I'd like that framed for my kitchen.

We continued our pleasant stroll around Montmartre, enjoying the music that drifted down each street. Check out that mural of Toulouse-Lautrec, famous for his paintings and posters of the Moulin Rouge.

I'm going to fast forward this. We'd eaten a light brunch today so we stopped for dinner earlier than usual, around 5:30. We ate at Le Grenier and it was delicious. MIckey was craving beef bourguignon and was happy to see it on the menu.

My salad with roasted goat cheese on toasted baguette slices was out of this world. The vegetables here always taste like they went out back and plucked them from the garden. A light drizzle of balsamic made it perfect.

A bit later , as the sun set, we were glad we'd eaten early because the cafes and restaurants filled up quickly.

Yeah, my night time photography stinks. We sat and listened to this guy for a few minutes because A) he was entertaining ad B) I was tired.

After that, Mickey took a few more photos of spots that he wanted to snap at night and we headed down the hill to catch the metro back to our apartment. We made just one quick stop at our favorite macaron store for a treat. Delicious!

And that, my friends, is a wrap on this day. We had waffled on whether o not we wanted to visit Versailles tomorrow and it looks like we may not have the time. Dare I say next time? Good reason to come back, right? The only tickets still available are for 2pm and later and Versailles is sort of an all day thing. We wouldn't want to rush. So, thankfully there are a million other options here in beautiful Paris, and we can play it by ear. C'est la vie! I'm off to bed to dream sweet dreams. I hope you do the same. Sending out loads of love tonight. Until tomorrow - stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy

[looseduke]

YOU'RE RIGHT BUT HEAR ME OUT. BRATTY SUB THEO.

that’s the thing look I understand where everyone’s coming from i do. I Do. but i think being a brat is antithetical to his personality to the point that it would stress him out more then anything. like the idea of not doing something right for the person he’s submitting to would be like personally devastating. something something roleplay as catharsis MAYBE but theo was not that well adjusted when lapin was around. he explicitly states that what gets him going is doing EXACTLY what other people want

personally i think everyone just likes the vibes of theopin having d/s sex. and I think everyone should have fun and do whatever they want for ever. but if they have sex pre canon. i actually cant believe im typing this sorry need a minute. im back. theo is so attracted to lapin it makes him look stupid but he’s mad about it precisely because he doesn’t respect or trust lapin the way he does amethar and gooey. if they have sex pre canon it’s like…. lapin irritating him and running circles around him mentally while theo fumes and pretends he isn’t getting off on it and then they give each other angry hand jobs about it and never talk about it

now a POST canon AU…. theos getting his shit slammed down big style

[nostalgias-diner]

RAVENING WAR LIVE BLOG THOUGHTS

I was crying before the epsiode even started bc I was so excited to go back to Calorum

Seeing the epsiode is almost 3 hrs tracks. I was wondering how Matt was going to do with 2 hr episodes compared to CR (I'm not complaining! We only get 6 episodes so I want them as long as possible)

WATER (a reference to Brennan EXU: Calamity)

Aabria is such a good actress (and the editor's use of sounds and visual effects are top tier!)

I thought maybe Than's arm was darker because he got into an accident and it was cooked, but being mixed with Cerisan is cool

We got Norm/Skip'ed again of hot character art and Zac making a silly little guy and I both love & hate it

SIRLEY!!!

Also, some pissing and shittting already! Colton has Limon energy, im happy

(Just now hitting the 30 min part)

Can I just say, I love how fast we met all the characters and Matt putting them into 2 groups

BARD/WARLOCK IM NOT OKAY

Also 5th level to start!!!!

Pickled creamy blueberry

COLIN IS AN AUTOMATIC FAVE (I'm partial to Zac & Dairy Islanders, I had no choice)

ROGUE BARD these MULTICLASSES - also rogue bard bishop named raphaniel - gives me Ian Prescott vibes and I miss him

6 CON - that's like -2 HP per level (here for a short time not a long time)

1 hr mark

First tears- THE QUEEN 💜 PRINCESS CITRINA 💛💛💛💛💛

Heart of the realm!!!

I want more of Ariana gémelli, I feel like we never had enough Alfredi

GRANDFATHER

Zac is such a good comedian!

BELIZABETH!!! (Please Matt can we have the NPC's interact! Any morsel of Sweet Religion pleaaase)

Matt's doing so well with literally the entire party separated

Y'all this religion talk is all I've ever wanted. Idk why but I love the power dynamics and it really feels like we never got to go into it once Lapin died

"Water does stuff to sugar" BREENNAN

(1 hr 30)

Is Ariana his mother or aunt or love interest? Aabria makes a face at 1:41 and SAME!

ARE THEY RELATED OR NOT!? What is this energy!?

Wait she was a lesbian but it was another Cerisian?

DISGUSTANG SLAM IT DOWN BIG STYLE !?

Lou's "oh fuck" !!!!!

Zac play something other than rogue challenge (I'm kidding!!) but he's doing that 6 charisma so well it's endearing

WAIT LUCAS FONTINA!? ZAAAAAC (i love thé dairy iles)

A carrot finger!? Corn ring? Oh her boss

Everyone is having so much fun being in person, I love this table

Full martial fighter Lou again in Calorum ( I love him playing this character without it being Amethar)

Everyone's face at "good and ambitious boy"

1 why is everyone telepathic 2 why does the queen only have 4 levels (I love it being rogue tho)

POISON

Blue flames- I want Saphria to show!

Honestly the episode could at them getting the letters but now everyone meeting at the pyramid is so funny

(2 hrs)

3 rules lawyer DM's fighting it out on this nat 20 three way is WILD

Matt did an old lady voice- one of them has to be chutney right!?

They didn't roll much this episode & half were natural 20's

I love tomato bullshit! (Everytime the boys said he rules/sucks all I could think is of the avocado boy)

2 YEARS LATER

Why u attack the meat land, they have no role here rude

House of jawbreaker!! (I do & don't want to see the sisters die)

Where is this going now?

I love the queen giving Crown of Candy run from the castle

I love this forceful Than & so ready for more Colin no matter what

[chiakery]

It's just one more week until Dimension 20: The Ravening War (woohoo!!) so it's high time for some class/subclass speculations:

Starting off with our fabulous ladies, I think Anjali may be a caster. I know Lady Amangeaux is holding a dagger in her art but she just gives me this vibe of maybe a College of Valor bard (also, this party seems to be pretty low on magic users and her being a caster would help to balance things out)? Aabria on the other hand gives me strong rouge vibes, although we see a flame appear in Karna's hand, so maybe a Hexblade Warlock? If she's playing a rouge though, her "trying to affect a sense of calm" could be an interesting choice if Aabria decided to play the Soulknife subclass (I'm definitely not biased bc that was my subclass in my prev game, not at all)

Brennan's character seems like an archetype of Cleric and I doubt he'd do a similar stunt to Lapin in ACOC. The bishop may (and probably does) know about the Hungry One and true nature of the Bulb but I still think he's a cleric. Similarly, Thane Katzon looks like a martial, strenght based class, however it's hard for me to say which one. Lou has already played a barbarian (in ACOC) and fighter (Fantasy high), he's also now playing a paladin as Eursulon in WBN, so that's a big question mark between those three.

Zac's character is the biggest mystery to me. What's this cheese man's deal?? He comes from Dairy Islands so most probably has some sailing background, could be a Swashbuckler but I'm not sure if Zac would choose to play the same class for the third time (after Starstruck Odyssey and Neverafter) so maybe a Fighter?

[adainesfroggieboggy]

there are certain characters that i default to for certain pcs. like when i think about a player the first character i think about is wildly different for most of them so i give you my defaults, not quite favorites, but defaults.

Adaine for Siobhan, look at my profile, and that's kinda all. blorbo.

Sofia for Emily! I can't quite explain this, but it's just the first character I'll think of for her. Sofie Bikes is it.

Timothy Goose for Ally. It used to be Kristen, but Tim was just no notes fun and engaging.

This feels mean because Lapin is kind of a dick, but he's my Zac. Seeing Zac, who usually plays a sweet dumb guy, play a mean smart guy is so fun and it sticks in my brain.

Kingston is just right for Lou. No explanation, just yeah.

Ok, I lied at the top a bit. Everyone but Murph has a default. Murph's vibe as a pc usually vibes as Riz, him not playing gives Theo, and my favorite Murph character of all time is Cody, so he rotates. Today it's Theo because I'm watching the acoc adventuring parties, but there's no set guy for him, because also, Big Barry Syx. I can't place him with one concretely. It floats.

[dreamtydraw]

I HAVE A FUN FACT AS A FRENCH KAELOO VIEWER ! Kaeloo's gender as never been said in french. Sure their voice is sort of feminine but not it's actually neutral enough to be unsure of their gender. They even make jokes about "are you a girl or a boy ?"

For the first seaon Frog kaeloo has been seen as feminine where angry kaeloo has been seen as masculine, making the character extremly queer ( also with mr.cat loving ANGRY kaeloo wich gives big mlm vibe )

We also have stumpy who crossdress a lot and has no problem switching and saying he's a girl when they play pretend or the sister joke.

French dosen't have neutral in speaking so you always have to gender with what they are ( UNE grenouille, Un chat, Un canard, Un écureuil, Une lapine.... ) but even if they use gendered pronouns the characters themself are extremly queer coded and exept Mr.Chat who only represent himself as a guy, all the original cast can be viewed as gender non conforming / queer / non binary or trans

In conclusion YES KAELOO AND MR CHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A GAY SHIP !

I don't know if anyone remembers the kids show Kaeloo but it was one of my favorite shows growing up. Only the first 52 episodes got dubbed into my language (Serbian) however,so those are the ones i remember. Anyway,in the show the main character Kaeloo (we just called them "Frog") is supposed to be a girl in the original french version while in ours they were changed to be a boy. Why does this matter? Well, Kaeloo has hints of a relationship with Mr. Cat( or as we called him "Chak") like...they outright have dates and kiss and shit. Why is this important? Well...

THE BALKANS ARE INSANELY HOMOPHOBIC. by changing Kaeloo's gender, they ACCIDENTALLY made Kaeloo and Cat GAY !! Do you know how funny that is?? They were my gay childhood icons, no wonder I loved this show lmao.

TRANSMASC KAELOO AND GAY MR. CAT IS CANON IN OUR HOMOPHOBIC COUNTRIES FOR THE FIRST SEASON LMAOO . ABSOLUTE W FOR THE LGBT+ CHILDREN WATCHING ULTRA TV WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

[thevalleyisjolly]

I don’t think Ricky is particularly likely to multiclass, but I think a cleric multiclass, especially peace cleric, could be really interesting if he chooses to go there.  Like, the first sentence of the subclass description, “The balm of peace thrives at the heart of healthy communities, between friendly nations, and in the souls of the kindhearted” which sounds a lot like Ricky’s character arc in season 2!  And we’ve seen Ricky move towards more caster and support roles this season, being less a front-lines hero guy and more taking a step back and looking at the whole battle and what his friends need, and I think a dip into cleric could be a great way of reflecting that mechanically.  Clerics are one of the most versatile classes, and you can go very different ways with them.  Want to be a full caster?  Cleric lets you do that!  Want to be a melee fighter swinging a great weapon around?  Cleric again!  Want to play a more support role, controlling the battlefield?  Also cleric!  And then there’s the different relationships to faith you can have, and I’m so in love with Kingston’s power coming not from belief in a deity but from the people of New York, what a galaxy brained manifestation of faith that I think Lou Wilson and Brennan Lee Mulligan for every day.

But yeah, cleric!Ricky who is all about reaching out, making connections, and building relationships with people, whose strength comes from these bonds that he makes the effort to create and maintain, who goes into everything with the ability to be the hero, the shining star, and instead chooses to protect and look out for others.

[tarudce22]

What are the favorite Dream Eaters of the Keyblade Wielders?

So I forgot about this a bit after thinking about it for a while so like half I actually though a lot about and the rest are just chosen by pure vibes and/or they remind me of said character for some reason.

I also decided to try and make sure everyone's favorite was a different dream eater. Or else I would have probably kept choosing a mix of all the meow wows for like quarter to half of them.

Sora loves them all equally and you can't convince me other wise. And I'm not counting Chirithy and the spirit pets. (all the dandelions/khux kids would choose Chirithy other wise) But assuming they can only have one favorite then…..

Sora: Meow wow. They where Sora's first dream eater friend. Riku: Koumori Bat for same reason as Sora. Kairi: Aura Lion. They're a light attribute spirit and compared to the other two light attribute spirits this big kitty wins. (I know Namine is not a keyblade wielder but I'm not leaving her out) Namine: Kooma Panda Roxas: Beatalike. Only reason they have a skateboard. Xion: R&R Seal. Kept going back and forth on them or Sir Kyroo. Xion deserves some rest and they get the funny seal. Axel/Lea: Tatsu Blaze. Fire, they're just fire seahorse. Aqua: Wheeflower Terra: Ursa Circus. Or Tyranto Rex Ventus: Drak Quack Vanitas: Frootz Cat. But I did almost choose Majik Lapin. Eraqus: Lord Kyroo. Almost chose Halbird. Xehanort: Iceguin Ace (some times he feels like he remembers them from a long forgotten dream/memory) Bragi: Escarglow Vor: Catanuki Hermod: Drill Sye Urd: Pricklemane. Just makes me think of her. Baldr: Ducky Goose (this opinion will most likely change if we ever lean more about him) Ephemer: Kab Kannon (at first I had his and Skuld's swapped) Skuld: Sudo Neku (but I think this way fits more) Brain: Cyber Yog Lauriam: Woeflower Strelitzia: Flowbermeow. Cat/dog/flower friend, light attribute and link board has once more.(they also know vanish) Elrena: Electricorn. All most chose Me Me Bunny for her. Invi: Peepsta Hoo Gula: Pegaslick Ira: Yoggy Ram Aced: Cera Terror Ava: Tama Sheep Luxu/Xigbar: Tubguin Ace MoM: Spellica. Is it a nightmare boss? yes but i think it fits I also think you could swap MoM and Luxu/Xigbar and it still fit. Master Odin: Halbird Yen Sid: Chef Kyroo Mickey: Hebby Repp. I feel obligated to give him Meowjesty, he's not getting Meowjesty.

Not doing the the upper class kids of DR cause we know nothing about them yet.

[tookishcombeferre]

Crown of Candy

Y’all.

Y’all.

This podcast of actors/comedians/writers playing DND ruined me. I am shooketh. I let out the most unholy noise when it finished. I am dead.

Who knew food/candy people could give me so much gotdammed angst!!

I’m looking for more Crown of Candy/D20 followers. If y’all see this, please follow and I’ll follow back. I want more content.

No. I NEED more! This has reached like full Special Interest level obsession. Help an autistic bro out.

More ranting below the cut. MAJOR SPOILERS! You have been warned.

So, I have sooooo many feelings. So many.

My favorite character, when I first started, was Lapin. In the end, I think Liam nudged him out. Both of them strike me as hella neurodiverse (especially Liam).

I also ADORED Theobald. Ugh! I just love the concept of a gummy bear as a knight. It’s so funny, and he was so awkward all the time! (Awkward characters always win for me.)

But, in all honesty, except for the “villains” I don’t think there was a character among them I didn’t like.

Yes. I even liked Swifty.

Lapin’s arc and his search for peace, which he finds in change, was so moving to me. It hit me at the exact right time. I left my job teaching to become a writer, and it’s been a big change for me. But, I’ve found peace in that transition. I also found peace in my faith when I stopped looking at it the “Bulbian Way,” so to speak, and started to focus on faith as something transformative. I am a transitional being that fluctuates and changes. I think there’s something lovely about the fluidity of life so that whole arc spoke to me deeply.

With Liam, you can take the kid out of the emo culture, but you can’t take the emo culture out of the kid.

But, in a serious way, there’s a sense in which Liam reminds me of all the ways that I’ve grown over time. I began life innocent and full of wonder. Then, things changed. I became a little bitter and worldly. I gave up my dreams for some weird and twisted desire to please others. I convinced myself I was pleasing myself too, but, really, I just wanted to spite those who had doubted me.

In my own way, I wanted revenge.

But, now, I’m in a season of growing. All my planners are filled with flowers because this year is my season of growth. It’s a season for developing new skills (maybe a new family? Having a baby with my husband, if it’s to be.). And, I think that’s the vibe I got from that character’s arc.

I’m also glad Theo and Gooey finally got to resolve their tension by “Slamming Down Big Style.”

Slamming Down Big Style is my new favorite sexual euphemism. As an ace person, I love finding new ways to say sex without saying sex. It’s like … an identity thing now.

Lol!

Anywho, please hit up my DMs to talk about Crown of Candy. I need to talk to people about it or I’ll explode!

[alienjock]

okay okay okay in case anyone is interested, without much fanfare, here are some of the d20 playlists ive been developing:

fig! - my favorite by far. tons of riot grrl and rock with a lot of vulnerability

HOOT GROWL! - bloodrush crew! ragh, fabian, gorgug, and riz. this is what boys will be boys SHOULD mean

for gorgug! - (from zelda) only four songs but a huge project im majorly invested in because i want it to very much be not just metal, but fitting metal, and metal accessible to people who dont tend to listen to metal

fabian! - yes i am projecting. trans rights. 

kingston - dont mind me im crying. this is BARELY ANYTHING i have a vibe i need to find for it but still

pete! - i have BIG plans this playlist is gonna be WEIRD but right now its not. its good! but not Weird

sisters - ruby and jet. yes i am crying. leave me alone <3 not much but PLEASE check out my sisters tiny hands

loyalty to the crown - Leave Me ALONE you KNOW its theo. i have a long list of songs i need to get through before this is like a playlist im satisfied with

oh...clever rabbit - baby please dont text lapin back

let me know what you think! ill let you know when i have more playlists for d20 to share! <3

[everlasting-jobstopper]

I've finally rewatched sophomore year after finishing a crown of candy and I have thoughts. Theres so many jokes and parallels I missed

- Fabian falling off of the crows keep vs amethar falling off the castle

- Hangvan vs spearia's chill vibes

- "I pretend to be him" vs liams questionable murder methods

- Elven sheets of cream silk vs milk silk

- Green plant creatures at Calethriel Tower vs all of vegetania

- Kristen trying to fly down multiple flights of stairs with a ribbon vs liam wanting to jump off the ice cream temple after eating a seed

- Sylvarian Heresy vs the Prophidian Heresy

- Lil beans

- Secret conversations through messages

- Fabian drinking Figs wrist blood vs joren drinking spearia's wrist milk

- Wretchrot and swifty in their creepiness

- Fig coups gortholax vs "can a king" coup?

- Killed hangman and preston :(

- Kristen icing a security imp in the interrogation room vs liam icing every enemy he comes across

- Fig makes adaine a little illusion/nightmare forest unicorn that was never talked about again vs primsys unicorn

- Gilears big day (pride armour) vs lapins big day (then subsequent death)

Probably missed a whole lot more but this is all I remember

[jq37]

The Royal Report– A Crown of Candy Ep 1

There Is Strength in Sweetness 

Much like the years, the seasons of D20 start coming and they don’t stop coming. Fantasy High: Sophomore Year is barely in the record books and we’re already jumping into our new season--the Game of Thrones/Candyland mashup: A Crown of Candy!

If y’all have been with me since Sophomore Year then you know that I did very in depth recaps of every episode with a very specific format but I’m gonna try something new for this season.

The format might change a little between episodes as I figure out what works best so bear with me but the plan is to do more highlights and opinions than a blow by blow. But, like, we’ll see what happens.

So, anyway, saddle up your Meep and let’s visit Candia--one of the six kingdoms of the land of Calorum (aka: a fridge. We see you Brennan, it’s a fridge). Twenty years ago, the Ravening Wars wreaked havoc but they’re currently in a time of peace which (mostly) everybody is psyched about.

Meet the Family

This is not a new observation but, while most seasons of Fantasy High focus on found family, this season is all about family-family, specifically, the royal family of Candia and their associates. 

We’re first introduced to Murph’s character--Sir Theobald Gumbar (Level 3 Eldritch Knight)--who is the a huge, golden-armored, gummy bear, leader of the Tartguard, protector of the royal family, and the logical endpoint of Murph’s lawful good predilections. Sir Theo is, of course, on time with bells on for the big Saint’s Day/Coming of Age birthday party for the twin princesses of House Rocks. Unfortunately, he’s clearly never seen The Little Mermaid because when the heralds announce the princesses, they don’t show up. Frustrated, he goes to try and find them.

The first place he checks is with Zac’s character, Chancellor Lapin Cadbury (Level 3 Celestial Warlock). He is (in no particular order) the royal tutor, a chocolate bunny, an official of the main state sanctioned church of Calorum (the Bulbian Church), and a pompous ass. Oh, one more thing? He and Theobald can’t stand each other. There is nothing funnier than two very proper grown men who hate each other's guts. Sir Theo shows up to his classroom where the princesses are having a lesson--or at least they’re supposed to be. Further inspection shows that they’ve just left two straw dummies in their place. Classic.

So, we pan out to the city to meet my favorite characters so far (I absolutely play favorites but I also disclose when I’m doing it so I think I’m in the clear) the twin princesses/chaos gremlins--Jet and Ruby Rocks (both level 1 Rogues) played by Emily and Siobhan. Theo may not have seen The Little Mermaid but the twins have def seen Aladdin, because their number one pastime seems to be escaping the palace to roam the city--hilariously illustrated when they chuck a gem into a peasant's bag and his reaction is a super nonplussed, “Guess the princesses escaped again.” They’re got the Disney Princess-itis really bad because both of them feel stifled by palace life and want more--specifically, Jet wants to be a warrior and resents having been born in peacetime (especially since she’s slightly older and in line for the throne) and Ruby wants to run off and join the circus as an acrobat. They are total twin BFFs to the point that their Thieves Cant has been reskinned to Twinspeak which is a detail I love so much (and that will become unspeakably tragic if something happens to one of them Brennan). 

Jet gets a letter from her secret crush Thad, an Avocado from Fructera (these are the sentences I am being forced to write this season folks) and schemes with Ruby about how they can get to Comida (the capital city) to meet him--possibly by sweet talking Theobald which is easy because he’s so thirsty for respect. Sure enough, Theobald and Lapin soon find them, following their path of destruction and the princesses are brought back to the castle.

Back at the castle, we’re introduced to Lou’s character--King Amethar Rocks (Level 3 Storm Herald Barbarian)--who is having a somber moment, surrounded by the statues of his four older sisters who died in the Ravening Wars, leading his reluctant taking of the throne. He’s interrupted by Lord Calroy (his right hand guy and a full ass talking slice of cake because Brennan is trying to break me this season but I refuse to give him the satisfaction) who lets him know that his daughters have escaped and his delighted reaction immediately lets us know which side of the family they take after.

Finally (at least wrt PCs), we meet Ally’s character--Liam Wilhelmina of House Jawbreaker (Level 2 Ranger) who is a political prisoner/ward of House Rocks and a soft, outdoorsy, mountain kid who is perpetually followed around by his pet pig--Peppermint Preston whose death will absolutely force to me to Google “Best Denny’s Parking Lots for Fistfights.” He misses his dad but not his dick brothers because Ally isn’t allowed to have a fully happy family in any season. Liam is from the disgraced House Jawbreaker and his brothers seem to expect him to try and off the King while he’s in their orbit. While he’s in the woods, looking for seeds (as one does) he finds and accidentally breaks an important looking teacup, which we’ll get back to.

The other important character we meet this episode is an NPC--Queen Caramelinda, mother of the princesses, wife of Amethar, and keeper of 100% of the impulse control of House Rocks. She’s the main disciplinarian to Jet and Ruby, the clear decision-maker in the kingdom, and the only literate one out of her and her husband. She also seems to be the only character that respects Lapin’s authority. 

An Inciting Incident

So, with all our characters assembled, all that’s left is the plot hook which Caramelinda provides in the form of a personal letter from Emperor Gustavo--the head honcho of the entire realm and his old friend--to Amethar. He’s not doing well health-wise and he needs to name an heir that’s not related to him at a big tourney that he’s personally inviting Amethar to. Amethar is a little slow on the uptake but Caramelinda eventually connects to dots for him that it seems very likely that Gustavo is going to name him emperor.

Amethar is not vibing with that information at all but Caramelinda basically holds him by the ear until he reluctantly agrees to go--though he insists that Ruby and Jet also come along to keep him company. Caramelinda only agrees on the condition that Lapin goes with. She also invites Liam (who is caught off guard but game) and Sir Theo is basically going by default. Caramelinda is staying home to hold down the fort but the talking slice of cake is going because Brennan hates me and doesn’t want me to be happy. 

The traveling party is chosen, the twins have been gifted with sick, inherited weapons from their aunts: Flickorice--the Twizzing Blade (Jet) and Sourscratch--the Puckering Bow (Ruby). It’s almost time to be off, but there’s still one last thing to get to before we leave the twins’ party. 

Lapin, feeling the pull of something broken (told you we’d get back to it) subtly makes his way outside, but is followed by Jet and Liam. Now, if you remember, I said earlier that Lapin is an official of the Bulbian church. Which is why it’s so surprising for Jet and Liam to see him talking to the Sugarplum Fairy, a deity of the Sweetening Path--a non-sanctioned more animistic religion that really only has sway in Candia. He fixes the teacup and then she appears, telling him that he’ll need to be wary once he leaves her sphere of influence and that boldness will be required in the days to come. Lapin, who seems to be having this conversation very begrudgingly, asks if she’s asking him to do anything in an official capacity and she smiles and says that she’s not asking for her third wish(!). Then what does she want? She wants him to know that there is great risk in what he is doing, but not acting is the greater risk. The coming challenges will be great, but he must protect the royal family or all is lost. She wouldn't have used her second wish to bring him to them if that weren’t the case. They hustle back and spill this to Ruby, obvs.

Anyway, onward! The next day, the caravan is set up and--with a warning about a sugar free chocolate warlock (ominous, as sugar free chocolate always is) they’re on their way to meet their escort out of Candia. Ruby decides to do her acrobat thing and is hanging out on top of the carriage instead of inside it as she and Jet “subtly” (read:not at all) bring up the Sugarplum Fairy to Lapin to see if he cracks.

Suddenly, the caravan stops. There’s a tree felled in the path, which really only means one thing in this kind of story. 

Ambush.

Ruby, outside of the carriage and unprotected, takes 16 points of damage and is fully down with a failed death save due to some unknown effect. The carriage is riddled with arrows. 

Everyone rolls for initiative and that takes us into a new (sure to be recurring) segment I’m calling:

Things I’m Concerned About

I’m concerned about Jet and Ruby (and not just because I’ve been worried about Ruby for a while due to things the cast has said and because she fully *died* this episode). They have their genres so wrong. They think they’re Disney movie protagonists but they’re in Game of Thrones and they don’t know it. Being Wrong Genre Savvy is a BAD position to find yourself in. Carriage surfing shenanigans don’t fly in a world that wants you dead.

OK, Carameinda. I’m inclined to be pro-Caramelinda. Like, she’s the hardass but she needs to be because Amethar isn’t helping run the kingdom. If this was a different story, she wouldn’t give me any pause but I read Macbeth and feel some light Lady Macbeth vibes. Gonna be keeping an eye on her.  

Calroy and Sir Toby (didn’t mention him, he’s a slightly lower ranked Gummi Bear guard and friends with Theo). In a story like this, I’m looking for the possible betrayals before I get blindsided and the only people who can really betray you are people who are supposedly loyal to you. Calroy had a little aside with Amethar about how he shouldn’t be the Emperor if he doesn’t want to be--which isn’t wrong but is also something someone angling to keep him off the throne for other reasons would say--and Sir Toby decided to stay behind to help hold down the fort--again, either an innocuous decision, or angling to be left alone and to his own devices. 

Whatever is going on with the Sugarplum Fairy and Lapin? Do not care for that one bit. I understand that a Warlock pact is mechanically very similar to a Paladin oath and a Celestial Warlock pact is even moreso but guess what? Still don’t trust it. I know Ruby’s Arcana check said that she’s generally a chill spirit but I still don’t trust it. And getting Wishes from your follower? Weird and suspicious. What’s your game, lady?

Emperor Gustavo apparently has a daughter who is barred by law from taking the throne when he dies. That sounds like a very strong motive for *something* at some point down the line. 

I’m a little concerned Jet is being catfished by this Avocado. First of all, not a sentence I thought I’d ever write. Second of all, I’m probably just being paranoid. But that feels like a great way to get a princess alone for kidnapping or shanking or something. 

Update: Brennan did an AMA and, regarding the previous bullet point he said, and I quote, “You are right to be concerned!” so now I’m concerned about that too! Fun!

I’m concerned about the mechanics of how a slice of cake person works. Slice implies a full cake. Where is the rest of the cake Brennan? Where is it? And, like, Brennan said on the post-show stream that we’re making the “what do they eat?” question weirder than it actually is because we’re made of some of the stuff we eat but hey Brennan? If I could pick a flesh toned and textured apple off a tree? That would be weird, OK? And I’m sorry for everyone else who had to picture that but it had to be said since Brennan is insisting on walking us down this garden path.

I’m concerned about whatever the hell is happening with Liam. Disgraced dad, mom is a shaman of the local fringe religion (Sweetening Path, like Lapin), and his brothers want him to shank the king or something? No way this ends in smiles for everyone. 

Brennan said Pyramid of Food so I’m concerned about fruit rollup mummies. 

OK but more than anything, I’m concerned about the death rules of this game. Death in D&D is cheap but, in a campaign like this, it can’t be. I’m not super well versed in GoT but it’s my understanding that resurrection in that series is possible but rare. Brennan said he specifically didn’t let Ally stock certain healing spells and that’s very telling about how things are gonna be handled. I guess we’ll see in the upcoming battle episode how that works but my general thought is, I hope everyone made interesting backup characters.  

Five More Things

So, my thoughts on the new characters. I love Ruby and Jet with my entire heart. Watching Emily and Siobhan roleplay sisters and enable each other and hype each other up is so fun--or it would be if I wasn’t low key bracing to lose one of them sooner rather than later. Zac playing against type and Murph playing to type are both fantastic. I want nothing more than for Theobald and Lapin to continue sniping at each other. I hope that’s the first PvP fight of D20. Amethar is a lot of fun but clearly in over his head and I’m interested to see where he’s pushed. Liam is literally just vibing. Hope he doesn’t have to commit regicide!     

God, the House Rocks PCs are such a disaster family. I love it. The moment when Calroy comes in and is like, “The princesses have escaped,” and Amethar breaks into a grin and is like, “Dude, that’s so dope!” I was like OH, so it’s *all* of them, huh. But, honestly, this should have been on the “Things I’m Concerned About” list because come on. They’ve not all gonna make it. And then we’re gonna have to watch the remaining family members react to that? Oh no. 

Love Ruby’s bow. I have a player in my game who also has a magic bow that produces energy arrows because, truly, who has the time to deal with the logistics of how many arrows you had left after last fight? Magic arrows. Boom, done. Next. 

Getting bagged on by your Patron for not having a spell when she’s the one who gives you your spells is so funny. Also, Mending isn’t a Warlock spell which makes it even funnier. 

**I’ve given myself a 3k word limit on all of these to try to put some boundaries on myself but, Lol, prize to the first who guesses closest to the first episode I break that rule.**

[utilitycaster]

Out of all the actual play casts out there, which one do you think is most likely to fuck up an NPC interaction or send things into a social tailspin? My money is probably on the Band of Boobs

I feel it’s hard to judge? I’m not quite halfway through Campaign 1 of NADDPod but despite them blundering through all kinds of weird situations they’re also kind of likeable, despite themselves. They managed to do okay in Frostwind, despite literally looking like murderers in an already fairly insular and suspicious society, and a big part of that was just being sweet and in a few cases making major self-sacrifices. Plus, Beverly definitely has good charisma and I think the other two are decent (Moonshine usually plays things as friendly and go-with-the-flow, which tends to keep things out of a tailspin; Hardwon is good at gaining solidarity with other bros) and that is a big part of handling things socially.

Some parties that I think have them beat:

-Early Mighty Nein. They’re pretty good now, but early on they had exactly two people with notable charisma and one of them (Caleb) gave off kind of untrustworthy vibes and was subject to that unique form of torture wherein acting anxious makes people more suspicious which makes you more anxious. The addition of a third charismatic person (Caduceus, who isn’t skilled at politics but has the insight to offset that) to the party, the fact that Jester’s persuasion is a proficiency and so it increases as she levels even though her charisma is barely above average, Beau finding herself against all odds as the one with external trappings of authority and respectability, and Caleb making a lot of personal progress have made things go much better. Early on though? Do you remember Trostenwald? A different party might have just ended up with Molly and Yasha on the suspect list, with the rest of the party as cooperative people of interest given relatively free rein as long as they didn’t leave town, but they were, instead, a disaster.

- THB, mostly because while the Band of Boobs can do dickish things at times, THB were merciless, again, especially early on. They fucked up some social interactions so bad that in Petals to the Metal they had to resort to unnecessary murder. They bullied absolutely everyone on the moon, for no good reason other to be a dick. Magnus once called Carey “lizard girl” and he wasn’t actually trying to be a dick then but still that’s probably like, a grave insult to dragonborn especially since lizard folk are a totally different race. If Lucretia didn’t know them from before and desperately need their skills they’d have been mind-wiped again right quick.

- Following the death of Lapin especially, but kind of always: the Crown of Candy party. Both Jet and Theo legit had to roll things with disadvantage because they managed to hit on the exact wrong thing to say, Liam is a walking disaster, and Cumulus is deeply weird. It doesn’t help that this is a highly political setting, or that the party is specifically under attack and has been since early on (vs. the others on this list which are more classic adventurers) but they make good battle decisions and terrible social ones, like, a lot. It’s a good thing their actions have spoken louder than their words or there would have been a TPK long ago.