#dangerous adventurous lemur

[universalzones]

Continued from X @determination-personified

"Aw, come on, please? Whisper never lets me be the bad cop, and I've got super good ideas on how to be one too," Tangle said, on her knees and giving her best pouty face she can muster. The lemur knew Whisper and Lanolin couldn't be swayed easily, though hopefully she has a shot with Surge.

"Besides, it's strategy. Most people would think I'm the good cop, though BAM, I'm actually the bad cop." Yeah, totally strategy and not Tangle just wanting to be a bad cop like in the movies. The lemur quickly realized she had stopped her pouting and swiftly went back.

[universalzones]

"Good, because I'm tired of arguing with you." Surge was tired of a lot of things really, though at least she had enough distractions like finding Clutch and throwing him off the airship while she laughs. Not that it was going to be easy with Sonic around, though wouldn't hurt to try. The tenrec kept her distance from Whisper's Wisps, unsure on her standing with them after todays events. The speedster was on some rocky footing with them by returning that energy, though then all this happened.

Surge just turned her attention to the Mother Wisp. "Yo, let's get this show on the road! I'm ready to crack some fucking heads!" The tenrec just wanted to burn off some steam by this point, and what better than knocking around Clutch's security. They'll make perfect punching bags while looking for her main target of her fury. Though the speedster wouldn't be surprised if things were going crazy on that airship.

"You don't need to yell, I'm right here." The Mother Wisp was already annoyed with the Surge, though kept her opinion to herself. "Children, mother will be back in a moment. Don't worry about the scary man. He isn't going anywhere." She could hold her statis several galaxies over if she had to. Not to mention that lemur was here and was sure her children would swarm Mimic if need be. "Watch your footing."

The Mother Wisp began lifting up the platform Sonic and Surge were on as a large portal opened up far above them. She flew out of it, having to close her eyes for a moment from the brightness of the sun. "I almost forgot why I enjoy the Shadow Void. Does every plant have to have such a bright star?" She wasn't a fan of light, though he attention turned to the airship. "It's rather small."

"They're not shooting at us. Guess the weapons are down, and it's moving course. Maybe you should give it an extra push. What do you think Sonic?" Surge had limited knowledge of this airship, though it used to be one of Eggman's which means someone like Sonic would know all about it and if it was safe to forceable move it.

===========================================================

Rowan decided to lay down, feeling how sore his body was. The lemur looking down to see Shade take a orange marker from his belt. "You want to draw or something?" He never knew that they liked to draw, though they didn't come out of the Shadow Void often.

Shade whistled lowly, their version of mumbling before flying up to Mimic. The Wisp uncapping the marker. "❄︎♒︎♓︎⬧︎ ♓︎⬧︎ ♐︎□︎❒︎ ♌︎♏︎♓︎■︎♑︎ ♋︎ ♌︎♓︎♑︎ 🙰♏︎❒︎🙵📬︎." They would begin to draw on his face, seeming to be less then pleased with all the trouble he's caused not only for Rowan and Tangle, though also hurting other Wisp's.

He sighed as Surge still seemed to place so much blame on herself. But no matter what he said she wouldn't listen to him, she'd just get angry. She was here, trying to make it right! Fighting to take down Mimic, save lives, and put an end to all this madness. Her methods might be more in line with Shadow then his but--- He still saw her as a good person. He really just wanted to tell her to stop beating herself up but he knew better. She'd just get pissed at him more then she already was.

He as happy when Rowan spoke for him, said what he was thinking and he seemed to visibly relax. She had him on edge, he just didn't want to fight with her anymore. He wanted better for her, but she couldn't see it could she? Or maybe she did and didn't want it at all-- he didn't know for sure.

" ... Let's worry about what we do with Clutch once he's been beaten... we can fight about it then. no point doing it now when people are in danger... "

Frankly at this point he'd be fine with her breaking his jaw over this argument. He was happy to see the wisp so eagerly join Rowan and happily hug him. Though he kind of smiled at Rowan's comment about feeling old! as he felt that way sometimes to! He just sighed and crossed his arms standing over next to Surge but smiled up at the little frenzy wisp as he landed on his head.

He paused at Surge's words and took a deep breath clearly conflicted but, also he had to come to terms with what Surge wanted. His body seemed to get more lax and his emotions dropped a good several octaves. He hated this, all of it and didn't like what she was forcing him to do--- why put him on the spot?

" ... I'll honor your wishes... but i hate this... I don't want you to be locked away... you deserve better... "

His hand curled around the paper, clearly still struggling with this decision.

" But i'll do it... promise "

[universalzones]

Continued from X @bubblyroleplayingworld

"Whaaaaaaaat? Shadow never said he had a brother. Sonic never mentioned it either." Tangle felt like it would be something that would've come up at some point. Kinda makes her feel out of the loop, though for now she'd focus on what he was asking.

"Well, if you're looking just to help out then you'll have to talk to Lanolin who's currently checking in on the latest scouting group. You'll have to go pretty far into The Restoration to find her. If you want help I think Whisper is finishing up with checking the Wispon Storage." The lemur would use her tail to point him in the right way to Whisper. "I still gotta help out around the hanger or I'd offer to take you." Just then another shuttle would come into the hanger. "And it doesn't look like I'll be done anytime soon."

[annon-guy2]

Sonic X: What If...? Poll

Explanations for if they're in Sonic X;

Mighty and Ray: They would be Sonic's friends and/or members of Team Chaotix.

Bean and Bark: They'd be independent antagonists, but they'd be more mischievous than dangerous.

Trip and Fang: Trip would be Sonic's friend from the start and Fang would be a recurring independent antagonist, serving as Trip's Arch-Enemy as well as rivals to Knuckles and Rouge.

Honey and Heavy King: Honey would be a recurring ally to Sonic and friends while Heavy King would be an ally to Eggman.

Silver and Blaze: Silver would be a rival at first, but would go on to be a friend and ally while Blaze's story would be like the Rush Games. They would only appear for a single story arc in the New World Sagas, but would come back as a main characters during the Metarex Saga.

Metal Sonic and Sage: They would be Eggman's prized creations and surrogate children like in the Games. Sage would serve as a counterfoil to Chris in regards to their parentage.

Sticks and Omega: Sticks would be a friend of Amy's that joins around the time Vanilla does. Omega would be built around the time the Sonic Adventure Adaption story happens, but like Gamma, he would rebel out of not being used to his full potential. Team Dark will be formed in the Metarex Arc.

Chip and Mephiles: Chip would be a friend of Sonic that stayed due to amnesia, but his identity as Light Gaia would be revealed during the Metarex Arc. Mephiles would have a backstory change. In this idea, Mephiles would be Dark Gaia and a recurring antagonist, especially during the Metarex Saga where he approves of the Metarex's genocidal schemes to kill all animal life.

Tangle and Whisper: Sonic and friends would meet them after being warped to Chris' world. They would remain as friends and allies to Sonic and company. Whisper's backstory would be altered slightly since Sonic Forces doesn't occur in Sonic X.

Jewel and Belle: Jewel would be a supporting character and ally to Sonic and company. Belle would have a backstory change where instead of being built by Mr. Tinker, Chris' grandfather Chuck would build and create her.

Surge and Kit: Like in the IDW Comics, Dr. Starline would create them. By the time the show happens, Starline is killed off trying to kill Sonic and overthrow Eggman. The Imposter Duo are recurring antagonists. They possibly reform later on in the series after experiencing praise of heroics by accidentally stopping a crime or stopping Eggman before Sonic.

Rough and Tumble: Like in the IDW Comics, the Skunk Brothers would be recurring independent antagonists, causing mischief than actual harm.

[napstabl00k]

"I'm in love with you," Whisper had said at somewhere like two in the morning.

Tangle glanced at the clock hung on Jewel's dining room wall, reading out a happy little 8:27. A good time for breakfast, in Tangle's book.

She had this uncanny habit of waking up at 7 on the dot, or, at worst, three minutes later, and always crawled out of bed for a morning jog. This morning was no different, despite the absolutely atrocious 3 in the morning at which she'd fallen asleep. Four hours was a terrible amount of sleep to get. But naps didn't agree with her an hour after a morning run, so yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast with a heap of boredom on top it was.

Any other day, Jewel would have been awake. Any other day, she would have been down at the museum, even, getting ready to open at 9:00.

Today, Jewel was getting a hard earned ten hours of sleep, and was not going to work.

And Whisper- well, Whisper had this strange ability to fall in and out of sleep until she was either roused by some outside force or-

Well, really, just roused by some outside force. Presumably it was some tactic from when she was out on the battlefield, to be able to wake up at any sign of danger. Right now, when curled under Jewel's spare blanket, it meant that either her Wisps were gonna wake her, or Tangle was gonna do it herself.

And Whisper deserved those ten hours as much as Jewel did.

"So do I," Tangle admitted to herself, glancing back up at the clock.

8:31

"Ughhhhhh," Tangle whined, smacking her head against Jewel's dining table. "I wish I was asleep too... I bet everyone's sleeping right now."

The party had gone long into the night, and everyone was almost certainly catching up on some much needed z's. Her jog had told her that most stores were closed till an easier to deal with 10 in the morning, though she admittedly didn't feel like leaving her best friend and Whisper behind to go make a ruckus.

Speaking of Whisper.

"I'm in love with you."

Tangle covered her head with her hands. She kicked her feet, just for some way to get all this flustered energy out.

Part of her was happy. Beyond happy, even. She'd been waiting for this for months. Before the virus started, probably. It might've been wishful thinking back then, though.

Tangle would allow herself to admit that she was a little bit stupid. She didn't really get the big words that mechanics and the, like, smart people on those adventure teams she participated in sometimes would say. Plans jumbled in her brain at a certain point, so sometimes she had to make stuff up on the fly, and sometimes explanations went waaayyyy over her head.

But she figured she was pretty smart on one thing.

Emotions came pretty easy to her. Her emotions, for sure, but other's too. They just sort of clicked in her brain.

Love was a weird one, sure. But she lived in a town where she knew everyone and everyone knew her, and it'd been that way since she could remember. She had a lot of time to gather what love looked like as gossip flooded from ear to ear. That's the thing about a town like Spiral Hill. No one's business is really private.

There'd been a little tickle in the back of Tangle's head when Whisper had shown her her mask. She hadn't paid attention to it, then, too preoccupied by the issue at hand. But it had stuck with her, and she'd sorted through it in daydreams and in the minutes between her head hitting the pillow and sleep taking her.

It was the trust that came too easily to a creature like Whisper. Tangle had seen it before, in kids, teens, adults that fell in love. She'd asked Jewel's auntie, once, curious.

"Why do they act so dumb around them?" She'd said, with her little baby lemur voice.

Jewel's auntie, who Tangle had believed to be the smartest woman on earth, then - because she hadn't yet seen her fully put her foot in her mouth when trying to talk to people with any sort of power over her - had glanced out from the balcony the three of them sat on, at the subject of Tangle's curiosities.

"Love makes you trust a little too easily. Consider why someone is the way they are a little less. And you're putty in the hands of someone you trust too much." She'd sounded melancholy, then. A bit sad. A bit thoughtful.

The answer had felt wrong to Tangle's little brain, and years later it caught up that Jewel's aunt had just been cheated on by her boyfriend. But the answer had stuck just as well, and had applied itself to Whisper in a moment of realization.

It probably didn't mean anything on its own, really. But it was a seed that built with every interaction they had, and eventually Tangle thought, with a pretty heavy vote of confidence, that Whisper might be in love with her.

Which was great, because, as Tangle had realized pretty early on, she was in love with Whisper too.

So it was hard to wait, to swallow every time she wanted to blurt it out (because Tangle, for all her talents, was not very good at shutting up), to wait until Whisper knew, to wait until Whisper was comfortable.

Boundaries. That was one of the first things she and Whisper had talked about, when friends was only something you could sort of call them. It had been weird, at first, when hugs were instinctual. And then it got easier with practice. And then Whisper was willing to take her hand, and told her that hand holding was fine. And there was this give and take with them, where some were alright, and others got put up, and Tangle understood.

Really, she did. Whisper had a lot going on, and a romance might not have been in the cards for her. Not for a while. Maybe not ever.

So Tangle sucked in a breath, and waited for Whisper to tell her on her own. She could simmer knowing already in the meantime.

Tangle tapped her foot against the ground. She didn't like daydreaming about all this past stuff like this. Especially not the obvious next bit.

But Whisper had held her like they were both going to die, back on Angel Island, when Tangle had woken up. And there hadn't been much time between her waking up and everyone trying to get back into the swing of normalcy.

Whisper had spent the time all but attached to her tail.

She'd missed her with a desperation, Tangle found. One she didn't understand, but Whisper's face, as monotone as she kept it, turned to her with relief, often. She allowed arms over her shoulder (truly the only way Tangle knew how to flirt, so that was nice,) with the need of someone who felt that Tangle would disappear if she went too far.

She'd grabbed a drink (almost definitely alcoholic, which neither of them were old enough to have legally), downed it like a shot, turned to Tangle, and immediately got interrupted by Eggman crashing in.

Tangle had known, then, what Whisper was going to say, but she wasn't going to say it in this mess, so out with Eggman!

The fight wasn't even that bad, other than the fact that the town square was a little bit busted. Sonic showed up, Eggman turned tail, and Whisper huffed a little bit.

Tangle turned to look at Whisper, later that night, or earlier that morning, and asked her what she'd wanted to say.

Whisper, heavy with sleep:

"I'm in love with you."

And with the excitement came a fear.

Because Whisper was latching onto her as someone who'd risen from the dead. Whisper was latching onto her as someone she'd failed. Whisper was latching onto her with regrets.

And Tangle didn't really know what to do with that.

They could get through it, sure, but Tangle had a saying about it, and it had been running through her head for the past couple days:

It'll pass, sure, but it sucks right now.

"Tangle, if you wanted to sleep more, you could have- you know, slept more."

Tangle lifted her head. Jewel was standing in the bedroom's doorway in her pajamas, Whisper standing at her side in Tangle's biggest tanktop, groggy.

"I wasn't sleeping!" Tangle defended. "Just. Thinking."

Jewel snorted. "Don't hurt yourself." She paused. Covered her mouth. "Sorry. Still waking up."

"I think it's funny," Tangle reassured.

Jewel sighed, then, fond. "I know."

And then she went over to the kitchen and pulled out a can of instant coffee.

Whisper trudged over to the table and placed her head on the table, letting her hair act as a curtain to the light streaming in from the windows. Tangle watched, head resting on her hand.

"Hey, Whisper, girl, uh... Can we talk?"

Whisper hummed a note that might be affirmative.

"'Bout last night. Or, I mean, this morning. Earlier. Y'know."

Whisper lifted her head, pulling her hair out of her face, and placed her head back down, on top of her arms this time.

"Were happy, then," Whisper said, quieter than Tangle's ever heard her.

"I am," Tangle admitted, and her tail began swishing against her will.

In the corner of her eye, Jewel turned.

"Then?" Whisper asked.

"I love you too," Tangle said, it falling out with some kind of weight in her chest she'd been ignoring. "Me too."

Jewel, in the corner of her eye, was leaning against the kitchenette counter.

Whisper's lips curled up, and Tangle watched her press her hands against her snout to hide it.

"But, what now?"

Whisper tilted her head, confused.

"Do we, like. Date? I've never done this before, Whisper!" Tangle pressed the balls of her hands into her eyes.

"Me neither," Whisper admitted softly.

"Then?"

"Don't want to change," Whisper explained. "The same. Us."

"Then, what are we?"

Whisper frowned. "Us?"

"Us. Is that- does that count?"

Tangle turned to her best friend, who was already waving her hands in front of her. "Don't look at me!!"

"Can we do that?" Tangle asked.

"Don't know," Whisper said, almost to herself. "Just, wanted you to know."

That had been what she'd been afraid of, a little bit, Tangle recognized. Whisper was tackling regrets. Not telling Tangle that she loved her was one of them. And now that Tangle knew, she didn't need anything more.

Did Tangle?

It was a strange question. She thought it over for a minute, wondering what, really, dating brought new to the table for them.

Nothing, really, that she could imagine. She could ask to kiss Whisper now, probably, but did they need to be dating for that? She would have asked then anyway if Jewel didn't look extremely awkward, standing to the side, glancing between her mug and her friends.

"What would change anyway?" Tangle asked, finally. "Can't think of much."

Whisper smiled, a small thing. "Then?"

"I like the way you said it. Just us. Doesn't matter if we're not dating." Tangle grinned, big, big enough for the both of them.

"Is- um, are you two good?" Jewel asked. "I feel- I feel I shouldn't have been there for all that."

"It's your apartment," Tangle said.

"I'm sorry," Whisper added for the both of them.

"It's fine! Just- that should have been private, I feel. I didn't need to- Shouldn't have, really, um, been here."

"Of course you should have!" Tangle said easily. "Speakin' of, make your coffee- I already ate, but you should too."

The kitchen sort of settled into something steady, then - Whisper and Jewel hovering about, trying to fill their stomachs. They bring plates back, two different kinds of breakfasts, neither matching Tangle's finished one.

It really did feel normal, Tangle found. Like nothing had changed between them, but the weight of a secret was pulled off of her shoulders.

Well, maybe one thing could change, actually.

"Whisper, what do you think of kissing?"

Jewel nearly spat out her coffee.

[universalzones]

"It sounds like we could use some nicknames, and I myself in a master at coming up with awesome nicknames." Tangle was sure she could come up with something cool though also easy to remember. "Alright, I'm gonna go full brainstorm mode. Just hang on." There were a lot of people so she was gonna have to really think about it.

Oh dear, Whisper knew there was no stopping Tangle when she got an idea in her head. The wolf isn't a fan of nicknames, not anymore at least, though if it was Tangle then she could deal with it. The scout was still on edge having another Surge and Kitsunami in their zone. At least they were going to move on as soon as they could.

"Mmm...maybe. Can I say though, I fucking hate this whole 'other Tangles' and 'other Surges' BS? Like, fucking shit, at some point I'm gonna know 3 different Tangles or something, determining which is which is gonna be so annoying." She says, her attention being drawn to that wording. Why are there so many other versions of herself and others?! It just makes everything so confusing and annoying!

"I personally find it a bit funny. Despite how similar we might be, there's also a lot of differences. Sometimes a single thing in your life can have such a wide cascading effect." Kit says. For them, that was meeting Reyna.

[the-infamous-man]

This fantastic piece was done by @/codetrillogy over on Twitter, based on the design @fanartist2020 had done to bring my redesign of Phage to life! Here, Phage shows Metal Sonic what she’s like when she’s a little bit hungry. It’s based on chapter 25 of my Archie/IDW Sonic crossover fanfic, Rediscovered Frontiers!

Rediscovered Frontiers is a Sonic the Hedgehog fanfic whose main premise is that the IDW continuity is the Post-Super Genesis Wave reality from the Archie Comics. Nicole’s PDA was found by Tangle the Lemur and Whisper the Wolf, and together they managed to free the still-roboticized Sally Acorn from Eggman’s control. Now they must explore a world they never made, uncover the secret history of Mobius and Earth, and in the case of Phage fight new and dangerous threats.

Be sure to check it out!

[quintiriss]

What's up with the elders in the Alto series?

been playing alto's adventure and alto's odyssey recently (played it years ago but picked it back up after i got a new phone) and i'm just so intrigued with the world. specifically the elders.

what's up with them? what can they do? why are they there? how long have they been there? are they a friend or a foe??

the two games in the alto series kinda proves that every "region" has its own elders. the snow region has a bunch of them, but for the desert, the only elder we know of is Sumara, for some reason. but back to the snow region's elders.

Tupa. In-game he is described as "an elder who lives alone in the wilderness. some say he can harness the power of the mountain and all those who have travelled upon it." this is a VERY interesting description. because the other elders we see are all ordinary-like and feel more like sheriffs, if anything. but that's the thing. if they're elders, why are they chasing Tupa? And the rest of the alto gang? For the alto gang i guess it can be dumbed down to "young people the old people don't like"... but what about Tupa? It isn't that weird that he lives alone in the woods since all elders we've seen have their own camps. Do they chase Tupa because he's behaving the same way as the alto gang? Do they chase Tupa because they fear his abilities? Because like... the game just makes him sound like some kind of god.

In fact, the two elders who are with the alto gang are described to have a deep connection with their region. Sumara's description is "full of warmth and wisdom, Sumara shares a deep connection to the desert's wildlife, and all travellers she meets. Even the mischievous Lemurs are calmed by her presence."

The similarity between Tupa and Sumara are the fact that they have a special connection with travellers that trek their respective regions. However, the difference between them is while Tupa "harnesses the power of the mountain" (aka the environment itself), Sumara is connected to the wildlife. The way they're described in-game also really fits the regions they're in respectively which I like (Tupa being described as a sort of loner and is mysterious while Sumara is described as warm and inviting).

My headcanon is that the reason why we don't see any elders in the desert is because either Sumara is the one and only elder, or the other elders put their full trust on her for "overlooking" the desert. It fits in well with her inviting personality.

As for Tupa, I headcanon that he's the snow region's boogeyman. Due to his "harnessing the mountain" ability thing, the citizens of the snow region made him an object of fear. Perhaps the snow region wasn't even the snow region in the first place. Perhaps Tupa pulled an Elsa a long time ago. Now, many of the common folk probably donned the title of elder and even made a uniform for themselves, making them the region's police spread around the woods in hopes of capturing Tupa. Of course, they usually fail.

Also idk if it's just me but the elders in alto's adventure feel MUCH MORE TERRYFING compared to the lemurs. I play as Tupa in alto's adventure and it's always so nerve-wracking. Tupa doesn't have Sumara's mechanic where he can make peace with the elders like how Sumara is with the lemurs. That's kind of what inspired this post.

Alto's gang was probably a rebellious group of young people who went into the woods to seek out Tupa for funsies. Then the found family trope commences, and now you have a group of teenagers/young adults who can casually do things the elder of the mountains can do.

I also headcanon that probably, upon knowing that it is dangerous for alto's gang to associate with him in any way, Tupa sent them off to the desert to meet an elder and community that would treat them better as the common folk of the mountains were getting more hostile by the day. Alto's gang tried to convince Tupa to go too, but that would be the equivalent to breaking some divine law idk. So yeah.

[universalzones]

"Eggman and all the other bad guys sure like to keep us busy with some sort of life endangering threat. It is nice to relax, though I do like the action as well. If only it wasn't always so world ending." Tangle didn't mind roughing up the criminal, though seemed like there was always a city level threat or something wanting to destroy the planet.

"Oh? I guess I'll have to try and get there next time before the sun goes down." Her gaze returning back to the setting sun as she hums. "Yeah. Usually there's always some type of chaos going on, getting to sit down and relax...is nice."

[universalzones]

"We're good guys now?"

"And clearing this rubble?"

"Life is getting strange."

"For Rough and Tumble."

"...Those two sure are weird."

"Sounds like they'll fit in just fine here."

[atangledfate]

Role Swap AU for the Girls, feel free to swap them with ANY character you so wish.

Blaze Hero of Mobius

A Blazing Flame that tears across green hill, its most stalwart protector is Blaze! While she would never claim that title, there is no doubt her love of adventure is only matched by her loving heart! Where Tyranny rears its head! She's sure to be there! where Evil plants its dark seed! she'll be there to burn it away! with a bright smile and an easy going attitude She travels with her loving side kick Amy Rose! together they form the heroes of Mobius!

Prince Sonic of Sol

As Guardian of the Sol Emeralds Sonic was born and trained to be there protector. He is a Stoic Hero of the Wind and Imperial Prince of the Sol Dimension. While he has a stern no non-sense attitude in battle, one might find him smiling when with those he calls friends. While he and Blaze have clashed in the past, Blaze has worked hard to help him lighten up and enjoy life. Yet there is no doubt he prefers to end battles before they begin, and strikes without mercy--- but he's gotten better and enjoys those rare moments when he can let go and be himself.

Whisper of Spiral Hill

Born and Raised as a country girl in Spiral Hill, she longed for a life of adventure! But nothing ever happens in Spiral Hill, no danger ever came to her neck of the woods. Yet she stands as its hero, its bastion and no matter how many dull days pass--- she would always protect it! So when Eggman finally showed his face, she was more then happy to leap into battle with a fierce battle howl! with razor sharp claws and quick wits she was a talented fighter! yet none of it could prepare her for Blaze showing up in her town, and meeting an actual prince from another dimension! or falling in love with that stoic Lemur! but this was the life she always wanted! the life she embraced!

Tangle the Sniper

War, War Never Changes, those were the words her commander use to speak to her when she was but a small girl training to be the best. GUN never liked to talk about there Child Soldier Programs, or how so many of them never made it out of those butcher camps. But Tangle was one of the few who had, and though her time with GUN gave her the skills to fight, it was only the Cutters who helped her truly live. Yet one of there own Betrayed them, and she watched in horror as her friends, her comrades, the only people she'd call family died one by one. All she was left with was revenge, a desire to do there memory justice--- She couldn't have imagined falling in with Sonic and the others or meeting that Wolf. Was it love she felt? an emotion she didn't quite know how to express. But she trusted her, and even though she damaged voice prevented her from expressing those feelings. She was sure Whisper knew...

Art Sources Blaze: [x] Stellarspin Sonic: [x] Delpho Whisper and Tangle: [x] The Hyped Buddy

[servantverse]

servantverse fluffcember 2024 day 18 - rescue

[ warnings for unnamed character death; not graphic, but partially described ] [ timing: pre-ARR ]

“Miss Lia, why don't we go for a walk outside of the city?”

It was a warm day in Ul'dah, and Camellia had been spending it with a young Miqo'te woman named E'vixa. While Camellia’s master didn't often allow her any downtime, it was inevitable that he would eventually run out of things for her and her brother to do- and while Cameron was perfectly content aiding the Lemures however necessary, E'vixa had requested Camellia's company for the day. She saw no reason to refuse, and had joined her for a walk in the marketplace… But it seemed her companion wasn't satisfied with just that.

“...Thanalan is fraught with danger, my lady,” Camellia responded. “And you have little more than a dagger as defense. I do not think it would be particularly wise to wander outside.”

“Said like you wouldn't keep me safe?” E'vixa smiled, her tail curling behind her. “Come on, Miss Lia- just for a little bit? …There's hardly anything that dangerous this close to the city, anyways…”

“Lady E'vixa.” Camellia frowned. “Did you not request my presence for a walk around the city? And what would your mother and father think of this proposed adventure?”

“Around the city could mean around the outside, too!” E'vixa quickly pointed out, stepping closer to the much taller Viera. Camellia only looked down in faint amusement- or disappointment, but E'vixa knew she didn't mind as much as she was pretending. “And they'd think that I'm lucky to have such a kind and strong companion! Please?”

Camellia stared down in silence for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. It seemed there was no convincing E'vixa otherwise- and she had no desire to see her harmed without Camellia's protection…

“...Very well. But only for one bell. Then we shall return to the safety of the city.”

E'vixa clasped her hands together, smiling brightly. Camellia couldn't help but avert her gaze at such a sight- E'vixa could be all too much for her to handle at times, and she often found herself bending under pressure to the slightest whims of the young lady…

“Wonderful! Then, shall we~? No time like the present!”

With no audible response other than a sigh, Camellia moved to lead the way outside of Ul'dah's gates.

As E’vixa said, there wasn’t usually much danger in staying close to the city- it really shouldn’t have been much of a problem. However, luck was not on their side that day- particularly not with the rise of bandits in the area lately, driven to desperate measures to make ends meet.

(...Camellia could not fault them. That did not mean she had to show mercy when they became an issue.)

They had been walking on the path towards Scorpion Crossing when a man came rushing past them. He seemed to be in a hurry, and E’vixa barely paid him any attention- but Camellia had spent enough time in Ul’dah to know when someone was likely to be a threat. Hardly anyone rushed this way down the path unless they were in some form of trouble, or looking to cause it- and knowing E’vixa had little way of defending herself, she suddenly pushed herself between the two of them, her hand flicking up her sleeve to pull out a dagger she kept hidden inside.

E’vixa jolted back at the sudden touch, looking over at Camellia in surprise. “Lia, what are you-”

All other words died in her throat as she saw Camellia block a knife that had been aimed for E’vixa previously. With the attacker taken off guard by her swift reaction, Camellia pulled out the scythe hidden on her back in one fluid motion, slicing into the person and knocking them dead onto the ground- stepping back after she had done so, her expression one of distaste.

“...Lia.” E’vixa reached out to touch Camellia’s arm, causing her to tense briefly. “...Are you- are you alright? I’m sorry. I should have been more careful.”

“...We should inform a guard of what occurred, and return to the city.”

While Camellia’s tone didn’t waver, E’vixa could see the glimmer of disgust in her eyes. …Camellia was never one to admit to such things, she knew- it was up to her to comfort Camellia without it being pointed out, that meant.

“We should. But you’ll return to my home with me, right? We should get you cleaned up.”

Camellia gave a silent nod in response.

…

It didn’t take long to inform a guard- who hardly seemed to care, as what was another dead bandit?- and to return back to E’vixa’s home. Her parents were absent, dealing with a potential client, and so no one was there to interrupt as she led Camellia to the washroom, both quiet on the way there.

It wasn’t that big of a concern. She knew Camellia was likely too preoccupied with the blood on her gloves to think to speak, as she had always been easily disgusted by the blood of another, but she also knew there was little guilt for what Camellia had done. …She wasn’t the type to care about that kind of thing, in the end. So instead she did what she could- asking Camellia for the dirtied gloves, then moving to wipe them down herself while Camellia watched.

…The silence was a bit much, though, so E’vixa spoke again before long.

“It’s a good thing your gloves are so easy to clean,” she commented. “But I guess that’s why you picked them?”

“...It is, yes,” Camellia responded.

“They look nice on you, anyways. Black always suits you. A bit warm in this heat though, I’d guess…”

“Hm.”

“...You looked quite dashing taking down that bandit.” E’vixa glanced over at Camellia with a smile. “Like a knight, come to rescue me. But your weapon isn’t very knightly…”

“...I cannot say I favour the sword as much.” It seemed her comments finally got somewhere- though Camellia seemed to want to ignore her compliment. “A scythe is heavy and can be difficult to train with, but it is far more capable of taking your enemy off guard.”

“I can’t disagree there, but… I do think you’d look quite handsome in armour, on horseback…”

“E’vixa,” Camellia responded, her tone disapproving. “Such idle flattery does not become you. Particularly not flattery to one of my station.”

“It isn’t idle, and it isn’t flattery. You know I wouldn’t say this to just anyone! Just to you, Lia.” E’vixa huffed, placing down the washcloth to now dry the gloves. “And you saved my life. Shouldn’t a lady give compliments to her saviour?”

“...Very well, Lady E’vixa. Then I thank you for your kind words,” Camellia responded dryly,

“Back to titles already? And here I thought we agreed you wouldn’t use them when we’re alone!” Despite her words, E’vixa smiled as she spoke, handing over the now-clean gloves.

Camellia shook her head in response- but E’vixa caught a hint of a smile to her lips. “...Stubborn little lady. Vixa, then.”

“I’m not little- you’re just too tall…” E’vixa sighed. “...But… Much better, yes. Vixa suits me much more, coming from you.”

“...Regardless,” Camellia said, pulling her gloves on. “I must be gone ere long. Master Flann does not take kindly to me spending so much time with the daughter of his rival, and Cameron is likely soon to return from his own visit.”

“...Alright. I suppose I can’t keep you all to myself forever.” E’vixa smiled, her ears flicking. “Then… Be safe. And remember there’s always a place for you here if you have nowhere else to go, alright?”

“Of course.” Camellia bowed, earning a soft laugh from E’vixa. “...And do try to keep yourself out of trouble as well- although I am aware it is a talent of yours.”

“Yes, yes… Off you go now!”

[heracrosshero]

Infiltration

Massacre Girl waited for the cover of night. She had borrowed a flying mount from a contact of hers in the Simic. It was some unholy hybrid of bat, lemur, and manta ray named Fuzzy. Fuzzy and Massacre Girl glided through the cold city air towards the Parhelion II. Angels and Sky knights gracefully circled around on patrol. However, Massacre Girl easily guided her mount to descend quickly through a blind spot. Fuzzy's wings folded inward as they came to a stop in a small overhang in the flying fortress's structure. Hidden under the towering steel, Massacre Girl dismounted andpatted Fuzzy on the head. Telling them to stay put, Massacre Girl began to tread carefully towards a metal hatch on the wall nearby.

The hatch was much too tightly sealed for her to pull open herself, but she could neatly use a vial of acid to melt through its hinges. Then, all Massacre Girl had to do was wait patiently until the acid had done its work, and then lift the hatch door up and gently lay it down on the deck. Inside of the Parhelion II, Massacre Girl found rows and rows of barracks down seemingly endless halls. The interior was made mostly of spotless marble floors and metal beams crossing the ceilings and walls. Most of the Boros Legionnaires aboard the Parhelion II were asleep by now, and so the magical hall lights were only dimly pulsating. Massacre Girl's jagged teeth reflected this soft light as she smiled mischievously. The first stage of her adventure was over.

There were a few possible objectives Massacre Girl could accomplish while on board the Parhelion II. She could go down to the prison sector and free the prisoners there to sow chaos, she could kill a few higher ranking legionnaires to sow fear, or she could just wander around until something else caught her fancy. Plan C was the only option available to her at the moment, as she had no idea what the layout of this gargantuan war machine was. Whatever actions she took tonight, they had to be over and done with before sunrise, or else her chances of escape would drop like a stone. Therefore, Massacre Girl jogged down the halls, her feet making no noise even on the hard stone floors. She hastily glanced at the labels of rooms and stairways, looking for any hints as to where she was, but to no luck. Every map and plaque was marked by numbers and letters that didn't mean anything to Massacre Girl. Grunting in frustration, Massacre Girl pushed open the door of a stairwell and slid down the rails to descend to the next floor down. She had landed near the upper levels of the Parhelion II. If it was anything like a normal Boros building, the more secure areas would be in the center of the complex.

After twisting around corner after corner until her ankles began to ache and her eyes were straining, Massacre Girl finally rounded to face a grand door blocked by an iron portcullis. Two human legionnaire guards marched in lockstep back and forth, but had not yet noticed her. Now this room had some potential. All it took was a brief moment of distraction for Massacre Girl to strike her victims with a set of darts laced with a paralyzing toxin. It wasn't potent enough to do any lasting damage to a grown human, sadly. However, it worked to instantly render both guards inert and unconscious on the ground. This allowed Massacre Girl to casually stroll up to the door, whistling a happy tune. A lever next to the door stood out, and Massacre Girl used both her hands to haul down on the lever in order to raise the portcullis. It made a dangerous amount of noise, but whoever worked or lived in this room clearly was important enough to have this whole floor to themselves, because Massacre Girl hadn't seen any other rooms nearby. Once the spearlike rods of the portcullis were set tight above the arch of the door, Massacre Girl twisted the doorknob and gently swung open the door. The lights were all off inside, but Massacre Girl could tell it was a living quarters. To her side was a small closet mostly filled with greaves, mail, and other armor pieces. Further inside of this space was an entry parlor with a few pieces of wooden furniture and a small kitchen next to it. With her assassin's heightened senses, Massacre Girl could tell that there was a person just around the corner, but there was no threat or danger in the air. Asleep, Massacre Girl concluded.

Taking out a set of fresh daggers, she tiptoed her way past the closet and the chairs and the kitchen. A wooden door, much less decorative and far less fortified than the previous, stood slightly ajar. It looked relatively well kept, if plain, so Massacre Girl hoped it did not creak. Biting her lip in anticipation, she raised a hand and softly pushed against the door with her fingertips.

With no windows or lights, the room was so pitch-dark that even Massacre Girl needed a moment to adjust her eyes. A large, rectangular bed was the centerpiece of the room. In the inky blackness, she could still see the pattern of the Boros Legion covering the bedsheets. Underneath those sheets was a person, fast asleep. They slept on their stomach, with one hand hanging limply off the bed, grazing the cold marble floor underneath. Their long hair spread out in all directions like an octopus's tentacles, completely enveloping their face and upper back. The resting figure wore simple linen pajamas with no ornamentation. What Massacre Girl noticed most was a sword in its scabbard resting on the edge of the bed, and a pair of feathery wings hugging their owner like another blanket, rising and falling with her even breaths. This was Aurelia the Warleader's bedchamber.

[paperanddice]

These fiendish scorpions were shaped by Arbeyach, and remain loyal to their creator even after his fall from power. They have no deeper inner desires or personality, just drone-like subservience as defenders of the Hive and hunters to bring down any external threat. They can also be used as mounts by smaller devils, though they are not careful with their riders and will only do so when properly instructed by a higher ranked devil. With four arms (two with scythe blades for claws and two smaller ones with fingers), and three whipping stingers, they can fend off assaults even when greatly outnumbered, shredding through foes. Their weaker hands can catch and grasp enemies, adding to their barrage of attacks, but far more dangerous is their poison. When injected, it begins breaking down the body, organs swelling, muscles and bones breaking down, and causing a horrific transformation. If the creature dies, its internal tissues reform and absorb its soul, ripping open the skin and a newly created lemure crawls out. These newly created lemures are rounded up by Arbeyach's followers, added to the hive and over time reshaped into further drones to be useful to the Prince of Swarms.

Inspired by the Tome of Beasts 1. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

Koralk (Harvester Devil) Creature 11 Large, Devil, Fiend, Unholy Perception +22; greater darkvision Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal, telepathy 100 feet Skills Athletics +22, Intimidation +20, Religion +19, Stealth +20 Str +5, Dex +1, Con +4, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +1 AC 29; Fort +22, Ref +19, Will +20; +1 status to all saves vs. magic HP 235; Immunities fire; Resistances physical 12 (except silver), poison 12; Weaknesses holy 10 Speed 35 feet Melee jaws +22 (magical, unholy), Damage 2d10+15 piercing Melee scythe limb +22 (agile, magical, reach 10 feet, unholy), Damage 1d12+15 slashing plus Grab Melee stinger +22 (agile, magical, reach 10 feet, unholy), Damage 1d8+11 piercing plus Koralk Venom Divine Innate Spells DC 27 ; 5th translocate; 4th translocate (at will); Divine Rituals DC 27; diabolic pact Koralk Venom (poison) If a creature dies while affected by this poison, it's body bursts open and a newly-formed lemure devil crawls out. The creature cannot be raised from the dead by any means while this lemure exists. Saving Throw DC 29 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison; Stage 2 2d6 poison; Stage 3 3d6 poison. Many Limb Assault [2 actions] The koralk makes up to one jaws Strike, two scythe limb Strikes, and three stinger Strikes. Each strike must be against a different target. These attacks count toward the koralk's multiple attack penalty, which doesn't increase until all the attacks are complete.

13th Age

Harvester Devil (Koralk) Large 10th level wrecker [devil] Initiative: +14 Scythe Limbs +15 vs. AC (2 attacks) – 55 damage. Natural Even Hit: The harvester devil can grab the target. Natural 18 or 20: The harvester devil can also make a single stinger attack against the target as a free action. Stinger +15 vs. AC (3 attacks, each against a different nearby enemy) – 20 damage plus 10 poison damage. Natural Even Hit: The target also takes 10 ongoing poison damage. Natural 18 or 20: The target must start making last gasp saves, taking the ongoing damage each time it fails the save. On the fourth failed save, the target dies and its body bursts open, a new lemure crawling out. Devil’s Due (Harvest): When you choose to add the escalation die to an attack against the harvester devil, the devil deals 1d10 damage to every enemy engaged with it. Steadfast: The koralk is immune to being confused, dazed, stunned, or weakened as long as it has at least one nearby ally. Resist Fire 13+. AC 25 PD 23 MD 22 HP 392

[amaurotine-daydreaming]

XVI. Jerk

“Question.” Istra flipped the card up and read the text scrawled on it. “Are voidsent ‘jerks’?” She looked at Veles. “This sounds like one you wrote.”

Veles folded his arms and nodded, trying to look as serious as possible.

“I…do not understand the question,” Zero said.

“All right, here’s the thing,” said Veles. “Istra and I, we share a small estate–”

“–and we’ve both sworn compacts with voidsent,” Istra finished. 

“Hm,” said Zero, taking a sip of steaming Thavnairian chai–payment for agreeing to a game of cards. Cards with questions written on them, which Zero did not expect; but neither did she know what to expect, she supposed. Either way, it was a strange way to pass the time. 

“We call them Willow and Sheila,” said Veles, with a note of pride that seemed rather unfounded to Zero.

“The people of this world seem very…peculiarly drawn to giving things names, even when they have no need of such,” she commented.

“But…lots of voidsent have names,” Veles pointed out. “Barbariccia, Scarmiglione, Ciabatta…”

“Ciriatto,” Istra corrected him. 

“Right.”

“Ciabatta is a kind of bread, Veles.”

“Aye.”

“You’ve been baking inordinate amounts again, hm?” 

“Maybe.”

“To the question,” Zero said, staring into her cup. “I do not understand it, therefore I cannot answer it.”

“Let me try,” Istra said, watching as Veles put his foot on the leg of the table and began to tilt his chair back and forth.

“What Veles is trying to get across is that each of the voidsent we now host are under the same roof, and they tend to have rows. They’re at it like angry coeurls, especially at all hours of the night when we can’t keep an eye on ’em. Or would rather not be, at any rate.” 

Veles wobbled dangerously. Istra caught the back of his chair, pushing it upright so that all four of his chair legs were back on the ground. “Makes it a damn sight difficult to get some sleep.”

“Rows… As in fights?” The two adventurers nodded.

“Then it makes sense,” Zero murmured. “Voidsent are by their nature highly territorial beings. They will often not suffer another to trespass on their domain. In a world starved of aether, it is a necessity of survival.” 

“But they’re in our world now,” Veles said. “We have plenty of aether to go around. What’s the problem?”

Zero shrugged. “Old habits are not easily broken. Ingrained in them is a fear of eventual starvation.”

Istra nodded to Zero’s chai and the plate of the Meyhane’s spiciest Thavnairian prawns. “I imagine we could feed them.”

“The form matters not. Aether is aether, and we make use of it any way we can.”

“So…” Veles’s tail swished, hitting the sides of the chair he sat in. His face was one of serious concentration. “Maybe our voidsent are just…hangry?”

“Hangry,” Zero repeated, blankly.

“Aye. Hungry. Angry. Hangry.” 

“It’s when you’re so starved you want to commit unspeakable violence,” Istra supplied, serenely taking her own sip of chai.

“I see…” Zero said, slowly. “I may be…familiar, with this feeling.” 

Zero picked up another prawn, popped it into her mouth shell and all, and chewed on it carefully. She swallowed. “Have I answered the question to your satisfaction,” she asked Veles, who was back to disassembling the fully shelled steamed crab on his plate.

“I think so,” Veles replied, before sticking another crab leg into his mouth and loudly sucking the juices out of it.

Istra slung an elbow over the back of her chair and called to a nearby table, “Oi, Lemures! Are voidsent jerks?”

“You bet your last gil they are,” Drusilla replied. She threw down a Triple Triad card with a triumphant flourish, the board’s colors flipping entirely in her favor. Thancred, sitting opposite, put his head in his hands and groaned.

[universalzones]

"Oh, I'm sure Lanolin won't care about one firework. This one is one of the legal one's I had. And I'll take any heat since I did buy it." Tangle might get chewed out a bit by Lanolin, though it was one firework. The lemur still wished she had all her fireworks, though no way she's getting them back now.

"because." there would be a pause from the possum as she sets the firework onto the ground, shifting it slightly to be pointed towards the open sky. a hand would fiddle with her pants pocket before pulling out a light "We're gonna have to bolt if we want no one to know it was us."